Lost

By: SageWriting

Rating: PG-13

Summary: "To be betrayed is to be human..." When the team is betrayed by a friend, and one of their number is handed over to the enemy, can the remaining three save him before its too late? Friendship, pain, love and sadness...All shall be tested...and found worthy.

Foreword: Sorry about the delay, I was unable to sign In on this account and I just now figured it out. Forgive me! Anyway, read and review, people! No review...no chappy...cause I do so love reviews.

Disclaimer: nope, no own. But I DO own Beren and Trista.-sigh-

Warning: LOTS OF ANGST IN THIS CHAPTER! THOSE WHO MIGHT CRY EASILY SHOULD MAYBE GET SOME TISSUES. THANK YOU.

Chapter three: To live...or to die...Cho Hakkai. (Part one)

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Hold it!" Beren called, his gun aiming just as the forms came into view. However his finger slipped from the trigger in horror. There was a red-haired youth covered in blood, holding a limp figure who appeared an inch from death. His eyes widened when he saw a Sanzo priest and what seemed to be a young child and a dragon as well. The only one not covered in gore was the child and the dragon.

The group stopped, seemingly shocked at the appearance of the man. "Dearest, they are hurt. Let them stay, I can help them."

Beren spun, "Trista! Get back inside, they are youkai!"

She tilted her head up, "Maybe...But they travel with a priest and seem to be sane to me." Her eyes booked no arguments and the kind man relented within moments.

Beren could almost feel their relief as he put up his gun. "I am Beren, and this is Trista. You seem to need some help. Come inside," He looked at the red-head as he said this last, "If there is a way to save your friend, my wife will find it."

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"You say you were attacked just up the road?" Beren asked, leaning against the porch railing once again, his gun within easy reach of his hand. It wasn't because he was afraid of his new house guests, quite the contrary in fact, but rather because he despised youkai in general.

"Yes." Sanzo replied through his cigarette. "I told you about Gyumaoh, did I not? These youkai are his followers. They are after this." He touched the sutra around his neck lightly, as much to assure himself it was still then prove a point.

"Sanzo...got knocked off...and we were trying...to get to him..." Goku said through his eating, a plate of whatever the couple had sitting in front of him. "When Hakkai...blew himself up."

"Blew himself up?" Beren said with a raised eyebrow, "And he still lives?"

Sanzo whipped out his fan and smacked the saru in the back of the head as he explained the situation to their host. "Blew up was not the right word. Inside of all of us is a great store of energy, whether it be youkai or ningen. Hakkai has spent most of his life learning how to mold his energy, shaping it to be used to heal or even to fight. When Goku says he 'blew himself up' what he meant was that Hakkai released all of his energy in one great explosion that wiped out all of our enemies." Here he paused, and said in a much quieter voice, "I too, however, am surprised he lived through such a thing."

The man sighed and looked out at his rain-drenched land. The downpour had stopped for the time being, but it would be back, it always came back. "Do not fear, if what you say of your companions is true, Sanzo-sama, then he may pull through yet. My wife is a very talented healer."

Sanzo took another drag from his cigarette, holding it between his fingers as Goku munched noisily behind him. "Just call me Sanzo."

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"I see. Then that is how this happened." Trista said softly as she wiped at the blood covering Hakkai's still form. "Poor thing."

Gojyo sat at the bedside on the opposite side. Unlike Goku and Sanzo he hadn't changed from his bloodied clothes, he didn't want to leave the other's side until he was completely better. "Hakkai...He's a better man than I am. I don't think I would have had the strength to do such a foolish thing."

The young woman smiled a little at him, "It takes a great man to sacrifice himself for his friends, and another to have the strength to get through it." She said sagely, handing him a roll of bandages. "Now, help me, would you?"

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It was hours later when Sanzo came to check on the healer's progress and stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widened slightly. Hakkai looked terrible. Bandages nearly covered all of his skin, his leg and arm were in splints, and the skin that didn't have any sort of covering on it was a nice shade of blue, purple, and red.

Trista tied off the end of a bandage around the youkai's upper arm and looked up at the priest. "He is a very strong man. I believe he'll get through this."

"Hn. That's good." Sanzo apparently wasn't too thrilled at the idea, regardless of how and why his companion suffered such injuries. He looked over at the kappa and raised an eyebrow. He hadn't changed, and the look in his eyes said he wasn't planning on it either.

"Im not leaving him, Sanzo. So don't even suggest it." Gojyo's voice was soft and low. "One of us has to care about him." His hand reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from their driver's face. "And its obviously not going to be you."

At any other point in time that would have rewarded the kappa a warning shot from the priest, but now he merely got a sharp, "Whatever." And stepped outside with Trista.

"Probably asking how soon we can leave."Gojyo hissed under his breath, "Ungrateful little...argh! Why did you save him, Hakkai? He wasn't worth it...not your life..." He bowed his head, soft strands of crimson falling around his face. "So...tell me...why...?" One tear fell from his closed eyes and trailed down his cheek, shimmering there.

"Kyu." Hakaryu churned, butting his head under Gojyo's hand as he sat there at his master's side, waiting and caring, just like the ever watchful kappa who scratched his head gently.

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"It all depends now, on his will to live. There is a very good chance he will pull through, but..."

Sanzo shook his head and finished her sentence. "There is a chance that his body might die on its own." He had been shaken by the report of injuries she had told him, but now he was cursing the brunette in the other room, cursing him for causing yet another long delay. Didn't he understand they were in a war? There wasn't time for wounds such as these!

Trista nodded, "I am sorry, but if he doesn't wake up by tonight...He might not ever."

Goku, who was just passing by, stopped in his tracks and glanced over in shock. Hakkai...not wake up? That was stupid! He was stronger than that...wasn't he?

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Hakkai slowly opened his eyes, startled at the utter darkness all around him. Shaking his head to clear it a little he sat up, able to feel the soft bed under him, but nothing else. He heard nothing, saw nothing, felt...nothing.

"Is this...death?" He asked, voice echoing hollowly in the vast expansion of black. He got to his feet and stumbled a little, hands out in front of him so he could maybe come in contact with something, anything. "H-Hello...? Anyone?"

His hands met with something cold and not all together solid and he jerked back, wiping his fingers on his pants, trying to rid them of the fluid chill that seemed to spread up his arms. He narrowed his eyes, trying to see...

A light snapped on then, a bright, blinding white light that left him dazed, rubbing at his eyes, stumbling backwards as he shook his head to look at what he had found. Emerald orbs widened in shock at the tall mirror that was in front of him, its surface rippling slightly, marring the picture within.

And the picture within...was Gojyo.

Looking down at his hands, the youkai slowly walked forward, reaching out to touch the surface of the mirror once again, and was slightly shocked to see his fingers go through the crystal surface, go through and disappear.

Jerking his hand back he stared at his wet fingers, and then, in a burst of curiosity, and hoping it wouldn't hurt, Cho Hakkai walked right through the mirror.

It was cold...Oh was it cold! His whole body shivering, teeth chattering, the youkai looked up in surprise to see A) he was IN the room with Gojyo, in fact only a few feet away from him, and B) HE was lying on the bed, looking like he had been run over by his own transportation vehicle.

"Gojyo?" He said, walking forward to shake the half-breed. "Gojyo its me!"

His hand went right through the other and he saw his friend stiffen in shock, rubbing at his bare arms. "Its cold in here, Hakaryu." Hakkai was startled to realize he could hear the other actually speak and could only stand there with a stunned expression on his face.

It didnt take him long to come to the conclusion he had to be dead. Gojyo reached over and drew the blankets up on the body in front of him...Must call it a body, the spirit Hakkai rationalized, because thats not me; Im right here.

"I still don't get it, Hakkai...I cant understand why you did that!" Gojyo looked furious. Hands clenched as he leaned forward in the chair, "He doesn't even CARE that you might die- he just wants to know WHEN WE CAN FREAKING LEAVE!"

Hakkai jerked back, floating harmlessly through a chair that had been behind him. He didn't...he didn't understand what was going on. He might die? Then he wasn't dead yet? Then why was he a ghost? What did Gojyo mean Sanzo doesn't care? He was so confused, all his questions running though his mind unable to be asked, only building up behind his eyes, putting pressure on his mind. Ghosts, apparently, he realized with a dim curiosity, can get headaches.

He was absolutely baffled, then, by the tears streaming down Gojyo's face. "T-Trista...the woman who helped us...She says if you don't wake up by tonight..You wont ever... And, god Hakkai, its an hour before sunrise..."

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Hello! Ya'll like? Hehehehehehehehe, am I good at angst or what? Now go review!

Next chapter: To live...or to die...Cho Hakkai (part two!)

NOW: A poll!

Q: Who would stop reading if I make this a soft yaoi between Gojyo and Hakkai? (Nothing hardcore or anything, maybe a kiss here and there, or whatnot

A: well, tell me in a review or, well, I'll do what I want with it.

Q: Who would LIKE to see this be a soft yaoi between Gojyo and Hakkai?

A: again, you tell me in a review.