This was written for the saiyuki-time livejournal community, for the prompt "opposites". When I started writing, I realized there was way too much story to do in 40 minutes, so maybe sometime I'll try expanding it–Dokugakuji is an interesting character.
It was hot, and it might have been because his mind was nearly numb from years of travel, and his eyes bleary from the dust of the road, but Jien thought the stranger was Gojyo. He saw the long crimson hair first, and then his heart skipped a beat when he noticed the slashes on the right cheek, visible as the last time Jien had seem them, fresh and bloody. Even as he moved inadvertently closer, he realized that he was mistaken. The eyes were the wrong color, and the ears obviously those of a full youkai. The marks on the cheek were youkai markings. And the confidence in this person's stride, the other thing that had created the brief illusion, was all arrogance and self-assurance, not the swagger of a child defying the world.
Jien closed his mouth, choking on the dust. He stared into the other youkai's face, and those not-red eyes gazed back at him, cool, appraising. Then, without saying a word, the stranger turned and walked away.
Later, when Jien saw him walking through the streets of the mostly-youkai town, surrounded by a uniformed escort, he asked a nearby citizen who the red-haired fellow was.
"That's Lord Kougaiji. You know, the prince, Gyumaoh's son."
It was a ridiculous story—Gyumaoh and his family had been sealed hundreds of years ago—but looking at Kougaiji, Jien believed it.
And since he was tired of wandering by himself with no destination but the setting sun, and the hole in his heart showed no sign of closing, he offered his services to Kougaiji. To his surprise, the prince accepted without asking any questions. He even gave Jien a new name to seal the pledge.
"Dokugakuji." Jien tested the sound of it, and frowned. "That's five syllables, you know."
Kougaiji's lips quirked ever so slightly upwards. It made him look younger.
"They're free," he said.
Both of them soon learned that while Dokugakuji was loyal, he wasn't especially good at being a servant. Kougaiji didn't seem to care much, and, realizing that Dokugakuji had the urge to look after people, allowed himself to be bossed around. Sometimes, though, he fell into strange silences, and during those times Dokugakuji learned not to disturb him. Gojyo had always held in his worries, as well, and there was nothing that could be done for a person who did not want to talk, even though watching it made Dokugakuji's chest hurt.
Before long, Kougaiji had rescued Yaone, and Lirin had come to live with them. They were a strange family, bound only by a shared love of Kougaiji, but they enjoyed a home life which Dokugakuji had never known before.
Then, Kougaiji was summoned by Gyokumen Koshu, and before going, he explained to Dokugakuji about his mother, and his father's lover, and her desire to revive Gyumaoh.
Oh, shit, Dokugakuji thought, and the sick feeling only increased when Gyokumen Koshu flirted with him, watching Kougaiji's face darken with anger out of the corner of her chilly eyes. But worst of all was when she stroked Kougaiji's cheek and whispered how much like his father he looked, how much alike indeed. Kougaiji's entire body stiffened, and his jaw clenched, but his hands trembled. Dokugakuji could see himself taking his sword and cutting the vile bitch down in an instant. He wanted to do it.
Later, at night, when Kougaiji lay asleep, Dokugakuji wrapped his arms around him and pulled his body close.
"I'll protect you," he whispered. "I won't let her touch you."
He prayed that this time it would not be an empty promise.