Chapter 12 - Destiny Against the Darkness

"Talking"

Thinking

Someone else's thoughts

*Action*

**I do not own Saiyuki storyline or characters**

Re-cap

That's it! I remember, I saw him that night. I killed this man before! I'm sure of it! Hakkai thought to himself as he looked at his hands. The comments and Hakkai's reaction made Rayla think, Perhaps he is one of his own Shikigomi?

"That's enough getting to know you. I gave this some thought and as you can see I knew there was one way I could make you suffer the most. That would be to make your friends suffer for your misdeeds." Chin Yisou told them with a twisted smile.

Goku didn't like that comment at all, "Hey! That's really low!"

Chin Yisou readied an attack again, "Oh please. You flatter me." His attack barely touched them as it landed infront of Gojyo, "I admit the beautiful young women and the golden eyed boy have been a real barrel of laughs. Stay sharp!" He threw more at Sanzo who merely caught them all between his fingers before dropping them to the ground.

"Because next time, he really is going to lose some of his little play buddies. "

"You just try it." Sanzo said with a glare as they all faced off against the twisted demon from Hakkai's past.

The five companions stood only a few feet from their enemy, Chin Yisou, who had a massive grudge against Hakkai. Since he wanted to make Hakkai suffer he chose to attack the four friends he traveled with, Sanzo stood infront of all of them with Hakkai and Rayla behind them and Gojyo and Goku further behind. Rayla wasn't sure if it was the heartless things this demon had done or if it was the fact he chose to harm people she never opening admitted she cared for but she was furious.

"What's going on? Why is neither one of them moving?" Goku asked unsure.

Gojyo answered since the other three were focusing on the enemy, "Their both looking for an opening."

"Hey! You dirty old bastard!" Goku called out to him.

"Hm."

"Ya you! You hurt my Ray-Ray, your gonna pay for that! But you just try and do something to Sanzo!" Goku warned him taking a defensive stance.

Chin Yisou was hardly fazed, "Oh my compliments! Your pet is quite a loyal companion I have to say!"

"Goku stand back!" Sanzo yelled at him.

Rayla jumped infront of Goku in a protective way as Chin Yisou smirked already knowing how she would react, "Touch him and you die!" She growled out with her blades crossed just infront of her chest.

"Your women howls to much for my taste." Yisou said before sending more needle like attacks at Goku's already wounded leg. With an outward flick of her blades she knocked them away from causing any harm to Goku.

He blinked before looking at her with a sheepish smile, "Thanks Ray-Ray."

Yisou landed on one of the tree branches, "There's a lot of bark from you, young lady. Waste of time to protect a mutt that can't even stand on it's own paws."

"Dude... Do you really have a broken leg?" Gojyo asked earning a glare from Rayla as she helped keep Goku up again.

Goku was annoyed as well since Rayla was the only one who seemed to care, "I told you that already!"

"Are you deaf and stupid?" Rayla snapped annoyed for some reason.

Chin Yisou came down from the tree branch with ease as he landed in between them all and listened to the three of them bicker as Hakkai got an idea, "Sanzo. Let's split up while he's not looking."

"Yes, Good idea. Rayla hasn't fully recovered yet so Gojyo needs to watch her and I'm betting Goku's not at his best either." Sanzo agreed as he readied his gun with a click.

"Ready?" He asked Hakkai, "GO!"

*BANG!*

Chin Yisou dodged the bullet and went into the air aimed for both Hakkai and Sanzo, "Cowards! Attacking while my back is turned."

"Alright so it's my turn now!" Said Hakkai as he summoned a ball of chi between his hands.

He blasted Chin Yisou in the gut sending him backwards and through twins tree's inches apart before he flew back further in the forest.

Sanzo looked at the group, "Were going after him!"

"Gojyo you stay here with Goku and Rayla!" Hakkai called out.

*Irk Mark* "I'm going, I am uninjured, Assholes!" Rayla growled out.

Hakkai was too worried about her well being, "You were shot Ray! You stay he-"

"I swore to repay you all so over my dead body! Fighting is all I know, it's all I can do. It's my only use!" Rayla cut him off with a determination in her voice he had never heard before. Hakkai looked at Sanzo who already knew how she would react but it didn't shake the stunned looks from the others.

He glared at the two, "Come on were losing time!"

Hakkai wanted to argue but Sanzo was right, the three them left their two companions and ran in the direction their enemy had gone. The fog still covered the forest as they began to slow down to see if any of them could at least sense his presence.

"We haven't lost sight of him have we?" Hakkai asked looking at Sanzo.

Rayla was able to keep the pain she felt from showing through and answered the same time as Sanzo, "No."

Hakkai looked at her as Sanzo continued, "I am sensing something else though."

"It's feels similar to time when we fought that crab shikigomi." Rayla informed them to confirm Sanzo's own.

"CHIN YISOU, IF YOU WANT TO KILL ME YOU HAVE TO SHOW YOURSELF EVENTUALLY!" Hakkai yelled into the forest tree's, it was almost too quiet.

No answer came but Sanzo knew he'd be around, "He's sure to be around here somewhere. At the moment he's planning have you watch me and Rayla die right infront of your eyes."

"No." Hakkai said in almost a monotone voice making Sanzo looked over his shoulder and Rayla look in his direction, "That's not what he's after he wants to destroy my soul Sanzo."

"That bastard. I was sure I had killed him that night but there's no mistaking those eyes..." Hakkai said drifting in to his memories.

The ting of Sanzo's lighter brought them out of his thoughts, "Sorry to tell you Hakkai but smoking will be what kills Sanzo's dumb ass." Rayla muttered to him earning a small smile but only for an instant as Sanzo continued to puff on his smoke.

"Sanzo?"

"What is it? Ask me something stupid and I'll kill you!"

"Okaayyy, maybe I shouldn't then. Rayla?"

"Are you trying to annoy me?". "What doesn't annoy you Monk?" Rayla snapped him for his rude behavior, They glared at one another till Hakkai broke their silent stare down.

"Do you think it's okay for me to be here?"

They were all quiet but Rayla smiled knowing what Sanzo was very likely going to say to him as he flicked the ashs off his smoke, "See... That was stupid. Now I have to kill you."

"Was it really?" Hakkai asked looking at Rayla and she nodded in agreement, "Hakkai, I have already told your a wonderful man, even a great friend. I can admit that I trust you with my own life."

"I know you would never betray me. Am I right?" Sanzo told him still glaring at Rayla thinking she was telling the truth but over acting.

Hakkai was surprised by both of their answers but still hung his head, "That's not a fair question. Is it? We've never really been in a position to find out."

Else where in the forest...

Heavy panting was heard through the quiet and thickly fogged forest, "Ah! That branch just hit me in the face!" Goku whined.

"Will you stop struggling! You can't even stand by yourself!" Gojyo yelled back at Goku who was positioned on his shoulders as he ran to catch up with their comrades.

Goku was impatient, "Can't you go any faster?"

"Stop your whining, I need to concentrate on where I'm going!"

"In circles it looks like. Do we even know Hakkai, Sanzo and Ray-Ray went this way?"

"It's Hakkai's mental state I'm worried about..."

"I'm sure he'll be alright, man. He told me as long as there's people out there who believe in him he'll find a way to survive. He'll do anything in his power not to let them down."

"Yeah but he said that before he had a crazy fortune teller trying to kill him."

Both their faces were thoughtful and concerned for their friends, "I'm sure he'll be alright, remember Ray's there."

"Hold on, I'm speeding up monkey boy!"

"STOP CALLING ME THAT WATER SPRITE!"

Back with the other three...

They continued to wait for Chin Yisou who was likely to come for them before they all felt the same chilling sense. Rayla could feel his aura warp around that mans body and killing intention he held.

"He's on the move now..." Sanzo stated as they waited in the quiet forest. More of the needle like weapons flew in their directions as they all jumped back from the attack. Hakkai almost got sliced on his face but Rayla took the attack by sticking her palm out as it sliced through the skin on her right hand.

The attacks went up the tree giving away Chin Yisou's position, "Over there!" Sanzo called out.

The sinister chuckle was heard from the demon who stood on the branches of the tree's in front of them, "Aw how sweet. A little heart to heart before the big far well, Your female friend will be the easiest to kill off."

Hakkai looked at Rayla's bleeding hand that had already begun to heal, "Bring it old man!" She dared him showing Hakkai her healing hand to calm his concern.

"Listen, were through with playing this game of hide and seek with you! Come down here!" Sanzo yelled at him becoming utterly angry.

"Is that so? You two do seem to be close..." Chin Yisou taunted Rayla and Sanzo making Hakkai glare, "Very well, I'll take as little of your time as possible, Heheehe. This will be over quickly." Yisou jumped down from his perch.

"Cho Gonou! You killed my entire clan for the sake of one women. I hope she was worth it."

"For one single women who was my entire life."

"Not only did you kill my entire clan but you had the audacity to kill my father. He died by your hands, no?"

Sanzo didn't really care, "Your breaking my heart.". "When will he stop his whining and fight?" Rayla stated her hands on the handles of her weapons.

"Aw, what giving friends you have there Cho Gonou. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you found two more companions who you'd just hate to see die." Yisou said as he walked towards them.

Hakkai glared with a dark look on his attractive face, "It's me your after so go ahead and try to do what ever you can to me but them... I will personally see to it that you never lay on finger on them!"

"Ahaha, I can't lay a finger on the monk and his women, you say? Ahahaha!" *Irk mark* "I am not his women!" Rayla stated with a glare but on received a bone chilling smirk.

"Perhaps you belong to Cho Gonou, how delicious! If I can't lay a finger one them how will I kill them? Ohh what to do, what to do? Quite a predicament... Tell you what..." Chin Yisou opened his eyes at that moment, Rayla was stunned by the deep scarlet red he had, "Hakkai! You take care of the monk and women for me. I want to see your face! Show me the agony you suffer at witnessing your own crime."

Rayla looked at Hakkai with pure concern as he grabbed his head and his green eyes widened, Hakkai cried out as he fell to his knees and Rayla stepped closer to him.

"What is it?" Sanzo demanded not moving.

Hakkai tried to warn them making Rayla pause since she was the closest, "Stay... back! Please... don't come near me!"

"Hakkai!" Rayla called as she stepped closer with Sanzo at her side, "Hakkai!"

His fist came up for Rayla's jaw but Sanzo stepped in the way taking the shot himself by knocking her to the ground, That was when Rayla saw Hakkai had aimed for the throat. Sanzo was clearly in pain, "H-Hakkai..."

"SANZO!" Rayla cried out going for Hakkai's arm but more needles were thrown to block her path, "Not so fast..." Chin Yisou taunted her.

"I-I can't control my own-" Hakkai started but Chin Yisou cut him off as he walked closer. Rayla pulled out both her blades not sure how to react, "What a frail creature you are, how easily I was able to work my way into the crevasses of your heart, Now hurry up and put him out his misery!"

"Never!" Hakkai denied at the same time, "NO!" Rayla cried before charging at Chin Yisou with a downwards swing, he dodged jumping back only hitting her when she was open as she continued to slash at him to earn the boys some time. If you have a puppet aim for the puppeteer!

"Why not can't you see that the poor boy is suffering because of you!" Yisou stated as he continued to dodge Rayla making her furious before kicked her back behind Sanzo and Hakkai, "This should be easy think of all the practice you've had. Just let go and do as you've done so many times before."

Rayla stood up holding her arm before she started towards them again only slower this time around, "What's one more death considering all the others that have died at your hands."

Hakkai's scream was echoed throughout the forest as Rayla cried out a loud 'NO' as well. Rayla grabbed Sanzo's body and pulled him slightly into her lap, "Stay with me monk! Come on, you can push past this and kill the bastard!" She chanted to him over and over as his opened and stunned as stared back almost empty. She remembered that look from the first time she had begun traveling with him, his dead eyes...

"Ah the memories! I can't tell you how nice it is to re-live the memory like this surely you remember the night... I died!" Chin Yisou continued to torment Hakkai but Rayla was holding Sanzo's limp body only half listening.

"How can he be alive? I killed him, I know I did!" Hakkai mutter to himself as looking at Sanzo who was in Rayla's arms.

Chin Yisou stood behind them, "Yes you did a fine job of slicing into me, must've had quite a bit of practice by being the man who became one of us by bathing in the blood of a thousand demons you slayed... but that night as I breathed my last I took this life piece and buried it deep inside my dying body though the opening you carved into my gut!"

Oh my god, this psycho turned his own corpse into a... a shikigomi! Hakkai thought as Rayla's own suspicions were confirmed.

"Do you know what possessed me to do such a terrible thing to myself? " Chin Yisou leaned down to Hakkai's right ear ignoring Sanzo and Rayla, "I did so that one day I could... make you suffer. So that one day you could feel the pain I felt!"

"It... can't... be..." Hakkai stuttered still stunned by the truth he now discovered.

Chin Yisou wasn't finished and far to confident of himself, "Lose a little bit of what I lost..."

"No!" Hakkai whispered.

"Until I took away everything you cared for..."

"NNNNOOOOOOOO!"

Hakkai looked at his hands that were still near Sanzo's neck, "S-Sanzo..." He continued to call his name trying to wake him, shaking Sanzo, till Rayla smacked his hands away pulling Sanzo's still body closer, "Stop it Hakkai!"

"Ray... I-I'm so sor-" Hakkai started but the hurt look in her eyes made him stop cold, "Apologies will do nothing... Kill the bastard Hakkai!" She demanded of him. Her violet eyes were holding back the sorrow in her heart, the look made Hakkai's heart crack. She was someone he could never think of bringing pain to, not since the day she made him realize what he was doing wrong. Rayla was oblivious to how much she meant to all of them, how much she supported them and protected them.

Hakkai tried to hold back the tears but Yisou was far from done, "See how easy that was, and I didn't even have to lift a finger... time for your little female friend-"

"Sanzo!" Rayla's head snapped up she recognized that voice from anywhere but sadly so did their enemy and at a moment like this was not a time for them to be there.

Chin Yisou had his malicious smirk on his face, "Look your friends have arrived, I guess you'll have a hard time explaining what you did... Maybe another show for them?" His focus sifted to Rayla who still held Sanzo, "Not much longer now... Soon you will have nothing left", She holds him tighter to her body, "Surely the anger and hatred is in her eyes."

Hakkai stood not looking at Rayla, He never saw hatred, only pain in her beautiful eyes. Gojyo and Goku stopped not far from Hakkai, "What's happened here? Ray-Ray are you alri-" Goku stopped short when he saw who she was holding, "Sanzo? Sanzo!"

"Are you two alright? Were not to late are we?" Gojyo asked her but she turned her head to bury it into his shoulder, "What did that bastard do?

Hakkai's voice was quiet as he admitted to the truth, "I did it."

"What?" The two boys asked together stunned, "Come again?"

"I did it..." Hakkai formed a ball of chi in his hand, "LOOK OUT!" Rayla called out to them as the chi was thrown in their direction.

The dust cleared and they found Rayla standing infront of the shot with her blades drawn, her clothing was torn and shredded, she shook slightly before falling to the ground, "RAY-RAY!" Goku cried out as she fell to her knee's.

She held her hand out to stop them but Goku wanted answers from Hakkai, "What are you doing Hakkai!"

Chin Yisou stood behind him as Rayla stumbled towards Hakkai, she placed her head onto his shoulder to earn some private words. Hakkai's eyes widened slightly before he knocked Rayla to the ground right onto Sanzo's chest, "RAYLA!" Goku and Gojyo called out to her together.

"It's really no use, he might as well be my very own puppet." Chin Yisou taunted the two new additions to their gathering.

Goku couldn't take the idea of Hakkai going against them, "Stop it Hakkai!"

Hakkai continued his assault as another ball of chi was formed into his hand ready for another attack, "Get out of the way Goku!" Gojyo yelled at him knowing Rayla was no longer fit to protect him.

"Take out the shield and the rest fall..." Yisou muttered but was stll heard. That was when Hakkai took the moment to launch his chi attack at their enemy as sent him flying backwards. Yisou hit a tree and fell to his knee's on the ground.

Blood poured from his mouth as he looked up at Hakkai, "It was all part of some stupid act."

"Don't play us for fools moron!" Sanzo was behind him with his revolver pointed at the back of his head.

0.0 Goku and Gojyo (Hehe)

"Wait a sec... You were just acting the whole time?" Goku asked dumbfounded.

Gojyo was still stunned as well, "I should've known, with that performance don't quit your day job. Rayla did have me convinced though..."

"Bite me!"

Hakkai stood up with Rayla on his side and a hand behind his head, "Didn't mean to scare ya!"

"I have to admit that I actually kind of enjoyed the show." Gojyo said in a lazy stance.

Chin Yisou added in his own bit, "I have to agree, quite a spectical."

"Hakkai would probably rather bite off his own tongue than strangle me to death. Rayla took the shots that would cause us harm since she has more strength than the rest." Sanzo explained glaring down at the blue haired demon.

Hakkai held Rayla a little tighter to his side, "You said it was easy to find the crevasses of my heart well my heart isn't big enough for crevasses, not when I have someone who cares a strong enough heart." He looked down at Rayla who was still battered and bruised but she returned the kind words with a warm smile, "Good to know..." Rayla stepped away from Hakkai over to Goku's side once more.

"You think you would've learned after the last time I killed you not to underestimate me fortune teller. The only difference between you and the rest of your clan... is that I get to kill you twice." The way Hakkai stood proud and strong made Ray stare in awe, she had rarely seen him like that and it was amazing.

Chin Yisou gave another dark chuckle, "What's so damn funny?" Gojyo demanded.

"I don't mind dying but you actually think you can defeat me with 'chi gong' technique? Do you?" Chin Yisou jumped into the air above the five of them, "Or perhaps your brave enough to fight without your demon power limiters as you did then!"

He aimed for Hakkai but he remained calm, "I see no need for something so rash."

"Oh?"

Hakkai formed a ball of chi in his hand, "Have you lost your mind?" Yisou asked as he got close to him.

Hakkai slammed the ball of chi into the Chin Yisou's gut with his hand following into the demons body, "I believe it was right about here, wasn't it? Where I stabbed you all those years ago."

Hakkai's chi flowed through out Chin Yisou's body making it highlight, "Your chi gong i-isn't powerful e-enough to hurt me."

"Oh I don't know, You'd be surprised. Chi gong is actually quite versatile."

Rayla listened to the gurgling and grunts their enemy gave as Hakkai fished around for the Mahjong piece lodged into Chin Yisou's chest before he ripped it out with a hard tug. Yisou collapsed into Hakkai's shoulder just as Rayla had done earlier, "I'm so disappointed in you... I-I excepted you to provide much... more entertainment than you did."

"Thank you very much. I guess I didn't do a very god job of following your script." Hakkai replied sarcastically not bothering to hold him up as he had Ray.

Chin Yisou chocked on his last breaths, "C-Cho G-Gonou..."

"No." Hakkai crushed the life piece, "My name is... Cho Hakkai!"

Chin Yisou still had the skin crawling smirk on his face, "How every ounce of my being despises you." His chin fell to the ground like a crumbling cookie, "Even in the end... I hate you!."

"What a coincidence... I feel the exact same way about you!" Hakkai said as the rest of the demons body crumbled to the ground, "At least I'm not a creature like you, without a past or a future."

The next morning the sky was bright blue and they had stopped outside the forest, Hakkai sat on the front of the jeep. Sanzo stood by a tree with Rayal leaning against it near him, Goku and Gojyo were arguing once again just below her knees.

"You pervy water sprite!" Goku yelled as Gojyo looked at Rayla's legs. She had changed from the shrine maiden pants into long tight black leggings and 2 inch heeled boots up to her knees, "What do you think your doing? Quit looking at her like that!"

Need less to say Gojyo was thrilled with her new outfit choice, "Ooooh I like it!"

*Irk mark* "It's one thing to write dirty things on his cast but to draw my legs?" Rayla growled at him looking at what he had written. 'Rare animal discovered, stupid monkey! Ameyoroshi. Waste of time, loved only by her legs. Rest in Peace' Near that was a horrible picture of her legs and monkey sounds.

Hakkai looked up as Goku snapped back, "I can't walk around with all this graffiti on my cast, it's insulting!"

"Will you shut up! Can't you at least be quiet while we re-set your leg?" *WHACK!* Sanzo hit him over the head with his fan before doing the same to Gojyo, "Don't write shit about Rayla on there!"

Rayla sighed and walked over the Hakkai who had a paper in his hands, "Oh now my head bone's broke, Ray Ray!" Goku whined at her.

"Try breaking his jaw bone huh?" Gojyo suggested.

Sanzo didn't argue, "Already one step ahead of you my man!"

"Don't even joke about it, Ray-Ray will kick both your asses!" Goku stated with the very women who turned back to glare at the two. Sanzo turned his head to the side in a huff while Gojyo walked over to her bashful but still wrapped an arm around her neck and brought her with him over to Hakkai.

Gojyo chuckled at her dirty glare as they came up him, "You know I enjoyed that."

"I can't agree." "Your off-ally energetic. Ray you should be recovering from your injuries." Hakkai argued making her sit beside him.

She leaned her head on his shoulder noticing the slight pink he had on his cheeks before he turned back to Gojyo, "Your sure one to talk, You look as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders."

"I suppose. You know in a funny way that fortune teller did me a huge favor. I have been carrying my past around with me for so long. I suppose it was only a matter of time before I had to confront that past of myself again."

"Hm."

Rayla looked at Hakkai as he raised his hand into the air again looking at his palm, "You know, I'm wishing my life line was just a teensy bit longer than what it is at the moment."

"Ya?"

"I guess that means that I just have to get used to the idea that I have to make good use of the time I have left." Rayla held her hand up to his and he smiled knowing hers was even shorter.

"No!" Goku popped up between them all with a black marker in hand, "I got a better idea, try this." Goku drew a longer life line on both their hands, "How's this?"

*WHACK!* Sanzo hit Goku with his old man fan again making Rayla hop off the hood of the jeep to go for Goku, "You dumb ass can't you at least pick up after yourself?"

"That hurt... Ray-Ray..."

Rayla threw a pebble at Sanzo but he dodged and grabbed her around the waist, "Try it again and I shoot you." He warned her looking her in the eyes at Gojyo laughed at their expense.

"Last time I help you stupid monk!" She growled into his ear not noticing the shiver that passed through his body. He wouldn't bring feelings into this... would he?

Sanzo noticed her stare and reaction, a small smirk appeared on his face, "I know I'm good to stare at but a photo will last longer..."

*Irk* Scratch that thought... Her brow twitched becoming more annoyed as her stare turned in to a heated glare, she removed herself from his grip before throwing another pebble and missed again.

"Do it again!" Gojyo urged making an irk mark appear on both Goku's and Rayla's head. She picked Goku up and tried to keep him from Sanzo's old man fan while the others continued their own conversation.

Hakkai stared at his hand, "Ah! This is permanent ink!"

"Yepp, permanent ink!"

"Will you look at that it's not going to come off!"

"Nope, not coming off!"

Hakkai smiled, "I guess that's alright."

"Everybody, let's move out!" Sanzo ordered sick of arguing with Rayla over Goku.

Gojyo expected that, "Right with ya!"

"Maybe if we have steak my bones will heal quicker!" Goku suggested with an adorable smile.

"Like hell they would." Sanzo said at the same time as Rayla agreed, "I will make you one when we get to a town."

"WOOHOO!"

**Sorry for the long wait, I'll try to get another one up a.s.a.p. Thank you to all my wonderful readers, your motivation got me going!**