NEVER LET GO

Disclaimer: Do I look like owning Saiyuki?

Author's Note: Yeah! I'm updated!! Are you still here, guys? Thanks a lot!! This chapter is dedicated for neko-chan, for being reeeally nice since the first story! And since you're an anonymous reviewer, I can't reply on your review, so this is the only way to express my gratefulness!! Well, I believe you don't want to read more about boring me, so here comes the story! Hope you'll enjoy it!!

P.S: Homura... die and root in the hell!

CHAPTER ONE

BEFALL

(Sanzo-ikkou at the town. Hakkai and Goku are grocery shopping)

"Ha-Hakkai… don't you think this is a bit… too much…?" Son Goku's childish voice sounded pleading as the man whom he spoken to added more things into their supply bags.

"Ano na, Goku… we're going to be traveling in the desert for the next three days. Do you really want to starve or run out of supplies in the middle of desert?" Cho Hakkai's kind voice responded as he added more shopping bags into the boy's already-full-arms.

Goku sighed as he tried his best to get hold of all the bags, "Of course I don't want to! Demo… We've already spent too much time shopping, and I'm wondering how's Sanzo…"

Hakkai chuckled, "Maa, maa, Goku, you're worrying too much. Don't worry, Sanzo is with Gojyo. He'll be perfectly fine."

"That's why I'm worried! Sanzo can never stand that ero-kappa!"

Hakkai laughed at Goku's blunt answer, "I guess you're right, Goku. Let's see… we're nearly finished here. Now all we need are cigarettes and beer for Sanzo and Gojyo… Let's go, Goku." The older man led the younger man away.

"Ne, Hakkai… I just can't understand why adults like Sanzo and Gojyo like cigarettes and beers… I mean are they good?" the young heretic asked after some time.

Hakkai stopped to think before he turned to face the boy with smile on his face, "Well… for most people like Sanzo and Gojyo those things are good, but some don't think like that. Have you ever seen me smoking before?" Goku shook his head as Hakkai smiled, "So, if you don't want to, then just don't do it. You don't have to follow whatever Sanzo's doing Goku, if you don't like it. Sanzo might be your guardian and caretaker, but you have your own mind."

Goku nodded enthusiastically, "You're so awesome, Hakkai! You're the best man ever!! When I grow up, I wanna be a great man like you!!"

The green-eyed youkai blushed a bit, "You're over-praising me Goku. You don't have to be me, just be yourself, okay?"

"But I wanna be a great and wise man like you!!" the golden eyed boy insisted.

Hakkai smiled, "Well, you can be your enthusiastic and happy-go-lucky self, Goku. I like you the way you are."

Goku looked at the older man with his bright golden eyes, "Hontou? You like me, Hakkai?" the taller man nodded. Goku cheered and proceeded to hug Hakkai the best he can with his arms full of supply bags, "Sankyuu!! I like you too, Hakkai!!"

Hakkai froze when Goku hugged him so suddenly, but he quickly pulled himself together and rubbed Goku's head gently and spoke softly, "Thanks Goku. Now, lets continue with our shopping? I can't imagine what Sanzo would do if he caught us like this…"

Goku immediately released his hug and muttered, "Ah… gomen, Hakkai, I'm just so happy…"

Hakkai smiled, "Its okay. I'm not mad at you, not at all. In fact, I'm happy, you said that you like me…" For some reason, Hakkai had a strange feeling that this might be the last time he could talk to the golden-eyed boy like this… Like he would never see this happy Goku again…

"Daijoubu ka, Hakkai?"

Hakkai snapped out from his daydream, "Ah… Iie, gomen Goku, I'm just daydreaming… Now, let's go shopping, shall we? Sanzo and Gojyo are waiting."

The golden-eyed heretic nodded cheerfully and the two of them proceeded to shop for supplies. They were unaware of a pair of mismatched eyes that followed them. Or to be precisely, one of them.

On top of a roof , Toushin Homura Taishi smirked as he spied upon his golden-eyed angel. He felt a slight jealousy towards Cho Hakkai. How dare that reincarnation of Tenpou Gensui get himself hugged like that by his beautiful Son Goku? Oh, while he, Homura, could only dream about affections he hoped Goku would show to him someday.

No matter, Homura thought. If the plan works, Son Goku will be his this time. He won't be weak anymore. He won't easily let the boy go. Homura licked his lips, his hand brushing his raven hair as he observed the innocent young heretic. You will be mine, Son Goku. Mine, and only mine. I will not share you to anybody else. I will never let you go, I swear. Mine, forever. Zutto…

"Ne… Hakkai?" Goku's voice interrupted between their shopping.

"Hm? What is it, Goku?" the motherly man answered with his kind voice.

"Mm… I've got the strange feeling like someone's watching us… do you feel the same, too?" the young heretic asked, his voice carrying a tinge of anxiety.

Hakkai frowned, "Hmm... Now that you mention it, I also have had the feeling of being followed for the past few days…"

The youth's face grew grim, "So, do you think we're being stalked? But why? Are they after Sanzo? Again??" His innocent face showed a certain worry for his master's safety. Hakkai smiled to calm the boy.

"Eto… Goku, there's no proof that we really are being stalked, so don't worry. As for Sanzo… well, I believe being attacked has been his usual daily meal…"

But now even the patient and smiling Hakkai couldn't calm the boy down completely. His golden eyes still showed fear and worry. Hakkai sighed as he continued to speak.

"Well, if you really are worried, I think we should go back and check. Don't worry, we'll find Sanzo and Gojyo perfectly fine. This is what you want, ne, Goku?"

Goku's face brightened up a bit, "Hai! Sankyuu, Hakkai!" He followed the older man walked back to the inn. "Gomen…"

Hakkai, who was still smiling towards the boy, frowned a bit at Goku's apology, "For what? You didn't do anything wrong, Goku."

Goku bowed his head as he walked behind the older man, hands clutched tightly against the bags he was holding, "For making you worry and all… Forcing you to go back all of a sudden… Worrying for no reason… Gomen, Hakkai, I just couldn't stand it… Somehow, I feel… never mind." He forced a smile. Hakkai turned to face the boy.

"Oh, Goku, you didn't do anything wrong by being worried and sensing things. It is okay to worry about the person you care about… But just don't over do it, okay?"

Goku stared at Hakkai with his luminous golden gaze, "H-Hai! Arigato, Hakkai, you always know how to calm my feelings… you're a great friend and all… I like you very much, Hakkai." Then he gave the older youkai one of his best smiles.

Hakkai smiled back, although he's rather blushed, "Why, thanks a lot Goku. Now, let's go back, shall we?" He smiled as he saw the boy nodded enthusiastically and turned his back and proceeded towards the inn.

Suddenly he heard a gasp behind him followed by the sound of bags being dropped.

Hakkai quickly turned and yelled,

"Gokuu!!"

To Hakkai's surprise, Homura was holding Goku's unconscious form; the said Toushin's face held a satisfied smirk. The shopping bags Goku was previously holding were scattered on the ground.

"Let Goku go, Homura!" Hakkai yelled automatically.

Homura just smirked, "Make me," he challenged.

Without thinking twice, Hakkai charged to Homura, prepared to attack the Toushin. The half-heretic just smirked as he quickly jerked Goku's head by pulling his brown hair and put his flaming sword to the boy's exposed neck. Hakkai froze and stopped, not daring to move.

Homura's smirk grew, "What's wrong, Tenpou Gensui? Go on, if you really want Son Goku to lose his head," he said threateningly with satisfied smirk.

Hakkai swallowed hard as he tried to keep calm, "You wouldn't dare, Homura. I know that you won't hurt Goku. I know you need him," he hissed.

Homura laughed, "Yes, it is true that I need him, but," his mismatched eyes glowed with madness as he put his sword closer to Goku's neck; the sword touched the skin and created a thin line of blood that dripped to the edge of sword, "who said I won't dare to hurt him?" Homura smirked as he leaned over Goku to lick the blood on the boy's neck.

Hakkai gave Homura his deadliest glare, "You're sick! What've you done to Goku, Homura? What are you going to do with him?!"

The Toushin Taishi just smirked as he supported Goku's limp body with his arms and half-carried him. "Well, one thing to say, Tenpou Gensui. Son Goku wasn't going mad by sensing things and all. It's true that I've been stalking you these past few days; or to be precisely, stalking him," his smirk grew as he stared at the youth's face he was holding, "It seems that he has gotten better at sensing me. He has definitely gotten stronger. Strong enough for my plan." The Toushin added to himself.

Hakkai's face remained calm, but his murderous glare started to appear; not to mention his dangerous aura, "I don't care whatever plan you have for Goku, Homura. But I said, let him go. You will not take him away again, not while I'm here."

Homura laughed at Hakkai's words, "You're not really thinking of challenging me, are you, Tenpou Gensui?"

Hakkai stared at Homura, with pure murderous intent, "I do. I won't let you take Goku away, not again. Remember what happened the last time you took him away? I will not let the same thing happen again."

Homura's face darkened as he, too, remembered the event, "That will never happen again. I promise this time, I will not lose Son Goku. I will take care of him. I will keep him this time. Forever."

This time Hakkai's face darkened, "Oh no, you won't. You have to go through me!" With those words, he charged towards the smirking Toushin Taishi.

Author's Note: Sorry for the shortness... and rather cliffy as usual...;;;

I know this chapter is a mess... and Homura's a real bastard here... reason why will be explained in the next chapter

And a lot of spoiler from my prequel, I must say... there will be more in the next chapters so I recommend you to read Never Too Late first before reading this.

And as usual, tell me what you think! Stay tuned for the next chapter!!

-ry0kiku