Well..This is not my first fic, but it is sort of the first I've ever posted on this site…. I wrote this as part of a composition some time ago. I've finally done enough to post the first chapter and here it is. The length will depend entirely on my mood I guess……

Disclaimers: I don't own any of the Saiyuki characters or anything.. don't sue me, I have totally no money.

A Journey- A Hakkai and Yaone story Chapter 1

Hakkai brushed his brown bangs away from his eyes. It was starting to get hot, and they were starting to annoy him. He grumbled within himself as he continued forging a path through the thick woods. Sweat trickled down his forehead and into his startling green eyes. The hair he had brushed back earlier flopped back into his eyes, and Hakkai resisted the urge to swear, and kept up his usual smiling facade. He was so used to being nice and cheerful that he could not suppress his smile, even when he was alone. What really annoyed him was his continued optimism, which started to exasperate even him after a while.

He thought, "I am going to kill Goyjo!" but kept on that small, slightly insane smile he had on all the time. It seemed to be an almost permanent fixture on his features.

Hakkai was on his way to meet his friends in Xuexiao, a large town that he would reach after about five more days of travelling through this dense forest. Hakkai was still a little irritated that none of the gang, not even Goyjo or Sanzo, had notified him about the change of meeting place. They had originally planned to convene in Hong-Nan, but when Hakkai finally reached there, all he found was a little, hastily scribbled note from Goyjo telling him to go to Xuexiao. That was why Hakkai was ploughing through the forest on foot. His loyal friends had even taken the Jeep with them.

Exhausted, he knelt down by a small spring that was fed by a large waterfall upstream. He couldn't see it, but he could hear the muted thunder some distance off. As he bent his head to taste the cool waters, he noticed a piece of cloth float past. Mildly curious, he lifted it from the water. It was wet and dripping, but he could still see a few traces of fresh blood on it.

Since he had nothing better to do, Hakkai decided to track the blood down to its source. It wasn't as if the others really needed his company or anything.

He strode upstream calmly, following the meandering track that the stream had made, ignoring the low shrubs and vegetation that grew beside the stream. When he rounded the bend, he saw a magnificent waterfall, but he noticed nothing except a forlorn figure lying on the shore, half in, half out of the water near the cruel rocks that lay at the bottom of the waterfalls.

His eyes narrowed when he thought he recognized the figure. No…it couldn't be…could it?

Hakkai ran up to her, his heart thudding painfully. When he drew near, to his relief, he saw that she was still breathing. Kneeling down, he lifted her out of the water.

He was shocked to see the horrible condition she was in. her long purple hair was tangled and matted, her clothes were torn…in rather… inappropriate places and she was covered with many scrapes and cuts. Hakkai blushed slightly and averted his eyes politely.

One of her legs was twisted at an unnatural angle, and her arms were covered with what threatened to become nasty bruises. She was bleeding profusely.

With amazing speed, Hakkai took out a blanket from his pack one-handed and placed her gently on in, careful not to aggravate any of her numerous injuries. He then set about to gather wood to make a fire, and soon, he had a fire crackling merrily

He knelt down beside her and proceeded to do all her could to help her heal. Unfortunately, with his limited skill, all he could do was close up her many wounds. He could not help the wound that had festered, or her broken leg. Shaking his head, he sighed and straightened.

Yaone stirred. Hakkai knelt down beside her again.

She opened her eyes drearily and saw Hakkai gazing down at her. She blushed when she saw his face. As if in response, his face was tinged with a slight blush too.

She stared up at him. "Hak-….-.kai?" she said slowly and painstakingly, as if every word caused her pain. "What gasp are you gasp doing here?"

He smiled down at her. "I should ask you that too. Where's Kougaji? What are you doing out here in the wilderness? And, most importantly, how did you get here?"

Something flickered within Yaone's eyes. "I fell into the water." She looked down, purposely avoiding his gaze.

Hakkai knew that that was not the whole story. He was about to question her some more, but something about her manner stopped him.

He didn't continue. He didn't want to push Yaone too far. In a way, he was fond of her. She reminded him of his dead sister, Kanan. A small jolt went through his heart. Hakkai winced. I Her /I memory could still hurt him, even after all these years.

"Okay," he said, smiling at her. "Accidents happen right?" He laughed, the laugh that Goyjo termed as totally psychotic. However, the laugh had a different effect on Yaone. She felt a warm flush run through her and she gave a tiny smile back to Hakkai, despite the pain she felt inside.

He sat there for a while, contemplating but came to himself with a jolt. "Sumimasen, I need to go look for food," he said, still smiling. He stood up and disappeared into the forest.

Yaone watched him go, and when she could see him no more, the tears that she had been holding back flowed freely, blurring her vision. The trees merged with the sky in a swirling green-blue.

Flashback

"Kougaji-sama, Kougaji-sama!" Yaone called the red-haired demon. "I'm sorry to disturb you but-"

"Yaone." Kougaji's voice was a monotone. His eyes were shrouded in shadow, and his head was bent.

"Yes Kougaji-sama?"

"I need to speak with you." His voice was still deadpan.

Yaone was a little surprised but she went over to him.

She stood before him. "Kougaji-sama?" she asked, her voice inquiring.

His voice and whole manner changed. He straightened up and his eyes gleamed with a frightening light.

"Yaone," he said between clenched teeth. "I need you to leave."

"Leave?" she said confused. "As in, go away for a little while?"

He shook his head vehemently.

"No. Leave. Permanently. Forever."

Yaone was shocked. "Kougaji-sama? Why..what have I done? Is there anything that I've done to displease you? Kougaji-sama, forgive me…I promise I'll not repeat whatever mistake I made…please, Kougaji-sama…"

Kougaji glared at her beneath the shadow on his face. "Don't you see?" he said harshly. "Your very presence annoys me. I hate the very sight of you. Leave. You bring me intense displeasure. I want to see no more of you."

Yaone's eyes filled up with tears. "Why, Kougaji-sama… what have I done? Please…give me another chance."

"Go away!" Kougaji's voice was filled with irritation and displeasure. "Get out of my sight! I want to see no more of you!"

Yaone slowly backed away from the man she had loved, and worshipped since she first saw him, and when he had saved her, she had committed herself entirely to him.

"No Kougaji-sama," she said softly, tears flowing down her face. "I will not leave. I swore my eternal fealty to you. I will not desert you until I die."

Kougaji swore. He advanced forward and stood menacingly in front of Yaone.

"I release you from that vow here and now. Get out of my sight, NOW! I don't want to see your face, I don't want to hear you voice, GO!"

Yaone wilted, as if he had hit her. She backed away, trembling from head to toe. She did not even feel the tears that were pouring down her cheeks. Her whole body was numb. She started running, in hope that she could escape from the hurt that was growing and growing, threatening to overflow within her. The next thing she knew was that she had fallen into some cool, embracing water, and she gratefully gave in to the reassuring current.

End Flashback

"Kougaji-sama…" she thought, trying to stop the flow of tears. "No…."

Hakkai came walking back. He was carrying some various wild plants and fruits.

He saw her tears. "Uhhh…sumimasen, is this a bad time?"

Trying to blink away her tears, Yaone shook her head.

Hakkai knelt by her again. "Are you sure you're alright?"

She was about to nod, when she caught sight of the knife he wore at his waist. Dazed and uncomprehending, she could only think of one thing. With a lunge, she grabbed at it. However, she was not quick enough.

Hakkai grabbed her hand halfway.

His eyes flashed, and his face was grave and stern. Yaone stared at him. This was a facet to Hakkai's personality that she had never seen before.

"I don't ever want to see anyone die before me again, Yaone," he said, face hard and unmoving.

"You don't understand…I have nothing to live for…why shouldn't I die?"

"Many people will be shaken and upset if you die, Yaone," he said, voice gentler.

Yaone felt something snap inside her. "Who cares if I die? Who would give a damn? I have totally nothing to live for, nothing! What have I to hold on to? There is nothing…this world is EMPTY! It's so empty…" she trailed off, sobbing. She was starting to get slightly hysterical.

Hakkai's eyes narrowed slightly. He touched her forehead gingerly. It was warm. Too warm.

"High fever…and hysteria," he deducted. "Yaone?"

She stared dully at him. "I know."

He shook his head. "I can't do anything about fever." His eyes clouded over, and his brow furrowed.

Yaone felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe I can die. Maybe he will leave me here… maybe.

Hakkai straightened, as if he had just made a decision.

Yaone was shocked as she felt herself being hoisted onto Hakkai's back.

"Nani!"

"I'll get you to a doctor, even if I have to carry you all the way." He turned round to smile at her. "I won't let you die."

Ignoring her feeble protests, he gathered up all his things with one hand and started walking.

At first, Yaone struggled and beat Hakkai's back without the slightest effect. However, after a while, she subsided.

"Why?" she sobbed into his warm back "Why are you helping me? Why don't you let me die?"

Without stopping to look at her, he answered, "I don't want anyone to ever take his or her own life. I think of that as an abomination." The vehemence with which he said that shocked her.

Yaone was shocked at the fierce vehemence with which he said that. He steadily plodded on, ignoring leaves and branches that were in his way. He just charged through with a fierce determination, taking no heed to anything.

She thought that she had angered him, and was about to apologize when he turned his head to look at her. Still walking, he gave her the little polite smile he always wore. "Sumimasen, are you hungry? If not, I'll keep on walking."

Shocked at the great pace at which Hakkai's emotions changed, all Yaone could do was shake her head in negation.

"Okay!" he said, happily. He trudged on.

Throughout that journey, Yaone's condition worsened. Her fever slowly lapsed into delirium, and Hakkai had quite a bad time.

When under the influence of her fever, Yaone did very strange things. For a while, she had no consciousness of her surroundings. She kept having memories back to her recent past.

Once in a while, she would scream, "Kougaji-sama!" and grabbed wildly around. Unfortunately for Hakkai, on several occasions…

"Ya-….one…-san….I…would…appreciate…it…" through gritted teeth "…if you…would kindly…release…your hold….there…"

All in all…Hakkai did not have a pleasant time.

Back at a certain castle…

"Kougaji-sama!"

Kougaji turned to look at his subordinate, Dokugakuji.

"Did you get any information?" he asked anxiously.

The dark haired man nodded. "We trekked down her journey…she fell into a river. After that…we don't know."

Kougaji slammed his fist into the wall, frustrated.

"I told you, on no account let her out of your sight!"

Dokugakuji looked away, meditative. "Why did you let her out of your sight in the first place?" he asked, careful to keep his tone totally neutral.

Kougaji glared at him. " I wanted her to be more independent. She relied too much on me. I couldn't see her like that."

"But why.." Dokugakuji looked down. He couldn't say it. He didn't want to aggravate his master more.

"Why did I tell hurt her to that extent?" asked Kougaji, voicing out his thoughts for him. "She would have never left had I not done that. I had to hurt her, enough to make her leave. Even though she is my subordinate, everyone has pride. They can only be pushed that far."

"You say one thing, but your heart says another. Kougaji-sama, be honest with yourself," said Dokugakuji as brusquely as he dared.

"What!" Kougaji turned to glare at him.

"I'm sorry if this angers you Kougaji-sama, but I get the feeling that you aren't speaking the truth."

Kougaji's eyes narrowed. "I'm not?" his tone lowered, becoming more dangerous and hostile.

Dokugakuji smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, Kougaji-sama. Forget that I even mentioned it." He turned away and walked to the door. At the doorway, he paused for a while and turned his head over his shoulder to look at the still smouldering Kougaji. "But, Kougaji-sama, you really should be honest with yourself, if with no one else." With that, he left.

Kougaji just stared blankly at the empty doorway. "I'm honest with myself…aren't I?"

Hakkai was in a dilemma. He stood by the large stream for a while. The cessation of movement woke Yaone up. This was one of her more comprehensible moments, when she actually knew what was going on. She lifted her head feebly, and saw the large body of water up ahead.

"Oh, no matter," she said, trying to keep her tone cheerful "You can just leave me here, and you can be on your way in no time at all."

Hakkai said nothing. He narrowed his eyes for a while, and came to a decision. Yaone was transferred from his back, and he now cradled her in his arms.

"Nani!" from Yaone.

"Sumimasen, Yaone-san. But this is the only way." He smiled again, the smile that made Goyjo quail and quiver.

"What are you going to do?" asked Yaone.

"Well, since I obviously can't swim through it, or go under it, there's only one way."

Bracing himself, Hakkai took a running start and leapt. Under normal circumstances, he could have cleared the stream, no sweat. Unfortunately, he was carrying Yaone, and he severely miscalculated. He landed directly in the stream with a huge splash, just a few centimetres away from firm ground.

"Sumimasen!" he said, laughing. "I'm so sorry!"

Yaone could only smile weakly. She shivered slightly, feeling the cold, glacier-fed waters of the stream.

He noticed her slight shivering and was immediately shocked and remorseful.

"Oh no!" he said, eyes widening. "And you're already ill!"

He rushed out of the water as quickly as he was able. He deftly collected materials and made a large fire.