Had to be Fate

Hakkai lay awake in a bed he'd never thought he would be in. He stared between the ceiling, where the pitter-patter of rain echoed and the blonde head that was currently lying against his chest. As for Sanzo, he was sleeping soundly, bringing in quiet deep breaths to fan his exhalation over the expanse of Hakkai's upper body.

"Did you really choose me Sanzo? There is so much we still don't know about each other, well mainly, I don't know about you. Could you really choose so suddenly? How can you sleep so easily? Don't you realise its raining?"

"How can you not sleep easily?" Came the sudden gruff question from the body above him as Hakkai's eyes peeled from the ceiling and darted to Sanzo who now sat up, comforter falling to his waist as he glared narrowed eyes at the brunette.

"Y-You're awake Sanzo." Hakkai muttered, not realising as he spoke his thoughts that Sanzo would be awake so soon…and hear them as well. He wanted to figure things out within the piece and quiet of Sanzo's bedroom, of Sanzo's house and when it started to lightly rain, of all things, his mind began to clear.

"It seems to me, it is you who cannot let go of the past." Instantly Hakkai sat up watching Sanzo pull on some light blue jeans and observed as he threw the door open, the both of them staring at the wide-eyed 14-year-old in the hallway.

"Teme, you stupid monkey!" Sanzo growled out, ready to attack Goku but unfortunately wasn't able to when a pair of arms wrapped quickly around his shoulders from behind.

"Ne Goku, perhaps escaping to Lirin-chan's for a bit might be a good idea." Goku stared his large gold eyes at Sanzo's angry face (also taking note he looked like he was trying to fight off a blush) and the fact the two men were only dressed in their jeans as well.

"Hai!" Goku raced for the front door, he not once worried about the rain as he rushed out the door. Just when Hakkai was about to let go of Sanzo, he quickly tightened his hold when the two of them watched the short teenager pop his head back inside.

"Sanzo, you owe me so many meat buns for this!" And with that the door slammed shut resonating its echo down the hallway. Finally breaking the skin on skin contact with Sanzo, Hakkai waited for the blonde to explode.

"Did you know about this?" Amethyst turned to stare at emerald before taking a quick look at the semi clothed brunette before him, eyes taking a long hard look at the scar before quickly resting on Hakkai's pretty face once more.

"At first, no, but when I went to the bar and saw you there, things began to click in place. It appears two teenagers decided to play matchmaker."

"Damn little brats." Sanzo griped as he stared at the door.

"Are you really mad at them Sanzo? Do you regret?" The whispered questions tore his eyes up to reach Hakkai's but found the man looking away…and now found him with a shirt in his hand.

"I'll go make us something to eat." Hakkai smiled, pain being camouflaged by the quirk of his lips…or so he hoped as he headed off leaving Sanzo still standing in the hallway and looking at his retreating back.

Sanzo glanced back into his bedroom, finding sheets and other clothing littering the floor of his room as he stepped inside and swiping up a shirt, now realising that he was holding the shirt he'd practically ripped from Hakkai's body. None of the buttons were intact anymore and Sanzo couldn't care less as he threw it on and stormed down the hallway, ready to slap that fake smile from Hakkai's face. The brunette may of thought he hid fears of being rejected again from him, but Sanzo had finally seen a glimpse of that fear rush through his orbs.

Stepping into the living room Sanzo found the back sliding door open and stepped onto the porch, noticing the light rain and a certain male kneeling within it. Hakkai stared up at the cloudy morning sky; droplets of rain caressing his now chilled skin.

"I can see her right now, smiling her beautiful smile at me even when I stand in this rain after we slept together. Her smile isn't one of pain or hatred towards me. Kanan is happy for me…happy that I found the one I want to live with. It now just depends on you Sanzo."

"Why do you say that?" Sanzo stood on the porch, arms crossed over his chest while staring at Hakkai.

"Would you ever be able to feel the caress of rain against you Sanzo without feeling remorse for your own tragedy? Would you ever be able to look above and see whether Komyou Sanzo smiled down in happiness at you?"

"He always smiled." A chuckle broke the drizzle of rain as it began to slow down.

"Yes, I'm sure he did, but so did Kanan. She always smiled through everything and it intrigued me so to see whether I could break that smile…just once. I did of course, but even when she died, she continued to smile for me. In the end, after what she had experienced she still wanted me to live. And I do want to live…but…only with you Sanzo…if you allow me to." A creak of the steps jerked Hakkai's head into Sanzo's direction as he stood with droplets of rain dampening his shirt. With brunette bangs falling into his eyes and Sanzo's image slightly blurry for the fact he wasn't wearing his glasses, he watched the blonde tilt his head, eyes searching the clouds. They parted before him, a beam of sunshine dousing the two males in warm light.

A smirk crossed Sanzo's lips at the warmth of the sun caressing his slightly damp skin as his eyes opened to blink numerous times down at Hakkai who was by now looking at both his hands. A light tap on his shoulder jolted Hakkai from past thoughts as he turned his head up to see the lightly smirking Sanzo. He gapped at the image before him; eyes widening once more as Sanzo's right hand came out towards him.

"Come with me." Sanzo murmured, waiting for Hakkai to make up his mind. With his hand placed lightly against Sanzo's, Hakkai was then jerked to his feet.

"Go with you where Sanzo?"

"Inside you idiot, its warmer there!" The blonde muttered as he half dragged the schoolteacher inside. As Hakkai glanced down at their joined hands, the smile grew wider and happier as he was placed inside the warmth of Sanzo's home, the glass door sliding shut behind them.

Xxx One Month Later xxX

Sanzo sat typing at his laptop, fingers rushing over his keys as he was putting the last of his autobiography together. It hadn't gone the way he expected and he was sure there would be thousands to criticise him, but what did he care? His life was his own and no one would or could take that away from him.

As he sat at the laptop, hesitant only for a moment to write his last paragraph he moved back into past memories. It started with Komyou Sanzo, a man he loved and respected, but unfortunately was taken from him because of heart disease.

'You'll be just fine, Kouryuu, you'll see…'

That was one of the last things that were spoken to him before Komyou Sanzo passed away. To honour the always-smiling light brown haired male, Sanzo took his name and began to write for him. He'd been a novelist in his day, but wasn't able to finish his latest book, it being an autobiography of himself, because of his sudden illness. At first Sanzo had been surprised to notice Komyou was doing an autobiography on him, of his experiences with the young boy and now years later Sanzo was producing his own. It seemed a follow up to the Young Kouryuu and this one he was nearly finished on as the Adult Kouryuu.

Sanzo began to read over his previous paragraph making sure everything he wanted to say would soon be understood by Hakkai without him having to voice it aloud.

'Live for yourself was a mantra from the late Komyou Sanzo. I took that very seriously and completely to heart. With those words spoken to me at such a young age I'd always grown up with the knowledge of having to go out and get what I wanted. Never be afraid of the unknown and instead embrace it and plunge forward to get to where you want to be. I did that…and believe in that to this very day. I was living for myself, the best way I knew how and with that I came up with my own mantra, 'to live for myself, bond by nothing and no one'. However, things happen and your own opinions and decisions in life begin to change.'

Sitting back in his chair, Sanzo placed his cigarette back to his lips before cracking his neck as he began to type away at his last paragraphs.

'One day, out of the blue, I found myself bound to help something…or someone in this case. And then, without realising it while helping out a child in need, trying to do right by them to make sure they were clothed, feed and sent to school, another person came along to help me without wanting anything in return. I felt I didn't want any help…didn't need any help and so they were ignored. I hate burdens and people that cling to me like excess baggage, but this person, he was stubborn and decided to stay put and remain by my side until I drove him away. Even then, this person was brought back to me and the mantra of living for myself began to change.

My mentor, my friend, my parent, the one I cared most about in the world was right all along. Living for yourself is a tremendous challenge and one worth fulfilling, but finding that someone who wants to live with you…along side of you…is an even greater experience to behold. It's a feeling that many would experience in their own personal ways, but everyone is different and in the end, we are all looking for our own little piece of fate.

I have fortunately found mine in emerald eyes.'

Pushing his laptop away from his fingers, Sanzo dropped his head to his desk, eyes glued to the floorboards of his study. He'd finally placed feelings to paper as he lifted his eyes and hit the save button before filling the printer with loads of paper and hit the print button, his biography finally complete.

"I need…a drink…" Sanzo muttered to himself as he stood up and opened his study door and then closed it behind him. Just before he headed for the kitchen a click from the front door caught his attention. There in his entranceway was Hakkai who was currently taking off his sneakers and unbuttoning his coat as he placed it on the hat and coat rack near the door. Next came his scarf before Sanzo's eyes moved to white snow flurries sticking in Hakkai's hair. Finally the oblivious man took notice that he was being watched and darted his eyes to calm orbs.

"Ah, tadaima Sanzo." Hakkai spoke with a smile on his face as he headed towards the statue like writer who had all of a sudden come out of his study. For the past three weeks Sanzo had been very "moody" in the sense he was trying to finish his book, which Hakkai didn't know what it was about, but knew he'd be the first to read it when it was done before it was sent to Sanzo's editor.

For the past week or so Hakkai had been living here, helping Goku pass all of his tests and not just his History ones while sternly and stubbornly making Sanzo eat something that didn't consist of cheap take out food and coffee. He'd drag the frowning novelist away from his study ever night for at least half an hour to an hour so he could converse with not just him but also Goku. Not only that but at an ungodly hour each night, as Hakkai slept soundly, Sanzo would join him in his bedroom only to remain awake as he watched the brunette in wonder.

"What are you doing out of your study Sanzo, this is very rare to see you so early." Hakkai voiced while standing near Sanzo and looking over his slightly dishevelled and tired features. He lifted his hand, the ever care that he placed into what he did, especially when it came to Sanzo showed over his facial features as he straightened Sanzo's collar on his shirt and unruffled blonde bangs. Sanzo suddenly caught his hand and placed something cold and metal within it.

A key…

"Okaeri…" Sanzo mumbled watching Hakkai's smile grow as he nodded his head, not becoming overly mushie like Sanzo had first feared he would. Pocketing the single key to his new home Hakkai held up a plastic bag.

"I brought us food from Yaone-san's restaurant and found out that Goku was staying with Lirin tonight, which Yaone-san assured me she'd keep an eye on them since they were dating now. So would you like me to place your dinner aside?" Hakkai was ready to walk off, but gasped lightly at the sudden clutch of his unoccupied wrist within Sanzo's grasp and the fact he'd been suddenly pushed as well.

"S-Sanzo, what…hey the food…" Hakkai muttered as he dropped the food and was now walking backwards into Sanzo's and what was now his bedroom now.

"I've been avoiding you."

"Well you had your novel and…wait…have you finished it? Sanzo!" Hakkai was randomly questioning the blonde before he toppled onto the bed, the blonde above him showing a little more emotion and feelings then he was ever used too, not that he was complaining or anything.

"Just lie here with me."

"You mean under you."

"Shut up." Sanzo retorted instantly as he lay half over Hakkai. His head rested against the brunette's shoulder area while listening to the slow thumping heartbeat beneath his ear. He felt arms circle around him as Hakkai didn't make a big deal about what was with him today…and that was one of the things Sanzo liked.

"Will you let me read your book Sanzo?"

"Later…" Came the mumbled reply, the blonde smiling, the brunette not being able to see it and both pairs of eyes closed as they remained in the confines of the others arms. Contentment washed over the two men as they quietly lay within their shared embrace and the both of them silently vowed that their fate together would last a lifetime…and then some.

# The End #

Authors Notes: Mm, if it was short and stupid, my apologies, but I didn't want to go too mushie. Damn Sanzo for being hard to keep in character all the time. Ah well I've got to love those two, they gave me great ideas to work with. Anywho thanks to everyone who reviewed and liked my story, I hope it wasn't too disappointing of an ending. Well I don't have any Saiyuki ideas running in my head at the moment so I'll take a break and hopefully the fanart I am trying to draw for V-Day and everyone else's ideas will spark more plot ideas within me. For now though, see you later!