i know that i have a ton of other projects that i should be finishing up, not starting something new. but i did--and its about a week old, actually. cross-posted to (or, to be truthful, this is the cross-post ;P), this piece has gotten some decent feedback so far. i decided that it would be good to post it here. make myself look more rounded, fandom wise. or something.

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SAIYUKI, ITS CHARACTERS OR SETTINGS. THIS IS WRITTEN JUST FOR FUN AND ZERO PROFIT. I ALSO DO NOT OWN THE SONG "MY LAST BREATH" BY EVANESCENCE.

hold on to me love
you know I can't stay long
all I wanted to say was I love you

and I'm not afraid

Evanescence, "My Last Breath"

They attacked at night. Silent steps and cover of darkness gave the youkai the perfect opportunity for a sneak attack. Had Gojyo or Sanzo been on watch, it might have succeeded.

But Goku could scream loudly enough to wake the dead.

The other members of the party responded almost before his warning shout was finished. Hakuryu rekindled the fire, providing the others with light as Sanzo and Gojyo drew weapons and met their nearest attackers. Hakkai moved into the shadows behind their attackers, hoping to turn their surprise tactics against their enemies and catch them in a pincer style attack.

As a result, none of the others saw the blow that took down the healer. But they all heard him scream.

Gojyo's response was immediate. He dropped his staff and sprinted to his friend's side. Seeing their companions' state of defelessness, Sanzo and Goku moved quickly to cover them.

It was several minutes of bloody battling before the priest and the monkey could look back to the others and check on Hakkai's condition. When they did, Sanzo cursed fluently. Goku cold only stare in open-mouthed shock.

The group's gentle healer lay broken and bleeding in Gojyo's arms. Hakkai was covered in so many long slashes that his shirt was gone and his body was drenched in blood. A pool of the crimson fluid was spreading, soaking the ground and the kappa as he held his friend close.

"Hakkai," he whispered desperately, panicked tears running down his face, "What do I do?"

Hakkai looked up at Gojyo through slitted, glassy eyes and gave his best friend a weak smile. "Just…hold me. I don't…there isn't anything…else that can be done."

The half-breed shook his head in denial. "Don't say that. There's gotta be—"

"Shh…" The healer's slender fingers weakly threaded themselves in crimson hair. "Its…its all right. It doesn't hurt anymore."

The water sprite tried to choke back a sob and failed. "Hakkai…"

"Its all right, Gojyo. I'm not afraid." He smiled again. "Thank you for everything."

"Stop it, Hakkai. It sounds like you're saying goodbye."

"I…Gojyo…I love you."

It was a long moment before any of the party realized that his declaration of love for Sha Gojyo were Cho Hakkai's final words. Instead of the anguished scream Sanzo expected from the kappa at this realization, Gojyo buried his face in the bloody mess that had been Hakkai's chest and wept. Beside the priest, Goku flung his arms around his keeper and did the same.