Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyuki Serial: Beautifully Broken Evolution ❯ 20 Dragon's Treasure ( Chapter 20 )

Author's Notes: I don't own a damn thing here except the smutty idea. Rights to the characters, as always, remains with their creator.

 

Self-beta job here. Thanks goes to those who helped/inspired/prodded me along.

 

// indicates words in Dragon

 

 

20 Dragon'sTreasure

 

~Hakuryuu~

 

I'd never really noticed how much time we all spent around one another. Now that I'd revealed myself to Hakkai and was sharing the pleasure of his bed, I was annoyed to no end with the small amount of time we actually had completely alone. I finally understood now why Sanzo and Gojyo were prone to long walks in the woods or going immediately to their rooms if we happened to be in a town. To have your lover within touching distance, yet not be able to actually touch them openly as you wanted….

 

I made a disgruntled noise as I shifted on the bed.

 

Sanzo was very ill. Gojyo was hovering and getting in Hakkai's way as my lover tried to determine just how unwell the monk was. I could smell the sickness coming from Sanzo and buried my sensitive nose under my wing, trying not to breathe too deeply. When that didn't seem to help, I gave up on blocking the foul scent and turned my head to watch what was going on. I hoped Hakkai would see the wisdom of placing Sanzo in a room by himself. I didn't want my lover laid low by whatever Sanzo had.

 

“Sanzo seems to have the flu, Gojyo. The best thing for him to do is get plenty of bed rest and drink lots of fluids. It should run its course in about a week. We're very lucky that we made it to this town before he collapsed like this. He's probably been sick for a few days,” Hakkai said as he straightened. Only the monk being deeply asleep allowed Hakkai to examine him as he had without protest or gunfire.

 

“He did seem to be bitchier than normal lately,” Gojyo murmured as he brushed the sweaty hair off Sanzo's forehead.

 

“You can heal him, right, Hakkai?” Goku asked as he turned pleading eyes on Hakkai.

 

“It's the flu, Goku. He'll be fine in a few days. Chi healing doesn't always work on things like colds and the flu. I'm not entirely sure why. I'll keep an eye on him but I don't believe he's in any danger. I do think we should move him to a separate room though. He needs quiet rest to get better.”

 

“I'll stay with him, Hakkai. Go get another room. Just make sure it has a big bed,” Gojyo said as he sat on the edge of the bed and started to take Sanzo's robe off.

 

“Hey! Why do you get to stay with Sanzo and take care of him?” Goku protested.

 

“Because I do, shit for brains,” Gojyo snapped with a glare.

 

Goku started to open his mouth to argue further. He snapped it closed when he looked in Gojyo's eyes. His gaze darted between Sanzo and Gojyo before he looked down and toed the floor.

 

“I'm just saying if you need help or want to go take a bath or a have a cigarette or something, I could watch him or… stuff.”

 

Gojyo stopped undressing the monk and ruffled Goku's hair with mumbled thanks. So, Goku knew there was something between Sanzo and Gojyo. Interesting. I wondered how he'd come to know that. There was going to be hell to pay when Sanzo found out that Goku knew about his relationship with Gojyo. This incarnation didn't like his privacy disturbed any more than when he'd been Konzen in heaven.

 

And this incarnation firmly believed in the use of a gun to vent his anger and frustration.

 

Hakkai came back to the room shortly with a key to the room next to us. Goku gathered up Sanzo's things while Gojyo slipped his arms under Sanzo and lifted the monk from the bed he'd collapsed on earlier. Sanzo roused enough to mumble death threats and struggle weakly in Gojyo's hold. Gojyo held him tighter, whispering for him to relax and let Gojyo take care of him. I knew then that Sanzo was indeed very sick when all the fight went out of him and he let Gojyo carry him to the next room. I heard the low murmur of Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku as they settled Sanzo. Hakkai came back into our room alone and proceeded to strip the bed that Sanzo had been laying on.

 

I shot a quick look at the door. Goku was still talking to Gojyo in the other room. I transformed into my humanoid form, shut the door softly and leaned against it. Hakkai raised his eyebrow in surprise at me. I usually never changed unless I was sure that we wouldn't be discovered. But, this forced stop was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. I pointed at myself and gestured away from my body while making the sound for `go' in Dragon. Hakkai frowned at me. He didn't know that word yet but I was fairly certain he'd know what I was trying to say. Hakkai was a smart man and caught on fairly quick to what I was trying to teach him.

 

“We can't leave, Hakuryuu. Sanzo's too ill. The rest would probably do you some good too. We've been pushing you very hard lately,” Hakkai said quietly.

 

//No, // I said softly as I repeated the new word and the gesture.

 

“You want to leave? Why?”

 

I let an annoyed growl trickle past my lips. This would be so much easier if I could just speak. I didn't want to simply disappear on Hakkai. With Sanzo so ill, he didn't need to be worrying about me as well but it couldn't be helped. I had no idea when another opportunity like this would come to me. I repeated the word and gesture again before approaching him. I pulled his head down for a fast kiss, stepping away from him sooner than I wanted to.

 

//Stay, // I commanded before I transformed back into a dragon and flew out the window.

 

Hakkai rushed to the window, calling me. I ignored him as I hovered in the air just out of his reach. This was something I needed to do. After concentrating for several minutes, I felt a gentle pull on my mind. Hakkai called to me again but I took off in the direction of the tug on my dragon senses. He'd understand when I got back. After all, I was going to get something for him that he'd been missing for five hundred years.

 

All dragons kept treasure. I don't know why we felt the need to amass such a thing. We certainly didn't need the monetary value of piles of gold and gems. My personal belief was that all dragons had an attraction for pretty, shiny objects. We were all probably kleptomaniacs of the highest order. Just because I'd been the General of the Western Army of Heaven didn't exclude me from collecting a treasure. Mine was quite impressive in size and content but I'd had millennia to accumulate it.

 

There was one unwritten rule among our species about dragon treasure. We never shared our treasure with each other. We were, by nature, a greedy and possessive species. Long and bloody battles had been fought over something as simple as a string of pearls stolen from a horde. Not that a long, messy fight stopped us from stealing things from each other. The fight was half the fun of acquiring new treasure. But, dragons shared their treasure willingly with only one individual.

 

The one who captures their heart.

 

I'd shared my treasure with Tenpou, although, I'm fairly certain now that he hadn't understood at the time the meaning behind the gifts of gems, sculptures and the odd scroll or book I though he'd enjoy. When Tenpou left heaven, he'd left everything behind with the exception of a necklace he never removed that had been my first gift to him when I realized he owned my heart. That necklace hadn't been something I'd found or `borrowed' from another dragon. The raw materials had taken time to find, but we were gods and time was one thing we had plenty of. I'd gone to the best craftsmen of the period and had the piece created specifically for him. I'd wanted nothing in that first gift to be traceable to another dragon. It was for Tenpou alone.

 

Dragons could find any piece of their treasure no matter where it was hidden or by whom. All we needed to do was focus on whatever piece we wanted to find and the location would come to us like a picture in our minds if it was close or like a mental tug in the direction we needed to go if it was far away. A dragon knew every single piece of treasure they owned right down to a specific coin that looked like hundreds of other coins. Tenpou's necklace was created from things that became part of my treasure horde and given to the one who owned my heart. I'd be able to find the necklace no matter where it was.

 

The necklace I'd given Tenpou was far away from our current location. Buried five hundred years ago with him, I wanted him to have it again now that I'd found him and he'd accepted me. To make the round trip to retrieve it would take me more time than I had if I flew. I was about to do something that was probably stupid and certainly dangerous.

 

An experienced dragon could teleport themselves or items over great distances if they knew where they were going or exactly what they wanted. It had taken me several hundred years when I was first a dragon in heaven to learn how to do it. Teleporting drained the body's reserves and was never done lightly.

 

A dragon my current age wouldn't even know that such a thing was possible.

 

I settled myself on a high tree branch and began the mental process needed to accomplish bringing the necklace to me. This was going to be difficult for me to do and I'd likely have to bring it closer in stages or run the risk of draining myself to a fatal point. I could have stayed at the inn to do this but I didn't want to alarm Hakkai by the amount of energy I was going to be expending. While I knew exactly how to do what I wanted, the body I currently had wasn't mature enough to handle it all at once. I knew I was going to make myself sick and exhausted by teleporting the necklace but now that I'd been accepted by Hakkai, I had a driving need to give it back to him.

 

*********

 

Five draining days passed before I had the necklace. I'd had to move several times during my teleportation efforts. I'd forgotten how determined my lover could be. I'd heard him calling my name in the forest for the first few days. I didn't answer him. I hadn't accomplished my goal yet. He'd been angry and frustrated the last time he left but it couldn't be helped.

 

I transformed into my humanoid form and held the necklace in the palm of my hand. The metal links were cool against my skin, the jade silky to the touch. I undid the clasp, re-fastening the necklace around my neck. When I transformed back into a dragon, the necklace would be hidden and safe until I changed once again. I was tired and planned to sleep once I got back to the inn. Now that I had the necklace, if need be, I could wait a little longer to give it to Hakkai.

 

I arrived back at the inn on dregs of energy and sheer will power alone. I tumbled into an ungraceful heap on the bed and immediately fell asleep. I woke once when Hakkai came into the room and spotted me. His words were politely concerned and reproving of where I'd disappeared to for nearly a week but his hands shook when he checked me for injuries. I licked his fingers in consolation for worrying him and slipped back into the rest I desperately needed.

 

I woke to darkness, warmth and the steady sound of Hakkai's heart. I was laying on Hakkai's bare chest, his hand holding me to him. My stomach rumbled with hunger. I lifted my head, unsure if I had the energy to go searching for food. I heard the change in Hakkai's rhythm of breathing and knew he'd woken from just the small moves I'd made. My stomach rumbled again, louder.

 

“It would seem you're hungry. Food first, then a bath. You're filthy. If I knew enough Dragon to understand what you'd say, I'd demand an explanation. Since I don't, let's just say that I was very worried about you, I'd appreciate you never doing that again and we'll leave it at that, shall we?”

 

I winced inwardly. Hakkai was very angry. Each word could have frozen water and was sharp enough to cut. While I didn't like being on the receiving end of Hakkai's anger, it did mean that I was becoming more important to him. My little retrieval mission seemed to have netted me more than just the necklace I was after. I now knew Hakkai was once again developing deeper feelings for me. Pleased with myself all over again, I leaned forward and licked his lips while cooing at him. He blushed and sat up, cradling me to his chest.

 

“Hakkai? Is Sanzo…,” Goku mumbled as he started to push himself up in bed.

 

“Sanzo's fine. Hakuryuu is awake now so I'm going to feed him and clean him up. Go back to sleep,” Hakkai said softly.

 

“M'kay,” Goku said. In seconds, light snoring signalled that he'd fallen asleep again.

 

Hakkai carried me down to the lower level of the inn. He asked the night clerk for some light food to be brought to the bath house before heading there himself. The warmth of the room made me warble in pleasure. Hakkai spread a towel on the floor before placing me on it. He drew hot water and began washing the dirt off me. I stretched my wings out in pleasure from the feel of the water and Hakkai's hands on me. The clerk dropped off a plate of food that made my stomach start rumbling again.

 

“Eat and then you can soak in the pool. The door locks from the inside so we won't be disturbed,” Hakkai said as he patted me dry.

 

I licked his wrist before hopping to the plate of food. I wasted no time and dived right into the feast in front of me. In an embarrassingly short period of time, the plate was empty and my belly was full.

 

“Change and get in the pool. You were exhausted when you came back from wherever you had to go,” Hakkai said as he flicked open his pants and started to undress.

 

I transformed and just watched him move. He wasted no effort in disrobing. The play of muscles was nearly mesmerizing. He drew another bucket of hot water and quickly washed himself of the dirt that had transferred from me to him as I'd slept on his chest. When he was done, he shot a slightly impatient look at me. I was still wearing my yukata.

 

“Do not make me come over there and undress you myself. The heat of the pool will be good for you. Some of your muscles felt strained.”

 

I carefully kept the smile to myself at Hakkai's bossy attitude. I nodded and gestured for him to go ahead and get into the pool. He frowned at me before lowering himself into the warm water of the pool. I turned slightly away from him before opening my yukata. I reached up and unhooked the necklace, palming it before shrugging from my clothes. I'd give it to him later, when his anger with me had cooled a little. I tucked the necklace into a fold of the yukata and joined Hakkai in the pool. I made pleased noises in my throat as I settled myself on the submerged bench next to Hakkai. We sat in silence for several minutes before I felt his hand lightly touch my arm.

 

“If you could tell me so that I understood you, would you tell me where you disappeared to and why?” Hakkai asked in a soft voice.

 

//Yes, // I said as I turned to face him. Anger still simmered in his eyes along with worry and concern.

 

“Quite frankly, I was terrified that something happened to you. I looked for you, you know. I've rarely felt that afraid. Please don't do that again, Hakuryuu.”

 

I felt my heart speed up in reaction to his words. I made shushing noises and pulled him into my arms. I hadn't meant to scare him. Truthfully, I hadn't thought about how being unable to find me would make him feel. Hakkai's arms wrapped around me, hugging me hard. I rubbed my cheek against his and crooned softly to him. He shuddered and squeezed me tight before relaxing his hold. I pushed a little away from him and spoke one word in Dragon.

 

“I don't know that one,” Hakkai said as his fingers began playing though the fine down on my spine.

 

I pursed my lips. I said the word again in Dragon then mouthed what I wanted him to understand. I hoped that Hakkai would be able to read my lips. If he could, it would make learning Dragon that much faster for him and less frustrating for me to have him understand me. He frowned at me and I repeated the process several times until understanding dawned.

 

“You're sorry?” he asked.

 

//Yes. Sorry, // I said with excitement that he'd been able to understand me.

 

“You won't do that again, will you?” he asked sternly.

 

//No. //

 

“Good. Apology accepted. You know, you gave up several days when we could have had the room all to ourselves. Goku spent several nights with Sanzo and Gojyo. I felt positively lonely in bed all by myself,” Hakkai said as he leaned into me and gave me a fierce kiss.

 

I returned Hakkai's kiss eagerly. Even though I'd made the decision to go off alone, I'd missed him too. He tunnelled his hands through my hair and pressed his body to mine. I gave a pleased groan at the feel of his warm, wet skin sliding against mine. His tongue teased the seam of my lips before I opened to him. I sucked lightly on his tongue as I roamed my hands over his body. He sighed into my mouth as I caressed him. I was surprised when he broke the very enjoyable kiss.

 

“Stand up,” Hakkai demanded.

 

I raised an eyebrow at him but did what he demanded. Tenpou was a challenging lover. I'd wondered if he'd retained that trait in this incarnation. In both encounters we'd had, Hakkai'd been passive and let me do what I wanted with him. While I enjoyed that, I liked the aggressive fire that I'd shared so long ago with my lover.

 

The hot water lapped at my thighs as I stood on the bench seat. Hakkai frowned slightly and traced a finger over the faint pattern of scales that arced over the outside of one of my thighs. I made a pleased noise in my throat at the touch and spread my legs a little more, encouraging his exploring hands. Much to my disappointment, he didn't fondle the erection I was getting.

 

“Turn around,” Hakkai ordered with a little push.

 

I smiled at him and gave him a slow, licking kiss before doing what he wanted. He made a little noise of surprise when he saw my back. I was reminded that while I remembered Tenpou spending hours tracing the shadowy outline of my wings and tail on my back and down one leg, this incarnation had never seen them.

 

“This is beautiful, Hakuryuu. It's like a silvery tattoo,” Hakkai said as he trailed his fingers over the marks.

 

I blushed with pleasure at the admiration in Hakkai's voice. All the lives and time between dragon incarnations and I still hadn't lost much of my dragon pride. We were such a vain species. I sighed in delight when I felt Hakkai's lips press against the base of my spine in a nibbling kiss. A shiver went through me when his tongue dipped between my cheeks.

 

“Turn around and sit on the edge of the pool, Hakuryuu.”

 

I did what he demanded. Hakkai spread my legs apart and moved between them. My breathing sped up from knowing what he was going to do. His eye was caught again by the delicately scaled outline of my tail wrapping around my thigh. He reached underwater and grasped my ankle, pulling my leg up above the water. He stared at the shadow of my tail that wound around my leg to curl at my ankle. I made noises of pleasure as he very slowly licked the water from my leg as he traced the scaled pattern with his tongue. I was breathing hard by the time he reached my foot.

 

“I almost expected this to feel rough but it feels just like the rest of your skin. Smooth and silky. I've been curious about just how soft some of you feels,” Hakkai said with a wicked smile as his hands glided up my thighs.

 

I stopped breathing as Hakkai brought his mouth within inches of my cock. The soft puffs of his breath on my erect cock made it twitch. I finally drew in a lungful of air when I started to feel light headed. Just as I did that, Hakkai flicked out his tongue to tease the head and all the air I'd sucked in left me in a rush.

 

“Something wrong, Hakuryuu?” Hakkai asked with a perfectly straight face, polite concern the only expression he wore.

 

//No, // I said in a strangled voice.

 

I'd somehow managed to forget that Tenpou had been a wicked tease in bed. Apparently, that hadn't changed. I rumbled in pleased resignation as Hakkai watched me from under damp bangs for my reaction. My treasure was going to torture me for worrying him as I had. My heart pounded with excitement. Gods, I'd missed this.

 

“Good. I'd hate to do something you didn't enjoy,” Hakkai said as he ran his fingers lightly along my length.

 

I didn't think I'd say anything either one of us could understand so I settled for sighing in pleasure. Hakkai kept his touch feather light. I was sure that if I closed my eyes, I'd mistake his fingers for shifting air currents.

 

“I want to take you into my mouth but I don't think I can manage the whole thing. You're quite well endowed, you know,” Hakkai said as he lightly circled the base of my cock with his fingers. “I wouldn't want to disappoint you so maybe I shouldn't even try.”

 

I whimpered softly at the idea that I wouldn't get to feel Hakkai's mouth on me. I was almost certain he was teasing me. Almost. I could only see the top of his head as he seemed to be studying how best to fit my cock in his mouth. He sighed regretfully and ran a blunt fingernail down my shaft.

 

“No, I think its better I don't even try. You'd be disappointed and I'd be frustrated that I couldn't accomplish my goal,” Hakkai said as he started to move out from between my legs.

 

He was actually going to stop? I wasn't going to feel those soft lips wrapped around me? I wasn't sure if I wanted to scream or cry.

 

//No, stay, // I demanded as I felt real aggravation at not being able to tell him I would love anything he did to me.

 

My back bowed when Hakkai moved quickly and suddenly locked his lips around the head, sucking hard. He slid his mouth half way down my cock before stopping and backing off. He began moving his mouth up and down me while his fingers stroked and fondled my balls. I gripped the edge of the pool hard enough to crack the tiles under my fingers as I enjoyed the feel of the mouth I'd waited five hundred years for.

 

It was worth every second of the wait.

 

Words of pleasure in Dragon escaped me. I let my head fall back and gave myself over to the pure joy of feeling Hakkai touch me so intimately. He dragged his short fingernails across my inner thighs and over my hips. He trailed them back to my balls, teasing me with light, ticklish touches. His teeth scraped across my cock gently, arousing me more with the tender roughness. I forgot how to breathe when he slowly slid a single finger inside me as he moved his mouth as far down my cock as he could. The unhurried rhythm of his mouth and finger was delicious torture. I wanted to rock my hips in time with his movements but his hand on my hip held me still. That little bit of firm control of my movements from Hakkai pushed my arousal even higher. I growled a protest when he suddenly let my dick fall from his mouth.

 

“I'm not sure I'm really giving you the pleasure I could be. I think if you show me just what you like, I could make you feel quite good,” Hakkai said as he curled the finger he buried inside me, pressing hard on my prostate.

 

I panted and squeezed my eyes shut tight for several seconds as delight shot through me. He may not consciously remember our time together in heaven but some part of his mind recognized me and what I'd enjoyed most. I actually whined when he let his finger slip from me.

 

“Show me what you'd like me to do to give you pleasure, Hakuryuu,” he said in that voice of velvet steel I loved to hear.

 

Hakkai was standing in front of me, water slowly trailing down his body. He was hard and for all the control that was in his voice, his eyes were filled with excitement. He leaned into me and licked my lips using lazy swipes of his tongue. I could faintly taste myself on him. I tunnelled my fingers in his soft hair and held his head as I deepened the kiss. He made low noises of approval as our tongues tangled. Desire surged through me. He gave voice to such wonderful, sexy sounds when he was aroused.

 

“Show me what you like,” Hakkai demanded softly as he pulled away from the kiss I was enjoying.

 

I growled at him again but there was no anger in the sound. I liked a dominant lover just as much as I liked a complacent one in my arms. I slid off the edge of the pool and wrapped my mouth around his cock in one move. I swallowed him completely, wrenching a shivery moan from him.

 

In order to eat prey in one gulp, dragon's had no gag reflex. That skill was useful for other pursuits as well.

 

“Fuck, Hakuryuu,” Hakkai rasped as his fingers clenched in my hair.

 

I knew I'd surprised and pleased him as he almost never swore. The little twitches and jerks of his hips along with his suddenly harsh breathing made me smile in satisfaction around the cock in my mouth. Tenpou had never been able to take all of me into his mouth but I'd immensely enjoyed him trying. He'd adored that I'd been able to take all of him into my mouth. This incarnation was no different.

 

Hakkai said to show him what I like….

 

As I worked his cock with my mouth, I pressed first one then two fingers into him. My current, teenage body was not very good with the idea of restraint no matter how much I wished it differently. I was excited by Hakkai sucking my cock. I was further aroused by the feel and taste of my love in my mouth. His groans of pleasure and little panting gasps were making it impossible for me to hold my desire in check.

 

//Sorry, // I said as let him slip from my mouth and pushed him until the backs of his legs hit the edge of the pool.

 

I kept pushing him until he sat, and then lay on his back. He shivered slightly at the feel of the cool tile on his skin. I kissed his belly before I spread his legs. My cock brushed against his hole and his eyes fluttered closed as his breath hitched in his chest; knowing and anticipating what he was about to receive. I gripped my erection and pressed into him. He caught his lower lip between his teeth, hissing softly at the slight sting of my entering him. One of these times I was going to have enough control to slowly worship him for hours as he deserved before entering his warmth.

 

The muscles in Hakkai's belly rippled and he moaned softly as I pushed all the way inside him. I closed my eyes at the exquisitely tight feel of him on my cock. This was exactly where I was meant to be. This was what I was meant to be doing. Giving pleasure to the one being who owned my heart and soul. I started to move slowly inside him, trying to prolong the sensations between us but my body was determined to betray me.

 

Hakkai felt too good and I had no control. My hips moved faster even as I groaned a denial. Hakkai opened his eyes and watched me. He moved his hand over his cock and started to stroke himself in time with my thrusts. Pressure to find release beat at me. My balls felt heavy and every stroke into Hakkai was pleasured denial of release. I was breathing in gasping pants, trying to wait for Hakkai to find release first.

 

Hakkai's muscles tensed, taunting me with the possibility that he was about to come before relaxing again. He allowed a sly smile on his face just before his ass squeezed my cock, wringing a moan from me. My skin was slick with sweat from trying so hard to hold off my pleasure to wait for Hakkai's and he was teasing me. I'd missed this so much. No other lover before or since had dared to play with me as Hakkai did. My fingernails dug into the skin of his hips making him utter a low groan of pleasure and the desire in his eyes climb higher. I was pleased beyond belief that he instinctively remembered this game we'd played countless times in heaven.

 

I leaned down and began biting and licking his chest and neck. I let my thrusts get harsher and tightened my grip on his hips until the faint scent of blood tinged the air. Excitement rushed through me at this rough game of pleasure. I snarled at Hakkai to come in Dragon before biting his shoulder hard. His back bowed and a sharp cry of gratification escaped him. Warmth spread between our bellies as the muscles in his ass began clenching with his release. I tasted his blood in my mouth and growled my delight as my release rushed through me. Hakkai cried out again, this time garbled words in Dragon, at the feel of my seed filling him.

 

We both panted heavily as our hearts raced each other from the intensity of release. I let go of the flesh between my teeth and licked the droplets of blood from his skin. I hadn't meant to bite him hard enough to draw blood. I couldn't exactly say I was sorry for doing it. I'd enjoyed it and judging from the dazed expression in Hakkai's eyes, so had he. I settled for licking the wound and placing gentle kisses on the injury. Hakkai blinked slowly at me before drawing my mouth to his and kissing me with lazy heat.

 

“We really have to do that again,” Hakkai said in a husky voice.

 

//Yes, // I said as I laughed softly and nuzzled his neck.

 

I moved off Hakkai and felt satisfaction at his murmured protest as I left his body. I lowered my head and began licking the seed off his skin. His fingers tangled in my hair and tightened briefly as if to stop me before relaxing and letting me continue. He tensed as my tongue passed over the scar on his belly. I paused in my cleaning and placed gentle kisses along the ridge of flesh. Knowing how close I'd come to loosing him before I even found him made the breath catch in my throat. One of these days, I was going to have to thank Gojyo for saving Hakkai's life.

 

Once finished with my cleaning, I pulled Hakkai back into the pool and pushed him to sit on the seat. I lightly touched his face, happy beyond words that I had him back in my life. He was my treasure and I needed to tell him that. Hakkai seemed to sense my mood and ran his fingers lightly over the faint pattern of scales on my cheeks. I took his hands in mine and spoke to him in Dragon before mouthing the words back to him, hoping he'd be able make out what I was saying once again.

 

“Slowly, Hakuryuu,” Hakkai said with patience as if we had all the time in the world for him to figure out what I was trying to teach him.

 

I repeated the phrase I'd said so often to him. I knew he recognized hearing it. He concentrated on listening and watching my lips form the words. I knew the exact instant he understood. A rosy blush coloured his cheeks.

 

“That means `I love you', doesn't it?”

 

I nodded and gave him a licking kiss. I stood and told him to stay. I left the pool and retrieved the necklace from the folds of my yukata. I returned to the pool and sat next to Hakkai again. He looked uncomfortable and refused to meet my eyes. Unease settled in my stomach at the sudden change in Hakkai's mood.

 

“I… I can't say it back to you, Hakuryuu,” Hakkai said in a quiet voice. “This is too new for me. I enjoy being with you and I obviously like you very much. But…. I don't know why you feel the way you do about me or why I'm sure you've felt that way for a very long time. I'm sorry.”

 

I gripped his chin and forced his face up. He would eventually remember everything that had happened between us. I believed that. I could wait for him to fall in love with me all over again. I kissed him once more and opened the fist holding the necklace.

 

//I love you, // I said softly to him as I offered him my gift as I should have the first time I gave it to him in heaven.

 

Hakkai's eyes widened in surprise. He stared at the necklace for several seconds before lightly touching it with a shaking finger. I watched him stroke the back of the small, white jade dragon pendant as he used to do in heaven when he was thinking deeply. He traced over the pale pink baroque pearl in the shape of a heart that was cupped protectively in the dragon's claws. He looked from the tiny rubies in the dragon's eyes to my own red ones.

 

“I've dreamed about this,” Hakkai said in an unsteady voice. “When I almost died, before Gojyo found me and I was delirious from the pain and blood loss, I saw this. I was so upset when I woke up and didn't have it. I can't even begin to describe how much I wanted to go look for it when Gojyo told me I didn't have anything like it on me when he found me.”

 

It was my turn to be surprised now. My heart beat faster in excitement. I placed the necklace around Hakkai's throat and fastened it. A sense of rightness and possessiveness settled in me. Hakkai was mine. The dragon rested just below the hollow of his throat. His fingers reached up and stroked over the pendant again.

 

“This was mine before, wasn't it?” he asked as his brow furrowed in thought.

 

//Yes, // I said with a pleased smile as he recognized the pendant as belonging to him.

 

“You gave it to me, didn't you?” he said slowly as he continued to stroke the jade and think.

 

//Yes. //

 

“We've known each other before this life, haven't we?” Hakkai asked with a little wonder creeping into his voice.

 

//Yes, // I replied as I took his free hand and threaded my fingers with his.

 

“This is what you went away to get, isn't it? You wanted me to have this again because it was important to me, to us.”

 

I nodded and pulled Hakkai into a fierce hug. He was brilliantly scary when he started to think and puzzle things out. I was overjoyed that he recognized the necklace and that he realized it was important. I had other things I wanted to give him. Treasure that I needed to share with him. Things he had when we were in heaven. That could all wait though.

 

I'd given him back what had been a promise between us in heaven. I'd done it right this time and told him I loved him as I gave him the first piece of my treasure. Hakkai rested his head on my shoulder as he continued to stroke the jade dragon. I kissed his temple before laying my cheek against his head closed my eyes in contentment.

 

I had the most important part of my treasure in my arms and a dragon never willingly gave up any of their treasure.