A Ghost Story

Okay, this is the final chapter of the story. Sorry it took so long to finish! Angry reviews are welcomed and accepted. Please enjoy! Sorry again! *bows low*

Chapter 22: Final Chapter


The next day, the three of them sat at the kitchen table in silence. Gojyo kept looking at the pendant Hazel had given him, wondering. He said it would bring happiness, but that was all he knew. Goku had no idea about what it could be and Sanzo believes it is just a comfort gift. Gojyo looked into the living room, seeing Hakkai looking out the windows. The news crews have died down, they were becoming old news. Gojyo smirked at that. Hakkai came floating over to them, appearing to take a seat at the empty spot at the table.
He looked at Gojyo with a frown. He knew Gojyo was troubled by something. Last night while he was asleep, Hakkai found he could not get into Gojyo’s dreams. It was as if something was blocking him from doing so. Gojyo did not question it nor did he mention anything about it. The man appeared to be in deep, troubling thought. He looked over at Sanzo who was calmly sipping his coffee and Goku who was slowly eating a stack of pancakes. If Gojyo was upset about Hakkai possibly leaving this world, then what could he do? Stay here and wait for Gojyo to die? What of Kanan and Hakaryuu? It would not be fair to them. What about himself? If he went to heaven, then he could wait for Gojyo to join him, then be surrounded by all his loved ones. But would leaving Gojyo alone until he dies the right thing to do? What would Gojyo think? What would he feel? Hakkai wished Gojyo would share these thoughts with him. However, Hakkai really did not want to bring the subject up either, in fear of being hurt or having second thoughts.
“Hey, Hakkai?” Goku broke him of his thoughts and he looked at him. “Do you want….um, nevermind.” Goku went back to his pancakes and Hakkai frowned sadly. Sanzo looked at him next, putting his mug down.
“You’re almost free, Hakkai.” He said “Free to be at rest.” Hakkai nodded and Gojyo had to look away. “I know what you are probably thinking….and Gojyo too. I won’t tell you what to do, but we are going to be digging you up tonight, so you better think long and hard about what you want to do.” Hakkai looked over at Gojyo who had a plain look on his face as he could not meet his eyes. Hakkai said nothing and slowly faded away. Goku paused in his chewing to look at Sanzo in question. Sanzo shrugged his shoulders and went back to drinking his coffee.

Later that night, under the cover of darkness, the three men took the two shovels from the shed and headed to the graveyard. It was a chilly night and a light fog snaked around the numerous old grave stones. Goku moved in closer to Sanzo, who appeared unafraid. Gojyo looked around and started to feel a chill run down his spin. This place was scaring him, he had to admit. Something did not seem right. Maybe it was his imagination, but he could have sworn he heard people chatting softly. He could not make out what they were saying, but it sounded like more than a few voices…as if all the tombstones were talking. Goku gulped and suddenly tripped on a dead tangle of weeds, making him shriek in fear.
“GAH! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!! GET IT OFFFFF!” Sanzo growled.
“Would you relax! It’s just some old weeds! You big pussy.” He pulled Goku along and Sanzo noticed Gojyo had inched a lot closer to him than before. He knew they were both scared, but of what he did not know. It was just a bunch of stones and dead bodies, nothing else. It was not long until they arrived at the back of the graveyard and looked around the small area. Only four and a half tiny tombstones were left, their words completely faded and scratched.
“Where do you think Hakkai is?” Asked Goku.
“I would guess in the back.” Said Gojyo. “I mean, these people all have markers, and no one liked Hakkai so they didn’t give him one.” He pointed to a small patch of dead, rocky dirt. No grass had grown there for years, it appeared. That must be where Hakkai was buried. Hazel said in the far, far back of the cemetery.
“Alright boys, start digging.” Sanzo commanded, handed the shovel to Goku.
“Why not you too?!” Gojyo hissed in annoyance. “Why us?!”
“Because I’ll probably need to carry his skeleton out. You think you two pansy-asses could handle that?” he scoffed and lit up a cigarette. “Just start digging, and do it now. I don’t want to be out here all night!” Gojyo sucked his teeth and shoved the shovel into the dry dirt, taking out the first scoop. Goku mumbled under his breath and joined him. Sanzo sat back and watched them dig themselves deeper and deeper into the dirt. He smirked as he took a quick puff, wanting to see their faces when they found Hakkai. Sanzo had seen things much worse in his lifetime and would rather sleep next to a dead body if he had to choose.
Gojyo was just about to take a break from digging when he felt his shovel hit something. Goku paused as he heard it too. Immediately, Gojyo felt a strong, heavy force travel through his body that nearly knocked him up and out of the hole! He felt wave after wave of anger and despair, of pain and humiliation. The voices came again, louder this time but still incoherent. What if they were trying to hurt Hakkai now that they were so close?!
“KEEP DIGGING, GOKU! I’VE FOUND HIM!” Gojyo spend up his digging but then resorted to digging with his hands. He started to reveal traces of old, tattered clothing and felt the hard texture of bones. Parts of a ribcage were starting to appear, as well as a shoulder bone. Goku saw what Gojyo was digging and felt sick. He jumped out of the hole and immediately vomited in disgust. Sanzo rolled his eyes and put out his smoke, walking casually over to the hole. He peered down and saw Gojyo revealing more of Hakkai’s skeleton. He was impressed with Gojyo’s eagerness and the fact that he was holding up, despite digging up the remains of his dead lover. “HELP ME OUT, SANZO! PLEASE!” Gojyo called up to him. Sanzo cracked his knuckles and jumped down into the hole.
“We’re getting close to him now…keep digging, Gojyo.”
“THESE VOICES AND FEELINGS ARE FUCKING KILLING ME!” He shouted, digging frantically. Sanzo raised a brow at that but knelt down to help him dig. Goku was finally done throwing up and wobbled over to the hole. Sanzo shouted up to him.
“Goku! Go start digging a grave for Hakkai in the graveyard! Put him next to somebody, anybody! Dig it as deep as you can!” Goku gulped but nodded.
“Okay! Call me if you need anything!” Goku said and took off, looking for a place to start digging.
They worked long into the night, until the moon was starting to set and the tiniest hint of the morning sun was starting to appear. Sanzo and Gojyo had finally uncovered Hakkai’s whole body. Gojyo stood up and looked down at the remains of his lover. There was hardly anything left of his clothes, but they were the same ones he wears now. Sanzo looked at Gojyo, shaking his shoulder.
“Hey….you ready to pick him up?” Gojyo just nodded at him dumbly. “He might fall apart….we’ll have to be very, VERY careful. Here, you get up out of the hole and I’ll lift him up to you. I don’t think all the bones have to be intact, just buried properly.” Gojyo looked at him and nodded, climbing out of the hole.
“O-okay, Sanzo….lift him up.” With gentle ease, Sanzo lifted up Hakkai’s top end first. He pulled him completely out of the dirt and lifted the skeleton up by the ribcage. He was relieved to see that Hakkai’s bones still stayed together. He looked up at Gojyo.
“Alright! You ready for him!?”
“Y-yeah….” Sanzo lifted the body up to Gojyo who grabbed it under the shoulders, dragging it up. Looking at the corpse now, he too had to hurry away to throw up. Sanzo crawled out of the hole and figured Gojyo would eventually do that. He could tell by the look on his face. He scanned for Goku and found the top of his brown hair sticking out of a hole in the middle of the graveyard.
“Hey, Gojyo!” He called over to him.
“W-what?” He wiped his mouth.
“Best you get back to the house…tell Hakkai what we are about to do….and say ‘goodbye’.”
Gojyo felt his heart sink. He felt it sink to his stomach then down to his toes. His body felt heavy and his eyes welled with tears. This was it. This was finally it. What he had been fearing and dreading since yesterday. He immediately ran towards the house, hoping he would still be able to see Hakkai. He burst through the back door and ran into the living room.
“HAKKAI!” He called “HAKKAI!!” Hakkai appeared before him, his figure faded. He looked tired and weak.
‘G-Gojyo….’ Gojyo ran to hug him but went right through him.
“DAMN IT!” he tried again in an effortless attempt to hold him, but he kept falling through. “DAMN IT! I WANT TO HOLD YOU!” he cried and fell to his knees. “I can’t hold you….I may never see you again…and I want just one hug…just one!” he looked up at Hakkai. “They are burying you now…” Hakkai nodded softly
‘I know…I can feel it. Here.’ He placed his hand over his heart. ‘I feel Cornwall’s power fading…’
“Hakkai….I….I …as much as I don’t want it…you have to go….you have to move on.” He looked at him sadly.
‘Gojyo….I do not want to leave you. I have been here for over 200 years…but I can not stand to loose you. I lost one loved one…taken from me.I do not want to be taken away from you….’ He knelt down in front of Gojyo. ‘I love you…I want-‘ he suddenly stopped as a bright light appeared from the top of the steps.
Both turned to look at it, Gojyo having to squint to see through the brightness. Hakkai looked at it longingly and stood up. He felt warmth fill his body and a large chunk of his pain and sorrows lift. Gojyo watched him, tears pouring down his face. This was it…this would be the last he would see of his Hakkai.
‘Kanan….’ Hakkai whispered ‘It is so good to see you again…’ Gojyo could not see her but knew she was there. ‘Wait….Kanan….’ he turned to Gojyo, looking down at him sadly ‘Gojyo…what do you want me to do…’
“I can’t keep you here…it’s not right! You deserve to be at peace, Hakkai!” It felt like a hundred knives stabbing him in the gut with each word he spoke. Hakkai had a look of pure sadness and regret.
‘Gojyo…I-‘ he was cut short by hearing Hazel’s voice in his head. Gojyo heard the voice too and he looked around ‘Hazel…?’
‘Hakkai…you have a choice. It is a win-win situation.’ He chuckled ‘You are safely buried and your grave is marked. You have been forgiven for all your trespasses and sins. Kanan and Hakaryuu will move on, regardless if you go with them. But if you wish to stay here with Gojyo, then you can. It all has to do with the pendant I gave you, Gojyo.’ Gojyo took it out of his shirt and looked at it. ‘It is a Spirit Stone, a special one. If you choose to keep Hakkai, then Hakkai’s spirit will be encased in that pendant. You will not be able to speak or call to him, but he will always be with you. You must choose now.’ Gojyo looked at Hakkai, who smiled at him.
‘Gojyo…do you wish me to stay?’ Gojyo looked at the pendant.
“If I can’t speak or call to you, then what good is it?”
‘It is the feeling that you know I am there, with you.’ Gojyo thought for a moment and shook his head.
“No Hakkai…it’s not worth it. You have been trapped for too long in a prison, I can’t keep you in another for my own selfish reasons!”
‘So you wish for me to go?’ Gojyo nodded sadly.
“As long as you promise I can see you again?” Hakkai smiled at him and leaned down to give him a ghostly kiss on the lips.
‘Of course I will….I have all eternity to wait for you, and I will.’ Sanzo and Goku had coming running it, curious as to what the light was coming from the house. They saw Hakkai and Gojyo and the light at the stairway. They both gazed at it in shock and amazement. Hakkai floated over to them. ‘I am leaving now…take good care of Gojyo, he needs you now.’
“You really are going?” Goku said, tears welling up in his eyes.
‘Yes…but do not worry….we will meet again.” He reassured him. ‘Just not for a long time.’ Goku smiled through his tears and wiped his eyes. He looked at Sanzo who just nodded at him. Hakkai smiled at him and went back over to Gojyo. Gojyo stood up to face him.
“I wish I could hold you…who knows when I’ll see you again.” Hakkai smiled.
‘Not for a while yet, Gojyo.’ Hakkai stroked his face and give him another kiss as he turned to the stairway. He started to walk up the steps and then turned back for another look. Gojyo gave a little wave to him and Hakkai waved back, smiling. He waved to Sanzo and Goku, Goku waving happily back and Sanzo with a two finger wave. The light became brighter as Hakkai ascended the stairs and soon he had completely disappeared. Gojyo suddenly dashed up the steps, calling for Hakkai but the light disappeared and he ended up tripping on the steps.
“HAKKAI!” He called and slammed his fist on the steps. “Damn it….damn it…!” Goku looked at Sanzo and hugged him tight.
“Ow! Monkey you’re hurting me!”
“I don’t want you to go…” he whispered to him. “I don’t want to loose you!”
“Stupid monkey” he sighed “I’m not going to leave you. Although I will say this, you better die before me.” Goku looked up at him, blinking through his tears.
“W-why would you say that, Sanzo?” he said, hurt. Sanzo ruffled his hair and pulled his head closer to his chest.
“Who would take care of you if I’m not here? If you go before me, whether you are ill or God forbid something happens, I know I could always take care of you. At least now I know someone is waiting for you on the other side, who will watch over you for me. I’ll be damned if I go before you.” Goku clenched his eyes shut and held Sanzo close.
“I love you, Sanzo.”
“Yeah….I know, monkey.” He heard Gojyo walk heavily back down the stairs and their eyes met. He saw Sanzo hold Goku and he felt the sharp shooting pain in his heart thinking about holding Hakkai. But he was never able too. Not in real life. He walked over to them and Goku jumped to hug him.
“I’m sorry, Gojyo. I’m so sorry!”
“It’s…it’s okay, Goku. I’ll….I’ll be alright….sometime.”
“Its going to be hard, Gojyo” Sanzo said calmly. “But Goku and I are here.” Gojyo gave a small smile.
“Yeah…this house feels so much more empty now…like a piece of me has gone with it. This house is just a house….but I don’t think I can live here anymore, Sanzo. Bad memories, I want to leave….will you two come with me?”
“Of course we will!” Goku said firmly “Right, Sanzo?!”
“Right. We’ll sell this place. The religious nuts already want to knock it down, so we can sell it to the township, get the money, and with that, buy another place. It won’t be hard.” Goku took Gojyo’s hand in his and smiled up at him.
“Don’t worry, Gojyo. We’ll be here for you! You know Hakkai is waiting for you!” Gojyo smiled and nodded.
“Yeah…I know. It will take some getting used to, but I can deal with it. I know I can.” Sanzo smirked.
“Keep up that good spirit, Gojyo. Now, should we go to the township with our proposal?”
“Yes, lets go.” They locked up the house and started to head for the car. Sanzo and Goku went ahead of him and Gojyo turned back to gaze at the house. He looked at it with a heavy heart and sighed. “You know, Hakkai? I never thought anything good would come from this old piece of shit. Who would have thought that such a wonderful being was trapped in it? Maybe it was fate that brought me here? Or maybe it was just coincidence. But whatever the reason…I fell in love with you here, and in turn the house. They’ll probably knock it down…but to you it was prison of some sorts. It’s only material. You are safe and sound and no longer alone. I couldn’t ask for anything more.” He looked down, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “But I feel alone…” he sighed “I’ll get used to it. I miss you…and I-“
“GOJYO!!!” Goku called to him. “GOJYO YOU COMING?!” he looked back and saw Goku waving happily at him. Gojyo smiled at that and turned back to gaze up at the house.
“I guess those too are better than nothing…and I can share my feelings and memories about you with them. So long, Hakkai. I love you….and we’ll meet again. Don’t know when or where, but we will. But I do want to keep on living for as long as I can. Later, Casper.” He smiled and hopped off the porch, jogging over to the truck where his two friends were waiting for him. He will never be alone; and that thought was what kept him to continue moving on.


*~25 Years Later~*

Gojyo and Sanzo were driving down the road late at night, coming home from a party at a local bar. They both were a bit tipsy but Gojyo was well enough to drive. Both he and Sanzo lit up their cigarette’s.
“That was fun, huh?” Gojyo said, smirking. “I miss seeing you drunk. You’re practically sober!” Sanzo rolled his eyes.
“Nah, I’ve got a buzz going…shit, it’s 2:00 in the morning?! Damn it! Goku is probably still up worried sick! That stupid monkey! Drive faster!”
“Hey, I’m doing the speed limit!” He dropped the cigarette out of his mouth “Shit! Now give me yours for making me drop mine!”
“Fuck you! Get another!” He moved away from Gojyo’s hand as it tried to reach for his cigarette. Sanzo noticed a large deer dash out of the woods and he shouted “GOJYO WATCH OUT!” Gojyo saw the deer and swerved in time to avoid it but in his slightly drunken stupor, he lost control of the car and it spun out of control. All he could remember was a loud crash, glass, and Sanzo yelling before everything went black.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a bunch of red and blue flashing lights, and people standing over him. He looked around at them, but could not make out who they were or what. They were only shadows. He looked passed the shadows and saw a familiar face. His eyes widened and he gasped.
“Hakkai?” He watched as Hakkai walked over to him, walking through the people who did not seem to take notice of him. He looked down at him and smiled softly.
‘Are you in any pain, Gojyo?’
“No…none at all…I’m dead now, aren’t I?”
‘Not yet…but you are getting there. They can not do anything for you.’
“What about Sanzo?”
‘He is fine…he is unconscious now, but he will make a full, healthy recovery.’ He smiled and put his hand over Gojyo’s. ‘I told you I would wait for you. This is not how I wanted to take you, though.’ He pulled Gojyo’s hand and Gojyo felt himself become weightless as he was pulled from his lifeless body. Gojyo looked at his body bloodied and sprawled across the hood of his car, having gone straight through the glass. He saw Sanzo start to wake up and when he opened his eyes, they met. Sanzo blinked his eyes and then they widened as he saw Gojyo and Hakkai. Gojyo waved to him as did Hakkai, smiling. Sanzo saw Gojyo’s body across the hood and shook his head
“Stupid cockroach, you almost killed me. Next time I see you, you’re getting my ghostly foot up your ass.” He said with a smirk.
‘I know what he’s thinking’ Said Gojyo, meeting his smirk.
‘I know too, but we do not have to worry about him for another 30 years.’
‘What about Goku?’
‘I can not give away so much.’ He turned to Gojyo, taking both hands in his. ‘I want a hug now, Gojyo. A real hug.’ Gojyo grinned from ear to ear and wrapped his arms around him, holding him tight.
‘It feels so good to finally hold you!’
‘I have longed to feel you again, Gojyo.’ He hugged him tight. ‘Come now, I want you to meet Kanan.’
‘Will she like me?’ Hakkai chuckled.
‘Of course she will.’ He took his hand and used the other to wave to Sanzo, who waved back. Gojyo stuck his tongue out at him and Sanzo gave him the finger in return. Gojyo wrapped his arm around Hakkai’s shoulders as they walked.
‘So…heaven got beer?’ Hakkai laughed out loud.
‘Well…something of the like. I can not tell you. You need to see for yourself. What is important is that we are together now. Forever.’ Gojyo smiled at him.
‘Yeah, forever.’ He kissed him. ‘I love you.’
‘And I love you.’
Gojyo saw the same light from before when Hakkai had left him and now they were going together. Gojyo himself felt a wave of relief wash over him and it filled him with a happiness he was unfamiliar with. A true happiness. He was with the one he loved and knew that he would see his friends again. He would come and get them, as Hakkai did for him. And as Hakkai guided him into the light, Gojyo never turned to look back.


The End