Not that Ukoku really needed any more reason to try to Ret-Gone Sanzo in Reload, but there's an even more pressing reason than Ukoku's love of mind-rape, wanting to win his bet with Koumyou, and trying to stop Sanzo interfering with his plans. Ukoku was obsessed with Koumyou, who was the only one who was ever able to get the better of him but refused to fight him straight out. He is extremely bitter that such a man died for some brat when he should have been able to defend himself easily from those bandits. Ukoku's conclusion is that Koumyou committed suicide by those attackers, in order to set Sanzo on his path. Ergo, Ret-Gone -ing Sanzo would BRING KOUMYOU BACK TO LIFE.
In Saiyuki Ibun, Genkai's best friend Toudai is the only one not afraid of touching him. Touching Genkai reveals your future to him. Now consider Toudai's ultimate fate as revealed in Burial. Genkai had to live with knowing all along the brutal way in which his best friend would die. Seems kinda merciful that Houmei goes out of his way not to touch him now, doesn't it? To make things worse: it doesn't work. Genkai has a prophetic dream of Koumyou bequeathing the Maten Sutra to Koryuu without ever touching Houmei. He may not have been able to interpret it at the time but once he realizes who the fey older dude with the braid is...
