BIRTHDAY FIC FOR SHIRO - Saiyuki/TRC, PG-13
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHIRO!
Title: People in Your Neighbourhood
Characters: TRC-Fuuma, Sakzo, Goku, Gojyo, Hakkai, Jeep
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 2438
Notes: This became a bit Hakkai-centric, but I blame him and Fuuma for poking at each other. The title is totally taken from a Seseme Street song and I refuse to feel anything but glee over that. Be warned: There is significant fouth-wall abuse in this fic.
As always when entering a new world, Fuuma did some quick reconnaissance.
Normally, he would be checking out the flora and fauna if he appeared in the middle of the wilderness, or architecture if he appeared in the middle of civilization. Yuuko’s magic generally kept him from popping up in the middle of a group of people, which kept the awkward explanations to a minimum. At least until Fuuma opened his mouth.
This time however, despite the interesting topography and plant life lit exotically by the late afternoon sun, Fuuma didn’t really have the chance to take any of it in. Instead, he was immediately forced to take cover as over a dozen men launched themselves at a small defensive group. Fuuma considered intervening, but had a feeling it wouldn’t be necessary.
“Makai Tenjyo!”
It was nice, being right.
Again, normally, Fuuma would have appreciated the view (four attractive young men fighting against insurmountable odds) and moved on. There were exceptions (…Kamui) but generally, Fuuma strove to maintain his emotional distance from those he encountered in his travels.
However he had been tasked with finding a rare magical relic, and given the power that the leader (possibly) of this group casually wielded, this looked like a good place to start.
He approached the group cautiously. Anyone would be on their guard after being attacked like that.
“Sanzooo, I’m-”
“Hungry, yes we know.”
“Shut up, stupid cockroach head! I wasn’t talking to you.”
“When are you ever?”
“I think we have some apples left…”
“Oi, Hakkai, don’t encourage him.”
“If you three are quite done, let’s get back on the road.”
“But I’m hungryyyyy!”
“I’m sure they were here somewhere. Gojyo, if you wouldn’t mind…”
“Me? Why do I gotta?”
“Goku and I are looking for a snack and Sanzo’s busy being impatient.”
“Oi.”
“Pardon me. Very busy being impatient.”
“…fine.”
Fumma was still wondering if maybe his translator was malfunctioning when he found himself at the business end of a rather interesting looking sickle. “…yes? Can I help you?”
“Why’re you sneaking around? You’re human, but you gotta admit that’s pretty suspicious after a youkai attack.” For all his whining and taunting a moment ago, the strange red-headed man was completely serious now, and a genuine threat. Fuuma judged his speed and the distance between himself and the blade and figured he might be able to get away with only a horribly disfiguring scar. If he was lucky.
It was horribly intimidating. Fuuma cocked his head to the side, ticking off ‘demons’ in his mental catalogue of this world. “Human? Are you sure of that?”
The man snorted. “Pretty darn. You don’t stink of youki and you might smirk like ‘em, but you’re no god.”
“And I suppose ‘human’ is the only option left.” Fuuma followed his reasoning to its logical conclusion. “I guess that would make me human, then.”
“…are you making fun of me?”
“Not at all. Merely agreeing.” Fuuma’s hands were still in his trenchcoat pockets, that blade was still in his face, and he wasn’t entirely sure how get out of this. “Say… can I bum a ride?”
“No.” The answer came from the blond leader, who was already getting into the jeep (the passenger side, Fuuma noted with interest). “We’re not a taxi service. Get in, moron.”
“Che. First I gotta do all the work, then I’m last one in…” The sickle disappeared somewhere as the red-head turned from Fuuma, dismissing him. “Hey, monkey-brains, save one of those apples for me.”
Fuuma considered his options. Then darted towards the driver, showcasing a bit of his abilities. Usually he’d be fast enough to take anyone but a vampire or his brother off guard.
In this case, he was met with that same sickle, the end of a long staff, the muzzle of a revolver, and a cheerfully humming ball of energy courtesy of the driver himself. Fuuma raised his hands, open and defenseless. “I can pay.”
None of the four budged. “We don’t need your money,” the blond one ground out. “Back the hell off before we get offended.”
…he was adorable. Fuuma liked him already. And the driver was missing an eye… it was really quite nostalgic. He turned to the apparent youngest in the group, the boy with shaggy brown hair and a strange gold crown that matched his eyes. “Do you like candy?” He still had some left over from Piffle world.
And that was how he ended up in the back of a jeep with a candy-chewing child on his lap, listening to the wind rush past. An odd, but not unpleasant, start to this journey.
“What’s your name?” the red-head asked eventually.
“Fuuma,” Fuuma answered. “And you would be…”
“Gojyo. That’s Hakkai” he pointed to the driver “and Sanzo” the tsundere (minus any ‘dere’) blond “and Goku’s on your lap.”
“It’s nice to meet you all.” The silhouette of a town appeared in the distance, growing steadily. “Do you live around here?”
Gojyo thought about that for a moment. “Well… we’re here. And we’re alive. So… yeah. I guess so.”
Fuuma laughed easily, quite honestly charmed. “I may use that line in the future.”
“Feel free.” Gojyo grinned back, waving modestly but clearly pleased at the implied compliment to his wit. Fuuma mentally tallied two allies. Likely the two easier ones, although the driver was still a bit of an enigma…
They pulled into an inn just after sunset and Fuuma managed to talk Sanzo into letting him buy them supper in exchange for the ride. As the four of them fought over rooming assignments (there were only two rooms left - it was a good thing Fuuma wasn’t planning on staying here) Fuuma checked his energy scanner to see how close he was to the source of the negative energy that was radiating somewhere from the west. Chances were that was where his target would be.
“Hoh? What’s that?”
Fuuma looked up from his readings (he was several hundred kilometers from the source) and into the cheerfully inquisitive gaze of the driver, Hakkai.
“It’s an energy scouter is that a dragon on your shoulder?”
“Kyuu?”
“Oh, yes. This is Jeep.” Hakkai turned his mild smile to the dragon. “I think he likes you.”
“Kyuu!”
Fuuma couldn’t help smiling, not that he was trying not to. “I quite like him too. Where did he come from?”
Hakkai’s smile widened slightly. “Ah, he’s always with us.”
“…is he now.” Fuuma was pretty sure he wouldn’t have overlooked a dragon, but he also suspected he was being lightly trolled. He quite enjoyed that. “May I pet him?” He raised a hand in anticipation.
“Kyuu…” The dragon… Jeep answered for Hakkai, butting his head under Fuuma’s hand. Both Fuuma and Hakkai laughed pleasantly at his antics.
“If you two’re done flirting, the monkey wants supper.” Three sets of amused eyes - Fuuma’s, Hakkai’s, and Jeep’s - turned to Gojyo.
Hakkai simply nodded. “I’m rooming with?”
“Sanzo.” Gojyo did not look pleased. “Maybe I can hook up with someone to get out of bunking with the snore factory.”
Goku didn’t look happy either, but both Hakkai and Sanzo seemed satisfied with the arrangements. Fuuma had a strange impulse to cheer them all up, and a pretty good idea how. “To thank you for the ride, may I take you out for supper?” He even managed to keep his tone innuendo-free.
As expected, Goku immediately perked up. “Oh, can he? Please Sanzo?”
Fuuma was pleased to see that he’d been accurate in assessing that Sanzo was the leader, even if that still didn’t quite feel accurate.
“We don’t need-”
“That’s very generous of you,” Hakkai interrupted so smoothly it was hardly an interruption at all.
Gojyo did a quick double take at that, then forcibly relaxed. “Alcohol too?”
“Of course.”
“I’m in.”
Fuuma didn’t miss the dirty look Sanzo shot Hakkai as they trooped out of the hotel, or the almost defensive chirp the dragon made, and found himself more intrigued than ever.
It wasn’t until they were seated and their drinks were served that Fuuma figured out Hakkai’s motivation.
“Are you a traveler then, Fuuma-san?”
It was almost the same question Gojyo had asked (and Fuuma had deflected) but… not quite. And the pleasant tone was like velvet over steel - and most of the things Fuuma could name made out of steel could be used as weapons. It wasn’t in Fuuma’s nature to outright lie, but he couldn’t help poking dangerous things with half-truths just to see what would happen.
“I am.”
“Cool!” Goku looked impressed. “Where have you been?”
“All sorts of places,” Fuuma answered easily. “I’m something of a hunter.” A subtle tension came over the group at that. “A treasure hunter.” They relaxed.
Goku was still looking at him with shining eyes. “That’s so neat! Hey, Sanzo, when we’re done here, can we do that too?”
Sanzo scowled over his drink. “After we’re done, there’s no way I’m going on another trip with any of you morons.”
Fuuma chuckled. “Speaking of, what brings you four here? You seem to be on your way somewhere as well…”
“Do we?” Hakkai asked pleasantly. No one else volunteered any more information. Interesting. Fuuma turned his attention to Hakkai.
“Well, you’re certainly a mysterious bunch; a mismatched group of young men, traveling together on some sort of mission, attacked by youkai… I would expect that you have your own interesting story.” He smiled. “And I tend to collect interesting stories.”
Hakkai smiled right back. “Do you?” Fuuma bit back a laugh, and inclined his head, conceding the point. Hakkai, in return, gave up a little more. “Of all of us, Sanzo would be the most noteworthy orator.”
Fuuma wanted to bottle the glare that Sanzo shot Hakkai. He was fairly sure it would be fatal in other circumstances - he was getting the impression the two of them did not get along at all. “I appreciate that. But it’s always interesting to hear the variations between individual experiences.” He deliberately turned to Goku. “How would you describe your trip, for instance?”
“Long,” Goku said emphatically. “But we’ve met some really interesting people! And some less interesting people, but they don’t tend to last that long.” He scrunched his nose in thought. “Sometimes it’s really uncomfortable, and sometimes really bad things happen, but it always gets better, and we always make it through!” He took a deep breath at the end of that, looking pleased.
“…so far.”
Goku’s pleased expression dissolved. “You don’t have to be so negative, Sanzo.”
“Just being realistic.”
Hakkai coughed lightly. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, Goku. Although, I’d add that occasionally it can get rather filthy.”
“And if we run out of smokes or it rains for a long time, it can get kind of tense,” Gojyo added.
Cigarettes Fuuma could understand (it was called an addiction for a reason), but rain… that was somewhat nostalgic as well, he thought back to Acid Tokyo.
“Oi, share,” Gojyo said, grinning. “You look like whatever you’re thinking about is a good story itself.”
Fuuma smiled back, fond and genuine. “Just thinking back to a certain adorable half-drenched kitten. He was cute.”
“Did you save it and keep it warm and dry?” Goku asked, eyes wide with innocent concern.
Fuuma shook his head ruefully. “Unfortunately, this kitten didn’t want to be kept.”
“How awkward for you,” Hakkai said softly, not quite like he disapproved. Fuuma might have retorted with something, but the food arrived.
An hour later, Goku was still going strong, eating practically everything he could get his hands on, and Gojyo was making a general nuisance of himself harassing him while Sanzo ignored them completely. Fuuma, feeling vaguely overwhelmed, took his drink and moved towards the bar. He was glad that pure gold had about the same exchange rate everywhere as he hadn’t exactly had the chance to acquire the local currency yet.
A few minutes later, he was joined by Hakkai and his dragon. He smiled and raised his glass in welcome as Hakkai sat down.
“I apologize if you were feeling unwelcome…”
Fuuma shook his head. “Not at all. It’s just… there are some things better observed from a safe distance.” Hakkai laughed. “…what happened to your eye?”
The humour vanished from Hakkai’s face. Fuuma pretended not to notice. “It’s just… my brother lost his as well.” He frowned. “Well… not ‘lost’, I suppose. We both know exactly where it is. It’s just not with him.”
“How unfortunate.”
“Not really. He got what he wanted out of it.” Fuuma took a drink. “Did you?”
“…in a way. The eye was really rather incidental, however.” Hakkai brought his hand up to his monocle. “It’s a reminder, I suppose.”
Fuuma snorted lightly. “You don’t seem the type to forget.” Hakkai’s smile returned at that, looking more relaxed. “So what’s up with you and blondie?”
Hakkai’s look of surprise was so quickly sublimated that Fuuma almost believed it was real. “What do you mean?”
“Do you always spat like that?”
“My. You’re being rather more upfront.”
“You’re being rather more open.”
“…kyuu.”
Hakkai laughed. “Good point. No, Sanzo and I tend to get along relatively well. We’re currently disagreeing about something.”
“Oh? What?”
“You,” Hakkai answered bluntly. “He doesn’t trust you.”
“And you do?”
“Oh, no. Not at all. But I don’t think our interests converge at any point.” Hakkai pet his dragon. “And Jeep seems fond of you.”
Fuuma smiled. “Well. I am generally good with animals. Except for kittens.”
Hakkai hummed in agreement, and Fuuma had the idea that he knew exactly what Fuuma meant. There was a long, companionable silence serenaded by the sounds of Goku and Gojyo fighting and Sanzo threatening to shoot them both, until Hakkai spoke again.
“Also, you’re a minor character.”
“I’m what?”
Hakkai smiled into his glass. “I’ve read ‘The Journey to the West’. You don’t appear in it. So chances are you’re just a one-time encounter rather than a recurring character.”
“…you read the story you’re supposed to be in?” Fuuma wasn’t sure that was allowed.
Hakkai shrugged. “I grew up in a monastery orphanage. It was dull enough that I’d read whatever I could. They mainly had biblical books and the classics.”
“Well then. It’s practically unavoidable.”
“Indeed.”
“I don’t suppose…”
“I’ve never come across a ‘Fuuma’, no. Sorry.”
“Ah. Well, that’s probably for the best.” Fuuma waved the server for another drink. “I’m not sure I’d enjoy knowing how my story ends.”
Hakkai nodded. “I’m certain I don’t like how mine does.” He sighed. “But, then again, it’s only a story.”
Title: People in Your Neighbourhood
Characters: TRC-Fuuma, Sakzo, Goku, Gojyo, Hakkai, Jeep
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 2438
Notes: This became a bit Hakkai-centric, but I blame him and Fuuma for poking at each other. The title is totally taken from a Seseme Street song and I refuse to feel anything but glee over that. Be warned: There is significant fouth-wall abuse in this fic.
As always when entering a new world, Fuuma did some quick reconnaissance.
Normally, he would be checking out the flora and fauna if he appeared in the middle of the wilderness, or architecture if he appeared in the middle of civilization. Yuuko’s magic generally kept him from popping up in the middle of a group of people, which kept the awkward explanations to a minimum. At least until Fuuma opened his mouth.
This time however, despite the interesting topography and plant life lit exotically by the late afternoon sun, Fuuma didn’t really have the chance to take any of it in. Instead, he was immediately forced to take cover as over a dozen men launched themselves at a small defensive group. Fuuma considered intervening, but had a feeling it wouldn’t be necessary.
“Makai Tenjyo!”
It was nice, being right.
Again, normally, Fuuma would have appreciated the view (four attractive young men fighting against insurmountable odds) and moved on. There were exceptions (…Kamui) but generally, Fuuma strove to maintain his emotional distance from those he encountered in his travels.
However he had been tasked with finding a rare magical relic, and given the power that the leader (possibly) of this group casually wielded, this looked like a good place to start.
He approached the group cautiously. Anyone would be on their guard after being attacked like that.
“Sanzooo, I’m-”
“Hungry, yes we know.”
“Shut up, stupid cockroach head! I wasn’t talking to you.”
“When are you ever?”
“I think we have some apples left…”
“Oi, Hakkai, don’t encourage him.”
“If you three are quite done, let’s get back on the road.”
“But I’m hungryyyyy!”
“I’m sure they were here somewhere. Gojyo, if you wouldn’t mind…”
“Me? Why do I gotta?”
“Goku and I are looking for a snack and Sanzo’s busy being impatient.”
“Oi.”
“Pardon me. Very busy being impatient.”
“…fine.”
Fumma was still wondering if maybe his translator was malfunctioning when he found himself at the business end of a rather interesting looking sickle. “…yes? Can I help you?”
“Why’re you sneaking around? You’re human, but you gotta admit that’s pretty suspicious after a youkai attack.” For all his whining and taunting a moment ago, the strange red-headed man was completely serious now, and a genuine threat. Fuuma judged his speed and the distance between himself and the blade and figured he might be able to get away with only a horribly disfiguring scar. If he was lucky.
It was horribly intimidating. Fuuma cocked his head to the side, ticking off ‘demons’ in his mental catalogue of this world. “Human? Are you sure of that?”
The man snorted. “Pretty darn. You don’t stink of youki and you might smirk like ‘em, but you’re no god.”
“And I suppose ‘human’ is the only option left.” Fuuma followed his reasoning to its logical conclusion. “I guess that would make me human, then.”
“…are you making fun of me?”
“Not at all. Merely agreeing.” Fuuma’s hands were still in his trenchcoat pockets, that blade was still in his face, and he wasn’t entirely sure how get out of this. “Say… can I bum a ride?”
“No.” The answer came from the blond leader, who was already getting into the jeep (the passenger side, Fuuma noted with interest). “We’re not a taxi service. Get in, moron.”
“Che. First I gotta do all the work, then I’m last one in…” The sickle disappeared somewhere as the red-head turned from Fuuma, dismissing him. “Hey, monkey-brains, save one of those apples for me.”
Fuuma considered his options. Then darted towards the driver, showcasing a bit of his abilities. Usually he’d be fast enough to take anyone but a vampire or his brother off guard.
In this case, he was met with that same sickle, the end of a long staff, the muzzle of a revolver, and a cheerfully humming ball of energy courtesy of the driver himself. Fuuma raised his hands, open and defenseless. “I can pay.”
None of the four budged. “We don’t need your money,” the blond one ground out. “Back the hell off before we get offended.”
…he was adorable. Fuuma liked him already. And the driver was missing an eye… it was really quite nostalgic. He turned to the apparent youngest in the group, the boy with shaggy brown hair and a strange gold crown that matched his eyes. “Do you like candy?” He still had some left over from Piffle world.
And that was how he ended up in the back of a jeep with a candy-chewing child on his lap, listening to the wind rush past. An odd, but not unpleasant, start to this journey.
“What’s your name?” the red-head asked eventually.
“Fuuma,” Fuuma answered. “And you would be…”
“Gojyo. That’s Hakkai” he pointed to the driver “and Sanzo” the tsundere (minus any ‘dere’) blond “and Goku’s on your lap.”
“It’s nice to meet you all.” The silhouette of a town appeared in the distance, growing steadily. “Do you live around here?”
Gojyo thought about that for a moment. “Well… we’re here. And we’re alive. So… yeah. I guess so.”
Fuuma laughed easily, quite honestly charmed. “I may use that line in the future.”
“Feel free.” Gojyo grinned back, waving modestly but clearly pleased at the implied compliment to his wit. Fuuma mentally tallied two allies. Likely the two easier ones, although the driver was still a bit of an enigma…
They pulled into an inn just after sunset and Fuuma managed to talk Sanzo into letting him buy them supper in exchange for the ride. As the four of them fought over rooming assignments (there were only two rooms left - it was a good thing Fuuma wasn’t planning on staying here) Fuuma checked his energy scanner to see how close he was to the source of the negative energy that was radiating somewhere from the west. Chances were that was where his target would be.
“Hoh? What’s that?”
Fuuma looked up from his readings (he was several hundred kilometers from the source) and into the cheerfully inquisitive gaze of the driver, Hakkai.
“It’s an energy scouter is that a dragon on your shoulder?”
“Kyuu?”
“Oh, yes. This is Jeep.” Hakkai turned his mild smile to the dragon. “I think he likes you.”
“Kyuu!”
Fuuma couldn’t help smiling, not that he was trying not to. “I quite like him too. Where did he come from?”
Hakkai’s smile widened slightly. “Ah, he’s always with us.”
“…is he now.” Fuuma was pretty sure he wouldn’t have overlooked a dragon, but he also suspected he was being lightly trolled. He quite enjoyed that. “May I pet him?” He raised a hand in anticipation.
“Kyuu…” The dragon… Jeep answered for Hakkai, butting his head under Fuuma’s hand. Both Fuuma and Hakkai laughed pleasantly at his antics.
“If you two’re done flirting, the monkey wants supper.” Three sets of amused eyes - Fuuma’s, Hakkai’s, and Jeep’s - turned to Gojyo.
Hakkai simply nodded. “I’m rooming with?”
“Sanzo.” Gojyo did not look pleased. “Maybe I can hook up with someone to get out of bunking with the snore factory.”
Goku didn’t look happy either, but both Hakkai and Sanzo seemed satisfied with the arrangements. Fuuma had a strange impulse to cheer them all up, and a pretty good idea how. “To thank you for the ride, may I take you out for supper?” He even managed to keep his tone innuendo-free.
As expected, Goku immediately perked up. “Oh, can he? Please Sanzo?”
Fuuma was pleased to see that he’d been accurate in assessing that Sanzo was the leader, even if that still didn’t quite feel accurate.
“We don’t need-”
“That’s very generous of you,” Hakkai interrupted so smoothly it was hardly an interruption at all.
Gojyo did a quick double take at that, then forcibly relaxed. “Alcohol too?”
“Of course.”
“I’m in.”
Fuuma didn’t miss the dirty look Sanzo shot Hakkai as they trooped out of the hotel, or the almost defensive chirp the dragon made, and found himself more intrigued than ever.
It wasn’t until they were seated and their drinks were served that Fuuma figured out Hakkai’s motivation.
“Are you a traveler then, Fuuma-san?”
It was almost the same question Gojyo had asked (and Fuuma had deflected) but… not quite. And the pleasant tone was like velvet over steel - and most of the things Fuuma could name made out of steel could be used as weapons. It wasn’t in Fuuma’s nature to outright lie, but he couldn’t help poking dangerous things with half-truths just to see what would happen.
“I am.”
“Cool!” Goku looked impressed. “Where have you been?”
“All sorts of places,” Fuuma answered easily. “I’m something of a hunter.” A subtle tension came over the group at that. “A treasure hunter.” They relaxed.
Goku was still looking at him with shining eyes. “That’s so neat! Hey, Sanzo, when we’re done here, can we do that too?”
Sanzo scowled over his drink. “After we’re done, there’s no way I’m going on another trip with any of you morons.”
Fuuma chuckled. “Speaking of, what brings you four here? You seem to be on your way somewhere as well…”
“Do we?” Hakkai asked pleasantly. No one else volunteered any more information. Interesting. Fuuma turned his attention to Hakkai.
“Well, you’re certainly a mysterious bunch; a mismatched group of young men, traveling together on some sort of mission, attacked by youkai… I would expect that you have your own interesting story.” He smiled. “And I tend to collect interesting stories.”
Hakkai smiled right back. “Do you?” Fuuma bit back a laugh, and inclined his head, conceding the point. Hakkai, in return, gave up a little more. “Of all of us, Sanzo would be the most noteworthy orator.”
Fuuma wanted to bottle the glare that Sanzo shot Hakkai. He was fairly sure it would be fatal in other circumstances - he was getting the impression the two of them did not get along at all. “I appreciate that. But it’s always interesting to hear the variations between individual experiences.” He deliberately turned to Goku. “How would you describe your trip, for instance?”
“Long,” Goku said emphatically. “But we’ve met some really interesting people! And some less interesting people, but they don’t tend to last that long.” He scrunched his nose in thought. “Sometimes it’s really uncomfortable, and sometimes really bad things happen, but it always gets better, and we always make it through!” He took a deep breath at the end of that, looking pleased.
“…so far.”
Goku’s pleased expression dissolved. “You don’t have to be so negative, Sanzo.”
“Just being realistic.”
Hakkai coughed lightly. “I couldn’t have said it better myself, Goku. Although, I’d add that occasionally it can get rather filthy.”
“And if we run out of smokes or it rains for a long time, it can get kind of tense,” Gojyo added.
Cigarettes Fuuma could understand (it was called an addiction for a reason), but rain… that was somewhat nostalgic as well, he thought back to Acid Tokyo.
“Oi, share,” Gojyo said, grinning. “You look like whatever you’re thinking about is a good story itself.”
Fuuma smiled back, fond and genuine. “Just thinking back to a certain adorable half-drenched kitten. He was cute.”
“Did you save it and keep it warm and dry?” Goku asked, eyes wide with innocent concern.
Fuuma shook his head ruefully. “Unfortunately, this kitten didn’t want to be kept.”
“How awkward for you,” Hakkai said softly, not quite like he disapproved. Fuuma might have retorted with something, but the food arrived.
An hour later, Goku was still going strong, eating practically everything he could get his hands on, and Gojyo was making a general nuisance of himself harassing him while Sanzo ignored them completely. Fuuma, feeling vaguely overwhelmed, took his drink and moved towards the bar. He was glad that pure gold had about the same exchange rate everywhere as he hadn’t exactly had the chance to acquire the local currency yet.
A few minutes later, he was joined by Hakkai and his dragon. He smiled and raised his glass in welcome as Hakkai sat down.
“I apologize if you were feeling unwelcome…”
Fuuma shook his head. “Not at all. It’s just… there are some things better observed from a safe distance.” Hakkai laughed. “…what happened to your eye?”
The humour vanished from Hakkai’s face. Fuuma pretended not to notice. “It’s just… my brother lost his as well.” He frowned. “Well… not ‘lost’, I suppose. We both know exactly where it is. It’s just not with him.”
“How unfortunate.”
“Not really. He got what he wanted out of it.” Fuuma took a drink. “Did you?”
“…in a way. The eye was really rather incidental, however.” Hakkai brought his hand up to his monocle. “It’s a reminder, I suppose.”
Fuuma snorted lightly. “You don’t seem the type to forget.” Hakkai’s smile returned at that, looking more relaxed. “So what’s up with you and blondie?”
Hakkai’s look of surprise was so quickly sublimated that Fuuma almost believed it was real. “What do you mean?”
“Do you always spat like that?”
“My. You’re being rather more upfront.”
“You’re being rather more open.”
“…kyuu.”
Hakkai laughed. “Good point. No, Sanzo and I tend to get along relatively well. We’re currently disagreeing about something.”
“Oh? What?”
“You,” Hakkai answered bluntly. “He doesn’t trust you.”
“And you do?”
“Oh, no. Not at all. But I don’t think our interests converge at any point.” Hakkai pet his dragon. “And Jeep seems fond of you.”
Fuuma smiled. “Well. I am generally good with animals. Except for kittens.”
Hakkai hummed in agreement, and Fuuma had the idea that he knew exactly what Fuuma meant. There was a long, companionable silence serenaded by the sounds of Goku and Gojyo fighting and Sanzo threatening to shoot them both, until Hakkai spoke again.
“Also, you’re a minor character.”
“I’m what?”
Hakkai smiled into his glass. “I’ve read ‘The Journey to the West’. You don’t appear in it. So chances are you’re just a one-time encounter rather than a recurring character.”
“…you read the story you’re supposed to be in?” Fuuma wasn’t sure that was allowed.
Hakkai shrugged. “I grew up in a monastery orphanage. It was dull enough that I’d read whatever I could. They mainly had biblical books and the classics.”
“Well then. It’s practically unavoidable.”
“Indeed.”
“I don’t suppose…”
“I’ve never come across a ‘Fuuma’, no. Sorry.”
“Ah. Well, that’s probably for the best.” Fuuma waved the server for another drink. “I’m not sure I’d enjoy knowing how my story ends.”
Hakkai nodded. “I’m certain I don’t like how mine does.” He sighed. “But, then again, it’s only a story.”