Challenge #52
Yeah I know it's a few days late. Blame finals week. Spent 7 hours grading today. Shoot me. I didn't want this to go to waste so I figured it's not THAT late...
The Student
Author - cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, no profit made, all rights belong to Minkura
Rating - PG
Pairing - none, Hakkai centric
Time line - Before the journey, before Goku even cuts his hair, no real spoilers
Summary - It’s a matter of what is needed
Author’s Note - written for Saiyuki_time’s word challenge, needing to use Grow. Feather. Knife. Angular. Cat. Time allowed 60 min. Time taken 15 total for writing and a once over
XXX
Hakkai watched Goku playing not far from the window in Sanzo’s temple office. Sunlight dappled the boy’s face as he danced a long piece of string in front of a small cat who played with enthusiasm. “I almost don’t want to disturb him for his writing lessons.”
“Don’t.” Sanzo shrugged, puffing out a stream of smoke. “It’s wasted energy.”
Hakkai sighed softly, wondering if Sanzo actually believed that or was he simply hiding behind his surly mask. The prospect of the former possibility saddened him. When he lived his other life, there was never a student Hakkai considered hopeless. “You wouldn’t want Goku to grow up to be useless, now would you, Sanzo?”
“Why should the future be any different that now?” The monk didn’t look up from his paperwork, the smoke from his cigarette obscuring his angular cheek bones. The man needed to eat more, Hakkai decided.
“Because it is the future,” Hakkai argued, leaning out the window. “Goku, it’s time for your writing lesson.”
Goku let the cat claim the string. “Awww, Hakkai, it’s too nice to sit inside watching me mess up.”
“At least he’s honest with himself,” Sanzo muttered.
Hakkai ignored the priest, looking up into the clear blue sky. “How about we go for a hike and work on science, instead?”
“Yay!” came Goku’s enthusiastic answer.
“Science? Really? You are a masochist, Hakkai.” Sanzo finally turned his attention away from his work as Hakkai twisted back around. He looked amused.
“Maybe he’ll like it better than math. Goku can learn, Sanzo. We just need to find what motivates him.”
“Food and sleep.” Sanzo went back to work. “Good luck.”
Hakkai laughed at that bald truth and headed outside. Goku fell into step with him as Hakkai headed into the forest. Goku certainly showed more enthusiasm for science than he did math but Hakkai wasn’t sure how much the boy would retain. Still, being able to touch and sniff and occasionally taste his surroundings obviously perked Goku’s curiosity.
There had been a few difficult students in Hakkai’s past. Goku was more like them. His mind didn’t work quite like everyone else’s. His took nimble leaps around logic and came to conclusions that could be quite insightful even if Hakkai wasn’t quite sure how the young man came to them.
“Hakkai, look! It’s pretty.” Goku held up a bright yellow feather he found on the path.
Hakkai took it from him. “This is from the Great Tit.”
Goku giggled. “Tit.”
Hakkai sighed. “I see Gojyo has been a bad influence on you.”
“Is it what I think it is?”
“Doubtful. Let’s see if there’s one around. These are nuts trees so we might be able to see them.”
Goku spun around, his long, thick ponytail swinging lazily as he scanned the tree tops. He pointed wildly to a yellow and black bird swinging around on the tree nuts. “Hakkai, there!” He cried loudly, making the bird take off.
“Goku, when one is looking for birds, one has to be much quieter,” Hakkai said softly.
Goku pulled a lemony face, pocketing the little yellow feather. “Okay.”
True to his word, Goku managed to be a bit quieter, at least until he caught his hair in a tangle of vines; then he let go with a stream of invectives Hakkai would have to scold Sanzo and Gojyo about later for all the good it would do.
“Hold still, Goku.” Hakkai pulled out his pocket knife and sawed through the vines.
“Thanks, Hakkai.” Goku eased some of the severed vegetation out of the knots in his hair, eyeing the heart-shaped but mangled leaves speculatively. “What was it?”
Hakkai grinned and told him. This was why he wanted to teach Goku even if his companions couldn’t understand it. Hakkai still felt unsure of his new place in the world. Teaching Goku helped ground him and there was a simple joy to be had in opening up a mind to something new. Goku might never become his best student but he was the student Hakkai needed just now.
The Student
Author - cornerofmadness
Disclaimer - not mine, no profit made, all rights belong to Minkura
Rating - PG
Pairing - none, Hakkai centric
Time line - Before the journey, before Goku even cuts his hair, no real spoilers
Summary - It’s a matter of what is needed
Author’s Note - written for Saiyuki_time’s word challenge, needing to use Grow. Feather. Knife. Angular. Cat. Time allowed 60 min. Time taken 15 total for writing and a once over
XXX
Hakkai watched Goku playing not far from the window in Sanzo’s temple office. Sunlight dappled the boy’s face as he danced a long piece of string in front of a small cat who played with enthusiasm. “I almost don’t want to disturb him for his writing lessons.”
“Don’t.” Sanzo shrugged, puffing out a stream of smoke. “It’s wasted energy.”
Hakkai sighed softly, wondering if Sanzo actually believed that or was he simply hiding behind his surly mask. The prospect of the former possibility saddened him. When he lived his other life, there was never a student Hakkai considered hopeless. “You wouldn’t want Goku to grow up to be useless, now would you, Sanzo?”
“Why should the future be any different that now?” The monk didn’t look up from his paperwork, the smoke from his cigarette obscuring his angular cheek bones. The man needed to eat more, Hakkai decided.
“Because it is the future,” Hakkai argued, leaning out the window. “Goku, it’s time for your writing lesson.”
Goku let the cat claim the string. “Awww, Hakkai, it’s too nice to sit inside watching me mess up.”
“At least he’s honest with himself,” Sanzo muttered.
Hakkai ignored the priest, looking up into the clear blue sky. “How about we go for a hike and work on science, instead?”
“Yay!” came Goku’s enthusiastic answer.
“Science? Really? You are a masochist, Hakkai.” Sanzo finally turned his attention away from his work as Hakkai twisted back around. He looked amused.
“Maybe he’ll like it better than math. Goku can learn, Sanzo. We just need to find what motivates him.”
“Food and sleep.” Sanzo went back to work. “Good luck.”
Hakkai laughed at that bald truth and headed outside. Goku fell into step with him as Hakkai headed into the forest. Goku certainly showed more enthusiasm for science than he did math but Hakkai wasn’t sure how much the boy would retain. Still, being able to touch and sniff and occasionally taste his surroundings obviously perked Goku’s curiosity.
There had been a few difficult students in Hakkai’s past. Goku was more like them. His mind didn’t work quite like everyone else’s. His took nimble leaps around logic and came to conclusions that could be quite insightful even if Hakkai wasn’t quite sure how the young man came to them.
“Hakkai, look! It’s pretty.” Goku held up a bright yellow feather he found on the path.
Hakkai took it from him. “This is from the Great Tit.”
Goku giggled. “Tit.”
Hakkai sighed. “I see Gojyo has been a bad influence on you.”
“Is it what I think it is?”
“Doubtful. Let’s see if there’s one around. These are nuts trees so we might be able to see them.”
Goku spun around, his long, thick ponytail swinging lazily as he scanned the tree tops. He pointed wildly to a yellow and black bird swinging around on the tree nuts. “Hakkai, there!” He cried loudly, making the bird take off.
“Goku, when one is looking for birds, one has to be much quieter,” Hakkai said softly.
Goku pulled a lemony face, pocketing the little yellow feather. “Okay.”
True to his word, Goku managed to be a bit quieter, at least until he caught his hair in a tangle of vines; then he let go with a stream of invectives Hakkai would have to scold Sanzo and Gojyo about later for all the good it would do.
“Hold still, Goku.” Hakkai pulled out his pocket knife and sawed through the vines.
“Thanks, Hakkai.” Goku eased some of the severed vegetation out of the knots in his hair, eyeing the heart-shaped but mangled leaves speculatively. “What was it?”
Hakkai grinned and told him. This was why he wanted to teach Goku even if his companions couldn’t understand it. Hakkai still felt unsure of his new place in the world. Teaching Goku helped ground him and there was a simple joy to be had in opening up a mind to something new. Goku might never become his best student but he was the student Hakkai needed just now.