fivebyfiction: Step
Title: Step
Fandom: Saiyuki
Claim: Koumyou Sanzo and Kouryuu
Set: #3
Prompt: Daylight
Word Count: 654
Rating: G
Summary: Another first for baby Kouryuu.
Notes: Same as the first - fluff and sap ahead.
Koumyou Sanzo was not generally late to rise. For the past eight months, he awoke at dawn nearly every day to care for and feed the infant Kouryuu. It was worrisome at first that the baby didn’t take to the bottle instantly, but now it had become a natural motion and Koumyou felt more at ease that Kouryuu would remain happy and full.
The child was sleeping through the night more often now, so Koumyou was used to getting up when Kouryuu did. That was what surprised him most when he awoke that morning and saw that the sunlight was already pouring through the windows in his cell.
The priest eased himself out of bed as quietly as he could, noticing that Kouryuu was still sound asleep in a little ball next to the wall, breathing heavily. Koumyou softly ran a hand through the child’s hair and smiled down at him. It was hard to imagine life without Kouryuu now that he had cared for him for so long.
Most of the restrictions of the monastic life weren’t important to Koumyou; he was easily able to live without them. The only thing he’d wanted in life had been a family of his own; being able to raise children and watch them grow up were things he was especially denied as a Sanzo Priest. It had been only natural to take Kouryuu as his own son and the resulting bond was inevitable.
He returned to his room after getting himself prepared for the day and found Kouryuu awake. The little blond child was crawling across the futon, violet eyes lighting up at the sight of his father. Kouryuu sometimes got anxious when Koumyou was away for too long.
The priest stretched his arms out, crouching down near the bedding. “Come here, Kouryuu.” The boy was getting better at crawling and could stand fairly well at this point. He was still hesitant about walking, but Koumyou tried to encourage him at every opportunity. “Come here. Don’t be afraid.”
With a thump, Kouryuu reached the edge of the futon and fell off. It wasn’t that far of a fall, but Koumyou winced and started to move forward to his son’s aid. Kouryuu didn’t start crying, though, so he decided to let the boy get up on his own.
Kouryuu’s unsteady shadow stretched across the floor as he pulled himself to his feet. He clung to the bedding and turned large purple eyes towards the priest. The boy didn’t look upset, merely concerned. Koumyou had long ago learned to distinguish the different emotions those eyes contained and reassured the boy once more. “Come here, Kouryuu. Come to me.”
Kouryuu made some sort of muffled squeak of indignation, but took a tentative step in Koumyou’s direction. He still clung to the bed sheets to support himself, but Koumyou kept his arms spread wide. “That’s it. That’s a good boy.”
Another step and the blankets dropped from his hands. Kouryuu wobbled a bit on the wooden floor, stopping to look up at Koumyou, who smiled and encouraged him on. There was a soft third step and a stronger fourth, until finally, Kouryuu was pushing himself along on will alone.
A dozen steps later, he stumbled, but Koumyou was there to catch him in a fierce hug. “Wonderful! You did so good!” He beamed down at the boy, who giggled with happiness. He scooped Kouryuu into his arms and took him out to the main part of the monks’ quarters for breakfast.
The memory stuck with Koumyou for the rest of his life: the daylight shining in behind Kouryuu as he stepped closer and closer, soft at first but growing more and more confident. He could only hope that Kouryuu kept that in mind no matter how old he got; to remain strong and confident in himself, and making sure that he knew just what a brave, amazing person he was.
x-posted to fivebyfiction, saiyuki, and sanzou
Fandom: Saiyuki
Claim: Koumyou Sanzo and Kouryuu
Set: #3
Prompt: Daylight
Word Count: 654
Rating: G
Summary: Another first for baby Kouryuu.
Notes: Same as the first - fluff and sap ahead.
Koumyou Sanzo was not generally late to rise. For the past eight months, he awoke at dawn nearly every day to care for and feed the infant Kouryuu. It was worrisome at first that the baby didn’t take to the bottle instantly, but now it had become a natural motion and Koumyou felt more at ease that Kouryuu would remain happy and full.
The child was sleeping through the night more often now, so Koumyou was used to getting up when Kouryuu did. That was what surprised him most when he awoke that morning and saw that the sunlight was already pouring through the windows in his cell.
The priest eased himself out of bed as quietly as he could, noticing that Kouryuu was still sound asleep in a little ball next to the wall, breathing heavily. Koumyou softly ran a hand through the child’s hair and smiled down at him. It was hard to imagine life without Kouryuu now that he had cared for him for so long.
Most of the restrictions of the monastic life weren’t important to Koumyou; he was easily able to live without them. The only thing he’d wanted in life had been a family of his own; being able to raise children and watch them grow up were things he was especially denied as a Sanzo Priest. It had been only natural to take Kouryuu as his own son and the resulting bond was inevitable.
He returned to his room after getting himself prepared for the day and found Kouryuu awake. The little blond child was crawling across the futon, violet eyes lighting up at the sight of his father. Kouryuu sometimes got anxious when Koumyou was away for too long.
The priest stretched his arms out, crouching down near the bedding. “Come here, Kouryuu.” The boy was getting better at crawling and could stand fairly well at this point. He was still hesitant about walking, but Koumyou tried to encourage him at every opportunity. “Come here. Don’t be afraid.”
With a thump, Kouryuu reached the edge of the futon and fell off. It wasn’t that far of a fall, but Koumyou winced and started to move forward to his son’s aid. Kouryuu didn’t start crying, though, so he decided to let the boy get up on his own.
Kouryuu’s unsteady shadow stretched across the floor as he pulled himself to his feet. He clung to the bedding and turned large purple eyes towards the priest. The boy didn’t look upset, merely concerned. Koumyou had long ago learned to distinguish the different emotions those eyes contained and reassured the boy once more. “Come here, Kouryuu. Come to me.”
Kouryuu made some sort of muffled squeak of indignation, but took a tentative step in Koumyou’s direction. He still clung to the bed sheets to support himself, but Koumyou kept his arms spread wide. “That’s it. That’s a good boy.”
Another step and the blankets dropped from his hands. Kouryuu wobbled a bit on the wooden floor, stopping to look up at Koumyou, who smiled and encouraged him on. There was a soft third step and a stronger fourth, until finally, Kouryuu was pushing himself along on will alone.
A dozen steps later, he stumbled, but Koumyou was there to catch him in a fierce hug. “Wonderful! You did so good!” He beamed down at the boy, who giggled with happiness. He scooped Kouryuu into his arms and took him out to the main part of the monks’ quarters for breakfast.
The memory stuck with Koumyou for the rest of his life: the daylight shining in behind Kouryuu as he stepped closer and closer, soft at first but growing more and more confident. He could only hope that Kouryuu kept that in mind no matter how old he got; to remain strong and confident in himself, and making sure that he knew just what a brave, amazing person he was.
x-posted to fivebyfiction, saiyuki, and sanzou