Saiyuki Story: Four

[sunspot67]

Fandom:  Saiyuki
Author:  Sunspot
Title:  Four
Rating:  PG 13
Note:  Fourth in a series of eight.  The Sanzo-ikkou, snowed in at a Tibetan inn, improvise Chanukah based on a one-page listing in Hakkai’s paperback Festivals of the World.

Comments

[evilchuckles]

Guh....This series really has me by the heart and throat and (in my case metaphorical) balls. It's AMAZING.

Another classic blessing from Sanzo.

Poor, poor Hakkai. The way you write him fills me with painful compassion. I want Sanzo to make love to him properly. Hakkai deserves something nice to happen!

[sunspot67]

Thank you. This installment was like pulling teeth to write, so I'm really glad it touched you.

Hopefully he and Sanzo will get their collective act together.

So, does their conversation in the kitchen make more sense now?

[evilchuckles]

Yes it does! Thank you!

It didn't read like it had been difficult to write. I assumed you took an hour out from family stuff to spurt genius effortlessly before floating back on a fluffy cloud.

Er...that sounds kinky, doesn't it?

[sunspot67]

Sounds like what we want Sanzo and Hakkai to get onto.

Glad it doesn't read as labored. The first three I wrote on the train and a bit at lunch or in the evening, and they really flowed along. This one, not hardly. It's the interstices that are hardest for me. I'm in a tough place with the latest (and long overdue) GWYM chapter in part because it's the interlude around the camp before we get into the very hairy mess that is the GWYM version of the Shuei arc.

Yeep.

[laurose8]

'spiritually charged middle distance' snorfles.

With no more than a few glimpses of Hakkai's thoughts, you've produced first class 383. (And Namgyal must really love Rinzen, if she wasn't tempted for a moment.)

[sunspot67]

Hee, glad you liked the blessing bit--people seem to get this "prayer face" sometimes. I'm sure I do as well, but it's pretty funny to see.

And thank you. Had no idea the series was going to go that route when I began it. Am rather glad it's headed that way--I've only written 383 once before and have been feeling like it was high time.

Yep, she does. He's a very good guy, Rinzen, and crazy about her, as well.

[late4f8]

Just want to say that I love the comfort that this story emotes. The strength and detail you write into each character, and the family aspect of the inn folk, and the ikkou themselves, leaves me with a good, glowy, feeling each time I finish reading. Thank you and please continue!

(crossposted comment from AdventChallenge, but thought here would be better)

[sunspot67]

Thank you, that's very thoughtful of you.

[lawless523]

I went to bed before this was posted, but by this morning, I'd worked out the connection between the conversation with Sanzo and Hakkai's thoughts about Gojyo. (I'd pretty much guessed what the conversation with Sanzo was about, except I assumed it was an unconsummated attraction.) Now I'm trying to figure out if Mother Tamang was talking about Gojyo or Goku. :)

This was wonderful, both melancholy and hopeful. I loved the bits about the inn family and Mother Tamang's attempt at match-making, Jeep's involvement, Sanzo sitting with the old men reading their newspapers (no wonder Gojyo calls him an old man), the dancing, and Hakkai's thoughts about Sanzo -- "knotted up" is a good way to describe him.

[sunspot67]

Thank you. I'm really pleased that this series has engaged you enough to have you thinking about it away from the computer. When I first realized that Sanzo and Hakkai had had sex (while writing Two) I foolishly assumed it was a complication in what was going to be a 58 story. Silly me!

I suspect it's the rare mother who'd consider even Gojyo-on-his-best-behavior a good catch for her daughter. Now if Namgyal were really on the ball, she'd start playing up to Gojyo. Bet Rinzen would go up a few notches in the parental esteem department then!

I am really happy that you've found so much to like in this installment.

[lawless523]

My first reaction was to think of Goku, and after I'd written the comment, I realized that you had to mean him, what with the reference to Dorje and being hard-working. (Gojyo's generally only hard-working in fits and starts.) At least Hakkai wasn't lying when he said Goku was also attached to the monastery!

Now I have to go back to Two to look for the 38-ness. ETA: Ah, it's Hakkai's remembering who he's sharing a bed with. Snuggling into Goku is safe; snuggling into Sanzo isn't.

[sunspot67]

This particular story line aside, I suspect there are only select instances in which snuggling up to Sanzo is safe, for anyone.

[kirathaune]

What a wonderful chapter. *sighs*

I loved the matchmatching attempt (and LOL'd at the way the mother just moved on to Goku!)

And oh... the way you described Hakkai's thoughts on Sanzo where brilliant, from the cold hands/feet to his tightly knotted chi. And then Hakkai shut down on his thoughts, as usual.

Just wonderful!

[sunspot67]

Thank you so much. Poor Ma Tamang, eventually she's going to have to give up and just deal.

Very glad you're enjoying the Hakkai characterization.

Thank you again!