Not Quite Paradise
Disclaimer: I don't own the Sanzo-ikkou, or this song, it's from the Titan A.E. soundtrack.
"It's your turn Sanzo." Hakkai said without looking up from his own Mahjong tiles. He had that look on his face, the one that said he was probably going to own all of their asses with his next play.
As Gojyo sipped his beer and idly turned one of his own tiles over and over in his fingers, he couldn't help but watch them all, Hakkai, Goku, even Sanzo. The way they acted when they were peacefully – well, as peaceful as their life ever got - ensconced in an inn, drinking beer, playing cards or Mahjong.
It was weird, how much they were like a family – okay, an exceptionally dysfunctional family that would have probably been arrested several times over had one of them not had connections up the wazoo – but a family nonetheless.
"Gojyo?"
"Hm?"
"It's your turn, whenever you're done staring into space." Hakkai said with a mostly straight face; only a small glint in his eyes gave away the amusement he was having at Gojyo's expense.
"Yeah, hurry up ya stupid water sprite, we don't have all day yanno." Goku chimed in, leaning back on two legs of his chair.
"Who are you calling stupid, you stupid monkey!" Gojyo leaned over the table to flick the idiot in the forehead, causing Goku to wobble ominously in his precarious perch, and earning himself a sharp rap of a fan on his head.
"Sit the fuck down Gojyo, and dammit Goku, put the chair flat before you fall and crack open your empty skull," Sanzo growled from around his cigarette.
Plunking himself heavily back into his seat, Gojyo rolled his eyes and nearly retracted his previous thought about family, who the hell would want a home with these nutjobs? Making his move, he took another swig of beer.
"Now Sanzo, you know a little fall won't hurt Goku," added Hakkai as he smiled at the tiles Gojyo had laid.
"I'm not worried about the monkey, I'm worried about the chair and floor," was Sanzo's defensive remark as he slid low in his chair and puffed out a small cloud of smoke.
Gojyo couldn't help but laugh. Who did the monk think he was kidding? He may let the kid fight his own battles, but he'd be the first person to kick ass and take names if anyone ever got the drop on the brat.
He was sure though, that he wouldn't trade their weird little collection for anything.
"I win." Hakkai proclaimed, laying his row of tiles flat.
Well, he might have traded it to stop Hakkai from winning at every fucking thing they played…
"What are you smiling about, Gojyo," asked the brunet as he scooped up all the tiles and relayed the board.
"Nothin'. Just thinking that while this might not be paradise, it sure feels like home," he replied as he lit up a cigarette and inhaled happily, blowing a stream of smoke to the ceiling.
"Stop talking nonsense." Sanzo said, but his expression lightened fractionally.
"I don't think its nonsense," Hakkai added, "I think it's profound. Gojyo have you been buying strange cigarettes from men on street corners again?"
"Ah shut up and play, Hakkai," Gojyo gave him the finger, and just winked when Hakkai mouthed 'later'.
"Yes, yes. Eager to lose again?"
Goku laughed at that, restarting the yelling match between him and Gojyo, only ended by the resounding crack of dual fan slaps.
Hakkai just looked on and laughed; the sound carrying out the open window and onto the wind.
::END::