Tricks of the Trade
Prologue: Street Savvy

A Story for the Smoke Signals Thread

By Nekochan

Author's Note

This first chapter is from Gojyo's POV, but the rest will be in 3rd Person Omniscient. This part is just to set the stage for all that is to come. If Gojyo comes off as a little bit out of character, that is done on purpose since this is 3 years before he meets Hakkai, Sanzo, and Goku and thus 6 years before the journey begins. I have placed Gojyo at around 16 years old and 173cm (about 5' 7"), whereas Banri is physically about 19 years old and 187cm (about 6' 1"), roughly as old / tall as he appears in the Burial arc.

Gojyo's inspiration songs are "Devestation and Reform" by Relient K (Five Score and Seven Years Ago) and "Break Stuff" by Limp Bizkit because, come on, just about every 16-year-old is full of angst and emo; Gojyo is no exception at this point in time. Banri's inspiration song is "Brotherhood" by Flatfoot 56 (OSeven) because it's Scottish rock and is full of so many "Fightin' Words" that I can't help but think of Banri's 'human issues'.

I will remind everyone once again that this story is rated M. There's a fair bit of adult sexual material, but the bulk of the M rating will come from foul language.

Arigatou Minasan! (Thanks everyone!)

Nekochan

(-)(-)(-)

Back-streets of Chang'an

"Yee-ah, Gojyo!"

"Don't give up, cutie!"

"What's up, man? He's just a fuckin' kid!"

"Worse, he's nothin' but a goddamned hanyou!"

I knew I had ta' keep my eye on tha' youkai I was street-fightin', but I glanced for a split-second over at Banri outta' the edge-a' my vision, givin' him a glare. Stupid fuckers should honestly just shut their holes unless they're gonna' fight me too.

"OI!" I heard Banri call out, just like I'd hoped he would, "Enough outta' tha' peanut gallery, a'ight? You wanna' talk shit, you get in line ta' fight Gojyo so ya' can put yer fists where yer mouth is!"

That was good - I wasn't an experienced street-fighter yet, so I was pretty busy figurin' out the guy in front of me's style. Since talkin' while yer fightin' is a stupid waste-a' energy, Banri was s'posed ta' take care-a' that stuff for me.

The youkai bastard had been just itchin' ta' pull a weapon on me - I could tell by the way his fingers were twitchin'. He'd already figured out that he may be a little faster than me, but that my reflexes were fast enough ta' repel his wimpy attacks.

He'd seen me fight before - I knew that half-shaved head anywhere - but that was all I knew. By then, he shoulda' known better'n ta' break tha' rules-a' street-fightin'. But, like I said, he was a wimp, an' wimps don't like ta' lose anymore'n powerhouses do.

I saw his fingers curl an' strain in that special way an' that sent my foot flyin' at his face.

I knew he'd dodge that, but that's why I let the motion continue an' slammed my elbow inta' his face when I'd spun completely around, followin' up with another punch just 'cuz I felt like tha' moron deserved it. He went crashin' inta' tha' wall when his buddies scattered like rats. His nose was all crunched an' it looked like he was gonna' have one hella'a shiner the next day, not ta' mention a big ol' gash from hittin' tha' wall.

"Mutha' . . . fucka' . . ." he sputtered as he stood up.

"Less talkin', more punchin', dickwad - I saw ya' goin' fer yer weapon." I stuck my hands in my pockets, leanin' back on my hips. "Come on, I'll give ya' one more shot."

He wiped the blood from his nose on his sleeve, even though it kept flowin', an' sneered back at me, "Asshole!" Naturally, he charged, brandishin' his claws.

I told tha' dude ta' 'punch', didn't I? I thought angrily, waitin' for tha' last second before duckin' the first clawed hand, grabbin' him by tha' other arm that was comin' at me, an' kneein' the bastard right in the crotch. I watched him fall ta' tha' ground, lettin' a smug smile creep over my face as Banri collected an' dolled out tha' cash from tha' bets on tha' fight.

Hell, like that was even worth my time . . . I don' even think I got hit once, I realized as I watched the dude's buddies take him away.

Then came the obligatory flock of boobs. (1)

"Oh, Gojyo, that was so amazing!"

"What a man, huh, girls?"

"How 'bout it, Gojyo? Feel up to treatin' us at the tavern?"

It never ceased ta' amaze me how on earth alley sluts made the jump in logic that a guy that could fight must be good in the sack as well. They were always twenty-somethin's too - never anybody my age - meanin' that they all had these huge jugs that hung right at the bottom of my line of vision.

Glancin' over at Banri, I saw him whisper somethin' in another guy's ear, share a chuckle with the beanpole, an' then hook his arm around the guy's waist. Yup, found his piece of ass for tha' night, I noted as I rolled my eyes, makin' it look like I was scannin' over tha' girls still pressin' in around me.

"I gotta' see how much my cut is first," I insisted as I pushed toward Banri.

The human girls - which were all-a' them - didn't dare follow me; it was some cardinal rule I didn't bother ta' un'nerstand: youkai stuck t' their 'side' an' humans stuck t' theirs. That meant both humans an' youkai could watch the street-fights, but they had ta' stay on their own sides 'til all evidence-a' tha' fight - bettin' money included - was gone.

"Sweet finish, Gojyo," Banri said around his cigarette, still hangin' on-ta' his newfound boytoy. "Here ya' go." He pulled a wad-a' bills outta' his left pocket, scanned 'em once, an' then handed 'em over. " 'M headin' back now, how 'bout you?"

My one goal in life at tha' time had been t' never, EVER hear Banri bangin' one-a' his 'bois' (2) an' did everythin' I could t' not get back 'til he was fast asleep. "Nah, headin' t' tha' bar fer some cards - try-ta' increase m' winnin's, ya' know?"

Banri nodded, grinnin'. "I hear that." He called over t' tha' girls, "Oi, bitches, one-a' you make sure he gets back all right if he gets drunk off his ass, a'ight?"

Of course, that sent 'em chatterin' all over again. They're all gonna' give me a fuckin' headache at this rate.

I grabbed my over-shirt off a crate nearby an' slung one arm in the sleeve, then the other, while I chewed out Banri. "Fucker, you jus' saw me fight an' you actually say shit like that?" I turned on my heels, lookin' for the nearest girl with tha' biggest chest. At least all-a' 'em were shorter'n me - Banri always made me feel short even though I was about average height 'cuz he was a full head taller'n me . . . when he wasn't slouchin'.

"Later, then!" Banri called cheerfully, like he'd done no wrong.

"Yeah, later."

I found a chick that fit the bill, threw an arm around her shoulder, an' started walkin'. "C'mon, let's go t' tha' bar," I said gruffly, knowin' a small mob would still follow me 'til I actually left town fer tha' night.

"Isn't it a tavern?"

Bar, tavern, I really don't care what the hell they call it, so long as I can get drunk an' play cards at the same time. "Whatever."

She kept babblin' an' I was startin' t' regret my choice; chatty girls usually made for nervous fucks, or worse, virgins lookin' ta' lose their v-card. (3) Shit, I grumbled.

"Oh no, it's starting to rain!" She squealed, makin' me roll my eyes.

It wasn't rainin', it was barely drizzlin'. Oh well, might scare off the horde-a' other sluts tryin' ta' follow us. "Well, all tha' more reason t' get t' tha' tavern, right? Jus' walk faster."

" 'Kay."

I paced myself with her since I knew I could walk faster. One hundred yuan said she'd 've rather run t' get outta' tha' rain, but that prolly woulda' resulted in at least one-a' her boobs flyin' outta' her low-cut dress.

Heh. Now that I woulda' paid money t' see.

(-)

The Flowing Sands Tavern, Chang'an

Thankfully, the bitch quieted down when I started playin' cards. I think it helped that I made sure she had a drink in front-a' her at all times. Gotta' remember that tactic, I told myself.

It seemed like tha' more hands I won - or maybe the later it got - the less I had t' worry about the mob-a' sluts surroundin' me, which was real odd. Normally winnin' earns ya' more people watchin', but I think it mighta' been the fact that this time I had one chick near me the whole night. She'd said her name at one point, but I'd forgotten it as soon as I'd heard it.

I make it a point not to remember the names or faces of my one-night-stands, let alone use their name to their face. (4) 'Their'? I thought, Hell, I've been around Banri fer way too long - I only fuck females, after all. (5)

By the time I'd won a nice chunk-a' change on top-a' my night's cut from tha' fight, I was also nicely buzzed. "All right, babe, let's get outta' here."

She grabbed my arm, brown eyes wide an' pleadin'.

Leave it to a chick ta' pull that look on a guy when she wants somethin'.

"Wait a sec," she insisted, "Isn't still raining out?"

I raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Prolly. Why? Afraid you're gonna' melt or somethin'?"

She pouted while fully latchin' herself onta' me.

Damn but she's good at all the girl tricks, I grumbled.

"I don't like getting wet without an umbrella, meanie, and I know you don't have one," she explained. "If we're going back to your place, at least let me use your over-shirt or something."

I contemplated it, but I only had a loose, white wife-beater shirt underneath; that'd get real cold real fast if I gave her my over-shirt.

"What about all that cash you just won, Gojyo?"

I sighed, realizin' where she was goin' with that line. "You wanna' stay here fer tha' night?"

She lit up in that way I think all girls do when they know they've gotten their way. Her eyes were closed an' she had this big, goofy grin on her face. "Why, Gojyo, I'd love to; you're such a gentleman!"

'Gentleman'?, I thought an' snorted my disbelief. Like hell.

(-)

I paid the front desk attendant for a room an' escorted her upstairs while she kept goin' on an' on about what a nice guy I turned out ta' be. Obviously, she didn't know me very well.

I undressed in the bathroom, expectin' she'd be undressed by the time I finished. When I came out, she was lyin' on tha' bed, still in her bra an' underwear, all posed an' stuff.

She lifted her head an' gave me a confused look. "Where's your condom?"

Fuck, I hate those things, I thought an' realized she could see somethin' about that on my face.

"Look, I don't wanna' get pregnant or anythin', all right?" She got off the bed at that point an' looked around the room. "You've at least got some with you, don't you? Carry 'em in your jeans or somethin'?"

"No, 'cuz I don't need 'em. I- I've never had an accident or anythin' before," I tried to explain. It was true . . . all-a' the girls I'd been with before never got pregnant. I didn't understand it an' neither did they, but no one was complainin' - they hadn't liked tha' feel-a' condoms either.

She glared at me. "What the hell does that mean? You don't come in the girls you fuck? I find that hard to believe."

"Well . . . Sometimes."

"In any case, if you've got a rubber on, there's no reason to worry about when you get your rocks off, so why not wear one?"

I rolled my eyes. I really didn't want to go into this with some alley slut. "Fine, fine . . . Look, if you've got one, I'll wear it if it'll make you shut up about it."

She frowned, but turned away to dig around in her dress. When she looked back up, she had a seductive smirk on her face an' walked towards me, swayin' her hips. She stopped jus' in front-a' me. "How about I put it on for you, Bad Boy?"

"No thanks," I replied, takin' the stupid thing outta' her hand. Nobody else touches me there. "Why don't you jus' turn off tha' lights an' make yerself comfortable?"

"Testy tonight, aren't we?" She retorted, but did as I asked an' I was actually real grateful.

I quickly put the damned thing on an' was about to say somethin' else, but she came back a little quicker'n I'd anticipated.

"I bet I can improve your mood," she whispered in my ear, hookin' her arms around my neck from the front.

I smirked; innuendoes were definitely one way t' get me excited. I scooped her up an' gently threw her on tha' bed before crawlin' in after her. Hearin' her laugh told me she'd liked that.

She let me take off the rest-a' her clothes, kiss my way down her chest, an' slip inta' her. All the while, she was moanin' high in her throat. I pushed her legs as wide as I could ta' get as deep as possible. I picked up speed while chokin' back my own pleasure; I had ta' close my eyes an' hold back any noises I might make - I had to.

I couldn't - I refused to - hear my own voice or see my own body giving into what I would forever remember going on in the room next to my bedroom. My mother's pleas for more, my brother's grunts, the squeaking bed, the sharp gasps, and then . . . only silence. I'd hated the silence as much as the noises that preceded them, because that meant my own thoughts could be heard . . . and my hands would start to wander over my own body . . . and I'd feel even dirtier, more ashamed than I'd ever been before.

She started demanding I touch her and it was all I could do to not actually think about it as I did it - I didn't want to think about how my mother's cries were silenced by my brother, her sentences cut off by a moan or a gasp or a shout. I gripped her breasts harder, trying to do anything that would make bring an end to my nightmare sooner rather than later.

I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter, moving faster, harder, trying to satisfy my damned hormones - my 'taboo' body.

It barely registered when she cried out, but her body clenching was enough for me to find release as well. I shuddered out my orgasm, my breath catching. I willed no sound to come forth, biting my lip to stifle myself.

She was gasping, but I distinctly heard her ask, "Why . . . what did I . . . did I do something . . . wrong?"

I decided to pull out my usual lie. "Nah . . ." I whispered, leanin' down ta' kiss her silent, hopin' t' make tha' lie more convincin' that way. "Just a little . . . kink I enjoy. That's all, babe."

"Wish you woulda' . . . told me first . . . You really are a Bad Boy, aren't you?" She said as she smiled, her black hair spilled out across the pillow.

"As bad as they come," I answered, takin' my time to pull outta' her. "I'll be right back."

" 'Kay."

I left to remove the condom and clean off, relieved the lie had worked yet again. I took a few deep breaths, trying not to focus on the images still very present in my mind. When I'd managed ta' clear my head, I went back to the bed, crawlin' under the sheets next t' tha' still-naked woman.

She snuggled up against me as she asked, "I can stay the night, can't I? You won't mind?"

I decided I could indulge her jus' a little more - she'd helped me get through one more night, after all. Not like I'll be awake that much longer, anyway. I put my arm around her shoulder. "Sure, do whatever you want."

She gave a little hum of contentment an' sighed. "Good night, Gojyo."

"Yeah . . . G'night." (6)

(-)(-)(-)

To Be Continued

3/29/2007

(1) 'Boob' can be a derogatory term for an unintelligent / retarded person. In this case, it also refers to the fact that the girls coming at Gojyo all (naturally) have breasts, which Gojyo notes are always at eye-level for him.

(2) 'Bois' is not a typo. A slang term of affection often used for 'boy' is 'boi', which Gojyo is here using to refer to not just any male, or even any gay male, but specifically the ones that Banri brings back to their house - the ones Banri becomes close to. Naturally, there's a fair bit of sarcasm hanging on that word when Gojyo uses it.

(3) 'Lose your v-card' is slang for losing your virginity, often used in reference to women but occasionally men.

(4) In case it wasn't already obvious, the overabundance of apostrophes signals Gojyo's slang-style voice. This line, in contrast, is Gojyo being serious and slowing down his speech (thus the lack of apostrophes), while still keeping it 'casual' and not 'formal'. I try to make the distinction as apparent as possible, as it will continue to happen throughout the story.

(5) 'Their' is a gender-neutral term. Gojyo is referring to the fact that he normally would only be thinking about girls being brought back to the house he shares with Banri, but since Banri brings back guys, Gojyo has started thinking about both girls and guys and thus in more gender-neutral terms.

(6) In Japanese, the girl would have said, "Oyasumi nasai, Gojyo", her only formal line in the whole story, whereas Gojyo answered with the shorter, more casual, "Oyasumi".

Believe me, I don't like kappa-angst any more than the rest of you do, but when plot-holes call to me, I have to answer. Darn it, I want the awesome Gojyo back! (Cries) I'm going to address some of that in this story, though. Oh and I really do apologize for Banri and Gojyo's slang-speech, as it has gotten to the point of being quite cumbersome, but I figured that between these two guys is when their style really takes a dive as evidenced by all the apostrophes, cuss words, and lack of 'that' or '-ly' adjective endings.

Perhaps one of the more subtle things I alluded to in this chapter is the nature of Gojyo's infertility. As an educated guess, I determined his kind of infertility is probably where the man has no loss of libido and still has emissions, but simply does not produce any sperm. The consequences of this will not go unnoticed, I assure you.

Nekochan