Whose stupid idea was this anyway? Hakkai grumbled to himself. Oh, right, it was mine. He'd thought it'd be a good thing to organise a gift exchange this New Years day, since they'd been on the road for a while. So two weeks ago he'd badgered and nagged, and finally brought the other three around to his way of thinking. They'd each drawn a name from a bag and set a price limit. Then they'd shopped, and spent the rest of the time dropping hints to each other. Except Sanzo. He'd pulled a name from the bag, and that was the last they'd heard from the cranky monk on the subject.
New Years evening, it was time to exchange the gifts. Goyjo had presented Sanzo with a pack of cigarettes and an insolent grin. Hakkai gave Goku a beautifully decorated invitation to an all you can eat meal, cooked by himself. Goku had gravely presented Goyjo with a new deck of cards in an ornate box. And Sanzo had just sat there, leaving Hakkai to wonder whose idea this was in the first place.
"So what'cha got for Hakkai, monk?" Goyjo demanded, curious. The newspaper in front of Sanzo didn't move. His voice snapped out from behind it.
"I promise to try not to shoot him for at least a week."
"Hey, no fair! You never try and shoot Hakkai!" Goku complained.
"Maybe because he doesn't piss me off like you two," the blonde priest growled.
"Why, you cheap asshole-!" Goyjo exclaimed. Hakkai was somewhat pleased at the other two's reactions, but he lifted his hands to interrupt.
"That's a lovely present Sanzo, thank you. Goku, could you go down to the kitchen and make sure they're ready for me to start cooking?" Instantly distracted by thoughts of food, Goku whirled and vanished through the door. Goyjo grabbed his jacket with a snort.
"I'm going to try and find me some festival hottie and see if she'd like a piece of me as a present. Later." He followed Goku out. Hakkai swallowed a sigh as he stared at the newspaper, then he turned to leave himself. There was a rustle, and suddenly a slender arm was holding the door shut. He looked along it in surprise, and met a pair of solemn purple eyes.
"I wanted to give you my present in private," Sanzo muttered, and then he was kissing Hakkai. His kiss was like the man himself; rough, uncompromising, brutal. Hakkai couldn't help it, he tangled his fingers in Sanzo's robes and dragged the other man closer, opening his mouth and kissing him back, hungrily. Their tongues danced and Hakkai couldn't help the small noises he was making. They broke apart and green eyes met amethyst for a long moment. Then Sanzo turned away, returned to his seat and lifted his paper again. Behind his flimsy newsprint shield Hakkai heard him grunt, "Happy New Year, Hakkai."
Hakkai pressed two fingers to his kiss-swollen lips and smiled. Happy New Year, indeed.