Title: A Fragile Game
Author: Elf Asato
Summary: 93-ish drabble. Sanzo and Hakkai play a game and Hakkai loses.
Disclaimer: Dude, Saiyuki is so not mine.
Notes: Subtle and ooc, wah. I can never write Hakkai worth crap!
A Fragile Game
By Elf Asato
It was a fragile game, speaking with Sanzo - a game of ego and egg shells. Not many particularly dared to play, but Hakkai, the only one who could, would, and many times he won, but...
Every once in a while, this was the only game he ever lost.
"Perhaps you could be a bit nicer to Goku," Hakkai said once they were alone. "He's discouraged because he thinks that nothing he does could ever please you. If you tried, maybe, to give him a word of encouragement of two, or not even that. You could--"
Sanzo's voice was dangerously low and sharp. "Shut up, Hakkai. It's none of your concern."
"But it is my concern," Hakkai obstinately argued. "He comes to me, upset over what you said, what you do, or how you never even give him a little sign that you care about him at all! ...He's upset, Sanzo. Goku's sworn his life to you, so the least you could do--"
"I said shut up."
"Sa--"
Sanzo advanced quickly on Hakkai, drawing close as he whispered, harsh and ragged, "It is none of your concern, and it will never be your concern, Hakkai. It's not something you could ever understand, you who unapologetically..."
As he trailed off, Hakkai nodded, keeping sharp eyes on the monk's cold face. He felt that he could, and even did, understand, but he also knew that he had lost that round.
After all, it was always that way when Goku was involved.
End
Author: Elf Asato
Summary: 93-ish drabble. Sanzo and Hakkai play a game and Hakkai loses.
Disclaimer: Dude, Saiyuki is so not mine.
Notes: Subtle and ooc, wah. I can never write Hakkai worth crap!
A Fragile Game
By Elf Asato
It was a fragile game, speaking with Sanzo - a game of ego and egg shells. Not many particularly dared to play, but Hakkai, the only one who could, would, and many times he won, but...
Every once in a while, this was the only game he ever lost.
"Perhaps you could be a bit nicer to Goku," Hakkai said once they were alone. "He's discouraged because he thinks that nothing he does could ever please you. If you tried, maybe, to give him a word of encouragement of two, or not even that. You could--"
Sanzo's voice was dangerously low and sharp. "Shut up, Hakkai. It's none of your concern."
"But it is my concern," Hakkai obstinately argued. "He comes to me, upset over what you said, what you do, or how you never even give him a little sign that you care about him at all! ...He's upset, Sanzo. Goku's sworn his life to you, so the least you could do--"
"I said shut up."
"Sa--"
Sanzo advanced quickly on Hakkai, drawing close as he whispered, harsh and ragged, "It is none of your concern, and it will never be your concern, Hakkai. It's not something you could ever understand, you who unapologetically..."
As he trailed off, Hakkai nodded, keeping sharp eyes on the monk's cold face. He felt that he could, and even did, understand, but he also knew that he had lost that round.
After all, it was always that way when Goku was involved.