Tiger Eyes - Prologue
The Sanzo-ikkou had arrived in a small village in the middle of nowhere after travelling for a very long time. Upon their arrival, they decided that it was time for them to relax and treat themselves like kings - that is, until they resumed their seemingly endless journey. They found a small inn and decided to lodge in separate rooms since they literally smelled of each other already… Four young men travelling together in a small jeep with barely enough space to stretch your legs, especially if one of the young men was a boy who had reached puberty not too long ago, can cause that, you know…
Well, anyway, the story continues with the famous foursome dumping their own stuff in each of their own equally minute rooms. As usual, within minutes of closing his door, Sanzo heard the only thing that could possibly piss him off when he was facing the lovely prospect of a nice warm bath - "Hara hetta, Sanzo… Ne… Sanzo?" Why, oh why, are the Fates so cruel today? Can't they just let him leave me alone for the time span of a single bath? The incessant whining and knocking on his door was driving him mad, but he had to admit, he was hungry too.
"Oy! Saru! Don't be crazy. We just arrived at this inn, and you're whining about food already? Let Sanzo alone or else he'll bring that harisen of his on both our heads… Even if it isn't my fault… You should try to exercise that grey matter of yours in the hopes that it might one day fill your head like everyone else's," the familiar red-head's voice filled the corridor, acting just as his owner did, almost slipping into one's ear… or person, even though uninvited.
The racket that followed made Sanzo consider ignoring it all and just sliding into that bath that he expected to be having some time real soon. "Maa, maa… don't be such naughty children and make a nuisance of yourselves the minute you arrive somewhere new every time," the voice belonging to the emerald-eyed youkai that Sanzo had, even if he didn't admit it, become accustomed to rang lightly through the hallway. "If we ask nicely, Sanzo would probably agree and might even join us too!" Ignoring the groans and protests that were coming from his two companions, Hakkai knocked softly on the door and spoke in a courteous voice (if a voice could ever be courteous, it's definitely Hakkai's :p), "Sanzo? I hope you don't mind, but we're all hungry. Maybe we could get something to eat before…"
The door swung open in mid-sentence. Eyeing the two childish comrades of his, Sanzo sighed, and looked Hakkai straight in the eye. "This had better be a quick meal. I've got better things to do than tag along one of your meals and watch you guys from over-spending… Even if it isn't my money."
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(I just had to add… Isn't it cute how even when Sanzo's hungry he tries to hide it by saying he was 'tagging along' to watch their spending? As if Hakkai couldn't do that… I just find the way they play their individual self-denials so… worth taking note of… And back to the story…)
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A multitude of dishes and a whole lot of second helpings (and third helpings and fourth ones, and fifth ones… etc) later…
"Wah! That was the best meal I've ever had! There was so much food… I don't think I'll be able to eat anymore… for at least half and hour!" Gojyo groaned at Goku's comment. "You are so pathetic… Well, ciao. I'm off!" "Where're you going?" Hakkai inquired. "Well, food's been taken are of, accommodations are set, and we're not going anywhere till tomorrow or the day after. There's only one thing left to do…" "EAT MORE!!!" Goku interrupted loudly. (I had to add this… This is an abridged scene from Gensou Maden Saiyuki, episode 14 - Sweet Client)
"Baka saru! Sit down!" the words were accompanied by a flying white fan that hit the boy squarely in the forehead. "Sanzo! Nani? What did I do wrong?"
Laughter interrupted the ikkou's well-rehearsed actions. They turned, muscles coiled for action as they faced their new danger. "Gomen… You were all having so much fun I couldn't resist… I'm sorry for interrupting you… please continue," a young serving girl stood at the corner of the restaurant that was empty save for the ikkou and the serving girl… and an elderly man.
"Oh… Sumimasen… I had no idea we were making so much noise… I thought the place was empty. After all, it is very late in the afternoon for lunch, and too early in the evening for dinner…" Hakkai smiled apologetically (once again, Hakkai's actions are so… literary… they just aren't real). The rest of the ikkou, except for Sanzo, of course, whose actions are never wasted on such mundane things, nodded in affirmation.
Following Hakkai's words, a short burst of words left the old man's mouth. He was smiling, revealing to the ikkou a rather toothless grin save for a few broken teeth. The ikkou tried desperately to figure out whether the words that were thrown at them were an insult, or just plain unintelligible. Seeing the ikkou's confusion, the serving girl explained, "My grandfather doesn't speak Mandarin, I'm afraid. But what he just said, in Cantonese, was that young men nowadays, especially travellers of the world, more often than not possess tiger eyes."
Goku looked so lost because of what was just said to him that Hakkai took pity and explained to him slowly. "Goku, it is an old phrase that is used to describe people who are not aware of their surroundings. Such people only know what happens to the things that they concentrate on, and know nothing else of what happens beside them. It is said that a tiger can only look ahead, and cannot see sideways, or turn its head to see to the side. That's why such people are called 'tiger-eyed', because they do not see anything beyond what is directly ahead of them."
"Wow… Hakkai, I know you were a teacher, but I had no idea you knew so much about folklore and such things," Gojyo remarked. "That's not folklore, it's just old sayings and phrases. There are many old people in the world. All you have to do is just open your eyes and ears and you'll pick up a few useful tips on life from them!" Hakkai smiled and laughed when he realised that the old man understood what he had said and had beamed his approval.
Another swarm of Cantonese words emerged from the old man, only to be rebuked by his blushing granddaughter. After trading a few sentences in their dialect, the young maid said to the ikkou, "My grandfather says that he sees that you are all young men in your prime. Thus, you must be careful how you act, because even tigers have different attitudes and abilities. It is dangerous to travel now, especially with all the wild rampaging youkai around, but even more so if you do not know yourself." Pausing to gather her thoughts, she continued, "He says that it is important for you to understand this: All things are your weapons, as well as your poison. It is only a matter of how you manipulate it to suit your needs."
Silence reigned as the ikkou each turned inwardly, seeking their own thoughts on this matter. Finally, unable to bear the quietness any longer, the girl burst out, "Gomenasai! I told my grandfather that this is all rubbish, but he insisted that I tell you… I'm sorry if it has upset you…"
"Ch… You don't have to worry. Nothing could possibly worry this bunch of bakas. Their too stupid to understand what you just said. You shouldn't even have wasted your breath on telling them," Sanzo's words were almost immediately followed by a throng of protests and yelling, as Goku and Gojyo re-immersed themselves in yet another bout of their endless fighting.
Seeing this, the young maid breathed a sigh of relief. She was worried that she had upset them, but it seemed that it was all for nothing. She ended up laughing again as she watched the ikkou play out their all-so-familiar actions.
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End of prologue.
Note: For those of you wondering, I didn't make up the phrase "tiger eyes". It really does exist in Chinese… well… in Cantonese, at least. And it really does mean what Hakkai said it means… (Well honestly, at that moment in the story, let's just say… Hakkai was suddenly possessed… by a mad author from fanfiction)
The quote by the old man however, was made up… I couldn't think of any REALLY cool quotes, so I just made up my own… That way, if my story ends up as a fluke, no one can sue me!!!
For now, I'm trying to keep the atmosphere of this fic a little lighter than my maiden fic (that one's a real flop… I'm so seriously thinking about abandoning it…). My fic's going to become personal POV's for each chapter. So, that makes a total of 4 chaps and a prologue. Maybe I'll add an epilogue. I'll try to throw in a couple of punch lines and all, but please don't shoot me if you don't find them funny. I'm more of a serious person in real life… I really suck at jokes.
Extra note: Btw, if any fanfiction author out there suddenly find your idea in my story, GOMEN!!! I've read like… more than 300 stories on fanfiction now, so… I might accidentally leech some of your ideas into my story. Please tell me if it happens. I will either add an acknowledgement, or if you prefer, I'll take down the chapter and rewrite it.
Final note: Please, please, please, please… … R&R!!!! I so desperately NEED reviews… How am I to improve without them? I don't really care if you're praising or shooting… just review please?
Oh yeah… And I need some feedback on:
- whether my paragraphing is fine;
- are my words TOO flowery (I tend to do that a bit);
- am I beating around the bush too much (well, I AM a literature student, so I sort of drag a little);
- should I write less (generally the same reason as above… I've written WAY too many essays for school)
You know… the GENERAL stuff… thanks a lot!