(A/N: I had originally decided to do these all in order, but I quickly realized if I had to come up with four fics in a row that took place in the middle of the night, following the hour prompts, I would go nuts.)

5:00 AM

(Hour theme: Encouraging growth of the psychic self.)


Hakkai was habitually an early riser. It wasn't so much that he believed in getting a head start to the day so much that he was incapable of staying asleep for more than a few hours at a time. When the journey west began, Hakkai quickly got in the habit of using the early morning to tend to the hundred myriad little tasks that built up so quickly; mending battle-torn clothes, planning the day's route, putting back supplies that had strayed from their designated place. He didn't expect anyone else to be awake, and so it was a few weeks before realized someone else was.

All his experience would have led him to believe that Sanzo was not a morning person, simply because Sanzo didn't appear to be an afternooon, evening, or night person either-he was equally ill-tempered at all times. But one morning a few weeks into the trip, Hakkai paused outside Sanzo and Goku's door and listened quietly for a moment, noting that there was only the sound of one person breathing inside.

He found Sanzo outside, sitting on a crate in the back alley. His eyes were closed and his hands pressed together; he was chanting underneath his breath, an expression of concentration on his face. There were a few cigarette butts on the ground next to him. Hakkai withdrew silently.

Since Sanzo seemed to be going to some pains to remove himself from the rest of the group while he performed his devotions, Hakkai decided at first to simply pretend he didn't know Sanzo was awake; but after a few more weeks of waking up and trying to move around without acknowledging Sanzo was also awake, it started to lose its appeal. If they were camping Sanzo would simply wander off, and if they had their own rooms at an inn Sanzo would remain locked in his until Hakkai decided it was time to get everyone up; but when they didn't have their own rooms, Sanzo would go to great lengths to secure a private place for an hour or so in the early morning. Hakkai noticed him on the roof more than once, and in alleys behind kitchens that stank with refuse, even found him once in a small janitorial closet.

About a month into the journey, Hakkai went up the roof one day and left a cup of coffee and a newspaper near Sanzo. Sanzo didn't waver in his chanting, and Hakkai didn't speak. Sanzo returned the empty cup a half-hour later without comment.

After that, Hakkai added keeping Sanzo supplied with coffee, nicotine and newspapers to his list of things he could do to occupy himself before the group got going for the day. He sensed that he was right up against the edge of Sanzo's need for space and so he never initiated a conversation in the mornings. He almost felt at first like Sanzo feared the others would ridicule him for acting like a proper monk for once; but over time Sanzo's tension seemed to ease and sometimes after coming back from wherever he'd gone to chant he would start to talk to Hakkai about their route for the day, instead of ignoring him until Gojyo and Goku were also awake.

Then, one day when the windowpane had frosted over, Hakkai awoke feeling more rested than usual, though just as alert, and aware that the room was full of the smell of smoke and the barely audible sound of a half-whispered chant. Sanzo was sitting on his bed, a lit cigarette in his hand even as he chanted, his whole being emitting a kind of peaceful clarity that Hakkai felt settle into himself, as well.

He lay there without moving, afraid that Sanzo would stop if he knew Hakkai was awake. The feeling of peace increased, settling into him, and at the same time he felt very aware-sharp, focused, more than ready to take on the day.

He had no idea how long it was before Sanzo ceased chanting. He heard the movement of the bed, Sanzo's footsteps, and then a quiet, "Don't be stupid. Get up. I expected coffee by now," before Sanzo left the room.

From that point on, Hakkai and Sanzo roomed together, and though Hakkai got less sleep than ever, he had never felt so rested in his life.