The Trouble With H
Chapter Six: The trouble With...Hakkai
A/N: Sorry for the delay, folks. With the con, and the week after with new jobs and trying to help Gabby-koi not go crazy, I haven't been able to write nor go to the library to post anything. I was amazed that 'Bring on the Rain' was my 40th ficceh! I've been here THAT long! So happy! Oh yeah, I'm finally at the halfway point in Gensomaden DVDs too!
Anyway, this is where those mix-ups I promised come in. [grins] I think this one's Karot-san's fault. And Chi belongs to Chi. [snorts]
---
"Hey, lemme see!"
"No way."
"C'mon!"
"Dude, you're –so- not old enough!"
"Quit bein' a jerk! Lemme see!"
"Fine, whatever."
"What the hell is –that-?!"
"Toldya you weren't old enough."
"I'm –not- looking back there," Sanzo put his face in his hands.
Hakkai laughed. "It does sound rather risqué, doesn't it?"
"I've no doubt that was the intention."
"What're you talking about?" Goku's head popped in between the two front seats. Hearing the two front passengers converse, Gojyo laughed loudly. Goku frowned, catching the drift. "Pervert."
"You're the one who wanted to see," the half-breed teased. He tossed an envelope at Sanzo. "Just so you don't think I'm seducing your pet monkey."
"That's an image no one wants to see," the blond replied, opening the envelope. Inside were the pictures from Gojyo's camera. "You do realize I will destroy these, right?"
Gojyo smirked, holding up an identical envelope. "Or something to that effect. So I got two sets."
"Foiled again," Hakkai joked.
"You're in there too, if you recall..." the redhead hovered above Goku, who was trying to see the pictures as Sanzo flipped through them with mild interest.
"Yes, but nothing I'd—"he stopped abruptly, "Sanzo, let me see those please."
The monk looked at him curiously. "You're driving."
He started to flush pink. "I need to see something."
Sanzo raised an eyebrow. "Something you don't want us to see?"
Hakkai made an attempt to grab the pictures with one hand, keeping the other on the wheel. Sanzo avoided it easily. "A bad time to let me know you're a sadist," Hakkai responded, worried.
Sanzo flipped to the next picture, looking for a reaction. Hakkai winced. The blond handed him the envelope, rolling his eyes. "Don't have a heart attack."
"Thank you," Hakkai sighed, pocketing the incriminating evidence.
"Although," Sanzo continued with an evil little smile, "it could prove interesting. Gojyo, let me see the other set."
"NO!" Hakkai blurted out.
Gojyo snorted. "Sorry Blondie, but I don't think poor 'Kai could take it."
"Whoa," Goku blinked, watching his three companions, "Sanzo and Gojyo just teamed up to pick on Hakkai! This is new..."
"So it would seem..." Hakkai muttered miserably.
The kappa and the monk, as if to deny this statement, dropped the subject. This was perfectly fine with Hakkai, who was ready to destroy the pictures himself. Not that he wanted to, but he would almost rather that than Sanzo or Goku finding that last picture.
He didn't really understand why Gojyo had done that to begin with. But that was just how things were with him. And far be it from Hakkai to attempt to analyze Gojyo.
"You're not paying attention," Sanzo poked the brunette's shoulder in semi-annoyance.
"W-what?" Hakkai left his mental reverie.
"I said we'll stop up here for a break," the blond continued. Hakkai nodded.
It was while the green-eyed youkai was out collecting water at a nearby stream when Sanzo spoke again. "The pictures."
Gojyo looked up at him from where he lay, resting against a tree. "Hmm? We've peaked your interest, have we? Curiosity killed the monk."
"Why's Hakkai so uptight about some pictures?" Goku frowned, tired of being ignored. "You know I hate secrets!"
Gojyo shrugged, feeling a bit guilty. "I pulled a prank on him last night and he's embarrassed," he held the second envelope thoughtfully over his head. "I wonder if it was a bit uncalled for..."
Sanzo snatched the envelope out of his hand. "What did you do?"
The redhead braced himself on his elbows, raising a curious eyebrow at him. "You're sounding awfully protective..."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Goku shot out suddenly.
Sanzo glared at Gojyo before starting through the pictures. "I don't need you doing anything that makes this damn trip any more difficult than it already is." He flipped to the last photograph. "Humph."
"What is it?" Goku popped up beside him. "Sanzo, tell me!"
Sanzo frowned. "It's none of your concern." He turned his back to both of them, only to find a shocked Hakkai standing on the edge of the clearing.
The brunette froze in place, water bucket held tightly in his hands. "You didn't..."
"It makes no difference," Sanzo said simply, tossing the pictures back to Gojyo, who almost cringed as he pocketed them.
"Then why can't I see?" Goku whined.
The blond slammed his fan down on the boy's head. "Because I said so. Now stop your noise and do something productive."
Goku rubbed the lump on his head. "I –hate- secrets..."
---
The ride into town was quiet. Almost unbearably so for Goku. Whatever was in those pictures had made Hakkai upset, and he wasn't speaking. Gojyo was looking worried, so much so that he didn't start any fights. Sanzo wasn't talking per usual. With no one to talk to, Goku was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and bored.
He was glad when the town came into view, small as it was. The inn was even smaller, a deserted little building on the edge of the village. When the four walked inside, the counter was empty.
"Anyone here?" Gojyo called.
"Uh, yeah," an annoyed female voice responded. A brown head popped up from behind the counter. "I'm not –that- short ya know..." The girl was young, maybe fourteen, with long brown hair and an oddly mature smirk. She leaned on the counter.
"We were wondering if you had any rooms available." Hakkai asked.
"Sure. But if you're looking for dinner you're gonna be disappointed. The food here's not the greatest."
"We'll take that into consideration."
"I'm Chi, if you need anything. I've got double rooms for ya, but all the group ones are taken." The girl looked rather boredly through her room list.
"Two doubles will be fine then," Hakkai smiled.
The rooms were secured and the four went upstairs. Sanzo immediately walked into one of the doors. Hakkai followed, much to Gojyo and Goku's surprise. The door closed abruptly, leaving the other two standing in the hall.
"I think he's mad at you," Goku said, opening the other door.
"Dammit," Gojyo flopped down on one of the beds with a sigh of frustration. He took out his pictures again, looking through them idly. He laid some of them on the bed in front of him so Goku could see.
The boy looked at them curiously. "You've got a lot of pictures of Sanzo and Hakkai," he said frowning.
Gojyo smiled. "Yeah. They seem to wind up in compromising positions a lot. I like to take advantage of it."
Goku leaned over the pictures to investigate further. "They're really kinda close, aren't they?"
"I guess. I think they just understand each other because they're so similar."
"Hey Gojyo..." Goku looked up, "Did you ever get the feeling...that maybe the two of them..." he tried to think of a way to finish.
Gojyo picked up on it. "Think they have a thing goin'? I've thought about it a few times, but I really doubt it." Suddenly, Gojyo got a really mean idea. "Although...who knows –what- goes on when we're not around..."
Goku wasn't looking at him, staring intently at the pictures on the bed. He picked one up, examining it. "So they could be..."
"Paranoid, monkey?" the redhead grinned. "If you really wanna know, you should check it out. Spy on em for awhile, see it there's something going on."
The two looked up as a knock came from the door. "We're going out for dinner. Sanzo says move fast," Hakkai said without waiting for an answer, and then was gone.
"Spying?" the boy blinked.
"Yeah. Find out if all these pictures are really accidents..."
---
Goku and Gojyo sat together at dinner, ensuring that Hakkai and Sanzo would have to sit next to each other. The meal was a bit awkward. Hakkai still wasn't talking, to Gojyo at least. And since Sanzo didn't really talk much, neither did he.
Goku, however, was preoccupied with his investigation. He watched the two carefully, looking for any hints of romantic interest. He found none, but he wasn't convinced. Neither of them were the type to publicly express things anyway.
He knocked his fork to the floor. Casually leaning under the table to retrieve it, he looked at the two, making sure nothing was going on under the table. He was rewarded with a total lack of proof. This was turning out to be a very hard investigation. But it was a challenge, and Goku was determined to find out anything. He needed to be sure Hakkai wasn't trying to take Sanzo from him.
"What the hell's your problem?" Sanzo asked suddenly. Goku blinked, realizing he was still leaning under the table. He sat back up quickly.
"Nothing. Just lost my fork!"
Sanzo rolled his eyes, but didn't ask further. Gojyo elbowed him in the side, muttering confidentially. "Smooth move..."
Goku couldn't tell if he was being sarcastic or not, so he let it slide.
After dinner, the monkey paced across the room for awhile. Gojyo watched, disinterested. Finally, after a half hour or so, he hit his limit.
"Would you stop that already!" he snapped, closing his eyes.
Goku stood in place. "I can't help it!"
"You'd better, or you're gonna have more to worry about than Sanzo and 'Kai goin' at it!"
Goku gasped. "You thing they're doing –that-?!"
Gojyo looked up curiously. "Isn't that what this's all about?"
"I just thought they liked each other!" Goku whined. "That's even worse!!"
"Cripes..." Gojyo muttered, exasperated.
"I didn't find anything at dinner."
Gojyo rolled his eyes, eager to get the boy out of his sight for awhile. "So go outside and look through their window. There's a big tree outside it. Be a good monkey and climb."
The brunette glared angrily. "I'm not a monkey, stupid kappa!"
"Yeah yeah. Keep telling yourself that. Anyway, the more time you're in here, the more time Sanzo and Hakkai have –all alone-..."
Golden eyes widened. Goku ran to the door, slamming it on his way out. Gojyo sighed.
"Baka..."
---
The huge tree loomed over the boy's head as he looked up. To anyone else, it might be difficult, but Goku was adept at climbing trees, all monkey jokes aside. He scurried up the trunk, hopping from branch to branch until he located the room he was interested in. the branch under the window was sturdy, and the window gave a good view of inside, thanks to Hakkai's penchant for opening the curtains in a room. Goku peered inside.
Sanzo was laying on one of the beds, lounging with a cigarette in hand. Hakkai was sitting upright on the other bed, reading a book quietly. Goku frowned.
"Well, this isn't getting me anywhere..."
He decided to wait a few minutes, in case one of them did something. Goku wasn't a being of patience, and he soon grew restless. He was about to give up and return to his room when something moved in the corner of his eye.
Hakkai stood up, setting his book aside. Sanzo looked up at him. "What?"
The brunette moved closer to the window. Goku ducked. Hakkai studied it critically. "I though I saw something outside."
"Crap!" Goku hissed. He scanned his perch quickly, looking for some way to remain unseen. He spotted the ledge under the window and dove for it, clinging to the stone building.
Hakkai ha reached the window ledge by this time, and peered out of it. "I was sure I saw a flash of colour..."
Sanzo got up, coming to stand beside his friend. "Probably a bird or something," he muttered. He looked too, knowing that Hakkai's instincts were never to be dismissed.
Goku remained on the ledge, right under the two scanning outside. He felt something pulling at his leg. Looking down, he saw one of the branches had stuck to his pants cuff. Wiggling his leg, he freed it, causing the branch to snap back into place.
The fast motion of the branch caused Hakkai to step back in alarm, bumping into Sanzo and tripping on the monk's robe hem. The brunette fell against him, knocking them both to the floor, Hakkai on top of Sanzo.
Seeing the window suddenly free, Goku peeked inside once again, only to find Hakkai sprawled on top of Sanzo. He gasped.
Hakkai flushed deeply. "My apologies."
"Just get up," Sanzo muttered uncomfortably.
Hakkai moved to comply, but before he could, the window flew open, and something sprang bodily on top of the two. Sanzo let out a cry, having the air crushed out of him. Hakkai yelped in surprise, getting pinned between monk and monkey.
"I KNEW IT!" Goku cried, perched on top of the two, "Hakkai, how could you?!"
"What?!" Hakkai blinked.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Sanzo yelled, gasping fro breath.
"He was trying to kiss you!"
Sanzo's eye twitched. A dangerous sign. "Both of you get the hell off me!"
Goku scrambled off Hakkai, who rolled onto the floor beside Sanzo. The blond sat up, holding a hand to his chest. Hakkai braced himself on his arms, looking curiously at Goku, face still pink.
"Now," Sanzo said irritably, "What the hell is going on?"
"Hakkai's in love with you!'
Hakkai stared shocked at Goku. "What?"
"That's no reason to—"Sanzo's anger was replaced with surprise. "What?"
"I've seen the pictures! And you were on top of him here! Trying to take advantage of sharing a room!" Goku pointed at Hakkai accusingly.
The green-eyed youkai blinked a few times, and then started laughing. To everyone's surprise, Sanzo looked to be holding back his own laughter.
"Goku, I don't know who put s these thoughts into your head, but there's nothing between us." Hakkai said.
"But you were—"
"I tripped over him and we fell."
"Which reminds me," Sanzo interjected, "Just what were you doing outside our window in the first place?"
Now Goku looked embarrassed. "Um...trying to see if you guys were...uh..."
"Please don't finish," Hakkai blurted.
"That's why Hakkai didn't want us to see the pictures! And that's why Sanzo wouldn't show them to me! You didn't want me to find out!"
Sanzo's reply was a swift paper fan to the head. "Just shut up."
"But—"
"Hakkai and I are –not—"
"Please don't finish that either," Hakkai cut in.
"I can guess where you got this idea though," Sanzo continued. "Tell that damn kappa to do something else for fun. "
Hakkai thought of something suddenly. "Gojyo showed you the pictures?"
Goku nodded. Hakkai paled.
Sanzo rolled his eyes, lighting a new cigarette. "Then you should obviously know that Hakkai isn't in love with me, you stupid saru."
Goku looked at Hakkai, who nodded in agreement. He looked towards the door, then got up and opened it. Gojyo fell inside the room. He looked up at the three and grinned.
"Hey guys..."
"You tricked me!" Goku snapped.
"Yep. But it was for a good reason!" he stood up.
"What might that be?" Hakkai asked.
Gojyo held up the camera. "New roll."
Then he ran out the door, narrowly avoiding a bullet. Goku ran after him, yelling insults. Hakkai shut the door behind them and sighed.
"A picture's worth a thousand words I suppose..." Sanzo muttered.
Hakkai sat down on the bed. "Yes, and right now, all of them aren't suitable for all audiences."
---
Today's mission...failed! References... anyway...standard whining about comments apply. [giggles] Hakkai said risqué...
Zoutou: Thankehs!
KarotsaMused: Hmm...I've been getting attached to the dub. I do that a lot tho. I like the dubs no one else does, like Slayers. [grins] Glad you liked the chappeh tho!
Broken Reflections: Glad you're enjoying it!
keistje: I agree. Both is good. And don't worry, the 5th DVD only made meh wanna do more 39 stuffs!
Zelgadis55: I totally didn't know about the whole act thing when I wrote this. [giggles] I've soooo gotta watch that!
Thank you focesmith: I love giving a daily dose of Saiyuki-brand humour! I've done that a lot too, putting on both. It's really amusing sometimes.
Crimson1: I've got a few of Gojyo's photos drawn, if I could ever get my scanner cord back from someone. Oh, and I tried to e-mail you, but I think it failed? I used the address on FF.N...
Me-Nuriko: Another sub hater? [blinks] I almost feel bad for liking the sub. Almost. And sure, copies of photos for everyone!
Sundaire: My apologies. I claim ignorance (tho that's not the best thing to claim, is it?) I hope the story made up for my irking your pet-peeve!
KawaiiLilMarron: Murdered with love...it's the way to go. You must promise to let meh see those cosplay piccehs! [cries] I want the Saiyuki game...
Until next time guys!