Nishi e?
A Gensoumaden Saiyuuki AU fic
seikazu aisenai
Another unproductive, slump-filled night, a single thought became one more of those silly ideas._
I remembered dead-possum-CJ and her fic, The Taming of the Shrew GmS style, when I had that idea. So I considered turning it into fic. Thankies!^_^
I am not Kazuya Minekura nor any other who own Saiyuuki. Also did not come up with any of the fairytale related concepts found here.
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Ichimai
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One sunny, spring morning, a man in a dark coat was making his way along the market place of a certain village. Flowers were in full bloom. Girls were smiling at him as he passed them by. And he had just purchased a good amount of fine liquor, which hung from his waist in a small jug as it swung back and forth in his leisurely gait. 'This is the life…'
"Pssst! Hey you!" His head whipped around. He looked behind him and found that a bunch of other people did the same thing so he walked on.
"Halt! Come here!"
The man hesitated. "Who, me?" His voice was echoed by those of the throng's.
"Yes, you! The one with the saké." A third of the onlookers left.
"With the red hair." Most of the remaining crowd walked on.
"Wearing black leather, boots, chains across the chest with a skull in the middle, and has a dot with a design on his forehead!" The thoroughly veiled form excluding the eyes was huffing and puffing by the end of the statement. Everybody else had gone.
'I guess that means me.' The man crossed the gap, placed his hands on top of the table, and smiled.
"Have you ever heard of the legend of the beautiful maiden who was cursed into eternal slumber by taking in a deceitful vegetable?"
"Yeah, so? What's that got to do with me?"
The female's eyes twinkled violet. "What would you say if I told you that you could become the dashing prince who would save her?"
"Don't make me laugh. There's no such dozing princess that would need my saving."
"What if there is?! Would you leave her to sleep for all eternity just because you didn't want to believe in me?! Don't you know that folklore always contain ounces of truth?!"
"Okay. Sheesh lady, you didn't have to go that far."
"I knew you'd do it." She beamed at him. "Here's what you gotta do…"
"Just give me two bottles of this delicious liquid." Showed his flask. "In case this is all a hoax."
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So the man wearing black leather, boots, chains across the chest with a skull in the middle, and has a dot with a design on his forehead trekked forward to the next town. It took him the rest of the day to reach it by foot. As the local tavern loomed before him, he decided to forego gambling and opted for a quick dinner then some shut-eye. Immediately.
Rectangular tables that can seat eight were arranged in symmetry. He ordered food and plunked down on the only one that was completely empty. He checked the place for any striking character.
/"You need two more companions before you can forge on with the rescue. You'll meet them before you reach the way leading to the mountain trail."
"How would I know that it's them?""You'll know. They will aid you in overcoming obstacles along the way."/
'Did that miss cast some kind of spell on me? She made it sound as if it was a right instead of an obligation. Wait, why did I agree so easily in the first place..?'
Soon after he started eating, a small figure approached him.
"Umm, excuse me," big golden eyes pleaded with scarlet ones, "can I sit over here? The other tables are already full."
"No problem, kiddo."
He bounced onto the bench with his tray. "Ne, ne. Boku, Goku tte. Oji-san wa?"
"Onii-san. O-ni-i-sa-n. I'm not that old, you know," a vein popped out of the adult's forehead, "It's Kenren."
They finished off their plates in silence. The man poured himself a drink while the youngster asked for another serving. The redhead consumed what survived of his first jug of saké during the trip here. The child called for an extra helping.
"Sir?" a waitress was in front of him, waving a sheet of paper in his face. Kenren had become immersed in his thoughts after he started with his post-meal smoke. "Your bill, sir. It's closing time and we have to clean up."
"What?!" Then he saw the total. "What?! How could one—" And the table. It was filled with stacks and stacks of plates. He turned to the one beside him. "You!"
"I'm sorry, Ken-nii-chan…" Huge amber eyes glittered with sorrow. "This is all I got." Goku's money amounted to the price that was after the dot.
The crimson-eyed being was no proof against the innocent.
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"I'm really sorry, Ken-nii-chan!"
'I'm sorry too…' His own eyes shed tears as he washed another greasy platter.
Both were garbed in an apron as they were sentenced to do dishwashing duty for the night. "They actually waited to clean the dishes only after closing time?! They must've known that we were coming."
"I'm really, really sorry!"
"I don't even have money to rent for a place to sleep in."
"I'm really, really, really sorry!"
"It's okay. I can't leave you to clean this all by yourself. By the way, why are you all alone? Where are your parents? Siblings? Family?"
"I don't have any. They tell me I was born from a rock."
The store owner, who was watching them work, took pity on the lad and let them use a spare room that had two single beds after they accomplished their payment. Kenren's tears overflowed once more as they retired for the night.
"Oyasumi, Ken-nii-chan."
"Oyasumi."
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The two helped with the opening then bid farewell to the settlement. Kenren, with his first companion, continued onto the road, bringing his two flasks of liquor and an empty wallet.
"Why do you have that thing around your head?"
"You mean this?" The chibi points to the golden band. "I don't know. It was already there as far as I can remember." Goku recalled in his mind the time he first climbed a tree to reach for a sumptuous-looking fruit when he was small.
"Have you ever tried to take it off?"
"I think I did, but I don't remember what happened next."
A grin appeared on Kenren's face. "Let's take it off. I wanna know what happens." And so he did.
The chibi transformed into a youkai, capable of nothing apart from fighting. Ferocious combat followed, then darkness, for the two participants.
A cloaked person held a large paper fan in one hand, knelt beside the boy, and placed the other hand on his forehead. Light emerged once again and the limiter was back in place.
"Oops, I forgot to warn him about this one."
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I don't really know if Kenren wore leather or not. I'm not good in identifying fabric.
Dekita, dekita!^_^
O5/09/2003