Chapter 6: Pride and Humility
Standard Disclaimer Applies
I have some important notes that I hope will be read this chapter. Sorry that the chapter is sort ofcrappy...I don't like this chapter. Next one will be better, though, I promise!Anyway, here's my important notes for the chapter:
1. In order to make this story as great as I would like, (not to mention that I have a Hagaren fic idea that might come out here on by December), I will be putting those stories ON TEMPORARY HIATUS. That's right—only temporary, but a hiatus, nonetheless. I must apologize VERY strongly to those readers who were following this story. Perhaps we will see more updates to Paradise, Red Hardcover Novels, Twilight, and even Covenant—the in-the-works FMA-related AU—but I really want to devote all my time and energy to JK right now. I realize that it's my own fault for taking on so many projects at once, so...please forgive this unworthy authoress for her insolence! –Bows and begs for forgiveness-
2. Crossover with Full Metal Alchemist characters for the next few chapters! Just Edward and Roy, though...they're probably two of the only characters, (besides Al), that I know enough about to fic for them...I've only seen the episode aired on CN last weekend, but I heard Edo's seiyuu, Paku Romi...she's great, isn't she? And Roy's seiyuu is so masculine and seme-like... –Phwee.- Not that I'm complaining, of course. I found that I REALLY liked FMA, and since it had such a lasting impression on me, I decided to involve certain things in the story for a few chapters. Not all the way throughout, I promise...and I won't neglect the Sanzou-tachi, either!!
Well, that's all I have to say. Enjoy the chapter, everyone.
Sanzou walked ahead of his party, as they entered the hotel they would be staying at, all expenses paid for by Yui and his financially-vast bank account. Styled in the fashion of an ancient Kyoto compound, everything beneath the overcast sky seemed faded; almost photograph-like. Burgundy walls, which seemed to contain wood almost as ancient as the building itself, complimented the skillfully placed rice paper screens, pallid with a faint beige hue at the edges. Atop Western-influenced side tables were bonsai plants, sheared into delicately carved shapes and lacking any leaves jutting out.
A few refined young women wearing kimonos, who were apparently among the business's employee force, stared coyly at Sanzou as he walked by. The blonde almost scoffed in derisive amusement, ignoring them completely and striding to the reception desk. From behind him, he almost swore that Yaone was conversing politely with the women, but he decided to be oblivious to that, too. It wasn't his concern to worry about such things, after all.
"Excuse me. I'd like to check in with my party...a friend of mine told me that he put the room under my name, Genjou Sanzou?" The words almost flew off his tongue with practiced grace, without a slight hint of cordiality. After two years in the Special Forces, the twenty-three year old was long used to talking as though his affairs were simply that of any other person's affairs. Being one of the top agents in Yui's Shinjuku force meant reliance entrusted to him must be kept.
And as one might expect, that meant doing one's job without any attachments to what one was doing, carrying out whatever needs to be done, and not taking any detours along the way. Somehow, this mission broke all of those principles more than ever, because even glancing to the side of him and seeing a brown-haired boy with a wide-eyed expression reminded him of...
"I just want to help you, Sanzou..."
"...Sanzou-san?" The receptionist's clear voice snapped the blonde out of his dreamlike trance, causing him to start and jerk his vision toward the concerned-looking female holding the complimentary bag of miscellaneous items out to him.
"Is everything alright? You were staring as though something had caught your attention..."
"N-No, it's nothing." Sanzou found that his voice came out far more shaky than intended. "Thank you for the room."
What the hell...is wrong with me?
"Whee!" A diminutive girl with bright orange hair and brilliant green eyes chirped. "Hey, Sanzou! You gonna play with me after we unpack our things? Huh? Huh?!"
"Aren't you a little too old for, 'playing,' Lirin?" Sanzou groused beneath clenched teeth.
"Of course not!" She responded. "Playing's for anybody who's anybody who wants to have FUN! At least, that's what I always say!"
"Eighteen years old and she's still as enthusiastic as ever." Hakkai chuckled, as he followed everyone else the assigned room. "Kougaiji, what in the gods of Tenkai have you been feeding her? If it's anything that supports eternal naivety, please, do allow me to have a taste."
The tall redhead, Kougaiji, gaped as best as the normally stoic man could, as his cobalt eyes narrowed. "...I honestly can't tell if you're joking with me or serious, Hakkai. Cut it out."
Yaone slid the sliding panel leading to their bed quarters open, only to find someone already within it's walls. Bent over a pile of folded tatami mats for sleeping, was a youngling with moderately long blonde hair tied into a thick braid. Owlish golden orbs stared at the visitors, and they were so much like Goku's own that Sanzou had to stop and look again.
"Ah, sorry about that...I was getting your beds ready for you, but I didn't know that you'd be coming in this early! I'm Edward, by the way. And I'll be your assistant for the remainder of your stay." He bowed slightly, adjusting the hem of his robe and appeared quite annoyed about it.
"Stupid robes...hate these things so much...damn that taisa for making me wear them..."
After realizing that the entire group was ogling not only at him, but focusing on what he had just been muttering, the teen sheepishly grinned, looking much younger than when they first saw him. "Eh-he...sorry. This is actually my first day here. And I STILL don't know how all these people can actually wear these uncomfortable outfits...they really itch!"
Lirin giggled along with Yaone and Hakkai, running over to the youngster. "Hey, if 'ya want, we'll let you come with us to the start of the festival tonight so you can get out of that icky costume and enjoy a night out! How's that sound?"
Ed smiled, picking up the basket of blankets from its place on the ground. "Thanks. I'll see if I can take up on the offer. Have to talk to my boss about it. See you guys, and if you need anything, just call me!"
He ran out while leaving that statement behind, nearly colliding with an oncoming customer, on account on not being able to see past the container he was carrying.
"Well, that was somewhat eventful." Hakkai quipped, dropping his and Lirin's heavy baggage on the ground beside their laid-out beds. "The boy was strange, but he really seemed quite kind. Don't you think so, Yaone-san?"
"I agree. He reminds me a bit of Lirin in some ways, you know? Like a childlike teenager, with cat-like qualities. Especially both their eyes, so wide and innocent..." She patted Lirin's head affectionately, and the girl almost purred over the attention, nuzzling happily against the older woman's hand.
"'Cat-like,' seems like an odd way of putting it. Otherwise, I think I've heard that name before. 'Edward.'" Kougaiji faintly heard Lirin's bell necklace jingle erratically as she skipped over to his bedside, but his mind was focused on other tribulations. "Could that boy be the prodigy everyone's talking about over in Osaka, the Western alchemist who transferred here a year ago under Mustang-sama's request? That Elric Edward?"
"Impossible!" Yaone denied. "Yui-sama once told me that the boy wouldn't be working in the Tokyo-Kyoto area again after an incident occurred here...I think it had something to do with his younger brother, but I'm really not sure."
"But Yui-sama also said that some of our better agents in Japan were being transferred around this district in order to concentrate on the Chin Yii Sou case." Hakkai mentioned, propping his pillow in order to support his right hand. "So it wouldn't be surprising if Edward-kun was here on special orders. He's one of the younger agents on our force in Japan, though, so I'm a bit hesitant to say it was a particularly good move..."
"He became an agent at eighteen, a year before this, correct?" Yaone asked. "That's extremely young compared to some of our other agents. Lirin alone was lucky to receive the unusual consent of Kanzeon Bosatsu-sama...I'm honestly shocked that he was able to get into the Osaka force, which is even more strict than ours here!"
Kougaiji nodded in agreement. "That's true...but his abilities alone seem like they would be quite beneficial. Our strength right now is low, but we've been gaining more and more recruits in the lower ranks lately. It's getting me a little nervous, though..."
Hakkai's eyes widened in slight confusion. "What do you mean?"
The redhead's visage darkened for a moment, grave expression taking over his normally controlled voice as well. "I meant that...how many innocent lives will be taken in battle over foolish mistakes? Agents may not trained well enough due to the sheer amount of younglings the trainers will be taking in, and I'm almost sure that most of those spineless recruits won't even be able to successfully complete their first ever casualty mission."
"But, do not forget, Kougaiji—" Yaone gently laid her hands on the male's arm, dull eyes downcast. "—That we were all like that at one time. Death had been a strange concept to us back then, as it would have been for anyone with emotions. It's only natural."
The meaningful look that she sent the others had such a poignant effect; so much so that even Sanzou, who almost never participated in these conversations, nodded in agreement, falling silent with the rest of them. It was a repentant, thoughtful quiet: a moment to reflect on the memories of a time long past for many of them; a time when there was a clear, or at least supposedly clear, line between right and wrong, between good and evil, between love and hate; a time when they had been greenhorn, naive, and innocent. Back then, when they were young, inexperienced; when the worries they had then would have seemed so insignificant now.
Back then, when life had been simple, and not filled with contradictions, constantly changing information, and complex webs of intricacy like now.
"Well...I'm gonna go look around this joint and try to catch a bite to eat! That car trip made me pretty hungry!" Lirin piped up, breaking the silence of the four other adults in the room and startling all of them. "Yaone, c'mon with me, please?!"
"Okay, okay..." Significantly cheered by this prospect, Yaone glanced at the young man beside her. "Coming, Kougaiji?"
He stole a quick look at Hakkai, who merely smiled like always, deep green eyes seeming to say, 'Go with her and keep her happy.' Kougaiji was, naturally, more than happy to comply, and soon the room only contained one soft-spoken brunette and an aloof, irate blonde.
"Sanzou." Hakkai spoke quietly, not wanting to disrupt the sudden tranquility unless forced to. "You've been quite preoccupied with your thoughts today, I noticed. Would they have anything to do with an argument with Goku from yesterday?"
When he sighed, it almost relieved Hakkai—if the man was showing emotion, at least, then he was certain that it would be easy to convince him to give him the details of the conversation. "If I tell you, will you at least shut up for the rest of the day?"
"If you honestly wanted me to, I would silence myself forever." Hakkai sincerely meant every word, and Sanzou could tell. Moreover, he knew his friend well enough to say that much. "Now, would you care to divulge on what has happened? Goku obviously was affected by whatever it is you said to him."
Without any further delay, though with slight hesitance when relating the scene of taking Goku into his arms during the fortnight, Sanzou related his story. All the while, as he usually did, Hakkai would sit patiently, listening to everything Sanzou would say.
And for a moment, it felt just like old times: sitting on the creaking floorboards, laughing and telling stories to one another, (though in this timeline, they were deeming the latter implausible), Hakkai intently listening, Sanzou speaking and sounding much happier than now, having Komyou bring them snacks and tea, while sometimes coming in to listen to his adoptive son, smiling so kindly and understandingly...
"...And speaking of crestfallen, Hakkai, you look like the dead took over your body." Sanzou wasn't close to actually showing concern—for his ethics were far too prideful for that—but the tone and inflection of that deep voice seemed much more akin to it than ever. "What the hell's up with you? Don't tell me you're thinking about that again."
"I am." The brunette admitted, glancing at his blanket and pulling at the frayed blue threads on the end. "It's getting so close to that time of year again, Sanzou. Her birthday...I wanted to go visit her grave again this year, but I keep having his illogical, perpetual fear that I won't be able to..." He held back a laugh of nearly scorning condemnation. "What a fool I am, unable to live with myself unless I perform that small task every year, as though I'm obliged to do so."
Sanzou took a short drag of the cigarette he had lit while Hakkai had been speaking, staring curiously at his companion. Both of them didn't find such actions to be rude or disrespectful. Rather, it was a sort of unspoken consensus, that if Hakkai could speak his mind freely, then Sanzou was able to do whatever he'd like while his friend was talking. And vice-versa, if the time came for it.
"I-I'm sorry." Hakkai apologized, quickly gazing at the musty floorboards. "I hadn't realized that I was bothering you. I'll be quiet now...if you want..."
A murmured curse did not go unnoticed by the observant Hakkai; though Sanzou's next words really caused him to recoil.
"Listen, you...stop being such a fucking martyr and pay more attention to how you're doing, instead of worrying about everyone else! I've seen how you've come into work for the past few days." Sanzou shot the young man a glare, just as he had been about to protest. "And don't you dare tell me that you've been fine, because I can tell that you haven't been sleeping well. Seeing your idiotic face for so many years already taught me how to read even the most clandestine people like yourself."
This last comment would have made Hakkai laugh on any normal occasion; but perhaps Sanzou's harshness had been affecting him in a different way today, he mused, as tears came for reasons that even he was unaware of.
"...What now? What're you crying for?"
"I'm sorry, but I just...I-I mean, it's been such a long time since you've actually spoken to me about this..." He wiped most of the tears away with a stray sweater sleeve, sniffling. "It's almost been a year since we've even so much mentioned Kanan, hasn't it...?"
Rarely, for any reason, did Hakkai see his friend's face soften just enough to seem human, affected, real, and not so much the customary unfeeling visage. But clearly, Sanzou was feeling generous today, and said nothing as he embraced the shaking man.
"...Selfless idiot. That's what you are. Always worrying about everyone else and never about yourself. If you really want to act on something, keep fighting. We've got an entire population to protect, remember? If you're able to break this easily, then maybe this mission isn't for you."
"That's not it...my past should have nothing to do with the mission?" Hakkai stopped for a moment, as the blonde leaned over to brush the remaining tears away, before continuing. "As long as I can fight for myself, people can be protected, right? That's...what you said to me a couple of years ago, when we first started working together. It's a beautiful saying..."
Sanzou scoffed, turning away from Hakkai, perhaps in an attempt to hide his own embarrassment. "It was something my master said once. You make your own judgments as to what it means."
Instead of showing the gloomy, downcast face from before once again, Hakkai started smiling—a real smile, this time, that was not held back by any restrictions. It was amazing, dazzling; breathtaking, even.
"No, I mean it! Thank you so much, for everything, Sanzou. If something ever happens to either of us during this case...I won't ever forget you. I promise."
Something caused the curl of Sanzou's lips to change, creating something of a grin on a pale countenance. "Fucking weirdo. Stop talking like some morbid guy who's expecting to die in a week."
"Like that movie all the teenagers in Shinjuku have been talking about? Ringu, was it?" Hakkai inquired thoughtfully, perking up a bit.
"Who knows?" Sanzou walked out to the balcony of their room, crushing the cigarette butt beneath a black-soled heel. He was only mildly surprised when he heard Hakkai's gentle footsteps follow him.
"Sanzou? May I ask you one last question?"
The blonde leaned his arms against the iron railing, staring at the twilight sky beyond. "Go ahead. But if it's something stupid, I'll shoot you. Seriously, the gun's in my pocket right now."
"I believe you, strangely enough." Hakkai laughed, though the seriousness of whatever his problem was took over shortly thereafter.
"I had planned on asking you this yesterday, but...if you fall in love with somebody, and you know it's wrong, what should you do?"
Amethyst orbs sent him a glance subtly laced with surprise. "And why the hell are you asking me this?"
"I'm almost certain you know the answer to that question." Hakkai replied.
Sighing for the third time that evening, Sanzou brushed drifting bangs from his forehead, placing the same hand firmly upon it. "If you're taking about that idiot kappa...then I think you're talking to the wrong person, aren't you? Save the love confession speech for when you get back to Tokyo, dumbass."
Hakkai blushed, and smiled tenderly. "...Hai."
Although...
A countenance slowly morphed from one of silent amusement to solemn uncertainty.
...I'm not sure if Gojyo-san is the only person I would feel right saying such things to anymore.
Starting slightly as the door opened, Roy turned to the partially opened paneling and addressed the youngling who stood before it. "Ah, Hagane no! Have you found out who our accomplices are?"
"Yeah. Soya Kougaiji and Lirin, along with their close friend Uurasaki Yaone. And Yui's sent his two best agents, Genjou Sanzou and Cho Hakkai here, as well. I think that's all of them, anyway."
Onyx eyes regarded the small blonde gently. "And what about our subjects? No sign of them in the inn, I presume."
He shook his head. "Not yet. One of them sounds like he'd stick out real well in a crowd, and the other one has gold eyes, like me. I would've noticed 'em if they were out there."
"Good enough, then. I suppose they wouldn't be coming to the Fall Festival so early in the week, anyway, so that was to be expected. My genius deduction has saved us again, it seems..."
Edward frowned, a huff of impatient exasperation over his superior escaping almost-shut lips. "Don't flatter yourself. Kanzeon-sama was the one who said that, so quit tryin' to take all the credit for the quote."
Roy laughed, taking the pouting semi-child's chin into his left hand. "As though you would know anything about rights and what belongs to whom. You really should try to hold your tongue more often, Full Metal...and don't talk back to your superiors so much. Unless you want to lose your rank."
"Quit patronizing me!" Ed yelled, peeling the other male's hands off his face, heated flush forming. "I don't need your advice, Roy!"
"Of course you don't." Roy smirked, deciding it was better to agree to disagree when it came to his partner. "But I doubt you'll get far on this mission without me, so I suggest you don't get on my bad side, Edward-kun..."
Amber spheres fell half-lidded in faint annoyance. "Baka taisa. Quit acting like a kid and start being your proper, twenty-two year old self for once."
"I could say the same thing for you."
Edward twitched dangerously, then began wildly flinging his arms about. "WHO'S THE PINT-SIZED SHRIMP YOU CAN'T SEE WITHOUT A MICROSCOPE?!"
"Did I ever imply that, Full Metal?" Roy griped, holding his ears in irritation, though he really seemed more amused than he should have. "Stop overreacting all the time! Otherwise, someone's eardrum is bound to be split; namely, mine."
"That's IT! I'm not gonna stand for this shit!" Ed screeched, pointing an accusing finger at the dark-haired adult.
"Then sit for it, if you'd like." Roy playfully retorted.
"DON'T MESS WITH MY HEAD!" Edward's brusque shout did little to surprise Roy, though the rough slam of the door nearly caused the older man to jump.
Taking a quick look at the shut panel, he sighed deeply, plopping back down by the desk his hotel room provided.
"Good gods, that boy is exasperating! I don't think he even realizes how immature he's acting. Although..."
A slight smile caught on his mouth, the chuckle bubbling within his throat sounding abruptly in the silence.
"...I'd be lying if I said that getting him riled up wasn't so terribly funny. And that pout was really cute."
Outside, Ed could simply be described as livid, fuming and cursing the other agent's name violently.
"Rrghh...my GOD, that man is exasperating! Why doesn't he just leave me alone? Doesn't he have anything better to do than to make my life miserable?! Jeez..."
Ed pulled long golden tresses from his sweating cheeks, the confinement of his thick clothing beginning to affect the rest of his body. Mumbling something foul under a hushed breath, he knelt beside the doorway of Roy's room, tilting his head back in order to look at the ceiling.
"I'm such an idiot...I yelled at him without even realizing it, and now I really wish I could take everything I said back...it's so fucking weird that I actually want to forgive him, but...
"Damn it! Why does he have to be so...?"
Infuriating? Idiotic? Gorgeous? Damn, I don't even KNOW what it is...
A cold hand suddenly clamped over Edward mouth, resulting in a series of muffled cries coming from the restrained teen.
"Mff mhh mh! Mhh mrr mnn mffmhh MHH mh mrr!?"
"Please, don't fret, Elric-san. I promise that you will remain safe for the time being...however, I cannot guarantee anything, once your friends come to find you. Because, you see, you will be what lures Cho Gonou and his friends into my lair...and it is this very sentiment that should make you feel quite wanted, I would think."
W-What...? Who the hell is this blue-haired guy? And what does he want with me and Hakkai-san...?
Wait...he called him, 'Cho Gonou...' So...that means that...!
Jabbing a nail into the pressure point at the back of the boy's neck, Chin Yii Sou almost giggled in delight upon hearing Edward's gasp of shock, watching the blonde slump in a tangled heap of robe and limb to the ground.
"Yes, my precious little flower. You shall be the one who brings them all to me..." A tongue darted out to taste the metallic blood on his fingers, almost sensuously.
"...Everything that I've yearned for shall soon be mine. And I won't even have to get these robes dirty."
goku-the-saru: Maybe they do. But I think Goku's more loved than he realizes, ne? I mean, Hakkai-san thinks of the boy fondly, as if he were his own kin; and Gojyo is usually looking out for the, 'bakasaru,' in some way, shape, or form. And let's not forget about Sanzou. The thoughts of semi-consciousness this chapter prove that he's at least somewhat regretting the cruelty he showed Goku last time. Which, of course, makes the 39 fans happy, I'm sure. –Grins- Sankyuu for the review, Goku-san! –Gives you a Goku plushie-
Koryu-Sanzo: Believe me, dear, you don't even have to ask. I'd give Sanzou and Goku their happy ending without a second thought, believe me! (I'm quite a bit the romantic, but I also happen to greatly enjoy their chemistry. So that's why.) However, there's still A LOT that has to happen before those two came be together. But I promise that it'll come, eventually. There's still a lot for them to work out, that's all. Sankyuu for the review, Koryu-san! And just to let you know, I LOVE your 39 stories! –Gives you Sanzou and Goku plushies-
Joonie: Haha, I totally agree! Sanzou and Goku just aren't themselves if we didn't have conflict between them, Plus, they work so well with the transitioning of the story. Maybe that's why I like writing them in this story and not so much in the canon timeline. I could never spoil Minekura-san's beautiful depiction of how they react to each other. As for Gojyo's comment, don't think he wouldn't. Goku's just that important to him. And I'm glad you liked the Gojyo/Hakkai moments. I certainly liked and put much time into writing them, so it's nice to know the effort wasn't in vain. –Smile- Kougaiji is a great stand-alone character, so that's why I put him as a non-nemesis to the Sanzou-tachi. Also because there's a lot of background behind him, Yaone, and Lirin. Sankyuu for the review, Joonie-san! –Gives you a Gojyo plushie, since you want to collect all of them-
Silver on the Tree: Hmm...now that I think about it, Sanzou/Goku does seem somewhat reminiscent of Shuuichi and Yuki's relationship, ne? With the name calling, the whacking on the head, the arguments, the love/hate continuums...I wonder if Minekura-san was a Gravitation fan? –Laughs- And I liked that episode very much, (wasn't it called 'Rain,' and, strangely enough, it was the 39th episode? Someone out in the fandom pointed that out to me, and I found that somewhat amusing for a while), mostly due to the honest, accurate depiction of how Sanzou sees Goku and vice-versa. Well, good luck with To Live Or Not To Live, and sankyuu for the review!
–Gives you Gojyo and Hakkai plushies, since Keruri has already given you the other two-
Karu Leonnese: You're not old, Karu-san! –Laughs- It's nice to know that you see the other side of relationships—regarding 38—and, if you might not have already noticed, I have initiated the 835 triangle. And BOY, I get the feeling my 38 sucks. I've never written for the pairing before, so that makes me a little nervous. –Starts laughing hysterically after seeing the plushies make out- You made me laugh SO hard with that comment...my mom started asking me if I was okay. XD Well, I hope you'll keep watching this story, and sankyuu for the review, Karu-san! –Gives you Sanzou and Goku plushies, hoping you won't make THOSE two make out. X33-
Chou ni Natte: Yay, another fan who likes 58! –Dances around happily- I really like reading fics about them, too; although I'm glad to be able to shape my own story with them together in it. (Well, almost, 'together,' anyway. X3) –Blush- Well, I'm glad that you like my ideas! I'll work hard to keep those high expectations of yours the same, and thanks for adding my story to your C2 archive. I checked it out, and I was quite happy to see some Ariso fics on there, (KubotaxTokitoh!), as well as some Full Metal Alchemist slash, too. (I personally like RoyxEdo, though I'm almost fine with ANY coupling out there. Same goes for most series I get into.) Sankyuu for the review, Chou-san! –Gives you Sanzou and Goku plushies-