Test of Time
Ch.5 Brown Paper Bags
AN: "Pull the trigger and the nightmare stops. . ." Hello again all! I apologize again for being late, I actually had this finished last Sunday night but due to upgrades, was unable to put it on I swear, as much as I appreciate upgrades (what can I say? You need 'em.) I hate them at the same time! Yeah, I can't access my email because of upgrades.
My rant (feel free to skip if you haven't already): Fuck Hotmail, they can all burn in Hell! Being someone who lives out of her email, it is a necessity to life! Besides, I've been a member for over five years, half of that time I actually paid for service (hence the reason why I have msn and not hotmail). God, I'm so fucking pissed off. This was my first email account ever, and therefore I have years of saved emails from friends and family members (that have died), as well as updates from various websites that I continually get from time to time –this one included-. I have another account now thanks to all of the pestering they've put me through as I've tried to figure this out, but it still isn't the same. Grrr. . . Oh and don't think I won't fight this, I'm getting back into my old email if it's the last thing I do. I have to.
Okay I'm done, a much nicer note at the bottom. Read.
Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies of course. . .
Ch. 5 Brown Paper Bags
It was a beautiful afternoon and our favorite monks were enjoying their tea. The room was well lit and quite peaceful. It appeared that a complete feeling of calmness had descended over the temple.
"There is no way that I am assisting their comrades in any way when they arrive". The older of the two commented. He grabbed the kettle of fresh tea from the cozy and began to pour into his shallow, ceramic cup.
"Yes, their previous visits were unexpected and almost painful. Disgraces!" The younger one almost shouted. He steadily placed his cup in front of his companion with a sigh.
"Ah, their last visit. Horrible, ordering us around like they owned the place, then making a mess they never intended to clean themselves." The first said dazedly, not really paying attention to what he was saying or doing.
"I feel that I have come to hate them as well." The second monk took his drink to the side of the table and grabbed up the sugar bowl, placing it in front of himself.
"Master Sanzo seems to attract the most abnormal guests."
"The dregs of society." He began to spoon the tiny, perfectly square crystals into the cups. He added a generous amount to each, accumulating to many spoonfuls for each cup.
"Yes." The older monk commented solemnly. They simultaneously took up their respective teacups and placed them to their lips. After one long sip they both visibly stiffened, a look of disgust rising onto their faces. They glanced at each other before quickly turning the other way to spit the liquid from their mouths.
Their coughing and sputtering could be heard from the hallway. The younger of the two began wiping his tongue on his robes as the other monk cleaned up and began to get the hell out of there.
The second monk quickly followed, but not before hearing a quiet giggle from the doorway. A small hand held the sliding door where it lay keeping only half of her face exposed. He looked back only briefly before continuing on his way out.
X::X::X
"Oh yeah they're coming." Goku said as they rounded the corner where the squeal could be heard.
"You've got to be shitting me."
Their old friends finally came into view as they approached. Hakkai was currently bent down in front of Nishi giving her an Eskimo kiss while Gojyo shouldered a small nap-sack, awaiting his turn.
"It's so good to see you Nishi." Hakkai stated as he stood up, his height exaggerated as he stood over her tiny frame.
"I missed you so much Uncle Hakkai." Nishi put her arms up to initiate a hug. Hakkai smiled and bent down in front of her gathering her in his arms.
"I missed you too." Hakkai mumbled into her hair.
Pulling away she turned towards Gojyo and ran into his open arms. "Hey Nish, it's been so long!" Gojyo said, picking her up and rubbing their noses together.
"I missed you too Uncle Gojyo!" Nishi said giving him a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh! Nish, I got you a present. I realized you left this after you guys were gone." Gojyo said holding out a solid red hair band in front of Nishi.
"I didn't leave it, you stole it!" Nishi huffed, faking a pout.
"Oh Nishi I can't believe you think I'd do something like that." Gojyo said in mock-hurt. "So to make up for it, I gotcha these." Gojyo said, winking as he pulled out an assortment of hair-ties. "I figured we could use them tonight."
"I can do your hair? Thank you Uncle Gojyo." Nishi squealed with delight at the prospect of playing with her uncle's long red hair.
Goyjo gave her a huge smile as Hakkai began to speak, "And here's my gift Nishi." He held out a large brown bag that was roughly half the size of Nishi.
"Oh! Thanks Uncle Hakkai!" Nishi said, plopping down on her butt with the weight of the bag. "Meatbuns! Yea!" Nishi giggled her eyes large and full of happiness. She looked up at Hakkai and ran to give him another hug. "Uncle, where's Hakuryuu?"
"Out front, we haven't unloaded our things yet."
Goku and Sanzo stood a little farther down the hallway, watching the scene as it enfolded from as far away as possible for Sanzo's sake.
To say he was angry wasn't exactly correct, he was just a little pissed off. No one had informed him of this, not that he could have done anything to prevent it from happening, but at least a little bit of mental preparedness would have been nice. "Doesn't this bother you at all?"
"No, you get used to it. I guess you could say that Nishi is the daughter they can never have. We all know that Hakkai loves children in general, and well, Gojyo, he loves Nishi. Besides, if you wanna see something weird, I caught Gojyo and Hakkai making out on the couch once." Goku said, beginning to walk towards those in front of them. Sanzo shivered momentarily before following behind Goku.
"Shi, you're gonna share those right?" Goku asked as he walked up next to her and squatted at her side.
"No."
"Ah, Goku it's been awhile." Hakkai said as Goku approached. Goku smiled up and nodded.
"Hey Goku! Our bags are out back." Gojyo smirked, pointing to where the jeep was.
Goku ignored him as he leaned toward Nishi and opened his mouth. "Yeah, yeah. Get one of those nosey monks to do it." Goku said as Nishi began to feed -stuff- Goku's mouth with a plump meat bun.
"It is all they're good for." Sanzo said as he reached them.
"Ah! The most congenial Master Sanzo has finally decided to grace us with his presence." Gojyo said sarcastically.
"Don't make me shoot you." Sanzo countered coldly.
"My, my, it feels like old times." Hakkai said, that familiar old smile plastered on his face.
Goku and Nishi looked at each other and smiled.
"Oh-um, excuse us Master Sanzo, but can we help your guests get settled?" Three young, impressionable monks asked from behind the group.
They turned toward the three of them, Nishi and Goku merely looking over their shoulders before continuing to devour the bag.
"Yes-" Sanzo stated flatly, but was cut off before he could continue.
"The bags in the jeep. Careful with the goods." Gojyo said as he walked up behind Sanzo and draped an arm over his shoulder. Sanzo glared at his arm and shrugged it off.
"Oh and would you tell the jeep where we will be staying?" Hakkai asked from behind Sanzo and Gojyo.
The monks had to stop themselves from staring at them. All three nodded and bowed, their bald heads gleaming in the sun light, before scrambling nervously away and towards where the jeep was haphazardly parked.
"Would you like for us to prepare your rooms?" Two older monks asked, their question directed to Hakkai more than Gojyo.
Sanzo glared at the two monks, familiarity flaring up. All he could do was wonder why they wouldn't leave him alone.
Gojyo moved away from Sanzo and walked up next to Hakkai to take his hand in his.
"Oh no, one room will suffice." Hakkai said smilingly.
"One bed too." Gojyo smirked as he pulled Hakkai closer to him. Hakkai's smile faltered momentarily from shock and then returned when he began to lean into Gojyo's side.
"Haha, thank you for your help." Hakkai said uneasily.
The monks got a weird look on their faces and scurried away quickly to complete their tasks as fast as possible.
"It feels good to be back in Chang'an." Hakkai said sarcastically.
Silence fell over the group until a loud rumble could be heard throughout the area. Everyone looked toward Nishi who quickly covered her stomach. Her eyes got large and a dark blush covered her cheeks. "Goku, I'm hungry."
Goku smiled, "I am too, let's go."
The five of them went off in the direction of the dining room, only leaving behind the large brown bag, torn and empty, for some insignificant monk to clean up.
For in all actuality, they are one in the same.
That's right, you didn't read wrong, I was just comparing an empty paper bag with the poor monks, that like myself, Minekura decides to torture. Come on think about it, if you stretch your line of thinking to insane lengths and forget what you're doing a couple of times, you can see it, I swear. Hehe.
Okay so this is the chapter for this week and the next will be next Monday, sorry this had to happen but I've had a couple of things to do and honestly this is the first time I've been late so cut me a little, please?
This was such a fun chapter to write. Sorry it was so short. The next one may not be so fun, but it will probably be longer. Everything is revealed next chapter, this I can promise. Well, everyone is about to get a heavy dose of bipolar writing. It's a real type of writing (to me of course, I love making up shit). We're flipping from cutesy welcomings to cutesy/angsty conversations. It should be fu. . . interesting.
Oh yeah, and I was sort of implying that Hakkai and Gojyo have been to Chang'an before and according to my memory, Hakkai's trials were held at a different temple (where the floating heads live) and there has never been any real mention of them visiting the temple. So, let's just say that Hakkai and Gojyo have visited Sanzo since the mission was over (it was only for a day or something). Okay. . . now that I've covered that baby up, I feel a little better.
Damn I talk to much. Sorry. . .
Next Chapter: "He's changed a lot Sanzo, Goku has almost completely changed, but at the same time he's still the same Goku we know. Since he found Nishi, he's grown and he's been forced to be more responsible." Hakkai said, his tone remaining somber and almost forceful.
"I noticed. How exactly did he find her?" Sanzo asked.
"Goku didn't tell you?"
"He. . . never got around to it."
See 'ya next chapter! Buh bye. Did anyone else have to work on Thanksgiving. . . Or was it just me? I think I may cry -again.
Thanks and please review, only if it's just a few words, let me know you're out there! Flames, corrective criticism, shout outs, anything and everything is accepted so don't hesitate, but please be honest.