Standard disclaimer applies .

A/N: This Amber/Saiyuki was written on treneka's request of Corwin, Lord of Amber, hitching a ride in Hakkai's Jeep.

±Joy Ride±

by ChaosD

Trees scattered auburn under my feet as I walked the roadside. But walking wasn't the fastest thing ever and I was in hurry.

So when I heard soft rumbling of engine just over a hill, I stalled and waited. Shortly afterwards there appeared a dirty-greenish open top jeep.

"Hey!"

The driver killed the engine, coasted down a slope and stopped near me.

"Would you give me a lift to the town?"

He shielded his eyes against the sun and looked up. It was a boy in his twenties: short dark hair, light, but hardy build, green ey.. Oh.

He didn't freak out.

"Sumimasen, wakaranai," he smiled instead.

That was where Benedict would've come handy.

I tried again. "A lift to the town. I'd be grateful."

His stare gravitated toward Grayswandir. Smart boy.

"Um. Of course."

I rounded the car and climbed in - the passenger seat was on the left. I saw shopping bags all over the back seat.

"We'll be there in fifteen minutes or less," the boy informed, shifting gear.

When skies deepened into Amber's royal colors, he didn't seem to notice.

When trees began arching high overhead, he looked mildly surprised.

"Keep driving forward," I told him.

When the forest suddenly opened into cliffs and sea and a hint of city, he hit the brakes and frowned at me.

"Sorry, had to take a shortcut. Thanks!" I hopped out and started on my path uphill.

o.o.o.o.o.o

Hakkai sighed and stroked the wheel. That had been a refreshing ride, but he was quite a bit worried as to what had been happening to his friends all this while.

"Shall we go back, Hakuryuu?"

Sunshine glittered for a moment on the windshield, the eyepiece and a strange ruby crystal lying unnoticed on the passenger seat, as the jeep made an U-turn and blurred into rainbows.