Thanks to backupsystem, tigermink, altered carbon and iceblitz for reviewing the last chapter!
About the last chapter... I know that Gojyo has driven before, but it's never mentioned if Sanzo can. I just figured that because Sanzo always sits in the front seat, he's be the one most likely to grab the wheel if Hakkai was zoning out, making him the object of Hakkai's ire (You don't like my driving! All right, ya punk, YOU drive!). That's the reasoning, anyway. Kudos to altered carbon for pointing that out.
Disclaimers, as usual. I'd cut off an arm to own Saiyuki... oooor... maybe not. ;;
Note: Listening to Kurt Cobain yell "rape me" repeatedly is not conductive to writing good drama. :P
Oh yeah... and I re-uploaded all the chapters in html format. FFN doesn't seem to be liking my .docs and was killing the formatting.
Sound of the Night
Chapter 9: Out Drinking
Gojyo decided to go out drinking.
But he wasn't going alone. Oh no. He was going to take Hakkai drinking with him if he had to drag the other man kicking and screaming.
He knew better than to think he could actually get Hakkai drunk, of course. However, he did intend to get thoroughly and completely drunk himself. The alcohol would loosen things up some and maybe, just maybe, things would start to work themselves out.
Beer: The cure for all ills. That's what Gojyo was hoping for, anyway.
Hakkai seemed to be suprised at Gojyo's invitation/order that they go out drinking, but this was Hakkai, so Gojyo wasn't all that sure. Hakkai, suprising the both of them, agreed half-heartedly to the little excursion and Gojyo dragged him out the door before Hakkai could change his mind.
There was only one small bar in this particular little town, just a few blocks down from the inn. It wasn't a bad little hole, all in all – clean, not too rowdy, and well-lit. Most importantly, they had a good selection of drinks. The two sat down on round stools at the counter. Gojyo cut to the chase and ordered a full pint for himself and a bottle of sake with a cup for Hakkai.
After the pair had marched a small army of empty glasses down the counter and whiled away a few hours with one-sided conversation, Gojyo was giggling to himself and trying desperately to restrain his urge to grab the waitress's ass.
Hakkai was, while definitely not drunk, beginning to sag into the counter. For Hakkai, there were two kinds of drunk: Cheerful drunk and depressed drunk. Hakkai's quickly-receeding smiles, dead silence and half-lidded, glazed eyes signalled to Gojyo that this was the darker end of Hakkai's 'depressed drunk'.
"'Kai," Gojyo hiccuped, "I've been ralbin' on all fuckin' night." He shook his head a bit, as if to clear it. "Rablin. Ranbin. Ramblin." He hiccuped again. "But you'ven't said a goddamn thing. Fuck."
Hakkai, who had his head pillowed in his arms, turned his face toward Gojyo.
"I mean," Gojyo continued, "Us'lly ya don't shaddup. 'Specially when yer drinkin'. I miss y'voice." He took another gulp of his drink as if to steel himself and turned to look at Hakkai.
Hakkai blinked slowly and turned his head in his arms to gaze at his latest bottle. "Gojyo," he spoke for the first time that night. "I'm sorry."
"Y'don't need ta do that." Gojyo leaned his head back. "You're talkin' now, right?" He smiled at the ceiling. "Just keep doin' it. Ya don't hafta go nuts about stuff that's over. I mean, if anyone's gonna apologise, it's gotta be me anyway. I've been an asshole. I shouldn't've judged you."
"Gojyo." The kappa turned to face his friend. Hakkai was smiling, for real this time. "I..."
"Whut?"
"...Never mind."
"S'okay." Gojyo finished off his glass in a gulp and slid off his stool. "I'm 'bout's drunk s'I can handle right now. You wanna go?"
Hakkai heaved himself off the table. "All right. And I've got enough to pay the tab, so don't worry about that."
Gojyo heaved a sigh of relief and laughed. "Haha. Yeah, wuddent wanna get run out'f town for that. Sanzo would 'ave my ass."
Gojyo realised from the look on Hakkai's face that that was not the best choice of words. He cursed inwardly and decided to cut all the bull and get to the point. "Forget about all that. It's not my business who you fuck."
Hakkai's face cleared a bit. "No... you were right. I'm beginning to think... that it wasn't a very good idea."
Gojyo took one look at Hakkai and burst out laughing. He doubled over, tears pouring out of his eyes, and kept laughing like he'd just seen Sanzo in a pink tutu. "Hakkai," he choked. "...I think that was the understatement of the century." He muffled his continued laughter into his sleeve.
Hakkai just smiled and paid the tab.