+12
Sanzo sets the specs of Houtou down, removing his glasses and massaging the bridge of his nose. Glaring at the paper as if it's personally responsible for driving him insane. Hakkai can empathise - they've been staring at it for hours, and he's traced the route Kougaiji's described a million times and he's quite sure Sanzo's still displeased with it.
"Hakkai."
"Yes?"
Sanzo's frown reflects his own. "The trouble's going to be sealing off the underground levels. At the most optimistic, assuming the idiot prince can get his men into place, we'll have a couple of hundred youkai in there with us."
Hakkai nods at Sanzo's assessment of the situation, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest. it's accurate, and there's only one way to deal with it. The knowledge is not unmixed with a little petty satisfaction. "I've done it before. As long as either Kougaiji's side or you manage to close it all off, that is."
Sanzo nods slowly, his gaze speculative. "Two might handle that easier than one."
The suggestion's obvious, and unwarranted. Hakkai gives him a small smile that's probably as humourless as he's feeling right now. The facts are obvious, really, and Sanzo's insistence on having him spell everything out is frankly annoying. And unsubtle. "Yes, two might. But Kougaiji can't come into the open that soon, and you'll need all the protection you can get. It's imperative that you reach the inner chambers in fit condition to use the sutra. Without dying before the job is complete."
"Hnh. ...we could have Kougaiji focus these men he claims to control on the cutoff points rather than the resurrection chamber."
Hakkai heaves a sigh, lifting one hand to remove his monocle, pinching the bridge of his nose as he continues, patiently. "Sanzo, there are four doors and two elevators. All which will need to be defended by small bands of possibly unreliable youkai, with a lower ratio of uncertain youkai in the levels below." He holds Sanzo's gaze steadily as he shakes his head. "You know that the best way is to have the points closed and locked, for however long we can manage, with a cohesive group to cover your backs. You need Goku's - Seiten Taisei's - strength with you." He waits a beat before adding, pointedly, "And I believe that we're both aware of my... capabilities."
Sanzo scowls, but his voice is softer when he speaks - betraying a touch of sympathy Hakkai hadn't expected from him. It stings a little that Sanzo's trying, the tacit admission of caring in it. "Fine." He gives him a long look, one of the ones that dig right into Hakkai, not that he really wants to see. No, he already has, Hakkai's sure. "You're not going to be facing a bunch of shit-eating hicks, you know."
As if he didn't know that. As if the image of Hyakuganmaoh's disorganised forces gathering before him isn't clear in Gonou's mind, as if he doesn't recall exactly when derision turned to concern and then panic, if not their faces or the precise details of death. He pulls himself together, inhaling deeply as he swings his gaze back to Sanzo with a small smile. Leans forward, settling the monocle back in place, a soft almost-laugh in his throat, because the only other option lies somewhere he's never quite been able to reach. "Yes, Sanzo, I am aware." He tilts his head, watching him. "Could the disparity be much more than human storming a castle full of youkai, do you think? Or a room filled with small gods?"
Sanzo's eyes narrow as he speaks the obvious; as if the two of them don't already know how this is going to play out, no matter what the others think. He and Sanzo have always been the tacticians of the team, after all. "You're determined to do this, then."
Hakkai spreads his hands in his 'by all means' gesture, aware Sanzo won't find any emotion to exploit in his expression. "Show me another, half so viable alternative." He pauses for a moment, pretending to give Sanzo room to speak before he goes on, a tiny petty part of him vindictively pleased when all Sanzo does is grind his teeth. "I really have no choice."
Sanzo rises, his chair scraping back loudly enough to make Goku pause for a moment in his gentle snorfling. "Fine," he grits out.
Hakkai pastes his Helpful Smile on his face, aware exactly how much that expression annoys Sanzo. It's best for the both of them that they not speak further of this; his skin feels rubbed raw, and every muscle of his body aches with the strain of not letting himself fall apart. It's been a long day, really. "Shall I heat some sake?"
"No. Fuck off."
Considering Sanzo only resorts to cheap insults when he feels outmaneuvered (by Hakkai, anyway), he supposes that's a win. He can't bring himself to care. Sanzo angered is Sanzo with an unpleasant tendency to state the truth, and so he rises, turning his back on the table and the others. "I think I'll have a shower before bed."
