Musing featuring the Sanzo Ikkou
originally posted on livejournal under my user name feait
The road has a habit of taking it out of a man. The desolate roads. The ghost towns. The merciless weather. The quiet. Hakkai hadn’t realized these things until he began traveling with his friends.
Before them, Hakuryuu was his companion. Hakkai was fine with this because he believed he didn’t fit in with others.
For some reason, Hakkai did fit with Sanzo, Goku, and Gojyo. It felt right.
He didn’t understand why, but he thanked the Merciful Goddess nonetheless when he realized this.
“Hakkai!” Sanzo said in a raised voice.
“Sorry,” Hakkai replied sheepishly. “I was lost in thought.”
Gojyo purred, “About that cute little waitress from that café? Wasn’t sure she was – Ow!” He rubbed his head.
Sanzo slipped his fan back into his sleeve. “Idiot!”
Hakkai chuckled. “Actually, I was.”
“Oh” was all Gojyo could say.
Sanzo shifted in his seat.
“I believed she undercharged us for the meal. I was thinking of turning around and rectifying this.”
Gojyo smacked his forehead and laughed.
Sanzo lit a cigarette. “If you run this car around, I’ll shoot you, Hakkai.”
“Going back?” Goku said in a sleepy voice. “We’re going back to the café? I’d love to get another – Ow, Sanzo! That hurt.”
A genuine smile grew on Hakkai’s face.
Sanzo caught it and turned his face away, using the excuse to exhale smoke.
Yet Hakkai knew that something warmer than a smirk graced Sanzo’s lips for a moment.
Gojyo slapped his hand on Hakkai’s shoulder. “You had me worried there for a moment, Hakkai.”
“Why? Were you afraid I was competition for her … attention?”
“I’ll take your silence as a ‘yes’.”
Hakkai began to laugh. Sanzo covered his laugh with a cough.
“Gojyo, you really think that Hakkai could get a girl and you can’t?” Goku asked wide-eyed.
“There will never be a day Hakkai can get a woman that I can’t,” proclaimed Gojyo.
“Care to make a wager?” Hakkai asked wryly.
“My money’s on Hakkai,” Sanzo announced.
“W-What?!?!?” stammered Gojyo.
“Oh, man,” Goku piped in, “Hakkai is better with the ladies than Gojyo. Sanzo wouldn’t – Hey! Why’d you hit me, Gojyo?”
“No one is better with the ladies than me.”
As the two back seat riders began exchanging punches and pulling each other’s hair, Hakkai shook his head and wondered again why this felt right.
