Spoilery pondering: Saiyuki 6

[louiselux]

So, I've been reading the scanlations of vol 6 once more, in preparation for the Tokyopop translation of vol 6  that's due out in about a week *rejoices*  There's something going on with Hakkai and Gojyo and I'm not sure what it means. I'm thinking of the first chapter (30), when Hakkai faints after holding back the sandstorm. Gojyo catches him and tells him not to be such an idiot, playing the tough guy, Hakkai laughs it off and then Gojyo gets all serious and doesn't look at him - he doesn't play along. Hakkai drops the smile pretty quick and gazes up at him, looking very serious and confused, and somewhat pissed off too. 

Gojyo is pissed off with Hakkai hurting himself, Hakkai is angry that Gojyo wouldn't let him laugh it off. There could be other interpretations though. It's a very interesting little scene: they do tend to have odd, intense little moments between them all through the series, which I think goes to show how intimate they are with each other. It's quite a contrast from chapter 18 in vol 4 and their conversation in the middle of the night, where Gojyo purposefully tries to lighten Hakkai's mood. 

Gojyo's refusal to play Hakkai's game (if you want to read it that way)  is almost like a riposte to Hakkai's rather cutting comment to Gojyo in vol 2, when he says that (to paraphrase wildly) Gojyo's secretive nature upsets him (when they are in the forest looking for Shunrei).  Gojyo is all ready to shrug off any talk of Jien, but Hakkai doesn't go along with it at all and takes Gojyo to task for putting on his 'bravado' face. 

That's my interpretation, anyway. I have to admit that there are some things in the manga that I'm not sure I understand, either on purpose because of the writing or because the translation doesn't bring out the full meaning.

Comments

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

There's also a nice interplay with them-- not sure how clear it is in the translations you have-- where Gojyo tells him to stop making him look bad, and then later, when Hakkai lets him drive Jeep, he flashes back to that. I think it very much is a parallel-- 'stop keeping this all to yourself and let me help for a change, dammit.'

[snowyheart.livejournal.com]

(Sorry, wandered in here randomly looking for more wonderful writings by this lady whose journal we're in. And got sucked in by volume 6 love!)

I think that's an excellent point, and suddenly it reminds me of that part of Gaiden, where Tenpou tries to do *everything* out on the field and irritates Kenren by doing so. 'M glad I saw your comment, 'cause now that part of Gojyo-Hakkai interaction makes more sense!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

*has revelatory moment*

I love that insight and it makes perfect sense too - Gojyo bieng angry at Hakkai for taking too much on himself is absolutely a parallel to Tenpou and Kenren's relationship.

ps, hello!

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, they've had this argument a long time.

I noticed it a lot more in the TokyoPop translation, so maybe it's a better translation or it's just the repetition reinforcing it.

[snowyheart.livejournal.com]

Hah! Some couples only *feel* like their argument has lasted for centuries...

I love the way Tokyopop translates things... I don't know how they do such a good job, I can just hope they keep doing it!

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Some of their translations have apparently been quite bad but they really seem to be putting an effort into Saiyuki, and I appreciate it!

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh, that makes it a lot clearer - I wondered what that flashback meant in that scene. It makes so much more sense to me now.

<'stop keeping this all to yourself and let me help for a change, dammit.'>

I suppose Gojyo's first act with Hakkai was to look after him when he was still Gonou - it's as though that set a pattern for their relationship.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

And as we said above, they've done this a long time-- when Tenpou and Kenren meet, practically the first thing Kenren does is start cleaning up his office and taking care of him (in any incarnation, the boy is whipped.)

[permetaform]

::is just laughing and nodding at this whole thing and the comment threads:: hell yes. XD