Saiyuki Burial arc

[louiselux]

A thought about Gojyo & Hakkai's Burial arc


I don't think I've ever seen the following idea dealt with fully in a fic-- or maybe I've just missed it-- although it does sit very closely beside the idea of Gojyo's physical prescence being a reminder of Hakkai's sin. I'm not insisting on this, because Gojyo's kindness mitigates it somewhat; we assume that Hakkai moves in with Gojyo because he likes him, but what if he doesn't, at that point?

Hakkai moves in with Gojyo because it's painful to him. Maybe he sees it as yet more penance to have to live with someone who is part youkai and whose daily presence disgusts him. He says that youkai turn his stomach, so surely Gojyo must too, to some extent and that disgust must be something that he can't just switch off.  Kanan died only four months ago [1].  Another thought, that doesn't really fit here - Hakkai brings domestic routines with him that must date back to his life with Kanan. I was thinking that that might be another reason why they're uncomfortable with each other-- subconciously Hakkai is expecting Kanan's responses, likewise, Gojyo picks up on the fact that he's the wrong person. 

[1] Timeline: it took two months for Hakkai to get to Gyumaoh's castle, a month with Gojyo before Sanzo finds him, then three more months until we get to the Burial arc.

Comments

[blu-mondae.livejournal.com]

Re: youkai-disgust, I don't think I buy it as a primary motivation in Hakkai's relationship Gojyo, even at that early point. First, because I don't see anything in Hakkai's behavior (as depicted in the manga) to indicate any sort of disgust at Gojyo's mixed blood. Disgust at his lifestyle, yeah, that's clear as day. I think that if Hakkai did feel that way, Minekura would have made it clear; she's really good at drawing what people are thinking but not saying. Also, if moving in with Gojyo was a way to punish himself, it's a pretty half-assed self-punishment. And Hakkai/Gonou/Tenpou doesn't do half-assed. We're talking about a guy who gouged his own eye out. When he does self-punishment, he doesn't pull punches.

I think the main reason he went to Gojyo is because there wasn't anywhere else for him to go, is all.


Now, re: domestic routines and expecting the wrong person, I think you're spot on. Neither of them are used to living with that sort of person; the Burial story is about each of them deciding that it's worth it to learn how to adjust.

Just my $0.02.

[blu-mondae.livejournal.com]

(P.S. None of this is any reason not to write a fic based on the premise. That's what fanfic is for!)

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Hee! Well, exactly;-)

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

I think the idea that Hakkai might find Gojyo's youkai-ness hateful on some unspoken, unadmitted level is arguable, but I don't think you can entirely rule it out and it can be read in, between the lines. But then, weighing against the youkai angst, Gojyo is kind and he's honest when it matters and strong (in an odd, clearly vulnerable sort of way) and I don't think Hakkai has any defences against that and finds those qualities extremely attractive-- it's as though Gojyo is all the things Hakkai isn't. And yet they're both the same, half-youkai, half human.

I love your point about the half-assedness - it's such a good point!