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

[nightfallrising.livejournal.com]

I don't think I can agree with the idea that Hakkai sees Gojyo as youkai at all (although I do think it's very likely that 8's own half-assed youkai nature is a powerful attractant to Gojyo, as is his revulsion about it). He sees Banri as youkai, and delivers his opinion on that straight up. Hakkai's only evasive until his back finds the wall.

No, I see it as more likely that Gojyo's being hanyou is magnetic to him, and probably without a value he can clearly define as either good or bad. Half-and-half is might-have-been. Remember, Gonou wasn't the only Cho who killed someone that day.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

Remember, Gonou wasn't the only Cho who killed someone that day.

The things you say often have the power to make me wibble. I mean that in a good way!

I suppose then, if Kanan had lived, Hakkai would have been in something like the same postion as Gojyo's mother-- always reminded of someone he loathed every time he looked at the child he was raising. He must think about that when he looks at Gojyo, and think about how awful it must've been for him. So, yes- a weird sort of magnetism that must raise a storm of feelings.

[kintail.livejournal.com]

Remember, Gonou wasn't the only Cho who killed someone that day.

Yes, and powerfully said. I'd been wondering for a while about how the issue of Kanan's half-breed child and that big "might have been" must haunt Hakkai, and Gojyo, and their relationship... seems it would be taboo in a different way, always thought about but never spoken of...

Your "Hir Wicked Style" (which I read on EotW and loved but was shy about commenting on at the time (I'm trying to get over that)) has been the only fanfic I've come across to address the issue at all.

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Mmm, yes, absolutely-- it's possiblity, both light and dark.