louiselux: (Default)
louiselux ([personal profile] louiselux) wrote2005-11-14 12:21 pm

Fic - Sakura, Hakkai/Gojyo implied

Title: Sakura
Fandom: Saiyuki
Pairing: implied Hakkai/Gojyo
Rating: implied m/m, worksafe
Notes: This came from the suspicion that Kanan might pop back up at some point in the manga. It also came from a very inspiring conversation with [livejournal.com profile] nekonexus about the same thing. Many thanks to [livejournal.com profile] daegaer for beta and [livejournal.com profile] emungere for encouraging comments.
Summary: Kanan's baby survived.


Sakura



They came back with a child.

Red-haired and red-eyed, her body bore a scar as if she'd been stabbed.

'We found them in Hyakugan Maoh's castle,' Yaone had said. Pale tracks of tears washed through the soot on her face. The child had floated in the tank, lonely and curled like an embryo. 'Then Ni did this.'

'Them?' Hakkai had whispered.

Gojyo's hair had wanted to stand on end.

'Her mother died.'

Hakkai had let out a groan, then slowly crumpled, clutching at his stomach as if the wound was fresh. He threw up on the floor at Gojyo's feet.

*


They turned for home. The cherry trees blossomed and waved pink and white flounces over them as they passed. Sitting behind him, Gojyo watched the petals land on Hakkai's dark hair, fluttering in the wind.

'Sakura,' Gojyo said. 'Let's call her that,' and he kissed her soft, rosy cheek and held her close. She hid her face in his neck. Hakkai only nodded. He hadn't touched her yet.

'What are we gonna do with her?' Goku said at dinner a few days later. 'Doesn't she need a mother?'

'I don't see why,' Sanzo said. 'I did perfectly well without one.'

*

'We can't look after her,' Gojyo said to Hakkai. 'She needs a mother.'

'Really?' Hakkai said. 'I wouldn't know.'

He still hadn't gone near her, only watched as Gojyo tried to make her eat or as Goku bounced her on his knee, trying to coax a smile with seemingly infinite patience.

'I don't know what to do,' Gojyo confessed to Sanzo one night, as they smoked in the courtyard. 'What do I do?'

Sanzo shrugged and blew smoke into the cool air. 'Don't ask me. Feeding them a lot seems to work.'

'I meant with Hakkai.'

'Hn. That's your problem.'

*


Sakura began to eat properly. She smiled and laughed and said 'Ojyo!'

After that Gojyo privately abandoned any thought of giving her away.

'What a beautiful daughter,' women would say to him, when they stopped in towns. 'Look at her gorgeous hair. She's exactly like you!'

Hakkai would find some excuse to walk away. Sometimes Gojyo had to explain that her mother was dead. That won him soft looks, gentle arms and kisses and promises for later. It earned him Hakkai's rigid back and his knuckles white on the steering wheel.

He began to wish they could avoid towns altogether.

*


She clung to Goku, even sometimes scrambled up on Sanzo's lap, making him jump in shock and lean back as if she carried a contagious disease.

She had Hakkai's eyes, dark red instead of green, the same nose, a different mouth. Gojyo wondered which bits were from Kanan and which were from-- her father. Hakkai watched her coldly, and she never went to him.

'She belongs to you,' he said one day, thinking that being blunt might work where patience hadn't. 'She's your family.'

Sakura gazed up silently.

'She's nothing to do with me,' Hakkai said, and bowed his head.

*


They got near home. Sanzo was going back to the temple. Goku said he would too, but sometimes it was plain to see he was distracted, not with them at all.

Hakkai didn't talk about the future; recently he didn't say much about anything. He smiled, cleaned and cooked as before, but still wouldn't touch Kanan's child. Gojyo tried not to feel abandoned, struggled to convince himself that it wasn't anger he felt every time Hakkai avoided his eyes.

'So, what are you going to do?' Sanzo asked one day.

'Take care of her,' he said. 'What else is there?'

*


Their house was cold and damp after being empty for so long. He put Sakura to bed, stroking her hair till she slept. Later, because Hakkai was missing, he looked in and saw a black shadow looming over her bed.

Before he knew it he was there, yanking Hakkai away.

'What're you doing?' he said fiercely.

'Nothing. I just wanted to see,' Hakkai said.

He put himself between them. Hakkai put his hand to his mouth, face crumpling.

'You thought I was going to hurt her.'

'No, Hakkai-- '

'You did,' Hakkai said, backing away. 'But I'd never-- she's Kanan's.'

*


He found Hakkai sitting with his head in his hands.

'Don't leave,' Gojyo said, closing the door.

'How can I stay?' Hakkai mumbled. 'She's his, too. Her hair. It reminds me…'

Gojyo wanted to be sick, then. Instead he knelt. His problem, Sanzo had said.

'Like me. Is that what you see too, when you look at me?'

Hakkai gaped.

'No,' he whispered. His fingers were cold and trembling as he slid them along Gojyo's jaw, into his hair. Gojyo closed his eyes. 'Never. I didn't mean that.'

Gojyo put his arms round his neck. Hakkai sobbed, long and quietly.

*


Sakura played with the wooden toys Gojyo bought home from the market. Hakkai fetched books from the library, picture books showing Hansel and Gretel and wicked stepmothers. She loved to read.

'She's just like her mother,' Hakkai said.

Sakura sat curled up on Gojyo's lap. Hakkai touched her hair and she looked up, steady and unafraid.

'C'mere,' Gojyo said. 'You read better than me.'

'No, really,' Hakkai protested, but Gojyo pulled him down and hefted her onto his knees.

Hakkai froze, but slowly his arm came round her. He bent his head and kissed her hair.

'Hello, Sakura,' he said.

[identity profile] cygny.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww, so sweet. You made me cry with this one, because it hurts and it's so beautiful at once! Loved it.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much!

[identity profile] gameazel.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
This is...beautiful.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

[identity profile] baka-gaijin.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
OH, this was so good. And unexpected. I've never even thought about what might have happened in the baby survived.

You absolutely killed me, tho, with Sanzo:

In response to Goku saying the baby needed a mother: 'I don't see why,' Sanzo said. 'I did perfectly well without one.' OK, sure, whatever you say Sanzo!

and when Gojyo confessed to not knowing what to do, Sanzo's response: 'Feeding them a lot seems to work.'

Parenting tips from Sanzo. Be Afraid!

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Tha you so very much! I'm so glad you liked it. In the manga at some point Hakkai says to Sanzo that he makes a good father, and it always makes me feel kind of sad. Sanzo is a good parent really, on some levels - he'll certainly never abandon Goku. He's just bad at the rest of it.

[identity profile] toscas-kiss.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Lovely! Poor Hakkai - he really is fucked up, isn't he? And yah! Gojyo for perservering. [warm glowy feeling] :-)

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yay! I'm really pleased you liked it - thank you.

[identity profile] hane.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh...

That's gorgeous.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much!

[identity profile] hydr0phobia.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, damn.

Just...damn. Everyone being themselves, Gojyo and kids--Gojyo and Kanan's child and just being who he is for Hakkai. That's wonderful, that is.

Endless love for you. ♥

-Neo

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you very much indeed!

[identity profile] mistressrenet.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww. And how much do I love Sanzo? 'Don't ask me. Feeding them a lot seems to work.'

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks so much. That's my favourite line!

(no subject)

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com - 2005-11-15 16:07 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] tochira.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
omg fabulous. Ouch and lovely and oh how I adore Gojyo (and yes, Sanzo too. Food always works!)

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it.

[identity profile] nekonexus.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
oh... oh... that's bittersweet and wonderful and so... yes, it would be like that and Gojyo would make such a good daddy (pigtails in his hair and all) and Hakkai... oh dammit Hakkai... you bend so slowly, always afraid of breaking still.

wow. So short and so brilliant. It doesn't need to be more. Well done.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 04:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so pleased you liked it, thank you! It's been sitting at the back of my mind ever since we talked about what might have happened with Kougaiji and Hyakugan Maoh's castle, so thanks. *hugs*

And yes, she'd put Gojyo's hair into pigtials, after Hakkai taught her how.

(no subject)

[identity profile] nekonexus.livejournal.com - 2005-11-30 17:41 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] trensaddiction.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Aw, that's lovely. The image of Gojyo playing mother-hen, and getting parenting advice from Sanzo of all people is simply too cute for words. And I liked the progression of Hakkai's behavior from totally self-centered anguish to tentative acceptance. You get the feeling he'll start being comfortable with her presence in his life about the time she leaves for kindergarten, but the gradual and cautious love is there. =) Sweet.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! I'm glad that came across -I don't think Hakkaiw ould have an easy time loving her. Kindergarten sounds about right as a timescale. ;)

[identity profile] daegaer.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
It's so sweet! Poor, poor Hakkai - I'm glad Gojyo could help him thourgh it, and that he could realise what he was doing to all three of them.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 12:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you! They're such a family unit.

[identity profile] lisa-bee.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I expected everyone to comment on this section, because it totally blew me away:

'Like me. Is that what you see too, when you look at me?'

Hakkai gaped.

'No,' he whispered. His fingers were cold and trembling as he slid them along Gojyo's jaw, into his hair. Gojyo closed his eyes. 'Never. I didn't mean that.'



And Sanzo's advice, as scary as it is for him to be giving parenting advice, is strangely touching: he does care, even if he's crap at expressing it and mostly goes with the "Push hard and they'll get the idea" school of thought.

Ouch. Damn, this is good.

*bookmarks*

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 12:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm *so* glad you liked that bit - it was my favourite part to write asnd I kept going back and wibbling over how it made me feel. I think Sanzo cares very deeply. He's a deeply moral person when it comes to things like responsibility and duty, even if he hides it well.

[identity profile] wildelamassu.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
The tentative sweetness here is just lovely.

Am I the only one thinking "Sutracaptor?" /dork

[identity profile] lyo.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
No, no you're not.

(no subject)

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com - 2005-11-16 12:19 (UTC) - Expand

[identity profile] kintail.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Beautiful. I had seen discussions before about Hakkai's love for children, and speculation that if Kanan had lived he would have accepted and raised her child, but nothing that explored it from this angle: if the child had survived and Kanan didn't.

Yes he would come to love the child and not blame her for what happened before her birth, but it would be a long and difficult process to be able to be someone who is able to love when faced with the blatent reminder of all that she must remind him of, about his failure and what he became. You illustrate that so well.

The comic relief of Sanzo's lines is just stinging enough -- funny, but also the right kind of sharp and sudden ouch to cast light on the slow old aching ouch that is being stirred up but held in by Hakkai.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm *so* glad you picked up on those things and that they all came through well in the story. You put it so well - Sakura is a living reminder of everything Hakkai has done and what he became, but also of the people he loves.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!
stormcloude: peace (gxh sleepysexy)

[personal profile] stormcloude 2005-11-14 09:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Sad and miserable and hopeful all in one. Very nice.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks very much indeed!

[identity profile] sffan.livejournal.com 2005-11-14 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Awwwww. This is great.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you!

[identity profile] emungere.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Beautiful. ♥

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:37 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so pleased you think so! *hugs*

[identity profile] cicer.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 06:26 am (UTC)(link)
Oh God.

Oh God.

That just...killed. Damn. So beautiful and painful. Ow.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm *so* pleased you think so! Thanks so much.

[identity profile] tadity.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow. That was really inspired. Fabulous work.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you *very* much indeed!

[identity profile] thefacelessevil.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh man, that was... very beautiful. Thank you so much.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank *you*. I'm really happy you thought so.

[identity profile] joshua-glass.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 02:56 pm (UTC)(link)
There are... no words...

But if there were, it'd be perfect.

From Gojyo's connection with children, to Sanzo's obscure parenting skills, to Hakkai's reluctance to love... all so perfect.

<333 Kudos to you.

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow - thank you *so* much!

[identity profile] mitagwazhe.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
wow....I can not tell you how awesome this story is! What a great idea!

Oh god, I just wanted to reach out, grab Hakkai, hug him and tell him how much I love him and it'd be okay.

Your Sanzo was so perfect.

WEE! Gojyo is waaay too cute for me to handle.

I have to give you a lot of credit because your story caused emotions in me, and that's what good stories do. This is fabulous! Beautiful!!

I love Hakkai!

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm really pleased it gave you that reaction! Thanks very much.

[identity profile] mainekosama.livejournal.com 2005-11-15 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
That was wonderful! I love how you presented Hakkai's emotions and reactions to the child. Oh, and of course, no one can top Sanzo's parenting tips ;-).

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! Sanzo has his own very unique parenting methods, aka, the paper fan. I'm really pleased that you liked this - thanks very much.

[identity profile] avenger-pudding.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
Lovely... really. The image Gojyo as a parent makes me feel all fuzzy and warm inside :) Hakkai's reactions were just very accurate. Congrats!

«This came from the suspicion that Kanan might pop back up at some point in the manga.»
I'm so happy to know that I'm not alone in this!!! :))) I'm getting the feeling she's gonna make some sort of appearance sometime soon too.

I don't know what made you think that, but I've been wondering about it since Hazel said something like «Haven't you ever had this thought once? "What will happen if this person came back to life"?»... they never DID find her body...

Oh, and another thing, I got my hands on the latest issue of ZeroSum, and though I can't read Japanese, I could understand that Gojyo and Hakkai had a talk about Kanan again. I could recognize «daughter» and «uncle Gojyo» floating around in the dialogue. Maybe we both got the right impression?

[identity profile] louiselux.livejournal.com 2005-11-16 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks very much indeed - glad you liked it!

Aha - let me direct you to [livejournal.com profile] radiofreebanri. Friend them and they will friend you back and then you'll be able to see a rough translation of that Zero sum issue. They do indeed talk about kids-- it's really quite sad and upsetting. Makes me want to squish Hakkai in an enormous hug or, better, have Gojyo do it. Be nice to Banri and say thank you, and he'll post more.

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