Saiyuki poll

[louiselux]

Saiyuki people, it's time for a poll:

So, emungere and I have been pondering these important questions about Sanzo and Hakkai.

[Poll #646083]

Do feel free to elaborate with comments.

Comments

[wildelamassu.livejournal.com]

Responding to some of the comments above, if anyone could actually be the bitch in the Gojyo/Hakkai relationship, I'd put my money on Gojyo. While Hakkai depends on him for many, many things, he isn't dependent on him; he's the most solipsistic of the bunch (and angsts about it). Gojyo, on the other hand, has deep-seated abandonment issues--and he's a giver by nature. Look at all the examples from canon where he's sidetracked helping children, or that most telling incident, the gift he would have given his mother. Though Hakkai is an Overwhelmingly Competent Caregiver, one understands from his background and continuing Issues that he is and was a fundamentally hubristic, selfish person (Kanan much?). It is Gojyo, in all his insecurities, his openness, who is entirely likely to be the dependent one, no matter what it looks like when he sleeps with the waitresses. Hell, Hakkai doesn't even have to speak to manipulate him--Gojyo stopped smoking during the convalescence, and he's always getting conned into grocery duty. Kenren cleaning Tenpou's office also comes to mind. (Remember that gorgeous 'Hakkai leaves' story (http://www.livejournal.com/users/runefallstar/60203.html) by runefallstar? It really fits this discussion, IMHO.)

I think Sanzo's love, like Sanzo's respect, is something that must be earned with much time, heel-digging, and scoffing. He isn't the type to admit things, but he also isn't the type to live in absolute denial--he acknowledges things, at least to himself, them when they become unignorable (e.g. attachment v. non-attachment).

Besides, we've seen his capacity to melt (sleeping chibi Goku will do that to you), albeit kicking and screaming all the way. He's such a cat--all gruffness and affection.

[cicer.livejournal.com]

Though Hakkai is an Overwhelmingly Competent Caregiver, one understands from his background and continuing Issues that he is and was a fundamentally hubristic, selfish person (Kanan much?). It is Gojyo, in all his insecurities, his openness, who is entirely likely to be the dependent one, no matter what it looks like when he sleeps with the waitresses.

I completely agree with this assessment, and you said it much better than I did. At several points in the series, I am stuck with how arrogant and absolutely selfish Hakkai can be. He is not a selfless or altruistic person in the least. Even going after Kanan was, in a way, selfishly motivated.

Gojyo, I think, has bigger issues with not feeling deserving or worthy of attention or kindness, and I'm sure most of this traces back to his mother. He's desperately looking for someone to love him, but not really expecting that anyone will. He is a kind person by nature, too, and I don't the he has the capacity to be cruel. At several points in the series it becomes obvious that he gets squeamish harming other people, whether it's women or children, or just someone he feels so for. By contrast, when Hakkai or Sanzo are in a similar situation, they don't hesitate to kill or hurt, doing what they feel needs to be done. Gojyo doesn't have the same capacity.