It's Not Always About Love...Is it? by zan
Index
Chapter 1: Meetings
Chapter 2: On the Road Again
Chapter 3: Inn
Chapter 4: Journey's End
Meetings
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She sighed. I am here now she
thought. Little more than a village, little less than a town. This was where
the trail led. Slightly unsure now how to proceed that she was here. Her
stomach rumbled. First things first. Breakfast. Good place to be hungry then.
The marketplace. She looked around for something she could spend her meagre
funds on. Then she saw them…red apples. Colour so deep that she was reminded
of…bet they were tasty she thought. Crisp and juicy. She just loved apples. She
was tantalized she could even smell them. She looked into her purse, no later
perhaps.
“Aahh! Excuse me, would you like one of
these?” a man, she couldn’t quite guess his age. She looked up to his face and
suddenly she was drowning. She had to gasp for air.
It was only seconds that she had lost
herself. He was gently holding her. “Are you alright?” he asked.
She apologized. She explained that she had
travelled a bit of a way to get here, and had not had any breakfast. It was the
truth. He smiled at that, his eyes twinkling, he could sympathize with that.
She suddenly realized that he had offered her one of those delectable fruit.
Indignant she said she was not a charity case.
“Maa, maa no offense intended”
He explained that he had bought extra, as
it was cheaper to do so and really he didn’t need so many. So she took one,
thanked him and declared that she didn’t normally talk to strangers much less
accept food from them. But she reckoned as she said to him, that it was still
daylight and that the bogeyman didn’t come out till after dark. Again that
twinkling smile and a tinkling lighthearted laugh. Something about him was
familiar.
“Let me introduce myself. Hakkai. Cho
Hakkai at your service” he said with a little bow. “We’re not strangers anymore
now.”
“Mei. Xia Mei Hou” she introduced herself.
“I just arrived here, and I’m looking for a friend.”
She was grateful for the snack, and said
order of the day was to look for lodgings and perhaps some kind of work. Mei
found it easy to talk to him even if they had just met. She told him that she
had left home (with the blessings of her parents) a week ago, just after her
eighteenth birthday. To start her search for her friend. She was a sensible
person, had promised to look after herself and would write home every two weeks
or so. Her parents were not overly worried they trusted her. But time was
moving along and she had better get on with her tasks. She was glad to have
made a friend she said to him, as they took leave of each other and hoped she
would bump into him again.
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Hakkai still had a couple of students left
to teach that day, before going home. He suddenly felt a little foolish as he
had neglected to ask the girl the name of her friend. He could have helped her.
She seemed a charming person and determined too. The thing that struck him as
odd, were his actions. He did not normally go out of his way, himself to talk
to strangers (especially women). It was not that he was afraid of them, either.
Just a little wary he supposed. But there he was offering food, and just
talking to her like he knew her. Something about her tugged at his mind so
perhaps he did from some when. He thought no more of it as he went on with his
errands.
He would tell Gojyo about her when he got
home. He smiled at the thought of his housemate. They were more than that but
the word that would or could describe their ‘something’ had not been found yet.
Since their first meeting, their second, through living together and having
been through hell and back again (several times over)on their westward journey.
Arriving back to their humble shack, the relief he had felt, that they both did
when they walked through the door. Never mind that it smelt dank, that it was
damp and musty. It did not matter that there was dust and cobwebs everywhere.
They were home, and Hakkai knew then that it would not be home if he did not
have Gojyo by his side. To hold onto, to lean on and to support.
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Mei had managed to find work at a pottery
store shop front. She helped with the sales and book-keeping, as the
proprietors worked the kiln out back. She organized the place a little as well.
The Lees were decent folk and provided room and board as well. It was not much
but the situation suited her just fine. It had now been two weeks since she
arrived. Still she had not made a start on her search. She was a little
apprehensive.
It had been ten years after all. When they
parted ways the first time she was just grateful to be reunited with her
parents, and they had gone back to their lives. In the interim she had grown
up. Had not even given him that much thought. Well not until she found
the necklace again. It was not anything expensive, just something a father bought
for his little girl. A little crystal pendant which caught the light and
separated it into rainbows. She was reminded of him…strong, funny and
chivalrous in a roguish way. That was a year and a half ago. But she still
found herself thinking of him every now and again, so when she turned eighteen,
she asked her parents leave to go find him. She reasoned that she was only
eighteen to his thirty or so years, so all she was doing was satisfying her
curiosity. No doubt he would be surprised if he remembered at all. But then she
could get on with her life then and not wonder what if. She would really hate
that. Really.
She could start with the Lees, they may
know of him. Or that nice (good looking) gentleman, Hakkai he said his name
was. Well she would ask about them both. If she ran into him again she would
ask for his help. She smiled at that, asking nice men was what brought her here
in the first place. At the time though she was not thinking too clearly. She
was frantic, almost sick with worry for her parents and only eight years old.
Anyhow, she thought to ask Mrs. Lee about Hakkai first.
She didn’t even have to describe Hakkai as
Mrs. Lee knew him. A couple of her friends’ children had him for a tutor. Mei
was told that he could be found in the marketplace at Tuesday lunchtimes. Mrs.
Lee also mentioned that if Mei was unlucky she would bump into Hakkai with his
housemate. And she wondered at Mrs. Lee’s reaction.
So Tuesday came, and she was curious as to the
butterflies in her stomach. She had even taken extra care with her hair,
literally her crowning glory. She usually wore in pigtails or a single thick
braid. Today though she brushed it out and pinned it to either side with a pair
of tortoiseshell slides that her mother had given her for her birthday. Her
employer gave her a cheerful wave and a wink as Mei set off for the market.
She wound her way round the marketplace.
Then she spotted him. Them. She saw Hakkai first and noticed he was not alone.
Under the shades of the stalls she could not discern him, except that he was
taller than Hakkai, with longer hair and more angular that the slim built
brunette. Hakkai had seen her and waved her over to join them. So she made her
way toward them. As she moved toward them her breath caught. The hair, it was that
colour. She hesitated. The way he stood with one hand in his pocket. That easy
air. There was no mistake. She took a deep breath.
Hakkai was about to introduce him to her,
when she pre-empted him and bowed her head “Sha Gojyo — pleased to meet you.
Again.” They both stared at her surprised.
“Do I know you Miss?” Gojyo managed to say
at last.
“You said you would know me by this” she
handed her necklace over to him. His hand touched hers briefly, warm and
slightly rough. Wordlessly he took it from her and held it up to the light,
scrutinized her face but before he could say anything.
“I know, you said you would look for me in
ten years. Well I came just in case you forgot” She could not look at him. Now
what.
“Well it’s lunchtime now, so lets eat first.
Yes.” Hakkai saved them both.
Hakkai went off to get them all something
to eat. Gojyo and Mei sat down and waited. She stole quick glances at him. He
looked very much the same as then. Perhaps a little older. She decided that he
was still handsome and yes still nice. Hakkai came back with noodles for all of
them. They sat eating their lunch. She broke the ice a little by saying that if
she had known that his famous housemate was the person she was looking
for, she would have saved herself a lot of trouble. Gojyo laughed at that. He
said he did not know whether or not to be offended. Mei explained that Mrs. Lee
was none too kind when she spoke of him and would do well to not keep such
company. Then she mimicked Mrs. Lee good naturedly, “now that Cho-sensei
however” They all laughed.
“Well since it appears to be some sort of
reunion today,” Hakkai said,” Mei would you please be so kind as to have dinner
with us tonight?”
“Um. Okay. I don’t know where you live
though”
“It’s okay, we’ll escort you, it’s a bit of
a walk”
“Right then. The shop closes at five; you
can come for me round a bout five thirty. Mrs. Lee’s Pottery”.
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Well when Hakkai had told him about making
a new friend in the market a couple of weeks ago. He had no idea. He had teased
Hakkai about picking up girls with offers of fruit. Gojyo had also teased him
because Hakkai did not really talk to girls much. Not for lack of offers though.
Gojyo knew that he was part of the reason, but with Hakkai he felt too
presumptions as to think that he were the only reason. Hakkai had an
army of hellish memories that Gojyo hoped one day would only be a dull ache in
his head, and not reside in his heart and gut.
He remembered saving Mei’s parents (among
others) from a demon determined to make meals out of them. He remembered her as
being a determined little girl. It had been one of their better moments on the
way west. A welcome distraction, as it followed close on the heels of their
meeting with Chin Issou. Their nerves were still rankled by that at the time
and it allowed them to pull together. All four of them. It was worth the weeks
of teasing Gojyo had to endure. Anything to get Hakkai to smile or laugh in
those days was worth it. Even if a lot of the time his smiles were a façade.
Gojyo sighed, after all this time the smiles Hakkai wore still could have the
various permutations in their meaning, but was glad that more often than not it
was the true-smile-which-touched-the-eyes-and-make-your-heart-burst kind.
Now Mei Hou was coming to dinner. Gojyo
actually did remember telling her to her to keep her necklace. She was going to
give to him as payment for helping her, but he couldn’t possibly take it from
her. So he said that he would look for her in ten years and would recognise her
by it. It was just that he did not think that she would have remembered. Well
she was still a determined little girl. Alright strike that…young lady. He
would not however compare her to any of the women he flirted with at the bars
and gambling dens he frequented. But definitely not a little girl. Yeah she had
filled out nicely, and that long dark midnight blue almost black hair. Different from the dark chocolate mass with
the clean shampoo smell which stopped at the nape of the neck that he so loved.
A delectable spot indeed.
So now she was coming to dinner. She was
new in town, so it would be nice for her to have friends. So she just came to
look them up and say “Hi!” and she was just coming to dinner. Simple as that.
He had helped Hakkai carry the groceries.
He also decided that he would help tidy the place up a bit too. This was a rare
occurrence indeed. So much so that in fits of laughter, Hakkai said that having
a guest for dinner midweek was definitely worth it. After his shower Gojyo
volunteered to fetch their guest as Hakkai was cooking for them all. He
mentioned to Hakkai that he would get her flowers too. Girls like that sort of
thing, right? He reckoned it was only a small gesture, and it was only just
that.
“That would be nice” Hakkai said
quizzically arching delicate eyebrows over his glasses. Gojyo had never gotten
anyone (women or otherwise) flowers. Not since his mother. Perhaps after all
this time he was letting go of some of the things that he should.
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“Ah Mei! You have company!” she could hear
Mrs Lee call to her room up the stairs. She’d just managed to change into a
comfortable set of matching light blue slacks and blouse. She wore her hair
loose. She could almost hear Mrs Lee’s eyes rolling heavenward when she saw it
was Gojyo who stood waiting at the foot of the stairs.
“You clean up nice” she commented to him.
He had on a black tank and a loose crisp
white shirt over it. You could just make out the muscles underneath the cool
cotton. The black top just skimmed the waist of his light grey jeans, which
fitted him well enough to show off his lanky legs to good effect. His hair had
that just washed sheen. In the twilight and faint breeze moved as if it were a
layer of living crimson silk, tucked behind the right ear and draped over the
left side of his face. Framing it just so.
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And they set off. Gojyo thoughtfully
shortened his stride for the shorter girl. They passed the time in quiet
chatter. Mei told him about growing up, her life with her parents in a rural
village and her decision to come here. She told him she was fortunate enough to
have had the opportunity to learn to read and learn numbers from a friend of
her father’s. He in turn told her of his life, the travels he took with his companions
and having a home with Hakkai. It seemed to her that there didn’t seem to be
much in the way of life before Hakkai.
Soon they were at the door, and she could
smell the delicious aroma of Hakkai’s cooking. She had to smile at Hakkai; he
had an apron on and looked quite endearing. Mei handed her gift of sake over to
him. For after dinner she said, one bottle between three people was not going
to harm anyone.
Dinner was a pleasant affair. Light talk
and humour. Hakkai was impressed with Gojyo’s restraint on his usually more
colourful language and his penchant for conversation littered with innuendo.
Hakkai thought that the girl was quite disarming and sweet not saccharine. That
Mei was getting on quite well with Gojyo who…was not flirting. That was worthy
of note, maybe he was not well but Hakkai did not say anything.
Meanwhile, Mei observed the two men. They
seemed to move in concert. It was like they could anticipate the other’s
movement and even speech. She supposed they had been together now for over a
decade. She enjoyed their company and they had made her feel welcome. That it
was nice she had made some friends anew.
Dinner was done with and Gojyo had excused
himself to have a smoke. And in spite of protests from Hakkai, Mei managed to cajole
him into letting her help with the washing up. He could dry and put away the
dishes if he liked.
“So why are you really here?” Hakkai’s
question came out from nowhere.
“I’m not sure.” She had given it some
thought and could not come up with any plausible reason other than just to see
Gojyo again. “I’m not sorry I am here now though.” Perhaps it was his kindness
towards a frightened little girl and she just wanted a chance to thank him
again, by being his friend.
“Yes he is kind” Hakkai said remembering
the man who would bring home a stranger no questions asked (twice).
“There is something about him” Mei said
softly.
“Yes there definitely is” Hakkai agreed
with a ghost of a smile just touching his eyes.
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So Mei settled more into life in the town.
Also it became a regular occurrence, having dinner with Hakkai and Gojyo. She
was soon re-introduced to Sanzo and Goku. Who, she remembered meeting very
briefly all those years ago. She also made other friends too. She was the
subject of much speculation she knew, even among her own girlfriends. She was
viewed with awe, suspicion, and more than a touch of envy. Gojyo and Hakkai
were good looking young men (she knew that the red head was a half youkai, and
the other was full youkai) and still considered eligible even if most women had
given up the ghost of the idea…Come on, two guys living with each other and not
chasing skirt. That’s invitation for rumour mongering for sure. But it did not
bother the two in question any in the least. Most people had a lot of respect
for what Hakkai did with the children he taught. He was a fine teacher patient,
understanding and seemed to be able to get to the root of a problem with a
child without stressing them too much. He also assisted at the clinic as healer
when he was able too. Gojyo had taken over as odd jobs man from Hakkai as
tutoring and healing became more his work. Most people were fine with them even
if they did speculate.
There was always someone would walk her
back to the Lees, when she came to dinner. She really didn’t mind as they had
decided to have these sojourns during the weekend. A Friday or Saturday night.
But perhaps it was not proper or whatever. Sometimes it would be Hakkai, other
times it was Gojyo. She took these moments as rare occasions to talk to each on
their own. There were some things she could talk to one about that she could
not the other. She often discussed literature with Hakkai; they seemed to have
that in common and once when Gojyo had fallen asleep (from drinking too much)
she and Hakkai had sat leaning against each other reading into the dawn. She
had even ventured so far as to ask Hakkai why he didn’t have any friends that
were female…you know even just as …friends. Hurts to let go his
whispered thought had been heard unknowing. On the other hand Mei discussed
life and relationships with the redhead. He always seemed so knowledgeable
about those…although she did wonder how he could know having never had any
beyond the pale light of day. She did concede that he did know quite a bit
about life…and she never tired from listening to his philosophy on life or his
stories. Some nights she went home because on those rare occasions it would be
Sanzo and Goku taking up space on the couch leaning into each other. The story
was that Goku could not hold his drink, but she guessed it was to prolong
whatever private time those two had outside of life at the temple. She knew
that Sanzo still went on whatever errands the temple or whatever powers that be
sent him on, and where Sanzo went Goku was there right next to him.
Sanzo, Goku, Hakkai and Gojyo made up an
odd sort of family. Mei liked Goku as he made her laugh with his antics. Sanzo
was…well Sanzo she supposed. Sanzo would have to know her a lot longer before
he let his guard down around her. As it was even within the circle of four, Mei
noticed that a kind of relaxed aloofness existed between the three older men even
if they did trust each other with their own lives. It was only Goku who could
take liberties with Sanzo. Still notwithstanding the famous white fan would
make an appearance. The day she got hit with it, she would be able to consider
herself part of this odd but unique family. This included Hakuryu. He was
Hakkai’s pet. He did not take to strangers well, but after deeming her someone
who did not mean his master any harm, he let Mei stroke him when she came round
to visit. As their story unfolded the longer she knew them, she understood them
to be orphans in one way or another. Perhaps this was one of the threads on a
skein which bound them together. With some strength. She was a long ways yet
from knowing the full story, but she guessed it may be that perhaps she did not
really need to know everything. It was fine for them to still have that air of
mystery about them and the sheen of secrets.
Soon it was already a year that Mei had
lived in town, with the Lees. They were happy with the arrangement and were
even quite fond of her. They did not have any children of their own, and looked
on Mei as a sort of daughter. She still wrote to her parents, who could sleep
easy at night that their daughter was well. And the seasons went by, and the
passage of time marched on seemingly un-noticed. And a year became two.
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Author’s notes: Hakkai is now wearing
glasses. It has been ten years. A change in eyewear was due.
I can’t actually
remember the age of little Mei Hou in Ep. 14 of the first series
of
Gensoumaden Saiyuki
titled “Sweet Client”. So I made her eight years old.
I
hope that people actually think this is an ok story with some sort of
discernible plot.
If not…I do
apologise…and humbly too for any who feel we are entering OOC-ness.
Once again comments
are welcome and always I am learning. Thank you.
On The Road Again
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It was now mid autumn. The beautiful colours of the season
never failed to entrance Mei. She would soon be twenty. She had gone home twice
over the time since she had come to live and work here. In fact her last visit
was only three months ago. It was good to be home with mother and father. They
never questioned her decision to leave home. As long as she was happy and safe
they were fine with any decisions she made for herself. The only thing she did
not like was the traveling. It really took a lot out of her. Four or five days,
it took by bus. Well buses. It was kind of like gambling as you were never sure
if you could get the next connection in time. So yes it was really tiring. Mei
and her parents relied mainly on the post to keep in touch. So it was a little
odd to receive the letter when she’d only got one three days ago. It was not
good news. Her father had had a bad fall compounded with the fact that he had
taken ill with fever too. Mei knew she had to go home.
She informed Mrs Lee, who insisted that it was alright for
her to go. Mei was even given a little money towards her oncoming journey and
extra for any medical help she would need to pay for once she got home. Mrs Lee
was unrelenting when Mei said that it was too much. So finally she accepted it
with good grace. She packed some things and decided that she had to tell her
two best friends. She could not go without saying goodbye. The letter sounded
serious and in any case she did not want her mother to have to cope with this
by herself.
So she rushed over to Hakkai’s and Gojyo’s. She was flushed
and panicked (cursing for the first time the fact that they lived so far away
from town). Add to that the worry about her father and feeling sad at having to
say goodbye. She was on the verge of tears when she arrived at the house. So
when Gojyo answered the door, Mei could not help herself, but just flung
herself at him and broke down in sobs.
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Now Gojyo cannot stand the tears of anyone. Unsure of
himself, he just put his arms around her and just held her till her crying
subsided.
“’M’ sorry,” she sniffed. She was about to launch into her
explanation, when tears threatened again, so she just held out her mother’s
letter to him and sat down on the front doorstep.
“So when are you going?”
“I have to get back soon as there is a bus leaving town this
evening”
“You can’t go without saying ‘bye to Hakkai”
“You’ll have to tell him for me” she was beginning to panic
again; she had already wasted too much time coming here. “I can’t stop long”.
“Yes you can. You wait here till he gets back and then we’ll
see what we can do eh!”
She could not understand what he was trying to tell her. She
had a bus to catch, and Gojyo wanted her to wait.
“Hakuryu silly!” he laughed at her. Not unkindly though,
just trying to lighten her spirits a little. She still looked uncomprehendingly
at him. He explained gently, “I will ask Hakkai if we can take you in Hakuryu”.
Mei had been told of the amazing shape-shifting little
dragonet, but had never seen him ‘in action’ as it were. She was very uncertain
about the whole idea and was really impatient to go, but it would be nice as
she did not relish the idea of battling the buses again so soon. So she allowed
herself to be ushered into the kitchen, and pushed into a chair. As she sat,
Gojyo set about boiling water for tea. When the drinks were ready he handed a
cup of tea to her and with a mug of coffee for himself he pulled up a chair
opposite her. As they waited, he told her that Hakuryu was quite possessive
about Hakkai, and that he even had the sneaky suspicion that sometimes it was
Hakuryu who was master over Hakkai. Gojyo whispered conspiratorially to Mei
that he was certain that the dragon did not like him and only suffered his
presence because of his friendship with Hakkai. Hakuryu was out catching rats
or something at this time of the day, but Gojyo said you still had to be
careful what you said about him, or the little dragon might nip at you or burn
you with a flame! She had to laugh he was so comically serious about it. He
smiled at that. Much better he thought.
The shadows were long by the time Hakkai got home and as
soon as he saw Mei sat in the kitchen with Gojyo he knew that something was
amiss.
“What’s wrong?”
“My father is ill and I need to go to him” she blurted out.
“And I said that you…er…I …or we…could take her!” Gojyo said
as if it were so wrong to suggest such a thing.
“But of course! We will go together” Hakkai giving them one
of his lovely smiles. Thinking it was just like Gojyo to step in and volunteer.
This was one instance however that it really was the right thing to do.
Although in Gojyo’s head whenever he stepped into situations to help…it was
always right even if it did get him and Hakkai along with him into trouble. He
sighed. Such was the nature of the man and Hakkai would not have any other way.
“I have to make some stops in town first to explain a leave
of absence” he said “after we have packed.”
Mei was ready to start crying again from relief though this
time, but.
“Just please don’t cry” Gojyo pleaded “there’s no reason to
now is there?”
She sniffed and rubbed at her eyes “okay” she said smiling
as she looked up.
“So you just sit here and finish your tea young lady while
we get our things together,” Hakkai stood there waving his index finger at her
with eyebrows arched over his glasses. This elicited a giggle from the girl.
“That’s much better” Gojyo quipped.
“And you” Hakkai snapped pointing at the other man “no
dawdling. Pack now. Hakuryu! Please as to be so kind as to transform”. He marshalled them all into action. Hakuryu, who was already home
by now, took himself outside and complied. As the flurry of activity buzzed
around her she drank her tea and took the time to calm herself.
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It was dusk before they actually set off. Hakkai had asked
if Mei wanted to wait till the morning, or at least have dinner first. But Mei
declined saying they could take something to eat along the way. She just really
wanted to be on their way.
“Don’t worry Mei! Eh, Hakkai it’ll just be like the good ol’
days.” Gojyo was sat in the back. “This feels really like a school trip…at
least we won’t have to battle any mad youkai assassins, and no Saru or corrupt
priest to annoy me either.”
“Ahahaha!” was all the answer he got from the driver’s seat.
They drove off in silence. They made a few stops around town
as Hakkai said he had to. By his reckoning they would arrive at Mei’s home by
the third night. The roads were much better than they were ten years ago. For
Gojyo it was good to be on the open road again with the wind blowing on his
face and whipping up his hair behind him. He put a hand on Hakkai’s shoulder
and gave it reassuring squeeze and long slim fingers closed over it briefly
before he let go. As Hakkai adjusted the wing mirror he caught Gojyo’s eyes and
gave him a quiet smile.
They were making good progress and Hakkai had now been
driving for four hours straight. So it was time to stop really, he needed the
rest. He had found a river nearby with a picnic area to stop by. Deserted at
this time of the night, it was a good place as any. They had a small dinner
which Mei had help pack, and then settled to sleep for the night. In the back
of jeep Hakkai laid a mat and sheet for Mei to sleep on. He also gave her a
little coverlet for a blanket. He said he was fine sleeping up front with
Gojyo.
Mei was about to protest as he needed to stretch his legs
more than her, but decided against it when she caught a ‘polite’ look from him
which would brook no argument. She hadn’t realized how exhausted she was
herself; wrung out from being in an emotional washing machine. Soon she was
lulled into a dreamless sleep by the hushed tones of quiet conversation from
the front.
She was first to awake and morning’s first rays had yet to
break the horizon. In the dawn’s still dark she could see the two figures
slumped together. Hakkai’s slim form leant into Gojyo’s angular frame. Gojyo’s
left arm supporting Hakkai’s head and neck. And even their breathing, the
steady rising and falling of their chests seemed to be in some sort of harmony.
She climbed out the back trying not to disturb the sleeping pair. They made
slumber in a cramped space look comfortable. In the dim light she could just
make out their faces. It was reassuring to see that Gojyo still had the faint
remnants of a smirk just touching the corners of his mouth. A sharp contrast to
Hakkai’s delicate features, calm in its serenity. Mei noticed the intertwined
fingers of clasped hands on Hakkai’s lap. Suddenly she felt an intruder
although she was glad for this rare glimpse into another aspect of who these
two men were. And she left them to their moment.
She went off to the river side, to freshen up. She wiped her
face with a little washcloth and then she run wet fingers through her hair. She
stretched trying to take the kinks out of last nights sleep. She then settled
herself on a seat with a comb and began to card it through her hair.
“You have beautiful hair” Mei jumped a little as Hakkai’s
voice broke into her thoughts. She was halfway through braiding it into a
single thick plait. She silently finished and tied it off with a length of
black cord.
“I knew someone once along time ago with hair as thick and
as long as yours. Different colour though” he continued wistfully. It did not
hurt so much now to remember. He would always remember, but maybe he had come
to believe that time would heal all wounds. Eventually. Perhaps. Hakkai shook
his head as if to clear his thoughts.
“Well I’ll make coffee first and if you can wait we can get
breakfast in a village near here” he suggested.
“Did you sleep alright Mei?” asked Gojyo who had by now
sauntered over sleepily.
“Yes thank you for letting me sleep in the back”
“Don’t mention it” Gojyo just waved her off.
Gojyo joined Mei where she was sat just watching Hakkai
expertly do everything. She looked round to him and smiled.
“You just let him do all this stuff huh?”
“Nah! He just thinks I’m incompetent. ’Sides he enjoys all
this mother hen stuff. It’s a habit he picked up from way before, and you know
old habits die hard.”
“You know you guys have really been kind and you didn’t have
to do all this for me you know” Mei started to say.
“That’s okay. S’what friends are for” Gojyo cut in before
she could say anymore, handed her a hot mug of coffee.
“This way we get to know that you have arrived safely and
perhaps we may even be able to offer some help” Hakkai added.
“See! There you go. The master has spoken” Gojyo was stood
up now bowing low as his right hand acknowledged Hakkai.
Mei looked at the both of them for a minute and had to
laugh. “You guys are just too funny” she commented.
They arrived at the village two hours later, where after a
quick breakfast and with something to take away for lunch; they were on the
road again. Hakkai said he was alright to drive on straight through till lunch.
Ignoring jibes from the lanky one about being a hero and wearing himself out. They
both knew that Hakkai had driven himself (literally and figuratively) over the
edge in conditions far worse than a nice cool autumn day. As Hakkai had said
that they would arrive at Mei’s home the evening after that, he had planned to
stop off at an inn for the night. On the maps he had there should be one at
just the right place. And as good as his word they found themselves in the
reception area of a nice fairly sizable inn. It was well run and clean. They
had managed to get two rooms; one for Mei and another for Hakkai and Gojyo to
share.
The place was all a bustle and many of the rooms were taken
up. According to the innkeeper it was the Harvest Moon festival. Indeed the
place was festooned with lanterns. Big ones, small ones, in all sorts of shapes
and in every colour. There were vendors lining the streets selling more
lanterns, souvenirs and mooncakes. Mooncakes with egg yolk in them, some
without and filled with all types of sweet fillings. Red bean, yam, lotus seed
and ginkgo nut with regular pastry or the harder-to-make snow skin pastry
white, soft and delicate. The dulcet sounds of erhu and small drums filled the
air mingling with the aroma of the sugary delicacies. Hakkai suggested that
they get cleaned up and changed before having dinner. And then they could step
out and have a look at the festivities. He liked a good festival, and he loved
red bean mooncakes.
Mei was about to say no, as she couldn’t think of enjoying
the festival whilst her father was sick.
“Look, you’ll arrive home when you do. You can worry too.
But you can’t do much out here, so you may enjoy yourself a little. Besides it
is your birthday soon and we won’t get to celebrate it with you, so now is as
good a time as any!” Gojyo stopped to take a breath.
Mei looked from one to the other of the men. Hakkai had a
small smile on his face with eyes that said; He’s right you know. After
a moment’s hesitation she smiled at them both,
“Alright I will see you both downstairs for dinner then”
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Later on Mei Hou was glad to have come out. It was nice, and
she was happy in their company. The night rang with the sound of laughing
children, vendors shouting their wares and the murmur of people coming and
going. The crowd seemed to be heading to the village centre where a fountain
stood. Curious they followed. A small raised platform with a colourful tent
over it on four poles with small lanterns adorning the plastic from pole to
pole. And music. It was foreign music. She wasn’t sure where the music was
from, but there were couples dancing to a tune with a quick beat. They had been
watching for some minutes when suddenly Gojyo made a grab for her wrist and
pulled her onto the dance floor. She was blushing and whispered embarrassed to
him “I don’t know how to dance.”
“It’s okay I don’t either. Just follow my lead and I promise
I won’t let you fall” Gojyo laughed, deep bells ringing and his eyes glowed
with merriment, as he twirled the poor girl round and round. Liar she
thought as they bobbed up and down the floor. Out of the corner of her eye, she
saw Hakkai. He had an odd look on his face. She thought no more of it as she
continued being pulled here and there into the fray.
And up and down the people go
Gazing where the lilies grow
…
Hear a song that echoes cheerly
From the river winding clearly
…
A magic web with colours gay
…
Or when the Moon was overhead
…
“I am half sick of shadows,” said
…
Out flew the web and broken wide
The mirror cracked from side to side
…
Mei slipped from Gojyo’s grasp and whirled round toward
Hakkai “Your turn,” she giggled as she made a grab for him. Her hand clasped
his long slim fingers. Although hesitant (at first) Hakkai was quite graceful.
The music had changed in tempo to a slow measured one. A waltz he had said. But
slow did not necessarily mean easier and she had to concentrate hard to follow
Hakkai’s lead. Ha had his other hand round her waist.
“You’re concentrating too hard. Relax a little” he
instructed her.
Soon the music and dancing came to an end and the crowd as
well as participants gave applause. Flushed Mei stepped down from the platform
looking for Gojyo with Hakkai half a step behind. She saw him heading towards
them through the press of people.
“Sorry. You were enjoying yourself so I went off to look
around for something” he said as he caught up with them.
“Time to go back I think” Hakkai said as he came up behind
them.
“Yes,” she agreed. She was getting worn out and the evening
too seemed to be coming to an end. Even the lanterns now looked tired and
dimmed. Together they made their way back in silence. When they got to the door,
Mei realized she had one arm linked with the brunette’s arm and the other hand
in the red head’s hand. Suddenly shy and uncertain, she pulled away blushing
furiously.
“Good night,” she could hardly breathe. She stood quiet for
a few seconds then turned to face them “Thank you for a lovely evening” before
making good her escape up to the sanctuary of her room.
The two men slightly amused, on the other hand just slowly
took the stairs to their rooms probably talking about the weather and Hakkai eating snow skin red bean mooncakes from a paper bag.
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Author’s notes:
[1] Mid autumn festival, or Harvest Moon festival, also
called the moon cake festival occurs on the 15th day of the 8th
month according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The date on a western calendar
varies from year to year, and can fall on anything between the last weeks in
August to the end of September.
[2] Poetry here is quoted from “The Lady of Shalot” by
Alfred Lord Tennyson. Read it if you can find it folks very angst-ridden and
romantic… I guess a few of you out there may like it if you haven’t already
read it.
[3] I hope there are people who like this even if it tends
towards the mundane and menial. As always I am learning. Thank you for reading.
Inn
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Mei was flustered. Confused. And did not need it. Not now anyway. Perhaps it was just as well that she was going home. Nothing like a bit of distance to get a clearer perspective on a thorny issue. Was there a problem though or was it all in her mind. She was going round in circles with this. Gojyo and Hakkai are her two best friends and yet…maybe she wanted more. Yes but which one? She knew she really wouldn’t be able to make a choice. Making a choice would also feel like putting one over the other. And with them, that was impossible to do. They were like very different halves of a whole. It struck her that it was like the two men had known each other all their lives.
She had slipped into easiness with Gojyo, even when they had met the first time. She was not intimidated by him. And over the last two years Hakkai and she had grown on each other. He was at first just polite with her. Nothing else, a kind of guarded-ness around her. She discovered later that he was quite protective over Gojyo. It was not that he couldn’t take care of himself. But Hakkai was suspicious of anyone who professed to be Gojyo’s friend because he was too friendly; not guarded enough. Perhaps the main reason was that they were not used to having a woman around. Well not like a friend, friend. She was not some girl at the bar that Gojyo would flirt with, she sighed. She was not some student of Hakkai’s, which he could have at arms length.
Ah…she was giddy now. Well really. Sleep first. She would be home by tomorrow evening and perhaps she wouldn’t have to think about it any more beyond tomorrow. Maybe she could put it all down to raging hormones, being surrounded by handsome men could do that to a girl. So thinking she got herself ready for bed.
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“You did look like you were enjoying yourselves.”
“I know. I was…I guess I’m surprised by that.”
“Why- should you be?”
“I don’t know really. It feels like forever and a day now since I have held a woman close like that.”
“Feels good doesn’t it?”
“How ‘bout yourself?” Hakkai ignored the question as he posed one himself “Don’t you miss it? There has only been ‘us’ for so long. You still flirt and give the ladies the eye. But sometimes I don’t know how much is real and how much is for appearances sake.”
“It’s always real ’Kai. I am a flirt. I love to do it. But there’s flirting, and then there’s flirting. I only flirt with you!” Gojyo gave his Cheshire cat smile.
“You don’t with Mei. You’re different with her…almost careful. Why?”
“Maybe her father has got a gun” he joked. He did not have any real answer. He never noticed it himself either.
Gojyo was stymied. She was attractive. There was no denying that. Maybe he was so used to the momentary bliss of lust satiated company and that he had never really bothered to get to know any of his…er…consorts. He was a coward in that respect. He just could not face them the next day. Just in case. Non-attachment comes in handy sometimes. Maybe he felt he didn’t want to know that he hadn’t been worth it. This way by skipping out on them, he would not find out that the women themselves did not feel anything for him. This way nobody got hurt…or none that he knew of anyway. To go beyond those expectations just complicated life. And Gojyo was a simple man. At least he liked to think so. Perhaps it was he wanted Mei’s friendship and treasured it a lot more than to throw it away in a night of pleasure. Take his relationship with the brunette, when he had found him and he saw that smile and something in him…in the back of his mind clicked into place. Like there he was presented with a chance to do someone else a favour, never mind that the guy had so obviously given himself over to the thought of death and resigned to dying. In a funny sort of way he thought by doing so his soul would be saved from whatever sins of the past. But then he came back. Back from the dead as Gonou; briefly. Back from the dead again as Hakkai. The man that was Hakkai now saw something worth returning to and then staying. Gojyo had always argued that it would definitely have been different if it had been someone else on the ground that night, although Hakkai is half certain that Gojyo would have brought anyone else home. And there he thought Gojyo would never have had to defend himself from the man he saved.
.
Meanwhile Hakkai had not thought about being with a woman for a long time. His life was with Gojyo now. He loved being with him, loved the aura of life about the man tinged with alcohol and cigarettes as it were. On their way west though sometimes he felt that he needed to remind himself what it was to feel a woman, moving under him. Their soft curves, breaths and sighs. He did indulge a few times as well. Rather more discreetly than Gojyo, and he liked to think the only person that did know was Sanzo. But he never said anything about it and as long as it did not interfere with the prime directive, the monk did not care. After all Hakkai was a sentient being with needs and urges. And Gojyo may have guessed but never said anything.
Much later when more and more they began to turn to each other. For balance, for hope and for nurture; when the bonds of friendship began its spillover with emotions and a hankering for what fools call love. The need began to slide into those spaces, so small you wouldn’t have guessed they were there at all. When they looked at the other and saw what lived in their souls beyond the windows of their eyes and saw honesty, more like trust and the feeling that you have come home at last. And that all was right with the world. But the road to that comfort called home was as rough and pot holed ridden as any on their quest.
And a lot of it had to do with what each man thought of as his worth. You see once upon a time there was a man called Sha Gojyo. He had been told so often (ever since childhood- if you want to call it that) he was a curse, a waste of space and such abuse as had been rained down on him that he would welcome death from one he loved. That he began to almost believe it himself. But he was wrong. Because no one can explain why Gojyo would bring home a dying stray and nurse it back to health, or try to explain why he wouldn’t give up a known murderer, or help a little girl find her parents, or even definite lost causes (who liked to call himself God) fallen by the wayside when all hell is breaking loose upon their heads. But still there were bad people out there who liked to reinforce such ignoble thoughts in poor Gojyo’s mind. And Hakkai was proved wrong when he thought he would ever raise a hand against his savior, his friend.
It happened early on when they were still finding their footing around each other. Hakkai was just new. Never mind footing around each other, Hakkai was grabbing at lifelines to keep him sane in this world. They would each separately think thoughts of conceding defeat, but neither could for any reason that either one could fathom. But there came a chance one day for Hakkai to step in and help his friend who had found himself in trouble. It had started to rain, and Hakkai had even left the house with a packed bag. But as has happened previously he couldn’t bring himself to leave. Although it was the first time that he had gone beyond the door. He reasoned that he could do so later; when he went back inside and exchanged the bag for a couple of umbrellas instead.
.
And like so often as had happened in the past, as each man lay on their respective beds alone with their thoughts; their minds cast back to that time…
They were almost home when Hakkai stopped and suddenly turned to his friend.
“Why on earth would you go off and do a damn fool thing like that for?” like he hadn’t already asked the question before.
“He’s a friend!”
“Some friend!” Hakkai fairly spat the word out. “You knew how it would turn out and you still went?”
“I guess I’m not worth much then, aren’t I?” Gojyo hissed back.
And Hakkai saw red. Not hair, nor eyes and not even blood this time. Just the red, coal-white heat of anger suffusing him and before he could rein himself in check he had the taller man on the ground. As he straddled Gojyo, Hakkai winded him with a punch to the stomach. They grappled for a while, neither gaining the upper hand. Hakkai readied himself for another blow to the cheek. As he swung his left fist in, Gojyo intercepted him. A right hand closed over his fist and held him. There above the face with the eyes of limpid liquid red. And they locked eyes; wills. And the universe expanded into an infinite vacuum where not even breath existed. And for a few moments they saw eternity. The past and pain, the blood and rain and through the murky depths of dread and doubt and saw salvation and they clung to it with faith bearing hope. And perhaps it was then that they heard it. The steps they could take. A measured beat, a connection of sorts, and a rhythm they could dance to. One so familiar that they wondered at it and both minds hinted at memories not quite theirs, but still felt real.
“Don’t you…EVER… say you’re worthless in my presence again!” Hakkai breathed softly at Gojyo as he slowly got off him.
And as they walked through the doorway newly fixed, even as Gojyo noticed Hakkai’s suitcase by the door, even as Gojyo picked it up and wordlessly put it by the bed which Hakkai occupied. Gojyo looked across to Hakkai. Stay. His eyes beseeched Hakkai’s very soul. With an imperceptible almost nod, Hakkai took his case and slowly, almost deliberately he began to unpack and put his things away. No more was said about the incident, then or ever.
.
Gojyo feeling unsettled, kicked off his covers, pulled his jeans on and with a catlike grace left the room.
.
Hakkai sat up and watched his room mate leave the room. He got off the bed walked towards the door and down the hallway and hesitated.
.
Mei woke up suddenly. Stifled she got up to open the window. As her hair was still in a braid, she decided that combing it out will calm her nerves somewhat. She was almost done when there was a knock at the door.
.
With some trepidation she walked to the door and slowly turned its handle. He stood there in the half light and shadows.
“Come in” she said in a voice barely a whisper.
He noticed what she had been doing. Silently he took her hand, led her back to the bed and seated her on its edge. He sat himself behind her and took her comb from her hand and began to tease it through the blue black midnight tresses.
Mei could feel her body hum with heat. A flush was creeping from her neck to her cheeks. She could feel the electricity from the static in her hair. And she needed to do something. The comb was making another journey down the length of locks, suddenly expectant she caught his hand and turned to face him. The comb slid from fingers caught. She bit her lower lip and could not bring her self to look him in the eyes. Long slender fingers held her face and gently tilted it up. And not for the first time she gasped; glittering eyes shone at her.
“Please don’t be afraid”
“I am not” she said speaking truth. She traced her right hand over his left ear and felt the cuffs, cool against very warm skin.
As she said the words, slim lips covered hers, and her body surged. Along a wave of gently cresting sea foam, her lips parted slightly to allow a tenderly exploring tongue to just brush hers. He tasted of cinnamon and aniseed. She gasped once again as he pulled her in a close embrace, his long fingers clasped in the small of her back. She tried to lean further into him and they both fell back wards into the bed with her on top. She could smell him now; musk and sandalwood. Emboldened now, she moved herself so she could nuzzle his neck and kissed it and licked it. As if it was some kind of signal he rolled them both over and this time crushed her lips in a lock both heated and skilled, and she made a small sound in the back of her throat. Through her slip and blouse, through his nightshirt; she could feel his radiating warmth.
He started to unbutton her top. Her breath hitched as his fingers brushed her skin, and he kissed her bare shoulder as he smoothed the cloth away. Gingerly he danced the flat of his palm slowly from shoulder lingering at the breasts and then letting it come to rest on her waist. He trailed a tongue from her neck to a breast; licking one as he cupped the other with his hand. She moaned softly as she arched her back a little. She felt delicate under his hands, in his arms but not fragile. She had a quiet strength…so different from Kanan. Kanan; who was porcelain delicate and fragile. But that was all the memory he allowed himself for the moment. Mei’s skin smelt of lilies and her hair of almond oil and vanilla. Her curves were firm with just the right amount of give. And as much as her body was responding to his touch, his was answering the call from hers.
Her hair curtained them both as now it was she took his shirt off and worked her hands in downward strokes massaging taut muscle. She had strong hands for someone so small. Then she stopped, hesitated. There was a scar across his middle. Its rubberized flesh and puckered edges like it was alive, moving with every breath. Her hand flew to her mouth a silent ‘O’. Slowly he reached out for her hand splayed the fingers open and guided them to touch it. He held them there for a moment.
“It’s just skin” he said hoarsely, “now.” Maybe he could convince himself too.
Her uncertainty gone now she continued. I am not afraid. I trust. She thought.
Caught up in the moment, from the heat of their entwined bodies and their quickened shallow breathing, the pace precipitated towards a sense of urgency. And they gripped each other, and their bodies rocked in rhythm, and the waves crashed upon the shoreline. And salt sweat sea spray slicked their bodies. As they slaked their thirst, and drowned by taking delight from the essence of the other.
Spent, they lay now side by side. Her body now calm, though her mind was still spinning seeing stars amongst the clouds. She wondered then if he had been able to tell that he was her first. But she was glad of it. That it had been with someone she trusted and could call friend. He had been gentle with her and had not hurt her. She knew though (as well as he did) that there was not love there. Not real love anyway and in spite of it she was alright with it. However suddenly slightly embarrassed, she felt she wanted to be alone.
.
Somewhere outside a man had been smoking. Finished he threw the last one on the ground, joining several already there. Somewhere outside a man entered the inn, now darkened and made his way up to bed.
.
“You better go back to him” her voice broke in on his thoughts.
“Yes, I suppose” he now seemed a little unsure of himself. Thankfully there was a washroom. He used the opportunity of cleaning up to collect himself. He put on his clothes which had been discarded on the floor earlier with his back to her. She smiled at his apparent shyness. She was sat in bed still, knees up to her chin and sheets pulled up.
“Please don’t be upset about it,” she said to him as he blinked at her in surprise. “I am glad it happened but I don’t want to come between what the two of you have.”
Hakkai looked at her with new eyes. Here certainly was a woman who was strong and sure; of herself and her capabilities and she was beautiful with it. And all regret vanished (except a slight twinge of sadness- which will always be a part of him). She was right about Gojyo and himself. He had always known it, they both did. It was affirmed every day they shared.
“Now go!” she said shooing him off with a smile. “I’m fine. Promise”
“Thank you” Hakkai said as he shut the door.
.
It was not too late still so he still could get a decent night’s rest. Hoping not to wake Gojyo Hakkai was very nearly to his bed as he crept silently…
“Feels good doesn’t it?”
“I thought at first that you had gone to her,” still evading the question.
Hakkai was about to climb into bed when a rough hand grabbed his and hold it firm. A bedside lamp clicked on. Gojyo looked searchingly at Hakkai. Hakkai crossed the distance knelt by Gojyo, kissed him firmly on the lips and on the forehead.
“Hush now and go to sleep” and went back over to his bed and got in.
Reassured, and really; all was right with the world, Gojyo clicked the light off.
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.Author's note: [1] If anyone is interested, the inspiration for the fight between Gojyo and Hakkai came from:-
http://yuzu.outside.jp/trei15.html
All credit goes to the artist here. I hope i have done her work justice.
Journey’s End
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Morning came, and even Gojyo was up with the sun. So both
men got dressed and left for breakfast together. Mei came down to join them at breakfast soon
after. There did not seem to be any awkwardness about her, Hakkai was glad to
notice. There was only a faint blush colouring her cheeks as she greeted them, and breakfast passed mostly in comfortable silence.
Hakkai announced that after breakfast they could set off as soon as he got a
few supplies for the remainder of their journey. Gojyo had offered to go with him
but Hakkai declined. He wanted to be by himself a bit he said. Recognising it as need, Gojyo let him go.
So after breakfast Gojyo helped Mei get their stuff together
and loaded Jeep up, whilst Hakkai was in the shops. Then they set off. It was
early yet, so Hakkai figured he could drive on till lunchtime. As it was, it
was nearly one in the afternoon before he pulled up near a copse of trees. It
was enough shade for them all to sit under to have a picnic.
“I could still drive the rest of the way you know.” Gojyo
offered.
“Hahaha! Thank you but no. I would like to arrive at
journey’s end in one piece and preferably not aching everywhere. And I’m sure
that Mei would agree too.” Hakkai added thoughtfully “also I don’t think
Hakuryu thinks much of your driving either.”
Mei grinned at their exchange whilst she lay a blanket on
the ground and took out the packed lunches she had ordered to takeaway at the
inn. She also got some flasks of lemonade and water out for drinking.
“What no beer?” Gojyo rummaged around in jeep
disappointedly. Came back hand in pocket dejectedly. Before he sat down to join
them he reached over to Mei and handed her a little brown paper bag. He smiled
at her, “Happy Birthday!”
Surprised Mei wiped her hands before tearing into the bag, and she
carefully opened the box wrapped within the paper. “Oh they’re beautiful…and
they match the pendant too!” she exclaimed.
“Yeah I noticed you had your ears pierced but you didn’t
wear any. It’s a kind of a going away present, as well as a reminder to come
back when you can” and as afterthought Gojyo added “it is from the both Hakkai
and me!”
Mei leant over and hugged Gojyo and looked across to Hakkai
and beamed back at the both of them. “Thank you.”
Hakkai thought it was nice to see her smile, the worry about
her father momentarily forgotten. Hakkai thought too, so like Gojyo to think of
it in the first place. That he realized that Mei’s well being was important to
him puzzled him again as it did the first time he met her in the market. Yes
perhaps its love. Not love the way he had been with Kanan and not the
jumble-tumble-not-quite-love-but-more-than-love thing he had with his red
headed housemate. But it was a kind of safe love, a friendship and that
Mei knew it as well as him. And she, accepting person that she was loved both
him and Gojyo for their friendship to her and respected what the two men had
with each other. What an incredible thing! Implications for the realization
went through his head, and decided that he couldn’t really think on it now, so
he just settled back into conversation with the other two and tried to relax a
little.
~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~
She must have fallen asleep because someone was gently
shaking her shoulder. She must still be asleep because she was now dreaming
that it was her mother calling her name softly and that she was in her bed at
home. She sat up suddenly. She was in her bed at home. She panicked, as
she thought that her friends had already left and that she did not have a
chance to say goodbye properly. But she heard the murmur of familiar voices
outside her room.
“Mama” Mei cried as she pulled her mother in close for a
hug. Relief and whatever else all washing over her.
“Shh! It’s ok, you’re home now, and your friends are still
here” her mother spoke softly into her hair.
Mei pulled her hair into a bun hurriedly, smoothed her
clothes down and stepped into the living room. There they both were on the
couch sipping tea (oh, she hoped Gojyo wouldn’t mind too much, her parents
didn’t keep coffee in the house).
“Hey sleeping beauty! I carried you in when we arrived as we
didn’t want to wake you” Gojyo piped up when he saw her.
“Are you alright Mei?” Hakkai asked worriedly.
“Yes don’t worry I’m fine, just relieved to be home now!”
Mei looked out the window “you’re not leaving yet are you, it is dark now”
“No it’s ok, your mother has kindly invited us to dinner and
to stay the night in the guest room” Hakkai reassured her.
Mei looked askance at Hakkai, because he looked
really tired…driving so hard even given the clement conditions, must have taken
its toll. Gojyo then explained that Hakkai had done some healing on her father.
Oh!
“Honestly I am fine,” Hakkai did his best to allay her
worries, “just tired is all.”
“Ok if you say so,” Mei replied in a tone which said she was
not convinced. But she could not say anymore as she had to give her mother a
hand with dinner and prepare their room for the night.
Dinner was quiet. Mei tried to bridge the gap between her
mother and her friends. Her mother already knew them from that first time, and
lately through her letters, and though she was not uncomfortable with them her
mother seemed to be contented to just listening to their conversation and
watching their interaction. They were an odd pair, her daughter’s friends she
decided. But good people. And that was all that mattered. So after a while, she
excused herself from the young people and just left them to it. After dinner
the three of them convened on the front doorstep outside the house, because Gojyo needed a smoke.
“Hey you know I have to say it again, and that I really
cannot thank you both enough,” Mei started to say.
“Nah! It’s okay, really and it has been good being on the
road again.” Gojyo replied.
“But not just for bringing me here. For everything. For the
friendship and …everything since I came looking for you. Letting me into your
lives basically”
“It has been good for us too” Hakkai said measuredly. “I
think maybe we will miss you when you are not there”.
“Will you go back to Mrs Lee d’ya think?” Gojyo asked.
“Mmm…I’m not really sure yet” she sighed. “I know that I’ll
stay till father gets better and then we’ll see.”
“You’ll just have to keep us posted and inform us of his
progress” Hakkai prompted.
“Yeah! And you guys better write back”
“He’s the sensei my dear” Gojyo laughed indicating Hakkai
“besides you would not be able to read my chicken scratchings”
“Well” Hakkai stood up and stretched “we had better get some
sleep if we want to make good time tomorrow.” With an evil gleam Hakkai
announced to Gojyo “and if the weather holds, we may even sleep out…all the way
back!”
“Bu..But..” leaving a sputtering Gojyo in his wake.
Mei couldn’t help but laugh goodnight at them.
In the guest room, a familiar situation had arisen. There
was one narrow bed and on the other side a sleeping pallet had been made up on
the floor. Gojyo grinned at Hakkai as he pulled out a pack of well used playing
cards from his knapsack. “Play you for the bed?” he queried.
“Ahahaha — you know this is a pointless exercise, but yes
we’ll play a little anyway!”
~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~
The next day it was Hakkai who was up to greet Mei’s mother
good morning first. He had wanted to give her a helping hand with breakfast but
she just waved him away saying it was unnecessary, as it was already prepared
and on the table. So he made a start with loading Jeep up, after he woke the
dragon up and given him his breakfast. Mei’s mother had also packed for him
enough for lunch and dinner too for which he was very grateful.
Mei’s father was up and about though still hobbling. And
they all sat down to breakfast. He was a jovial man, always ready with a story
or some such. Mei was happy to see her father in good spirits.
Soon they were all out front and saying their farewells.
“Ah Uncle, please remember to rest. You mustn’t stress the
leg whilst it is healing”
“Yes! Yes! Thank you young man. Much obliged too for
bringing our daughter back”.
“Don’t forget to write”
Mei gave the two men each a hug and waved to them as Hakkai
pulled out into the road.
“Wait!” she cried, running out. Hakkai slowed to stop,
whilst Mei caught up and she was soon over the passenger side Jeep. A little
clumsily, she managed to lean up into Gojyo hugged him hard and gave him a kiss
on his cheek and as she pulled away she whispered into his ear “You’re a good
kind person and always giving…Don’t be afraid, don’t forget to take something
back sometimes Gojyo!”
Then she let go and stepped away.
owari
~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~”~
Author’s notes: There you have it. Under a delusion of
grandeur I wrote a multi parter, thinking I could. See what happens…an exercise
in mundane mediocrity. Never mind. Critiques always welcome. Apologies also for the really wierd spacing in the text, as I'm still getting my head round this html thing. As always I am learning. Thank you muchly for those of you who have actually read this all the way through!