Gensomaden Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ With Eyes That Cannot See ❯ New Home, New Family, New Life ( Chapter 3 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

TITLE: With Eyes That Cannot See

CHAPTER: 1

BY: Simply Kim

GENRE: Yaoi (Angst/Humour/AU/Romance/Supernatural)

CAST: Almost everyone from the series of Gensomaden Saiyuki

DISCLAIMERS: The series I'm referring to do not belong to me… ^_^ only the story does.

NOTES: The characters' ages in this fic isn't that much the same as the series.

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Chapter 1: New Home, New Family, New Life

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Sanzo woke up with a warm feeling inside him. He did not know why, since he hated waking up at the break of dawn, which was what was happening now. However... today... it felt different. The warm feeling spread out through his frontal physiology... extending to the tips of his toes. He wondered silently, trying to come up with a concrete answer to his unspoken question.

Slowly, his vision cleared, and the distinct feel of someone else's skin rubbing lightly onto his penetrated his senses. As if in slow motion, his eyes travelled to his side.

And he blinked.

And blinked again.

Then, his eyes widened in horror as he saw his arm around a slightly shivering body...

Of a human being.

Sanzo almost flinched, if not for his immediate recollection of what happened last night.

His hands were dancing over the keys of the grand piano that sat in the middle of the lavish guest room. His feet were warming up nicely after his long walk that night... and the long drag towards his parked car - with an extra weight.

He snuck a look at the sleeping person under the quilted blankets of the canopied bed. His eyes softened as he took in the soft curves of the face, the almost effeminate features... of the unruly brown hair that was proved to be soft after a warm bath. He himself cleaned the man, and it was no surprise that he felt something pull in his heart... and felt something lodging uneasily in his gut. He couldn't understand it, but...

Sighing, he turned back to his music, the notes rising to a crescendo... and softening again as it ended. He was not entirely finished with the cantata when his fingers, at their own accord, finally stopping upon the message from his brain that said:

He's awake

He turned just in time to see the young man sit up uneasily, wincing from the pain that came probably from the sprained leg when it moved with his body. Sanzo stared at him for a long time, admiring the way his features turned from melancholic to fully confused, his eyes wide as he turned his head from side to side.

He was wondering why the man hadn't seen him yet... when in fact; he was right smack in front of where he sat. Maybe he just couldn't see him from his panic... or maybe he was...

Then it hit him.

The man had to be blind!

Swallowing the immediate rise of misplaced sympathy, he spoke, not prying his eyes away from the beautiful features. "You're awake."

He almost wondered at his voice. He had never used such tone on anyone he had not yet been acquainted with before... Strange what this guy does to him...

With an intake of breath, he walked over towards the bed, his feet thumping on the soft furry carpet. The other was trying to decipher where he was lodged in, and, finally reaching a decision, he faced that way and was about to ask something when Sanzo decided that panic wasn't one of the man's best emotion.

"Don't be afraid, I'm not going to hurt you..." He said gently, trying to soothe his fears. "Ah, don't get mad at me, okay... but you're facing the wrong direction."

It was almost comical, the way the man turned crimson, obviously flustered, and then rearranged his position on the bed to find a way to face the right direction. Sanzo wanted to say that he was still a bit off, but for the sake of peace, he decided not to.

"Ah... I'm sorry..." Came the flustered response. Sanzo could see the slight tinge of green at the edge of the other's eyes, and he knew that... he must be feeling very off right now, so he decided to appease him, lifting up his spirits a little.

"Your pet's playing with the youngest in this house. I've fed him and took care of him for a job well done. He saved you, you know."

There was a grateful sort of silence, and he could almost see wheels whirring inside the other's head.

"Uh... If you don't mind me asking... where am I? Why am I here? I -"

He started towards the bed for real now, reaching it in just a few more strides, and finally, sitting down on the edge. Sanzo wanted to touch the guy... but he knew that, skittish as he was right now, it would only add to more emotional aggression in the future, so he snatched his hand back, placing it securely on his lap.

"You're in my home. As I've said before, your dragonet saved you... actually, he's technically MY dragonet, since he was the same one who got lost years ago... the one I looked for, for so long... the one I thought I wouldn't see again..."

"Hakuryu's yours?"

It was a wonder to him why this guy picked the same name for the dragon... Weird... However, it was true... Hakuryu got knocked out and was lost during one of his... Sanzo quickly shook his head and just nodded, kicking himself mentally as he realized what he had just done. Heh, blind people don't see after all.

"Ah, I cannot... see you if you... um..."

"Ah, sorry... I forgot..." He apologized. "Yes, he's mine... but now he's yours... just share him with his long-lost oneesan though... However... I doubt that he would choose you over us... he seems taken with you for a good reason that I think I could grasp easily..." Sanzo remembered the weakness showed by Hakuryu's elder sister when she realized he was gone... the stables were burned; half of the mansion was in disarray. It took for the little monster to finally accept it. Sanzo shook his head again in memory. What he said about the tyke having taken a liking to the other was, again, true. But it wasn't that much of a wonder to him, since he himself was probably experiencing the same liking Hakuryu's having. His lips curled up in a slight smile.

"Ah."

Silence.

Sanzo man stood up and walked towards the piano again. His fingers were poised on the right keys when he remembered something and let his hands drop down on his lap again.

"Ah, by the way..." He started warmly.

"Ah... what is it... sir?"

SIR? He couldn't help but chuckle. He couldn't quite see himself worthy of that kind of respect after all he had been doing in the past... and sometimes, the present...

"I wanted to say that you're going to stay here from now on..." He continued.

"IIE!" Came the protest. "I cannot stay here... I'll be abusing your goodwill, sir... I... I wouldn't want to live here because this is not my..."

He shook his head again. Smiling in amusement. "From now on, this will be your home." He said confidently in a tone that he knew was one that brooked no refusal. He was right about not giving the guy a choice... He should put the lid on this guy's suffering... He must. "You will stay here and learn the rules from the others..."

"The others?"

"Hai. There are others... four of them, excluding the house helps." He continued. "You will meet them soon... I do hope you'd get along fine with all of them. They aren't necessarily bad... but they aren't that good either." Sanzo said with an amused chuckle. Oh yes... they're not THAT bad either... but they could be worse.

The man bowed in gratitude, accepting the proposition with a degree of disbelief.

"Thank you very much sir..."

"Don't call me sir." Sanzo retorted wryly. "I'm not that old... I'm only twenty-four. I'm only two years older than you are, baka."

"Ah... sorry... I won't call you that again... yakusoku! Demo... I don't have anything to call you... I don't even know your name... si -"

He saw the word coming and immediately threw the guy a throw pillow from the wide piano seat. He was still accurate... he hit him right at the position of the heart. He knew this person's name even before he woke up, since he got a hold of a few information from the man's neighbours, so it wasn't really necessary for introductions, but, as his mind dictated to him, it wouldn't be so bad, since it would certainly put the man at ease.

"Ah... sorry again... it just slips out..." the man smiled apologetically as his slight laughter subsided. "I'm Hakkai... Cho Hakkai... I know you know that already since you have definitely seen my records from somewhere... you know how old I am, that's why I knew..."

Sanzo's low laughter joined his.

"Pleased to meet you then, Hakkai."

He saw Hakkai lean forward to catch his words. He must've been speaking softly again... He shrugged the thought off and grinned at the earnest features.

"My name is Sanzo... Genjo Sanzo."

At that, Hakkai's green eyes widened.

And Sanzo knew that he knew who he was.

"Yes, I'm that guy who they say owns a fourth of the world... heh, no big deal." He said easily. "I hate them for saying that... I don't believe people own people... or resources even."

"I don't understand, Sanzo-sama..."

Oh, so now he's Sanzo-SAMA. Sheesh, does this guy get any more respectful? Oh yeah, when titles get higher up the hierarchy.

He sighed.

"Look." He said in part frustration as he stood up again and lodged himself onto the space he vacated earlier on the bed. "I'm no God Hakkai. I'm just human... albeit a different one... so don't call me that, all right? Just plain Sanzo would be fine. No sir, No Sanzo-sama, no anything except plain old Sanzo, got it?" He smiled slightly at the surprised reaction from Hakkai.

It was then that he decided that he liked Hakkai better when he's surprised... his emerald eyes were very beautiful when he's that way. Maybe he should surprise this guy often - with good surprises.

Hakkai nodded, shivering lightly.

Sanzo raised an eyebrow. "Cold?" he asked.

"A bit." Hakkai allowed, smiling in that sweet way of his.

He immediately gathered the edges of the quilted blankets and pulled it over Hakkai's body. His fingers touched the pale skin of the other's neck... and Sanzo's restraints flew out the window.

With a quick movement, he scooted over and positioned himself with his back hitting the soft mattress, taking the brown-haired man with him.

"What -"Came Hakkai's confused response.

"Hush." He breathed. "Sleep, I'll keep you warm..."

So arms entwined they lay... with pristine blankets around them.

Soon, they were asleep.

A smile stole its way on his usually blank features.

The feel of Hakkai in his arms was not so bad... it was almost... dreamlike.

Letting out a soft gush of breath, he smiled at the ceiling and gently disentangled himself from the brunette. With sure movements, he slowly got up, arranged the blankets, tucked Hakkai, and strode out dressed in rumpled clothes towards the door, taking one last tender look before letting himself out of the room.

* * * * * * * *

"Oi, Yaone-neechan, do you think he's alright?"

Yaone looked down at the bundle of anxiety and gave a small smile. "Of course he is, Goku... he should be... Sanzo-touchan stayed with him the entire night! You know that he, among other people can make even a sick elephant well again!"

"I don't think he looks like an elephant though..." Gojyo whispered, peeping through the crack of the semi-opened door. "He looks more like..."

"An angel." Came a matter of fact voice.

Yaone almost shrieked in surprise, if not for the hands that covered her parted lips, muffling the noise she made. Goku was pale, his body shivering in fright... and Gojyo... well, Gojyo was enjoying his time with his skin touching Yaone's.

"Ah, aniki... you surprised us!" The red-haired fiend grinned almost nonchalantly, his eyes betraying him however as he continued smothering the poor blue-haired girl with his huge hands. They were sparkling with mischief.

Jien shook his head and gave his brother a knowing look. "Ah, Gojyo... aren't you forgetting something?"

Crimson eyes fastened on his smirking features... trying to think... then turning questioning.

"People need air to breathe."

Gojyo raised an eyebrow in incredulity. "Eh? Of course they do, aniki... WE do... didn't you learn that the day you tried holding your breath underwater when we were kids?"

Jien sweatdropped, raising a finger and pointing to...

"HMMMMPFT!"

Yaone.

Goku sniggered, his initial fright forgotten as he saw the plight his surrogate older sister was in. Tanned skin turned pale. "Ah... umm... Yaone... gomen... uh... I wasn't..."

Yaone took in huge mouthfuls of air, her lips turning red from the agonizing colour blue due to lack of air. As soon as she caught her breath, she turned an evil glare on the red-haired idiot who nearly suffocated her.

Jien watched with amused eyes as he counted off in his mind...

3...

2...

1...

... And ...

NOW.

"BAKA GOJYO!" She shrieked, racing for the perpetrator as he took a promising lead towards the stairs. "WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU... I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!"

Shaking his head, Jien tapered his strong fingers on his aching temple.

Gojyo...

He never grew up.

* * *

It was the sound of high-pitched shrieking that made Hakkai bolt up from his dreamless slumber. His eyes were wide with panic, and his ears were straining to hear what the commotion was about. His mind was on the run... along with half of his sanity as the death of his family resonated with the same impact in his ears.

He couldn't understand what was happening... He felt so safe before... with warmth flowing inside him... and now this... What was happening? What happened last night? Why couldn't he remember? Then, another unfamiliar noise rumbled.

What was happening outside the room he was staying in; the same room Sanzo-sama had told him he was welcome to possess?

He clutched the blankets as he heard the faint sound of someone approaching... quiet footsteps that reverberated inside his auditory senses, frightening him fully in their implication... that someone was coming towards him. Sanzo-sama's footsteps were light and calculating, not quiet and purposeful...

Who was venturing nearer his personal space?

Then, his eyes widened further as another set of footsteps joined the existent one. This set, however was light... but filled with childish confusion he could hear as the heels of whatever it was the walker was wearing clinked happily... alternatively... one after the other...

Everything he heard amounted to whom he deduced to be a child and a much-older person striding towards his direction. In panic, he let out a short gasp, a painful intake of breath that didn't do well in calming his frazzled nerves.

Then they stopped beside his bed.

"OHAYO!" A jolly voice greeted.

/The child.../ Hakkai thought, shying away from where he had heard the voice came from.

"Are you feeling alright? How are your bruises from your fall? Do they hurt? Are you hungry? Because I am hungry right now and I don't want to eat alone..." Came the enthusiastic speech.

"You're always hungry."

The older person... Hakkai thought once again, slightly relieved that he hadn't lost his touch on hearing things and distinguishing them efficiently. He scooted back some more and discovered that he had almost toppled down the side of the bed. He turned towards the newcomers in alarm.

The older of the two must have noticed his fright and chuckled reassuringly, patting the shaking shoulders with heartfelt sympathy. "Oi, we wont bite, don't be too afraid, ne?"

The tone that was used seemed to be that of an environmentalist talking to an injured animal. Although Hakkai had often translated these types of words as insults, he didn't mind the older man doing just that...

He felt almost... warm.

"Uh..." He started, finally finding an opening. "I'm sorry... I can't see you, but... uh... I..."

He was saved however as he heard another set of footsteps coming towards them.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"He doesn't know the both of you." Came the pointed tone. There was irritation in his words... and silently; Hakkai wondered why he seemed so prickly.

"Ah... gomen, `touchan... I forgot... good manners! Fifty points less for me then!" Came the laughing response from the person Hakkai thought of as a boy. "Gomen nasai, Cho-san... I'm Son Goku... just call me Goku if you want... just not "Saru" or anything related to tree-climbing primates."

"Ah... I see..." Hakkai wanted to laugh. He was wondering why they call this boy a monkey... does he look like one? Maybe... maybe not... "It's alright... May I call you Goku then?"

"Hai!" Another enthusiastic response from the boy. "That would be absolutely SUPER! FINALLY! A person who will call me by my given name instead of the nickname `touchan gave me long ago!" He squealed happily.

"It fits you, saru. You are Son Goku, the ever-present nuisance to the house staff... and to the rest of the family. The youngest in the brood, complete with enough insecurities to last a lifetime. The only person in the whole world who wouldn't even think twice in eating anything regardless of poisoning..." Sanzo muttered, ticking everything off with his fingers, his eyes raised upwards, as if trying to look for more descriptions written miraculously on the ceiling. "Oh, yeah... did I mention he's a good Go-Fer too?"

"`Touchan! That wasn't funny! I'm a good boy, you know!" Goku protested somewhat weakly.

"Yes... indeed you are - when Hell is spewing forth ice cubes!"

There was a distinct sound of someone lunging towards another, and something slapping soundly on flesh.

"ITAI!" Goku was the first to speak... erm... cry out.

Hakkai was aghast. He couldn't believe what he was hearing! What is Sanzo-sama doing? He's beating up his own child! And what about the other guy? Why is he... laughing? I don't understand...

"Ah, excuse them for being like that, Cho-san... They're always like that... Ah, Where are my manners..." The older one, Hakkai was sure, covered for them.

"Probably out of the window... ITAI!" Goku yelped.

"Urusai, baka saru!" He grated out in annoyance. Then, he turned to Hakkai with a sheepish grin. "Uh, sorry again..." He said apologetically, which, Hakkai deduced came with probably a hard smack on Goku's head as he did so, the quick intake of breath he always associated with pain.

"Umm... gomen... again... uh... where was I? Oh, yeah, Umm... I'm Sha Jien, age twenty-seven, the eldest of the kids, working in The Changan Corporation as the Production Assistant... I'm very pleased to meet you, Cho-san..."

Now, it was time for Hakkai to sweatdrop.

"Same here... I'm pleased to meet both Goku-chan and you, Jien-san..." Hakkai said politely, bowing his head in formal greeting. "However, may I ask you a question... and a favour?"

"Eh? Two in a row... It must be important...What is it, Cho-san?" Jien asked worriedly.

"Please don't call me Cho-san..." Sightless green eyes seemed to burst into amusement. "I feel so old... you can call me Hakkai... that would be enough."

Hakkai felt the lightening of the mood inside the room. "And another thing... I don't understand... you said... you're already twenty-seven... but... how can Sanzo-sama be your father if you're older than him...?"

Sanzo ran a hand across his face, shaking his head in disbelief. "He's not my son." He protested weakly. "Why do I always get that question whenever Jien and I are together?"

"Probably because the Gods have a complete dislike to you... or maybe you look like father and son when you're together... you look real fatherly most of the time `touchan... or maybe you look real alike and they ask why you live in the same house and - " The boy thought aloud, earning him another smack on the head. "Itai! I was only thinking of reasons `touchan, no need to get all huffy!"

"Urusai, baka saru!" Sanzo grated, obviously pissed off. He was about to whack him with the magical harisen again when...

"Uh... I'm really confused... I don't understand anymore..." Hakkai mumbled weakly.

Jien sweatdropped, taking in the confused look the brown-haired boy was carrying. He was about to change the topic when Goku beat him to it.

"Na, Hakkai... are you gonna stay in here for a looooong time?" Goku asked expectantly, hopping up and down in excitement, and continuing to do so until a shrieking Gojyo ran inside the room followed by a half-crazed Yaone.

"Oi, Gojyo-aniki, Yaone-neechan, can't you see Hakkai's resting?" the boy demanded with a pout on his young face.

The scurrying stopped... and the chasing stopped. Hakkai's hair at the back of his neck prickled as he felt eyes on him. Then, came the feeling of pure panic as an arm snaked sultrily around his thinly covered shoulders.

"Hello there buddy, you look a bit confused... wanna get sloshed?" The sexy tone wasn't lost on him... the resulting whacking too, for the felt the hard flinch by the body entwined with his... and the indignant shriek that followed.

"Gojyo! You're such a HENTAI!"

It was definitely a female voice, and Hakkai swore his eardrums burst the moment it sounded, and it was still resonating in his ears even after a few seconds.

"Oi, Yaone-chan... I only meant to invite him to drink, you pesky onna! I'm not a pervert!" The guy protested, trying to preserve his reputation.

"But you are... all the time..." Hakkai smiled as he heard the quiet sound of Sanzo's agreement with the woman's "hentai!" accusation.

"Maa, maa, let's stop fighting ne?" He said almost shyly. "It wouldn't do everyone good if we're like this..."

"YAY! That means he's STAYING!" Goku hooted happily. "For a LONG, LONG, LONG time!" He started dancing around ecstatically.

Hakkai laughed and nodded imperceptively.

Yes, he really felt as if he wanted to stay for a very long time.

Because finally, even with this chaotic household sneaking into his life, he felt like he belonged.

FINALLY.

* * * * * * * *

"Really Sanzo... I'm not joking!"

"I know."

"Really"

"I know."

"Really."

"I know."

Silence.

"Don't you think we're going around in circles?"

"I know."

Hakkai laughed. His laughter resonated in Sanzo's ears. And, it was another reason why he liked the other so much.

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TBC

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