Stick Shift

Stick Shift


Gojyo squinted up at the setting sun as he strolled down the alley that led behind the inn the ikkou was staying at tonight. He almost hated to go back to the plain wooden housing; he'd spent the last several hours doing with great enjoyment one of the things he did best: gambling. But, he mused, who could say he was any better at winning money than he was at wooing women or throwing back a few. Gojyo decided he really was a man of many talents.
As he neared the front of the inn, familiar voices floated back to him on the evening breeze, coming from the porch. He was digging out his lighter and fumbling for a cigarette when he finally found himself close enough to make out the conversation.
"So how was I?"
"As good as always. Why do you ask me that every night?" Sanzo's sigh of irritation answered Hakkai's cheery voice.
"Ah, sumimasen. I just want to make sure there isn't something I can improve upon," Hakkai said, sounding sheepish.
Sanzo sighed again.
"When you need improvement, I won't hesitate to tell you. And you can't seriously believe I'd come if you weren't any good."
"Well, er, yes, I know you'd come, actually," Hakkai said, obviously trying to be delicate. "I'm probably the only one you'd find for miles."
By now, Gojyo had become a fixture on the wall. The cigarette he'd taken out to light was hanging loosly in his lips, almostforgotten. Any thoughts he'd entertained of joining those two for a smoke were banished; he was much too floored by what Hakkai and Sanzo were discussing to think about anything else.
Sanzo was quiet; he didn't want to leave it at that, obviously, but until he could find a reasonable comeback...
"I suppose there's Gojyo.." Hakkai said, almost to himself. The kappa's dangling cigarette fell from his mouth. What the hell?
The monk snorted.
"I would rather die. Besides, I've seen him. He's awful; fumbles around, can't apply the right amount of force. It makes me sick. Well, you know, you were there."
"Maa, Sanzo, he's just inexperienced. You would be too if I were to let you be the one in control. Perhaps if I gave him a few pointers..."
"You will not!" Sanzo said indignantly. "Besides, from the way you talk, it sounds like you gave him more than a few lessons in the years before Goku and I met you two."
Gojyo was too angry to hear Hakkai's follow-up; how dare they spy on him like that! He only brought women back to the inn; the others he took elsewhere, and made a damned good show of coming home the next morning from the direction of the tavern where the hottest women had been sighted the night before. For them to say he was inexperienced was laughable. Well, almost. The infuriated kappa was barely restraining himself from storming onto the porch and punching out a few lights. But, as often happens when one accidentally hears themselves being talked about, Gojyo stayed still, wanting to find out what would next be said.
"If you feel you need it, I could give you some lessons as well," Hakkai said innocently, but Gojyo knew the youkai well enough to know that his eyes were probably sparkling in subdued mischief. He played with them all like that sometimes; it could drive a person crazy.
"Give ME lessons? I do not need-"
Realizing too late that he'd leaned over too far in his eagerness, Gojyo wobbled slightly, the gravel crunching under his boot as he attempted to regain his balance. Catching the tiny disturbance in their relative peace, Sanzo and Hakkai fell quiet, giving the green-eyed youkai ample opportunity to sense Gojyo's youki. So Gojyo decided to pretend that he'd just been walking up. It wasn't the best idea, but it was the only one he could think of when the rest of his mind was filled with indignation and dirty images.
"Ah, Gojyo, Okaeri nasai!" Hakkai said cheerfully, smiling at the kappa.
Gojyo grinned back, but didn't make eye contact.
"What's this I hear about giving Sanzo houshi-sama lessons?" He inquired in what he hoped was his most casual and nonchalant tone of voice.
"Well, Sanzo and I had been discussing driving, and.."
"Hakkai's insecure," Sanzo said through the glare he was still directing at Gojyo in retribution for the annoying nickname.
"It's not that I'm insecure, I just want to make sure everyone has a pleasant experience. And to ensure that we always have a good driver on board, I was wondering if Sanzo might like lessons. I've already given you some, and Goku's still a little immature, I'm afraid," Hakkai explained. "It would be a problem because Hakuryuu's skittish around him. He's only just now gotten used to Sanzo."
"Right." Gojyo drawled, recalling an incident from a few weeks ago. He'd made a similar mistake, and felt just as foolish then as he felt now upon hearing the explination for the scandalous talk he'd just imagined. Gojyo shook his head inwardly. He was such an idiot; as if Sanzo would ever let anyone in his pants, especially the once-married Hakkai. The red-haired youkai was still a little angry that those two been talking about him, though. But at least Hakkai had taken his part.
"Well, I'm off to bed. I guess the saru's there already?" He received a nod. "Fine. See you in the morning."
Hakkai smiled and lifted a hand. "Oyasumi nasai, Gojyo!"
The youkai watched his friend walk into the inn before turning back to the porch and Sanzo, who had straightened up to light another cigarette.
"Oi."
Hakkai redirected his gaze from the sunset toSanzo, the monk's vague outline all that could be made out in the dusk.
"Sanzo?"
"About those lessons..."
"I suppose we could start them tomorrow, if Hakuryuu doesn't mind."
"How about tonight?"
Hakkai laughed.
"Oh, you meant those lessons. I'm sure you'll be sorry to hear this, but you've worked so hard and gotten so good that now there's really no need for them"
An arm snaked its way around the youkai's waist.
"Practice makes perfect."