Chibis Gone Wild!

Chapter 3: Because She Is

In a place so far away that the distance can only be measured in philosophy, the ironically-named Merciful Goddess (1) lowers his/her binoculars and pauses in contemplation. The smile that follows the period of consideration is purely reflexive. He (or she) raises a hand to touch his (or her) face, noting it's unexpected presence.

The simple, clean smile seems so out of character and out of place that its very existence causes the God(dess) to smile even wider.

(S)he places a hand lightly on the throne's arm, and searches the world for some cosmic re-runs: little things to refresh an unusual, and therefore welcome, memory.

Eternity is, above all things, boring. Kanzeon Bosatsu searches for a desperate moment of relief in the face of the unending.

Pausing, with a wallet-sized picture of a kitten in a raincoat in view, he (or she) squeals profoundly:

"They were so adorable!"

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Far to the west, Kougaiji stalks back and forth through the darkened room.

The memories: the confusion, the abandonment of his cause, the foolishness – madness, even! He can never forgive himself for being so thoroughly deceived. People rely on him! And he wasted so much time playing…

But such thoughts are, in themselves, a waste of precious time. Crown Prince Kougaiji, only son of the great and terrible Gyumaoh, fights away the cobwebs of memory and decisively focuses on his mission.

If only that damn cookie jar hadn't broken! He had almost managed to forget…

Still, they were delicious…

Kougaiji bursts out of the room, intent on action. Any action. Anything but chocolate chips!

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"Now, Sanzo, that's your Rainy Day Face. You're wasting it on a beautiful day like today." Hakkai's cheerfulness makes Sanzo seem even more dark and gloomy. This is bizarrely comforting to Sanzo, whose thoughts had actually been suspiciously un-gloomy.

"Shut the hell up. And pass me that beer." Sanzo is further pleased by the gruffness of his own voice.

"Don't you think it's time to stop?" Hakkai sets a single can in front of Sanzo, and puts the rest in the mini-fridge.

"I'll tell you when that time comes."

"Really – you don't want to end up an alcoholic living alone, do you?"

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Sanzo's head snaps up. The sharpness of his gaze belies how completely wasted he is.

Hakkai hasn't noticed. Or perhaps, Hakkai has noticed, and doesn't care. Or maybe, this was Hakkai's original intention. It's so hard to know, with Hakkai.

Eyes as green as the heart of a glacier meet Sanzo's, and the final option seems overwhelmingly likely.

"An alcoholic… like someone we know." Hakkai's smile widens and sets. Such a pretty face, such an ugly look.

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A thousand years, a thousand miles and a sneeze. Another one. One more.

"Dammit." And she rises to clean the spilled rum off her shirt. "I'd better not have a cold… though I don't know who I could have caught one from."

Ah, the joyful life of an alcoholic living alone!

Stumbling into the kitchen, changing her mind, stumbling down the hall… everything is vaguely out of focus. Her blood alcohol has finally gotten the victory over the more usual blood contents, and is now running the show.

"Screw it." You know you've finally drunk enough when getting another drink is just too much effort.

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-footnote-

(1) The irony is that he/she is neither very merciful, nor entirely a goddess, if you get my meaning.

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I laughed my pants off when I discovered that the Hermaphrodite of Mercy in Saiyuki is actually true to the original legend. Really, I'm not kidding! Ancient Gender-Swapping!

When Chibis Attack! saw 500 reviews last week. I went out for dinner, had a little party, and bought myself presents. But you're the ones who did all the work, so my present for you is a few updates of this story alongside Attack!

I know. I'm cheap. But I love you…