Winter Falls

By Clorinda

Rated: PG

Category: General

Summary: A rainy day and damp souls. Ficlet.

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No one knows what to do on days that it rains, and the four of them sit around glumly in the same hotel room, Hakuryu bundled up in some of Hakkai's clothes, quivering with every crash of thunder.

Sanzo reads his paper; Gojyo plays Solitaire; Goku eats their rations; and Hakkai drinks tea. But Sanzo's eyes never leave the same patch of newsprint; Gojyo keeps losing to himself; Goku doesn't ask for more; and Hakkai keeps lifting an empty cup to his lips.

This is what they call depression, because when they do not have an excuse to fight, move and live, they fall into the same realm of despair, self-pity and cruel hope. This is when Sanzo wants to stand, raise his gun and fire, but the silence has sunk its steel hooks into him and he cannot move.

The rain beats dully on the window pane, the floorboards creak as someone treads over them somewhere, the atmosphere hangs heavily over their heads, and Gojyo reacts suddenly and explosively, flinging the deck at a wall.

Wearily, almost gratefully, Hakkai gets up. With a crash, the cup falls and shatters. Simultaneously, the others ask one question: was that intentional?

Almost jealously, they watch him walk out with a smile to get a broom.

The silence returns, swooping like a bat to avenge its escaped prey, but Gojyo stands to pick up his cards, and Sanzo flicks a page.

Goku watches them all with uncharacteristically sad caramel eyes. Winter finally falls on one of the most scorching days in the desert.

— End —