faded_lace | Saiyuki fic~

Title: Shower Habits

Disclaimer: Saiyuki belongs to Minekura-sensei, and I wouldn't have it any other way

Rating: PG because it's Saiyuki?

Warnings: 58 if you squint, domesticity

Author's Note: I miss 58 ^^; I read a bunch of it today randomly, so I got inspired!

When Hakkai and Gojyo realized that they were both in the habit of showering in the mornings, things got a little dicey for a week or so, but quickly and efficiently, as things tended to go when Hakkai was involved, a routine was worked out, and that was simply how the mornings went from then until The Trip disrupted any sense of normalcy and all domestic routines were thrown to the wayside.

Hakkai went first, as Gojyo was enough of a gentleman to let him, and Hakkai was usually an earlier riser, anyway. He showered for exactly twenty minutes every morning, and went about his tasks at a set speed. He slowly washed his hair, slowly washed his body, then slowly removed his ear cuffs and let himself be what he was as the water dripped from the tips of his ears, off the ends of his claws, down the vines that covered his skin. Perhaps it was to remind himself of reality, or perhaps it was for any another reason, but after five minutes, he would meticulously replace the cuffs and rinse himself a final time. Always, the water was scalding to a degree that ought to have been painful, and most probably was.

And then it was Gojyo's turn, once Hakkai had vacated the clouded room with the mirrors all obscured by steam and the air thick and wet and heavy giving Gojyo the feeling he was trying to breathe tar. Unlike Hakkai, everything about Gojyo's showers was hurried, in, wash, out, as fast as sanitary. After Hakkai's excessive use of the hot water, Gojyo's showers began lukewarm and quickly degenerated from there, and perhaps that was why he sped: it was always a race to finish before the icy water arrived.

Once Gojyo finished in the shower, he would arrive in the kitchen, his hair all wrapped up in a towel, to find breakfast and Hakkai waiting for him, the former steaming, the latter smiling, both inviting. The maybe-roommates-maybe-more sat, said their thanks, ate while discussing daily things like the weather and price of tea these days and whether Sanzo and Goku were coming over this Thursday or Friday. Neither thought anything of showers or habits or water-temperature. After all, how could those be of any significance?