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*squiggles at everyone's great points* Yours especially, Muraki, about Gojyo overcompensating; I've never thought about it like that before.

There's one big point about 585 that bugs me, though. If Hakkai and Gojyo -do- share something more than a friendship, then how come they didn't act upon that those three years they lived together? Or in the present time even, now that they've had that time to get acquainted quite well? Would they still be feeling eachother out about it, trying to see what the other feels, after such a long period (man, I wish I was articulate sweatdrop )? Though I can see Gojyo having a little thing for Hakkai, I can't really say that I think Hakkai would reciprocate that. He just doesn't see interested to me. But again, that's just what I think.

In all honesty, I have my favourites (383 and, to a lesser extent, 353... and UkokuxKomyou butthatdoesn'tbelonghere whee ) and my not-so-favourites (like 585), but really, the only one that I really have a problem with is Sanzo/Goku. And it's not because I think Goku is 'naive' or 'childish' (because I've always had a bit of a weak spot for 595). Really now, if either of them wanted more, wouldn't they just go for it? Sanzo, because he could (being Goku's master and all). And Goku, because when he wants/feels something, he makes it very clear, and would try to attain that.

Goku is the type of character who wears his heart on his sleeve. If he felt something more for Sanzo, wouldn't he let him know? I mean, he's been with Sanzo for six years; he's had plenty of time to act on his emotions, if they were indeed there. And Goku knows, deep down (and Sanzo knows it, too), that Sanzo really cares a lot about Goku, and knows that he wouldn't hurt him.

I think Sanzo and Goku have one of the sweetest, most endearing relationships I've seen portrayed in quite some time. And, as much as they (esp. Sanzo) try not to show it, it's plain to see how much they care for eachother. I think a romantic relationship would seriously complicate what they have, which is imo a deep paternal/brotherly relationship.

I have to say, I couldn't pick a favorite pairing. Everyone has their little biases, and then... well, there's me. I like Sanzo. He is my bias, I guess. whee But, I love to write them all. There are things (all mentioned in prior posts that would take me forever to quote) that make every single pairing (...yes... maybe even 39...sorry, Soreyle. xd ) good in it's own way. And so very fun.

I did have a real point to this post... there were just so many things said...

58/85... I must say, if I had to pick one pairing that stood out to me as the most realistic, the most likely, it'd be this one. I agree wholeheartedly with Prairie Fire when she says that they have their images to keep. I think that of the four, images are most important to Hakkai and Gojyo, the former in order to endure and the latter in order to forget. The masks they wear aren't for others so much as for themselves, I tend to think.

But who's seen under those masks? Sanzo and Hakkai get along beautifully, without words, yes. But who is it that follows Hakkai in the middle of the night? Gojyo. He's the one who gets to see Hakkai without his smile. That particular reference, from the Chin Iisou arc, shows - at least in the manga (I think it's different in the anime) - both Sanzo and Gojyo were awake. Only Gojyo follows.

Gojyo's seen Hakkai at his very bottom. It was at this lowest point that he took the youkai in; accepted him in that moment that Hakkai was at his worst. And when Gojyo gets his moments of weakness and doubt it's Hakkai that he talks to. Hakkai startles Gojyo with his intuition and forces the half-breed to rethink the things that had been pieces of him since he was a child. He makes him act.

Sanzo also makes Gojyo act, but I belive Gojyo responds to the threat of the monk. The need to show him up or prove him wrong. It seems that most of the time he's too wrapped up in one-upping Sanzo to ever really take his words to heart. (*There are exceptions to this. The whole "color of blood" conversation, for example. Gojyo is stunned by Sanzo's words, but Sanzo's really only pointing out what an idiot he thinks he's being...*) The power struggle with 35/53 can show similar personalities and can be fun, but in the end I think that Prairie is right when she said that "the idea of those two keeping up some sort of relationship seems almost impossible."

And Muraki, I think, is completely right when he asked "who really knows Sanzo?" It is, I think, the point that does everything else in. Sanzo is a loose canon, no matter how well he gets along with and respects Hakkai or could sympathize with Gojyo and his control issues (not that he would sympathize...). Sanzo is the X Factor, to use a really clichéd term. In the end, could he really work well in ANY relationship? I think with his personality and his past, the answer is no. The only person who could free him of all his demons died a long time ago...

Even I have to admit that the likeliest pairing seems to be 585...

*death* Thanks Soreyle.

Ah- About Gojyo and Hakkai acting on their love- Well... *snigger* Who says they haven't? I'd be incredibly suprised if Gojyo hadn't pounced him one night in THREE YEARS of living together.... I think they could already have a sexual relationship- but still be having problems with working out their emotional relationship... Gojyo takes love too flippantly for Hakkai and Hakkai takes love too seriously for Gojyo... They probably fight about it a lot. Also- as Prairie said about keeping up appearances- I think that both of them would rather not have Sanzo or Goku knowing about their relationship. ^^;; So its all kept on the low-down... I'm sure Sanzo probably would know though.

Wow...I actually argued for 585... XD;;

Sanzo as the X factor... Perfect. Well said, Caelumi. biggrin