Title: Together
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Swearing, dubcon, explicit consensual m/m sex
Rating: NC-17 - not worksafe
Pairing(s): 585
Prompt: Hakkai/Gojyo - fatigue and sleeping in close quarters, unexpected first-time sex, with witnesses
Spoilers: Reload "Snowdrop" arc
Word count: 3565
Notes: Written for Saiyuki Kink Meme IV. Beta by the ever-patient and supportive smillaraaq.
Summary: Hakkai discovers that two can sleep much more warmly than one.

( The wind blew the light, dry snow into a constantly shifting veil across Hakkai's tired eyes ...  )

Title: Simple Joys
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: sensuality, swearing, mild m/m
Prompt: Saiyuki, Gojyo/Hakkai: Domesticity - The weirdest part was that he was getting used to it.
Word count: : 2520
Summary: Gojyo's learning that the right company makes even the mundane joyful.
A/N: Written for springkink VIII. Beta by the indispensable smillaraaq. The title is from a song from the musical Pippin: "Simple joys have a simple voice / that says time is living's prize ... ."

The mid-morning light woke Gojyo. Or maybe it was the smell of pork buns ...

Title: Appetizing
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: m/m kissage, mild swearing, and failed attempts at wit
Prompt: Ryo/Dee: kissing someone to shut them up - eggplant
Word count: : 675
Summary: A disagreement over a dinner choice turns heated.
A/N: Written for springkink VIII. Beta by the splendiferous smillaraaq.

The rain had stopped by the time they came up out of the subway ...

Dear Yuletide Writer:

First off, please, have fun writing the story! I really believe that in the case of fanfiction pieces, as with most art, results are better when someone is doing something that s/he likes, after all. The only thing that I will demand is a happy ending: this is the dark end of the year, when we could all use a little joy!

( Just in case you were wondering about what I might like, here are some ideas: )

Title: The Next Step
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: mild m/m
Prompt: Samurai Deeper Kyo: Benitora × Akira, Testing the lines of friendship, "I found myself wanting sympathy"
Word count: : 1485
Summary: Benitora is there when his old friend needs him.
A/N: Written for springkink VIII. Set between the last two chapters of the entire series (306 and 307), but I've tried to finesse any spoilers for volumes 35-38. This story assumes familiarity with canon in vols. 1-34 (the ones released in English so far), so there are some spoilers from those volumes. Beta by the insightful smillaraaq, the always-helpful blue_hobbit, and the surprising kispexi2

The noise of the common room of the roadside inn faded out as the host led Benitora back ...

Title: Like Likes Like
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: PG-ish
Warnings: hints of a few adult themes
Prompt: : XXXholic/Pet Shop of Horrors, Yuuko and Count D: a chance encounter - "Four cubes of sugar in my tea, please." Word count: : 2015
Summary: This time, it's not a spirit that follows Watanuki home.
A/N: written for springkink VIII. Prompt: Beta by the marvelous avierra and the perceptive smillaraaq . Includes vague references to the end of the original Petshop series.

Himawari had a very serious expression on her face as she tasted the pastry ...

There's not much point in reading these 'til you've read the story, "A Stitch in Time," a Saiyuki AU, which is here.

Title: A Stitch in Time
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: PG-13 or T (very mild m/m, aftermath/retelling of violence, gore, cursing)
Warnings: painful, primitive treatment of serious injuries (not too explicit, though); AU, with some age shifting
Pairing(s): very early 585 - perhaps
Spoilers: the general outline of Hakkai and Gojyo's backstories, and Sanzo's origins
Notes: Written under the nostalgic influence of Sally Watson's YA historical romances and the Scottish portions of Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles, and probably originally inspired by cicer's Taboo and emungere's Bless the Beasts and Children, in both of which a very young Gojyo ends up in a better place ... which got me wondering about what influences a developing child's personality, and when. Beta (multiple rounds of beta ... ) and some very good suggestions by smillaraaq .
Summary: Young Hugh Chase thinks that both his vengeful mission to Scotland and his life are about to come to a bloody end, but in fact, the story is just beginning.

Go Back & Read Part 1

Title: A Stitch in Time
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: PG-13 or T (very mild m/m, aftermath/retelling of violence, gore, cursing)
Warnings: painful, primitive treatment of serious injuries (not too explicit, though); AU, with some age shifting
Pairing(s): very early 585 - perhaps
Spoilers: the general outline of Hakkai and Gojyo's backstories, and Sanzo's origins
Notes: Written under the nostalgic influence of Sally Watson's YA historical romances and the Scottish portions of Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles, and probably originally inspired by cicer's Taboo and emungere's Bless the Beasts and Children, in both of which a very young Gojyo ends up in a better place ... which got me wondering about what influences a developing child's personality, and when. Beta (multiple rounds of beta ... ) and some very good suggestions by smillaraaq .
Summary: Young Hugh Chase thinks that both his vengeful mission to Scotland and his life are about to come to a bloody end, but in fact, the story is just beginning.

Fandoms: (1) Saiyuki; (2) Howl's Moving Castle/Bleach crossover; (3) Saiyuki; (4) FAKE/xxxHolic (crossover); (5) Saiyuki Gaiden/Sandman (crossover); (6) Saiyuki Gaiden; (7) Black Lagoon; (8) Saiyuki; (9) Black Lagoon; ...
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: mild m/m, cross-dressing, m/m kissage, and naughty talk,
Notes: I'm between stages on a couple of longer WIPs, and I wanted to fluff and air out my writing brain, so I called for prompts for flash fiction in my main LJ, from anything listed in my interests.

Title: Position Wanted
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Adult concepts, sensuality, a swearword
Pairing(s): Ni Jianyi/Gyokumen Koushou (implied)
Spoilers: Ni Jianyi's background
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #61, Hustling; time allowed: 45 minutes; time taken: 50 minutes
Summary: The Lady of Houtou's prisoner turns out to be a little more interesting than she expected.

He was not a particularly imposing figure as he stood there ...

Title: Satisfaction
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: very mild m/m
Pairing(s): teeny 58
Spoilers: Hints about Reload 10
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #60, Comfort Food; time allowed: 60 minutes; time taken: 65 minutes
Summary: After their first good meal since the massive battle with the Master of the Muten Sutra, everyone's feeling a little more lively

The inn would have been no more than a piss-stop in the first months of their journey West, ...

Title: Priorities, Male
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Gojyo's mouth, smutty innuendo
Pairing(s): 585
Spoilers: nothing much
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #58, Gojyo tops Hakkai. Not necessarily in sex; time allowed: 15 minutes; time taken: 20 minutes, plus 5 minutes of research at the start. Sorry about the title ... .
Summary: One night, Gojyo is just on top of things.

It was a good hand, Gojyo thought, but was it good enough to beat Hakkai's ... ?

Title: A New Day
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: nothing at all, really
Pairing(s): n/a
Spoilers: a little about Dokugakuji's history and the personnel of Houtou Castle
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #57, Dawn: use the concept in a metaphorical sense; time allowed: 40 minutes; time taken: 50 minutes. Title taken from the Oysterband: ""Everything must go, it's a new day." I'm a little "meh" on this one - see what you think.
Summary: After an unexpected adventure, Dokugakuji finds his place with the prince of Houtou.

"It's a simple task. So simple, even you should be able to do it ... "

Title: Picking Up the Pieces
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Revy's mouth; blood; smutty innuendo
Pairing(s): very early Rock/Revy, if you squint
Spoilers: the ending of the "Fujiyama Gangsta Paradise" arc
Notes: My first Black Lagoon fic! And really, this is almost gen. Thanks to smillaraaq for excellent, insightful beta. Word count: ~3,205
Summary: Balalaika sends Rock and Revy out of town so Revy can convalesce. It's not exactly a pleasure trip.

Title: Somewhere Between
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Gojyo's mouth, mild m/m
Pairing(s): 585
Spoilers: Events in Reload volumes 7 and 8
Notes: written for lady-ganesh, who likes to hear Gojyo talk. Happy birthday! (Unbeta'ed, I am afraid ... .)
Summary: The night before the ikkou are reunited with Sanzo, Hakkai has a lot on his mind. So, surprisingly, does Gojyo.

Title: In Loco Parentis
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Sanzo's mouth
Pairing(s): n/a, really
Spoilers: Sanzo's history; Sanzo and Goku's first days
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #55, a story in dialogue only; time allowed: 40 minutes; time taken: 35 minutes. Go team!
Summary: Goku has a lot of questions.

"Aren't you supposed to be asleep, Monkey ... ?"

Title: Fix It
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: swearing, mild m/m
Pairing(s): Gojyo/Hakkai
Spoilers: tiny bits throughout the first series
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #54, 3 scenes, each using a specific word: toxic, bury, kiss; time allowed: 90 minutes; time taken: about 95 minutes
Summary: When Gojyo falls badly afoul of Sanzo, he has a tough fix-up job.

"You have no one to blame but yourself, Gojyo ... ."

Title: Astray
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Violence against a child and a small animal, swearing, angst.
Pairing(s): n/a
Spoilers: General for Gojyo's childhood
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #52, word list: Grow. Feather. Knife. Angular. Cat; time allowed: 60 minutes; time taken: 75 minutes. This prompt awoke a plot bunny that's been asleep since smillaraaq and I discussed it last - at least 18 months ago. (I feel like I should apologize to everyone, on a couple of levels.)
Summary: Small Gojyo decides to bring home a kitten. It does not go well

The little cat's back was a soft, smoky gray ...

Title: Adjusting Expectations
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Swear words
Pairing(s): very mild Gojyo/Hakkai, if you read it that way
Spoilers: References to parts of Gojyo and Hakkai's Burial arc and the Be There arc
Notes: written for saiyuki_time, Challenge #51, Disappointed; time allowed: 20 minutes; time taken: 25 minutes ... I'm improving!
Summary: Why exactly is Gojyo trying to get drunk?

It was the first time that Hakkai had allowed Gojyo beer since Banri's erstwhile employers had broken four of Gojyo's ribs ...