ship_manifesto

Title: Nothing Gold Can Stay
Author:

lady_ganesh
Fandom: Saiyuki
Pairing: Goku/"Pippi"
Spoilers: Significant spoilers through V. 8 of Saiyuki Reload
Credit: Scans from the departed

radiofreebanri, all translations from the official TokyoPop translation

At its core, Saiyuki is the story of four men on the road trip from hell: Short-tempered, misanthropic, perpetually angry Sanzo; lecherous, smart-assed, vulnerable Gojyo; bright, polite, quite insane Hakkai; and energetic, strong, bright-eyed Goku.

A reasonably good summary is here.

As the manga continues, the stakes get higher, and the lead characters' challenges and frustrations grow. Beginning in volume 7 of Sayuki Reload, Sanzo-- the only fully human character-- is separated from the others for a significant span of time. We've already been shown in canon that the group isn't made to be separated, and Gojyo, Goku and Hakkai-- bereft of purpose, leadership, and most importantly, funds-- do quite poorly until they find themselves in a youkai village. (Youkai are a mythical race somewhere between the Western concepts of demons and elves.)

This is where we meet "Pippi." (She's on the left. Goku's on the right.)

Writing this whole manifesto has seemed a bit ludicrous all along, because one half of the couple lacks a proper canon name. ("Pippi" is a name the fandom picked out thanks to those cute little braids.) But their relationship is important, both to Goku and in the world of Saiyuki, and Pippi-- whatever her real name-- is a strong, interesting character in her own right.

More Than Just The Girl

Pippi-- we might as well go with it-- is smart, capable and incredibly loyal to her family and village. She's also a big fan of Kougaiji, the youkai lord who is one of Saiyuki's main antagonists. (He is, as she says, "kind, brave and totally gorgeous," so she does have pretty good taste.) Her feet are planted firmly on the ground, though; her primary concern is the well-being of her village and family.

The Bouncing Ball of Energy

Goku's one of our four heroes, an energetic, light-hearted young man with
a cheerful attitude and ready grin. Although Kougaji's an antagonist, Goku's something of a fan too, and he has the same loyalty and can-do spirit as Pippi. While the youngest and most-lighthearted of our protagonists, Goku has insight and strength his companions sometimes lack.

I Want to Live in a Way I can Be Proud Of: The Canon

Pippi's village dragged a dehydrated and dying Goko, Gojyo and Hakkai out of the desert and brought them home; but they make it clear very early that everyone has to pull their own weight. Goku finds himself working in the village store, side-by-side with Pippi. He learns to peel potatoes and save water, and-- as he tells her-- it's his first time dealing with girls on a regular basis.

I mean seriously...

I just realized it now. This's a first for me.

Then-- thanks to the stupidity and greed of the humans up the road-- everything changes. The humans have been conducting a campaign of deprivation against the village; while our heroes are there, the violence escalates to genocide.

In this violence-charged atmosphere, Pippi loses her brother and most of her community. Goku does his best to comfort her, and they work together to protect the children.

But Pippi has lost too much. She chooses to act, helping to load a cart with explosives and heading for the heart of the human settlement.

Goku tries to stop her from this suicide mission.¹

Goku. This is how I choose to live.

We have our pride.

The one person in my family, the village I grew up in....

When everything important to me's been taken away, I can't just sit and take it.

Even if it is stupid...I want to live in a way I can be proud of.

...I'm sure you can understand.

Goku answers with a shout:

No, no! I don't wanna understand!

In two incredibly powerful images, she kisses him and pushes him from the cart.

He lets her go. Goku has previously saved several characters from their own stupidity, self-destructiveness, or bad decisions, or at least tried to. But he lets her go. He does understand, in the end.

Gojyo has the last words:

...she would've grown up gorgeous.

Your taste is a little too good, kid.

Why ship them?

Goku and Pippi are a classic 'doomed first love'; they meet (fairly cute), they bicker, there's a little adorable sexual tension, and then it all goes wrong. But their relationship isn't a tragic formula; it's sweet and respectful. Goku lets Pippi make her own decision about her life, and death; her actions-- and the fact they are her choice-- push her, in my mind at least, beyond a woman in a refrigerator (full warning: TV Tropes link) made to motivate Goku and into a full character in her own right.

Plus, they are goddamned adorable. She bosses him around, he pretty much loves it, and for a brief, happy moment their relationship is a bright beam of sunlight in a very dark world.

The Fandom

Alas, while lots of people agree that they are kind of adorable together, there's not much fanwork out there...in fact, in my search, I came up with exactly nada, aside from a few fics dealing with the fallout from her death. But if you, dear reader, have any links, or are inspired to write....

~~~

¹The mangaka, Kazuya Minekura, later noted that people compared her actions to a suicide bomber; she did not intend any intentional parallels, but recognized that she might have been influenced by current events.