DISCLAIMER: I do not own Saiyuki or it's characters. Nor do I take any credit for it or them
All is Fair in Love and War
Chapter 1: Birth of a Goddess
The gates of Heaven were NOT breath taking. Paradise was too perfect, and the temperature was too cool. Whoever said that the perfection of heaven was unmatched needed a boot or possibly a sword up their ass. So much so that it was a young teenage girl being dragged by her upper arm to the palace of Kanzeon Bosastu that firmly believed this. She was grudgingly digging her heels in the ground, growling obscenities at the Dragon King of the West who currently had her arm in a death grip. The young woman was actually contemplating gnawing her arm off from the shoulder to get away from him.
"Would you stop fighting me?" Gojun sternly requested. "I'm tired, and dragging you all the way from the Lower World has been one of the most tedious tasks that I've been assigned. No thanks to your non-compliant behavior." He jerked her closer to him as he hauled her up the steps. People nearby were whispering to one another, staring in horror at Gojun's barbaric method of handling the woman.
"Look, I was minding my own business at home and then YOU showed up? What in the world ARE you? You look like the boogey man." She rudely pointed out. Gojun's jaw clenched as he bit back on his harsh retort that was on the tip of his tongue. He was tempted to throw her back into the lower world but carried on to the palace and stopped at the doors. He placed his hands on her shoulders and took a deep breath. He knew it was important to check his temper to avoid unnecessary smart aleck remarks. As it was, the maiden was pissed.
"Now, Mi'lady…" he gently pressed. "You are here on command of the Merciful Goddess. She has wanted to meet you for some time now. I believe she has a place here in paradise for you, but we will just have to see. There are going to be a lot of people wandering around. Just hang on to my arm so you don't get lost." His eyes were soft, but serious and the young girl scowled at him.
"No." She simply said. Gojun groaned, palming his forehead in frustration. He composed himself once more before attempting again.
"I don't want to drag you through this palace. For one, people may see it and treat you like a criminal, for two, I don't want to be seen acting so aggressively towards a woman. Let's do both of us a favor ok?" He forced a hopeful smile. His eyes wandered from her questioning expression down to her right hand, which was gripping her upper left arm. He had left fierce red welts from his fingers on her porcelain colored skin. She saw him looking at it and glared.
"I'm sorry, I did not mean to hurt you. I truly regret being so forceful." He apologized, lightly bowing. He hoped his apology would make her a little more willing to obey. He inwardly sighed as she smiled and slipped her hand into his arm. She allowed him to escort her into the palace, grasping his arm like he had suggested. They were met with many curious stares and murmurs. The young woman pressed closer against Gojun, her fingers grasping the material on his arm.
"It's your eyes." He informed her. "I myself have never seen pink eyes. It's quite different." He stopped before an elaborately decorated door and knocked three times before entering. He led the woman inside. Her center point of focus immediately fell on the older dark haired woman sitting behind a desk. The woman had long wavy black hair swept back into a cascading waterfall of raven tresses. She was very beautiful, and she had an amused smile on her face. She stood up behind her desk, placing a hand on a hip.
"Welcome to Heaven." She warmly said. "Thank you for bringing her to me on such short notice Gojun." The dragon king lightly bowed as the young woman released his arm.
"Always a pleasure, Merciful Goddess." He politely said. "May I take my leave now, I need to rest, the Lower World was particularly exhausting last night."
"Yes, yes of course, please go right ahead." The Merciful Goddess waved him away. Gojun bowed again, casting a sideways glance at the girl beside him before retreating from the room, his pale cloak billowing out behind him.
"He's kind of pretty, but kind of jerky…" The young woman thoughtfully said. The goddess lightly chuckled at her.
"My name is Kanzeon Bosatsu." She introduced herself. "What is your name?"
"Setsuka Harikiri." The girl replied. "Why am I here?" Kanzeon bit her lip. 'Doesn't waste any time, does she?' She thought. 'That could be a problem...'
"Well, my dear, it seems that you have slipped through the cracks…" She replied. "You are aware that you are different?" She asked. Setsuka crossed her arms over her shapely chest, cocking her head to the side.
"Nope, I'm just me..." Setsuka shrugged. Kanzeon thoughtfully rubbed her chin. 'It's apparent she's not letting her guards down nor is she willing to let me into her business, this could be difficult...'
"Don't worry, we are all different in paradise, here, you are not shunned for your unique gifts, you are embraced for them. So tell me, you never had any special abilities? Things that most other's cannot do, or any particular strengths or specialties." Kanzeon tried at a different angle. Setsuka seemed to contemplate her words before accepting that she was telling the truth.
"Actually, yeah…" She admitted. "I think I can do magic, although my friends just thought I was crazy. I can also charm people really easily. I think it was a gift I was born with." Kanzeon leaned over the desk getting a closer look at her. She squinted hard, focusing her eyes on Setsuka.
"Yup, you're her daughter alright. I'll never forget those eyes…" She said, sighing. Setsuka stepped closer to the desk.
"You knew my mom? How?" She urgently demanded. Her pink crystalline eyes were large and question and Kanzeon realized how much she resembled her mother.
"Well, let's just say I know your father." She said. "The truth of the matter is, your mother was a goddess before she was banished to the Lower World, and before she was banished, she had conceived you. You, Setsuka are a goddess…"
"Ya don't say?" Setsuka quirked a brow at her. "Lady, are you on drugs?" She inquired. She was not being a smart ass, she was not implying anything, she was asking a sincere question. Kanzeon felt her pulse in her temple.
"No I'm not on drugs." She replied. "I sent for you because you belong here. How old are you?"
"What, you mean you don't know?" Setsuka coolly asked.
"Child, I will toss you into-"
"I'm 18." Setsuka replied, silencing the Goddess of Mercy. Kanzeon sighed.
"Yup, that's the final confirmation…." She flatly said. "This is what happens with poor timing, we get a smart ass little beauty queen with breasts exploding out of her robes." She eyed the girls large cleavage line.
"You're just jealous cuz mine are nicer and don't drop to my knees, grandma…" Setsuka sweetly said. Kanzeon grinned, sitting back down.
"You are lucky I think your fiery attitude is charming. I see a lot of myself in you." She replied. "Your natural magnetic attraction isn't just fate. You just so happen to be the new Goddess of Love. I hope you like it, women would KILL for the title…" Setsuka said nothing.
"Now," Kanzeon clasped her hands together on her desk. "I will be assigning you your own personal quarters. Do with them as you please. I will send a seamstress in to take your measurements. Rest for today, I will send for you in the morning and an attendant will show you around."
"Yes, of course." Setsuka nodded. "Will I get more of an explanation tomorrow?" Kanzeon thoughtfully smiled.
"Hm, well, yeah, I suppose we could do that." She said. "But, until then, here's your keys. Now, run along, go play, go frolic about paradise." She lightly laughed at the young girl. Setsuka blankly stared before accepting the set of silver keys from the goddess.
"'K, thanks." She said. "See ya later then." She turned and withdrew from the room.
Kanzeon thoughtfully watched her leave, a knowing smile on her face. She closed her eyes, thinking of the endless possibilities.
"Hm, the Goddess of Love…"