NEVER LET GO
Disclaimer: Do I look like owning Saiyuki?
A/N: There! Finally I'm updated. Sorry for the long wait. Things get crazier here, and I find myself facing writer's block. It's really hard to write though I already have the plot in my head from the very beginning. well, enough with babbling; I hope you'll enjoy.
CHAPTER NINE
Fallen Dawn
Tense and chilly air engulfed the Konran Tower. Toushin Homura Taishi made his way back to his headquarters, his loyal comrade following closely behind him. His heavy boots stepped on the moistened ground without hesitation but suddenly stopped, drawing a curious look from his companion.
"What is it, Homura-sama?" Shien asked with his calm voice to his leader.
Instead of answering, Homura just stood there, unmoving. His silk cloak seeped on his slender shoulders, his dark locks fell upon his unreadable expression.
Slowly, the Toushin turned mismatched golden-sapphire eyes and stared toward the east, to the direction where the sun had peeked itself out from the rocky surface of the earth, filling the whole universe with its warm golden rays.
Homura remained unmoving for a few minutes, letting the dawn shine over his lean body, bathing himself with the warmth of the sun.
"Homura-sama, is something bothering you?" His calm comrade asked again, slight detected in his calm voice.
The leader shrugged, "Nothing. Let's go, Shien."
The two made their way back to the tower, leaving the beautiful dawn to rise alone.
What are you going to do? Konzen...
"What in the hell took you guys so long??" Zenon bellowed furiously, accidentally showering Shien and Homura's face with his spit.
Wiping his face calmly, the eye-closed kami answered with his calm voice, "A bit of this and that. How is Son Goku?"
Zenon dropped his gaze, his expression went serious.
"He was even worse tonight. I couldn't bring the fever down no matter what. But the nightmares were the worst. I had to pin his limbs down to prevent him from hurting himself. Troublesome kid..." the patched-eyed kami shook his head.
Homura felt worry rose within his voice as he asked, "Where is he now?"
Zenon sighed, his expression was a mixture of relief and confusion, "I don't know how to put this, but this morning he suddenly..."
"HOMURAAA!! Where'd you go?? Why'd you leave me behind with this ero-kami AGAIN??" a very familiar voice jerked Homura's mind. The Toushin turned his eyes abruptly, and eventually locked eyes with bright and cheerful golden eyes of the earth heretic.
"Son Goku?" was the only thing Homura was able to say.
The golden-eyed teen practically bounced himself towards the stunned Toushin and caught the surprised older heretic into a bear hug.
Feeling no reaction from the older man, the younger heretic frowned, lifting his head and stared at the stunned mismatched eyes above him.
"Homura? Is anything wrong? You're acting so strange... Are you sick or something?"
Unclouded worry shone within the deep color of purest gold.
Homura just stared, jaw slightly opened, completely losing his gaze in the depths of innocent gold.
Thankfully, Shien regained his composure faster than the War God.
"Ano... Goku-san, aren't you supposed to be in your bed?" the kami asked with asoft tone.
Goku stared at the pale face, brows knitted in confusion.
"In bed? Why? It's morning already, and I'm not sick or something, am I?" the boy spoke innocently.
"But, you were..." Shien was about to retort when Zenon suddenly grabbed him from behind.
"Ssh, don't say anything. He doesn't remember anything about his days of fever and nightmares, exactly the same time when his fever broke this morning." He whispered hastily.
Shien opened his eyes in curiosity at Zenon's exclamation.
"Excuse me? How is that possible...?" he spoke in low voice.
"Don't ask me, I don't know!" Zenon whispered, trying to keep his voice as low as possible, "that kid looked really terrible before; he started screaming till he opened his eyes and I saw his pupils were completely gone. As if it's that's not terrifying enough, he thrashed wildly till I was about to the point of chaining him right there on his bed. But then, as soon as the dawn rose, he suddenly woke up and stared at me with those stupid eyes of his, and said 'Morning, ero-kami,' as if nothing happened! Freaky, huh?" the patched-eyed kami shook his head, his hand on his temple as if thinking hard.
Shien frowned, his eyes closed.
Strange... how can he not remember the terrible pain he was in all night? The scientist's creation is really horrible indeed... But I must admit; it really is flawless. What a wicked guy, that human. We must careful, with him watching our backs...
"Nee, Homura, what's wrong? Shien, what's happening to him? Is something wrong?"
Goku released his hug on the older heretic, frowning as he averted his eyes from Homura to stare at Shien, pleading for explanation.
The pale faced kami stared back at those worried golden eyes, his expression unreadable.
"Iie, no need to worry, Goku-san. Nothing happened, don't worry. Homura-sama is just...rather tired, that's all."
Shien curved his lips into what he hoped was a smile. Still, it wasn't enough to ease the worry from the youth's features.
He sighed, "Listen to me, Goku-san, Homura-sama is just..."
"Worried about you,"
The voice took everyone's immediate attention.
Homura looked down at Goku's surprised expression; his hands put themselves on the boy's slender shoulders.
"I was just worried about you. I don't want you to get sick… or hurt." The Toushin fixed longing bi-colored gaze on the boy's confused ones.
"But… I wasn't sick or hurt…" golden eyes stared back at the older man, filled with worry and confusion.
Homura patted the boy's head, smiling gently.
"If that is the case, I promise I'll protect you. I promise I won't ever let you suffer. I will protect you, at all costs."
The War God secured his hand around Goku's slim waist; his other hand stroked the boy's back gently.
Golden eyes closed in respond, lips muttered "thank you…" softly as the boy returned the hug, burying his face into the older man's chest.
I'll never let you go… you'll be safe in my arms… stay by my side… forever…
It was a shiny day. The sun shone through the trees, filling the small room with its warm rays. Yet, even the sun couldn't reach the iced heart of the only person occupying the room. Genjo Sanzo was sitting on a bed, his violet gaze fixed on the opened window, staring into the bright sky. Eyes clouded with thought, the monk didn't even realize the beautiful dawn had rose and shone through his lean body. Not when his mind was on a certain golden-eyed heretic boy, his ex-charge.
A sudden cracked sound of the door's joints went unnoticed by him. He remained unmoving on his bed, listening to the sound of heavy boots echoed in his room.
"It's the third dawn." Kougaiji's deep voice rang inside the room, breaking the silence within, "Shall we?"
Sanzo gave no response for a brief moment, before standing on his feet, and made his way towards the door. Passing the demon prince, he muttered,
"Ikuzo."
Kougaiji smirked as he followed the priest out from the inn, towards the tower where Toushin Homura Taishi resided.
Prepare your ass, Homura. I'm taking my saru back…
"Nee, Homura! Come here, hayaku!! It's so beautiful!"
Homura couldn't help but smile at the sight of Goku bouncing up and down, radiating massive energy through his smile and laughter.
He, Shien, and Zenon had taken Goku to a flower field near the tower for a picnic. The Toushin sat on a picnic sheet Zenon had spread for them, watching the golden-eyed boy played so happily, chasing butterflies and admiring flowers.
Shien was sitting nearby, preparing food from a picnic basket he had brought for them. Scratch that; he had cooked for them. Homura chuckled a bit at the thought.
Shien. Cooks.
It probably only happened once every thousand years.
Homura still could remember Zenon dropped his jaw anime-style at Shien's request.
Flashback
"You WHAT??" A certain patched-eyed kami's furious bellow echoed in the silent tower.
"I said I suggest we go for a picnic today. It's a very nice weather, and I know a perfect place. It's a very beautiful place full of flowers. Son Goku will love it for sure." Shien explained calmly, keeping his eyes closed so that his expression was unreadable. Still, a flash of excitement could be seen within the porcelain face.
Gaining his composure with unbelievable speed, Zenon whistled, "That's a pretty good idea, count me in."
The patched-eyed kami turned to face the leader, "What do you think, Homura? I think we should relax for a day. Besides, this is a good chance for you to spend more time with that kid." A small grin passed the patched-eyed kami's lips as he watched Homura drop his gaze, trying to hide his own excitement.
It didn't take long before the Toushin replied.
"Very well. I don't see any problems. I shall go for a picnic today. Let's get prepared. I'll inform Son Goku about it."
Shien nodded, "Very well. Then I shall prepare the food."
This statement caught the two kami horror-struck.
"Wait a min… Shien, your saying that you'll prepare the food?" Zenon asked curiously.
"Do you need me to repeat it?"
Zenon shook his head, "No, no. I mean… do you mean you're going to…" he gulped nervously, "to… cook?"
Shien just stared at his partner with weird look on his face before answering.
"Yes."
The room burst out with Zenon's "You WHAT??" once again.
End Flashback
A rare smile played on the War God's lips at the memory. His mismatched eyes observed the field, watching his comrades enjoy themselves in such a rare opportunity. Zenon had joined Goku and the two of them were now playing tag and wrestling each other. Shien sat calmly by a tree, his features relaxed as if meditating.
"Homura! Look!"
The Toushin turned his head and his eyes fell at the sight of Goku running towards him, with wide and innocent grin plastered on his face.
"Here, for you!" Goku showed the older man a bunch of violet flowers. Apparently the teen picked them up somewhere around the field.
Homura took the gift, his eyes wide. He stared at the boy, weird emotions filled his heart.
"For me?"
Goku nodded, his eyes were filled with pure adoration.
"Un! Aren't they beautiful, Homura? Just like your eyes…" Goku stopped abruptly, golden eyes widened as he realized that he was staring at mismatched golden and sapphire eyes.
Homura froze.
Like my eyes…?
"Ah… gomen!! I don't know what I'm thinking…" Goku bowed his head, looking sorry and confused at the same time.
"I'm so stupid… I should've realized that your eyes aren't violet… Sorry…" the boy backed away a bit, his shoulder shaking.
"No… it's okay," Homura spoke tenderly as he placed gentle hands on Goku's shoulder, reassuring him.
"I really like the flowers. Thanks for picking them for me, Goku." Mismatched eyes softened as he lifted Goku's chin and stared at the golden orbs longingly.
"But, I'm…" Goku still somehow looked uneasy.
Homura sighed, "Never mind that. Maybe you were just too preoccupied with something else to pay attention about the color. Just forget it, okay? The fact that you give the flowers to me… is enough." Homura smiled as he patted Goku's head gently.
Slowly reassured, Goku nodded and smiled a little.
"Hai… I think I'll just go back with the ero-kami… See you later, Homura," the small brunette gave a fleeting smile before running back to the field.
Homura just watched Goku's back, suppressing a sad smile.
Why…
He eyed the flowers in his hand. The amethyst color that captured his Son Goku's heart.
Why…
Homura crushed the flowers under his fingers, his mismatched eyes blazed with hurt and jealousy.
He remembers Konzen…
A/N: Nyahah! You can't have Goku forever, Homura! Finally I'll stop torturing Sanzo-sama, and your turn will be coming very soon! (grins evilly)
Oh well. There you go. Sorry it's kinda short. I'll try my best to overcome writer's block as well as my mysterious disease English-error. Anyway, I hope this story is not too rushed or out of character... (except Homura, who's clearly ooc particularly in this chapter..)
And as usual, tell me what you think! Any comments will be appreciated.
Thanks for reading!