Chapter 2. The Encounter

Three days later, Goku had just finished washing his plate from lunch when the bell to his apartment rang. As he hastily dried his hands, Goku could feel his own thumping heartbeats getting louder. The bell rang the second time. "Comin'!" Goku exclaimed. A few steps brought him to the door. Inhale, exhale, just be calm, Goku said to himself and opened the door.

A gasp escaped Goku's mouth.

The someone-who-potentially-might-be-Sanzo, or Goku according to the email signature, looked down at him with piercing now-clearly-as-the-sky violet droopy eyes, scowl in place. Even though Goku gained height over the years, Goku was still half a head taller. Butterflies filled Goku's belly. He had accustomed himself with the ponytailed Goku, and yet the person in front of him had nice clean short hair, reminding Goku of the first time Sanzo had come to the prison on top of Mount Gogyou. And Goku definitely looked so much younger with the short hair, an italian sleeve rolled white shirt, and black formal pants. Goku also could not miss the delicate pale skin under the two undone buttons on top of the shirt. Goku had guessed Goku was in his 30s with the ponytails but the man in front of him could not be older than 28. Goku swallowed.

Goku was the one who reached out his hand first. "Goku," a deep voice followed.

The voice sounded irritated, but to Goku it sounded so sexy it went straight to his groin. "Ah y-yeah, I'm Goku," Goku shook Goku's hand clumsily when he realized that Goku was introducing himself, "I mean, 'm Goku too," came out with a sheepish laugh.

After the awkward handshake that took longer than usual, Goku pulled his hands and let himself in the room. Goku snapped from his trance and realized that Goku was not bringing anything with him. "Um, ya don't bring any instruments with ya?"

Goku raised a harmonica that he fetched from his pocket without looking back, "I did. You told me to bring any instruments I want. This is the easiest to bring." Goku closed the door behind him, "I see, yeah, guess that would do."

Goku looked around the apartment. A two-bedroom apartment judging by the two doors, but it didn't seem like he sleeps in either room, Goku thought after inspecting the sofa bed on his left near the entrance, complete with the pillows and a folded blanket. He also found a coffee table in front of the sofa bed, some more distance and there were some cluttered racks full of boxes, frames, and bits of everything in the living room. They looked all well-kept and there were indications of efforts to store things neatly, but it was still messy. The kitchen part on his right looked so much tidier.

Goku walked past him and went into the bigger room out of the two, "Come in," he gestured to Goku to follow.

Inside the room were several lamps and a lighting set, but it was already bright without any of them on. Goku had no idea what material was used for the walls, but it made the sunlight shine at every angle of the small studio perfectly. There were several sections of the studio that gave different vibes and Goku was astonished at how well the room was designed.

Goku was preparing his cameras while Goku roamed around the small studio. "I listened to your music, I'll seek you out again in the next world, is it? It's real nice."

"Thanks," Goku's answer was short.

"I listened your other songs as well, but that's my favorite. Somehow I felt… a longing there," Goku continued.

By that comment, Goku stopped. "Pretty sharp, aren't you?" he gave Goku an unusual appraising look, "Other people told me it's like a sentimental sad song or beautiful song, but no one's ever felt the longingness."

Hearing Sanzo's voice in the man more and more gave more warmth below Goku's belly. Shit, shouldna have chat him, or at least not until the work is done, Goku decided. "Okay, let's start then," Goku said. Please stand here." Goku stood at the pointed spot, then he turned his head to Goku and gave a blank expression, "And how should I do this?"

After a few minutes, Goku started to think that this was not as easy as he thought. He had to give detailed instructions to Goku each time he took pictures from an angle. Goku was really awkward and stiff, and at some point Goku had to move Goku himself, which made it worse for his self control. The touches were light but they sent waves directly to his groin. He could feel the toned muscles of that slim body beneath his fingers. It really felt like the real Sanzo. And Goku had to hide his face a couple of times to hide his blush.

The photoshoot session surely took a lot longer than Goku had thought. After three full hours of directing and taking pictures, with only a few breaks to drink and toilets, Goku decided that this would be the last group of pictures he would take. Soon after directing, Goku went to his position and readied himself to shoot.

The sunlight was perfect on Goku's face and harmonica he's pretending to play. The serene face looked so tantalizing and Goku found himself stunned by the view. Furrows started to emerge on Goku's face and Goku was taken aback by the muffled "Is it done already?"

Oops! Goku quickly started to take pictures.

"It's a wrap!" Goku beamed after taking a look at the pictures he took.

"Damn, being a model is worse than I thought," Goku scowled.

Goku chuckled, "Yeah, sure is." Goku put out his tools, led Goku towards the kitchen and went to the fridge. "Want one?" he handed a can of beer. Goku immediately took the can and opened it. "But to be honest, it's pretty good for your first try. You look fantastic," Goku opened his own beer. Goku raised one of his eyebrows.

"...in the pictures," Goku added abruptly."Ya hungry?" Goku hoped he did not ruin his first impression. Goku settled on one of the barstools at the slim kitchen bar which divides the living room and the kitchen, "Starving."

At least he has appetite, Goku thought. "Okay, I'll order a pizza, I know a very good one nearby," Goku took his phone while Goku finished his beer. No more than 15 minutes later the pizza came. Goku plopped himself onto the barstool beside Goku and opened the pizza box, "So, how long have ya been producin' music?"

Goku took a slice of pizza, "I started learning piano when I was little. In junior high school, I tried other instruments and yeah, I guess I decided to be a musician at that time." Goku swallowed his pizza, "Cool! Where do you get the inspiration?"

Goku munched and swallowed before answering, "I don't know. They just came. Sometimes it pours hard like the waterfall, like years ago. It's getting dry nowadays, and damn I have nothing to do when there are no inspirations."

"Yeah, in photography we have our high seasons and low seasons as well, in fact I usually have nothin' to do in these comin' months," Goku felt the conversation was getting along well.

"How about you? Why did you choose to be a photographer?" Goku asked while taking another slice of pizza.

Goku did not see that coming. He munched his pizza and swallowed, "Um, I've always been a fan to life itself. Ya know, when ya take pictures of someone, ya can feel 'em, from their expressions, their movements, their laughters. Those kinda things bring me joy." Goku smiled widely and scratched the back of his head.

"Hmph, figures as much. Your pictures are really something," a smirk forming in Goku's face.

"Really? You like them?" Goku asked with glittering wide eyes. Goku rolled his eyes, "Stupid. I wouldn't agree to you taking pictures of me if I don't, now would I?" Goku suddenly felt his chest tightened and his face warm, not by the compliment but because of the lips when it pronounced the word stupid.

"Couldna have put it in a better way, San-" and Goku immediately shut his mouth when he realized. His already perplexed mind went blank and dizzy.

Goku only raised an eyebrow at the remark, "Huh? How do you know my real name?"

Goku was silent for a moment when he processed the latest reply. "Huh?" Goku was the shocked one now.

Goku sighed. "Shan," he corrected, "Genjo's the real name, and you can call me Gen. It's weird you calling me Goku when your name's Goku too."

Goku couldn't believe it. Shan Genjo, even the name's way too similar. Goku was more convinced now that Gen was really the reincarnation of Sanzo. "Right... Gen it is! Yeah, it's kinda weird to call ya with my own name," Goku let out a small laugh. "So, why Goku?"

Gen rested his chin on his hand and stared at nowhere in particular. "Hmm, I don't know. Guessed I was drawn to the name. I always loved the name since I was little and I thought I could use it as my 'pen name', you know?"

Goku's chest twisted. Does Sanzo actually remember him? Unconsciously, maybe?

Before Goku could answer, Gen started another topic. "By the way, you were using analog cameras back then," Gen took another slice of pizza.

Goku snapped back from his trance. "Oh yes, I looove analog cameras. Started with them," Goku grinned proudly.

"So… you'll print them in… what do you call it? A darkroom?"

"Yeah, my darkroom's there," Goku pointed at the door of the other bedroom.

"Cool, I've always been interested to see a real one. It's really rare these days."

"Damn yeah, that's why I created one myself. Ya wanna see when I print your pictures?"

"Sure."

"Cool, I don't have any other jobs right now so probably I will print 'em tomorrow."

"Cool," Gen finished his pizza. So was Goku.

"Gen.." "Goku," they simultaneously said.

"Uh, what is it Gen?" Goku quickly asked.

"I think it's better for me to go home, but what did you wanna say?"

"Oh, it's nothing,"Goku replied hurriedly. "Yeah. It's really nice to meet ya, not just as a model I mean, in person too."

"Likewise," a smile formed.

The smile was not big and rather more like a smirk, but Goku just knew it was a real genuine smile, and this time Goku felt a forming bulge inside his shorts. Quickly he hopped from his barstool and led Gen to the front door. After washing his hands, Gen followed to the front door. And suddenly their gaze locked. Feeling Gen's piercing gaze, Goku found himself fluttering away.

"See you tomorrow then," Gen said casually.

"Y-yeah, s-see ya tomorrow," Goku replied.

Gen waved lazily as he walked the hallway. Goku watched him walk and punch the lift button at the end of the hallway. Gen turned his face towards the hallway he just walked through. Seeing Goku still there, he raised an arm. Goku awkwardly raised his hand and then quickly got back inside his room, shutting the door behind him. He breathed frantically and he felt his heartbeat thumping the loudest in years.

How long had it been? How many years had he waited? This Sanzo, Gen, was in some ways very different from Sanzo. He was more sociable, which might be caused by his profession or maybe his current life experience. He also had a more 'positive' aura even though he still had that scowl a lot. Gen was also in some ways very Sanzo. The shining golden hair and those damn piercing violet droopy eyes were still sharp as hell. All about Gen made Goku's stomach twist.

How the hell will he face Gen tomorrow?