Chapter Eight: The Point of No Return

Notes: Sorry for the delay, my work schedule didn't factor in my hobby. And my hands are freaking FREEZING right now. Sheesh. Anyway, here's your concluding chappeh!

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Kenren found the confrontation easily. The two were the only ones in the field. He stopped short, remaining unseen by both Tenpou and Gojun. Goku, unprepared for the halt, crashed into him with a muffled groan. Kenren shushed the boy, watching the scene in front of him.

"I don't appreciate this, you know," Gojun said sharply.

Tenpou looked like he was going to either laugh or cry. Or both. "I suppose this is all my fault. I acted without thinking, and I again apologize."

An odd smile appeared on the dragon's lips. "Are you sure? It seems to me this was the fault of another. I wonder why you'd so quickly forget that."

Tenpou narrowed his eyes. "I'll like you to give me some credit, Gojun. I've already said there's nothing between us, and trying to make me mad at Kenren again will change nothing."

Gojun shrugged. "I wasn't trying anything. I'm just placing the blame where it really belongs. You really shouldn't let him get away with all the things he does."

His fault? Why would this be his fault? Kenren frowned.

"Not that I should need to explain anything to you, but what I 'let him get away with' is none of your business."

Gojun stepped closer. Tenpou tensed, and Kenren found he was doing the same. "Anyway, I believe you're being neglected in this situation. I was merely trying to remedy this, but I suppose you're happy being ignored," he raised an eyebrow. "Being replaced…"

"Just STOP IT!" Tenpou clenched his fists. "I don't care! I don't care if I'm going to have to put up with him doing this all the time, alright? I hate it more than anything, but I can't do anything about it, and I can't bring myself to give it up!"

Kenren was shocked. He'd only seen Tenpou like this a few times, and it usually ended in violence. But that wasn't what surprised him. What surprised him were the words that were being spoken. He knew immediately why this was all his fault. And he felt like shit for not realizing it sooner.

"I want you to leave us alone!" Tenpou continued. "Kenren AND myself. Do you understand that, Gojun? I'm sorry if I convinced you otherwise, but I want NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU."

Gojun's face never changed. It remained passive and emotionless. Which made his words seem all the more eerie. "And if I refuse?"

Tenpou, by this time, seemed to have regained some of his composure. "Then you leave me with little choice in the matter."

Now the dragon looked amused. "Are you going to try and fight me?"

The brunette narrowed his eyes, his stare icy cold. "Usually I'm adverse to such primal things as this, but seeing as I'm the metaphorical caged animal right now, I might as well put up a fight."

He had the nerve to laugh. "Eloquent as always."

"I'll ask you once more. Will you stop this?"

"I've always wanted to witness the hidden strength I've heard rumours about…"

Tenpou sighed. "I see."

In a flash, Gojun moved, tackling Tenpou to the ground and holding his head there with his hand. Tenpou struggled, but the damage was already done. Gojun had the advantage of leverage and his already considerable strength.

"Unfortunately, I don't have the patience for this right now…"

Before he knew what he was doing, Kenren was bolting through the grass. He yelled at Goku to stay put, right before slamming into the dragon officer at full force. He knocked him down, landing beside him. Tenpou, now free, jumped up.

"Kenren!"

But the taisho was glaring at Gojun. "I don't care who the FUCK you think you are, but you have no right to even TOUCH him!"

Gojun pushed himself up. He smirked defiantly at him. "Enter the knight. It's about time you showed up. I'd much rather take out my anger on you."

Kenren stood between Gojun and Tenpou. "Like you could take me. Besides, I'll gladly kick your ass before I'll let you mess with Tenpou again!"

Tenpou stopped. Kenren was defending him?

Gojun crossed his arms. "So you do show some loyalty at least."

"Okay fine!" he was already mad at Gojun. Now he was starting to get angry with himself as well. And when Kenren was angry with himself, he let everyone know it. "I was being an ass! I was too stupid to realize it before, but I was hurting myself. And worst of all, I was hurting Tenpou. But we can't get through all this until you stop stalking him like some kind of weirdo! So get the hell outta here already!"

Kenren felt something rest in the middle of his back. Turning a bit, he found Tenpou had rested his forehead on him.

"Sorry."

He shook his head, pulling Tenpou into his arms. "It was my fault. I was just too stupid to realize that I loved you."

Tenpou looked up. "You? Actually love someone? Are you feeling okay?"

Kenren grinned. "Way to ruin the serious moment…"

Gojun sighed loudly, bringing their attention back to him. "You do realize I have the power in this situation…"

"Che. What do you have?" Kenren rolled his eyes.

"I can have you both put away for attacking a senior officer."

"Buuuuuuuuuuuuuullshi—"

"Quit acting like an idiot, Gojun," Tenpou cut him off before he could finish. He grabbed Kenren by the arm, pulling him away. "I hope next time I see you, you've calmed down enough that we can speak civilly."

The two started walking away, back to where Goku was half-hidden in the tall grasses. Gojun didn't say anything. They were almost out of the field when Kenren heard something rustle behind them. He shoved Tenpou to the ground, out of the way. Tenpou looked up to see Gojun shoving Kenren bodily against a tree.

"GOJUN STOP!" Tenpou yelled, rushing to the tree and yanking him off the general.

"You're going to regret it…" Gojun muttered to Kenren before letting him go. He stormed past them all out of the field.

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Kenren hurt all over. Granted, he was almost getting used to these 'interrogations', but it didn't really make them hurt any less. He sat against the wall of his cell, trying not to move. Whenever he did, he got a sharp reminder of what happened when you pissed off a pouty dragon.

"Are you taking visitors?" a voice asked quietly. Kenren looked up to see Tenpou standing on the other side of the bars, smiling sadly at him.

Kenren tried his best at a smirk. "Is it a conjugal visit?"

Tenpou shook his head with a small laugh. He took a key from his pocket and unlocked the cell, slipping inside and shutting the door. He knelt beside his friend. "Are you feeling any better?"

He shifted the slightest bit, wincing as a fresh jolt of pain hit him. "Mentally or physically?"

The brunette gently laid his head on Kenren's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

Kenren let his head rest on Tenpou's. "I already told you this was my fault. If I hadn't been acting like such a jerk the whole time, you wouldn't have gotten Gojun involved in this."

They were quiet for a moment. Finally Tenpou spoke. "Did you mean what you said back there?"

"Hmm?"

"When you said…that you loved me…"

Kenren let out a breath. "Do you remember when you asked me what I was doing in Konzen's office?"

Tenpou nodded the tiniest bit.

"That's when I figured it out."

"So…" Tenpou's voice was quiet. "What does that make us?"

Kenren grinned. "We're whatever you want us to be, my dear gensui."

Tenpou rolled his eyes good-naturedly before getting serious. "You know what I want us to be?"

"What?"

"Forever."

Kenren laughed. "And I'm the poetic one?"

Tenpou lifted his head up slowly, pressing his lips against Kenren's tentatively. "Love you too."

Kenren immediately responded. He realized just how much he had missed this the previous weeks, and just how much of a moron he'd have been to do anything to mess this up. "You know…"

Tenpou moved so he was sitting half on top of the taller man. "Yes?"

Kenren kissed him again. "Keep this up and I'm going to need a conjugal visit."

Tenpou admonished him with a smile, wrapping his arms carefully around the taisho's waist. "Well, I suppose I can move my schedule around a bit…"

Kenren moved to the side of Tenpou's neck. "I'm flattered…"

The brunette tilted his head, pressing himself against the general. "I'm glad."

And that concluded the One Up affair.

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END! Whoo, that was totally longer than I'd ever planned! Thankehs to everyone who stuck through it, even when I got mad at some of you for no reason… -winces- I feel really bad now. Well, here's your last review response for this ficceh. Hope everyone enjoyed it! You all are the greatest!

thorned roses: I'm sorry. I wasn't aware you were kidding. I feel really bad now. -holds out plushie as peace offering- Forgive meh?

Attiqah Gensui: I was way off. -sweatdrops- I hope the quality over quantity thing does it for ya.

Illusions of Myth: Thankehs. Hope you liked the end.

Bye everyone!