Disclaimer: Yada yada, I do not own Saiyuki... sue me.
Yay to all those kind people who have been faithfully reading and reviewing this fic, thanks a lot for ur support. to yue yiao, we had better go out shopping someday. XP
Sanzo played with his food like a grown man never should. He did not feel like eating, would one feel like eating in circumstances like this? Hakkai had made him leave Goku with Gojyo, making Sanzo seriously want to doubt his friend's intelligence at that point of time. Leave Goku with Gojyo? It was asking for trouble. He had ignored the remark that Hakkai had given: that Goku would be safer with Gojyo then with Sanzo. Who knew if Sanzo intended to whack Goku the minute they were left alone? With the flashback still fresh in his head, Sanzo got up from the table, sudden decision hitting him.
Homura caught his half insane look and thought to himself: the poor boy's lost touch with reality. He probably has no idea what he is doing. He pulled Sanzo down and tapped the bowl of rice that Sanzo had left untouched. It was a clear signal that he wanted Sanzo to eat.
Sanzo mechanically picked up the chopsticks and lifted a grain of rice to his mouth. He chewed slowly and then announced. "We're leaving this god damn place. We'll grab Goku and leave. "
"How can you?" Homura did not believe for one second that Sanzo would leave with Goku. "You've tried. Or have you forgotten? If you really could leave, you would have left a long time ago. Clearly, someone brought you here for a reason, and the only thing you can do is wait for the show to play out."
"Show? You expect a show? You can just wait until you die because you will not see one." The long look and retort from Sanzo was not the usual dagger like response he normally gave Homura. It lacked punch. It lacked confidence. It was pathetic. Homura hated it.
"I suggest you start thinking rationally before opening that mouth of yours. Think of something useful instead of whining. You're pathetic. You're not the person I used to admire. Get a grip. Be a man." Homura curled his lip in disgust.
The words barely left his mouth before his face was treated to a bowl full of rice. Before the morsels could drop from his face, he was slugged right in the nose. Blood sprayed onto his shirt. He was then hulled up from the front of his shirt and then crashed unceremoniously to the ground.
"Be a man? I'm being one right now. " Sanzo gave a self-satisfied grin as he stormed out of the room with the air of the self-righteous. He was back, thank god for that.
Hakkai clapped. He admired the fact that Homura had managed to return Sanzo into his own sweet, endearing character, even thought the method by which he had done so was rather unorthodox. It was hard to believe that anyone could have dared to do that, not even Goku. Gojyo or his words would hardly get a rise out of Sanzo. It was lucky that someone COULD have and HAD done so.
*********************************************************************
Sanzo did not pause in his fast paced walk. In his heart, he knew Homura was right. Of course, he would never admit that. He would never admit that others were right, and he was wrong. He was not doing anything except acting like a whiner. When you want to get things done, do it yourself. Which was why he was taking the path that would lead him to Kanzeon.
She had seen him coming from down the hall and was pleased that he had finally got his head screwed back on and he had sought the best way to resolve the matter: through her. It was a wonder that not many people thought to ask her for help. After all, she was the one who sat and watch while others providing nothing but entertainment for the bored goddess.
"Please, Kanzeon. I know you know something, so why don't you tell me what you know and we'll settle this quickly?" his tongue tangled over the "I know you know" and Kanzeon had a hard time trying to surpass the laughter from her lips. He looked so earnest.
"I can't help you. I know it's hard, watching those you love suffer. But, this is where I cannot help you, except offer words of advice. Follow your heart, never doubt it, or your instincts, and you'll find the way out. The show has yet to be played out."
His eyes bored into hers. "Are you and Homura in cohorts? If I hear one more word about a show waiting to happen, I'll punch you. And you've rarely helped me, most of the time, just like this, you'll only offer cryptic "words" of advice."
"I can't help it. Take my advice or leave it. Homura saying that shows that he's grown up, he has learnt to analyze things. Unlike you. Stick close to him and I promise you you'll learn more things than you could ever learn by yourself. He knows, trust me. Now leave me, and learn the things that can never be learnt unless through real life encounters."
Sanzo thought about stamping his foot but he knew that would only strengthen the goddess's claim that he didn't know anything. He left, eager to get back to Homura and see if he could spare anymore of his so-called worldly wisdom.
*****************************************************************
He pulled open the door to the room where he had left Homura, and a poker card hit him square on his face. He ventured a peep in and almost laughed. Worldly wisdom? Right. Him getting wisdom from a person throwing a tantrum because he could not win a poker game? He snorted.
"Oy, Homura, stop playing with Hakkai. You'll never win." With that, Sanzo pushed the deck of cards away and fixed a glare on Homura. "Tell me what you think has been happening."
"I've been losing, as any fool can see. That's what's happening. That's it, I'm not playing. " A pout marring his features, Homura crossed his arms across his chest and threw Hakkai an injured look.
The harisan caught him on his back, throwing him off balance. "Stop fooling around, maybe I should rephrase the question. Tell me what you think is happening around here, starting from the time we arrived. Who would have wanted us here?"
"Maybe, you are giving yourself too much credit. Maybe, someone only wanted Goku here. Think a bit, you only came here after eating something, right? It was only in rare occasions would Goku share food. Maybe, someone only expected Goku to eat it and arrive in heaven, not the four of you, plus the dragon." Homura rubbed the bump before it had a chance to redden.
"That's a lot of maybes," mumbled Hakkai. "You don't sound sure of yourself either, Homura. But, I think you are right. Someone wanted Goku here, not all of us. I daresay we've complicated someone's well laid plans. But why?"
"Goku's the Seiten Taisei. Up here, there's always been power struggles. With Goku, it'll be a clear victory. He caused chaos during the last time you were here. Someone very smart planned this, but I have no idea whom. Power struggles start small, maybe from the army. Very few people dare contest the main head until they are sure of their position." Homura paused, unsure if he knew what he was saying, his mind thinking back to the one very famous time where someone had indeed contested God in an almost same situation. Was Goku as good as Nataku? Would the person who had planned all this also use Goku the same way Li Tou Ten had used Nataku?
"But what if? What if someone uses Goku to usurp the head? Then what? We're just going to sit here and wait?" Sanzo was frustrated as well as worried.
Gojyo who had said nothing so far, that Sanzo had even began to forget his existence, lit a cigarette, and answered. "My army, I can trust. Most are willing to work for heaven, and they know their place. But, some, I cannot vouch for. Like Li, he has shifty eyes. And what was he doing near Goku anyway. I still find it hard to believe that Goku was near him. Maybe, Li was the one who hit him, you never know."
"The missing link, " drawled Homura. "There you have it, if anyone has reason to bring you up here, it'll be Li. He did try to overthrow God once. He'll want his revenge on heaven, and what better way to do it than through Goku? It'll make sense if you can get proof."
The four of them looked at each other, trying to process the information. They put their heads together and planned the next step in trying to find out the culprit for their misfortunes. After all, one could not blame another without proof.
Yay to all those kind people who have been faithfully reading and reviewing this fic, thanks a lot for ur support. to yue yiao, we had better go out shopping someday. XP
Sanzo played with his food like a grown man never should. He did not feel like eating, would one feel like eating in circumstances like this? Hakkai had made him leave Goku with Gojyo, making Sanzo seriously want to doubt his friend's intelligence at that point of time. Leave Goku with Gojyo? It was asking for trouble. He had ignored the remark that Hakkai had given: that Goku would be safer with Gojyo then with Sanzo. Who knew if Sanzo intended to whack Goku the minute they were left alone? With the flashback still fresh in his head, Sanzo got up from the table, sudden decision hitting him.
Homura caught his half insane look and thought to himself: the poor boy's lost touch with reality. He probably has no idea what he is doing. He pulled Sanzo down and tapped the bowl of rice that Sanzo had left untouched. It was a clear signal that he wanted Sanzo to eat.
Sanzo mechanically picked up the chopsticks and lifted a grain of rice to his mouth. He chewed slowly and then announced. "We're leaving this god damn place. We'll grab Goku and leave. "
"How can you?" Homura did not believe for one second that Sanzo would leave with Goku. "You've tried. Or have you forgotten? If you really could leave, you would have left a long time ago. Clearly, someone brought you here for a reason, and the only thing you can do is wait for the show to play out."
"Show? You expect a show? You can just wait until you die because you will not see one." The long look and retort from Sanzo was not the usual dagger like response he normally gave Homura. It lacked punch. It lacked confidence. It was pathetic. Homura hated it.
"I suggest you start thinking rationally before opening that mouth of yours. Think of something useful instead of whining. You're pathetic. You're not the person I used to admire. Get a grip. Be a man." Homura curled his lip in disgust.
The words barely left his mouth before his face was treated to a bowl full of rice. Before the morsels could drop from his face, he was slugged right in the nose. Blood sprayed onto his shirt. He was then hulled up from the front of his shirt and then crashed unceremoniously to the ground.
"Be a man? I'm being one right now. " Sanzo gave a self-satisfied grin as he stormed out of the room with the air of the self-righteous. He was back, thank god for that.
Hakkai clapped. He admired the fact that Homura had managed to return Sanzo into his own sweet, endearing character, even thought the method by which he had done so was rather unorthodox. It was hard to believe that anyone could have dared to do that, not even Goku. Gojyo or his words would hardly get a rise out of Sanzo. It was lucky that someone COULD have and HAD done so.
*********************************************************************
Sanzo did not pause in his fast paced walk. In his heart, he knew Homura was right. Of course, he would never admit that. He would never admit that others were right, and he was wrong. He was not doing anything except acting like a whiner. When you want to get things done, do it yourself. Which was why he was taking the path that would lead him to Kanzeon.
She had seen him coming from down the hall and was pleased that he had finally got his head screwed back on and he had sought the best way to resolve the matter: through her. It was a wonder that not many people thought to ask her for help. After all, she was the one who sat and watch while others providing nothing but entertainment for the bored goddess.
"Please, Kanzeon. I know you know something, so why don't you tell me what you know and we'll settle this quickly?" his tongue tangled over the "I know you know" and Kanzeon had a hard time trying to surpass the laughter from her lips. He looked so earnest.
"I can't help you. I know it's hard, watching those you love suffer. But, this is where I cannot help you, except offer words of advice. Follow your heart, never doubt it, or your instincts, and you'll find the way out. The show has yet to be played out."
His eyes bored into hers. "Are you and Homura in cohorts? If I hear one more word about a show waiting to happen, I'll punch you. And you've rarely helped me, most of the time, just like this, you'll only offer cryptic "words" of advice."
"I can't help it. Take my advice or leave it. Homura saying that shows that he's grown up, he has learnt to analyze things. Unlike you. Stick close to him and I promise you you'll learn more things than you could ever learn by yourself. He knows, trust me. Now leave me, and learn the things that can never be learnt unless through real life encounters."
Sanzo thought about stamping his foot but he knew that would only strengthen the goddess's claim that he didn't know anything. He left, eager to get back to Homura and see if he could spare anymore of his so-called worldly wisdom.
*****************************************************************
He pulled open the door to the room where he had left Homura, and a poker card hit him square on his face. He ventured a peep in and almost laughed. Worldly wisdom? Right. Him getting wisdom from a person throwing a tantrum because he could not win a poker game? He snorted.
"Oy, Homura, stop playing with Hakkai. You'll never win." With that, Sanzo pushed the deck of cards away and fixed a glare on Homura. "Tell me what you think has been happening."
"I've been losing, as any fool can see. That's what's happening. That's it, I'm not playing. " A pout marring his features, Homura crossed his arms across his chest and threw Hakkai an injured look.
The harisan caught him on his back, throwing him off balance. "Stop fooling around, maybe I should rephrase the question. Tell me what you think is happening around here, starting from the time we arrived. Who would have wanted us here?"
"Maybe, you are giving yourself too much credit. Maybe, someone only wanted Goku here. Think a bit, you only came here after eating something, right? It was only in rare occasions would Goku share food. Maybe, someone only expected Goku to eat it and arrive in heaven, not the four of you, plus the dragon." Homura rubbed the bump before it had a chance to redden.
"That's a lot of maybes," mumbled Hakkai. "You don't sound sure of yourself either, Homura. But, I think you are right. Someone wanted Goku here, not all of us. I daresay we've complicated someone's well laid plans. But why?"
"Goku's the Seiten Taisei. Up here, there's always been power struggles. With Goku, it'll be a clear victory. He caused chaos during the last time you were here. Someone very smart planned this, but I have no idea whom. Power struggles start small, maybe from the army. Very few people dare contest the main head until they are sure of their position." Homura paused, unsure if he knew what he was saying, his mind thinking back to the one very famous time where someone had indeed contested God in an almost same situation. Was Goku as good as Nataku? Would the person who had planned all this also use Goku the same way Li Tou Ten had used Nataku?
"But what if? What if someone uses Goku to usurp the head? Then what? We're just going to sit here and wait?" Sanzo was frustrated as well as worried.
Gojyo who had said nothing so far, that Sanzo had even began to forget his existence, lit a cigarette, and answered. "My army, I can trust. Most are willing to work for heaven, and they know their place. But, some, I cannot vouch for. Like Li, he has shifty eyes. And what was he doing near Goku anyway. I still find it hard to believe that Goku was near him. Maybe, Li was the one who hit him, you never know."
"The missing link, " drawled Homura. "There you have it, if anyone has reason to bring you up here, it'll be Li. He did try to overthrow God once. He'll want his revenge on heaven, and what better way to do it than through Goku? It'll make sense if you can get proof."
The four of them looked at each other, trying to process the information. They put their heads together and planned the next step in trying to find out the culprit for their misfortunes. After all, one could not blame another without proof.