Homura walked away, lost in thought of the previous conversation he had had
with his friends. Friends? He caught himself. No. Not friends. What
exactly? Something not like friends, something not like sworn enemies
anyway. Shaking his head, he tried to clear the muddled half formed
theories of what he was doing with the Sanzo-ikkou. What was wrong with
him? It was not his nature to be friendly, let alone when he was in a
situation where he could take advantage of them. Wouldn't it be a win-win
situation to strike now when heaven was in "semi-chaos" and the Sanzo-ikkou
right smack in the middle of it? To create his perfect world? No one would
blame him surely. Yet, in his heart, he knew that he was incapable of doing
such a thing. He would not be like God. He would not be like his father. He
would not betray them now that he had been "accepted" by them.
Accepted? How would he really know for sure? What if, they were just pretending to be nice in hopes he would help them? The doubts echoed around in his head. Far off in a distance, he caught a glimpse of a lone figure standing near the bridge linking the west wing to the east, the person's demeanor was relaxed, as though waiting for someone. Homura slowed his steps, and then paused altogether. Li Tou Ten smiled, knowing that Homura was shocked to see him there. He walked to where the Toushin Taishi had stopped, and spoke, his words laced with confidence, quite unlike previous occasions after Nataku had fallen into a deep sleep, locked away in his own consciousness, away from the struggles of an over ambitious father.
"Back from playing with your new friends? Fickle minded person." Li looked in Homura's eyes, not afraid, not worried.
"You dare? I believe what I do is no concern of yours." Homura said coldly, trying to conceal his disbelief at the audacity of the man whose position had gone so low after reaching such a high peak.
"I dare. You're sly, Homura. When your attempts to take Goku away from the Sanzo-ikkou failed, you did something to Goku, probably caused his fall, and weaseled in on them. Trying to gain friendship, no doubt. No one wants to be friends with a heretic. It's pathetic what you'll do to gain the trust of people."
Homura choked. Before he could rebut the unfair accusations that Li was throwing at him, Li continued his self-righteous tirade of protests against him.
"Don't think you've won. Goku is my friend, I'll help him, I'll do whatever I can to help him regain his memory, not like you. I know what you were trying to do, just like you conveniently took the place of my son."
"The only thing I know about you is that you're delusional. Lost your place in heaven, this is the only way you'll get back right at the top. I am not trying to gain friendship nor am I even sure that they regard me as a friend! Mind your own business." Homura turned away, back to the direction he had come from, meaning to put an end to the conversation that was taking its toll on him, as it was voicing all his doubts. He felt Li's hand on his arm, and resisted the urge to fling it off, settling instead for brushing it away.
"I know how you're feeling. Nataku felt the same way. He was never sure if people were being his friend because he was nice or because he had power. Burned once too often I guess. I can help you. Turn away from the uncertainty of friendship of your enemies." Li's tone was soft and sure.
Without turning back, Homura tossed back, : " I'm not as stupid as you think I am, right now, I'm the Toushin Taishi, I know I'm not well liked, it's no surprise. If you could help me, you would have helped Nataku in the same way. And we both know, if that's the kind of help you give him, I'll rather not have your help. What kind of father were you to him anyway to call him your son? You've helped him alright, helped him to crack up, to be in the position he is now!" He did not turn back, did not look to see the effect of the spoken words.
I'm a hypocrite. I do not even believe the words I'm saying. I'm nothing to no one. Homura kept his head lowered, and bumped into Sanzo.
"I know we're not the best of friends. I know we're always fighting. But since we're in this together, why can't we be friends? Why can't you accept that? Must you be so suspicious?" Sanzo looked at him. He had heard the whole conversation, and was sure that he was right in doing what he was about to do after Homura had left the room.
"Would you be friends with someone who tried to harm you whenever possible?"
"Normally, no. But the circumstances have changed, as have the rules. Did you once try to hurt us when we were in my room? And this is hard enough for me, I do not make friends so easily, nor do I choose to do so. It's just not my character. Think of it as a privilege that we've accepted you." With the end of the surprising speech, Sanzo slung a tentative arm around Homura's shoulders. Homura's only thought was that there was world of difference between Li's touch on his arm and Sanzo's touch. His step was considerably lighter.
************************************************************************
Hakkai smiled, seeing the ease in which Homura seemed to be in now, and then his smile drooped considerably when he thought about the circumstances that had allowed them to be friends. At Goku's expense? He spared a look at Goku, who was sleeping, not peacefully though, as his dreams seemed to be peppered with nightmares, judging from the way he was fidgeting.
When Goku awoke, it was fear that his face showed, then a slight calmness when he caught sight of Hakkai. Disorientated, and still unsure of everything, he asked: "Hakkai, where's Li Tou Ten?" Hakkai looked away before replying, noting the obvious displeasure that littered Sanzo's features, he knew Sanzo was disappointed that Goku had not asked for him first.
"I'm not sure. Why are you looking for him?" Hakkai was careful in answering, not sure what Goku would believe. Goku was so innocent, would he believe them or Li?
"I want to thank him for helping me. I also want to help him. He looks so sad, he must miss his son a lot, I thought I might try to make him happy." The reply was so genuine and so Goku-like. Gojyo winced, wondering how they should handle this.
"You be careful of him, Goku. He only tells lies, not truths." Sanzo said. He had been sitting close to Homura and only moved away when Goku had awakened. He was unprepared for Goku's response.
"I do not believe you. Why are you so close to this man?" He indicated Homura with a slight tilt of his head.
"The Toushin Taishi should be Nataku, Li Tou Ten's son. Not this man, not Homura. That's what he told me."
"And you believe him over us?" Sanzo looked scandalized.
"I don't know what to believe." At this, all was silent and the only sound that could be heard was the sigh that had come from Gojyo. No one knew what to do. It seemed that the situation was worse than they had thought. If Goku did not even believe them, how could they hope to keep him safe and away from Li Tou Ten?
Author's note: to clear some people up and maybe hope that no one will come after me with a stick to beat me up, I'm sorry that the characters seem so out of character… well, I'll definitely put in more of the characters other than sanzo and homura (it does seem to focus on them, but can you blame me), I've decided that each character should have his own chapter, you know… and so it seems that this chapter belongs to homura.
Review all you like. And I hope to bring you the next chapter within this year. I've been busy studying and trying to get thru life without dying of tests overload. Pardon. If I get more than 5 reviews for this chapter, I'll put my replies to each of the reviewers individually. Enjoy.
Accepted? How would he really know for sure? What if, they were just pretending to be nice in hopes he would help them? The doubts echoed around in his head. Far off in a distance, he caught a glimpse of a lone figure standing near the bridge linking the west wing to the east, the person's demeanor was relaxed, as though waiting for someone. Homura slowed his steps, and then paused altogether. Li Tou Ten smiled, knowing that Homura was shocked to see him there. He walked to where the Toushin Taishi had stopped, and spoke, his words laced with confidence, quite unlike previous occasions after Nataku had fallen into a deep sleep, locked away in his own consciousness, away from the struggles of an over ambitious father.
"Back from playing with your new friends? Fickle minded person." Li looked in Homura's eyes, not afraid, not worried.
"You dare? I believe what I do is no concern of yours." Homura said coldly, trying to conceal his disbelief at the audacity of the man whose position had gone so low after reaching such a high peak.
"I dare. You're sly, Homura. When your attempts to take Goku away from the Sanzo-ikkou failed, you did something to Goku, probably caused his fall, and weaseled in on them. Trying to gain friendship, no doubt. No one wants to be friends with a heretic. It's pathetic what you'll do to gain the trust of people."
Homura choked. Before he could rebut the unfair accusations that Li was throwing at him, Li continued his self-righteous tirade of protests against him.
"Don't think you've won. Goku is my friend, I'll help him, I'll do whatever I can to help him regain his memory, not like you. I know what you were trying to do, just like you conveniently took the place of my son."
"The only thing I know about you is that you're delusional. Lost your place in heaven, this is the only way you'll get back right at the top. I am not trying to gain friendship nor am I even sure that they regard me as a friend! Mind your own business." Homura turned away, back to the direction he had come from, meaning to put an end to the conversation that was taking its toll on him, as it was voicing all his doubts. He felt Li's hand on his arm, and resisted the urge to fling it off, settling instead for brushing it away.
"I know how you're feeling. Nataku felt the same way. He was never sure if people were being his friend because he was nice or because he had power. Burned once too often I guess. I can help you. Turn away from the uncertainty of friendship of your enemies." Li's tone was soft and sure.
Without turning back, Homura tossed back, : " I'm not as stupid as you think I am, right now, I'm the Toushin Taishi, I know I'm not well liked, it's no surprise. If you could help me, you would have helped Nataku in the same way. And we both know, if that's the kind of help you give him, I'll rather not have your help. What kind of father were you to him anyway to call him your son? You've helped him alright, helped him to crack up, to be in the position he is now!" He did not turn back, did not look to see the effect of the spoken words.
I'm a hypocrite. I do not even believe the words I'm saying. I'm nothing to no one. Homura kept his head lowered, and bumped into Sanzo.
"I know we're not the best of friends. I know we're always fighting. But since we're in this together, why can't we be friends? Why can't you accept that? Must you be so suspicious?" Sanzo looked at him. He had heard the whole conversation, and was sure that he was right in doing what he was about to do after Homura had left the room.
"Would you be friends with someone who tried to harm you whenever possible?"
"Normally, no. But the circumstances have changed, as have the rules. Did you once try to hurt us when we were in my room? And this is hard enough for me, I do not make friends so easily, nor do I choose to do so. It's just not my character. Think of it as a privilege that we've accepted you." With the end of the surprising speech, Sanzo slung a tentative arm around Homura's shoulders. Homura's only thought was that there was world of difference between Li's touch on his arm and Sanzo's touch. His step was considerably lighter.
************************************************************************
Hakkai smiled, seeing the ease in which Homura seemed to be in now, and then his smile drooped considerably when he thought about the circumstances that had allowed them to be friends. At Goku's expense? He spared a look at Goku, who was sleeping, not peacefully though, as his dreams seemed to be peppered with nightmares, judging from the way he was fidgeting.
When Goku awoke, it was fear that his face showed, then a slight calmness when he caught sight of Hakkai. Disorientated, and still unsure of everything, he asked: "Hakkai, where's Li Tou Ten?" Hakkai looked away before replying, noting the obvious displeasure that littered Sanzo's features, he knew Sanzo was disappointed that Goku had not asked for him first.
"I'm not sure. Why are you looking for him?" Hakkai was careful in answering, not sure what Goku would believe. Goku was so innocent, would he believe them or Li?
"I want to thank him for helping me. I also want to help him. He looks so sad, he must miss his son a lot, I thought I might try to make him happy." The reply was so genuine and so Goku-like. Gojyo winced, wondering how they should handle this.
"You be careful of him, Goku. He only tells lies, not truths." Sanzo said. He had been sitting close to Homura and only moved away when Goku had awakened. He was unprepared for Goku's response.
"I do not believe you. Why are you so close to this man?" He indicated Homura with a slight tilt of his head.
"The Toushin Taishi should be Nataku, Li Tou Ten's son. Not this man, not Homura. That's what he told me."
"And you believe him over us?" Sanzo looked scandalized.
"I don't know what to believe." At this, all was silent and the only sound that could be heard was the sigh that had come from Gojyo. No one knew what to do. It seemed that the situation was worse than they had thought. If Goku did not even believe them, how could they hope to keep him safe and away from Li Tou Ten?
Author's note: to clear some people up and maybe hope that no one will come after me with a stick to beat me up, I'm sorry that the characters seem so out of character… well, I'll definitely put in more of the characters other than sanzo and homura (it does seem to focus on them, but can you blame me), I've decided that each character should have his own chapter, you know… and so it seems that this chapter belongs to homura.
Review all you like. And I hope to bring you the next chapter within this year. I've been busy studying and trying to get thru life without dying of tests overload. Pardon. If I get more than 5 reviews for this chapter, I'll put my replies to each of the reviewers individually. Enjoy.