Chapter 2 Reborn
Author's note: Since some of you said the first chapter was too short, so here's a longer one! Anyway, enjoy, and comments, flames and criticism are welcomed with open arms.
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"*^&&#%$ GOKU!!!!"
"Yikes!" The brown haired ruffian jumped a foot into the air and scrambled for his life, chains cluttering. Looks like Konzen's temper had gone through the roof, and if he's not careful, he might just follow as well.
Sprinting as fast as his legs could take him, Goku sped down the maze of corridors and stairways, running down a spiral one without regard of any hazard -
BONK!!
"AAAAH!!!!" Goku was sent flying backwards, crashing headlong into the opposite wall which goes without telling, "ITAI!" He sat up and clutched his head, realizing his butt hurt just as much. It felt just like Konzen hitting him with the much-feared harisen.
A pair of soothing hands touched his head and rubbed the sore spot, mumbling apologies. "Forgive me, little one... but you should watch your step, or you might have tumbled down the stairs instead of running into me." The voice was in the same tone as Ten-chan, and that was what made Goku open his eyes. But even his simple mind instantly realized it wasn't Ten-chan. Instead of Ten-chan's green eyes, this one had gray ones, and it's female. With a yelp, Goku scrambled to his feet and the woman stared at him amusedly. "I have not seen a child in Heaven for a long time. What is your name, little one?"
Goku stared at her. The chakra on her forehead clearly marked her to be a goddess, but she wore clothes that were more suited for battle, and Goku knew Goddesses don't fight. Yet she had a kind smile, and for someone who has to face Konzen's stony face most of the time, this was a change. Not to mention the fact that other Goddesses don't want to talk to him much. "I'm Goku," He replied, returning to his cheerful self. "Are you a Goddess? But you wear funny clothes, like Ten-chan does sometimes."
She looked down in surprise and smiled. "Well I didn't know they were so conspicuous... but I should have known better. So your name is Goku? Well, you can call me Yuri-chan." She offered a hand to him and he took it eagerly. "Yuri-chan! Yuri-chan!" He repeated it happily and laughed a little. Her female heart warmed instantly to this energetic child, but scars hurt as well. However she was quick to note the chains and shackles that hung from Goku's wrists and ankles. And his golden eyes...
A heretic?
Golden, she thought. It brought back memories...
"Madam Yuri?"
Yuri looked up and saw a man as white as marble with blood red eyes approaching. "Yes?"
After casting a quizzical glance at Goku, he resumed his business. "I'm sorry, I was not informed of your arrival. Please, Li Touten's offices are this way."
She regarded him calmly and smiled again. "Thank you, I didn't know I should announce my arrival. However, I will report to Li Touten after I have seen Kanzeon Bosatsu."
"Kanzeon?" There was evident dislike. "Madame, I have strict orders - "
"You have your orders, and I have mine," She interjected smoothly. "I will see Li Touten after I have reported to Kanzeon Bosatsu. Now please let me be on my way."
"Wow." Goku breathed and looked up in amazement. "You can say that to him, Yuri-chan? So far only ten-chan can give him orders."
"Ten... you mean Tenpou?" Yuri looked surprised. "Are you friends with him?"
"Yeah," Goku nodded enthusiastically. Yuri smiled, a little nostalgically. "I haven't seen him for so long...do you live with him then?"
"Nope. I'm staying with - "
"GOKU!!!!"
"Argh!" Goku froze and turned white. "Konzen!" He made a dive behind Yuri's back and clutched her jacket in fright. "Oh no, oh no..."
Yuri however, was struck with surprise. "...Konzen?"
The awesome figure of Konzen Douji appeared from around a corner and Goku promptly disappeared behind Yuri's back, whimpering. Yuri's eyes widened in astonishment at the large harisen in the man's hold and she narrowed her eyes.
Konzen had seen Goku's head from behind Yuri and the god narrowed his own amethyst eyes into slits. He slowly approached the goddess, the harisen rustling threateningly. "Goddess, get out of the way. A monkey needs to be spanked."
Yuri sized him calmly, not at all threatened. 'Are you his guardian?"
"I'm his keeper," Konzen hissed, his temper reaching its limit for the second time that morning. What a fine morning. First I wake up to a messy kitchen where the saru tried to make toast, then I come to an office scribbled all over with the saru's scribbles. I should kill Tenpou for teaching him how to write. He even spelt my name wrong!!! If Konzen was adept at cursing like Kenren was, he would have let them fly. As things go, he wasn't a fluent curser and wasn't about to start. Forcing his temper down, he glared at the goddess. She must be new, to defy him like this. But her clothes were suspicious. What Goddess wears leather and boots?! "Goku!!!"
"If you will put the harisen away, he might want to come out," Yuri said evenly. "He's not an animal, so stop treating him like he's your pet."
Konzen wanted to say Goku is an animal and he is his pet, but a javelin had blocked his path, the edge turned to him. He glared at the goddess again and was met by deadly gray orbs. "I have asked nicely," She said quietly. "Are gods here so bad-tempered?"
Konzen took a deep breath and put away the harisen, and she made the javelin disappear. "Alright Goku, come out," She said softly but Goku violently shook his head. "Konzen's fist is just as hard as the harisen!" he whined and a vein throbbed at Konzen's temple. "Baka!!"
"You are behaving like a child, Konzen-san. Now if you will excuse me, I must see Kanzeon Bosatsu. Come, Goku."
At the mention of his aunt, Konzen frowned. "The old - Who are you?"
Yuri regarded him amusedly, but it was Goku who answered. "She's Yuri- chan!"
"I'll take you to her." Konzen said at last, quite sour. Yuri smiled. "Thank you. I knew you're not as bad as you seem to be." Her eyes held something as she looked at him, and the nagging feeling of uneasiness returned. She looked perhaps his age, though you really can't tell with deities. Her skin was fair, fairer than most goddesses and contrasted heavily with the thick mane of midnight-black hair cascading down her back. The fact than he had never seen her before was very suspicious.
"No, he's really much - Argh!!" Goku yelled and scampered behind Yuri again when Konzen made a desperate lunge for him. Yuri shook her head in amusement. "You've changed, Konzen,"
He stared at her in surprise, but she merely smiled. "Please, if memory serves right, Kanzeon doesn't appreciate tardiness."
Konzen looked like he couldn't make up his mind, but finally, with a grunt he turned heel and lead the way.
Soon they reached the massive double doors that lead to Kanzeon Bosatsu's room, and Konzen blithely pushed it open. To his surprise, Tenpou and Kenren were there, the latter arguing with Jiroushin. "...What do you mean I can't smoke here?!"
"Quiet," Kanzeon yawned as she caught sight of her nephew. A hint of a smile played around her lips, and Konzen recognized that smile. It always meant trouble for him. "Tch. Come on, Goku!' he picked up the protesting monkey by the collar before he could hide behind Yuri. "You have some scrubbing to do, saru."
"Ow!! Don't pull my hair!!!" he yelled and swung back at Yuri. "Bye, Yuri- chan!!!" He gave a cheery wave before being dragged out by Konzen.
"Yuri-chan, hmm?"
Yuri looked over her shoulder and gave the Goddess of Mercy a small smile. "My apologies, Kanzeon-sama. I have not been in social company for too long."
An appreciative chuckle as the Goddess of Mercy propped her chin on her hand. "I thought you had forgotten the way, Yuri." She regarded the kneeling deity silently before turning to a blank Tenpou and a quizzical Kenren. "Kenren, don't make your lust evident," She remarked dryly and Kenren turned red. 'Why you - "
"My my," Tenpou chuckled and pushed the bridge of his spectacles a little higher up his nose. "I didn't know you were expecting a visitor, Kanzeon. We'll excuse ourselves now," He gaily guided a glowering Kenren by the elbow.
There was total silence, and then:
"How do you feel?" Kanzeon asked softly, her tone slightly concerned. Yuri smiled again, a sad, haunted smile. "Everything had changed, Kanzeon," She said softly. "Everyone has changed. The children;" She helplessly waved her hand. "Where are they? Why is Heaven so silent? And since when can heretics roam free here?" her voice was beginning to climb, and Kanzeon leisurely poured herself a cup of tea. "Goku is not a heretic - not technically," She paused and looked up at the ceiling. "He was born out of a rock, made up of the earth's concentrated aura. He is," her eyes leveled on Yuri, "What I predict as Seiten Taisei - The Great One. Did you notice his diadem?"
"I noticed his chains," Yuri replied edgily. "Why does a child have to wear those? He can't possibly do any harm!"
"He's not a child in strength, Yuri," Kanzeon sighed. "He is as strong as Nataku."
Yuri blinked. "Nataku?"
"Oh,"Kanzeon mentally slapped herself. "What was I thinking? Nataku is our War God. Son of Li Touten."
A grim look crossed her face. "Li Touten. Son of Li Touten."
"Glad to see you still remember him."
"How could I forget? He was my Taisho," Yuri said calmly. "I'm glad he did well."
Kanzeon smiled mischievously. "Extremely well, Yuri. One would say too well."
Yuri cocked her head in puzzlement. "I'm afraid I do not understand, Kanzeon-sama. However, before I present myself to Tantei, may I ask... why exactly was I pardoned?"
Kanzeon pursed her lips. In truth, it was she who asked for Yuri's padon - one because she felt it was unjust, and two; because... frankly, if Goku was ever going to be the next Taisho, he needs to train. And who else better to be both a mother figure and a trainer than the legendary Marshal fo the Southern Army...
"Let the old man figure it out hmmm?" She said at last, smiling cunningly.
"I am eternally grateful, Kanzeon Bosatsu," Hikaru said softly and now they could see her eyes were shuttered, like hiding something. "As much as I would like to have a discussion with you, I must report to Li Touten of my arrival."
She bowed respectfully and left quietly.
Kanzeon sighed and sat back on her throne. Without bothering to hide the boredom from her face, she picked up the flask of sake. "You can stop hiding, Tenpou. I know you're on that branch."
The sakura tree outside her window rustled, and a moment later a sheepish looking Tenpou clambered in, sakura petals stuck in his hair. "Found me out, hmm?"
Kanzeon sipped her sake. "That was always your favorite hiding place, Tenpou. So what do you want to know?" She leveled her gaze on him and he calmly lit a cigarette. Kanzeon's frankness was something he preferred, compared to the other deities' preference of beating about the bush. "Who is she?" He asked, and Kanzeon chuckled. "I suppose she tickles your fancy, Tenpou?"
"No," Tenpou said, a little irritated. "She triggered my curiosity. I've never seen her here before, and Kenren obviously hasn't either, which is saying something. Her clothes are different, they way she holds herself is different. Now who is she?"
"Acute observer aren't you?" Kanzeon poured herself another cup and didn't bother to offer one to Tenpou. "What's so different about her clothes? You have a similar costume."
"I'm a Marshal." Tenpou said patiently. "Surely you're not daft enough to suggest..." His words trailed off and first surprise, and then suspicion crossed his face. "You can't be serious."
"I haven't said a thing," Kanzeon smiled slightly. "Anyway, you're disturbing my fishes," She said playfully. "Go and find your 'husband'."
She watched Tenpou leave with a mixture of satisfaction and grimness. Tenpou's clever enough. Sooner or later he'll find out who Yuri really is. "And that's when things will really get interesting," She said aloud as she crumpled up a piece of paper and blithely threw it into her lily pond, scaring the fishes.
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"Ten-chan!" Goku happily burst into Tenpou's library and nearly tripped over a pile of books near the door. "Gaah!!!!" he stumbled and managed to regain his balance. "Ten-chan?" He cautiously looked around, and finally spotted a dark head over in the corner of a library. Careuflly picking his way through the paper-strewn floor, he approached the Marshal. "Ten-chan?"
Tenpou blinked, startled. "Ah, Goku," he smiled and closed the book he had been studying. Goku looked at the title, but he couldn't figure the writing out. It was too long. "What are you reading?"
"Something about Tenkai's history," he smiled and patted the boy's head. "Why did you visit me? Did Konzen beat you again?"
"Nah...he's too busy." Goku linked his arms behind his head. "I want to look at the book again," he said eagerly. "You know, the one with pork buns!"
It took a few moments before Tenpou registered what book was Goku referring to. "Oh, wait, it should be here somewhere," he scratched his head as he beheld the sea of scrolls. "Do you mind waiting, Goku?"
"Sure," Goku sat down on the floor and looked around the room. True to Tenpou's form, the walls were filled with maps, scribbles and other things that Goku didn't understand, but he knew was important. He liked Tenpou's room. Konzen's office was too clean, too sterile. His attention was drawn to a large map tacked to the wall. "Eh..." he got up and walked up to the map. There were lots of pins stuck to the map, and he looked over his shoulder. "Ten-chan?"
"Hmm?" Tenpou mumbled distractedly as he shifted a pile of books. "Wait a minute, Goku."
"Ten-chan, what's this?" he pointed to the map and Tenpou looked up. "Oh, that's a map of the world." He forgot his search and came to Goku. "Tenkai's area is the same as the world below, where you come from," he said, smiling. "See, this is where we are," he pointed to a large structure drawn on the map. There are not many deities living outside the centre of Tenkai," he said thoughtfully.
"And there pins? There are three colors."
"Oh. Those represent the Heavenly army," he grinned and pointed to the green colored pins. "These are under my control; the Western Army. The red ones are the Northern Army, and that yellow ones are the Eastern division. I don't see their generals much though," he pursed his lips and Goku fiddled with a red-headed pin. "Where's the Southern Army?' He suddenly asked. Tenpou looked at him in surprise. Goku was looking intently at the board. "Isn't there supposed to be four?"
Amazing that such a naïve boy is asking about something we take for granted, thought Tenpou. People just accept that there isn't a Southern Army.
There isn't one, a voice said simply. There hasn't been one, you know that. Part of him wanted to accept that reasoning and continue entertaining Goku, but the Marshal in him didn't want to give up. He had been wondering for a long time, but it didn't seem worth pursuing. Now...
"Ah," Goku suddenly stood straight and sniffed the air. A faint aroma of cooking wafted in from the window, and instantly the boy's eyes were shining. "Lunch!! Ten-chan!" he tugged on Tenpou's coat but the Marshal simply smiled. "Why don't you eat first? I have something to do."
"Okay! See you, Ten-chan!"
Author's note: Well, can anybody make sense of this chapter? Reviews please!
Author's note: Since some of you said the first chapter was too short, so here's a longer one! Anyway, enjoy, and comments, flames and criticism are welcomed with open arms.
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"*^&&#%$ GOKU!!!!"
"Yikes!" The brown haired ruffian jumped a foot into the air and scrambled for his life, chains cluttering. Looks like Konzen's temper had gone through the roof, and if he's not careful, he might just follow as well.
Sprinting as fast as his legs could take him, Goku sped down the maze of corridors and stairways, running down a spiral one without regard of any hazard -
BONK!!
"AAAAH!!!!" Goku was sent flying backwards, crashing headlong into the opposite wall which goes without telling, "ITAI!" He sat up and clutched his head, realizing his butt hurt just as much. It felt just like Konzen hitting him with the much-feared harisen.
A pair of soothing hands touched his head and rubbed the sore spot, mumbling apologies. "Forgive me, little one... but you should watch your step, or you might have tumbled down the stairs instead of running into me." The voice was in the same tone as Ten-chan, and that was what made Goku open his eyes. But even his simple mind instantly realized it wasn't Ten-chan. Instead of Ten-chan's green eyes, this one had gray ones, and it's female. With a yelp, Goku scrambled to his feet and the woman stared at him amusedly. "I have not seen a child in Heaven for a long time. What is your name, little one?"
Goku stared at her. The chakra on her forehead clearly marked her to be a goddess, but she wore clothes that were more suited for battle, and Goku knew Goddesses don't fight. Yet she had a kind smile, and for someone who has to face Konzen's stony face most of the time, this was a change. Not to mention the fact that other Goddesses don't want to talk to him much. "I'm Goku," He replied, returning to his cheerful self. "Are you a Goddess? But you wear funny clothes, like Ten-chan does sometimes."
She looked down in surprise and smiled. "Well I didn't know they were so conspicuous... but I should have known better. So your name is Goku? Well, you can call me Yuri-chan." She offered a hand to him and he took it eagerly. "Yuri-chan! Yuri-chan!" He repeated it happily and laughed a little. Her female heart warmed instantly to this energetic child, but scars hurt as well. However she was quick to note the chains and shackles that hung from Goku's wrists and ankles. And his golden eyes...
A heretic?
Golden, she thought. It brought back memories...
"Madam Yuri?"
Yuri looked up and saw a man as white as marble with blood red eyes approaching. "Yes?"
After casting a quizzical glance at Goku, he resumed his business. "I'm sorry, I was not informed of your arrival. Please, Li Touten's offices are this way."
She regarded him calmly and smiled again. "Thank you, I didn't know I should announce my arrival. However, I will report to Li Touten after I have seen Kanzeon Bosatsu."
"Kanzeon?" There was evident dislike. "Madame, I have strict orders - "
"You have your orders, and I have mine," She interjected smoothly. "I will see Li Touten after I have reported to Kanzeon Bosatsu. Now please let me be on my way."
"Wow." Goku breathed and looked up in amazement. "You can say that to him, Yuri-chan? So far only ten-chan can give him orders."
"Ten... you mean Tenpou?" Yuri looked surprised. "Are you friends with him?"
"Yeah," Goku nodded enthusiastically. Yuri smiled, a little nostalgically. "I haven't seen him for so long...do you live with him then?"
"Nope. I'm staying with - "
"GOKU!!!!"
"Argh!" Goku froze and turned white. "Konzen!" He made a dive behind Yuri's back and clutched her jacket in fright. "Oh no, oh no..."
Yuri however, was struck with surprise. "...Konzen?"
The awesome figure of Konzen Douji appeared from around a corner and Goku promptly disappeared behind Yuri's back, whimpering. Yuri's eyes widened in astonishment at the large harisen in the man's hold and she narrowed her eyes.
Konzen had seen Goku's head from behind Yuri and the god narrowed his own amethyst eyes into slits. He slowly approached the goddess, the harisen rustling threateningly. "Goddess, get out of the way. A monkey needs to be spanked."
Yuri sized him calmly, not at all threatened. 'Are you his guardian?"
"I'm his keeper," Konzen hissed, his temper reaching its limit for the second time that morning. What a fine morning. First I wake up to a messy kitchen where the saru tried to make toast, then I come to an office scribbled all over with the saru's scribbles. I should kill Tenpou for teaching him how to write. He even spelt my name wrong!!! If Konzen was adept at cursing like Kenren was, he would have let them fly. As things go, he wasn't a fluent curser and wasn't about to start. Forcing his temper down, he glared at the goddess. She must be new, to defy him like this. But her clothes were suspicious. What Goddess wears leather and boots?! "Goku!!!"
"If you will put the harisen away, he might want to come out," Yuri said evenly. "He's not an animal, so stop treating him like he's your pet."
Konzen wanted to say Goku is an animal and he is his pet, but a javelin had blocked his path, the edge turned to him. He glared at the goddess again and was met by deadly gray orbs. "I have asked nicely," She said quietly. "Are gods here so bad-tempered?"
Konzen took a deep breath and put away the harisen, and she made the javelin disappear. "Alright Goku, come out," She said softly but Goku violently shook his head. "Konzen's fist is just as hard as the harisen!" he whined and a vein throbbed at Konzen's temple. "Baka!!"
"You are behaving like a child, Konzen-san. Now if you will excuse me, I must see Kanzeon Bosatsu. Come, Goku."
At the mention of his aunt, Konzen frowned. "The old - Who are you?"
Yuri regarded him amusedly, but it was Goku who answered. "She's Yuri- chan!"
"I'll take you to her." Konzen said at last, quite sour. Yuri smiled. "Thank you. I knew you're not as bad as you seem to be." Her eyes held something as she looked at him, and the nagging feeling of uneasiness returned. She looked perhaps his age, though you really can't tell with deities. Her skin was fair, fairer than most goddesses and contrasted heavily with the thick mane of midnight-black hair cascading down her back. The fact than he had never seen her before was very suspicious.
"No, he's really much - Argh!!" Goku yelled and scampered behind Yuri again when Konzen made a desperate lunge for him. Yuri shook her head in amusement. "You've changed, Konzen,"
He stared at her in surprise, but she merely smiled. "Please, if memory serves right, Kanzeon doesn't appreciate tardiness."
Konzen looked like he couldn't make up his mind, but finally, with a grunt he turned heel and lead the way.
Soon they reached the massive double doors that lead to Kanzeon Bosatsu's room, and Konzen blithely pushed it open. To his surprise, Tenpou and Kenren were there, the latter arguing with Jiroushin. "...What do you mean I can't smoke here?!"
"Quiet," Kanzeon yawned as she caught sight of her nephew. A hint of a smile played around her lips, and Konzen recognized that smile. It always meant trouble for him. "Tch. Come on, Goku!' he picked up the protesting monkey by the collar before he could hide behind Yuri. "You have some scrubbing to do, saru."
"Ow!! Don't pull my hair!!!" he yelled and swung back at Yuri. "Bye, Yuri- chan!!!" He gave a cheery wave before being dragged out by Konzen.
"Yuri-chan, hmm?"
Yuri looked over her shoulder and gave the Goddess of Mercy a small smile. "My apologies, Kanzeon-sama. I have not been in social company for too long."
An appreciative chuckle as the Goddess of Mercy propped her chin on her hand. "I thought you had forgotten the way, Yuri." She regarded the kneeling deity silently before turning to a blank Tenpou and a quizzical Kenren. "Kenren, don't make your lust evident," She remarked dryly and Kenren turned red. 'Why you - "
"My my," Tenpou chuckled and pushed the bridge of his spectacles a little higher up his nose. "I didn't know you were expecting a visitor, Kanzeon. We'll excuse ourselves now," He gaily guided a glowering Kenren by the elbow.
There was total silence, and then:
"How do you feel?" Kanzeon asked softly, her tone slightly concerned. Yuri smiled again, a sad, haunted smile. "Everything had changed, Kanzeon," She said softly. "Everyone has changed. The children;" She helplessly waved her hand. "Where are they? Why is Heaven so silent? And since when can heretics roam free here?" her voice was beginning to climb, and Kanzeon leisurely poured herself a cup of tea. "Goku is not a heretic - not technically," She paused and looked up at the ceiling. "He was born out of a rock, made up of the earth's concentrated aura. He is," her eyes leveled on Yuri, "What I predict as Seiten Taisei - The Great One. Did you notice his diadem?"
"I noticed his chains," Yuri replied edgily. "Why does a child have to wear those? He can't possibly do any harm!"
"He's not a child in strength, Yuri," Kanzeon sighed. "He is as strong as Nataku."
Yuri blinked. "Nataku?"
"Oh,"Kanzeon mentally slapped herself. "What was I thinking? Nataku is our War God. Son of Li Touten."
A grim look crossed her face. "Li Touten. Son of Li Touten."
"Glad to see you still remember him."
"How could I forget? He was my Taisho," Yuri said calmly. "I'm glad he did well."
Kanzeon smiled mischievously. "Extremely well, Yuri. One would say too well."
Yuri cocked her head in puzzlement. "I'm afraid I do not understand, Kanzeon-sama. However, before I present myself to Tantei, may I ask... why exactly was I pardoned?"
Kanzeon pursed her lips. In truth, it was she who asked for Yuri's padon - one because she felt it was unjust, and two; because... frankly, if Goku was ever going to be the next Taisho, he needs to train. And who else better to be both a mother figure and a trainer than the legendary Marshal fo the Southern Army...
"Let the old man figure it out hmmm?" She said at last, smiling cunningly.
"I am eternally grateful, Kanzeon Bosatsu," Hikaru said softly and now they could see her eyes were shuttered, like hiding something. "As much as I would like to have a discussion with you, I must report to Li Touten of my arrival."
She bowed respectfully and left quietly.
Kanzeon sighed and sat back on her throne. Without bothering to hide the boredom from her face, she picked up the flask of sake. "You can stop hiding, Tenpou. I know you're on that branch."
The sakura tree outside her window rustled, and a moment later a sheepish looking Tenpou clambered in, sakura petals stuck in his hair. "Found me out, hmm?"
Kanzeon sipped her sake. "That was always your favorite hiding place, Tenpou. So what do you want to know?" She leveled her gaze on him and he calmly lit a cigarette. Kanzeon's frankness was something he preferred, compared to the other deities' preference of beating about the bush. "Who is she?" He asked, and Kanzeon chuckled. "I suppose she tickles your fancy, Tenpou?"
"No," Tenpou said, a little irritated. "She triggered my curiosity. I've never seen her here before, and Kenren obviously hasn't either, which is saying something. Her clothes are different, they way she holds herself is different. Now who is she?"
"Acute observer aren't you?" Kanzeon poured herself another cup and didn't bother to offer one to Tenpou. "What's so different about her clothes? You have a similar costume."
"I'm a Marshal." Tenpou said patiently. "Surely you're not daft enough to suggest..." His words trailed off and first surprise, and then suspicion crossed his face. "You can't be serious."
"I haven't said a thing," Kanzeon smiled slightly. "Anyway, you're disturbing my fishes," She said playfully. "Go and find your 'husband'."
She watched Tenpou leave with a mixture of satisfaction and grimness. Tenpou's clever enough. Sooner or later he'll find out who Yuri really is. "And that's when things will really get interesting," She said aloud as she crumpled up a piece of paper and blithely threw it into her lily pond, scaring the fishes.
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"Ten-chan!" Goku happily burst into Tenpou's library and nearly tripped over a pile of books near the door. "Gaah!!!!" he stumbled and managed to regain his balance. "Ten-chan?" He cautiously looked around, and finally spotted a dark head over in the corner of a library. Careuflly picking his way through the paper-strewn floor, he approached the Marshal. "Ten-chan?"
Tenpou blinked, startled. "Ah, Goku," he smiled and closed the book he had been studying. Goku looked at the title, but he couldn't figure the writing out. It was too long. "What are you reading?"
"Something about Tenkai's history," he smiled and patted the boy's head. "Why did you visit me? Did Konzen beat you again?"
"Nah...he's too busy." Goku linked his arms behind his head. "I want to look at the book again," he said eagerly. "You know, the one with pork buns!"
It took a few moments before Tenpou registered what book was Goku referring to. "Oh, wait, it should be here somewhere," he scratched his head as he beheld the sea of scrolls. "Do you mind waiting, Goku?"
"Sure," Goku sat down on the floor and looked around the room. True to Tenpou's form, the walls were filled with maps, scribbles and other things that Goku didn't understand, but he knew was important. He liked Tenpou's room. Konzen's office was too clean, too sterile. His attention was drawn to a large map tacked to the wall. "Eh..." he got up and walked up to the map. There were lots of pins stuck to the map, and he looked over his shoulder. "Ten-chan?"
"Hmm?" Tenpou mumbled distractedly as he shifted a pile of books. "Wait a minute, Goku."
"Ten-chan, what's this?" he pointed to the map and Tenpou looked up. "Oh, that's a map of the world." He forgot his search and came to Goku. "Tenkai's area is the same as the world below, where you come from," he said, smiling. "See, this is where we are," he pointed to a large structure drawn on the map. There are not many deities living outside the centre of Tenkai," he said thoughtfully.
"And there pins? There are three colors."
"Oh. Those represent the Heavenly army," he grinned and pointed to the green colored pins. "These are under my control; the Western Army. The red ones are the Northern Army, and that yellow ones are the Eastern division. I don't see their generals much though," he pursed his lips and Goku fiddled with a red-headed pin. "Where's the Southern Army?' He suddenly asked. Tenpou looked at him in surprise. Goku was looking intently at the board. "Isn't there supposed to be four?"
Amazing that such a naïve boy is asking about something we take for granted, thought Tenpou. People just accept that there isn't a Southern Army.
There isn't one, a voice said simply. There hasn't been one, you know that. Part of him wanted to accept that reasoning and continue entertaining Goku, but the Marshal in him didn't want to give up. He had been wondering for a long time, but it didn't seem worth pursuing. Now...
"Ah," Goku suddenly stood straight and sniffed the air. A faint aroma of cooking wafted in from the window, and instantly the boy's eyes were shining. "Lunch!! Ten-chan!" he tugged on Tenpou's coat but the Marshal simply smiled. "Why don't you eat first? I have something to do."
"Okay! See you, Ten-chan!"
Author's note: Well, can anybody make sense of this chapter? Reviews please!