Chapter 4 Birds Of A Feather
Author's note: Another year is coming to a close. I hope I can finish this before the end of the year as well, as I have many ideas I want to start, but am unable to because of these hanging threads!
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Yuri looked up in amazement at the hundred of petals spiraling gently to earth. The gardens have not changed much, she observed as she moved noiselessly among the trees. She caught a glimpse of gods and goddesses here and there, laughing happily while drinking sake. A goddess looked her way and instantly looked away in bashfulness. Yuri misinterpreted that as a sign on disgust and she scowled. Well damn all of you for your eternal lives then.
"Yuri?"
She turned around and saw that it was Tenpou, handing her a glass of wine. "You looked deep in thought." He observed as she took the glass. She smiled in return. "I suppose I can't get out of the habit, Tenpou."
"Thinking too much is not good," Tenpou lit a cigarette, the smell mingling with the scent of sakura flowers. "Goku can teach you how not to think at all," He added and laughed. Yuri sipped the wine as they walked to where Goku and Kenren were sitting, arguing about the food (I get the steamed buns and you take the spiced cabbages). Goku looked miffed enough to hit Kenren, but the general was laughing, affectionately ruffling the heretic's hair. "Where is Konzen?" Tenpou asked suddenly. "I asked Goku, but he refused to answer."
Yuri was about to think of a suitable reply when another voice answered, "Right here."
Yuri swung around in surprise and beheld the sullen deity standing behind her, arms crossed. "I was bored," he said simply and brushed past her. She stared in amazement for a second and then laughed, a merry, tinkling sound. "I suppose you were, Konzen," She said quietly and followed him to where the others were sitting.
"KONZEN!!!"
Kenren nearly choked when a brown messy bundle leapt up and sprang for Konzen, but the deity simply stepped aside and allowed the heretic to fling himself headlong into the trunk of a tree, showering petals on them. "Baka," Konzen muttered and Yuri laughed as she helped Goku up. "You used to fall from trees when you were young, Konzen," She said at last and Konzen froze in his tracks. Unaware of his reaction, she smiled when Goku brightened up. 'Really? Konzen climes trees? How come he doesn't want to do it now?"
"Now, now, I cannot imagine Kanzeon Bosatsu's nephew climbing trees at his age," Tenpou smiled amusedly, followed by a chuckle from Kenren. "Chances of seeing Tantei with nose hairs painted on are greater than seeing this blonde do any climbing."
Konzen scowled and sat down on the grass. Goku sat next to him, eyes shining. "Hey, did I tell you I met a new friend?"
"Yeah you did, but maybe Yuri wants to listen," Kenren chuckled as the goddess served him a glass of sake. Beautiful, he thought as he eyed her over his glass. Yesterday he had seen her in a battered uniform, but today, in a simple kimono, she looked... angelic. Midnight blue waves contrasted so sharply against her fair skin that you would have thought she was glowing. For the millionth time he tried to place her face among the millions he sees each day, and finally gives up. He had never seen her before, or else he would never have forgotten. There's no way he would forget such a face...
Yuri listened attentively at Goku's eager description of Nataku. So the War God is barely an adult, she thought. What a lark, making a child do the dirty work.
"So Lady Yuri," Kenren finally asked. "We heard you're now Goku's guardian. So what does that make you - Konzen's wife?"
Konzen instantly spluttered but Yuri laughed politely. "You can call me mother, but surely I'm a more fitting image of a parent than Konzen?"
Konzen muttered something about 'keepers' and 'sarus' but kept his silence. What went on in the Hall was between him, Yuri, Kanzeon, Tantei and -
"She's teaching me how to -mmmfhhh!!!" Goku was about to say something when Konzen shoved a nikuman into his mouth. "You're best when your mouth is full of food," He said sullenly and Yuri burst out laughing.
Tenpou followed this exchange closely. Nothing was to be wasted. It might even be turned to his advantage...
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Kanzeon felt a vein throbbing at her temple. Sure, these administrators of Heaven are a thick-headed lot (including her) but men will be men. And idiots will be idiots.
"The fact that she once committed a severe crime does not mean she will repeat it after a sentence of seven hundred years," Kanzeon finally said, feeling her temper scale unimaginable heights. "All of you have agreed to release her from the inter dimensional gate, so stop whining."
"We are not whining, Kanzeon," A fellow administrator snapped back, eyebrows twitching horribly. "We are simply concerned on whether your decision is right., or not."
"So," She leaned close to the offending god. 'You can find me someone else who can train the kid?"
"Why are we keeping him here anyway?" The god retorted angrily. "He is a danger to us!"
'Correction. He's a danger to you. But he can be a valuable asset, should you care to stop and think. His strength rivals even that of Nataku, and that is untrained. He can be a powerful tool, to use your own words," She said with a smirk and the hall was silent following her little speech. However Kanzeon was not done yet. "Goku is a child, no matter what you say," She began again, resting against a pillar, the smile never fading. "He's childish in everything he does, and discipline alone won't work against him. Like a child, he yearns for attention. So we give him one."
"But marshal Yuri - "
"Tut-tut. You stripped her of that position seven hundred years ago," Kanzeon wagged her finger. "Yuri is an exceptional soldier," She continued. "After seven centuries of exile, I have no doubt that her skills and power would greatly improve - perhaps to a level we cannot imagine. But she has one soft spot, and through that we can control her, just as she will be able to control Goku."
"What makes your plan foolproof, Kanzeon-sama?" Li Touten half sneered, but was met by an equally sly smile of Kanzeon's. I don't need to give my reasons to idiots, she thought as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "She knows how to handle monkeys. After all, you were one of the monkeys she trained, weren't you, Li Touten?"
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Yuri walked down the aisles of racks, lined with weapons of every imaginable types. Each of these weapons gleamed with polished care, though Yuri doubted that they were ever used. The Heavenly Army looked like a football team out of shape. How many years has it been since they last fought a *real* battle?
She pursed her lips, not sure on what to take. She had her own weapon, her Drakka, but Goku will need something to fight with...
"Wa... Yuri-neechan, look at this!" Goku's voice rang from a side of the room and Yuri frowned at the massive broadsword he was ogling at. "Ano, Goku, I know you can carry heavy loads, but this is not exactly your type," She said, smiling. "When choosing a weapon, you must chose with your heart. That weapon will be with you for most of your battles, and your life will depend on it." She advised and Goku nodded, awed. "But Yuri- neechan, I don't know anything about weapons," Goku said in confusion as they walked again. 'There's so many to choose from. How do I know which one is my friend?"
What a child, Yuri smiled. He is right in one thing though. Weapons are like friends, especially when you have nobody else with you...
Goku shivered at a bloodthirsty looking sword hanging from the rafters, secured with heavy chains and bits of paper. He couldn't imagine himself as a sword-wielding soldier. He tried to, but all that came out was an image of Kenren, laughing menacingly. The thought sent shivers down his spine.
A vibration in the air made him stop. Yuri blinked at him. "What is it, Goku? Ah, don't go that way," She tried to catch him but the monkey had set off at a running pace towards a part of the armory that she hadn't gone to. "Goku!" She cried, running after him. "Not there, that's - " She stopped dead when she saw Goku standing before an altar surrounded by chains. The chains had sealing runes all over it, not preventing people from breaching into the area, but because the metre-long rod the size of Goku's arm was NOT to be touched.
"Wow!' Goku exclaimed in excitement as he easily vaulted over the chains, drawing a gasp from the woman. "Goku, no! That's the Nyoi-bou!"
Too late, the inquisitive monkey had grabbed the rod and pulled it out from the stand holding it. Yuri summoned her own spear in fear, bracing herself for the assault.
None came.
She sweatdropped. The lithe boy was swinging the rod, a delighted smile on his face. "Yuri-neechan! Look at this! It's so light! But it's too big," he pouted, and Yuri got another shock when the rod sudden shrunk and lengthened until it was just the right size for a small boy. "Alright!" Goku yelled happily.
Yuri watched this with a mixture of fear and amazement. The Nyoi-bou was one weapon that could not be controlled, since it was forged out of earth's pure aura. It was forged too long ago, but nobody was able to wield it. It simply will not respond to anyone, and even injured many in the process. Finally it was sealed in the armory as it cannot be destroyed.
Then realization struck her. Of course it responds to Goku... Goku is also born from Earth's aura! "Talk about birds of a feather," She muttered before putting her spear away and watching Goku prance around. "Come, Goku," She smiled. "Let's try your new friend."
"What did you call it?' Goku asked as he trotted alongside Yuri. "The name is Nyoibou," Yuri told him. "Nyoibou," Goku repeated. "Does your spear have a name too?"
"Yes," Yuri bit her lip. A thought occurred to her. "Goku, I'm going to teach you a cool spell," She said thoughtfully. "With it you can take Nyoibou with you anywhere. It's your friend, so you must protect it, understand?"
Goku nodded and Yuri knelt down. Nyoibou is a sacred weapon, she thought. If gods with harmful intentions know that it is has chosen Goku, there might be trouble. But there is no way Goku can carry it around without attracting attention; and she didn't want Goku risk losing Nyoibou out of carelessness.
"The spell will allow you to summon Nyoibou anywhere, anytime," She winked at him. "Just like how I summon my Drakka."
"Cool!" Goku nodded enthusiastically and listened in rapt attention as Yuri taught him the spell.
Yuri watched in pleasure as the little boy repeated the spell again and again, sometimes getting it and making Nyoibou disappear, but then failed to bring it back. Again and again he tried, the fierce light of determination never fading from his eyes. It was amazing how determined he could be when set with a task. A trait the War God must have, a small voice said, and she felt a pang of guilt. Nataku... he was a man trapped in the body of an adult, but Goku is truly a child. Is it right to put him through this?
Author's note: Updating simultaneous fics is tiring, but it's worth it if you review this chapter for me!
Author's note: Another year is coming to a close. I hope I can finish this before the end of the year as well, as I have many ideas I want to start, but am unable to because of these hanging threads!
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Yuri looked up in amazement at the hundred of petals spiraling gently to earth. The gardens have not changed much, she observed as she moved noiselessly among the trees. She caught a glimpse of gods and goddesses here and there, laughing happily while drinking sake. A goddess looked her way and instantly looked away in bashfulness. Yuri misinterpreted that as a sign on disgust and she scowled. Well damn all of you for your eternal lives then.
"Yuri?"
She turned around and saw that it was Tenpou, handing her a glass of wine. "You looked deep in thought." He observed as she took the glass. She smiled in return. "I suppose I can't get out of the habit, Tenpou."
"Thinking too much is not good," Tenpou lit a cigarette, the smell mingling with the scent of sakura flowers. "Goku can teach you how not to think at all," He added and laughed. Yuri sipped the wine as they walked to where Goku and Kenren were sitting, arguing about the food (I get the steamed buns and you take the spiced cabbages). Goku looked miffed enough to hit Kenren, but the general was laughing, affectionately ruffling the heretic's hair. "Where is Konzen?" Tenpou asked suddenly. "I asked Goku, but he refused to answer."
Yuri was about to think of a suitable reply when another voice answered, "Right here."
Yuri swung around in surprise and beheld the sullen deity standing behind her, arms crossed. "I was bored," he said simply and brushed past her. She stared in amazement for a second and then laughed, a merry, tinkling sound. "I suppose you were, Konzen," She said quietly and followed him to where the others were sitting.
"KONZEN!!!"
Kenren nearly choked when a brown messy bundle leapt up and sprang for Konzen, but the deity simply stepped aside and allowed the heretic to fling himself headlong into the trunk of a tree, showering petals on them. "Baka," Konzen muttered and Yuri laughed as she helped Goku up. "You used to fall from trees when you were young, Konzen," She said at last and Konzen froze in his tracks. Unaware of his reaction, she smiled when Goku brightened up. 'Really? Konzen climes trees? How come he doesn't want to do it now?"
"Now, now, I cannot imagine Kanzeon Bosatsu's nephew climbing trees at his age," Tenpou smiled amusedly, followed by a chuckle from Kenren. "Chances of seeing Tantei with nose hairs painted on are greater than seeing this blonde do any climbing."
Konzen scowled and sat down on the grass. Goku sat next to him, eyes shining. "Hey, did I tell you I met a new friend?"
"Yeah you did, but maybe Yuri wants to listen," Kenren chuckled as the goddess served him a glass of sake. Beautiful, he thought as he eyed her over his glass. Yesterday he had seen her in a battered uniform, but today, in a simple kimono, she looked... angelic. Midnight blue waves contrasted so sharply against her fair skin that you would have thought she was glowing. For the millionth time he tried to place her face among the millions he sees each day, and finally gives up. He had never seen her before, or else he would never have forgotten. There's no way he would forget such a face...
Yuri listened attentively at Goku's eager description of Nataku. So the War God is barely an adult, she thought. What a lark, making a child do the dirty work.
"So Lady Yuri," Kenren finally asked. "We heard you're now Goku's guardian. So what does that make you - Konzen's wife?"
Konzen instantly spluttered but Yuri laughed politely. "You can call me mother, but surely I'm a more fitting image of a parent than Konzen?"
Konzen muttered something about 'keepers' and 'sarus' but kept his silence. What went on in the Hall was between him, Yuri, Kanzeon, Tantei and -
"She's teaching me how to -mmmfhhh!!!" Goku was about to say something when Konzen shoved a nikuman into his mouth. "You're best when your mouth is full of food," He said sullenly and Yuri burst out laughing.
Tenpou followed this exchange closely. Nothing was to be wasted. It might even be turned to his advantage...
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Kanzeon felt a vein throbbing at her temple. Sure, these administrators of Heaven are a thick-headed lot (including her) but men will be men. And idiots will be idiots.
"The fact that she once committed a severe crime does not mean she will repeat it after a sentence of seven hundred years," Kanzeon finally said, feeling her temper scale unimaginable heights. "All of you have agreed to release her from the inter dimensional gate, so stop whining."
"We are not whining, Kanzeon," A fellow administrator snapped back, eyebrows twitching horribly. "We are simply concerned on whether your decision is right., or not."
"So," She leaned close to the offending god. 'You can find me someone else who can train the kid?"
"Why are we keeping him here anyway?" The god retorted angrily. "He is a danger to us!"
'Correction. He's a danger to you. But he can be a valuable asset, should you care to stop and think. His strength rivals even that of Nataku, and that is untrained. He can be a powerful tool, to use your own words," She said with a smirk and the hall was silent following her little speech. However Kanzeon was not done yet. "Goku is a child, no matter what you say," She began again, resting against a pillar, the smile never fading. "He's childish in everything he does, and discipline alone won't work against him. Like a child, he yearns for attention. So we give him one."
"But marshal Yuri - "
"Tut-tut. You stripped her of that position seven hundred years ago," Kanzeon wagged her finger. "Yuri is an exceptional soldier," She continued. "After seven centuries of exile, I have no doubt that her skills and power would greatly improve - perhaps to a level we cannot imagine. But she has one soft spot, and through that we can control her, just as she will be able to control Goku."
"What makes your plan foolproof, Kanzeon-sama?" Li Touten half sneered, but was met by an equally sly smile of Kanzeon's. I don't need to give my reasons to idiots, she thought as she tossed her hair over her shoulder. "She knows how to handle monkeys. After all, you were one of the monkeys she trained, weren't you, Li Touten?"
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Yuri walked down the aisles of racks, lined with weapons of every imaginable types. Each of these weapons gleamed with polished care, though Yuri doubted that they were ever used. The Heavenly Army looked like a football team out of shape. How many years has it been since they last fought a *real* battle?
She pursed her lips, not sure on what to take. She had her own weapon, her Drakka, but Goku will need something to fight with...
"Wa... Yuri-neechan, look at this!" Goku's voice rang from a side of the room and Yuri frowned at the massive broadsword he was ogling at. "Ano, Goku, I know you can carry heavy loads, but this is not exactly your type," She said, smiling. "When choosing a weapon, you must chose with your heart. That weapon will be with you for most of your battles, and your life will depend on it." She advised and Goku nodded, awed. "But Yuri- neechan, I don't know anything about weapons," Goku said in confusion as they walked again. 'There's so many to choose from. How do I know which one is my friend?"
What a child, Yuri smiled. He is right in one thing though. Weapons are like friends, especially when you have nobody else with you...
Goku shivered at a bloodthirsty looking sword hanging from the rafters, secured with heavy chains and bits of paper. He couldn't imagine himself as a sword-wielding soldier. He tried to, but all that came out was an image of Kenren, laughing menacingly. The thought sent shivers down his spine.
A vibration in the air made him stop. Yuri blinked at him. "What is it, Goku? Ah, don't go that way," She tried to catch him but the monkey had set off at a running pace towards a part of the armory that she hadn't gone to. "Goku!" She cried, running after him. "Not there, that's - " She stopped dead when she saw Goku standing before an altar surrounded by chains. The chains had sealing runes all over it, not preventing people from breaching into the area, but because the metre-long rod the size of Goku's arm was NOT to be touched.
"Wow!' Goku exclaimed in excitement as he easily vaulted over the chains, drawing a gasp from the woman. "Goku, no! That's the Nyoi-bou!"
Too late, the inquisitive monkey had grabbed the rod and pulled it out from the stand holding it. Yuri summoned her own spear in fear, bracing herself for the assault.
None came.
She sweatdropped. The lithe boy was swinging the rod, a delighted smile on his face. "Yuri-neechan! Look at this! It's so light! But it's too big," he pouted, and Yuri got another shock when the rod sudden shrunk and lengthened until it was just the right size for a small boy. "Alright!" Goku yelled happily.
Yuri watched this with a mixture of fear and amazement. The Nyoi-bou was one weapon that could not be controlled, since it was forged out of earth's pure aura. It was forged too long ago, but nobody was able to wield it. It simply will not respond to anyone, and even injured many in the process. Finally it was sealed in the armory as it cannot be destroyed.
Then realization struck her. Of course it responds to Goku... Goku is also born from Earth's aura! "Talk about birds of a feather," She muttered before putting her spear away and watching Goku prance around. "Come, Goku," She smiled. "Let's try your new friend."
"What did you call it?' Goku asked as he trotted alongside Yuri. "The name is Nyoibou," Yuri told him. "Nyoibou," Goku repeated. "Does your spear have a name too?"
"Yes," Yuri bit her lip. A thought occurred to her. "Goku, I'm going to teach you a cool spell," She said thoughtfully. "With it you can take Nyoibou with you anywhere. It's your friend, so you must protect it, understand?"
Goku nodded and Yuri knelt down. Nyoibou is a sacred weapon, she thought. If gods with harmful intentions know that it is has chosen Goku, there might be trouble. But there is no way Goku can carry it around without attracting attention; and she didn't want Goku risk losing Nyoibou out of carelessness.
"The spell will allow you to summon Nyoibou anywhere, anytime," She winked at him. "Just like how I summon my Drakka."
"Cool!" Goku nodded enthusiastically and listened in rapt attention as Yuri taught him the spell.
Yuri watched in pleasure as the little boy repeated the spell again and again, sometimes getting it and making Nyoibou disappear, but then failed to bring it back. Again and again he tried, the fierce light of determination never fading from his eyes. It was amazing how determined he could be when set with a task. A trait the War God must have, a small voice said, and she felt a pang of guilt. Nataku... he was a man trapped in the body of an adult, but Goku is truly a child. Is it right to put him through this?
Author's note: Updating simultaneous fics is tiring, but it's worth it if you review this chapter for me!