"Goku!"
Konzen Doji paused, head tilted to the side. When he didn't hear a familiar cry, or feel something slam into him, the blond god growled. "Where is that idiot?"
It wasn't like Goku to be missing for so long. Not unless he had done something bad, and no one had come to Konzen, baying for the child's blood. And since his aunt's "suggestion," everyone knew he was the monkey's keeper.
"I'm not worried about him," Konzen muttered aloud. "He can cause a lot of trouble when he's loose, that's all."
The trees that surrounded him were convinced. Maybe.
Something caught the blond's attention. Unsure of what it was, Konzen moved forward, weaving through the trees, listening. It took only a few minutes for him to hear voices.
"Stupid little itan. What are you doing here? Trying to bring us bad luck?"
Konzen didn't recognize the voice, but very few people in the heavens could be called an itan. He began to move faster, following the voice.
A second person, this time female, also spoke up. "Don't you know that you're something wrong? Especially with those gold eyes. Only the worst things have gold eyes. What makes you think you can be here, anyway?"
Just then, Konzen stepped into a small clearing. There were three people already there. Two of them, dark-haired gods he didn't recognize, had their backs towards him. In front of them, pressed up against a tree, was Goku.
Terrified eyes locked onto Konzen, and relief flooded the boy's face.
That seemed to irritate the woman. Drawing her hand back, she snarled. "Little itan trash."
Her downward swing stopped abruptly, and she cried out as her arm was twisted back. The male spun around, and Goku took his chance to run to Konzen.
"I'm the reason he's allowed to go wherever he wants. The only trash I see at the moment is you." Konzen could feel Goku tremble as the child hid behind his legs. And that irritated Konzen. It was going to take forever to calm Goku down. He wanted to know who to punish.
"Who are you? Why are you harassing the boy?"
Tugging until Konzen released her arm with a noise of disgust, the woman turned around. "Konzen Doji?" Her voice carried a startled tone. "I am Sazuka, and my brother is Nagi. And we weren't harassing your pet."
Violet eyes narrowed. "Certainly appeared that you were. And he's not a pet." Goku shivered and pressed himself harder against Konzen's legs. When the blond reached that tone of voice, it was time to hide. The boy was happy he had never been the focus of it.
Sazuka sniffed. "I was just letting him know his place." Suddenly, she smiled, and cast a sultry look at Konzen. "However, if you'd like, we can go someplace a bit more private and discuss it."
The look on Konzen's face could have frozen tropical seas. "I'm sorry. I don't associate with lesser beings." Reaching down, he pushed Goku away from the siblings, ignoring Sazuka's cry of outrage. "We're leaving, Goku."
"Looks like the rumors were right," sneered Nagi. "The great Konzen Doji gets all his needs taken care of by his pet. A little young for you, isn't he, Konzen?"
Goku froze, back stiffening. Konzen sighted. "Same old stupid rumors. Trust me; I wouldn't have touched either of you before Goku arrived. Still too low a life form to have a decent discussion with."
That was said without Konzen turning around. However, Goku wanted to give his own version of the Konzen Dismissal, so he turned his head.
"Konzen, look out!"
Instinctively shoving Goku out of the way of danger, Konzen twisted around. That's when the blade took him in the stomach. Holding the hilt, Nagi looked at the dagger with a mix of surprise and fear on his face. He quickly pulled the weapon free when blood began to stain Konzen's robes.
"We have to kill them both!" Sazuka's voice sounded shrill. "Or else he won't keep his end of the deal."
Blood pouring down his side, Konzen stumbled back, and then fell to his knees. "Goku, run," he gasped
Instead of hearing the sound of retreating footsteps, Konzen heard a sound that actually scared him.
The strange sound of a power limiter breaking.
As his consciousness began to fade, Konzen felt the wave of newly released power wash over him. A loud howl echoed in his mind, and he was the terrified looks on Nagi and Sazuka's faces.
Tenpo, Kenren, Goku needs you, were the last thoughts Konzen had as he slid into darkness.
Most other people would have woken up with a cry after a dream like that. Not Sanzo, though. Tension rolled over his form a second before violet eyes shot open.
They stared blankly for a second before life flooded back into them. It was the work of only a few seconds to force his muscles to relax. Only then did Sanzo examine what had torn him from his sleep.
Ever since Homura had almost killed him with that flaming sword of his, Sanzo had been having strange dreams. Ones that involved Gojyo, Hakkai, and Goku. A much younger Goku. Dreams that were so vivid that Sanzo could still feel pain with the dagger had pierced his skin. For a dream to affect him so much was unbelievable.
Which meant it was a good thing that Sanzo knew the truth.
The dreams weren't dreams. They were memories.
Memories of when, Sanzo wasn't sure. But he knew they weren't just dreams, and that something important was locked inside of them.
The faint ripple of the Maten as it lay beside him made Sanzo tense once more. Somewhere, fairly close, someone was using a Heavenly sutra. And the Maten seemed to miss its former companion, as it sent a rush of power coursing though Sanzo. The monk gasped faintly as his skin tingled.
The power tried to flare outward, but Sanzo quickly caught it. With practiced ease, the monk dissipated the energy. Nearby, Hakkai stirred, and then settled back. Sanzo was just as happy, he didn't feel like dealing with anyone at the moment. The dreams always left him unsettled, and Sanzo disliked that feeling with a passion. Having to deal with anyone in that condition would lead to somebody being hurt.
What worried Sanzo was the reaction of the Maten to what he assumed was the Seiten. What would happen when they drew closer? The idea of possibly having to fight for, or with, the power of his sutra did not appeal to him in the least.
Still, no reason to worry about it now, he decided. Taking a deep breath, Sanzo once again forced his muscles to relax.
Tomorrow would be here soon enough. Cliché, but true.
