[A/N] I'm back! Sorry for not updating this fic sooner. (T_T) I wasn't able to take note of who reviewed my 2nd chapter but for those who did, I just wanna say ARIGATO! (^v^)
Tears Of The Sun
by: Crimson Devil
Chapter 3: The Stranger Within The Gates Of Heaven
/-Am I free?-/
"I, Li Touten, release you from imprisonment. However, you shall keep the shackles on your wrists, since we cannot treat you as equally as an average god."
/-Yes…..I am finally free…..but then…..why do I feel incomplete?-/
"You will be Nataku's replacement, his successor, because of his current state. You will be a toushin taishi from now on. Is that understood?"
"Hai."
"Then you are dismissed."
/-Is being treated like scum and not to be treated fairly freedom? Hm', no wonder Nataku ended up lifeless, in a sense that he's still breathing and yet 'dead' at the same time. He probably didn't see any point in living anymore because of how he was treated.-/
A dark and lonely figure with eccentric eyes and raven black hair rose with his heavy metal shackles and proceeded to the door. He entered into the blinding light of the outside world…..once again.
-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-
"We're…..finally…..done." Kenren let out a lazy sigh of relief as he collapsed onto a chair, still holding a broom in his hand.
"I…..feel…..stupid." a certain blonde with a feather duster and a white apron murmured while dusting the ancient books in one of the many shelves that he had cleaned.
"Well, you did say that you were going to help, ne?" Tenpo pointed out as he picked up some scrolls from the floor. "The apron looks good on you though, don't you think?" the emerald eyed kami chuckled as he looked at Konzen's red face.
"Ch',"
"Since we're done here, why don't we have our picnic? Let's have it in the south field, the place with a peach blossom tree, ne, Goku? Goku?"
He turned around to hear faint snoring sounds. There, in a chair at the other end of the room, lay Goku, napping so soundly.
The three sweat-dropped, seeing him so relaxed while they were all tired.
"He must've gotten exhausted from all that cleaning….." Tenpo exclaimed, scratching the back of his head, smiling sheepishly.
Konzen walked over to the child's side, keeping his face devoid of any emotions; any sign of feelings. He carried Goku so that his face was resting on his left shoulder.
He turned around and said, "Why don't you get the preparations for the picnic ready?"
Kenren and Tenpo exchanged glances, looking at the blonde with curiosity, asking the same question in their minds.
As if Konzen read their thoughts, he shot a glare at them which clearly meant to back off. "Just meet us at the south field."
That was the last thing he said before leaving the library with Goku.
There was silence in the room. The brunette and redhead, with confused looks on their faces, were still trying to register what they had witnessed moments ago.
"Tenpo, tell me that you just saw what I saw."
"I-I-I did. Why?"
"Good, 'cause I thought I was seeing things! Did Konzen really carry that saru?! Hell, was that even Konzen?!"
"I know it's unimaginable but that was Konzen….."
"*chuckles* I'm feeling a little bit of a 'Nosey Nancy'. Why don't we check out what's happening between them?" Kenren suggested with a mischievous look plastered on his face.
"Do you really think we should? Think about what Konzen would do to us….."
"I don't give a damn!"
"*sigh* Yare yare desu ne….."
-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-
Arriving at the south field, the meeting place for the picnic, Konzen sat under the large peach blossom tree, still cradling Goku in his arms. The child snuggled closer to the source of the radiant warmth; the place where he truly felt safe, where he felt loved.
A gentle breeze blew the sweet child's brown locks off his countenance, revealing his peaceful face, his dark eyelashes, his perfectly carved features, his untouched lips; lips that craved for attention, almost calling for him as they sligjtly parted.
A question suddenly echoed through his head; repeating over and over again.
/-What if he was taken away from me? How would that be possible? How would he be taken away from me? Who would take him away from me?-/
Konzen was undoubtedly worried, though not to the extent of panicking. He was just thinking about it, that's all…..
The divine celestial gazed at the slumbering youth as he took his every breath, watching him make even the slightest move, never looking away…..when he found his answer.
/-He's given me so much…..That I couldn't possibly carry on my own. It would be like life without a future; without anything to protect…..without anyone to love. I'd be lost without Goku.-/
Konzen tucked one of Goku's stray locks away from his beautiful face, staring at his one and only purpose in life, the one who let bright rays of happiness into his pathetic excuse for a life, the person he valued enormously…..the one he loved.
"…..hmm…..Konze….."
/-I can't let that happen…..-/
Konzen silenced the youth with a deep passionate kiss, encircling his arms around Goku's slender body.
/-Konzen…..-/
Goku shut his eyes close as he surrendered to his master's kiss, running his little hands through the celestial's golden strands of hair.
Konzen broke their brief lip lock, so as to let Goku gasp for air, still keeping his arms around the one he cherished so much.
/-I won't fucking let that happen…..-/
-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-
/-Why don't I at least feel grateful, now that I'm sovereign, now that I'm finally out of that rotten cell?-/
Sapphire and gold oculars stared into the deep dark abyss of space, pondering over that thought; that one solitary thought that made him retrospect the unforgettable past…..
@* Flash Back *@
"Aah! G-G-Gomenasai! I wasn't looking where I was going….."
/-I didn't know why she even apologized. She was a goddess after all. And as for me…..I was just a heretic…..and yet she treated me eaqually…..-/
"Homura, I want to stay with you…..forever."
/-I wanted to stay with her as well. I enjoyed being with her so much…..I loved her. Besides the fact that I was a heretic; that I was treated unjustly, my life was scarred not because of the injustice bestowed upon me but because of that blasted day they took her away, the person who saw more than the heretic that I am…..Rinrei.-/
"Homura! You have violated the law! You should know that it's forbidden to have affairs between gods and impure beings. As punishment, we will exile Rinrei from Hevean, sentencing her to earth, where she will become mortal."
"No! She's done nothing wrong! I'm the one to blame…..so take me instead! If she will stay on earth, she'll die! Just leave her out of this!"
"We can't do that. We feel that you must stay here. You might become of some use to us in the future."
"Rinrei!"
"Homura!"
/-She bid me farewell for the last time that day. I sometimes even regret meeting her in the first place. Then maybe none of this would've ever happened…..I'm sorry for not protecting you…..Rinrei…..-/
@* End of Flash Back *@
Homura felt his heart ache in sorrow, revoking the space in his heart which his beloved had left…..the space that remained empty for all those dreadful years.
"Ne, mister, can I pick these flowers?"
The raven haired dissenter turned to see a child of about eighteen with wavering brown hair and golden brown skin; just smiling up at him. Homura just gave the youth a gesture of approval, still keeping his face straight.
"Sank you!"
Goku knelt down and started picking up blossoms, choosing the most beautiful ones.
/-I'll pick these before the picnic starts. These are for Ten-chan, these are for Ken-chan and these are for Konze…..-/
The young teen stopped, touching his lips, remembering; almost feeling his guardian's lips crush his own, those relishing lips, his golden strands of angel hair, those strong arms that held him so close to his warmth.
He blushed as he recalled Konzen's sudden actions. He didn't know what exactly went on but he just 'knew' that it felt right.
Homura just looked at Goku for a while as realization hit him hard. He noticed that he was wearing chains and shackles on his wrists and ankles; and that the child's eyes were of pure molten gold, the eyes of a heretic.
/-Shackles and gold eyes? Is he…..like me?-/
Besides the fact that he recognized the child as another dissident, so did his seductive form, his beautifully tanned body and his perfect lips. He felt aphrodisia get the best of him, engulfing him like quicksand. He came back to his senses when the child got up to leave.
"Ja, I'll leave now!" Goku explained as he briefly smiled at Homura and ran up the stairs, which made him wonder…..
/-Why is he happy though he is bound by chains? Is it just his innocence or is there something that's giving him joy and happiness…..happiness that I used to have.-/
-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-
"I'm back!"
"Where've you been, you chibi-saru? We were almost going to start without you."
"What?! You're so mean, Ken-chan! Oh, I almost forgot…..here."
Goku gave out the flowers that he had picked earlier, surprising the three gods.
"Ah…..they're beautiful, Goku, but you really didn't have to do this."
"Yeah…..you're not trying to butter us up are you?"
"I just felt like giving you guys something that's all…..and by the way, what's 'buttering up'?"
*Whack!*
"Never mind…..let's just eat. I'm starving!"
"Ittai! That hurt, Ken-chan!"
"Yare yare desu ne….."
Konzen just sighed inwardly and thought. /-Ch', he's so simple minded…..-/
As they ate, unknowingly to them, they were being watched by a dark lean figure behind a column, hidden in the shadows…..as gold and sapphire orbs watched them intently.
[A/N] Reason for this being overly sweet: I felt very sentimental while thinking about what to do in the story. *smiles sheepishly* Oh well, at least something's about to happen, ne? *sigh*
Please, please, please review! (^v^)