[A/N] I think this took me enough time…^^v Thanks to all those who reviewed my previous chapter. I'm glad most liked it. Well, enough chit-chat for now. I hope you'll like this as well. (^-^)

Once again, I DON'T OWN SAIYUKI!

Tears Of The Sun

by: Crimson Devil

Chapter 8: Discovery

"Goku!" Konzen gasped as he bolted upright from his bed, beads of cold sweat rolling down his face…his amethyst eyes wide open in fear. He clutched his broad chest and felt his heart race at an alarming rate. His usually tidy, blonde hair was out of place and his bed sheets lay in a distorted heap, tangled around his legs.

He sat on the bed's edge, perched his elbows on his knees, and buried his face in his clammy hands. Waking up in the middle of the night in such a manner was not his style. Not only was he now breathing heavy, uneven breaths, but he now had an uncomfortable sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that just made him want to throw up.

For the first time in his life…he felt fear.

It had only been ten hours since the morning Goku disappeared and the note left upon his pillow echoed in his mind in Goku's voice…

*-*-*

Dear Konzen,

             I have gone to visit Nataku for a while today. I will come back right away. See you in a while! :3

Love Goku

*-*-*

/-Where the hell is Goku…?-/

The night seemed to get colder and dragged on for long, quiet hours. By the time it was three in the morning, Konzen started pacing across the cold, hard floor of his room, his bare feet making soft patting sounds at the slightest contact.

…I have gone to visit Nataku for a while today…

/-…where is he now…?-/

…I will come back right away…

/-…where are you…-/

…see you in a while…

/-…where are you…Goku…?-/

As the hours seemed to take a long, lazy stroll in time, Konzen, with his long flaxen hair shining in the moonlight, found himself  standing in front of a flower-filled vase — flowers that Goku picked weeks ago. The blossoms, even till that time, retained their fragrance and beauty…still so beautiful.

Subconsciously, Konzen picked a yellow blossom from its blue, porcelain home, sat on the edge of his bed and twirled the flower by its stem between his thumb and forefinger. He stared at it for quite a long time, reminiscing about how a young heretic would always come bounding up to him carrying an armful of wild flowers with an innocent, beaming smile, not noticing that it was already half-past five.

…I have gone to visit Nataku for a while today…I will come back right away…see you in a while…

"'tch…hountoni baka-saru…"

And with that, he lay back on his bed, kicking the tangled blanket to the floor, making a stern mental note to himself that he would look for Goku and give him a good scolding later in a more decent hour in the morning. At first, he just lay on his back, staring at the blank ceiling above him, but drowsiness overcame him and started to lull to sleep…his hand still clutching the yellow flower close to his chest.

-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-

Beyond the oak door, within a dark chamber dimly lit by candles on candelabras were two figures, one on top of the other…the one beneath screaming; crying, trying to break loose from the latter's grasp.

"It's no use Son Goku," Homura's voice whispered in Goku's ear, causing him to do something like the cross between a flinch and a shiver, his mismatched eyes glinting in the candles' radiance. "Nobody will be able to hear you."

Goku had already lost his shirt and shackles which lay on the floor, abandoned. Homura, who had also abandoned his large, cape-like robe and chains on the other side of the room, now in his sleeveless black top and khaki-colored pants, was just inches away from Goku, whose eyes and face were shining due to hot tears of fear.

"W-Why are y-y-you doing this…!" Goku stuttered in a frightened voice, almost being choked by the protruding tears.

Homura didn't answer. He was too busy listening to a voice in his heart echoing in his head.

/-Why am I doing this?! What am I trying to prove?-/

He shut his mind from the voice. He placed his hand on Goku's pants and began unzipping it.

"No…NO! Please…don't do this!" Goku cried out.

Upon resuming, Goku's eyes broke into tears once more, screaming an inaudible scream filled with such fear that one would prefer not to hear…

/-No…KONZEN!!-/

-@-@-@-@-@-@-@-

Footsteps could be heard through the corridors of Heaven. Running footsteps they were. If one had sharp hearing, one could distinguish that they were made by three pairs of feet. They were made by none other than Konzen, Tenpou and Kenren. They've been searching the labyrinth of rooms from top to bottom, from every nook and cranny. Anywhere where they knew Goku could hide. "Tenpou! You search the west wing! Kenren! Search the east! Since we already checked the north wing, I'll go check the south!" Konzen ordered, the tips of his flaxen hair adorned with hanging beads of sweat, shooting a glare at Kenren who made a grin on his face. "What are you smiling for!?" Konzen demanded. "Who, me? I was just wondering to myself how come you're all worked up about the chibi saru." The red-headed general said, letting the words roll out of his mouth. "That's none of your business!" the deity scowled. "Now is not the time to fight! We need to find Goku! He might've landed in the hands of Li Touten!" With that said, the trio went their separate ways.

Konzen dashed to the south wing, his long hair wildly flailing behind him.

/-He said that he'd come back right away! Damn that saru!-/

The sounds of doors being flung open echoed through the halls of all three annexes of Heaven. Konzen didn't mind the noise. The only noise he wanted to hear right now was Goku's frantic cries for his forgiveness. The only thing he could think of besides how to teach Goku a lesson in making promises was Goku himself. He never stayed away from Konzen for that long a period. It wasn't like Goku at all. That could only mean that something was wrong…so drop dead wrong.

Konzen reached a turn and his eyes saw an oak door. He never saw it before since he didn't walk around Heaven as much as the others would. For some reason, he had a bad feeling in his gut towards the door and the room behind it. This feeling was not to be ignored. And besides, it was the only door left in the south wing. He had to check it out.

With pale hands did he push the doors open.

Only to find what he had not hoped to see.

[A/N] OMG! I'M SO SORRY!! School has gotten tougher than usual and I was too busy to update! I'm SOOOOOOOO SORRY!!! I'll have another chapter posted by next week I suppose. I've been having too many ideas flood into my head so it took a while to organize. (-___-) Please forgive me!!