School is EVIL! Ugh, so much work right now that I'm a bit behind schedule with everything. But after next Wednesday, everything should let up a little because I'm finally getting Spring Break! ^_^

Title: Finding the Sun
Author: AznSage
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Archived at: -Still Time (gmsaiyuki.topcities.com)
-FF.net
Pairings: Goku+Konzen/Konzen+Goku

Rating: PG

Note: It's a Goku POV fic. This part is in Gaiden, but the events do not happen exactly as those in Gaiden because I'm not making my fic a retelling of Gaiden.

Konzen had looked really frustrated the next day. Well, more than usual anyway. He stalked around Tenkai quite angrily and yelled at a bunch of the guards and servants running around there who were just minding their own business. I couldn't think of anything that could have been possibly bothering him, but I figured that he'd probably want some relief in tension.

But what to do, what to do?

I looked around the room. It was plain, but practical, with barely any decorations in the room. The desk was stacked full of papers, documents that Kanzeon had left for Konzen. The ink was still sitting there with the pen dipped in it, half tipping out already, left unheeded when Konzen had suddenly gotten up and almost flew out of the room for no apparent reason.

I thought about the events of the morning for a while and I really couldn't possibly think of a reason why he would jump up and leave like that. He had awaken before I had and sat at his desk working, the light from outside already spilling in. I don't think he had slept very well since there were clear signs of fatigue on his face. Maybe it was because yesterday night was the first night we had to figure out sleeping arrangements. Somehow, it had ended up being a huge argument and me on the floor while he was all comfortable on the bed.

But when I had woke up this morning, I had smelled a slight hint of musk in a pillow under my head, a pillow that most definitely was not there the night before. I was no longer on the floor, but had been deposited in the center of the bed, with the silk blankets tucked snugly around me. I remembered thinking of Konzen at every breath, breaths that brought in the intoxicating scent of my sun.

My eyes slowly opened to see if I was just dreaming, the disbelief of the kind gesture still refusing to go away. But here I was, on the bed, without Konzen. He had already deposited himself in his seat at the desk and was peering through the documents with a scowl clear on his features. I quietly threw the sheets off of me and tiptoed towards him. I have to admit, I was surprised that he hadn't noticed me at all. But then again, those papers were taking up a lot of desk space.

And then...I jumped him. Glomped him, some might say. I didn't like that negative look on his face at all and I am one to change what I do not like. Blame it on my innocence if you must.

After that little episode, Konzen pried me off and stomped out of the room without another word.

So now, here I was, bored out of my mind, doing nothing but figuring out a way to make Konzen less angry. Or at least more relaxed so that he'd stop verbally abusing all the guards. I had tailed him then and apologized to the soldiers after he'd left the vicinity. They seemed a bit shocked that I was saying that to them on Konzen's behalf but they were still instilled with a fear and loathing of me. I brushed it off for now, refusing to give in to that little voice in my head saying that I was very much so unwanted here by anyone.

My thoughts brought me back to the present dilemma once again and I bounced up and off my seat on the bed and walked to the desk, the seeming center of Konzen's reason for rampaging. It was there that it had happened was it not? And the only thing that could have made him that way was the papers. So the papers must go.

But how does one little saru get rid of such a huge stack of papers? I scratched my head at this. I couldn't just take them out of the room and put them somewhere else, it would be too conspicuous and it would probably end up back here anyway. No, I had to destroy them.

I pushed the chair closer to the windows to see what was outside. Perhaps I could get rid of them this way? Pushing the windows open, I was greeted by a gentle breeze and I cautiously peered outside, There was a lush garden, with sakura trees, soft grass, beautiful flowers, the whole nine yards. Which meant it included a lake. My eyes glowed at the thought. The ink would surely be messed up from the water and thus the documents would be taken care of. Then problem solved and Konzen could relax for a while.

But it would be difficult to get the papers to the lake. It was a bit far from the window and was a bit on the smallish side. I would have to aim perfectly in order to get them there.

I rolled up the papers into a tiny wad and tried to toss it in the right direction. Except...the winds decided to pick up at that moment and sweep my throw elsewhere, making it roll off to a side. I tried again and again a few more times, but was thwarted over and over by the wind.

Pouting, I crossed my arms and plopped down into the chair. What could I do to make this work? Perhaps I could use the wind to my advantage instead and get it to send the papers to the water. Yes, that would definitely work.

So I took a piece of paper and just set it out from the window. The wind blew it in the correct direction and I was joyous that my luck was good right now. However, the paper just sat atop of the water and didn't sink at all, making it still visible to prying eyes.

One problem taken care of and another one arose. I creased my brow in thought at how to get it there. Perhaps if the paper was folded in such a way that it would still be carried by the wind, but would not float? Ah, perhaps. I grabbed another piece of paper and folded it so that there were wings for it, but also a pointed tip so that it would sink upon hitting the water. Flicking it out of the window, the wind picked it up and, sure enough, the water engulfed it completely.

Again and again, I repeated these movements. Grab, fold, flick. Grab, fold, flick. It was infinitely amusing. So amusing that I had almost forgotten my reason for doing this in the first place.

Of course, I was always so kindly given reminders for everything.

"Chibi saru! What are you doing!?" Konzen's shout at me brought me back to reality and I hoped to attention.

"Konzen!"

"Those papers are important! What the hell do you think you're doing by folding paper airplanes out of them!?" He stomped angrily towards the desk and I couldn't help but sweatdrop at this.

Mental note to self: Konzen can be very frightening when angry. Do not anger Konzen.

"Um...I was...uh...curious?" My mind couldn't supply the right words, but it did take in the fact that the shape I had folded the papers into were called airplanes in Tenkai.

"Baka!" Konzen lunged at me and looked like he was going to strangle me. Well, there's no better way to relieve tension than a nice good jog through the halls of Tenkai. So off I went.

I sprinted out of the room and had to duck underneath the hapless guard's legs to avoid bumping into him. Konzen wasn't so lucky and shoved him aside, giving me another few second lead. I ran around people and was quite thankful that I was shorter than most people in Tenkai. Going into one of the busiest hallways, I dropped on all fours and quickly crawled underneath everyone. No one seemed to notice me, or paid no attention to me, I couldn't really tell the difference. Konzen saw me go in this direction and started shoving people left and right again, mumbling curses as he chased.

Through another few hallways I went, until I got to one that was pretty secluded. There was no one to hide behind, but the pillars were pretty thick. Maybe I could sneak myself around one and then backtrack. Konzen would definitely be unable to catch me after that.

As I made myself scarce behind a pillar, I heard his voice ring through the hall, scaring all the courtiers who happened to be walking by there.

"Where the hell has he gone off to now!? Where the hell is that bakasaru!?"

One of the courtiers slowly walked up to him, mindful that Konzen might bite his head off. "Konzen Douji-sama, what's wrong?"

"He made paper airplanes out of my important papers! Go help me find him now! He's gonna get what's coming to him today! I'm gonna kill him!"

"Yes sir!" They scurried off on their way to find me, totally oblivious to the fact that I was right under their noses. No matter, this just gave me a chance to sneak off now. At least this allowed Konzen to vent all of his anger at me instead of some random person in Tenkai. I would most definitely not want him to be so angry at everyone else, but if it was all directed at me, I could take it and help him relax. Besides, he needs the exercise.

I sighed. "He's pretty, but he sure has a temper." I found myself stalking off and talking to myself, occassionally glancing back to see if anyone saw me. "And always hitting me on the head..." Not that I minded much. It allowed him to relieve some of his tension, and if I could do that much for him, I was content with it. "Hm...I'd better hide for a bit, it's getting too easy to get caught if I hang around here much longer."

I trotted over to another hall, my chains clanking behind me. They're heavy, but I can lift them effortlessly. They hurt my wrists, but yet it's such a dull and minute pain. They're cold, but the heat eminating from myself and those around me warm them to a level where I become completely unaware of them. They're not really my main concern, just a minor setback, a small pain. It made me only think about whether my decision to leave my loneliness atop the mountain a wise choice or not.

But had I not left, I would not be able to bask in the warmth of the sun, to be near it. And you know what? I'd rather be here than anywhere else. Because I could embrace the golden sun. Because being this close to it could make me so happy. Because it gave my heart peace.

I stopped my thoughts as I saw a room door. The place looked deserted enough for me to stay in for a little while without getting caught. Closing the door quietly behind me, I padded in softly, not letting a sound escape from me except for that of the chains scraping the floor.

"Hey..." A voice? "Who are you?"

I looked up at the source and saw someone who looked just about my age, was just about my height, and was also hiding in this room. And you know what else?

He had golden eyes like me.

-TBC-

Yeah, this next part is gonna be kinda obvious what happens but I want to insert a lot of Goku's thoughts on it since the manga and anime tends to overlook him sometimes. Thanks to Azzie and gallactica for reviewing ^_^ It's good to know people are keeping up. About the Homura thing, I'll probably just mention Goku bumping into him, but not much on him in this one, since he wasn't really important. Maybe later, say if I ever have a sequel that goes into the time of Gensou Maden, but I'm not planning anything for now ^_^ I really need to get a direction for this fic -.-;;