Part 4: Choices Made, Prices Paid

He sat by the window and alternated between smoking and glaring at the sky. It was one of those perfect weather days: the Sun wasn't too hot and the weather wasn't that humid. Nice weather meant happy people. Che. Annoying. For the hundredth time, he wanted it to rain. He needed for the heavens to part so that the rain could come down hard in torrents.

After all, misery loves company. And the dead need someone to mourn them.

He tore his gaze away from the outside world. At least his room was dark. Revelations would come to you at the strangest times. He found out the hard way that it was darkness, not light that brought comfort.

In the dark, no one can see you tearing yourself to pieces. (Or maybe he was slowly shattering, it didn't matter.)

In the quiet, lonely dark, it overwhelmed and engulfed you.

In the end, You become nothing but shadow.  

After spending twenty odd years of his life suffering and agonizing, after seeing and living through the deaths of his beloved ones. Genjo Sanzo Houshi decided that it was time to Fall to the darkness.  (The darkness wasn't such a bad place to be, it didn't matter any way, because he didn't, couldn't and wouldn't care anymore.)

"Welcome back Marshall."

He nodded to her and Jiroushin. The Goddess of Mercy was seated on her throne-like chair gazing at the lotus pond before she deigned to acknowledge his presence.

"I trust you find that nothing much has changed since you left?" At this, she lifted her eyes and looked right into his. Her smirk spoke of an old joke shared among friends.

Or maybe she was laughing at his expense, Tenpou thought to himself. However, her question gave Tenpou the opening he needed. "I thought after 500 years of being away, it would take some time for me to adjust. But it seems that everything is the same as we left it.Exactly the same."

He smiled wistfully as he said, "It was as if we never left."

It was true that nothing had changed. His room and library remained untouched after all these years. No one came in to neaten the place up and put the books in their right position on the shelves. This made him feel that his room was waiting for him to return to heaven. Due to the nature of Heaven, there was no dust lying around. Thank the gods for that at least.  

Now, about his return to Heaven, there were a few minor details he had to clarify with the Goddess of Mercy. "Why am I here?" he asked bluntly.

Kanzeon laughed. She was always so easily and greatly amused. "Why is anyone anywhere? The simplest explanation is usually the truest: You are here because We wish it."

"Even simplicity has underlying complications.  500 years is not enough to quell the anger of the Jade Emperor. I don't understand why I returned to Tenkai instead of the Cycle of Life to be reincarnated." He had his suspicions of Something Being Up the moment he realized that he was in Heaven.

There was a pause as Kanzeon shifted her focus to her lotus pond. When she looked up, her eyes seemed to be looking at something far, far away. Something that was incomprehensible to everyone else.  "Do you not wish to see how your companions are doing, Marshall?" Her voice had gone deeper than it usually is.

Tenpou felt the hairs at the back of his neck rise. Cautiously he took a step closer to the pond and peered in it.

He saw nothing.

Confused, the Marshall glanced at the Goddess and saw a tiny smirk playing on her lips. She tilted her head as if to say, Well? Aren't you going yet?

In his mind, he replayed what she just said. He opened his mouth to say something but decided not to. He grinned inwardly. He didn't have time to parley words with Kanzeon. After all, he had friends and a lover to visit Down Below. With a low bow, Tenpou took his leave.

"That wasn't nice," Jiroushin murmured.

Kanzeon rolled her eyes. "He's smart enough to understand what I was trying to say Jiroushin. There is a reason why he is the Marshall for the Western Army. Relax, will you? Shall we continue our chess game?"

Jiroushin nodded and went to set up the chess board. As he started to place the pieces in their respective squares, he mused, "You never did answer the Marshall's question."

The Goddess of Mercy raised her eyebrow.

"About his presence in Tenkai."

"The Marshall will figure it out for himself, eventually. Cho Hakkai was meant to die and Tenpou Gensui is supposed to be here, to lead the Western Army in case things go wrong Down Below. Like it or not, Sanzo along with Gojyo and Goku, are supposed to stop Gyumao's revival. It is Destiny."

And here ends Chapter 4.

Author's note: I'm so sorry it took me this long to get this chapter out!!! This is dedicated to everyone who has been 'reminding' me to update. If you liked it, please review it.