A/N: Last chapter! Some lime... Swearing. Not entirely pleased with this chappie. Help, D-chan?
Don't know if you noticed but the chapter titles make out a sort of sentence which sort of matches the sort of story: Secrets fade thin, disarming fog leaving painful discoveries smiling.
Congrats to Iapetus for being the first to guess what would happen (sort of). Sorry to the "schizo Sanzo" theory fans... shrug It was a good idea. The "Goku training to become stronger" was cool too. And as for the "evil raper" fans, Homura and Kou wouldn't do it. pouts Not without good reason.
Thanks so much to everyone who followed along! hugs & hands out chocolate cookies I'd love to thank you all individually, with comments and all, but it'd take up alot of space. And time. If you want to talk, however, feel free to come to the ffnet authors message board: (you can find me if you scroll down). Questions, comments, suggestions, etc... Anything!
Chapter 9
Homura turned to look at him, smiling knowingly. "Konzen. At last you step forward. I was wondering how long you would take."
Goku's gaze flickered between Homura and him, as if he didn't know where to go or what to do. "You followed me!" he managed to choke out angrily. Then he looked at Homura. "And you knew!" His face softened. "You explained everything on purpose."
Homura simply nodded, and Sanzo suppressed a growl of frustration. Of course Homura had known! He'd wanted Sanzo to know how things stood and... Sanzo suddenly felt anxious. He wanted Goku to choose.
Sanzo cocked his gun once more, aiming straight at Homura. He knew the weapon was useless against the god, but it at least showed his intention. "Get the fuck away from Goku."
"I don't think Goku wants to go back to his ice cold monk just yet, Konzen." Homura smirked and pressed his body even more against Goku, trapping the boy between the tree and him. Goku whimpered.
Sanzo gritted his teeth, knowing Homura was just trying to provoke him. "Move this instant, or I'll kill you."
"And just how are you planning on doing that? You can shoot all you like."
He narrowed his eyes. "Goku, get away from him. Now."
Goku glanced over at him, then looked at Homura.
"Are you sure you want to do that, Son Goku?" Homura murmured.
"Goku!"
Goku didn't meet his gaze.
Sanzo could understand why. Goku needed someone, and he had never been that type of person. Goku knew he could trust Homura, could depend on that damned god for the attention and care he so craved. Still, Sanzo couldn't bear the sight before him.
He considered stalking off and leaving the two there, but he couldn't. He had to get them apart. He couldn't let Homura touch Goku anymore.
Homura looked over at him and then kissed Goku, taunting him, making him want to strangle that interfering god. Homura moved his lips away from Goku's, across the boy's jawbone 'til he reached his neck.
Goku moaned softly. "Homura..."
That did it. Sanzo stepped forward several paces and snarled, "Get the fuck away from my Goku!"
Homura looked up, amused. "Your Goku? There doesn't seem to be any sign that he belongs to you. Actually, these last few days all he's been covered in are my marks."
Sanzo came closer, his Smith & Wesson inches from Homura's face. "Get back."
Homura took a step back and watched Goku slump forward slightly. "Goku will keep coming to me unless you do something about it, Konzen. If you're going to continue like this, you should take the responsibility of doing it properly." Then Homura looked down at Goku, obviously concerned. "Is this what you want?"
Goku stared down at the ground, avoiding Homura's gaze. He then looked up, but into Sanzo's eyes. Sanzo could feel Goku's will flickering between the two of them, and urged Goku mentally to keep looking at him.
Trust in me, he thought, willing Goku to hear. Don't look away.
But how could Goku trust him, when he'd never given the boy a reason to? How could he explain what he felt when he didn't understand it himself?
Whereas Homura... Goku had turned to Homura for help.
Sanzo felt an incredible urge to strike out at the god beside him, but only clenched his fists. He had to concentrate on Goku. That was all that was important.
"We can't help who we love," Goku finally said softly, looking down. "Just like we can't help what food we like."
Idiotic Goku logic, Sanzo thought, unable to stop the corner of his mouth from twitching upwards.
"I love meat buns, though they're very selfish. They take up all my attention and never get along with anything else. Unlike rice. I like rice. It goes well with everything and it's never selfish... it doesn't mind being second best."
Sanzo wished Goku would stop staring at the ground. What did he mean?
"So though it may not be the best thing for me, I have to choose meat buns."
Homura reached out and touched Goku's face. "If that's what you want. There is no use keeping something when it wants to leave. Perhaps, one day, it will return."
Goku looked straight into Homura's eyes and Sanzo felt something twist inside of him, felt an incredible urge to stand between the two and demand how they could speak without words. What were they saying?
Homura inclined his head at Goku. "You know where to find me."
And Homura was gone.
Sanzo sighed with relief when the god faded from view. He felt a little guilty, though, and mildly irritated. He had been wrong in his opinion of Homura. Homura cared about Goku, so much so that he was willing to give him up. Sanzo knew he'd never be able to do that. He was selfish. He wasn't going to change himself though. He was perfectly happy with himself.
He looked down at Goku and came forward 'til he was standing before him. Goku cowered, trying to inch away.
Sanzo growled with frustration and reached down, brusquely lifting Goku up by his collar. He leaned forward and hissed in Goku's ear, "You stupid, stupid idiot."
Then he pressed his lips against Goku's, roughly, urgently, trying to cram all of his emotions into that one kiss. Goku melted against him, kissing him back, wrapping arms around his waist.
Sanzo broke off the kiss and pushed Goku against the tree, freeing himself. "You idiot," he repeated. Then he turned to leave.
Sanzo cursed as Goku tackled him from behind, making him fall flat on his face. Goku held on to him tightly and leaned slightly to lick his ear.
Sanzo shivered. His body flushed, a surge of heat rushing through him.
"You're the idiot," Goku whispered. "You're not going anywhere 'til you deal with me."
Sanzo twisted his face to look up at Goku. A flash of purple cloth caught his eye and he looked up into the trees above 'til he caught sight of a sad smile.
Thanks, he thought grudgingly, before turning his attention back to the impatient teen on top of him.
He flipped Goku over on to his back, lying on top of him so that they were face to face.
He looked down into Goku's face, so close to his own, and kept his expression neutral as he said, "You dirtied my robes. You're going to pay for that."
Goku smiled.
The End
