Part 2 - The snake in Eden
"Kenren? What are you doing here at this time of the night?" Tenpo asked.
Not that I have any reason to be here either but well…
***
Tenpo hadn't been able to think of anything else since talking to Konzen. The words echoed in his mind so that there was no room for thought.
What do you want me to say, Tenpo? We're friends…we're friends…
Tenpo flipped the page of the book, unseeing.
I never thought more of you than that...
He threw down the book with a curse.
Never more of you than that…
He stood up, looked out of the window and felt a vague surprise that night had fallen.
I have been here that long?
It seemed only a few seconds since he had heard Konzen's rejection, just moments since he heard his hopes shattered. Suddenly, the room seemed so confining. He stood up and got out of his rooms, absently taking the corridor out of the barracks and into the palace gardens.
Now, now, don't be so melodramatic…you'll get over this…
But it didn't feel that way.
Not now, not ever…?
Tenpo couldn't remember when he had started to feel something for Konzen.
It seemed like forever.
He had taken their friendship and closeness for granted. Now that he thought of it…
I always thought that if he'd open up to someone, it would be me… I always thought I'd be the closest person to him… And that now that we've grown up…
He knew it wasn't logical but he felt betrayed.
There weren't any promises but… I always thought we were more than friends…
Did you even know what I was offering you, Konzen?
Tok…tok…
The noise rudely awakened Tenpo from his musings.
Steps…
Tenpo quickly looked around him to get his bearings. Unconsciously, his feet had taken him to the Goddess of Mercy's palace.
And leading to Konzen's rooms too…
He looked forward just in time to meet a startled Kenren.
***
And so here they were…
"Well, I was just passing by." Kenren mumbled.
"In Kanzeon Bosatsu's palace? I think not."
And smelling strongly of sex? Not to mention the reversed shirt and the topsy-turvy belt? Really, Kenren…
"Okay, I was with my current lover; she serves the Goddess, see…" Kenren further mumbled.
I'm not interested in any of his sexual escapades…
Tenpo was about to tell his friend off but felt the long day of emotional turmoil catching up to him. He felt himself reeling from exhaustion and caught himself just in time before he fell off his feet.
Kenren looked at him with concern.
"Never mind, I don't need to know the sordid details." Tenpo said tiredly.
There will also be enough time to ask Konzen later…in a decent hour for visiting…
***
Kenren nearly sighed when Tenpo turned to go. He knew that his friend was quite sharp and it was possible that the Marshal would guess why he was in this part of the Goddess' Palace at this time of the night.
And just as soon as he's been rejected… I wouldn't count my chances with a jealously angry Tenpo after me…
Tenpo appeared to be cool and levelheaded but Kenren knew better. The mild seeming man had a temper to match a wild cat from "Down there".
Me and Konzen have to tell him sometime later when he's gotten used to it somewhat…
That was assuming that Tenpo could ever get used to Konzen never becoming his.
He looks really upset…
Kenren had never seen Tenpo this upset before in his life. Even when Litouten had usurped Tenpo's prerogative by sacking Kenren did the man look as upset.
That look on his face…it doesn't look like it's going to go away…ever…
Kenren knew that he'd better watch his back if it came to that.
And we go to missions all the time…
It would be so easy to arrange for some accident. The Western Army went out to subdue demons all the time.
A less than full charge of tranquilizer in the darts… Hell, a slight hesitation between firing and I'd be a goner…
Gods can be killed, too.
I'd better watch out for myself…maybe it's best to give Konzen up…
Practicality as well as his conscience prodded him.
Tenpo looks pretty beat… He really does care for him. And what is Konzen to you so that you should keep him from Tenpo? Just a convenient bedmate…
Still, Kenren was stubborn in his own way. Besides…
Konzen chose me not him… It's Konzen's choice anyhow…
Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Kenren…
***
"What the hell were you trying to pull, Tenpo?" Kenren asked as they mulled over their wine up in Tenpo's quarters. The wine was a welcome respite after a mission to subdue youkai Down Below and Kenren needed that respite more than ever after Tenpo's hair-raising behavior in this one.
What was he thinking?
Again, that familiar phrase repeated itself in his mind as it did when Konzen had rejected Tenpo.
Gods can be killed too…
This time the thought held not apprehension but guilt.
Was just a fortnight ago?Tenpo had changed so much then. The Marshal looked preoccupied and vague, as always, but there was a brittle edge to the preoccupation if one knew what to look for. He had no enthusiasm for discussing Heavenly politics or intrigue. He barely talked to Kenren at all except for their usual drills and military matters. Oh, papers were getting signed and orders were getting issued but dealing with Tenpo felt like talking to some wraith that wasn't all there.
And there was that stunt he pulled just today…The redheaded general could still feel the adrenaline pumping in his blood stream as he remembered…
***
Tschak! Tschak! Tschak!
The sound of trank darts rang across the forest as the Western Army went through the loosely organized enemy lines.
"Yahh!" Shouted the blue haired youkai as Tenpo savagely charged forward to shoot it full of tranquilizer. There were a lot more where it came from. Pointy eared and eager, they swarmed the West Army unit with sharp claws and deadly speed.
"Damned it, Tenpo. Slow down a little will you." Kenren was panting as he tried to catch up to his superior.
Tenpo didn't answer just continued to charge, hitting all comers with trank darts.
Tschak! Tschak! Tschak! Tschak! Tschak! Tschak!
After a moment of swearing, Kenren continued to follow his friend and superior. He dared not slack since the others weren't able to catch up with the brunet.
***
Thank goodness, we managed to clear that area relatively quickly…
While Kenren dreaded Tenpo's reaction when the man found out about him and Konzen, he didn't want to evade that responsibility by his friend's death. He could still feel the coldness of his sweat when he realized that Tenpo wasn't going to stop charging into the enemy lines like that.
He seems a little more reckless than before…what is he trying to do? Get himself killed? Hellfire, he didn't seem like the type to go for suicide because of rejection…
Kenren had thought that his friend was more of the type to go for murder than that.
Maybe I should tell Konzen about this…
It might make the blond more sympathetic towards the Tenpo.
Heck, maybe if I tell him like a man and stop evading him…he'd get mad at me and stop being suicidal…
"Nothing… Kenren, I've been doing some thinking…" Tenpo said, brushing aside the matter as if it had been just another boring party up in Heaven.
"Thinking in a combat situation? Bullshit! Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Kenren demanded.
"Not particularly, no. You always walk in the corridor outside Konzen's rooms at night, ne?" There was speculation in Tenpo's tone that made Kenren acutely uncomfortable.
Has he figured out that I'm sleeping with Konzen and not with some twit from Kanzeon's train?
"Aa." Kenren replied tensely, waiting for the ax to fall.
"Did you see anyone else, walking down that corridor as well?" Tenpo asked, his voice deceptively calm, one hand, however, tightened convulsively on a cup of sake.
Huh? Oh…"No one." Kenren drawled casually, trying hard not to betray any sort of emotion as he met those burning green orbs.
No one but me that is… He's scary! I wonder if Konzen's talked to him yet…
"Oh." Tenpo replied. His eyes still held that look though the fire banked somewhat.
What is he thinking, I wonder? Was I obvious? Did I give it away? "Tenpo…?" Kenren asked, fighting to show only friendly concern. "It's nothing." Tenpo tossed the rest of his cup and reached for the sake flask again. The rest of the drinking session was held in silence.
***
"Oh." Tenpo said, knowing that he baffled his drinking companion.
Let him be, I don't think I need to let him know how things stand between me and Konzen…
"Tenpo…?" Kenren asked. The curiosity Tenpo saw in the red eyes were unwanted, the concern, an annoyance. The marshal knew he hadn't been behaving at all like himself but he couldn't find the energy to be concerned.
I think that confirms my suspicions…There was no use explaining to the man his current situation. At best, the redhead would find him laughable and at worst…
At worst, find me pitiful. He'd lose all respect for me and that would affect our professional relationship. When you think of it is laughable that I lost to a mere child…but then did I have a hint even then? Was that what I had been dreading when I refused to talk to Konzen immediately?Tenpo knew his hunches have a way of being true.
I'd been too eager to see it then…that time just after that night…
***
He woke up with the need to talk to Konzen. He just had to speak to the blond god and let the man know the truth.
He walked the corridors of the palace with refreshed vigor despite having barely slept the night before.
Step by bounded step, he walked, his heart speeding up to match…then exceeding his steps. Everything went by in a blur, quicker than he thought possible, quicker than he had anticipated; Konzen's door loomed in front of him like some forbidding cliff. Suddenly, he knew what a wave from Down There might feel like as it was carried onward by the inevitable. He felt his fragile hope and knew he couldn't...he just couldn't…
***
Tenpo had turned on his heel and walked carefully and slowly to his quarters in defeat then.
And so it has come to this…
Tenpo's hand tightened slightly on the thin porcelain cup he held. He had tried to talk to Konzen again, tried to offer what was in his heart days after for all the good it did him. The man wouldn't hear him…
***
"What brings you here, Tenpo?" Konzen asked, as he read through the stack of papers on his desk.
Tenpo shifted his weight. He never felt as nervous as he did now but…
I just have to know…
The marshal hadn't been able to muster the courage to ask before.
Though I had tried, at that time…
He had put it off that morning because he had been too excitable, he excused.
I might've done something unforgivable…or so I thought…
Those purple eyes stared at the papers with the same easy indifference they always did in his presence. The inattention they showed, the lack of any sort of tension in Konzen, told Tenpo what he had been denying to himself.
Face it, Tenpo, you just didn't want to see his irrevocable answer…but, maybe that could be something to my advantage… He does feel a lot more comfortable in my presence than anyone barring his aunt…
"I just wanted to apologize for the day before—I know I shouldn't have tried to kiss you like that."
"It's forgiven." Konzen replied absently as he looked closer at one of the documents.
"But I'd like to say that—it might come as a shock to you—but I still want to be more than friends with you." It came out in an uncertain rush.
"I already have a lover." The blond replied abruptly. Purple eyes looked uncomfortably down.
He's really shy, I guess…
"Really, Konzen, I'm willing to wait for you to get comfortable with the idea. I…really care for you…"
"I'm not making excuses. I really do have a lover." Konzen interrupted, the blond was now glaring at the Marshal.
And it's his right, I was being presumptuous… I know there are a lot of people very much willing to have him…The brunet knew that Konzen had many admirers but the blond didn't have a lover yet.
Kanzeon's cold nephew finally choosing a favorite… That would be all over Heaven… Oh, he might have a prospect or two…but…no one bedded yet…"Oh come now…" Tenpo wheedled.
"Tenpo! This is getting insulting. I HAVE A LOVER ALREADY. Why don't you believe me?"
"Making that excuse wouldn't work on me, considering you've never told me about this supposed lover of yours. I haven't heard any rumors either." The words were almost exclaimed, incredulous as they were.
"Well, I can be discreet unlike you and your General." Konzen said, in an exasperated huff.
At that point, the blond refused to acknowledge Tenpo or the Marshal's attempts at conversation. Belief slowly seeped into the brunet's mind. Finally, it eroded the tentative hope that he held with such care. Defeated, he finally left.
A bottle of sake and a box of cigarettes sounds good just about now…
***
It had taken Tenpo two days to sober up after the encounter. When he could think, he had tried to figure out who had beaten him to the punch. His careful investigation of the matter had turned up nothing except...
For the rumor about Konzen and his young charge… He must be Konzen's lover, he's the only one…
Goku was the only one who could legitimately stay with Konzen without arousing any suspicion. The heretic boy shared the blond god's suites, no one would think it strange if he stayed over in the man's room.
Who else could it be? The rumors must be true…
Tenpo was at a loss. He didn't know quite what to do.
No? You really don't?
There were ways to get the heretic out of Heaven. Politics were always uncertain and the boy was powerful.
A wildcard no one is certain about… All I have to do is find a way to put him into the spotlight and the Powers That Be would get rid of him for me… And wait a minute, I recall that he's made friends with Nataku… Litouten's wary of Goku's powers and their effect on his position. He could not happy about that relationship…Tenpo might not even have to move at all. If the events played out the way they should, they would rid himself of his rival soon enough.
And I have eternity to woo Konzen for myself soon enough…Suppressing a smirk, he took a long gulp out of his drink.
All I have to do is make sure that nothing stops the progression…***
He had been a clever lad, though horribly naïve…not that he's changed all that much…
Kanzeon reflected as she looked down on the youkai prince who fussed over Konzen. The blond was surlier than ever. Tenpo had purposely planned his conversation with Konzen about Nataku, planned it so that Goku would hear. He had pretended ignorance over Goku's location during that faithful night. Goku had challenged Litouten as he had hoped. However, events careened out of control after that. He hadn't expected Konzen to step forward and defend the boy.
To his credit, he never thought Konzen would risk his immortal standing…he never saw my nephew as a type to risk everything for anything much less anyone… I was a bit surprised myself…though I knew that Konzen was getting a bit attached to the little itan as I planned…
Konzen had rebelled to save his itan charge, Kenren took his side and Tenpo had no choice really.
He really loved Konzen…more than anything…
The rebellion was doomed to failure from the start. Heaven was cruel place for those who expected it to change. Kanzeon had been forced to attend their sentencing, knowing that there was nothing else she could have done.
Heaven's ways are eternal, eternal politics and petty maneuverings…anyone who can't dance to the tune should just stay a wallflower… It's a dance that grinds anyone into dust can't follow the steps…
She saw them all standing in front of the God Emperor in the midst of a half dozen other officers in the army, their comrades at arms. Poor Goku had not been present then. He had been chained into his cave-prison summarily a day before since a dirty itan merited no trial in the eyes of Heaven. Both Konzen and Goujun were dignified still and somehow untouchable. Kenren was defiant and cocky. Tenpo wore an inscrutable expression on his face, inscrutable except for the smoldering light in green eyes as they were sentenced to become mortal. She knew then that Tenpo's unrequited feelings still burned brightly.
I never did know if he ever did find out about the truth about Konzen's lover…
Three months after the rebels had been sentenced Down Below, a child had been born to Gyokumen Koushi. The child had brown hair and eyes of his sire, the late Gyuma Ou, though the slender built of his mother. Kanzeon noted this birth as she had the…others.
You have been searching for him since then…haven't you Tenpo? Konzen had been reborn several times…but you stayed true to the memories you have just left behind…
There were things that you never left in your last life no matter how many times you reincarnated, much less when you've just gone over the Wheel once.
~TBC~
Author's Notes:
* This chapter was written to the tune of October Project's "Deep as You Go" and Celine Dion's "To Love You More" and it shows influences from both songs at least in a twisted way.
* This chapter is dedicated to all my reviewers especially to sf-san.