:: Perfect World ::

Gensomaden Saiyuki

Disclaimer: I don't own Gensomaden Saiyuki, which rightfully belongs to Minekura Kazuya.

Rating: PG

Pairings: HomuraRinrei, hinted GokuHomura

Warnings: AU-ish, angst, language

Beta-read by: Iapetus

Notes: For those unfamiliar with Chinese mythology (and for those wondering, since this was actually difficult information to find) Chang Hs'ien is the Chinese guardian god of children, as well as the god of dreams and pregnancy.

Constructive criticism and feedback are always appreciated and loved.


Chapter Four

The next morning Goku woke up feeling as sore as he'd expected. He grimaced upon awakening, groaning softly as his arms moved over his abdomen. It didn't help when Homura's amused, "Awake, are we?" sounded just above him.

"That's not funny," he mumbled, curling up a bit. "Ugh... he hit really hard..."

"Only as you expected," the ebon-haired man said calmly. "Right?" Goku shot him a dirty look. He was right, but still...

Homura shrugged. "I suppose you don't feel up to walking around, then?"

Goku blinked, taking time to let the question sink into his sleep-fogged brain. When it finally did the fog seemed to suddenly dissipate as he sat up, flinching but saying eagerly, "You mean I can go with you?"

"If you're feeling up to it. It's not going to be anything fun, Son Goku," Homura reminded him.

The boy shook his head, relief washing over him too strongly for him to care. "That's fine! Really, I don't mind!" I just don't want to be alone all day... He got to his feet, grinning broadly as he hurried out. "I'm just gonna take a shower! I'll be quick!"

It was the quickest shower of his life, not counting the times Zenon would be hurrying him through everything (including breakfast, which never ceased to irritate Goku) so they could get right down to training. Goku stumbled out with his hair dripping, barely even toweled off and still pulling on his jeans. Homura gave him an amused look but didn't comment until Goku had finished pulling on his shirt. "Ready? Let's go." He started out without waiting for an answer and Goku had to scramble after him.

Outside was sunny, but the air smelled wet. The ground was a bit muddy in some places after last night's rain. Everyone but the small children avoided those spots; little kids would go diving right into them, shrieking with laughter until a fussy mother or annoyed father dragged them away.

The name of the town escaped Goku at the moment, but it seemed just like any other town: fairly busy, with people running around trying to get everything done at once.

Except for Homura, who was just walking around as though he were taking a leisurely tour. Goku focused on him, suddenly realizing that his savior looked rather different. He wasn't wearing his lavender cape embroidered with flames, which struck Goku as particularly odd. Even in hot weather, even with fighting, Homura always wore that cape. It was one thing he'd answered directly when Goku had asked him about it; he couldn't remember who had given him his name, nor the cape, but that cape was something of a security blanket to him. Goku found it a bit odd that a grown man would need that... but then again, he was a teenager, would be an adult in a couple years, and his "security blanket" was walking right in front of him.

Another odd thing about Homura today was that his hair, normally parted from one side, fell over his forehead, covering the chakra indicating his godliness. Goku thought about that for a moment, knowing he shouldn't ask Homura about it in the open, and quickly came to the simple conclusion: Homura was discouraging any rumors about the band of gods traveling over India and China, and to do this he had to at least look human. A cape was too conspicuous and a chakra indicated you either were a god or were at least close to them.

That makes sense, the boy mused. I guess that's what they've been doing this whole time... must be interesting to see Shien cover his chakra, though... Zenon didn't have one to Goku's knowledge, which struck him as particularly odd since the man was most definitely a god... well, if he wasn't, Goku hadn't an inkling otherwise.

A sudden delicious smell caught Goku's nose. He turned to see an early morning noodle stand just ahead to his left. It smelled really good, too...

He opened his mouth to ask Homura to get him something, but when he looked the man had already walked a ways ahead of him, though he seemed to have stopped and was talking to someone. Frowning, Goku hurried to catch up, noting who he was talking to. It seemed to be a young girl who couldn't have been much older than Goku, though she was a good few inches taller.

She seemed flustered, which didn't surprise Goku. Her face was bright red and she kept diverting her eyes, then looking back at Homura shyly. Homura, ever the charismatic one, simply smiled and acted as though that sort of reaction to him was normal.

Perhaps it was.

"Oh... I-I don't listen to those silly rumors," she said, her voice shaking with nervousness. "I mean... haha! Gods, coming to earth... to kill people? Th-there's only one god for that anyway!"

"I completely agree," Homura said calmly, acting as though she wasn't stammering at all. "Besides, some of us don't even believe in the gods."

"R-right!"

Goku shook his head at the display. The girl obviously didn't get much attention from guys, and getting attention from a man like Homura must have been absolutely overwhelming for her. Goku's eyes roamed as he grew bored, but he found his gaze constantly flickering back to the two. Somehow the longer they talked the more unnerved he became... and the stranger their conversation got.

"My mother?" The girl wasn't stammering as much now, but her face hadn't returned to its normal color. "I... I look more like my father than anything, I swear... Mama's so pretty..."

"Oh, I'm sure you must have inherited a good deal of the better looks in your family," Homura said gently, a faint smirk on his face. "Your hair is a very lovely shade of blonde. It's very attractive."

Goku twitched a bit, watching the girl redden further as her hand self-consciously went up to touch one of her sandy-colored braids. "I... thank you," she squeaked. "It... Mama's hair is much prettier... really... it's dark and curly and..." She floundered a moment.

"Dark?" Goku noticed the sudden change in Homura's voice, but the girl didn't seem to. He looked at the man curiously, wondering why he suddenly sounded so disappointed. "Ah, so you have your father's hair."

"Y-yeah... Daddy's ancestors are foreigners," she explained, seeming to get a bit of control over herself as some of the blushing faded a bit. "I... I don't remember where they came from, but it wasn't here..."

"I see." Goku shifted, hoping that the disappointment he'd heard in Homura's voice would discourage him from talking to the girl any further, but he didn't seem finished yet. "You must have gotten your eyes from your mother, am I right?"

"Well... yes..."

Goku couldn't stay still any longer. He practically ran right up to Homura, cutting him off before he could utter another word. "Homura," he whined, tugging on his arm. "I haven't had breakfast yet! You gotta give me something to eat or I swear I'll die!"

The man blinked, looking taken aback by the sudden rude interruption. But Goku just gave him a sulky look, and as though on cue his stomach rumbled. The girl looked startled and uneasy, but Homura laughed.

"Yes, I suppose you're right." He smiled at the girl. "I thank you for this lovely chat, but my little brother seems to be impatient this morning."

She looked relieved somehow, but Goku only bristled. Brother? What do you mean, brother?! "Oh, you're brothers," she sighed, laughing a bit sheepishly. "Now that I look, one of your eyes is just like his..."

"Yes," Homura said. "In any case, it was a pleasure talking to you, my dear." She brightened prettily at the endearing term. "If you'll excuse us."

Goku waited until they had walked a fair distance away before whirling on Homura, glaring. "Little brother?" he demanded. "Since when am I your little brother?"

Homura arched an eyebrow. "You heard her; we have the same eyes. I've been using this excuse for anyone that's associated you with me, Son Goku."

"I don't like it," he said stubbornly. "You don't feel like my brother. Zenon feels more like my brother."

"Zenon looks anything but your brother," Homura pointed out, seeming a bit exasperated. "Now since you were so rude as to interrupt a conversation like that, will you find a place to eat so I can continue with my duty?"

Goku froze in place, realizing what he'd just done. It was because he did things like that Zenon and Shien called him a child in the first place, and at the moment Homura didn't seem to think any higher of him than they did. Embarrassed, he lowered his eyes and muttered an apology, receiving a soft sigh and a pat on the shoulder.

"I guess it's partially my fault for dismissing your appetite," Homura amended, smiling faintly. "So what would you like this morning, Son Goku?"

Relaxing a bit, Goku led the man off to a small restaurant. It seemed tiny and didn't have many customers, but Goku trusted his sense of smell to lead him to only the best places to eat. Within half an hour he was settled at a table and eating nearly everything in sight. Homura ate a bit, too, though he kept himself down to one plate simply because he had the appetite of any other human. Goku's stomach was inhuman, and he'd consumed nearly twenty full dishes before-- and only twenty because Homura had insisted they leave soon.

Just when he was scooping up the last of his fried noodles, Goku paused and looked across the table. "Hey, Homura..."

Homura had finished long before the boy. He'd been looking around the nearly empty restaurant, even out the windows as though he were waiting for someone, but looked at the boy when his name was called. "Yes?"

Goku set down his bowl a moment, frowning. "Why were you asking about that girl's ancestors, anyway?"

Shaking his head, Homura said nothing to that. However, he did say, "Perhaps you can be helpful and ask around for me."

Frowning, Goku said, "Ask for what?"

Homura looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well... some of the same things I did. The physical traits I'm looking for are sandy blonde hair and cerulean eyes."

The girl Homura had spoken to earlier had that color hair, Goku realized. But not the eyes; her eyes had been a deep brown. "Homura... are you looking for someone?"

"More or less," the man admitted, sighing. "Are you finished yet?" Goku shook his head, quickly going back to his noodles. However the twinge of jealousy he'd felt before was rising again. It wasn't exactly that he was jealous of the girls, simply that he'd pestered Homura to take him on his errands today so that Goku wouldn't be alone. And yet it didn't seem to be working because Homura was so preoccupied with looking for this... other person.

It was selfish, and he knew it, but Goku didn't want to share his savior with anyone. It was enough to have to split his time amongst Zenon and Shien, thank you very much.

As soon as Goku set his bowl down Homura signaled for the check. He waited until they were finished and outside before turning to the boy. "If you'll be so kind as to help, I want you to ask people with blonde hair and blue eyes about their ancestors. Get names if you can; that would be most helpful."

Goku frowned. "What name should I listen for?"

Homura sighed, seeming reluctant to tell the boy, but he came up with a way around it easily. "A female one. And I don't need anything recent; if it's someone your age, ask them about ancestors from... perhaps five to six generations ago."

It wasn't an arrangement Goku would have preferred, but he nodded anyway. However, rather than split up he simply lingered with Homura, keeping an eye out for the hair and eye colors the man had mentioned.

Something about Homura looking into an ancient female's name bothered him. If she was human or even demon Goku had no doubts she would be dead and gone... but what if she was a goddess? And what did Homura want from her? He seemed so intent on finding her, and always quiet and seeming discouraged when he couldn't find what he was looking for.

Goku watched him for a while, quietly observing. What's so important about her? Why is she so important that he'd go through all this trouble? He felt another stab of jealousy, frowning and folding his arms over his chest. As mean as it was to think it... I hope she isn't a goddess... and I hope he doesn't find her if she is.

He felt guilty for thinking such a thing, especially when it seemed to mean so much to Homura, but he couldn't help it. He just didn't want Homura to find her.

Still, he'd feel horrible if he didn't even try helping. Grumbling to himself, Goku tugged on a lock of his long hair in frustration as he debated inwardly. If he helped that would make Homura at least happy with him, even if his search turned out fruitless. But if he helped and he found this woman Homura was looking for... what if she took him away?

He couldn't stand the thought of ever being alone again.

Shuddering, Goku looked up as he heard Homura's voice. The man was talking to another woman, this one a good few years older than the last. She wasn't exactly young, but if Goku was the type to look he'd admit she was attractive...

And she seemed to love the attention Homura lavished on her. Bristling, Goku looked around, trying to find anyone with the traits Homura had mentioned, but she was the only one within eyesight. Goku was not keen on leaving Homura alone with her.

It suddenly made him wonder exactly how many times Homura had done this.

He acted without thinking, pushing through the crowd of people to cut in between them. "Hey, Homura! There was a noodle stand back there I didn't get to try, and I'm still starving! Get me something!"

The god gave him an odd look, one that Goku honestly couldn't read very well, but he sighed and turned back to the woman. "I apologize for my brother's rude behavior. Please excuse us..." He grabbed Goku by the arm, startling the boy, and said in an unnaturally tense tone, "Well, show me where it is, then."

Embarrassed but not wanting to turn back, Goku dragged the man back to where they had started; pointing out the stand he had seen earlier. Homura allowed him to order something, but he didn't seem as willing as he had with breakfast.

"Are you happy?" he asked, his voice not once raising but clearly portraying underlying irritation. Goku kept his eyes on his noodles, nodding as he quietly started to eat. "All right then."

To his surprise and discomfort Homura didn't leave. He stood there, eyes not even wandering as he waited for the boy to finish. Somehow that made it harder for Goku to swallow his food and he nearly ended up choking.

Only when the last noodle was gone did Homura speak. "Son Goku, did you ever wonder why I never took you with me on this sort of thing before?" Goku nodded numbly, not liking where this was going. "It's exactly because of this," Homura said, confirming the boy's suspicions. He didn't blink when Goku flinched. "You are too great a distraction on your own, but this time I believe you're doing it on purpose." Goku just shrugged, but that didn't seem to placate Homura at all. "Do you care to explain why you're acting more of a child than you already do?"

That stung and Goku realized Homura knew exactly what he was doing. He ducked his head, face burning as the man berated him. He began to wish Homura would yell; at least then it wouldn't be so horrible as the silent annoyance and disappointment radiating from him.

After a very elongated pause Goku finally muttered, "Sorry."

Normally Homura would accept just that, but on the rare occasion Goku was doing something especially foolish he wouldn't. This seemed to be one of those times, because the man's expression didn't change at all. "I'd rather know why you're doing this than have an apology."

Goku shrank back a little, giving the man a sullen look. He hated it when Homura got like this. In some ways it was worse than being left behind. When it came to being alone or being stuck in this situation, Goku honestly couldn't say which was worse.

He kicked at the ground, knowing he was testing Homura's patience by stalling so long. Finally he muttered the only excuse that made sense even to him. "I didn't like those girls... that's all."

When he peered up he half expected Homura to be exasperated, maybe even angry, but he was startled to see that Homura simply looked puzzled. The man stared at him oddly for a long moment before sighing heavily, reaching out and giving the boy an affectionate tug on one of his ear tails. Goku yelped, as the movement was a bit rougher than normal, but his glare was only half-hearted. He's not mad...

"What am I going to do with you?" Homura mused, shaking his head. "Please, just stay out of any conversations I have today. I'm sorry this isn't what you wanted, but I have other things to do than give you attention from sunrise to sunset."

Goku rubbed his head, the sting of humiliation still not quite gone. "Okay... sorry..."

Homura shook his head, giving him a shadow of his usual confident smirk. "Why don't we just pretend this never happened, all right? If you really do get hungry, just be patient. I don't talk that long."

Scoffing and feeling things start to slip back to normal, Goku said with a tinge of relief, "Yeah, you do. You jerk. You like hearing yourself talk."

"About as much as I enjoy watching you eat," Homura said wryly, giving him another gentler tug on his hair before he started off. "Just behave."

"I'm not a dog," Goku grumbled, following after the man anyway.

Despite his strong desire to cut in several of Homura's talks after that, Goku somehow managed to restrain himself. Homura's subtle but painful needling had done the trick; each time Goku moved to grab his arm he would remember Homura's words, flinch, then settle back and be quiet. The first few times he did this the half-god would give him a look of approval before going back to what he was doing. In some ways that made Goku feel a bit better.

It didn't seem to matter anyway; by the end of the day Homura hadn't seemed to find any leads at all. He was unusually quiet as they walked back to the hotel around late evening. It wasn't that Homura talked a lot, simply that he would comment on more of Goku's ramblings than he did that night.

It disturbed and hurt Goku greatly to see him like that.

Goku didn't grow alarmed until Homura turned not to go to their room but to Zenon and Shien's. "Homura?" The man paused, glancing over his shoulder to show he was listening. "Where are you going?"

Homura shrugged. "I'm going to ask Zenon if he'll switch rooms." Staring, it took Goku nearly too long to realize what Homura had just said. By the time it sank in the man was about to open the door.

However, Goku's sudden, furious, "Why?" made him stop again. He sighed, not looking back at the boy, which only served to make Goku even tenser. "You..." Goku's fists clenched. "You always do this!" he burst out before he could stop himself. "Why do you always do this?! Are you mad at me? I already said I'm sorry and I stopped interrupting your stupid questions!"

Homura turned back to him, frowning. "I'm not mad," he said quietly. "I just don't want to put up with anything that will most certainly tire me more tonight."

"I can be quiet," Goku insisted. "I won't talk at all! I'll go right to sleep!"

"Fine," Homura said tiredly. "Zenon will be happy to hear that."

Goku grit his teeth, trying to stave off the outburst trying to work its way out. It wasn't fair to keep arguing with Homura like this, especially when it was obvious he was so exhausted, but a part of him refused to back down. "That's not fair!" he yelled, kicking his foot against the floor childishly.

"Keep your voice down; some people may be sleeping," Homura said.

"No! You're always abandoning me and I hate it!" Goku slammed his fist into the wall beside him. The plaster cracked, and he saw Homura's eyes narrow slightly, but couldn't seem to stop his mouth from moving. "You always leave me alone or with someone else, and that's not what you promised! You freed me and you're supposed to be with me, Homura! If you aren't going to--" Inwardly he froze, realizing he should stop right there, but his brain couldn't seem to stop his mouth fast enough. "--then you should have left me in that damn cave!"

The silence that followed was tense, far too tense for Goku to handle long. Much to his frustration he realized he was shaking, partially from anger and partially from fear. Whatever Homura did next would determine a lot of things... and Goku was deathly afraid one would be something he never wanted to hear.

At last, Homura moved. He didn't speak yet, just stepped forward to give the boy a patronizing tap on the face. "Don't start crying," he said, his voice sounding a lot more like the Homura Goku knew. Blinking, Goku just stared at him. "Do you really want me to stay that much, Son Goku?"

He seemed to have used all his words during his tantrum, because Goku couldn't think of a response. He just nodded.

"Very well," Homura agreed. "I could do well to remember just what position you were in for five centuries, I suppose." He clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder, making Goku stumble a bit. "It's getting late, and I expect we'll be getting several complaints about all that shouting. We'll just retire for the night."

"Okay," Goku sighed, following the man back to the room. Without argument he changed into more comfortable attire for sleeping, crawling into bed in nothing more than shorts and a t-shirt before Homura turned out the lights and followed his example.

Even though he'd won, however, Goku couldn't feel too happy. He kept his face pressed into his pillow, not crying, simply emotionally overwhelmed and not understanding why.

I don't understand, he thought miserably. I got what I wanted... but I'm not happy, and he's still disappointed over what happened earlier. I... don't get it...

It was a confusion that plagued him even after he fell asleep, not even once soothed by the touch of Chang Hs'ien.