"You really are a fool you know that?" I whispered, retying Kenren's bandages. It turns out he had gotten himself into trouble. He'd spoken out against Li Touten and was severely punished for it. He had multiple cracked ribs, a few broken and he was covered in deep cuts and scratches.

"That's funny I've been told that a lot today." I tightened the bandage a bit harder around the bruised arm making him wince.

"Maybe you should take heed then. Tenpou told me what happened and that you've been dismissed because of your behavior." I got some of the healing crème out of the tin I'd brought and rubbed it gently along his ribs. My family had always been good with medicine. This stuff would fix someone up in a quarter of the time but it wasn't exactly available to the public.

"Look I'm sorry okay? I know I promised to behave but I couldn't let them just throw Nataku to the wolves again when he was still injured." Kenren was far more soft hearted than he let on. I sighed, looking up at him with admiration.

"I am glad you did it. The poor boy needs to know we are on his side." I replied gently.

"So, does all this warrant me a kiss?" He wiggled his eyebrows. I smacked his arm.

"You wish perv now stay still so I don't press your bone out of alignment." The new bandage was tight but at least he wasn't attached to the chair anymore. There was silence for a moment before Kenren spoke again.

"Goku told me what happened last night." He made me slip, rubbing a bit harder than intended over his chest.

"Ow woman! Careful!" He called out.

"Sorry, what did he say exactly?" I wondered if he had seen anything. Konzen had left after we agreed to keep whatever we were doing a secret.

"That you and the super blond made up." I let out a breath from my nose. Thank god, nobody knew anything. I was afraid of the fallout should someone know, especially Konzen's reaction.

"Yeah...sort of. He actually said more than two words to me last night." I told him. He winced when I placed some of the ointment on the deep cut above his eye.

"Well congrats he only cusses at me. You get a sentence without fuck or hell in it?" He watched me place another piece of gauze on his chest.

"Actually yes." I pulled back to get something to keep the bandages in place.

"Did he tell you he's sorry for ignoring you?"

"That one's a no. Konzen doesn't apologize and you know it." I muttered. Kenren laughed.

"I didn't think so. He's way too proud." I had to agree there. He never actually had said he was sorry. We'd really just made out.

"Yes well that's our resident blond for you." I sighed. Despite how nice last night had been I was pretty stressed out and it probably showed. I had an appointment with my father today too…

"Hey, you okay?" Kenren took my hand squeezing my fingers. He was a perv and an ass, but gosh darn it the general was soft hearted. He ran his thumb over the back of my hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing the skin. It made me smile.

"I will be. My father want's to see me today." I told him.

"It's about marriage isn't it?" He asked. I nodded stiffly.

"Yes and probably something to do with what happened at the festival." I looked down at my feet. Since the whole fight my father had been cold. He was keeping his distance from me until I got called upon to join him for lunch. I was afraid, so very afraid of what he'd say to me. He could take me away from the people I cared about more than life itself. Kenren's grip tightened on me.

"You don't have to listen to him you know. I'd be pissed if I didn't get to see you anymore." He was actually being serious. I placed my other hand on top of his.

"I'm not going to let that happen." I frowned. Kenren sighed, opening up his arms and allowing me to sit comfortably in his lap. Now don't get weird, this was perfectly normal. The General was a very physical person so most of his affection was going to be of this type. I didn't mind as long as he kept his hands to himself. Like all the other times we had done this he wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned into him much more gently than usual because of his broken ribs but I kept my head on his sternum.

"Me neither Kaguya, nobody is taking you away I promise." He whispered, pressing a kiss to my hair. That's when I started to cry, my body beginning to shake with fear. My father was very powerful, he could take me away any time he wanted. Leaving them, any of them would break my heart. His arms tightened around me and there we sat until my sobbing subsided.

!

!

!

"Enter." I took a deep breath, looking to Kenren one last time before entering my fathers chambers. This could be the end. I had just gotten close to Konzen, I loved Goku to death, Tenpou was my closest confidant, and Kenren was my best friend. My heart beat in my throat attempting to leap free and run away. When I got into the room daddy wasn't alone. Standing next to him was Gojun, the Dragon King of the Western Army and Kenren's superior.

His red eyes were fixed on my veil, his long white hair pulled back in a ponytail to keep it out of his face. I bowed to him and then to father who looked unamused.

"Sit down Kaguya, this won't take long." He pointed out the chair that was sitting in front of his desk. I took his invitation and sat down.

"Now I want your assurance that you will say nothing until I am finished speaking is that clear?" He asked me. His dark blue eyes were full of impatience so I nodded in agreement.

"You have embarrassed me in front of the Jade Emperor and hurt your position among higher ranks. When you first presented the idea to take labour under Goddess Kanzeon Bosatsu I was relieved. Perhaps with her name you could acquire a husband who could protect you. It seems I was wrong." I kept silent like I'd promised. Father stood from his chair and walked forward, removing my veil without a second thought. My eyes darted over to Gojun who showed no reaction other than the slight shimmer that passed over his face.

"I am revoking your choice since it seems that you are not in the right state of mind to make it. I've taken a proposal from the Jade Emperor himself and I accepted." My eyes widened.

"What?" I asked breathlessly. Surely he wasn't serious.

"My word is final, you will marry the Emperor to keep balance in the kingdom." His voice boomed with finality but I couldn't accept this.

"What about my position with Kanzeon? What about my friends?" I called, the feeble sound becoming stronger with every syllable.

"Starting now you will at the Emperor's side at all times. As for your...friends...they are dangerous my child and you are forbidden to see them again."

"NO!" I screamed. My father and the Dragon King looked at me in surprise.

"If you do this it shall destroy me, you cannot forbid me to see them." I argued. In truth this was the first time I'd actually stood up to my beloved dad. I'd always listened to him because I thought his choices were in my best interest. Now I was asking myself if everything he had done for me was really for him. This surely was since it ended in me being heartbroken. He cared nothing for my feelings if he was doing this.

"Then you will have to deal with it." He huffed. I felt my jaw fall to the ground. Gojun took my arm forcefully and pulled me out of the room. As we left Kenren pushed himself off the wall. When he saw his superior there with me he frowned.

"What is going on?" He grunted, looking up into Gojun's red eyes.

"I'm taking the Jade Emperor's bride to her new home." Kenren looked from me to Gojun and back. He must have noticed by now that my veil was gone. I didn't know what to say, what to do. There was only one thing I thought might do the trick.

"Get Konzen, please tell them it wasn't my choice." I spoke quickly before I was dragged away from my surprised best friend. As we walked around a corner I lost sight of the General and I felt my heart breaking. It might be the last time I saw him.

!

!

!

That night the four men sat under the cherry blossoms drinking sake together. They spoke of many things but at some point Goku put on a face.

"Hey Konzen, where's Kaguya?" The man stiffened at the question. He'd been told that she would no longer be allowed near them but he just didn't have the heart to tell the child. Kenzen had been the one to witness the whole event and had immediately gotten a hold of Tenpou. Both men fought tooth and nail to see her but so far they got nothing. The woman was currently locked in the Jade Palace where none of them could reach.

"She won't be around for a while Goku." Tenpou took the spotlight off of the blond who had acted rather wounded when he'd heard.

"Why? Does she not like us?" He cocked his head to the side in worry.

"Don't be silly monkey boy, she isn't abandoning us after all. I'm gonna make sure she comes back." Kenren winked. Of course these were empty words seeing as the great moon of the heavens had chosen for her. There was no getting out of this. The only hope they really had of seeing her now was Konzen or Kanzeon who weren't completely disgraced in the face of the Emperor.

"But she promised we could play tonight! And she wanted to walk climb trees like we're doing now!" He really wasn't going to let it go but none of the others had the heart to tell him.

"It's okay, she'll be back soon and then..."

"No! I'm not stupid you know, she wouldn't miss this so where is she?" Goku pouted. Tenpou blinked. Kaguya's influence was rubbing off on him. The kid was clueless most of the time. Konzen reached out and placed a hand on the kids head. All eyes were on him.

"She got taken away Goku, but I promise we're working on it." He grunted. There it was, the elephant in the room. Their female companion was being held captive by the very people against all of them. This wouldn't be remotely easy and they'd have to tread carefully so as not to step on anyone's toes. It was an annoyance, one that were it anyone else they wouldn't have bothered but this wasn't just anyone. Kaguya was one of them, a precious friend and they wouldn't lose her to those bastards no matter how high ranked they were.

"Taken away? Why? Did she do something wrong?" Goku looked really worried.

"Yeah, she was born a woman." Konzen mumbled. Tenpou shot him a look.

"It's complicated Goku but it seems her father doesn't like us." The Marshal explained. The boy seemed to go into thought.

"Then I'll go make him!" The child grinned and made to leave. Kenren yanked on his hair, making him fall back to the ground massaging his scalp.

"Hold it there kid, even if you got into the palace you wouldn't be allowed to talk to Tsukiyomi. He ranks just below the Jade Emperor himself. You go in there you might get thrown out of heaven." He took a puff of a cigarette looking down at the kid and feeling his pain. If he could he would have already liberated Kaguya. Seeing Gojun drag her off gave him a sick feeling in his stomach. She didn't deserve such treatment for one. He didn't even get to say goodbye either. Find Konzen, that's what she'd said because she knew he'd be the best chance at getting to her. That still held true.

"But...but...I want her here." Goku whispered. He was looking down at his fingers. The poor child just didn't understand. If he was this bad with Kaguya gone what would he do if Konzen was out of reach?

"I'll deal with it tomorrow, no use worrying about it right now." But they all worried, hoping beyond hope that Kaguya would return to them.