Reposted.
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Homura stared at the still unconscious monk. He's quite pretty, Homura mused. Not bad, not bad at all.
But as pretty as the monk was, there was only one being that Homura lusted after. And this monk here happened to be that special being's keeper. And lover, he hatefully added.
Oh well, all that was soon to change, Homura was certain of it.
Homura was actually surprised and outraged when it was the monk that turned up. He had expected young Goku who would have been naïve enough to go near the transportation gem. The gem worked in a way that when it sensed a presence in its boundary, it would immediately transport the victim to the desired place of the one who commands it.
Homura had been careful, setting it so that the gem would only take in those with a spiritually powerful mind, example Goku, but he had failed to acknowledge the fact that the monk, well, had strong dharma power, and that was close with understanding the spirit of the earth. Damnation. That was the second transportation spell that had failed to capture Goku. And this was not as complex as the previous one! Maybe he was losing his touch…
Homura continued to gaze down at the monk who was still out cold. He was probably knocked out by the sheer force of power from the gem, serve him right for interfering, Homura thought maliciously.
Homura once again noticed that this replica of Konzen Douji was very attractive. He wondered for a moment if he would ever feel attracted to him, as the gods in heaven once were. Homura snorted. No, that wouldn't be possible. He liked to be in control, and he didn't think Konzen would want to be dominated. And besides, he only had eyes for Son Goku, who was far more beautiful than Konzen. Homura then decided not to dwell on the fact that he might be nauseatingly in love with the earth spirit that he didn't consider attractive beings…attractive.
No, he was in control here. He would be the one dominating Goku, not vice versa. He would not crawl on his knees and beg love from the golden-eyed beauty, simply because he needed it. / But what if- /
No! He forcefully shoved the thought to the back of his mind, mentally locking it there, so that it would never emerge again. He was not a needy person, he was a Toushin Taishi, for heaven's sake!
Homura clenched his fists. The expression 'for heaven's sake' couldn't be any truer. He did not choose to be a fighting god, he was ordered to. Why was he, of all people, selected to be the replacement of Nataku? He who was related to Tentei himself?
Because he was a heretic, that's why. Because his mother had spread her legs to a mere mortal, doing taboo. And what was the result? Him. Who was to pay? Him. Naturally.
Homura stared down at the shackles and chains on his wrists. They were heavy, and cold. And they were a constant reminder of what he was. Half-breed. Impure. Filth. Itan.
Goku had similar shackles when he was brought to Tenkai. But thanks to the Goddess of Mercy, he was chains-free. Still, Goku's shackles were probably heavier than his own. He had seen that disgrace of a general, Kenren Taisho try to lift the youth once, and he had seen the mixture of surprise and disbelief on the Taisho's face. Homura knew of the rebellious Taisho, he did not doubt his strength, it only pained his heart to see someone as young and innocent as Goku having to endeavor such torture.
And yet, Goku still roamed the grounds of Tenkai like the young earth spirit he was. He could not stay indoors for long. Homura had watched Goku while he picked beautiful flowers in the many fields of Tenkai, sometimes making chains and crowns out of them. Goku had given one to him, once when he was there, drowning in his misery for the lost of Rin-Rei.
It was the first time he had laid eyes on the youth. He had stared in shock at the unique color of Goku's eyes, which were so very much like his own, and at the shackles that bound him. The golden diadem upon Goku's russet hair did not go unnoticed.
Homura was awed at Goku's beauty, and the innocence in the youth's eyes. He had gazed at the tanned skin, the slim waist, and the lithe body of Son Goku with admiration before he could stop himself.
Homura could still remember the painful guilt that had invaded his mind soon after the slim youth had left, after Goku had proudly introduced himself.
Here he was, feeling totally useless after losing Rin-Rei, and when someone else skipped by, he started fantasizing about the person? True, Goku was something to look at, but didn't he love Rin-Rei? Didn't he tell Tentei that he, Homura, was the one that should be exiled from Tenkai, not Rin-Rei? Hadn't he said that because he loved her and was ready to sacrifice himself for her?
Maybe…maybe he only thought he loved her. Maybe what he really wanted was someone to love him, to take care of him like no one had done before. He was locked up in a cell for all of his youth, he had never known love, and when he had met Rin-Rei, he had thought that he loved her. True love. But in truth, he only craved affection and kind words and loving smiles.
When the truth had finally dawned on him, Homura had felt as if he was drowning in guilt. Not sorrow, but guilt. It was eating him, from the inside out, this painful guilt of fooling someone that had loved him. For Rin-Rei had loved him truly, despite the consequences that would have to be paid.
Homura clenched his fists once again, trying to clear his cluttered mind. Instead, he focused his thoughts to Sanzo.
/ They look almost exactly the same. /
It was undeniable. Five hundred years down the road of incarnation, and still Konzen Douji managed to possess his known ravishing beauty. They even have the same cold, uncaring attitude, just that Konzen was more bored side. Until Goku barged in, of course.
But still, Konzen was undeniably less hostile than his reincarnation, example, Sanzo was more generous with his curses. Yet, they were one, for they shared they same soul.
Tenpou Gensui. The Marshall of the Western Armies, the most feared strategist in all of Tenkai, also known as the 'wife' of his subordinate, Kenren Taisho. Five hundred years later, and the both of them are still together. Bound by fate, somehow.
They didn't have their memories, not yet anyway. Things would have been very interesting if they did. But, rules were rules, as Homura had bitterly learned.
The monk stirred, and Homura watched, amused, as his hand immediately reached for his gun, even though not fully conscious. It was lucky for Homura that he had the sense of mind to remove the monk's weapons, including the Maten Koumyo and a very interesting looking paper fan.
Sanzo's amethyst eyes finally fluttered open after acknowledging the missing presence of his spirit-ascending gun. He was met with amused blue and gold.
/ And now the fun begins. /
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Hakkai could almost feel the strands of his hair turning white, one by one. It was not exactly an easy job, trying to reason with Goku that Sanzo was just not there.
They had searched the entire forest splitting into three, but neither had come up with anything. Right now, Gojyo was trying to hold down Goku, he had wanted to try searching more, and it was already nightfall, and there was a possibility that one could get lost in the thick growth.
"Look, saru, losing the monk is bad enough, but- Ow! Stop that you moron!" Gojyo yelped in pain as Goku struggled against his grip, kicking Gojyo in the abdomen in the process.
"Now, Goku, Gojyo's right. It would be worse if you got lost as well, this forest is really thick. And besides, Sanzo is perfectly capable of taking care of himself," Hakkai said, trying to pacify the frantic Goku.
"That's easy for you to say!" Goku suddenly screamed. "You still have Gojyo!
Goku stopped struggling and gripped his head. "What if something bad happened to him! What if he's hurt? What if he needs me and I'm not there!"
"Goku, we'll set camp and continue to search for him in the morning, okay?" Hakkai said, startled at Goku's sudden outburst. He had never seen Goku like this before.
"Yeah, saru, just calm down, goddamit!" The last thing we want is a rampaging monkey-youkai on the loose without the corrupt monk to-"
Hakkai cut him short with a quick shake of the head. He moved towards Goku, who still seemed almost hysterical. The small cracks forming on the golden diadem upon the youth's head was not a good sign.
/ Oh dear. /
Hakkai quickly enveloped Goku in a tight hug, one hand behind the golden-eyed boy's head. "It's alright, Goku, nothing has happened to Sanzo, you would have felt something", he said gently, speaking of the bond that Sanzo and Goku seemed to share.
Goku thankfully sank into Hakkai's warm embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. "B-but you don't un-understand", he sobbed. "I c-cant feel Sanzo anymore. He's not in the forest. He's gone!" Goku buried his head in Hakkai's shoulder, as the emerald-eyed brunette tried to digest this new information.
"You mean he's not in the forest anymore? He's somewhere else?" Hakkai asked, trying not to sound so shocked.
Goku shook his head, chocolate locks flying over his tear-stained face. "No, I would have sensed him if he was here."
"Then why did you want to go search for him again, when you knew he wasn't there?" Gojyo cut in suspiciously. When Goku hung his head down guiltily, Gojyo pounced again. "You were trying to go after him, weren't ya? Go on without us?" Gojyo prodded on.
"Goku?" Hakkai coaxed gently. Goku pulled away from Hakkai's shoulder, not meeting their gazes.
"I-I was scared. I thought that he might le-leave me", Goku choked. "Then I'll be all alone again!" He burst into a new batch of tears.
"Now, now, Goku…Sanzo wouldn't do that, I'm sure you know that by now", Hakkai said, stroking Goku's back gently in a motherly fashion.
"And whaddya mean you'll be all alone, saru?" Gojyo put in, lighting a cigarette. "You'll still have us. Your monkey brain to small to remember that?" he added, grinning.
"I'm not a monkey! And I can remember that!" Goku fought back, his pale cheeks regaining some color.
"Why don't we set camp now, and in the morning we'll move on, okay? We'll look for Sanzo somewhere else, I'm sure we'll get lucky." Hakkai smiled at Gojyo, his thanks for livening up the distressed Goku.
Goku nodded, his eyes turning ancient and sad. When asked whether he would like anything to eat, he shook his head in the same depressed manner, and crawled into his tent with a soft good-night to Hakkai and Gojyo.
"We better find that corrupt monk", Gojyo muttered under his breath as he cuddled closer to Hakkai once in their own tent.
"Yes, I don't think I can take any more of Goku suffering like that", Hakkai replied, nuzzling Gojyo's neck.
"But what could have happened to him? The last thing I remember was Sanzo being red-faced during that fight with Kougaiji", Gojyo said, stubbing out his cigarette.
"I honestly don't know", Hakkai sighed dejectedly.
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A/N: Poke poke
Oy, wake up, you're drooling all over the keyboard!
Feedback? If you're not too drowsy after this chapter? XD