How Quickly the Tides Turn
Sanzo is not fast enough, not to match the great speed of a being so like a god when the monk has not even battled untrained youkai in weeks. He cannot possibly raise his gun in time to defend himself, but there is no need. Before he can even begin to counter, there is the blur of brown and orange in front of him as Goku, transformer instantly in the form of Seiten Taisei, steps between Sanzo and Nataku to defend his lover from an old friend.
"You will touch none of them," Goku says, and in his voice is some of what Sanzo heard from the more intellectual Seiten Taisei who Sanzo once believed could never be Goku, "What do you want, Nataku? Why are you doing this?"
At first Nataku seems transfixed by the change in Goku, how swiftly it came and how complete the transformation is. Goku as Seiten Taisei is magnificent. But Nataku blinks and he is back to his senses. "Why? You ask why? You are awakened. You are free and remember everything of yourself and your life before this one. And not once did you think…to come for me." There is something of a petulant child in those words, but true pain and betrayal as well.
Goku's wild eyes and fanged mouth twist into the form of sympathy. "Nataku…I thought you were dead," he explains, "I didn't think there was anything in Heaven to go back for. Konzen and the others are here. I didn't know to come for you."
This admission gives Nataku pause, and he almost seems about to lower his sword when he suddenly steadies it again. "Perhaps. But that doesn't change where we stand now. You cannot give up your immortality. Heaven forbids it. I forbid it. I will leave these men be only if you swear to retain your immortality…and come with me."
Sanzo feels a growl building at the back of his throat. Like hell is Goku going to agree to any of that. "Listen, you little brat—" he starts, moving to come around Goku and face Nataku head on.
But Goku holds him back, and the gesture is so finite that Sanzo knows it would be dangerous to disobey Goku's silent command.
Watching this strange scene unfold, Hakkai and Gojyo can think of nothing more to do than stand on either end of the group, weapons ready, yes, but with no real idea how they could use them to help the situation. It seems there are still many things Goku has yet to explain to them fully.
"Nataku," Goku says, "I will not return to Heaven. Ever. This is my home now. And I will age, and I will die, because I would rather end up in the human Heaven with my human friends than live forever without them. That doesn't mean I don't still…care for you."
The feeling behind the word 'care' is stronger than Sanzo would like it, but he says nothing.
"Wait, what about you?" Goku says suddenly, finding an excitement in his voice that is much more like the Goku that Sanzo understands, "Aren't you like Homura? Half god? You'll die someday too. Why not…why not stay here with us, on Earth. Then when our times come they come, and we can—"
"No, Goku," Nataku cuts in, angry and bitter sounding despite his apparent young age. The grip on his sword tightens so much that his pale skin grows bone white around his hands, "I am not like Homura, who came after me. He was born from a god lying with a human. But I am a different sin. My father…made me. And I will be immortal always. Would you condemn me to that alone?"
This is a lover's quarrel Sanzo does not want to hear. Oh, he knows that couldn't really be the case. Goku was a child when Sanzo found him, and that would have been his form in Heaven too—a child. Likewise, this Nataku looks fifteen at most.
Strong emotion lies behind the boy's words, however, and Sanzo understands that these are not idle threats. It is Goku who, while remaining tense and alert, does not seem to see the danger this Nataku may pose. Goku is too preoccupied with what Nataku is saying to worry over possible outcomes.
"Li Touten…made you?" Goku questions. It is a conversation Goku's friends cannot possibly follow, because they do not remember these names or situations, but still, they know to worry and wonder.
At last, Nataku lowers his sword, but the threat he poses remains like a current ebbing from his body. "An experiment. A doll, a toy. A tool," Nataku says, and as he speaks he begins to undo his robes until they fall from his shoulders and hang about his waist as Sanzo so often wears his.
It is surreal. Nataku's face, so like a real boy's, could not betray the truth presented before the Sanzo party. Beneath Nataku's robes is not the body of a boy, but indeed a doll, put together piece by piece with the joints visible at Nataku's elbows, shoulders, neck, and torso. They can only imagine that the same is true for his lower half.
A living, breathing doll made to be a god.
"You see, Goku," Nataku says, spreading his arms to be sure Goku sees and understands, his sword hanging for the moment unthreateningly in one hand, "There is no human Heaven for me, and there never can be. I don't belong anywhere, not really in Heaven either, but more there than here, because at least Heaven is where I was made. The closest thing to home I could ever have. And don't you see, Goku? You, something not quite human, or demon, or god, you don't belong anywhere either. That's why it has to be us. That's why you have to come with me. I've been waiting for you for so long. In Heaven, together, we can—"
"No," Goku says, and again the severity is striking, older than Goku usually seems, but fitting for how old the earth child really is, "Maybe we have more in common than I ever could have guessed, and you know how sorry I am that your father used you for so long, even to get to me. But I don't want to have to choose between you and my life here. I hate that you're making me. Because I'm sorry, Nataku, but if you want me to make a choice…" Goku pauses just long enough to look at each of his other friends, lingering understandably on Sanzo the longest, "My choice will always be them."
Darkness crosses Nataku's face instantly and his sword is once again raised and at the ready. "I was your friend. What were they? In Heaven they were nothing but arrogant gods, your keepers. If you think you can choose them over me then…then you leave me with only one option." Nataku gives a nod of his head, as if to challenge Goku to fight head on.
Goku takes it as just that and in turn readies his staff, which retains that unearthly glow.
But something is wrong, Sanzo can feel it. Something in the air, in that god-child's chi, something. He can't be sure what, but he knows it will be a mistake if Goku and this Nataku fight.
"Goku…" Sanzo begins in warning, but he is already too late. These are not humans or simple youkai waging battle, these are beings unlike any others alive. They move so quickly it is as if they blink out of existence and are suddenly met. They strike, Nataku with his sword and Goku with his staff, and the force as the weapons hit each other in timing so perfect it seems planned is awesome, giving way to a burst of bright light.
Instinctively, Sanzo shields his eyes, and can see not too far from him on either side that Hakkai and Gojyo have been forced to do the same. The three of them gradually lower their arms and look to the spot where Nataku and Goku had met. Goku is standing there looking strangely confused, his nyoibou dismissed. And Nataku is there as well, but there is no confusion on his face. Only triumph.
A panic grips Sanzo as he stares at Goku in all his full glory, but with the look of a very frightened and lost…child.
"What…happened?" Goku says, and his voice too sounds younger than it should. Goku looks up at Nataku and his head tilts to the side in wonder. "Nataku? You're here? You're…okay?" There is excitement in Goku's voice then, as honest and pure as he could ever sound. He runs forward with all his preternatural speed and hugs Nataku tight.
Sanzo and the others gape. What is happening? What changed in that flash that could leave Goku as if he were another person? As if he were…a younger version of himself, one that remembers Nataku as if he saw him and was his friend only yesterday.
"Nataku, I'm so glad you're okay," Goku says, still with his arms around Nataku even as he pulls back to look his friend in the face. He gives a start then because he has to look just slightly down to meet Nataku's eyes. "Why are you so short?"
"Nevermind, Goku. It's okay," says Nataku, sounding calm. Too calm. "Everything's okay now."
"Like hell it is!" Sanzo bellows. He may not know what is going on, but he is not about to let it continue. He aims his gun right between Nataku's eyes and stalks forward, not caring that there is a good chance his bullets would only fade into the rippled force field of the gods. "What did you do to him?" he demands.
Goku turns back to look at Sanzo first and his slit gold eyes widen in curious wonder. But before the heretic can speak, Nataku steps forward, blocking Goku from Sanzo's path should the monk try and pull Goku away from him. "I don't know what you mean," Nataku says, in a way that admits he is lying openly but can still fool the simple mind of a young Goku, "Goku was confused. He's better now."
"Better?" comes an angry bark, this time from Gojyo, who also keeps his weapon ready to be flung in Nataku's direction, "You better be joking, kid, or this better be a prank. What did you do to our monkey?"
"Konzen? Kenren?" a small voice sounds amongst the angry tension and yells. Those same slit gold eyes blink innocently at all gathered. Goku finds Hakkai in the crowd as well, and says with the same wonder, "Tenpou? Why do you all look so strange?"
Goku had stepped forward, closer to Sanzo and the others, but again Nataku comes around to stand in front, keeping Goku guarded behind him. "They don't look strange. They're trying to trick you," he says, "But trust me, Goku, these men are not the ones you know in Heaven."
"By the gods," Hakkai says in a breathless, angry whisper, "He's taken Goku's mind back to the time he was in Heaven. He…" Hakkai glances briefly, painfully at Gojyo and Sanzo, "He doesn't know us. Goku…" Hakkai tries to move forward, beseeching, but Goku is even more confused now with the men before him looking so much but not quite like the men he knows as friends. And there is Nataku's warning too.
Goku shakes his head. "They're trying…to trick me?" he says, looking to Nataku for confirmation.
Nataku smiles, "Yes, Goku. Don't believe them. They want to keep me from taking you home to Heaven. Don't you want to go back…so we can play again?"
"No!" It is Sanzo who calls out because this is going so horribly wrong and he feels the weight of it. Goku is so close and yet still out of reach. If only he could get to him. "Goku, look at me. It's me. Me. You know me. Konzen or the man I am now, we're the same. I know you know it. You feel it. You can't go with him."
Panic races across Goku's face and his eyes quiver. It is surreal to see the form of Seiten Taisei looking so childlike and afraid. "But…Konzen…Heaven is where we live."
"No. No, Goku, this is our home," Says Hakkai, trying to smile in his customary comforting way. He reaches out a hand towards Goku, the only of the three without an obvious weapon. "He's the one who is confusing you. He did something to you to make you forget, but your life is here, with us. Just look at your hands," he adds, pointing to the great claws of Seiten Taisei, "You're no longer bound by your limiter. How can that be?"
Goku stares down at his hands, surprised to find claws, and is tentative as he reaches up with them and finds no crown upon his head.
"Yeah, this crazy brat's the one doing the tricking, Goku," Gojyo joins in, "You know us. Don't listen to this twerp."
The confusion is so great now that Goku begins to back away from Nataku as well. "I…I don't understand…"
"No, Goku, listen," says Nataku, reaching out quickly to grab Goku by the wrist and keep him still, "They're lying. You know why your limiter is gone. It broke when you saw me stab myself, remember? I'm sorry, Goku. I'm sorry I made you worry, but I was scared and I didn't know what to do, I just knew I couldn't let myself hurt you as my father wanted. But look, I'm okay now. I'm healed. And you're free. We can go home to Heaven now and everything will be okay."
"No!" Sanzo cries again, feeling more trigger happy than he ever has. But he is smarter than his anger. He knows that if he uses the gun on Nataku without proving it is necessary to Goku first, he might lose Goku completely. That young mind wouldn't understand. "He's the one lying, Goku. You have to believe us."
"You can trust us, Goku," Hakkai adds.
"Yeah, monkey," Gojyo says, "It's us. We may look a little weird to you, but it's us."
Goku looks terrified. Who does he trust? The friend before him who seems to make more sense or the group of friends that appeals to his senses. "You…look like Konzen and the others, but…but why would Nataku lie to me?"
"I wouldn't. They're lying, Goku. Just ask them," Nataku says, looking again with that triumphant smile at Sanzo and the others before him, "They're not Konzen Douji, or Kenren Taisho, or Tenpou Gensui. Ask them. Ask them anything. Ask Konzen what kind of flowers he keeps on the end of his desk that you picked for him. I remember when you told me about them, Goku. Does he?"
Flowers? Sanzo remembers Goku doing something like that for him and his desk in Chang'an, but it would be almost impossible for the flowers to be the same as some in Heaven. A wrong guess would be even worse than saying nothing.
"Konzen…?"
Wouldn't it?
"Konzen…"
"And what kind of cigarettes does the Marshall smoke?" Nataku presses, "Ask him, Goku. He should be able to tell you, shouldn't he?"
"Tenpou…?"
Hakkai looks to Gojyo a moment, but doubts his other persona would smoke High Lites, or even Sanzo's Marlboros.
"You see," Nataku says, still so very sure of his victory, "They're not the men you know. They're simply using familiar faces to trick you into staying here forever. But you want to come with me…don't you?" Nataku turns kind eyes on Goku, pleading eyes, and by the terror in Goku and confusion muddling his thoughts he looks very ready to put his trust in the wrong person.
"Goku…" Sanzo says, his voice no longer carrying any venom because he knows now he has to be tender. He has to remind Goku of what they have made for themselves here. "Goku," he says again, once he has those golden eyes locked on his violet, "You can't leave. I need you here. I need you with me. I…love you."
As soon as those words leave Sanzo's lips, Goku's eyes widen as large as Sanzo has ever seen them, and then…then Goku is taking Nataku's hand and backing the both of them away from Sanzo and the others.
Sanzo feels the panic returning and starts to move forward. "Goku…"
"Come on, Nataku," Goku says, still frightened but certain for the first time since he became his childlike self, "Let's go home."
No. No, Sanzo thinks, not understanding what he did wrong, how they failed to convince Goku of the truth. White light begins to envelop both boys in a glow to carry them away and Sanzo doesn't know what to do. What did he do?
And then he hears his answer, and he has never hated the man he once was more.
"Konzen would never say that."
The light dims, and with it Nataku and Goku are gone.
-----
"Urrrrg!" Sanzo screams and falls to the ground, pounding at it with a heavy fist. He can't fix this. How does he fix this? He has to fix this! His head swims with pulsing emotion and anger at his foolish past, and he screams again.
Goku…is gone.
Hakkai and Gojyo have no words to speak. What can they say? Nothing they could possibly say or do could reach into Heaven and pluck Goku out again. They have fought gods, but always on earth. How can their mortal forms have any hope of finding Goku when they cannot even step their feet on the soil of the gods' Heaven?
"Sanzo…" Hakkai starts, but his voice falls away. There is a mournful 'kyuu' from Hakkai's shoulders, and he instinctually reaches up to stroke his pet's neck. He had almost forgotten Hakuryuu was there since the dragon had been so still and quiet while Nataku met with them.
Next to Hakkai, Gojyo lets go of his weapon and it vanishes just before hitting the ground. He cannot bear the weight. He is weighted down enough. What are they going to do? "Oi, bouzu?" he says, since Hakkai doesn't seem capable of pressing Sanzo any further.
Sanzo is practically on his hands and knees, but he has stopped pounding the dirt. It looks as if he is trembling, and really, his companions cannot blame him. Sanzo risked everything the moment he allowed himself to love Goku fully. He risked this very thing—losing Goku—but for it to come so soon and so unfairly, Sanzo cannot bear it.
While Hakkai and Gojyo struggle for more words to say, Sanzo looks up from the ground, violet eyes as wild as Seiten Taisei's could ever be, and suddenly he knows exactly what he must do. He does not look back at his companions; he looks only forward, settling himself into a calmer kneeling position and beginning to remove the scriptures from his robes. All five of them.
He places each around him at different points, forming something of a star, and careful to set the right sutra in the right place.
"Sanzo?" comes Hakkai's questioning voice. He and Gojyo move in closer to Sanzo, not understanding the monk's hasty actions.
"There's no way…we can reach Heaven," Sanzo says.
"Yes, but…maybe…maybe the Goddess of Mercy—"
"She won't help us. But someone else might."
"Someone else?" Gojyo jumps in, staring at the five sutras laid out around Sanzo's knelt form as the blonde closes his eyes and tries to find a center in himself where he is not panicking, "Who?"
Sanzo's eyes open again, briefly, but he does not look up at either of his friends. "Another god…could bring us to Heaven. It's the only way. We can't risk waiting and letting that brat turn Goku even more against us. Summoning a god is difficult enough, and this one isn't in Heaven anymore, not the Heaven of the gods."
Hakkai's eyes flick to Gojyo and because they know each other so well, Gojyo feels the need to meet gazes. Hakkai understands, somehow Hakkai knows already who Sanzo means, and Gojyo's eyes widen as the truth begins to dawn on him too.
"He's half a bet," Sanzo continues, "but the only one we've got, and with all five sutras…it just might work." Sanzo starts to chant then, low and driven. It is as if on instinct that Hakkai and Gojyo take a step back, away from the circle and Sanzo at its center.
This magic is powerful, perhaps more powerful than Sanzo should attempt, but neither hanyou nor limited youkai dare speak against it. In Sanzo's place there would be nothing strong enough to stop either of them if their lover had been taken.
At first Sanzo's voice is a rhythm as he chants, but then his words begin to rise, "I beseech your aid," he says, "I call upon you, former god, a once great god of war…for help." Sanzo's voice is a rumble of power, calling directly to the god he has begun to form a link to, "Come," he says, his eyes wide but unseeing as he spreads his arms outward and the sutras glow a brilliant blue and gold, "Come before me…Homura."
-----
"Is that understood?"
"Yes, Lord Kougaiji!"
"Good. You can go. But do not forget that we are no longer the enemies of humans, and that is the way it is going to stay." With a wave of his hand, Kougaiji dismisses the gathered youkai soldiers in front of him. He is in the hall that once housed his mother's sleeping form, preferring to reign from a place he thinks of fondly rather than the throne his evil step-mother commanded from.
While Kougaiji's mother is the true leader and queen of the Western youkai, Kougaiji is the voice, known well by his men and trusted beyond any other. Recently, it has been decided between himself, his mother, and his most faithful followers that emissaries from their kingdom need to make contact with neighboring lands and therefore be apart of the changing world. Kougaiji can only hope that Sanzo and the others are being fruitful in their mission and leaving them a trail to follow that will not meet them with human resistance.
With his men now gone, Kougaiji turns for a different exit, intending to return to other duties. He barely reaches the door, however, before the unstoppable force of his sister bounds in from nowhere and launches herself into his arms.
"Nii-chan!"
"Ouff!" Kougaiji grunts, catching his sister clumsily and attempting to return her to balance, "Lirin, you can't go doing that anymore. You're not a child. You'll break a rib…" he mumbles in afterthought, "Most likely mine."
"But, Nii-chan! Nii-chan!" Lirin continues calling, bouncing up and down in front of her brother now.
Kougaiji grimaces. He loves his sister, but sometimes she is far too much of a headache. "What is it?"
It is then that Kougaiji realizes Lirin's usually undaunted face looks rather crestfallen. "It's Yaone," she says, her voice suddenly small, "I think she's sick. She's been in the bathroom all morning, and when I ask her what's wrong, she just gets all flustered and red in the face, and runs back to the bathroom again. I'm worried."
That's strange. Yaone hadn't mentioned anything. "If she was ill why wouldn't she tell me?" Kougaiji says.
Since the increase in his and Yaone's intimacy, they have become remarkably open with each other. He doubts there is anyone who knows him better, save perhaps Dokugakuji or his mother, and the same is true in reverse. Certainly Yaone wouldn't keep anything from him.
Lirin is still bouncing with worry and Kougaiji is still mulling over this strange development when the gentle laughter of his mother begins to filter into the room.
Kougaiji looks to the main entrance and indeed there stands the youkai queen Rasetsunyo, laughing politely but openly behind her hand. "Mother? Do you know what's going on?" Kougaiji asks. After all, his mother does have a tendency to know everything that goes on in the castle. Her presence lingers in every corridor, as if she can be everywhere at once and see in every direction.
"Oh," Rasetsunyo giggles, "Nothing to worry over, dear. It'll pass before she knows it, I'm sure. And as for her telling you—or rather, not telling you—that you will have to take up with her." Rasetsunyo makes to turn and retreat then, something she often does after giving Kougaiji rather cryptic information, but is stopped by the sudden arrival of Dokugakuji from down the corridor.
"My lady," the tall youkai says out of practiced courtesy, giving the queen a small bow. He seems to have little time for formalities, however, because he immediately turns to Kougaiji, "Kou," he says, "You're never gonna believe this. You know how I've been using some of the men to gather up Nii's old things and check the castle?"
Kougaiji is the one who gave Dokugakuji that task, so of course he remembers. He gives a short nod and waits for his friend to continue.
"Well, it finally paid off, and not in a good way. We found a hidden lab behind Gyokumen Koushu's throne room. I think the Sanzo party are gonna wanna see who's in there."
Perfect. Just perfect. They were just beginning their new campaign, Yaone is mysteriously ill, and now Nii has to leave behind one more present.
Kougaiji begins to walk forward, intent on following Dokugakuji to this hidden lab and deal with other things later, when he suddenly stops very short. Wait. He couldn't have heard correctly.
"Did you say…who?"
-----
Hakkai and Gojyo shield there eyes just as they had when Nataku disappeared with Goku into Heaven. But this light is different, differently shaded and a portal to a very different Heaven. The light consumes Sanzo and the sutras, originating just in front of the knelt priest. When the light finally fades and Hakkai and Gojyo can look again, they see the outline of a man standing at the center-point of light. When the light is fully gone, only then is the man fully whole. But it is not a man. No, it is a half-god they themselves saw die.
"Oh, shit…" Gojyo grumbles, instantly summoning shakujou into his hands again, "The monk finally lost his mind." Gojyo takes a step forward, but a strong grip on his shoulder holds him back.
"No, Gojyo," Hakkai says, "Wait. Sanzo might actually know exactly what he is doing."
There is a smug look on the former god's face as he takes a step closer to Sanzo. He appears just as he did when they knew him before, only his clothing is simpler, white pants and a white shirt—linen that never seems to wrinkle. "My, my, a bold thing to do, Genjou Sanzo," Homura says, smiling widely, "It is usually frowned upon by the gods to summon back a soul from the dead. But then…special circumstances I assume for you to call on me." Homura looks from Sanzo to the sutras, five sutras he once had in his own possession.
Sanzo stands, his eyes never leaving the figure of his former enemy. "Something like this could only work under special circumstances," he says, "You being half god, and me…having the means to summon you and in need of your help."
There is a twitch at the corner of Homura's mouth. "You need my help?" he says, "And you admit it so readily."
There is no time for this, Sanzo thinks. Already he could be losing Goku forever. "Do you know what's going on?" he asks, ignoring Homura's attempts to rile him.
Homura's smile loses its smugness, if only a little, as he comes to realize the urgency in the man before him. "I know you four have accomplished your great mission," he says, "but I'm afraid I do not spend all of my time in the afterlife keeping tabs on the men who killed me. Though…you do seem to be one important monkey short," he adds, passing his gaze over the area in front of him and finding only a monk, a kappa, and dragon-toting healer. He gives Sanzo a grin. "I don't suppose this has to do with our dear Son Goku, does it?"
"Goku has been taken to Heaven," Sanzo says, admitting it openly because there is no time for pride or vengeance, "He's been…brainwashed or…something by this teenage looking brat called Nataku."
"Nataku?" Homura repeats, serious, but still as insufferable in Sanzo's eyes as always with his ever-present smirk and superiority, "My predecessor," Homura adds fondly, "Powerful. And he has interest in Goku? Not that I blame him." And again, there is that smug smile and a twinkle Sanzo catches in the half-god's single gold eye that speaks of far lewder things than Sanzo ever wants Homura thinking about Goku.
"Are you going to help us or not?" Sanzo demands. He steps over the sutras just in front of him and stands toe to toe with Homura, uncaring to his disadvantage in height. "I had enough of your bullshit the first time so you can stop that right now. A yes or no is all I want from you."
Maybe it is a trick of the light, but Sanzo would almost swear Homura looks even more pleased than before. "So adamant. I'll answer…if you answer something for me," he says.
More games, Sanzo thinks in irritation, but he isn't in the mood to argue. He nods.
"Tell me," Homura says, "Have you finally realized how much the boy means to you?"
Heh. If Homura thinks this subject is a trap for Sanzo than he is a bigger fool than Sanzo imagined. Knowing that, and knowing how easily he can give his answer, Sanzo finds a small smirk of his own. "I love him. And he knows I love him because I have told him. Many times. Is that good enough for you, war god? Or would you like some details from our sex life as well?"
There is a twitch at the corner of Homura's mouth again, forming it even more into a smirk. But a pleased smirk, Sanzo realizes. He isn't sure he wants to know why. All he cares about is an answer.
Homura summons his sword and the answer is clear.
"We'll need to move quickly," he says, all business now, which Sanzo is supremely grateful for, "I won't be any more of a welcome sight in Heaven than the three of you. Goku is in danger as well." He narrows his eyes at Sanzo. "They're in need of a new war god, in case you've forgotten, and with Nataku being uncooperative what better way to control the great Sage Seiten Taisei Son Goku than to leash him with a duty."
Sanzo's eyes widen. He hadn't thought of that.
"Are you prepared?" Homura asks then, looking first to Sanzo but then to Hakkai and Gojyo as well, who are if anything dumbstruck by this turn of events, but not at all in the mood for being left out.
They give their nods and Sanzo gives his. Time is too short to contemplate the dangers or the oddity of Homura helping them in their crusade. They must go now.
It is Gojyo who looks around finally, perplexed, and speaks.
"So…how exactly do we—"
The rush is so sudden that the members of the Sanzo ikkou feel it like being punched in the gut while falling. One moment they are standing in the clearing of a heavily wooded area on earth, and then in the space of a second they vanish as they remember Homura and his fellow gods vanishing, and then they are somewhere else entirely.
-----
The first thing Hakkai notices is that he is coughing. Then he notices the dust, most likely the reason he is coughing, and holds his hand to his face to keep from breathing in any more.
To Hakkai's right, where Gojyo had been standing, is still the kappa, only he too is coughing and clutching at his head. The trip has made them all a little dizzy.
Sanzo feels it too, but he is not coughing, much as he notices the dust in the air and on all of the things in the room they have suddenly found themselves in. It is certainly not the kind of room that makes Sanzo think of Heaven. An office? Perhaps military, judging by some of the decoration. There is a desk, where much of the dust seems to be settled and had been disrupted when they whooshed in, as well as an old globe showing a very old idea of earth, some chairs, and a bookcase.
"Where the hell are we?" Gojyo manages between final hacks of dust, "This can't be Heaven."
"Hmph. What did you expect? Buildings made of gold and stardust?" taunts Homura's superior sounding voice. Gojyo never had anything against the guy personally, but he is starting to understand why Sanzo would rather kill him than deal with him. In any other situation, that is.
"But this is Heaven?" Sanzo questions, dusting off some of the, well, dust from his robes.
Homura, who seems immune to the aged dust and the perils of that kind of travel, leans ever so coolly against the wall and nods. "Heaven. And the safest place I could think of for us to make our entrance. I apologize for the state of things, but it can't be helped."
Beginning to collect himself as Gojyo and Sanzo have, Hakkai squints down at the table and with a practiced finger gives a good swipe at the collection of dust. "Goodness. It looks as though this place hasn't been used in centuries."
"Five, actually," Homura supplies.
That strikes a cord with Sanzo. Five hundred years. That would be the right amount of time. He gives Homura a quick glance, not sure how to ask his question aloud.
Homura chuckles slightly, but shakes his head. "Not your office, Konzen, or the Marshall's or General's. You weren't expected to ever return. I'm sure your offices have been given over to other gods for use that couldn't possible be as exciting as what you put them through. No, this office belongs to someone who was one day expected to come back for it."
"Hakuryuu?" Hakkai calls suddenly, realizing with quite a bit of alarm that his pet is no longer perched on his shoulder and doesn't seem to be anywhere in the room either, "Oh, dear," Hakkai says, looking expectantly to Homura, "He wasn't left behind, was he?"
"Not at all," answers a voice, very deep, but not Homura's.
Hakkai turns towards the sound of this voice, discovering a closet near one corner of the office he hadn't noticed when he first took stock of the room. From out of it steps…a man? He is fastening the last few clasps of a silver tunic as if he has only just gotten dressed.
"You'll forgive an old dragon his modesty, but I didn't want to stand here naked any longer than I had to," smiles the…dragon?
Dragon. Hakkai would not believe it if he wasn't seeing it with his own eyes, but there is no denying the similarities. The silver hair and white skin, the red eyes, the sharpened eye-teeth, and of course, the aura. Hakkai would know it anywhere. "Hakuryuu…" he breaths, and by the gasps from his companions he is surely the only one who knew immediately.
"Goujun, actually," says Homura, turning his eyes to the dragon-man with a slight bow of his head, "The Dragon King of the Western Seas. I am pleased to be the one to return you, sir. You have served them well."
"And will continue to," counters Goujun. He has moved closer to the others, leaving his closet behind now that he is dressed. His hair hangs long and free past his waist and he gathers it quickly, pulling it back where he begins to hastily braid it to better keep it out of his way, as he once wore it so often. "I have no intention of staying. It is…nice to be myself again. But the journey isn't over. I highly doubt Sanzo would forgive me if I made him walk all the way home."
There is the barest hint of a grin and flash of fangs. While Homura may take some surprise in such an attitude from the Dragon King, it seems very fitting as something coming from Hakuryuu.
"And you may call me what you wish," he adds, warming his smile as he turns to look at Hakkai, "I am fond of the name. It doesn't offend me. Nor does being treated like a pet. My mentality is different in that form."
"I'm sorry, can I say something?" Gojyo cuts in, raising his hand as if he were back in school and in great need of more explanation. "The parrot has legs and a voice? Since when, coz I don't remember you being a god. Hakkai found you in the woods."
Goujun smiles more slyly and approaches Gojyo, having finished his hair and tied it back with a band he had in the pocket of his slacks. "Or perhaps it was I who found him," he says, before turning once more to face Hakkai, "You understand, old friend, why I chose you to be my keeper and not one of the others." He gives Gojyo a mocking once over. "Surely my poor dragon form would have died long ago in the care of one of them."
Gojyo scowls, remembering why the damn parrot had always gotten on his nerves. Now that Hakuryuu can speak it is significantly worse.
Hakkai of course merely chuckles, rather enjoying seeing his faithful pet as something like a man. He is so very beautiful, as beautiful as Hakkai thinks of him when he is but a small white dragon on his shoulder. And though he speaks formally, and says his mentality is different when he is Hakuryuu, this Goujun seems to very much enjoy how being a mischievous little dragon has changed him.
"Enough of this. We're wasting time," growls Sanzo from across the room. He is itching to leave and begin their search and his irritation at the humor passing between his companions is tangible. "Good for you, Hakuryuu, or Goujun, or whoever, for finally getting your real body back," he says with a good amount of sarcasm, "I always knew there was more to you than met the eye with how intelligent you seemed to be, and once you and Goku started having conversations. But we can hear your story another time. Right now all I care about is that we have one more god on our side, and we need to go."
"You're quite right," Goujun agrees, offering Sanzo an acknowledging nod of his head, "I will lead the way. The sight of me will hardly be a shock to most gods we might pass. Time is different for them and I doubt most would even remember I am supposed to still be on earth, by my own volition I may add despite the restrictions placed upon me."
As Goujun moves across the room towards Sanzo, Homura pushes himself from the wall and goes to join them as well. Hakkai and Gojyo take the hint, and soon they are all gathered in front of the door.
Goujun reaches for the doorknob, turns it, and with a quick glance back says, "Shall we?"
tbc...
A/N: I'm a horrible, horrible person, but I am still here. Blame "Supernatural" and life. Must be off, but I hope I haven't lost you, my dears.
Crim
