The door closed behind Shuei as the teen monk retreated in the face of Koumyou Sanzo, 30th of mainland china, holder of the Seiten and the Maten scriptures.
" Kouryuu."
Soft sandals padded across the room to the stop before the six year old, who had bent in on himself like a reed, his white knuckles clutching his knees tightly. Koumyou looked at the shaking child for a few seconds before reaching down and lifting him into his arms, bridal style, and carrying him out into the courtyard.
The rain had stopped, leaving large brown puddles all over the place. The air was humid but cool, and Kouryuu shivered as the chill air hit his skin. He looked up from his crouched position at the freshly washed landscape, gleaming with raindrops everywhere. Then he hesitantly turned his head to meet Koumyou's smile.
" Oh, Kouryuu."
He looks so lost, Koumyou thought, as the child dropped his head again and broke the gaze, his soft lower lip quivering. Koumyou set his charge down against a pillar, taking care to avoid the damp spots in the wood.
Kouryuu shivered again as a light breeze blew in from the nearby mountains. A second later, he was startled by a pair of strong hands wrapping a robe around him.
He looked at Koumyou in shock. The sanzo was in his black sleeveless top and was busy settling the overlarge robe around the shivering child.
" But master! This is your holy robe! You musn't u-"
His words came to a sudden halt as Koumyou laid a hand on his head and smiled softly.
" Are you warm enough now?"
" Y- Yes, master."
He looks scared, Koumyou thought. He tries to treasure each moment as though he might lose everything the next. But ironically, his anxiety only causes more discomfort than peace. Even the gods fall into such ignorance in the lower world, don't they?
" Kouryuu."
" Yes, sir?"
Ah, the chains of fate. How the mighty have fallen. But you are still young now. Only time can tell what your life will become, but I will try to shape it as much as I can, my divine charge.
" Do you know why we are here now?"
The boy looked at him , the violet eyes confused and sorrowful at the same time.
Such conflict in his all order is born of chaos. No, scratch that. Order is highly overrated.
" It's a beautiful weather for a lesson, don't you think?"
The boy looked out into the scenic hills surrounding the monastery, even as a flock of birds took flight in the cerulean blue sky.
" It is beautiful, master."
" Let us not make beauty wait then, for it is fleeting. Pay attention, my child."
Author's notes: I'm guessing Koumyou, from his position as such a high monk surely had atleast an inkling of who his charge really is. Next chapter: MAJOR FLUFFY ANGST! YOU HAVE BEE N WARNED!
Oh, and Goku comes back into the picture, with sad results, as we all know from the episode….
Goku: You're such a jerk sometimes, Sanzo!
Sanzo: Don't' blame me! It's the writers fault! (Both glare at the author, who cringes)
Me: hey guys, this fanfic is according to canon, you know that, right? Right?
Both: HUMPH!