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Relax and Hang On -- Again	By : cupnjava Category: Gensomaden Saiyuki > General Views: 20723 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gensomaden Saiyuki, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
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Author’s Note: POTENTIAL SPOILER: After writing this, I realized there are some hidden Gaiden spoilers (character development NOT plot ) in here (Gaiden from the Zero Sum stuff). Nothing big and nothing we didn’t already know from Gensomaden Saiyuki -- or at least suspect. If you don’t know about them, then you probably won’t see them. The Gojun clan history and family stuff is TOTAL speculation.
Also, there are some delicately handled history points for a certain sexy “bad -guy”, if you haven’t seen the last two disks of Gensomaden Saiyuki then you may not completely pick up on what is being eluded to.
It seems that most of the readers on this board have seen / read more Saiyuki than I have so I’ve become a bit freer with what I am including in my fics. I’m sorry if this causes any problems.

Summary -- Gaiden Chapter! There are some rules that need to be broken! Remember Kenren’s mistake? Well --- here it is. Division in the ranks --- and reconciliation. Don’t worry -- the quarrel begins and ends in this chapter.

Just a reminder -- I’m using Kenren from the anime because I love the emerald / crimson thang. Also, we all know that heaven is a place of “perpetual twilight” thanks to Homura‘s soliloquy, but I needed something we could all related to in order to show the passage of time. So, I’m using our “earth bound” labels of linear time -- some things just need a night backdrop.

RAHO 11 ---Kenren, Tenpou and the Plot Against Heaven : Folie a Deux

Kenren chuckled as he placed a kiss against the back of Tenpou’s neck. “I’m just saying it’ll be interesting… that’s all.” The guy needs a friend.

Tenpou shifted his legs under the blue satin coverlet and leaned back against his lover. “I’m saying it is a bad idea.”
Kenren carried his arms up Tenpou’s chest and pressed his palms into the slightly smaller man’s skin. “What’s the matter? Jealous?”
Green eyes narrowed.
Kenren danced his finger tips along Tenpou’s sternum and placed a delicate kiss below his lover’s ear, “Are you afraid that his razor good looks, jet black hair, mismatched eyes and his status will call to the rogue in me… and leave you wanting?” Kenren joked.
Tenpou’s muscles tightened. He pulled himself from his lover’s embrace. “I’m just saying he doesn’t need to get involved with us. It’s bad enough we have Goku and Nataku forming a friendship --- we don’t need a third one to try to protect.” He slipped from the bed and sought out his clothes. It was time to get his day started and end this conversation. “It is dangerous for all of us, but especially for them.” The polite tone of his voice strained.
Kenren sighed. “He’s harmless. Nataku and Goku might not be all that harmless.” Kenren could tell right away that Goku would be one fierce fighter once he learned control.” But, he’s harmless. He’s still learning the ways of life out of …,” his voice softened, “…where they kept him.” He hadn’t noticed the straining politeness in Tenpou‘s voice.
Tenpou turned sharply as he buttoned his pants, “You know his bloodline. We can’t get too close to him, we have to think of the kids. He’s an adult.”
“Exactly, he’s an adult, but his situation is such that he has no idea what’s going on here.”
Tenpou pushed his arms through his white lab coat. “He knows enough and what he doesn’t know he’ll figure out soon enough. I don’t think we want to be involved when that happens. He‘s smarter, more devious and harmful than you credit him. We’ve got to focus on the ones that can still be saved -- Nataku and Goku. He‘s lost already; he just doesn‘t know it.”
Kenren pressed his palms together and crossed his legs under the coverlet, “We should give him the chance to decide from himself. Denying information isn’t like you.” Kenren’s eyes widened, “You are jealous of him.” He pointed a finger and waved it in the air, “You’re afraid if we invite him in our little circle of brigands, then he’ll steal me away from you.”
Tenpou yanked off his inside-out lab coat and wadded it up in his arms, “If you want to take him as a lover, don’t let me stop you!” Tenpou turned sharply, “Apparently, I have no claim to you, General, do as you wish.”
With that Tenpou stepped sharply ---
---right into the closet. He whipped around found the correct door and slammed it shut behind him.
Kenren smirked. Three… two… one.

Tenpou threw open the door, completely avoided Kenren’s gaze, grabbed his glasses and bolted back into the hallway.
Kenren sighed. Three…two…one. “And another thing---”

The door didn’t open. There was no “And another thing --”
Kenren knitted his brow. He muttered, “Not good.” He pulled himself out of bed and picked up Tenpou’s remaining slipper. He sighed and grabbed his uniform.
Thus it began --- a heavenly lover’s quarrel.
Tenpou stormed down the hallway wearing a calm smile that fooled no one. He shoved his arms in his white sleeves and straightened his tie. How dare Kenren assume he was capable of such a petty emotion as jealously! That was uncalled for. If Kenren wanted to bed Homura why didn’t he just come right out and say so! If he wasn’t enough to be the only man in Kenren’s life then Kenren should just move on. The whole situation up here was too complicated to be muddling the waters with this kind of thing.
Tenpou opened the door to the library and waited at the threshold as books fell. He stepped over the books and sighed. He began cleaning. Tenpou -- cleaning --- all by himself….
….even the inhabitants of the lower world knew something was amiss.
Tenpou picked up a book. One rule. I gave that General one rule and he wants to break it. Fine! I refuse to be part of some kind of love triangle. Tenpou didn’t need this. He had a battle campaign to plan. He had troops to protect. He had a war to run. He had two heretical kids to protect and an adult heretic to pity. He had a myriad of adults to keep from becoming pawns -- including the General. He also had books piled up around his shins. He lifted his right foot to step over a pile of books and gritted his teeth. “Gods!”
Somewhere around here he’d lost a slipper. A slipper from his favorite pair. These went along with his sandals. This pair had been broken in properly and evenly. This was the pair that fit the best and now he was missing one.

Can this day get any worse! The right one of the favorite pair was missing -- this was horrible.
He ripped off his left slipper and threw it. He kicked his feet and shoved the books, scrolls and maps out of his way. He stubbed his toe. He tried to balance on one leg as he hoped around in pain and fell over. He gritted his teeth and let out a low scream of frustration.
This was one of those days. He was in a neck-snapping mood; people had best just leave him alone! He was feeling angry, hurt, impulsive --- and not one bit jealous! He scrambled to his feet and jerked his arms in the air as he stomped his feet, “Aaaarrrgggghhhh!!!”
Him jealous --- never. No, not mild-mannered, calm, cool, collected Tenpou.
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Gojun felt the blood leave his face as his head slowly tilted up. The General would be reporting for duty today -- that much was clear.
The question was would the floor / ceiling hold? He gathered up his papers, “Field drills today, gentlemen.”
A sergeant lifted his head, “Again?”
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Kenren marched to the library. He wasn’t going to let it ride like this. He tried to figure out what button he pushed to set Tenpou off so quickly. He was joking -- that was clear --- wasn’t it?
No one could pull him away form Tenpou --- not for longer than it took for : a few grunts, brief clean up, kiss the-random-her goodbye and pull his pants up. Well, sometimes that took a while, but Tenpou understood his ways.
Tenpou hadn’t gotten upset over his escapades -- that green eyed man encouraged them. Asking for details about his conquests including the time at the women’s barracks… women’s barracks… women’s.
This time he was joking about a man. He sighed. He’d never understand it, but that made all the difference in the upper and lower worlds to Tenpou.
Could it be that the Marshal cared enough to be upset over a jesting comment about another man? Kenren smiled as he realized the Marshal cared enough to get angry --- cared enough to get jealous. Kenren felt a warm tingle inside of him as he opened the library door.
A bedraggled, frustrated, surrounded-by-piled-up-books, angry, hurt, missing-his-favorite-pair-of-slippers, stressed-out, still-not-admitting-to-being-jealous, and chest-heaving Tenpou stood with his back to the door. He heard the door open and slowly looked over his shoulder.
Kenren’s face paled as emerald spikes flew toward him. Kenren quickly assessed the situation. One shoulder of Tenpou’s white lab coat had slipped down an arm. His lover’s tie was crooked ; shirt half-untucked ; glasses were askew; a cigarette dangled unlit from light pink lips; and, a six foot perfectly square section of the floor was completely clean.
Kenren feared for his immortal soul. He softly spoke, “I see this is a bad time.” He nodded. “I’ll come back.” He held up the slipper. “Slipper?” He tossed the slipper.
Tenpou’s head turned as he followed the slipper flying through the air.
Kenren dashed out the door and closed it quickly. He heard a thud and assumed it was the slipper hitting the door. He ran his hand through his short locks and sighed. He’d report to work today. With any luck they’d be doing field drills with live weapons and that was worlds safer than the library --- today. He’d let Tenpou calm himself down and straighten it all out when the normally calm man regained control of his temper.
Kenren headed downstairs to report to work for the first time in about six months.
Tenpou huffed. He didn’t need that slipper. He had other pairs that could be broken in; besides, he’d lost the left one now. He pushed a hand to his face and could only imagine the sheer number of orphaned shoes that were hiding around here. He’d clean his way to a pair of slippers.
Only with Tenpou and Kenren could a practice battlefield be considered safer than a library.
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The Next Morning….

Kenren slowly opened his eyes and slid from out from under his blue bedding. He sighed. Surely, Tenpou had calmed down during the night.

Tenpou looked at his third meticulously organized , cross-referenced and dust-free bookshelf. He slipped another cigarette in his mouth and lit it. He turned --- there were more bookshelves to do.
Beside his desk, in a neat line there were twenty left shoes.
He heard a knock at the library door. He pulled the cigarette from his lips and took in a deep breath. “Yes?” His voice was polite but strained. Maybe this was Kenren… maybe he was coming to ---
A young page boy entered the library carrying a tray. “Marshal, Sir, you…” missed all the meals yesterday. The young boy lost his voice as the becoming neat library filled his senses. The tray shook. The items rattled as he sat the tray down. He swallowed, bowed and ducked quickly out of the library. He took off running down the hall.
A crimson haired General jutted his arms out and scooped up the running child. “Where’s the fire, young one?”
The frightened boy wrapped his arms around Kenren’s neck. “The Marshal is cleaning!”
Kenren shrugged, “That happens from time to time.” If he’s got Konzen and Goku in there with him then he’s calmed down.

The child scanned the man holding him. “Yes, sir. But he’s cleaning alone.”
Kenren nearly dropped the child. He’d report for duty today too --- better safe than sorry.
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The Next Morning…

Gojun woke up and flexed his talons. He wiped the lingering sleep from his eyes and slid from the covers being careful to not wake his wife --- his lovely Queen. He smiled as he scanned her sleeping peacefully. Those had to be the longest eyelashes he’d ever seen. He sighed as he softly ran his talons through her sparkling silver hair.
He shuffled into the hallway of their home and poked his eyes in on his sleeping son.
The Heir to the Throne --- just a few decades old and already shaping up to be a fine King. He knew his clan would be safe --- once the child learned to not eat play-doh. He sighed.
He scratched the back of his head as he stepped toward the shower. He wasn’t too sure about all of this when it began : bringing all the dragon clans together under the main rule of the Jade Emperor. It just seemed like something was off with that idea.
However, he brought the issue up to his advisors and they felt it was a good idea. Reuniting the four dragon clans was something that had eluded his father and the time seemed right to reestablish the unity of the species.
It wasn’t as if the clans were warring --- time and peace talks healed those

intra-species issues; however, they had drifted apart. Now, under this situation the clans were working together for one goal. They had species pride again and Gojun knew his father would be proud.
Gojun didn’t understand it though. The western clan dragons weren’t the strongest of all dragons and his clan wasn’t the biggest of all the clans. For some reason that eluded him, the Western Seas Clan had a lot of clout. Once he announced he was onboard with this idea all of the other clans fell in behind him.
He shrugged as he shampooed his hair. Maybe, his fellow species members put more faith in that Buddhist belief of West being the land of death than he did and felt that if someone could rule over death they had to be powerful. Gojun shook his head. He didn’t care about Buddhist philosophies. All he cared about was his clan, his family and his duty.

Ruler of the land of Death, yellow pupils rolled in red eyes.
He negotiated his position as head of the Western Army and after some serious hammering they got the chain of command to his liking. He was a good negotiator -- maybe that’s why the other clans let him pave knew ground. Then again, maybe, the other Kings were just lazy.
He thought he had it pretty good, arranged a nice deal from himself, he’d even gone so far as to feel a bit smug -- then --- he met his Marshal.
He just knew this had to be some practical joke -- some kind of hazing ritual those stupid gods valued --- when he was told to meet the Marshal in the library. There he stood surrounded by fallen books, strewn scrolls, marked maps and a frail looking man in a lab coat.
He figured he’d signed up for his own death when he had to tell the man in glasses his name, title and position no less than four times during the introduction…..
**************

Gojun stood in all his glory --- full out battle dress with his sword at his hip, his scales shining, his head held hide and the silver accents humming with light. “I’m here to see Field Marshal Tenpou.” He spoke to a person who was obviously an aide.
Fingers slid from bushy brown bangs as Tenpou pulled his eyes from the map he was studying. “Yes…” Tenpou pushed his glasses to his face. If he was going to be interrupted, he was going to make use of the time. “And you are?”
“Gojun -- Dragon King of the Western Seas Clan.” His chest filled with pride. “I have come to introduce myself to Field Marshal Tenpou.” He knitted his brow as the man before him in civilian clothes stood.
Tenpou nodded. He pointed to a large atlas behind Gojun. “That’s nice. Can you hand me that, please?”
Gojun lifted an eyebrow and slowly handed the idiot before him the atlas. “Is Field Marshal Tenpou in?”
Tenpou sat the atlas on his desk. No, no this one is dated. This won’t do. He stepped from the desk. “In what?”
Gojun watched the imbecile aide walk away. He scanned the man before him. Sandals? Is this even a military office? “In the office. Is Field Marshal Tenpou in-- the--- office?”
Tenpou’s fingers danced along the spines of several stacked books. “Office?” I have an office? Oh, yes. I vaguely remember an office. Tenpou hadn‘t seen his office in centuries. He wasn’t sure if it still existed. “I’m sorry, you are?”
“Gojun, Dragon King of the Western Seas Clan.” He spoke firmly, slowly and clearly.
“Yes, yes of course you are. How can I help you, Gojyo?”
“Go-JUN. GO-JUN -- Dragon King of the Western Seas Clan.” He stressed every word and fully enunciated every letter. Apparently, this aide did not understand who he was. “I’m going to be heading up the Western army and I am here to introduce myself to the Marshal -- now is he here or not!?” His scales began to rise and vibrate with barely capped frustration. He was one dragon looking at one aide and one of them was not going to make it to lunch in the same condition they had breakfast.
Tenpou blinked at him. He nodded, smiled and tried desperately to calm the poor things nerves --- Stress around here must be unusually high. “Yes, that makes sense… for you to head up the Western army, considering that you are the King of the Western Seas Clan. Whoever thought of that was thinking -- that’s just logical.” Tenpou wondered why it was that people had to see him on days they were obliviously frazzled.
Gojun pushed a hand to his face and gritted his teeth. “Field Marshal Tenpou thought of it and I am here to see him.”
A Sergeant from the southern army came walking briskly into the library. “Field Marshal, sir, where are the copies of the maps for the Taikgen detachment?”
Tenpou looked at the Sergeant and pointed down an aisle, “From where we stand, fifth map chest down. On the right hand side , as you are facing it, third drawer from the bottom. Eight map from the top. Make sure you grab the eight , ninth and tenth maps --- Taikgen is a large area. “
The Sergeant walked off in the suggested direction.
Gojun’s mouth nearly fell from his face as the wavering man before him seemed to take on an air of confidence and complete clarity. His scales shivered as he realized he’d just gotten terse with the Field Marshal himself.
The Sergeant rushed by waving maps in the air, “Thank you, sir.”
Tenpou nodded and muttered, “I need to make a note to get three more copies of that map. That’s the fourth time this week they’ve been in here.” He fumbled with the papers on his desk seeking some kind of writing instrument and blank paper. He found a chewed-up yellow crayon and some sort of drawing. He held up the child’s work, turned it, turned it the other way and flipped it upside down. He showed it to Gojun, ”What do you make of this?”
Gojun narrowed his eyes. He was very familiar with young-one art work. “I’m not entirely positive, sir, but it looks like a blonde … woman,” he wasn’t entirely sure about the gender, “…surrounded by strawberries.”
Tenpou knitted his brow and studied the picture. He held it at a 45 degree angle and nodded. “Oh yes, I see it now.” He put the picture in a desk drawer that was overflowing with budding Picassos and sought out another piece of paper. He gave up; fished an empty cigarette pack from the beside trash can and flattened out the paper. He made a crayon note to himself and stuffed his reminder in his upper lab coat pocket. He smiled warmly at the pale man in front of him. “You must have children.”
“A son, Sir.”
“I’m Tenpou and you must be one of the new-to-us dragon kings, right?”
He forced a polite tone from himself, “Yes, sir. I am Gojun, Dragon King of the Western Seas Clan.” Gojun hoped his son grew into robes fast, because he knew he was going to need a successor soon.
**********
Gojun chuckled to himself as he rinsed the soap from his scales. His fears were immediately alleviated when the next battle came. Tenpou had everything planned thoroughly, his troops were well supplied, the intelligence was sound, the avant-garde techniques worked and the enemy was quickly dispatched.
His fears of death were alleviated, true, but they were supplanted with a deeper new set of fears as he watched the Marshal himself run headlong into battle. Tenpou was extremely well skilled with a sword and other edged weapons, but it petrified Gojun to think the Field Marshal was on the battlefield. Not only did Tenpou fight, but he would have the others stand back while he tried to take on entire waves alone. It seemed that Tenpou would do anything to keep those that served under him out of harms way --- even to the fault of putting himself in grave danger. Gojun watched as Tenpou, in his black battle uniform and his hair in a pony tail, fight on that battlefield and a level of respect that once was reserved only for fellow Dragon Kings welled up inside him. He declared at that moment --- the Marshal had to be protected at all costs and he was going to make it his personal duty.
He snuck into the bedroom and kissed his Queen’s cheek before he headed out the door for work. It may have been an arranged marriage, but he honesty and truly loved her.
Gojun enjoyed getting work before most people left there homes. There was something peaceful about Heaven before the hustle and bustle of their lives started. He’d listen to the morning song birds and the rustling of the leaves as he walked. He enjoyed this daily ritual of peace before he had to go to work on war plans. He came from a long line of warrior dragons and his heritage allowed him to readily accept that there are times when you have to let might make right. Sometimes --- there are some people that only respond to the blade of a weapon. However, some of these battles were not sitting well with him. He quietly questioned the Emperor’s judgment at times. Some of these battles -- some of these campaigns just seemed unnecessary.
Gojun nearly dropped his scales when he saw Kenren in the office looking at the prototype weapon blueprints.
Kenren looked up. “Hey.”
Gojun blinked. Three days? He reports for duty three days in a row? And, he’s here before me? “I see you still don’t know how to address a superior officer.”
Kenren chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I ain’t learnin’ either.” He tapped on the papers that rested upon the drafting table in front of him. “It’ll never work.”
Gojun walked over to the board. “What makes you say that?” Kenren’s opinion on a lot of things mattered not to Gojun, but when it came to weapons and hand-to-hand fighting Kenren knew what he was talking about.
He pointed to the drawing. “It looks like one wicked weapon, I’ll give ya that, but it won’t work. Not like they think it will.”
“Go on.”
“Well, here that half-moon end, it’s got a chain right?” He ran his finger in a circle over the drawing.
“Yes.”
“Well, how does it retract? There’s no mechanism for it. The amount of chain they expect to be in the shaft simply won’t fit or the weapon will be too heavy to wield.”
Gojun nodded. Kenren had a point.
“Let’s say they do figure out a way to get the chain to retract. Man…, “he shook his head. “…you’d have to flick your wrist just right. But, if they could get it right --- you could still get the length of the chain all twisted up in stuff. It could become a liability. If someone yanks the chain…” he chuckled at his unintentional double entendre. “ …the wielder could end up in a bad spot.”
Gojun shifted an eyebrow. Kenren had another point.
“And, this spade shaped end now that’s a bit useful, but the moment you invert the weapon to use it ;then, the chain would unravel.” He flipped a page. “Another thing, the length. Where would you keep it. If I’m looking at this right, this thing is about as long as I’m tall. That’s insane! Weapons that length are only used on horseback and this can’t be used while mounted.” He chuckled again --- this double entendre was intended.
Gojun studied the drawing. “There goes my next directive.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, you were going to test it.”
“No way, you won’t see me using something like that.” He backed away from the table and leaned against the back of a chair. “I’ll stick to my fists and maybe a sword. I won’t go near that. Get another guinea pig.”
Gojun knew there was no point in arguing. The General was more stubborn than anyone he knew.
Kenren sucked his teeth, “Who designed this piece of shit anyway?”
“Field Marshal Tenpou.”
Kenren nodded. “It’ll work. “ I don’t know how, but it will -- like a charm. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and studied the drawing.

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Tenpou stepped down from the ladder. An entire quadrant of the library was organized, cross-referenced and dust-free. Three trays sat next to the door neglected.
Twenty-five left shoes lined up next to Tenpou’s desk. Five right shoes began their own separate line. Even though all the sandals were the same and all the slippers were the same --- there were still no Tenpou-approved-pairs and his favorite pair of slippers were still separated.
Tenpou’s socked feet touched the floor and the room tilted. The floor rippled. The ceiling bowed. Sleep. Now. He stumbled toward the cot an insistent General made him put in a dark corner of the library and fell over. He actually made it all the way onto the cot.
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Konzen stamped something and flipped a piece of paper.
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Goku and Nataku met up for the day and began a vicious game of kick the can.
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One week later…

Kenren looked up at the Cherry Blossoms as he made his way home. He began to pass a group of men that were talking.
One man looked at another, “Did you hear about Tenpou?”
Kenren began walking much slower.
The other man looked at the first, “No, something wrong?”
A third man spoke, “He’s not left the library in almost two weeks and rumor has it… get this… he’s been cleaning. Somewhere around half the library has been cleaned.”
Kenren sprinted toward the library -- enough was enough. He rounded corner of the hallway leading to the library entrance and came to a dead stop. Five untouched trays lined up outside the door in the hallway. The napkins hadn’t even been unfolded.
He opened the door to the library and no books fell. ”Tenpou?” He scanned the room and his heart began to race --- half of the library was clean -- spotless -- completely and totally clean down to the dust. “Tenpou!” His voice rang with panic.
He dashed toward the desk. His heart sank as he watched Tenpou studying a map at a neat and orderly desk. One week and three days and he falls apart without me. He knew all was not lost when he noticed the overflowing ashtray and a half-eaten bowl of rice. “Tenpou,” he spoke calmly.

Tenpou scanned the map splayed out before him. That looks like a good place for an ambush, we’d better send out scouts. I wonder if the dragons would mind doing that by air? If we do it by air then we won’t have to do it by ground. Yes, that makes sense. He slowly shifted a hand toward the rice bowl and proceeded to knock it over. The remaining rice spilled out. Tenpou blinked at it, Again? Guess the birds will get all of it. Oh well, I wasn’t really hungry anyway. He knitted his brow. Oh, but how will we protect the dragons in the air….hmmm….

Kenren crossed his arms. “Tenpou.”
Tenpou pushed a hand in his bangs. Ok, so that is settled. Once the area is cleared we can move the western army…no not the western army … the eastern army. No, the eastern army is over here.

Kenren sighed, “Tenpou.”
Tenpou pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. With the northern and southern armies out of range…it has to be the western army. Kenren. Tenpou pulled his glasses from his face and pressed his palms to his eyes.
Kenren let out a huff. “You could at least acknowledge me. Fine! Have it your way.” He turned sharply and stormed out of the library. You don’t have to ignore me. You need me more than I need you.

Tenpou took in a breath from behind his hands. Kenren. Why hasn’t he been by to at least say hello? Just because he’s taken a new lover doesn’t mean we can’t be friends. He doesn’t have to ignore me.

Kenren stormed across the courtyard. This was crazy! This was immature and this was bullshit! To not even so much as to acknowledge his presence was just … just… juvenile!
This was a reason to drink… he turned sharply and made his way to a fine upstanding establishment in the “wrong” section of town. One of those places where real men drank real liquor. One of those places that didn’t have “motif” or “ambiance” and the “atmosphere” was comprised of scantily clad women on paper advertising real liquor. One of those places where the bartender gave you just enough of a hard time to make you laugh, the stools were wobbly but comfortable and they didn’t try to make you eat something. One of those places that had a person’s name in the signage. He walked into “Jein’s Shithole”.
The bartender looked up, “We don’t serve your kind, prick.”
“Fuck off, Jein.” Kenren chuckled as he sat down.
The bartender looked around, “Lock up your daughters, Kenren’s here!”
The other patrons cheered.
Jein slapped the bar in front of Kenren and threw a napkin at him.
Kenren flicked the pointless square piece of paper away.
Jein laughed, “Hey jerk, that was my best coaster. What’ll it be tonight -- General?” He spoke with mock reverence.
“EverClear.”
“You’re not suppose to drink that shit straight. It says so on the bottle.”
“Since when do I follow rules? Think about it, I’m serving in the military of a land where I can’t kill shit. A lot shit doesn’t make sense around here. EverClear now, fucker.”
“Not gonna to do it.”
“Look.” Kenren stood up. “You’re gonna get me EverClear now or I’m gonna take this coaster and shove it up your whiney little ass!”
Jein chuckled as he mixed Kenren a drink. “Aww hell, you’re just looking for a reason to touch my ass.”
Kenren chuckled as he took the purple drink. “Maybe your daughter’s.” He looked at his drink, “What’s the purple shit?” He drank it before he got an answer.
That’s the way Jein was. He asked for something and Jein would totally disregard his request. Jein would just make Kenren whatever it was that he thought Kenren needed.
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Konzen paced the widow’s walk around his the office palace and pondered. He watched as one sandaled foot crossed in front of another below him. This just made him sick. He could tell something was wrong and nobody told him anything. Tenpou hadn’t been by to see him in what felt like forever plus a few days. Rumor had it that, Kenren was actually showing up at work. Even the monkey was behaving himself! He knew -- he positively knew -- something was wrong.
If he had anymore peace he was going to scream.
He pulled his golden pony tail over his shoulder and looked at the long locks in his hand. Like the sun. I don’t know about that. He didn’t feel very sunny. He felt --- numb.
Stamp. Flip. Stamp. Flip. Stamp. Flip. Stamp. Flip. Stamp. Flip -- that was his freaking day. Everyday. Every single solitary day . The same boring thing.
Until -- that monkey was brought up here.
He tossed his hair back over his shoulder and completed another lap on the widow’s walk.
There had been a point in time before the monkey, when his day sometimes consisted of more than stamp -- flip. It had been so long ago, he couldn’t remember what had caused the separation. That’s right. War.

The campaigns began and Tenpou was too busy for anything else. Additionally, the amount of stamp -- flip for Konzen had sharply increased. The campaigns were history. More history meant more stamping. More stamping meant more flipping.
As the campaigns wore on and Tenpou transitioned to proactive planning; there was more time for socializing. Alas, so much time had passed rekindling a relationship was pointless.

This is all pointless.

Then, that General showed up. That General had somehow positioned himself --either by design or by accident -- to get in with Tenpou. Tenpou seemed happy and that was all that mattered for everything else was pointless.

POINTLESS!! The campaigns were pointless. The wars were pointless. The stupid little celebratory gatherings were pointless. The documents were pointless. The walls were pointless. The floors were pointless. The sky, the ground, the trees, the birds, the flowers, the air itself. All of it pointless and seemingly devoid of real life… devoid of any spark of autonomy. Breathing and moving --- yet --- totally dead.
Konzen gripped the railing of the widow’s walk and screamed. He absolutely, positively, beyond a shadow of a doubt, had simply had to get out of here.
Feminine arms crossed near an ample bosom, “Really now, was it worth all that?” You become more alive everyday. My plan is working. She nearly cackled.
He glared askance through his feathering bangs and gritted his teeth. “Tch.”
She wore a look of obvious mock sympathy, “Awww, what is it now, Konzen? Tell Auntie Goddess and I’ll make it all better.” She pushed her lips together to keep from laughing.
Konzen’s shoulders began to rise. “Like you care, you condescending hag.”
She cocked a half smile and leaned on the railing next to her nephew, “I do care Konzen. I do care.” She eyed her nephew.
He slightly shivered. He hated it when she did that. It was as if she was reading his mind.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and stared out into the night cloaked courtyard, “They’re keeping things from you again aren’t they?” And, I am reading your mind.

“If they don’t want to talk to me that’s fine. I don’t care.”
She chuckled softly, “Yes, of course. Have you heard the rumors?”
He looked at her, “I don’t care much for rumors.”
She lifted an eyebrow, Then why are you still looking at me? She spoke, “Tenpou’s been cleaning the library.”
“Why is that such news?”
“Alone.”
Konzen’s stomach twisted. He pushed a hand to his forehead. “Why don’t people tell me these things!”
“I suppose,” She sighed, “They just don’t want to bother you.”
Blonde lashes slid closed over violet eyes. Please, please, PLEASE bother me! “What’s wrong?”
She shrugged and stood upright. “I dunno. I suppose you’ll have to find that one out for yourself.”
For himself --- on a multitude of levels he needed to find that one out for himself. Tenpou and Kenren wouldn’t come to him for something like this -- that much was a given. He also needed to find out for himself on a basic level. For himself --- so that he would have some glimpse of social interaction. So, he could have some spark of life. So, that he would have to build a friendship (or two, or three). So, he would live. So, he would feel. So, he would have something more in his life other than stamp-flip and a monkey.
The Merciful Goddess stepped into the building. “Complacency kills.”
Konzen had fallen so deeply into his world of stamp-flip that she knew her nephew was dying. Sure, he still had breath and would continue to have breath, but there was no life behind those violet eyes. That blonde hair carried no glow. That skin carried no hum and that spirit carried no craving. And yet, his silent pleas called to her. His woeful state called to her day and night --- begging for that which he did not know.
She noticed that spark in him the moment he laid eyes on the monkey from the lower world. She knew immediately, they needed each other and once Konzen realized it himself --- Goku would be one heretical child that would be protected. Protected by divine and merciful blood.
That spark inside of Konzen slowly grew. At one point, it reminded her of the spark he carried while he was seeing Tenpou. Yet, this spark was fundamentally different -- and it became more different as time passed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tenpou leaned back in his chair. He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He’d been studying these maps so long all the lines were beginning to cross.
This wasn’t something he’d experienced in a very long time -- since before a certain General came into his life.
Tenpou didn’t realize it, but without that General, the monkey and the bureaucrat coming in and making him take breaks -- his mind didn’t have a chance to reset. Without his desperately needed distractions, he was working so much and so hard that he was becoming dangerously close to making mistakes --- tactical mistakes -- military mistakes --- potentially fatal mistakes.
He replaced his glasses, scanned his half-way cleaned library and just knew he wouldn’t be able to find anything for quite a while. He slowly stood and stretched. His eyes traveled the long line of slippers and sandals. Lined up like an army in formation. 35 left shoes -- 15 slippers and 20 sandals. The right shoes -- 20 in total -- equally divided between sandals and slippers.
Occasionally, he’d slip his feet into his slippers and sigh as none of them matched and not a single one of them was from his favorite pair.
No, his favorite pair was still lost somewhere in here. If he kept looking and cleaning, he knew he would find them. Tenpou was determined to have his favorite pair back.
Emerald eyes shifted and found the first bookcase of the reference section. Without trying, his eyes found a very thick, well used book. The spine was cracked and the leather bore very clear wear marks. Pages were dog-eared and marked. It was, of course, the rule book.
He pushed his fingers through his bangs. He sat down on the floor, leaned his back against the flat side of the bookshelf and held the “photo album” in his lap.
His initial explosive anger -- his impulsiveness -- had waned in about 48 hours. He fell into the typical rhythm of his responsibilities and eventually began to fret. As time moved with still no Kenren, he became convinced that his beloved General had indeed taken a new lover. He worried his lip as he wondered what rule they might be breaking right now and exactly where they would be breaking it.
He was beginning to recognize that he might be the slightest bit jealous.
He worried. It wasn’t safe for Kenren to be unruly without the protection of Tenpou’s office. Tenpou had long since figured out what rules could be broken without receiving serious censure. He’d planned a gradual increase in the level of their violations. If Kenren jumped to the next level at the wrong time --- it could be disastrous.
There was no telling what kind of trouble that man was getting into right this very second.
Tenpou had a lot of clout and power. He didn’t use most of it. He kept his stature as a trump card hidden deeply away in his pocket. He wasn’t keen on being in the spotlight to begin with and he didn’t much care for the formalities -- the stifled obedience and forced respect -- that most people just expected to simply come as they moved up in rank and position.
He never expected respect to just be given to him. Anyone that so much as looked at him new he had little respect for blind obedience.
He wanted people to respect him for what he did not who he was. Kenren did that. They played their games with rank and title --- but that was for comedic value and role distancing. Neither one truly felt one out ranked the other.
He sighed. He had battle campaigns waging below and a war -- an insurgent war of subversive gradual perversion and infiltration --- a defensive war -- a war of protection intending to cause an imbalance and not-so-civil unrest -- a war here in heaven.
Tenpou wrapped his fingers around the leather binding and clutched the book to his chest. Truth be told, he had two “rule books”. This very special, extremely dear, ultimately important , irreplaceable, cherished, unique, invaluable book of unruly memories and another that was just the merest bit less cherished. That one was:

“The Art of War”

by: Sun Tzu.

Chapter 1 part 15: The General that hearkens to my counsel and acts upon it, will conquer: let such a one be retained in command! The General that hearkens not to my counsel nor acts upon it, will suffer defeat:--let such a one be dismissed!

Chapter 1 part 18: All warfare is based on deception.

Chapter 4 part 7: The General who is skilled in defense hides in the most secret recesses of the earth; he who is skilled in attack flashes forth from the topmost heights of heaven. Thus on the one hand we have ability to protect ourselves; on the other, a victory that is complete.

Chapter 5 Part 17: Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline, simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.

Chapter 5 part 18: Hiding order beneath the cloak of disorder is simply a question of subdivision; concealing courage under a show of timidity presupposes a fund of latent energy; masking strength with weakness is to be effected by tactical dispositions.

Chapter 7 part 15: In war, practice dissimulation, and you will succeed.
Tenpou hugged his most cherished rule book and squeezed his eyes shut. Right now, Kenren could be getting himself into a level of trouble, Tenpou couldn’t correct.
Right now, Kenren could be breaking rules.
Right now, Tenpou put the prose format “photo album” on his desk.
Right now, Kenren could be “being with” a heretical adult.
Right now, Tenpou was reaching for his cigarettes.
Right now, Kenren could be under a blue coverlet with a not-yet-dangerous man.
Right now, it was clear the Marshal and the General needed each other equally and more then either truly understood.
Tenpou flicked his lighter.
*Flick*
*Flick*
He shook the lighter. He had no idea why that worked, but sometimes it worked. Maybe, it was friction. It seemed that around here friction made a lot of things work.
*Flick*
*Flick*
Green eyes narrowed as he held the lighter up to the light.
*Flick*
*Flick*
Tenpou scratched his head. There was fluid in it, the flint looked good and the wheel turned.
*Flick*
*Flick*
Right now, Tenpou took that as an ominous sign.
Right now, Tenpou had an excuse to leave the library.
Right now, in a half-way clean library on a neat and clean desk rested, slightly skewed, a nearly worn out rule book. A rule book that was alone in a large library.
Socked feet stepped onto the cold stone of the walk way. Of course Tenpou forgot his shoes -- he was Tenpou. He also didn’t have his favorite pair; all other pairs were pointless.

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As the night wore on for Kenren his purple drinks shifted away from purple to more toward violet. He never got the EverClear shots he wanted, but Jein gave him the drink that he needed. He just couldn’t figure out what that purple shit was --- and why toward the end of the night it was such a lovely shade of violet.
After the twentieth round of “What Would You Do With a Drunken sailor”; ten recitations of “There Once was a Man from Nantucket.” ; three bar fights Kenren easily won; the declination of the forty “double-dog dare ya” challenges to find out what the sexy one of the five Bodhisattvas hid under her white dress ---
[A dare Kenren wouldn’t even come close to accepting no matter how many “double-dogs” were put in front of it. He didn’t want to take a chance there would be a threat to his masculinity under that thin white fabric. Additionally, he wasn’t sure -- and was in no condition to figure it out -- where a hermaphrodite would fit on the “Piss off Tenpou-o-meter” -- if that were the case.]
--- ten cries of “I love you, man” directed at him ; and three admittances of “Ya know you ain’t a bad guy -- I’d let you date my daughter” Kenren decided it was time to go home.
He stood up. Jein refused his money; and, alone, Kenren staggered out the door.

Completely off key, Kenren sang as he staggered through the night.
“Take a photograph,

It'll be the last,

Not a dollar or a crowd could ever keep me here, “

Konzen cringed. He knew that voice and right now that voice was especially irritating.
Kenren stumbled and made it look like a little dance. A horribly off-balance , jerky dance no one but him believed. He increased his volume.
“I don't have a past

I just have a chance,

Not a family or honest plea remains to say, “
Konzen leapt over the railing and landed effortlessly on the ground. He was going to stop that irritation! This was just pissing him off! It also gave him an excuse to talk to Kenren --- rather--- get-really-frustrated-yell-and -throw-a-fit-everyone-would-believe that would cover up his desire to find out what was going on.
Kenren wrapped his hand around a young tree and swung around it. He hollered:

“Rain, rain go away,

Come again another day,

All the world is waiting for the sun.”
Konzen paused. He nearly chuckled. Kenren’s inebriated antics where making the blonde man step dangerously close to enjoying a moment. Dangerously close to having a sense of humor. Dangerously close to … that’s right … he was pissed. He was irritated. He was curious as hell to find out what was causing Tenpou to clean and he knew that particular General knew.
Kenren paused and tilted his head. There was one hot babe of a blonde coming his way. He tried to look suave.
Konzen bellowed as he stormed closer to Kenren. “General Kenren!”
Kenren lifted an eyebrow. She didn’t have much as far as the tits department went, but that face sure was nice. Especially, those violet eyes --- a soft yet sharp violet -- they were breath taking. Those hips need a little more roundness, but he’d buy her dinner and throw her a bone no problem. She was cute and she knew his name. SWEET! “Yeah, that’s me.” He tired to look debonair.
Konzen rolled his eyes. Kenren was falling all over himself. If Konzen was going to get any information from the inebriated “gentlemen”, he was going to have to make the General focus. “Kenren.” Konzen spoke firmly and gripped the troublemaker’s shoulders. “I want you to tell me something.”

Kenren smiled. That was what he liked. A woman that knew what she wanted and wasn‘t afraid to ask for it. Kenren heard; ‘I want you.’ and the rest of the sentence was lost in a violet pool of grape kool-aide and EverClear. He lifted an eyebrow; she had a good grip. That meant she was into a bit of the rough stuff. Crimson eyes wavered as he probed violet. I am totally in there. SWEET!

She knew him; which meant, he knew her. He just couldn’t recall her name. He’d remember it eventually. He just had to get the conversation going and not screw up his chance. It’d been almost two weeks , and that was a damn long time. This night was his to lose that much was clear. “Sure, I’ll give ya what ya want, sweetness.”
Konzen cringed. ‘Sweetness? SWEETNESS?!’ He thought not. “Kenren pull yourself together.”
A trying-to-be-suave half smile emerged upon his face, “Oh, I’ll pull something alright. What’s a lovely woman like you doing out alone at night anyway?”
Violet eyes flashed and a fist flew! “Do I have tits?!“ He was sick and tired of that ‘Is that a man or a woman?’ crap. He no more looked like a woman than his aunt looked fully female. Any idiot could tell he was a man -- all man.
Kenren went down. Yeah, sleeping here isn’t bad. He was out.
Konzen crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Get up.” He eyed Kenren laid out on the ground. “I said get up!” He huffed and sucked his teeth. “Fine!” He turned sharply and took three steps away. He stopped and sighed.
He couldn’t just leave Kenren on sidewalk like that. Tenpou would be worried sick if he heard of it. Also, he did hit the General. He turned and took two steps closer to Kenren.
Of course, Kenren did bring it on himself. Konzen didn’t make him get drunk. He took two steps away from Kenren.
Then again, what kind of being would it make him if he just left Kenren out here. He walked back to the sleeping man.
Of course, Konzen cared nothing about “what kind of being” the others thought him to be. He walked away.
Then again, if he left Kenren out here and Goku found out about it -- he’d never hear the end of it.
Konzen walked to Kenren and grabbed the unruly man by the collar. He muttered. “You’d better appreciate this.” He started dragging Kenren back to “chateau“ Konzen.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tenpou arrived at Kenren’s place. He knocked on the blue door. Worry twisted in his gut as silence responded. He used his key. As he turned the lock, he briefly wondered why they even had locks here in heaven. No one had ever stolen anything. He also wondered why Kenren locked his door. He stepped into the domicile and noticed real quick that Kenren wasn’t home. There were no signs of life at all.
He knitted his brow. Of course. Kenren wouldn’t bring Homura back here. He knew that Tenpou had a key. Tenpou sighed. That confirmed it. Kenren was up to no good.
He sat down on the stoop. Wouldn’t it just shock his former lover when he came home to see Tenpou sitting right here?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Konzen stormed through the palace halls dragging the now unconscious General behind him. He opened the door to his room and Goku woke up.
Goku tilted his head as he yawned, “Whatcha doin with Kenren?”
Konzen rolled his eyes, “What do you think I’m doing? I’m putting him to bed.”
“Doesn’t he have a bed of his own?” Goku had a bed of his own. A special little Goku bed just for him. He liked Kenren, but he wasn’t going to share his special Goku bed with him. For starters, it was a special Goku bed set up just for him in Konzen’s room -- special -- just for Goku. Yep! You had to be Goku to sleep with Konzen --- that was a rule. Or a law or something -- it had to be -- no one else got to sleep with Konzen. Second, Kenren wouldn’t fit. They’d have to cut off his legs or something to make him fit. Kenren probably wouldn’t like that very much. Nope! Goku wouldn’t like it if he woke up and his legs were missing. One time he woke up and his shoes were missing and that was bad enough. Well, they weren’t really missing -- like gone -- they were just misplaced. They had been shoved too far under the special Goku bed -- a special bed just for Goku --- and he couldn’t see them. When he woke up, he got worried and stuff and well -- they were his shoes -- he didn’t wear them that much , but Konzen gave them to him and so that meant they were special. Special Goku shoes were hiding under a special Goku bed that Konzen had ---
“Yes! He has a bed of his own.”
“Oh, then why is here?” If Konzen was going to be getting a new roommate Goku wished Konzen would at least let him know. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t willing to share the room with Kenren, but a heads-up would be nice. People were already beginning to talk about he and Konzen and Goku wondered why they said, “He probably likes Goku.” Well, yeah of course Konzen liked Goku, but when others said it they said the word “likes” all funny and stuff. Goku wasn’t sure what they meant, but sometimes it just seemed like they were trying to say something bad, but there’s nothing wrong with Konzen liking him. There’s nothing wrong with anyone liking anyone. He liked Konzen, and Tenpy and Kenren and Nataku and butterflies and grapes and oranges and chicken. He really liked chicken. And he liked ---
Veins began to protrude on Konzen’s forehead. “Because he is!”
Goku blinked. “Why is he already asleep?” Goku figured Kenren must really be tired. To be on the floor like that and having been dragged into the room -- that must be really tired. He remember one time when he was tired like that, but I thought he would surely wake up if someone grabbed him by the collar and ---
“He’s not asleep.” Konzen flopped Kenren on the bed. “Tch.”
“He sure looks asleep.” Goku jumped on the bed and sat down on Kenren’s chest. He poked the “sleeping” man’s cheek. “Hello?”
Konzen gritted his teeth and gripped his forehead. Explaining this to the monkey was pointless. “Fine! He’s asleep then!”
“Why does he sleep so hard? He must be really tired.”
Konzen let out a huff and flopped onto his back -- crashing down onto the bed. “You make me tired.”
Goku climbed off of Kenren and sat cross-legged upon Konzen’s stomach.
Konzen’s head jerked up off the mattress. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
Goku tilted his head. “Making sure you don’t go anywhere else.” He looked down at his hands and his voice went soft. “I don’t like it when I wake up and you’re not here and it’s dark. It’s… scary.”
“Tch.” Konzen rolled his eyes. “Don’t be stupid. Where would I go?”
Goku shrugged. “I dunno, but you’re not going there tonight that’s for sure.”
“Get off.”
“Nope. You’re not leaving me.”
“Of course not! Now, get off.”
“Why?”

“Because, I can’t sleep like this.” Why did he even bother to argue with the chimp? He wouldn’t win. He never won. He knew that. He sucked his teeth. This was so pointless.
Goku tiled off Konzen and curled up between the two adults. “Fine. But, I’m sleeping up here tonight.”
“Fine!” The blonde rolled over in a huff facing away from Goku. He closed his eyes, “Damn!” His eyes popped open and he rose from the bed.
“What’s wrong?” Goku sat up. He hadn’t even had a chance to get comfortable. “I am sleeping up here.” That sentence was full of determination.
Konzen flipped the light off and unclipped his ponytail. A waterfall of gold fanned out against his back and framed the delicate feathering around his face. “Fine.” He spoke somewhat softer as he slip upon the bed.
Goku curled up behind him and buried his face in sunlight. Konzen nearly smiled.

Kenren, flat on his back, softly snored.
Sometime during the night, Goku managed to sprawl himself across Konzen and halfway off the bed.
Sometime during the night, Kenren felt Tenpou beside him and curled up with his absent lover.
Sometime during the night, Konzen’s subconscious mind allowed himself the pleasures of being held.
Needless to say, this was a shock when they woke up.
“Get the hell off me!” Konzen jerked his arm back and shoved Kenren away.
Kenren’s world spun in an ocean of golden blonde. He stopped moving and ten minutes later the room stopped. His eyes felt like they had sand in them. His mouth felt like a combination of steel wool, raw cotton and kerosene. Someone was drilling a pike through his skull and when he found them he was going to kick their ass. He blinked as four blonde babes became two. He rolled his head forward, the two blonde babes became one blonde man. In a very raspy voice he stated, “Oh shit, you‘re not a woman. You‘re Konzen.”
Konzen pulled his hair back behind his shoulders and clicked his holder closed. “Yeah.“ He was sick to death of this bullshit. It had to be the hair. One day he was just going to cut it all off and keep it short. That should clear up everyone’s confusion. “What gave it away, genius? My cock?”
That settled it. He was a dead man. When Tenpou learned of this, he was going to be promoted to Chief Eunuch. When one wakes up in another’s bed, only remembering hooking up with a blonde, not remembering how one got there nor what happened after arriving, one does not ask, “Did we have sex?” This is especially true with Konzen, for he would remove the body parts Tenpou left untouched. Asking the aforementioned question is just insulting. He may have been hung-over, he may have not been the smartest General last night, but he had the sense to not insult Konzen. He could already hear it, ‘What not memorable enough for you?’
He sighed and ran a hand through his short locks. He did not need Konzen and Tenpou pissed off at him. He scanned Konzen. Wait a minute, we’re still dressed. Kenren shook his head. No, that wasn’t possible. There was no way he couldn’t have screwed up. He always screwed up. He was indeed “the unruly General with no command of his groin or his liquor.” He pushed his hand to his face, closed his eyes and softly spoke, “Can we not tell Tenpou about this, please?” Maybe, just maybe Konzen had an ounce of sympathy inside that porcelain skin. Maybe, just maybe his bloodline provided the blonde with an iota of mercy. Maybe, just maybe he could appeal to that glimmer of hope and have a chance of not going to an early grave.
He was getting reincarnated as a sloth -- he just knew it. A little sloth -- that was going to get its ass kicked a lot and die an early death.
Konzen smoothed out his slept-in clothing. That idea sounded great. He didn’t want Tenpou or anyone else knowing about this. He didn’t want anyone knowing he’d shared a bed with General Kenren. He didn’t need those kind of rumors out. No one cared about the validity of rumors, just the juiciness and this one was at the top of the juicy scale. “I’d rather we didn’t tell anyone about this.”
Kenren sighed. If there was any doubt, it was gone now. Oh fuck. I am never drinking that much again. “Thanks.”
Konzen crossed his arms, “What happened?”
Kenren’s eyes narrowed. There were a lot of things that question could be referencing. He wasn’t going to dig his grave any deeper. He was going to get more information before even attempting to answer that one. “What do you mean?”
“Between you and Tenpou.” The blonde remembered the magnitude of the General’s inebriation last night, “Something had to have happened to lead up to last night.”
He was beyond dead. Tenpou was going to lock him up in one of those cells in the “interrogation” hall and forget about him. He’d be left there at the mercy of guards that probably didn’t care too much for him. “He’s not speaking to me.” He knew those guards didn’t like him. Their wives liked him, but they didn’t.
“What did you do?”
Of course it was something he did, there was no question, he always screwed up. That’s just the way it was. Kenren sat up on the bed and hung his feet of the side. “I suspect I made a joke that he didn’t like too much.” Kenren explained his little reference to Homura.
Konzen sucked his teeth and pushed a hand to his forehead. “Idiot!” So, that’s what all this was about. He should kick Kenren’s ass for making him think something was really wrong. Any one with two eyes could clearly see how happy those two made each other. Any one with any sense could see how much they needed each other. “Get out of my bed and go talk to him.” Tenpou was a reasonable man. This would all work out.
Kenren stood and found his footing. “I guess I need to.” No point in delaying the inevitable. Kenren didn’t expect any kind of clichéd good bye kiss or anything from Konzen -- that just wasn’t Konzen’s style. Which begged the question : What has Konzen’s style for something like this? He stood in front of the blonde looking for some kind of indication of what was expected before he left.
Konzen pointed at the door, “Out now.” And fix what has been broken.

Apparently, nothing was expected. Kenren nodded. He didn’t know what to expect, but he should have seen that coming. “Catch ya later.” He chuckled, “So long and thanks for all the fish.” A literary reference, yeah, he’s been around Tenpou too long.
Konzen tilted his head. “42.” He sighed. That proved it. He knew Tenpou way too long. That was a good book, well, a good series of books. He looked over at Goku who as beginning to wipe the sleep from those large golden eyes, maybe he could borrow that book from the library today? He could read it to Goku. The monkey wasn’t known for his attention span, but Goku was under his tutelage -- it was time he was introduced to the Galaxy.
“Can we get breakfast and go see Tenpy later on today?”
Konzen let out a huff. It was too early for the Galaxy, that was sure. “Yes.”
Goku hopped on to his feet and headed for the door, “Alright! Breakfast. I’m --”
“Starving. I know. Shower first, ya animal.”
“I’m not dirty.” Goku looked at his hands, they looked clean.
“Shower!”
Goku stalked off to the shower and Konzen sat down at his desk. Things had really changed for him since that monkey arrived. He’d never admit that his aunt was right, but he knew she was. He needed that little critter. That golden eyed bucket of trouble and cart load of energy was changing him. Changing him into someone that occasionally cared. Someone that every so often lived. Someone that had more than stamp--flip in their life. He sucked his teeth; he didn’t ask for any of this. He sighed; he was glad she heard his silent request.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenren closed the door to the library, Where could he be? Tenpou was guaranteed to be one of four places : the library, Kenren’s place, Konzen’s place or his own place. He wasn’t at the library. He wouldn’t be at Kenren’s place alone. Kenren just left Konzen and Tenpou wasn’t there; that meant, he had to be at his own place. Kenren turned right and headed down the hallway.
Tenpou approached the library from the left. He stood at the last corner to the hallway leading to the library. He over heard two female clerks talking.
The strawberry-blonde haired clerk watched as Kenren walked away form the library. “Oh my god, You should have gone to Jein’s with me last night.”
“Aww man, what did I miss?” The sliver haired clerk sighed and sat the papers in her hand down on the other clerk’s desk. She always missed out on the good stuff--- no matter what. If she goes out with one friend the good stuff happens with another friend. If she stays home, something wonderful happens elsewhere. If she goes out nothing happens. “I can’t win.”
The first blonde laughed and sat down in her chair, “Kenren was there.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” That settled it; she was cursed.
Tenpou paused at the corner.
“No, I’m dead serious.” She relayed some of the more memorable moments of the visit. “…And then this guy says to him, ‘At least my wife knows how to do more than read.’”
The standing clerk paled, “Oh my god! You do not insult Tenpou around Kenren.”
Kenren and Tenpou tired to downplay their relationship, but everyone saw right through it. They both found it amusing and humorous that when the rumors made it to their ears--- Tenpou was the one cast in the subservient light -- ironic.
“Isn’t that the truth. Anyways, this dumbass is so drunk he thinks he can win. So, he stands up…” She continued to relay the short bar fight.
The silver haired clerk laughed, “Why does Jein even bother to replace that window? Ok, you said there were three fights.”
“Yes! So, then this other guy says something about problems starting since the new heretic showed up. Meaning of course, Goku.”
“See, there’s another thing, you just don’t mess with the kid when Kenren is around.”
“Yep! So, Kenren said, ‘If you got a issue with the monkey be prepared to deal with me first.’ “
“Let me guess, he thought he could take Kenren.”
The other clerk nodded and sighed. “Alcohol seriously modifies someone’s belief in their own abilities. So, this wasn’t even an hour after the first fight. Ya know Jein likes kids too --”
“Let me guess,” she interjected, “they tag-teamed his ass.”
“You got it. Ya know those booths along the far wall?”
“Yep.”
“Jein’s gotta replace all of them.”
“Oh my god how stupid can people be?!” The two women shared a laugh. “Ok, so go on.”
The sitting clerk looked at her silver haired friend. “You’re gonna get shocked by this.”
Silver eyebrows shifted up a scaled face. “Oh?” With Kenren anything should be expected and yet it was still a bit shocking.
“A few hours later, this third guy says, ‘At least my dragon has some balls and can do more than negotiate.’”
“Oh my god, King Gojun can totally kick some ass.”
“Yeah, I know. Anyways, remember those tables to the left of the bar.”
“Let me guess, they need to be replaced.”
“Yep.”
The silver haired clerk scratched her head, “I didn’t know he liked Gojun. He always seems kinda distrustful of him.” The dragons were a relatively new element in Heaven’s hierarchy. She was use to hearing a lot of gruff about “her kind” not being acceptable. She never knew Kenren was so accepting. “Wow, I just gained more respect for him.” She grinned. “So, did ya get in there? Did ya hit it? Did ya tap dat ass?”
“Oh my god, I like totally tired. I was coming on to him like a virus!”
“Did ya do the hair flip thing?”
“Of course.” She rolled her eyes.
“Did ya do the little nibble of the bottom lip thing?”
“Please, that’s basic stuff.” She nearly looked insulted.
“Did you “accidentally” let your skirt ride up when you crossed your legs?”
“Yes, yes, I even dangled my “fuck me” spike slightly off my heel.”
“And that didn’t work? Kenren is such a sucker for that.”
“Nope, none of it worked. I guess he just wasn’t in the mood or something. He and Tenpou have been fighting lately.”
Tenpou paled. Kenren was a sucker for heels , especially heels that were dangling. He knew something was terribly wrong.
“Yeah. That’s getting kinda scary. I mean have you seen the library?” The dragon clerk shivered.
“No, I’m too afraid to even look. Anyways, Kenren left the bar alone.”
“Alone?” Her voice nearly broke as red eyes widened. “We gotta figure out some way of getthing those two back together so we can have our normal chaos back.”
They laughed.
Tenpou’s stomach twisted with worry as he rounded the corner. If he left the bar alone, where was he last night? “Good morning ladies.” Tenpou smiled.
The dragon clerk turned and the “human” clerk stood. They spoke simultaneously, “Good morning, Field Marshal Tenpou.”
Tenpou smiled, “What have I told you about that?”
The female dragon nodded. “Hey, Tenpou.” She picked up her papers and quickly scanned them, “You have ---”
Goku barrled down the hallway, “Tenpy!”
Tenpou whipped around, “Goku! It’s so nice to see you.”
“Guess what we did last night.” Goku beamed.
Tenpou ruffled Goku’s hair. “What did you do last night?”
“We had a sleep over with Kenren.”
Tenpou blinked -- his eye twitched. The clerks gasped. The dragon started checking off the appointments that could be cancelled. Tenpou was going to be doing more cleaning today.
Konzen turned the corner, “What have I told you about running!?”
Goku laughed, “You walk too slow.”
Tenpou eyed Konzen and took Goku’s hand. “So, you had company last night?” His left eye twitched twice.
Konzen sucked his teeth and smacked Goku. “What did I tell you!”
Goku nodded and looked at Tenpou, “Oh yes, you can’t tell anyone it’s a secret.” Goku grinned. He was good at keeping secrets. He only told a few select special people his secrets and Tenpou was one that knew all he had to say.
Tenpou lifted an eyebrow. “Really?” His right eye twitched once and his left eye twitched twice. His voice was heavy with sweetness. “I’ll be sure to not let anyone know about your secret.” He looked at the clerks, “Right ladies?”
The dragon clerk checked off all of the appointments --- even the “urgent” ones. “Yes, sir.” They spoke simultaneously again.
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A Lance Corporal approached Kenren, “Sir, Gojun wishes to have a word with you.”
Kenren sighed. “I’m kinda busy right now. If it’s about that new weapon just tell him that I’ll test it.” He began to walk off.
“No, sir that is not it. He says it is about … “ His voice trailed off. He knew what it was about. Everyone knew what it was about, but there was this unspoken rule about letting Kenren believe the façade stood. “He says it’s personal, sir. And that it is important.”
Kenren ran a hand through his hair. “Fine.” He spoke flatly, “I’m coming.”
The Lance Corporal knitted his brow. Something was off --- very off. The General didn’t even chuckle at the double entendre.
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As Tenpou walked hand in hand with Goku toward the library, he spoke and tried to cap his frustrations, “To what do I owe this visit?” He was trying to be polite. Bedding Homura would have been bad enough and indeed dangerous, but to go to Konzen --- that was just adding insult to injury.
Konzen looked and noticed the line of trays beside the library tray, “When was the last time you ate?”
He stopped and scratched his head. Oh dear, let me see. Today? No. Yestarday? Oh yes, I had some rice. No, I tried to have some rice. I spilt the rice. Did I ever clean that up? I can’t remember. What was the question? Oh yes, eating -- yesterday --- the birds ate rice. I’m beginning to think they don’t like sticky rice, whenever I give them sticky rice they seem to decorate Li Touten’s window. Ummm...eating…yes. The day before? Oh wait I minute, I need to clarify the question. “Does coffee count?”
Konzen sucked his teeth and crossed his arms, “No.”
Goku looked up at Tenpou, “Tenpy, where’s your shoes?”
“Where are not where is, Goku.” Tenpou looked down at his at-one-time white socks. He wiggled his toes and some caked and drying mud flaked off. His left big toe wiggled out from a hole. “I don’t know.” He still hadn’t found his favorite slippers.
Goku grinned, “Did ya check under your bed? Cause, one time I was missing my shoes and I got all worried and stuff because the shoes were special ,ya know, cause Konz---”
Konzen rolled his eyes; if those shoes were so important to Goku, why didn’t he ever wear them? Konzen interrupted, “I’m here to borrow a book.”
Tenpou nodded as he opened the door to the library. He managed, somehow, to not rip the doorknob off.
Goku and Konzen paled as the clean sight came in to view. Goku looked up at Konzen and whispered, “What’s wrong with him?”
Konzen lifted an eyebrow and stepped across the threshold.
Tenpou pulled a pair of white socks from his desk drawer. “Which one?” If he focused on the books, he could cap his building --- impulsiveness.
Konzen scanned the libaraby and worry laden words left him, “The Hitchhikers Guide to the Glaxay. I suspect Goku will like it.”
Tenpou pulled on one his left sock. “That’s a bit over his head, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I’m going to read it to him.”
Tenpou smiled; that was real progress. Konzen was actually making a bit of a time investment with Goku. Maybe, all was not lost with his former blonde lover. “Sure. That’s a good idea.”
Goku tilted his head, “Tenpy shouldn’t you take off your dirty socks before you put on your clean ones?”
Tenpou looked down at his feet. His two-socked left foot and is one socked right foot did look a bit odd. “I thought something was off.”
Konzen scanned the rows of shoes, “Something is off.”
Tenpou reached down and pulled off his right sock. “Ok, let’s get that book.”
Goku started to speak, but Konzen stopped his with a violet glance and a small head shake.
Tenpou pulled a wheeled ladder to the fiction section and climbed up several stepps. The ladder buckled. The bookcase wavered. The celiing bubbled. Sleep. Now. The room flipped upside down as he fell.
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All heads tilted up when the thud pulsed from the ceiling.
Kenren knitted his brow as Gojun bellowed, “Alright! Who is on Tenpou detail today?” He stormed over to a clipboard on the wall and jerked it with such force the hook pulled from the wall and flipped into the air. He flipped through the sheets of the duty roster.
Kenren eyed the dragon and pressed his lips into a thin line. Gojun knew damn well who was on Tenpou detial.
Gojun had set up a rotational of trusted and capable men to shadow Tenpou and ensure the Marshal’s safety. In heaven, safety from himself. In the lower worlds, safety from --- himself and his urge for solitary tactics. Kenren was of course one of those on the rotation, as was Gojun himself. Shortly after posting the schedule, approximately three minutes, the roatation had been changed. The modifications looked exactly like Kenren’s penmanship.
Gojun cleared his throat. “Oh look it says, Kenren. Let me see here …” He flipped a few more pages, “Yesterday it was Kenren also. Oh and look, they day before was Kenren. Hmmm, tomorrow looks like Kenren. The day after -- Kenren also. Two weeks from now --- Kenren has it again. One month -- surprise! Kenren.” He glared at the Genral. “So, General Kenren, why aren’t you upstairs?”
Kenren sucked his teeth.
Gojun slammed the clipboard down on a desk, “You agreed to this schedule , General! I expect you to perform your duties! Now, I’m ordering you to march yourself upstairs and tend to the Marshal. If something happens to him it will be your ass!” He was yelling with suck force his pale face looked pink.
Kenren threw his arms up in the air and replied, “Yes, sir. By your order, sir!” The mock revernce in his voice was thick. He stormed from the office.
The Lance Corporal smiled, “Well done, Sir.”
Gojun smirked, “Someone had to do something. I’m shocked that it worked.”
A Sergeant chuckled, “It worked because he wanted it to.”
Gojun nodded.
The Sergeant continued, “Sir, do you think we should prepare for field drills?”
Gojun smiled, “Maybe.” We can hope.

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As soon as the door was closed Kenren took off running. He dashed up the stairs, barely touching every third step. He nearly lost his footing as he truned the corner at full speed. His boots screeched against the marble floor and left black streaks when he reached the libraby door. He threw open the door, “Tenpou!”
Goku was sitting cross-legged on the floor with Tenpou’s head in his lap.
Kenren darted between bookshelves, “Tenpou!”
Konzen was kneeling beside an unconscious Tenpou. He looked up at Goku, “Go get Kenren.” Shaking and slapping the brunette hadn’t worked, Konzen was fresh out of ideas.
Kenren rounded a bookcase, “Already done.” He quickly closed the distance between them, “What happened and why does he only have one sock on.” Kenren eyed Tenpou’s feet, “Correction, why does he have two socks on one foot?”
Goku knitted his brow, “Because he couldn’t find his shoes.” There were two reasons why someone didn’t wear shoes (didn’t Kenren know this?). One, they couldn’t find their shoes. Two, their shoes were so special they didn’t dare wear them for fear of ruining them.
Kenren eyed the lines of shoes beside the desk. Oh dear god, that favorite pair thing again. When is he going to learn they are all the same?

Kenren was mistaken. The favorite pair was very different to Tenpou. The favorite pair was comfortable and broken in evenly. They just knew his feet --- if he couldn’t have them; then, Tenpou was just never going to wear shoes again.
Konzen stood. “He fell and this is what happens when you are not around.” He gestured at the clean library and the fallen Tenpou. “He falls. He falls apart without you.”
Kenren knelt beside Tenpou, “Is he hurt?” He slid his fingers between Goku’s thighs and Tenpou’s head, ”Did he hit his head?”
Konzen stood, “Not that hard. Not hard enough for this.”
Kenren smirked, “How long has it been since he’s slept or eaten, anyone know?”
Konzen shook his head, “I asked, but he didn’t answer.”
Goku smiled, “Speaking of food, we still haven’t had breakfast.”
Konzen gritted his teeth, “Monkey! Do you ever think of anything else?”
Kenren slipped his arms under Tenpou. “I’m willing to bet he’s asleep and weak with malnourishment.” He scooped up the green eyed genius, “I’ll take him home and tend to him.” He smiled at Goku, but spoke to both Konzen and the child, “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of him.”
The clerks watched Kenren cradle-carry Tenpou down the hall; they cheered.
Kenren stepped out of the main entrance way to the building and walked down the sidewalk. Cherry blossoms fluttered down around them and birds sang -- they didn’t care too much for sticky rice and were looking forward to the usual meal of sunflower seeds.
If Kenren would have thought to look back, he would have seen a myriad of smiling faces pressed against the glass of all the windows. Including the face of a particular Dragon King, whose name once eluded Tenpou.
Kenren carried Tenpou all the way to Tenpou’s place. He kicked stacks of newspapers out of the way and fumbled just slightly when he opened the door. He wondered two things. One, how long had it been since Tenpou had been home and two, why didn’t Tenpou lock his door?
He carried the slightly smaller man into the bedroom and on the bed sat a pair of slippers and a pair of sandals. He chuckled, “Don’t tell me they’ve been here all the time.” He laid Tenpou on the mattress and pulled parts of the rumpled green comforter out from under his … his … former (?) lover.
He sat the shoes on Tenpou’s dresser.
He pushed the clothing from a chair and pulled it bedside. He sat down and picked up Tenpou’s hand. He’d let the exhausted man sleep for a few hours and then wake him and make him eat something.
He looked at the hand as their fingers interlaced. His eyes darted to Tenpou’s face checking for signs of wakefullness. There were none. He carried his gaze back to that right hand. He visually traced the vein on the back of the seemingly delicate, but very stong hand. He nearly counted everyone one of the tiny nearly imperceptible hairs on the brilliant man’s skin. Tenpou’s hands were smooth and soft save for the very thick writing calouses.
Kenren softly kissed the back of Tenpou’s hand and emerald eyes opened to the world.
Tenpou softly spoke as he looked around the room, “Why am I here?”
Kenren smiled, “I carried you here. You know when you can’t care for yourself, I care for you. Always have --- always will.”
Tenpou blinked and scanned his surroundings. This place looked familiar. “Oh, I’m home.”
Kenren smiled, “Yeah, you’re home.”
“I can’t be home.” My home has a blue coverlet not a green comforter --- well had. He sighed as he supposed this was home -- again.
Kenren lifted an eyebrow, “Why not?”
Tenpou turned his head nad smiled at Kenren, “Because, I’m at the library getting the Glaxaly for Goku and Konzen.” Oh yeah, Konzen. Kenren’s new lover. He withdrew his hand from Kenren’s embrace. “Thank you for getting me home and coming by to see me. You don’t have to be distant, even though things have changed…”
Kenren knitted his brow, reached out for Tenpou’s hand recaptured it. He wasn’t letting go this easily. He was stubborn --- sometimes that was a good thing.
Tenpou continued, “… I just don’t think your new lover would appreciate this.” He looked at his hand in Kenren’s. He simply did not want to pull it away. It felt too comfortable.
Kenren closed his eyes. He hadn’t really expected to keep his indiscretion with Konzen from Tenpou forever, but he was expecting to be the one to tell Tenpou. He’d hoped to keep it from Tenpou, but he knew one glance from those green eyes would make him confess what he believed was the truth.
Those green eyes --- had a way of simultaneously looking right at him and through him. He pressed the hand attached to those eyes to his forehead. His meager memory of last night did not negate the reality of the situation. He knew Konzen, although in desperate need of an atitude adjustment, was a man of his word. He knew Konzen hadn’t said anything about their moment. It must have been Goku. The monkey probably said something without realizing what he was saying.
Kenren sighed. He nearly let it ride like that, but Tenpou was too important. Serving “Tenpou Detail” meant too much to him to just let it ride. He was called the unruly General for a reason. “No, Tenpou.” He opened his eyes and swam in an emerald sea. “I may have messed up with Konzen, but …”
Tenpou blinked. So, it is true. He was beginning to suspect the young one misspoke. Not anymore -- that was just clarified.
“… I’m not willing to walk away from this.” He held Tenpou’s hand tightly.
Tenpou knitted his brow and broke eye contact. He saw his shoes, “Oh look, you found my favorite shoes.”
Kenren blinked. Here he was pouring his heart out and Tenpou is thinking about shoes? He softly chuckled. “No, Tenpou. They were on your bed. You must have put them in here.”
Tenpou turned his head and looked at Kenren. Do you have any idea how long it has been since I’ve been here? “I had the slippers on when I left your place…” That stung a bit. Kenren’s place was becoming their place; but he supposed, that was forever changed. “…I know I left them in the library.”
They never did figure out how those shoes got on that bed. The one person that did know, kept her mouth shut.
Kenren kissed Tenpou’s hand.
Tenpou knitted his brow. “This isn’t that fair to Konzen.” He’d never say it, but this whole situation was eating him up inside. Of all the men in heaven, why did he have to break the rule with Konzen? Tenpou was willing to admit he was jealous and hurt over this. Konzen, why Konzen? Konzen knew the rule also -- it takes two to tango -- so they say. Yes, that blonde needed a few words too.
Kenren sighed, “Konzen isn’t expecting anything from me.” That much was clear. He left that place this morning sans a kiss, by your leave or even a kiss my ass. Konzen seemed to want to forget last night as much as if not more than Kenren. Kenren tried to muster a smile. “I suppose, Marshal, what I’m asking for is censure and forgiveness.”
Tenpou squeezed Kenren’s hand, “Well ,General, such derelictions of duty come with a steep repercussions.” Green eyes narrowed, “Especially, with Konzen. Why not Homura, you expressed interest in Homura? Why Konzen?”
Kenren rolled his eyes, “Tenpou, that Homura thing was just a joke. I was teasing. I still think he needs a friend, but he doesn’t need a lover.”
Tenpou’s jaw set. A joke? This was all stemming from a joke? A joke made him feel such a petty emotion as jealously! “You accused me of being jealous.”
“You were and are.” Kenren sucked his teeth and smiled -- brushing his lips against Tenpou‘s hand.
“Maybe a little.” Tenpou didn’t like having a jealous streak, but he couldn’t deny it any longer. He could downplay it , but he couldn’t deny it.
Kenren laughed, “A little? A little? Oh please, you were so jealous your eyes turned a darker shade of green -- nearly jade.”
Tenpou tightened his lips and blinked, “You’re gonna pay for that.”
“I hope I do…”
Green eyes fluttered; Tenpou was out.
Kenren sighed, “… once your feeling better.”
Thus it ended --- a heavenly lovers’ quarrel.
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Six Months Later …

Natuku and Goku met up for a fierce game of tag. Goku had a hefty day planned. After tag, they were going to have lunch, and then they were going to draw. And then, help Konzen redecorate his office. That was a surprise, special for Konzen. And then, they were going to have lunch. And then, they were going to blow up balloons, cuz he found these really cool ones at Kenren‘s place. They were even individually wrapped. And then, they were going to make flower necklaces (Nataku loved flower necklaces). And then, they were gonna have lunch. And then, they were gonna check out the hummingbird nests. And then, they were going to meet up with this dragon kid -- but he was kinda weird, cuz he ate play-doh. Goku didn’t like play-doh not even when it looked like a cookie, cuz it was too salty. And then, they were gonna pick some grapes and eat them. And then, they were going to have lunch. And then, they were gonna have reading time --- yes reading time --- because Tenpy had given Goku a really cool manga that we was just dying to share. It’s about these guys that go west to save the world --- it was quickly becoming his favorite. It was even better than the one with the superhero fruit.
And then, they were going to play count the butterflies --- cuz Goku had some math skills he was itching show off.
And then,
And then,
And then,
Through it all, Goku still forgot to tell Nataku his name.
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Konzen looked at the stack of papers on his desk and refused to stamp a damn thing. He flipped off the papers.
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Kenren cringed as he stepped down from the wheeled ladder. This was the third time he’d helped Tenpou clean this library since his “confession“. And that, wasn’t the worst of it.
He rounded a bookcase and walked up to an already re-cluttered desk. “Tenpou.”
Tenpou was engrossed in a map.
He crossed his arms, “Tenpou.”
Tenpou knitted his brow and traced a line on the map with his finger.
Kenren rolled his eyes. It had to be something with the acoustics of this place. Konzen and Goku didn’t seem to hear him when he came in either all those excruciating months back. He walked up and touched a finger to Tenpou’s chin and tilted emerald eyes into crimson. “Tenpou.”
Tenpou blinked, “Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t hear you.”
“Obviously.” He smirked. “We need to talk.”
“Oh, this isn’t good.” He smiled. It’s never good when someone leads with that line.
Kenren spoke clearly and simply, “I have needs, man. This has gone on long enough.” His blood was boiling. His loins ached. If he had to masturbate one more time, he was going to ruin the balance of his punches. Contrary to popular sentiment, switching hands does not make it feel like someone else is doing it.
Tenpou blinked and pressed his lips together. Oh my … how long has it been?

Kenren continued stressing the urgency of the situation, “It’s been over six months! Enough is enough already. Don’t make me molest you.”
Green eyes went wide. Six months? Really? Oh wow. This was only suppose to go on for a week. Did I ever speak with Konzen? Surely, in six months I have.

He hadn’t spoken with Konzen -- that had slipped his mind. Of course it did, he was Tenpou.
Kenren learned something by that expression on Tenpou’s face. Never play hold out games with an person that often forgot to eat or sleep. Sleeping next to Tenpou without sleeping with Tenpou was driving him insane! He couldn’t take it any longer. No more. Absolutely, positively, beyond any glimpse of a shadow of doubt, he couldn’t take it any longer. “Let me reiterate. Six … god damn…months.” He’s paid for his moment for a long time. The time of censure was now officially over -- sealed with Kenren’s office seal and stamped with Kenren’s official stamp. Sign, sealed, and delivered -- DONE.
Tenpou smirked. “I see, and this would pose a problem I suppose.”
Kenren shifted his hands under Tenpou’s arms and hoisted his lover from the chair, “Yes, this poses a serious problem. A problem with your troops that needs your personal attention.
Tenpou looked at the map on his desk.
Konzen cringed. Bad analogy. Bad, bad analogy. He’s thinking about work again. “That’s it. I’m molesting you.” He pushed his lips against Tenpou’s and his tongue probed his lover. He shoved Tenpou away.
Tenpou’s chair fell over as he found his footing. “Is that so?”
Kenren smirked, “Yes, that’s so.” He glanced around. “Wait! We can’t do this here.”
Tenpou lifted an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“We just cleaned it.” He wasn’t going to let his suffering be for naught. “The armory.”
“Haven’t we broken that rule?”
Kenren set his jaw. “This situation is more urgent than a rule!”
“No, no, no, we have to have a rule.” He glanced around looking for the book. A spark of clarify flashed behind emerald eyes, “What about 513.C?”
“518.C?”
“Yes, inappropriate use of the baths.”
“Fine.” Kenren gave a damn about where. He opened the right bottom drawer of Tenopu’s desk, shoved a small bottle in his pocket, grabbed his lover’s hand, and marched his lover out of the library.

The door to the bath flew open and Tenpou nearly stumbled as Kenren yanked him inside.
The General nearly pulled the janitorial door off its hinges. He slapped the “closed for cleaning” sign on the outer door and locked it.
Tenpou looked around, “This is the best one.” This particular bath had deeper water than the others and sky lights. The sunbeams poured in dancing on the smooth water casting swaths of light and dark through out the tiled chamber.
Kenren stepped behind Tenpou and nipped his lover’s ear, “Nothing but the best for my lover.” He curled his figners around Tenpou’s “noose” and pulled the fabric loose.
Tenpou’s hands slid back and curled around Kenren’s hips; he jerked his lover closer.
Kenren groaned as his aching sensitive body crashed into his lover. He curled his fingers between the buttons on Tenpou’s shirt and pulled the cloth open. Buttons tinked against the tiled floor.
Tenpou gasped, “I just fixed this shirt.”
Kenren nearly growled as the fervor of lust welled up inside him, “Fix it again.” He pulled his lover’s shirt and lab coat down light tan shoulders.
Tenpou tuned in his lover’s embrace as his clothing fell from him. He stpped out of his favorite sandals and pushed himself against Kenren. He slid his hand under his lover’s duster and fanned his fingers against a tan back.
Kenren rocked his hips against Tenpou’s and groaned, “Oh god, Tenpou, it’s been too long.”
Tenpou chuckled, “I didn’t realized in this situation too long was a problem.” He titled his head and attacked Kenrens neck. His hands travled from under the duster to over it and down his lover’s arms. Light tan fingers curled around black leather covered wrists. He gripped tightly; Tenpou was going to pull rank today.
Kenren gasped as his wrists were lifted to the side and his head rolled back opening his body to his lover. It had been way too long since Tenpou pulled rank like this. Kenren smiled. He enjoyed taking, but he loved being taken.
Tenpou kept his hold on Kenren’s writst and backed his head to make eye contact. “I suggest you get out of that unless it is waterproof.”
Kenren smirked. It was water resistant, but he didn’t want to ruin it. It was his best duster. This duster fit him the best and made him the most comfortable -- this was the one with the red trim. He nudged his face forward.
Tenpou nudged his face back .
Forward.
Back.
Forward, “Kiss me please.”
Back, “Not until you are naked.”
Kenren lifted an eyebrow, “Then release my wrists, because I really want a kiss.”
Tenpou smiled and did not release his lover’s wrists.
Crimson eyes narrowed.
Emerald eyes narrowed.
Lips smirked on a tan face.
Lips smirked on a light tan face.
The battle line had been drawn.
Kenren dropped his wrists and circled his arms --- breaking the hold from the inside.
Tenpou planted his palms on Kenren’s shoulders and shoved.
Kenren took two steps back and captured his balance. He pushed a hand to the skull on his chest and his duster slid off his shoulders.
Tenpou smiled. That was a sight of which he’d never tire. There was no way anyone could become jaded to the wonderous sight of Kenren shirtless. Muscles moved nearly musically under that tan skin. His chest slightly flexed with each breath and his stomach gently moved -- tightening and relaxing the bricks of his abdomen. Tenpou’s bottom lip curled between his teeth as a soft whine escaped him.
Kenren smirked as he reached for Tenpou’s waistband. He yanked his lover toward him.
Tenpou gasped, “General, you are out of uniform.”
Kenren whispered, “I’m about to get a whole lot more out.” He dove into Tenpou’s neck as he worked the button on his lover’s pants. He pulled the zipper halfway down and pushed Tenpou back.
Tenpou took three steps and regained his footing.
Kenren left his eyes on Tenpou as he knelt down and popped the buckles on his boots. He could get lost in that sight. That vision of a shirtless Tenpou; but the exposed chest wasn’t what really did it for Kenren. It was the loose pants --- the button undone and the zipper halfway down. That allowed the fabric to fold over and expose part of the “V” of Tenpou’s lower abdomen. That “V” called to him… called to his lips … just knowing that it was always under those pants excited him. Seeing it -- drove him wild. He stood and stepped from his boots. He was beginning to wonder if Tenpou really forgot his underwear or just enjoyed going commando.
A half smile emerged on Tenpou’s lips; he pointed at Kenren’s pants. “Those too.”
Kenren stood static. “If you want them -- come and get them.”
Tenpou pressed the heel of one foot against the toes of another and stepped out of his socks as he walked toward Kenren. His fingers curled around Kenren’s waist band as his lips attacked that delicious chest. He worked the pants opened as he trailed his tongue down his lover’s stomach. He pulled open the fabric as he dropped to his knees. Green eyes flicked up as crimson ones shifted down.
Tenpou held that eye contact as his lips parted and his tongue pointed.
Kenren could feel the heat from Tenpou’s mouth against his arousal. His jaw trembled as an incomprehensible plea slipped from between his lips.
Tenpou flattened his tongue and invited Kenren onto a soft, wet ,warm bed. He held that crimson gaze until his nose was deep in curly hair. Tenpou slowly closed his eyes.
Kenren rolled his head back and cried out. His hands balled into fists and his arms shook. It had indeed been too long.
Tenpou slid Kenren’s pants down his legs and softly hummed.
“Oh dear gods, Tenpou!” Kenren’s voice reverberated off the tiled walls.
Tenpou backed his head and smiled. “Like that, do you?”
Kenren looked down and his lips moved silently creating half formed sentences and words. He didn’t not want to have those lips talking right now. “Yes,” finally left him, “Now, one of two things needs to happ-- arrnnnkkkk.”
Tenpou pushed his nose against his lover’s abdomen. If his lover was making whole sentences, then he was not performing correctly. He trailed a hand up his lover’s thigh.

That was one of the two. Kenren’s thigh quivered slightly under the command of those long slender fingers. A jagged breath left him as he felt those fingers tease and dance on his anatomy.
Tenpou curled two fingers at the second knuckle and sought out Kenren’s private threshold.
Kenren’s eyes went wide as the warm stretching waxed from the shallow probing, “Tenpou. You…that … the …” His fingers found brown locks and twisted.
Tenpou hummed again and pushed against his lover.
Kenren’s body jerked. All of his muscles tensed and shook. His vision blurred and his eyes rolled back. He was right on the edge. That talented mouth and the edge of pain took him right there --- there at the brink of blinding release.
Tenpou continued his oral attentions with nearly brutal fervor. He felt Kenren’s short rounded nails run against his scalp as his lover shook with pent-up desperate passion. He pulsed his fingers against his lover’s opening, being sure to keep his shallow movements -- right in the small margin between pressure and opening --- right in the middle of the heat of stretch, but not penetrating. He darted his tongue along the underside of his lover’s member and tapped his teeth against the hard muscle as he backed his head.
Tenpou’s tongue swiped the sensitive point of skin just under the head of his lover’s cock and Kenren cried out. One solid all body jerk and his mind flashed white. Pressure became impossible as his frustrated lust exploded deeply within him and poured out of him.
Tenpou jerked his head forward and swallowed all his lover had to offer. He felt Kenren twitch and begin to soften in his mouth.
Kenren’s knees dropped from under him and he pulled himself from his comfortable place of euphoria. He wrapped his arms around his lover and dove forward for a fevered kiss.
Tenpou’s tongue darted around Kenren’s as he coaxed the unruly man onto his back. He kicked his lover’s pants from around his ankles.
Kenren worked the emerald-eyed man’s pants down and used his feet to clear them from his lover’s legs.
Tenpou ravished Kenren’s neck and ear.
Kenren knitted his brow and wrapped his hands around his lover’s shoulders. He gently lifted, parting them enough for him to look into those emerald eyes, “Tenpou. What has gotten into you? You aren’t normally this …,” passionate wasn’t quite the right word. Tenpou was always passionate. Carnal wasn’t quite right either -- Tenpou was far from frigid. “… lustful. Fervently lustful.”
Tenpou took his body weight on his shins and glanced at Kenren’s shoulder. He pressed his lips together. He was cornered; he was going to have to fess up to it. “I guess… I suppose…well you could say… I got a little jealous.” He hated having to admit that, but lying to those eyes was impossible. “These past few months I just kept thinking about Konzen’s hands all over you.” The full truth included seeing that look in Konzen’s eyes as he hit the brink of pleasure and the soft knitting of blonde eyebrows as the stoic man gave in to pleasure --- pleasure evoked form a certain General. Emerald eyes found crimson, “I suppose I just wanted to remind you with whom you share a bed.”
Kenren smiled. “I never forgot. I just screwed up.” He liked it that Tenpou cared enough to get jealous. If he wouldn’t get in so much trouble for it; he just might think of more ways of getting Tenpou jealous. He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead in a melodramatic feign and in a sing-song voice he spoke, “Oh goodness. I think I’m forgetting.” The theatrics stopped as his voice dropped in register, “Remind me again, please.”
Tenpou chuckled and he pointed at the pool. “In the water and find a corner.”
Kenren tiled his head, “A corner?”
“Yes?”
“Buoyancy. You’re gonna need something to brace yourself.”
Kenren’s eyes went wide. This should be interesting. He moved his hands from Tenpou’s shoulders and slid from subjacent of his lover.
Tenpou stood and fished the bottle from Kenren’s pants. He looked up as Kenren was inches from the water. “Wait!”
Kenren stopped and looked over his shoulder, “What?”
“We should rinse off first.” He pointed to the spigots along the wall.
“What!?” He knew he didn’t hear what he thought he’s just heard.
“You’re suppose to wash first so you don’t soil the water.”
Kenren’s shoulders dropped and his mouth went lax, “Tenpou. Think about this. Our body oil and what little dirt is on us is the least of the concerns compared to what were about to do.”
Tenpou’s lips shifted to one side of his mouth and his brow knitted. His eyebrows lifted suddenly, “Hey, this is another rule.”
Kenren pushed his hand to his face and cringed. The book … always with the book!

Tenpou nearly pouted, “We forgot the rule book. We’ve gotta go back for it.”
Kenren turned in shin deep water, “Oh, you’ve got to be shitting me.”
“No, we need it. I have to keep track of the rules.”
“Tenpou.” Kenren slid to nearly waist deep water and found a corner that was engulfed in a sunbeam. “Would you just come over here and fuck me? “
Tenpou saw the sunlight gleam off Kenren’s flushed skin. The light danced and twinkled on the ends of his short locks casting and dispersing tiny spectra around his lover. The unruly god wore a halo of tiny rainbows --- a rule book could wait. Kenren in sunlight was too stunning to pass up. Tenpou quickly joined his lover.
Glasses in one hand, bottle in the other, he slipped his arms around Kenren’s waist and put the items on the tiled edge of the shallow pool. He attacked Kenren’s ear and necked marching kisses along his lover’s collar bone. Behind the General’s back he opened the bottle and poured some oil on his index and middle finger. He whispered, “Dip down into the water.”
The water line shifted to mid-pect on Kenren as he gripped the edge of the pool in his hands. He tucked his shoulders under the lip of the edge and rested his neck in the joint of the walls. He closed his eyes, tilted his head up and enjoyed the warmth of the sun against his face.
Tenpou dipped his oiled fingers under the waterline and lifted them back out. The water beaded -- this was going to work. With one hand in the small of his lover’s back, he lifted Kenren’s hips to just under the waterline.
“Tch. That’s going to soil the water.”
As the voice carried from a shadowed corner of the bath, Tenpou and Kenren paled. The were completely and totally busted.
Konzen stepped into a sunbeam. “You should at least make sure you are alone.”
Tenpou turned around and looked at Konzen. The blonde’s soft feathering was heavy with wetness and stuck to the sides of his face. On the left, a short strand traveled over a violet eye. On the right, a lock curled to the corner of his mouth. His eyelashes clumped together in water laden triangles. Between the water beading on him and his natural radiance, the warmth and light in the room seemed to increase tenfold. Millions of tiny spectra bounced from the bureaucratic god sending sparkles and rainbows around the chamber. Tenpou smiled and looked at Kenren, “Care to add 888.H subparagraph P to our little list?”
Kenren’s heart raced; In appropriate use of the history and document offices --- subparagraph P for personnel. He had no idea what the safe answer to that question was. Tenpou had just calmed down and they were just getting back to their normal routine. Hell of a time for Konzen to show up.
Konzen shook his head, “You leave me out of your unruliness. I have enough problems finding me.”
Tenpou grinned as he lowered Kenren into the water. “If you really wanted no part of this…” He approached Konzen, “Then, you would have slipped out without making a sound.” Tenpou wrapped an arm around Konzen’s waist and pulled the blonde toward him. He whispered, “Remember this, lover?” He pressed his lips against Konzen’s.
A soft whine left Konzen’s throat; damn Tenpou for calling him out like that and damn that Marshal for knowing him this well. Was he that transparent? He was to that green-eyed man.
Kenren smiled, now that was one hot visual. All he need was Tenpou’s hair to be wet and --- his imagination just took care of that. His dick reanimated as a latent fantasy just became reality.

Wait a minute… wait one tiny minute. Did Tenpou just say “Remember this, lover?” Kenren’s eyes narrowed, Oh no, he didn’t. Oh no. That bastard did not just play hold out fucking games with me for something he’d already done! Oh no, no, no, no. This bullshit was not going to fly without comment. He stood up and the waterline shifted down his body, “Excuse me, what’s this ‘remember this’ bullshit.”
Tenpou broke the kiss and cupped Konzen’s shoulder blades, he pulled his at-one-time lover against his chest.
Konzen tilted his head and rested it against the slightly shorter man’s shoulder allowing his lips to brush against a lightly tanned neck. Yes, he remembered this. He remembered this clearly -- damn -- he still dreamt about this and it had been too long to even try to calculate the passage of time. He had this --- he lived this --- he was a part of this until war and that General came along.
Violet and emerald blinked at crimson. Correction! That was one hot visual. Kenren grinned as this called to the letch inside him. He now understood why the “piss off Tenpou-o-meter” pegged at blonde and he also realized there was no way he could get in trouble for this indulgence. Tenpou was here --- this wasn’t breaking the rule. He shrugged as he closed the distance between them, “Well, since we all know each other.” He softly chuckled as he slipped on hand on Konzen’s back and the other on Tenpou’s.
Konzen took a step back. Kenren wasn’t part of his dreams. Kenren wasn’t part of his fantasies. Kenren was part of his god damn problem. “Tch. Leave me out of it.”
Tenpou slipped a hand to a porcelain ass; he gripped and did not let go. “You know the rule.”
Konzen gasped. “Tch.”
Kenren snickered as crimson dove in to violet, “Now, now, Mr. Complacency wouldn’t be so brazen as to disregard a request from the Marshal himself, now would he?”
Violet narrowed.
Crimson narrowed.
Violet sneered, “I can fuck laps around you.”
Crimson laughed, “Bring it on.” He knew that blonde wasn’t trying to stake a claim in his area of expertise. Bah!
Violet just drew a battle line and he had no idea.
Emerald laughed as he dropped to his knees. The hand on Konzen’s ass remained static as his other curled around gripping the other hip. Just as he expected, Konzen was already hard. Without warning or teasing he took the blonde into his mouth.
Konzen’s head whipped back and he cried out.
Tenpou pushed his nose into a soft halo of golden hair. At the base of the stroke his nose was under water at the top he was clear --- this was going to work.
Kenren shifted behind the blonde and slipped his arms under porcelain ones. He locked his fingers together behind that blonde curtain covered neck. He had no idea Konzen was so sexy with his hair down. His mind began to race with all the activities that could be done with that hair the next time 888.H was on the agenda. He rolled his head forward and spoke, “I told you Tenpou --- someone needed to be shown a good time.”
Konzen’s legs began to quiver as he pushed his head against Kenren’s shoulder, “Tch. Don’t tell me you’ve been planning this.”
Kenren smiled, “No, just wishing for it.”
Violet eyes widened then fluttered back. That marked the end of all his resistance. The mere fact that someone wanted him --- someone old enough to not creep him out --- wanting him fulfilled all the fantasies he had. The fact that this was with Tenpou pushed him near the edge of “dream on” and anything else that happened this afternoon was just gravy.
He needed to feel. He wanted to be bothered. His friends were taking care of his wants and needs right this very moment. His hands gripped into Kenren’s shoulders as Tenpou lifted his feet from the bottom of the pool.
Kenren dropped to his knees and shifted his hands to Konzen’s back supporting the blonde in a makeshift waterbed.
Konzen locked his fingers behind Kenren’s neck and Tenpou flipped his wet hair back. He smiled at his two lovers. The contrast between the two made his head swoon -- tan skin against nearly china white. Blonde against crimson. Violet beside crimson --- this --- this was way better than his fantasies. He smiled, “Don’t move.” He darted to the edge of the pool and refreshed the oil on his fingers.
Kenren rolled his head forward nipped at Konzen’s ear, “Remember this do ya?”
Konzen whined. “Yes.” His abdominal muscles tensed as he kept his hips floating.
Kenren smiled. He’d never admit it, but he was glad one of them did. He still didn’t remember having sex with Konzen. He wasn’t drinking that purple shit ever again.
Konzen assumed Kenren was referring to his history with Tenpou. Remembering Tenpou’s touch. Remembering Tenpou’s attentions. Remembering a time before heaven became complicated with war, heretics and Generals. What else could Kenren be referring to? He and the unruly general may have shared a mattress for sleep, but they never shared an embrace.
Sharing an embrace -- sharing a passionate embrace was what they were doing now.
Tenpou returned to the pair with freshly re-slicked fingers.
Kenren about lost control of himself as a long lock of brown hair stuck around Tenpou’s neck. Oh yeah, someone had a water fetish. He watched as his regular lover parted his lips and engulfed his new lover. Tenpou’s hand dipped below the water line.
Konzen cried out an incomprehensible plea of passion as his back arched out of the water. He felt Tenpou push at his personal entrance and warmth radiated around inside him. Concentric waves of heat pulsed from his loins gaining in strength and rapidity until his plane had been breached. With sudden release, Konzen’s body remembered what his mind nearly forgotten. He shook as his body took on a humming tingle and his vision filled with the sultry smile of one sexy General.
Kenren’s stomach flipped as he saw the passion pleasure well up and explode in a mushroom behind those violet eyes. He shifted one hand to the middle of the blonde’s back and snaked the other down Konzen’s abdomen. His fingers lightly teased and taunted the blonde’s straining erection.
Konzen hissed between his teeth and panted. He licked his lips and whispered, “Kiss me.”
Kenren tilted his head forward and held his lips just beyond Konzen’s reach.
Violet eyes narrowed -- no one denied him anything. He flexed his arms and pulled on Kenren’s neck --- yanking the object of his desire to him lips.
Kenren engaged “the enemy” simultaneously on two fronts -- his lips and his hand.
Tenpou smiled as muffled cries escaped the throat of a writhing blonde. He slowly removed his fingers.
Konzen could feel the contours of his lover’s fingers as they left him. The kiss with Kenren broke as he whimpered in protest and then blushed over the fact that he’d dare be so transparent.
Kenren’s eyes widened. He was going to kick his own ass for not remembering this! He couldn’t believe it. Konzen was fucking hot and when he let himself go -- OH MY GOD. If that fire liquid was denying his mind these kinds of memories --- then he was ruling out EverClear from here on out. Tequila was much safer.
Tenpou wrapped Konzen’s legs around his waist and supported his lover’s hips in his hands. He smiled and dove into pristine neck moving the odd strand of gold out of his way with the tip of his tongue. He felt Kenren’s arm shiftily slightly between then and shifted his hips.
Konzen’s hands gripped into Kenren’s skin as he screamed. His cheeks burned with crimson passion.
Kenren increased the pressure of his hold around Konzen and the speed of his strokes.
Tenpou panted against Konzen’s skin as his lover tight warmth surrounded him. He gripped deceptively looking fragile, but in reality strong hips and began to remind Konzen with whom he use to share a bed.
There enswathed in a sunbeam, embracing radiance, three men were circumjacent of concentric, jerky, light-reflecting waves. Those waves traveled the surface of the water and lapped against the tiled boundary. Splashes of water mingled with pleas of urgent passion --- brushing the walls and filling their senses.
Konzen’s hips began to rock as his muscles tensed. His jaw trembled as his cries began a crescendo. Tenpou backed away and saw the soft knitting of Konzen’s brow as violet eyes silently begged for release. Tenpou smiled and he glanced up at his crimson haired lover, “He’s cumming.”
Kenren pushed his lips against the blonde and Konzen’s mind flashed white. He bucked and jerked beneath the two men as his body exploded in an external release of pent up frustrations.
There was a whole lot more than stamp-flip in his life now.
Kenren broke the kiss as Konzen attempted to catch his breath.
Konzen’s internal dance of zealous rapture triggered Tenpou’s own crescendo of craving. His nails dug into pristine wet skin and his jaw locked. His breath caught in his chest as his mind went utterly blank. He cried out a vowel laden plea that hinted at an empty prayer to non-existent deities and his body jerked in amorousness.
Kenren grinned. Seeing that wet lightly tanned back dance and jerk under wet brown locks made his vision blur. Couple that with the wet blonde beneath him and Kenren knew he was in heaven. Barely restrained urges escaped him in a moan.
Kenren lifted Konzen and straightened his knees. Konzen draped himself limply over Tenpou’s chest and shoulders. Two long parted lovers sought out each other’s lips. Tongues glistened in sunlight as the kiss recalled years of simplicity and tenderness.
Kenren lifted Konzen’s hips and supported the spent blonde’s weight. He rubbed his arousal against the still twitching from fading euphoria lover’s entrance.
Konzen gasped, but made no protest. He was in this far; there was no turning back now. Truth be told, he didn’t want to turn back. There was something to be said for being a bit unruly and soiling bath water.
Kenren waited until the pulsing of Konzen’s fading passion enabled his lover a brief moment of relaxation and pushed himself into the slightly smaller man. Between the heat of Tenpou’s seed, the visual of the wet bodies, the sounds of the waves lapping, the velvet cries of passion and the blonde’s fading internal dance --- this was not going to take long.
The General could not control himself. He plowed into Konzen.
Violet eyes crossed as a scream escaped the flushed face.
Tenpou smiled, “He’s something isn’t he?”
Koznen was too lost to answer or hear the question. Engulfed in a world where everything seemed alive, surrounded by nothing pointless, being bothered to the point of insanity was exactly what this blonde needed.
Kenren backed his stoke and set out, in earnest, to make sure he remembered his moment. There was no EverClear filtering his memories this time.
Water splashed between the two connected men’s hips and splayed out in small puddles along Konzen’s back. Blonde hair stuck to shoulders, draped in strands along a porcelain back and fanned out in the surface of the water.
Tenpou cupped the blonde’s pects and teased his lover’s lips.
Radiant light seemed to burst from between crimson and clover. Konzen’s skin hummed with life and violet eyes danced with sparks of breath -- real life giving breath.
There was no question why the monkey treasured every second with his “keeper”.
Kenren reached his breaking point. Passion washed up him from his toes gripping him with the fervent need for release. He plunged one last time into the blonde and cried out. He crashed against the seemingly fragile pristine back and water shot out around them. He jerked and trembled as his euphoria rolled from him. He couldn’t even form a thought.
Kenren slowly regained control of his body and took his body weight on his own feet. He slipped from the blonde and Konzen whimpered in protest. He turned the long haired god around and wrapped tan skin around porcelain skin.
Lips touched…
tongues danced…
unruly men lived.

Limp and spent they eventually made it back to the library so that Tenpou could check off all the important now broken rules.

No one ever thought to tell Kenren his believed moment of transgression never really happened. Why should they? It was pointless to bring it up.

[End of Chapter]

Coming Next -- RAHO Chapter 12 : Underground.

Later, behind the keyboard.

Ahhh, run it by the beta’s, complete a continuity check. Finish the canon check, rework some of the simple sentences, convert to HTML and post this puppy. Fingers interlaced and knuckles cracked.
The Merciful Goddess snatched a certain fanfic writer up by her hair, “Look ya little bitch, that wasn’t so hard now was it? You let them have their little spat and then you got them together. Now, get it that way in the lower worlds.”
Green eyes widened in panic, “This isn’t my fault. You act like I control this story. The lower world is much more complicated than the upper world and you’re the one that created the damn butterflies.”
Divine eyes narrowed and sharpened, “I don’t want to hear it. Fix it and give us the god damn lemon.”
A terrified, “I’m working on it. I really am,” emerged from the other side of the keyboard. These things take time. There is a process you have go though. Gods! Gojyo’s been tortured you can’t just jump into bed after that.

“You are aware that I can read your mind too?”
“Eeeep.”
“Cupnjava, do you like your fingers? Do you like them movable? Fix it damn it! And cough up the fucking lemon!”
“Yes, ma’am right away, ma’am. Ok, guys you heard the lady, talk to me. Yes, Gojyo? What? You want to do what? Oh my god, you’re kidding right? My readers will kill me.”
*Gun cock* “”Who the fuck are you to question this?”
“Alright, alright, but we got get through this in one chapter or I will be burned in effigy! Damn.“
The clack of keys echoed through the night.

Works Cited:

Breaking Benjamin (musical group). (2004). Rain. on the “We are Not Alone.” [CD].

California: Hollywood Records.

Tzu, S. .The Art of War. Giles, L. (translator). (1910). Sun Tzu on the art of War

the Oldest Military Treatise in the World. Retrieved: Nov. 2004 from:

http://www.chinapage.com/sunzi-e.html

**********Reviewer feedback **********

ShowndraRidge 2004-11-11
That last chapter made me think of something, and reminded me of something. I don't know if you've read 'Test Tubes, Dragon Spawn and Demi-Gods 2' but Goyjo's torture is like what Sam has to go through in the last chapter. (don't worry it's not close enough to be considered plagiarism) it just reminded me of TTDSDG.

Thank you for the update, and not ending the story there. I can't wait till the next one. This story is just so well written, and don't worry about the bunny part, I think everyone scares themselves at points when they write.

ShowndraRidge -- I have not heard of that, but if what you say it true -- I’m gonna have to check it out. Oh no, this fic isn’t ending there or here for that matter. There are a few more chapters to go. Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you are along for the ride. I’m sorry your review wasn’t included in the last section, you were reviewing as I was posting. Giggle, that hasn’t happened before.
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*

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Addictedtomarbles 2004-11-15
Konichiwa! I'm glad you e-mailed this to me, please keep doing so, so I read it in my lunchbreaks! :) I'm following this avidly and this installment just slaked my thirst but still I wanna know what happens next, I want my favourite twosome back together! but I know it isn't as easy as all that. Damn me and my angst-liking preferences. I liked the way you had Hakkai suffering to save Gojyo and that it's not a case of glowing-hands-over-body-voila-no-more-injuries which seems to be a familiar plot device in some fics. I also liked Gojyo determined not to become the monster who uses sex and sexual violence as a weapon (harkening back to experiences with his mother and how she slept with Jien and hit him perhaps). The hint of Sanzo possibly falling as well; more complications for Hakkai maybe? It left me curious to know how deep the damage to Gojyo is and it was an evil cliffhanger to keep me skipping on. I'm looking forwards to the Gaiden chapter but don't keep us in suspense for our other two I beg you. Also I read this a second time whilst listening to X-Japan's Silent Jealousy and Scars, inbetween which was Green Bird from Cowboy Bebop, and it made the writing stand out as starkly as blood on snow. I'm hanging on desperately for the next installment and will sweet homemade sticky rice balls or warm gingerbread men tempt you???

Addictedtomarbles-- Dear, you have been with me on this ride since go -- of course I’ll keep e-mailing them to you. Shared computer networks SUCK! That’s why I write my porn at work on paper. *Eeeep* Did I just admit to that? As long as you keep enjoying them, I‘ll keep sending them. *smile*
On Hakkai and healing --- never thought that chi-turbo boost from the earlier chapter would come back, did ya? LOL . Same thing --- different situation and totally different results.
On Hakkai and Gojyo getting back together -- oh we are gonna make this happen. This is a 5 / 8 fic -- we have to get them back together.
How deep the damage is for Gojyo---In this fic it is real deep. It will be brought out in the next chapter “Underground”.
As starkly as blood on snow -- Oh my god, I gasped when I read that. You have a way with words that is breathtaking. Thank you so much for reviewing. Wow! I had to read that out loud to hubby. Lines like that give me a feeling of inadequacy.
On food--- uuunnnngghh I just finished Thanksgiving Dinner with my in-laws. Any other day and I would be in there --- thanks for the offer. The last thing I want right now is food. However! You will get more chapters, I promise!
Give me a couple of days and no doubt your bribe will be accepted. Giggle.

Thank you for all you have done for me Addictedtomarbles,
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*

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CloeyKujaku 2004-11-15
Hurray! Another chapter!

..I wonder if it's healthy that I check back every day to see if their is a new chapter. In the name in all that is fandom, I believe so! (Dedicated to this fiction, dammit!)

Yet again, I love the side conversations Kenren and Gojyo have. I really wanted to throw a rock at the damn kappa through out the chapter. He needed to be bitch slapped, and hard. But then again, I really can't blame him. I'd be the same way if I had to go through the same things that Gojyo had to. So, I hated him and loved him in this chapter. That makes no sense, but whatever.

And Sanzo, dear Sanzo, was a hott bastard as usual. I loved seeing him smack Goku with the fan. Giggu~, best scene ever. ^_^ SanzoxGoku is so cute.

I feel sorry for Hakkai. I honestly wasn't expecting him to remove his limiters. That was an unexpected and truly delightful twist in the chapter. (Blows kisses at.)

And the whole butterfly thing, truly worked. And the monkey! Giggu, spiffy. Love your story so damn much, you shall always be in my thoughts!
YEA! GAIDEN CHAPTER! Not too many Gaiden fics out there. Such a shame, really. That's a good series in Saiyuki. I'll keep reviewing if you keep writing~! ^_~

-Clojaku

P.S. I won't chop off your hands if you be a good girl!

CloeyKujaku--- If you checking back for a new chapter is unhealthy, what does that say about me spending my Friday and Saturday nights (I usually post on those days) clicking refresh and checking my hit / review counter? Yes, sigh, it is sad, but I do that. I also keep a cheer for clicks (Ooohh! 3 hits since I posted). Everyone is truly celebrated. It blows my mind. Yes, I have no life and yes, it is sad. Sigh.
Gojyo / Kenren conversations are a BLAST. I never know what is about to come out of their mouths. Those two are a riot! I love this whole past life / split personality thing. It has been so much fun to work with. I’m glad the humor carried. There were times I thought -- the situation is too dark for the humor to work, but they both deflect with humor. So, I gave it a good shot. I’m glad it worked for you.
Sanzo and Goku their situation is an interesting dynamic --- especially after the Gaiden history is factored in.
(Captures the kisses and keeps them.) Hakkai removing his limiters -- yeah Addictedtomarbles mentioned also. You guys are indeed astute! I’m gonna have to bring in some highbrow stuff -- gonna make my head hurt. Gojyo’s injuries were so bad that the regular chi stuff wasn’t gonna hack it. Also, I needed to do a call back to a previous chapter -- had to heal Hakkai’s fracture with Sanguinans just a bit.
The butterfly thing -- you have NO IDEA how nervous I was about that. As I wrote, I thought -- this isn’t working …this isn’t working. I came an ace of deleting that. I can’t tell you how many times this whole chapter was almost canned.
RAHO-Gaiden -- yeah those are fun to write. There’s also reasoning behind them. Look for parallelism , callbacks and foreshadowing --- basically I’m trying to show “they’ve been here before” for some things. Others are new and others will stay in heaven. I just wish I knew which was which. They only tell me what I really need to know for the chapter I’m working on. I started getting ahead of the characters and they stopped talking. Sigh -- I really wish I knew how all of this was going to work out. They know, but they aren’t coughing up the whole story.
Sigh.
Here’s to hoping I get to keep my hands and thank you for reviewing. I’m still writing. Giggle.
Cupnjava c[~]~~~*sip*

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Flamingolo2004-11-22
Wow. That was outstanding! One word came to mind when I read this chappy: heavy. What a weighty atmosphere you created with this one, especially interspersing the butterfly lines...lovely, lovely job. I had too many favorite parts to even begin listing! Once again, you've managed to be dark and depressing, yet 'wickedly funny' all at once. That line about someone needing to kill a butterfly had me chuckling and wincing at the same time; as well as the commentary between Gojyo and Kenren. I nearly fell over at Sanzo's thoughts on Hakkai...but, seriously, they really do just need to fuck and get it over with ^_^ So do Sanzo and Gojyo. Yes, yes, one gigantic, smutty orgy for everyone *throws confetti*. I have to say that this smut-free chappy was one of my favorites so far; as I mentioned before, the atmosphere you managed to create knocked me on my ass! I didn't think it was too depressing at all, but I'm looking forward to some kind of reconciliation *bats eyelashes at you*. Keep up the excellent work, I'll be eagerly awaiting more!

Flamingolo -- I was just about to worry about you (like I am Hakuryuu -- I hope you are ok dear. You’ve been quiet), then I saw your review. Whew.
Yes, I DO worry and think about you guys.
I’m really glad I kept the butterfly thing in there --- everyone seems to like it. Whew. It is calming my nerves knowing that it worked and the atmosphere wasn’t too interrupted by it. Whew!
One big orgy? Wow, I don’t think that can get pulled off. LOL There is a fic that has pulled that off and pulled it off quite well. It is called “Free For All” Craxy wrote it. Good fic, I recommend it. Then again who knows, I really have no control over this fic -- it left my hands about three chapters into it.
Reconciliation -- yes --- this is a 5 /8 fic and we WILL get back to 5 /8 -- I promise. We just have to ride this bumpy road a bit while Gojyo works out all that he needs to work out. Sometimes -- you just have to do some things alone. That’s what he needs to do -- he needs to do this himself.
Thank you for reviewing!
Cupnjava c[~]~~*sip*

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