Day 43: Chapel, Second Shift

[screwthegods]

Once the shift had changed, Homura headed downstairs for a brief time to check on the assorted information posted on the bulletin. Some of it was relevant to his interests--much moreso than he might have initially thought as he added replies. By the time his written conversation with Okita had finished, the demi-god's mood had changed

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[screwthegods]

Not only a constant within these walls: Sanzo's unbeatable spirit had been part of Homura's inspiration. As Konzen, even though he had no fighting skill or strength, the god had given everything to set free a boy that Heaven hated, for no other reason than the color of his eyes. He had been the sun to Son Goku, given him joy and happiness and purpose, both as a god, and as a man.

Just as Rinrei had done for Homura.

Even as he still tried to absorb the news, Homura's mind shifted to facts, things he knew to be true, to try and find comfort. Death meant little in this place, and he was the living proof of that, in figurative and literal terms. It was possible still that Sanzo could be brought back, somehow, if they could manage to find the method and take it over for their own purposes. That had been their plan the entire time, hadn't it? Freedom, and continued existence after. And wouldn't he still be alive in their world? Homura had come from a time far beyond the ending of Kenren's and Nataku's lives. He'd arrived when Hakkai, Sanzo, and Son Goku were all trapped here as well. But the future hadn't changed. They didn't recognize him when they first met in Homura's life.

His mind flashed back to a conversation he'd had with Brainiac 5, to a thought that he hadn't wanted to face: that they'd all been copies of themselves, not the originals. He still wouldn't share it, because there was no comfort to be found in the idea. It wasn't the relief Kenren was seeking.

Homura noticed the shame in the other god's voice when he admitted to not knowing who was guilty, and the deadliness in his promise. "That's fine." Not knowing, gaining revenge. That had been their plan all along too. Facts, the indifference found in simple truth. It had been how Homura carried on when Shien and Zenon passed. "It's hardly a secret that he was my enemy. It's possible that if I posted something on the bulletin, someone might step forward to claim credit."

And there would of course be disdain. Homura already had the deep disapproval of one hidden patient. If the leader of one of the major clubs publicly applauded a murder, what would it do to their long term goals? Would it be something they could recover from? How would those already in the club see it?

[opposingheaven]

It was easy to say that it was fine, but it wasn't that easy to be convinced. Kenren was supposed to be the one to protect them, to keep his people alive and he'd failed twice. Once he could forgive, they'd come back, come together even after five hundred years, but this? He hadn't even been able to find Sanzo's attacker and nothing, absolutely nothing had been achieved with his death. It felt like a punch to the gut. There was a bitter anger growing in him and it wasn't a feeling that he liked. Damn it, they were supposed to die on their own terms, not curled up in the dust of a bookshop while the undead clamoured outside.

He rested a hand on Homura's arm at the offer and shook his head. "No. You need support for the club and the general acceptance for its existence. Posting something like that would destroy everything we've worked for when there's no guarantee that it would even work." He'd find a different way to do this, even if he had to threaten every damn person in the place.

[screwthegods]

Kenren was right. Homura knew Kenren was right, but at the same time, he still wanted to go against the elder god and common sense, if only to alleviate the sense of helplessness. Revenge was for Kenren, and Son Goku, should he ever return. Despite of how respected and even admired the traits of Konzen's soul, Homura was still Sanzo's enemy. His place wasn't to drive the sword through the murderer--for once, his role wasn't to kill.

"The greater goal." Walking ahead into the new world, even when it meant leaving the men who helped make it behind. Homura put his hand over Kenren's, then turned his head enough to look at the man's face with both eyes. "When did you learn such patience, my friend? It wasn't something attributed to you in the Heavens."

Back to the humor that did nothing to lessen the pain. Kenren had Homura's support. He was willing to let his club be sidetracked for a time, once they had a name and a face. The patient body was large, but they all started out night in the same small area. Only four doors that lead out of the blocks. They had enough people, enough numbers to guard the exits, and to facilitate a search.

"When you find out," because it was when, a matter of time, "you will let me help you. I've always said that part of the club's purpose was revenge."

[opposingheaven]

Kenren grinned, a somewhat vicious expression which was at odds with his usual easy charm and smiles. "Tenpou and I had been checking things out for a long time before Goku ever arrived," he said with blunt honesty. There was no point to hiding something like that right now. "People underestimate a reckless idiot, no matter how good a general he makes." He could be patient when there was something that he wanted and this, this he could be patient for. It felt like the best way to strike back was to keep going with their plans rather than give up everything so easily.

He nodded, smile never faltering. "I wouldn't dream of doing anything to stop you," he replied. Homura was someone who deserved to be involved, no matter how complex it was. "When I find out, you'll be the first to know, but for now we need our leader and the strength of this group."

[screwthegods]

That explained it. The heavens had been corrupt for a long time after all, probably longer than either Kenren or Homura had lived. In those terms, it wasn't at all surprising that the best among them would do whatever it took to try and unravel the truth--Homura had striven to do the very same, following the example of that foursome. "I'll have to take care not to make the same mistake, won't I?"

"There are other resources at our disposal." While it was true that Homura couldn't publicly accept the murder, there were many who disdained the crime on its face. Perhaps now was the time to make use of that. "A number of people here can't stand killing. Perhaps they have skills that could be made use of." Though how effective they could be in this environment was questionable, it was still an avenue Homura wished to pursue.

"If you need tonight for yourself, you know you're free to take it." But Homura hoped Kenren would refuse the offer in favor of another. "Though if you'd like to relieve your stress in another manner, I've wanted to go back to that room for several days. I'm certain there will once again be nurses there--perhaps more than last time, if our captors bother to learn from their mistakes."

[opposingheaven]

If Homura ever forgot how dangerous Kenren could be, then that would probably be the day that Kenren stopped following him. "I can't imagine you making that mistake. You've seen enough of me here to remember that." He could bide his time when it suited him and this place was no exception.

He narrowed his eyes when Homura suggested other options. Yeah, they had people here who could be helpful. He knew that Homura had a decent intelligence network here, even if they hadn't discussed it. "I would appreciate that," he replied with a nod. The quieter they could keep it, the better. People might support finding a killer, but he doubted they'd support the revenge that Kenren wanted.

"Nah. What am I going to do if I take tonight off anyway? Sitting around and feeling bad isn't my style," he said with a more lighthearted grin. "A good fight like that on the other hand, is." It would be something to take his mind off things, the clean feeling of battle.

He paused as another thought sprang to mind and bit his lip pensively for a moment. "Sanzo left me something last night," he said finally. It was an awkward feeling, being torn between wanting to trust Homura and the part of him, of Gojyo, which trusted the other three and no-one else.

[screwthegods]

"I'm glad you have such confidence in me." And it was true; Homura had worked with Kenren long enough now not only to get a sense of how he fought in battle, but his determination to escape this place. Most importantly, however, he knew that the former taisho was not one to be underestimated. If Homura faltered, or if their goals were no longer the same, Kenren would leave without hesitation--and that was not something the demi-god wanted to happen. "I'll be sure to do nothing that changes it; you're too valuable for me to lose, Kenren."

Homura reciprocated Kenren's nod with one of his own when the elder god agreed to Homura's use of more subtle methods to find out the identity of the killer. He already had an idea in mind, though it would require talking to another first. The method would be better in terms of maintaining their image, but much slower, in order to preserve the stealth. "It will take time. But as it's already been made clear--you can be patient, when you wish."

He was glad that Kenren agreed to join him that night, and silently hoped it would offer the other god the relaxation he was seeking. But then something unexpected came, and Homura raised an eyebrow as he looked towards his friend. "Something? I doubt it was his cigarettes." Kenren had a fondness for the things, but he wouldn't be so hesitant to tell Homura if the gift was something so simple. Whatever the object was, it held value for Kenren--enough to make him want to keep his possession of it secret.

[opposingheaven]

"I'd like to hope that it's more than me being an asset," Kenren said, mostly teasing although there was an edge of something else under there. He wanted to believe that they were friends at least. considering the things that they'd shared during their time here.

"I can wait. I'd rather get it right than be reckless and grab the first person I suspect," he said. "And we have enough opposition as it is." More irritating than anything at the moment, but that could change.

There was a long pause after Homura asked what it was, the two parts of Kenren warring within him. "A sutra," he said finally, hands clenching into fists on his knees. "He left me his sutra."

[screwthegods]

"You should know by now that it is." Now it was Homura's turn to reach out and touch Kenren, laying a hand on the god's shoulder. Kenren had been the first one to find him after that terrible night, and for so many times after. They'd been intimate, physically and otherwise, and the bond that had developed from that was something Homura cherished. To lose Kenren would be nothing short of devastating; to have it be from his own actions?

It would border on unforgivable.

Kenren's wisdom was showing again, and Homura couldn't help but agree with both his points. The idea of a revenge killing would be enough to upset many, regardless of the reasons for it. But if they killed someone who was innocent of the crime, the population as a whole would likely rise against the club. Even at the present, History stood apart from the other groups for the mentality of the members. But now they were tolerated, and still seen as an asset. A mistake in the matter would change that, doing worse damage than even Homura's earlier idea had potential for.

For the second time during their conversation, Homura felt a wave of shock was over him. While it wasn't so severe as the first, the idea that Sanzo had handed over his sutra was to say the least startling. Kenren had fallen into Sanzo's dislike due to his association with Homura. Apparently that hadn't mattered in his final moments, however, and the demi-god was thankful for it.

But now he had to respond to Kenren, who only told Homura of his acquisition with hesitation. Was it because of the reality it made impossible to deny? If he handed over his sutra, then even Sanzo knew that he was about to die. Or was it for the same reason that Kenren bore the same scars as Sha Gojyo, and one of the same eyes?

It wasn't difficult to forgive Kenren that doubt, if that was his reason. Homura had stolen it once before, after all.

"You should guard it well, then. The Maten Sutra is a powerful weapon. If that becomes known, there are likely some here who would try and take it." Just as Homura once had. But that was a lifetime ago, and now, the demi-god had no need for the scripture, nor any desire to possess it. "Fortunately, very few would actually know how to use it if they did manage to steal it."

[opposingheaven]

Kenren smiled, resting his hand on top of Homura's and squeezing it lightly. "I do," he agreed honestly. Homura had been a good man to work with despite their initial differences and Kenren hoped that their association would continue for a long time to come. He didn't want a reason to walk away from their friendship and what they'd built together.

He could see the shock in Homura's eyes when Kenren admitted to possessing the sutra now, but he felt only relief when the other god told him to guard it. He hated this foreign fear that made him mistrust his friend like this. For a moment, he truly resented the future and what it brought, but it wasn't up to him what happened in the end. Those who came after had to be the ones to make their decisions. "Yeah," he said, a little shakily. Just holding the thing was weird when he knew how valuable it was to Sanzo. "I don't have a clue how to use it myself. I'm kind of grateful for that." Something so powerful, one of the foundations of the world, that was more power than he'd ever wanted to be in possession of. "It's not leaving my sight if I can help it."