Somehow, Tenpou has found a fresh lab coat to replace his bloody one, but in the process of procuring his new attire, he has managed to misplace his lighter. (Not that he realized this at the time).
He's at a cafe reading a book when its absence first presents itself. He pulls out a cigarette and - still busily skimming the words on the page - blindly goes digging through his pockets in search of that non-existent light. His hands come up empty. In any case, the proprietor of the cafe is frowning at him while meaningfully tilting her head toward the NO SMOKING sign, so it seems like Tenpou's time is up. He smiles and gets up, tucking the book away as he leaves.
He's breezing past a nearby building when he smells a whiff. A smoker? Where there's smoke, there is always light. He stops in front of the man and says politely, "Pardon me. Might I have a light? I'm afraid I've misplaced my own..."
It definitely wasn't the first time Sanzo had heard that name. Hell, it wasn't even the first time he'd heard that name from someone in a lab coat who vaguely resembled Hakkai. "I swear, if one more of you calls me that I'm going to shoot the next one who does."
In spite of the attitude, Sanzo fished the lighter out of his pocket and tossed it at Tenpou.
"Are you one of the ones I've seen before, or are you new here?"
"Oh...ahaha," Tenpou laughs apologetically as he takes the offered light. The man really does look very much like Konzen at first glace. He even has the same warm golden aura about him, despite the prickly and somewhat threatening remarks from him, so it's no wonder that Tenpou has mistaken him for his friend.
"My mistake."
Tenpou brings a cigarette to his lips and lights it up before handing the lighter back. He takes a drag and then exhales.
"Thank you," he says with an appreciative smile.
Konzen had hated Tenpou's smoking. He said the stale stink would get all over his clothing and was difficult to wash out.
"I don't believe we've met. So yes...I suppose I am new. My name is Tenpou."
Sanzo inhales, and then stuffs the lighter back in his pocket before exhaling the smoke.
"You're the third one I've seen. They always call me that."
It didn't really annoy Sanzo as much as he pretended. He didn't care who other people thought he was, but he definitely had issues with that Konzen guy. Sanzo had seen him once, and he didn't like what he'd seen. Konzen was too pretty, too delicate and willowy. He looked more like a model than a fighter. Sanzo didn't want to be compared to him.
"The third one, really?" He rubs his chin thoughtfully, which inadvertently reveals the name tattooed on the back of his wrist - Konzen Douji.
"Well, that's rather curious. I've been mistaken for a person named Hakkai before, but never have I been mistaken for...myself." Dying has proven to be more interesting than expected.
Sanzo was listening to Tenpou... until he saw the name on his wrist. Oh great. So not only has he been mistaken for a whimp, but it's also someone that this guy has been sleeping with.
But for some reason, Sanzo doesn't really care. So what if they both look like someone the other person has slept with? Guess they're even now.
"I can at least tell the difference between you and Hakkai."
"Ah, then you are acquainted with that gentleman too, then. I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure, though I understand he bears a striking resemblance to me." He takes a better look at the man before him.
"And now that I know you are not Konzen, I believe I can tell the difference from hereon as well, rest assured," he says with a warm smile. "...I'm afraid I never caught your name."
"Aquainted?" He pauses for a moment. It was actually more than that, but whatever. "You could say that."
A striking resemblance? Maybe. Sanzo had always been able to tell the difference though. They felt similar, but looked different. Tenpou's hair was longer, his eyes were both the same (and a different color than Hakkai's), and his smile wasn't as deceitful. That was the main thing, a difference in personality.
"That's quite a mouthful," Tenpou says with a good natured chuckle. "Well then, Genjyo Sanzo, the 31st of China, it is a pleasure to meet you." He tilts his head in a slight nod. It might seem like he's teasing, but he actually means it.
"How curious that we each resemble someone we are acquainted with in our own lives. And you say you even know other versions of myself." He takes a long drag from his cigarette, looking thoughtful. "Perhaps they are shadows of ourselves, much like in Amber. Have you ever read the series?"
"You don't have to call me by my entire title." He's not really as annoyed as he seems though, Sanzo's used to being teased. "I don't know anything about 'shadows' or 'Amber'..." Whatever all of that means. Is it a book or something? "...but the resemblance is weird, and so are the multiples."
He actually knows enough by now to guess what Konzen, Tenpou and Kenren are in relation to himself, Hakkai, and Gojyo. The fact that Goku stayed the same proves the point. However, he won't bring it up.
"If you stick around long enough, you'll probably meet Hakkai. There are plenty of him running around here too."
"Aah, Genjyo - may I call you Genjyo? - Amber is from The Chronicles of Amber, a brilliant work by Roger Zelazny. One of his best, I think!" Tenpou says with great enthusiasm. "It's about parallel universes, each a shadow of the real thing - Amber, the one true world. And the inhabitants of Amber can move through shadow to other worlds; even meet other versions of themselves! Quite imaginative, really. You ought to read it...I highly recommend it."
Tenpou nods, as though to emphasize his point.
"And of course, I should very much like to meet this Hakkai someday. Are you very close?"
Sanzo doesn't respond to the first question. It doesn't matter what people call him. The monkey had decided on "Sanzo" and the other two idiots had followed suit, but it was only his title. Technically, Genjyo was his proper name. Still, he didn't hate being called Sanzo.
And the book sounded completely ridiculous, but he didn't feel the need to comment on it.
It seems Genjyo is not a fan of Zelazny, but that doesn't bother Tenpou very much. He has enthusiasm enough for the both of them. Or maybe he is just accustomed to people reacting this way to his random quotes and references. Konzen sometimes humors him and asks him to explain, but only when he's in a good mood. Kenren tends to give him a 'There he goes again' look.
"Perhaps we're always meant to be close, whatever the universe," Tenpou says with a smile. There's nostalgia in his expression, and a little sadness too.
Sanzo doesn't care for anything unless it's useful, and that doesn't sound useful for anything. Maybe Konzen is different? Anyway, Sanzo is definitely not in a good mood right now, not with all of these tattoos showing up all over the place.
He huffs at the comment about being 'meant to be close'. It's annoyingly sentimental... and a lot like something that Hakkai would say. But it also made sense that the two groups had some kind of connection, considering all of their similarities. What Tenpou was saying was entirely possible.
Tenpou tilts his head as he looks at Genjyo. He feels there is something very much the same about him as Konzen, and it is not just his face. It's that intangible 'something' that can't be explained in a simple word but can only be felt in your heart.
"Konzen would have told me I was being ridiculously romantic," he says with a laugh. "I suppose it comes with reading too many stories."
He's at a cafe reading a book when its absence first presents itself. He pulls out a cigarette and - still busily skimming the words on the page - blindly goes digging through his pockets in search of that non-existent light. His hands come up empty. In any case, the proprietor of the cafe is frowning at him while meaningfully tilting her head toward the NO SMOKING sign, so it seems like Tenpou's time is up. He smiles and gets up, tucking the book away as he leaves.
He's breezing past a nearby building when he smells a whiff. A smoker? Where there's smoke, there is always light. He stops in front of the man and says politely, "Pardon me. Might I have a light? I'm afraid I've misplaced my own..."
Tenpou pauses and blinks. He smiles, surprised.
"...Konzen?"
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It definitely wasn't the first time Sanzo had heard that name. Hell, it wasn't even the first time he'd heard that name from someone in a lab coat who vaguely resembled Hakkai. "I swear, if one more of you calls me that I'm going to shoot the next one who does."
In spite of the attitude, Sanzo fished the lighter out of his pocket and tossed it at Tenpou.
"Are you one of the ones I've seen before, or are you new here?"
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"My mistake."
Tenpou brings a cigarette to his lips and lights it up before handing the lighter back. He takes a drag and then exhales.
"Thank you," he says with an appreciative smile.
Konzen had hated Tenpou's smoking. He said the stale stink would get all over his clothing and was difficult to wash out.
"I don't believe we've met. So yes...I suppose I am new. My name is Tenpou."
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Sanzo inhales, and then stuffs the lighter back in his pocket before exhaling the smoke.
"You're the third one I've seen. They always call me that."
It didn't really annoy Sanzo as much as he pretended. He didn't care who other people thought he was, but he definitely had issues with that Konzen guy. Sanzo had seen him once, and he didn't like what he'd seen. Konzen was too pretty, too delicate and willowy. He looked more like a model than a fighter. Sanzo didn't want to be compared to him.
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"Well, that's rather curious. I've been mistaken for a person named Hakkai before, but never have I been mistaken for...myself." Dying has proven to be more interesting than expected.
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But for some reason, Sanzo doesn't really care. So what if they both look like someone the other person has slept with? Guess they're even now.
"I can at least tell the difference between you and Hakkai."
Hakkai bathes, for one thing.
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"And now that I know you are not Konzen, I believe I can tell the difference from hereon as well, rest assured," he says with a warm smile. "...I'm afraid I never caught your name."
He pauses expectantly.
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A striking resemblance? Maybe. Sanzo had always been able to tell the difference though. They felt similar, but looked different. Tenpou's hair was longer, his eyes were both the same (and a different color than Hakkai's), and his smile wasn't as deceitful. That was the main thing, a difference in personality.
"Genjyo Sanzo, the 31st of China."
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"How curious that we each resemble someone we are acquainted with in our own lives. And you say you even know other versions of myself." He takes a long drag from his cigarette, looking thoughtful. "Perhaps they are shadows of ourselves, much like in Amber. Have you ever read the series?"
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He actually knows enough by now to guess what Konzen, Tenpou and Kenren are in relation to himself, Hakkai, and Gojyo. The fact that Goku stayed the same proves the point. However, he won't bring it up.
"If you stick around long enough, you'll probably meet Hakkai. There are plenty of him running around here too."
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Tenpou nods, as though to emphasize his point.
"And of course, I should very much like to meet this Hakkai someday. Are you very close?"
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And the book sounded completely ridiculous, but he didn't feel the need to comment on it.
"We're... close enough."
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"Perhaps we're always meant to be close, whatever the universe," Tenpou says with a smile. There's nostalgia in his expression, and a little sadness too.
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He huffs at the comment about being 'meant to be close'. It's annoyingly sentimental... and a lot like something that Hakkai would say. But it also made sense that the two groups had some kind of connection, considering all of their similarities. What Tenpou was saying was entirely possible.
"Maybe."
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"Konzen would have told me I was being ridiculously romantic," he says with a laugh. "I suppose it comes with reading too many stories."
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Although, he wasn't entirely sure exactly what the point was. Wasn't sure he wanted to know, either.
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