《（最游记同人）镜里镜外》作者：未知

Saiyuki: Through the Looking Glass

Chapter 1: The Looking Glass

The walls were stained with dried blood.

Different blood from different youkai who had united their minds, souls and bodies towards the defense of their king. Primitive politics fused together with a grim sort of innocence found only in lower creatures. A vain battle, but nevertheless bravely fought. Not that he wanted to be contemplating messy skirmishes at this moment. That was for the strategy table and his study, not here.

Regardless of his weak resolution, a part of his mind was bemusing itself with gruesome thoughts.

Now those youkai were now...truly...unified. Altogether now as a river of hair and blood upon the castle grounds. Beautiful...that is...to a more morbid eye, but Tenpou did not have a morbid eye. None of this was beautiful, even if it was necessary. He looked all with distaste.

He hated the red. It made him think of mortality, which (he believed) all gods feared. Then it made him think of losing battles, which was something all soldiers feared. Then it made him think of losing friends...which was something Goku greatly feared. Of course, being a god, Tenpou was beyond that. Should have been beyond that. But if he were truly honest with himself, could never be beyond that.

Then it made him think of losing himself, as selfish as it was to turn these musings towards his own privileged lot. Tenpou smiled, if not a little morosely. "Sell fish?" Goku would say. He didn't know the meaning of the word, nor did he need to. 'Sell fless' was more fitting for the forbidden child. But Tenpou couldn't be like that, as much as he felt he should be.

There was too much at risk. The field marshal's arms were already occupied in performing a huge balancing act with "heaven's fate"- the outcome of which he was still unsure- and he wasn't really willing to unburden anybody else for the sake of generosity. Too much at stake and too much to lose. The higher up you are, the harder you fall and Tenpou was high enough to know that gambling recklessly with his own fate was unwise. If he was ever going to die, it wasn't going to be a cheap ticket for anybody.

Can I hold that for you? A dangerous question.

It meant involvement with someone else and involvement with someone else complicated the web and jolted the equilibrium of the situation in someone else's favor.

Hence, the reason he slept with Kenren.

Tenpou smiled to himself again, this time a little devilishly. First of all it was fun. Can't rule that out completely. But second of all, Kenren never asked questions. Not anymore, at least. And not since they'd started having sex because the General, sensible man that he is, had figured out that if he wanted to keep having sex, then the topic of political motives would have to be shut up tight in some dark corner of his lust-driven, alcohol tinged head. You know the drill, soldier.

Then there was Konzen, whose tendency not to pry was dissipating every day he saw Goku mope over the inability to see Nataku. "What's wrong with Nataku, Konzen? Konzen...Konzen! What's happening? And who's that mean old man always with him? Why would Nataku rather spend his time with him than me? And why did That nasty old guy hit Ten-chan?"

That last one was a slip-up. Poor kid. Couldn't keep a secret even his lunch depended on it.

Anyway, Konzen got riled up, gave Tenpou the third degree, futile as it was, then went straight to Tentei. Straight to the Jade Emperor himself to clear his friend's names, to apologize for them- though his sincerity was a bit strained- and to get the ex-general reinstated. Maybe Goku was getting to him. High marks for selflessness there. And this was Konzen for goodness' sake...

Konzen-I-don't-care-to-do-anybody-favors-because-you're-all-dust-beneath-my-golden-sandals-Douji.

Literally, with the 'holier than thou' attitude radiating from him like sunlight.

Albeit the price for all his kindness was an explanation, reported by Tenpou himself in its abridged, revised, edited, censored and summarized version; which came down to one simple, non-self-explanatory conclusion: All's bad in the holy land. Better start praying.

Who the hell am I gonna pray to? Konzen growled, but it was enough to keep him at bay.

But any thoughts of Konzen were quickly pushed away by the grim sensation of stepping in a puddle of still unsolidified blood, staining the edges of his black army boots with acrid crimson. Tenpou swallowed the bile that rose in his throat and kicked any loose drops off his foot, disgusting, then presumed surveying the ghastly empty interior of Gyuumao's castle.

Two pairs of footsteps echoed throughout the main hall. Kenren was right behind him. Silent for once, but with his finger ready at the trigger.

"I don't like it." said Kenren, checking the barrel for the eighth time.