"Hey, Konzen?"

"What is it?"

"Don't you think that reincarnation is romantic?"

"...What?"

"I mean, doesn't that mean no matter what happens, we will be together forever?"

always.

A woman of a small stature, with a face looking younger than she actually is, smiled as she walked happily towards a certain room. Why is she so happy, you ask? Of course, that's because the room she's heading into is the office of her dearest person, Konzen.

"I can't wait to surprise Konzen! after all, I did say I 'll be working all day so I can't meet him today." She thought.

But of course, it wasn't like she lied. did have a lot of work that had to be done by the end of the day, but with her prowess - or more like deep longing of Konzen - she managed to finish them all in a little more than half a day. When Kanzeon Bosatsu came to her office and praised her for her quick work, , in a prideful face, said: "This is the extent of my love for Konzen!"

When Kanzeon Bosatsu laughed, realized what she had just said and added: "I mean, the extent of my love for Konzen is much more than that, I would die for Konzen, but like, I--"

No matter how amusing it was to see panicking, Kanzeon Bosatsu thought that it would be bad if wasted more time - after all, she did work that hard just to get more quality time with Konzen. With such a thought, Kanzeon Bosatsu immediately pushed out of her office.

...Anyway, back to present time.

has finally reached Konzen's office. She softly knocked on the man's door, and soon after heard a lazy, "Yeah?" from inside of the room. Immediately, she opened the door and walked in.

"-neechan!"

Goku's loud and excited voice welcomed her the first thing as she stepped into the room. Still sitting on his chair, Konzen, in the meanwhile, looked at her in surprise, mouth hanging open. It seems that he really didn't expect 's visit today.

"Hello, Goku!" replied to Goku's greeting, as she patted the boy's head.

Goku smiled happily, but then asked, "Why are you here, -neechan? Konzen said that you won't come today... and he's been in a bad mood since, too--"

Konzen immediately shouted, not letting Goku finish his sentence: "Stupid monkey!! Don't say unneeded things!"

Of course, a fight ensues between Konzen and Goku after that.

Listening to the two's fight, laughed. She felt so happy - after all, it wasn't only her who wanted to see Konzen so much. Konzen also wanted to see her... she felt so loved.

""/-neechan, stop laughing!""

Suddenly, the two stopped fighting and said that to at the same time.

"Haha, ha... sorry, sorry! It's just that both of you look like father-and-son too much, I couldn't help it..." apologized, but neither Konzen nor Goku could find any look of remorse on her face.

"Huum... that reminds me! Ten-chan and Ken-niichan always said that if Konzen is the father and I'm the son, then is the mother!" Goku said innocently, with his equally innocent expression.

"Tenpou and Kenren kept telling Goku stupid things," Konzen said, trying his best to maintain a stoic look, as he threw a glance at .

He couldn't hide his surprised expression when he saw how soft looked then. She looked so ethereal - smiling softly, her cheeks a bit red, perhaps embarrassed.

"...That would be great," finally said to Goku, "And we'd become a loving family, wouldn't we?"

Goku nodded with a bright smile.

Right at that time, the door opened as Tenpou and Kenren stepped inside.

"Hey!" Kenren said, and Tenpou waved his hand.

Konzen looked at them in annoyance - there's always pests bothering his quality time with .

""Tenpou/Ten-chan, Kenren/Ken-niichan!"" and Goku greeted back in unison.

"...Hey, Konzen, you don't have to look at us like you're looking at cockroaches," Kenren said, "It kind of hurts, y'know."

Despite saying that, Kenren's expression doesn't seem hurt at all: rather, he looked like he's enjoying this... teasing Konzen, that is.

"..." Konzen didn't reply. No use to waste his voice on this guy.

As Konzen and Kenren continued their staring contest, Tenpou asked , "I thought you're going work all day today, . Why are you here, now?"

replied, with a prideful face, "I worked so, so hard to finish it faster, Tenpou!" she said, "After all, I really love Konzen so I want to see him every day, no exceptions!"

Tenpou and Kenren looked at , both thinking the same thing: "What an amazing woman, to say that straightforwardly..."

"Konzen? Why are you looking the other way?" Goku suddenly raised his voice, and everyone immediately looked at Konzen. Indeed, Konzen had turned around, his back facing everyone else.

"Hmm...~" Tenpou hummed, seemingly amused at the whole situation.

"You know what, Goku? I'll treat you to some meatbuns, so let's go out today!" Kenren suddenly raised his voice, and Goku immediately replied with a, "Yeah!".

looked at them in confusion. What's wrong, suddenly?

Tenpou, Kenren, and Goku left the room - suddenly, it feels so wide without them...

"...Konzen?"

called, and Konzen slowly turned around without saying anything.

"Konzen, are you okay?" worriedly asked, as she stepped towards Konzen. At that moment, Konzen stood up from his seat and started approaching - surprised at the sudden movement, stopped midway.

Konzen, however, continued his steps towards . When he was only a few inches away from her, he immediately embraced her, strongly, yet warmly.

"...Konzen..." whispered, as she embraced Konzen back. It feels warm... and nice. Times like these always reminded of how much she loved Konzen. As someone who always said what's on her mind, couldn't help but to say, "I love you, Konzen..."

Hearing that, the golden haired man stiffened. looked up with a questioning expression, but when the two's eyes met, Konzen couldn't help but to notice everything about her.

Her big, sparkling eyes full of life,
Her white, flawless skin,
Her lush, cherry red lips...

Konzen couldn't help but to move in and kiss gently. For Konzen, was an existence akin to glass: she would easily break when met with too much force... which was why he always has to be careful. Even so, he'd never felt any discomfort around her - he treated her gently, with much care and consideration, simply because he truly loved her... just as much as she loved him.

"Nn..." All of 's strenght left her legs as Konzen deepened the kiss. Konzen himself realized this, so he held firmly, not letting her go, refusing to part.

"Mmm...!"

It's becoming harder to breathe... squirmed, hoping for Konzen to let go.

"...!"

Realizing this, Konzen promptly parted his lips from 's.

"Huff, huff..." inhaled and exhaled, taking in as much oxygen as she could, "Konzen...!"

looked at Konzen with glistening, teary eyes, "I-I wasn't ready..." Or so she said, but she looked happy nonetheless.

Looking at such a Happy , Konzen couldn't help but to again embrace her.

Konzen, again, felt how much dear was to him.

***

already knew, if only just a little bit of what's going on in Konzen's head. Despite her airheaded look, she's actually quite perceptive - a woman's intuition, you might say. She knew that Konzen was about to make a dangerous choice, and that there was no way he would change his mind now. The reason why Konzen called her... was perhaps to say good bye.

"Konzen..." thought, as she strode quickly towards Konzen's office.

When she got there, without knocking on the door, she opened in and walked in, only to see that Tenpou, Kenren and Goku's already inside.

Tenpou, Kenren, Goku and Konzen looked at in surprise. Usually she would knock, but now...

"...Goku, let's go out for a while, 'kay?" Kenren said, as he signaled for Tenpou to go out of the room too with his eyes. Kenren immediately nodded, followed by Goku.

After the three left, only and Konzen were left in Konzen's quite spacious office.

Konzen was about to say something to , but the latter quietly walked towards Konzen, and naturally sat on his lap.

"..."

Still without a word, kissed Konzen on the lips. It was a short, yet gentle kiss.

Konzen looked at in surprise.

"...Konzen," began, "No matter what happens, I'll always be by your side."

***

"!!"

Konzen shouted with all his might, but it was too late. In order to protect Konzen and Goku who were running away from the imperial soldiers, had sacrificed herself.

Konzen didn't see both the attack and coming. When he looked back, there was , stabbed by one of the soldiers. Apparently, they had been targetting Konzen, surprisingly came running in from the side.

Konzen was worried - no, to say that he's worried would be an understatement. The only thing he wanted right now is to hold in his arms, but first thing first, he has to clean up these people who dared to hurt his loved one.

The battle ended quite fast: Konzen was furious, and Goku helped a lot. They knew that they shouldn't be stopping here, and that soon more soldiers will come, but Goku understood just how much meant to Konzen and Konzen currently could only think with his anger, so they had no other choice but to fight.

After everything settled, Konzen immediately fell to his knees, as he scooped from the ground, embracing her. Around them a pool of blood, and Konzen knew they're mostly 's. She's... beyond saving.

"Kon...zen..."

Hearing the faint voice of the love of his life, Konzen immediately replied, "..."

"Did you... remember what I... said about... reincarnation?"

Her voice cracked, and it looked like she's in pain. Konzen wanted to stop her from talking, but he knew, he /knew/ this is their last talk.

"...It's romantic, isn't it?" Konzen replied, as he looked at gently.

"It... is," smiled, and Konzen couldn't help but to once again think that she looked extremely beautiful, "...I'm sure we'll meet again..."

"......"

"...I love you, Konzen..." said, "...I'm sure... you'll be able to... Goku..."

"I love you too, . Forever..."

After Konzen kissed , she breathed her last. Konzen couldn't hear what said at the end, but he was sure that had put all of her hopes in him and Goku. Now, all he needs to finish this once and for all... even if, in the end, only Goku made it out alive.

Embracing for the last time, he put down 's body and stood up with a brand new resolution.

"We're going, Goku," he said.

"Konzen..." Goku braved himself to say, with eyes glistening with tears, "...Is it alright to just leave -neechan...?"

"...It's fine."



After all, they would be together forever, right?