"...Houmei, I can't believe this," began, "In the time you didn't see me, you..."
", this is a misunderstanding...!" Houmei looked at 's clearly fake unbelieving expression, and with a clearly fake exasperated expression of his own, he replied: "There's no way I'd cheat on you!"
"But, Houmei!" replied, this time with a louder voice, "If so, then who in the world is that child!?"
"I can explain...!"
The young boy merely looked at them with strange looks. What are these two adults doing in front of a child, seriously. The two of them seem to not notice, though, as they suddenly erupted into a laugh after looking at each others' eyes for a moment.
After a while, smiled brightly, "Welcome back," She said, as tears glazed her eyes, "I've missed you. So much."
Houmei looked at lovingly, as he said, "I'm back," and kissed her softly.
The three of them walked into the house (despite the young boy being in alert, looking from the left to the right), and immediately prepared for their drinks - warm milk for the boy, and tea for her and Houmei, as it's a rather cold night and they've journeyed quite a long way from the temple. sat down on the seat across from Houmei and the beautiful young boy on the dining table - the boy, as usual, looked expressionless, but could see just how much he was attached to Houmei.
looked at the boy in curiosity.
"I've named him Kouryuu," Houmei started, after sipping his tea, "He's five this year."
From the sheer length of the time they've been together, was able to piece up quite a lot of information from Houmei's short explanations. This boy - Kouryuu - must have been taken in by Houmei... perhaps he was thrown away by his real parents?
However, aside from the obvious, there's one thing that was bugging from the start: "Why didn't you ever talk about him in your letters?" She asked.
Indeed, during the times they couldn't meet each other, Houmei and always exchanged letters, informing the other how they were faring, what's going on, and occasional passionate exchange of words of love - mostly from Houmei's side, as he seemed to like to write embarrassing haiku for her. However, not in any of the letters have Houmei touched up on the subject of Kouryuu at all.
Houmei took another sip from his cup, "I thought you'd understand why?" He said, wearing his usual innocent expression.
looked at Houmei, contemplating his words. After a while, though, her eyes widened full of surprise as she yelled: "I can't believe you kept Kouryuu a secret for years, only so that we could have that interaction earlier!"
Houmei smiled, seemingly satisfied by her answer, "It was worth it."
couldn't help but to sigh exasperatedly - however it only took a moment for her to regain her composure and inquired mischievously, "What would you do if I actually thought you had cheated on me and thrown you out?"
Houmei merely smiled, and stated full of confidence, "I know you'd believe me."
heaved a sigh once again, "What makes you so sure?"
"We've been together for over ten years now," he replied lightly, "I would know."
"I hate how you always have that confident look on your face, Houmei," said, as she put her hand on Houmei's cheek, looking at him with eyes full of love and affection, "It makes me feel like I don't have any advantage in this relationship."
Houmei chuckled, as he held 's hand in his, "I love you, too."
It took a while for Kouryuu to settle in and open up to . Before, he would glare at and then run to hide behind Houmei, never leaving his side. Whenever and Houmei started to get affectionate with each other, he would pull Houmei's clothes, seemingly bearing jealousy towards for hogging all of Houmei's attention and affection.
However, now that Kouryuu's older (he's twelve), he doesn't seem to mind at all - in fact, he had gotten quite attached to her, even. herself would squeal, 践e's so cute!' at Kouryuu each time he did pretty much anything, and Houmei would, in return, look at Kouryuu with mixed feelings.
"I'm kind of regretting my decision of letting him meet you now," Houmei would say sometimes, when Kouryuu's not in sight and there were only the two of them, "After all, you rarely ever pay attention to me now, ."
"Oh, you're not being an adult, Houmei," laughed, looking at her very much adult lover pouting. She then leaned in and kissed Houmei on the lips, both of them savoring the short moment they have of each other's warmth.
"I just," said after the long, long, kiss, as she reached at her own belly, "Thought that, ah, this may be what it feels like to have a child of our own."
Houmei looked at the slightly melancholic expression of , and embraced her, "Indeed," he said.
It was during another one of Houmei and Kouryuu's rare visit when suddenly embraced the both of them tightly. It was nighttime, and the three of them were just about going to sleep - it had become normal for the three of the to sleep together, with the small Kouryuu in the middle. Of course, at first Kouryuu objected a lot, saying he's not worthy of such a thing, but it was due to 's incessant begging that Kouryuu finally relented.
"I'm so happy to have both of you by my side," whispered, tightening her embrace, "Kouryuu, Houmei..."
Houmei wordlessly raised his arm and embraced the both of them. Stuck in the middle, Kouryuu held and Houmei's arms with both of his small hands.
That night, the three of them slept very soundly, peacefully - wishing that the time would not move, thus allowing them to be together, forever.
"Come to think of it, that was the last time I got to see Houmei and Kouryuu," wrapped up her story, as she put all of the earlier chopped vegetables into the pot. Her skillful hand didn't miss a beat in cooking.
"Oh..." Goku moved all of the cooked spring rolls into a plate, and he turned his gaze towards yet again. His expression was sorrowful, awfully so, to the point that you'd think he's the one experiencing 's pain.
In a way, it might be that he could empathize with 's situation: he was locked up, sealed high up in the mountains for five hundred years... he would understand 's loneliness. But, he thought, at least I didn't know of another person's warmth that time. Unlike , who must've never thought that that night was the last one she got to spend with the love of her life - and to make it worse, she was left alone in uncertainty for years.
"Are you sad, Goku?" asked, as she transferred the soup to a big serving bowl, finishing the dinner preparation.
"I..." Goku didn't know how to reply. He didn't want to give cheap words of sympathy, yet the pain in his chest is certainly real.
"...You're a really kind person, Goku," said, her eyes softened, "You don't have to be sad - after all, I've lived over half of my life with Houmei. Both he and I... we have no regrets. I know he's not the man to die meaninglessly."
paused for a while, as she and Goku put the plates and bowls on the dining table. And then she continued, with the kindest, softest voice Goku has ever heard: "...and Kouryuu is the proof of that."
"..."
"Ah, Goku," changed the subject with a cheerful smile on her face, "Could you call everyone else for dinner? I'll finish up in a bit - tell them it's extra delicious!"
Goku replied with a smile of his own enthusiastically, "Okay!"
The next day, rain poured really hard since morning came. The sun was nowhere to be seen, and the atmosphere was awfully gloomy. Ever since he woke up Sanzo was in a bad mood - it had always been like that. Whenever rain falls, along with it pour Sanzo's worst memories into his mind, as if shackles, refusing to let him go.
Hakkai, Goku and Gojyo had left the room long ago: they knew Sanzo wouldn't appreciate their company during times like these - what Sanzo would want right now is solitude, as tactless words of comfort wouldn't make the prideful Sanzo feel any better. The three of them took refugee in the living room, feeling heavier than usual.
Suddenly, Sanzo heard soft knocks from the door. It couldn't be Goku, Hakkai, or Gojyo, he thought, as they knew they shouldn't get close to Sanzo on rainy days. Plus, they never knock - at least, Goku and Gojyo never do. Which means, there's only one person left...
"Kouryuu, I'm coming in," said, as she opened the door without waiting for Sanzo's answer. How typical of her, he thought, as she'd always been a bit of a tyrant... although of course full of love and affection. Although she had always said she'd never one upped Koumyou, through Sanzo's eyes it looked as if Koumyou had always yielded to her every word. When he pointed that out to his master, though, his master's cheeks would very lightly turn red, as he showed him a troubled smile.
"I guess this is what's called the weakness of being in love," he'd say.
Sanzo turned around to look at her, and wordlessly look back to the window.
"What's wrong?" She asked softly, as she moved the other chair close to Sanzo and sat on it.
Moments of silence passed before Sanzo finally managed to answer her in a low voice, looking down, unable to look at her in the eye, "It was on a rainy day like this, that Master... protecting me, he..."
He wasn't able to continue his own words - the images from that accursed day flowed into his mind, and he felt nauseated. No, no, no... everything was his fault, his fault, that -
Just as he was about to be swallowed by his own dark thoughts, something warm engulfed him - he could feel the soft textile of 's clothes against his face, and a pair of arms embracing him.
"Kouryuu," slowly said, in a soothing tone, "I'm glad that you're here. Thank you..."
Hearing 's words, Sanzo jolted in surprise.
Glad? Thank you?
Why?
Why would she be grateful to him, the most powerless, useless person who couldn't protect a single person, who'd let his own master die?
Everything, everything was his fault - that had to endure years of solitude, that had to feel anxious everyday, waiting for any kind of news from Master, and now she had to know in the worst possible way that Master had... had...
And yet, there she is, thanking him...
Even though if he wasn't there, perhaps his Master, Koumyou Sanzo Houshi, wouldn't have died... and he and would've had a warm, wonderful time together...
Sanzo was about to say something, but before he did, continued, with her unchanging soothing tone: "Thank you for being alive," She said, "You must've been so lost after Houmei left..."
One of her hand reached for Sanzo's, "I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed someone to be by your side the most," She whispered right at Sanzo's ear, "But I feel very proud seeing you all grown up and strong like this. It's hard to explain, but,"
paused as she pulled back to look at Sanzo's regret-filled face, "Seeing you again, Kouryuu, erases all of my uncertainties, all of my regrets - Houmei's warmth is certainly here - right here."
She put her right hand on Sanzo's chest, and left hand on her own.
Wordlessly, Sanzo reached for 's hand on his chest, and squeezed it.
The sun shone brightly the next day, illuminating the whole region - it was as if the rainstorm yesterday was a lie. The Sanzo-ikkou decided to leave and continue their journey to the West today - after all, they don't exactly have all the time in the world to leisurely rest. As usual, Hakkai went to the market to restock food - this time together with , and soon they were set to go. also made them delicious lunches to eat on the way.
"Thank you very much for everything, -san," Hakkai said, as he bowed, "We really appreciate everything you've done for us."
laughed, "Now, now, raise your head," She said, "I'll always be happy to welcome all of you here. Also, you're doing a great job on becoming their peacemaker, Hakkai."
The two of them shared a meaningful laugh, before Gojyo suddenly chimed in, "Thanks - the meals were really delicious."
turned to look up at Gojyo - their height difference was massive, after all - and gave him a kind smile, "You're welcome," she said, "Always live with your head held high, kind Gojyo."
Gojyo looked at in surprise, but regained his composure and grinned at her.
After that, was about to call for the Goku so she turned to the left and right, only to feel someone hugging her from behind.
"...Goku?"
"I'll definitely visit you again, okay, ?" Goku said, burying his face into 's clothes, "So don't forget to prepare lots and lots of delicious food!"
Especially the spring rolls.
She heard him whisper, and then she laughed, "Of course, Goku," She said, "So please, be well."
After turned around and shared a hug with Goku, the two separated and finally was face to face with Sanzo.
"...Keep going, Kouryuu," She said, her eyes filled with affection as if a mother's to her son, "No... Genjo Sanzo Houshi."
Sanzo looked at her eyes deeply, "-sama..."
smiled, although now her eyes seem to glisten with tears, "I'll always be praying for your well-being - after all, that's the only thing a powerless old woman like me could do," chuckled, "Now, off to the West you go!"
The five of them shared a hearty laugh, and then the four men of Sanzo-ikkou climbed onto Jeep and waved at - except Sanzo, of course, but he at least kept looking at until they were unable to see her.
"See you later!!"
stayed in place until she couldn't see them anymore. After they disappeared into the distance, carefully reached into her skirt's pocket, and pulled out a letter, a little bit worn out from being read perhaps a hundred times, yet still well-kept.
"They really came, Houmei," She whispered, as she gave the letter's last lines another read.
Even so, when that time comes, please give him your encouragement.
I know, for a fact, that your words have magic in them, .
I've been saved by your words countless times, after all.
I will always, always, always love you even until death do us part.
She couldn't help but to let tears fall from her eyes, as she embraced the letter with both her arms.
"I will always, always, always love you too, Houmei."
Even after death did us part.
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