Title: Zettai ni Shinai

Rating: General/ PG 13, depends on how the story goes.

Pairings: Konzen/Homura, Sanzo/Homura

Status: 1/?

Author: Hagane ^^\/

Disclaimer: I wish I could say that I own both Sanzo and Homura, but I'm afraid that's just not the case. Oh, the injustice of it all……. *sigh*

Ever wondered why Homura is obsessed with Sanzo/Konzen even when it seems as though the 2 had never had much to do with each other back in Heaven? Well, I did….and after leaping to several radical conclusions, here's my story.

//Homura//

            I had seen him around, back in Heaven. Not often, since we both rarely came out, but frequent enough. It was hard to miss him- the great Konzen Douji, nephew of Kanzeon Bosatsu, and one of the higher-ranked gods. He was, of course, unlike me, a pure god- born and bred within Heaven's walls. So, of course he didn't know how the world was actually like. Of course he wasn't aware of Heaven's atrocities. Of course he was shielded and blinded from the truth.

            Even when it stood right before him.

            It was one of those meetings again. The one where everyone was obliged to attend. I could hear the whispered murmurings of the crowd even from my cell, as they headed towards the palace's courtyard. The guards came in and, as was customary, dragged me out of the cell, and pushed me roughly up the innumerable flights of stairs. I stumbled obligingly along, quiet and uncomplaining. What good would it do to speak since no one would take heed?

            The sun rendered me blind and scorched my pale skin. I was a creature left best in darkness, where I had adapted perfectly during my lifetime imprisonment, and to me, the sun was cruel. It abused my pasty skin and poor eyesight. But still, I kept my silence.

            Squinting, I managed to make out the outline of the crowd before me. I knew I was perhaps more than 100 feet away, but surely they could sense my presence, or at least the guards'. But no one seemed to care. I wasn't spared a single glance, but I was used to it. I was, after all, unimportant and unwanted- who could blame these gods for ignoring my existence?

            God's booming voice resonated throughout the entire courtyard. He was making another one of his speeches and people were listening. Obediently, I tried to grasp his words in my mind, but they made no sense. Still, I pretended that they did- to avoid further offending anyone and to appear as part of the crowd. Both of which I knew I would never achieve. But still, I tried.

            There was a change of voice and suddenly, it was a woman who was speaking to Heaven's occupants. I tilted my head up, and braved the sun, wanting very much to shield my eyes with my arms, but they were cuffed and chained to the guards. Unlike God's, the lady's voice was less pompous, and stuffy, and held a tinge of amusement. She addressed everyone without the condescending manner God had. Her eyes roamed over the sea of faces turned towards her, and her gaze lingered…..on me. I was surprised. Never had a highly-ranked god even looked my way, nor acknowledged my existence, but here, the Goddess of Mercy herself was gazing right at me. It was a first….. Then her eyes moved on to the rest of the crowd and I fell back among the shadows.

            Her words were more comprehensible than God's, but I still didn't understand. I recognized some words here and there, but that was it. A jumble of words, when put together, made no sense. But because she had looked at me, I felt obligated to look at her, though the sun burned my skin and scalded my eyes.

            "Konzen," I heard her say, arm thrust out expectantly.

            She stayed in her pose, unmoving for a while. Then a flashed of annoyance, and amusement, crossed her face and she repeated more urgently this time.

            "Konzen!"

            There was a sigh, audible even to me, far though I was, and a young man appeared from behind a pillar and handed something to her outstretched hand.

            "Thank you for making me wait," the lady said, eyebrow raised.

            "My pleasure kuso baba," came the non-amused reply. He moved back, and away from her but she held out a hand to stop him.

            "Why the rush to get away, Konzen? Surely you're in no hurry to sign those papers?"

            "None of your business you old hag. Now let me go."

            "Oh, but I need you here, Konzen. Do stay." She flicked her hand. Judging from the enraged expression on the young man's face, I'd assume that he'd just been frozen to the spot.

            "Ugly old hag," he spat under his breath.

            Strangely enough, the 'old hag' smiled before continuing with her speech.

            I heard muted whisperings in the crowd. They were all commenting on the man, Konzen, and his apparent lack of respect towards the almighty Goddess of Mercy.

            "He's such a rude boy!"

            "Blows up at every little thing!"

            Then there were the other comments that had no relevance to his lack of courtesy.

            "He's getting prettier don't you think?"

            "Don't get your hopes up. Heard he's an uptight fellow. Never had any fun in his life."

            "Such a waste of looks, really."

            "Someone should try to coax him out some time."

            "Never showed any interest in anyone."

            I listened to all this attentively, though my eyes were still trained on the Goddess of Mercy. Well, to the person next to her, to be more exact. He was tall and lean, and his hair was a beautiful blonde, shining as the sun. His skin was pale and delicate, his features sharply defined. The others were right- he was a beauty. His eyelids were half-closed as he listened to the speech. Anyone could see that he'd rather be anywhere but here. His mouth upturned into a somewhat heinous smirk.

            Kanzeon Bosatsu, without glancing at him, told him, very audibly, "I'm the Goddess of Mercy, Konzen. You can't shoot me dead."

            His eyelids opened fully and he glared at her. "Don't praise yourself old hag."

            She ignored him and carried on with her address to the communed crowd. He decided to scan the crowd, probably looking for a familiar face. And, like the Goddess had, before him, his gaze lingered on me.

            I suppose I should have looked away since it was disrespectful for someone like me to look him right in the eye. But I found that I couldn't tear my eyes away from his. Across the thousands gathered, our eyes met, and I realized with a start that his eyes were a startling shade of violet. They held a bit of wonder, as they regarded me with my chains, cuffs and guards surrounding me.

            We would have continued staring at each other if one of the guards hadn't noticed and ordered me to drop my gaze.

            "How dare you look at Konzen-sama!" he hissed angrily.

            I looked down.

            "Listen here! Heretics like you don't deserve to even see gods like Konzen-sama! Count yourself lucky that he hasn't ordered you to be punished!"

            I resisted the urge to tell him, "That will never happen."

            So I spent the rest of the time staring hard at the ground, though I could feel his eyes still on me.

//Konzen//

            "Oi, kuso baba," I asked as we made our way into the palace.

            "You have no respect as usual, Konzen," she chided me teasingly, "When will you ever get it in your head that I'm the Goddess of Mercy? Everyone shows me respect, but you."

            "Stop flattering yourself. Everyone's stupid that's why," I snap.

            "Everyone but you?"

            "Of course."

            We walked on in silence for a while. "Who was that?" I asked again.

            "Who was what?" she replied, an annoying smile on her face.

            "You know who," I snap irritably.

            "I don't know who," she had that triumphant smile on her face.

            "Stupid old hag. Forget I asked." I turned abruptly away from her.

            She called out after my retreating back. "That was Homura, Konzen. Homura."

            Homura. Homura what? Surely he had his own name. Everyone has his own name. I was Konzen Douji and there was Tenpou Gensui. And that Kenren Taisho. That's about everyone I know. Oh, and that kuso baba but she doesn't count. My hands were methodically signing the papers while I mused the thought over. Who was he? Why was he chained? Why was he standing apart? Most importantly, why do I care? 

            A soft knock on my door snapped me out of my reverie. A friendly face peered in.

            "Konzen?" he smiled, allowing himself in.

            "Tenpou," I nodded at him.

            "Busy?" he asked, settling in one of the chairs.

            "The usual," I replied, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

            "They were talking about you again, Kenren said," he watched as I signed the documents without bothering to read through.

            "Hnn." I grunted. What did I care what the others talked about? There was nothing worth discussing in Heaven, so every little thing became an issue, for lack of topics.

            "They were saying how you should come out more often."

            I looked up. "There's nothing out there worth going out for."

            "Neither is there anything worth staying in for, right?" he pointed out, his index finger raised.

            "What's the difference? Heaven's as boring as hell."

            "Well, that would be rather presumptuous don't you think? Neither of us has been to Hell before."

            I gave him a withering look. "What did you want?"

            "Nothing really. I just came by to see how you were doing."

            I gave a disbelieving snort.

            "Okay, okay. Kenren was wondering if you'd like to join us for dinner."

            "No."

            "Thought you might say that," drawled a voice from the doorway.

            "You're not welcome to come in," I said without glancing up.

            "It's just dinner, pretty boy," Kenren stepped in, pointedly ignoring my remark.

            Tenpou nodded encouragingly, "It wouldn't hurt to join us, would it Konzen?"

            "Torture."

            Kenren smirked. "You're so shy, pretty boy. No wonder everyone's after you."

            "Urusai!" I yelled, rising up from my seat.

            "Well, that got you up," smiled Tenpou, taking my arm and pulling me after him.

            "Hanase!" I struggled against his firm grip. Kenren took my other arm.

            "Let's go get dinner, pretty boy."

            I glared daggers at the both of them while I was dragged, not by choice, to wherever they had in mind.

//Homura//

            God had summoned me to him. He had told me things I didn't understand, much less comprehend, but I'd feigned comprehension. Now I was ordered to be returned to my cell and as I was pulled roughly out of the palace by the guards, I stared straight ahead, not really seeing anything. Suddenly the guards stopped abruptly, and the chains around my neck cut into my skin.

            "Konzen-sama!" they fell to their knees and bowed their heads in respect.

            I looked and he was there before me, not too far away, with two other men. He glanced briefly at the guards before his eyes met mine as they did before.

            "Down on your knees you heretic!" barked one of the guards. I did as I was told, though my gaze still held his.

            "Please forgive this heretic, Konzen-sama!" another one said, eyes still lowered to the ground.

            "Yes, please forgive him, Konzen-sama," one of his companions repeated, smirking.

            "Hnn." He broke the gaze and turned away, his other companion following him. The other one, the one with the red hair grinned at me before turning to follow them.

            I watched as they walked away, the one with the red hair slinging his arm around his shoulders.