"What a coincidence, we're reluctant to use it here too. But does he?"
"Most likely."
"And you?"
There were some things he just couldn't get around. "I do."
I do. My god, it sounded like...
Tenpou felt an elbow jab him playfully in the back. "Oi, Tenpou."
"Mh?"
"You wouldn't happen to have a cigarette on you, would you now?"
"Actually...I do."
****
"Taishou. Hey, you awake?" Kenren felt a hand slapping his face, not all to gentle, but not like a pissed off woman either. Opening his eyes, he found himself staring at the great fabricated sky of heaven, dotted with numerous stars disappearing with the encroaching dawn. "Taishou."
He couldn't move his legs. "What?"
"How's the sky look from down there, eh?" Zenon asked.
"Shut the hell up. Where's Tenpou?" he added without thinking.
"Around, playing things by ear." the fiery haired man as he hauled Kenren up to a sitting position. The two of them were situated on a hill overlooking the Western Army's living complex which was, as per orders, surrounded by the recently vacated troops.
Kenren blinked away the blurriness of sleep and registered his surroundings. The entire building was shut off...the doors, windows...everything. And attached to each closed opening was a white slip of paper with neatly stroked characters on them. Spirit wards. "What the hell's happening?"
"We're just enacting the military's containment policy over our own grounds. It's a quarantine." Zenon responded, his one eye perusing the premises like a hawk. Off to the side stood Shien, arms crossed and as still as ever, right next to Goujun. They looked like a pair of pale statues from his vantage point. At the opposite edge sat Homura who, as always, was trying to keep a low profile.
"A quarantine? That's only necessary for the containment of a disease." Kenren objected. "And we're kami. We don't get-"
"It all depends on how you define an infection. Because according to high sources, we have been infected by youkai. And so we are containing them."
"What youkai?" Realization dawned. "What the fuck! That's absolutely crazy!" He tried to leap up to his feet, only to land flat on his face.
"You're not going anywhere. Not in at least thirty minutes, and everything should be done by then." Zenon seemed annoyingly calm, as did the rest of the Western Army around them, as if they were standing witness to a funeral of sorts. The soldier pulled Kenren back up. "Now sit still unless you want Goujun and the others to see you crawling to get back on your ass."
Kenren scowled.
"That's a good general."
Chapter 11: Savage Indignation
The snowman's head blew up, leaving the decapitated body slouching against the fence. A second shot caused the midsection and legs to follow the same fate. Quick and efficient, not a drop of energy wasted.
"Whewwww." Gojyo whistled as he clapped Tenpou on the shoulder. "For a second try, that's pretty damn good. You a sharpshooter?"
"It's a pastime." replied Tenpou, watching as Goku scrambled to erect another snowman for him to obliterate. He looked at his hands, the glowing green seeping quietly back into his skin. "Thank you, Gojyo."
For the past hour, the two of them had been teaching Tenpou how to use Hakkai's powers, toppling many a poor snowblob.
"Now close your eyes." instructed the half-breed, taking off his own bandanna and tying it around Tenpou's head. "The monkey's gonna make a whole lot now. I'm not going to tell you how many." At this point, Gojyo lifted six fingers for Goku to see. The boy gave an enthusiastic nod, then went back to work. "When he's finished, I'm gonna take off the blindfold and as fast as you can, blow any snowman you see to hell, okay?"
Tenpou nodded. The sound of packing snow caused him to tilt his head. Yes...a little to the left...perhaps a bit behind...
"No cheating!" Gojyo shouted before clapping his hands over the other's ears.
"Is this really necessary?"
"Yeah. So don't complain." Not that Tenpou could actually hear him by now. So he stood there, shifting uncomfortably. No sight. No hearing. Totally, utterly...vulnerable. He hated it. Nervously, he bit his lip, oblivious to the fact that Gojyo was intently watching him.
The redhead's eyes shifted to Goku. "Oi...saru. Take your time...you know...while your at it...make one over there."
"Here?" Goku inquired, pointing to a spot.
Gojyo shook his head. "Nah. Waaaaaaaaaay over there. And make it...like...eight feet high so it'll be more intimidating."
"Why don't you help some? That'll take forever!" the boy whined.
I know. Hungrily licking his lips, he turned back to Tenpou; called out to his "younger" teammate. "Can't. I'm busy." And so Goku stomped away, heaving armfuls of snow. Now, Gojyo thought, to business.
"Tenpou."
No answer.
"Tenpouuuuu."
Nothing.
"Your hair's on fire."
Nothing.
Well, can't say I never told him. Who cares if he didn't hear? It was just as useful as talking to a wall. "I know you ain't Hakkai. And that's fine. As long as he gets back all right, you know?"
Nothing.
"You should just know that...you know...I've got nothin against ya, okay?"
Nothing.
"But you should also really know that I'm a horny bastard who doesn't give a damn sometimes."
Nothing.
