[A/N] Yes! This is the epilogue! XD Anyways, homework's a screw. Thanks to the people mentioned below who pretend to actually like this fic and take the time to review:

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Ewen: There! ^^;; Don't mind the cliffhanger, now...ha, ha...did you read "The Veela Sin"? It's a really good H/D fic. Um...let's just consider the virgin tongue a slip of the...hand. Yeah.

tensaispira: *plays Moonlight Sonata* Ta-ta-ta-da! EPILOGUE! XD

Star-chan: Muah! *glomps* Boku mo Daisuki! ^^ At least you can go on the com, I'm not even allowed to go on bloody Microsoft Word. ==;; He, he. Come onlinelah...

jashuang: LOL, I guess XD GAH! KONZEN DID NOT DIE! [But he's gonna die anyway. *shrug* Makes no diff.] :P

AD-chan: =^_^= Ta-da!

ALL KINDS OF GODDESS: Erm...*backs away* I'm scared.

Cutie-pie16: Aww...so cannot go later Kinokuniya meh? *pouts* Yep, epilogue oledi...meet ya online! ^_^ O-nee-chan wa! XD

Aspara: Thanks! ^^ But I think that's enough lime...hehe – sorry KonzenxGoku fans! But I'm too sleepy to think of anything that's limey right now...currently 2.30 am...

Darklighter: Philippines, eh? I'm in Malaysia. Yeah, I read...sometimes, but I read Harry/Draco though, not Harry/Ron – I used to read that, but *points dramatic finger at Ewen* She corrupted me! XD Hehe. :P No offense ne...

chris: Okay...here's the epilogue...

CutEy_GoKu: Uh...*sweatdrops* clicking the button "Submit" once is enough...I think you submitted around 9 revs! ^^;;

YuiKoshiro: Hehe...hentai jiji eh...lol. Yeah...and thanks! ^^ *glomps*

rocky-road7: Well...not really. XD Me only twelve! Not experienced! Oh my god, I wrote it well!? *faints* Oh god, I can't believe it...*dies* THANK YOU!!!

Aki Rei: Konzen's not dead! XD But he's gonna be anyway...

Cylca: LOL. Hehe...*sweatdrop* Gomen-lah...but the others all voted for KonzenxGoku lime! ^^;; So... *grovels* GOMEN!

gallatica: =.= Hmm...let's see...I have to see the feedback first. If you guys don't want me to do a sequel then I won't take the trouble. ;)

M-i: Thank you! Wuv ya!

crazzzybanana: Oh god, thank you! *glomps* And thanks for adding me to your favourite authors list! XD

Darklighter: Hardy har har...well, y'know, schoolwork. =.= Screw school! The homework's a ton.

nan: OKAY! ^^

Deru: nyahaha! XD Ne – so still can't believe that the one writing this is your taekwondo no kouhai, ne? :P

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[NOTE:] Should I do a SEQUEL!? This is the last time I'm asking this, so please make up your mind, dear readers, and tell me if I should!

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Of Golden Eyes

#13 - Eternal Promise

Goku screamed in anguish, as the excruciating pain shook his body, quaking in vicious tremors, as something inside Goku tried to crawl its way out, unfortunately succeeding as it shredded Goku's sane mind to pieces, slashing what remained of its logic until it was no more than an annoying buzz. He yelled in agony, as the creature inside him clawed fiercely, hideously, mercilessly, at his heart, his mind, his soul.

He let out one final cry, throwing his head back as he began to glow.

The silent clunk of the diadem as it landed on the ground, in shattered fragments, echoed through the room.

Hell was unleashed.

****

Homura could only stare, and gape in shock as the extraordinary transformation took place. A brilliant burst of hot, white light glowed around Goku, engulfing the child as it burned, brightly, dazzlingly. Ears grew sharp and nails turned vicious claws, and he could do naught but just look, gazing at the broken child, as the youth's blonde lover lay dangerously injured, motionless, on the child's lap.

Long russet hair began to fly wildly around Goku, and Homura watched as those beautiful, innocent golden eyes, shining with unshed tears a moment ago, fluttered close; before opening up again to reveal brilliant, equally entrancing golden slits – similar to those of a tiger.

A hungry tiger, lusting for blood.

For prey.

Homura felt himself, for once, shuddering under that persistent golden gaze; the golden gaze that was currently laced with bloodlust, a craving for murder, a hunger for killing so intense, it shook Homura as he felt the immense youryoku spilling out from Goku's being in waves. And he froze, as what used to be Goku slowly, very slowly turned those panther-like golden eyes upon him.

And bared his fangs. Roared. Struck.

What happened had happened so fast; Homura hadn't even realized he had been hit, that is, until he found himself sprawled across the room. He winced as he sensed a broken rib, and blanched as he saw blood gushing from a deep cut on his left arm. He looked up, and immediately regretted it as his eyes met radiant golden, a dangerous golden that glimmered with quite bloodlust as its gaze locked on his.

And felt a small, but immensely powerful, fist connect with his left cheek, and before he knew it, he had been slammed into a pillar, landing on the cold rock with a sickening crack as the pillar broke; spilling beige pebbles in its wake.

Sliding down that hard marble, Homura stifled a look between a shocked grimace and a smirk, before wiping the blood trickling from his mouth with the back of his hand. And his gaze averted to Goku, or what used to be Goku, as the deadly youth stared back at him, the blood thirst evident in those catlike golden eyes.

'So this is whom they call Seiten Taisen,' Homura thought.

'Son Goku - the one whom is known as the Great Sage equal of Heaven, otherwise known as Heavenly Shaman Son Goku, the golden-eyed heretic, the only one to have been born from the sacred boulder on Mt. Kaka; a corrupted little thing born from the Earth's aura, the essence of the Earth.'

'A beautiful itan with exceptional bronze eyes, Son Goku was never looked on kindly by the gods, for he was impure, an unclean being that was nowhere as serene nor pure as any of the gods in Tenkai – in their opinion.'

'Despite this, this Son Goku caught Tentei's eye; for he had power and strength so great, it was said that he could destroy Heaven in but a blink of an eye, if anyone prompted him to – that was why he was named 'Seiten Taisen', for he had power equivalent to those of Heaven.'

'His powers were dangerous should they fall in the hands of another, therefore he was brought up before Kanzeon Bosatsu, the Goddess of Mercy for the sake of judgment; and also for the sake of those in Tenkai, who were afraid that one might use this heretic to rebel against the forces of Heaven.

'And Heaven, being as it was, were afraid for Nataku's suffering health; for should the Toushin Taishi, the unclean being whom alone in Heaven is granted permission to slay, be in an unfit condition to battle – chaos would resonate both in Heaven and Earth. Therefore, Son Goku was taken to Heaven; for fear that Nataku could not accomplish his function as a Toushin Taishi otherwise. '

'But that was only one of the many reasons.'

'The number of heretics was not one. After all, I, Homura, too am a heretic. But this one itan, Son Goku, was special. After all, his strength originated from the collection of the essence of the Earth, and he was – is – the only heretic to have had that history. But not only that, his golden eyes were just as equally unique, possessing a powerful yet innocently childlike aura that penetrated all souls. '

'The beautiful golden eyes, and the soft, silken chocolate hair, and with a lean and lithe body for a child of twelve, Son Goku was a heretic that all could die for. Possessing an eerie beauty about his being, the other gods held suspicion for his loveliness, despite his heretical nature.'

'They were probably envious of his beauty, but so what? Hotly jealous, a number of gods had voted for the heretic's elimination, and had increased even more so when the hot blonde of Heaven had fallen for the same child that was the golden-eyed heretic.'

'Well, yes, I cannot stand to think that a mere child had won over me in winning Konzen's heart and love. I, Homura, am as equally beautiful and as good-looking as anyone else, and I believe it to be so. [A/N: Very true. Damn XD – face it Homura, you're not as good-looking as Konzen! Mwahaha!!] And I admit that seeing Konzen Douji, the one who dumped me, fall for a little kid is rather...humiliating.'

'So damnit, I want my pride back, no matter what fucking business I have to do. And anyway...Son Goku is definitely as alluring as they talk of him, and also as beautifully innocent. I pride myself in having broken that innocence.'

'It's only just beginning.'

Homura smiled, a hauntingly wicked smile as he held his gaze up to meet Goku's.

'Yes...'

He stood up, clutching his wounded arm with his right one.

Everything's just started.

****

Golden eyes fluttered open, and everything dissolved in a blur as Goku struggled to regain his vision. He blinked once, twice, and everything all but seemed to swirl in a whirl of colours around him.

'Where am I?'

The world began to dim, and Goku was engulfed in darkness, swallowed whole by the black fullness of it. He looked around in fear, and shuddered at the lack of light as the darkness began to run its cold fingers over skin, whispering down his neck as its chilly breath sent shivers down his back.

'Konzen...' Goku whimpered desperately, willing with all his might for his blonde lover to appear, to come to him, to embrace him, to make him feel safe.

Then, quite unexpectedly, the darkness was lifted, and Goku regained his senses as the scene was portrayed quite clearly before his very eyes. Homura, bruised and bloody, crimson streaks everywhere in the room...a glint of gold from the corner of the room caught his eye, and he whirled around.

Golden, sun-kissed strands of blonde were what he saw. Goku's golden eyes widened in horror as he recognized the limp figure on the ground, motionless and bloody, lavender robes soaked with scarlet stains. And at the pale face, the face that he had come to recognize and love so much... 'Konzen!' Goku screamed, and tried to run towards his fallen lover. But he couldn't. No matter how he tried, he couldn't...he looked down at his hands, and his knees grew weak as he gasped in shock, his mind momentarily reeling as he tried to steady himself.

Blood. His hands...they were stained with blood.

Konzen's blood.

And as he looked down at his ten fingers again, he saw that somehow, his nails had grown into claws, sharp and deadly as they glinted dangerously in the light. Claws? Goku whispered to himself, and his mind gave a lurch as he saw the pieces of his broken circlet on the floor, broken and forgotten.

What the –

'No,' Goku whispered, as the jolt of panicked realization hit him.

Seiten Taisen has been released...

'Yes, Son Goku,' a familiar voice whispered at the back of his mind. Goku turned, and got another shock as he saw the owner of the voice. The said one had long chocolate hair, a luscious body and an evil smirk on his face as his gaze settled on Goku's golden one.

'I have imprisoned you at the back of your mind. Now you can do naught but just watch me fight; and kill your precious little family.'

And Goku felt another lurch coming from the back of his stomach as he saw the intruder's eyes. Golden eyes, like his.

'You are...' Goku murmured softly, as he stepped closer to the other.

Seiten Taisen could only look at Goku, the corners of his mouth curving into a maniacal smile.

****

"Goku!"

There was a sound of hurried footsteps down the corridor, and Tenpou and Kenren skidded to a halt as they reached Homura's room. "Goku! Are you all right - " Tenpou clapped a hand to his mouth, and felt something twist uncomfortably inside him as his emerald gaze traveled around the blood-stained room. Kenren reached soon after, and went through the same reaction as his brunette lover, clutching his chest tightly. And their eyes both settled on the same thing: Konzen.

Konzen, lying motionless and bloody, pale and injured, on the cold stone floor; crimson soaking his purple silken robes, as he remained oblivious to it. His beautiful, long strands of blond were now splashed with taints of scarlet, and Tenpou felt a pang in his heart for the golden-haired deity as he lay, nearly lifeless, on the ground.

"Oh, dear Kami," Tenpou whispered uneasily, and let his arm drop to his waist. "Dear, dear Kami. *Konzen*..."

Kenren was suffering from shock, and, regaining a little of what was his composure, ran over to the unconscious Konzen. The redhead winced as he felt warm blood on his hands, and Tenpou kneeled down beside Konzen and examined his pulse, checking for a sign of whatever faint life that Konzen still held in his grasp.

"He's alive," Tenpou whispered, his voice trembling with hope. "He's deeply hurt, but otherwise...he's alive, Kenren." He felt his shoulders shaking in blessed relief, and it was then he realized that he had actually started crying. "Oh god, Kenren – he's alive!" he sobbed quietly, and buried his head in his lover's chest. The said General smiled, and patted Tenpou's back softly, reassuringly. "It's all right, Tenpou...he's alive," he murmured, not really believing it. "Goku?"

No response.

"Oi, Goku!" Kenren muttered casually, albeit something in his soul, something in his instinct told him that there was something wrong. Erroneous. "Goku!" Tenpou shifted uneasily against him, his eyes warily alert, and his hands shook as he tugged on Kenren's black leather. "Kenren," he choked softly. "Goku's – Goku's diadem!"

And Goku's diadem it was. The redhead's scarlet eyes immediately flickered to the pieces of broken golden, and back to Seiten Taisen. At Seiten Taisen who was now looking at them murderously, hungrily. His crimson orbs darted to the diadem again, and a look of fear crossed his face as the Truth dawned on him, striking him hard in the ass. Hard.

"Oh, bloody fuck."

Tenpou shook unsteadily in his arms, and his fingers quivered as he found Kenren's own, and clasped it tightly, seeking comfort and reassurance. The redhead was more than happy to oblige, and brought him closer in a tight embrace. Tenpou trembled silently, his gaze never once leaving the broken circlet.

"Oh God, Kenren! His diadem...the diadem was his limiting device!" Tenpou nearly sobbed, but withheld them as he peered at Goku. "Goku – Goku is not a human nor youkai, and he's definitely not a god, Kenren. He – Goku - is the symbol of disaster, of uncontrollable turmoil, of destruction."

"Goku's a legendary being, Kenren. The one endowed with power equal to that of Heaven..."

"Seiten Taisen Son Goku," he murmured unconsciously. "The Great Sage equal to Heaven – Heavenly Shaman Son Goku."

And then, Goku turned. Or what used to be Goku, turned its luminous, catlike golden eyes upon them, and licked its lips. Bloodlust and craving were evident in those orbs of topaz, and Kenren shivered under that gaze. That wasn't Goku...it couldn't be. The innocent, childish little ray of sunshine in Heaven that was Goku...he wasn't like this. Goku didn't have that bloodthirsty look in his eyes; and Goku certainly wasn't capable of possessing such savage bloodlust.

But...

Kenren snapped back to reality in time, just as he heard Seiten Taisen's battle cry. A clawed fist lunged forward, missing his cheek by sheer inches as Kenren dodged the punch; barely. "What the fuck!?" He had little time to curse as a kick came his way, narrowly missing his neck. "Tenpou, move!" He steadied himself, and settled into a battle stance. "Well, hell, Goku," he whispered softly, as Seiten Taisen punched him again, "Looks like Ken-nii-chan will have to punish you for your naughtiness."

"Kenren!" Tenpou cried, readjusting his broken glasses as his green eyes widened in fear. "Goku! NO!"

And violet eyes flickered open.

****

"Ken-nii-chan!" Goku screamed in his mind, rattling on the bars of his consciousness as he tried desperately, but failed, to try and help. Furious, his golden eyes shining with misty tears, he turned to Seiten Taisen in despair. "Please," he said softly, his voice barely a whisper. "Don't..." He turned his melancholy gaze to Tenpou and Kenren, as Kenren swiftly dodged more attacks, his crimson eyes wary and alert as they observed Goku's every move.

Please...

****

"You fucking kid!" Kenren cursed out loud, as Seiten Taisen's fist hit him squarely in the jaw; and the General was hurled across the room with immense force, his expression one of complete disdain. Tenpou blanched, as he heard the sickening crack of marble and broken ribs, and was immediately at Kenren's side.

'God, no - '

"Koibito!" the brunette cried, shaking Kenren's shoulders, extracting no answer, as Kenren lay weakened, broken and bleeding profusely in his hands. Shakily, Kenren raised up one hand, and cupped Tenpou's face with his broad fingers, stroking that beautiful porcelain skin one last time as his crimson gaze met Tenpou's hazy emerald. A crystalline tear slid down his cheek, and Kenren grinned cheerfully, but lovingly as he brushed that tear away.

I love you, he mouthed softly.

Tenpou shivered quietly, and bent down, placing a sweet and tender kiss on Kenren's lips; caressing his lover's mouth gently for the last time, and placed a soft kiss on the General's forehead as Kenren's head rolled back, a serene and peaceful smile gracing the curve of his lips. A sign, it was, that smile - that he had lived his life well. The Marshal began to quake gently, and he hugged Kenren's body close, nuzzling his face into his lover's neck.

Broken and despondent, a glint of silver caught Tenpou's eye. A wet tear cascaded down his cheek, and he smiled his last smile, and looked back at Konzen.

"Konzen," he whispered brokenly. "May your love not end like ours did...I hope you will get back together," Tenpou reached out, "You and Goku. Forever." And as quick as a flash, Tenpou grabbed the silver dagger.

And plunged it deep into his heart. 

'I'm coming.'

He could only stare blankly at the red blood seeping out from under his white coat, soaking into his tie as it crept nonchalantly onto his shirt. And Tenpou fell, those silver tears falling as he waited for Death to come, to claim his soul.

'Kenren.'

And came Death did; smiling in melancholy, it waved away what remained of Life in Tenpou's self, cleansing him of all energy, draining all that he had; before grasping Tenpou's consciousness in its cold, dark grasp, and whisking away into the night.

'I love you. Forever.'

****

Seiten Taisen only gazed at the two limp, lifeless bodies – at the two lovers who had died for and with love. He snorted quietly as he turned his catlike eyes upon Homura, who had fallen unconscious from the sheer bleeding, and Konzen.

Almost immediately, Seiten Taisen felt a stab of guilt and sadness pierce through his heart, but waved it away as though it were naught but a mere jolt of emotion. And it was. He, Heavenly Shaman Son Goku, could not feel, would not feel any emotion, any feelings, any love. Seiten Taisen almost spat out the word "Love", and was utterly disgusted by that one word and the meanings it brought.

Love was naught but a pain. Yes. It only made matters complicated and difficult – one was much better off with love. Love made people weak, broke them, tamed them. And that was what exactly had happened with his alter ego, Son Goku, the childish little itan that craved for attention, for care, for love.

And had been crushed by the last option. What, wasn't it for love that his adolescence was taken? Destroyed and broken by one too many? Yes. And wasn't it love that had broken him, playing him right into that bastard Homura's trap, and shattered what remained of his childlike innocence, the beautiful innocence that was once Goku's main virtue?

Yes.

Love did not bring anything...

In fact, it made you lose everything.

Love was for weak people.

Or at least...

That was what he wanted to believe.

****

Golden and sapphire orbs fluttered open wearily, and Homura could do nothing but just blink, and lean against the wall, and flinched as he moved his bleeding arm. The bloody thing was throbbing and aching so painfully, that what he felt like doing was to just cut the bloody thing off. But of course, he couldn't do that...

Everything was in a blur of colours, and he just lay there, drifting between the edges of consciousness, teetering on the edge of collapsing as he felt his energy seeping away, little by little. And so, he just settled for being silent, and from the corner of his eye, he could have sworn that Seiten Taisen was hesitating.

'Fuck,' he thought, and that was the last thing he remembered before he finally jumped off the cliff; and plunged into blessed oblivion.

****

'Stop!' Goku screamed, dragging on Seiten Taisen's mind with all his might, pulling him back, and trying to stop him from harming his beloved. 'Not Konzen!'

Seiten Taisen snarled at Goku, and waved Goku aside as he raised one bloody clawed hand, ready to strike the heavily breathing blonde that lay below him. As he did, he did the unfortunate mistake of looking at Konzen's face. For it was then that amethyst orbs chose to flicker open, and Seiten Taisen felt that pang of guilt again; only that it was even stronger than before.

And made another fatal mistake as he hesitated, his hand quivering as he tried to strike the final blow. As those deep, enigmatic violet eyes gazed so deeply into his own golden orbs, he felt as though Konzen had seen through him, seen through everything...as though he understood him, knew his very soul from inside out. Flashbacks replayed unwillingly in his mind, images of him and Konzen, images of Goku and Konzen, and how their love came to be.

Sugee, kira-kira shi ta na...

Tears began to well in his golden eyes, and they began to cascade down his face, tracing a hot trail of wetness down his cheeks as they did so. Konzen sat up, with much effort, clutching his abdomen painfully as he looked Seiten Taisen in the eye.

Taiyou no mitai da...

"Kon..." he murmured brokenly, as those understanding violet eyes began to search into his very soul, plunging into his heart, and it was as though Goku had resurfaced, as the innocent golden orbs began to flicker in those luminous cat slits. "...Zen..." Regaining his composure, Seiten Taisen struck out with his claws, as he struggled to slash at the blonde deity, but failed to do so, in fear of the mysterious amethyst gaze that rendered him senseless.

And was, indeed, rendered senseless when Konzen crushed his mouth to his in a passionate kiss. Stunned and momentarily paralyzed from pleasure, Seiten Taisen was entirely submissive as Konzen began to ravish his lips, brushing against them repeatedly; before capturing the whole of his mouth in one kiss, relishing in the taste that was Goku's, before murmuring a simple incantation that only Gods knew.

Unable to stand it any longer, Seiten Taisen surrendered at the sound of that incantation – that ever-familiar spell that was used to return the limiter, and retreated. As the golden diadem encircled itself around Goku's head, everything changed back to what it was, and what were once sharp claws buried themselves in Konzen's golden hair, caressing the luscious strands of sun-kissed hair that were Konzen's. Hooking his other hand around Konzen's neck, Goku drew Konzen deeper into the kiss, and stayed there, each savouring the passionate taste of each other...

...Until Goku tasted blood in his mouth.

He drew back, shocked, only to find Konzen coughing up blood, the scarlet substance spilling onto his silken robes. And it was only then did Goku realize that Konzen's robes were stained with dark crimson, and that blood was still slowly creeping onto his clothes. Konzen fell to his knees, as he clutched his chest in agonized pain.

"Konzen," Goku began in distress, "You're - "

Konzen raised a hand to silence Goku, but not before he started hacking up blood again. "Bakasaru," he murmured, and cupped Goku's face with his gloved hands. "I'm going to die anyway..." he coughed again, "But Goku...aishiteru." he choked quietly, his vision blurring as everything him began to darken.

Goku could only gape, and he smiled, hugging Konzen's weakened form, placing a soft kiss on Konzen's temple. "Ore mo, Konzen," he whispered. "I love you too." Konzen smiled, a true, genuine smile, and stroked Goku's cheek gently with his right hand, lovingly, affectionately.

"I'll come back for you, Goku," Konzen murmured. "I swear I will. No matter how long it takes me, no matter who I will be...I will love you forever. And I will come back for you." Goku nodded silently, tears falling. And Konzen grasped Goku's hands tightly in his own, capturing the warm, brittle hand in his own broader one.

Before it fell, and Konzen's body went limp in Goku's arms.

"Konzen?" Goku asked quietly, his eyes shimmering with tears. "Konzen...?"

All that greeted him was silence...absolute silence, as Konzen's beautiful violet eyes fluttered close, that perfect smile to be forever engraved on his picturesque face.

"KONZEN!"

****

" – Committed treason against Heaven, therefore..."

Goku was only half-listening to the speech. His usually sparkling golden eyes were dull and lifeless, and his cheeks were freshly wet from the tears he had shed. But there was one thing he knew: Ken-nii-chan, Ten-chan and Konzen had somehow been punished to be damned in the cycle of reincarnation forever. And as for him...well, it was about to be announced anytime now.

"Homura," his guardian's name was announced. "All memory you have of Son Goku and the three sinners shall be erased. Shall the time come, however, you shall regain them respectively." There was a hint in Tentei's voice that whispered, "If it comes." Homura knew just as well, that since he was a half-heretic, he was damned to die someday, earlier than the other immortals.

Life was a bitch. But he didn't care.

"Seiten Taisen Son Goku," Tentei's voice boomed, his tone still monotonously expressionless, but hidden deep within those words were dark loathing and detestation. Goku looked up, his face sullenly neutral. "And not only that, you shall be imprisoned on Mt. Gogyo for one 500 years, as a punishment for the treason that you have committed against Heaven...is it clear!?"

Goku nodded dully, his eyes never leaving Kanzeon's being. The Goddess of Mercy could only look at him in disappointed regret, as she shook her head silently, an indication that she was allowed to give no help.

"You shall be forsaken of all memory you have of Tenkai and everything that has happened. It is only your name, which you shall remember, while others will be erased, forever cleared from your memory. Do you understand?"

Goku nodded again, and tears misted in his eyes.

'To forget everything about Ten-chan, Ken-nii-chan - '

'About Konzen...'

Konzen, the one and only one that he would ever love in his life. The one he held dear, cherished, was loyal to, devoted to...would risk his life for, die for...the one that he loved.

'Konzen...'

Tentei murmured something like an incantation, but it was barely audible, Goku didn't bother to listen to it. 'Memorius, Annihilatus,' Tentei whispered, waving his hand. As the spell took its effect, the golden-eyed child felt a blissful sensation surge through him, soothing his heart and caressing his soul. Images of his life flashed before his eyes: the time he was born, when he had been brought up to Heaven, when he had met Konzen...

And as he felt his memories being whisked away from his very soul, he struggled, tried to grasp the only thing that he could remember, wanted to remember...as he struggled to hold on to Konzen, his love, his sun...and closed his fingers around the warm memory, holding it close to his heart as everything else was taken away, everything; and he let them. They could take everything away...they could make him forget everything...

Everything, save for Konzen.

And he clasped it tightly, fluttering his golden eyes shut as the spell took its toll. Keeping it safe in his heart, Goku then stood up, as they brought him away from the halls of Tenkai, without his memories, without his love.

But with the sole reminiscence of Konzen; the only reminiscence he needed until he came back for him.

****

"I...I've been chained in the cell as long as I could remember," Homura whispered to himself, as he looked at the shackles on his hands. And he looked around, admiring the view of Tenkai, yet loathing it at the same time. "I..."

And a bundle slammed into him, almost knocking him over.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! Sumimasen!" The light-brown haired girl murmured in distress, picking up her belongings that were now strewn on the ground as she brushed dust off her green skirt. "I..."

Homura bent to pick up her items, and she blushed as his hand brushed against hers.

"I'm Homura," he murmured. "And you?"

"I – I'm Rinrei."

****

Goku stared dully out of the barren rocky cell, at the setting sun beyond the horizon. He reached out one shackled hand to the sunlight, and suffered a heavy bout of disappointment as he failed to grasp the sun. He leaned back against the wall, and rubbed absently at his shackles, before gazing longingly at the sun again.

"If this was the deep underground," he murmured, "I would rather not have known what freedom and loneliness were."

It must have been a few days, months, and years since he had left Tenkai without his memories. As his eyes fluttered close, he clutched his chest tightly, smiling, as he knew the soft, fragile memory that he had of Konzen was still there, but barely. It was wearing out with time, and day by day, his memory of Konzen grew fainter and fainter...until it was reduced to no more than the beautiful golden that was the sunlight. And squinted at the bright sunlight that strewn past the thick bars, and one single tear rolled down his cheek as he recalled Konzen's last words.

I will come back for you.

And, Goku believed, as he held the fading memory to his chest, he would. Isolated and terribly alone, Goku had been waiting for the day when the one he once called his sunshine would come to take him back.

Aishiteru, Goku. Wait for me, I'll come back for you...

But then, by that time...his memory of that one person had dimmed all together. The 500 years had taken its toll. He closed his eyes, and drifted off to siesta. He believed that someday, one day...he would be able to embrace the sunlight again, to nuzzle his face into the neck of the one that he loved.

Someday...

[OWARI]

~The End~

****

[A/N] I changed the ending a little. :P I decided to use that flashback for later... XD Anyway...since you guys want a sequel, all right, then. ^^ But I think I'll make Kougaiji the villain this time or so...MAYBE :P  But it'll be a week before I think of anything...Aspara? The sequel isn't AU, it's in Gensoumaden...*glomps Aspara* THANK YOU! XD Please continue "Lust" as soon as possible! You had to leave it at a cliffhanger...*pouts* And for the others, thank you too, for if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have completed this fic. To Star-chan, cutie-pie16 and enervate, DAISUKI! ^^ This is Gokugurl signing out.

-Finished at 2.16 AM, 12 January 2003.