Sanzo released him, his eyes strewn with scornful disbelief as if he'd just been violated. Tenpou could have burst out laughing. "You..."

They were so alike. So the same. They were both allergic to the F-word.

"Why must both of you make friendship so complicated?" Tenpou teased. "Anyway, just come back before noon. Goku's starting to miss you and we should prepare ourselves for the attack. It'll be around dusk, if my knowledge of that type of youkai is correct."

"Who put you in charge?" said Sanzo sulkily, grabbing the cigarette pack from Tenpou and lighting himself up another one. He breathed deeply, relaxed a little, only to have the cigarette plucked from his lips as the other man leaned down close and whispered in his ear, words both silky and terrifying, giving him enough proof that Tenpou Gensui was truly a fatal menace.

"I am -always- in charge. Remember that."

And with those words, Tenpou walked past the stricken priest, his eyes glowing with satisfaction as he contemplated his newly acquired cigarette.

And with those words, Sanzo started to pity the marshal's celestial enemies.

****

At the corner of the wood, out of sight, but not out of earshot, stood Gojyo digesting the conversation as the faint smell of cigarette smoke- not Sanzo's brand at all - drifted towards him.

****

Tenpou felt especially soft right now- melting in his arms like cold fluffy soap scented feather down...