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Konzen Douji had a headache. Of course.
What was my aunt thinking? He had no answer. It would take a god of greater mental powers than Konzen's to fathom the whims of Kanzeon Bosatsu.
Only se could have thought of a Conclave of Gods, with representatives from pantheons that Konzen didn't know! Forget that: from pantheons that he had never even heard of.
The grand room they were in was presumably Hir creation. It seemed to stretch hundred of meters in each direction. Somewhere on the peripheries were vast tables laden with the delicacies of a hundred mortal civilizations. The smell was overwhelming, and Konzen didn't feel hungry in the least. But of course Goku did, and in the interests of keeping the monkey quiet and well-behaved, Konzen let himself be dragged to a table heaped with artful arrangements of fruits, mostly things Konzen had never seen before.
The wall behind the table was painted with a brilliantly colored mural of exotic jungles, with vines, flowers, and fruits in abundance. The servers behind the tables were godlings of whichever human empire this table represented. They were handsome, tawny-skinned men and women in appearance, although some of them had the heads of birds or apes. They wore elaborate multi-layered kilts, bracelets of gold, silver and copper, and necklaces of bright flowers. "May we help you, Worshipful Person?" asked one of the bird-heads.
"Huh, yes. Recommend some fruit that my young companion here would like."
"Perhaps the young person would tell the well-born servitors what fruits he already knows he likes?" said a melodious voice behind them.
Konzen turned and beheld a god so covered with vines and flowers that he seemed to have walked out of the mural. What skin could be seen was the same tawny color as that of the servitors, and his features seemed handsome but heavy and almost rough-hewn to Konzen's eyes. He held a stone cup in one hand, which emitted a thick, intoxicating scent as he sloshed the liquid within.
"Oh, yeah!' said Goku, delighted to be asked. "I like melons an' peaches an' lychees an' oranges an' jujubes an' pears!"
The god smiled, an enchanting expression. "Citlalic, give him some papaya, guava, pineapple, and cherimoya to try."
A woman piled a platter with fruits for Goku. He beamed and took it from her, then sat right down on the floor tiles to eat the new treats. The flowery god knelt elegantly next to him.
"You really are a little monkey, aren't you?" he said, his voice fond. "Try a sip of this. It goes well with fruit. With anything, really."
Konzen had a vast feeling of dread at these words, and he tried to reach out and snatch the offered cup away. He found himself frozen in place. The flowery god gave him a forbidding glance.
"You are not much of a god, are you?" he said. It was a statement more than a question. "Monkeys are well within my portfolio. I've a mind to take this little creature back with me."
Goku had the heavy cup in his hands and was sniffing the contents. Konzen watched helplessly.
"Here, kid, let me try that," said a familiar voice, and a large, strong hand reached out and took the cup.
"Although Konzen Douji may not be much of a god, I certainly am," said another familiar voice. Suddenly Konzen felt a hand on his shoulder and found that he could move. He turned, and found Field Marshall Tenpou Gensui close behind him. General Kenren was sniffing the cup. With his eyes on the flower god, he drank it off.
"Eh, I've had stronger," the general said, and dashed the cup to the floor, where it shattered and disappeared. "Eat your fruit, kid. It's so juicy, you don't need a drink."
“OK!" said Goku, and stuffed another piece of guava into his mouth.
"You insult me," growled the flower god, rising to his full height.
"No, Xochipilli, it is you who insult our hostess, the Merciful Goddess," said Tenpou. "This child was given into the care of Konzen Douji by hir. He is not a tidbit for your delectation, Prince of Flowers."
"Yeah, I'd scram, if I were you," said Kenren. "This is Field Marshall Tenpou Gensui of the Western Army of Heaven, and I'm his general. Go pick up someone else, and leave this kid alone."
The Prince of Flowers frowned fearsomely. He snapped his fingers, and his filled cup reappeared. Then he stalked off, oozing confidence and sensuality. Kenren chuckled.
"Looks like we should accompany you at the rest of this event, Konzen" said Tenpou. "What a shame. A guest should be better behaved than that one."
"Thank you," said Kozen, from his heart.