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See, the thing about dragons is that they're kind of in between a human and a kami. Lifespan wise that is. They’re not technically immortal like a kami but they do live a lot longer than a human or even a youkai.
Goujun wasn’t very old when he took up the role of liaison between kami and dragonkind. He had just figured out how to turn into two legged form a few days before he was called up before his elders.
It was just something they did, and he knew that of the clutches of eggs his mother hatched, he was one of very few to survive to adulthood, and of that few, he was also considered quite intelligent. Maybe that was a curse instead of a blessing. He often pondered on that when he was doing paperwork, cursing that his newly formed clawed fingers weren't meant to hold pens and fiddly ink bottles but yet there he was.
They gave him a fancy title yes, Dragon King of the Western Seas and Commander of the Western Heavenly Army but… dragons don’t really have a monarchy per se, and no matter what he did In the army, he was overruled and spoken over by kami with literal centuries more of experience than him.
Still, he tried his best, making some sort of pseudo friends along the way. Or at least friends in his way, the dragon way of watching over your brood and trying to make sure they don’t get in too much trouble. Didn’t help that he was sure both the beautiful marshal and handsome general had gone off into a mating pair and were typically possessive of each other. That he could understand, even with a slight tinge of envy that came along par for the course. It was hard to find a mate who could withstand the dry air and frankly, extremely boring living situation in heaven. The carefree dragons playing on the seas had better lives all around, even if they didn’t have said monarchy.
Dragons also didn’t really believe in reincarnation. They just lived and died like any other living creatures. No gods -not when the current ones were such selfish creatures of course, no idols, no kings other than in name, just being. The waters were beautiful, fish were tasty, and harassing those bipedal monkeys that strayed too far from land was an extremely fun pastime to bother believing in anything past that.
But often, you don’t need to believe in reincarnation for reincarnation to believe in you.
*****
Jeep regularly dreams of strange things. Of when he wasn’t cat sized, he was very much larger than dog size, especially in his dreams. In those dreams he would talk and interact more with Master, whom he loved, and Annoyance, not as much. He remembers wanting to spend more time with Master, who for some reason had longer hair, but Annoyance, who conversely had shorter hair, was always in the way and it infuriated him to no end.
Current Jeep didn't understand why Dream Jeep didn't just bite Annoyance till he left him and Master alone. It worked so far for him after all. All the times when he was guarding Master's bed but Annoyance kept trying to slip his way in. How dare he.
That’s why Jeep never held back in giving Annoyance little nips and scratches whenever he got his red headed self too close to Master, even when it wasn't night time. A dragon needs to keep his guard up to protect what was his!
The journey they were on was fun. They had a lot of close calls and dangerous times of course but Jeep was always there to save the day and bring them back to safety. Jeep liked it a lot. Master kept on letting Annoyance into bed though, and in the end Jeep settled for yielding a fraction of the bed space to that redhead but he made sure to always lie across his face right as Annoyance fell asleep.
Why?
Probably because the sound Annoyance made as he gasped for air was extremely hilarious.
He liked the other two as well, Monkey always treated him well even if he sometimes stole his food, while The Other One gave Jeep his privacy and begrudgingly tried not to smoke too close to him. The Other One also interrupts Annoyance when he starts being too touchy with Master in front of him. Jeep always respected him for that.
Master and Annoyance were growing old though. Them and The Other One started moving slower and taking their time to do things. Not Monkey though. Monkey never seemed to change on the outside. He changed a lot on the inside though. Jeep thought that he could get along better with Monkey more as the years went by. Monkey stopped trying to steal his food too which was always a plus point. He also made what Master called Dragon Kibble, but sometimes Master forgot and called it cat kibble instead. It happened more often than not nowadays.
One day Master brought Jeep to the edge of their town.
“We can’t take care of you like you should any more.” Master said quietly, tears glinting in his wrinkled eyes. “You’re still a young dragon, I’ve researched enough about your kind. Go to the ocean. I’m sure you’ll find your friends and maybe even a partner of your own.”
Jeep didn’t want to go. He had grown up so much alongside the four of them but there had been a longing that was growing in him. Something that called out for him to bathe in a large lake full of salty water, eat tasty fish instead of kibble, and annoy the bipedals for fun.
“Kyuu.” He said, his deepening voice full of love as he made up his mind. This would be like their Adventure! But just him though. Not to worry, he won't take too long. He nuzzled Master one last time, and for old times sake, nipped Annoyance on his drooping cheek and flew off into this sunset.
Maybe he’ll check in on The Other One and Monkey as well. Maybe. They're not that far from Master and Annoyance. Just… just a quick check in at the place his instincts told him to go to then he’ll come straight home.
But the glimmer of light reflecting off water right in the furthest distance was just… Just... So... Beautiful.
****
Goku placed the joss sticks in front of the altar. His friends stared back at him, caught with large smiles on their happiest days. Hakkai and Gojyo dressed in their best, standing beside Sanzo in what looked to be his stuffiest priest attire. Jeep was a blur of movement perched on Gojyo’s head, a little black bowtie completing his look. Goku had taken the picture and he had immediately dropped the camera right after so he didn’t get one with him inside. It was a small regret but he had made his peace with it since then.
His hackles suddenly rose and he turned to see a young man standing at the temple door. He was very pale, with stark white hair and red eyes. Goku paused, his mind working overtime as he tried to make sense of who this person could be and why does he feel so, of all things, familiar.
“I was too late.” The unfamiliar man spoke as if he wasn’t used to the words. “Master’s already gone, isn’t he?” Goku looked at how he was staring at the picture on the altar. “All of them have. Only you’re still here.”
Goku gave a sudden smile then, feeling years of loneliness melt away at the realization. “You’ve grown up a lot, Jeep.” The white dragon was now taller than he was, not that Goku had ever been anything above average.
“Kyu- Yes. Master was right. Dragons can turn into two legs when we’re older.” Jeep looked around, smiling as he recognised the surroundings. “Things look different from up here.”
****
Dragons have mismatched lifespans. Not as long as kami, not as short as mortals. But long enough to reminisce a bit longer with the sole spirit of the earth who needed it.
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Omake
Goku, staring at the man in front of him : So... Dragon kibble?
Goku internally : fuck, was that insensitive, should I have asked if he wanted tea or something else what if he wants to leave now? I wanna talk about so many things an-
Jeep, suddenly excited and bouncing up and down : I never thought you'd ask!!