"There's no retiring from Sanzo, no," Koumyou reaches back with his bandaged hand and pulls the sutra from where it's sticking out of the back pocket of his jeans. "Apparently even death doesn't always free one of their duty."

Because Seiten is here, in his hand, even though he absolutely died.

He meets Devero's gaze for the first time since he'd started crying. Steady, not even offended, looking up and over at the bigger man. "I didn't kill him, if that's what you mean."