Certainly, Devero couldn't explain how he'd done it. The task had seemed endless, interminable, until suddenly the sutra had been a messy, mud and blood-streaked heap on the bank of the river. He hadn't bothered to spend any time mulling over it, just hefted the bundle and taken Buttercup and gotten the fuck away from the sight of the fight.

He's not thinking about that right now, though. The only thing on his mind is his Sanzo, who's habitual reserve has apparently just fractured. Devero holds him close as he sobs, lips moving against platinum hair as he murmurs to Koumyou that "I'm here, you're here, we're together. It's all right. We're together."