Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki or the characters

Chapter 1: Hungry and Horny

The moon was unfriendly and cold tonight; it glared menacingly at the town from its place behind the heavy cover of clouds that hid the stars and sent the streets into darkness. The wind was non-existent and the trees stood silently. All the doors were closed and locked for the night, untrusting and wary of the shrouding darkness.

Four men who had been travelling together had chosen this town to spend the night, though they really didn't have a choice. Their only options were a rundown motel, or the surrounding forests; they chose the place with an actual bed.

"I'm hungry," whined Goku, a teenage boy with spiky brown hair, as he stared out the window, his chin resting on the dusty sill. A golden diadem shone in the dim light of the room and was wrapped around his forehead securely.

"Shut up, monkey," replied Gojyo from his place on the bed. His long red hair fanned out underneath him. Opening his eyes, revealing the same dark red that colored his hair, he stared at the ceiling. "You're always hungry and it's damn annoying."

"I can't help it," Goku shot back testily. "It could be worse though: I could be complaining about not having sex in however long it's been instead. But then I'd be stepping into your territory, wouldn't I?"

"Watch it, monkey-boy," Gojyo threatened, shooting up into a sitting position. "Don't pick a fight with me because you can't get laid in any town we visit."

"You're nothing but a dirty old man," Goku growled. "All you think about is girls."

"All you think about is food."

"I'm always hungry!"

"I'm always horny!"

"SHUT UP ALREADY!" thundered the blond man who had been sitting at the table, listening to the argument with increasing irritation. He put a hand on his gun and his violet eyes flashed dangerously. "I'm not listening to your bullshit about food or women tonight. The next person to mention it is getting a bullet in the stomach or lower; you won't have to worry about being hungry or horny anymore."

Gojyo and Goku glared at each other in a stony silence. Sanzo was serious and he could be pretty scary when he threatened the use of his gun. Neither of them doubted for a moment that he would carry through with that threat.

"My, my, Sanzo," Hakkai chuckled, his visible green eye squinting in amusement. A small white dragon had settled itself on his shoulder, dark brown hair brushing against the top of its back. "You're more violent than usual tonight."

"They're pissing me off more than usual tonight," Sanzo replied. He shook out the newspaper he had been reading and opened it to the page he had been interrupted from.

"I just try to ignore them," Hakkai informed helpfully.

"Has that ever worked for you?"

"Never."

"Figures."

Outside, a crash sounded loudly as a trash can toppled over and rolled out from an alley near the motel. Goku looked out the open window again, looking for the source of the commotion. A flash of red caught his eye.

A girl with long red hair ran from the alley, hitting the wall of another building as she attempted to turn at her high speed. She caught herself and sprinted down the street, looking over her shoulder as she ran. Six youkai spilled into the street after her, stumbling over one another in their haste to leave the alley at the same time. In moments, they too darted down the street, gaining ground on the girl with the flaming hair into the night.

A/N: Okay, so this is my first Saiyuki fic. I'm not really sure where this is going so far, but I'll figure it out eventually. If you have good ideas that you want incorporated, send me an email and I'll do my best.

I did my best to capture each of the Sanzo party accurately in the few lines of dialogue then had. Well, I did my part, and now you can do yours: Review!

WFA