Disclaimer(s)- I don't own Saiyuki or ANY of the Saiyuki Characters nor am I affiliated and therefore I am not making any profit from this story whatsoever. Saiyuki and its characters belong solely to Kazuya Minekura and all other respective creators/owners. I am just a fan. a BIG fan. a HUGE fan. A... well, you get the idea. I don't own anything but the 4 girls characters in the story.

***

Lightning split the sky as she finished her spell. The barrier was complete, a true masterpiece of Human science and Youkai magic.

"Ha," She thought "Come on, Sanzo Ikkou, see if you can stop us now!"

* * *

Kanzeon Bosatsu, the Merciful Goddess stared down into the image within the crystal water, idly scratching her stomach. "Hmm, lucky I saw this coming, or my boys may be in real trouble."

Her faithful retainer snorted, "'Lucky' she says…" He considered her style of thinking, wondering what she could have prepared for something like this. Then it hit him.

"Wait, you don't mean to activate…no….NO! They caused no change at all the last time, if anything they hindered the progress you started! And that was only the first 3! To bring in and waste the last 4… are you sure the ones you've chosen can handle the reversion process?"

"Of course." The Goddess replied slightly amused at his reluctance. It had never stopped her from doing what she wanted before – in fact, it had often given her the true determination to continue her plans – no matter how twisted. "The ones I have moulded this time around are already half awake. Their lives, though out of my control, have shaped them perfectly to hone their strength to do this…" I think, she said privately to herself.

He sighed, defeated. "Alright, but you know, if those 4 fail, it will be another 500 years before more can be moulded, other than the 3 from 50 years ago, which will only be another 450 years…" He mulled over the tragedy of those 3. Well, they were disposable, he thought. Still, it was a sad day on earth and in heaven when Faith, Sincerity and Kindness were lost.

While he was pondering these occurrences, Kanzeon hade leant down and swirled the water in the pond gently with the tips of her fingers. A new picture appeared, and of a very 'modern' group. The Goddess looked down benignly (well, as benignly as she could), and with breath as hot as a kiln, blew on the water, and through it to the picture it contained.

She smiled gently, "and now, we wait…"

***

The screen glowed with a haunting beauty, as Rachel stayed glued to the tiny caricatures as they moved and spoke.

THUMP

Great, she hade fallen off the edge of the couch… again. The three girls around her hooted in laughter.

"That's our Rachel! Have a nice trip?" Crowed Anita

Suki was rolling around in the bean bag clutching her sides as she laughed, when her belly growled…

Kim looked up from her intense study of the floor (to keep from laughing) and smirked knowingly "I take it, ladies, that is the half time bell – Suki's hungry. Pizza time?"

"Hell's Yeah!" Spoke the gastronomically glutton

Rachel growled at them all "Dammit, y'all better watch it or I'll scissor kick your asses – and how the HELL is she able to eat so much, and stay so small?"

"It's not fucking fair!" Moaned Anita, even though she too could eat a large amount without gaining – I love my metabolism she thought…

It was Spring break, and the four notoriously party-hard and completely monogamous girls were enjoying a relaxing evening at Rachel's place.

Rachel Taylor, a 20 year old uni student who studied at the conservatorium of music -and was one of the (if not the) top student – was holding the fort while her parents were away, and so, had invited her best girlfriends over for a movie/drool session for a week. She brushed back her wavy, chest length, light brown hair, and wondered how she could still grin after these 3 were still laughing at her. At 5'9'', she wasn't the shortest in the group, and that meant her long legs could reach places others couldn't. Her Blue eyes flashed, showing her best grin, she calmly walked over and kicked Anita in the shin. Hard.

Anita Hosey, the 21 year old drama student and part time yoga instructor yelled and laughed even harder, even though it hurt. It usually took a lot more to get Rachel this active, but Damn! She was so funny when she did act out! Anita let her best friend help her shakily to her feet, her long legs getting her the rest of the way – she easily the tallest of the group at 5'10''. She let her shoulder length black hair cascade over her shoulders as she continued to giggle, and wince at the same time. Her hazel eyes swam with tears of mirth and pain, and she quickly glanced an apology over at Rachel.

Rachel's eyes shone forgiveness, and she knew she could never be mad at her bff, they were so close, they could talk with glances alone – almost scarily accurately at that. The other 2 watched this exchange with amusement, following it easily, as they had been friends of the 2 for the last few years.

Kim looked up from under her bangs at her younger cousin as she continued to roll on the bean bag laughing. That girl was always one of 3 things, either hungry, laughing or teasing. Oh, well, she couldn't really expect too much more, she was only 18, and had just graduated – so she was still finding herself.

Suki Benson had Waist length red hair, dead straight and always in a plait, straight down the middle. Her eyes were an unusual shade, dark blue to be almost purple, not that Kim was one to talk… not with her eyes….

Suki was also the fairest of the group, with a spattering of freckles. At only 5'4" she was small in stature, but made up for it with her enormous charisma. She could charm a monkey out of his tree!

Suki looked across to notice her older cousin staring at her. Her laughter started to die, but she flashed a quick grin over at the blonde, and shook her head at her own antics. Suki loved her cousin more than anything. She was beautiful, even though she chose to ignore it, 3 years older than herself, and constantly hid her face behind cheekbone length fringe and bangs. Suki sighed; she wished she had her cousins' looks – full lips that were naturally red, cat like eyes and beautiful white blonde hair.

Suki knew Kim was often approached and even teased about her long fringe, to which she replied with a nod of the head, or if it got really bad, a scorching glare from beneath her bangs. Suki only knew of one time when she had willing pinned her fringe back – it was the first and last time. Something to do with her eyes… and that scar… she received so much attention at that time (not all positive) that she simply pulled out her hair, and never put it back again. Suki sighed again – a pity.

Rachel walked into the kitchen as her friends laboriously got themselves to their feet, groaning that their muscles were sore from laughing. Rachel smirked, karmic debt? She thought. She reached the freezer and clicked on the gas in the oven to get it ready for the frozen pizza's they were about to devour. The girls all moved to the kitchen table and collapsed into the chairs as though they hadn't been sitting watching their favourite show for the last 2 hours.

Rachel pulled out the choices. "OK, ladies are we Margherita girls tonight, or meat lover maids?'' The girls ignored her, already discussing their favourite topic – Saiyuki. Rachel sighed, knowing there would be no distracting once they got started. She popped both pizzas in the oven and walked over to join in the discussion.

***FLASHBACK***

The girls had only been 15 (or 12 in Suki's case) when they had met. They were all from different sides of the track, and had accidentally run into each other at the DVD store. They had each rushed over to the anime section during the after Christmas sales, and at the same had spotted the very last Saiyuki box set. They each laid a hand on the box, at which time a feral growling started.

Kim looked amusedly at her younger cousin, who was growling at the 2 new girls to take their hands of her property. The taller 2 girls (who were still strangers) decided 2 against two were better odds, and glared together at the other girls. Suddenly, a young boy of about 14 walked up and tried to lay hands on the box set, at which time he began to feel VERY cold, and spun to see the 4 girls eyeing him, much the same way a fox eyes a rabbit. He laughed nervously, and tried to make off with the box.

"It's OURS!" the girls spoke out together, practically yelling. The terrified boy dropped the set and bolted. The girls then looked towards each other in triumph, and suddenly saw the funny side of the situation. They began to giggle. Then laugh. By the time they got to the counter, they had swapped mobile numbers, and had agreed to split the cost of the box set. They then walked together to get a coffee and introduce themselves further, at which time they began the ties of a strong friendship.

***BACK TO REALITY***

"No WAY!" Anita yelled, accentuating her point with a thump of her fist "Gojyo is waaaaay hotter than that Bakazaru!"

"Whateva!" Suki replied, enjoying this comment – it was soooo Sanzo of her.

Kim just twitched her lips in amusement. Rachel had a hand to her forehead in frustration. "Guys! You are NEVER going to agree on that one!" She cried.

"Yeah, well…" Suki began "Hey, did you guys feel that? It was like…. Hot air….Really hot air…."

The girls had failed to notice the smell of gas slowly filling the room as they talked, and as suddenly as the heat hit the kitchen, it ignited.

***

The explosion was earth shattering, the girls turned slowly – too slowly! – to see the massive fireball rocketing out of the oven towards them. Each reacted differently: Rachel dived to the left, Suki froze, as did Anita, when Kim roughly pushed them to the floor…

Each of them subconsciously knew that they were too late, and memories flashed before their eyes… were those memories?...then….everything began…to…slow

….down…

Rachel looked up from the floor "…Wha?..." She queried, before fainting. Kim picked herself off the floor and slowly looked about…tapping Anita & Suki to get up. "What the hell?" Anita asked, as she turned about. Everything was… in slow motion… like in a movie. She suddenly had the strangest sensation of moving very fast. Suki was at a loss for words, Kim just glared, not comprehending the situation.

"Hell, I'm afraid, has nothing to do with it." A deep feminine voice replied.

All 3 girls turned, and at the same time realised they couldn't see Rachel. "Rachel! Where are you!?" Anita asked in a panicked voice.

"Over here" she groaned from behind the table. Anita rushed over to help her up, and at the same time asked if she was alright, and, if that was her voice just now.

Rachel got her feet under her and looked queryingly around. "Huh…no, that wasn't me – what the hell is this?"

" I have nooo idea." Anita replied.

"Why don't I fill you in." Came that same voice again.

All four girls spun to face the giant fireball coming out of the oven (which was still travelling at about 1inch per minute). Out of the centre of this , walked a semi naked woman, with long dark hair and scantily clad breasts. The girls gaped. It couldn't be….. "K..Kanzeon…Bosatsu…?" Rachael managed out in a strangled voice. Kim just stared, Suki's draw dropped, and Anita fell straight back onto her butt. "The Goddess from Saiyuki…. She's…real…." Anita gasped.

"How do, ladies." Kanzeon continued "As you can see, we don't have much time in the way of…well…..time, so I have a proposition for you." When she was positive she had their attention (not that the Goddess had ever doubted that) she proceeded.

"Ladies, as you can see, you are all about to die – in a particularly nasty way, I might add. The only reason I am here in your world is to offer you a unique chance, completely unique to you four. Do you know why?" She made the question sound like something from kindergarten, as though the girls would know automatically. She waited for an answer, a shake, a nod… the only one she got was from Kim, who shook her head slightly.

Kanzeon frowned "You are special. Once every 500 years, a concentrated amount of Heaven and Earths Chi collects around seven individuals at birth. These seven are imbued with certain gifts, which are used to either benefit or hinder mankind. There have been many throughout history that have chosen to stay in this world, while others used their powers in others'. You may have begun experimenting with yours already." She raised one delicate eyebrow, having calmly advised just now that the girls were one of these 'special people'.

She finished by stating "You know these beings, as Muses."

The girls gaped. A collective sigh/gasp, almost of relief – this had answered so many questions from their lives!

Suki finally found her voice. "So…what do you want from us?" Kanzeon smiled. " I want you to choose – there is a need for you elsewhere, but it is a hard path. Full of tests, not to mention heartache." She paused for the effect of her words to sink in. "So, you can come with me now, to your new lives, Muses, or you can stay here, and, well…" She waved a hand to the steadily creeping fireball behind her.

The girls looked at the Goddess, shocked. A choice between life or imminent death? Well, obviously….

Kim spoke "We'll go". The others looked at her solemnly & nodded – this was as real as it was going to get. She nodded in reply.

"Well, Okay then!" Kanzeon replied cheerily "Follow me then, girlies, and hurry along – this could get kinda hot…" And with that she walked straight back into the advancing fireball.

The girls felt a surge of trepadition. They turned and looked at each other, analysing their thoughts. Then, grasping hands, they walked as one, into the fire, and into their destiny…

END CHAPTER 1

Stay tuned! Further Chapters will be up within the week!