This story is under some editing, and possibly some major alteration on the plot. Thanks.

Disclaimer: Saiyuki is not mine. But Mara is...

Enjoy!

Not Meant To Be By Your Side

Kanzeon Bosatsu sat alone on her chair nearby the pond filled with blooming lotus, her legs crossed and her left hand propping her head, a yawn escaped her mouth as she gazed down on the quarreling Sanzo-tachi. She was getting really bored watching them lately. Everyday was the same old routine,the same old bickering and fighting, the same old swearwords, Kanzeon was just straight out bored of it. She felt the need to spice up this trip and make it the entertaining show that it was once. Kanzeon kept on spinning her brain, how could she make their trip watch-worthy again? Kanzeon smirked as a solution popped up into her brain.

Chapter 1: Meeting an Old Friend

The sun was already setting when the gang arrived at a small village, one of the many that they crossed on their little picnic to the West. They have been traveling for months and months but their destination seemed to be no where nearer. The four got off the jeep, chattering as the white dragon transformed. After the dragon had settled on its master' shoulder, they started looking around for an inn where they could spend a night in. After an hour wasted on searching for an inn, the group found out that this small village had no inn. This really threw them into a bad mood, Goku started yelling about food and as always Gojyo tried to shut him up when in the end, both of them were forced to shut up by Sanzo's Harisen.

Hakuryuu 'kyuu'ed when it sensed that its owner wasn't feeling as cheerful as he was one hour ago. It tried to comfort its owner by nuzzling him, the white dragon received a pet from Hakkai as a reward for its effort.

Gojyo, obviously annoyed at Sanzo, turned his back on Sanzo, 'tch'ing all the while. Focused on his annoyance towards the priest and at the thought of spending another night under the sky, he lost control of his own feet and accidentally bumped into a girl with long grey hair. Her hair covered half of her face, revealing only her left grey eye. She was wrapped in black trousers a white long-sleeved shirt, the boots that she wore reached up to the lower part of her knees.

"Excuse me." Said the grey head to Gojyo, she went stiff as her eyes met with Hakkai's.

Gojyo was about to say something, but then he noticed the sudden change of atmosphere after his emerald-eyed companion locked eye with the grey head. He remained silent.

Hakkai had a weird feeling that the girl wasn't that much of a stranger to him, but how did he know her before? "Excuse me Miss, but do I know you from somewhere?" asked Hakkai, he was still seeking information from his brain about this girl, who was smiling at him by then. Suddenly, Hakkai saw the younger version of this girl in his mind, memories of her flooded his brain. "It's very surprising to see you here, Mara." Said Hakkai with his usual smile, Sanzo took a glance at Mara and looked away.

"Glad you remember me, Gono-san." Replied the girl with a smile on her face, her eyes lingered on Sanzo for a few seconds before returning to Hakkai.

"Gono? Oi Hakkai, you know this girl?" Asked Gojyo suddenly butting into the conversation, he stood beside Hakkai with a hand on Hakkai's shoulder, the one that was Hakuryuu free of course. Gojyo stared at the girl with a puzzled look on his face.

Mara raised an eyebrow. "Hakkai?" Asked her near to laughter as she remembered the meaning of 'Hakkai'. Mara covered her mouth with a hand, not wanting to be rude and laugh at his name.

Hakkai chuckled uneasily and broke a sweat. "It's a very long story. Anyway, do you live around here?" asked Hakkai, still feeling a little awkward. Something just didn't feel right to him.

"Yeah, you and your companions looking for a place to stay over the night?" asked her as she analyzed the faces that her senior was walking around with, Hakkai nodded at her. "Come to my house then, it's pretty big so you guys can have a lot of space for each of you."

Hakkai smiled gladly and said his thanks to the girl, which she returned with a smile and a slight nod of the head.

Mara petted Hakuryuu and it 'kyuu'ed, she thought the white dragon was cute. For some unknown reason, she found her previous action to be a bit strange and amusing at the same time.

"And do you have anything to eat?" Asked Goku eagerly, too eager for his own good. Before Mara could say anything, Sanzo's Harisen already landed a harsh blow to the back of Goku's head.

Mara giggled a little as another bead of sweat appeared on Hakkai's forehead, Gojyo was having the time of his life, laughing his head off behind the monocled man, Hakuryuu 'kyuu'ed again.

"Be quiet, saru." Snapped Sanzo at the mumbling Goku, he lit another cigarette, grinding the one he had just finished under his foot.

Mara was somewhat amused at the way they interacted with each other, but she kept her thoughts to herself because she didn't need some monk glaring daggers at her for giggling.

"Please excuse them, they are always like that." Hakkai said apologetically.

Mara shook her head and ruffled Goku's hair. The action caused Goku to mutter even more incoherent things. "Would you rather have dinner first?"

Hakkai chuckled at her question. "I think yes."

Mara smiled at Hakkai, and turned her head at Goku. "Well then, come with me. I know the best restaurant around here." Said Mara, she watched in silence as Goku jumped around, happy about getting some food. Sanzo swing his Harisen again and threw another hit on Goku's head. Mara fixed her gaze at Sanzo, smiling sadly as she watched Sanzo scolding Goku.

Gojyo took notice of her sad smile and followed her gaze. He arched a brow after he realized that she was staring at Sanzo, who she just met. Gojyo was about to asked her about it when he got distracted by a pretty young thing passing by, winking at him.

"Where's your brother?" asked Hakkai to Mara when they have finished their dinner. As usual, dinner was laden with cursing, stealing others food and wasting some bullets on the ceiling just to end the argument.

There was a moment of silence before Mara answered his question. "He died about two years ago." Replied Mara quietly. Her smiley face turned emotionless.

Hakkai could see no emotions playing in her eyes, which he found odd for someone who was very attached to her brother. "Would you mind telling me how?"

Mara shook her head silently "He thought that life was too hard for him to handle and then he decided to kill himself by doing drugs." Mara said lightly.

"And then what happen?"

Mara shrugged her shoulders at Goku's question. "I decided to move out from the house, I got here just about a year ago." They all fell silent, lost in their own mind, thinking quietly while trying to find a proper thing to say, well except for Sanzo, who cared nothing about being nice even for a bit.

"This is my house, make yourselves at home" Said Mara as she opened the door and walked into her house, the other four followed her into the big house with walls painted white. The emptiness of her house, caused by the lack of furniture, gave the illusion that the house was ridiculously spacious.

"This is a pretty big house for you to live alone" commented Gojyo as he looked around the house, Mara smiled as she walked into the only bedroom on that floor. Hakuryuu took off from its master's shoulder and landed on Mara's. Mara smiled and petted him.

"Me and a few friends of mine used to live here until a few months ago, they decided to travel around for a change and left me here alone." Said Mara, she walked out with four blankets in hand. "You guys mind giving me some hands with those pillows and bed sheets?" asked her as she point into the room by cocking her head back. And then they all, except for Sanzo, got busy putting on the bed sheets and stuff without noticing that it was beginning to rain.