" Hakkai!" A Red-haired man shouted stomping around in place with his hands in the air, sadly he was not dancing; he was jumping up and down in hysterics. A calm green clad man walked out of the inn stifling a yawn and not even bothering to acknowledge his irate friend.

" WHERE THE HELL IS OUR RIDE?" He yelled jabbing an accusing finger into the passive man's chest.

"Huh?" He asked, opening forest green eyes and peering into red ones. He looked over the other man's shoulder into the street where he was quite certain he had parked jeep last night. He methodically rolled his head in a circle feeling each and every muscle of his neck work without any hindrance. " That's odd." He looked back at the redhead, scratching his cheek below his eyeglass, "It appears he's missing."

" I already knew that genius!" He shouted, accidentally spitting on the eyeglass. Hakkai removed said glass and rubbed it on the front of his own shirt.

" Gojyo it's not the end of the world, I'm sure he will come back to us shortly."

" Not the end of the world?" He gave a clipped laugh and slapped his thigh for good measure. " Our only means of getting anywhere is gone. And you say it's not the end of the world." Soon he was laughing uncontrollably with tears leaking from his eyes. " No, of course not we're only trying to get to freaking India to stop what was it again? Oh yeeeah . . .. World domination!"

" I assure you Gojyo, that he will return." With that he brushed past him and lightly began walking down the street.

" Where the hell do you think you're going?" Gojyo called.

" To the market to get more supplies." He answered waving.

" Great, just great." He jammed a hand into his pocket and fished out a box of cigarettes. It. Was. Empty.

" Mother of God!"

" Heh, I didn't think you were the type to partake in morning prayers." The priest remarked from the doorway.

" You got any cigarettes?"

"No."

" Don't give me that Sanzo I know you do!" Sanzo merely leaned against the doorframe crossing his arms.

" I need em."

" Damn it!" He cursed running his hand through his long hair angrily. He should have told Hakkai to pick some up, " Dammit Dammit Dammit Dammit Dammit!"

" And now you're chanting."

" If you don't stop giving me your religious crap I'm gonna stick this useless lighter up your ass!"

" Why would you want to do that?" Ah the voice of reason from the naïve child.

" Butt out Goku." Gojyo snarled.

" What's with you and butts today huh?"

"Shut up you little monster!"

" Hey that's uncalled for!"

" Guys?" Sanzo tried to intervene with patience.

" No it's not and I can think of a lot of worse things I could call you! You freaking pet!"

" What?"

"Gojyo, if you don't shut up I'll murder you."

He gulped, this time out of a billion no, he had stopped counting the amount of times Sanzo had threatened his life however, this time he truly meant it. He slowly turned his head and his nose was practically swallowed by the black hole of Sanzo's gun. He nodded not saying a word.

"Let's go monkey." Sanzo ordered, knocking Gojyo over as he and Goku both strode into the town.

" How did this happen?" Gojyo wondered scratching his head and looking at the dusty road. " It's all that damn dragon's fault!"

Meanwhile, Hakkai was not actually browsing the vendors' display of fine fruits and vegetables; he was currently running around calling for his dragon at the top of his lungs.

" Hakuryu!" He pleaded looking into the sky for any sign of his little white dragon with the unique ability to transform. What could have happened to Jeep? He wondered as he gazed up and ran into a burly man.

"Watch where you're going!"

"I'm sorry." He replied quietly, " I was just looking for my . . . balloon."

" Moron." The man grumbled side stepping him. He sighed and slowly dragged his feet no longer watching the sky.

" Oh Hakuryu, where are you?" He whispered. Little did he know of the events taking place far, far, above him.

A bare foot kicked out and slammed into a wooden table as a loosely dressed Goddess shrieked with laughter. A golden anklet twisted up her ankle matching her necklace and armband perfectly, all these jewels stood out in sharp contrast to her white flimsy gown. The table was situated directly to the side of a magnificent pool of misty water covered in pale lotus flowers.

" This is too much!" She gasped shaking her head. She turned and ordered her attendant to view the fun with her. When was the last time she had witnessed so much raw emotion on earth? Love and anger batting heads as her four travelers made their slow and arduous journey west. It was brilliant, absolutely brilliant, why couldn't she call their dragon to her whenever she pleased? It needed rest. She softly stroked its white shiny scales, as it lay curled on her lap. The creature was not in any mortal danger, but only in the grasp of such a deep slumber that it was able to stay with her, for the time being.