Few hours ealier.
The sun was shining brightly as the group of five people in a jeep crossed the forest. The smell of trees felt so refreshing. Well, it would if not for one small detail. Or rather three...
"Come on guys! Stop smoking! The back stinks like sewage!"
In spite of that, neither Sanzo,nor Gojyo and a girl sitting between the Kappa and the Monkey boy paid any attention to Gokus whinning. It has been few weeks since Sotona Belial,more commonly known as "Berry", joined the four men. It was a pure accident that the Sanzo Ikkou stammbled upon the peculiar girl as she was fighting off quite a large group of youkai. Gojyo and Hakkai insisted they can't leave a girl in a situation like this. Sanzo was strongly against any delays. However, when he noticed the girls strange way of fighting using two spinning metal fans attached with wires to her gloves,even Sanzo became interested.
Now the girl was trying to get the unruly strands of her hair out of her face to avoid getting her hair burned. Again. She ruffled the short hair at the back of her head and put out the bud of her cigarrette in a small closed ashtray which she kept in her backpack.
"Don't be man Goku."she smiled apologetically hugging the boy playfully.
"Hey,how come I don't get a hug?!?" Gojyo protested.
"Maybe she doesn't want to hug perveted dirty Kappa's so that not to make them even more perveted?"
"Why you stupid monkey!-"
"Shut up! Both of you!" although that's what Sanzo said,he along with Hakkai had smirks plastered on their faces.
"Don't worry Goku,we'll be in the next town in a few minutes. Then we can put them in one room and enjoy some fresh air."
"You want to die,Hakkai?" Sanzo spat. "Besides,there's no way he and she are alone in the same room."
"Why Sanzo?" Goku asked clueless.
"Because she is an insolent woman with no restrain when it comes to drinking and he is a lecher. They together and alone would results in in one more pest to handle in nine months time. That's WHY."
All of them laughed as the town came into view. Last night they were camping so Sotona was more then glad to welcome a warm bed. However,even if she was forced to sleep on a damp cold ground with only a blanket,she didn't mind doing it again. The reason was very simple. Goku,Gojyo and Hakkai were afraid Berry would get sick easily being as skinny as she was. So the latter two,in order to keep her warm,snuggled to her on each side of her. Goku had some objections for Gojyo sleeping next to Sotona,because he could touch her as much as he wanted then. That's when Hakuryuu earned Goku's gratefulness. The little dragon who usually also served as a means of transport lay himself on Sotona's chest encircling the strategic areas with his long tail and neck protectivly. At this Gojyo tried to give Hakuryuu the most scariest death glare he could but Sanzo brushed off the whole argument shooting in Gojyo's direction and saying he wants some sleep.
As the finaly stopped before an inn Gojyo and Goku started unpacking the Jeep,while Hakkai,Sanzo and Sotona went to register them.
"It would be nice if we could get one double room and one tripple." Hakkai said polietly.
The elderly man looked at the names of what seemed to be four brothers and a name of a girl written in katakana.
"And the lady will sleep with...?"
"Me." answered imidietly Hakkai giving an innocent smile.
"In our town it is not well looked upon for a young maiden and a gentleman to sleep in one room..."
"But it's alright for a newly wed couple like us,right?" Hakkai lied smoothly.
"Heh?" the man looked at the two and back at the register "But..."
"I kept my maidens name for 'artistic' reasons" Sotona stepped in imideitly and affectionately took Hakkai's hand in hers hoping Gojyo won't see it and cause an uproar.
"You're a poet,ma'am?"
"No,I write books about history."
"Oh? That's so nice! What is your speciatily?"
"Wars in Europe."
"What's "Europe"?"
""Europe"...is a land...very far away in the West." she answered not really knowing how to approach the topic "So can we have the keys to our rooms now?"
"Y-yes,of course. Here you go." the elderly man handed the keys to the girl. "You can have dinner in the tavern on the other side of the street. They serve delicious regional cuisine. And everything best on your new way of life." the man turned to Hakkai "You are truely a lucky fellow. To have such a pretty and intelligent wife!"
"Thank you." Hakkai and Sotona said at the same time sealing the man's believe of the being newly-wed.
The five of them sat in the bigger room with three beds to discuss the situation making sure Goku doesn't spill the beans.
"Say what?!? You two?!? Wht did you pick him?!?"
"Goku is too young and Sanzo is a priest." explained Sotona laughing a bit sheeplishly.
"And what about me?!?"
"Gojyo," spoke Hakkai calmly trying to pacify his friend. "Sotona-san is a forigner. It's easier to pull that kind of stunt with me,because not many recognize my power-limiters as more then a decoration."
"So?!?"
"Listen idiot,a foreigner and a 'taboo child' would draw too much attention. We're getting closer to the source of this pluage so here the youkai's went bonkers sooner then elsewhere ans people are more suspisious. Got that?"
Everyone was silent. For them the fact that Gojyo was a half-breed had as little importance as the last years snow but they were also aware of the fact that most had other views on that. Sotona put her hand on the red-head's shoulder but he just brushed it of.
In the first days spent together it was obvious Gojyo and Berry somehow fitted together. Alcohol, cigarettes, fun loving nature, a bit reckless attitude. All this led them to an intimate situation about a week ago and strangely Gojyo seemed quite willing to keep up the acquaintanceship with Berry,who,although could annoy him sometimes with her headstrongness and will for independence,was really a charming young girl. Her loudmouthnesswhinsicality and inquisitivity only added to her personal charm. Amoral at the first glance,she actualy had her own rules she'd never brake. Guys noticed that wherever they stopped,she always was the first to make many acquaintances. They were all very rectulant to let her go and there were always at least three or four people asking her to stay at their home town or village. She bought her way into Goku's heart with friendliness and protective attitude,into Hakkai's with her sweet smile and sometimes such sad eyes as if they saw all the wrongs in the world. Sanzo,who would never admit it of course, was immensly surprized on the second day after a lot of fidgeting and stealing peaks at him she finally asked if she could look at the paper he just finished reading.
"What for?" he asked warily almost imagining after witnessing her and Goku's friskiness she'd start making paper boats or hats out of his newspaper. She blined at him,her face surprized and answered:
"For reading." she blushed lightly adding "I love reading but books are to heavy to carry around in the backpack."
At hearing this Hakkai,who was preparing dinner at that time,got into a conversationwith her and her knowledge amazed both the former teacher as well as the priest. Her 'cute mode' was constanly on when then they met and lasted for few days until she snapped at Goku for some random thing,so her kid-like image didn't fit at first to her witts. Only later did they learned she can change in a matter of minutes form kind to sickingly cute and next to furious. After this Sanzo decided there must be more to her then meets the eye and they made it a habit that she went to fetch him cigarettes in exchange for a newspaper.
At the moment Gojyo was very angry but knew they were right. Hakkai was presentable;and when he and Sotona collaborated they could calm and tame any tavern and inn owner. Sotona was even able to get large discounts for them with which Sanzo was very pleased.
Just then a pretty maid brought a tray with tea for them. Sotona immediately came up to the girl who couldn't be more then eighteen and helped her set the cups with steaming herbal liquid.
"On no,you don't have to do that,ma'am!" the girl protested as Sotona was handing one of the cups to Sanzo.
"It's okay. I bet you have a lot of work to do,yet you still were so kind." Berry smiled warmly blowing at her tea to cool it a bit.
"It's nothing ma'am. Besides you look like you travel a lot and I guessed you could use a cup of tea."
"That was a pretty good guess."
"That's good." the girl said smiling brightly. "Then I'll leave you now. If I might suggest something,the tavern should be less crowded in an about an hour,so then's the best time to dine there if that's what you intend."
"You're a life saver." Berry laughed to the other girl imagining how angry Sanzo would be if he had to wait to get a table.
As the maid shut the door behind her and her footsteps died in the corridor Hakkai laughed.
"Sotona-san,I see you are spreading your charm already."
"I just think it's handy to keep good relations with the locals. Okay,I'm of to the shower."
"But your tea..."
"It's fine, Goku." I prefer my tea lukewarm or cold. My mouth is just too damn fragile."
Gojyo smirked scratching the back on his head but he was prevented from commenting by Sotona's warning look that evidently said: 'Say one word and it's you and your hand tonight.'