ARRIVALS TO JAPONESS

For several minutes the marionette called Bloodberry and the demon called Gojyo had been

struggling in this armwrestling contest . Sanzo had just made Hanagata a bet on Bloodberry

to win , much to Hanagata's puzzlement . Everyone present , including the normally quiet

Cherry and Hakkai , ended up being caught up in the excitement .

" Come on , Bloodberry ! " Exclaimed Lime .

" You can do it , Gojyo ! " Goku yelled out .

As the minutes stretched , the tension swelled to a feverish pitch . Then , just when it

seemed this contest would go on further , Bloodberry managed to slam Gojyo's arm to the

table ,much to everyone's surprise ,particularly Gojyo himself .

" Well , pal , " Bloodberry said , " looks like I win . " Goyjo said nothing , but rather , kept on

nursing his wrist . Sanzo however turned to Hanagata and said , "She won the match so I won

the bet ."

Taking out a wad of bills , an irritated Hanagata hurled them at the floor and said , " I hope you

choke on these ! "

Hanagata then stormed out of Otaru 's apartment . Sanzo picked up the money calmly . Gojyo , who

just overheard the conversation between Sanzo and Hanagata and said rather incredulously ,

" You bet against me ? Why ? "

" I figured on playing some pretty good odds since I had a feeling she was quite strong . Strong

enough to give you more than a bit of trouble , " Sanzo replied , non-plussed . Gojyo was not

interested in Sanzo 's reason .

Otaru did not exactly care for Sanzo 's attitude himself , but figured there was no point in

arguing the matter .

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Outside the Japoness city limits , four figures stood watching .

" It looks like a human city to me , " Kougaiji said .

Then Yaone asked , " What should we do ? "After a pause , Kougaiji then said , " Yaone , you ,

Lirin and Dokugakuji are to enter that city and find out whatever you can ."

" What will you do ? " Yaone asked .

" I 'll find out more about this place we landed on . I 'll send for you when I need you . "

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" Okay , lady , " Gojyo said to Bloodberry , " you may have beaten me at armwrestling , but I

know of one thing nobody can beat me at . " He then produced a deck of cards .

" Anybody for Poker ? "

" Poker ? " Lime asked , to which Goku answered , " You know , a card game . " Goku then saw

Otaru standing and said , "Does anyone here know anything about poker ? 'Cause if you

don 't , your chances of winning don 't look good ."

Naturally this caused Goyjo to give Goku a dirty look , much to Bloodberry 's bemusement .

" What the hey ? " Bloodberry said . " I ' ll give it a shot . "

Goku also decided to play as did Lime .

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Hanagata was walking around in a sulk when he saw three figures in odd outfits . Odder still

was that only one of the three was male . Needless to say , Hanagata 's curiosity was piqued .

" Well ,what 's this ? " He said to himself.

Dokugakuji , Yaone and Lirin had barely entered this city when a certain dandy crossed their

path .

" Excuse me , friend , " Hanagata was adressing Dokugakuji , " but do these two marionettes

belong to you ? "

That comment brought a puzzled reaction from both Yaone and Lirin .

" What did that guy call us ? "Lirin asked . All Yaone could do was shrug .

" They 're with me if that 's what you mean ," Dokugakuji replied . Then Lirin pouted at Hanagata,

asking , " Do we look like marionettes to you ? "

Hanagata then said , " You don 't fool me . After all , there 's only one human female in all of

Japoness , and her name is Lorelei ! "

' What is he babbling about ? ' Doukgakuji thought to himself . Yaone just stood with a look of

mild disinterest . Lirin was getting rather fed up .

" Do we look we care about that ? " She asked .

" Give me a break ! " Hanagata said . " It hasn 't exactly been my night , what with losing a bet to

that monk ! "

Dokugakuji then asked , " What monk ? "

" The one with his three companions , " Hanagata said , which prompted the trio to talk among

themselves .

" Is it possible that Sanzo and his companions are here ? " Yaone asked . Then Lirin said , " What

are the odds ? "

Dokugakuji then turned to Hanagata and asked , " So , tell me , where is that monk ? "

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Gojyo was winning .

Lime hardly knew the first thing about poker , Bloodberry had a poor hand , as did Goku .

Otaru , Cherry and Hakkai simply watched .

Sanzo was lost in thought . The Merciful Goddess had yet to contact him , if she even knew

where he was . Suddenly the front door slid open and there stood Hanagata .

" Otaru . . . we have company . "

Behind him were three figures . Sanzo , Goku , Hakkai and Goyjo recognized them .

Meanwhile , beyond Japoness , Kougaiji stood face to face with a rather stern-faced man .

" Who are you ? " Kougaiji asked .

" You may call me . . . Faust . "

Next : What will happen now ?