Chapter 2: Introduction

"Let's introduce our friends first before anything," said Goku, his voice deeper than it was a moment before. Gojyo felt as if he was in a dream. Since when was Goku more mature in conversations without even stopping to whine for food? Or even the...?

"I doubt Shinou would want us to go back to Shangri-La any time soon," Goku was saying, "I'll introduce my friends and you introduce yours." Gojyo sweat dropped. At least his talking is the same…

"Good idea," Murata agreed.

"Murata," said Goku, and nodded to the latter's friends, "minna, my name is Son Goku and these are my friends." He made a gesture towards Hakkai first.

"Cho Hakkai... and Hakuryu,"

"Ohayo gozaimasu..." Hakkai greeted, bowing as Hakuryu chirped on his shoulder. Yuri and Murata returned the greeting in the same gesture.

"Sha Gojyo..."

"Yo!" said Gojyo making a peace sign. To which Yosak returned.

"and my master, Genjo Sanzo..."

"And Sanzo priest, huh?" said Murata, impressed.

"Hmph!" Wolfram snorted, "He looks downright corrupted compared to our priestesses." A bullet went past his ear.

"Want to make an issue of it, pretty boy?" Sanzo threatened, to which a ball of fire went past Sanzo's head, barely scorching the gold fibres of his hair. "Insult me again, you'd wish you were dead, human!"

"Ma, ma," Hakkai soothed Sanzo, while Yuri pulled Wolfram away.

Goku sweat-dropped. "I guess bishounen is not very different from Sanzo," he said to Murata.

Even Murata sweat-dropped, "Ah...ha ha, Wolfram doesn't always have a strong desire to kill."

"Now, now Sanzo," Hakkai was saying, "I'm pretty sure there's an agreement we can come to here."

"Could you excuse me for a few seconds?" Goku asked. Murata nodded.

Two hot headed people, double the trouble. GOku leaned over to his master and tried to be quiet. "Keep up with that temper with Sanzo, you won't live for the next five seconds," Goku murmured hurriedly. While the Daikenja's friends dealt with Wolfram.

"Wolf," Conrad, the tall and handsome brown hair and eyed soldier, whispered, "I strongly suggest you don't go looking for trouble with that Sanzo priest." As Yuri released the growling blond. Not noticing they were observed by the three older memebers of the Sanzo-ikkou.

"What that guy needs is a good slap," said Gojyo aloud, looking over. Goku started sweating and laughed nervously, "Gojyo you don't want to go slapping people around here."

Gojyo and Hakkai raised an eyebrow at that. "Why?" they both asked.

"Cause it's the last thing you want to do here, trust me," Goku laughed nervously, "I'll explain everything in time so please for the sake of hospitality... and PEACE! just bear with me here okay?"

"We have to get back to the journey west," said Sanzo, deadpan, "So take us back, now," emphasising the last word towards his ward. Goku threw up his hands in surrender, "Talk to the Shinou about it, not me. I'm not the one who brought us here."

"Take it out on Goku about it why don't you?" Gojyo snapped, "And you say I'm thick headed!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Say that again," the priest threatened slowly.

"This is not the time to fight you two," said Hakkai in a pleasant voice, one which the other three knew spelled doom, "until Goku is done with whatever he has to do here we're stuck. So why don't we enjoy the vacation, while we can?"

Gojyo and Sanzo glared at each other and nodded. They turned their backs towards each other then and humphed.

No one but Conrad and Murata noticed how embarrassed Goku was looking at his friends' behaviour, in exception of Hakkai. Murata was incredulous on how such bad tempered man could be Goku's master. Not even Lord Voltaire was as violent as that. To spare the other Great Sage Murata offered, "Now I shall tell you my friends' names."

Goku looked up from his boots and nodded.

"This is Maoh of Shin Makoku, Shibuya Yuri..."

"Your Highness," Goku bowed.

"And his older brother, Shibuya Shori," the tall double black with glasses.

"Lord Shori," Goku acknowledged.

"The sons of the previous Maoh," Murata introduce, to which Goku bowed respectively to each.

"Lord Gwendal Von Voltaire..." Dark grey hair and deep blue eyes.

"Lord Conrart Weller..." Browh hair and and eyes, with a scar over his right eyebrow.

"Friends call me Conrad," Conrad said.

"And Lord Wolfram Von Bielefeld." Blonde with green eyes.

"The King's fiancé," Wolfram added rather arrogantly. Yuri sweat dropped and muttered to himself, "They didn't need to know that yet."

"It's not uncommon here," Goku whispered to Hakkai and Gojyo, noticing Gojyo blanched, "Men here can get pregnant as well." Hakkai opened his mouth to say something, "Murata and I'll explain later," said Goku hastily.

"Forgive me for saying so," said Goku politely, "but do you happen to have different fathers? Because well..."

"Actually, yes," Conrad answered for his brothers.

"Papa," called a girl's voice. A small girl came running towards them, Yuri held out his arms and allowed her to jump into them. She was followed by Ulrike, who gasped as she saw Goku. Goku's eyes shone at the sight of her.

"This is our daughter," said Yuri, nodding his head towards Wolfram, "Greta."

"Princess.." Goku greeted, bowing. Greta gave a shy hello.

"And I believe you remember Ulrike," said Murata finally.

"Ulrike," greeted Goku, bending and kissing her hand. Several jaws dropped at this gesture. "Pretty as ever good priestess," the boy praised.

Ulrike just beamed, "It is good to see you again, Goku. It's been too long."

Now even Hakkai wondered if he was dreaming. Since when was Goku interested in girls, particularly little girls. Now that he looked into her violet eyes, he could see that the age old wisdom within her. For a long moment both monkey and priestess stood and looked at each other until Murata coughed.

"Is the Shinou available?" Murata asked her.

Ulrike broke her gaze from Goku towards the other Great Sage and shook her head. "I'm afraid not at the moment. He seems to be very uh... busy with Kanzeon Bosatsu." Murata winced slightly at the word busy. "Lover One!" he muttered under his breath where Sanzo muttered, "Damned Hag."

"Eto..." Goku murmured. "This might go on for days," Murata groaned.

"Fickle aren't they?" Goku agreed.

"How about I take you around Shin Makoku?" Yuri suggested, "You can stay at the castle since you have a few days with us before you can see the Shinou and head back to Shangri-La."

"Actually, Shibuya," said Murata, "They have a few weeks."

"What do you think guys?" asked Goku, "Sanzo?"

"Do what you want," said Sanzo. Ulrike then led them to the changing rooms where dry clothes are provided, before Yuri led them to the entrance of the Shinou temple were a carriage waited. As they walked down the corridor, Murata pulled Goku to one side.

"Goku," Murata whispered into his ear, "I need to talk to you later." Goku nodded. They then rejoined the group without much suspicion. This is likely to be a long stay.

Goku hoped having to stay here was going to be easier than it seemed. But somehow, with Sanzo and Gojyo, it just did not seem to be possible.