Morning light had only just begun to come over the tree line and the ikkou was already packed up and ready to begin their searching again for their female companion. Hakuryuu was told to stay behind where it was safe while the rest set to the trail, following a trail of blood on the ground that was believed to be Koume's. Goku was, once again, up front, and the rest of them looked all around.

"Koume's lost in this mess? Holy COW." Gojyo commented.

"She's actually very good with navigating the land, but even I'm getting thrown off in this mess." Hakkai replied.

"Shoot. And to think, she might be bleeding! I mean, with all this blood, where could she possibly be?"

"Oh, Koume…" Even Goku talked with them, but Sanzo hadn't said a word. Hakkai looked back, more concern marring his features. He also found it impossible to ignore the fact that the blonde hadn't smoked one cigarette since Koume was separated from them. He was nicotine deprived and silent as death. The bags beneath his eyes suggested that he'd not slept nearly all night. He was worse than a wreak. Hakkai then threw a worried glance at Gojyo before receiving a nod and stepping back to walk alongside their troubled companion.

"Sanzo? Are you getting tired at all? Want to stop?" He didn't answer.

"Sanzo?" Gojyo sighed.

"There's no point in pouting, Sanzo." That made him twitch and grind his teeth.

"What did you say?"

"You heard me. And don't deny it, either, because that's exactly what you're doing!"

That was the last straw. In an instant, Sanzo's head went up and his gun was ready, aimed directly at Gojyo's head. Only about a foot separated them, but for once the redhead was not afraid of the threat. Although, how could he be, seeing Sanzo as he was- hands shaking, eyes twitching and his lips quivering?

"Sanzo… you know this wasn't your fault, right?"

Everyone stared at those two in complete silence as the words processed. Never would the Sanzo of the past admit to such a thing, especially regarding another person. He tried only to care about himself, but when he met Koume, he could no longer do that. It was then that he realized that he'd unintentionally opened his heart, and now he did not know what to do with himself. Slowly, as he put his thoughts together, he lowered his gun, and Goku came up to stand beside him to rest a hand on his elder's arm.

"I… let her fall."

"You didn't do anything wrong, Sanzo." Hakkai reassured him. "It was a freak accident… None of us could have prevented it."

"But, I… I told her it would be alright. I led her on."

"If you're going to think that way," Goku began, "Then so did the rest of us. We're all responsible, and we're all out here trying to find her!"

"Yeah, so lets quit yapping on like this and keep going!"

That's right… that was all they could do at the time. Koume was still out there, and Sanzo would find her no matter what. He's work for all eternity to make it up to her if he had to.

--

By that time, and for a few hours, Koume spent time with the kids, gathering food with them, playing with them, and tending to their appearances. Strange, how none of them ever seemed to get hurt, even if they tripped on the rocks or fell out of a tree… but still, Koume was relieved. No parent wished for anything more than the health and safety of their child. A mother? Was that her? She felt like one, anyway… and soon, she could not remember anything other than being with them, as if she'd been there for years. All other names and faces were lost to her, and in the distance, she was watched.

--

Once again, Goku was back on the trail, and was once again following Koume's scent and blood. The next clearing they reached was smaller than the one they'd stayed at before, but Koume's scent was even stronger there. The group looked around, and Gojyo walked to a small boulder with blood stains on it. He knelt down and examined it.

"The trail of blood stops here. If someone was hurt, they probably got it under control while sitting right here."

"Wait, so there's other people here?"

"Well… I can't think of any other explanation. Unless this isn't her at all."

"No, it's her!" Sanzo yelled from across the way. He was just standing back up and in his hands was Koume's blades and belt. Hakkai gasped and ran over to him, next, taking note of some blood spatters on it.

"Koume… Koume! Koume, answer me, baby!" He yelled out. But none of them expected a response. But, almost clear as day, a voice was traveling on the blowing wind. All of them heard it, and lifted their ears to catch the mellow, soft sounds and walked towards it. The sound led them to a small path not too far away, until they were standing directly behind a kneeling girl. She was quietly singing to herself a song forgotten to the times, but hadn't seemed to notice them. The hair was the same, as was the outfit, but the choker around her neck and the bloody cloth around her leg was a giveaway. Four pairs of eyes widened in relief, and Goku was the one who ran right up beside her.

"Koume! What a relief! We were really worried about you!! Anyway, how have you…been?"

He blinked at her curiously for a moment before waving a hand in front of her face. Her complete lack of response was surprising to the group, and it started to worry Hakkai. She was just picking out herbs and some flowers around her, acting completely… He shook his head and reached out to touch her shoulder, but something stopped him. Quickly, the group had to jump back, and strangely enough, to avoid stones that came from the bushes and trees around them.

"Ah! What the HELL!?" Goku shouted as he rose his hands to block the stones.

"Up there! Little pint-size brats!" Gojyo said through gritted teeth as he stared at the children. However, with one look, Sanzo's eyes went wide. He could sense something the others obviously couldn't.

"Kids, please…! Why are you throwing things at us?" Hakkai pleaded.

"You adults aren't welcome here! We want you to go away!"

"Well that's fine and good… just as soon as he round up our friend here!"

At that, Toby stopped throwing stones.

"Her…? She's with you?"

"That's right. Koume is traveling with us, and we just want her back! But… she's actin' funny."

"Mm-hmm. It's like she can't see or hear us." Toby stayed quiet for a minute, but he didn't much like the looks they were giving Koume, and he glared at them, emerging through the brush with the other kids.

"Mama is not gonna go with you anymore! She's staying with us!"

"! Mama…?"

"You're screwed up, kid. She's not your mom!"

"Yes she is! She's our mom and you can't have her!"

That's when the children ran up to her, surrounding her.

"Mama, lets go now! I want you to tell me a story!"

"I'm hungry, mama!"

"Can we play a game?"

Koume smiled and almost empty smile, her eyes completely blank, and she nodded her head and rose to her feet. The seven of them started to walk away, but Goku tried to block their path. For some reason, none of them responded, and they simply walked on.

"Ah-" He was about to follow again, until Gojyo threw an arm out to catch his shoulder.

"Why're you stopping me?"

"I think we should follow them."

"Why?"

"Just because… there's something going on here that doesn't make sense to me."

"I agree. Following them is a good idea." Sanzo just nodded, and the group quietly and sneakily followed the large group through the woods.