I hold no claim to the characters from this kick-ass Anime. Only Aurora, Naora, Corell, Arryn, Orin, and Amira are mine.

Chapter Six

Rancorous Exchange

"I hate it when it rains!" Amira sighed, staring out the window of the Inn they had come across that night.

The rain reminded of her the night her parents were killed. She noticed that Hakkai and Sanzo didn't like the rain too much either. Normally she would just curl up on her bed during rain but with the two men reacting like they had been in the car, she decided to take care of Goku and Gojyo instead. At first she had thought they were reacting to the Youkais they had found on the way here, covered with those strange talismans, but it had to be something else. Something else that didn't involve her and so she didn't open her mouth.

"Hey, check out the lightning!" Goku grinned at the window.

Amira shook her head with a smile as she placed a towel over his head and rubbed the water off of him. "You'll catch a cold if you don't dry yourself. You don't wanna have to hear Sanzo complaining about that, do you?"

Sanzo glared at her and opened his mouth to reply but there was a knock on the door before the owner walked in.

"I've brought everyone some hot tea!" She grinned, glancing at all the clothes that were hanging around the room.

"Oh, Thank you," Hakkai gave a small smile as he took the tray from her, setting it on the table between him and Gojyo.

"It's too bad the rain caught you. And I'd guess that it'll be sticking around for a while."

"That bites," Gojyo frowned.

"Hey," Sanzo looked up at her. "Do you know anything about the Youkai corpses nearby?"

The woman thought for a moment. "Oh, that must be Rikudo again."

"Rikudo?" Hakkai pondered.

"Who's that?" Goku asked.

"You guys must be from the East," She smiled. "We don't know much about him but he's considered a savior around here. People say he's a monk who wanders the countryside slaying demons. Few have ever actually seen them. But those who have say he's a great man with charms all over his body and that the spells he casts can destroy any Youkai."

"Charms, huh? That does sound familiar." Amira told the three men next to her as the woman said something about cookies.

"Yes," Hakkai nodded.

Sanzo's eyes were clouded over as he was in deep thought. Amira wondered what it was but Gojyo's voice as he flirted with the woman made her turn her head and frown instead. ~Every girl we come across,~ She shook her head.

"Where's your room?" Gojyo asked her.

"I don't think I should tell you." She replied, her cheeks turning red.

"That doesn't matter. Ever done it in the rain?"

Amira rolled her eyes and then watched with a smile as Sanzo jumped on the redhead with his paper fan. Sometimes, Gojyo was just so strange. ~But…~ Amira couldn't help herself as she turned to stare out the window as the rain dripped down the glass. ~Sometimes he does make me wonder…Wait a second~ She pulled back from the window. ~What the hell am I thinking?~

"Gojyo!" Sanzo growled. "Can't I leave you alone for one minute without you chasing after some tart?"

"Don't take out your sexual frustrations on me, Cleric!" Gojyo growled back.

"Remember the mess you got us into after your last escapade?" The Priest demanded.

"What kind of a faggot fights with a fan anyway?"

"The kind that can kick your ass!"

Amira giggled as the two of them continued to argue and Hakkai thanked the woman for allowing them to stay there. The poor lady was freaking out and was out of there in moments.

Amira was still awake hours later, trying to ignore the sound of the rain on the roof above her. She had been given a room to herself but her memories kept her up. She tried to read some more, but that didn't seem to want to help either.

She finally gave up on sleeping and decided to go and take a walk in the rain. It might cool her off a bit. She didn't want to wake up anyone in the rooms around her and so she was silent in making her way down the stairs and stairs until something caught her attention. The moment the scream sounded, Amira ran down the rest of the hall and towards the kitchen, losing all thoughts of her plans for the rain. There was a demon crashing through the room, eating and Amira placed herself in front of the crying woman as the four men decided to join her.

"Why you bastard," Goku growled. "How could you? YOU ATE ALL THE COOKIES!" The monkey dove at him, placing a foot in the creature's face.

"You know, I've never seen you this active in the morning." Gojyo smirked.

"I have my days," Goku grinned. "Kicking demon ass is better than coffee for me."

Just then, they all watched as talismans were thrown onto the body as a hushed voice began to mumble something. The Youkai's body melted away.

"That is so disgusting, man." Gojyo decided to say.

"I'm with you on that one." Amira had a foul look of her own as they gazed at the talking bald man with the straw hat on. He was saying something about 'riding the world of Youkais' but she didn't pay attention. His tan robes were covered in the talismans as well and a pair of long, red beads hung around his neck as he held a staff against his shoulder.

(Has anyone else noticed that his staff resembles Miroku's from Inuyasha? Or am I just seeing things? Lol)
"How can we ever thank you, Master Rikudo?" The woman asked as she pushed herself to her feet.

"Slaying Youkai is my only reward," The creepy man answered her.

"This guy is Rikudo?" Gojyo asked.

"There's something wrong here," Amira took a cautious step back as Hakkai tilted his head to listen to her. "This guy…there's something wrong with him."

"Yes," Hakkai nodded. "I can feel it too."

"Well, whoever he is," Gojyo smirked. "He sure took care of that problem for us."

"Yeah," Goku turned while giving a yawn. "Back to bed."

"Wait," Rikudo faced the five of them. "Not all of you are human."

Amira froze for a moment before turning around with a smile on her face. "Now, why on earth would you say that?"

"Yes, that's rather rude to be pointing fingers."

Rikudo glared at them. "I can smell you. I can smell your stench from here."

"Look, you're no bed of roses either, pal." Goku replied with a frown.

"You," Rikudo hunched over, getting ready for an attack. "I made a vow to destroy all Youkai kind!"

"Well, I don't think that's very nice," The Monkey replied. "You could at least get to know us."

Amira gave a small grin before she grabbed the said-monkey and moved him out of the way. The bald-guy was fast though and he moved to bring the staff down upon the two of them but Sanzo's arm brought it to a halt.

"Shuei," The blond frowned. "Is that any way to greet a friend?"

"It can't be," Rikudo replied after a moment of silence.

"It's not worth it," Sanzo told the man. "Killing these guys will only reduce the idiot population."

"Wait, you know this guy?" Amira asked the man beside her.

Rikudo's laughter cut off any reply. "Funny. I had heard a rumor about a renegade Sanzo Priest heading west. I never thought that I'd find him and his band of Youkai misfits in a place like this." He lifted his head. "So Kouryuu-or should I say Genjyo Sanzo now?-Surely you haven't forgotten that bile like them killed your master! Are enemies now friends?"

"Well Shuei," Sanzo replied. "People change. Clearly you follow your own predictions. Look at you," the Priest shook his head. "Sakura would be ashamed of how her 'Uncle' turned out."

Rikudo threw his head back in a large laugh. "I haven't heard of Koumyou's little sister in years. Tell me, did you ever find her again? Ever go looking for her?" As Sanzo stayed silent the bald man gave an even worse laugh. "I wonder what she would do if she ever ran into you again, Kouryuu. I hear she was made into one of the Amejisuto Priestess' because of her brother. I had always wondered just how she would react to the man that had gotten her brother killed!" At those words, Amira could tell that hit Sanzo somewhere before he shoved it all away. Rikudo took a breath before lowering his voice again. "And no, I haven't changed. Shuei is dead. He died ten years ago. The day you left the temple!"

Amira glared at the man as he had his little flashback about what happened at the Temple Sanzo grew-up in. She didn't care. She was beginning to tire of the Youkais all being seen as evil. Not all of them were bad; they sure as hell weren't. And the whole thing with them going crazy wasn't their fault.

And as for this Priestess that they were talking about, Amira felt herself frowning even more. There was only one person named Sakura that she knew as an Amejisuto and Aurora hated that name. This wasn't just a mere coincidence. Was this Sanzo really someone that Aurora knew from her past? If it was...could this cause MORE drama than there already was?

"Why can't everyone just live in harmony?" She demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

"Because it would be too easy then." Hakkai answered her, folding his arms at something about the spell of Araya being used.

"He's completely snapped," Gojyo frowned. "And you call us demons."

"Wretched, disgusting Youkai!" Rikudo growled. "Join the dead and feed my curse!"

"Everybody outside now!" Hakkai told them.

"But it's still raining." Goku whined.

"Just go!" Gojyo pushed him out the door.

The cold water made Amira shiver as she and the three men with her stood in the rain before the crazy man. She took notice of Sanzo just standing under the overhanging but she kept her mouth shut and eyes on the other priest as he ran at Hakkai. The man in green tried to block him with his chi but her wrist was grabbed and held into the air. His skin began to waft smoke under the priest's touch.

"I wouldn't try that," Rikudo still held that crazy grin on his face. "I can dissolve you by the mere touch of my hand."

"Let go of him, prune face!" Goku yelled, jumping at him with his staff and knocking him away. When Goku landed again he took notice of where Sanzo was as well.

"Sanzo, you cheater!" The monkey growled.

"What's wrong, Genjyo Sanzo?" Rikudo continued. "Can't bring yourself to help Youkai?"

"Think what you want," Sanzo replied. "Those goons can live without me."

"Wooow," Gojyo sounded very sarcastic. "Prick's got faith in us."

"If we DO die," Hakkai scratched the back of his head. "He probably won't give last rites."

"We'll see about that!" Rikudo growled, running towards them again.

Amira moved towards them, stretching her chain out in her hands and catching the man's staff in it. "All right, I've had enough of this!" She growled. "I am so freaking tired of being attacked everywhere we freakin' go. First Youkai and now idiots like you! So far I've been alright with letting the boys do it, but this is just taking too damn long! I want to get to sleep dammit and so, I'm going to take care of this here and now!"

"Amira, what are you talking about?" Goku asked her, tilting his head to the side.

Rikudo threw his head back in a laugh. "None of the other females posed a challenge to me," He told her. "What makes you think that a Youkai like you can?"

Thunder sounded all around as the four men traveling with Amira all pulled surprised looks. "Amira…what is he talking about?" Goku asked. The other three seemed to get it, though.

~I knew it,~ Sanzo told himself, his face returning to his blank stare.

"Oh, did they not know your little secret?" Rikudo laughed.

Amira shrugged. "Eh, I didn't feel like keeping it a secret anymore anyways. It was getting to be too much of a pain in the ass," She glanced over her shoulder at the others. "Sorry guys."

"So, you're one as well, are you?" Hakkai still looked surprised but he was wearing a smile as Gojyo lit a cigarette with his own smirk before saying- "Well, that explains a lot."

"Sort of," Amira lifted her foot and kicked the priest in the stomach, knocking him back a few feet.

Rikudo began to laugh as he stood again. "So, I get two wholes and two halves to kill tonight, eh?"

"Half?" Sanzo looked at the woman. "You're a half-breed?"

Amira tried to ignore the looks she all got, feeling uncomfortable under them now. "Y-yeah…unfortunately. Look, can we not talk about this right now?" she turned back to the enemy. "All right dumbass; you and me. Let's go. I'll pay you back for all this crap you've done!"
"Wait, you can't kill him!" Goku jumped forward, grabbing her sais.

"What do you mean I can't kill him?" She growled. "He's trying to kill us!"

"You just can't! That's Sanzo's-"

"Stop trying to save him," Sanzo's voice cut off their argument. "There's only one way…to free him from the curse."

"No!" Goku was now standing in front of Sanzo. "Maybe he's nuts now, but that guy was your friend, right?"

"Goku," Sanzo started to growl.

"You just can't, Sanzo!"

"You make me sick!" Rikudo's voice brought everyone back to him as he loomed of Sanzo and Goku, preparing to shove his staff through the small monkey. As Amira watched everything go slow, her hands flew up over her mouth. Sanzo had knocked Goku away and spread is arms out, taking to blow himself. Amira moved forward and grabbed Sanzo as he fell, ignoring all the blood that splattered over her.

"Sanzo!" all four voices echoed around the area as the priest struggled to move.

"Stop," Amira told them man. "Don't move! Just stay still!" She told him as the others told him to 'stay with us'.

"You're not meant to die like this," Gojyo told him. "Just hold on, man!"

"What were you thinking?" Amira whispered to him as she grabbed the staff, getting ready to pull it out of his stomach so Hakkai could start healing him.

~That's~ Sanzo was losing his grip. ~What I'd like to know~

I hope you guys like it. Review! :)