-1DC: Don't own any but Quinn and any others obviously not related to Saiyuki. mine mine mine.

Nothing Much
By: egyptian lullaby

A little fun fact about this chapter:

"…" quotes are for Chinese

(…) parenthesis are for English

Chapter Nine: Bath Bead Mambo No.4

Subtitle: Platinum Prints

Quinn wasn't evil.

Sanzo had decided this within the fifteen hours of constant thinking while Hakkai and Quinn slept. Well, Hakkai slept… Quinn was having random fits in her sleep, but they ended quick enough to not cause worry.

Well… she wasn't totally evil. But that was his personal opinion.

However, in coming to the conclusion that Quinn wasn't an intentional threat, it didn't stop her from being an immediate threat. And since when has anything stopped evil from using the innocent as unknowing pawns for a means to their own ends? Now that he had established that, he was brainstorming on what it was and how to dispose of it.

Not that shooting the girl wasn't fun… he figured that was a one time stunt.

123321

"Oh yes… such a pretty young girl." The old bartender responded to the question.

"But you don't remember what she looked like?"

The bartender looked suspiciously at the red head before him. This didn't seem like he, or the others with him, were looking for an old friend. And those boys who paid the woman's bill left a nice tip on her behalf. Perhaps selling this one out wasn't a good idea.

Shrugging he leaned back, propping his aging arms up on a liquor shelf he sniffed and looked away.

"Brown hair… that's about it." Then it hit him. He'd seen the taller one before. Was it two days before the woman showed up? Maybe three… ah he couldn't remember! He did know that he'd seen the demon alone though and numbers never bode well for a single.

"Hey, Gai, You talking about that number from the other day?" Yelled one of the regulars from across the pub to the bartender who physically paled. Instantly all of the intruders' eyes glued to that one man.

The regular swallowed a little louder than normal and glanced at Gai behind them, he was currently making frantic motions with his hand across his throat and mouthing 'SHUT UP!' over and over, until the twelve-year-old with a twenty something rack glared behind her at him. All movement stopped and all eyes were back on the regular. Clearing his throat he let out a nervous chuckle and scratched his head.

"I'm… drunk…?" He stated with a deliberate slur. Hoping to slip back under the demons radar. "And… d-don't remember?" He lamely added when the glares never wavered.

The tallest one, who'd managed to look scarier and scarier by the second stomped a foot down, shaking the foundations and causing drinks to fall off tables. Including the moron's with verbal diarrhea.

Gai watched as his regulars ears got crimson at the sight of such alcohol abuse… he was big on never spilling a drop. Then back to the taller one who had been somewhat calmed by the lavender haired demonesses hand on his shoulder.

"Fine! Good god! Only thing I remember is she had some kind of freaky bird on her shoulder." He huffed out the half-truth. He knew exactly what accompanied the lady, but at least they'd have to decipher an alcoholics ramblings to figure it out.

This seemed to appease them as they stalked out of the bar, mumbling amongst themselves, the youngest looked furious that the taller members were leaving her out of the whispers.

123321

Sanzo's group was acting way too uptight about everything concerning Quinn.

Maybe a spell had been put on her. No… his abilities would detect that right off the bat. Her chi is stable, even more so than a regular humans, this aspect worried him slightly. Only those with the highest of training could smooth out their chi levels so easily. The only time he'd ever felt it shaky was when she was emotionally stressed. A picture of Quinn popped up in his mind, drenched in mud, a feral glint living in her eyes.

That brought up another point.

She was acting differently, more violent.. moody. Maybe a side effect of what was going on behind the scenes? Or maybe it was…oh, oh no… he wouldn't go there. Not with everything that'd already happened… he didn't need to jinx it.

After a while Ming Yue entered the front room cautiously. The same way she had the many times before checking up on her patient. This time she looked half asleep… at least someone was getting some rest under normal circumstances.

"His breathing is normal?" She asked quietly as she settled herself down next to the bandaged youth on the floor. Taking Sanzo's silence as a yes she began to redress the boys left foot, the sleeping herbs she'd brewed into a tea kept him unconscious throughout a usually teeth gritting experience. She was silently trying to work up the courage for the umpteenth time to talk to the man, she wanted, no, needed him to know.

"I-I really, honestly didn't plan any of that earlier. It just happened, and I fought too, if it's worth anything, you all didn't fight alone. If you and your party hadn't showed up… I would be dead right now and I am in your debt, deeply in your debt." Ming Yue blushed at her sad attempt to get her point across and kept her eyes on her work.

The room stayed silent until she finished. Not daring to look up at him as she lifted the bloody bandages and made her way out of the room to dispose of them properly. She'd said what she need to say and that was that. If anything… maybe all this down time had cooled his head and maybe he didn't still think she had used them.

Sanzo couldn't blame her, though he wouldn't apologize or explain himself to her either. Not that he still believed his earlier accusations anymore. But standing up for Hakkai came naturally, though defending Quinn as well confounded him. He couldn't rationalize it in his own mind, no loopholes to wedge that one into. He'd just finally chalked it up to everything going on in that moment of time and left it well alone.

Answers would come eventually… all they had to do was wait.

A whimper floated up to his seat on the couch from the floor. Sighing through his nose he focused through the dimming light on the boys form and watched as he tried to adjust his position. When the boy tried to sit up a mental tally of his injuries via Ming Yue swam through his head: Loss of blood, concussion, various scrapes, bruises, fractured ribs, and his left foot which had four fractures, and three breaks including deep puncture wounds around the heel and back tendon.

"You really shouldn't be sitting up." Sanzo spoke low and calming as he reached down and gently halted the boys movements with a steady hand to the chest. The boy took in a deep breath but didn't lay back down.

"Where am I?" He whispered between chapped lips.

"At Ming Yue's house." Sanzo stated as he reached over for his own glass of water off the side table and handed it down to the boy. The boy took it slowly and drank deeply for a second before he handed it back with a nod of thanks.

"Who are you?" He asked, his voice low and raspy from its lack of use. Sanzo arched an eyebrow, was it a twenty-question celebration week or something?

"Sanzo. Who are you?" The priest leaned back and set his glass back on the side table.

"Li, Li Jin." Li just stared at the blond in wonder. He'd simply thought he'd been hallucinating due to the pain when Some one named Goku had picked him up from the forest floor.

Sanzo kept from rolling his eyes as Li stared at him like he was an alien.

"My Aunt?" Li asked and seemed to shrink when Sanzo shrugged.

"You really shouldn't be sitting up." Sanzo repeated the warning and before Li could speak, Ming Yue entered and gasped when she saw the boy half sitting, propped up by his elbow.

"Oh! No, you mustn't sit up! You've got a severe concussion, you could make it worse, or you could re-open wounds…"

Li looked back to Sanzo with a plea for help in his eyes as Ming Yue continued to fuss and fight the boy back into a passive position on the floor. Sanzo shrugged and mouthed 'Told you so.' silently, lest he attract the attention to himself. Li did roll his eyes at that, but scrunched his face up shortly after when all the movement made everything swirl painfully.

Ming Yue softly reprimanded Li for not listening to her as she checked his head first, then on down to arms and ribs. Now that she had a conscious patient, it would be nice to know a few things.

Sanzo stood and left Ming Yue to her work. He walked down the hall to the little room that barely fit the four in there. Sliding the door open, Gojyo looked up while Goku never moved his eyes off Quinn.

Inadvertently making the monks decision for him.

"Goku." Sanzo called in a normal tone of voice.

Goku barely tilted his head in Sanzo's direction as an indication that he'd heard. Sanzo squinted at the lack of response, Gojyo noticed and looked between the two not really caring.

"The boy, Li, is awake."

At this Goku turned his head and looked at Sanzo with a question in his eyes.

"I need you to go into town and alert his… aunt that he's alive. I'm sure they think he's dead by the look of him when you found him. And if you don't mind… bring back a few men to take the boy home."

The blond looked at Goku expectantly… "Now."

Goku stood instantly, took one more glance at Quinn on the bed and then moved out of the room. Once Goku disappeared down the hall and the two men heard the front door open and shut Sanzo turned his attention back to Gojyo. "Any changes?"

Gojyo shook his head and looked back on the two as if they both might have woken at that one moment. When neither moved he looked back to Sanzo and shrugged.

"Right. Let me know if there is."

"Can do." Gojyo watched as Sanzo exited the room but left the door open this time.

Sighing he leaned back in his seat and took comfort in the even breathing the woman on the bed kept deep and steady. Some how she could stuff your head full of cotton but make you think your heads never been so clear… and not have to say a word to do it. He studied her face for the hundredth time, not knowing if he was memorizing it, or hoping it would answer a question he didn't know how to put into words.

Whatever it was it kept him focused on her, as the cooling breeze lifted the thin curtains lazily, making the scene all the more serene.

123321

Goku been cursing Sanzo since he shut the front door. He'd ran the whole way to the bar in search of the one man who would know where Li's aunt was and he would probably be the man to accompany him back to the house to retrieve the boy.

Entering the bar Goku noticed that everyone still looked panicked even as Kai approached him.

"Is everyone ok out there?" Kai asked in honest concern.

Goku nodded and he could actually see the tension leave many of their bodies.

"We killed the wolves, and saved a young boy. His name is Li and we figured that his Aunt would love to know that he's ok." At his statement a woman in the back let out a cry of joy, it was hard to hear her over the triumphant cheers ringing throughout the air in praise of the Sanzo Party.

"Li! Li is ok? Oh my beautiful nephew is alive!" Li's -obvious- Aunt hobbled up at a painfully slow pace, however excitement accompanied each step and the tears in her eyes.

"Yes, If someone will come back with me, they can bring him to you. Is there a healer in here?" Goku asked over the crowd that had settled for murmuring enthusiastically amongst themselves.

An older man moved forward and bowed to Goku.

"I am the healer… and we are all in yours and the rest of the Sanzo Parties debt." The healer stood back up tall and proud.

"Right. Be ready for Li, he's alive, but that doesn't mean he's in perfect shape. We've done what we could with what was available at the house.. but I'm afraid it wasn't much. Ming Yue had the basics and the resources to see him through until he woke up." Goku knew he was spewing the information like a leaky jug… but he got the feeling that he needed to be back with Quinn, and Hakkai.

Kai stepped up and motioned towards the door.

"I'd be honored if you'll allow me to go and bring back Li."

"No problem. C'mon I need to get back kind of fast."

With that they moved back to Ming Yue's at and infinitely slower pace that what Goku would have liked… but a regular human could only move so fast, and he wasn't about to try and piggy-back the taller men, that would look just silly.. And then where would his dignity be? So Goku just grit his teeth and kept calming himself down the whole trip back.

When the house was finally in sight Goku let out a sigh of relief, he opened the door and let Kai and the healer in first. The men let their eyes adjust to the light difference and made a b-line to Ming Yue and Li on the floor. She had him sitting up and was putting the finishing touches on a fresh head bandage. They both looked up when they heard footsteps and smiles lit their faces. Kai knelt down and gently patted Li's back, worry and excitement poured from his posture as the low conversation between the four started when the doc came up and started praising Ming Yue's handy work.

Not that the scene wasn't touching and all… but Goku had bigger fish to fry and more apathetic monks to give a piece of his mind to.

The golden eyed demon looked away from the floor and instantly met Sanzo's eyes. The priest leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen and swirled his glass of water lazily, he smirked and took a sip. Goku growled and took a step forward but when Gojyo busted into the entrance to the hallway, he effectively acted as a barrier between the two, however the frustration and weariness on Gojyo's face sounded alarms off in Goku's head that were a little louder than Sanzo's actions.

"She's crying again… she won't stop… I can't wake her up." Gojyo looked hopelessly between the two who were still staring each other down.

Goku squinted at Sanzo then turned to look at Gojyo and nodded. Gojyo sighed and turned, leading the way down the hall to the room where he slid the door open and they filed in. Goku knelt at the side of the bed, looking almost scared as Quinn sobbed and tossed around far more violently than she had before. Gojyo was catching her legs and putting them back on the bed before she rolled off and landed on Hakkai's head.

Sanzo however stood at the head of the bed, fighting off the cringe that threatened a full body shiver from the vibes he was getting.

He didn't shiver.

The priest looked at his glass of water, then over to Goku, who looked back up at him with a suspicious eye. Sanzo sniffed and held the glass out, before Goku could move, he emptied the glass over Quinn's head.

123321

"Yeah, I remember her…" The shop keeper responded none too enthusiastically and went back to cleaning his counters.

"What did she use to pay?" Asked the taller demon.

"A card." The shopkeeper looked aggravated and waved a hand around the store. "Look, if you think you're getting anything for free you're nuts. Buy something and we'll see what I can remember."

The same demon took another step forward and towered over the counter and keeper. "If she paid with a platinum card, I can't buy squat, seeing as my platinum card has been stolen. I know she's been here because this," the demon slapped a credit history down on the counter and pointed at a statement underlined in red with an amount at the end, "proves that she was."

The shop keep watched a vein pop out of the demons forehead in frustration and suppressed anger. "Alright alright! After she left here she went down the street that way." The shop keep pointed him in the right direction, as the demon exited and regrouped with the others he sighed.

"Well?" Asked the bored looking red-head. This was feeling more and more like a wild goose chase.

"This way." The group followed the dejected demon.

"Well did he fess up?" Asked the youngest demon as she trotted next to the taller one and looked up.

"He couldn't really deny it." He responded blandly and looked back down to the document in his hands, he couldn't wait to get a hold of this impudent human.

123321

Quinn gasped and sputtered sitting straight up in the bed. The images still flashed in front of her, then faded away to blurry sight, only to flash before her again. She whimpered and curled up in a ball, trying to get away from the visions. She'd slaughtered hundreds of them, the rage, the fear. When she felt a hand on her shoulder she screamed and pushed away as another vision flashed where she turned and gutted another demon with vicious accuracy.

"Quinn, QUINN!"

-That's not my name… it's Gono… They've got her… They've- Her thought process was halted abruptly when two gentle hands cupped her face and turned her head, forcing her to look into deeply worried golden eyes.

The crisp and clearness of the picture was enough for her to catch her breath and calm for a moment…. Though the flashes had subsided for now… the memories were still strong. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed and began crying, latching onto Goku.

(Oh my god kid, you're really here, it wasn't real -hic- It was a nightmare. -sniffles- But I was stuck, I couldn't wake up.) Quinn said as she lifted up and looked behind Goku to see Gojyo. Holding out a shaking hand she tried to smile through the heaving breaths. He leaned down with a confused look on his face, but offered his strength anyway in a gentle one armed hug.

(I was so afraid I would never get out, I was so scared.) She finally calmed back down to a simmer, hugging the two demons with that statement then pulled back and looked over to Sanzo. He moved around the bed strangely and carefully bent down before her, to eye level.

"Can you understand me?" The priest asked quietly.

Quinn knit her brows together in confusion.

(Of course I can understand you.) Quinn nodded along with her statement. Slowly, a sick feeling brewed in the pit of her stomach, souring by the second.

"I'll take that as a yes. It is fortunate that you do… because.. We can not understand you." Sanzo felt the panic rising from the woman who had yet to take another breath, only to be disrupted by a moan from the floor. Gojyo instantly moved from the bed to the floor helping Hakkai sit up.

123321

Hakkai finally achieved a prime sitting position that seemed to stretch out his cramped muscles nicely. However, the pounding headache he sported was none too friendly.

"Hey Hakkai, how ya feelin'?" Gojyo asked in honest concern.

Hakkai mumbled something incoherent as he squinted in a simple attempt to keep his vision from swimming. The echoes of pain and betrayal clung to the cobwebs in his mind, whispering of a past that was heartbreaking.

There was a rustle of sheets behind him, and as he turned to look, something thumped on the floor next to him. A frantic Quinn exploded before his eyes, shaking him alert with an iron grip on each arm.

(Can you understand me? Hakkai can you understand what I'm saying?) Quinns knuckles slowly blanched as she squeezed harder the longer Hakkai stretched out the silence. Oh how tired she was of that confused look.

"Of course I can understand you, what an odd thing to ask." Hakkai responded, scrunching his brows together he took note of the others. "What's going on?"

Quinn opened her mouth, but a hand on her shoulder interrupted her upcoming tirade, effectively startling her out of the death grip and leaving her hands to fall limp on her thighs.

"That's something we were hoping you could fill us in on." Sanzo removed his hand from Quinn's shoulder and looked at them both expectantly.

Hakkai looked back to Quinn… then raised one finger about two inches from her nose. Almost instantly going cross-eyed Quinn focused on his finger, watching it move to the left, then slowly all the way to the right.

"You can see." He stated more than questioned.

Quinn's eyes widened as her hand was suddenly exploring the barren bridge of her nose where her glasses had sat since she was six years old. And for the first time since she'd awoken, it hit her.

(I can see, my god I can SEE!) Quinn lunged forward, successfully tackle hugging an off-balanced Hakkai to the ground. (Thank you, thank you! It worked Hakkai, I can see, see?) She pointed to her glasses-less face excitedly, missing the slight blush heating Hakkai's cheeks.

Said blushing demon awkwardly patted Quinn's back before helping her reclaim her previous position on the floor. He looked up to Goku and Gojyo, each carried an expression of sourness and confusion.

"Dude, can you really understand her?" Goku asked as he readjusted his seat on the bed.

"Well, yes, can't you?" Hakkai looked at Goku like he'd grown another head.

"Nope, not a damn thing. It's a language I'm not familiar with." Gojyo settled on the floor next to Quinn, giving her a cheeky grin. "Biggest bunch a gibberish I've ever heard."

(Hello, I can still understand you… ass.) Quinn glared at the kappa with daggers in her eyes.

"Um.. she can still understand you Water Puff. We've already established this." Goku leaned on his knee… seeming to cover over and protect Quinn, challenging Gojyo to try something.

"Now Gojyo, it's not gibberish, it's English." Hakkai paused as Quinn's jaw slightly unhinged. "Hm, I wonder how I know that?" He actually looked at a complete loss from where this knowledge came from… but that headache was all but spoiling the fun of it.

"English?" Sanzo raised an eyebrow at the foreign word, moving to take a drink from his glass, only to remember that it was empty. Damnit. He set the glass down on the wood nightstand with a definite click that rang in the silence. "Let's start with what knocked you out for over fifteen hours shall we?"

Hakkai tilted his head a little then looked back to Quinn.

"To be technical, Quinn is the reason we were both incapacitated. However, a little cranial collision is the least of our worries, it's what actually caused the chi surge that we should be focusing on." Hakkai shifted his weight as Quinn blushed a little. She'd just remembered dinging their heads together in her panic. Panic… she remembered being in a panic.

"Well," Hakkai paused, thinking carefully how to word his explanation. "To do the actual surgery, I had to literally switch our chi bases. I was in her head, she was in mine, however I had to suppress Quinn's chi away from most of her brain because of her emotions, and how sensitive her third eye was.

"I remember her chi was much harder to suppress, and the amount of it was odd. There were no closed neural pathways, it just flowed freely through out her brain with no restraints. Most humans I've seen with such an amount, it's touch and go, something has to trigger and open the neural pathways to allow the chi through." He looked at Quinn. "Such a constant flow in any other situation could be fatal. Which is why it was so intriguing, and worth mentioning.

"If you could imagine trying to suppress a flow of chi like that, you'd understand that a great amount of pressure was building behind me. I felt I had to hurry without hurrying. With a natural occurrence of such a free flowing amount of chi, suppressing it for a great length of time would have been the equivalent of putting a pillow over her face." Hakkai opened his mouth like he was going to say something more, but something told him that that was best saved for a private conversation between Quinn and himself.

She looked so captivated right now, Hakkai supposed that he was revealing things about her that even she didn't know, but he wouldn't put her on the spot like that. Pinching the bridge of his nose to stave off the dull ache in his skull and continued.

"Moving along, when I finished with the procedure, I checked the pressure one more time, and something happened… it felt like it was trying to absorb me. I can't explain it any more clearly. I gently pulled away and gave it one more small, calm, push back to make enough room for my exit… and then the pressure was gone. Her chi was gone. Receded deep within her, then I hesitated. I wanted to make sure that it wasn't harming anything with such an act… but that's when it snapped back out full force, shoving me out. I didn't have a chance to maneuver, and Quinn didn't know how… so we ended up brushing third eyes."

"Well, we figured out what that power surge was, at least." Sanzo pointed out.

Quinn let his analysis of the events sink in. A shiver ran down her spine as a flash of him and her dreams raced through her brain.

"Are you cold?" Goku asked quietly, leaning down closer to her.

(No.) Quinn shook her head to emphasize her answer, almost forgetting that they couldn't understand her. Drawing her knees up to her chin she wrapped her arms around her legs and sighed. (But I would like to speak with Hakkai alone for a moment.)

She watched as Hakkai quietly relayed the message. The three men made their was out of the room with Sanzo being the last out, and not the only one angry about being left out of any conversation pertaining to what had happened, left the two with an unreadable look.

The door slid shut with a soft click of wooden frames. Quinn and Hakkai were silent for a moment just looking at each other, both reaching for whatever would come out of the jumbled mess that was their minds first. Quinn figured being blunt would work best.

(What is in my head?) She asked, her eyes still held that feral hint of fear, the urge to cry again was over powering. Hakkai reached over and grabbed the sheet off the bed and handed it to her.

"Let's just calm down for a moment, here, you're head is soaked." Hakkai watched as she took the sheet, looking a little distracted as she realized that her hair was dripping.

(What the hell?) Quinn started semi-ringing the water out of her hair with the help of the sheet.

"Why don't you start by telling me what exactly is in your head that I need to explain." Hakkai braced himself. Brushing third eyes, he couldn't believe that they actually lived through it, let alone, the repercussions of such an act were infinite.

(I-I've.. Got these images, had a dream. A nightmare. It was as if someone close to me was in trouble calling the name Cho Gono… and I went crazy, killing demons… dozens of them. All gone with so much blood. I, there was so much of it, but I was so angry I didn't care, and when I found them… They died.) Quinn had long forgotten about her hair and it slowly dripped onto her already soaked shoulders. Her eyes were hazy with unacknowledged tears as she recalled it.

(I was so afraid for her… I didn't..I-) Quinn had looked up to try and explain further, but Hakkai's head was bowed, his bangs covering his eyes in shadow. (Hakkai?)

"Would.. You like me to tell you what I dreamt of?" His tone was far too soft, even for Hakkai. He didn't even wait for an answer.

"I'm in a small bedroom, with a dying man… I felt as if he were my father. He died… and I felt so lost, I didn't know where to turn when.. what was my mother I'm guessing, decided that his death was my fault in her mad grief." He looked up to see the shock in Quinn's eyes, as she clearly saw the pain in his own.

"She beat me, blamed me, I tried to tell her it wasn't my fault but she said-"

(She said every day that I had to stay inside… She had to hide her shame. Her mistake. She wouldn't let a murder loose on the streets.) Quinn interrupted him, just as quietly spoken as Hakkai, her eyes going flat.

"I believe… that we exchanged some very personal memories." Hakkai watched her turn her head away and he flinched. She hated him now.. knowing what he'd done, she couldn't even look at him.

This wasn't what he was expecting… and he was beginning to become apathetic to the whole situation. The he heard the small hiccup and eyed her as she raised her hand to her turned face and then turned back to look at him. She sniffled once then dropped her hand, slowly regaining her composure.

(I'm so sorry for your loss Hakkai. I didn't know…um, well I'm also sorry, you got front row seats to a fucked up childhood.) Quinn cleared her throat with a small emotionless chuckle and looked at her lap. Her fingers picking mercilessly at the hem threads of the sheet.

Hakkai paused. She wasn't shunning him? She wasn't afraid? He didn't understand, anyone else would have… ahh, but this is Quinn… not anyone else. Truly, deeply touched, Hakkai leaned forward laying a large hand over two small fidgeting ones. Quinn stopped and found herself eye to eye again, only hers still looked scared.

"Thank you." His voice was soft and calming. "I can't fathom how I would have handled your situation. You are very strong."

(You mean.. you don't.. hate me?) Quinn was baffled.

"Why would I hate you?" Hakkai puzzled.

(I-I killed my father, how could you even look at me?) Quinn was scared, scared of the answer… but totally prepared for the worst. Hell, she put up with her mother for seven years. She could safely say she could handle rejection. Granted the time and place was poor but that had been her luck since the beginning I mean… look at where she was now.

"You didn't kill him… you're mother…" Hakkai paused. He really had no place to comment on her memories, they were hers after all. "You saw yourself as me, slaughtering a hundred demons, and yet you apologize with such sincerity for my loss. I couldn't hate you." Hakkai had to smirk, they were both afraid of the same thing and jumped to conclusions about the other. Despite what they'd seen of the past, they still had a ways to go in learning about each other.

"To be honest… I thought you weren't going to be too thrilled about what I'd done." His smile faded a little when Quinns face scrunched up a little, holding back her tears.

(Hakkai?) Quinn asked shakily, when Hakkai tilted his head in worry she continued. (Can I have a hug?) As she asked her defenses cracked and tears spilled down her face. Hakkai leaned up and grabbed her into a tight hug and let her cry into the crook of his neck and shoulder, rubbing her back soothingly. (I've only told one person, never anyone else, I-)

"Shhh." Hakkai hushed her emotional torrent. "You can trust me." He listened to her sniffle and shudder, and simply leaned his head on hers. He knew these old wounds that seemed to never heal, the pain she was feeling was hitting far too close to home, but he would wait until she was finished, offering all the silent support he could.

123321

"Ugh, what's taking so long?" Goku sat on the kitchen counter with a scowl.

"Let it go, they're probably going to be in there for a while and whining about it's only gunna get you punched in the face." Gojyo glared.

"There's something else. Something that they're not telling us." Sanzo puzzled over his fresh cup of tea Ming Yue had left on the stove for them, along with a note saying that she'd gone to town with Li.

"I could tell by the way Hakkai was acting that there was more." Gojyo looked Sanzo in the eyes.

"Quinn didn't seem to know much about what happened but there was something she was holding back as well." Goku paused, then glanced at the entrance to the hall. "Maybe it's something we shouldn't know."

"We're screwed if it's something we should." Gojyo crossed his arms and leaned on his portion on the counter.

"When they come out, you guys get everything ready to leave. When I get back, I want everyone in the jeep." Sanzo set his tea down and turned to leave.

"Sure, but, where are you going?" Goku asked.

"I'll be right back." Sanzo padded his way out of the house, shutting the door behind him.

123321

A little old lady standing up on a step stool, dried off yet another plate and handed it to the taller demon. The demon grudgingly put it up in the cupboard where it belonged and waited for the next dry dish to be handed to him.

"It's so nice of you to help me. I knew a couple of nice boys like you could be very helpful." She squinted a smile over to the red headed demon that was still taller than the old bitty on her stool, and watched as he washed the last of the dishes.

"Yeah, what I was trying to ask you earlier-" The taller demon was cut off as the little woman stepped off her stool and started talking as she moved into the pantry.

"I hope those Sanzo boys are ok. See, people think I don't see as well, or hear like I used too. I may be old, but I am by no means feeble minded." She turned and waved a carrot in their direction. Turning back around she began to readjust and tidy up what she could. Not noticing the glances between the two men behind her.

"Why, and they had such a pretty girl with them. She didn't say much, but she seemed so happy. If I were thirty years younger, I'd sign up for that trip too! Ha!" She turned when she heard coughing.

"The Sanzo party stayed here?" The red-head asked, clearing his throat one last time.

"Oh my, yes they sure did. Just as sweet and helpful as you two!" She managed to crinkle up another smile.

"Ok, well, do you know which way they went?" the taller one asked.

"There was a warm western breeze that night. It smelled of peach flowers." The little old lady got a wistful look in her eyes then began humming, and wandered away out back.

The two demons shared a shrug and slipped out the front.

"That's about all the charity you'll be seeing by me from here on out." The taller one informed as the two regrouped with the two demonesses after putting away the last dishes.

"Well, what'd you get out of her?" The smallest asked.

"The way to go, and who to pummel." The tallest responded.

"Seems, that our dear friends from the Sanzo party have picked up a new member." The red head relayed.

"Oh, the Sanzo party?" The older female demoness smirked a little.

"A new member? No one before even mentioned Sanzo or the others." The younger one trotted a little to keep in step as she looked up for answers.

"Technically we weren't following their trail before." The red head pointed out.

"I wonder how they're doing…" The demoness asked no one in particular.

"Wait till we catch up to them, then see how they're doing when I get a hold of this new female member." The tallest growled.

123321

Hakkai stood next to the jeep, double checking their belongings when he heard the brush rustle. He looked up to see Sanzo and smiled. Goku and Gojyo were already in the backseat and noticed Hakkai's lack of movement, Goku stood up and leaned on the back of the passengers seat.

"Hey, we're ready, like you commanded." Goku slowly sunk back into his seat from the glare.

"I don't see Quinn. Where is she?" Sanzo frowned.

"Well, when Quinn and I were informed of the length of time we were out, she said something about feeling grimy and went to take a quick bath." Hakkai took one last look at the jeep to avoid whatever face Sanzo was making.

"Don't worry, she should be done by-" Gojyo paused when he heard the front door open and shut. Quinn was standing there with a piece of paper looking… well to be honest… slightly crazy with her half towel dried hair.

(Look at this!) Quinn grinned and held the paper up proudly, only, she tried several times to push her non-existent glasses up on her nose. She looked like she had a twitch. When Hakkai moved forward, the others did too, following his lead.

Hakkai reached for the paper and read it. At first it was a little hard for him to focus on the writing… There was something different about Quinn. Clearing his throat he reached up, adjusted his monocle then refocused.

Dear Ming Yue,

Thanks for everything, I'll miss you very much and I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye face to face. You know how pushy Sanzo can be right? Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for understanding me when things looked dim, and I'll always remember you and your kindness.

Quinn Bond

Hakkai looked up from the note with a snicker and handed it back to her. When he saw her eyes held something akin to hope he paused, her fingers gently brushed his as she hesitantly accepted it; waiting for Hakkai to say something.

"Yes, that's a very nice note. What about it?" Hakkai asked, wincing a little when she shoved the letter back at him and pointed at the words enthusiastically.

(Don't just read it, look at it!) Quinn urged.

Hakkai blinked and calmly reclaimed the paper, ignoring Goku and Gojyo leaning over his shoulder to read it as well. They seemed a little too eager in his prospective… but then again he felt a little rushed to voice what she wanted to hear first as well.

"Hey, I can read that! It's in Chinese!" Goku pointed at it too.

Hakkai's eyes widened at the fact that he could miss something so obvious. It was in Chinese! They could all read it, each looked back up to her. Sanzo looked at the paper, read it, and cocked an eyebrow.

"Pushy?" Sanzo asked with absolute lack of humor. Quinn blushed and snatched the note away, promptly turning and pinning it to the door.

(I don't know how I did it, I just wanted to leave a note for her, not even thinking that she wouldn't be able to read it. And then I realized that I could read it, but it wasn't English. I can't speak Chinese, but apparently I can read and write it alright.) She shrugged at the three blank stares, knowing that Hakkai understood her at least made this predicament a little more bearable.

Hakkai relayed what she said and they all kind of looked at her again strangely.

"Ok, enough, everyone in the Jeep now." Sanzo sighed the order suddenly feeling annoyed.

They all piled in the jeep silently, once the back was situated comfortably Goku leaned up a little and rested an arm on Sanzos head rest.

"So, where did you go earlier?" The monkey asked nonchalantly.

"Meditating." Sanzo answered. There were several snickers, then a very girly giggle.

(Sanzo meditates? HA! I can't even picture it in my head! Mr. Trigger happy sitting in the middle of a forest humming 'Ommm' Ah-haha!) Quinn spoke with confidence that only Hakkai could decipher what came out of her mouth, and giggled harder when a small chuckle-cough came from the driver.

And even though Goku nor Gojyo knew what the hell she said, they laughed harder anyway, until Sanzo reared around with the fan of doom and smacked them both in the head then pointing it in Quinns face.

"I don't know what you said, but I get the feeling it wasn't nice, and I'll have no reservation about bashing you either." Sanzo glared at her, ignoring the other two moans of pain.

Quinn snickered again.

(Sure thing, just don't let me catch you meditating, I'm liable to place a hand into a warm cup of water.) Quinn smirked with a sly look in her eyes. Sanzo immediately turned to Hakkai. The driver ducked his head and shrugged, focusing mighty hard on the road ahead.

"I believe she said something akin to how she doesn't have the patience to meditate." Hakkai winked at her from the rear-view mirror discreetly.

"Whatever." Sanzo turned back in his seat and relaxed, enjoying the silence for a solid three seconds before chatter started back up in the front seat. Somehow, the priest knew that this was going to be a long ride.

With Goku trying harder than anyone else to communicate was white noise in the background, but catching 'secret' eye-brow waggles Gojyo was sending to Quinn over Goku's head was making him feel queasy. One of the few things that made this girl tolerable was she didn't take shit from people, so the sound of Gojyo in pain shortly after such advancements was pure bliss.

123321

By the early stages of dusk, the group was traveling through a barren canyon that made the tight fit in the back seat feel insufferable. Quinn was tugging at the neck of her shirt and biting her lip to stay quiet. She almost poked herself in the eye trying to push her long gone glasses up again and adjusted her seat a couple of times before finally just leaning forward between Sanzo and Hakkai. She figured that watching the road would lull her into a some form of sleep. As she looked on to the edge of the monotony, spots appeared by the next turn a little ways up. She squinted, not sure if she was seeing anything at all, but then she felt it.

Strong presences, all powerful, all..

(Demons.) Quinn spoke.

Everyone else either already knew or were just finding out because as soon as that one word left her mouth, the Jeep began to slow. It seemed as if they were inching closer and closer to an electric fence and Quinns nerves were starting to fry. She'd never been able to feel any demonic presences so strongly before, but now it was as if someone had dumped a very large bucket of ice water on her head. She managed to peel her eyes away and survey the jeep. It was like all the boys were talking via telepathy.

(What's going on?) She asked a little nervous.

"Nothing just stay calm." Hakkai suggested in a tone of carefree country cruising.

As they drew closer Quinn began to see the differences in the once small specks. There was a tall buff, mean looking demon. To the left of the tall one was a purple haired demoness that looked kind but determined. In front of her was a shorter red haired teen demoness, and next to the teen was an average height demon, which also sported the sharp red hair.

The jeep flowed to a stop quite a few feet from where the strange group was standing, and they all piled out of Hakuryu and let him transform back into the tiny dragon.

"Hey Kougaiji, you look like you've been slacking." Goku smirked and made one of his arms floppy in jest. The redhead snorted and fluffed his bangs away from his eyes.

"Hardly, I would gladly beat you for such a comment, but we're here on business." He responded, looking at each member, then his eyes finally fell on Quinn, who was half hidden behind Gojyo and Hakkai.

(Fuck, I knew we'd run into a demon mafia, there was no escaping it.) Quinn mumbled low enough for Hakkai to hear. The chi master managed to keep his poker face.

"I'm not familiar with the term 'mafia'. However…" He paused when Quinn squeaked and held onto Hakkai's sleeve.

(Normally… I'm all for kick'n some ass. But these are demons and that one can understand me!) Quinn tugged on Hakkai's sleeve in a slight panic. (Hakkai, Hakkai!) She quieted when he gently laid a hand on hers and firmed his stance.

"I know what business you guys are in, we're not interested in an all out brawl today." Sanzo turned to Hakuryu to get him to transform back into the Jeep, absolutely refusing to baby sit while the others had all the fun. All because they're pussies about his gun and scripture.

"It's not with you four." The taller one moved up.

"Well gee, Dokugakuji, I could only guess who my dearest older brother had business with here." Gojyo moved protectively in front of Quinn, effectively hiding her from the others eyes.

"Does anything about a Platinum credit card ring a bell?" The demoness spoke up.

Quinn felt like she was going to be ill.

123egyptian lullaby321

END! I love you all bunches so I updated! Life happens and it shoved me in the blender for a moment there. It spit me back out however, and you get this! Enjoy all and review your little hearts out! PEACE OUT HOMES!

egyptian lullaby