Hello there!

Well, here I am again, and I have a new chapter with me...

At this point a great big THANK YOU to Alex and Zelgadis55 for helping me out – now I've seen what Youkai Sanzo looks like, now my mind is at rest...

The first thought I had when I saw the pics was: "Male Deedlit from Hell" – so sorry, Sanzo, but those ears don't look good on you...

Oh, and a little note to one of the phrases in the last chapter. With the reference to the "monster within him", I did not want to imply that Sanzo is homophobic in any way, it's just a convenient way for him to wind himself out of the situation ;-)

05.04.2005: Answers to reviews removed. See chapter 3 for details.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine. If you want it, ask Minekura Kazuya, maybe she'll give it to you... (yeah, right)

CHAPTER 9

Early the following day, Kouryuu woke them up, urging them to move on.

"Who knows how soon they will attack us again," he said, and so, after a quick breakfast, the group boarded Hakuryuu, who had changed into the jeep. When Hakkai was about to take his place behind the steering wheel, he found his way barred by his blond companion.

"You're going to relax today", he told him in a tone that made clear that his decision was not negotiable. "Gojyo can drive for now."

Hakkai noticed that the former monk was carefully avoiding to look directly at him...

"Aww man, why don't you take over for a change?", the half-demon complained as he heard what Kouryuu had planned for him, only to invoke a frantic shake of the head from Goku. "Are you insane? Remember what happened the last time he tried to drive..."

Gojyo sent a gaze skyward as he remembered... back then, Sanzo had not managed to grasp the use of a clutch, and, refusing to admit to his problem, had caused Hakuryuu quite a bit of distress... after several failed attempts to put in a gear without making the engine stall and ominous rasping noises from the gearshift, Hakkai had taken over the driver's seat again... and the poor white dragon had had an upset stomach for more than a week.

And thus, the matter was settled. After everybody was on their seats and Gojyo had started Hakuryuu's engine, he hesitated to shift into a gear.

"Um, Kouryuu... I'm sorry to bring this up, but... where exactly should we go now? After all, we are not forced to go west anymore..."

The following silence threatened to suffocate them, until after a couple of minutes, they finally received an answer.

"Back east." The deep voice wavered a little at the following word. "Home."


The group continued on their way without interruptions for the better part of the day. They entered a small accumulation of trees by the time the sun was about to set, and were about to stop and set up camp, when an obstacle came into view – somebody had put a series of large boulders across the road.

Gojyo's foot slammed on the brake, and he felt Kouryuu's body fall against the back of his seat. With screeching tires and in a large cloud of dust, the jeep stopped mere centimeters before the barricade. Hakuryuu's engine died with a blurb when Gojyo's foot slipped off the clutch, and for a moment, silence engulfed them.

"Well, well, well", a familiar voice came from the side of the road, "whom do we have here?"

A youkai stepped into view, red hair falling down his back, a red mark in the shape of a stylized flame adorning his left cheek. Kougaiji, son of Gyuumaoh. Along with him he had brought Yaone and Dokugakuji, his loyal followers.

Before the youkai prince could say anything more, Kouryuu used the opportunity to speak.

"Ah, Kougaiji. How nice of you to appear in person this time", he sneered. "Did you decide that cowardly bombings were not your style, after all?"

Their opponent shot the blond man a startled look; clearly, he had not expected this kind of greeting.

"What are you talking about?"

Now Goku decided to join the conversation.

"There was an attempt on our lives yesterday – somebody planted a bomb in the inn we were staying in. Do you want to deny that Yaone", an accusing finger pointed to the young youkai woman, "knows how to deal with explosives?"

"But I didn't...", the young woman stammered, her gaze fixed on Hakkai, her regular opponent, who sat on the passenger's seat, only to be silenced by a motion of Kougaiji's hand.

"We do not resort to such cowardly measures", the youkai prince responded, his voice as cold as his eyes. "Nor do we have a reason to lie to you about it. You should know that already."

That was true; while they sometimes utilized rather unusual methods in order to try and subdue them, Kougaiji's group had never practiced such cowardice – and there truly was no reason for them to be lying about trying to kill them. After all, the group in the jeep already knew that the youkai prince was after them and would stop them if he could.

"Very well", Kouryuu finally responded. "What do you want from us?"

Kougaiji grinned at the blond man.

"Ah, as if you didn't know, Genjo Sanzo... we want the Maten Sutra. Surrender it to us, or prepare to fight!"

His eyes widened when his opponent answered. "I don't have it anymore."

"Liar!", Kougaiji raged at first, only to take a closer look at the man he still knew as Sanzo.

He noticed that the monk's robes were gone, that the sutra, indeed, was not lying on the man's shoulders anymore... finally, his gaze fell upon the two tight-fitting golden bracelets on Kouryuu's wrists.

"So that's it", he murmured softly, and chuckled. "No wonder they took the sutra away from you..."

Tears of pure mirth were welling up in Kougaiji's eyes as his laughter began to resound off the trees.

"The mighty Genjo Sanzo... the feared youkai-killer... turned into one himself...", he managed to get out before another fit of laughter shook him. Dokugakuji's face featured a smirk, and even Yaone could not suppress a snicker.

Goku, who did not appreciate the amusement their enemies got out of his master's state, angrily lifted a hand, ready to summon Nyoibou, when pale fingers clamped down on his wrist. Kouryuu shook his head, his eyes fixed upon his feet. Clearly, he did not want his charge to intervene on his behalf.

Meanwhile, Kougaiji had managed to get a grip on himself, although his eyes still danced with silent laughter and his voice spoke of extreme amusement, as he mockingly bowed in front of the jeep.

"Well, it seems I must be off, then – to find the new carrier of the sutra", he grinned at them. "Farewell, Ex-Sanzo – and may your luck keep you out of the new bearer's way, so he doesn't accidentally use it on you!"

And with those words, he and his followers vanished.


There you go – Kougaiji's share in the fun ride ;-) Hope you enjoyed – please leave a review!

I must go now to pet my kitty, Belldandy... she's already nibbling on my feet, in about five minutes, she'll start to bite...