A/N: I'm back once more! evil laugh Okay, here's something to know: I will be following only 3 of the episodes of the series starting with the ep. 27 on Vol. 7: Gods of War. Some dialogue might not be the same and not every episode will be included, but still follow able. Please enjoy this chapter; the next one is in process as I speak.

NOTE: IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN VOLUME 7: GODS OF WAR, I SUGGEST YOU DO TO KNOW THE CHARACTERS AND PLOTS OF THE EPISODES, I KIND OF HATE TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING.

Chapter 9

Acquaintances

"The problem with Chinese food is that you're hungry later," Goku complained, looking sadly down upon the empty plates, head rested in his folded arms.

"At least you had something to eat; you hogged most of the food!" Kakera hissed, giving the innocent monkey death glare, her stomach adding its anger towards the monkey.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it," Goku whined.

"We were lucky to find a place open this late," Hakkai chuckled.

"Lucky! This food sucks," Gojyo added quietly.

"If everyone's done, I vote we leave this loser dive," Sanzo mumbled.

"I second that," Kakera remarked lazily in her chair.

"What are you calling a dive you asshole?" a demon snapped behind them.

Sanzo turned to see a group of demons behind the leader who spat the remark, their angry faces seeming dull and unthreatening to the party. Before their staring contest could continue, Sanzo finally got up and turned to face the offended and pissed off demon.

"I was referring to this place," Sanzo reminded the demon.

"It's all friends and family," Gojyo smirked.

"How cute of them to put on a show for us," Kakera added.

"Who else would eat here anyway?" Sanzo wondered sarcastically.

"These losers are all the same," Kakera whispered to the three.

Hakkai sipped his tea innocently and muttered the "here we go again" phrase, but he knew that once Sanzo was ticked off by someone, nothing could be done from that point.

"And what exactly is wrong with this place?" the demon snapped at Kakera.

"I'd say it's the smell," Sanzo said, attracting the demon's attention.

"What smell is that?"

"Can't tell if it's the food or the company."

"Alright jerk off, I've had enough of you!" the demon hissed, his punch towards the priest stopping in mid air as two men entered the bar. The two, as they made their way to the bar, looked upon the Sanzo party, the spike haired one winking at Kakera, who almost jumped out of her chair to attack him.

'Those two…,' Sanzo's mind wondered as they sat down.

'I've seen those two somewhere before…,' Kakera's mind added.

"Looks like them," Zenon remarked.

"It appears to be," Shien agreed, but turned to see Gojyo behind Zenon.

"Hey man, I don't suppose you could give a light?" Gojyo asked the spike haired demon, who smirked.

"Eh sure, what the hell?" Zenon agreed and lit Gojyo's limp cigarette.

"You're a real pal, it's just not the same without my after-dinner smoke, so let's hit the road," Gojyo said simply.

"Yeah, let's," Sanzo agreed dryly, before the angry demon stepped in.

"Not so fast!" the demon objected hotly.

"So, how much? I may not have been able to eat that crap, but I always pay my bills," Sanzo said, pulling out his gold card.

"Yeah, you're gonna pay big time!" the demon agreed, attempting another attack at the still priest, before the sound of someone pounding the counter with a glass made the place fall into silence once more.

"What kind of place are you runnin' here? Can't a guy have a drink without listening to this bull?" Zenon hissed, turning angrily to the pissed demon.

"Butt out, this doesn't concern you!" the demon warned.

"Doesn't concern us, why everything concerns us…and I don't care for the demon stench either," Zenon replied before the demon dared to cut in again.

"Who do you think you guys are, anyway?"

But Zenon just laughed, his uncovered eye glinting of the lust for a good fight and responded: "Why I think we're gods."

"That dude's a god?" Goku asked, officially and actually confused.

"If the guy says so," Gojyo tried to answer the monkey's stupid question as the demon crowd started cracking up.

"This guy's killin' me, talk about your delusions of grandeur!" the demon cackled, cracked comments surrounding the small bar.

"My only delusion was I could drink this after seeing your face," Shien added quietly, not bothering to turn around.

In the back of the demon crowd, a few members of the party couldn't help but quietly crack up at the released comment, Goku letting out the first small burst of laughter. Kakera tried to control her mouth by covering it and trying to stay upward in her chair.

"Goku, he can't help the way he looks," Hakkai whispered with a smile.

"Bandages does have a point," Kakera managed to whisper to Goku, and the monkey seemed to like the random title Shien had taken by the female demon and tried to let his laughter be known to the crowd.

"Now I know why there weren't any women around," Gojyo added to the joke, his sly smile making his part of the joke come alive between them.

"I don't like them," Sanzo grumbled and the joke suddenly died.

"That's not good," Goku whispered with slight nervousness.

They sat back and watched the little quarrel between the spike haired demon and the pissed off demon, who eventually flew back into some tables. Knowing the fight was just getting started and even more pissed off, the demon exposed his pale green skin and tiger like stripes.

"Striking, you should try that a look a little more often," Zenon remarked to the demon, who spat and got himself back up quickly.

"You're gonna regret you did that!"

"So you keep telling me, let's finish this! Fair warning, demons tend to drive me the wrong way, every time I see one-," he paused to look over at the party, who returned the stare and he continued: "All I wanna do is send them straight to Hell!" and he began to go after the other demons that stood in the crowd.

"What the hell is he?" Gojyo wondered with little surprise.

"He doesn't act like a demon, I can tell you that," Hakkai replied.

"So I guess he's a real god then," Gojyo concluded his restless thoughts.

'I finally found you two, after years of searching, it's a small world after all,' Kakera's mind thought, secretly glaring at the busy Zenon and the still sitting Shien.

"Aren't they Kougaiji's assassins? I think we should help them," Goku wondered, not sure what to do instead of standing around.

"I agree, but I'm sure they can handle this bar of demons by themselves," Hakkai assured the confused monkey.

"Hmph…let's go," Sanzo commanded and the five exited the busy bar.

But apparently as they walked out, a beaten truck and a huge group of armed demons were waiting for them just a few feet away and they sighed at the helpless demons.

"Look, it's Genjo Sanzo!"

"Time to die!"

"Look boys, we've a prize waitin' for us!" the leader shouted.

'That's pretty sad,' Kakera's mind moaned at the demon's line.

"They didn't drive all the way out here to see us, did they?" Hakkai wondered, seeing the group extended quite a ways.

"I'm not sure that truck's road worthy," Goku informed them.

"How much you wanna bet they had to push that all the way here?" Hakkai asked his companions, unable to keep a small chuckle from escaping.

"I thought we ditched this crowd," Gojyo wondered.

"Awesome, I could use an after-dinner workout!" Goku said happily.

"Let's play for dibs first," Kakera suggested slyly and they agreed.

"The game's rock, paper, scissors," Hakkai told them. With their tool in mind, they counted to three slowly and drew their hands. Goku had rock, Hakkai had scissors and Gojyo and Kakera had paper.

But before they had time to gather their weapons, a bright light suddenly descended from the heavens. As the light grew brighter and came down lower, the entire demon group was soon nowhere to be seen and they hissed in anger and folded their arms.

"Why do guys have all the fun?" Kakera wondered, claws sheathed.

"He has arrived," Zenon said to Shien, who remained silent in the bar.

The light soon came in contact with the disrupted ground and as it gradually began to dim, they could see the outline of a man. Only a few more seconds passed before only the man's face couldn't been seen, but their minds soon became entangled in confusion as they saw shackles on the man's wrists.

"How I've waited for this," the man said cunningly, the light fading his face was revealed as his gaze was fixed upon Sanzo's blank face. "How nice to see you again, Konzen."

'It's you…,' Kakera's mind gasped in surprise and anger.

"It's been such a long time, hasn't it? Konzen, have you forgotten you time…in heaven?"

'That name…I've heard it before…,' Hakkai thought, remembering.

"His right eye…is just like mine," Goku gasped, seeing the man's small golden eye.

"It's true…in ancient times; those with golden eyes were told to bring fortune. So in a way, we're brothers, my dear Goku," the man assured the surprised Goku as he stepped forward.

"You sure dish out a lot of crap man, now tell us, who the heck are ya?" Gojyo demanded, impatience slowly rising with the spaced silence.

"I am the War Prince, Homura, at your service," Homura explained, suddenly only a slight distance away from them.

'War Prince?' Sanzo wondered, the name sounding familiar.

'I knew it…,' Kakera confirmed mentally, sheathing her claws in case.

"I'm hurt you've forgotten me so soon, General Kenren," Homura answered Gojyo and the half-breed's face went frozen with shock.

"What did you call me?"

"Are you and your friends related to the Merciful Goddess?" Hakkai asked.

"Well well, at least your memories aren't completely forgotten, eh Field-Marshal Tenpou?" Homura wondered, chuckling at their shock before Zenon and Shien were in his sight as they stood in the bar's entryway.

"Homura, quit babbling and tell them why you're here!" Zenon reminded the distracted War Prince and Homura slightly sighed, as if he was angered that Zenon ruined his fun with the partially shocked party.

"As you wish," Homura groaned casually.

"I'm listening," Sanzo said, breaking his long silence.

"Well my friend, it's time to hand over what you possess."

"Not likely."

"Then I'll kill you."

"I'd like to see you try."

"Don't waste your time Sanzo, tabooed gods don't have the capacity to follow orders," Kakera told him, her claws at her sides and ready.

"I would advise that you hold your tongue, woman," Shien warned her.

"Come and tell me in the face, bandages! Is talking your only talent?"

"Kakera, let it go," Gojyo tried to convince her as he held her back.

"How did I know you'd say that?" Homura wondered, but took no hesitation and jumped in front of Sanzo; flame sword scratching against Sanzo's raised arms.

"No, Sanzo!" Goku yelled before Shien suddenly stood before him.

"This is not your fight," Shien advised, standing his ground.

"Same goes for your guys," Zenon added, smirking at Kakera. 'Long time no see, Kakera.'

'Hello, Zenon,' Kakera's mind spat.

'Sure you don't want me to lend you a leash?'

'I'm good, thanks,' Kakera spat, knowing fighting him wouldn't be worth time, so she let her anger simmer down and her claws became sheathed again.

"So what are you going to do with the scripture?" Sanzo hissed, trying to keep up his minor defense against the armed god.

"Simple, I'm going to destroy the heavens," Homura explained proudly.

"Don't think so…," he countered as he suddenly pulled back from the fiery sword and fired his gun, but the bullet simply disappeared. "What?"

"You really didn't think that gun could hurt me, did you?"

"So you are…"

"You'll have to do better than that, my friend, so go ahead and shoot, my heart's right here," Homura intimidated the priest, pointing to his heart and gave back his sly smile. But when Sanzo didn't respond, he decided to give a demonstration of what his statement meant. "Well, if you're too cowardly then…Zenon, fire away."

"Sure thing, boss," Zenon said, turning around fired.

Sanzo, receiving his reflexes again, he jumped back as the bullets flew towards the still Homura, but just like Sanzo's bullet, they disappeared into an unseen shield protecting Homura.

"So you see, it's not that easy to kill a god," Homura told Sanzo.

"Huh, how very god like of you…wow, to demonstrate your great power, and then expect us to hand over the scripture to you," Sanzo hissed back, his words dripping dangerously with venomous sarcasm.

"So why don't you kneel? Kneel before me now," Homura suggested.

"No thank you," Sanzo assured him and shot again, but it proved nothing.

"It's time you learned your place, now hand over the scripture!"

"Just try, I won't budge!"

"Then I won't ask again, but the next time I draw my sword…I won't hold back!" Homura yelled and ran towards Sanzo, sword hungry for a real fight.

"Sanzo!" Goku screamed, jumping over the still Shien with his loyal staff and struggled against the energetic War Prince.

"Stupid chimp," Sanzo whispered.

"Well I'll be…," Hakkai said quietly.

"The little one, he didn't move as before," Shien commented to himself.

"I don't get why you guys need the scripture!" Goku asked Homura, his arms shaking from the pressure of Homura's sword.

"Stand back," Homura advised.

"I will not!" Goku repeated, trying to keep his strength in control.

'Innocent eyes…pure intentions…but this boy is a heretic like me,' Homura wondered, but drew back his sword and began to walk away. "I'm afraid you all don't acquire the skill to be of use to me."

"Hey, what's up with that?" Goku asked after a short silence.

"What's up?" Hakkai added.

"Got me," Gojyo said before turning around to see more demons arriving.

"Well, if it isn't the tour group," Zenon smirked.

"Oh man, not again!" Goku hissed in frustration, staff appearing again.

"Worthless scum," Homura whispered, swinging his sword and a wall of dancing fire distinguished the demons, leaving nothing but them once more. "Zenon, Shien!"

"Yes?" Shien's voice asked.

"Let's go," Homura replied, sounding bored and tired.

"You sure?" Zenon pressed.

"We will retreat for now!" Homura irritated voice answered him.

"If you say so," Zenon agreed, disappointed.

"I understand," Shien agreed and walked to Homura.

"Later, guys," Zenon said before hearing Gojyo's voice.

"Wait! You…got a light?"

"Here, a little gift from the gods, take good care of it!"

Gojyo easily retrieved the tossed lighter, feeling the nicotine surge through his veins and feeling satisfied, he tossed the lighter back to Zenon. "No thanks" and the demon caught it and joined his companions.

"So long," Zenon repeated.

"And try to keep that girl on a leash next time," Shien suggested dryly, and their new acquaintances vanished and the party was left alone.

"Well that was a waste of time," Kakera hissed, blood boiling.

"Still don't like them," Sanzo repeated, looking to the pricked sky.

"You took my lighter, asshole!" Gojyo accused Sanzo.

"No, remember, you gave it back because it wasn't working," Goku corrected the red haired demon.

"You lookin' for a fight?" Gojyo asked the monkey.

"I was just telling you the truth," Goku said defensively.

As the fight faded into the background, Kakera got up and looked back at the cliffs to see three figures watching their jeep leaving the town. Untouched memories suddenly sparked fresh in her mind of their faces, and she growled quietly.

"You think this is wise?" Zenon asked Homura.

"Keep in mind, there are the other scriptures, isn't that correct?" Shien asked.

"Yes, that is true, Konzen's scripture will soon be mine as well as the boys infinite strength," Homura told his loyal comrades, looking down to see Kakera standing up in the jeep and facing them.

"What about her, boss?" Zenon asked.

"Yes, what of the girl?" Shien accompanied.

"Let's just hope her past can weaken Konzen and we can take his scripture without any complications. I think you can be very useful again, my dear," Homura whispered, the last statement remaining sweet in his mouth as he smiled at the girl as he continued to look at her standing form.

"Stupid Monkey!"

"Water Sprite!"

"Dumb chimp!"

"Roach! Carrot Head!"

"Idiots," Sanzo hissed irritably, throwing the useless cigarette.

"Do you think…," Hakkai began.

"You shut up…and don't say it," Sanzo warned the driver.

"Yes sir," Hakkai obeyed and focused on the road.

But not much time passed before the priest had finally tolerated enough behavior from the foolish demons in the back and pulled on Kakera's arm.

"Make yourself useful and ease both our headaches," Sanzo snapped at Kakera, handing her his fan and he laid the gun in his lap. "On the count of three."

"Right," Kakera answered with dazed eyes.

"Something wrong?" Sanzo asked, voice somewhat cleansed of the anger.

Taking one last look at the cliffs as they eventually disappeared into the mountain's view, Kakera let out a quick growl before turning to face a concerned Hakkai and staring Sanzo.

"Nothing, just something in the air," Kakera, seeing the fight in the back was getting out of control and she looked to the priest.

"One…," Sanzo started.

"Two…," Kakera smirked.

"Go for it, I'll clean up the mess!" Sanzo said, seeing Kakera's evil smile.

Knowing his stare and resting gun was enough for her, Kakera dove into the back and entered the fight. The two started wrestling her and more insults rose into the early sky, and Sanzo slowly counted backwards in his head and waited for his intervention.

"What's your problem?" Gojyo barked at Kakera, who suddenly smacked his face with the fan.

"Ever heard of peace and quiet!" Kakera screamed.

"Come on Kakera, let me at him!" Goku struggled against Kakera's arm hold around his neck, but soon the fan found his face as well.

"You keep your trap shut if you want to be able to taste food again!"

"For the love of…," Gojyo tried to say before the gun finally went off.

"SHUT UP AND SIT QUIETLY LIKE GOOD CHILDREN!" Sanzo barked, ready for another shot in case.

"You've got…a lot…of nerve, Sanzo," Gojyo hissed as he took one last shot at Goku before they heard Kakera let out a shriek of frustration and for the next few minutes, Kakera pummeled the rowdy Gojyo, with Hakkai and Goku laughing at the background.

"This is better than food anytime!" Goku cracked up.

"I'd have to agree also, Goku," Hakkai chuckled, but he turned to see Sanzo give out a low chuckle. "You agree, Sanzo?"

"Anything to shut those two up, I'm good," was Sanzo's brief answer as he kicked back and enjoyed the now fallen silence as Kakera slowly got back in the front and handed the fan back. "Thanks."

"No, thank you, I understand how you can't stand those two."

"Great…," the two heard Gojyo moan.

"Who wants to hitchhike?" Sanzo asked, turning around and all was silent. "That's what I thought."

To Be Continued!

A/N: Awww…such a happy, different ending don't you think? The new chapter is progress, so expect two more updates within the week. I was thinking to follow more episodes, but that still hangs in the balance, but I hope you all enjoyed my version of the episode. More unexpected things are to come…