Author's Note: Let me first apologize to everyone who has been waiting for this chapter. As one new reviewer pointed out to me, it's been roughly 8 months since I last posted anything. I WISH that were an exaggeration. Nevertheless, it reminded me that I have readers waiting- all of whom have been quite supportive of this fan-fiction. Forgive any mistakes I happen to make- I was riding the breeze, so to speak, and while I did check through everything, I may not have caught any mistakes. (Anyone interested in becoming my beta?? check out my profile page- it's updated!). There is an Obon Festival in this chapter. I did a little bit of research, and I've never actually BEEN to one, so I did my best. Allow me some artistic license on the rest. sweatdrop. Well- you know the drill. I don't own Saiyuki- Kazuya Minekura is god- and the others to their respectable owners wink. Without further ado...I present to you...

...Chapter Ten...

Airborne

By the time the noon sun had risen to its peak and sent infiltrating rays through the windows at the inn there were three pairs of eyes which struggled to remain shut and protected from the light. It wasn't so much a matter of fatigue which kept the girls asleep, yet more of a wariness of what this new day might bring to them.

More trouble, perhaps, as the last two days had certainly been affected with plenty of it. The events of just the night before had everyone wound up, and the young women hadn't turned in for bed until quite late. Two of the three had stayed awake to chatter away, while the third had gotten stuck turning her head back and forth, trying to catch snippets of words she could understand. It wasn't until Mandi had released an exasperated groan and retired to her cot that the other two decided it might be best to get some sleep as well.

With Ashley's transformation into the Water Elemental, Jiang Miyoko, the innkeeper Himura had more than a little hesitance in asking the young women to continue working in exchange for room and board. Once the thin man had seen the damage done to his restaurant and discovered that two thirds of the female party were indeed godly creatures, he retrieved their belongings from the storage closet to return and offered up two of his best rooms to Jiang and Lian. When asked about the third girl, whom he'd assumed was merely a servant of the gods, as her appearance looked rather ordinary, the Elementals rejected Himura's offer for separate rooms.

The man didn't press the subject, though did change their given room to a larger, suite-sized one, in order to give them plenty of room. Himura had changed into a quivering fool overnight, having gone from being under the Magistrate Ping's thumb to wishing to serve and obey every command the girls could possibly give to him. To have a young woman approach the inn, play hostess to his restaurant, and pretend at being deaf and mute to their language, and then suddenly transform into a magnificent goddess had struck a fearful chord in Himura.

It caused him to believe that their large town angered the heavens in some fashion and they had sent advocates meant to force the population to repent. Thoroughly convinced of this, he even offered them plenty of freebies, which the girls did take rather than be split up.

Given the fact that there was one remaining to transform into her Elemental body, sticking together struck them as the best idea. At the very least, Mandi wouldn't be left alone to fend for herself should she face a situation where demons attacked, or even needed someone to translate her words.

At the very least, the young woman could understand some of the language, as had been helpful a few times in the past already. Nevertheless, her skills were very limited and she'd discovered herself faltering time and again when it came to even the more familiar of words. It had left her down in the mouth- not hopeless, not yet, though she imagined she'd get to feeling that way soon if something didn't happen in the near future.

Popping open one light brown eye, Mandi stifled a groan before sitting fully up, taking the blankets off of herself before rolling off of the low slung cot to kneel on the floor.

"Ohayo gozaimasu!" Shina Lian chirped almost too cheerfully, having perked up from her bed just minutes earlier.

"Er…I think it's afternoon, but ok. Good morning." The younger brunette groggily mumbled as she swept her hair back and took a bleary look about the room. Yawning noisily, she pushed to her feet and stretched before reaching down to an end table in search for her glasses.

She'd been stowing them away in her supply pack for most of the journey, worried that they'd get broken during a skirmish if she constantly wore them, and reserved actually putting them on for when they were in town. Not that a demon attack couldn't happen there, yet it just seemed like a good idea in her own mind, even if it wasn't completely sensible.

However, before touching the wire frame of her spectacles, Mandi's fingers brushed over a cool, damp surface. Drawing her hand back in surprise, she looked down to find Jiang's axolotl, Nanami, staring up at her with striking, fathomless black eyes against its peachy flesh.

It made an odd, meek sound and she arched her brows at it. "You're weird looking."

The axolotl wasn't bothered by the idea and after a moment of staring, it sprawled out into the bowl of water set in front of it.

"That's probably what he was thinking of you…he's not weird looking…he's unique." Ashley- or rather Jiang Miyoko- had heard what her friend had said and rolled over in her own bed before forcing her brightened green eyes open. "Is it time to get up already?"

"Hai. That is if you want to, demo, it's noon already and an obon festival tonight to get ready for. So, up to you." Lian chimed in as she replaced pieces of her silky clothing, having removed some of it in order to sleep more comfortably. "Besides that, I don't think Himura-san is planning on kicking us out anytime soon. We're too intimidating. He might think he's angered the gods again…though it'd be really funny."

Jiang snorted softly, nearly indignant in manner, and she forced herself out of bed. "Good. Then maybe he'll get the hint that he shouldn't let some complete blockhead run his inn and tell him who he can and can't have patron it."

"Anou, that was the magistrate's fault. He can shut things down all over town, couldn't he?" The Earth goddess argued, pressing that it couldn't be all on Himura's shoulders.

"Still, that doesn't mean that the people he walks all over couldn't get up and do something about it. I kicked his ass just fine."

Never mind anyone that Jiang had the unfair advantage of happening to be bound, determined, and full of elemental energy at the time.

Lian snickered softly. "I guess. Though Gojyo seemed pretty grateful, from what I've heard…"

The blond goddess scowled, her face turning pink in an expression quite evocative of a certain sunshine- headed monk.

"Um…" Mandi gazed at her friends, eyes darting back and forth before she heads for the bathroom. She'd only caught bits and pieces, a name here, a word there, and everything else registered as a blank. "I'mso glad that I'm lost as hell and can't understand anything being said."

Sarcasm, of course.

Giggling, finding it all amusing, Lian waved her fingers, calling out. "We can still understand you though, sweetie!"

"Yeah,that's fair. Why are you so damned energetic today, anyway?" Jiang inquired irately, sour from the ribbing she'd gotten about Gojyo.

The elder of the pair shrugged, picking out a grape from the fruit bowl on the table. Complimentary.

"I don't know. Is it a crime to be happy?" She challenged the other, raising a brow in semi-defense of her mood. "It probably has something to do with the fact that since we both have been reborn, that Mandi is all we're waiting on, and Sanzo has been proven absolutely wrong. That's reason to be chipper, ne?"

Jiang turned the corners of her mouth down. "For us, maybe."

"I heard my name!" Mandi called from the bathroom before poking her head out past the door frame. "Are you two talking about me?"

Smiling broadly to give away the truth, the earthen brunette giggled again. "Maaaaybe."

Shrugging, Jiang replaced the water salamander she'd been fawning over to pick an orange out of the fruit bowl, peeling back the dimpled skin.

The dark haired girl frowned. "Okie dokie then…you just keep laughing at my downward spiraling misfortune and I'll mope about not being able to understand what you're saying about me." A pause, and then: "Does that make me sound emo?"

This time the Water goddess grinned widely, putting a space between her thumb and forefinger while nodding her head slowly.

"Hai, just a bit." Lian laughed, placing a hand, palm down, on the distressed woman's shoulder. "Maa, don't worry so much, huh? You're bound to change soon!"

Mandi stared at her for a second and then took on a look of defeat. "Augh!" Throwing her hands up into the air in a showy fashion, she bounced down into the armchair. "This is driving me nuts! And I don't know if you've noticed, but the longer that we've been here, the less I can understand from everyone. Shouldn't it be, like, the other way around?" Two fingers pinched at the bridge of her nose beneath her glasses. "Maybe it's just because I'm getting too worked up and worried and frustrated. I don't know. It's ticking me off, though."

"It'll be fine." Lian insisted, casting a reassuring and somewhat motherly smile to her companion. "Just give it some time, and-"

"Do you not get it?!" The twenty year old hopped to her feet, cheeks forming red circles from her aggravation. "I. Don't. Understand. You. So there's no point in talking to me, is there? Not until something happens with me. If it happens."

Green-hazel orbs flickered to the older of the two goddesses, sharing a similar expression of helplessness. They could try all they wanted to calm their friend down, however, it was easy to see how the situation would be completely frustrating.

"Maybe she's supposed to be last." The Earth-deity suggested, replacing the grape she had picked up just a moment ago. "You know, like it's some kind of destined sequence."

"Or maybe she's just too patient." Jiang blinked, as though an epiphany had dawned upon her.

Mandi lifted a brow, already having given up trying to comprehend what they were saying. She ping-ponged her gaze anyhow, subconsciously wishing she'd grasp any part of the conversation.

Lian canted her head to one side at the Water goddess, seemingly skeptical to the theory but willing to listen. Why not? They could probably go on for days with ideas as to how, why, what, and where and still never know.

Jiang glanced to their still-mortal friend briefly before returning her attention to Lian.

"You blew your temper after butting heads with Sanzo, ne? I got pissed off last night when Gojyo was being treated like shit. All Mandi has ever gotten was irate. Aggravated."

Chocolate eyes narrowed some. She knew that some sort of enlightening had 'graced' her friends, yet she still remained grounded and in the dark.

"You know, that is true. So maybe she's got to get really mad?" Lian tapped her temple thoughtfully.

Jiang bobbed a shoulder. "Or downright pissed off at the world."

"Or a different really strong emotion? Anger…sadness…ooh!"

The other two nearly jumped to their feet at the last exclamation, though only one actually had known what the fuss was about.

"Nani?"

"What?"

"Ai." Came the sly statement, a blue eye winking.

"Ai…" Jiang mumbled, sliding her hazel orbs to the other girl.

Mandi, having known that word for ages in more than just two languages, slumped down in her chair.

"Oi." Her cheeks flared red and she suddenly sprung up out of the comfortable spot, shaking her head vehemently. "I don't know what you guys are up to, but I don't know that I want any part of it."

"The festival is tonight. I heard there's dancing." Lian went on in her teasing tone, taking advantage that her friend couldn't understand the subject being discussed as a whole. "So maybe if we just-"

"-We? Who says I'm doing any dancing?" Jiang retorted, alarmed at the thought of making an idiot out of herself. "You can go have your fun. I don't do dancing."

Scoffing, the eldest of the three crossed her arms tightly. "Not even if Gojyo asked you?"

The slight lift of the other's brows seemed reply enough: Don't broach the subject and nobody got hurt.

Besides, Sha Gojyo's idea of dancing and Lian's idea of dancing were bound to be two very different things.

Jiang turned her face to the window. She was sure the hanyou had other, better plans- probably with some other pretty face that he'd undoubtedly met already in town.

Pursing her lips, Lian tossed her ivy-strewn brown hair and spun to stare at the remaining young woman.

"Whatever you're thinking, you ought'a not be." Mandi broke in before her friend could get started.

"Tsk…aw, c'mon! Lighten up, sweetie!" The Earth goddess beamed all the more secretly. She began to pantomime. "Go to the festival…dance with Hakkai."

At hearing the youkai's name, Mandi put up her hands, going red in the face once more.

"Dance with him! Emotions are bound to soar! Since I don't think he's really going to make you angry, there's only one other emotion extreme enough. And don't think we haven't noticed how he looks at you…or how you look at him." Lian persisted, playing at putting her arms around an invisible figure and swirled about the room. "Ooh, Hakkai-san! Aishiteru! Aishiteru! Muah-muah!"

"Hoo-boy, you're making an idiot of yourself…" Jiang hid a blatantly amused smirk behind one hand.

"I'mtrying to get my point across! Do you have a better idea?"

Part of her point had made it loud and clear to Mandi; though the girl hardly had any idea what expressing her 'undying love' for Cho Hakkai would get her- except for maybe trouble and humiliation.

Even so, she had difficulty denying that her feelings had already run that deep. She'd truly cared for him when he was no more than a fictional character on her television screen, as strange and sordid as it was to think about. Obsession at its finest, really. Now, in reality, if this could be called that, her affections for him had only increased.

It scared the living daylights out of her.

"So what, you're a mind reader now?" Mandi grumped mildly. "It doesn't matter. I can't say that to him…are you nuts?"

"Hai." Jiang mused, taking great measures not to add anything extra.

Shina Lian sighed heavily, though cast a sympathetic look toward Mandi. She assumed there would be more said.

"I mean, okay, maybe I do feel that way- or I think I do- I don't know. I've never been in-- never mind…" Mandi inhaled deeply, calming herself, trying to get her heart to stop pounding so hard out of nerves, trying to keep from tripping over her words.

"Hai?" Cam a gesture of encouragement.

Almond orbs volunteered to watch a bird outside taking flight, rather than set upon either of her companions. "I just can't. What reason do I have to say so? It's not like he'll say the same, or feel the same, and I don't expect it anyway. If I say it though, then there'll be this underlying hope that he'll say it, too, and that's just not going to happen. I mean…it's not like he even knows me that well- and here, I know just about everything about him. Right?"

"Tsss…fine. Alright. Don't then. Maybe you'll turn into Mandi the Mighty by some defaulted time limit." Lian gave up crossly. Her friend's fears weren't unreasonable, just blind.

Anyone else could see that Hakkai had undeniable fondness for the younger brunette girl. At the very least, he took to her quite easily, more-so than he had with either of the other two.

Nevertheless, 'love' was so strong an emotion that a spoken confession might spark jitters in the green-eyed man over a vote of confidence and urge to reply with his own feelings.

"I'll go to the festival, though." Mandi stated quietly after moments of silence.

Both Lian and Jiang looked to her in wonder.

"For cultural reasons." She argued what she knew was passing through their minds. "That and it might be fun. I've never been to the bon festivals they had back home and I've always been curious." She sighed, making her way to the door. "Until then, I'm going to take a walk and check out the town."

Escaping out into the hallway before anyone could hold her back with another 'theory' that she wouldn't be able to sit through, Mandi shook her head with some small wonder that they might have been right.

Sha Gojyo fanned out a hand of cards, scoping out what he had left to play.

A two, a Queen, a nine, a four, and a Jack.

Well, it'd be a shitty poker hand, except…

"Hai, Gojyo! Gimme all your fives!" Son Goku demanded, staring desperately at his own hand which contained at least twelve cards.

"Go fish, chimp." The redhead drawled around his lit Hi-Lite. It wasn't the most stimulating game; in fact there were several activities that he'd prefer to do that were much more invigorating- but since Goku refused poker on account of Gojyo's habit of cheating, they were stuck with Old Maid, Go Fish, and War.

"Again?! You don't ever have the cards I need!" The heretic complained, swiping a 'fish' from the 'pond'.

"Perhaps if you didn't continually ask for the same card, Goku, you'd get somewhere." Cho Hakkai's mellow voice sounded from the counter where he'd busied himself making a sandwich. "I highly doubt the chance of Gojyo having a five of any suit increases as he makes pairs and loses cards rather than gaining any."

"Yeah, dimwit, so ask me for something else." Gojyo huffed, wishing the game would end soon.

"Fine…stupid kappa…" Goku started, prepared to ask for a new card.

"Notnow! It's my turn, moron!"

"Demo, you just said-"

"Yare, yare!" Hakkai breathed, silencing the pair. "It may be best if you stop playing now."

Gojyo tossed his cards down. "I think so, too. The monkey ain't cutting it for me. So Goku, you win by default."

"Whose fault?"

"Man, grow a brain, kiddo. Oi, Hakkai, feel like a game?"

Emerald eyes darted toward the hanyou. "Ah, iie. Actually, I thought I might shop in town. There may be sales on supplies because of the festival."

Crimson eyes glinted in humor as the half-demon snuffed out his cigarette. "You are such a girl sometimes."

"Beg pardon?" Hakkai smiled so serenely it gave the other two the heebie-jeebies. "Someone has to watch out for us all. Especially when it comes down to health and hygiene."

The redhead snorted in laughter. "Tch, yeah, OK. Demo, seriously man, I'd think you were a little bit on the homo side if not for-"

"-for who?" The kind smile grew dangerously wider. Never mind that he had mistakenly said 'who' instead of 'what'. If Gojyo was approaching a subject, it'd better not have to do with the past.

His best friend hesitated. "Er…"

"Go on. I'm quite curious to know what you think, my friend."

"I know!" Goku cried out. "It's Mandi, ne?"

"Goku…" Hakkai turned on his heel toward the youth. "You shouldn't assume things. We don't know that's what Gojyo was going to say. So let's allow him to finish, shall we? Gojyo?"

Gojyo's mouth twitched at the corners, a nervous fidget, though it'd be far worse not to reply at this point.

"I think the monkey about hit it on the head, man. If it weren't for you makin' goo-goo eyes at her…"

"-I'm certain I do nothing of the sort, Gojyo."

Though Hakkai swore his insides were doing funny flips at the very idea of it.

He must have come off as having his guard down from the hanyou's insinuation because Gojyo snuck in another blow.

"Demo, ya like her, don't you? I mean she's cute and all- not my type, demo definitely cute."

The dark haired demon adjusted his monocle, took it off to examine it, then proceeded to clean it needlessly on his olive colored shirt.

"I like her just fine. She's a lovely friend. Forgive me for saying, however, just what kind of woman is your type?"He replaced his single lens, smiling still.

A low chuckle escaped the half-demon. "Probably shouldn't say it in front of the monkey. Virgin ears and all. Sanzo would have me riddled with bullets in no time."

"Hey! My ears aren't virgins to the perverted things you say, kappa!" Goku protested; he also didn't really wan to hear what Gojyo's type was, so threw in that he'd better not say so. Golden eyes fixated on Hakkai. "Anou, I think Ashley is his type. Er, or…what's her name now? Jiang? 'Coz the hentai kappa was trying t' eat her face off yesterday. I saw it. In the lobby."

"Oh my…" Hakkai grinned.

"It's called a kiss, bakazaru!" Gojyo rolled his eyes as his lips spread into a smarmy, satisfied grin. "Trust me, if I was gonna eat anything, it'd be-"

"-finish that sentence and we'll find out if you've got any brains to splatter on the wall." Genjyo Sanzo's gravely voice spoke from directly behind the hanyou, sounding none too pleased. As though it ever could sound pleased.

Gojyo put his hands up in surrender. "Ohayo gozaimasu to you too, sunshine. Glad you could grace us with your presence."

"Shove the bullshit, letch." The blond priest grumbled, sitting at the table with a newspaper in hand.

"Hey, you're in my room, priesty. I'll say what I want." Gojyo hiked a thumb at himself.

Violet eyes slipped to one side. "Let's not forget who paid for everything."

"I thought those floating heads did." Goku interrupted, as always, positively at the wrong moment.

Snickering, the kappa moved away from the table, slowly. His back ached from his not-so-welcomed slam into the wall the day before. He'd wore his purple heart with pride, having shunned any help from Hakkai as far as healing treatment went.

"Where're ya going?" The impish youth inquired, having had hopes of playing a different card game now that Sanzo had joined them.

"Out. Don't mind if I tag along with you, do ya Hakkai?" A tanned hand clamped onto the brunette's shoulder. "Checking out some sales doesn't sound so bad after all. Besides, maybe we'll get lucky and you can score a hot date for the festival tonight. It's about time you let loose and partied down a little."

An incomprehensible string of insults left Sanzo's lips riding on a growling mutter, though it didn't take much guesswork to grasp the meaning behind it.

Hakkai steered toward the door, laughing sheepishly.

"I'm not so certain of a date, Gojyo. At least not for myself. I'm afraid that I'm not the partying type. Though if you're willing to search for yourself, I'm not going to stop you from asking anyone. Ah- Sanzo? Do you need anything?"

"Hn. Iie, I'm good. Don't let the river-monster get you into trouble." Sanzo replied from behind his paper, not bothering to look up.

"Don't let the river monster…" Gojyo started in a voice higher pitched, whinier, and very unlike his natural one. Though rather than stick around to trade jabs, he followed Hakkai out into the hallway. "Is it me or has that sorry excuse of a monk actually gotten grumpier over all this time? What's his deal, anyway?"

Sighing warily, Hakkai adjusted his monocle once more.

If he had a real choice, he'd have gone on this errand alone. Truthfully, he hadn't even planned on shopping around. Sure, the thought had occurred to him, yet the dark haired man had wanted fresh air and time alone outside of his hotel room.

If it hadn't been for the sake of his growling stomach wanting that sandwich, Hakkai would have forgone the meager meal altogether. Unfortunately for them all, Sanzo hadn't specified the commodities they'd need for their supplies and only one of the four single rooms had a kitchen in it. They'd taken the rooms in accordance to the keys given and by the time they'd realized what happened, Gojyo's equipped room already stunk like cigarettes.

Hakkai refused a trade. That sour nicotine and tobacco stench offended his olfactory and it'd take ages to be rid of it. At the very least, they could store the food there.

It didn't change that he would rather have gone out on his own.

"…kai! Hakkai!" Gojyo's callings broke through after a few moments. "What planet are you on today?"

"I don't know." Hakkai responded lamely, stepping outside, trying to decide where to go. "I suppose he's still frustrated. Sanzo's patience has been tried too much lately. What tiny amount he has, anyhow. He's taking it out on us, the only way he knows how. While he now accepts that he was wrong about everything, it's angering him. He'll calm down soon."

"Tch, sure. I still think he's sexually repressed. Blondie needs a good lay." A cackling kind of laugh, which held claim to the idea the day would never come, followed the statement. Ruby eyes flashed momentarily in confusion. "Hey, what do ya mean he takes it out on us? You're not included. Sanzo's never tried to-"

"-you're right, he hasn't. Then again, I'm not constantly making quips to earn myself pain."

Honestly,it wasn't brain surgery.

Putting petty matters aside before his friend became too irritable, the lanky half-demon grew more serious.

This wasn't right.

Something seemed off with his friend's attitude. Maybe there wasn't much cause for concern, though with the way Hakkai wore that damned smiley-mask it always made it damn near impossible to determine what he really thought or felt.

After three years, Sha Gojyo could only ever say one thing about his roommate: Nothing was ever as it seemed.

He smiled, but he laughed so darkly at everyone, at their misfortune. At his own as well. Bitterness had consumed him, but now…it seemed there was more to it than just the past.

"What's eating you?"

The smile on Hakkai's lips barely registered as forced. For once, the twenty-two year-old's green eyes were distant in a way they never had been.

"Sumimasen. I'm just not myself today. It must be all the excitement lately."

"The transformations you mean?" Gojyo probed, thinking it only the tip of the iceberg. He plodded one boot forward. They hadn't gotten farther than the inn's deck and the redhead was taking initiative now as to where to go.

Apparently shopping hadn't ever been on Hakkai's agenda after all.

Forgetting he'd wanted time alone, Hakkai fell in step beside his current company.

It had much to do with the transformations and much to do with what Gojyo tried to drag out of him earlier.

"I'm glad that Kanzeon hadn't lied to us. Now that the girls are starting to become what they came here to be…they should serve Shangri La well- and Tenkai. I hope they find their friend, too."

"…you gotta say something to her, Hakkai." Gojyo frowned, a line of worry snaking around his insides.

"I'm sure that I don't know what you're-"

"-bullshit!" Gojyo clipped the predictable reply of false obliviousness short. "You know damn well what I mean. You know damn well who I mean, and nobody's twisting your arm to say so out loud. Just say it to who counts so it doesn't keep weighing you down. You got too much that you carry on your shoulders as it is- and I hate to tell ya, demo, you're no heavyweight, man."

The two continued on without speaking for a while; Gojyo would let it sink into his friend's head. Of course, he knew his pushing wasn't going to go unpunished.

"Have you..?" Hakkai began, then restarted. "What are you doing about it, Gojyo? Ashley isn't truly Ashley anymore, though that didn't bother you yesterday, it seems. Demo, how do you really feel? After the last transformation happens, I believe we may not see much more of our new friends."

A-ha.

There it was.

Hakkai's fear in the form of a diversion aimed at the welfare of someone other than himself.

"To tell ya the truth, I hadn't given it much thought." A hand pushed through deep-red locks. "It's weird. Never found a lady who made me really wanna chase her without giving up. She's tough, and I kinda dig that…a lot. Demo, I'm not sure how it's all gonna turn out. So I'm just gonna go with the flow…what's that saying?"

"Carpe diem?" Hakkai offered nonchalantly, nonplussed by the fact he knew such idle trivia idioms. Being a teacher some time ago- a lifetime ago- did have its perks.

"Hai, hai, that one. Can't take life sitting on the back burner all of the time. I think I get it now. Too much can pass us by, otherwise. So I'm getting' my grubby paws on everything I can grab while it's still there in front of me."

Nothing more came after that. Gojyo caught sight of a familiar- still mortal- dark haired young woman passing on the opposite side of the road.

Slinking away wordlessly he hoped that his suddenly abandoned comrade would do the right thing.

As for himself, he had some money burning a hole in his pocket. Despite the afternoon hour, a drink sounded fantastic.

Tenkai

Peach Orchard

"Oh,that one looks ripe. Get it, Jiroushin."

The elegant finger pointing to an overly large peach belonged to none other than Kanzeon Bosatsu. She had her sights set on picking the place clean of every ripe fruit in view.

Jiroushin balked, swaying between doing as he had been told and just turning tail to get the hell away from the sanctioned orchard.

"Merciful Goddess, I really don't think-" he hesitated as dignified as he could muster.

"-good. I'm not paying you to think." The bodhisattva smiled wryly."It's not too hard of a job for you, is it Jiroushin? All I'm asking is that you fill this basket with those yummy peaches up in those trees."

"You don't pay me anyhow!" Came the exasperated cry. Nevertheless, the god at last picked up the large woven basket at his feet and took a step onto the orchard's soil, cringing.

After a moment passed, an audible sigh of relief left him and the goddess laughed heartily at the reaction.

"What's wrong? Did you expect that you'd burst into flames? Relax. Nothing will happen. Unless you take too long. There's not been a guardian here for over five-hundred years…"

They had intruded upon this place. The Jade Emperor's ceremonial peach orchard. All because of some wild idea that Kanzeon had yet to divulge.

She wouldn't say so unless Jiroushin agreed to do her bidding, which she knew he eventually would give into her. He always did.

Normally, only the Emperor could decree that the peaches be plucked from their branches. These were quite unlike the sort which grew in the Lower World and took hundreds of years to fully ripen. They would usually serve as a special offering at a banquet consisting of Tenkai's most important officials, accompanied by immortal pills and an infamous elixir.

As far as Jiroushin knew, there was no upcoming celebration. Kanzeon had never been the one to harvest the fruit, either. It wasn't her place, after all, to do so. She sat higher on the social ladder in title than the gardeners and harvesters.

Naturally, then, when she had come up with this new adventure, all sorts of alarms had gone off in the immortal man's mind.

Kanzeon's behavior was more reckless than usual. Of course, she must have a magnificent reason for it all. He hoped. Imprisonment over peaches wouldn't be so worth it otherwise.

Ohplease…don't let them get caught.

Despite his preoccupation, the elderly deity found himself precariously balancing upon ladders in order to pluck peach after peach into the basket he held.

"May I ask why we are risking our necks for this, Merciful Goddess? I do think I'm deserving of an explanation now."

The raven haired hermaphrodite wore a Mona Lisa smile.

"There is only one rebirth left, Jiroushin. Haven't you noticed?"

"Hai, of course I've noticed." He threw an unoccupied arm out to wrap it around a low branch before he could fall off of a particularly tipsy ladder.

Clearly the equipment hadn't been serviced in about five hundred years, as well.

Kanzeon pointed out to the ripe peaches as she spoke. "I'd say it's cause for a celebration. When Yu Michiko is reborn it will signify the beginning of a new era…a spectacular one at that. The peaches are a must for an induction."

"The Jade Emperor-"

"-is a doddy old fool, and everyone here knows it. It's nearly time for things to be set right, Jiroushin, and we're the welcoming committee."

At that moment, the weight of the bodhisattva's words impacted. Jiroushin pulled down one last peach and descended to the soil.

Grey eyes met deep indigo.

"Then you're really going through with it?"

"Since when have I ever backed down from a promise? Never. No matter how long ago they were made. I always follow through. Besides…I'm tired of sitting back and doing nothing more than watch." She turned her red lips into a signified smile then pivoted a hip. "Games are best when you actually get to be a part of them, after all. Now- are you ready for one wild party?"

"I'm not going." Genjyo Sanzo scowled as Son Goku pleaded with him to attend the obon festival in a few hours.

If his violet eyes could get any darker with annoyance they'd have turned black.

"You're no fun!" The smaller accurately accused, though figured there'd be no convincing his mentor. That rarely stopped Goku from trying. Though after nearly an hour of begging, he thought maybe relenting was a good idea.

His voice was getting tired.

A vein throbbed in the blonde's right temple, a dull ache had visited him for an indefinite stay.

"I never claimed that I was any fun, have I? Now will you get out and leave me in peace?"

"This is Gojyo's room, not yours, so why don't you get out?" Goku argued pointedly, behaving childishly without realizing it.

Clenching his teeth, Sanzo stood abruptly, using his newspaper to strike the boy over the head.

"Then you get out, too, bakazaru!" He tossed the paper onto the table, haughtily going to the door and held it open. "Out!"

"Sanzo, what about the obon festival?" Goku cowered as he slunk out into the hallway.

The monk would usually give in if he asked just once more, but this time it only seemed to anger Sanzo further.

"What part of 'I'm not going' didn't you understand, brat? Just leave me alone. Go if you want to, I don't care."

Taken aback to the point of utter silence, Goku merely stared after the priest as he vanished into a room down the corridor.

"Geez…what's his problem today?" Goku whispered to himself.

He grew more concerned for the priest recently.

Did anyone else notice it? That strange flicker of pure emotion which passed through those amethyst eyes?

Or the shadowed cloud hanging over those bright, golden locks?

Didn't they notice that something was bothering Sanzo more than usual?

Maybe their mission had finally taken its toll on their unorthodox leader.

Wasn't that why the weird lady from heaven had made them go find the girls? So that they could help shoulder the burden of restoring peace in this land? To make Sanzo's job easier?

So then why was his 'savior' getting worse?

Goku knew he ought to leave the priest alone. Sanzo would only become infuriated with him if he was pestered again.

The amber-eyed boy found himself standing against a shut door, regardless.

He couldn't stand by doing nothing. Maybe there was something he could do to help.

After all, Goku owed so much to Sanzo and he'd done so little to pay any of that back.

Lifting a fist, he knocked tentatively on the door, as though worried if he did it much harder it'd send the entire world into chaos.

Brief silence followed, and before he could raise his fist again, the door swung open and the monk glared down at him.

"…do I even have to say it?"

"I'm not gonna go away! Not until you tell me what's wrong with you, Sanzo. You're acting weird." Goku implored, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly, planting his feet firmly in place.

Even if Sanzo tried, he wouldn't be able to lift the chimp and carry him off to leave him elsewhere. There were definite pros in being a youkai. Or something like one, anyhow.

Gathering that he'd not be left alone until the heretic monkey got his way, the priest stepped aside and let the youth into his room. Shutting the door after Goku delightfully crossed the threshold, Sanzo sighed heavily.

"So what are you going on about? This delusion you have that there's something wrong with me?"

"Hai. It's not a de…delusion." Whatever that word meant. Goku was certain that wasn't it. He stared up intently at his mentor. The man who had freed him from a cage for which he did not understand the reasons for being placed there to begin with.

His shining Sun was only glowing dimly now.

"You're different. Meaner, or something. It's kinda hard t' explain, Sanzo, demo, it's like there's something bothering you that you won't talk about." His fingers scratched at the side of his spiky head of hair as though digging out the words to best describe what he'd noticed. "I know that things are all weird 'coz of the girls being here and that Gojyo an' Hakkai an' me are kinda giving you a hard time about it, demo, is it really that bad?"

Sanzo knitted his brows together, thinning out his lips as he tried to filter out what Goku was really trying to convey. Sighing, he sat on the edge of his bed and sought out a cigarette. That might help relax him before trying to make any kind of answer that might content the pesky youth.

The monk couldn't say that he wasn't touched by the effort, but having someone care so much about his well-being in such a sincere manner…

…it reminded him so much of his late Master Koumyou. And that, in and of itself, was troublesome.

At the same time, he couldn't deny that it made him feel…well, 'special' would be too bawdy a word, but perhaps appreciated, despite his errant mood swings.

Inhaling the Marlboro cigarette deeply, Sanzo leaned forward, elbows on his knees, and stared at Goku from behind blond fringe.

"What are you trying to say? Is what really that bad?"

"Um…everything?"

"You're not making any sense, Goku." As usual. Sanzo kept his glare.

Goku fidgeted before pulling a chair out to sit in. How could he say this without Sanzo blowing up at him? Without seeming like he was trying to pry too much?

The more the youth thought about it, the more he came to realize that no matter what he said, or how he said it, the priest would find it annoying.

Just out with it, then.

"Is it really that bad to have help? Do you hate them that much? I don't think they mean to keep on getting in our way or anything…I think they're trying to figure out what's goin' on kinda like we still are. It's not their fault we went to their world to find 'em, is it? An' they came back 'coz they had to." Golden orbs sought out deep violet, hoping for some kind of light to dawn upon the pools. To flash with the sudden occurrence that Goku might be on the right track.

A stream of smoke snaked its way to the ceiling slowly as Sanzo remained silent.

Clearly, there had to be more to this and he wasn't going to speak until Goku finished.

Taking the hint, the heretic fished for more to say.

"Maybe they might not have come here if Kougaiji and Yaone didn't take Erin away. Maybe they would've anyway 'coz that lady told 'em they had to, or they were supposed to. Demo, how come you gotta treat them like they did something wrong? They helped us, Sanzo, an' I know you're not always nice, demo, I thought you were the kinda person who wouldn't wanna feel like you owe someone something. Is it wrong for us to be friends with 'em?"

"You can be friends with whomever you want. It's none of my concern unless those friends wrong us directly." Sanzo grunted, inhaling his cigarette sharply afterward.

Goku frowned, standing up abruptly. There was an anger and disappointment in his companion that he had never felt before.

"That's not fair! How can you say that, Sanzo? They are our friends, an' they haven't done anything wrong to us! So why can't you just accept that? Don't you like them at all?"

Surprised by the outburst of emotion the golden haired monk struggled a moment to find his voice.

What was his problem, really?

Was it bad to have friends? Not that he ever admitted aloud that his companions were friends, yet wasn't that what they were to him? They traveled together, ate, drank, played games, bickered, discussed, and were on this bloody journey together, too, right? They'd saved each other countless times without ever asking for the help and the gratitude was always silent, but there, regardless.

Pride.

That's what it all boiled down to.

The girls were gods in sheep's clothing. Aside from that pesky hag who descended from the sky whenever she saw it fit, what god had ever made it a point to help anyone out?

What made these girls so special that they wouldn't brush them all off like dust on their shoulders?

Clenching his jaw, Sanzo knew that wasn't fair to think about.

They'd bent over backwards for the guys- and still were, even when there was only one more transformation left.

Where would they be after that?

Why bother getting attached to those who would only disappear?

Clearing his throat, Sanzo moved off the bed and extinguished the Marlboro into an ashtray nearby.

"It's not that I don't like them, Goku."

The chestnut haired youth listened eagerly.

"They haven't done anything except for annoy me, which is sometimes less than what I can say for the rest of you idiots I'm on this mission with." Pale fingers rested upon a tabletop then curled into a tight fist. "I just don't see the point in getting close to people who are going to leave us in the dust, do you understand? After the last one changes, I doubt that we'll be following the same paths. Why bother?"

"Anou…'coz ya never know what might happen for sure." Goku insisted simply, shrugging his shoulders.

Sanzo sighed, not facing his comrade. "You're too damn optimistic for your own good, brat."

A little grin formed over the boy's lips. "You're too grumpy, so what's your point? I'm just sayin'…that just 'coz you say that's how it's gonna be, doesn't mean it'll turn out that way. An' maybe they'll go away after all this, demo, isn't it better t' make friends an' lose 'em than to never make friends at all? I just know that I wanna have all the friends I can get 'coz ya never know when you'll need their help! Besides…it's more fun that way. What's life if ya can't have any fun?"

Turning toward Goku, Sanzo found what he knew he'd see: an ever-present cheeky grin and a pair of golden orbs shining brightly with hope that he'd somehow gotten through the priest's thick-skulled will.

In a manner of speaking, he had. Goku had a way of forcing those thoughts to the surface no matter how deeply they'd been buried.

Grunting lightly, the blond swung his hand on top of the youth's head, fingers suddenly interlaced by spiky red-brown locks.

"Sometimes you have too much fun. Don't get carried away, saru."

"Ya promise you'll try an' not be so mean?"

"…iie. I can't make any promises." Sanzo grumbled, but the discouragement falling onto Goku's face made him continue. "Demo, maybe you weren't too far off with what you said. I'll think about it."

"Yatta!" Goku flung his arms into the air cheerfully, causing the monk to roll his eyes and push his head to one side as he released the chimp.

"Now get the hell out of here and leave me alone before I change my mind."

Honestly.

How did the kid do it? Every time, Genjyo Sanzo felt his will bend underneath that open, honest stare.

Yet how did one fully ignore someone who felt everything so passionately? So purely?

A mystery…

Hakkai had more than noticed when his hanyou friend had left him without uttering so much as a 'see you later'. The reason for it had been more than evident when the brunette demon's eyes found the young woman traversing the dusty market road on her own.

She seemed upset over something or another. More than that, she seemed to be trying to hold it all in.

As if he couldn't relate. A bitter smile had touched his lips before fading away.

Bottling up emotions seemed to be a past time for the pair. For more than just them. It was almost a theme for every single one of them.

He should talk to her. At least, that was what Gojyo had been so persistent over. Talk to the girl, tell her what was on his mind…what he felt, or thought he felt.

That was just it, however.

Cho Hakkai had no idea if what he felt was simply wishful thinking to be able to push by his past and move on, or if there was a true connection that he was being too fearful of taking by the reins.

Nevertheless, he had found himself turning in his spot, walking still on his side, parallel to the dark haired young woman still clomping over the dirt. Hakkai didn't bother calling out to her- not yet. Instead, his emerald eyes watched her intently from the short distance between them.

She was oblivious to his stare, trudging along with eyebrows narrowed and lips drawn into a line, wheels turning in her mind.

When her head ducked a moment, causing her hair to fall a certain way, Hakkai frowned and nearly stopped in his tracks. Should this girl remind him so much of Kanan? Was he grasping at straws? Hoping that his dead sister, his lover, was going to miraculously rise from her ashy and ruined grave to return to him?

That only happened in the stories, right? Nevertheless, while Hakkai knew that Mandi couldn't possibly be Kanan, there were so many aspects of the young woman which reminded him of her. Simple gestures brought back a flood of memories.

Yet…she didn't even look like Kanan.

And how dare he think that he ought to feel anything for someone else who was not his beloved dead twin? How could he bear to think that hecould have room in his heart for another?

The fact of the matter was, however…

…he did. He could.

After all, was he not a different person from the past? He had a second chance, a second lifetime to spend, and while Kanan had been the only one he ever wanted to be with, he felt she might have been severely disappointed in him if he never allowed himself any happiness again. Wouldn't she understand it if he didn't want to continue being alone?

Having heard the small noise, though barely just, Mandi lifted her head, turning a confused gaze across the road.

In seeing Hakkai smiling sheepishly, as though he had been caught doing something he ought not be, the young woman picked up her hand and waved in greeting.

She hadn't expected to see him though couldn't say she hadn't secretly hoped to bump into him along the way.

Wherever 'the way' happened to be. She'd been wandering for at least an hour now and hadn't the slightest idea of where she was going or where she'd end up.

Taking the wave as an invitation, Hakkai crossed to the other side, stopping before he stepped too close to the young woman.

"Kon'nichi wa, Mandi-san."

"Hey…" She replied lamely, not bothering with what she felt might be a sorry attempt at the language. With as much as she'd been faltering lately, she'd likely make a fool of herself.

If she could have, she'd have warned Hakkai that talking to her at that point might cause him to walk away feeling a bit dumber than when he arrived. Or perhaps she was being too hard on herself.

"Nice day, huh?" A hand lifted to the sky, gesturing to the cloudless blue expanse. "A little warm, though." The sun was relentless without any cover. It definitely had to be a summer month if any at all.

Hakkai laughed lightly, furrowing his brows together, lost.

Again, he found himself wishing that he could understand or that she could, though he knew the cost of what it would take for her to be able to hear his words without having to guess at them.

A wrench squeezed at his insides at the thought and he sought something to say. A simple word, something that required no charades.

However, as he struggled to do so, a horrible roaring sound came up from behind them like a rush of wind.

Green orbs snapped shut.

Not now.

Already? So soon? No, not now.

The sound came again and he felt Mandi push past him with a shout.

Spinning in place, Hakkai reopened his eyes to find the young woman stalking off rather angrily toward a group of teenaged boys surrounding what looked to be a barred cage no more than nine feet long. The roar repeated itself, distressed and aggravated, and Hakkai came to realize that the teens were teasing a tiger which was imprisoned inside of the cage.

"Oi!! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Mandi yelled, eyes narrowed sharply as she grabbed a shorter, younger teen by the shoulder. He was wielding a long stick in one hand and a large rock in the other.

Startled, the group of boys, seeming to range in the ages of thirteen to seventeen, stopped throwing their rocks and prodding at the animal to see who had disrupted their 'fun'.

They laughed at the sight of a foreigner woman waving her hands at them to shoo them off, mocking her with their broken sticks and imitating her motions, screaming back at her some nonsense she didn't comprehend.

"Get away from here- what did this animal ever do to you? I've got half a mind to break the lock and let it eat every single one of your stupid asses for being so mean!"

Hakkai came up behind her, placing both of his hands on her shoulders, praying that she wouldn't do anything rash. The anger in her voice was more than evident, her words likely an outcry against the abuse of the tiger, which had resorted to growling in warning, batting large paws from between the metal bars of its captive.

"I think you boys had better go before you get into trouble. It's not very amusing to be torturing any living being. How about if we were to place you in that cage with the tiger? Do you think he would find your teasing so funny then?"

"Maa, you can't do something' like that mister!" One of the teens shouted, the older one it appeared, and likely the leader of the unruly gang.

A thin, dangerous smile flickered over the brunette demon's effeminate face, his fingers curling more into Mandi's shoulders to hold her back from beating any of them inches within their lives. Even if it was what they deserved, he didn't think it would bode well with the rest of the town.

"I can't? Are you certain you want to test me? Haven't you learned anything from what happened to your town's magistrate last night? I was there when it happened. How do you know that this woman isn't a goddess in disguise as well? Perhaps she'll punish you all gravely…as she very well should…as you very well deserve."

While she didn't know what was being said, Mandi could see the fear suddenly striking in each pair of young eyes. A faint upturn at the corner of her mouth came next as the boys muttered what sounded like curses and dropped their rocks and sticks before scattering down the road.

The tiger's yellow eyes gazed warily out at the remaining strangers, a growl still low in his throat. However, rather than stalking back and forth in its prison, it sat in place, watching and waiting.

"We should go now." Hakkai murmured, trying to resist the urge to bring the young woman closer to him.

Mandi ignored him, moving out from under his touch, and approached the cage in spite of the warnings the animal elicited.

"Shh…it's alright, now, see? They're gone now…"

"Mandi-san…Onegai, get back from there. It's too dangerous. He'll hurt you." Hakkai pleaded, stepping forward, grasping her hand.

She halted for a moment, half-turning to gaze at him. The feel of his fingers tightening about the back of her hand had sent a shock through her, yet it wasn't something she could address- not when there was something else calling.

With her free hand, Mandi put up her pointer-finger, signaling that she just needed a minute. Somehow, she knew this wouldn't end badly. Hakkai released her hand simultaneously with a breath which had been bated, allowing her to do whatever fool's errand she'd given to herself.

Facing forward once more the young woman removed her eyeglasses and brought her honey-brown eyes to meet the bright yellow of the Bengal. The animal wasn't very large, yet its frame hardly seemed to fit in the narrow confines of the cage it sat inside.

What might have once been brilliant orange fur appeared matted and dull, meshing into the black stripes almost sloppily. The colors seemed more mottled than distinguished from one another.

She approached until she stood directly in front of the bars, clearly within a reachable striking range. A paw could very easily slip out and grab her.

The tiger held still, eyes locked with the young woman before him. His growling had subsided into even breathing and the ferocity in his expression had vanished.

Now it only seemed curious.

"Yeah…it's alright, see? I'm not going to hurt you…poor thing…you look like hell." Mandi commented, and the tiger snarled, lifting his head as though agreeing with her. She laughed off the start it had given her while seeing the flash of long canines before the Bengal returned to a calm state again. "I see that you agree. Who put you in here? Don't they know tigers are vain and hate to look so unbecoming?"

A soft growl answered her, the eye contact breaking momentarily as the golden eyes slipped to one side toward a shop and then returned to her gaze again.

Standing at a safe distance, though not too far away to snatch Mandi away from danger should the need arise, Hakkai watched the scene, fascinated. So she could talk to animals, too?

Or perhaps she could only speak with this one.

It made him nervous as to what might happen if she conversed with the animal for too long, yet it seemed privy to whatever she was saying to it. The animal's face glowed with intelligence.

When Hakkai saw her fingers reaching through the bars his warning never made it out, dying upon his tongue.

The tiger had bent its head forward against the bars, eyes closing, and a loud purr escaped its throat as the young woman stroked over the fur of his nose and forehead. It had gone from untamed to domesticated in a matter of moments.

"That's a good boy…" Mandi whispered, knowing full well she'd have to eventually leave the beast alone. It horrified her to think that it'd be subjected to more abuse, but what more could she do? She had no money, and apart from that, didn't even know who claimed to own the poor thing.

As though replying to her worries, a voice called out angrily from the shop nearby- the one the Bengal had seemed to look over to seconds ago.

Mandi drew her hand back as the tiger whirled away from her, baring his teeth at the tall man briskly approaching them.

"What do you think you are doing? That animal is dangerous! He'll take your hand off! Get back from there!"

Hakkai found himself once more at the young woman's side, closer to the cage than he cared to be. The tiger was growling now at the man, clearly showing signs of hatred for him.

"Beg pardon, sir, demo, the tiger was being perfectly kind to her just before you came outside. She was only petting-"

"-Kind? Ha! I don't believe that for a moment." The shop-keep scoffed, delivering a nervous glance to the animal still snarling at him. "He used to be tame, demo, he has been thoroughly abused and has turned wild. My wife took him in thinking she could rehabilitate him. Clearly that didn't work and now she is dead. I want to shoot the beast for killing her, demo, it is unlawful. I suggest that you two leave before he grows too angry."

Mandi glanced at the tiger sorrowfully. She didn't know what the man was saying, yet it was evident that the animal wasn't fond of him. Hakkai laughed nervously as the brunette girl spoke a simple word, questioning the man.

"Namae?" She wanted to know the tiger's name, at the very least.

The shop-keep snorted. "Vayu. Some name for a savage thing."

Hakkai felt his breath catch at the name.

Vayu.

The Hindu god of Air and Wind.

This was no coincidence.

He nodded to the man, telling him they would be leaving in just a moment.

Seemingly satisfied, the shop keep turned back for his business.

Mandi glared after the man having taken offense to the idea that the tiger had reacted so violently to him. What had they done to the animal?

Turning her gaze back to the upset creature she found that this time her words did nothing to soothe him.

"Vayu…shh, hey, it's alright."

Vayu roared before barely making a turn-around in his confinements, laying down with his back toward the pair standing outside of his bars.

"Mandi-san…" Hakkai called softly. He reached his hand to her shoulder again, steering her away from the sight of the abused animal. When they had gotten a fair distance down the road he spoke again. "Daijoubu?"

"Mm-hmm."The dark haired girl shrugged, still preoccupied by what had happened.

In glancing up toward the man trying to offer her comfort without crossing any undecided lines Mandi realized that they were standing near the square where the Obon Festival would be held.

There wasn't a whole lot that she knew about the fest, aside from the fact it was held once a year out of respect for deceased ancestors. Something like the equivalent to the Dios de la Muerte in the Mexican and Spanish traditions. She was curious to see one, though wondered if these people might be offended by an outsider coming into a familial festivity.

Following the line of view of his female friend, Hakkai laughed shyly before looking back down to her.

He could ask her to join him that evening.

Just for the festival.

She seemed interested in it, after all. It'd be a learning experience.

Cultural references.

Not at all a date.

His cheeks reddened a touch.

Not a date, but it could be.

"Would you like to join me for the festival tonight, Mandi-san?" There, he asked.

"Huh?" Almond orbs flickered up, lost.

He asked and she didn't even realize it.

A light, fluttering laugh came from Hakkai purely made of nerves.

"Would you…" He gestured to her then brought his hand to his chest, hoping the meaning wouldn't become misinterpreted. "…come with me tonight? For the Obon Festival?" With the last, his hand motioned to the paper lanterns being placed.

"Oh." Mandi followed the hand-signals and then stared blankly at him for a few seconds before it sunk in what he was asking her. "Oh!"

He was asking her to go with him to the festival. She smiled uncertainly.

Wouldn't the other two just be absolutely ecstatic if they were seeing this right now?

Anxiety gripped her. What if they had to dance or something? She didn't know what she was supposed to do or what actual activities took place during one of these. Hakkai would probably guide her as best as he could, but then that would mean having to be close to him the entire time.

Then again, wouldn't she have to be near him if she joined him anyway?

Hakkai's brows lifted over his green eyes as his smile became nervous.

It wasn't a date, even though Gojyo would probably make sure to tell him otherwise. She could very well say no if she wanted to.

He hoped she'd say she'd go, however.

"Anou…if you don't want to-"

"Hai." Mandi interjected, smiling briefly to him, nodding her head. "I'll go with you. Um…what time?" She tapped her wrist at an imaginary watch.

"Ahh…ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, nana.." He held up seven fingers, having counted through each one. It might have been completely unnecessary, though he hadn't totally missed out on the fact that the young woman seemed to be losing her bearings against the language barrier. "Nana?"

"Seven?" Mandi asked, counting his longer fingers, though she had actually known what he had been saying that time. "Okay." Another nod. " I'll…see you at seven."

"Hai…" Hakkai reiterated, watching as she wandered off for the inn.

When seven o'clock had rolled around, Cho Hakkai was only just stepping out into the hallway at the inn. He despised being late for anything though Gojyo had hindered him from leaving on time.

Promptness was key for making impressions, though the brunette supposed he was long gone from the idea of a first impression.

Just as he had suspected, his hanyou friend had teased and laughed about the 'date' Hakkai made with the young woman some hours earlier. Gojyo had boasted only to himself that the talk he'd had with his roommate had broken the ice somehow. No matter how much Hakkai denied the idea of it being some kind of official anything, the redhead was convinced that the guy had finally realized just how smitten he was.

"If ya aren't going on a date then why did ya bother getting yourself all spiffed up for this? It's just an Obon fest, man. It's not like the dead care about what you're wearing."

"It's respectful." Hakkai insisted, having taken one last look in the mirror. His hair would always be a little bit messy, but at least it was more contained than what it would look like if he'd just rolled out of bed. He'd even gone through the lengths of taking a second shower and decided he would wear something more casual than his usual.

It might be considered as over the top for a simple Obon viewing and it certainly had been read that way by the hanyou.

Gojyo laughed. "Yeah, it's respectful that ya smell extra nice, too? You're not lookin' to get laid tonight are ya? Coz if you are…hmm. Iie, actually, it would probably work."

"Gojyo!" Mortified by the statement, Hakkai had hurried away from the lewd words, having caught sight of the time. "It's already past time for me to leave. I said I'd be there at seven and I haven't even walked out yet."

"Relax, Hakkai, it's just across the hall. Besides, you shouldn't always be so prompt. Makes you look desperate. Won't get laid that way." A snicker followed and the dark haired youkai sighed as he left.

Knocking at the door where he knew the girls were staying, Hakkai smiled vaguely to himself as he spotted a streak of water-stained footprints in the flooring.

He recalled that last night, after Ashley's transformation into Jiang Miyoko, he had been returning to his room and noticed a trail of water messing the thin carpeting. In looking down the hallway, Mandi had just emerged from someone's room dressed in the most ridiculous European styled maid getup, soaking wet from head to toe. She had met his stare for only a few moments before her cheeks flared bright red and she rushed herself into the next room.

It'd been cute, actually, to see her working despite her obvious discomfort. He couldn't say the clothing was ill-suited for her, either, though if he thought too far on the subject, Hakkai wondered if he'd be classified as a pervert.

The soft click of the door in front of him opening brought the twenty-two year old back to the present. Blue eyes met his as Lian pulled the door open farther.

"Ah. Maaandiii! Your date is here!"

"G-gomen, demo, it's not a…" Hakkai began, though trailed off.

Why bother?

Mandi shouted something unintelligible in reply before coming into view and pushed past the Earth goddess. Hakkai side-stepped to allow her into the hallway, emerald orbs traveling her form. She hadn't much to work with, he imagined, and simply wore the travel-wear he had supplied to the young women some time ago. Yet it was clean and pressed and her dark hair hinted at dampness from a fresh shower. She'd taken the liberty to tie most of it back, leaving fringe to frame her face and fall over her shoulders.

"Shall we then?" He rethought offering her his arm and instead gestured that they go and started the walk down the hallway.

It wasn't until they were outside, standing on the outskirts of the lit up Obon festival that their nerves had begun to simmer down.

The villagers had already gathered. Some were playing games that were set up to make things light-hearted, especially for the children. Others stood in groups around a man-made makeshift 'pond', holding paper boats and candles in their hands. They would be lit and set upon the water with the names of their loved ones scribed inside. Laughter rose above the chatter as families grouped together, recounting private tales that the pair would never hear.

Turning his head partway, Hakkai noticed a small band preparing to play. The Obon dance would begin quite soon, though it had been a while since he had participated in one. Gojyo had made him do it the second year they were living together, thinking that it might give his roomie a sense of freedom over the death of Kanan.

It had been a nice sentiment, though Hakkai had done it very grudgingly. He didn't quite think it looked right when he danced and was certain that Kanan's spirit would have spent more time laughing at him than worrying about her liberation.

As the traditional music started and the townsfolk filed in for the massive dance, Hakkai's focus left the activities to watch the young woman beside him. She had been taken in by everything, face sealed with interest.

"This is kind of neat." She murmured, clearly more to herself than to him. How could she really explain her appeal to the event with words, anyhow?

Not at all worried, and having gathered that she was impressed solely from Mandi's expressions, Hakkai took her by the shoulders once more.

"We can have a look around, if you'd like." He had taken to guiding her around the town in such a manner, though wondered for a moment if he wasn't just giving himself an excuse to be close. To touch her.

Face warming, the young woman let herself be led toward the games. A familiar pair of amber-gold eyes found them and Goku's boyish voice piped up over the music playing.

"Hey! You wanna play? Sanzo gave me some money, demo, he said that wasn't gonna come 'coz he didn't have a reason to or something like that."

"Iie. Arigatou, though." Hakkai declined, silently praying that Goku would accept the reply and let them be on their way.

While the night sky remained clear, he had a sick feeling forming in the pit of his stomach that he hadn't much time left.

For what, though?

Perhaps to take heed of Gojyo's advice to him. To say, or to show, what had been plaguing his shoulders as of late.

Fortunately, Goku took the hint, forgoing the games to seek out something to eat. As Gojyo's voice rose over the din, Hakkai pressed his current company on a bit faster than he had meant to.

Mandi arched her brows, weaving her way through villagers before turning to face the slender youkai.

"Are you in some kind of hurry or something?"

He froze. Was she upset? He couldn't tell.

Sensing that she might have come off wrong, Mandi placed a hand on his upper arm, smiling apologetically.

"Hey, don't worry. It's not like I'm mad or anything. I'm just wondering if you were…never mind. You can't even understand me." She shook her head before turning back toward the festivities.

Hakkai breathed in relief, having been holding his breath, and followed after the young woman who had apparently decided she wanted a bit more freedom in exploring the plethora of culture before them.

Along the way of avoiding intermingling with obon dancers, they had spotted the two already-transformed goddesses. Lian and Jiang were surrounded by a handful of people who had broken away from the dance and seemed as though they were being interrogated. Not wishing to deal with more taunting, Mandi curved sharply away, bringing them both to a stop where the bamboo-trimmed pond had been erected.

The music was dying down as the dancers began to file away, preparing to light their candles.

"There'll be a lot of flames lit on the water tonight, I imagine." Hakkai said thoughtfully, coming to stand next to the young woman.

An elderly woman came up beside them, her back bent and face etched with age. Placing a paper boat with a name scrawled by a shaky hand atop the ripples, the woman lit her candle and murmured a small prayer.

Mandi bent her head forward, catching the dark eyes of the old lady which were filled with a mixture of grief and hope. The twenty year old offered up what she hoped was a compassionate smile and the woman returned it before speaking to the pair.

"My husband passed away very recently…it is strange and foreign to me, waking up each day without seeing his face. Youkai have not been so discriminatory toward the weak."

"Oh dear…" Hakkai whispered, unable to muster much else more aside from a sympathetic apology.

The old woman nodded, glancing about as others came to encircle the pond, setting their candle-toting boats onto the water.

"It is true, the saying. You never know what you truly have until it is gone…do you have one you miss?"

Would it be wrong to lie?

He supposed she didn't need to know the details.

He didn't answer, however, only turning his gaze back to Mandi.

There was someone he missed very much, yet it seemed to him that it would soon be made into two he would be bereft of.

The older woman nodded her head, turning to greet someone else and left the pair alone.

"We should light one, Hakkai." Mandi stated, turning to see a table not too far off with a few blank boats and candles remaining.

Hakkai hadn't the chance to protest as the young woman slipped away from him, going to the table. Her form hunched over it briefly as she wrote on the inside of the paper and then, grabbing up a candle and a match, she returned to him, holding it all out.

"Here…you should, you know?"

Green eyes turned down to the Romanized letters written neatly. He couldn't make them out.

"Oh…I guess you can't read that." Why hadn't she remembered that? Pointing to the name, she spoke. "It's for Kanan…unless you don't want to?"

He understood.

Kanan.

How many times had he thought of his sister today? How many times had he been reminded of her laugh, her face, her smile, her voice?

Hakkai couldn't say that the gesture didn't cause him to choke up a little. His throat tightened in a strange way as he took the match from Mandi's fingers. She held the boat and candle up together as he lit it.

He shook the flame from the match and took the boat carefully from her hands, leaning over the pond for a time.

"Kanan…perhaps I am undeserving of a few things, demo, I am having a difficult time ignoring certain feelings. I hope that you'll be able to forgive me, that you won't be too upset with me when I finally do come to meet you again. Rest peacefully, dear one…aishiteru."

Sighing softly Hakkai placed his prayer into the water, watching until it merged with all of the departed souls being freed by their loved ones.

When he turned back to his companion, he found that her cheeks- illuminated by all of the flickering candles- had been visited by thin tears straying from her light coffee-colored eyes.

"Mandi-san?" Concern laced his tone as he curled a finger beneath her chin, lifting her face.

"I think she heard you…" Her voice barely rose above a breath as her hand moved up to grasp at his wrist lightly.

She had meant to bring his fingers away from her, yet as she had been learning, nothing seemed to ever go as planned.

A strong pulse of her heart thudded against her ribs as she found herself irresistibly drawn to the magnetic green of Hakkai's gaze. It was stupid to feel as she did, but she honestly couldn't help it, nor could she hold it in for much longer.

The urge to resist, to leave and return to the inn, was no match for the allure of possibility. What might happen if she stayed in that spot?

Hakkai opened his palm under Mandi's chin, sliding it to her cheek.

The warmth emanating from his hand caused her lean against the touch rather than shy away from it and she moved from his wrist to cover the back of his hand, holding it in place.

"I shouldn't feel like this about you, Hakkai, but I do. And it scares the crap out of me to be honest. It's like I'm noticing this, giving in, just a little bit too late and I've got no idea what's in store for any single one of us…I hate admitting to a lot of things but I'm telling you right now…I'm really scared that after everything…I'm never going to see you again."

Mandi shut her eyes, lashes shadowing the soft light touching her cheeks.

Who cared if he didn't know what she had said. Truth be told, she just needed to say it aloud, whether to him, to herself, or to a blank wall that couldn't repeat any of it.

Hakkai wasn't certain of what the young woman had said, yet he had caught the emotion loud and clear. He imagined that he felt very much the same way as she did.

Drawing her closer to him, the slender youkai bent so that he was even with her right ear.

"If there was anything that I could say to you right now that might be more befitting, I wish I could have thought of it sooner. I'm not certain…of what it is that I feel, of if I can give it a name. Demo, for even that much, and for everything that you've done for me without realizing it…you have my gratitude. Arigatou, my dear…"

In hearing the 'thank you', Mandi's eyes partially opened and she glanced up at Hakkai as he lingered dangerously close to her.

Her heart pulsed extra-strong once again as they shared a connected gaze for far longer than what should be considered merely friendly. It was one full of question and unspoken longing.

She felt like the heroine out of the romance novels her friends used to read. The ones she made fun of being terribly cliché and sappy.

How the tables had turned- and Mandi didn't quite seem to care anymore.

Hakkai brushed his thumb over where one tear still clung to her lashes, curving his free arm around her waist, and leaned in tentatively.

He was nervous beyond belief- it'd been a long while. What if he was out of practice? What if this was awful? What if she didn't want this?

Nevertheless, he couldn't stop now.

His fingers moved to her chin and he brought the pad of his thumb down as he bent, touching his lips to hers, softly.

An explosion of heat raced through them, crackling with electricity. The fireworks idiom came to mind only long enough to be thought of before being snuffed out by the deepening of the kiss.

Mandi melted against Hakkai's chest, locking her hands around his hips as he molded his mouth to hers and held her to him tighter.

For the third time, her heart pulsed strongly.

She pulled away with a gasp, cheeks flushed.

Something was awry.

As the wind began to howl around the festival, the young woman slipped out of the hands trying to hold her in place.

"Hakkai…"

He made a noise of comprehension, looking around as the lanterns began to slam noisily into the wooden posts bearing them, decorations flailing free from their places, and the lit candles beginning to extinguished.

Turning sharply, he already discovered that Gojyo, Goku, Lian, and Jiang were ushering people away from the site.

"You need to get to safety! Go into your houses, stay together!" Hakkai instructed as the confused mass began to realize the urgency of the situation.

When they were far enough and there didn't seem to be any stragglers, the five spun away from getting the bystanders out of the way.

"Aw look, I think our little girl is finally about to grow up." Lian commented, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yep, it seems so." Jiang responded, placing a hand over the water pocket keeping her axolotl.

"And just the way I said it would happen." The Earth elemental added pointedly.

Jiang rolled her gaze toward the other. "Don't give yourself too much credit. I think this one happened all because of those two."

"Sure, sure."

Mandi turned her face skyward, the banter between her friends drowned out by the rushing of wind beginning to sweep in from between buildings. Shutters rattled with the threat to rip away completely from the hinges and from a distance, the roar of a Bengal tiger rode the gusts.

The others backed away, bringing themselves to huddle together in an open archway as dust from the road kicked up. What had been a cloudless night sky had transcended into something dark and ominous in appearance, heavy with black clouds tinged with green.

Jiang and Lian were smart enough to realize what the color meant and braced themselves as the wind speed increased.

None of them spoke this time- it seemed futile to even try. Over the deafening shrieks howling from above, they wouldn't have been able to hear what the other said.

Instead, they watched as the dust cloud grew, encircling the twenty year-old.

Mandi's head snapped forward, even as her feet left solid ground, her form lifting by invisible hands. Her arms spread out, eyes closing as a slim funnel from above traveled downward, threatening to consume everything in its path.

Its path, however, only consisted of direct contact with the young woman below. The churning grey and black clouds enveloped her completely, screaming in its ferocity.

The sound was reminiscent of a tiger, and with that thought, Hakkai had the notion to glance down the opposite direction of the phenomenon.

Vayu had seemingly escaped his cage and barreled down the dirt path with strong determination, ignoring the fact that all four limbs were jostling him with pain beneath his matted fur.

Nudging the others, Hakkai pointed out the tiger. He knew that the animal was nothing ordinary- at least, not any longer.

Five pairs of eyes followed the Bengal's path, witnessing as it opened its mouth and roared just before plunging itself into the cyclone where their friend was being hidden.

A flash of what seemed like lightning blinded them temporarily, and by the time the spots had begun to fade, so did the sound of wind ripping through the town.

The sky began to clear as the tornado slowly evaporated into nothing, and when the dust had settled, it revealed the figure of a young woman kneeling at the side of the tiger, Vayu.

Except that Vayu looked far more majestic than he had initially. The orange fur glistened with a pristine sheen and the black markings were more striking than the mottled mess they had been. His vivid yellow tiger-eyes stared back with unmistakable intellect and he stood proudly by the newly born goddess.

Standing from seemingly protecting the animal from the harshness of the recent endeavor, the elemental turned toward those waiting to hear what her identity was now. The element had taken full effect, changing dark cherry-chocolate hair into pitch black touched with strips of platinum blue, pulled back into a single, thick plait which reached the middle of her back.

The clothing had transcended that of the mortal realm, becoming a gauzy white and blue material which wrapped about her neck and torso, belted with silver hoops at the thighs, and splitting down the legs into fabric draping to her ankles front and back. Her arms were bare to the elbows where silver bands decorated with small stones held in place half sleeves that obscured the sight of her hands almost completely.

To top it all off, the wind chakra marked her forehead, and the end of all of the rebirths.

"So?" Lian prodded, tired of the suspense.

The Wind goddess smiled mysteriously. "So what?"

Jiang lifted a blond brow. "So are you going to tell us who you are?"

"Oh…sure, I guess I could do that." Another grin as eyes the color of the shining sun took in the impatient expressions of her friends.

"What's with the leading on, honey? Just tell us who ya are now, huh?" Gojyo muttered, narrowly escaping a jab of Jiang's elbow. Something told him she could have busted a rib or two that way.

"Please…introduce yourself?" Hakkai asked, stepping forward. He was amazed, yet quite saddened inside. At the very least, he had expressed himself to the young woman while she was still mortal.

The goddess glanced down to Vayu before laughing. "Alright, alright…You can call me…Yu Michiko. The last of the Elementals."