Disclaimer: Still don't own Saiyuki, just making a story about it out of boredom and curiosity. I don't own the song "First Love" by Utada Hikaru, nor do I own "Take a Train (Awakening)" by the Kidneythieves or the Pink Floyd song that was used. I also don't own Mingmei and Suki, they are both NoxKindxOfxLife's property. The only thing I own is Mayumi and the plot of the fanfic.

(A/N: Once again, the scenes become connected at a point but they're all taking place at the same time when separated.)

Ming turned to look at Hakkai then to the small café and she nodded her head. "A drink would be nice, but I really don't need anything. You should save your money instead of blowing it all on me." She didn't like taking money from people, she found it rude.

Hakkai blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "I'm sorry if I offended you then. But I guess we'll have those drinks now" he said sitting down. She was very polite and upfront about things, he was starting to like her even more. "So Ming, where do you come from?" he asked after ordering their drinks. He had intentions on knowing more about her.

"You didn't offend me...I just have strange habits."

She ordered a tea sitting down across from him. She rested her hands on the table. Her hands were laced within themselves, folded. Ming seemed to think about the question for some time before answering.

"I'm not really sure where I come from...the only place I can remember is a dark alleyway before I was taken to a hospital." Her face was stoic even though her voice held some emotion in it.

Hakkai looked at her expression and gave her a pat on the shoulder. "Hey, don't worry about it" he said. She seemed to think hard on that and he didn't mean to bring up any unwanted thoughts. He would have to be careful with what he said, this was a mysterious woman he was dealing with. Ming smiled at Hakkai warmly.

"No it's fine. I have a problem with my memory...it seems I'm suffering from amnesia. I woke up in the hospital and couldn't remember anything from my past. That was about two months ago. I try to just ignore the fact I hardly know anything about myself. After all a demonologist can't be bothered with such annoying thoughts. We're so busy with the minus wave." Her tea arrived and she picked it up in her hands. She blew on it then took a sip.

Hakkai smiled at her and took his small shot glass of beer. "I think you'll get your memory back one day. But until that day comes you can only do your best to live" he said and drank the shot in one gulp. It felt good to have the cold liquid down his throat in this heat.

True it was hot and she was drinking hot tea, but the heat really didn't phase her. She couldn't really feel the heat, though her body was warm. Ming held her hands around the cup of tea she was drinking. "I know I will...but I really don't want to remember...for some reason I am fine just knowing nothing about who I am. It feels...right."

Hakkai started to drink another small glass of beer and was thankful that it was cold. "So we should head back now" he said getting up and paying with some yin he had left. He didn't feel like using the card anymore. He walked beside Ming talking about random things really.

What he didn't know was a pair of eyes watching him from a distance and that the perpetrator was being careful about it.

Ming held her hands behind her back as she walked with Hakkai. She smiled and kept the conversation going by replying to some things he was saying. She really didn't know that they were being watched. After all she wasn't the kind of person to actually have to have enemies.

Hakkai finally stopped talking when they reached the inn and sighed. Goku was eating at the big buffet table inside. He waved to them with a mouth full of food.

"Hey!" he said after swallowing.

Hakkai waved weakly and noted his dragon eating small bites next to the monkey. "Now he has Hakuryuu hooked on the food" he said.

Ming looked at the food. "He sure does love to eat..." She walked over towards the table taking a seat. She didn't grab any food, instead she sat back in the chair. She wasn't hungry. She rarely ate, she just felt like she didn't need food.

Goku looked over at Ming and offered some food. "Ya want?" he asked. She shook her head no and he ate it himself. Hakkai knew the little monkey could put it away better than anyone else he saw eat. "I believe it's starting to get late. It's about eight I think" he said looking out at the position of the sun. He would go to bed soon, they where leaving in the morning.

Ming watched Goku eat, and merely smiled. She was quite skinny, and she felt if she ate as much as Goku she'd end up as fat as Buddha. She looked out to the sun and nodded. She usually didn't go to sleep until it was dark, if it was light out she couldn't sleep well. She took her journal and began to scribble into it.

Hakkai yawned and got out of his seat. "I want a drink, I'm sure they're cold by now" he said walking off to his room. He couldn't wait to taste some cold beer on his lips again.

Ming closed her book. She wanted to relax on her bed so she said good night to Goku and went into the room she was sharing with Hakkai. She placed the new journal in her bag and pulled out two used ones. She laid on her back on her bed and flipped through one of them while resting the other on her stomach.

Hakkai looked over at Ming after he found a can of beer and plopped down on his bed. "More research?" he asked. He was interested in what she did, it was quite fascinating actually.

Ming looked to Hakkai then back to her book. "No, not really. I just wanted to refresh my memory with all I have encountered. It's more of a memory jogger." She smiled, flipping a page in her book.

She was going to use this to her advantage one of these days. Hakkai looked over with curious eyes and scanned the pages she was flipping through. Interesting but some things needed a bit of revising.

Ming closed the book and switched it with the one on her stomach. It was basically a log of things.

Hakkai laid back on his bed and drank his beer slowly. they would be leaving soon, hopefully they could get on track this time. But he had a sense of impending doom for some reason.

Hakkai saw her looking at him and smiled with a faint blush. "I only do this so often, I'm thinking right now is all" he said. He didn't want her to think of him as some drunk when he wasn't driving and running errands.

Ming smiled, waving her hand as if swatting a fly . "Don't worry about it"

Hakkai smiled and got a beer from the other side of his bed. "You can have one if you like" he offered. He was nice enough to share unlike Gojyo and even Sanzo at times.

"No, you can have it. Not much for alcohol." Someone had obviously came into the room while they were gone and had cleaned it up. She turned to see the drapes opened again. It was growing dark and her fear was coming back to her. She closed the drapes, her brow furrowed ever so slightly.

Hakkai blinked and set the can down on the table in between them. "It's there when you're ready...and you don't have to be afraid. I'm here to protect you Ming" he said giving her a sympathetic smile. He knew how she felt about the dark these days, she hated it from the way her body and mind reacted to it.

Ming wrapped her arms around herself, her hands clutching the sleeves of her jacket. She turned her head looking to the beer on the table. For some reason she saw hope in that can of beer, but she wasn't going to go drinking it. All it would do would make her drunk, after all she didn't hold her liquor very well. Ming let her arms drop to her sides as she took a seat on her bed.

Hakkai looked over at her. "What's wrong? You can tell me" he said with a smile. Whatever was troubling her he wanted her to tell him.

Ming looked up at Hakkai and gave him a fake smile. "Its nothing. I'm fine. Really, you shouldn't worry yourself with me." She kicked off her shoes and turned on her side on the bed, facing the wall. Why was she so weak?

Hakkai sighed and turned over on his side facing her back as he watched her. She was secretive but in due time she would be talking, she was nowhere near as bad as the two monks.

Ming sighed heavily. She hated to concern people, it really wasn't her fault she was still fearing that the demon who raped her would get out of jail and find her. She pulled the blankets over her body and hugged them to herself. Her body was shaking silently, really only a trained eye could see her moving.

Hakkai saw her small shaking and wanted to go over and comfort her. But he couldn't bring himself to do it. These were her demons, she had to face them herself. He sighed and rolled over onto his stomach to fall asleep after he turned off the light.

Ming jumped slightly as the lights went off. Though quickly after she realized that Hakkai and turned the lights off. Now she was totally engulfed in darkness once again. She needed to be strong, she could face this. She looked around, her mind making shadowy figures around the room. She was now really scared. Damn her for having an overactive mind.

Ming rolled out of her bed moving over towards Hakkai. She placed a hand gently onto his shoulder. "H-Hakkai..." She stopped then continued. "I don't want to be a bother...but could I sleep in your bed with you?" She was too afraid to sleep by herself.

Hakkai sat up and blushed thankful that she couldn't see him well in the dark. "If you really feel scared. And it's not a bother at all, I'm glad to be your comfort" he said to her. Poor thing, she needed someone to be there for her.

Ming felt a bit relieved as he told her she could. "Thank you." Her voice was shaky. Once Hakkai had moved over, she crawled under the covers beside him.

Hakkai turned over to let his back face her. He didn't want to touch her in any unwanted contact, she probably wouldn't let any man for awhile, maybe years if it took that much. Ming also had her back to him while clutching the pillow she had brought to his bed with her.

Though knowing he was next to her did settle some of her nerves, she still felt a bit vulnerable. Her shaking had stopped, but she was still seeing things around the room. She closed her eyes tightly, but only saw a memory of that night. How she was haunted by those images. She was a sad being indeed. Hakkai sighed and wrapped an arm around her after shifting to face her. She needed this, screw what he thought. Action came before that in this case.

Ming felt Hakkai's arm wrap around her. Suddenly she turned to face him and buried her face into his chest.

Hakkai blushed and then let his face settle into her hair. She had angelic hair and deep eyes that had pain but also loving in them. He...was he falling for her? No, not after Kanan. He couldn't. It was just going to end in pain. He sighed and stroked her hair trying to fall into a fitful sleep.

Ming clutched his shirt in her hands. Her fear was slowly fading and soon she fell asleep and her grip loosened on him in peace.

Gojyo went into the bar and sat down at a table. There was a woman on stage, holding a microphone in her hand. She looked quite unusual, not like many he had seen. She had long black hair that was put up into a bun and held in with two chopsticks with long strands of hair fell in her face. Her eyes were closed and outlined with black make-up. Underneath her eyes she had bits of black lines. One was to the corner of her eye and looked like she had been crying and mascara had ran down to the beginning of her cheek.

The other eye held four lines, two were long two were short. It looked like half of a sun or even a crescent. Her lips were outlined with black make-up and she was quite pale. She was wearing a long dress that held slits that moved around the bottom of the dress that ran all the way up to her thighs. There was a slit after every two or three inches of fabric.

The fabric on the other side of the black dress was a crimson red. She was wearing a pair of short skimpy shorts underneath the long dress. On her feet she wore a pair of long heeled boots that stopped just above her knees. She had long legs, making her stand about 5"10. She was probably shorter without the boots on though from what he could tell.

The woman on stage opened her eyes that were a magnificent bright green color that looked almost not human. She began to sing in a sexy and very sensual voice that was also a bit soft.

I wanted to take a train to the nearest awakening.

Took a bullet the speed of light, into infinite time.

I noticed a wake, the face was mine, where was I?

Gojyo got a beer and began to drink it, holding a lit cigarette in his hand while keeping his eyes on her.

The woman wrapped her long fingers around the microphone. Her fingernails were long and were painted black, the tips were crimson. She continued on with the song.

I wanted to take a break at the next gathering.

Made a change to white and light to the snap on my behind.

I noticed a face, the mother was mine.

Where was I?

I wanted to kick dust on the road I'm traveling.

Raking time in my mind like leaves, weaved in suffer and cry.

I noticed your face, it was looking at mine.

Where was I?

I wanted to ask someone but who's listening.

Mistake in the belief that all I see is with my eyes.

I noticed no one could see my face and I knew that I was flying -in an instant- I knew where I was again.

I was taking another train to the nearest awakening...

The song came to an end and people in the bar began to clap. She took a bow as her band began to start another song. The woman was staring at Gojyo and gave a half smile at him and then opened her mouth to sing again.

Run run, yeah.

You better make your face up in your favorite disguise.

With your button down lips and your roller blind eyes.

With your empty smile and your hungry heart.

Feel the bile rising from your guilty past.

With your nerves in tatters when the cockleshell shatters.

And the hammers batter down the door.

You'd better run! Run run yeah.

She continued to sing, already halfway through with her song.

You better run all day and run all night.

And keep your dirty feelings deep inside.

And if you're taking your girlfriend out tonight, you'd better park the car well out of sight.

Cause of they catch you in the back seat trying to pick her locks.

They're gonna send you back to your mother in a cardboard box.

You better run! Run run, yeah.

That song too came to an end. Instead of the band beginning to play a new song she jumped down from the stage as another band began to take the stage. She walked past Gojyo with a smile playing on her lips.

The woman went to the bar and ordered two drinks. She placed something in one of them then went to Gojyo's table. She placed the beer that she had drugged in front of Gojyo and sat down across from him. She smiled, resting her chin on her hand.

"Hey baby. Enjoy the show?"

Gojyo looked to her. "You bet."

"I'm glad to hear that."

Gojyo looked down to the beer in front of him. He picked it up and brought it to his lips. He smelled the beer, noticing something about it and pretended to drink it. She just sat there staring at the half-breed.

She watched as Gojyo placed the beer back down onto the table. She noticed that he hadn't drank any of it. Damn she was being messy. Usually people bit the hook she used. She would have to try something else.

"You look lonely. Need some company?" she asked with a small smile.

She normally wasn't easy, but knowing the kappa's background she felt this was a good card to use.

Gojyo smirked at her. "A little company couldn't hurt." She stood and grabbed Gojyo's hand pulling him out of the bar into an alleyway. She had used the back door instead of the front, less attention and less people. "Why don't you tell me your name?"

"It's Gojyo. Gojyo, Sha Gojyo."

"I'm Suki."

Going back there with was a big mistake on his part.

Suki pushed Gojyo against the wall, running her fingers from his neck a bit down his throat to his chest. "Gojyo. That's a nice name."

Suki smirked then pressed her lips against Gojyo's. Gojyo invited the kiss, his eyes closing. Suki reached her hand behind. Her hand pushed one of the pieces of cloth she called the bottom of her dress and pulled out a dagger. She then brought it up to stab Gojyo. But as her hand came down it was stopped by Gojyo.

Gojyo placed his other hand on her shoulder pinning her against the wall. She glared at him. "Die" she said staring into his eyes, her voice echoing through his ears. It was like he was going crazy, all she was saying was die. He let go of her, his hands flying to his hears.

Gojyo was trying to push her voice from his mind but was having trouble doing so. She smirked, bringing her knee hard to his face. The blow caused him to knock over, his hands still covering his ears. He was making noises of pain as she kicked him in the side with her heeled boots. She looked to the dagger then stood over him her legs on both sides of him.

Gojyo stared up at the woman. "B-bitch!" She smiled. "Really, Gojyo. It's not you...personally I like you. But I have my orders and they say you have to die."

Suki kneeled down and grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Prepare to die, Gojyo." She rested the dagger under his neck, seconds away from slitting the half-breed's throat.

Mayumi blinked and then spread her arms out wide like she was making a snow angel or something. He could be caring, maybe he just didn't like to show it. They were too much alike in some ways. To get her mind off it, she started singing softly, a song that seemed to match her perfectly. Her voice was quite soft when she sang, really sweet as she was once told.

The last kiss

Tasted like tobacco

A bitter and sad smell

Tomorrow, at this time

Where will you be?

Who will you be thinking about?

You are always gonna be my love

Even if I fall in love with someone once again

I'll remember to hold on

You taught me how

You are always gonna be the one

It's still a sad song

Until I can sing a new song

The paused time is

About to start moving

There's many things that I don't want to forget about

Tomorrow, at this time

I will probably be crying

I will probably be thinking about you

You will always be inside my heart

You will always have your own place

I hope that I have a place in your heart too

Now and forever you are still the one

It's still a sad song

Until I can sing a new song

You are always gonna be my love

Even if i fall in love with someone once again

I'll remember to hold on

You taught me how

You are always gonna be the one

It's still a sad song

Now and forever...

Sanzo soon came back with a can of beer in his hands. What the priestess didn't know was that he had been listening the whole time from the hallway. He smiled to himself, she had more talents than he thought. Her singing was beautiful but she must have wanted to keep that bit of information to herself. After she was done, he walked in casually.

He had gone into Goku and Gojyo's room and brought back a pack of beer…more like stolen but brought was a better term. Sanzo had intentions on drinking every last one of the beers she had brought back with him. He sat the pack on the table and took a long drink from the can in his hand.

Mayumi stopped as soon ad he came in the room and blushed. She didn't want people to hear her, least of all him. "If you plan on getting wasted do it somewhere else" she said softly and started to take off the top part of her robe, it was stuffy in this room even with the window open.

Sanzo looked to Mayumi, taking another drink of the beer. "This room is as much mine as it is yours. I can get wasted wherever I feel like it." He sat down in the chair by the table.

Mayumi sighed and walked over to him snatching the can from his hands. "Then share the wealth monk or you could wake up bald" she said and drank a little from it and handed it back. She was bluffing, she loved his golden hair, it reminded her of the sun in all it's glory.

Sanzo looked at Mayumi as she took a drink from his beer. He took a full can from the pack and handed it to her. "Don't drink mine, drink your own."

Mayumi popped the top and drank from it greedily. The heat always made her drink, even more so when she was dressed in those robes. She wanted that outfit back on now.

"Sanzo, could we...well, since we already don't follow the rules. We might as well be together...officially" she said sitting on the bed again. She was never good around men, mainly him anyway.

Sanzo took a drink finishing his can of beer. He turned to look at her after she asked him. He had sort of all ready made her his. She must have wanted to have him say that she was his. "I see nothing wrong with it."

Mayumi blushed and got up to stand by him. She slowly smiled and then wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thanks...I wanted to hear that" she said in content.

Sanzo popped open another beer and began to drink it. He wondered if Gojyo was going to notice he had taken some of his beers. Probably, and not get angry knowing only Sanzo would take his beers so boldly.

Mayumi growled at him and went back to the bed, he would never show his affection towards her when she wanted him to. She heard Goku greeting someone downstairs after awhile. "I think Gojyo or Hakkai are back. Maybe you better put the beers back" she said drinking her own can. She didn't steal it, no shame on her.

Sanzo waved a hand taking a swig of his beer. "Who cares, it is my card."

They couldn't do anything about Sanzo stealing the beers, he had paid for them. Mayumi blinked innocently then smirked. "Maybe you should be a little considerate of them" she said. Her hair was irritating her pent up into a bun like that and loose strands were falling framing her face, the heat wasn't making it any better for her choice of hairstyle right now.

Sanzo scoffed. "Considerate of them? Right..." He said finishing that beer and popped open another one.

Mayumi heard Hakkai walk past then a few minutes later hearing him looking around for some beer, the sound of rustling bags was a dead giveaway.

"You've caused quite a mess Genjyo Sanzo...and don't drink too much. Who says I won't take advantage of you" she said with a raised eyebrow. She wouldn't, drunk people were ten times stronger than normal.

There was still some beer in the room, Sanzo had left some. He merely smiled at Mayumi taking another drink.

"I like causing problems." He had a slight buzz and was going to keep drinking. Soon he finished that beer and was moving onto his fourth. Mayumi shook her head and looked down at her book which was thrown on the table. Get drunk or watch him? Watch, damn that was easy to decide between. Watching a monk get drunk was so entertaining…then again she couldn't hold her liquor that well herself.

Just when she was going to pick up her book, a pain hit her in the head and she could see Gojyo fighting with some woman. He looked like as if he was in trouble, but for the moment handling himself okay. She would just keep it to herself for now. She picked up her book and opened it while still watching Sanzo drink.

Sanzo popped open his fourth can of beer. He then brought the can to his lips and began to take a long drink. He slouched in the chair he was sitting in, staring at the one can that was left. He might have to go and steal some more from Gojyo's room. He lit a cigarette, letting it hang from his lips.

Mayumi smirked and snickered evilly. He looked a bit pitiful, he would never allow himself to be seen by anyone when he was drunk. Sanzo quickly drained his fourth beer and grabbed the last one.

"S-stop looking at me like that" he said, his words slurred a bit. He brought a hand to his temples after he popped the top from the last can.

Mayumi put her book down and an evil gleam in her dark green eyes. Eyes like a fallen angel. "Well, maybe if you stopped drinking your ass off I wouldn't have to. It's not like you're going to do anything about it" she said stretching.

Sanzo took a long drink from the last can while she talked. "Not do anything about it?" He chuckled. "We'll see about that."

Mayumi looked over at him and blinked in question. He never chuckled unless...he was going to make someone pay. Maybe he wasn't as drunk as she thought. She moved to her side of the bed which was facing away from him and buried herself in her book. No way, she was not getting on his bad side.

Sanzo stared at her form on the bed. Was she trying to ignore him? Oh well. Sanzo finished the can of beer. For the moment he was rather sleepy and they wouldn't leave until early the next morning. He stood, moving towards the bed. He sat down removing the top of his robe, the cigarette still dangling from his lips.

Mayumi turned her head slightly only to see him getting into bed next to her. He made her want to do things to him that a priestess of her stature shouldn't even be thinking, even when he was tired and half drunk. She turned back around and kept her trained eyes on the book. She was starting to crave a beer herself although she would rather smoke than drink.

Sanzo grabbed his lighter and tried to light the cigarette. But unfortunately he couldn't get the cigarette to light. Mainly because his vision wasn't very good at the moment and the flame was a tad bit off from where he actually thought it was. "God damnit."

Mayumi looked back over and took the cigarette and lighter from him. "No, go to sleep. And I'm going out, I need some air" she said getting up and walking off with his stuff she had just took. The truth is she was worried about Gojyo after that premonition she just had and he hadn't been back yet. Before she left the room she closed and locked the door so that Sanzo wouldn't try to follow her in his condition.

Sanzo glared as the door shut. "Come back here!" he yelled to no one. Sanzo stood moving towards the door, trying to turn the handle. It didn't phase him it was locked and that he could easily open the door, it locked from the inside as well. The priestess had forgotten that bit of information.

Mayumi walked outside in the almost empty streets, damn it was creepy out here. Why did this place have to have so many demons lurking everywhere? She took out her gun and walked with caution. "Damn him, probably getting drunk and then laid somewhere" she said under her breath.

Mayumi heard a woman saying something about the kappa dying and went over to the alleyway walking on her toes silently. She peered around the corner and saw a knife under his neck. She shot at the perpetrator and they nearly got their head blown off.

"That was a warning, let him go before you turn into dust" she said holding the barrel of the gun straight for a clean headshot.

Suki looked up to see the woman. The voices in Gojyo's head stopped, seeing as the woman was distracted. He quickly grabbed her wrist, knocked the dagger free and pinned her to the ground. He held his knee between her shoulder blades, held the back of her neck with her face in the dirt. The woman squirmed under him, damn his grip.

Mayumi was about to shoot her while she was trapped until a sharp pain went in her back. A small trail of blood seeped from her mouth and she looked behind her to see cold indigo eyes staring at her.

"Move it" the man said pushing her to the ground. Damn, Suki needed saving after all.

"Get off her kappa" Kougaiji said coldly. "Or I might make sure the woman here dies" he said looking at Mayumi out the corner of his eye as she was trying to get up.

Suki's eyes moved to see Kougaiji. Gojyo's grip loosened slightly, looking at Kougaiji. "So this is one of your followers? She seems too good to be one of yours." Gojyo said. Suki growled he was poking fun at Kou's group of lackeys that Lirin's mother sent to kill them, but would fail every time.

Kougaiji growled and lowered his head to be eye level with Gojyo. "Fuck you kappa, get off Suki and I won't off you and the holy woman" he said calmly. He hated when they messed with them, his followers were incompetent at times but they were loyal. He was taking Suki as far away as he could and giving her a long talk about not killing her prey soon enough.

Gojyo wouldn't move, but his grip had loosen enough it wasn't pinning her down. Suki elbowed him in the gut, making him get off of her. She quickly scrambled to her feet, staring at the sprite. Her eyes then traveled to Mayumi.

"Fucking whore." She moved in the direction of Mayumi. "I'm going to teach you a lesson for shooting at me." She was going to strangle her to death.

Mayumi stepped back away from her and held her gun with her trained arm. "Touch me and you die" she hissed back at her.

"Suki, enough" Kougaiji ordered.

He didn't want her to kill Mayumi let alone touch her at the moment. That was going to be his job when he got the sutra the priestess always had with her. Suki scoffed, taking a step back. "You're lucky, little bitch." Suki moved to Kougaiji's side, her head lowering slightly. She hated having to be saved. It wasn't her fault, she would of had him...if only Mayumi hadn't shown up.

Kougaiji put an arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear. "We're going to have a little talk later" he said. Then he turned to Gojyo and Mayumi. "Watch yourselves, we won't go easy on you next time" he said walking off his with his assistant.

Suki's head lowered even more. A little talk? That couldn't be good. She failed him and Gyoukumen Kousho. Though she was lucky her faith was all in Kougaiji. After all, Gyoukumen wouldn't save her even if she was one of the better fighters.

Kougaiji walked Suki to an alleyway near the entrance of the village and looked her dead in the eyes with his arms crossed over his chest. "Alright Suki, you really should be more careful. Next time that woman won't miss, she's good. I was almost shot by her once. And I still need you to follow them, stay on their trail" he said.

"Kougaiji." Suki nodded her eyes tearing away from him. "I'm grateful you have given me another chance. I will not fail you twice." Her hands were clenched at her sides. She wanted to kill Mayumi so bad, she could almost taste it.

Kougaiji looked down at her and sighed. She was one of his best, he wouldn't let her go so easily because of one mistake. "Stay hidden" he said turning around preparing to walk off. He was going to explain Suki's absence to the old witch. He turned his head slightly and stared at her. "What is it you were going to say?" he asked.

Suki shook her head slightly. Swallowing her feelings. She was merely an assistant to him. She wasn't as dear to him as Yaone, Lirin, or Dokugakuji. "It's nothing."

Kougaiji merely sighed and walked off. He didn't get that woman sometimes, she was a mystery.

Suki watched as Kou walked away, leaving her in the alleyway. Once he was gone, she made a fist in front of her. "I will show him I can be just as good as those three. I will not fail this time."

Mayumi growled and clutched her stomach. The fucker had stabbed her through and she didn't even know it. "Kappa...take me back this instant" she commanded before fainting into his arms.

Gojyo picked her up and carried her back to the inn. Gojyo tried to open Sanzo's door but found it locked.

"Stupid priest! Open up!"

By this time Sanzo had come down enough that he wasn't seriously drunk, more like halfway there. He opened the door and Gojyo busted in, almost knocking Sanzo down as he placed Mayumi on the bed.

"What happened?" Asked Sanzo.

Mayumi opened her eyes slowly and looked up to see them. "Hey...someone fucking help me, I'm bleeding and Hakkai isn't here" she demanded. Damn, the wound was hurting like hell now.

Gojyo grabbed some bandages and some medicine. "You need to take off your shirt." He needed to get to the wound and really the only way he could get to it was if she held her shirt up or took it off. Sanzo crossed his arms over his chest, standing back.

Mayumi blushed and took off the top part of her robe and then slipping off the black top showing all the way down to her slender waist. The bleeding got worse on her left side and she bit her lip almost drawing blood. Kougaiji was going to die for sure next time!

Gojyo wrapped the bandages around her tightly to stop the bleeding, after putting medicine on it of course. He was lucky Mayumi had come to check on him, or else he would have been dead. He owed her one for that.

Mayumi looked down at Gojyo and gave a small smile. "Thank you Gojyo, I needed that" she said. Then she looked up at Sanzo and turned her head away. She was irritated at him though, getting drunk and then not even helping her wounds. What kind of a holy man was he?

"If you don't mind, I'm going to bed" she said getting under the covers and covering all the way up to her hair.

Gojyo left the room heading into his own that he was sharing with Goku, got under his covers and went to sleep...Sanzo and Mayumi needed some time to themselves. Sanzo looked at Mayumi from under the covers. It wasn't his fault what had happened to her. His arms uncrossed out of relief. "Who did this to you?" he demanded to know.

Mayumi stayed silent and looked at him from under the covers. "It's nothing, I'm alive and in one piece" she said and pulled the covers down since Gojyo was gone. She hated sleeping in her robes so she pulled the rest of her clothes off and got under the covers again. "Besides, why do you care?" she asked.

Sanzo growled slightly. "Don't talk to me with that tone." He sat down on the bed, running a hand through his hair, sighing. "Why wouldn't I care?" Sanzo swallowed his pride, forcing words to form on his lips, glad he wasn't facing her. "Because, I...guess…I love you" he said quickly. Damn her, she made him say it.

Mayumi blushed violently and looked at his back. He...loved her? She thought he just cared a little bit, like a friend. But it was more than that, it was what she hoped. She smiled sincerely and wrapped her arms over his neck from behind.

"I guess I love you too Genjyo Sanzo" she said softly. "And if you really must know, it was Kougaiji. I should have been more alert, letting him stab me" she said calmly.

Sanzo sighed grabbing a cigarette and placing it between his lips. Then he remembered she still had his lighter. She put his hand out to his side, where she could place the lighter into his palm.

"My lighter, please." His eyes were closed slightly. He needed a smoke badly. "We'll get our chance to repay Kougaiji for that pretty little wound you have there."

Mayumi handed him the lighter thankful that his buzz had worn off by now. She hated when people got drunk.

"I think you're not thinking rationally Sanzo. We don't need to repay anyone, honestly" she said stubbornly. He was making such a big deal of this, she was alive and still breathing. Did he always act this way about someone he cared for? She turned over to face the other direction, in deep thought instead of sleeping.

"I'm tired and we need to rest. Smoke and sleep stubborn monk" she said closing her eyes.

Sanzo scoffed, taking his lighter and lit his cigarette. He pulled back the covers, getting ready to go to bed. Eventually he finished his cigarette and put it out in the ashtray. He then turned off the light and got under the covers, pulling them back over him. He lay on his side, one arm under the pillow. Sanzo closed his eyes waiting for sleep to fall upon him.

"Genjyo…thank you…" she whispered to him and wrapped her arms around him. He gave a small smile in the darkness to her and wrapped his free arm around her waist gently. Why was this feeling so familiar? As if they had done this so many times before, laying together in peace? How could he even think something like that? Damn, emotions were a bitch to have.

Alright, that was a touching chapter with all the developing feelings and good at the part with Kougaiji and Suki. Remember to review, I would like to know how I'm doing so far. And not from just one person this time either!