Ty walked back to the campsite alongside Goku. She was quiet, too deep in thought to really start any conversation, Goku seemed to sense this and decided to leave her to her solitude.

"Ahh, just in time, guys!" Hakkai smiled and took the pail of water from Ty as Goku stoked the fire and set the extra wood off to the side of the campsite. "Hey, 'Kai, are you gonna make your awesome biscuits?" He asked eagerly, coming up to sit beside Ty by the fire.

Hakkai chuckled, "Yes, in fact, I was waiting for the water to start them. The stew is simmering so it won't be too long before dinner is ready. Ty, you can just relax and do what you want. The rest of the guys here are used to camping out, so they know the drill."

"Yeah, it sucks ass! Man, why couldn't we have found a town to stay in?" Gojyo complained.

"Because, Idiot, we had to stop and wait for someone to catch up to the jeep." Sanzo remarked as he cracked a beer.

"Goddamnit! That wasn't my fault, you jackass! Ty's the one that threw me off—yell at her!" Gojyo ranted irritably at the priest.

"She threw you because you were acting like a fucking moron!" Sanzo growled.

"Don't I get a say in this?" Ty shouted over the top of them.

The two looked to her and glared. Goku and Hakkai said nothing. Hakkai continued to monitor Ty's reactions and aura. She shouldn't be this upset. So she threw Gojyo off the jeep. He didn't blame her for that. The half-breed could be a little hard to tolerate at times. No, something more specific was bothering her. "Ty, I have an idea. Why don't you go take some time and clean up? It gets awfully dusty in the jeep."

"You're not letting her get out of this that easy!" Gojyo railed at Hakkai then turned to Ty, "Why did you throw me over?"

Hakkai caught Gojyo's gaze over top of Ty's head. He leveled a look at Gojyo; it was the 'Don't Give Me a Reason to Happily Blast Your Dumb Ass' look, and followed it with a polite smile.

Gojyo interpreted it and gulped. "On second thought go clean up. I'll talk to you later." He lit up a cigarette.

It seemed like she had no choice. She grabbed her bag and headed back down to the stream feeling as if she yet again, was on the outside looking in.

When she had left Gojyo flicked a gaze over to Hakkai, "What the hell was with that look, man?"

Hakkai looked to the other three, Goku was staring at the stew, yet Hakkai knew he was listening intently. Gojyo crossed his arms in front of his chest and arched an eyebrow at him, and Sanzo looked bored.

"I could as you about the same thing." Hakki commented, "You've been rather brusque with her, Gojyo, not your usual charming self."

"She fucking THREW ME OFF THE JEEP!" Gojyo insisted, "She's obviously off her rocker!" He was sounding wounded and indignant and didn't like it at all.

"She did it because she had a headache and your pervy ass was trying to act all cool and shit!" Goku jumped fiercely into the argument in Ty's defense.

You do have crush on her, Monkey Boy!" Gojyo threw his empty beer can at the heretic.

"Quit saying that!" Goku growled and swiped at the beer can, knocking it off to the side.

"Why?" Gojyo mocked, "You guys sure looked chummy walking back here."

"GOD you're dumb!" Goku looked heavenward, "She needed help adjusting to her demonic powers, I was helping her." He snarled.

Hakkai watched the argument with interest. Gojyo was upset and insanely jealous and didn't know how to deal with it, and Goku was sticking up for Ty, meaning the younger man must have gotten to know and like her.

There was also that bit about Ty adjusting to her 'demonic powers'. That could explain the reason behind her odd behavior. The other day when they chatted she wasn't nearly as temperamental as she was today.

"Oh she did huh?" Gojyo sneered, "Did you give her a thorough going over?" He snapped crudely.

"You dirty, sick son of a—" Goku growled savagely,

"That's ENOUGH! Gojyo, shut the hell up right now, and that goes for you too, Goku." Sanzo snarled.

"Pfft—whatever, I am going for a walk." Gojyo stalked off.

"Stupid water sprite." Goku muttered.

Sanzo really didn't comment further and Hakkai looked in the direction of the stream. It had been a while and she should hopefully be done by now. "Goku, watch the food please, I'm going to speak with Ty."

Sanzo looked up at that and met Hakkai's gaze, nodding once subtly.

"Okay, but hurry back, this smells too good to wait for you guys!" He grinned.

As Hakkai walked into the trees, Sanzo was receiving some very happy signals from the monkey; whatever, the boy was strange.


Hakkai carefully made his way into the woods. He wasn't trying to sneak up on her, he just wanted to giver her as much time to herself as he could, and to observe. Also, he didn't relish walking in on her while she happened to be bathing. That was just rude, although, he was male and the thought of walking in on a nude Ty—NO! Gods, he must be hanging around with Gojyo a bit much lately.

He neared the stream and he heard not splashing, but rustling in the bushes. What in the world? He instinctively ducked down as a figure leapt over his head. He had a bolt of chi ready to fly until he saw, "Ty?"

The figure stood on a low tree branch panting slightly, "Hey Hakkai." She jumped down and came to him as he dispelled his chi.

"You gave me quite a start. Just what were you doing?"

She looked around, "I'm practicing."

Hakkai followed her gaze, "It's all right, I'm the only one here, so you won't receive any teasing. It's actually why I came out here."

"Really?" Ty quirked en eyebrow at him.

"Yeah," He chuckled and scratched the back of his neck, "Goku said you were having some difficulty with your new abilities?"

"Yeah, I guess I am trying to figure out what all I can do now that I am like this."

"I know what you mean." Hakkai said softly, "Because I used to be human as well."

"You're shittin' me." Ty asked, wide-eyed.

"No, I am not. It all started several years ago…" Hakkai told her of his story and where he met Gojyo, Sanzo, and Goku. "And so, I know a little of where you're coming from and going through, because I've had to do it myself." He laughed, "Of course I had to go shopping for some limiters first, you're lucky in that regard."

Ty was sitting on the ground with her back to a tree and legs splayed out with one bent and her arm resting on it. Hakkai was sitting against an opposite tree looking back at her. He caught her blank look and realized she was confused. "There weren't many demons in your town, was there?" He asked softly.

"No, none. I have never run into one in that town, just humans."

"Or demons you took for humans." He countered.

"How could I make that mistake?"

"Well, use me for instance. Do I look like a demon?" He questioned.

"No…"

"Can you detect my aura as a demon?" He prodded.

"Aura?"

Hakkai sighed. She truly had been sheltered. "Everyone has an aura that makes them who they are. An intangible fingerprint, if you will. Aspects of your aura are handed down through your parents and ancestors and instilled in your genes. For demons, it's a bit different, more potent if you will. Only other demons and some humans—Sanzo is one—can detect their auras when other demons are about. Yours for instance…"

"What about mine?" Ty asked, curious.

"Yours is eerily familiar. I keep trying to wrack my brain to try and figure it out, but it just keeps slipping away. I just know I have run into someone who has a similar aura."

"At least you have an idea…" She mumbled.

Hakkai got up and sat down next to her, "Excuse me?"

She looked up at him and defiantly challenged. "I don't know who my true parents are!"

"I see." Hakkai said softly, refusing to give into that tone she used. She was getting defensive and was trying to pick a fight. "Gojyo had commented that you were adopted. That's interesting, are you close with your adoptive parents?"

Ty sighed, "Not really. I've always felt like the odd one out." She stared out into the deepening twilight.

Hakkai felt her retreating into herself and didn't want that to happen. "How did you learn how to use chi?" He asked, diverting from the obviously sore subject.

"Chi?" She looked back to him, "Is that what it's called? I mean, when I shoved Kougaiji?" She also thought of her display when she confronted Bode.

"Yes, I have spent a while trying to perfect it, yet your energy wave is a bit different than mine. Possibly because you are drawing more yang due to the fact that you are a female." His brows furrowed in thought.

"Yet again I'm different?" She laughed self-depreciatingly.

Hakkai chuckled uncertainly, "Well, you are a bit of an enigma."

Ty found herself smiling, "Oh well, being normal, that would just be boring."

Hakkai laughed, "I think you have the right of it, my dear."

"So you say that you've perfected the art of chi?" Ty asked.

"Well, for the most part, but I wouldn't say perfected, I've gotten comfortable with using it."

Ty got up and looked down at him, 'Well, what are we waiting for?"

Now it was Hakkai's turn to be confused, "We?"

She grabbed his arm and hauled him to his feet, "You're going to teach me about this chi-crap."

The dark haired demon winced at her word usage. "Yes, well, this may be—"

Ty could not be swayed, however, "Nonsense! I can't have you guys bailing me out all the time. Well, not that Sanzo would, he would happily cap my ass if he had the opportunity." Ty realized she was babbling, but she was excited. She was a fighter by nature and leapt at any opportunity to learn a new technique.

"All right. I suppose it would be better than having you accidentally blast us all."


Gojyo wandered around the woods. He was still pissed at the whole group. They were taking her side when he was the wronged one here! He walked slouched with his hands in his pockets, cigarette hanging forgotten out of his mouth. Oh sure, if he admitted--only to himself mind you--he supposed he had been rather annoying. So it wasn't like she just clouted him over for the hell of it. Wait-he wasn't ready to be done being mad at her! She had closed herself off from him and that pissed him off, because how was he supposed to find out more about her if she wouldn't even look at him? Besides, it was damaging to his reputation if a female ignored him, he couldn't have that. He sighed, maybe he was what Ty would label a 'man-whore' after a comment like that.

He kicked randomly at a pebble when the hairs on his neck stood straight on end. He stopped and became instantly alert. This usually only happened when Hakkai was pulling some serious chi. What the hell? Gojyo grinned to himself, was 'chi-blasted demon' on the menu for tonight before dinner? He summoned his shakujou and crashed through the brush; he'd been spoiling for a fight so that demon had better be...

...Ty summoning energy? He skidded to a stop at the picture in front of him about 40 feet. Ty was in a cross-legged position with Hakkai's knees touching hers-mirroring her position. Their palms entertwined in between them and they gazed steadily into each other's eyes. Fucking great, now Hakkai was hittin on her? He loudly cleared his throat and rattled the chain on his weapon before dispelling it. "Am I interrupting anything?"

Hakkai looked up, startled at the noise, "Oh, Gojyo! I didn't hear you approach."