One of my shorter chapters… I think… I really don't know anymore. I don't want to overload my readers with so much to catch up on. Hope you enjoy this chapter…

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Saiyuki, only to this fanfiction. All original characters made for this story are mine as well as the storyline itself.

Chapter Twenty-One: Keep Heading Westward

Suki appeared in front of Gyokumen Kousho. "What is it?" the concubine demanded.

"One down. Six to go."

"Excellent, but you're taking too long."

Suki nodded then left the room heading to her own. She had wounds to take care of. Kougaiji saw Suki go into the medical ward o get some wounds treated and followed her. "Where were you?" he asked crossing his arms.

Suki was sitting there getting her wounds wrapped. She was holding an ice pad around her gut where Goku had hit her. "I had to do something for Gyokumen." She said monotone. Kougaiji seemed to burn a hole through her head and scoffed. "I see...well, give notice next time" he simply said and watched her from the doorway.

Suki looked over at Kougaiji, why was he just standing there? The one dressing her wounds patted her on the knee. "Barely a scratch… aside from the bullet wound. The bruising will go away soon."

"Hmph, stupid brat." She stood up throwing the ice pack down. "I'll get him yet."

Kougaiji heard her say brat and narrowed his eyes. "A kid did that to you?" he asked. It couldn't just be any old brat for those bruises… or the gunshot wound that was being dressed on her leg.

Suki looked over at Kougaiji. "Wasn't just any brat... it was Sanzo's stupid pet. Goku, I think that's his name."

Kougaiji shook his head and walked over to sit next to her. "Well, you have the name right. He's pretty damn strong...you got out very lucky" he told her.

"Brother!!" Lirin yelled from down the hall. She bounded in the room and saluted him. "Someone is here for Suki Suki!" she said. "And he's cute too!" she added and went back down the hall.

"Bringing home your prey now?" he asked with a smirk and stood up.

Suki turned her head towards Lirin. "That must be Renjiro" she said standing up. He had his own place to sleep. She left the room going out to Renjiro. "With that bitch dead Goku might be vulnerable. They were almost like an item" he said.

"Did you stay and watch or something?"

"Yes..."

Kougaiji walked out the room and looked to Renjiro. "Suki...we have work to do in the morning. You need some sleep" he told her and walked off. "Bye Suki Suki!" Lirin said following her big brother.

Renjiro smirked, not wanting to say what was on his mind. "Remember if you're going to kill one of them you better do it while he's still upset." He then disappeared. Sighing Suki moved into her room and crawled under her covers to sleep.

The next morning Sanzo woke up, and got dressed. As soon as the ceremony was over they were going to leave. They still had a mission to do.

Mayumi dressed in the kimono Sanzo had bought her not so long ago and had her hair in a high ponytail. This was just for Kiora, she always said she should try and make her beauty come out. She smiled to herself, knowing that she wasn't sad for Kiora. She was happy. All the people she had loved before Goku, she could be with them now.

Goku himself was dressed normally. He saw no reason to get all formal, Kiora liked him being himself. The priests had Kiora dressed in a formal kimono, one that matched her violet eyes and laid her to look as if she were sleeping. She looked peaceful and as if she would wake up and ask where the food was or if they were there yet.

Hakkai and Ming were up and ready, for the ceremony and to leave afterwards.

Gojyo sat next to Goku and Sanzo sat on the other side of him. His arms crossed over his chest slightly, his hands resting in the sleeves. He looked over at Mayumi. She actually dressed up for this? Not that he was going to say anything, she did look good. Ming sat down looking over at Kiora. She hated kimonos, but she too wasn't going to say anything. She looked so at rest, everything seemed a bit perfect. The priest stood in front of them all, and began to preach about life or death. To Sanzo it sounded like blah blah blah.

Mayumi was waiting for him to stop speaking...life and death. Yeah, it happened. It was inevitable. Next!

Once he was finished, her master said a few words about Kiora and then prayed over her body. That was more entertaining; at least he said something worth hearing.

Goku was watching, all while looking at Kiora. The kimono was pretty enough, but maybe she should have been in her usual pants and tank top. She loved those kinds of clothes in life.

"Mayumi? Would you like to say anything?' her master asked. She blushed and looked up at him. "Well..." she stood up and prayed over Kiora's body then placed what was left of her necklace in her hands. She did all she could to fix it, the only thing missing was the original essence that was previously inside of it. She sat down and sighed sadly. She would miss Kiora.

Hakkai smiled and pat Goku on the shoulder in comfort. He seemed to be a little but happier by seeing the kind gesture Mayumi did.

Soon the ceremony was over. There was a table filled with food. There were meat buns and a lot of Goku's favorites along with some apples one of Kiora's favorite fruits. Sanzo stood. "Goku, if you're hungry eat now, we'll be leaving soon." The last part was to everyone in the group. He wasn't all that hungry and felt that the food was going to go to waste.

Ming placed a hand on Goku's shoulder. "She wouldn't want you to be down like this. Be happy, Goku, she's with her mother now" she said, hoping her words were actually sounded better to him than it did to her. She sighed silently.

Goku nodded and started to eat. A lot slower than usual but he did eat just as much. Ming was right; she would hate to see him this way. It was probably best that he moved on, he couldn't be stuck on her. But he was and that wasn't going to change for awhile. He told Kimi, Kiora's friend whom he had met the other day when they were plotting against Gojyo, that morning before they started the funeral and she was about as upset as he was. He told her to put on a smile and to be happy that Kiora was finally with the people she wanted to be with. He had to take that and other's advice.

Hakkai ate and glanced over at the earth child. He was putting on a brave face for everyone, including himself and he admired it. If this had happened to him… a brave face wouldn't even be an option for him.

Sanzo waited for Goku to finish eating. He sure did eat a lot more than he had expected him to. His arms fell to his sides as he watched Goku eat. He was glad that he still had his appetite. As soon as Goku was finished eating he turned to the rest of the group. "We're leaving now" he said, walking out of the room.

The monks were placing Kiora's body with a casket, and then they would take her to the temple. They already knew where the temple was, it was a famous temple thanks to Hatsue. He turned to Goku. "When we finish our mission I'm sure you can go visit Kiora" he said while waiting for Hakkai and Hakuryuu.

Hakkai finished his food and went outside to let his pet turn into jeep. "Alright, everyone" he said waving to them. Goku looked up at Sanzo after eating and truly smiled for the first time in nearly a day. "Really? Thanks Sanzo" he said and jumped into jeep. Ming got into jeep sitting in her normal spot. There was enough room in jeep for them now, though it was a lot quieter without Kiora around. Usually her and Goku were talking by now, plotting or whatever they did.

Mayumi walked next to Sanzo and leaned on him slightly. "When he finally is at peace with this, do you think he'll be the same?" she asked. She had never seen him unhappy before and only for short amounts of time when he was. Sanzo looked over at Mayumi and nodded slightly. "I believe he'll be back to his old self in no time. He bounces back pretty well." Sanzo waited for Mayumi to get into jeep before getting in himself.

Hakkai drove away from the temple, every so often glancing in the rearview mirror at Goku. No arguing for today probably, but when he bounced back it would be like normal again. "I already looked at where the next town is Sanzo. We should be there by tomorrow" he said. Mayumi was staring at the village and snapped out of it hearing the words "there" and "tomorrow" in the same sentence. "We need to stay on our guard" she told him. Hakkai nodded, knowing full well the terror alert was at an all time high.

Sanzo sat back in his seat. "By tomorrow eh?" They weren't going to the town where Kimi was, obviously the plan was off and done with. It wouldn't be as much fun to do without Kiora. Gojyo pulled out a cigarette and began to smoke it. He looked over at Goku, who looked like he was tired. "Did you sleep at all last night Goku?" he asked.

Ming looked over at Goku and Gojyo, glaring a bit at Gojyo. "Leave him alone." Gojyo scoffed looking away a bit. The one time he showed concern… damn blondie…

Goku sighed and smiled at Ming. "It's okay...he's right. I didn't...the rain kept me up" he lied, but he did it well. Everyone knew he was still grieving over Kiora, rain didn't bother him much. He really wanted to pull off that plan he had in mind but Kiora wasn't going to be there to watch the kappa get turned down. He was going to do a make up prank in her honor later on. He smiled at that and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes. He was tired and needed his rest.

Gojyo nodded, turning to look outside. The trip today was going to boring, there was going to be no fighting with Goku, there would be no fighting with him for a while. He sighed, slightly, taking a long drag on his cigarette. Sanzo pulled out his pack of smokes, lighting a cigarette, and taking a long drag. He really needed that cigarette.

Mayumi sighed and took out a beer she had been saving and drank from it. Hard liquor really hit the spot when you needed it. Hakkai sighed and noticed Ming writing down in a notebook again. Probably trying to make up for the one she lost a while back. He would help her but later. Right now his driving was more important and he also had to feed chi every so often to Hakuryuu.

Ming was writing down in her older journal, she had heard from Mayumi about the spider demon. She wanted to see it for herself, but she couldn't put herself, let alone her baby in such dangerous places. She then stopped scribbling into the book to look up. Sanzo flicked some ashes out of the car, looking ahead of him; the quiet was beginning to annoy him. Usually he wished for this kind of peace… but he never thought there would be a day when it actually happened.

Mayumi drank more of her beer, every so often making Gojyo pass her one. She was starting to feel a buzz and hiccupped a bit before drinking some more. She could hold her liquor for awhile. It was so boring in the jeep, she couldn't help it. Sanzo looked over at Mayumi. What was she doing? She was getting drunk. He took a beer out of her hand to drink it himself. When she asked for another Gojyo didn't hand her one. "I'm cutting you off. You've had too much." Ming chuckled slightly, now this was going to be interesting.

Mayumi growled and glared at him. "Give me a fucking beer now!" she yelled at him. No one...touched...her...beer, damnit. "You can't cut me off! As many times as you all get drunk you have nerve!" she said angrily. Hakkai sweatdropped and watched this in amusement as he drove. This was unexpected, Mayumi hardly ever drank that much. Something must have been bothering her.

Gojyo glared at her. "You're drinking all my damn beers!" he yelled back at her. "I can cut you off if I want to."

"They're my beers, you idiot. Who paid for them?" Sanzo shouted back at him.

"Certainly not you!" Gojyo yelled at the monk. Sanzo glared daggers, taking his banishing gun out.

"Give her the fucking beer!"

Gojyo handed it to her. "And you. That is your last!" He then turned back around.

Mayumi smiled like a kid in a candy store and drank it slowly. "Beer..." she said hugging the can and then drinking from it some more. Hakkai laughed, she was actually drunk already just not terribly drunk yet.

She looked over at Sanzo and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sanzo? How about here in the car?" she asked, her words slightly slurred. Ming was staring at Mayumi. She wasn't all that scary when she was drunk... at least not when she was happy like that. She turned away to look out of the window.

Sanzo stared at Mayumi, un-wrapping her arms from around his neck. "No, you're drunk. Let go." Gojyo laughed, Sanzo wasn't going to get out of that this easy.

Mayumi wrapped her arms around him again and pushed her breasts against his chest. "Come on Sanzo, they won't mind" she said staring at him through droopy eyes.

Hakkai laughed and glanced over. "You're on your own, I do not know how to deal with that" he said to the monk. Thankfully Goku was still asleep or else he would be laughing at this, no matter how depressed he was.

Sanzo glared at Hakkai. "Someone get her off me."

"No go ahead Sanzo. We'd love to watch." Gojyo said, blowing out some smoke.

"Mayumi, get off me." He pushed her away a bit. Is this how she was when she was drunk? He'd have to take a note of that, but right now wasn't the time nor the place.

Mayumi pouted and looked at him angrily. "I get what I want damnit" she said reaching for him and falling in his lap.

Hakkai snickered at their current position. "Oh my Sanzo, I didn't know you and Mayumi were that intimate" he said teasing the pissed monk.

Mayumi lifted her head and blinked quickly looking at him. "Why not?" she asked with a pout face. Then she grabbed him through his robes playfully and laughed while hiccupping a little.

Sanzo was growing agitated damn she was persistent. "Not everyone always gets what they want." He felt Mayumi fall into his lap. His hand moved to his face, almost slapping himself in the forehead. "Mayumi get up."

Gojyo was laughing hard by this time. This was priceless, where was a camera when one needed it? Ming was sitting there not really saying anything in fear she would get killed.

"This is not the time nor the place..." Soon she grabbed him, this was going too far. He grabbed her placing her back into her seat, pushing her closer to Hakkai.

Hakkai kept driving afraid of the drunk priestess. Who was to say she didn't go to other men when she was drunk? Mayumi looked back at Gojyo and waved at him. "Come up here with me!" she said happily.

Hakkai nearly fell out of jeep at that and pulled her back. "No Mayumi, you hate perverts" he told her. "No, I LOVE perverts!" she said throwing her arms in the air. He sweatdropped and continued to drive. "She's all yours Sanzo" he said.

Sanzo glared back at Gojyo. Gojyo rubbed the back of his head. "I don't think that's a good idea, Mayumi." Gojyo said, slouching down in his seat.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Sanzo asked, covering his face again.

Mayumi looked over at Sanzo and leaned on his shoulder. "I'm sleepy Sanzo-kun..." she said in a soft and yawned. She always fell asleep after getting drunk for awhile.

Soon Mayumi was resting her head on his shoulder. At least she was done trying to get sex from him. "Then go to sleep" he suggested. The monk now officially had a headache.

That same morning at the demon palace of Gyumao, Suki woke up, getting dressed in a tank top that showed a bit of her midriffs and a pair of baggy black jeans with a studded belt. She pulled on a trench coat over the tank top and walked out of her room. What was it that Kougaiji had planned today?

Kougaiji was waiting with Yaone, Lirin, and Dokugakuji at the front doors. "Alright, the Sanzo party is on their way to a town not far from here. We'll go and wait in surprise for them and gather information on the sutras as well" he explained to them once Suki made it. Suki had a bit of make-up on her face, covering a bruise by her mouth. She also had a bit of a busted lip. She thought she looked ugly. "That's all? We're just gathering information? Why not kill them?!" She wanted to get her hands on that monkey.

Kougaiji sighed and began to walk off. "It seems we underestimate them a little too much at times. Information is more important then we will attack afterwards" he said to her trying to calm her down.

Suki glared at Kougaiji. "I can take them..." She was being egotistical. "I can take them all." She made a fist.

Kougaiji smirked and looked at her. "I think your wounds are proof that we underestimate them. Now if Goku was to take off that diadem, you wouldn't be here right now" he said to her. Lirin jumped on his back and he started to walk with his little sister hanging on. "To the Sanzo party!" she said happily.

Suki was still glaring. "I could take him..." she said to herself. She then followed after the group to 'study' the Sanzo party. This was going to be the most boring day ever.

Hakkai nodded and drove until he saw the shelter of some trees. It would protect them in case it rained and also from the heat. He pulled over and emptied the jeep of their supplies with Gojyo and Goku's (who had just recently woken up) help. Sanzo was carrying Mayumi since she was so tired she couldn't get up when he nudged her earlier. "I'll make something to eat" he said setting up. The wood wasn't far away and he could easily get to it. Goku and Gojyo set up tents in silence; he didn't even attempt to argue.

Sanzo got out and held Mayumi in his arms. Now he needed a place to dump her off, he thought he should help this time. He placed her down, letting her lean against a tree. Then he moved over to help set up the tents. They had enough tents for everyone for people to share. Soon the camp was set up, they had a fire going and Hakkai was fixing supper for them all. Hopefully it was something good and enough for everyone and the bottomless pit to eat.

Goku was staring at the food hungrily. "Is it done yet?" he asked Hakkai. The youkai winced, not wanting to hear those words but smiled at him. "Almost, just a while longer" he replied. Damn, that recovery was quick. Ming smiled. Goku was back to his old self again. Or at least she hoped. It wasn't good to hang onto ones feelings like that. It'll damage people.

Mayumi woke up slowly and yawned then a pain hit her in the head. "Ow..." she mumbled. A hangover...what had she done while in jeep?

Sanzo turned to look at Mayumi. She was finally awake. It also looked like she had as big of a headache as him. Oh well, she'd live.

"Is the food done yet?" This time it was Gojyo. He was hungry as well.

Hakkai smiled and started to make plates for everyone. "Yes actually" he said. Now all of his hard work was going to be eaten up. And probably in record time by Goku and Gojyo who both looked hungry as hell. He passed them their plates and they began to eat like they hadn't in...well, probably never.

Mayumi took her plate and tried to chase away her handover with an aspirin before she started eating.

Ming took her plate eating slowly. Hakkai was a good cook when he did cook. She really enjoyed it. Sanzo took his plate, eating at a normal place. Of course he was hungry but he wasn't about to outdo Goku, no one could do that, maybe except for Kiora. Gojyo went up for seconds, he was going to eat good tonight. He didn't care if he was going against Goku he would eat and eat and eat maybe until he puked if he had too.

Goku was already on his third bowl when he grabbed the last piece of fruit and stuffed it in his mouth. "Ha!" he said to Gojyo and began to eat some more. He was hungry like hell and the kappa wasn't going to outdo him, not by a long shot. Hakkai and Mayumi exchanged glances at each other and watched as they ate. Both of them found that interesting to gaze at.

Gojyo glared at Goku. "Hey! Pig boy! Stop eating all our damn food!" he yelled throwing his plate onto the ground. Sanzo stood up, shaking his head and moved into one of the three tents. It was already dark and they needed to get some sleep before they left in the morning.

Ming picked up Gojyo's plate and placed her own on top of it. "Stop throwing things." she said. "Stop acting like a child. How old are you again?"

Goku blinked and grinned. "I think he's about five" he commented and ate the last of his fourth bowl. Then he put it with the other plates. Hakkai chuckled and started to collect the supplies. "I must agree with Goku for once Gojyo, sorry" he said with a smile. Goku stuck his tongue out at Gojyo and darted into a tent. He was going to be stuck with the kappa again probably but he was going to get the better part of the tent.

Gojyo glared as Goku moved to the tent. "I am not five!" He stomped off towards the tent. "You're sleeping by the entrance!" He yelled as he moved into their tent.

Ming shook her head. "They act like siblings, always fighting. I can't really tell you starts it..." It was probably Gojyo who liked to start the fights but either way it was childish. She stood up and stretched.

Hakkai chuckled as he saw their silhouettes moving in the tent fighting over who was sleeping where. "I think it's equal Mingmei, but then again it's all so entertaining" he said putting away their supplies and going into the empty tent. "Come on, we have to get up early" he told her opening the entrance for her.

Ming nodded following after Hakkai. Once inside of the tent she zipped it up and sat down on one of the mats. Her wings twitched slightly underneath the outfit she was wearing. They needed to stretched, she'd let them do that after Hakkai turned out the light. After all it was still noticeable to anyone that walked by.

Mayumi sighed and went into the tent with Sanzo and zipped it up. "I swear, what a bunch of childish friends you have" she commented and sat down on a rice mat taking out a hidden bottle of sake and taking a gulp. Sanzo looked over to her then went back to lighting a lantern that lit the tent up. He then lay down on his back. "You get used to it after so long."

Mayumi sighed and drank more of her sake; flush coming over her cheeks after half the bottle had been downed. "I guess you're right, I haven't shot at them lately" she said.

Sanzo lit up a cigarette, taking a long drag from the stick. He sighed moving back to his feet. "I saw a lake not too far from here. You can sit here and drink if you want I'm going to take a bath." He announced a loud unzipping the tent and walking out.

Mayumi drunk the rest of her stolen sake and stood up. "Wait for me!" she yelled and walked after him, stumbling a bit in her sandals. That was very strong sake to get her in one bottle. She never learned her lesson with some things and that was one of them.

Sanzo looked back seeing Mayumi following him. He continued on, finally coming upon a lake. He kicked off his sandals and socks placing a foot into the water. It was a bit cold. Oh well. He pulled off his clothes and got into the water.

Mayumi stared at the water and then took off her clothes quickly. "I love water" she said softly and stepped in enough so that the water level stopped at her neck. Her hair seemed to surround her face like a black curtain as she wet it with her hands. The sake was calming down, she would have to swim it off.

Sanzo rested his arms on the surface resting like you would in a bath. He eyed Mayumi who was wetting her hair. He placed his cigarette down on the ground going under the water. Coming back up a bit later he ran his hand through his wet hair.

Mayumi watched Sanzo and went under the water to swim. She resurfaced in front of him a minute later and eyed his cigarette reaching her hand over for it. "How about you share that?" she said placing a finger on it.

Sanzo looked at Mayumi, then turned to look at his cigarette. "You only get one puff." He told her waiting for her to take the cigarette. He wouldn't share much of the cigarette with her.

Mayumi took it and got a puff on it but put it out in the water once she was done and smiled at him. "I took a puff just like you told me" she said and swam under the water, getting away before he could choke her to death.

Sanzo growled picking up the cigarette out of the water. He flicked the useless stick away from him. "Now you get it." He waited until she surfaced. Mayumi stayed under water for as long as she could, which was a while until she surfaced coughing and getting air. Damnit, the sutra could have helped her if she had it with her. But it was with her clothes on the shore. "Sanzo...be reasonable" she said backing away from him.

Sanzo glared at her, grabbing her hands. He turned her so that her back was against his chest and crossed her arms over her chest putting her arms in the position they would be if she was wearing a straightjacket. "I'm past reasoning."

Mayumi tried to get out of his grip and kicked under the water although it was futile. "It was just a cigarette!" she said pouting. Damnit, those were the wrong words to say. If it was hers, she would kill someone as well.

"Just a cigarette?" He said, leaning down to the nape of her neck. "I'm going to make you pay since I don't have any other cigarettes with me." He nipped lightly.

Mayumi gasped and tried to pry away from him. "I'll give you mine once we go back. Just don't do anything you'll regret monk" she said through clenched teeth. He liked to punish in a very different way for her and she never agreed to it at first. She wasn't going to now.

"I don't like your cigarettes." Sanzo sighed letting her arms go then leaned against the shoreline, staring at her.

Mayumi stared at him as he leaned against the shore and swam over to him cautiously. "I know you're planning something but I'll let it go" she said going under water and back to the deep part, washing herself as much as she could when she surfaced.

Sanzo stared at Mayumi, eyes narrowed. "I'm not planning anything." He felt he had soaked enough. He began to get out of the lake.

Mayumi watched him as he got out and followed after him standing up and letting the water drip off her. "Well, I know you Sanzo. I know how you plot against those who piss you off and hide it well. I'm watching you...and if you touch my hair I'll kill you unlike Gojyo" she said picking up her clothes and changing back into them.

Sanzo got dressed; straightening out his robes then looked up at Mayumi. "I'm not going to chop off your hair" he said with a slight chuckle imaging Mayumi with short man like hair.

Mayumi turned to look at him as he chuckled and walked off. When he did that, he was thinking something horrible. She loved her hair almost as much as beer and cigarettes. She went back into the tent laying down on her rice mat and turning on her side so she wouldn't face him.

Sanzo followed her and sat down on his mat. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it watching Mayumi through the slight darkness. He had a plan all right but he couldn't go on with it yet. He sighed laying down on his side, turning away from her as well. Later that night, he moved closer to her and kissed her neck gently. She whimpered slightly and tried to move away from him. "Stop it… Sanzo… no…"

"Oh yes… I think you owe me a good fuck… maybe two…"

So of course, he proceeded to give her just that. It was a wonder that everyone stayed asleep; the woman was louder than usual.