Disclaimer standardization and globalization *wonders if it actually is something to ponder on*

*****

Hakkai raced through the forest with Gojyo beside him. He had made sure Goku was running back to the cabin before he and his best friend followed the source of the scream - or more accurately, the source of the youki. It had been steadily growing the longer they ran, and they hadn't heard another scream since.

He jumped over a protruding root and glanced at his best friend. Gojyo was pushing low branches away from his face, cursing when one of them snapped back into him. Hakkai kept a smile to himself when a thicker branch threw Gojyo back a step or two.

"Perhaps it would be better if you cut them down instead of run through them," He suggested as the redhead quickly recovered their matching pace. "You wouldn't have to be slapped every once in a while."

"Chi. Carrying a long weapon like that while running in between too many damning trees-" He jumped over a root while ducking under a low-hanging branch. "-standing too damning close would just tangle everything."

"Hai, sou desu."

The two of them kept running, the increasing sense of youki urging them to go faster. It wouldn't be long before-

Hakkai quickly called up a ki barrier as soon as he saw the incoming spheres - his mind falling back into its ki-conjuring patterns reflexively. The impact of the water-globes jarred his hands up to his shoulders but he maintained the barrier.

Gojyo screamed a battle cry as he surged past, flinging his shakujou outward. The crescent blade flew in between the trees - decapitating the shimmering tendril before it could fling more of the spheres at them.

It burst into shards as soon as it parted from the rest of its body, showering them with the sharp pieces. Only Hakkai's ki barrier prevented any from actually meeting flesh.

"Messy youkai." Gojyo muttered, expertly recalling his blade with a flick of the wrist.

Hakkai laughed lightly and chucked ki balls in the direction of the tendril, providing enough cover for Gojyo to charge ahead. More coral shards scattered on the ground around his feet. Very messy youkai indeed. He was about to follow after the half-breed when a thought struck him.

The green-eyed youkai glanced down at the grass beneath him where dull gray shards interspersed among the green blades in no seeming order, most with great distances in between. Hakkai frowned and bent to take a closer look at the ground. The grass blades waved straight as they were blown by the wind. The tree trunks surrounding them were free of any marks other than those he or Gojyo had caused.

If Chen Ming had been battling the youkai, shouldn't there be more of the shards? And if so, where were the signs of battle? And where was Chen Ming?

"O-oi Hakkai!" Gojyo's call interrupted his thoughts. "Are you just going to sit there, staring?"

"Hai! Wakarimashita!" He sprinted after the half-breed's voice, pausing only to let a crescent blade whip past him and into the glimmering 'lake dragon.' As before, he kept sending ki balls at the base of the tendrils, not seeing any head or much of a body to aim for. It was nothing but vines, all made of what looked like plain water. Plain water that turns into coral shards when separated.

He ducked to avoid one that swung low, tossing a ki ball behind it almost like an afterthought. Gojyo was energetically swinging his shakujou here and there, speedily reducing the number of tendrils that attacked them. But there were still too many left.

"Yare yare desu ne," he sighed and prepared himself for a long fight.

***

Sanzo had just finished checking on his Smith & Wesson when he heard the footsteps outside his door. Too slow to be Goku's. Too light to be Hakkai's. And he sure as hell knew Gojyo'd never conserve his ganging walk unless he was sneaking. That left only one person. He whirled to point the barrel of the gun at the door just as it swung open.

Chen Ming paused at the sight of the gun. "You're awake."

"Obviously."

"I wasn't expecting you to have recovered so quickly."

"Hn." His aim never wavered; despite the dull throbbing in his head.

"There's no need for the gun, Sanzo-san." She set down the bucket she was holding. Sanzo heard water sloshing.

He cocked the hammer in response. "I don't think so. Youkai."

Her gaze hardened at his word. "I don't see how you could know the truth, Genjo Sanzo."

"There are holes in your story."

"Are there?" A corner of her mouth turned up before curling back from her teeth in a sneer. "Humans are idiots. They meet someone who saves them and never ask questions." She clasped her right wrist and tugged off the silver bracelet hidden there. "So I never bothered to change my story."

Her voice lowered to an almost growl. Her ears lengthened, as did her nails. The sudden chill in the air strengthened the sharp sense of youki.

Damn youkai.

*****

A/N: So sorry the last chapter was so short. I was too used to using only one POV in one chapter *sheepish grin* So I went and hurried up with this - or at least tried to. You know, this whole thing actually seemed longer when I continued it on my PDA…