Psycho-CJ: Looks like we have another chapter, this time we get some action and there is a lot of angst at the end.

Raven: You do enjoy tormenting me, don't you?

Psycho-CJ: (smile) Of course not.

Goku: She doesn't own Saiyuki...

Evan: She does own my companions and I...for now.

Psycho-CJ: I told you a creation can't gain their own legal rights.

Evan: We'll let the courts decide. (Psycho-CJ sighs).

Psycho-CJ: And Pixie this is all new material, hahaha, you're not going to know what happens!

XxxXxxX

Chapter 17: Confrontation

"This place is spooky," Goku whines, grasping onto Sanzo's sleeve. The monk swats Goku's hand away.

"Don't worry Goku, if there are any zombies around here they won't harass you because you don't have a brain," Evan laughs.

"Then the same should go for you," Sanzo retorts. Evan glares at him, then smiles.

"At least I won't be zombie food. I feel sorry for the zombies who eat you. It would be like eating a pack of cigarettes."

"I doubt Sanzo would go down without a fight," Cassandra replies. Evan suddenly looks at her, then shakes his head.

"You've been awfully quiet since we got here," Evan announces.

"Have I?" she answers. "I must have some things on my mind. Don't worry about me," she waves him off. She abruptly stops when they reach a door, placing her hand on her necklace then she turns to Evan. "Raven wants us to wait here until he finds us."

"I'm sure we can handle whatever is behind this door," Evan reaches for the doorknob, but Cassandra violently grabs his wrist.

"No!" she yells. Evan slaps her hand away.

"What's wrong with you?" Evan snaps, he then looks away. "That hurt," Evan whispers, as he rubs his red wrist.

"Then maybe you should listen to me next time," Cassandra hisses. Evan bites his lip as he looks at the floor.

What's her problem? Evan wonders. It's not like her to be such a bitch. She's starting to sound like Lamya. He sits down on the floor, wrapping his arms around his knees. "Raven better hurry up. It's almost midnight, I'm starting to run out of time."

"You have all the time in the world, stop being impatient," Cassandra mutters.

She doesn't even care, Evan realizes. She knows how much I hate it when it happens, but she doesn't give a damn. He closes his eyes, wanting to shut down. I guess the only one who cares about me is Raven...

"Hey, Evan" Goku pops in front of him. "When this is all over, can you and Raven make us a feast?" Goku asks.

"As long as Cassandra stays out of the kitchen," Evan smiles, his eyes falling on the blonde. She doesn't even look at him or give him a witty response. Why is she mad at me?

"That sweet smell is making me hungry," Goku clenches his stomach.

"Now you're imagining things," Sanzo replies, lighting a cigarette.

"Can I look to see where it is coming from?" Goku asks. "It's smells familiar."

"Request denied," Sanzo replies.

"But we're not doing anything!" Goku whines.

"We're waiting."

"But I'm hungry!"

"Whose fault is it for eating all the food Evan packed?" Sanzo counters.

"Actually, I lied when I said we were out of food," Evan pulls out a bag of chips from his backpack and tosses it to Goku. "Make it last, it's the last of it," but Goku has already ate the whole bag.

"Do you have anymore?" Goku asks, his eyes lighting up.

"No, " Evan sighs. "Now I'm hungry."

"Idiots," Sanzo mutters.

XxxXxxX

"This place is huge!" Warner gasps. "Damn, why can't Daycarthro ever make us a place like this."

"As if the place we live in isn't big enough," Raven replies.

"I don't get why Sanzo, Goku, Cassandra and Evan would waltz into a place like this," Gojyo says, as he swats a cobweb away. "Are you sure you saw them come here?" Gojyo asks Hakkai.

"Quite certain," Hakkai smiles. They reach a corridor, both sides looking the same. Raven closes his eyes, trying to pick up on Cassandra's essence. He suddenly opens his eyes.

"That's weird," he whispers.

"I hate it when you say that," Warner backs away from him, knowing it can only be bad news.

"Her essence is strong in that direction," he tilts his head to his right. "But I can faintly sense her in this direction as well and there is also a few more people, but they're essences are too weak for me to distinguish them."

"If she fought someone there, that would explain why there are two," Warner notes.

"I suppose," Raven says thoughtfully, his eyes search the left path for anything to help him figure out the dilemma.

"I'm sure Sanzo and Goku are this way," Hakkai replies.

"Kyuu," Hakuryuu flies around him.

"Will you stop that?" Hakkai asks, waving Hakuryuu away.

"Kyuu?" Hakuryuu pouts, before landing on Raven's shoulder.

"He was just telling you he agrees," Raven informs Hakkai. "Thanks Hakuryuu for trying to help." He pets Hakuryuu.

"Kyuu," Hakuryuu sighs.

"I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it. He's probably worried about Sanzo and Goku."

"Oh, the boy and his pet, it's so cute," Warner mocks.

"But not as funny as a certain incident I know about," Raven smirks.

"You promised you wouldn't say anything!" Warner snaps.

"I haven't said a word, but keep this up and I might let something...slip."

"You have been hanging around Evan a little too much," Warner mutters. Suddenly Warner stops in mid-step. "Speaking of demon child, what is today?" Warner softly asks.

"Friday," Raven replies.

"Then..." Warner gasps.

"Yes, as soon as it hits midnight," Raven runs his fingers through his hair, not liking the situation. "If we are lucky it will happen after the fight and not during."

"Or before," Warner smiles.

"Doubtful."

"I don't get it," Gojyo cuts in. "What happens at midnight?"

"Evan..." Warner begins, but Raven steps in.

"It's nothing for you to be concerned about," Raven replies. "Hurry, the sooner we find them, the sooner we can get this over with." Raven breaks into a run, forcing Warner, Gojyo and Hakkai to follow him.

XxxXxxX

Ten minutes have passed since Sanzo, Cassandra, Goku and Evan decided to wait for Raven to find them. Goku keeps whining about being hungry, Sanzo keeps smacking him, while Cassandra has been oddly quiet the whole time. Evan seems to have shut down, not even responding to Goku's complaints or Sanzo's threats to kill the ape if he doesn't shut up. The boy's eyes appear to focus and he looks down the hall. A smile plays on his lips and without another word he disappears from sight.

"Sanzo, where did he go?" Goku asks.

"How am I supposed to know?" Sanzo retorts. Cassandra lowers her eyes as she looks down the hall. Sounds like they are finally here.

XxxXxxX

"We're close," Raven concludes. They turn a corner, only for something to slam into the Hybrid, sending him flat on his back.

"Hi, big brother, did you miss me?" Evan asks, sitting on Raven. The Hybrid glances at his brother, relief washing over his face.

"Are you okay?" Raven asks, rubbing the back of his head.

"Yeah," Evan replies, surprised Raven isn't yelling at him like he usually does.

"Good," Raven smiles at Evan and ruffles his hair. Evan bites his lip then gets off of Raven.

"Oh, it's so beautiful," Warner acts like he is crying.

"The two brothers have finally been reunited," Gojyo pretends to wipe a tear away. Raven glares at both of them and quickly jumps to his feet.

"Are you getting along with your new boyfriend?" Evan asks, glancing at the blond then the red-hair.

"You little—" Warner begins, clenching his fists.

"Now is not the time," Hakkai replies, walking away from them. Gojyo stares at his friend, wondering why he is being so serious.

"Hey, Hakkai?" Gojyo asks, running after his friend, Warner also follows him.

"Is Cassandra and the others with you?" Raven asks, following Gojyo and Hakkai.

"You should know, you were the one who told us to wait here," Evan throws back. Raven looks at his brother strangely.

"I haven't talk to you since…"

"Raven!" Cassandra calls, running towards him. She throws her arms around his neck and plants a firm kiss on his lips.

"Hakkai! Gojyo!" Goku races to them.

"Hey bakasaru, miss us?" Gojyo smirks.

"I'm not a bakasaru," Goku yells.

"Urusai!" Sanzo snaps, smacking both of them.

"Hey, Raven ever heard of coming up for air?" Warner asks, seeing how long Cassandra has been kissing him. Raven steps back from her, a slight blush crossing his cheeks.

"Aw, Waven's bwushing!" Warner and Evan sing.

"Whatever," Raven replies. "That was...unusual," Raven whispers to her. It's the first time she has ever kissed him like that, usually she is gentle and it's not often she will kiss in front of others.

"I'm just happy to see you." She grabs his hand and pulls him over to the door. For some reason Raven has this odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something doesn't feel right about her. But her essence feels the same and her physical appearance hasn't changed as well—something is off about her and he can't put his finger on it.

"Are you ready everyone?" Hakkai asks, that smile still plastered on his face.

"Let's kick his butt!" Goku cheers, summoning nyoibou.

"He's going to wish he never met me," Sanzo growls, cocking his gun.

"Time to get back at him for sending the chibis and fangirls after me," Gojyo takes out his shakujou.

"I don't know about this," Raven finally says. "Something is wrong about this place," that voice in the back of his head is screaming danger.

"I'm sure everything will be fine," Cassandra smiles at him. Raven pulls his hand away from her, a sinking feeling entering his stomach. "What's wrong with you?"

"Raven, now is not the time to have a domestic dispute," Gojyo adds.

It's her, isn't it? Raven wonders. It has to be her. You can't copy someone's essence and I don't feel a dark presence inside of her like I did with Dean. Then why is my heart racing?

"Get ready," Hakkai says as he opens the door.

"Don't!" Raven yells, grabbing Hakkai's arm. The door swings open and before them is a vast room. Everyone peers inside, but the room is completely empty.

"See Raven," Warner laughs, "freaking out over nothing." Raven bites his lip.

"Shut up Warner," Evan snaps. "If Raven says something isn't right, I'm going to listen to him." Evan places his hands together and he casts a light spell, a knife made out of light appears in his hands.

"Daycarthro should be around here," Cassandra says as she steps into the room. Raven follows her, watching every move she makes.

"Kyuu?" Hakuryuu asks.

"Oh, Daycarthro! Where are you?" Warner sings.

"Stop that," Evan hisses.

"The suspense is killing me. After everything we've been through, he doesn't even have the decency to welcome us," Warner complains.

A flash of light bursts forth in front of them. Everyone steps back when a dimensional portal opens up in the room. Daycarthro steps out of it, his staff in hand as he looks at each of them.

"It appears all of you have survived the obstacles I've set up for you. I hope you were as entertained with them as much as I was."

"You are one twisted bastard. Whatever happened to redeeming yourself?" Evan asks.

"I have no reason to redeem myself. A god can do no wrong," the god replies.

"I happen to disagree with you on that," Sanzo replies, firing a shot. With one smooth motion, Daycarthro raises his staff, creating a barrier around him.

"With your inefficiencies, I'm surprised you managed to find Cassandra," Daycarthro smirks.

"How much crack did you smoke today?" Warner asks, pointing his sword at the god.

"You are very unpleasant to me. After everything I've done for you, you still don't give me the respect a god deserves."

"Talk about an ego trip," Evan mutters under his breath. "If this is the way you acted before, no wonder Eslanla left you." Daycarthro shows no sign of sadness at the mention of the name, his breathing doesn't even change. Before, whenever his former lover's name was mentioned, pain would leak into his teal eyes, now he doesn't even care.

"It doesn't matter what you say. Soon all of you will be dead." The god raises his staff and a mist drifts into the room. Goku yells as he charges at Daycarthro, his nyoibou about to strike him. "Too late," he slams the staff down and the mist surrounds everyone.

"Is everyone okay?" Raven asks, the mist still covering the area. No one answers. "Cassandra! Evan! Warner! Gojyo?" No one responds. Damn, this must be an illusion, unless he sent me to a different world. But where is everyone else? "Evan!" Raven yells, but his voice bounces off the silence. Where am I? The sound of footsteps slowly approaches him. He raises his dagger, ready for whoever is dumb enough to pick a fight with him.

Something warm slides down his wrists and he glances at them, only to find his dagger and his hands are covered in blood.

"What?" Raven gasps, dropping the dagger. Wet blood covers his clothes as well. "What's going on?" he whispers staggering back. The footsteps become louder as the person comes closer to him. A hand wraps around his ankle.

"Why did you kill me?" A woman asks, tightening her grip on his ankle and she tries to stand up, but blood pours down her neck, dripping into a pool of crimson blood.

"No...you're not real..." Raven whispers, trying to get away from the woman.

"Why?" a man asks, grabbing his other ankle. A wound lays open on his chest, where he was stabbed. Raven eyes widen as he finally realizes these were the people his foster-father had him kill as a child.

"You're...not...real!" Raven yells, struggling to get away. The footsteps finally reach him and when the mist clears a little boy stands before him with intense black eyes.

"Mom? Dad?" the boy asks. "Why did you kill them?" the boy asks, tears pouring from his eyes. Raven's heart seems to twist into a knot.

"I-I didn't mean to," Raven cries.

"Why?!" the boy punches Raven, knocking him to the ground. "I hate you!" the boy keeps yelling as he kicks and punches Raven.

"Stupid Hybrid," the voice turns deeper and Raven pushes himself away when he sees his foster-father gazing down at him with those cold eyes, the boy has disappeared from sight. "How many times have I told you to not to cry!" he yells, slapping him across the face.

"You're dead," Raven gasps, backing away from him.

"If it weren't for me, the Daerenhs would have killed you by now, but still you fail to listen to me." His foster-father cracks his knuckles. "I guess there is only one way you will ever learn."

"Get away from me!" Raven yells, his anger replacing his fear. "I will never let you touch me again." He slams his fist against the older man's face, but the blow has no effect on him.

"Children should obey their superiors." He grabs Raven's black hair and knees him in the gut.

"Keep away from me," Raven tackles the man, but he soon realizes his body had been turned into a child's. His foster-father swats him away, Raven crumbles to the ground, his ears ringing from the hit. Before he can get up, he is kicked in the face. The man's fists continue to hit him, never letting up once.

"This isn't real. This isn't real!" Raven keeps repeating to himself, but the pain prevents him from trying to break free from the spell Daycarthro has cast on him.

Are you going to let him do this to you? A voice in the back of his head asks him. Raven immediately knows it is the third-class demon inside of him.

"I can't stop it," Raven gasps.

You are stronger than him and you know it.

"I can't..."

Then I will. The darkness in the back of his mind seems to spread into the rest of his body. Raven can feel himself losing consciousness as the demon inside of him begins to take over...

XxxXxxX

Psycho-CJ: Am I evil or what?

Raven: I don't like where this is heading.

Psycho-CJ: What is going to happen? Will Sanzo and Raven's crew be able to break out of the spell? Will Raven fall completely under the demon's influence? Have they finally met their match?

Evan: Will Psycho-CJ be cruel enough to kill off her creations?

Psycho-CJ: (shrugs shoulders) I've done it before.

Warner: (smacks Evan upside the head) Stop giving her ideas!

Evan: Hey! (tackles Warner and the two break into a fight.)

Psycho-CJ: Thanks to Rook, vermillian, Sumitra, Ali and MystiquePixie for reviewing. And about the sequel, I have some faint idea of what I plan on writing it about. It will probably take place after the end of Saiyuki, same timeline and probably in my characters world. I'll try my best to make a Hakkai X Yaone work, without making them see out of character. I think I can do it, but I have to see the rest of Saiyuki to give me a better feel of their characters, so the earliest I will start that is Jan. Hopefully you can wait until then. And don't worry, this one won't end for a few more chapters. I mean, I've only just begun the confrontation with Daycarthro and it isn't going to be easy to beat him and…well, that's a secret. Hehehe! And about Sanzo, it was just a kiss, it's not like they…

Raven: Think twice before you finish that sentence.

Psycho-CJ: (laughs nervously) Ahaha. And it's not like he wanted to, right Sanzo?

Sanzo: (slight blush) Of course not.

Goku and Evan: (singing) Sanzo and Cassandra sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G! (Raven and Sanzo's eyes begin to twitch). First comes love! Then comes marriage! Then comes the baby...

Sanzo: Urusai! (shots are fire).

Evan: Run! He has that killer look in his eyes. (Goku and Evan make a break for it).

Raven: Come back here Evan! (Runs after them with Sanzo firing shots at them).

Chibi Goku: Till next time! (waves goodbye).

Gojyo and Warner: Ahhhhh! CHIBI! (Run away).