Psycho-CJ: Back for another chapter, and Rook, I wasn't neglecting my studies, really. What I meant was I had just turned in a 10 page paper, not that I still had one to do.

Evan: How evil must you be to have a paper due the day you get back from break?

Warner: As evil as you.

Evan: I'm not evil, just misunderstood.

Psycho-CJ: This chapter has a lot of action, one of the things that I least like to write about.

Sanzo: Why, because it actually forces you to actually think about what you are writing?

Evan: Unlike where most of time you just type whatever pops into your head.

Gojyo: That would explain the crappy chapters.

Psycho-CJ: Didn't anyone ever tell you it's not a good idea to piss off the writer?

Raven: I would like to state I haven't said anything until the moment. And she does not own Saiyuki.

Warner: But the Psycho owns us.

XxxXxxX

Chapter 20: Four Against Six—Even Odds, Right?

Goku is thrown against the wall, unable to avoid the attack. Standing before them is a young man with auburn hair and purple eyes, while three red stripes rest on his cheek.

"Kougaiji, what the hell is he doing here?" Gojyo gapes.

"Chances are that's not him," Raven states as he avoids Daycarthro's staff. Raven grabs the staff and slams his knee into the god's right leg causing him to drop down onto one knee.

"Shit, just our luck we have to fight a god, a youkai, a sorceress and guy who can use chi attacks," Warner whines.

"Whine, whine, whine! That's all I ever hear from you," Evan replies, as he heaves a mass of light at Kougaiji.

"Shut up and fight," Sanzo growls, firing at Cassandra. The sorceress kicks him, but he manages to evade the attack.

"That's easy for you to say," Gojyo grumbles as he swings his shakujou at Hakkai, who dodges the crescent blade with amazing speed. "Hey, Sanzo, I'll trade you."

"You do know Cassandra can be as strong as Raven when she really puts her mind to it," Warner replies as he slashes at Hakkai, who smiles as he avoids the sword.

"If you don't want to get caught in the crossfire I suggest you give me some room," Raven tells the others.

"Is the Hybrid finally going to show me why the demons are so interesting in him?" Daycarthro asks.

"I see," Raven says to himself. "You should know I have little tolerance for demons, especially ones who try to harm my new family." His eyes look up at Daycarthro, gleaming violet in the light. "The fact you did something to Cassandra is enough of a reason for me to dispose of you." Raven yells a fire spell, but Daycarthro quickly casts a water spell. Before the water can touch him, the Hybrid freezes the water.

"You're good."

"You haven't see anything yet." He raises his hands and wind shatters the ice, sending the shards at him, slicing his flesh. "Now, what did you do with Cassandra, Hakkai and Daycarthro?"

"I am Daycarthro," the fake replies.

"I have little patience for being lied to." Before Raven can act, Evan's gasp snaps him out of his concentration. Evan falls to his knees, his body shaking in pain.

"Eh, Evan?" Goku yells, as he knocks Kou back.

"Leave me alone," Evan hisses, as his hand clenches his chest. Raven's eyes widen when he realizes what time it is. He can't stay here when it happens. He won't be able to protect himself. If he can't fight, what else can he do?

"Evan!" Raven calls. "I want you to find the real Cassandra, Hakkai and Daycarthro."

"That's easier said than done," Evan mutters.

"Go down the hall until you reached a fork. I think I might have sense Cassandra around there."

"Then I'll find her." Evan shakes off his dizziness and forces himself to stand up.

"Take someone with you."

"But..."

"I said take someone with you!" the Hybrid snaps.

"Stupid, freakin' Hybrid. Always has to be ordering me around." Evan races up to Goku and grabs his arm. "You're coming with me."

"But what about Kougaiji?" Goku asks.

"Let that damn Hybrid handle him," Evan glares at Raven to emphasize his point. Before Goku can protest any further, Evan fades away with the golden-eyed boy.

"Um, Raven, you do realize Goku is the only one who has managed to hold out against Kougaiji right?" Gojyo grunts as Hakkai knees him.

"You picked the wrong time to tell me that!" Raven snaps, as he drop-kicks Daycarthro and manages to jump out of the way as Kou comes after him. Raven grits his teeth as Daycarthro's staff connects with his lower back. Just my luck these two decide to come after me.

XxxXxxX

Evan and Goku race down the halls. The noise from the fight seems to echo throughout the fortress. Goku keeps glancing behind him, worry playing across his usually carefree features. I hope Sanzo and the others will be okay, Goku clenches his fists.

"Here," Evan stops running. "This is where Raven said he sensed Cassandra." Evan stares down the hall, using all of his senses to try to pick up on Cassandra. "He's right. She is somewhere around here." Goku sniffs the air.

"Something smells familiar." Goku adds as he frowns.

"We'll figure that out later." They turn down the hall, running in the direction Cassandra's essence is coming from.

XxxXxxX

Gojyo and Warner keep their backs to each other as they face off against Hakkai and Kou. The two decided to take on the youkai since Raven is having enough trouble dealing with the fake god.

"How did we end up fighting these two?" Warner asks, as he slashes at the youkai prince.

"Because Goku and Evan decided to have all the fun while the rest of us are left to do all the work." The blade on Gojyo's shakujou swings around him, but Hakkai deflects the blade with a chi blast.

"At least we're not fighting Raven," Warner mutters when the ground shakes from Raven's earth spell. A flare bursts around them, blinding everyone for a second. The floor cracks, informing everyone their environment will not be able to deal with Raven and Daycarthro's magic.

In the meantime, gun shots sound through the room as Sanzo tries to hit Cassandra, but unable to break through her barrier.

"Shit," Sanzo hisses when he finds his gun is running on empty. Cassandra uses the opportunity to tackle the monk. The two roll across the floor, kicking and punching at each other.

Raven and Daycarthro continue to fight, fire, water, ice and lightening crash through the room, as the two warriors try to gain the upperhand in the fight. Raven rolls out of the way as Daycarthro's staff smashes against the ground, creating a hole in the floor. Daycarthro kicks Raven in the face, slamming him to the ground. Surprise falls over his face when he senses a demon's presence. As if things couldn't get any worse.

"You're still fighting them?" the demon asks, the same one who wounded Evan before they were dragged into Daycarthro's trap.

"I should have known they were behind this," Raven growls as he kicks the god away.

"I apologize for the inadequacies of Daycarthro, it seems I was wrong about him being of much use," the demon replies. The demon surveys the battle, not liking how two people are missing. "And where, may I ask, is the traitor?" the demon inquires.

"Who?" Daycarthro counters.

"The child! I thought I told you to dispose of him before midnight. Where is he?!"

"He slipped out of the room with Goku."

"Idiot!" The demon snaps. "Do you have any idea how fatal your mistake could be?" Daycarthro cringes when he hears the fury in the demon's voice. "I assume it will be up to me to finally put an end to that disgrace."

"Don't you dare touch Evan!" Raven yells, flinging his sword at the demon, who vanishes from sight before the blade can cut through him. Damn it! Raven curses when his sword becomes embedded in the wall.

XxxXxxX

"We're close," Evan announces. They turn another corner in the maze of halls, the two hoping their search will soon come to a close. Evan stumbles forward, landing hard on his knees.

"Evan!" Goku calls, kneeling down to the boy. The demon child forces a smile on his face.

"Looks like I ran out of time," Evan whispers, before gasping in pain.

"What do you mean you ran out of time?" Goku places his hands on Evan's shoulders, only to have the boy push him away.

"You need to go on without me," Evan informs him. He wraps his arms around his mid-waist as a wave of agony passes through his body. I hate this, Evan thinks to himself. But I deserve this, right? He clenches his eyes shut, wishing he could hide how much pain he is in, but knowing it will eventually break him. All his years of training mean nothing at this point.

"Come on," Goku tries to help Evan up, only to once again be pushed away.

"I said go!" he snaps, but regrets it when his head spins.

"But..."

"You have to leave me, I'll only hold you back," Evan gasps. "I'll be fine...I promise."

"I'm sorry, but I can't allow that," a voice announces.

Why didn't I sense him before?

"Hello, traitor. It's been a while since we have seen each other." The demon announces appearing a few feet away from Goku and Evan.

"I can't believe you're still alive after all these years," Evan smirks. His muscles begin to contract, feeling as if his insides will be crushed under the pressure.

"I could say the same for you. What a disgrace that you were once one of the Prince's prized warriors."

"Sorry, Zev, if I don't live up to your expectations of a prized demon warrior."

"Which is why I'm here to put you out of your misery," Zev raises his hand and light bursts from his hand. Goku charges at Zev, hitting the demon with nyoibou.

"Goku, don't!" Evan yells, but the young youkai has already begun the fight to stop the demon. No, why does this have to happen now, the pain causes Evan's vision to blur.

"Stay out of my way," the demon snaps, slamming his fist into Goku's side. "I don't have the time to deal with you." Goku hits the wall, coughing up blood. "Now, to get rid of the disgrace." The demon draws one of his knifes. It's almost done. Please Goku, you have to hold on for now. Evan's body begins to glow as the time nears, the pain intensifying with each passing second.

"No!" Goku yells, forcing himself to stand up and face Zev.

A few more seconds and I'll be able to get rid of this scum, Evan keeps repeating to himself as his heartbeat begins to pound in his ears.

"You're a persistent one aren't you." Zev throws the dagger at Goku, but the ape races towards the demon. Goku swings nyoibou at the demon, but his staff fails to connect. "But, you should know better than to try to fight a demon," Zev whispers in Goku's ear as he appears behind the golden-eyed boy. With one hit, Goku slams into the ground in a tangled mess. "Now, as for you." The demon turns his attention to Evan.

Finally, it's almost over, Evan forces himself to the feet as the new day is born.

"Too bad it's already midnight," Evan replies.

XxxXxxX

Psycho-CJ: Sorry for leaving at another cliffhanger, but that seemed like a good place to end it. It seems this will be ending in a few more chapters.

Evan: Then you can get back to rewriting that one story.

Psycho-CJ: So much work and so little time.

Evan: Wait a minute!

Psycho-CJ: What?

Evan: Isn't today your birthday?

Psycho-CJ: Of course not. (slowly backs away).

Evan: Yes it is!

Raven: He's right.

Gojyo: Does that mean she gets a birthday bashing?

Psycho-CJ: Don't you mean bash? (continues to back away).

Sanzo: He meant what he said. (cracks knuckles).

Warner: Get her!

Psycho-CJ: Time to go. Bye! (runs off).

Raven: She should have known better than working on her birthday.

Psycho-CJ: (pops up out of no where) One last thing, whoever can guess correctly what happens to Evan at midnight, I will make Evan's birthday the same day as yours.

Evan: You haven't given me a birthday yet?!

Psycho-CJ: It slipped my mind.

Goku: Does that mean Evan was never born?

Sanzo: I don't see why it matters when his birthday is.

Psycho-CJ: Well in one of my stories his birthday is going to pop up and it will save me a lot of trouble if I don't have to make one up.

Raven: Figures as much.

Goku: Thanks to Rook, Sumitra and Ali.

Psycho-CJ: Till next time! (runs off before the others can remember it's her birthday.)