Chapter 1: The Magician

"Ohayou…" Kouryuu heard a serene voice ringing in his head. He slowly opened his eyes to see the man the immortal called "Hakkai".

"Are you okay?" Hakkai asked as he took Kouryuu's hand in his. Kouryuu looked away from his face, it's been a long time since anyone has ever held his hand.

"I'm okay… Don't worry about me. If you don't mind, I'll have to get back to my temple." Kouryuu sat up.

"There's breakfast in the dining room if you want it. My roommates, Gojyo and Goku are there right now. I'm sure you'll all get along fine." Hakkai smiled. Kouryuu got up from the bed and put his boots on. He took his trench coat with him and began to leave but before he left the bedroom, he looked at Hakkai and replied…

"Thank you. I won't need breakfast. I'll be okay in my temple."

"If you'd like, I'll drive you there…" Hakkai smiled.

"I'd rather go alone…" Kouryuu muttered.

"Really… You might open your wound again." The brunette insisted, "And I still have a few more questions to ask you."

"Okay. I'll take the ride." Kouryuu sighed as he opened the door. Hakkai smiled broadly and took Kouryuu's hand again.

"Ne! Hakkai! Where are you going?" A boy with golden eyes asked the brunette.

"I'll just be taking the monk back to his temple. Don't bother to leave any breakfast for me. I'll eat out." Hakkai smiled.

"Oi, Hakkai." Gojyo started, "Will you go buy a pack of cigarettes for me? I just ran out of them last night."

"Hai, hai…" Hakkai chuckled.

Before Kouryuu and Hakkai reached the door, Gojyo clamped his hand on Kouryuu's wrist.

"So you're Kouryuu, eh?" Gojyo smirked, "Don't turn down Hakkai's kindness… He spent all night taking care of you…"

"I won't…" Kouryuu turned away from Gojyo hastily.

"Have a safe trip, Hakkai…" Gojyo smiled at his brunette roommate. Hakkai nodded and exited with Kouryuu.

The sun was brightly shining on that morning as Hakkai and Kouryuu drove off to the temple on the outskirts of town. Upbeat jazz music was playing in the car and Hakkai was still wearing his bright smile.

"Oi, Hakkai… What were you going to ask me?" Kouryuu asked.

Hakkai lowered the volume of the music, "I was going to ask how did that immortal know our names. I never even met her. And I guess you haven't either."

"No. I haven't. But I have a strange feeling that she has met us before in a past life. That's how immortals are." Kouryuu murmured, "Take the right here or else you'll have to turn around."

"Hai." Hakkai smiled as he turned right on Kouryuu's orders, "Ne, Kouryuu-san, why were you in the alley last night?"

"It's my job. I'm a demon hunter. The temple's always bare unless it's festival time. No one seems to believe in any god in this age of demons." Kouryuu sighed as he looked out his window, "Here we are. The old temple…" He stepped out of the car, "Thank you, Hakkai-san. I'll look forward to seeing you during festival time…"

"Don't mention it!" Hakkai cheerfully smiled as he drove off to the nearest coffee house.

Kouryuu climbed up the steps towards the temple, all he had in his mind for the meantime was Hakkai, "Why does he ring a bell in my head… There's something familiar about him I can't describe…" He finally reached the top of the temple. The old temple was almost bare except for an old woman offering incense and praying to the gods.

"I guess I'll have to go back to being a monk for the meantime…" Kouryuu walked towards his quarters. He opened his closet and pulled out a neatly folded robe, a Sanzo's crown and the Maten Kyoumon. He took off his demon hunting gear and donned on his monkwear. He stepped outside to supervise the temple. The old woman was still praying. The wind played with the wind chime hanging nearby.

Later, a young man came to the temple to fetch the old lady. The old lady turned and proceeded to her grandson but she stumbled halfway there. Kouryuu, with nothing to do, helped the old lady up and took her to her grandson.

"Arigatou." The old lady bowed to the monk slowly.

"Arigatou." The young man followed suit.

It was another lazy day for a monk in a quiet temple.