The next day, Kouryuu left in search of the sutra. He met up with the council of immortals outside the temple.
"So, what's our destination, Komyo?" Nii asked the immortal beside him.
"I've received news of a sutra held in a temple somewhere west of here. It's kinda far, so it's best that we fly there." Komyo smiled.
"Great! It's been a long time since I've went flying!" Quietus clapped his hands in glee, "Kouryuu, will Hakkai be okay while you are gone?"
"Yeah. I asked those two idiot apartment pals of his to babysit him…" Kouryuu said, "How's the hebi onna?"
"Fine. She stopped pining, but she says she doesn't want to come with us." Nii sighed, "Too bad… Her mind-control abilities could have come in handy…"
"Qui, why don't you ask her to help babysit Hakkai?" Komyo suggested.
"I know Hakkai's out for vengeance… Perhaps." Quietus hummed, "Oh well, being the oh-forgiving-Hakkai, I suppose he wouldn't try to kill Hibi-chan unless she really did mean to kill Kouryuu…"
"You called?" Hibiemi's voice rang out from behind Quietus.
"You teleported?" Quietus' brow rose.
"I'll just brainwash Hakkai to forget that I've killed you, Kouryuu… Don't worry, now that I'm fine, my mind-control abilities will work just fine…" Hibiemi smiled calmly, "But I still don't want to join the sutra search. One long-time immortal should keep an eye on the Silver Apocalypse, y'know… I'll relay information to you if I get any."
"Aa. And could you brainwash Hakkai right now. I'd like to make sure you do a clean job of doing it." Kouryuu requested.
Hibiemi shrugged her shoulders and went into the porch where Hakkai was resting.
"What are you doing here?" Hakkai asked the immortal lazily.
"The council asked me to brainwash you." Hibiemi smiled confidently as she placed her right hand on Hakkai's forehead and closed her eyes. She sailed through Hakkai's memory until she found the memory of her accidentally killing Kouryuu. Focusing hard, she erased the memory and opened her eyes again. The memory was erased.
"What happened?" Hakkai shook his head.
"I've just erased a memory. Feel happy now…?" Hibiemi laughed.
" I guess…" Hakkai laughed.
"Good. The brainwashing did work." Quietus smiled as he shape shifted into Hiro, "Say goodbye to Hakkai now, Kouryuu. Gojyo and Goku are here to take care of him."
"Oi! Quietus! You don't really have to put that disguise in front of us! We know who you are!" Gojyo pulled Hiro's ear before he ascended the stairs.
"Itai yo!" Hiro whimpered as he shape shifted back to Quietus.
Kouryuu walked over to Hakkai and gave him a goodbye kiss.
"Don't worry, Hakkai. I'll be back soon." Kouryuu said lovingly, "Oi, you better keep a sharp eye on him. I don't want the end of the world to happen when I'm not around."
"Yes, sir…" Hibiemi gave a mock salute and grinned, "I'll do my best!"
And so, the four immortals quickly levitated until no one could see them from the ground.
"Where are they?" Hakkai asked his companions.
"Oi!! Kouryuu can fly…?" Gojyo said queerly.
"They're somewhere behind the clouds. It's kinda risky to go flying in broad daylight, so they're using the clouds to hide them." Hibiemi smiled, tracking them down by aura, "I hope they come back soon…"
"Ne, Hakkai… Isn't it lunchtime?" Goku asked the brunette looking up at the sky.
"Ah… Hai. I'll go prepare lunch now…" Hakkai smiled apologetically as he got up and made his way to the kitchen, "Hibiemi-san, will you be joining us for lunch?"
"Hai." The immortal nodded. She looked to the clouds again and wished that fate and destiny were on their side.
"Ahh!! Suteki!!" Quietus closed his eyes as he soared westward with the rest of the immortals, "The wind's so wonderful!"
"Sou desu ne…" Komyo smiled.
"Hora… There's the town we're supposed to land in." Nii pointed out, "Let's teleport ourselves into an alley, shall we?"
"Aa." Kouryuu nodded. The four paused in the air and faded away.
They reappeared inside a dark alley in the heart of the town.
"Well then, this town seems kind of rotten to me." Quietus folded his arms against his chest, "I doubt that the sutra would still be in the temple."
"True." Nii pondered, "Most likely, someone must have stolen it."
"We won't know if we don't find out…" Kouryuu said, walking away from the alley, "So, where's the temple?"
"Northward, perhaps. I sense a holy energy coming from there." Komyo said.
"Well then, let's go." Kouryuu said.
