Onna: GAAAAHH!!! We don't own them! Now get those lawyers away from me!

Sanzo: Hn. I'll leave you to it.

Onna: SANZO!!!

Bluj: *hugs Sanzo tightly*

Sanzo: *shoots in the direction of lawyers*

Lawyers: *run away in fright*

Hakkai and Yaone: .........

*****

Like several times in her life, Lirin didn't understand what Kougaiji meant. Of course there were times when the youkai prince said things for no reason. And most of those times he didn't bother explaining the reason to her. But when Yaone started looking so frightened, Lirin knew there was something important behind what Kougaiji said. And that usually means there'd be a BIG fight later on. Lirin swallowed a bite of her pork bun and bounded up to her brother. Besides, she didn't like seeing Yaone looking so scared.

"Oniichan, what's wrong? What do you mean something is messing with us?"

"Just that, Lirin! Something's going on," Kougaiji answered shortly, his violet eyes roaming the place.

"Yaone-chan? Dokugakuji?"

Both of them remained silent as they faced the demon prince who shook his head and turned his back on Lirin, for the second time!

She scowled at them, one eyebrow twitching. Obviously, not one of them was going to tell her what was going on. Again! What, do they take her for an idiot or something? Well, she wasn't going to take it! No way! She'll go and find out herself if she had to!

So while everyone was looking away and talking to themselves as though she weren't there, something she really, absolutely, completely hated, Lirin stealthily stepped away from them. And like the proud know-it-alls that they usually acted as, they didn't bother turning around to check on her.

"Yoshi," Lirin whispered to herself with a grin as soon as she was out of earshot, and ran towards the town. She was near the fountain in no time, with the early afternoon crowd finally dwindling.

Even without the crowd, the town looked the same with the mouldy old buildings still standing where they stood earlier. If something was messing with them, shouldn't the town have changed when she was alone? Obviously not. What was she supposed to be looking for anyway? And where was she supposed to start? Lirin sat down on the fountain's ledge to think. If she were something her brother didn't like, where would she be hiding?

But first, what didn't her brother like? There was her mother, the Empress. But she was in Houtou castle. Then, there's the Sanzo-ikkou. And they're supposed to be in this town. They might be responsible for that... thing her brother was talking about. Lirin grinned and jumped off the ledge. She was going to look for Baldie Sanzo's party! And when she found them, she was going to kick Baldie Sanzo's butt!

Lirin started to run around the town to begin her search, excitement adding extra energy into her jumps. She was so focused on her search that she didn't notice the dark figure until she bumped into it. She fell back in surprise, bouncing twice on the ground. "Ite! Oi! Watch where you're going!"

The stranger looked down at her, eyes widening as he stared at her with open curiosity.

"O-Oi. What are you looking at?" She stammered nervously as the stranger continued to stare at her. Nobody had looked at her that way before. It made shivers run down her spine but she quickly covered it.

Then, he spoke softly, his voice muttering, "You shouldn't be here..."

"N-Nani?"

"You shouldn't be here," he repeated, voice growing stronger. "You're youkai. Scum like you are better off dead."

"What was that?!" she snapped, jumping to her feet. No one should insult her like that! Especially not a single human! "Don't you dare call me names, you pervert!" She charged at him, fists ready to strike. She had almost reached him, was just a few steps away in fact - when something sent her hurtling against a tree behind her.

Stars exploded in her vision as she hit her head. Lirin thought she heard a dull crack as she dropped to the ground on her knees. There were more humans crowding around her when she got back to her feet. And they were all looking at her funny.

Something glinted on the ground near her, and she glanced down to see what it was. It was a piece of silver jewelry, broken on one side. It took her another second to realize that it was her limiter.

"Demon!" She glanced up as the townspeople began to shout and run away, some of them grabbing for their weapons. Lirin didn't have time to get up and run, and before she knew it, tearing agony was suddenly flaring on her arms and legs. She screamed in terror and pain and struggled to get away, finally breaking away when she managed to kick one of them in the face.

"Don't let her get away!"

"Kill that demon!"

She barely heard them, just kept running. She could feel wetness running down her face and into her eyes, blinding her. She tripped as something blew her forward. She steeled herself for the impact against the ground. But it never came.

Strong hands steadied her instead, and she opened her eyes. Through her hazy vision, she recognized that red hair and violet eyes.

"Oniichan!"

The townspeople halted at the sight of the three taller demons, with Kougaiji glaring at them in the lead. "You'll pay for that."

"Kill them!" shouted the mob. "Rid this town of youkai scum!"

Yaone and Dokugakuji leapt into position without Kougaiji having to give them the order. Lirin could see her brother prepare to summon a beast, primed and ready to fight.

The mob surged towards them. Yaone and Dokugakuji fought back as her brother started his chant.

She could see Yaone jab her spear against one of them - saw the older youkai stop short as though she hit a barrier. Even Dokugakuji was on the defensive against two other swordwielders. Lirin leaped to help them - when she felt her arms being pressed against her sides. The same force pressed her to the ground. Kougaiji gave a strangled yell and she watched the other three demons collapse to the ground, the mob falling on them. And then her view was cut off when the mob fell on her too. She couldn't move - couldn't defend herself from the blows raining down on her. Why. Can't. She. Move!

Lirin squeezed her eyes shut when she saw one of her attackers prepare to stab her with his knife. Oniichan-! There was a grunt, the sound of a body falling to the ground. She opened her eyes in disbelief-

"All right! Some exercise before we eat!" It sounded like the saru.

"Baka saru! It's too late for food!" That was the kappa.

"Maa maa, minna-san. We just came here to check on the noise, ne?" And the cook. Baldie Sanzo's party!

For a moment, she could only see the red of Goku's staff, the chain of Gojyo's shakujo, and the bright yellow light of Hakkai's Chi Gong. Several of the mob fell under their attacks, something the four demons couldn't do. What was going on?

The mob was beginning to draw back in fear, clearing the way for Goku to finally look at her. "Hey! It's Lirin!"

"Nani! You mean-" Gojyo looked at the man he just defended. Dokugakuji.

"Youkai!" one of the men shouted. "Those three, they're youkai as well!"

Three?

"It can't be!" another one shouted. "They've been here the whole time!"

"No! They're youkai! They've got limiters!"

"Shit! There's too many of them! And those three are too strong!" someone else yelled as most of them turned to flee, leaving only a small handful who weren't wielding any weapons.

Goku blinked in confusion as he suddenly found himself free of opponents. "Are? What was that all about?"

"Youkai auras hidden under human auras... you three are different..." one of the remaining people murmured. "You must have lived with humans for so long it was hard for us to realize what you really were."

Hakkai crouched, a ki orb glowing in his palms.

"Your limiters allowed us to recognize your demonic blood. And we have to admit, you're powerful. We will withdraw for now but next time, you will not be so lucky."

The small group turned and disappeared into the town.

"Chii, they're not so tough," Gojyo muttered.

Kougaiji climbed to his feet, gazing warily at the trio. "I'd thank you, but I don't think I'd bother."

"Heh, you guys got beaten up pretty easy," Goku grinned.

Dokugakuji raised an eyebrow. "Oi, we were doing fine until you showed up."

"Didn't look like it to me," his brother shot back as Yaone stood on shaky legs, trying to wipe away the blood from her face.

"Daijoubu desuka, Yaone-san?" Hakkai asked, concern in his voice.

The purple-haired youkai nodded, and Lirin swore her cheeks were redder than usual when she answered, "Hai, daijoubu. Arigatou, Hakkai-san."

But Lirin didn't have time to think about that. She was busy looking around for someone.

"Yare yare, we've been beating up humans," Hakkai remarked. "Sanzo wouldn't approve of this-"

"Mou!" Lirin snapped, suddenly remembering what she snuck away for. "We're here for Baldie Sanzo and the sutra! Where is he?"

"Namaguza bouzu? Why would I care for that-"

"Naaaa..." Goku suddenly interrupted, clutching at his stomach.

Lirin could almost see the kappa twitch in annoyance as he looked at the boy. "Are you hungry again, stomach-brained saru?!"

"Saru ja ne yo!" His face began to have that serious look again. "Demo, I feel like something bad's happened."

Hakkai started to smile - frowned for a moment - then his eyes widened in disbelief. "Sanzo!"

Gojyo cursed and they ran off.

"Oi! Matte!" Lirin cried and ran after them, ignoring Yaone's cries and Kougaiji's orders for her to stay back. They had finally found the Sanzo-ikkou, and after going through all that trouble of looking for them, she wasn't going to let them out of her sight. They followed the trio to the inn where they were staying, realizing how stupid she was that she didn't think of checking out the inns first in looking for them.

"Sanzo! S-Sou na!" she heard Goku cry as he flung open the door to their room. Lirin squeezed in between them and peeked inside.

Sanzo was nowhere to be seen, and small pools of blood stained the wooden floor.

*****

Onna: *finishes off* OKAY! That finishes this chapter! Japanese lesson 101! Saru ja ne yo means I am not a monkey or don't call me a monkey.

Sanzo: *glares at Bluj for the bashing he received in the last chapter*

Bluj: *shakily holds up peace sign*

Yaone: I think he was better off, compared to all this. *checks injuries*

Hakkai: I'd heal you, but Onna-san says not yet.

Onna: Hehehehe...