She looked down at them. "I won't take the chance of fighting up. Most of our arrows aren't normal and those that are, are laced with poison that would take you down even with a scratch. We won't harm you if you'll come with us peacefully."
Sanzo glared at her as he lowered his gun. "You'll pay for this."
She smiled at him dazzelingly. "You're welcome to try if it makes you feel better. We'll talk later I'm sure." She turned the horse and rode past the half circle of men that moved to surround the party. "Let them get in their jeep. Then surround it and escort them to the village. I'll make sure everyone's out of the way. I want at least 12 archers on them at every heartbeat. If they so much as breath hostily I want pin cushions."
"Yes my lady!" A rough bearded man answered, pressed a fist to his heart in salute. The woman inclined her head, wheeled the horse and galloped away from them. The bearded man turned back "You heard her men! Move." He looked down at the Sanzo party then. "If you men would get back in your jeep and follow up please." The same polite command the woman had used.
Sanzo glowered a moment then walked back to climb up into the jeep. Goku and Gojyo stared in amazement before doing the same. Hakkai started the car and followed the leader of the band who nodded to the rest of his company.
"This is such a load of shit!" Goku growled irritated. "We can take these guys!"
"Perhaps not without injury but it's a good chance. Why are we following Sanzo?" Hakkai questioned.
"Because you were right. There's more to this then a raid and then the usual assassins sent after us. I want to get to the bottom of this and corpses can't talk."
"This is just great. I finally get a hold of a beautiful woman and I almost killed her." Gojyo sighed tragically.
"Can't you think of something else you pervert!?" Goku shouted at him.
"Just because you're monkey face can't attract dirt...."
"I've got dirt for you! How about if I pound you into it!"
"I'd like to see you try you little monkey!"
"I'm not a monkey!"
"Why must they do this now?" Sanzo muttered.
"You have to admit. It works of the tension." Hakkai laughed then fell serious again. "I think you're right though. I want to get to the bottom of all this as well."
The forest broke soon enough, the forest stopping suddenly to give way to a huge man-made glade that was host to a village, the trees apparently made into the small log huts that dotted that stone laid streets.
"What is this place?" Goku leaned over the jeep's edge to look over at a pair of demon boys playing with a group of human ones. A pair of demon woman hung landry over a short line out side their homes and smiled picking up a young human child who ran over with a scratched knee.
"I don't know. This doesn't make any sense. Why haven't-" Hakkai started.
"Look at those trees." Sanzo interrupted and pointed at the trees that surrounded the village perfectly. In the rough bark of it were carved intricate symbols, each one different as they traveled around in a wide ring that sheltered the village.
"What are those?" Gojyo questioned.
"My mother did them." The woman from before had returned, her horse now trotting at an easy pace beside the guarded jeep. "When the changes started sweeping the land she carved these runes into the trees that surrounded us. She's aged and cannot come out much. The sun sears her skin and the night air gives her chills. Still she drag her self out at dusk after dusk and dawn after dawn and worked to write these in the bark. It's what protected us." The four said nothing and she looked at them curiously then sighed. "I suppose you're still upset. I'm very sorry you know. It's complicated."
"So you've said." Sanzo replied.
She shook her head. "I'll explain soon. You're all probably hungry now. I have food ready for you."
"Alright!" Goku pumped a fist in the air despite himself.
"Sit down you little monkey." Gojyo said mildly.
"Shut up!"
Jypsy smiled in amusement then looked away from them towards the people who glanced over at the Sanzo party then away again and moved on. Children ignored them or paused to wave at Jypsy who smiled warmly in return. On boy with red hair and eyes like burning suns looked up at caught Goyjo's eye, smiled at him then picked up the ball he had run to fetch and returned to his game with a group of waiting boys. The company stopped at a larger wood hut near the glade's edge.
"Here." Jypsy said, climbing down from the horse. "If you gentlemen would be so kind as to follow me." She stood patiently watching them.
Goku was the first out. "I'm starved."
"Stupid little runt." Gojyo said following.
Jypsy smiled again and gestured. The archers lowered the weapons and cast the 4 men a distrustful gaze then dispersed, only two remaining to take places on either side of the door. Jypsy turned and moved back the heavy fur covering of the hut and walked in. The room inside was fairly large, another flap covered doorway sectioning of another room. A long, low table had been laid out with food, steaming meats and chilled fruit.
"Oh yea!" Goku dived on it.
"I suppose he never stopped to think it might be poisoned." Hakkai said with amusement.
"I wouldn't do that." The woman's tone was almost injured. She removed the cloak to revel a light blue dress that was just a few shades paler then her eyes. Embroidered with silver the delicate look was spoiled only by the coarse, worn brown leather belt around her waist where a sword was sheathed. Gojyo walked over and picked up a pear, biting into it lightly.
"Nope. Not poisoned." And sat down to steal a plate from Goku who started up yelling again. Jypsy looked at Hakkai and Sanzo
"You should eat. They way he's going there won't be much left if you wait."
"I'd like to get some things straightened out first." Sanzo said watching her. She sighed and opened her mouth the answer but a shrill voice broke in on her reply.
"Why wasn't I informed she was back! Get out of my way right now!" The voice screeched.
Whatever the reply was wasn't to the speaker's satisfaction because there was a growl, a series of thumbs, loud grunts of pain then finally two thuds. The flap flew open and a woman strode in and settled hands on her hips. Her hair was fairly short, just long enough to fall across her eyes and a peppered mix of golden brown and black. Her eyes were dark black and glittered with trouble. Her skin was bronzed, flawless and cinnamon colored. She cut an image wearing a pair of form fitting black pants and a black vest over a short white top that left just covered her breasts and left one arm for display while one long sleeve covered the other. She looked just a bit older then the demon boy had been, somewhere around the age of 16.
"You are in so much trouble Jypsy!" She growled. Jypsy smiled fondly.
"Liathe not now."
"Oh it's going to be now! I was suppose to be notified the second you got back. What if one of them tried something?" she pointed at the 4 men. "I would have gotten cut out of kicking their asses. That's would have been seriously unfair. I deserve an apology."
"No." Jypsy's response was curt and final. "If you're going to stay then sit down."
"No way." She leaned against the bow staff she carried. "I'm going to make sure these losers keep their place. If either of them move I'm going to beat the crap out of them." She turned to smile at Gojyo. "You wouldn't be thinking of escaping would you?"
"Not at the moment, no." "Please? As a special favor to me?" She lowered her lashes flirtatiously.
Gojyo's eyebrow went up. "When you put it that way...."
"Sit!" Sanzo snapped. Goyjo sighed and obeyed. Sanzo looked at Jypsy. "What do you want with us?"
Jypsy sat down on one of the cushions that littered the floor and gestured for them to do the same. "I owe you an explanation at least. I didn't want to do this. But it came down to an ultimatum. Either watch my village be destroyed or capture and hand over the Sanzo party."
She lifted her eyes and they blazed defiance. "And I will do anything necessary to protect my people."