"Talk about a town full of jerks." Goku commented as the village faded from view behind them glancing back once before settling down into his seat.
"Fear makes people foolish Goku." Hakkai placate.
"Fear of what? She didn't do anything. She helped that boy back her. He'll have a better lift now because of her." He said proudly as if he'd been the one to do it.
"Idiot." Sanzo snapped quietly. "That boy is as good as dead."
"Wha!?"
"The village will kill him. If they hate her they'll hate anything she touched. They'll be sure to think that boys been infused with some kind of idiotic curse."
"We have to go back and save him!" Goku said, jumping up again.
"Sit down dipshit." Gojyo muttered. "There's nothing we can do."
"He's right." Hakkai said. "If we go back there, they'll try to kill us too."
"We can take them!" Goku growled.
Hakkai nodded. "Possibly. But I do not want to be responsible for destroying an entire village. No matter how foolish in their fear they might be."
Goku curled his hands into fists. "But that's not fair!"
"Who ever said life was fair." Sanzo put it. "Now you understand how much trouble she is."
Goku looked over at Amunisis who sat with her hands folded in her lap, head bowed slightly in an ashamed manner, her hair wild from being jerked around so much. He reached out and patted her shoulder. She looked up at him a moment then looked down again.
"It wasn't her fault." Goku said quietly. "She was only trying to help."
"I agree Goku." Hakkai said. "But for now on, perhaps it's best we keep her away from people."
"Hopefully us included soon." Sanzo added.
Goku sighed and slumped down in his seat and fell silent.
"I'm starved." Goku whined finally from the back seat. "We've been driving for hours and we haven't gotten anywhere! It's almost dark." He added glancing up to where dusty peach had started to sweep the horizon, throwing pink shadows over the desert.
"What I wouldn't give for some water." Gojyo groaned, drooping down low in his seat.
"Sanzo. When are we gonna eat." Goku questioned, leaning forward over the seat. "Ow!" He yelped then as Sanzo smacked him over the head with the harisen before tucking the fan away again. "Sit back!" he growled then crossed his arms. "We'll stop when we can stop." His head tilted slightly and he muttered. "Though I'd pay for some water and something that wasn't sand."
There was a high pitched siren sound then and they all jumped, the jeep swerving as even Hakkai was caught in surprise when Amunisis stood, eyes glowing softly, her hand extended, lips tipped into a sweet smile. The sand began to swirl then, Hakkai gasped, turning the jeep quickly to escape the whirlpool.
Sanzo growled. "Get her down!" even as Goku was trying to tug her back down on the seat by her arm.
"What the hell..." Gojyo said, leaning forward as the sea of sand began to split.
From it started to raise land, trees parting through the ground to stretch up, and strike at the sky. Grass appeared, pouring over the ground like a spill of emeralds, thick and plush. An oasis. The sand stopped moving, a soft breeze making the trees and grass before them wave gently. Near the center of the oasis glittered a lake of clear water, the moving flashes of light hinting at the fish that thrived there.
The jeep had stopped now and the 4 sat and stared in shock. The glow faded from Isis' eyes and hands and the siren sound faded into silence. She blinked then smiled with guileless pride then slid forward to lay her cheek against Sanzo's shoulder. He batted her away but without any real conviction, still lost in the surprise of lush land sprouting from bare desert.
Goku first broke the silence. "What are we waiting for!? Let's go!" Out of the jeep in seconds and across the remaining sand into the grass.
"Goku! Wait!" Hakkai called.
"That stupid monkey!" Gojyo muttered then looked at Hakkai. "Do you think it's dangerous?"
Hakkai frowned then glanced at Isis who sat watching Sanzo curiously. "The man at the temple said she'd obey and follow Sanzo. So I suppose when Sanzo wished for water and land she granted it. Since her life revolves around Sanzo now I don't think she'd purposely do anything to endanger him."
Gojyo sighed. "Why can't I find a nice girl like that?"
"Get out of the car." Sanzo said with light annoyance.
"With pleasure." Gojyo said climbing over the jeep then stretched, rubbing his shoulder. "I'm cramped. Hey monkey boy! You better not have eaten up anything in there." Before following the direction Goku had gone.
"Do we follow them?" Hakkai asked.
"Might as well." Sanzo sighed and climbed out of the car, shaking Isis of when she tried to take his arm. "Stay back there." He snapped at her then walked into the trees.
Hakkai patted her arm in the face of her broken look. "He's just moody. Come on." She looked up at him then nodded obediently and went after Sanzo with them.
The trees that lined the border of the oasis broke into easy fields of grass, marred hear and there with fruit trees, the ground already littered with fallen apples and bananas. Drops of ruby red berries dotted the flawless green leaves of the bushes. Soft pink light filtered through the canopy giving everything a dusty glow.
"Hakkai! Check it out!" Goku called from where he was standing in the center of the lake, dripping wet, hands curled around a wriggling fish. "Dinner!"
Hakkai laughed. "You might have to catch a few more then one."
Goku grinned. "No problem! It's so easy. They don't even try to escape when I go after them!"
Hakkai blinked in surprise and looked at Isis who had walked over to the lake laughing as she watched Goku pluck more fish from the water. Sanzo walked to the edge of the water as well. Something shimmered near the edge and suddenly a fish flopped up onto the ground infront of his feet, winked at him and muttered 'Dinner'.
Sanzo made a face and shoved the fish back into the water with the toe of his shoe where it circled a moment then swam away. He turned. "We're leaving."
"What!?" Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai chorused.
"Sanzo." Hakkai said. "This is probably the only land for miles. We can't drive nonstop forever."
Sanzo grumbled, stuffed hands into his pockets then walked away. "I'm going for a smoke. Stay!" This last part snarled harshly as Isis moved to follow him. She dropped back and watched him go then sighed and returned to the lake's edge and sat.
