Yeah! Second chapter! I finally thought up a name; Taboo. Well you already know that. I was sitting in music class, and I saw a playbill for the show, Taboo. And there it was; Duh-duh, duh, duh! Hong-san will be back (really?) for lots of fic-y fun and Goku will fall in love. Our beloved saru will fall in love! I'm more for Hakkai myself, but this was set up. They chose it. My hands have a mind of their own, making the characters as they go along. Heh. I actually have this story all, erm… almost all figured out. I need a few more chapters and an ending. Also some spare nonsense to connect a really good idea I've got. Have fun and don't forget to review; again, all reviews are answered.

A commotion outside the room woke Hakkai up. Squinting in the morning sunlight, he slipped his monocle into place and sat up. Sanzo was dressed and standing at the window; looking out, he appeared oblivious to Hakkai's awakening. A frown creasing his forehead made Hakkai climb out of bed and stand next to him. Outside, in the town square, a crowd was gathering. They were carrying any number of weapons, and they did not look happy.

Hakkai walked over to his bag and quickly got dressed, all the while talking to Sanzo. "Have you heard what's going on?" he asked. The monk shook his head. "Do you think maybe on Gojyo's walk he took the hat or glasses off? It could be a 'Burn-the-Bad-Demon-Guys,' kind of riot.

Sanzo shook his head again. "While I agree that Gojyo is an idiot, I don't think he's stupid enough to get us lynched."

Hakkai smiled faintly, tying his sash with a firm knot around his chest. "I'll ask him, just to make sure. C'mon Hakuryuu." The dragon squeaked and flew off the pillow he had been sleeping on; he perched himself on Hakkai's shoulder and gave a soft, 'kyuu!'

He walked next door to find Gojyo asleep and snoring, and Goku was sitting on the edge of his bed, his knees drawn up to his chest and his arms wrapped around them. His eyes were half-closed and he was breathing slowly.

"Goku?" Hakkai asked. The boy snapped up, his eyes opening and his legs crashing to the ground. "Are you… alright?"

Goku nodded, rubbing his feet which had hit the floor so hard. "Sorry," he mumbled. I must've drifted off." He swiped at his eyes, removing all traces of sleep from them.

"Get dressed," Hakkai told him. "We need to leave, and soon at that matter."

Goku looked at the tall brunette with a questioning look, but he had already moved on to wake Gojyo.

"Gojyo. Wake up." Hakkai shook his friend's shoulder, hoping the man wouldn't be annoyed at the early awakening.

"Nnnng," Gojyo groaned, cracking open an eyelid. "Turn off the sun." He rolled over and buried his head under the poofy white pillow which had come with the bed. Goku, dressed and fully awake, walked over and grinned mischievously at Hakkai. He crouched by the bed and sprung on Gojyo, ripping the blanket off and punching the pillow. Gojyo sat up straight and grabbed Goku's collar. Bring his face right up next to his own; he glared daggers at the boy.

"You. Stupid. Monkey." he growled. "I was sleeping!"

"What?" Goku asked innocently. "Hakkai asked you to wake up, I just helped him." He grinned up at the red haired man who released him with a scowl.

"I was about to get out of bed anyway," he mumbled. "That didn't help.
Hakkai was about to answer when a loud yell came in through the window.

"What was that?" Goku and Gojyo asked simultaneously.

Hakkai sighed. "The reason we have to leave. The town is stirring together into what we think is a demon-hunting riot." As the two of them gaped at him, he turned to Gojyo. "Gojyo," he began. "Did you see anyone at all on your walk? Someone that might have seen underneath your glasses or hat?" He glanced at the table next to him where the offending articles had been placed the night before. "I have to know. That might be the reason for their riot. Same as the last time."

Gojyo shook his head. "No. The only person I saw was---" He realized what he had said and took his own look at the bedside table. "Hong-san, the girl,"

Hakkai winced but looked at his friend. "Is there anyway she could have seen under your glasses or hat?"

Gojyo shook his head energetically. "No, I was pretty careful, Hakkai. Besides," he joked. "Don't you think I'd notice if the girl ran away screaming at the sight of red?"

Goku observed his friend carefully. "I think he's telling the truth Hakkai. If he was lying he'd be changing the subject; like the time he--"

Gojyo bopped his fist on top of the youth, rendering him silent. "I just know it wasn't me. I was careful."

Sanzo entered the room, a cup of steaming coffee held in his right hand, his left swinging the door shut. "We're leaving," he announced. "Whether or not Gojyo got us in trouble, we can take care of these people."

"Though," Hakkai added as an after thought, "we're not going to kill them. They're just ignorant; though we're going take care of the minus wave, more hate against demons won't help us."

The other three nodded, and Sanzo and Hakkai went back to their room to pack up.

They met, twenty minutes later, in the front of the inn. They had paid with the attendant, as Hong-san's father was outside in the gathering riot. They walked outside and Hakuryuu transformed into his jeep form. They loaded their bags in and climbed onto their seats. Hakkai drove them around to the town square, where they found the riot. The innkeeper was standing on the base of a raised statue; he seemed to be the one riling the crowd up.

They drove, carefully, through the people until they got to the front. They stood up in the jeep and looked at Hong-san's father, who broke off from shouting to look at them.

"What is going on here?" Sanzo didn't even have to yell, the people had quieted down immediately at the sight of their jeep

Hong-san father looked at them and bowed, mockingly. Sanzo glared until he straightened up. "Ahh. Our guests. Master Sanzo," he said, remembering the name on the bill the night before. "Just a question before you depart the town. You saw my daughter Hong-san, am I correct? Last night, she walked out before her chores and did not return. We wish to find her; the girl is a criminal and must not be allowed to leave the town. The murdering child might kill all of Shangri'la before someone puts a knife through her bitch's heart. We want to know if in any way, you helped her to escape."

Hakkai shook his head. "We have not seen her since yesterday. None of us would not help a murderess to escape any place, I assure you of that. Please take the fact that we as travelers do not know anything about this place into consideration when you make accusations."

"Oh," the inn keeper replied. "But we are making no accusations at all. We simply want her back so she can receive her due punishment."

"And what's that?" Gojyo asked lazily.

"When she committed her crime, we agreed she could stay safe as long as she stayed within the town limits. If she didn't, we would punish her as if the crime was yesterday."

"Isn't he talking about his own kid?" Goku murmured to Hakkai, apparently to loudly.

"Whether or not the child is mine," he replied to this. "Comes into no consideration. Her crimes must be punished in the traditional way."

"And how's that?" Sanzo asked.

The innkeeper gestured to the statue behind him. "She will be tied to the statue, and all the people may do as they please to punish her. The women first,… then the men. They do what they feel is right to punish her for her crimes." He smirked slightly. "Then she, dead or alive, will be taken outside the gates and tied to the farthest tree for anything out there that likes their food pre-killed. She did the crime, now she must face the consequences."

They stared at him in horror. "So that's the town's traditional way?" Hakkai asked, swallowing quickly.

"That it is."

"They shook their heads, unable to fathom what a child might do to deserve such punishment, but could not protest. If it had been that way for the town and she had really committed such a terrible crime to be punished like that, it was the law.

The innkeeper bowed, pointing to Hakuryuu. "Perhaps you would like to be on your way," he said smoothly. "Just as long as you promise keep an eye out for her, we can let you go with out questioning. It may not be necessary though. About thirty men have volunteered to look for her two days down the road. We also have a few vehicles of our own to aid the search. She surely cannot get that far, don't you agree?"

They nodded slowly, then climbed back into Hakuryuu. As the innkeeper watched on, they drove carefully out of the square, and out of sight. Reaching the gate, they opened it themselves, as all the guards were at the riot's beginnings.

A few miles down the road, Hakkai suddenly pressed on the breaks and stopped Hakuryuu. He looked at the others and shook his head. "What kind of heinous crimes could a child commit that would make her town hate her so?"

"I don't know," Goku replied. "But if it's that bad, we have to stop her from doing it again."

"Hey hey," Gojyo intervened. "We'd lose about three days worth of road if we did that."

"Murderers must be brought to justice." They all looked at Sanzo, then Hakkai. He blinked, and nodded. They all remembered Gonou and his mass killing. He, in the end, had been brought to the Temple of the Rising Sun, where the three floating heads had given him a new name and life.

"Whatever," Goku said. "But nothing, miles or justice, is gonna come if we're just sitting here. Let's get on the road! Closer to the west, and the nearest town. I'm starving!"

"Shut up." Sanzo stood menacingly over him, harisen held tight. "Don't you start talking about food now. We had breakfast twenty minutes ago. As I recall, you had all the meat buns and half the dumplings. Besides; this is the last town for about three or four days. This isn't a very populated area."

"No towns?!" Goku and Gojyo looked at him in shock. "We have to sleep out side everyday?"

"Yes. And don't make such a big deal about it. Last night, after you two went to bed, Hakkai went shopping and got enough food for everyone. Even if the monkey decides he's starving."

Gojyo and Goku looked glumly at him, but sat slowly down.

"That's better," Hakkai said cheerfully. "The sooner we get going, the sooner we'll see civilization."

They all got comfortable in their seats as Hakkai put his foot to the gas and speeded off. They drove along in silence for about half an hour, when Goku half rose in his seat, face to the wind.

"What is it monkey? Smell some demons?"

Goku shook his head absently. "No, but I do feel something. Something is following us. It's not a demon, though."

Hakkai looked at Sanzo who nodded. He slowed the car down and brought it to a halt. They all climbed out, looking at Goku.

"I know what it is," he told them. "Something familiar, but with something different in it. I don't know."

They positioned themselves around Hakuryuu, who transformed and flapped his way to Hakkai's shoulder.

A noise in the bushes had them tensed, weapons raised. Hakkai had a brightly glowing ki ball getting bigger in his hands.

The bushes parted. They sprung, then stopped.

A large brown dog came bounding out, leaping for Goku. The surprised boy let him and was bowled over by the energetic animal. He immediately decided Goku's face was dirty, and set upon washing it.

"A dog," Hakkai chuckled, letting his ki ball fade back into his hands.

"Yes," Sanzo growled. "A dog. Tell me Goku, why did you think there was something different about this fleabag then the one you brought to the temple.

"But there is," Goku protested, trying to fend off the animal with one hand and lever himself up with the other. "He feels like a demon could, but, well, not a demon."

"What the hell are you talking about monkey?" Sanzo leaned closer to him. "It's a dog! A dog! We shouldn't have stopped for a dog!"

"Sanzo," Hakkai said quietly. "If Goku says it's not a dog, we should believe him."

"I never said that," Goku protested indignantly. "I just said he felt different then a dog should."

"I we're finished arguing over whether or not it's a dog," Gojyo said impatiently. "Then can we get going?"

Sanzo nodded. He lifted his robes in one hand and hoisted himself back into Hakuryuu with the other.

"So can I keep him?" Goku asked eagerly. "Come on Sanzo, please?"

"You said he felt like a demon."

"I meant like he's been right with a demon his whole life, and it kinda rubbed off on him."

"He'll eat food," Gojyo teased. "You'll get less."

Goku glared at him.

Sanzo sighed. "Ch. I don't care. Just keep the thing away from me."

Goku grinned and grabbed the chocolate puppy's leg. He hoisted him up and was about to deposit him in the jeep when a yell startled him into putting the dog down quickly.

A petite form burst out of the bushes and landed on top of the said animal. The small demon boy sat up quickly and put his arms around the dog whose tail was pounding on the road, stirring up clouds of dust; his hanging tongue slurped the boy's face.

"Kitsune!" he cried.

"A funny name for a dog," Hakkai murmured after relaxing from his automatic battle position.

The demon stood up quickly and doubled his fists up. "What were you doing to my dog!" he cried.

As Gojyo grinned, amused at the small 'menace,' Hakkai leaned over to talk to him. "Don't be so lax," he murmured. "We've had plenty of assassins that were younger then Goku. He could be one."

"Why did you have my dog," he asked again, his eyes wide but still scowling.

"Look here kid," Gojyo said. "We didn't do anything to your dog; he just came out on his own."

"That's you dog?" Goku asked, disappointed.

The boy nodded warily, not relaxing his pose.

"Well now we know why the dog smelled like a demon," Hakkai said cheerily. "He's your dog, isn't he?"

The boy nodded once more; slowly letting his arms hang loose.

Suddenly Sanzo's gun was pointed at the demon. "Tell me why you're here," he ordered. "Why are you so close to the village?"

"And what's your name," Gojyo asked.

"The boy frowned, but seeing the gun pointed at him, he answered. "I live farther down the road, but Kitsune was running around and I lost him. Usually I try to stay away from the village; they don't like demons very much."

"So we've noticed," Gojyo responded dryly.

Sanzo decided to check the boy's reaction to any of the names of previous menaces. "Kougaji. Dokugakuji. Yaone."

The boy didn't even blink. "Say once more?" he asked.

"Never mind."

"Hey, kid. What's your name?" Goku looked up from petting the dogs head.

He looked up, startled. "What?"

"Your name," Goku explained patiently. "Gojyo already asked, but you didn't answer."

"Oh. I'm Kuriya. And you are…?"

Sanzo apparently decided Kuriya wasn't a threat; he nodded his head to the others, who watched him questioningly. Then he lowered his gun and quickly stowed it in his robes.

"Goku."

"I am Cho Hakkai."

"Gojyo. Sha Gojyo."

Goku saw Sanzo didn't feel like talking so he answered for him. "That's Sanzo," he said.

"I see," the boy replied. Putting his arm around Kitsune, he easily lifted the dog and held him like a he would a child. "I really must be going now," he told them. "My mother might start worrying."

Hakkai smiled and nodded as Hakuryuu screeched. "Very well Kuriya, just be careful and stay away from the town; they're gathering into a demon hunting riot."

Kuriya's eyes widened; he bowed then hurried off calling over his shoulder, "I must go and tell my family. Goodbye!"

"That was odd," Gojyo remarked.

"Let's just get going," Sanzo growled. "We've wasted enough time on that flea-bitten mutt; its past lunchtime."

Goku looked down at his now growling stomach. "You're right!" he cried incredulously. "How could I have forgotten?!"

Gojyo narrowed his eyes. "You're right. How did you forget?" He grinned mischievously. "What did you do with the monkey?" He leaned over Goku and pinched his nose, looking in his mouth; then he pried open his eyelids and stared into his golden eyes. "Come on, spill. Where'd you put him?"

"Gojyo stop it," Goku complained, struggling away and climbing into Hakuryuu, who had transformed back into hid jeep form. Sanzo and Hakkai were already seated and Gojyo climbed in after him. "Sanzo! Make him stop!"

Hakkai pressed on the gas and Hakuryuu sped down the road with Goku and Gojyo fighting in the back.

Gojyo bopped Goku on the head, sending him sprawling. The youth collapsed on the floor and lay there.

Gojyo smiled and sat down on his seat contentedly. He waited a moment, then nudged Goku with the toe of his boot. "Hey monkey. You okay?" Goku didn't respond. "Goku? Are you alright?"

Goku didn't move. His brown hair lay askew, covering his face; one of his legs was straight, the other bent and tucked under the first.

Gojyo bent down and shook Goku's shoulder. "Goku! Hey man, wake up!"

Goku lay still, unmoving.

Gojyo started to get worried. He knelt down next to Goku and put his hand on Goku's chest. He couldn't feel a heartbeat. Bending down, he placed his ear on his friend's torso and listened. Waiting a moment, Gojyo was startled to feel two hands wrapping around his head. Jerking out of the hold, he sat up and looked down at Goku. His friend was looking up at him with a sleepy smile.

"Gojyo," he murmured.

"Goku!" Gojyo cried. "You're alive!"

"Of course I am," Goku said quietly. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Gojyo stopped short in his celebrating. Something was wrong. "Hey Goku, you feel okay?"

"Yes," Goku answered, sitting up. He looked up at Gojyo and gave him a seductive smile. "I'm just fine." He stood shakily and sat next to Gojyo on his bench. Putting his arm around his friends shoulder, he leaned his head on Gojyo.

"Hey," Gojyo cried, flinging Goku off. "What are you doing?"

Goku pouted prettily. "Humph. You liked it well enough before. Are you regretting last night Gojyo?"

"What?! What are you talking you fucking ape?"

"Shut up." Sanzo stood over them, gun held in hand. "Stop your little lover's spat. We agreed either you keep it in your pants near Hakkai and me, or you taste lead."

"What?!" Gojyo stared at Sanzo, slack jawed. "W-when did that happen?"

"Idiot," Sanzo growled. "Who else but you asked if you two could share a room. Why do you think I made sure the walls were thick? Even then I could hear you." He grimaced. "You'd better not even think about it while we're camping out."

Gojyo gaped at Goku. The said boy smiled seductively at him again. Gojyo stepped back quickly, then stumbled on Goku's pack. Leaning precariously over the side of the bumping jeep, he windmilled his arms around a few times.

Goku grinned and grabbed Gojyo's shirt front; tugging him back to safety, they tumbled in a heap on the floor.

"Get away from me!" Gojyo scrambled away from Goku, who held his smile only a few moments before collapsing into fits of laughter.

"Got you," he gasped out, entirely in hysterics. "Igasp wish Igasp could have gotten a picturegasp of your face!"

"No need for wishing," Hakkai told him, holding up his hand; a small camera was held in his fingers. "They may not be very good, but the pictures are priceless."

Even Sanzo smiled. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"Gimme that!" Gojyo yelled, reaching for it. Hakkai handed the camera to Sanzo, who stowed it in some hidden pocket of his capacious robes.

"You want to try and get it?" Sanzo asked. "I dare you. Then I'll have an excuse to kill you."

Gojyo scowled at Sanzo, but sat down on his bench and pulled out a cigarette. He pulled out one of his new lighters and lit it; taking a long pull from it, he glared at Goku. "You are dead; I will kill you with my own two hands." He displayed them, wiggling his fingers.

"Really?" Goku asked. "I was sure you'd like me better then, say, Sanzo." He grinned again.

"Shut up monkey!" Sanzo and Gojyo both glared at him.

Goku and Hakkai laughed, and everybody settled down in their seats.

A few hours passed with minimal arguing. They sat in their seats reading the paper and smoking (Sanzo), smoking and drinking (Gojyo), sleeping and eating (Goku), and driving while talking to anyone that was unoccupied (Hakkai).

"We should stop in about an hour," Hakkai told Sanzo. "There is a spot by the edge of the road that looks just perfect on the map. It seems that after that, only two hours of driving will bring us to the next available camping spot."

Sanzo nodded and turned the page of his paper.

"Will we have dinner?" Goku piped up. "Because I'm hungry!"

"Stupid monkey," Gojyo growled, still sore from that morning. "If you keep eating like you were all day, we won't have enough to last until tomorrow, let alone for three or four days."

"It's not myfault," Goku complained. "I'm hungry."

"And therefore, it's your fault. You're the one who's eating, not us."

"Please, both of you; stop fighting," Hakkai asked them, reading Sanzo's look correctly. "We're about to stop for the night."

Goku and Gojyo frowned, but complied with their friend's wishes; sitting back and resuming any activities.

A few minutes later, Hakuryuu slowed to a halt besides a clear space in the brush. There was some coverage from road view, though a sentry could still see any approaching beings. Behind it was all trees, stretching as far it was possible to see.

They unloaded the few bags they had, and Hakuryuu transformed back into his dragon form; he crooned one quiet, "Kyuu," before curling around Hakkai's neck.

Gojyo went looking for fire wood in the near woods, coming back every few minutes to dump his latest load near the campfire Hakkai was making. When Gojyo finished, they all sat around the fire for dinner, cold meat buns and boiled potatoes.

"Hakkai, aren't you a better cook then this?" Goku asked. "When we're at the inn,--"

"When we're at inns, the cook in the kitchen cooks for us," Gojyo interrupted. "Can't you see how exhausted Hakkai is? He's been driving all day if you haven't noticed!"

The three of them turned and looked at Hakkai, who stifled a yawn and smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry," he told them. "I just need a bit of sleep."

"Then let's go to bed," Sanzo said.

The other three agreed, Goku and Gojyo covering their own yawns.

Goku reached into a bag to pull out the tent, but was stopped by Hakkai. "It's such a pleasant night tonight, we can just sleep on the grass," he reasoned.

They pulled out their bedrolls and piled all the bags in the center of the campsite. Then, pulling the blankets up, they fell asleep.

Two hours after falling asleep, a form crept out the bushes and shook itself off.

Hong-san brushed the leaves and dirt off her body that had gathered on her clothes while waiting for campers to come settle down. She hadn't expected it to be those travelers from the inn, but it didn't matter; they were just people who had supplies she needed.

She fixed the kerchief that had become rumpled during the long wait in the bushes.

Tiptoeing over to the bedrolls, she saw all the bags piled up in the center of the camp, next to the dying fire. 'Like they're giving it to me,' she thought. 'They didn't even post guards.'

Before advancing any closer, she made sure they were asleep; the shadows playing across their faces were confusing her sight.

After a moment, satisfied they were dead to the world, she snuck closer. Walking up to the pile, she saw that one of the bags had opened slightly. Peering inside, she saw it was the supply bag. Hong-san smirked; this was too easy. She had never stolen anything before, and it was necessary that she get as far away from the village as possible; she had no supplies of her own.

Fastening the bag around her waist, she prepared to leave and be upon her way. Turning around, she spied both of Gojyo's new lighters tossed casually besides his bedroll. She picked one up, hesitated, and picked up the other as well. Depositing them into her belt pouch, she smiled. Better to be safe then sorry; one could easily give out in a few days. Who knew what kind of crap her father sold in his inn.

Satisfied she had everything she needed, Hong-san walked out of the camp, readjusted her kerchief, and trotted down the road toward her destination: away from the village.

A/N

Sorry it took so long to update, my computer really sucks. In later chapters, I'll have some of the story in their past lives; Hong-san will have a past-life-char as well.

Thanks for reviewing:

gabbi()--Maybe, but you'll see what happens.

Kurama13--Thank you!

Kai/Ray.-- Thank you! Lalala! Happy!