A/N Yay! Chapter 11 is finally here! runs in circles Who's happy? I know I am! This took me a while, but hey, it's a good fifteen pages long in MS Word. O.o good grief, I'm getting carried away…
Dragoncat- Look! I updated! grins And yes, you're absolutely right- adventure and peril escalates the romance. I'm a sucker for such things, so you might see quite a bit more romance here…
Beachpele- I hope it wasn't my fault that you missed all that chuckles But I'm really glad to have another reader on board! I hope the story doesn't become too cliché for ya…stick around!
Disclaimer: You know the drill, people! I don't own Saiyuki or anything and anyone related to it, not making any money from this, all original characters belong to their respectable owners!
Chapter Eleven
Time Flies
Berkeley, IL
By the time one week had come close to its end, the girls became frantic. The Sanzo-ikkou was still making their presence ever known at Mandi's grandparents' house and it was becoming obvious to the neighbors that someone other than her was staying there. In fact, one of the ever watchful ladies across the street had confronted her about it. Dory had known about Ashley and Katie, but she was more than suspicious about these four fellows that kept traipsing in and out. Mandi had to think quickly and come up with a story that they were distant relatives who'd stopped by unannounced. Dory had bought it, although it was clear she was still wary.
That was far from the main problem, though. Ashley and Katie divulged that they could stay for another week as long as they told their families, but it only took care of another seven days. Mandi would have to go back to work in two days and the other girls would have to go home eventually. Her grandparents would come home too- what were they going to do about Sanzo's group? They didn't think any of their families would be too keen on four strange men living in their homes indefinitely.
Something needed to be figured out soon.
"I think we've been having too much fun with them being here that we haven't really thought about where else they could stay." Mandi kept her voice soft, sitting hunched over a pillow on her bed.
Ashley sniffed, drying her shower wet hair. "Sure. Tons- except that Red keeps on 'accidentally' walking into the bathroom whenever one of us is in the shower." Her cheeks began to redden despite her sullen face.
Katie sniggered. "Ah, c'mon Ash, you know you like him."
The youngest girl eyed the oldest darkly. "Hush you." She dropped the towel to her lap, lowering her voice. "Anyway, we do need to figure out what's going down. They can't stay in this house forever, and neither can we, however much we may want to. Mandi's grandparents will be back soon enough."
Mandi rested her chin on the pillow, frowning. "I just remembered that Erin is due up here on Sunday. I haven't really explained any of this to her- she'll be really shocked when she comes walking into the house. I hope Sanzo doesn't shoot her…" She made a mental note to try and get a hold of their fourth friend before that happened. "Ash is right, though. We need to come up with something fast. I know we'd been talking about moving in together, but I think we don't have enough time for that, or enough money. Not just yet."
"I'd suggest a hotel, but as you said, we don't have that kind of money. We'd break our banks, especially if they end up staying for a long time." Katie thought aloud and then smirked. "Besides- it'd be a shame to take a certain blond monk and a red-headed kappa away from their favorite TV programs, wouldn't it?"
Laughter erupted between the female trio; it was known that Sanzo could usually be found with a newspaper at least at one point every day. He claimed that he was interested in what was going on in everywhere else and that he didn't want to miss an important clue to anything on what they were looking for. On top of reading the paper, however, he had also discovered CNN on cable. All news- all the time- it was insane. Sanzo became an almost permanent fixture on the living room couch, glasses on, comfy new clothes on, remote in hand, form comfortably reclined. Mandi was reminded greatly of her grandpa who would lie on the floor between the couch and loveseat in the same position just about all day. In fact, the monk and he were alike in such a way that it almost made her crack up every time.
Sanzo would get rather miffed if someone got in the way of the screen for too long, afraid that he might have missed something. He'd threaten to shoot whoever it was unless they "moved the hell away". Though, the knowledge that CNN repeated news at least ten times a day finally sunk into his thick head after two days of watching the same announcements repeatedly.
Gojyo, on the other hand, had discovered the…pleasures of late night cable quite by accident. He and Goku had been fighting over the remote to the basement television and inadvertently changed the channel to Cine-max. Except in this case it was more like "skin-e-max". The lustful moaning coming from the speakers had caught the kappa's attention right away.
"Now there's a familiar sound…" he grinned widely. "I didn't know you could watch this kind of stuff on TV…they put this on for anyone to see?"
Goku had stared with a dropped jaw. "What the hell are they doing?!"
"Ah, you still have some time to go before you'd ever understand, monkey." Gojyo reclined on the couch, brow arched in interest, head tilted to one side. "Hm…I've done that…oh, and that…yeah…the ladies love that…"
Apparently the sound had carried up the stairs to the kitchen where Hakkai was busily doing the dishes. The green-eyed young man came downstairs, drying his hands on a cotton towel, wondering just what the heck was going on. His face flushed immediately at seeing what was playing on the TV and he draped the towel over Goku's head, covering his eyes.
"My goodness- Gojyo, turn that off! Goku shouldn't see things like that!" In spite of his embarrassment, Hakkai couldn't seem to take his gaze from the scene playing either.
That had been exactly what Ashley and Katie had walked in on. They'd been near tears laughing at the three as Gojyo finally turned the set off, still grinning goofily.
"Hakkai, I didn't think you were into voyeurism, man. Ya learn somethin' new every day, I guess."
Katie clamped a hand over her mouth as the dark haired young man turned crimson.
"It's the quiet ones that'll really surprise you," Ashley choked out, trying to recover. "Just imagine if it'd been Sanzo though who had walked downstairs…"
"Or if it was Mandi!" Katie added, giggling madly. "She definitely wouldn't have expected Hakkai here to be so into these types of movies. Wouldn't she be shocked..?"
Hakkai could only wonder what on earth the pair were talking about before he took up his dish towel and excused himself to resume doing the dishes…
…Even now the girls were still laughing about it. Mandi had heard about it anyway, having been fortunate enough to miss the event, but was unfortunate as to why. She'd been fending off a severe fan attack by Sanzo when she'd stood too long in front of the television trying to vacuum up a popcorn mess made by Goku earlier. Sure enough, her cheeks went bright red when Katie mentioned that Hakkai was likely to turn into a porn fanatic…
"Well does anyone have any other ideas?" Katie snapped them out of their reverie.
Ashley sighed. "No. It'd be a little helpful, though, if Sanzo or…someone would tell us what it was they were looking for. We definitely know this place better than they do- and Mandi probably knows the area best."
"But Sanzo still absolutely refuses to say!" the older brunette groaned, flopping backwards onto the soft green carpet.
"You'd think he'd want our help if it meant their getting out of here and back to Togenkyo faster…" Mandi speculated, tapping her chin lightly. She smirked. "Then again, maybe he's just gotten so attached to us he doesn't wanna leave."
The girls looked to each other before grins spread over their lips and they shouted a unanimous "Yeah, right!"
Silence filled the room afterward, however, as they thought about what to do about Sanzo and the others. They'd have to break the news to the group soon, too.
"If you think I feel like getting myself abused by the fan happy, trigger spastic monk, you've got another thought coming!" Ashley quickly backed out. "I like living, thanks."
Mandi glanced between her friends. "It's my house, it's only fair that I do it…but…are you sure there isn't anything you can come up with?"
"It'd be easier if we knew what they were looking for…" Katie pondered, placing a finger to her lips. "Unless we can find it out from someone else, we might never know."
"They all ought to know why they're here, but who would tell without being afraid of Sanzo's wrath?" Ashley pointed out.
Goku would probably be open to saying everything he knew if not for his possibility of blanching at the thought of Sanzo refusing to let the youth eat anymore. Gojyo played the part of tough guy but the girls knew he'd freak out the moment he looked down the barrel of the banishing gun. Hakuryuu was…pretty much useless, so that only left them with one option…
"Hakkai!" The three cried out at once and started to laugh at how they'd all thought of the same person without discussing it.
"Hup-two Mandi, go do your thing." Katie urged the younger brunette.
"What?!" Her voice came out more shrilly than intended. "Why me- I've already got to talk to Sanzo!"
A light knock sounded on the bedroom door, interrupting the conversation.
"Um, come in..?" Mandi squeaked and then proceeded to clear her throat.
Hakkai peeked inside the room, smiling. "Well you all seem just fine so might I ask why you called me."
When he saw their befuddlement he continued. "I was in the other room tidying up a bit- it's pretty dusty in there- and I heard my name shouted by at least two of you. Is everything alright?"
'How sweet…he's cleaning my house…' Mandi gazed at him absently, lips turning up into a light smile.
"Oh!" Katie laughed, giving a wink to Ashley as she spoke. "Mandi had a question for you, Hakkai."
The young man smiled more widely. "Of course, what is it my dear?"
Blushing at the term he'd used, Mandi cleared her throat once again, unnecessarily, casting a wary glance to her two friends.
"I…we were wondering if perhaps you might be able to tell us why you four are actually here? Every time one of us mentions it to Sanzo he refuses to say." She paused as the smile from Hakkai's face faltered. "It may not be our business, but like we've stated before we know this world better and we do want to help in any way we can."
Hakkai fidgeted, unsure of whether or not it'd be wise to say. It made sense to have help, yes, he knew that, but it was a matter of trust- Sanzo's trust of him and the rest of the group trusting the girls. Not that Hakkai believed these young ladies would actually turn against them- if they were going to they'd have done it by now, he was sure. Oh, how did he always end up in such predicaments?
As he began to speak, Goku came barreling up the stairs and down the narrow hall, followed by Gojyo.
"Sanzo's goin' crazy, Hakkai! He threw his fan at me, but I dodged it and then he threw his water glass!" Goku cried, golden eyes shimmering.
Behind him, Gojyo was rubbing his forehead with the heel of his hand. "Goddamned monk nailed me right there!" An angry red streak marked between his eyes.
Hakkai turned a nervous gaze to the young women who stared a bit cock-eyed at the others. "I am so sorry about this all…Sanzo must be extremely stressed out right now…"
"Is there a mess?" Katie asked, getting to her feet from the carpeted floor. "That monk is going to get a swift kick in the ass if there is."
"If you can get him off of his ass, be my guest. I'll even help ya." Gojyo muttered, wincing at the ache of his forehead. "Am I bleeding?"
Ashley rolled her eyes, getting up as well. "No. C'mon Cowardly Lion, I'll get you an ice pack."
Gojyo followed the honey-blond downstairs, the movie reference going right over his head. The monk still fumed on the living room couch and Ashley had to sidestep a water splotch on the beige carpet. Her hazel orbs darted to Sanzo.
"You'd do best to clean that up, monk. For a grown man you're behaving very immaturely."
Sanzo glared dangerously but didn't say a word- he knew he'd been irrational; why should he actually admit to it, though?
"Are you sure that's water and not his holy diaper leaking?" Katie piped up tersely from behind the kappa, Goku in tow. "Is that any way to behave in the house of someone generous enough to keep you here, despite that awful attitude?"
Goku, Ashley, and Gojyo could tell things might get sticky; they rushed away to the kitchen- Goku for a snack, and the other two for an ice pack.
Katie crossed her arms. "I think you ought to clean up that mess like Ashley suggested, even if it is just water."
"I don't appreciate your comments," the reply came snappily as Sanzo took up a napkin to blot at the water splotch. "What do you want?" He asked when he realized that Katie hadn't budged.
"Seeing that you're in such a despicable mood, I think I'll spare Mandi and talk to you about it myself."
"About what?" Sanzo straightened, violet eyes squinted.
"About the four of you staying here," Katie prompted, sitting on the blue plaid loveseat across from the sofa. "We've run into a bit of a problem."
"Oh? And what's that?"
Katie sighed. "Mandi's grandparents will be home after this coming week, Ash and I will have to go home, and you won't have a place to stay. You're lucky to have run into us when you did- nobody else would've known who you were, nor would they have taken in four complete strangers."
"So we'll just find somewhere else," Sanzo replied haughtily.
"You don't understand; without money, Sanzo, there is nowhere else." A frown crossed her lips. "I hope you are able to find whatever it is you're searching for sometime soon in that case. Maybe then you can go back to Shangri La before you have to worry about another place to stay."
Sanzo retorted with a scoff. "I think this whole situation was only for the entertainment of that old hag that calls herself merciful."
While that wasn't entirely out of the question, Katie didn't figure that Kanzeon Bosatsu would be the type to have done something this rash without a perfectly legit reason. Sure the goddess loved a bit of entertainment now and again, but why would she send her four heroes out to this place?
"Why won't you tell us why you're here? Other than it not being our business- don't you dare use that reason, Genjyo Sanzo- your staying in this house makes it our business." She became smug. "Besides, I'd bet anything that Hakkai is telling Mandi right…now."
Realization that Hakkai hadn't come downstairs with the rest of the circus sprang the monk into action. These girls did not need to know anything- this quest had nothing to do with them. Sanzo leapt up the stairs towards the larger bedroom, Katie following calmly behind him. Even if he didn't mean to, Hakkai could spill information at the drop of a hat. Although he'd try to get out of saying anything, the brunette young man almost always gave up and relinquished at persistence.
Not bothering to knock, Sanzo burst into the bedroom, fuming.
"Um…excuse you?" Mandi glared from her place on the bed. "Something I can help you with, oh wonderful Master Sanzo, before you destroy the rest of my house?"
He ignored the sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Where's Hakkai?"
"In his room?" Mandi guessed, shrugging. "Relax. He didn't say a word to me."
Sanzo didn't relax, though when he spoke again he didn't come off sounding as harsh. "Tomorrow you three are going to help us search. It's been made obvious that we can't stay here forever."
Mandi quirked a brow towards Katie. Apparently she'd said something to the monk before they came upstairs.
"That's all fine and dandy, but if we don't know what we're looking for, how can we help?" Katie snapped impatiently.
Turning to move past her, Sanzo scowled. "I'm sure Hakkai will tell you everything, just as he planned on doing, later." He turned his attention to the corner of the front bedroom where Hakkai stood, hidden in the doorway.
Without another word, Sanzo retreated down to the dining room, where Gojyo, Ashley, and Goku sat at the table. An ice pack was being applied to the kappa's forehead by Ashley since he couldn't be bothered to do it himself. Frankly, he just liked the attention.
Goku sat on the other end, wolfing down a rather large sandwich, laughing every time Gojyo winced at the ice.
"You're such a wimp, water roach!"
Gojyo growled, ready to reach over the table and lay into the younger youkai. "It's your fault I got whacked in the first place, monkey! Keep it up and I'll…"
"…If you don't shut up I'm going to give you bother something to whine about." Ashley muttered, shaking her head.
"My sentiments exactly." Sanzo spoke crossly, sitting down at the table. He found Ashley the easiest to not despise of the three girls. She had a mind similar to his own, it seemed. Most of the time, anyway.
Goku and Gojyo immediately quieted, but after minutes of awkward silence, Goku felt the need to break it.
"Ne, Sanzo?"
An agitated grunt escaped the high monk. "What?"
"How long are we gonna stay here? Shouldn't we be looking for the…" his golden eyes shifted to Ashley fleetingly. "…ya know?"
"Don't ask stupid questions, Goku. We'll leave when we leave." Sanzo sniffed, his eyes also dancing over Ash's form.
The young woman realized they wouldn't speak freely with her in the room. "Tch, fine, I know when I'm not wanted here."
As she got up, Gojyo stood up quickly as well. "Don't chase my nurse away, Sanzo, my head is pounding."
Ashley rolled her eyes at the remark, dropping the ice pack into Gojyo's palm. "Sorry, kappa, but the nurse is now off-duty." She turned, walking towards the basement for an unknown reason. Her cheeks were flushed- Ash did really like Gojyo, she just wished he'd let some of his true personality shine through all that flirtation. She knew how sweet he could really be, so why did he hide it?
He followed her down the blue wooden steps, catching her by the wrist as they reached the concrete bottom.
"What?" Ash demanded, turning to find Gojyo hovering very near to her. She stepped back in surprise to find herself pressed against a wooden post.
Gojyo winked to her, letting go of her wrist and leaned forward, his palm against the post for support. "I never got to thank ya honey…Ashley." He corrected himself, not wanting to get beaned again for using an annoying pet name. When she didn't make a move, Gojyo leaned in closer to fill the gap between them, brushing his lips gently over hers. The kiss didn't last long enough by his terms, but he grinned as he pulled back. "So thanks."
Ashley stood, stunned beyond words. Did that actually just happen? Her cheeks crimsoned to match Gojyo's hair as she struggled to find her voice, managing to sound somewhat cool and collected.
"You're welcome. I don't usually take that form of payment, though. I guess I'll let it slide."
Smirking, Gojyo drew close again, obvious playful lust dancing in his scarlet gaze. It'd been such a long time since he was able to get close to a woman without her turning into something that ultimately just wanted to kill him. He felt something too, or at least he thought he did. Something of an electric spark when he'd felt her lips beneath his. When he moved to repeat his prior action, however, a hand pushed against his chest.
"I can let it slide just that once." Ashley added, not wanting to get carried away. As much as she would've loved to kiss him again, she had to remind herself how much it would hurt to become physically attached to Gojyo. When the Sanzo party returned to Togenkyo the girls may not be able to follow- Ash didn't want that kind of pain.
It was Gojyo's turn to be stunned. What woman had ever declined him after one of his kisses? None that he could recall, but he was respectful enough to not force the unwilling. Obligingly, Gojyo backed away, wondering just what it was about Ashley that intrigued him so much. Why was he singling her out?
He began his trek up the stairs, mind reeling. She was cute, but so were the other two girls. It definitely had to be about the attitude. Katie would flirt back openly, but she'd only take it so far. She wasn't into Gojyo, not like that anyhow, and besides…the kappa was a little afraid of her. Katie seemed like the type who would really kick his ass if he did something stupid.
Mandi…nah, Mandi just blushed and shied away. She was too quiet and too sweet- unless speaking to Sanzo- and that wasn't exactly Gojyo's type. He liked his women a little more feisty. This girl reminded him too much of Hakkai, anyhow, so it'd be like sleeping with his best friend. Gojyo smirked- that girl was nuts about Hakkai, it read so clearly when she talked to or about him- he wouldn't have a chance anyhow.
So then what was it? Ashley's cool demeanor, sly playfulness, and dry wit seemed to really attract him. She had brains on top of that, which seemed to be something lacking in most of Gojyo's women. Those girls just cared about a muscular body to bed down with for one night. That was a little hypocritical, he supposed, he just looked for someone cute to bed without having to worry about attachments. Ashley might be someone he wouldn't mind having an attachment to…
Slapping a hand over his face, the kappa tried to snap out of it. Sha Gojyo was not, by any means, a one woman man. He chuckled low to himself- his lust was starting to get to his head. There'd be plenty of willing young ladies back in Shangri La…he hoped.
Evening came quickly and everyone found themselves sitting around the dining room table for a meal. Luckily, with the exception of the microwave, other major appliances did exist in Shangri La, and so Hakkai took it upon himself to prepare dinner, refusing anyone's help in the kitchen. It was his own thank you to the girls for being so patient and generous. They all thought of it as an incredibly sweet gesture, and none of them complained.
Katie gave Mandi a nudge, bringing the younger brunette away from a forkful of absolutely heavenly chicken teriyaki.
"Yes?"
The reply came as a soft whisper. "Has Hakkai mentioned anything to you about why they're here, yet?"
Mandi shook her head lightly. "No, he said he would after dinner. Get this- even though Sanzo said Hakkai might as well tell us, he insisted on only telling me so I could pass it on to you and Ash. Isn't that weird?"
A devious smirk played Katie's lips. "A little, I guess. Where is he going to tell you?"
Pausing to appreciate the bite of chicken, Mandi pondered why this was even important. "The backyard. Of all places. Weird, right?" Her eyes moved over the others at the table, catching an emerald gaze.
Hakkai smiled warmly to her. "Are you enjoying it, my dear?" His cheeks took on a pink tinge. He didn't know why he became slightly flustered when he spoke to her, he didn't know why she was any different from Katie or Ashley.
"Yes, very much, thank you." The words came out rushed as Mandi returned the smile, her own cheeks taking on a rosy hue as she returned her eyes to her plate.
Katie exchanged a grin with Ashley, noting the exchange, before whispering to Mandi again. "I just think he wants to be alone with you. That's why he's taking only you into the backyard."
"Tch, stop that…" Mandi muttered. As much as she really liked Hakkai, there were plenty of reasons she could never share the kind of closeness her friend was implying.
For one, Hakkai wasn't even from this world…he was from Shangri La, and soon enough he'd be whisked right back there. There was no guarantee that the girls would be able to follow, as much as they really wanted to. There also was no real proof that Hakkai even took interest in her in that way- he was nice to all of them. And…Mandi knew that Kanan still played lead role in that poor man's heart. His physical wounds had been closed up, sure, but his soul still bled for what he had lost. Whenever she thought of his situation, she felt her own heart break for him. How could anyone blame Hakkai for not wanting to open up to anyone again? Mandi was not Kanan, she never could be, and she didn't want to be. However, it didn't change that she wanted to do nothing but comfort Hakkai every time he feigned a smile.
A finger snapped in front of her almond colored gaze. Blinking, Mandi turned her attention to Gojyo. "Huh?"
The kappa raised his eyebrows, teasing her. "I know I'm good looking honey, but could ya stop day-dreaming about your fantasies about me long enough to pass the rice?"
Embarrassed, Mandi passed the rice bowl and shook her head. "Who said I was day-dreaming about you, red?" she resumed eating her own meal as Katie's voice sounded in her ear again.
"Don't you think Sanzo needs to lighten up?"
Not knowing where her friend was going with the statement, Mandi only shrugged. The monk was sitting, eating wordlessly, as he had done for the past four nights. Katie continued eating, conversing as normally as before, laughing as Gojyo complained about Goku taking the last egg roll.
What nobody could see, though, was Katie's bare foot creeping along Sanzo's leg under the table. The monk frowned, turning his gaze over the girls as he fidgeted. Who the hell was touching him? Ashley seemed too concerned about staving Gojyo's roaming eyes and flirtatious words, and Hakkai had Mandi's undivided attention as he explained the chicken teriyaki recipe to her.
Sanzo glowered in Katie's direction. This woman was out to get him, and that wasn't paranoia talking. His purple eyes narrowed with vehemence none could rival as he watched her carry on, oblivious of his gaze. Katie continued her charade, sliding her foot yet farther along the monk's leg, her toes wriggling against the fabric of his jeans. In an attempt to shake her off, Sanzo moved his legs to one side, but only succeeded in bringing the wandering foot closer to his thigh.
"That's enough!" Sanzo leapt to his feet with such energy that his chair toppled over onto the floor.
All eyes went to the seething monk, wondering what had gotten into him.
"My goodness…Sanzo, what's wrong?" Hakkai asked, worry lacing his words.
Katie's lips were dressed with the barest of smirks. "Gee, Sanzo, was there a bug up your leg, or something"
A finger pointed accusingly at the oldest of the young women. "Don't toy with me; you know perfectly well what was crawling up my leg!"
Ash and Mandi leaned forward to look at Katie's face. They knew that, whenever it was possible, she'd annoy Sanzo just to get a rise out of him. Nine times out of ten it worked with flying colors. This undoubtedly was one of those times.
"I honestly don't know what you're talking about, Sanzo." She shrugged, feigning innocence.
Gojyo sniggered as he pushed back his empty plate. "That is rich- Sanzo's old man personality is finally affecting his brain."
The kappa soon found his life being threatened by butter-knife point by the monk. While he didn't know what damage the utensil would really do to him, he wouldn't put it past Sanzo to think up of a way. He decided he liked breathing freely and backed down from being cocky.
Since Sanzo couldn't seem to get Katie to admit her actions, he stalked off outside for a cigarette in hopes to alleviate some stress. The older brunette girl giggled the moment he stepped out.
"Wow, he is touchy, isn't he?"
Hakkai smiled thinly, standing to put the toppled chair upright before he gathered the empty dishes. "I'll admit it was amusing but provoking Sanzo even playfully isn't the smartest thing to do. He doesn't have room for a sense of humor lately, and had this been Shangri La, I'm sure he wouldn't have hesitated to shoot."
"If this was Shangri La, I'd have been shot a long time ago." Katie speculated before adding somewhat thoughtfully. "It really would do him some good to lighten up, though."
"Sanzo always says he can't let his guard down, not even for a minute." Goku mumbled. "But ya know it would be nice if he stopped being such a tight ass for just one day."
Gojyo put the youth into a headlock, ruffling his hair in a big-brother manner. "Ah, Sanzo can't not be a tight ass- not even when he's injured or asleep," he winked to the girls, "so there goes the option of inflicting bodily harm or slipping him sleeping pills, eh?"
They laughed at this. There lay some truth in Gojyo's words- Sanzo didn't take his injuries well and he was such a light sleeper he'd detect an ant creeping along a carpet.
In fact, Katie had the misfortune of finding out what happens to someone who unintentionally wakes the monk up. A few evenings ago she'd moved to the closet located beside the room Sanzo was sleeping in, searching for a bottle of aspirin for a headache she had. The clicking of the doorknob turning had caused Sanzo to fly from his bed like a bat out of hell, fan in one hand and gun in the other. When he saw it was only Katie, he swiped the fan across her head a few times and told her to quit being so noisy.
Naturally that hadn't settled well with Katie and she retaliated with a kick to his shin and a few choice words of her own. That was an argument heard round the world…
…Goku squirmed from Gojyo's grip and made his way towards the basement, flattening his hair. He thought it was strange that he didn't have the golden coronet around his head. While the absence gave him a sense of freedom it also brought with it incompleteness. It was part of who he was; he'd never been without it for as long as he could remember. The lack of the limiter, however, granted him the ability to experience what it perhaps felt to be simply human, and he reveled in it. The cold metal of the diadem had always weighed so heavily against his head and for now he was unburdened.
"Hey monkey, where do ya think you're going?" Gojyo started after him.
"Video games!" Goku grinned widely to the redhead. He picked up fast on the concept of game consoles- not a hard task at all. When he set his mind to something, Goku was a quick learner. "Wanna play?"
"I wanna play alright, but not with you or those games." Gojyo replied, winking in Ashley's direction.
The blond girl rolled her hazel eyes, cheeks heating up as she stood from the table. "Sorry, but I've got a prior engagement. Katie?"
Hoping to get a rise out of more than just the monk, Katie moved to link an arm with one of Ashley's. "Yep, she sure does. So sorry, Gojyo, better luck next time..?" she smirked.
Mandi ducked her head to her palm, trying to hide her grin at the antics of her two friends. Hakkai stood there with a pile of dirty dishes in his hands, face blushing as he curiously watched and waited to see what was going to happen.
Gojyo's jaw nearly hit the floor at what the pair was insinuating. "Are you serious?" He regained his composure as they nodded soberly. "That…is…hot. Don't mind if I watch, do ya?"
Ash shrugged a shoulder. "If you want to, I guess it's ok. I mean, I didn't think it was all that exciting…"
Katie's smirk deepened. "Yeah, I really don't know what you'll get out of it, but whatever floats your boat."
"Or whatever keeps his dish filled," Mandi chuckled under her breath.
Hakkai caught the joke murmured by the younger brunette and he laughed, finally retreating into the kitchen.
Gojyo formed a wide grin, tossing his crimson hair a little in a way most women found absolutely knee-weakening. "I'm sure it'll hold my attention for the duration, ladies. Where to?"
The girls giggled softly as they headed to the kitchen, Hakkai leaving it at the same time. Now Gojyo was confused- where were they going? The kitchen seemed kind of…kinky. He followed them and found them standing at the sink, filling it with water and liquid soap. What the..?
"What the hell?! You're doing dishes?! That was your prior engagement?! Gah…" he ran a hand over his face.
"Yeah. What did you think we were going to do, pervert?" Katie sputtered in laughter. "We told Hakkai we'd take care of the dishes since he made dinner. Didn't mean to get you all hot and bothered, red- Ash, maybe he needs to cool down?"
"I'm one step ahead of you." Ashley took the spray hose from the sink and aimed it for Gojyo. She nailed him with ice cold water but he stepped aside and she nailed Sanzo as he came back in through the back door.
The kidding around stopped at that moment as the three stared at the monk, muttering a unanimous "Oops."
Sanzo's eyebrow twitched as he pushed sopping golden hair from his line of vision.
"Oops is not going to cut it. You behave like children." He grumbled, ripping the paper towels out of Ashley's offered hand.
"Oh like you're one to talk, monk. You throw temper tantrums like a two year old and then berate us for having a little fun?" Katie retorted in challenge.
"Oh my…here we go again." Hakkai murmured from his place in the dining room, hearing the heated words being passed in the kitchen. He turned to Mandi, smiling nervously. "What do you say we run away together and escape this madness while we still can? Or is that being too presumptuous?"
Mandi nodded slowly as her cheeks flared up, walking for the front door in the living room. "Maybe we should go this way- it's a longer route to the backyard but it's safer."
Hakkai gently clasped a hand over one of her shoulders, his perma-grin still in place. "Where's the fun in that? The short-cut seems so much more adventurous."
Trying to keep what was left of her blood supply from rising to her face, Mandi replied. "Alright, but if we get caught in the cross-fire…"
"…I'll take full responsibility, my dear, no worries." He smiled more warmly, steering her by the shoulders to the back door.
The battle ensued between Katie and Sanzo; by some miracle Gojyo escaped into the basement to take up Goku's offer, but poor Ashley was still trapped. By the looks of things, she wasn't at all pleased.
"If you both don't stop acting like children I'll put you both in a time-out…don't make me hose you down."
Sanzo sent a dark look Ashley's direction. Ashley sent one right back. Katie relented, not wanting to aggravate her friend further. Her blue gaze settled on Hakkai guiding Mandi out to the back porch.
"Have fun you two, don't do anything I wouldn't do!" she waved, grinning slyly. Katie thought they'd make the most splendid couple.
Hakkai removed his hands from Mandi's shoulders once they were outside, wondering what the other girl implied. 'Best not to ask…' he decided. He knew that they had inside jokes about the Sanzo-party. Of course, why shouldn't they with as much as the girls knew? A shudder wracked through Hakkai. He still wasn't keen on the idea of almost anyone being able to learn about the pasts, pains, and trials that he and the other three had gone through.
Nevertheless, the blame couldn't be placed on the girls. They were innocent of that if they were innocent of anything.
In a matter of moments, Hakkai found himself in the lush green backyard, Mandi closing the chain link gate behind them quietly. He'd found some solitude behind the house in the later hours of evening a few times out of the last five days. It reminded him…reminded him of everything he had hoped to one day share with his precious Kanan. They would have worked so hard to have this- a nice home, a garden of colorful flowers, and a peaceful place to relax the day away behind the privacy of a tall fence. There was a swing set in this backyard…he imagined his home would have had one too, had they ever gotten the chance to have children. Hakkai grimaced as the memory of losing Kanan flooded back to him- he couldn't have those things now…he couldn't have them ever.
Mandi stood patiently, hands clasped in front of her, waiting as Hakkai seemed to drown in his own thoughts. She had a good idea of what he might be thinking about, just from the pained expression he wore upon his face.
"Hakkai? Are you alright?" She called softly but then winced at the inquisition. Of course he wasn't alright, what a dumb question.
However, the young man snapped his smiling mask back in place flawlessly. "I'm just fine, I was only thinking. Sorry about that."
Not really wanting to push the issue, knowing it was rather touchy; Mandi nodded and made her way to the swinging bench behind the garage. She sat down on it, offering him a seat and he complied, his gaze still somewhat far away. When no words were spoken for a few minutes, she rested a hand on his shoulder.
Hakkai rolled his gaze to her curiously as she spoke quietly. "I'm sorry."
He kept his smile. "Whatever for? You haven't done anything wrong."
"It doesn't seem right that we know so much about all of you and you know so little about us. I feel like a snoop…I mean aside from the joking, we saw some pretty horrific things happen to you. But you know, it really affected us…we'd get worried about what was to come for all of you, wondering what the next volume held, hoping that none of you would have to continue hurting." She paused, dropping her hand into her lap. "Somewhere deep down we wished so much that you four were real. There's so much life put into that animation that it didn't seem too impossible. It might sound strange, but we really got attached to the characters we watched so ardently on that screen. And now…"
As her voice trailed off, Hakkai's expression faltered a bit. No, it didn't seem fair that they knew so much. "It isn't your fault because you had no way of knowing. Just like we had no way of knowing a world like yours exists. If it's any consolation though, if there's anything you'd like to share about your own past I'd be more than willing to listen." He meant that too; he had an interest in learning about the young women.
Mandi sighed, her eyes to the sky, and as she let the breath escape her, the wind seemed to pick up at that precise moment. Hakkai noted it, but for the time being would disregard it.
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." She replied before smiling sweetly. "So isn't there something you wanted to say?"
Forgetting the real reason they'd went outside, Hakkai became flustered. Something he wanted to say? To her? He searched his memory before it dawned on him. Laughing he nodded.
"Yes, to tell you why we're here." A brief silence came and went as he pondered where to begin. "I suppose there's no real explanation needed in telling you who the Merciful Goddess is, or of our real quest. You're pretty well informed on that much. I'm sure you know that the situation in Shangri La is becoming rather precarious, too much for comfort. We're being overwhelmed and apparently there's a new danger lurking in the shadows…"
"Homura has the Saiten Scriptures." Mandi offered. "He wants to destroy Tenkai and Shangri La as you know it and create an entirely new universe."
"Right…" Hakkai acknowledged her words, turning in his place to look to her. "There's a story about the first gods that roamed the earth…goddesses really, but not even like the gods that exist now. They were the elementals, the very stuff that allowed life to thrive the way it has. Something happened to them, what I'm not exactly sure of, but their souls were locked away. Only recently were three of the four awakened, however, those three hosts aren't anywhere in Shangri La. We were sent to this world to find them, the elements of wind, water, and earth."
Mandi felt something flip-flop in her stomach as she recalled something of wind from her dreams…water in Ashley's…earth in Katie's. She shook it off and concluded Hakkai's synopsis.
"Yet you have no idea where to look for them, all you know is that they're somewhere in the area you were taken to…somewhere here."
"Exactly. The goddess told us that they would be female and that there was more to them that met the eye. She isn't very detailed, I'm afraid, so it leaves us at a bit of a loss. I think this is why Sanzo refused the help you and your friends offered- he figures that there's no way you'll know how to find them." Hakkai responded, standing from the bench.
The young woman let on a teasing smile. "That and he doesn't want us meddling in his affairs, since it has nothing to do with us, right?"
"I suppose." Another laugh escaped the green eyed youth and he gazed towards the house. "I'm heading back inside before everyone thinks we got lost back here. Are you coming along, my dear?"
Mandi flinched at the term this time instead of blushing. "I'll go in a few minutes…Um, Hakkai?"
"Yes?" He smiled brightly.
"Could you please…not call me that anymore? I'm not used to pet names, and I know it's just a force of habit for you but...unless you mean that, please don't say it."
His smile slipped but he forced it back into place. "I had no idea it bothered you, my…" he shakes his head, "…Mandi, my apologies. It's going to be a hard habit to break, bear with me, please."
"Of course." She nodded and turned to stare at the sky veiled with clouds and smog from the distant factory as Hakkai returned to the house. Her head filled with thoughts, several involving a certain green-eyed, dark haired gentleman but most consisting of the information she had just learned. No doubt Katie and Ashley would be quite fascinated by it when Mandi told them…
The next day brought with it more stress, both on Sanzo's part and on everyone else. He made the entire group go out in search of the elementals, but to no avail. Katie noted it was pointless searching for just three people without knowing what they looked like. It was like the proverbial needle in the haystack- in a sea of people, three ordinary females weren't going to stick out very much.
Mandi had been right though, in assuming that her friends would be fascinated by what Hakkai told her. The girls joked that maybe the three of them were the elementals that were needed…or they were half joking anyhow. Part of them all wished it was possible, but other than the roles they were currently playing as hosts to the Sanzo party, they didn't think there was anything that extraordinary about them. Still…just how funny would it be to see the look on Sanzo's face if they were? The thought made them giggle until their sides were sore.
After returning from a several hours' worth of diligent searching, Sanzo grumpily stalked into the living room to take his usual place on the couch, undoing the first couple buttons on his shirt, reclining comfortably and turned on the TV to CNN. Goku claimed he was too tired to even move, but the thought of getting something to eat seemed to revive him. As Hakkai began to help himself to what the fridge had to offer for an early dinner, he tried to calm down the 'starving' golden eyed boy.
Gojyo plopped down on the loveseat, hanging his head over the arm of it, crimson hair streaming back from his forehead as he groaned.
"Sanzo, man, if you ever make us go on a wild goose chase like that again, I'm gonna…"
"…you're gonna what?" The monk dared him to finish the sentence.
Gojyo blanched. "Nothing."
"I thought not." Sanzo muttered, his eyes glued to the TV screen, seeing nothing of much importance. He did note, however, that there was a lot of violence in this world…it seemed just as corrupted as Shangri La, if not more so.
Mandi waltzed through the living room, her cell phone pressed to her ear. While the group had been out, she had the phone in hand in a desperate attempt to reach Erin. The fourth girl was due to arrive any time and Mandi had yet to explain the situation at hand. Panic was rising within her…
"Damnit, why isn't she answering the phone?!" she cried out, frustrated as she stopped in the middle of the stairs towards her room.
Ashley and Katie glanced to each other and then to their friend, pushing her the rest of the way up.
"Didn't she have midterms today?" Katie asked, wondering if Mandi had forgotten.
"Gah…yes, she did, this morning." The brunette replied, dejected, as she bounced onto her bed.
"Keep on trying then," Ashley suggested. "There's really nothing more that you can do beside stuff all of the guys into a closet somewhere."
"But then they'd have to come out." Katie sniggered.
Mandi rolled her eyes but managed a short laugh. "I couldn't see trying to stuff Sanzo in anywhere for anyone's sake. I guess I'll just have to hope she answers her phone…"
Unbeknownst to her, however, Erin was just pulling up to the house. The entire time from Kentucky to Berkley, Illinois she had kept her phone on silent, not wanting to be bothered. She pulled up her white car which she aptly named Chunky for the missing spots of paint, and picked up a black and grey book bag stuffed with belongings. Her thin form wandered up to the back door, unknowing of just what she'd walk in on…
As the back door opened, Goku turned his eyes from his leftover chicken teriyaki to see who was coming inside. Wasn't everyone who should be there in the house already? When the obstacle was out of his way, the so called intruder was revealed- a young woman with short, dyed blue hair and red eyes was standing before him. She wore a tan tank top under a black zipper hooded sweat shirt that hung a bit off her shoulders, and a pair of baggy black pants with pink bondage straps.
"Um…who're you?" he asked, shifting a little in his seat at the dining room table.
The young woman gazed at him, absolutely puzzled as to why this very familiar person was sitting in one of her best friend's house. "I'm Erin, Mandi's friend…"
She turned her gaze to the person she thought she saw at the kitchen sink. A tall brunette young man had his back turned to her, apparently having taken no notice that someone had walked in. Quirking a brow, Erin moved through the dining room, setting her book bag down against the wall and stopped to look in the living room.
A good looking blond with violet eyes turned his gaze in her direction, sitting up from his lounging position on the couch. Erin gawked a moment before looking to the redhead on the loveseat. He too sat up and stared in bewilderment to her.
"What in the..? Excuse me, but where's Mandi?" She asked, calmly as possible.
The redhead pointed to the stairs. "In her room with Ashley and Katie. Who the hell are you, honey?"
Erin smiled sweetly but didn't reply to him, turning to make her way up the stairs. About halfway along she parted her lips and shouted at the top of her lungs.
"MANDI YOU HAVE SOME EXPLAINING TO DO, GODDAMNIT!"
Upon hearing the voice of her friend. Mandi closed her flip phone and winced, looking to Ashley and Katie who both gave her sympathetic expressions. This was going to take a while- she was hoping that Erin was up for a long story.