A/N So Chapter 14 is finally here. I'm quite sorry for the delay, I've just been slightly distracted. Please- if anyone finds any errors here, let me know!! Proofreading this kind of took a backseat because I'm just kind of tired of working on this chapter lol- any grammar mistakes, prospective plot holes, spelling errors and otherwise- feel free to point them out! Arigatou!

Disclaimer: Saiyuki and its characters all © to Kazuya Minekura. I'm making no profits from this whatsoever other than sheer (grueling --;; ) entertainment.

Claimers: All original characters (Mandi, Erin, Katie, Ashley, Tsung Lao and otherwise) all © to their respective owners. Looky no stealy!

Chapter Fourteen

Conventions of Sorts- Part One

When the second weekend had finally begun to creep up on the group staying at Mandi's home without much more talking or searching for elementals, the girls had settled on discussing the next important topics. Anime Central, Chicago's biggest anime convention. It hadn't been thought that Katie and Ashley would go, but since the Sanzo-ikkou's arrival, several plans had changed to accommodate. Costumes were quickly slapped together for the extra pair of girls, and of course, the quartet deemed it necessary for the four fellows to attend as well.

"We very well can't leave them alone, can we?" Katie prompted with her usual sly grin.
"Of course not. Besides, they'd fit right in. They wouldn't look out of place there." Erin piped up gleefully.
And fit in they would. The young women made a point to tell the guys they could wear their normal attire down to every last detail.
"Sanzo can even have his gun- unloaded of course." Mandi mused.
Ashley nodded. "What about Hakkai and Goku, though? They're missing the most important details."
Of course- those two both lacked power limiters, and Goku didn't have his Nyoi-bou. There wasn't much to be done about the lack of weapons; however, something could be done about the missing limiters. Thus, tin foil ones were fashioned quickly- which had made everyone laugh at the relative cheapness. Even Sanzo had cracked a smirk-like-smile. Perhaps he, as well as the others, were actually glad to be able to wear the clothing they'd found suitable in Shangri La.
After much confusion on the road, the two cars- Erin's Beretta and Hakuryuu, as Hakkai refused to leave the Jeep behind- pulled into the Hyatt's parking garage.

"Ah, we're finally here!! Last year was so much fun- and now, with our...new friends, it'll be like TEN times BETTER!" Mandi exclaimed rather giddily as she unloaded her own belongings from the Jeep. Her eyes caught the license plate for the first time and she let out a small laugh. "Look at that… Nishi- West...how funny."
The other girls glanced between each other, wondering who'd given her the sugar-shot, though agreed the plates were uncanny. They'd all become much lighter at heart for getting away, for getting to attend the convention.
As the group lumbered toward the hotel, they were halted by several other attendees, begging for pictures with the Saiyuki "cosplayers".
Sanzo wasn't particularly happy about this; he wasn't in costume, after all, these were his real clothes.
Violet gaze flashing dangerously at the fan girls, he growled. "What do you need a picture for?" They tittered about how in character he was, and how so much his features were like the animated Genjyo Sanzo's.
Gojyo had liked the attention from the pretty, flighty girls. That is, until they asked how he found contacts that made his eyes look so realistically red, and commented on natural his hair seemed.

"Even the scars look real!" one girl dared to comment. She didn't know…how could she? But all the same, it turned the hanyou off to relenting to the crowd any further.
Realizing nerves were touched, Hakkai suggested they simply huddle close and make a break for the hotel.
"I'm down with that." Erin muttered, hoisting up her black book bag and lugged on after everyone else.
Upon entering the Hyatt's lobby, something quite surreal occurred. It felt nearly like an Other World, suddenly being swept up into a sea of costumed convention goers. Amidst the group of elevators- which were tube shaped, transparent, and shot up to dizzying heights- were several groups of cosplayers, chatting away about costumes, events, and guests-of-honor. No, the Sanzo-ikkou should not at all feel out of place, for the single fact that to everyone else…they were cosplayers too.
"And the best cosplayers at that. They kick everyone else's ass." Katie concluded.
Mandi spun on her heels to face the group, nearly losing her balance from the momentum. "Erin and I are going to check in. It'd be best for the rest of you to just wait here until we're done, since we only got one double room to share between the eight of us."

As expected, Sanzo protested. "I want my own room."

"Now, now Sanzo..." Hakkai smiled in his most perplexingly cheerful way. "...I believe this time the situation can go without your complaints. The girls have been bending over backward and then some to help us, and obviously for Mandi and Erin, this has been in their plans for some time. We owe it to them to just do as they say this time."
"In other words, monk- put up or shut up." Gojyo grinned at his blunt statement. Goku let on an impish expression as Sanzo struck the hanyou with his harisen.
A few passing cosplayers giggled in satisfaction at the display. It was lovely to see everyone remaining "in character".
"Goddamnit Sanzo, that thing is for monkeys!" Gojyo cursed before turning his crimson gaze to the utterly amused Ashley. "What?"
She shrugged, though her smirk betrayed any attempt at a nonchalant attitude. "You're so cute when you're angry."
Katie clamped her palm tightly over her lips to stifle her snickering. The ero-kappa quirked a thin red brow, for once rendered speechless by a woman. He hadn't expected that at all, and so remained gaping at the blond.
"Hn...thanks for shutting him up." Sanzo grumbled in a tone that could have passed for good humor.
"Anytime monk." Ashley replied, still fighting a smile.
"When are Mandi and Erin comin' back?" Goku suddenly wailed, clutching at his stomach. More cosplayers who recognized the group giggled at the well known line to come. "I'm hungry!"
"Huynh, baka saru!" Sanzo swiped the back of the youth's head with the paper fan. "If I can't complain about a room, you can't complain of hunger!" In truth, Sanzo was getting hungry himself and grumpy because of it.
"Hey now!" Katie voiced at the Goku-beating. "I think that's justification for a hose-down in Mandi's backyard for picking on Goku!"

"But they'd look funny if they weren't themselves." Ashley pointed out quietly.
The older brunette shushed her. "I wanna see Sanzo get hosed!"
Glowering, the monk crossed his arms. "Might I point out that we're no longer at the house- therefore, those rules don't apply here."
Goku's stomach growling was the only reply.
When a few long minutes of avoiding more Saiyuki fan girls in want of pictures had passed, Mandi and Erin finally returned. They each held up a pair of keys.
"We managed to snag four and registered Katie and Ashley for the room too. We tried to book another double but they're all filled up." Mandi explained handing a key to Ashley as Erin passed one to Katie. "It'll be kind of a tight fit...but we'll manage."
"It's against hotel ordinance to have more than four to a double room, isn't it?" Ashley questioned, eying the abundance of roommates.
"Hn...ye-es...it is; which is why nobody has to know we're cramming eight of us into a room for two nights." Erin grinned slyly.
Katie picked up her bag again. "Well what're we waiting for? Let's go!"
"I suppose..." Ash followed, slightly uncertain.
Mandi laughed lightly as she and Erin led the other six toward the East elevators. "So here's the agenda- we go to the room- us girls will change into our costumes and then we can all go and get our passes." She glanced toward the others. "Since I was smart enough to pre-register our extra people at the freaking last minute, all you six have to do is go to the pre-reg counter and pay forty bucks each for each pass."
Before any of the Sanzo-ikkou could bring up their issue of lack of proper currency, the girls told them not to worry about expenses. The badges would be taken care of.
Whilst bustling into the elevator, Sanzo tried to decline from attending convention events. He'd be fine sitting in the hotel room. "What need do I have to see any of this? I'd like to avoid the chaos, thank you."
"Oh come on Sanzo..." Hakkai voiced almost smugly. "Aren't you the least bit curious to see what happens here? To see the costumes? To have more crazy fan girls giggle over how much like your "character" you are? It might be fun."
Gojyo's lips curled malevolently so. "The day that Sanzo loosens up to enjoy a night out is the day I settle down with a hot little number for the rest of my natural life."
He didn't catch the semi-dejected expression from Ashley.
"So basically, it's a no-go." Goku stated, receiving an icy glare from the monk.
The elevator finally stopped, reaching the 22nd floor, - uninterrupted, shockingly enough) - and the eight filed on out. Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Katie spoke. "Erin, Mandi...if I'm not mistaken, people from all over come to this convention, right?"
Nodding, the girls confirmed, bustling along the thin carpet of the narrow hallway. They knew well that Katie vied to "psychologize" Sanzo, to get him to change his mind. Odds were, it would work, granted that whatever Katie came up with was feasible.
"I imagine that anime fans come from all around Chicago and maybe other places too." Ashley spoke with some support, discretely leading Katie's point.
Erin slid her key card through the lock to open the door to their room. "They pretty much do."
The room was revealed as nothing really extraordinary, but certainly not shabby. There was a bathroom on their immediate left, a closet beside it, and stepping past it the rest revealed a long dresser with a TV atop it. Beside the dresser stood a sturdy table with four chairs at it, and a lamp set in the corner, and across from this were two twin beds and an end table between them. To the left of the bed closest to the window there was situated another end table with a coffee maker sitting between two more cushy looking chairs. The view from the window was nothing special- it offered a brilliant view of the parking garage across the street and the lot below the hotel. Nonetheless, it brought back memories from the past year.
Nobody appeared impressed by the room, and Sanzo's curiosity of what Katie was trying to prove earlier had begun to fade.
Until the brunette suddenly found her voice and train of thought again, that is. "Since we've come up dry searching everywhere else, and you're so certain none of us are the elementals- EVEN after watching the damn DVD- why not look around here? Since you've got such a disinterest in the convention itself, why not just sift through the attendants?"

Bingo.

Ashley, Erin, and Mandi exchanged knowing smiles of Katie's victory over the golden haired monk.
"Hn. Point taken, I suppose." Sanzo crossed his arms, violet eyes glinting, lips set in an irate scowl of his forced submission. "But might I remind you all that I don't have a key to this room? If I leave, how will I get back inside?"
Quite naturally, Katie had a response for this, and everyone else remained excluded from the conversation, smiling secret smiles while they arranged their belongings.
Katie pulled free the white bed sheet that had been cut and transformed into the Merciful Goddess' revealing white dress. "That's easily remedied, Sanzo; I'll go with you and help you search." Before the words 'no way in hell' could begin to pass through Sanzo's lips, Hakkai took countenance.
"It may be a good idea, Sanzo. Two pairs of eyes are better than one, and I'm sure the rest of us can afford to take a look around between events."
The monk grumbled, yet relented. He knew that by now everyone but he would get their way.
Katie beamed, heading for the bathroom to change. "Glad that's settled then." Her form vanished behind the door.
Ashley picked up her costume, shaking her head. "I don't know if I want to wear this after all."
"Why not?" Erin and Goku asked in unison, looking up from unpacking. They grinned at each other and Goku blushed. "It wasn't a problem when we were making it." The blue haired girl insisted.
"I'm too tall for one thing." Ash murmured. "And I'm not as energetic as she is- people here obviously expect you to stay in character. I might've been better off without a costume."
This caught Gojyo's attention and a meaningful smirk curled his lips. "No costume sounds great to me, honey."
"Nobody asked your opinion." Sanzo snorted, straightening his robes and then folded his arms over them once again.
Hakkai chuckled from the window, having been studying the dull view. "Now, now..."
"Go on Ashley! Erin's dressing up as Yaone today and wearing her Dr. Huang costume from last year tomorrow." Mandi encouraged in hopes of convincing their friend to cosplay. "And her hair is short and blue. So don't worry about it so much, just have fun."
Ash finally gave in, retreating to the bathroom as Katie emerged. The blond young woman stopped, gazing inquisitively at the brown eyed brunette.
"...What?" Mandi frowned, not liking the expression being given to her.
"You might want to rethink your costume...just a thought." Ash smiled faintly before going to change.
"What was that about?" Gojyo retorted, about to light a cigarette when Hakkai coughed, gesturing to the "no smoking" sign above the television. "Goddamnit."
Katie worked on getting her hair to curl and fall like Kanzeon's, darting her gaze between everyone. "You are cosplaying, right Mandi?"
Erin bit her lower lip. "Usually I'd be on her ass to do it, but this time...maybe not."
Mandi gazed to the yellow fabric peeking up at her from the black and yellow backpack. "No...I can't...I won't."
Hakkai curiously attempted to peer over her shoulder from the other side of the bed. "Why not? Who were you going to be?" He smiled warmly.
A nervous laugh escaped her, almond colored eyes flickering over his face as she closed the backpack up. "N-nothing special, really." Mandi shot a glance to Erin who only shook her head helplessly. 'Damnit, how did I forget who I was cosplaying? I really was wrapped up in all the excitement, wasn't I? I...can't wear that...'
Suspicion arose with curiosity, but luckily Ashley emerging from the bathroom in her Ririn costume diverted some attention.
"That looks awesome!" Katie exclaimed, finishing her own hair and going to put on the red makeup to make the youkai birthmarks found on the real Ririn's face.
"Look Sanzo, she's dressed up just like her!" Goku cried, leaping up from the other bed so fast his tin-foil coronet nearly fell off of his head. Out of habit, he slapped his hand over it, wide eyed. "I forgot...this one isn't real."
Erin laughed quietly at that. She supposed not having a limiter for a certain amount of time made Goku feel free, yet having one again- even if it wasn't the real thing, kept him on his toes.
"Y'know, I think she's cuter than the real thing." Gojyo speculated, winking one crimson orb at Ashley who blushed and turned away to hide it.
Sanzo stepped aside to let Erin pass him- her turn to change- and he lift his chin to hide a half smile. "If there's anything good to say of it, she's quieter than and not as annoying as the real thing."
Hakkai grinned deviously, his tone border lining taunting. "You don't miss Ririn, do you Sanzo?"
"What makes you think something so stupid?" the monk grunted, losing what might have been only a smirk and not a smile.
"Oh, I don't know," Hakkai pressed, smiling wider. "I thought I detected a bit of nostalgia for your favorite youkai playmate."
"Do you WANT to die?!" Sanzo roared.
The brunette young man lifted his hands, palms out. "I don't think my punishment should be so severe." He sighed, silently adding. 'Though, I'll admit to feeling I deserve death, sometimes.'
His smile slipped.
Everyone noticed. No one pointed it out.
"ARGH! Mandi!! Come in here and help me!!" Erin cried out from behind the bathroom door.
"Sounds like costume trouble. I'll be back!" Mandi laughed, ducking away, glad for the reprieve.
"So who was she gonna dress up as?" Goku asked, his eyes moving toward the backpack nestled in the corner of the right hand bed and night table.
"Does it matter?" Sanzo muttered crossly. "Don't push the subject, just drop it."
Hakkai sidestepped to the foot of the bed, eying the bag as well. "I'm afraid my curiosity is beginning to get the best of me, but we truly shouldn't pry."
"That's right- you shouldn't." Katie agreed, sharing a nervous exchange of glances with Ashley.
The hazel-eyed young woman continued to brush her hair into a Ririn-fashioned ponytail, adjusting the two tiny jingle bells on the back when she was through. "You may not like what you find. Save yourself the embarrassment, Hakkai."
If any hope of squelching his bewilderment remained, Ashley's statement did nothing of the sort.
"So, we'll just have Goku look." The red headed hanyou suggested with such indifference to the consequences that might come to the youth for doing so that even Sanzo was a little surprised. "Then he can just tell us what he saw and that'll be the end of it."
Nobody said a word, and so Goku didn't hesitate any longer to scope out the "mystery".
"Well?" This came from Sanzo, who grew impatient when Goku unzipped the bag and failed to report anything.
Gojyo snickered then put on a stern facade in attempt to mimic the monk. "'Don't push the subject. Just drop it.' What happened to that?"
The violet eyed monk shot a venomous glare. "Does it matter? He looked anyway and now he hasn't said what's in there and it's annoying me."
"I think you just want to know what's hiding in there, priesty, and now you've got an excuse to find out." the kappa insisted, smirking.
"Shut up, ero-kappa." Sanzo seethed.
"Why?" Gojyo laughed challengingly.
The pistol came out. "I'll kill you." The smirk grew smug.
"You don't have bullets so I'd like to see you try."
'Damnit.' Sanzo retaliated with his harisen instead. "Shut up!"
Gojyo cowered. "Fucker that hurt!" He rubbed a hand over his head as Katie and Ash's giggles met his ears. "Glad to provide entertainment..."
"You mean 'stupid-tainment'." Sanzo grumbled. His pass for humor left something to be desired, bringing a smile only to Katie's lips. "Hn. What's in the bag, already?"
"It's nothin' special, like she said." Goku finally spoke, looking up. "Looks like just a yellow dress."
Hakkai's eyes widened at this. "Let me see it, please, Goku."
"I don't think that's a good idea, Hakkai. Mandi might not like it..." Katie murmured softly.
"Please..." Hakkai whispered it, his emerald gaze moving to the two girls. "I just...need to..."
"Here." Goku stood up, pulling out a long sleeved, high necked soft yellow dress with thin brown laces crossing at the wrists. It appeared as though it'd reach the wearer's ankles, or at least mid-calves.
"Oh gods..." Hakkai went visibly pale, lips parted while his mind spoke what his voice could not. '...Kanan...'
The sound of the bathroom door opening followed by Mandi's voice broke the otherwise impenetrable silence. "Okay, Erin's just about ready so we can get ready to go down...stairs..." She halted in her steps, freezing at the corner beside the closet, taking notice of the garment in Goku's hands.
Silence resumed.
Erin stumbled out behind the brunette, adjusting the straps to the fabric lacking top half of her costume. "It got quiet all of a sudden."
"Goku..." Mandi's voice shook. "...put that back, please."
Aware that the air had become thick with awkwardness, the heretic slowly replaced the dress. He knew he shouldn't have touched it. He knew it was wrong to go through another person's belongings. What he didn't know was why or how this yellow dress had caused so many faces to fall. What did he miss?
Goku stepped aside, pointing a finger at Gojyo, Sanzo, and Hakkai each. "They told me to do it."
The monk and hanyou glared vehemently at Goku then offered somewhat remorseful glances to Mandi.
Hakkai's own face read nothing of emotion. A different kind of mask had taken over. It'd been none of their business. They all pried and should have instead taken heed to warning.
Katie cleared her throat, edging past Mandi for the door. She sensed now would be a good time to retrieve the much needed ACEN badges.
"Maybe we should go down and get in line before they get too long." Ashley followed her friend's lead, slipping past as well. "Sounds good." Gojyo agreed quietly, not meeting anyone's gaze.
"Mandi, may I speak with you alone for a few moments?" Hakkai at last uttered with such calmness it gave everyone the creeps.
She nodded, turning uneasy eyes toward the remainder of the group. "We'll catch up, don't worry."
"But by that time the lines will be hella-long!" Erin frowned and then nodded, sighing as she made way for the door too. "I'll see if we can get your badges too. Call me when you get downstairs, 'kay?"
"Mm..." the brunette nodded, giving a wave of her fingers as Sanzo and Goku filed out after everyone else. Mandi followed, closing the door behind the retreating party and rested a palm on the cool beige-mauve panel. Her heart was ready to take off with the amount of apprehension that'd built up. 'Stupid! That was incredibly stupid!' She mentally berated her choice of costume. 'Why couldn't you have chosen someone else to be?'
Gathering her courage, Mandi turned and stepped forward from the door. Her tone was strained. "Hakkai-"

"-Why?" The emerald gaze flew upon her, his voice still soft. Calm. Eerily so. If Death could speak, Mandi imagined it'd sound much like he did now.
"Why what? Why did I bring it? Or why her, why that dress?" Mandi shook her head helplessly. Suddenly, she felt quite defensive at the inevitable argument to follow. 'Jesus-freaking-Christ, don't get this way! Doesn't he have a right to be upset?'
Hakkai no longer smiled. His eyes had darkened considerably. "Either. Both. You knew; you know what she last wore, what the last thing I ever saw her wear was...you knew how my seeing it would make me feel."
That wasn't a question- it was a flat out statement of accusation.
"Yes." Short, to the point, and the truth. What more to that did she need to say?
"So then why?! Why would you do that?!" He trembled, his feet moving forward as his voice rose in volume.
With nowhere else to go, Mandi pressed her back against the door. She had to face him and his rising temper- something she wished never to happen. He wouldn't hurt her though...right? 'Of course not. Hakkai is not that kind of person, he's just upset, but he won't...' Another part of her dared to disagree. 'Then again just look at what happened to the demons that held Kanan captive. They're dead.'
A struggle for comforting words to calm him ensued, but Mandi continued to draw a blank on niceties, her own voice raising not to be outdone by his. "It's not like I'd do it to hurt you on purpose!" Tears threatened to form and sting at her eyes, but she forced them back and kept on shouting. "I wouldn't...none of us would, do anything to intentionally hurt or upset you, or your friends!"
Hakkai narrowed his eyebrows, his face contorting into a cold, unfeeling mask. 'I shouldn't yell at her. I'm scaring her. Damnit, calm down Hakkai!' His conscience screamed but his iced over heart refused to listen.
"That doesn't answer my question. You are capable of answering a simple question, aren't you? I don't need this beating around the bush!"
His bitterness was as good as a slap to her face. Mandi flinched, breaking down to an extent but still did not cry. That expression on his face- she knew it well, but never thought she'd witness it personally.
That expression...the one Chin Iisou had deemed to be the "real Cho Gonou".
The cold hearted.
The demon slayer.
The sinner.
The murderer.
"How was I supposed to know any of you really existed?! Erin, Katie, Ashley, me; none of us knew, none of us could have known! You..." Mandi gulped for air- 'Don't say it...oh gods, don't say something to really hurt him!'- the thought came too late. "You're not even supposed to be here! You're not supposed to exist in this world!"
Now it was Hakkai's turn to look completely stunned.
Mandi fought to redeem herself in some way. "We made costumes for the convention...that's what we do for these kinds of events. We explained this to all of you already- dressing up as characters from our favorite shows is just part of the experience!" She paused- 'He still doesn't look convinced- I'm telling the truth-keep going, say something!'- "Female characters in Saiyuki are sparse, really."
She was rambling now, saying anything that might make sense, to keep from slumping into a defeated heap of tears on the floor. 'Don't be a crybaby.' "Why do you think I didn't want to change into my costume, anyway?!"

"Why did you even bring it here?!" Hakkai snapped back, startled at his own fiery temper. He hadn't been this way for a long, long time. 'It's a dress. It's just a stupid dress- it's not even Kanan's, just a replica. Don't cling to the past like this, it isn't healthy. It isn't who you are anymore.' Again, he couldn't listen to reason.
Mandi's face reddened as she flinched once more. "I wasn't thinking, alright?! Maybe it's hard for you to believe, but in the rush to get ready for the weekend, before we left the house, I forgot that the four of you were traipsing through my house. I forgot that you were even here." She huffed, crossing her arms, keeping her gaze on anything but him. "So I made a mistake. People do make mistakes, Hakkai. I do and say things without thinking first sometimes- this happened to be one of those times, and I'm sorry."
Hakkai's visage no longer represented coldness- nor did he smile kindly. He remained indifferent, though his tone had softened as he persisted.
"How come you chose Kanan? Out of everyone you could have been, if this is just for fun, why did you pick her?"
"I...really don't know." Mandi whispered, shifting uneasily on her feet. "It was an easy costume and..." Her words faded as she glanced briefly to him. "No matter what reason I come up with, it isn't going to be good enough to you, I'm sure of that."
He quirked an eyebrow. She was probably right, but still... "Then it shouldn't matter either way, just please tell me. I want to know."
The almond eyed young woman tried once more to meet the gaze he held steady to her but balked. "Those DVDs never really went into much detail about Kanan- about whom and what she was to you- though I already knew enough of the story." She kept going, noting some shame registering on his face when she dared to peek again. "That doesn't matter to me, I'm not here to judge anyone- I just ...my impression of her was always that Kanan must have been incredible. That she was kind, and sweet, and generous, and funny." Mandi shrugged lightly. "Why wouldn't someone want to cosplay her? And even in saying that, I've never seen anyone do it..."
"So what, you wanted to give her recognition out of pity?" He took another step closer, giving the young woman no room to evade him. 'Why am I cornering her like this? It is just a dress- this is so trivial. It's obvious she didn't mean any harm by it.'
Her reply came quietly. "Not out of pity, but out of interest. She clearly must have been someone special for you to miss her so much, for you to have gone through so much trouble to get her back. Even through all that's happened to you, the one memory you've refused to renounce is hers, and I think she'd be so happy to know that."
Hakkai lost all resolve. He didn't know how but the girl who just sent his nerves on edge had just managed to completely calm them.
He didn't reply and in his silence, Mandi offered another statement.
"Nobody can ever take the place of Kanan and nobody will, or should, ever ask you to forget her; that's the last thing I'd ever want to do...I'd never forgive myself for upsetting you intentionally." Her mouth smiled but her eyes did not.
It was an expression he found all too familiar.
Did he even deserve to have such a thing said to him? Did he, after singling her out, cornering her, raising his voice and accusing her of ulterior motives over a simple dress? Guilt set in and Hakkai's heart wrenched as he backed off, not stopping until his hands were holding the soft cloth of the pale yellow dress. "I want you to go ahead and wear it."
Mandi made a noise of puzzlement. He motioned for her to take the dress from him. "Please...it'd make me feel better if you joined your friends in participating with the costumes. I...I'm sorry to have made you so uncomfortable, my-" Hakkai's jaw ticked once, catching himself, "-Mandi. In all honesty I think if anyone were to honor Kanan's memory in such a way, I wouldn't have anyone else do it. Nobody else has understood quite so much. Please, go change." He allowed his gentle smile to return.
Whether or not it was real, even he couldn't tell.
Her heart broke for the hundredth time seeing that awful smile but she said nothing and reluctantly accepted the garment.
As tentative moments passed, Hakkai waited patiently as Mandi changed, anxious to see what the end result would be.
What if he got upset again?
What if he lost his mind at seeing someone else wearing that dress?
What if?
What if, what if, what if?
'Just keep calm...I'm sure it won't be that way.'
After fifteen minutes had passed, Hakkai grew worried and knocked softly at the bathroom door. 'There isn't a window in there that she could've climbed through right? No, no, we're too high up anyhow and I might have upset her but gods, I hope not that much...'
"Are you alright in there?"
From the other side, Mandi tensed, tightening her grip on the edge of the Formica-marble patterned sink. It hadn't taken long at all to change, but as she began to work on her hair, she got lost in her own reflection. The brush and the rubber band lay to one side now and she stared steadily into her own eyes. "I'm fine."
'No...I feel guilty. I can't do this...it's like I'm taunting him.'
The brunette young man frowned. "Have you finished? I'm sure the others are wondering where we are by now. Or Erin is at least wondering why you haven't contacted her yet."
"Yeah, I'm just about done...but...I don't want to come out." Mandi murmured softly, and though her words were muffled by the obstacle between she and Hakkai, he heard her clearly enough.
"Why not? You've changed right?"
"Yes, but I..." She raised her hands to grip at the hair draped over one shoulder, waiting to be braided.
"Are you decent, then?" Hakkai pressed on, resting his hand on the handle.
Mandi blinked, tearing her gaze from the large mirror that spanned the width of the sink. "Well, yeah, but..."
The door opened and Hakkai stood on the threshold, frozen a moment. From the view he had, she could have been Kanan's ghost. "What seems to be the problem then? You're only wasting your precious convention time, you know." He tried to lift her spirits, smiling broadly.
A forced laugh escaped the dark haired woman. "I know it, believe me." She caught his image in the mirror. "Are you sure you're ok with this?"
"Of course I'm sure. Do you need help with anything?" Hakkai situated himself to stand behind her. 'What could she possibly need help with?'
"I...don't think so." Mandi hesitantly picked up the brush to pull through her hair again.
'She's going to braid it- of course- the disc depicted Kanan that way..' Hakkai gently placed his palm over the flat back of the brush. "Wait. I think you've overlooked something."
She froze. "What?"
"She never braided her hair from the side. It was a long braid down her back that flipped over her shoulder after a while." He sought Mandi's gaze in the mirror and held it, smiling. "Of course Kanan's hair got to be so long she couldn't do it herself anymore. So I...or...Gonou...would do it for her."
Hakkai's fingers raked the long dark hair from Mandi's shoulder so that it fell down her back, leaving some strands in the front. Without another word, his hands worked quickly to plait the soft tresses into a thick braid and he tied it off with the hair band on the sink.
Mandi held her breath the entire time, she was sure, turning her eyes down at the very first sign of her cheeks flustering pink. 'Holy hell what is he doing?' She could feel the pads of his fingers stroking her hair gently as it was pulled back and twisted with precision into the braid. 'He's braiding it…how sweet is that? But why?'
She didn't really care. When Mandi was younger, her hair had been long, and her mom used to brush it at night before bed. Those were the nights Mandi liked to remember- they weren't frightening to remember. Personally, she loved the feel of someone playing with her hair; fixing it or just running their fingers through. It soothed her.
Her eyes followed those long elegant fingers each time they brushed back several strands of coffee colored locks. She had to suppress a shiver and had to force herself to remain standing if Hakkai's hands inadvertently brushed against her cheek, or her ears. 'He's so gentle, but…I wish I knew what he was thinking right now.'
Then she concluded it would probably upset her to know what thoughts moved through his mind. Her attention focused on the brassy faucet of the sink and she lost herself in daydreams and the comfort of Hakkai's careful and warm hands moving through her hair.
When he'd finished, she hadn't realized it until his hands were on her shoulders, turning her to face him.
She hasn't noticed the genuine smile until after his fingers brushed her bangs to fall over her right eye.
"You're all set now. I imagine that we should hurry to meet the others, don't you think?"
"Y-yeah," Mandi nodded, "I imagine we should." She followed his form with gold-brown orbs as he went to the door and then forced her feet to move as well, stepping out into the hotel hallway.

Erin flipped open her cell phone as soon as it began to ring. "Mandi, what the hell is taking ya so long? We're almost up to the booths to get our passes!"
Katie and Ashley turned their attention to the other girl, figuring the remaining friend must have really landed in hot water with Hakkai. They could just make out Mandi's voice on the other end.
"We're down…see you…right there!"
Which could be translated to: "We're down here…I see you….be right there!"
"Where the hell is she?" Erin pocketed her phone, trying to stretch all of her five foot, two inch form to try and spot their missing in action friend, pushing on Goku's shoulders for leverage.
Gojyo arched a brow and tried to use the chance for a sneak peek at what the blue haired young woman's costume failed to cover. He chuckled, looking at the chestnut haired boy between them.
'Damn monkey doesn't even know how lucky he is to have that so close to him, does he? Mm-hmm, I never thought Yaone's clothing would look so good on any other person…'
A sharp pain on the back of his head broke his concentration. "Goddamnit that hurts! Don't you think you're overusing that stupid fan, Sanzo?!"
"Hn, not at all." Sanzo replaced the harisen, turning his violet gaze to follow Erin's and Goku's. "I don't think we'll find Hakkai down there anyway."
"Eh, ya never know, monk," Gojyo prompted with a wily tenor, "He is a guy after all."
Goku actually grinned at the notion of finding Hakkai down a woman's shirt, but then wondered why that even amused him. Probably because it was too absurd to be true. His golden eyes fluttered toward Erin as her hands left his shoulders and he took in her scantily clad figure.
'She's really kinda cute, isn't she?' He blushed furiously, looking away, pretending to search for Hakkai while the girls searched for Mandi.
Katie's voice rang clear over the din of those standing in line. "Oh my goddess! Well, I found them!"
Someone behind her commented on how the blue eyed brunette had spoken an anime title wrong- saying it should be "Ah! My Goddess" instead of what Katie said. She glowered at them, muttering something about minding their own business.
Ashley sighed, peering over the costumed shoulders of everyone else with ease and waved a hand to the approaching pair. Her eyes went wonky for a moment.
"She's wearing the costume."
"…And her face is bright red." Erin giggled madly. "Something happened, and I'm so getting details later!"
"Hey! Sorry we took so long. The sky walk got jammed because someone thought they spotted Shin'ichiro Miki from Weiß Kreuz." Mandi explained, laughing quietly as she stepped over the ropes into the line. "Turns out the guy just really looked like him."
Hakkai followed quietly, smiling faintly as the line progressed. The rest of the Sanzo-ikkou gazed curiously at him. Hadn't he looked upset when they left him in the hotel room? He only smiled more prominently in reply to their faces.
"Ah…well, I guess that's alright then." Erin beamed, shuffling on forward. "So did y'all know this is another 'Saiyuki' year?"
Ashley thumbed through a program book. "I figured that when I saw the guest list in here." She began to rattle off the names of the American voice actors who were attending. "Vic Mignogna, Greg Ayres, David Matranga, Illich Guardiola, Monica Rial, Hilary Haag, and…"
Katie grinned widely, aiming it toward Mandi meaningfully. "Braden Hunt."
Braden Hunt, one of the anime industry's lesser known, lesser cast, younger voice actors. One of Mandi's absolute favorites for obvious reasons.
"Get out!" Mandi's jaw went slack. How did she miss his name on the list? 'Braden Hunt?! Braden Hunt who voices Hakkai, Braden Hunt?! Holy shit!! They must have just added him!'
It was when she glanced to her right, at Cho Hakkai himself that she realized just how funny the situation had become. Apparently the other three girls caught on and had started to snicker under their breath. Each member of the Sanzo party was represented by their actual American voice actor here at the convention.
"For one reason or another that I can't place, I recognize those names." Hakkai murmured thoughtfully, concentrating on recalling where he'd possibly seen them.
Sanzo grunted as though it were obvious enough. "They were listed after every one of those…'episodes' we watched on those discs."
"Your voice actors." Katie nodded. "Though it's a bit odd that all of them, and then some, would be here."
"This is an anime convention. The timing is just odd," Ashley countered, "which makes it really coincidental…and sort of funny."
Erin bounced on her heels. "Totally funny, but I'm betting that they aren't all here 'coz of Saiyuki. Read the profiles. It'll probably list some anime they're in."
"Ah, yes, yes they do." The blond Ririn-cosplayer nodded, dragging her fingers over the words. "Most of them are featured in anime that has yet to come out from ADV Films…Peace Maker, Full Metal Alchemist, Sister Princess, Chrono Crusade, and Aquarian Age…"
Mandi laughed, clasping her hands together. "Then there are the older anime too- RahXephon, Princess Nine, Full Metal Panic!, and of course Saiyuki."
The monk huffed indignantly. "I hate to interrupt this fascinatingly boring conversation, but that man at the booth has been saying 'next please' all throughout it."
Goku grasped Erin's gloved wrist lightly, curling his fingers around her slender bone structure and tugged her toward the booth. He was excited. Everyone, or nearly so, around him had dressed up. Some costumes seemed down played, others were quite outlandish. It was fascinating. What struck his funny bone the most, however, was the fact he'd already seen someone pass by dressed like him.
That was enough proof, more than what the girls had offered, to tell him that other people did indeed know who the Sanzo party was.
"This is so kick ass! Everyone looks so awesomely cool!"
Flustering, Erin followed after Goku to head off their group at the booth. 'How cute is he?! Really…so rape-able.'
Exasperated, the staff member behind the counter at last took their names, their money, and in return gave out the badges. He seemed relieved after the entire group of eight bustled away, though, being a Saiyuki fan, would admit to himself to never having witnessed a more accurately cosplayed group.
"Check out the names on these things!" Goku laughed, pointing to Gojyo's badge. "Water Sprite!"
The hanyou paused to read the black print on the laminated name card, furrowing his eyebrows. "Hey, it does really say that! Who the hell did this?"
Mandi and Erin suppressed laughter as the other three men discovered the names on their own badges.
"What the hell is this, 'Ill-behaved Priest'?!" Sanzo fumed. Just what were they trying to say about him?
"Saru…mine says Monkey!" Goku actually appeared gleeful over the name for once, which baffled Gojyo beyond intelligible words. "What about yours, Hakkai?"
The emerald eyed man proudly displayed his badge. A few days prior to the convention, while the girls were registering everyone on the computer, Hakkai had stumbled across them. They were kind enough to show him what they were doing and allowed him to choose his own nickname for ACEN. What the rest of the Sanzo-ikkou didn't know was that he had also played a part in choosing his friends' names too.
"It says 'Slayer'." His grin could've passed for full-on wicked, registering shock on his companions' faces. Was he perhaps poking fun at his own reputation amongst the youkai of Shangri La? Or poking fun at his past? Hakkai couldn't even find the answer to that question, though he did point out that below the nicknames, the wearer's real name was printed.
"What'd you two end up putting down?" Erin inquired, glancing to the remaining girls. Her own pass read 'Eire-head', which had been a long running name since grade school for her.
"Muse," Katie murmured, pinning her badge into place. "Apparently I invoke creativity."
Sanzo glanced to her shiftily. 'She invokes creative ways for me to want to really hurt her sometimes.' He said nothing, however, keeping the thoughts to himself. He'd be glad when the ground he walked on was in Shangri La and not this topsy-turvy place.
"I got something not so creative, I guess…" Ashley shrugged, "It's easy to remember and I know I'll respond to it. 'Ashes'."
Gojyo slung an arm around her, smirking. "Even if it lacks imagination, honey, I think it fits ya. It's cute, after all." He winked languidly, grinning broadly when she didn't bother to shrug his arm away as per usual.
Mandi shrugged. "I was going to go with 'Pixie' because that's what it was last year, but I changed it to 'Butterfly' this time." Her ears grew warm. "I've kind of grown into some strange butterfly fetish, it seemed fitting."
When nobody bothered to respond to this- save for the tiny teasing smirks playing on the girls' lips because they knew that had it not been completely suspicious to do so, Mandi would've chosen "Cho" as her nickname- the brunette continued.
"So let's figure out what we're doing because it's already ten-thirty…"
During this brief meeting beside the escalators which, if one followed would be taken to the sky walk back to the hotel, the decision was made that at least one girl had to be with whatever group of guys. This would ensure the safety of the Sanzo-ikkou, the safety of the other conventioneers, and on top of that, if anyone needed a room key they had one.
Obviously, Katie still planned to stick like glue to Sanzo's side. The monk didn't bother to argue about it again, and so didn't disagree when the blue eyed young woman insisted that they go toward the anime music video event for starters.
"Starters for what?" Sanzo growled as he followed her onto the escalator. "If you think I'm going to sit through these pointless events you've got another thought coming."
"Relax, blondie. I meant it's a start for where we can look for your precious elemental avatars." Katie rolled her eyes at him, stepping off at the top and weaving her way through the crowd to the sky walk. "I'm telling you, though…I don't think you had to look any farther than Mandi's house."
Taking an over-exaggerated step to avoid getting his robes sucked into the sharp teeth of the escalator, Sanzo rolled his eyes at the young woman. "You can believe what you want. I'm tired of saying the same thing repeatedly- you and your friends are not the elementals. That DVD your friend found is more than likely Kanzeon's way of irritating me. I wouldn't put that past her."
"Irritating you or trying to tell you something?" The reply came shortly. Katie's hand gripped Sanzo's robe-clad arm and she began to pull him after her despite his protests. "You're hard-headed as hell, Sanzo, do you know that?"
He tried to pry what seemed to be a steel-grip on his arm away. "It's one of my most prized characteristics. Why are you touching me? Don't touch me. Let go of me, damnit!"
"If I let go of you, you'll get lost in this crowd. Granted, I don't know where I'm really going either, but at least I won't be by myself if we get lost." She rebuked, grinning slyly.
'She is really trying my patience, isn't she?' The monk's mind churned. "I don't recall giving you permission to touch me. What right do you have?"
Pushing through a group of exceptionally loud, exceptionally slow cosplayers, the blue eyed young woman smiled faintly as she glanced to Sanzo. "See the costume, sweetie? I'm the Merciful Goddess; I can do anything I want to."
Gritting his teeth, he yanked his arm away, trying to halt suddenly on the decline of the tiled floor that led back to the hotel lobby's entrance. His sandaled feet slid a few inches, which only proved to irk him further. "You may as well be her form in this world; you're both like fucking annoying little flies buzzing around my head, telling me what to do. I could care less if I get lost here, at least I won't have to put up with you."
"So sorry, I thought I was doing you a goddamn favor by trying to help out! If you want to get lost, fine, get lost. I don't give two shits. I'm tired of your lazy, could care less about anyone but yourself attitude!" Katie shrieked in return, storming off into the throng.
Sanzo crossed his arms, watching her retreating figure get swallowed into the sea of costumes before he became aware that there were several eyes on him. "What are you looking at?!" He sneered, growing uncomfortable.

When wary gazes met him, Sanzo decided he suddenly didn't like standing amongst the people of this world. He decided that he didn't like to stand amongst them alone. He decided…that he perhaps had been better off having a guide after all, even if that guide irritated the hell out of him.
Forcing himself, for once, to suck up his pride and blow it to hell, Sanzo pressed on, braving the slippery tiled floor of the declining hallway.
"Katie! Damnit…Katie, wait alright?!" He called out above the din of the conventioneers, skidding and scrambling to keep his balance.
Most of those he passed laughed at him. Sanzo definitely had no patience for this. He already held much contempt for himself for losing enough resolve to chase after this woman.
'I can hear the monks from the temple now,' he thought, shaking his head at the jeering voices which played as condemning reminders of the past. 'Not that I ever cared, or care now what those old fogies think- I can't stand it when people tell me what to do. But seeing me pursuing a woman for any reason would cause them to die of shock.'
A cynical smile flickered over his lips. 'I guess it really is a shame that we're not in Shangri La right now, in that case…isn't it?' What was he thinking?! That he'd not mind it so much if the quartet of young women were in his world after all? 'If only for the sake of completely defying those monks…No, not even then; I don't want them there now or ever.'
Though Katie heard her name called by the monk, her perseverance for avoiding him had yet to stop.
'Why do I even bother? Why should I even care? The novelty of the guys being here has worn off already. His foul attitude isn't so cute anymore. I could definitely do without it.'
 Nonetheless, her steps slowed and she felt a light pressure on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me. Why are you touching me?" Katie spat, spinning on her heels, glaring at Sanzo. "That's what you just got through saying to me and yet you're the one making physical contact."
'What the hell am I doing? I've lost my mind.' Sanzo withdrew his hand. 'Am I really that arrogant to deny that without her, or even one of the other girls' help, I'd be completely lost?' Another voice deep inside stirred, speaking up with a tone bordering taunting. 'Yes, Genjyo Sanzo, you are that arrogant.'
He sighed, staring past strands of hair which shone pale gold beneath the muted hotel lighting.
"You made your point, alright? I don't often admit to mistakes but I may as well admit that without someone to lead the way I might disappear." His eyes shifted to the right where a group of female cosplayers sidled past, grinning coquettishly. He suppressed a shiver. "Especially with the way some of these girls have been giving me."
Katie relented, but only just. She smiled inwardly- Sanzo admitting he did something wrong hummed a wonderful melody in her ears.
"Oh don't be such a baby, monk." She smirked, resuming leading the way the ballroom hall. "Maybe a really pretty one will catch your eye especially and you'll get laid. She'd be the only person in the world- this one and yours- who could honestly say she took Genjyo Sanzo to bed."
White robes swaying around his ankles, Sanzo kept up, edging past a group of rowdy fan boys who shouted something about 'yaoi'. "Not in this lifetime. Not ever."
'She's just like the kappa for crying out loud, though perhaps remotely more attractive.'
His steps faltered and his cheeks flushed pink. That had definitely snuck up on him. Ignoring the last half of the recent thoughts, Sanzo went on.
A few minutes passed sans verbal exchange, for which the monk was content. He kept vigil, his senses alert, and his fan in hand just in case. The search for the elementals had not ended, no matter what anyone else chose to believe. It wasn't over as far as Sanzo was concerned, and that was all that mattered.
Although…a tiny niggling at the back of his head told him the girls were it. That he truly hadn't needed to search any farther than Mandi's house. Had Sanzo known his ticket back to Shangri La lie merely in accepting this face, he'd have done so in a heart beat.
When they reached the wide ballroom hall- after much confusion on which way to turn once they entered the lobby- Katie motioned for the monk to follow her. She ducked into a subsidiary, narrower hallway which had three rooms about a quarter of the size of the Grand Ballroom, vanishing into the very first one.
What else could he do but follow?
A large number of people sat inside, cloaked in shadow, faces partially illuminated by the ten foot screen projecting anime images. Music blared from speakers arranged conveniently to allow for a full effect. The lyrics, Sanzo noticed, were in Japanese, and though he had spoken only English during his stay in modern America, he still understood the song.
For a second, he felt intrigued. The compelling notion to partake in the viewing nearly won over his mission. Nearly.
"Sanzo, I've got a question." Katie prompted, turning her eyes over the span of the room.
He glanced to the young woman. "What is it? It better not be something stupid, or I'll have to kill you."
Blue eyes danced to him fleetingly. "How are you supposed to know who the avatars are? It isn't as though they'll come waltzing up to you and introduce themselves, you know."
"You're lucky…" he muttered.
"Why?"
"You get to live."
Katie snorted. "How lovely for me, then. Would you mind answering my question now?"
Sanzo's back straightened and he held his head up, pretending to still search. "I'm supposing it will just be a feeling. A gut feeling, instinct, something will tell me and I'll know."
'Is that the truth, Genjyo Sanzo? Are you positive that you're not already ignoring a similar sensation?"
 "Ah…" She nodded, and then; "You don't get that with any of us girls, huh?"
"No, I don't." He lied through his teeth, moving for the door with a sharpness to his gait. "And I'm not getting it from in here either. Let's go. We'll try somewhere else."

While the other four decided on going to an eleven o'clock panel for "What is Anime?", Goku and Erin decided they'd romp about on their own until noon. That was when the panel with a few voice actors from the girls' favorite anime production company would commence.
Unlike his "holy" counterpart, Goku found everything quite interesting. He didn't object to giving into fan service and posed for pictures when approached on the subject. In fact, he hammed it up for the camera.
People seemed a little down that it wasn't a Ririn cosplayer wandering about with the monkey-pretending to be human-pretending to be-monkey, but enjoyed that someone had been brave enough to sport a Yaone costume. Thus, some snapshots of Goku and Erin dressed as the apothecary were taken. The pair gladly obliged to most poses that were asked of them.
One of the last times they were stopped it was by a female Gojyo cosplayer. This puzzled Goku to no end. Why any girl would want to dress up as a womanizing water imp went far past his comprehension, however, he heard her request out.
"That's a pretty bad-ass costume. How long did it take you to make?"
Goku turned to Erin for help. He hadn't made his clothes- what was he supposed to say to this? "Ah…how long..?"
"A month." Erin replied, thinking quickly. 'Shit, shit, shit. I hope to hell that this girl doesn't ask him something that he'll answer dumbly. Not that it'd be his fault…'
The cross-playing wannabe hanyou nodded, leaning on an aluminum version of Gojyo's Shakujo. "You did an awesome job, really, for just taking a month. I know most people who work for ages on their costumes. So where's the Nyoi-bou? And what's up with that tinfoil coronet?"
Once again, the chestnut haired heretic sought an answer, this time hoping to come up with something acceptable. "Ah, I can't summon my Nyoi-bou here."
Erin cut in when the other girl looked at Goku strangely. "The staff was like an inch longer than regulation, so ACEN staffers wouldn't let him bring it down. His original coronet broke by accident and we didn't have time- so that's why the tinfoil."
"Bummer. Well hey, how about a picture?" Female Gojyo asked, holding a camera out to Erin hopefully. "Me and the monkey here. Please?"
Goku pouted cutely. "I'm not 'monkey', I'm Goku!"
Both girls laughed- Erin because she'd heard the line countless times before, and fem Gojyo because she found it so in character.
"Sure no problem at all. Y'ant to pose in like a classic Gojyo-Goku moment?"
She received blank stares as they tried to make sense of this country twanged "y'ant to'" phrase.
"Do. You. Want. To." Erin sighed, forcing her natural Chicago accent to return over the Kentucky one that'd been acquired.
This they understood, and female Gojyo wrapped an arm around Goku's neck, rubbing a knuckled hand over his spiky hair. The golden eyed boy squirmed, gritting his teeth, taking the playful abuse with a light heart- it was just for a picture, but he didn't understand why people were so obsessed with seeing him be tortured.
When the picture was taken and the cosplayer had left them- remarking that Goku shared striking features to that of the anime character- he tried to pat away the sore spot on his head.
"That kinda hurt…"
"I'm sorry," Erin grinned as they strolled on. "Should I kiss it and make it better?"
Goku was caught completely off guard, eyes rounding. His cheeks reddened at the prospect of a girl kissing him anywhere.
"Ah, what? What do…kiss it?" He blinked several times.
'The weird thing is…I kinda want her to. Agh, but I don't wanna be like Gojyo! Except…I kinda like her, I think. She's really nice and funny and energetic.'
The blue haired young woman continued to grin, though her own face heated up. "What, you've never heard of that before? When something hurts someone kisses it to make it feel better. I don't know if it really works but in a way, I guess, it does kinda make it feel better." She shrugged.
"Oh…really?" Goku pondered this new information, staring at her. "Then, I guess it's ok?" He smiled to her innocently.
'He is so adorable! I was just playing but…why the hell not?' Erin stood up on her tip toes to plant one right on the top of Goku's spiky chestnut tresses. However, from her standpoint, her gaze caught sight of something that made her start and then freeze.
A familiar face.
One she hadn't wanted to see.
Someone Erin should have known would be at the convention.
While she didn't want to make eye contact, she also couldn't look away.
"Erin?" Goku rolled his eyes up, keeping his head bowed slightly. 'What's wrong? She's got such a strange expression on her face…'
The figure across the lobby swept his gaze toward Erin.
'What do I do? What do I do? He can't see me- I don't want to see him, I don't want him to see me!'
So she did the only thing that seemed logical at the moment. The only thing that would allow her to be inconspicuous without having to leave the area.
Her head bowed down, while her fingers lifted Goku's chin up, and she kissed him square on the lips.
'What am I DOING?! Should I even do this?! Oh my god, I can't believe I just did that!'
Goku stood completely confounded, tentatively resting a hand on her shoulder. His face was on fire, his muscles had tensed, and he had no idea what just happened.
'I didn't think this is what Erin meant when she said 'kiss it and make it better', though…I've definitely forgotten about the pain.'
Erin finally separated herself from the amber eyed youth, flustered and breathless. She offered no explanation until first making sure that the person who'd startled her had gone.
"Uh…um…E-Erin?" Goku stammered, peering to her, suddenly feeling shy and self-conscious.
"Yeah. Sorry, I just…I saw someone I didn't want to see and couldn't think of another way to hide from him." She spoke quickly, her words closely strung together. "There wasn't much time to give you warning; I think he would've spotted me if I took time to talk. I'm sorry."
'Tch, no you're not. You loved that and you know it, so don't even lie.' Erin smiled inwardly.
"I think I get it." Goku scratched his cheek smiling widely. "You don't have to apologize, I guess it's okay if you had a good reason. Who were you hiding from anyway? And how come?"
Hesitantly, Erin took a quick glance about, and then grasped Goku's hand, pulling him toward an array of tables near the lobby's restaurant.
"My ex-boyfriend," she murmured quietly, "and we've got some time before that panel, so sit down and I'll explain."

The day wore on, going far faster than the girls anticipated. Erin and Goku ended up missing their panel, but decided they could catch the autograph session on Saturday. The Yaone cosplayer wasn't in the mood to do much by way of attending events, and Goku was satisfied to sit with her a while more.
Katie and Sanzo weren't having much lick as far as detecting elementals.
Though, the reason behind that became more obvious with each hour. The monk still refused to admit he already knew who the avatars were. He'd not say it aloud, yet in his heart, he had no other option to accept it.
The remaining quartet attended two more panels after their first one, meeting the voice actors at the third. Mandi insisted on sitting in the front row for that one- the guests just happened to be well known among the four girls: Illich Guardiola, Braden Hunt, Vic Mignogna, and Hilary Haag.
Throughout the panel, several audience members, along with Illich and Braden, repeatedly let their gazes fall on the "cosplaying" Gojyo and Hakkai. Laughter flooded the room when finally Illich stopped questioning briefly to say what was on his mind.
"They have got to be the best Saiyuki costumes ever." A wide smile crosses his lips.
Braden pushed a hand through longish dark brown hair, grinning broadly as well. "I think we should get a picture with them after the panel, eh Illich? Is that alright with you too, fellas?"
Mandi and Ashley refused to let Gojyo and Hakkai decline such an offer and so the hanyou and youkai obliged. After the panel ended, pushing through the pandemonium of fan girls vying for attention, they met with the group of actors behind their table.
The pair from Togenkyo appeared mildly uncomfortable, unaware that they'd be standing so close to people who wanted to tear their clothes off. Taking some pity, Mandi snapped several pictures quickly.
"Hey, how about all six of us together?" Illich offered, waving the young women over. "I can't let two pretty young ladies just stand on the sidelines like that."
Gojyo made a face. Why did this sound all too familiar to him? Ashley shrugged though her feet remained planted to the ground until Mandi was forced to tug her friend along.
The Ririn cosplayer stood with the "Gojyos" while the Kanan cosplayer stood between the "Hakkais". Vic and Hilary refused to miss out on the action and so took turns with the camera to snap shots. When that ordeal had been thought to be over, Hilary begged Ashley to pose at least once with her.
"You're dressed up as my character! This is too great! Lirin and Lirin! Why don't we get Vic in the shot too- considering he's Kougaji, right?" The voice actress remarked brightly.
Vic chuckled, scratching his Texas-tanned cheek, hazel eyes dancing merrily. "I'm up for a picture or two, why not?"
Giggling like mad, Mandi forced her trembling fingers to press the button on her camera. Her knees were getting weak from the excitement of the moment, which wasn't far from what'd happened to her and Erin at the last ACEN. At last, the group was able to move on, leaving a foursome of content voice actors to handle the still quasi-chaotic crowd. Mandi leaned against Ashley to keep herself up.
"That was so fun, wasn't it?!"
Ashley gripped the brunette girl's shoulders, steadying her, hazel orbs going a bit wonky. "It certainly was, but I couldn't think of anything to say..."
Gojyo and Hakkai exchanged bewildered glances; they remained clueless as to what the big deal really was.
"That's ok...I was like that last year. Erin and I were too shy to ask or say much to them. Braden's cute, huh? And I'm glad that Vic came this year again. Oh, and how awesome was it that Hilary wanted a picture with you?!" Mandi stopped to catch her breath.
Calm down," Ash chuckled, shaking her head, "and sit on that bench there before you take me down with you."
Once the older girl took a seat, obeying her friend's orders, she smiled to the still baffled young men. "I hope you're having fun, or are at least enjoying yourselves a little."
Chuckling, the hanyou replied. "Considering that half the time I've got no idea what's going on, I'm having an alright time. Who can complain with two pretty girls leading them? There are lots of things to do, plenty of women, and an abundance of rooms. Give me beer and cards- I'll be set."
Ashley rolled her eyes. "Oh please, keep it in your pants, Red." Yet...there was a pang that shot across her stomach, dull tendrils of it snaking to reach her heart. Ash chose to ignore what undoubtedly bore the name of jealousy.
Hakkai displayed his usual cheerfulness. "I'm enjoying myself well enough, though I've been meaning to ask if we might check on Hakuryuu."
"Oh sure." Mandi began to stand, losing her balance once, and then tried again. "I'll go with you so you don't get lost on the way back." He frowned. "Are you sure you're able to keep steady? You still seem afflicted with the shock from our last event. You shouldn't exert your poor frazzled nerves any further."
She gazed at him, not knowing what to say for a moment until she noted the curl at the corners of his lips. He'd been teasing, but for some reason, Mandi suddenly wasn't in the mood for it.
"Tch, aren't you the barrel of laughs today? I'm fine now...the excitement is wearing off. Let's just go check on Hakuryuu before he thinks you've abandoned him atop a cold parking garage."
From the sarcastic words alone Ashley sensed there still lay some unresolved issue. She didn't know what went on, exactly, but there clearly remained some regret, some hurt, some guilt. She wanted to know whether or not a Hakkai-beating would be called for. Her friends' feelings mattered to her- Ash would stand up for them even if she couldn't stand up for herself.
"I'll stick to babysitting the horn-dog." Ashley slid a weary glance to Gojyo. Hakkai muttered having been put off by Mandi's sardonic response to what he thought was light teasing. Quietly, smilingly, retaining a phony positive mood, his steps moved after her.
Gojyo folded lithe bare arms over his vest clad chest. "Who said I needed a babysitter, honey?"
"Don't call me honey," Ashley reputed. "I say you need one. I won't be held responsible for your knocking up some poor unsuspecting whore fan girl."
The remark caused a prickly reply. "A whore, huh? Look sweetheart, those aren't really my type of girl and I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself. But if you wanna insist on being a babysitter, knock your socks off."
Hazel orbs narrowed beneath a soft wave of dark blond. "Don't call me sweetheart either. It's not like I want to keep tabs on you and keep your ass from wandering away from me. Full grown or no, it's kind of hard to trust you when I know what your habits are."
His antennae nearly twitched in annoyance. "When ya say 'wander away' from ya… You're jealous, aren't ya?"
Caught off guard, Ashley gaped and flustered. "N-no! I meant that in a way…if you wander off, you're going to get lost and there are a lot of people here. I know you're better than that. I shouldn't have to think you're going to run off with some 'hot little number'- (Ah, that was back to bite Gojyo in the ass…) - and leave her with some reminder of yourself when you're gone."
His grip met her elbow lightly, leading her through the revolving doors and outside. Gojyo hoped for a little privacy yet immediately realized it would prove impossible with the amount of straggling smokers occupying the vicinity. The best he could do was to bring Ashley toward a wall, turning her back to it so she faced him, and he leaned close enough for only her to hear his words.
"What are you doing?" She snapped, uneasy at the way her cheeks were heating up, a result of the kappa's closeness.
Gojyo met her gaze. "I was hoping to talk to ya in private and didn't feel like goin' all the way back to our room. This'll have to do." He sought her expression for anything that signified comprehension before resuming. "If I said something to offend ya before, I'm sorry. I keep forgetting that you know my 'character'. You know who I am, what I am, things I've done, things I've said; you know my real self. The what-you-see-is-what-you-get deal doesn't go over with ya too well."
The tension within the hanyou heightened as he waited for a response. 'You like her. That's why you're trying to right a wrong that you have no idea you made. Love 'em and leave 'em is non applicable in this case. You've made a friend, and that friend is a woman- a very pretty one at that- then you somehow hurt her feelings. Now you feel guilty enough to make a sincere apology.' Gojyo forced his mind's voice to decrease the volume.
Ashley averted her eyes from the intensity of the crimson stare. It bore into her in such a way she wanted to act upon her wants and envelop Gojyo in her arms. She bet that he was nice to hug, but that just wasn't her style. Not to mention this was a matter of trust and situation. Nothing ever worked to her satisfaction; nothing ever went the way she planned it to go, so it wouldn't surprise her if this whatever-relationship with Gojyo was included in failure.
He'd go to Shangri La and against all beliefs it'd be Ashley's luck that she and her friends were not the elementals after all. She'd be left behind with a broken heart in the dredges of the common world. Left to pity herself and wallow in an ever-hardening shell of defense.
"Ashley, ya know I can't seem to help myself." Gojyo prompted when he heard nothing in return. "There's a void I need to fill and what I do is the only way I know how to do it. Pathetic, I know, right?"
"Yes, it is." Ashley conceded.
Gojyo stared in astonishment. "This is where you say 'you're not pathetic, Gojyo, you have your reasons.' Isn't it?"
She shrugged. "I'd be lying in that case. None of this is scripted and I'm not going to feel sorry for you, not in that aspect. Your past I can empathize with, but the emptiness you have obviously hasn't been filled. I suspect it'll only deepen if you keep handling it the way you do."
"Hn, how can you be so sure? Just what do you think would help? Letting go of the past? I've tried that and it ain't so easy to do." He wanted to know her theory, her take on the matter, though had a notion of what it might be.
"I don't know if I can answer that." Ashley kept to honesty. "I'd say that love is what you need to fill that hole, but I bet your answer is as predictable as your lust for philandering." She locked eyes with him momentarily. "The objectification of women is not the way to help yourself, no matter what the case. It's demoralizing and degrading."
"To who? Them? They know what they're getting themselves into, honey, I'm not low enough to take the unwilling and I choose my one night stands carefully." Gojyo snorted, turning to lean against the wall beside Ashley.
"I meant to you, Gojyo." Ash rebuked softly. "You're a good person beneath that tough-guy act, we all know it, so why do you keep putting on this façade?"
'I'm a good person? Is she talking about the same Sha Gojyo? I've done too much wrong to be a good person…' Pushing away from the wall, the half-demon started for the door.
"That is a question I have no response for, I think." The conversation had ended as far as Gojyo was concerned. He couldn't carry it on. He wouldn't- even though he had every urge to keep it alive. "Maybe I will sometime later. Maybe I never will. Why don't we go back in…we'll see if we can find everyone else."
Ash wondered if she overstepped the boundaries, but then wondered just what those boundaries were. Perhaps some matters were best left alone, however, and not wanting to risk jeopardizing what friendship she still retained with the kappa, the young woman simply obliged to his wishes.
For now she would leave it alone.
For now…she'd enjoy the weekend to the fullest.