Wow, even more reviews. I'm surprised. Well I finally bought volume 2 of Saiyuki and I found it hilarious!! I'm reading it over and over again. After Christmas I plan to start collecting them and buy the anime series, in English if I can. Anyway, time to thank the reviewers!!

Devil-Angel- Thanks again for your help. Hope you like this chapter.

C.T.- The mystery is starting to unravel bit by bit. I know I need more powerful words, trying to get a thesaurus. Hehe, might take a little while.

Rita- Thanks, it's killing me with all these ideas runnin around in my head. Hehe. Hope you like this chapter.

Ok, now on to chapter 3!!

Chapter 3

The night air was warm as it swept through the halls of the inn. Every light was out in each room, except one. The sanzo gang was still gathered in Sanzo's room.

Hakkai took a rag and dipped it into the bowl of water on the stand beside the bed. He then gently wrung out the excess water that had gathered in it. He gathered one end of it and gently began cleaning one of the many cuts on the young youkai's back. She winced a bit, letting out the smallest of whimpers.

"I'm sorry. These cuts were not taken well car of. It will hurt a bit," Hakkai said as he continued to clean the cuts on her back.

They were able to calm her down long enough to have her lay down on Sanzo's bed on her stomach. She kept her arms tightly at her side with her hands curled into fists to tuck under her at her collarbone. Hakkai had takes the top of the kimono off to better examine the wounds. They weren't very bad but could have caused some amount of infection if they were left untreated any longer.

"So, what's your name?" Goku asked. After they calmed her down, he had taken a seat in the chair beside the bed. Gojyo sat on the floor across the room leaning his back against the wall. Sanzo stood just behind Hakkai looking down at the female youkai.

"K-Kirashi" the girl said. Obviously, she was uncertain of them.

"Well, Kirashi, can you tell us what happened? Why are you covered in scares and cuts and stuff?"

"I-I don't know. I can't...remember much. I know that every time I wake up we're all in darkness and all we can feel is the pain. We can't move either. Then we fall asleep and wake back up in the darkness again with even more pain," Kirashi said in the smallest of voices. She seemed confused of her surroundings and of what had happened.

"What about the other three youkai here? Do you know them?" Hakkai asked.

Kirashi nodded. "One of them is my sister, Hitachi. The red head is Maki and the last one is Julin. They're our friends. We were traveling together when we were attacked. Julin and Hitachi were injured. We had to come here to rest and heal. I remember waking up in the darkness and my back was in pain."

"Someone must've put the charms on them while they slept. I can see why since two of them were injured and all of them were tired," Sanzo said. The charm had been set on the stand next tot he water. "I guess that the charm also blocks their memories of anything that happened to them."

"How much ya wanna bet it's that damn innkeeper guy?" Gojyo said as he blew out the smoke from his cigarette.

"Probably. Gojyo, I don't think Kirashi would like it if you smoked in here," Hakkai stated.

"No, it's alright. I don't think I've had a cigarette since I got here. It's refreshing to smell the smoke," Kirashi said. The four men blinked a bit at her. Kirashi rolled her eyes slightly. "Yes, I smoke. Is it that unusual?"

"No, it's not unusual. We just didn't know that you smoked," Hakkai said with his usual smile.

"A good lookin woman who cooks and smokes. This is getting better and better," Gojyo stated with a smirk. He was starting to like this girl.

"Pervert kappa," Goku said. He was always thinking of nothing but women and sex. Even when the woman was in danger he'd try hitting on her.

"Oh shut up you stupid monkey. I can't help it if I get turned on by a woman who can make awesome cucumbers and smokes," Gojyo replied.

"And drinks." All eyes looked back at Kirashi. "Yes, I drink as well. I can hold my liquor pretty well."

"Damn! Now that's my kind of woman," Gojyo said as he sat up.

"Well, it seems that looks can be deceiving. You're a very interesting person, Kirashi," Hakkai said as he set the rag aside. "But those cuts will heal better now that they've been cleaned."

"Now the question is what do we do?" Goku asked. Somehow they knew those injuries were caused by the innkeeper.

"How well can you fight, Kirashi?" Sanzo asked.

"I can't fight that well right now. My flutes are gone," Kirashi said as she sat up and pulled her kimono back on.

"Flutes?" Hakkai asked. "Are you a manipulative illusionist?" Kirashi nodded.

"Manipulative illusionist? What's that?" Sanzo asked. He had heard the name from somewhere, but he never knew what it was.

"A manipulative illusionist is a youkai that can manipulate a person to do as he or she wishes using illusions. Kirashi for example can create illusions using the songs of flutes. Using certain combinations of flutes, she could even torture the person with his or her feelings and then kill them with those feelings," Hakkai explained. "What about the other youkai?"

"Maki is a flame maiden. She can manipulate fire and can cause a person to combust from the inside out. Julin is a songtress. Her singing can lure a person into a trap or can drive them to insanity. Hitachi is a sword energist. She uses a sword through which she channels energy into and it gives her a lot of power," Kirashi explained.

"I see. Hm, I think I have an idea that may help you and your friends,' Hakkai said with his usual smile.

Four sets of eyes blinked at him, not really knowing what kind of plan Hakkai was scheming.

Ooooo, Hakkai's got something planned. Wanna know what it is? Well click on the bluish purplish button down there and review!! The more reviews the faster I'll get it up!! And tell some fo your friends about my story and see what they think!!