Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't own Saiyuki. And I didn't create it. But I'm damn glad Minekura Kazuya-Sama did.

--thanks to those who reviewed, I felt really glad about it. Thank you.—

--zie here, hmmm, is this a good plot? Please tell me. Thanks! --

FORTIFICATION

Chapter Three

A young man running with all his might groping the walls of obscurity...

"Uhm... I don't actually depend on anyone right now..." his answer didn't seem right. The old woman permanently fixed her gaze on him now. Her face was grim. "Well, you go on then, and try to find someone soon." Koryu nodded. He turned around and suddenly he realized that he was already hungry. It's been almost 2 days since he had left the temple and followed an old couple into this town where he thought he could make a living for himself. It's not easy. I can't even think of anything I could do for a living. You're no good Koryu, you know that? That's why they called you a... "Hey!" came the old woman's voice. Koryu froze. "Wait."

Koryu turned around again to face the woman. He noticed that she didn't seem so stern anymore. She looked younger too as she stood up to get something from her back. "Here," she handed him a small packet. "This would get you through the night, seeing that you have almost nothing with you." Koryu thanked the woman in the most grateful voice that he could muster and went on to the main road.

A few minutes later, when he couldn't see the woman's store anymore, he opened the packet the woman gave him. Inside was some sort of bread, more like a cake. It had an irregular shape, as if molded by the fingers and left without being shaped. Looking around cautiously, he held the packet near his nose and breathed in deeply. The cake had a wonderful aroma. He took a small nibble and it instantly melted in his mouth. What wonderful food the old lady gave me! Koryu quickly walked to the nearest wall and there, he slowly ate the cake until only half of what was originally given to him was left. He wasn't full, but he decided that as long as he wasn't hungry anymore, there would be no point in stuffing himself when he could save the food for tomorrow. And that's what he did. He carefully wrapped the food in the packet and placed the precious package inside his satchel. His hand found the array of leaved he had collected some time ago and he decided that he was going to give some of his best finds to the woman tomorrow. In fact, that's the first thing I'm going to do tomorrow. Thank her for her generosity. Even though she was dressed with only simple clothing and looked like she was also striving in life, she gave me this rich food, it must have been the only good thing she's got to eat and she had given it to me...

....................A thin child slept that night outside the house of the Graf family. He had dirty blonde hair, and that was unusual for local folk unless he had foreign descent. His grimy yet peaceful face clearly showed that he was determined to do anything to survive. Like the storm tonight, he knows how he will suffer from the cold, but he also knows that like any unfortunate event, this will pass him and he will be able to go on again.............

--Please review this, thanks! The more reviews, the faster the next chap will be up. Why? Coz you guys are my inspirations! Ü -zie --