Disclaimer: I don't own anybody in Saiyuki! They all belong to Kazuya Minekura! Hear me? They all belong to her! I only own Shiey!
Author's note: Hey guys! Here's chapter nine! Hope you liked chapter eight! I kind of conjured up this chapter because I saw a picture of the Saiyuki guys wearing Christmas outfits. Well hope you like chapter nine! Please read and review! Thanks!
Chapter 9: Christmas is here once more
A month passed, and finally it was the day before Christmas Eve. But our heroes, nor Shiey knew it was. They were still out on the road, looking for somewhere to rest. It was noon and there wasn't any sign of a town for miles. "I guess we'll have to stop by the forest first, so that we can start eating our lunch." Hakkai said. So, Hakkai pulled over and everybody got off the jeep.
And so, they stopped by the forest and started eating lunch. After eating lunch, they proceeded to travel once more. They were traveling in the mountains, hoping that they might find a town soon. "Hey," Gojyo started as he looked at Goku. Goku, on the other hand was just staring ahead. Gojyo went closer to Goku. "How weird is this?" Gojyo said. "What is?" Shiey asked. "The monkey's sleeping with his eyes open!" Hey! What is wrong with you?" Gojyo yelled as he started shaking Goku. "Shut up or I'll kill you!" Sanzo's voice said. "Even Sanzo's talking while sleeping." Hakkai said, looking at Sanzo. "Really?" Shiey's voice came again. "Yeah, isn't that wei-" Gojyo said as he faced Shiey. "What the!" Gojyo screamed. "What is it?" Hakkai asked. "She's asleep, too. How weird is that?" Gojyo replied. "She's asleep, too, huh?" Hakkai said as he started chuckling.
It was almost sunset when they reached the nearest town they could find. The town was very cheerful and festive. Everybody was happy and there were decorations all over town. "Is there some kind of festival?" Goku asked. "Well, let's ask someone, shall we?" Hakkai said as he tapped someone's shoulder. "Um, excuse me, miss, but, why are there a lot of decorations? Is there a festival?" Hakkai asked. "Um, not really a festival. But, it is the day before Christmas Eve, so the whole town's celebrating." The girl said. "It's Christmas?" Gojyo asked. "It must be, the whole town is celebrating for that, right?" Goku said. "I guess." Gojyo replied.
Pretty soon, they arrived at an inn and they started eating dinner. "Hey guys," Shiey's voice interrupted. "What's Christmas like?" she asked. The four boys looked at her. "You don't know what Christmas is like?" Goku asked. "Well, I kind of forgot. I only celebrated Christmas when I was a kid. And since I was abandoned in a forest, I hardly know what Christmas is like anymore." Shiey explained. "Oh." Gojyo's voice answered. "Well, maybe we can go out in town later and see what they're doing to celebrate Christmas." Hakkai offered. "Yeah!" Gojyo and Goku answered. "Right, Sanzo?" Hakkai said, looking at Sanzo. "Whatever." Sanzo replied. "Okay then, so it's settled. After eating, we go to town." Hakkai said. And so, after they ate their dinner, they went out to town and joined in the festival.
"Sanzo! Sanzo! Can we stay here until Christmas day?" Goku asked. Sanzo didn't reply at first. "Please Sanzo. So that Shiey will know what it's like." Goku pleaded. "Yeah, Sanzo. It is Christmas." Gojyo said. "Can't argue with that." Hakkai added. "Yeah, Sanzo. Please?" Shiey joined in. "Fine. I can't win over your foolishness anyway." Sanzo said. "Yay!" Goku shouted in pleasure. "Shiey! Come on! Let's go buy some meat buns!" Goku said as he dragged Shiey into the crowd and they started looking for a meat bun stall. Meanwhile, the other three headed back to the inn. "What do you think, Sanzo?" Hakkai said. "Yeah, we can make it a surprise for Shiey." Gojyo added. "Okay, fine. But, nobody should let her find out until tomorrow night." Sanzo agreed. "Okay, now, we just have to tell Goku." Gojyo said.
"Thanks for the meat buns, Shiey!" Goku said, stuffing his mouth with more meat buns. "Sure, Goku." Shiey replied, smiling at him. "Should we go to the inn, now?" Shiey asked. "Let's go back later! Let's have fun at the festival first!" Goku offered. "Well, okay." Shiey said as she and Goku went to the festival.
Houtou Castle, India…
"Kougaiji, why haven't you taken the girl yet?" Gyokumen Koushu asked. "I'm working on that." Kougaiji replied. "Well, hurry up. We can't continue the fourth phase of the resurrection of Gyumao without that girl." Gyokumen Koushu said. Kougaiji turned to leave. "Dokugakuji, get the flying dragons, we're going after the Sanzo party." Kougaiji said. "Right away." Dokugakuji replied. "Kougaiji! You're leaving without me again! Why won't you let me come with you?" Lirin exclaimed. "I'm sorry, Lirin. But Gyokumen Koushu told me to let you stay inside the castle at all times." Kougaiji said. "But!" Lirin protested. "Okay, I'll just bring you back something tasty." Kougaiji said. "Okay!" Lirin replied as she smiled. Kougaiji patted her head and turned to leave.
"Where have you been?" Gojyo asked. "We were just in town, enjoying the festival." Goku replied. "Yeah, why?" Shiey asked. "Nothing. Um, Shiey. Do you mind? We need to talk to Goku alone." Hakkai asked. "Um, sure. I'll just be in my room, okay?" Shiey said. "Okay." Hakkai smiled. Shiey went out of the room and proceeded to her room. Making sure that she was gone, Gojyo locked the door. "Hey monkey, we have to tell you something." Gojyo said. "What?" Goku asked.
Shiey headed back to her room and closed the door. Then, she sat down on her bed. "What is Christmas like?" she thought. She could hardly remember her celebrating Christmas when she was a kid. Then, she remembered… they didn't have enough money to celebrate Christmas. She lay down on her bed. All this time, she had always wished to celebrate Christmas with her mom and Kouryuu. But seeing that her mom was gone and Kouryuu would obviously not celebrate it with her, it would be useless thinking of things like that. Then, she smiled. She compared her lifestyle before with her lifestyle now. Now… she had friends. Friends who cared a lot for her. And she found her brother. What else could she ask for? She was contented with just what she had now. And who knows? Maybe one day, something good might happen. Just then, her thoughts were interrupted with the sound of breaking glass. "Take her." A low voice stated. "She's alone… good." The voice said again. "Who are you?" Shiey asked.
"Yaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!" a voice screamed. The four boys in the other room were disrupted. "Hey, that voice sounded a lot like-" Gojyo started. "Shiey's!" Hakkai finished. They all ran to Shiey's room and saw that Kougaiji and Dokugakuji cornered her. "Hey, we didn't say that you could take her just like that." Gojyo remarked. "Is that right?" Kougaiji asked. "Well, pardon me, would it be okay if I take her?" Kougaiji asked. "Sorry, but, we can't let you do that." Hakkai said protectively. And so, they started fighting. Sanzo walked over to Shiey and started untying the ropes on her arms and legs. Suddenly, Kougaiji's voice interrupted, "Why do you want her! Isn't she just a nuisance!" Kougaiji shouted. Sanzo looked at Shiey, she had tears in her eyes. "Yeah, she may be a nuisance…" Sanzo said. Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku looked at him, surprised. "But she's still my sister." Sanzo finished. The other three boys looked at him, kind of surprised that he said what he just said. But, it was okay. "What!" Kougaiji asked. "Yeah, that's right. So, why don't you just leave right now?" Goku said. Kougaiji gritted his teeth in anger. "Fine, we will retreat for now, but next time-" Kougaiji said. "Yeah, yeah. We know already. We're tired of hearing it." Gojyo said. And with that, Kougaiji and Dokugakuji left. "Are you okay?" Hakkai asked, running to Shiey. "I'm fine." Shiey said, looking at Sanzo. "What?" Sanzo asked. "Nothing." Shiey replied as she smiled. "Thank you…" she thought.
After that incident, they all went to their respective rooms to rest. Shiey was on her bed, sitting down. "Yeah, she may be a nuisance… but she's still my sister." These words kept replaying itself inside Shiey's head. She smiled. Coming from Sanzo, that meant a lot to her. He finally acknowledged her as his sister. She may not be able to celebrate Christmas, but knowing that her friends were always there to make her day, it was enough of a Christmas present. She lay on her bed, thinking. She was so lucky to have come across the paths of these four. They certainly changed her views in life. Just then, a bright light came from the right side of her bed. She turned to see what it was. And was surprised to see that it was none other than Homura. "Homura?" she said. Homura smirked. She sat up and was about to run to the door when Homura caught hold of her wrist. She was starting to get tears in her eyes. "Please… don't hurt me." Shiey pleaded. Homura's eyes widened. "Who said I wanted to hurt you?" Homura asked. Shiey's eyes widened. "I just wanted to give you this," Homura said, leaning down to kiss her on the lips. Shiey was shocked, she couldn't move. "Merry Christmas." Homura said as he vanished. Shiey stood where she was for a while, not moving. Did Homura do what he just did? It couldn't be possible. Shiey made her way to her bed and lay down again. She touched her lips and remembered what Homura said, "Who said I wanted to hurt you? I just wanted to give you this… Merry Christmas." And with that, she fell asleep.
The next day was Christmas Eve. Shiey woke up with snow falling on the ground. She went downstairs to the restaurant and saw that the four boys were there already. "Hey guys," she said, sitting on one of the chairs. "Why didn't you wake me up?" she asked. "Oh, uh…" Goku started. "We figured that maybe you wanted to rest more." Hakkai finished. "Yeah." Gojyo and Goku agreed. "Is there something you guys don't want to tell me?" Shiey asked. "No, of course not!" Hakkai, Goku and Gojyo answered in unison. "You guys are too obvious." Sanzo muttered. "What?" Shiey asked. "Oh, nothing. That was nothing." Goku said. "Okay then… we should start eating breakfast." Shiey offered. "Yeah! Food!" Goku cheered.
After eating breakfast, Hakkai and Gojyo went to buy supplies. Sanzo stayed in the inn. And Goku and Shiey went around town. "Goku," Shiey said. "Yeah?" Goku asked. "Is there something I should know about?" Shiey asked. Goku felt uneasy for a moment, but replied, "Okay… Gojyo has this really bad infection in his butt and he doesn't want you to know about it. He's afraid it will gross you out." Goku covered up. "Yeah, he was right. It is grossing me out." Shiey replied. "So, you want to go to a noodles stall?" Goku asked. "But, we just ate breakfast." Shiey protested. "But I'm already hungry." Goku explained. "Fine… let's go." Shiey said.
"You think Goku's doing a good job hiding the surprise?" Hakkai asked. "Knowing him, I don't think so. But, he better keep it a secret." Gojyo said. "Yeah." Hakkai said. "So, is that all we need to buy?" Gojyo asked. "Yes, that's all of it." Hakkai said. "Okay then. Let's go back to the inn so that we can start decorating." Gojyo said.
Konran Tower…
"Why didn't you take her?" Shien asked. "It's not yet time." Homura replied. "But, what did you do there last night then?" Zenon asked. "I gave her something she'll never forget." Homura answered, a smirk across his face.
It was already nearing sunset, and it was starting to get cold. Obviously… snow was falling. "Goku, we better go back to the inn." Shiey said. "Okay." Goku said. "But, can we stop by the meat buns stall before we do?" Goku asked. "Fine." Shiey replied. "Yay!" And so, they started looking for a meat buns stall. "We'll take one dozen meat buns please!" Goku said. The man got his order and handed it to Goku. Shiey payed for it and then, they went back to the inn.
"Hey Goku, are you sure that Gojyo has an infection on his butt?" Shiey asked as they started to climb the stairs of the inn. "Uh—yeah." Goku said. "Okay, then." Shiey said. "Here we are." Goku said. "But this is Sanzo and Hakkai's room. My room is over there." Shiey pointed. "Yeah, but the guys said they wanted to give you something, so we should stop by here first." Goku said. "Okay." Shiey said as she opened the door. She turned on the switch of the light. Just then, two men jumped up saying, "Merry Christmas!" "What the!" Shiey yelled. Hakkai walked over to her. "We figured that since you didn't know what Christmas is like, maybe we'd celebrate together." Hakkai said. "Yeah, now come on, let's celebrate!" Gojyo yelled. Shiey looked around the room. It was decorated with streamers that were color green and red. And there was a table filled with all kinds of food. And of course, there was a tree decorated with Christmas lights. "Thank you so much, you guys." Shiey said. "Oh yeah, just so you know… this was kinda Sanzo's idea." Gojyo whispered. Shiey looked over at the tree and saw Sanzo sitting there with a Santa Claus outfit. She tried not to laugh at him. "You just try and laugh, I swear, even though it's Christmas, I'm going to kill you." Sanzo said, pointing his gun at Shiey. Shiey smiled and walked over to the tree.
"Open my present first, Shiey!" Goku exclaimed as he handed Shiey a box wrapped in gold. "Thanks, Goku." She said as she began unwrapping the gift. "Oh, it's cute. I love it." Shiey said, hugging Goku. Goku blushed a little, "Sure!" Goku said. "Here, open mine next." Gojyo said, handing Shiey a tiny box wrapped in red. Shiey smiled, "Thanks a lot, Gojyo." She opened it and it revealed a white hankerchief with a blue lace trimming. Shiey smiled and hugged Gojyo. "What? No kiss?" Gojyo teased. Shiey smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Here." Sanzo said, tossing her a tiny box, wrapped in purple. "Thanks, Sanzo." Shiey said, as she opened the box. "Oh, it's beautiful." Shiey said, taking the hair clip. It was a purple hair clip with a purple crystal on one end. She immediately clipped it onto her hair. "Shiey, do you mind helping me with the food?" Hakkai asked. "Sure, why not." Shiey said, standing up and following Hakkai into the kitchen. "Shiey," Hakkai started. "Here." Hakkai said, giving her a small, green box. Shiey smiled and opened it. Her eyes grew wide when she saw what was inside. It was a silver necklace with a green emerald as a pendant. "Oh, it's beautiful. Thanks, Hakkai." Shiey said. "It was also my first gift to Kanan." Hakkai said, smiling at her. Shiey's jaw dropped. "Here." Shiey said, giving it back to Hakkai. "I can't have that. That's Kanan's." Shiey said. "You can keep it." Shiey said. Hakkai looked at her and approached her, "Shiey, it's okay. I want you to have it." Hakkai said. "Really?" Shiey asked. Hakkai smiled and nodded. Then, he unclasped it and put it around Shiey's neck. "I love you, Shiey." Hakkai said, smiling at Shiey. "I love you too, Hakkai." Shiey said. And then, they shared a kiss. Shiey pulled away. "Merry Christmas, Hakkai." Shiey said. "Merry Christmas, Shiey." Hakkai said. And they made there way back outside with the tray of snacks in their hands. It truly was a Christmas to remember… to cherish… and of course… a Christmas to love.
Author's note: What do you think? Please review! Thanks!