Chapter 1

"What do you mean I can't get whiskey here? That's blasphemy to the highest order!" screeched a man with crimson locks and a cigarette in his hand. A scowl was on his otherwise handsome face as he waved his arms about making rude comments to the stiff man in charge.

"I'm sorry sire, but we do not serve any alcoholic beverages in here. Nor is smoking allowed. This is not a bar!" The stiff man sniffed with disgust and turned up his nose snobbishly. "Now, if you'd be so kind, leave. I don't want any of your kind lurking around my proud establishment."

The crimson haired man snorted. "What do you mean my kind lurking around your proud establishment? Why would anyone want to sleep here with your tight ass lurking around the corner anyway?

He flicked the ashes off his cigarette, turned and walked out with an arrogant swagger and slammed the door shut just to tick him off. So much for that, he thought sourly. That was the only inn in this town. Christ in hell, I'm never gonna get a room in this town. Where are some beautiful women and booze when you need them?

He wandered down the nearly empty street save for a pair of men. He hardly paid the odd couple any mind as he walked passed them.

"Aw, can't we go in, Sanzo? I'm starving! All this walking around is making me hungry! Please, Sanzo?" whined the shorter of the two men. He hastily shoved warm honey bangs out of his face as he ran to keep up with Sanzo.

Sanzo tried to ignore him but the vein pumping against his skull was getting harder and harder to ignore. Will this monkey ever shut up: There'd better be an inn somewhere in this god forsaken town, he thought bitterly. His right eye began to twitch with irritation. God damn it, stupid monkey! He whirled around and brought a paper fan down hard on his companion's head.

"You'll shut up if you value your life, monkey," he growled, waving the fan threateningly.

"I'm not a monkey!" cried the little one before cowering under Sanzo's fierce glare.

Sanzo felt the twitch lowly subside along with the thumping vein in his head. Finally, some peace. Who's that?

He held his violet gaze on the crimson haired man who stalked out of a building. So, there is an inn in this place.

He cast his gave back to the crimson haired man after reading the sign and zeroed in on his crimson eyes. Crimson hair and eyes. He must be a half breed. 'Look for the two faced man and the man with hair like blood.' He must be one of them.

"Goku."

"Huh? What is it Sanzo?" the monkey asked confused.

Sanzo gave a nod to the man that had already passed them and was about to round the corner.

"That's one of the men we're looking for." Sanzo watched the man out of the corner of his violet eye. "We need to follow him; maybe he'll lead us to the other one."

Goku watched the crimson haired man turn the corner with curiosity now. He glanced back at Sanzo and his stomach rumbled.

"Then can we get some food, Sanzo?" Goku pleaded.

"Yes, then we can get food," Sanzo replied with a soft growl.

Goku jumped up and did a quick victory dance, running off down the street before Sanzo could whack him with his paper fan.

"Goku!" Sanzo yelled after him firing off his banishing gun at Goku's feet. Goku paled slightly and ducked around the corner breathing heavily. He's gonna kill me! Goku screamed in his head. But I'm soo hungry! I wish I had a meet bun.

Goku sighed and slid down the wall holding his growling stomach.

"Fooood."

"Boooze," sighed a voice just as despairing as Goku's.

"Ah!" Goku jumped back from the wall and stared at the crimson haired man. "Hey, it's you!"

"What'da ya mean it's me? Of course it's me! Who the hell are you?" the crimson haired man yelled.

"I'm Goku. Me and Sanzo were lookin' for ya!"

"Who the hell is Sanzo?" the crimson haired man wondered.

Goku bounced up and down yelling, "Hey, Sanzo! I found him! I found him! Now can we go get food?"

"Will you shut up?" Sanzo rounded the corner and whacked Goku with his paper fan.

Goku ducked behind the crimson haired man who had now stood and was staring at Sanzo with a look that just screamed, 'Who the hell are you?'

"Sha Gojyo?" Sanzo asked with a lifted brow.

"What's it to ya, monk?" the crimson haired man questioned back, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Got a place we can talk?"

Gojyo nodded down to the street. "Next street over's Hakkai's place. At least he's got booze," he mumbled and set off down the street.