Authoress here.

(Rabid Lawyers materialize)

What the...?

Rabid Lawyer 1: (satisfied smile)

Okay, who didn't I give credit to?

Rabid Lawyer 2: We'll let you guess on that one, but until you do...we'll poke you with sharp sticks.

(poke) Ow! What did I forget? (poke) Ow!

START CHAPTER

"You...don't remember?"

Machira nodded, putting a hand to her head. "I must have been a little kid or something, but this all seems so familiar...so vivid." She shook her head a bit, and smiled reassuringly. "Oh well."

Gojyo smiled back, then resumed drinking a beer he had pulled from the cooler without complaint.

Although she had convinced Gojyo that she didn't mind, it was harder to convince herself. The memory seemed to be right at her fingertips, but slid away when she tried to access it.

Suddenly, without warning, a wave washed over her.

A woman was standing in front of her, smiling kindly. She was also vaguely familiar, but Machira couldn't place her finger on it. As suddenly as the image appeared, it vanished again.

Although seeing visions worried Machira, she tired not to let it concern her too much. Most of all, she made sure that her companions didn't notice anything was wrong. She had caused them enough hassle already, she realized, fingering a bandage on her left forearm.

Throughout the next hour that it took to reach the nearest town, the visions returned.

The strange woman smiling, holding out her hand to Machira but vanishing when she tried to identify her. Pointing towards something off in the distance.

None of it made sense to Machira, but she decided it was best to ignore them rather than give herself a headache by trying to understand it.

"So...are we gonna stay somewhere that serves breakfast?" Goku asked hopefully.

"We'll see, Goku. It really depends on what's available," Hakkai answered.

"I guess," he replied dismally. He opened his mouth to say something else, but instead yawned widely.

Machira eyed Gojyo, who had just taken another sip of beer. "How can you drink that stuff so early in the morning?" she asked disgustedly.

Gojyo grinned, and pressed the half full can into her hand. "You're underage, so you wouldn't know, I guess."

"No thank you," she said firmly, handing it back. "You keep it."

Gojyo shrugged, and took a gulp. "Your loss."

"It's not really all that bad," Goku offered.

"How would you know? You're younger than I am!"

"Um..." Goku grinned. "Drinking contest?"

Machira laughed. "That must have been interesting."

Goku shrugged. "Not really. I passed out before anything cool happened." Machira raised an eyebrow as he continued, "I heard Sanzo tried to use his sutra magic on some poor guy, though."

He had been about to say more, but the familiar warning click of Sanzo's gun silenced him.

"I'll take you up on that offer when I'm 21, Gojyo," Machira said a moment later, remembering how she had been told not to smoke, drink, gamble, or have any fun by her late grandmother, who had been one of the first to be killed by the demons. They had never really gotten along, but scarcely showed any sign of their emotions when around other people.

Gojyo smirked, and crushed the now empty can with his hands. "Can do."

They finally reached an inn, and were too tired to care where they slept. Gojyo and Machira collapsed onto a double bed, not even bothering to speak. Her eyelids fluttered, and she drifted off into sleep.

The woman was standing in a field, smiling. "Go to the West, child. The West."

"What?" Machira found that she could speak, and asked a question without thinking.

The woman paused, and proceeded to roll her eyes. "Ah, good. You can hear me. I said, go to the West."

Machira frowned. "I heard you the first time."

Placing a hand on her hip, the woman replied, "Then why didn't you just smile and nod, like any other person being visited by a Goddess?"

"Huh?"

"Damn, I had thought you were smarter than this. My name is Kanzeon Bosatsu, the symbol of love and mercy. I'm one of the five Bodhisattvas who rule Heaven," she added, annoyed, having seen the confused look on Machira's face.

"Well, I wouldn't know. I'm not a devoted Buddhist or anything," Machira snapped.

"Ugh," the Goddess replied. "I'm not going to waste time trying to conform you. Call me "The Great Kannon" for short."

"Um...how about just Kannon?"

The Goddess sighed heartily. "Whatever. I don't have time for this. I came to tell you that you must head west with the Sanzo party. It's destiny."

Machira raised an eyebrow. "Destiny?" she repeated skeptically.

"Dammit, you're annoying!" Kannon snapped. "Yes, destiny. Now try not to get yourself any more banged up before then, okay?"

Machira flushed. "It wasn't my fault-"

"Technically," Kannon interrupted. "It was."

"You don't have to keep reminding me about it! I know I'm pathetic already, thanks."

"You'll get stronger," Kannon said softly, her image fading away. "Go to the west, and trust your heart."

"Wait! I-"Machira stopped abruptly, realizing that she was sitting upright in the bed she was sharing with Gojyo with one arm extended to where the woman had been seconds before. Letting her arm drop, she sighed. So much for getting a good night's sleep.

END CHAPTER

For future reference, Bodhisattva means: those who have attained enlightenment but decided to stay and help people on earth rather than go on to Nirvana.

Here's a note about Kannon: she is also a he, somehow.

I got that definition and bit of info from the third manga, and it's full property of Kazuya Minekura (the writer) and my little sister (who purchased the first 3 mangas which I have stolen one by one to do research for this story).

(poke) Ow!

Rabid Lawyer 2: This is fun!

(poke) Ouch!

Wait a second...I know! The Rabid Lawyers are full property of their inventor, JewelValentine. Look her up and read her fics; they're hilarious!

Rabid Lawyers: Nooo! (melt into ground)

(rubs arm) Ouch.

Authoress out.