Authoress here.

I don't have much to say, besides the following: this chapter is not a lemon.

I don't own Saiyuki, as much as I may want to.

Haru: Damn right you don't!

Shush.

START CHAPTER

The inn was indeed, as Sanzo had said, "a piece of shit," but it got bonus points for having a working shower. And at least this time, everyone got their own rooms.

Machira sighed heartily, letting the warm water from the shower flow across her un-bandaged body. Raising her hands to her short hair, she squeezed out as much water as possible so she wouldn't completely soak the towel. As she stepped out of the bathtub, her body shielded from view only by a fluffy towel wrapped around her, falling to her mid-thigh, she realized with a slight sinking feeling that she had forgotten a change of clothes. Pulling the towel tightly around her, she unlocked the bathroom door and walked hurriedly to where a clean set of clothes awaited.

As she stood up, her eyes landed on the small bed the inn had provided, and she froze in her tracks. Gojyo was sprawled on top of the comforter wearing an impish grin, his eyes locked on hers.

"What are you doing in here?" Machira demanded, hugging the clothes tightly to her chest.

"Waiting for you," he replied. "I think we need to talk."

Sighing, she asked, "Can it wait until I'm not naked?"

His smile widening a bit, he shrugged. "Whatever you say."

She flushed nervously, rubbing and itch on one leg with the foot of the other, and didn't answer him. Instead, she turned to go back into the bathroom to get dressed. Upon reentering, she found Gojyo had moved to sit in a rickety chair a few feet from the bed.

She glanced around hopefully for another chair, then moved to sit on the bed when she saw there were none.

It took Machira a few seconds to realize that the thumping sound she was hearing was the beating of her own fluttering heart as Gojyo arose and came towards her. Sinking down onto the soft bed beside her, he gently pressed her down onto her back with his lips locked upon hers.

Startled, she let her eyes close as she sank into the bliss of the embrace. So this is what love feels like, she thought, letting her arms slide around Gojyo, caressing his back.

Pulling away for a moment, Gojyo smiled at her. "I take it this means yes?"

Machira nodded. The movement shook the necklace pendant, which she had forgotten to tuck inside her shirt when she get dressed, and its glittering caught Gojyo's eye. He reached out and lifted it up to get a better look.

"Where did you get this?"

"A street vendor," she replied, her eyes also shifting towards the necklace. "I saw it and I thought about you."

Gojyo was silent.

"I'll wear it forever to prove that not all demons are bad," she continued, causing Gojyo to glance up at her. "I'd know. I've met quite a few that are pretty damn nice."

With a chuckle, Gojyo released the necklace and moved his hand up to touch her cheek. "You know, when I first met you, my intentions were completely dishonorable. Since you proved to me you were harder to get, I thought turning on the charm would work. You're the only girl I've actually fallen in love with, Machira."

Her face broke into a wide smile, and her cheeks flushed. Quite suddenly, she jumped.

Gojyo pulled his hand back, startled. "Something wrong?"

Placing a hand to her collarbone, Machira shook her head. "No. H-hiccups."

Gojyo laughed. "I should've known. Hiccups are so anticlimactic."

Machira chuckled too. "I k-know."

"If you two are done laughing, we have a situation to attend to," said Sanzo from where he was standing by the doorway, unnoticed until now.

"How long have you been there?" Gojyo demanded.

Sanzo raised an eyebrow. "Long enough."

Machira flushed and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Goku is missing."

END CHAPTER

Yay! New chapter up! (does the chicken dance)

Haru: (too stunned for words)

I'll try and get the next chapter up soon.

Authoress out.