Chapter 4: To The West…Again

Ebony and Kerri stood outside the house as the boys packed Jeep with food and supplies as Ebony patted Kerri on the head

"We'll come back, don't worry" she said as Keri nodded, the house would always be here.

Finally Hakkai called them over as the guys got into the car, bar Hakkai as he told them about seating arrangements as Ebony grinned, now to be really evil.

"So Kerri-san…you can sit here" Hakkai said as he went to help her in but she flinched in fear as he dropped his hand and let her get in on her own, obviously not ready for contact yet, so how would she cope with sitting on Goku?

She sat on the very end of his knees as Hakkai shook his head

"You have to sit further back, I know this is hard for you, but what if we go over a bump, you'd fall off" Hakkai said as she looked at him her eyes desperate as he smiled reassuringly as Ebony came over as well.

"Trust me Kerri, no one here is going to hurt you, Or I'll beat the crap out of them. Ok?" Ebony said as Kerri nodded and shifted back slightly as Goku smiled at her

"Hello, you cook right? What can you cook?' he asked as Kerri blushed shyly at being talked to as she glanced at Ebony whom nodded, of course she could speak.

"L…Lots of things" she stuttered as Goku grinned and began to list off his favourite foods.

"Well at least the monkey's good at one ting, breaking the ice" Gojyo yawned as Ebony studied him before looking back at Ebony haltingly talking to the energetic happy Goku.

"Now Ebony…you come over here, and her is your seat" Hakkai announced as Sanzo glared at her, but she just glared right back.

"What a stiff looking seat, sure I can't pound some softness into it?" she said as Sanzo looked away from her, deciding to ignore her

"No...that wouldn't be the best idea…now come, sit so we can get underway" Hakkai said as she jumped onto her new 'seat' and wiggled around trying to get comfortable before finally finding the best spot as she sighed looking over his shoulder at Kerri whom was still being talked at by Goku about all his favourite foods, it was a long list.

"Well, shall we go now?" Hakkai said as Sanzo grunted a reply as Hakkai chuckled and took off as Sanzo jerked at the sudden start as one of his arms snaked around Ebony's waist to stop her from falling as she blinked at him in confusion as he looked away.

"You would have fallen" he muttered as she grinned, this would most definitely be fun, breaking the shell he kept around himself.

He placed the glasses onto the edge of his nose and awkwardly held his paper in one hand. His lazy violet eyes skimming across the pages. Hakkai glanced in the mirror, watched a slow smile spill onto Kerri's lips and felt himself smile in reaction to it. Gojyo leant forward, cigarette smoke billowing in the rushing winds. "Hakkai's sister huh?" He said tonelessly. She glanced back and nodded, Sanzo shifted a little uncomfortably in the seat. Still reading his paper. "Almost better lookin' than your bro." 'joked' Gojyo and he placed a hand on the back of the car seat. Hakkai blushed a little and shook his head. /Never learns/

"Huh, that's something. You in love with my brother or something?" Ebony asked, a wisecrack expression on her face. Gojyo flushed with anger. "WHAT!" (C'mon Gojyo, she was just pointing out the obvious rolls eyes) Goku burst into a fit of laughter, he placed a careful hand on Kerri's waist to steady her. Kerri froze, Hakkai's nervous giggling ceased. His and Kerri's eyes met cautiously and he turned back to the road. Sanzo seemed imperative to the happenings around him. "Hakkai, she's nothing like you!" fumed Gojyo, lighting another cigarette. "Really? I would not have noticed Gojyo." Replied Hakkai with a simple smile.

Goku clutched his stomach and dropped his head back. "I am soooo hungry. Boy, talking about all that food made me..." Another growl from his stomach. "What! You stupid monkey, we had breakfast before we left this morning." Gojyo said in a frustrated tone. Kerri suppressed a giggle, Ebony noticed it and smiled. She turned to her brother who was smiling too and touched his arm. She wanted to say that she missed him but she couldn't manage to push the emotions out that way. She looked at him threatening tears in her big green eyes and looked away. Sanzo was looking up from the paper through his glasses and noticed the tears in her eyes. He looked at her shoulder and felt a pang of guilt within his chest. Perhaps he should not be so harsh with her. "Is there a particular reason as to why you are staring at me?" She demanded quickly /then again, maybe not/ He glared at her and looked back to his paper. "Wasn't staring" he growled.

Elendur – there's more where that came from too….is that good or bad?

Shy-Phantom - GOOOOOOOD