Chapter 16 : The Search Is On

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Sanzo chewed on a bean bun thoughtfully "Where do you think the youkai would be?" Ebony chirped "Don't know. For God's sake, keep a low profile." He said annoyed as Ebony grinned brightly at him.

"But this is too much fun to keep a low profile Snazzy." She said as Sanzo groaned as he dug into another plate of food, why did HE have to get the stupid monkey's body, always hungry…

/More importantly, why did SHE have to get MY body? Do you hate me Buddah? What have I done to deserve this…/ Sanzo groaned as Ebony looked at him as his head hit the table with a loud clunk.

"Aww, don't be depressed Snazzy we'll work this out, you'll see, we overcame the last youkai attack, this one should be a cinch." Ebony chirped as Sanzo began to pound his head repeatedly on the table occasionally stopping to shovel more food into his mouth while cursing everything he could with every word he could.

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"Well…where do we start." Gojyo grumbled as Goku looked at him as he quickly looked away, he was still hurting about how Gojyo had treated him the morning after they had…they had…he couldn't even think about it without wanting to cry.

"Yo, Monkey, you in there?" Gojyo called worry tinting his voice as Goku sniffed and looked up nodding as he sighed and followed as Gojyo stormed off grumbling about their situation and who he had to search with.

(this is a space)

"H…Hakkai." Kerri stuttered as he looked over at her, she was still unnerved by seeing herself, let alone referring to herself as Hakkai.

"What is the matter Kerri? Are you hungry?" Hakkai inquired as Kerri shook her head a blush claiming her cheeks as Hakkai watched her as she fought for the right words.

"I need to go to the bathroom." Kerri finally blurted as Hakkai blinked for a moment as a blush claimed his cheeks lightly as well.

"Ah…do you know how…with a…male body?" Hakkai asked as she shook her head as Hakkai chewed at his bottom lip looking around them, it was a secluded area in the forest, they had come into the surrounding forest in hopes of finding clues as to where their enemy may be.

"Well…I guess you need to practice then…we don't know how long we'll be like this." Hakkai said as he led her to a tree as she blushed looking away as Hakkai blushed as well.

"You can't look away, you'll put your aim off." He said as Kerri face darkened even more.

"I…I can't look…I don't believe I'm even…touching it…" Kerri stuttered as Hakkai blushed again nodding as he smiled at her reassuringly trying his best to calm her so she could at least go to the toilet.

(this is a space)

"How about we search the town, ask about for any suspicious people." Ebony said as Sanzo glared at her

"WE'RE suspicious people."

"Yes I know that, but suspicious people OTHER then us." Ebony said as Sanzo growled in annoyance as he leant back, finally his belly was full, maybe he shouldn't be so hard towards the monkey when he was hungry from now on…then again…maybe NOT.

"Fine, get moving." Sanzo snapped as he stood while Ebony paid the bill and followed after her grumpy companion.

"and you're telling me to keep a low profile? You're acting REAL normal for Goku." Ebony said sarcastically as Sanzo glared at her.

"I refuse to act like that monkey idiot."

"And I refuse to act like I have a stick up my ass…wait, I don't have a stick up my ass…I HAVE A FAN!" Ebony replied as Sanzo growled at her wishing she would shut up about the fan, he had never told anyone about where he kept it for a very good reason.

"Change topic…now." Sanzo growled as Ebony sighed, it was probably better if they did, leave the teasing about the fan until later, first, get this fixed and GOJYO out of her body, that really creeped her out…what would a pervert like him do with her body.

"Well…something like this, they would have to have gotten close right?"

"Maybe." Sanzo grunted as Ebony blinked at him.

"Maybe? What do you mean? Something like this would need chi use, so they would have to get close to change us, exactly how that happened I'm still not completely sure of, but they would have to have gotten close."

"In a scripture once I read something to this effect…the spirit leaving the body to inhabit another, it can be done voluntarily." Sanzo grunted as Ebony frowned.

"We didn't exactly WANT to change bodies Snazzy, what on earth are you talking about…"

"I hadn't finished you stupid girl."

"I'm NOT a girl right now though am I? I'm you, I don't have boobs, or anything else, I instead have a fan up my rear and another disgusting appendage attached at the front…get to your point before I lose my temper."

"Ha, what will you do if you lose your temper girl?" Sanzo demanded ignoring the odd looks they were gaining, the people had just become accustomed to their antics when they had up and changed their personalities completely.

"I don't know…cut OFF your balls? Destroy your fan…something like that."

"You wouldn't dare." Sanzo hissed as Ebony smirked at him, oh wouldn't she?

"I hate you." Sanzo growled as they stomped down the street neither happy with being near the other, previous topic completely forgotten.

(this is a space)

Hakkai sighed as he looked around at them all, no one had gathered any useful information, no strangers had been sighted around town, other then themselves, no youkai attacks, no other occurrences such as their own in the town, not even a broken twig in the forest, almost as if there had been no youkai that had done this to them, but it was impossible for it to happen on its own.

"Monkey I blame you for this hunger." Sanzo grumbled as he continued to stuff his face for the 5th time that day , Ebony was off with Kerri learning how to use a bathroom, which Hakkai had indeed had trouble teaching her and Gojyo was drinking the experience away.

"I'm going to bed." Sanzo snarled as he stormed out soon after finishing eating as Hakkai nodded.

"Goodnight Sanzo…Gojyo…there was truly nothing? No word from anyone? Nothing out of the ordinary.?" Hakkai asked as Gojyo shook his head, there hadn't been a thing.

"Nothing, no one had a clue what we were on about, no other strangers, nothing…why the hell does this have to happen to us!" Gojyo demanded as Goku glanced at him before turning back to his meal, never before had he eaten so little and felt so full, he just sat there pushing the remaining food on his plate around.

"I can't believe men…so disgusting." Ebony's…Sanzo's voice floated over as Hakkai sighed, looks like his sister was having a similar reaction to Kerri about male toilet habits.

"Ebony…would you stay with Goku…he seems depressed, Gojyo and I will look for any useful information at the bar." He said as Ebony nodded plopping down next to Goku, maybe she could get him to talk to her, he did seem very down lately, Kerri sat on his other side and shared a glanced with Ebony, between them they would soon have the boy talking.

(this is a space)

"I hear you girls have been asking around about anything strange." A male voice said as Hakkai turned to look at the man, being referred to as a girl was most unusual, he had once or twice been mistaken for a female…but not often, no when the person was this close to him…

"Yes…we would greatly appreciate any information you could give us…anything you know may help us." Hakkai said as Gojyo took another swig of beer, he didn't like the look in the mans eye when he looked at him…or Hakkai.

"Well, I have something you may want to know then…but the information comes at a price."

"Price? What is it?" Hakkai asked, he felt almost overjoyed, someone knew something, this may all be over soon.

"Well…I'm old…and a little female company never hurts…come over here and keep a man company…and I'll tell you whatever you wan to know." The man leered as Hakkai blanched, the man wanted them to offer sexual favours in exchange for information.

"I'm sorry, we cannot do that…such a thing would be-" Hakkai cut himself off when he felt a hand on his rear as he jumped away, there had been a man standing close behind him, and he had just felt him up.

"Excuse me sir, but please stop this immediately." Hakkai cried as Gojyo punched the old man when he went to grope him.

"I don't care what information you bastards have, you have no right to touch us like this." Gojyo growled as a few more men ganged up on them.

"Come on beautiful, we're only talking to you…you should be used to it, travelling with so many men, that red head was in here last night doing the same as us…can you blame us for wanting a little of the action?" a man sneered as he tried to grope Hakkai's breasts.

"If you try touch me again I will harm you…we do not participate in any sexual activities with any of the members of our group…and the actions of Gojyo in no way make what you are doing alright…" Hakkai scolded as Gojyo frowned.

"I don't think they're listening Hakkai." He muttered as Hakkai glanced at Gojyo, there was almost 10 men now leering at them and making passes at them.

"Gojyo…I think it is prudent of us to leave now…" Hakkai suggested as Gojyo nodded as he grabbed the nearest man and punched him as hard as he could, at least Ebony's body had some strength in her, it sent the man backwards as he grabbed Hakkai's arm and dragged him with him out of the crowd and back to the table where Ebony and Kerri were talking, Goku must have left some time ago.

"I will never be forceful with a woman again…dear god…" Gojyo grumbled sitting down heavily as Ebony blinked at him in confusion

"You girls have to put up with this all the time…I truly respect you for this." Hakkai said with a nod t them both as he too sat with a weary sigh.

"What happened?"

"Men." The pair said in unison as Kerri hid her giggle behind her hand while Ebony just laughed out aloud at them, oh was Revenge sweet. Revenge for what you may ask, why for just being male.

(this is a space)

Earlier with the girls…boys and Goku.

"What's got you so down Goku?" Ebony asked as Goku shook his head.

"I'm not down…there's nothing wrong…really." Goku murmured as Kerri frowned at him, that was a very obvious lie, Goku was one of her friends, he had taught her to fight, constantly protected her, he was like a cute little brother, seeing him so down was hurting her, and Ebony as well, they took their family very seriously.

"Did someone hurt you?" Kerri murmured as Goku looked at her, how had she known?

"Someone you love?" Ebony added as Goku burst into tears as Kerri held him gently…what a sight it made Hakkai embracing a crying Gojyo while a sympathetic Sanzo looked on…enough to give anyone who knew them a heart attack.

"Gojyo…doesn't…I…he made…we…together…and he…" Goku sobbed as Kerri looked at Ebony questioningly as her friend shrugged, she didn't know what he was on about either.

"Calm down a little, we don't know what you're talking about, just calm down and tell us okay?" Ebony coaxed as Kerri rubbed his back gently, she felt much more confident in this form, no one bugged Hakkai…but her weak body…everyone always picked on her, ever since she had been young, but like this she felt she could take on the world, or in this case embrace Goku comfortingly, without fear.

"The other night…Gojyo came into our room…he…we…together…" Goku stuttered as understanding dawned on Ebony as a slight blush filled her cheeks.

"Oh…" Ebony whispered as Kerri looked at her, had she missed something?

"What? Oh what?" she whispered as Ebony glanced at Goku.

"They…slept together." Ebony said trying to be as…eloquent as possible as a deep blush claimed Kerri's cheeks and a red faced Hakkai looked down at the crying Goku.

"What makes you cry though? Isn't that what you wanted? You love him don't you?" Kerri asked as Goku drew back to peek up at her.

"You know?" he whispered as she smiled nodding and looked at Ebony.

"We can see it…the way you look at him…so why do you cry?" she asked as Goku hugged her gain burying his face in her chest trying to forget.

"The next morning…he said it was a mistake…he was drunk…and…he doesn't…it meant nothing…we…" Goku whispered as Kerri rocked him gently rubbing his back.

"It's alright…shh…" she cooed as Ebony stood and began to pace.

"That insensitive bastard…how could he do this to the one he cares about!" Ebony raged as Kerri tried to calm her while still comforting the crying Goku.

"Ebony…please calm down…sit…getting mad won't change anything, nor help the situation." Kerri scolded as Ebony sighed siting, Kerri was right, getting mad would do nothing, it never did against bad memories…"Goku…" Kerri began with a sigh as she looked down at the boy, even in Gojyo's body he could still look so innocent and hurt. "Goku…there's nothing you can do to change to past…but Gojyo doesn't hate you…if that's what you think isn't it?" Kerri asked as Goku nodded as Ebony snorted.

"Oh please, the guy stares t you all the time."

"He does?" Goku whimpered as Kerri nodded.

"He does…so how about you wipe your eyes, and get some sleep, tomorrow we'll start planning on getting him to admit it…or realise it…whatever needs to be done alright…then when we have our own bodies back…you two can have as much…sleeping as you want." Kerri said as Goku nodded with a smile, h felt better already, they were going to help him, they were supporting him…

"Thankyou…I think I will go get some sleep…night girls…thanks again." Goku said as he kissed each of them on the cheek as Ebony sighed.

"What a tragic bloody love that one is." She sighed as Kerri nodded.

"Gojyo's being too stubborn…"

"What about you?"

"Me? What do you mean?"

"See…never mind anyways…let's have another drink and begin planning Gojyo's downfall."

(this is a space)

Shy-Phantom – After a long absence we have returned…the end of the year is crazy isn't it?

Elendur – I also apologise for the (this is a space) got rid of all me little spacings I noticed when I went through this the other day, so I had to compromise…it gets confusing without the proper breaks in text, so…that's all I came up with in the time I had…sorry again.

Shy-Phantom – The next chapter may also be a while, depends on SOMEONE! looks pointedly at Elendur

Elendur – I've been busy…sorry…well, I'll get the next chapter out ASAP alright? Depends on my new course…I'm gone be busy.

Shy-Phantom – Heh, excuses excuses!

Elendur – Before I forget too, Review please…we have a total of 7 and two of which are S-P's…so please…this is chapter 16…7 reviews is a little pathetic considering the 277 hits my stats page says we have…please?

Shy-Phantom – You never know, more reviews may mean more chapters faster.

Elendur – They are encouraging, but we will update anyway.

Shy-Phantom – Don't tell them that!