Natasha sighed as she listened to Goku and Gojyo fighting yet again. Sanzo was smoking and Hakkai was just smiling like usual. Natasha sat down on the bed petting an agitated Cat. The door opened and Rayne walked in with a fake smile on her face.
"Uh, Natasha, Lord Vincent wants to see you..."Rayne said. Natasha raised an eyebrow at this but nodded and exited the room. After a moment Sanzo sighed as he headed towards the door.
"I'm going to get a drink." He said simply but that was not the truth.
Vincent smirked as Natasha entered his room. He wanted to make sure she remembered nothing but he also wanted to see her.
"Hello Natasha," he said darkly.
Natasha managed a smile as she stood at the door, she didn't like being here, and Vincent's cold stare wasn't helping much with the situation.
"What did you want?" Natasha asked coldly.
"Oh, such cold words," Vincent said gazing at her, "I just wanted to meet the woman I've heard so much about-your eyes so odd...and so beautiful..."
Natasha shivered at his words; something about him again was just so familiar.
"You better look out for yourself, Natasha. I sense great danger over your loved ones-you'll end up...Killing them," Vincent smiling at her.
Natasha did not like his words and her anger quickly flared up.
"What are you talking about?" Natasha said angrily as she stomped up to him. She knew that the evil she felt was coming from him.
"In due time my dear war princess..." Vincent said and with that he grabbed her roughly kissing her. Before she could do anything he disappeared.
Rayne sighed as she leaned against the wall of the room wondering where Natasha was.
"Are you all right Rayne?" Hakkai asked gently as he came to stand beside her.
She tried to manage a smile, "It's nothing really..."
"I have time to listen," he said smiling.
Rayne looked into his eyes, "It's just that...Vincent-he-ah...I sense something from him, and I fear for Natasha...A dark cloud hangs over him-he's different from the man I knew..." she said looking away. He was different now, his cold eyes and the strange sudden interest in Natasha. She had to speak with him again.
Hakkai laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry, I believe everything is going to be all right..."
Rayne smiled, "Thanks..." she said trying to believe it herself, but she still had fear for Natasha.
Natasha still couldn't believe what had just happened, and what did he mean by war princess anyway. She touched her mouth, and rage filled her mind. She wanted to kill something, mainly Vincent, but she didn't know where he was, and that just made her even madder. She exited Vincent's chambers only to see Sanzo standing outside smoking.
Natasha sighed as she started to walk past Sanzo not wanting to deal with him right now.
"You're different..." Sanzo said simply. Natasha stopped and turned to look at him.
"What are you talking about?" Natasha asked.
"Your brother...He wanted to destroy the heavens and the world..." Sanzo said cryptically. Natasha stared at him for some time and was about to speak but he stopped her.
"Tell me...about Rayne..." Sanzo said wanting to know about the sister he never knew.
"Rayne, why?" Natasha asked.
Sanzo seemed to roll his eyes, "She's my sister..."
"Ah...Now that you mention that, I can see the resemblance...I don't know much, you should ask her yourself-so good night monk boy," she said as she once more started to walk away from him, and she could feel herself not wanting to...
"Something happened in there, didn't it?" Sanzo asked.
"Why would you care?" Natasha asked finding herself stopping.
"I don't!" Sanzo snapped but somehow that made Natasha smile softly. She walked up to him and placed her hand on the side of his face.
"Everything is fine Sanzo..." She said quietly. Sanzo didn't move nor did he say anything as he stared into her eyes.
"You look so much like Homura." Sanzo said trying to break free of her 'spell' on him. He should never care about anyone else. The last time he did care about someone they were killed in front him. But her lips were so inviting. He didn't even realize he was doing it until his lips touched hers.
Hakkai listened to Rayne as she talked about her travels with Natasha. He smiled finding her to be more and more interesting every moment.
"And then," Rayne said, "The towns people tried to kill Natasha-it was funny to me-ahh...Those were fun times...Oh, I'm sorry I've been babbling on and on!"
"It's no bother, your stories are interesting," Hakkai said smiling again.
Rayne blushed slightly, "Uhm-ah-thank you..."
"I'm hungry...These monks have crappy food...Rrrraaayyyynnnnneee," Goku said looking at her with pleading eyes.
"Shut up you stupid little monkey!" snapped Gojyo who hit Goku on the head.
"Ow-stupid water sprite!" replied Goku rubbing his head.
"Let Hakkai be with her," Gojyo whispered in the monkey king's ear.
"Why?" Goku asked.
Gojyo groaned, "Monkeys...Stupid..."
Goku glanced at Hakkai and Rayne finally realizing what was going on.
"You mean they're going to-" Goku began but was cut off when Gojyo whacked him on the head.
"Hey! I'm the perverted one here ya stupid monkey!" Gojyo snapped.
Hakkai smiled nervously as he overheard their conversation.
"Uh, Hakkai, can we go out in the hall to talk?" Rayne asked blushing slightly. Hakkai smiled as he nodded and followed Rayne out in the hall.
Sanzo's face was beat red as he and Natasha pulled away. He didn't say anything just turned and left leaving Natasha to stare after him.
This time when her fingers touched her mouth, she didn't feel rage, but a burning desire. She had never...
"Sanzo...This kiss seems so familiar..." she said to herself sighing slightly.
"Miss! Miss!" came a cry.
Natasha turned around to see the little monk named Crisan running at her. Fear rested on his face.
"Demons are here! Demons are coming! Hurry!" he cried running past her to warn the others.
"Well," she said simply, "I'll take my rage out and..." she said as her thoughts turned to Sanzo, but she quickly shook him out as she hurried down the halls of the Temple. Sanzo was a few feet from her, "Sanzo! Demons are com..." A huge explosion broke out,"...ing...That came from the direction-Rayne!" she shouted running faster.
Natasha ran quickly towards the rooms, Sanzo not saying anything as he followed her.
"Rayne! Gojyo! Goku! Hakkai!" Natasha yelled calling out their names. She saw a figure coming out from the smoke and was relieved to see the group along with Cat.
"Thank god! Are you all, all right?"
"Room service sucks here," Gojyo said coughing.
"Rayne-it's Vincent, he..." started Natasha but was cut short as a group of thirty demons appear.
"Oh, look, some tasty treats!" one cried.
"Sorry, I don't plan to be on the menu," said Gojyo.
"Neither do I...but I am Hungry..." Goku said as he took his staff in his hands and started fighting off some demons.
"Idiots..." Sanzo mumbled as he killed some demons with his banishing gun. Rayne smiled as she and Hakkai started to kill demons left and right. Natasha took out her fire sword, slicing a demon in half.
"He lied! Said you would be easy!" cried the demon as Natasha sliced it in half. She had an idea who had sent the demons, and her inner rage was showing as she killed more demons quickly now.
"Whoa-calm down Natasha!" shouted Rayne seeing her friend's rage.
Natasha didn't seem to listen as she kept on going.
"So, she isn't bad...Good..."said Vincent. Vincent grinned as he watched the battle. He was glad that Natasha wasn't so easy to beat...more fun for him.
"One day her rage and power will take over and she will not know her friends as she kills them..." Vincent smirked as he stayed hidden in the shadows.
"Well...This seems to be a bit uneventful..." Hakkai said as he Gojyo and Goku were standing there watching Natasha kill all the demons. She did not seem to need their help at all.
Rayne gazed at her friend with sadness in her eyes. She had only seen Natasha like this, perhaps twice, but now, it seemed to be worse than before.
"Arrg-curse you!" screamed the last demon as Natasha killed it. She gasped for breath as she wiped sweat from her forehead. Rayne went up to her friend.
"Natasha, are you..." she started to ask.
"Yes, I'm fine," Natasha answered.
Natasha grudgingly started to pass the others wanting to be left alone. But unfortunately Sanzo stepped in her path.
"What happened?" He was obviously talking about her visit with Vincent earlier. Goku, Gojyo and Hakkai were surprised to see that Sanzo seemed concerned. Hakkai glanced at Rayne, hating the sad confused look on her lovely face.
"Are you all right Rayne?" Hakkai asked, concern actually showing in his voice unlike a certain monk's.
"Tell me!" Sanzo snapped, the image of the kiss earlier flashing in his mind.
"It's none of your concern!" she snapped back, her eyes flashing dangerously. Her fingers tighten around the handle on the sword.
"Natasha...Forgive me..." Rayne said as she back-handed her friend on the neck, knocking her out. Natasha fell into Sanzo's arms, "We shouldn't stay..."
Sanzo stared at the unconscious beauty in his arms. He glanced at the tavern, knowing Vincent had something to do with her mood. He picked her up quietly and nodded.
"Hakkai, get the things. We're leaving." Sanzo said simply. Gojyo and Goku were staring with their mouths hanging open.
"Sanzo's being kind! Am I dead?" Gojyo asked. Goku pinched him hard.
"Ow! Hey ya stupid monkey! What was that for?" Gojyo snapped.
"Well, I was just making sure you were alive!" Goku pouted.
"You're supposed to do that when someone says 'Pinch me, I must be dreaming' Ya idiot!"
The world has many faces and many paths to take, but, once you are a god, you have no paths to embark on. You can only watch foolish mortals, and live a life, living out an entire family, but one goddess, took an interest in a particular group, the Sanzo Party.
The Merciful goddess smiled as she sat in her usual place, overlooking everything of the mortal world. She herself had found it interesting to see Sanzo was getting himself attach to someone, but she already knew what would happen. She couldn't do anything but watch.
"So, Homura's sister…Interesting," she said to herself, "And the rebirth of her…" she said to herself, "And Vincent as always is making a mess of things…" she grinned at this, "Good luck Sanzo, you don't know what you gotten yourself into this time…."
The Sanzo party along with Rayne and Natasha were riding along in the jeep away from the temple. Natasha groaned as she opened her eyes, sitting up from her place in the front between Hakkai and Sanzo. She had realized what happened and stayed silent. She was angry at herself for losing her temper like that. At least she hadn't removed her bracelets or power limiters.
Natasha felt a gentle hand on her shoulder; she turned slightly to see Rayne smiling at her.
"Hey, don't eat yourself up, okay Natasha? I know you can't help it," Rayne said.
Natasha tried to smile, but, she still couldn't get over it…Vincent's words rang in her head, and now, for a brief time, she believed what he had said. She might end up killing the people she loved, and…She glanced at Sanzo.
"What?" the monk asked.
"Nothing……" she replied.
"Good old Sanzo to make anyone happy," said Gojyo.
"Shut up," came Sanzo's reply.
"Guys?" Goku said.
"You're hungry right?" Rayne asked smiling.
Goku's eyes brighten up, as Sanzo smacked him with his fan.
"Ow, Sanzo!" whined Goku rubbing his head.
Hakkai sighed, "So, where are we going now?"
"To the next town." Sanzo said simply as he remained silent the rest of the way.
A/N: Hey everyone! I put up the next chapter so soon because we were getting such great reviews. I'm glad that everyone is enjoying the story and we will try to put up more chapters quickly.
Kurama's Foxy Miko: Thanks for another great review. I hope you keep enjoying the story.
Jamie: Thanks for the review! Yeah, I don't like Vincent either and I created him! Keep reading and some of your questions will be answered soon. Thanks again!
Ari: Thanks for the…nice…review. Joking. Thanks for reading. Just keep reviewing Ari!