"I'm hot and hungry!" whined Goku in the backseat of the jeep.

"You're always hungry ya stupid monkey! And we just ate!" Gojyo grumbled. Rayne smiled as she had her usual place in the back. They were once again traveling west. Sanzo and Natasha were quiet and Hakkai was smiling his usual smile. Natasha was petting Cat in her lap when he suddenly bolted upright, hissing at something in the nearby woods.

"What is it Cat?" Natasha asked as Hakkai stopped the jeep.

Cat hissed viciously. He jumped out of Natasha's lap and into the forest.

"Cat! Get back here!" shouted Natasha.

They heard a shriek coming from inside the forest.

"Cat!" shouted Natasha as she herself got out of the jeep, running in the dense forest.

"Damn," grumbled Sanzo as he got out.

"Ah Sanzo, you're going to be her knight in shinning armor?" Gojyo asked.

For once Sanzo didn't say anything as he ran into the forest after Natasha. The group stood there a little shocked.
"It seems Sanzo has changed..." Hakkai said smiling softly.

"Cat!" Natasha called out her pets name as she ran into the forest.
"It seemed Homura has changed quite a bit."
Natasha whirled around to see two men. One with an eye patch and the other with his eyes closed and his hair wrapped up. He was holding a hissing Cat.
"Hey! Give Cat back!" Natasha yelled, pulling out her sword.

"Cat? What a silly name for such a great war god he was, " said the one holding Cat.

"War god?" Natasha asked.

The man with the eye patch glanced at Natasha, "So, it is true, he did have a sister.."

"Natasha, what did I tell you-stop being an idiot," said Sanzo coming up from behind her.

"Now I would never thought I would see this. The great Genjo Sanzo showing concern..." The one with the eye patch said smirking. Sanzo froze as he eyed the two gods. He took out his gun and pointed it at them.
"I thought you were dead." He growled. Shien, with Cat still struggling in his grasp walked towards the two.
"We were given a new life." He said quietly. Sanzo pointed the gun at him and was about to fire when Natasha stopped him.
"He still has Cat!"

Sanzo glared at Natasha, but he still held the gun up, finger pulling on the trigger.

"Yes, stop Sanzo-you've become such a wimp," said Zeon laughing.

"If I'm such a wimp..." Sanzo said in reply as he fired his gun at Zeon. It did nothing but bounce off the god.

"You never learn, do you?" Shien asked as Cat bit down on his arm. Shien's hold on Cat loosened as the animal got away and stood by Natasha's side.

Cat hissed viciously at them. Zeon could only smirk.

"Yes, things never change do they," said Shien.

"Sanzo! Natasha! Where are you!" Rayne called out.

Rayne, Hakkai, Gojyo, and Goku came through the woods. They all stopped and stared at the gods.
"I thought we killed you! Dammit!" Gojyo muttered annoyed as he gripped his weapon.

Shien seemed to smile, "Think of what you want. Our battle is not with you, simpletons. Ours is with Homura..."
Cat hissed at the name Homura, he knew what they wanted, and weren't going to get it.
"Shien, Zeon...Return, it is not the time..." echoed a voice in the air, it belonged to Vincent.
"Whatever you say," said Zeon.
"Vincent, you coward! Show yourself!" snapped Rayne, her anger boiling up inside of her.
"Tsk tsks, Rayne my dear...You still remember I'm the one who helped you..."

Rayne shook her head, not wanting her new friends to hear this. Natasha came up beside Rayne.
"Rayne. It's all right. Whatever happened we can deal with it." She gave her friend a small smile to try to cheer her up.
"Natasha, you are still weak...weaker then when you had your memory. Feelings and friendship only get in the way."

"Well then, I could care less. Because when I find you, I promise to kill you," Natasha said.

"You can try, and die..."

Natasha didn't like they way he said that, she glanced at the two gods as they vanished. She knew they would be back sooner.

Rayne shivered at the thought. She couldn't tell her friends or even Natasha what deal she had made with Vincent...She had trusted him, and gave him her...

"Rayne?" said Hakkai looking worried.

"It's nothing," she replied smiling, "Nothing at all..."

"My lord, why did you stop us?" asked Zeon.

"Because my fools, it isn't time-and knowing Homura, he will stop everything we do," Vincent said.

"But he can't do anything now. He's not in his regular form." Zeon said.
"He will be in due time...but I will make sure he is on our side when he is. He then will deliver his sister to us personally..."

"Well...that was confusing. So this Vincent-dude brought Shien and Zeon back?" Goku asked.
"It would seem so." Hakkai answered. Natasha and Rayne were quiet. Natasha kept looking down at Cat not wanting to believe what they said. He can't be her brother.

Cat looked up at Natasha thoughtfully, understanding her fears. He licked her hand.

"Thanks Cat," she said smiling.

"What did they say to you?" Sanzo asked.

"What? Really nothing," replied Natasha quickly.

Sanzo glanced at her, "You're a terrible liar. You either heard something..."

"It's nothing really!" Natasha said.

Sanzo didn't believe her, but decided to leave her at that.

"I wonder why Shien and Zeon are working for Vincent now…They seemed different," Said Goku.

"Yeah, for once I agree with the stupid monkey. They seemed more...intent on killing. When they were with Homura they were trying to look for a way out of their pasts. Now it seemed that it doesn't matter to them anymore." Gojyo said.
"I agree Gojyo. What do you think Sanzo?" Hakkai asked as he glanced at Sanzo. Sanzo just shrugged. He didn't know what to think about the whole situation right now...

"Well, perhaps-we can help them," said Rayne thinking.

"Help them?" asked Gojyo starring at her.

"What? They might be under some sort of spell-or something..." Rayne said.

"Or perhaps, Vincent has their souls," said Sanzo finally.

Rayne's breathing came slowly now. She closed her eyes, as a memory beckoned her.

'"Trust me Rayne...It's the only way",' Vincent said smiling, "it's the only way to find your brother-you really don't need your soul..." said Vincent holding at his hand for her to shake.

Rayne slowly nodded as she shook Vincent's hand.'

Rayne swayed slightly.

"Rayne!"
Hakkai saw her sway and he quickly grabbed her shoulders. She looked up at him, coming out of the memory quickly.
"Thank you Hakkai."
Hakkai smiled as he stroked her shoulders.
"Damn it...Even Hakkai's getting some. Of all people Mr. Cheery and Mr. Angry Monk were the last ones I would expect to fall for a girl..." Gojyo scoffed.

"Well, you have Goku," said Hakkai smiling.

"Ah-that's sick!" shouted Gojyo and Goku at the same time.

Rayne couldn't help but laugh at this. It seemed that Hakkai always brought up her mood and for that she was grateful. Sanzo and Natasha were quiet though Sanzo was showing annoyance at Gojyo's chatter. He was still confused. How could he have feelings for Natasha...after what happened to his master he shouldn't let anyone in.

"Well, let's not stay here-we do have places to go," said Natasha finally.

Rayne smiled, "Yeah...We're still going west right?"

"Yeah," said Goku pointing east.

"Idiot-that ain't west! This is," said Gojyo pointing south.

"You idiots..." Sanzo muttered as he pointed the right way. Gojyo just glared at the back of the monk's head saying nothing. He was starting to be quite envious of the monk lately. He glanced at Natasha who was sitting by Sanzo. Usually Sanzo would have minded the intrusion but him and Natasha had been getting quite close lately. It annoyed Gojyo to no end that Sanzo was starting to be a better lady's man then he was. What did the stupid violent monk have that he didn't?

A window of opportunity had presented itself to the eyes of evil. Vincent could only smile at this man's jealousy. It was perfect…

"My lord, any words?" asked the undead soldier kneeling before him.

"Yes," Vincent said turning to his minion, "An opportunity has presented itself to me…A very nice one at that."

"Do I have a part in it?" the creature asked eagerly.

"Perhaps," Vincent replied, "But, as long as Sha Gojyo feels this way inside, his heart and mind will be easily be mine to control," he said chuckling at this.

"Where are they going now my lord?" the creature hissed.

"To Jaken Village…Rayne's hometown…This should be fun…"

A/N: Hi everyone. We are so glad that everyone is enjoying the story so far. The plot starts to thicken, espesscially in this chapter. We love adding more chapters but we also love reviews. Thanks Ari, Kurama's Foxy Miko, Jaime, and everyone else that has kept up with this story. Keep reviewing.