After many protests, mainly from Sanzo, the group got their two injured comrades to a nearby inn. Hakkai helped bandage Rayne's wounds, ignoring the vulgar comments coming from Gojyo.

Rayne just smiled at him. "Thank you Hakkai-kun," She blushed slightly as he smiled his usual charming smile at her.

"You don't have to thank me Rayne. But I must ask you what was that power you used?" Rayne looked away from him when he asked this. She didn't know if she should tell him now even if he was the man that she had fallen for her. As if seeing her distress Hakkai took her hand in his and laid a gentle kiss to her cheek. "It is all right Rayne. You do not need to tell me now. I will be here when you decide that you can trust me." Rayne looked into his eyes and saw only kindness there.

Natasha wasn't having such a cooperative time with Sanzo as Hakkai was having with Rayne. "I told you I'm fine." Sanzo growled as he hissed when she started to clean his wounds. "You are not fine! You are obviously in pain and you still haven't healed from the gunshot wounds from earlier," Natasha lowered her voice at this not wanting Gojyo to overhear.

Sanzo grumbled, "Whatever, we don't need to stay here."

Natasha rolled her eyes, "That might be what you think there Sanzo, but listen….Hey!" she snapped as she tightened the bandaged sending pain into Sanzo's side, "Good, now that I've gotten your attention…Sanzo, I know you want to get back at Vincent and…"

"Get back? I want to kill the son of a bitch," Sanzo said.

The door to the room opened as Goku entered, "Hey! I got food!" he shouted cheerfully entering with a bag.

Gojyo took the bag from him and peeked in, "Hey! There's no food in here you idiot!"

"Ooops...I got hungry on the way over here," Goku laughed nervously.

Gojyo smacked him over the head. "Stupid monkey! Now what are we going to eat!"

Goku whined as he rubbed his abused head.

"Why don't you go get some food Natasha?" Sanzo asked which shocked her. He wanted to be away from her for a moment. It wasn't that he was mad at her but if she stayed here any longer he was afraid she would see how worried he was for her. He wasn't ready to open up to her, not yet. A hurt expression crossed over Natasha's face but she simply nodded as she took some money and left the room.

"Sanzo, that was a little harsh. Why did you want her to leave after she was trying to help you?" Hakkai asked.

"None of your business," replied the monk as he took out a cigarette, lighting it. He closed his eyes. He wanted nothing more to do with this screw up world at times…

SPACE

Many times Natasha had felt lost and anger towards others. She had thought that was all life had for her. She sighed as she hurried to the merchant's stands, and not paying any attention on where she was going she bumped into someone.

"Watch it!" came a familiar voice.

Natasha glanced down at who she had bumped into. It was the strange man from Rayne's hometown. He looked up at her, and nearly cried.

"Ah! You're that strange woman with lady Rayne!" said Luis.

Natasha didn't have time to deal with him, "Look, not in the mood to deal with you…" she said turning away from him.

"Oh, but you do," he said darkly sending a chill up Natasha's spine, "And, now, you can die…"

Natasha tried to turn around but she was already too late. She felt a stabbing pain in her back as Luis stabbed her with a large butcher knife making it slice all the way down her back. She cried in pain as she heard the screams from the villagers but they didn't do anything to stop him. They were too worried about themselves to help her. Natasha fell to the ground, turning her head to look at the man. He just grinned, his eyes flashing red as he brought the knife down again.

SPACE

Sanzo was trying to ignore the fighting between Gojyo and Goku when he felt a sudden pain in his chest. For some reason the image of Natasha flashed through his mind and he knew something was wrong. He didn't even hesitate as he grabbed his gun. He ignored the pain from his wounds as he rushed out of the room.

"Sanzo!" Hakkai called after the monk wondering what was wrong with him.

"Damnit Natasha," Sanzo said to himself as he ran out of the INN with his gun ready. It didn't take him long to see what was wrong. The blood oozing out of Natasha's opened wound and Luis grinning like a mad-man, ready to go for the killer blow. He stopped mid-way when he spotted Sanzo.

"Oh, oh, what's this? A Knight?" Luis asked.

Sanzo lifted the gun, "Screw you," he said firing a few rounds into Luis's forehead. He quickly went to Natasha's side, kicking the dead body off of her, "Natasha?" he called.

"What happened?" asked Gojyo coming up with Goku.

Sanzo ignored Gojyo and Goku. They were running towards him and they were still far off that they didn't see Natasha yet.

Natasha looked up at Sanzo, her breathing becoming labored. The wound was very deep and it hurt to breathe. "Sanzo...you came..." She smiled slightly before she passed out. He bent down and picked her up, hugging her to his chest. He ignored his pain and the blood from Natasha as it soaked through his clothes. Goku and Gojyo had arrived and were horrified at what they saw. "Natasha...is she..." Goku couldn't finish the sentence.

"No. I won't let her die," Sanzo growled as he raced past them and back to the inn. He had to save her.

"Hakkai…I want to tell you…" Rayne said as she looked up at him. He had stayed with her while chaos broke out with Sanzo. She didn't know what was going on, but she had a clue. Something happened to Natasha…She didn't know if it was serious…

Hakkai turned to her, smiling his usual smile that she had come to love.

"…Hakkai, I'm not…." She started to say as the door to their room opened.

Words could not describe the scene before them. Sanzo's robes were drenched in blood, and so was Natasha. Rayne sensed death looming.

"Hakkai, move your ass," Sanzo snapped.

Hakkai didn't even question as he helped Sanzo put Natasha on the bed. He put his head down close to her head and was relieved to find that she was breathing but barely.

"Gojyo, go get me more bandages, quick! Goku go get a bucket of hot water!" Hakkai turned back to Natasha as he gently moved her onto her stomach so he could look at the extent of the wound. He laid his hands on her back focusing his chi so he could heal her. He wasn't very good at healing but he hoped that it would at least stop her from dying.

"Hakkai, is she going to be okay?" Rayne asked the exact same question that was on Sanzo's mind.

Hakkai didn't bother answering. He didn't want to. Natasha's wound was deep, perhaps to deep. Whoever had gotten her did a nice job. He just prayed whatever got her didn't strike anything vital.

"Sanzo, I think its best you leave with Rayne," Hakkai said as he still concentrated on Natasha's wound.

Sanzo growled in annoyance. No way was he going to leave her like this. He had seen the wound and the blood on his robe was all Natasha's. He wasn't sure she was going to make it and it pained him. An image of the death of his master flashed through his mind. He gripped the bedside table as his face paled. He didn't want to go through this again...he didn't want to lose someone he cared about so deeply. He was about to say something when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Rayne.

"Sanzo...I know it's hard for you to leave her side but Hakkai would work better with no one here. Please...for Natasha's sake..." Rayne pleaded. She was desperately worried about her friend but she tried not to show it.

Sanzo didn't say anything for a moment, and he knew she was right. She silently lead him out of the room, as Gojyo entered with the bandages and the water, he shut the door behind him.

Goku looked up at Rayne, "Rayne, is she all right?" he asked, when nothing was said, "Come on, tell me!"

Sanzo glared at Goku as he walked past him.

"Sanzo, where are you going?" shouted Goku as he was about to go after him, but Rayne stopped him.

"He needs his space…" Rayne said watching after her brother, "Goku, everything will be all right…Natasha will be okay," she said as tears escaped.

Goku looked up at her as she tried to smile, "Don't worry. I'll make you something…" she said. She needed to do something to keep her mind off Natasha.

SPACE

Sanzo kept walking, wondering the streets. They were empty now, but the blood of Natasha still stained him. She could be dying, or Hakkai might have managed to save her. She would be up soon and insult something or do whatever she did.

"Dammit..." Sanzo cursed as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He had to get his mind off of this...he wasn't used to worrying about someone so much. And he was starting to feel an unusual emotion, panic.

SPACE

Vincent grinned as he looked down at the group. He was upset that the brat he had corrupted had actually been able to succeed in wounding Natasha severely. But as he watched Hakkai worked diligently and quickly on her wounds he knew she would live. He couldn't have her die so soon...not until his plans were finished. He turned his attention to Rayne who was trying to be the calm one. He laughed at that. When he was done with her and her friend they would be anything but calm. They would be begging for their lives and the lives of the ones they held dear to their heart.

He smiled again. Perhaps, he would pay them another visit. The time wasn't right for Natasha, she needed to be healed, but as for Rayne…She was fine for Stage One. He grinned as he vanished from his chambers.

Rayne leaned against the outside of the building's wall. She had to get away from the smell of blood. Natasha's blood…She had faith in Hakkai, but… She closed her eyes, wanting the image of Natasha covered in blood to go away.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

She opened her eyes to come face to face with Vincent, a smug grin laid on his face. He knew what was happening. She could see it in his cocky eyes now. She would have screamed for help, or would do something, but she stood firmly in place. He had come for a reason, and she had an idea what it was.

"You do know why I am here, don't you?" he asked smiling. Rayne didn't answer him, so he went on, "Rayne, you won't be here for long, and everything that the goddess wanted will die...Again," he said.

"What do you mean again?" Rayne asked confused.

Vincent smirked, "of course you wouldn't remember that time," he said, "and you won't, because its time to join the dead…" Before Rayne managed to do anything Vincent smacked her across the face, "you'll die alone my love," he whispered in her ear, "and on one can stop that, not even him….."

SPACE

Hakkai wiped the sweat from his forehead as he exited the door from the room he had worked on Natasha, and he came face to face with Sanzo, a cigarette was hanging loosely in his mouth.

Hakkai took a deep breath, "Sanzo, I'm sorry…"

SPACE

Oh no! What a EVIL way to stop this right now…THE SUSPENSE MUST BE DRIVING YOU INSANE!...Or not.. You'll have to wait until the next chapter to find out!