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

Sanzo's movements froze in place as he stared at Hakkai. For the first time fear gripped him so hard he could barely breathe.

"No." He whispered. He hadn't realized until now about how much he actually cared for Natasha. The thought of her dead sent an unbearable pain through him.

Hakkai sighed as he looked back up at Sanzo.

"Yes,it seems that we ruined the sheets when I was trying to clean up the blood after I healed Natasha. We will have to pay for them," Hakkai said, knowing now that he had given Sanzo a scare and it had brought a smile to his lips. Sudden anger showed in Sanzo's eyes. For once he raised his fan and smacked Hakkai on the head. He turned and left, trying not to look like he was hurrying as he 'walked' to Natasha's room.

He entered the room and relief spilled over him as he saw her turn her head towards him. She was very pale but alive and that's all that mattered to him right now.

"Sanzo," She smiled as he walked over to her. Without saying a word he took her hand in his and held it, giving it a comforting squeeze. Natasha gazed at him as she squeezed his hand back.

-SPACE-don't you love them?

Rayne screamed as Vincent hit her again. She had been caught off guard that she hadn't been able to defend herself. Unknown to the two, Goku and Gojyo had come upon the scene.

"Gojyo! Go get Hakkai! I'll help Rayne!" Goku said and for once Gojyo didn't argue as he ran off. Goku jumped into the fight suddenly, blocking an attack from Vincent that was meant for Rayne.

"Ah, little monkey brat!" Vincent snapped, "You dare get in my way!"

Goku smirked, "Yea! You won't harm Rayne! She's too good of a cook to die!" he said as Rayne managed a weak smile.

Vincent sighed as he back flipped backwards. Goku followed him. This made Vincent grin even more, 'idiots,' he thought to himself as he glared at the monkey king, "You can't win this battle! You're luck has run out." He shouted lifting his arm in the air. He started chanting something Goku couldn't make out, but he knew better than to let him finish.

"Oh no you don't!" Goku roared as he used his staff lifting him off the ground. He was in midair for a second, his staff held high over his head. Goku had thought victory was nearly in his grasp when Vincent's eyes rolled back into his head.

"Wha-" Goku started to say as an energy force surrounded Vincent and was sent flying into the Gojyo's direction. Both men fell smack into one another in a heap. Goku quickly went onto his feet while the kappa took a moment but as they went to have another fight with Vincent…

"Hear me foolish ones! You can't win!" shouted Vincent as he vanished to only reappear in front of Rayne, "Time to go," he growled grabbing the struggling Rayne, throwing her unto his shoulder.

"Rayne!" shouted Hakkai as he came running outside.

"Bye bye," Vincent sneered as he and Rayne vanished from sight.

"Rayne no!" screamed Hakkai as seemed to grab at thin air. It was happening all over again. The same way.

-SPACE-

Sanzo had also made a promise to never get close to another living being, and here he was holding the hand of the woman he came to.

The door to Natasha's room burst open, a panicked looking Gojyo ran in. Sweat poured from his forehead. Sanzo had almost had enough of this half-breed when he spoke quickly, "Sanzo, Vincent took Rayne!" he said gasping for a quick breath of air.

"Rayne?" Natasha asked, worried was placed on her face, "that bastard took her!" she snapped as she tried to sit up in the bed but Sanzo shoved her back down.

"Don't move," Sanzo ordered, he knew for a fact she wouldn't be listening to him. Natasha's wound needed to heal and for the commonly known fact that she was just as stubborn or even more than him.

Natasha's eyes narrowed, "I have to help-" she started to say when Sanzo's voice overpowered her own, devouring it.

"You won't be able to help in this condition, so shut up and listen to me!" the Sanzo priest snapped. He waited a moment before going on, "Natasha we aren't even sure where she was taken too…and we won't be able to help her…Just listen to me for one goddamn second before you start being a child."

The young woman didn't say anything after those words, her mind was set on getting her friend back. In a way, Natasha thought it was her own fault that Rayne had been captured. She cringed baring her teeth for a moment as Sanzo started to leave, but without thinking or hesitation her hand grasped his wrist, "Please don't…Don't go.." she whispered softly now. Her voice seemed distant again like it had the first time Rayne found her. She felt like a child just like Sanzo said.

Sanzo closed his eyes for a moment, thoughts drifting inwardly and out. Part of his being wanted to stay while the other wanted to leave and take care of that sick bastard. He had never before been in a situation that had him thinking like this. Sanzo was human after all but he couldn't let the shield of coldness he had built throughout all those years to leave just yet. He needed time to still heal. Sanzo yanked his away from Natasha's grasp and walked out of the room, ignoring the cries that started to come from the one he came to love.

SPACE

Hakkai had fallen on his knees as he clutched his head with both hands. His mind was racing to that day when his wife had been taken and then when he witnessed her suicide. He couldn't understand why they had to come back. Hakkai wanted to forget the past but this had triggered it, the sight of Rayne being taken away by that demon Vincent. He hardly heard the voices outside of his own mind even when Gojyo grabbed at his shoulders, shaking him.

"Hakkai!" Gojyo snapped worried about his friend's condition. The gaze that lingered in Hakkai's eyes were the same that night he found him covered in all that blood. He had told himself to never see that look again, "Damnit Hakkai!"

Goku heaved in a heavy breath as he looked to the two and frowned, "Why is this happening now?" he asked to no one as his gaze shifted towards the Inn entrance where Sanzo came out, his head was hung low in defeat, "Why is everyone so down! We'll get her back and teach that guy a lesson!" he said.

"Get who back?" Sanzo asked lifting his head now. The violet eyes seemed to blaze with rage as he glanced towards Hakkai and Gojyo and he knew, "So I'm guessing you little asses let him get away didn't you?" he asked turning his heels on the other two. Sanzo was ignoring Goku's attitude now, it was annoying to hear. He pulled out the banishing gun from its hostler hidden within his robes and pointed the barrel of the gun at Hakkai's forehead, "Do you really think that pitying yourself is going to make things move faster? I thought you were stronger than that Hakkai."

Gojyo's grip loosened slightly on Hakkai's shoulders as his attention was now on Sanzo. He furrowed his brows in annoyance at the priest's way of dealing with things, "San-" he started to say when the gun was cocked and now aimed at the water sprite. Gojyo muttered something but then it turned into full blown words, "Do you always have to revert to that thing? Is that gonna solve your problems Sanzo!" he snapped uncaring at the gun now. Gojyo just had about enough of this type of shit.

"Shut up," Sanzo said as his eyes never left Hakkai, "come out of this, you aren't going to save her if you sit around like a child…Geez, its like babysitting five year olds," he growled almost at that statement, "So get off your ass and do something!" Sanzo shook his head as he turned his back on them as Hakkai lowered his hands to fall at his sides.

Gojyo clenched his fist, "Do you really think your 'kind' words are motivating us!" he asked going after the priest, "HEY!"

"….Gojyo…He's right…I'm being foolish…wailing in my own fears and not concentrate on the future, that had been my flaw throughout this…All of us are damaged but..I know it sounds corny..but we're being fixed," Hakkai said slowly choosing his words carefully to all of this. He picked himself up from the stained earth and straightened his clothes out and himself, "Damaged but fixed…that's us…I guess..We have to find Vincent and end it."

Sanzo smirked lightly at that statement, "damaged but fixed? Huh..what a load of shit," he said shaking his head, "right…whatever the case is..we need to find a heading to finding Vincent.." he said crossing his arms over his chest.

"But how are we going to do that?" Goku asked smiling now. In his eyes it felt like everything was slowly coming into place with everyone. His gaze shifted towards Sanzo for a moment, he could never tell what was ever going on in his head, but he knew he had changed.

"That's easy…I know where…" came a female voice from the inn entrance. A thin smile formed curving into an all knowing smirk. Natasha leaned against the door frame, "and don't you dare start that I should stay in bed Sanzo.."

Gojyo snickered lightly at that statement as ideas crept in but for the moment he kept his mouth shut for the reason that the glint of the banishing gun could be seen pointed at the half demon.

Hakkai smiled gently, "Right then…lets get this journey over with…" he said walking towards where he left Hakuryuu. He paused for a moment making a detour towards Natasha. No words were passed as he healed Natasha a little more, to hold back the pain and to stop any further bleeding if they reopened.

"All right! We're going to kick some dem-wait..uhm..What is Vincent anyways?" Goku asked in mid jump in his bliss of the prospects of taking down the man that kidnapped his favorite cook.

Natasha smirked, "That's simple…He's a eunuch." She thanked Hakkai for his help, as she walked pass the men whose expressions quickly changed to puzzlement humor. Sweat drops formed but they quickly faded away as the situation became more apparent again. All jokes set aside, they had a mission, to stop Vincent and his plans for the ultimate power. Silently in the back of everyone's minds, they wondered if they would make it out alive. Luck runs out for the unlucky…

((Okay, I am so sorry that this took so long to get out! –bows head- the reasons are quite simple, it was the bearer of this accounts turn to write and well she never did. So it has fallen to me, hi, ChibiEdo (yes, my name changes a lot) to finish this story. I know its been quite a few months, I am sorry for that. I had a few things to do and this had gotten a little screwed up and I lost it for a time being. SO if you want me to go on, please email me at:

elf (underscore)orli(the at thingy) hot mail . com

enjoyed writing this story greatly, and I do hope you'll stay tuned for the last chapters. Thanks.

-chibiEdo-))