Wow! 103 hits? Never thought I'd get that many for this story! Anyway, I dunno if you guys are gonna like this chapter too much. It's...um...got acliffhangar in it unfortunatly. But I wont give away any details. Read and find out!

Chapter 11

After a good night's rest, the girls headed out to do their normal trading, but not after leaving the guys some breakfast. This is how it always was with each town they stopped at. The girls would make the guys some food to keep them occupied before heading out to trade with the townspeople. They usually came back around lunchtime, bringing back more stuff than they left with.

After they had left, the guys all started to eat the food the girls had left them. The girls had learned over time to make a lot of food, seeing as how the guys could eat like there was no tomorrow, especially Goku.

"This stuff is great!" Goku yelled as he continued to wolf down as much food as he could.

"Hey! That's my sausage link you stupid monkey!" Gojyo yelled as they fought over the food.

"Nu uh! It's mine!"

"You stupid monkey!"

"Perverted kappa!"

"Will you two shut up and eat quietly!" Sanzo yelled as he hit them both with his fan.

Hakkai chuckled as he sipped the tea Maki made for them. Sanzo sighed as he sat back down, a vein throbbing at his temple.

Goku rubbed his head, frowning in thought for a moment. Should he ask him about Hitachi? Well, guess it wouldn't hurt…too much. "Hey, Sanzo."

"What?" Sanzo said, apparently annoyed as he continued to eat.

"What do you think of Hitachi?" Sanzo nearly choked on his food as he coughed. That question had completely caught him off guard.

"Goku, what do you mean by that?" Hakkai asked, seeing as how Sanzo was still trying to clear the food from his throat.

Goku bit his lip slightly as he looked at the table. "Well, it's just that she seems sort of…I dunno…kinda like Sanzo." Sanzo frowned and looked at him. Like him?

"You know, I think the stupid money's got a point," Gojyo said as he lit his cancer stick. "She does seem a lot like you, Sanzo. Only a hell of a lot more motherly."

"What in the hell are you two babbling about? How in the hell did you two even come upon that conclusion?" Sanzo said, finding this whole conversation quite foolish.

"Well, she told Julin something that really reminded me of you," Goku relied, looking up at Sanzo. "She said 'Leave everything behind and don't let those around you get to you because of what and who you are. Always stay standing on your own two feet and don't be dependent of another, because more than likely they'll fall too. When you fail, just get back up and try again on your own.'"

Sanzo frowned slightly. That was something similar to what he believed. To never let anything hold you back. "Kirashi said something like that too." Sanzo looked at the red haired kappa as he looked at the table a bit thoughtfully. "She said Hitachi had told her 'you should never let people judge you for what you are, because you can't choose those types of things. Be proud of it, because that is what makes you different from all the rest.'"

"Maki was the same way." All eyes turned to Hakkai as he remembered his and Maki's conversation a few nights before. "She told Maki that no one should ever ask for death, even someone who's lost everything. When you loose everything, you have to get up off your knees and try again. 'When you're down, get back up. Cause every time to get back on your feet, it makes you much stronger. You learn from mistakes done in the past and use that knowledge to keep on standing. That's why no one should ever give up and ask for death, because that just makes you weak.'"

"Well, seems our little female version of Sanzo here has had quite a bit of experience in life, wouldn't you say?" Gojyo said as he looked at Hakkai.

Hakkai nodded and looked at Sanzo. "What do you think, Sanzo?"

Sanzo didn't say anything as he stood from the table. He pulled his shoes on before walking outside, needing a bit of time to think.

Goku looked at Hakkai and Gojyo. "You don't think we pissed him off, do you?"

"I don't think so, Goku. I think he just needs to think some things over right now," Hakkai replied sipping his tea again.

"How much you wanna bet those two will end up hooking up?" Gojyo said with a smirk.

Hakkai chuckled as he looked at his friend. "It's a high possibility; however, their personalities are so alike it'll happen without them even noticing."

Sanzo sighed as he walked down the busy street. What Hitachi had said was all in all true. It seemed that she had quite a lot of experience in life. He didn't know hardly anything about Hitachi. Mostly all he knew was what he saw. She was a woman who got annoyed about as easily as he did but would do anything for her friends, even if it cost her her life. She never smiled anything more than a smirk or two. Even the faintest smile was rare and usually directed at her friends, mostly Julin. But from what he heard, she was also what started their friendship and kept it strong. If she were taken from them, they'd first fight to get her back, and then fall apart if they failed. From the day they met to the day they die, no on could make them part.

It was even stranger, however, that this type of bond could form between youkai. Hitachi and Kirashi he could understand. Two siblings as close as they were would never part ways. He could probably even understand Julin. Some female youkais take in younger ones as though they were their own flesh and blood. But it was Maki that seemed odd. He had no idea on how they met her and why Hitachi took her with them.

Sanzo looked up, seeing Hitachi at a stand examining some fruits. Her face, of coarse, was blank, no sign of a smile or even a frown of thought. What was it this one woman possessed that brought three different youkai from different areas and backgrounds together?

Hitachi paid for the fruits, knowing that these types of fruits would give them a lot of energy, which they'd need on the rest of this journey West. Julin and the others had taken off in different directions, agreeing to meet back on the inn within the hour. That left some time to herself. Hitachi looked up to see Sanzo there, looking at her. So much for time alone.

"We're home!" Maki yelled as she, Julin, and Kirashi entered the room.

"Ah, welcome back," Hakkai said as he walked over, taking one of the heavy bags from Maki.

"Man, that place was so busy. I nearly got completely turned around," Julin said, collapsing onto the couch.

"Yeah, really. I'm gonna take a bath if no one minds," Kirashi said as she headed for he bedroom to get ready.

"Hitachi's not back yet huh?" Maki asked, starting to unload the supplies from the bags.

"Not yet. She should be back soon though," Hakkai replied, helping her with all the supplies. They were running low on pretty much everything so there was quite a bit that needed to be bought. Maki had said she'd do it while she was trading.

"Well, let's hope she'll be back soon," Julin said from her comfortable position on the couch.

Sanzo watched Hitachi as she walked over to him. "Need something?" Hitachi asked, her face remaining the same blank stare.

"Who said I needed anything from you?" Sanzo replied, pulling out one of his cigarettes.

"Why else would you be standing here looking at me like I'm someone to pick a fight with?" Hitachi asked, her eyes never once leaving his.

Sanzo frowned slightly. The truth was, she stood out. She stood out more than anyone else around. It was like no matter what she did or didn't do, you could always pick her out of a crowd of people. That's what really amazed him sometimes.

"Well maybe if you didn't stand out like a sore thumb no one would pay any mind to you," Sanzo replied.

"And maybe if you'd actually smile a little more no one would think you're an arrogant prick," Hitachi said, walking past him.

"Maybe you should do the same. Don't you think?"

Hitachi paused in her walking. She was silent for a moment. "I have nothing to smile for anymore. I haven't for a long time now."

Sanzo turned and looked at the youkai woman. "So then it's true. All those things you've taught Kirashi and them. They're all from your own experience."

Hitachi didn't answer as she kept on walking, Sanzo's eyes on her the whole time.

Grey eyes glittered with joy as he watched them. This was perfect. Their guard was down. The spell had its time to work through their systems fully. The next phase of his plan was about to be put into motion. Their eyes will finally be open, and then the rest will be up to them to decide: go for it or let it go. The grin on his face widened as he held a glass sphere in his hands, which held the image of the four youkai women. The sphere slowly dropped from the hand, falling to the ground before shattering into tiny, sparkling pieces, scattered upon the ground.

Maki paused in putting the food onto the table. Something was wrong. She felt dizzy, and he breathing was becoming harder to do. Her heart felt like there was a vice grip on it. What was happening?

Julin was having a similar experience. She put a hand to her chest as she sat up from lying on the couch. What was wrong? Why couldn't she breath very well?

Kirashi leaned against the wall, dressed in her robe with a hand to her chest. She frowned as she took a deep breath. It hurt. Something was really not right here.

Hitachi stopped walking and put a hand to her chest as well. What was going on? She felt fine a few moments ago, so where did this come from?

Hakkai looked up at Julin and Maki and frowned. "Something wrong, you two?" Goku looked at them as well, blinking in confusion. Gojyo frowned and stood.

"I'm…not sure. I...can't breath…right," Maki replied, having even more trouble breathing.

Sanzo frowned and walked over to Hitachi, putting a hand on the youkai woman's shoulder. "What's the matter?"

Hitachi shook her head, putting her other hand on her chest as well. "I don't…know. I…I can't breathe." Her breath was becoming short and quick. It felt like her lungs were being compressed. Before Sanzo could reply, Hitachi collapsed onto the ground, her things falling from her bag.

"Hitachi!" Sanzo yelled as he quickly knelt next to her, picking her up.

"Maki!" Hakkai yelled as Maki fell to the ground and into his arms. "Maki!"

Goku quickly ran and caught Julin as she fell as well. "Julin!"

"What the hell is going on?" Gojyo yelled.

"Gojyo! Check on Kirashi!" Hakkai yelled as he started to check over Maki, wanting to find anything that could tell him what was wrong.

Gojyo ran into the back bedroom, kicking open the door. "Kirashi!" His eyes widened a bit as he saw the youkai lying on the ground, curled up a bit with her hands to her chest. What in the hell was going on? It seemed the danger they thought had passed had come back to haunt them again.

Ok! That was that chapter! dodges random objects being thrown at her I'm sorry! But I had to do it! I don't think you guys will like the next chapter too much either. It'll...have a death scene in it. But I wont give away any details! You must reveiw and I'll post it up as soon as I can!