Koume's little home seemed even smaller as there were more people in it. Goku sat backwards in a chair, eyeing Koume dangerously as she redressed Sanzo's wounds. The other was staring at nothing. Koume pulled a little tight on the bandages and Sanzo flinched a little.

"Does it hurt, Genjyo?"

"No. Keep going."

Goku glared.

"Why is she calling you Genjyo, Sanzo? I thought you hated that name!"

"Shut up, monkey, or you'll get a bullet in the brain."

The little demon groaned and turned his head away, Koume finished her work and stepped back. Suddenly, Sanzo reached out and grabbed her wrist.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"You're bleeding."

Sanzo turned her wrist over and revealed a long, bleeding scratch.

"Oh, that little thing? I must have gotten it during the struggle."

Goku looked over to see it was still bleeding, and he began to feel bad about it. Koume saw this and patted the boy on the head, getting out of Sanzo's grasp. She did a very demon-like thing and licked the wound.

"I'll be fine. Let me go and get you both something to eat."

Goku cheered up at the sound of food, but Sanzo didn't look convinced. Once she was out of sight, he painfully got to his feet. Goku was out of the chair and by his side in an instant, but Sanzo brushed him off and followed where Koume had gone.

She was in the kitchen when she heard him stumble in. she turned just in tome to help brace him from falling.

"Genjyo! You should be in bed!"

"Don't tell me what to do."

Sanzo grabbed her wrist again and examined the cut closer. Koume didn't argue, nor did she let on that she felt any pain when he touched it. Sanzo reached over and grabbed the first aid kit she had brought with her to the kitchen and dressed the wound for her. When he looked up, Koume was staring at him, her face turning a light pink. They had been at very close quarters since he came in, and thinking about the previous night made the blush grow deeper.

"Um… t-thank you, Genjyo…"

Sanzo was turning a little pink now, from where Goku could see. He was watching in an obvious spot, but the other two were too preoccupied staring at each other that they hadn't noticed. Slowly, their faces moved closer together.

All the while, Sanzo's mind was screaming at him. Don't trust her. Don't get involved. She's just a demon. Don't do it. That's what his mind was yelling. But it was like a background noise, and the more those thoughts came, the less he could hear them. Since the death of his master, he had refused to open his heart to anyone. His master. That's the thought that made him stop. Aloud grumbling sound followed, and they looked to the doorway to see Goku run around the corner. They turned away from each other, and Koume went back to her cooking. Sanzo walked towards the exit, but he looked back over his shoulder once before leaving.

Dinner cooked for an hour, and it started to get dark. Goku helped Koume set the table, and they al sat down to eat. Goku was into it before the other two had started to eat. Sanzo was next to slowly start, but Koume could only bring the fork halfway to her mouth. She sensed something. Goku looked over, his mouth full of food.

"What's wrong, Koume?"

Almost on cue, she dropped her fork and dove, tackling the other two seconds before a round of bullets were fired into the house near them.

"What is that!"

"Looks like the friends of those demons I took care of the other day."

"The wha? YOU killed a lot of demons? Why? They're your own kind!"

"Not exactly."

Koume then started to get up, after the shots ended, and went to the closet. Goku leaned over to see her pull out two mini katana and attach them to her waist. Goku helped Sanzo up.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I'm going to fight them."

"What? ALL of them?"

"I have no choice."

"Of course you do…"

She paused and looked at Sanzo, who had made it over to her. He was holding onto her hands protectively. This is a side Goku had never seen before. There was a look of desperation in his eyes.

"You don't have to go out there. Stay in here with us, or at least let us fight with you. I promise you, we're stronger than we look."

But she shook her head, and almost purred as Sanzo stroked her hands.

"No… I have to ensure you both get away safely. I'll lead you around the back way and into the forest… and then I'll return to fight them."

"Don't do this."

I've become attached… Sanzo thought.

Koume was about to answer as a deep voice broke through.

"Come out here, Sanzo priest! I'll make you pay for what you did to our brothers!"

Koume lowered her head and Sanzo released her hands.

"Sanzo, I brought you bullets."

Sanzo looked away from Koume to Goku, who was holding a ton of bullets out to him. Reluctantly, he took them.

"Thanks, Goku."

The three got ready, and escaped out the back window. They had gotten to the opening to the forest before they were spotted. A bullet went past Koume's head, grazing her ear.

"They're over here!"

"Damn!"

Sanzo stepped in front of her and fired two bullets, killing the demon with the gun. Goku cheered and jumped in the air.

"Yeah! And that's for shooting up Koume's house!"

"Goku, lets go!"

Goku followed Sanzo further into the woods, and Koume took up the rear. The demons came near a few times, and they were all a little scuffed up, but otherwise okay. Soon, they had lost track of the demons, and Goku could smell the tinder from the urns back at the temple. It was then that Koume stopped. Sanzo froze also, and went to her side. She looked tired.

"Koume…"

"This is as far as I can go with you… the demon wards will let me go no further."

"Then give me a minute, and I'll get rid of them."

"That would be leaving your dear temple open to attack."

"Don't go, Koume. Let us fight with you."

She shook her head.

"I must go alone… to ease the suffering my kind. Please, do not think of me after this."

Sanzo shook his head, and leaned in close. He took hold of her chin and softly brought their lips together. Koume's eyes went wide of a minute, but then she settled into the warm bliss.

"I will never forget you, and I'll meet you again someday."

The moment ended when the sounds of more demons came closer. Koume gave Sanzo one last hug, and turned with her weapons to face the oncoming demon threat. Goku had to pull on Sanzo's sleeve to get him to move. They passed the demon wards, hearing as the bloody battle began, and when they stood in front of the temple again, the sound of fighting had died down to nothing. Sanzo was frozen in place, staring at the forest until a group of monks came out to greet him.

"Master Sanzo! You've retuned!"

"Master Sanzo, you're hurt!"

"Can I get you something, Master Sanzo?"