Sanzo hadn't thought about Koume in years. He was older now, and traveling west with a group of misfit demons. Sure, nothing could be better. Now, he was sitting in a run-down inn in a practically empty town trying to forget again that he had made the mistake to open his heart, again. The beer sucked, though, and nothing they had there was strong enough to get him even slightly tipsy.

He was about to give up and leave when he heard footsteps behind him. He figured that if it was Gojyo, he would snarl and leave. If it was Hakkai, he might stay and talk, however, in the state he left him in, Sanzo figured he was the last person he wanted to talk to. And if it was Goku… well, he knew it wouldn't be. Goku wouldn't be allowed in the bar, looking as he did, and even if he had resorted to beating up the bouncer stationed at the door, which would be really simple, he'd receive a good thwacking.

However, Goku was the only one who seemed to understand him on this matter. Sanzo's heart was so closed off back then. He had even been contemplating on getting rid of the monkey once and for all. If Koume hadn't come around and softened him up, he probably would have killed him, and the others, by now. The footsteps were still coming closer. However, the one approaching him didn't smell like either of his group members, and so he secretly grabbed for his gun. The visitor was behind him before he could pull it out, and a delicate hand fell onto his shoulder. Wait… a DELICATE hand?

"Mind if I share a drink with you, Genjyo?"

Sanzo almost gasped and sun around in his seat to look deep into soft golden-red eyes that he used to know. Koume smiled and so did he.

"Or should I say, …my dear young master Sanzo?" :heart: