Author's Note: Ohayo! Welcome to Chapter Four! I seem to be getting more reviewers! Thanks so much. This chapter goes to... Lady Threarah. Yep! Thanks for telling me how to set it for an anonymous review! That makes me happy. I especially had to do it after a funny incident where my sister (not knowing that this was MY fanfic) tried to leave a comment, but discovered that there was no way to leave an anonymous review. So, she got herself an account, just to review this story. Later, she told me that she'd gotten one once I'd asked her about it (havingreceived the review and deducted that it was her). She said that some "idiot fan author of this one Saiyuki fanfic didn't allow anonymous reviews." I informed who that "idiot fan author" was. She blushed and laughed.

Anyway... thanks to all my lovely reviewers! Please continue! And I hope you like this ficcy!


Little did Gojyo know, not only did such a soul exist, but it was currently swearing up a storm and hexing every rock in sight in an expanse of desert not too far from the town.

"Where the hell am I, Potter? I'm sure that this is all your fault in some way. You got me to agree to a truce so that you could spirit me away to some awful place to roast to death in this god forsaken heat!"

"Malfoy, I may not necessarily want your friendship, but believe me, if I were going to arrange your death, I would do it in a place with a little more class. I respect you. Grudgingly, yes, but the feeling is there… somewhere. Now, if you would stop with the accusations, we'll see what we can do about our current situation." Harry screwed up his eyes against the glaring desert sun. It was hot and bright and black school robes were NOT the best attire to be wearing. He glanced around at the equally displeased and shocked faces of Neville, Ron, and, most assuredly, Draco. A hooting noise nearby caught his attention. He looked up at a blinding spot of white. "Hedwig!" He called out happily. The others looked up to see the owl descend upon them.

"No offense, mate, but how's an owl going to help get us out of the desert?" Ron looked skeptically at the white bird.

"Simple, really." Harry smiled serenely. The others exchanged a nervous glance. That was… unsettling to say the least. But they waited for Harry to explain further. "Hedwig's just told me that there's a town not too far away." The others were definitely concerned now.

"Um, Harry? I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but you do realize that you just claimed that your OWL told you that there was a town nearby?" Neville scrutinized Harry carefully. It wouldn't do to upset someone that could be mentally deranged. He knew from all the yelling from the nurses at St. Mungo's. He'd upset his parents numerous times with disastrous consequences: apparently, one name the Longbottoms still remembered was 'Voldemort'.

Neville had just been casually talking to himself about how Harry had, yet again, defeated Voldemort when his parents launched into a tirade. They ran about screaming about the return of the Dark Lord and how he would come and kill them all. This, in turn, sent off another Ward patient. This patient claimed to be the Dark Lord himself and began yelling at people to follow his bidding. Neville had watched, wide-eyed, as his parents flung themselves at the self-proclaimed Dark Lord and began using plastic drinking straws to try and cast hexes upon the poor man beneath them. Neville, in turn, had been quietly and swiftly escorted out of the hospital for the day.

Since then, the poor boy had been awfully careful around people he suspected might be a little off their rocker.

"Yes, I am aware of that fact, Neville." Harry frowned. "Transportation could be an issue, however. I don't fancy walking in this heat or these robes." Harry sighed and looked at his unexpected companions.

"Now you're talking my language, Potter. So, what do we transfigure?" Malfoy rolled up his sleeves regally, looking around for anything that might suite. His gaze fell upon Hedwig. He arched an eyebrow and a slow smirk spread across his features. "Potter, I do believe I could kiss you for having such a fine animal."

"Ugh! Don't project your fantasies on my best friend, Ferret. That's disgusting." Ron stuck out a tongue and looked a little green.

"Figure of speech, Weasel. Now shut up. Potter, I think I'll need help with this. But only because the heat is affecting my thoughts and abilities." Draco looked expectantly at Harry. The raven-haired teen was busy calming his owl as he made his way over to the blonde.

"Okay, Mal-Draco. Let's get this done quickly. What do we transfigure her into?"

"How about a portkey? Let's get the hell out of here." Ron said, eyeing the landscape warily. "I think the rocks out there are moving."

"The heat's getting to you, Ron." Neville said. "That's absolutely the most ridiculous thing you've said all day, aside from claiming that Harry's going Dark."

"But he could be!" And Ron launched off into an argument with Neville again.

"What do you think the odds of escaping this place without them are?" Draco asked Harry pointedly.

"Not good, I suspect. 'Sides, we don't even know where we are." Harry did have a point. Draco scowled at this realization.

"Harry, wouldn't you agree that Ron's going a bit nutty?" Neville asked suddenly. Ron exploded at this statement, saying that he most certainly HADN'T gone nutty. Draco conjured up another paper fan and beat the two of them within inches of consciousness.

"THANK YOU!" he yelled in exasperation when they shut up.

"You know, a gun would be a little less exhausting." Harry pointed out. Draco considered this for a moment before nodding in agreement.

"There. You like?" He held up a small hand pistol for examination. "But, I think I'll keep the fan, thank you very much. It's nice to hit something every now and then."

Harry shrugged. "Suit yourself, Draco." His gaze fell once again on his distressed owl. "I don't think a portkey will work. We don't know that charm. So… we need some sort of vehicle. Broom's out; we can't fit four of us on one, and that would just be awkward in any case. Carriage? No, we'd need horses or something…" Harry suddenly looked at Draco again. "Can you do a car?"

"Yeah, but why a car? I can't drive." Draco's fan and gun had disappeared, presumably within his black robes.

"Ron can drive." Harry nodded at the redhead who was rubbing his smarting skull.

"There is no way in hell that I will allow a Weasel to drive me to my death, thank you."

"You're no better than me, Ferret. At least I CAN drive!" Ron rallied to the offensive.

"Yeah, but not very well. I heard the rumors of how you crashed the car straight into the Womping Willow." Neville shuddered at the idea of that beastly tree womping him. Ron's response was to turn red. "I can't drive either. Gran always says that I'll hurt myself, or more likely, someone else and the car if I try."

Harry sighed, but forced a smile. "Well, we're in luck, I suppose. I can drive. I 'borrowed' Dudley's car while I was staying with Mrs. Figg last summer. I actually got to the point where I didn't hit anything either." Harry was saying proudly. This did little to comfort anyone else. "And in any case, as Hedwig is MY owl, it only fits that I should be the one to drive the vehicle she transfigures into."

Harry had a point. All of them had a strange suspicion that the bird might try and do something horrid to anyone other than Harry.

"Well, let's get started then." Draco pushed up his sleeves again and he and Harry began collaborating on what type of car they wanted.

"I say a limo."

"Have you SEEN the rocky terrain? It's highly impractical. Besides, I will NOT be your chauffeur." Harry glowered at the blonde.

"Fine. No limo… I demand comfort in any case."

"Settle for comfort later, pansy ass." Came Ron's input. "We need something that will get us to the town, if there is one."

Draco's solution to the problem of the mounting headache caused by the freckled gigantor was to brandish his gun and fire off an experimental shot. Ron's face blanched considerably. He remained silent.

"Well, I suppose that given the rocky, sandy terrain, a vehicle with four-wheel drive would come in handy… anyone object to a Jeep?" Draco looked around, daring anyone to complain. No one objected. "Good. Pot- Harry, let's get to work."

Fifteen minutes and some comical failings later, Harry and Draco had managed to successfully transfigure the snowy white owl into a snowy white Jeep with black leather plush seats, compliments of Draco. Harry rolled his eyes. But he clamored into the driver's seat all the same.

"Okay, let's go." He gestured to the Jeep.

"You know where you're going?" Draco asked, claiming the passenger seat before Neville or Ron even had a chance to claim dibs.

"Vaguely. Hedwig does, however. Right girl?"

The vehicle hooted in reply. Harry beamed happily. The Jeep roared to life and Harry took hold of the wheel. Ron and Neville had barely managed to get into the backseat of the car when Harry shifted into 'drive' and floored it. Sand shot out under their tires and they seemed to go nowhere for a time. Then, quite suddenly, they lurched forward. Harry's passengers clung to parts of the vehicle desperately. Harry laughed. He was enjoying this.

Dammit, if only I had taken Pansy and Blaise up on their offer of teaching me how to drive! Draco thought miserably. His next thoughts weren't quite so regretful. Oh, shit. I think I'm going to be sick! That is if Harry doesn't kill me first with his driving. For the sake of all that is right and Slytherin! Who taught him how to drive!

All passengers thanked whatever deity above had brought them there in the first place that a town did indeed exist up in the forefront. While they had their eyes closed, they failed to notice a large boulder dropping in their general vicinity. Fortunately, Harry did.

"Argh!"

Three pairs of eyes shot up and soon there were four people screaming as the boulder loomed up in front of them.

"Brake, brake, BRAKE!" Draco yelled. Finally, Harry seemed to get the message and slammed on the brakes. Hedwig hooted irritably, no doubt promising a few bleeding fingers once she was an owl again. They all looked at the boulder in awe.

"Where the HELL did THAT come from?" Neville said, to the surprise of everyone, including himself. He flushed. "Sorry."

"Whatever." Ron replied. "How do we get around this?" He eyed it and then brought forth his wand. "Wingardiem leviosa." He sang out. The boulder shook, trying to obey, but merely rotated in its hole in the ground.

"Brilliant, Weasel." Draco drawled. "Even you should know that something THAT size shouldn't be tackled by a simple spell, but if it is, then it would have to be with a hoard of people."

"Shut it, Ferret."

"Ohayo!" A voice called from someplace high above them. They all looked up into the bright sun and could make out a figure. Thankfully, it leapt down to the dirt in front of their Jeep. "Mister Baldy Sanzo!" it sing-songed. They managed to discern that it was, in fact, female. "Lirin has come for the Maten Scripture again! And this time Lirin will get it!" With a leap, the Hogwarts students found that the girl thing had landed on Draco's shoulders and was searching through his robes with disappointment.

"Get off, would you?" Draco snapped, sliding across the bench seat to sit next to Harry while the girl fell onto the seat next to him.

"Where's the Scripture, Baldy?" The green-eyed, red-haired, pointy-eared girl seemed to see them for the first time. "Oh. You're not Mr. Baldy Sanzo."

"Do I look bald to you?" Draco snapped.

"But, if you're not him, then where is he?"

"How should we know?" Ron asked suddenly. She turned her gaze upon him.

"You people talk funny." Was her only reply. Then her brow furrowed in contemplation. She was muttering about no-good priests.

"Erm, there's a town up ahead. That's where we're headed." Neville offered. He looked hesitantly at Harry. "W-we could give you a ride, if you want. Maybe your Sanzo fellow is there?"

The girl's eyes brightened at this and she smiled broadly. "Yes, please. Lirin has always wanted to ride in Mr. Eye-glass's dragon car, but has never gotten a chance. Is your car a dragon, Mr. Messy Hair?"

Harry blinked dumbly and managed to gather that HE was Mr. Messy Hair. "Uh, no, it's an owl." He said with confusion.

"Really? Lirin has never seen an owl up close before. When we get to town, do you think you could show Lirin?" the girl leaned across Draco and looked pleadingly at Harry.

"Sure…" He glanced warily at Draco. Draco scowled back, but shrugged. Harry returned the shrug and drove off toward the town.

"Is your name Lirin?" Ron asked the girl.

"Yep. Lirin came out to search for Sanzo again to help big brother." She was smiling and looked so cute, almost like an animal.

"What's your brother's name?" Neville asked innocently.

Lirin looked scandalized. "You don't know! That's impossible! EVERYONE knows about Kougaiji. He's the best youkai there is!"

Harry and Draco looked at each other briefly, mouthing the word 'youkai', silently asking each other the meaning.

"What is a-a 'youkai', Lirin?" Harry asked. Lirin, to his embarrassment and discomfort, laughed. She only stopped when she realized she was the only one laughing. She frowned at them.

"You folks are some strange humans to not know about youkai."

"Are they dangerous?" Draco asked immediately, trying to calculate the odds in his head. If he ran, he might get away. If he fought a 'youkai', then he might survive. If he worked with his unexpected comrades, he would definitely survive. What could one youkai do against four teens? However, that option seemed highly unlikely. Gryffindors and Slytherins did NOT get along on principle, no matter the circumstance.

"I'M a youkai." Lirin said, rolling her eyes.

"That doesn't exactly answer the question." Harry said gently.

"Yeah, you nearly dropped a BOULDER on us!" Neville yelled.

"I wouldn't have let it HIT you. I thought you were Sanzo and his group. If I had crushed them, then that would've crushed the scripture and I'd have been in trouble." Lirin pouted.

They rode the remaining distance in silence. When they arrived at the town, they were quick to notice the strange fashions that people seemed to fancy here. Draco spotted someone who looked like an aristocratic snob. That man would do for asking directions.

"Stop here, Harry." He commanded. Harry did as he was told and watched as his blonde companion pushed past Lirin and exited the vehicle, heading straight for the aristocrat with a ridiculously large plumed hat and heavy, draping silk robes of the most ghastly colors. Draco cast a glamour charm on himself and drew himself up to his full height.

"Excuse me, my good sir." Draco bowed to the man he intended to address. The man noticed him, slightly surprised, yet intrigued at this display of manners.

"Can I help you, kid?" The man asked, noting how young Draco appeared.

"Actually, you can. If you could direct me to a place where I might find a map?"

"You lost?"

"More or less, yes. My companions and I," Draco gestured to the white jeep, "happen to find ourselves in unfamiliar territory."

The man's eyes widened and he backed away from Draco. "Y-you ride in one of them iron vehicles. You're the Sanzo Party! You're going to bring hoards of youkai down upon us all!" He ran off in the opposite direction. Draco stood staring at the empty space where the man had been. He got the suspicion that most people didn't like youkai or the Sanzo Party for their association with youkai. He puzzled over this latest development as he entered the car. Harry fought not to laugh.

"Lirin, does the Sanzo Party get along with the youkai?"

"Nope. Not at all." Lirin said happily, forgetting momentarily that Hakkai, Gojyo, and Goku were all technically classified as youkai. "Most youkai are out to get Baldy and his friends. Folks tend to shy away from them for that reason. The youkai follow them everywhere and tend to cause a lot of destruction."

"Ah." Draco wasn't pleased by this news. It really didn't make sense to him that he kept being mistaken for a priest. "What does this Sanzo look like?"

"Well… he's blonde and he's got purple droopy eyes. And he wears white robes. If I'd been paying proper attention, I never would've thought you were him. You're wearing black."

Harry spotted a red-haired man carrying a load of paper bags down the street in a hurry. "Hey! Mister!"

The man looked up, slightly astonished to see a jeep there. His cigarette fell to the ground and extinguished.

"If you can give us directions to an inn, we'd be happy to take you to your destination!" Harry called out. The redhead approached cautiously. No one noticed that Lirin had disappeared, nor would they have cared.

"Actually, I'm staying at an inn with some colleagues. There's still vacancy, if you're interested."

"Thank you very much." Harry smiled warmly at the man, his emerald eyes sparkling.

Damn! That kid looks a lot like Hakkai. But I thought Hakkai never had kids… Whatever… Gojyo climbed into the empty bed of the jeep and directed Harry to the inn, groaning as he soon realized that the black-haired kid not only looked like his best friend, but actually drove WORSE than him. Finally, Harry parked the white jeep next to a green one. Gojyo hopped out and waited for his momentary friends.