--OMG I'M SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SOORRRYYYYY!! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CALL OFF YOUR NINJA SQUIRRELS!! I'M UPDATING NOW!! .

Disclaimer: Don't own Saiyuki…unfortunately. (pervy grin)

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-Chapter Two-

The Sanzo Ikkou followed Tai back to the dead-end that she had stopped at before.

"Huh?" Goku looked around. "I don't see any food…"

"Tai-san, maybe it's possible that you're lost," Hakkai said. "This is a dead-end."

Tai glanced back at them, saying nothing. She walked to the back wall and knocked a strange pattern. To the others' surprise, a brick slid away to be replaced with a set of beady eyes.

"Jane Doe, with four guests," Tai murmured softly.

The eyes peered back meanly, examining them all. Then they disappeared as the brick was replaced.

"'Jane Doe'…?" Gojyo asked quietly, slightly amused.

Tai glanced back at him, smiling slightly. She nodded once.

Suddenly, a whole section of wall in the shadowy corner of the area slid back, revealing a strange, hunched creature that only vaguely resembled a man.

His eyes darted around nervously. "Come on. Haven't got all day." His voice was raspy and grating.

The five entered the area and the man closed the door behind them as they stood, eyes adjusting to the dim light. The four men stared around in surprise as they saw that they were standing in a rather large, albeit shady, pub.

"Ah. Miss Doe, you've returned." A tall, hook-nosed man walked over. Even in his ratty suit, he held a distinguished air that the rest of the complex lacked.

"Hello, Hawk. Can my friends and I have someplace…quiet to sit and eat, please?" Tai subtly slipped a silver coin into his hand.

"Of course. Please, follow me."

Hawk led them out of the main pub and into a small, secluded room, lit by a few torches and candles on the walls. A round, wooden table stood in the center, marred by stains and old age.

"How is this, Madame?"

"Perfect," Tai answered, pulling up one of the sturdy, worn chairs. "Thank you."

Hawk bowed. "I will bring refreshments forthwith."

"And beer!" Gojyo called after him as he walked out.

"I wonder why that man is so polite to you…" Hakkai said, sitting down.

"And what kinda name is 'Hawk'?" Goku laughed.

"It's a fake name, of course," Tai said. "A nickname. Nobody uses their real name here."

Gojyo laughed. "And your alias is 'Jane Doe'? Haha. Nice."

Goku looked around at them all. "I don't get it!"

"Jane or John Doe, depending on the gender, is the name given to an unidentified body," Hakkai explained.

"'Body'…?" Goku swallowed. "You mean…like…dead?"

Tai laughed. "Yup." She glanced around. "And they trust me so well, because…" She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of coins, mostly gold and silver.

"Wow!" Goku exclaimed.

Sanzo looked suspicious. "Why exactly does someone like you have that much money…?"

Tai ignored his degrading tone. She grinned. "'The world may never know…'" (A/N: Tootsie Pops!!)

The priest didn't look amused, but didn't say anything more as Hawk entered the room, along with a largely-muscled man who looked like he belonged in a wrestling arena. Hawk placed a large pitcher of ale and five mugs on the table, and gestured to the other to put down the plates and plates of food he was laden with.

"How is that, Madame?" Hawk asked Tai, looking a bit smug.

Tai looked down at the table. There was absolutely NO room for anything else, so covered in food and alcohol it was.

"Hmm…" She rubbed her chin. "What do you think, Goku?"

The boy stopped in mid-reach, eager to start eating. "It looks really great!! I can't wait for the second course!!" With that, he stuffed a roll in his mouth, chewing happily, completely oblivious to Hawk's dumbfounded expression.

Tai smiled at the hook-nosed man. "Well. You heard him."

Hawk grit his teeth in annoyance. "Yes, Madame." He turned and all but stomped away.

"Oh, Hawk?" Tai called. The man stopped in the doorway and slowly turned around. He had a strained polite look on his face.

"Yes, Madame?"

"Keep up the good work." Tai winked at him as she flipped him a gold coin.

Hawk swiftly caught and pocketed it. He bowed, energy returned, all smiles and sweetness. "Thank you, Madame." He turned and practically skipped out.

Tai examined a gold coin between her thumb and forefinger. "Whoever said money doesn't buy happiness must've been on acid or something…" she mused.

"Mmm…" Goku stopped stuffing his face and swallowed . "Uhh…so who was that lady you were fightin' before? Didja know 'er?"

"Oh, yeah." Gojyo took a swig of beer. "She was kinda cute." The others groaned. Gojyo looked around. "What?! She was!"

"She was the enemy, you idiot," Sanzo growled. "That should've been obvious."

Tai had been silent, a pensive expression on her face, for this exchange. Now she murmured, "Actually…"

They all looked at her.

She closed her eyes. "She's my friend. She's the reason why I'm here."

There was a pause.

"So…" Goku scratched his head. "You wouldn't be here without her…?" His eyes widened. "Is she your mom?!"

Gojyo burst into laughter, Hakkai chuckled, and even Sanzo smiled. Tai's eyes flew open.

"No! No, no, no, no, no! She isn't my mom! She's my best friend, for God's sake!"

"Are you suuuure she's not your mom?" Gojyo teased.

Tai glared at him. "Yes, I am. She's, like, two months younger than me."

"Really?" Hakkai mused. "And how exactly did…all this…come about?"

Tai sighed. "Get comfortable, everyone. This'll be a loooong story…"

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Mizuru didn't move a muscle as Kougaiji and his group came up behind her. Kougaiji sighed in irritation as she continued to stare out over the cliff, down into the luscious valley below.

He opened his mouth to speak, but was beaten to it by his younger sister.

"Ruri-chan! Why'd you run away all of a sudden?!" Lirin stood next to the dark-haired girl, hands on her hips.

When Mizuru didn't answer, Lirin put her own face an inch away from Ruri's, staring into her unblinking eye. After a minute, she sighed and pulled on Kougaiji's sleeve.

"Onii-chan, I'm hungryyyy!"

The two walked off to make a campsite and some food, followed by Dokugaku.

Yaone sat down beside Mizuru quietly. "Did you know that girl? The one you were fighting earlier?" she asked softly.

The silence dragged on, so that Yaone thought the other girl wouldn't answer. She as about to get up to leave when she heard a soft murmur.

"I…think so…"

Yaone's eyes widened. "What? Really?"

Mizuru nodded slowly. She turned to look at Yaone, and the mage blinked in astonishment as she saw actual confusion in Ruri's blue eye. There was something else, too…very slightly…fear, perhaps?

"I…I think I remember her," Mizuru said slowly. "But…but, Yaone. I'm not supposed to remember anything!" She buried her face in her knees. "I'm so confused."

Yaone stood awkwardly, not sure what to do. The girl before her was incredibly powerful, she could probably kill with a look. But, right now, she looked so small and helpless…With a sigh, Yaone wrapped her arms around the younger girl.

"What's going on?" Mizuru murmured.

"I don't know, Ruri…I don't know…"

-End-

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--Again, I'm SO, SO sorry about taking so long. My life's been SO busy. Oh! And I'm finally working on my (ahem) 'love scenes' that (I hope) you all are looking forward to.

I'll do my best to update ASAP! So don't send your ninjas back out after me!! Please!! (I'm nervous enough as it is…at this point in my life….)

Thanks for putting up with me! Love you all!