--Wow, guys. I'm soooo sorry. There's been so much drama and craziness in the past couple months, I had no time to write whatsoever. But now, I'm back…I think. (sweat-drops)

Oh, yeah. And remember that love scene I mentioned I might do? Well, hold on to your seats, everyone, because it's coming up! …..I'll just get on with the chapter now…

Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki or Bleach.

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-Chapter Five-

"Lady Gyokumen Koushu requires Lady Lirin back at the palace."

Kougaiji sighed as he looked disdainfully down at the messenger bowing before him. "All right. I'll send her back immediately."

The man bowed once more, and then was gone.

The demon prince scratched his head as he walked back to the campsite. His eyes went wide as he heard a shriek. His eyes widened even further at the scene before him.

Mizuru was curled up on the ground. Her eyes were shut tight and she was trying to muffle her laughter as Lirin mercilessly tickled her. Yaone and Dokugaku were doing nothing to aid wither party. They just sat and laughed at the two.

"What the heck is going on?" Kougaiji asked confusedly.

"Guess what, Nii-san!" Lirin shouted. "Ruri-chan's really ticklish!" She laughed in delight.

Mizuru finally succeeded in halting the small girl's torture and sat up, breathing slightly heavy.

"Noooo," she laughed. "My weakness has been discovered!"

Lirin giggled evilly and went to tickle Ruri some more. Kougaiji stopped her, though, by gently grabbing her small wrist.

"Lirin," he said, smiling slightly from their antics. "Your mother wants you back at the castle."

"Awww. But I don't wanna go!" Lirin whined.

Kougaiji sighed. "Sorry, kid, but you've got to go."

Lirin sat on the ground and crossed her arms, her lip sticking out in a pout. "Nuh uh. I'm not goin'."

Mizuru crouched down so she was eye-level with the girl. She smiled kindly. "Hey, Lirin. How 'bout I take you home?"

Lirin's eyes widened. "You'll go with me? Really?"

"Yup. No problem," Mizuru grinned. "Okay."

The demon girl jumped up. "Okay! Bye, Nii-san! Bye, Dokugaku! Bye, Yaone!" She waved as she started running off.

Mizuru laughed as she followed, exchanging goodbyes with everyone as she went.

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"Okay. So where are we going exactly?" Tai asked, as they climbed into Hakuryu. The small dragon had turned into a jeep. It totally denied all logical thought, but Tai had learned to just accept these things.

Hakkai shrugged. "West, I suppose."

"Hm. No specific destination…I like it."

The green-eyed man started the engine and their journey was resumed.

(A few hours later…)

"Gojyo! That was my squid, dammit! Give it back!"

"Make me, you stupid monkey!"

"Who're you callin' a monkey, ya cockroach!"

"Don't call me that, bean monkey!"

"Well you are, kappa cockroach!"

"WILL. YOU. SHUT. UP!!!" Tai glared at them both as they cowered in a corner of the back seat. "GOD! You guys…Argh." She rubbed her forehead, irritated.

Hakkai chuckled. "Why, Sanzo. It looks like we have found your counterpart."

Sanzo grunted.

"Hey, wha's that?" Goku pointed to a place ahead of them.

There was a speck on the horizon. As they got closer, it grew larger and larger. It was a mass of demons, all coming toward the five travelers at a steady pace.

"Crap! More assassins?" Gojyo exclaimed. "Where the hell do they all come from?"

Hakkai sighed. "So I guess I should stop so we can deal with them and get it out of the way?"

"No, don't worry about it," Tai spoke suddenly. "I got it."

"Huh?" Goku looked at her, confused, as did everyone else. Hakkai glanced back.

"You've got it?"

"Mhm." Tai stood up and leaped into the air, landing lightly on the ground a bit ahead and to the side of them. She took off running immediately, steadily increasing the distance between herself and the vehicle.

"Whoa. She's pretty damn fast, ain't she?" Gojyo blinked a couple times.

Tai had almost reached the head of the mob, and was rapidly getting closer. She took a deep breath, not halting

"Hado #63: Thunder Roar Cannon!"

A massive wave of yellow energy swept over the crowd, leaving only destruction behind. A few demons still stood, but, before anyone could blink, Tai had flitted around them effortlessly, stopping a bit away to sheath some hidden weapon. The demons twitched, then collapsed on the spot.

A few moments later, the jeep passed alongside Tai as she jumped in. She sat back in her seat calmly, as if she had never left.

"Tai! That was so cool!" Goku gushed. "How th' heck'd ya do it?"

Tai blinked at him. "I just used some spirit energy and my sword."

"Hang on. You have a sword?" Gojyo asked. "Where?"

Tai shifted the bottom flap of her coat so they could see the hilt and sheath of a katana.

"Whoa. Cool." Goku grinned. "Can I see it?!" He reached out anxiously.

"No," Tai answered bluntly. "Sorry. I'm really protective of my stuff."

"Oi."

Tai looked up at Sanzo as he spoke up.

"Think you could do that with all these stupid assassins? I really don't feel like fighting anymore of those idiots."

"Uh, I don't know. I guess so."

"Good. I think we'll get along."

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"Ruri-chan! I'm so glad to see you again! How did your assessment go?" Ni grinned as he approached her.

"Very well, Professor."

"So you think you could defeat them all?"

"It would be no trouble at all."

"Ahahahah. Good. Good. So you brought little Lirin back, huh? What made you do that?" He cocked his head.

Mizuru gave him a blank stare and said nothing.

Ni rolled his eyes. "All right. Whatever. Go do whatever it is you do. Later." He walked away, leaving Mizuru by herself in the room.

Once he was gone, she grinned. Now, just how long should she keep up her emotionless charade? Oh, this was going to be fun.

-End-

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--Okay, not much happening here, and I'm sorry about that. I think the next chapter is gonna be the scene…I don't know. Whatever.

Review por favor! Aloha!