First chapter! I hope you all enjoy it and thanks for reading.

Chapter 1: Kouryuu

"Don't give me any shit today, I've got a headache and I might just actually shoot you."

"Maybe you should ask your question a little later, Goku." Hakkai smiled softly. Their leader had been suffering from a headache since they reached the town. It was probably related to the weather shifts, but a little rest should clear it right up. However, being forced to share a room for the night did not help the situation much either. "I think Sanzo would like his rest."

"But," Goku started, but changed his mind. There wasn't much of a chance that Sanzo would agree to it anyway. "Never mind. Have a good night, Sanzo."

"Yeah, yeah." Sanzo sighed. He knew he'd regret it, but Sanzo turned to look at Goku's downcast face and cursed. "If it's something stupid, I'm going to kill you."

Goku turned around and smiled. Sometimes Sanzo could surprise him. "It's not! I think you're really going to like it!"

"You've got ten seconds."

"I saw a flyer today for a town festival here tomorrow, and I was wondering if we could go to it?" Goku trotted over to get closer to Sanzo, but kept a good arm's length away. He wasn't going to completely push is luck. "I know we're on a time limit and stuff, but we could use a break!"

"A festival does sound like fun." Hakkai added in for good measure. The inn at least, had proved to be rather nice on its own, so shops around town should also provide some interesting items. He smiled at Sanzo and waited for the man to answer. The clock in the hallway chimed at eleven o'clock and reminded Hakkai that Gojyo still hadn't come back. He sighed inwardly when he realized that probably meant the man wasn't coming back at all. Hakkai considered investing in a leash to keep the man under control. No one liked dealing with his hangovers in the mornings and Sanzo was stressed enough.

"Give me one good reason why I should go to this." Sanzo growled. Festivals meant people, and people meant harassment for lectures and preaching. Sanzo looked out the window and saw a few people setting up little carts. It was probably a bigger event if they were setting up for it now.

"There's going to be lots of yummy food!" Goku tried to contain the drool as he thought about all the delicious pictures he saw on posters.

"Not a chance. We're leaving first thing in the morning."

"Sanzo!"

"What's that, Goku?" Hakkai leaned forward to see an orange piece of paper sticking out of Goku's pocket. He leaned over to yank it out. "It's a flyer for the festival."

"Oh yeah, I forgot I took that." The boy scratched his head and turned towards Sanzo. "It had a picture of a meat bun on it."

"I'm surprised you didn't eat it." Sanzo leaned over the edge of the bed he was sitting on to look for his cigarettes. He shoved things around until he found his pack beneath an extra shirt. It was empty.

"I've found a good reason why we should all go to this festival tomorrow." Hakkai smiled as he scanned the piece of paper.

"And why is that?" Hakkai was up to something. Sanzo yanked off the outer layer of his robes.

"It's being sponsored by Marlboro."

Goku snickered when Sanzo stopped in mid pull of his shirt. The man caught himself in the startled pause and continued as if nothing had happened before turning towards Hakkai. Goku leaned on the dresser when Sanzo pulled himself under the covers and mumbled a "We're up and at the festival by ten o'clock."

Hakkai chuckled to himself as he neatly folded the piece of paper. Sanzo was so predictable sometimes, but that was just fine. Hakkai watched the man curl slightly and turn his back towards his friends. That was as good a sign as any for bedtime. "Come Goku, let's get you to your room and let Sanzo sleep."

"Night Sanzo!" Goku skipped out of the door and got a few steps down the hallway before skidding to a stop and turning back. His head popped around the doorframe as he uttered one last "Thanks!"

"Just shut up and leave me alone." Sanzo pulled the covers over his head. The brat just didn't know how to be quiet.

"Good night, Sanzo." Hakkai walked to the door and checked to make sure Goku had found his room before shutting the door and walking over to his bed. "That was rather nice of you. Putting up with all those people so we can relax a little, I mean."

"I don't want to hear it, Hakkai." Sanzo grumbled. "I'm going for the cigarettes."

"Of course you are."

"I don't need to see you to know you've got a sly smile on your face, you bastard."

"Ha, ha." Hakkai grinned and walked to the window to open it. A familiar little white face had been tapping on the glass. "You know me too well, Sanzo. Hello Jeep, have a nice little flight?"

The white dragon chirped happily as Hakkai pulled him inside the room. He flew over to his master's bed and curled up nice and neat on the pillow. Hakkai shook his head and walked over to join his little pet as well and started to undress. He looked over his shoulder and confirmed that Sanzo was pretending to sleep, which mean any night conversations were out of the question. Hakkai crawled into bed and figured it was for the best. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day after all.

"Look at all the food!" The great sage squealed. Goku was fully stimulated from all the smells and colors everywhere. For such a small town, they sure knew how to throw a party! "It's everywhere! Sanzo! Sanzo! I want some of these!"

"What the hell did I agree to?" Sanzo held his temple and squeezed. No amount of cigarettes was worth this. Every single freaking person who lives within a thirty mile radius was at this little festival. Lights everywhere, shops selling everything and people crowding. Sanzo growled at his empty pack of smokes before turning back to his charge. "No, you can not order the entire tray of candied apples. One."

"Two." Gojyo added. "I want one too, Monkey."

"Sanzo?" Goku waited a beat for Sanzo's permission. Normally he would just go ahead and order two, but Sanzo had been really nice in letting them come in the first place. Goku didn't want to get on his bad side when they were all spending time together.

"Do what you want." Sanzo popped open a fresh pack of his Marlboro Reds. Thanks to the festival, there was a discount. He'd bought a case and a half on his first trip. Sanzo lit a fresh stick and inhaled the wonder that was a brand new product. After enjoying his first whiff, he turned to notice a certain demon in green staring avidly at a stand. "Hakkai, either stop looking at it and wasting time, or buy it."

"Oh, Sanzo." Hakkai turned a bit red when he realized he'd been caught. "I just wanted to look at this new set of pots."

"Do we need one?" Sanzo's smoke filtered up into the air in little strands.

"Well, a few are looking rather dingy and starting to crack." Hakkai coughed. "And a few of the handles are a little worn."

"Just buy a set and stop complaining." Sanzo shoved the card into Hakkai's hands. "I'm going to get a break from this damn crowd."

"Yes, of course." Hakkai looked down at the little golden card in his hands. He tried to control himself after receiving permission to buy an entire new cookware set. The things he could do with a new wok. "Do be careful."

"I'm not a child, Hakkai." Sanzo snarled. "I can take care of myself."

"I know, it's just a very dangerous time for us to be apart. With the bounties and Kougaiji minions running around."

"Shove it, I'd rather get out of this crowd and be at risk."

"Alright then."

Goku frowned when Sanzo started to walk off towards an alley way. He had been sure that they were all having a good time at the festival. Sanzo even smiled a bit when he saw all the flats of his cigarette brand sitting in front of the shops. He munched on his apple absently and turned back to Hakkai who was dealing for the pots. He still didn't understand the need to haggle when the card was unlimited anyway.

"Stop staring into space." Gojyo whacked the kid upside the head. "The dumber you look, the more people think you're a freak. Which, by the way, will affect my reputation with the ladies for being seen with you."

"Shut up, cockroach." Goku took another large bite from his apple and licked his lips. He barely noticed Gojyo smacking his head. "You damage your reputation enough on your own."

"Why you little!" Gojyo grabbed the apple out of Goku's hands. "No treats for bad little pets!"

"You give that back!"

Hakkai turned from the man bagging his pots, knives and silverware (it was just such a good deal!), when he realized Gojyo and Goku had fallen into a scuffle. In the middle of the street way no less, but that was the norm for them. They forget everything else once they start fighting. Gojyo took a swing at Goku and missed to ram into a small fried chicken cart. The owner started screaming but Goku had already tackled the red head. Hakkai thanked the salesman before looking down the alley to make sure Sanzo was fine and smoking before going to break up the fight.

Sanzo held the smoke inside of his mouth and just breathed it in before letting it out slowly. A rat scurried over his foot and he kicked it into the wall and smirked. He dropped a few ashes off the cigarette and onto its back. To think he'd get so attached to a single brand of cigarettes, and it was all that damn head monk's fault. He looked at the little orange glow on the end of the stick. "Life is like a cigarette, huh?"

"Just like yours, Genjyo Sanzo. Too short!"

Sanzo jumped to the side when the ax slammed into the wall next to him. "Shit!"

Marxia grinned when he realized he had caught the Genjyo Sanzo off guard. He picked up the ax again and swung making sure to drive the man farther back into the alley. He couldn't afford to attract a crowd before he completed his mission. Dr. Nii promised him a big promotion if he did this right. "Prepare to die!"

"Go to hell!" Sanzo whipped out his Smith & Wesson and fired the first few shots. The demon was swift and they missed. He cursed, but knew it would at least draw some attention his way from the crowded streets. Distractions work well when you need time to reload your weapon. Sanzo had to dodge again when the ax came closer to his body and cut into the fabric of his robes. Sanzo fired the last shots of his gun and ducked behind a trash bin to reload in the few seconds that he had.

Marxia sliced the garbage tin in half to force Sanzo to back up a few feet. The demon continued to press the monk into the wall and reached for what he needed in his pocket. A single syringe should do the trick, he just had to get close enough to the man to use it! The human dodged his ax again and continued to fire at him but he darted again. So close! A fifth shot flew by his ear and Marxia knew he was in the clear. Revolvers took a long time to reload.

"Damn it." Sanzo snarled as the demon leaped for him. He braced for the impact when he saw a pole fly through the demon's stomach and ram diagonally into the wall behind him. The blood spattered on him, but that was nothing Sanzo couldn't wash off later. He looked around the demon as it slid down the pole to see Goku on the other end. "Took you long enough, monkey."

"Got here in time, didn't I?" Goku yanked the pole out of the demon and grimaced a bit when it fell on Sanzo. He had hoped it would come with the pole and get yanked off the man instead. Goku shook his staff to get the excess blood off before turning to grab the thing off of his master. He became alarmed when Sanzo let out a gasping breath and a small utterance of a pained wail. "Sanzo!"

Marxia coughed blood up into the priest's face. He pushed the plunger on his syringe and watched the green liquid filter into the human's soft flesh. His breath was heavy and ragged and Marxia could feel himself dying, but that didn't matter. "I win."

Sanzo felt Goku fling the demon off before shaking his shoulders. The body hit the dirt with a thick thud. He pushed at the boy and groped for the needle that had stuck his side. Sanzo yanked it out before staring at it. "What the hell?"

"Sanzo!" Hakkai shouted as he and Gojyo rounded the corner of the alleyway. He could see Goku leaning over Sanzo, while the priest himself was holding what looked like a needle.

"Shit, what happened to the monk?" Gojyo trotted over closer to see Sanzo start convulsing and falling over. He turned his eyes to the monkey to make sure the kid wasn't freaking out.

"Goku, what happened?" Hakkai forced Sanzo's shoulders onto the pavement when the jerks became violent. Sanzo was moaning and trying to claw at his skin.

"Don't know, demon attacked and I killed it. It fell on Sanzo and he screamed." Goku was watching Sanzo twitch and could feel his gut clinching. He was so bad at knowing what to do in these situations!

Hakkai nodded at Goku before Sanzo yanked himself free of his tight grip. Sanzo turned and kneeled on his front and grabbed his head tightly before moaning. Hakkai reached down and grabbed the syringe on the ground to get a closer look. Sanzo's head hit the ground as he curled up into a tighter ball. "Goku, it might be poison so keep him still."

"Hey, Hakkai." Gojyo started to stare at the monk. "Is he shrinking to you?"

"What?"

"Gojyo's right!" Goku took a step back as the hunched figure continued getting smaller. After a large heaved breath the entire thing collapsed. The smaller form of the monk wasn't moving. "Sanzo!"

Hakkai in turn rushed over to pull the man face up, but gasped when he got a look at Sanzo's face. "My word."

"They turned the priest into a little girl!"

"Don't be absurd, Gojyo." Hakkai sighed and checked Sanzo's pulse. "He's still a boy."

"You sure?" Gojyo leaned over. "Looks pretty girly to me."

"Stop joking!" Goku hit Gojyo in the shoulder. "This is no time to be joking! Sanzo could be really hurt!"

"Okay!" Gojyo backed off a bit. "How's it look, Hakkai?"

"He seems to be fine, just younger." Hakkai picked up Sanzo in the now tent-like robes and started walking out of the alley. "We should get him back to the hotel though before he wakes up. I don't want to be out in public with him in this state."

"You heard Hakkai, monkey."

"I did, so shut up." Goku growled and followed Hakkai. He looked at the tiny mop of blonde hair that was sticking out over Hakkai's shoulder and sighed. Hakkai had said Sanzo was fine, but Goku still wanted to be absolutely sure. "He's going to be okay, right Hakkai?"

"Yes, Goku." Hakkai sighed. It was much too easy to carry Sanzo this way, and Hakkai couldn't tell if it was just from the decreased weight from adult to child, or if he was just underweight.

During the long walk back to the hotel Gojyo watched Hakkai and Goku. The monkey was worried, nothing new there, and Hakkai was showing signs of stress under that smile of his. Gojyo groaned and hoped this would go over with less trouble than what it looked like it was going to be. The half-demon lit a cigarette and blew the smoke off to the side. People were starting to stare at Hakkai, but then again, so would Gojyo if he saw a man walking down the street with what looked like a naked little girl in his arms.

Once at the hotel, Hakkai put Sanzo down on the bed and checked his pulse and head for a heartbeat and a fever respectably. Finding no sign of illness or bad health, he took off the robes that were smothering the man now that he had shrunk and pulled the blankets up over him. If this didn't wear off soon, Hakkai would have to go shopping for some smaller clothes. Sanzo would hurt himself trying to run around in those long flowing garments, besides, they were ripped anyway. He folded the Maten Scripture up neatly and placed it in the folds of the robes.

Goku sat down next to the bed and watched Sanzo breathing. The little monkey took this time to really get a good look at Sanzo's face. It looked so calm and peaceful sleeping there, with his eyes shut and his mouth slightly open. It looked like Sanzo, but at the same time it didn't. It was missing all of the lines that defined his face, and had a softer edge to it. Gojyo hadn't been completely wrong when he said Sanzo looked like a girl. While he was worried, part of Goku couldn't help but be excited to see Sanzo when he was younger. The man didn't keep any photos around, and he certainly didn't share stories.

Gojyo watched the other three as they acted. Hakkai was watching Goku's reactions, and Goku was staring at the priest like he was a meat bun. He took another look at the monk and noticed the boy twitch. "I think he's waking up."

Goku leaned up a bit when Sanzo sat up in bed. He turned towards Goku and asked quiet plainly, "Who are you? And where are my clothes?"

"Who am I?" Goku blinked. "Don't you know who I am, Sanzo?"

"Sanzo?" The blonde looked around the room. "Where's Master Sanzo?"

"That's you." Goku voice was a little tense. How could Sanzo not know who he was?

"Don't be absurd! Do I look like a Sanzo Priest to you?"

"But." Goku was cut off by Hakkai's hand on his shoulder.

"Goku's confused, I was talking about Master Sanzo earlier, it's just a mistake. May I ask who you are, though? My name is Hakkai." The demon smiled softly. It was clear their group leader was suffering from amnesia. Hakkai decided it would be best to see just how bad the situation was and how many memories the boy had.

"My name is Kouryuu. Koumyou Sanzo is my master."

"Just curious but how old are you?" Gojyo asked through puffs of his Hi-Lite. This was just too funny.

"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm turning nine this year." Kouryuu huffed and pulled the blankets up a little bit. "Now who are you people and where am I?"

"This is Goku, and the man behind me is Gojyo." Hakkai paused and tried to think of a good explanation for why they'd have an eight year old. "And we kidnapped you."

Goku and Gojyo just stared at Hakkai's smiling face. He couldn't have just said that. Gojyo cleared his throat. "We did what?"

"We kidnapped him." Hakkai glared and smiled. He saw the recognition in Gojyo's eyes and realized his mental message for explanations later had been received. "Don't deny it now that the job's been done."

"Kidnapped?" Kouryuu was confused. "Why would you kidnap me? I'm just an acolyte."

"Because, um, because?" Gojyo stared down at the kid and his brain died.

The red haired man was staring at him and it made Kouryuu feel very uncomfortable. He'd never seen a man with red eyes before either. Kouryuu stopped his thoughts and looked back down at his naked state under the blankets and could feel his pulse quicken. "You're not some kind of pervert are you?"

"Oh hell no!" Gojyo shrieked. Even as a pervert of a water sprite, he had his limits. "I don't do men and I certainly don't do little boys."

"Are we sure about that? You did have fun with that little girl a while ago, and you are a pervert." Goku snickered.

"You take that back you little brat!"

"Gojyo. Goku." Hakkai was stern. Both Goku and Gojyo stopped instantly and became quiet. "Not the time."

"Then why?"

The demon sighed at the boy's skeptical tone, were eight year olds supposed to be this astute? "You're without clothes because we stole you from the bath using those Sanzo robes we found on the line to sneak you out with."

"I don't remember that."

"Goku accidentally hit your head on a wall." Hakkai ignored the increased struggling in the back of the room as Gojyo tried to keep Goku quiet after the accusation. "We were quite worried."

"Okay." Kouryuu watched the other two bickering. And people called him a child. "That still doesn't explain why you took me."

"We figured we'd exchange you for the Holy Scriptures of Heaven and Earth?" It seemed like a good reason at the time.

Kouryuu blinked and smacked his head. "One, Master Sanzo would never give them up for me and even if he did, I wouldn't let him. Two, Master Sanzo's out of town and won't even hear I'm missing for about two weeks."

"Ah," Hakkai chuckled. "Bad timing on our part then."

"Very bad, he might not even know I'm missing at all." Kouryuu looked out the window. "I doubt if anyone even notices I'm gone. And if they do, I doubt they would care."

Goku paused in his new fight with Gojyo when he heard those words come out of Kouryuu's mouth. "I'm sure that's not true."

"What would you know about it?" Kouryuu pouted and pulled the blanket up higher. "They hate me."

"Gojyo, why don't you take Goku and go find some clothes for Kouryuu. It seems he'll be staying with us for quite some time." Hakkai smiled.

"Ah hell, why do we have to do it?" Gojyo grumbled.

"Punishment for fighting in the street a few moments ago?"

Goku kept his eyes on the boy on the bed. Maybe a few moments out of the room would be good for him, he needed to get his thoughts together about this entire situation anyway. "Just come on you stupid water sprite."

Kouryuu waited for the other two to leave before looking at the smiling man. "So now what are you going to do?"

"Hmm?" Hakkai turned back to Sanzo. "Make adjustments to my plans, what else? Why don't you take a nap why they go get some clothes?"

"I don't think I want to sleep around you."

"What guarantee do I have you won't run if I leave you alone?"

"I'm somewhere I don't know, with no clothes and no way to defend myself other than some martial arts but I've got a size disadvantage. Where am I going to go?"

"Those are some good points, but I'm not that dumb." Hakkai smiled and got an idea. "How about if I get a friend? That way someone can watch you for me?"

"Like who?" Kouryuu looked at the man in front of him. The smile reminded him of Master just a little bit.

Hakkai opened the window and called out for his faithful friend. The little dragon of course flew to the window and landed on Hakkai's shoulder. "I need you to do me a favor little friend." He made note to lower his voice when he whispered in it's ear, but made it look like nuzzling the dragon's face. "Sanzo's had a bit of an accident."

Kouryuu's eyes widened when Hakkai came towards the bed with what looked like a dragon. He'd never seen one of those before, and this one was so tiny. "What's his name?"

"Kouryuu, this is Jeep. I hope he can keep you company while you sleep, that way I'll know if you ran and you can feel more comfortable."

"Hello Jeep." Kouryuu could feel the smile spreading on his face when the little dragon cooed in his lap. He pet it softly on the head and then looked back up at Hakkai and yawned. "Okay, this'll work."

Hakkai walked to the door and waited for Sanzo to lay down with Jeep. The boy must have been exhausted from the transformation because he feel asleep again the moment he hit the pillow. The sight of the boy sleeping softly with the little dragon brought a smile to his face, it was just so adorable. Hakkai shut the door behind him and leaned against it, only to slide down to the floor and stretch his legs out. It was going to be an interesting week.