Manga info: Kouryuu was 13 when Koumyou Sanzo died and he inherited the title of Sanzo. I'm fairly certain he was around that age during all of the flashbacks in both the manga and the anime.

Rather happy with this chapter. Bit of cute fluff and a little tension before we start dealing with the real troubles of the Sanzo Party traveling with an eight year old.

Chapter 3: Travel

"Where are we going?" Kouryuu asked tentatively when the other three began packing their things. "Are you taking me back now?"

"I wish." Gojyo grumbled under his breath as he shoved his clothes into a bag. If it wasn't dealing with the pissy priest, it was dealing with a nosy little brat. "We're heading out on the road."

"Why?" Kouryuu tried his best not to stare at Mr. Gojyo's hair, but it was hard not to. It was just so different from anything he'd seen before! "Aren't you supposed to be waiting to collect a ransom?"

Hakkai chuckled as Sanzo stayed close to Gojyo. As a boy, he had quite the fixation with the local redhead. While it was making Gojyo uncomfortable, it was still amusing to watch the man squirm under the attentions of a child. "It's best not to stay in one place when you're wanted by the law, wouldn't you agree?"

Kouryuu paused and looked over to Mr. Hakkai. He was a nice man, a little strange, but nice. And he made really good tea. "I guess that makes sense."

"I'm so hungry!" Goku complained. The others were just standing around and chatting when they could be packing and getting out of here so the group could get something to eat. "Can't we get something to eat before we go?"

"You already had something to eat an hour ago, how can you still be hungry?" Kouryuu walked away from Mr. Gojyo and poked Goku in the gut. "Where does it all go? You eat enough for a horse, but are thin as a twig."

Goku giggled a bit before waving away Sanzo's hand. He took a step back before grabbing a few things to shove in his pack. "Hey, that tickles."

"Goku just has a very high metabolism." Hakkai laughed as he put the last of his things away in the bag. "He uses up all the energy from the food he eats almost instantly. It's quite a talent."

"Yeah, an expensive one." Gojyo laughed. "All done, let's get this little party moving."

"Yes, come Kouryuu." Hakkai picked up a few bags and headed outside. "You too, Jeep. We can't do anything without you."

Kouryuu looked at the others picking up the huge amount of bags and such things that had been strewn around the room and shifted on his feet with nothing to do himself but watch. He trailed along close to Goku once they began walking because it felt right for some reason. He didn't want to admit it, but he felt a little insecure by himself. He wasn't outside the monastery without anyone else very often and this wasn't a little town just outside of home. Jeep flew by him and headed out the doorway and made Kouryuu smile. His frown returned when Mr. Gojyo blew smoke right in front of him and he heard the man grumbling about carrying the packages. Master smoked a pipe when no one was looking, but it didn't smell nearly as bad as those things Mr. Gojyo was smoking.

"Now, Gojyo. You know Jeep's going to do all the real work, so just put up with it until we get outside."

"Jeep?" Kouryuu looked up to Goku and kept his voice low. "What's he talking about? What can Jeep do?"

"Oh." Goku grinned down at the boy and shifted a duffle bag on his shoulder. "You'll see. Jeep's awesome."

Kouryuu was a little doubtful, sure the dragon was cute and a good companion, but it was a little cruel to make the dragon do the work. It was such a small little thing, but it seemed to just be chirping happily like the others hadn't just said it was going to be carrying everything. "Oh."

Hakkai smiled to himself as they all headed outside. It would be interesting to see how an eight year old would react to Jeep's rather unique talent. "Alright, Jeep. Could you please transform for us?"

Gojyo laughed as Kouryuu's eyes grew about three sizes and he fell back onto the ground from the shock. "What's the matter? Never seen a dragon turn into a jeep before?"

"That's so cool!" Kouryuu pushed himself up off the ground and ran ahead past a grinning Goku and a smirking Gojyo to gawk at the newly appeared forest green Jeep. "How'd he do that?"

"Magic?" Hakkai chuckled. "Well, it's not really important how he does it, it's that he can."

"Alright, enough staring at our local freak of nature." Gojyo threw his bag into the back of the Jeep. "Hurry up and throw the stuff in the Jeep and let's get moving."

"Can we get something to eat?" Goku set his bags down in the back next to Gojyo's. "Pretty please?"

"We'll get something at the next town, Goku." Hakkai walked around to the driver's side and took his seat. "We need to get moving and you did just eat."

"Aw, but I'm hungry."

Kouryuu listened to Goku out of the side of his head. He was too busy to fully pay attention to the boy because he was petting the hood of the Jeep. "You're a good dragon, aren't you?"

"You're always hungry you ape." Gojyo smacked Goku upside the head after his amusement with kiddy Sanzo had ended. "Get in the Jeep and shut up."

"Don't call me an ape!" Goku shouted, but obeyed anyway and jumped into his rightful place in the back seat. It wouldn't do much to argue with the cockroach right now anyway. The faster they got moving, the faster they could get to the next town and get something to eat!

"You too, blondie." Kouryuu looked up when Mr. Gojyo tapped him on the back of the head. "Get in the back with the monkey."

"I'm not a monkey!" Goku reacted on reflex, but there wasn't as much emphasis in the answer. "Come on Kouryuu! You can sit with me!"

"Alright." Kouryuu walked over to the side of the car and tried to pull himself up over the side.

"Here, I got ya!" Goku reached over the side and pulled Sanzo's arm to get him up and over the side. He plopped the boy down into the seat next to him and laughed a bit when his hair got ruffled. "There, in the seat and ready to go."

"You're going to regret getting used to the front seat once he turns back." Hakkai whispered as Gojyo settled into the seat next to him. "Do you think its even wise to sit up here in the first place?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there." Gojyo chuckled. "You two settled back there?"

"Yup!" Goku laughed as he tossed an arm around Sanzo and pulled him into a hug. "Tight as peas in a pod!"

Gojyo laughed to himself. "Leave it to the monkey to use a metaphor that involved food."

"We've known each other for maybe a day." Kouryuu pushed a bit at Goku's arm. "That hurts."

"Oh, sorry." Goku let go and rubbed the back of his head. "Don't know my own strength sometimes. And don't bother listening to the cockroach!"

"Right." Kouryuu nodded and held the seat of the vehicle a little tighter when Mr. Hakkai started the engine. Instead of a little purring noise it was a loud rumble that came from the front of the vehicle. Kouryuu missed the little cooing dragon just a little.

"Are you okay?" Goku looked down as he felt Sanzo tense beside him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I've just never been in a car before." Kouryuu jumped a little when Mr. Hakkai slammed down on the gas and pulled out of the road. "Is this safe?"

"Don't worry, Kouryuu." Hakkai looked up into the rearview mirror. "It's even safer because it's our very own Jeep and not just a brainless machine. He can even drive himself a little bit if he wants to."

"It's the driver you have to worry about." Gojyo snickered to himself. It was just so much fun watching Sanzo nervous in the back seat. He'd have to remember this for future ammo when he teased Sanzo later.

"Would you like to walk the whole way there?" Hakkai turned to his friend. "I could always pull over for you?"

"No, no." Gojyo waved his hands in the air and then turned to the back. "No worries at all, kiddo. Hakkai's the best driver in the world."

Kouryuu slammed into the car door when the man driving took a sharp right. "I can see that."

Goku smiled a little bit and leaned down to whisper in Sanzo's ear. "Don't worry, Hakkai's driving is a little crazy but he'd never do anything to hurt us. We'll be fine."

Kouryuu smiled a little when he saw Goku's grin own smiling face. It made him feel calm and despite the situation, he felt he could trust him. He adjusted himself in the seat once the driving calmed and the road cleared into the open country. "Okay."

Goku yawned a bit and settled down into the seat and looked to the side. Kouryuu had leaned up a bit and was looking over the edge of the seat and staring at the scenery flying by. "Like it?"

"Huh?" Kouryuu turned around to look at Goku again. "Yeah, it's really pretty."

Goku looked up over Sanzo to see what he thought was so pretty. He saw a lot of trees and the same old stuff he usually ignored, but it was beautiful in a way. A particularly lovely red tree went by and Kouryuu pushed himself up on the side of the Jeep to get a better look. He had such a happy expression on his face it was almost hard to believe it was his own Sanzo. "Don't travel much?"

"Not really." Kouryuu sat fully in his seat and stared out towards the front again. Talking to Goku had pulled him out of his trance looking at the surroundings. "And even if I do go somewhere it's usually close enough that I can walk. I never get to see this type of stuff."

"Ah, it used to be like that for me too. I could only see what was directly in front of me, then later I only traveled a little bit." Goku stretched a bit. There was more room in the back without that giant of a water sprite to take up all the room. "But then I got to meet Hakkai and Gojyo and now we can travel all over the place with Jeep instead of only going as far as we could walk."

"I see." Kouryuu nodded and then looked up at the two men in the front. "What did you all do before you guys did the kidnapping thing? Like, what do kidnappers do for a living?"

Hakkai laughed and pressed lightly on the break when he saw a bit of mud ahead of Jeep. It would be best to go around it instead of through the mud. Jeep didn't appreciate being dirty any more than the rest of them did. "Well, I used to be a kindergarten teacher. But now I mostly leech off of Gojyo's money in exchange for chores. Granted, I might have ended up doing that anyway. The man can't take care of himself at all."

"Ha, ha." Gojyo pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit up a fresh stick. "I gamble for a living."

"Gamble?" Kouryuu leaned up in between Mr. Gojyo and Mr. Hakkai. "How do you make a living gambling? I know you can make money if you win, but don't most people lose most of the time? That's why they warn us against playing at the temple."

Gojyo raised an eyebrow. "You play suckers, get them to bet high, then win and take them for all they've got."

"That doesn't sound very nice." Kouryuu pulled a frown. "It actually sounds a lot like cheating."

"I usually keep the cheating to a minimum, but come on now. I kidnapped you." Gojyo took a drag on his Hi-Lite. "Does that sound like a nice guy?"

"I guess not." Kouryuu pulled himself up a little farther to get a good look at the road in front of them. The path seemed to stretch on forever and the dirt seemed to have a golden sheen to it. After getting a good look, he turned back up and noticed Mr. Gojyo's eyes and hair. "Why are your eyes red? Is it a natural color? Or are they contacts or something, because they match your hair. Is that natural too?"

Gojyo dropped his Hi-Lite into his lap. "Son of a bitch!"

"Are you okay?" Kouryuu asked as the man batted the burning cigarette out of his lap. It was a tiny little flame on the end of the stick, but it must of hurt to get that type of reaction. "I'm sorry. Are you mad?"

"No reason, just sit down and shut up." Gojyo brushed the last of the ashes off of his leg and kept his eyes trailed foreword. Leave it to the brat Sanzo to bring up a bad topic. Now his amused mood had taken a dive downhill, and Gojyo wasn't happy about it.

"Don't take it so hard, Gojyo." Hakkai soothed. "He clearly doesn't know anything about it."

"Brat should mind his own business." Gojyo grumbled.

Kouryuu leaned back a bit and then dropped into his seat next to Goku. Mr. Gojyo was really angry for some reason. He fidgeted a bit before turning back to Goku. "Did I do something wrong?"

Goku pat Sanzo on the head. "Don't worry about it. Gojyo is just sensitive about his hair and eye color. He'll calm down in a little bit."

"Okay." Kouryuu pulled his knees up to his chin and frowned. It might be in his best interest to drop the topic for now. He'd ask Goku or Mr. Hakkai about it later if they still wanted to talk. "Are we going far?"

"Just to the next town." Hakkai turned a bit to look at the now depressed boy in the back seat. "Why don't you take a nap? It'll make the trip seem shorter."

"Alright." Kouryuu yawned a bit and curled up into the side of the Jeep. The ride was a little bumpy, but if he pretended he was on his futon at home, he could almost fall asleep.

"I think that's a good idea!" Goku stretched and mimicked Sanzo on the other side of the Jeep. Without the water sprite to fight with in the back, he was rather bored anyway. "Wake me when there's food."

"Of course." Hakkai breathed out a breath and gave a genuine smile when he saw the two boys sleeping in the back. He waited for their breathing to completely even out and slow down before turning to Gojyo. "He didn't mean to start something, you know that right, Gojyo? He's only eight years old, he's just curious. Most children are around that age."

"Yeah, I guess that's true." Gojyo pulled out another cigarette and his lighter. "I just can't help it sometimes. And it's Sanzo bringing it up, you know? I just keep thinking he should know better."

"I know, but we have to remember that he doesn't remember. If it's really bothering you, you could always sit down and explain to him. He's probably never met a demon before, let alone a half-breed."

"Well, why don't you take off your limiters first and see how that goes?"

Hakkai narrowed his eyes a bit. "I think that's a slightly different situation."

"I think it's the same. It's all about being a different species, right?" Gojyo blew a bit of smoke. "And all that jazz, right?"

"I don't think it's quite that extreme. Sanzo has no reason to be biased against demons at this time. His master is still alive and the demons haven't gone murderous yet."

"So you're thinking he'll be fine with it." Gojyo looked up into the rearview mirror and watched the child sleeping.

"He's fine with it as an adult, Gojyo." Hakkai yawned a bit. He had been up a little later than usually checking out that syringe that had injected the poison or whatever it was into Sanzo. "I see no reason why he'd be a bother to hate you for that as a child."

"He'll find some other reason to hate me." Gojyo laughed. "I'm sure of it."

"I don't know, I think he rather likes you." Hakkai's cheeks pushed his eyes into a squint with the smile. "Call me crazy, but I think he keeps asking about your hair because he likes it. I don't think it's because he thinks you're a freak."

"Sure, you keep believing that." Gojyo chuckled a bit. Leave it to Hakkai to put him in a better mood. "But for now, I think I'm going to join them in a nap."

Hakkai sighed as Gojyo also curled up and went to sleep. This seemed like a normal state of affairs sometimes. Hakkai would drive while the others slept soundly, but he didn't mind much. It just reminded him that he was taking care of the others. Hakkai looked back at Sanzo sleeping and hoped that the trip would go smoothly until they figured out how to turn him back to normal. The last thing they needed right now was for something to go horribly wrong and have a demon attack or something.

"I should learn to control my thoughts." Hakkai sighed. He slowed the Jeep to a stop and shook Gojyo in the shoulder. "We have company."

"You've got to be kidding." Gojyo grumbled. He stood up in his seat and stared at the Kougaiji party, minus Lirin, standing in front of the Jeep. "What can we do for you?"

Kougaiji stood tall and let out a breath he had been holding. He didn't want to believe the rumors that had been spreading through the labs, but the red-head sitting in the front seat did not bode well. He prayed that the information filtering about Nii and his new drug tests were just random ramblings. "What do I usually want?"

Goku leaped up in his seat. "To get your ass kicked! I'm ready so let's go!"

Kouryuu watched as Goku thrust out his hand and a small light started glowing. A large staff with golden rings on the ends appeared and Goku leaped out of the front of Jeep swinging. "What's going on?"

"Nothing important, Kouryuu." Hakkai turned around and put his hand on Sanzo's shoulder to push him back down into the car seat. "Just an old friend who has a rather bitter rivalry with Goku. It's a harmless fight, nothing to get excited about."

Kouryuu looked at the new comer who was now fighting with Goku. He watched Goku pull off moves that he hadn't even seen the best in the advanced martial arts classes pull off. "Wow, he's really good."

"Yes, he is, isn't he?" Hakkai chuckled. "Oh, hello Ms. Yaone."

"Hello Mr. Hakkai. Shall we?" Yaone smiled. Fighting with Hakkai was always wonderful stress relief. Chasing Lirin around all day just stressed her out.

"I think I'll pass today if you don't mind." Hakkai patted the front of the dash before turning his head towards Sanzo in the back. "I'm babysitting today."

"I'm not a baby." Kouryuu pouted. He was eight years old for goodness sake! "And who is she?"

"Another friend, each of us has our own respective rival." Hakkai smiled. "Now do forgive me, Ms. Yaone but I must turn down your request."

Yaone looked at the small blonde boy in the back of the Jeep and made a mental note of his structure and features. Kougaiji had warned her that something like this might have happened. But she had no idea it was true. "Of course, next time then."

"You going to duck out of the fight too, little Bro?" Dokugakuji leaned over the side of the Jeep. He snuck glances at the boy in the back occasionally. Kougaiji was going to have a field day with this news.

"Not a chance, big Bro." Gojyo gripped the side of the door to pull himself up and over to deliver a swift kick to his brother's sword. "You know I hate getting ignored."

"Big brother?" Kouryuu watched Gojyo start a fight with the tall man. It was at this point that Kouryuu noticed that the three who had started the fights all had pointed ears and slit eyes. "Are they demons?"

Hakkai turned to look at Sanzo in the back and coughed a little. "Yes, that's Gojyo's half brother, and the three of them are demons."

"Oh, I haven't met many demons before. They don't come to the temple." Kouryuu turned to Ms. Yaone. "Why are you guys fighting?"

"Oh, um, no reason in particular. They just have something we want." Yaone laughed a bit. "Just a bit of fuss really, we don't even remember how this all started. You know, old troubles and all. But, what's your name?"

"My name is Kouryuu." He tilted his head to the side and tried his best not to stare. Her breasts were huge.

"Kouryuu?" Yaone smiled. "That's a very nice name."

"I guess." After turning away from Ms. Yaone, the boy leaned over past Hakkai to watch Goku. "They're really going at it over there, aren't they?"

"It should be over soon." Hakkai sighed. "They'll tire out eventually."

"So, who's the brat in the backseat?" Kougaiji swung a fist towards Goku's head. He had been catching glimpses of the child and from what he saw, things didn't look good. "You guys picking up kids now?"

Goku dodged a fiery punch to the left and swung his cudgel back towards Kougaiji. "None of your business."

"That usually means you're in trouble." There was no question about it. That kid in the back was Sanzo. Damn that Nii! "Or up to something. What are you hiding?"

"Nothing! Shut up and stay away from him!" Something was up with Kougaiji and Goku was going to pound it out of him.

Kougaiji jumped back from the fight and released his fighting stance. He'd seen all he had wanted to see for today. "Yaone, Dokugakuji, move it!"

"See you later little Bro." Dokugakuji grinned and jumped back to join Kougaiji.

"It was nice seeing you again Mr. Hakkai, and nice to meet you Kouryuu." Yaone waved as she too, joined the others.

"Always a pleasure." Hakkai leaned his head on his hands. Something wasn't right, but he wasn't sure what it was quite yet. He looked back at the boy who was still staring after Yaone and decided it had something to do with Sanzo's little transformation.

"What do you think that's about?" Gojyo pulled out a cigarette and lit it up while leaning on Jeep. "That was too easy."

"Yes, it was." Hakkai leaned back in his seat a bit.

"Giving up already?" Goku shouted. "You usually don't run away with your tail between your legs this fast."

"Just checking something out." Kougaiji taunted. "I'll be back for what I want later. Until then, enjoy babysitting."

Kougaiji transported away with his two friends with the full intention of questioning Nii for the full facts about this situation. This type of experimental tactic was not something he approved of!

Goku walked back to the Jeep after Kougaiji and the others had left. Something was eating at him about the fight and it had something to do with how Kougaiji was distracted during the fight. He kept looking at Sanzo for some reason and that was worrisome.

"Did you have a fun fight?" Kouryuu asked as Goku dropped into the seat next to him.

"Fun? Why do you ask?"

"Mr. Hakkai said that you and that man fight all the time for fun."

Goku grinned and ruffled Sanzo's hair. "Yeah, it was fun. Good for stress relief."

"Yeah." Kouryuu nodded. "That's how I feel after a quick spar at the temple."

"Alright, that has been enough excitement for one day." Hakkai laughed. "Gojyo please get into the Jeep so we can continue. If we head out now we might still be able to make it to the next town."

"Yup, and now if you don't mind I'm continuing my nap." Gojyo settled into the front seat and pulled his jacket up around his neck. "To quote the monkey, wake me when we get some food."

Kouryuu tried to hold back a yawn but he ended up letting out a big one anyway. "I guess I'm a little tired too."

"No wonder, Kouryuu." Hakkai looked over to the side. "The sun's going down."

"Go ahead and go to sleep." Goku snuggled down into the cushion himself. "That's what I'm doing."

"But what about Mr. Hakkai?" Kouryuu nodded sleepily. "Doesn't he want a break too?"

"Thank you for thinking of me, but I'm quite alright." Hakkai chuckled. "Go to sleep."

"Okay."

As soon as Sanzo and Goku were both sound asleep, Gojyo turned to Hakkai. "What do you think that was about, really? Kougaiji's up to something."

"I don't know, Gojyo." Hakkai changed the gear shift and pulled the car into drive. "But I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Sanzo."

"Things just keep getting better and better, don't they?" Gojyo grumbled. "Now seriously, I'm going to sleep."

"Have a good sleep then." Hakkai sighed, again. He hoped that this development would send things for the better than for the worst. But for now, all he could do was keep driving.