The next chapter! Thanks for reading everybody and I hope that I'm keeping your interest. The main story arc has finally been introduced and Nii's made his first move! Read on, review and thank-you.

Chapter 6: Close Call

Kouryuu had to stop running when his breath and legs gave out on him. He wasn't sure how far or how long he had been going, but he knew everything hurt, his chest was pounding and he had to stop. He didn't even feel this exhausted after a work out in martial arts class. The acolyte turned behind him to see if Goku and the others were still behind him, but he was pretty sure he had lost them when he took a turn through a hollow log. They were too big to follow him through and he probably ducked in before they could see him. He let out a breath and decided not to push his luck and to at least keep walking.

"Ow." Kouryuu had to stop when he scratched his arm on a branch. He watched his own blood smear a bit with the demons' that was still on his clothes curiously and rubbed at it. It was sticky and it felt weird. Standing still made the wind and the approaching cooler evening more apparent, so he decided to start walking again. He tried to ignore the fact it was getting dark outside and all the noises the forest was making. He never realized insects could be so intimidating as he looked around frantically to make sure it was just insects chirping.

"Well, well, Mr. Bunny Doll, would you just look at that. What do we have here?"

Kouryuu stopped when he heard the new voice in the middle of the background noise. He turned around and didn't see anything but trees and the wind rattling the leaves. He slowly changed his stance just a bit as he tried to remember what he had learned in self-defense. "Who's there?"

"Aw, I'm hurt you don't recognize me." Dr. Nii chuckled as he watched little Sanzo, no Kouryuu, from behind the covering of a few heavily leaved branches. The Sanzo priest stared down at the little bunny in his arms and compared it to the lad in front of him. Both small, adorable, and easy to manipulate. He put on a friendly smile and walked out from the shadows to come face to face with the lost little rabbit. "Then again, I don't believe Koumyou has introduced us yet."

"Koumyou?" Kouryuu stared at the greasy man in front of him. The man had shaggy black hair, glasses, and was wearing a lab coat. He was standing with a slight slouch and had something behind his back, and his eyes were very sharp. Kouryuu swallowed and could have sworn the temperature dropped another few degrees. "Do you know Master Sanzo?"

"I'm an old friend." Dr. Nii pulled his rabbit out in front of him and squat down close to the ground. Raising the pitch of his voice, he mimed with the stuffed toy. "You were four when I met him. Boy did you get big!"

Staring at the rabbit, Kouryuu took a few steps back. Lots of people knew who Master Sanzo was, but that didn't mean that they were good people. "If we've never met, how'd you know it was me?"

"I said we weren't introduced, but I have watched you sleeping." Kouryuu was so cute. Nii was getting even more excited at the thoughts of playing with him.

The man's smile was frightening and Kouryuu's breathing increased slightly. "Watched me sleeping?"

"Yes," Nii continued with his high pitched bunny voice. "The temple folk don't like me at all so I could only visit at night. Koumyou loved to talk about you, so I had to go see you for myself."

"You're really creepy."

Nii laughed and stood to his full height, tucking the rabbit under his arm. "So I've been told. But that never stopped us from sharing a drink or two under the night sky. Tell me though, what are you doing out here? All alone are you?"

The man seemed to be a friend of Master, but there was something pulling at Kouryuu's gut. Somehow, he seemed safer with the kidnappers and their killing spree than he did with master's friend. "No, I'm with someone."

"And would that someone be the reason you're covered in blood?" The light of the setting sun reflected off of the slack glasses. Nii bent forward at the waist and reached his hand out to wipe at Kouryuu's cheek with his sleeve. The blood spread slowly down the edges of the cuff and Nii looked at it admirably.

"And if they are?"

"Well, I don't think Koumyou would approve of that, do you? I think that you should leave them and come with me." Nii took a few steps to further close the distance between the two of them. He put a hand on the boy's head and smiled. "Why don't I take you home to Master Sanzo? I'm sure he misses you something awful."

Kouryuu felt the weight of the man's hand on his head and relaxed his shoulders a little bit. For some reason, this time the man felt warm and Kouryuu could feel himself calm just a bit. He was a little confused, but the man was offering to take him home to Master and that couldn't be such a bad thing. "Can you really take me home?"

"Of course." Nii ruffled the child's hair; like taking candy from a baby. "Now let's get you out of these nasty woods and into something clean."

Kouryuu turned his eyes in the direction he had just run from. The other three were still back there, probably looking for him. But, it didn't seem like they had any real intention of ever taking him home, ransom or not. Despite that, something was screaming at him to run away from this man deep in the back of his head. It had to be the weird stuffed toy he was holding; something didn't feel right about it. "Maybe I should go back and tell them, though."

"I insist." Nii chuckled and pat Kouryuu's head. It's not like he had a choice in the matter in the end. All this decided, was whether or not the cute little boy was going to come with him the hard way or the easy way. Then again, Nii liked doing things the hard way when it came to things like this. He always won. "It's not good for you to be away so long."

Kouryuu tried to take a few steps back but the man grabbed his arm tightly in the same spot Mr. Hakkai had gripped earlier. He winced when the bruise was pressed and pushed at the man's arm. "Let go!"

"It's not safe for you out here." Nii chuckled as the boy struggled. There was just something satisfying about it, but his time was running short. He had experiments to work on and the star pupil couldn't be late. "Just be a good boy."

"No!" Kouryuu tugged his arm as tightly as he could but the man's hand didn't even waver in the air. His shoes dug into the dirt as he tried to push away. "Now let go!"

"Don't you want to see Master Koumyou?" Nii sighed as the boy tried to get away. He had been hoping Kouryuu would be a bit more cooperative. Nii chuckled and reminded himself just made things more fun in the long run instead of being a pain in the ass right now. "I have no doubt he's worried."

Kouryuu was beginning to get scared at this point. He pulled with every bit of his strength and kicked and clawed at this man but he didn't even budge. It was frustrating to think that he couldn't even get the man to even flinch. Was he really that weak and pathetic? Kouryuu's hand was starting to turn blue from the lack of circulation as the elder man squeezed harder against his skin.

"Now, why won't you be a good boy like I've asked and just behave?"

Kouryuu didn't get a chance to answer.

"What do you mean you lost him?" Gojyo screamed. They had been chasing the kid through the woods for at least twenty minutes when they lost sight of him. "What good is that nose of yours then?"

"Shut up!" Goku returned with equal force. Sanzo had been crying. Sanzo never cries and now Goku had lost him. He was angry at everything at the moment and Gojyo was just pissing him off even worse. Goku slammed his foot down on the ground and caused the surrounding pebbles to jump about an inch. "Sanzo was covered in blood and so I can't smell him! This whole forest reeks of demon and he's blending right in. So shut up because I don't see you doing anything!"

"I'm not the one that lost sight of him!" Gojyo shook a fist towards the ungrateful monkey.

"You clearly did if we can't see him now! Or did you forget that you were leading the chase!"

"Because I started after him first unlike you who stood there staring!"

"I was shocked, you pervert! Get off my back!"

"Calm down, both of you. It's not helping the situation and we're losing time." Hakkai scanned with his eyes, but the boy was no where in sight. He couldn't even see signs of the area being damaged from something running through. The others' bickering didn't help either as it was distracting and covered any sign of Sanzo making noise. Hakkai looked up and watched as a few stars started peaking through the sky. If they didn't find Sanzo soon it would be dark and then they'd never find him before something else did. "Alright, this is the plan: Goku, you go North, Gojyo will go South, I'll go West and Jeep will circle above and call if he finds him. No arguing and just find him."

"Right." Gojyo cursed and headed off his direction as the other two split off into theirs. If they didn't find him now, who knows who would. Gojyo remembered Hakkai warning them against other demons camping out in these woods when he saw a few broken branches and cursed. "I swear, if that kid ain't okay I'm going to kill whoever hurt him."

Hakkai tried his best to pick up on anything unusual as he ran. Sanzo was pretty smart for an eight year old, so he is also probably good at covering his tracks. However, Hakkai paused a few steps to listen, as Kouryuu, he was upset and not thinking straight. The demon heard something to the right so he ran in that direction. It sounded like talking and laughter, which probably meant a camp of some sort. Whether he found Sanzo or demons it would be a good thing. The least he could do is kill the threat before it became a problem.

Approaching the clearing he realized his luck at finding a demon camp ground. A rather large, armed, demon camp ground. He straightened back, evened his pace a bit and calmly walked into the middle of a few demons hanging around a camp fire. As he looked like he was supposed to be there, Hakkai coughed lightly and simply smiled. The group of demons gave him a funny look, smirked and then licked their lips. Hakkai sighed inwardly, but a part of him was excited at the chance to relieve some stress.

"Lookie, lookie." A demon laughed. "Lost, mister?"

"No, actually." Hakkai smiled at them and tried not to show disgust on his face. Who knows what they've got roasting on the fire. Hakkai twitched a bit when he saw what looked like a hand. "I'm looking for someone, though. Have any of you seen a small boy?"

"Not since the last one I ate." Another laughed but stopped short when they felt the icy gaze that had fallen over Hakkai's face. His eyes looked dead and the demon had to resettle his nerves. "You trying to start something?"

"No, finish it."

The demons never knew what had hit them.

Goku took deep breaths and tried to locate anything that could lead him to Sanzo. Thankfully, Hakkai had sent him back to where they first lost sight of the boy when he was running. Goku stopped walking when he heard screams off in the direction Hakkai had gone. He could see smoke pouring into the sky and filtering into the sunset. Apparently the man had found a tribe of demons. Goku shrugged it off and picked up his pace again. There had to be some sign of Sanzo out here!

Goku paused a few steps when he saw a large log out in the open. It was big enough that he was sure Sanzo could have ducked behind it, maybe. Goku grit his teeth and headed that way and just prayed he was right. When he got closer he saw a small bit of cloth hanging off the end of the log. It was the same color as Sanzo's shirt.

Wasting no time, Goku jumped to the top of the log and followed it as far as it would go. As he ran his foot slipped through a thin portion and the boy cursed as he tripped and hit the log. He pushed himself up quickly and kept moving as quickly as he could. If Sanzo climbed through this, than he had to be on the other side. "Please be okay."

"Nii, shouldn't you be in the lab?"

Kouryuu froze when he watched Nii's face. The once amused face had been distorted into a frightening scowl. He couldn't even see his eyes anymore because his head was tilted down and the glasses were reflecting the moonlight. The rabbit's ears flapped softly in the wind and Kouryuu could feel the tension that had shattered the air he was breathing. He could have sworn he could see his breath. The man's grip on his arm had tightened spastically and he gasped when the pain shot up his arm. Kouryuu decided that he should definitely not go anywhere with this man no matter what.

Nii refused to relinquish his grip when the boy gasped. He had come so close to his goal and then that bastard of a prince had to show up. This was not how his plans were supposed to work out. Nii stroked Kouryuu's arm softly with a loose finger, that last squeeze must have really hurt. "Kougaiji, my what a pleasure it is seeing you here."

"Enough with the formalities." Kougaiji growled and held an arm out to stop Dokugakuji from moving any farther foreword. They'd give Nii one chance to cooperate, but no more. "You're hurting him, let go."

"Oh my, of course." Nii let go and lifted his hands up in a sigh of surrender. Causing a scene now would be even more detrimental to the works. He looked down at the boy that was still for the most part frozen in place, he smiled to himself. The prince could win this little battle, for now. "So very sorry, I didn't realize."

Kouryuu finally got his nerves together to back up a few steps before slowly walking away from Nii. Once he had cleared the tail of the lab coat, he ran the last few steps to get behind Mr. Kougaiji. Only pride kept him from clinging to the other man's jacket like a scared little weakling. But damn if he didn't want to. "Sure you didn't."

"I'd never intentionally hurt someone so important to a dear friend." Nii chuckled and tossed his rabbit in the air. Catching it and tilting his forehead against it, he had the bunny ask for him. "Forgive me? I just don't know my own strength."

"Stop with the games, you sick sono'abitch." Dokugakuji shouted. This man was a pest, and he could tell even Kou was having a hard time holding back. Hell, they may be on the same side, but this guy crossed lines. Dokugakuji took every ounce of willpower he owned not to draw his sword. Not even pissy Sanzo deserves this crap. "No one cares and no ones got time for them."

"I agree," Kougaiji had a hard time believing this small child was Sanzo when he met him before, but after seeing Nii's interest he could be certain that this was indeed the priest. He put his hand on the boy's shoulder to stop him from shaking. Kougaiji was fairly certain Sanzo didn't even realize he was shuddering like a leaf. "Go home."

"Whatever my prince desires." Dr. Nii tilted his head and licked his lips before taking the few steps back to his transport. When he passed Kouryuu he made sure to have his little bunny say goodbye. "See you later, little Kouryuu."

Kouryuu let a sigh of relief when the man disappeared from sight. While the thought the man was gone was comforting, he still had another problem. He looked up at Mr. Kougaiji and watched the man release his clenched fist. "How'd you know to come help?"

"I knew that bastard was up to something, so I followed him from home. He works for my step-mother." The prince was certain that Nii just walking away could not be a good thing. They won this fight much too easy and Kougaiji was distracted when he heard a little huff from Sanzo. Kougaiji looked down into those huge violet eyes and smiled a little. It was hard to hate kids, even if they were your worst enemy. "You should stay away from him."

"Like you really have to tell me that after all this." Kouryuu rubbed his arms. That bruise was going to be there for a while. Almost the entire upper arm was turning an ugly shade of purple.

"Where are the others?" Dokugakuji relaxed his fighting stance and looked around. He squat down to get eye level with Sanzo. "My bro and the others didn't ditch you, did they?"

"No, I ran away." Kouryuu huffed. He looked up at the two again and noticed someone was missing. "Where's Ms. Yaone?"

"Yaone?" Kougaiji blinked at the change of topic. Why would Sanzo be interested in her? "She's watching my little sister right now at home."

"You have a little sister?"

"Yes, her name is Lirin." Yaone was right, Sanzo didn't have any of his memories from his adult years. Kougaiji tilted his head back and put on a bigger smile. No need to give the kid a bad impression if they wanted him to cooperate. Kougaiji poked Sanzo in the nose with a claw. "She's a handful, but you're not changing the topic that easily."

"Drat." Kouryuu smirked and crossed his arms, cursed at himself when he winced from the pain in his arm still. "You caught on to me, but I did really want to know where Ms. Yaone was. She was nice."

"Yes, and she could probably give you something for that bruise."

"Is she a doctor?"

"Yes, now why did you run away?"

Kouryuu looked down to the ground and shuffled his feet. "The others, they did something very cruel. It made me really angry and I just ran away."

"Let me guess, murdered an army of demons?" Dokugakuji flecked some dried blood from the end of Kouryuu's hair. Now that he had a good look, he could finally notice all of the blood. There was just something about a kid covered in blood that set him off in the wrong direction. Dokugakuji changed subjects when his own little brother flashed into his mind. "And they did it without a second thought?"

"Yeah, how'd you know?" Kouryuu finished what Mr. Dokugakuji had started by rubbing his hair. He frowned at all the dry blood flakes that fell.

"They do it all the time." Dokugakuji shook his head. "It's a near daily occurrence lately."

"I don't like it either, but I can understand them not wanting to die and fighting back." Kougaiji knelt on one knee to see eye to eye with Sanzo as well. "Not everyone can be perfect."

"That's not why I ran away." Kouryuu narrowed his eyes. "I know the teachings I learn at the temple aren't always absolute. Even Master breaks the rules sometimes because he smokes and avoids lectures. And, I understand killing as self-defense and saving other people, but that's not what they did."

"What did they do?" Dokugakuji leaned over Sanzo's head.

"They had fun with it." Kouryuu clenched his fists. "It made me so angry to see them disregard those lives like that. They had to die for trying to kill us, okay, but not like that."

Kougaiji stood and just stared. This was Sanzo? The man who shot at his own friends without a second thought? The man that thought killing things was nothing but an annoyance? What has Nii done? "Well, despite that, it would be best if you went back. I'm sure they're looking everywhere for you."

"Yeah, my bro's a punk, but he's a good guy." Dokugakuji flashed some teeth in a big grin. "I'm sure he's worried out of his mind."

"Yeah," Kouryuu dropped his arms. "And it's not like I hate them, I was just upset."

"See? There ya' go, now where did you last see them?" Dokugakuji smiled.

"I think I ran from that way." Kouryuu pointed off into the distance from where that log was. "They're probably still over there looking for me."

"Then let's head there." Kougaiji stood up and brushed off his knee. However, when he heard a little 'flap' he looked up to see a rather welcome sight. "Is that Hakkai's dragon?"

"Yeah!" Kouryuu smiled a little. He was rather happy to see Jeep and pet it once the little guy flew over to his arms. "Do you know where the others are?"

Jeep chirped happily and licked Sanzo on the cheek. Once he had been pet and coddled for a minute he backed up out of the boy's arms. He chirped loudly and flew off to get his master and the others so they wouldn't have to worry.

"I guess he's getting the others." Kouryuu stated after Jeep flew off.

"Seems that way," Dokugakuji yawned. "Then I guess we should wait."

"Kouryuu!"

"Did you hear that?" Kougaiji turned behind him. "Sounds like someone calling for you."

"Kouryuu! Please! If you're there answer!"

"That's Goku." Kouryuu replied. The older boy sounded really worried and Kouryuu began to feel a little guilty. He took a deep breath and shouted. "I'm over here! Goku!"

Goku stopped dead in his tracks when he heard the reply. He nearly laughed with excitement as he sprinted off in the direction of the voice. "Kouryuu!"

"Over here!" The mini monk waved as Goku burst through a set of bushes. He squeaked when Goku tackled him into a big bear hug.

"I was so worried about you!" Goku squeezed Sanzo pretty tightly, but he didn't care. He wasn't letting go of him now that he'd found him again. Pulling away just a little bit, Goku made sure he sounded serious. "You could have been really hurt, don't ever do that again."

Kouryuu nodded quietly as he was scolded. The only other person who had ever sounded that concerned about him was Master. It was a little confusing, but it made him feel good. "Okay."

"You're a lousy baby-sitter, Monkey." Kougaiji smirked. Of course Goku had been worried out of his mind. It was his precious monk after all, and completely defenseless at that. Kougaiji chuckled a bit, if he were a lesser demon he would have used that to his advantage.

"Kougaiji?" Goku looked up and finally noticed the other two demons standing behind Sanzo. "What are you doing here?"

"We ran across your little kid here," Dokugakuji pointed down at Sanzo. "You guys gotta' keep better track of your things."

"Hey!" Kouryuu pouted. "I'm not a thing!"

Dokugakuji winked. "Just giving you a hard time, kiddo."

"Mr. Gojyo calls me that too." Kouryuu tilted his head. "You guys really are brothers."

"Well, that." Dokugakuji scratched his nose a bit and laughed off to the side. "I guess so."

"It shows." Kouryuu looked back over to Goku while Mr. Dokugakuji mumbled. "You must have been worried."

"Of course I was! You didn't run into any trouble did you?" Goku asked as he looked at Sanzo's arm. He knew Hakkai had constricted it pretty tightly, but something seemed off.

"A little," Kouryuu didn't elaborate. Goku didn't need to know he had for a few moments considered going with the other man. Or that he knew Master Sanzo. "But Mr. Kougaiji and Mr. Dokugakuji took care of it."

"A little?" Goku looked up at 'Mr. Kougaiji.' "Like what?"

"Demon trouble." Kougaiji felt it was best not to let the enemy in on civil problems at Houtou Castle. Nii was his problem and none of the monkey's business. Besides, it's not like it was a lie: Nii was most definitely not human.

"That so." Goku crossed his arms after he finally took his hands off of Sanzo. The three of them were hiding something, but he'd have to find out just what later. "But in the meantime, let's go meet up with Hakkai and Gojyo."

"Already one step ahead of you, monkey."

"Mr. Gojyo and Mr. Hakkai." Kouryuu looked over Goku's shoulder. "Um, Goku, could you let me go now?"

"Oh!" Goku laughed and released Sanzo. "Right, but how'd you guys get here so fast?"

"Jeep was a great assistance in that regard." Hakkai smiled while petting the little dragon. He felt very calm after such a workout and the knowledge Sanzo was safe. "And Kouryuu, please don't call me 'Mr.,' as it makes me rather old."

"Same here, kiddo." Gojyo laughed. "I'm no mister yet!"

Goku grinned and ruffled Sanzo's hair, ignoring the last little bits of blood flaking off. "And we're all buddies, so you don't need it."

Kougaiji sighed and tapped Dokugaku on the shoulder. "Time to go. See you later, monkey."

"Thanks for findin' Kouryuu!" Goku waved as the two demons disappeared.

"It's good to see that you're alright." Hakkai finally relaxed completely. It was also a welcome blessing that Kougaiji had not seen a need to start a fight. "We were very worried."

Kouryuu avoided eye contact and kept his eyes focused on a twig. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

"Good to hear!" Gojyo laughed and rubbed his arms. "Now let's get the heck out of here and find an inn."

Kouryuu smiled. "Sounds good."

Hakkai stretched his arms out as far as he could before leaning backwards to crack his back. "My, that feels better."

"Be a little quieter, would ya?" Goku laughed. "Gojyo and Sanzo are sleeping. That popping could wake the dead."

"Much like your snoring?" Hakkai chuckled as he pulled back the blankets on his and Gojyo's bed. The inn they had found was very tiny, which meant sharing beds in a single room. Though, it felt more like everyone sharing one big bed with as little moving room as there was. Goku of course, was sharing with Sanzo, despite Hakkai's plea to have one large person and one short person in each bed. At least he didn't have to worry about Gojyo and Goku fighting all night.

"Very funny." Goku fell back into his pillow and yawned. He was absolutely exhausted and had every intention of sleeping in until noon. With Sanzo so tiny, he had no reason to wake everyone up as early as possible so he could get his paper and get out of town. While watching the boy breath quietly, Goku's eyes moved to Sanzo's arm. "Hey, Hakkai. Did you notice anything odd about Sanzo?"

"Other than the story he told us is probably a lie?" Hakkai pulled the covers up to his chest. "I rather doubt a single demon attacking him and Kougaiji coming to the rescue is the whole story. It's too convenient."

"I agree." Goku turned to face the little mop of blonde hair. "Something happened more than what he told us. I don't like that he doesn't trust us."

"Well, he did come back with us rather willingly." Hakkai let out a slow breath. He needed to get some sleep so he would be fully functional driving tomorrow. "At least we have that. I doubt things would have gone well if we had to force him to come with us."

"Yeah, that would really suck."

"But, before I completely shut down, what was it that you noticed that was wrong?"

"The mark on his arm is bigger, Hakkai." Goku commented quietly as Sanzo slept beside him. Sanzo shifted in his sleep and turned to face Goku, subconsciously shifting towards the warmer body next to him. He rather looked like a puppy.

"Well, I did squeeze pretty tightly." The demon regretted hurting Sanzo like that. He had been afraid it was worse than it appeared at that moment.

"No," Goku tensed. "You left a mark, but not that big, and it's only on the one side. Something else did that. Believe me, I'm going to find out who did it, and they're going to regret it."