AN: I was going to post again tonight, but I figured what the hell. Hope you enjoy. ~safarigirl
Night Rain
Chapter 2
Sanzo slammed his foot on the invisible brake pedal a Hakkai slammed down on the real one. But he wasn't fast enough. Jeep crashed into the girl, sending her up over the hood where she smashed into the glass. Jeep whined as the glass cracked, but it held against the force.
"What the hell?" Sanzo yelled as Goku's head smacked against the back of his. "Damn it!"
"Is anybody hurt?" Hakkai asked. Their vehicle came to stop and the demon stepped out of the driver's seat. "Except, of course, for her."
Gojyo joined his friend next to the hood of Jeep as Goku and Sanzo exited from the other side. The second all four members of the Sanzo Party were gone, Jeep transformed back into Hakuryuu, the small white dragon, dumping the girl to the ground as he did. He flew the short distance to Hakkai and perched on the man's shoulder, rubbing his nose against the green clad shoulder. Hakkai absently pet the dragon as he stared down at the girl, now in Gojyo's arms.
"And where did you come from?"
Sanzo looked down at the half demon and the limp form he held. The monk ran a hand through his blond locks before digging in the sleeve of his robe for a pack of smokes. He tapped one out, placed it to his lips and was about to light when tall dark and ugly burst from around the bend.
The demon stopped short when it noticed the four men. Its dark gaze dropped to the girl before surveying the group. Sanzo glared at it from behind the flame of his lighter, almost daring it to take another step forward as he lit his cigarette. He could use a good fight right now after the way this night was going. He took a long drag and blew the smoke out in the direction of the demon.
"Good, now I'll have dinner to go along with my appetizer," the demon finally hissed. It charged the group, clawed hands reaching forward to grab the nearest person.
"The hell you will," Gojyo responded. Before Sanzo knew what was happening, an unconscious, bleeding lump was shoved his way despite Hakkai's chiding, "Gojyo, please be careful with her."
Sanzo barely watched as first Gojyo, followed very closely by Goku, sprang into action against their attacker. His attention shifted to the dead weight in his arms. One golden eyebrow twitched up as purple eyes narrowed. Gojyo was dead when this was over. That no good pervert just thrust this bleeding, sweating girl his way without a second regard. What the hell was he supposed to do with her? Looked like she was dead already, anyway. He was about to drop the body in disgust when a firm hand clamped down on his wrist.
"Stop moving, Sanzo. Ah, there, she's still alive luckily. Although where she came from and how she got here is still a bit of a mystery. The nearest town is the one we just came from, half a day in the opposite direction of where she was coming from. And the next town is still three days away."
Sanzo looked away, his gaze shifting to the fight just as Goku smashed the demon in the gut with his Nyoi-Bo. Gojyo's Shakugetsujou was quick to follow, and just like that the fight was over. The monk hadn't even smoked his entire cigarette. A pale green light sent his gaze back to the momentarily forgotten girl and Hakkai. Chi energy spread from Hakkai's hands, pouring life energy into the beaten girl who was still in Sanzo's arms, still bleeding on Sanzo's robe. The priest frowned.
"We need to take her back to that town, Sanzo," Hakkai stated calmly as he healed the woman.
"She's not our problem," the monk replied. He continued to stare at her. Her hair, the color of glazed caramel, was plastered to her face with sweat and blood. Her skin was ashen and her breathing shallow.
"We did hit her with our jeep."
"And we can't just leave a pretty lady out here all alone," Gojyo chipped in, a cigarette hanging from his lips. He stood above Hakkai as the other man continued to heal the girl.
"And we barely got to eat anything while we were there," Goku added.
"Why are you always thinking about your stomach, you stupid monkey?"
"I am not, you stupid water sprite."
"Yes you are. All we ever hear from you is about how hungry you are. And don't call me stupid, you dumb monkey."
"Stop calling me stupid, pervy water sprite."
Sanzo could feel the vein in his forehead throbbing. He should have gone on this mission alone. Why did he have to put up with these idiots?
"Shut up or I'll kill you both!" he yelled as he moved to grab his gun from his robe. But as soon as he shifted, the girl in his arms whimpered, her face contorted in pain.
"Careful, Sanzo. I stabilized her, but she's still wounded. We really should return to town. Hakuryuu." The dragon butted his head against Hakkai's shoulder before launching into the air. He landed a few feet from the party and transferred into the hunter green jeep. Sanzo watched, his frustration growing, as Hakkai, Gojyo and Goku all took their places. Three sets of eyes turned and faced him, waiting for him to make a decision. He could feel the headache building behind his eyes.
"Fine," stated the monk. As gently as he could, he did take Hakkai's earlier warning into consideration, he moved the girl around in his arms until one of his arms was cradling her head and the other was wrapped around the underside of her knees, bride style. With her situated, he took his seat next to Hakkai.
Jeep jerked into motion, headed back in the direction they came from. Sanzo cradled the girl against his chest. They went over a bump and she groaned and fisted part of his robe in one hand. Without thinking, the blond shifted her in his lap so one hand was free and began running long fingers through her caramel colored hair. She stilled, yet his robe remained clutched in her fist.
Next to him, Hakkai offered a soft chuckle. Sanzo merely shifted his purple gaze to the demon and scowled.
"I'm sorry, Sanzo," the healer offered quietly. "We'll get to the town soon."
"Good. This is wasting enough time as it is. We can be rid of her and continue toward India."
Sanzo sat facing forward, his gaze never wavering from the road ahead. His hand threaded slowly through caramel locks.