AN: So I've rewritten this chapter about 4 times now. I'm still not 100% on it, but trust me, it's a lot better than when I started. Anywho, let me know what you think. Oh, and I think everyone is a little OOC in this chapter. Sorry, but I couldn't figure out another way to do it. Hope you enjoy. ~safarigirl

Night Rain

Chapter 12

Sanzo read his paper and sipped at his tea. Without looking away from the story he was reading, he rested his cup on a small table that sat before an open window. The wind danced through the opening, playing in his hair and caressing his skin. He was glad he had pulled the top of his robe down.

"Why do you think she did it?" Goku asked quietly.

"I'm sure she was being controlled by something," Hakkai answered. Sanzo looked over the edge of his paper. Gojyo was perched on the other window ledge, a cigarette hanging from his jaw, his shirt draped over his shoulders, his torso swathed in bandages. Hakkai stood next to Gojyo and looked out the window, the white bandages wrapped around his head matching the white dragon perched on his shoulder. Goku sat on the edge of one of the two beds, denim-clad legs pulled to his wrapped chest. His wrists were crossed in front of his knees, his arms squeezing his legs together. His chin rested on top of his legs and his golden eyes swept across the room. They caught with Sanzo's and he smiled.

"What do you think, Sanzo?"

Sanzo sighed as he put aside his paper. "Didn't you notice her eyes? She was possessed, just a puppet for some invisible master. Her eyes cleared at the last minute, so I assume she was struggling against it and that's why you aren't dead. She must have broken free."

"Assume?" Hakkai asked, raising an eyebrow. "So you're not certain."

"You know what they say about assuming?" Gojyo chipped in. Sanzo glared at him.

"Bite me," Sanzo replied as he went back to his paper. "Besides, the bullet took care of the possession."

"Why did you bring this up, anyway, monkey? You got a crush on her or something?" Sanzo glanced up as Gojyo teased. Goku's face turned bright red.

"I do not, cockroach. I was just wondering is all," he said back, his voice raising in volume.

"Look how red he turned," Gojyo continued. "You have a thing for that hot chick."

"I'm not some perverted water sprite like you, dumb ass," Goku yelled, jumping off the bed.

"At least I'm not some dumb ape." Gojyo yelled back. Sanzo closed his eyes. It was too bad Amaya hadn't killed the two assholes. He could finish this stupid road trip to India by himself.

"I'm not an ape," Goku yelled. Sanzo blindly reached for his smokes.

"Are too." He pulled one out and lit up.

"Am not." He took a long drag, allowing the nicotine to course through his veins for a moment.

"Are too." Yeah, they were still annoying.

"Shut up." He yelled, pulling his fan out and smacking both of the idiots upside the head.

"Sanzo," a voice from the second bed coughed out. Purple orbs rushed to the bed. Amaya's chest rose and fell under the layer of blankets covering her from chin to toes. Her eyes were still closed, but a faint smile lingered on her lips.

Hakkai moved to the bed. "So you're awake?" he asked as he checked the bandage over her shoulder.

"We didn't wake you, did we?' Goku asked as he moved closer to the girl, standing opposite of Hakkai. Gojyo took a spot next to Goku, leaving Sanzo at the foot of the bed.

"Of course you woke her with all your yelling," Gojyo answered.

"You were yelling, too," Goku shouted back. Sanzo grimaced.

"I was not," Gojyo yelled.

"Now you're both shouting," Hakkai pointed out. Neither man paid any attention.

"Don't call me a liar. I heard you."

"Then you heard wrong."

Sanzo took out his gun and pointed it at the two imbeciles. He cocked the hammer. The two leapt at each other, holding each other in fright. Two pairs of wide eyes looked back at him. If he was in a better mood, he might have smirked.

A low chuckle escaped from the girl on the bed in front of him. Sanzo glanced down. Clear blue eyes stared back at him, and for a second Sanzo forgot how to breathe. He tore his gaze away. It bothered him that she seemed to stare straight through his soul. It bothered him more that she smiled when she did it.

"You saved me."

The room was silent for a moment before Gojyo burst out laughing. "She must have hit her head again."

"Yeah, Amaya. Sanzo doesn't save anyone."

"Hey."

"He's the one who shot you, Amaya. You're lucky that he missed," Hakkai added

"Che, Sanzo grunted.

"No, I'm not talking about now. Ten years ago, you saved a little demon girl from being killed by some villagers. I was that girl. You saved me." Sanzo returned his gaze to the girl, studying her. Caramel hair, blue eyes, tanned skin. He searched his memory. Ten years ago he would have been 13 or 14, just made a Sanzo priest by his dieing master. There was a village where some idiotic villagers had killed two demons. There was a girl there with the bluest eyes.

"They killed your parents," he stated.

"You remembered?" Goku asked, sitting back down on the second bed.

"Yeah. I was maybe 9 or 10. We spent a few days together before he dropped me off at an orphanage, but I never forgot Genjo Sanzo."

"Someone adopted you?" Hakkai asked.

"My master. He found me there. Said I had 'potential' after he watched me fight back against the bully on the playground. I didn't know what he meant at the time, but I learned. He trained me in his trade."

"What trade would that be?" Gojyo asked, lighting up a cigarette as he did.

"Assassin," Sanzo stated matter-of-factly. Amaya nodded.

"What else do you remember?" Hakkai prompted, his arms crossed over his chest.

"You mean about who sent me to kill you? A woman with green hair. A man with glasses. A castle. She contracted me to kill you, Sanzo, and when I refused the job, the man had two of their goons drag me away. I'm not sure what they did to me and I can't remember where the castle is." She yawned as she finished. Before Sanzo could say anything else, Hakkai butt in.

"I think we should let Amaya rest. She's been through a lot and isn't fully healed. Come on, Goku, Gojyo, let's leave her alone so she can sleep. Plus, we have some errands to run." He practically pushed them out the door in front of him. "Sanzo, you can stand watch, yes? Great. We'll be back shortly."

"Hey, why does Sanzo get to-" the rest of Gojyo's question was cut off by the closing door. Sanzo sighed. Good riddance. He turned his attention back to the girl on the bed. Her eyes were closed, her breathing even. Sanzo sighed again before returning to his chair near the window, opening his paper and resuming his reading.

"You should have killed me," Amaya mumbled out, the sentence barely coherent in her sleepy state.

"I still can."

"I know. You're staying the night here?"

"Hakkai says we need to rest. It certainly wasn't my idea." The room was silent again and Sanzo believed Amaya fell back to sleep. He took a sip of his tea. It was cold. Sanzo frowned at it and seat the cup back on the small table. He lit up another cigarette instead.

"Thanks, Sanzo."

"Che." He glanced over at the bed. Amaya had turned over so she was facing him. He allowed himself the briefest of grins. "You're welcome."