Disclaimer(s) - I don't own Saiyuki or ANY of the Saiyuki Characters nor am I affiliated and therefore I am not making any profit from this story whatsoever. Saiyuki and its characters belong solely to Kazuya Minekura and all other respective creators/owners. I am just a fan. A BIG fan. A HUGE fan. A... well, you get the idea. I don't own anything but the 4 girls' characters in the story.

***

"I'm HUUUUUNGRY, Sanzo!" A familiar voice wailed over the ruching wind of the jeep. This comment was soon answered by a sharp and cutting THACK!

"Quiet." Growled the front seat passenger. "OW! Hey! What was that for?!" Yelled the irate monkey.

"Ugh," sighed the exasperated passenger in the back seat "probably because you've been saying that and nothing else for 2 straight hours, you stupid monkey – and its getting ANNOYING!"

"You're the one who's annoying, you stupid ero kappa!" Goku yelled back heatedly.

"Now, now. Let's not get worked up" the driver replied serenely "It's a beautiful day, and we should only be another 10 minutes out of the next town." A joyous WHOOP sounded from the back seat, confirming Goku's happiness. "Hey Hakkai, when we get there can we get some meat buns? Can we? Huh? Can we pleeeeease?"

The young driver chuckled. "Alright." He replied. "You're spoiling him" Sanzo muttered from the seat next to him.

"Now, now, Sanzo. We all haven't eaten since yesterday. I'm sure you and Gojyo must be a bit hungry too, ne?" Hakkai asked without looking, raising one eyebrow slightly. Sanzo just turned his head away, with a grunted "Whatever."

Gojyo suddenly leaned forward and stuck his arm out at a 10'oclock angle from the jeep "hey, Hakkai" he said "what the heck is that?" Hakkai followed his direction to see a dark object hurtling from the sky, heading in their direction.

"Whoa! I winder if that's edible?" Goku asked instantly, as he watched the 'thing' plummet into the sand about 50 yards from the jeep, causing a large cloud.

Hakkai began to turn the wheel, when Sanzo spoke up. "Leave it, it's not our problem." Gojyo scowled, "Aw, c'mon man! Hey, maybe it's a Sutra, magically transported from heaven?" He said jokingly, trying to persuade the stubborn monk.

"No." Sanzo growled.

"Oh, dear," Hakkai said, insincerely "That's a problem. As you can see, I have already turned the wheel, so the damage is done, I'm afraid."

"I don't care – turn it back." Sanzo grumbled in a stubborn tone.

"Too late! We're here!" Goku yelled happily as he vaulted out of the slowing jeep to go inspect the curious fallen object. Sanzo slapped a hand to his face as Hakkai chuckled. Gojyo hopped out to join Goku, as he began digging in the sand.

As Goku dug, Gojyo examined the crater – it was surprisingly small for something that had fallen so far – almost as if the object was slowed before impact…

"YAAAAAH!"

Goku yelped, falling on back on his behind, as he pointed a trembling finger at the hole he had dug. Hakkai jumped out of the jeep, Chi gathered, and ready to strike, as he came to see what Goku had uncovered.

It was an arm. An arm completely buried in the sand. There was no blood or evidence of other body pieces, Hakkai noted, as Gojyo and Goku stood stunned. Suddenly, the sand shifted, and a slight moan came forth from beneath it. "Holy shit!" Hakkai yelled, as he bent down and began digging furiously. This snapped Gojyo and Goku out of their trance, and they began to help.

Sanzo, meanwhile, was watching these antics with boredom.

As the men dug, they uncovered more of what was obviously the form of an unconscious human girl. One delicate hand fell to the ground at Hakkai's feet, and he grabbed it to feel for a pulse, begging they weren't too late to save her. He breathed a sigh of relief as he felt the strong and steady beat of her heart.

His sigh was cut off, as the gentle female fingers curled around his hand. Goku had finally cleared the sand from around the girl as Gojyo bent down and picked her up bridal style. She was still clutching Hakkai's hand. The three men looked at each other in question, but it was Gojyo who said the words.

"Okay. So whaddaya make of this?"

The girl was fine boned, with a lightly tanned complexion and full pink lips. Strangely, throughout her chest length light brown hair, there were multiple streaks of a vivid aqua blue, which matched her eye shadow tattoos and fingernails.

She seemed young, no more than 20, and was wearing the strangest outfit – blue low rider jeans, with a green fitted t-shirt (that only just bared her trim midriff) which read "Don't hate me, cos I love you". They also noticed she had an aqua gemmed belly piercing and a small, 2 inch tattoo right next to it which was shaped as a musical note.

"How the heck is she alive after that fall?" Goku asked looking into the sky above, as though the answer was there somewhere. "Beats me" Gojyo replied "But she sure is cute." He smirked, enjoying the sight of her bare midriff.

"She may not be human." Sanzo had appeared behind the group, cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

"Well, whatever the case, she needs medical attention." Stated Hakkai, as he gently pulled his fingers away from hers. "We should get to the next town soon. We can ensure she gets there safe, ne?" Hakkai said in a quieter tone, ensuring Sanzo understood that he was being given no choice. Sanzo stood there for a moment longer before grunting "Whatever" and getting back in the jeep.

***

The ride to town was short, the unconscious girl lying across Gojyo's lap, which in his mind, made the trip far more comfortable than usual. They finally got to the inn and purchased 4 single rooms – Sanzo refusing to pay for the girl, as they still didn't know who she was – or what she was. Gojyo carried her upstairs, Hakkai instructing him to lay her down in his room. Gojyo was a bit miffed at this, but understood that the girl needed to get better before he could hit on her.

Hakkai wasted no time in treating her, his chi glowing around her form as he worked. The others grew bored of watching the slow process, and gradually made their way either to the bar or back to their rooms.

Hakkai continued for another hour before he saw her move. Her eyelids fluttered, and then slowly opened, coming into focus. He breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing this, the girl slowly turned to him, eyes wide.

Hakkai sucked in his breath, and his own eyes widened in surprise….Her eyes…they were….Aqua! The exact same colour as the strips in her hair. So clear blue as to almost be crystal clear – invisible.

She blinked slowly, trying to get her bearings, and struggled to speak. Finding no sound was coming out, she cleared her throat lightly, and turned to Hakkai again, asking in a soft tone "Where am I?"

The young man was stunned. Her voice, it sounded like…music. Soft, sweet and lilting in an unfamiliar accent. "You are in the town of Chang Li Ran." He replied. The girl seemed to consider this carefully, as she stared straight into Hakkai's green eyes.

"Thankyou," She said "Thankyou for saving me, Cho Hakkai." And fainted, all strength gone. Hakkai was at a loss for words.

***

Downstairs, Gojyo was bored. The monkey was with Sanzo, and the poker players around here…well…they weren't much fun at all – grumpy old men with respectabilities. He sighed, lifting himself off his chair and exited the inn.

He wandered through the streets idly, eyeing a few of the local 'goods' on his way through. Hmm…that one's cute….ugh – No!....Black teeth…..sigh, he thought. Passing a nearby alley, he heard heated voices talking quietly.

"C'mon darlin', just tell us how much….?"

"I am NOT a hooker!" A feminine voice replied angrily

"A hook…wha? Look, we know what ya are, dressed like that, so why not be a little bit nicer?" A second oily voice said.

"If you wanna get paid." Growled a third.

"NO! Back off you mother fuckers! Or I'll…..!"

"Or you'll what, sweetling?" The first voice asked, sugar sweet.

Gojyo came to a halt, eyeing the situation distastefully. He couldn't see what kind of woman these three low lives were hassling, but he couldn't just walk away now. He strode into the alley, coming behind the three men to intervene, when he heard the woman speak again, this time in a voice full of heat, passion and rage.

"Or this."

Gojyo stared in disbelief as all three men suddenly dropped, blood squirting from arterial cuts to the leg. The men gasped as their blood soaked into the dirt of the alley, before becoming silent – then still.

Gojyo gaped, looking from the three very dead idiots to the feet of the mysterious killer woman. His eyes travelled up, noting her knee high, lightly platformed boots. Bare, toned legs entered into black mini shorts – short enough to make Gojyo's mouth water. The shorts reached to her navel, which was pierced with a clear faceted stone that reflected rainbow lights, then a bare inch of midriff to the scarlet spaghetti strapped top. Silver bangles decorated her arms and a single diamond hung at her throat.

Gojyo took all this in, including the woman's generous bust and the dark shadow of her cleavage.

"Uh, hello?"

Damn voice, can't it see he's busy?

"OI! I'm up here!"

A hand waved in his face, and he finally lifted his gaze into the eyes of its owner. "Oh, hey." He finally replied, still stunned at this woman's appearance.

"Hey" She smiled.

Gojyo suddenly felt hot. More than arousal, it was…strange. Was he blushing? No! The great playboy Sha Gojyo doesn't blush! But… her face…Sharp angles, arched browns, long black hair – oddly cut, short on the left, long on the right. Full red lips and her eyes….were they green flecked with blue, or blue flecked with brown?

She continued to watch him with amusement as he blushed cutely, and struggled to get his bearings.

"So, do you mind telling me your name?"

Ahhh, there it was. The old Sha Gojyo was back, he thought to himself in relief.

"Sure thing…." Pause "…Gojyo." She made his name sound like a delicious chocolate, melting over her tongue, and he felt a sudden tightness in his pants in response. He waited for her to answer, feeling awkward. Then it hit him.

"Hey! Do you know me?" Shit! He'd made a big mistake if he had already had and 'encounter' with her before. Then he calmed. No, he thought I'd definitely remember someone like her.

She smiled again and asked, "Can you take me to my friends? I'm afraid we got separated in the journey here. They should be at the local inn by now."

Gojyo quickly agreed – getting this one to the inn sounded like a great idea!

"Sure thing, sweet heart." He said "Allow me too…" He shivered, He was suddenly very cold, and all thoughts about this girl and the closest bed they could find were suddenly wiped from his mind. He looked to her questioningly, to see if she had also felt the change in the air, and instantly was on guard, jumping to a loose fighting stance.

Her face was an ice mask. Her eyes had changed to sparkling ice cubes, clear, with silver flecks, and she had a small, lethally sharp dagger in her hand, casually held, as though by one who has had great practice. "Are you all right?" He asked cautiously, still on guard.

"Watch yourself, Sha Gojyo. I may be Temptation, but I am nota trick – make sure you keep your lecherous thoughts to yourself!"

And with that, she took a deep breath, closing her eyes. The air warmed back to normal, and her knife vanished into a side holster somewhere in her shorts. When she opened her eyes, they were ice blue, flecked with brown, and she looked at him seriously. "Tale me to my friends now, please."

Gojyo had not quite understood the first part of her speech, but when he figures out she was MAD at him, not sent to kill him by Kougaiji or some other, he agreed, leading her through the lightly crowded marketplace. There were many stares and pointing fingers, but she ignored them all, and continued to follow his guidance, as he continued to try and decipher her words.

***

Goku was annoying. No, more than annoying, he was grating on Sanzo's nerves!

"Urasai, saru!" the blonde monk yelled from his chair at the window.

Sanzo was just starting to relax in his room; he had stripped off his top layer, revealing a chiselled chest and washboard abs behind his black leather top, which was like a second skin. He was quietly sitting at the window, reading the paper when Goku barged in.

"Saaaaaanzo! Gojyo won't let me play Poker! I'm BOOOOOOORED and HUUUUNGRY!! Can we go out and get some meat buns, huh? Can we? I'm gonna starve to de- " THWACK. The magically materializing harisen darted out for a surprise attack.

"Shut up!" Sanzo yelled. "Besides, I have to go out anyway to buy smokes, seeing as how Gojyo and Hakkai are both out – and I don't trust you on your own." He finished nastily, and began to put his priests' robes back on.

Goku ignored the insult, too excited to be going outside. "YEEEAAAHH! FOOOOOOOD – OW! Hey, Sanzo! What was that for??!" The enraged monkey cried after the Harisen had struck yet again.

"For being too loud – and annoying" he replied "Lets go."

***

They strode out of the inn and into the sunlight. Goku was walking in front of Sanzo with his hands behind his head, enjoying the open air and delicious smells. Sanzo had his hands in his sleeves, always ready with either his banishing gun or the terrifying fan of doom.

A sharp cracking noise from up ahead caught their attention. "What was that?" Goku queried, before bolting in the direction of the noise. "Baka." Sanzo muttered, before dashing after him.

Sanzo muscled his way through a throng of fleeing people, to come across an unusual sight. Goku standing in the middle of the street watching a young girl square off against a group of large Youkai. Usually, Goku would have run straight in to help such an obviously mismatched fight, but something had obviously stopped him.

Sanzo stood very still, senses on high alert as he surveyed the scene. Dusty street, last few civilians fleeing, market stalls and lean-to's full of goods left in a panic, and in the central clearing of the road, a band of 3 large and predatory Youkai. Two of them had light mauve skin, the third, slightly yellow tinged – all with green hair and various battle scars.

Standing nonchalantly, yelling at Goku to stay back, was a young girl, no more than 18. She was small, maybe 5'4", with long, bright orange hair in a plait to her waist, the tip of which was stained a vivid violet. When she turned, Sanzo saw her eyes, and his own widened in surprise - her eyes were as purple as his own! Her eyelid tattoos and fingernails, a solid matching purple in colour.

In her hands she clutched a naginata or glaive, quite competently, the curved blade at the end reflecting the sun.

Something doesn't feel right here, Sanzo thought. The girl was dressed strangely, in a short blue skirt with grey tights underneath, and a large yellow t-shirt, that was far too big. On her feet she wore a pair of bright, white sneakers. She was laughing as she told the Youkai to back off.

Now that's very peculiar, He thought again.

Something pink caught his eye off to the left, and he caught himself staring at another strangely dressed girl, leaning lazily against a fruit stand. Her white blonde hair was in a tight bun at the back of her head, while her bangs and fringe completely covered her eyes and upper face. Bright, fuscia coloured streaks ran throughout her hair. She wore shin length black tights which rode up to her waist, and a fitted black bonds singlet shirt. She also wore black armguards very similar to Sanzo's own. The entire out fit displayed a very impressive physique.

As though sensing his eyes on her, her head turned towards him, and her fringe parted slightly. It was not enough to see her face, but he did catch a glimpse of one of her fuscia coloured irises – and it seared him to the spot. The look she was giving him was 'death on swift wings', and he felt cold all over.

As soon as it began, she turned her head and it stopped. Sanzo felt he could move again, and decided to ignore the girl with a dismissive snort. His attention was drawn back to the imminent fight – of the indifferent young girl, still yelling at Goku over her shoulder, and the three snarling Youkai – who were obviously pissed at being ignored.

Suddenly, they charged, going at the young redhead all at once. Two had swords, which they raised and swung down with great strength. She caught both swords on her staff in an overhead block, kicking the demon on the left in the stomach, sending him flying back. She disengaged the other, and while regaining his balance, she ran him through. The second demon was barely on his feet as he was swiftly beheaded by the staffs' bladed end.

The small girl spun on her heel, looking for her third opponent, and grinned when she saw him lying flat on the ground with a small hole in his forehead leaking blood – right a the feet of her blonde counter part. "Nice." Sanzo heard her comment, and he glared at the blonde – he hadn't even seen her move. The blonde girl looked up at him quickly and twitched her lips in amusement.

Sanzo was curious about these two, and was just about to ask them who the hell they were, and what the hell were they doing, when the redheaded one did something totally unexpected.

She strode up to Goku with a broad grin on her face. Still grinning cheerfully, she reached him and stood on her tiptoes, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Leaning back on her heels, she grinned again and turned, leaving a thunderstruck monkey in her wake. Goku was completely rooted to the spot, slack jawed and eyes widened as she strode back to her friend, her walk calm and even. He heard her giggle slightly from over her shoulder.

He finally got his tongue unstuck and practically yelled at her "Wha…What…Why?" Unable to string the words he wanted to say into a comprehensible sentence.

She turned on her toes quickly, and with hands behind her back, winked at him, stating "Because you're so cute when you're confused." Her voice was light, cheerful and reminded the monkey of how peaches taste.

Goku had no answer for this, so he just nodded dumbly as she turned back to her friend, her ears tinged pink.

Sanzo called out to them as they turned to leave the deserted market place "Hey, you!"

The redhead turned, and with a polite smile, replied "Yes? May we help you?"

Sanzo growled, tired of games "Yeah" he said lowly "You can tell me who the hell you are!"

"Oh!" The redhead seemed surprised, and Sanzo waited for them to get explaining. When the blonde finally spoke, hardly moving her lips, Sanzo only just caught her words.

"No, we can't."

He started slightly…her voice – deep, husky and dangerous – like his own. It was commanding, yet subtle. He had to hear it again.

Wait….why? Why do I want to hear her voice again? A small voice in his mind asked.

So she can explain WHY she can't tell us who she is, of course! Hi sensible inner Sanzo voice replied.

However, as he was having this internal debate, the girls had already turned to leave, the redhead looking back over her shoulder and smiling at him mischievously. He didn't like that smile. Not. One. Bit. She called back to him before he had a chance to speak.

"See you at the inn Sanzo!"

And with that, they strolled off, leaving a stunned monkey and a befuddled scowling monk behind them.

END CHAPTER 2