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.

***

Hakkai stared at the sleeping girl. How does she know my name? He thought.

He looked down and realised she had once again claimed his fingers with her own before she had passed out. His face felt hot as he gently pried them away, trying not to wake her. As he did so, however, the strangest thing happened – she rolled over to her side, and in her slumber, murmured -

"…Hakkai…"

He was on his feet in an instant, looking at her suspiciously, even though his ears were burning. He definitely needed to find the others. He grabbed his room key off the dresser and whistled a soft 'stay/guard to Hakuryuu (who had been asleep in the corner chair the whole time.) who peeped sleepily in reply, as Hakkai hurried downstairs.

***

Sha Gojyo just couldn't take his eyes off the woman. She was, like…. Everything. Everything he would want – had ever wanted – all in one package. Well, he thought, smirking as he eyed those incredibly short shorts, as far as the eye could see. He noticed her watching him in return, a look of annoyance in her once again crystal clear eyes, and tried to divert his thought pattern. Uh…let's see…not women….uh….beer….yeah, that'll work. Think about beer. It was at this point they arrived at the inn. They walked into the entrance and paused as they saw a very serious looking Hakkai descend the stairs.

Hakkai spotted Gojyo and the woman he was with immediately. Striding up to them, he stopped before Gojyo and said "Gojyo, please introduce me to your friend." in a tone that was not a question, but a demand.

"Uhhh…" Gojyo trailed, looking nervously at his strangely dressed, and still unnamed 'friend'. Before he could utter a word, the woman spoke. This time, her voice was smooth and crisp, as though she was answering the $1million question.

"Good day, Cho Hakkai." Hakkai's eyes widened and he began to gather his Chi.

"Please – don't be alarmed." She continued calmly "I have come to meet my friends, and was advised by one who would know, that one of them would already be here, most likely with a member of the Sanzo Ikkou. She is a young woman of medium height, brown hair and has a tattoo of a musical note right here." She pointed to the left side of her navel. "Have you seen her?"

Hakkai's doubts began to gnaw at him, but then he saw the worry in her eyes, and answered cautiously.

"Yes, of course. She is upstairs, resting - we came across her in the desert about 10 minutes out of town." He did not want to go into detail about HOW they came across her, thinking he may get more truthful answers later. He waited for her reply, to gauge her reaction.

The tall girl heaved a sigh of relief.

"Thank you." She said, and her eyes changed to a soft green – this change was not lost on Hakkai. Just who was this girl?

"Two more of our companions will be joining us here soon. Is it safe to assume I may go and see my recovering companion? The others should not be too long, and we must be together to deliver our message."

At these words, Gojyo and Hakkai visibly tensed. So maybe these strange girls WERE assassins after all! Hakkai also did not want her with her unconscious 'friend' – or so she says – feeling strangely protective.

"No," She said suddenly, unnervingly accurate in answering their thoughts "Our message is of a different kind." She paused, letting this sink in. "Hakkai, or Gojyo, would you be so kind as to lead me to my friend now, please?"

Gojyo glanced quickly at Hakkai, letting him make the decision. Hakkai smiled at the young lady pleasantly.

"Of course." He replied "However, as we have not yet been properly introduced, would you be so kind as to leave any weapons at the reception desk?" He watched her closely for any sign of hesitation. "You have nothing to fear from us." He added. She grinned back them, and Gojyo's eyes lit up at the look of pure amusement on her face.

"Of course." She spoke, her voice full of laughter. She turned slightly and strolled over the desk, the men – specifically Hakkai – watching her every move for a hint of deception. Gojyo watched her ass.

The girl behind the desk had been following this entire exchange with interest. "Yes, Ma'am, how can I help you?"

The Sultry brunette smiled genuinely at the younger girl and replied, "yes, would you be able to keep these in your care, if you would be so kind?"

The girl's eyes widened as the scantily clad woman began to pull out knives – lots of knives – from the most unconventional places.

She had four on each thigh, each one only about five inches long, that were held flush against her legs by a set of slim leather holster inside the material of her shorts. She then bent over – much to Gojyo's enjoyment – and removed two more blades from inside each of her boots, these once again held in place by leather holster. These two were much longer, however, more like daggers – each about twenty inches long.

Then, finally, she reached down her exposed cleavage – at this point, Gojyo was slavering slightly – and removed a small, two inch blade in an individual leather holster – obviously being held up by nothing more than her assets.

"Uhh...was that all?" The shocked desk attendant queried.

"Yes. Oh…wait, no…" And with that she reached a hand up the inside thigh of her shorts and removed yet another two inch blade. Gojyo was breathing hard. This was almost too much, God! He had never wanted to be a knife so much in his life!

Hakkai was the first to regain his senses. It had not escaped his attention, though, that each of her lethally sharp blades, with their plain black leather wrapped handles, each had a small Yin/Yan symbol carved into the base plate. He suddenly had a very good idea where these girls might have come from.

Hakkai walked up to the girl and indicated the direction of the stairs. "Please follow me, miss." And proceeded to lead her. When they opened the door to Hakkai's room, the men froze as they heard a loud squeal, almost too high pitched to be human. Before they could react, their tall female companion streaked into the room and practically tackled the just woken brunette in the bed.

The men gaped as the brunette became fully awake and squealed just as loudly in reply. They were completely amazed when a further two shadowy figures jumped past them from the stairs and pounced on their two guests, laughing and yelling gleefully, "We heard you guys squeal from downstairs!" The redheaded one stated.

"Who the…" Gojyo began, as the four girls bounced on the bed squealing and hugging each other. Panting from behind him, turned out to be a very out of breath Sanzo and a very guarded Goku, who eyed the girls (specifically the shortest one) with great trepidation.

"Sanzo, what the FUCK is going on?" Gojyo yelled

"I don't know," He growled, "But I am going to find out."

Completely ignoring the four men in the doorway, the girls continued to talk rapidly to each other.

"Oh my GOD! I love you hair! Blue streaks are so totally WICKED!"

"And PINK!? Oh my God, I NEVER thought I would see you so 'Princessy'!"

"You goatta death wish?"

"Nonono! It was a compliment!"

"Hahaha! Just kidding – dude – glutton's gone purple!"

"And what's with our eyes? Is it just me, or are our eyes different colours?"

At this comment the girls stopped bouncing and stared at each other in question. Then, as one, they jumped off the tangled bed spread and bolted to the bathroom mirror.

"Oh my GOD! My eyes are… wait…they're changing!"

"Mine are the same colour as my streaks!"

"Me too!"

"Mine aren't that different." The blonde said, disappointment lacing her voice.

The girls stopped their excited chatter and looked at her sadly, the young redhead putting an arm around her shoulders. It was in this moment of silence that Hakkai coughed quietly. The girls turned as one to face the young men in the doorway.

"I want some answers." Sanzo growled.

"Well, we'll need tea." Said the aqua streaked brunette. "It's a long story."

***

Hakkai had just finished setting the tea before his friends and guests, before taking a seat. The girls were sitting side by side on the bed, facing the four boys sitting at the table.

"Ok, where to begin…" Mused the tallest of the group.

"How about our names – our real names!" the fire head of the group piped up excitedly. She looked at the boys with sparkling eyes. "I'm Suki." She said, as she allowed her eyes to linger a little longer on Goku, who squirmed in his chair.

"I am Tryst." The tallest brunette said with a smirk, as though her name itself was a rude joke.

"My name is Daja." The girl with the musical tattoo said politely, with a small bow of the head.

"Isabella." The blonde said quietly, her eyes still hidden, yet her gaze seemed to be directed at Sanzo.

"How do you know our names?" Hakkai queried politely, his eyes resting on Daja.

"Well, that is one of the stranger parts of the story," She said with an embarrassed cough.

"Have you ever heard of the Muses?" Isabella asked, her gaze now apparently resting on Hakkai.

"I have," Sanzo replied with annoyance. "I heard they died 50 years ago – they were the Muses of Faith, Sincerity and Kindness. But there should be seven in all."

"Yeah, and I heard they are only ever women!" Gojyo piped up in response to Sanzo's answer.

At this statement, the girls stayed quiet, waiting for the men to put two and two together.

"No WAY!" Goku said suddenly – which was a good 5 minutes after the other had gotten it. "Are you saying you guys are MUSES?" He asked excitedly, all previous nervousness deserting him.

The girls nodded slowly, and Daja began retelling their story…

***

The four girls walked into the fireball, following the lead of Kanzeon Bosatsu. They held hands so as not to lose each other in the inferno. The heat was incredible, but they were determined to get through, and just as they thought they would scream from the pressure…it stopped - and they blinked at the bright white light they were surrounded by.

"Where are we?" Rachel asked quietly, gazing into the white nothingness in all directions.

"You are in the place between realms." Kanzeon had appeared in front of the girls, grinning lazily at their stunned faces.

"What does that mean?" Kim finally asked.

"You are between it all your world, heaven, hell – even Shangri-la. This is a place on Gods can reach, where we bring heroes to test them, and Angels to train them. This is also where each muse comes to retrieve their weapons and identities, as their previous selves left them, when they passed on. Including…your Muses names." She paused, grinning wider at their obvious confusion.

"Your old lives are gone. Your identities have been incinerated – this is your rebirth. However, who you are, and what you are – that is not erasable. I cannot change your personalities – nor do I want to – they will define exactly what kind of Muses you are. But for now, you must accept your original destinies."

At her feet appeared a few familiar items. Kanzeon bent down and picked up the first on the pile – it was a 4 foot Japanese style Naginata, or glaive. It's pine outer coating was smooth and cool in her hands, and the foot long, wickedly sharp blade at the end was of a steel no longer found in heaven or earth. The weighted lead centre gave the weapon good balance as she gestured for the youngest Muse to step forward.

The goddess lay the weapon in her hands. "This belongs to you, Suki, Muse of Inspiration. Your name has never changed, throughout all time, and all worlds, Inspiration always stays the same – a mystery, which only you can uncover. In all of heaven or earth, no one has ever been able to take this weapon from you without your consent. Only Kami himself may retrieve it from you, should he so desire."

Suki stared from Kanzeon to the weapon, a flicker of recognition in eyes.

"You are Inspiration," The Goddess continued, "As your powers grow, you will be able to show people visions of their desires, and the various possibilities from their actions. You also have a kin with animals, so you will learn to hear them more clearly as time goes on." Suki gave her a confused look as she continued.

"Your skill with your weapon will increase as your powers return. You may have already experienced, that you are naturally talented with a staff, ne?" Kanzeon asked with a smirk.

Suki grinned, remembering all her martial arts classes, in which she was only average – until she began to practice with the staff. As soon as she had it in her hands, she was able to perform moves advanced enough to thoroughly impress her instructor, who privately tutored her due to her skill.

Kanzeon then gestured for the tallest to come forward, as Suki went back to her place in the group. The Goddess bent down and picked up a holster with a selection of knives.

"Theses are yours – tempted?" Kanzeon asked amusedly as the girls eyes gleamed in anticipation. The Goddess laughed throatily. "Tryst, Muse of Temptation, yet rarely tempted – these are your weapons."

Kanzeon frowned, realizing there was nowhere for Tryst to place her new weapons on her 'outfit'. The Goddess raised her hand, then lowered it slowly, as though wiping water off glass. When she was finished, she gave a satisfied grunt (as Goddesses do) and passed the collection to the girl, indicating where she was to strap the holster underneath her – now modified, with holes – shorts. Kanzeon looked her over as she struggled, and nodded.

"You are temptation itself. As your powers develop, so will your emotional reading skills, and your skills at bodily transfiguration. As an 'emo-path', you will also be able to 'adjust' the emotional currents around you." Tryst frowned –Emo-path? She was NOT an emo! And…body transfiguration? – She wanted to ask, but Kanzeon just pointed to her, indicating for her to go back to her friends.

The shorter brunette stepped forward next, excited. Kanzeon bent down and retrieved the last object from the pile – a leather pouch, which clinked strangely.

"Hello there Daja, Muse of Creativity." The goddess smiled sweetly – the girl instantly losing most of her enthusiasm from that smile.

Kanzeon laughed, "No need to be nervous, Muse, these are your weapons." She opened the bag and carefully teased out a leather strap, like a belt, leaving another three still in the pouch. The band was bust to wrap around either an arm or leg, and inserted into the leather were a multitude of tiny elastic loops. Through each of these loops was a long, and deceptively pretty iron needle. Each needle had a small loop of aqua blue silk at the end, tied in a pretty design.

"These are your shuriken pins - you will recover your ability to wield these with deadly accuracy. They are completely indestructible. While they may seem innocent, they were forged in the fires of Hell – and as such, only Hellfire can damage them." Kanzeon passed the bag to Daja.

"You have the gift of music. You will learn to use your voice as weapon, and as a gift to heal." She finished mysteriously.

The Goddess then raised her eyes to the last girl, who met her gaze defiantly through her long fringe. Kanzeon grinned and beckoned with a finger. The blonde walked forward slowly, to stand before the Goddess.

"Hello, Isabella. Your weapons, I must give to you reluctantly, as I have dearly enjoyed the reactions I get when I reveal them at Heavens Receptions." She smiled again and handed over the lethal objects from within her robes. The other girls gasped at their beauty, but Isabella just took a long look, then slipped them down the back of her singlet, hiding them neatly. They were, strangely, almost invisible against her back for weapons of such strange shape and design.

"You are the Muse of Strength." Isabella nodded in agreement. "You can tell truth or lies no matter how hard someone tries to hide them, and as you come into your powers, your physical strength and prowess with your weapons will increase dramatically." Kanzeon paused. "I personally think your inner strength is already almost at its peak – but there is still room to grow." She gave a knowing look to the blonde, who nodded again in agreement.

Isabella went back to stand with the others, who were all examining and adjusting their weapons in their holsters

"So," Kanzeon said, retrieving their attention "Why have I called you. Well, other than it would have been a pain in the ass for you to die natural deaths before you could be used, there is also a task at hand that specifically requires you four."

"I know you all avidly watch my boys on that television device you have in your world, and you know everything there is to know about them and their situation. As you may have already guessed, me being here with you obviously means I am real. If you follow that thought through to conclusion, you will realise that, yes, my boys and their current quest is real also. You have, in essence, truly been watching their lives."

She paused for effect, and to let the resounding truth in her words echo throughout the empty space and also in the Muses' minds. As she suspected, they blankly nodded acceptance, their supply of shock already used up for the month.

Kanzeon laughed languidly, "Alrighty, there is a task for you at hand, it has to do with a particularly annoying barrier around India…"

***

Daja continued to talk, explaining about the barrier, how the Muses were the only ones with the power to break through it, and that they must travel with the Sanzo Ikkou. As the afternoon sun faded to twilight, she leaned back against the wall next to the bed with a groan. "And, well, that's about it."

The young men had spread out in the room during the girls tale, Gojyo with his feet on the table, a full ashtray beside him. Goku was leaning on folded arms on the other side of the table, looking at the girls with wide amber eyes. Hakkai had pulled his chair closer to hear better, and Sanzo was seated on the windowsill, smoking.

"So what are your weapons?" Goku asked Isabella, "You didn't tell us what they were."

She smiled back at him. "They're special." She said evasively, successfully ending the conversation.

"So I take it Kanzeon was the one who told you to meet here, and who said that one of you would already be with us?" Hakkai asked thoughtfully, his question directed at Tryst.

"Yes." She replied, locking eyes with Gojyo briefly, who shot her a cocky grin.

"She also said we were to stick with you until you get to the barrier!" Suki said excitedly, bouncing again.

Sanzo started, almost inhaling his cigarette. He got himself under control and looked the younger girl dead in the eye.

"No." He said with finality.

"But she said you guys would help us learn more about our powers, and then we can break the barrier for you!" Suki replied, a small frown appearing on her features.

"No." Sanzo said again, and turned away.

Sniff. Sniffle.

The sound almost echoed in the small room. Sanzo's shoulders jerked. He wouldn't turn around – he wouldn't.

"Aww, Sanzo! Now you made her sad!" Goku cried

"Whatever." Sanzo said turning back around to face the girls (ignoring Suki's sniffles). "Besides," He said, "You can't fit in out ride, and I am NOT going to put up with another lot of annoying people!"

Tryst scoffed at this.

"Like you have a choice in this, Monk Boy. We ARE coming, and there is nothing you can do to stop us."

The click of the banishing gun was Sanzo's reply, as he stood aiming it straight at the girls forehead.

"Oh yeah?' He replied softly.

"Yeah." Said a quiet voice right behind him. His eyes widened – how did she?...

He spun, gun raised to see Isabella casually leaning against the window sill behind him. Her head was down, arms crossed in a relaxed stance. Sanzo snarled, lowering the gun.

"How the hell do you expect to keep up with us anyway, Muse? If that is what you are. You'll be stuck here, and we'll be long gone in the morning!"

Gojyo and Hakkai quietly watched this exchange with interest. Goku still had worried eyes on Suki, who was obviously trying hard not to cry. Daja's arm was around her, as Tryst stared at Sanzo's back in open anger, with eyes colored jet black.

"Hmph. We'll drive, of course." Isabella replied, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world, and pointed out the window at the ground below.

Hakkai and Gojyo stood, walking over to the window, as Sanzo looked down to the ground below.

"Sweet!" Gojyo exclaimed, crimson eyes sparkling at the sight.

A bright yellow VW Bug convertible was parked directly under the window. It was an older model, but looked sturdy and comfortable. It had a tumble bar across the centre, padded with black leather and matching black leather seats.

Daja piped up, "That's my car from our world. The Goddess thought we might need it, as she said Sanzo was as stubborn as a mule!." She grinned as he shot her a dark look over his shoulder.

Hakkai grinned cheerfully, and turned to Sanzo. "Well," he said "I guess we can't stop them now, can we?"

Sanzo stayed silent. Fuming and defeated, he turned, quickly leaving the room with a mutter.

"Whatever."

END CHAPTER 3!!!