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.
***
The next morning, the Sanzo Ikkou was already downstairs in the dining area of the inn.
"Saaaaaaaanzo! I'm Huuuuuugry!!!"
THWACK!
"Quiet Bakasaru! We've already ordered, so just wait!" Sanzo growled at the whining monkey.
"Yeah! You're not the only one who's hungry!" Gojyo chimed in, earning himself an irate glare from the younger boy. Gojyo just smirked, leaning back in his chair.
"So, what do you all think?" Hakkai asked, breaking the rare silence as he patted the small white dragon on his shoulder. Goku was still grumbling about his unfair treatment.
"'Bout what?" Sanzo replied.
"About yesterday, of course. And this new situation we seem to have landed in, or, to put it correctly – the new situation that has landed on us." His usually smiling face was serious now, as he glanced around the table, eyeing each of his group carefully. "I'm truthfully a bit apprehensive about their – or should I say, Kanzeon's – idea of travelling with us."
Sanzo raised a surprised brow. Hakkai was usually the one who tried to convince him to go along with these kind of hair brained ideas – the fact that he was undecided must mean that he is taking this decision far more seriously than his usual laid back, 'go along with anything' attitude.
"Well I personally wouldn't mind having a bit of female company for a while." Gojyo chimed in, a lecherous smile on his face. "And besides, those girls are HOT. I mean, come on, even you must have been a little turned on my one of 'em, Sanzo."
"What are you talking about?" Sanzo growled, turning his head in the other direction.
"Oh, come ON! Wait… unless you're a homo… are you? Shit – I'd better watch my ass." Gojyo's grin dropped as the loaded banishing gun was aimed directly at his forehead.
"You got a death wish?" Sanzo snarled, all pretence of ignoring Gojyo flying out the window, as an angry tick appeared on his temple. Gojyo sweat dropped, raising his hands in defeat.
"Homo?" Goku asked curiously, looking from Sanzo to Gojyo in obvious confusion. Hakkai chuckled nervously, and diverted Goku's attention by pointing out that the food had begun to arrive. As the monkey began to eat, with gusto, while fighting off the recovered and ravenous kappa, Hakkai turned to Sanzo.
"So, what do we do?" He asked the monk softly. "Sanzo?"
The blonde man sighed, stubbing his cigarette and pinching the bridge of his nose with his other hand. This was difficult and complicated. The girls – he hesitated to think of them as Muses – were obviously not from their world, based on their looks, clothing and the little detail of their car. They were apparently sent to help the Sanzo Ikkou, yet instead of being placed at the so called barrier – which he was still sceptical, actually existed – they were sent to travel with them, so that their own powers could develop over time.
Sanzo growled his frustrations at interfering, annoying Goddesses. Why couldn't Kanzeon just have dropped them in India, and told them to develop their powers while they waited for the Sanzo group to appear? Had she just done this for kicks?
Up in heaven, a certain Merciful Goddess, laughed – enjoying the confusion she had caused.
"We should leave before they do. Unless we actually stop them by force - which I am not the least hesitant to do - we can't exactly stop them from following. Not when they have their own ride." He frowned, deep in thought at the implications of having this new group follow after them.
"I think you're right." Hakkai broke into Sanzo's thoughts with the quiet comment. "I would not hesitate to stop them, if I felt that there would be a danger. However, at least three of them have proven themselves capable fighters, and really, I would worry about them knowing they were going west anyway and we refused to at least offer hospitality."
Sanzo grunted at the man's soft heart. Hakkai continued, "Really, who are we to tell them where to go? If they are travelling west, that is their decision, and the fact that they happen to have been sent by heaven seems like a bit of a hint, if you ask me. Besides, they ARE going to break this barrier around India for us, and apart from following us, they really haven't asked for anything in return."
"That doesn't make them any more trustworthy – In fact, it makes them less so. What do they want?" Sanzo interrupted.
"I guess we'll find out. Here they come." Hakkai indicated to the dining room entrance, where the girls were standing, yawning in the early morning light that streamed through the windows.
"Shit." Sanzo grumbled, watching them make their way over to the table, Suki's eyes gleaming at the food piled high before the men.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Hakkai-san, Sanzo-sama," Daja said politely, dipping her head. Sanzo grunted again. Hakkai smiled politely back, returning the greeting, and inviting the girls to sit – all the while ignoring the death glare he was receiving from the monk.
The girls sat quietly, Suki trying to sneak Goku's bacon as he pigged out. The waitress came around and took their order, plus a second round for the ever hungry Goku. They each sat quietly, the girls still waking up, the men busy eating or reading the paper. The girls' meals arrived, as the table continued its silence.
Tryst fidgeted. The silence was starting to become deafening. She sighed, trying to think of something to say, when she noticed Gojyos eyes on her once again, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"What?" She asked, a little rudely. Gojyo smirked, enjoying his view. Before he could make another sound, Gojyo was thrown from his chair by a swift kick to the back from Sanzo.
"That hurt, you know!" The kappa yelled, still flat on his face.
"Don't start. I was trying to have a quiet meal for once." The monk growled as Gojyo picked himself up, snarling. The girls all giggled behind their hands at the classic moment, their meals now finished.
Sanzo stood abruptly after this outburst. "Hakkai, let's go."
Hakkai stood, his once again, overly happy face plastered back on. "Come on, now Goku, Gojyo." He said cheerfully, and bowed slightly to the girls – they got the hint, and immediately started to move. Gojyo and Goku weren't far behind; Goku still complaining that he didn't get enough to eat.
The two groups exited together, blinking as they entered the bright morning sunlight.
"Hakuryuu, transform, please?" Hakkai asked politely to the small white dragon on his shoulder.
"Kit…uh, change?" Daja requested quietly to the small black feline in her arms.
As the two vehicles materialized in twin globes of light, Sanzo scoffed at the cat. He has found out that little charmer of a secret only this morning, as he had exited his room – hi nose still itched to sneeze; even though the cat was now a car.
The girls piled into the bug as Daja opened the hood to pile in the supplies they had bought earlier. She was confronted by 10 large packages, almost completely filling the small space. Then it clicked.
"Oh my GOD! Guys! Look at this!" She proceeded to pull out four various styled large bags and four tightly rolled sleeping bags. "The pop tents are in here too!!" She squealed, practically bouncing in excitement.
"No WAY!" Tryst cried as Daja flung a bright red bag her way. "Our stuff must have still been in your trunk for our camping trip the next day!!" She greedily dug in for her sunnies and water bottle.
"Wow!" Suki squealed, as she collected her own yellow bag. The young men were watching this entire display with dumbfounded looks, Sanzo's cigarette hanging low in his mouth.
Bella grinned as she caught her black duffel bag, and pulled out a large packet of Chuppa Chups. "Sweet." She said, showing the other girls her prize, and sharing them around.
Tryst sat back in her seat behind the driver, red Prada sunnies on, retrieved water bottle in hand and a strawberry chuppa chup sticking out of her mouth. "Now THIS is a road trip." She groaned, as Gojyo drooled slightly in the jeep, watching Tryst suck the lollipop, and imagining all the other things she could be doing in the same way.
Suki laughed in the seat next to Tryst, putting on her reflective white Oakley wraparounds as she grinned cheekily over at Goku. In the front passenger seat, Isabella slipped on a pair of black Arnett's with extra large 'butterfly' lenses, successfully covering most of her face in case the wind knocked her fringe aside. Daja got into the drivers seat and started the car, placing her own chocolate brown Dolce sunnies on the bridge of her nose as glanced over at the young men.
Sanzo made a noise like, "Hrmph" and stared straight ahead. "Hakkai. Let's go," was all he said. Hakkai nodded politely, as Gojyo yelled out, "Hope you can keep up, Ladies."
Daja put her car in gear, foot on the accelerator and released the clutch as Tryst yelled back, "Hope you BOYS enjoy the view of our tailpipe!" Gojyo just grinned, enjoying the playful banter the tempting muse.
They headed off, the Jeep constantly leading the Bug west.
***
The first night camping was an experience; especially since Gojyo tried every trick he had (unsuccessfully) to get one of the girls (specifically Tryst) to sleep in his tent or vice versa:
"You know, girls, here, it's perfectly normal to have a strong male protector in your tent with you, so…"
"Nice try kappa – no chance."
"..As I was saying, it gets REALLY cold out here in the woods at night, so we usually combine our body warmth by removing our clothes and…"
"…And sleeping in separate tents? Great idea – we'll do that."
"…And when…"
THWACK
The harisen darted out to smack the lecher across the head. Hard.
It was 3 days and nights to the next sign civilisation according to Hakkai, and the girls, not to mention the Sanzo party, were on constant alert for berserk Youkai. They had a brief and pointless skirmish with a group of 5 Youkai, who were dispatched of before the girls could even get out of the car.
During the long journey hours, the girls chatted, catching up on all the things they would have, had they survived in their world. The thought sobered them, as they once again came back to thoughts of what they had left behind. Surprisingly, it was Bella who continued to pull them out of their dark thoughts, reminding them that none of them really had it easy back in their old lives, and while they might be gone from there, they were HERE, they were ALIVE and they were having the greatest adventure of their lives with their ultimate heroes.
The other girls responded to this, and their overlapping talk turned to the Sanzo party, and how cool it was to actually be here – it was absolutely surreal! They each put in their input about how similar each of the boys was to their manga/anime counter parts. They commented on how all of the surrounding colours were so vivid, and how the land seamlessly melted from desert to river to forest and back again.
Suki breathed deep, leaning her head back as she finally asked the question she had wanted to bring up this whole time. "So guys… what language are we speaking right now?"
Tryst turned and looked at her strangely over the top of her Prada sunnies. "Uhhh… English…duhh… you know, the language you've been speaking from age 1?" She laughed. Daja snorted from the drivers' seat. Isabella frowned.
"Sooo...we're not speaking Japanese or anything? 'Cos I was under the impression that this particular story was translated from Japanese originally...but we know that it's not a story any more, so...what language are we actually speaking?" Suki asked again, confused.
Tryst stopped laughing, her face turning serious. Daja too, became more intent on the question. It was Isabella who answered Suki.
"I take it we are simply comprehending. We can still understand each other. Sanzo's group can understand us – perhaps it is just some kind of divine intervention or magic. Maybe we've started speaking Japanese. Maybe everyone in this world already speaks English. Either way, I don't think it is something we should dwell on – I mean, if we DID'NT understand anyone, then, yeah – I'd worry. But for now, I think we should take this as a blessing." She lay back in her seat, and pulled out a new Chuppa Chup.
Tryst turned to Suki with a satisfied expression after Isabella's explanation. "So, does that answer your question?" Daja smiled as Suki nodded. Obviously not satisfied with the answer whatsoever, but accepting it because whatever Bella said, in her eyes was Gold cast truth.
They continued to follow behind the jeep for a further few hours, talking about movies, music, really anything to pass the time. As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the two cars left the grasslands and entered into a lush forest area, only going in about 30 feet, before being unable to continue.
The groups dismounted from their vehicles, and began walking the area, stretching their legs and checking for danger. It was a standard exercise among the men, and they proceeded to set up tents and build a campfire as the girls pulled out their own sleeping arrangements.
The night fell swiftly, a billion stars lighting up the sky in place of the elusive moon, as Hakkai gently stirred the contents of the post hanging over the fire. Goku and Suki were watching the pot with the avid attention of two hungry animals. Gojyo was lying on his back, cigarette in mouth, gazing at the stars. Sanzo was Sanzo, lazing moodily about 6 feet away from everyone else, smoking and staring off into an invisible distance, only he seemed to be able to see.
Daja, Tryst and Isabella were seated near the campfire, enjoying the fact that even though it wasn't the same, they were still camping after all. They murmured quietly to each other, as they watched Hakkai dish out dinner, which was a combination of both groups supplies. The group had settled in for the night.
After dinner Tryst was looking through her bag for her toothbrush when she came across an unexpected surprise.
"Hey! Guys! Check it out! One of my Cosmo's is in here!" Suki hiccupped in surprise and scooted over to Tryst, ripping the magazine out of her hands and holding it in her arms like a new born baby, cooing to it.
Daja and Tryst both cracked up at her antics, leaning over her shoulders, as Isabella grinned and sat closer to Suki so that they could flip through the magazine together under the firelight. There was a reverent silence as the girls opened the cover, and scanned the glossy pages, noting the issue as December 08.
The talk started then, a mixture of strange bird like squawks, snorting noises of condescension and words that made absolutely NO sense to the group of seated men. This was overlapped by names and places that did not seem to sound real, along with the occasional disagreement and shout of surprise.
Hakkai was watching them with curious patience, wanting to look at this 'magazine' himself. Sanzo grumped, and lifted himself off the ground, heading for his tent. Goku yawned monstrously, and followed after Sanzo sleepily, rubbing his eyes. Gojyo lounged back watching the girls with content.
An hour and a half later, the girls had gotten to the end of the magazine, soaking up absolutely every bit of the, now rare, pop culture that they could from the brightly coloured pages. Hakkai coughed quietly to Gojyo, whose turn it was to keep first watch for the evening. Gojyo looked at him questioningly, then swept his eyes back to the girls, who had already headed for bed, taking the magazine with them. Gojyo smiled to himself, he would very much like to read that particular item – especially the part that had made each of the girls blush red – something about a 'sealed section'? Oh well, he supposed he'd get the chance tomorrow. He settled himself for the nights watch.
Hakkai gracefully got to his feet, silently making his way to his tent, with a cheerful "Goodnight, Gojyo". He also would like to read the 'magazine', but was more patient, and would simply enquire about it with the young ladies tomorrow morning. Especially if it could give him further insight into the world they were from.
***
Two hours had passed since the girls had gone to bed, when Tryst awoke to the call of nature.
"Shit." She grumbled, tossing aside her warm sleeping bag as she stepped out of the tent and into the crisp night air. She stood in the dark, clasping her hands and stretching her arms high above her head, wondering when was the last time she had done her yoga stretches. Her pyjama singlet top slid up to her ribs as she sighed. Not since the day before she got Daja's place. Dropping her arms, she made her way into the trees, not noticing the pair of glittering crimson eyes watching her every step.
Finishing her business, she emerged from the bushes, shivering slightly from the cold. Suddenly, she whipped her head up as she felt emotions begin to clog the air around her. Gojyo was sitting on the other side of the campfire, watching her with a lazy grin, obviously waiting for her return.
Trysts eyes narrowed as she identified the emotion in the air; lust. God, the one she hated above all else – but then, what could she expect from the womanizing water sprite? It always seemed funny, and kinda cute to her when she saw him do it on TV, knowing that he was too much of a good person to take a woman against her will. But now that she was here, alone in the dark, with the infamous lecher – she wasn't so clear on his intentions – especially with his overly strong emotion clogging the air around her like so much fog.
"Why don't you join me?" Gojyo asked quietly, indicating the spot next to him by the fire. "I can see you're cold."
"Well, that's why I am going back to my nice, warm sleeping bag. Me 'n' Daja always sleep real close, to share body warmth." She replied, declining his overly obvious suggestion.
Gojyo's eyes gleamed at the thought of the two girls sleeping closely together. Tryst rolled her eyes, her patience wearing, as the lust in the air became almost tangible.
"Why do you act like this?" She snapped at him suddenly, surprising herself and him in the process. "You act like a horny school boy, who's only out to dip his wick in anything with two feet and a heartbeat!"
Gojyo's mouth popped open at the bluntly vulgar accusation, but Tryst wasn't finished yet. Arms folded over her chest, she glared at him over the campfire.
"I know more about you than you think, Sha Gojyo. I know why you feel you need to supply yourself with fresh faces every night. I know why it's never enough, no matter how many women you sleep with. I also know, that you happen to be a good person." Her voice lowered here as she felt her sincerity start to overpower his lust. "I know what it's like to feel unwanted by the person who's supposed to protect you, too. I know what it's like…" Her voice broke, as she realised she was beginning to reveal too much.
Gojyo looked at her in shock. How does she know all that? He thought darkly to himself. And what does she mean – she knows what it's like?
Tryst shuddered as she felt new emotions fill the air in response to her outburst: suspicion, anger and….the slightest hint of fear. She sighed – she'd done it again, pushed away another guy so they didn't get too close – she was really getting good at that. She turned to leave, but was stopped by a quiet voice.
"Wait. You said all that, like it was a fact. Like you've known me for years – but I've only just met you 2 days ago. How do you know anything? How can you judge me, oh Muse of Temptation." Gojyo queried harshly. His breath was heavy as he prepared himself for a scathing rebuke from the woman. I knew it, he thought, She is just a fucking cocktease.
Tryst was silent for a moment, before giving him a sad smile. "I can't answer that in a way that you would understand, nor do I want to. But I can tell you, that I have faith in you. I believe you are a good person not because of what I THINK I know, but because of the faith I have in you as a person. You are a loud, obnoxious, lecherous cockroach. But you are also a trustworthy, honourable and loyal companion – at least to your friends. I believe that a man who shows faith in his friends, deserved others to show faith in him."
Gojyo was silent for a moment contemplating the girls' words. When he spoke, Tryst was surprised, and a little hopeful, to find that the air was completely free of emotion – a sign that truth was being spoken.
"So, do you think there could be a chance of a guy like me ever meaning anything special to a Muse?"
Tryst's eyes widened – she hadn't expected this. Her heart thudded in her chest at his honest words.
"Who's to say you don't already?" She replied, climbing back into the poptent.
Before closing the zip, she called out quietly, "But that doesn't mean you don't have to work for it." She grinned at his shocked face, and climbed back into her sleeping bag beside a drowsing Daja, her body still quivering from excitement.
Gojyo lay back by the fire, a new cigarette on his lips as his mind churned over the conversation he's just had. He was confused. Did she like him, or not? She said he might mean something special to her. He understood the foreign language of female well enough to know she felt something for him – but what? Just another pretty face to bed? Well, she IS Temptation, after all.
Still, he couldn't help the small, honestly happy smile that crept up on him as the night wore on.
END CHAPTER 5