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 day was uneventful, everyone packed up and was on the road at daybreak, only minor issues arising over the standard fight over breakfast between Goku & Gojyo. The girls were all in the Bug, packed and ready to go as the men headed west.
They stopped for lunch at the edge of yet another savannah, having skirted the forest they were sleeping in last night. Back on the road, sucking on Chuppa Chups and sharing the Cosmo mag around, the girls discovered something new about their adventure – sometimes, things were just plain old BORING. While the scenery was wonderful and the company could not get any better, there really wasn't much to do.
This is what must happen in between episodes, the girls thought dully to themselves. They were all thrilled when the sun started to go down as they entered yet another dense woodland. It was time to stop for the night!
As the jeep and bug came to a halt in a small clearing, everyone disembarked, Goku immediately running off into the trees his legs crossed awkwardly due to his need to pee so badly. The girls laughs turned into to groans as they got out of the car and stretched their cramped limbs. Tryst remarking how tonight seemed just right for an extended session.
The girls all agreed and began setting up their side of the camp. Gojyo and Hakkai looked at the girls curiously.
"And extended session of what?" Gojyo called out to them as they popped their tents.
"Uhhh…." Daja replied, feeling a bit apprehensive about explaining the art of Yoga to the red head, not to mention the prude of a monk.
"Yoga." Suki said, stretching to the side to loosen up.
"And what, pray tell, is Yoga?" Gojyo asked with a sultry smile at Tryst.
"It's the art of stretching one's muscles to increase the flow of blood, chi and hormones and increasing one's strength, durability and calm at he same time." Hakkai answered simply, his finger pointing to the sky. Tryst beamed at him, she couldn't have put it better.
"Why do you know about it?" Gojyo asked Hakkai, as Goku came sprinting back into the camp, immediately asking Sanzo for food. He was answered with a resounding THWACK.
"Well, as I use my Chi in battle, I had to learn all forms of Chi manipulation, including the art of Yoga, which is a variation of the classes taught by Chi Masters in China and India." Hakkai replied, "Which of you girls will be leading?".
Tryst put her hand up, as though answering a teacher in class. The girls all giggled at this, and she grinned at her own foolishness. "Me, Teacher." She said impishly.
Hakkai smiled politely. "May I join you?" He asked, much to the Tryst's shock.
"Uhh…of course! You're certainly welcome!" She felt flustered, but calmed back into her 'Yoga instructor' state soon after.
Daja was blushing furiously at the thought of Hakkai stretching, as the girls all popped into their tents to change into more flexible clothes for their class, their already thrice used outfits definitely needing a wash. Fortunately, this time around, they had camped close to a river.
Everyone emerged dressed the same – barefoot, in black yoga pants, and either a pink (suki), blue (Daja), Green (Tryst) or black (Bella) singlet top. Bella continued to wear her almost shoulder length arm guards. Hakkai chose to wear his standard outfit, minus the sash.
Informing Hakuryuu and Kit to stay by the tents, Tryst led the group into the tree's towards the river. Each of the girls was holding a towel, and a bottle of water. They found a flat clearing near the river bank, and evenly spaced, set down their towel and sat on them, cross legged, facing Tryst in a semi-circle. Hakkai sat on the grass, obviously preferring the feel of earth under his feet.
Talking softly, Tryst led them through the first breathing exercise, a simple meditation to channel ones energy. What Tryst didn't expect was the reactions each of the girls would have when combining their powers into the mix. Each of the group, Hakkai included, began to gently glow a different colour. Hakkai, of course , the standard gold, Suki a deep purple, Daja, a crystal aqua blue, Isabella, a fuscia pink, with flashes of a darker crimson. Tryst observed all of this with wonder, as each of the girls still had their eyes closed.
What do I look like? She wondered, and glanced down at her hands. She was shocked to find herself glowing a rainbow of colours, from a pale silver to deep green, then onto royal blue. The same as our eyes, she thought to herself.
Not wanting to break the glorious scene in front of her, Tryst gently explained the glow, and asked them all to remain in control and open their eyes slowly. Just like Tryst, each of them were shocked by their almost super natural light – all bar Hakkai, who merely smiled. However, due to Trysts weekly Yoga routines, the girls were able to keep calm and follow through as their leader – still soft voice – invited them to stand and begin the first round of stretches.
Every one was a bit stiff, but they eventually got into the rhythm, and were soon bending themselves as flexibly as they would have been a few days ago. Daja, not to mention the rest of the girls were quite impressed with Hakkai's overall flexibility. The man could bend. His lithe body was moving smoothly from movement to movement, and Daja caught herself more than once watching Hakkai rather than Tryst.
However, it was during the position of the arched cat, and down into the serpent, that Daja truly turned crimson – watching as Hakkai slowly pushed his hips into the grass, his eyes closed and facing the sky. She stumbled, slightly losing her balance. She pulled herself back together, and continued the stretch, ignoring the pair of green eyes watching her in query, and the three pairs of other eyes watching her in amusement.
After the session was finished, and the girls were lightly covered in sweat, they headed back to camp, deciding to have a bath at the river later. Arriving at the campfire, they found surprisingly that Gojyo had cooked. Hakkai seemed more shocked than anyone.
"Gojyo? You made this?" He queried, indicating the grilled fish, rice and pot vegetables.
"You're damn straight." Gojyo replied, flicking his long hair back over one shoulder.
"It's not as good as your's though, Hakkai!" Goku said between mouthfuls. Gojyo promptly took his bowl away from him, causing the mokey to cry out at his loss.
"What was that, you little chimp?" Gojyo asked quietly, a tick appearing at his left temple, causing his eyebrows to twitch strangely.
"Wha? Hey! Give that back you stupid cockroach! It's mine!" Goku yelled, lunging for the bowl.
"Not until you say sorry." Gojyo said angrily, still holding the bowl captive.
"Screw that! Gimme!" Gku cried, and in desperation, crash tackled the hanyou, sending them both crashing to the ground.
In the clamour that followed, the girls – still giggling helplessly – made their way to their tents, to get their bathing gear. They agreed that taking turns was safest, 1 bathing, while the other three watched the men (specifically a certain red headed lecher).
As the night continued, Daja, Tryst and Suki had bathed without incident, none of the men but Hakkai noticing their absence or change of appearance. Things were going fine. That is, until Sanzo decided he needed to go answer the call of nature.
Since it was Sanzo, the A-Sexual, and they didn't want to raise suspicion about where Isabella currently was (to Gojyo at least), they let him go, praying for the best.
Sanzo made his way into the forest, as far away from the campfire as possible. It would NOT do to have one of these annoying girls come across him pissing against a tree in the dark.
He was just tucking himself back in, when he heard a splashing sound nearby. Instantly on guard, he brought out his gun and headed in that direction, planning to surprise any youkai that thought they could ambush the group by crossing the river in the dark.
He slowed as he came closer and looked down into the inky blackness of the water. It was far too dark to see anything much, but he could make out a few ripples on the surface – as though someone had just thrown a rock in. Still suspicious, he lowered his gun slightly, eyeing the trees surrounding the area.
Suddenly, the water before him parted, and a pale shape emerged. Sanzo had already aimed his gun before he realized what he was looking at:
Isabella stood waist deep in the shallow bank of the river, water cascading off her completely naked form. Her hands were cupped and moving up her face to wipe away the water, as she had just ducked under to rinse her hair. Her fringe was pushed fully back, as she rubbed her eyes clear.
Sanzo gaped, his mouth opening slightly in shock. Even though he couldn't make out half her features in the near darkness, what he could see was… awe inspiring
Her fuscia striped blonde hair came down to her waist, and her slim, toned body was generously curved in all the right places. Her small round breasts rode high on her chest, and her pink nipples were reacting well the cold night air. Her arms, he thought suddenly, what was on her arms?
His gaze lifted to her face – Sanzo couldn't bring himself to look away and the darkness dulled the colours into a surreal black and white situation. Though her left side was completely shadowed, the right... a single, fine, brow was gracefully arched across a catlike pointed eye. A small, 2cm tattoo of a strange, almost alien symbol was etched between the outside tip of her eye and her eyebrow. Her eyelid colour was a solid pink, the same as her streaked hair. Her cheekbones were high and refined.
Sanzo stared, unable to take his eyes of her exotic face. As though sensing being watched, Isabella's fuscia eyes snapped open. She spotted the frozen monk on the bank, his face unreadable. Immediately, her arms flew up to cover her chest, and with a small yelp, she dropped back into the frigid water to her neckline.
"Just what the HELL do you think you're doing?" Isabella screamed at him, her fringe falling back onto her face due to her vehemence. Her shocked voice broke the monks' black and white trance. He struggle to compose himself as he considered the implications of a Sanzo priest being caught spying on a naked, bathing muse.
"I..uh...whatever. It's not like I saw anything... new." Sanzo stuttered rudely, as he turned and stalked back to the camp, a slight blush staining his cheeks.
Moments passed, and Isabella was shivering from more than the cold as she slowly made her way back to her clothes and redressed. What the hell was she thinking? She NEVER washed her hair, or even swam when people were watching!
"He must have seen my face." She thought suddenly. "And my arms...oh, shit..." Her depression grew as se made her way slowly back to camp, dark thoughts brewing.
As she arrived back into the firelight, rather than sit with the others, she took a seat by herself a bit further away, to slow down her still thudding heart and churning thoughts. She chanced a quick glance at Sanzo, who was studying the fire intensely, his had to his lips as he smoked a cigarette. Gojyo and Goku were arguing about something (probably the dinner leftovers), while Tryst and Suki laughed about it and Hakkai tried to mediate.
It was Daja who noticed Isabella's solitude. She made her way over to the girl quietly, and sat down beside her in the leaves.
"Hey Bella. What's wrong, sweetie?" She made her voice as soft as possible, so as not to disturb the silence and divert attention their way. Bella tucked her knees up, and buried her face in crossed arms.
"S..z... m...n...d." She mumbled.
"Sorry – didn't catch that." Daja replied, a small smile on her lips.
"Sanzo saw me naked."
There was a moment of silence before...
"WHAT?!"
Daja was on her knees in a second, as she faced her friend, her mouth open in shock. "How the HELL did he ... ah... at the river..." She put the pieces together in head, a sick feeling of guilt overtaking her.
The other three were supposed to be on guard for things like this. Daja knew Bella would not place blame on them, she wasn't the kind of person to hold a grudge but still... she was a VERY private person, and this was a pretty big invasion of her privacy. She felt bad in place of the other girls, ready to accept Bella's anger.
Instead, the blonde's shoulders began to shake with the effort of not crying, and suddenly, Daja understood. Bella was stunning; her facial features were a work of art, it was just...
"He must think I'm hideous." Bella said softly, breaking her chain of thought.
"You don't know that!" Daja said heatedly.
Isabella sniffed, tears still not forming in her eyes, such was her control. "Can you...sit with me...just for a while?"
Daja nodded in understanding. "Sure. What are friends for?"
Bella grasped her hand. "Not friends" she said, her intense eyes piercing through her fringe, "sisters."
Daja squeezed her hand in return. "Sisters." she agreed.
They sat quietly together for another hour or so, until Bella suggested they go to bed. Goku, Gojyo, Suki & Tryst had already retired, leaving Sanzo and Hakkai quietly discussing their mapped route by the dying firelight. Daja had Bella on her far side, arm around her shoulders as they made their way to their sleeping bags.
Bella kept her head down the whole way, as Daja flashed a quick glance over at the two men. Hakkai was watching them, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment. He nodded slightly, then turned his head away as his ears flushed pink. Daja's face felt hot, and she too, diverted her eyes, inadvertently looking straight into Sanzo's violet orbs.
He had a cigarette in his mouth, his eyes firmly pinned on Bella's hidden face. He was staring with a burning intensity, his face once again completely unreadable. Finally noticing Dajas eyes on him, he pulled his attention back to the map, seemingly unfazed. Daja turned her head and continued to lead the oblivious Bella to bed as she contemplated this current development.
Hakkai turned his attention to Sanzo, his own embarrassment disspating, as he watche the monks' reaction to Isabella. A small, sad smile formed on Hakkai's lips as considered the implications of this new situation. The rest of their journey was certainly going to be interesting.
***
The dawn cam swiftly across the tree tops, and over the sleeping lodgers. Awakening with the sun was something the uses were not yet used to. Slipping in a quick breakfast of left over rice, they dressed and got ready for the day – looking forward to the clean beds of the inn they were planning to reach today. The girls packed up their sleeping bags and poptents (which still fascinated Hakkai to no end), loading everything in the newly morphed bug.
Isabella was already seated in the front, her attention towards the rest of the group who were laughing, as Goku and Gojyo once again arguing over breakfast. He lips curled into an amused smile at the playful banter between the cockroach and the chimp. It was due to this, that she didn't hear the soft footfalls behind her, until Sanzo grunted.
"Hey." Bella froze, slowly turning her head towards him.
"I wanted to say...sorry...for last night. It was an accident." He paused waiting for a reply. She sat silently, focusing on her feet as se considered his words. After a few uncomfortable moments, and she still had not moved, Sanzo grunted in annoyance. Obviously, the girl doesn't realise how much that little speech had cost his pride!
"You're lying."
The soft voice came from behind him as he turned away. He twisted his head, a single eye watching her as his brows furrowed in confused anger. Bella lifted her head, allowing him to glimpse one of her catlike eyes, a small smile gracing her features.
"What you said last night – you were lying." Sanzo's eyes widened, and he turned away stiffly, a light pink tinge staining his cheeks. He walked straight legged back to the jeep, ignoring everyone, took his seat in the front and pulled out a cigarette with cold fingers.
Goku broke off his fight with Gojyo and bounded over to Sanzo, concern in his eyes. "Hey, Sanzo – you OK? You're all red and..." THWACK!
"I'm fine you stupid monkey! Just get in and let's go." He turned his attention forward, ignoring the world.
The girls standing with Gojyo and Hakkai passed looks from the grumpy blonde passenger in the Jeep, to the mysterious blonde passenger in the Bug. Tryst grinned, feeling the emotions in the air. "Well, Ladies, I think that's our cue to get going."
"Awww, what about breakfast?" Suki whined, not wanting to leave on a half empty stomach.
"C'mon glutton – I'll give you something in the car." Daja chuckled, grabbing Suki's hand and leading her away.
"I'll see you on the road, Goku!" The younger girl called out, waving merrily.
Goku nodded and grinned cheekily. He was really starting to like Suki's company. She could eat lots, climb trees and fight with a weird bladed staff –just like him! She was always up for his pranks, and –unlike Sanzo – she thought he was funny! He grinned again. Suki also had this way of laughing that always made him feel ticklish in his stomach, kind of like if he had swallowed beetles. He also hadn't forgotten that time she had kissed his cheek either. He blushed at the memory.
As the cars skidded off the mark, Goku looked back to see Suki in the bug, head thrown back, exposing her neck as she laughed at some joke just told. He wanted to touch her skin, to see if it felt the same as how it looked – like snow. He took a moment to consider this, and then blushed furiously when he realised that this was one of those 'perverted' things Gojyo was always talking about.
Goku shook his head furiously – he was NOT like Gojyo! That perverted ero kappa pnly thoguth about one thing, and Goku did not even want to know the details when he began talking about his latest 'conquest'.
He continued to ponder this newest enigma in his otherwise uncomplicated life of food, fighting and Sanzo. He watched as she joked with her friends, gesturing animatedly with her hands. He had that strange feeling in his stomach again.
Gojyo noticed the monkeys silence first. He focused his attention at the young fire haired woman that was so captivating the monkey.
"Yeah, she sure is cute." He said to no one inparticular. "I wonder if she had a boyfriend back in that world she came from?"
Goku whirled aroung at that comment, as Gojyo knew he would. "Do you think so?" He asked, his eyes full of disappointment.
Before Gojyo could make another cutting remark, Sanzo said, "Who cares? It's not like their lives are any of our concern anyway."
"Which reminds me," Hakkai cut in, "we still haven't found out HOW they know so much about us – and I doubt Kanzeon Bosatsu gave them a complete rundown of our life stories before sending them here."
Sanzo frowned at this – that question had been playing on his mind also. Just who were these girls? Muses? Check. Strange? Double check. Supposedly allies? Half check – they still had yet to earn his trust. But what about their lives? How had those girls, in their world, come to know so much about the each member of his group? This needed to be resolved. Today.
***
END CHAPTER 6