Pairings/Characters (for this chapter): Lirin, Kougaiji, Genjo Sanzo's reincarnation, Koumyou Sanzo's reincarnation
Rating (for this chapter): G
Chapter summary: Jinhai goes to the temple to submit his report. Kougaiji and Lirin tag along.
A/N: Lakshanya means 'one who achieves.' I got the name off of the Internet and thought it would be an appropriate name for the character.

I realize that technically, Kougaiji and Lirin are from India, but it feels really weird to have Lirin call Kougaiji the Indian equivalent of "oniisan," so I'll be sticking with that. Also, I really do prefer Lirin's colors (hair and eye colors) in the anime compared her colors in the manga so I'll be going with that.
Word count (for this chapter): ~1,278

Chapter Five: Backtrack

Jinhai and Kougaiji stood under the large ornate archway that decorated the front of the church. The rain was slowing down to a drizzle as Jinhai watched the youkai emperor make a call on his cell phone.

"Yes, that big stone church … I know, you don't have to remind me … What? Why is she—? Never mind. Just hurry up." Kougaiji slid the phone shut and into his pocket, a slightly exasperated look on his face. "We'll be sharing the car with someone."

Jinhai shrugged, not really caring either way. He shifted his grip on his coat and umbrella, and tried not to tap his foot impatiently. He tried to ignore the way the fading afternoon sunlight slanted across Kougaiji's features and kept his eyes peeled for a sign of a car.

When one finally pulled up to the front of the church, Jinhai had to blink a couple of times before he remembered that he was with the youkai emperor. Hard to do that when Kougaiji seemed so … nondescript.

The car that pulled up in front of them was black, sleek, and hovered five inches above the ground on the latest hovercraft technology. Soft blue light came from the suspensors installed in lieu of wheels. It wasn't quite big enough to be called a limousine, but it seemed pretty roomy. Jinhai didn't doubt that the tinted windows were bulletproof.

Jinhai expected the driver to hop out of the car and open the door for Kougaiji, but he reached out and opened it for himself, revealing a backseat that was all dark leather. A young youkai woman who looked like she was in her late twenties was sitting inside, looking at her PDA. Her bright orange hair contrasted with her black suit. She looked up when the door opened, and smiled. "Yo, 'niisan."

"Lirin," the emperor replied, a smile on his face. He got in the car and settled down beside the woman. Jinhai followed suit and closed the door behind him, feeling an odd sense of finality at the dull click it made.

"Where to, sir?" the driver asked, not even turning around.

Kougaiji glanced at Jinhai. The policeman rolled his eyes and gave the driver the address. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Lirin looking at him curiously. Not feeling comfortable at all—what with Lirin practically staring at him and Kougaiji's closeness—Jinhai crossed his arms and slouched back in his seat.

"'Niisan," Lirin said, "you've got a meeting later this evening." She brandished her PDA in Kougaiji's face. "And you can't make Lakshanya go in your place again. The lords want to meet with you, and they'll be offended if you send a proxy. Even considering Lakshanya's status."

Kougaiji sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I know. But those meetings are completely boring."

Lirin laughed. "Oh, how the tables have turned. Remember when you had to drag me to these things?"

Feeling decidedly left out, Jinhai watched the scenery flit past the windows. He wondered what he would tell his superiors when he arrived. He was supposed to be bringing back a sutra, not a member of youkai royalty.

"Oh, I forgot," Kougaiji suddenly said, sitting up a bit straighter. "Jinhai, this is my younger sister, Lirin. Lirin, police officer Chen Jinhai."

"Hi," Lirin said cheerfully, reaching across her brother to offer her hand to Jinhai. "Nice to meet you, Chen-xian sheng."

Jinhai mumbled a reply and didn't bother shaking Lirin's hand. Instead of being offended, Lirin snorted in amusement and sat back in her seat.

Something about her easy smile seemed to trigger something at the back of Jinhai's mind. Ignoring the nagging feeling, he looked out the window again. He ended up staring at the back of the passenger seat while Kougaiji and Lirin talked.

"We're here," the driver said a few minutes later. The car came to a stop that Jinhai didn't even feel, and he quickly opened the door and stepped out. Kougaiji followed and paused on the sidewalk, looking back at Lirin.

"I'll just wait in the car, 'niisan," Lirin said, eyes riveted on whatever she was doing on her PDA.

"You'd better stay here too," Jinhai told Kougaiji. "I'll be back soon enough." Kougaiji began to protest but Jinhai cut him off. "I don't think the monks inside this temple would appreciate a youkai entering it." Kougaiji shut his mouth and simply sent Jinhai a look before climbing back into the car and closing the door.

Jinhai walked up to the front of the building before of him and pressed the doorbell. It processed his fingerprint and there was an audible click as the front door was automatically unlocked. Jinhai opened it and entered the building, pausing just inside to let his eyes adjust to the bright fluorescent lights. The hall was made even brighter by the light reflecting off the steel walls.

Jinhai made his way towards the head monk's office. He knocked on the door and waited for a response, crossing his arms in front of his chest. After a few minutes with no answer, he knocked again, tapping his foot impatiently.

"I see you're back."

A young man walked up to Jinhai, a smile on his face. He was wearing the traditional robes of a monk and held a sheaf of papers under one arm. "I wasn't expecting you back until later this evening. Is everything all right?" He opened the door to his office and stepped inside. Jinhai followed and closed the door behind him.

"Everything's fine, sir," Jinhai replied evenly. "I just wanted to report that the sutra that was supposedly at the church wasn't there."

The head monk smiled sheepishly. "Actually, one of our people delivered it this morning."

"What?"

"We received it this morning, right after you went off to look for it. It was with a retired soldier. We tried to contact you, but the rain was interfering with the commlink frequencies." The monk shuffled the papers on his desk and added, "Sorry, Jinhai."

"It's okay, sir," Jinhai said. "If there's no other lead I need to follow up on …?"

"Actually, there is." The monk beamed. "Computers picked up traces of spiritual energy somewhere to the northeast; I'm not sure where, but they should have the exact location on the info sheet. They believe that it may be another one of the sutras."

Jinhai nodded. "I'll go check it out."

"We'll send in your copy to take over your work for you. This one may take some time."

"Thank you, sir." With one last bow, the head monk handed him a folder with needed details about the sutra and gave Jinhai a pat on the shoulder. Jinhai stepped outside the office and made his way back to the front of the building.

Kougaiji's car sat idling on the street. The door to the backseat opened before Jinhai could reach it, and he got in without saying anything.

"Well?" Kougaiji asked. Lirin glanced up at him from her PDA, curiosity evident on her face.

"I'm going to the Gobi desert."

The head monk turned on the security feed that linked up to his computer and watched as Jinhai got into a waiting car.

He smiled wistfully. Out of all the times their lives had crossed paths—including the one where he'd been blessed to have Jinhai as his own son—this was the one that reminded him most of Sanzo.

He never mentioned it to Jinhai, knowing that it would do nothing except anger him, but sometimes he wished that he could tell him why they had such a strong bond.