Hi guys! I'm alive! Sorry for not updating any sooner! School's been getting busy and finals are coming up soon. I hope you all understand. I'll do my best to update as fast as I can while trying to get good grades. (Multi-tasking is SO hard!)

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Saiyuki. I just own my original scenes, characters, and story idea.

Enjoy!

Culture Shock

Chapter 5: Lotus Blossom

A teen Aoi sighed contently while looking at Japan's sunset. She looked up at the person whose lap she was sitting on. "Hey now, aren't I a bit too heavy? Your lap should be a bit numb by now.

The young man ran his hand through her hair lazily. "Nah, I don't mind. You hardly weigh anything anyways. You're just a kid."

"I'm fourteen summers old!"

The person raised his eyebrows. "My point exactly."

Aoi pouted. "But you're only four years older than me! That doesn't make you a full fledged adult either!"

"Actually, it does."

"Meanie!" Aoi stuck her tongue out and crossed her arms childishly. "Just you wait! I'll become a woman before you know it! Then, I'll find some cute guy in my village to marry and become the best demonslayer in the island! No, the WORLD!"

"Oh no, poor guy."

Aoi punched his shoulder harshly. "Stop that! I'm serious about this!"

"Okay, okay, fine. When you grow older, I'm sure that you'll become a beautiful woman." The young man said sarcastically. Then, in a much more serious tone, he added, "When that happens, promise that I'll be the one who decides whether or not that 'cute guy' is worthy for your hand or not."

"No." Aoi told him defiantly.

"Aoi-

"No way! I'll choose him by myself! I'll find a guy who likes me even though I have weird, blue hair and that strange peony flower on my chest." Aoi claimed loudly. The young man chuckled. "I bet you will. You're already beautiful, Aoi. Your hair and birthmark are too."

"No they're not." Aoi muttered dully. Her excitement was snuffed out, now that her strange traits were brought up.

"Yes they are." The young man insisted. "Blue. Do you know how beautiful that color is? It's the complete opposite of that disgusting red color that appears every single time a person hurts another. I love your hair color, Aoi."

"But my birthmark…"

"Did you know that the flower looks more like a lotus blossom than a peony?" He asked aloud. Aoi gave him a quizzical look. "What's a lo-tus?"

"It's a beautiful, pink flower that blooms in the mud and makes the world fragrant. It's my favorite flower. Maybe, one day I'll manage to get a hold of one and show it to you. They're pretty rare in these parts but I bet I'll get my hands on them in the trading market."

Aoi grinned. "I can't wait!"

The young man gently took her hand and placed it over her heart, the place where her strange birthmark was.

"It's fitting that your birthmark resembles them. You're just like the beautiful lotus blossoms that bloom in the mud. You make the dirtied world just a little more cleaner with your presence." The young man told her sincerely.

Aoi blushed at his unexpected complement. "Really?"

"Really, really."

But you forgot to mention that, in the end, they would wither and sink back down into the mud it was born from.

Just like us

(About 9 years later)

"What…the hell?"

Aoi's eye twitched uncontrollably as she took in the sight. She knew that her adorable, loveable, innocent, best friend would eventually mature and become a woman but she never expected that day to come this soon. She thought that they would spend a couple more years together as single friends before Kasumi found some kind guy who could take care of her and love her, as she deserved to be loved.

But no…

Kasumi was sleeping deeply in Gojyo's arms. She was sleeping there with no care in the world. She probably had no idea what was going on. She was innocent like that. That red haired hanyou probably took advantage of her.

That. Perverted. Bastard.

The rest of the Sanzo-ikkou, Suzume and Yuki included, watched silently. Hakkai saw the dark aura around the blue haired girl and shook his head. "Miss Aoi, please be easy on him."

Aoi wordlessly took out a metal club out of nowhere with a dangerous glint in her eye.

Hakkai sighed. "I'll take that as a 'no'." He stood up and made his way to where the supplies were. Now where was that first aid kit?

"I'm hungry!"

Ah, that all too familiar cry for food. Aoi was beginning to get used to hearing it. Though it was a bit different this time. Because Hakuryuu needed a break in being their ride, the group had to walk. Aoi didn't mind that much, though. She was used to traveling like this. Japan didn't have any self-moving carriages. She whistled a small, catchy tune and walked on. Beating up that perverted kappa really did take away all the stress. Aoi made note that the next time she got this stressed she'd do it again.

Gojyo (still alive) limped a little, having been through the beating of his life. He shivered. He'd make sure to not to repeat that incident again. He was this close to death (Of course, those bastards didn't help. They just sat back and laughed their ass off) and if it wasn't for Kasumi stepping in and defending him, he'd be a bloody pulp.

As if hearing his thoughts, Kasumi turned to him and gave him a wide smile. The fox ears on her head perked up like a puppy would when it's praised she's even wagging her tail – wait, she has a tail too?

"Cool! Kasumi, you have a tail! Can I touch it?" Goku asked excitedly. Kasumi nodded. "Okay, but don't pull, Goku. My tail is a bit sensitive."

Suzume smiled a little at the sight and stopped for a moment to watch. Her feet were getting a little tired so pausing for even a moment was a relief to her. Sanzo noticed this and stopped too. "Who told you two that you could stop?"

Gojyo rolled his eyes. "No need to get all pissy. We're just taking a little break."

Yuki took off her sandal and chucked it at Gojyo's face. It landed spot onto its target with a loud slap. "Get your ass moving or I'll kick it all the way to the next town, you damned kappa."

Sanzo patted her on the head and gave her an apple. Yuki took it with a wide grin. "Next time, hit him harder."

"Kouryuu!" Suzume shot him a look. "Stop encouraging her violence!"

"Oh great, a mini-Sanzo-in-training." Gojyo moaned while peeling the sandal off of his face. "Just what I needed."

Goku clapped. "Bull's eye, Yuki! That was great!"

"Yeah, it was a perfect throw, wasn't it?" Yuki agreed while smirking. She retrieved her sandal and put it back on. "Want me to teach you so you can do it too?"

"Really?" Goku asked her hopefully. Yuki nodded. "Uh huh, and we'll use kappa here as a target because moving things are harder to hit than just trees!"

"LIKE HELL YOU RUNTS ARE!"

"That sounds great!" Goku cheered, completely ignoring Gojyo.

Aoi came in between them while laughing. "Okay now, kids. No need to bully him when you know that he's down. I already beat his ass this morning so bug off."

Yuki made a mocking gasp. "Aoi? You're defending him? Don't tell me you've fallen for his 'charms'!"

Gojyo smirked. "Never knew you had a thing for me there, girlie."

Aoi whacked the purple-eyed girl over the head and glared daggers at the hanyou in a way that made him gulp. "Shut up! I just want to keep walking! This is the first time since I got dumped here to walk in nature by foot! And don't call me girlie!"

Kasumi grinned. "You're beginning to accept Gojyo, Aoi! I'm glad that you two are beginning to become friends! I don't really like it when the two people I like don't like each other so I'm happy that you're trying!"

Hakkai patted her shoulder encouragingly. "You are beginning to achieve the impossible: Resisting the urge to kill him. I commend you for your hard work, Miss Aoi."

Aoi blushed fiercely at the contact and jumped away. "Y-Yeah…but don't get too comfortable, hanyou!" She said, turning to Gojyo. "I'll still kill you if you take advantage of Kasumi's innocence again!"

"I never doubted that for a second." Gojyo muttered.

Suzume had a distant look on her eyes again. She swayed a little so Sanzo had to steady her a little. "Oi, what's wrong?"

"Something…something's wrong. Youkai are coming this way." She muttered.

"So? That's normal." Goku stated from where he was standing. Just after he said that, the forest became deathly still and quiet.

Hakuryuu, from his perch on Hakkai's shoulder, began to get a little nervous. He began to make alarmed squawking noises. Kasumi placed her hands over the poor dragon's eyes. "Shhh, it's okay. I know it's scary but nothing's going to hurt you while we're around, 'kay?"

Yuki scowled. "Oh goodie. Looks like the Old Hag screwed up big time. Aoi, you have your armor on under your clothes, right?"

"Yeah, I dressed into them this morning."

Gojyo and the others shared a quizzical look between each other. "What's the matter?"

Ignoring Gojyo's question, Yuki began snapping orders to the others. "Suzume, stay back with me and make sure the others won't become youkai-brunch by putting up a barrier. Aoi, take the left. Kasumi, take the right. You both just slaughter as much as you can. Kasumi, how many do you think are there?"

Kasumi sniffed the air.

"A lot more than usual. I think their plan is to go all out."

Yuki cursed.

"There is NO WAY that I'm going to be babysitted by a baby!" Sanzo snapped at the silver-haired girl. "And I don't need any help from you women when fighting youkai."

"With these youkai, you will." Aoi told him while smirking. She pointed at the revolver. "That thing won't be able to do shit to what you're going to face. Besides, they're not after the sutra. They're after us."

Inhuman screams tore from the silence. Birds frantically flew from their perches and small animals jumped from the bushes and scurried past the group. The sky above the group turned into an unnatural purple color. "Here they come, guys!"

The Sanzo-ikkou froze in shock at the sight of the tangle of gruesome creatures tumbling out as if the sky itself was throwing them up. None of the creatures that spilled out resembled a human. It appeared as if the creatures were taken from a mad man's nightmare.

Goku covered his mouth with both of his hands. "Ugh, what are those things?"

Sanzo shot at the youkai but his bullets harmlessly bounced off the creatures. "What? It's not working?"

"Told ya that the gun of your won't do shit." Aoi reminded him oh so helpfully.

"Shut up."

Suzume drew back her arrow and aimed it at the sky before releasing it. A good amount of the creatures that spilled out were destroyed by her holy light but a handful of luck ones managed to dodge.

"Priestess!" They hissed. "A priestess is here!"

Kasumi jumped up and unsheathed her katana. Before the youkai at her side could react, more than half of them were sliced into pieces. "Pay attention to the enemy in front of you."

By this time, Suzume covered Goku's eyes.

Gojyo recoiled in disgust as a beetle youkai's head landed alarmingly close to his foot. "Now that's disgusting."

Yuki pulled out four paper umbrellas and handed them out. "For the youkai guts and blood." She told them gleefully. Disturbed by her good mood, Gojyo took a huge step away from her. Hakkai, not at all disturbed (for some strange and unknown reason), gave her a questioning look. "These creatures are youkai?"

"Yup, those things you see right now are creatures of our home. Unpleasant, aren't they? I guess they hitched a ride with us when the Old Hag teleported us here. We were fighting in a youkai-infested area so it shouldn't be surprising." Yuki said the last part to herself.

Aoi jumped up while wielding a wicked-looking scythe (I'll leave it to your imagination in how she managed to get that) and gave her vict-I mean, enemies an evil smile. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy this!"

(Battle censored 'cause it was a bit too violent for kiddies like Goku)

Horrified cries sounded from Aoi's side, making Goku flinch in surprise. "Huh? What's happening?"

Suzume kept her hands over Goku's eyes. "You don't want to know, Goku. I'll tell you when they're finished."

"But-

"Listen to Suzume, you stupid monkey, or I won't get you lunch." Sanzo threatened in a hard voice. Suzume glanced at his way and noted to herself that the monk was shaking. Everyone (aside from Goku and Hakkai) was.

Yuki gave Suzume a pointed look. "You can't hide it from him forever. He's not a baby, you know. Actually, he's about my age."

"I know, but even for a little bit…I don't want him to see it."

"Gross! It smells disgusting!" Goku complained. For a moment, Gojyo thought that he saw Yuki's scowl softening.

WHACK!

"Ouch!" Goku complained. Yuki weighed her iron fan on her hand before giving him another well-aimed whack over the head. "Shut up, you're complaining annoys me."

"So violent." Goku whimpered.

Never mind, that really was his imagination. Gojyo shook his head, temporarily distracted from the creepy gore and youkai guts. "Definitely a mini-Sanzo-in-training."

"Hanyou!" A youkai screeched. "Dirty blood! Weak! Why do you help those who fear you? Have you forgotten that another half of you carry our blood?"

Kasumi slashed at the offending youkai. "Nope!"

"Then why…why aid that Demonslayer?" Another screeched. Kasumi cut that one down too. Her cheerful demenor faltered a little before she smiled sadly at the youkai. She smoothly cut it down. "'Cause she's my friend, you silly youkai. Why else?"

"Demonslayer?" Hakkai asked Yuki. "What's that?"

"Demonslayers, ninja-like warriors who kill youkai as a living. Aoi's one." Yuki explained. Gojyo paled. "So she kills those things as a living? Why?"

"Someone has to do it. Besides, her siblings, parents, and ancestors were Demonslayers too so she really didn't have a choice. She literally could throw a dagger before she could say her first word. That's just how it is back at home." Yuki said offhandedly. "Kill or be killed. Live together or die alone."

"But…that's so sad." Goku stated. "Aoi has to face all those scary monsters alone."

"She's not alone." Yuki stated. "It's not like she's the only one in Japan who can kick some youkai butt. Monks, priests, priestesses, ninja, samurai, and even a hanyou or two help in defeating these things. If it was only Aoi, we'd all be dead by now."

As if to prove her point, Kasumi cut down a youkai that was going for Aoi's back when she was distracted.

"See? We care for each other."

Sanzo furrowed his brow in confusion. "Then why the hell aren't you helping with the fighting? You seem strong enough to me."

"And get this kimono dirtied? No thank you."

That brat. Both Sanzo and Gojyo thought simultaneously.

Yuki pulled out the apple Sanzo gave her before. "Besides, I didn't eat the apple yet. I'll join them after I finish eating this."

Another wave of youkai was spat out from the disgustingly purple sky.

A sneaky centipede youkai managed to get past Aoi and Kasumi. Don't ask me, that thing somehow did the impossible. By an ironic twist of fate, the youkai was pretty hungry and it saw the apple in Yuki's hand.

Okay now, you all think that the youkai would be stupid enough to go and eat that apple. No, youkai eat human souls and flesh. If they turned into fruit-loving creatures then there wouldn't be any problems between them and the humans (duh!) so that wasn't the case.

The youkai saw the apple and then Yuki holding the apple. Obviously, the youkai was unaware of the strength that Yuki had or it wouldn't be considering making her its lunch. It's tiny, insignificant brain processed that the short, unsuspecting girl = easy kill.

Easy kill=Food

Pretty smart for an average centipede youkai to make that sort of connection

So, following its stomach's desire, the youkai went for Yuki.

Goku managed to rip Suzume's hands away from his eyes just in time to see the centipede youkai going for Yuki. Without thinking ('cause if he thought for a moment, he would realize that she's pretty much strong enough to take care of herself) he pushed her out of the way and wrestled down the youkai.

Yuki stumbled and dropped her apple…

…only to catch it just before it hit the ground.

The whole world seemed to sigh in relief.

Yuki watched Goku struggle with the youkai for a second before shrugging and lifting the fruit up to her open mouth so she could finally take a bite out of it. She will help him out after eating her apple.

And then, two things happened.

One, the centipede youkai bit Goku on the leg, causing him severe pain but it spat him out because he didn't taste good. (To the youkai, Goku's taste reminded it too much of a monkey)

And two, the flailing youkai's tail slapped the apple away from Yuki's hands. It sailed over to the nearest tree. The impact it made with the trunk caused it to shatter into multiple pieces.

During that horrifying moment, Yuki swore she heard Kanzeon cackling her ass off about her ill fortune.

Aoi, Kasumi, and Suzume froze from what they were doing. The youkai froze and stopped what they were doing too because they were too stupid to take advantage of the situation and they were also confused.

"My…apple."

"Dammit." Aoi cursed and Kasumi's ears were pulled back in fear. The pair automatically fled far, far away from the clueless youkai horde.

Both Goku and the centipede youkai froze from their little wrestling and looked at her shaking form. She gritted her teeth and balled up her fists before facing the two. "Who…did that?" She asked with barely contained anger.

Goku immediately pointed at the centipede youkai. "He did it."

For once, Goku was smart but maybe it was due to the fact that he valued his life.

"You." If enough venom is put into a single word, it becomes deadly. The youkai heard this and realized how much in trouble it was in.

Seeing the look on her face (which was pretty much the universal 'I'll make sure you suffer dearly for that' and 'you're going to wish you were in hell' expression), the youkai scrambled away from the girl and began to escape.

Taking advantage to the situation, Aoi called out. "I would give you another apple, Yuki, but…the youkai horde ate them all."

What? She was feeling a little evil today.

Kasumi wrinkled her nose in confusion. "But Aoi, I thought you were the one who-

"Hush."

Yuki wasn't in her right mind at the moment so she forgot that youkai weren't fruit-loving creatures. She didn't care. Her apple needed to be avenged.

Yuki cracked her knuckles.

The other youkai sensed the danger in the situation and began to flee.

To their utmost shock and horror (and to Kasumi and Aoi's amusement) Yuki quickly caught up to one at the end and tore it apart like ripping paper. Gross, but effective.

"Don't try escaping or I'll be pissed."

The youkai tried anyways.

As Yuki chased the youkai horde, Suzume shook her head. "I would usually take pity on them, but I have to clean up this mess that they made."

"Hey! Who wants berries? There's some in the back bushes!" Kasumi called out happily while walking with an armload of blood red berries.

"Oh! Oh! I do!" Goku crowed while jumping to her side.

The rest just stared.

"How can he eat after seeing all of that?" Gojyo wondered aloud, looking a little sick. He tried not to look at the decapitated head of a snake youkai.

"He didn't, remember?" Hakkai reminded him.

Sanzo wouldn't admit it, but he felt just as sick as Gojyo looked.

"Don't worry. You all will get used to it…eventually." Aoi tried to comfort them.

"GET BACK HERE AND PAY WITH YOUR LIVES FOR MY APPLE!" They heard Yuki scream from a good distance. Gojyo shivered. "Damn, she's scary."

"Seriously, does she really expect them to go back to her?" Aoi wondered aloud.

Aoi hummed a sweet little tune to herself as she inspected the youkai corpses. "Lucky day, lucky day, lucky day for me~"

"Girlie, what the hell are you doing with those things?" Gojyo asked her. He was obviously disgusted. The corpses were already beginning to smell and their lifeless eyes stared at him in a creepy way. "Will you get rid of them already?"

Aoi let out a dramatic gasp. "Get rid of them?" She looked at him as if he were the mad man. "That would be such a waste! There are so many uses for these youkai specimens! We can sell their skin as armor, 'em, hang 'em up as bait, or many other things! Besides, I'm trying to look for an antidote!"

"Antidote?" Hakkai asked, appearing out of nowhere. Aoi jumped in surprise but immediately recovered. "Yeah, for Goku. He got bit, didn't he? All youkai, even the weak ones, have at least a little venom in their bite. If he grew up in Japan, he wouldn't be affected with that small amount of venom, but he didn't. He and all of you are like newborn babes."

Goku blanched. "So you're saying that I'm-

"Yup, you're poisoned. Take a look at your leg wound but don't touch it or scratch it. That would only spread the venom."

Goku checked and paled a little bit. His wound was lined with a strange, purple color. "Gross!"

Gojyo took a look. "And that's weak poison?"

"Feel lucky that this one is especially slow." Aoi told the two while prying open a centipede youkai's pincers. She took out a tiny glass vial and placed it under the edge while small drops of venom dripped from it. Hakkai watched with curious eyes.

Noticing this, Aoi handed him the vial. "Don't break it." She warned him. "Just look. Compared to your everyday poisons, just that amount would be enough to kill you if it ever enters into your bloodstream. That's an equivalent of a thousand bites."

"Scary." Hakkai commented cheerfully. Aoi broke into a similar smile. "It is, isn't it?"

Kasumi stared at the two for a moment before shaking her head. Gojyo noticed this action. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"Just thinking about Hakkai's aura. I didn't notice it before, but it feels a lot like Aoi's." Kasumi noted. "It's like a comforting stream of tears."

"Stream of tears?" Gojyo repeated before breaking into small chuckles. "Never thought you were one to be so poetic."

Kasumi blinked in confusion. "But I wasn't trying to be."

"Then that just means you're a natural."

Aoi chattered excitedly to Hakkai about the different types of poisons and their antidotes. Genuinely interested in the information she was providing, he listened to her with rapt attention. He watched carefully as she mixed the venom sample with a type of herb, which turned it into a brownish paste. She dabbed little bits of the paste onto Goku's leg.

"Okay Goku. I want you to keep that leg wrapped and up. Don't move around too much-" Aoi advised him seriously before smirking. "-The medics would usually say. I'm no genius in this type of area but I know a strong soldier when I see one. You'll probably recover quickly. Just don't scratch it."

Goku nodded. "Thanks! You didn't have to do all of that, though."

"Meh, it's better than going through the trouble of cutting your leg off. It's faster, but there's too much blood." Aoi waved off his thanks. Goku shivered at the thought of having his leg cut off but stopped when his sharp eyes caught sight of something. "Hey Aoi, what's that pretty pink thing on your chest?"

"Hmm? Oh, this." Aoi looked down at her birthmark. She had changed back into her loose, civilian clothing so about half of her birthmark was visible to sharp eyes if she bent the right angle. Bindings can cover so much.

Kasumi's eyes brightened. "You mean her birthmark, right? It's really pretty!"

"Can I see it?"

"Sure, kid." Aoi pulled down her collar so Goku could have a better look.

Goku admired it. "It's so pretty but some of it's covered up!" Goku added in disappointment. Aoi smirked at him. "Oh? Never thought you were so interested with the woman's body, Goku." She teased.

"N-No! That's not it!" Goku began stuttering nervously.

Gojyo and Hakkai went over to take a better look while Sanzo stayed behind. He wasn't interested in those things. Instead, he lit a cigarette and began to smoke. Suzume wasn't there because she needed to 'purify' the other youkai corpses that Aoi didn't need. Yuki was still out there doing kami knows what to the poor youkai.

"You sure that's a birthmark?" Gojyo asked while critically examining it. "It looks more like a tattoo to me. It's so detailed."

"I get that a lot. That's why I prefer not showing this out to the world. People…fear when they see things that they don't understand. I've been told many times that this thing is a curse."

Hakkai smiled kindly at her. "Well I think it looks beautiful, Miss Aoi."

"Thanks for the complement, Hakkai." Aoi thanked, not really believing him. Hakkai noticed this and frowned a little.

Goku touched the birthmark (he's oblivious to the unspoken rule of asking before touching) and it began to emit a dim glow. "Whoa! That's so cool! Does it normally do that?"

Aoi's nose wrinkled in confusion. "No…actually, it never reacted like that when my parents touched it. It didn't react like that when Kasumi touched it, either." She scratched her head and shrugged. "I guess you're special."

When Goku took his finger off of the flower mark, it stopped glowing.

Aoi patted his head. "See? Proof that you're special."

"AOI! I GOT SOME MORE CENITEPEDE YOUKAI SKIN FOR YOU!" The group heard Yuki holler.

Aoi clapped in delight, having a Kasumi moment.

"AND DON'T YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW YOU ATE ALL THE APPLES, YOU LIAR!" Yuki decided to add.

Aoi stopped clapping and sweatdropped at the purple-eyed girl's delayed reaction. "Um…okay."

"It can be worse." Suzume told her, freaking her out because she seriously popped out of nowhere.

Aoi hummed to herself as she smeared glops of liquefied centipede exoskeleton onto the blade of Gojyo's shakujo while humming a happy little tune. She used a wooden spoon to smear the substance on because of it being too hot to touch. She waited for the thin layer to dry before smearing another layer.

"Um…Miss Aoi? What are you doing with Gojyo's weapon?" Hakkai asked. Everyone else was asleep. They all agreed that this eventful day deserved a good rest and took no time in falling asleep. For once, Goku and Gojyo didn't argue about sharing the same tent.

"I'm making it strong enough to cut an average youkai, in our standards. No need to be all useless if the youkai attacks again. I have a feeling that there will be more in the future." Aoi told him while dropping all of Sanzo's bullets into the liquid glop. "Don't worry, the purple color will clear once it dries."

"That's very kind of you."

Aoi shrugged and tossed Goku's Nyoi-bo Staff. "Nah, it's nothing. It's just covering the weapons with liquefied youkai shells. I'm also going to make pills for you four, just in case if someone gets poisoned again. It'll also help if you four take small doses of youkai venom. In that way, you'll become immune to the weak ones."

Hakkai made an impressed sound. "You're pretty knowledgeable in these things."

"That's what happens when you live your whole life on the same island with these things." Aoi told him honestly. "That, and I had to spend a couple of years under one of the most foul-mouthed, gambling, no-good poison teacher."

"Oh? That sounds fun." Hakkai commented cheerfully while taking a seat beside Aoi. She made a face while fishing Sanzo's bullets out to dry. "No, it wasn't. She hardly tried teaching me! She would sometimes run away and leave absurdly huge debts for me to pay! Then, she goes and dies on me during the war." Aoi said the last part in a lower voice.

There was a short moment of silence before Hakkai heard Aoi snort. "Well, good riddance! She was nothing but trouble anyways."

"You two must've been close." Hakkai stated in an understanding way. A tick mark appeared on Aoi's cheek. "Oi. You're treading on dangerous water here, buddy. That old lady was never close to me! Don't act as if you understand me!"

Hakkai put his hands up in surrender. "Sorry, sorry."

Aoi quickly forgave him. "Meh, it's fine. I overreacted. You're right. I guess that old hag must've meant something to me and she had her moments. It's just that…I hardly knew a thing about my teacher. I never got close enough to truly get to know her."

"Really? Why not?"

Aoi paused for a moment before answering. "I was mourning the loss of the person I loved and was still a bit wounded by a betrayal by the person I trusted the most."

"I'm sorry about that."

Something in the tone of his voice told her that he wasn't a stranger to this type of situation. Aoi didn't pick on it though. It was his business but she'll listen id he ever opens up voluntarily.

"Don't be. It's not like you were the cause of all my troubles." Aoi told him. "Don't apologize unless it's really necessary or it'll loose its meaning."

Hakkai nodded. "I'll remember that."

There was a pause before Hakkai spoke again. "Miss Aoi, I truly did mean it when I said that your birthmark looked beautiful. I hope that I didn't suggest anything different than that."

"No, it's just hard to believe."

Hakkai leaned against a nearby trunk. "Your birthmark reminds me of a flower that I have a great fondness of."

"It's a beautiful, pink flower that blooms in the mud and makes the world fragrant."

"Let me guess...a Lotus Blossom?"

To Aoi's surprise, Hakkai shook his head. "No, it's more like a peony. I once heard a tale that a healer was granted eternal life by the gods by being turned into a flower. I feel that it's comforting that you bear the flower that somewhat symbolizes 'eternal life'." Hakkai smiled at her. "That assures me that you're not going to die an early death, thank goodness."

Aoi smiled a little at that after a small phase of shock.

That was the first time in a while since someone thought her birthmark looked like a Peony.

Who else thought that again?

Oh yes, she remembered now.

Her parents.

"...Thank you."

Hakkai shook his head. "That was merely my opinion."

There was a comforting silence between them before Hakuryuu, who (I think) woke up from some nightmare, squacked suddenly and surprised Aoi into accidentally burning herself by splattering the youkai juice onto her shirt.

"Ack!"

Hakkai hurried over to her side and quickly removed her top despite of her protests and covered her with a nearby towel. His eyes never wandered anywhere where they weren't supposed to so Aoi wasn't too upset. He quickly led her to a nearby stream so she could cool her burns and wash the juice off of her skin before it dried.

"It's fine. Just a little burn." Aoi assured him.

"Do you want me to check that for you?"

"No thanks. I heal quickly."

"I'm sure that you do but the burns would be irritating you if I don't treat it soon. We have to spend the rest of the next day riding in the jeep. You also probably burned a good part of your upper body judging by your clothing. It's practically in rags now."

It was true. The top that Hakkai quickly took off of her was beyond recognition. And he also had a really good point. If this were any other person, Aoi would be accusing him of being a pervert but this was Hakkai. She knew he was concerned about her health, not her body.

Aoi nodded and lowered her towel. Her bindings were burned off too, leaving her bare. She would normally be embarrassed that a man is looking at her half naked, but her upper body hurt too much to care.

Besides, Hakkai was a healer. It wasn't as if he never saw a woman's body before. I could've been worse.

Hakkai's hands began to glow as he skimmed them over her burns. To her surprise, her wounds immediately healed. The pain slowly dulled and eventually faded. He didn't even touch her skin!

Aoi gaped at her now completely healed chest.

"What was that just now?" She asked in awe while rewrapping her towel around her. "That was amazing!"

Hakkai chuckled. "It's nice to see that I know something that you don't know for once. What I just used was chi manipulation. It's pretty useful in attacks and defenses too. It's a bit similar to Miss Suzume's…what was it called again?"

"I just call it spiritual powers. I know there's some overly complicated name for it somewhere but I forgot." Aoi told him. "But that's amazing! I'm pretty sure that your ability would at least protect you from the youkai. If I knew about this sooner, I would've let you fight alongside us."

Hakkai smiled and accepted the complement. "Gojyo wouldn't like that if he heard you say that."

Aoi smirked. "I think the perverted kappa can survive. He somehow managed to live this morning, didn't he? I swear that guy's almost like a cockroach."

"No matter how many times you try squashing him, he seems to come back to life every single time." Hakkai agreed.

"He's perverted and irresponsible."

"Agreed."

"He's annoying."

"Ditto."

Both grinned at each other.

Aoi casually slung her arm around Hakkai's shoulders.

"Hakkai, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Gojyo suddenly jerked awake and shivered.

"Why is it that I'm having such an ominous feeling?" He asked himself.

And done! Thanks for your patience. This was the most I can do on top of the homework load.

I hope you liked it! I feel that Hakkai is going to be the hardest to write in this whole story so I hope he isn't too OOC.

REVIEW PLEASE!