Ice Cold

curiouzkatt: Hello, this is a sortof sequel to my previous fic, Summer Snow. The timeline for this one is two years in Togenkyo world had passed, but they jumped back into my OC's world eight years into the future, making them the same age as the original kids in the first story. Plot convenience timey wimey time jump, entertaining my fanfic muse that won't let me go. But basically what you have to know is my OCs were kids in Summer Snow. Now they're young adults in the big world. Adding disclaimer that this will be mostly R-18, for language and sex. But generally it's pretty chill action/story type. Additional reference would be Kougaiji here is from the Saiyuki Reload Blast, right after losing Doku.

Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki.

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Prologue

Kougaiji struggled to go through the mountain path, distraught in his own agony after losing Dokugakuji. Not only did he lose a trusted right-hand man, but a brother in arms as well. Rain had started to pour as he kept on walking. He needed to find shelter. With the rain obscuring part of his vision, he stumbled forward to what looked like an awning of rocks or what seemed to be an entrance of a cave. He proceeded onward, but slipped toward it instead, falling into a strange light.

He regained his footing and tried to regain focus, but the rain felt louder. The world smelled funny. He took a step forward.

SCREEEEECH! BEEP BEEP BEEEEEEP!

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING YOU FUCKING HOMELESS IDIOT!" the driver in the car flipped him off as he passed him on the road.

"Wha?" Kou shook his head to clear his mind. something wasn't right. But he was slowly losing consciousness, and he felt himself fall forward. He barely saw boots in front of him, and blonde hair. He felt her carry him off before passing out.

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Kougaiji felt his body spinning and tried not to move as he ascertained his safety. He could hear a woman's voice talking to someone, and the scent of unusual incense or spices were in the air. He slowly opened his eyes, gathering the information of the room while not trying to bring any attention to him. He seems to be in a small room with dim lights, but something felt powerful about the place. He glanced at his arm. He could tell that his injuries were carefully bandaged as well.

"That's what I'm telling you, Mayumi.. My chi is not as strong as yours for healing! I might end up giving this man frostbite instead!" The woman's back was turned to him, and he could only glean her short blonde hair and slender figure.

He could hear the other person laughing, but the sound seemed distorted. "You'll be fine Sophie! Hey I gotta go. My next show starts in an hour and I need to prepare. You can do it, I love you and see you soon!"

"Fine bye." The woman called Sophie muttered, throwing away the rectangle device. She turned to him and discovered that he was awake. "Oh! You're awake, Prince Kougaiji."

Hearing his name, he tried to sit up, but failed.

"Hey, be careful! You're gonna open up your wounds again." The woman exclaimed, forcing him back down on the bed. "I didn't mean to alarm you, I promise you're safe with me." She assured him, checking his bandages for any bleeding.

"How do you know my name?" he ventured. He studied the woman's face, and she only gave him an uncertain smile with her sapphire blue eyes.

"It's a long story, and probably hard to believe." She started. "Around eight years ago, we encountered people from Togenkyo by pure chance, so we've been reading about it and its people, in case we encountered anyone else. Do you want some tea?" Kougaiji shook his head, holding his forehead with one hand.

"We'll help you make sense of things slowly. But for now, you need to rest." Sophie declared, tucking Kougaiji back in bed. "I'm sorry if I had been rude, but my name's Sophie. Do you have a nickname to call you by, or do you prefer your complete honorifics?"

Kou grunted. "Seeing as I am in your care, Kou is fine."

"Great! It's nice to meet you, Kou." Sophie chirped. "I'm afraid I'll have to take my leave for the night. Feel free to get as much water, food or whatever you want from the pantry. I'll be back by morning." She proceeded to wear her boots by the door. "Oh, and I do hope you stay put while you're recovering. It'll be a pain to hunt you down if you don't."

The door closed behind the woman, and Kou was left with his thoughts. Sophie was not even afraid of him, took care of him and even trusted him in her space while she went away. Just what the heck is going on?

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The rain was pouring hard on Sanzo's party as they rode through the mud into the mountains. They were being chased by an abomination and they were at a disadvantage with the weather. "Look, a tunnel!" Goku yelled, pointing at a cave that could fit them and the jeep.

"Hold on!" Hakkai sped up and expected to push the brakes once inside, but for some reason, they ended up falling down and - into an unknown street. It was also raining, but they were no longer in the mountainous terrain, and instead of a ferocious beast, they were being yelled at by a bald man from another vehicle for holding up traffic.

Hakkai apologized on behalf of the jeep and drove to the side of the road.

"Kyu, kyukyukyu~" Hakuryu exclaimed, turning off the engine.

"Eh. You mean we've been here before?" Hakkai looked around for any hint of familiarity, but couldn't seem to put a finger on where they were.

"Hakkai, Goku, Sanzo and Gojyo!" someone exclaimed in the distance, running to them with an umbrella. It was a man with black hair and seemed to be about Hakkai's age.

"Uhm, my apologies sir, we seem to be lost and I don't think we've been introduced." Hakkai started. The man seemed surprised and laughed for a good while.

"Oh man, you haven't changed!" The man said, giving them a once over. "Does Togenkyo have an immortality thing? You look like you haven't aged much at all!" He paused. "Seriously, it's me, Jei!"

"EHHHHHHH!?" Goku and Gojyo yelled in unison. The man in front of them signaled them to calm down.

"Come on, let's get out of the rain first." He turned to a man a few feet off and they headed for a nearby building's shelter. He held the man's hand and showed their wedding bands to them. "Meet my husband, Caleb."

Hakkai immediately exchanged pleasantries while Sanzo was busy yelling and hitting the other two for being too loud.

Nursing the bump on his head, Gojyo looked at Jei. "Sorry sorry, it was just unexpected. We've only been gone from here for two years, it's just a lot to take in." He looked at Caleb, who seemed like a fantastic partner. "It's just that we thought you and Linlin would have lasted longer than two years."

Jei looked confused. "Gojyo.. we were kids when you last saw us! It's been ten years!"

"EHHHHHHHHHHH!?"

"Shut the fuck up you two!" Sanzo was quick with the fan, leaving the two leaning forward with big bumps on their heads. "Read the room."

"What room?"

"Tch."

Hakkai, who had been thinking things through spoke up. "It seems our journeying sent us somewhere forward in time to Earth, where time passed here after we left. So in some way it was some form of time traveling."

Goku felt like crying. "I don't understand."

"It's okay Goku." Hakkai assured. "So, how's everyone else, Jei? Have you been in touch with Linlin and the rest?" Jei and Caleb looked at each other uneasily the former scratched his head sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, but.. breakups are awful things, and.. coming out to your girlfriend that you're gay while breaking up is kind of... " he trailed off.

"Ah."

"W-well, I'm sorry I can't be much more help.." Jei said. "But if you still have any of your communicators with you, you might be able to find Ben and Mili."

"Ben?"

"Oh. That's Blue. It's a long story, but I guess you can surmise the change of name." Jei explained. "Oh, and, Sophie might not appreciate being called Linlin anymore.. she goes by Sophie Callie now."

"Hn". Sanzo didn't seem surprised. "Hakkai, you still have your communicator, right?"

"Of course!" Hakkai revealed the inside of his collar, revealing the small enamel pin the Blue had given him. He gave it a small amount of chi. "Testing. Hello? Blue, I mean, Ben, are you there?" He could hear some static on the other end. Jei and Caleb waved at them goodbye as they went on their way sharing an umbrella in the rain.

"HAKKAII!?" he heard a man's voice at the other end of the call. "How are you communicating right now!? Where are you? Are the others with you!?"

He was taken aback by the enthusiasm. "Y-yeah, we're here somewhere in Lion Mane, but we're kind of lost."

"I'll say!" Ben exclaimed. "Let me check your location real quick... Hmm, it seems like you're near a mall to the east. It's just a few blocks. You can go there for now to get some set of clothes or something. Mili is nearby, so I'll let her know so she can rendezvous with you in about 15minutes. I'll try to follow."

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Mili sped through the alleys in her cat form, still in disbelief with what Ben had told her. It was a one in a million chance, after eight years. How old did they look? Did they finish their journey? Have they seen Sophie yet? She had so many questions for them, but her main worry was having to pay the bill if Goku had found fancy restaurants.

Slowing down, she spotted the mall entrance across the street and shifted back to her human form in an alley. She checked herself and her reflection in a puddle, assuring her that her curly pigtails were sorted out, along with her clothes. She also made sure she had human ears this time.

She put her hood on to deflect the rain and walked into the mall. Ben said he had told the men to change into casual clothes so she would be able to find them in the men's section. Adding to that, she'll be sure to hear them well.

"I am not wearing this!" Goku yelled, trying to get away from Gojyo who was forcing a Hawaiian shirt on the younger man." Mili had to chuckle to herself, seeing that they hadn't seemed to have changed at all.

"Yeah Gojyo, that's more fitting on Sanzo if you ask me." Mili teased, getting into the conversation.

"Huh? Mili is that you!?" Goku exclaimed, bouncing to the woman, taking in her looks, not to mention she seemed to be a little taller than him now. "You're not a little girl anymore!"

Mili laughed. "I'd be worried if I was, Goku! It's been eight years after all!" she stopped to look at Goku. "But you, you literally haven't changed! What's going on?"

"It would be great if we knew.." Sanzo mumbled, sporting a white polo and black slacks, and low cut brown boots.

"Well aren't you looking sharp Mister Monk?" Mili teased with a wink. Sanzo, caught off guard, hid his face with the back of his hand. Mili caught on. "Oh. Sorry Sanzo.. it must be weird coming from me."

"A lot of things are weird right now for us Mili." Hakkai agreed, joining the conversation, sporting a more casual grey polo shirt and faded jeans and black leather shoes. "Long time no see, Mili." Hakkai smiled.

Mili couldn't help herself and threw herself at the man in an emotional embrace. "It's been too long you guys! Waaaaaaah!" Hakkai returned the hug, patting her gently.

Goku and Gojyo came out with shirts, jeans and rubber shoes, scratching their heads at the sight of Mili, now a woman, crying on Hakkai who was likely the same age as him. "Uhm, Hakkai, the saleslady says the credit card worked and the payment went through. So I guess that clears us here then."

Mili wiped a tear after calming down. "Then, since that's settled, let me bring you to a ramen place I know."

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