Hakkai blinked as he heard words he hadn't heard in seeminly ages. The group had voted him most worthy to go into town and shop for food while they found a hotel. He was alone, even Hakurryu was sleepy. He watched as the girl ran up to him. "Cho-sempai! Do you remember me?"

 

   The man had to look at her carefully a moment before it hit him. "Chiaki-chan," he said. One of his former students. Her family had moved a week before...

 

   "Yeah! You remembered!"

 

   "Chiaki, are you bothering this man?" The two turned to an older man who looked friendly, yet tired.

 

   "Daddy! Don't you remember Cho-sempai?!?"

 

   "Oh, of course. How are you, Cho-san?"

 

   "Hakkai, please. And I am quite well."

 

   "Are you going to be in town long?"

 

   "No, just the night. Some, ah... friends of mine and I are on a bit of a journey."

 

   "You're not staying in a hotel, are you?!?" the girl asked, horrified. Her personality was, and always had been, frightenly similar to a certain demon's half sister.

 

   "Well, yes-"

 

   "Daddy, can Cho-sempai stay with us? Please?"

 

   "I don't want to impose..."

 

   "Well, how many people are with you, Hakkai?"

 

   "Three."

 

   "I don't see how that's a problem."

 

   "Yay!" Chiaki cheered.

 

   "Well then, why don't you go get your friends?"

 

   "Er, certainly, thank you."

 

   "It's no problem."

 

   "We'll return shortly."

 

   I'll go with you to show you where the house is," the girl offered.

 

   "I'll see you both there then."

 

***********************************************

  

   "Hakkai! WHere's the food?" Goku demanded.

 

   "At my house!" Chiaki announced.

 

   "And you are?" Sanzo asked.

 

   "Chiaki, Nice to meet you. Who're you?"

 

   "Chiaki, this is Goku, Gojyo, and Sanzo," Hakkai introduced them. "Hakkuryu, would you come here please?"

 

   The little dragon, currently in Jeep form, changed back into his true cute self and flew to his owner's shoulder.

 

   "Wow!" the said in awe. "You didn't have /him/ before!"

 

   "Chaiaki, this is Hakurryu. Hakurryu, Chiaki."

 

   "And /who/ is she, exactly?" Sanzo inquired once more.

 

   "A former student of mine. She requested us to spend the night at her home."

 

   "Alright! Hospitality and a pretty girl!"

 

   "Gojyo, please."

 

   "Home cooked food?!? I'm there!!!"

 

**********************************************

 

   "Give it back Gojyo! That one's mine!"

 

   "You've already had four!"

 

   "And /you've/ had five!!!"

 

   "Stupid monkey. Can't even count."

 

   "What was that, you pervy kappa?!?!"

 

   "What part of 'excecution for noise' didn't you two understand?!?!?!?!?"

 

   "I apologise."

 

   "It's ok, Cho-semapi! They're funny!!"

 

   "Chiaki, you're not my student anymore. Call me Hakkai."

 

   "Ok, Hakkai!"

 

   "So Cho-san," the girl's father asked."What brings you and your friends out here?"

 

   "Hakkai, please. And Sanzo had a bit of a journey to make, and the rest of us were... recommened to come along."

 

   "What about Kannan-san?" the girl inquired.

 

   "I'm afraid she... passed away some time ago."

 

   "Oh, that's sad. She was always so nice to me."

 

   "Indeed. So, is it just the two of you here?"

 

   "My wife is visiting her parents. She took our youngest with her."

 

   "Oh, so there's another one now?"

 

   "Yup! His name's Ororon!"

 

   "Interesting name."

 

   "That's what everyone says."

 

   "Stupid monkey!"

 

   "Pervy kappa!"

 

   "I. Will. Kill. You. Both."

 

   "We have more meatbuns," Chiaki informed the two.

 

   "You do??? Where???" Goku yelped.

 

   "I'll go get them."

 

   "Fine. Then I get this one."

 

   "I don't think so, kappa!"

 

   "Hakkai, may I ask you something?" Chiaki's father inquired.

 

   "Certainly."

 

   "I remember your name to be Gonou, not Hakkai. Do I have you confused with someone else?"

 

   The former teacher smiled. "No, that was me. I changed my name around the same time Kannan died."

 

   "Ah. I see."

 

   "Here's the meatbuns!" Chiaki announced.

 

***********************************************************

 

   That night, each traveller was given his own room to sleep in. Hakkuryu curled up on a pillow while his owner got ready for bed. As the man undressed, he heard the door crack open. Out of instinct, he turned on his guard with his weapon ready. He relaxed when he saw who had entered.

 

   "Chiaki-chan," he breathed in relief, letting his chi dissapate.

 

   "I'm- I'm sorry, I should have knocked," the girl stammered.

 

   "It's quite alright," he assured her. "You just startled me."

 

   "How did you do that?" she asked.

 

   "What? This?" Hakkai asked, bringing the chi back to life.

 

   "Yeah. It's so pretty."

 

   "It's called kikou jutsu. It's how I defend myself and the others, as well as heal, if nessecary."

 

   "It's amazing! Can the others do it too??"

 

   "Ah, no. We each have our own ways of defense."

 

   "Can you show me how?"

 

   "It's nott something that can be taught in one night."

 

   "Than you should stay longer."

 

   "I'm afraid that's not an option." Hakkai looked at the girl's crestfallen face. "But I can give you some pointers and suggest some reading, if you like."

 

   Her face lit up. "That would be wonderful!"

 

***********************************************************

 

   Later on, when Hakkai was showing Chiaki how to concentrate properly, Sanzo passed by the room. The door being wide open, he saw his comrade and the girl sitting cross legged from one another, eyes closed. As the monk continued to watch, the girl opened her eyes, tentavely, and began to lean towards the man across from her.

 

   "Chiaki-chan, stop moving about," Hakkai said suddenly,gently, eyes still closed. "You're supposed to be concentrating."

 

   "Yes, Hakkai...-san," the girl whispered, going back to her position.

 

   Then man then opened his eyes to look at his friend, almost sorrowfully. Sanzo shrugged and returned to his room.

 

**********************************************************

 

   Somewhere in learning proper concentration tactics, the girl had fallen asleep. She awoke in Hakkai's bed, confused. Then she saw the man leaning against the wall across from her, snoozing, and it all made sense. "Hakkai-san," she muttered.

 

   Hakkuryu woke then, flew to his master and proceeded to nudge him until he woke to his companion's kyu-ing.

 

   "Ohayo, Hakkuryu," Hakkai greeted him.

 

   "Kyu!"

 

   "Ohayo, Chiaki-chan. Did you sleep well?"

 

   "Hakkai-san, you shouldn't have-" she began.

 

   "But I did, so I'm afraid the harm's done."

 

   The girl got a determined look on her face. "I'm going to make you the best breakfest ever! Just tell me what you want and I'll make it!!"

 

**********************************************************

 

   "Wow! This is even better than dinner!"

 

   "Only you would be able to speak coherently with your mouth full."

 

   "What was that, pervy kappa???"

 

   "Stupid chimp."

 

   "You're askin for it, cockroach!!"

 

   "I told you never to call me that again!!"

 

   "SILENCE!!!!!"

 

   Pause.

 

   "Sanzo, please, calm yourself."

 

   "Yeah, don't want 'im to get a stroke."

 

   BANG.

 

   Sigh. "Sanzo, I've asked you not to use your gun indoors."

 

   "Sorry, Hakkai," the monk mumbled.

 

   Chiaki giggled.