Kyandi: Greetings, Kyandiacs.

Yuai: We apologize for taking so long with getting this chapter up.

Kyandi: It's been a busy, busy time.

Yuai: Lots to do and so little time in which to do them.

Kyandi: Exactly. To add to it...I'm sleepy.

Yuai: Lack of proper sleep will do that to you.

Kyandi: I'm aware, so let's get this done so I can go to bed.

Yuai: Sounds good.

Kyandi: Everyone, enjoy and review.

Yuai: Kyandi-sama does not own Saiyuki.

Chapter 25 Undertaker

Over the next couple of days, Yuai kept her eyes peeled. After the appearance of four gods, including her own aunt, Yuai had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time she saw any gods.

Something that left her uneasy.

"I'm exhausted. I can't even muster enough energy to punch Goku." Goyjo remarked.

"That would piss me off if I weren't so damn hungry." Goku replied.

Even Yuai had to say that it seemed like a long time since they had last stopped anywhere for food or rest.

"Hold tight. We'll be in town soon enough. So just be a little patient, okay?" Hakkai told them.

Goku and Goyjo agreed, both sounding like they were half dead already. This caused Sanzo to remark with, "You guys wear me out.", which, in turn, caused Yuai to laugh lowly to herself.

"How are you doing back there, Yuai?" Hakkai asked.

"I'm fine." she replied easily. "Just ready to stretch my legs."

"Aren't we all. We'll be there soon." Hakkai promised.

Thankfully, he wasn't wrong. They came across a town not long afterward, but, the moment they drove into town, Yuai could tell there was something wrong. Everywhere she looked, there was no one around. What kind of town was this devoid of life?

"I don't know. This town's a little too quiet." Goyjo remarked.

"I don't understand, where are all the people?" Hakkai wondered.

"I haven't a clue, but this is putting off severe warning bells in my head." Yuai replied, fiddling with the hood attached to her dress-like top.

"Maybe everyone's just on vacation."

Yuai really couldn't blame Sanzo for smacking Goku over the head for that comment. Even being a little dim, Yuai couldn't see how Goku could possibly think a whole village would go on vacation at the same time.

"Something here is wrong." Sanzo remarked.

"I think you're right, Sanzo. I don't even see any animals around here." Hakkai added, looking around.

Yuai looked down at Kokoro as the little creature let out a sting of yips and chirps. When she was done, Yuai turned to her companions.

"Kokoro says she doesn't smell even the slightest trace of humans, or demons for that matter. It's just as if everyone vanished off the face of the earth." Yuai told them.

Things were really starting to sound bad. Hakkai looked around some more before something caught his eye.

"Look there! See!" he said.

Goku looked around, but he didn't catch on to what Hakkai had seen. All he could see was a well in the center of town.

"Got a problem with wells, dude?" Goku asked,

"It's not a problem so much with the fact that it's a well, Goku." Yuai said, catching on to what had caught Hakkai's attention. "It's the fact that...there's no water."

"Don't you see? Even the ditches are all dried up." Hakkai pointed out.

"And I don't see a single plant around. Not even a weed. Even in the driest, most water barren towns I've seen, there has still been weeds. There's not a one here." Yuai added, her eyes now scanning over the ground.

"Must be a ghost town." Goyjo remarked.

"Wrong." Sanzo said, drawing attention to him. "The buildings look as if they're brand new."

"I'm telling you, it's as if everyone in the whole town just vanished all of a sudden. It's not something any human, or demon, could accomplish. Not this flawlessly." Yuai remarked.

That comment was enough to put Sanzo even more on edge. Turning to Yuai, he grabbed the hood attached to neck and shoulders of her top and yanked it over her head, putting her face in a shadow.

"Keep the hood up." Sanzo told her when she looked up at him like she was about to protest.

Though she wanted to protest, Yuai kept it to herself. Her attention, though, was soon captured by something else. Right at the same time as Yuai, the whole group became aware of someone watching them. Turning, they searched the surrounding buildings for who it could be. Before their eyes, five wooden boxes, like that of coffins, were lowered to the ground before them.

"Is this a joke?" Gojyo asked.

"If it is, it's a poor one indeed." Yuai replied.

"They look like coffins." Hakkai remarked.

"I don't like this." Sanzo said, his expression mimicking his displeasure.

"Nor do I." Yuai agreed.

"Welcome to my little Utopia." The new voice speaking, had Sanzo whipping around, his gun already in hand. Yuai and the others turned too, all of them confronted with a demon floating in the sky. "Do you like them? I made them especially for you four fine gentleman and your little lady. I do hope I got the sizes right."

"No offense, but I'm not about to try it on for size." Yuai remarked.

As the demon's attention shifted to Yuai, Sanzo reached out, yanking her hood even further forward over her face. With that done, he shoved her behind him, out of sight of the demon before turning to the situation at hand.

"Where are the townspeople?" Sanzo demanded.

"Washed away." was all the demon said.

"Washed away?" Sanzo repeated.

"They made such a clutter, you see. So I just thought I'd tidy up the place a little bit."

Even Yuai was mentally calling the man a nut case.

"What's his deal? Weirdo." Goku remarked.

"Oh, who knows. Hey, maybe the heat's fried his brain like it does to Yuai, ya think?" Gojyo replied.

"I take offense to that." Yuai told him, sourly puffing out her cheeks.

Gojyo gave her an apologetic grin, but he did nothing to take back what he had said. Their little demon guest, apparently didn't take too kindly to the comment either.

"I'm afraid your little bravado will no save you." he called down to them. "Why? Because it is your fate to die by my hand."

"Afraid not!" Sanzo replied, raising his gun.

Yuai's jaw dropped when, to all of their surprise, the bullets had no effect on the demon whatsoever. It was much like when Sanzo tried to shoot one of the gods.

"If you would allow me to introduce myself. I am the Undertaker. That's what my friends call me, but you can call me what you like, you'll still end up in these coffins. Until then, enjoy your stay."

With that, and an annoying little laugh, the Undertaker vanished, leaving Yuai and her friends alone with their would-be coffins. With nothing else to do, Yuai and her friends walked the whole town, checking every building and every house for any sign of life. Not only did they not find any sign of life, there was no food, no water, nothing.

Finding nothing, they all retreated to the local tavern, Gojyo and Sanzo starting a game of pool while Goku and Hakkai watched from the bar. Yuai, too anxious to remain still, rummaged behind the bar, trying to find anything that the Undertaker might have missed.

"So, what do we do?" Gojyo asked, taking his shot. "Mr. Six-feet-under does seem pretty intent on killing us."

"I won't let him ruin my pool game." Sanzo replied. "Besides, he knows where to find us."

"No doubt about that." Gojyo agreed.

"What do you think happened to all of those villagers? That's the one question I'd like answered." Hakkai remarked.

"I don't know what he did with them, but he certainly didn't leave any sign of them behind. I'm finding nothing." came Yuai's voice from the back room.

"He killed them." All eyes turned to Goku, the boy staring down at the ground. "I can smell their blood."

"I think he's right." Yuai called to them.

Kokoro mewed her agreement from where she sat on the bar beside Hakkai. They others had to agree. After all, what could the Undertaker possible gain by keeping the villagers alive? Goyjo moved on to a different subject, his eyes moving to the empty shelves behind the bar.

"Now, what kind of bar doesn't serve alcohol?" he asked.

"It's not very hospitable, is it? Find anything back there, Yuai?" Sanzo asked.

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." Yuai called back.

Heaving a sigh, Yuai continued her search. She remained in the bar, searching the back rooms, while the others went out to take another look around the town. The Undertaker took the chance to mess with each and every one of them, pissing off Goyjo when he sent his last pack of cigarettes on fire and even setting poor Hakkaryuu on fire.

The moment Yuai heard the little dragon's cry of pain, she flew out of the bar, having to shield her eyes when there was a blinding flash of light. When the light cleared and Yuai could see again, Hakkai was bent over Hakkaryuu, concerned for the creature. Yuai hurried to his side.

"Let me see him." Yuai insisted, taking the dragon from Hakkai's hands.

Yuai carefully settled Hakkaryuu in her arms before gently gliding a hand over the dragon as she allowed her ice to lightly coat his burns. Once she had soothed Hakkaryuu's burns and Hakkai had calmed down, Yuai would give the dragon back to Hakkai to heal.

"Hakkaryuu, are you alright?" Hakkai fussed, hovering as Yuai softly soothed the dragon. "I was so stupid for not seeing that move."

Hakkai could beat himself up for allowing the little creature to be hurt like that. It had the man bowing his head in shame.

"Hakkai," Hakkai looked up in surprise when Yuai placed a gentle hand on his chest. "It's alright. The burns aren't that bad, you could easily heal them, and I'm sure Hakkaryuu doesn't hold it against you."

Yuai gently held Hakkaryuu out for Hakkai to heal. Calmer now, Hakkai applied the heal to Hakkaryuu, the little dragon giving a few thankful chirps when he was done.

"Thank god, it's nothing serious." Hakkai said.

"He should be just fine, right, Hakkaryuu?" Yuai asked, giving the little dragon's chin a scratch.

Hakkaryuu happily accepted the attention, Hakkai smiling fondly as he watched Yuai. Looking up and catching him watching her, Yuai's back snapped straight and she held Hakkaryuu out to Hakkai.

"Here."

Hakkai took the dragon and Yuai instantly turned on her heels to walk away, pulling her hood back up. Hakkai watched her retreating back with a confused expression. He didn't know why she had suddenly pulled back like that, but she didn't give him the chance to ask.

All five of them met back up at the bar, the five of them taking seats at the bar.

"So they don't have no water or people, but how can a town have no food?!" Goku asked, half draped over the bar.

"There are no cigarettes, no liquor, and no women." Goyjo added.

"I would take offense to that, but even I'm hungry and thirsty." Yuai said, heaving a sigh.

With a growl of annoyance, Goku rounded on Sanzo.

"That's it. I say we blow this town." Goku said.

"Don't wanna." was Sanzo's childish reply.

"Why not?" Goku demanded.

"You've got to be joking, man. You want us to take off after the way he mocked us?" Goyjo asked Goku. "Right, monk?"

" You got that right." Sanzo replied. "Besides, he's no moron."

"I'm sure he's taken care of that contingency already." Hakkai agreed.

"At the very least, I bet he put up a wall or something to keep us here in this town." Goyjo remarked.

"We'll probably be stuck here until either he dies, or we do." Yuai agreed.

"It's such an eerie feeling, though, how he actually seems to anticipate our every move." Hakkai mused.

"That's not hard with these two." Sanzo replied, glancing at Goyjo and Goku.

The comment annoyed Goyjo and Goku, the two snapping, "What did you say!?" at Sanzo. Yuai heaved a sigh as she shook her head. Without even realizing it, the two had just proven Sanzo's point. She managed to get the two to sit back down without starting a fight with Sanzo which would only end in the man firing his gun.

Things were quiet enough until Goyjo couldn't take it anyone and asked Sanzo to lend him a cigarette, which Sanzo refused. This started a fight between the two, Hakkai telling them to cut it out because it was only them playing right into Undertaker's hands. Goyjo was about to walk away, that is, until Sanzo put a cigarette to his lips and lit it, angering Goyjo all over again.

"Hey, you guys, I think I may be hallucinating. I see a plate of meat buns right there in front of me." Goku said, making the others look at him.

"You're not nuts. We all see it there, too, Goku." Goyjo told him.

"Hey, so it is real!" Goku cheered, jumping to his feet.

"He didn't say they were real, Goku, only that we can see them too." Yuai told him.

"Look around." Sanzo told him.

Goku stopped and looked around them. All around them, they could make out the faint image of townsfolk, cheering and laughing, having a fun time.

"What is this?" Goku asked.

"It's just another one of his magic tricks." Goyjo assured him. "A rather elaborate one, at that."

Goku, not really listening, tried to order food from the barkeep illusion, Goyjo calling him stupid for thinking it was real. Yuai, on the other hand, watched the scene around them unfold, the illusion showing them when the Undertaker came to town and slaughtered all of the townspeople.

"Hmph...that's quite the show." Goyjo remarked.

"It is, but I don't care much for his subject matter." Hakkai agreed.

"Same here. I'd lose my breakfast if I had any food in my stomach." Yuai added.

"That's way too gory for me." Goku agreed with her.

"Uh-huh. I don't know about the rest of you, but I say we close the curtain on this three penny opera." Sanzo said, getting to his feet.

"But how do we do that?' Goku asked.

"I think I have an idea."

All four men turned to Yuai, who gave them a wide smile. The idea she unfolded for them, had all four men smiling back at her.

"Yuai, I do believe that is one underhanded idea." Hakkai told her.

"Well, I have been traveling with you four for a while now. Something has to have rubbed off on me by now." Yuai replied.

Her idea...mess up the town the Undertaker was so proud off.

With that idea in mind, all five of them went about painting the walls of the buildings. Yuai hummed happily to herself as she painted on one way, Kokoro leaving little green-and-pink paw prints all along the base of the wall. Even Hakkaryuu joined her in painting the wall. Hakkai glanced over his shoulder at Yuai and the two creatures, chuckling lowly to himself as he watched them.

Goku, leaving his wall all colorfully marked up, ran over to Sanzo.

"Hey, Sanzo, tell me, do you think he'll really come?" Goku asked.

"Oh, yeah. This is his town, after all." Sanzo replied.

Sure enough, Undertaker made his appearance, and he wasn't happy with the colorful display they had made out of his town. With his appearance, they moved on from merely painting the walls, to blasting them to pieces and wrecking the town. The destruction sent Undertaker over the edge. With the demon's appearance, they started their fight, Goyjo getting caught up in the fight and getting crushed by one of the coffins.

They found out quickly that Undertaker could use the coffins as shield or weapon. Growing annoyed with the coffins, Hakkai left the destruction of the coffins to Goyjo and Goku, Yuai jumping in to destroy one, herself. With the coffins out of the way, they were able to finally land hits on the demon.

"And this one is for...not having any food, ya jackass!" Goku yelled, slamming a punch into Undertaker's face, sending him sliding across the ground, where he came to a stop at Goyjo's feet.

"And this one is for your no smoking policy." Goyjo added, giving the Undertaker another hit that had him flying back towards Hakkai.

Hakkai crouched next to the demon, picking up one of his arms. When the Undertaker looked up at him, Hakkai gave him an innocent enough looking smile.

"It's okay. I'm not holding a grudge." Hakkai told him...before he broke the demon's arm.

Undertaker scrambled away from him, nursing his broken arm, only coming to a stop when he bumped into the legs of Yuai. Looking up at the girl, she smiled down at him, bending forward until her face was on level with his.

"You know what they say, right? Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. That goes double for a Choi woman." Yuai told him...before slamming a booted hell into the Undertaker's face.

"Looks like I'm next." Sanzo remarked.

Undertaker tried to make a run for it, but Sanzo was faster, using his scripture to destroy the demon for good. Just as he was destroyed, the Undertaker called out Homra's name, Yuai's smile slipping from her face.

"What did he say?" Sanzo asked.

"Homra, he said Homra." Goku replied.

Whatever the demon had said, none of them wanted to stick around the town any longer than they had to. With Hakkaryuu still recovering, they set out from the town on foot. They had been walking for a while when Hakkai turned to look at Sanzo.

"Is it still bothering you?" Hakkai asked him.

"A little." Sanzo admitted.

"Man, talk about a shit hole. I thought I was gonna go crazy in that stupid dump." Goku remarked.

"Same here. That place was pure hell, man." Goyjo agreed.

"It was a dry county and no smoking section to be found. Maybe that's exactly what heaven's like." Hakkai remarked.

"No way! Then I'd rather have a table downstairs." Goku remarked, frowning at the thought.

"Too late. I know exactly where we're all going." Sanzo declared.

"Yes, well...I know where I'm going, too."

All eyes turned to Yuai, whose tone was distant, her expression mimicking that as she stared off into the distance. She was obviously lost in thought as she idly pet Kokoro, the little creature raising her head to mew softly at Yuai.

"Yuai?" Goku asked.

The boy calling her name was what snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up at the four and quickly gave them a smile.

"That doesn't matter, right now, anyway. I don't know about the four of you, but I don't plan on dying anytime soon." she told them.

While she said that, and they were sure that she really did mean it, that was the thing about life. Most of the time, things never went how one planned for them to. So while Yuai really didn't plan on dying anytime soon, that didn't mean that life wouldn't interrupt somewhere down the line and throw her plans to the wind.

After all, sooner or later...life would catch up with them all.

They just hoped it wasn't anytime soon.

-0-0-0-0-

After a whole day walking while they waited for Hakkaryuu to rest up, and then driving most of the next day, they finally reached a town where they could restock supplies and get a good night's rest. Yuai was just glad to have a bed to sleep in and to get a night's rest without something coming out of the woodwork to try to kill them.

It also didn't hurt that she had a room to herself for the first time in a while.

Well...not completely to herself, but Hakkaryuu and Kokoro didn't take up much room, so Yuai didn't mind.

Though after the whole moment of embarrassment back in the Undertaker's town where she had realized just how close she had gotten to Hakkai, Yuai had been all too aware of how close she got to Hakkai. In other words, she was keeping as much distance between them as she could. While she was starting to realize her feelings for Hakkai, and was struggling with the feelings of guilt that came along with them, she knew she needed to keep her distance from Hakkai. He was still her friend, but she couldn't risk her feelings getting any stronger.

So, she had kept her distance, making sure not to be so forward and comfortable with touch.

She had never realized, before that, how much she touched Hakkai.

It was embarrassing.

Catching her thoughts going back to that single thought, Yuai heaved a sigh and dropped her head on the top of the table she sat at in her room. Hakkaryuu and Kokoro, who were in the floor playing, paused in what they were doing and looked up at her.

"Come on, Yuai, get it together. You're a Choi warrior, for crying out loud. You're not suppose to get so confused." she told herself. "I don't have the luxury for letting myself get so frazzled."

A little mewling noise had Yuai raising her head. She found Hakkaryuu and Kokoro sitting on the table, the two small creatures staring at her with questioning looks, their heads tilting to the side. Yuai couldn't help but smile at the two before she reached out to give both a scratch on the head.

"No worries, you two. I just have to avoid alone time, for now. Give myself time to figure things out." she told the two.

A knock at the door had Yuai groaning something about jinxing herself. Pushing back her chair, she got to her feet, going to the door to answer it. Sure enough, standing on the other side, a smile on his face, was Hakkai.

"Oh, Hakkai. I thought you were out getting supplies with Goku." Yuai said, pushing aside everything else so she could appear normal.

"We got back a little while ago. I have something for you...and I wanted to talk. Can I come in?" Hakkai asked, holding up a few boxes he held in his hands.

Curious as to what was in the boxes, Yuai took a step back, opening her door wide for him walk in. Hakkaryuu and Kokoro greeted him with happy chirps as Hakkai stepped into the room. Yuai closed the door as Hakkai sat the boxes on the table, Kokoro instantly sniffing at them.

"You didn't go out clothes shopping for me again, did you, Hakkai?" Yuai asked as she approached the table.

Hakkai's reply was a sheepish laugh as he turned an equally sheepish smile on her. Yuai shook her head, but she couldn't help the smile on her face.

"Sorry, but you go through clothes so quickly and if we leave you to pick your own, you always go for the cheapest, least attractive clothes you can find." Hakkai told her.

"They might not be the most attractive of clothes, Hakkai, but they're functional." Yuai protested.

"Just try these, please?"

Heaving a sigh she really didn't mean, Yuai approached the table and pulled the boxes to there. The first box held a new top that was was sleeveless with a high neck. It was long enough that it would fall past her hips and was a pretty jade green with a pale green belt. The next box held a pair of black pants that would cut off at her knees, the third box held an emerald green dress with the same sleeveless and high neck features that Yuai liked in her tops, and the forth box held a new pair of calf-high boots.

"Their beautiful, Hakkai, thank you, but you don't need to keep shopping for me like this. Isn't it suppose to be a girl's job to do the shopping for the men?" Yuai asked, jokingly.

Hakkai chuckled, glad to hear her joke with him again after things seemingly being awkward between them.

"I don't know about that. When Kanan was alive, she use to joke that she had to do the man's job of killing spiders and bugs, while I was the one that cleaned up the mess." Hakkai remarked.

"I remember her telling me something like that. She told me she was a failure of a cook and not a very good home-maker. That you happily did it all for her."

Hakkai looked up at Yuai as her smile took on a bit of a pained look. He wasn't sure why she had that expression, it could be a many number of things. In the end, he chalked it up to her simply missing a friend she had made in the darkest time of her life.

"She loved you greatly." Yuai added as she tucked the clothes back into their boxes.

"Yuai..." Hakkai trailed off as he watched her. Her tone had completely changed. He wasn't sure if it was because of that, or something else, that drove him to say what he did next. "You do know that Kanan and I are blood-related siblings, right?"

"Yeah, I already know."

Hakkai's head whipped up, his wide eyes going to Yuai's face. Seeing the look of pure shock on his face, Yuai couldn't help smiling in return.

"Kanan and I spent quite a bit of time with nothing to do but talk. She told me quite a few things, Hakkai. Including the fact that you two were brother and sister, yet lived like lovers." Yuai replied, taking a seat in one of the chairs.

"And you don't think less of me?" Hakkai asked.

"Not at all. I probably should be weirded out, from a moral view point, but, I'm not. You have to remember, Hakkai, I come from a clan that, normally, never marries outside of itself. Eventually, the bloodlines do start to cross and loop back. I'm positive that there were similar cases within my own clan, so you'll never hear, or get, any kind of judgment from me." she assured him.

Hakkai was glad to hear that. Of course, Gojyo already knew and had just as easily waved it off as Yuai had. It only made him realize that he had some really good friends.

Though, Hakkai still had to wonder why Yuai had been acting so strange around him.

The only way to find out, was to just ask, right?

"Yuai, is something wrong?"

Yuai looked up when Hakkai suddenly questioned her, his expression one of concern as he looked at her. It took her a moment to process what he had asked her, but, when she did, she gave her head a shake, quickly denying that anything was wrong.

"No. What makes you think something's wrong?" she asked.

"You've been acting strange, lately. Sometimes, it feels like you're avoiding me, and other times, you act a little...awkward around me. Did I do something?"

"Oh, gods no! Honestly, Hakkai, nothing is wrong. Nothing more than usual. All these gods popping up has me stressed and overly aware of everything. I'm afraid I'm not going to be any good against these gods." Yuai told him. While it was partly the truth, Yuai wasn't telling him everything, and judging from the look on his face, Hakkai could tell. "I mean it, Hakkai. Don't worry. You've done nothing wrong. This is just...just my own problems waking up to slap me in the face."

"What do you mean?" Hakkai asked.

"Just that...I'm starting to realize just how inadequate I am. Sometimes, this little voice in the back of my mind, just laughs at me and ask me what I was thinking when I left my clan's city. Sometimes, when that voice rears it's ugly head, I find myself thinking that I was kidding myself, thinking I have what it takes to be a full fledge Choi warrior." Yuai replied.

"Yuai, that's ridiculous." Hakkai assured her.

"Is it? Is it really? I mean...sure, I'm an adequate enough fighter, but I'm still immature, letting things I know will never happen, cloud my mind when I should be focusing on what's in front of me. When it's all said and done, I'm still just a child."

Hakkai stared at Yuai in surprise. Yuai always had a certain amount of confidence about her that made Hakkai respect her all the more. It was so rare to see her so self-conscious. It made him wonder just how long she had been thinking these things and what, exactly, had triggered them.

"But...you aren't a child, Yuai." Yuai looked up, her eyes landing on Hakkai's smiling face. "You're still young, yes, but you're a mature woman, and one with a lot to offer."

Yuai smiled at him, touched, as she always was, by his kindness. That being said, on this, she just couldn't bring herself to completely believe it.

"I'm glad you think that, Hakkai. It's just, even I have my low points. Having all of these gods around is just getting to me. As soon as we can be rid of their attention, I can rest a little easier." Yuai told him.

"Well, if you ever need to talk, you know you can talk to me."

"I know. Thank you, Hakkai, really, but I'll be fine. I promise."

Hakkai eyed Yuai's face, but if there was anything else she wasn't tell him, than she wasn't giving it away. He would simply have to accept it at face value.

For now.

END

Kyandi: While I'm sure some of you are expecting more witty banter from the two of us...

Yuai: Kyandi-sama is about to fall asleep.

Kyandi: Right! So, we're going to wrap this up pretty quickly.

Yuai: She's ready for bed.

Kyandi: That I am. So, everyone, enjoy and review.

Yuai: We'll return as soon as possible.

Kyandi: Nightie-night!