It was one of those days, full of listening to constant arguing and death threats, random gun shots and bumps that almost threw Nevaeh out Jeep.
Until, nearing the end of mid-day, the Sanzo Party came across an un-mapped little town on their journey to the west.
"Finally! Let's go find some food!" Goku exclaimed as he jumped down from the back of Hakuryuu in Jeep form.
"For the last time, would you shut it about eating?!" Gojyo yells, his irritated meter flying off the handle.
Nevaeh pushed him out of the way and stepped down, "For the last time, would you shut your mouth about Goku and just get along?" she said, mockingly while narrowing her eyes at the two immature boys. "Honestly, I would think you'd find something else to complain about at least."
Goku clamp's onto Nevaeh's waist, "You're so nice to me, Nevaeh, always protecting me from mean old Gojyo!"
Sighing, she tears his arms away, "You get weird when you don't eat," and pauses, "Sanzo! You need to feed your monkey!"
The unnerved reply comes quickly, "He likes you more, you feed him."
"You're the one with the money."
Gojyo tugs on Nevaeh's shirt sleeve, cutting her off, "Who's the one arguing now?"
There were times where Nevaeh got very tired of traveling with these men, but she didn't think she could live any other way. The bickering and playful hostility was something she had grown attached to. As well as the acceptance she felt as one of them.
Fighting and protecting herself was no longer an issue, Nevaeh had trained every moment she had with her crossbow until there was no doubt that she would hit her target everytime. Muscles had formed and grew on her arms from the constant strain, she had toughened up.
She rarely ever thought herself as a woman.
And the boys had gotten used to having a woman around, Gojyo would always remind Nevaeh of the obvious truth but everyone else knew not to bring up her gender. Nothing phased her, while the guys would be shy about sharing a room, or having to take a leak on the side of the road, she wouldn't even flinch.
"The sun is setting, let's find an inn before it gets too dark." Hakkai announces quickly, so that Nevaeh wouldn't be able to turn her snappy retorts to Gojyo and cause more headaches.
Tensions easing and a blissful silence descended as they walked into the town, all of the party must have been harmoniously thinking of the same thing to cause such a peaceful walk.
A picture of a feast fit for a king sizzled in Goku's mind.
Brand new cigarettes and the local newspaper with his slippers, just lounging in a chair was to Sanzo's fancy.
The promise of a warm shower, clean clothing and an actual bed suited Nevaeh's simplicity just fine.
A good night's rest and the ability to restock on supplies imaged in Hakkai's thoughts.
Beautiful women, gambling, a nice tall drink of something alcoholic... Gojyo prayed to the gods that it would be present here for him to indulge in.
Soon enough the silence was broken as the first signs of other human life in the streets of a normal village were shown. Since the sun was going down, everyone was scrambling to get what they needed from the market place and get home for a well cooked meal.
Hakkai glanced around, "I should probably go get some things from the stores that we absolutely need tonight. Suggestions anyone?"
"Cigarettes." Within a heartbeat after Hakkai's question, Sanzo had answered.
