CM: Hey everyone. Copper Moon here. I decided to post another story based on one of my particularly favorite animes, Saiyuki. I only hope that I do well with this. I highly encourage CONSTRUCTIVE criticism so that I might make improvements to this story. So please read and tell me what you think.

Disclaimers: I don't own Saiyuki but I do own you. Just kidding. Totally kidding :P You own me.

SUN AND RAIN

Prelude: A long time ago, I had sworn to never allow myself to love someone else ever again. The bitter rain that had fallen on that day never left my heart. Never had I imagined I would find a source of light in a place such as this. As I call out to her, she turns toward me with a relieved smile. Seeing that she's alright, I reach my hand out to her with no greater wish than to take her away from that terrible place. I watch as her hand lifts to meet mine. We're so close to touching… but then her eyes suddenly widen. Her lips part in a whispered gasp with drops of red trickling down from them. Then I watch in horror as she falls forward, the fresh wound in her chest soaking the ground around her in a deep crimson. I scream her name, but I don't think she can hear me. It's happening again… and once more, I'm the one to blame.

Entanglement- A Chance Encounter

Hakkai couldn't remember being in such agony. Everything was dark and it felt like fire was running through his veins though it did nothing to warm the chills that swept through him in waves. Distantly he could hear someone screaming. Oddly enough, it sounded like his own voice. He could hear the others voices through the screams. Though he could not understand the words they were making. He tried to shout the names of his friends, to his late beloved, to anyone who would listen. He saw his love dying, his friends dying, himself dying. Suddenly a soothing and gentle voice cut through the whirl of torment and suffering. He felt cool, gentle hands touch his feverish skin. And he remembered nothing more.

When he came to, he found himself in a large room with the rest of his group in separate beds all bandaged up and a bowl of water in the center. On his forehead he felt the coldness of a wet piece of cloth. He noticed the young woman standing in the doorway. She was of average height with waist length dark auburn hair pulled back in a loose braid with bangs that went past her chin and a fringe covering the right side of her face. Her eyes were bright sapphire and she wore a kind smile.

"I was worried you might not awaken," she said stepping into the room. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm alright…I guess. What happened out there? And where am I?" he asked trying to move but finding it impossible as his muscles cried out in protest.

"Please don't exert yourself," the girl told him coming to his side and taking the cloth from his head. "You've been through a serious ordeal." As she went to soak it in cold water she spoke to him in a soft voice. "I found you and your friends passed out in the woods, surrounded by the deadly shadow plants. With the help of my aunt and friends, we were able to bring you here for treatment. You were all terribly poisoned. However I think you were worse off than the others were. I'm just glad we made it on time."

"I see," Hakkai said taking steady breaths. "I guess we owe you our lives then."

"Please, think nothing of it."

There was a small squeal and a small white dragon flew over him. "Hakuryuu, thank goodness you're alright," Hakkai said with relief.

"He's been waiting for you to wake up for a long time," she told him with a small smile.

"How are the others doing?" Hakkai asked looking over at Sanzo, Goku, and Gojyo asleep on the other beds.

"No need to worry about me Hakkai, I'm just fine," Gojyo said looking up from his bed with a smile.

"How are you feeling this morning, Mr. Gojyo?" the female asked him amiably.

"I'm feeling just fine, especially since your arrival sweetheart," Gojyo said with a smile.

"Could you try to leave her alone until later?" Hakkai asked.

"No way, this is my best chance," Gojyo said smirking.

The girl laughed. "You're friend has been rather friendly since he woke up."

"So…hungry," a small voice moaned. They looked to see Goku sit up in bed, looking woozy. "Need… food."

"I'll go and make some for all of you in just a bit," the girl promised. "First though, I think I should give mister Hakkai and mister Sanzo their medicine.

"If you think you can feed me that crap again you're wrong," a grumpy voice said from the bed next to the window.

"I agree that it doesn't taste very good but it does help with the poison," Hakkai told him with a small laugh.

"I said I'm not taking that crap," Sanzo declared angrily.

"Yes you will," a boisterous voice called out angrily. "You are my patients and you will take the medicine prescribed to you no matter how it tastes."

"Are you the one who took my gun?" Sanzo asked darkly.

"Doctor's orders. No weapons until you're able to walk," The woman told him.

"You bitch, "Sanzo growled.

"Everyone, this is my aunt Yuzuna. She may look violent but she's really a softie," the girl introduced.

"Who are you calling a softie you little do-gooder?" Her aunt asked before pushing her towards the medicine cabinet. "Now get those boys their medicine before I have to shoot them up with syringes."

"Yes ma'am."

She left with Sanzo shouting up a storm about wanting his gun back. "Sure sounds lively in there…I'm guessing those four finally woke up huh," said a young woman in a clean dress. She was leaning against one of the walls with a smile on her face. She had shoulder length strawberry blond hair and deep green eyes that one could get lost in. She was a few inches taller than her friend and had a full figure. "They sure sound like a handful."

"I'm surprised to see you're still here, Ran," the auburn haired girl said to her friend.

"Eh, my dad gave me the day off," she replied with a shrug.

"Well, the boys I think are ready for a meal so could you grab the food I prepared in the fridge and reheat it for me while I grab their medicine?"

"Sure thing," Ran replied heading for the kitchen. When she finished reheating the food she put it on a platter and brought it into the room where the Sanzo group was recovering. "Well you guys look like you're doing well. Good to see you're recovering nicely," Ran said with a smile when she walked into the room.

"YAY FOOD," Goku shouted happily, a waterfall of saliva flowing out of his mouth. "I'm so hungry I could eat my legs!"

"Wow you look hungry…okay here you probably need something to eat after what you went through," Ran said with a small laugh placing one of the platters on the table next to Goku's bed.

"Hello hello hello," Gojyo said from his bed. "I'll skip the breakfast. I'd rather have you instead."

Ran froze for a moment and her jaw tightened. "Well if you don't want breakfast then I'll just take your food back to the kitchen for later," she said putting the other platters next to Sanzo's and Hakkai's beds. Then she straightened up with his food in her hand and turned to walk out the door.

"Ouch, that was a little cold," Gojyo said blinking.

"Hahaha! I like her," Goku said through a mouthful of food. "That's what you get you pervy water sprite."

"Why you little…"

"Shut up both of you!" Sanzo shouted.

Hakkai sighed and closed his eyes. "It's so comforting to know I'll be able to rest peacefully."

"I'm back," a female voice said and they all glanced over to see the dark haired girl carrying a small bottle, some cups, and Gojyo's meal. "I apologize for my friend, Mr. Gojyo. She's just been a little edgy these past few days."

Ran sighed and shook her head before taking Gojyo's food from her friend and giving it to him. "Next time keep your comments to yourself please," Ran asked politely.

"Oh so you two are back in here are you…well it's almost time to change their bandages so if you two don't mind?" Yuzuna said poking her head into the room.

"Sure thing auntie," the two girls answered together.

"Hey you I want my gun back," Sanzo cut in angrily.

"Like I've said before no guns until you're all better…oh and remember to be nice to the patients," she added glancing over at Ran.

"Okay, sorry about that," Ran answered scratching her head.

The dark haired girl went over to Hakkai's bed first and poured some of the liquid from the bottle into one of the four small cups. "Can you sit up?" She asked him.

"I believe I can manage," he said before using his hands to push himself up into a half sitting position with his shoulders resting against the bed frame.

"Here," she said placing the cup to his lips and tipping it into his mouth. Once it was all swallowed he coughed heavily from the bitterness. "I know it tastes terrible," she said apologetically. "The price of good health, I'm afraid."

"Yeah, unfortunately it costs more than just having a bad taste in your mouth," Ran said with a humorless laugh. "Need any help with this or should I go get the extra bandages?" she asked her friend.

"If it's not too much trouble, Mr. Gojyo will need the bandages on his leg changed," she replied before she helped Hakkai relax back onto his bed.

"Pardon me but, I don't believe I caught your name," he said looking up at her. She looked at him in surprise for a moment before smiling.

"Hanaii Karin. Pleased to meet you."

"Karin…you're name really suits you," Hakkai replied with a warm smile causing her to turn away rather quickly in order to hide her blush.

"I'll be right back so don't do anything I wouldn't do," Ran said walking out of the room.

"Wow this food was great you got any more?" Goku asked out of the blue.

"You're such a pig, monkey boy," Gojyo muttered.

"I'm not a monkey," Goku shouted angrily.

"Fine then you're a pig-monkey," Gojyo shot.

"At least I'm not a stinking cockroach," Goku shot back.

"Both of you shut the fuck up," Sanzo hissed.

"Make me, shitty monk…oh that's right that woman took your gun away so you can't," Gojyo mocked.

There was a loud smash as Sanzo picked up his food bowl and threw it at Gojyo's head. Gojyo had sense enough to duck and it ended up shattering against the wall spraying food everywhere. "That's going to be fun to clean up," Karin said with a weak smile.

"I apologize," Hakkai told her. "They usually get like this after too much time spent in enclosed quarters together."

"It's no problem," Karin assured him. She went over to each of the three boys and poured them a cup of the medicine. "If you take it with the food, it's not so bad."

"I told you I'm not drinking it," Sanzo said glaring at her.

"What was that racket?" Yuzuna shouted barging into the room. She glanced around and saw the shattered bowl next to the wall and the food all over the floor. Then she looked over at Sanzo who was sitting against the head of his bed and saw that his food bowl was missing and that his medicine lay untouched in Karin's hands.

"So you're the one causing trouble in here I see. You're refusing to take your medicine? Then maybe I should just end your life right now and save the poison the trouble."

"Wasn't it you who said earlier not to hurt the patients?" Karin asked her.

"I promise he won't feel a thing," she said cracking her knuckles."

"Go ahead and try it, you old hag," Sanzo said daringly.

"Sanzo, please," Hakkai said seriously from his bed. "Just drink the damn medicine. I for one am not ready to die here."

Silence descended upon the group for several minutes before Sanzo grabbed the cup from Karin and downed its contents in seconds before spluttering from the taste. "Well at least one of you has the sense to take his medicine when needed," Yuzuna said with approval. "Now I don't want to have any more problems from you, are we clear?" she shot at Sanzo. He glared at her but didn't say anything…probably because if he opened his mouth then the taste would intensify. "Good, if they give you any trouble, Karin, then give me a shout and I'll straighten them out."

"Thank you, auntie," Karin said with a smile and waved goodbye as her aunt left the room.

"She's hot," Gojyo said once her aunt was out of earshot. "Must run in the family. It's too bad she reminds me too much of Sanzo."

"Do you wanna die?" Sanzo grated.

"Ew, this medicine tastes like puke! Can I have more food?" Goku asked Karin after happily cleaning away his plate and draining the contents of the cup.

"Sure thing," Karin said, just let me get this mess cleaned up."

"Don't even bother, Karin, I'll take care of it," Ran said stepping into the room with the bandages. "You go ahead and get the food."

Karin nodded. "If you insist."

She gave Karin a smile as she left before placing the bandages on the table and then bending down to clean up the mess. "I'm liking this view…just stay like that for a bit and I'll be better in no time," Gojyo said turning slightly so that he had a great shot of her backside.

Ran quickly squatted so that she no longer presented that view and finished cleaning up without a word. "So now it's time to change that bandage of yours…just tell me if it hurts while I'm working and I'll try to correct it," she told him once she put the bowl and food where they belonged. With that she sat down next to his bed and started unwrapping his leg slowly, being sure to be gentle so that she didn't hurt his leg.

"Hey, while you're undressing me, how about a sponge bath?" He asked her with a sly grin.

Her hand jerked the bandage slightly making cry out in pain. "Oh I'm sorry, my hand slipped. As to your request we don't have the materials needed for such a thing at this time so I won't be able to," Ran told him with a very forced smile on her face.

"Who said anything about needing materials?" Goyjo said. "All we need is just you, me, and some—Gah!" He gave another shout as she unceremoniously yanked off the rest of the bandages from his leg.

"Hahaha! You're such a baby, Gojyo!" Goku laughed.

"You're leg will need a little cleaning but that's all you'll be getting," Ran said turning to the supplies she brought down and cleaning the large wound on his leg with rubbing alcohol. "This may sting a bit," she said placing the rag soaked in the alcohol onto his wound and holding it there. Gojyo nearly leapt out of his bed because of the sting that shot through his body. Goku started laughing at Gojyo's expression and Ran didn't even bother to look. After a few seconds she removed the cloth and started wrapping his leg again. "That wasn't so bad now was it?" Ran asked as she rewrapped his leg…the smile back on her face.

"Heh, you kidding? I've taken bee stings that hurt worse than that," he said with bravado.

"Good to know," she replied with a roll of her eyes. "Karin should be back with the food in a little while. In the meantime I have to get back to my own work."

"Really, so you don't work here then?" Hakkai asked surprised.

"Nope, I help out here every now and again though…sometimes it's a lot of fun," Ran answered shaking her head.

"So then where do you work?" Goku asked confused.

"It's a secret…I'm sure you'll find out later though…so when you go stop by and I'll show you guys something cool," Ran said with a mischievous smile.

On her way out, she bumped into Karin almost causing her to drop the food she was carrying. "Leaving already?"

"Yeah, they're all yours," Ran said with a smirk. "Good luck."

"Thanks, you have fun now." Karin watched her friend leave before giving Goku his second plate of food and handing Sanzo a plate to replace the one he hadn't even gotten to try.

"Hey," Sanzo acquired her attention. "I don't suppose you have any cigarettes lying around here, do you?"

"Well, we do…" Karin said slowly. "But I don't think that smoking is the best thing for your body right now."

"Right now, I could care less," Sanzo replied harshly.

"I could use a couple of smokes, myself," Gojyo remarked, leaning back against his bedpost.

"Who the hell do you think you people are?" Yuzuna's gruff voice said from the doorway. She stood there with a cigarette in her mouth and the pack in her hand. Sanzo's eyes narrowed.

"Are those MINE?"

"Yep, and I'm taking them as payment for our hospitality," Yuzuna said putting the pack in her pocket. "Now until I deem you people fit you will not get any smokes, alcohol, or anything that might damage your bodies at this point, I won't hear another word against it." With that she closed the door and left with Sanzo's smokes in tow.

"I hate that woman," Sanzo muttered angrily.

"Don't sweat it…with how fast we heal we'll be out in no time," Gojyo said putting his hands behind his head and closing his eyes.

"That's surprising coming from you," Hakkai said with a smile.

"Tell you what, guys," Karin said as she cleared away the dirty dishes. "I work at the local tavern, so after you're better you can stop by during my shift and I'll treat you."

"Alright, I like that idea. Maybe you can have a drink with me, I'll make it worth your while," Gojyo said looking her up and down.

"I'm not allowed to drink with the customers while on duty," Karin replied apologetically.

"That's alright. I have no problems waiting up." His invitation was interrupted when Sanzo's empty cup (which was plastic) nailed Gojyo in the head.

"What the hell was that for!" He demanded.

"I'm in no mood for your idiocy right now," Sanzo muttered.

"In any case, thank you once more for your hospitality," Hakkai told her congenially.

"We'll try not to destroy your house during our stay." Karin let out a soft laugh and she covered her mouth to stifle it. A shame really. It was such a pleasant sound.

"Just focus on getting better."

After she left the room she found Ran downstairs sitting in one of the chairs in the tavern. "So did you have fun up there?" she asked looking up when she heard Karin come down the stairs. "That Gojyo guy wasn't doing anything was he?"

"Nothing to the extreme," Karin told her setting the dishes in the sink and began cleaning them. "They seem like a nice group."

"Whatever, I just can't wait until they've recovered so they can leave," Ran muttered darkly. "As much as I hate to admit it, it's probably for the best, "Karin said softly.

"Best for them and us…I mean if they got hit by his poison so easily then they'll die for sure if they stay here until he comes," Ran stated shaking her head. "I don't know how they got themselves caught up in that poison so easily but if it happened once it'll probably happen again and then I doubt we'd be able to do anything for them." She stood up and heaved a heavy sigh. "I'll come back tomorrow to help out…though I hope that pinky doesn't talk to me again…I almost lost it last time."

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Karin told her.

"Nah, there's no way I'd be so cruel as to leave you alone here with them," Ran replied with a grin.

"Thanks Ran," Karin told her not looking up from the dishes.

"Hmm? Something bothering you?" Ran asked noticing the far-away tone of her friend's voice.

"It's nothing really," Karin replied embarrassed.

"Come on…what's bugging you? It's not like you to be acting far away…especially when your in the middle of work," Ran said walking around and making sure that she could see Karin's face.

Karin paused in her washing, staring down at the soap suds on her hands. "That man… he reminds me of him in a way."

"You don't mean…" Karin nodded wordlessly. "Well, I can kind of understand what you mean. That red haired perv reminds me of that jerk. I hate men like him."

"It would seem both of our past demons have come back to haunt us," Karin said with a forced laugh.

"Yeah…but it'll be over as soon as they leave," Ran agreed. "Well I'm going home…so I'll see you tomorrow okay. And if that perv gives you any grief let me know I'll clobber him."

"Haha, you'll be the first to know," Karin laughed as Ran walked out the door.

CM: Ba-da! Okay, so it starts off kinda slow, but I promise it'll get moving along soon so bear with me. _