"Hakkai? When will we get to the next town? I'm-"
"HUNGRY! Yes,we know,Goku! Hakkai and Hakuryuu are doing their best!" Sotona yelled crossing her arms on her chest and staring at the road,or rather no-road Hakkai was driving.
She was irritated since she woke up this morning and refused to talk to anyone. Even Hakuryuu was brushed off harshly when he tried to cuddle to her. They already learned she had her mood swings but it was never that bad or lasted so long.
"Sanzo,could you take out the map? I'd like to look at it." said Hakkai avoiding looking in the rear mirror. "Sanzo,we have about four hours to the next town. We better stay there overnight. Next one will be in about three days." Hakkai said handing Sanzo back the map. "However, I have some good news." he smiled looking into the rear mirror. In the back both Goku and Gojyo tried to keep as much distance as possible from the fuming girl. "The town is famous of it's hot springs!" Hakkai's voice was as cheerful as possible though he could swear that right now Sotona could easily massacre 100+ youkai in a blink of an eye.
'Maybe that would cool her off' Hakkai thought.
"Hot springs?" Sotona's raised an eyebrow "you mean those places where you first wash yourself and then dip in a pool of hot water with other people?"
"Yes. You have never been to hot springs,Berry-san?"
"No."
"Well then,you'll have an opportunity!" Hakkai smiled but then something surprised him "Berry-san?...Why are you blushing?"
Gojyo and Goku now turned to Sotona looking at her face.
"It's nothing..." she mumbled "Just that... the idea of bathing with others feels...awkward..."
For a minute they all looked dumb folded until finally a salve of laughter erupted. Sotona glared at them and both Gojyo and Goku earned a hit on the head while Berry's cheeks were tainted crimson.
"Don't laugh idiots! Where I come from you don't take bath with others! Well...sometimes with a lover or a husband,but still!"
"Not even your parents?"
"No, Hakkai. A child is bathed by the parents and when it's old enough it does it itself."
"Strange."
"Not strange. Every culture has it's own specifications." She pouted and refused to talk to either Goku or Gojyo though they were eager trying to get her into a conversation about her home.
>> Fast Forward,few hours later.
The little town also serving as a health resort was quite charming. Sotona especially liked the trees with some fruits still on them. Hakkai along with Berry and Gojyo went to the market to get the supplies while Sanzo and Goku looked for an inn. The market place was pretty busy. As Berry and Gojyo followed Hakkai's lead,Sotona felt something bump into her. She looked down and saw a little girl about seven years old. She was wearing a sun dress in a vivid orange colour with delicate green petal pattern on it. Her hair reaching her little shoulders was the same sienna hue as Sotona's and her eyes were grey and a bit panicked. As Sotona noted that,a woman reached the little girl and said:
"Yumi-chan! Apologize to the lady."
"Oh,it's nothing."Berry said to the mother smiling "No harm done."
Just then Sanzo and Goku came up to their friends.
"Everything s full."Sanzo said plainly lighting a cigarette and glancing at Yumi-chan who was staring at him. When his gaze fell upon her she quickly hid behind her mother clutching to the woman's dress.
"Excuse me,are you looking for rooms?" the woman asked Sotona who was the nearest to her.
"Looks like we are."
"Our place should still have vacancies. It's not in the centre but..."
"Lead."Sanzo said simply.
The woman weaved her way through the crowd with Sanzo ikkou close behind her. Sotona was closing the "procession" right behind Gojyo. Suddenly a man passing her caught her attention. He had silver hair tied in a braid and was wearing a black trench coat not suiting the warm time of the year. When his icy blue eyes met Berry's she shuddered but he disappeared. Not wanting to get lost Sotona looked to where Gojyo's back was a few seconds ago. But she was alone in the mass of people.
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