Saiyuki: Reborn

More ficcy! Oh, and my co-writer\'s finally started posting this fic
up on our site. Check out it and some of our other work.

www.angelfire.com/tv2/demons_lair

Our stuff is under the Zithantharis side, though check out Aubram\'s
fics if you\'re in the mood for some really juicy stuff. (^_-)

--------------------
Chapter 7


He chuckled faintly. \"It does,\" he assured quietly. \"At least the
first time you start to remember. Once you get past that, it doesn\'t
hurt to remember that moment again. Well, at least not physically,\"
he added humorously, though his words were serious. Lan glanced at
the other from behind his glasses. \"It might be best if you don\'t
think on it too much yet,\" he advised. \"It\'s been enough of a crazy
night.\"//And now that we\'ve found each other...we\'ll have time.//

\"Yeah.\" Huyen took in a deep breath, regaining his
courage. \"There\'s...something you should probably know,\" he said
quietly at last, his fingers curling against his stomach. \"About Wen
Jin...I mean, Gojyo. He He turned his gaze out the window. \"I met him
a few years ago. He\'s...he\'s dead now.\"

Lan sighed quietly, taking a moment to fully feel those words.
Somehow...his chest ached. //But then....// \"We\'re getting close,\" he
finally said, very softly. \"All of us, around the same time, in the
same town.... So close....\" At a red light he reached up, rubbing the
bridge of his nose beneath his glasses.

Huyen glanced at him. \"I\'m sorry.\" For all that Wen Jin had meant to
him, he could feel somehow that it would have been harder for this
man. He wasn\'t sure why, only that...he felt for him, with more
sympathy than he\'d been able to feel in a long time. He reached out
to touch Lan\'s shoulder. \"But there still is someone you should meet.
I think he\'ll be happy to see you, too.\"

He glanced at Huyen curiously, then smiled at the show of sympathy.
It was strange, how just being with this boy was putting him at ease.
He felt more comfortable with this child that looked half his age
than with anyone else. //He really is Sanzo.// He clasped Huyen\'s
hand a moment. \"It\'s late, but I suppose it can\'t hurt to meet this
friend of yours.\"

\"It\'ll be worth it.\" Huyen smiled slightly, relieved that he would be
able to cheer him up somewhat. \"Thanks for taking me, by the way,\" he
added. \"It\'s just down this way--across from the phone company\'s
building.\" After a moment he pulled his hand back, somewhat
embarrassed. But he couldn\'t help it--he was calm here, maybe even
more so than when he was with Goku. \"How many lives do you think
we\'ve lived?\" he asked abruptly. It was easier listening to Lan tell
him than try to remember it himself.

He hummed thoughtfully. \"Well, I\'ve lived about eleven lives,
counting this one, Hakkai\'s, and my original incarnation,\" he
replied. \"Of course, there\'s no telling how many each of us has lived
if we don\'t remember them. Also, I guessed that there were about 500
years--if not more--between our original incarnations and the second.
At least, that\'s what I\'ve been able to gather from the legends.\"

\"That\'s a long time.\" //I don\'t remember anything other than the few
things Goku\'s told me, and…a few dreams.// \"Do you think I\'ve lived
as many?\" he asked curiously. \"Goku said...he\'s never been able to
find me until now. And if you and I met only once...maybe I haven\'t
been reincarnated as many times as the rest of you.\"

Lan nodded. \"It\'s entirely possible. We might be able to figure it
out, if you are able to remember even the names you\'ve had. That\'s
how I check mine,\" he added, smiling faintly. \"The later ones, at
least, leave some kind of record. My last three I actually have quite
a bit of information about, even if I don\'t remember much of them
personally.\" He was proud of that fact, and he knew his enthusiasm
was showing.

\"That\'s….\" Huyen watched him thoughtfully, and decided eventually
that Lan would probably be able to tell if he was less than
honest. \"Sounds a little pointless,\" he admitted. \"If you can\'t
remember it, I mean.\" Despite that, however, he wished he could have
had as much information--anything to connect him to whatever past he
and Goku had shared. It seemed to mean so much to them....

He chuckled faintly. \"Do you really think so? You must have had an
easier time than I, then.\" He glanced at the boy briefly. \"It\'s been
quite...well, I suppose lonely is the best way to describe it.
Feeling like someone, something, is missing from your life. Knowing
that it\'s just beyond your reach....\" Lan\'s eyes unfocused a moment,
expression darkening slightly. \"Forcing myself to remember was all I
had. Even if it\'s painful, it\'s better than being alone.\"

Huyen felt a chill, but his face didn\'t change as he absorbed those
words. His arms tightened around his middle as he turned again to
stare out the window. It didn\'t hurt--not quite, but his throat felt
thick. \"Yeah.\" //I know. I just…gave up.//

//Now I did it.// Lan reached out, finding the boy\'s forearm without
looking, giving it a gentle squeeze. \"Forgive me--I shouldn\'t be
saying these things now. There will be plenty of time to talk later.\"
Seeing the apartment building Huyen must have meant, he pulled into
an empty parking space and faced the boy with a hesitant smile. \"Are
you still up for a visitor?\" he asked.

Huyen glanced back, and nodded, gradually gaining back his
composure. \"Yeah--I want you to meet him.\" He left the car quickly
just so he could feel the tug of Lan\'s hand against his arm. A breath
of the fresh air helped to calm him so he could face Lan again. \"It\'s
just up here.\"

Lan followed obediently, taking the time it took them to get to the
apartment to study his young companion. There were so many
similarities it was unbelievable. It wasn\'t that he remembered Sanzo
very clearly, but somehow in every step the boy reminded him of the
priest. //Though...there is something very different at the same
time.// It was puzzling, how Huyen could resemble his old friend and
yet be somehow not in harmony with that appearance.

His attention was distracted, however, as they approached one of the
apartment doors--there was a squawking, scratching commotion going on
behind it. //It...sounds famili--//

Huyen opened the door, and Lan found himself with a face full of
dragon. He fell back against the wall, and abruptly broke out
laughing. \"I don\'t believe it!\"

Huyen smiled as he stepped inside. \"Goku found him,\" he explained,
watching as the creature fussed over their guest. He tugged lightly
at Hakkuryuu\'s tail. \"Kind of surprising that he survived this long.\"

Lan managed to slip inside the apartment so he could close the door,
though he was having a difficult time removing the squirming creature
from his head. \"Hakkuryuu! I\'m not leaving yet, so please.\" He
finally managed to pry the dragon off, holding him tightly against
his chest. \"Ow, I think you scratched me.\" But despite the small
injury he was still laughing, tickling beneath Hakkuryuu\'s chin.

Huyen stayed back as the paijoyejoyed their reunion. //Maybe…it\'s a
good thing he does remember.// He turned toward the kitchen to get
them each something to drink. //Because even if we did forget,
Hakkuryuu…and Goku….// He sighed quietly. //I\'ve been selfish--how is
it that everyone remembers but me?//

Lan finally managed to convince Hakkuryuu that he wasn\'t going to
vanish, and he coaxed the dragon onto his shoulder. It promptly
curled around his neck, head tucked beneath his chin with contented
growls. \"Huyen?\" He moved towards what seemed to be the kitchen,
smiling happily. \"You said Goku found him? Have they been together
all this time?\"

\"Nhe whe whole time,\" Huyen relayed. He leaned back against the
counter as he sipped from a tall glass of water. He offered the
second to Lan. \"From what Goku tells me, it\'s been a few hundred
years, at least. That...he disappeared for a while, after he lost
you.\"

Hakkuryuu whined softly as if to confirm those words, and Lan patted
him in assurance. \"I see. Well, I\'m glad they\'ve had each other at
least that long.\" He smiled as the dragon nibbled on his chin. \"It
musve bve been hard for you, huh, Hakkuryuu.\" He accepted the glass
and took a few gulps. \"Thank you, Huyen.\"

Huyen nodded faintly. //If only Jin were here, we\'d all be….// He
glanced away, suddenly out of things to say. \"I\'m glad. He...might
even want to stay with you from now on, since he was originally
yours.\" Which…though it seemed logical, Huyen would miss having him
around.

\"Oh, there\'s no way,\" Lan protested. \"I can\'t keep a pet. And I don\'t
think he\'d want to leave.\" Hakkuryuu squeaked. \"Besides,\" he
continued, stroking the dragon\'s back, \"I\'d feel better if he was
here, with you and Goku. And it would give me a good excuse to
visit,\" he added with a wink.

\"Yeah...\" Huyen tried to hide his smile in another gulp of water. \"So
when do you think they\'ll let me see Goku?\" he changed the subject
abruptly. \"I told him I\'d be there when he woke up, and he\'ll get
restless if he\'s there by himself for too long.\"

//True. You know him pretty well already, don\'t you.// He smiled in
encouragement. \"Knowing Goku, they\'ll let you see him in the morning.
I wouldn\'t worry too much about him--he\'ll probably sleep until noon,
anyway.\" He finished the glass of water and let int in the sink,
wondering...if he should try to leave. //Though I don\'t really want
him here alone, but....//

Huyen noticed his slight hesitation. \"You don\'t have to stay,\" he
offered, waving his concern aside. \"I\'ll be all right. I\'ll be back
at the hospital tomorrow morning, anyway.\" He glanced up almost
cautiously. \"Unless...there was something you wanted to talk about.\"

Lan shook his head. \"Well, I do, but it should wait.\" He gently took
Hakkuryuu from his shoulder, smiling as the dragon licked his cheek,
and set him about Huyen\'s neck. Hakkuryuu cheeped softly, turning his
head to nibble at the boy\'s ear affectionately. //Good. He should
stay here.// \"I don\'t work until tomorrow afternoon, but I\'ll try to
come by and see both of you before they let Goku out.\"

\"All right. I\'m sure he\'ll want to see you, too.\" Huyen nudged the
dragon lightly; he was suddenly very grateful that Hakkuryuu would be
staying with him. \"Thanks, for everything.\" He started back towards
the door. \"I\'ll give you my cell number, just in case.\"

Reaching into his pocket, Lan pulled out a card. \"Here. It\'s got my
address and number on that.\" He scribbled his cell phone number on
the back and exchanged it with Huyen\'s. \"Don\'t be afraid to call.
Anytime,\" he added seriously. //And I mean that.// \"I live just
across town, if you ever need anything.\"

\"Sure. Thanks--I appreciate.\" Huyen tucked the card away, reminding
himself to put it somewhere safe. He did feel better, knowing that
they\'d found him... \"I guess I\'ll see you tomorrow, then.\"

Lan nodded, patting the boy\'s shoulder and earning an affectionate
nip from the dragon. \"See you tomorrow,\" he echoed. Still smiling, he
ed ted to leave.

Huyen gulped; there was something about watching Lan\'s turned back
that sent a shiver through him, and before he could stop himself he
surged forward. Hakkuryuu fluttered from his shoulder as he wrapped
his arms firmly around the man\'s middle. He\'s here, some voice in him
whispered. //He\'s here--he\'s all right….//

Lan made a soft \"oomph,\" but he regained his balance quickly, smiling
down at the curled hands. //Poor thing.// He clasped Huyen\'s arms
gently, leaning back slightly. \"There now,\" he murmured. \"Unlike
Goku, I have no desire to get into trouble, so I\'ll be sure to see
you tomorrow.\" Lan glanced over his shoulder. \"I\'m here now.\"

Huyen shivered; he felt foolish again, clinging to Lan like this, but
he couldn\'t help it. Something at the back of his mind was beginning
to burn, making his fingers stiff as they curled in the front of
Lan\'s shirt. //I don\'t want to let go.// \"I\'m sorry,\" he
murmured. \"Just for a moment...please?\"

//Poor thing....// Remaining quiet, he managed to ease himself around
to face the boy, easily wrapping his arms around his
shoulders. //This...is kind of strange, though. He shouldn\'t be
this...weak.// Lan wouldn\'t say anything--not now--so he only held
his returned friend close, enjoying the way his presence eased the
knot at the back of his chest.

Huyen stayed close, waiting until the pain had subsided and he could
take a full breath without it shaking. \"I\'m sorry,\" he muttered again
as he pulled back finally. At least he hadn\'t cried this time. \"It\'s
been kind of hard for me, remembering things....\" He retreated a
step, keeping his eyes downcast. \"I\'ll see you tomorrow. Right?\"

Lan ruffled the boy\'s hair, smiling patiently. \"Of course.
Hakkuryuu.\" The dragon cautiously returned to Huyen\'s shoulder. \"I
expect you to make sure he sleeps, okay? And that he wakes up at a
decent time to visit Goku.\" Hakkuryuu gave the affirmative, and a
pleased Lan again headed for the door. The dragon turned as he left,
pressing its forehead into Huyen\'s cheek.

\"Goodnight!\" Huyen called after him, and after a moment he stepped
back, closing the door once more. He sighed. \"Cn, Hn, Hakkuryuu,\" he
muttered as he headed for the bedroom. \"Let\'s get some sleep before I
embarrass myself some more.\"

---

Goku pouted, glaring at the nurse. \"Family my ass,\" he growled. \"He
is family--we\'re even living together, so there.\" He stuck his tongue
out, causing the nurse to roll her eyes.

\"Look, if the doctors said it was all right, I\'d let him in. But they
haven\'t cleared your friend because he isn\'t here.\" The nurse stepped
forward, being a little less than gentle as she drew blood, making
the boy wince. \"When he comes, he can talk to the doctor. Now no more
whining.\"

\"But I want Huyen!\" he complained, jerking his arm back once the
nurse was finished with it and crossing it moodily. \"I want him.\"

Huyen could hear the boy\'s protest long before he approached;
thankfully Lan had told the doctors about him earlier, and they
didn\'t give him any trouble in coming to see Goku that morning. He
had barely slept the night before, but the thought oeingeing Goku--
and the sound of his voice now--quickly refreshed him. He opened the
door and stepped inside, ignoring the surprised glare of the
nurse. \"Hey, you little brat,\" he greeted. //He looks all right, at
least.// He was carrying a paper bag with him. \"I brought you some
breakfast.\"

\"Yay!\" Goku continued to cheer until the nurse forced his arm down to
take his blood pressure. \"Aww, you\'re no fun, old lady.\" He flinched
beneath her glare, pouting quietly until she\'d finished. \"Meanie.\"

She knocked the back of her knuckles against his forehead. \"No junk,\"
she warned the visitor before leaving, shutting the door behind her.

Goku beamed once she was gone, reaching for Huyen--and the food--
eagerly. \"Huyen! Breakfast!\"

\"It\'s not much,\" Huyen admitted, taking a seat next to the bed. \"I
just picked up some dumplings on my way over, and an apple from a
fruit vender.\" He offered the food with a smile. //Thank god.// \"How
do you feel?\"

\"Starving!\" Goku immediately set into the food, stuffing his face
until he could barely chew. Once he got the edge off his hunger, he
turned his attention back to his lover. \"Wha\'bout chu?\" he asked. \"Yu
look sleepy.\"

\"I\'m all right.\" Huyen leaned back; now that he saw Goku was okay,
really okay, that fatigue was quickly catching up on him. \"I talked
to Lan last night. Lan Xiopou, apparently.\" He smiled. \"Hakkuryuu was
happy to see him.\"

Goku brightened. \"So he really is Hakkai?\" he asked, excited. \"If
Hakkuryuu recognized him, than it must be him.\" He bit happily into
one of the dumplings, nearly beside himself at the warmth and good
news. \"That\'s really great--is he coming? Is he going to come visit
soon?\"

\"He said he would.\" Though he was sure Goku alreanew new this, he
felt as if only talking would keep him awake right now. That and
watching Goku eat. \"Apparently he\'s really into researching his past
lives. He...said he remembered when he and I met, a long time ago,
but he wouldn\'t tell me anything about it.\"

\"Hmm....\" Goku swallowed. \"Wow, that\'s pretty great. I might be able
to find out where you all have been hiding all these years.\"
Giggling, he finished off the last of the food and dumped the bag and
other garbage off the edge. He grinned and reached for Huyen. \"I want
desert now,\" he declared, eyes bright.

Huyen smiled, but he really was pretty tired, and he knew he wouldn\'t
be able to give Goku everything he wanted. Still, he seated himself
on the bed edge and leaned forward, offering him a relieved
kiss. \"You little brat. Don\'t go scaring me again.\"

He returned the grin, slipping his arms around Huyen\'s waist. \"I\'ll
do my best,\" he replied playfully, settling against the
mattress. \"But really, I\'m practically all better, and I wanna go
home.\" His fingers curled against Huyen\'s hips. \"I missed you.\"

Huyen would have been all too eager to agree, were he not so
exhausted. \"As soon as Lan gets here, we can convince him to talk to
the nurses and let you out of here. Though I don\'t think they\'ll like
it--it was a gunshot wound, after all.\" He kissed Goku again, just
because he could.

Goku sighed happily. \"Gunshot whatever. I\'ve been slammed through
solid rock walls by the son of the Demon King--I think I can handle
some puny brat with a bullet.\" He stole another kiss, trying to sit
up, but the puny wound complained enough to keep him still.

Huyen pressed him gently into the bed once more. \"Relax--we\'ll have
time for that later.\" He ruffled Goku\'s hair affectionately. \"Lots of
time, but we\'re both going to need some rest first.\"

Goku pouted, though only for a moment. \"Fine fine.\" He flopped back
with a sigh, keeping his arms where they were for the time
being. \"Can you go bug the doctors? This bed smells funny--I wanna go
home.\"

\"I don\'t know if that will help--they didn\'t want to let me in here
in the first place.\" Even if the bed did smell funny, it looked like
Heaven to him right about now--he would have loved to curl up next to
Goku sle sleep all day.

They didn\'t have to wait any longer; the door opened suddenly, and
Lan poked his head inside. \"Goku...? Oh, Huyen--good, you\'re here.\"
He slipped inside, smiling at the pair. Seeing them together relieved
him greatly. \"I hope you\'re both feeling better.\"

Goku\'s ears perked at the new voice, and his eyes widened until he
felt they would fall out. //He...he wasn\'t kidding. It\'s really....//
It was so strange, meeting so easily like this--as if they\'d always
known the others were there. \"Hakkai....\" He licked his lips, feeling
small again. \"You....\"

Lan\'s smile deepened as he approached, taking the side of the bed
opposite Huyen--the blonde pulled back slightly in
embarrassment. \"It\'s Lan, now,\" he introduced pleasantly, \"but yes.
It\'s good to see you, Goku. Dr. Jyuen says you\'re healing remarkably
well.\"

He straightened, glancing between the two. //Both of them....// He
grinned. \"Of course I am. Something like that can\'t stop me.\" His
eyes were still darting back and forth, as if unable to believe what
he was seeing.

\"I didn\'t think so. I\'ll try to get you a speedy discharge--I\'m sure
you\'d rather rest at home, anyway.\" Lan chuckled at his darting
eyes. \"We\'re not going anywhere,\" he assured. \"I\'m glad we were able
to find each other like this--even Hakkuryuu. It\'s encouraging.\"

Huyen glanced away, but only briefly; he was going to have to get
used to being reminded of Wen Jin--it was a simple inevitability. But
he couldn\'t help but think that the elder would have been loving it,
were he here with them.

Goku took Huyen\'s hand tightly in his own. \"Yeah, it is,\" he replied,
watching Lan now, studying his eyes--they were exactly the same. He
sunk gradually into his thin pillow, suddenly feeling very happy with
the world. //I found them--or they found me. I\'m not alone....//
Somehow, having both men with him made something inside him stomach
twist, and his eyes began to sting. //Huyen...Lan....// He bit his
lip. //I....//

Huyen watched him a moment, feeling his own throat tighten slightly.
He reached out to touch the top of Goku\'s hair. \"It\'s all right,\" he
assured softly. \"We\'re together now.\" He squeezed Goku\'s hand.

Goku closed his eyightightly, trying to repress the on-coming tears.
It had been so long since he cried, and he didn\'t want to start again
now. Not now, with Huyen and Lan.... //Damnit.// His breath hissed in
his chest. //Huyen....// He tugged lightly at the boy, just...to
assure himself he was still there.

Lan smiled at him and took his other hand. \"We both know how much
this means to you, Goku,\" he said quietly. Huyen nodded slightly
beside him. //You can cry.// \"We understand.\"

He shook his head. //No. You don\'t. You can\'t....// Goku held them
both in an unbreakable grip, not looking up as he waited for the
knots in his stomach, chest, and throat to ease. //Two of
you...Sanzo....// He gasped softly. //I\'ve missed my sun.... I\'ve
missed you...!//

//Goku…I wonder if I knew what to do with you back then.// \"Hey.\" He
cast Lan a brief glance; he seemed to understand and leaned
back. //Maybe I don\'t really understand what it\'s like for you, but…I
know what it\'s like to miss a lover.// Huyen leaned in slightly,
touching his forehead to the cool metal of Goku\'s headband. //If
you\'re gonna cry, get it over with. I…don\'t know what to do.//

//Huyen....// He dared to open his eyes, but that ended up being the
wrong move. They immediately spilled over, and Goku let go of the
other\'s hand to wrap his arm around Huyen\'s neck. He sobbed quietly,
just...needing to clear himself. Get rid of the pain of the last few
hours, the last few years. His one hand was still clinging to Lan\'s,
but for now he just ignored his calming presence in favor of his
lover. \"Sorry,\" he whispered brokenly.

\"It\'s all right,\" Huyen replied softly, granting a gentle kiss to the
bridge of Goku\'s nose. \"Haven\'t I been crying on you all week?\" He
rubbed Goku\'s arm and shoulder, trying to get him to relax.

He managed a smalile,ile, and gradually the tenseness left his body.
Goku sagged into his bed, enjoying Huyen\'s proximity and the warmth
of the close bodies. \"I\'m okay,\" he finally said, relaxing his arm so
he could scrub at his nose. \"Thanks, guys. I think I\'m just tired.\"

\"Don\'t worry about it.\" Lan squeezed his hand lightly before pushing
to his feet. \"I\'ll see what I can do about getting you out of here,
all right? You two just relax, and I\'ll be back soon.\"

\"Thanks.\" Huyen watched him go before leaning in again for a fuller
kiss; even if he did feel comfortable with Lan, some things he
preferred to be private. \"You okay?\"

Nodding, Goku traced little circles on Huyen\'s cheek. \"Yeah, I\'m
okay.\" His other hand moved to lie across his stomach, wishing the
slight ache there away. \"I just wanna go home. With you.\" His sore
eyes brightened a bit. \"Since I\'m kinda laid up, I guess we\'ll just
have to order a lot of food in and curl up together, huh?\"

\"Whatever you want.\" Though he wasn\'t used to such tender affection
he kissed Goku again, then touched his lips to Goku\'s cheeks as if to
taste the salt left by his tears. \"Maybe Lan will come by and cook
for us,\" he suggested hopefully.

//That\'s right--there\'s three of us now.// Inordinately pleased by
all the affection, Goku decided he was going to take full advantage
of it, tugging Huyen close and nuzzling at his ear. \"That would be
great,\" he agreed in a murmur. \"Though...maybe I\'ll just eat you.\"
Giggling, he bit lightly at Huyen\'s earlobe.

Huyen\'s shoulders rose a little in embarrassment. \"Whatever.\" All the
same he was leaning closer, though also mindful of not pressing
against his wound. \"Though we might have to take it easy for a
while.\" //I\'m missing it already.//

\"Not too long,\" he replied,ce sce still low. \"I heal fast.\" Goku
closed his eyes as he began to suck lightly on Huyen\'s ear, just
being playful. He liked the way his lover\'s breath deepened, the way
he shifted his weight just slightly. He hummed faintly, fingers
curling against Huyen\'s sides.

Huyen\'s eyes fluttered closed as he just enjoyed the feeling; if they
could stay like this, then it wouldn\'t be so bad. \"Good. Because I
want to get you back in bed as soon as possible.\" urneurned enough to
give him a kiss and pulled back, just in case a nurse wandered
in. \"What do you want for dinner tonight?\"

Goku giggled. \"Other than you...anything meat. I need to get some
blood back.\" He rubbed his palm against the outside of Huyen\'s thigh,
not ready to let him get away just yet. //I had to sleep without you
last night--first time since you moved in. I\'m not letting go
yet.// \"Do you wanna invite Lan to stay? Or is it gonna be just us?\"

\"I\'d like to ask him,\" Huyen admitted. \"At least for dinner--there
are so many things I\'d like to talk to him about. Don\'t worry,\" he
added, rubbing faintly at Goku\'s chest. \"It\'ll be just us tonight, to
celebrate your homecoming.\"

\"Yay!\" Goku stretched faintly, and he looked towards the door. \"I
want to go home now. Take a nap in my bed with you.\" He poked Huyen
smartly in the nose, wrinkling his own playfully.

Lan came in a moment later with one of the nurses. \"Well, it\'s a good
thing the hospital\'s under funded and understaffed,\" he teased as he
approached. \"Your doctor was able to sign you over to me, and I\'ve
approved your discharge--so long as I follow up on your progress,
which I don\'t think will be a problem.\" The nurse came forward,
ushering Huyen back as she moved to shut down the IV.

Goku sighed explosively. \"Thank Buddha!\" he cheered, grinning at the
whole group. \"How are we getting home? Are you driving us, Lan?
Should we call a cab? Or what about Hakkuryuu?\"

\"I\'ll drive you,\" Lan said quickly, trying not to notice the odd
glance the nurse sent them. \"I\'m not technically working today,
anyway. Huyen, why don\'t we step outside for a moment and let Goku
fix himself up a bit?\" Though the boy looked reluctant he allowed
himself to be guided outside while the nurse prepared him to leave.

----------------------