Chapter 02 - Even

Even is the second chapter of Saiyuki.

Summary
While Gojyo lies in bed in his room, he hears a knock at the door. A woman who introduces herself as one of the traveling performers staying at the inn lets herself in. Gojyo invites her to bed just before a loud crash is heard from elsewhere in the inn. While attempting to deceive Gojyo through seduction, the woman, who is revealed to be a yokai, is about to make an assassination attempt when Gojyo reacts on his suspicions and pins her to the bed, stealing a kiss before punching her in the gut.

Meanwhile, in Hakkai's room, Hakkai has just incapacitated another yokai assassin who had tried to attack him in his sleep. Gojyo barges into Hakkai's room to check on him, and, finding him alive and well, wonders aloud who Kougaiji is. Hakkai responds that he believes Kougaiji is the son of Gyumaoh and Rasetsunyo, and was supposed to have been sealed in Hoto Castle 500 years ago when Gyumaoh was defeated.

They hear a loud booming noise and rush to check on Goku and Sanzo. Just as they get out into the hallway, the door to Goku's room comes crashing down, along with another yokai assassin. They enter Goku's room to discover that he had just thwarted an attempt on his life by throwing the assassin against the door while still half asleep. .

Meanwhile, in Sanzo's room, the leader of the Dark Spider Clan's thugs are beating Sanzo up. They throw him to the floor, and the leader again threatens to eat him, claiming that consuming the flesh of a Sanzo priest is rumored to grant immortality. Sanzo insults her and she slams his head against the floor, threatening him yet again. Gojyo's shakujo chain and blade suddenly slashes through the air, narrowly missing the spider yokai, as Goku, Gojyo, and Hakkai arrive on the scene. Gojyo slices through the webs binding Sanzo's arms as Hakkai sneaks up behind the yokai thug holding the unconscious Homei hostage. He safely retrieves her. The leader of the yokai assassins orders her thugs to attack the Sanzo-ikkou, but the ikkou are able to easily and quickly kill them. Just as Sanzo is about to punch the yokai leader, she transforms into a giant spider and shoots out binding webs, restraining the ikkou.

Still in Hakkai's arms, Homei regains consciousness. Confused, she remembers that a yokai had attacked her and her father in the inn's kitchen earlier that evening.