Love Of My Life – Chapter 1: Girl at the Temple Steps

Sanzo's POV

I'll never forget the day I found her.

I was outside sweeping the outside walk way of the temple. It was fall so the air was starting to become colder. I was wearing my thicker robe because it was early morning.

I always swept from the back to the front. So when I made my way to the front, I noticed there was a person lying on the ground. I wasn't sure what to do, but I cautiously approached the body. When I got close enough, I saw that it was… A GIRL?!

"There's a girl outside! She's at the top of the steps!" I yelled at a group of monks standing inside. They all looked puzzled, but immediately ran to the front.

Next thing, there was a huge crowd of monks surrounding her. They all stood and stared at her as if she was a dead animal.

Idiots, I thought. She's obviously freezing so why not take her inside?

"Say, what's all the commotion?" asked a familiar voice.

I turned and saw that it was my master, Koumyo Sanzo. He walked towards the crowd and they parted, creating a path for him. I truly admire him.

"Kouryuu found a girl here, sir." Said one monk.

"Is that so?" He turned and looked at me. I know I looked like an animal in headlights at that moment. He smiled his normal smile. He then picked the girl up and looked at me again.

"Let's take her to your room, where it's warm." Without hesitation, I followed him.

Word had gotten around quickly about the girl at the temple steps. They stared at my master and I as we walked past. Nosy monks…

"Kouryuu, I'm leaving you in charge of her since you found her." Master said as we got into the corridors to the different bedrooms.

We finally got to my room. Master placed her on my bed, which I didn't really like, and wrapped her up in my blankets.

Before Master left the room, he said, "When she wakes up, learn her name. Also, I'm going to send someone to bring her food."

"Yes sir." I said. He closed the door and was gone.

I sat down at my desk and began to study. I wasn't sure how long it will take for her to wake up but I could kill the time by reading this book Master told me to read.

I soon got bored of that, though. I looked over and she was still sleeping. I observed her. She had long, wavy black hair and tan skin. From what I saw before, her clothes were torn and dirty, which is why I didn't want her on my bed.

I became extremely bored, so I got up and got a closer look of her. She had bangs that parted in the middle and underneath that, a headband. One thing is for sure, she wasn't from around here. I leaned in closer to look harder at her but then she gasped awake, almost head-butting me! I jumped back, startled from her awakening from out of nowhere.

"W-Where am I?!" she demanded.

"Hey calm down!" I snapped. "You're in the Kinzan Temple."

She looked at me in disbelief. It got silence for a minute.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Tai-Tai, but everyone just calls me Tai." She said. "What's yours?"

"Kouryuu."

Tai looked at me with a weak smile, then fell back and passed out again.

And that's when I woke up.

I opened my eyes, almost being blinded by the morning sun. I sat up and rubbed my eyes and saw her in the bed across from mine. She always slept so peacefully.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in." I said, monotone.

"Oh good, you're awake." Hakkai said, peaking his head in. "Get Tai up as well so we can all get breakfast together."

I nodded and he closed the door.

I got up and went over to her bed. I looked down at her. Then I kicked her, making her scream and fall off the bed.

"WHAT THE HELL, YOU ASSHOLE?!" Tai got up and screamed at me.

"Come on, we're getting breakfast." I said, nonchalant.

"Why can't you ever just gently shake someone until they wake up like normal people?" She grumbled.

I walked over to the bathroom and opened the door. "Because then that'd be too easy." I closed the door and heard even more cursing and screaming.

God, I love annoying her as much as she annoys me.