Disclaimer: I don't own anyone but Anakate.

Yoru: Wow. I can't believe I'm updating this. To old readers, I'm happy to say that my writing style has greatly improved (I just re-read the first chapter. Shudder.) To new ones, hi! Welcome to "Why You?" and I hope you enjoy it.

Kuronue: This one is so old it's new to me.

Yoru: Yeah. I hope to improve it a little.

Kuronue: Then go for it!

Chapter Two

"He doesn't understand me," Anakate said to herself as she changed into her waitress uniform.

Who the hell does? asked a voice in her mind.

"Go the hell away, demon," Anakate snarled quietly, looking around to make sure no one was listening.

I'd love to, but that limiter on your wrist kind of prevents it, you know? You can take it off—

"Yeah, and then you'd take over my body. Thanks but no thanks."

Then quit complaining about me.

"I would if you'd just sit there in my mind and not talk to me." Anakate glared at the gold band around her wrist, its emerald latch twinkling innocently. If only she could remove it; she didn't even know how it worked. It had been there when she and Kouryuu had been found many years before.

All you have to do is push the emerald in and twist three times without letting up. Pretty simple.

"Shut. Up."

"Who are you talking to?" came a familiar voice from the door. Goku peered at her suspiciously.

"Must you come in without knocking?" Anakate snapped. She saw him flinch out of the corner of her eye.

"I heard you talking. I was worried."

"I'm fine. I'm just talking to myself.

"Telling yourself to shut up?"

"Bad thoughts." She finished fastening her apron and picked up her bag, "I'm going to work now. Tell Kour---Sanzo that I have to close tonight."

"He'll always be Kouryuu to you, won't he?" Goku asked as she passed him. She hesitated for an instant.

"Yeah." She left without a backward glance.

Anakate sighed. Because of her desire to be away from the temple as long as possible, she had closed later than usual. Now she was paying for it by the fact that she had to walk home alone in the dark. The mountain path was creepy at night.

"Hey, demon? Wanna talk now?"

Scared, human?

"If I said I wasn't, you'd know I was lying."

True. I have been thinking.

"Really. I was wondering why you had been so quiet all night."

I have thought of a way for my existence to benefit us both.

"Okay. But be prepared for suspicion and refusal."

The reason you have to twist three times to take off the limiter is that each twist lets out a little of my power. For example, if you twist once and let go, you should be able to control about a third of my power. Does that make sense?

"Yes. But how much of you will it free?"

I'm not sure. Enough to keep the power in check.More my mind than me, really. As strong as you have become over the years, you are still human and cannot take over the power completely. So I will be freed enough to keep control.

"I see---Ow!" Anakate tripped over something laying in the road. Her hands flew to her mouth when she saw what had tripped her.

A man, the demon supplied to her frozen mind.

"Are you all right?" Anakate leaned down and examined him. He was covered in bruises and lacerations, most of which looked as though they had been deliberately inflicted. He was also stunning.

Anakate gently turned him over. He groaned and opened his eyes.

"Where am I?" he asked.

"On the mountain path to Chang'an. You're pretty badly hurt."

"I'll live. Thank you for waking me up." He sat up and winced, doubling over immediately. Anakate pulled his arms away from his stomach to see a laceration that looked suspiciously liked someone had hit him with the flat side of a sword. This, of course, brought to her attention that he was shirtless, even if he was wearing a jacket.

"You need medical attention. These are going to get infected."

"I doubt it."

She looked into his face. It was handsome, and it had a strangely beautiful mark adorning it…

Oh, shit.

"You're a demon."

"You're a human."

They stared at each other for a moment. Finally, the demon sighed.

"Look, can you help me up? I can walk on my own."

Anakate wordlessly helped him up. He seemed weak, probably from pain. He wouldn't hurt her.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

He opened his mouth to reply, but nothing came out. Instead, he collapsed again.

Wonderful. Now what? grumbled the demon in her head.

"Carry him, I guess."

Where?

"Chang'an Temple. We'll sneak in the back."

…Your brother's going to kill you.

"Only if he finds out."