Saiyuki: Blooming Reassurance
~Chapter Ten~

*
One hour and fifty-five minutes later.

Sanzo and the gang stopped in a nearby town to rest. While Sanzo, Goku, Gojyo, and Kori rested in their rooms, Hakkai sat beside his bed watching over Amerie. Every so often, she'd move her arms and she'd cringe in pain. Hakkai knew that she either wasn't used to her demon body to the poison was getting the best of her. Then, the door burst open.

"Hakkai, catch!" Kougaiji exclaimed, throwing the vile at him. "Give that to her now or she'll die."
Hakkai only nodded. He unscrewed the lid and poured the contents into Amerie's mouth. "How long should it take?"
"I don't know. She only had two hours to live when I got the antidote. It hasn't been two hours yet."
"Thank you, Kougaiji."
"Don't thank me. I just did it to help Amerie. She just wants to be free and happy. You better take care of her, Hakkai." He said, walking out of the room.

Hakkai's attention returned to Amerie. He could see her changing, but very little. He took her hand into his and laid his head there. "I'm sorry, Amerie. Please, come back to me." He whispered.

******

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Dokugakuji asked, looking at Kougaiji as they walked out of the town.
"Yeah. I think so." Kougaiji answered.
"Why did they do that to her?" Yaone asked.
"For the Scripture."
"What?!" Hyakka exclaimed.
"Koushu needs that Scripture to revive my father. Poisoning Amerie shows just how far she'll go."
"It's just wrong." Yaone said.
"Yes. It is, but what are we to do?" Dokugakuji said.
"Exactly." Kougaiji replied.

******

Amerie slowly opened her eyes. She smiled when she saw Hakkai's head resting on her hand. He was sleeping. She reached over with her right hand and placed it on his head. His hair was so soft. She ran her fingers through his hair. She would do anything for him. His head turned as his eyes opened. He sat up and looked at her.

"Amerie!"
"Morning." She said, still laying there.
"You're back to normal."
"Yeah. How?"
"Kougaiji. He got the antidote."
"That Kougaiji." She smiled. She laughed to herself. (That's twice you've saved my life. I owe you even more now, Kougaiji.) "Did you really watch over me all night?"
"Yes. I did. I was scared. I thought I was going to lose you."
"Oh, Hakkai. You will never lose me. I promise." Amerie said, gently pulling him close to her. He laid beside her, holding her. She wanted to hold him, just as much as he wanted to hold her.

He kissed her on her forehead, as he gently touched her face. He was glad she was back to normal. He never wanted to see those piercing blood red eyes again. They laid there cuddled together for the rest of the day.

******

"How's Amerie?" Goku asked, walking into the small dining room of the inn they were staying at.
"Don't know. I haven't checked on her." Sanzo said.
"Besides, Hakkai's with her. If something happened, he'd tell us." Gojyo added.
"You're quiet." Goku said, looking at Kori.
"Yeah. Sorry. I was wondering something."
"What?" Gojyo asked.
"Is Amerie a bad person? Is she with Kougaiji?"
"She was. She's not anymore. Only one two people here know the exact reason she left. Her and Hakkai. We don't know the circumstances." Sanzo replied.
"But you trust her so easily." Kori said, looking at Sanzo.
"It's a long story and I don't think any of us should tell it right now." Gojyo said, taking a puff of his cigarette.

Kori didn't say anything. She knew that Gojyo wasn't being mean by that comment, but she wasn't sure if she could trust Amerie. She looked at Sanzo out of the corner of her eye. He was sitting there with his reading glasses on reading the newspaper. She still didn't know the reason why he helped her the other day. (I'll repay you someday, Sanzo.) She stood up and walked out of the dining room and the inn.

"What do you think of Kori?" Gojyo asked.
"She's cool. She doesn't talk much. I wonder if she can cook." Goku said.
"You would wonder that." Amerie said. Hakkai had her arm around his shoulder, helping her walk into the room. He helped her sit in a chair and he sat in a chair beside her.
"Amerie! You're okay!" Goku exclaimed.
"Yeah. I am now." She smiled, but it was a weak smile and they could tell it. "However, I'll be weak for a few days. My transformation was very unexpected, but I'll be fine once I rest."
"Did the antidote completely cure you?" Gojyo asked.
"I don't know as of right now. Since Ni was the one that poisoned me, Kougaiji had to have gotten the antidote from him. So, more than likely the antidote won't fully cure it. That's just now Ni is."
"But you're okay now, right?" Goku asked.
"Yes, but I don't know for sure if all the poison is out of my system. If it's not, I could transform anytime without any warning."
"We'll deal with that with it comes." Sanzo replied.
"I agree. For right now, you need to rest and regain your strength." Hakkai said, looking at her.
Amerie slowly stood up, using the table to help her. "I'm going to bed now. If you need me, that's where I'll be." She slowly turned and began to walk, reaching for the wall to keep her balance.

Sanzo, Gojyo, and Goku watched as Hakkai stood and walked over to Amerie. He picked her up and carried her upstairs. He knew she was feeling very weak, which was unusual. Transforming back and forth shouldn't make her weaker, but somehow it is. He gently kicked open the door to their room and walked inside, closing the door behind him. He laid her down on the bed and covered her up. He tried to stand up, but couldn't. Amerie was holding his hand and she wouldn't let go.

"Please stay. At least until I fall asleep." She whispered.
"Okay." He said, lying down beside her.
"I... love... you." She said, as she drifted off to sleep.
"I love you, too." He whispered, kissing her cheek.