Saiyuki: Blooming Reassurance
~Chapter Eleven~

Hyakka sat beside Kougaiji under a huge tree. She held his hand as he looked up through the tree limbs. Everyone else was sleeping. It's been a while since they had spent time alone. She looked at him. He turned his head and returned her look.

"Kougaiji?"
"Yes?"
"Do you really want Gyumaoh resurrected?"
"No. I wouldn't be helping Koushu, if she wouldn't have down that to my mother."
"I'll help you forever. To the ends of this world and all of eternity."
"Thank you, Hyakka." He said, leaning his face towards hers. "Thank you." He, then kissed her.

Hyakka closed her eyes and welcomed his kiss. She touched his face as his tongue explored her mouth. They were too into their kiss to realize they were being watched by Lirin.

"Lirin, what are--oops." Dokugakuji said, walking up.
Kougaiji looked up, saw them, and stopped the kiss. "Damnit. Can't get any privacy around here."
"Sorry, Kougaiji." Dokugakuji said, walking away laughing to himself. "Lirin?"
"What?" She asked, innocently.
"Don't act so innocent. Come on. Let them be."
"Alright." She said, quite disappointed.
"Some other time." Hyakka said, with a smile.
"Yeah." Kougaiji said, with a small laugh. He stood up and helped her to her feet.
"What are we going to do today?" Yaone asked.
"I figure it'll be a few days before the Sanzo party leaves. Amerie will need some time to regain what little strength she can. She wouldn't be this weak if she transformed by removing her limiter. But since it was a poison, it'll take sometime because if there is any of the poison left she'll have to battle that too."
"But the antidote?" Dokugakuji asked.
"I got it from Ni. You never know. Once we see them leave, will we try to get that Scripture. Alright?"
"Alright." Everyone agreed.
"Good."
"I'm hungry." Lirin whined.
"You're always hungry." Dokugakuji said, patting her on the head.
"Lirin, go back to the castle." Kougaiji ordered.
"Awe. Why?"
"If something should happen to you, Koushu would have my head and kill my mother. Now, go!"
"Oh, alright." She said, running off.
"She's not pleased." Hyakka stated.
"No, but she'll get over it." Kougaiji said.

******

Amerie sat up in bed. She was feeling much better. Most of her strength had returned. She could hear everyone downstairs laughing and cutting up. She got up and slipped on her boots. She walked downstairs, stretching the whole way.

"Morning." She said, walking into the small dining room. She sat down beside Hakkai.
"How are you feeling?" Goku asked.
"Much better, thanks."
"Sleep well?" Gojyo asked.
"Yeah. I did." Amerie said with a smile.

Hakkai reached under the table and held Amerie's hand. She really was feeling better. She just hoped that all the poison was gone. She watched as Gojyo shuffled a deck of cards over and over.

"Damnit, Gojyo. Deal already." Goku impatiently said.
"Come on, Goku. You're going to lose anyway." Kori said, with a laugh.
"Damnit! Just deal."
"Alright, already. You stupid Monkey." Gojyo replied.
"H2O Asshole."
"Amerie, you want to play?" Gojyo asked, looking at her as he took a puff of his cigarette and dealed the cards.
"Nah. I'm going for a walk." She said, standing up. She let go of Hakkai's hand and walked out.
"She's doing a lot better." Goku said, looking at his cards.
"Yeah. She is." Hakkai whispered. He watched her walk out of the in, not sure if he should follow her. He stood up and followed after her anyway.

Hakkai walked slowly when he saw Amerie up ahead. She was walking slowly with her hands in the pockets of her pants. She stopped and watched the fall wind blow through the shedding trees. He stopped and looked at her. She was so beautiful. The gentle breeze blew through her shoulder-blade length red-gold hair. The dead leaves danced around her. She turned and looked at him. She looked like an angel, a beautiful angel.

She smiled as he slowly approached her. The sun reflected slightly off his monocle he wore over his right eye. He took her into his arms and they kissed. She wrapped her arms around him. Everything around them seemed to disappear. Nothing around them mattered. In that one second, that one kiss, the only thing that mattered was each other.