He didn't know how long he'd been asleep or if all of what happened before hand was a dream. He felt refreshed and in less pain, his headache gone but it was still very cold. He let out a shivering breath as he slowly started to wake from his deep sleep. His head was still resting on the girl's warm lap. His eyes slowly opened and he could faintly make out a concerned face. He closed his eyes and let out another soft breath before he tried again. His green eyes blinked a few times before he was able to make out her face.

She had long brown hair that spilt over her shoulders as she hunched over to peer into his face. Her eyes were a warm and concerned shade of deep blue, sparkling in that way some people had when they were genuinely happy about something, or just life in general. Her skin seemed light even in the dark cell, and her gentle smile was comforting to Hakkai, even though he had no clue where he was or who she was.

She reached up to tuck her hair behind her ears as she blinked, Hakkai drew in a breath.

"Are you alright?" she questioned. He couldn't really feel his body, it was still cold in this cell.

"Y-Yes…fine…" he replied to her weakly, he coughed a bit and she looked away from him.

"Here, drink some water, it should help," she said. She carefully held the bowl to his mouth and let some of the liquid spill between his lips. He swallowed it gratefully and carefully so he wouldn't choke. She set the bowl down next to him before lightly brushing some hair from his face again. Hakkai didn't want to, or couldn't, move just yet. He did manage to pull the blankets tighter around him before closing his eyes again.

"Who are you?" He questioned, thankful that he was talking alright again.

"My name's Rei, I've been taking care of you," she told him in a tender voice, "You're name is Cho Hakkai, right? You travel with Genjyo Sanzo?"

"I did…before I was brought here…" Hakkai said, he paused for a while, "Where is here exactly?"

"Oh, you're with the Kuramato Clan," Rei told him. Hakkai closed his eyes and let his head roll to the side. He took in a few more breaths before he opened his eyes halfway.

"Why?" he said softly.

"It's a trap, for your friends," Rei said. Hakkai moved his deep green gaze back to her face. She was looking at the cell wall next to them now, her eyes no longer on the youkai.

"A trap?"

"Yes, to kill Genjyo Sanzo, and the youkai traitors, Sha Gojyo and Son Goku," Rei told him, turning her warm gaze back to him.

"Why not…kill me too?" Hakkai questioned. Rei shook her head, telling Hakkai she was not sure why. He took in a breath and let it out before looking back towards the cell door. He could hear footsteps coming, and soon enough the door flew open and banged on the wall.

"He alive?" came the same voice Hakkai remembered from earlier. Rei nodded and soon the huge figure strode over to them. Hakkai looked at the towering demon with his good eye, his other hidden by his hair. The light from the doorway behind shadowed most of the monster's features. Suddenly Hakkai groaned and grabbed his stomach as a foot came in contact with it. Rei gasped and held Hakkai's shoulders, "Look. He's awake too."

"Leave him alone!" Rei shouted as she moved before Hakkai, she carefully moved him onto his back and checked for anything. Hakkai knew it was nothing serious, but it had hurt.

"Don't get attached Rei. He'll end up just like Shoji," the male said before he headed out of the room. Rei glared over her shoulder at him before looking back at Hakkai.

"Are you alright?" she questioned. Hakkai looked at her and gave a polite smile.

"Yes, fine, just caught off guard," Hakkai told her reassuringly. Rei nodded and helped him into a sitting position. The cover stayed draped around Hakkai's shoulders as he released his stomach, the pain already fading.

"I'm sorry. That's one of the main guards, he's a real jerk," Rei told Hakkai.

"I guessed as much," Hakkai told her, still giving her a reassuring smile. Rei smiled back softly.

"Can you stand?" she asked, Hakkai nodded. She carefully helped him to his feet, he was unsteady at first, his legs shook and he felt unbalanced. But after a few moments he was able to stand and walk alright. He moved over to a bench against the wall and sat down, Rei seated herself next to him. Both stayed quite for a moment, before Hakkai spoke up.

"May I ask, who is Shoji?"

Rei stayed quite for quite sometime. He thought he'd delved too deep for such a first real meeting.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't ha-"

"It's alright," Rei said, giving him a soft smile, "Shoji was someone much like you. Taken prisoner by this clan. I was charged to watch him and soon fell in love. But when we tried to escape together, Shoji and I were caught. He was killed and I was brought back here to work."

"Oh…" Hakkai said, looking at his hands in his lap, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright…" Rei told him, lightly touching his hand, "It was a long time ago, and Shoji wouldn't like me dwelling on the past."

Hakkai looked up at her, seeing her smile and sparkling blue eyes. He smiled gently in return. It had seemed so easy for her, to just be like this after losing someone so close. It wasn't for him and he had nightmares of it every night. He wished it could have been this simple for him, but it wasn't. The past was just something he couldn't forget.