(Present time)

Hakkai

'I don't understand. Why did you feel the need to bleed yourself dry? I don't understand. Was the pain that difficult to bear alone? Why didn't you come toEmi orKaiya for help?'

All the thoughts ran through my mind as I sat beside her, watching her soft breathing. Kaiya had sensed something amiss when she heard a door click inside the room. It was even more unnerving when she heard no other sound come from inside the room. Kaiya screamed for help when she found Yoko as she did.

We were lucky. We got her help in time but she still lost a lot of blood. I still have to ask though: What could have possessed her to do this? Were her memories of that night so horrible that she felt she had to die? Why does this keep happening?

I don't understand. I guess I'm not the one who went through it… But why does it have to be such gentle and innocent creatures that take this abuse?

I stood up and looked out the window. I retract my gaze and look at me reflection. My hand drifts to my abdomen. I run my hand across the fabric, feeling the scar underneath.

'I like your hands, Gonou. You have such long fingers.'

My hands, huh? Then why are they always covered in blood, Kanan? It's raining outside. The lightening flashing across my face, revealing a soul long dead.

'Your scar's pretty. Like a painting of a sunset.'

This is pretty? Even after all the pain I've brought to everyone? I can't protect anyone…

Not even those I love. What purpose was I brought here for? I can't even save the most important people to me.

I don't understand. I wish I could turn back the clock. Maybe that's why I did it. Maybe that's why I ran from the inn as fast as I could. I still remember Gojyo and Goku, yelling at me to come back. I wasn't listening, I couldn't hear. The only noise was the pounding of my feet and the rain.

Normal

"Guys! Hakkai just ran off somewhere! Gojyo and I are going after him!" Goku shouted, grabbing his and Gojyo's jacket off the hooks.

"We'll back who knows when. So don't wait up for us." Gojyo called, taking his coat from Goku.

"Don't bother."

Goku and Gojyo looked back at Sanzo. They stared at him in disbelief.

"What do you mean 'don't bother'? Hakkai's in his depression big time. He's likely to do something crazy when he's like that. And you're telling us not to bother with it? Have you lost you're mind!" Gojyo shouted at the priest.

Sanzo looked him straight in the eye, his eyes stating that he had said nothing wrong. He blew a thin stream of smoke towards Gojyo.

"He has problems he has to sort out himself. There's no sense in trying to force him back. He'll be fine." Sanzo sneered, tapping the ashes into an ashtray.

"What the fuck? You seriously think that! Hakkai just found her bleeding like crazy in her room, not giving a damn if she dies or not. How is that supposed to help his mood at the moment?" Gojyo growled at the aloof monk.

"Yoko's condition is what we have to worry about now, not Hakkai's. We have to make sure she's alright before we can really start worrying about Hakkai." He replied, going back to his paper.

Gojyo said nothing, just glaring at him. He threw his jacket in a corner and stormed up to his room. Goku looked at Sanzo meekly, then followed Gojyo's example and headed to his room. Sanzo sighed heavily, turning his attention to the rain outside.

"You do realize that the rain is only an illusion within your own doubtful heart?" a voice said to him.

"What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" he replied to Kaiya, wanting to be left alone.

The demoness sat down beside him on the windowsill, keeping a little distance between herself and the priest. She picked the paper he had been reading and tore a page out. She started to fold it, moving slowly.

"I'm busy. So get the hell out." He growled, trying to focus on the rain.

"I'm being quiet, Sanzo. I just don't understand what I'm doing wrong." She sighed, her eyes glued on the paper she was folding.

"You're very presence gives me a migraine. Get out I have things I need to think over." He sighed, tapping out another cigarette.

Kaiya didn't save anything, nor did she leave. She scooted closer to the priest and grabbed his chin gently. Most would have died because of this but Sanzo settled for giving her a death glare. Kaiya smirked at him and sighed.

"I sometimes wonder why we were chosen. Don't you?" she asked, keeping a steady hold on his chin.

"No. I want to get this journey over with. Now get out." He said coldly, his glare never leaving her.

"Why are there men like you in this world? Men who would rather die than cry or actually show some emotion. I have never understood that." Kaiya sighed at length, letting go of his chin.

Sanzo said nothing to her, turning his attention back to the window. Kaiya watched him for a while and stood up to leave. She got to the door when he called her back.

"Yes?" Her cool, hazel eyes watching him, waiting for him to say something.

" Perhaps the reason people like me exist is so people who tend to let emotions govern their actions have someone who will give them the straight truth and not a lie." He suggested, turning his violet eyes to her.

"Perhaps. Perhaps the reason why people like me exist is so people like you will have a confident. Someone who accepts you for your actions and the way you are regardless." She chuckled, smiling at him.

"What's the reason you live? Why do you continue to live despite what others think of you?" he asked, putting his head in his hand.

"That's easy. … To annoy the hell out of you, of course. That's my drive in life." She laughed, a big grin stretching across her face.

The pounding of footsteps and Emi, Gojyo, and Goku bursting through the door shattered the silence of the night.

"What is it now?" Sanzo barked at the intruders.

"Good news, cranky ass. Yoko's disappeared!" Gojyo sneered at him.

"What?" he whispered.