CHAPTER 4: PAINFUL PARTING

Dark and quiet, Eiko lay awake at 3 in the morning. Only Goku talking in his sleep of chasing an enormous flying pork bun and Hakuryuu's light kyuuing could be heard. A few minutes later and a soft rustle is heard as Eiko gently freed herself from Hakkai's embrace and slowly sat up on the bed. She looked around to make sure she has not awaken anyone then stood up and walked quietly out of the room. In the silent corridor, she quietly crept downstairs and out into the cold morning. She took a long walk and it wasn't until she reached the entrance of town did she sit down on the ground. The moon was full and she could still hear some coyotes howling in the distance.

"I'll have to go home today…" she thought

She gave a soft cough and was startled when she suddenly felt someone put a robe around her shoulders. She turned and saw Sanzo standing beside her.

"S-Sanzo-sama…"

"Careful or you'll catch a cold"

Eiko just stared at Sanzo then just smiled at him and thanked him, which he replied with a grunt. A few minutes later, Sanzo sat beside Eiko and lit a cigarette. Both of them were silent. Eiko knew Sanzo wanted to talk to her about something so she decided to break the ice.

"What do you want to know?"

"Tell me the truth…" Sanzo said flatly as he took a puff from the cancer stick in his mouth

"It's a long story…you sure you wanna hear all of it?"

"Those idiots won't wake up until later anyway…"

Eiko just sighed and began to tell Sanzo the everything. It took her about 2 hours just to finish her story.

"So that's the whole truth..?"

"Yeah…"

Sanzo took out his gun.

"Careful on which side you're gonna choose…Hakkai's little sister or not…if you get in our way…"

He points his gun directly at Eiko's forehead.

"I won't hesitate to kill you…"

Eiko shivered for a moment but managed to give Sanzo a faint smile. Sanzo hid his gun again, stood up, gave Eiko a light tap on the head and walked back to the inn. It was already a few minutes before dawn and the sky is being colored beautiful shades of orange, red and yellow. As soon as Sanzo got back to the inn, Hakkai was already up and out looking for his little sister.

"Uhm…Sanzo have you…?"

"she's by the entrance…" Sanzo said flatly and went back inside the inn

Hakkai went to the entrance of town and found Eiko still sitting on the ground and admiring the sunrise. He approached her slowly and gave her a soft tap on the head. Eiko was startled but she smiled when she turned and saw Hakkai.

"mind if I sit with you?"

"Sure…" Eiko said with a smile

Hakkai sat down beside her and let her rest her head on his chest.

"You woke up pretty early…something bothering you?"

Eiko was silent for a moment. "no…its nothing…"

"We have to go on our journey west again…"

"I see…"

a short pause then Hakkai took a deep breath and said.

"I want you to come with us…"

"huh? But…I might just get in the way….and Sanzo-sama…"

"Its ok…I'll handle everything…will you?"

"I wanna come…but I can't…" Eiko thought as she hugged Hakkai

"Gomenasai.."

Hakkai understood right away what the hug and the apology meant. He hugged Eiko tight and felt tears fall from his eyes. He had just found his little sister and barely had spent a day with her, now they'll have to part again? It's not fair. Eiko was also near tears. She didn't want to part with Hakkai but she had to. She was made into a youkai to dispose of the Sanzo-ikkou. The thought of having to kill her own brother made her want to kill herself. She would rather commit suicide than kill her own flesh and blood. But she thought of Kougaiji and the others. They have also become a part of her life. Her family. How could she leave them?

Poor little youkai. Questions and possibilities rushed into her mind. The poor thing could not take such pressure. She knew that when she parts with Hakkai today. It will be the last time as his little sister. The next time, they shall face in battle. She will be alongside Kougaiji. With one mission, to get the sutra from Sanzo and dispose of the Sanzo-ikkou. Oh cruel fate. Why must she have to fight against her own brother? Why did she have to be turned into a youkai to kill them? How will she prevent the Sanzo-ikkou and Kougaiji-ikkou from killing one another? All these questions kept playing in her mind. She was so confused. Only when she felt Hakkai's arms hold her tighter did things mellow out.

"Take care of yourself always…once we finish our mission…I promise I'll find you…eve if I have to search the ends of the earth…"

"Hai…"

the sun has now risen. Eiko and Hakkai stood up. Eiko handed Sanzo's robe to Hakkai. She hugged him tight and with one last goodbye, walked away.

"We'll be able to live as a family again…someday…I promise…"

end of chapter 4