Shuei nudged the door open with his hip and moved across the darkened room to deposit his small bundle on the sparse mattress. As soon as they touched the old but comfortable futon, the boy's arms flew around his neck as Kouryuu sobbed into his shoulder. Shuei simply let the boy cry his heart out and hopefully his fears too, as the sobbing gradually slowed and Kouryuu sniffled against his body mass.
"Sh-Shuei?" sniffled Kouryuu.
"Hmm?"
"Do- do you think Master Sanzo regrets picking me up from the river? Is he r-really planning to send me away to some other monastery soon?"
Shuei restrained himself from swearing before Kouryuu with difficulty. THOSE DAMNED MONKS! NOT SO DILIGENT IN DUTY AS IN SCORNING SOMEONE MORE THAN A DECADE YOUNGER TO THEM, ARE THEY?
Shuei laid a caring hand on the boy's head, his fingers threading into the soft hair.
"Kouryuu, what does your heart tell you?"
The boy looked at him confused, his violet eyes wide. Clearly he had not expected another question to be his answer. He slowly moved away from Shuei's embrace and leaned against the wall, looking very much like the small, insecure six year old he was instead of the older façade he faced the world with.
"It hurts." Kouryuu whispered, placing his small hand over his heart. "When I think that he might leave me, it hurts here."
As the words echoed around the silent room, Kouryuu felt an unowned memory tug at his heart- a small, brown haired, golden eyed child in chains, placing his small hand over his heart and whispering, "It hurts here."
Suddenly, the door to the small room slid open, a brief flash of lightning outside illuminating a figure with long brown hair, white robes and a caring smile.
Author note: Can u guess who that figure might be? Koumyou and Kouryuu fluff next chapter! Squeee!