Saiyuki: Blooming Reassurance
~Chapter Six~

"What's wrong?" Amerie asked, breaking the silence.
"The look in your eyes. You look sad. Did I say something wrong?" He said, looking at her.
"No. You didn't say or do anything wrong."
"Then, what?"
"Up until three months ago, I was in Kougaiji's gang." She confessed.
"What?!" Hakkai exclaimed.
"When we first met, I was undercover for Kougaiji. He needed someone to get the Scripture that Sanzo has. I told Kougaiji to let me go. He let me and then I met the four of you. I wasn't to get deeply involved in your lives, but I did and I loved every minute of it. When I got back to Kougaiji's castle three months ago, I told him that I didn't want to do it anymore. I didn't want to hurt you. He let me leave. I've been on my own ever since."

Hakkai's heart jumped into his throat. He couldn't say anything. What Amerie just told him, hit him hard. Amerie saw his look of shock and disbelief. She turned from him and walked away. (If I let her go, I'll never see her again.)

"Wait!" Hakkai yelled, running to catch up with her. He stopped in front of her and grabbed her by the shoulders. He looked into her brown eyes. "Please, wait. Don't go. Please. Do not go. I don't want to wake up one more morning without you. I'm asking you not to leave me again."
"I... I..."
"Listen to me, I don't care." He said, cupping her face with his hands. "I don't care. I just want to be with you."
"But..." She whispered as tears began to fall.
"Don't cry." Hakkai whispered, pulling her close to him.

Amerie didn't understand what was going on. She was having a mental breakdown. Something she hasn't had in a long time. She just stood there in Hakkai's arms, not moving or anything, just crying. Hakkai knew that something was wrong. He knew that Amerie always kept her feelings pretty much in check. He didn't say anything. He just held her close, gently rubbing the back of her head.

"I'm sorry." He heard her whisper, her voice muffled due to her face being buried in his chest.
"Don't be sorry. Just let it all out." He continued holding her, knowing that it was what she wanted right now. She wrapped her arms around him drawing him closer than he already was. She continued to cry. "Shh... It's okay. I'm here." He whispered into her ear.

******

"I wonder what Hakkai and Amerie are doing." Goku said, stuffing his face.
"Don't know." Gojyo said, taking a drink of his beer.

Sanzo didn't say anything. He wasn't convinced that it was just a coincidence that she showed up here. (There has to be a reason.) He thought. He took a drink of his beer. (If she leaves him, I'll kill her.)

"Everything alright?" The waitress asked.
"Everything's fine." Gojyo said, looking the waitress over.
"Good." She smiled.
"What are you doing to--" Gojyo tried to ask before being whacked by Sanzo's fan. "Damnit. Would you stop doing that!"
"You stop and I'll stop." Sanzo growled.

The waitress laughed and Gojyo began talking to her. Sanzo sighed in disgust. Then, looked out of the corner of his eye and saw a young woman. She had jet-black hair and piercing green eyes, but there was something different about her. He continued looking at her. She was absolutely beautiful. He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

"Yo! Sanzo!" Gojyo yelled.
"What?!" Sanzo snapped.
"Damn. Should we get something for Hakkai and Amerie?"
"Uh, yeah. Sure." Sanzo said, before turning to see that the young woman was gone. While Goku and Gojyo argued about what to get for Hakkai and Amerie to eat, Sanzo stood up and walked out to the tavern. He walked unusually slow. The sky was beginning to change from pale blue to a mixture of red, oranges, and purples.

As Sanzo walked, an unusual chill filled the air. He stopped and looked around. He knew there were demons around, but where? Then, he heard a piercing scream. It was a female scream. Sanzo turned and ran toward the scream.

******

Hakkai woke up startled. He heard the scream. He slid out of his bed, making sure not to wake Amerie. He was surprised the scream didn't wake her up. He stood up and put his shirt on. He kissed her on the cheek, covered her up, and ran out towards the scream.

******

Gojyo and Goku heard the scream as well. They ran out of the tavern. They caught up with Hakkai. The three ran. They stopped when they saw Sanzo. He has his banishing gun pointed at the demon in front of him.

"Sanzo?" Goku asked.
"Check her." The monk demanded, not moving. Hakkai walked over to the young woman. She was bleeding badly from her chest. There was a pool of blood around her head where she hit a tree root. She was alive, but barely.
"She's barely alive." Hakkai said.
"Alright. Take her back to the inn."
"Right." Hakkai said, picking the woman up. "You coming?"

Sanzo didn't answer. He pulled the trigger of his gun. The demon vaporized. Sanzo, satisfied with that, turned and walked away. He made a motion to Hakkai to let him carry the woman. It was the same woman he saw in the tavern. They made their way back to the inn.

"Oh, shit." Goku said.
"What?" Hakkai asked.
"We left yours and Amerie's food at the tavern." Goku said, in a disappointed tone.
"That's alright."
"Speaking of Amerie, where is she?" Gojyo asked.
"She's sleeping." Hakkai answered.
"Something doesn't feel right." Sanzo replied.
"About what?" Goku asked.
"About Amerie. Don't you find it odd that she showed up unexpectedly?"
"Sanzo." Hakkai said. "She told me why she left."
"Okay. Why did she?"
"She's a part of Kougaiji's gang. Well, was."
"What?" Gojyo asked.
"Yep. She said that she told him that she didn't want to do something. She asked him if she could be free and he let her."

They couldn't believe what Hakkai was telling them. It was unfathomable. They walked inside the inn. Sanzo carried the young woman into his room. Hakkai followed. He used his healing powers on her. He did the best he could, but it was up to her now.