Saiyuki: Blooming Reassurance
~Chapter Seven~
Hakkai stood beside the window, looking at the sleeping Amerie. It was nighttime now. The sky was covered with dark clouds and it looked like it was about to start raining at anytime. He was worried about her. He's never seen a person get so upset before. He tried his best to comfort her, but he wasn't sure if he was helping.
"Zan, please come back." He heard her say. "Please, don't leave me alone."
Those words struck a chord to Hakkai. They were close to what he told her just hours before. (No wonder she got so upset. It was what I said to her. Zan must have been her boyfriend or something. Oh no. I can't believe that I upset her that much.) He walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. She was crying in her sleep. He reached out and gently touched her face. He wiped the tears away and kissed her on the cheek. He felt bad for upsetting her.
Amerie slowly opened her eyes. She saw Hakkai sitting on the bed looking at her. She reached up with her right hand and touched his face. She missed the feel of his skin. She could see the worry in his green eyes. She sat up and rested her head on the headboard. She took his hand and pulled him close to her. He sat beside her holding her hand.
"Are you okay?" He asked, looking at her.
"I don't know. I haven't felt like this in a long time." She said, looking at him.
"I'm sorry." He whispered.
"For what?"
"For upsetting you. I just didn't want you to leave."
"It's alright. I shouldn't have left in the first place. I really wanted to stay, but I felt that if I did you would end up hurt or worse, dead. And I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened." She said, laying her head on his shoulder.
"Do you want to tell me why you got so upset? You don't have to, if you don't want to."
"Alright. I'll tell you. Two years ago, my fianc left me alone. He didn't give me a reason or anything. His name was Zan and he was like Gojyo, half demon-half human. But that didn't matter to me. I loved him anyway. What happened next is hard for me to explain. I'll try my best to. One night, a bunch of demons attacked the village I was living in. They were killing everyone; men, women, children. It didn't matter to them. I ran outside armed with only a small knife. Something inside me told me to attack them and I did. When it was over, I had killed majority of the demons, but I was badly injured myself." She said, touching her midsection. "I remember walking into a small forest that was outside of the village. Rain had began to fall. Though, it didn't feel like normal rain. It was hot and it stung my skin. It felt like my skin was on fire. Then, I remember falling face first to the forest floor. I woke up, several weeks later, at Kougaiji's castle and to my new life as a demon."
Hakkai couldn't say anything. He remembered the dream he had months ago. (It was Amerie's past that I was dreaming about.) He thought. Nothing else was said between the two. They just sat there on the bed holding each other.
******
Sanzo sat in a chair beside his bed. The young woman lying there was alive, but had not awoken. He didn't understand why he suddenly felt like he was responsible. The door to his room opened and Gojyo stepped inside. He stood beside Sanzo with his hands in his pockets.
"Any change?" Gojyo asked.
"No." Sanzo whispered. "Where is everyone?"
"Sleeping."
"Why aren't you sleeping then?"
"I'm not sleepy. Why don't you go rest? I'll keep an eye on her."
"That's alright. I'll just watch over her."
"Okay." Gojyo said, walking out of Sanzo's room.
Sanzo looked at the sleeping woman on his bed. He didn't understand why he was feeling the way he was. He had forbidden himself to ever care of anyone. He didn't even know this woman, but seeing her lying there, the moonlight shining on her, it brought a feeing to him that he hasn't felt in a long time.
Hours passed by. The sun began to rise. Sanzo was still sitting beside the bed. Every so often, her fingers and hands would move. He had changed the bandages on her head a few minutes ago. Her eyelids fluttered, then open slowly. She tried to sit up, but Sanzo gently laid her back down.
"You need to rest." He said.
"Who are you? Where am I?" She said, in a scared tone.
"It's alright. I'm Genjo Sanzo. You were badly injured by a pack of demons."
"Genjo Sanzo." She whispered.
"Just call me Sanzo. What's your name?" He asked, sitting back in his chair.
"Kori."
"It'll be a few days before you'll be able to completely move around. And unfortunately, my companions and I need to leave soon. If you want to come with us, you can."
"When will you be leaving? She asked, turning her head and looking at him. Sanzo noticed that her eyes had a soft look to them now.
"Later this afternoon."
"If it's not too much trouble, I'd like to go with you and your companions."
"Alright. I'm going to warn you though, our journey gets dangerous at times."
"That's alright. I can handle myself."
"Really?"
"They caught me off guard. I can fight."
"Alright. Why don't you rest. I'll be back later." Sanzo said, standing and walking out.
Kori sat up and rested up against the headboard. (Genjo Sanzo. He actually helped me, but why? He doesn't even know me.) She continued sitting there, looking out the window. The sky was now a pale blue. The clouds that threatened rain, were now gone. She was surprised that she wasn't in an incredible amount of pain. (Whoever healed this, did a remarkable job.)
She, then, heard people talking outside. She recognized Sanzo's voice, but not the others. She heard three other male voices. She realized they were talking about her.
*
"Look, if Amerie can go with us, then Kori can too." Sanzo said.
"Are you sure she wants to?" Gojyo said.
"She said she wanted to."
******
Kori sat there listening to them argue. (They are arguing about me.) She slowly stood up and walked to the door. She opened the door and there stood the four men. She stood there looking at them.
"What are you doing up?" Sanzo asked.
"If the four of you do not wish for me to travel with you, then so be it. I'll be on my way." Kori said, walking slowly away from them.
Sanzo reached out and took her by the arm. "You're coming with us."
