Saiyuki: Blooming Reassurance
~Chapter Eight~
Hyakka stood beside Kougaiji. Neither one said anything. They just stood there looking at Kougaiji's trapped mother. Then, she reached out and took his hand. Kougaiji looked down at their hands and then up at Hyakka.
"You're mother will be freed." She said, looking at him.
"Not until we get that Scripture. Let's go. We're going to pay Sanzo a little visit."
"Are you sure, Kougaiji? Amerie's probably with them."
"Amerie is no longer our concern. She chose to leave. That was what she wanted."
"But you let her leave."
"Yes. I did. Did you not notice the attitude chance in her the last few days she was around?"
"I did. She turned her back on you. You saved her life back then and she turned her back on you."
"She served me well, Hyakka. She always did what I asked her to, never any less. She wanted to live free. I couldn't deny her that. I'm not vicious or cold hearted. At least not fully."
"You're right. I didn't mean to sound doubtful of you and your decisions." She said, looking away.
"It's alright." He said, gently turning her head and kissing her on the forehead. Their eyes locked for just a second, but that one second felt like an eternity. Hyakka didn't understand why people feared the demon in front of her. He wasn't vicious or cold hearted. He just wanted to free his mother. Hyakka had vowed to help him and follow him forever. She kissed him softly on the cheek and walked away.
"I'll get Yaone and Dokugakuji." She said, exiting the room.
Kougaiji took one last look at his mother and walked out of the room. He remembered that Koushu wanted to speak with him. That bitch annoyed him. He was growing tired of her. (I'd kill her, but I want to free you, Mother.) He entered the room where Koushu sat all the time in front of his father still dead.
"What is taking you so long in getting that Scripture?"
"We are leaving now."
"Where's Amerie?"
"What does she have to do with this?"
"She was the one you sent to get the Scripture over four months ago. It couldn't take her that long to get it. She should be able to kill him and the others easily."
"I let her leave."
"You what?!" Koushu exclaimed.
"She felt like she couldn't serve me as well as she used to. I let her leave." Kougaiji lied to Koushu. He had to tell her something. Kougaiji knew the real reason. She told him she wanted to be free; yes, but she didn't tell him she wanted to be with Hakkai. Kougaiji knew that was the real reason. She didn't want to hurt Hakkai.
"Fine. Go get that Scripture."
Kougaiji walked out of the room. Hyakka, Yaone, and Dokugakuji stood there waiting for him. They left to go pay Sanzo and the others a visit.
******
Amerie sat on the middle of the bed in the room that she and Hakkai shared. She sat there with her arms wrapped around her knees. Her chin rested there. She closed her eyes for a bit, but opened them when she felt a blanket being draped over her shoulders. She felt his strong arms wrap around her, holding her close to his chest.
"You feeling any better?" He whispered.
"Yes. Thank you, Hakkai. I'm sorry if I worried you." Amerie whispered.
"You had me scared for a while. I love you, Amerie." Hakkai said, kissing the top of her head.
She turned slightly in his arms and looked into his beautiful green eyes. "I love you too, Hakkai."
She wrapped her arms around him, holding him closer to her. They could feel each other's hearts beating. She looked up at him as he looked down at her. Hakkai cupped her face with his hands and leaned his face closer to hers. Amerie closed her eyes as their lips met. She opened her eyes and looked at him. She pulled away and turned from him.
"Amerie?"
"I can't, Hakkai. I'm sorry."
"It's alright." He said, wrapping his arms around her. "It's alright. Besides, we're leaving in about thirty minutes."
"Alright. I'll be ready in five."
"Okay. He whispered, kissing her cheek. He stood up and walked out.
Minutes passed. Amerie still sat there wrapped up in the blanket. She stood up, only to fall to the floor. The blanket falling over her body.
*
One hour later.
"What's keeping Amerie?" Sanzo asked, angrily.
"I don't know. Let me go get her." Hakkai said, running into the inn. He ran upstairs to the room they shared. He knocked on the door. There was no answer. He opened the door. His eyes grew wide when he saw her on the floor. He ran to her and took her into his arms. "Amerie? Amerie, wake up! Please. Wake up."
It was no use. She wouldn't open her eyes. He picked her up, grabbed her bag, and walked outside. He laid her across the back of the jeep.
"What happened?" Gojyo asked.
"I don't know. Keep an eye on her." Hakkai said, sitting in the driver's seat.
Gojyo and Goku sat in their usual seats. Kori sat in the back as well. Gojyo sat with his back up against Hakkai's seat and watched over Amerie. She looked almost dead lying there. He looked at her hands. They looked different, but he didn't know what was different about them.
Hakkai tried to focus on driving and not on Amerie. He couldn't. (What happened? She was fine earlier.) He didn't understand what was going on. (Please. Don't die. Amerie...)
