Saiyuki: Blooming Reassurance
~Chapter Thirteen~
Kori and Amerie sat between Goku and Gojyo as a request from Sanzo. He was getting tired of their arguing. But they still argued over the two women. This time it was about Gojyo's hot beer. They always seemed to argue about that. Kori and Amerie ended up whacking them on the head out of frustration. Sanzo turned around and saw Goku and Gojyo rubbing the top of their heads. He turned back around keeping a laugh to himself.
"What happened? It got awfully quiet." Hakkai stated.
"Kori and Amerie hit them on the head." The monk said, still suppressing his laugh.
"Oh, really?" Hakkai said with a small laugh. He looked at Amerie out of the corner of his eye. She smiled at him, but she knew that deep down he was hurting. From what? Amerie didn't know. He wouldn't tell her.
"Look at those clouds." Gojyo said.
"They are pretty dark, huh?" Kori said.
"Yeah. Should we chance it or what?" Hakkai asked. "Hakuryu isn't a convertible, ya know."
"Damnit. Why does it always seem to want to rain when we are on the road?" Sanzo said with a bit of anger to his voice. "Let's not chance it. Stop in the next town."
"Alright." Hakkai said.
******
"What?!" Kougaiji exclaimed.
"They left late this morning." Yoane said.
"You have to be kidding. Damnit!"
"Now what?" Hyakka asked.
"We got to find them. Let's go."
Kougaiji couldn't believe they missed Sanzo and the others leaving. Something told him not to go to sleep, but he did anyway. They ran off. (We need to get that Maten Scripture.)
******
Kazou stood in the forest outside the small town. He could see the lights on in the rooms of the Sanzo party. He stood there under a tree as rain began to fall.
"I'll get them tomorrow." He said aloud.
He stood there knowing that Kougaiji would show up eventually. He knew Kougaiji would probably be furious. Kazou was working directly for Koushu. He didn't care much for Kougaiji or his stupid little gang. He despised them. The rain began to fall heavier. He didn't care. Rain didn't bother him. To some, rain had a depressing feeling. But to Kazou, rain felt peaceful.
******
Kori opened the door to Sanzo's room. He was asleep but looked like he was having a bad dream. She heard the rain falling heavily on the roof. She stepped further into his room. She stood beside his bed and watched him toss and turn. She wanted to reach out and take his hand, but that would be giving up her plan. Her plan for paying him back. She took his hand then kissed him on the forehead where his crimson chakra was. He stirred but never waked. Kori wasn't sure what was troubling the sleeping monk. She kissed him once more on the cheek and walked out of the room.
"Does Sanzo know you are sneaking into his room?"
"Damnit." She whispered. "Gojyo. What are you doing up?"
"Just walking around. That droopy-eyed monk isn't the only one who can sleep when it rains." He said, looking at the closed door of Amerie and Hakkai's room.
"Why? Let me guess, you can't tell me that either."
"Right. I can't." He shrugged. "But if you really care for him, Kori, be patient."
Kori watched as Gojyo walked into his room and shut the door behind him. She did care for Sanzo. She cared enough to be patient with him.
******
Hakkai sat on the windowsill, watching the rainfall outside and down the window. He hated nights like this. He followed a drop of rain down the window with his left index finger. He couldn't stop thinking about Kanan, although Amerie was sound asleep in their bed. There would always be a place in his heart for Kanan. She was his first love. He never stopped loving her. He closed his eyes. He saw the tears streaming down her cheeks as she told him she was pregnant with Hyakugan Maoh's child. That he had raped her. Then, she held the dagger that Hakkai used to defeat every demon there. She plunged it inside her. She died and he wasn't able to help her. Hakkai opened his eyes and noticed that tears had fallen down his cheeks. He looked over at the bed and saw Amerie sitting up. She was awake and had a worried look on her face.
Ever since Amerie came into his life, he's been happy. But on nights like this not even Amerie could comfort him. She knew that. She knew that no matter how hard she tried she'd never fully heal his wounded heart. But she continued to try, knowing that someday their pasts will eventually leave them. The only thing she could do was love him and hold him when he needed to be held.
Hakkai knew about the void in her heart as well. The void that still yearned for Zan. He knew that he could never fill that void, no matter how hard he tried. They were so much alike, but different too. He tried comforting her as much as she comforted him. Neither asked for the love they shared. It was something that just happened. They loved each other's presence.
Rain continued to fall heavily from the sky. Amerie continued looking at him. He sat there. He didn't have his monocle on. Everything was a bit blurry to him through his right eye. Ever since that night three years ago, he's never been able to completely see out of that eye. His eyes were so beautiful, but yet so pained. She knew that he hid his feelings deep down. He hardly ever showed his sadness. It was painful to her sometimes, to see such a wonderful person hurt so much. She's told him on many occasions how special he was to her. He would smile. Oh, what a handsome smile.
Hours passed and the rain stopped. The rising sun peaked through the clouds. Hakkai was now sitting on the bed. He was holding Amerie's soft hands, massaging the palms with his thumbs. He was glad she was in his life. He knew she'd always be there, she'd never hurt him. And she knew the same about him. They would be together forever, in body and in spirit.
