Cho-Sempai

That night, each traveler was given his own room to sleep in. Hakkuryu curled up on a pillow while his owner got ready for bed. As the man undressed, he heard the door crack open. Out of instinct, he turned on his guard with his weapon ready. He relaxed when he saw who had entered.

\"Chiaki-chan,\" he breathed in relief, letting his chi dissipate.

\"I\'m- I\'m sorry, I should have knocked,\" the girl stammered.

\"It\'s quite alright,\" he assured her. \"You just startled me.\"

\"How did you do that?\" she asked.

\"What? This?\" Hakkai asked, bringing the chi back to life.

\"Yeah. It\'s so pretty.\"

\"It\'s called kikou jutsu. It\'s how I defend myself and the others, as well as heal, if nessecary.\"

\"It\'s amazing! Can the others do it too??\"

\"Ah, no. We each have our own ways of defense.\"

\"Can you show me how?\"

\"It\'s not something that can be taught in one night.\"

\"Than you should stay longer.\"

\"I\'m afraid that\'s not an option. Hakkai looked at the girl\'s crestfallen face. But I can give you some pointers and suggest
some reading, if you like.\"

Her face lit up. \"That would be wonderful!\"


***********************************************************

Later on, when Hakkai was showing Chiaki how to concentrate properly, Sanzo passed by the room. The door being wide open, he saw his comrade and the girl sitting cross legged from one another, eyes closed. As the monk continued to watch, the girl opened her eyes, tentatively, and began to lean towards the man across from her.

Chiaki-chan, stop moving about, Hakkai said suddenly, gently, eyes still closed. You\'re supposed to be concentrating

Instead of retreating, the girl only leaned further forward until her lips were against the man’s. Sanzo’s eyes widened. As did Hakkai’s. He gently pushed her back.

“Chiaki-chan,” he humbly began. “If I have led you on in any way, I have done so unintentionally, and I hope you can forgive me.”
“Always taking the blame upon yourself, aren’t you, Hakkai?” the girl replied.

“Huh?”

“I feel in love with you all by myself. I don’t blame you, but I can’t help who my heart wants.”

“Chiaki-chan, you’re far too young-“

“Please Hakkai, don’t feed me the teacher stuff. Just let me love you.” She leaned toward him again. Hakkai carefully took her shoulders, as if she were a doll falling forward. “Hakkai,” she pleaded, eyes shining with tears. “This is all I’ve wanted since I’ve known you. Unless you can think of a good, solid reason, please, don’t refuse me.”

“Chiaki-chan, there are plenty of reasons this shouldn’t happen.”

“Name three.”

The man began counting off on his fingers. “We’re in your parent’s house, I’m almost 10 years your senior, and what is you never see me again? Have you thought of that?”

The girl began counting off on her fingers. “My Dad sleeps like a log, I couldn’t care less about how old you are, and if I never see you again, God forbid, at least I would have the memory of this one night with you.” She looked him dead in the eye. “See, Hakkai? There’s no reason you can think of that I couldn’t contradict.”

Sanzo emerged from the darkness. “I can think of one, you stupid girl.”

Chiaki gasped. Hakkai prayed the monk wouldn’t be too harsh with her.

“Hakkai, all three of these men, belong to me until this journey is over. You have no rights whatsoever. Give it up, girl. Hakkai can’t give you what isn’t his to give.”

Sanzo left. Chiaki began to cry. “Is-Is it t-true, Hh-akkai? What he said? It isn’t is it?”

“I’m afraid Sanzo is basically correct. If I left you do what you want to now, then I would want to stay with you. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“I can wait for you I’ll wait as long as it takes ”

“I won’t ask that of you. And you’ve run into this without even considering my feelings. I’m afraid I feel nothing beyond friendship for you, Chiaki-chan, and if that is not is enough, we can be gone tonight.”

“No I definitely don’t want that ” she cried.

“Shh, you’ll wake your father.”

“I already told you, he sleeps like the dead until morning. I’d have to go in there and start shaking the man for him to wake up.”

“Still, it isn’t wise to tempt fate.”

“Yes, Cho-sempai, I know.” She giggled. “I want you to stay. I want all of you to stay. But you can’t. So I’ll just have to treasure this night. Hakkai-san, this is really selfish of me, but you would keep teaching me techniques?”

“Of course, Chiaki-chan.”

**********************************************************
Somewhere in learning proper concentration tactics, the girl had fallen asleep. She awoke in Hakkai\'s bed, confused. Then she saw the man leaning against the wall across from her, snoozing, and it all made sense. Hakkai-san, she muttered.
Hakkuryu woke then, and flew to his master and proceeded to nudge him until he woke to his companion\'s kyu-ing.

\"Ohayo, Hakkuryu,\" Hakkai greeted him.

\"Kyu!!\"

\"Ohayo, Chiaki-chan. Did you sleep well?\"

\"Hakkai-san, you shouldn\'t have, especially after how I behaved...\" she began.

\"But I did, so I\'m afraid the harm\'s done.\"

The girl got a determined look on her face. \"I\'m going to make you the best breakfast ever Just tell me what you want and I\'ll make it!!!\"