Two times the Therapy

After their interviews, Megumi and Tenka asked Youko and Keita to stay in the living room while they talked in the bedroom.

"It's clear that both of them believe the other is the problem." Megumi said.

"But to quote George Orwell, they are all wrong, but they're wrong for different reasons." Tenka said.

"So how did your interview go?" Megumi asked.

"About as I expected. He believes his cousin has a harem and wants one of his own. He doesn't seem to think they're all training under Karou because they work better as a team." Tenka said.

"I figured as much. Man, it's a wonder these two haven't killed each other yet." Megumi said.

"Yea. I want to try something as an initial test, though. Kieta doesn't really realize how much he subconsciously loves Youko. I want to see if he will respond to it. We need to find a bishonen customer for them." Tenka said.

"That may be stirring up a hornet's nest, but I'll see what I can do." Megumi said.


As fate would have it, Youko and Kieta's next assignment was at a men's gym. Naturally, when they arrived, there were several bishonen men standing around. Many of them were attired in very little. Youko perked up in their presence, and saw several guys she liked. Initially, Kieta didn't care about this. Then slowly he seemed to be annoyed by Youko's interest in these slabs of beef.

"Youko, could we please focus on the assignment here." Kieta asked, annoyed.

"Whatever." Youko replied. He really didn't need her, though. One shot from a frog bomb was enough to disperse the spirit. Youko then went back to fawning over one guy she thought was very cute. Her tail waved excitedly as she stared at him.

"Say, what's your name? I'm Youko..." Youko said to him.

"I'm going home now." Kieta said. He then started to walk away, but stopped.

"It doesn't feel so good when the shoe is on the other foot, now does it?" Tenka asked.

"What the hell do you mean by that!?" Kieta asked.

"When Youko was hitting on that guy, you seemed to not like it." Tenka said.

"I don't mind it." Kieta said in denial. Tenka merely gave him a stern look. There was a brief pause.

"Okay, I minded it. But only because I wanted to get the job done." Kieta said.

"There's more to it, isn't there?" Tenka asked.

"No!" Kieta said in denial. There was a brief pause. Everyone else's face clearly indicated that they could tell he was lying.

"It's okay for a man to want one woman. That's the way it is." Tenka said.

"Believe me, the sooner you commit to one woman, the better off you will be." Megumi added.

"I just don't know if I can do that!" Kieta exclaimed.

"Karou-sama did." Tenka noted. Kieta gave Tenka a dirty look.

"Well, let's just go home now." Youko said.


At home, there was no headway being made in either camp. Youko still was in full diva mode.

"Hey, I am one of the best Inukami around! I am worthy of the best!" Youko said.

"Think of this as an exercise in humility." Megumi said. "Even the best of us have to be humble."

"True, but I think I've earned the fine life." Youko said. "I've been fighting evil for centuries. I've defeated almost every type of mystical entity you could name."

"Well, your track record is impressive. However, there is always room for improvement." Megumi said.

"I know that." Youko said. "I've been doing this for over six centuries now."

"Well, you have to realize that the trainer/Inukami relationship is different every time." Megumi said. "Well, that's enough for today. We'll resume tomorrow, this time as a group."


The next day, the four of them met together in the dining room. Megumi and Youko had made breakfast for four. Megumi had done most of the cooking though. Youko wasn't that great at it. Anyway, as they sat at the table, they talked a bit as to what would happen today.

"Well, the two of you are going to hash things out and we're going to give you some pointers." Tenka said.

"Well, the biggest thing I can't stand is his looking at other women all the time. Especially Nadeshiko-chan." Youko said.

"Oh really? You've got some nasty anger management issues." Kieta replied.

"Ah. There's part of the problem. The two of you are emphasizing what you don't like about each other. Now Kieta, I want you to say something nice about Youko." Tenka said.

"Well... She's... Hot." Kieta said.

"Something about her personality." Tenka interjected. "Good looks can fade with time." There was a pregnant pause.

"Oh, come on! You can't think of anything!?" Youko asked with anger.

"Well... She is persistent." Kieta said.

"Is that the best you can do?" Youko asked with anger.

"Hey, how would you feel if I teleported you outside without your clothing!?" Kieta snapped back.

"I wouldn't have to do that if you didn't think of women as just sex objects!" Youko retorted.

"Ah, again, you're emphasizing the differences." Tenka said.

"Love isn't just about 'What can you do for me?' It's more 'What can I do for you?'" Megumi said.

"Keeping score about who did what to whom often destroys relationships. If there is an incident, the guilty party should apologize and then both of you move on." Tenka said. "There really can't be ego in love."

"I'm not the egoist!" Youko and Kieta said at the same time. Tenka and Megumi headdesked.

This may take longer than I thought, Tenka thought.

What we're saying goes in one ear and out the other, Megumi thought.

What the hell is wrong with them? Keita and Youko thought at the same time. In their minds, they knew they were right. However, to paraphrase George Orwell, both of them were wrong, but they were wrong for different reasons. Well, Tenka was the first to break the ensuing silence.

"Do either of you really want this relationship to work?" Tenka asked.

"I do, but I'm sure that he doesn't." Youko said.

"Of course I want it to work! She's the one that doesn't." Kieta said.

"Well, it seems that both of you want a relationship on your own terms. You have to be willing to compromise." Megumi said.

"The best relationships are the ones where the partners are mostly happy." Tenka said. "No relationship is perfect."

"And no relationship lasts where one party always gets what s/he wants." Megumi added.

"Well, there are some things I won't give up!" Youko and Kieta said at the same time.

Neither one of them could figure out why Tenka and Megumi started laughing.

"What the hell is so funny?" Kieta asked.

"You two really don't get any of it, do you?" Tenka asked.

"You're starting to sound like a married couple already." Megumi said.

"You've got to be kidding." Youko said. "He doesn't even know what love is. He just wants to get every girl he can into bed."

"What's so wrong with that?" Kieta said.

"There is a difference between love and lust." Tenka said.

"Youko wants you to love her, not just be out to have sex with her. Love for a woman is a mental thing. It's all inside her head." Megumi said. "You need to realize that men and women do things a bit differently when it comes to love."

"However, if you accept some of her wishes, she might meet you halfway." Tenka said.

"With a heavy emphasis on the might." Kieta said.

"He's right, Kieta-sama." Youko said. "If you would stop chasing other girls, I might sleep with you." Naturally, Kieta hesitated on this.

"I don't believe you. I think this is some kind of trick." Kieta said.

"Ah, there's the whole root of the problem. You two really don't trust each other when it comes to love." Tenka said.

"Love can't work without trust. However, it also seems that you refuse to give each other reason to trust each other." Megumi said.

"He sure doesn't give me a reason to trust him." Youko said.

"What's wrong with you? You can trust me." Keita said with hubris.

"The only thing I can trust you to do is constantly piss me off!" Youko snapped.

"Oh yea!? You constantly piss me off too!" Kieta replied. Youko had enough of this. She waved a finger.

"Shu-" Megumi stopped her before she could use her magic.

"Hold it. You've used magic on him countless times, and what has it gotten you? He is not an evil spirit." Megumi said.

"You have to remain calm. Flying off the handle will get you nowhere." Tenka said.

"Oh, so I'm right after all?" Kieta asked, smirking.

"Both of you are wrong. You're just as guilty for your relationship problems as she is." Tenka said.

"It's just that you two are blaming each other in power playing games and not really focusing on what will make love work." Megumi added.

"I'm beginning to think neither of you have what it takes to make a relationship." Tenka said.

"I have to agree." Megumi added.

"I know what it takes to do it right!" Youko snapped.

"I do too!" Kieta added.

"You just think you do." Megumi said.

"Let's give them a bit of alone time now; I don't think we can improve things at this point." Tenka said. With that, he and Megumi left.

-To Be Continued-