HikoChi

HikoChi is the term used to refer to the romantic relationship between Hikomaru and Chiyo (Hanyō no Yashahime).

## Their Relationship

### Hanyo no Yashahime

**Curse of the Man-Eating Pond**

When Towa and Setsuna reaches to the area of the Man-Eating Pond, Setsuna sees Hikomaru and Chiyo near the pond. Towa asks Setsuna what is it. Setsuna asks Towa hold her Kanemitsu no Tomoe and violin before she runs off towards Hikomaru and Chiyo. Towa asks Setsuna why was she in such a hurry then notices Hikomaru and Chiyo. Chiyo tightly holds onto Hikomaru. Hikomaru yells at Chiyo to let him go. Chiyo tells Hikomaru to not go. Hikomaru tells Chiyo to let go of him as he's going to avenge their parents. Chiyo tells Hikomaru to stop it as she doesn't want him to disappear as well. Hikomaru looks at Chiyo for a moment before he repeatedly tells her to let him go before he manages to break free. Chiyo falls down. Hikomaru stops for a moment and looks at Chiyo as he calls out to her and says he's sorry before he runs towards the pond. Before Hikomaru could get near the pond, Setsuna catches up and grabs his arm to stop him from going any further. Setsuna tells Hikomaru to not go towards the pond as it’s dangerous. Hikomaru asks Setsuna who was she and tells repeatedly her to let him go and he needs to go to the pond as he tried to escape. Towa catches up to Setsuna and attends to Chiyo. Towa asks Chiyo was she okay. Chiyo nods to Towa. Towa notices that Chiyo's knee is hurt and tells her that she'll carry her. Chiyo becomes surprised at Towa. Towa tells Chiyo to come on and let's tend her wounds at her home. Chiyo tells Towa 'okay' before she gets on her back. Towa tells Chiyo that there she goes and wonders if it's okay with Setsuna. Setsuna tells Towa 'yes'. Setsuna continues to hold onto Hikomaru as she tells him that he's coming too. Hikomaru gives up. Towa and Setsuna walk with Hikomaru and Chiyo on their way back to their home. Chiyo explains to Towa and Setsuna that she and Hikomaru lost their parents to that pond. Towa says so that's what happened as Hikomaru and Chiyo lost their mom and dad to the pond. Chiyo tells Towa 'yes'. Setsuna tells Hikomaru that she understands what happened but to not be so reckless anymore. Hikomaru tries to explain to Setsuna but was cut off by Towa. Towa tells Hikomaru to listen as older brothers should never let go of their little sister’s hand because it'll be too late if he regrets it later. Hikomaru becomes sad and says he's sorry. Setsuna looks at Hikomaru.

At sunset, Towa, Setsuna, Hikomaru, and Chiyo are now at their home, where the two siblings live with their Grandmother. Towa attends to Chiyo’s wound on her knee. Towa tells Chiyo to let's see her wound. Towa places a cloth on Chiyo's wound. Chiyo winces in pain. Towa tells Chiyo 'sorry' and wonders did it sting. Chiyo tells Towa that it did little but she's okay. Towa tells Chiyo that she's strong before she decides to give her a heart-shaped bandage. Chiyo asks Towa what it was. Towa tells Chiyo that she'll see before she places a heart-shaped bandage on Chiyo's wound. Hikomaru tells Towa to not paste anything weird on Chiyo. Towa tells Hikomaru to not worry as that was an adhesive bandage as it's like plaster but better. Hikomaru and Chiyo become surprised. The Grandmother tells Towa and Setsuna that the sun is already setting and offers them to spend the night at their home. Chiyo happily tells Towa to let's do it and for Hikomaru to tells Towa and Setsuna as well. Hikomaru tells Chiyo that it really doesn't matter to him. Chiyo asks Towa can she and Setsuna stay the night. Towa asks Setsuna what does she think. Chiyo continues to beg Towa. Setsuna tells Towa to not ask her. The grandmother cooks a meal for everyone to eat. Hikomaru asks the grandmother for another bowl. Chiyo asks the grandmother for another bowl as well. The grandmother complies with Hikomaru and Chiyo. Towa asks Setsuna that they're going to end up spending the night and they even fed them a meal. Setsuna tells Towa that the house is close to the pond as it's an ideal spot to be for their job.

The Grandmother tells Towa and Setsuna about the pond as it's been quite muddy ever since she was a child. Towa tells the grandmother that she's heard that the pond used to be as clear as a mirror. The Grandmother confirms it with Towa. The Grandmother explains to Towa and Setsuna that a sage purified those muddy waters by using medicinal herbs. Setsuna questions the Grandmother about a sage. Towa tells the Grandmother about the medicinal herbs. The Grandmother tells Towa and Setsuna that the sage planted medicinal herbs around the pond so that they could be used if the pond became murky again and there should be a nice wonderful patch of medicinal herbs by now. Hikomaru tells Towa and Setsuna that because of the Venom Serpent they can’t go near the pond anymore. Setsuna questions about the Venom Serpent. Chiyo says the Venom Serpent is a huge snake-like demon that's poisonous. Towa asks Hikomaru and Chiyo have they seen the Venom Serpent before. Hikomaru and Chiyo tell Towa 'yeah'. Towa and Setsuna look at each other. Chiyo becomes sad until she's curious of the case Setsuna carries her violin in. Chiyo asks Towa what's that. Towa calls out to Setsuna. Setsuna says it's a musical instrument. Chiyo becomes excited. Setsuna let's Hikomaru and Chiyo. Chiyo tells Setsuna that the violin is a funny shape. Hikomaru asks Setsuna is the violin like a biwa lute as his and Chiyo's father was good at playing the biwa too. Chiyo tells Setsuna that her and Hikomaru's father always played the biwa for them. Setsuna says she sees. Towa tells Hikomaru and Chiyo that it's called a violin. Hikomaru and Chiyo become confused and tried to say violin. Chiyo asks Setsuna can she play the violin for her and Hikomaru. Hikomaru tells Setsuna that he wants to hear the violin too. Setsuna says she's not really good at playing the violin. The Grandmother tells Setsuna that she could be so kind to play a song for Hikomaru and Chiyo. Setsuna looks at Towa, who nods. Hikomaru and Chiyo become excited. Setsuna gives in and begins playing her violin. The Grandmother, Towa, Hikomaru, and Chiyo clap for Setsuna for a moment. Hikomaru and Chiyo become emotional hearing Setsuna play her violin. Setsuna stops playing. Towa asks Hikomaru and Chiyo what's wrong. The Grandmother comforts Hikomaru and Chiyo. The Grandmother tells Towa and Setsuna that Hikomaru and Chiyo's father was. Hikomaru says he and Chiyo's father played the biwa for them by the pond and that's when he got swallowed up. The Grandmother comforted Hikomaru and Chiyo, who were crying.

Later in the night, the Grandmother, Hikomaru, and Chiyo are fast asleep and Towa who was sleeping too.

In the morning, Moroha walks near the the pond looking for Towa and Setsuna as they didn’t come home last night and wonders where they are then calls out to them. Moroha suddenly finds Towa and Setsuna by the Man-Eating Pond. Moroha calls out to Towa and Setsuna as she gets near them. Towa calls out to Moroha. Moroha asks Towa and Setsuna where have they been as they didn't come home last night and she got worried and looked for them. Towa tells Moroha that Hikomaru and Chiyo from the village let her and Setsuna stay at their home. Moroha questions Towa about Hikomaru and Chiyo. Setsuna says there's no time to explain.

Moroha looks at the pond and tells Towa and Setsuna to look at it as it's so pretty and clear. Towa and Setsuna both agree with Moroha. Hikomaru and Chiyo appear and run towards Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha. Hikomaru holds Setsuna's violin case. Chiyo calls out to Towa. Towa realizes that it's Hikomaru and Chiyo. Chiyo hugs Towa. Hikomaru tells Setsuna that she forgot her violin. Setsuna tells Hikomaru 'thank you' as she accepts her violin. Chiyo says the pond is so pretty. Moroha says she can definitely drink the water now. Towa becomes annoyed and tells Moroha to stop it already. Moroha and Chiyo laugh together. Hikomaru asks Towa, Setsuna, and Moroha that they defeated Mizuchi and says 'thank you'. Setsuna tells Hikomaru there's no need for thanks as she puts down her violin case and takes out her violin. Setsuna says this may not replace the biwa but before she starts playing. Towa smiles at Setsuna before she, Hikomaru, Moroha, and Chiyo look at the pond. The broken biwa is shown in the pond.