Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.

Hey Guys! I am sooooooooooooooo sorry it took me forever to update!!!! I blame it on finals. I'll admit this is also the first time I've hit a writer's block, but I'll stick to just blaming it on finals.

Anyway, thanks to my wonderful reviewers!!! You guys make my day and this is dedicated to you! Ok, I want a total of 75 reviews. Yes, that's right, 75 in total. PS: Anyone who did not review should feel ashamed and should review for this chapter. And my wonderful people who did review, keep going 'cause I love your comments.


Here's a little some up of before:

Kori hates Viana (don't we all?).

Viana took away Kori's right to be a volunteer (I don't know if that's possible or not, but no flaming at me for that.)

Most of all, Kori escaped from home and is running into the night.

Did I mention that Richard/Robin is following her?

That seems to be a consistent theme in this story.

Now enjoy.

Though Kori felt hurt, angry, frustrated, upset, and devastated, her mind was as clear as a crystal. She knew where she was heading. Back to her secret place only one person ever intruded in, and that was because he had been annoyingly following her. It was her haven, a place where she was safe. Right now her powers were fighting their way to the surface and Kori had to keep them suppressed. It would not be good if stupid people found out she actually had powers. She shoved any feeling of hurt, devastation and frustration behind a door and slammed the door on them, so only the feeling of anger was apparent on her angelic features. Down the sketchy alley she went and out to freedom, where she could be free to feel all her emotions.

Richard had been watching that balcony across from his again, trying to figure out who lived there. It seemed to be a woman. Probably someone who was drawn to the stars, for he always saw her looking up. Too bad the rest of her features weren't apparent. But when he saw a shadow climbing off balcony and hurrying into the night, he figured something was wrong, since whoever lived in that room had never done anything like that before. He took it upon himself to find out what was going on. As he followed the fleeting silhouette in the night, he began to wonder if he knew the person. Soon enough, the girl was following the exact same path that he recognized from before while he was following a certain girl with flaming red hair and a temper to match. Was it her?

Safe! Kori threw herself through the foliage and into the clearing, landing on the ground in a heap. Damn the man who called himself her father. Damn the girl who claimed to be her sister. And damn the woman to the lowest hells who claimed to own the zoo. They were nothing but scumbags. Nothing but people full of bs.

Kori allowed her emotions to finally surface, opening the door that she had slammed before, feeling a full torrent of emotions roar through her. Sadness. Anger. Frustration. Loathing. Intense dislike. A small sob escaped her lips, but it didn't matter. All those jerks were there to ruin everything and anything Kori held dear. Nothing was good as long as those stupid people were around. No one cared. They took away everything. A tear slid down her cheek, tailed by another.

As soon as Richard caught a glimpse of flaming red hair, he knew he was following Kori. Mystery solved. The silhouette across from his apartment was Kori. It made a lot of sense. He seemed to always find her staring at the stars, for unknown reason. She seemed to have tons of energy as she sped down the sketchy streets and out of the city. She seemed to be able to retain her speed as she ran for a mile or so longer, before she burst through the foliage that shielded her "place" from the world. A small part of him wondered how she was in such amazing shape and that he probably needed to get in better shape. How else would he be able to keep up with her in the future? He paused at the edge of the clearing and watched her with a saddened heart as she collapsed in a heap in the center of the clearing. At first he thought it was out of sheer exhaustion, but then he heard a soft sob escape her. He felt completely helpless. What was it that when girls cry, guys feel completely helpless? It made absolutely no sense, but that was how he was feeling. He heard another sob escape her and squinted into the night, finding that her shoulders were shaking. She was crying. His poor Kori was crying. Wait, his Kori? Since when was she his? Well, since he took it upon himself to discover the hidden Kori. He couldn't stand it anymore—the helplessness and watching her cry. He risked getting himself thrown to the ground as he touched her shoulder.

Kori felt a warm hand touch her shoulder. At first she felt angry that someone intruded. But then it died as she felt her misery overcome her anger. She didn't even bother reacting. She hurt too much inside. Why would she hurt so much inside? Well, it was probably because of that Viana bitch, her idiotic "family" she had been so joyfully "blessed" with. And then there was her past. Her mind shied away painfully from the memories. With all she suppressed, it was a wonder she hadn't had her emotions eat her alive sooner. When one stuffs their emotions, it can overwhelm them or make them sick. Since Kori at least vented her anger, it did nothing but cause her some physical discomfort as she ignored her other emotions.

All she did to the hand touching her shoulder was wrap her arms tight around her knees and whisper brokenly "Go away."

"Kori?" Richard asked alarmed at her reaction. What was going on with her? Why didn't she push him away like she had done before when she claimed he was intruding on her personal space? Why did she seem so… so… broken? What was going on in that head of hers and what was she suppressing?

She didn't respond at all except by stopping the flow of tears and wrapping her arms even tighter around herself. She really began to shake harder because of stuffing her tears. A lump in her throat formed, but it didn't matter. Just whoever was there needed to go away. "Please…just go away."

Richard decided to use her nickname. "Starfire? Are you alright?"

"No," was her hoarsely whispered reply. Well at least she was being honest. "Leave me Robin."

Richard squatted down to her level. "Please Starfire, I want to help. What's going on?"

"N-nothing. There's nothing you can do. Just leave me alone."

"I can't," Richard said earnestly. Ugh! He couldn't stand watching her shake. He couldn't stand seeing her hurt. "Will you please tell me what's up and then I promise to leave?"

Kori pondered that for a moment. Even though she was upset, she was beginning to get a little annoyed with Robin's stupid persistence. She decided to tell him a little bit—a half truth. "Viana's a bitch. She's moving Ginger whether I like it or not. Now will you go?"

"Can I help with anything?" He wanted to stop Kori's pain. He wanted her happy. He wanted to see her smiling, even though that was a rarity in itself. Most of all, he just wanted Kori to be free. Why did he care so much for this angelic beauty? Was it to prove something to himself? Was it to prove that he was right that there was a soft girl behind the devil? Or was it something else? Was it because he cared for her? But why would he care? What was it about her that made him want to help her so? What did he see in her? Was it that maybe another soul was in pain and was calling to be heard? Was it that his own soul heard her? Who knew. He didn't know her well enough to even say she was a soul in pain.

Kori heard the sincerity in his voice, but was confused about it. She hadn't heard that tone of voice since—no her mind would not go there it was too scarring. Why did he care so much? She wasn't very nice to anyone, except for Raven. But this boy kept persisting, insisting she had a good heart and was nice? What on earth was he thinking when he thought she was different from what she showed to the world? She hated this world and hated everyone in it. They caused all her problems and it was all their faults. Yes, she was generalizing, but Raven was an exception. Now this robin was trying to make himself an exception. Kori hated feeling vulnerable, which was how she was feeling right now. What was with this boy? Couldn't he just leave her alone? Leave her alone in her misery, anger, frustration and intense dislike? Why wouldn't he get a clue? The more she pushed for him to go away, the more he remained stubborn. "You can't help, because the bitch took away my keys to cages."

"Why do you need the keys?"

"So I can make sure that Ginger gets her proper treatment. She doesn't like the zoo keepers, she likes me. If I don't take care of her, then I don't know who will."

"What about Rachel?"

"Ginger tolerates Raven, but only because I told her to."

"So why not tell her to?"
"What good will that do?!" Kori cried out in anger. "Have Ginger taken care of only to be moved to another location? Probably to be killed?!?"

"How can we save her?" Richard asked.

"We?"

"Yes, we. You and me."

"Why would you want to help me?"

"Because." She seemed to be echoing his thoughts. Why would he want to help her? It was the same thing as why did he want to make her happy. It seemed to be a thing he just couldn't answer…yet. He'd find a reason soon enough.

"Because isn't a good enough reason," Kori snapped.

"Well it's all I've got right now, so deal." Kori finally looked up at him from where she was holding herself, utterly shocked at his tone. First he's sincere, and now he's snapping. What the heck?! Robin seemed to take no notice of her reaction as he continued. "Now how can we save her?"

Kori complied. It couldn't hurt to tell the jerk. At least he'd stop nagging her. "Right now they're looking for a place for Ginger. I think she's going to the highest bidder."

"Do you know how much that is?" Richard asked, mind racing. Maybe he could do something for them—Ginger and Kori.

"I don't know; I never went to a meeting! Do you think I'd want to with Viana calling the shots?!"

"Ok, ok. I'll go now."

"Why?" Kori blurted out. Why did she care if he left? Why was he leaving now? Why was she even wondering about why he was leaving? Ahhhhhh, it was too confusing.

"Because I'm sticking to my promise," Richard replied simply. He didn't really want to go, but he wanted her to trust his word. Maybe she would ask him to stay in the end after all. Who knew?

"Well… uh…" What should Kori say? Stay? Go? She was at a loss for what she should do.


Hey guys! Small reminder that I want a total of 75 reviews in order for the next chapter to get posted. Besides for the fact your reviews make my day, it also gets another chapter up.

Also, I was really surprised no one commented on Kori's memory in the last chapter.

PS: I don't mind it if anyone wants to critic. But it has to be constructive.

Alrighty, can't wait to hear from you all.

Until next time,

moonlitsfantasy