A/N:

You have been patient with me, and I'm sorry that this pathetic chapter is your reward. PLEASE DON'T FLAME/KILL ME!! -cowers and throws disclaimer at you-

Disclaimer: I don't own YYH, WE ALL KNOW THIS!! DUH!!

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Zura laid in Kurama's spare bedroom. She watched the crescent moon with her dark brown eyes.

It had been a few days since the shot incident. She hadn't spoken to either Kurama or Autumn since she had woken up. She figured it was their punishment.

For those past few day, however, Zura had began to change again. She spent more time with Hiei - at the park, the waterfall - you name it. She was happy anywhere as long as he was with her.

Being out in the sun did her some good. Her skin had begun to tan again, and her eyes shone in the sun. It was like a dark cloud had been blown away from her soul. And her eyes, being the windows to her soul, had begun to sparkle a dark brown once more.

It had become apparent that Zura actually kept her hair that short purposely, for she had begun to let it grow. In just the short time she'd returned, her hair had reached shoulder length and was now tied back into a little rat-tail.

All around, Zura had gone through yet another change. She was not the quiet person she had once been, but she looked happier than she had even been in the past. She laughed often and smiled at people she didn't even know.

Botan, Kurama, Yusuke, and Kuwabara all wondered why she had suddenly decided to change like she did, but Zura had her reasons.

The Light Killers were tracking her again, and she knew it, but she was going to enjoy every moment before the new moon. After all, the new moon was when she would really need to worry. So for now, she basked in every light moment, and lived it to the fullest.

Zura sat up from her bed. She wasn't tired. She stood up and walked over to the window, opening it and peering outside with her night vision.

"Couldn't sleep?" Asked a deep voice.

Zura looked to her side and saw Hiei standing on the outside windowsill. She smirked, "Can't leave me alone, can you? But, no. I can't."

Hiei sat down and stared at the wolf demon. Her eyes were soft and distant, as if a sudden haze filled her mind.

"Hiei?" She whispered after a long moment of silence.

"Hn?"

"When they come…"

Hiei frowned. He didn't like thinking about them

"…Could you please… stay away?"

Hiei's jaw tightened, "No." He said point blank.

Zura leaned her head on his shoulder, not caring that he tensed, "The leader's name is Corro. He's dangerous Hiei. Probably stronger than Makuro, you know."

"I don't care." He said, balling his hands into fists.

"They want to make me cry." She whispered in his ear.

"What?"

"My tears." She repeated quietly, "I've never cried, not in my whole life. No matter what, I can't cry. That's how I keep my mother safe."

"Seraphath…" Hiei whispered, remembering the moon goddess's name.

Zura nodded, clutching his arm, "They'll want me to cry, Hiei. Please, stay away when they come."

Hiei growled, "No." He said firmly.

She clutched his cloak's fabric, "Hiei." She pleaded, desperation evident in her low voice, "If anything happens to you…." She closed her eyes, trying to get her thoughts out right, "Those men are evil, and they have no honor. They'll do anything to get my tears. Please Hiei… if you… if you… if you love me…" She felt his whole body freeze at the word as she shut her eyes tightly, "… please don't come after me. I don't know how I could go on…" She put her lips against his ear and just barely whispered, "…without you."

Hiei put his own lips to her ear, "You won't have to find out. I'll always be there for you."

Zura nestled her face into the crook of his neck, unsure whether to believe him or not.

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The next morning, Zura cooked her breakfast silently as Kurama tried in vain to make conversation. Zura was very good at holding a grudge, or at least make people think she still did. Truthfully, she had forgiven Kurama and his fiancé a long time ago, but she liked to see them squirm.

Kurama sighed and meshed his fingers with Autumn's, "Zura, how long are you going to keep ignoring us? I know what we did wasn't kind--" He heard her snort, "--but our wedding is this weekend. You could at least wish us good luck."

Zura stood, not facing their anxious faces. She suddenly laughed. She actually laughed at them!

Kurama looked at her as if she was insane as she flopped onto the floor, not having enough oxygen to hold herself upright.

She finally recovered, "Sorry about that. It was just so funny! You guys still thought I was mad! I mean, come on! It's been nearly a week since that happened, and though I still hang it over your heads, I'm not really that mad anymore." She grinned.

Kurama ran his fingers through his red bangs, "So, all this time, you were just laughing inside at our attempts to patch things up?" He said between slightly gritted teeth.

"Oh, no." Zura shook her head and got off the floor, "For a while, I was actually angry, but as for the past three days or so, yeah, you're right!" She grinned, before jumping out the window in a gray and black blur.

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A/N

O.O ...That... has got to be... the WORST chapter... I have EVER written! TT-TT I'M SO SORRY!!