The morning sun woke Michelle gently from her deep sleep. Saturday morning was the one day she allowed herself to sleep in. Sunday mornings she dedicated to preparing for the week and so her reward for a week of hard work, long hours spent grading and unappreciated time spent on lesson plans was one day without a morning alarm set on her phone.

A warm breeze came in through the open window to ruffle some of her bangs. The sun felt warm on her skin. Waking up was not something she wanted to do right now. She was in that place where she couldn't get more comfortable.

Warmth seeped into her and she cuddled into it more. Her leg was wrapped around something firm and warm. She nuzzled herself closer to the warmth. Being warm was something she always loved. It made her feel safe and cozy. She sighs as she takes in the scent of forest and roses. Mentally she approved of the scent and dozed back into dreamland.

Meanwhile, her soft movements and nuzzles did not go unnoticed by the source of her warmth. This is not the position he had expected to wake up in. While in many ways waking up with an attractive redhead wrapped around you would be great news to any man, Kurama was less than pleased to find himself in such a position.

After a few moments he opens his eyes and looks down at the sleeping form using his chest and shoulder as a pillow. She looked to be at peace. Red hair fanned out behind her. Wavy locks created a mesmerizing pattern along the bed. Now, with no one to see, he was able to truly take her in.

Her natural scent was that of moonflowers. He wondered why that seemed to be the case, humans had a unique musk that was easy to pick up under the products that they slather themselves with. He could still smell the scent of the vanilla wash she must use however, under that scent she smelled of a moonflower in bloom. It was as if she was a flower herself.

Part of his mind registered that this could be his only clue but the information was pushed back to be filed away for now. As much as he hated to admit it, he wanted to stay just as he was for a few moments longer. Rather than wake her he plays over the night in his mind again.

She had asked him to stay. Her green eyes had pleaded with him. As he had moved to sit back down she scooted herself to the wall, resting against it. It took a few moments for him to join her. Always reminding himself repeatedly not to get too close to her and that he was not in the place for female distractions.

After some thought, he decided to lead her to talking of her past, her life and growing up in America. After some time her eyes began to drop and she started to doze off. When he made to get up she stopped him again. It was then that she admitted that she was troubled by nightmares and feared that whey would come in the night. She laughed it off, saying how silly it was and would dodge questions regarding the content of the dreams. He noted that her laugh was forced, much unlike the chimes he had heard during the dinner.

At first, he only intended to stay with her until she fell asleep. He didn't expect that she would fall asleep leaning on him. He must have fallen asleep as well. For a moment he cursed his human body and its need for constant rest. The fact that in his past life he often slept regularly, often times out of boredom.

A shift in her position brought him out of his thoughts. She sighed and moaned the most delectable moan as she nuzzled into him again. She pulled her leg up along his legs and up to his hip before stretching both of her legs out. He was painfully aware of her long leg and their trail along his own legs. Again he cursed his human body. A female hasn't haunted his thoughts in nearly a thousand years.

After stretching she again nuzzled into him only to stop with a jerk. He bit back a chuckle when he realized that she had become aware that she wasn't alone in her bed. Surprise was a reaction he always loved to see played out.

He had spent much of the night thinking about what to do with this girl that troubles him so. Held in his hand is a thorn ever so small from a little known plant. He spent his night debating if his pesky lust for her is worth putting her in danger and weigh her down. Humans are not meant to know of demons. He sighs as he stands.

The girl meanwhile had scooted to the edge of her futon and flopped off the edge of the thick padding in the most ungraceful manner before putting everything together. Kurama allowed an amused chuckle to leave him only to receive a halfhearted glare from the girl. Her heated face brought another chuckle down, he offers his hand to help her from her crumpled heap of blankets.

Michelle felt stupid for forgetting he was there and blushed her embarrassment for the world to see. Thankfully it was just the two of them. Mentally she groaned over the fact that she had been cuddling him in a very intimate way.

'He's only 19', she reminds herself. 'No, he is much older than that.

She couldn't suppress the chuckle when he reached down to offer her aid. The night's stresses had gotten to her head and now, she just needed to laugh. Come what may, she would be fine. She always said she would be fine no matter what because she had no other option.

As she reached up to take his hand she laughed away her fears for the time being. She was aware she probably looked like a loon but didn't care. Laugher is good for the soul, or at least she was always told. So what if demons are real? So what if the world isn't as it seems? She would be okay.

He watched her with curious eyes as she laughed from her embarrassment. The weight of stress around her was lessened and her scent lifted into a heavenly aroma. At that moment he felt a pang of regret for what he had decided to do.

Her soft hand slipped into his own. He was aware of how small it seemed. He gripped her hand and pulled her up to her feet. It was in that moment the thorn pricked into her skin. She sucked in a breath and yanked her hand from his and looked for the offending thorn.

He watched as she pulled it from her hand and looked back at him. All the while he watched as the thorn's energy, now released by contact with blood swirled and mixed with her own as it seeped into her body. It would only be a few moments now.