In the middle of the night, everyone was fast asleep not a single one was wide awake. Eri was in bed resting as she tossed and turn feeling her eyebrows knit together as she clutched onto the pillow having a nightmare of running away from Chisakai again that wanted to get her back. The poor girl sat up quickly gasping and panted heavily from that horrible nightmare she just had. She was scared of being alone again and afraid to go back to Chisakai to continue doing tests on her body.

"No...Not again." Eri whimpered.

She stares down at the covers before glancing over to Hiei's sleeping form as she climbed out of bed to go over to his side. Eri was crying as she shook his shoulders making Hiei groan as he felt someone trying to wake him up. The fire demon knitted his eyebrows together ready to yell at the person who woke him out of his slumber as he stopped to see that Eri was there with tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Eri? Why are you crying?" Hiei asked in a husky tone. He sat up halfway with his eyelids struggling to lift since he was still tired.

"I-I had a bad dream and I'm scared t-to go back to sleep." Eri whimpered.

"All right." Hiei sighed. He scooted over to the side to let Eri come join him in bed as she climbs in and laid down beside him. The bed was warm due to his body heat as a fire demon which keeps him warm even when he's hibernating too. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." Eri shook her head.

Hiei lets out a soft sigh escape his lips muttering under his breath before saying, "I'll let you sleep me just this once."

"O-Okay," Eri said as she comes a little closer to Hiei touching his warm muscles with her small baby hands. She wrapped her arms around his chest allowing him to wrap his arms around her small body. Hiei could feel the small girl snuggling her face deep into his chest as he opens one eye to comb through the child's hair gently with his fingers to soothe her.

This was actually quite a nice feeling for Hiei to feel around with Eri in his arms and it was comfortable too. He allowed Eri to sleep with him that following night to hear her soft snores just now, it was kind of weird for him to start doing this and share a bed with someone that is a human. But he shook it off and just went back to sleep through the whole night.

By the following morning, Hiei was already awake as he opened his eyes to see the little girl in his arms still sleeping soundly. He remembers why she came over to him as he sat up to release the girl out of his grip gently not to wake her up, and then head to the bathroom. Hiei took a morning shower to wake him up so that he wouldn't be so tired, then went to change into a light blue t-shirt, black pants, and boots to cover it with his cloak and scarf wrapped around his neck. After doing so, Hiei fixed Eri's bed that she crawled out of last night, then walks over to where she was to make sure the covers were wrapped over her small form to keep her warm.

'Why am I acting so nice around here? I shouldn't be doing this.' He thought in his head staring down at the little girl nuzzling her face against the pillow. Her soft snores were so angelic that Hiei didn't understand why he would let her share a bed with him that night. It was only for one night at least.

As Hiei left out of the room, he did notice that Eri would need some clothes before she wakes up and he went downstairs to go buy some. Normally, it was Kurama's job to do this, but he wanted to do it for him. Hiei came back with clothes in his arms when he bumps into Kurama who was awake greeting the demon with a friendly smile.

"Hello Hiei, I didn't think you were going to get clothes for Eri. That was kind of you." Kurama said.

"Hn, I'm only doing this one time," Hiei replied with a snort.

"Whatever you say, but um...I think you and I are the only ones that know something strange is going on with Eri. Right?" Kurama asked in a low whisper.

Hiei knew exactly what he was talking about and its about the child's power. He had no idea what kind of power the girl had which was incredible that he could sense through the child and could tell how strong she is. He proceeded to head back to his room to set the clothes down on the bed and Eri remained asleep. His eyes shifted up to the clock when breakfast won't be served for another hour or so. So, he retreated out of the room to silently shut the door behind him, then enters the living room to see Kurama sitting on the couch with one leg over the other and his arms folded over his chest with his eyes shut.

Hiei took a seat across from him asking, "Alright, fox, what do you think?"

Kurama opens his eyes to stare at Hiei replying, "Well, I did sense something strong in the girl that was very particular when Eri hugged me yesterday. It was a normal hug of comfort until it changes when I felt my body being treated. I couldn't feel any pain afterward."

"So have I. It's strange isn't it for a human girl to have that kind of power?" Hiei inquired.

Kurama nodded, "Yes. But, unfortunately, we don't know whether or not if her power is a good thing to use or a very dangerous one at that."

The demons exchange a look before Hiei said, "Maybe it's best if we ask her directly, but I don't think it's time to ask her right now."

"Right. Let's give her time to calm down and see if she'll tell us straight up." Kurama said.


A couple of minutes later, Eri awakens from her slumber sitting up to let out a small yawn and stretch as she scan around to find herself laying in Hiei's bed. She then remembered why she had to sleep with him last night, and the horrible nightmare came back to her as she tries to shake HIM awake. She is relieved that she is safe, but nightmares were remaining in her mind that kept coming back to haunt her. As Eri removed the covers off her body, she saw clothes laying out for her and changes out of her large shirt to try them on. The clothes she was putting on was a shirt that was a white long sleeve on the cover written was "Princess" with a black cat on the front, then she put on a navy blue skirt, with white leggings with black heart patters on the side, her shoes were black flats this time.

Just as Eri was fully dressed she leaves out of the room to head down the hallway entering the living room area. She was greeted by Kuwabara who was sitting on the couch eating alone as he noticed the little girl entering the room.

"Hey, Eri!" Kuwabara greeted as he scanned her head to toe to see the cute outfit. "Wow! You look so cute!"

"Thank you," Eri says as his cheeks tinted pink.

The room was silent until she saw Kurama and Hiei enter the room, her head turns as her eyes met with Hiei's as she greeted with a faint smile. The fire demon approached her as he pats her hair head before leaving her alone. Eri saw Kurama holding a dish out for her saying they bought her food just for her to eat. The girl was glad to have a full plate meal laid out for her to eat and it looked scrumptious to eat! As Eri chow down on her meal, she full afterward as she set her dish aside to go find something to do since their team wouldn't be fighting anytime soon. Her attention was thinking about what other fights will be competing anytime soon, so she decided to go out and see who else is fighting in the ring.

"Where are you going?" She stopped her tracks to see Hiei appearing around the corner as she looked up at him.

"I-I was off to the stadium to see if there any more fighters competition," Eri said lowering her head as Hiei looks down at her before holding out a hand to her as she looked up at his concern.

"You want to go see the tournament, right? I'll take you." Hiei said.

This was a little strange to see Hiei showing a caring side when usually he would always be looking angry. She didn't judge him as she took his hand gently as he gripped hers not too tight, but did drag her behind him because he wasn't going to let her leave out of his sight.

"Who do you think is fighting?" Eri asked.

"Who knows. They're probably just weak demons fighting against one another in battle." Hiei replied.

The demon glanced down at the little girl to see her wear the outfit he picked out for her. It looked so adorable on her.

"You look pretty in that your wearing." Hiei complimented. "Do you like it?"

Eri blinked in surprise asking, "D-Did you get this for me?"

"Yes. Do you like it?" Hiei repeated the same question glancing down at her waiting for her response.

Eri smiled a little replying, "I love it." Hiei had a small smile on his lips happy to hear that she liked the outfit he picked out for her to wear.

The of them made it to the stadium and were watching other fighters compete in battle. Although, it was a little boring for Hiei to watch weak demons that have entered fall to their death as he noticed the little girl struggling to see what was happening.

"Heh, your so small that you can barely see what's happening." Hiei chuckled.

"C-Can you help me?" Eri grunted holding the cold bar rails with her small hands doing a little jump to see what was happening. Hiei bent down to lift the girl underneath her armpits to let her see a much better view which satisfied her. "I can't wait to see you guys fight next as soon as you recover."

Just then, Kurama comes over to see them watching the tournament too, "Hello Eri, are you enjoying your time?"

"Yes."

The girl focuses back on the fight until there was another team competition next in battle. Kuwabara, Yusuke, and Botan soon came to join them to watch the next fight take on the next match as Eri tilted her head down at the body built male who was facing the others on his own.

"What is that ridiculous appendage growing out of your head?" Hiei asked looking up at Yusuke's head as Eri glanced up to see some weird animal sitting on the top.

"It's called puberty," Yusuke replied in sarcasm. "

"I'll be fighting again, tomorrow," Kurama reassured.

Yusuke glanced down at Eri smiling down at the little girl saying, "Hey, you okay after last night? You took quite a scare."

"I am," Eri replied as Hiei released the girl out of his grip to let her stand on her own.

"That's good," Yusuke faintly smiled as he crouched down at her level smiling cockily. "Here. Maybe he can make you feel better." He reached up to hand her the small creature allowing Eri to hold him in her small arms. "This is Puu."

"Puu?" Eri inquired.

Yusuke nodded, "He's actually my spirit egg that hatched yesterday, and you didn't get a chance to see him."

"Except when we all laughed at how stupid he looked to compare to your personality," Kuwabara said as Yusuke glared over at him.

"Hey! I'm not that stupid."Yusuke huffed.

"He's cute just like you," Eri said hugging the small animal in her arms as Yusuke smiled.

"Glad to hear that, Eri." He said pulling her in for a side hug as she noticed something wasn't right when Yusuke suddenly tensed up. Her eyes followed his gaze down at the ring to see the same male with a muscular body staring back at him.

'Why is he afraid of that man?' Eri thought.

Two hours had passed, the others returned to the hotel as Eri was on the floor coloring that Botan had given her. How does the hotel have everything for a kid to have during the tournament of a life and death situation? While Eri was coloring she didn't notice Hiei watching her as he tilts his head to the side to see her drawing.

"What is that?" Hiei asked.

Eri looks up at the fire demon responding, "It's Yusuke and Keiko." She returned to her coloring as Hiei noticed another pile which Eri noticed as she quickly grabbed them before he could. Hiei thought she might get judged by her artwork that he didn't care about how well her art turned out to be. He left her alone after that and went someplace else.

Minutes later, Eri was done coloring as she took the papers she had drawn to hold them in her small arms. She went to go find the others and they were all in the living room talking or either drinking as she started passing out her drawings to them that she made herself.

"Awe, they are beautiful, Eri. Thank you." Botan said.

Eri smiled replying, "I-I made them all for you. I-I wanted to thank you for everything." She lowered her hair and handed the last one to Hiei since he took it anyway to admire the artwork she drew was very pretty for a child to do.

Kuwabara snickered saying, "I didn't think you would draw the shrimp too. He's short in the drawing just like in real life."

Eri tilted her head replying, "Hiei isn't a shrimp. He doesn't look like one."

"No. He's saying that he's short compared to you." Yusuke explained with a small grin.

Eri shook her head, "No. Hiei is a giant."

The words that came out of her mouth surprised Hiei that she didn't call him "shorty or shrimp". He was a...giant?

"Seriously? But he isn't-" Kuwabara was cut off by Eri taking Hiei's hand gently in hers.

"He's a giant that I view as. There is nothing wrong with being short, and I'm small too." She said smiling up at the demon with a kind expression he read in her eyes.

'She really thinks of me that way?' This made Hiei flutter a little to hear the little girl protest Kuwabara's statement.

"Haha! You got outspoken by a girl!" Yusuke laughed.

"Shut up, Urameshi!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

Yusuke stands up out of his seat to pick up Eri and dragged Hiei by the hand, he escorted them to the coffee table to stand upon it. He let out a light-hearted laugh saying, "Now, we're giants taller than Kuwabara!"

"Hey, that's not fair! You're just using the table to make you look taller. Cheaters!" Kuwabara exclaimed.

Hiei and Eri exchange a look before letting out a laugh as did everyone else. This was funny to capture this moment to compare their heights together to see who was smaller or taller.

"You really made me laugh today, Eri." Yusuke giggled.

"I did?" Eri smiled with her head tilted to her left.

"Yep. Never in my life would I compare my height to Kuwabara's, but you did say that Hiei was a giant. Nothing wrong with that." Yusuke said hugging the girl in his arms making her let out a small squeak as she smiled wrapping her arms around his neck.

Kurama smiled at the sight saying, 'I guess she is feeling much better and forgetting the events from yesterday. That's a good thing.'