~Chapter 8~

Kurama perked when he heard the door open. Cori and Hiei walked into the sitting room.

"Hey kiddo." Kurama said softly.

"Watch who you're callin kiddo." Cori smiled weakly. She laid down on the couch and put her head in Kurama's lap.

"How are you doing?" he asked softly.

"I'll be ok. It just sucks right now." She made another small smile that didn't reach her eyes. Kurama stroked her hair and Cori felt herself getting drowsy. She inhaled deeply. "You smell good." She mumbled.

"I do?" Kurama smiled.

"Mmhmm. Like roses." She faded off.

When Kurama was sure she was asleep, he moved her to her bed and drew the blanket over her and returned to the sitting room and Hiei.

"So what happened?" Kurama asked.

"She cried." Hiei shuddered. "It was horrible."

Kurama chuckled. "I take it she made the connection."

Hiei nodded. "She's smarter than Koenma wants to give her credit for."

"High praise from you." Kurama's eyebrows rose.

"Hn." Hiei glared.

"Anything else?"

"Just that she's scared of having no control over herself. She's afraid she's going to hurt someone else." Hiei replied.

Kurama nodded. "I may sleep on the floor in her bedroom tonight. Just in case she needs someone."

"Hn." Hiei grunted. "Better you than me."

Indeed, that night, Cori woke up trembling in fear. Kurama groggily sat next to her on the bed and tried to soothe her. She clung to him. This was so different from the mischievous, confident woman he'd known so far. Granted, she'd had to absorb a lot in the course of a few hours. Kurama knew he would be quite torn up if he found out he'd directly caused Shiori's death.

Cori asked him to stay with her that night. "It's not sexual or anything." She blushed a little. "I just really need someone to hold onto tonight."

Kurama got under the covers and let Cori use him as her life-sized teddy bear. She asked him about his family and he told her about Shiori and his stepfather. Then he recounted stories on how he'd met Hiei, Yusuke, and Kuwabara. He told her about some of their more amusing exploits and about Jin, Touya, Rinku and the rest. Some of them made her chuckle softly and she seemed soothed. He even pulled on of the roses out of his hair and gave it to her.

Her eyebrows rose. "You keep roses in your hair?"

"Among other plants, yes. They're my weapons." He explained. "I think roses have to be my favorite though." He said thoughtfully. "There's so much you can do with them."

"Like what?"

He smiled down at her. He felt like he was comforting a little sister. Her face had taken on an expression of innocence. He began to describe his various attacks that he used roses for.

Their conversation turned to other things.

"Is Kuwabara REALLY as dense as you claim?" Cori asked after one amusing anecdote.

"You have no idea." Kurama smiled. "Hiei can't stand him. Those two are always bickering and we always have to break up a fight before Hiei kills him."

"It sounds like his heart's in the right place, even if his head's not all there." Cori yawned and nuzzled her face into his shoulder. "You're like a big teddy bear." She chuckled. "Maybe I should call you.. Mr. Fluffles." She nodded.

"If you do I will be forced to kill you." He said and shuddered. "And you think others are crazy. Look at yourself."

Cori's smile finally reached her eyes. She stuck her tongue out at him. "Fine fox." She pouted and yawned and grew silent. Her breathing deepened and steadied.and he looked down to see her fast asleep. Sleep overcame Kurama soon after.