~Chapter 9~

They were woken by Hiei the next morning in the same position they'd fallen asleep in, Cori still clutching the rose. "Maybe I should come back later." Hiei smirked.

Cori glared at him. "Get bent Hiei." She yawned.

Kurama yawned and stretched. "I had to play teddy bear last night." He told Hiei.

Hiei smirked again. "Better you than me."

Cori and Kurama rolled out of bed and Cori disappeared into the bathroom.

"Are you sure there's nothing there?" Hiei asked the groggy fox.

Kurama glared at his friend. "She tried to call me Mr. Fluffles. You tell me if there's something there."

Hiei blinked. "You're joking right?" Kurama shook his head sourly. Hiei burst out laughing. "Ok. You're right. Judging from that drawer Yusuke displayed, she'd be a bit more direct."

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The three of them were sitting down to lunch when Mike and Kat knocked. Cori let them in and introduced them to Hiei and Kurama. Mike and Kat looked unusually serious.

"What's wrong?" Cori asked.

"Well, Mike's just been drafted to go to France to fight a war against them." Kat said shakily.

"I've never been a fan of the French honestly, but can either of you tell me why we're fighting them?" Cori asked.

They both shook their heads.

"Then you're not going." Cori said decisively.

"What? But he's been." Kat began.

"Look, I think it's time for a protest. You're mate isn't the only one who's going to be dragged off to fight for some greedy politicians. There will be more support now than ever." Cori explained, her eyes shining. "There's this sort of underground establishment on the edge of town. I know the owner and I'm pretty sure we could play there and start educating a larger crowd." She was already starting to think of the logistics of her plan.

Hiei and Kurama wanted to warn her to stop. To remember she was supposed to leave in nine days, but they couldn't with Kat and Mike there.

"We'll do it exactly one week from today. I'll start setting things up. We need to practice every night until then. I'll call Cass and tell her and I need you two to spread the word. Here's the address. Say it starts at 10pm."

"Do you think this will work?" Mike asked hopefully.

"If we get enough people. Remember, there are always more of us than them. Get enough of us to act together and we can't be stopped." Her eyes were gleaming.

Kat and Mike left in better spirits and promised to return at 8.

"Shouldn't you be keeping a LOW profile so you can get home?" Hiei asked a bit frustrated.

Cori looked at him seriously. "Do you really think I can stand by and watch?"

"Hn." ~I'll never understand her~

Kurama cut in. "I understand where you are coming from Cori, however, you can't afford to be arrested right before you're due to catch the only portal home." He tried to reason with her.

She nodded. "I understand your point, but this is something I have to do." She replied firmly.

Cori called Cass and explained the situation. She called the bar and got permission to stage the protest and then she grabbed her bag and a mask "See you guys after work." And she left.

Cori ran down the tunnel until she found the council room. She was greeted warmly. "I don't have much time." She panted. "I have to be at work. But one week from today at 10 pm, I'm staging a demonstration at Charlie's on the edge of town. I wanted to invite you all. You don't have to come, but I though you should at least know about it." She said good- bye and ran to work.

Everyday started with Cori going to work and ended with band practice.