Oh yeah Baby!!! Mesa back! Mesa back!!! And for you those Jin, Hiei, Touya, and Yusuke lovers….*evil grin* I have a surprise… But not just yet…you will see….*chuckles* Well…ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

!*!*!**!**!*!**!*!*!**!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!*!*!*!*!*!**!*!!*!*!**!!*!*!*!!*!*!**!!**!!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

As the sunlight hit my eyes I frowned a little and turned over on my bed.  With my eyes still closed I gave a small sigh and tried to get on to a more comfortable position.  I stayed like that for a few seconds before a felt a tickling sensation on my forehead.  I opened my eyes as fast as my sleepiness let me and almost fell off the bed.  Kurama was kissing my forehead lightly, his green eyes closed….and he wasn't wearing a shirt.  He must have heard me gasp because he opened his eyes and looked down at me with an amused look on his face. 

"Did you sleep all right?" he asked raising one of his crimson eyebrows.   I nodded gently and sat up on the bed.  My light brown eyes scanned the room, and settled on the door…luckily it was locked.  I looked back at him and he smiled gently.  "You do not have to worry, nothing happened between us"

As soon as he said that I felt my face grow hot.  It was as if he had read my thoughts.  I smiled a bit and than looked down.

"Thanks" I said in a small whisper.  Trying to ignore his startled face I stood up from the bed and grabbed my clothes.  Quickly I went into the bathroom to prepare my self for the day. 

When I came out of the bathroom he was already dressed in some clean clothes.  His long red hair was loose over his back.  He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt and a pair of baggy jeans, not too baggy though.  And do I need to say he looked extremely gorgeous?

I, on the other hand, was wearing a pair of hip huggers jean and a baby blue top.  I looked down a bit embarrassed at how he was looking at me.  His eyes felt as if they wanted to stay rested on my body for ever.  He gave a small chuckle and than gave a small bow.

"You do look beautiful today, Loren" He looked up at me, a playful grin on his face, before he stood up straight.  "So…should we go to school?"  That, made ME laugh.

"To school? Um…we don't have school today…yesterday was the last day of school" I added with a small giggle as he made a face towards me.

"And you are telling me now…After I flirted with that old woman"

I gave a small laugh and took his hand.  "Don't lie, you know you enjoyed it"

He gave a small grin and than ran a hand through his hair.  "I am afraid you are mistaken"  He took a step closer to me and I moved back.  "I enjoyed the time I spent with you though…" he said as he took another step closer.  I was about to answer something when I hear what sounded someone struggling with my door.

"Loren, honey? Are you awake yet?" I saw Kurama look towards the door with a hint of annoyance.  I cleared my throat, unsure whether I should be relieved or angry.

"Yes, mom?"   I asked while clenching my fists, which I do when I'm nervous.

"Oh, I just wanted to know if you were awake, I'm gonna go back to sleep now… last nights shift was hard, we had a lot of operations.  Um… I left some money on the kitchen table in case you want to buy something, Oh, and if you come back after I leave, sorry hun, okay? It's just that I want to sleep really bad"

I gave a small frown. We didn't spend much time together because of that.  "It's okay mom, love you"

"Love you too , Hon" I heard from the other side of the door.   I listened in silence as she made her way back to her room and closed the door behind her.  I looked towards Kurama, who was looking at me with a gentle smile on his face.

"That's why you asked for me…you were lonely" he stated, not a question, an statement.  I looked away embarrassed, why if I could hide my emotions from the rest of the world, I couldn't hide them from him? 

Before I could think of anything else he was already by my side.  Gently he took my face and made me look at him. 

"Don't be ashamed, loneliness is nothing to be embarrassed about…I was lonely my self for many years, until I became part human and learned what love was"   He ran the back of his soft hand along the side of my face.  "Do you love me?" he asked, barely above a whisper.  My eyes widened slightly and I looked into his…did he wanted me to? 

"Y-yes.." I said and surprised my self because it was barely audible.  His look softened and he smiled gently.  And right at that moment I wished I knew what he was thinking.

~*~*~*~*~**~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Kurama's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~**~**~*~*

I looked at her and I could feel my chest tighten.  She loved me…I had suspected that, but was hoping she did not.  For I could not stay, I was here for something, not because she had wished me here.  A moved my hand from her cheek and than walked towards the window.

"I need to do something" My back was to her, but I could tell she was going to ask me something.

"….can I go with you?" she asked in a small voice.

I couldn't help but nod, I owed it to her…and I owed it to me. 

Half an hour later we were at the park.  I was searching for someone, but I had not told her this.  Why ruin the magic she had in mind? She kept walking a few steps behind me, her head down.  Probably embarrassed at the looks people threw her when she walked next to me.   Was it so wrong for a girl to walk around with her boyfriend?

No.  I am not her boyfriend.  What is happening to me? 

I reached my hand on the back and found hers, and with a quick yet gentle movement I pulled her to the front with me.  Once she was near me I whispered in her ear.

"Are you ashamed that they will see us together, Loren?"

She shook her head and than looked around before looking at me. "Well…this is not a big city…and well…most of the people know my mom..." she mumbled while hiding her face in my arm, which I found extremely cute.  I gave a small laugh and wrapped my arm behind her back.  Somehow I felt startled…it felt so…right.   I sighed and kept walking, somehow enjoying the feeling of calmness as much as I could.  For I knew something she didn't…. I wasn't here because of her wish.

I was here because I had to take care of some business and to start doing that…I had to find all of my opponents of the dark tournament and take them back to the Makai world.  The problem was…whether I would be able to with such a distraction with me. 

And I was quiet worried, for Karasu was free too…and if he were to see me with Loren there would be a lot of danger, both for me and her.