Hey! Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate it. Well, heres the next chapter!

Ch.16 Love's Tears

" Suichi! Darling, I'm home!" his mother called from downstairs. Kurama's sighed, took in a deep breath, and walked out the room toward downstairs. He walked down the stairs just as his mother turned the corner into the kitchen. He stopped at the bottom step and took another breath, preparing what he would say to his mother. His stomach felt like it was in one big knot, and the moved from his stomach into his throat. He gulped trying to push it down, and with a heavy heart he turned the corner to face his mother.

Her face was joy at first, but when she saw the blood on his clothes, her face was filled with worry and fright. She dropped her cup on the hardwood floor, making it shatter into a million pieces. Without hesitation she ran to her son, thinking that it was himself that was bleeding.

" Suichi!!" she gasped, grasping the bloody cloth as if to support him. " Oh God, what happend to you!! "

Kurama grabbed his mother by the shoulders and released himself from her grasp. A look of seriousness and comfort was in his eyes, which made his mother take him by the face gently with bloody hands and look back.

" Mother," he said gently," Do not fear, for this blood is not my own...Mother, there is something I need to show you..."

He grasped his mothers hand and led her up the stairs towards the room containing his valuable secret. He hesitated for a moment and turned to his mother, who had a confused look on her face.

" Mother," he said softly," I must ask you...please do not panic. And please do not make any loud noises..."

His mother gulped and nodded. And with that, Kurama slowly opened the door, revieling a bloody, bandaged body of a young girl. He looked at his mother, whos eyes had become wide with shock. She stepped forward a couple of feet, in complete shock, then turned to her son.

" Suichi..." she gasped in shock "...What happend to her?"

Kurama walked over and kneeled down beside the bed, takeing Minagi's hand. He looked back at his mother with loving eyes.

" Horrible things..." he answered. As she moved closer, Kurama was thankful that Minagi's hair was covering her large, elvin ears. All of this was already to much to explain. " Mother...Na-Minagi...she needs help. I found her...beaten and broken...please understand, she needs me."

His mother looked at him in a way that she had never looked at him before. It was a look of many emotions: fear, confusion, shock, understanding, careing, and consern. She walked over slowly to kneel infront of Kurama. She looked into his eyes and for a moment, it looked like she understood everything.

" Where are her parents?" she asked concerned.

Kurama sighed and looked at Minagi. " I am sad to say that she has none. She has been alone...for a long time."

His mother looked sadly at Minagi and touched both of their hands. She looked down, trying to process all this.

" You called her...Minagi?" she asked confused.

" Nagi," he answered"...was a nick-name...her real name is Minagi." he then squeezed Minagi's hand, it felt so lifeless in his strong palm. His mother saw this, and made Kurama look at her. Her eyes were filled with love and understanding now, and she didnt question anything more.

" What can I do to help?" she asked careingly. Kurama smiled and held his mother's hands. " Just trust me with this..." was all he said. His mother understood, but she was still concerned. " I don't wan't you to take on this great responsibility on your own. I will help you in nurseing her, and I'll take up a second job in order to support her living here..."

When Kurama heard that, his eyes glowed. His mother had offered to let her stay! " Do you mean that mother?" he asked." You would let her live here?! But you can't get another job, your already comepletly consumed by the one you have already have."

His mother shook her head and smiled. " It's alright son. This is more important, and she needs you now. I will start applying tommorrow, and you can stay home to care for Minagi. But shes not going anywhere, so you need to get some sleep."

Kurama nodded. His mother smiled and kissed him on the cheek before getting up and head toward the door, but Kurama grabbed her hand, " Mother, would it be alright if...if I stayed in here with her tonight? Incase she is awoken..."

His mother looked back at him, and for a moment she was concerned, but then she nodded. " Of course." she said at last. She then left the room and went to her own room so that she could think and sleep on all this, leaving Kurama alone with Minagi.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoo

He didn't well that night, he kept watch on Minagi the whole night. She would stir every now and then, and Kurama would wake thinking that she was in thrashing. But then she would settle and return to her dreams, what her dreams were Kurama only hoped that they were peaceful. It was now midnight, and Kurama was starting to dose again. Then suddenly, Minagi started to breath loudly, as if she was almost trying to say something. Kurama leaned closer to try to hear what she was saying.

" K-Ku..." she breathed. Deep inside Kurama's heart, he was hopeing that she would say HIS name. " Kur-Kuronue..." she finally said, and Kurama felt dissapointment. But yet he also felt saddened by it. She was calling to him, trying to find him. But he wasnt there to answer, he couldnt comfort her, he could not...love her. Kurama put his hand on her cheek, stroking her fair skin softly. " I'm sorry Minagi," he cooed. " Kuronue's not here...he...he's not..." But Minagi interuppted him with a moan of pain. " Kuronue!" she moaned." ...where...are you?-" Kurama held her head close to his, resting his cheek on her shoulder. Eventually, he layed next to her on the bed, her head leaning against his as he calmed her.

" I'm right here Minagi," he whispered to her. " It will be alright. I'm not going to leave you..."

Minagi winced and moaned at first, but soon after Kurama started to speak she calmed down and breathed easy. " Kuronue...?"

" No Minagi..." Kurama whispered in a choaked voice." I'm not Kurounue...but..."

Kurama was takeing a big risk of his feelings, but at this point he didn't care. And a little bit of jealousy was comeing into his heart. He wanted to love Minagi freely, and for her to love him back. But as long as her heart yerned for Kurounue, he had no room in her heart. But he wanted to tell her, he wanted to let her know how he felt. Plus, even if he did, right now she would think it was Kuronue. So he gave a sigh, as a tear rolled down his cheek.

" I love you Minagi." his words echoed in his head as Minagi silently dreamed.