Chapter 7:

"Why not?" Naraku says. I'm surprised to see faint tears forming in his eyes.

"I can handle yelling. I get it from my parents all the time…But I can't stomach it when it's coming from someone who's supposed to be my friend. And I didn't think Miroku should have had to either. Hell…that's the only reason I got involved."

"But...do you understand why I was yelling at him? Because I care for you. I wanted you to…to-"

"I know. But I can take care of myself, Naraku. You know that."

"Yes. I know that. But you shouldn't have to if there's someone else who's willing to do it for you."

"I'm not helpless."

"No, of course not…it's just…I felt like I should take care of you."

"Naraku," I say as I feel tear start to swell up in my eyes as well, "Bankotsu came up to me in gym today." Naraku's face fills with horror.

"He didn't…he didn't do anything…did he?" he says quietly as a solitary tear slips down his face.

"No…well…he just talked…but it wasn't anything bad."

"Oh…thank God." His words are almost inaudible. He leans forward in his seat, rests his elbows on his knees and buries his face in his hands.

"He told me…that he cares about me…and that he made a mistake about the kind of person that I am…that he's knows a simple apology won't change what he did to me…he said that he doesn't think it's fair for you to put me through what you did…for you to hurt me…and I agree with him."

"No…Alicia…please…" Naraku's really crying now. He looks so helpless.

"You didn't let me finish…I agree with what he said. But I agree with you too. It's taken a lot of thought…but I understand now…why you yelled at me. I know you don't, but I do. It's only natural to defend yourself when you feel that you've been betrayed…you couldn't help being upset with me…but I don't think it was right for you to start a fight with Miroku over something that I'm involved in and he's not…if it bothered me than I would have said something." I sit down beside him and rest a hand on his shoulder. "Do you understand what I'm getting at?"

"Yes," he says desperately and throws his arms around me. "I understand. Please…just don't go away…please," he cries, "Can I just have another chance? Please? Just one more chance? I promise I won't screw up this time. Just one?"

"Naraku…you ever play baseball?"

"Huh?"

"Have you ever played baseball?"

"When I was a kid."

"So you know the three strikes and you're out deal then?"

"Uh huh."

"You've had two…you're still in."

"Alicia…thank you!" he says. He pulls me into an extremely tight embrace, one that almost crushes my ribs. And as if on cue, my stomach lets out a loud rumble. Naraku stops and looks at me. I blush.

"I haven't eaten since last night," I say.

"That's not good. Come on," he says seriously as he grabs my hand and starts walking. "We'll go get my car at school then I'll take you home to get something to eat." He sounds serious but I can tell he's trying not to smile as my stomach growls again…and again…and again.

That night, I have a horrible time trying to sleep. I've been plaued by horrific dreams for years and I never have gotten used to them. The problem is, by the time I wake up in a cold sweat, I can never remember what it was that I had dreamt. I have that same dream over and over again tonight. About the third time I'm awakened by it I look at the alarm clock that Naraku had provided me with. 2:06am. After spending ten minutes trying to remember what it was that had scared me half to death I decide to get a glass of water.

As I reach the top of the stairs on my way back to bed, I hear something. I stop to listen. It's the sound of breathing. Light breathing. Naraku's breathing. I look to my right. His door is partly open. No wonder I can hear him. I look back in the direction of my room and then Naraku's. A thought runs through my mind. I decide to act on it.

I gently lift up Naraku's arm so as to make room for me to climb in. I cuddle up close to him, letting his arm rest on my side. He moans lightly an cracks open his eyes. Realizing that I'm now lying beside him, he lifts his head and looks at me. "What's wrong?" he whispers.

"Nothing. Just can't sleep."

"Why not? Did you have a bad dream?"

"Yeah…a few."

"Oh…are you alright?"

"Mm hm."

"…okay…" he says and lays back down. He wraps his arm tighter round me and touches his forhead to mine. I sleep soundly for the rest of the night.