My eyes flickered open. I realized my surroundings; well where I was at least. My body felt numb and helpless. I felt so heavy, even though someone was carrying me. I was placed down and I heard faint voices between two people. I moaned, trying to let words escape; wondering what was going to happen to me. I tried to focus my vision enough to see them but they were far too blurry for me. One had red hair and he was tall, the other one was my rescuer. The red one diapered then returned rather quickly. He started to separate my jeans from the wound on my leg. The blood must have dried on to my jeans. The most excruciating pain shot up my leg as he removed the material. I screamed out, then everything went black again.

My eyes fluttered open, it took me a while to realize that I was in a different place; and then I jumped like I woke up from a nightmare. The bed I was in was rather comfortable, kind of like a new or barely used bed. The comforter was deep red, the canopy matched. The walls were dark too. A perfect room if you liked to sleep in late.

"Wondering where you are?" A sinister voice rang. I just about jumped into the rafters of the ceiling.

"OUCH!" I said grabbing my sides. "Yeah, kind of.."

I looked over and there he was. He must have came through the window. The window was actually like a glass door, and outside was a balcony with a large tree. I looked down to find my hand was covered in more blood now.

"Oh no.." then I realized I wasn't wearing clothes and I was instantly embarrassed so I shut my mouth quickly.

"What is it?" He asked. I pulled the sheets over my body more.

I felt like it would be a bad idea to lie to him. I felt like he could really read me. Too well maybe.

"I'm…my stitches are bleeding again." I said shaking again. My blood was making me nervous for some reason. Maybe it was from losing so much. I observed the wounds. only some places were stitched, where the wounds were deep and looked as if the skin was splitting and exposing tender flesh.

"They need to be cleaned anyway." He said as he walked towards the edge of the bed.

I was hesitant to move, I didn't have any clothes except for a bra and underwear. I made up my mind quickly though. I didn't want him to grow impatient of me. I scooted myself to the edge of the bed. My body was stiff and sore. I slid off the side of the bed, but as soon as I landed on the floor pain shot up my right leg, where the beast dug his claws in. I cringed and my eyes started to water. My skin felt like it was tearing through the stitches. My muscle even felt like it was slightly torn. instinctively I grabbed the wound, hoping to comfort the pain but it was no use. I started to fall to my knees. I felt someone grab my shoulders and pull me up so I didn't have to bear weight on that side of my leg.

Why was he being so nice to me? Why did it matter that I survived? Why would someone risk their life for me? He led me down the hall, into a bathroom and helped me lower myself to the edge of the bath.

I felt very dizzy, the walls of the bathroom felt like they were moving. I felt so heavy. The question came back again, but I couldn't bring myself to ask. Who was he, and what about the other guy I saw when I was blacking out. All I could remember was that he had red hair.

"Hiei, I see she's awake" Said the red head. "I can take over from here." The male known as Hiei just nodded and walked out.

"My apologies, my name is Kurama"

"I am Ayame." he was very kind, patient.

"May I ask what you were doing out that late at night? And who are you? A normal human usually isn't attacked by beasts from the demon world. And the fact that you fought against it means that this hasn't been your first encounter with such a monster."

"Wait what? You mean to tell me that no one else can see those things?"

"Well yes, normal humans can't see them. And since you had the courage to defend yourself, you have some sort of powers, correct?"

"Powers? I mean, I- my blood does have healing properties and I have experienced some 'Powers.'"

"That's interesting. Your demon energy is very faint."

"Demon energy?" What was going on here. He looked at me as if I was nuts. "Look I have no idea what you are talking about, I'm not in denial though. I never knew who my parents really were. Maybe that's why my grandfather called me a monster. He knew something I didn't."

"I see, I'm sorry to hear that." We sat there in silence as he continued to press on my wounds. It stung badly, but I didn't once wince at the pain. I couldn't figure out what was worse; not knowing my identity for all this time, or the cuts on my body that were now ignited once again. I could feel that other guy Hiei listening to us. Something was bothering him.

"When will I be able to walk again?" I asked, I was very frustrated and I think he could sense that about me.

"I'm not sure, everyone has different healing times. But don't you worry. You can stay here for a while if that's what you're concerned about."

"Thank you, but that's not all I'm worried about-" I cut myself off.

"What is it?" He was concerned, he actually cared about me. It's been a while since I felt a warm heart try and reach out to me. I was almost speechless, I decided to give him the whole truth.

"My grandfather is near death, not that matters..but I need to get back before I become even more of a disappointment to him. You see, he doesn't know I leave the house. I sneak out once in a while. And when he finally passes, I need to leave no evidence of me at the house until the viewing is over. The family must not see me. I do get the house and everything, but I want no part in this. It's best that I make arrangements to live somewhere else.."

Later that evening I was laying in bed, which later I found out was Hiei's room, I over heard them talking about me. I pretended to be asleep.

"This makes me sick." it came from a sharp voice, it was Hiei's.

"Yes, I am a little concerned for her. She won't be able to survive if demons keep attacking her like this..."

The voices trailed off, I was once again bored. I was tired of sleeping. I decided to get up and try to walk again, possibly walk downstairs, maybe they will spark up a conversation with me. I was desperate to do something that was for sure.

Luckily, the door was only cracked. Opening the door would have caused a commotion and they would have forced me to go back to bed. Maybe if they saw I could walk down the steps, they would be convinced I don't need to sit in bed all the time.

The pain was great, but not as bad as before. No one was in the room when I first made it down the steps. Hiei caught me. I was afraid of him really. I stopped dead in my tracks, I suddenly felt weak.

"What are you doing Ayame? You shouldn't be walking around, you could tear your wounds open." I could read him, he was typically a cold hearted person. Why was he treating me different?

"I'm sorry.." I paused for a few minutes. My muscles couldn't take anymore and I began to falter towards the floor, convulsing with pain, for my struggle to not appear weak before him. He was by my side, almost carrying me to the nearby sofa, laying me there. "I appreciate you guys helping me, by all means I'm not complaining but I feel trapped in there if I'm in your room for too long. I've been locked in a room all my life. I'm sorry for being a burden.."

He closed his eyes, he was angry, I could feel it.

"You are not going home. Ever."

"What?" A mixture of confusion and guilt washed over me.

"I'm not going to let filthy humans abuse my own kind."

I suddenly felt hot, like the kind of hot you feel when you're about to pass out. Hiei got up, and was about to leave.

"Hiei?" I croaked out. He turned back around, almost shocked. I think he could hear me with out me speaking but he wasn't quite sure. He needed confirmation.

"Please, stay with me. Don't leave me alone." Without hesitation, he came back to my side and sat down. I struggled to keep my eyes open until I knew he was going to stay. The pain was finally too great, Everything went black again but this time I was at ease.