Nightmare

I woke with a start, there were droplets of sweat on my forehead. I had only then realized that I was screaming when Kurama, Yusuke, and Hiei burst into my room with their weapons drawn.

"What's going on?" Yusuke shouted, eyes searching the room for intruders.

"Is someone else in here?" Kurama asked me, his voice filled with concern.

"Don't waste our time by hiding," Hiei called out, gripping his sword tighter.

I stared at them and slowly shook my head. Without knowing, my eyes fill with tears, and then I'm suddenly bawling my eyes out.

Kuwabara shuffled into the room at that moment. He halted when he saw a me sobbing with two panic frozen demons and a human crowding around my bed.

"What do we do?" Yusuke hissed, practically jumping from one foot to the other.

"I don't know! I've never had to deal with crying girls in Demonworld!" Hiei hissed back.

Kurama was awkwardly patting my shoulder saying, "There, there. It's alright."

Unfortunately for them, I just sobbed harder and louder.

I heard Kuwabara growl something into Yusuke's ear. Yusuke made a strangled sound and relayed the message to Hiei. Hiei made a doubtful face and whispered the message to Kurama. Kurama stared at them, a pleading expression on his face. They just scowled at him and gestured him in my direction. Kurama sighed and sat down on the edge of my bed.

"Come now," he said in a cheery voice, but with wary smile, "don't cry!"

Of course, I cried harder.

"Kurama!" Kuwabara pleaded.

Kurama hesitated, then wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "What's wrong?" He asked softly, taking on a new approach.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and buried my face in them. "H-he was in m-my dre-dreams," I choked out in between gasps.

"Who?" Kurama asked again, his tone slightly harsher.

My shoulders shook as I whispered his name, "Elder Toguro."

I felt Kurama tense up.

"I'm going to kill that monster," Yusuke growled and exited the room with Hiei and Kuwabara close behind. The fact that they were all wearing murderous looks soothed me a little. Was that a bad thing?

Kurama stayed, though. I could feel him trying to slow his deep breaths.

I grabbed his hand, making him flinch. "Hey," I said, quietly, "It...it's alright. I mean, what do you expect, right?"

"He's heartless. He's a heartless beast and he will suffer," Kurama said in a low and cold voice.

I gripped his hand tightly. "Don't do anything stupid, Kurama. Don't."

Kurama raised his hand and placed it under my chin. He lifted my face up close to his.

I stared into those bright green eyes; those understanding, caring, and fierce eyes. The way they narrowed when he was deep in thought. The way his eyebrows drew in together. I stared more. I saw how his red hair framed his face so perfectly. Everything about him was...

"Perfect," I whispered, dropping my gaze.

Kurama slid his hand up from under my chin to my hair and started stoking it, making the tips curl in a sweet in sweep.

He took his thumb and gently wiped my tears away. He placed his forehead on mine, still rubbing my cheek.

I closed my eyes and let us stay like that.

"Do you want me to stay?" Kurama murmured after a while of silence.

I softly murmured my reply, "Forever."

"Don't worry; I'm never leaving."