muie5: Another chapter? What?

Hiei: It is not because of your good personality.

muie5: Yeah, I am going a bit stir-crazy after hurting my hand. All my other projects are on hold.

Inuyasha: Can we just get on with this?

muie5: Be patient. I do not own Yu Yu Hakusho or Inuyasha. But I do own Shine.

Chapter 10: First Stage

I walked out of his room and shut the door. As I walked down the hall, Kurama walked up beside me.

"He's out," I stated, continuing to walk without actually acknowledging Kurama.

"Actually, I came to see if you were alright," Kurama explained.

"Me? Yeah, I'm fine. I guess. I can't believe my will-power was not strong enough to stop myself."

As soon as we walked into the entrance way, Rin ran up to me, "Where is Sesshomaru-sama?"

"He is asleep," I answered, placing my hand on her head.

"What happened? And why did he take my jewel shards?" Inuyasha asked in a huff of anger.

I lowered my head, "I hurt him. Shot him in the heart with an arrow. He took the shards to save me, and I hurt him. All because I am not able to protect myself."

"That doesn't answer why he took the jewel shards!" Inuyasha snapped.

"You just can't shut up, can you?! Get over it. Your brother is in bed hurt, and you do not even seem to care! Go see how he is doing!" I ordered, pointing up the stairs.

"But..." Inuyasha said softly.

"NOW!"

"I don't know what room is his," Inuyasha whimpered slightly.

I grabbed his hand, walked him up the stairs, and straight into Sesshomaru's room. I pushed him in front of me as we stood in the door way.

"You're here. Can't you do it?" Inuyasha barked, looking back at me.

"He is your brother, not mine," I exclaimed as I walked away.

Inuyasha turned it attention back to the dark room. It took a second for his eyes to adjust, but as soon as they did he noticed the bed near the center of the room. With one deep breath, he started towards the bed.

"Umm...Sesshomaru?" he asked into the darkness.

As soon as Inuyasha got within arms reach of the bed, Sesshomaru's eyes snapped open and instantaneously sat up.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing here?" Sesshomaru growled weakly.

"Came...Actually, forced to come to see if you are alright."

"By whom?"

"That women of yours."

"I'm fine. Leave!"

"Happily," Inuyasha snuffed, turning to walk out the door.

"Why did you listen to her?" Sesshomaru asked quietly, loosing some of the malice he had before in his voice.

"She's frightening when she wants to get a point across."

"She is impressive," Sesshomaru whispered to himself.

Inuyasha let out a slight laugh when he got to the doorway, "Do you like her?"

Sesshomaru did not answer.

Inuyasha gave a sigh and walked out with a, "Whatever."

Sesshomaru made sure to listen for his brother's footsteps to fade away before laying back down and falling asleep.

-Back Downstairs-

"So, Hiei, I know that I let it slip, with all the commotion of the battle and tending to Sesshomaru, but how are you alive. I mean, I'm glad that you are. But I know I saw you die. Inuyasha ripped out your heart. And I get a sneaking suspision that you do not have more than one heart," I asked, sitting beside Rin in the entrance way with the others.

"Well, actually, it is Koenma's doing. He knew something was up with our two favorite demons. So he sent us with an orb to help out. Little did we know we would come across one of them dead. Without the orb, Hiei would have been lost to us forever," Yusuke butted in, poking a little fun at Hiei.

"Yes, it was sort of the same way he brought Yusuke back to life," Kurama explained.

"Okay...well, I never knew that Yusuke was dead. And...who is Koenma?" I asked, having more questions then what I started with.

"Nevermind that for now," Kurama skimmed over my questions.

"Well let us get you guys some rooms. You all will be spending the night here as our guests. Is it okay if some of you share a room? I have yet to fulling search the castle, so I only know of a few available rooms," I asked, finally breaking up the mindless chatter.

"Of course," Miroku jumped in, glancing to Sango.

"But of course, girls will room with girls, and same for boys."

"But of course," Miroku agreed, sadly.

"Follow me if you will," gesturing to the stairs.

As I looked to the top of the stairs, there stood Inuyasha.

"Ahh. How is he?"

"Just fine. Don't ever make me do that again!" Inuyasha barked.

I just walked up the stairs and passed him without so much as another glance in his direction. The others followed me up the stairs and down a hallway.

We came to the first door, and I opened it, "Yusuke and the guy with orange hair, this is your room."

"My name is Kazuma Kuwabara," he said a little too proud of himself.

I ignored him and continued down the hall a little, until I got to the second door, "This is Kagome and Sango's room. Kurama, Hiei, and Rin, you may all go to your rooms. Inuyasha and Miroku, your room is two doors up."

Kurama bowed before he and Hiei walked a little father down the hall to their room. I looked down saw Rin was barley able to stand on her feet. I swooped her up into my arms.

"Why is it that you skipped a room?" Miroku asked.

"You," I answered, as I continued down the hallway. I walked into Rin's room and put her straight into bed, "Night, little one. Sweet dreams." I kissed her on the forehead before leaving her.

I continued down the same hall and to Sesshomaru's room. Without knocking, I walked into the dark room. Not giving my eyes enough time to adjust before walking towards where I thought the bed was. Yet, I tripped over a chair, and fell onto the bedside. I immediately scanned over his face to see if I had woken him. A smile came over my face once I realize he was still asleep. So as quietly as I could, I knelt next to the bed, and started to unwrap the bandages as gently as I could.

"Sh...in...e?" a quiet, calm voice rang through the silent room.

"Sesshomaru, did I wake you?" I whispered, grabbing the rag that rested beside the water.

This is when I recognized that he was still asleep. He was just sleep talking. So I went ahead and lifted his upper body so that I could changed the bandaged around his chest. After finishing my work, I got to my feet.

"Now where is that," I tripped over the chair, "There is the chair."

-In Kurama/Hiei Room-

"Hiei?" Kurama spoke, breaking the silence between the two.

Hiei turned his attention to his comrade.

"How did they find us?" Kurama questioned, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You mean the others? I am not sure."

"You sleeping out there tonight?"

Kurama gave a smile before laying down to follow his friend into sleep.

-Next Day-

Sesshomaru shot up in bed, drenched in a cold sweat. Taking a brisk look around the room, his eyes fell upon me asleep in the chair. He got out of bed and put on his armor, before looking back to me.

"She must have fallen asleep watching over me. What a strange human this woman is. Somehow she was able to change my bandages without waking me."

"The sun is rising," he exclaimed as he made his way to the balcony. He placed his hand on his wound, "I thought it would have healed by morning."

"Even the smartest of us are wrong sometimes," I giggled.

Sesshomaru turned around and saw me standing in the doorway to the balcony.

"What are you doing out here this early, Sesshomaru?" I inquired, walking to his side.

Sesshomaru let his hand fall back to his side.

"Does it bother you?"

"Of course it does not bother me. I am a full blooded demon after all. This minor wound would never cause me trouble."

"Oh, how could I forget? Besides yesterday you could barely walk on your own without falling over. Also, just now saying that it has not healed yet. As well as holding onto your injury. It hurts, you just won't admit it," I turned around with a triumphant smile, "Do not worry. I will go attend to breakfast."

I strolled out of the room without another word and that smile gracing my lips. As I made my way down the stairs, there was a knock on the large front door. With a little hesitation, given the recent events, I cautiously went up to the door. After another second, I cracked open the door to see...nothing. I opened the door more and took a look around, but there was no one there. Looking down, there was a single red rose.

"A...red rose?" I asked myself, picking it up and closing the door.

I placed the rose on one of the chairs as I entered the kitchen. It did not take long after starting the fire and starting make some food, for a few people to come mousing in. Yusuke and Kuwabara were the first at the table.

Just as they were reaching for the food I placed on the table I growled, "Touch the food and you die. Wait for the others."

"We are here," Kurama announced, walking into the room with Hiei at his side and the others close behind.

The others sat down at the table, sitting with their own groups, and Rin sitting next to me. It did not take long to see that someone was missing.

"Where's Sesshomaru?" I asked no one directly.

"He is in his room, Lady Shine," Rin whispered.

"Alright, everyone. Please go ahead and eat," I explained, leaving the room to make my way up the stairs.

It did not take me long to get to Sesshomaru's door. Seconds after knocking on the door I heard Sesshomaru say, "Come in, Shine."

So I opened the door and walked in like it was my own room. There he was on the balcony looking out at the view.

"Food is ready, Sesshomaru. Let's go join the others," I suggested, standing in the doorway.

"No, I'll just stay here if it is all the same to you," Sesshomaru protested, never turning to look at me.

"No, it is not all the same to me. I want you down there, for me," I pretty much out right begged.

"I have done plenty for you. Do this for me and leave," Sesshomaru snapped, finally turning his head.

Suddenly, I went silent and my eyes turned completely black.

"Shine?" Sesshomaru asked, concern forcing him to turn his full attention to me.

I dashed at him without a warning, but it took nothing for Sesshomaru to dodge the attack. Hitting the rim of the balcony, I spun around and charged at him once more.

"She is still being controlled. Damn Naraku!"

"Ahh, what a good little helper you are," Naraku taunted, appearing on the balcony's edge.

"Naraku!" Sesshomaru growled.

I rushed Sesshomaru once more, but this time with my sword drawn. Sesshomaru moved slightly to the right causing my sword to get stuck into the wall with a loud crash. He grabbed my right hand, that was still trying to free my sword, and took the opportunity to pin me to the ground.

"Kill her, Lord Sesshomaru. This is the only way to stop her. To free her from me," Naraku explained with a snicker.

Sesshomaru loosened his grip on my arms and then completely let go. Yet, he kept his right knee on my chest, "I will not kill her."

I landed a solid punch to his face, sending him flying across the room. This is when everyone from downstairs came running into the room. They saw Sesshomaru on the other side of the room, on the ground.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" cried Rin.

"Keep your distance, this is my fight," Sesshomaru demanded, getting to his feet and wiping the blood from his mouth.

Once more, I ran at him, landing a solid punch. He slid onto the balcony.

"Why do you not fight back? You will die to a human women," Naraku commented.

"I will not harm her," Sesshomaru restated, walking back towards the room.

It took everything I could muster up to force myself to my knees, and cover my face with my hands. Sesshomaru stroled over to my side, and knelt down to get on my level.

"I'm so sorry, Sesshomaru. I'm sorry," I bawled.

Kurama and Hiei took this time to come up to Naraku.

"I shall take my leave, but remember this Lord Sesshomaru: Shine is still under my control," Naraku threatened, disappearing.

"I cannot believe I punched you. I even tried to kill you with the very sword you gave to me," I got to my feet and walked over to the sword. "You can take it!" I pulled the sword out of the wall and threw it at Sesshomaru's feet before running out of the room.

Kurama and Hiei were the first ones to follow me out of the room, with the rest on their tail. Sesshomaru picked up my sword and placed it in his sash before he left his room.

He made his way out of the castle several minutes later. Rin and Shippo were running around, chasing Kirara. The others were standing and sitting beside the castle wall talking.

Rin turned her attention to the entrance, "Lord Sesshomaru!"

Rin ran straight to Sesshomaru's side as Kirara jumped into Sango's arms and Shippo into Kagome's.

"Well, look who it is," Inuyasha scuffed.

"Where is Lady Shine?" Rin asked, turning her concerned glace up to her savior.

"She needs to be alone for a while, Rin," Sesshomaru explained, placing his hand on Rin's head.