"A man's back is his life." Haru Sohma-Fruits Basket Author's note 1

When I was reading the last chapter of my story, I realized how much it needs more working on it. Like I kept on repeating "big hand" and "he" all the time. I feel quite stupid. Compared to the first chapter and now, god did I ever make progress… I worked harder on this one, by re-reading… so I hope its better!

Does Naraku make fun of me? Why does Naraku make fun of me?

In her sleep, she tossed and turned. Nightmare's would come and haunt her mind. It felt, as she could never wake up. Her eyes would not open and her mouth could not scream. Until she felt something warm against her forehead. A hand, which stopped the dreams. And made her able to come back to reality.

Opening her green eyes, Yori's vision became a little clearer. Then she felt the hand go down her cheek all the way to her hand. His hand.

"Naraku!" she yelled out too loud in surprise. Naraku lifted her up, and she was now sitting on her bed.

"Good morning Yori." Naraku greeted her. She spun her head and meet with his handsome face.

"You saved me from my nightmares!" she said happily. Naraku smiled, but more in a sarcastic way.

"Oh really? And what were they about Yori?" the dark demon asked looking at her intensely.

"Um… its hard to describe really. I wanted to wake up, but I was not able too."

There was no response from him. He seemed to be thinking deeply. "Yori," he spoke. She looked up at him. "Is there something you need to tell me?" he asked. Confused the young women stared back.

"Euh, no… I don't." she responded.

"Because truly, I want you to tell me if there is. Not Kagura, not any one else."

Is he still angry and "hurt" at me from telling Kagura about the jewel shard? He is worried that I will tell Kagura again.

"Yes Naraku, but I really don't have anything to say… If I do in the future, I will tell you." Yori answered, not knowing if she really was speaking the truth.

"Good, now you are to eat Yori, then you are to leave with me." He commanded.

"To where?" Yori asked without thinking. Naraku's face glanced back at her, in a serious look, which scared her. He turned around his back facing her. "I'm sorry." She said quickly.

"Never mind, go eat at once." The dark lord replied.

What's with him? One minute he is happy greeting the next he is angry?

Deciding to let it go, not being able to understand his "moods" she went on and ate. After she finished her last bite, a shadow appeared in back of her. Naraku placed his hand on her shoulder and spoke: "Yori, go and get dressed in a warmer kimono, I am to bring you outside the castle." It had been a week since she had seen light; therefore Yori was happy seeing the sun once more.

Yori went in her new room, unable to find any kimonos to wear. In fact none were to be seen. Panicking, she looked everywhere. Nothing. Her heart started to beat faster. She really wanted to go outside, and she did not want to change Naraku's mind about not going.

Oh no! Now Naraku will get angry if I don't come back with the kimono on! I am probably loosing his patience! He's going to think I'm an incompetent girl! Where is it?

The girl felt like puking. Deciding it was better to face him than Naraku going after her, she stepped out of her room so fast that she ran right into him and started to fall back. Naraku grabbed her arm and caught her just before she fell. He brought her in his arms and held her there for a minute. She heard his curse something like stupid wench and again she decided she was really stupid.

Naraku's hand reached up to her face and brought it to met his. "Yori" his cold voice spoke. She felt intimidated by the way he looked straight in her face. Before he could finish, Yori blurt out:

"I am so sorry Lord Naraku! I was trying to find a kimono to wear, but there were none my lord. Sorry for my incompetence."

His stern face broke into a charming smile. As if he was holding back from laughing. "Yori, oh Yori, I don't know what to say." He mocked her. Then he started to laugh like the time he had in the woods. "Follow me, dear." He said once he calmed down. She could still see he was smiling as he held her hand to his chamber. Yori stayed quiet, not wanting to change his good mood.

A thicker kimono was handed out to her, colors of dark blue and silver. She noticed Naraku was still smiling and that annoyed her. Naraku noticed it immediately.

"Something the matter?" he asked still smiling.

"Nothing." She answered still angry that he was making fun of her. Naraku walked up to her and whispered in her ear: "Put it on, before I decide to do it myself." Yori's heart beaded and she blushed at his comment. Naraku turned around and Yori put it on very fast. He turned back facing her and handed out his hand.

Naraku walked his dark castle, Yori following him at his side. She looked up at him, feeling very short. Naraku caught her looking at him as she blushed, his lips curling in a grin. Once outside, where a several demons roamed around he walked up to the end of his land.

"Hold on tight." Before she could do it herself, he wrapped her in his arm. They broke thru what Yori thought was his "barrier" she had heard Inuyasha talk about. And then, feeling his arm loosen up, she opened her eyes, to see something that she had not seen in so long.

Snow.

Everywhere was covered in a cape of snow. The lands were white, and the wind blew more flakes. Not that there was a lot, but enough to cover the grass.

"Oh Naraku! This is beautiful! Last time I have seen that much snow, was when I was little." Yori exclaimed.

"Yes, I must agree that I have not seen snow for a long time as well." Naraku agreed. He pulled her beside him, putting his arm around her waist.

Both stood there together looking at the magic of nature. She could not believe how beautiful it was. Suddenly, Naraku's eyes shifted to the left. And he let her go turning his head towards that direction. A demon was coming at a fast speed aiming at Yori. Her eyes grew wide as Naraku went in front of her, slicing the demon in haft with a sweep of his hand.

Then, a cry was heard. Naraku turned around as an other demon appeared towards Yori. Closing her eyes, she felt Naraku move in front and kill the demon again. Then an other came and she heard him yell out: "Nobody touches my Yori!" and then something she had never seen before, a big blast of red light came as a bunch of trees went flying and wind blew afterwards.

He turned around and brought her in his arms holding her tightly. "Are you okay?" he asked worried. She nodded and then she was squished against him. "Nobody will lay a hand on you. Foolish demon's, they have guts coming after you."

He held her and then let go a little, and brought her back thru the barrier and back inside the castle.

Again inside, Naraku held her in his arms. "Too bad the visit had to be cut short." He whispered in her ear. Yori shivered, as Naraku's hands moved towards her hips. "I have business to attend, you may do as you please." He whispered again as he covered her mouth with his. Letting go, he spoke: "But I do not want you to go in the basement or outside, if you can make it that far." Pulling her once more in an embrace, he let her go so roughly that she almost fell again for the second time that day. Naraku turned around walked to his chamber, grabbed what looked like a sword and left.

Not knowing what to do, Yori shyly walked back towards her room, until she ran into Kagura. "Had fun?" she asked her lips smiling in an evil way. Yori ignored her, taking Naraku's advice of not telling her anything. For the rest of the day, she cleaned her room, cooked herself lunch and walked around the castle.

Later she got lost somehow, and tripped over a hard object. Some sort of lock. Looking down, she noticed it was a door that she had seen before. One to go in the basement, exactly where Naraku had told her not to go. She ran back away from it, not wanting to being caught close to it. Away, she tried to think why he did not want her there. It was obvious he did not want her outside because her life would easily be gone, but why the basement? And what were his "important business" he had to attend so often?

Author's note 2

Sam Willey, I tried to look for you story by using the user name you gave me, but it does not exist. I would gladly check it out, but I cannot seem to find it. Please sign in, leave the link, or correct the user name if you did a mistake, thanks.

Thank you to all my reviewers, and if you are wondering why Naraku does not want her in the basement, it is because this is where all of his cells are! (Like in the episode where chains attach Kagura and he lets her go.)