"It's too early, way too early..." I was muttering to myself as a slipped into the kitchen. I was pretty sure that I was the only one awake. That assumption went flying out the window once I noticed Shawna sitting by at the table looking utterly depressed. I was about to walk into the room and ask what was wrong, when I saw Kyou come in.

"Yo." He smiled and went to touch her face. Something was wrong her posture and body language spoke volumes. She wanted him away from her.

"Don't..." Yet it didn't appear that she could speak clearly. "Don't touch me. Stay away..." I could see a war raging inside of her.

"What's wrong?" Kyou was genuinely confused and worried. I could see it in his eyes.

"I said don't touch me! You... stay away fro me! Don't come near me! I don't want you! You were a fun toy to play with, but now you've gotten old! Leave me alone! I- I can't stand you!" I jumped at Shawna's random outburst. I couldn't help it. I looked at Kyou and saw him struggling for composure.

"But- why..." He looked utterly destroyed.

"Didn't you hear me! You were nothing but a little toy to play with! I don't feel like playing anymore, so just leave me alone!" I then noticed Shawna looked about to cry herself. Something was just off about this whole thing. Shawna wasn't angry, she was scared and sad. Those emotions didn't fit with the words that were coming from her mouth.

"Shawna?" Deans voice actually came from my left, where the door frame was. I was hiding off to the side watching the scene, but Dean had managed to slip up next to me.

"Shawna looked almost frantically at Dean, then me, then everyone else who had woken with he screaming. And she ran. Another non- Shawna- like characteristic.

For a moment, Dean and I stared at each other, then I ran out of the house after her. Something was off. Both Dean and I felt it. I had to find out what was doing on.

Shawna was heading into town for some reason. I followed, in the trees, so she wouldn't spot me. Finally, I ran out of forest and had to follow by foot. We eventually ended at the most expensive hotel in town. I furrowed my brow, then followed her in.

Shawna was jumped on by Lilah, but she pushed her away and walked away. That was it. I needed answers. When Shawna entered a room at the end of the corridor, I ran up to Lilah.

"Li! Why are you here? What's going on? Why is Shawna acting like that?" The questions rolled off my tongue, and Lilah looked at me sadly.

"Oh, baby..." Lilah pulled me into her arms and hugged me, confusing me even more.

"Lilah?" I asked, uncertain.

"Tell me, love. Did anything happen this morning? With Shawna I mean." Lilah seemed so sad.

"She went psyco Shawna on Kyou for no reason. Everyone saw it, then she ran out and came here. Lilah, what's going on?" I searched Lilah's face for any sign I could find.

"So she's gone again..." Lilah closed her eyes. "She's protecting him, and everyone who knew. Through anger and violence is the only way she knows how. Shawna feels she is saving all of you."

"But she... she's weak Lilah. Nobody but you, me, and Dean know that, but you know she's weak. She can't take all that responsibility on herself. She's too young!" I cried.

I could tell from Lilah's face that she knew I was right. "She is so much older than us, Kaia. She was forced to grow up before her time. The only thing that we can do is be there for her when she realizes that she still needs us."

I nodded. So basically, I couldn't help Shawna. I went home. There was nothing more I could do here. But I wouldn't tell anyone about the family, if that was Shawna's wish.

Hours later, I began to worry. Shawna should be back by now. Voicing my opinion, Yuki agreed and we both left to find Shawna. We found her hanging onto a tree for dear life in the rain.

"Curna-san? Curna-san? What happened! Curna-san, can you hear me?" Yuki called out to her, and I fell into the shadows.

"I'm going to tell the others." I whispered to Yuki, but didn't move, just incase they needed my help.

Yuki nodded then caught Shawna as she collapsed onto him. "Curna-san? What happened to you?" He was being so gentle.

"Uncle Mitch... was here... he found out about me and Kyou... I couldn't let him hurt Kyou... I couldn't let him hurt any of you... had to protect... everyone... he's leaving now... please, don't tell anybody... they don't need to know... just muggers did this to me... or a gang...yes... I fought a gang... they don't have to know it was Uncle Mitch... please..." Shawna was begging Yuki not to tell anyone. I was in shock. But I knew Yuki wouldn't tell, and neither would I.

"Alright, Curna-san, but on one condition. We HAVE to take you to see Hatori. You're badly injured. You can't stay like this." Yuki agreed after a moment. That's when I raced ahead, to the house to alert everyone.

"You guys Yuki has Shawna, but she's been hurt bad. I don't know what's happened, but maybe he does." I looked out the window. "Here they come. I held the door open for them, and Yuki half dragged half carried Shawna into the room. Everyone jumped up, waiting for instructions, and Yuki took charge.

"Shigure, call Hatori, she's in bad shape. Someone get me ice. She's bleeding pretty badly, and I don't know for how long, we have to stop the bleeding." He lay her on the floor with her head in his lap. Both he and I were attempting to hold rags over her many bleeding cuts. Kyou knelt next to me, coming out of nowhere, and began to tie the rags, keeping the blood from spilling. I wondered if Shawna was aware that both Kyou and I were helping I keep her conscious. I glanced at her face, and noticed her eyes were glazed and staring at Yuki, so I guessed not.

"Hatori is on his way. He should be here soon." Shigure said, coming back into the room. About fifteen minutes later, Hatori came in and began to doctor her wounds. At one point, Shawna passed out from pain and blood loss, I'd bet. Suddenly Shawna was being carried into another room, and that just left me and Kyou sitting where she had just been. Kyou was staring vacantly at the wall, as if nothing had just happened.

"Kyou?" I asked, and gently touched his shoulder. It seemed I had jolted him out of his trance, because he suddenly broke down into tears, sobbing. I pulled Kyou to me and hugged him, as he cried. "Hush, It'll be alright. Shawna's fine. She's going to be alright. She'll see soon, she needs us. She needs us..." I ran my fingers through his hair and whispered those words over and over, just as much to convince myself as it was to convince him.

"She doesn't love me..." He muttered into my shirt.

I took his face in my hands and forced him to look at me. "Hey. Hey, don't say that. Of course she loves you. Believe me, she loves you so much. You just has to stick with it." I bit my bottom lip, trying to think of how to comfort him. Lilah's words popped into my head. "Someone much smarter than myself said Shawna is so much older than us, Kyou. She was forced to grow up way before the rest of us even thought about it. Now, all we can do is wait for her to realize she still needs us. All you can do is believe." After a moment, Kyou nodded, and I noticed his tears has dried somewhere in my little speech. "Go be with her. wait it out until she realizes that she still needs you. You especially." He nodded again, and slowly stood up, heading for his own room, where Shawna was sentenced to bed rest.

I breathed out then collapsed onto the floor. How did I convince Kyou when I didn't believe it myself? "Curna-san?" I jumped and looked up into Yuki's face.

"Hai?" I was too tired to say much more. I was exhausting myself worrying about others.

"Are you alright?" Yuki carefully brought me to a sitting up position. I realized then that I had utterly died right in the middle of the living room floor.

"Hai... I'm just worried about Kyou and Shawna." I smiled at the attractive boy as he helped me stand. When he let go of me I nearly toppled over again.

"Curna-san? Shall I carry you like I carried the other Curna-san?" There was a joking sparkle in Yuki's eyes, and I laughed.

"I think I'll make it." I muttered as I took a shaky step. Then I passed out.

:-P

First thing I saw was Yuki sleeping in a chair. Okay. That's a bit creepy. Hey. Why was in bed in the first place? And why was it so freaking cold? I curled up and shivered and realized that I had a lot more blankets than usual piled on top of me. Alright, what the heck is going on?

"Yuki?" I asked, kind of reaching out and prodding his leg.

"Huh? Curna-san...?" A sleepy Yuki looked at me.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"You have pneumonia. Hatori said that you got it from when we were looking for Curna-san in the rain. How do you feel?" Yuki looked really concerned.

"I feel fine. How's Shawna?" I asked.

"She's doing better. I think she'll be just fine- both physically and mentally." Yuki smiled at me.

"You keep doing it more and more often." I said looking Yuki in the eye.

He looked confused. "What?"

"Smiling like you mean it." I said, smiling at him softly.

"Well... I've had a reason to recently." Yuki shrugged slightly, looking embarrassed.

"And what would that be?" I said laughing.

"You." Yuki blushed and looked down.

I froze. He couldn't be saying what I thought he was saying. "What do you mean, me, Yuki?" I asked carefully.

"I really... I really care about you, Curna-san." Yuki seemed to be finding his shoes very interesting right now.

"Yuki..." I began, but drifted off. I wasn't sure what to be feeling about this.

"Yes. I know this is the wrong time for this, I don't know why I said that. Just forget it okay? I'm going to check on Shawna now." Yuki stood up and turned to leave quickly. Then he stopped, turned around and planted a quick kiss on my forehead. I was in shock as he went to leave. Total shock...