Disclaimer: I don't own Saiyuki.
Note: I own Tara Belle.
Naked Soul
~ Episode Two ~
Hakkai called her name.
Sanzo woke and noticed a worried Hakkai and an unresponsive Tara. "What in the world?"
"It seems she has a fever. I have to bring it down. It's at 39 degrees Celsius. That's 102 degrees Fahrenheit. I saw something strange early this morning."
Sanzo looked at Hakkai with raised eyebrows. "What?"
"She seems to be able to hear things and it's as if she hears and feels them inside her head. She caught a cold, but her immune system is temporarily weak because she has been overloaded. She'll recuperate nicely with rest, purified water, healthy food, and a shower. We shouldn't stress her out. Stop her should she try anything to place stress upon herself."
Sanzo grinned. "This should be fun."
Hakkai stared at Sanzo with suspicion. "What the heck are you about to do?"
"Perhaps tie her down."
"Try it and she'll be flaming mad. I can already picture it inside my mind." He grinned at Sanzo.
Later that day, Tara Belle gradually began to feel her head pound and she gradually began to feel cold and she gradually began to feel her flesh burn as if it were on fire. She opened her eyes the tiniest bit and stared, with blurred vision, up at Hakkai Cho. Something deep within her told her who sat beside her. She didn't have to clearly see him to know his identity. She automatically knew he sat beside her. She had a special gift that allowed this strange ability. She blinked and whispered, "Hakkai?"
Hakkai smiled. "Are you feeling better?"
She sat up and the cold, damp cloth that had been on her forehead fell into her lap. "I bet I look a mess."
He chuckled. "You're traveling. It doesn't matter when you're traveling."
She giggled. "Yeah. I guess you're right."
"You looked like you were in a lot of pain."
She looked away from him. "Am I freakish to you?"
"What? No. How in the world do you come to that conclusion?"
She sighed and stood, her back to him.
He stood. "Tara?"
She began to walk away. "Thank-you. All of you. You've done a lot for me. I appreciate it all. I feel I have to leave, now. Good-bye."
Hakkai began to go after her, but a hand on his shoulder stopped him.
"Let her go. We can't force her to stay."
He looked back at the young, blonde monk. "Sanzo. She's a young woman. We're four men. We met her while she screamed and ran for her life. She'll die."
Sanzo shook his head. "It's her choice."
Hakkai gave her a worried stare as she completely disappeared from view. "I hope she'll be all right."
Sanzo smiled. "Don't worry. She'll be fine."
Hikari Maiden: I'm not taking a published character from another movie, book, etc. That's violating copy right laws. I could get arrested for violating copy right laws. I could kiss my career in anything to do with the library and creative writing and the computer good-bye for violating copy right laws. It's also insulting. Ha! Nice try! Pull that one on someone who's dumb enough to try it! Jeez, some of you really are trying to ruin me for life. Go elsewhere if you don't like my style. I love my style and this is my account. Do your style on your account.