Ch 10
"Incredible he stopped the hormone's effect." Orochimaru smiled. "He is so strong. I can't wait to feel that power."
"You may never feel it if we don't start taking the chakra's you have got to stop toying with him and do this. We have played enough games. You are going to cause a repeat of the last time if you don't just do it."
"Yes, yes Kabuto I know. He will be busy take the other's leave the girl."
"Are you sure?"
"Do you want to face Jugo?"
"Good point." Kabuto
Gaara watched the night. Tenchi slid up beside him. "You look thoughtful."
"Yes I was wondering what your father will think."
"He will get mad and probably act like a rabid bear. Then he'll be happy for me. Or my mother will dump him in the lake." She smiled confidently.
"You are an interesting woman." He touched her face. "However there is nothing to tell him you know."
"Yet." She slid closer.
"And, what do you think I will be asking him?"
"If you can marry me."
"Oh and when was I going to propose?" He pulled her in front of him. "You seem to have this all mapped out."
"Tomorrow morning." She took a step back toward his apartment. She had been here for almost a year investigating. "Over breakfast."
"You are so sure of yourself." He raised a brow following her slowly.
"I am sure of you. And, my feelings. I love you. I've loved you since the first time I saw you." He closed his eyes and pulled her into his arms. She was breathless at the emotions that poured off of him. She had little of her mother's powers but, she had enough to feel the overwhelming flood that poured from him.
"Tenchi." He looked down at her. "I love you too." He hadn't said it too afraid that he was wrong. That somehow even though she had made herself clear that he was wrong. That this was a dream. There was no way this perfect beautiful girl could possibly want him. "And, you are wrong."
She just watched him her brow furrowed. "About what?"
"The proposal." He pulled a small box from his pocket. "I got this after reading a story your mother gave to me many years ago. I never read it. A romance. Not something I wanted to bother with. It was too sad for me at the time. I found myself reading it not long ago and I saw that there is a custom in your mother's world where a man will give a woman a ring to symbolize his love for her. And…" He blushed. "His claim over her."
"I know my parents have rings." He nodded. She took the box in shaky hands. "You…didn't have to do this." She trembled. "I didn't really think." She was already crying.
He laughed softly at her his nervousness fading at her obvious shock. "You are very good a pretending aren't you." He kissed her hair. "All this time my brave little warrior and you were afraid that I would not want you."
"Not not exactly." She whispered as he slid the ring on her finger. The stone was green and warm to the touch. "You made this didn't you."
"Yes." He sighed. "I guess I really am lost. Yes I made it using my sand. I compressed and polished it until it shone. I suppose it would have been better if I had bought one. Perhaps a diamond." She covered his mouth.
"Shut up." She whispered. "Just be quiet a moment." He raised his brows but silenced. "Gaara, I…I don't even know what to feel or say. That you would make something so beautiful just for me." The tears poured down her face. She threw herself at him. "Oh God I love you so much."
"Marry me." He whispered and kissed her cheek. "Marry me and stay with me here. I will go and ask your father for your hand but, I want to hear you tell me you want this."
"Yes. Oh yes." She kissed him and moaned. He smiled and pulled her up into his arms.
"Good." He headed for his room.
"What are we doing now?"
"Celebrating." She shivered her eyes closing and a blush forming on her cheeks.
Tenchi looked at Gaara and smiled. "Hey." He kissed her.
"Good morning." He whispered and kissed her shoulder. She sat up and sighed. He was the most wonderful man in the world. She loved him with all she was. They had been together really together for over four months. When they had found out she was with child. Gaara had done just what he'd said and had gone to Sasuke.
He walked to his door and knocked.
"Well if it isn't Gaara of the sand. What can I do for the Kazekage?" Gaara looked at his cool face and sighed.
"Just let me come in Sasuke?" He narrowed his eyes but, backed away. "I want to ask you something."
"I'll bet." He sat down and watched him.
"You aren't going to make this easy are you?"
"No." He raised a brow.
"That's fine." Gaara said slowly. "You know I once wondered how I would feel in your place." He smiled a little. "I suppose I would be pretty angry with me and I would want to beat me to a bloody pulp."
"Close but, I was thinking a pine box."
"Yes well either way I would want me as far away I could get."
"That sums it up."
Gaara closed his eyes. "I love her."
"You loved Carrie."
"She was never mine."
"And my daughter is?"
"Yes."
"You are treading dangerous ground." Gaara nodded.
"Yes as are you. We both know what the other is capable of. We have killed and not had a second thought on it. But, We know how precious and rare true love really is. I love her and I will love her until there is no more breath in me." He met eyes with a man he had known for a long time. And, had never liked. He smiled. "I don't like you."
"I never liked you either." Sasuke frowned. "But, she loves you. Enough that, she told me months ago that she would do exactly what she wanted and I couldn't stop her. I knew I had lost her then." Gaara smiled. "Wait are you marrying her because you want to or is she…" Gaara smiled serenely.
"I adore her I am marrying her because even though she is a stubborn and infuriating as her father. I worship her and want her in my life forever." Sasuke sighed.
"She's pregnant."
"And that." He smiled. "I think your wife was pregnant before you married though wasn't she?"
"My wife was two weeks away from delivery when we got married but, there were extenuating circumstances. Do not try to make me see it your way I never will and, I hope you have a daughter just so you can know exactly how this feels some day and, when you do; I will laugh." Andrea walked into the room and took his hand.
"Gaara we would love to know that our daughter is with someone that can truly love her. And, I can't wait to see another helpless person in love with an Uchiha. You can see what I've had to deal with all these years." She moaned. "The man is impossible." Sasuke frowned.
"I am not impossible and you generally get exactly what you want no matter what I think." He furrowed his brow. Gaara smiled.
"Perhaps she is more like her mother then." They all laughed and he knew that he was right and that he would never stop feeling like the luckiest man on the planet.
Orchid sat by the water and sighed. "Hey lady what are you doing out here?" She looked up at Minato.
"Hey." He sat down. "Oh nothing."
"You were thinking about Michael again weren't you?" She nodded. He sighed and patted her hand. "We'll find him Orchid. I promise we will."
"I hope so. There's only a little time left before we lose any chance of saving him and we have never even had a decent lead on him." Minato nodded.
"I know but, it's alright we'll figure this out."
Kanashimi ran up with Cam. "Madara wants to talk to us. He's with the Hokage." They ran to the office and Madara stood there.
"Hello children. I have a favor to ask." Madara looked drawn. Orchid had never seen him this way.
"Madara and Zetsu have found a place that doesn't feel right we want to take you and see if you can smell the scent of Michael there he knows that Orchid could do it with Dawn so he hoped we could make it a mission."
Orchid jumped up and nodded. "Of course we will." Minato grinned. Madara nodded.
"Alright I want you to get your things ready we will leave in an hours time. I don't want to lose this chance." He was gone. They all ran and in an hour met back in his office. '
"Okay now I will have to take you in groups I can't move you all at once. They moved until it was just Minato and Cam. Her mother was too sick to leave home but, she had told her goodbye already.
Naruto looked at Madara. "Here are two scrolls one will summon me the other Sasuke if you find Kabuto you summon us." He handed them to him and watched his eyes. It wasn't a request. Madara smiled.
"Of course Lord Hokage." He was gone with the last two children. He looked at Hinata. "It will be over soon I can feel it."
"Let's hope so once and for all."
Michael. Looked at her and sighed. She was getting sicker. Fighting the hormone was hurting her. She lay there and sighed. He walked to her and touched her. She gasped and moaned. He was killing her because he was trying to be the good man. The only way to expel the hormone was to release endorphins.
The other children had been gone the next morning. It was his fault he should have stayed with them. Now it was only Ineri and her. Jugo would be with Ineri and she was too loud to leave with them. It upset Jugo and set him off.
He looked at her and closed his eyes. "You are dying."
"I'm fine." She mumbled.
"You are not fine." He laid down beside her. "He couldn't keep doing this to her it wasn't fair. He leaned forward and brushed her face. "I hate this because I wish it was for a different reason. But, I will not allow you to die because I have morals. Who knew it would ever be a bad thing to have morals. He kissed her gently. She was weak as a kitten. She moaned and kissed him in return at first it was almost shy then it started turning hungry.
He slipped her robe loose and touched her as he continued his slow assault. She rolled against him. "You don't want to do this." She whispered.
"Not for the reason you believe." He smiled. "I just wish that it was something I was doing because I just wanted to not because you are going to die if I don't." He kissed her and slid a hand down her body. He tried to be loving and tender all the things he wasn't before. It was beautiful in it's own way even though it wasn't the person he wanted. He thought of Orchid and his heart clenched. He wondered what she would look like now. Her hair would be longer.
He could just imagine how beautiful she must be right now. He closed his eyes as he felt his end coming and he tried to pull away from her but, she looked at him and shook her head. "Please? She begged. He frowned as she pushed against him and he felt himself stiffen.
"No." He moaned and felt himself pour into her. "Oh Damn." She sighed and held him close. He gently slipped away as she slept. He dressed and left the room. He had done it now. What was he going to do he had just taken a chance of getting her pregnant. He closed his eyes and sat on his bed.
"You are only doing what you have to you are not betraying the woman you care for." He looked at Jugo and sighed.
"I am betraying everything I stand for just being here Jugo." He laid down. "I am living in a world of evil and hate and it's eating me alive. I am not Sasuke. He had something driving him pushing him to stay away from the darkness that settles over me a little heavier every day."
"I have not seen it you have kept Ineri safe you have been my friend."
"I have done nothing that wasn't selfish." He frowned. "I have got to get away from him but, I will not go without you and Ineri and Tai."
"You can't do that."
"I will find a way." He touched Ineri's head. "She can't be here." The tiny girl was so precious.
He moved back to the room. He lay down beside Tai she would wake in the night and he would need to be there. He closed his eyes and imagined what he was going to do.
Madara landed among the children with Minato and Cam. "Alright have you scouted yet Orchid."
"I have and Dawn smells Michael or at least in part anyway." He nodded.
"Alright let's go. Zetsu is waiting." They moved forward quickly. "Move with caution."
They were silent as they crept up on the source of the scent. Zetsu looked at them and he pointed silently forward. Orchid looked through the bushes and saw a woman and a child. Well the girl looked to be her age but, she was obviously with child herself so she just figured she looked young. The woman froze and turned. Her eyes flashed silver for a moment and Madara closed his eyes. He looked at Orchid and frowned.
"I will approach you stay here." He told them.
Suddenly they watched Madara appear by the pond.
"Hello." The woman stood and flashed but, reappeared next to the child.
"Who are you?" She frowned. "Ineri was smiling."
"He looks like Michael Tai I think it's Michael's Daddy." She looked at him and Madara let his eyes spin." She sagged.
"Oh thank god we were afraid you were here to capture us. We hadn't come out until now but, he told us to wait then to try to head to the Leaf. I don't know where that is though and I didn't know where to go." She suddenly started crying. "I didn't want to leave but, we were hurting him. He had to listen to him and let him…We had to go don't you see. He would have ended up." She closed her eyes and fell Madara caught her. She was at least four or five months pregnant. She was so small it was hard to be certain. He was sure he knew who the father was. He looked up at Orchid and her face was filled with uncertainty and pain. He sighed. Well there was nothing for it now.
"Come we need to take them to the village."
Orchid sat and curled her legs around her. Her mother walked in the room. "Are you alright?"
"No." She sighed. "Do I look alright to you."
"Oh honey things aren't always what they seem." Orchid laughed bitterly.
"Right. I guess her being pregnant with his baby was just an illusion."
"No, but the circumstances behind it are unclear right now."
"They seem pretty clear to me Mom. He's been gone for almost three years. She was there he was there. It was perfectly normal for that to happen. He kissed me it wasn't like he ever professed his love." She fell back to the bed and grabbed a pillow. "I just want to cry and crawl under a rock. I can't even go out into the village because every time I do I see the sympathy on everyone's face. Even Mai found me earlier and said she was sorry. Do you believe that."
Naruto and Sasuke looked at the girl. "So…umm Madara?"
"I don't know." He rubbed his face. His wife sat beside the woman holding her hand. "I don't know anymore than you do she passed out. You aren't going to get anything from the child she's much too young to understand. Or at least she should be." He started pacing. "I am going out there again. Please keep her safe but, I am taking Kisame and Zetsu we are going. Sasuke looked at him and frowned. "I'm going too."
"Fine let's go. They can't be that far away from there. I know those two are not the disturbance I felt." They were gone and Naruto stood there. "Well you certainly complicated things Michael."
He opened the door and walked in. "She's pretty isn't she."
"Yes Judy she's very pretty." He sat down. "And, he saved her life which means he's okay too."
"Yes I had thought that." She smiled. "I wanted to be a grandmother Naruto. I did but, not like this. I don't even know who she is."
"I know." She stood.
"I'm going back to Andrea's. She'll be upset with Sasuke gone. She really hates being without him." Naruto nodded and he watched the girl sleep.
Sakura came in and waved at him. He walked out and she frowned. "The child is his there's no mistake but, she also has a strange substance in her system not a poison exactly but, it's something it will take more analyzing but I think it may have something to do with her reproductive system. Her hormones. He looked back at the girl and nodded.
Tai woke slowly. Her eyes blinked. "Hey there." He looked into blue eyes.
"You are Naruto." He smiled.
"Yes."
"I heard a lot about you and Sasuke and Sakura and his teammates. He misses you." He smiled at that.
"We miss him too."
She sat up slowly. "Is Ineri…"
"She's fine she's staying with Michael's mother for right now."
"Oh thank goodness. He would be devastated if anything happened to her. He really likes her." She smiled. "You can't really help it she's so sweet."
"What is her power."
"She affects gravity." He nodded.
"I thought it was something like that and, you."
"I can turn into mist." She let her body fade then she was back. Her eyes tired.
"You should build up your strength before you do that." She shrugged.
"I guess you would like to know what happened."
"Not if it hurts you to tell it." He thought of Orchid's confession and felt his stomach churn.
"No not really." She sighed. "Actually when I think back on it its kind of funny really." She smiled. "He is the sweetest guy. Orochimaru has a hormone that he uses to bond the curse to animals so he can administer it secretly. But, the hormone in it's pure form is like an aphrodisiac and it affects you like a drug. You can't live without it. The only way to get the hormone out of your system is to release it through endorphins." He watched her and it all became clear. "I actually attacked him the night we met." She blushed. "Poor guy never had a chance." Naruto raised his brows. Then we fought them but, the hormones were building up in my system and it was killing me so….well as you can see I picked up a little something along the way." She rolled her eyes. "It was a lot more enjoyable to do than it is to explain I can tell you that." Naruto blushed.
"Okay maybe we should change this story just a bit when we tell his mother."
"Oh alright." She shrugged. "Whatever you say." Naruto just watched her. She wasn't the least bit shamed or worried about what had happened or what she had done. She just seemed to look at it as something that happened. He shook his head.
"Well you rest here and we'll decide what to do when you get out of here."
Judy looked at Andrea and frowned. "I understand Andrea but, she belongs here with us."
"This is going to cause so much pain though Judy. Orchid loves Michael."
"I know that and I don't want to hurt her but, this is the mother of my grandchild and I have lived in terror for his life for almost three years. I will not budge on this." Andrea nodded.
"Alright."
Orchid watched in a detached sort of delirium as the woman grabbed up Ineria and held her close. She watched her walk into the house and then she went to go and throw up.
She stayed away from her. Avoided her at all costs but, the woman refused to leave her alone. She kept trying to talk to her. Every where she would go the woman would be. She would approach and Orchid would run for her life. She saw her and turned. "Damn why won't she just leave me alone."
"Because I need to talk to you."
"No you don't." She turned and moved but she was there. Damn that was awful. Orchid screamed and the ground rumbled. "Leave me alone."
"No." She looked at her. "I want you to listen to me. I know who you are I knew who you were when I saw you there is no way to mistake your eyes. He said you had the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen."
Orchid frowned and the tremors stopped. Andrea had been running to stop the destruction but, she saw them and just listened. She didn't consider it eavesdropping it was more like self preservation.
"Great so he remembered me."
"No it's more than that will you listen to me please. I am worried about him." She sighed. Orchid's heart clenched in pain.
"Fine…I'll listen."
Tai sagged. "He did not do this because he wanted to."
"Why do I need to know that?" She looked away.
"Just shut up and listen." She rolled her eyes. "He did this because I was dying."
Orchid laughed. "Right and the disease can only be cured with sex right."
"Well yeah. Sort of." She groaned. "I'm not helping here I'm trying to help him out and I'm just messing it up worse. Listen he loves you. I know he does. He never wanted me. Orochimaru wanted a way to hold him to. And he knew if someone as good and honorable as Michael felt obligated to a woman he would never betray something that would harm her. The hormone they used to mark him. It does something to them. You know that because of what happened to you." Orchid blushed then her face paled. "Don't look like that he didn't attack me. I attacked him." She sighed. "It's all very complicated and technical he understood right away. I never really got it. It has something to do with the hormone they put in me seeping into him. It affected him and he fought it believe me." She laughed. "I thought I was going to die before he did anything." She watched the pain wash over her face. "Sorry I'm not very good at this kind of thing. The point is he never stopped caring for you and he never wanted anyone but, you." She sighed. "I'm not sure it was ever me he was really with." She smiled. "But, I promise he does love you and he's coming back to you not me." Her eyes sparkled. "So perk up and I can promise he's really a great guy." She laughed and turned to mist. "Really great." Orchid just stood there stunned. She wasn't really sure what to think. The woman had just told her that he loved her. But, it was really hard to figure out if she really wanted him to anymore. He had slept with her and thought of Orchid. That seemed well wrong. She apparently needed to analyze that and then there was the insinuation that he was really good at it. God what the hell was she suppose to do with that information? Andrea just walked away. She sure as hell couldn't help the girl she wasn't sure who she should talk to about that.
She walked back into her house and sat on her bed in a daze.
That was how Carrie found her. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know?" She looked at her mother. "I think Michael loves me."
Carrie wasn't sure where she'd gotten that idea from but, she waited to hear her story. Orchid told her what Tai had said and Carrie sighed. "You must be so confused." She pulled her into her arms. "I think I understand what Michael is feeling though."
Orchid leaned back.
"How could you know anything about that?" She frowned at her mother. "Do you think about other men when you're with Dad."
"No." She moaned. "God no. That isn't what I meant. Well not really."
"Oh god Mom if this is a sex story I'm not sure I can take it." She shivered and felt nausea.
"Oh honey." She sighed. "You know that there was a time when I was in the sand village."
"Yes I know Dad doesn't like Gaara because he let you go."
"That's not why he doesn't like him." She looked at her and sighed. "Alright now what I'm about to tell you is between you and me mother to daughter."
"Alright." She watched her mom and waited for her to confess whatever she was going to confess.
"I went to the sand when you were only a couple months old. Kiba loved me but, we had a misunderstanding and I was hurt. So I ran away." She sighed. "I wasn't very good at dealing with things like that back then. I ran to the sand and Gaara was so sweet and kind. He really liked me and I had felt like your father didn't want me. We hadn't even seen each other for almost a year.
Orchid raised her brows. "You didn't sleep with Gaara?" She started to turn white as a sheet. Tenchi was her cousin. Well almost anyway and thinking of her mom and her cousin sleeping with the same man just. It was really horrible.
"No…not exactly." She ran her hand over her face. Orchid frowned. "You see my mother taught me to hide in my own mind when life was too painful but, I didn't know it was there or how to control it. When Gaara tried to kiss me I saw this vision of he and I and what our life would be like but, I still loved Kiba. And, it only hurt him to see that I truly only wanted your father. So I know what it's like to love one person but, be holding another that is just as wonderful a person but, will never be the one you want. And, you can't blame him. I spoke to Sakura and she confirmed the woman's story the hormone that is still in her body has traces of a mating pheromone that is put off by some kind of beetle. She cringed. "It's actually kind of icky but, anyway the hormone if it's not expelled she said that it would build up in her system and start shutting down her vital functions. She really was going to die. And the story she told to Sakura and Naruto was a lot more…detailed. Michael could either watch her die or help her and if he didn't do what Orochimaru asked they would kill the little girl and put Tai with Jugo."
"Jugo the man that was with Sasuke."
"Yes and the hormone would affect his curse mark too but, he would kill her without meaning to." She sighed unhappily. "No matter how you look at it he didn't have an option. So he got them out of there as soon as he could. He saved their lives. She said they had been out there for a month before You found them. She never told him. He doesn't even know she's pregnant."
"Oh." She sighed. She didn't really know how to feel but, she had a better understanding now. "She also said that he was really great and she smiled. Geez what do you do with that?"
Carrie sighed. "Wow even I'm at a loss there."
She cried and her mother held her but, she did feel better. She could at least function without feeling so lost. A week later a group from Tai's village arrived.
Naruto looked at the man and frowned. "We have come to collect the woman."
"Her name is Tai." He sighed. "Don't you even know her name?"
"She is pregnant and we are told the child will be directly linked to the shinobi of our legends." Naruto frowned.
"It is Madara's grandchild yes." Judy walked in.
"You are not taking her unless she allows." The man never even looked at her.
"If she has a male child it will be the first in many years to carry the trait." Judy's eyes narrowed.
"You will not take her."
"The woman will stop speaking to me as if I needed her permission." He still failed to look at her. Judy was ready to attack the man when Andrea slid her arm in hers.
"Okay well thank you we'll leave you to it Naruto." She drug Judy from the room. "Let him handle this."
"Did you hear that bastard?" Andrea just continued to pull her away.
Naruto looked at the man from this insignificant village two countries away that had just spoken about a woman like she was property like she belonged to them. His eyes reddened and his teeth grew. "Tai will decide where she wishes to live and you will not force her. Or I will turn your tiny village to dust." He smiled when he said it. "The only thing left will be the women and children who will be welcome here."
He stepped around the desk and walked towards them. "Do I make myself perfectly clear?"
"Yes Lord Hokage of course." He smiled and his eyes were blue.
"Well then let's go and see what Tai wants to do." He walked out the door and the men followed obediently.
Tai was in a chair with a plate in her lap when they walked in. She looked at them and smiled. "Hello Father." She stood up and set the plate down. Then Naruto watched in wonder as she threw herself into his arms. The man stood stiff but, then he sighed and wrapped his arms around her.
"Are you alright daughter?" He looked at her.
"I'm fine." She smiled. "They're really nice here." He nodded.
"Yes they told me that you are not to leave this place unless it is what you wish." He smiled. "I was told very forcefully as a matter of fact."
"I know they don't really see things the way we do." She sighed.
"You were…he didn't harm you, the man that did this."
"Oh no." She waved a hand. "He was really nice too he's from here after all." She stood. "I'm ready."
Judy looked at her and pleaded with her eyes. "Judy please I like you all of you but, you have your life to live and I have mine. Madara's power will allow you to come any time you wish. So what are you worried about. But, this is Michael's life not mine."
She looked at her father. "I have one more goodbye to make then I'll go." He nodded smiling at her. Naruto frowned.
"What was all that business about back there in the office?
" He smiled.
"Well you see we do value our women above all things in our village but, I was…well she's my daughter and she was stolen from me. I didn't want to hear anything you had to say. But, you set me straight and you proved your strength if Tai had chosen to stay she would have been safe here. She would have made a very good wife for you." Naruto looked at him his eyes wide.
"I already have one of those." The man just looked at him like he was missing something.
Orchid looked at the occupant of her doorway and sighed. "Please I don't really need another one of your pep talks."
Tai rolled her eyes. "Actually I came to say goodbye. I'm going home now. Just try to remember what I said. He loves you or he wouldn't be trying so hard to get back to you. I may never know what love is but, I got to feel it a little because of what he feels for you. I couldn't bear it if I took that away from him." Tears shone in her eyes. "Just listen to him when he comes home to you, promise me." Her eyes were filled with pleas. Orchid sighed.
"Alright." She rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you are pleading his case." She shook her head. Tai pulled her close and hugged her. "Thank you. You are just as wonderful as he said you were."
That was sweet and disconcerting all at once then the pretty dark haired girl ran to her family and they headed out of the village. But, never completely out of her life. She turned and froze as she looked up into the furious face of her father.
"Uh oh. You weren't really supposed to hear that."
"When that ungrateful wretch returns to this village you will never see him again. Ever!" He roared.
"Since he isn't home and we don't know if ever will come home then why don't you just leave me the hell alone Dad." She stomped past him but he grabbed her arm. The ground trembled and she looked in his eyes. "Let me go."
He gripped her wrist and stared at her. A low growl and he looked at the now adult dog that looked like a combination of both her parents. Her ice colored eyes were slits. "Back off Setsu."
The dog just dropped her head and pinned her ears. The ground shook harder. "Kiba you will let go of your daughter this instant." He let go and she walked back to her room and shut the door softly but, the shaking didn't stop for a few minutes then she watched as the girl and dog disappeared through the night after going out her window. Kiba headed for the door. "If you do that you had better be prepared for the locks to be changed when you get back."
"We don't even have locks on the doors." He grumbled as he let go of the handle.
"Whatever. That's not the point and you know it."
"He got some girl pregnant. You can't think that it's okay for her to be around him?" He waved his hands in the air.
"He was forced to do that."
"Just like he was forced to almost rape her at the chunin exams. Oh yeah I know. Everyone thought they had kept that from me but, I knew. You can not expect me to go along with a relationship with someone like that. I was there when Andrea used to have nightmares about when she was raped. Or when you do." He looked at her and fell to his knees. "She's my daughter what do you want me to do?"
"Oh Kiba." She sighed. "Michael isn't those men. He is a better man than that. He saved that girl's life and little Ineri too. He wouldn't do that if he was like the men you are talking about. Michael is a good man." She kissed him on the brow. "She is going to do what she thinks is best and, you and I can't stop her."
"We could if the rope was tight enough." Kiba muttered.
She sighed and kissed him. "Just think we have one more to go."
He suddenly looked like he was in pain. "Don't remind me."
"It's dangerous to be this close to the Leaf and you know it." Kabuto whispered.
"It is the only way to get to where we need to go." The man was moving quickly. Orochimaru was a fool and now he could get them caught. He had three more weeks before he could transfer his soul into the new vessel. Only three weeks and he could be in a permanent body that was more powerful than anything he had ever dreamed. He had already started melding the powers to Michael of course he was losing his control over him. Since Michael had somehow freed the woman and child. He was left without a chip to use to keep him in line. The boy was strong extremely strong and that was before he started melding the powers with him.
They had to find this man to help do the jutsu. He had barely escaped the last run in he had, had with the leaf but, he had survived. Now he was the only one that knew how to transfer him into the body of Michael permanently.
Orchid lay on the branch with Setsu. "What should I do?" She sighed.
"I would just wait and see." Setsu frowned. "I remember him as a puppy. He was nice. I think your dad's wrong. Of course I'm a dog. So him breeding isn't really that big a deal for me. I just figure it's nature." She rolled her shoulders then her head went up. "I smell something."
"What is it?"
"Faint traces of Michael but, I smell Kabuto."
Orchid leapt up. "Go."
"But, we need to alert the village."
"And miss this chance to find Michael." Setsu finally nodded and Orchid leapt to her back and they took off.
"Where's Orchid." Kiba frowned. "I know she was mad but, she should have been back by now."
"She's probably still upset. She'll come home." Carrie sighed. By the time midnight rolled around they were both up and waiting. By two they were heading to Andrea's house by three they were in the Hokage's office.
"She wouldn't have gone after him." Naruto looked at them and frowned. "Would she?"
Kiba dropped his head. "I might have made her mad."
"How?"
"The idiot told her that she was never to see Michael again." He was screaming so loud I heard it in my house." Andrea sighed. "You moron."
"He got some random girl pregnant. Not the kind of man I want my daughter with okay."
"He is a better man than you were." Judy snapped. "At least he kept her safe."
Kiba silenced and dropped his head.
Carrie frowned. "The point is she's missing."
Naruto started rubbing his temples. "No wonder the old man didn't have any hair. He probably ripped it all out at moments like these."
Michael walked down the hall. Orochimaru had been gone but, he had also hidden Jugo and told him if he left Jugo would die so he waited. He had just arrived and Jugo had walked to him and sat down. It was very quiet here now. Just him and Jugo and the evil mastermind now he had a man that could perform his sick body snatching ceremony. He sighed and laid his head back against the wall.
"Do you hear that?"
"No." Michael picked up his head and focused. "Yes." And he recognized it too. He walked down the hall to the same door. "Do they really think this will work a second time?" He shook his head. "Idiots."
He opened the door and almost fell, his head spun. "Oh god."
Orchid lay on the floor moaning. She was sweating. This was that damned hormone. He knew it. He slammed the door. "Oh shit." He turned and walked back to the room and sat down.
"Surely they didn't use the same tactic again."
"I can't do this."
"Do you want me to try. I have made love to women. If you used your eyes before…" Michael stilled and the mark spread over him.
"I'll kill you." He said slowly. Jugo raised his brows. Then he closed them.
"It's your woman isn't it. The one from your village." Michael just looked at the wall. "You should be happy."
"Oh really."
"Well at least it is her."
"That is the problem it is her." He closed his eyes and listened to her all night. She cried and scratched at the door.
They stood over Setsu as Hana tried to heal her. "It was Kabuto he has her. She wasn't angry but, she didn't want to take a chance of missing Michael. We didn't even see him coming. He has a man with him that can use some kind of strange chakra. He hit us with something and took her then he was gone." The dog laid her head back. "I never should have let her go."
"You didn't know." Naruto knelt down. "You did good coming all the way back with an injury like that."
Kiba was holding his wife as she wept. Now there were two children stolen by this sick bastard.
Madara looked at Sasuke. "He knew that having Orchid would control him. If he has to sacrifice himself for her he'll do it freely." He closed his eyes. "Damn we have got to find him."
"The trail is fresh let's go after him now." Madara nodded. "Kiba come on. We have to go."
Kiba nodded. Carrie looked at him and cried. "You bring them home."
"I'll bring Orchid home." He grumbled. Madara narrowed his eyes but, said nothing.
Michael walked to the door and opened it slowly the bloody claw marks tore at his heart. He walked in and saw her in the corner. Her eyes were wild and she looked at him. "Michael?" Her words were soft. "Is that you?"
"I guess I do look a bit different." He smiled a little. "Come on we need to get you cleaned up and get your hands bandaged. She stood and looked at him. Her finger tips still dripped blood. She took one step and then two. Then she threw herself at him and he caught her and pulled her into his arms. He held her too tightly and buried his face in her hair. "You are still the most beautiful girl in the world." She shivered and pulled a little away.
"Tai came to the village with Ineri." She said and wiped at the blood that now stained his shirt.
"I'm glad they were safe." He said softly.
"She told me what happened." She looked at him and searched his eyes. Did he love her.
"Yes." He just watched her and waited for the accusations he knew he deserved. She nodded and pulled away gently. He sighed. She was too good to even do that. "Come on you need to be looked at." He walked her back to his room. Jugo stood and looked at her.
"Hello I feel like I know you already." He smiled. He looked at her hands and pursed his lips. "Come and sit we'll fix you right up."
"He didn't take her last night."
"No but, he will it's only a matter of time and it doesn't matter in the least because as long as she keeps him busy for the next three weeks who cares what he does to her." He turned away from the screens.
Michael watched her and sighed. "She is going to get sick Michael."
"I know that." He frowned. "You don't understand I can't do that to her."
"You love her you want her."
"That isn't the point. She's not someone to use like that." Jugo sighed.
"You are saving her not using her."
"Right that's what I should tell myself." He closed his eyes. That night they had done it again. He knew what they were doing. They were keeping him busy so he couldn't escape. He walked to the door and closed his eyes. He could do this and not hurt her. He couldn't bare another night of her screams. He opened the door and walked in.
She looked at him. "They put that stuff in me didn't they?" She shook from where she sat in the corner of the room. "They put that hormone in me and that's what this burning is. It's why I want you so badly."
That hurt a lot to hear. "Yes probably." He sat down against the door. I didn't let them come in here so it must have been in the food."
"Why haven't you done it yet?" She trembled as did her words.
"Because it's you." He said softly.
"So you can have sex to save the life of some woman you don't even know but, you can't even bring yourself to touch me." He closed his eyes.
"You should know better than that." He sighed. "I can't hurt you that way. You don't want this. I can't do something you don't want and I didn't know what was happening with her until it was too late."
"She seemed to think you were pretty skilled." She muttered her teeth chattering. "She told me so."
"Oh…god this is so awful." He closed his eyes. "I just she…I just couldn't stop."
"But, you aren't even going to try with me. Even though you know I'll die." She laid down and cringed.
"Orchid please?" He crawled to her but, stopped when he could smell her and his mouth watered. Unlike Tai he did want her and badly it was all he could do not to pounce on her.
She shook and closed her eyes. "Just do it and get it over with."
He had been reaching for her but, now he pulled his hand away. "No because it isn't what you want. I'll go and tell him to stop."
"How could you do that?" She mumbled as he stood and turned. Then her heart grasped what he meant and she flew at him. "NO!" She screamed. "You can't. You can't do that."
He looked down at her where she was touching him and his body was already preparing for it. He moaned and took her hands and kissed them. He was fighting himself more than he ever had. "It's alright." He smiled. "I have a plan." He leaned down and whispered. "If he get's my body it'll be the last thing he ever does he'll never reap the benefits. He'll be dead before he even gets off the table." He smiled and kissed her ear. "Just trust me."
"You can't do this." She begged. "Not for me. Don't give up for me. Please Michael?" He touched her face.
"You're worth it." He smiled and turned towards the door. She watched him and, knew she had to stop him but, she didn't know what to do.
"I love you." She wailed and fell to her knees. "I loved you the moment I saw you. Even when you were out of your mind I loved you then and, I love you now."
He was frozen. He closed his eyes. He had prayed to hear that from her. Prayed and hoped and here it was. He couldn't stop himself he turned and pulled her into his arms. "Orchid I love you. I have loved you so long. I never stopped thinking of you not for one moment. I adore you? You are everything to me." He kissed her hair. "That's why I don't want to do this to you. I can't use you."
She looked at him and watched his eyes. "I love you and I don't really understand but, I want this whatever this is." She trembled when he touched her. "I want you."
"You don't know what you're saying Orchid I won't be able to control myself with you I can feel it. I'm barely holding on as it is." She leaned up and looked at him.
"It's okay." She smiled. "I'm not afraid."
"You would be if you weren't drugged." He sighed.
"I don't think so." She looked at his chest. "These clothes." She slid her hands inside the loose shirt. "They look like pictures of Sasuke when he was with Orochimaru."
"That would be because they are his." He sighed. "It's helpful."
"Why?" He moaned unhappily.
"You'll see." He touched her face and kissed her cheek never her lips because he would lose it if he did. "I would never hurt you never."
"I know that." She was starting to feel the want now he could see it in her eyes. When you took the hormone the first few times it was painful. Then you felt like you were on fire. Then the want and you turned into a begging whore. He felt his stomach turn. He couldn't think of her that way not like that. "What's wrong you suddenly look like you're in pain?"
He just kissed her temple. "It's nothing." He whispered. "You are beautiful and wonderful and I love you."
She started shaking again. He pulled her up into his arms. He wanted to do this before she was so mindless she wouldn't know it was him anymore.
He walked to a different room. He didn't want to take her where he had already lain with Tai. He carried her in and laid her on the bed. "Just stay here a moment and I'll be right back." She watched him leave and moaned.
He closed the door and walked to his own room. Jugo had left to find somewhere to sleep and give him privacy. He looked at the room and tried to think of what he could do to make this okay to make this something special. His visions of her on their wedding night. A blushing bride. He had thought of it thousands of times. How he would touch her and make her sigh because it would please him as much as her. He closed his eyes and wondered what he could do. He nodded and walked out. He opened the door and looked at her. "Hey." She looked at him and rolled on the bed. She sat up and smiled a little trying to control herself. He walked to her and picked her up. She tried to kiss him. He pulled away. "Not yet." She whimpered and dropped her head. Her lips trailed over his shoulder but he managed to keep his control. He carried her back to his room. He set her on her feet and walked to the drawers. "I found this when I first came I don't know who it belonged to but, It should fit you." He held up the dark green Kimono. "It's just the color of your eyes." He pulled out some clothing for himself. "I need a shower. I will be back in a moment. Will you put that on for me?"
She nodded and didn't speak. He went into the bathroom and took a very cold shower. He could do this. He would make this romantic if it killed him. He walked out and looked at her. She was leaning against the door. Her cheeks flushed. "Hey." She rasped. "It's getting worse."
"I know." He sighed. "Come?" He held out a hand. She walked to him and wasn't sure what to do. He pulled up her hands and slid them around his neck. "Just dance with me a moment." He whispered. "I fell in love with you on a dance floor." He kissed her brow.
"You loved me even then?" Her teeth were chattering.
"Yes. I was just too stubborn to admit it." He grinned. "So I tried to spend as much time with you as I could. I tormented you." He sighed.
"I kissed you. And my heart soared. I had never felt such an emotion." He turned in lazy circles and hummed to her. The same waltz they danced to. She curled into him. After a small time she looked up at him.
"Michael please it hurts." She whimpered and squirmed. He sighed.
"I love you. Never forget how much I love you." He tipped up her chin. "Marry me?" He asked his eyes fierce. "Before we do this. If you say you'll marry me. I promise I will find a way to beat him and I will be there for you but, please say yes?"
She laughed a little. "I don't think the answer I give you now matters. I'm under the influence." She watched his face.
"Just answer me please?" He whispered against her cheek.
"Yes. Michael Yes." She rasped. He moaned and found her lips. He kissed her as tenderly as he could. His heart screamed for her his body was blazing. He felt the curse start to take over. She moaned and he deepened the kiss sweeping inside to taste her. This was what he wanted. This woman was the only thing he ever wanted. He slid his fingers in her hair. She opened her eyes and looked at him as he moved to her throat. "You're changing." She whispered. Her hands slid his shirt off his shoulders just as the wings ripped from his back. She gasped. "Oh god."
"Please don't be afraid?" He pleaded. She looked at him and he tore himself away. His breathing was labored but, he just couldn't hurt her or frighten her.
She looked at him and touched one wing as it curled protectively around her. He shivered. "I'm not." She trailed her fingers over the almost iridescent membrane. "You're beautiful, different but, beautiful." He looked at her and his eyes closed.
She stepped to him. "This is the curse mark in it's purity isn't it. You would have become something like this at the chunin." Her shock had dulled her ardor for the moment.
"No it had to be progressed to become this." He sighed as she touched his face then his hair. His eyes closed. She touched one oversized tooth. "You have teeth like me now."
"A little." He smiled at her. She was still his Orchid even like this.
"Michael." She met his eyes. "I'm not afraid." She slid her fingers into his hair and kissed him. He moaned and wrapped his arms around her.
He kissed her back with hunger and passion and she gave as much as she got. He picked her up and pulled her thighs around him. She rolled against them and they both hissed. He pressed her to the wall and kissed her again. She happily wrapped her arms around his neck. It was hard to think or breath. He pulled back and let her slide to the floor. He closed his eyes and folded his wings back.
Orchid watched with heated fascination as he pulled at her robe. He closed his eyes as it fell open. Then he opened them slowly and moaned. "God you are perfect." She smiled and let the dress fall.
"I think I might like this at least a little." She whispered and managed to blush. "I'm not nervous. I know I would be." He reached up but was afraid to touch her. Afraid to break the beautiful moment with lust. She walked to him and reached at his waist. She tugged on the rope and pulled it free. "I always thought this thing looked a little silly." She grinned. "Of course a lot of that is because my mother has grumbled about it since I was a baby."
He just watched her and refused to do anything she didn't want. "Now it feels more like opening a present." She sighed. "I wonder how much of this is me and how much is the stuff coursing through me. You know Mom told me the hormone is a pheromone from beetles. It's supposed to help you find the perfect mate." She mumbled. He felt her fingers slide around his waist. "I don't know what to do?" She sounded frustrated. He smiled at her beautiful frown.
"Now you just let me show you how much I love you." He whispered. His fingers slid over her face. "Because I do." He kissed her and felt the hunger rise but, he held it in check enough to pick her up and gently lay her on the bed. His fingers ached to touch her. He settled over her and moaned. God he wanted her. It was best his pants stay exactly where they were for now. He kissed her and she slid her fingers over his back. She kissed him and her actions were already becoming frantic. He knew it was the hormone it was finally reaching the breaking point. He slid knowing fingers over her. He moved to her breasts. His mouth sliding over them. She arched into his touch and cried. She was mumbling unintelligible things. He laughed softly and kissed her stomach. "Just wait." He whispered. "I will make this special." His voice rumbled over her skin.
He moved lower and she gasped and arched into his kiss. "Oh god what are you doing?" She wailed. "Never mind I don't care." She moaned and he had to laugh again. She was so perfect. He pushed her until she cried out. Then he sighed and moved. He was amazed that he was in complete control. It was almost as if the mark and the chakra that was sealed there loved her as deeply as he did. He slipped his pants free moving up her body slowly leaving a trail of kisses as he went.
Orchid was mindless but, she still felt her heart and whether he realized it or not her heart was more powerful than any drug. She watched his eyes. "I love you." She whispered.
He smiled. "I love you too." He kissed her brow.
He stopped, hovered. Oh god. He wanted her. He closed his eyes and, gently joined their bodies. He felt her innocence and took a deep breath. He pushed forward but she was so filled with desire she just moaned and pushed against him. He moved and his mind was lost as much as hers. He felt himself climb and she was too. Her body arched against him and he stiffened. He didn't even try to pull away. He didn't care he just wanted her. The idea of her carrying his child made him feel light headed with glee. He held her close as his heart froze and he lost himself in her.
She cried out and he felt her release and kissed her gently. She lay there and watched his face his eyes closed. He opened them and she touched his cheek. "Hey, there you are." She sighed.
"What?" He touched his teeth. "That's strange."
"That was gone a little while ago." She smiled. "You didn't notice."
He sighed. "I was a little busy." He murmured and kissed her chin.
She blushed and hid her face in his shoulder. "That was so beautiful."
He kissed her and slid to her side. "It was perfect just like you." He pulled her into his arms. "I will get us out of here." He whispered. "You will never be alone again I swear."
He leaned up and looked down into her beautiful eyes. "You just remember you promised."
"I remember I'll marry you as soon as you get us both back to the village." He sighed.
"Well your father will have to agree but, yes." Orchid raised her brows.
"Uh oh." She frowned. "That might be a problem."
"What?"
"Tai was pregnant when she got to the village." He froze.
"What did you say?"
"She was pregnant about four months." He moaned and fell back.
"Oh god." He rubbed his face. "This can't be happening." He looked at her. "Where is she now."
"In her own village they came to fetch her. Something about your child being special because of some legendary shinobi they base their life off of." He just lay there.
"Yeah that figures. It was my dad." Orchid sat up.
"Your dad." He nodded. His eyes closed. "Oh man this is really weird."
"Yes." He sighed. "I suddenly feel the need to break out in a chorus of 'It's a small world after all.'" He sighed. "What am I going to do about that."
"She really doesn't seem upset."
"She wouldn't but, that isn't what I meant." He sat up. "I can't marry you without your father's permission. It would be wrong."
"Then we will be engaged till doomsday." She sighed. "I don't even think my mother could beat him into submission with sex. Not enough for this." She laughed. "Oh god this really is impossible isn't it."
He frowned. "It can't be." He sat up and curled her close. "You're here with me. It's meant to be I can feel it." He watched her his blue eyes filled with love. She could still feel the want but, it wasn't so bad now. She could control it. Of course now that she knew how wonderful it was she was having a hard time thinking about anything else. But, she knew he was upset so she just watched his face. If she looked at him there she would want to touch him there. She smiled. "I really did love that." She said quietly.
He raised a brow and she was under him gasping. "You did huh?" He watched her eyes and smiled. "Well that's good because you'll have to do it all the time." He grinned. "And, I am going to take complete advantage of that."
"Oh that sounds lovely."
"This is meant to be." He looked at her and she could see the determination in his face. "You and I will be together." She smiled and started to believe he was right.