Naraku, Be Loved
Author's Notes: Well well, here we are with chapter four of Naraku, Be Loved. I must say that I am still very happy with how this fic is going. What I need to find out is whether there is anyone reading it besides YoukaiNme on InuYasha Life. No, I am not planning on quitting this story. Not by a long shot. I just want to know whether I should work on something else as well rather then devoting 100 of my fic writing time to this, however much I personally love it. On this note, I will be visiting my grandma for a few days so the next chapter will not be out as quickly as these last couple have been. Thank you.
Warning & Explaination: While this is a love story featuring Naraku and my character Tempest, some of you may have noticed that there is violence not only around them but between them. I do not believe that violence is acceptable in a relationship, and under normal circustances I would not include it in a fic. My specific reasons for its inclusion in Naraku, Be Loved is that I do not honestly think Naraku can comprehend the idea of love properly and therefore he repeats old habits and patterns, which become more difficult to cope with / upsetting as this fic continues. I am not sentancing my character to life with an abusive mate, I assure you. However, I am not about to do a "care bear" Naraku. I hope this answers the questions that have been raised regarding this issue.
Chapter Four: Suspicious Minds
" Mission accomplished. " The cocky tone of the stranger's voice set Tempest's teeth on edge. He had to be the one behind this kidnapping, had to be the one they had left behind to get Naraku away from her. " We must hurry though. I think he might take Tempest's betrayal a little more personally then I'd thought. "
" What? " Her heart beating faster Tempest struggled against the makeshift rope that was holding her arms. Their was a whimpering sound and the creature that had bound her retook its true form, some kind of fox-thing. Oh yeah, this place was weird. " You lied to Naraku and made me look like a traitor? When it was you assholes who kidnapped me? "
" 'fraid so ... And watch who you call an asshole. " The strange guy glared at her, rewarding her for her outburst with a menacing look that was every bit as intimidating as Naraku at his finest. Luckily, she didn't get scared easy.
" You think he'll take your word over mine? I've seen him when he's mad ... This'll be your funeral. Lead onward. " Shoving him out of the way she began to walk away from the castle in the direction they had been going. " He'll come for me. "
Or so she hoped. Would he think she had betrayed him? The thought of it made her give an involuntary shudder. She did not want to be on the receiving end of Naraku's anger when he actually thought he had a justifible reason for it. Having him lose it slightly had been way more then enough.
" Look, I know you're mad at us, but we're really trying to help. Naraku is dangerous ... evil, really. He can only hurt you. " Kagome starting another speech. Tempest turned to face the daughter of her host family, her temper wearing thin. Did the girl ever think before opening her mouth? It had taken Tempest all of three days to tell she creeped the girl out.
Hoping she was still under the same impression Tempest began to move toward her. " You ever heard the phrase 'mind your own business', Kagome? You and all of these imbeciles need to take a crash course in doing this, y'know. You all walk around so high and mighty, but it is you losers who have kidnapped me! Naraku just brought me with him since I was injured. "
A low growl escaped the first idiot who had spoken and Tempest turned to face him, remembering that Naraku had made similar sounds when he was agitated. Sure enough, there was definately something up with this guy too. Claws, yet again, and ... dog ears? Tempest put a hand to her mouth, trying her best not to laugh. She really didn't want to get clawed again and there was no way this jackass was putting his tongue anywhere on her body. " Maybe you should stop for lunch. Dog-breath over there sounds like he is hungry. "
" First off, my name is InuYasha. Second, if you don't shut up I'll do everyone a favor and eat you ... or at least find something that will. "
Tempest swallowed hard, the sarcastic reply she had been planning not getting the chance to leave her tongue. She'd seen enough in the last few days to at least question whether or not his was an idle threat.
Naraku watched her travel with them through Kanna's mirror, puzzling over the fact that she did not seem to get along with any of them very well. Were the bounds that had held her wrists real or for show? When Shippo, the little demon fox brat, reappeared with a violent pop it was clear Tempest did not show any regard for him. But still ... She was the only one who could have shown them the way. Kanna and Kohaku would never do it and Kagura was just too scared of the punishment she would indefinately endure.
" Still watching her, hmm? " Speak of the devil and watch her appear. She was the last person he wanted to reveal his confusion to. There was no doubt she would mock him, regardless of how severely he punished her. Which reminded him ... He still had her heart. If he was going to make an exchange for Tempest's he would still have to keep his end of the bargain.
" Of course. I can't let a traitor escape. I would be the laughingstock of every demon in Japan. " He frowned when he noticed she was trying not to laugh herself. Stupid wind witch ... Maybe he should just kill her and be done with it? No... She had been befriended by Tempest. She was still of use. The deal. No more stalling.
He pulled her heart out from within his robes and smiled as she began to cringe, dropping to the floor and trying to grab at his legs. " Master, please! Don't! "
Naraku smiled and held out her heart in his open palm. " Don't you want it back? "
Kagura's confused expression made him want to laugh but he kept his expression purely neutral. She reached out to take it from him but paused before her hand could touch it. " Why...? "
" Lets just say I was made an offer I could not refuse. "
She took it from him and he watched as it fused with her body. " Who offered what? "
" Tempest offered, her heart for yours. How could I resist? " He smiled at the memory of it, his thumb and forefinger rubbing together as he imagined a strand of her silky red hair caught between them.
Kagura looked like she was going to faint. " InuYasha and his friends are taking her to the bone eater's well. If they throw her in without her heart ... or her cards ... who knows what might happen? "
" Without her cards? " What did Kagura know about Tempest that he didn't? He watched with suspicion as she pulled the beautifully made set of cards away from their wrapping of fine indigo silk cloth. " She left these...? They seemed so powerful. Why wouldn't she take them with her? "
" You should go find Tempest and ask her ... But hurry! If they put her in the well without her cards or her heart she could be in big trouble. "
" Right. Let's go look for her. " Naraku began to walk for the door without even bothering to tell Kanna he was finished. He might not have her heart but these cards could spell trouble if they were left here and she was in the future. Then there was the dragon demon he had sent to reclaim her thinking she had these... Without them, it might end up tearing her to shreads.
" You go look. I'm off to do some exploring. Buh-bye! " Kagura and her stupid purple feather were gone before he could reply. Strange. Had she thought he might change his mind aboiut her heart? Even he wasn't that ruthless. Well, unless someone hurt Tempest ... Then things would definately get ugly. Whether she had betrayed him or not. He sighed and began to use the cards to track her scent.
The silence had stretched for an hour and Kagome could take it no longer. Had Tempest actually believed InuYasha's threat about feeding her to something? Naraku must have done something pretty vile to make the girl so scared of someone as great as InuYasha. Sighing she ran to catch up with the girl she had been dissing all over feudal Japan for two and a half weeks. " Something wrong? "
" That has got to be the most stupid question I've ever heard. I am being kidnapped and taken God knows where against my will. Now you, one of my captors, has the audacity to ask me if something's wrong? " Tempest stopped moving and placed her hands on Kagome's shoulders. What was the girl going to do, curse her? Kagome bit her bottom lip and noticed that the others were all drawing their weapons. " I'm going to ask you this once and once only: why were you attacking Naraku? "
Kagome stood perfectly still and totally speechless. Why were they attacking Naraku? The way the girl was asking the question was almost laughable. What did she think, that they had began hunting him and ruining his life? Had he told her that? Her fingers clenched into a fist and she took a deep breath, not wanting to lose her temper.
" Us attack him? What a load of crap! " Ah, InuYasha... Never knowing when to stay silent. " Feh. If we run into that bastard again, maybe you should ask him why he put a multi-generational curse on Miroku's grandpa, or why he killed almost everyone in Sango's village, or why he murdered Kikyo and made her think it was me! "
" Maybe I should. " Kagome could not help shivering at the girl's tone. It sounded more like she was saying 'Believe me, I will.' and thinking that all would be shown to make sense. Sick!
" Before he became a hanyou, Naraku was a pathetic human thief named Onigumo. He was burnt and crippled in a fire. My love, Kikyo, found him and used her gifts to try and help him. In return, the jerk began to lust after her. " InuYasha said, his fingers moving to grip Tempest's arms like a vice.
" InuYasha, ease up! " When blood began to drip from his nails piercing her skin Kagome nudged him hard in the ribs and he let go.
" There was a fire in the cave Kikyo kept him in and when that happened he somehow merged with a bunch of youkai ... minor demons, I think would be a suitable translation? ... and became the half-demon we know and hate today. " InuYasha dragged his nails across the trunk of a tree and they left deep gashes that Kagome hoped Tempest was grateful weren't on her body. Actually it was quite surprising how little a fuss the girl was making about the hand wounds. Naraku hadn't...? " The bastard should have gone up in flames. Instead, he hunts for the shards of the Shikon no Tama in hopes of becoming a full demon. Gods help us all if he ever succeeds. "
" So you guys want to get the jewel shards and hide them from him? Or destroy them? " Ah, sweet niavete, what bliss. Surely the girl was not so stupid that she believed it was that simple. " No? "
" I want the jewel so I can become full demon. Unlike Naraku, I am worthy. "
Tempest allowed her gaze to meet InuYasha's golden orbs, the hate he held for Naraku making her want to be sick. How could anyone hate Naraku? He was not perfect, but there was something volnurable and almost innocent about him. What if he came looking for her? Would these people kill him? Not if I can help it! Lifting her wounded hand in the air and wiping the open wounds across InuYasha's face so that he had bloodstains on his nose. " Says you. "
" Stop it both of you! Quiet! I sense a jewel shard... " The slight trembling she heard in Kagome's voice did not add any comfort to Tempest's sudden sense of foreboding. There were other scary things in these woods, she was sure of it. Naraku and this InuYasha moron could not be in a class of their own. That would be simple.
A deafening roar filled the air and a long thin dragon with glistening emerald scales and scarlet and gold patterns on its wings entered the clearing. The thing was beautiful but there was a look of malice in its deep yellow eyes that made Tempest's blood run cold. " Which of you are called Tempest? "
It wanted her? Tempest felt her legs press together and a great need to find a bathroom overtook her. To think she had gotten this way about giving speeches back home? Pathetic! She looked around to see that the others had their weapons drawn. Did none of them posess an ounce of reason? The creature had yet to attack. Taking a tentative step forward she looked up at it, trying to act braver then she felt. " Who wants to know? "
" I am one sent by Naraku. I hold a shard of the Shikon no Tama as proof. " The dragon lifted one of its forelegs and Tempest saw a black clouded piece of gem glistening against its skin. " Now, traitor, will you face the Lord willingly or must we fight? "
" I will come willingly, for I am not a traitor. Be warned that if you are lying to me you will face dire consequences. " What was wrong with a little white lie? She had no doubt that if the creature was lying Naraku would come. He would save her. He had to save her. Surely he hadn't believed what InuYasha had said.
" Prepare to die! " There was a swishing sound and then a loud crack. Looking up Tempest found InuYasha with his sword jabbed into the dragon's left wing. Great! It was bad enough that he was debilitating it, but did he have to piss it off in the process? How many times would she have to save these fools? Reaching into her kimono she froze. Uh-oh... No cards.
" Don't just stand here! " Tempest grabbed Kagome's hand and began to run away from the fight, her brain telling her that if Naraku who at least looked mostly human had gotten ticked off over words then this dragon was going to go insane at any moment.
" Foolish mortal, how dare you turn your back on me! " Kagome broke free of Tempest's grip when she turned to look back at the dragon. Oh yeah, it was really mad now. It pushed InuYasha off of its back and pinned him beneath one of its feet, then tilted its head back. What on earth was it...
" Tempest, get outta the way! "
Kagome could be heard, but it was no use. Paralyzed with fear Tempest watched as brilliant bursts of flame spewed from the dragon's mouth and began to rush toward her. Their light blinding her she felt her legs give out from under her and began to spiraql toward the ground, only to feel hands lifting her up and her body suddenly moving so quickly that when she opened her eyes the world was nothing but a blue-green streaky blur.
" You will never do that again. " Naraku's voice dragged Tempest fully back to reality. There was an icy edge to his tone that had never been there before, not even when he had grown angry. Shivering dispite the fact that her skin felt somewhat dry and sensitive she looked up at him and then wished she hadn't. His eyes glowed a feral shade of red, making him look even more demonic then usual.
" That is the best news I have heard all day. " Her attempt to laugh the situation off failed and silence fell between them until he finally settled with her in his lap upon a thick tree branch.
" You think this is funny? " In an instant he had her pinned beneath him on the tree branch. It groaned slightly in protest but stayed still and she breathed a sigh of relief. The idea that they were not on the ground was starting to get to her, and Naraku's bad temper was not helping. Still, in a mood like this did she really want him to know how scared she was of heights? " You won't be laughing when I'm finished with you. "
She shivered as he slowly undid her kimono, pushing it aside so that her breasts and stomach were yet again bare to his gaze. He stayed that way, simply looking at her, then lowered his mouth to take hold of one of her nipples, twirling his tongue over it until it became firm. She reached up and began to run her fingers through his hair, uncaring that they were in the middle of a forest. He had certainly been right about the not laughing thing. Whew. He wasn't going to attack her.
Naraku felt anger course through him the moment she touched him. She just couldn't leave well enough alone. Oh no, she had to push him that one extra inch. Leave it to a woman to try and make it seem like everything was okay when it absolutely wasn't. Kikyo had never really had the guts to admit about InuYasha to Onigumo, and now Tempest would have him believe she had been kidnapped. Not likely.
It was bad enough that she'd almost gotten roasted by the dragon. That had been stupid on his part, he had to admit that. Why had he ever thought to send someone to get her? She made a soft moaning sound as he attended her other breast, a slight feeling of concern crossing his mind when he noticed how dried her skin was. Had the dragon done that?
Focus. He forced his mind back to what really mattered. She had betrayed him. Had been with InuYasha and his idiotic friends. And had continued to walk with them willingly once she had freed herself from the fox demon. Right now she could be pretending to enjoy what he was doing so he would give her cards back. Then tomorrow, maybe one of her spells would stike him dead. This is what I get for showing compassion.
It was decided then. She must be punished. Still acting like he was teasing her he managed to catch her hands and pin them above her head. She rewarded him with a smile and he almost lost his resolve. He loved that smile; wanted to see it again and again. If he could be the cause of it, all the better. I can't do this.
" Naraku...? " She began to sit up, as if she thought this was over, and he used his strength to easily keep her head down. He met her gaze, his mind made up and his heart feeling like it was going to shatter. Her eyes questioned him and he clenched his free hand into a fist, digging his nails into his palm. She walked willlingly. I must do this.
Tempest smiled as he let go of her wrists and began to sit up slowly, still nervous about the fact that they were so high up in the air. As she started to move closer to him, his head came down and their lips met. She closed her eyes, one arm wrapping loosely around his neck as she pressed her body against his. When she opened her eyes again she noticed that his eyes seemed flat and cold.
It was her only warning. Claws ripped through the back of her kimono and sank deep into her skin, the pain of the gashes increasing as a foul smelling substance reached her nose. Already she could feel her back beginning to burn as if she had been injected with acid. She whimpered in pain, trying to focus on why he would do this to her so that should would not think so much about how badly it hurt.
She realized with a start that they were still kissing and as if he had known the precise moment she caught on her broke the kiss and forcibly slammed her down against the tree branch, causing her already sour back to suddenly errupt with pain as tiny blisters that had started to form simotaneously popped, splattering their vicious contents yet again into the wounds.
" I do not tolerate traitors. " He pinned her wrists again, this time nearly crushing them in his grip as he stretched them as far over her head as they would go.
" Naraku, please. I didn't -- " He scraped his claws across her stomach and Tempest was sure that her insides were going to start falling out. She dared not look down to check.
" Be silent. I do not like hurting you, Tempest, but I will punish you if you lie. I am honest with you, and so you shall be honest with me. " He used one of his claws to trace a single line from her stomach to where her heart was, then stopped. He burried one claw deep within her skin and she felt herself beginning to shake. He was going to kill her! " I wanted to be good to you. I freed Kagura. But you must know ... That night you promised me your heart, I took nothing. I thought I could trust you to keep your promise. Am I really so vile that you had to run away the moment I left you? Clearly I was wrong to trust you. So now I am going to take what belongs to me. "
" Naraku, you have to listen to me! " What would happen if he took her heart? Would she die? Would she become a zombie? The only sure thing was that it would definately be painful.
" Save your excuses. " He pushed the claw in deeper, then let another claw begin to cut her open further. " You should have thought of them when you decided to side with my enemies. "
" Tempest didn't betray you! " Kagome's outcry covered Tempest's weakened voice. Although the girl was saying the exact same thing, it still infuriated her. If Naraku took Kagome's word after doing this to her and calling her a liar...
" Leave. " Naraku's voice was like a whip and Tempest found herself more afraid of that single word then she had allowed herself to be during the whole ordeal she had so far faced. " Or I will rip her heart from her chest while you watch. "
Gulp. He was honestly convinced she had betrayed him. Dead serious. Damn you, InuYasha. " Naraku, just do whatever the hell you are going to do to me and get it over with. You can't do worse then you already have taking InuYasha's word over mine. "
" Oh, man! He fell for it? " InuYasha ran up and joined Kagome. " Hey Naraku! Now that you've gone and made a total ass of yourself, there's something I have to tell you. About that whole Tempest thing? I lied. Kagura was the one who let us into your castle. Boy, though ... I bet Tempest hates you now. She looks like a mess from down here. "
" InuYasha, you will suffer for this... " Naraku began to get up off of Tempest but the moment her hands were free she grabbed ahold of him by his kimono. He growled as InuYasha picked up Kagome and walked away but Tempest didn't care. His stupid male ego could wait.
" Don't even think of leaving me here like this. "
His gaze was icy when it met hers but she noticed that it softened very quickly as it moved over her body. He lowered his mouth between her breasts and began to close the wound he had began to open. Something salty stung the wound, once, twice. She lifted his head up and saw that there were tears in his eyes. Struggling free of her he bent his head and continued to work at healing the wound.
" He's wrong, you know... " Though her arms were killing her as the stuff he'd injected her with spread, she wrapped them around him as he worked to finish sealing the wound to her chest. " I could never hate you. "
Naraku gave the gash he had carved a final lap of his tongue, satisfied when he felt her smooth skin beneath it as he licked once more to be certain. Dammit! Why had he been stupid enough to listen to the mutt? Was it because he had been thinking about Kagura? The last thing he'd been considering was whether Tempest would keep her word before the wind bitch had told him InuYasha was in the castle. A destraction. He had let her fool him with a distraction.
Fighting his way out of his thoughts he let his gaze meet Tempest's and sucked in his breath as he noticed the lines of pain that had formed around her mouth. Her eyes looked dull and her gaze was beginning to lose focus. The poison was working on her better ... well, worse, really ... then he had ever intended. Most humans were suseptable to it, but Tempest seemed to be almost allergic. Nice work, moron. He thought to himself as he carefully lifted her away from the branch, biting his tongue to hold back a curse when she whimpered because her wounds had began to try and close and there was bark sticking to them, holding her pinned.
" Naraku, I think ... I think I should go back to the future. "
He could feel something twisting inside of his heart and had to struggle to breathe. She wanted to leave him. For a moment rage threatened to overtake him but he grit his teeth and fought it down, forcing himself to really look at her. Who could blame her for wanting to leave? He'd been so angry, so certain he was right, that he had violated her trust completely. He'd thought she'd betrayed him? In the end it was he who had done the betraying. Such irony.
" Of course. Its dangerous here ... I'm dangerous... I suppose its for the best that you go. " Not allowing himself to think about what he was doing he lept down from the tree with her in his arms and sped off toward the bone eater's well. " I have your cards with me. "
" Good. We'll need the priestess card. "
" We? " He reached the well and sat her on its edge, careful not to touch her wounds. They would be painful and she would need him to heal them for her. She would not be gone for long. Still, he hated the thought of her having to discover that on her own.
" The damn jewel things you're looking for can wait. " She reached a hand out toward him and he marveled at how she still dared to speak to him like that when she looked so pale and fragile. Was there a way to make things right? Could their be anything between them after this fiasco? Tempest was offering him a rare gift: hope. He smiled and sat down on the well beside her, waiting to see where she was going with her little speech. " You're coming with me. "
His hand covered hers and he could feel the warmth of the card she held as its power began to awaken. Wrapping her tight in his arms he let them fall into the well, amazed at the strange sensation that overcame them as they seemed to free-float forever before finally landing again.
Carrying her up the ladder that had appeared he looked around at the strangely designed buildings. So this was the future. A loud noise sounded from a fast moving box on wheels and he nearly jumped out of his skin. So this was Tempest's time. He looked down at her, his eyes drinking in her half conscious form as she rested in his arms. If she felt safer here he would stay with her as long as she needed. The fact that she didn't despise his existance still struck him as being a miracle.
Am I worthy? This is the third time she has endured pain because of me. He sighed as the thought once again plagued him. He'd never had to worry about things like this before. Life had always been certain, the path straight and narrow. Until now. Until Tempest. If I posess one drop of good, I will use it toward this girl. Tempest... I must if its me you see, or just Onigumo's worthless human heart.
Questions:
1) In last chapter's questions, I asked how you felt about Tempest becoming half demon. The answer was a resounding "Don't!". I wish further clarification: is it the idea of making her anything other then human (or even giving her some kind of longevity) that is the bother, or is it merely the repetition of too many humans turned Hanyou? Your answers will help me resolve the climax that I am planning for this fic.
2) Tempest and Naraku are in the future and Tempest plans to take him home with her. Is there anything you would love to see Naraku do in the future? Just curious. :)
End Notes: Did Tempest mean what she said about not hating Naraku? Does she really see Naraku, or merely what she wishes was Naraku? What will Tempest & Naraku do in the future? This & More when Naraku, Be Loved continues!