Naraku, Be Loved

Author's Notes: Yeah, its been a long time since I have updated this. I was going through my story files adding them to my new computer when I noticed it. I said I intended to finish this and I meant it. So, here we go with Chapter 6. Things are moving faster, consequences are becoming more severe and people are being tested. Can the fragile love that is building between Tempest and Naraku survive? Please read, review and enjoy.

Warning: There is some sad stuff in here for anyone who has been following this. Better safe then sorry.

Chapter 6: Empty

Tempest had never liked hospitals, and tonight was not an exception. She lay still in the single cot she had been assigned in her little private room, worn out and worried from the night's events. What was going to happen to Yukio? Would Naraku kill him, despite her not wanting him to? He had taken one of the jewel shards, but that still did not justify death. Then again, Naraku was fairly protective of her and she knew he had not been happy to see her hurt.

But he had done just the same. Worse, really. Well… Maybe not. Everything he had done he had been able to heal on his own. Yukio had broken six bones in her already damaged hand and had taken off with a priceless artifact. Or that was her guess as to what made the shards so valuable. Surely Naraku had some reason for wanting them so much. Were they similar to her cards?

They'd sure let her have fun with her guitar. That had been so unreal that she was still trying to come to grips with the fact that it had actually happened. Couldn't he give her just one so she could do that again?

She looked down at her hand and sighed. Yukio sure had done a number on it, and it hurt like hell. Hurt… What was she saying, she couldn't feel anything with… The truth struck her with such force that she was sure her heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be possible, and yet there was no denying it. She could feel what had happened.

She watched as Nana Susan entered the room with Joe and Molly and smiled. She waited for them to draw closer and then pushed herself into a sitting position. " I need ice. This hand is killing me. "

" I thought ya couldn't … Are you saying you can feel again? " Joe asked.

" Indeed she can. " the doctor that had examined her hand when she arrived entered the room, an expression of wonder crossing his slightly wrinkled face. Tempest hated him on sight, but could not figure out why. There was something not right about this man. It was as if she could smell greed clinging to his every pore. Its just your fear of this place, she reminded herself firmly. " It would appear you have amazing recuperative powers… some type of anti-toxin, most likely. You were recently injected with a poison, weren't you? Its called Miasma… "

" How could you tell that – "

" Just stop and listen, please. Your body is extremely allergic to it. A large dose of the stuff could have killed you. And yet, at the same time your body has somehow taken the poison that got into your bloodstream and caused it to mutate into some form of regenerative. " The doctor paused, as if he figured she couldn't understand and he was trying to find a way to adequately explain the medical miracle. " It has completely restored the use of your hand and the muscle damage to your leg and is currently doing more for your broken bones then anything I have managed to get done. "

" So you're telling me I'll be able to play again. " Tempest noted the doctor's confusion, " The guitar, that is. "

" Of course. " the doctor's smile looked convincing, but something about the way he was looking at her had subtly begun to make Tempest uneasy feelings about him grow deeper. This guy was up to something... " That being said, this regenerative may be the biggest break in medical history. With your permission I would like to attempt to make a batch of it so that I can study it more closely. Think of the lives you could save… "

" Think of the life that's at risk. " Susan said sharply. Tempest was shuddering just thinking about it. The poison he was talking about must have been what Naraku had injected her with when he'd thought she betrayed him. It had burned like hell and she did not feel any great desire to go through that again. Medical miracle or not, it had just plain hurt. " You have indicated my daughter is allergic. I will not permit someone to use her as a lab rat in some get rich quick scheme. Now be gone. "

" Good day, for now. Tempest, we will have to discuss this another time. " The doctor turned and left the room. Tempest watched him go, her eyes not leaving him until the door shut and he was gone. A shiver ran through her at what had just happened. Willingly be poisoned? No way.

" Well that was interesting. " she said, trying to ignore the dark sense of malevolence that still seemed to cloud the room. " I think I am going to try and get some rest. "

Naraku let the scent of the half demon Yukio guide him. Why had he left Tempest to get off the stage by herself? The man had struck him as trouble from the moment she had started performing. Typical that the moment he assumed someone might be just a too interested fan that they would turn out to be the closest thing she had to an enemy. But now it was his wrath that Yukio was going to face. The boy had no idea what he had just bitten off back there.

Naraku let him stay the slightest bit ahead, wanting to find somewhere relatively private for them to meet. This demon has little or no sense, Naraku thought as he leapt from building to building, He seems to have no idea that he is being followed. Excellent. This will be over much quicker.

Finally Yukio landed on the roof of a deserted building and stopped, seeming to need a breather. Naraku continued toward him, wanting this done so that he could be with Tempest. He let himself slowly land on the roof and approached quietly. " Finally given up? I was wondering when you'd realize running was useless. "

Yukio whirled around, confirming the suspicions Naraku had been carrying. He hadn't noticed a thing. " W-who are you? "

" I'm soon to be Tempest's mate. My name is Naraku. " The desire to reach out, main and destroy was very strong and it took all of Naraku's will to remain calm so that this fool would not run off like a skittish colt. Tempest was waiting for him.

" Oh, you're here about that frigid little bitch. I – "

All attempts at civility died in an instant. Naraku grabbed him by the neck and lifted him off the ground. " Do you wish to rephrase that? "

" D-dude, you're chokin' m-me… I can't… breathe… " Naraku ignored his whining, dropping him to the ground so that his head bounced against the pavement with an audible thud.

" If I catch you near her again, I will kill you. It is only by her request you are alive now. Is that clear? Because I would really love to devour you, puny as you are. It would amuse me greatly. "

" Holy shit, you are The Naraku. Of the Northern Lands? " Naraku wrinkled his nose as the scent of urine rose on the breeze.

" You know your demonic history. How convenient. " Naraku let a tentacle fly from his body and wiggled it in front of Yukio's face to better illustrate his point. " Now, you stay out of trouble and if you're lucky we'll never meet again. "

Damn I'm going soft… Naraku thought as he made his way to the hospital Joe had told him they would go to. But for Tempest, it was worth it. It was bad enough that she had been hurt. He did not want her crying because he had killed her former friend, even if the guy did deserve to be flayed and devoured for what he had done to her. One mistake, Yukio. Make her shed one more tear and you will be mine…

Tempest felt the light turn on before she saw it. Pulling herself out of the light sleep she had been in she opened her eyes only to squint them closed again in protest of the unnatural brightness that threatened to blind her. She tried to move, thinking to stretch, but found that to do so was impossible. Biting down hard on her bottom lip she forced her eyes open again. Glancing at her arms and legs terror gripped her. She was manacled to the bed and the creepy doctor who had bothered her earlier was a few feet away, whistling as he prepped a long row of sharp needles that were filled with a deep purple liquid.

" Ah, you've finally awakened. " he said as he turned to face her, a syringe of the dark liquid in his hand. " I felt it was only fair that you should be awake while we do the testing. "

" I never agreed to do this. You will stop this instant or there will be consequences. " An image of Naraku flashed through her mind. Oh yeah, there would be consequences … If he ever got here.

" Really now, your lack of co-operation has already caused so much tragedy. Your family does not possess this special ability, you see, so I am afraid – "

" What? " He had done something to the others? With Miasma? Had Naraku not been with her when it had happened…

" I said they are gone. Dead, if that makes it any clearer. The Miasma killed them. " He took a piece of cotton and began to rub some ointment onto her arm where she had a vein showing. " But don't worry. I have a feeling you will be alive and providing us with the regenerative for a very, very long time. "

" You lie. You wouldn't have dared do that to them. There is no way you could have. " Tempest said, all the while feeling like her insides were going to shrivel up even before he had injected her. What if he wasn't lying? What am I going to do?

And what had he meant by a very long time? Before she could ask him he pricked the needle into her arm. The pain was instant and would not be ignored. Tempest had been through a lot in the past few days yet this was just too much. Unable to prevent it, a scream escaped her and tears began to fall from her eyes. Through her blurred vision she watched the doctor watch her with what seemed to be amusement. He reached for another syringe and she felt herself recoil in horror. She might not be dying physically, but this was by far much worse. If he had done this to the others there was no way they had made it through.

Naraku had no trouble finding Tempest's room. He simply took the elevator and followed the screams. What were they doing to her? He could have done more for her without nearly this much fuss. For all the fancy technology this world had gained had it really stayed so primitive medically?

The stench of blood was in the air and glancing to his right Naraku had to gain control of himself to keep from being sick. There in the chairs outside the room sat three corpses, some type of disease having made them almost unrecognizable. Moving closer to dampen his growing suspicion Naraku felt his stomach clench in horror. It was not what had been done, but rather to whom, that was to blame. Susan, Joe and Molly sat in the chairs like corpse statues. This could not be real… What would he tell Tempest?

He had intended to knock on the door, but the turn of events eroded his patience and he used his strength to force it open instead. The moment he saw the look on Tempest's face rage surfaced, more potent and deadly then any he had ever felt before. What was this guy doing to her? He sniffed the air and his body began to shake with the fury that was taking him over. Miasma. His fucking Miasma was in those vials and this sick prick was injecting her with it.

Tempest met his gaze, her pain filled brown eyes making his heart twist uncomfortably in his chest. Was this what she had really gone through in the forest? Had she tried to hide it from him? Her mouth curved into a cold smile and he felt a chill run through him as she turned to look at the doctor. He had never seen her like this before. Her eyes were cold and flat, and hatred seemed to radiate from her as she turned to look at the doctor. " You're so dead. "

Naraku flexed his claws, more then willing to get started on making certain her words were not an idle threat. " You like Miasma, huh? Well, if I wasn't in such a hurry I would share some with you, but this will have to do instead. "

Trying to keep his mind on the things that really mattered Naraku snapped the man's neck. He then turned his attention to Tempest, who had thankfully stopped screaming and crying. He knew she wasn't going to stay calm long. He touched her arm, trying to do what he could for the needle puncture that had allowed the poison into her body, the fact that she was shivering not lost on him.

" He said he killed my family. " She knew. That explained everything here. Her shaking voice made him wish that he could kill the bastard a thousand times over for doing this to her. He had done this to enemies before, had savored the tears they shed as they dropped to their knees in heartbroken defeat. He refused to watch Tempest fall apart like that. " Oh, God… He did! I know he did! Or you'd be telling me he lied. "

" I'm so sorry… " He undid the last manacle and lifted her off of the bed, pressing her against him so that he could smell the sweet floral scent of her. Without a second look at the man on the ground he left the room and took her down the hall, wanting to get her away from all of this. " Don't look, Tempest. It will only make it hurt more. "

He knew the moment her instincts overpowered his warning. She shuddered in his arms and he could feel her tears soaking his shirt. He moved with more speed, heading for the nearest bathrooms, and carried her into the ladies' without caring what anyone might think. He was no surprised by the first words that left her mouth. " I'm going to be sick… "

" I know. " He held her hair back with one hand while supporting her with the other as she leaned over the sink. " This is all my fault… If I hadn't been such an idiot that doctor wouldn't have found anything like that in your system. "

" Don't blame yourself for his actions. I know you would never do something like this to me. " She turned and he wiped her mouth and eyes with paper towel. " You learn fast. I want a drink. I can't stand the aftertaste of vomit in my mouth. It makes me want to be sick again. "

" Come on. " he lifted her without any real effort and carried her to the elevator, which took them to the lobby. He lowered her into a chair and then took some of the money she had given him and went to a pop machine and got her a can of Orange Crush, hoping it would help. He brought it back to her and handed it to her. " Just focus on your drink for the moment, Tempest. I'm going to take you home with me and then we'll deal with this. "

She nodded and opened the can of pop with a snap, downed its contents in one long chug, then set the can down with a loud and defiant thud. It was definitely time for them to go. " Let's get out of here. I can't stay here a minute longer. "

Naraku lifted her from the chair and walked out of the hospital. The sun was beginning to set, and the moment he found an abandoned spot he used his powers to make his way to the rooftops and head toward the well.

" I know I can never replace what you have lost. But I will do everything in my power to make you happy. " He brushed his mouth against her head as they went into the well and began to float through time.

He felt her press closer to him and sighed, hating how powerless he was to fix what had happened. She squeezed his hand firmly with her right hand and shock ran through him. Hadn't that been weakened? He could ask her about it later. " You have already done more then you know. Thank you for staying with me. "

Naraku helped her get out of the well, unsurprised by the fact that she was weak and acting as if she was in a daze. This was a day she was not going to soon forget. Yet despite her pain her words had been to warm him, and he felt that warmth spreading through him completely. " I will never leave you. Of that you can be certain. "

He felt her breathing become more peaceful and looking down he saw that she had fallen asleep. Cradling her closer to him he made his way to his castle. I failed her. The words were bitter as acid as he thought them. Clenching his fist as he watched her sleep he let out a sigh of frustration. Never again.

End Notes: Much has been lost. Will Tempest be able to cope? Will Naraku learn anything from all of this? What are Inu and the gang doing? This and more when Naraku, Be Loved continues…