Chapter 10 – Lecture.

The hospital was getting full. There were heroes all about waiting their turn to be treated from the latest monster attack. However, as the room was in chaos, everything came to a stand still when he walked in. Garou entered the hospital with his wing wrapped around his body. Despite their injuries, the heroes rose in case a fight was about to occur. But then, his wings opened. He revealed Star in his arms, chattering her teeth, unable to keep warm. He turned to the closest nurse. "Please, I need help"

At first, no one knew what to do, what to say to him. Yet, one doctor rushed to him. He looked over Star, checking her eyes and temperature. With a nod, he waved Garou forward. "With me,"

He followed without question. Star was taken to a room down the hall and given a bed. Her temperature was dropping, her breathing became troublesome once more. The infection was starting to spread. The doctor called for the nurses to assist as they got her on fluids, and air machine and heart monitor.

He only stood there watching from a distance. Despite his appearance, he was relieved that the doctors took his plea seriously. When they did all they could, they turned and faced him. They were all terrified, every last one of them. Despite his act, none could bring themselves to speak or offer any words of comfort to him. They just stared at him and slinked out of the room. Garou remained. He went to her bedside. Her arms swelled up, as did her legs, her torso bruised and infected. The medicine wasn't working! From the corner of his eye, he saw his scales separating from his regrown arm. Could this work? He was cautious as he peeled off the discards and began to place them around the bite marks. "If I am immune to this toxin, maybe there is immunity in the scales too." He said to himself.

There was no hesitation, he tore off parts of his discarded skin. With great care he wrapped her arms, legs and torso in the areas she was bitten. At first, it appeared nothing happened, until the scales reacted to her blood. It tightened around her, wrenching the toxins out through the bite mark and expelling them. He sighed with relief as the wounds were quick to heal over. The swelling went down nearly instantly, the infection cured. But then, her teeth chattered. She was so cold to the touch. The blankets were thick, but were not enough, he tried as best he could to keep Star warm. His wings couldn't fit over her any longer. He didn't dare try and move her out of the bed with all the wires attached to her. The best thing he could do was coil his tail around Star, binding her in the thick blankets and hoped it would retain the heat better.

Hours would pass, not a soul would enter the room. Doctors and nurses would peer in from time to time, but once they saw him, they immediately left. "They can't look past this can they?" he said. "They can't look past what I am, what I have become. Despite everything I have been doing for them, it's for nothing!" he growled.

He turned to Star. "I shouldn't have left you alone. I should have brought you with me."

"You should have left her a long time ago."

Garou sneered. Amai Mask entered the room with a bouquet of flowers, he set them aside for the time being yet his judgmental glare came upon Garou. He looked down at Star but shook his head in disappointment. "I tried to warn her about you."

"Shut the hell up."

"Remember what I said, should the day come when she is harmed under your watch. I will make your life a living hell? I meant every word of it. I will make certain you will never forget this day until you die. Quite frankly, I think that will happen sooner than later as well."

Garou snapped to his feet. "If you want to end this, name the time and place. I will take you on anywhere. I will be more than happy to end you where you stand this moment!"

"Tsk, tsk. Is that how is it going to be? You of all know that this isn't how it happens." Amai Mask dared to place himself inches before Garou. "No, the monster never wins. The monster always is beaten and destroyed."

Suddenly, a moan was heard. Star was coming too. Garou uncoiled his tail as she began to slowly open her eyes. However, Amai made his way to her bedside. "Mimi" he whispered.

Her eyes barely opened, she blinked a few times before saying. "The view was better in the coma."

It made Garou smile, Amai stepped back as Garou took to her side. "Hey… you okay?"

"Feel like crap, what happened?"

"I… I wasn't there," he explained. "Star… I am so sorry."

"Why? You can't be everywhere you need to be, we didn't know how serious the threat was. It's not your fault."

"Always the soft heart," said Amai.

"Again, the view was far better in the coma."

Garou smiled because she did. "Get some rest, you need to recover."

"You too," she whispered. Her eyes grew heavy again and she fell back asleep.

Amai however, was ready to leave just yet. "Perhaps you should leave so the doctors won't be so terrified to enter the room. Why don't you just got back to the dojo and be babysat by Silverfang. For that matter…"

"How about you shut the hell up!"

The new voice startled Garou as he looked and saw Metal Bat standing in the doorway. "For that matter, how about you go back to your movie set while the real heroes here pay their respects and see how their comrade in arms is doing. Go on, get. Or do you want a bed here too?"

Amai was surprised. "You and I have differences, but… coming to the defense of THAT!" he said.

"HE… helped save my sister." Metal Bat replied. "Now, you want a bed here too? Cuz I got the perfect way to put you in one."

Amai glared between the two. "I appears you have tainted more than just Mimi with your little act. I still don't buy it, not one second of it. I'll be leaving now. But I can assure you, I'll be back to check up on her." Sweet Mask left the room. Garou stood and gave but a small gracious nod to Metal Bat.

"Thanks…"

"Yeah, well…" Metal Bat trailed off, but he shook his head. "Why?" he asked.

"Why what?"

"You know why! Back before this all happened, when you were the hero hunter… Zenko… why did you save her back then too?"

Garou never thought about it before, the incident felt like a long time ago. He was fighting Metal Bat, when Zenko came between them. He knew the fight wouldn't continue, not after knowing the promise Metal Bat made to his sister. Garou walked away. He could have easily ended him, and did it all in front of her. But when he left, the monster Sludge jellyfish appeared and was going to take her away. Garou didn't hesitate and put the hurt on it, forcing it to retreat but leaving her alone. He never thought about it much until now.

"I… don't know," he said honestly. "Perhaps it was the fact she stood fearlessly up to me, the fact she cared more about you than her own safety. Perhaps, I respected what she did. But, I honestly don't know what to tell you."

Metal Bat nodded. "So… how is she?" he asked as he nudged his head to Star.

"Weak, cold, but alive. That's all that matters."

"Child Emperor was saying you changed again. You grew in size or something to devour that monster made of snakes, but changed back… you shouldn't be looking like this, should you?"

Garou sneered. "I rather no talk about it."

"Hey, I won't judge, again you saved my sis… you saved Star too. Child Emperor wouldn't have found the snakes in time. Wait… how did you…"

"Another time, please, leave me be with her. Tell Silverfang where I am, I won't be leaving here tonight."

Metal Bat nodded. "Hey, thanks again… you came through in a big way for me today."

Garou nodded as Metal Bat walked out of the room, but quickly returned with a doctor. "You need to check on my friend, the big guy with her, he ain't going to hurt you. That's his friend too lying in the bed. Make sure she is looked after!"

The doctor was nearly reluctant, yet since Metal Bat blocked the doorway and Garou stared at him, he had little choice. He checked over the charts, inspected the machine and the fluids. "Her temperature is raising steadily, it's good. The anti venom is taking its time kicking in, but it won't be long until the full affect of it occurs." Satisfied, Garou thanked the doctor and took his seat again next to Star. Once more he coiled his tail around her, bracing her enough to keep her body heat in but not enough to restrict her breathing.