Crossover Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Aint Nothing But Magick (reverse) ❯ 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Title: Ain't Nothing But Magick (Reverse)

Author: J'dee, Mabelle, & Tobias

Rating: PG-13 some smoking and drinking refs…

Genre: Drama / Humor/ Action / Adventure / Romance

Author's Note: The original ANBM was a fic where 25 authors + were pulled in to the DBZ/GT world, the reverse is just that… a reverse where a select number of anime characters are yanked in to the real world, with not a true reason why, and no idea how to get back to their home…

 

Chapter Eight

 

J'dee gasped as she sat up suddenly and she looked at Hakkai he pulled his hands back looking at her.

“You're alright Miss J'dee.” Hakkai smiled.

“Zack?! Where is he?” J'dee looked round. She stopped as she saw the flash of silver and heard the sound of metal hitting metal with the sound of bullets.

“Hakkai healed him, he's fine he's gone to take out the asshole with the sword from hell.” Gojyo explained. “Now lets go.” He wrapped his arms round her and he pulled her away from the commotion.

J'dee's hand moved over the blood red stain on the pink dress and she let out a breath. “Won't be wearing this again.” She stuck her finger in the hole looking down checking her skin for any cuts bruises… something, but found it just held the dried blood from the stab wound.

“Clothes are the last of your worries.” Hakkai smiled at her helping her along.

The metallic sound of blades clanking echoed the area and J'dee looked round. “Why… go to all this trouble to kill us?”

Gojyo shook his head. “I'm not sure honey…”

 

There was a sudden whooshing sound and J'dee felt herself flanked between Hakkai and Gojyo as several of the shadow gunmen appeared.

“Dude I knew Sanzo should have let us steal a couple of those Shinigami guys.” Gojyo commented.

Zack landed down next to them, his blade spinning round about him before he slammed the tip in to the ground an dragged it though the ground and up shooting a burst of energy shooting from it knocking them back before he turned and looked at her.

“Aerith are you alright?”

J'dee just nodded her head. “Just get me home. Please.”

“Where did the man with that usual gun go?” Hakkai asked.

“The shadows...” Zack replied. “Its how he was able to sneak up on Aerith from behind. He's one of their minions.”

Gojyo shot him a glare. “So dude does this mean you're not going to try to kill her now?”

J'dee watched as blue eyes met red. “I'm not going to kill her.”

Hakkai smiled. “Then welcome to the team Zack.” He held out his hand.

Zack grabbed it shaking it. “Roy's not going to be happy, but hey it's not the first time I've gone on the run from the military.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“That was strange,” Alphonse said and Belle nodded.

“Just another reason to solve this whole mess quickly, I'm glad you're going to meet with us,” Belle said to Abel and he smiled at her gently, making her heart race slightly.

“I'd rather do anything other than kill you,” he said with a nervous laugh and Belle felt the spell break at the mention of her death again.

“Well, I'll cook a feast for all of us and hopefully we'll come up with a way to solve this mystery. I still feel like I'm missing part of the puzzle and once I have it, everything will make sense again,” she sighed.

“We'll share that at the meeting, each group might know more or less,” Abel stated.

“Right, like why you look like our mother,” Alphonse said and Belle looked at him.

“Well, I just have to wonder why me, why did I have to be the focal point of this…identical triplets separated at birth and by dimension plot,” Belle sighed.

“There may be more than that,” Hisagi said and the group stopped and stared at him. “I'm beginning to suspect that you look like someone from all of our dimensions, I've just started to think that if you look like someone who's died in two worlds that were brought here, and you may look like more than that.”

“He's right,” Abel said. “We were given you but the source must not have known you looked like Noelle or they would know we would hesitate. Edward and Alphonse's mother was obviously another mistake since they were eventually going to see you if your roommate was their target.”

“I could look like any number of people through any of your worlds, what about Toby's worlds too?” Belle's eyes widened. “Hell we could be in each of the worlds and no one sent here might have met our…other selves in those worlds.”

“We could use Mayuri's database thingie right now,” Renji sighed and Belle blinked.

“Would that work?” Belle asked and Renji nodded.

“Captain Kurotsuchi is developing a list of the dead. He's completed the last hundred years and is working his way backwards. We could easily check the last hundred years of death to find a woman matching your description,” Hisagi sighed and Belle nodded.

“We could see if I existed in your world in some form or not,” Belle wistfully replied and the rest nodded.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Look we've been talking about this for hours. Let's just go to Belle's place. We can meet up with everyone and talk this out.” Tobias said. This conversation had been going on forever. It was going round and round, covering the same topics. How to get home, who brought them here, nothing but speculation.

 

It was really starting to get on his nerves.

 

“Fine. We have a couple cars we'll go get them.” Gene grudgingly agreed. The Outlaw Star's crew began to leave, but Tobias followed them out. Making sure the others weren't listening in, and turned to Jim.

 

“A moment if you will.” Tobias asked. Gene frowned and opened his mouth to say no when Jim cut him off.

 

“It's okay Gene, I think I know what he wants to ask me. I'll be fine.” Jim said and patted his jacket, where Tobias knew he must have a gun. Gene glanced at them both before frowning.

 

“Ten minutes.” Gene said curtly. He left with the others. Tobias and watched them go until they were out of sight.

 

“He cares a lot.” Tobias said, stating the obvious. Jim couldn't help but grin.

 

“He's like my big brother. An annoying big brother but you get the point.” Jim said. They two stared at each other, a 10 year old genius and 25 year old bachelor. Family in one world, strangers in another.

 

“You sent me the picture.” Tobias stated. Jim winced. “And Misato is you're mother then because you have to be the baby in the picture.”

 

“Yes.” Jim agreed. They appraised each other silently.

 

“I'm not you're father and I don't want to try to be.” Tobias said. Jim shuffled uncomfortably. “But we are family in a way.”

 

“Wha?” Jim said intelligently. Tobias grinned and ruffled Jim's hair. “Hey!”

 

“Come visit and we'll talk, okay? I don't want to be your dad but I can be your friend. And don't try and push me and Misato together.” Tobias said. Jim couldn't help but grin.

 

“Deal.” He said.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee came to the edge of the forest and she held her hand up to stop Hakkai, Gojyo and Zack. “You three stay here I've got to get them to cut this thing short.”

J'dee came out of the forest and she stopped seeing Sephy come up the hillside. “There you are… what took you so… shit! Are you okay?!” She raced up to her at the sight of the blood and tear on the dress.

“I'm fine. I just ran in to something a little un-natural we need to leave okay?” J'dee looked at Sephy.

“You know he doesn't believe in that stuff.” Sephy looked to the slanting horizon where he sat Silver hair flapping in the wind.

“It's alright if he does or doesn't. I just- can't stay here because of that…”

Sephy looked at her. “You've been acting odd for a few months now… what's going on?”

J'dee looked down. “I wish I knew. A storm maybe.”

Sephy frowned. “Are you going to look in to it more?”

J'dee nodded. “I'll do a reading tonight.” She heard her cellphone warbling out the mission accomplished tune before she pulled it out flipping it open. “Hello?”

“Hey Aerith… a friendly reminder… we need to leave the area now.” She blinked looking down at the number on the caller I.D and blinked. She turned round looking to the forest and she saw Zack as he waved on his cellphone. She slapped her forehead with a sigh.

“Who is that?” Sephy asked.

“Just a friend… I think.” J'dee replied.

“Tell her I'm coming out to say hello.” Zack grinned.

“What no don't do that!” J'dee protested.

 

~*~*~*~

 

As the group approached the apartment building Belle looked to the side and stared.

“That's…strange,” she whispered as she looked at the small hill across the street. At the top was a quaint yellow house that seemed so familiar. “That wasn't there before.”

“Brother!” Alphonse cried and Belle noticed the color drop from Edward's face.

“What is it?” Renji cried obviously ready for an attack.

“That's Winry's house!” Alphonse cried.

“You're kidding,” Belle said as she began walking towards it.

“Belle it could be a trap,” Hisagi stated and Belle shook her head.

“We're just looking,” Belle stated as her feet carried her towards the building and Belle could swear she had walked the dirt road before. It was so familiar under her shoes as she approached.

Sure enough the small sign over the door read `Rockbell' over the door and Belle knew as soon as she walked in there would be a table for hosting guests. She almost walked all the way to the house but stopped.

“I have to cook dinner for the group,” Belle reminded herself. She couldn't take a short break to stop and see someone who may or may not be there. “Don't go there boys, we don't know what will happen if it stops being there with you in it.” Alphonse and Edward stopped and looked at Belle for a moment. “Trust me on this, I may not be your mother, but I don't want to see you hurt by an illusion.” They gave her a look and then turned around.

“Are you okay?” Abel asked and Belle smiled.

“I will be, but I'm going to need help cooking in the not so distant future,” she said with a smile.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tobias and the others were waiting in the drive way for the Outlaw Star crew to show up. Everyone was deathly quiet, and no one knew what to say. Tobias was lost in his own thoughts, wondering what the hell was going on. He was so confused.

 

Why him? Why now? How did the Outlaw Star team know they were brought here to kill him but not the others? What was going on?

 

He sighed and leaned back against the car. He looked up into the darkening sky. He blinked, seeing a streak of light. Then another, and another. More followed and some even seemed to collide to make brief flares of light.

 

“What the hell?” Tobias said, drawing the attention of the others up.

 

“Cool, a meteor shower!” Shinji said. Tobias didn't see Misato slowly shake her head, he was staring transfixed on the lights.

 

“I don't think so, Shinji.”

 

Tobias stared, feeling himself enraptured with the scene. His vision felt hazy and he stretched his hand up towards the lights in the twilight sky.

 

“Doctor Links! We have footage of the Antilia incident! Come see!”

 

“Be right Mr. Fiften.”

 

“Oh how I would love to pilot an Orbital Frame! To soar amongst the stars!”

 

Feminine laughter.

 

“Oh Tobias.”

 

“Toby?” A voice said, gently laying a hand on his arm. Tobias jerked and lowered his hands (how had he raised the both) and blinked his eyes rapidly, clearing them. He saw Washu & Misato's concerned faces.

 

“What on Earth was that?” Tobias muttered. He shook his head as two cars came up his drive way. He turned to the car and opened his door.

 

“Let's go.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Zack slipped out of the trees still on the phone walking up to Aerith, he saw Reno look at him eyes wide and he stopped in front of Aerith her mouth moving.

“I told you I was coming out to say hello.” Zack teased.

Aerith gave him a push hissing. “Why do you have to make this so difficult?”

 

Gojyo looked on pointing. “Hakkai that asshole he's going to blow everything.”

Hakkai let out a breath. “So I noticed.”

“We can't just let him do this!” Gojyo protested.

“We have to stay hidden Miss Sephy knows who we are. She's met us, she won't leave if she sees us as well.” Hakkai remarked. “We have to wait this out.”

 

J'dee stood there looking up at Zack.

“I'm not making anything difficult.” Zack smiled at her.

“I think you are.”

“And I think you're both crazy wasting cellphone call time. When you're standing right next to each other.” Sephy cut in. “So whose the Zack? And I can't believe you didn't invite him earlier!” She pulled out her camera snapping a photo. “I'm e-mailing this to Tseng yo.”

J'dee let out a breath. `Tseng' being code for Jubei who pulled off a very good Tseng cos-play. “What are you doing?” She looked at Sephy.

Sephy looked over. “I take it the Bleach photo shoot is cancelled. So I'm snapping what photos I can.”

“Tomorrow you can catch up.” Zack replied. “I need to take Aerith home to recover. You know she's not well. This is one of those days.” His hand moved to the closed wound. “I get the feeling Belle will blame me for this.”

Sephy let out a breath. “Do you want a ride?”

“We have one organized.” Zack replied.

Sephy nodded. “Text me the results okay… Aerith?”

J'dee nodded her head slowly. “I'm sorry.”

“Belle, Toby and Aerith have some time plotted in tonight. Tomorrow okay?” Zack looked at her.

“I just get the feeling I might never see you again.” Sephy frowned.

J'dee walked up to her and pulled her in to a hug. “I'm so sorry. I promise tomorrow… Nothing will stop tomorrow. You can catch the movie with Sephiroth tonight. We'll have some us time tomorrow I totally promise.”

Sephy nodded. “You better or I'll send my Zack over to kidnap Cloud.” She motioned before stepping back.

 

~*~*~*~

 

The group arrived at the apartment to find Goku asleep on the couch and Belle sighed before directing where to put the groceries for the time being. Soon enough the kitchen was back in a semblance of order and Belle felt a little more real again.

“I will head out now,” Abel said and Belle nodded.

“Come to the meeting tonight, we need to decide what to do, if the worlds are overlapping we need to do something about it,” she said and Abel nodded as he looked at her thoughtfully.

“I hope we come to a non-violent solution,” Abel said and Belle nodded in agreement.

“I hope so too,” she whispered before he left.

“Now what's the news,” Yumichika asked from the doorway as Abel left.

“We've got more allies,” Hisagi stated and Belle began making a mental checklist.

“Okay boys, I need someone to start washing potatoes…Goku could you?” she asked and Goku nodded as he began to scrub the potatoes lightly.

“Alphonse could you skin them?” she asked and Alphonse nodded.

“Sure thing, Mom,” he said and Belle's heart jumped. She had been in a baby-wanting phase for a little bit now. It was nice to be called mom and she said nothing as she looked at Ed. He was staring at Al and her.

“Could you slice the potatoes into thin strips?” she asked.

“I guess,” Ed muttered.

“I'll start making the salad then,” she said as she pulled out the produce and a large bowl.

“I'm going to supervise,” Yumichika commented and Belle glared at him. “I'll go guard the front door then.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee sat in the backseat of Hakaryuu as they drove back to the apartment. Her head resting on Zack's shoulder as his hand moved over the hole in the back of the dress.

“I'm sorry… Aerith… I didn't get to you in time.” He whispered.

“It's J'dee.” Gojyo corrected. “She's not Aerith, she's not Kougyoku.” He looked out the side of the jeep lighting up a cigarette.

“Please try to stay awake Miss J'dee. This meeting will be important especially after earlier.” Hakkai remarked.

J'dee nodded her head tiredly. “I think the blood loss and stress are finally catching up to me.” She let her eyes close.

 

Zack pulled her close arms wrapping around her. `I know you're not Aerith… but if we don't fix this… you will be.' He thought to himself and he could feel the shadows glaring at him. His eyes moved over the buildings as they passed by.

A small bar tucked away between several buildings caught his eyes and he blinked. “HAKKAI STOP!” He shouted.

Hakkai hit the brakes and Zack felt J'dee stir and she looked over. “What? Huh?”

Zack moved from the jeep running up to the bar and he looked up at the logo, he had seen it from his time in the life stream he knew this building.

“Seventh Heaven.”

 

J'dee looked over hearing the words and she saw the bar sitting there.

“Dude we have to get back for the meeting I want a beer as much as the next asshole but if we're late-” Gojyo stopped. “J'dee, oiy!”

J'dee was running up to the bar and her hand moved to the window and she looked inside. “Zack… What's going on?”

“The worlds are beginning to cross over.” He looked at her.

J'dee reached in to her satchel and she pulled out a camera stepping back snapping a photo and stepping back she flicked through the digital photos and she looked up comparing the images. “There's someone inside.” She raced to the door.

“Miss J'dee please take it easy!” Hakkai shouted.

J'dee burst through the doors and she looked round the interior. It was empty and she moved to the stairs at the far end of the bar running up them to check the rooms she knew that were upstairs.

 

Zack, Hakkai and Gojyo entered the bar in time to see J'dee run up the steps. “What's she doing?” Gojyo asked.

“She saw someone. She's double checking.” Zack replied.

“There's no one here… how odd.” Hakkai mused and looked out the window and he stopped seeing the image outside the bar did not match the city at all. “…………”

Zack stepped up to the base of the stairs. “J'dee! We can't stay in here… it's not from your world the longer you linger in a place the more you become-” He stopped when he felt Gojyo's hand touch his shoulder.

“I'll grab her dude.” Gojyo headed up the stairs.

 

~*~*~*~

 

The group was working happily with Belle instructing how to make the stuffed mushrooms, Ed was removing the stems while Alphonse was cutting up the ingredients and Goku was stuffing the caps. It was a fun assembly line with the boys laughing and having fun. Belle could help the smile on her face as Ed teased Goku and Goku gave it right back. Her heart melted and she began slicing up the eggplant for eggplant parmesan.

The salad was in the fridge as well as a collection of meats that the boys could set up on plates for the guests to pick at. The eggplant was going to be in a casserole with tiny paper plates and there would be some pasta. Belle had saved two batches worth of sauce in the freezer and she was thawing it out now. There would be enough for the eggplant and several pounds of pasta. No one would be hungry.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Here.” Tobias said, opening the door of the convenient store for Misato. He had the cart next to him while Misato had a few cases of beer.

 

“Thanks.” She muttered. Together, they made their way to the car, where Shinji opened the trunk for the groceries.

 

“This should be enough. Now Belle won't lose it when I show up with six extras mouths to feed than she was expecting.” Tobias said. He knew his friends so well. Belle loved cooking for people she had over.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Gojyo found J'dee standing by the window looking outside. “Beautiful… we can't linger here.”

She turned round looking at him. “Why am I looking out at Gaia?”

His hand slipped in to hers and he pulled her up to him and in to his arms. “Don't look beautiful, I like you as you are.”

J'dee mumbled a reply in to his chest and he felt the arms slip round him. “We're killing our own world by living… why now? Why did it have to happen now?”

Gojyo guided her to the stairs blocking her view and he looked at Hakkai and Zack standing at the base of the stairs. “Lets get her out of here.”

Zack nodded. “It's begun… The worlds are colliding.”

Gojyo saw Hakkai look at him. “Colliding?”

“The longer she lives the more places, monuments, and possibly evils of our world will cross over. That's why we had to kill her, that's what they told me, they die this world is preserved.” Zack explained.

“How long will it take?” Hakkai asked.

“If we don't kill her. Six months till all the worlds collide in to this one. If we kill her, everything will revert to the way it was before.” Zack replied. “What he told me was the souls of those departed from several worlds their thoughts, powers, abilities were split between the remaining versions of their souls.”

Gojyo led J'dee down the stairs. “So they get stronger, no reason to kill them.”

“No but each time one of them dies another one receives more strength and more power, till there's only one left… they pretty much become a prophet or clairvoyant, a human being with unusual elemental abilities. But this… This is the first time in over a thousand years the deceased souls have found three of their living counterparts in one world…”

Gojyo caught Hakkai's look at Zack.

“How do we fix this?” Hakkai asked as they made their way to the door.

“They wanted to kill them.” Zack replied. “They didn't explain much more than kill them and the worlds will be safe.”

J'dee mumbled against Gojyo's chest. “There's always another way.”

Gojyo nodded opening the door leading J'dee outside and in to the back seat of Hakaryuu sitting next to her holding her close.

Zack slipped in to the passenger side as Hakkai changed gears as they pulled off away from the building.

“I'd like to believe there could be another way.” Gojyo heard the SOLDIER whisper.

“Can we stop for smokes and chocolate along the way?” J'dee mumbled in to Gojyo's chest. “I'm out.”

“I'm sure we can beautiful.” Gojyo ran his hands through her hair.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“You're looking at the clock again,” Renji commented and Belle blinked, she hadn't even noticed she was staring at the clocks so intently.

“They're late.” Belle stated and there was silence.

“Hakkai and Gojyo'll protect her,” Goku said and Belle smiled, he looked like a disaster.

“You're a mess Goku, go back to your place and wash up, you're covered in sauce and bits and pieces of everything you helped make,” Belle said with a smile before looking at Ed and Al. Alphonse looked fine but Ed had streaks of something on his cheek and his human hand was a mess. “You should wash up too Edward.”

“Okay,” he muttered as he headed to the bathroom.

“How are you feeling?” Renji asked and Belle thought about it.

“Content for the most part, but I'm worried, what's going to happen to our world if us being alive is causing these…side affects,” Belle sighed.

“So having those kids around is alright?” Renji asked and Belle nodded.

“Yeah, it's fine,” she said. “I've been looking for a reason not to have children anyway.”

“You are so gonna have a kid soon,” Renji chuckled and Belle stuck her tongue out at him.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Havoc had spent his time wandering several minimarts trying to find his brand of cigarettes but to no success this was the last one and he'd seen them behind the counter thankfully and he was treating himself to some junk food and something to make an easy dinner.

He was about to head up to the counter when he heard the door chime and he stopped dead as the `target' walked in.

She was dressed in pink and his eyes went to the blood staining the front of the dress, she looked tired and worn out.

`Did Zack go overboard?' He thought.

She moved to the drink isle and watched her grab an apple juice, orange juice a carton of beer and a raspberry soda.

Havoc slipped through to the next isle following her curiously. She was a woman an injured woman on a mission for something. He was sure she was going for the bandages or something medical, all she grabbed was over the counter pain killers. No bandages, no antiseptic or anything of the sort.

 

To Havoc's surprise she stopped in the chocolate isle and he slipped closer, she was looking up at the top shelf with agitation at the fruit and nut chocolate.

“Oh bloody hell.” She looked to her full arms then to the chocolate.

Havoc slipped up behind her. “Need a hand?” He reached up and pulled the block of chocolate down adding it to her pile and flashed her a smile.

She looked at him blinking. “Um thanks.”

Havoc nodded his head. “You're welcome. Do you need a hand with anything else?”

She thought for a moment. “I might… if you don't mind.” She looked to her full arms.

Havoc helped her take half of the stuff and she smiled grateful at him. It wasn't what he was supposed to be doing. Eventually he would have to kill this girl, but she seemed so normal, there wasn't anything unusual about her like the creeps from the shadows had said.

`How is she an alchemist?' Havoc thought as she picked a few other bits and odds before walking up to the counter and placing the items on it.

 

Havoc stopped and his eyes moved over the alchemy tattoo on her right forearm before she reached in to her bag and he stopped seeing a state alchemist pocket watch at the bottom.

“Into alchemy are we?” Havoc asked. `This world has state alchemists?' He hadn't seen any evidence of them until now.

She stopped and looked at him shocked. “Ohmigod are you kidding me? You know alchemy?”

“Well I haven't studied it personally. But I know a few people that have. So what do others think it is?” Havoc motioned at the tattoo.

“I've been accused of being a Satanist, liking death metal, thrash metal and just general metal, with the sacrificing goats and eating babies bit. But you are like the first person to know exactly what this means. Others are close with pagan and wiccan symbols. But this is a gypsy alchemy symbol.”

“Gypsy alchemy.” Havoc repeated so far those reports were true.

“Yeah. It's also the symbol of protection from harmful influences. So anything harmful that comes my way is rejected. It also is a symbol of communication with those who have passed on.” She looked sad for a moment but she smiled at him. “I'm honored to finally meet someone who knows more than average Joe Blogs about this stuff.”

“It's nice to meet you too…” He watched as she motioned to the smokes.

“Oh and a carton of Marlboro red too please.”

“You smoke?”

She smiled. “Bad habits die hard.”

He saw her pull out her Visa paying for her goods. She slipped them in to a few packing environmentally friendly bags.

Havoc saw the check out operator look at him and he placed his stuff on the counter and motioned at a carton of smokes.

“I know the feeling.” He smiled as she looked at him, seeing his smokes as she lifted up her bags.

“It was nice meeting you.” She stated slipping the accepted docket in to her bag.

“I know this is kind of sudden but-.” Havoc looked at her as she set her bags down and pulled out a pen grabbing his hand and he watched her write a number on it.

“What you were after?”

He smiled. “That's pretty close actually. The name's Jean.”

“J'dee.” She smiled grabbing her bags. “Thank you Jean.”

Havoc watched the `target' leave and he looked to the number on his hand. `This is going to be difficult.'

 

~*~*~*~

 

Gojyo moved through the door a carton of beer under his arm, “We got beer monk!”

Hakkai followed carrying the two bags. “Sorry Miss Belle we're late.” Hakkai apologized. “We ran in to a little problem.”

Belle let out a breath. “I was worried sick. But I have something to confess as well.”

J'dee walked through the door and she looked at Belle, Belle looked at the blood stains on the dress.

“I hope that's part of the costume.” Belle remarked.

“That's the reality of the situation.” Zack stated walking through the door. “They're going to whatever means possible to make sure you will die.”

 

J'dee saw Belle looking at Zack.

“J'dee…” Belle's voice began.

“I know but he's alright.” J'dee remarked. “You know me and my tendency to pick guys up… especially if they're cute.”

There was a laugh from the table. J'dee stopped seeing the blonde hair pulled back in to the braid and that cocky smile. “Some dogs of the military we turned out to be.”

“What…” J'dee looked at Ed then she saw the armor of Alphonse sitting in the other seat.

“Are you going to help mom out too?” Alphonse asked looking at Zack

J'dee motioned. “I… I'm not even going to ask.”

 

Zack walked past J'dee his hand moved to the back of Ed's chair and he yanked it turning it round so Ed faced him.

“Does Roy know you're here?”

“Does he know you're here?” Ed retorted. “That's some contact you made.” He motioned at the blood stained dress.

“I didn't hurt her. I couldn't…” Zack let out a breath. “This is serious they've started summoning their other minions to do what we obviously couldn't.”

“Minions?” Belle interrupted and she looked at J'dee.

Hakkai bowed. “I'm sorry Miss Belle I only just got to Miss J'dee and Zack in time.”

Belle nodded her head. “Toby's late… I hope nothing like this has happened to him.”

J'dee looked outside. “When he gets here Zack is going to repeat what he told Hakkai, Gojyo and myself. It seems they liked to keep Zack more informed than Roy.”

Zack let out a breath. “Roy is smart, calculating, manipulative. They know this. That makes him dangerous in their books, he was to know what they wanted him to know, no more no less, to keep him hanging at a distance till he got the job done.”

Al looked at Zack. “They're playing the Colonel. He won't like that.”

Zack looked at Al. “He's not stupid to know he's not being played. This is why we were hanging back. It's something Tseng would do.” He shook his head. “He's like Tseng… just…” He trailed off.

“Less serious and more perverted.” J'dee cut in.

“Tell me about it. He wanted Al and I to install cameras in your bedrooms.” Ed grumbled.

J'dee blinked. “You didn't though did you?”

“No!” Ed huffed turning round crossing his arms.

J'dee looked at Belle. “We need to have ourselves a little talk with the Colonel after this meeting I believe.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Agreed, something else is happening here and we need to know,” Belle said as she looked at Zack and the others. “We have too many coincidences here. I supposedly look like Noelle Bor and Trisha Elric.”

“Aerith for me,” J'dee replied and Belle nodded.

“It's too weird of a coincidence, I just find something fishy about it,” Belle sighed. “How can we be duplicates of all these people?”

“With everyone working together, we should know,” Renji said and Ed nodded.

“We'll share what we know, hopefully…it will help,” Ed said and Belle smiled.

“I think we need a plan and soon,” Belle said. “Our world may not be able to take much of this. Plus…I think we may be duplicates for more than just who we know right now.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Hey! I know we're late but I think you're going to want to here about this!” Tobias said, as Belle opened the door. Tobias saw her mouth drop open as she saw the huge group behind him.

 

“Whatcha got to eat?” Aisha asked eagerly.

 

 

 

To Be Continued…