Crossover Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Aint Nothing But Magick (reverse) ❯ 9 ( Chapter 9 )

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 Nine

 

 

Sanzo watched as Toby and the group assigned to `kill him' walked in after him. He raised a brow taking a drag of the cigarette from the balcony.

Belle looked on in shock. “I hope we made enough.” She mumbled loud enough for Sanzo to here from where he stood.

“Does that mean we can eat now?” Goku asked.

Gojyo thwacked Goku over the back of the head. “God monkey can't you think about anything else?!”

Hakkai just let out a nervous laugh adjusting his glasses for a moment. “I'm sure we can eat soon, but I do believe we have something we should discuss first.”

“But Hakkai I'm starved!” Goku whined.

Sanzo just scoffed stubbing out his cigarette before walking inside. He looked at J'dee as he passed as she moved outside to have her own cigarette leaning on the balcony looking over the view.

“Maybe we should eat first to calm those with appetites down.” Zack offered and looked at Belle. “If that's okay with you.”

“We didn't make the food for it to sit around and get cold.” Belle smiled.

Hakkai smiled. “I'll help you.”

Sanzo watched as Hakkai helped Belle set the food on to the table.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle watched as the groups dove on the food and she was thankful she had gone for four pounds of pasta instead of just two. Aisha and Goku were all over the food and Gojyo was quick to fight off Goku's assault. Belle sighed as she made sure to get enough for a meal before pulling out and watching the rest fight for food.

Edward was doing his best to out grab Goku while Gojyo shoved both of them out of the way on a regular basis. Aisha was literally body-checking the shinigami out of the way. Belle sighed as she sat down in her recliner, watching Leon diving in while the rest of the fathers stayed to the side.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tobias sat between Shinji and Washu, watching the others eat. Washu had plenty of practice getting her food from the ravenous hordes at dinner and Shinji had helped set the food out so he had been able to fix his plate with relative ease. Tobias merely muscled his way in and was satisfied with his single plate. He ate at the extra folding table with most of the Outlaw Star crew. They all watched with amusement as Aisha devoured another serving bowl of pasta before yanking a tray of convenience store sandwiches towards her.

 

“We've been remodeling the house we purchased, and Aisha has been doing most of the heavy lifting. She must not have had enough lunch if she's eating so much now.” Jim mused. Tobias turned back to the table and was surprised to see Suzuka sitting across from him, calmly eating from a bento. Lord knows where she got one from. Tobias shifted uneasily as she fixed him with that damn stare again. Why the hell was she shootings him those looks?

 

“I don't envy your friends.” Misato said, sitting at the table with a fresh beer. “Especially the pipsqueak over there, he eats a lot for some one his size.”

 

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MIDGET, GARABAGE DISPOSAL YOU DRUNKEN LUSH OF A WENCH?!”

 

“WHO ARE YOU CALLING A WENCH YOU CYBORG SHRIMP?!”

 

Tobias sighed as Misato and Ed got in each other's faces. Ed's arm formed a blade and Misato's gun came out. It was time to stop this before they killed each other.

 

Oh, joy.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Hey I was going to eat that you stupid Kappa!” Goku shouted.

“You snooze you loose monkey.” Gojyo laughed.

J'dee shook her head her hand moving to her face to cover the embarrassment of several hungry anime characters pigging out on the food.

“Oh God it's like my dad's family reunions all over again.” J'dee mumbled to herself.

Zack rubbed behind his head as he slipped to lean against the wall away from everyone with his plate. “Was it that bad?”

“Yeah it was… At least I could run outside and hide from the embarrassment but this.” She shook her head watching as Goku grabbed several items from the table shoving them in to his mouth.

“God put it on the plate first pig.” Gojyo remarked.

“Mrph phrm rmph!” Goku remarked his mouth round the food.

Sanzo slapped Goku over the head with the fan. “Goddamn monkey!”

“Please Goku finish the mouthful before you talk. I believe you're embarrassing Sanzo.” Hakkai remarked and flashed Belle an apologetic look.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle stared at the empty plates and dishes, thankful the serving plates were all disposable. She shook her head as she watched the group stuffing their faces. Goku and Ed were already finished with their food and were stealing from Gojyo's plate.

“Man that was good!” Goku cried before staring at Belle. “What's for dessert?” Belle's jaw nearly dropped to the floor before she laughed.

“You stupid monkey!” Sanzo snarled before he pulled out his fan and Belle quickly pulled Goku behind her.

“Oh Sanzo, calm down before you put more wrinkles on your pretty face,” Belle teased as she pushed Goku into the kitchen.

“I did make some pudding,” Belle laughed nervously as she pulled out her largest mixing bowl and handed Goku a paper bowl, filling it up with pudding and topping it with whipped cream.

“Thanks!” Goku cried before Ed seemed to appear as well as several others.

“Wow, you all were hungry,” Belle sighed as she ladled out dessert.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tobias sighed as the buckets of ice cream he brought were snatched into the fray. He frowned as he saw Aisha take the entire container of mint chocolate chip and curl around it in Belle's chair. Both he and Belle frowned but for different reasons. He wanted a bowl of that, damn it!

 

~*~*~*~

 

Hakkai helped Belle clear up the table so the files and notes could be laid out on the table for comparison. He looked at Sanzo who was the first to drop the file on the table.

“This is what we were given. We were given information on the two of you also.” Hakkai remarked from the kitchen. “Feel free to have a look over and lets see if we can piece together the why factor.”

J'dee moved in from the balcony with her plate moving to the kitchen. Hakkai smiled and took the plate.

“Do you two need a hand?” J'dee asked.

“That would be appreciated. But I believe you and Sanzo have some information that is crucial that the others know.” Hakkai smiled.

“Don't you mean Zack and Sanzo… what would I know?” J'dee asked.

Hakkai smiled. “Trust me Sanzo assured me that you would know when it's brought up.” He looked to Belle. “You should go have a look at the file Miss Belle I believe you might be able to confirm or deny any accusations placed in the files.”

“Alphonse we should add the file the Colonel has on them…” Ed looked to his brother.

Alphonse opened up the plate in his armor and pulled out a file setting it on the table. “This is what we were told Fürher Bradley gave us as orders.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle sighed as she finished braiding her hair, she had been planning on doing the dishes, but she really should review the files. She watched as Havel dropped their file on the table and then Yumichika dropped their own. She sighed as she sat down at the table and opened the first file with her name on it. She grabbed the second file and opened it as well.

“My schedule is the same on both, word for word. However, this one says I'm an Arrancar while this one says that I'm a Methuselah. Apparently, I'm not a very nice person according to either one. I preyed on children's souls as a Hollow before becoming a rather sadistic Arrancar with a habit of bathing in human blood,” Belle said. It was rather annoying but she was slowly going into the numb place she entered when dealing with a very high stress situation. She figured going numb instead of getting overly emotional was a good thing. “I'm not better as a Methuselah because I like to torture my victims for hours, usually making people choose who dies next from amongst their loved ones.”

“It's not very complimentary,” Abel said nervously and Belle shook her head.

“They want us dead, what better way to kill someone than by giving heroes a heinous villain to kill for the greater good?” Belle asked as she looked over the descriptions of her. It advised for close combat a hit to the left abdomen around the bottom side of the ribs. “They know their stuff, whoever sent you. Both files tell you to hit me in the spleen in hand-to-hand situations.”

“Why would that matter?” Abel asked and Belle smiled.

“I have an enlarged spleen, that would rupture it and if the hand-to-hand didn't kill me, I'd die a few days after the rupture anyway,” she stated. “I guess I should pull this out.” She went over to a cabinet and pulled out the bottle of wine.

“What's with the wine?” Leon asked.

“Abel gave it to me,” Belle stated as she pulled the ribbon off of the wine and offered it to Abel. He blushed and laughed nervously.

“Abel!” Havel scolded and Belle smiled.

“Thank you,” she said.

“How did you know I gave you that?” he asked and Belle laughed as she opened her locket, revealing a coil of silver.

“I don't know many angels with silver hair,” she explained.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“What about me?” Tobias asked. He looked at the Outlaw Star crew who shrugged their shoulders.

 

“They offered it to us but all I wanted was a picture of you. I didn't want to get too attached or find some reason not to kill you. That went right out the window when we saw you though.” Gene replied. Tobias sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

 

“Did they mention anything useful about me at all then?” Tobias asked.

 

“Just that some one made a mistake the first time.” Jim piped up.

 

“A mistake?” Belle said. Jim nodded. She frowned and turned her gaze at the others who were listening in. “That explains them.”

 

“It does?” Tobias said, frowning.

 

“Sure, think about it Toby. The rest of us have groups of people from one world. You have Washu from one, Shinji & Misato from another and giant mech from another. I think Washu and the mech are the mistakes. From what I know of Misato, she'd do anything to protect Shinji, if he was kidnapped.” Belle said, and Misato nodded firmly while Shinji blushed.

 

“Really? Why would I be the mistake? I do have more resources.” Washu said, looking up from her holo-computer as she scanned the files (and some discrete scans of the others).

 

“But you're also a goddess. That's way too much power to try and control. It might also explain a lot about why they called in the other groups so soon. Who knows how much power they have to use to keep you separate from your goddess self.” J'dee chimed in.

 

“She's a GOD?” the others cried and Tobias groaned.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee looked at the vase of flowers as Zack moved away and the bottle of wine Abel confessed to giving Belle. Each gift was an apparent message of sympathy.

 

“What about you, Toby? What did they give you?” Belle asked. Tobias shifted, looking uncomfortable.

 

“It was a picture of me, but I was holding Jim as baby with my wife.” He said. He cut off Belle as she was about to ask who. “It's personal, let's leave it at that.”

 

“So these things are supposed to be linked to who you thought we were.” J'dee remarked. “But I don't mean to sound mean or rude, they don't hold any significant value for us here. We're not these people.” Toby stated.

 

Zack slipped from the wall. “You're remnants of the souls who have passed on from the numerous worlds out there.” He explained. “Who you are here I agree is not them. But understand that regardless your soul is linked to their lives in these alternative realities.”

J'dee saw Gojyo looking at her. “How so?” She asked.

“Each world regardless of its layout, location is not a fabrication its events have been merely been recorded in this world by someone who was more in tune to our worlds than they realized.” Zack remarked.

“Show them.” Sanzo stated.

Zack nodded. “There were supposed to be four of you. The fourth was dead by the time we arrived.” He pulled an orange ball out from his pocket setting it on the table. The orange ball held four red stars floating in the center. “I mistook it for materia when I arrived. I thought I could use it. The fourth held this clutched in his hand. I didn't know what it was until I saw that while you were eating.” He motioned to the Dragonball Z box set on the top of the television.

 

J'dee swallowed and moved to pick up the four star dragonball. “He held this in his hand?” She looked up at Zack. “And you took it?”

“You know what happens in my world. Monsters Wutai rebels all carry materia, we collect rare materia for fusion or to help us in battle. Aerith even used Materia.”

“I'm not-” J'dee began.

“I know.” Zack remarked. “You're just a remnant of Aerith's soul.”

“I hate that word.” J'dee mumbled and set the dragonball on the table. “The four star dragonball is linked to Goku.”

“Me?” Goku asked. “I've never seen that before.” He pointed.

“It's a different Goku.” J'dee explained.

Zack shook his head. “It means this Goku was more than likely assigned to kill the fourth and he succeeded.”

Toby shook his head. “I doubt he did. Goku wouldn't.”

“I agree with Toby.” Belle added. “The fourth held it in his hand it means Goku probably was protecting him. Goku wouldn't kill him and leave it behind, it means too much to him.”

“He was protecting the fourth.” Toby added. “We know that much about Goku.”

Zack stood up. “So he went sympathetic.” He looked down.

J'dee frowned. “But who could get past Goku to kill this fourth? I mean no offence but that guy has some serious power. And I hope like hell they're not still around or we're toast.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“My bet is Piccolo and Vegeta working together, one takes on Goku and the other completes the mission,” Belle stated and closed her eyes in contemplation. “Both of them are a strong challenge, both are practical enough to realize they can't get home without the death, and Goku would underestimate the length those two would go. Both Piccolo and Vegeta would be cold enough to kill one to save their group. Vegeta might just have taken on Goku and let a few extra energy blasts go.”

“You seem very certain that we won't do the same,” Hisagi stated and Belle looked at him.

“No, not certain, but we're on better speaking terms so I'm assuming you'd at least hear us out,” Belle sighed before rubbing her head. “I'm just getting caught up on this soul….merger. I don't particularly like the idea of my soul…possessing both Noelle and Trisha's souls…more even.”

“It is a concern of ours as well,” Havel said and Belle looked at him.

“I'm a lapsed Catholic, but I do believe many things and this just seems…harsh. Souls should be able to pass on, whether it's to Heaven or reincarnation, to get stuck in someone else's soul…I don't want to be keeping them from what's next,” Belle stated.

“That is unique,” Renji stated.

“This doesn't make you necessarily evil,” Zack said and Belle sighed.

“It really bugs me because of Abel, Zack, Edward, Alphonse, Gojyo, and Jim,” Belle stated. “We look like someone who matters to them but we're not them, we're…an off version. Like the difference between anime and live action. Enough like the original that we're recognizable, but different enough to drive them crazy.”

“Good analogy,” Toby stated and Belle gave him a look.

“I want to know what's going to happen to Noelle, Trisha, and whoever else is trapped in me,” Belle stated. “Are we trapped in this ever congealing soul or when I die will we all go our separate ways.” Her eyes were closed and she looked up, noticing how Sanzo was staring at her slightly.

“We just don't have those answers,” Havel confessed.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“I don't know about you guys but I think I'll wait for Washu to get the answers.” He jerked a thumb at the resident super-genius, who was busy typing away. “Greatest mind in the universe, remember?”

 

“Just like Toby to hide behind a woman's skirts.” Belle teased.

 

“Huh, guess shorty here isn't the smartest one here for once.” Zack said, smirking.

 

“OIY!” Ed and Tobias shouted.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Roy stood on the balcony and he looked down seeing the light from the floor below and the faint sound of voices coming from the open door on their balcony.

“I know the three of you are there…” He remarked. He looked behind at the table which held the missing file. It was pretty obvious who took it.

“Have you thought of the consequences they will receive when they return?”

Roy stood up and looked over his shoulder at the figure leaning against the wall in the shadows.

“Not yet.” He glanced over at Havoc on the balcony having a cigarette. The blonde seemed lost in thought.

“They're going to get powerful Colonel. You need to end this and fast.”

Roy frowned. “I know.”

“We have linked several portholes up to their worlds so they can return… but only after the blood of the remnants has been shed.” The figure explained. “Your team is all that is left.” He added.

“We'll get the job done.” Roy remarked.

“Good I'd hate to have my minions come after you as well as them.”

Roy snapped his fingers and a shot of flame danced through the air to the corner and the shadow vanished from sight.

Havoc looked over blinking for a moment. “Colonel? Are you alright sir?”

“I'm fine… Lieutenant.” Roy remarked before walking back in to the apartment he was supposed to be sharing with Zack. He definitely needed some words with the former SOLDIER tonight, if the man returned.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle looked over the information, finding it very upsetting. The pictures were the worse because she obviously didn't see the photographer. Images of her shopping, teaching, and just moving around her apartment were horrifying. They were obviously taken right on her balcony in some situations. She shivered and looked out the window.

“We were obviously given enough to be motivated to kill and to have an ease in killing,” Hisagi said and several others nodded.

“It was just lucky that they didn't know how we would view some people still alive,” Jim said, giving Toby a look. Belle was very aware of Edward and Alphonse. She turned to the two and smiled.

“Thank you, for hesitating,” she said and Ed looked away as Al made little sniffling noises. “Oh Alphonse.” Belle barely managed to stay on her feet as the armor hit her, wrapping her up in cold, metal arms. She hugged the empty armor as it wept into her chest while sitting on its knees. She closed her eyes as the tears started to come, almost completely able to see the small boy-child who had tried to play god.

“I've…we've missed you so much Mother!” Alphonse cried and Belle felt the pain in his voice so deeply that she couldn't hold back a sob. It would kill her to think of a child of her body trapped in such a cold, unfeeling shell.

“I'm sorry,” Belle said as she held the crying armor. She spared a look at Edward; golden eyes stared back at her, not quite hiding the pain. To see a child with so many features like her own standing there, barely able to hide his aching soul, it made Belle want to hurt the person who brought them here. “I'm sorry, I'd give her back if I knew how.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“There's something else.” Washu said, speaking up. Everyone turned to her. She hit a button on her keyboard and the screen turned around to display her findings.

 

“Everyone brought here has a slight energy signature on them. It will fade in time, and does no harm but it's like a signature. Whoever brought us here left it on us, by accident or not I don't know. But it may help us detect whoever they send after us.” Washu said.

 

“Great! Can you make something we can all carry around to help us stay alert?' Belle asked.

 

“I can but I'm working on another project that will take a few weeks. I'll make it after I'm done.” Washu said, giving Tobias a glance.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Six months…” J'dee drummed her fingers on the table looking at the four star dragonball.

“And the worlds collide.” Zack finished. “And I don't mean this planet being destroyed so Sephiroth can use it as a vessel to travel to other planets to start his better life.” He rolled his eyes. “I mean as in our worlds or parts of our world appearing here…”

“Like Seventh Heaven?” J'dee asked.

“Or Winry's house on the hill over there?” Al asked.

Zack looked out the window. “A bit more drastic than that… but yeah. I don't think anymore will appear. I was told six months at the meeting I had this morning. He mentioned something about minions but a lot happened today. I'm having trouble recollecting all the information.”

“You were shot several times.” Hakkai pointed out.

 

“Back on topic.” Sanzo interrupted. “There were four of you in this world. You know what four means.” He looked at J'dee.

“A perfect circle and I don't mean the band.” J'dee remarked.

“Explain for the idiots.” Sanzo huffed looking at Goku.

Goku blinked and shot a look at Sanzo. “Heeeey!”

“Ritualistically. Four is required for a circle; each of the four is required to represent a different corner. Each corner assigned an element. The four can then choose to invoke the higher power taking them in to their body for the ritual or for whatever purpose.” J'dee explained and waved her hand about. “I'm not going to go anymore in-depth.”

Sanzo looked at the other teams. “Whoever these asshole are… were getting you lot to do their dirty work. So they can reap the benefits.”

“Okay so what else do we know then?” Hakkai asked. “A ritual, linked souls…”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“The bodies are necessary,” Hugue stated.

“Souls that are slowly growing more and more powerful as all the alternatives are being…united,” Renji added.

“We were unaware of what was coming,” Belle added as she sat on the sofa with Alphonse on one side with his head in her lap so he could stare up at her.

“I want to know about these powers,” Sanzo growled. “What danger are you three going to pose, as individuals?”

“All the information we have points to elements,” Belle sighed. “Does that mean we're going to be Captain Planet elements or Carbon, Hydrogen, Lithium elements?”

“Good questions,” Zack sighed.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Zack moved to the table, grabbing a glass and pouring himself a drink. “This is the first time the surviving souls have been in one world in over a thousand years.” He glanced at the three. “He said there can be only one. Every so often there is one soul out of the many alternatives. That one outlives the other versions. Meaning it gains the power, memories, abilities of the others combined in to one body.” He explained before knocking the drink back. “You three are the last remnants left of your other souls. Otherwise we wouldn't be here.”

J'dee looked to the hole in her dress. “So every other alternative version of us… is dead.”

“Every single one.” Zack replied. “Now's the time to think of other worlds and see which deceased people you know of you sympathize with or you might slightly resemble in one form or another. This might give us some kind of clue of what powers you could possibly end up with in the next month or so. Until then I suggest learn to fight or find something that you can protect yourself with when we can't.” He added.

“So you're saying that if this Goku of that DBZ world can fail… we can to?” Ed asked.

Zack let out a defeated sigh. “Yeah…”

“Well you're not superman you guys can't do everything…” J'dee remarked. “I know some basic martial arts but that won't fight off what tried to kill me today.”

“What tried to kill you?” Belle asked.

“It held youkai energy about it. But it had no face or features, just shadows. That's all they were just shadows.” J'dee replied with a frown. “With automatic weapons and blades.”

Al looked down. “I don't want anything happening to mom… not again.”

Zack looked at Belle who was looking at Al with a sad expression on her face.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle stared at Al before closing her eyes and thinking hard again.

“My first call would have been Trisha anyway. I wouldn't have guessed Noelle though,” Belle said.

“Did it say anything about souls always being the same gender?” Sanzo asked.

“Who else do you think would be an obvious one, Belle?” Kira asked.

“Rem, from Trigun,” Belle said with a nod and J'dee nodded.

“Yeah, that's one you fit,” she said.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“The girls have reason to be a threat but I don't.” Tobias said. The others turned to stare at him. He shrugged. “No offense but I don't feel anything like that.”

 

“What about at the car earlier today?” Shinji said, and he blushed as the others turned to look at him.

 

“What happened at the car?” Belle demanded, shooting a glare at Tobias. Tobias shot a glare of his own at Shinji, who ducked behind Washu.

 

“Nothing, we just saw some lights in the sky. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it was a mech battle in the sky.” Tobias replied.

 

“I'd bet anything, that happened at the same time as Seventh Heaven and the Rockbell house appeared.” Zack said. Tobias shrugged.

 

“But it's what happened during it!” Shinji said. He eeped and ducked behind Washu as Tobias's glare shot back to him. It felt warmer in the room, like the temperature had gone up a degree or two.

 

“It was nothing.” Tobias hissed. Misato rolled her eyes.

 

“He reached for the sky and whispered something about getting a video feed.” She said.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Have you thought about who else you could possibly be?” Zack asked walking up to J'dee looking out at Gojyo on the balcony.

“Deceased is a hard one.” J'dee looked at the Bleach crew Renji pointing and laughing at something that Yumichika had said regarding Ikkaku. “I guess Ichigo's mother is where I would start. I've always felt I should have three kids, one boy two girls no more no less… I felt the boy should be older and this was before I saw Bleach and I know those kids will be able to see and hear the dead like I do. Probably even more so than I can, though lately it's getting hard to tell the difference.”

Zack smiled. “Sorry about that.”

“Not your fault.”

“Anyone else?”

Goku popped up beside J'dee. “I know who else!”

 

J'dee raised a brow. “Goku you're eavesdropping.”

Goku grinned before chuckling. “But you look like Gojyo's dead girlfriend.”

“Gojyo had a girlfriend?” Zack blinked. “He doesn't seem the commitment type.”

Goku was knocked back by a boot to the head.

“Shut the hell up monkey!” Gojyo snapped.

J'dee turned and looked at Gojyo. Goku had said something similar at the airport on the way over about looking like her.

“Gojyo?” She asked.

Gojyo looked to the side. “It's just a coincidence honey.” He shoved his hands in his pockets walking back outside again.

Goku rubbed his head. “Man what's his problem?”

J'dee looked at her food for a moment.

“I'm sorry Miss J'dee, but I do have to agree with Goku you resemble Miss Kougyoku…” Hakkai remarked looking out at Gojyo leaning on the railing.

“Why didn't you say anything?” J'dee asked.

“It didn't cross my mind again until Zack mentioned remnants.” Hakkai replied. “I'm sorry. I didn't think Gojyo thought much of it until now.”

“Just what I always wanted to be when I grew up… a remnant.” J'dee huffed.

“I'm going to go talk to him.” Zack moved out on to the balcony slipping up next to Gojyo.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle sighed as she got up and grabbed a towel to dry off the plates. Edward and Alphonse were watching her and she could feel it. She hoped that being similar to Trisha Elric wasn't mentally scaring the boys more. As she dried the plates she didn't notice that the water was turning into water vapor at an abnormally quick rate.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“So what now?” Gene asked. Tobias shrugged. He opened a beer and watched Shinji go into the kitchen to offer to help Belle with the dishes.

 

“Not a clue. We didn't learn much, and we're just going to have to see how it goes for a few days. I just finished the latest house I was contracted to design so I can afford to take a year or two off with my savings. I can be at home most of the time and we can plan. We have no idea how long this is going to last.”

 

“Six months, according to Zack's info.” Jim replied. Tobias shrugged.

 

“Six months then but I think this is going to take a lot longer then that.”

 

“Why do you say that?” Melfina asked.

 

“Just a feeling.” Tobias replied.

 

“Watch out ladies, Toby has a feeling! Watch you butts and chests around him!” Belle called out from the kitchen.

 

“OIY!”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Gojyo looked at Zack. “What happens now dude?”

Zack shook his head. “When I know you'll know. Let them try to live a normal life for a few days but eventually when we can get Roy on our side then we'll head towards the gate. Until then we guard them the best we can.”

“What's going to happen when they mentally admit they were these people?” Gojyo looked below.

Zack blinked. “I… don't know really… I guess the memories might start coming.”

“Joy… I'm not going to enjoy that dude… just so you know.” Gojyo pointed out.

 

 

 

To Be Continued…