Crossover Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Aint Nothing But Magick (reverse) ❯ 10 ( Chapter 10 )

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 10

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle sighed as she hit the mental wall and she stood up and pushed the files away from her.

“I can't do anymore tonight,” she sighed as she got up. “This is just too much for one night. I'm apparently a black hole for souls and possibly going to be capable of controlling an element in the not too distant future. I also have work tomorrow.”

“True, some of us have to work for a living,” Toby said and slowly the groups began to get together, except for two who were passed out on the couch and in the recliner. Belle smiled as she looked at the two young men.

“I think we should let the boys sleep,” Belle said as she watched Ed and Goku compete in a snoring contest.

“Are you sure you don't mind, Mom?” Al asked and Belle shook her head as she pulled a felt blanket off of the back of the sofa and tossed it over Goku. She pulled a quilt out of a steamer trunk and tossed it over Edward.

“It's okay, Al, if you don't mind of course,” she said.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Taking a quick head count, Tobias paled when he noticed who was missing in his group.

 

“Hey, where's Suzu?” Aisha asked. The others looked around for Suzuka but she was no where in or around the apartment.

 

“Eh, she'll turn up eventually.” Gene said with a shrug. Zack shot him an exasperated look.

 

“After what we've discussed about tonight, you're not the least bit concerned.” He demanded. Gene shrugged as he helped Melfina into her jacket.

 

“She does this on occasion, and even if she did get into trouble I doubt it'd be so quiet.” Gene smirked. “She tends to be hard on things with her bokken.” They all laughed, but Tobias's chuckle was a bit forced. He remembered the strange looks she'd been giving him.

 

“See you later folks. Remember, party at my place this Saturday?” Tobias reminded them. Anything to stall for more time, and wait until twilight was over. Not like he was paranoid or anything, he just he didn't want to wake up tomorrow with a serious case of death.

 

“Yeah, yeah, we'll be there!” Gojyo called, from somewhere in the apartment. Tobias delayed, pretending to look for his keys until Misato shot him a glare. Laughing nervously, and hoping he'd stalled enough, he headed home with the others.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Zack moved out on to the balcony and he looked up, he glanced back at J'dee and he caught her looking at him, he really hoped the female samurai wasn't prone to dislocating body parts, he'd hate to see Aerith's soul upset over the death of one of her friends. He forced a grin.

“I'll call you later…” He jumped up grabbing on to Roy's balcony and flipping he landed on it with a crouch before pulling the sliding door open.

 

Roy sat at the kitchen table. “Did you at least return the file?” He asked.

Zack held the file up and walked up to it dropping the file on the table. “We didn't take anything just so you know.”

Roy looked up at him. “Does she look that much like her that you have to go and disobey direct orders?” He asked.

Zack nodded. “She does and she was nearly killed tonight.”

Roy looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. “We had nothing to do with that.”

“I know you didn't because they nearly killed me too.” Zack remarked.

Roy motioned at the seat. “Tell me about the men who hired us and everything they told you.”

 

Zack looked at Roy pulling the seat out. “We're enemies now Roy.”

“I know. But we have a similar goal, to make sure we get back to our homes.” Roy glanced up at him.

“This will be the last night I'll stay in this room. But I'll tell you what you need to know.” Zack replied.

“Don't worry I've already booked an apartment for myself down the road. You can stay here and keep Ed and Al here if they get to be too much for downstairs I know from experience they're a handful.” Roy explained.

Zack blinked. “You don't mind.”

“Just don't get in our cross hairs Fair.” Roy remarked.

Zack grinned. “Wasn't planning on it… but it'll be interesting to see the outcome. My alchemy verses yours.”

Roy just grinned. “Indeed it will. But we will avoid casualties or causing a disturbance in this world.”

“Fair enough.” Zack remarked as he looked at Roy sitting calmly across the table from him. “The three that hired us…” He began ready to let the colonel know what he knew they were dealing with.

 

~*~*~*~

 

As the Fathers were leaving Belle was tucking in Goku, slipping a throw pillow behind his head carefully. She smiled as she tucked the blanket in around him. She approached Ed and her eyes softened as she looked at him. She pulled off his boots and wrapped his feet in the blanket.

Abel watched how Belle smiled as she tucked in the young man. It was strange to see Noelle acting as a mother, but it was extremely right for her. As he watched Belle tuck Ed in, pausing to kiss the young man's forehead, Abel had a feeling that if Noelle's soul was merged in Belle's this wasn't a bad life to be in. He intended to see that Noelle got to have a life, a real one.

“Night Abel,” Belle said as she approached the group. “Good night Fathers.” She waved and the group headed out.

“So who's room am I sleeping in,” Gojyo asked as he stepped out of the bathroom and Belle gave a dead-pan glare.

“Um…I didn't do that,” J'dee stated and Belle pointed to the door with one hand with the other arm was crossed under her breasts. She closed her eyes and sighed in annoyance. Give her teenagers; just don't give her a randy pervert.

“Get him out of here,” she ordered.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Sanzo leant against the wall in the hallway cigarette in mouth and he watched the door to the apartment open and Gojyo left.

“Awww c'mon one night honey!” He called out.

“OUT!” Belle shouted.

J'dee slipped in to the hallway and she let out a breath. “Gojyo please just try to behave.”

Gojyo's hand moved to the wall to rest beside her head.

 

Sanzo let out a huff, it was obvious the pervert was getting far to attached and he didn't like that one bit. But he wasn't concerned about the pervert's need to get laid. Belle reminded him of someone, someone he knew he shouldn't have forgotten nor had he, but he wasn't going to verbalize that she could possibly be his remnant… not yet anyway.

Hakkai slipped past him walking up to Gojyo and giving him a look hands on hips the green eyed demon slayer started telling Gojyo off.

J'dee waved her hand apologetically as Gojyo was frog marched off by Hakkai and she waved letting out a nervous laugh before slipping back in to the apartment.

Sanzo looked down the hall the Shinigami moved about heading their own ways to their routes to protect the two women.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Well, that was fun. You have nice friends, Toby.” Misato said. Tobias let out a sigh of relief as they all walked inside, safe and sound.

 

“Thanks, they're the best. We've been friends for years and it's nice.” Tobias replied. Hanging up his jacket, he yawned and stretched. “I'm hitting the sack.”

 

“That sounds like a very good idea.” Shinji said, before yawning himself.

 

“I'll be in the lab if you kids need me.” Washu chimed in, heading off to her `room'. Misato headed for her own room, after stopping by the kitchen for a beer. Tobias didn't pay much attention as he headed to his own room, pulling off his shirt, as he nudged the door open.

 

“Hello.” A gentle voice said, sounding amused. Tobias froze, his shirt around his head. He slowly lowered it back down to see Twilight Suzuka gently reclined on his bed. She was clad in her usual kimono but it didn't seem as…well…tight as before. Her hair was also undone.

 

Tobias had to admit, she looked even more beautiful with her hair down.

 

“Um…hi!” Tobias squeaked in a very unmanly way.

 

You would too if you had an assassin waiting for you in your bed.

 

“Close the door please, and lock it. I don't want to disturb the others.” Suzuka told him. Swallowing hard and saying a prayer for himself, he did as she asked, keeping his back to the door as he closed it. He spotted her bokken on his dresser as he did so, and felt hope soar through him.

 

`Maybe if I rush past her I can make it to the bathroom and lock it. Then I could go out the other bathroom door to the porch!' He thought. He snapped out of his thoughts as Suzuka stood, and he noticed her kimono was loose around her shoulders, baring them in the moonlight coming through the windows.

 

“I'm sure you must be thinking the worst with my reputation, and I know you've been nervous when ever you saw me looking you over tonight.” Suzuka said, moving slowly and quietly towards him.

 

“Really, I hadn't noticed.” Tobias said, trying to blow it off. Maybe he could grab her bokken from the dresser as he ran by? He heard something that snapped his attention back to her.

 

Suzuka had GIGGLED.

 

“You really are a bad liar, when you're nervous.” She said. Tobias blinked, hard, as her fingers trailed up the sides of his arms. “I find that my reputation sometimes hinders me when I want something that is not work related.”

 

“So…you're not here to kill me?” Tobias wondered. What hell was she doing - oh hell.

 

“No. I find you quite attractive, actually.” She said, snaking her arms around his middle. “I believe the phrase `I have an itch to scratch' would apply.” Tobias felt like such a dunce. And he called himself a ladies man!

 

“Um, Suzuka, you're very beautiful but you see there's some one else I'm interested in and I don't want to start something with you if I'm interested in another woman. That wouldn't be fair to you.” Tobias replied.

 

“Oh, I don't want some relationship with you, silly man. I just want to use you.” Suzuka said, beginning to slide his shirt up. Tobias let her as his brain began to process. She was here to use him?

 

If one were to put Tobias's current brain process into images, you would see chibi-versions of him, one dressed as an angel and the other a devil, fighting for control in his mind. And the devil won with a decisive kick to the angel's groin.

 

Tobias gathered the seductive assassin in his arms and kissed her hard. As they kissed, Tobias guided her back to the bed. Breaking the kiss to lay her down, Tobias helped her ease down into the bed. He gently untied the obi and parted her kimono. He sucked in a breath at the woman smirking up at him from her undone kimono.

 

“You're beautiful.” He whispered to her. Suzuka's smirk got wider as she reached up to pull him down to her by his belt buckle.

 

“I know.” Suzuka replied before kissing him again.

 

~*~*~*~

 

The next day began quite like normal, the three targets getting used to their near death squads and current saviors. Unaware somewhere, death was aiming for them.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle was putting away her stuff as she prepared for class when the door to the preparation room opened up and someone stepped out. There was a feminine scream of fright and a worried cry of surprise before Belle recognized the man.

It was a change of wardrobe from the long, baggy, black jacket but the new white shirt, tan vest, and pressed kaki pants was surprisingly fitting on Abel. Belle blinked as she noticed that he still had his hair in a high ponytail and the same glasses. After the initial shock of having someone appear from the backroom, Belle snapped back to her state of mind.

“Abel, why are you here?” Belle asked and Abel laughed nervously as he looked at the students staring in the classroom from the door's window.

“We all agreed that it would be best if you had someone from the inside watching over you at work,” Abel stated and Belle blinked.

“A great idea, but how am I going to explain a man hanging around my classroom…you can't just show up,” Belle explained, noticing how Kendra was getting hyper over Abel. “This is a liability issue.”

“Oh don't worry about that, I'm your official teacher aide,” Abel said with a bright smile and Belle fought back the thought about how cute he looked.

“How did you do that?” Belle asked.

“Oh, no problem, the shinigami have this amazing memory altering device, we used it on your administrators,” Abel stated and Belle fought a whimper.

“Oh…great,” she managed as she went to open the door so her students could enter for first period.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tobias watched Suzuka leave out the bathroom room door onto the porch. Suzuka had demanded that they spend the entire night awake. Since she had already stated she wanted to use him, Tobias had complied without complaint. Tobias had to admit, there were worse ways to spend night without sleep. Watching the seductress vanish on the path towards her home, Tobias yawned. He closed the door, and locked it before heading to the shower. Turning it as hot as possible, he hopped in. As he began to wash, he hissed in pain. Turning slightly, he positioned his back to his curtain, before pulling it aside to see his mirror. He saw a set of scratches on his back, and winced. Closing the curtain, he finished his shower. After dressing in jeans and a black tee, he made his way into the kitchen for breakfast.

 

“Morning all!” He greeted the others happily. He got sleepy murmurs as he made himself an extra large mug of coffee.

 

“You look chipper this morning.” Washu said, the only one fully conscious.

 

“I had a good night's rest.” Tobias said vaguely, but he couldn't help smiling. Washu raised an eyebrow at him. He ignored her.

 

“Shin-man, I was going to the mall to do some shopping, want to tag along? A little male bonding perhaps?” Tobias asked. Shinji looked surprised at the offer, before grinning.

 

“Why not. It sounds fun.” Shinji replied. He was interested in seeing some of this world.

 

“Excellent.” Tobias said, and downed a large portion of coffee.

 

“Guess that means we'll have to fend for ourselves today.” Misato said, faking a pout. Tobias laughed.

 

“Not if you call the others and talk them into a shopping trip.” Tobias said. Misato's face lit up.

 

“Now there's an idea. I wonder if the girls are already up.” She murmured. She missed Tobias's smile getting wider.

 

“Excellent, again.” Tobias said, finishing off his coffee, before making another. “Better get ready Shinji.”

 

“Sure!” Shinji said, finishing his breakfast. Tobias leaned against the counter, continuing to smile.

 

Today felt like a damn good day.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Renji lent up against a wall looking at Zack standing there looking at the mall complex. How hard was it to fit in for this guy really? He shook his head if the giant sword strapped to his back didn't attract security who knew what would.

Looking over he saw Gojyo and Goku in the distance fighting over a meal that was probably supposed to be a snack gathered from their appetite the night before. But it looked more like a reasonable sized lunch.

Zack walked up to Renji looking at the mall. “Thanks for letting us know where she went.”

Renji shrugged. “What else is there to do here until an attack happens?”

Zack nodded his head. “Think she can help me fit in here?”

“Ask her.” Renji stated and jerked his thumb to round the corner.

 

Zack looked round the corner and he saw J'dee sitting with Sephy and M, they were dressed completely different today. Obviously they managed to get the second lot of photos taken. He blinked looking at the black and white outfits.

“So what are they wearing?”

“Shinigami stuff.” Renji replied.

“Oh.” Zack nodded his head slowly not really understanding. “From your world I take it?”

“Yeah.”

Zack looked thoughtful for a moment he was in his usual SOLDIER uniform, there was no way he would or could go walking up to them dressed as he was he would be recognized again and the cover might be blown, if not her friends would be suspicious to say the least.

“I can't go over there… they'll recognize me.” Zack frowned.

Renji rolled his eyes. “Jeez… fine I'll talk to her…”

 

J'dee watched as Sephy was devouring the McDonalds in record time. While M ate from his bento at a nice slow pace. She picked at the fries from KFC and let out a breath.

“I…” J'dee looked up at them. M blinked for a moment looking at her from under Byakuya like bangs. “Er… I hope you guys are really happy.” She forced a smile.

Sephy stopped looking at her. “You've been acting strange lately. Are you alright?”

J'dee blinked. “Just a little confused and homesick.” She looked to her friend in the shinigami outfit wearing a replica of Kenpachi's captains coat and a scarf, though she was more cos-playing a Kenpachi fangurl than the captain himself.

Sephy tilted her head to the side. “Did you sort out that thing yesterday?”

J'dee nodded. “Yeah I guess kinda.” She stopped dead as she watched Renji walk up to the table and she froze.

“Oiiiy Zack's having trouble fitting in here. When you've finished work get him another outfit will you.” Renji remarked.

J'dee's mouth moved.

“His name is really Zack?” M asked blinking. “That's pretty cool.”

“Heh… Zack's a very common name now days.” J'dee lied.

“How I don't know anyone alive with the name Zack?” Sephy retorted.

Renji just huffed. “Just do it will you.”

“You came here to tell me that?” J'dee hissed.

Renji shrugged. “Hakkai is out buying food to replace what was devoured last night. He took Ed with him, Al is cleaning up the apartment. Gojyo got the duty of feeding Goku and Sanzo told the rest of us to fuck off.”

J'dee looked at Sephy who quirked a brow upwards looking at her.

“Is that a secret code for more guides or something?”

J'dee nodded. “Uh yeah something like that.” She shot Renji a look who just shrugged it off before walking off.

“Strange company you keep.” M remarked.

“Not by choice I assure you on that.” J'dee sighed defeated.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Mr. Nightroad could you go and make twelve copies of this handout for me,” Belle said as she handed Abel a worksheet she had run out of copies for. It was turning out that having a teacher aide was rather sweet. As she turned to complete the lesson Belle became aware of the students' attention on Abel. As soon as Abel exited the room hands went up. Belle had a sinking feeling that the questions weren't going to be on the cell cycle.

“Miss B, is Mr. Nightroad married?” Taylor asked and Belle thought about lying before coming up with the perfect excuse.

“I don't know, you'll have to ask him yourself after class,” Belle said with a smile. The worse thing about junior high aged students was their desire to know the faculty's personal lives. Still, Belle had avoided a rather uncomfortable conversation with the students she didn't want to have anyway.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“I always enjoy splurging a bit after finishing a project.” Tobias said to Shinji as they gazed at the racks of games in local video game store. “Feels like the reward at the end of the tunnel, you know?”

 

“Kind of. I feel like that when I finally get a new piece on the cello right.” Shinji said. He was holding a bag from the local music store, where Tobias had bought him an ipod. The clerk had even downloaded loads of song onto it for a small fee. Shinji hoped he could take it with him when he returned home; it beat his SDAT any day. They shopped in silence for a bit and it wasn't until they left the store to head for the bookstore down the way that Shinji broke the comfortable silence.

 

“Tobias, I know your friends said you're a big fan of the anime based off me and Misato. Do you think I could…watch it sometime, maybe?” Shinji asked. Tobias came to a halt.

 

“Are you sure you want to do that? I offered it to Misato because I know she can handle it but some of the stuff in there might be hard to take. Especially stuff dealing with your family.” Tobias said, meeting the young man's eyes. Shinji swallowed but nodded firmly at him.

 

“I-I'm sure.” Shinji said. Tobias couldn't help but grin. This whole experience was good for Shinji at least.

 

“Alright then. When we get home, we'll fire up the DVD player and sit down.” Tobias said, resuming his walk, Shinji with him. “Just remember, I'll be there and I can answer a lot of questions.”

 

“Thank you, Tobias.”

 

“What are friends for?”

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee was glad work was only three hours today, so she had told Renji, Zack, Gojyo and Goku to hang around the center while she did her three hour shift then she would help Zack pick out some clothes. She was glad the shift was nearly over, half an hour and she was free.

J'dee was glad the R.A wasn't in because like hell she wanted to witness him dry humping the counter again when a hot girl walked past the store.

 

Something crashed not to far from them and J'dee looked over her shoulder.

“Bwump bwuuuum.” Her co-worker chimed in the gaming failed mission noise.

J'dee swallowed watching as Goku picked it up turning it round like he'd never seen it before. He looked over his shoulder and she shook her head.

`No don't you dare Goku, don't acknowledge that you know me please… I need to earn a living.' She thought to herself but it was too late as she saw him waving at her.

 

J'dee looked back as her co-worker continued to gut the gaming stock and she moved up to Goku grabbing him by the hand and leading him behind the pillar.

“Goku what are you doing?” She hissed.

“Renji got bored and left. Zack went to drop the sword off back at the apartment and Gojyo…” Goku looked at her. “You know that pervert.”

J'dee let her head drop defeated. “They left you here alone?” She whispered.

“Zack told me to come in the store and stay here till he got back. That's okay right?” Goku asked looking at her.

J'dee let out a defeated sigh, placing a hand on Goku's head. “It's fine…”

Goku smiled at her. “Awesome. Can we go eat after you're done?”

J'dee nodded. “Sure why not.”

“YAY!” Goku cheered his arms flapping about happily.

 

“Everything okay here doodle hex?” J'dee's eye twitched at the nickname. It was an inside joke from a game in the DS section, but they'd seen her alchemist symbol and knew she liked to draw so doodle hex had apparently become her game theme of the store.

“Don't make me hex you.” She warned.

She watched him shuffle to the other side of the store shooting her wearily glances before ducking down behind the counter.

J'dee let out a breath.

Goku blinked. “Can you do that?!” He asked. “AWESOME! Can I see?”

J'dee felt her eye twitch. `Damnit Zack…' She mentally growled.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle's day was going rather smoothly until lunch, she had sent Abel to get their lunches then she planned to “talk” to him about the students. As she worked on the next day's lesson a small group of her students entered. Belle had an uncharacteristic moment of intuition. She was not going to like how this was going to go.

“Miss B, could we talk to you?” Lisa asked and Belle sighed, sometimes students abused an open door policy.

“Sure thing, girls,” Belle sighed as she watched the four girls enter the room. Lisa, Kara, Catherine, and Angela sat down and smiled at Belle. The negative feeling began to grow.

“Miss B, are you into Mr. Nightroad?” Kara said and Belle felt like banging her forehead into the desk.

“Girls, Mr. Nightroad, is my aide…” Belle began as Abel entered the room oblivious to the students.

“Belle, I found some mushrooms like you made for dinner the other night,” Abel called before seeing the students. Belle watched four identical smiles form and four pairs of eyes turned to her.

“Abel, go into the prep room and enjoy your lunch,” Belle sighed. “Ladies, just go.”

“But are you dating?!” Kara demanded and Belle gave a very withering look.

“Mr. Nightroad is my aide and we have nothing but a professional relationship,” Belle sighed as she pointed to the door. “Now I would like to enjoy my lunch.” The girls left but Belle had a bad feeling about what rumors were going to be running around the school in the not too distant future.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Where should we eat?” Tobias asked Shinji, gazing around the food court and towards some of the restaurants. Shinji was about to reply when a loud crash caught them off guard. They both turned to the sound, and Tobias groaned in dismay when they saw Aisha, Misato, & Melfina arguing with security guards and a man outside a costume store.

 

“Damn it to hell.” Tobias groaned. He made his way over to the women, Shinji following behind him.

 

“Is there a problem officers?” Tobias asked. Relief spread across Melfina's face but Aisha and Misato both still looked angry, as did the security guards.

 

It didn't help that the store manager kept wailing about stolen property.

 

“Are these your friends?” One guard asked and Tobias nodded.

 

“Yes, they are. We were supposed to meet them for lunch.” Tobias smoothly lied.

 

“Well you're friends stole that costume and refuse to give it back.” The second guard said.

 

“That's right! She stole an Aisha Clan-Clan costume and now she thinks she is her! She's crazy I tell you! She even tried to attack me!” The manager howled. Tobias rubbed the bridge of his nose between his eyes and sighed.

 

“I AM Aisha Clan-Clan of the mighty Ctarl-Ctarl Empire you twit!” Aisha snarled, raising her hands. Tobias stepped between them, placing a hand on Aisha's chest.

 

“Shut up!” Tobias hissed at her. He swiftly turned his back on her, to face the guards. “You'll have to forgive my friend. She's a bit obsessed and without her medication she tends to slip into these fantasies.”

 

“I am not in-” Aisha was cut off as Misato slapped a hand over her mouth.

 

`Thank you, Misato.' Tobias thought.

 

“Now as for the costume, I can assure you she made it all herself at home. If you get one of yours then, we can compare them and I'm sure we can find differences.” Tobias said.

 

“But I only have the one, the one she's WEARING!” The manager shrieked, most unmanly.

 

“Well then I'm sure if you go in and find the costume that will prove it then.” Tobias said, knowing it would still be there.

 

“Fair enough.” The first guard said. The manager sniffed at them and hurried in to find the costume. He came back moments later, holding a very elaborate costume that included a head piece.

 

“But I was so sure…” The manager trailed off. The guards rolled their eyes before storming off.

 

“An easy mistake to make. Have a good day!” Tobias said, ushering the others away from the crowd.

 

“Never a dull day with you ladies is it?”

 

“Shut up Toby!”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Gojyo entered the store and stopped seeing Zack talking to J'dee's co-worker while she stood there shaking her head at something Goku was asking.

“No Goku… this is the Goku we were talking about.” She pointed to a game.

Gojyo slipped up behind her seeing the black above the knee pencil skirt and his head tilted to the side before he lifted it up slightly making her let out a startled cry before spinning round and he laughed at the glare she gave him.

“Pervert!”

“Time to come with me beautiful.” Gojyo smirked the sexual innuendo obvious.

J'dee slapped him on the chest. “Oh grow up!”

“Grab Soldier boy and lets get him some new clothes before someone recognizes the outfit.” Gojyo remarked.

“Too late.” She motioned over at Zack and her co-walker talking materia fusion and discussing the logic behind the magnet that held the sword strapped to a SOLDIER's back.

 

J'dee walked up beside Zack and smiled at him before looking to her co-worker and flashing a grin. “Having a good conversation there?” She asked.

“It's so POWERFUL!” Her co-worker announced. “I'm powering up just from it. How powerful is that?”

J'dee nodded her head slowly. “Very… have you leveled up yet?”

As if in reply he made the FFVII mission accomplished tune. “Several times! You have some very powerful friends.”

J'dee let out a nervous laugh. “Yes… Well continue to power up of DBZ proportions I'm sure it'll help make the store budget for the day.” She slipped her arm through Zack's and he blinked looking at her. “C'mon lets go the Goku is hungry.” She chose her words carefully knowing her co-worker was the biggest DBZ, FFVII and DnD nut she had ever meet since well… Toby.

“Nice meeting you Vincent was it?” Zack smiled.

“It's such a powerful name!” Her co-worker announced hands on hips posing.

“Vincent is his DnD character's name… several guesses who he based him off.” J'dee led Zack out of the store Gojyo and Goku following.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle sighed as the last bell of the day rang and the students rushed out of the classroom. She noticed that many glances were shot at her and at Abel. She pondered if murdering Abel wasn't a possible course of action but decided against it.

“My, is that what everyday is like for you?” Abel asked and Belle nodded.

“Pretty much,” she said before giving him a look. “You do realize that you've completely ruined my life with the students.” Abel looked genuinely shocked.

“What do you mean?” he cried and Belle pointed to the window where four girls were currently `hanging out' shooting less than discrete looks into the room.

“They think you and I are an item,” Belle explained and Abel blushed. It was rather cute and Belle thought how cute he really was in his academic outfit, blushing over their supposed relationship. She smiled at him and walked over before patting his shoulder. “Welcome to Junior High, where teachers are just a closer soap opera.” She continued past Abel into the prep room to get her jacket.

“I guess this would be a bad time to mention I was counting on a ride home from you,” Abel admitted and Belle's head dropped in defeat.

“Oh…great,” she sighed as she got dressed and grabbed her bag before heading out to her car. Abel followed and laughed nervously as several groups of girls watched the pair move to Belle's car.

“I do apologize,” Abel stated and Belle shook her head and got into the car. Abel was gathering his bag and as he went to put his bag into the backseat between the driver and front passenger seats his hand slipped. Belle had two seconds to react as Abel's face smashed into hers, both of them in a surprised gasp. Luck had it that their mouths were open enough so that the smashing didn't result in slashed lips on teeth, instead a rather deep kiss occurred. “Oh….I'm so…”

“Don't,” Belle said as she stopped Abel with a finger over his lips. “It was an accident, I know it, sadly, they don't.” Abel took his seat in time to see various young women pout or squealing.

“Oh dear,” he whispered as he closed the door and Belle nodded.

“I do hope those shinigami have enough memory altering devices for the whole school,” Belle said in a defeated tone.

“Would you prefer I drive?” Abel asked and Belle shook her head.

“I rather think about the road than the harassment I'm going to get tomorrow,” she whimpered.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“You're back early.” Washu said in surprise. She watched as the group from the mall filed into the dining room, dropping their purchases.

 

“Yeah, well, Aisha was mistaken for a shop lifter so we had to duck out early.” Misato said wearily. Aisha snarled and made her way to the kitchen.

 

“I'm going to pop the DVDs into my player, Shinji. It'll hold them all if I remember right. That way you can keep playing them while I snooze in my chair. You wake me if you need me, okay?” Tobias said yawning.

 

“Can do!” Shinji said, happily. Tobias headed into his living room, yawning again as last night and the events of the day started to catch up with him. He was really looking forward to a nap in his chair.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee sat on the seat in the changing room waiting for Zack to emerge to show her the three outfits she'd chosen for him it was enough to give him some diversity and mix and match options so he could blend in normally or formally if so required.

But he wasn't willing to part with his SOLDIER boots just yet, but she was okay with that. They were black they were tidy enough after a decent buffing.

Leaning back in the seat she looked at Goku sitting down on the ground eating Chinese from a take-away box shoveling the food down at an inhuman rate, he ate faster than he breathed, sometimes it was a bit much.

 

The curtain pulled back Zack slipped out. J'dee blinked looking at the black muscle top and loose fitting dark denim jeans. J'dee let out a breath.

“Do I look normal enough in this?” Zack asked.

`Um clingy…' She thought before standing up and grabbing the short sleeved army style shirt from inside and handed it to him.

“Over top… put that… yeah.” She blushed looking away. `Before I have a brain fart.'

Zack pulled it on and looked down and he nodded. “Cool.” He remarked and looked at the pile of clothes with a raised eyebrow. “Do I have to try all of these on?”

“Yes.” J'dee nodded.

“How do women do this all the time?” Zack whined.

“Try them on, let me see, we like we get them, then we go.” J'dee stated. “Nice and simple.”

 

Gojyo slipped in to the changing room and he waved the swimsuit in front of J'dee and she looked at it with flat eyes.

“So that's where you went.” She remarked. “How did I not see this coming?”

“C'mon you know you want to show us.” Gojyo purred.

Gojyo saw Zack pause even the former SOLDIER was in contemplation for a moment.

“No. And you don't even think it.” She stated pushing Zack back in to the changing room. “I'm female I hate my body and never will you get me in to a swimsuit ever…” J'dee shot Gojyo a look. “It's not summer need I remind you its cold weather.”

“How about trying on lingerie then?” Gojyo offered.

“How about I borrow Sanzo's gun and put a bullet in your head?”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“I will see you tomorrow Abel,” Belle sighed as she got out of the elevator and Abel blushed more.

“I am sorry,” he said and Belle smirked as she looked over her shoulder and winked.

“Yeah, next time you need to work a little harder on your kissing technique,” she teased as the elevator shut and Belle laughed. “That should make him blush for a little while longer.” She turned around to see Sanzo standing in the hallway staring at her a lit cigarette between his fingers.

“Having fun?” he snarled and Belle felt like he was on the offensive with her for some reason.

“Not really, I just figured I owed Abel some embarrassment for humiliating me today at work,” Belle stated as she walked down the hallway. “You know, it's against the building policy to smoke in the building.” Sanzo snorted and glared.

“What are you going to do about it?” he snapped and Belle blinked. He was purposely pushing her.

“What crawled up your butt and died?” she muttered as she walked past him. Strong fingers wrapped around her wrist and she moved without thinking. Her free hand moved between her captured arm and Sanzo's pushing as she twisted the caught arm, spinning as she bent over so that Sanzo couldn't keep his grip. The move was seamless and graceful and Belle had no freaking clue how she did that. “What just happened?” She looked at Sanzo for an answer but he was storming into his apartment like the hounds of hell were after him.

“Great, I have a goofball priest who my students now think is my live-in and an aggressive neighbor with the flare for pulling out my inner dancer,” Belle sighed as she headed into her apartment.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee walked in the door to catch Belle in the kitchen already beginning dinner.

“I thought you were home already.” Belle remarked.

J'dee nodded. “Yeah sorry had to try and get Zack some normal clothes do you know how hard it is to focus shopping for clothes on a guy whose ripped to the nines.” She whined.

“Oh how I envy you if that's all you had to deal with today, trying not to drool over a hot man in a changing room.” Belle teased with a laugh.

“Oh shut up.” J'dee mumbled. “It would have been okay if I didn't have to babysit a hungry monkey or deal with Gojyo trying to get me in to a swimsuit. So I'm going to lie down for a bit and think of ripped men in muscle tops.”

“I'll call you when dinner's ready.” Belle looked at J'dee.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle was finishing dinner when a knock came from the front door and she sighed. Gojyo was curled around the doorframe like some living wet dream. There was a moment of silence as Belle stood in the doorway as Gojyo lounged against the frame.

“Can I help you?” Belle asked and he smiled, like he knew every sexual fantasy she ever had and wanted to help make them reality. She put up her guard since Sha Gojyo was not a man you were casual around.

“Is J'dee here?” he asked and Belle looked at him before trying to decide if she should allow her friend this temptation.

“I believe she is in her room,” Belle stated as she moved out of the way. As Gojyo started to saunter towards J'dee's room, Belle felt the need to give him a fair warning. “Just so you know, Mr. Sha, I am like Hakkai in many ways, especially in the sense that I will cause massive bodily damage to anyone who hurts J'dee in the slightest.” Gojyo paused.

“Well, those are fighting words,” Gojyo stated and Belle moved into the kitchen and pulled out a cucumber and a large carving knife. As he turned around Belle smiled a Hakkai smile, doing her best to give him dead eyes.

“You hurt J'dee in any way and I'll make you cry like a bitch,” Belle stated as she brought the knife down, chopping the cucumber in half before she began to slice it lengthwise. “You get me, playboy?” Gojyo looked at Belle for a moment before smiling.

“Got it,” he said and Belle waved.

“Have fun,” she said in the sweetest voice she could manage.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee had her arm flung over her arm when she heard her door open, she lifted her arm up for a moment and blinked seeing Gojyo shut her bed room door his jacket slung over his arm she sat up for a moment.

“Bought you something beautiful.” He grinned.

J'dee raised a brow wearily. “If it's a swimsuit turn round and get out.” She remarked.

Gojyo lifted the jacket up and J'dee paused. He held a small box to small to even fit the three triangle piece swimsuit he had waved in her face earlier.

J'dee looked up at him as he moved up to the bed sitting down next to her.

“I saw you eyeing it in the airport I've been hanging on to it for that long. I've been trying to find the right time to give it to you.” He placed the box in her hand.

 

J'dee opened the box slowly and stopped looking at the bone carving of the Hei Matua. She had been eyeing it in the airport alright… the Christchurch New-Zealand Airport.

“Gojyo…” She lifted it out of the box by the black cord.

“I know you had enough money to get it beautiful. Why didn't you?”

“In my country's beliefs it's believed to be Tapu for a person to buy a bone carving for themselves when you by a bone carving or jade carving it's supposed to be a present for someone else.” She explained.

Gojyo slipped up behind her taking it out from her hand and slipping it round her neck doing it up at the back.

“What's Tapu?” He questioned.

“Forbidden I guess is one explanation. Like it's Tapu for women to enter certain areas. Depending on the Mana of the place.” J'dee pulled a knee up to her chest. “Mana is considered another word for sacred.” She shook her head letting her chin rest on her knee.

Gojyo's hands moved from the back of her neck to her shoulder's slowly. “You're getting homesick aren't you?”

“Took me long enough and this feeling I'm getting in my stomach like I'll never see it again.” She shook her head. “I don't like it. This is the Hei Matua it means I'm going to be traveling soon. A symbol of protection while traveling.”

“The gate.” Gojyo remarked.

J'dee nodded. “I can feel it like its calling.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle sighed as she sat in her room and moved to her balcony. She wrapped herself in her robe and stepped out into the moonlight. It was pretty and she sighed as she looked up at the sky. In six months nothing would be the same unless they figured out what to do now.

“We could leave,” she muttered before she heard something above her and she whipped her head to look up. Standing on the side of the balcony above her, as if he belonged there was Grimmjow. Time seemed to freeze and Belle knew she was staring down a predator.

“You ain't one of us,” he said and Belle grabbed the iron railing that edged the top of the balcony.

“No, I'm not,” she said as she looked at him. He was clearly deciding on whether or not to kill and devour her, that much was obvious. He stood on the side of the balcony and Belle wondered if Ichigo got this vertigo feeling when he first met Zengetsu. Belle kept her eyes on the icy blue of the Espada's above her. She wasn't aware of the layer of ice forming on the iron beneath her hand only on the icy look in Grimmjow's eyes.

“Pfft, barely worth the effort,” he grunted and in a flash of white, he was gone. Belle managed to say on her feet for a few minutes more before she sunk to her knees. She let go of the railing and hugged herself, trying to force the cold out of her body.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tobias yawned and stretched, opening his eyes. He blinked, surprised to see it was dark already. He glanced at the screen and saw it was on the DVD menu of the End of Evangelion movie. Sitting up and lowering the recliner's foot rest, he looked around the living room. It was empty and the house was unusually quiet. He walked down the hall to check in on Shinji but glancing out the window to his covered porch, he saw Misato sitting on the steps leading to the backyard, Shinji's head resting in her lap. Tobias immediately headed for the porch door and went out to join them. He got a foot away from Misato before she spoke.

 

“All my life, I've wanted someone to love me. I wanted to be needed, and have some one who needed me. Now I do, I have someone I love like a son, who looks after me even more than I look after him.” Misato said. Tobias came up and beside her and sat down. He was not surprised to see that she had tears running down her face. “And I failed him in the end.”

 

“No you didn't.” Tobias said. He leaned back on his hands and stared up at the night sky. “You gave him what no one else did. Love, home, family. It was your voice that guided him through Third Impact. It was you're love for him that gave him strength. Remember, it was your cross that he kept until the end.”

 

“I promised him that we'd prevent it from happening, but I don't know how! He cried here in my arms and I only got him to sleep by lying to him!” Misato cried. She ran her fingers in Shinji's hair, which was soaked with her tears.

 

“Did you really lie?” Tobias questioned. She snapped her head around to glare at him and saw him still staring at the sky, but she noticed a small shimmer in his eyes. Were those…?

 

“Knowledge is power, Misato. You know, you know it all. About Seele, Gendo, Yui, even Kaji. I gave you the most powerful piece of knowledge ever.” Tobias turned to face her, and Misato saw the tears in his eyes. “I gave you knowledge of the future. You're the only group of people connected to me who haven't come at the end of their series. I couldn't let you die, so I did the only thing I know I can do. I gave you hope.”

 

“Tobias…” Misato whispered, reaching out for his right hand with her left. He took it, and squeezed.

 

“I know you're broken up, but I have to look at you everyday and when I do, I see your death as well. And all I can do is tell you about it.” Tobias said. They were silent for awhile before Misato took his arm and placed it over her shoulders. Tobias looked surprised, before smiling softly as she snuggled into his side.

 

“Thank you.” She said, and he smiled down at her.

 

“No problem. Besides, now that you know I might be able to convince you to leave Kaji for me since you know he's going to be a spy.”

 

Misato couldn't help but laugh.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Gojyo sat on J'dee's bed next to her as she lay down on it. “How soon do you think it will take till it gets too much for you?”

She fingered the bone carving. “Two or three months, but I don't have enough to travel, so I'm going to have to get more hours.”

“Or we steal Sanzo's gold card and max it.” Gojyo offered.

“I'm not stealing from Sanzo I like living thank you and the less time he points a gun at me or hits me with the fan is even better.” She remarked.

Gojyo chuckled. “I like winding the priest up.”

J'dee nodded. “I noticed. But he seems moodier than normal.”

“We're at a stand still honey our journey on stand by it always makes him cranky.” Gojyo looked at her.

“Haven't you finished your journey though?” J'dee looked down at the Hei Matua it was ironic that one whose journey was ended was giving her a present to protect her over her journey which she knew was just beginning.

“Yeah but he wants his me time you know how he gets.” Gojyo lent against the wall.

 

J'dee looked up at the ceiling. “Another sign I'm going nomad… again. At least I have protection this time.” She touched the carving again looking at the whale tail shape fingering it lightly. “This is a really sweet gift Gojyo… Thank you… at least for once you were thinking with the head on your shoulders and not the head in your pants.”

“Hey no problem honey… but think there's a possibly of thanking the latter head anytime soon?” Gojyo grinned.

J'dee pushed him pointing at the door. “Out.”

“What why?” Gojyo looked at her.

“You've ruined a perfectly sweet gesture, with a perverted comment like that.”

Gojyo grinned standing up moving to the door. “You know you like it.”

J'dee flushed motioning at the door. “Go.”

Gojyo chuckled before opening the door. “It's a good shade of pink honey you should wear it more often.”

J'dee jumped up pushing him out. “Good night Gojyo!”

 

 

To be continued…..