Crossover Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Aint Nothing But Magick (reverse) ❯ 17 ( Chapter 17 )

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 17

 

Zack landed on the balcony sliding the door to the apartment open before slipping inside. He stopped seeing Hisagi sitting at the table at the early hours of the morning and raised a brow at the tired looking shinigami.

“Did they make you stay up all night?” He asked slipping to sit opposite Hisagi.

Hisagi sighed. “They told me to guard indoors while you guys take the perimeter.”

“I wasn't patrolling.” Zack remarked.

Hisagi raised a brow. “But you've been out all night.”

“Yeah I posted a letter a few days ago I went to see if they got it.” Zack replied grinning.

“From that look I take it they did.” Hisagi remarked. “Why didn't you just take it in person?”

“Not just any letter… this was a letter to the world where I came from.” Zack replied still grinning.

 

Hisagi blinked. “Wait what? You sent a letter home! Can I ask how?”

“There's a seventh heaven bar here I mailed the letter there.” Zack explained. “I went out to check if they got it and this was left for me from Tifa.” He placed the envelope on the table Zack's name written on it.

“Have you read it yet?” Hisagi asked.

“No I wanted J'dee to see it with me. But she's still asleep.”

“Hawke-eye will be in later to wake her up, J'dee casually mentioned something about how she used to go jogging in the mornings but since she got here she hasn't been motivated. Hawke-eye offered to go with her.” Hisagi explained.

Zack looked at the letter. “I didn't know Aerith was in to those things.”

Hisagi shook his head. “She's not your girlfriend Zack, she is someone completely different. I mean if she was your girlfriend would she have slept with both Havoc and Gojyo?”

Zack sighed. “No… I don't think Aerith really slept with anyone.”

“Open the letter read it, then take it from there. It could be private something J'dee shouldn't know just yet.” Hisagi remarked.

 

Zack picked up the envelope and he opened it up pulling the letter out, he saw the neat and tidy handwriting as it seemed to flow across the page in Tifa's hand.

 

 

Zack…

 

I don't know how this is possible for you to even write to us from where you are… but if what you say is true and Cloud has been taken by whoever it is that revived you. Then it makes sense that he would be taken to the world where you are.

I don't need to tell you to be careful.

 

Your letter was also confiscated by Tseng, so I'm unable to answer all the questions I think it went to ShinRA for a handwriting analysis. I think after that the W.R.O have rights to it. He wants physical proof that you are alive and protecting this “remnant” of Aerith's soul. Maybe he wants to help it's hard to tell with Tseng. He's sent Reno here to wait for your reply.

 

Please find Cloud and keep him safe until you're both able to return here alive and well…

I miss you both… and if Aerith remembers us say hello to her for me, I hope she's doing well.

 

Tifa

 

 

Zack stared at the letter before standing up. “Tseng wants proof. That's typical.” He rolled his eyes.

“Borrow J'dee's laptop she's got a camera and a web cam, film something in her room then send it to them.” Hisagi suggested.

Zack grinned. “Good idea.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle yawned as she woke up, Grimmjow grunted and pulled her closer.

“You better not have broken the lock on my door,” Belle muttered as she pulled away from the grabby Espada.

“Not this time,” he grunted and Belle shook her head. She was almost to the point of begging J'dee to let her sleep in her room. Of course, with the new development of Havoc and Gojyo, it might be a bad idea.

“Maybe Washu could make me a spare room in my closet or something,” Belle sighed as she gathered her clothing and headed to the bathroom. She looked to see Hisagi and Zack in the kitchen. “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” he said as he stared out the window.

“Would you like some tea or something?” Belle asked and Hisagi smiled.

“You don't have to,” he said and she smiled back.

“Oh come on, you're a healthy Y-chromosome member, you two are probably dying for something to fill you stomachs,” Belle teased and Zack smiled.

“The Kitty bother you?” he asked and Belle sighed.

“I'm going to try jamming my desk chair under the door tonight,” she sighed.

“We could take care of him,” Hisagi said in a dead serious voice.

“Don't want to risk killing him if you need him to get home,” Belle said as she headed to the kitchen.

“Don't worry about it” Zack said as he got up. “I need to use J'dee's computer anyway.”

“Just remember don't look in the yaoi folder,” Belle grinned as she looked at Hisagi.

“I'm fine,” he said. Belle sighed again before heading to her shower.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Shinji decided he officially hated waking up by himself in the mornings. Before, he used to relish the quiet, fixing his bento for school along with breakfast, and taking Misato's sleepy teasing before he left for school to meet up with Toji and Kensuke if they didn't stop by on their own way.

 

Now the quiet disturbed him. He had no idea when Washu slept, but she only joined them for lunch since Tobias left, and she hardly spoke to the others. Misato slept in late, as usual. She would rarely be mobile before lunch, and he had to wake her for it more often then not.

 

Sighing to himself as he headed into the basement for training, Shinji decided the mornings without his friend were the loneliest part of the day.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee was woken up by the sound of her computer humming and she sat up looking at Zack trying to compile something together on a CD. She had been in the process of witnessing something relevant to Kougaiji. She had seen the start of the curse in her dreams but then the blackness had made a move for her when she got to close then it had hummed. She had stirred and seen it was just Zack sitting at her computer.

“Zack… do you know what time it is?” She mumbled half under her blankets

“Nearly ten-thirty.” He replied.

“What are you doing?”

“Tseng wants proof I'm alive. So I'm trying to get a video feed up to record.” Zack looked over his shoulder at her.

J'dee slipped from the bed and pushed him aside before setting everything up and clicking the button before walking away.

“There… done.”

“Thanks.”

“I swear Zack ShinRA is suppose to be this be technological thing of a company… and you can't even hit record on a laptop hooked in to a web cam what did they teach you there?” She sighed.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle was fixing some eggs when Roy and Edward entered the apartment.

“I guess that could work,” Ed muttered as he entered.

“The woman is a genius, she's bending the laws of space at least,” Roy stated and Belle looked at them.

“I don't know if this is a man thing or just a rude thing, but could you two knock?” Belle sighed and the two exchanged a look.

“Why?” Ed asked and Belle sighed.

“Politeness, maybe I'm doing something in here requiring privacy,” Belle stated and Roy smirked.

“Such as?” he asked and Belle thought about saying something perverted but decided against it.

“Such as having a heart to heart with someone over the fact that I'm their dead mother, sister, lover, wife, brother, child, I don't know, you pick,” Belle growled.

“Okay,” Ed said. Belle broke a few more eggs into the frying pan.

“So what are you talking about?” Belle asked.

“The Colonel here thinks that that Washu woman can get Al his body back,” Ed stated and Belle thought about it.

“It's possible, but I suspect you would have to use a combination of her science, your DNA, and your alchemy to do it,” Belle thought out loud. “Also you probably couldn't just make his body, maybe grow it. That might require an egg cell and a host. Although Washu might be able to create an artificial womb.”

“See, I said a mix of alchemy and her science!” Ed cried and Roy rolled his eyes.

“Of course, you might end up with a body that needs to grow in normal time,” Belle sighed as she thought while cooking. “Of course, you might need DNA from your mother and father to remake Alphonse body.” There was sudden silence and Belle turned to look at the two. The kitchen was empty.

“What smells good?” Gojyo said as he walked into the apartment.

“Men,” Belle said with a disgusted voice.

“What did I do?” Gojyo asked.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“He should be up now, he is in the military after all.” Washu declared to herself. She turned away from her current project and tapped a few buttons on her board, bringing up another holo-monitor. It was flashing the word connecting, before switching to connected as Roy Mustang picked up his phone.

 

“Yes?” The Colonel's voice came from the monitor.

 

“Ah, Colonel Mustang, this is Washu!” Washu sang out. She heard a loud sigh on the other end and couldn't help but grin.

 

“What may I help you with Miss Washu.” He asked.

 

“Oh it's more of what I can help YOU with.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee ate quickly some cereal, fruit salad and banana on toast. She looked up seeing Zack walk out of her bedroom and he smiled at her making her blush.

“Morning.” Zack greeted cheerfully.

“Hey what's with that look?!” Gojyo exclaimed.

“What look?” J'dee remarked.

“You're blushing. What the hell did he do?” Gojyo motioned.

“Nothing happened.” Zack rolled his eyes. “Just some innocent teasing.”

J'dee stood up picking up her empty plate. “I'm… going to go for that jog now.” She put the plate in the sink rinsing it before she vanished out the door with Hawke-eye the two women heading out for a morning jog.

Hawke-eye looked at her as they reached the elevator. “What did happen?”

“Nothing.” J'dee confessed. “It was just teasing.” She absently touched the back of her neck, the memory of Zack's hand as it had touched the back of her neck and pulled her close lingered for the moment. “He… it…” She ruffled up her hair frustrated. “Nothing happened but I don't understand why I'm feeling like this.”

Hawke-eye just smiled. “The one man you want hasn't made any move to sleep with you yet every other pervert has.”

J'dee sighed. “I'm not used to lingering touches to playful teasing like that then nothing happening.”

The elevator binged making J'dee sigh again. “I should have just stuck to my Goten fandom I would have been totally safe.”

 

Zack looked at the CD glancing at Hisagi who was walking out on to the balcony. “Hisagi…”

The shinigami stopped.

“Thanks man for this morning it was a good idea.”

“Not used to thinking with your head are you?” Renji laughed as he walked inside.

“I'm trained for reaction in battle.” Zack stood up.

Hisagi nodded. “Not a problem. Going to mail that letter now?”

“Yeah.”

“I hope it's enough, if we can get help from your world we might be able to know the instant the worlds will start to merge. It's a good form of contact. Make sure you keep in touch with them.” Hisagi stated before jumping up onto the balcony before jumping off and vanishing.

 

It was that moment Zack saw Belle heading to the phone as it rung, she picked it up answering.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle was enjoying her weekend by cross stitching when the phone rang. Hakkai and Gojyo were playing cards with Goku, Ikkaku, and Yumichika. The five men sat and stared.

“Don't worry I'll get it,” Belle sighed as she got up and picked up the phone. “Hello.”

“Belle?” Roy's voice came over the line and Belle wondered what he wanted.

“How can I help you, Colonel Mustang?” Belle sighed as she walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of orange juice.

“Edward and I have just had a very extensive and interesting discussion with Washu,” he began and Belle's eyes widened.

“Can she give Alphonse a new body?” Belle cried. The conversation at the table stopped.

“She believes she can, but she is limited in a few ways. She could make a duplicate of Alphonse, however, because of his soul and the alchemy binding it to the armor her duplicate would have a soul,” Roy stated and Belle thought about it.

“She's going to need you to use alchemy to bind Al's soul to the new body at the moment it's created,” Belle stated in surprise.

“Exactly,” Roy said. “That's not why I'm calling though.” Belle's curiosity was peaked and she was aware of the men at the table going quiet.

“You need something from me,” Belle stated as the thought formed in her mind.

“Yes. You have Trisha's soul and, for all intensive purposes, you are her in this world,” Roy stated. “Washu needs DNA for the new body and she's going to need an egg.” Belle froze for a moment.

“You want me to donate…” she looked at the men at the table doing their best not to look at her. She quickly went to her room and closed the door. “You want me to donate one of my eggs to help make Alphonse a new body.”

“Only if you're willing,” Roy stated and Belle laughed.

“Of course,” she said. “I would be honored to help in any way possible.”

“Excellent,” Roy said. He sounded slightly relieved.

“Colonel Mustang, I'm shocked. I find you a disgusting pervert, but I would do anything to help Alphonse,” Belle teased and Roy made a noise.

“Ah, well, we'll be attempting it tonight after the get together,” Roy stated.

“That's really early,” Belle whispered.

“Edward and I have been dealing with the arrays since we saw you this morning,” Roy said. “We've been in contact with Washu all day, we just need your consent.” Belle thought for a moment and then, as if Trisha's soul was begging, there was a memory of a beautiful baby with those blue eyes that all babies have when first born, those blue eyes that change to the spectrum of other colors. The memory of that baby was replaced by the image of helping a shaky toddler with eyes a mix of blue and gold. Trisha and Belle both knew that that shaky toddler with chubby arms and cheeks would one day have luscious gold eyes.

“Of course I will,” Belle said as she put her weight back against the door.

“Thank you,” Roy said.

“It's not for you, it's for Edward and Alphonse,” Belle said before hanging up. She slid down the door. One of her eggs would give Alphonse a new life. It seemed like such a bargain, one cell for an entire teenage life.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Are you sure you should be doing this right before this procedure tonight?” Shinji asked, watching Washu put her shoes on by the door.

 

“Oh, it'll be fine Shinji. I have the entire area prepped and I'll do a once over on all the equipment before we begin. The biggest unknown is the alchemy arrays but I'm sure they'll be fine.” Washu reassured him. Shinji sighed as they waited by the door for Misato. Ever since Washu had told them about tonight's little experiment he had a bad feeling. It was too much like cloning in his opinion and after learning about Rei's origins, he was firmly against cloning. Not because of Rei herself but how people treated her.

 

Namely his father.

 

“Ready to go?” Misato asked, coming from the hall. Shinji shook his head and sighed.

 

“I suppose.” Shinji muttered.

 

“Now remember, Shinji, you're the boss tonight. Make sure they all brush their teeth and go to bed on time!” Misato teased.

 

“This is not going to end well.” Shinji muttered, as they left to pick up the Outlaw Star crew.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee stopped outside the apartment and flopped to lean against the building. “Man I need to get back in to doing this more often I'm so out of whack.”

The one hour jog had her knackered and she was going to soooo crash for a couple of hours before getting ready for that night.

Hawke-eye looked at her. “Your file stated you used to do martial arts to. Why did you stop?”

J'dee laughed. “I was cutting school and college for martial arts training and my job, they ganged up on me and said `Martial arts won't get you anywhere in the world so you have to choose'.” She pulled out a packet of cigarettes. “Ironic that it was happening at the time in my life where DBZ was big, only it wasn't my mother. The martial arts was her idea, she worried about my safety it was a precaution if I was going out on the town with the girls that one of us could fight to defend ourselves. I got that job since I have a jock's genes running through my veins.”

 

Hawke-eye watched as J'dee lit up a cigarette. “That explains how you were able to dodge the major's attack.”

“It would have gone better if I had remembered to use my other senses and not run right into Roy.” J'dee replied with flat eyes before taking a drag of her cigarette.

Hawke-eye nodded. “If you want someone to exercise or train with, I'm only upstairs.”

J'dee looked at her and smiled. “I need someone to motivate my lazy ass… So if you don't mind being that motivation I'm up for that.”

“I can do that.” She looked up seeing Roy leaning on the balcony looking down at them, the colonel just grinned. She shook her head with a sigh, she didn't even want to know what the Colonel was thinking but it was probably wondering if any of the eight women heading out that night would be wearing miniskirts.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“I still don't understand why we can't stay home alone.” Jim muttered, typing away on his laptop. Shinji silently agreed with the young genius, trying to get room to breath as he was crammed into the back seat of the car. It was a tight fit, squeezing four in the front, and four in the back but they managed.

 

It was like being crammed in a clown car but they fit.

 

“Can't risk it, Jim. If some one attacked while we were all gone you'd be alone.” Gene reassured his young partner. “It's safer this way.”

 

“Having us all grouped together in a small apartment is such a harder target then spread around.” Jim agreed, sarcastically. Misato leaned over Shinji smothering him in her cleavage and giving the young genius an eye full as she fondly rubbed Jim's hair.

 

“No worries, my Shinji will take care of you guys!” Misato reassured him. Said Ikari was struggling for breath under what any man would kill for.

 

“Stop teasing them, Misato.” Suzuka said, glancing into the back. Misato stuck her tongue out at the assassin but leaned back.

 

“Fine.” She pouted, as Shinji gasped for air beside her.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle was getting dressed as Goku and Ed complained about Shinji being in charge and she rubbed the bridge of her nose before she zipped up the sky blue dress she had tailor-made herself. She sighed as she listened to Sanzo yell at the boys and rolled her eyes, oh yeah, that was going to work. Belle put on her make up, making sure to wear eyeliner and lip liner. She smiled at herself before brushing her hair, parting it to the side to get a playful curve to it over the right side of her face.

“That's bullshit, Sanzo! I'm the oldest!” Goku cried and Belle sighed as she pulled on her dark grey sweater and stepped out of her room to look at their entourage. Everyone was in basically their normal clothes. Belle shook her head. The Shinigami would be fine since they were in their `human' clothing but the rest would need work.

“Goku, we're teasing, all of you, even Yachiru, are old enough to be on your own alone,” Belle sighed. “The men are just teasing you because they're asses.”

“Oh,” Goku said and then stared at her. Belle blushed.

“What?” she asked feeling suddenly silly.

“Nothing, you just look different,” he said and Belle blushed more.

“Goku, you need to learn how to talk to women from Hakkai,” Belle muttered before looking at the group. “Okay, Havoc, Roy, Armstrong, and the shinigami are fine, the rest of you need work.”

“What's wrong with my outfit?” Gojyo grumbled and Belle sighed.

“You just look White Trash, but if you want to, it usually matches J'dee fine,” Belle said with a smirk.

“Hey!” J'dee cried and Belle winked at her friend.

“Okay, Sanzo, off with the robe. Hakkai, off with the outer shirt. Zack, loose the sword and the buckles, you look like a bad S and M groupie,” Belle stated. Gojyo and a few shinigami snickered. “Gene, lose the gloves. Same with Roy.”

“Fine,” Gene grunted as he took off the gloves and Belle turned to the boys.

“Alright gentlemen, you're not going to be alone, Grimmjow and Kenpachi are going to be on watch and I suspect that Yachiru will be with Kenpachi for the most part. You can play the PS2 all you want, there's plenty of food for you in the fridge and cupboard. If you don't know how to use a piece of the kitchen equipment, don't use it to cook anything. I expect all of you to be asleep when we get back,” Belle said. “I expect everything to be in one piece when we get back. DVDs are in the entertainment center and if you scratch one you better pray I don't find out. Have fun.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“And no downloading porn on my laptop.” J'dee added to the list of rules. She stopped seeing the looks she was given. “What? They're teenagers I'm sure it could happen.”

“J'dee they're not Toby, your little brother or Gojyo.” Belle pointed out, “They're very mature boys for their age.”

“HEY!” Gojyo snapped. “I'm mature.”

Zack cleared his throat holding back a laugh.

“Sit puppy!” Gojyo snapped.

J'dee sighed. “He's not InuYasha Gojyo.”

“Inu who?” Zack blinked.

“Never mind.” J'dee looked round the group of them. “Anyways who's ready to get drunk and party?!”

“Woooohooooo!” Shinji rubbed his forehead as Misato cheered.

Belle shook her head. “I'm so not sober driver tonight.”

Hakkai just smiled. “I believe not many of us here can legally drive.”

“I can drive! Just not legally in this country… or my own.” J'dee cleared her throat.

“Oh yeah that's comforting.” Sanzo scoffed.

“I believe the priests took a vow of celibacy and no alcohol.” Roy pointed out, “They can drive.” He looked at Sanzo. “Well most priests.”

Sanzo's eye twitched as he glared at Roy.

Belle began shoving them out the door. “Lets go… it's bad enough as it that this is going to look like some weird cos-play drinking night.”

J'dee grinned as she walked out the door. “I like cos-play drinking nights.”

 

Goku blinked looking at the door as the adults all left the door shutting after them.

“So who knows how to cook?” Goku asked.

Shinji let out a breath. “It's going to be a long night.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

The music vibrated from the speakers, and through the floor of the club as the extremely large group seemed to make the bar look more packed than what it originally had been.

 

The bartender just stood behind the bar looking at the group, they'd already consumed half of the bar amongst themselves, not including the regular and normal patrons.

The blonde with the gold card was looking frustrated as he finished off his beer ordering another and throwing it on the tab of what seemed to be an unlimited gold card.

Several of the women on the dance floor dancing in a group. Some of the men of the group standing to the side nursing their drinks watching the women dance.

“It'd be better if they were in swimsuits.” The long haired red head chuckled to which his brunette friend shot him a long before twisting his ear in a flick. “Ow! Ow! Hakkai!”

“Please Gojyo can you behave for just one night?”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle sighed as she came out of the Ladies room and saw J'dee and Misato were already dancing like drunks. She had had a great dislike for the girl on girl dancing since her first club situation when some Indian man had groped her, attempting to go for her crotch. Of course, dancing alone was a pathetic thing so that meant finding a dance partner. Belle looked at her choices. The fathers were out not that she wasn't certain Leon or Hugue couldn't dance, it was more that Hugue would look like a stature while Leon would probably make an inappropriate comment. Roy was too busy looking at tail to be a choice. Armstrong was right out. Gene was Mel's, Zack was too much like a puppy staring at J'dee, and Sanzo would be suicide. Belle looked to see Hakkai and Gojyo, bingo. Gojyo, while a pervert, was in Belle's good books for the most part, and Hakkai was actually perfect.

“Hakkai, would you dance with me?” Belle asked. Hakkai looked at her and smiled gently.

“I rather not, I don't think I can get the rhythm of this music,” he said and Belle fought a pout before she approached Gojyo.

“How about you, Gojyo? Would you dance with me?” Belle asked squeezing her breasts slightly between her arms, increasing the cleavage. Gojyo didn't even look at her.

“Nah, I'm going after a different kind of partner right now,” Gojyo stated as he moved out onto the dance floor. Belle was shocked, shot down twice, and by a womanizer. Belle took her own pulse just to make sure she was alive. She didn't fight the pout as she went to the bar to order a seven and seven. It was hard and made her grunt but she needed it.

“What the hell is wrong with me?” she wondered as she looked at the dance floor. All the men were staring at J'dee and Misato as they danced with Mel. They looked like they were having fun. Belle felt alone, how was she so different from J'dee? Then it hit her, she took care of everyone, J'dee was elusive, sexual, and the same with Misato. Belle was the Mommy of the group. She looked at Hakkai as he talked with Sanzo. Hakkai might not mind being the mother of the Saiyuki guys but Belle was only in her twenties, she wasn't a mother, she was a woman and she did have the desire to be desired now and again.

Havoc cut off Gojyo, grabbing J'dee into a dance while Misato grabbed at Gojyo. Belle took a long draught of her drink, but the alcohol did nothing for her mood.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Yahoo!” Aisha cheered, after downing what appeared to be a beer mug filled with whiskey and slamming it on the table.

 

Really, really cheep whiskey.

 

“Aisha you really should learn to take it slower.” Suzuka said, sipping her drink. She noticed the stares from men they were drawing. “And drawing less attention.”

 

“Ha! I'm a mighty Ctarl-Ctarl! I need to slow down for no one!” Aisha declared as their frighten waiter returned with more whiskey.

 

“And here I thought it was going to be a relaxing night.”

 

“Oh lighten up Suzu!”

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee blinked seeing Belle standing off at the bar just leaning against it a drink in hand, she seemed upset about something. J'dee looked behind see Gojyo grin at her and J'dee flushed turning round back to the dance she was having with Havoc. She suddenly understood what was wrong. Belle had the mothering image and a night like tonight seemed to remind her that most of the men here saw her as the mothering type.

“Poor Belle…” She murmured. “Havoc, I'm going to go talk to her for a moment.”

He nodded and his hand moved from her waist. “That's fine.”

J'dee slipped across the dance floor as a new song started up and she suddenly felt herself grabbed before being pulled back on to the floor and spun round.

“Hey!” She stopped dead and looked up at Roy her face heating up. She glanced at Havoc and saw the look on his face.

“Look this way.” She felt Roy tilt her head to look up at him.

“Going to make another short crack?” J'dee challenged.

“Not tonight.” He remarked, how come his voice seemed more cooler smoother… sexier?

J'dee didn't know what to say to the man who had tried to burn her alive. Granted she was Wiccan in belief she didn't need to go out in the old school witch fashion.

She let Roy spin her out then back to him, she blinked amazed he was a good dancer, he knew how to lead on the dance floor perfectly unlike some of the disasters she'd danced with.

“You dance well.” Roy grinned. “You follow the subtle hints without hesitation.”

“I spent two years doing Latin Caribbean.” J'dee replied “I was taught how to follow a man if he leads.” She mentally kicked herself for how it sounded as soon as she had said it. She didn't need the mental image she knew Roy had at that moment.

Roy flashed her a grin. “So I've been told by Havoc.”

“He told you about that?!” J'dee exclaimed as she tried to escape embarrassed.

“He always follows an order.” Roy replied pulling her back twisting her round so her hip rested against his side.

J'dee flushed embarrassed. “Don't pull rank on him for details like that.”

Roy's hand moved up to touch the side of her face. “We are still under orders here regardless…”

J'dee looked to Belle hoping she could save her, but it seemed she was preoccupied with Armstrong annoying her at that moment.

J'dee mentally kicked herself for deciding to play on Roy for the moment, letting her body move up against his closer, her hand slipping round his waist one hand behind his head and she pulled his head down close.

“How are you at following a woman?” She challenged.

Roy seemed to grin. “That depends on how well they lead.”

“Then I have one little order… no a request that I'll make it worth your while later. Save Belle from Armstrong, she's depressed enough as it is, she doesn't need his family's history at the moment.”

J'dee caught Roy glance over her shoulder. “And what makes you think I would want to?”

“She has more skirts and dresses in her wardrobe than I do.” J'dee replied.

Roy looked down at her. “What do you think I am?”

“Think of the patterns she has that you could look at for the new uniform of the female officers in the military.” J'dee whispered.

 

Roy looked down at her, she wasn't particularly good at the game of cunning like he was, she was good at seduction he gave her that, especially with the way Havoc was looking at them both. He took one look at Belle and knew instantly why J'dee wanted someone there.

“You're feeling guilty because we seem to be flocking round you. Why send me?”

“She likes you.” J'dee replied.

Roy could have laughed. “I tried to kill you.”

“Well she used to think you were sexy, and imagine how much you could tease and traumatize Ed with this?” J'dee offered him.

Roy grinned. “Now that would be an interesting look to see on Full Metal's face. So long as I get what I ask for later.” His hand traveled up her back slowly before releasing her from his hold.

“What will you ask for?” J'dee looked at him worriedly for a moment.

“You'll have to wait and find out.” Roy replied before slipping from the dance floor and walking up to Belle.

 

J'dee let out a breath of relief. “Great now I owe him.” She mumbled. She shook her head making her way towards the exit for a cigarette and some air, Roy's hands were a bit to close and she was going to die from embarrassment soon so she'd rather not do it in public.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“It's actually a matter of making sure the carbohydrates are exactly right for each individual, by the time an Armstrong member goes through puberty, they know exactly the right diet they need to maintain their physical form,” Armstrong explained and Belle slammed down her second seven and seven. She was going to need a strong drink if Armstrong kept talking to her. She had only made a comment about how proportionate he was for such a tall man and had been given the family history for eugenics as well as their dietary plans for the last three hundred years.

“Do you mind if I steal your conversational partner away for a dance, Major?” a familiar velvety voice asked. Belle knew that the alcohol was starting to take affect as she turned to see Roy.

“Not at all, Colonel,” Armstrong said.

“Excellent,” Roy replied and Belle was yanked onto the dance floor. She found herself face to face with Roy Mustang. They were dancing and Belle noted the lack of conversation immediately.

“It's customary to ask a woman if she wants to dance,” Belle stated as she glared at Roy.

“So you're upset I removed you from your conversation with the Major?” Roy asked and Belle glared.

“That's not the point, the point is you basically yanked me onto the floor and haven't said a word to me,” Belle snapped. “Why did you bother?”

“I have my reasons,” Roy stated with a smirk and Belle saw J'dee looking over at her and Belle knew.

“J'dee asked you to recue me and you're going to use this minimal effort on your part to harass her later,” Belle hissed, pushing Roy away, fighting the tears in her eyes. “You bastard.” Belle stopped off the dance floor and just went off to an empty booth in the corner, tears in her eyes.

“What's wrong?” Roy asked and Belle glared at him, trying to keep the tears from escaping.

“What do you care?” Belle hissed and Roy hesitated. “You don't do you?”

“You seem upset, it's not good for a woman to be left alone when she's emotional,” Roy commented. She glared at him more.

“Oh good, so I am still a woman, I was getting worried for a while there,” Belle snapped. Roy stood there for a moment before sliding into the booth with her.

“Something is wrong with you. This isn't the woman who faced me down in the hallway,” Roy stated and Belle glared at him.

“Yes, something is wrong with me, I've been unsexed,” Belle stated and Roy gave her a look. “Look at J'dee and then at me, what is the difference?” Roy looked out on the dance floor to see Havoc and Gojyo basically fighting over J'dee. She was laughing uncomfortably as Zack moved in to help pull her away. Roy turned his attention to Belle who was looking at the scene with a forlorn expression.

“You're jealous,” he said and Belle laughed. It was a strangely painful sound.

“In a way I am, I'm just furious that I've been pushed into this untouchable role,” Belle hissed. “No one wants to mess with someone's mother.”

“It is considered rude,” Roy commented.

“I'm in my mid-twenties!” Belle snapped. “I haven't even slept with a man yet, how fair is it that I'm being cast as this unapproachable, genderless role?” Roy blinked for a moment.

“Wait here,” he said and he got up. It was clear when he came back that Belle was even more upset. Roy placed down the pitcher of beer and two glasses. “Let's talk.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“I can't believe she's singing this song.” Washu said, in her adult form watching Misato laughed and sing along with a large group of fraternity and sorority kids.

 

“I can't believe a song like this actually exists.” Melfina chimed in shaking her head, as Misato sang with the college drunks.

 

“I like beer 'cos it is good

I drink beer because I should

If there was a song to sing

I sing it and beer you bring

I drink beer when I am sad

'cause the beer it makes me glad

Now there's nothing left to say

So lets go drink beer

 

Beer is good

Beer is good

Beer is good

... and Stuff

 

Beer is good

Beer is good

Beer is good

Let's go drink some BEER!”

 

They finished this part of song, everyone doing their respective beers before grabbing the next round.

 

“Think we should stop her?” Melfina asked.

 

“And miss this? I'm recording it for the others to see!” Washu replied.

 

“When it's warm it taste's real crappy

But cold beer will make me happy

When I throw up on the floor

I can go and drink some more

They say beer will make me dumb

It are go good with pizza

Now that we have drunk some beer

Let's go drive a car

 

Beer is good

Beer is good

Beer is good

....and stuff

 

Beer is good

Beer is good

Beer is good

Let's go drink some BEER!”

 

“Can that song get any worse?”

 

“Do I really have to answer that?”

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee finally managed to escape outside, she had been cut off several times by Gojyo and Havoc, rescued by Zack at least twice, even Sanzo had managed to steal a cigarette or three from her and been back inside by the time she made it outside.

“Mission and a half I swear just for a cigarette.” She mumbled and her eyes closed for the moment leaning up against the cool brick wall outside. She was unaware of the wind suddenly changing direction.

 

J'dee could suddenly feel the sensation of a baby in her arms and she felt the warmth of the small body and she could feel the tears coming more.

She felt this unbelievable guilt rack her body as if she knew that what she had denied this life time from experiencing.

She slipped to her knees the cigarette packet dropping to the ground and she felt the wind pick up around her. It swirled around in front of her view and she watched as the leaves seemed to lift from the ground before being blown in circles in a dance. She had no idea why she was thinking of children so suddenly let alone a child.

Then she felt the phantom touch filled with the love of a man, a man who was her everything, her world. That she had loved so much it seemed to scare her.

“What's… this… feeling?” She seemed to gasp for air as it felt like her breath was being taken away.

The wind whipped about harsher and the leaves blew from her sight and she suddenly felt the chill of the air as it brushed over her skin.

She longed for that familiar smile, that longing to be held like that again and she covered her face as if to hide the pain of loss from her heart.

The chill was blocked from her suddenly by the warmth of a body as it held her. She turned round in the arms just burying herself inside of arms that soothed her.

“It's okay…”

She looked up suddenly blinking seeing Zack's face and he smiled warmly at her.

“Zack.”

“Are you okay?”

Her hand moved to her heart, she felt the suffering of loss, she knew the feeling so well. She could feel the memory sink in to her skin of standing over a grave holding on to a small child's hand as she looked at the marker. Her English raised mind couldn't read the Japanese but her heart told her this man was the man who loved her, the man who helped her bring such a beautiful baby girl into the world.

Her arms moved round Zack tighter and she buried herself deeper in to the warmth, as she seemed to cry for the loss of this man.

“I'm here…” He whispered.

 

Zack looked up he froze as he saw the familiar shadow standing over them.

“She's remembering.” The figure stated simply, Zack noticed the shadow of one wing.

Zack's eyes widened last time she had been asleep according to Gojyo, but this time she was awake fully conscious and she was reacting vividly to the memory.

“Who J'dee who's life are you remembering?” He asked.

Her hand clutched to his top and he felt the warmth of her breath against his neck and he closed his eyes rubbing her back.

“Kyoko…” She whispered.

Zack pushed the hair from J'dee's face looking at the tears. “Don't be sad.”

“She's separated from him again… She's suffering when she lost him the first time.”

Her hand moved up slipping behind Zack's neck pulling his head down to her.

“Why do you feel as warm as he did?”

Zack could feel his face heat up. “I… I… don't know.”

“Tch… her soul is not the only one to have remnants.” The figure stated.

Zack turned to look at the figure. “What… Are you saying…?”

“You're souls… have been together before…” The figure commented.

Zack saw J'dee look up at him. “Zack who are you talking to?” She asked.

Zack blinked the silhouette was gone, he looked up seeing several white feathers float to the ground and he held his hand out and looked at it as the white feather landed in his hand, he clutched his fist round it and he pulled J'dee close.

 

J'dee felt the smothering sensation, the warmth of Zack's body, she felt the hand moving to the back of her neck that touch again and she looked in to the pools of mako blue eyes, that seemed to look at her. She blushed at the closeness of his body as she realized.

“Oh… I'm sorry I wasn't…” She began trying to slip free but was cut off as his mouth moved over her suddenly.

 

“Oiy! J'dee! Havoc said you had smok-”

Zack pulled back slowly and he looked up at Sanzo staring at him before the monk rolled his eyes skyward.

Zack picked up the packet of Marlboro red and handed it to Sanzo who filtered about half the packet before handing the packet back and walking off. Zack made out the grumble.

“Tch! She's worse than the fucken kappa.”

Zack looked down at J'dee, she was looking up at him blinking and he felt her arms wrap around his neck pulling him back down, their mouths meeting again.

Zack let their mouths move for a moment before J'dee let him go her face blushing.

“Sorry… I just… it's… familiar…”
Zack nodded. “I know.” His hand opened and he looked at the white feather, before he looked up skyward.

J'dee looked into his hand. “Zack?” She blinked before following his gaze looking up.

“It had to be Angeal…” Zack stood up pulling her up to her feet. “I need to go back to Seventh Heaven. Stay with the others. I'll be back I promise.”

J'dee looked at him confused. “Zack what…”

“Angeal was here… I know he was… I need to check something else out. Please stay with the others.”

“Zack… becareful.” She looked at him worried and he smiled she even looked at him worried the same way Aerith used to.

Zack lent down and kissed her on the cheek. “I'll be alright. I'm SOLDIER after all.” He then took off in a run racing towards the bar.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle smiled as she finished her glass of water as Roy talked about being a young soldier.

“I really had no idea how to address my female superior,” Roy chuckled as he drank his water.

“You sound like you were a lot less suave when you were younger,” Belle stated and Roy smirked.

“I have always had a way with the ladies,” Roy stated as he smiled at the teacher.

“I'm sure you have,” Belle chuckled as she looked at the others. “We better get ready, we have a date later tonight.” Roy blinked in shock, had he made arrangements with Belle and forgotten.

“We do?” he managed and Belle looked at him.

“Giving Alphonse his body, remember,” Belle stated and Roy nearly struck his own forehead. Of course, he had nearly forgotten.

“I look forward to seeing Alphonse with my own eyes,” Roy admitted and Belle smiled.

“Then we need to sober you up some more,” she said with a grin and for a moment, Roy wondered if Belle was anything like Trisha Elric. If she was, he had a whole new respect for why Edward hated his father, how could you not hate a man who would abandon a woman like this.

 

~*~*~*~

 

 

J'dee walked in to her room, she opened the door to the balcony and looked out before looking up at the night sky. She stopped looking down seeing a rock and a white feather under the rock. She crouched down picking up the feather twirling it round.

“Zack... don't you dare make me worry about you.” She whispered.

She looked over her shoulder at her laptop before moving up to it and flicking it on before hooking it up to her stereo.

She changed in to her light pink silk chemise and her dragon boxers before pulling her black and red kimono robe on overtop and walked back in to the lounge her Cloud plushie in her arms. Shinji, Jim, Ed, Al, Goku and even Yachiru were sleeping in the lounge. She stopped seeing the buster sword in the corner of the room.

“So who's dropping them off home?” Belle asked.

Leon, Tres, Havel and Hughe all looked at Abel who just blinked.

“Why me?” He complained.

“I bet you they snuck some alcohol into their system.” Gojyo grinned leaning on the doorway obviously for balance more than anything else.

Abel was still being stared at before he relented with a defeated sigh.

“Fine. But I'm not carrying all of them to the car.” He pointed out.

“I'll help.” Hakkai smiled.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle shook Edward awake while Abel and Hakkai began to take the various under-aged individuals to their various destinations.

“Is it time?” Ed asked and Belle nodded. Roy was loading up Alphonse downstairs.

“Yeah, let's go make Alphonse whole again,” Belle said with a smile. They snuck out of the apartment among the confusion of the end of night revelers. They got downstairs and Roy was sitting in the passenger seat as Al was sitting with his upper body in the back seat and his legs in the trunk.

“AL!” Ed cried.

“Edward, it's only for the drive, and even then, according to your plans, he'll be riding back as himself,” Belle said and Ed was quiet.

“You're right,” he said with a smile and Belle nodded. Soon Alphonse would be whole again.

“I'll get us to Toby's in no time,” Belle said as she started driving.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“She really hit it hard tonight.” Shinji muttered, helping his drunk guardian to her room. Washu was helping him, and they laid the intoxicated woman stomach first on the bed, her head hanging over the side.

 

“She tends to drink when she's troubled, and I think Toby's taking off like that bothers her more than she lets on.” Washu said. She helped Shinji cover up his guardian who snored loudly.

 

“Shinji?” Washu said, after they finished.

 

“Yeah?” He asked, and yawned.

 

“Toby had to leave.” Washu found herself saying. Why was she doing this? “If he hadn't a friend of his might have died. So don't feel too bad, he would have done the same for any of us.”

 

“Oh.” Shinji said, taken aback by abrupt confession. “He told you?”

 

“He did. He was hoping he'd come back and you wouldn't have to know but I just want you to know that.”

 

“Thanks, Washu, that means a lot.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Zack looked round Seventh Heaven he stopped dead seeing his package on the counter top of the bar opened and he blinked.

“No way I only sent that off this morning… what's going on?” He looked over his shoulder as he could feel the darkness begin to settle over the bar.

He saw the door open and the shadows from outside began to leak inside across the floor. His hand went to grab the Buster sword but stopped when he realized it wasn't strapped to his back.

“Damn…” He remembered leaving it in Belle and J'dee's lounge before going out with them, he had gone back only to drop off the feather, but had forgotten to pick up the sword in the excitement of possibly finding Angeal here, a rookie mistake he was already regretting.

But if Aerith's spirit was in J'dee and he was able to be revived and cross dimensions the likelihood that Angeal could have crossed over was possible. He didn't know they would play him like this, it was cold, and sneaky.

Zack watched as the shadow began to form in to a hood figure, one of thee three hooded figures. Zack's eyes narrowed.

“Hope you liked my illusion I thought it would draw you out here alone.” The figure cracked his neck, before rolling his shoulder. “And your unarmed this makes it easier.”

“What do you want with me?” Zack glared.

The figure seemed to grin. “To put forth an ultimatum, Cloud's life or Aerith's soul, which one do you want to see more of. Choose wisely because the one you pick the other will die.”

Zack stared at the figure. “No.” He shook his head.

“No?” The figure seemed amused by his answer. “THERE IS NO NOT FOR YOU!” He snapped the cape flickering in the wind caused by his anger.

He snapped his fingers and Zack saw the shadows rise up in the same fashion they had behind Cloud.

Zack jumped up avoiding one shadow flipping a couple of times backwards his elbow shooting out catching a shadow figure in the throat before his opposite hand slammed on to the ground and his leg shot up snapping up under another's chin.

The figure seemed to growl. “Fight all you want Zack… But we have Cloud and we will kill him if you disobey us.”

Zack spun round avoiding a shadow his head snapping to look at the figure in a glare.

“Don't you dare.” Zack felt the shadows lop around his ankles as the world of Shadows seemed to pull him down.

“I'll show you he's fine… for now. But then you will have to choose who you care for more. Aerith or Cloud.”

Zack felt the shadow sliver over his shoulders before he was suddenly yanked in to the darkness leaving the bar empty.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle watched as Washu, Edward, Roy, and Alphonse set up the various scientific equipment and arrays. There were arrays on everything and Washu was typing various things into her computer. Still there was a trickle of doubt working its way into Belle's spine.

“Now what's going to happen?” Belle asked Washu as she typed, doing her best to stay out of the way.

“Roy and Ed will place an array on you which when I inject you with this…” Washu held up a siring. “...it will remove the egg that the serum will cause you to automatically produce. That array over there will use Ed's DNA I've extracted to mix within the egg and in a sense fertilize it with all of their father's genetic material, which I was able to get from his own DNA.”

“What about Alphonse soul?” Belle asked.

“Once that array activates it will create Alphonse's body while that array will take Alphonse's soul and place it in the created body,” Washu stated.

“What about age?” Belle asked.

“That's what this tank is for, Alphonse will be kept in stasis for about a week,” Washu stated.

“You'll be able to take him from a few cells to an eleven year old boy in a week?” Belle cried.

“The liquid in the tank is made up of several special biological hormones as well as nutrients, minerals, and other materials. The liquid will be refreshed every six hours which will accelerate Alphonse's growth. We just take him out when he's done,” Washu said with a grin. Belle smiled back she watched the three boys finish their massive arrays. Edward approached Belle with a bowl of ink and a paintbrush.

“We're ready to put the array on you,” Ed said and Belle blushed as she realized she was still wearing a dress.

“Oh…okay,” she moved to lay on a table while pulling her dress up. Ed blushed as he moved the dress up, pausing a moment to look at the scar down Belle's stomach for a moment before he quickly began to draw a tiny array over Belle's womb. It took a moment to dry but Ed quickly placed the dress back over Belle.

“What do I do, Edward?” Belle asked and he smiled at her before taking her to part of the array, placing her in an intricate circle. She saw two other circles and watched as Alphonse and Edward both stood in one of the other circles.

“Stay there, Roy and I will do all the work,” Ed said with a smile and Belle nodded. Washu began the machinery causing a large electric hum to being. Washu approached Belle and injected the siring into her, right through her clothes. Belle grunted as Washu returned to her seat, rubbing where the needle had invaded her abdomen.

“Ready on our mark,” Roy called to Washu. “Three, two, one, mark!” The electric power of Washu's machines were nothing to the power of alchemy, it rolled over Belle's skin making her hyper aware of how dangerous what they were trying to do was. Belle looked down and she could see through her dress the light of the alchemic reaction through the mark on her belly. Belle closed her eyes as the light began to get too bright to stand and Belle felt terror rise in her heart. Before Belle could scream or move the light was gone.

“Did it work?” Roy asked Washu. Belle looked over at Ed who looked horribly pale and then Belle looked at Alphonse. At first she thought nothing had happened. Then, in a motion that started off in slow motion the armor collapsed, echoing like a gong before rocking back and forth slowly. Belle and Edward were right next to each other turning the armor over to see that the seal that had kept Alphonse's soul attached to it was a dusty ash mark.

“Al…Alphonse….talk to me…Alphonse, you talk to me right now!” Edward hissed, his voice increasing in volume. “ALPHONSE!” The last was a scream of a terrified child and Belle grabbed Edward, holding him to her tightly.

“Tell me he's in that tank!” Roy snapped as Washu typed furiously at her keyboard. She looked up and Belle knew with grim horror what she was going to say.

“There are no signs of biological material anywhere in the container,” Washu stated in a quiet, grim voice.

“Alphonse…” Edward's voice was hollow and Belle held him to her as her tears rolled down her cheeks.

“He's gone Edward,” Belle whispered as she held the thrashing teenager against her. Edward shrieked and howled, trying to kick and thrash. Belle wrapped herself around Edward. Roy was fast enough to detach the automail so Belle only got a few good hits to her shoulders and legs before she held the broken child in her arms.

Belle wept as she held Edward, she wept for Edward's pain, she wept for the loss of Alphonse, and she wept for Trisha's pain. She held Edward till an hour before dawn that's when Roy got her up and picked up Edward. The teen was unconscious and Belle sat in the backseat with him while Roy drove them back to the apartment. Kenpachi, Renji, and Hisagi said nothing as the trio entered the building.

“Take him to my room,” Belle said and Roy nodded. They entered the apartment silently and Belle could feel the horror sinking deeper into her as she stared at the floor, PS2 games littered the area by the television, Edward and Alphonse were on the top. Belle put the games away while Roy put Ed into Belle's bed. Belle grabbed Roy at the door.

“It wasn't your fault,” she whispered and Roy nodded. She yanked him into her and held him tightly. “I don't blame you, Trisha wouldn't blame you, and Alphonse wouldn't blame you either!”

“Thank you,” Roy whispered and he pulled out of Belle's embrace. She watched him until he turned the corner in the hallway. Belle headed to her room. Edward was curled up on her bed like a lost child, cold and hopeless. Belle kicked off her shoes and closed the curtains to the pre-dawn light. She pulled the covers up and over Edward. She spooned behind him, clutching him to her. He was the son of part of her soul, but the pain she felt might as well have been as if she had watched her own son die and seen the effects it had on her eldest son.

Belle fell asleep in tears, holding Edward to her body tightly.

 

To Be Continued…