Crossover Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction / Saiyuki Fan Fiction ❯ Aint Nothing But Magick (reverse) ❯ Chapter 28 ( Chapter 28 )

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 28

 

 

Air sat on the cushion of air watching Zack in the chains. He was in a foul mood Water had just finished another reprimanding on him slacking off because they felt Fire was going to jump the gun and the blonde rat he needed was out there gallivanting around with the girl because Zack was turning out to be defiant. Now with Hakkai snooping round inside the caves, he couldn't even get Gojyo into the damn tube. Incase the healer found the location and decided to free everyone. Right now though the green eyed healer was focused on his friend, so he made sure to keep the red head away from the incapacitated others.

The kappa was hanging on the chains next to Zack. His lippy attitude had died out the minute Water had threatened to find Hakkai and break him in half.

Hakkai was going to prove to be a massive problem if they didn't get him out of their head quarters soon.

 

Air looked over his shoulder as the shadows began to form and he looked at the over six foot mass as Sephiroth's figure formed.

“Earth is calling a meeting… she says it's time.” Sephiroth spoke.

Air stood up with a sigh. “Fine. Watch them.” He hovered in the air for a moment before floating to the door and in to the caverns.

 

Earth.

 

God he hated that woman yet he seemed to somehow feel like a pawn, when ever she started her plans. She was power hungry beyond any entity he had ever crossed paths with. It was probably driven by her revenge against Risnuch and Orifiel, the angels that forced her original form to split in the first place.

 

Each of them had to deal with a higher being or in their case beings that made them split but he hadn't thought about the ones that forced his separation, it had been a millennia ago and he'd had several lives and lived each one fueling his desires and finding the other parts of himself spread through out the dimensions. He remained in the background of each of the minds of his other souls giving them that fleeting thought of what it would be like to die, and to witness that death.

The names of those that forced him to split his soul he would never forget them, but he hadn't thought on them either. Not until now. They were close to becoming whole again, the last thing he needed was those two showing up and ruining everything.

 

Ambriel

 

Aniel

 

They forced him to fall and be stripped of the parts of himself that gave him his powers and slowly one dimension at a time he'd rode the winds hunting down his other celestial counter parts and taking them out. Stealing their abilities to grant him the powers he held today and each time a direct soul to him passed on he got stronger. He'd gathered so many souls already but the last ten had eluded him choosing that girl over him. And there were still others with the air ability out there.

 

Cloud was one, Vincent another, their movements alone fluid and when they fought it was as if they rode the wind themselves like he did.

Cloud would prove to be a problem and he knew he had to collect the blonde soon.

 

Air floated into the room and he looked at Earth, behind her in a giant tube was the scientist Fire had pilfered from the fire soul's place while the boy was absence.

“Wow for once you were prompt.” Earth seemed to smirk.

“Yeah whatever.” He drawled flopping on to a cushion of air sitting there his head falling to rest in his hand.

“Between you and Fire I swear I don't know what I'm going to do with you two. You argue like children.”

“She's a pain in my ass.”

“They say you fight with those you care about.” She taunted.

“Shut the fuck up! I don't care for you assholes. This is a means to an end I'm going to get whole open your stupid porthole for whatever reason then I'm gone.”

Earth smiled. “So be it…”

He hated that smile, she was whole but for some reason she still needed them, she could have gone off to conquer worlds upon worlds by now, but she needed them for something and that gave him the slight feeling of having the upper edge.

Perhaps he'd wait a while before going after Cloud just to piss her off. They were immortal anyway they had all the time in the world. He couldn't say the same for this dimension though.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Water stared at Earth, calm on the outside but raging in his core. He was furious; Air was going to fuck everything up. Bringing Hakkai to this place was a wonderful distraction, a golden opportunity for him to go collect Sanzo however, since the addition of Fire and Air's new guest he had been too busy scaring the Kappa into obedience and leading Hakkai on goose chases so that their captures remained captured.

And the girl had given birth, meaning she would be recovering, weak at this moment. Ripe for the taking but again he was stuck ensuring that Fire and Air didn't ruin all of their hard work. If only he could destroy them, but until he was whole again there wasn't enough motive to risk destroying the two idiots. He took a deep breath; it would sound like a sigh as he stared at the wall.

He was at risk now, the girl was quick with her powers, but that was to be expected, she was Water through and through. She had been building up for years to become this and now that she had access to her powers, there was little he could do. Their abilities would be on par shorter than the others. Air's would be hesitant to learn to fly, lucky Air would be the one to have a target afraid of heights. Fire's was delayed by his own accident. Of course he should have been able to go after his woman, but no, he was stuck at Earth's request cleaning up Air's idiotic mistakes. If he gained his powers before Air, he would make sure to kill Air quick and clean, none of this mess.

He remembered the days when the water was his servant when he commanded the seas, ruled the skies, and shook the glaciers. It was glorious and he missed the sensation of what he truly was. He longed for the water rushing over his scales, ruffling the fur down his spine, and shaking the ice from his spines. As always the memory of his true form brought the memory of them.

Sachael and Ridya. They had been beautiful, luscious with wings that rivaled his own. He had lusted for Ridya on sight but she had only stared at him in sorrow before they tore his wings from him and left him naked and less than on the ice. He hated them, hated their beauty and their pity as they had scattered the souls throughout existence. He couldn't wait to laugh in their faces and spit at their pity. How could they been so arrogant to think they could destroy him by taking him from his soul.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Minase!” Minase turned and greeted Imari as she ran up to him. Fire, the woman known as Kari, sighed. She gently swung her legs from the top of the roof as she watched. This Minase character was very intriguing. He had recently discovered a book that was simply name the Black Book, or Black Bible. She had seen him use the book for some of his own ends, even help some of the girls by casting spells.

 

This power called to her. To use this book against Tobias would be a great boon. No doubt the others would protest, it was black magic of the darkest caliber, but the power was great. Deciding to take her soul carrier on the book, she began to mentally plan when she felt the summons. Growling to herself, she gave one last glance over her target before disappearing in a plume of fire.

 

Earth had the worst timing.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Earth glanced at the other three Elements, Water looked irritated more than normal, Air and Fire were arguing again over what she didn't know nor did she want to.

“You have approximately one week to gather the last of the required. Then we will go after them.” Earth announced. “With the new arrivals I didn't calculate how it would speed up the process of the cross over. Certain buildings from the various worlds are starting to become a permanent fixture. If we don't hurry this world will collide sooner rather than later.” Earth explained. “So as of tomorrow if I see you here bumming around expect no sympathy or recognition. I want you out there getting the last of required. If you can't get them.” She shot Air a look. “Substitute. There's more than one world out there.”

Air groaned. “What do you want me to do? Go after freaken Buffy?”

Fire laughed. “Scared the slayer will kick your ass?”

“Shut the hell up!” Air snapped.

Water just sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. The flash flood came out of nowhere hitting Air and Fire slamming them into the wall.

Earth let out a breath. “Thank you.”

“I didn't do it for you.” Water stated. “They were annoying me.”

Earth looked to Air, “If you can't find a strong replacement in time then dig Goku out we'll use him.” Her hands landed on her hips. “I want all four tubes filled. The roaches that are lingering in our halls also need to be squashed.”

“Yeah sure.” Fire huffed before vanishing in a plume of Fire.

“Bitch…” Air grumbled stalking out.

Earth looked to Water. “Why do you have to be the only one in control of their emotions?” She asked.

Water just smirked. “I am emotion… that's why.”

Earth watched as he liquefied slipping into the ground.

 

Earth glanced up to the crystals forming on the ceiling of the cave.

She was aware of the silver haired figure looming behind her. She looked over her shoulder.

“You crave more… I can feel it…”

Earth looked at her hands. “The four souls I wanted back the most and I can't reach them, when this is done even the dead will be attainable and I'll have that full power again.”

“For every good soul out there connected to us there is an equal tainted soul, mine were taken before I could reach them.” She explained then glanced to Sephiroth. “How do you think I was able to bring you and Zack here revive you from the dead. You have a part of me inside you both.”

She saw the mako green eyes widen slightly as he seemed to recognize the look. “You look different this time round… mother…”

She chuckled. “Mother to you and father to Kougaiji… but only when I can obtain those souls… Then and only then will I truly be complete to create the perfect world for us…” She looked to him. “Air's little target sits on the cusp of my element and his, she could easily fill in for the brat, I don't like that, she is an abomination, make sure, she picks the side of Air.” Her hand moved to his face slowly touching the pale skin. “Oh and do keep an eye on Zack would you… Air can't seem to control him very well but then again the puppy is Earth related.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

The shower was wonderful, but not as much as the sensation of holding a tiny life in her arms and feeling the suckle of a tiny mouth on her breast. Belle was smiling at Alphonse as he fed on her breast. Of course the majority of Belle's focus was internal; she was forcing her blood to rush through her stretched uterus, allowing platelets to close the wounds. It was almost too easy now that she knew how to control the water.

“Wow, I can't remember Alphonse as a baby,” Edward said as he sat next to Belle, staring at Alphonse. Belle smiled at the young man as she felt moisture build up around Alphonse's mouth.

“Edward, could you grab that towel on the table?” Belle asked before said towel was in her face. Belle blinked as she looked at Vincent. His red eyes held a strange look and Belle smiled. “Thank you, Vincent.” He nodded as he stepped back, staring at the small child feeding.

“Damn yo, that kid's going to town on your tit!” Reno cried as he entered the room and Belle rolled her eyes.

“Eloquent Reno,” she sighed as the door opened. Roy, Hawkeye, the Shinigami, and the Fathers entered the room.

“We weren't able to…is that Alphonse?” Abel cried as his eyes took in the sight of Belle with a child in her arms.

“A few hours ago,” Ed said and Belle nodded.

“Are you alright?” Hawkeye asked and again Belle nodded.

“I'll be fine. I'm healing myself right now,” Belle said and there was a moment of shock.

“How are you healing yourself?” Abel cried and Belle giggled.

“Abel, blood is ninety percent water, I just figured it out while I was in the shower,” Belle explained.

“I guess we didn't need Hakkai,” Yumichika commented and Belle sighed.

“No, but I wouldn't have been afraid. My greatest fear was Alphonse getting stuck, but he seems to have done fine,” Belle said as she used to towel to keep any excess milk from slipping down to stain her shirt.

“Damn, I'm all for that,” Ikkaku chuckled and Belle sighed.

“Ed that blanket,” she said and Ed tossed a throw pillow across Belle's chest, covering Alphonse and Belle's chest.

“What's wrong with you yo! You don't tell them that shit!” Reno cried from his spot at the table.

“You are all perverts,” Belle stated as she rocked Alphonse gently under the blanket.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Toby, phone for you!” Shinji called, grinning from ear to ear. Tobias grumbled but got up from the table. It never failed some one always called when he made himself comfortable. Now he was going over his books and checking his savings. He might have to accept that offer to design that rich bastard's guest house if he kept feeding the hordes that always seem to get here on Saturdays.

 

Damn Catarl's and their appetites.

 

“Hello?” Tobias said, after taking the phone from Shinji who hurried off to find Misato.

 

“Toby? I was just calling to announce the birth of Mr. Alphonse Elric!” Belle replied. Tobias rolled his eyes. So that was why Shinji was smiling.

 

“Good for you. Are you both okay then?”

 

“We're both fine! Hurt like a bitch, and I didn't get an epidural.”

 

“So what do you need? You know I honestly don't care as long as you're both okay.” Tobias replied. He heard Belle huff.

 

“You can be a right bastard sometimes, you know that, Toby?”

 

“You know you love me anyways.” Tobias said, smirking. “So, reason for calling?” He heard Belle sigh.

 

“We probably need to use the tank to speed up Al's growth some time soon, as soon as we confirm he's still in there mentally.” Belle informed him. Tobias smirked.

 

“Well that depends.”

 

“On what?”

 

“If I can have some milk too.”

 

Belle hung up with a slam and Tobias grinned. Hanging up his phone and he turned to see Misato watching him, amused.

 

“Have fun?” She asked, Tobias grinned.

 

“It is fun to rile her up and I had to get her back for destroying .17% of my collection.” Tobias said, turning back to his study.

 

“Why does anyone put up with you?” Misato muttered, picking up the phone to call Belle.

 

“Because everybody loves me.” Tobias quipped, heading to his study.

 

And they do too.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Goku let out a sigh, staring at the fire roaring in front, Hakkai had lit it before heading back into the cave in his blind and desperate search for Gojyo. All they could do was sit and wait. Sanzo had stated it was to let them be, in a less than friendly manner, with the as per normal cussing that came out in the statement.

“Will Hakkai find him?” Goku asked.

Sanzo gave his trademark “'Tch.” Comment before lighting his fifth Marlboro in less than fifteen minutes.

Goku looked into the purple eyes that were glaring at the fire like it was source of their current problems.

“Stupid fucken Kappa…” Sanzo grumbled. “Dick for brains.”

Goku pulled his legs up to his chest. He wished now Hakkai and Gojyo had cellphones they could at least text in what was going on.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Water stared at the two, the boy was an Earth type through and through, the monk was clearly a Water type, moody as hell, obviously hateful of his emotional state. It was amusing to see a Water soul fighting their very nature. While Water didn't display his emotions he enjoyed each sensation like a fine wine hoarding the feelings while Fire, Air, and Earth reveled in their repressed emotions like swine in the mud.

The monk was annoyed, especially by his helplessness, the monk knew he was being hunted, after meeting the woman how could he not be. The woman was a parent, a soul that would die to protect its offspring again and again, hell, her willingness to bear a child that she wouldn't be able to keep was evidence enough. The monk knew it was dangerous but his own loyalty kept him bound to follow the kappa here. Still he wasn't going to enter the cave, too bad they were so close to the lake.

Water smiled as he stepped out of the water silently. His energy had long infused with the lake, meaning that the monk's own natural ability to sense energies would be a weakness. Water could stand right behind the monk and he would never be aware that Water was there. The benefit of millennia of planning, Water smiled and for a moment ice covered his canines giving him fangs for a moment. Yes, soon he would have his fangs back, his wings back, his scales back, but first, the monk.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“The book…it-it was in this book I found. Please…could you…”

 

Fire sighed to herself as she listened to Minase being seduced by a blonde school mate, a woman Kari had yet to learn her name. This blonde woman was apparently obsessed with magic, and the temptation Minase's black book presented was so great she had resorted to sex to tempt it from him. Kari listened from the roof over the blonde's window as she seduced the secrets from him. A few hours later, Minase left, leaving the blonde his book as he himself stumbled home in a post coital glow. The woman was gently holding the book, caressing it's chain bound cover reverently.

 

“With you I can do what others only dreamed.” The blonde whispered by the window. “That fool Minase didn't know what he had.”

 

Having heard enough, Fire slid off the roof, grasping the edge to toss herself feet first threw the open window. This was the perfect opportunity to snatch the book. Maybe even Minase himself when he was home, sleeping off his recent exertions tonight. Fire's aim was dead on, and she slammed feet first into the buxom blonde's face, knocking the naked girl out cold. Fire crouched by the blonde's prone form, making sure she was truly unconscious before retrieving the Black Bible.

 

The moment she touched it she felt a rush of pleasure shoot through her like electricity. She shivered in ecstasy as the book responded to her. While not sentient it had been around enough magic to gain a semblance of awareness. In sensed her power and it let her know it could do great things with some one such as her. Kari clutched it to her now heaving chest, shivering in delight.

 

The others would protest but to hell with them! With this kind of power she could control them and many others! First she would capture Minase, the last piece of her soul. Then she would seduce that fool Tobias, and with their union take him and his souls into her. Then, finally complete, she would control their others.

 

Fire cackled gleefully, unknowing she was already damned by the power of this book.

 

~*~*~*~

 

The former SOLDIER was shivering as if trying to fight something, perhaps a mental form of invasion projecting an imagery that caused him to feel and look as defeated as he did.

“Zack! Oiy! Snap out of it!” The red head was shouting at him.

The silver haired figure laughed. “So she's touched you too… I bet you had to watch her die in front of your eyes… how fitting that you'll get to see it again.”

“Seph…i…roth… don't… he has… nothing to… do… with this.” Zack seemed to be gasping for breath as if fighting whatever control Air held over him.

“Then you understand what Air requires of you?”

“I do… just don't, don't bring them in to this.”

“When you have returned to your senses, we shall work together again… like the old days.” The corner of his mouth tilted up in a smirk. “Mako reactor five.”

Zack looked up at him blinking and nodded. “The reactor… I remember. Together we were looking for Angeal and Genesis to talk to them. Those old days.”

“Yes… those ones.” The black gloved hand moved to the wall beside Zack's head as he leaned over him. “Are you with me? You destroy that woman and the pain will leave. I know… I've felt it.”

“I…”

Gojyo shook his head. “Zack don't you dare! She's worried about you.”

“I'm… in.” Zack's head lowered.

Sephiroth's hand moved to his sword and he sliced up.

Zack's body slumped forward and the shadow figure caught him. “Good choice.”

“Dude don't you dare! What the hell has Air got over you?!” Gojyo growled.

Sephiroth smirked. “Don't worry about Zack… I'll take good care of him. You should worry about what Air is going to do to you or what Water is going to do to the monk.”

 

Gojyo watched as the shadows seemed to seep in to the ground vanishing taking Zack with him.

“ZACK! SHIT YOU HURT HER! SO HELP ME I'LL FUCKEN KILL YOU!” Gojyo shouted pulling at the chains.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Hakkai stopped hearing Gojyo shouting and cursing he knew that voice and he knew it was pissed. He slipped down the hall ducking quickly behind the shelter of rocks when he saw two shadow like figures move down the hallway.

He saw them break free of the darkness and his eyes widened; he knew that green figure with the cape and turban, accompanied by the shorter man with dark flame like hair.

That Dragonball series that Miss J'dee ranted and raved about that got her into this animeverse thing she said they were from.

Hakkai waited till they had passed and he moved down the hall, he could still hear Gojyo shouting. He stopped outside a door and tried the handle the shouting stopped suddenly.

“Gojyo…” Hakkai spoke softly.

“Shit Hakkai?” He thought he heard Gojyo laugh. “What the hell are you my knight in shining armor?”

Hakkai chuckled. “Are you alone in there?”

“Unfortunately, say you didn't happen to bring a cute girl with you?”

“I'm afraid not. But hold on I'm going to get you out. Sanzo and Goku are outside. We'll go back together.”

He heard the rattle of chains. “Shit you brought the monk. Hakkai get out! Take the monk as far from here as possible that Water asshole is after him!”

“Gojyo.”

“Hakkai one or both of us gone you choose. I know I can handle Air, he's full of it. But Water you don't mess with that fuckwad.” Gojyo commented.

“Gojyo.”

“You know where I am come back for me when the monk isn't in danger. Because like hell we're going to return to Shangri-la without him… that monkey won't shut the fuck up. I know it you know it. Like hell I'm putting up with his whining like last time. I'm not going anywhere…”

Hakkai clutched at the door handle. “Gojyo.”

“I'll be alright dude.”

Hakkai let out a breath it hurt him to listen but he knew Gojyo was right. “I'll be back.”

“You better. Or else you owe me a beer.”

Hakkai then began to move out of the cave racing as fast as he could back towards Sanzo and Goku.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Water heard the approach of the demon from the cave and he smiled as he moved towards the monk through the trees. He extended his hand and the water from the lake collected in his hand freezing into a sword of ice. Not the blade of a Japanese samurai but the blade of a knight. The key to the monk was the same as the woman's, those his soul identified with and the monk was connected to the boy of the Earth, the kappa of Fire, and the demon of the Air. The Sanzo party was an elemental group and one day they too would be returned to their single soul for purification.

“Sanzo! It's Hakkai!” the boy cried as he got up and Water struck, the flat of his blade pressed to the monk's neck while his hand gripped the monk's dominant firing wrist.

“Don't move Monk, I would hate to have to try and keep you from bleeding to death before the woman could see it,” Water stated, letting his lips brush the monk's ear. “She loves you, you know. She has loved you since she was born. The love of your father carried to her, she would crawl over broken glass and hot coals naked if it would spare you a moment of pain. I would hate to waste your suffering without her presence.”

“Get the fuck off of me!” the monk snarled about to attack when the water of the lake wrapped around him, confining the monk, holding him suspended in the air while the child and the demon emerged from the cave. Water smiled as he kept the blade against the monk's neck.

“Don't worry, I'm not a lover of men, even if you are as pretty as a woman,” Water stated as he took his eyes off the monk, looking instead to the demon and the boy. “You played a good round, but you really should have told him not to come, Demon.”

“I didn't realize he was a target,” the demon spoke his hand charging with chi.

“Don't bother, I'm taking the monk, give the woman a token of my affection,” Water said as he pulled the scripture from the monk's shoulders a segment of water quickly filling the monk's opening mouth to prevent the holy words, not that Water thought he could be harmed by the holy piece of paper, but only a fool would test it.

“Let Sanzo go,” the boy shouted as Water removed the gun as well, he smiled as he threw the gun at the demon and threw the scripture at the fire.

“Goku! The scripture!” the demon cried and Water leapt on to the branch of water as the boy changed his attack diving to save the paper.

“Tell the woman, I can't wait till we are one again,” Water stated as the water limb whipped back into the lake bringing Water and the monk into the darkness of the lake. The monk was thrashing, fighting to free himself, but it was for naught. His eyes widened as he panicked aware that he was going to drown as the darkness of the lake was complete Water embraced the monk. His struggles were weak and right as the monk lost consciousness Water transported them to the chamber. He had to prepare the monk for the woman, she would need to see him in distress, it would bring her mind to a panic of maternal instincts. Water couldn't wait to see her.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Fire appeared in her container room, Minase slung over shoulder, black book tucked under the other arm. She gestured to the only remaining empty tank, and it lowered. She hoisted Minase in, and sealed it quickly. Ignoring the tank as it put Minase into stasis she sat at her desk and set the book in the middle. Opening it to begin reading she frowned. It was in Latin and she was not fluent in the language. Enough to get by of course but not enough to correctly translate dangerous spells. However…

 

She thumbed to the very back and smirked. On the last page was a dried blood smear in a box with Latin spelled above it, in Latin of course. She gently brushed the dried blood away before biting the tip of her right index finger hard enough to draw blood. She smeared her own in the box and grinned as the blood began to glow eerily.

 

“English.” She whispered. The book slammed itself shut and then opened to the first page.

 

Fire laughed in glee as the text began to change from Latin to English before her very eyes.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Air stood on the top of the building he watched J'dee running out the front door pulling Cloud along with her. Even from this high up he could see the blonde was blushing and he grinned looking to the side. “I want him back Sephiroth…You know what to do.”

The shadow nodded before it slid down the wall following the couple.

Air looked to the other side Zack's shadow form kneeling on one knee watching them; he crouched down beside Zack, hand moving through the spikes to turn the former SOLDIER's glance to his.

“When I tell you the order, you're to go in and kill her, but not today… soon, you need more training. You don't listen very well. But what else can I expect from a puppy.” He taunted.

Air smirked seeing Zack look away almost flinching at the nickname as if the memory of the word alone was a form of impalement.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee looked at Zack's motorbike and she blinked seeing Cloud pull the goggles down over his eyes. She saw him extend his hand to hers.

“Aerith.”

J'dee nodded and grabbed his hand jumping on the bike behind Cloud.

“Hold on.”

Blushing she let her arms slip round Cloud's waist as he revved the bike up and they pulled off from her work. She buried her face into the back of his shoulder blocking the obvious wind that would hit her eyes. But she felt it didn't come, it felt more liberating, the speed of the wind brushing past and over them.

 

Cloud glanced down for the moment seeing those silver bangles round her wrists, the wolf ring on her finger, nails knitted into his turtleneck as she held onto him. Her breath against his back, and he felt liberated. The guilt that had taken him two years to remove since her passing, lifted even more, even if it was a different Aerith, she remembered him, she worried about him, like Aerith did.

Old feelings were the hardest to break, he had fallen for her once, like she had for him, but the reality was back then he had reminded her of Zack.

Blinking he glanced up.

 

Zack.

 

It was obvious even this time round she was in love with his friend, his mentor. She didn't admit it, but it was obvious. He could read the signs, but like Zack, she cared for too many people at once, a big heart, but lost and confused easily. They were alike this time round like she had taken a bit from everyone who helped and inspired her last time.

Learning martial arts like Tifa, smoked like Cid, she wore a lot of red like she was in direct competition with Vincent, bubbly and hyper as Yuffie, had tattoos like Barrett, held the whole country upbringing like Zack and lost her best friend like he had, yet over it all she was instantly called to the staff as her weapon.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Look I've tried, I just can't seem to call it up! I'm not a lighter damn it!” Tobias snapped crossing his arms. Misato sighed, and decided to resort to Belle's plan. Most of today had been wasted by trying to get Tobias to call up his fire powers. They had a pile of dried wood that had yet to be burned.

 

“Okay, plan b then.” Misato said, fishing into the bag of books Havoc had dropped off. Pulling out a large hardback, Misato flipped it open. The pages were blank except for the note Belle had written. The outside was exactly like Tobias's 1st edition of the Stand by Steven King. Belle didn't have four thousand to literally burn however, so Roy had transmuted a reasonable copy. By the way Tobias stiffened, it was a damn good replica.

 

“Why do you have that book?” Tobias asked, a sinking feeling in his gut. Misato had to admit that this fun, and tossed the book on the ground. Tobias took a step forward but Gene held him back.

 

“Welllllllllllll… since plan a doesn't work, plan b is to get you to do something before I destroy your autographed book.” Misato said, smirking. Tobias paled as she lit a large match.

 

“Misato…” Tobias whined. Misato grinned.

 

“Oops!” Misato called out and dropped the match. Tobias reacted instinctively and thrust his right hand out, a ball of fire shooting out to incinerate to match, ashes fluttering to the ground.

 

“Ha! See you could do it!” Misato said. She saw Tobias's eyes widened and she turned to look behind her. Her own eyes got big as they watched the edge of the forest catch on fire from his fireball.

 

“SHIT!”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Belle was on her bed, infant Alphonse was sleeping on a blanket next to her and she smiled as she looked at him. His little nose still a button, his rosebud lips pursed in his sleep as if he were dreaming of suckling, and his long black eyelashes a fine layer of black upon his ruddy cheeks.

“You look content,” a voice spoke and Belle looked up, Hugue was in the doorway and she smiled at the stoic priest.

“This is right,” she said, tears slowly filling her eyes.

“What's wrong?” he asked as he closed the door behind them. Belle could `see' Reno was being kept back by Roy who obviously knew the new mother wanted time with her `child.'

“He's not mine,” Belle whispered as she looked at the beautiful child. Edward had taken some of Belle's clothes and transmuted baby clothes, they had diapers and bottles fresh from the Fathers. “But I want him to be so badly.”

“This is a sacrifice to you,” Hugue stated and Belle nodded as she sat up, rubbing her eyes with the back of one hand.

“I always knew I wanted to be a mother, but I never met the right man…now…I have this beautiful child, but he's not really mine, he is Alphonse, and he belong to Von Hohenheim and Trisha,” Belle covered her face with her hands as she began to sob.

“I am sorry,” Hugue stated. “Can I send someone in?” Belle knew he was unable to comfort her the way she needed.

“Abel please,” Belle whispered and Hugue was gone within a moment Abel was practically thrown into the room and Belle tackled the pale haired priest, clinging to him as she wept with a broken heart.

“Miss Belle,” Abel stated but Belle was beyond words, heart broken for the loss of a child that was not really hers.

“I want to keep him Abel,” Belle sobbed and Abel's eyes moved to the sleeping infant. “I'm empty inside at the thought of losing him.” The father held the woman who looked so like the co-worker who had given him her heart and Abel could only feel impotent to help her. Helpless to stop the pain that Belle would feel.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee blinked as she felt the heat on the wind, it was a new feeling, and it was like fire, she glanced behind and gasped seeing the fire start chasing her and she knew instantly no normal fire moved like this. It was like Roy and Kougaiji's attacks all over again.

It meant one thing. Another fire type.

 

Sephiroth.

 

She turned her head looking ahead. She saw the shadow moving towards them at a great speed.

“Cloud!”

“I know… Can you control your powers yet?”

“I think so.”

“Aerith on my signal I need for you to jump.”

“Okay… Not like I haven't jumped from a moving vehicle before.” She sighed. “Always wanted to try stunt double work.”

Cloud kicked the bikes speed up a notch faster. “Now!”

J'dee leapt up and straight up and she let the wind catch her and she caught onto a tree branch swinging herself round landing on it. She watched as Cloud leapt from the bike drawing his sword and flying directly into the charging shadow.

The clang of metal meeting metal made her heart sink in worry as Sephiroth's form appeared from the shadows.

Belle was in labor and they were stuck out here trying to fend off Sephiroth. She watched as Zack's bike skidded across the ground.

“Man first my sword now my bike.” She heard the complaint the voice so familiar and she glanced down seeing Cloud stop the Masumune looking over his shoulder.

He glared at the approaching blonde. Air, Hastings, or whatever he was called strode up to the scene. Zack's voice on his lips.

“Cloudy… long time no see.”

The blue eyed glare met the element's. She gripped at the tree branch, before he turned his head looking up at her.

“I can see up your skirt darling might wanna fix that… pink lace, cute.”

J'dee hiffed a gust of air at him.

He batted it away. “It's not pink!” She shouted angrily.

 

Cloud glanced to Aerith worriedly, Air chuckled catching the look. “Oh no no no Cloudy…” He laughed using Zack's voice again. “After we immobilize you then we'll grab her. And then I'll beat Fire especially if I bring you both back.”

“Don't you dare touch her!” Cloud snapped.

“Oh I won't… but I can't promise what Sephiroth with do.” Air snapped his fingers.

Cloud spun round but Sephiroth was gone in a puff of smoke in his usual teleportation.

“AERITH!”

She leapt from the tree moments before the blade hit and she landed on the ground. Cloud watched as she jumped and spun round avoiding the blade a second and third time. He hadn't really watched her training sessions with Goku but obviously it had helped her increase her speed. She didn't dare fight the former General back and Cloud knew she felt she wasn't ready for that kind of battle and avoided letting him get close.

 

Aerith.

 

She was trying so hard to live this time and he was trapped Air blocking his path from reaching her.

Aerith jumped up and then Cloud saw the shadows come out of the ground, she jumped behind one tree and let out a squeak moving quickly as a second and third shadow formed. Cloud didn't know the two but the way she was staring at them, she knew them and well.

“W-What… how? Piccolo? Vegeta?”

Air chuckled. “They have died Earth has access to control and manipulate anyone who has gone the ashes to ashes dust to dust route.”

She turned to look at him eyes wide. “No.”

“Yes… even your precious Goten… he died once didn't he?”

“BASTARD!” Cloud saw her charge him.

She just dodged the Masumune hitting her in the arm as she raced past, she ignored it moving on blind fury alone.

Then the shadow shot up arms wrapping around her holding her back as she struggled against the form of a familiar shadow.

“Aerith…” The voice was soft and she froze, she looked over her shoulder.

Cloud knew it was Zack before the shadow dropped from his form, the darkness oozing off him sinking into the ground, shredded like nothing more than an extra layer of skin from a snake.

“Z-Zack…” She touched his bare arms and Cloud could see how torn up and hurt she was. She didn't fight and Cloud knew she couldn't or wouldn't fight Zack.

“It hurts less…” Zack seemed to mumble.

“You see that blood… when she bleeds it will hurt less.” Air grinned.

Zack's hand moved over the wound slowly as if transfixed by it. Almost like he didn't have a mind of his own.

Cloud glared at Air. “What did you do to him?!”

“We're in the middle of retraining him. Life before Aerith and you, where he did as he was told and obeyed orders like a good 1st Class SOLDIER operative.” Air smirked.

Aerith shook her head. “Don't do that to him, you bastard, stop using them, stop using them all!”

Cloud felt the air around begin to swirl as she seemed to clutch at Zack's arm.

“Aerith…”

She looked up at him hearing his voice. “Cloud I'll get us out of this…”

Air laughed. “How?”

Aerith just smiled. “I'm part of you remember or have you forgotten?”

 

Air felt the gust of wind and it wrapped around her and she freed herself from Zack and in a movements so fast that could only be described as the Flash one of her comic book favorites, Cloud, herself and even Zack's bike was gone.

“Well that was new.” Sephiroth remarked. “Did you see that one coming?”

Air huffed. “Bitch… is learning.”

“Obviously not.” Sephiroth commented and looked at Zack with a raised eyebrow he was looking to the blood from Aerith's wound that remained on his hand. His fist closing slowly. “Your re-education made him a bit too mindless… he was an idiot before, but I can't work with that.” He huffed before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

“Even free of ShinRa you're still spoiled General.” Air grumbled looking at the shadows “Back to base… looks like we're going to have to sweet talk Earth into letting Goku fill in for Cloud.” Air lifted his hand to summon his wind transportation.

“Kak-ka-rott.” Air watched as Vegeta's hand moved to his head as if fighting something momentarily.

“They're all breaking on me… great.” Air drawled, before using the wind round him to take them all back to base.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Edward, Miss Belle is very emotionally weak right now,” Abel explained to the golden haired boy. “She is very attached to Alphonse and mentally she knows he must become Alphonse again but emotionally she feels that that infant is her son and she wants to protect him.” Ed stared at the father for a moment, noticing the looks of the others around him.

“I know,” Ed said. “I could see it in her eyes. I'm sixteen, I'm not stupid.”

“It could be post-partum,” Vincent suggested and there was silence.

“What the fuck is that?” Ikkaku cried.

“It is when a woman has a hormone imbalance after pregnancy, usually there is depression,” Hawkeye stated.

“Actually, I'm just attached to the life form that's been in my belly that you guys accidently used my egg to place a soul into,” Belle stated from her doorway, Baby Alphonse in her arms. “In this world surrogate mothers are usually more callous women, I'm far too weak. Sadly, I'm rational enough that I want what's best for both my sons, even if it hurts to let the baby one go.” Edward looked at Belle, she looked exhausted.

“Thank you, Belle, thank you for doing this,” Edward said and Belle smiled as she placed a hand on his cheek, leaning down to kiss his forehead.

“Trisha is a part of me, as much a part of me as my heart. For you, Edward, I gladly suffer this pain knowing it will give you great happiness and will rest your soul some,” Belle said as she pulled Alphonse to her close. “He's not really mine anyway, besides, the next pregnancy better be the result of something pleasant not because I got stabbed in the gut by a pint-sized, psycho scientist.” Belle blinked for a moment. “What is it with me and getting knocked up with the involvement of insane scientists?”

“What now?” Ikkaku asked from the couch and Belle shook her head.

“Just thinking about another life,” Belle chuckled before the door opened. She smiled as she saw Hakkai and Goku. She watched the door close and her face fell. “Hakkai? Goku?” There was a moment where her blue eyes met gold and then green, then both turned away.

“I'm sorry, Miss Belle,” Hakkai said and Belle placed Baby Alphonse into his brother's arms before she pushed the young man away.

“What happened?” Belle hissed, her breath coming out in a frozen mist as her head dropped.

“It was that water guy, he grabbed Sanzo,” Goku whispered as he approached Belle, he held out his hands showing the Maten scripture with a familiar Smith and Wesson on top of it. “We couldn't do anything.”

The room was silent before the growl began. Deep and dangerous everyone's hands moved to their weapons before Belle's head jerked up revealing glowing blue eyes. She growled her fingers curling as ice began to form spikes on the ends of her fingers. Her teeth clenched as she growled, her hair began to form icy spikes around her head as the temperature of the room dropped. Ed was quickly to run into Belle's room, slamming the door shut.

Then, came the roar. Belle's throat pulsed even though it shouldn't have been possible for her body to make that sound. Anguish and rage moved together in a voice that howled and shrieked at the same time. As if some sea born creature had discovered it could roar above the water. The room was frozen as Belle's mouth opened making the scream louder and more intense.

“Oh fuck! What the hell is wrong with her?” Ikkaku shouted.

“She knows she has to lose Alphonse and now she's lost Sanzo!” Abel cried.

“So what yo?” Reno asked as he noticed ice beginning to form on his jacket.

“Sanzo was Belle's son in another life,” Hakkai explained.

“Oh fuck!” Reno cried before another howl pierced the room. This howl was not from Belle and in fact the second the sound began Belle's roar stopped. She turned to her room and with speed she hadn't demonstrated before, Belle was opening her door.

“Belle it's too cold!” Edward started but as if magic, the temperature was normal again, the chill was gone, a layer of water was over everything, especially Belle as she rushed into her room. The shrieking ended quickly with a gentle cooing sound. Slowly the members of the group moved to Belle's doorway to find the woman wrapped in a towel with the infant in her arms.

“Shhhhh Alphonse, shhhh, it's alright, I'm fine, I'm here now,” Belle spoke rationally.

“That was a fortunate change,” Hakkai stated as Belle brushed her lips against the soft skin of Alphonse's head.

“A true mother's soul,” Hugue commented and Kira and Hisagi nodded.

“Water is going to pay for taking my Kouryuu,” Belle stated as she look at Alphonse with love in her eyes. “Sanzo is my son and I will make Water scream before I kill him.” There was promise in that tone and several of the group wasn't sure which they would rather face: Ice Beast Belle with spikes, claws, and monstrous howl, or cold, icy Belle with a rational voice and murder on her mind.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Cloud spun round in time to see Aerith stumble and he reached out catching her as she fell.

“Aerith!”

She let out a breath. “First time doing that…. Wait for the head spin to end.”

Cloud slipped her arm round his neck and looked up. “Hang on…”

“Wait you're not going to jump up there are you?!”

Cloud smiled and lifted her up jumping up to touch on to the balcony.

 

J'dee let out a breath when they landed safely before thumping Cloud in the arm. “OHMIGOD CLOUD USE THE STAIRS!!!!”

“Miss J'dee are you back?” Hakkai's voice drifted outside.

J'dee walked into the lounge, clutching her heart with Cloud following. “Yeah I swear just as bad as Zack…. Not a door person.” She stopped short seeing Hakkai holding the small bundle. “Eeeeeee is that Alphonse?!”

Hakkai chuckled and J'dee raced up to peer into the blanket. “He seems to be fine. We're going to call Jim soon and see if Washu left him instructions on how to use the tank to help Alphonse's growth spirit, but after Miss Belle has recovered some.”

J'dee looked round. “Did you find Gojyo?” She blinked for a moment. “In fact where is Sanzo? Let alone Goku?”

“The kid is brooding.” Renji jerked his thumb to the couch and J'dee saw that sitting behind it Goku was sitting with his knees pulled up to his chest hands clenched into fists, almost ripping the material of his trousers.

“So that explains the attack on Cloud and myself.” J'dee mused.

“Attacked again?” Hisagi let out a breath.

Cloud cleared his throat. “They were after me first. I'm sorry… I let Aerith get hurt.”

Hakkai placed Alphonse back in Belle's arms before looking to J'dee's arm. “Let me…”

 

Cloud walked up to where Goku sat, sitting down next to him. “We'll get him back.”

Goku looked at him. “I know we will… but now they have Sanzo and Gojyo…”

“We do know Cloud is Miss J'dee's fourth, but the question is whose the fourth that Water is going to go after for Miss Belle?” Hakkai mused.

Cloud looked to Reno. “Well Water did have Reno when Zack helped us escape.”

“What yo I don't have any connection to her soul, they want soul connection aim for Mr. personality over there.” Reno jerked his thumb at Vincent.

 

J'dee rolled her arm once Hakkai had finished healing it. “Okay I'm going to call Toby, it's about that time where the outlaw star crew should be over I'll talk to Jim and see if we can get their asses over here in the next few days…”

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Cloud,” Belle called and the blond man paused. The woman approached him, infant in her arms. She looked beaten and tired, then again, the woman had give birth that day.

“What do you need?” he asked and she watched J'dee close the door behind her to make a phone call.

“Good work,” she said. “Keeping her out of Air hands. I'm glad she had you there.” Cloud blinked.

“I did what I couldn't,” he stated. Belle stood there for a moment and shook her head.

“They're nearly done, Cloud, they only need a handful of us that we know of, we have no idea where they are on Toby. I know they have two of my sons and a man who will forever own part of my soul,” Belle explained. “One more person and they will have enough to do whatever they need to do to me.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Cloud asked.

“What do you think they're doing to J'dee?” Belle asked and Cloud felt insulted.

“I can take care of her,” he said and Belle glared at him.

“Zack owns a piece of her soul Cloud, you and I both know that. We have to save Zack, but I highly suspect that if we can get her to full power, she will be the one to save Zack. J'dee is your main priority, don't worry about your mentor and friend, protect J'dee and she will lead the way to saving him,” Belle said and she staggered for a moment. Cloud caught the woman as she held her child to her.

“You need to rest,” Vincent said as he seemed to appear out of nowhere, collecting Belle into his arms and Cloud stared for a moment as he watched the former Turk tuck the woman into his arms and carry her off. “You need to build your strength up to get them back.”

“And to protect the fourth,” Belle's voice was weaker, tired and Cloud wondered where she had found the steel to tell him not to focus on Zack.

 

~*~*~*~

 

“Hello?” J'dee said. J'dee winced and leaned away from the phone as she heard shouting on the other end.

 

“Jim, stay by the phone! Mel will call to let us know how long she'll be with the buckets on the tractor!” Some one screamed.

 

“Right! I think she's on the phone now!” Jim yelled back. “Mel, did you get all the buckets filled?”

 

“No, Toby, back fire, back fire burn in front of the path not next to it!”

 

“How the fuck should I know where to burn shit I'm not a fire fighter!”

 

“Jim? Is everything okay there?” J'dee asked, worried. Jim gave a tired sigh.

 

“You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Let's just say Toby had a bit of an accident. He's expanded his back yard by a good 100 yards by now.”

 

“Misato watch out for the falling trees!”

 

“Listen you guys can fill me in later. We need you over here in the next day or so. It's important.” J'dee said.

 

“Well we have to clean this mess up first so day after tomorrow work?”

 

“Sure, I think that should be soon enough.”

 

“Okay, I gotta go, I'm waiting for Mel to call about some water buckets we sent her to get from home.”

 

“Water buckets?” J'dee said, having a bad feeling where this going. Jim didn't respond already hanging up the phone but J'dee heard on last shout.

 

“No God damn it, don't let burn that way or it'll burn down the entire fucking woods!”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Earth raised a brow looking at Air. “So Water was able to retrieve the monk yet, with the aid of Zack, Sephiroth, Vegeta and Piccolo, you failed to capture Cloud. And you want me to break Goku out of his prison to use as a replacement because of her Dragonball lifetime?” She rolled her eyes. “One week. I'll give you one week to recapture Cloud, then only then will I let Goku out. I'm not storing him for your easy way out. Lazy man.”

She turned round walking out of the room.

 

Air let out a low growl. “Fucken bitch… I'll just go find someone else then…” Looks over his shoulder eyes meeting with Sephiroth and Zack… “Fuck this doing it her way shit… Go kill the Aerith wannabe…”

Spinning round vanishing in a gust of wind.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Water smiled as he let Sanzo regain consciousness in his tube. The monk was slow to wake, but then he was obviously not a morning person. Water decided to wake Sanzo up. Cold water began to pour onto the waking priest making him snarl in rage as he looked at Water.

“You bastard!” Sanzo snarled and Water smiled.

“Welcome back to the world of the living, Priest Sanzo,” Water said as he stood in front of Sanzo's tube. “Not that you'll be staying long.” Sanzo looked at Water before looking to his left, his eyes widened as he saw the two other tanks filled. He looked to his left to see the empty tank.

“Fuck,” Sanzo growled and Water smiled.

“You are the third one, I'm nearly complete, I just need to get the last soul and she will trade her life for yours,” Water said as he looked at Sanzo. “Two lovers and two sons, she won't be able to deny you.”

“I don't want her pathetic attempt to protect me!” Sanzo growled and Water laughed.

“Well she's not very good at protecting you is she? What was she, she jumped in front of an attacking demon last time, got her fool self killed…my mistake, his fool self killed,” Water chuckled and Sanzo snarled.

“Shut up!” Sanzo snarled as he stood in the knee high water of his tank, watching the liquid rise.

“Don't worry, you won't be awake for this death and you never have to worry about your fool of a parent again,” Water stated. “I'll take good care of her.”

“I will kill you,” Sanzo threatened and Water smiled.

“No, you are going to sleep while I take your mother, father, whatever the hell she is to you, and make her power mine, don't worry, you probably won't even wake up for it,” Water said and suddenly the water entering the tube was a deep, unnatural blue. “Sleep Monk, and dream of death and destruction.” Water began to laugh as Sanzo swore.

The chosen of Buddha's eyes grew heavy and as he felt himself lose consciousness he remember the words of his master.

“Be strong, Genjyo Sanzo,” and then there was darkness.

 

~*~*~*~

 

J'dee moved into her room, she was aware of Cloud following and shutting the door and leaning against it. She flicked the remote on turning her stereo on letting the NZ hip hop CD flow through the speakers making Cloud glance at the speakers curiously.

“He's going to come back for you…” She let out a breath. “I'm not loosing you too…”

Cloud moved up behind her. “I'm staying… I promised Zack, if I can't reach him on my own, together I'm sure we can.”

J'dee nodded and looked down seeing the arms wrap around her and she felt her face heat up swallowing lightly. She blinked as she felt the mouth touch the side of her neck lightly.

“Sorry for letting you get hurt.” She heard the whisper and shook her head.

“I'm accident prone… let just get some sleep…”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Fire smirked, cutting her finger tip and writing a T on the paper doll she had made. Chuckling quietly to herself, she held it up to the light. Now all she had to was slip this to Tobias and he would be all hers.

 

It the dark of her room, she cackled to herself as the four trapped souls floated in the tubes.

 

~*~*~*~

 

To Be Continued…