Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Heart's Desires ❯ Chapter 9

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Automatic Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the following anime series, video games, or any other referenced copy righted material. This is a work is with delusions of grandeur. This will never, ever happen in our lives (damn it) and this basically is a dream we want to share with you.

Belle's Note: I couldn’t help myself with this chapter’s title after the events of the last chapter. I have always been amused with the title of this song in comparison to its lyrics.

Tobias's Note:  *listening to the song* Whoa Belle I forgot all about this song! Nice choice! *begins moving in time to the lyrics*

J’dee’s Note: And in New-Zealand this song is a drink till you pass out song... good thing I don't actually drink ;p


~*~*~

Monday

~*~*~

Belle sat at the breakfast nook, the warm smell coming from the waffle iron made Kaidan's stomach growl.

"You're up early," he said.

"Bad habit. I have always been able to sleep in on the weekends but when the work week comes, I wake up usually early. Today I just woke up earlier than normal, I got a chill," she stated rubbing her arms. Kaidan blinked as she opened the iron and removed a golden waffle.

"Is it that ghost?" he asked and Belle shrugged.

"I don't know, but possible. He seems more interested in Rufus and J'dee though. J'dee is more open to the possession side. From what I've gathered if you are open to the possibility of possession you are more at risk of it," Belle stated and Kaidan blinked. "What I mean is if you believe you can be possessed you can be."

"You don't think you can?" he teased and Belle shrugged.

"I'm Catholic, but I have always thought that possession has to be accepted. J'dee explained it to me once, but I didn't really understand it. For me, you have to open yourself to the...spirit. I wouldn't let a spirit enter me. I believe that possession is possible, but I reject the idea of a spirit just slipping into your body and doing something. J'dee told me that this faith I have in the idea of spirit rejection actually works like a shield. Since I don't believe they can enter, I sort of built up a spiritual barrier preventing it," Belle stated as she sipped some hot cocoa.

"Oooh, Belle, that smells good," Yuna yawned as she came down the hallway and Belle poured a cup of tea for her. "Thank you."

"So you can't be possessed?" Kaidan asked and Belle shrugged again.

"I don't know if I can't, but Hojo can't. Still, I'm going to run into town to buy a few things," Belle stated.

"Hey, why are you all up?" Toby asked as he came into the room dressed in his suit. Belle smiled.

"Internal work clock is still going, it is going to be a pain not working for two weeks and then working for the last two weeks before school," she groaned.

"You look very nice," Yuna said and Toby blushed.

"I have to meet with those lawyers, we're planning the press conference and there is a lot to do," he sighed. "They need me there, plus if the vultures see me leave, they might leave you guys alone."

~*~*~

"Need us to do anything?” Belle asked, curious. Tobias just waved a hand at them.

"Nah, this is all on me now. I have to meet with both my attorneys to find out what I should and should not say, how I should re-act, and blah blah blah.” Tobias said fixing him a traveling mug of coffee.

"Good luck Toby.” J'dee said coming into the kitchen. She gave him a good luck hug and Tobias couldn't help but grin.

"Thanks. I'll see you all later.” He said, grabbing his keys as he headed for the garage.

~*~*~

J'dee sat at the kitchen table after Toby left, she had been sitting in her room all morning checking her crystals, her tarot cards and even her Norse runes, on top of the Egyptian ones. Hell she even fifth checked with a magic 8 ball. Now she was trying a new location to see if the answers varied somewhat.

Rufus picked up the magic 8 ball and looked at her. "Really, this is part of your spiritual entourage?”

He shook it and looked at the answer and gave her a flat eyed look. "It's telling me yes.”
"Then don't argue with the magic 8 ball.” She snatched it back.
Rufus sat down. "Any word on the location then?”
"Not a peep of where a leviathan could be.” She sat back. "Just that something else dark is coming.”
Rufus raised a brow. "Dark. Dark how?” He asked.

"Hey I'm only given a slither of the information, not the rest. But the color red keeps coming up through the cards.” She motioned.
Rufus looked to the cards laid out and he noticed that every card did have something colored red.
"What does that mean?”
"Red can mean anything, most of the time I read it as passionate, but this isn't passionate, it's more like blood and lust.” She sat back looking at the cards.
"Are you going to give up for the day?” Belle asked looking at her.
"Dude I'm like this walking target, I have no summon.” She stated.
Rufus sighed. "My summon materia never made it through to this world. So don't complain.”
J'dee packed the cards away into her portal aperture lunch box, that she was using to store her spiritual goodies.

~*~*~

"So, I'm thinking about doing something nice for Toby," Belle stated and the others looked at her.

"He needs it, girl," J'dee said and they smiled at each other.

"Painting the house for him. I mean, he let it go way too long," Belle sighed as she peeled at some of the paint. A large piece came off, exposing the wood that wouldn't last long if the painting didn't take place.

"I didn't want to say anything," Kaidan said.

"He's going to notice it," Yuna muttered. "The smell is obvious."

"Don't doubt me, I am a brilliant strategist," Belle grinned. "We're going to break into two teams. Girls and boys. Boys will scrape the outside of the house, scrapping shouldn't be as noticeable and since Toby's going to be at the conferences for the next few days, he won't be able to see the far side and back of the house today or tomorrow. So we paint those first. We keep training to this side of the house like we have the last few days. Now to cover up the smell of what we are doing, we claim to be painting the bedrooms."

"Not bad," J'dee grinned and Belle nodded.

"He smells painting materials and he assumes we are just indoors. Yuna, you'll need to run the majority of the Toby herding since he would suspect J'dee and me of trying to coddle him because of the press conference stuff and the...unpleasantness of last week. You can be coddling and he will end up being more of a gentleman with you, we're like annoying sisters to him. One older and one younger."

"Hey!" J'dee drawled elbowing Belle. "Don't make fun of my age, you punk kid."

~*~*~

"My name is Tobias Fiften. I have have an appointment with Mr. Dalton at nine am this morning.” Tobias told the secretary. She checked computer and nodded.

"Yes Mr. Fiften, John has a meeting you for most of the day. You're a little early so if you could just take a seat he'll be with you as soon as the partner's meeting ends.”

"My civil attorney Robert Johnson was also going to be joining us.” Tobias said. The secretary checked her notes and nodded.

"I have that here however Mr. Johnson still hasn't shown up yet. Can I get you anything while you wait Mr. Fiften?” she asked. Tobias shook his head as he headed for the waiting room.

"No thanks.”

~*~*~

Basements. They were one of her major fears, she hated being underground.
Granted this basement was nicely furnished it still looked like a basement to her. She just couldn't do them for long periods of time without suffering a mild claustrophobic case of irritation.

But she was still fearful as she put the tape on the skirting boards. Unfortunately the top of the door frames were out of her reach so she left them.

J'dee could feel the chill behind her and she spun round. She got the glare of something reflecting in the light above and she shielded her eyes. Slowly she removed her hand to see it was gone.
"Dog tag... dog tag...” She began to rifle through Rufus' belongings.
He couldn't have misplaced that far right? Hojo's ghost was still lingering close she could feel it.
It couldn't jump her again unless it broke the seal on her arm again.

~*~*~

"So, we are going to a church first," Kaidan stated and Belle nodded.

"I'm Catholic and J'dee told me that symbols of faith can help with ghosts, so I am going to get a few decorative crosses blessed," she said as she pointed at a bag. "I called ahead and the priest agreed to bless them for me. If you want you can wait here."

"I want to see this ritual," Yuna cried and Belle snickered.

"It's not much, Yuna," Belle explained. "The priest will simply hold them and pray over them, maybe use some Holy Water, but not anything as fancy as your world."

"Too bad," Yuna pouted.

The blessing was quick and Belle nodded over her acquisitions, several crosses, all pretty, plus a few rosaries. They moved on to the hardware store.

"How is this supposed to work?" Kaidan asked as they looked at paint swatches.

"J'dee said my faith should be strong enough to protect us. Once we are done with the painting today, we do normal stuff. I'm going to go to bed early and rise before dawn. I'll spend tomorrow morning saying rosaries around the doors and windows. Then I'll hang the crosses and rosaries over the doors," Belle explained. "Since my faith is that Hojo will be banished from the house, it should keep him away from J'dee."

"And J'dee can't do this why?" Kaidan asked as Belle picked out a few colors for J'dee to pick from before taking a powder blue for her own room. Kaidan grabbed a color and Yuna kept looking.

"J'dee is sensitive to spiritual energies, as I understand it, it means it is easier for her to be possessed. Since we have opposing views on the matter, I need to place my relics around the house since my defending power is stronger than hers against Hojo," Belle said.

"It makes sense spiritually," Yuna confirmed as she approached with a swatch. "J'dee has the spiritual power of the offensive sort, spells and enchantments while Belle has the spiritual power of defense and wards. If you view spiritual power from the user's beliefs, then you can see how Belle is a shield and J'dee is a sword."

"So what is Toby?" Kaidan asked and the two women shared a look.

"Spiritual power can only be accessed by those who believe in it," Yuna stated and Belle nodded.

"So we men folk are left out?" Kaidan joked.

"No," Belle stated. "Rufus knows how real it is, so he is open to it as well. I think he's more like J'dee though, he has seen spiritual power used as a weapon in his world."

"Couldn't someone use this power both ways?" Kaidan asked and Yuna nodded.

"You have to remember in our worlds, spirituality doesn't have the same power as the ones from Yuna and Rufus' worlds," Belle said.

"You do have the unfair knowledge about our worlds," Yuna sighed.

"Trust me, there are things in this world that you don't need to know about in advance," Belle smiled. "Think of me as a shield, sometimes, not knowing makes it easier to live. Okay, I did the math last night, I know how much paint we need for everything. We'll get all the paints today except for J'dee's, she can get hers tomorrow."

"I love how you just end the conversation," Kaidan teased.

"What can I say, my grandfather always said 'leave while they are all asking you to stay,'" she giggled as she headed to the guy at the mixer.

~*~*~

"Now for news on the home front. Scientists are puzzled as to where the localized tsunami came from that struck Biscayne Bay on the southern tip of Florida. Remarkably there was little destruction and the only people injured were actually poachers trying to smuggle in live exotic animals. Police also suspect the poachers were also under the influence of some kind of narcotic as some were claiming that a large sea serpent was riding the tsunami towards the shore.”

Tobias looked up from his leather notepad with frown. He flipped a couple of pages to some blank pages in the back to write down the news report. As he was finishing his notes he was surprised at one of the followup stories.

"And to wrap up our news of the hour here is a story of a more positive but mysterious nature. In Salt Lake City there have been reports a man dressed up like a devil or large bat, as shown on this security camera image. He was not spoken at all but has been scene around areas where police will often find criminals tied up and left for them. Many are people are already calling him the Batman of Salt Lake and he does seem to able to scale walls and vanish. While police say they do not encourage vigilantism others are happy some one has decided to take a stand against crime. Isn't that...” Tobias tuned out the rest of the news cast as he turned back to his notes. He was sure the incident in Florida was Leviathan but driving down to Florida was way out of their budget and the cost of plane tickets and a hotel were also out of their budget. Not to mention he had no idea how to reach the summon let alone convince him to work with them. If Leviathan wanted to fight them to prove their worth, that would be a serious problem. Leviathan was one of the strongest summons.

The second story sound just like some one else trying to be a superhero like that Phoenix Jones guy up in Seattle. However what really drew his attention was the security camera image. It looked very familiar and Tobias was almost dead sure he had seen him some where. He'd have to look it up when he got home.

"Mr. Fiften?” Tobias turned to the person who had called his name and saw some one standing in the door way. "Mr. Dalton will see you now.”

But summons would have to wait. It was time to take care of his own problems.

~*~*~

The whole dog tag hunt was a failed effort. There was no sign of Dark Nation's dog tag anywhere.
Still there was the rest of the house to look in.
She stood on the porch having her cigarette, Rufus stepped out beside her and she felt, the hand slide down her spine. She closed her eyes for the moment.
"I can still feel him slipping in and out of the house.” She whispered.
Rufus nodded. "I know, he can't manifest yet. I think he needs to drain some poor helpless saps for that.”
J'dee felt the hand slide round her waist and she knew her face was going red.
"Don't you dare try anything, because Murphy’s law they'll pull up that-”
Rufus looked up seeing the return of Belle's car.
"You jinxed us.” He teased.
"No you started it, your bad.” She walked up to Belle's car.

J'dee saw Kaidan open the boot, "Need a hand?” she offered.
Kaidan shook his head. "I think I have it all.”
J'dee watched him carry all the bags inside. "He reminds me of Clark Kent, so mild mannered, with a cheeky streak but with no glasses.”
"Wouldn't that make him Superman then?” Belle asked.
"He doesn't seem the cape type.” J'dee mused.

Kaidan came back after putting the bags on the porch. "Okay so what's the game plan?”
"Boys on the outside of the house, far side out of sight start at the back, scrape that paint off.”
Rufus raised a brow at her. "Scraping paint? You want me to scrape paint off a house?”
"Don't get all hoity toity with me Mr. President. Just get it done.” J'dee motioned. "We'll be inside painting the walls. So you're not the only one doing work.”

~*~*~

"Who taught you how to paint?" Belle groaned as she looked at the paint.

"What?" J'dee asked.

"You never taped the doors," Belle sighed.

"Oh, you use tape when you are painting?" Yuna asked and Belle stared at the window ledge in Rufus' room that matched the wall.

"Crap! Belle, I didn't see her do that," J'dee groaned.

"Thank God I started in Kaidan's room with the taping," Belle muttered as she set up another fan before moving to the window and opening it. "Yeah, to save the trim."

"You can also make wicked patterns in the tape," J'dee grinned as she quickly peeled the tape off the area of the wall she had just painted revealing a tribal version of Cloud's wolf head emblem that he wore.

"He is going to be pissed," Belle stated.

"I know," J'dee smiled and the two friends high fived.

"That is going to provoke him," Yuna sighed.

"She wants to get laid again," Belle teased and J'dee turned red.

"Do not! He's an ass!" she argued.

"A sexy, blond ass. I'll admit it, I'm weak in the knees for the boys with baby blues and golden locks," Belle snickered.

"Shut up, he's not Sanzo," J'dee huffed.

"You're right, he's not nearly as trigger happy, but don't worry, I rather bathe my lady bits in lye before I sleep with your sloppy seconds," Belle replied.

"Oh shut it," J'dee growled.

"What are sloppy seconds?" Yuna asked.

"Don't worry about it," Belle said quickly.

"Besides, Belle would be playing with Kaidan more, if she wasn't such a virgin," J'dee teased and Belle turned red.

"Shut up!" Belle snapped and J'dee snickered.

"You love the boys with muscles and Kaidan is just right for you and you know it," she stated and Belle was even more red.

"Ugh! I wish Odin came on commands because I would so smite you with him right now!" Belle cried.

"Belle and Kaidan sitting in a tree!" J'dee sang before Belle slapped her with a paintbrush covered in paint. "Oh, it's on!"

Outside the open window Kaidan was blushing slightly while Rufus smirked.

"How much to not mention that we were out here?" Kaidan asked.

"Just a few chores I despise," Rufus purred.

~*~*~

"I'm home!” Tobias called out as he entered the house from the garage. "How was your day g-” Tobias stopped as it hit him. The sharp smell of paint. "What happened?”

"What do you mean?” Belle asked, coming from down the hall grinning. Tobias glared at her.

"Some one broke something.” Tobias said. "Something which you fixed and then painted so what happened?” He demanded and Belle rolled her eyes.

"Jeez, paranoid much.” J'dee said coming down the hall, scowling.

"You're over re-acting Toby.” Belle chided. "We're just painting the down stairs bedrooms. Rufus and Kaiden mentioned this morning that they're going a little stir crazy staring at the plain drywall walls down stairs.”

"Oh! Sorry.” Tobias mumbled and shook his head. Then he grinned. "I think there's a bucket of plaster in the garage. I could help out if you want.”

"Nah, we need stuff to do while you're gone during the day.” Belle said, smirking.

"Speak for yourself!” J'de re-torted heading for the kitchen. "I'm perfectly happy laying around playing video games.”


~*~*~

"Those rooms do look good," Toby nodded. "I may have to hire J'dee and Belle painters for my room."

"Don't flatter yourself," Belle stated as she flipped a burger on the grill.

"They may not be Toby's burgers, but there is just something nice about a woman at a grill," Kaidan chuckled and Belle blushed.

"Hey, a grill isn't a man's tool. Women use them too," she said defensively.

"Don't piss her off, she might poison you," J'dee chuckled.

"Hey, do laxatives in your desserts count as poison?" Belle asked and Yuna laughed.

"Don't be mean," she scolded.

"You laugh, which means it's funny," Belle stated.

"You say that whenever you say something mean," J'dee pointed out.

"You keep laughing and I keep making comments," Belle grinned.

"Hey, you still have paint in your hair," Kaidan said and Belle glared at J'dee and Yuna.

"You said I got it all out!" Belle cried.

"J'dee made me say yes," Yuna said and J'dee whistled.

"So poisoning your food," Belle grumbled.

~*~*~

Rufus saw J'dee standing at the top of the basement door looking down, everyone had gone to bed. Belle not long after she had nailed some hooks into the wall.
"You should sleep.” He commented.
"He's still in this house.” She turned around.
Rufus nodded. "I know. Belle will do her thing whatever it is to ward the house.”
J'dee nodded. "I'm doing my own thing tonight for my room, she can do her prayers, but I'm doing my icebox tonight.”
"Your what?” Rufus asked.

"Icebox, it might not be diamond dust but I can make it pretty chilly when I cleanse.”
Rufus gave her a raised eyebrow. "So you make a room cold, how is that cleansing.”
"I don't do it by myself, it's a joint effort on the ethereal plain. Think of it like summoning except I summon what you can't see, and that takes energy. Thus it sucks the entire energy from the room, making it one giant cold spot, or as my friends back home said. Icebox.”
Rufus looked at her, he was curious when she said summon. "When?”
"Three am. I'm staying up until then.”
She turned round and walked down the hall to her room.
"Then don't mind me if I stick around.”

~*~*~

Tuesday

~*~*~

Belle yawned as she got up, it was still dark. She got up and began lighting the white candles around the house. She hung up the crosses, pleased that she had remember to place the nails the night before. She said a rosary at each window, each door into the house. She then moved to the bedrooms. J'dee groaned but let Belle say her prayers. Toby moved into the shower so it was easy for Belle to do the prayer in his room. Yuna nodded to Belle as she headed to the kitchen and Belle repeated. She was thankful when Rufus and Kaidan passed her as she moved to the basement. Belle finished in time for Yuna's omelet breakfast.

"You did a really good job," J'dee said and Belle smiled.

"Protecting you from Hojo is a big thing," Belle grinned. Toby came into the room just as Belle was speaking.

"You and your ghosts," Toby sighed and both girls made faces at him. "I'm leaving."

"So go already," J'dee tossed.

"Who asked you to stay?" Belle shot after him and he waved as he left.

~*~*~

In the pristine show room J'dee stood looking at the color chart. She paid no mind to the display around her. It wasn't her house she couldn't tear out a wall and build a new kitchen like her mother had.
But she could paint a single room, and she would need several shades of white and purple to make the foreground of what she had planned to paint on her wall perfect, the back ground she had reserved, several tone of a deep wood brown and black.

Rufus stood next to her looking at the chart. "What exactly are you going to be painting on your walls?” She could tell he was curious yet hesitant.
"Not gay porn if that's what you're thinking. I need something on a higher level, something that has a good energy and that makes me feel protected.
Rufus looked at her. "Dare I ask?”
"The forest leading into the forgotten city. Something about those trees always makes me feel like if I was to go to your world, something it's pulling me there.”

Rufus paused and looked at her. She motioned to several more grey shades on the chart before walking up to the man dealing with her order.
"Can I get those too and that wolf grey as well.”
"Give me a moment ma'am.” He smiled and took the chart before heading towards the back of the store
"Your resemblance to Ilfana or Aerith might be why Hojo is following you.” Rufus mused once the man was out of ear shot.
J'dee turned to look at him, he saw her expression. "I don't know about that. I'm hardly like either of them.”
"If this world had a lifestream, I have no reserves about placing my entire fortune on that you would somehow be linked to it.”

J'dee sighed. "So I've said I've been informed in the past. My mother and I both were told something of the like. I'm supposed to be this guardian of the planet mumbo jumbo crap when I die, but that doesn't mean I have enough mojo to pull a holy out of my ass.”
Rufus raised a brow. "Your mother as well? I find that interesting.”
She shook her head. "Genetic thing. Just don't put me on that pedestal. It makes me think Hojo is coming for me.”
Rufus gave her a knowing look like he'd made his point. "Good. Because I believe he is, and I'm in the way. I'm sure he has some issues with me, and can't wait to get rid of me.”

~*~*~

"Hey Kaidan, can you do me a favor?" Belle asked and Kaidan looked at her from where he was scrapping the side of the house.

"What do you need?" he asked and Belle grinned.

"Big muscles, Yuna is taping my doors and windows, but I need help pulling furniture away from my walls so I can get behind them. We're going to have to do the same for J'dee's room," Belle said. "I pulled what I could away, but that leaves my bed and my desk. Could you use your biotics to get them while I pull J'dee's furniture away from her walls?"

"Do you need help with those?" he asked as he came down the ladder and Belle shook her head.

"My bed is a full, hers is a single, good thing she's so small or she and Rufus would never have been able to have their trysts," she snickered. "I got my stuff from my grandmother, so way more heavy wood, J'dee couldn't bring her heavy furniture from home...too expensive, her brother is holding it for her should she ever move back or get the money," Belle explained before vanishing back into the house.

Kaidan entered Belle's room to see Yuna taping the trim of the window. With a little biotic power the bed lifted and moved into the center of the room.

"That is truly an amazing ability," Yuna said. "Sadly, I need to start taping J'dee's room and then move on to my own." With that she exited and Kaidan chuckled as he turned to the desk. With minor effort he pulled the desk forward. He was about to leave when he noticed the shine of something on the floor. The dog tags were on a black collar. He shook his head and noticed a drawer labeled "Jewelry." He opened it to see a mess of unsorted necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings. He dropped the dog tags into the drawer and closed it.

~*~*~

Rufus stood in the doorway watching her paint. Their was a faint hint of a water bank at the bottom, but no water seen, he assumed the pale blue of the carpet was supposed to represent that.
The back drop of rocks and shrubbery had been started and she was adding the tone to the rocks on the wall. She had one of the white trees painted in the foreground then she had started from there working on the background.
He was unaware of how long he stood there watching her paint but as more and more of the scenery was done, he was starting to feel that moment of nostalgia for his own world.
"Your love and admiration for my home world... it's very touching.”
J'dee stopped painting for a moment to look over her shoulder at him, she gave him a smile.
She turned back to the wall and continued painting.

Rufus noticed she started painting small symbols on the rocks and he watched curiously.
"What are those?”
"Wiccan wards, to prevent spirits from entering here. I know you might think it's a bit out of context but come in and close the door.”
Rufus followed her words, the he saw it on the back of her door, two large dog like beasts. Something similar to the bandersnatch, minus the tusks. He'd seen a few of them in Wutai a while back when he had tried to strike up a deal with Godo.
"I know these animals, but they don't venture this far away from Wutai.”
"We call them Foo Dogs here. Chinese law says that spirits can not enter a room if they are facing a door way or window.” J'dee explained.
Rufus indeed saw the door was opposite her window and he walked up to the window.
"Then shouldn't you have some by the window looking at the door?”
"Open that box on the ledge.” J'dee motioned with the paint brush.

Rufus opened the box and he saw two small foo dog statues sitting inside the box.
"I take it they're going to be sitting on your window ledge looking towards the door?” He asked.
"Correct. So no Hojo, he won't be able to enter my room, unless he's wearing a meat suit.”
Rufus looked at her. "I take it you have ties to this culture?”
"Part Chinese baby, my maiden name before I changed it was derived from a Chinese last name.”
Rufus moved up next to her crouching down next to her. "Why would you change it?”
"Every time I got pulled over by the police it was triple checked, several members of my dad's family have records for drug deals, biker activity and other forms of illegal means.”
Rufus nodded his head. "To fly under the radar.”
"And leave the country.” J'dee looked at him. "I want a new life. More than anything, somewhere, where I won't be judged.”
Rufus nodded his head, he understood that more than anything now. Given the history of the ShinRa company. His last name was a taint almost to his world no matter what he did to try and fix it.

~*~*~

Belle finished her room and smiled, the dusty blue room suited her and she slowly began the process of painting a darker blue tree in the corner and making ripples around the room.

"Wow, your room came out way better than mine," Yuna sighed as Belle worked and she laughed.

"Well I figured I better keep up with J'dee, she's going do a beautiful piece on her walls, so I have to keep up," Belle said.

"Yeah, but your room now feels like water and that tree in the corner is so peaceful," Yuna sighed and Belle smiled.

"What can I say, I know how to deck out a home," she laughed. "Well, I'm done. We'll let the rooms dry and then have Kaiden move back the furniture."

"Sounds good," Yuna said with a smile.

~*~*~

"It's all set.” Dalton said as Tobias sat down at the table. Bob Johnson was finishing some notes as Dalton talked. "The District Attorney says that Chertsey will plead guilty to over seventy counts of manslaughter in the first degree. That's so he can avoid the death penalty if he went to trial. With the video evidence and testimony of your former co-workers it would have been a slam-dunk for the prosecution for murder in the second degree. He'll allocate in open court tomorrow and the press conference with you and some of the families is going to be in the press room right after.”

"As for the matter of the civil suits settled against you,” Johnson chimed in, "we have an iron clad tight case of getting those decisions appealed. I'd say most of them will settle out of court so you should have most of your money back within six months. We even have ground of our own to go after those families for even more than what they took from you for lost wages and your pain and suffering. Do you want me to file the papers before or after the press conference?”

"Don't file the papers. I'm not interested in reversing the civil suits.” Tobias said. Bob frowned while John grinned.

"Tobias you have no idea what you're missing out on! You could be a millionaire within the year! I've even been approached by the insurance company that covered you for libel, if we'd like to file with them against Jeff Chertsey for fraud! They're even going after the families!” Bob cried. Tobias frowned.

"I have no interest in making those families suffer anymore than they already have. That's my final decision.” Tobias retorted.

"Don't be stupid! This is the pot of gold after a long journey in the dark! The net worth would make you over fifty million!” Bob cried.

"Oh which you'd get a third.” Tobias snapped. "Now if you don't drop this I will drop you as my attorney.”

"How dare you! Listen to me you little shit after I took your-”

"You're fired Mr. Johnson!” Tobias shouted, jumping to his feet. He turned to face Dalton. "Mr. Dalton, I would like to request some one from your firm's civil litigation team to now represent my interest in these civil matters and to retrieve all paper work regarding my affairs from Mr. Johnson.”

"Absolutely Mr. Fiften.” John said, jumping in on this golden opportunity. "We'll even take it pro bono.”

Bob Johnson glared at them and was about to retort when he remember where he was. It wasn't his office and there were two secretaries taking down every word he said.

"Very well. Good day to you both.” he said. He left the room with as much of his dignity as he could muster. Bob was barely out of the room before John burst out laughing.

"That was priceless!” He said between his laughter. Tobias rubbed the back of his head, feeling sheepish.

"It needed to be done. Now what else do we need to cover?”

~*~*~

J'dee had been painting most of the day. But she was finally done. She stepped back by the door and looked in the room. The pale white trees seem to glow and it actually made her feel more comfortable.
Yuna stuck her head in the door. "Oh wow... Between you and Belle you make my room look fake.”
J'dee smiled. "Thanks. I hope I can sleep better now.”
Yuna walked up to a point in the wall where their was a shell house surrounded by water in the distance. She pointed to the wolf that seemed to be drinking from the water.
"I want to ask the significance of the wolf.”

J'dee nodded her head. "In Advent's children there is a wolf seen in locations of importance. It's neither confirmed nor denied that it is Zack watching over Cloud. I lost my friend to a disease a few years ago, it broke my heart and practically killed me inside. But ironically her spirit animal is a wolf, so when I look at that wolf to me it could symbolise Zack or it could symbolise Cazz. Either or.” She explained.
Yuna nodded her head. "I'm sorry about your friend.”
J'dee smiled. "Me to, I had no real path till I met her, I had no confidence, nothing, I couldn't really talk to people, I had no social skills what so ever. I hit that point of being able to interact with others to a degree that no one could tell my past from looking or talking to me, then she just kinda slipped away.”
"It felt like you essentially had become her.”

J'dee turned round to look at Rufus in the doorway as he stepped into the room.
"I think I understand your obsession so to speak with my home world, not just the places, but the people. You have literary done a Cloud, save for the memory loss. Is this person in front of us, really you, or are you just an echo of your friend?” Rufus asked.
J'dee blinked for a moment. "You are an asshole you know that?”
"So you've told me.” Rufus smiled. "But I believe this for Cloud is that he didn't become Zack, Zack helped him become the man he was supposed to be. Perhaps the same applies for you.”
J'dee knew she was staring for a moment. She had never thought of it in that context, it was a foreign notion. But it made her feel better inside.
"Between you and Belle I think I'm starting to understand and feel that more.” J'dee smiled a little.

~*~*~

"Hey, I thought it was Rufus' night to cook?" Belle said as she watched Yuna and Rufus playing one of the Dragon Ball Z fighting games.

"Yeah, but I decided I was getting tired of poorly prepared materials," Kaidan said and Belle laughed.

"If he's blackmailing you, you let me know, I'm not afraid of Rufus," Belle laughed and Rufus chuckled.

"Yet, my dear, you're not afraid of me yet," he called.

"Why should she be when you are just so bad at these games," Yuna laughed.

"Oh, I am a force to be feared," he commented casually before his Vegeta was K.O.ed.

"Ah pride goes before the fall," Belle teased as she began setting the table.

~*~*~

J'dee stepped into her room. She glanced to the wolf on the wall before she sat down on the bed with her cards, she began flipping them out one by one and looking at the cards. The location of the Leviathan wasn't being revealed even now to her. But it did tell her it would cost money to find it and her head dropped.
Money she didn't have... until she flipped over the next card and she froze staring at the inheritance card.
"Now you tell me it's coming in. I'm not flying home to sign any papers I can't afford that.”

~*~*~

Belle lay on her bed in the dark and sighed. She was content, even if life was giving them a spin, at least Toby was doing better, tomorrow was the news conference and everyone would know the truth. She was glad she could be there for him and J'dee. She rolled over and fell asleep.

~*~*~

Wednesday

~*~*~

J'dee was woken from her sleep by the dream and she rolled over slowly. Rufus was right there and she hated admitting that she was starting to feel comfortable with him sharing her bed.
He opened his eyes and she touched the side of his face.
"Do you ever dream of your old man tormenting you?” She asked softly.
Rufus looked at her and he nodded his head. "Some nights I swear he's keeping me up. But not here, he can't do a thing to me here.”
J'dee sat up slowly. She looked round the room and it made her feel at peace for that moment.
"Your old man was tormenting you in your dreams?”
J'dee couldn't look back at him. "Yeah It was just like any other day really then one by one almost every male that passed me in the street, turned to look at me. It was his face, judging me.”

Rufus moved and sat up behind her and he hated to admit he was becoming attached, because it wasn't good in the long run. But he could relate to that dream.
"Did he judge you in life?” Rufus asked.
"Always I swear he's the one who turned me bi or polywhasit that they call themselves now.” J'dee shrugged.
Rufus wrapped his arms round her, he wasn't an affectionate person by nature. But he couldn't be judged by Tseng, Reno, any one from that world, because they could not see this. Know of it. Nor would he let them ever.
"Take into account what you believe your father stands for in your mind.” Rufus stated. "You analyze dreams don't you. Try this one.”

J'dee looked at him. "I think I feel like the world is judging me.”
Rufus' chin rested on her shoulder. "And is it?”
"No. I haven't been anywhere for it to.” She whispered. "So I don't understand why I had that dream.”
"Hojo.” Rufus whispered in her ear. "He may not be able to enter but I'm sure he could manipulate the energies if he wanted.”
"I think I need a shower now.” J'dee grumbled.

~*~*~

"Have fun storming the castle," Belle called out the door as Toby drove off. Once he was out of sight Belle nodded at the others. "Kaidan, you move the furniture for Yuna to tape and paint Toby's room. J'dee, once the paint in his room dries, I want you to paint something for him on the walls like you did in your room and I did in mine. Rufus, you're going to start scraping the front of the house and Kaidan, once you are done with the furniture, you get the garage side. J'dee and I will start from the back and work our way around to the garage."

"You sure are bossy," J'dee stated and Belle nodded.

"My idea, so I'm in charge, besides, has he suspected anything? He's been too tired to notice that we haven't been training and trying to make us feel all girlie by complimenting our rooms," Belle said. "So trust me, we should be able to send you in to work on his room while the rest of us on the trim."

"You know this is going to take a few coats, right?" Kaidan said and Belle rolled her eyes at him. "You really think we can do this?"

"Toby has to be prepped and then there will be the news conference. He's going to have to arrange several meetings with various papers, news shows, and what not. He'll be gone most of the day and I bet his lawyers are going to treat him to lunch," Belle stated before sighing. "The only bad thing about all of this is the momentary fame he's gained." She shook her head. "Now break!"

~*~*~

Rufus let out a breath, he was not used to all this chore and do something nice for people thing.
But given that Tobias had managed to clean himself up and was slowly getting back on his feet.
He guessed he owed the man. That was one thing he hated most was feeling like he owed someone.
Rufus continued on with his mediocre chore and he watched as J'dee hefted the ladder up and there was some kind of discussion going on between her and Belle.
"Give me a cliff to stand on I'll do it but this. This is just no.” J'dee motioned.
"Chicken.” Belle teased.
"Sure whatever I raised them doesn't effect me.” J'dee countered.
"Fine whatever, you start down here and I'll start up there then.” Belle replied.

~*~*~

"Wow, Belle, you work really fast," Yuna said as she looked out the window.

"I was in charge of painting my parents' deck every other summer. I learned how to paint exteriors first, then I got better at painting indoors," Belle said. "My mom loves fashion so ever few years a new room needs to be painted. Plus when we moved into their current house, I was twelve, I was more than old enough to help remove wallpaper and paint. In fact, I love painting homes and making them look good."

"Still, you are so fast," Yuna said and Belle laughed.

"No, I have long arms and a bad habit of reaching like a monkey. If Kaidan could see me he would be trying to save me with his biotics ever four or five minutes," Belle laughed.

"What?!" J'dee cried and Belle made a face.

"Hey, not my fault you're afraid of heights, it's just a ladder," Belle teased and J'dee glared.

"It is a real fear, you fall and you break things, things like legs which make you helpless," she stated. "Only stupid people aren't afraid to fall."

"Nah, I forget it's a longer fall for someone as short as you," Belle teased.

"Get down here and say that!" J'dee cried and Belle laughed.

"Nope, I have work to do, paint down there so we can be done soon," Belle laughed.

~*~*~

"It's in here, Mr. Fiften.” John Dalton said. Tobias took a moment to collect himself. The allocation had been difficult, especially to hear that man lay out everything he had done. Still, Tobias felt a part of himself letting go of his guilt. Now it was just time to get threw this last hurdle. He took one last deep breath and stepped threw the door John was holding open for him. He was immediately bombarded with questions the flashes of light as the press and he blinked his eyes furiously as he followed John to the table set up at one end. He recognized some of the lawyers from the civil trial against him. He made sure to take a seat that kept John between him and them.

"If everyone will just take a moment Mr. Fiften will answer your questions. I know everyone here wants to put this tragedy behind them, my client included. If we conduct this in a civilized manner we can start.” John said. The press immediately began to settle down and Tobias breathed a sigh of relief.

"Very good. Now as most of you are aware I'm John Dalton, Mr Fiften's legal council. Mr. Fiften will answer most of your questions however anyone asking any rude or overly personal questions will be asked to leave the room. To start how about the young man from the Plain Dealer.”

"Mr. Fiften, how do you feel that the prosecution cut a deal with Mr. Chertsey? Don't you feel cheated that he won't be brought to justice?”

Tobias swallowed and leaned forward to answer.

"No.” Tobias cleared his throat and answered more strongly. "No, I don't. I just want this nightmare to be over with. Next question please.”

"You from CNN.” John said and the young woman got up.

"Mr. Fiften I noticed that your civil attorney Mr. Johnson isn’t here. Does this mean you're not going to be pursuing any legal actions against the families that wrongly went after you or Mr. Chertsey?”

"No, I'm not taking any action against the families nor Chertsey. Like I said I just want to get this put behind me. I will be applying to have my professional engineering license re-instated though.”

"You there, two rows back.”

And so it went.

~*~*~

Rufus looked over his shoulder as he finished up the last coat of paint. He looked to J'dee as she was putting away most of the tools out of her trip over range.
Which even he had to admit was impressive. No matter how small and how packed away it was she would still fall over it.
"This is the last of it right?” Rufus asked as he set his paint brush down.
He knew Hojo was probably watching and laughing at him being reduced to middle class work.
"I think it's just the overcoat of gloss or whatever they call it here.” J'dee stated.
"Well at least I don't feel so alienated when you say it like that.” Rufus shook his head.
"Lets go people home stretch!” Yuna cried cheerfully.
J'dee let out a groan.

~*~*~

"Well, we did it," Belle grinned as the sun shone on the freshly painted house. J'dee whistled and looked over the building.

"You were right," J'dee nodded.

"I couldn't have done this without all your help. Thanks," Belle grinned.

"Glad to help," Kaidan smiled and Belle blushed slightly before looking over the house in time for Toby's car to pull into the driveway.

"Holy shit, you painted my house," he said and Belle grinned.

"Hell yeah we did," she smiled and he stared at them.

"So did you see me on television?" he asked and Belle glared at him.

"What do you think we were doing all day, you bloody idiot!" J'dee roared and Yuna pressed against J'dee's shoulders to keep the redhead from attacking.

"Did you really think he would thank us?" Rufus chuckled.

"The best laid plans of mice and men, Belle," Kaidan said as he patted her shoulder.

"He's an ass, but he's the ass we live with," Belle muttered.

~*~*~

J'dee watched as Toby went walking through the house inspecting everything. It actually had a nice change of energy to the entire place. She mentally admitted it felt like it was a home. A home for all of them given the joint effort it took.

~*~*~

"Sorry it was a nice surprise though.” Tobias said, admiring the house as they grilled hotdogs. He leaned back against the picnic table and just took in the house. "And it's not pink.”

"You should have seen Belle and J'dee arguing over the colors. J'dee wanted to paint your room black with crimson highlights.” Yuna said, giggling. Tobias laughed.

"I'm glad Belle won that one. While that sounds cool, forest green is easier on the eyes.”

~*~*~

"So what will you do tomorrow now that your scheme is done?” Toby asked as they muted the news. His press conference story was done and Belle sighed as she rested back in her seat next to Kaidan.

"I am going to have Kaidan teach me more hand-to-hand moves. We have been so busy painting, that most of us were beat to hell and too tired to train,” Belle grinned.

"You should pick a weapon to learn,” Rufus said and Belle shrugged.

"What’s the point of learning to use a weapon I won’t be able to use?” she asked and he nodded.

"You won’t know until you try,” he commented and Belle nodded again.

"If I had some way to fix what I damaged with a weapon I would be more willing to use one, but…I don’t know if I could stab or shoot another human being,” she said.

"Someone might find the summons and use them for their own power,” Toby said. "They would be willing to kill us for them.” Belle gave a look to J’dee.

"Let it go, she’s never been in a real fight, Tobias,” J’dee said and Belle nodded.

"Life is precious, the weapons you are teaching do more damage than my fists can. Kaidan promised to teach me dislocating moves. Those will knock out most personal threats to me,” Belle said and the others let the conversation drop.

~*~*~

J’dee smiled. She understood what Belle meant. For a long while she was mostly hand to hand combat, it was what she preferred. But certain events in her life made her want to learn more weapons, not for self defense or anything, just for fun mostly.
That and ninja turtles, she blamed Donatello for her obsession with the Bo staff. Why because he wore purple and purple was an awesome color to her as a kid.

She took a sip of her coke, it was her only true caffeine addiction. Something of a bad habit picked up when she lived in Australia because it was cheaper there than in her own country.
"You seemed amused.” Rufus mused.
"I was thinking about what inspired me to learn martial arts.”
Rufus looked at her. "I'll bite. What was that?”
"Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles.” J'dee grinned.
"That doesn't surprise me.” Belle commented.
Rufus looked at them. "Should I be glad that I don't get the reference?”

~*~*~

Thursday

~*~*~

The morning was quiet, there were no press conferences to plan, no painting to be done, no work to go to, and no ghosts allowed in the house. Belle sighed and looked at her alarm clock.

"Oh, screw you,” she muttered as she got up. She was still waking up for work time. She shook her head and headed into the kitchen to see Kaidan sitting at the counter talking to Rufus. "Oh, this speaks of evil. What are you two invaders from other dimensions planning?”

"I’m trying to convince Kaidan to train you with something more effective than your hands,” Rufus stated and Belle rolled her eyes.

"I’m sure,” she muttered as she made herself a cup of hot chocolate. "So what are you really talking about?”

"Hojo,” Rufus stated. "I’m trying to explain how his spirit still exists based on the concept of the lifestream.”

"I’m more than a little confused about that myself,” Belle stated. "Seeing as we don’t have a lifestream here. An equivalent, but not the same as your world.”

"It takes believing in an afterlife to believe that,” Kaidan said and Belle blinked.

"You are an atheist?” she asked and he nodded. "Besides the fact that a goddess brought you to another dimension and after seeing the summons?”

"I may be reconsidering that, but right now I’m still not sold on an afterlife,” he stated and Belle laughed.

"Gods and goddesses sure thing, but a Heaven and a Hell, no way?” she teased and he nodded. "Hypocrite.”

"Hardly, they are possibly trans-dimensional species,” he suggested and Belle laughed.

"Oh, so you don’t believe that the ghost of an evil scientist is hanging around?” she asked and Kaidan shook his head.

"Still not convinced,” he said and Belle laughed more and Rufus sighed in frustration.

~*~*~

"Leave him be Rufus.” J'dee stated.
She sat down at the kitchen table with her plate of toast and a can of coke.
"Doesn't it irritate you that he doesn't believe?” Rufus looked at her.
J'dee smiled. "Not really. I used to be an atheist.”
Rufus looked at her. "Really now? Now that I find hard to believe.”
"Simple I grew up with a strong catholic upbringing. But I was put through so much pain, physical and emotional, and the catholic god did nothing. I lost half my life. I can't remember much if anything before the age of fifteen. It's just not there. I have vague memories scattered. But I know when I hit eleven I was given the option if I still wanted to go to church and I said no. He did nothing for me so why should I keep going?” J'dee took a sip of her ice cold can of coke.
Rufus raised a brow. "You obviously found something since then.” He stated.

"When I was fifteen or sixteen, my mother took me to get a reading done, this man knew things, that I hadn't told my own mother, he saw things that were going to happen to me and some of them still do till this day.” J'dee explained as she folded her toast in half. "After the first thing he said would happen did I put it down to a fluke, then it happened over and over again, in the most random of locations. It made me realise that there was some kind of higher power working out there.” She popped the toast quarter in her mouth and munched on it. "Be it a single God or multiple, or just the words of those passed before us. X-files said it best, 'The truth is out there'.”
Rufus looked at Kaidan. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I need a bit more than words.”

J'dee swallowed her toast and turned her can round on the table.
"Let him be, personal experience is how most discover something else exists.”
Rufus looked at her. "And you how did you find your way?”
"I had a close encounter that I could have died from. But I didn't. I survived, then I started seeing things people couldn't see, I hear things others don't. If you're too close to me and I mean way to close it becomes like this infection, I pass it one. It's an Ichigo gig I suppose.”
Belle chuckled. "Rufus better stop sharing your bed then. He could be next.”
J'dee laughed. "Imagine him going back to his world able to hear the lifestream that's just cruel.”
Rufus gave her a flat eyed look.

~*~*~

Belle punched at Kaidan’s gloved hands again. She ducked and dodged when he began to shift, every now and then getting cuffed on the head or shoulder.

"You need to block better,” he said.

"I know,” she replied. "It’s just hard taking it serious when I know you’re not going to hurt me.”

"I could start,” he warned and Belle huffed.

"How about a point system?” Belle suggested as she moved back and Kaidan blinked. "Toby, J’dee, and I are all gamers. We each have our own idiosyncrasies about gaming. I’m a total personal score beater. I love playing a game and beating my previous scores, this would be better with a scoring system.” Kaidan chuckled before removing his gloves and quickly playing with his omnitool for a moment.

"One scoring system ready to go,” he said and Belle blinked. "I have a program on there for training, I set it for the boxing mode.” Belle grinned.

"Alright, let’s aim for a high base score,” she grinned and Kaidan blinked. "You want me to get better, right? So aim the bar high and always shoot up.”

"If you can, the score resets if I hit you,” he replied.

"Now I have incentive to dodge,” Belle replied.

~*~*~

"Ready?” Yuna asked and Tobias nodded. He cracked his fingers and loosened up. Yuna called this the final phase of combat summoning training. The ability to multiple summons at one time.

"You know you never did this in the video game.” Tobias noted and Yuna frowned.

"Well life isn't like a game.” she said, tartly.

"Touche`.” Tobias muttered, before saying more loudly, "I was just making an observation.”

"So was I.” Yuna said sweetly as Valefor and Quetzalcoatl came soaring down together. Tobias swore and dove to the side as a combine blast of concentrated wind and lighting hit where he had been standing. He tried to start the motions to summon Shiva and had to stop to didge another blast.

"You have to look past the motions.” Yuna said as Tobias kept moving, trying to keep from being injured. "Remember, you don't have to rely on the motions. It's all about feeling and intent. That's why I can abbreviate a summoning dance or use one dance to summon two, three and even four creatures at one time. It's about intent and feeling. Feel them inside you. Work together.”

"Easy for her to say.” Tobias said as he dove to the side again.

~*~*~

J'dee was in the kitchen buttering up the bread to go with the several cooked meats, it was something her and Belle had prepared for a help yourself lunch.
J'dee turned round as she heard the television flick on in the lounge. She stuck her head into the lounge and saw the mid day news flash. There was no one round to turn the television on.
"Rufus?” She questioned walking into the lounge.
Nothing no reply. There was no one there.

"People are not sure what to say but eye witness seem to believe it to be new vigilante to add toSalt Lake City.”

J'dee crossed her arms. She saw the flicker of a hand held camera and there was a flicker of static before the large image jumped from rooftop to rooftop, the night hiding any visible attributes.
"Hmmm.” J'dee walked up to the television.
She then tapped it she thought she saw the reflection of a white coat of someone behind her.
"Something up?” Belle came into the lounge.

J'dee motioned at the screen. "Looks like a new vigilante. Dibs if it's batman.”
Belle picked up the TV remote and turned the television off. "To much junk TV rots the brain.” She jerked her head back towards the kitchen. "Help me finish the salads up.”
"Sure.” J'dee followed Belle back into the kitchen.

~*~*~

"Lunch!” J’dee cried.

"We have every condiment and lunch meat known to man in the fridge,” Belle stated as she headed out the front door. She felt a slight chill before shaking it off and heading down to the mailbox. "Ugh, vultures.” Several reporters were standing at the end of the driveway, clearly paying attention to the ‘No media’ signs that Kaidan had put up after the first batch had shown up.

"Are you Mrs. Fiften?” one of the reporters asked and Belle rolled her eyes.

"No one at this address is answering questions so please just contact the law office like was announced in the press conference,” Belle stated as she collected the mail and headed back to the house. She entered and began to sort the mail on the counter based on the addressee.

"Man, are they still down there?” J’dee asked and Belle blinked. "You always look like you ate something gross but don’t want to admit it’s gross when you talk to the reporters.”

"They should be gone by Wednesday of next week.” Toby said, munching on an apple. "I asked them to leave us alone but some times it takes awhile for it to get through.”

"I have barely dealt with them,” Belle stated and J’dee grinned.

"I know, but you always make that face when you do,” J’dee said and Belle made a face at her.

"Hurry up and eat, I want to get back out there,” Belle stated.

"You just want to train with Kaidan more,” J’dee teased and Belle threw an apple at her as the door opened and the three guests entered.

~*~*~

"The mail's on the table.” Belle announced while washing her hands as Tobias came back inside after inspecting the paint job the group had done on the house.

"Thanks.” Tobias said still grinning over the great surprise, picking up his pile. He was happy Belle liked to get the mail. She usually sorted it into four piles of J'dee, Belle, Tobias and junk. It made it easier on Tobias to figure out which bills were his and what to pay first with his dwindling funds. He set the bills aside however when he noticed a brown envelope in the pile.

"What's that Toby?” J'dee asked. Tobias shrugged

"Don't know but I'm going to find out.” Tobias said as he opened the envelope. He blinked in surprise when he saw the program and the letter attached. He quickly read the letter before shaking his head in disbelief.

"What is it?” Belle asked, curious. He handed them the program.

"Its a program for a convention called Haven Con. I used to work for the committee giving them a layout for the convention center. The hotel its held at has a convention center with two floors. One of the appeals of the convention center is that it has walls on a track. So the Haven Con committee can literally design an event to their liking. Apparently after I resigned they had some one else draw up a layout. It says it turned out to be a disaster. So they want me to step back in again since the reason I left the committee was to distance myself from them during the inquiries a few years back.”

"Man that would be awesome to see." J'dee looked at Toby. "You should totally do it. Design it this year. I mean it's something right? To get you back into the flow of things. I think it would be good for your soul, and it's something small so you won't push yourself to hard." She was hopeful for this really. She wanted to see Toby get back into his natural flow. J'dee missed his old energy, given the summon was making it hard for her to locate his original energy now.

She took a look at the pamphlet thing in his hand and she tapped her chin. "Where have I see that symbol before. I haven't been to this con. I've only been to like one American con ever."

Toby gave her a look. "Let me guess Yaoi con?"

J'dee grinned. "It was awesome though I met this totally cute Zack Cos-player he was just so adorable and the abs on that Reno-"

Toby clamped his hand over her mouth. "I think I can give it a shot. If you don't mention anything else about Yaoi con."

J'dee nodded her head and peeled his hand off. "When is it? I'd like to go?"

"Couple of weeks from now." Toby replied.

"When I'm back at work full time. Sad face." J'dee couldn't help but pout.

Belle cleared her throat. "Need I mention our current guests at this point in time."

J'dee pursed her lips together. "Riiiight, sorry. It might freak them out seeing people dressed like them walking around. I know I'd be a little freaked out."

"Although, it is the one place where no one would look twice. They would only get 'great costumes' or 'awesome in character performance' comments," Belle chuckled.

~*~*~

Rufus stepped away from the outside wall. He'd been heading back inside to get a bottle of water when he'd heard them talking. He knew they'd been hiding secrets from the start. Perhaps this Haven meeting would be a good place to get some answers. As he headed back to where Yuna and Kaidan were sparring he decided he needed these two. If something went wrong he'd better ready to deal with it with these people at his disposal.

"We have a problem.” Rufus said, drawing their spar to a halt.

"What's wrong?” Kaidan asked concerned. Rufus nodded his head to the house.

"I over heard them talking about Haven Con. Apparently its some sort of pay to attend meeting their worried about us going.”

"Why would we want to go?” Yuna asked, puzzled.

"They called in an anime and gaming convention. They've said it often enough that we're from games they play. Aren't you curious?” Rufus said, sneering.

"Toby and J'dee have both said they're certain I arrived after my games were over.” Yuna said, annoyed. " What do they need to hide from me?”

"They've talked about your game to you?” Kaidan said, surprised Yuna blinked.

"Yeah, why haven't they talked about yours?” she asked. Kaidan shook his head as Rufus's frowned.

"Actually they won't even mention the name of it.” Kaidan said. "Belle always changes the topic when I bring it up too.”

"J'dee won't stop talking about my world but she avoids certain events unless I bring it up. Then she won't talk about anything after it until I mention something that happened later.” Rufus mused.

"Like she's waiting to see what you know before she says anything.” Yuna observed. "What do you think it means?” Rufus got a pensive look on his face and he rubbed his chin.

"You want to go to this convention, don't you?” Kaidan said, putting the pieces together. "Learn what they're holding back?”

"But that's the one place where they could most easily recognize us!” Yuna argued.

"No, I over heard them mentioning people who dress up like characters. If we went in the original clothes we arrived here in, they'll just think we're people pretending to be us.” Rufus informed them.

"Hiding in plain sight. I like it.” Kaidan said. "When is it?”

"It starts a week from this Thursday. Belle and J'dee should be back to work then so it should be simple to duck Tobias for a day. He said he was going to design the layout this year so we might be able to get the address from his papers.” Rufus said.

"Do you think we'll need to take anything with us?” Kaidan asked. Rufus was about to response when Yuna began to cough, hard. They turned to look at her in alarm and she discretely pointed to the house. Tobias was heading for them.

"We'll finish working out the details later.” Rufus said, beginning to stride away.

"Hey everything okay?” Tobias asked as he approached.

"Fine, just got side swiped with a lucky kick from Kaiden.” Yuna said, rubbing her side and coughing a couple more times as Kaidan left.

"You going to be okay?” Tobias asked concerned. Despite everything Rufus had told her Yuna smiled.

"I'll be fine.”


~*~*~

J'dee sat in the backseat of her car staring out the front window. She couldn't explain it but her car, it felt super safe now, even more so than the house. Belle had kept Hojo at bay which was awesome, but her car, this car it held her personal energies from the cleansing still, she could focus more on her own tasks with her own spiritual energies.
She was humming along to the mp3 player playing out her 30 Seconds to Mars folder. J'dee looked to the Materia and she held it up looking into the orb.
She heard the car door open and she watched as Rufus slipped inside and sat down next to her.
J'dee smiled at him before she looked back to the materia. "I can feel the energy just throbbing through this thing. It's amazing to think something so small can contain that much power.”
Rufus looked at her. "Materia is formed from Mako and the lifestream. But you have neither here so this makes me curious as to what makes it work and if its strength is the same.”
J'dee looked at him. "We should test it out.” She grinned at him.
Rufus looked at her. He shook his head. "You are not setting fire to the reporters.”
J'dee pouted. "So mean. Oooh can I-”
"No dropping a blizard on them.” Rufus slipped out of the back seat and offered her his hand.
"Come with me. I'll show you how to bond with the materia.”
J'dee took his hand and slipped out of the car and she let him lead her away from the car.

~*~*~

Belle rubbed her neck as she walked the property, waiting for lunch to digest.

"You ready for the next round?” Kaidan asked and Belle made a face.

"Not yet, salami is giving me the burps, I’ll have to get a different brand next time,” Belle stated and Kaidan smiled.

"It could be worse,” he said and Belle gave him a look.

"I teach teenage boys, if you, a grown man, makes a fart joke, I’m going to trade back for Yuna, summons be damned,” Belle warned.

"Fine, we walk for twenty more minutes and then we start working on kicks,” he said.

"How about this many?” Belle asked as she stomped a foot four times.

"Is that a horse joke?” Kaidan asked and Belle grinned. "Come on Mr. Ed.”

"Oh you are so from the future, Mr. Ed could totally talk…they gave the horse peanut butter to do it, that was from my dad’s childhood and even I know that fact,” Belle grinned.

"They didn’t give the horse peanut butter,” Kaidan argued.

~*~*~

J'dee sat in the middle of the floor of her room, she held the materia in her hands. She was focussed on it, trying to figure out how to bond with the energy of the orb.
She saw it flash for a moment before a green light filled the room.
J'dee felt the warmth wash over her body, she looked up at Rufus and he nodded his head.
"That's the energy of the cure based materia. You know about the different levels.”
"Cure, Cura and Curaga.” J'dee stated. She set the materia down then looked to her drawer. "But they're not telling me how they were forged in this dimension.
Rufus shook his head. "If I had to guess I would assume it's cause they are linked to the summons somehow when the summons came here this materia was formed at the same time.”

~*~*~

"So good book?” Yuna asked and Belle yelped as she jumped.

"Oh yeah,” Belle said and Yuna blinked.

"You were staring out the window,” Yuna stated and Belle smiled.

"When I read a very good book I stop often to think about the story,” she said and Yuna blinked.

"So the more you daydream while reading, the better you think the book is?” she asked and Belle shrugged.

"Some books are so good I can’t look away while others are so bad I can barely keep going but this one, this one is one of my favorites,” she sighed and stroked the worn cover with a smile.

"What’s it about?” Yuna asked and Belle grinned.

"This one is about a wizard, it is the first in a series, he is currently serving as a knight in a fairy court,” she explained.

"Like a children’s story?” Yuna asked and Belle giggled.

"Oh no, he’s no gentle wizard like a fairy story, he’s a grumpy detective who is stuck serving the fairies as their Winter Knight, I just got the new book but I want to reread the series before starting,” she said. "Toby loves this series too.”

~*~*~

J'dee stepped into the lounge and looked at the wii console plugged in and she rolled her eyes.
"I hate that inferior console.” She shot it a glare.
"So nice of you to join us.” Kaidan smirked.
"Where were you two?” Yuna asked as she paused the sports game on screen. "We haven't seen you all afternoon.” She added.
J'dee bit her bottom lip. "Um Rufus was teaching em some materia stuff.”
Kaidan nodded his head. "Sure that you both decided to have a shower after.”

J'dee gave him a flat eyed look.
Rufus walked in behind J'dee and she felt the pat to her shoulder.
"Yuna's a big girl you both don't have to use the work safe version of our activities. It is out in the open anyway.”
Yuna blushed for a moment. "Um, so whose up for a game of tennis?”
J'dee glared at the wii console again. "3ds is as far as Nintendo will go on my list of consoles under the nintendo brand that I will play.”
Rufus smirked. "And why a 3ds?”
"Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance. C'mon hello, Sora Riku, those two are so KH cannon. I totally ship that.” J'dee exclaimed.
Kaidan gave Rufus a look. "What is she talking about?”
"Maybe she's talking about pirates?” Yuna asked.
Rufus shook his head. "No she's not talking about pirates.” He picked up a remote. "If any of you beat my score I'll explain all.”
J'dee grabbed the other remote quickly. Last thing she wanted was Rufus exposing her yaoi fan pairings in detail to Kaidan or Yuna. "If I beat you you are not saying a damn thing!” She pointed it at Rufus.

~*~*~

"So you think I should go design the con,” Toby started as Belle sat on the porch. Kaidan and Rufus were playing Wii tennis against J’dee and Yuna inside. Belle sipped her hot chocolate as she stared at the night sky.

"Yeah, I do,” Belle stated and he nodded.

"I haven’t done any work like that in…” he started and Belle placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I know,” she said. "Look, Tobias, I was worried about you. I was terrified really. I put that card on your door because I knew we couldn’t save you. You were in a dark place that J’dee knew, but she couldn’t reach you. I’ve never been in such a place.”

"I’m sorry I scared you,” he said and Belle shook her head.

"I don’t believe this happened, I’m still shocked as hell that we are here,” Belle sighed. "But I’m glad. Would you still have been here if we didn’t end up with the Goddess Card?”

"I don’t know,” he said and Belle nodded.

"Then I think you should go and design the con,” Belle said. "We’ll keep it quiet to the guests, but you need this opportunity.”

"Thanks for the heartfelt talk,” he said and Belle smiled. "We have game against winner.”

"Pfft, they will fall beneath my awesome tennis skills,” Belle stated.

~*~*~

Friday

~*~*~

J'dee sat on her bed looking at the wall the shell shaped house the wolf drinking the water. She let out a soft breath. She felt Rufus sit behind her, she felt one arm wrap round her and the hot chocolate was offered to her.
She took it and she took a sip looking at the wall. "I wasn't planning on painting this, honest, they just said I had to.” She whispered. "I'm sorry if it makes you feel homesick.”
J'dee took another sip of the drink. She felt the mouth by her ear.
"Then I'm glad I have something to distract myself with.”
She could feel the flush form on her face. "Why are we doing this to ourselves?” She asked.
Rufus only shrugged and she felt the hand move over her stomach and she let her eyes close.
"Insatiable bastard.” She hissed as she felt the lips on her neck.

~*~*~

Belle finished breakfast and looked at the group. They were short a biotic.

"Where’s Kaidan?” she asked Rufus and he pointed at his temple.

"Migraine,” he stated and Belle sighed as she began putting together her migraine kit.

"You are fond of him,” Yuna smiled and Belle kept quiet.

"I dare say, I thought I was more your type,” Rufus purred and Belle made a face at him.

"No thanks, self-absorbed, pushy bastards aren’t really my type,” she retorted and J’dee snickered before hiding behind a gaming magazine.

"Still, you take good care of him,” Yuna smiled and Belle blushed.

"I just hate to see someone suffer and I get migraines myself so, I know I would like someone to take care of me like this,” Belle stated before walking off.

~*~*~

"Part of me wants to hook them up, but I think that would kill her.” J'dee stated after Belle had left the kitchen.
Yuna looked at her. "Why do you say that?”
"I'm used to emotionless attachments. I've had enough failed relationships to know when to shut off.” She looked at Rufus. "So I'm not fussed if he goes I might miss the bastard sure, but I can still move on. Belle...” J'dee trailed off.
"You don't wish to see her hurt.” Rufus stated.
J'dee nodded. "Pretty much.”
"If the feeling it mutual eventually they'll find each other though, then what?” Yuna asked.
J'dee looked down, "She'll get her heart broken when he goes and that is the worst feeling in the world.”
Rufus gave her a look. "You sound like you speak from experience. I guess Tobias was right.”
J'dee blinked looking at Rufus. "What did Toby say to you?”
Rufus shrugged. "Nothing much just the usual warnings brothers do for family.”
J'dee looked down at her toast. "Oh.”

~*~*~

Belle sat on the bed behind Kaidan as he sat on the floor. She massaged his shoulders and neck. The room was dark with the blind drawn and the fan blew over Kaidan’s bare chest. Belle was doing her best to think unsexy thoughts as she pressed into the tense muscles on Kaidan’s neck.

"We need to get you out working with your biotics,” she said as she carefully rubbed the opposing muscles in the neck.

"I know,” he sighed. "Your hands are cold.” Belle began to pull back, embarrassed before Kaidan’s hands pressed down on hers. "It feels good.”

"My grandmother always said, cold hands, warm heart,” Belle replied. "I just think I have bad circulation.”

"It’s nice right now,” Kaidan sighed. "Maybe tomorrow I can do some biotics, but today, it’s not happening,” he groaned. Belle worked for a while before placing a cool, damp rag over his neck.

"You awake?” she whispered.

"Sadly,” he muttered.

"What’s it like to use biotics?” she asked.

"What do you mean?” he questioned.

"Well, you use your hands to help you aim, but what do you think?” Belle asked and he chuckled.

"I just will it, I can’t describe it,” he muttered and Belle sat back.

"Just will it, phenomenal cosmic power, but what a side effect,” she muttered as she got up. "Come on, on the bed with you.” Kaidan slid up onto the bed and Belle tucked him in before placing another damp rag on his forehead. "Your orange juice is on the nightstand with some water and the container of pain relievers. If you need anything you have this phone, it works like an intercom.”

"Thanks, Belle,” Kaidan sighed and Belle smiled.

"Anytime, Kaidan,” she replied before heading up.

~*~*~

Rufus sat in the lounge and he turned the page in the paper, he raised a brow at the image on the page and set it down. "This is not what I normally read.”
J'dee walked up to him picking the paper up. "That's what they call a tabloid, it's paparazzi news. They make shit up. Why what did you find?”
"A woman is claiming she gave birth to a half alien child.”
"Welcome to America....” J'dee drawled shaking her head and picking up the paper and tossing it in a rubbish basket on her way out.
Rufus saw the flash of an image of red before he stood up walking to the basket he pulled the page out looking at the image, even though the photo was bad quality. The shade of red was familiar. It was a cape. He looked to where J'dee had just left heading to her car.
"That's impossible. It can't be.” He moved after J'dee. "He can't be here too, there's no explanation for it.”

~*~*~

Belle was shadow boxing in the yard. Her body bouncing from foot to foot as her arms came up, framing her face before she twisted her shoulders to throw punches.

"Oh, more of that?” Tobias asked as he stepped around the house.

"I’m not taking a weapon, Toby, I’m not going to kill anyone,” Belle stated before dodging and ducking imagined attacks before bringing her fist around in a cross.

"You don’t have to kill anyone,” J’dee said.

"I have nothing against guns, hell in this country we rely on them more than most, I just…this training is to protect ourselves just in case. I rather know how to unarm a person and keep them at bay, not stop them completely,” Belle stated and J’dee threw up her hands and walked over to Yuna.

"You know this could get dangerous, you might need to face a summons,” Toby said and Belle gave him a look. "You can’t count on Odin to save you.”

"Which is why I have you, J’dee, Kaidan, Yuna, and maybe Rufus,” Belle stated and Tobias sighed before walking off.

~*~*~

J'dee was sitting in the backseat of her car trying to focus on the materia to get another glimpse of the energy source in it's released form.
There was a small spark from the green orb when the car door opened and Rufus held up the paper.
"Really you're interrupting me to shove that thing in my fac-” She stopped seeing the picture then she grabbed the paper quickly.
"Is this-?” J'dee began.
Rufus nodded. "Looks like Chaos to me.”
"Where?” J'dee asked.
"A place called Salt Lake City.” Rufus replied.
J'dee shook her head. "I think that's in Utah or somewhere, not that I could tell you where Utah was on a map then again about 65 percent of Americans can't find my home city on a world map. So what goes around comes around.”
"If Chaos is here.” Rufus looked at her.
J'dee was looking at the picture. "He's got Vincent's cloak thing. That's not right, they should be separate. Chaos and Omega-” She stopped and looked at Rufus before continuing. He hadn't said what he knew of this incident. She had to be careful and treat him like he didn't know and not let any spoilers come out.
He rolled his eyes. "Yes yes Reeve told me not long after. I am the one who is funding the WRO after all.” Rufus smirked. "I own a decent percentage of the WRO.”
"Ouch they'll be without an income while you're here.”
Rufus waved it off. "Tseng will sort it out.” He slipped into the car next to her. "Do you think they re-merged?”
"Vincent and Chaos? I don't know.” It was an honest answer.

~*~*~

Belle watched the news while Toby was cooking dinner and made notes on a yellow legal pad about unusual stories.

"We have a sighting of UFOs,” Belle stated and J’dee snickered.

"What if it’s Saiyans?” she asked and Belle smirked.

"Let’s hope it’s only Goku,” she replied.

"It could be Salarians, they’re the only ones who commonly ignored the rules about undeveloped species,” Kaidan said.

"No you don’t, we’re not giving away anything about your worlds to you,” Belle scolded as she continued making notes.

~*~*~

Tobias smirked as Belle continued her notes. She looked up and saw him, which caused her to glare.

"What?”

Tobias's smirk became a grin and Belle's eyes widened.

"Don't you dare!”

"I am the very model of a scientist salar-OW!” Tobias stopped as Belle's slipper bounced off the side of his head. Kaiden frowned.

"I.WILL.END.YOU!” Belle snarled at him. Tobias snickered.

"I'll be good.”

~*~*~

Rufus looked at J'dee. "You look just as confused as I am.”
"Yeah. Um. I don't get it.” She scratched the side of her face and smiled before shaking her head.
"One day J-chan.” Toby grinned at her.
"Sure. But part of me doesn't want to if Belle is in slipper throwing mode.”

~*~*~

Saturday

~*~*~

J'dee woke up early and she could feel Rufus lying behind her and she looked over her shoulder.
"This is getting to be a common thing, next thing you know you'll be moving into my room.”
"You at least get sunlight.” Rufus grumbled in a complaint.
J'dee rolled over in the bed. "I swear when my money comes in I'm going to be buying a bigger bed and shipping some crap over here.”
She brushed some of the hair from Rufus' face. Part of her hated becoming soft towards him, the other part welcomed the change.
"How long till that happens?” Rufus asked before yawning.
"Lawyers, courts who knows. It's not going to be much but it will be enough to put a deposit on a house that's for sure.” J'dee slipped out of the bed. "I'm going to do breakfast. Anything you want?”
"Nothing to weird.”
"Funny I was going to do eggs on toast with bacon for you and corned silver side for me.” She pulled her bathrobe on. "Now get up sleepy head.”

~*~*~

Belle sighed as she rested in bed.

"Belle, breakfast,” J’dee cried and Belle sighed.

"It’s not anything Kiwi is it?” she asked and J’dee opened the door.

"What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked and Belle grinned.

"I mean, endangered and very cute?” Belle suggested.

"You watch it or I’m making curry,” J’dee threatened.

"I’m not eating curry,” Belle stated making a face. "It’s the one spice I loathe more than anything.”

"Well I like it,” J’dee shot back before heading down the hall. "Hurry up or I’m feeding your share to Toby.”

~*~*~

J'dee had finished washing up the dishes and she left them on the rack to dry. She jogged to her room to grab her training clothes. She walked in as the phone rang and she slid it open to answer.
"Hello?”
"Is this Jera?”
J'dee raised a brow. "Speaking.”
"This is Irene from Richard and Makena Lawfirm.”
J'dee felt herself freeze almost instantly. 'Please don't ask me to come home, pleeeeeease don't ask me to come home.' She begged silently. "Um hi.” It was all she could manage to say normally.
"Do you have a moment I need to talk with you.” Irene said on the other end.
J'dee swallowed and she sat down on the bed. "Sure.”

~*~*~

Belle was panting as she punched at Kaidan’s hands, the omnitool pinged again and again before Kaidan finally smacked her on the side of the head.

"Damn,” Belle whined and Kaidan grinned as he removed his glove.

"Not bad, up to twelve thousand, five hundred, twenty,” he said.

"Crap,” Belle moaned. "I was so close to beating my last score.”

"You only missed it by thirty points,” Kaidan pointed out.

"Yeah, but it takes me forever to get into the thousands,” Belle whined.

~*~*~

Rufus raised a brow as pushed open the door to J'dee's room. She was sitting on the bed on her cellphone. He saw the serious look on her face and he lent against the door frame.
When she finally hung up, he moved up next to her to sit down.
"Is everything okay?”
She turned to look at him and she nodded. "Yeah it's fine.” She waved her hand and he saw the forced smile.

J'dee saw Rufus raise a brow at her. She was going to get this estate money wired in to her NZ bank account. It was more than enough to put on a deposit on her own house. But the complicated part was going to be wording it to Toby and Belle, plus the money could help Toby.
She was confused, conflicted all in the one.
First thing was first she was going to buy a god-damn bigger bed. Screw shipping one over, she would buy one then sell it when she had to leave.
J'dee stood up."I'm just going to go down and get some air.”
"Unwanted phone call I take it?” Rufus asked.
J'dee let out a breath. "It's wanted trust me it was wanted. It's just going to cause a bit of conflict.” She walked out of the room, she was aware of Rufus following her. She needed something, anything to distract herself with.
Then she saw Kaidan giving Belle a shoulder rub and she felt her eye twitch.
"Target acquired.” She murmured.
"That's called projection you know.” Rufus stated.

~*~*~

"I cannot believe you are counting this as training,” J’dee whined. "Rufus never gives me shoulder rubs.”

"No he just rubs you in a dirty way,” Belle teased and J’dee made a face at her. Kaidan rubbed Belle’s arm, pressing carefully into the muscle. "Besides, Kaidan isn’t doing this as a training exercise, he’s doing this to make sure my muscles don’t get strained. It’s part of my cool down.”

"Why can’t I do that…” J’dee huffed and Belle snickered.

"Because you have weak little Kiwi hands and can’t really knead the muscle?” Belle suggested and J’dee glared.

"Stronger hands than you,” J’dee stated and Belle smirked.

"You think that,” she goaded.

"Other arm,” Kaidan chuckled and Belle turned.

"Keep her standing that way, I want to kick her,” J’dee chuckled and Belle made another face.

"You’re just jealous of my awesome trainer,” Belle stated.

"Yuna’s nice,” J’dee pouted.

"She doesn’t give arm rubs,” Belle taunted.

"Arg!” J’dee huffed before marching off.

"You’re good for now,” Kaidan said and Belle smiled.

"Thanks, Kaidan,” she said. "Dibs on shower.”

"Ladies first, I insist,” he said and gave Belle a slight smirk. She turned quickly to hide the blush.

~*~*~

"Pizza has been ordered.” Rufus stated hanging up the phone.
"Toby it's been ordered!” J'dee shouted from the lounge.
Tobias looked at Rufus. "I guess I'm going to pick it up then.”
"It is cheaper that way.” Rufus stated.
He looked in the lounge to J'dee sitting on the ground playing her game. He watched her character die on screen and she let her head drop back and thump the back of the couch.
"Really stupid muthafucken vent stop sucking me out into space.” She set the playstation controller down.
"I thought you didn't like science fiction.” Rufus stated.

J'dee shrugged. "I don't but I like the monsters in this.” She stretched. "Dead Space 3 baby.”
Toby shook his head. "Have fun J-chan I'll show you a trick when I get back.”
J'dee watched him leave to go get the pizza. In a week or two's time she would have enough money to live on, but the breaking of the new, it could wait, she would say something when she saw her bank balance. Until then it was take out her frustrations on a game.
"Have you even played any of the others?” Rufus asked.
J'dee looked at Rufus. "Pssssh. I played part way through one till I got ADD and walked away. Then it got stolen I never re bought it. But same thing for Assassin's Creed I played part way through one totally ignored every other game then picked up three. There's just something satisfying about jumping from a tree of rooftop tomahawk in hand and embedding it into a red coat.”
Rufus shook his head. "Would you do that to an actual person?”
"Fuck no.  Hence... game.” She motioned at the screen.
"So you couldn't kill a living being?” Rufus asked.
J'dee stopped and looked at Rufus. "And you have I suppose.”
Rufus just smiled as he sat down on the couch behind her.
"And you sit right behind me after giving me that creepy smile. Not weirding me out at all.”

~*~*~

"Pizza!” Belle cried in joy as Toby entered. She quickly pulled off the mushroom and pepperoni box.

"You sound like Michelangelo,” J’dee teased.

"No way, I’m totally Leonardo,” Belle replied.

"As long as I’m Raphael,” J’dee shot back.

"I can live with that, you’ve got the same short fuse as the classic incarnation,” Belle stated.

"Have you seen the new ones?” Toby asked and the two girls made a face. "I agree, hideously bad.”

"Not that the VAs don’t try, they just cannot compare with the 80s cartoon,” J’dee sighed.

"You girls ever get into the comics?” Toby asked and Belle shrugged.

"I tried, but I’ve never lived near a good comic store, I had like four and I loved them because they had a female turtle and not the one from the live action show,” she made a face.

"What are you three talking about?” Yuna asked and the three friends looked at each other before smiling.

"It’s a long story,” Belle said.

"Yeah, something…don’t make sense to adults who don’t live through a phase,” J’dee chuckled.

~*~*~

J'dee finished cleaning up the left over pizzas, she looked up glancing out the window and she jumped seeing the flash of Hojo's face in the window before it was gone.
"FUCK!” She thumped the window. "Piss off!”
Yuna walked into the kitchen. "J'dee are you okay?”
"Hojo again.” J'dee stated. "I swear he's trying to make me go crazy.”
Yuna looked at her. "You and Rufus are the only ones who have seen him.”
"Rufus is from that world so it would stand for reason that he would see him eventually. Me, I've just had that irritating gift of seeing or sensing them. He's just trying to torment me right now. But at least he can't get inside the house.” J'dee stated.

~*~*~

Sunday

~*~*~

Belle sighed as she drank some orange juice on the porch.

"Ugh, are they still here?” J’dee asked and Belle nodded as they looked at the small group of reporters at the end of the driveway.

"Yep,” Belle stated. "They don’t come on the property and they can’t see us when we train, but they are still there.”

"There are at least less of them today,” Kaidan said, cheerfully.

"That’s true,” Belle sighed.

"If they bother you so much, allow me,” Rufus said and Belle blinked.

"What are you up to?” Belle asked.

"I’m a businessman, my dear, I know how to deal with the press,” he chuckled as he stepped off the porch.

"I know it is completely wrong…but I’m kind of hoping he punches one of them,” J’dee stated and Belle snickered.

~*~*~

Under ordinary circumstances, Rufus would have had Tseng deal to the reporters.
There was nothing more fearful out of the Turk organisation than Tseng.
But Rufus had seen enough 'mood switches' of Tseng to know how to play the threatening card calmly, carefully and keeping in mind legal prosecution. Less media attention to Tobias and the girls the better.

He reached the gate staying on the side of the fence.
"Are you related to Tobias?!” One of the reporters shouted.
Rufus scoffed. "Hardly.”
A female reporter moved to the front and Rufus raised a brow. She smiled at him knowingly.
There was a sudden chill that shot down his spine.
Suddenly a reporter at the back just dropped to the ground unconscious.
He lay there motionless his chest rising and falling.
Rufus felt the female reporter grab his arm over the fence. He was pulled forward with a strength he was aware of.
Then he saw the reporters drop to the ground one by one.
Rufus caught himself before he hit the ground on the other side of the fence.

The female reporter stood there and she tapped her pen against her lips.
She looked overly familiar but he was having a hard time placing it.
Then he remembered J'dee mentioning saying that ghosts could take on the appearance of anyone.
"Mr President, will there be any verbal confirmation to you backing the WRO?”
"Lucrecia...” He was looking up at her. It was impossible. It couldn't be her. She was locked in a crystal back in his world. "Or should I say Hojo.”
Lucrecia's image shifted to that of which he was familiar with dealing in the past.
"My dear boy... how slow and dull this world has made you.”

Rufus felt his back against the fence as he shot the professor a glare.
The image of Hojo grinned at him. "But no matter, I have a perfect use for you.”
Rufus raised a brow. "Excuse me?”
"I need an able bodied man to help me with my latest experiment.”
"You think I'm just going to help you?”
"You have no choice.” Hojo chuckled.
Rufus felt the hand press to his chest and he hissed. He felt the ice cold burn pressing against him. It was a pain unlike any he'd ever felt.
"Get-away-from-me.”
"It's not you I'm after my dear boy, it's revenge against your little 'watered down cetra' as you call her.”
Rufus felt the pressure as it slammed against his chest. "Not happening.” He hissed. The gasp of pain that left his lips was louder than he realized.
Hojo's other hand went flying over his mouth to prevent him form crying out.
"Now hold still boy. This will hurt... a lot.”
Then there was a flash of white.

~*~*~

"Okay, so we are going to move on to something new today,” Kaidan said and Belle blinked.

"What?” she asked and he kicked a few times into the air.

"Oh yeah, that’s not going to work,” Belle stated and he gave her a look. "I’m a klutz, I’m going to fall and make a fool of myself.”

"Don’t you mean and or?” Kaidan asked.

"There is no or, it is an and,” Belle stated.

"Just try,” Kaidan chuckled. "We’ll start with a simple kick.”

"Simple he says,” Belle muttered and Kaidan rolled his eyes.

~*~*~

J'dee was taking a can of coke out of the fridge.  
She felt her whole body freeze for the moment. Her hand moved to her stomach suddenly and she could feel the cramps forming. She let out a breath and could see the steam of her breath.
"Fuuuuck.” The can fell from her hands hitting the ground.
She caught herself on the fridge with her now free hand. The pain was killer. Aggravating more than anything. It was her one true weakness was the cold. She couldn't do anything to fix that. She could handle her own icebox cleansing spells because the energy and heat filtered though her, but this was different. Something else was sucking the heat from the air and it was near by.
"Are you okay my dear?”

J'dee stopped upon hearing Rufus' voice and she looked over her shoulder.
"Since when do you call me dear?” She hissed the pain growing she turned round and slowly picked up the can setting it on the bench and grabbing down a box of painkillers and a glass.
She popped the can open and blinked as it didn't fizz over.
J'dee went to pour some into the glass and blinked seeing it only trickle out, the rest of the liquid was frozen within the can.
"Did Toby let Shiva out?” She slammed the can down on the bench her hand going to her stomach again. She felt Rufus walk up to her and arms wrapped round her.
"You will have to let me look at that later child.”

J'dee hissed as she felt the pain grow. She sunk in Rufus' arms she was almost immobile from the chill. "Like ice...” She hissed.
The hand touched her cheek. She felt herself pulled up.
"Perhaps we should use some of that materia to help warm you up.” Rufus suggested.
J'dee nodded her head slowly. "Um sure... okay.”

~*~*~

"Okay, so those are the basics and you haven’t fallen on your face yet,” Kaidan chuckled and Belle gave him a look.

"Keep watching,” she muttered.

"Now try this move,” Kaidan chuckled and did a simple kick to stomach level before a round about to head level.

"Yeah, I can’t do that,” Belle said.

"Just try,” he sighed.

"Do or do not, there is no try,” Belle stated. "I also will not do that, I will fall on my face.”

"Do I need to pick you up with biotics and hold you in the air until you agree to try?” Kaidan threatened and Belle gave him a look.

"You wouldn’t dare…” she hissed and he smirked as a blue glow began to surround him. Belle ran.

~*~*~

J'dee felt better after she used the fire spell and she noticed Rufus seemed to feel warmer as well. His hands had been like ice.
"Are you going to stay in here tonight?” she asked. "And those reporters. What happened anyway, I heard an ambulance.”
"I did say I would take care of them, they're no longer there that's all that matters.” Rufus stated.
"New ones will come though.” J'dee stated.
"Let them. No one would miss them if they were gone.” Rufus commented.
J'dee stood up slowly. "I'm going to go see what Belle is doing and maybe train with Yuna.” She motioned at the door before slipping out of the room quickly.
Rufus was slowly starting to creep her out. Perhaps he was in a mood.

~*~*~

"Put me down, Kaidan!” Belle cried. "People could see!”

"Why do you think I let you get to the tree line?” Kaidan asked.

"So, whatcha doing?” J’dee asked and Belle gave her a look as she hovered several feet off the ground.

"What do you think?” she demanded. "I’m being held captive by a psychotic biotic!”

"I was just curious since Rufus went all weird on me,” J’dee muttered

"Maybe he just doesn’t want to train, he seemed moody this morning,” Kaidan stated.

"Put me down!” Belle cried again. "J’dee, help me!”

"And end up floating up there, no thank you, I’m going to get back to Yuna and work on my bo,” J’dee said before walking away.

"I’m going to get you for this, you Kiwi!” Belle yelled at her friend. "Now put me down!’

"Not until you agree to try the kicks,” Kaidan continued.

~*~*~

J'dee was sitting in her room pondering on getting some sleep and close to actually falling asleep. It was in this state that it was then she looked at the Foo Dogs on the window ledge.
She stood up walking up to them seeing one lying on it's side. As she got closer she saw one was missing a tail, the other a leg, they were cracked all the way through.
She knew what it meant there had been some kind of spiritual battle. They lost.
"No...” She turned round. "He got in.” J'dee pushed her door shut and she looked at the back of the door of her room. Nothing. They were gone. "That's impossible. I gotta tell Belle.”
J'dee opened her door but stopped seeing Rufus in her doorway. "Rufus. C'mon we need to go to Belle I believe Hojo got in the house.”
She went to walk past when she felt the arm snake round her waist and she was pulled back into her room.
"I know. I'll go talk to her, I want you to pack up the materia.”

J'dee blinked for a moment. "Wait what?”
"Materia. Pack it up. Now.”
J'dee held her hands up. "Just tell me why?”
She saw the roll of the eyes and heard the sigh. "Now think about this. Materia, linked to lifestream and Mako, this world lacks that. Now add that with experiments. Take two my dear- pack up the materia. We're going on a road trip.”
J'dee was staring as Rufus walked off down the hall towards Belle's room. She walked up to the drawer and she crouched down opening the bottom drawer.
"Something doesn't feel right.” She mumbled to herself as she put the materia into a sports bag for transport.

~*~*~

Belle yawned as she headed to her room before she noticed Rufus looking into it.

"Can I help you?” she asked and Rufus looked at her. It was an assessing look. Something about it made Belle’s skin crawl.

"I’ve been thinking about your theory about possession,” he said and Belle blinked again.

"What about it?” she asked and he smiled coming in a little too much into her personal space.

"You’re right, your belief on possession doesn’t work on you because that faith manifests as a barrier,” he said and Belle stared at him.

"We talked about that days ago, why are you thinking about it now?” she asked and he smiled again.

"Oh nothing,” he muttered as he waved a hand into her bedroom doorway. "I was just admiring the paintjob. I could use you.” Belle blinked as he walked off. Something about the way he said that made her feel sullied.

"What got into him?” she muttered.

~*~*~

OMAKE

Tobias pulled into the driveway and stared at the beautiful paintjob.

"Oh wow, you guys painted,” he said as he got out of the car and approached Kaidan, Rufus, and Yuna.

"It was Belle’s idea,” Kaidan said before Tobias noticed the smell of something burning. He began walking around the garage to see J’dee and Belle tossing magazines and books onto the pile of already burning material.

"What are they doing?” Tobias asked and Yuna blushed.

"I moved your furniture and your bookshelf fell over, Belle and J’dee told us to leave when they went to clean up,” Kaidan said.

"They’ve been burning stuff all day, I had to paint your room by myself,” Yuna pouted. As Tobias’ eyes went wide in horror.

"Not my hentai!” Tobias shrieked as he raced to the bonfire.

"Kaidan! Grab him! He’s going to throw himself in!” Belle cried as she saw her bereaved friend. The biotic blue lifted him up as he struggled in the air.

"Noooooo!” he wailed and Belle shook her head.

"I don’t know why he buys these, they’re all available in digital format,” J’dee muttered.

"Why do you think your computer was the first thing I tossed in the pile,” Belle replied. "Kaidan! J’dee!”

"Nooooo!” she wailed as she was hauled up next to Tobias.