Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction / 3 X 3 Eyes Fan Fiction / Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction / Outlaw Star Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ The Last Glimpse of Hope ❯ Punishments and a Precursor to Hope ( Chapter 3 )

3: Punishments and a Precursor to Hope

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as I got up and quickly cleaned my face, the nasty bruise that covered my cheek and neck just reminding me that this was what my life was reduced to. I sighed as I closed my eyes and put my hair up. I quickly left, leaving Sess behind me as I rushed up the stairs to Raditz's room where he was sleeping. I opened the curtains and looked at the beautiful garden before I rushed to the bathroom and began to fill the tub. I looked at Raditz as he slept and I felt fear crawl up and down my spine. I gritted my teeth and gently shook his shoulder.

"Lord Raditz," I spoke and he growled as he rolled over. I grabbed his shoulder and shook a littler harder and this time he struck out, I was thrown into the wall and I cried out. He woke up at that and smirked through his sleep filled eyes as he got up and headed into the bathroom. I whimpered as I collected his old armor from the previous night and tossed it down a chute Sess had told me about. I finished making the bed just as Raditz called me into the bathroom.

"Woman, bathe me," he said as he rested in the water and I wondered what he had been doing while I was cleaning up his room. I looked at him, turning red to see a naked man. He smirked as I grabbed the soap and began to clean his arms and shoulders. "Woman, undress and get in here, you'll never get the job done like that." I blinked at him before his eyes narrowed and I quickly began to disrobe, my cheeks burning red. I slowly got into the tub and began to wash his chest, trying to keep from looking him in the eyes as I cleaned his back. He stood up, forcing me down and I blushed more as he forced me to clean his legs, feet, groin area.

"Now, my hair," he ordered as he grabbed me and sat me on the edge of the tub, resting his back between my legs and I turned a darker red as he stroked my knee, wrapping his tail around my ankle. "Very good." I worked his long hair with the shampoo and suddenly I was tossed out of the water and I looked up at him.

"Shall I prepare your armor, Lord Raditz?" I asked as I began to dress. He chuckled as he watched me dress.

"Yes," he said and I quickly rushed into the next room, biting back sobs as I pulled out his armor and set it up on the bed. I heard him get out and I wanted to wipe my whole body off, to rid the feel of him from my skin. "Dress me." I did it as quickly as I could before I quickly cleaned up the bathroom.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

When I woke up I found Vash had already gone to do his duties and I sat up, I was still partly aching all over from Vegeta's little… er how do I say barbeque session in Saiyan?

I was going to have to deal with Zorn and Nappa today I didn't want to even think about it. But eventually I got up and walked to the basin filling it with water and striped down and began to wash myself the two other slaves were gone as well so I had a moment of privacy. Sad enough for me I missed my bathing lotions and oils. I missed shopping and I missed a lot of things about home, but that was the travel I had been interested in, a travel where you roughed it with nothing but a back pack.

I dried myself off and changed in to the dress that was proved it was a silver one this time, and it was shimmering with two spaghetti straps with a low back and a diving v neck line. I looked at myself in the mirror and wet my hair before pulling it up with the piece of material I used for a headband and I tied it up in to a messy half ponytail.

I stepped out of the room happy with my appearance. I wasn't sure what I was actually suppose to do since Vegeta wasn't around he would be back later on that night so I head normal duties the following morning, it was something to occupy my time with.

Wandering the halls I finally found the entrance to the garden and walked round it slowly trying to remember my wiccan side, I found a few plants and looked round before picking a few of them I would probably be punished but it I found the right ingredients perhaps I could make a decent bar of soap. I slipped them in to my dress and scurried back inside hoping no one saw me. I slipped in to the kitchen and grabbed my breakfast taking it away with me before returning to my room to eat.

Removing the plants I wrapped them up in my cargos under my bed then sat down to eat. When I finished I rinsed the bowl out and then pulled the plants out and put them in the bowl and began making them in to a pulp using my hand in a fist shape and I worked them in to a lather letting the smell of the flowers fill me as I worked till I eventually made the pulp of ingredients in to a bar of soap and sat it on my cargos and slipped it back under the bed.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"You seemed to be the only one who knew her place and didn't screw up that night," Turles said as I scrubbed his back. He rubbed my legs as I sat behind him.

"That's because I like my skin brown, not black," I muttered under my breath, earning a laugh from him, which caught me off-guard.

"You're funny," he said before I started washing his hair.

"I'm going training, so I expect you stay put while I'm away. You already know the penalty for stepping out of line. I expect you to be in my bedroom by the time I return," Turles said as he stood by the door.

I lowered my head, "Yes, Master Turles."

As soon as he was gone I headed back inside. I was getting used to this lifestyle. I frowned. I was starting to see what Faye meant. Heading back into the bedroom, I began to make Turles' bed. After I was done, I headed to the window to gaze down at the beautiful garden I had seen earlier. I sighed and leaned my head against the window. It was something to take my mind off of what was to come later on that night.

"You're a slave to an Elite Saiiyan, a possessive one at that, and you wanna spend it all day in his bedroom?" a familiar voice asked.

I jumped and turned around to see the face of the young man I had spoken to the night of the dinner. Finally seeing him in the light was a surprise. His eyes still pierced through me with their golden vibrancy. His hair was silver, coming down in a thin ponytail all the way to his waist. He was a little thin, but still muscular. I couldn't help but admire his toned biceps. I blinked, "Y-You."

"I do have a name, you know," he grinned beside himself as he approached me.

"Oh," I lowered my head in apology before looking back up, "What is it?"

He smiled, stopping before me, "Kou Yaten."

"It's nice to meet you, Kou. I'm Raine," I said.

He chuckled slightly and I blinked, "What?"

"It's just weird hearing someone call me that. I haven't heard it in so long," he said.

"Apparently, you're off the hook for the rest of the day so I think now would be a good time to show you around. Would you like that?" he asked.

I shrugged, "Sure."

"Cool. Come on," he said, leading the way out.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I opened Kakarot's curtains and moved to gently touch his shoulder. That contact resulted in his eyes opening and his hand catching my wrist.

"Oh, time to get up then," he yawned as he got out of bed, he also slept in the nude and I sighed as I quickly ran him his bath as he stretched behind me. He got in and excused me. I quickly cleaned up his armor from the previous day and made his bed, placing his new armor out before he called to me.

"Yes, Lord Kakarot?" I asked and he looked at me as he sat in the tub, he indicated that I should sit on the edge of the tub.

"Massage my back," he ordered and I blushed as I pulled my pant legs up and sat down and began to massage the huge, steel muscles on his back. He began to purr and I blushed more before he pulled away. "You may go, I prefer to dress myself." I bowed and headed downstairs to see Sess was not waiting for me.

"Guess he figured I was in the habit," I sighed as I headed into the kitchen and one of the kitchen slaves rushed me.

"You must serve Lord Bardock breakfast as well as Lord Kakarot," it hissed and I blinked before nodding. I did as I was told and I made sure to be quiet and not look any of them in the eyes. Part of me was curious though, where was Sess?

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Staying in the room I just sat there drawing on my pad and I just doodled, it was of one of the uniforms I'd seen the Saiyans wearing and I adjusted it to my liking preferring the wingless versions of the armor I'd seen around adding symbols to it here and there.

I signed the picture with my typical 'J'dee' mark in Japanese script and flipped the page and began to draw the black kitty I'd seen in the kitten the other day.

Finally I stopped drawing when the door opened and the two other slaves entered they looked at me and I just nodded my head in greeting.

One actually came over and looked at my drawing and I watched as he took the pencil from me and drew something on the paper and handed it back to me I looked at it and even though I'd never seen the symbol before I felt that they were attempting a communication of sorts I drew something back and handed it back.

The alien sat down next to me and we continued like that for a while communicating through odd symbols telling each other our stories and how we got to where we were.

~*~*Raine*~*~

The Saiiyan palace was so beautiful, I mean, when you really took the time to look at it. The flawless statues and architecture, the breathtaking landscape and the intricate paintings. It was all like something from a lost civilization. We stopped at a balcony, looking over a grassy plain leading to a sparkling lake.

I sighed, "Reminds me so much of home."

"You're from Earth, right?" he asked.

"Yeah," I liked up at him, "Aren't you?"

He shook his head, "I get that a lot. I came from Kinmoku. It's a planet very far from Earth. There are a lot of planets in this galaxy with people that look like humans."

"You speak of my race as if you've known us," I said.

He nodded, "I've been to Earth a few times. My last visit was after a reconnaissance mission to retrieve my princess with my brothers."

I looked at him more closely and then my eyes widened, "Oh my God."

"What?" he looked at me.

"You're Yaten. From Three Lights!" I said. Go figure after being captured by an alien race, I'd run into a celebrity from Earth.

He blinked, "You've heard of me."

"Yeah. Japanese pop wasn't too popular in America, but I was a fan," I said.

He smiled, "Really? What was your favorite song?"

I sighed, thinking, "Well, as a group, I liked 'Todokanu Omoi'. Separately…it was a tie between your song and Seiya's."

Then I paused, "Wait a minute. An alien posing as a Japanese pop singer. Why?"

"What better way to relay a search message to our princess than by broadcasting it through song? Only those with a strong 6th sense could sense the message. Either that or some really advanced technology. When we found her, we returned home. It was a few years after that peace that the Saiiyans attacked."

I frowned, "I'm sorry."

He waved it off, "You're apologizing as if you'd caused it. Or hadn't experienced it yourself."

After a brief silence, I looked out at the landscape, "Can we go to that lake?"

He looked at it and then back at me, "Sure, but I think we should be quick. I know a slave who got so caught up in the scenery that he'd forgotten where he was. Got beaten within an inch of his life when he returned to his master's home."

I winced, "Gotcha."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I walked out of the kitchen and headed to the garden where Sess had taken me yesterday. I sat down and began to eat, it was a strange meal, the plant matter tasted like asparagus while the meat was very chicken-like. I sighed as I got up and returned my plate to the kitchen before looking for the slave who told me that I was to serve Lord Bardock. It was hissing orders to other slaves and I gently placed my hand on its shoulder. It yelped before glaring at me.

"What do you want?" it demanded and I bowed.

"I was curious if you knew where Sess is?" I asked, still bowed and the creature sighed.

"He forgot his place with Lord Bardock and is being punished," the creature shook its head before barking orders at the others. I blinked and left the kitchen, I didn't know what to do now that Sess was gone and I had no one to help me with my Saiyan studies.

"Guess I'll explore," I said.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

The aliens had gone when Vash returned he looked at me and smiled. "Feeling better I see? Get a good sleep in?" he asked.

"Yeah I spoke to the white-eyed Spark today, he seemed really nice."

"White-eyed Spark?" Vash questioned.

"Well the Sparks are the two aliens that we're sharing a room with the white-eyed one is a younger one, and the teal-eyed one is an elder." I explained and held up the drawing.

"Oh wow… that's really good." Vash stared at the picture, and I looked at it confused then realized instantly he saw a picture of mountains and plants at the base of the with a sky filled with stars clouds lightening, where as I saw squiggles and communication, a language of sorts.

"Right here, the younger one told me their story." I motioned to the plants at the base, this line here it told me that the Saiyans were in search of a race much like what they called the Tuffles or Truffles, I'm not to sure, but man thinking on truffles makes me hungry…" I noticed the look Vash gave me. "Anyway…" I continued. "Instead of finding something similar to the Truffles they found the Sparks and their powers… get this electricity. Hence the name Sparks, they're like beings of electrical… uh stuff… So they grabbed a ship full of them, some for experimentation, the others for slaves in their science and manual labors departments. They arrived about a day before us human lot did, but their travel was shorter, like about three months give or take a day or a week…"

"You learned all that from drawing a picture together?" Vash sat down next to me. "You sure you're a human?"

"Well my dad told me I was adopted and the milkman's child." I replied.

Vash blinked. "And are you?"

"No…" I looked at him. "My mother is… was a clairvoyant, the talent is genetic. So naturally I have the give or readings, hers was tarot cards, runes and I did that for a while but I excelled in tarot and tea leaves."

"Wait so you do readings? What if… you know the Saiyans discovered that couldn't they use it to conquer other planets?" Vash was suddenly serious.

I looked at him and shrugged. "Well it really depends I don't pick the future they want, I'll only be able to guide them in a possible successful path towards it, but they would have to take note and listen very carefully."

"Can you see if you're going to escape?"

"It doesn't work like that. I can't read myself, conflict of interest and plus I could possibly see what I wanted to see, where as reading for other people is easier, because I know what I see is correct, reading for myself is far more harder." I explained.

"So you're pretty much multi-talented. "First being a real life witch, a martial artist and don't think I didn't notice I saw that stance, then that electrical thing, now predictions and being able to read artwork. Anything else?"

"Well I didn't go past my third belt in my martial arts two of my sensei's had a conflict of interest." I added. "So if I were to take say lets see… I don't know say Zorn on… I so would not last three minutes cause he's been training his whole life, me I only trained a couple of years, big difference. Besides most of my skills are linked back to my witchy side. Packaged and signed deal, no refund even if a docket is provided."

We both sat there for a moment it was silent and I looked at my lap. "They can't know, I will not help them destroy anymore lives." I stated.

Vash nodded. "I know how you feel, just today one of the kitchen hands was killed because she passed out last night form heat exhaustion.

"That one Wolfwood got me to fill in for?" I asked.

Vash nodded. "That's the one."

"That poor girl."

"He's doing a funeral and burial for her at the moment they let him do that much, learning he was a man of the cloth… I'm just unsure about him sometimes, he's an odd priest." Vash added.

"You've known him only what a few hours longer than me I'm not odd am I?"

"You humans you're so different your personalities, it makes me think that each and everyone of you are all a different species."

"We have something called personality, you should look it up sometime." I joked.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"I wish…" I trailed off.

"Wish what?" Yaten turned to me. We had headed down to the grassy plain and laid out on it and stared out at the shimmering lake before us. Its beauty could only be best described in person.

"Nothing….how could such a barbaric race maintain something so…" I began

"Beautiful? Pure? Serene? I honestly don't know. Wonders will never cease," Yaten said.

"How have you been able to stay sane through all of this?" I asked.

Yaten shrugged, "I really don't know. I've been here for a few years.'

I sat up wide-eyed, "Years?"

He nodded calmly, "Yeah. You'd think anyone else would've lost it long ago."

"Yeah," I frowned.

Years? How could someone handle being a slave to these monsters for years?

"Do you want to get something to eat?" he asked.

I looked at him with a frown.

"Don't pity me. Your life here has just begun, I've already truly adapted," he said.

"Truly adapted?"

"You haven't given up hope yet, have you?" he asked.

I didn't say anything for a minute, but then I shook my head. He replied with a frown, "In time you'll either adjust, your spirit will be broken, or you'll die."

"You've never tried to escape?" I asked.

"I did. Once," he said before pulling off his shirt to reveal a large and nasty-looking scar going diagonally from his waist to his shoulder. I gasped, placing my hands over my mouth.

"Turles didn't take it too lightly and decided to remind me that there was no escaping this nightmare. My spirit hasn't really been broken, but I've given up any thoughts of escape. And you should do the same," he said.

I looked down. There was that awkward silence again.

"Do you want to get something to eat?" he suddenly asked and I looked up at him peculiarly.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I walked down the hallway, looking at the artwork, the most beautiful works depicted lush forests, beautiful oceans, and other breath-taking scenery. I stopped in front of one piece depicting an ocean vessel fighting against a storm. I studied every inch of the painting, it could have been on an ocean of Earth. I closed my eyes as I felt a pang of pain hit me in the center of my chest.

"It's a lovely piece," a voice said quietly and I cried out as I whipped around to see an alien in armor. I bowed my head, my back hitting the wall as I shook in fear.

"I'm sorry!" I hissed as I looked at his boots.

"Sorry? For what?" the smooth and slightly accented voice asked. I blinked and looked up at him slowly. In appearance he was very human, but he was the wrong color completely. His long, dark green hair was held back in a braid, his gold eyes were not like Sess's, more bronze than gold, and his skin was a light blue. I looked at him as he studied the painting I was looking at.

"It is," I said quietly and he looked at me with a slight smirk.

"What is what?" he asked and I looked at the painting.

"The painting is lovely," I whispered as I looked at him, part of me relaxing even though I was scared. He smiled.

"Yes, not my best work but it was good enough for the King's last birthday," he chuckled and I blinked as I looked at the muscle bound alien before me and the painting. "Shocked that a beastly alien like myself could paint this?" I blushed as I shook in fear. "Don't worry, I know what many of the slaves think of us."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't judge, you can't tell anything about a person by just looking at them," I said as I looked at the painting again, the pain of how familiar it was aching deep in my chest.

"What are you?" he asked and I looked at him. "I've never seen your race before." I closed my eyes as I looked at the ground.

"You'll be lucky to see my race at all, I am a…a Human, from Earth," I whispered as I hugged myself. "My planet is gone, care of the Saiyan Empire, those of my kind are all slaves to the great King Vegeta and his race."

"I see," he said as he looked at me. "You would not mind if I asked you a few questions would you?" I looked at him and shook my head.

"Why not?" I sighed as I looked at the next picture, this one depicting Saiyans fighting an alien army.

"I take it you are a serving-caretaker?" he asked and I nodded. "The house of Bardock?" I nodded and he grabbed my arm. "What is your name?"

"I…I'm Belle," I said and he nodded as he placed my hand in the crook of his arm.

"Well, Belle of Earth, I am Prince Zarbon," he said.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I lay on the floor of the room as Vash lay on my bed, it was just chilling time really, I didn't care to go out and run in to Zorn or Nappa, any bet if I did I would regret it. Still I would have to deal with them sooner or later.

"So you miss Earth?" Vash asked.

"I'd be lying if I said no." I replied. I flicked hair from my eyes and looked over where he lay. "But In some ways I do and others I don't. The people there are good, then there are the others that do nothing but grind you the wrong way and wish you had a damn shot gun."

Vash looked at me curiously. "It can't have been that bad though."

I sat up and looked at him. "If you grew up as I did then you'd understand me better. From the early ages of four I was beaten up by my father, child abuse wasn't a major issue then in my country. It wasn't until fourteen that I realized that no other kid I hung out with had bruises like I did. So to me this life is a damn holiday, so what I'm a bit red from Vegeta's blast, it's consistent with a sunburn."

"No father should treat his child like that." Vash frowned.

"I spent my entire childhood years in hospital, I nearly died because some old guy was having a damn heart attack when I was brought in, they didn't notice me, my father had beaten me up so bad I couldn't breathe properly. My mother had to scream at them to get someone to help me. And I have a reason to miss that life why?"

Vash just sighed.

"So what do you miss about your home world?" I asked.

"Donuts." He replied and nodded.

I raised a brow. "Dear megami I'm sharing a room with a Homer Simpson."

"Awww c'mon donuts are great."

"But they're so… bleh with all the sugar and stuff… it's just gross…"

"So you don't like donuts?" He asked.

"I didn't say I didn't like donuts me and Iris visited the donut king frequently when we were teenagers they made the best donuts without the evil sugar sprinkles, just flavored icing instead and their thick shakes were even better." I blinked. "Wait how'd this conversation end up on donuts?"

I held my hand up as Vash was about to reply and I shook my head. "No don't answer that…... I don't want a conversation about how a conversation got to donuts."

~*~*Raine*~*~

"This stuff is actually kind of good," I pondered aloud as I ate some of what I could only name "green rice".

"You should try some of that too," he pointed to this bowl of large meat chunks that were sprinkled with some black seasoning.

We had retreated to the slave dining chambers. Other slaves were there as well, but it was sparse. As we ate, a figure stepped up to us. I looked up and frowned, "Faye."

"Have a seat," Yaten gestured to the seat next to him and she complied.

"Well, I see someone's already adjusted," Faye said.

I didn't look at her, "Excuse me," I got up to throw something away.

"I heard he took her on he first night," Yaten muttered to her.

"She was still a virgin," Faye said knowingly.

Yaten frowned, "Perhaps I was wrong about her."

"About what?" she asked.

"I thought she hadn't truly realized the severity of life here. Maybe she has," Yaten said.

"No. She hasn't been punished yet," Faye said.

I walked back to the table, "Slavery or no, it's rude to talk about someone behind their back. It's even worse when they're in earshot."

I sat down before the two, "What do you have against me?"

Faye frowned, "Nothing. Actually, I pity you."

I blinked, "Why?"

"Because Turles took you before even assigning you your first task. That's never a good sign," she said.

I gave her a look that suggested "go on".

"At some point, that might be all you become to him, his pleasure. You'll come to dread and pine for moments like these. Moments where you're alone, amongst people who understand what you're going through, but in turn count down the seconds to when he returns to violate you again," she said.

"I need some air," I got up and left the dining hall.

"Raine, wait!" Yaten called.

"She's right, isn't she?" I turned away from the balcony to face him. The look on his face was all I needed.

"And there's no way out of this," I said, now sobbing.

He shook his head.

"How long before he gets back?" I asked.

"Hours."

"Oh God," I held my head and turned my back on him. His toy, his little whore. That's what I'd become soon enough. I lost the strength in my knees, but instead of fall to the floor, I fell into someone's arms. Yaten's soothing voice tried to calm me as I wailed into his chest.

~*~*Belle*~*~

Zarbon and I talked as he escorted me through the palace, somehow we never passed one Saiyan and I found myself charmed by the powerful Prince. He actually seemed to care about Earth and learning all I knew about my world.

"You have a wonderful knowledge about your own world," he said as we passed a courtyard and I suddenly stopped as I noticed a familiar figure in what looked like stocks.

"Excuse me," I mumbled as I ran over, up a few steps, to see that the figure locked in the stocks was indeed Sess. I cried out as I fell to my knees, his silky hair falling around his bruised and bloodied face. "Sess!" I pulled his hair away from his face and saw he was unconscious. I looked at him unsure what I could do to help him.

"Leave him, now!" a familiar voice barked and I gasped as I looked to see Bardock approaching and I began to shiver in fear at the look on his face. "Why are you here? You wish to join him?" I began to shake my head as I backed away, falling down the stairs and hitting my head.

"Really Bardock, you have a wonderful source of information at your feet, I'm shocked you haven't used her," Zarbon said and I looked at him in shock. Bardock looked at me and then at Zarbon.

"Prince Zarbon, I'm sorry I don't follow you," he said as he looked at me, telling me through his gaze that it would be in my best interest NOT to move. Bardock locked eyes with Zarbon and I found myself staring at Sess's prone form.

"I found the girl in the halls outside your chambers admiring the artwork, I began to question her and I found out much about her world," Zarbon said as he approached. "I thought a scientist such as yourself would have been fascinated with learning about the planet that bore such a lovely female."

"I hadn't thought much about it, I'm trying to train her as well as this disobedient male," Bardock growled as he glanced back at Sess who was awake. I couldn't help myself as I rushed over to my friend and stroked his face.

"Sess…" I didn't know what to say as I pulled his hair out of his face only to find myself rolling after being hit in the center of my chest. I actually heard Sess growl and I whimpered as I tried to sit up only to see Bardock in front of me.

"You, little girl, need to learn your place," he snarled as he grabbed me by the neck and threw me into the air. I screamed in fear as the ground fell away and I covered my eyes as gravity took over and suddenly I was hit again. I was spinning in freefall as I was hit again and again. When I hit the ground I was a massive bruise and I sobbed into the ground. "You brought this on yourself!" My neck and wrists were forced into the stock beside Sess's and I gasped for air as I felt my body begin to bruise all over. I closed my eyes and hung my head, wondering if I wasn't going to loose consciousness for the last time.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Vash and I left the kitchen and I shook my head as he hid two bottles of the left over wine from the other night under his jacket and I hid some food shaking my head, I was surprised I could hide it in the dress I was wearing.

"I'm scratchy…" I complained as we moved along the hallways un-noticed.

We slipped in to a deserted part of the garden and Vash pulled out the wine. "Vegeta won't miss what he thought was destroyed."

"We could get in so much trouble you know."

"I haven't had a good drink in ages though."

"But wine gets straight to me." I complained and Vash handed me a bottle.

"Drink up."

"I don't want a hang over especially when I have to tend to Vegeta tomorrow."

Vash popped open his bottle of wine. "Well you can dilute it with the food."

I looked down at the dress and sighed. "This is so degrading and disgusting…" I felt my checks heat up as I pulled some bread or something like it out of my dress and handed him a piece and I shook my head. "Itchy itchy… augh."

Vash munched away and I sighed as I began to eat and he offered me some of the wine and I took a swig form the bottle.

"I feel like I did when I was little, man like sneaking cookies and chocolate cake when I thought my dad wasn't watching." I took a large gulp from the bottle and handed it back.

Vash took a large swig.

"You think they'd notice if we went to work drunk?" I asked and giggled as I ate the rest of my bread.

"You don't have to work today so you'll be fine." He waved his hand about.

I took the wine from him again. "You're a bad influence I really don't drink this stuff… but I feel like a drink." I swigged down some more wine and handed it back.

"They went this way huh?" I heard Zorn's voice and I looked at Vash.

"Zorn…"

"You know we could pretend we're making out and he'd move right by us you know."

"Really Vash." I raised a brow and pushed Vash in to the bushes and followed.

"So that's a yes then?" He asked as we hid.

I took another gulp of the wine and watched as Zorn looked round obviously for us.

"Shhh." I hissed at him quietly.

"They can sense energy levels." Vash informed me in a hushed whisper.

I looked at him. "Now you tell me."

"Oh and they're hearing is really good as well." He added.

I thumped him over the head. "Then you better be quiet."

Vash rubbed his head. "Why do women always hit me?"

I let out a sigh. "Geeee I wonder." I drooled.

We watched as Zorn moved on and Vash took a swig of the wine and pulled me out of the bushes. "C'mon lets go."

"Where are we going?" I asked as he pulled me along.

"Somewhere…" He just grinned and slipped round the palace Vash having both wine bottles under his jacket.

"I want that coat damnit." I remarked as he pulled me along. "Oooh and the sunglasses too."

"I'll let you wear them if…"

"No." I stated.

"But I didn't even finish." He complained.

"Think about it if you were me and you were going to ask what you were would I say yes?" I asked.

"Sure." He grinned. "I would if I were you after all I am who I am and I know I would accept."

"Narcissist." I commented as Vash pulled me in to a room and I looked round. "Oh wow where are we?"

"This is some old slave barracks, I used to stay here before they moved me after…" He stopped and looked up.

I followed his gaze and saw the largest damn hole in the ceiling ever it was the size of a house, bigger even.

"Dddddduuuuuuuuuuuuude." I remarked staring at the hole. "What did that?" I asked.

Vash looked at me serious. "I did, I ended up blowing up their moon, it saves them from going ape on their own planet especially with so many innocent people around, I didn't mean for it to happen."

I looked at him. "So you think we can hide here for a while?" I asked catching on it was a sore topic for him.

He grinned. "At least till we finish these two bottles."

"If you're planning on getting me drunk so you think I'd sleep with you, then think again." I prodded him in the chest.

"Hey I'm not like that." He protested.

"Good." I smiled and reached in his coat, he stared at me as I teased, I couldn't help it, I was partly drunk already, then I pulled out the opened bottle of wine and took another large gulp and looked at it. "Wow this stuff's vanishing pretty fast." I mused.

Vash took the bottle and he finished off the rest of it. I took the second one and placed it on my burned shoulder.

"Still hurt?" Vash asked.

"Only like a sunburn. I'll live." Vash took my hand off the bottle and he rolled it over the burn cooling my skin off and I let out a sigh.

"You say you'll live a lot." Vash mused.

"Yeah because I don't plan on dying, I've spent fifteen years of my twenty-three years being beaten, abused, molested, raped and you know what, I don't give a fuck anymore; I'm planning on living just to piss everyone off who wants me dead." I took the wine bottle from Vash and opened it up and took a swig then I placed the bottle back on my shoulder. "I survived all that and this new life is hardly any different from them."

"You want to challenge the world don't you?" Vash asked.

"The universe more like it there's all these planets out there now that I can't go home, I want to see at least one of them before I die and I want to be cremated and have my ashes spread through space, it would be just so cool." I let myself rest up against Vash and I smiled. "Haven't you ever thought of wanting something more to life?"

"Not really I just drifted through the one I was on." Vash continued to roll the bottle before pausing to take another swig of it. Before placing it back on my shoulder.

"Oooh you're a drifter? Really? So awesome so you're kinda like David Carraine in Kung-fu?" I asked. It was my turn to down some more wine.

"Ummmm I don't know." Vash blinked. He took the bottle and followed with some large gulps of the wine.

"You know they wanted Bruce Lee for that part to start off with, but racism settled in and David Carraine won the part." I looked at Vash. "That's right you're not from Earth, I keep forgetting, you could pass off as a human though."

Vash smiled. "I think people would notice after a while, I have been alive for a while so far." He handed me the wine and continued to pass it back and forward as we talked.

"Can I ask what's it like being a drifter? For a long while I wanted to do that me and friend were talking about it just with nothing more than a bag on our back and the clothes we wore, we thought it'd be cool."

"It's not all it's cracked up to be, trust me."

"So what did they call you back where you came from, was it just Vash or Vash the drifter in the red coat and shibbie sunnies?"

"What about you? You have to have more to you than just Jay?"

"Oh I have plenty of names, but I asked you first."

He shrugged. "They called me Vash the Stampede."

"Well nice to meet you Vash the Stampede, I'm J'dee. But I don't want the Saiyans calling me that. So it's just J'dee when no Saiyans are around."

"Can I ask what the Dee stands for?" He asked.

"Well Dee-Dee was the name of my favorite Barbie doll friend when I was a girl, in Barbie's band she was the drummer and I wanted to be a drummer, then when my mum took on her maiden name again I did too and the Dee came along then, it's the first initial of her last name."

"Which is?" Vash looked at me.

"I could say I share the same last name as the bald drummer in the UK game show shooting stars but that wouldn't mean anything would it?" I asked.

He shook his head. "So if I also added it was the name of the band Jim Morrison formed, you wouldn't click either would you?" I asked.

He shook his head again. I looked left then I looked right and I whispered the answer in his ear and he blinked.

"That's kinda ordinary isn't it?"

I nodded. "It is and I like ordinary has a better ring to it, the last name on someone whose going to be successful. It's welsh."

"So your welsh?"

"I'm Welsh, Scottish, Irish, Chinese, Swedish, Maori, Dutch, and Czechoslovakian." I nodded.

"Check-a-what?" Vash blinked. "I caught all of those except the last one."

"In layman's terms then?" I asked teasingly. "Russian. I love my vodka." I added.

"Still can I ask what your previous last name was?"

"No, because as far as I'm concerned that side of the family id dead to me." I finished off the wine and put the bottle down. "Man I'll be buggared if I think I can walk."

Vash stood up and he pulled me up. "Back to the room then!" He announced.

"And sleep. Wine makes me sleepy."

Vash slipped one of my arms round his neck to help me stable myself after all we hadn't been gone that long and we'd polished of two bottles of wine.

"I guess we weren't busted after all what a downer." I sighed.

"Don't jinx it."

~*~*Raine*~*~

My eyes were still a little pink from crying. Yaten had long since taken me back to Turles' home. We retreated to the slave sleeping chambers where I curled up in a little ball in the corner. Yaten and Faye watched me from a distance, knowing that no amount of comfort would settle me. I couldn't go on like this. I pulled at my hair, stared at the ground and pondered my situation. Any method of escape I could think of. But none were practical. He'd be coming home. He'd be coming back for me. To repeat what he had done on the first night.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"Belle?" a voice called and something touched a wound on my forehead and I tried to jerk back only to hit the back of my head on the stock. I opened my eyes and caught the blue of something before I started to lose consciousness again.

"Stay awake," Sess's voice called out and I opened my eyes again and tried to move. I saw it was Zarbon who touched my wound with very cold fingers and I blinked again, moving my head to the side so that I could brush my fingers over my skull.

"Oh, that hurt….that hurt a lot," I groaned as I blinked rapidly to clear my head. Zarbon chuckled as he brought up a blood soaked rag and wiped the side of my head. "Please tell me that that is my blood on there and not just a bloody rag you found." He laughed.

"Well, Sesshoumaru, I think she's fine if she can joke about this," Zarbon said and I gave him a look.

"Who said I was joking?" I asked as I looked over to see that Sess was cleaned up a bit more and looking over at me.

"Are you alright, Belle?" Sess asked and I looked at him.

"I was just beaten to unconsciousness, I'm a slave to an alien race, and I'm in stock, I'm perfect," I grumbled as Zarbon cleaned a wound and I jerked back again, hitting the back of my head. "Could I get some warning with the head wounds?"

"Sorry," Zarbon said as he looked at me. "I'm guessing your species doesn't have a speedy immune system." I nodded.

"I didn't think so, but if you were expecting all my wounds to vanish in whatever time period I've been out for than yes, humans lack a speedy immune system," I sighed as I watched Zarbon.

"Well, you're cleaned up, but I doubt you'll want to look in a mirror anytime soon, but I've put a healing agent on the wounds so there will be no scarring," he said and I nodded.

"Thanks," I said as I felt my eyelids start to get heavy.

"Don't sleep," one of them said and I groaned.

"Oh, come on, I'm tired, beaten, and PMSing," I whined and looked at them to see blank looks. "Great, at least you have no idea what I meant." I sighed and closed my eyes again. "I'm not sleeping, just resting my eyes."

"Of course," Zarbon said and he touched one of my many head wounds. I opened my eyes and glared at him.

"When I die will I be allowed a moment's peace?" I asked and he looked at me sadly. "That was a joke. For a Prince you could work on your sense of humor." I sighed as I looked at his shoes.

"Promise you won't sleep," he said and I sighed.

"I swear on the memory of my home-world that I will not sleep," I said and looked at him. Zarbon smiled and brushed some of my hair out of my face.

"I have to attend a meeting, I will come and see you back to your chambers when you are freed after sundown," Zarbon said before bowing. "Good day Prince Sesshoumaru and Lady Belle." I blinked as I watched the alien go.

"Why did he call me Lady?" I asked myself.

"Because he respects you," Sess said as he looked at me and I noted the worried look in his eyes.

"I must be in bad shape," I said and Sess nodded.

"Just a bit," he said and I looked at him. "What is the matter?"

"Was that a sense of humor?" I asked.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I was sleeping off the alcohol under Vash's coat due to the burns I was breaking out in hot and cold shakes so often that Vash used his coat to keep me warm, still he wouldn't give up the sunnies, making the point we were indoors.

I could hear footsteps in my sleep and opened my eyes to see Vash was sound asleep next to me I looked over seeing the two Sparks gathering some things before heading out back to their shifts.

I looked back to Vash and rested my head on his shoulder as he slept. Sometimes I had such a non caring attitude towards my situation, then times like this I would wake and it would dawn on me the realization that more than likely the friends I had didn't survive the year trip and were all dead, sometimes it got me down but I promised myself I would live just to make their lives a living hell, there was no way I would remain a slave, I would rise above it all and show them not to mess with me. I fingered the necklace and let my eyes closed, I just had to figure out how.

It felt like only five minutes of sleeping when the door burst open.

"Get up!" A voice snapped.

I sat up tiredly and looked spotting Nappa in the doorway and I looked round, Vash stirred and looked over, I wondered for a moment if he was powerful enough to take out the roof of the old barracks then why? Why hadn't he taken down the Saiyans what was stopping him?

Vash yawned and stretched. "Nappa? What brings you here?"

"You two were spotted leaving the kitchen."

"Is that a crime to walk out of a room?" I asked.

Nappa growled. "With me now you two." He didn't sound happy, maybe we were busted.

We were taken to a room and Zorn stood there his arms crossed not looking impressed. "You two will fry for this."

"Fry for what?" I asked.

"Two wine bottles of the kings collection that was left over vanished."

"And you suspect us cause we left the kitchen, I am a kitchen hand I've got to leave it sometime you know" Vash asked.

Nappa glared at us.

"Well a lot of it was lost remember there was a little accident yesterday." I pointed out, "You could of miscounted. Besides why would you suspect us?" I asked.

"It's cause we left the kitchen." Vash added again.

"Hungry I take it?" I asked.

"Famished. You think they sell donuts on this planet? I could sure use some."

"I could go for some fried rice with vegetables." I added.

"I've never had that, is it good?"

"I love vegetables, they're great, and I love rice which is even better so the two together is most excellent dish, I could live of the stuff, rice is great you don't have to eat much and it fills you up quick."

"The wine! Did you take it?!" Zorn shouted.

"No of course not." Vash lied but still he kept a grin plastered on his face to make them suspect us.

"Fine then prove it what's it taste like?" Nappa asked.

"Well it's got a hint of oak which matched that steak like meat you were eating the other night, but, it's also got some nice aging qualities to it which brings out the more vibrant Pinot-" I began.

"What?" Nappa interrupted pretty much stupidly as he stared at me.

"Who do you think picked the wine out you dunce? As if Vegeta would let me pick blindly I did get to taste it, what's it taste like? Geez smart question to ask someone whose deals in Vegeta's wines and ales." I rolled my eyes.

Zorn looked at Nappa. "We can't prove that it was them."

"Can't we just blast them anyway?" Nappa asked.

"Well blondie there wouldn't die, just suffer a lot, these plant types are like immortals, good thing we found this one as it is. Imagine if Frieza got his hands on him."

"Freezer? Like Fridge and Chilly bin?"

Vash snickered and we were glared at. "Watch it we could punish you for not addressing he kings name formally."

"But he's not here? Why does it matter?" I asked.

"Awww c'mon guys give us a break, she does have a point Vegeta isn't here, I bet you guys do it." Vash added.

"That's it you!" Nappa growled and I blinked watching him form a ki ball.

"Dude stop!" I called out suddenly.

Zorn looked at me, and Nappa just held his ki ball there.

"Does that do wonders at children's parties cause I've only ever managed it once, but it looks all cool and golden and sparkly like, I'm sure kids love it, you could make a real profit off it. Say if you need an agent…"

"Don't make them even more mad." Vash muttered to me.

"These guys are always mad they got a stick rammed up so far their ass they'd have to be mad cause not even the king can pull it out."

I watched Nappa growl and Zorn formed his own ki ball and they tossed them in my direction.

I quickly covered my face and braced myself but stopped when the bright light stopped and I let my arms down and found Vash standing there char grilled and he let out a puff of black smoke.

"That really smarts."

I watched as Vash hit the ground and I blinked. "Dude you'd be great at kid's parties."

"Ow…" Vash added.

I looked at him. "You stepped in front of that for me… why'd you do that you?" I was suddenly serious and really upset that the Saiyans held no regard for anything living.

The two smirked happy that they'd blasted something and just left. I watched them leave then knelt down by Vash's side.

"So how you feeling?" I asked in return to Vash.

"Medium rare I could have handled but char grilled… it's not really my favorite."

I helped him up. "C'mon my turn to take care of you, I think you have two words for the Nazi's in the kitchen tonight."

"What's that?" Vash asked.

"Off duty."

~*~*Raine*~*~

I lowered my head, leaning my back against the floor-to-ceiling window of his room as he undressed. I couldn't handle seeing him nude, seeing him…that way, because of how I made him feel.

"I missed you, Little One," he murmured. He stood up, now completely naked.

"Come here," he said before sitting on the bed. I got up, averting my eyes from his genitalia and stood before him.

"Yes, master," I said.

He grinned, "Get on your knees."

I froze.

"Get on your knees or I will pull you down by your hair," he said with all seriousness.

I fought back the moistness in my eyes and did as I was told.

"Are you still afraid to look?" he asked.

I glared, choosing to stare at his thigh instead of at him. He chuckled, "That is an insecurity you'll have to learn to let go of."

He grabbed me by the back of my head. I was ready to protest, to beg to plead, to make some kind of deal. But my cries went on deaf ears as he pushed me forward. I nearly choked. My tears ran down my face. I grabbed his knees and tried to pull away, but he held me in place. The look on his face paralleled mine. He was in euphoria, as if he were on some kind of high. He pushed himself deeper inside.

"Why aren't you doing anything?" he asked as if I could respond. My stomach turned as he tried to push down my throat. I wanted to hurl. I felt so sick.

"Do it or I will rip out your hair," he said.

Another tear fell down my cheeks and I finally gave in.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I watched as Bardock returned and freed Sess from his stocks and then came and freed me.

"Kakarot, Raditz, and I will be gone for the next three days with the rest of the Royal squad, I expect you two to be better behaved when we've returned," he growled and headed off, I started to stand up and cried out in pain as I started to fall.

"You're not quite strong enough to walk on your own yet," Zarbon said as he lifted me up into his arms and I blushed as I held onto him. "What about you, Prince Sesshoumaru? Can you walk?" Sess took a few wobbly steps and nodded.

"I'll make it to my bunk," he said and I sighed as I closed my eyes.

"No sleeping," Zarbon scolded and I opened an eye to glare at him. "Both of your eyes please." I sighed and opened the other.

"I'm wounded, I'm tired, and I'm getting bitchy," I sighed and both looked at me funny. "What?" Sess looked away with what looked like a blush and Zarbon chuckled.

"You are aware of our different lines of evolution, correct?" Zarbon asled and I shook my head.

"No, sadly, I just got off the slave boat," I said and he smirked as we both noticed the look he was getting from Sess.

"Well, I evolved from a reptilian species, you said yourself you evolved from an ape species, for dear Prince Sesshoumaru, he evolved from a canine species," Zarbon chuckled more as I began to blush.

"Oh, then the term 'bitchy' would have a different meaning for Sess," I whispered and both nodded.

"Don't worry, I understand you were using it for a slang term," Sess said and I sighed as we entered the parlor.

"Home again, home again," I sighed as I looked at the room.

"Not yet," Zarbon said and I could see a twinkling in his eyes as he carried me to the barracks where he placed me on my bunk. "I'll take my leave of you. Prince Sesshoumaru, Lady Belle." With that Zarbon was gone and Sess struggled up onto his bunk and we lay facing each other on our respective bunks.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"C'mon don't be a wuss take of your damn coat so I can look at you."

"Nooooo it's okay I'll be fine!" Vash hid under the sheet and I yanked it off.

"Take off the damn coat." I finally pulled the coat from him and stood there staring at a body of scars. "Megami… Vash."

He grabbed the sheet and held it up over himself. "I placed the coat over the back of the char and got him to lie down. "I'll fix this up I promise."

"They've been there a while." He pointed out.

"I can see that." I pulled my cargos out from under the bed and picked up some left over leaves and began mashing them together. "I found some Aloe vera, it will soothe the wounds you received."

Vash looked at me and I pulled the sheet away from him and rubbed it on his red skin, he gritted his eyes closed. "Where I come from witches were burned for being misunderstood, they were nature beings, used plants and herbs for healing, fertility purposes." I explained. "But men became scared of their powers and they were persecuted, hundreds were burned at the stake all because some one thought them to be a witch."

I sat back as there was a knock at the door and it opened.

Wolfwood entered and he blinked. "So that's why you're not in the kitchen Needle Noggin."

Vash sighed. "Yeah."

"Tell them he's off duty and needs to heal, they have plenty of others who can take his place, he needs some good rest and recovery time." I stated.

"And some donuts would be nice."

"Will you stop with the donuts already." I looked at him.

"They have donuts here?" Wolfwood asked.

"Are you on kitchen duty?" I looked at him.

"Not really it's my job to collect those who are and then get the ingredients for the meals." He explained.

I smiled. "Ingredients huh?"

Vash frowned. "I hate that look on your face. You're nothing but trouble you know."

"Nicholas…" I jumped up and looked at him and pulled out my pad and began writing what I needed on paper. "Can you get these for me?"

"What for?"

"Herbs for potions I'm going to make some gel for future incidents like today's and yesterdays."

"What did you two do wrong today?"

"Didn't address Vegeta in his correct title." Vash replied. "And they think we stole some wine."

Wolfwood looked at us. "And did you?" He asked.

"Yeah." I replied.

"So I wasn't the only one then huh? Right I'll be back in a while with your ingredients." I watched as Wolfwood left.

"What type of priest is he?" I asked with a frown.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I moaned as he moved inside of me. I dug my nails into the mattress as he took, this time slowly and little more gently. He looked down on me with a smile, one of wanting and happiness. I clenched my eyes shut as he continued to push inside of me. I clenched my eyes shut, not wanting to look at him. I wanted this to end so badly. His grunts always brought me back to reality when I tried to think of something else. He always squeezed my hips when I didn't give him my attention. The tears continued to fall. His lips found my neck and ear as he kissed and nibbled while his tail stroked my leg. My arms laid flat at my side, my head was turned away from him. I continued to cry silently, begging for sleep to take over. Anything to make this end.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"So what did you mean?" Sess asked and I blinked as I realized I had nearly fallen asleep.

"What do you mean what did I mean?" I asked and I closed my eyes again, trying to give him the hint that I wanted to sleep and heal.

"P…M…S? You said something about it," he said and I nearly burst out laughing, of all the things he had to pick up on. I blushed as I looked at him, his molten gold eyes holding me.

"Well…it means pre-menstrual syndrome, basically it is the opposite of my fertile period. When I get PMS it means my body is preparing to begin making itself fertile. I'll bleed for about five days, then my body will begin to grow fertile," I said and he looked at me.

"Ah, the bi-annual fertile period," he said as he nodded. "Not so different from my kind." I blinked before laughing.

"I wish it were bi-annually," I laughed before noticing the concerned look on his face. "What?"

"How often do you go into heat…become fertile?" he asked. I noticed a stress in his voice and I blinked.

"Around twenty-eight days between fertile periods," I said and his eyes widened.

"Twenty-eight days!" he sounded like he was going to throw up.

"What's it matter, Sess?" I asked and he looked at me sadly.

"The Saiyans can smell fertility, it's an aphrodisiac for them," he whispered. I blinked.

"That's very bad. Very bad indeed," I whispered. Sess nodded.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Wolfwood once finished left the kitchen and headed back to the room Vash and Jay shared, he walked in to see her sitting there looking like she was meditating holding her hands over one of Vash's larger scars that was grated off with metal bars and he saw Vash place a finger to his lips.

Wolfwood nodded and placed the ingredients down and watched as the wide open scar began to close itself up. Of course the skin was still scarred but the wound wasn't open anymore and Jay flopped backwards hitting the ground.

She looked up at Wolfwood. "Oh hey."

"I got your things…" He stated.

She rolled over on the floor and Vash stood up and looked at the scar in the mirror.

"So you don't think it'll get infected now?" He asked.

"Hey even plants can get sick." Jay stated.

"Plants?" Wolfwood looked confused.

"Don't worry about it." Vash smiled and pulled his coat back on.

Jay sat up and pulled the ingredients over and then the bowl and began throwing bits and odds of them together.

"You can't cook yet you can make a herbal remedy." Vash looked at her.

"Well duh, cooking involves ovens microwaves… and burning… this doesn't, hence why I used to be able to make the best caramel toffee ever." Jay smirked confidently as she made up the new herbal gel.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I watched as Sess began to breathe rhythmically and I headed out of the room and snuck into the edge of the garden, resting in one of the patio chairs.

"You should not wander around alone," Sess said and I jumped and looked at him.

"I wanted to see the stars, see if I could recognize any of the constellations, but…none of them are familiar from here," I sighed and I curled up hugging my knees. I sighed as I looked at black sky, dotted with stars.

"Are you okay?" he asked and I shook my head.

"I'm afraid," I said as I looked down again. "I'm afraid I'll accept this life."

"You may escape it," he said and I looked at him, his eyes reflecting that green color that cats and dogs' eyes do in dim light.

"How?" I asked, I closed my eyes and rested my forehead on my knees. "I have no planet to run to, I have no one willing to free me, and I don't have the strength to free myself." He looked at me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"When I am liberated by my people, I will save more than just myself," he said and I looked at him.

"Thank you," I said as I looked up at the sky. Sess sighed and moved over to my side, placing an arm over my shoulder.

"You're going to freeze to death, let's go inside and heal some more," he said and I nodded as I got up, giving one more look at the sky.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Wolfwood grinned as he watched Vash whine and complain as Jay plastered him over with her herbal gel.

"It stiiiiings!!" Vash complained.

"It's suppose to it shows it's working, now quit complaining." Jay scolded him.

"What is it with you, Needle Noggin, and trying to save everyone?" Wolfwood asked.

Vash looked at him. "Everyone has the right to life you should know that especially since you're a priest."

"You're right, but even circumstances make those choices difficult." Wolfwood replied.

Jay continued to rub the gel in to Vash's skin and she looked at Wolfwood. "So how you feel knowing that I'm a real life witch, going to bring out the stakes and torches and rabid farmers with pitchforks anytime soon?"

Wolfwood frowned. "I'm not like that, but I know everyone has their own calling in life."

"Done." Jay smiled and stepped back and Vash looked down at his skin.

"It's itchy." He complained.

"Wait ten minutes then wash it off and you should be more medium rare in the morning." Jay replied.

"You should start up a healing booth for slaves." Vash offered.

"How about a slave common room, I plan to look for some other human girls, I need some females to talk to." Jay added.

"Well I've seen a few round next time I'll see if I can talk to them." Wolfwood remarked.

Jay smiled. "Cool I hope I get to talk to some soon, I think I'm gunna go nuts not having another female to talk to."

"I'm sure you will. But right now, we should get some sleep. See you two tomorrow." Wolfwood opened the door.

"Night!" Vash waved as Wolfwood left.

"Damn him for being a priest he's so cute!" Jay sighed.

Vash rolled his eyes. "So I'm not cute?"

Jay looked at him. "I'm not going to answer that."

"Why not? So I'm not cute?"

"If I answer I fear the ego of Vash the Stampede might crush me."

"So you do think I'm cute! Say you think I could-"

"No."

"But-"

"No."

"Are you su-?"

"Stop it. I'm not."

Vash smiled. "You don't even know what I was going to say though."

"With your mind I'm positive I don't even want to know."

"Awww c'mon I'm not that bad once you get to know me."

Jay gave him a side-long glance. "Right."

~*~*Raine*~*~

He held me tight in his embrace as he slept soundly. He purred in his sleep and his leg remained wrapped tightly around my thigh. I couldn't sleep. Surprisingly, this incident didn't leave me unconscious and quarantined to another night in one of those rejuvenation tanks. Somehow I wished I were in one of them instead of in this monster's bed, in his embrace, feeling so dirty and cheap. But I couldn't get out of his grip. Even in his sleep, he was still strong than me. I was losing hope fast. I had lost my dignity, my pride, my joy. I had nothing now.