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 ❯ What Women are For and Why Breed ( Chapter 4 )

4: What Women are For and Why Breed

~*~*Belle*~*~

I yawned as I woke up, Sess and the other two were gone and I started to get up but my body was screaming out in pain and I groaned as I closed my eyes again.

"Ow," I stated as I struggled with my disobedient muscles that were not moving. "This is bad."

"Oh, you're awake, we thought you were going to sleep forever," the reptilian serving-caretaker giggled as she entered and looked up at me. "She's awake, come and get her if we're going." I blinked as I watched Sess come in looking excited.

"What's going on?" I asked and Sess smiled, it was breathtaking to see him smile and it occurred to me he should do it more often. I shook my head and remembered I had been through a lot and I needed to stop idolizing the only person who had been really kind to me.

"Prince Zarbon is being most generous," he said as he reached up and lifted me into his arms bridal style, I managed to get my arms around his neck to support myself a bit. "He is allowing us to use his baths today." I blinked and smiled, then I realized how much it hurt to smile.

"Wonderful!" I cried as I hugged Sess and he nodded as the other two met up with us and they opened a secret panel. I blinked. "Why didn't anyone tell me about that?"

"You don't need to know about it yet," the Close Encounters one laughed and I sighed. I was going to be treated as a child by the 'older' and 'more experienced' slaves.

We traveled through the passageway until the other door opened to reveal a huge parlor and I blushed as I looked around.

"Wow," I whispered as I looked at the fine furnishings.

"Ah, Sesshoumaru, I see you've brought your friends. Please come this way," Zarbon said as he headed through a doorway and I felt a rush of steamy air fill my lungs. I took a deep breath and gasped as I stared at the huge bathing pools. "Please, make yourself comfortable. There are cleaning supplies over there for each of you, I hope you do not mind." I laughed as I looked at Zarbon as he pulled his hair out of the braid.

"Mind? Prince Zarbon, I think if my body were not a solid bruise I would be kissing your hands and feet for this act of generosity!" I cried. Zarbon chuckled as Sess placed me down and I looked at the other two who were rushing off to one of the back pools. "I'm guessing you do this more than I previously thought." Sess smirked as he began to undo my braid.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I returned to the room after tending to Vegeta in the morning he told me I wasn't needed again until the next day and that he was breaking in a disobedient slave.

Vash was still lying in bed and I walked up to the bunk climbing the ladder and I prodded him in the forehead.

"Hey how you feeling today?" I asked.

Vash opened hi eyes and he looked at me and I rested on my forearms watching him, he was actually really cute when he wasn't trying to hit on me. I felt a little tingle at the knowledge that I could be falling for an alien.

"Much better, your gel has done wonders." He smiled.

"Well Wolfwood covered your morning kitchen shift, so we've got the rest of the day off, how's that. We get to do some exploring and relaxing, how's that sound?"

"Good." He smiled. "I could give you a proper tour of the place. Teach you a bit about Saiyan culture and language if you want?"

"Uhhh no I just wanna do something. I don't know find a bar have a blast do some dancing or something."

"You dance?" Vash sat up.

I raised a brow. "Not round a pole if that's what your thinking."

"Hey you got to give me some credit." Vash frowned.

"Well me and Wolfwood decided on doing some investigating of the area, either you can stay here and let me and him go or you could be our tour guide."

"Wolfwood, why do you like him?"

"He's really sexy looking. But you can stay here and let me and Wolfwood…"

"No I'll be coming." Vash stated.

I smiled. "Great I'm gunna get changed and don't you dear peek." I pointed at him before moving to the basins and going through my collection of dresses.

"Wear that red one it's nice." Vash called out.

I threw the basin at him hitting him in the head. "No peaking pervert!"

"Why do women always throw things at me?"

~*~*Raine*~*~

I stayed in his bed for nearly an hour after he left. I ignored his ministrations when he woke up, until he got bored and left. Now I had more time to kill until he returned. Putting my hair up, I lurched out of his bed, wincing from the soreness he left me with.

The bath left me feeling cleaner, though only in the literal sense. I got dressed in another black wrap skirt but along with a sleeveless, thin-strapped midriff top. I cleaned up the bathroom and made his bed before walking back to that window. Something always drew me to that garden. I pulled back the curtains and this time opened the window, welcoming the wonderful breeze that came in. I walked onto the small balcony, looking down on that beautiful garden. It was a long way down. I shook my head quickly driving the idea from me. I headed back inside, closing the window and drawing the curtains closed. I quickly left Turles' quarters. The other slaves were staring at me again. I didn't care. What they thought of me didn't matter. Their pity didn't help me and I didn't want it. I hurried out of the house and ran. I just had to get some distance from that place. Where Yaten failed, I would succeed. Or I'd die doing it.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I tried to stand up only to find my legs did not want to hold my weight. I sighed as I began to undress by the side of the pool Sess had put me next to.

"Let me help," Sess sighed and I blushed as he lifted my shirt off and I pulled my hair down over my chest. He chuckled. "I don't think you need to worry about modesty, we're aliens here." I gave him a sideways glace.

"Right and last time I checked you were a mammalian male," I said as I felt him lift me up and I pulled off my pants. "As far as I'm concerned you're close enough."

"Fine," he gently placed me into the water and I sighed as the heated water covered my bruises.

"Oh…that feels wonderful," I sighed and I gasped as Zarbon seemed to appear next to me.

"It's a specially treated pool, it should help you and Prince Sesshoumaru heal faster," Zarbon said as he stuck a hand in the water. "I use it everyday after training, it works wonders."

"Prince Zarbon is very kind to share this with us," Sess said as he slipped into the water and I could see the small nub over his rump, it was a bobbed tail and I looked away blushing.

"May I ask a personal question, Prince Zarbon?" I asked and he smiled as he slipped into the pool and I felt even more self conscious being naked in the same pool as two handsome, naked men.

"Not at all," he chuckled as he rested against the side of the pool and I sighed as I sunk lower into the water.

"How do you two know each other? If you don't mind me asking," I said quickly before grabbing the nearby soap and busying myself with scrubbing. Zarbon looked at Sess before my white-haired companion nodded and Zarbon cleared his throat.

"When Prince Sesshoumaru was free, he and I spent our boyhoods together in a boarding school for nobility. We were roommates and formed an agreement to always watch out for each other. Thus when his father was assassinated and the new regime took over, I made sure to find out what happened to Prince Sesshoumaru. I'm the third in line, my older brothers have claim to our throne, so I have become the ambassador to Vegitasei for our planet. Thus I can keep my work and watch out for Sesshoumaru even though he is no longer a prince," Zarbon said and I blinked before bowing my head.

"That is very honorable," I whispered and Sess dunked himself. Zarbon nodded as he looked at Sess's submerged form.

"He appreciates it and I know, we are equals, no matter what the Saiyans have done to him," Zarbon said before getting out and I looked away. "You're too modest, Belle, you should learn not to react to the sight of a naked man, the Saiyans enjoy breaking females that are overly sensitive about sex." I blinked before turning my nose up and looking away.

"They would find it in their best interest not to try and de-maiden me," I said and crossed my arms. I looked at Zarbon, locking eyes with his, keeping from looking down at his body. I stood up, thankful that my legs were responding, Zarbon seemed pleased at it and I fought the urge to drop back into the water. "And I'm not overly sensitive about sex, I just believe it is an act that should be shared between husband and wife." Zarbon didn't look like her understood what I was saying and I sighed before I started walking towards a different pool. "Life-mates."

"Ah," was his response.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Wolfwood grinned as Jay jogged up to him and she grinned. "Hey we're here."

"So what are you two a married couple, dressing in matching colors?" he teased.

"Vash starched my other dresses when I threw the basin at him." Jay grumbled.

"Why on earth would you do that?" Wolfwood looked at Vash.

Vash pointed at the dress. "Cause this one looked better."

"Vegeta's gunna kill me when I have to see him and ask for new clothes." Jay complained.

"I know some people in the laundry department I'm sure they could do something to help you out." Wolfwood offered.

"Really? Great!" Jay latched herself on to his arm adoringly.

"Well lead the way Vash." Wolfwood motioned.

"Yeah sure." Vash grumbled and walked ahead.

"What's his problem?" Wolfwood asked.

"He's jealous, cause I told him I think your cute." Jay stated.

Wolfwood chuckled. "I'm a priest."

"Catholic or Anglican?" Jay asked hopefully.

Wolfwood laughed. "I'm not going to answer that."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I was dressed and brushing my hair in front of a mirror, the others were still bathing but I was done, my bruises were all gone and all my wounds were closed thanks to Zarbon's healing pool. I smiled at my reflection before I put the brush down where I found it and I entered the bathing area to see the two crones talking in another language, when they saw me they began to chuckle the way a well meaning grandmother would when setting something up. I decided to look for Sess and Zarbon, I heard Sess's soothing voice and I followed it to the far wall and I looked at the two as they sat in the water and I shook my head.

"As much as I like to slowly cook myself, I feel like I'm drowning in this room, so I'm going to excuse myself and ask for the directions to our room," I said and Sess looked at Zarbon, who whispered something in Saiyan and I raised and eyebrow before backing away. "What is it with aliens looking at me and talking in languages I don't speak?" I shook my head until Sess got up turning so I could see his back, again I caught a look at the remains of his tail and I looked down feeling sorry for him.

"This way," Sess said. I followed him and he led me to the main hall, not the secret passage. "You don't know the secret passages yet and could get lost. I'll take you back."

"No, just tell me how to get back and go back. You were enjoying talking to Zarbon, so just tell me and get back to your friend," I said and smiled as sweetly as I could. Sess looked at me and then back towards the bathing room.

"Are you sure you can do this?" he asked and I nodded.

"I'm smarter than I look," I said and looked at me. "Just tell me how to get back." He nodded.

"You go down this hallway, you'll pass three corridors on your right, take the fourth one, then go down two on your left and take the third, finally you have to go seven on the right and take the eighth and you'll be in our corridor," he said and I nodded. "Do you have it?"

"Yep, fourth right, third left, and eighth right," I said with a smile. Sess nodded and I pushed him towards the bathing room. "Now go, I'll be fine. I'll look at the floor when Saiyans are walking by and I'll keep my mouth shut."

"Be careful, Belle," he said and I waved a hand at him.

"Go, think happy thoughts, have fun with Zarbon," I said before I headed down the way he pointed.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"And this is the first door of the secret passageways." Vash motioned to a wall. He turned round spotting Jay heading down a different hallway. "Jay!!" he grabbed her and pulled her back. "This way." He stated.

"Sorry I don't have a very good sense of direction. "It's so bad I used to get lost in geography class." She replied.

"Look lets just continue this." Vash stated and noticed Jay was looked at the tapestry covering over the secret passageway.

"It's a tapestry…" Jay looked at it and pulled a thread.

"No don't-" Vash called out.

There was a swooping sound and Jay was flipped round behind the wall.

Wolfwood sighed. "She's too curious for her own good."

"Yeah. I'll be back in a moment… I'll just go get her…" Vash pointed at the wall and pulled the thread.

Wolfwood nodded and watched as Vash was flipped round and behind the wall.

"Oooof." He landed on top of Jay at the bottom of the chute that was attached to the secret passageway. "I forgot to say it takes you three floors down instantly."

Jay thumped him over the head. "Gah get off me!" She thumped him more.

"Hey hey hey J'dee quit it!" he jumped up and she fixed the front of her dress up and glared at him. "Look stop being mad with me."

"She growled in annoyance and pushed herself up off the ground and flicked hair from her face. "So which way's out?"

"C'mon this way." Vash took her by the hand and she looked at him as he lead her along the secret passage way.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I caught a few eyes from some Saiiyan soldiers as I walked briskly through the palace. I didn't make eye contact with them, but I didn't lower my head either. There had to be a way out of this place.

I had been walking for a while. I had to catch my breath after running for so long. I'm sure Yaten and Faye were looking for me. At least Yaten anyway. I wouldn't be able to take the pitying looks on their faces if they saw me coming out of that bedroom. I nearly jumped when I heard a door open. Slipping behind a statue I saw that it was some soldier I didn't recognize. He was shortly followed by two others. They were laughing and bragging about some recent killing they had made. As soon as they were out of earshot, or at least far enough away, I got up from my hiding place and rushed off. Making a quick turn, I made it into a hallway. I had to be sure Turles wasn't around. If I saw him I'd probably make a break for it. He'd know what I was up to and I'd pay for it.

The hall was deserted and the silence made my heart race. There were times I couldn't handle being alone. Especially when so many bad things could happen to you. I quickly turned behind me when I heard a 'thud'. Seeing nothing and no one, I faced forward again, speeding up my pace. The next sound was a crash and it was all I need to take off down the hall. I didn't know what to think, I just had to find someplace to hide. I was almost down the hall when a door opened in the wall and someone came rolling out before me. I stopped dead in my tracks, all but screaming from being caught off-guard.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I was passing the second left when I heard the scream and I quickly ran back to peer down the corridor where several Saiyans were doing something.

"Mom-ma!" a voice cried out and I heard the sobs of a child and I couldn't fight my urge to rush and see what was going on. I ducked behind a column as I watched what looked like a slave barracks getting cleaned out…all of the slaves were being thrown, shoved, and pushed out of the barracks. They were strange looking aliens, they made me think of overgrown kola bears with kangaroo heads and fur.

"Mom-ma!" a young child's voice called and I saw a Saiyan holding a much smaller version of the creature, it was the size of a normal kola bear. It was struggling in the Saiyan's fist and I began to feel the urge to kick him in the groin.

"Please, don't kill my baby!" a female cried as she tried to free herself from the grasp of another Saiyan. Then I noticed a small pile of little bodies…all with their necks at impossible angles. "Please!"

"You overproduced, we've already chosen the fifty infants that will be allowed to reach maturity," the Saiyan snapped.

"No!" a male cried as he struggled as the small child was dropped. "Yazzil is a runt, she is already two seasons old!"

"More of a reason to put it down," another Saiyan commented and the Saiyan moved to step on the child. I looked at the child as it cried and tried to move towards her parents. I rushed out quickly and grabbed the child, tearing off down the corridors.

"Crap! What the hell is wrong with me?" I hissed as I rushed down the corridors, heading towards Zarbon's rooms. "I need brain surgery or something!" I dropped the child as a Saiyan stepped in front of me. "Oh…crap!"

"Mom-ma!" the child cried and I looked down to see that she was still attached to my chest. The Saiyan and I looked at her and I narrowed my eyes before I ducked down and punched him right in the balls before ducking between his legs and running like the wind down one of the other corridors.

"Okay, getting myself lost!" I hissed as I started turning down various corridors. "This is bad! I'm going to be skinned alive!"

~*~*J'dee*~*~

*WHOOOOOSH*

Jay hit the wall as she was flung out of the wall and she rolled over and Vash hit the wall ungracefully moments later.

"Ha, I learn quick." She grinned and Vash groaned before he hit the ground with a thud.

Jay then turned round and blinked seeing a figure standing there shocked staring at the two of them. "Secret passageways." She motioned to the wall. "My bad… Hi I'm Jay."

"Vash." Vash stated from the ground. I reached down and pulled him up.

"We're doing some exploring, care to join us, we have to find Wolfwood, kinda left him back there."

"He's three floors up we have to find the secret passage way on this level leading up." Vash stated.

"Oh." Jay blinked. "What is this castle snakes and ladders real life?"

Vash scratched his head and then blinked and shuffled over to the girl standing there. "Hi nice to meet you did I say I'm Vash?"

Jay narrowed her eyes and whacked him over the head. "Pervert!"

~*~*Raine*~*~

I only blinked and stared as the two chatted as if they had no cares in the world. The tall blonde man rushed up in my face, reintroducing himself with his full attention this time.

"Um…" before I could reply, the girl was on him, smacking him over the head.

"Pervert!"

"Woolfwood"? Probably another slave they knew. I scratched my head. I was in the middle of running away…

"What do you say?" the one named Jay turned away from her friend and faced me.

"Another pretty face would be welcome company," the one named Vash said, still rubbing his head. The girl gestured to hit him and he shielded himself instinctively.

"Um…" I threw my hands up in defeat, "sure. Sure, why not?"

"Great," the girl smiled in a way that made you wanna do the same.

"By the way, we didn't get your name," she extended her hand to me.

"Raine," I shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you Raine. And if my friend here causes any trouble, just thump him. I always do," Jay said.

"Hey! I'm standing right here! And I have feelings, y'know! I'm very sensitive!" he said.

I blinked and quietly followed the two.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I didn't see the secret corridor open but I did see the tall man step out into the corridor just in time to run into him.

"Whoa!" he cried and I tumbled a few timed before getting up and bumping foreheads with the guy. I grabbed at my forehead, biting my lip to keep from swearing. I saw the secret panel start to close and I stuck my foot into it, biting back a scream as the door nearly crushed my foot. "Hey, aren't you even going to say 'I'm sorry'?" I looked at the guy and heard the Saiyans.

"No talking, more running!" I hissed as I grabbed him by the front of his robes and opened the door, pulling him in with me before closing the door quickly. I didn't move and covered his mouth as well as the child's as I rested my ear to the wall.

"Damn it!" a Saiyan voice roared and I could hear the footfalls rush by. I let out a breath of relief after it quieted down and I opened the secret panel. I looked at the man I had knocked over, he looked human and I looked down to see the child was sleeping still attached to my front.

"I'm sorry about running you over," I said quietly and I saw him staring at the sleeping child.

"What weirdo alien race do you come from?" he asked as he looked at the child. "That is quite a developmental change from infant to adult." I looked at him for a moment before deciding.

"Two things. One, this is not my child and two, you're human too aren't you?" I asked as I looked at him, his big blue eyes were captivating as was his messy black hair. He looked at me and then at the child and smiled.

"Yep, I'm sorry, I've just seen quite a few things since arriving, I don't put anything past being an alien no matter how human it looks," he said with a smile and I felt relaxed. "Nicolas D. Wolfwood is the name. A pleasure." I smiled as I shook his hand.

"Belle V. Andrews, the pleasure is all mine," I said as I looked at him, he was regarding the child clinging to my chest.

"Who is this?" he asked as he studied her. I gently scratched one of her kangaroo ears.

"I don't know her name, I had a momentary lapse of sanity and saved her before a Saiyan could crush the life out of her under his boot," I said as I looked at the sleeping baby. "I just heard her crying in fear and…and…" I stroked the soft fur and the baby began to purr as I began to cry.

"I understand you completely," he said as he wrapped his arms around me as I began to sob harder. "Shhh, let it out. Let it all out."

"I want to go home!" I cried. "I want my parents! I want my friends! I want this nightmare to be over!" I hugged him, careful of the child between us. I stopped as soon as I heard footsteps and I quickly went to the door searching for a way to get back into the secret passage.

"Where is it, damn it!" Nicholas cried as he searched the wall and we both turned ready to run when we saw a group of slaves approaching. I fell to my knees and gasped for air.

"Heart….stopping…" I gasped as Nicholas smiled and waved at a man and woman.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Wolfwood!!" I raced up and blinked and looked at him, then noticed the company he was with. "You found someone else."

"I see you did too." He motioned at Raine.

I looked at Belle and grinned. "Hi I'm Jay. This is Vash and we just met Raine a few moments before and about three levels down."

I looked to the new girl recognizing her as the girl who dropped the wine and then I looked to the little alien attached to her.

'Awww tooo cute.' I thought.

~*~*Raine*~*~

Jay and Vash were going on about donuts for some particular reason when Jay yelled out as soon as we turned a corner.

"Wolfwood!!" she hurried up to him with me and Vash in tow.

"You found someone else," she looked at the woman who was with Wolfwood.

"I see you did too," he turned to me.

"….we just met Raine a few moments before…" Jay said.

I looked to the girl with him. She was the one that spilled that jug of wine of Turles' boots. It was good thing he and his twin were nearby, otherwise that Saiiyan would've strangled her to death. That's when I noticed the strange-looking little furry child in the girl's arms.

"I'm Belle Andrews and yes I'm human and no this is not my child," she said as she stroked the sleeping child's fur.

I rubbed my head. Good, otherwise I would've had a whole lot of questions.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"Um…nice to meet you all," I said as I continued to stroke the fur of the child hanging onto me. "I'm Belle Andrews and yes I'm human and no this is not my child."

"Hey, that's Yazzil, what are you doing with her?" Vash asked as he looked at the sleeping alien girl.

"The…the Saiyans said that her slave barracks had overpopulated and that they had to kill off the extras, but her parents told them that she was from an earlier birth and was just a runt, so they were going to kill her for that reason," I said as I held her close. "I heard her crying for her parents…it broke my heart…so I did the right thing and risked my neck to rescue her…" Then something clicked.

"So where are you going to put her?" Jay asked, voicing my fear.

"I have absolutely no clue," I stated, looking around. "Besides that, I have no clue where I am. Oh…oh boy…Sess is going to kill me…no…he's going to kill me and then BE killed for this."

"Panic attack?" Raine asked and I fell back to the ground.

"Oh man, what was I thinking..." I groaned as I hit my head against the wall. "At least I won't be a slave after Raditz hears about this…he'll snap my neck as soon as he gets home."

"Raditz?" Vash asked and I nodded. "So you're the new serving-caretaker for Bardock's family?" I nodded. Vash smiled. "I know where you live."

"You do! Really?" I cried and practically jumped him. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" I smiled.

"So what are you going to do about the baby?" Jay asked and I blinked as I looked down at her.

"Well…I still don't…wait!" I smiled as I realized who would be very helpful. "Vash, do you know where Prince Zarbon lives?"

"Yea, nice guy, let's me bathe in his pools every now and then," he said and I smiled as I hugged Yazzil.

"Take me to Prince Zarbon, if I'm lucky Sess will be gone and I can just act like I got sidetracked talking to other humans," I said with a smile.

"Or perhaps Sess will find you and your whole plan will be mute," a familiar voice said and I sighed as I stared at Nicholas, who was looking behind me. "Are you going to turn around?"

"No," I stated. "Because if I do, I'm going to see you, and I'm going to see how unhappy you are, and I may possibly never hear the end of this."

"Fine," Sess said as he moved so he was right behind me so I could practically feel his chest against my back. "But if you don't turn around I'll make sure that Lord Bardock finds out it was you who kidnapped the infant." I whipped around and got right into Sess's face.

"Listen up, dog-boy! I am willing to accept that I am a slave! I am willing to accept that Earth and everyone I knew on it are dead. And I am willing to accept that being beaten and nearly choked at random times will become normal to me. But I will NEVER accept the slaughter of innocent children! Not now, not ever! And if you still want to go running to Bardock, the one who keeps parading you like some trophy, about what I did, go ahead! I don't regret what I've done and I'd do it again in a heartbeat without any help!" I snapped and I could practically hear the jaws hit the floor. Sess looked almost shocked. Yazzil moved from my chest to my back, her little face, scrunched in annoyance at being woken.

"Wow, what a temper," Vash said and I turned my back on Sess and grabbed Vash's hand.

"Take me to Prince Zarbon's rooms!" I practically ordered. Suddenly I was over someone's shoulder and was looking down a back to see a long, white braid. "Put me down!" I began to pound on Sess's shoulders.

"I'm taking you to Zarbon's and then I'm taking you back to our rooms," he growled, sounding a lot like a dog.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Oooh look at that… man these alien slaves just keep getting cuter and cuter." I grinned as I watched this 'Sess' leave with Belle slung over his shoulder, she was pounding him in the back and he seemed to not even notice it.

"We need to help her." Vash stated.

"But it looks like she knows him. Besides If some cute guy did that to me I'd spend more time looking at his behind than protesting."

"I meant Yazzil." Vash looked at me.

I nodded. "Yeah I agree. I totally and utterly agree, it was what I meant… honest."

"Well then people lets go." Wolfwood began to follow and I smiled as we continued to follow.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"Put me down!" Belle yelled as yet another slave showed up, but this time, slung her over his shoulder and carried her down the hall with little effort. The rest of us followed closely behind. We were off to see some prince who could help that fuzzy little kid that she had apparently saved from death.

I didn't ask any questions, only followed close behind. This day was just getting weirder and weirder.

When we arrived, my breath caught in my throat when we finally got to meet this prince.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"Nice to see you back so soon, Prince Sesshoumaru," Zarbon said as he watched Sess carry me in.

"You jerk!" I cried as I continued to pound on Sess's back. He removed Yazzil from my back and handed her to Zarbon before dropping me on the floor as the others entered. "You creep!" I got up and turned my back to him as I straightened up my robes.

"It's very cute, Sesshoumaru, but what do you want me to do with it?" Zarbon asked and I walked over to him and bowed at his feet.

"Please, Prince Zarbon, please send it somewhere where it will be allowed to grow up and reach maturity without the fear of being put down for being a runt," I begged and I saw Zarbon put one knee down before his hand pulled my shoulder so I was meeting his eyes.

"You want me to place this slave child where she will be allowed to grow up?" he asked and I nodded. "So be it." He clapped and suddenly a woman of the same species of the child appeared and began to shriek, she grabbed the child and hugged it.

"Her…mother?" I asked and he shook his head.

"No, Mazzil lost her child in a barracks cleaning, she knows this child and will inform the parents that their daughter is going to be raised in my summer estate, far from Saiyan reach," Zarbon said and I felt my eyes tear up.

"Thank you!" I cried as I hugged him, sobbing into the hollow of his throat. "Thank you so much, Prince Zarbon." He chuckled as he pulled me off of him.

"Just don't expect me to do this with every child you find," he said with a chuckled and I nodded.

"I won't, thank you again," I said as I wiped my eyes free of tears.

"Anything for you, my Lady," he said with a bow and I looked at Sess with a bit of a glare. "You'll have to excuse me but I'm scheduled to meet with my brother in an hour, so I must get ready." He ascended the stairs and disappeared before I began to glare at Sess.

"I'm ready to go now," I stated as I headed toward the group. "I'm sorry for bothering you all like that." Nicholas smiled as we headed out of Zarbon's chambers before elbowing Jay.

"Think nothing of it," he said as he looked around the corridor. "I was lost anyway, meeting up with you was probably a good thing or I'd have been lost in those walls for the rest of my life."

"Yea, the passages are a bit confusing, but once you're used to them they're easy," Vash said.

"So says the plant," Jay teased and I smiled, the three seemed to get along well.

"Well, I think I'm going to stick to you guys for a bit….he…looks like he's going to kill me," I whispered as I looked at Sess. His face was blank, like it was when he was dealing with Bardock. I gulped. "Um…see you later, Sess?" It really was more of a question.

"No, you are coming with me so we can have a discussion," he said and I tried to duck behind Vash and Nicholas only to end up over Sess's shoulder again.

"How about we don't and we say we did, you Neanderthal!" I cried as I began to pound on his back again.

"I do not know what that word meant but I'm sure it was an insult!" he growled and I could see anger flash in his eyes again. I felt scared but I was also mad at how he was treating me.

"Good! I'm glad you could figure it out! Put me down or you'll hear me call you several more things that you don't know!" I cried and suddenly he was facing the group and I looked over my shoulder to yell at him more. "Put me down, you bastard!"

"I'm sorry, but Belle is suddenly not up to having visitors, perhaps I will accompany her out tomorrow, we can meet at the gazebo at the center of the garden at noon, if she is not feeling well then…" he suddenly tossed me up, his shoulder hitting me in the gut and knocking the wind out of me, causing me to fall silent. "….then I will come alone and inform you. Good day." I began to kick as my breath returned.

"You….jackass!" I gasped as I began to pound on his shoulders again.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Gaz-a-wha?" I blinked and looked at Vash.

"Guess I'll remain the tour guide for that too."

Wolfwood looked at me. "You are human right, you do know what a Gazebo is don't you?" He asked.

"Isn't that a newspaper?" I asked.

Wolfwood looked at Vash and patted him on the shoulder. "She's perfect for you Needle Noggin."

Vash sighed and looked at me. "It's a turret Jay, a sort of summer house, with a great view." He explained. "You've never seen one?"

"Okay so I grew up in upper class, but we weren't that damn loaded, I was a sheltered child I can't help it, heck I didn't even know what a virgin was until after I lost it." I threw my hands up in an over exasperated way.

Vash looked at me. "I wouldn't mention things like that too loudly round here they could mistake you for a concubine."

I caught the look on Raine's face and I frowned. "Oh no.. they haven't… have they?" I looked at her.

Wolfwood caught my look. "Look just lead us out of here, Needle Noggin."

~*~*Raine*~*~

I merely folded my arms and watched calmly as the one called Sesshomaru threw Belle over his shoulder for a second time and carried her off after scheduling a noon rendezvous for tomorrow.

I almost wanted to smile when Jay asked what a gazebo was. I didn't know this planet had any.

"She's perfect for you, Needle Noggin," I heard Wolfwood say.

"Okay so I grew up in upper class, but we weren't that damn loaded, I was a sheltered child I can't help it, heck I didn't even know what a virgin was until after I lost it."

I blinked. Looks like I wasn't the only one that led a sheltered life.

"I wouldn't mention things like that too loudly round here. They could mistake you for a concubine," Vash said and I halted for a second in my stride.

Jay looked back at me and I looked down. I couldn't look her in the eyes.

"Oh no…they haven't…have they?" she asked me. I still didn't look at her. I felt like I was being put on the spot.

"Look, just lead us out of here, Needle Noggin," Wolfwood interrupted and everyone's attention was now on the blonde leading us back. I sighed and silently thanked him.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"You jerk! Dogs are supposed to be man's best friend!" I screamed and suddenly I was thrown on the rug in the study. Sess locked the door and turned to me and for a moment I thought his eyes glowed red. I suddenly felt afraid and began to back away from him on the floor. Suddenly he was nose to nose with me, his upper body over my torso.

"Do you think this is some sort of game?" he growled and his eyes did turn a pinkish color. "Do you think you can save every slave? Man, woman, and child?!" I hit the wall and he placed his hands to either side of my head, bringing his face so close to mine that his light red eyes were filling my field of vision.

"N-n-n-no…" I whimpered as I suddenly realized that Sess was far stronger than I thought.

"Then you would do well to listen to me!" he snarled and I closed my eyes. "You are a woman! Saiyan males will rape you if you offend, disobey, or do anything they don't like! You will be punished, one of the guards saw your collar, Bardock will find out!" I opened my eyes wide and I could see his eyes losing their red. "You may be beaten, you may be whipped, you may be given to Raditz for a night, I don't know, but no matter what, I cannot help you!" I shivered in fear as Sess closed his eyes and took a few breaths.

"I-I-I-I'm sorry….I just…the child…she was crying…she sounded so lost…I couldn't…there was a pile…just babies…newborns…I…I couldn't just stand there…it…I couldn't let them kill her!" I sobbed as I curled up into a ball, covering my face with my hands. "I…I love children…I want…I wanted my own one day…but…I…if that's what's going to happen…I won't risk children. But that doesn't mean I won't fight to save a child whenever I can!" I looked at Sess and he stared at me, his golden eyes burning with some unidentifiable emotion.

"I understand how painful it must be…but you cannot save all of them," he said as he stood up and helped me to my feet. "You must learn to control that instinct, Lord Bardock will not be lenient with your punishment."

"I…I…" I felt my eyes fill with tears, I felt like I was dumped into a freezing river. "I'm scared." I whispered as I hugged myself, seeing all the possible ways Bardock could punish me for this. Sess's arms wrapped around me and held me tight.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you, but you do not know what will happen. I worry about your safety," he said and I began to cry into his chest.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

We had walked Raine and Wolfwood back to their respective areas where they were staying.

I was just sitting on my bunk thinking on what Vash had said. I felt cold and I dreaded it if it did happen.

"Belle's a brave one for saving Yazzil." Vash smiled. "It's nice to see that your race does have good people in it and that some of them survived."

"Vash…" I began and looked at him worriedly. "Am I the only one you've seen with the King's royal mark?"

He caught on instantly and moved to sit next to me. "I know you don't need to hear this but in some ways you do. You are the only one I've seen that he's marked twice, some slaves I've seen with the royal mark and others I've seen the mark of their slave station, but you have both, you don't have to worry about being treated like a concubine, you have Vegeta's mark they won't touch you like that Vegeta would have them killed for it, you're save from that. The down side is…"

"Vegeta… because I have no real slave station except to care take him in the mornings and at night…"

"Some times he might… take you, especially when he finds out you aren't with your…" He stopped and looked down.

"Don't worry Vash…"

"You'll live I know." He added.

I looked at him and found myself blushing madly. "You believe I will don't you?"

"I do, I'll make sure of it, I've seen too many die already." I saw his fists clench.

I took his clenched hand and placed my own round it.

"and like you believe I will live, I believe you will help, I can see it in you, you care so much, it's really quite amazing, I've never known a guy with a bigger heart."

~*~*Raine*~*~

I screamed as another strike hit my exposed leg. I pulled at my restraints, trying desperately to shield myself from another assault.

"Thank you Toma," Turles looked to his comrade who merely grinned and walked off. Turles soon turned back to me, "That was very stupid of you."

"Do you think you were the only one who's tried to escape from here?" he asked in a low voice.

I braced myself when he lifted his arm and screamed when the strike met my skin.

"Please…no more, please…" I sobbed lowly, pulling on my restraints, but having no luck in getting free.

I had taken off after I had separated from the other slaves I had met when I found myself being stalked by someone. I realized it too late when that bastard, Toma, spotted heading into restricted areas and grabbed me around the waist, carrying me to some secluded area in the palace. Turles came by shortly after and Toma gleefully told him the news. Turles quietly led the way to what looked like a torture chamber and chained me to some rope that hung from the ceiling, keeping my arms uncomfortably above me. Toma then walked up to him with a burgundy-colored whip.

"Don't you value your life?" he snapped and I screamed as the whip met my bare skin again. Toma had wasted no time in stripping me bare before I was bound.

I was in tears, but he seemed unaffected. I screamed again, as he now started attacking me from the back. I screamed as my back went straight from another strike.

"It won't happen again! It won't happen again!" I screamed at the top of my lungs before he could lift his arm. I heard the whip fall almost soundlessly to the floor. I couldn't fight back my tears anymore. I sobbed, my head falling limp. He walked back in front of me and grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him.

"It had better not," he said before letting go of me and moving to untie me.

~*~*~*~*~The Next Day~*~*~*~*~

~*~*Belle*~*~

I looked at Sess with a smirk as he walked beside me and I rushed over to an area where flowers were growing. I plucked several long stemmed flowers and began to weave them together.

"What are you doing?" he asked and I looked at him.

"Something to keep myself occupied and out of trouble," I said and he gave me a look as we continued to walk until we got to a beautiful gazebo overlooking a large lake. I quickly began to pick more flowers, weaving them together as Sess sat on one of the benches and I sat near his feet on the steps.

"Now this is a cute picture," a voice said and I smiled as I looked up to see Nicholas, Vash, and Jay standing there. I noticed that Raine wasn't with them.

"What happened to Raine?" I asked and the others shrugged.

"She didn't seem too interested in the meeting in the first place. She ran off in a hurry," Vash said.

"You two look like you're out of a fairy tale," Jay commented.

"Oh really?" I asked as I finished weaving and got up and placed the flower crown on Sess's head. "Now you look like a prince." I giggled as he gave me an un-amused look as the others chuckled.

"I will carry you back if I have to," he said and I made a face.

"So, who do you three…er…belong to?" I asked as I ignored Sess, we were wearing kimono like robes today and I liked them more than the serving robes we usually had.

"Oh, no one special, just King Vegeta," Jay said and I looked at her. "Yea, I know, very nice guy, he'd tear your arm off for you any day of the week."

"Don't mind her, she's just received one too many hits to the head," Vash said and I smiled as I watched Jay and Vash begin a name calling match.

"So?" Nicholas said as he sat on a different bench and I shrugged as I placed a crown on his head. "Thanks." I smiled.

"Hey, I had to do something to keep from annoying Sess with my constant description of home," I said as I walked off the gazebo and gently ran my fingers through the water of the lake's edge.

"I see, so, what profession were you suddenly re-directed from?" Nicholas asked and I looked at him from over my shoulder.

"I was a student in college, it doesn't really matter what I was going to be," I said as I plucked the petals from a flower. "I'm not going to ever become what I thought and I know that." I continued to pluck petals.

"Yea, I was gonna be a bartender," Jay said as she stomped on Vash's foot and I shook my head.

"I was a priest," Nicholas said and I stood up.

"Well, at least we have someone to conduct marriage ceremonies for our people," I said as I looked over the water leaning on a pillar of the gazebo.

"You think our people will actually get married?" Jay turned to me. I smiled as I looked at her, opening my palm and blowing the petals out as a gust of wind passed over the lake, causing the petals to float all around.

"Of course our people are going to get married, they need those bonds, even more so now," I said as I watched Sess catch a petal in his open palm. Vash smiled as the petals danced around him and I found myself smiling too.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Married?" I looked at Belle shocked. "I run from commitment! I'm the commitment coward! And if they don't leave me alone I scare them off with my dark side!"

Vash looked skyward and I watched as some more petals billowed about him in the wind. "Though that doesn't have the same effect in daytime." I added. I frowned at even contemplating Vash in that sense still the peacefulness about him, made me hate that it even flashed through my head.

"So if you couldn't be a bartender what would you do now?" Wolfwood asked.

"Right now? Or hypothetically if we were still on earth and it wasn't scattered in to a million pieces possibly upsetting the stable rotational balance of the planets round the sun in to total doom now?" I asked in reply.

Wolfwood looked at me. "Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine today? But it would have to be the last option." He stated.

I shrugged. "I'm good at a lot of things, but I'm also good at not really sticking to a single damn thing."

"You scare guys off… I haven't run away yet." Vash pointed out.

"Vash sweetie… we share a room, we have to meet up eventually. Speaking of that… running away who's up for a high jacking of a saiyan space craft and up for blasting off in to total escape and freedom?"

"We can't just leave everyone behind though…" Vash pointed out. I stuck my tongue out at him. "What is that?"

"Tongue stud. They say it helps fellatio…" Vash nearly hit the ground and the others stared at me. "But I got it done for fashion reasons."

"Have you… you know um?" Vash motioned at the tongue stud.

I looked at him. "Vash I'm not giving you details on my sex life…" I remarked. "Or lack there of." I added in a mumble.

~*~Raine*~*~

"It won't happen again! It won't happen again!"

I frowned as I carefully disrobed, mindful of the lashes. Turles refused to take me to a medical center. He insisted that I remember what I did, that he'd give me an ointment to get rid of the marks when I had earned it.

I dropped down to my knees and slowly slipped my leg into the water, screaming when the hot water touched the lashes on my skin. I pulled my leg back out, digging my nails into the marble floor to bear with the pain.

He dragged me back to his home and dumped me in front of the slave's sleeping quarters. Yaten and Faye were the ones to shoo away the crowd of slaves that had formed around me. Yaten pulled me up into his arms. I had blacked out before we had reached my bunk.

Finally gathering the strength again, I climbed into the water, screaming from the pain. The pain wasn't as fresh as the day before, but it still hurt like hell! A stray tear fell down my cheek. This was what Faye meant. This was why she pitied me. I sniffed, still bearing the pain of the water against my bruises, and reached for a loofah.

I woke up to find Yaten standing over me. He demanded know why I did something so "stupid". Faye watched us from a distance, refusing to speak on it. He told me that Turles threatened to beat anyone who tried to tend to my wounds. They were my crown of thorns to wear for what I had done.

Escape. All I tried to do was escape!

And that was worth punishment? I was running from wrongful imprisonment and there was a penalty for that?!

The tears were flowing faster now, blurring my vision. Bathing was like scrubbing my skin with a knife. I couldn't do it, so I tossed the loofah out of the bath. I looked the doorway, knowing that he'd be back soon. He wasn't training today so there was no telling what he'd want when he came back. I slowly sat back, resting the side of my face on the cool bathroom floor, still in the bath. My eye lids grew heavy. I needed to rest. I just wanted to rest.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sat on the railing of the gazebo staring at the sky as it darkened to black, becoming a purplish color.

"It's so different," Jay sighed and I nodded.

"It will never be like home," I said. "Too bad Earth was destroyed, it would have been nice to show you a sunset from our blue sky." I looked at Sess and he smirked slightly as he stood next to me and placed his hands on the gazebo's railing.

"No need," he said and then looked me in the eyes. "I've seen the sun set on a blue sky."

"Really?" Nicholas asked as he chewed on a piece of grass after asking Vash if he was related to it. "Where?" Sess actually smiled.

"My home-world, we have quite a lot of oceans," he said and then looked at the sky.

"If I ever get free, I know where I'm headed," I said as I looked at the water that was becoming black and I cried out. "Look at that!"

"Wow," Jay whispered.

"Hehe, bet you've never seen anything like that before," Vash said as he leaned on the pillar next to Sess.

"It's beautiful," I said as I looked up at the darkening sky.

"We should get going," Vash said and Nicholas nodded before they headed off.

"Hey! Wait up!" Jay cried and I smiled before shaking my head.

"We should go too," Sess said and I sighed before looking at the first stars shining in the sky.

"Please, Sess, just a little longer," I asked as I tried not to shiver in the cool breeze.

"Weak, human woman," he sighed as he walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around me. "We will stay for five more minutes, but that is it." I closed my eyes and nodded.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru," I said, using his full name. He tensed for a moment as I opened my eyes and continued to stare at the sky.

"Only call me that when we are alone," he whispered and I nodded.

"As you wish, Sess," I said and we stayed, looking at the emerging stars.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I danced along holding my shoes in my hand as we left the scene and I was singing one of the last tunes that had been playing in the bar before we were all taken. They were the only songs I could remember and the moments always played over and over in my head every song played before the capture.

"You don't know what you doing to me boy, you don't know how you move in to me boy, I don't know what you doing to me boy… it seems like lately… lately… it seems like lately, something coming over me baby, a feeling that's been driving me crazy… no one turns me on like you do when I'm with you… it seems like lately…"

I held my arms out and spun around, I noticed Vash and Wolfwood stopped and were both watching me with amusement.

"It's strange how you seem so happy, when we all know that our lives will never be the same." Wolfwood pointed out.

"I'm happy because I know we have each other for now, we have friends, and there are still people out there all with the same ideas I have, minus the really crazy one about world domination and giant bowls and the Isla of J. but the ideas about freedom and not staying here, I know were going to leave and don't ask me how but I can feel it. And that is enough for me for now to put me in a good mood." I skipped past them before racing up to the palace. "I'll meet you tomorrow Wolfwood. I gotta get in and tend to his majesty… See back in the room Vash." I smiled as I raced inside.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as Sess and I walked along the way and suddenly a young man was in front of us. His eye were gold, not the same shade as Sess, nor the same shade as Zarbon's, a breed between the two. His long hair was not the length of Sess's and it was a silver, not the lovely shade of Sess's hair.

"Are you the ones that met Raine yesterday?" he asked and I started to respond before Sess stood in front of me.

"We had the honor of meeting Raine yesterday, Yaten," Sess said calmly, his body language said that he was protecting me form this other man…who looked harmless to me.

"Well you should know that your little meeting resulted in Raine being punished by Lord Turles and I place the blame on you and your friend, Sess," Yaten sneered and I blinked.

"What happened to Raine?" I asked and Yaten glared at me and I pulled back closer to Sess's side.

"She was punished. Do I need to go into it more than that?" he asked and I shook my head before looking at the ground. "Stay away from Raine, she doesn't need friends like you." I felt my eyes fill with tears before Sess's hand rested on my shoulder.

"Do not worry about Raine, Turles will not do her much harm, she will recover," he said before wrapping his arms around me. "You did not bring down any punishment on Raine, do not mind Yaten, he is overly aggressive to cover up the fact he is the submissive sex amongst his kind." I looked at Sess and sniffled before wiping my eyes.

"I still rather go to bed and pretend we hadn't met him," I whispered and Sess nodded before heading to the room.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Wolfwood looked at Vash. "You like her don't you needle noggin?"

"She's got guts, she loves life and living, she contradicts herself and it confuses me, she's a good friend, but I hate how she throws things at me and beats me up." He frowned.

"Anyone can beat you up needle noggin, you're like a damn pussy cat."

Vash looked at him. "I can be fierce!"

"Yes and planet earth is still the third rock from the sun and is in full rotation."

Vash frowned. "Sarcasm doesn't look right on a priest."

"Neither do cigarettes yet I do both and quite frequent."

~*~Raine*~*~

Turles returned home late that night, despite what he had told his slaves. He had gotten badgered into a sparring match with Kakarot, which led to betting and entertainment. Returning home with a smile, he headed for the slaves' bunks and banged on the door.

"Send her out," he ordered and waited.

A few minutes later, a slave girl steppe out meekly, "She isn't in here."

He blinked and then looked at her, "Well then, where is she?"

She stared at the floor, "She slept in because of the punishment and went to bathe around noon. We haven't seen her since then."

Turles creased his brows and stalked off for his bedroom. He growled. If she had tried running off again, he'd beat her into unconsciousness. Pulling off his chest armor he looked about his room. The bed was still unmade. That's when he paused, hearing the sound of running water. With a growl he headed inside to find the tub overflowing. He rushed over and turned off the faucets. There was a shattered oil jar at the edge of the tub. And once he had turned off the water, he noticed that it was slowly turning pink. His attention was suddenly drawn to a dark figure floating just under the water's surface. His eyes widened when he realized why the girl had gone missing.