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 ❯ Growing Pains and Painful Memories ( Chapter 11 )

Last Glimpse of Hope

11: Growing Pains and Painful Memories

~*~*~*~*~Five Months after Belle's Gift~*~*~*~*~

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as I delivered another package to Naile, I was suddenly the messenger for all of Bardock's packages and letters to various aliens and Saiyans in the Palace. On the plus side I was getting better at finding the homes of my friends through the main corridors. Today was a package for Meier and I was nervous around the blood-sucking prince. I focused on what Sess had been teaching me about masking my scent and I could detect no fear on my body. I stood in front of the door and knocked, very relieved to see D had opened the door.

"Lord D, this is a package for his mighty highness, Prince Meier, from my master, Lord Bardock," I stated as I bowed and the package was removed.

"You may go along you way," he stated and I nodded before turning and walking away from my second to least favorite ruler, the least being the bastard King of this monkey run planet.

"It's so hard to come up with a good insult when we evolved from the same type of animal," I sighed to myself as I shook my head and then I smelled something. I looked behind me and didn't see anything. My eyes narrowed and I scented the air. There was defiantly someone following me, I could hear their heartbeat, but I didn't see them. I decided to continue on.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I put up my dreads in a bun before sinking down into the bathtub. I reached over to pick up the loofah on the floor's edge to see Turles out of the corner of my eye. I blinked and looked at him. The look on his face was an awfully familiar one. One of want. He wanted me but he couldn't have me and it was killing me. I squeezed the loofah, fighting off the urge to crack a smile. I turned my back on him, lathering up the loofah with the sweet scented soap bar I held in my other hand. I heard a growl and turned around to see him storming off. I finally couldn't hold it anymore and smiled, now fighting off the urge to laugh while he was in earshot.

That was one of many baths I had come to enjoy for a while. Belle's powder was a godsend. Ever since she had given some of it to me, my nights had been peaceful ones. Turles seemed to have given up trying to seduce me altogether. I was curious as to why he had never complained to Brolli about it, seeing as how the bastard always seemed to be hanging around, but I'd never heard it brought up. Sure Brolli would ask how things were going, but Turles would merely growl and demand that the subject was changed. I grinned as I headed for Turles' room, finding him already gone. Probably off to burn up that hormonal energy. Good, better his sparring partner than me.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I sat on the steps of the palace with my cigarette looking out at the entrance to the gate one day I swore to myself I'd be running out those gates and not looking back.

I was spending some of my time away from Wolfwood and Vash, they had left before I arrived back at the barracks after another torturous night with Vegeta, he hadn't caught onto me and Vash and I was thankful for the lotions I made. I had kept it a secret about us until last month when Wolfwood had been teasing us and Belle had arrived at the Gazebo. Four months they had teased us constantly and well I didn't mind them knowing now, I hated secrets, yet I had so many.

I remembered when Wolfwood found out and it caused my face to flush with embarrassment.

~*~*~*~FLASHBACK~*~*~*~

"Gee I wonder… what on earth did you two get up last night?" Wolfwood laughed and it had woken me up.

I opened my eyes and yawned you know the scene in the movies where it's the scene after sex and the sheets miraculously make a wave shape covering the breasts from the camera, yet reveal the perfect abs of the man… real life it is soooo not that.

I had to struggle to pull the sheets up to cover myself but Vash was lying on part of them so yeah not really succeeding in the covering self up part… note to everyone reality is embarrassing afterwards, especially the morning after, so not perfect hair, so not wave shape in the sheets, and so not liking the grinning priest looking at us.

"I wonder…" I replied and dove under the sheets stirring Vash.

"Jay what on earth?" Vash moved freeing part of the sheets giving me more room to hide more.

"She'd hiding after all her clothes are way over there…" Wolfwood motioning I was only just peeking out from under the sheets to see the motion.

"Maybe I should make the wedding sooner, eh Needle Noggin?"

Vash laughed and rubbed the back of his neck in that way I found really cute especially when he was embarrassed. "So it's morning already?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'll cover for you in the kitchen if you two want some alone time."

"Oh no, it's okay I'll be there." Vash smiled and looked down at me. "Unless Jay wants me to stay."

"I'm fine…" I mumbled from under the blankets.

"I'll catch up Wolfwood."

"Right see you there."

He left and I felt my face heat up as he left, Melfina's bunk was empty so she was obviously out doing her laundry bit already.

I looked at Vash as he rolled over and on top of me positioning himself so it made me flush and it was definitely a compromised position.

"How do you feel?" Vash asked.

"Completely humiliated…"

He smiled. "Was last night that bad…" the tease.

"No it was… the first time I didn't feel like I had to become emotionally detached." I touched the side of his face and smiled at his morning hair, it was just floppy and hang slightly to one side in a way that I actually found incredible sexy even if it was morning hair. I fingered the end of his hair hanging over part of his face, my heart was betraying me I had tried for so long to stop myself from getting attached to him, but it was hard not to like him, not to fall in love with him, and after Vegeta's "incident" last night I was so happy, I felt somewhat free that I found myself in the celebrating mood and he was there and I felt for him. It had been our first true time actually going beyond the flirting the groping and other almost sex but not actually sex stuff.

Vash smiled at me. "Stay right here I've got to go, but I'll be back and since Wolfwood is on clean up duty again he'll be a bit longer."

I found myself blushing and watched as he got out of bed and changed in to his cloths, topping it off with the red coat, brushing his hair in to its spikes and topping the look off with the sunnies. He got me, he finally got me and I admitted I liked it.

He walked up to me and I moved up to him slipping out of the bunk the sheet wrapped around me, I still had to have some morning modesty. He leant in and kissed me it was the same passion I'd felt last night, and I knew he was up for some more, but it had to wait.

"See you when I get back."

I nodded. "Bye."

I watched as he left and found my cheeks heating up at realizing what I'd done. But the plus side I hadn't felt so released so free in a long time and the hope was filled back in to my heart.

~*~*~*~END FLASHBACK~*~*~*~

After Vegeta had scratched me in to claim me the first time and I had wanted Vash to make me forget, but we had ended up looking through the karma sutra but we never actually went all the way just trying out playful foreplay things, because Vash admitted to me he didn't want to scare me especially when my heart wasn't in it and I was depressed. But that night it had changed something between us, made us more aware of our feelings for one another and eventually with the circumstances it was inevitable that night was going to happen sometime. Now it happened more often and sometimes I had to whack him to ease his libido.

I sat on the steps and looked up at the red colored sky it was truly an amazing sight and I hoped that I would leave soon and be able to witness more than the skies of the three different planets I'd seen so far in my twenty-four years.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I bit back a growl as I heard footstep and I quickly turned around to see a boy suddenly stop in his tracks. I looked at him and blinked, taking in his scent without being obvious.

"Why are you following me?" I asked as I looked at him and he blushed as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I…I wanted…" he looked down and kicked at the floor, obviously nervous about talking to me. I walked over to him and squatted so we were face to face.

"What did you want?" I asked as I looked at him and he looked me in the eye and suddenly hugged me. I nearly fell backwards at the force of him launching himself at me.

"Thank you!" he sobbed into my neck and I looked at him, gently running a hand down his back and through his hair as he sobbed. "If…if it hadn't been for you…I'd…I'd have lost my only friend!" I blinked, I was very confused.

"Hush, hush, now explain this again for me," I said as I gently pulled him towards the wall and pulled him off of me, brushing his blond hair out of his light blue eyes. "What did I do to make you cry?" I smiled and he shook his head as he wiped his eyes on his forearm, the filthy material telling me he was probably a cleaning slave.

"It's not that. You saved Gene. He's…he's the one who kept me alive since we were taken!" he said quickly and I looked at him before thinking.

"The young man with the red hair and the scars?" I asked and he nodded.

"Gene's been watching out for me since the Saiyans destroyed our world," the boy said and I nodded sadly.

"You wouldn't happen to be from Earth would you?" I asked and he shook his head uncertainly and I nodded.

"No, I'm a Gillian, my name's Jim, Jim Hawking," he said and I smiled and I extended my hand and shook his hand.

"Well Jim Hawking of Gillia…" I raised and eyebrow and he nodded that it was the correct name of his planet. "…I am Belle Andrews of Earth, it is a pleasure to meet you." He looked at me and smiled somewhat and I stood up.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I had chosen to enjoy breakfast with Yusuke, Kuwabara and Yaten today. The day just felt so good that it had to be shared with friends: new and old. As usual, Kuwabara and Yusuke were bickering like children over something trivial while Yaten and I had a good laugh. It was so good to see him smiling again. Fights between these two were hard to not find entertaining.

"So what are you up to today?" Kuwabara looked at me eagerly and I fought off the urge to blush. Yaten had joked many times that the redhead had a thing for me, but I always shrugged it off.

"What do you think she's gonna be up to, genius?" Yusuke rolled his eyes. "She's gonna run off to see her friends or that Zarbon guy again."

"Oh yeah," Kuwabara frowned in realization.

I giggled. I personally thought he looked adorable when he pouted.

"It's good to see you laughing," Yaten murmured.

I hugged him, "Look who's talking."

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I hummed a little tune as I walked along outside admiring the scenery. Eventually I began singing the song softly as I walked thought the place letting myself bathe in the light, the outfit was just one of those courtesan, revealing outfits letting every guy pry on my body.

"Love is like a shooting a star… it doesn't matter who you are if you only run for cover, it's just a waste of time… We are lost and we are found, the phoenix rises up from the ground, and all these wars are over… over… over…"

I let out a cry as I was grabbed and pulled back and I stumbled and fell backwards knocking whoever grabbed me on to the ground and promptly landing on top of them and I looked at Vash and smiled at him.

"You are so going to get into trouble mister…"

I felt his hand roam up my side and I didn't move, my hands placed firmly on either side of his head.

"I seem to get in to trouble a lot." He smiled up at me.

"Yes… you're lucky I have that perfumed stuff to hide your scent on me from Vegeta." I smirked.

He smiled. "That was a good idea…" I didn't move as his hands roamed, I wanted it and he drove me nuts because of it. I'd taken to not thumping him around when he got like this, only when we were round the others, because gropeage when round friends is something they really don't need to see. "What was that song?"

"Dolphin's Cry by Live." I replied. "You know I wish I had the original to play for you. I wish I had a lot of things from Earth to show you. The artwork, the scenery, even the vast amounts of alcohol."

Vash pulled me down so I was lying on him and I pulled my face up to meet him and greet his lips with mine, I'd never thought I'd fall for an alien.

I heard him groan just a little before he seemed to regain himself.

"You're going to have to be extra careful, Legato probably knows by now that we are official, in the sense that we've actually formed a relationship."

I nodded. "I know but with Pai round we're fine, no servants under his mind control attacking or anything."

"He can probably still show up though." Vash looked at me.

Vash rolled over pinning me under him and I hooked my arms around his shoulders as he nuzzled at my neck. "I have to thank the tailor for these clothes…" He grinned.

I laughed. "Pervert."

"But I do they're so easy to get off and hardly any fuss at all."

"Don't make me hit you."

I groaned as he began kissing my neck hands roaming over me bringing on those silly little sensations I couldn't control whenever he touched me.

There was a sting of the sudden cool air as part of my covered flesh was exposed and I gasped. "Vash… public… we… can't…"

"There's a perfectly good tree right there shielding us form normal view." He murmured and my back arched as one of his roaming hands reached a sensitive spot.

"And if it doesn't succeed Vegeta will probably kill you." I looked at him, I didn't want that to happen.

"He hasn't figured out how to kill me yet."

"Lets hope he doesn't…" My head rolled to one side as his other hand raced upwards towards my breasts. 'Damn him for doing this to me…' I thought, but I wasn't fighting or protesting in any way.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"You really did save Gene, King Vegeta was going to kill him till you claimed his innocence," Jim explained and I shook my head.

"I did nothing more than delay King Vegeta till Princess Pai and Prince Naile could convince the King otherwise," I stated as I looked up and down the hall. "How long have you been following me?" Jim blushed and rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, Gene didn't want to make a big deal of it, but he does owe you big time. I said I wanted to thank you but he told me he didn't know your name or who you belonged to, so I had to go on what he said you looked like. Every time I met another slave I would describe you 'The tall, pale woman, humanoid, dark brown almost black hair, and blue eyes' and I went to every woman with that description," he said and I blinked.

"How many women have my description?" I pondered out loud before Jim snickered and I noticed a gleam of mischief in his eyes and I felt better about the boy.

"Well Gene forgot to mention that you were a serving-caretaker, so I couldn't really tell, a lot of the cleaning staff is so dirty that you couldn't tell how they looked without a bath. I was looking blue eyes basically," he said and I laughed. "I just saw you in the corridor and I thought I might try and then I noticed the mark of the serving-caretaker and I knew it was you."

"Well, Jim, I belong to Lord Bardock and I'm a wet-nurse, serving-caretaker, so next time you want to find me, you know," I said with a smile. "Now you tell…Gene…that I was happy to help but his true thanks, and yours, belongs with Princess Pai and Prince Naile, whom I enjoy the company of regularly. I will tell them you send your thanks and Gene's as well. Now I imagine you'll be missed soon, so you run along, I will see you again." Jim looked at me and smiled and I felt my heart warm.

"You better!" he cried and ran off, I smiled as I watched him go.

"It's nice to see a living child," I sighed as I rubbed my hand over my necklace and thought about my Taisho. I headed to my lab to get the packets for Jay and Raine.

~*~*Raine*~*~

After finishing breakfast with the boys, I was off to meet up with Belle and the others at the gazebo. There was something familiar about Yusuke and Kuwabara. They reminded me of someone. I just couldn't put my finger on it…

I mentally shrugged and hurried through the palace grounds to meet up with the others. I turned another corner and spotted J'dee and Vash already at the spot. I smiled and joined them.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I was fixing up my clothes as we headed to the Gazebo, Vash with a typical grin plastered across his face, I looked fairly messy, but I felt completely glowing, trust me it happens to every woman after sex, the glowing phase where the complexion is great, kinda shiny but great, and the energy you feel afterwards contributes to it. It's one the most recommended forms of exercise.

"Are we going to be late?" I asked.

"More than likely early judging by the time. Nicholas is running late he'll be there in about half an hour."

We arrived at the Gazebo and Vash rested himself on the grass lying down on it, I lay down next to him on my stomach placing my head on my folded up arms, basking in the sunlight.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I looked out of the secret passage before walking out and sighing. It was dangerous to be seen in the halls if you were a lower level slave. Like normal society, slave society had statuses. The lowest slaves were never seen, they were a separate level of the cleaning crew, like Jim. They were the ones that died quickly and were punished without reason if caught outside the passages and their workplaces. The next level up was the cooking staff, they were blasted for anything they did wrong. A meal cooked improperly, food wasted, or just talking in the kitchens during a meal. Then came the family slaves, the private cleaning crews. They were well trained, I hadn't even seen one, only catching the faintest scents in Bardock's home. Then came the serving-caretakers, they were allowed to travel through the hallways with minimal harassment, they would give orders to lower slaves. Next came the science slaves, but they were almost on a branch off of the main slave society. Above serving-caretakers came wet-nurses, which were rare due to the evolutionary status of Saiyans. The Saiyans would only accept primate-evolved species as wet-nurses, apparently there were only five, humans and Saiyans included. Then came concubines, who strangely, had either a lot of power or none at all. My guess was that Raine and Jay didn't truly understand just how much power they had with their stations. True, they were the sex toys of powerful Saiyans, but they were also the addictions, able to sway their 'masters' into certain decisions, like killing off a slave from lower in the class ranking or gaining certain privileges in the Palace. At the top of the slave social ladder were the retainers, however, very few were around because they tended to forget their place with their Masters. Usually serving-caretakers and wet-nurses were raised to the status of retainer because as their wards grew they turned to the closest being they knew to run the business of the homes. Bardock mentioned that he had a retainer, but the retainer was at Bardock's ancestral home, the home he was raised in before he was promoted to the status of Royal Elite.

~*~*Raine*~*~

Sess finally arrived….without Belle and I suddenly had a sinking feeling. I sat up from where I was laying on the grass as he approached us. Usually when she vanished, she wound up attacked, or about-to-be-in-trouble.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Sorry I'm late." Wolfwood walked up and sat himself down on the grass, "So who's missing?"

"Belle and Sess as usual." Raine replied and fingered a blade of grass as she sat there somewhat off in her own thoughts.

"I'd like to arrive just once and they're already here." I remarked.

Wolfwood smiled. "I could make a prayer for you, for it to happen."

"I could call upon the Gods to do the same." I chinked the chunky ki dampeners on my wrists together. "But I can't even do that. And even if I did I believe it's called personal game there's no real reason life threatening that they have to be here before us."

I rolled over to get the underbelly of me some warmth and looked up as Sess wandered up alone, he was obviously looking round for Belle thinking she might have arrived here.

"She's not here yet." I remarked.

Sess' face frowned.

I wasn't sure whether to begin to worry or not and looked at Vash.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"What a tangled web we weave…I sighed before looking up to see something that scared the crap out of me. A low level cleaning crew was being attacked…no was in the middle of a brawl between seven large, mad, and apparently drunk Saiyans. I watched in horror as a woman was crushed under one of the Saiyan's feet and I noticed a young man, probably around Jim's height standing there staring. He was staring at a Saiyan about to stomp on him and I noticed another Saiyan joining the fight, ki blast ready and headed right at the young man. "Damn it, couldn't go through one day without nearly killing myself." I ran at the young man, grabbing him by the back of his shirt and pulling him back before a Saiyan could hit him with a missed punch. Suddenly I dropped the floor, covering him with my body as limbs passed over us. Using my sensitive eyes I saw an opening. I grabbed his leg and ran for it, dragging the young man behind me as I rushed through the crowd and around a couple of corners before stopping.

"Safe…" I panted as I rested against the wall, sliding down so I was sitting with my back against the wall.

"What possessed you to that, woman?" a sharp voice growled and I blinked as I looked at the 'boy' whom I thought I rescued. I blinked as I looked at him.

"Last time I checked, you were the one about to become a mess under that Saiyan's foot, I was getting you out of that brawl and to safety," I stated as I looked at him, pushing some hair behind my ear.

"I didn't need your help," he stated and I suddenly realized he wasn't a child, but a short adult.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were in control of that situation," I stated as I got up and straightened out my robes.

"Stupid alien, you don't know what I am do you?" he growled and I looked at him, scenting quickly, looking over him. He was small, but compact, now that I thought about it, when I was over him I could practically feel the compact muscles of his body. I noted the familiar pointed ears and the somewhat wild scent that I associated with Sess and I smirked as I looked at him. Making sure to keep my fangs hidden as well as my claws.

"I know what you are, you're one of the Yamainu, and apparently a feisty one at that," I stated as I smirked. He looked shocked. "You might have been aware of the Saiyan about to stomp on you, but you definitely missed the one about to hit you with a ki blast. His eyes widened for a moment and I knew he hadn't noticed the second Saiyan. "You're welcome for you life. Next time I'll let you handle yourself."

"I could have handled it," he stated and I had the feeling his pride was at stake.

"As you say, I'm Belle of Earth by the way," I stated as I looked at him and held out my hand.

"Hiei," he muttered before walking off. I smirked as I looked at him, clasping my hands behind my back.

"It was nice to meet you, Hiei of the Yamainu!" I cried before heading to the gazebo.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I sighed when Belle finally showed up.

"Hey," I heard Vash say and I sighed with relief. She didn't have any marks on her and she wasn't frowning. All seemed well. Emphasis on the word 'seemed'.

I suddenly heard the flicker of a lighter and turned to see Jay passing out cigarettes. I glared at her. I was quickly contemplating snatching those nicotine sticks and chucking them in the nearest body of water. Was the girl asking for lung cancer?

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Hey." Vash greeted as Belle entered.

"And where we're you?" Wolfwood teased.

Belle looked sheepish for a moment and she explained a situation with saving a fellow in the hallway from the Saiyans.

I couldn't help but sigh, that girl seriously she had a Vash complex like that. I pulled out my packet of cigarettes and opened it up and handed a couple over to Wolfwood before lighting one up myself Raine just glared in my direction and I wondered if she'd take them from me and toss it to the water.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"I'm sorry!" I cried as I looked at the glare Sess had on me and the looks on the others faces. "Well I couldn't just do nothing!" Sess grabbed me by the upper arm and dragged me away from the others and I blinked as I was suddenly spun so I was face to face with him. I looked into his eyes and saw the anger and fear in the molten gold.

"Belle! You have to stop risking yourself that way!" he hissed as his hands grasped my shoulders. "You cannot fight these battles!" I felt my hands move into fist, my claws drawing blood from my palms.

"Then teach me!" I hissed as I looked at him. "You told me yourself my claws could be weapons….teach me to use them!" I looked at him and he broke eye contact.

"I don't want you to be in the position where you would need your claws," he stated and I pulled his face so we were nose to nose.

"Sesshoumaru, I love you, I don't go into these situations willingly, but it was the right thing to do, saving that young man. I would make it again in a second. This world is so full of death for slaves. Let me spare life when I can. My claws can be a weapon, you said so yourself, teach me to use them. Teach me to fight!" I whispered as I searched his eyes. He sighed as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. I sighed as I leaned into him, resting my forehead against his jaw.

"I will teach you, but only so you can protect yourself, never so you can attack," he whispered as he stroked my hair and I sighed as I rested against him.

"No, I won't attack, just protect myself," I whispered and he sighed as we walked out to see Vash and Jay fighting over a spot that was perfect for looking in on us. We gave them the same look and they smiled.

"We found a flower we both wanted," Jay stated and I rolled my eyes.

"I might believe that if there were actually flowers there," Sess stated as he walked past them and I chuckled as I followed him.

"Oh, here's some AV for his Royal Pain in the Ass," I said as I tossed three packets at them and Jay smiled.

"Could I get some of that to sneak into Needle Noggin's food?" Nicholas asked and I chuckled as I looked at him. "He's getting a little annoying. I would like to sleep through a night without Zorn's medication helping." He looked at Jay as she smiled innocently.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I got up, getting ready to leave, but then stopped and turned back, "Oh, I'm bringing a couple of friends by tomorrow."

The others looked at me and nodded. I grinned and waved, heading off. All the stories I had told Kuwabara and Yusuke had made them curious to meet my friends. Particularly Sess for some reason. I could already sense of Zarbon's guards coming up behind to escort me to his place.

I exhaled with contentment as I basked in the warmth of Zarbon's arms.

"Man, it's moments like this I wish I could stay in your arms and spend the night here," I murmured.

"It's moments like this I contemplate bolting that door so you have no choice," Zarbon said and we both chuckled.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as I waded along the edge of the lake, my legs soaking up the cooling water as I ran back and forth after the fishes that swam too close.

"What are you doing?" Sess asked as he sat in the gazebo playing cards with the others.

"Yea, we could use a fifth for poker," Nicholas said and I looked at them and spun around in a circle.

"I'm playing, what does it look like?" I asked as I spun around again and my skirt flipped up in the wind.

"Like you're about to panty flash us," Jay stated and I quickly pushed my skirt down.

"Awww Jay, you ruined that for me," Vash whined before getting slapped upside the head by Sess and Jay. "Ow…no fair that's two on one!"

"I'm your….bed pal!" Jay growled.

"She's my mate," Sess growled while indicating me.

"Ah, you have to love the free entertainment," I giggled as I walked over to stand behind Nicholas. "Hey, now I KNOW I'm not playing this hand." Nicholas looked at his cards and glared at me as the others folded.

"Thanks a bunch, Hun!" he grumbled and I giggled as I leaned over his shoulder and kissed his cheek.

"Anytime," I laughed before walking over and plopping down in Sess's lap.

"Must you do this?" he asked and I smirked as I looked up at him and whispered so only he could hear me.

"You said any time I desired you, well I desire to be in your lap right now," I teased and he looked at me.

"You test my patience," he sighed as he stroked my waist long, nearly black hair.

"I try," I sighed as I watched the game continue.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"I call." Vash remarked looking at his cards.

"Man now all we need is the money." I laid my cards down and revealed a straight flush

"Good thing it's not strip poker." Wolfwod laughed and placed a royal flush down.

"Ahhhhhh." I flopped backward. "Damn that was divine intervention you cheater."

Sess placed his cards down two two-pair.

Vash sighed. "I only have two of a kind."

"Better luck next time needle noggin." Wolfwood grinned.

"Well I can handle with being el vice presidente." I stretched I was feeling fairly lazy today.

"That's it for me, I have to pick something up from Zarbon." Sess remarked. He stood up, helping Belle up with the same time where Sess went I knew by now Belle went, it was rather cute.

"Catch you guys." I stated.

They gave a wave before heading off and I pulled all the card back in to a pile and began shuffling them.

"Hey anyone want a tarot reading?"

Wolfwood looked at me. "You're asking a priest here."

"You can read from a deck of playing cards?"

"Yep it's the tarot pack for the broke wiccan. Wanna reading?"

Wolfwood chuckled. "Sure why not. This aught to be amusing."

~*~*Raine*~*~

Yaten was smiling, Turles was off my ass, there had been no major tragedies since Belle's powder. I couldn't recall the last time I had smile so much since my arrival on this planet. Belle and Sess were more in love than ever and Jay's relationship with Vash was just beginning. I smiled warmly and sat up with a sigh.

"Something wrong?" he asked.

I shook my head, "No, actually. For once in my life, since arriving on this planet, I can actually say that I'm happy."

I turned to him to see him smiling as well before slipping an arm around me. I hugged him, "You know, your meetings have left me a little unhappy though."

"Oh?" he looked at me.

"Yeah. You spend hours in those stuffy conference rooms and I'm stuck sitting on my bunk, missing you, wanting to be with you…" I trailed off.

He grinned, pulling me up into a seated position, "Well I'm here. We've got a good deal of the day to be together."

The way he said it sounded like it had a double meaning. I rolled my eyes, knowing both.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" I asked, feigning cluelessness.

"Oh I think you know what it is," he said, moving his forehead against mine.

I blushed at the closeness, feeling his hand rest on my waist. There were certain spots on my body where he touched me, whether purposely or coincidentally, which would drive me up the charts and send me rushing home for a cold bath. I think he knew what he was doing to me. We had never talked about what we had, in private and certainly not in public.

"How long has it been since we've been together?" he murmured.

I blinked, "Over a year."

He smiled, "That's a long time."

"Mm-hmm," I murmured, my face growing warm.

"We've never really talked about us," he said.

He was right, we hadn't.

"Well what do you want to talk about? I know I'm happy when I'm with you," I said.

"And I, you," he said.

I blushed and looked away from him, smiling shyly. It was hard to look him in the eyes when he was eyeing me so intensely. It made me feel like a schoolgirl all over again. I pushed back a stray lock, my heart beating, "S-So what are you trying to-"

His lips suddenly covered mine. My head was spinning as I felt his arms wrap around me as he kissed me in a way that left me breathless when his lips left mine.

I blinked, my cheeks red, "I see."

He chuckled and kissed me again. I wrapped my arms around his neck, enjoying a real true, loving kiss for once. I felt that warm feeling inside me, like I had many times when I was with him, when I felt his hands roam. I gasped when his hands slipped under my thighs and suddenly pulled me onto his lap. One of my straps slipped down past my shoulder as his arms found themselves around my waist again. I eagerly wrapped my arms around his neck as his kisses went for my neck. My heart raced as they lowered slowly, only to torturously go back up again and kiss me. I could feel one of his hands slipping down past my waist and I wondered if things would escalate. I also wondered if I was gonna stop him or not.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I smiled as I took Sess's hand in mine as we walked through the secret passages.

"Now what do you need from Zarbon?" I asked and Sess chuckled.

"It's a surprise, I told you already," he stated and I gave him a look in time to see him smirking.

"You're awful, you know I have a horrible sense of curiosity and you do all you can to provoke it, don't you?" I asked and he smirked more. "You do! You are awful!"

"Only because you make it so enjoyable to tease you," he purred as he pulled me close and opened up the door into Zarbon's parlor. Where we were greeted by the site of Zarbon and Raine in a very compromising situation, Raine perched in Zarbon's lap, their lips locked in what could be called a very passionate kiss, and I couldn't have been happier.

~*~*Raine*~*~

His lips began to lower again and I moaned beside myself, hugging him close as if I was afraid I'd lose him and I opened my eyes and….oh God…

Belle and Sesshomaru were standing right there watching the entire thing!

"Oh God…" I breathed, turning away from them in embarrassment.

Zarbon suddenly looked up and judging by how he suddenly stopped moving, I was certain he had just realized we'd been busted. And it wouldn't be long before the others would get wind of this too. Even though I only caught a glimpse of the two, the smiles on their faces said it all.

I tried to be calm as I slipped off of Zarbon's lap and moved to straighten my concubine's clothing. We were both as red as tomatoes. Gah this was so embarrassing! I looked back at them, averting my eyes again. Their grins never faltered. The teasing would begin and it would be brutal.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I smirked as I looked at Raine as she straightened herself out as Zarbon tried to play cool, unable to get rid of the purplish blush on his cheeks.

"Oh…oh this is too perfect," I said as I look at Sess. "Is this my surprise the perfect opportunity to embarrass Raine?" Sess chuckled as he looked at Zarbon, only to have the reptilian alien look away.

"No, but I believe this is defiantly close to it," he smirked. I couldn't hold back the laughter as I hugged Sess and looked at the two.

"It's about time, you two," I giggled as I looked at them. "Damn, does this count as my win or Jay's?" Sess thought for a moment.

"No, you won," he stated and Raine looked at me.

"Won what?" she asked and I smiled before walking over to Zarbon.

"A little bet between Jay, Vash, Nick, Sess, and I about when you two would hook up. I won the first six months after Jay and Vash," I giggled. "It's going to be fun to tell Jay she lost another bet."

"Don't you dare…" Raine started before Sess got in the way.

"Zarbon, you said that Koga sent us a package," Sess began and I suddenly forgot all about Raine and Zarbon's situation.

"Another package from Koga? Is it about Taisho?" I felt tears filling my eyes at the thought of seeing and hearing more about my son. "Please Zarbon." He looked at me and smiled before reached over to a table to pick up a package and hand it to me. I let Sess open it and he smiled as he took the letter out and began reading.

"Dear Cousin, I must say, you've done a find job breeding an eating, crying, and crapping machine. The pup is healthy and for the most part happy save for his inability to sleep for longer than an few hours a night. The little mongrel is crawling around destroying everything low enough for him to get his little claws on. I managed to catch his first steps on holo-disk and I figured you and your mate would like them as well as several clips of him. Ayame loves the little beast and I see myself fathering a cub or two sooner than I had intended, thanks to you, you damn hormonal beast. I really do need help with Taisho's sleeping problem, Ayame and every female we know has tried something, but nothing has worked and I refuse to give him medication this early in his life. I also request some holo-disks of you and your mate, Taisho needs to know what you look like. A sample of DNA would help too. I don't have much more to tell you besides the lost son has not been found. I'm sorry, Koga," Sess read and sighed. There was something cryptic about that 'lost son' line, but I would think of it later.

"He sent a holo-disk?" I whispered and Sess smiled as he pulled out a small device and then pulled out my necklace, pressing the device against my necklace before he tapped the button on my pendant and the image of an infant sitting on what looked like a beautiful rug appeared and I quickly sat down, staring at my beautiful son. The tears welling up in my eyes.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I felt my heart swell as I saw their baby in the hologram. I sighed and rested my face in my hand. He had grown so quickly and he was SO adorable. I smiled and looked at Belle whose eyes couldn't be torn away from the sight of her baby if she tried. I looked to Zarbon who was smiling as well.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Donuts..." Vash grabbed the bag from the kitchen as we took a short cut through.

"Stop that." I glared at him.

"What?" He placed about three in his mouth at once and I looked down and shook my head.

"Let's go back to the barracks now I'm sure Melfina will want some donuts."

I raised a brow and looked at him. "How do you know what she likes?" I asked crossing my arms angrily.

"I don't but donuts are great. The best food in the world."

"I prefer hotdogs American style, minus the bacon part mixed in with the sausage."

"You hungry?" Vash asking sticking the bag under my face and I looked up at him.

"Uh I'll live." We continued our walk back to the barracks.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I looked at the various images of Taisho, his silver hair looked silky soft and I wanted to run my hands through it as I started at the almost life-sized hologram of my son. I held one hand over my heart as I covered my mouth with the other, keeping my whimpers from escaping. His large gold eyes shone with curiosity and from all the images of him destroying or attempting to get at things to destroy he had inherited my mischievousness. His face broke out in a smile and I broke down in tears as I watched my son take his first steps without me. I buried my face into Sess's chest as I peered at the image. Two hands reached down and he smiled brightly, his white tail flailing behind him as he exposed his first two baby teeth on the bottom. I sobbed harder as I hugged Sess, the feeling of something wet hitting my forehead caused me to look up to see Sess staring at the image, his eyes filled with tears but only the trail of one on his cheek. I kissed him and held him close.

"Sess, can we send back a DNA sample?" I asked and he looked at me.

"Well, we have to be careful about it but…" I stopped him with my fingers and reached up to the back of my neck, slicing off a lock of my hair with a claw; knotting it before doing the same to a lock of his long hair.

"If Zarbon can get me some cloth, I can make something," I whispered as I looked at him and he looked at me before kissing me.

"I will ask him," Sess whispered. "As well as to allow us to make a hologram for Taisho." I hugged Sess as we got up and I turned off my necklace before we walked over to where Zarbon and Raine were standing.

"We're better now," I said as I wiped away my last tears, with my new Yamainu DNA my eyes would be normal in a few minutes instead of red and puffy for an hour. "It's hard to see him and know he's growing up without me."

"Belle…" Raine started by I shook my head.

"I'm fine, really," I said as I looked at the two lock of long hair in my hands and I quickly tied them in a knot before looked at Sess.

"Zarbon, if it is not too much to ask. Could we use your holo-recorder and could you get Belle some cloth to make Taisho something?" Sess asked and Zarbon nodded.

"What kind of cloth would you like?" he asked and I blinked before I looked at him and smiled.

"Some blue cloth, not too dark and not too light," I said as I placed the hair into my pocket and smiled.

"When do you want to use the holo-recorder?" he asked and I blinked as I looked at Sess.

"Tonight would be better. We could change into more…regal clothing," Sess said and I nodded as I looked at Zarbon and he nodded before looking at Raine.

"I think we should leave," I stated coolly before grabbing Sess's hand and heading back to Bardock's chambers to prepare for dinner.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I wished I could've stayed with Zarbon for dinner, but what with the rules and the evil grins on Sess and Belle's faces, maybe it was for the best. Besides, I had a feeling dinner would've been the last thing on our minds if we were left alone again.

I headed into the slave's barracks, aware that Yusuke and Kuwabara were preparing Turles' dinner and slowed my trek as I heard a sound I hadn't heard in so long.

…toki ga sugite otona ni naru

bokuno yatsuto kizu ita no sa

tarinaikakera ni

Search for your love, sora no suishou

Search for your love, nakanai de kure

Search for your love, hontou ha, dakishimetai no sa

Yaten was sitting on the window sill, overlooking the palace gardens, dressed in black. I smiled, slowly walking up to him as I remembered the words and sang along.

"Kimi no kaori zu tsu to…"

"Sagashiteru…"

"Boku no koe yo todoke…"

"Aishiteru…"

"Ima doko ni iruno"

"Moonlight princes…"

"Boku no…"

We sang together, "Princess."

Yaten looked up at me with a grin as stood by his side and rested my head on his shoulder.

I continued, "Kotaete…"

"Answer for me…"

"Imasugu…"

"Answer for me…"

"Kotaete…"

"Answer for me…"

"Yasashiku…"

"Answer for me…"

Yaten chuckled and turned to slip off of the sill, "You still remember?"

I shrugged, "It takes a while to memorize a song in Japanese, especially if you don't speak the language. It's not something you forget that quickly. Don't tell me you've been singing all day?"

"Not all day," he said, "how about you?"

I looked away, sighing and blushing at once. He blinked, looking at me with a raised brow, "Okay, what happened?"

I sucked in my lips, trying to force down a smile creeping up my face and hurried to my bunk so he couldn't see it, "Nothing."

"Doesn't sound like nothing."

"Well it is," I turned to face him, unable to hide my smile.

His eyes suddenly widened, "He kissed you!"

"What!" my eyes widened. How the hell did he know!

He suddenly had that exact same grin that Belle and Sess had and I sighed. Great. More teasing.

"You thought you could keep something like this from me?" he asked, as I plopped down on my bunk.

"Nope. Couldn't keep it from Belle and Sess, it was only a matter of time before you found out," I sighed as he sat beside me.

"How did they find out?"

I looked at him with a frown and his eyes widened, "Well, that must've been fun."

"Try terribly embarrassing. And just wait till Jay and the others find out. It'll be all smiles the minute I show up!" I threw up my hands in exasperation and Yaten chuckled.

"Get used to it. They're all gonna be happy for you, like I am," he said and I turned him with yet another smile, "Thank you."

He hugged me, "Don't mention it. As long as we've established that I'm the best man."

I lowered my brow, smirking and chucked a pillow at his head.

"Hey!" I was suddenly tackled and a pillow fight ensued.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Donuts for dinner." Melfina looked at Vash as he placed the bag down.

"Yeah why not?"

"Good think I picked up some serious food then." Wolfwood pulled out three bags and placed them down. I opened the bag up and looked in mine and blinked. "Hey this looks like a burger."

"That it is." Wolfwood smiled.

"Donuts or burgers." and I looked at Melfina she looked back it was a typical female thing to show disgust in what the guys picked for dinner.

"I'm not... really... hungry." She remarked but I could tell.

I grudging picked up the bag. "Melfina, c'mon lets go trade meals."

Melfina followed.

"Hey I thought you weren't hungry." Vash remarked.

"Don't forget Gazebo after." Wolfwood called out after us as we left to trade in the man food we had for something more substantial to eat.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I smiled as I quickly dressed in my white gown and looked to see Sess dressed in his black robes, they were a little warm for summer, but it was evening and the cool air made it comfortable to wear our clothing as we quickly headed to the gazebo, to intercept Jay, Vash, and Nicholas to tell them the good news about Raine and Zarbon. I was extremely pleased to see that Sess and I were the first ones there and we ate our dinner in silence.

"Do you regret…" he started before I interrupted him.

"I regret nothing from the moment I met you," I stated before smiling. "Besides, as long as I have you, I will be content." He smiled as he looked up and I turned to watch Vash run towards us avoiding being hit by Jay.

"Help!" Vash cried as he raced towards us.

"Don't, he deserves this!" Jay cried as she attempted to hit him again and I laughed as I rested next to Sess.

"Well if you two stop I'll tell you something that will make you laugh," I giggled as I looked at Sess and he smirked.

"Ooo, if Sess smiled that means this has to be good!" Nicholas cried before taking a seat.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I listened and I giggled and bounced on the spot, as Belle told us what she discovered.

"Raine and Zarbon... oooooooh she deserves to be happy and find someone for once." I grinned happily. "That's just sooooo KAWAII!!" I squealed.

Vash grabbed me and held me still. "I don't know what you and Melfina had for dinner but I swear not again, you're overly bouncy. Not that it's a bad thing really when I think about it." He got that typical grin on his face.

*WHACK*

I bopped him over the head.

"Owww. What'd I say?" He looked at me.

Wolfwood just laughed and shook his head. "You know I' wondering what type of kid you two would have and if you bring it in to the world I think I might have a huge job to prevent the universe from ending."

~*~*Raine*~*~

I had stayed a little longer than expected with Zarbon. After Yaten had gone back to tending to his chores, I left to see the alien prince again. Things, ahem, escalated again. I was sure the others were already waiting for me and I hurried for the gazebo, making a quick turn to the clearing….

To find the gang all there and all of them sporting toothy, sun blinding grins in my direction.

I frowned. Belle.

Their smiles never faltered and I threw a glare at each individual. Cripes they could probably tell that I had just come from his place minutes ago!

"Not a word. Not ONE word."

~*~*Belle*~*~

"I'm not helping you, you were the one who told them," Sess said as he looked at me and I blinked as I looked at Raine's twitching eye.

"You helped!" I hissed and Raine glared at us both.

"Not a word! Not one word!" she cried as she looked at us and I felt the urge to push my luck just a little more.

"Word!" I cried and then got up and ran, pulling my skirt up so I wouldn't trip on it as Raine screamed and started to chase me.

"Don't get too ragged, we have to make the holo-disk in a few hours," Sess commented as I ran into a wooded area in an attempt to escape Raine.

~*~*Raine*~*~

Damn, ever since her species change, Belle had gotten just a tad bit faster. This case was proven as I was leaning up against the nearest tree to catch my breath while Belle continued to giggle at and taunt me. I growled, suddenly feeling an extra added boost of energy and the chase continued.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I grinned as I flopped back in to Vash's arms as we watched the Belle marathon. "This is even better than T.V." I remarked.

Vash chuckled. "Unless you're the one chasing."

"Oooh I did athletics I was the master at sprints."

"Then do you wanna chase her?"

"Why? I'm happy I got a good seat to just sit back and watch."

~*~*Belle*~*~

"Time to go," Sess said as he caught me in his arms and I smiled at him as I turned and made a face at Raine before quickly dragging my mate down the hallways.

"So, what's this holo-recorder like?" I asked as we entered Zarbon's chambers. Sess smiled as he looked at Zarbon, totally ignoring my question. "You're doing it again."

"Doing what?" Zarbon asked as he indicated we follow him upstairs, I'd never been there.

"Teasing my curiosity," I stated as I looked at Sess and he smiled at me before pulling me close to him and kissing me passionately. I let him and then pulled back, smiling before resting our foreheads together.

"Does that make up for it?" he asked and I blinked. His eyes looked over at something and I gasped as I saw a hologram appear with Sess pulling me to him and our kiss.

"Amazing," I whispered as I looked at the hologram. Then I looked around and noticed several floating diamonds, I hadn't noticed them because of Sess's teasing. "You my dear, are far more clever than I give you credit for." I quickly pulled away from my mate and husband to look at the nearest diamond, it was floating using some sort of engine and I smiled as I reached out to gently poke it with one of my claws and it flew off and suddenly I was surrounded by the diamonds and I looked at Sess and Zarbon, before smiling sadly.

"Taisho, my son, you may not understand this, but I'm your mother. I am sorry I can not be there for you now as you grow, but I promise, one day you and I will be together my beloved son. I promise," I said as I looked at Sess, my eyes overflowing with the love I had for my son and mate.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I sat in a circle with Yaten, Yusuke and Kuwabara as they regaled us with embarrassing stories of their lives before they met the saiiyans. We were in for an hour or two of laughs. But my mind was already drifting back to Zarbon and I sighed, contemplating our next rendezvous. My cheeks warmed up. How long would I be able to show self-control?

"Vegetaseii to Raine, please beam back to this stratosphere," I heard Kuwabara say and I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

"It's biosphere, you dimwit," Yusuke muttered.

"Not it's not!" Kuwabara bit back and the bickering resumed.

I smiled, sitting back against the wall as Yaten and I enjoyed a few finger foods the guys sneaked in from the kitchen. It was gonna be another one of those nights. And I was thankful for that.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I wandered round Vegeta's room, I was waiting for him to come out of the bathroom, after running his bath for him

I'd managed to successfully slip him some dosage of belle's Anti-viagra AND some of Zarbon's sleeping tablet I looked at the sky it had been about half an hour now and Vegeta emerged from the bathroom and looked at me, "Just clean up in there majo and you can go."

I watched as he walked to the bed and just flopped down on it looking every bit exhausted as if he'd fought some huge battle, but in fact hadn't.

"Yes sire." I walked in to the bathroom to clean up grinning to myself along the way.

'No rapid kind sex tonight... yay go me' I thought happily.

When I finished I emerged to find Vegeta fast asleep and I looked at him, he looked really peaceful and harmless and I looked at him.

"Maybe one day you might become a nice person, I believe people are able to change... when you get your three fold I believe you'll realise the truth about the ways of your people until then. I hope you rest well cause when your three fold comes you won't be getting off lightly." I remarked to the sleeping king, I may not have been able to harm him. But I knew for sure in the future he would be getting what's coming to him.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I looked at Sess as he finished his message to our son and I smirked, he was all business, but I could see the look of pride in his eyes as he recorded and I smiled as he stopped and looked at me. I leapt at him and pulled him into a waltz, which he quickly took control of and we danced together. I looked at him, losing myself in those iridescent, molten gold eyes. We danced together, our white and black robes and white and near black hair making us the perfect symbol of yin and yang. Finally we got closer and closer until we stopped and kissed again.

"Well, I think that's enough, would you like to write a letter to go along with this?" Zarbon asked and I suddenly remembered something.

"Wait! Taisho's not sleeping…maybe….maybe he needs a lullaby. Would you mind if I sang for him?" Zarbon shook his head and Sess moved out of the diamonds and I closed my eyes before imagining I was looking at my son. I opened my eyes again and began to sing the lullaby I sang for Gohan when he wouldn't sleep. I didn't look at anything as I began to sing. My face calm and in a bit of a smile as I sang to my son. I smiled as I reached the repeat and slowly spun as I began to move with my son. I imagined I was singing to a child and looked down as if at my son in a crib and I let my tone say everything my words could not. I closed my eyes as I hit the second repeat and I tried not to look as heartbroken as I felt. Then I began to imagine seeing my son and I let the hope and joy merge into my voice as I opened my eyes to look at my invisible son. I hugged myself as I sang, imagining I was hugging my son. I belted out the climax as I reached the part where Gohan always fell asleep and I began to get quieter as I imagined my sleeping son's face. I reached out my hand as if stroking his cheek. I held the last note for what felt like forever before closing my eyes.

"That's beautiful," Zarbon said quietly and I smiled before I nodded.

"I use it to put Gohan to sleep," I said before I reached out and grabbed Sess's hand.

"I have your cloth by the way," Zarbon said before pulling out a length of silk-like material and I looked at it before smiling. "You also have needles and matching thread there."

"Thank you, Zarbon, this means a lot to me," I said before Sess and I headed back to the barracks.

~*~*Raine*~*~

My eyelids were already heavy with sleep and my stomach was pleasantly full of finger foods and watered down wine. I sighed, turning to my side to gaze at Yaten's sleeping figure. He looked so peaceful that way. His golden eyes were so intense when he was conscious, but I loved them regardless. Kuwabara and Yusuke were somewhere in the barracks, probably arguing still. I had told them that my friends would be expecting them the next day and the two only seemed more anxious about the meeting than ever.

I yawned and pulled up my covers, loving the warmth. I smiled as my thoughts quickly drifted to Zarabon again. At some point in our conversations, we suddenly led to making out. And I had a feeling this would continue to happen until things truly escalated without interruption.

I grinned a devious grin. If he kept up this game, he'd soon learn that I was capable of a few things. I resisted the urge to giggle as sleep claimed me.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I entered the barracks Wolfwood and Vash looked up at me. "How'd it go?" Vash asked.

"Sleeping like a baby, a very evil king ruler baby." I remarked.

"That's good, see Zorn's medication doesn't always have to be used on me and Melfina." Wolfwood remarked.

I found my cheeks heating up. Vash took my hand. "Lets go celebrate." I watched as he held up a bottle of wine and I giggled.

"This a private party or can a priest who needs a drink join in to?" Wolfwood asked.

"I say why not!" I grinned. Vash popped the top of the bottle and looked at me.

I knew the look he was happy I was happy with not having to deal to Vegeta for another night, but soon I would have to stop before Vegeta figured something was up... or in his most recent case... wasn't up.