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 ❯ Partings of Sorrow and Broken Heart’s Lament ( Chapter 15 )

15: Partings of Sorrow and Broken Heart's Lament

~*~*~*~*~Six Months after the Full Moon~*~*~*~*~

~*~*Belle*~*~

I groaned as I sat down on Zarbon's sofa. The snow was high outside and we couldn't even reach the gazebo. I shook my head and then noticed the stares Hiei, Yusuke, and Kuwabara were giving my stomach.

"What are you three looking at? Did Jay write Goodyear on me again?" I cried as I struggled to get up and Sess's hand landed on my shoulder. "Make them stop that. I feel like a freak in a freak show." Sess looked at them and Hiei approached.

"Will you simply pop or will you give birth like a normal creature?" he asked and I slashed at him with my claws. He didn't even flinch.

"Hit him or something!" I cried as I tried to scratch the annoying runt over my large belly. "You know it's cruel and unwise to piss off a pregnant woman?"

"Yea, when I did that to her last time she gave birth," Jay said as she sat playing checkers with Vash, who was still winning even with the five million rules Jay made up to try and beat him.

"You know, you might as well just give up," Raine sighed. "He loves pissing her off and I bet she'll go into labor when she tries to get up." I glared at her as I took another swing at Hiei. I sighed as a familiar twinge hit me and I quickly allowed myself to fall off the sofa to keep the liquid from ruining the material.

"You were wrong Raine!" I cried and suddenly I was in Sess's arms and I sighed. Time to shove TWO bowling balls out of my keyhole.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I couldn't stand this cold weather. I much preferred the summer, then again, in the winter I could actually be covered up and look less appealing to that pervert, Turles. The AV was still working as usual and my group of friends and I were still as close as ever.

I smiled and lightly giggled at Belle's mention of J'dee's prank. That wasn't nice of her. I sat back on a couch not too far from her, curling my finger through Zarbon's hair as he rested his head on my lap.

I shook my head when Yusuke and Kuwabara continued to stare at Belle's stomach.

"Stop that you guys, it's rude," I giggled and they both blinked, shaking out of their stupors.

"She is bearing twins, remember?" I said and the two nodded, remembering.

Our attention was quickly drawn back to Belle as she and Hiei went at it again. I rolled my eyes, "You know, you might as well give up."

I looked to Jay, though she already knew, "He loves pissing her off and I bet she'll go into labor when she tries to get up."

"You were wrong Raine!"

My eyes widened and Zarbon sat up. Everyone got to their feet and hurried after Belle as Sess carried her to the infirmary.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I followed the others as we raced Belle to the informatory. I sighed. "And I was winning that game too… next time Chinese checkers." I remarked.

Vash looked at me and he shook his head. "Belle's going in to labor, and your worried about a checker game?"

"Yes I have nothing else to pass my time with it… besides it's the only strategy game I know I never learned how to play chess."

Wolfwood looked at me as he followed. "I'll have to teach you sometime."

"No it's okay you'll probably teach me how to loose."

Wolfwood frowned at me.

"Look there it is!!" I motioned to the informatory door. I pushed them open and Sess carried Belle through.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I huffed as I was placed on the table and noticed Zarbon telling the doctor something before coming in and closing the door as Sess stood by me. I began breathing as I pushed.

"Oh God! They're huge!" I screamed as I began to concentrate. It should be easier with twins and after I had given birth already. I growled as I found Sess's hand and began to share my pain with him. Sess yipped as I crushed his hand in mine and he grit his teeth as he squeezed my hand gently. I moaned and groaned, my contractions coming closer together as Sess whispered words of devotion to me. I snarled as I pushed, the infants inside of me must have decided that they didn't want to come out, not that I blamed them.

~*~*Raine*~*~

The other Yaimanu blinked at J'dee as she leaned against Vash with a bag of some kind of junk food.

"What?" she said defensively, "We've gotten used to it after the first time. Just sit back and wait."

"She's gonna be okay. Probably moody right now, but once the kids are born, she'll be back to her same old self again," I reassured them when we suddenly heard a loud yelp and all heads turned to the door.

I smiled wryly, "That must be Sesshomaru."

The Yaimanu turned to me.

"Why would Sesshomaru be in pain?" Kuwabara asked.

J'dee, Wolfwood, Vash, and I all grinned.

"When a woman goes into labor, she makes sure her husband is sharing her pain," I said and the guys looks worried. And jumped again when Belle began yelling.

I folded my arms, lowering my brows. This sure was taking longer than her last labor. I hoped she was all right.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Sod it man I'm outta chips." I tipped the bag upside down and only crumbs fell out and landed on the floor.

"Hey no littering!" A doctor called out to me. I dropped the bag on to the ground.

"Now it's littering. But what am I going to eat now?

"I have donuts." Vash pulled out a bag from under his red coat and I blinked and looked at the bag.

I just raised a brow. "Give me gum drops, potatoe chips, french fries, or popcorn and I don't even like popcorn… but no more donuts."

"Jay…" Vash gave me a look and I just looked back, he seemed to have recovered well after the Legato incident sometimes it was best to humor him and I sighed and grabbed a donut and ripped it in half forking half over to Wolfwood.

"Hey I'm not hungry." He stated.

"I suffer from the donut king you suffer too." I popped the half a donut in to my mouth. Glancing at the clock as I chewed their clocks weren't actually readable here, but I noticed that it must have been at least a good several hours of this planets time been already, I could only tell by the seven different symbols that passed through the digital clock that hung on the wall.

"Is this taking longer than last time?" I asked.

"You noticed that too huh?" Wolfwood looked at me.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I panted as I pushed again, my strength was leaving slowly and I knew something was wrong, I could see it in Zarbon and Sess's eyes. I let my breathing remain steady even though I wanted to scream again and again in agony. I looked at my distended stomach as Zarbon moved between my legs. His eyes told me enough, he was contemplating reaching in and pulling my children out but it would hurt like nothing I had ever felt before. Not that this whole experience wasn't just making me wish for a quick end. Sess looked at him and I looked at Sess's claws, no way was I letting him reach into me. I grabbed Sess's hand harder and I looked at Zarbon.

"Do it!" I snarled as I closed my eyes as Zarbon pulled on a glove and moved into position.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I looked over wearily watching Vash and Kuwabara eating the bag of donuts between them.

"You know if you get the recipe for these to me I could make them." Kuwabara offered.

"I doubt it." Yusuke scoffed. "You nearly got us killed twice already with your bad cooking."

"Shuddup."

"Ooooh nice retort you think that up on your own?" Yusuke laughed.

I looked at Raine. "Are they always like this?"

She looked over at Kurama and Hiei and then all three nodded in unison.

"Dear megami gurl how do you put up with it?"

She laughed. "Trade secret."

"Last donut!" Vash announced.

Kuwabara grabbed it and scoffed it down.

"You know… times like this I'm glad I'm human and my stomach isn't a bottomless pit." I just crossed my arms and nodded.

It was then we heard the screaming from in the room. Belle's screaming and it was loud and sounded like it was painful.

"Remind me when I'm pregnant to ask for a sedative." I added.

~*~*Raine*~*~

We all jumped as Belle's screaming suddenly seemed to amplify. The Yaimanu turned to us with worry.

"Is she supposed to scream like that?" Yusuke asked.

I bit my lower lip, not sure what to tell him.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sobbed as Zarbon pulled the first twin out of me and I panted as I practically shoved Sess between my legs.

"The other one is coming! NOW!" I shouted and he quickly moved in time to catch the other twin. I sobbed as I let my head fall back to the pillows as the sound of twin screams met my ears. I felt someone between my legs cleaning me up and I looked to see Zarbon finish wiping my legs off.

"Congratulations," he whispered before heading out to tell the others. I panted quietly as I looked to see Sess wrapping them up and I looked at him with a smile as his tail wagged like crazy.

"Our daughter," he whispered as he handed me a bundle, inside of it was an angel. Her eyes were my blue and her hair was her father's, the little face too young to determine. Her big eyes watched me as I stroked her cheek and kissed her head.

"Hello Rin," I whispered as I held her to me.

"Our second son," Sess stated as he placed a second bundle into my arms and I looked at a baby boy with my hair and his father's golden eyes. I nearly cried out when I realized his furry, black ears were on the top of his head, they were bent over like a new born puppy's, then again he was over half canine.

"Hello, Sesshoumaru," I whispered and Sess looked at me as I kissed my son's forehead. "My choice, I name him after his father." Sess snorted before he brushed the heads of his twins and I closed my eyes.

"Belle?" his voice was strained and I looked at him.

"I'm tired Sess, I will not pass from this life yet, but I do need my rest," I whispered as I closed my eyes. "Take them now, while I'm too weak to notice." Sess kissed me on my forehead before the bundles were removed from my arms.

~*~*Raine*~*~

We all shuffled into the room just in time to see Sess and Zarbon slip through one of their many secret passages. I frowned and turned to Belle, who was unconscious on the medical table. I sighed and walked over, stroking her forehead and hair. Twice in a lifetime. How did she do it? How could she deal with not being able to raise her children? How did she get by when her first born was taken from her and sent away? I sighed and stepped away.

"Uh oh," I heard Vash say.

We all turned to him.

"What? What's wrong?" J'dee asked, concerned.

"Bardock and Radditz are headed this way right now," he said and we all tensed up. It was time to put on our game faces. If they suspected foul play, we could all be in trouble. When the saiiyans entered the room, I averted my eyes to the floor and chose to keep my back to the wall as they approached Belle.

"Where are the brats?" Bardock demanded to no one in particular.

A doctor suddenly stepped into the room and gave them the B.S. story that was given for her first 'miscarriage'. Bardock growled and slammed his fist into the medical table, only lightly enough so as not to make the thing fall over, but leave a dent beside Belle's sleeping form.

"Useless as a bedwarmer, useless as a child-bearer. Why do you bother keeping her around, father?" Radditz asked.

I balled my fist. My eyes turned to Yusuke who's eyes were on me. They read "don't say SHIT". I sighed and continued to stare at the floor. Radditz looked back my way before turning back to Belle.

"Maybe we should've just castrated her like Turles did to his concubine. Then this wench would be warming my bed instead of wasting my time in here," Radditz muttered and I could sense a collective tongue biting from everyone else in the room.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I couldn't believe the nerve of those Saiyans. We were nothing but things they could claim… I scoffed and Bardock looked at me. "Is there something you wish to share?"

I caught the looks of everyone in the room they were all reading the same look 'don't say anything'.

"I think about telling them... eventually." I stated.

"Jaaaaaay…" Vash warned his voice low.

"Pshhhh as if they can touch me. I bare the royal symbol they touch me without permission for a good reason then they'll be hiffed out just like Broly nearly was."

Radditz blinked then his eyes narrowed. "What do you know about that?"

"How did you know that?" Vash asked. "I didn't tell you."

"Simple I spoke to a Tsfuru-jinn slave. She said the Saiyans came and destroyed their race and their planet before claiming it as their own, and enslaving the Tsfuru-jinn as their scientists, of course sine then they've killed all the scientists and keep only a handful of Tsfuru-jinn alive, their number is less than the human number."

Bardock scoffed "What you know is none of my concern but more the King's. I lost two future slaves today and I want to know why?"

~*~*~*~*~

I opened my eyes and glared at Bardock and Raditz, deciding to use my despair to power my rage. The air was thick with the smell of my blood, it would be hard to tell if the infants had survived with just a Saiyan sense of smell.

"The only person you have to blame is yourself!" I snapped as I struggled to get up, Nicholas pushing me down as he played the protective husband role. "Humans are weak beings! Emotional strain, physical strain, either one can destroy the life of our unborn children!"

"What?" Bardock snapped and I bit back a growl deciding to cry instead.

"You gave me to that damn Brolli! He may not have caused a miscarriage but he did hurt me! He ruined my life! He took my children's lives!" I sobbed and clung to Nicholas. Bardock growled and there was the sound of a fist hitting flesh. I opened my eyes to see Raditz wipe the blood off his chin that was pouring from his split lip.

"I told you I should have done it! I knew your damn friend would be just as bad as you, but Vegeta demanded I teach the Dog a lesson and that lesson has cost me two infants! And YOU said that Brolli could control himself!" Bardock snapped at Raditz and the younger Saiyan stared at his father in shock.

"I thought he could!" Raditz snapped back as he realized he was showing weakness. "It's not my fault he's a fool!"

"No! But it is your fault I chose him instead of bedding her myself! You cost me TWO new slaves! You damn well better be prepared to repay me!" Bardock snapped and Raditz grumbled before heading out. "What happened to the bodies?" I glared at Bardock as I held onto Nicholas.

"My friend, the Dog, took them to give them a proper burial where you will not find them," I spat and Bardock glared at me before scenting the room.

"You had difficulty?" he asked and I felt shocked that he cared.

"Bringing two dead children into this world nearly took me out of it," I stated before burying my head into Nicholas' chest.

"Lord Bardock, please, my mate has been through enough," Nicholas stated and I watched as my master left. I sighed as I fell back on the bed and panted more.

"Are you alright?" Raine's voice reached me and I shook my head.

"I lost a lot of blood," I stated quietly. I heard a few mumbled gasps.

"She'll be fine by morning," Hiei stated as he entered the room and I glared at him. "Well?" I smirked as I closed my eyes.

"Princess Rin and Prince Sesshoumaru are already on their way to Koga's keeping," I whispered in a voice barely in the range of a whisper. "They are beautiful." I listened to Hiei explain to those who couldn't hear me, the sounds of their laughter sending me to sleep.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I sighed and headed back with the guys. It was times like this that I was glad that I was castrated almost immediately after falling under Turles' ownership. I folded my arms.

"Don't say anything to Yaten," I said.

"Why?" Kuwabara asked before catching himself, "Oh."

"I can't stand this. We're always walking on eggshells for some reason or other. I want this load off of my back," I muttered and there was silence amongst the three of us on the way back.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"You know I had a dream about Adam last night, it's been so long…" I remarked as I walked back to the barracks.

Vash looked at me curiously. "Was he trying to tell you something?"

"I think so. He had these plans for something. I wish I knew more about it. But the guys on my mum's side are the mechanics, it was definitely mechanical, I don't know where I'm going to get the parts for it, let alone if I can remember it."

We stopped outside the barracks and walked inside I walked to the bunk and dove under it pulling out my cargos and opened the pocket and pulled out my art pad.

"What's that other pocket for?" Vash motioned to a bigger one.

"Oh that's my cd pocket…" I pause and opened it up and in a plastic slips was a CD. A CD I thought I'd lost three days prior to the destruction of Earth. "Dude… it's one of my cds… now only if I had a cd player…"

Wolfwood just grinned. "I know where you can find one."

"Here?" I looked at him.

"Yeah one of the girls in laundry found it among the clothes of that were to be thrown out among one of Toma's slaves clothes, he only bought one human, the fellow died last week…"

"This is cooool. Lets go get it. I can show Vash some of our music."

"You music more like it."

I grinned. "Yeah true." I handed Vash the CD. "Ohhh can you put this in your pocket?" I picked up my art pad and began to sketch furiously what I could remember from my dream, Maybe Adam was helping me to gain something of the human race back?

I continued to sketch as we headed out.

"I'll get it, I'll meet you guys at the shaman's place." Wolfwood remarked.

I nodded and I bounced clinging on to Vash as Wolfwood headed off.

~*~*Belle*~*~

Sesshoumaru walked through the secret passages, Zarbon behind him. The two had traveled in silence since they entered the walls and Zarbon offered to carry one of the infants. Both were nestled in their father's arms as he led the way to Naile's chambers where Pai, Tien, Naile, and Piccolo waited to take the twins to Namek where Koga would be waiting to sneak them back to Tenrousei. Sesshoumaru looked at his daughter, her blue eyes were wide open as she batted at a strand of his hair. He looked at her and stopped.

"Zarbon, hold Sesshoumaru, my son," Sesshoumaru stated, that woman had to name his son after him, it would be confusing in the future.

"Of course," Zarbon said as he approached his friend, gently cradling the child in his arms as he watched Sess press a claw to his daughter's forehead. He kissed it and Zarbon watched in amazement as a blue star appeared on her forehead. "What about him?" Sesshoumaru looked at he second son and smiled before handing off his children. He reached down and opened his son's blankets so the boy's navel was exposed. He touched the boy with his poison and watched as a crescent moon appeared around the boy's navel.

"Give me back my daughter," he stated and Zarbon complied. Watching the Yamainu Prince walk his children to their salvation.

Sesshoumaru looked at his Rin, her eyes were now closed and he could see the slight red that rimmed her upper eyelid as well as the two, faint purple stripes beside her ears. She would wear his markings. He turned his eyes to his son, the boy was handsome already and would probably favor his dame as had the first son. Young Sesshoumaru had purple over his eyes and a single stripe of red, the reverse of his twin. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes against the tears as he stopped and allowed Zarbon to open the door to Naile's chambers.

"BABIES!" Pai cried before rushing to look at the two infants and Sesshoumaru sighed as he noticed the baby carriers they had this time. He closed his eyes as he approached them and held his children to his breast before kissing each one. He placed each child in a carrier before reaching into his pocket and pulling out two necklaces. He wrapped one around each child's neck before stroking the pendent on the end.

"What are those?" Piccolo asked and Sesshoumaru turned to him before lifting something from out of his robes.

"Belle's idea. She made Taisho the robe with our hair as the decorative thread. She made these rope necklaces out of our hair. I wear a necklace made of her hair, she wears one made out of mine, and our children now wear a necklace made from both our hair together. The pendants each hold a hologram of us," he said, his voice hollow. "Here is one for Taisho." He extended his hand and Piccolo removed the necklace. The ropes were strange, a wisp of black, a wisp of white, looking either like one or the other with the change of light. It was beautiful and Piccolo imagined that Belle had worked hard to get the hair to do that.

"He will receive it," Piccolo said and Sesshoumaru nodded before he knelt by each carrier and kissing his children goodbye. He turned and was gone like a ghost through the passages. Zarbon nodded, he knew where Sesshoumaru was going.

"Take care of him…please," Naile whispered to Zarbon before the four began to leave. Naile and Pai carrying one of the carriers each.

~*~*Raine*~*~

The sky didn't seem as beautiful tonight as it did on other nights. I sighed, absently stroking Kuwabara's hair as he rested his head in my lap, already fast asleep. Yusuke was dozing off in his chair next to me. I couldn't help but smile, reaching out to stroke his ear. He lightly whimpered in his sleep, not in pain, but more from enjoyment. I giggled and pulled away and dozed off again. I smiled and looked to Yaten who sat on the balcony's edge.

"What was Kinmoku like?" I asked out of the blue. I don't know what possessed me to ask, but it broke the silence. At least for a second. Yaten looked back at me, a little surprised, but then eased, slipping off of the balcony's edge and pulling up a chair in front of me, resting his elbows on the tabletop.

"It was beautiful. Like Earth, but with so much more wildlife and forests. Our palace was a sight to behold. The towns were covered with lush green vines and flowers. It was just beautiful," he sighed.

I sat back, trying to imagine it. I would've loved to visit such a place.

"Why the sudden interest?" he asked.

I shrugged, "In all honesty, I don't know. I think maybe I've wanted to know for a while."

Yaten nodded, accepting my answer and rested his cheek against the cool tabletop. I tilted my head to the side, "Did you sing publicly on Kinmoku?"

He suddenly smiled and shook his head, "Only for our princess. Oh we loved her so. Raised us when our parents were gone, taught us everything we knew, loved us."

I smiled, "She sounds like a good person."

"Oh she was," Yaten nodded, "I'd never met a kinder, more beautiful soul than hers. Saved my life."

I looked at him. He sat up and leaned into his chair, looking up at the stars, "Even before my birth, the kingdom I was to inherit was swarmed in controversy and tension. My father was the son of an evil, conquering queen. My mother was the queen of her planet. Our people specialized in the ability to heal and were a peaceful people. It was a shock to see that a man who grew up under a heartless, murderous woman would find love in a woman the opposite of his mother. Married my mother against his own mother's wishes and I was conceived.

"My grandmother didn't take this lying down. Merely five years after my birth, she attacked our planet. Destroyed everything and even killed my father. When it was merely me and my mother left in the palace, she stalked after us. She was much too powerful than anyone on our planet. My mother died shielding me from Beryl's attacks."

"Beryl was her name?" I asked.

He nodded, "She had assumed that the blow had gone through my mother and hit me as well, so she left for other victims, I don't know. That's when I met my princess, Kakyuu. She showed up like an angel from above, and took me into her arms without a second thought. She blanketed me in her warmth and bathed me in a light that removed us from the planet only second before it was destroyed as well. Kakyuu took me to her palace where I met my brothers and she had raised us from then. I thank her to this day for her kindness."

I was at a loss for words. She probably died defending him the day the saiiyans attacked. I frowned, my eyes moistening slightly.

"I'm sorry," I said in practically a whisper.

He smiled despite himself, a tear was already running down his cheek, "Don't be. I enjoyed every moment I spent with her and my brothers. I'm so thankful I at least got to say good-bye to her before she was gone."

I sighed, "Yaten..."

He approached me without another word and kneeled beside me. I pulled him into my embrace and let him cry into my chest while I myself cried for him.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

We were sitting round in the common room in the shaman's place off to the side from his healing pools, Wolfwood placed the CD player down, Gene, Jim and Melfina were watching me furiously as I opened the CD player up… okay so it was more like a discman, but that was cool, it came with portable speakers too.

"And here we go." The engineering slave smiled as in a matter of thirty minutes had assembled what I had drawn, a Saiyan battery pack portable the ones that they used on their scouters. They were placed inside human shaped battery component and I placed them in the batter positions of the speakers and discman six batteries in total.

I gave her a hug. "Thanks a lot."

"No problem this was easy compared to what the Saiyans made me do."

"So you're a Tsfuru?" Wolfwood asked. "Could have fooled me I thought you were human when we first met."

She smiled. "No not human, Tsfuru." She nodded. "I was born in to slavery it's all I know how to do, from a young age I was trained for this."

"How long have the Saiyans been here?" Gene asked.

"Well the average life span of a Saiyan is about one hundred years. A Tsfuru is about seventy. I'm actually the second youngest Tsfuru here, and I'm Thirty-two. The youngest is a concubine to Zorn."

"The one I did a reading for?" I questioned.

She smiled. "So you're the one who does those prophetic reading from a playing deck? The Tsfuru are impressed, you were right she wasn't pregnant."

"Go me." I grinned.

"Well I have to get back to my barracks, enjoy your entertainment."

"Wait do we get a name?" Vash asked.

She smiled again, she seemed unphased by all the slavery. "Bulma…"

"Bulma… that's a strange name." Vash mused. "Almost as strange as Melfina."

Melfina frowned at Vash. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Not that it isn't a good name."

"See if I give you links to donut guy again." Melfina huffed.

"Mel no I didn't mean it!"

I looked at Bulma. "I like that name, it's a nice name."

"It's a family thing." She remarked with a shrug and headed off.

"Bye!" I waved as she smiled and waved and headed off. "She's nice I like her."

"Lets play this thing." Wolfwood remarked Vash pulled out the CD slip and I took the CD out and slipped it in and closed it down and turned the speakers on before pushing play.

When the familiar "Superstar" Song by Jamelia burst out I jumped up excited. "Oh MEGAMI!!! Alright!" I glomped on to Vash and Wolfwood blinked.

"Should I leave you two alone?" He joked.

"Hey would you mind terribly if I said yes?" Vash looked at Wolfwood.

I thumped Vash. "Hey ow! What was that for?"

"Can't you think of something else for a change?"

"Sure Donuts."

"You know I think I will just leave. Don't forget to stash that here. Bulma mentioned earlier about foreign objects that could possibly promote rebellion or freedom movements as being confiscated and the culprits executed."

I looked at Wolfwood. "Yeah it's going to stay here. No one comes here. Well no saiyans."

"Catch you two later for once I'm going to get an early night, undrugged." He grinned and walked off.

"Hey that was months ago!" I protested.

"Yeah we don't do that there anymore. It's either here or at Zarbon's pools when no one's looking." Vash added.

I thumped him again. "Don't advertise!"

Gene placed a hand on Jim's shoulder. "We'll just follow the priest."

Melfina smiled. "Have fun."

I turned bright red, advertising that was so typical of Vash.

The door shut and we heard Wolfwood chuckle as he walked off with Melfina, Jim and Gene. I let out a startled cry as Vash flipped me over and I became trapped underneath him and his red coat.

'I don't know what it is, that makes me feel like this, I don't know who you are, but you must be some kind of superstar, cause you got all eyes on you no matter where you are…'

I giggled. "I like this song."

Vash smiled down at me and I placed my arms round his neck and pulled him down and he paused millimeters above my face. "Did you bring the little red book?"

I laughed. "No…"

"Good thing I know it front to back then."

"So the gunman has a good memory too?" I smirked and pulled him down kissing him.

When Vash pulled back he was grinning. "Well if this song gets you like this, then I think it can become a favorite song of mine too."

I laughed and pulled him down again.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I woke up as I felt someone picking me up and I knew it was Sess even before my brain to recognize his scent.

"They are gone," I said, it was a statement, not a question and he held me tight to him. I didn't cry as I held onto him, my body and heart numb as he carried me back to the barracks. I played with his hair as he held me to him and I let the first sob go as he set me on his bed. Soon enough he was beside me and I held onto him. I began to weep, my children were gone. I was a mother of three now and I might never see my children. I sobbed into his chest as I held onto Sess, my only safe haven on this damn planet. His lips came down and I calmed as he kissed me. He told me through caresses and kisses how he felt. We didn't make love, God no, it was too early for me to even THINK about that. Still, we kissed, our lips keeping out the noises of grief that would pour out if we didn't. His arms wrapped around me pulling me close to him and I sighed as I rested my head over his heart, falling asleep to the rhythmic sound of his beating heart.

~*~*~*~*~The Next Morning~*~*~*~*~

~*~*Raine*~*~

I yawned even as I ran the soapy loofah over my right arm. Turles was in the room getting dressed. I didn't bother looking. I knew he was watching me. I turned my back on him, squeezing the loofah against my back and allowing the soapy water to trail down my back. Ume's words, whatever he said, had gotten through to his friend. Because Turles approached me about a week or two ago.

I gasped as his fingers plunged me again. I wouldn't let him think he was one-upping me. I was the one with the power. He was impotent and unable to take me. What would he do? Make me moan to death? But still…

My vision blurred as I reached closer and closer to sweet release...

"You don't know how happy it would make me to beat that defiance out of you," he whispered before his mouth descended upon my chest and I arched my back.

But he and I both knew that that would get him nowhere. I would walk around with a scar, but he still wouldn't be able to take me. He kept making the usual threat of counting the days to when he'd be able to touch me again. This was the closest he'd ever get with me. I gasped as I came and went limp in his arms. I moved to lean against the wall.

His lips suddenly claimed mine. He kissed me over and over, passionately and feverishly until we both needed air. He suddenly grabbed my chin, serious, "Speak that way again, and Yaten will suffer for you sharp tongue."

He kissed me again before letting me go and leaving the room. I folded my arms around myself, staring at the floor.

I looked back at him, seeing that all-too-familiar look in his eyes. I turned my back on him, smirking anyway. It was the closest he'd ever get to pleasure, seeing me revel in it while he wished he could join in.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Did you two sleep here all night?" A familiar voice asked. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, pulling Vash's coat over me.

Bulma just smiled. "You two will be in so much trouble when Vegeta finds out. But I'm not telling him."

Vash was still sleeping soundly. "So what's your story?" I asked her.

She leant up against he doorframe. "I was born on this planet, I was one of Vegeta's concubines till he found out my father had been training me in engineering. Now I'm an engineering slave. When Vegeta found out our race was dying he tried to get me to mate with one of the other Tsfuru… It worked. But I only produced one child, and then my mate was killed for being a defiant hothead." She huffed. "It's typical really that damn Yamcha." She smiled.

"Was he cute?" I giggled.

Bulma laughed. "Yeah. Unbelieveably cute, and a damn hothead."

"That's hot head mentioned twice already."

"I feel the need to emphasize it."

"Your daughter?" I asked.

Bulma blinked. "Huh?"

"Zorn's concubine she's a Tsfuru isn't she, she's the youngest, she has to be yours and Yamcha's child."

"Yeah we sent her off this planet through Zarbon but where she was raised was attacked by the Saiyans also and she ended up back here." I noticed the sad expression in her voice. "Now the reason I came here is the Shaman wants to see you."

"Ooooh okay."

I wore Vash's coat as I went to see the shaman and he smiled at me. "I have news for you, my smoke crying tells me news you need to know."

I played round with my ki dampener on my right wrist nerviously. "What is it?"

"A family member has survived and is here."

My eyes widened. "Really?" I asked. "Who?"

"A young man with black hair. He is a labourer here."

My hand touched my mouth lightly. "Boy… it's boy isn't it? My brother?"

"Yes. He is a slave under Paragas."

My shoulders nearly slumped in defeat. "Paragas.. as in Broly's old man? Ooooh shit… There's going to be no way I can get to him."

"And I have more news regarding yourself."

I looked at him. "More news?"

~*~*Belle*~*~

I woke up to see I was alone in Sess's bed. I sighed as I buried my face into his pillow taking in his scent. I sighed as I closed my eyes against the pain and I clicked my hologram projector. I looked at Taisho, his happy smiles and he beautiful face.

"They would have killed him," I whispered and the thought of my son's death, all of my children's deaths, motivated me to get up. I stumbled over to the washbasin, I quickly filled mine and stripped. I began to wash my sweat from my body. There was less sweat than at Taisho's birth, even though it had been far longer. "Hmmm less sweat glands." I sighed as I pinned my hair up and washed my neck, running my fingers over Sesshoumaru's mark. I smiled as I thought of him, he was the strong one, of course, I had nearly broken his hand.

"You should be in bed," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around me and I looked at him.

"You snuck up on me," I said as I washed one arm before turning my neck and kissing my mate. "Could you get my back for me?" I looked at him and he took the washcloth. Slowly he began at my shoulders, moving in tiny circles, I purred as he moved down my spine. He purred with me as he washed my back and I had to keep from falling to the ground as a puddle of mush. Sess turned me around and pulled me close, kissing me and I purred as I held onto him, losing my fingers into his air. Our lips battled and merged, making us one. I opened my eyes and looked at him, my eyes catching his neck and I blinked as I pulled his robe to the side to see he wore no mark. I looked at him and kissed him.

"What are you thinking?" he asked and I smiled before I kissed his neck.

"You gave me your mark, I'll give you mine now that I can," I whispered as I bit into his shoulder, his back arched and he moaned in pleasure as I buried my fangs into his shoulder. I pulled back and licked the wound clean, pulling back to be kissed with such intensity I nearly fell over. When we parted we were both gasping for air, I looked at Sess, the emotions in his eyes made me smile and stroke his cheek. "I did it right?"

"You did it perfectly," he whispered before he leaned down and kissed me again. "Now let me get your legs." I laughed and placed my hands on his shoulders, keeping my balance as he continued to wash me.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"Man, how long has it been since I've enjoyed one of these?" I heard Kuwabara say as he hurried ahead of us for the hot baths. Though I had already bathed, I couldn't pass up soaking in a warm bath in this weather. My fingers intertwined with Zarbon's as we held hands. I blinked and turned around to see Belle and Sesshomaru. My smile brightened. I wasn't expecting her out so soon.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Vash and I were back at the barracks cleaning up, I was still thinking on what the shaman told me I was now in deep deep DEEEEEEP water, if Vegeta was to find out indeed. I washed myself slowly and Vash was just brushing his hair up in to its normal spikes.

He looked at me. "You okay?" He asked.

"Oh yeah… fine we're going to the bath house at Zarbon's, just removing your scent in case any Saiyans pick up on it as we pass them on the way."

"So what did the Shaman have to say?" Vash asked.

"I'll tell you later okay." I smiled and he nodded.

"It's got you quiet… and when your quiet I worry." Vash stated.

"Okay I guess I can tell you. My brother is alive and here."

Vash stared at me. "Your brother…"

"Yes!" I nodded rapidly despite the bad news of possible doom by Vegeta my brother was alive.

Vash smiled at me. "That's great."

"Bad news he's under Paragas, which means… going through Broly."

Vash frowned. "That could prove difficult."

I stood up and slipped in to one of the new dresses Vegeta got, it was more covering than the last, A red floor length shoe string strap dress, low back really low back and a low front like J'lo low. I frowned.

"I need magick tape."

"Tape?"

"So I don't fall out." I laughed.

"It looks nice on you."

I nodded. "Yeah I have to wear it Vegeta wants to see me later."

"Need some AV?" Vash asked.

"Nope. It's not sexual need." I grabbed the brush and brushed my hair before pulling it up on top of my head and positioning it in to a messy but shaggadelic styles of wisps coming out here and there. "Lets go."

~*~*Belle*~*~

We walked together through the garden of snow and ice, I sighed as I felt the coldness work into me and I held onto Sess, who pulled me under his cloak as we walked through the garden to get to Zarbon's. We entered the secret passages and came out to see the others heading to the baths.

"Wow, you're up, we thought you'd be out for a while," Raine said as she looked at me and I smirked.

"I'm getting better, I need that healing spring though," I stated as I dropped my cloak to reveal my white dress with Sess's tail as the lining. "I'm part Yamainu and I think a dip in the spring will have me back to normal."

"You are always welcome to come and use it," Zarbon said and I nodded before we headed into the baths and I smirked as I noticed that the others were using bathing suits. I simply went in bare.

"Belle!" Jay cried and I looked at her.

"I don't care anymore," I stated as I slipped into the healing spring up to my neck and sighed. "Besides, if I go in the buff it encourages Sess to. I do love my mate."

"Thanks Hun," Nicholas chuckled as he hopped into the one with the others and I sighed as Sess slipped into the healing one with me and we rested together. I even fell asleep.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I giggled to see Yusuke and Kuwabara arguing once again about something silly. I turned my attention to Zarbon whose embrace only added to the warmth in the pool. I smiled and nuzzled against his chest.

"Raine…" he murmured.

"Hmm?" I asked.

"Remember the party during the full moon?" he asked.

I suddenly blushed, "Yes…"

I nearly jumped when I felt his hand slip past my thighs and move between them. But then when I caught on, "Uh uh…not here."

He smirked and held me close, leaving me no choice but to submit to his ministrations with all these people in here. I blushed, trying hard not to draw attention to myself.

"Zarbon…you're starting to act like Sess…" I breathed.

He grinned and kissed me, "Is that a good thing?"

He kissed me again, only more passionately. When he pulled away, I had to gather my composure, "Sure."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and his found their way around my waist. I ran my fingers through his soft, silky hair, enjoying the feel of his rock hard chest and abs against me, his strong arms around me. His hand stroked my cheek as his lips moved down to my neck and I could only moan softly as I reveled in the feeling.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Wolfwood looked at Vash as they watched Jay, she looked stressed out as she soaked in the pool.

"What did you do to her last night?" Wolfwood asked.

"She was fine last night. The shaman spoke to her this morning and she's been worrying me with silence." Vash frowned.

"She looks ready to break." Wolfwood added.

"I'm going to go cheer her up." Vash walked over to the solo pool where Jay soaked, unlike the shaman's pools there was only a slight view of everyone's pools and there was no concrete isle path leading up the middle of the room dividing the pools.

Vash stepped in to Jay's pool as she floated their candles placed around the pool pouring off a scent of lavender and herbs.

"Hey…" He moved up to her and she suddenly clung on to him and he blinked as she curled up next to him in the water. "You look like you need a smile."

"I do." She sighed.

"Ummm okay…" He grinned. "What's the last happy memory you have of your brother."

Jay smiled. "A play fight in the lounge, I was watching TV SVU and boy stomped on my back and gave off his evil cackle like he had defeated me and I grabbed his foot and we got in to a play fight chasing each other round the lounge, then I stole his seat and didn't want to move, he offered me chocolate so I gave up the seat." She laughed.

"So how old were you guys?"

Jay laughed more "I was twenty-two he was nineteen. He's about the same age as Belle, a regular goof, it runs in the family."

Vash smiled and then saw something that caught his attention.

"Looks like Raine and Zarbon are ready to go at it… I bought a Polaroid camera." He grinned.

Jay laughed and thumped him. "You did not!"

"I did so… it's in my coat. Bulma gave it to me this morning." He defended himself.

"You're such a pervert." Jay laughed.

"Orrrrrr… there's Sess and Belle they're looking pretty steamy right about now."

Jay looked over and Vash ginned. "And whose the pervert now?" He teased.

"Duuuuude how can she… she just popped out two kids the other day?! I want my DNA crossed with something."

Vash laughed. "You're going to make a comment aren't you?"

Jay got that familiar grin back on her face. "Booom shaka-laka ooooh yeah!" She smirked and cupped her hands in a megaphone shape. "HEY! You two must be feeling better if you're doing THAT!"

Vash looked at her and she grinned. Belle's mumble could be heard but what she said wasn't heard.

"Jay don't interrupt." Vash cried cheerily. "Take a picture instead." He added softly to her. He caught Belle's glare and wondered if she heard that. "Wow, that's as good as Sess's glare."

Jay smiled and pulled him down for a kiss settling on his lap.

"Damn the evils of bathing suits." Vash joked.

Jay laughed and thumped him.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as I leaned against Sess in the healing pool, playing with his long hair as he rested in the water beside me. I kissed his neck and suddenly I was pressed against the wall of the pool, staring into loving gold suns.

"HEY! You two must be feeling better if you're doing THAT!" Jay's voice called out and my eye twitched.

"I'm going to kill her," I stated as I glared at her.

"Jay, don't interrupt," Vash cried cheerily. I glared at him next. "Wow, that's as good as Sess's glare."

"Will you shut up, idiot?" Hiei growled and I sighed as I got up, my long hair covering my private areas.

"Yowza!" Yusuke cried and I blinked as I looked down to notice that my stomach looked normal.

"I love that spring," I chuckled as I quickly dressed and looked at the others. "Still, I need a good nap before I'll be back to normal."

"It is understandable," Kurama stated as he smirked and I followed his gaze to see Raine pull away from Zarbon as they noticed we were watching.

"We'll all leave you two alone," I chuckled before I took Sess's hand and began to lead the group out.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I was quick to leave the pool, already taking the teasing remarks and smiles from the others. Zarbon followed shortly. I gasped as I felt his hands on my waist. He gently planted kisses on my neck, "Why don't you stay?"

"N-No…I can't. I have to get back and wash off your scent before Turles can suspect," I said.

"But you can always do that here," he said.

I scoffed, "Right. You'd have your hands on me before I left this place."

He chuckled and continued to hold me, "What do you have to go back to there?"

I turned to face him, extremely tempted to take him up on his offer. I already knew why he wanted me to stay, but part of me was telling me not to go through with it. Not yet, anyway. I frowned, "I'd love to stick around…but..."

"But what?" he asked with those beautiful golden eyes of his and I soon found it harder to resist.

"Zarbon…" I pouted, "I should get back."

He pulled me closer to him, gently kissing my lips, "Stay."

"I-" I began.

"Raine? Hey, are you comin'?" I heard Kuwabara call and I looked back to see Yusuke peek in and suddenly smirk.

I sighed and turned back to Zarbon, "I should go."

He frowned, but then I smiled warmly and kissed him, "Don't worry. I won't keep you waiting for very long."

I smiled, holding his face for a few seconds before hurrying to catch up with the two Yaimanu.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"You wanted to see me Vegeta…" I remarked as I entered his room and thumped my forehead. "Sir." I corrected.

He looked at me and I recognized that look. 'Uh-oh' passed through my mind immediately.

"Majo… glad for you to make it, you took your time."

"I was washing up." I stated and I was yanked to the bed. "Whoa…" I shuffled back as Vegeta crawled over me and I watched as his Saiyan self began to sniff the air around me.

"Lavender… the onna uses Lavender."

I blinked. "Onna…"

"You smell of it, and that damn plant."

"We shared the water…" I stated.

Vegeta stood up I caught the look. "I can't monitor you all the time. So here's my new outfit for you." He walked to the table and picked up what looked like two dishcloths attached by string in a dark color the fabric thin and satin looking.

I nearly choked. "Exsqueeze me? Even Raine wears more than that."

He then held up a bottle about 750mls worth and grinned. I crawled off the bed and looked in to the bottle and blinked. "Paint… okay body art to the extreme…"

"You will be painted in this that way no one can touch you but me."

I stared at him in shock. "Am I living a mummy re-run?"

The door opened and Vegeta left me with a bunch of strange slaves and I growled in annoyance as I was stripped down and forced to sit in front of them naked as they used the paint and began to pain designs over my arms legs and body.

This was going to take some time.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I looked at Sess and sighed as we entered Bardock's parlor.

"How's your shoulder?" I asked and he smirked as he pulled down his robe to expose my bite mark. It was fully healed and a lovely shade of blue, much like my eyes, and yet different from the blue of his bite mark on my shoulder. "It's beautiful."

"Each mark is unique to its owner," he stated.

"Sadly that mark also means your death," Vegeta growled and we whipped around to see said bastard standing in the doorway with Bardock, Kakarot, Raditz, and Brolli.

"No…" I hissed as I brought a hand to my mouth, my hands tensing. I was ready to blast them all with my acid when Sess pulled me back behind him.

"Bad Dog, you know you weren't supposed to breed. Now we'll have to fix that as well as the bitch when we find her," Vegeta snarled and I slowly realized that they didn't realize I was his mate.

"You don't have to worry about her," Sess growled. "She died already to your hands!" Vegeta smirked.

"So, you and Shiori were mates after all, and here I was fooled into believing you were only showing her brotherly affection," Vegeta chuckled before he turned deadly serious. "Bring him to the throne room and call the nobles to witness." I watched as Raditz and Kakarot approached Sess and I realized what was going to happen.

"NO!" I screamed as Sess was grabbed, each arm taken by one of the brothers. I watched in horror and I snapped. I grabbed onto Kakarot's arm and began to pound on it as he began to drag Sess away.

"Belle go!" Sess ordered and I glared at him.

"I'm not letting them take my best friend!" I snapped as I beat my fists against Kakarot before I was struck! I slid across the floor, blinking in shock as I got up, feeling the skin bruise on the shoulder that had been struck.

"Behave, Woman!" Bardock growled and I screamed before I started towards Sess, who was suddenly struggling. Bardock was instantly in front of me, lifting me up into the air by my throat. I gasped as I continued to fight. I avoided using my claws, instead beating on his arm with my fist and kicking at his groin. "Do not make me kill you!"

"Death…is…not a…punishment…on Vegitasei!" I snapped and Bardock's eyes narrowed before he threw me across the room. I hit the ground near Kakarot's feet and slid into a pair of legs. It was Vegeta! I bit back the growl and tried to get to Sess. That was until a hand grabbed me by my hair and yanked me back off my feet. I hit the floor hard, the wind forced out of me.

"She seems determined to fight for the Dog. Perhaps we should invite her too. Gather their friends," Vegeta ordered as he lifted me off the ground by my hair and I managed to get to my feet.

"Bastard!" I shouted as I looked at Vegeta. He smirked before he slapped me. It was light, it hurt like a son of a bitch, but it would not leave a mark.

"I do not want to ruin your pretty face. The Animal deserves to see something beautiful before he dies," Vegeta chuckled and I glared at him as I pounded on his arm.

"You are the animal! You and your whole cursed race!" I cried as he tossed me to the ground. I glared up at him, the sound of Sess struggling reaching my ears and I looked back at my mate. He was getting punched and I knew it was because of me.

"You woman, are truly more trouble than you're worth," Bardock growled as he grabbed my by my throat and began to drag me, following Vegeta.

~*~*Raine*~*~

Yusuke, Kuwabara, Yaten and I were hurrying through the palace grounds for the palace. We had been suddenly summoned by the King for some kind of spectacle that he insisted we were present for. The thought shook me to the core. The last time I recalled something like that was when Belle and Sesshomaru were both beaten before an audience for protecting some alien child. I was in a regen tank when it happened, but Wolfwood filled me in.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I walked out of Vegeta's room my body adorned in paint wearing the ki dampeners, and the satin skirt I walked down the hallway my hair hanging out and I looked up as Zorn approached me.

"With me… now." He stated.

"Vegeta wants to see me again?" I asked.

"Not just you, but the nobles too."

"Lead the way." I huffed and waved my hand about. "Vegeta with his tre malo yitz's." I grumbled.

"What was that?"

"Watch the movie Stalin you'll get it… oh no wait you can't your people blew up my planet."

"Why you!" Zorn went to hit me and I motioned him to.

"C'mon, I dare you body paint so no one can touch me." He paused and looked at me.

"That's not fishnet?" He asked.

"I know they did a pretty good job it actually looks like clothing…" I remarked. I was expecting random spots here and there but nope I got the full Anucksunamun deal."

"So no one can touch you?" He asked. I thought I heard disappointment in his voice. Had he been planning something?

"Yep. NOOOO TOUCHY!" I announced as we passed by some Saiyans. Still they looked as I passed. "Back home this would be seen as indecent exposure… or contemporary art."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I gasped for air when Bardock let me fall to the floor of the room and I glared at him as Kakarot and Raditz dropped Sess. I glared at him.

"Once all of the nobles are here, you will die, Dog, just wait for it," Vegeta chuckled and I glared at him before the door closed and the room was left in darkness.

"Oh, Sess, this can't be happening," I sobbed as I found him by the sound of his heartbeat. "This is all my fault, if I hadn't looked at my mark in Bardock's chambers…"

"Belle, they would have seen it eventually," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around me. I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my ear over his heart.

"What will they do to you?" I asked as I held onto him tightly. He stroked my hair before he moved my head to kiss my forehead.

"They will probably torture me and then kill me before the nobles that reside here," Sess whispered and suddenly his heart slowed down. "Belle, when I die you must demand Vegeta for Sovereign." I looked at him through the darkness, making out the points of light that were his eyes. I stroked his cheeks.

"Sovereign?" I whispered in confusion. His hands on my shoulders were comforting…whatever was to come I had to be strong.

"It means I will be dressed and given my royal weapons so I may be given my proper burial on Tenrousei," he whispered, there was something hidden in his voice and I wondered if he didn't have some sort of plan. "It is very important that you call for Sovereign right after I die."

"Sess…" I sobbed as I clutched at his robes. "I don't…I can't….I can't go on without you!" Suddenly the comforting hands on my shoulders were shaking me.

"Belle! You must! You have to continue! For Taisho! For Rin! For Sesshoumaru! And for me!" he snarled as he pulled me close. "I want you to live. I promise. If we must meet in the next life then that is how it must be. You must live long enough to gain your freedom. Zarbon will do what he can to help you! I love you." He kissed me in the darkness, his tongue in my mouth, I quickly joined him, giving him all my love as I listened to the approaching footsteps. We broke away and pulled away enough so that when the door opened we didn't look suspicious.

~*~*Raine*~*~

We soon gathered in one of the palace rooms. Apparently, J'dee, Vash and Wolfwood were summoned as well. We joined up with them. They were just as in the dark as we were. We were amongst a crowd of people called upon to witness something sick and painful, something these bastard apes called entertainment. We looked to see two doors open and watched in shock as Belle and Sesshomaru were suddenly dragged out. I felt emptiness in my stomach. They were going to be tortured again.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I entered the room and saw Vegeta's eyes fall on me and I looked back at him, apparently I was the last due to the paint job.

I saw Vash and Wolfwood were already here. But no Belle, and seeing Wolfwood I knew he was here cause Belle got herself in to trouble again. That girl never learned.

It was then Vegeta called for them to be brought out and I watched, this sort of torture would have been typical for me back home, seen once were warriors, yeah Jake the Muss and my dad, though my dad didn't drink and he wasn't maori… the domestic violence was still the same and a lot of times we had to witness the abuse unable to help. Memories I didn't want surfaced as all I could do was watch the scene.

But all the while my mind wondered. 'What had the two of them done this time?'

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sobbed as I fought Bardock's grip before he finally grabbed me by my neck and held my back against his chest while securing me against him by holding onto my hip painfully.

"Sess!" I cried out, my throat suddenly in a crushing grip and I whimpered as I felt the tears falling down my cheeks.

"So Prince Sesshoumaru, why don't we show the court why you are here?" Vegeta chuckled as he reached out and ripped Sess's shirt off, exposing my mate from his waist up. Flicking Sess's hair over his other shoulder Vegeta exposed my mark…the reason that Sess was going to be murdered. I sobbed harder as I realized that if I had not been so foolish and impulsive my mate might still have been safe. Several of the nobles made shocked noises, they hadn't known…well duh!

"How do you plea to the accusation that you, Prince Sesshoumaru of the Yamainu, broke the Prisoner Treaty of Vegitasei by taking a mate?" Vegeta asked. Sess glared at him before smirking, exposing his fang.

"I plead guilty," he chuckled as he stood up and I felt my heart jump to my throat. "I am Prince Sesshoumaru of the Yamainu, Son of King Inu Taisho, and True Heir to the Throne of Tenrousei. You kept me a slave for many long years, but the winds of change are coming, King Vegeta of Vegitasei. And soon, you will regret the crimes you have committed against my people by supporting the false claims of Naraku the traitor, the crimes against my house by enslaving my brother and I, and the crimes against me, my mate, and our children. You will fall, Vegeta. And you and your allies in war are not strong enough to withstand the approaching change." I felt my heart beat hard, the urge for freedom made me scream even louder and begin to kick and punch Bardock, somehow managing to catch him in the groin.

"Sesshoumaru!" I cried before I was hit from behind and I hit the ground hard, whimpering as a boot was on my shoulders holding me down. I looked up at Bardock as he snarled at me.

"Behave, Wench or you'll join him!" he snarled and I shut my mouth and stared at Sess as he stood before me, his bare chest broad and powerful, his long hair a white cape down his back, his gold eyes glowing with power, and his face, strangely at peace.

"You speak well, Slave, but you are unable to put up much of a fight," Vegeta snarled and Sess smirked.

"Only because you hide behind my collar, keeping those I value as friends captive, and preventing me my weapons. If you did not hold those, I would kill you easily and we both know it," Sess said and Vegeta snarled.

"For your crimes, I, King Vegeta of Vegitasei sentence you to death!" Vegeta roared and I felt my blood run cold.

"You will fall," Sess said and I screamed as I watched Vegeta's hand glow white before a ray of light struck Sess through the chest and my mate fell to the ground.

"Leave, let the bastard die here in peace with his wretch of a friend," Vegeta ordered and everyone began to file out, somewhere alone the crowd I saw Raine, I saw Jay, I saw Zarbon, but it didn't matter that I had seen them. My focus was on Sess. I cried, struggling to get free of Bardock's weight.

~*~*Raine*~*~

My eyes widened and I covered my mouth as Belle screamed for her mate. I shook my head as Yusuke and Kuwabara were frozen in shock. I just stood there myself, unaware of how to react. This had to be some joke, some kind of dream. He'd open his eyes and smile at Belle. He'd tell her to get him to a regen tank, tell her it'd be alright. Then he'd fall asleep and we'd all rush him in, only to see him tomorrow at the gazebo, or at Zarbon's! I clenched my fists shut, waiting for him to open his eyes.

I was jarred from my thoughts when I heard Vegeta order the 'nobles' out.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Walking with Vash he looked over the new look. "Wow is that fishnet?" He asked and went to poke me and I grabbed his hand and he blinked and looked down at the smeared paint now on his hand transferring from mine.

"Jay…" He looked at the paint and then at me. "What…"

"He knows, he doesn't have proof, but he did this… so no one can touch me."

Wolfwood stepped up on to the other side of me as we walked behind Raine and the other guys summoned.

"That was intense. Poor Belle."

"Yeah." I sighed.

Vash tried to wipe the paint off hand on to his coat and blinked, "This can't be good."

I looked at him. "Sorry, it goes mushy on skin on skin contact apart from that." I grabbed his gun and ran it across my arm the paint didn't smudge.

"You mean I have to wear gloves?" He asked.

Wolfwood thumped Vash across the back of the neck. "They just left Sess in there to die and you're worried about wearing gloves."

"Look I know. I'm trying to think on something." Vash stated. "Wait is that the same paint Adam and Nougat used in your drawings?"

"I think so."

"It washes off in water, that's good."

Wolfwood looked far from impressed with Vash. "Jay help me out here. Beat some sense in to him."

"People handle loss in a different way. Vash is one of those people, he's brave for everyone else."

Vash blinked and looked at me and then shrugged. "Well that's true."

"But Legato…" Wolfwood began.

"Forced Vash to kill him. He took his first life that day." I pointed out, that's different than witnessing it." I looked round. "So where are we headed?"

"Courtyard." Vash stated.

~*~*Belle*~*~

The last of the nobles exited the throne room and Vegeta looked at me before looking at Bardock.

"Let her go, leave the wench to mourn for the mongrel," Vegeta snapped and exited the throne room and I bolted for Sess as soon as Bardock's weight was off of me. I didn't pay attention to the two of them as they exited the throne room, the lights turning off, only leaving me with the band of light from the outside.

"Sess!" I cried as I approached his side, afraid he was dead as I reached him. The blood was pooling around him and I sobbed as I fell to my knees beside my mate and husband. He coughed, blood splattering over his face, and I quickly pulled him into my lap, my arms around him as I brushed some of his blood soaked hair out of his face. "Sesshoumaru…" His eyes opened slowly and I looked at them. I could see his life force slipping away.

"Belle….my…Queen…" he gasped and I sobbed as I held his upper body in my arms. He brought his hand up and I felt him poke my forehead, there was a slight pain, but nothing like the pain in my heart.

"Oh…oh Sess!" I sobbed as I stroked his cheek, the blood he coughed up smearing. "I'm here Sess, I'm here with you." His golden orbs fell on me, burning me with the strength of his love. I sobbed harder as I looked at the small smile on his face.

"Mine…" he whispered as his hand moved and stroked my cheek. "My….love…." his eyes slowly closed and his hand slowly fell to his side. I froze…the sound of his heart…it was slowing down…I was listening to it slowing down! I sat there with his upper body half on my lap and half in my arms, listening to the sickening slowness of his heart. Slowly…slowly…the beats got further and further apart. I sat there and listened to my mate as his life slipped away. Then the last beat resonated in my ears and I held my breath…waiting for the next one.

"Sess?" I whispered as I stroked his cheek again. "Sess?" I wiped the tears off his face before I even realized I was the one crying. "Sess!" I watched as more tears replaced the ones I had brushed away.

"SESSHOUMARU!" I howled up into the ceiling, the sound of my own anguish coming back a hundred times. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

~*~*Raine*~*~

I was in a daze. This son of a bitch had just killed someone and now he was ordering people to sign papers as if we were here for a damn get-together!

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Majo beside me." Vegeta ordered and I walked up to him while he handed out paperwork to be signed by the witnesses of the Noble's that had been gathered, to view Sess's death or slaughter, murder, extinguishing of his life force.

He grabbed my hand seeing the smudge. "Already Majo." He huffed. "You just don't learn.

"Look a friend of mine was killed in front of me, and you expect me to remember I have paint on the inside of my palms when I grab someone to stop them from touching me?"

Vegeta looked over to see Vash by the water basin and he washed his hand off of the paint.

"Tonight you are with me majo."

I just nodded. "I figured as much."

He went back to handing out the paperwork and I stood beside him like a well behaved trophy slave.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I placed Sesshoumaru on the floor, fixing his hair so it looked normal before I kissed his cooling lips.

"I will forever be yours," I whispered before I got up and headed out, my white gown dirty with the dirt from the floor and the blood from the man I loved. I stepped into the light and approached the sound of Vegeta's voice and I stood before them all, somewhat aware that several of the nobles were staring at me in shock. However, my attention was on the man next to Jay.

"Vegeta!" I screamed and Vegeta's head whipped towards me, his eyes looked shocked and then furious. "I, Belle of Earth, declare Sovereign for Prince Sesshoumaru of the Yamainu, Son of King Inu Taisho, and the True Heir of the throne of Tenrousei. So you better fucking send him home you piece of shit!" Suddenly I was being held up by my neck and I kept from making any sound as I gripped his wrist.

"What did you say?" Vegeta barked in my face and I sneered at him, managing to hide my fangs.

"I said I declare Sovereign for Prince Sesshoumaru!" I screamed as I hung from his grip, holding onto consciousness with all my willpower.

"Sovereign has been claimed for Prince Sesshoumaru!" Zarbon's voice called and I fought the urge to smile. The tears running down my cheeks hadn't stopped yet and I wanted more than anything to join my beloved Sesshoumaru.

"How did you know?" Vegeta growled and I glared back into his black, shark eyes.

"Prince Sesshoumaru told me, if he ever were to die, that as soon as possible I was to declare Sovereign so that he could rest forever with his ancestors, that was the price of his protection," I spat and Vegeta glared at me. "So…get to returning him his robes and weapons." Vegeta's grip tightened and I began to black out before I hit the ground instead. I coughed several times before Vegeta kicked me and sent me into a wall.

"Fine then…Bitch, have Sesshoumaru cleaned and dress him in the robes he was captured in and return his sword to him. I mean with in the hour! Sovereign has been declared," Vegeta growled before he grabbed me by the throat again. "And you…will be punished for you lip in a few hours." He smiled as he threw me into the wall again…knocking me unconscious.

~*~*Raine*~*~

Yusuke held me back when I tried to run to Belle's aid when she was being dragged off.

"This can't be happening. This shit cannot be happening…" I whispered.

Kuwabara and Yusuke both looked extremely pained. They had lost a good leader and a kind friend. He was callously taken from them over some stupid-ass law that prevented him from finding happiness with a significant other. Belle's children would never get to know their father…would they even get to know their mother at this rate?!

I didn't remember being led to the open 'arena' where Belle's punishment would take place. I didn't want to watch. When Belle was brought out, I couldn't help but be proud of her. She walked in with her hand held high, she spat in that bastard's face while on the verge of severe physical pain and I couldn't have been prouder.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Oh I get it now why it's only skin contact paint." Vash stated, "When you sit down you could leave paint everywhere."

I looked at Wolfwood. "Excuse me I'm go to that wall over there and bang my head against it several times."

Wolfwood looked at Vash. "Sess is dead. Doesn't that mean anything?"

"It does more than you think I was here when he first arrived. I didn't think I'd still be here when he died." Vash's voice was so serious. "I actually thought he'd died back on his home planet not here."

"They're taking Belle away." I motioned and blinked I saw the mark on her forehead. "That mark… it wasn't there before. What is it?"

"Crescent moon, symbol of the Yamainu royals." Vash replied.

"Oh… isn't that a bad thing for it to be advertised like that?"

"They don't know any better unless we say anything and I doubt we will." Vash replied.

"Good point." I remarked. "Now what?"

"She'll be taken to the arena to be taught a lesson in public." Vash replied. "I think we should be there for her."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I opened my eyes and groaned as I looked around, I was in a small and utterly disgusting cell. I had a good idea what was going to happen as soon as they knew I was awake. I wouldn't keep them waiting long and I began to pound on the door even though my head was killing me.

"Let me out of here!" I screamed and suddenly the door opened and I was being held between two very large, very unfamiliar Saiyans. Each arm was in a secure grip and I kept my head up proud as I was marched out into yet another courtyard where there was a set up that I had never imagined. It was clear what it was for, the two chains that were hanging were at the right height so that I could keep my wrists there if I were on my tip toes. I could see the army of slaves in front of my and I kept my head held up high like Sesshoumaru would have done and I didn't look at them although I could feel the eyes of my friends on me. I had to look like hell as I was brought up onto the platform. I was released as Vegeta approached me.

"You are charged with assuming I would not do as is written by law, how do you plea?" Vegeta asked and I looked at him, hoping my eyes were as cold as ice. I pulled my hair off my back and over my shoulders so that if the top of my dress were ripped off, Sess' mark would be hidden.

"Let us not make a mockery of the justice system, King Vegeta, I am guilty of thinking you are a lying son of a bitch!" I snapped and I could hear the intake of breath from the army before me and I walked over to the chains, I could now see that there were chains on the ground that would hold my legs spread shoulder-length.

"Fine then, you are guilty, for your crime you will receive forty lashes, for your comments in my throne room, you shall receive ten lashes, and for that comment you shall receive ten more. However, because you are Bardock's and he lost three serving caretakers today, I will give you tonight in the regeneration tank as well as replacing two of his serving caretakers," Vegeta said and I blinked, three. That meant that I was the only one…I was…Sess, the two other serving caretakers. Oh God.

"Understood, King Vegeta," I said in a hollow voice as I quickly pulled off my pendant, slipping it into my pocket so they wouldn't find it before I raised my arms and spread my legs, allowing them to chain me. I looked out to the crowd and stared at Jay, Nicholas, Vash, Raine, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Kurama, Hiei, Gene, Jim, and Melfina. I didn't cry out as my top was ripped from my body and I was thankful I had moved my hair.

"Do you wish to beg for mercy?" Vegeta whispered in my ear.

"You have no mercy," I replied and listened to the whip fly through the air before the lighting hot pain raced across my back. I bit back a scream but I was unable to keep my body from bending away from the blow.

"Are you sure you do not wish to beg me?" Vegeta chuckled and I felt my face twitch.

"No, I will not," I whispered and then bit back another cry as the whip raced through the air to rip across my back again. I could feel the blood starting to ooze out of the first lash.

"What is this?" Vegeta asked as he played with my necklace made out of Sess's hair.

"A human custom…when you are close friends, you give each other a lock of your hair. I made this into a necklace," I whispered and Vegeta chuckled. The whip struck and I jerked against my chains.

"I will allow you to keep it…for it is all of the Dog you will have to remember him by besides that stupid mark on your forehead," Vegeta whispered but before I could say anything the whip struck again.

"I have work, you all will remain until her punishment is finished," Vegeta ordered.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I sat there silent watching Belle's public torture for her speaking her mind. Part of me hoped they would break out in to a musical number from Jesus Christ Superstar and tell me this was all a really bad dream, but that didn't happened and the whip continued to fly the sound of flesh being cut made me cringe for her, The only thing I'd been whipped with was a belt. This was an actual whip and it was hurting me to watch that and not speak out. I must have had some power as the King's whore… but I just didn't know what.

"Jay." Vash slipped an arm round me and I let him, he was wearing his red coat I wouldn't leave paint over him.

This sucked and I hated it. Sess was dead, Belle was being a display of public torture for having free speech and I couldn't even touch the guy I was in love with without getting him or myself in trouble and then to top it off the news and confirmation of the shaman. I hadn't even had time to talk to anyone about it. It didn't matter anymore, I wouldn't tell them, it would endanger their lives.

Let Vegeta find out let him kill me. I'd never die my spirit would live on to haunt him and his children and his children's children and my ghost would dance on my grave. I'd make it my curse to him.

~*~*~*~*~Later that Afternoon~*~*~*~*~

~*~*Belle*~*~

I felt the whip rip through my flesh again and I let loose my scream of agony. I made it through more than I thought before I gave into my urge to scream. I hung from my wrists for a moment before I found my feet again, they were in a puddle of my blood. I struggled to prepare for the next strike only to feel my ankles being freed and then the release of my wrists. I fell to the ground boneless, landing in my blood. I struggled to get up only to find someone throwing me over their shoulder. I saw red and at first I thought I was seeing my blood before I realized it was a red jacket. Vash. Vash was carrying me. I managed to raise my head to end up looking Raine in the face.

"Belle…" she was talking but I couldn't hear her. I let my head slowly fall to Vash's back. It hurt so much. Sess…I wanted Sess.

"Belle," someone called. "Belle."

I was slowly placed on the ground and then leaned back against a wall, which was bad seeing as my back was a bloody mess. I screamed and thrashed. I was rather shocked when I was slapped and I looked up at Jay.

"Belle! Snap out of it!" she cried and I gave her a look as I realized that I was in a regeneration tank. "We need your clothes." The look in her eyes told me she was looking for something else.

"My pocket," I whispered as Vash picked me up and Jay and Raine pulled off my ruined gown. "Hurry…" I watched as they put the mask on me before getting out and letting the machine close and start to fill with that healing liquid. I closed my eyes and let the tears slip out from under my lids, I could feel the tears as they moved down my cheeks to hit the mask and long the side of the mask before falling off my chin. "Sesshoumaru….my Sesshoumaru."

~*~*Raine*~*~

Once the water had filled up completely in the tank, we all went our separate ways. We were all numb, the Yaimanu probably more than us. They had lost a leader, on the other hand, we had lost a friend and were forced to watch our friend tortured for defending him. Turles' mocking words fell on deaf ears when we returned home. The second the doors to the slave barracks were closed, Yusuke and Kuwabara split, only stating that they were going off to spar. I frowned as the two left, not bothering to say a word. There was nothing that could be said. When I felt Yaten's arms around me, I sighed and went limp in his embrace. This was bullshit. We couldn't win. Just when things were somewhat improving, when we could actually smile about something, we were torn from it painfully and forced back into the reality of our situations. We were slaves to a race of murderous, raping, sadistic apes that took pleasure in our pain. And it would be this way for a long time.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

When I was summoned to Vegeta's quarters I knew no AV had been slipped to him, due to the public display of Belle's torture and the only kitchen staff that knew about it was Vash and Wolfwood.

I was sitting on his bed waiting for him curled up smearing my own paint as I sat there hugging my knees.

Vegeta entered and looked at me, I wiped my face to wipe away the tears, I felt cold and alone as he walked up to me and he was over me I could still smell the sting of blood and realized that I still had some of Belle's blood on my skin from when we'd tried to get her in to the regen tank.

I gasped as Vegeta pinned me down and I suddenly began beating on him to no effect.

"You bastard! I hate you! I hate you! How could you do that?!" I screamed at him.

The poundings I tried to give him had no effect none at all and all it did was result in making him even more damn horny, I kept trying to beat on me as he took me forcefully, just screaming at him, in anger, in pain, in hatred.

"Tang sing tǒrǒun sŭlp'ŭn sarin, tang sing amugǒtdo. Amugǒtdo."

I let out a cry as he gripped my arm drawing blood and bruising the skin.

"What was that? What did you say?" He snapped.

"You're a sad dirty nothing." I felt the painful sting of a slap. "Pero un Rey de asno tapόn." I growled and held my check.

Vegeta stuck his fingers in hard and I felt blood his fingers were piercing my flesh and I held back any screaming I wanted to do.

"Either you tell me what you said or you stop that!" He growled.

I had just told him he was a king of ass plugs, like hell I was going to translate that.

"Vous tombe je le danse sûr."

"I can break you majo, beyond repair." His hand traveled down my legs, I bit back a sob feeling his hands on me repulsed me. But I was stronger.

"Anata chibi haka."I was cursing him a witches curse, in languages so he wouldn't understand but the kami and megami would, I would dance on his grave and grave of his children.

"Majo you lost a friend, he broke the law, you want to join him?" I stopped at those words and let out a scream as I felt the depth of the penetration it had been ages since he'd taken me so roughly. "Do you want to join him?"

"You're threatening to kill me too?" I asked.

"Only if you break the law. You know I'm capable of it I nearly killed you once before. Remember?"

I just slapped him and he rammed me down hard under him, his hands digging in to my shoulders. I didn't care anymore even if I was busted I'd be busted, no matter what I'd get that AV back in to his diet, and he would suffer, he would suffer bad, you don't piss off a Scorpio rising sign and expect to get away with it, they plotted revenge and would remember a grudge twenty years after the original incident.

"Fuck you you're an asshole!"

All he did was laugh and I had to endure more of his force in taking me over and over again. Part of me wished to die that night.

I stumbled as I left his room the body paint smeared with my own blood, Vegeta was asleep now but I was scared if I fell asleep I would die and I made my way to the common room, heading through the secret door to where the shaman was.

"I've got you." Two strong hands caught me as I nearly fell in to the water and I looked up and blinked the figured was blurry but I could make out a male's voice. He was shorter than me but he was strong and I wiped my face smearing back in to part of my view. "This way… We'll get you cleaned up."

"Thank-you… who… are you?" I asked.

He smiled. "Krillen."

"Are you a Tsfuru-jinn too?"

He laughed. "Oh no I'm human."

I could have hugged him, another human, another human, I knew now of three human men. "I'm Jay."

Krillen helped me in to a pool and I looked over as Bulma raced up. "Krillen what happened?"

"I don't know she stumbled in this way."

"Check the entrance, we can't have any trails leading to this place. I'll take care of Jay, she needs a woman's touch."

"Right." I was left in Bulma's care as Krillen went to clean up my possible blood trail.

Bulma slipped in to the pool with me and began cleaning up my wounds. "We should get you in to the healing pool."

"No…" I shook my head. "Vegeta expects me tomorrow if I'm healed he'll know something's up. I just want the blood and paint gone… please."

Bulma nodded. "Okay. You're as stubborn as I was when I was his concubine."

I looked at her. "Did he call you Onna?" I asked.

She blinked and then nodded. "Yes… how'd you know that?"

"He said earlier that I smelt like you did after I used some lavender scenting lotion and wash."

She smiled. "Yeah my mother made lots of Lavender scenting lotions." She explained and started to help wash me clean.

"I want to see the shaman after this, is he still awake?" I asked.

"Of course. I don't think he sleeps."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I was woken up by the fluid draining out of the tank and I opened my eyes to see Kurama standing outside of the tank with a dress for me. I could see that he was very anxious to get me dressed and I wondered if there was something wrong with me. I was dripping dry when I decided to shake a little bit and suddenly I realized that there was something new on my body. I looked at Kurama and he nodded slowly as he practically jumped into the tank, dressing me quickly, and pulling me out of the tank.

"How do you feel?" he asked and I looked at him as I experimented with new muscles.

"Like I have a tail," I hissed and he smirked before reaching behind me and gently stroking the area where my tail was. I cried out and slapped him.

"Well you do now, my Princess," he whispered as he took my arm and opened a hidden door. "Come this way."

~*~*Raine*~*~

I had eventually gone to watch Yusuke and Kuwabara indeed sparring, venting their rage and their sorrow for the loss. Their fighting matched that in the tournaments, only there was so much more passion and life behind it. They weren't forced into it. They actually needed to do it to cope with what had just happened. I hugged myself and braced for every blow that was thrown and every yell that was voiced.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

The arrival back in to my own barracks was suffering for me I was bruised and the paint I'd washed it off there was no point after that, Vegeta had fallen asleep he wouldn't notice it was gone. I closed the door, Melfina looked at me I must have looked at mess, my hair was just long enough to cover my chest while I still wore the lame excuse for a skirt.

"Jay…" Wolfwood looked at me and I slumped to a heap on the floor.

"I don't care anymore just give him the dam AV I don't care if I'm busted for it, just give it to him in any and every form of consumption he takes! I want him impotent for FUCKIN LIFE!!"

Wolfwood rushed up to me and wrapped his arms around me as I just cried on his shoulder.

"Vash should be back shortly he's gone to grab a late dinner."

I just stayed on that floor and was still there in Wolfwood's embrace as Vash walked in he closed the door and placed the bags on the table.

"Jay…" He knelt down in front of me. When I looked at him and nearly fell over. "He did a number on you huh?"

I was crying and he pulled me to him. I just sobbed out the entire story of what had happened in Vegeta's room.

"I want out, I want to go home, I can't do this I can't be here…"

"Jay we have no home anymore." Wolfwood reminded me.

"I want a new one not here." I sniffed. "The shaman… he told me…" I wiped my face.

Vash pulled me back at arm's length and looked at me. "Told you what did you see him again?"

"I had to know whose it was… is…" I wiped my face even more.

"Jay we're not following." Wolfwood looked at me.

"First what the shaman told me, then Sess's death, Belle's torture, Vegeta's beating and now the shaman told me it's Vash's… When Vegeta finds out I'm dead you hear me, completely dead, it's the proof he's been waiting for…" I was blurting everything out hurriedly.

"Mine?" Vash blinked. "What's mine?"

Wolfwood stared at me. "Jay?" He was lost. But it was my secret if I told them they would all die when Vegeta found out.

I just clung on to Vash and cried he rubbed my back; things were starting to look worse. Very much worse than I could ever thought that would happen to me.

Pregnant. I was pregnant, and it was Vash's child.

I wasn't going to say a damn thing, not to Vash, not to Nicholas, not to Raine, Belle, anyone, and this would be my burden and my death sentence, I would suffer for it not them, all of them had already been through to much.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I looked at Kurama as he led me through the walls of the palace, he opened a door and I looked at the room. It was a sad room and the windows were tinted blue making the room look cold and lifeless. I could see why. There were a few tables in the room, all but one were bare.

"Go to him," Kurama whispered and I looked at him, the tears in my eyes. "It is your right as a widow." I nodded and he closed the door.

I slowly approached the table, it was more like a slab of rock carved all the way around with beautiful designs. I approached it and looked at my Prince as he slept. I covered my mouth as I approached him. He looked so handsome dressed in his royal robes. It was a Japanese-like robe over a pair of baggy, white pants, strong armor covered his chest, where the hole would be. At his side were two swords, two of them from the armory wall…Toukijin and Tetsaiga. I looked at my Sesshoumaru, his long hair beneath him like a white cape and I sobbed as I gazed at him.

"Oh Sess, what am I going to do without you?" I whispered as I took in the sight of his lifeless body. "How am I going to go on without you by my side?" I sobbed as I fell over his body. "How am I suppose to keep going now that you're gone?!" I began to weep as I fisted the cloth at his shoulders. I climbed onto the slab to lay beside him as I wept. Strangely he did not feel cold, it was as if he were only sleeping and I looked at him.

"I don't know what I'll do without you. You were my light, my life," I whispered as I wrapped my arms around his neck and rested my head beneath his, his armor digging into me. "I am sorry." For a moment I thought I felt something throb at my hip, but it was only one of his swords. I closed my eyes, allowing his armor to dig into my flesh, allowing the cool of the room to seep into my bones, and I closed my eyes as I lay with my Prince for the last time. I looked at him, a tear fell down his cheek and I reached up to feel my tears falling. I wiped it off his face as I got into a comfortable position and I kissed him softly on his lips of silk before I lay back down and fell asleep with the only man I would ever love.