16: Brothers and Bedmates

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

~*~*Belle*~*~

I woke up and looked around, I was in my barracks. Kurama's scent lingered in the air and I realized he must have taken me from Sess's body back to here during the night. I blinked before I sat up, looking around the room before I remembered that I was alone. I shook my head, I'd have to ask the kitchen slaves about what happened to the other serving caretakers. I walked towards the washbasin. I washed my face and looked up into the mirror before crying out in shock. On my forehead was a crescent moon the same shade of blue as my mark from Sess. I ran my claws over the mark and closed my eyes. The tears slipping free as I stared at the mark my mate had left me.

"Oh Sess," I sobbed quietly as I began to bathe. I stripped off my robes and turned to look at my back, not even a scratch, those regeneration tanks were good. I looked down at my new appendage. The tail was relatively short when compared with Sess's. Mine only reached my knees, but the fur was long and soft, the end of my fur reaching mid-calf. I stroked the tail, cleaning it, then I found some twine and I tied the tail to my left leg. I pulled on a black Chinese style dress/robe, I would wear black for a long time to remember Sess.

"Time to start," I quickly headed up the stairs, this time toward Bardock's door first. I had never entered Bardock's room and I was quite nervous as I slipped into the room. I quickly opened the shades and began running a bath before I looked at my sleeping master. I tensed my hand, ready to release all of my acid onto him before I just reached out and shook the side of his bed. "Lord Bardock, it is time to wake up." His eyes snapped open and I quickly returned to the bathroom to stop the bath.

"I see you're up today, I was certain you wouldn't be back till later this morning," he said and I bowed as he entered the bath and I began to wash him.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I was jarred from my sleep when Yaten tapped my shoulder. I woke up to see him standing over me. I sat up and looked to my right to see Yusuke and Kuwabara dressing. I frowned. They had sparred for the better part of the day, beaten each other black and blue. We didn't have to explain what had happened to Turles, because everyone was aware of their relationship with Sesshomaru. Once they were fully dressed, we all headed out. It was a silent walk. One that felt an hour-long.

When we reached the house, Kuwabara and Yusuke departed from us without another word. Yaten and I stopped to watch the Yaimanu walk off. I sighed and folded my arms. The only person taking Sesshomaru's death harder than them was Belle. Calling her a wreck didn't even begin to explain how strongly she was affected. I followed Yaten back into the slave barracks. Yusuke and Kuwabara would return when they were ready.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Vash sat by the shaman's pools listening to the CD, trying to think on what was bothering Jay. He didn't know how he knew but it was more than the worry about her brother working under Paragas. The Shaman had told him to sit and meditate and think about what she had said. But nothing was coming and the music was distracting, he went to flick it off when it moved to the next song and he stopped for a moment. So far most of the music had been upbeat and perky, but this song struck him.

Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again,

Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again.

If he knew what Caribbean music sounded like, this would have struck a cord, but it as somewhat more sadder than the rest a song that perhaps showed the hidden side of her. A side of defeat that she had never revealed because he knew she was trying to be braver than the others.

Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am young again,

Whenever I'm alone with you, you make me feel like I am fun again.

Maybe Sess's death triggered a chain reaction of events that she had bottled up inside of her, from her life back on earth. He clenched his fist angrily, she was with Vegeta right now, they had no time to serve him breakfast because she was the first to see him in the morning, she did it out of habit now, even though she felt she wasn't needed.

She had been really moody that morning too, she blew off the food, normally when she did that she found her own alternative, but this time she ate only little and blew off the rest, stating that the meat looked 'dodgey' and 'undercooked'.

He'd never seen her moody and mopey like this before, and he'd seen her moody and mopey before.

However far away, I will always love you,

However long I stay I will always love you,

Whatever words I say, I will always love you,

I will always love you.

"Vash… you should get to your chores." He looked up seeing Bulma standing there with Krillen.

"Yeah." He pushed stop on the CD player and stood up and walked out.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I woke Raditz and Bardock, bringing Gohan down while he grumbled. The child was huge and already was speaking well. Bardock was sending Gohan to a tutor and the boy was learning much, of course he no longer needed my milk, although Bardock informed me that I should 'harvest' it and serve it to the boy in a glass. My basic job was to wake Gohan up, feed him, bathe him, and put him to sleep.

I had to work harder than any other morning since the other serving-caretakers were all dead. Sess because of Vegeta, Muu the reptilian one because she fell down stairs while visiting her great-grandchildren's children, and Quai the Close Encounters one because she was caught in a brawl between two Saiyans. I was carrying out platefuls of food ever second, refilling drinks, and bringing in plates non-stop. I truly didn't realize how much we all did in a morning's work.

"Wench, deliver this to the Yamainu ambassador," Bardock said as he handed me a letter and I bowed before I quickly grabbed Sess's cloak. The hood of his cloak was sheer and I could use it as a veil. I quickly donned the cloak, pinning the ends up so that they wouldn't drag, and I pulled the hood over my face. I left to deliver the letter to that bastard Hiten.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"You must not value your life, wench," Turles growled as he shoved me against a wall, knocking the wind out of my lungs.

Yaten and I had spent the majority of the day sitting in silence until it was time for Yaten to perform his chores. I had eventually crept out of the barracks to sneak into the kitchen and get something to eat when I heard the shattering of pottery. I ran out to find Yaten holding up his arms defensively before Turles. The second Turles lifted his arm, I did the unthinkable: I jumped on him.

I gasped for breath with his tight grip on my neck. He grinned cruelly, "Ume isn't here to hold me back. Perhaps now would be a good time to discipline you for your defiance."

It was Yaten who jumped to my defense at that time, "Let her go!"

Turles batted him down before releasing his hold on me. I fell to the floor in a coughing fit as Turles left me to attack Yaten again.

"Stop bullying him!" I said angrily, rising to my feet.

"Or is that what you monkeys are all about? Attacking and preying on the defenseless?" I soon regretted those words when I was soon nursing a tender bruise on the side of my face while lying on my back on the floor.

"What was that?" he demanded as he stood over me.

I glared defiantly, "Go ahead and hit me. You'll only prove me right."

He grabbed me again, raising his hand to strike me another time, but was suddenly knocked back. I fell to the floor none-too-gently and looked up to see Kuwabara and Yusuke holding Turles back!

"Go!" Kuwabara yelled back at us.

"But you and Yusuke-" I began.

"Get out of here!" Yusuke yelled this time and I felt someone take my hand. I turned to see Yaten pulling me away from the scene. We fled Turles' place together and all I could think about were the two Yaimanu who were risking their necks for us.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I closed the book I had sat there for most of the morning reading down in the coldness of the Gazebo, especially after another Vegeta marathon that morning.

But more seriously I was avoiding everyone like the plague. I could not face Belle she had lost her mate and her children, to bring my own burden on to her was not fair. She seemed to have been given great strength; she was the strength of our little group. I read more in to our meetings than anyone else. If you were in our own positions would you not cling to that little piece of humanity you had left? I placed the book down on my lap as I sat in the snow. Take in to this situation what you will; we were feeling less than fortunate than the others.

Surrender the less fortunate, if you don't have money, you learn to make do, but some times to make do is to suffer in a personally created hell by the world you happened to be brought up or forced in to. Sometimes the only salvation is to escape, but with no means of doing so, the escape I found was in reading or my art, to just sit and draw what I feel, and critique my own works. I'm my own worst critic. But aren't we all.

Now I couldn't even draw anymore, I had finally run out of room in my art pad and my tools of drawing had long since been used up. My head landed on my knees as I felt my own personal hell swallow me up. Suffer and surrender, that was the only option left. After this would I still be my normal cheery self? I doubted it.

I wanted to be a writer once, when I was a little girl I used to just sit and read. I loved reading. It's something that was made sure I knew how to do from an early age. I don't remember what age it started when my mother sent me off to a reading tutor privately, all I knew is apparently I wasn't very good at reading, then when the tutoring ended I seemed to excel above the others, the advantages of a silver spoon in the family.

This silver spoon ended when I was about fourteen and my angst driven life as an antisocial teenager seemed to spiral downwards. It's a downfall that was long in the coming, where instead of doing homework I'd sit in my room, my pad and my pen and just create these great worlds that I seemed to come up with, with the beautiful girl, the drop dead gorgeous man sent to rescue the girl and the mountains of friends and their crazy adventures. My own mental world where those who suffered could recover with a great big smile on their face and millions of laughs and smiles to go round. But it was just a fantasy world created to protect me from the reality of the real life and the plot of one fantasic drama'd up world called 'my life'.

Surrender, after capture, isn't that what happened in the movies? This to me would make a good movie, a totally unbelievable one if presented but a good movie. The loss of choice and forced in to slavery Amastad meets Independence Day. Before I was just tempted to surrender to the life I led back home on Earth. Tempted to surrender to a life of no hope, the white picket fence the dog in the yard, perfect garden, loving husband, the pigeon pair of kids. So much life in this world, so many different stories, and now hardly any of them will be heard, it's a sad world indeed, but everyone craves their fifteen minutes of fame. Now I'm just tempted to surrender all together, forget fame, just surrender and die.

My hand opened the book again and marking the page was a single pendant. The holographic pendant of Belle's that held her son's images inside. I was tempted to open it and look but I didn't she had a place to go if she could get of this planet. She could go to be with her family. Me where did I have to go?

I wiped the side of my face smearing paint on to it. My hands had been covered in paint like henna tattoos on Indian brides or dancers.

"J'dee!!" I heard Vash calling to me and I placed the pendant back in to its secure place in the book.

He reached up to me rubbing his arms, he blinked and slumped in to the snow next to me.

"Talk to me." He stated.

I just looked at him blank.

"He confessed to me this morning." I looked down.

"Huh?" Vash blinked.

"Vegeta…"

Vash looked worried and I looked down. "Confessed what?"

"He considers me to be his…" I trailed off and found myself staring out in to the nearly iced over waters.

"His…" Vash repeated. "I think I figured that out with the brand."

"His…" I repeated and my inside felt cold again. "If he doesn't find a Saiyan mate. That his."

"Mating you?" Vash asked shocked.

"Not that far, but close enough to it." I replied and I looked at him.

"You're not holding up are you? Is it Sess's death do you want to talk about it?" Vash looked at me and took my hand in to his gloved one.

"Yeah I will eventually but not right now."

He pulled me up. "Then come inside cause I'm freezing."

"You've never seen a New-Zealand winter then." I replied as he pulled me inside. 'But I forget even I won't see a New-Zealand winter again.'

~*~*Belle*~*~

I made several deliveries that day, Turles, Brolli, Hiten, D, and many others. I was numb, I walked down the halls like a zombie and I stopped when a pair of feet appeared in front of me, I looked up into the black eyes of Vegeta, he was smirking as he looked at me.

"Dressed up for something?" he chuckled and I looked at him before bowing.

"I am mourning the passing of my friend in the way of my religion, King Vegeta," I stated as I looked at his feet, fighting the urge to use my acid on him.

"The Majo did not mourn in this fashion for her 'friends'," he stated, insinuating the truth. I looked up at him and bowed again.

"My Lord King Vegeta, the Majo and I are of the same race but we have different beliefs. For my people, to mourn friends, family, and loved ones, one is to dress in black," I looked down. "For the Majo, it is different." He growled.

"Pitiful," he snapped before walking away and I bared my teeth at his back.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I melted into Zarbon's protective embrace in the safety of his home. I glanced over at the window where Yaten was. Zarbon had offered us each some of that cream that Yaten had to heal up the marks on our faces. They'd disappear in an hour or so. I didn't care. I was where I wanted to be and I didn't want to leave it for the world. My gaze remained on Yaten's frowning figure as he gazed out of the window, faint sunlight pouring in and I found myself saddened even more.

"Zarbon…" I whispered before pulling out of his embrace. He looked at me questioningly and I took his hand, guiding him into another room.

"I don't know how long Yaten will last under Turles' roof. He keeps looking for excuses to beat him. I want to do something but I don't know what," I said.

"I couldn't hide him, if that's what you mean. His scent would easily be traced back here," Zarbon said grimly.

I creased my brows in thought when a memory occurred to me…

"I've always thought he was a cutie" I smiled and then giggled at the disgusted look on Yaten's face.

"Everyone thought he was cute," he said.

I reached over and hugged him, "Don't worry. I always thought you were a pretty boy too, but you always seemed distant. Like you didn't want to make any friends."

"I didn't," Yaten said, "I was in a hurry to find the princess and get the hell off of that planet. I felt that those girls only claimed they loved us because of our looks or our voices. They hardly knew anything about us. Sure the typical list of facts: your favorite color, food, instrument, but not the REAL us."

My smile deepened and I hugged him tighter, "Well, I've gotten to know the real you and I can honestly say that I love you."

Yaten looked at me in silent shock. I smiled, "Save Zarbon, I don't have anyone as close to me. You've helped me maintain my sanity since I've been here and I'll never ever be able to repay you for it."

Yaten's shock slowly morphed into compassion with each word spoken. He sighed and rested his head against mine. I smiled. Men, never could get them to say it back. It didn't matter though, I knew how he felt.

"I miss them so much," he whispered.

I frowned, "I know how you feel. I lost family too. I still cry about it."

"As you should. My family was my only reason for living," he said.

"So how have you managed to get by for so long?"

He sighed and looked to the window, "Because I know that I'm they're reason for going on as well."

I looked at him, confused.

My brows were still creased, "Zarbon?"

"Hmm?"

"I need to ask you another favor."

~*~*~*~*~

The sound of a saxophone played out through the hallways of the ship coming from a single room occupied by the Horn Freak, Midvalley.

He found such solitude when he played, the music he was able to manipulate people and their functions. But this time he was playing for the pure enjoyment of playing and letting emotions he rarely showed to become free and open for anyone and anything to read in to in anyway possible.

He was interrupted while playing a bridge of his song by a knock on the door he stopped and the door opened. "Sir. Knives is on the vid screen in the bridge he wishes to speak to you."

Midvalley placed his saxophone down and looked at the member of Knives' Gung ho Gun's group.

"Very well RaiDei. I will be there."

The Samurai bowed. "I will let him know you are coming." With that he left.

Only moments later Midvalley arrived in the bridge and looked to Knives image on the screen.

"Master Knives." He bowed.

"What is your status?" He asked.

"We are only a few hours away from landing on Vegetasei." Midvalley replied rising from the bow.

"Good. Remember to remain hidden until I contact you." Knives reminded him.

"Yes master."

"We will arrive in the early hours of their morning." RaiDei stated.

"Excellent." Knives smiled. "Remember I want to see my brother again. Alive. Our battle is not yet done."

"Yes sir." Midvalley replied and the Vid screen flicked off as Knives ended the transmission.

"What time frame are we looking at?" Midvalley asked.

"If we put the engines in to turbo we can arrive early this evening if not we are looking at three hours before midday tomorrow." Kane the long-shot replied.

"Lets arrive tonight I would like to see how Vash is holding up, there is a battle coming and whether he wants it or not we are going to get involved. Naraku and King Vegeta are not on Master Knives good list."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I walked through the garden of snow and ice. Allowing the cold to whip around me, making me feel outside, as I felt inside: numb. I sighed as I wrapped my arms around myself.

"Oh Sess, why did you have to die?" I sobbed as I fell to my knees in the snow. "Why?" I sobbed into my hands as I knelt in the cold snow. I felt warm arms wrap around me and I looked to see Yusuke in front of me, his robes were also black.

"Belle, you need to come in, you're still very weak," he said and I nodded as I let him pull me up to my feet, leading me away from the world that mirrored my heart.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I didn't pull away from Zarbon as the others began to gather inside. No one said a word as they stepped inside. We all thought and felt the same way. When Yusuke and Kuwabara entered, I could've cried. I jumped to my feet, much to the surprise of the others and ran over to them, throwing my arms over Yusuke and hugging the life out of him.

"Raine!" Yusuke gagged, "Air!"

I loosened my grip, tears forming, "I thought the worst had happened!"

He sighed and gently held me at an arm's length, "As you can see, I'm alive."

I nodded smiling before jumping over to Kuwabara who welcomed my hug despite his lingering sadness over the loss of his friend. They were a little worse for wear. Judging by the shine around their bruises they had found Yaten's stash and applied the cream on their skin.

"I wouldn't return home until nightfall if I were you. And I'd sneak in while I were at it," Yusuke said before brushing past me. I looked to Kuwabara.

"After he was done beating us he took off. We thought he had gone looking for you, but he was off in the direction of the gravity chambers, so you should be safe," Kuwabara said.

I sighed, looking over to Yaten who had an unreadable expression on his face. Zarbon broke the silence, "Let's head to the pools."

Everyone complied.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Are you coming to the pools?" Wolfwood asked. I just sat on my bunk with the book in my hands reading. "Hey are you listening?"

"J'dee…" Vash popped in to my view and I looked at him, Megami how could I tell him. I felt like I wanted to cry, should I tell him, it gnawed at me, chewing on my stomach like some kind of bug.

"Needle Noggin' what did you do to her this time she's looking at you funny." Wolfwood remarked.

"Zarbon's pools we're all going do you want to come?" Vash asked.

"I need to give Belle's pendant back so I guess so." I replied, although it came out emotionless. Vash just offered me one of his goofy smiles.

We took the secret passage ways to the pools and when we arrived everyone was already there doing their own thing and soaking up in the pools. I just wandered off to a pool away from everyone else and stared at my reflection in the water, my face had panda eyes from the smeared black paint, I'd have to talk to Vegeta about this paint, it needed some fine tuning so I didn't keep smearing myself. Anucksunamun made it look easy.

"Needle Noggin, what's wrong with her?" I heard Wolfwood asked. "The way she's acting you'd think that she thought you died."

Vash looked down. "Vegeta made some sort of warning on her to take her as his mate, which is strange, because I've never heard of that happening before. If he does he breaks the Saiyan laws and would bring a great upset his father's name."

Wolfwood looked at Vash. "Have you heard if it's happened before?"

"Well once, but that was a fairly low class of saiyan. Vegeta is King. It would cause a great rebellion." Vash replied. "But that's not it that's bothering her. I don't know how I know, but it's something else something she tried to tell me or us last night, something being mine and Vegeta killing her for it."

Wolfwood blinked and he looked at Vash. I looked over my shoulder and I caught his look. He knew he suddenly realized what I had been trying to tell them and I looked back to the pool.

"Needle Noggin' I don't think this is the place to talk about it but I have a feeling. I know what's going on."

"Awww you know? What is it tell me?" Vash bounced about him.

Wolfwood sighed and conked him on the head to stop him bouncing about as I watched out of the corner of my eye.

"Ow… that wasn't very nice you know."

"We'll talk later about this."

Vash's shoulders slumped. "Fine meanie."

Standing by the poolside I was self-conscious and I looked at the healing waters, I couldn't even hug myself else I would smear the body paint. If I soaked the paint would wash away and Vegeta would be mad, and I'd heal the attacking marks he left me the night before would heal up and he'd get so suspicious.

I held my book and looked down at it. I sat by the pool instead away from the others my back facing them as I opened up my book.

I hadn't told anyone but slowly I'd been teaching myself to read and speak Saiyan so I could understand what Vegeta was talking about when he and Zorn rambled in their native tongue around me, who knows what information I could discover if I played stupid.

I let out a sigh. I felt stupid really stupid though, all this time I'd been hiding behind humor and jokes when finally the death of Sess triggered something real inside of me, the memory of when I lost my uncle the only uncle on my father's side to treat me nice, the only one who didn't blame me for my parent's break up.

"I miss you uncle." I whispered. I wiped my face and looked down at the pendant. I picked it up and then found a replacement bookmark. It was just a torn piece of paper lying round and I placed I in the book and put the book down walking up to Belle carrying the pendant.

She looked so alone, now here we were, Raine and myself had someone and she'd lost her someone. I placed the pendant in her hands.

"He brought out the best of light in you, made you so strong." She looked at me, her expression sad and I looked down. "I hope to see that side back one day, sometimes someone like me needs that someone strong to talk to. I'm not always all jokes and smiles." I walked off leaving her with that.

I picked my book up and sat down again and opened it up to the page I'd been on. It was a good Saiyan novel, it was hard to imagine this race, as a literary race, that even had the concept of writing and reading and educating their young.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sat by the pool where the others were bathing, my eyes were looking at the holograms of Taisho from my necklace that Jay had returned to me. I closed my eyes and let the tears slip free.

"Belle?" someone called and I looked up, thankful for my veil covering my face.

"What?" I asked, my heart not in it, my heart was as dead as my mate.

"You were whimpering," Hiei stated and I looked at him before turning away from them all.

"What did you expect?" I asked as I got up. "I lost my world yesterday. First my son, then my twins, and now…the reason I lived."

"You still have us," J'dee said and I looked to see her standing up beside me. I looked at her and sighed before sitting back down on a rock.

"True, I have my friends, but I…I am missing the largest part of my soul now," I whispered as I pressed the locket and the hologram of Sess and I kissing appeared. "He was my strength, my will to continue, and my heart, without him, I'm dead."

"Woman, get over it! Prince Sesshoumaru is dead! If you do not regain your senses you will be too!" Hiei growled and I glared at him, my rage nearly overflowing as I looked at the tiny Yamainu.

"How dare you?" I growled low in my throat, sounding very different. "How dare you talk to me that way after all I've been through. My husband and life-mate is dead! I will never see him until I die!" I barked as I turned to face the little bastard and he glared at me as he got out of the pool.

"We all will die, we must choose to die with honor and dignity, Prince Sesshoumaru got that, you should be happy for him," Hiei stated and I approached the edge of the pool where he was standing.

"I am far from happy! You may call me selfish and conceited and down right spoiled, but I much rather have Sess at my side right now than to take joy in his…honorable death," I growled before I stomped past the little Yamainu.

"Belle, I placed all of Sess's things behind your dresser. There was a secret storage area back there that I found out about," Kurama said and I looked at him and nodded.

"Thank you, Kurama," I whispered before walking off to mourn my mate in the darkness of my lonely barracks.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I was sitting on my bunk again we had departed after Belle's little incident with Hiei. Vash and Wolfwood were the only ones in the room with me at that moment. Melfina was out with Jim and Gene, sometime the two hung round in our barracks when no one else was around, they had some nice get togethers.

Vash was staring at me his mouth moving but nothing coming out. Wolfwood was leaning up against the wall his arms cross and a lit cigarette in his mouth.

"That's the only reason I can think that would make something yours and Vegeta to want her dead."

"Want HER dead? I'll be joining her that's for sure!" Vash rubbed his face and he moved up next to me pushing the book down and I looked at him.

"Is it true?" He asked his voice soft.

I didn't reply what could I say to him, he was going in to panic mode and a Vash panic mode was not something I needed to deal with right now.

"J'dee tell me are you really pregnant?" He asked.

I looked down and Vash sat down next to me, taking the book away form me and putting it on the other side of him. "J'dee am I the father? Answer me."

"Don't tell anyone. They don't need to know." I replied, "They have enough problems of their own. I can't be saved but if they remain in the dark they can be. And you can get them off this planet and on to a better life."

Wolfwood blew out a long thin line of smoke and nodded. "Well now Needle Noggin' when I think you couldn't do anything more stupid than survive, you do this."

Vash sighed and he wrapped his arms around me. "I'm going to do my best to make sure no one finds out. Not even the others. We need no leaks."

"So a half plant half human child that'll be interesting to see." Wolfwood remarked.

"You have to stay quiet yourself Nicholas." I looked at him, "As a priest this is confidential. Like confession."

"Well that's gunna cost you."

"I'm not wearing that stupid chapel hat or putting in a coin donation." I glared at him to make my point.

"Okay okay, confessional secret you got it. But be careful when you start to show things are going to get ugly really fast."

I frowned. "Don't I know it." I mumbled.

~*~*~*~*~

RaiDei looked at Kane as the other Gung ho Gung came back in to the ship that was hidden. They'd used some of the plant cloaking technology to hide their landing on the planet and Kane had gone out to use his super scope of his gun to find Vash, and found him he had.

"What do you have to report?" Midvalley asked.

Kane grinned. "Vash the Stampede is indeed a slave to King Vegeta, they are staying in the east barracks of the King's servants."

"Excellent." Midvalley smiled.

"And I happened to lip read some of their conversation to." Kane added.

RaiDei frowned he had wanted to go out and spy on the Stampede but they couldn't risk him being spotted. Kane had a better eye and advantage from a distance.

"Anything that Master Knives will want to know about?" Midvalley asked.

"He's gotten a young slave girl pregnant form her brand I'd say she's the King's Concubine."

RaiDei raised a brow. "He always a pervert."

"Wait I think I've seen this girl, on the desert planet where we lost Dominique to the Saiyans. She could be the one that killed Dominique." Midvalley looked at them. "I think it's time to call in Leonof the Puppet Master. We need some eyes and ears in that palace."

~*~*Raine*~*~

"Thank you so much," I said and Tien nodded before walking off with Pai.

"What will you do if this works?" Zarbon turned to me.

My smile began to falter, "I don't know. I'll be happy."

I followed him to the balcony and as we looked down, we could see Yaten walking through the garden, which was covered in a blanket of snow. He looked like a man unhappy in paradise. He continued to brush off the fact that Turles had it in for him. He wasn't angry about it, he wasn't sad, he just had no opinion on the matter at wall, which vexed me. Perhaps he had given up.

"We'll save him," Zarbon said, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked to him and then back down at Yaten as he bent down and managed to pluck a flower out from underneath the snow.

"I'm gonna down and see him," I said before slipping away from Zarbon to head downstairs.

When I approached Yaten he had plopped down on the snow, staring at the flower. I frowned and moved in front of him, sitting down. He began to slowly pluck the petals, "I don't want you worrying so much."

"You know I can't help it," I said.

He looked up at me, smiling despite our situation, "There's nothing either of us can do about it."

'That's what you think' I thought in the back of my mind.

"I don't know how you do it," I said.

"Do what?"

"React this way. Something this terrible is going on and you're acting like you just lost a strand of hair," I said.

Yaten shook his head with a faint smile, "Oh I'm dealing, but internally. I won't gain anything by yelling and snapping at people."

We were silent for a while.

"Faye taught me that a while ago," he suddenly said and I looked at him. It had been so long since he had ever mentioned her name. Her bunk had gathered dust over the months. I couldn't help but frown again. I sat down beside him, looking up to the balcony to see that Zarbon had already headed inside. I looked up ahead the shimmering lake not too far ahead of us and suddenly wished I had taken up Zarbon on his offer and learned how to swim. Would that side of Vegetaseii be easier to live on than this side? I glanced over at Yaten who was also staring at the lake. Was he thinking the same thing? Or was he thinking of drowning in it? My frown deepened and gently placed my hand over his. He didn't look at me. I turned back to facing the lake and we sat there in uncomfortable silence.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I entered the barracks and nearly screamed when I saw the two forms on the floor groaning and I sighed as I looked at the filthy and beaten men. I turned on the lights and looked to see that they were even dirtier than I thought, both of them unconscious on the floor and the scent of brunt flesh invading my nose. They had just been branded and I sighed as I filled a wash basin and approached one, he smelt of animal dung and I wondered if they were from the lowest slave caste. I sighed as I began to wash the first one. I revealed a rather handsome, if not bruised, face. He was clearly human and I continued to wash his face, finally cleaning the grim off his face.

I quickly changed the water and moved to his arms, then legs, then I removed the sad excuse for a shirt, cleaned his chest, embarrassingly cleaned his lower body before dressing him in a dark blue robe. I washed his hair and tied it back in a dragon tail before placing him into the bunk below Sess's.

I looked at the other young man and sighed as I emptied the water basin and washed it out before filling it up. I sighed as I began to clean the other man. I began to get a sniff of Yamainu. I would have to be careful with him, he would be able to smell my Yamainu blood.

I sighed as I began to wipe his face clean and then I saw a familiar shade of purple on his cheek. I gulped as I began to clean him. Soon enough I was graced with red rimmed eyes and purple striped cheeks. I washed more and I was shocked to find the crescent moon that was above his navel. I traced it before I continued. I used four basins to clean his hair, which shone like pure silver. I blinked.

"It's just not possible," I whispered as I looked at the young man on the floor, dressed in a dark red robe. I stared at him for a moment before he groaned and looked at me with molten gold eyes. I did the only thing I could think of. I fainted.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

The group of us Gene, Mefina, Jim, Wolfwood, Vash and myself sat at the shaman's pools I was finally washing the paint of me in a normal non healing hot pool.

My head was spinning and I felt a somewhat blank feeling and darkness surrounding me. Walking round practically topless save for the paint Vegeta would notice. But there had been girls that could pull off the non-bloating ness under loose baggy clothing. Clothing I had no access to I felt lost confused. Vegeta would find out and when he did I would cease to exist and his word to me that morning would mean nothing. I slipped under the water letting my entire self submerge under the water. I felt the heat around me bringing back the memory…

"Majo…" I had just finished placing his armor down the chute and I looked at him as he touched my arm. It was a strange touch a soft touch the paint hadn't been applied yet and I wasn't on a Vegeta house arrest so he couldn't' monitor when I'd wash up and the paint would wash away.

I was still looking at him. "If only you were Saiyan majo…"

Confused I had just looked at him, the confusion obvious in my expression. "You would be able to stand what we do and understand why we do it."

Was he opening up? That I wasn't sure of, it was something completely uncharacteristic of him. He had been so proud, arrogant, a tough person to get to know and in a way if he'd been human those traits I myself would have found myself drawn to him, me and my complete taste for the worst men ever, men that resembled my father. My father a man I missed and a man I hated with complete passion.

"You can't help yourself." I had simply remarked.

"I've grown attached to you Majo over the years."

'Years?'I had found myself thinking. 'Had it been a plural of how long we'd been here?' It had only felt like yesterday then again all the regen tank time, the rape and the abuse was something that couldn't be all endured in one day.

His hand slid down my arm and I closed my eyes, why hadn't Wolfwood arrived with his breakfast yet. I didn't want to endure another one of his morning bang me senseless things.

When he reached my fingers I opened my eyes and found him staring at me. I was feeling responsive when he kissed me the hormones on being pregnant making me completely out of whack.

I had found myself on the bed completely responding to his morning needs but something was different this time. I was feeling him, my wiccian senses were picking up more than a rabid monkey on heat, it was picking up emotions and I gasped as he bit me higher up than last time on my neck.

"You're strong like a Saiyan majo, but you're fragile. I don't like fragile."

"I'm only fragile cause my father made me that way." I found myself confessing.

He looked at me and sat up, I shuffled back a bit. "Your father, it's the first time you've mentioned him."

"Well yeah he wasn't a nice guy, in fact give him a tail and he could pass for your kind, but more perverted." My head rested back against the headboard.

"I'm going to confess something majo. I have not found a mate worthy of myself yet."

I looked at him confused. "So you live off concubines I understand."

"If I don't find a mate majo, you're the closest I would want for one, and if the opportunity arises know that I will take you as one. Laws or not."

My eyes had widened so far and I had jumped back hard that I hand hit my head on the wall.

"Okay from now on I'm going to be checking your food for drugs, this is not the Vegeta I know."

I was expecting a slap or a correction of using his name without royal reference or the correct address of sir or sire before hand. But nothing came.

He just smirked that Vegeta smirk. "I'm letting you live majo, by now a lot of my concubines have either died or I have grown bored of them, they have given up in fighting me, but still you resist and that in itself is the reason."

Falling back in to a sitting slump on the bed I stared at him. Was it possible, was he actually starting to like me… not as just a bed warmer but as a person? It could prove to be an example or a bargaining chip in future, if he didn't find out about the baby.

We were interrupted by a knock on the door and I was relieved when Wolfwood entered with the breakfast tray placing it on the bedside table he looked at me and I caught his look, the AV was there and it was about time. But part of me made me wonder if I wanted him to take it despite what he had done to me the night before. I'd been in abusive relationships before, still my gut gnawed at me, I was in love with Vash and Vegeta was making this rather complicated.

Surfacing from the submerge I let out a breath and ran my hands through my wet hair I felt a tingle all through my body, whether it was the sudden temperature change or the memory I wasn't too sure, maybe I could try to play on Vegeta more, use him soften him up, who knows if he took me as a mate I could free so many slaves, or get Vegeta booted off his own planet in a rebellion. Who knows either way looked hopeful.

"You okay over there?" Gene asked as he came out of his hot pool drying himself off.

"I think I'll be okay." I replied. In truth I had so many things running through my mind I knew it would be another night of complete insomnia as I processed them, I only had months or weeks to play on Vegeta before he found out. The question was how would I do this and how could I work it to my level I wasn't like my brother who always was the cunning one. But if I found him… if I did I could do some serious planning with him.

"You look in better shape now." Wolfwood remarked, as I slipped out of the pool, not caring about modesty anymore I wore paint as a daily thing naked was not an issue anymore. I picked up a towel and dried myself off.

"Just thinking about finding my brother, I would like to see him one last time." I stated.

Wolfwood nodded. "So what slave rank do you think he's been issued as?"

"Gotta be engineering or something in the joinery, fix-it make-it stuff. He's got a knack for it. Does Paragas have any of those types of slaves?"

"Hey Krillen works for Paragas, you could ask him." Vash smiled. He seemed to have gotten over his shock.

"Well then we should find Krillen." I looked at them.

"Ummm after you've dressed right?" Vash looked at me somewhat over protective.

I picked up the satin skirt and looked at Vash. "Oh yeah that makes a difference." I rolled my eyes.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"How long did you fight?" I whispered to Kuwabara.

"A few hours. Zarbon stopped us early so that we wouldn't end up in the regen tanks again," he replied, sitting at my side. He and Yusuke had decided to join me and Yaten in the garden. We sat up against the wall of the nearest tower. Yaten had fallen asleep in my lap and Yusuke was slowly dozing off beside me.

"Do you think of your home?" I suddenly asked.

"All the time," he muttered, repositioning himself against the wall.

He and Yusuke had told me of their home before and I wanted to visit it, as naive as it sounded.

"What were your people like?"

He sighed, "A lot like us. They were all honorable, good people. Fighting was for defense and nothing more. We didn't enjoy killing our enemies or take advantage of our prisoners. We were pretty much peaceful unless someone pushed us into something."

I don't know what made me think to say it, but it slipped before I realized, "Did you have a girlfriend back home?"

He blinked and I could see the crimson in his cheeks forming. He looked down, smiling faintly despite himself. He avoided looking my way, "Nah. There was this one girl I liked, but I never had the guts to tell her. She could've had any man she wanted, why waste her time even looking my way?"

"Oh don't think that way? I think she would've been flattered to know you liked her. The worst she could've said was no," I told him.

"Oh no," he chuckled and shook his head, "the worst she could've said was that Hiei was her older brother."

My eyes widened, "That must've been fun."

"Oh yeah," he smiled, "I found out from Kurama and never pursued her since."

"Aw, I think you should've continued your pursuit. Hiei knows you're a good guy, right?" I asked.

He shrugged, "Maybe. But he's threatened anyone who even looked her way. It's not like I'm afraid or anything, but why fight for her when I'm not even sure she likes me?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," I said.

"It's alright. Better luck next time, huh?"

I smiled at him, "Yeah."

We were silent again. I sighed and gazed out at the beautiful sunset, which seemed to express a sad beauty instead of exotic.

"I miss my home," I groaned, closing my eyes.

I opened my eyes when Kuwabara placed a hand on my shoulder, knowing how I felt. I shook my head. These saiiyans had made us lose everything. Just when we had found a way to get on with our lives, they and this place took our despair to another level.

Our families

Our friends

Some of our homes

Faye

Her baby

Sesshomaru

I sighed, leaning my head against the tower wall as I felt tears begin to form. How had we managed to survive this long?

"Raine?" I looked to Kuwabara who looked worried.

I suddenly put on a smile and held his cheek, "I'm alright. Just a little wind."

I moved to wipe my face of tears when he took my hand. I looked to him questioningly.

"It's okay," he said, and then he did something that totally caught me off-guard.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"Who is she?" a soft baritone voice asked and I was slightly aware of my veil being lifted and suddenly dropped. "Don't do that. The veil may mean something to her people!"

"Well how am I supposed to know who she is without seeing her face?" another, rougher voiced snapped and I tried to wake up, struggling to pull myself out of the darkness.

"You're the alien here, I don't know much, remember, I've only been a slave for two years and I've only worked in those damn stables with you and Sango, I've only seen you, other humans, and Saiyans. You said yourself there are hundreds of thousands of other races," the first voice said as I opened my eyes to see the silhouettes of the two men above me. One looked down and I saw the twitching of ears on his head and I felt something click. My son's, Sesshoumaru's, ears had been that way where Taisho's had been like Sess's. I reached up and gently stroked this man's ears and looked at his face. It was similar to Sess's, where Sess's features and face were regal and noble, this young man's face was down to Earth and rugged.

"You…you are Sess's brother…" I whispered as I pulled my hand back.

"You speak English, wonderful," the human man said and suddenly grew quiet. "Brother? Inuyasha, you never mentioned that you had a brother before."

"That's because only nobles or Yamainu know that I have a brother," Inuyasha said as he looked at me. "Your scent is hidden beneath the stench of the stables. Who are you and how do you know my brother?" I turned away from him.

"I will tell you after I bathe, please leave the room so I may dress," I whispered and he grumbled before he and the other man left. The other man looking at me before nodded and following, he was curious, but he could wait.

I quickly undressed and put the dirty clothes into the dirty clothes container before I bathed and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was nearly black now, one more dip in the regeneration tanks and I bet my hair would no longer even reflect that it was once a healthy chestnut. I looked at my eyes, they looked the same as did my features. Of course, I hadn't broken out since my first dip in the regeneration tank with Sess. My eyes moved to my forehead where the blue crescent moon stared at me and suddenly I realized that my moon was in the opposite direction of Sess's. I leaned closer to the mirror and turned my head to get a better look at the angle of my moon, then I noticed the splash of purple along the rim of my eyelids as well as the slight blue hue by my ears. I would have to be careful, by the next dip in the regeneration tank I would have my own stripes. I sighed. Right now it wasn't noticeable unless you looked hard. I quickly bathed and got dressed in a long black dress with a high color and then I used my claws to rip up one of my other dresses to make a veil. I hid my hands up my sleeves as I opened the door.

"Please, come in," I whispered and the two entered, sitting on the bunk under mine. I walked over and placed a hand on Sess's bunk before turning to look at them. "I will tell you my story and you will listen because it's a long and painful story for me to tell. Sess is very important to it and you'll understand more after I'm done, so please. Keep quiet till I'm done."

"Fine," Inuyasha growled, though it looked like he was ready to interrupt at any moment.

"Please, go on," the other man said and I nodded before I looked at the floor.

"I was born on a planet called Earth…" I began my story from the beginning.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

We meet up with Krillen in the common room. He rubbed the back of his neck as we asked about Paragas' slaves. The common room was a good place for the slaves to relax back and socialize, of course there were those among the common room group that you couldn't trust I had learned that the hard way when my tattoo had been reported the brander had been killed.

"Well there are a few slaves that Paragas and Broly share." Krillen replied. "What does this kid look like?" Krillen asked.

I smiled and motioned with my hand about a head taller than myself. "So tall black hair, brown eyes, human, or appears to be human but knowing my bro he fed some concocted story about not being human."

"Well shoot there are a lot of guys with black hair around if you didn't notice."

Well it's been what nearly three years… it would be somewhat long now I guess limp not saiyan like hanging to probably about here." I motioned about half way down my neck.

Krillen scratched his chin. "In engineering? Or close to it?"

"Yes."

"Well there is this one guy. The saiyans brought him in about two and a half years ago, he told us he was human but he was brought in on a ship brining in straggling Tsfuru-jinn." Krillen replied. "The kind that escaped."

"Can I see him do you think?" I asked hopefully.

Krillen shrugged. "Sure. I'll take you now if you want."

"That would be great." I smiled.

"But I can't take the lot of you Paragas is strict about who comes and goes to his area. Something about Broly brining in too many people slaves he brought on boredom basis and basically wore them out. His father isn't as strict and doesn't wear them out as fast, but he's still strict." Krillen pointed out.

"Great. Well not great, but great that you can take me."

Vash looked at me. "Do you want any company?"

I looked at Krillen. "I can only take how many?"

"Well probably just the three of you max, you're Vegeta's more higher ranking slaves Paragas wouldn't put up too much of a fuss."

Melfina smiled. "That's okay. We'll be back at the barracks and don't forget to fill us in okay?"

"Totally fill you in."

Melfina, Gene and Jim headed off. Krillen led us out of the common room and in to a passage way and we followed him through the secret tunnels in to Paragas' domain.

Once there we slipped out and Krillen walked us through the barracks area of Paragas' slaves he stopped outside a door and knocked and I bit my lower lip and the door opened.

It was a young girl she didn't look any older than Zorn's concubine, she wore Paragas' brand mark I'd seen it before so I was lucky to recognise it.

"Hey Natalie is Trey in?"

"Sure him and Iggi are just talking about Tak's Tureno '86 from back home and comparing it to Trey's skyline '31."

I raised a brow and looked at Krillen he laughed. "They're Tsfuru, it's an engineering thing."

I looked at Vash and he smiled he obviously saw that I was happy. "He said Trey and the car thing is so Trey. I hope it's my bro Trey."

Natalie opened the door more and sitting on the bunk was a guy with short scruffy looking hair, dark eyes, he was a funny looking fellow shaking the blonder guy angrily.

"You idiot Tak I can't believe you were driving for five years in an '86 using it to deliver Tofu and you didn't tell me!!"

It was next to him I saw the familiar face shape that I had grown up seeing everyday of my life before we had been taken away nearly four years ago.

"C'mon man don't blame Tak." The familiar face remarked laughing at the two.

"Iggi, Tak, there's a girl here to see Trey."

"A girl! Has she got a good rack?" Iggi asked suddenly.

I raised a brow and saw the look from the funny dark haired fellow as he looked at me.

Trey stood up and he brushed the bangs from his face. He looked at me, then his eyes widened. "Jay?"

"Trey." I smiled and I raced up to him and hugged him. He hugged me back it had been nearly four years since I saw my family so I was just happy Trey was still alive.

He suddenly pushed me back and cleared his throat trying to act the typical tough guy Trey I remembered.

"Hey Jay this is Iggi and Tak, and that's Natalie." He motioned to the dark haired guy as Iggi, Tak the blonde fellow and the girl with the light brown possibly red hair as Natalie.

Trey then whacked Iggi over the head. "Don't ever ask about my sister's 'rack' again man that's just sick."

I waved at them I motioned behind me. This is Vash and that's Nicholas."

Vash waved. "Ello!" He greeted pretty much cheerily.

Wolfwood just nodded.

Krillen pushed us in and shut the door he looked at us. "We can't be seen here news will get back to Vegeta. Sorry for intruding like this." He looked at Trey.

"No probs man."

I looked at Trey. "How on earth did you get mistaken for a Tsfuru-jinn?"

He laughed. "Well the saiyan ship I was on had some engine problems and kinda crashed only about four of us humans out of five hundred I think survived. So we got left behind when we played dead. We were picked up by Tsfuru-jinn who salvaged the ships parts." Trey explained. "So me, Tak, Natalie and Iggi here played it in to being Tsfuru and made up some story about how we were raised on a place similar to earth, without actually mentioning earth."

"Though Trey here had to keep saying he was human, Paragas didn't believe him, but still bought him." Iggi huffed.

Krillen frowned. "Two and a half years I've know you four and you lied to me?" He asked.

Trey smiled. "Hey man we couldn't have it spread about."

"Find a seat where ever you can sit down we'd love to here about you guys, are you all human too?" Natalie smiled she seemed really nice.

Tak was somewhat quiet, but then again a new group were coming on to their turf and he could have possibly not known how to react.

"Well yeah except Needle Noggin here." Wolfwood patted Vash on the back. "He's a plant."

"He doesn't look green to me." Iggi remarked.

"Nameks are Green." Vash pouted.

We all found somewhere to sit so we could talk and I could catch up with my brother. It was actually quite exciting, and I knew in my situation I had to find some form in happiness in any moment that presented itself.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"K-Kuwabara…" I blushed madly and looked down.

"What's with all the noise?" we looked to Yusuke who was grumpily waking up. I looked down to see Yaten stirring too.

"I-I'm sorry Raine," Kuwabara whispered back.

My blush only deepened.

"Sorry for what?" Yusuke looked at us suspiciously.

"N-Nothing. We should be heading inside guys, it's getting cooler," I stammered before gently waking Yaten.

I avoided Kuwabara like the plague as we headed back into Zarbon's place. We'd be having dinner with him before sneaking back into Turles' place. If we were gone the entire day, he'd probably have us all hunted down and beaten.

At the dinner table, I went out of my way not to even look Kuwabara's way, though he seemed to continuously look my way. The others could sense something was up, obviously, but I wasn't gonna tell them! Yusuke brought up fighting and training techniques with Zarbon and Kuwabara and I squeezed his hand thankfully before turning my attention to Yaten. I felt a tap at my leg and looked up to see Zarbon looking at me questioningly. I shook my head and turned to my food. He blinked and went back to his conversation. I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

I blinked when Yusuke leaned towards me and whispered, "I wanna know what happened later."

I sighed uncomfortably before he returned to his conversation.

~*~*Belle*~*~

"…and that brings us to today," I whispered as I looked at the disbelief on Inuyasha's face. The other man looked fascinated, he hadn't spoken through the whole story.

"I don't believe you. My brother would never mate with an alien!" Inuyasha snapped and I growled before I ripped my veil off, baring my teeth at him.

"Well believe it!" I growled. "It happened like that and I have more than enough proof and witnesses!" Inuyasha's eyes locked on my forehead, his eyes wide, his mouth open, and his apparent shock not changing.

"Inuyasha, that mark is like the one by your navel," the other man said and I nodded.

"It's the sign of the ruling family of Tenrousei, the blue crescent moon. Usually its tips are pointed to the left, but to curve to the right…it means…she's been marked by my brother as his mate. However…" Inuyasha started to lunge at me but I pulled back and pulled the neck of my shirt down to show him the blue bite mark from Sess. "You are! He…he marked you as his life-mate!" I watched as Inuyasha sat down, in shock and I pulled my veil back on.

"Yes, I am your brother's life-mate," I whispered as I got up. "And now it is time to serve our 'masters'." I led the way to the kitchen.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

The three of us reached the barracks and I found my bunk and flopped on to it. Vash looked at me. "It was good to see you smile again."

"I can't believe they pulled themselves off as Tsfuru, that's just wow…" Wolfwood shook his head.

I lay there looking upwards. "Tsfuru-jinn are rare among the slaves these days they might have cost Paragas a bit, but if it got out that they lied… they won't last long. Paragas will probably kill them." I frowned.

Vash climbed in to the bunk next to me and I curled up in to him and let out a sigh. "We'll make sure no one else knows."

I nodded. "Yeah I like knowing I still have my brother." I replied.

Wolfwood scratched his head. "Melfina isn't here… I hope she gets back before they call a lights out."

"She's with Gene and Jim I'm sure she's okay." I offered.

Wolfwood climbed in to his bunk. "I hope your right… and if you two don't mind wait till I get to sleep until you start doing anything freaky."

I raised a brow and grabbed Vash's pillow and hiffed it at Wolfwood. He laughed and caught it and placed it under his head.

"Hey that's mine." Vash pouted.

I pulled my pillow out from under me and slipped it in its place and Vash looked at me. "You sure, you might need it."

"I'm not bloating just yet. Beside's it's payback time, you get me pregnant I'm going to give you shoulder cramp." I remarked resting my head on his shoulder.

~*~*Raine*~*~

We were quiet and slow on our trek back to Turles'. I kept telling myself that it would be safer to return than to hide and have him hunt us down. We were completely unaware that Turles was waiting for us at the doors in the darkness. As we reached the doors, Kuwabara reached for the knob…

~*~*Belle*~*~

I lay on my bunk, the dinner had been quiet, Bardock had been in a bad mood and his sons and grandson had felt it, therefore, not a word was spoken, not to each other, not to us. I was thankful.

I sighed as I listened to Inuyasha and Miroku as they talked about their friends they had left behind and I closed my eyes and turned to the wall, I missed Sess. I closed my eyes, but the tears escaped as I faced the wall. I pulled out my pendant and pressed a button. The image was of Sess and I dancing, it was beautiful and if I lived to see my children again, I would give Rin this image, she would like it when she was older. I sighed and felt the tears continue.

"Wench why are you crying?" Inuyasha called and I decided not to dignify him with an answer.

"Inuyasha! She lost her mate, what do you think she's crying about?" Miroku stated and there was the sound of a fist meeting a skull.

"I can tear you apart with my bare hands you know!" Inuyasha snarled. I sighed as I listened to them bicker, it was like Yusuke and Kuwabara. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"Raine?" I heard a whisper and slowly opened my eyes to see the guys standing over me.

I quickly sat up and slipped out of bed, moving into the darkness of a nearby corner to change. Yaten walked over to the window. Looking from my hiding spot, I saw Yusuke nudge Kuwabara.

"Hey, what was up with Raine last night?" I heard him ask, followed by an uncomfortable grunt from Kuwabara. I frowned and pulled on my skirt and boots before walking out of the darkness, glaring at Yusuke. He feigned innocence and pushed Kuwabara forward. After Kuwabara climbed out of the window, Yusuke lifted me up and out of where Kuwabara was waiting to catch me. I blushed when his hands gripped my waist. I tried not to look at him, seeing that he was blushing too. The moment he put me down I moved over to Yaten and Yusuke climbed out. We would leave the same way we snuck in. Turles was completely unaware of how we got in, but the other slaves in the barracks would inform him that we did come home.

As we headed for Zarbon's, I felt a tug at my arm. Yusuke pulled me far behind Yaten and Kuwabara. The look on his face was enough and I sighed and rolled my eyes.

"Well?" he asked.

"Well what?" I asked.

"Raine…"

I sighed, "Fine. While you and Yaten were asleep, Kuwabara and I were talking…"

"And?"

"And, I don't know what made me say it, I asked him if he had a girlfriend back on his planet," I folded my arms.

Yusuke's brow rose, "Oh, he means Yukina. That was a tough break, but he shouldn't have given up so easily."

"Yeah…"

Yusuke gave me that no BS look and I groaned, "Well I told him to have a little more confidence and before I knew it, I started sinking back into reality and I started crying. He comforted me…"

Yusuke's brows lowered, "Comforted you?"

I closed my eyes, "By sticking his tongue down my throat."

"WHAT?!" Yusuke yelled, causing Yaten and Kuwabara to look back at us.

"Shut UP!" I whispered, covering his mouth before waving innocently to the others. They looked at each other before walking off.

When I let Yusuke go, he seemed riveted.

"Damn! I didn't know he had it in him!" he said.

I glared at Yusuke, "Hello! I'm the person he decided to get bold with! What do I do?"

"Oh…oh yeah…" Yusuke suddenly frowned.

"I…I guess you'll have to bring him down gently. I'm just shocked, proud, but shocked."

"Yeah? How do you think I feel? Oh man, rake this up as another secret to keep from Zarbon," I muttered.

Once we entered Zarbon's place, I merely walked over and gave him a peck on the cheek before moving towards the nearest wall to lean quietly.

~*~*Belle*~*~

The morning began anew and I found myself taking care of Bardock and Gohan while Inuyasha served Raditz and Miroku took care of Kakarot. So easily were the others replaced, it made my heart ache to think how easily one person was replaced by another. Still, I figured I might as well introduce the boys to the others, besides, Inuyasha would want to see his Yamainu comrades. I waited till after they ate breakfast to approach them both.

"Come along you two," I said as I looked at them after they returned their plates to the kitchen.

"Where are we going?" Inuyasha demanded and I stared at him blankly before I turned and headed outside.

"It's a surprise," I said as I led the way, I couldn't even pretend to be happy, Sess was gone. My husband, my lover, my soul, dead.

"I'm sorry but you never even told us your name," Miroku said and I looked at him through my veil.

"I did," I said quietly. "I am Belle." I led the way through the garden of ice that was soon going to melt when the spring came.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I sat in Vegeta's room applying the body art to my hands and feet, this was a new waterproof version Bulma had created, I couldn't rub it off. It would take soap to wash it off but it still held the same qualities as the previous paint.

Vegeta was adjusting his armor as he looked over at me. "You're quite the artist majo." He remarked.

I nodded. "Yeah I wanted to be an artist back home. Make it a career."

There was a knock on the door and I looked over as I was painting a henna design on my feet with a paint brush.

"Enter." Vegeta ordered.

We watched as Zorn entered and he bowed. "Sire I have bad news."

Vegeta looked at me then he switched from English to the saiyan tongue and I continued to paint myself listening in he didn't know I'd been studying the language.

~What is it Zorn? This had better be worth my time.~

~News from the ship taking the Yamainu Prince's body back to his planet. The ship was attacked by an Anti-Naraku Yamainu group.~ Zorn spoke and kept his head lowered.

I watched Vegeta and he looked suddenly conflicted.

~I don't like Naraku, but we need that sex fiend as an ally.~

~That's not the worst part.~ Zorn added.

~The body of the dog?~

~Taken sire, the Yamainu's took it.~

I finished up painting myself, listening intently. 'How will Belle take this news?' I found myself wondering.

~There are still rebel Yamainu's running loose?! I thought that problem was taken care of!~

~They are a problem sire, but with the right people we can handle it.~

~No don't interfere I don't want to get on Naraku's bad side. We need him, we will help only if he asks for it.~

~I'm sorry sire.~

Vegeta huffed. ~You're dismissed Zorn, I will sort this out myself.~

Zorn bowed "Yes sire."

I watched as he left and Vegeta looked at me and I stood up.

"What was that about?" I asked playing dumb.

"Just a negotiation problem with Naraku." He looked me up and down and nodded. "You are dismissed Majo. I will see you tonight."

I bowed. "Yes my king."

I left the room and walked down the hall away from the saiyan guards. My stomach was flipping about in knots. This would kill Belle even more.

Meeting up with Wolfwood in the passage way he looked at me. "Is something wrong?"

"I'll tell you when we get there." I replied.

~*~*Raine*~*~

While the others were in the pools, I pulled Zarbon to the side. He could probably tell something was up, but as usual, my lips were sealed. I sat down on a nearby chair, "So what's the word?'

Zarbon shook his head sadly, "I haven't received word from Pai or Tien, but I wouldn't give up just yet."

I nodded, "Thank you again."

He smiled and helped me up, wrapping his arms around me and I suddenly felt guilty. He gently stroked my cheek, "You're welcome again."

When he leaned in to kiss me, I suddenly felt the urge to tell him, "Zarbon..."

"Hmm?" he pulled back to look at me.

"I um…"

~*~*J'dee*~*~

J'dee was resting in the hot pools and looking round at the others, Vash looked at her face. "Hey what's wrong?"

"So you going to tell us now what's wrong?" Wolfwood asked.

"It's Sess…" J'dee sighed trying not to announce it.

"What's happened to him?" J'dee eeped as Yusuke nearly jumped on her and she frowned. Yamainu hearing was better than she realized.

"Sess's body was taken by an anti-Naraku Yamainu group. Zorn filled Vegeta in this morning."

"And you happened to be listening?" Hiei frowned in disbelief.

"I've been teaching myself Saiyan I was listening in, they were speaking in Saiyan so I wouldn't know obviously. Sess's body was taken."

~*~*Raine*~*~

We both turned to look at J'dee and the place was filled with silence.

"What?" Zarbon walked back towards her and I followed.

"Zorn said it to Vegeta himself," J'dee said with a frown.

"Oh God…" I muttered, "How will Belle take it?"

And as if fate ordained it, the person in question entered the springs.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I entered Zarbon's chambers to see Raine, Yusuke, Kuwabara, Hiei, Kurama, Jay, Vash, and Zarbon turn to look at us like they were hiding something. I looked at them.

"If you have a surprise for me wait till I show you this. Come on in you two," I called and Inuyasha grumbled as he entered followed by Miroku.

"This had better be goo…" Inuyasha's voice stopped as he saw the Yamainu. Miroku's eyes grew wide as he saw Nicholas.

"Prince Inuyasha," Yusuke and Kuwabara cried and I watched as the two tackled the brother of my mate. Kurama and Hiei approaching, each wearing a sad, yet happy expression as they saw their other prince still alive.

"NICK!" Miroku cried and he tackled the priest. I blinked as I took in the scent. Nicholas and Miroku had similar scents and then I realized, it was a similar scent difference between Inuyasha and Sess. Nick and Miroku were brothers!

"Miroku!" Nicholas cried as he hugged the younger man tightly, both trying to keep from crying as they looked at each other. I tried to smile, but I just couldn't. Together, friends, brothers, together while my Sess and I were forever apart in body and spirit.

"Belle, how are you?" Raine asked and I turned my head away from her.

"No better than yesterday and no worse, Sess is gone and I remain," I whispered as I moved to sit down on the sofa where I had gone into labor only three days prior. I was thankful for my veil, it kept my face mostly hidden from view.

"Belle, we…we think you should know something," Jay said as she approached us and she looked at Vash before looking at me.

"Perhaps we should tell her," Kurama said and I looked to see Inuyasha looking suddenly stoic and emotionless. Something bad had happened.

"Go ahead," Jay said and I heard her whisper something about not knowing how to tell me. Suddenly my heart was in my throat.

"Did something happen to the twins?" I cried and I grabbed onto the nearest hand, which was Yusuke's. "Tell me my babies are all right!"

"Babies are fine. Pai watched out for them," a voice said and I watched Pai, Tien, Piccolo, and Nail enter the room. I looked from them back to Kurama and the Yamainu.

"What happened to him?" I whispered as I realized the only other person they would be this worried about telling me about.

"Prince Sesshoumaru's body was taken by a radical group of Yamainu who have begun protesting Naraku," Kurama stated and I blinked, Sess had been taken!

"Will….how….they won't hurt his body will they?" I asked and the group shook their heads.

"We're not sure what will happen though, as long as they hold the Prince's body, Naraku and Vegeta will be in deep trouble with the intergalactic community. Though there were not many supporters here, Prince Sesshoumaru was well known throughout the universe and many nobles respected and admired him. If he is not laid to rest in his ancestral graves, they will find it an offence against the nobles of all planets and there will be tension between the Saiyans and Naraku's court. Especially since it was Naraku who unjustly dethroned Prince Sesshoumaru and Vegeta who helped him," Hiei stated and I stared at the little Yamainu. I didn't know what to feel.

"Sess…" I whispered as I hugged myself. "May God protect your soul."

~*~*Raine*~*~

J'dee stepped away from Belle when she got no reply. We all decided that it would be best to give her, her space for the moment. We all went to our own business. Pai and Tien walked over to me and Zarbon. They basically told me what Zarbon had. There was no news of our quarry and that only sunk my hopes. But just like Zarbon had done, Pai had advised me not to give up hope. I nodded. I wanted Yaten to be happy and I would do whatever I could to achieve that. I thanked her and Tien again for their help before we went to join the others. Belle had arrived with two newcomers, one was Wolfwood's brother and the other was Sesshomaru's brother. Man, talk about a blast from your past. Miroku, Wolfwood's brother, was also a priest, orphaned and separated from each other. Kuwabara and Yusuke excitedly introduced me to Inuyasha shook my hand. That's when Yusuke leaned over and whispered something to Inuyasha that got a choking reaction out of him. I raised a brow when Inuyasha looked at me and then back at Yusuke.

"Yusuke!" I snapped and the Yaimanu merely smiled and jumped behind the prince. I growled and stormed past them to a lone spot.

"Raine…"

"What?" I snapped, turning around to see Kuwabara. I sighed and apologized, "I'm sorry, what's up?"

"They know, don't they?" he asked.

I sighed.

I had never wondered what his lips felt like, but they felt good, as embarrassed as I am to admit. And he was a good kisser, come to think of it. My head spun as my thoughts quickly left the hopelessness of my life and I became consumed in the fact that Kuwabara was kissing me! When I felt his hands slip down to my shoulders, I regained my senses and quickly pulled away, bumping into Yusuke and stirring Yaten. I blushed and turned away from him. If I was worried about being cold, it was quickly forgotten. The blood pumping through my system had warmed me enough for the night!

"I-I already know that you and Zarbon have a thing going on," Kuwabara jarred me from my flashback and I frowned.

"I just had to let you know how I felt. I had left before letting that girl know how I felt. Your words inspired me, suddenly made me feel brave, even if it was for a little while. I had to let you know how I felt, even if you didn't feel the same. At least I'd know I tried," he said.

I looked up at him, "I'm sorry Kuwabara."

He managed to smile anyway, "It's alright."

We headed back to the others and I made sure to sock Yusuke on the arm as I brushed past.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

We left Belle to deal with her grief.

I dug my hands in to Wolfwood's pocket and pulled out a packet of cigarettes since I didn't have any pockets and pulled out a cigarette and a lighter from the packet and lit up.

"This is great." Vash smiled. "You found your brother and Wolfwood found his. It's a smaller universe than I realized."

"You found your brother Pai is happy for you." She smiled at me.

"I'm happy too but can I talk to you I need some mind protection for him, he has a big mouth and will probably give himself away, he already did to Krillen."

"Pai will help."

I took her off to the side to talk about my brother's situation, it crossed my mind to ask for her help for me but I was more worried about my brother.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I was sitting alone just daydreaming when I began to notice something funny. I concentrated on Jay's scent, it was funny, a slight merging of her scent and someone else's. I started to recognize it.

"Koga wanted you to have this," a deep voice said and I looked to see Tien and Piccolo in front of me.

"Thank you," I whispered as I took the disk from his hand and placed it against my pendant, soon enough I was graced with an image of Taisho. He was standing up, his hair long and silvery around his head. I felt the tears spring to my eyes as I looked at the child with my face and his father's coloring.

"My…nephew…" a voice said and I saw Inuyasha standing beside the Namek and the Sanjiyan. He stared at the child as the image walked across the room and suddenly a cloud of blue-green poison escaped him and he giggled. I began to weep as I flicked to the next image of Taisho playing with something and suddenly the image of my hologram singing him a lullaby began to play. Koga came into the image and picked up Taisho and pointed to me.

"Who's that?" Koga asked and Taisho's eyes were locked on me as he watched me sing.

"Ma….ma…." he began to gurgle and I began to weep harder as I stared at my son.

"Come on, who's that?" Koga encouraged and Taisho gurgled before my hologram reached its repeat.

"Ma-ma," Taisho called and reached for me and I began to cry so hard that my shoulders shook and my chest ached. I turned the pendant off as I sobbed.

"My son! My son!" I sobbed as I hugged myself and rocked back and forth. Someone was holding me as I cried and I clung to him as I sobbed. "I want my babies! I want my mate! I want my family back! Sesswhy did you leave me?" I wept into the warm chest until I cried myself to sleep.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I watched as Yusuke held the now sleeping Belle. My fists clenched. "This is getting so damned complicated."

My own problems about the baby and my brother lying about being a Tsfuru-jinn weren't important.

"Thanks for the use of the hot pools Zarbon but I've got to get going, I have something to do." I looked away.

Vash frowned. I knew he was worried about Sess's body, about the baby, about a lot of things. But what could we do we couldn't do anything about any of it and it drove me insane inside.

"We'll take Belle back." Miroku took Belle from Yusuke's arms.

"Catch you guys later." I waved as I headed out.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I fluttered my eyes open and looked to see the barracks and I sighed, I had made a scene at Zarbon's…again. I hugged myself as I rolled over to face the wall.

"Are you okay?" Miroku's voice asked and I blinked before I rolled back around to look at him sitting on his bunk below Sess's old one.

"As fine as I can be given the circumstance," I whispered as I rolled to look at the ceiling.

"You loved him?" Miroku asked.

"More than anyone else in my life," I whispered.

"He was…an alien…" Miroku whispered quietly.

"Yes, but he let me know him, only me. I never saw him show himself to anyone else like he did with me. He bared his soul to me in return for the same," I whispered as I looked at him.

"So, you and he had a special connection?" Miroku asked and I sighed before I closed my eyes.

"Everyone else is more than weirded out by what's happened to me, they may not say it, but they are," I whispered as I looked at him. "Sess loved me, he loved me because I didn't see him as an overthrown Prince, a mighty warrior, or a fearless leader, I saw him as the man who made me complete, who accepted what I've become, and the man who my soul belongs to forever. Now if you'll excuse me, it's time to get dinner ready."

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I lay on Vegeta's bed holding a photo in my hand. Boy had given it to me before we left him and I looked at it. It made me so sad, we were just kids in the photo inside one of the hamburger slides at Mc Donald's. I felt myself wipe my face free from any tears. I really did want to cry. I wanted to cry and let all my pain out, but I was in Vegeta's presence and he was on a vid phone talking to the captain of the ship that had been attacked, they were still in space and tracking down the anti-Naraku Yamainu group to get the body back. Obviously I had missed something while I was out at the hot pools at Zarbon's.

~So Naraku has been having trouble with Yamainu? Has he contacted you?~

~Yes sire, he thinks it's the Yamainu dedicated to the dog's family line.~

I looked over and the captain looked past Vegeta at me.

~Can she understand us?~

~No she is only a human. Continue.~

I let them finish their discussion, my body had been cleaned up for that nigh and I looked down at the photo, both of us were smiling. I ran my thumb over the photo. His darker complexion obvious, but that's what happened when you had a mixed racial family, my mother coming from a part Maori background and my dad from a predominately Irish background.

~Fine contact me tomorrow fill me in.~

Vegeta ended the vid screen call and he stood up and walked over I looked up at him he pulled his cape off and dropped it over the back of a chair and looked at me.

"What have you got there majo?" He asked.

"A photo of me and my little brother." I replied in all honesty.

He sat down on the bed and held out his hand I placed the photo in his hand and he looked at it for a bit taking in details.

"Hmph." He huffed. "You come from a mixed family line I see."

I nodded. "Yes."

He handed the photo back. I looked at him. "You don't have any siblings do you?"

"No." He huffed.

"Then you wouldn't understand the emotions I'm going through." I held the photo closed to me and Vegeta pulled his armor off.

I closed my eyes it was going to be another one of those nights. My memory was betraying me and I couldn't even remember when the AV was slipped to him last.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"Okay, would someone like to tell me what's going on?" Yaten asked as Yusuke nursed his ear. Kuwabara couldn't help but chuckle.

I folded my arms, "He asked for it."

When Yusuke started to speak, I lifted my hand towards him and he flinched, suddenly getting quiet. Yaten blinked, "Raine?"

"It's nothing," I said, "No big deal."

"Then you won't mind telling me," he said.

I looked away.

"Raine!" I looked up to see Zarbon standing in the doorway. He motioned for me to follow him. I looked at the others and then got up and followed.

Judging by the smile on his face, I probably had reason to celebrate.

"What? What is it?" I asked, on the verge of jumping.

"Pai and Tien just got word from their contacts," he said and my eyes lit up.

"Yaten will be having some visitors in a few months."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I walked out into the garden, my hair blowing around me as I stood beneath the tree that Sess first kissed me under. I ran my fingers over the bark, my claws playing over the tree that would soon be coming back to life. I closed my eyes and imagined that feeling I had when Sess had kissed me.

His hands on my cheeks as he pulled me towards him.

His silken lips playing against mine, making my spine shiver in pleasure.

The feeling of his hands moving to support me against him.

The shot of electricity through my lips to my loins.

"Sess…" I whispered into the night as I felt my heart ache in my chest. I closed my eyes and looked at the tree longingly before I reached out. I stressed one finger and began to draw into the bark with my claw. I turned and headed in, leaving behind a small heart engraved with Sess's and my names in the center.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"Man, I can't get anything out of you today, can I?" Yaten asked as he sat between my legs.

I smiled as I combed his hair, "Nope."

He sighed and rested his arms on my legs, looking over to Yusuke and Kuwabara who were playing cards. He had just finished teaching the two how to play a few Earth card games and the two were fascinated.

"What did you say the name of this game was again?" Yusuke asked.

I giggled, "Go fish."

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Walking back in to the barracks I saw Vash look at me as I brushed some of my hair from my eyes. He sat up, Wolfwood and Melfina were already sound asleep.

"I forgot the AV was slipped to him." I slipped in to the bunk next to Vash and he wrapped his arms around me. I curled in to him just to tired to comprehend anything.

My situation was getting bad, I would start to show eventually and I felt I wouldn't survive. I felt like I was living on a very thin line.

"I wonder if they'll laugh when I am dead?"

Vash looked down at me and he shook his head. "You will not die. I won't let that happen. You're a strong person, you have your brother to live for. When this is over you can be reunited."

"Unless he knocks up Suto something chronic."

Vash ran his hand through my hair and I let out a sigh. "We'll be fine. You'll be fine."

"I'm pregnant, Vash I'm far from fine. Far from it."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I lay on my bed thinking in the darkness when I realized the merging of Jay's scent. It was Vash. Vash and Jay's scents were merging into one. Dear God, Jay was pregnant with Vash's baby. I closed my eyes, I could not believe that, this was bad, Vegeta would kill her when he found out. I closed my eyes and prayed…they would make it.

~*~*~*~*~Three Months Later~*~*~*~*~

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I sat at Gazebo just sitting off on my own hugging me knees I had been allowed some more covering clothes now I had played Vegeta enough for him to believe he could trust me, I still had to wear skimpy clothes. But I used the cape he gave me as a blanket to hide my stomach it was starting to show and I was sitting there nearly on the verge of tears.

I kept remembering what had happened last time I had gotten pregnant and I covered my face. I had been pushed down an entire flight of stairs and lost the baby. My shoulders were shaking and I wiped my face. I wasn't going to cry not in front of everyone. The more pregnant I became the stranger sensations I felt, it was like natures was reaching out to me like there was more life that was free on this planet than I realized.

"Jay…" Vash sat behind me and I rested up against him, he placed his arms around me.

"We'll be fine. Please just come and sit with the others." He urged me.

I shook my head. "I can't face them. I can't…"

He just held me. "On a plus side it's been over three years since we met."

I looked up at him. "You remember."

He smiled. "Of course."

"Well it's official if I didn't know that you weren't human, it's proved now you are not. The men in human race have a terrible memory."

"That's better. I was waiting for something like that from you for these past three months. You've been so withdrawn."

I looked over at Belle and I sighed. "I'd have to tell her about what I heard about the Naraku Vegeta ally situation."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sewed the hole in Gohan's pants, cutting the string with my claw before moving to another shirt as I sat on the gazebo with the others.

"So, when do Yaten's visitors come?" I asked quietly. Raine stiffened a bit and so did the others. "I take it we're going to lose him soon?"

"Yea," Raine whispered quietly and I nodded before I got up and stretched. "Tonight actually." I sat back down in shock and yelped as I crushed my tail, there was an audible pop.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" I yelped as I got up and there was another pop and a rush of pain.

"That must have been painful," Hiei chuckled and I glared at him as I headed to the bushes.

"Where are you going?" Kuwabara asked and I glared at him.

"Checking to see if I broke my tail!" I snapped as I grumbled, heading behind a tree. I reached down my pant-leg and untied the string I used to tie my tail down and I whimpered as I felt my tail. I couldn't tell, I hadn't really felt up my tail before and I sighed as I brushed it. "Like I know if there's a break…" I grumbled as I felt my tail more and suddenly another hand joined mine and I tried to pull away only to have a hand land on my shoulder.

"You would not know enough about Yamainu anatomy to take care of yourself," Kurama stated as he squeezed my tail and I yelped.

"Hey Kurama, go easy on her, this is her first time," Yusuke's voice cried and I growled a death threat.

"Alright Princess, it's just dislocated," he said and I groaned. "I'll reset it." I nodded as I gripped a tree branch before Kurama jerked on my tail and I screamed.

"THAT HURT YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I screamed as I whipped around and reached back to stroke my tail but Kurama stopped me. "Man, that hurts."

"Of course it does, the tail is an important part of our anatomy. Yours is not fully developed so every sensation is multiplied," he said and he gently stroked my tail. Instead of pain I had a streak of pleasure and I blinked as I pulled my tail from Kurama.

"Never, ever, ever do that again," I stated as I came out of the bushes and looked at the others.

~*~*Raine*~*~

My mind kept going back to the news Zarbon gave me. I was so happy but so sad at the same time. The deadline was drawing near. They'd be here today and my stomach did flip-flops. I didn't want to lose my best friend, but if I wanted him to be happy, I had to let him go. I folded my arms while Yaten sat at my side.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm all right. Just thinking to myself."

I pushed my dreads from my face and stared up at the sky. I had never felt so torn before. I wanted to cry, but I wanted to laugh. I sighed and shook my head. I couldn't even wait till they got here and I was already worked up.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as I finished the last of Gohan's torn clothing and I placed them into the bag before standing up.

"I'm going to head back now, if I don't see him, tell Yaten goodbye for me," I said as I started up to head out.

"Yea, I'm gonna head out too," Inuyasha sighed before getting up followed by a sleepy looking Miroku.

"Belle, wait a second, I forgot to tell you something," Jay cried as she walked up to me and I turned to look at her waving at Inuyasha and Miroku to head on without me.

"What is it?" I asked and she looked at me.

"I heard something you might want to know about," she said and I looked at the look that passed between her and Vash.

"What is it?" I whispered and she looked to see Inuyasha vanish.

"Vegeta let it slip that Naraku is having troubles with some of his people. They're demanding that the royal line be restored, but Vegeta and Naraku are allies or something so Vegeta won't give up Inuyasha. I think Inu's going to be under some tough security here soon, so you're going to have to be careful…they might see you're…uh…newest features," she said and I nodded.

"I'll watch my tail, claws, fangs, and my new tattoo," I sighed before I headed after Inuyasha and Miroku.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Well I'm off too." I stretched "His majesty wishes to see me for another roll around the sheets."

Vash frowned and I knelt down in front of him and gave him a kiss on the lips. "It's okay. I'll be fine."

"But we didn't serve him this morning he's had no AV." Wolfwood pointed out.

I nodded. "I'll be okay. I promise."

I walked off leaving the two there at the Gazebo.

I was sure everyone else would depart. Since the new chefs were being broken in Vash and Wolfwood had a night off so that was a good thing. I made my way through the palace towards the familiar corridor.

I knocked on the door and I pushed it open and peered inside before entering. The room was empty and I frowned.

Vegeta had said he would be here and I looked at the saiyan clock as the strange right angle triangle ticked over digitally and formed an upside down 'A' symbol.

My stomach instantly told me something was up and I looked round. I walked out to the balcony and stood there and gripped the railing swinging myself up on to it to sit and look at the view from Vegeta's room staring out at the vast ocean and wondering what way beyond it. More slaves? More space pirates?

Thirty minutes passed by before Vegeta entered and I looked over at him and he shut and door and looked at me.

"Majo I'm glad you remembered."

"Well I never forget when I'm suppose to meet up with you." It was the truth, it had been beaten in to me over the years.

I slipped off the balcony and walked inside. He looked down at the tank top I wore and the small satin skirt and he just stood there.

Silence.

Raising a brow in curiosity at him. Vegeta just walked up to me and then I caught a look flash across his face. It was menacing, it was true Vegeta look the one I know where I'm in trouble.

His hand snapped out and grabbed my wrist and I blinked and then he placed a hand over my stomach and I looked down and then looked up at him.

I felt my stomach grow warm and then there was a large flash of light.

Ya know I wonder if they'll laugh when I am dead?

Why am I fighting to live if I'm just living to fight?

Why am I trying to see where there ain't nothing in sight?

Why am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try?

Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die?

~*~*Raine*~*~

I frowned and hugged myself as Yaten came over and sat with us. I reached over and hugged him. He blinked and looked at me, "What was that for?"

I smiled and shrugged, "I don't know. Just felt like it, y'know?"

He shrugged, "Yeah."

While the others talked, I got up to go looking for Zarbon.

"Raine? Are you alright?" he asked. I looked back and nodded.

I headed through the halls of Zarbon's place. I frowned and folded my arms at the thought of losing Yaten.

"Hey, do you mind? Some people are trying to sleep!"

I smiled. I wanted to strangle him that night. He was so cocky and above it all. I remembered when I first got a good look at him. How didn't I see his eyes in the dark? They were so bright and shiny in the sun. My smile deepened as I turned another corner. After I got a good look at him, I had to get over the fact that a pop singer I had enjoyed listening to on Earth was actually an alien.

I folded my arms as I walked.

"Search for your love, sora no suishou

Search for your love, nakanaide kure

Search for your love"

"Hontou wa," I quickly turned to look behind me to see Yaten walking my way, singing along. I smiled and looped my arm with his, pulling him along.

"Dakishimetai no sa " we sang together.

"Kimi no kaori zutto"

"Sagashiteru…"

"Boku no koe yo todoke"

"Aishiteru…"

"Ima doko ni iru no"

"Moonlight princess…"

"Boku no…"

"Princess," we heard two voices join in at the end of the hall. Yaten and I stared at each other before running to catch up to where the two new voices were.

"Kotaete…" Yaten sang in a calling fashion.

"Answer for me…" one of the voices sang.

I looked at Yaten, and then sang, "Ima sugu"

A deeper voice sang this time, "Answer for me."

"Kotaete.." I sang.

"Answer for me…"

I smiled and took Yaten's hand as we finally neared the end of the hall to see two figures leaning against a balcony.

"Yasashiku..." the one with black hair sang.

"Answer for me," the taller one with brown hair sang.

My eyes widened, "Seiya? Taiki?"

The two looked at me, surprised.

"Who would've guessed that way out here we'd still find a fan," Seiya laughed.

Yaten's eyes began to grow moist and without a word, ran over to his brothers as they embraced him. I could only watch with a smile at the happy reunion.

"But…how?" he asked.

"Someone named Raine?" Taiki said. Yaten suddenly looked at me, "This is what you've been keeping from me?"

I smiled, "Surprise."

Yaten rushed over to me and hugged me tight. I smiled as my eyes began to water. I knew what was coming.

"Yaten," Taiki called and Yaten turned to his brothers.

"We didn't come here to visit," he said.

Yaten looked confused and I placed a hand on his shoulder. He turned and faced me, "They're leaving today, and they're taking you with them."

Yaten's eyes widened.

Yaten looked to his brothers who both nodded with smiles.

"I…I. I never thought this moment would be happening," he stammered.

"Well, come on then," Seiya said.

"I had just hoped you'd be coming with me," Yaten turned to me. I could see the somewhat surprised looks on his brothers' faces.

I sighed, my tears finally flowing, "You don't know how much I'd want to, but I can't. I can't leave Zarbon. I couldn't leave Yusuke or Kuwabara. I couldn't leave the others. I'd miss them too much."

"What about me? Don't you think I'll miss you?" Yaten asked.

"I know, but your welfare is more important to me. You'll be safer, you'll be happier with your family. I know what they mean to you. You know I can't go," I said.

I hugged him tight, still fighting off the urge to breakdown in the moment.

"You must care for him a lot to do something like this," Taiki said as Yaten and I released each other. I nodded, "You have no idea."

"We'll never be able to repay you for this," Seiya said.

I shook my head, "Just take care of him. That's payment enough."

I sniffled as the brothers embraced and wiped a tear, "Now go on. Get out of here while I still have the willpower to let him go."

Yaten hurried back and hugged me and whispered, "I love you."

I smiled, "I love you too."

When he pulled away, there were tears in his eyes too. He smiled and stepped away from me and rejoined his brothers.

"The others wanted me to tell you good-bye if they didn't get to see you before you left," I said and Yaten nodded.

"It was great meeting you, and thank you again," Seiya said. I merely nodded and waved. They waved as well before walking over to the wall behind them. There was a secret door that opened and they headed inside. Yaten was the last to go in and he stopped and looked back at me, tears flowing like mine. I clenched my eyes shut tight but opened them when I heard running footsteps. We hugged again.

"I'm gonna miss you so much," I whispered.

"I'm gonna miss you too," he chuckled, "Just watch over those knucklehead Yaimanu."

I giggled and wiped a tear, "Okay."

"Bye," he said.

"Goodbye," I managed to say before he hurried inside before the door could close.

"That was very selfless of you," I jumped and turned around to see Zarbon standing there.

"Zarbon…" I finally broke down and was thankful to feel his arms around me.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I brought in the last of Kakarot and Gohan's dishes before I realized that several of the kitchen help were just staring at the door and I followed their gazes…to Inuyasha. Already he was being watched closely. I shook my head before I readjusted my veil and headed back to the barracks.

"What did Jay have to say?" Inuyasha asked. I looked at him and decided to go for the honest road.

"Your followers want your line restored to power, Vegeta's having you put under a tight watch. Be careful Inuyasha, you might get hurt," I whispered before turning around and heading to bed.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

The door to the barracks burst open and Wolfwood jilted awake he looked at Nappa and Zorn standing there looking every bit as menacing that they were.

They looked round the barracks their eyes settled on Vash's back as he stood by the window looking out it at the sky. Vash had been standing there since they arrived back from the Gazebo he was staring at someone or something he had said that were watching him.

"Plant." Zorn growled.

Vash turned round and he looked at them. "With us now." Nappa ordered.

Wolfwood glanced at him and Vash gave him a look as in not to say anything. But it was obvious what had happened. The baby had been discovered.

Vash followed them as they led him out.

Wolfwood looked at the door as it closed and he felt a cold pit in is stomach. He was unsure if he would actually see either Vash or Jay again.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I didn't want to go home. Zarbon allowed Kuwabara and Yusuke to sleep in guestrooms in his place. We ate dinner in silence and then parted ways. When it was just me and Zarbon, an awkward silence formed. I was done crying. The situation now was a matter of where I'd sleep.

"You're certain you want to spend the night with me, love?" he asked me again.

I smiled and looked at him, "What's the matter? Don't like having me around?"

"Oh of course. I enjoy your company, I'm just concerned with how Turles will take it," he said.

I suddenly frowned, "If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have had to go through all of that trouble to get Yaten to safety."

Zarbon nodded. I looked at him and then to the direction where Kuwabara and Yusuke had gone. I turned back to Zarbon and pressed up against him. He blinked, "Raine?"

"How do you feel about me Zarbon?" I asked.

He stared at me like I had lost it, "You know how I feel. I'd risk my life for you."

I smiled and then kissed him. He looked at me, suddenly smiling warmly, "Love, are you sure-"

I kissed him again, "Yes, I'm sure."

"What about Turles?" he asked.

"As far as I'm concerned, I don't care about Turles anymore. I just want you, right now," I said. Zarbon looked concerned, but then dropped it and kissed me. I no longer felt restricted, no longer felt the strain of remembering what would happen if Turles found out. I just wanted something else to occupy my thoughts, and I wanted it to be Zarbon.

He scooped me up into his arms and carried me to his bedroom.

The room was shrouded in darkness, but I enjoyed the feel of his blankets on my skin. I could only compare it to silk and satin. But it was forgotten when I felt his lips against mine. As badly as I wanted him, I was still so nervous. Turles was the only man I had ever been with, and it had been by force. To make love to someone you adore so much, for them to see you in such vulnerability and share something you hold so dear, it gave me butterflies. He laid me down on my back.

I gasped when his lips descended past mine, past my neck…I held him close and grabbed his hair as his lips, his teeth, his tongue and his hands made my skin tingle underneath him. He rose up so that he was over me, facing him. I took his face in my hands as he leaned down to kiss me. I could feel his hair against my face as we kissed. I held my breath when I felt hands move down to my thighs. I blushed when he parted them and moved in between. And I damn near yelled when I felt him inside. My thighs tightened around his waist. He kissed me all over my face and I could feel that his lips were curled into a smile against me. Then he moved over me and rocked. I gasped and moaned and dug my nails into his back as he dug his nails into the mattress for support. My back arched and the heels of my feet dug into the blankets. I had never felt this with Turles. I didn't want to think of Turles. Hell, I couldn't think. I blushed at the loud moans that I couldn't help but cry. He moved down and wrapped his arms around me as he continued to rock inside of me. His own moans made my stomach do flips. I was on the verge of tears when I felt my climax drawing near. He kissed my cheek and began to move a little faster and a little harder. I gasped and arched under him, I was at his mercy. And that's when it finally hit. We came together, stiffening and falling limp in a heap of nude, panting bodies. He moved his head to look down on me. He kissed away my tears and then my lips again. I lost myself in his kiss and his embrace, already wanting him again. I was tired, but I wanted him again. When he pulled away, something came over me and I moved to lie on my stomach. He leaned down and kissed my neck, kissing down to the small of my back before working his way back up. When he reached my neck he helped prop me back onto my knees and we went again.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Vash followed the two Saiyans he wasn't fond of either, but he felt it. It involved Jay and it was about the baby and it was completely serious. He didn't say a thing, best not to, he just hoped Jay was still alive. Hoped against all odds.

When he arrived in the throne room it was pitch black and that wasn't a good sign.

The door closed and he was left there.

A light formed from ki came from the throne and Vash looked at Vegeta sitting there on his throne only lit up by the ki of his own energy. The menacing scowl of Vegeta was enough to make him realize he was in trouble and he looked round.

"The majo isn't here plant."

Vash looked at him. "Where is she?"

Vegeta glared at him. "That is none of your business!"

Vash watched as the light began to grow it lit up the entire room from its darkness and Vash stood there.

"Is she…?" He began.

"Dead?" Vegeta asked and smirked. "Oh no not yet. But something else is. Though I'll be surprised if she survives the night."

Vash closed his eyes. "Jay."

Then the light shot out, but Vash stood his ground and made not one movement.

Why am I fighting to live if I'm just living to fight?

Why am I trying to see where there ain't nothing in sight?

Why am I trying to give, when no one gives me a try?

Why am I dying to live, if I'm just living to die?