Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction / 3 X 3 Eyes Fan Fiction / Cowboy Bebop Fan Fiction / Outlaw Star Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Trigun Fan Fiction ❯ The Last Glimpse of Hope ❯ Gaining Ground to Freedom ( Chapter 18 )

18: Gaining Ground to Freedom

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

~*~*Belle*~*~

I laid on the grass staring at the red-orange sky above me, longing for blue. My hair lay around me like a black halo as orange clouds filled the sky, some of the clouds were a nasty brown-gray color and I knew a storm was coming, I could smell it in the wind.

"Belle?" a voice called and I sat up and looked over my shoulder at the others, they were all gathered around the gazebo. I looked at them, my eyes closed and I sniffed the air. Raine was nervous, the Yamainu had a scent of frustration, Vash was out and out scared, Miroku and Nicholas were worried, and Jay…she was hiding something. I looked at them and growled low.

"What hit the fan today?" I demanded, trying to act like the 'Princess' I was. I locked eyes with Jay when I asked. Her eyes stayed on mine, but I could tell she wanted to look away.

"I challenged Vegeta for everyone's freedom," she said and I felt my heart stop. Jay, her restraints were gone, I had noticed yesterday, but I hadn't made a comment due to my concern for Raine. I felt my lip curl and soon enough I was baring my fangs at my friend.

"You…you…" I whispered as I moved faster than I thought I could. I slapped Jay across the face and shoved her to the ground, standing over her snarling. "You complete idiot!"

~*~*Raine*~*~

I frowned when J'dee gave us the news. I thought she was joking at first, that she couldn't REALLY do something like that…but then I saw the looks on Vash and Wolfwood's faces. Vash couldn't pull off a look like that, and you could just sense that J'dee was telling the truth. But then that's when I realized that her restraint gone and it automatically made me think back to the night of that dinner. The one where all those female slaves were being beaten and slapped around for making minor mistakes like speaking or accidentally spilling something. The "misogynist's paradise", as I recalled. J'dee had tried to fight, with those strange lights that she formed in her hands. I had wondered what the fuss was about. Yaten called it "ki". In fact, he told me that that was what all true warriors used to fight with. If you didn't have it, you were harmless in this world.

The Yaimanu's ears perked. I sighed and turned to the side as Belle showed up and stretched out on the grass, seemingly unaware of the situation.

"Belle?" J'dee said and I cringed, waiting for it.

"I challenged Vegeta for everyone's freedom."

I just wasn't expecting Belle to slap her!

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Raine just looked at the two of us, her expression serious yet also unreadable and I pushed myself up on my elbows smirking at Belle. "Idiot…. Ooooh scary. You think that up all by yourself?" I challenged and just rested there, this was the side of me I'd just kept inside, the side of me that was screaming to bark, snap and growl at everyone so I could mourn the loss of my baby verbally.

"I'm sorry if you don't agree with my methods, but it's better than us just hanging out here going 'Oh poor us the earth is gone, what ever shall we do?' Pssssh it's enough to make anyone sick. Really the earth is gone, it ain't coming back and personally I'm rather glad, it's the perfect population control."

Vash blinked. "Jay." He warned he saw the look in Belle's eyes, I did too but seriously I'd seen scarier, I'd lived through worse so I might die, big deal I might have died several times back on earth. What did I care? I was only afraid because I'd leave Vash behind, then I did the most hurtful thing I could ever do to him.

I looked at him. "Vash c'mon you wanna save the slaves, seriously hon, if you'd thought of this then we'd all be free by now. I'm doing us a favour trust me. Sess would still be alive and you know that. If you'd just used your arm, Sess wouldn't have died and Vegeta would be nothing more than a pile of ash."

"Jay… what?" Vash just gaped obviously surprised that I could strike a low blow to him like that.

I was doing what I had started to do when I met him, I was pushing him away if he hated me then I could die without fear. Die, how many times had I unsuccessfully tried to kill myself back home before being foiled every time and sent to the shrinks? Too many to remember, this was just another attempt.

"Well I'd rather die ya know and die today knowing at least I tried!"

~*~*Belle*~*~

"Don't give me that cock and bull story right now, Jay!" I snarled as I grabbed her by her shirt and lifted her off the ground, my vision was bleeding red and I wondered if my eyes were glowing red like that day, so long ago, when Sess yelled at me for saving Yazzil. I held her a good foot off the ground my eyes turning to the others when they took a step closer. "Back down!"

"Belle, I would not advise this," Kurama whispered and I snapped my fangs together in a silent threat.

"You will keep your advise to yourself, Kurama, I'm not in a very diplomatic mood right now, if you couldn't tell," I growled and I turned my attention back to Jay. I dropped her and flexed my hands, I heard Raine and the other humans start towards me and then I heard the Yamainu stop them. "Do you think you can defeat Vegeta? You are a witch, powerful, but you are not strong enough. I can smell it on you. You reek of fear and you know it."

"I can beat him!" Jay growled and I cracked my knuckles before stepping closer to her. "I will!" I grabbed her by the throat.

"I know how it feels to lose a child and don't tell me I haven't, I have lost three, they may not be dead, but they're out of my reach for the rest of my life for all I know," I growled as I held her so we were nose-to-nose. "Do not think you are fooling me!"

~*~*Raine*~*~

I noticed the dangerous change of color in Belle's eyes and decided to remain removed from the argument. I wouldn't jump in because in J'dee's eyes, it was no one's business but her own. I could completely understand her wanting revenge, I'd want it myself after losing my child…

Oh God…he killed their baby…

I glanced over at Vash, the look on his face unreadable, and then back at the two arguing women. I frowned as I felt that not-so-enjoyable-feeling in the pit of my stomach as the argument only made the atmosphere more hostile.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Vash stared at Belle's eyes that had slowly begun to turn red since the announcement and Jay's over boasting and hurtful statements.

Jay just scoffed at Belle and pulled herself free and looked at Vash. "I'm not fooling anyone, none of you know me!" Jay pointed at them angrily. "None of you knew me before this, if you did I doubt we could have stayed friends for long, but I was nice since the human race is falling in to extinction."

"Ouch." Wolfwood looked at Jay and then at Vash.

'I haven't seen her this mad before, how many sides is she hiding from us?' He thought with a frown.

"Besides I'm going to give Vegeta a little something to remember me by." Jay smirked an over confidante smirk. "And like the fifty others he's not going to forget me. I've lasted longer than the others."

Vash sighed. "Stop it your only human." He scolded and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Well duh what gave that away?"

Wolfwood sighed. "Look Jay just listen to Belle."

"I'll find a way to stop you from fighting if I have to Jay." Vash looked at her.

She raised a brow and looked at him. "Oh yeah like you can, you just stand round and watch the slaves drop around, tell me Vash how does feel to let people innocent people die around you?"

"Jay stop!" He looked at me dangerously. "Listen to Belle."

"Why huh? I'm older I have more years on her and Raine both. And you do NOT piss me off! When I say I'm going to do something I'm going to do it and I say I'm going to pound Vegeta's face in." Jay's argument with Belle had died off and she was yelling at Vash in a way she'd never yelled at him before.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I snarled as I glared at Raine and Jay, my eyes burned and my vision was a sea of blood.

"You two are two complete idiots!" I howled as I bared my fangs and extended my claws. "Let go of this twisted moral system and get your asses off of Vegitasei while you can! Don't stick around here because you're worried about those of us who are still trapped here! Get off this rock and NEVER look back!"

"Belle, what the hell are you talking about?" Raine asked and I looked at her as I flexed my hand.

"If it were me I would get off this planet and run, I wouldn't look back and I wouldn't let you hold me back," I growled as I looked at them. "Go! You have a chance that I would never pass up! Get off this rock, go away to where you'll be safe!" They stood there staring at me.

"I have to fight Vegeta," Jay said and I felt my rage boil over.

"What are the stakes?" I growled.

"All the slaves' freedom or my life," she said and I growled before I got up. I started off.

"Where are you going?" Inu Yasha asked and I growled before I stopped.

"I'm going to meditate!" I barked before running off.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I stalked off angrily after Belle left and in the opposite direction. "Oh yeah leave peachy, stupid girl where would we go?" I grumbled my anger boiling over, she was mad and I was mad at her. My eyes narrowed as I entered the palace the saiyans all stepping to the side, Vegeta's orders no-one to challenge me or rough me up before our battle. Besides I was still a slave and Vegeta's no touchy mark was still on my shoulder and he would not sell me, he'd made that clear. Oh so very clear so many times when he bet me when I misbehaved.

I pulled out a cigarette packet as I walked off taking out the last cigarette and throwing the packet uncaring behind me and using the ki I'd been taught to light up and stalked down the hallways.

'Why do I put up with them?' I thought angrily. 'We only have slavery in common.' I had all these known them and Belle would do reckless things for others yet when I went to I got barked at. "HYPOCRITE!!!" I screamed and I felt the sudden boost in rage in me. Out of all this anger Vegeta was gunna feel the brunt of it.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I merely sighed and got up, not expecting what I heard. I pushed my locks behind me, not really looking at who was still there.

"I'm headed back to Zarbon's," I merely said and walked off. I could hear footsteps and assumed that Yusuke and Kuwabara were following while everyone else left their fellow slaves.

It didn't take us long to reach the safety of his place. I walked past the others, didn't really have a destination in mind, just walked. Belle, thought we were foolish for not leaving the planet. Foolish for wanting to help free others. I rubbed my arm absently. And J'dee, well, she didn't seem to think to highly of us at all. She basically called us pathetic for wallowing in our misery. I didn't know J'dee as well as Belle. I only knew Yaten close enough to where I could predict his mood. It seemed J'dee was very multidimensional. I kind of wish I had never discovered this side of her. I didn't feel good knowing that the kind and lovable woman she was was actually annoyed with us and our "problems". But then I recalled her lamenting about problems of her own. They were both saying things they didn't mean. Both caught in the midst of anger. They'd both apologize and things would hopefully get back to somewhat normal. Hopefully.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I wandered down the secret passages, spraying my poison here and there to cover up the true direction of my scent. I knew Kurama and Hiei would probably be shadowing me soon enough. I growled as I quickly ran to the Namek rooms. I entered and looked around. I quickly headed upstairs, Piccolo was probably tired and I opened the door that smelled strongly of him. I shoved the door open and walked into Piccolo's bedroom. The large Namek sleeping peacefully until the door opened. He woke up quickly and looked at me in shock.

"Belle, what are you doing here?" he cried and I looked at him, tears welling up in my eyes.

"Piccolo…I have to tell you something," I said and he looked at me for a moment.

"Allow me to get dressed," he said and I nodded.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I pulled the Saiyan armor on over my head, Vegeta provided, it was stretchy and odd feeling like a metal rubber and I pulled the gloves on followed by a pair of Saiyan boots with heels, he was evil at times.

I had the blue Saiyan spandex pants that stopped just long enough to pull off the hot pants look. I wore my red tank top under the wingless armor but Vegeta's concubine symbol was printed on the left breast of the armor.

"Oh you're going to pay for this." I growled. "Fighting in hot pants and heels only a man would think that up… What's next mud?" I grumbled angrily.

I looked at my image in the mirror and growled when the door opened and Zorn looked in he smirked at me. "Been nice knowing you."

"Gee thanks I just love the confidence you Saiyans have in our race." I drooled and threw a stool at him. Zorn dodged and looked at me.

"Listen kid the rules before you go in to this are simple, it's a match do the death. Only you or the king should die, anyone else and that's breaking the rules and the other looses out on default. But the battle will not stop there, it will continue till one of you is on the ground."

"Nice."

"Well I hope you've had a good life."

"No it sucked."

"Welcome to our world." With that Zorn left locking the door.

I was locked in here until the battle would begin. Stupid changing rooms and any bet they had surveillance cameras too.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I finished telling Piccolo about Jay's position and the Namek looked worried.

"I don't believe she'd do anything so stupid," he growled and I looked at him before nodding.

"I need your help in saving her," I said and he looked at me for a moment.

"I don't know off hand how to save her, but I do know where to look, Naile and I will get right on it," he said and I nodded as I looked at him.

"I'll help," I said and he looked at me. "I can read Saiyan."

"Okay, let's go," Piccolo said and I followed him.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"She's doing WHAT?" Zarbon exclaimed.

The Yaimanu had just finished telling him what had gone down earlier. He was just as shocked as I was. Neither of us knew she was capable of such strength and bravery. But she had good intentions backing it up, at least I felt so. She was fighting the son of a bitch who turned her into a sex object and murdered her child. A child created between herself and Vash. The two of them were obviously in love and Vegeta created the product of it. It pissed me off and saddened me both at once just thinking about it.

"We have to be there to support her," I said.

The guys looked at me and agreed.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

The door to the room opened and I looked up as Vegeta entered the room, he looked at me. I knew that look, a hungry look, normally when I saw that look ten minutes later he was jumping me and I was playing alone like the good little girl.

"Vegeta." I looked at him I dropped all titles now I was edging him along trying to rub him the wrong way so he would try to kill me.

"Majo." He smirked. "You look good in Saiyan uniform. You could almost pass off for a Saiyan."

"Without the freeky deeky tail." I added.

"You can back out Majo and just remain my concubine."

"Oh hell no you over stepped your boundary!" I jumped up angrily. "You killed my baby and I'm pissed!" I pointed at him forgetting all manners and etiquette not that the Saiyans had any. "You will pay!"

Vegeta walked up to me and I stood my ground as he grabbed me by the chin. "I shall miss you Majo, you were the strongest concubine I've had and I'll remember you for that. But you challenged me and I have an image to uphold and a reputation to kill those who try and oppose my law and try to free the slaves."

I rolled my eyes and pushed his hand away from the chin. "If you were human and a nicer person then I could have probably fallen for you in time."

Vegeta smirked at me. "I'm not nice Majo. But I'll take that with me."

I watched as he left the door sliding closed after him. I looked at the clock on the wall, it was nearly time… nearly time to die.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sat amongst the old books in Naile's study and I groaned as I pushed another text to the side, my eyes watered as I realized that Jay might very well die.

"Stupid girl," I growled as I fisted my hands, my claws digging into my palms. "Sesshoumaru, I need you to give me strength, I cannot let Jay die this way, help me find a way to save her." Slowly I felt myself drawn to a smaller text by the end of the pile. I opened it up and smirked as I read the title. I looked up at the ceiling and smiled.

"Thank you, my love," I whispered as I began to read.

~*~*Raine*~*~

Zarbon wasn't coming with us. He felt it was best that he stay out of the public eye for a while. After all, he had just killed Turles in battle and there were a lot of angry people about the palace who wanted him to pay. He warned me to be careful and to stick with the Yaimanu at all times.

On our way over, my thoughts melted into the tournament. J'dee would be fighting Vegeta! The king of this bastard race! I'd give her as much moral support as I could muster. She could be annoyed with me all she liked, as long as she stuck it to that monkey king! But then I thought about Belle and how determined she was to convince J'dee not to do it. My brows lowered. If I knew Belle as well as I thought I did, I knew she'd be planning something.

"I can't run any faster," I said and Yusuke instantly scooped me up into his arms and he and Kuwabara sprinted through the palace grounds towards the arena.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I walked the hallway and looked at the marks on the wall of fighters who had come before me I only saw three other female hand prints and the green paint symbolized them over the men with the blue paint, they were all up the wall and I felt myself shudder, to see that I was walking a hall of death millions before me had walked.

I stopped at the point of the female handprints and placed my hand over the mark then comparison in the size was not by much.

"Hey there." I looked over.

It was the one called Kakarott he looked round. "Nappa's running late so I get to do this."

"Do what?" I asked.

He motioned to the many handprints and took my hand off the wall before coating it in a thick green paint like substance.

"You're brave for doing this." He stated and I looked at him.

"For freedom. William Wallace fought for his country's freedom, I'm fighting for the slaves freedom." I smiled at him; he gave off a different feel of energy than the other saiyans. Sure he still was a saiyan, but he reminded me that even monster alien races have a softer side. Vegeta I'd seen his softer side it was a rare thing.

"So how did that end?" Kakarott asked.

"Well I do believe the English killed him, but Robert the Bruce took over from their, my grandfather liked Robert the Bruce, he used to tell me stories about him when I was a little girl."

Kakarott nodded and he looked round the wall. "Well leave your mark."

"Just like primary school." I placed my hand on a mark on the wall between two red handprints. "What does the red mean?"

He smiled. "They won, came back and placed a new print over their old one."

I looked back down the hallway. "But there's only two."

Kakarott nodded. "Out of seventy eight million slaves, that's pretty good."

"Erk!" I started coughing.

"Hey you okay?" Kakarott patted me on the back. "Do you need a drink?"

I was still coughing and I just nodded. Kakarott handed me a drink and I downed it fairly easy and let out a sigh.

'Megami at least let me be with my child when I go, if I can't be with Vash anymore let me be with his child.' I prayed silently.

"Okay lets go." Kakarott remarked as the sounds of chanting came from the stands around the arena.

I followed Kakarott's led and walked out to the arena, I knew it was big, but to stand on the stage in person it was so much bigger.

"My King, your courtesan is ready." Kakarott left the stage.

My eyes scanned the crowds in the stands and I saw Trey sitting there with Iggi, Tak and Natalie. Trey was just looking at me I couldn't read his expression. But I could feel he was very displeased in my choice to do this, younger brothers what can you do?

"Majo, welcome to my arena, this is where you will die."

There were hollers and cheers from the saiyans in the crowd, the two red handprints flashing through my mind, they were both male hand prints too, which didn't ease my confidence, but I struck a challenge and I wasn't backing down.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I rushed through the secret passageways, my long hair flowing behind me as I rushed corners and quickly found myself unable to find my way to the arena. I sniffed the air, my nose catching a rather fresh scent of Jay.

"You better be alive, girl, I swear it, if you're not I'm going to sharpen my claws on your corpse," I growled as I held the book tightly to my chest.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

"Fighters take your positions." The announcer called out and I watched Vegeta take a stance and I dropped in to a tiger stance and looked at him.

Vegeta smirked. "Your earth training will not help you Majo."

"We'll just see, I have something the others didn't have."

"AAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNDDDDDD FIGHT!" The announcer called out and a bell rang out.

Vegeta charged and I spun tot eh side as he soared past and I watched as he grinned at me and stopped in mid air hovering there like a storybook villain.

My eyes narrowed and I watched as he floated upwards. He was taking it to the air. I'd be an easy target. I'd never learned how to fly and that wasn't a good thing.

"GALLICK GUN!!!"

I rolled out of the way and looked round Vegeta was gone from my sight. I let out a cry as something rammed me in the mid back and the saiyans began to cheer. I rolled over on to my back to avoid a casual stomp to where I'd been, he was going easy on me and slower than I'd seen him fight. He was giving his subjects a show and letting the humans out there see that fast or slow he was the one in charge and going to win. I hadn't suffered any serious damage yet, I let out a huff and rolled out of the way of another boot ready to stomp me down.

If I could put at least one dent in his ego before I died I'd be one happy girl. Moving to my feet I rolled out of the way of a ki attack and rolled to my feet on a one knee one foot crouch before kicking his knee cap in and as he doubled over I got a shot in at his face sending him stepping backwards by two steps enough time to let me get to my feet.

"GO JAY!"

I looked over and saw Vash standing up amongst the crowd, his red coat flapping in the slight breeze.

Flicking my hair over my shoulder I walked up to Vegeta slowly and he looked at me and smirked.

"I love your spirit majo."

"Thank-you." I grinned.

I ducked and dodged a few punches and blocked a few others, I'd trained with him after all sure not enough to grab his face and run it across the floor of the arena like I wanted to, but enough to probably survive two more minutes before he got mad and stopped showing off. I swear it was a male drama like wrestling or something.

Vegeta I felt his hand touch my side lightly as he grabbed me round the waist and I was slammed in to him. I placed my hands on the chest of his armor and I heard a wolf whistle from the crowd.

I pounded on his armor angrily. "Fight me not hold me. I want you dead!!!"

"Majo…" I watched as the crowd stared onwards it was like a little drama show for their pleasure. I growled as he placed a hand to the side of my face.

"STOP IT!!!"

*SLAP*

Vegeta let me go shocked and I staggered backwards and shook my stinging hand, it was like slapping cold steel. I huffed angrily Vegeta held his hand up and I watched as he formed a ki attack in one hand, then came the shouts I heard them clearly.

"FINISH HER OFF!"

"KILL HER!"

"MAKE THE BITCH PAY!!"

I saw the blast clearly as it grew larger and larger, I knew no matter which way I rolled or moved I would get caught in it.

Then it left his hands and he threw it in my direction. Everything seemed to slow down for a moment and I held my hands out in front of me forcing myself to take it head on, this was the way to go.

~*~*~*~*~

Trey cringed as he watched the scene, Suto took his hand and he looked at her. She gave him a worried look.

"She's wiccan Trey is she not?"

"Yeah?"

"Then have faith that the high powers will help her out." Suto stated.

Vegeta grinned watching the blast. 'It's a pity really she would have been great to add to the alien purging army I'm forming… If she survives this I might add her to the team. If I can't kill her physically then I'll destroy her mind by making her join us.'

Then there came a flash of light and Vegeta blinked the blast was destroyed and a retaliating blast came at him. He moved out of the way just in time. It shot behind him hitting just below the stands any higher and some of the people would have been killed. And he smirked. He knew who did that.

Vegeta's eye's looked upwards seeing Vash standing there in the stands his metal arm transformed back in to his normal arm and he glared at Vegeta.

"So you want front row seat do you plant?"

Vegeta saw her face as she looked at him and he growled annoyed. "SEIZE HIM AND BRING HIM DOWN HERE HE CAN HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO WATCH HER DIE!!!"

"VASH!" She turned her attention to him, Vegeta grabbed her by the arm and stopped her from going to him.

"Majo you're sill my property."

"Vash…" She watched as Nappa, Zorn grabbed him pulling him away from the group he was sitting with Wolfwood, Raine, the damnYaimanu followers of Sesshoumaru, and that Gene Starwind and his Gilian friends.

Vash didn't struggle as he was brought up to the side of the arena and Jay pulled free of Vegeta and raced up to him and knelt on the edge of the arena where he was and touched the side of his face.

"Why'd you do that?" She asked softly but Vegeta could hear it clearly.

"We lost our child… I don't want to loose you too, Remember Knives, we're going to see him together."

She kissed him on the lips. Vegeta growled angrily.

"Majo!" He snapped.

She slipped away from the plant and stood up walking towards him, he hadn't broken a sweat yet but she was so close to and he charged in and she blocked, punched and countered him as they moved across the arena floor.

Vegeta got a decent punch in to her stomach and she let out a cry in pain, he knew she was still tender there after all it had only been two days since he'd killed that half plant half humanoid brat.

She hit the ground backwards and Vegeta smirked as Nappa and Zorn held Vash back from jumping in.

"JAY!"

"Majo you should have waited a couple more weeks for recovery, not two days. You humans are pathetic."

She glared up at him from the ground. "If we're so pathetic then why did you buy me huh?"

Vegeta stalked up to her and gave her a kick in the ribs to send her to the other side of the arena floor.

The crowds roared for him and he loved the feeling of it, he was their king and he deserved every part of that praise.

He crossed his arms and watched, she began to stir and he watched as she stood up slowly, her entire body was weak she wouldn't last much longer.

"Majo why don't you call upon your friends to help?"

"Why waist the power when I know you'll just power u to finish me off?"

Vegeta smirked. "You've studied me while I was training… I'm flattered majo, but study and actual fighting differ allow me to demonstrate…"

He watched as she walked towards him her eyes flashing and he charged forward ready to strike her. And he did she stayed standing determined and he growled annoyed.

"Lets try this again Majo this one will be the one where you're suppose to fall down."

~*~*Belle*~*~

I entered the locker room and I could hear the screams of the crowd and the far off sound of fist meeting flesh. I growled before I ran out into the arena, my eyes narrowed and the book in front of me.

"Stop this travesty!" I cried as I rushed into the ring, moving between Vegeta and Jay, receiving a punch to the face. I managed to stay on my feet as I turned to look at Vegeta, my cheek already beginning to bruise. "Stop this at once!" Vegeta snarled as he grabbed me by my neck, I could hear the crowd roar and howl.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?!" Vegeta roared as he lifted me off the ground, much as I had done with Jay. I kept my brave front up and opened the book to the first of the marked pages.

"Stopping you from breaking the laws of your people and the Intergalactic Council," I hissed as I tried to keep from panicking and wasting my oxygen. Vegeta stared at the book and then dropped me. I managed to keep on my feet as he read. He looked at me with a smirk. "If this fight continues to the agreed end, it is illegal in the eyes of the Intergalactic Council!" My voice filled the arena and suddenly it was silent for the most part.

"According to the Law of Orphaned Races, Section fifty three, paragraph four, any slave, whose home world was destroyed, that gains their freedom, must be cared for by the race that saved/enslaved that slave's race. This denies the right to a blood feud, no battle can legally take place between the freed slave and any member of the former master's race," I cried out, letting my voice sound regal and in control. Vegeta looked at me with a scowl, but he also looked amused.

"Not bad, bitch, you found a way to save your friend," Vegeta growled as he approached me. "However, the Intergalactic Council may never hear about this fight." I smirked as I pointed to a section of seats and Vegeta's eyes followed my finger. There sat Piccolo, Naile, Pai, and Tien.

"My Lord, King Vegeta, I do believe that Prince Naile and Princess Pai are members of the Intergalactic Council," I whispered as I bowed my head and began to act like a well trained slave. "I believe that the Council is held in very high regards by the Nameks, since King Kami help to found the Council after the Great War," I said, hiding my smile of victory.

"Belle, get out of my way!" Jay cried and I turned around and caught her by the shoulders. I gave her a light shake.

"No, you will be breaking the law then, and then YOU will be sent to the Intergalactic Council for trial. Every case where this law was broken, the sentence was death," I growled and her eyes fell from me to Vegeta. "You now work for his Royal Highness, King Vegeta, when you have saved up enough money, you may go elsewhere to find new employment." Jay looked me in the eyes and then glared at Vegeta.

"I didn't ask you to help me!" she hissed and I smirked as I looked at her.

"You should have!" I snapped back before bowing to King Vegeta. "I am sorry for interrupting this match, my Great Lord, King Vegeta, but I felt that this was wrong and once I found these results in my research, I thought it best to come and inform you."

"You are very clever, bitch, much like your friend, Prince Sesshoumaru, was. I wonder, if I had given his sentence a day before executing him, would you have been able to save him?" Vegeta asked and I locked my eyes on the ground.

"My Lord, King Vegeta, I would have tried very hard, but I know of no laws that override the non-mating conditions of Prince Sesshoumaru's enslavement," I said, bowing my head and suddenly Vegeta's hand was on my skull.

"I will get you back for this, bitch," he growled quietly. "This match is over!"

~*~*Raine*~*~

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen, Belle's plan. Granted J'dee would be royally pissed, she might've just saved the lives of two of our closest friends. As everyone departed from the arena, I knew there'd be a rendezvous and I knew that round two of the argument at the gazebo was quickly drawing near…

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I covered my face as I followed the others to the Gazebo. Belle said free? But I wasn't free. I hadn't become free… I still had the marks of slavery. If I was free why didn't I get my slave markings removed? I was confused.

Vash walked beside me and he slipped an arm round me and I clung to him. "You silly donut eating goofball why did you step in like that?"

"I said I wasn't loosing you. Besides now you're free."

"Am I?" I asked.

"Well actually yeah the lack of somethings that were here, here, here and here say you are my intergalactic law." He motioned to my neck wrists and waist.

"The ki restraints?"

"Yes, if you wear them then you are property, you're not wearing them."

My mouth nearly dropped. "He was trying to get me to put them back on last night." I stated.

"If you were wearing them in that match then both you and Belle would probably be dead, because she's treading on a thin line with Vegeta."

I leant up against his side as we walked.

"But the marks…" I whispered.

"For you to be truly free of those you can either a) ask Vegeta-"

"OH HELL NO!" I exclaimed and saw Trey looking at me with a raised brow, Iggi, Tak, and Natalie were still slaves but Trey followed me and I would introduce him to the group, and tell the others how he really was.

"Or b) get them removed on your new home planet." He added.

I looked up at him. "So long as you're on that planet with me. I'm not going anywhere without you, it wouldn't be fair."

Trey made some gagging noises and Wolfwood conked him over the head. "Kid enough of that."

We reached the Gazebo finally and Vash handed me some of the herbal gel to help sooth my aches.

I was still angry with Belle, she had no right to do that, Megami she was so damn reckless I could throttle her sometimes.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I panted as I let myself fall to the ground by the gazebo. My heart was pounding and I was sure I was going to explode with all the tension in my body.

"Oh, man, that just took about a decade off my life," I groaned as I flopped back and lay looking up at the sky.

"Why the hell did you stop me?" Jay demanded and I looked at her.

"Why Jay, you're welcomed that I saved you ass at the price of risking my own, congratulations on your freedom too, oh, and let's not forget to congratulate you on that pair of balls you've grown at the worse possible moment," I said as I got up and dusted my dark green gown off.

"You didn't have to do that! I was handling it!" she said and I grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards me, my hand reaching out to touch her side, she cried out in pain and I glared at her.

"Don't lie to me or yourself, we both know that while you could 'handle' Vegeta for a little while, you would get tired first and we both know you don't want to summon Sekhmet," I growled and Jay's eyes widened. "Oh yes, I know about that. I heard Bardock talking about you one day and that came up. I was an avid scholar of the Ancient Civilizations and I know who Sekhmet was. She was the bringer of death for MANY people."

"I could have freed us all," Jay cried at me and I glared at her.

"You would have wasted your new found freedom on a pack of people who are going to be saved anyway," I growled and Jay looked at me confused. "If you didn't know, Zarbon has bought, Melfina, Gene, Jim, Nick, Miroku, Kurama, Hiei, and someone named Trey. He was unable to buy Vash, Inu Yasha, or I. Not that that's a big surprise."

"How did you know?" Zarbon asked and I smirked.

"Piccolo told me," I stated and Zarbon looked a bit embarrassed. Jay stared at me.

"I could have gotten him back," she stated stubbornly.

"You could have 'gotten' dead," I snapped back.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

'Where's a wall? I want to bang her head against it.' I thought angrily. I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. "That's Trey."

Trey waved sheepishly and ran a hand nervously through his black hair. "Hi."

"Trey is Jay's little brother." Wolfwood added. "We found him through Bulma and Krillen."

"You were willing to die after you found your brother?" Belle sighed exasperated.

"Belle I'm already dead." I looked at her. "I always have been and I always will be. By the way my freedom… it isn't so. I demanded one day of pay, but I signed no contract Belle, when Vegeta find out we're both dead."

"You're not free?" Trey looked at me.

"Boy I'm not free… but you are and I'm sure Zarbon can go to Paragas and buy your friend's freedom."

Trey nodded. "I'll do that." He sat down in the grass. Vash and Wolfwood looked at him. "Later." He added.

I turned to Belle. "As for you little Ms Reckless… I can understand me wanting to die, but you, you have three kids to think about remember, so is being closer to Sesshoumaru more important than being with your kids? C'mon gurl you got new powers just fight your way out and be with them. Or is staying here praying for Vegeta to kill your ass more appealing for your 'Oh Sess. I miss you I want to be with you' mood?" I smirked.

I'd hit a sore spot just like I'd planned. I just wasn't expecting the come back.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I sighed and rubbed my temples, feeling a headache forming. Talk about a clash of personalities. Inuyasha made a move to get up and intervene, but I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"One universal rule you need to learn is the never, EVER get involved in a fight between women," I warned and he blinked and sat back down.

I, on the other hand, wasn't gonna stick around for this or I'd probably scream. I got up and left the room, leaving the others as captive audience to the Yaimanu and the witch.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I slapped Jay as I glared at her, my heart ached with the sting of her insult.

"I can't fight as much as I'd love to. I have dreams of using my claws and poison on all of them, but I know, I would not get very far. I'm far faster than I was as a full human, but I'm not at that level yet. I train with my poison and I'm working hard to develop that whip that Sess had, but I am no match for the entire Saiyan race. Vegeta does not have an heir, if either of us were to kill him do you REALLY think we'd ever get off this rock?" I asked as I looked at her. "I may be 'hiding' my true potential, but I'm not going to do something stupid like attack Vegeta with my claws or acid, not until I know I will be able to get away and take care of Taisho, Rin, and Sesshoumaru!" I quickly got up and turned my back to her.

"Belle…I didn't…" Jay started and I held my hand up to stop her.

"Jay, there has been a lot of stress lately on all of us. Words are said when they are not meant, I know you do not feel that way about me as you know I do not feel that way about you, we each must do what we must do," I sighed as I looked at her. "I must make sure you don't get your foolish ass killed as well as keep my big-nosed ass from being killed in the process." I started to head back home, my bed was calling me for a nap after that high tension save.

"Belle, I didn't tell you this before, but Naraku is coming over for dinner tonight," Inu Yasha stated and I nodded as I headed away from the group, not looking back.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"They've stopped arguing," Zarbon said.

"Thank GOD," I muttered, leaning against him. It was bad enough that we we'd been going through each of our own personal crises on this planet, but for us to be torn apart over arguments was so not necessary. Belle took off and J'dee was being shown her room.

"So J'dee's free," I murmured.

"Yeah," Zarbon said.

"Two down, one to go," I said to myself.

"Easier said than done."

"Don't I know it. Doesn't mean we can't try."

"Oh, of course not."

"Any ideas?"

"Not a clue. You?"

"Nope."

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I sat with Piccolo in the room provided it was my own room as a "free" slave. We were going over the Saiyan textbooks he'd brought around to find a way round my 'freedom' thing. He'd help Belle save me, so now I was asking him personally to help save me. Because I knew technically and legally I wasn't free, least from what I gathered, I broke my own restraints and from what I gathered in American history the freedom of the African slaves when they broke 'free' they were always chased after and enslaved again, and when Vegeta found out I'd done a form of that. Megami save me.

I flipped the page in the book and looked at it my head hit the page and I sighed. "You humans and your legal procedures." Piccolo grunted.

"No one is above the law, Piccolo." I remarked. "It's a human saying." I looked at the words blurred and moved my head back to finish reading the page.

"How long till Vegeta figures that all he has to do is clamp those ki restraints back on me for me to be his slave again?"

"Well with Naraku around Vegeta has more pressing matters, and Nappa isn't too bright upstairs you'll be safe possibly a few months. So long as you act free then you should be fine. But if Vegeta demands your presence even though you are free you have to attend. It just means if he wants you to work he has to pay you so play on that get some money together and get off here before he finds out."

Sighing I looked at Piccolo. "I'm not leaving without Vash."

He just huffed. "Your human emotions are trouble you know that?"

"Yeah you should have seen me when I was Belle's age you think she gets in to trouble a lot I tell you it comes with the age group."

Piccolo flicked the last page of the book the then closed it obviously not finding anything and I watched as he added it to the every growing pile.

'This isn't looking to good.' I frowned.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as I got up, Miroku's things were gone and I smiled, he was free and with his brother. I stretched and my joints popped. I hopped off my bunk and headed for my wash basin. I rinsed off my face and looked at myself in the mirror. My crescent moon shone on my pale skin. I outlined it with my claws. I undressed and looked at my mark on my shoulder. I ran my claws over it slowly.

I hugged myself as I began to bathe as soon as my face and neck were clean I reapplied the make-up to my face as well as to my neck to cover Sess's mark. I sighed as I began to clean the rest of my body. I was naked from the waist up when the door was kicked open and I was graced with the silhouette of Naraku, flanked by two other Yamainu. I thanked God that the scent of the soap and the make-up hid my Yamainu scent.

"My Lord," I cried as I bowed, pulling my hair over my shoulder to hide my naked breasts. I kept my eyes on the ground as I heard him step forward and I could smell the scent of arousal. I blinked my eyes as I stared at the ground as Naraku approached me.

"You are hiding something, woman," he whispered as he stepping in front of me, closing the distance between us. I looked at him and narrowed my eyes.

"All slaves hide their true thoughts in the presence of their enslavers," I stated, letting my true bitterness slip into my voice. Naraku's fingers caught my chin and lifted my face up. I bit back a snarl and kept my fangs hidden behind my lips. His red eyes locked with mine and I could feel it, he sensed something.

"But I am not your enslaver," he whispered and I looked at him, letting my fear slip out.

"No, but you are a prized ally of King Vegeta, who I have felt the wrath of too many times before. I will not say anything to offend you, nor Lord Bardock, nor King Vegeta," I said as I kept my eyes locked on his. Naraku smiled as he stroked my cheek in a way that I really didn't like. I looked at him and he smiled.

"It would be interesting to see such a clever and willful female as yourself really thinks," he whispered and I could smell the arousal seeping out of his skin and I knew what he wanted.

"My…my Lord, please, I must prepare for dinner…" I whispered, my eyes still locked on his. He narrowed those red eyes of his.

"Did you know that for my people it is a sign of aggression to stare into another's eyes?" he asked and I looked at him for a moment before I decided to push my luck.

"It is a sign of respect to my people," I stated as I looked at him in the eye, unwavering. He chuckled as he turned my head and leaned into me, his lips so close to me, I could feel them brush against my cheek as he spoke.

"You are hiding something. You are hiding it well and I will find out what it is," he whispered against my cheek. "I will have fun finding what you are hiding too." I closed off my fear and held all my emotions behind a mask. Naraku looked at me and smiled as he licked his lips.

"Sesshoumaru taught you well, but he fell beneath me, perhaps you would be better to serve under me as well?" Naraku chuckled and I felt my eyes widened as I looked at him. He was reeking of lust and arousal. "I will see you much more now that I'm staying with King Vegeta for a time."

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

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I let my body sink in to the softness of the mattress, fake freedom, it almost felt like the real thing. I laughed as the covers moved and Vash slipped out from under them hovering just over me and I pulled him down so we were chest to chest, face to face and he positioned his hand on either side of my head. I hooked my legs round his waist.

"Have you and Piccolo found anything out about making you legally free?"

"Well we're working on the me being dumped thing. But we can't find anything out about it yet, he said he'd let me know when he found something." I replied. "Can we not mention this now, we have little time before they realize you're not at your barracks. And you have to still do work."

I felt him nuzzle at the side of my neck and I let out a sigh.

"Stop drop and roll." I giggled.

Vash looked at me confused. "Huh?"

"Deceptikonz it's on my CD." I smirked it was a song that a NZ hip hop band performed namely about sex, early in the morning, and in the evening and-" Vash covered my mouth as he kissed me.

"Can we just do it instead about talking about songs that talk about doing it?"

I laughed and I pulled the covers over the both of us.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I smiled as I walked through the palace grounds for the meeting spot with the others. Yusuke and Kuwabara had gone training early in the morning and I was taking the risk of going out alone. The gazebo wasn't that far away and I didn't feel much like waiting for the guys to return and 'escort' me. Zarbon's guard had been repositioned off-planet so that didn't really help Zarbon's worry for my safety. I knew he wouldn't let me out alone so I was forced to sneak out.

"Well, if it isn't Zarbon's little slut," I stopped in my tracks. I took a deep breath a turned around. My fears had been confirmed.

"Where's your little lizard prince, wench?" Brolli asked. His peacock-haired friend had made the "slut" comment.

I glared at the two and turned around and kept walking.

"Trying to ditch us, are you?" Brolli asked and I rolled my eyes.

"Hey, maybe if that funny-lookin' elf prince can get a piece, maybe I can too," 'Radditz' said and I bit my tongue to keep from saying anything.

"Don't ignore me when I'm talking to you, woman," he said.

I lifted my hand above my head and stuck my middle finger in the air and continued walking. I could hear growls, but they weren't coming from the saiiyans. With a cocky look, I moved behind Yusuke and Kuwabara, folding my arms and glaring at the two bastards that were harassing me.

"Oh look, the prince has bought a couple of pet mongrels to look after his little whore," Brolli smirked.

"These 'mongrels' are my friends, you dirty simians," I snapped and the two looked at me aghast.

"If you didn't get it the first time, let me make it clear for you: beat it. Zarbon won fair and square, so get over it. If you keep bothering me, people might get the idea that you guys were just a little TOO fond of Turles, get me?" I looked at them and they both glared holes into me, but I didn't care. I was getting off on the adrenaline rush and the fast pace my heartbeat was going at.

"Come on guys," I murmured to Yusuke and Kuwabara, knowing that the two elite were glaring holes in our backs.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I stood quietly by the lake, letting the petals I had plucked fall from my hands as I looked at the moving water.

"Belle?" a voice called and I blinked before I turned to see the others approaching me. I smiled as I took in their faces. Jay and Raine had begun looking happy. Today Raine looked a little disturbed. The Yamainu had been getting stronger and Kurama had even helped me develop my energy whip. Nicholas and Miroku had been looking healthier too. I smiled at my friends before I started towards them.

"Hello," I said with a smile and they looked around.

"Where's Prince Inu Yasha?" Yuusuke and Kuwabara asked in the same breath and I sighed.

"That stubborn ass is in the stocks, he wasn't beaten, just forced into the stocks for the day for dropping a tray of dishes. Vash is in the kitchen working on a grand meal for King Vegeta, King Naraku, and the Elites," I sighed as I looked at the lake, my attention moving to something else.

"Belle, are you okay?" Zarbon asked and I smiled as I looked at them again.

"No," I whispered as I looked at the lake, the first of my tears falling. "It's been six months…" I sobbed as I let go of more petals.

Jay and Raine were hugging me as I sobbed.

"I miss him so much!" I cried as I hugged onto Raine, my tears falling. "I'm so weak without him. I want him here! I want my Sess back! I love him so much, it hurts so much Raine, why won't it just stop hurting?"

"Shhh," Jay said, her hand patting my back.

~*~*Raine*~*~

I sighed and stroked Belle's head. She might've been a crafty little so-and-so and a goof at times, but she was still human, deep down. Carrying the burden of knowing that you can't watch your children grow up, that your husband has died, I'm surprised she's handled things as well as she has. She needed this. Sometimes crying was cleansing. You released all the tension you were holding and just let it out. I couldn't say anything that would make her feel better, but I could help by my presence.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

I gave Belle a hug, her lose was sometimes too overbearing and if someone didn't watch out for her, she'd do more reckless things that got her in to trouble… but sometimes she didn't need that. She was like Vash in that regards that trouble just seemed to find her wherever she went.

"Gurl just think where ever he is he's defiantly in a better place than us."

Belle sniffed and Vash handed me a handkerchief I passed it on to Belle who used it to wipe her eyes.

I looked at Raine there were times like this that were just so sad. It had been three months since Vegeta force my miscarriage if he hadn't I'd still be pregnant for another three month.

Like Belle I was counting down the days. It'd leave a mental mark on the day the child was suppose to be born.

"We miss him too Belle." Yusuke looked down from where he sat near Raine.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I sighed as I got up and pulled away from my friends and looked at the group.

"Excuse me, I…I've just been…upset lately," I whispered as I turned and headed towards Bardock's.

"Belle, are you sure you're okay?" Miroku asked and I looked at him and nodded, my long, black hair flying in the gentle wind.

"I'll be fine, I'm just tired, Inu Yasha and I are the only two serving-caretakers, I just thank God that Raditz is going to Brolli's tonight and we don't have to take care of him. We just have to take care of Bardock and Kakarot at dinner tonight with King Vegeta," I said as I headed off. I thought I caught the scent of fear from Raine.

~*~*Raine*~*~

"Not a word to Zarbon, do you hear me? Or I'll put fleas in your beds," I threatened the two Yaimanu who jumped back. I know I was wrong for keeping so many secrets from him, but I honestly felt like I was protecting him by keeping him in the dark about it.

Something was telling me to run. Something was telling me to get the hell outta dodge, but I didn't react. God, how could I have been so careless?

Yusuke had gone to run an errand for Zarbon, so it was just me and Kuwabara. We talked of our futures now that we were free, but then I got that sinking feeling. I paid it no mind until it was too late. They came back. And they brought a friend.

"Ah, the succulent little onna I had the pleasure of entertaining at the tournament," Ume licked his lips.

I cringed inside, recalling the incident. There were these three burly saiiyans and one Yaimanu and little old me.

"RUN!!!" Kuwabara yelled, jumped at the saiiyans. I knew better than to stand around acting foolish, so I ran.

It only took a minute.

I only ran for a minute.

And just like THAT, they were on me.

I couldn't tell who it was, but one of them scooped me off of the ground and pulled me into a room. I couldn't see. There was a dim light from a small window at the end of the room, but we didn't go close to it. I was slammed against the floor.

"Where's that smart mouth of yours now, bitch?" it was Brolli.

I struggled, but his grip was impossible to get out of. That's when I heard footsteps and I knew that something was really wrong. Where was Kuwabara? Why did they bring me here. I heard chuckling.

"Such a pretty little whore," I heard Ume said.

"Though I mourn Turles' loss, it seems we will have to enjoy his woman for him."

And that's when my whole world changed forever.

~*~*J'dee*~*~

Staring at the note in my hands I'd found it plastered to the door of my house, Piccolo was inside and waiting with some new books he'd found something about the dumping thing. But I was outside just looking at the note.

Vegeta

He knew about the technicality and had demanded my presence after the dinner; he even insulted me in to coming.

'The only work you could find that you'd get paid for is a whore, meet me in my room after dinner and I can offer you more than that.'

My body was so cold while I read the note over the over before finally walking in and Piccolo looked at me. "We need to find out if there was an order to dump you or not and who made the order. If Vegeta made the order then on that technicality you could be free."

I nodded slowly. "Vegeta wants my presence tonight, he knows about the technicality of me breaking my own restraints." I flicked the letter down.

Piccolo picked it up and he looked at it frowning in my direction. "What do you plan to do?"

"I have to meet him." I looked at Piccolo.

"Then you be careful." Piccolo looked at me as I sat down and pulled some books over towards me.

I saw Piccolo looking in my direction. "So we have a technicality on me and one on Vegeta possibly if he ordered to dump me. Lets find out some more about these shall we?" I opened the first book.

~*~*Belle*~*~

I served Bardock his meal and he caught my arm and forced me to stand next to him.

"So, King Naraku, you wish to purchase this one from me?" he stated and I fought the urge to stare in shock at the two, I watched Inu Yasha tense up as he passed by. Naraku chuckled as Kikyo made an indignant growl too low for Saiyan ears to hear, but easy enough for Yamainu to hear.

"Yes, she pleases me greatly with her face," he said and I closed my eyes to keep them from widening. "Besides, she was the closest being to dear Prince Sesshoumaru before his death. I'd feel closer to him, whom I respected so greatly, if I were to have the being he confided in the most before his death." I fought to keep from digging my claws into my palm and growling.

"I see, so you wish to purchase her off of me?" Bardock asked and I felt my heart speeding up against my will.

"Yes, immensely, how much would I have to pay for her?" Naraku asked and Bardock reached out to stroke my head like I was a favorite pet.

"We paid two and a half million for her, plus we have her trained to the level of wet-nurse, serving caretaker and we enjoy her service," Bardock said and I felt my heart pound, he was going to haggle. I could belong to the man who resulted in the death of my beloved Sess!

"I will double that," Naraku said and my jaw dropped as I looked up for a moment to see his eyes drilling into me as well as the eyes of the woman who wore his mark.

"I believe you have a deal, although I should warn you, she has a human mate," Bardock stated and Naraku chuckled.

"I checked with Vegeta, the slave she is mated to was bought by Prince Zarbon and freed, by the Laws of Enslavement, their mating is null, she belongs to whomever wants her," Naraku chuckled as his eyes bore into mine.

"Raditz is going to be pissed he didn't realize this," Kakarot chuckled. "He'll jump her tonight when he gets home."

"No, Raditz won't have the chance, King Naraku, I would gladly part for this slave for twice what I paid for her," Bardock said and I stared at him. Inu Yasha and I locked eyes from across the room. I was now the property of the man who had dethroned Sesshoumaru and Inu Yasha!