Chapter 12: Snow White Queen

Warning: This chapter has mature content that is on the borderline to being rated M. So it's pretty much a very high T. You have been warned.


"Mmm…" Standing there being appraised is one of the most repulsive experiences of Xannah's life. To have these older men and women gaze upon her (who by the way was stuck wearing her birthday suit) like a dog at show or a common piece of meat made her feel sick. Her hair, which was longer then present day, was straight and long almost to her elbows.

She had heard a soft murmur from an older man with who she was horrified to see was his wife do to their matching rings, "With that hair she looks like Lady Godiva. How much for her again?" The wife made a small hum of agreement, "200,000. However I'm sure the price will go up once the bidding starts. She's fluent in both English and Japanese and has Japanese and Italian backgrounds. Quite a find. And those eyes!" The wife gave another little hum while brushing a silver curl away from her face.

Xannah slowly closed her eyes, trying to keep her breathing steady as one of the tuxedo clad show boys turned her around to face another small group of people. At a simple gesture from a man who looked to be in his 70s or 80s, Xannah's hair was brushed aside to reveal her breasts.

More small murmurs arose, and they seemed to be of approval.

To give a better description of the room: It looked to be some kind of Opera House or a theater. The large stage was illuminated by a single light pointing straight down on Xannah. The stage was circular and placed in the center of the theater. Stairs led up and down either side, and the construction was of Greek origin.

Xannah drew in a shaky breath, biting her lip so hard she was afraid she had made it bleed. A tiny whimper left her throat.

"Let the bidding begin!"

The voice was soft and politely feminine, and seemed to come from all around them. Without further ado, the woman began to prattle on in a voice that was purely professional. "Found on the street of London, she is American born and is fluent in both English and Japanese. Her mother was born and raised Japanese, and her father contains rich Italian back ground and heritage. She can sing, dance, and play the violin."

Xannah's eye twitched, knowing that if she made even the small noise she could be killed or worse. All eyes were on her, and she flinched as a scratchy, female voice who sounded very much like a chain smoker, "210,000!"

And like bidders at a farmers' auction, they named off their prices one by one.

"220,000!"

"250,000!"

"275,000!"

And on it went. Xannah shivered, goose flesh erupting all over her very naked and cold body. Her cheeks were flushed a deep burning red of embarrassment and shame. The show boys had her spin around, lay on her back with her legs spread, skip, jump up and down, and even run little laps around the stage like a circus animal.

"670,000!"

"675,000 dammit!"

"1 million."

Everything went dead silent. Now the light went to the man who had spoken (for it indeed was a man). He was tall, dark, lean and tanned like he had worked endlessly in the sun his whole life. He was dressed fairly casually for such a fancy occasion, with a white dress shirt with the first few buttons undone. The jeans he wore looked unremarkable but were probably more expensive then most of Xannah's wardrobe back home.

A few seconds passed and the voice continued, "Going once?"

Silence.

"Twice?"

More silence.

"Sold to Mr. Diego Valentino. Please give payment back stage and collect your purchase and have a pleasant evening." That was it. No further hustle or bustle about it as the show boys gathered the unwilling girl in their arms and carried her down the stairs under the stage where her fate was to be decided.

It was dark and damp and cold. Like a very icy Hell. Eyes opening wide and bright, Xannah saw the figure of the man who had bought her off to the side, writing a check, his head down. It was very silent, even as she was set on her feet and handed a set of clothes to wear for going out. Knowing the drill, she quickly changed into the mini skirt, white blouse, knee high socks and ballet flats.

As Xannah slipped on her shoes, she looked up only to come face to face with the man who had just bought her freedom. And her life.

"Hello," he said pleasantly as he gazed at her almost benignly. In the next second, he slapped her so hard she cried out and fell to the ground. Sobbing weakly, unable to hold it back anymore, Diego grabbed Xannah by the scruff of the neck with a unreal type of strength and calmly made his way out the back door. The cold night air bit at Xannah's cheek and bare legs.

A limo was there waiting for them, small and fairly discreet for such a thing. A driver was waiting there, an elderly man who had a very passive expression as he opened the door for Valentino to shove Xannah inside. A small squeak left her lips as she scurried to the furthest corner of the limo while Valentino climbed in after her and the driver shut the door.

He wasn't finished with her yet though. He climbed over to her quicker then she thought possible as he wordlessly shoved her onto her back on the expensive black leather. "Take us to the Sea House," murmured Valentino, never missing a beat as he straddled the teenage girl and ripped her blouse and skirt off with barely a flick of his wrist, pinning her hands above her head.

"Of course," responded the driver with a type of cheerfulness that made Xannah's heart freeze even more so then the hands on her that felt like black ice.

And rather abruptly the dream stopped and I found myself in my body instead in the strange third person perspective that usually occupied my thoughts. Diego started fading away from my sight like a bad nightmare he had become, and I felt my clothes mend and heal themselves as if they had never been damaged in the first place.

I looked up to see the limo window that connected the driver with the passenger roll down, and the old man was no longer driving.

Instead it was Jin and Hiei.

Jin looked over at me with his dancing blue eyes, wearing a little butler hat atop his mane of wild red hair, "Where too miss?"

"Take me home," I whispered, and so they did.


It was strange to wake up and realize it was really just a dream when it had felt so real. Slowly, I sat up only to flinch at the harsh late afternoon sunlight pierce through my thin rice paper door and into my eyes. Rubbing at my face, I slowly sat up and felt strangely rejuvenated. Ever so slowly I started to smile.

"Hey Genkai?" I scrambled off my futon, slipped on a baggy neon green T shirt and some jeans, and ran around the temple looking for my grandmother. Yukina came from her room with slightly widened eyes. "Is something wrong, Xannah?" Her voice was slightly high pitched and concerned, and I couldn't help but laugh and give her a huge hug (which she returned slowly and shyly).

"I feel great! 200%! Where's Genkai and everyone else?"

She leaned back a little from the hug to be able to speak better without being muffled against my shoulder. "Mr. Hiei is in the woods some where I'm sure. Jin went back to Demon World to get some things." Her eyes brightened a little, "He'll be staying with us for a little while. It'll be nice to have more people here."

I tilted my head down at her curiously, some of my blonde hair falling into my face which I quickly brushed away. "Jin is really staying here with us? Why? What about his training for the next tournament?"

"He didn't say. And Genkai went into the village to get a few groceries before we can go to the city this weekend." Alright, so that accounted for everyone. Kurama and Kuwabara were probably still at college and Yusuke was working. Keiko was probably at school too, and the other demons were in Demon World training for the next tournament. Which was still a few years off but that didn't stop them.

"Thanks Yukina." With that I released her, starting to come down off my abnormal high as I made my way outside. I shielded my eyes from the sunlight, the bottom of my feet adjusting to the warmth of the wooden porch planks. The sky was clear and for a moment I found myself gently caressing my scar from top to bottom, lost in thought.

I'm doing it.

I'm fulfilling my promise.

I'm living the life they never got to. I was given a second chance.

Kaylee.

Professor Eugene Smith.

And grumpy ol' man Jasper.

Closing my eyes, I held my arms out as if to embrace the sun, feeling Hiei in my thoughts and not caring whether he was seeing or feeling what I was. Let them him know their names. They more than deserved to be remembered.

"I'm doing it guys," I whispered into the quiet, warm and sunny atmosphere. "I'm living my life."


I know this chapter is a little shorter then normal, though for good reason! Was doing college stuff and getting ready to graduate so I got a little sidetracked. Plus, I didn't want to shove too much stuff in one chapter because the next chapter there is another time skip. Hope you enjoy what I've given you so far, and until next time!