Author notes;

"All together!" came the shout from the sitting room. "Everybody it's all together time!"

"Coming! I'm coming!" came the reply from upstairs as the laptop was put aside and Aymei came dashing down the stairs like she had a hurricane on her tail and stumbled into the sitting room just in time for the routine but unfortunately just that step late and her series of hysterical laughter didn't help concentration either as she practically fell through the steps for 'murder on the dance floor' causing Lexi who till now had been going at it flawlessly dissolve into laughter her movements becoming just as uncoordinated. At the end of which she fell to the ground laughing while Aymei fell into the chair panting.

Marvin shook his head. "You can't dance can you…" it wasn't even a question.

"I came late sheesh! gimme a break." Aymei replied defensively.

More notes:: Oh yeah! see me and my Venus style pose ^_^ (yes, I watch sailor moon...go sue me...I even crack up at flint the time detective I don't care...I like what I like sooo...Nyah! *rasp*) Oh, I must say a very big diamond encrusted thank-you to you Deadly beauty. You popped along and read my boring chapter and even reviewed *grins* thank you *smiles brightly*. I would that I could sing you a very nice song buuutt...you'd go deaf in the space of a few minutes. I know it took me ages like you said...yeah it absolutely did (bad, terrible, naughty, stupid Aymei) ...who knows it may not take me too long to bring out the next chapter.

Chapter six; Discoveries


Diary again;

It's happened again. I can't help but find out because all the guards seem to know only they talk about it amongst themselves. The escapes they're becoming frequent again. I more than suspect it's only a matter of time before it will reach the king's knowledge. So far it's managed to stay secret with the guards feeling it their duty to keep it under wraps and deal with it in their own way. Yet the more people that know surely it meant it was closer to being found out.

I don't know which to feel more sorry for. The slaves who if they didn't escape got caught and killed or the guards sent after them...mainly consiting of the junior ones. Who else would get sent out on a chase that could take ages with the threat of a 'befitting' punishment if they failed. I've passed that stage at least for that I am grateful.

She comes to mind a lot when I think of my position. Maybe if I was of a much higher rank I could stand a chance. I could be deluding myself and then I may not...but just maybe if I was...it would be easier to tell her?...If I could just give her something she was worthy of, somehow have her see me in a different light than what she would immediately see in me if I said a word...






--------------------

There's no easy way out

When you're ready to go

---------------------



The woods flew by in a pitch black blur as they ran. Apart from the eerily silent sound of the forest the only sounds filling their ears above the sound of their frantic breathing was the desperate contact of their feet as it propelled them towards the one place of safety, each one taking them further from danger. The leaves beat against them on slapping the younger female in the face but she didn't do much more than flinch slightly. Her desire to keep running was too much to let a mere slap in the face slow her down.

There was a loud fall and a sound of expelled air. To the sensitive hearing of their pursuers it would sound like a klaxon. They would be on them in less than a second. The girl knew that. Her companion knew it. Yet he still stayed his hands closing round her arms to pull her up loosing precious seconds as he helped her up looking worried at the wince she gave. The look on her face was one of indescribable thanks but also pain.

A snap came like a crack of thunder and they were off again in a silent form of agreement that hadn't needed to be spoken. The approaching sounds were enough to spur them both into simultaneous action. She was on her feet quickly almost pulling him down in her haste to rise. Knowing that death could be swiftly approaching and could catch up to them anytime was an excellent boast and she was soon matching him stride for stride. Rising panic sent her running even faster than he could ever hope to achieve with the roles now reversed and her pulling him along desperately. Fear making the tears roll down her cheeks but finding this no time to break down she was soundless, heart thumping wildly in her ears.

"We're almost there." The man rushed the emotion in his voice verging on the emotion that came with the shining of hope just before him.

The hurrying sound was almost upon them, the rustling of bushes that signified the rush of more than one person breaking trails through them. In every silent space in-between was the terrifying 'silence' the silence that spoke, louder than any single sound could, of superhuman movement that was as fast as it was deadly, ghostly hands already upon them in the terrified parts of their minds…then out of nowhere someone jumped out right in front of them, eliciting terrified cries from the sufficiently terrified pair. They fell back seemingly finding some still working part of their fear clogged minds to form the thought that drove them together the young girl clinging to the man tightly almost like that simple action would somehow teleport them far far away from this nightmare.

Laughter dispelled the natural silence of the forest as the man towered over the terrified couple just as two other guards joined him grinning and it was painfully obvious that they'd been toying with them. Like a cat with a mouse. All that time...leading them to actually believe hat they stood a chance at escape.

"What did you think? That you could actually escape?"

The ball of light formed in his outstretched hand illuminating the triumphant smile on his face and the look of terror on that of his captives. They looked like rabbits caught in the headlights of a car as they helplessly stared at their approaching deaths. Unable to keep looking the girl buried her face into the man's chest her grip on him deathly in itself as if screaming out loud but without a sound passing her lips.

Just let it be quick. She prayed remembering how they'd drawn out the suffering of her friend her agonized screams having rang out all over the forest.


I wish it didn't have to end like this. He thought finally having the closeness he'd craved from her for so long only for it to be seconds before he was meant to die.

and death did come…

Just not to the clinging couple…rather to the man who till now had stood up right only to now fall to his knees face contorted in pain and anger. They both looked up confused…right into light blue eyes shining unnaturally in the moonlight the fading radiance from his hand now leaving his face shadowed. Confusion dulled the other two guards' reaction times and they were knocked out suddenly quicker than the perplexed duo could record it. The remaining couple just continued staring up at the intimidating figure before them new fear dawning…that was still the other stepped forward with a satisfied sound of having dealt with the other two guards that now lay unconscious on the forest floor.

"on your feet quickly." He spoke suddenly forcibly ushering the 'still in shock' pair to their feet.

They only got a glimpse of him but the most noticeable thing about him was the 'x' shaped scar on his face. They willing followed once he said something they both recognised and realised he didn't mean to kill them. Besides they felt him the safer option than the other man who in all that time had not mentioned one single word or barely breathed as he stood there taking everything in with a deceiving laziness when it was clear that underneath it all his reflexes were so finely attuned he was like a coiled panther just waiting to pounce on the next thing that moved.

"Come on we don't want more company!" The other dark haired man said

The blue eyed boy smiled dark hair curtaining his face as it tilted as if in thought for a moment in time " I don't know…it might be fun." He said even though he turned and followed them moving so silently he might as well not exist.




***********************





It was morning.

Zahi could tell.

It was there in the sounds that announced it to his ears…it was there in the breeze he could feel bringing with it the smell of a fresh new day its form that of quiet supplication.

It was still an early morning nonetheless.

He knew it even before he even formed the thought of opening his eyes.

However he wasn't prepared for the head of blonde hair that caught his eye, laying just within arms reach right next to him, lovely even in its tousled state several strands having fallen forward over her forehead giving the impression of a fringe. She was breathing softly, nose flaring slightly with every intake of breath. The daylight danced across creamy smooth skin caused mainly by the rustling leaves outside the window creating shades and patterns over her exposed back as it rose and fell infinitesimally upon her every breath. She stirred slightly golden lashes fluttering slightly as they opened to reveal twin luminous seas of ice blue. She smiled a warm if lazy smile. He reached out to her…

And he encountered nothing.

He opened his eyes suddenly…sure enough it was morning and sure enough the curtains were fluttering slightly but the dappled patterns were playing over the empty space next to him that had never been filled…except in his recent dreams. He groaned and pulled the nearest pillow over his head slamming it down two or three times against it in silent self reproach.Then realising he would be late since he was supposed to turn up for duty early today he jumped out of bed quickly running fingers through hair that was more unruly than its normal disorderly state. He was finally in with a chance to get a possible promotion, turning up late would not do him any favours. He grabbed a hold of the nearest form of covering, which happened to be the sheets, and tore out the room towards the bathroom thundering past a startled blonde that felt the tinge coating his cheeks was in all words…strange.

****************








Vegeta's attention was not focused on the environment about him. The scene before him didn't matter. His thoughts mainly revolved around the colour 'blue' but he wasn't so lost that he didn't sense the person approach. He didn't need to turn to know who it was.

"What took you so long." he said his voice not rising above a normal tone but still sounding like he'd practically barked the place down.

Nappa knew better than to let a sigh escape him but he could vividly see himself hanging a placard round his neck that read 'in the doghouse...again'.

"I'm sorry...I came as quickly as I could."

It was a few seconds before Vegeta spoke "Well, did you get it done?"

"Erm...no..." he answered "He said he'd never heard of a blue haired girl."

"What do you mean he's never heard of a blue haired girl...either you're incompetent or he is!"

"He said--"

Vegeta turned on him "He said, he said...Haven't you words of your own. Does Phebes speak for you?"

"No he doesn't." he said quelling his indignant tone at being accused of being a less superior officer's puppet pausing slightly he began again "I found that he knows no blue haired girl, the girl he'd been talking about had blonde hair.

Vegeta turned back to the scene again gaze widening imperceptibly as he saw her. "there she is." he said no having to look over his shoulder to know Nappa would come to look without being told.

He spotted the girl instantly. Not because of her hair colour but mainly because she was the only one with two other females virtually chasing after her. She was suddenly surrounded by them and there seemed to be a sort of argument taking place. It was obvious that she was in some form of trouble as one of the girls had a vice like grip round her arm and from the look of things it wasn't because she was overtly friendly either.

"…that's the one!, " Nappa suddenly announced with an almost celebratory tone "the one just approaching." He said added pointing and quite rudely it would be considered.

Sure enough there was a blonde short haired girl approaching pace unhurried but yet leaving no one in doubt as to her target and at first it seemed like she meant the girl harm too.


It was something upon which the other girls, that had taken to caging in the blue haired one with obvious menace, promptly focused all their attention on her stepping back a bit albeit done reluctantly as they hesitated almost challengingly. She hadn't had to do a thing, there was just that understated 'you-don't-mess-with-me' air about her and as she got nearer they decided it wise to flee instead but not before one of them boldly made an insulting gesture with her hands but didn't wait to see what the consequences would be. Soon both girls were having some kind of conversation with the blue haired girl holding onto something that shimmered in the daylight no doubt what ever it was that the other girls had been after.

"She's not the one I want…" Vegeta announced simply "You've seen the girl I'm talking about you know what to do. Do it."

"Right away." Nappa answered quickly.

"And Nappa…don't botch it up or it's your head." Vegeta said with menacing warmth. He nodded leaving quickly.

Not far away the King had been looking out of his window appreciatively taking in his on coming building and already seeing in his minds eye it's finished form when he'd spotted the slight scene. Strangely enough it had somehow caught his attention where he hadn't been too bothered before.Suddenly his building hadn't been the most important thing on his mind anymore. No, he'd lost interest in that since his attention had shifted.

Ever since she'd come into view.

He watched the girls below as they suddenly broke up the short conversation that had ensued over, one leaving with a brief nod at the other. Yet his gaze did not follow her as she left. It stayed with the remaining one clutching something in her hands as she watched the other leave. She'd caught his attention and she was keeping it as he glanced over her appreciatively.

The girl looked at what ever it was she was clutching and it shimmered a little as she moved it a little her hands closing round it again. She looked back up at the girl that had just left no doubt somewhat confused as she stood there wonderingly. Then as if after a mental shrug she turned and left the sunlight catching highlights upon lightly tousled strands of spun blonde.




*******************



She looked down at the necklace wrapped round her hand, its silver quality glittering slightly against her skin. She was lost in thought awhile as she did contemplating its arrival into her possession. Bulma had said it belonged to Chichi and she'd found it only a few days ago lying hidden in the corner of the cell where it had no doubt fallen and been forgotten. Bulma's theory had been that she'd lost it during the struggle and she'd been too distraught to notice the thin silver thing.

That was why she'd been followed. Somehow the other girls had found she had it and had wanted her to hand it over to them what with it being able to be used in a trade, which was something Bulma hadn't been about to do. Invariably spelling trouble. She'd thus given the necklace to her to look after it and she'd been somewhat confused. Her reason for handing her something so obviously important to her had been that it would be safe with her. The thing was she hadn't known where to keep such a fiddly item and so she just kept it on her person wrapped round her wrist.

She reached out for the material hanging on the line where she'd draped it the day before to dry only she'd ended up leaving it out all night. She watching almost disbelievingly uncomprehending as it was suddenly blown from her reach and she watched it as it literally sailed over her and planted itself in the arms of a nearby tree. A vexed expression crossed her face as the wind came again lightly scattering her hair all over the place. She turned in the direction the offending item had taken glaring daggers at it as it sat in the arms of the tree goading in its very position. She gave a low angry growl of vexation. She almost contemplated leaving it for there was no way she was going to climb up to get the annoying thing if it didn't want to be taken in the first place. She sighed and reached up to bring it back down landing easily enough folding the material almost thoughtfully.

She turned sharply the first thought running through her head being why she didn't sense the intrusion earlier and the second being that that person would die. She hadn't expected it to be Krillin. Which besides the problem it posed had made her heart skip a beat.

"Juuhachi?!" the wavering question was given both at what he'd seen and the look that crossed her face and he was becoming more sure every passing millisecond that that look didn't promise anything nice. He briefly wondered if he was always going to be finding out things about this girl he was becoming more than infatuated with. Someone he barely knew and he wondered if that was part of the attraction. A few days back he'd been so red faced he could barely look at her and to think he'd been more worried about how he would be able to look at her again...it kinda paled in comparison now. In the blink of an eye he was up against the wall with a grip that would snap his neck with just that more pressure.

"W-what are you doing?" his voice held alarm.

Her smile was no smile "You tell anyone, anyone...and I will kill you." She promised glaring at him the intensity of it practically burning through him..

"But—but…why?" he spluttered silently wishing to be on the ground again. It was...embarrassing to dangle so.

" I would've thought that was obvious."

"I didn't see a thing!" he said just as suddenly realising that he'd just confessed he had in almost the same breath that he had been trying to suggest he hadn't.


"You'd wish you really hadn't if you so much as think of what you 'didn't' see." She said simply.


"I wouldn't...I-I don't...wouldn't...never..."


She looked at him a while watching him silently mind working behind eyes that were expressionless. Part of her thoughts revolved round whether or not to trust him to keep his mouth shut. Then again he had to know better than to blab.

"A single word…and I hunt you down and have your guts for garters...and I will know whether you utter a word or not...okay?" She reminded him voice unhurried, low and deadly serious. She let him go only when he nodded. His hand went to his neck and he grimaced as he rubbed it gently.

"I wouldn't have said a thing even if you hadn't told me to" He said glumly.


"Proberbly not." she flipped over her shoulder as she turned away putting the offending material aside. "...since you've things you wish hidden too but..." she turned to look at him again her gaze almost pinning him "I don't take chances."

He looked blank. Things he wished to keep hidden? The very thought that she could know...then again could that much more surprise him?...yes. She was either a mind reader too or just blessed with a knack for guessing absolutely.

"W-What do you mean?" he asked. She fixed him with a gaze that seemed to ask if he thought her stupid.

"You're strong." She stated.

He looked confused "How do you…H—how can you...know…"

"You panicked." she informed him as calmly as if she were saying the grass was green her inflection holding no trace of the mild surprise she'd felt at the time. He didn't understand...how could panicking tell her that? To say he was a bit puzzled by it was to put it mildly but he said nothing…because for one he couldn't find anything to say at that point. He was still trying to get over the first hurdle.

The only explanation he could come up with was that she had sensed it because he obviously hadn't 'said' anything.Unless she must have been fitting pieces together and finally come to a conclusion but what had he let slip previous to this. He couldn't remember if he had or hadn't. He briefly wondered if it was wise to ask any of the questions that kept him from finding out the last few pieces that made up who she was. The most prominent still being why she didn't give of a ki signature but he felt like he would be prying. What would she think with him issuing such questions, what made him think she would answer them for a start.

He looked at her figuring he could try and ask when he saw something sparkle catching the sunlight briefly as it slipped off her wrist and fell suddenly and he quickly bent to pick it up for her before actually knowing what it was, unfortunately she had the same idea and they both bent down to retrieve the item each one too intent on their missions to see the danger. Their heads collided.

It was more surprise than anything else that made the small sound escape her but he took it for one of pain, especially since he was practically seeing stars. He was instantly contrite.

"Oh god I'm sorry…I'm so sorry I didn't mean to—" his hand went to her fore head brushing aside short strands of blonde his gaze and thumb searching for a bump or a hint that one would be rearing its head anytime soon.

"I didn't hurt you or anything did I…It's okay isn't it...I really didn't mean to, it was an accident…" after his initial frantic concern and died down just a pace on realising there wasn't anything there or a sign of one to come he suddenly realisedthat he was just that far from her and she was at him as if one of them had just lost the plot and he didn't quite know which one of them it was directed at. She stared at him mouth slightly agape…in shocked disbelief?. He withdrew his hands like he'd been burned and he would have apologised again if he could just get it out beyond the locking gaze of blue.

"I-" he began


"Don't you have jobs to do" a new voice intruded making them practically jump apart increasing the space between themselves from a few guilty inches to a huge chasm. Juuhachi recognised him instantly as did Krillin and he almost said exactly what he suddenly thought.

Oh no... not again.

Images of the fight that had sent events careening down hill since it's instigation returned to mind and from the look on the guards face he hadn't forgotten it either…far from it. He watched as they warily eyed each other an atmosphere building dangerously again.

"Er yes?, yes we've got jobs to do...we're doing erm...the washing, that's it yes..." Krillin said quickly waving to the other sheet lying on the line as he jumped into the gap in the conversation wherein which they practically glared at each other.

Nice save. He thought himself silently short of physically giving himself a pat on the back. It was ultimately better than nothing.It was not going to end up like it had before. Before he'd hadn't a chance to do anything this time he was going with gut feeling before everything went haywire again.

The guard looked at him suspiciously taking in him first and then the clothes on the line and then the peg he'd somehow managed to acquire. He looked back at Juuhachi who simply looked back at him saying nothing but a small smile played round her lips.

"Hn..." he said simply walking away but in no way finished with her. She still had to pay for his humiliation. He fumed silently stopping once to look back his burning gaze now moving from the female to the man she was now next to glaring daggers at him as she snatched the peg he was sheepishly offering her. He was still going to get his own back only this time he was going to be just that much more thoughtful in planning it out. A head on clash was useless…no this time he had something better in mind and he liked the idea forming.





***************




Bulma looked round fugitively.

She couldn't believe it, she'd just beenfilling a basket with fruits and had just spotted it. As if it had almost been placed there just for her. She could not believe that they could be so careless. It had to be a trap…but if it wasn't? If she had it she could…hell she didn't know what she could but she knew it would come in handy when she eventually found some use for it.

Maybe it was a case of having the resources first and then coming up with a plan later. She couldn't very well walk past it and not do a thing. What would anyone else do?…her hands twitched. Everything within her was crying…no screaming out for her to do it. She wasn't so prone to crazy ideas but she was now so that showed how much she knew...maybe she wasn't as level headed she liked to believe. All she had to do was simply pick it up, no one was looking.

She looked up and everything confirmed it. No one was even paying attention. The weapon left on the table was forgotten or not even known to be there. Looking kind a handheld scanning device but she knew it was more than that. She'd seen enough people on the receiving end to know it could deliver a pretty nasty jolt of electricity...with a little tinkering...who knew. It would proberbly come in handy...but what would happen when the owner came looking for it? Worse yet what if it happened right when she was picking it up. She would be skinned…she would be executed or something…she would be beaten to an inch of her life…oh there would be so much hell to pay—


She snapped it up smoothly and almost to quick for the eye to see even surprising herself and buried it in the small hand held basket she initially brought to use for the fruit shoving it to the bottom of her load walking away as quickly and as inconspicuously as she could wishing she didn't feel like there was an evil gremlin running after her shouting at the top of its malicious voice to alert the whole world to what she'd just done.

"Hey!, you! Stop right there."


She did. She literally 'froze right there' the world seeming to crash into a silence that was both heavy and scary. Everything had taken on a far off dreamlike state…almost like it was all happening but she was watching it from afar. She turned to face the approaching guard a scowl on his face reaching for his own weapon.

"Hand it over now." He said.


"W—what?" she asked her overtly squeaky voice hurting even her own ears. It sounded too high…too panicked…too suspicious...too 'oh-no-I've-been-caught-red-handed'


"You heard me…Put what you took right back down."


Cold sweat washed over her. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh— "the fruits slave! Put them right back are you deaf?! Are you not aware that you aren't supposed to take from the fruits in here, how dare you come in here and place you filthy hands on them…do you know who they belong to…!"

A wave of relief flooded her… but her worry and fear didn't abate totally. If she was to put back the fruit her little 'cargo' would be revealed but the guard didn't seem like he would let up anytime soon…not until he was obeyed. As if to prove this his angry voice filled her ears again " Now!"


She moved to put the basket on the table to begin taking them out her hands trembling so much she could hardly do it but the fear of having him yank it from her and tip out the contents was motivation enough for her to try harder…maybe…just maybe if she emptied it strategically she could hide it from view.

"What are you doing?!"

The new voice made her heart almost leap out of her chest…at first thinking it was the guard speaking to her again until she realised it was another approaching one...the last thing she wanted was more guards...please not more. The new guard though wasn't looking at her when she looked up. He was looking at his counterpart with an almost incredulous expression on his face.

"She belongs to the prince you idiot…why else would she come here...I doubt she's stupid. He no doubt sent her here to get them. Another foolish move like that and you're job will be on the line."


The other guard looked like he had suddenly swallowed a porcupine. "Prince Vegeta?...how was I supposed to know...I'm still new!" he said looking back at Bulma and then back at the other guard. "Why didn't you say something sooner." He questioned

"I have now." came the reply.

Bulma didn't much care about what they were going on about she was just happy enough to scuttle out of the place as quick as her legs could carry her and her prized bit of treasure when he said the single redeeming word

"Go!"

So there was actually an advantage in being 'owned' by a man she could barely stand. She thought to herself. He'd just bulldozed his way into her life and turned everything upside down. She hated him, that much she knew just as much as she was attracted to the arrogant so and so...and he seemed to know it, either that or he was just naturally annoying.


******************





She opened the door slowly peering inside blue locks of hair falling forward as she did now devoid of the material she'd round her hair earlier more to spite him this time. He'd insisted it be removed after charmingly informing her it made her look like an old woman. It now sat in her pocket where she'd shoved it angrily silently raining a thousand litanies on his head as she'd picked the bowl he'd ordered filled with fruit. She had no doubt as to the fact that he didn't particularly want or need it.

He was just finding ways to make her life a living nightmare. Prove a point. That no matter how much she glared at him and wanted him to rot and fall to pieces so she could kick him up side his arrogant head, it wouldn't happen and she couldn't...whether she liked it or not at the end of the day she had no choice but to obey what ever fools errand he sent her on because like it or not he owned her. Maybe not every part of her but certainly as far as it was needed to have her all over the place with her having to grin and bear it.

He knew it.

He wanted her to know it too.

So it was only in her minds eye that she'd picked up the bowl and smashed it over something painful instead of walking out obediently, as she told him to 'shove off' and run his own errands.

The room seemed empty and she looked behind her almost expecting to find him sanding there watching the spectacle she made peering into the room to make sure of his absence. She finally entered sure that it was empty and hoping to just pop in and pop out again and avoid seeing him at all. She moved the table in the room her proposed destination.

"What took you so long." came the sharp put out tone.

She jumped startled terribly the bowl slipping from her hands and even slipping through her quick attempt to catch it before it hit the ground. She closed her eyes tightly expecting the sound of shattering glass to reach her ears. It didn't break and it surprised her...for a second till she figure out that what she'd till now thought to be glass was either unbreakable or some other material that looked and felt like glass. She bent to pick the fruit rolling everywhere putting it back into the bowl wondering for a second whether to put it on the table or wait to see if he would send her back all over again to get another batch.

She decided to ask first. "Do you want me to replace them?" she asked trying unsuccessfully to quell the hope in her voice suddenly wanting out of this place. Tired or not. She moved towards him with the now refilled bowl at the slight indication he made having to restrain herself from jutting it in his face like she so wanted to. She was so tired from going up and down for him and having him enjoy it so much as he no doubt knew she felt like screaming.

"Just one" he said not even bothering to hide his smile at the flash of quelled blue fire. What got her even more riled was that she found under normal circumstances she could adore that lopsided smile laying between sly and seductive but what was even more surprising was that when her fingers brushed his as she handed it to him she felt the inane desire to curl her fingers round his and not let go.

He made a play of studying it thoroughly before taking a huge chunk out of it. He made a low sound of pretended thoughtfulness but it still managed to make her knees almost dissolve under her. He fixed her with a gaze that suddenly seemed to know she was consciously holding her breath and laugh at her for it. She fumed as she lowered her gaze to the floor trying to sound as submissive as possible above the anger she felt at him and at herself.

"Will that be all...Can I leave now?"

Please say yes.

"No."

She snapped "But why not! I've done everything you've asked--" She stopped herself sharply with a mental slap. She'd gone and done it again. It was opening her mouth at an impromptu moment, kinda like now, that had started this in the first place.

A smart Alex chat back and she'd been on more errands than anyone should be allowed to.

"I didn't mean that." she said lying easily enough. He rose managing to tower over her intimidating and she took a couple steps backward reflexively which he covered just as quickly barely seeming to move making her gasp a little.

"Scared of me?." he asked

"No." she said congratulating herself silently when none of the frantic fear she'd felt showed up in her voice.

"You should be...I can send you to the moon and back if I so want to and you haven't a say in it, I could order the skin peeled from your back if it is my desire." he said dropping the half eaten fruit back into the bowl as his gaze flickered over her taking in the unconsciously defiant jut of her chin.

"I own you. Learn to live with it and things will be so much easier for you." he said with a grin. He moved away from her leaving her wide eyed and still holding the bowl against her chest as if it somehow granted her some kind of protection.

"On second thoughts, replace them...and this time don't take so long..."

*************

Chapter seven;

You don't know why but you can't explain it either

Stronger things rule your life than you can imagine

There are no heroes and no one to rely on

It is all too late…changes have begun

Endnote?

I finished another chapter. Took longer than I thought it would about a week is it? It was supposed to be half of that but I had teachers to see and portfolios to show (which I had to hurridly fill...it's quite a good thing I file these things immediately I get them, I only had to hunt for a few notes) hence I was getting it all together.

Ever notice how the printer botches up on you when you need it the most? Problems range from paper jam...to no more ink...to no paper *sigh* anyway, I had to stay up all night for this one an' all and I almost didn't finish it...too busy dancing to every song that came up on the radio (yes...dancing even at 2.00 clock in the morning. You can't help but move to the groove)...you just gotta love heart 106.2 fm.. Just when I think; okay song finished get back to writing, another favourate comes on and there I go again.

Tell you what, I must go work on the next chapter is what I should do, while I'm still on this roll...finally re-harnessed my desire and I am roping it right in...absolutely no getting away. Apologies for spelling mistakes and such lot...blame it on the late night and any non-flows too. I did try to check. (now hasn't this been alot of prattle eh?...yeah *nods* you can go now...I let you off ^__^)