Chapter Twenty-Eight: Delight in Difference

"Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it."

-Swedish Proverb

"You going to be all right?" The question threw Kagome off, she peeked over the pillow she'd been screaming into at the concerned expression of Jade. She flushed as she nodded, not really having realized he was bound to notice her behavior.

"Yeah, I just…I don't know what to do." Kagome replied, hating herself for the break in her voice when she whispered her answer. The last thing she wanted to do was break into tears, again. She swallowed. "I don't want people to get hurt because of me, I think I should just roll a dice and pick someone, would that even work? How the hell do I pick someone with this stupid curse anyway?"

"I doubt it would be that simple, and besides, while I imagine most of your suitors hope for themselves the decent among us want to see you happy." Jade replied, leaning forward to push hair from her face. "You are a strong woman, don't give up quite yet, you'll figure out what you want."

"I think it'd be easy for you, you always manage to keep your head on straight." Kagome huffed. "Why couldn't they have cursed you?"

Jade's lips quirked and he set her cell on the side table, shaking his head. "I'm not sure you should be envious of the situation that I find myself in. It's more difficult to retain a reasonable outlook than you might believe. I should make sure it's safe…"

He started to get up when her hand shot out and grabbed his, red eyes widening slightly as he realized she was closer to tears than she let on after her first recovery. She clearly didn't want to be alone, so he sat back down without her needing to actually ask him aloud. Putting an arm over her as she buried into his chest, her body wracked with sobs as she pressed against him and he tightened his arms around her.

"Lezard you vermin…I'll kill you for this…how could you do this to someone you claim to love?" Jade pet her hair in gentle contrast to his vengeful thoughts. His eyes wandering along the thin lingerie the young wizard had put Kagome in. It gave him a clear view of her curves and he found himself glancing at the wall instead, the girl had just complimented his ability for self-control. He wasn't going to feel her up while she was distraught over the alteration that was made. He stuck with petting her hair and just holding her without rubbing her back. It was a long few minutes and her face was moist when she finally drew back mumbling apologizes but he just handed her a handkerchief.

"It's fine Kagome, I can replace clothing easily enough. You needed to cry clearly…I'm glad I could be here for you." Jade usually wouldn't have been one to encourage the release of such emotion but Kagome was a different case. She wasn't trained to be military as he had been, she'd been holding onto pain long before Lezard had altered her and now she'd been forcibly evicted from her own skin. It would be less natural if she didn't react this way.

Kagome blew her nose and cleaned her face, sniffling a little and grasping one of Jade's hands with hers as though afraid to be alone. This would complicate everything already happening, Lezard's selfish behavior would only make this harder on the poor girl.

"Who did you call?" She asked in a light voice, still a little nasal after her sobs…

"I called Ed, his magic is the closest other than some of what I've studied to what was used here. He'll have a better idea as to how much work it will take to fix you." Jade answered, squeezing her hand gently in return. "He said it would take him an hour to get here however and while he'll know to be wary I really should make sure the perimeter is secure."

"…and I'm not certain I'll be able to stop myself from taking advantage of you so it'd be better if you let me go." Jade added in his mind. He didn't need to add more guilt to her mind.

"Can I come with you?" Kagome didn't want to stop him but she was frightened…she was out of her own skin and this was all overwhelming, she did not want to be left alone.

"If there is something out there I'd rather not get a civilian involved…" Jade frowned at the pout her lips dipped into, the quiver that gave away how terrified she was. He sighed and walked over to shut the door before moving back to sit on the bed, knowing this wasn't a good option but it was better than possibly getting her killed by some trap set in the madman's mansion.

"But…"

"Ed will manage; if he has a hard time finding us when he arrives he'll text your phone. I won't put you in further danger right now." Jade stated matter-of-factly. "It's my job to look after you, not allow you to wander through a possibly monster infected and magically trapped house."

"I'm sorry…I'm not trying to be selfish, I just…I thought Lezard was nice…my friend and he…" Kagome bit her lip; it was painful to even think about what had happened to her. It cut her on a level beyond the physical; it made her incredibly afraid just to consider not having someone else nearby. Yet, she'd trusted Lezard and he had betrayed that on the deepest level she could imagine. When Jade pulled her into another hug she realized she'd started to shiver as she thought about it.

"He wasn't your friend Kagome and he had all of us fooled." Jade's voice strong, it gave her something to help hold her steady. He pulled back, holding her head in both hands, she'd started to cry again but she gave a small smile at his reassurance. "We'll get you fixed and we won't let anything like this happen again."

She nodded slightly, blushing at the proximity of the professor, he really did look young despite the fact he was probably at least twice her age. She'd never seen him so intense before; in class he was sometimes mischievous but he was always relaxed and sure of himself. He was nonchalant, grown-up, never like this…

The scarlet gaze was consuming, it set her chest on fire, she knew she should look away, ignore the sudden jump-start of her heart so she didn't hurt anyone else. But even in knowing that the piercing stare had captured her, she parted her lips a moment before his pressed into them. She felt a moment of dizziness as he pressed her back into the bed, his hand sliding from her back to her side and then down the frame of her over her hip.

Kagome's hands were tugging free his shirt, which had been tucked in before he sat on the bed, slipping underneath the fabric to draw her fingers along his flesh. There were a number of scars she could feel that left his skin its own design compared to any other of her suitors. While many had such scars, they were never in the same places. She replied to the somewhat aggressive attention by pressing his body closer to her…at least her body seemed quite content with what was happening.

His tongue traced her lip before dipping into her mouth, his hand sliding from her hip to her inner thigh, drawing his hand over her womanhood even though fabric still separated him from the flesh itself. He smirked slightly as she let out a high pitched whimper and her nails dug into his back, repeating the motion despite how chaste it was she shivered again and he deepened the kiss as he teased her.

Eventually moving one of her legs to the side, allowing better access before his finger hooked around her underwear to slip beneath it, though he hesitated then. Breaking off the intense entanglement of their lips to stare at her, he knew he was drunk on her presence, that this was probably an incredible mistake. Still, he was more than willing to make it if she was willing to jump as well.

Just looking at her made him marvel at his own self control. Her hair was disheveled. The spaghetti straps of the satin lingerie she was wearing had fallen over her shoulders. The piece was incredibly thin and left nothing to the imagination yet it's pale white color fit the beautiful woman regardless. Her blue gaze was a mix of innocent curiosity and passion – lacking any sign of hesitation.

"Kagome…" Jade swallowed after just the name, his voice was so colored with lust he hadn't recognized himself. Was this all a spell? He didn't care if it was, he'd never even imagined wanting anything as much as he did for this… "…are you certain of this?"

Kagome was trying to catch her breath when he broke off, the way he looked at her made her whole body alert, every cell seemed as though it rejoiced with each touch, with any stroke of his tongue against her. He'd stopped again; it was so unique compared to the rest of the men interested in her. How did he have such incredible control? Was he just trying to torment her? Tease her? She couldn't even form words to answer, she grabbed his collar and pulled him back on top of her, returning a less than chaste kiss seemed the best manner in which to say 'yes' as her voice betrayed her.

Elsewhere…

"What do you mean she was transformed?" Ghaleon had left the dance following Edward, whatever minor irritation he felt at the students need to have dry sex on the floor was nothing compared to what the young Alchemist had said. "Valeth you thoughtless…"

"Shhhh!" Ed hissed, the blonde frowning at the albino. "Shut up, you want someone to hear you? Anyway, I'm gonna go out and with Albel so popular for songs and with you needing to chaperon and make sure everything closes out I don't have anyone else to bring. Anyway, Jade said she was fine, just that she'd been moved into another body. I can try to help figure out a way to move her spirit back, her old body is still there as well."

"Curtiss wants me to just stay here and play babysitter? While Kagome could be dying? That cold son of a…" Ghaelon's thoughts were interrupted as Ed continued.

"Soul transfusion isn't one of your realms or interests so there's nothing you could do anyway. Once things are dealt with come out with Albel, we might need to kill other monsters Lezard created. That's what Professor Curtiss said. I'll be driving out shortly, don't do anything stupid. We still don't know what else is going on."

"You need not remind me how to act." Ghaleon's expression went stoic though his tone hinted his displeasure at the implication in Ed's words. "I will do what I must to take care of things here. Just go."

Ed eyed the second in command of their little group, he didn't really like it but it was his job. As it was he was curious to find what research Lezard had on the topic. Ed still wanted to bring back his brother. The entire reason he'd agreed to work with the military like group was so he could find information on this exact topic. Hopefully Ghaleon wouldn't let his feelings for Kagome overrule his judgment.

It was clear the albino had fallen under the curse, Ed was just happy it seemed to skip him thanks to his relationship with Wendy. If she hadn't been there perhaps he'd be just as stupid for Kagome as the rest of them. Kagome was nice but he wasn't interested in her romantically, though he did want to help her, she didn't deserve whatever nefarious plans Lezard must have had for her if he put her in a new body. Ed sighed a little, this seemed only get more complicated all the time, maybe he'd at least find something that could help his personal plans in the madman's library.

End Chapter

I haven't written for this in a while I know. It's more a fun having exercise for me than an incredibly serious fiction. That said I still have a lot of fun with it. I'm totally Kagome's pimp! Passing her to all the different characters I like XD. Someday I need to do separate fics for all of them – well the one's I haven't started already. No Ed will not be a love interest but his small plot might bring in someone else from FMA.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

VixenKitsune147 – Yeah she has quite a few love interests in this story. I get ideas for so many that it's hard not to go with it, she'll still have more XD. I think pretty much all her guys are hawt. Far as Kaname, it's possible but I gotta work through some other plots first. She finally had her moment with Jade and that was a –long- time coming.

Black Firelight – More shock than anything, she cried a little more this chapter about it but…she did other fun things too XD

Tohru78 – Well Jade at least seems to approve the new body.

Mimiru – That is possible, see where my muse takes me, I like the idea though.