Chapter Twenty-Nine: Cold Shower

"You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships everyday. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity."

-Epicurus

Kagome had forgotten, at least temporarily, about the rest of her suitors and was lost in the moment with Jade, quite ready and willing to give herself over to him. The normally in control teacher had equally thrown caution to the side. Then the sprinklers activated, covering them both in water that might as well have been ice cold. It was enough of a shock for Kagome to shriek in surprise and him to move instantly to cover her in case it was some sort of further attack. What the hell was going on in this damn building? Jade withdrew from the bed after a scan of the room, swiftly fixing his clothing given how much of it Kagome had gotten free of him in their short interlude. He pulled Kagome out of bed and behind him as some of the equipment began to spark and sizzle under the indoor rain.

Doing his best NOT to focus on the girl in the wet version of that lingerie – which left even less to the imagination than before he pulled the blanket from the bed and put it around her – leading her further from the sparking equipment before returning to pick up her last body – it was still warm so at least Lezard hadn't killed it as a part of the transfer – but unresponsive. About the same as he might expect to find someone in a coma. "We need to stop this water, if too much of this equipment gets damaged we might not be able to reverse the transformation!"

That sobered Kagome even more than the sudden cold shower had – she was pretty sure she know knew what it must felt like for dogs when people turned the hose on them. She nodded and glanced at the dozens of levers, buttons, and other controls in the room. "Um...what do we do?"

Jade was searching as best he could, shielding his eyes with one hand so water didn't pour into them – and not wanting to wait too long as Kagome had already been through enough. She didn't need to be frozen on top of everything else. Still, he had little idea if it could be down here and with the controls sparking he wasn't sure what he could save like this. "Kagome, let's move...I need to get to the stairs."

Not about to argue she darted while holding the blanket up as quickly as she could through the door and up the steps. Glancing down toward him, but he'd not followed her all the way to the top. Jade paused just on the steps and laid his hand on the ceiling to the lower floor. Cinnamon strands of hair lifted slightly from his shoulders and his clothing waved in a wind that wasn't there as he began to call on power – gathering energy to himself.

His voice was different, deeper and more commanding when he began to intone his spell. "The cluster of ice that doth shine like silver sleeps at the base of soil. It is the universal principle that sparkles in the desert. The great power that doth sleep at the foot of the frozen mountain is the embrace of heartless silver that doth carve the barren wilds."

Kagome felt a further chill enter the air and her slick lingerie and damp blanket did little to help her dispell the waves of cold emenating from the teacher. She stared in surprise – she'd always known Jade was a magic-user like Ghaleon or Lezard but she had only seen him cast one spell in their battle with Naraku. She had so rarely seen him use magic day to day like the others that it was easy to forget that he was no less capable than her other companions.

"Absolute."

The spell complete ice spider webbed swiftly outward from where he'd touched the ceiling, curling across and spiking brilliantly from the rooftop where it instantly froze the sprayers that were pouring water down – it wasn't really the best 'fix' but it did stop the rain from continuing to damage the equipment right at this moment. Kagome shivered as she tried to pull the damp blanket closer, blowing into her trembling hands and so focused a moment on her warmth that she didn't see Ed approaching.

"Whoa, I just got here, what happened to you? There are dead chimera everywhere, why are you all wet?" Ed asked, taking off his jacket so she could replace the blanket – and doing his best not to look at her 'might as well be naked' self in the soaked bed clothes. "Are you okay?"

"Not really but thanks." Kagome answered honestly, accepting the jacket and putting her arms through the sleeves, glad for the warmth it offered her. "Where are the others?"

"They'll be following when they can...what the hell are you doing Professor?" Ed asked in frustration when he saw the frozen over basement. You really make it work for me don't you?

"The equipment has to be saved...your magic style lends better to a longer term fix, which you can work on as soon as you transmute her something warmer to wear." Jade ordered, glad to see the youth as it helped school him back into a proper state of mind. The more he ignored what was going on before the system set off the better. "We also need to find medical equipment for her other body until you have a chance to tell us what you can decipher."

Ed didn't waste time, altering some curtains into a long dress for Kagome. "Sorry, not a lot warmer but I don't have a lot to work with just now."

"It's fine." Kagome promised, happy when they found her a chimera piece free room where she could change. Separating from the pair to do just that – she was happy for anything dry and the house wasn't quite as chilled in this side room.

"What happened Professor?" Ed frowned he looked across the ceiling. "Something or someone else went through her and tore those chimera's apart – it would have had to be someone like us that interjected – no human could have cut those creatures so easily."

"I'm not sure." Jade replied honestly. "Kagome said she woke alone in another body and Lezard wasn't here though I did see some blood downstairs before the water went off. Perhaps whoever took care of the monsters also stole him away after the process was already started. Do you think it could have been Sephiroth?"

"The cuts are very precise, it's possible, at the very least they aren't normal." Ed reported, drawing a line on the wall so he could augment the ice and pipes into a form that would reroute the water without bursting any of the other plumbing.

"Someone professional dismantled this household and Lezard is missing – neither are welcoming thoughts...I need to call it in to the home office. Can you keep Kagome company until the other's get here? I want her to have an escort at all times. Tell Ghaleon to escort her home, I can't trust that Albel would have the skill to take on Lezard given we lack a full understanding of his abilities." Jade explained, going into managerial mode. As it was they would probably send someone else out to help handle things with one of their member having gone MIA. He couldn't really have predicted this however, none of them had.

A flash of light from the basement was the only reply he needed to know that Ed was at least doing part of what he'd ordered. He knocked on the door lightly. "Kagome are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm almost changed." Her calling back made him nod before he flipped open the phone. At first he'd meant to call but Albel came charging into the room so he began to text instead."

"What the fuck's going on? Where's that velvet wearing asshole? Where's Kagome? I'm gonna flay that piece of shit." Albel had all his usual charm as he moved into the room, claws attached to one of his hands and sword at his belt for the other. "Who the hell was already here? I swear if that silver haired nancy boy with the feathers took her again..."

"Will you calm down a moment and let Curtiss speak?" Ghaleon suggested as he followed into the room in the middle of the tirade. "What's happened?"

"As I asked Ed to tell you, Lezard's put Kagome into a new body. I found her here after she called me, she reported to me that she woke alone and dug the phone from her now unconscious body. I have it seperated in this room where she is changing – the various attacks must have damaged the lines in the house because the sprinkler system activated and began to deal damage to the equipment – I have Edward dealing with it and I will be joining him but I wanted you both here. I'd like Ghaleon to accompany Kagome back and Albel to do another check of the ground to make certain it's clear of these chimera."

"Great I get here late and I get clean up – let Ghaleon do it, he's already been doing crap duty tonight." Albel stated in immediate frustration.

Before the albino could reply Kagome opened the door and came out, blushing a bit as she stepped out of where she had gotten dressed, glad for dry clothes at all. She had stolen her other bodies shoes and while they didn't match it was nicer to not be freezing – though she was still quite disturbed by stealing her own foot ware. "Hey, sorry to be trouble...as usual."

"It's not your fault Kagome." Ghaleon and Jade remarked at the same time. Exchanging a short glance before Jade spoke up again. "Albel, Lezard might be more gifted in magic than we could predict – so for now your assignment remains a final check of the grounds here. Ghaleon would make a better opponent should the traitor reappear. Ghaleon, take care, this is a dangerous situation – I'd like to keep her body here as likely we'll need the apparatus to return her to normal."

"Understandable, Kagome, are you all right with a quick transfer?" Ghaleon asked, walking closer to her, when she nodded he took her hand. "Close your eyes."

Kagome listened and was standing for a while before jumping slightly as a tender kiss was settled on her lips. She opened her eyes to see Ghaleon in front of her offering the affection but it wasn't the usual electric moment – and he drew back to look at her in a serious way often lacking during her physical encounters. She blushed as he reached up to rub her cheek and looked at her with those crimson eyes. "I am sorry he did this, I wish I could have stopped it. I should have noticed something."

She reached up to put her hand over his and offered a small smile. "It's not your fault, I just hope that everyone can fix it. I'm not sure what he did to me...it's frightening."

"Well, there aren't many changes from what I can tell...I imagine he must have made a near perfect copy and then augmented it as he liked. You have slits on your back that I can only guess extend wings and your hair has a bluish tint I can't immediately guess a reason for. It's beautiful though – and your shine would come through no matter what form he had put you into." Ghaleon explained, following when she walked several steps to a mirror to look at her back.

"What the hell?" Kagome scowled at the slits in her back – they were thin but visible – she couldn't feel them really – reaching back she could tell there was a slight split in her flesh and that was a little much. She covered her face with her hands and tried to calm down – she was still okay now, they were trying to fix it.

"You're all right, we'll fix it, Ed is very skilled in this field and Jade is as well. If all else fails we'll hunt down Lezard and force him to fix you." Calming down was a bit easier when Ghaleon put his arms around her and kissed her forehead along with his reassurances – he made her feel safe. She let out an unsteady breath.

"I think I just want to sleep for now." Kagome replied. "But I don't want to be alone...will you stay with me?"

"Of course, come on..." Ghaleon replied, sweeping her off her feet bridal style and a moment later he was settling her in her bed. "I will make certain you aren't left alone."

"Thank you." She replied, reaching over to take his hand when he sat next to her bed with a moved chair from her desk. Hopefully this was all some nightmare and she'd wake up not a weird freak with slits in her back. She squeezed and was grateful for the presence of her pale paramour...that he didn't make any moves on her just now and had only been supportive. It was nice to have someone that hadn't tried to change her after the events of her evening – thank goodness that there wouldn't be school again until after the new year.

Thankfully her thoughts didn't hold her long, she fell asleep before much time had passed.

The following morning...

"Have you grown an inch or two Ed? Oh, no, just standing on the stairs." Kagome heard the remark as she was brushing her teeth - even if it was a false body she had to stick with her usual routine to not feel as abnormal. She didn't expect the sudden screaming that followed.

"What the hell do you mean that I'm as small as a baby snail? How dare you say I'm as tiny as a midget's pinky toe!" Ed's voice was raised and he was spouting a bunch of nonsense at the voice she hadn't recognized. Apparently he really didn't like even an indication that he was short, he was still going at it when she finished brushing her teeth and hair and moved down the stairs. Ed was still seething but his yelling had finally come to an end. She wasn't sure when everyone had come but most of her little group was gathered – even Sephiroth was leaning on the wall near the door. He was the first to notice her and offered a nod of recognition. Amdist most of her usual admirer's was what remained of her special group there to help her: Ghaleon, Jade, and Albel. Along with Ed who thankfully never had come onto her. Then they'd invited Sephiroth and Ishida for whatever they'd wanted to discuss along with a man she didn't know that must have been the one to set off Ed.

"Ah Kagome, I'm glad you've arrived, I'd like you to explain what you can to our gathered assembly...this is Roy Mustang, he is one of the members of our organization with a rank akin to myself and Ghaleon." Jade explained.

"A pleasure young miss." Roy greeted with a nod and a smile that was probably the definition of dreamy. As if she didn't have enough pretty men to deal with she immediately had to admit that this one was attractive. He had short black hair and a well defined set of features with dark eyes that were more mysterious than the light smile on his face would immediately let on. She offered a smile and a nod, glancing around a bit nervously, not sure what to think of what was happening.

"We have called him in to help with your protection while we look into the materials at Lezard's manor, we can't trust it to Albel alone while we have yet to comprehend him. Sephiroth has been called in as an asset in that realm as well as Ishida as he has more of a chance of sharing classes with you along with Ed. I realize it's not the most private of situations but we do know that Lezard can teleport and I'd rather you were watched until we have him in custody." Jade explained, clearly taking the lead on everything – before now he and Ghaleon seemed to often share responsibility but Kagome was starting to think he was probably the highest ranking in whatever organization they were in.

"Sure." Kagome nodded. A lack of much personal time wasn't wonderful but she could handle it given the alternative could be being kidnapped again. "Is there going to be some sort of schedule then?"

"We will be working out the details but yes." Jade replied, pausing when Kagome's phone rang. She dug the cell out and offered the room an apologetic look but he motioned lightly that it was fine and she pulled it up to her ear as she headed into the kitchen and covered her other ear.

"Hello?"

"Hello Miss Higurashi, I hope you had a good time at the dance, I noticed you left a bit early and I wanted to check in on you today." It took her a long moment to recognize the voice and she blinked in surprise – was there another boy falling under this curse?

"Oh, Kyoya?" She asked, hoping she hadn't guessed wrong.

"Indeed, I'm delighted to hear you remembered me. I hope I didn't interrupt anything." His reply was polite, polished.

"No, no. I just didn't think I'd given you my number. But thank you, it was very thoughtful of you to call. I just am surprised this morning since family arrived from out of town." She remarked with the first lie she could think of. What else was she supposed to call another older man entering her life?

"Then I shouldn't keep you long but I wanted to ask you if you'd like to go out with me tomorrow, assuming it's not too short of notice. From what I understood of your file you haven't been doing particularly wonderful financially and I wish to make it up to you for spying on you for Kaiba. Perhaps I could help you purchase some of your Christmas list?" Kyoya offered smoothly, as if it were perfectly normal to offer to pay for gifts in return for looking into your history. Kagome figured it was probably one of the least weird things happening to her lately however. Should she really indulge some other guy? Then again, with all these people here helping her she doubted she had the money to really shop for them all and the groceries...if nothing else it might be nice to find out what all he knew or had told Kaiba.

"Sure...I mean yes, thank you, it's just so generous, I hate to accept but..." Kagome let it hang, sadly he was right about her finances – the family wasn't exactly well off and her own family was displaced in what she was told was some excuse about the government needing the shrine for an investigation as well as Kagome's help. It was a long shot but thus far her family had bought it to the best of her knowledge. She wasn't sure how much she could keep juggling all the lies she had to tell everyone to try and handle this debacle. Going out with Kyoya would probably just be even more things she'd have to try and remember later.

"Do not be concerned, as I said, I would like to make it up to you. I will pick you up at noon tomorrow then. Have a good time with your family." Kyoya wished her farewell and had hung up before she could say anything else or possibly back out.

"So, have a date then? I imagine I am your dashing older brother visiting from overseas?" Mustang had been standing in the room and she didn't realize he'd followed her into the kitchen and jumped. Already she was realizing just what no privacy really meant...this was going to be harder than she first believed.

End Chapter

Less of a cliffhanger this time. I know it's been forever since I updated this fic but I've had friends really poking me to work on it again so I sat and stared at a blinking text bar for a good forty minutes before I finally had an idea as to how to keep going. I hope my muse sticks with me. I know I do want to continue this crazy fic much more than where it is currently!

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Thanks so much for all the support and I'm sorry for my long absences but I'm sure people understand how real life tends to sort of get in the way of being able to write all the time – I wish it didn't but I do write when I A: have the time and B: have the muse.

Hentai18ancilla – I would like to do a little of both – it's all about finding the time and kicking my muse in the pants.

Kenjo – Yes, that's sort of how I feel!

Geniusly-Uniuque – You should be glad to see Mustang enter the mix.

Mimiru – It took me a while to come up with a way to cockblock Jade there.

VixenKitsune147 – Yes, Ghaleon is wicked hawt. I have loved that character for ages.

Sin of the Fallen – Guess we'll see.