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Sangcun gasped, then she said, "Ash, we must keep the treasures in balance! I know you think it will do you good, but it won't! Ask Iori, he will tell you! He had his powers nearly permanently sealed thanks to that stone! Please, let me save you by bestowing this jewel to Soiree. He will keep it safe. I promise you, Ash, you will have great power, and you do not need this stone to do that. I don't know who it was who told you that the stone can unleash great power, if it was Geese... I thank the heavens right now that I can save you from certain disaster!"

With that she snatched the stone and placed it in Soiree's hands. It was obvious that Sangcun had been crying, but she wasn't about to let anyone know why. She said, "Soiree, keep this sacred gem safe and pass it on to Meira children only. Alba, if you touch this stone, your Addis powers will awaken. Do NOT touch it! Ash Crimson had this stone and because I remembered what had happened to Iori, I... well..."

She was about to say how she felt about Ash, then she said, "I didn't want to see a repeat of what happened to Iori happen to Ash."

When Dee heard this, she knew that Sangcun had indeed fallen in love with Ash. She smiled and said, "You did a brave thing, Sangcun. It is obvious that I was right between you and Ash. Now, go back into that kitchen before Ash thinks something other than what you told him."

He may just show some feelings back for saving him from disaster.

Sangcun did as she was told without hesitation. She then wrapped her arms around Ash again and feeling immense power, she managed to reach Ash's mouth with hers and she kissed him! She could no longer hold her feelings for him in. She wanted to see him be the best he can be, and she knew she had saved him for keeps and all because she loved him.

As Sangcun continued to kiss Ash, her heart told her that he was the one for her. She understood how Chazz felt about Vemon now, though with Chazz's situation it was almost entirely different.

Sangcun knew by her falling in love with Crimson, she was going to be benefitting everybody. Her feelings were sincere for him. She would never abandon him and if anyone tried to hurt him in a sneaky way, she would kill them.

The passion she felt for Ash was overwhleming and difficult to control.

Chazz then walked to a window and looked at the rising sun coming over the skyscrapers. He said, "Vemon, for the longest time I have been thinking over that very question. Each time I do, my heart keeps telling me to ask Vemon what she would want for a future. All of my life I had wanted us to be together, but each time I did something, it only backfired in my face. I always wondered, what am I doing wrong? How come my mom makes it look so easy to be with my dad? How come granny has it soo good with Grandpa and still has many others to romance her on the side? All I ever wanted was to see you happy, and not feel alone. Both in the romantic sense, but also... well, you know how times being half ninja can be really depressing and not to mention dangerous... I just want to be there if something should happen to you. I want to protect you when you can't protect yourself or me. Countless times I had looked to the sky wondering when, when will I win the heart over Vemon? It may seem crazy or obsessive, but I assure you, I am neither. You've seen how Mai Shiranui acts towards my Uncle Andy. Now that's obsessive. Andy even went gay just to put it point blank to her that he is not romantically interested. She is more like the annoying cousin that gets in your face all the time. I know, I know, that's how I was at one time. But, you know, Vemon, I also gave you your space too, right? Whenever you were away, I was constantly thinking about you. Oh and for the record about Andy, I can't believe I am going to say this, but he sure looks good in a dress. Hahahahahaha!"

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Sangcun had finally released Ash from kissing him passionately. There was an obvious stunned look on Ash's face. The question was, as Sangcun waited for Ash to either say or do something, how was Ash going to react once he was done being breathless.

Sangcun then asked, "Ash, I hope you weren't offended by me kissing you. It was more of an instinctive reaction."

She had helped Ash finish up the meal, then she asked, "Ash, do you feel the same way about me? You don't need to be shy about it. Its not like anyone is going to just walk in here on us. Heck, if you wanted to just get down and dirty on the floor with me then that'd be cool. Hahahaha! Not like you would go that far! Hahahaha! All I wonder is, with some sort of physical reaction to my kiss, what would you do with me?"

She was blushing as she said this. She really did love Ash, but she was trying super hard not to do anything that would be like Chazz or worse her own mother. What she really craved is for Ash to take her in his arms and without so much as a word, he'd kiss her.

Meanwhile in the bedroom where Vemon and Chazz were, Chazz replied, "Life would be much better than it is now. You know how my mom tends to waltz in unexpected trying to get the goods on us. He really only wants something to be proud of, but still... he can be somewhat intrusive. Well, if you did say yes, I will be laying some rules for him. My grandmother will back me up in that. She knows how much of a sneak my mom can be. Grandpa Raditz we will have to have some sort of promise made that he won't interfere either. He can be as bad as mom is. Just look at what he did to Uncle Andy! I am sooo grateful to Iori for taking care of Andy. I mean, Iori's really changed over the years. I bet if we get Iori or Soiree or Lily or someone like that to keep tabs on Raditz, Raditz will stay out of our way. If you crave adventure, I will give it. If you want peace, you shall have peace. If you want to be left alone for a while then I shall give that. If you are wanting to test our compatibility and sleep with other guys, as long as you tell me that you are going to do that, then I shall be okay with it. I think with granny, she sleeps with other guys, but she makes sure that Grandpa Terry knows about it or gets involved. And if there should be a time when you want me to share in the greatness of another guy, then I shall do so. Vemon, I have loved you from the moment I was born. I have had 18 years to think about this to be sure that I want to spend the rest of my life with you and to make you happy. To make you feel like the happiest ninja around. After all, for my entire life I have been following my heart."

It was then that Chazz began to softly sing the song, "Listen to your heart" by Roxette.

As Ash kissed Sangcun, Sangcun wrapped her arms around his neck, loving every moment of it. That was when Trunks came in and saw them. He stood there for a moment, but then walked out quietly as if he saw nothing.

Trunks wanted to see how soon the Christmas meal was, and what was taking so long, but when he saw Sangcun and Ash kissing, he debated of whether to tell Lily or not. Either way, Trunks felt really happy for Sangcun and for Ash for that matter. It would seem that Sangcun had a different style of romance than Chazz did and though it was obvious that the two shared feelings, meaning Ash and Sangcun, he felt that their love for each other was more meaningful than that of Chazz and Vemon. It was an odd feeling.

Zane noticed this and asked Trunks, "Trunks, what's the matter? Is dinner soon or not?"

Then Trunks whispered what he saw in the kitchen which made Zane go wide eyed with surprise. He smiled then and said, "Well, I am happy for them that that happened. Ash deserves to be happy dispite his past. I am sure that Sangcun will make Ash feel much better about himself and at the same time give her own self a bit of a boost."

Meanwhile in the bedroom, Chazz said, "Well, what were you thinking it was going to be like? I mean, since we are talking about it. I do want to know."

He wanted to say more, but felt he oughta wait until Vemon answered him.

Chazz let out a huge laugh. He then asked her, "Well, would you rather that happen? Like Vemon, honestly, don't you find it rather intrusive when mom wanders in unexpected, perhaps video taping us when we are trying to have some time alone together in that way? He's been known to do that you know! I have seen, honestly, Iori making love to Bardock thanks to one of mom's porn videos. I have also seen Grandpa Raditz making love to Uncle Andy because of mom. Like, personally, I would not want him coming into our bedroom when we are trying to be alone just you and I. Its rather disgusting actually and its a nasty habit that he has. Grandma Dee wouldn't spy on us really. She may see what we are doing, but its not like she will publicly advertise every move that I am making. Granted she was surprised at my instant love for you, but when you think about it, has grandma Dee ever really intruded on us? Not really. Its Raditz and my mom that are the real buggers. Oops, excuse my language. They are just nasty when it comes to us or any romance. They are just born to prank or cause trouble for others."

The thing was Chazz did hear it, he didn't want to offend her by saying something about that. He then said, in regards to Vemon's father, "I know why your dad seems concerned. Its understandable considering how I fell in love with you. He feels that I would likely act like a totally sexually obsessive idiot who wouldn't give a hoot about your safety. He is wrong about that. However, words alone won't convince him. My actions of how dearing I can be to you, showing you respect will earn his respect to me. I think we can both agree on that, right?"

Meanwhile, in the kitchen once the passion in the first kiss finally lost its power, Sangcun then whispered breathlessly, "Thank you, Ash." She was getting emotional again, but unlike the other emo fits she had in front of him, she managed to be stronger than before.

She saw the look that he gave her to her emo moments, at which time she said, "I'm not like this all the time. I am just really, really happy that I can make someone with a really dark past feel like he belongs instead of being an outcast. I understand about love now too. My brother can learn a thing or two about how we behave when it comes to love or for that matter, more importantly, my mom can learn about how wrong it can be to spy when someone is trying to have a personal moment. He saw us kissing Ash. I could feel his energy when he walked in. I know that this time, it was purely accidental, but mom has been known to videotape relatives during their lovemaking moments. The last thing I need, seriously, is mom bragging to everyone how you fell in love with someone like me. You don't need something like that, right? I mean, I can understand if its for vengence on maybe someone like Iori, in perhaps an innocent way to make him envious or something, but, other than that..."

Sangcun nodded in agreement. She said, "Okay. Good idea."

At that, her and Ash worked as a total team to get the dinner served to everyone and with respect.

Trunks noticed a big difference in the way Ash was behaving in his returned human form. He also noticed the red Orochi symbol glowing on Sangcun's back. This shocked him. He whispered to Zane, "Zane, check out Sangcun. Her back bears the mark of the orochi."

Zane just ate his dinner roll and said, "So what? The mark probably means that she is being integrated into the orochi clan. Its not like that's anything new. Doesn't your mom bear the Green symbol?"

Trunks realized that Zane was right. "Oh yeah, that's right too. She does. But, do you think Sangcun did the blood ritual like my mom did?"

Zane set down the bread and then took a sip of his soda. He said, "I doubt that. Sangcun is very different from your mother. Yes, Sangcun is a great ranch owner like your mom is, but remember too, Sangcun has always been very quiet. Your mom speaks her mind whenever and wherever. Its like your mom doesn't care who hears what she says even if it happens to be something that nobody should hear. Sangcun... she keeps to herself a lot of the time. But, we both know that when something is wrong or if something is of great importance, she lets us know. You likely walked in on them by accident when they were sharing a personal moment, that's all."

Trunks lowered his eyes and just stared at his food, which was also quite unlike him to do. Normally, with food like this laid out, it would be gone in like 2 seconds. But, understandable that Trunks was concerned about what was going on with his children. In answer to Zane, all he said was, "Yeah, I suppose I did."

Zane noticed this sudden change, and he set down his utensils then had Trunks look at him. He asked, "Trunks, my darling, is something wrong? You are not acting like your usual self."

Then, something else unusual happened. Gripping Zane tightly, Trunks began bawling like a baby! He said though his tears, "Oh Zane, our children are finally growing up and for the first time ever, I want to act responsible! Before, it was like, spying was fun! Something that we could use for our own pleasure or something. I mean, how many times have I snuck into Iori's room just to see him and Bardock make love? Or, how many times have I seen my dad do it with Andy, and yet, whenever I did see dad do it to Andy, my mom wanted a copy of the tape I made!"

Dee blushed as her secret was revealed by her own son. She looked to Alba who was giving her a justice like look and said, "What? I have my bad habits too. Funny that Trunks told everybody now of all times though."

Zane just rubbed his wife's back and kissed him gently on the mouth. He said, "It's okay, Trunks. I know our kids are growing up, but maybe you are too, sweetheart. Remember, you had those two when you were a kid yourself. Naturally you were curious about sex and about different ways of romancing. Even though sometimes they weren't proper for you to do. Trunks, look at me for a moment."

Trunks did as he was told. Then Zane said, "Trunks, like your children you too are growing up. You are beginning to understand some of the things you had done. Now, on the topic of you spying, it isn't necessarily spying when its wanted. There are medical professionals out there who do actually videotape couples making love so as to learn about what goes on and sometimes it can help. In a relationship that we have, I don't think it would be that bad if you taped just the once Vemon and Chazz doing it as well as Ash and Sangcun. However, when you do tape them, it will be only to see the difference in how the loves of your children are. Granted, from those video tapes, and excuse me for saying something quite not respectable, but, when you showed me how Iori and Bardock do it, now that is kinky."

The owner of the Cyber End Dragon noticed the raised eyebrow of both Iori and Bardock. He blushed when he saw the looks, but then said, "Seriously though, sweetheart, sometimes, videotaping that can be educational, providing that it isn't in secret. That's where the difference is."

Hearing this made Trunks feel better and then Trunks wrapped his arms around Zane's neck and the two began to kiss romantically. Sangcun had stopped in the middle of serving a table when she saw that. Ash nearly bumped into her at the sudden stop.

She whispered to Ash, "Now there is something I rarely see." She smiled then went over to the table she was going to serve. When she did serve the table, she said to Ash, "I don't think we need to worry about mom anymore. That's comforting to know. Don't you agree, sweetheart?"

It was the first time she called anyone "sweetheart". She was certain it would raise a few eyebrows, but she wanted people to know that Ash was going to change for the better. The symbol on her back as a result of her love to Ash was getting brighter and brighter.