by Saless
Chapter 45

"But what about you?" Jill asked.

What about me? Vash replied.

"You're more vulnerable than I am, aren't you?" Jill said as she put the ring on.

Hardly! I can fly, turn invisible, stun with mental attacks, or hit someone from a distance with a magical kinetic blast. Vash said.

"Wow, really? Okay, so we can all defend ourselves fairly well, I guess." Jill said, and relayed what Vash had said to the others.

"What's this kinetic blast?" Erica asked suspiciously.

That's how I hit you with that rock. It doesn't have any more power than a punch from Mike in human form, but it can be useful. Vash told Jill. She relayed this as well.

Mike yawned and said, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm beat!" The others agreed and Mike and Jill left with an invisible Vash on her shoulder.

This is very different! Are those big metal boxes what you call cars? Vash asked as they walked to Mike and Jill's apartment.

Yes, I forgot you don't have them where you come from. Jill replied with a mental chuckle.

I will be most interested in exploring this world. It is so different from my previous master's. Vash said, his invisible tail flicking eagerly at Jill's hair.

You make it sound like that wasn't your world. Jill said.

It wasn't, or not exactly. I come from one of the chaotic planes of that universe, so it is very different from my former master's home. But it is also very different from here. Vash replied.

Plane? Is that what they were talking about? Jill asked.

Yes. Vash replied with a chuckle, My former master and his apprentice thought that you and your friends traveled the planes of that universe. He had no idea you actually travel between universes.

Is that significant? asked Jill.

Very! They hoped to make use of Sarah's abilities for themselves, but they would have been far more anxious if they knew the full extent of them. There are many planeswalkers in that universe, but there are very few who can travel between dimensions. It takes a very special gift, or a great deal of power, to travel between dimensions. Vash explained.

A gift like Sarah's? Jill thought.

Yes, though I suspect she has the power, as well. Vash replied just as they reached the door to the apartment.

"You're very quiet." Mike said as he unlocked the door. "Are you talking to Vash again?" he asked.

"Yes, sorry." Jill said, and relayed the conversation she'd had with Vash to him.

Erica and Sarah exchanged anxious glances after the others left. "Um, why don't you take the bed and I'll sleep out here." Sarah said.

"Why?" Erica asked, looking confused and hurt.

"I thought you'd want to…" Sarah began, only to be silenced by Erica's finger on her lips.

"Stop right there! We slept on the couch last night together, and I didn't have any problem with that. I admit I'm having some trouble with this, but how am I ever going to get over it if we avoid each other?" Erica asked reasonably.

"Are you sure, I don't want to make you uncomfortable?" Sarah replied hesitantly.

"You'll only make me uncomfortable if you leave me all alone in your bed." Erica said. Sarah smiled and they both got ready for bed and crawled in together. Erica tried hard not to let on how weird it felt to cuddle up with Sarah in her new body and they quickly nodded off.

Sarah awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs frying. After a quick visit to the bathroom she threw on a robe and walked into the kitchen to find Erica making breakfast. "Good morning! Hungry?" Erica said cheerfully.

Sarah groaned and grumbled, "Morning people."

"I'll take that as a yes." Erica said brightly, preparing a plate for Sarah. "Eat up!" she said, putting the plate in front of Sarah.

By the time Sarah had finished eating she was fully awake. "Did you sleep okay?" she asked, wondering why Erica was up so early.

Erica nodded, "Yes, I slept fine. You were all worn out, so I decided to make you breakfast. I also wanted to give you this." Erica stepped over to the counter and pulled a wrapped box out from behind the bread box and handed it to Erica. "Merry Christmas!"

Sarah eagerly unwrapped the box and found a cell phone inside. "You've needed one of those for a while. And with the plan we've got we can call each other all we want!" Erica explained.

"Even when you're back in Massachusetts?" Sarah asked hopefully.

Erica smiled widely, "Yep, even when I'm back at school! This will be a lot better than IM, especially since we have unlimited texting to each other, too!"

Sarah grinned happily. "That's great! Thank you Erica!" she exclaimed. She went to kiss Erica, and then paused hesitantly. Erica held her arms out and Sarah gratefully sank into them.

"You know," Erica said when they came up for air, "this is one aspect I could get used to."

"What do you mean?" Sarah asked as she looked down into Erica's deep blue eyes.

"You only being a few inches taller than me instead of a full foot!" Erica replied with a laugh.

"It is nice, isn't it? Easier on my back, too." Sarah said, grinning.

"How is it easier on your back?" Erica asked.

"I don't have to bend over to kiss you!" Sarah replied, giving her a peck on the lips.

"Is that the best you can do?!" Erica demanded before putting one hand around the back of Sarah's neck and pulling her towards her.

Time to get up! Vash exclaimed cheerfully while laying on Jill's chest and purring.

"Uh, what?" Jill asked, confused.

The sun is up and so should you be! I want to see more of this world. Vash said.

"That's nice." Jill grumbled, rolling onto her side. Vash jumped clear and slapped Jill's face with his tail in passing.

Your mate has already been up for some time! Get up! Vash sent.

"Mike's always up early, that doesn't mean I have to get up!" Jill complained. A moment later she started getting up anyway, as she was now wide awake thanks to Vash.

Take a shower, that will wake you up! You humans seem to like to splash water on yourselves. Vash said in a tone that said he thought it was a crazy thing to do.

A wicked grin spread across Jill's face as she crawled out of bed and she grabbed hold of Vash as she made her way to the bathroom. "Why don't you join me then?" she said.

Several minutes later Mike was distracted from his reading when a soaked Vash jumped into his lap. Your mate is a cruel, cruel Mistress. he said melodramatically.

Mike smiled and carefully put his book aside where it wouldn't get wet. "I'm sure she just wanted you to be clean." He said, trying not to laugh.

This is not funny! Vash grumbled.

"It serves you right for rousting me out of bed so early!" Jill called as she walked past into the kitchen.

"First lesson for living with Jill, don't get her out of bed until she's ready!" Mike said with a chuckle.

Now you tell me! Vash said.

The smell of cooking bacon soon reached them as Jill started breakfast. A few minutes later she walked back to the bathroom and came out with a blow dryer. "I'll dry you off, Vash." She said as she plugged it into the nearest outlet to the couch.

That's the least you could do. Vash replied haughtily.

"All I did was make you take a shower! There's nothing wrong with being clean." Jill said as she turned on the dryer and started working on drying him.

I always keep myself clean! Vash exclaimed in indignation.

"Let me guess, with your tongue?" Mike said. He was gratified that Vash was speaking to both of them so he wouldn't be left out again.

Of course! That's the best way to remain clean! Vash huffed.

"Not to humans. You'd think you really were a cat, instead of an imp, with the way you go on about a little water!" Jill said.

Now that you mention it, I didn't use to bother cleaning myself much at all, in my last master's world. Perhaps whatever caused my transformation was of more than a physical nature. Vash mused.

"What caused that, anyway?" Mike asked curiously.

I don't know. I suppose it's possible that, your world having nothing similar to me in it, my body was changed to resemble an indigenous creature. Vash surmised.

"But nothing happened to me when I returned from Xanth in naga form." Mike said.

That may be because you are a shape shifter. You can change your shape to things that do not match the world you are on at any time. But then again, the reason could be something else. It could even be that I changed because of the desires of one of you. Vash said, glaring at Jill.