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Family

2: Gathering No Moss

Author's Prologue

Lina: Oh, there's a big surprise.

Xelloss: Whatever do you mean, Knight-sama? Surely you don't think that I'd keep a secret from you?

Lina: I AM NOT THE - wouldn't you?

Xelloss: Sore wa Himitsu desu. ^_^

Amelia: Yes! Do we get to fight for JUSTICE?

Harukami: Has becoming Mazoku-tainted really changed you that little?

Amelia: What do you mean? I'm always this genki!!!

Harukami: Just what I meant.

Guntair: Surely you aren't implying...

Harukami: Moving on... casting call! Who else... Uh.. Zel!

Zelgadis: Check.

Harukami: Gourry!

Gourry: Yes?

Harukami: Homen?

Homen: ... yeah.

All: WHO'S HE?!?

Homen: Yp! hides in shadows

Xelloss: secretive smile

Harukami: Cepheed?

Cepheed: sign reading 'do not wake until the year 542' appears

Harukami: Shabrinigido?

Lina: Ok, let's get to the fic before that one answers.

Ishiki: (WOW! Beta reader has a name!) Awwwww...

Webmaster Notes

navy = dream

Zelgadis tossed uncomfortably in his sleep.

"Okay, Xel, you can look now."

The speaker was a young Mazoku, seeming to be about eleven years old. He had long, deep purple hair to mid-back, and his eyes were a deep violet. He smiled at the younger Mazoku beside him, and pointed to what was on the ground before him.

A small animal, resembling a squirrel, was tied out spread-eagled, cut open from stomach to chest. It was whimpering squeakily, but unable to move.

The young Mazoku removed his hands from his eyes, and however young he was, only seeming six years old, the eyes were immediately recognizable as Xelloss's. "Xer-chan! Isstill 'live!"

Xerinier smiled at his little brother. "Yep. I wanted you to have the experience of holding life in your hands."

Chibi-Xelloss croutched in the bloodied ground. "How?"

"You have to work fast," Xer warned him, "it's already dying. But here." Tossing his stick away, he took ahold of one of Xelloss's hands and pushed it into the slit in the body. "This is the heart. Do you feel it?"

The young Mazoku's eyes widened in delight. "It's beating! It won't stop moving! It - " The squirrel's body jerked, and Xelloss's eyes filled with blood-red tears. "It burst!!"

Xerenier shook his head. "Xel, other creatures don't heal like we do. The slightest pressure can kill them. Don't feel bad, it happened a lot to me at first as well. Just practice, and soon you won't kill other non-Mazoku without trying to. Hold their lives in your hands and know you can kill them at any time you want, but wait. It's more fun that way." [B1]

Raising bloodied fingers absently to his lips, Chibi-Xelloss nodded carefully.

"What're you two brats doin' out here?!"

The two children turned, and Xelloss whimpered as a claw swipe bashed him into a far tree. "Papa..."

"We were just playing," Xer protested.

"Get back into the house," the monster roared. "I'll deal with this lazy namagomi!"

Xelloss looked up at his father and screamed.

Zelgadis jerked awake with a start, finding himself staring at the star-littered night sky. "That... was odd," he murmured.

Beside him, Xelloss rolled over, awake as always. "You were thrashing and scared. Nightmare?"

"Yeah," Zelgadis said uncertainly. "That's right."

Xelloss watched the chimera - his chimera - as he fell back asleep. Zelgadis had been having nightmares nearly every evening now.

What did it mean? What was bothering Zelgadis?

The Mazoku knew - in theory, not in practice - that most dreams were the subconcious way of dumping things that happened. But he had a feeling these were different. He almost wanted to invade Zelgadis's mind to see.

But would he like what he saw there?

"No!"

Xelloss rolled over to see Amelia toss under her blanket, then subside again. Maybe the nightmares were catching. [B2]

Hmm.

"Are you one of one of ours?" [W1]

"NO! No, I'm not!"

The red eyes watched her. "Do you want to be one of ours?"

"NO!"

"You are one of hers. It's just one more step."

"NO!" Amelia covered her ears. "I'm not listening!"

Those eyes were laughing at her. "Listen, Amelia. You can be so much more than you are now... don't you want the power?"

"NO!"

"You could change the world, Amelia." Red eyes, promising so much. "You'd be powerful enough to strike fear into the greatest of ill-wishers. Justice, Amelia. Don't you want it?" [B3]

"I - " Amelia's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't help it; she was listening.

"Let me show you what you could do, Amelia."

In her dream, Lina was wielding a huge power. Red burned through her, burned out her, burned in her. "My Father, my Son, my Lover, grant me the power to change. This energy you gave me, let it speed to do your bidding. Take my soul, burn me to a new world. WORLD BURN!"

The red power washed over the world, changing it to the way she wanted it to be, making everything go her way.

Watching the flames dance, she suddenly felt arms wrap around her from behind. Strong arms, swordsman's arms.

"Gourry?" she asked, eyes closed. [B4]

The man's words were whispered, his breath tickling her ear. "No. Not Gourry."

She shivered, feeling oddly chill. "Who are you?"

"Guess." His voice was like satin, smooth, carressing.

Lina opened her eyes. The strong arms were clad in red velvet. Hair the colour of rare meat was draped across her shoulder, long, but not too long. The skin of his hand as he embraced her was a pale brown. "Who are you?" she asked, beginning to get angry.

He laughed. "Look at me and ask me that." He loosened his embrace. "Look at me..."

She turned, and her gaze was caught by eyes lacking white or pupil, eyes a pure, ruby red.

"... My Knight."

In his sleep, Gourry turned over. He was hunting. He was catching dinner for Lina. He wanted Lina to like it.

"Gotcha!" he crowed, checking his traps. Good sized rabbit.

Carefully, he skinned it, prepared it for cooking. Wrapping the body in oilcloth, he brought it back to camp.

Lina looked up and smiled. "You're back!" She jumped up and ran to him. "You brought dinner!" Smiling with love, she wrapped her arms around him.

In the chill night air, Xelloss gazed at the stars. Around him, everyone was dreaming.

What can it be like, he wondered, to dream? I've entered other's dreams before, but I've never experienced them first hand. What is it like? I know that people sometimes know they're dreaming, and sometimes they don't and it's a complete other world. Why?

Why?

He smiled. If I'm not careful, I'll become a philosopher.

Suddenly he froze, sensing the air. "Something..."

A familiar sense, as familiar as himself. Perhaps... it couldn't be! Was one of the seals beginning to fracture?

Xelloss sent his mind out. "Xellas-sama?"

Paws on dirt, a brief halt. The prey would escape, but she'd just track it again later. "Yes, Xelloss?"

"I'm sensing something... odd." He sent her a brief pulse of the Presence he was feeling. "Is it just me, or..."

"Xelloss."

"Yes, Xellas-sama?"

"Come here. Now." She broke contact.

Tilting his head on one side, the priest shrugged and teleported himself to her domain, where she was already waiting. "So?"

She was looking uneasy. "Xelloss, for a few days now, we - that is, I, and I believe the other generals as well - have been feeling one of the seals weaken. The seal is the one hidden in the temple of Cepheed in - "

"Of course!" Xelloss smiled. "From the Koku no Tani, where we were unable to enter."

"One of the reasons I wanted you to stay with the group, of course, since they were in fact heading straight for there. But it's possible that the reason it weakened is because it has been removed from the shrine."

Her servant gazed at her evenly. "Do you want me to leave the group and search for it on my own?"

Xellas hesitated a long moment. "No," she finally decided. "We're still uncertain as to whether it's been removed or not. If it has, it has obviously been stolen, and Shabrinigido-sama will be doing his best to eat into the thief's mind. He will, of course, eventually succeed, and the thief will be the key to his rebirth. [B5] If it is still in the shrine and is weakening anyway, you will be heading right for it. Perhaps we could even convince Amelia to take it for us." [B6]

Xelloss bowed. "Xellas-sama. Is that all?"

The Beastmaster shook her head. "No. Xelloss... it's approaching the next century anniversary. How are you doing?"

"I deal. I always deal. Every one hundred years, I deal," Xelloss pointed out. "And if he hadn't died, I would never have fallen into your service, Xellas-sama." He smiled. "Xer died a thousand years ago. I don't think you have to worry about me any longer."

She chuckled. "All right, Xelloss. Go back and play your little games."

He smiled. "Don't I always?"

Homen clutched at the necklace, as he doubled over, coughing. Maybe they were chasing him! Was there some way to track him? [B7]

His breath wheezed in his throat, and for the thousanth time, he cursed his weakness, his breathing, his heart. Slowly, he calmed. No, if the Dragons were chasing him, surely they'd know where he was by now.

Lifting the ruby teardrop, he gazed into it's depths. The fault, appearing like two glowing flecks of light, winked. Grinning suddenly, he winked back. "You 'an me, we'll do all right."

"Good morning, minna-san," Xelloss chirped. Five faces glared at him.

Lina scowled. "You call this morning?!" She peered upward. "That's obscene!"

"The sun's up," Xelloss pointed out. "If you want to eat and get going before noon, we should start soon!"

Immediately, three stomachs rumbled. "What did you make?" Amelia asked.

Xelloss tilted his head, curious. "Make? Why would I do that? Honestly, cook once for you guys and you come to depend on a guy."

The red-haired sorceress groaned and pulled the blanket back over her head. "Just five more minutes."

Nakoku gazed up at the sun shining down, one hand shielding his eyes. If he had his way, he'd travel by night, but it was easier to beg rides this way. Besides, an eight-year-old child sleeping by the side of the road aroused suspicion.

A cart ground to a halt beside him, and he turned a bright, child's smile to him. "Hey, mister!"

The driver peered at him. "Kid, where're your parents?"

"Dunno," Nakoku shrugged. "I'm trying to get to Zefilia! Do you know how I can get there?"

Pursing his lips, the driver considered. "That's miles and miles away, kid. There's no way you can get there."

Nakoku sniffled, hating the act but knowing it worked. "Please, mister! I gotta get there really bad! It's important."

"Your parents live there?"

He shook his head. "Sister."

"Ah." The driver's eyes widened. "I see." He sighed. "Well, I can only take you to Raldale, but that's on the way there. It'll be a long trip past there."

Pupil-less green eyes lighting up, Nakoku held out a hand for the driver to help him up. "Thanks so much, mister! I won't forget this!"

On foot again (they'd left their horses behind way back in Seiryuun)[B8], they kicked up dust as they walked. Xelloss floated over their heads, smiling eyes surveying the road before them.

Guntair glanced to the side and smiled at Amelia. The shaman smiled back tiredly. "You all right?" Guntair asked her.

She yawned. "Strange dreams. You know."

He shrugged. "I don't dream much, myself."

"Oh." Again, in her mind's eye, she saw a spell rushing towards Guntair, blood fountaining from his mouth as it crashed into him. And again, only this time a red-violet eyed Amelia jumped in front of the blast, saving him, healing almost immediately. You could save him from situations like that.

Guntair frowned. "Amelia? What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh!" She cheered up again. "Nothing! Just deep in thought!" [B9]

"Okay." He shrugged, accidentally cutting down a signpost with his blade.

"Gun?"

"Yeah?"

"Promise me you won't die."

He blinked at her. "Amelia, I'm not going to die. I'm not that easy to kill, you know."

She blushed. "Yeah, I know that in my mind, but my heart's still scared... I guess I've just been thinking a lot about life and death."

His smile was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds. "Well, don't worry."

Xelloss had floated back to their level. "Yeah, it's really difficult to kill Ryuzoku. Injure them, no, but kill? It takes so much!" He laughed, shaking his head as if reminiscing.

The Ryuzoku scowled at him. "You aren't making her feel better."

"No? Pity." Still smiling, he floated up again and tried to engage a tired Lina in conversation. [B10]

"Goddamn Mazoku," Guntair snarled under his breath.

Amelia hesitated. "Well... he did save my life. It doesn't make up for past things, but... I don't know." She shook her head.

Guntair wrapped an arm around her. "Anyways, just don't worry. Everything will be fine."

Zelgadis was walking with his eyes half-closed, trying to get rest he hadn't been able to get while asleep.

A hand fell on his shoulder. "Tired?" Xelloss asked.

"Mm."

"Keep having nightmares?"

Tired eyes glared at him. "Aren't Mazoku supposed to sense that sort of thing?"

Xelloss shrugged. "Yeah."

"Don't you know, then, if you were there?"

The Mazoku smiled suddenly. "It's pointless to try to make small talk with you, now isn't it? What are they about?"

You. A very young you. "Nothing really," Zelgadis lied. "I really can't remember now. Seems stupid by the light of day."

"Thanks, mister!" Nakoku waved as the cart pulled away, then examined the sandwich the nice old man had given him. Ham. He shrugged, then took a bite. Pretty good, actually.

Rummaging in his pockets for money, he sighed as he came up with a few silvers only. "Maybe they'll let me stay anyway," he murmured, heading into the inn.

"I'm so hungry..." Lina moaned. "I'm sooooo hungry... When are we going to make it for dinner?!"

Zelgadis sighed irritably. "You've been saying that every minute. It's not making the food come any faster."

"I know... but I'm still hungry!"

Xelloss floated up. "Well... it might just be my imagination... but I think I see an inn up ahead!"

Gourry looked at Lina. Lina looked at Gourry. They both set off. "I'm gonna get there first!" Lina shouted, tripping Gourry.

"Mou! No fair!"

Smiling at the others, the Mazoku priest shrugged. "I've gotta teleport there and beat them otherwise they won't beat me into the ground." He vanished.

The remaining three sighed and made their weary way towards the inn.

Lina skidded to a halt inside the inn. "Quick, innkeep, give me all your..." she stopped as she saw a little kid with his eyes wide as his money span across the room. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing," the innkeep said, sweatdropping. He bent down to the little boy's level. "Listen, kid. Two silvers is not enough for a night's lodging and dinner. Do you understand?"

The kid nodded, then slowly went around picking up his coins. "Yeah, I know, mister. But it's all I got, and I don't wanna spend another night on the road... but I'll go anyway." He pocketed his coins.

Lina frowned. "Hey, kid, what's your name?"

The little boy blinked. "You talking to me?"

"See any other kids?"

"I'm... N-kun." [B11]

Lina smiled at him. "Well..." She turned to the innkeep. "N-kun's stay will be included in our group, all right?"

The innkeep shrugged. "If you can pay, it's fine by me."

N-kun blinked. "Hey, thanks, lady!"

"You don't mind sharing a room, do you?"

The expression on the boy's face sank. "Uh... I can't stay with other people. I have horrible nightmares any time I sleep around others."

Gourry patted N-kun's head. "That's okay, little boy. I'm sure we can afford a spare room for you."

"Gourry, we can't - "

The blond swordsman just looked at Lina.

Sighing, the sorceress dug in her cloak. "All right."

Nakoku sank back into his seat at dinner, under the eyes of four strangers and two half-strangers. "Uh... hi?"

The strange scaled one - probably a chimera, Nakoku noted - rolled his eyes. "Picking up more strays, Lina?"

The sorceress who had first offered to pay looked offended. "If he's a stray, then so are you... and Amelia... and Guntair!"

"I'm good in battle and a time-tried companion," the chimera said dryly.

Ok, Nakoku thought angriliy, I have to say something here. "Pleased to meet you too," he said sarcastically.

The purple-haired floating one patted Zelgadis's head. "I think he likes you, Zel!"

"I think he's adorable!" The bouncy small one said. "He's so cute! I'm glad he joined the party!"

The black-haired man shrugged. "So, what's in the soup?"

"Wait wait wait," Nakoku said, then remembered to sound childish. "It's nice that you paid for my night, but I can't stay with you guys, even if you ARE adults. [B12] I've gotta see my sister at Zefilia! So I gotta get going tomorrow, and..."

"Zefilia?" Lina asked, looking up from the menu. "I come from there. We're heading in that direction, actually. It's a fairly long trip. Come with us, why don't you? Safety in numbers, you know. I'm kinda well-known as a bandit-hunter, and we're all good fighters!"

Nakoku began to get seriously worried. "I don't really do too well around people..."

Bouncey-girl raised a finger. "You can never overcome a fear without first confronting it!" she recited.

The blond guy... Gourry?... stood up and slammed his fist down on the table. "I won't have a little kid travelling alone and that's final!" he exclaimed, then sat and turned to a waiter. "How big is the gynormous platter?"

Sighing, Nakoku brushed his bangs out of his eyes. It was going to be one of those days, obviously.

Well, he could always sneak away when night fell while they were on the road. "I'm N-kun," he ventured shyly.

"I'm Amelia Wil Tessla Seiryuun, champion of justice!" the bouncy one exclaimed. Suddenly, she blushed and turned her attention to the menu again. "I'll have all of... these."

"I'm Guntair," the black-haired guy said, smiling. "I'm a Dragon. Have you ever seen a Dragon before? Oh... never mind about the soup, just give me three ultra-rare steaks."

Lina just handed her menu to the waiter. "Just give me one of everything."

Nakoku's jaw was half-way to the table.

The chimera sighed. "I'm Zelgadis. Coffee only, if you please."

The waiter was scribbling furiously.

"Uh..." Nakoku began, before his hand was grabbed by the floating guy.

"I'm Xelloss! It's always nice to meet someone new!" Xelloss opened his eyes.

Mazoku, Nakoku noticed, hiding it and pretending not to know. "You got weird eyes, mister!"

"Only the ones I've always had." To the waiter, Xelloss just quickly said, "Chocolate sundae, nothing else." When the others looked at him, he grinned. "Refined taste?"

All gazes were now on Nakoku. "Uh... I'll have the chicken cordon bleu," he said.

Simultaneous facefaulting.

"... whatever that is," he added.

"So I'm sharing a room with you, Gun-kun?" Xelloss asked the pointless question, flopping down on one of the beds.

Guntair growled. "I'm no happier about it than you are, Mazoku."

"What makes you think I'm not happy?"

Snorting, the Dragon examined his own bed. "That's right, you're always happy." He pulled back the sheets and examined the inside. "I don't see why you need a room, you admitted to not even sleeping."

Xelloss figured he wasn't expected to answer the question. "Out of curiosity..."

"Yeah?"

"Why are you doing that?"

Guntair glared at him. "I'm checking to see that they aren't dirty," he said carefully, as though to a child.

"But... you were sleeping on the ground for the last few days," Xelloss pointed out.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Laughing, the Mazoku checked for squeaky springs. "I will never understand Ryuzoku, you know?"

"Thank Cepheed," Guntair sighed, deciding the sheets were clean enough. "That would be the day I actually started fearing you."

"You don't fear me now?"

Guntair got into bed fully clothed, obviously preparing for having to move fast in the middle of the night. "Of course not."

"You think there's no reason to?" Xelloss opened his eyes. He knew they gleamed slightly in the dark.

"There's nothing YOU could do to ME." Guntair slid a dagger under his pillow.

"I'm glad you feel that way." Xelloss chuckled darkly. "Pleasant dreams."

A few minutes later, he spoke again. "It's got to be uncomfortable, sleeping with your hand under the pillow like that."

"Shut up and let me sleep."

Xelloss found a nice squeaky spot and shifted to it, knowing it would slowly drive Guntair up the wall. "Ever meet any Dragons who WEREN'T Blacks?"

"I thought I told you to shut up."

"Just making friendly night-time speech."

Guntair rolled over. "Go screw yourself."

"You think that would be any quieter?"

The Dragon twitched and cut his finger on the dagger under the pillow. "Ok, things I didn't want to know. I am not asking. I am not... that isn't even physically possible for a Mazoku, is it?"

"Why do you want to know?" Xelloss grinned. "And, no, not technically, but it would make a great conversation topic, wouldn't it?"

"No. And I'm sleeping, so shut up."

"And talking about - "

"We weren't."

Xelloss snickered. "Could have fooled me. Anyway, how are things between you and Amelia?"

Snorting, Guntair replied, "Why the hell should I tell you?"

"Well," Xelloss began, "since I saved her life at a cost to myself at your request, I think perhaps I have a RIGHT - "

"It's going fine."

Slowly, the Mazoku began squeaking the mattress. "How far have you gotten?"

"THAT's none of your business."

"Aw, come on, tell me."

"No."

"I bet you've slept with her!"

"I have not!"

"Oh?" Xelloss grinned. "Why not?"

"Would you stop that stupid noise?" Guntair snarled. "And SOME of us have our minds someplace OTHER than the gutter!"

"Oh, so that's why you're so touchy. You're not getting any." [B13]

"I - " Guntair realized the Mazoku was baiting him and shut up. "I'm going to sleep now."

"I could give you some pointers, you know," Xelloss made the bed squeak a little louder. "Seduction is a fine art."

The Dragon snickered. "Unlike you, I don't need to seduce someone to make them love me."

"You're STILL not getting any."

"What the hell was Lina-san thinking when she put you in a room with me?" Guntair wondered.

Xelloss put on a lecturing tone. "You see, she wouldn't put a guy in a room with a girl because she thinks many wicked thoughts about such things. She loves Gourry and didn't want to shut him in a room with me. She didn't want to deal with the spell explosions she is used to finding when I piss Zelgadis off, so you were the only sacrificable male left."

Guntair shook his head. "But why would Zelgadis blast you? Aren't you two lovers?"

Long silence in which even the squeaking stopped. "I'm sorry, but that information's classified," Xelloss told him finally. "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

"That's not funny."

"Who says I was joking?"

Guntair's hand tightened on the dagger. "It's not like I WANT to know, you can keep your secrets. I was just saying that since you knew so much about me and Amelia..."

"And Guntair?"

"Yeah?"

"When I promise to keep a secret, I mean it," Xelloss said flatly. "And if you breathe even a word of that to the others, you'll wish you were a Gold Dragon."

Guntair frowned. "Gold Dragon... what ABOUT the Gold Dragons?"

"Ask Lina." Suddenly his usual jovial self again, Xelloss said, "Good night, Gun-kun!" And disappeared.

The Ryuzoku shuddered. He really, really did NOT like Xelloss.

Rising, Nakoku stretched and sighed. Mmmm... almost nightfall, he smiled. Almost time to be normal again... if just for a little while.

There was a knock on his door, and Lina's voice called, "Hey, N-kun, you all right?"

Damn, damn, damn! She'd better go away soon, or she'd hear the difference in his voice. "I'm fine! I'm just going to bed now!"

The moon was rising! Hurry up! he agonized.

"Okay," Lina's voice called back. "I'll be just two doors down if you need me!"

"Great!" Nakoku listened as she walked away, then threw open the window. Moonlight shone in upon him and he... grew.

Adult Nakoku shook back his long, black hair, sighing with relief at being himself again. Leather creaked as he crawled into bed.

Zelgadis woke suddenly, feeling someone touch his shoulder. Survival instincts kicked in and he threw the intruder as hard as he could.

Gourry opened his eyes, blinking. "Hey, Zel... why's there a Xelloss-shaped hole in the wall?" he asked sleepily.

"No reason," Zelgadis said firmly. "Go back to sleep."

"Okay," Gourry agreed, turning over and falling asleep immediately.

Rubbing his head, Xelloss crawled back through the hole and over to Zelgadis. "Nice instincts."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Zelgadis demanded.

Xelloss smirked. "That's a nice way to greet your - "

"Shh! You'll wake up Gourry!"

"Okay, okay. But I need to talk to you, so - " Xelloss grabbed Zelgadis and suddenly they were both out in the stables. The horses snorted at them in surprise.

Zelgadis stumbled, then looked around the smelly stables. "If this is your idea of romance, I'm not interested."

"Such a sweetie, you are," Xelloss smiled. "But, alas, it wasn't precisely romance I wanted to talk to you about. You can change the subject if you'd like, though."

"Don't think so. What did you want?" Zelgadis crossed his arms across his chest, feeling the chill of the night air.

Xelloss floated up, legs crossed, scaring the horses who sniffed the air curiously. "Several things, actually. Did you know that Guntair knows?"

"Guntair knows what?"

"That we're lovers."

"HE WHAT?"

"Shh, you'll wake the stable hands." Xelloss glanced around the stable. "He brought it up in casual conversation, actually. Don't worry, I think I scared him enough that he's not going to mention it again."

Zelgadis slumped. "L-sama. If he knows, the others must know."

"Not necessarily. He's newer and doesn't have the same long-term opinion the others do."

The chimera shook his head. "I suppose I can still hope. What else?"

"What do you think of our little child-friend?"

"N-kun? I think he's going to be a bother, but we can deal with that."

Xelloss had a nonchalant expression on his face. "Don't you think he seems a little... unusual?"

"No. What do you mean?"

"You aren't real," Lina said lamely. "You are NOT real." [B14]

Shabrinigido chuckled, breath tickling her cheek. "None of that. You're too strong to lie to yourself like that."

Yes. She knew he was real.

His hands tightened around her and she blushed slightly when she realized where they were. "Hey, stop that!"

"Stop what?" he chuckled. "This? Or perhaps you are referring to... this?"

"HEY!" She pulled herself out of his arms. "Ok, so maybe you ARE the dark lord Ruby Eyed Shabrinigido, but that gives you NO right to do that! Fine, so even assuming I AM your knight - which I'm not - you don't need to try to seduce me!"

He was laughing. He was laughing at her. Lina fumed.

Raising his arm, the dark lord ran a hand through her hair. "Like flame."

"Great," Lina groaned. "Just great. And I thought getting hit on by criminals was bad."

Chuckling again, he pulled the furious sorceress close. "You are angry, but I sense you are enjoying yourself. Why be angry? Give yourself up to it."

"Uh, let me think," Lina said sarcastically. "Maybe... no?"

"You don't need to want me," Shabrinigido told her, red eyes glinting as he watched her, "so long as you want Me."

"Which made absolutely no sense," Lina informed him.

"Me, Lina. Everything I represent. The power. You've felt it before, I gave it to you freely. You can make everything the way you want it to be. That pretty blond boy? He can be yours."

Lina shook her head rapidly. "Gourry? Who says I want him?"

"You can't lie to me, Lina. I am your lover, your father, and your son. My power makes me all that, it burns in your blood. Recreate the world. You can do it any time you choose." Suddenly, all around them, the world was burning, changing. "Cure that friend of yours? Easy, my avatar used my power to create him, you can unmake him. Create a world of justice for Amelia? Easy to make her her own world. And yourself... never again would you have to fear. Not even your older sister. You could make her fear YOU."

"Onee-san?" Lina blanched. Then suspicion seeped back into her face. I can't believe I'm listening to him! she agonized. "That's all you want me for, isn't it? To defeat Onee-san because she's the Knight of Cepheed?"

Suddenly, the burning was all around her, scorching her briefly [B15]. "NEVER say that name in my presence again, do you understand? Never."

Lina stuck her tongue out. "Cepheed. Cepheed Cepheed Cepheed!"

Briefly he shut his eyes, and a smile flickered across his face. "I'm not angry. It's one of the reasons I chose you. But think about it, Lina. Think of what you could do."

All of a sudden, Lina woke. "Bastard," she snarled, then clapped a hand over her mouth as she remembered she wasn't alone.

Glancing over at the other bed, though, she saw she hadn't woken Amelia. The younger girl was biting her lip in her sleep and mumbling a denial.

Lina crushed the little part of her that was glad that it wasn't just her having her nights disturbed like this.

Far away, a woman sat up in bed, smoothing down the bedsheets as she processed what she'd learned.

"So. She's in trouble again," she murmured, disturbing smile lingering on her lips. "Guess I've gotta bail her out."

She'd hand in her resignation in the morning. It was about time she went to the shrine in the Koku no Tani anyway. And if she managed to catch Lina on the way there, in her usual capacity... couldn't hurt.

That settled, Luna Inverse rolled over in bed to go to more pleasant dreams.

"Are you one of ours?"

Amelia covered her ears. "STOP ASKING ME THAT!"

"Are you one of ours?"

"NO! NO NO NO!"

"Are you one of ours?"

"STOP!"

"Are you - "

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The eyes inside her chuckled. "Are you one of ours?"

"NO!"

"Do you want to be one of ours?"

Amelia opened her eyes. Beside her, Guntair rolled over sleepily. "'Sa matter, 'Melia? Bed too rocky?"

Startled, the shaman realized that she was outside, in a travelling arrangement. "Doesn't it bother you?"

"Naw... Ryuzoku don't feel it as strongly as humans, I guess. You want my under-blanket?"

She blushed. "No, it's okay."

He smiled at her, yellow eyes shining. "Amelia, I love you."

"I... I love you t - "

Suddenly, screams rang out as people charged into the wooded clearing around them. Everyone threw off their blankets, coming awake, reaching for their weapons. Guntair grabbed his sword, but still half-asleep, stumbled. A monster - no other words for the disgusting, wolf-like appearance - leapt at him, teeth flashing. Everything seemed to become slow, for a moment, as Amelia screamed. Blood fountained from his throat as he fell, croaking out her name, and she bit her lip, hard enough to draw blood. There was nothing. Nothing she'd been able to do! She was a shaman, why hadn't she done anything?!

Stop. Repeat.

Amelia opened her eyes. Beside her, Guntair rolled over sleepily. "'Sa matter, 'Melia? Bed too rocky?"

Startled, the shaman realized that she was outside, in a travelling arrangement. "Does it bother you?"

"Naw... not you, either, then? I guess Ryuzoku and Mazoku are alike in that respect."

She blushed. "That and others."

He smiled at her, yellow eyes shining. "Amelia, I love you."

"I... I love you t - "

Suddenly, screams rang out as people charged into the wooded clearing around them. Everyone threw off their blankets, coming awake, reaching for their weapons. Guntair grabbed his sword, but still half-asleep, stumbled. A monster - one of the Beastmaster's servants gone rogue, Amelia noted - leapt at him, teeth flashing. Everything seemed to become slow, for a moment, as Amelia used the power granted to her when Xelloss and the Beastmaster had made her part Mazoku to phaze out and phaze in again in front of Guntair. The ex-pack member ripped her throat out and a strange pleasure washed through her as it healed again. She caught the wolf-creature with a jaw in each hand and used the strength granted to her to rip it in two, blood fountaining.

Behind her, Guntair laughed. "Thanks, Amelia!"

And Amelia was back in the place where the eyes inside her burned into her. "You see? Become one of ours and that's what you can get."

Amelia felt her resolve weakening. "No... it's not right..."

"Amelia, do you want to save him?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Become one of ours and you can."

What was the right answer? Was there one? Amelia opened her mouth. "All ri - "

And came awake as Lina shook her. "Huh? What?"

The red-haired sorceress sighed. "You were thrashing about like crazy, so I thought it would be better if I woke you."

I think she just saved me. "Thanks, Lina."

"No problem."

Zelgadis scratched his head, settling back into bed.

The little Xelloss had told him didn't make sense. He had a feeling that the priest hadn't told him everything, but maybe he didn't know everything.

Not human, not Mazoku, not Ryuzoku, not a created being, but still sentient? There wasn't such a thing on this world, not that Zelgadis knew.

Probably Xelloss was just overreacting. It was the only explanation that made sense. So what if he felt a little odd, acted a little mature, and had no pupils at all?

Zelgadis sighed. At this rate, he'd never get to sleep.

Lina whooped. "Look at this haul, Gourry!"

He had eyes only for her. "Yeah, lucky hit with these bandits!"

"I'm glad you agreed to stay on and do this with me." Her red eyes were happy.

"Me too."

In his sleep, Gourry smiled.

Guntair was flying. He was flying as hard as he could, and as fast, wings aching from lack of use. "Amelia!"

Her voice was distant. "Hey, Guntair! Come and find me!"

For some reason, he couldn't tell what direction it was coming from, and looked around desperately. "Where are you?"

"Find me!"

"I can't! Where are you?"

"Find me!"

"AMELIA!!!!"

Finally, Zelgadis slept.

Long hair flowing out behind him, Xerinier bounced into his younger brother's room. "Hey, Xel!"

He stopped fast, seeing his father turn towards him. "I - "

His father waved a clawed hand for him to be silent, wings rearranging themselves. "Either go away or be silent. I am dealing with our little namagomi."

Xer peered around his father to see Xelloss against the far wall, purple eyes wide, pupils dilated to seem almost round, but no emotion on his face at all. The older brother didn't move to help, shifting uncomfortably and glancing back and forth between the two.

"Who made you come into this world?"

"You did, Papa," Xelloss answered, child's face serious.

"Who keeps you alive?"

"You do, Papa."

"Who do you rely on?"

"You, Papa."

"Who do you trust?"

"You, Papa."

"Who do you want to keep happy?"

"You, Papa."

"Anyone else?"

"Only you, Papa."

"Who is your master?"

For a minute, Xelloss's face showed uncertainty. "I am..."

Calmly, their father slashed Xelloss with his claws, opening up bloody scrapes across the child Mazoku's chest. Xelloss shivered and rolled with the blow, but did not make any other response. "Wrong answer. Who is your master?"

"I..."

This time, their father grabbed Xelloss and slammed him back into the wall, holding him there. Xelloss was shaking, but the expression on his face was difficult to read as fear. "One more chance, Xelloss. Who is your master?"

"You are, Papa," Xelloss whispered.

"And you are lousy namagomi. You are trash, boy. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, Papa."

"Do you like being namagomi?"

"If you want me to, Papa."

"Good boy." Their father glanced back at Xerinier. "Shut the door, don't be useless like this one."

This night, Nakoku didn't dream. He slept, but where his mind went was not a dream.

He was in a sea of gold, wrapped in his mother's arms.

Everyone looked up as Nakoku bounded down the stairs. "Hey, minna!" he chirped. "How did everyone sleep?"

Bleary eyes gazed at him, then went back to contemplating menus. "I slept great!" he informed the world in general. "Everything's wonderful today!"

"Kid?" Lina said.

"Yeah?"

"Don't make me regret allowing you to join on with us."

Nakoku whistled, and four people winced. "That bad, huh?"

Silence. "I think I'll have the mutton," Lina muttered.

"In the morning?" Xelloss exclaimed cheerily. "Boy, Lina, you can sure pack it away!"

She glared at him with bloodshot eyes. "Don't even start with me, Xelloss, don't even start. I've faced down Sha..." she hesitated, "... the Ruby Eyed and don't think that you'd be that much harder."

"Well, if you're willing to Giga Slave everyone here and - "

"Just shut up," Lina commanded.

Guntair waved a spoon unsteadily at Xelloss. "You're such a annoyance, you know that? Stupid Mazoku."

"Aw, you're so SWEET!"

Nakoku pretended to be surprised. "A Mazoku?!" he shouted. People around the inn were beginning to look at them strangely. "But those are big and ucky!"

"Thank you," Xelloss told him. "It's people like you who do WONDERS for my self-esteem."

"You mean you ARE a nasty demon thing?!? But... but..."

"Not so loud!" Zelgadis hissed. "We're attracting attention!"

Lina patted Nakoku on the head. "It's okay, N-kun. He's annoying at times but he usually doesn't do anything really bad."

Xelloss hit his open palm with a fist, making a 'pon' noise. "I get it! It's pick on Xelloss day! Everyone join in for the festivities!" [B16]

"Don't mind if I do," Guntair snorted.

Nakoku looked around nervously as a waiter came up to their table and cleared his throat.

"I'm afraid you'll have to leave, misses, sirs."

Lina blinked. "You're kicking us out?"

"Management orders. I'm very sorry..."

"AND WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING FOOD FIRST?!?"

She began to glow red.

"Was that REALLY necessary?" Guntair asked Lina as they sped along the road at top speed, hoping nobody was following. "Blowing the whole place up, I mean?"

"I hope no one was hurt," Amelia worried.

Gourry scratched his head. "You know, Lina, you're not even using spells to do your dirty work any more, you're just, you know, DOING it."

"What's that supposed to mean? FIREBALL!"

"I take it back!"

Zelgadis's brows creased. "I think he's right, though. You do seem to be getting stronger."

Lina sighed, head down. "I don't want to talk about it."

"But - " Amelia began.

"I said I didn't want to talk about it, okay? Just drop it."

Xelloss glanced back over his shoulder. "Ne, Lina-san, don't look now, but there's an angry mob following us."

The sorceress glanced back. "Oh no!"

"I told you not to look."

Nakoku bounced up and down on Guntair's shoulder. "Ow! Watch it! That hurts!" At least he wasn't on the shoulder with the sword, though, he reasoned.

"Lina-san, they're shouting, 'Kill the abominable sorceress and her Mazoku friends'," Xelloss reported.

"I AM NOT ABOMINABLE!" Lina screamed back at them. "How many times do I have to tell people that?!"

Zelgadis stopped. "Right, enough of this. Levitation!"

"Ow, wow, Zelgadis-san!" Amelia exclaimed. "I can't believe I forgot about that! Levitation!" On her way up, she scooped Nakoku up.

Lina sighed. "Levitation!"

Xelloss, already floating, followed them up.

Back on the ground, Guntair and Gourry sweatdropped. Quickly, Guntair stripped off his shirt and tucked it in his belt, not wanting to lose yet another outfit. Changing into half-ryuu form, he took off after them with a few flaps of his wings.

"WHAT ABOUT ME?!" Gourry screamed. Seeing the crowd gaining on them, he began running. "Liiinaaa! Somebodyyyyyy!"

Diving down, Lina let him grab her around the waist. "Don't get any ideas," she warned him

"I'm not! Just get me out of here!"

Lina went up again.

For a moment, the only sound was that of the angry mob screaming things. Then Gourry began screaming as well. "I HATE FLYING!"

"Jeez, Gourry, will you knock it off? Now isn't the time for a panic attack! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GRABBING!"

A whistling noise filled the air, then a wet thunk. Xelloss coughed, fiddling with the arrow stuck in his back, the tip having just emerged from his front. "Don't look now, Lina-san, but they've got archers."

Lina glanced down and saw the many rows of arrowheads pointed at them. "Oh no!"

"I told you not to look!"

Amelia slapped her forehead, almost dropping Nakoku, who squeaked and grabbed onto her busom. "Hey, Zelgadis-san! Sustained Raywing bubble, okay?"

"Right!"

They both counted to three. "RAYWING!"

The bubble came up around them just in time. Arrows bounced off the protective shell almost as soon as it came up.

"I'M FALLING! I'M FALLING!"

"OH, WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?! I'M GETTING REALLY PISSED OFF!"

Silence for a moment, again, then a wet noise as Xelloss pulled out the arrow without bothering to break off the arrowhead.

Nakoku blinked his big green eyes. "Say, do you guys always lead this interesting a life?"

"You're quitting?"

Luna nodded. "Yessir."

"You CAN'T quit now! It's our busy time!" [B17]

"Sorry, sir."

The manager sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's your other job, isn't it, Luna? I've told you to quit it!"

"Can't, sir. 'S my destiny. You know." She didn't elabourate.

"So you keep saying. Is it really that important?"

Luna shrugged, handing in her keys. "Fate of the world, sir. Maybe I'll see you again."

Tugging on her short waitress's skirt, she walked out the door.

Homen was scared.

Not that he didn't have reason to be. Last night, a dark shadow had flown over, huge and frightening. A dragon.

He clutched the ruby necklace to his chest. "They can't find us!" he whispered, frightened. "I just got 'ya, I can't let ya go yet!"

It glinted.

Suddenly, he was calm again. "I'll just stick to the woods. They won't be able to see me with all the cover."

Nakoku squeaked, "We're stopping HERE?!"

Tapping her foot impatiently, Lina sighed. "Do you SEE a handy inn nearby? NO! Neither do I! Don't tell me you haven't slept outside before!"

"It's not that," he quavered. "I get horrible nightmares when I sleep around other people, remember?"

"Deal, kid. Sorry, but everyone gets nightmares."

"I - "

Amelia shook her head. "It's no use arguing with Lina-san when she's in this mood," she whispered. "Just go along with it."

"But - " Nakoku suddenly thought of something. "I'll just sleep off by myself in the woods!"

Somewhere in the woods, a troll howled.

"I'll be okay..." Nakoku said uncertainly.

Gourry slapped his fist. "I won't allow a child to sleep off in the woods alone! I won't!"

"But - " Nakoku began.

"But N-kun is not a normal child, is he?" Xelloss said slyly.

Sweating, Nakoku backed away, stunned look on his face. "What do you mean? Of COURSE I'm a normal child!"

"Oh?" Xelloss asked. "Then you've got no worries staying with our group, do you? Surely nightmares are worth it when the other choice is the trolls in the woods."

Nakoku panicked, then broke into tears. "WAAAAHHHH! He's being so mean to me! I don't wanna have nightmares!"

Amelia hugged the child. "It's okay. We'll not let him tease you any more, okay, N-kun?"

Nakoku sniffled.

Smiling, Guntair patted him on the head. "Don't worry, kid. We'll protect you." Brushing his bangs out of his eyes, the Ryuzoku hesitated. "Hey, you don't... smell normal."

Oh no! Nakoku wailed mentally. "It's been a long time since I've had a bath! I'm sorry!"

"No... that's not what I meant..." Guntair hesitated. "Never mind. I'm probably mistaken."

Xelloss chuckled. "Ne, Gun-kun, which do you trust more, your nose or your eyes?"

"Well... my eyes, I guess."

"Sou? Perhaps that's the right thing," Xelloss allowed, smiling.

Lina sighed. "Enough with your riddles. What are you trying to tell us, Xelloss?"

"Tell you?" Xelloss looked surprised. "Why should I be trying to tell you anything? We'd better pitch camp, it's getting dark."

Glancing up, the child realized it was, indeed, getting dark. "Ok," he sighed. "I'll tell you."

"Huh?" Amelia said.

"I... I'm under a curse," he whispered. "Every night, it... transforms me. I don't like it, so I'm looking for a cure. The next big city on my road is Zefilia. That's all, I wasn't lying about anything else!" He blinked his big eyes, using this form to his advantage. "Honest!"

Sitting down in front of him, Lina asked suspiciously, "What KIND of a transformation?"

The moon came out.

As it shone down on Nakoku, he felt the change that was so commonplace to him now. His whole body lengthened, almost uncomfortably, his white child's tunic changing into a black leather body sheathe. He fought down the relief he felt every night at successfully finding himself again and remembered to act. Pouting widely, he fell to his knees. "This!" he wailed. "Isn't it TERRIBLE?!"

Lina blinked. "Well... no. Actually, you're sort of bishounen. I was expecting something more, well, monsterous."

Nakoku batted his eyes at her. "Really? You think I'm bishounen?"

"Jeez, don't tell me you turn into a normal adolescent in OTHER respects too."

"But LOOK at me!" he wailed. "Black leather! Evilly glowing green eyes! Mouth that can't stop smirking! I look like a VILLAIN!"

"He has a point," Amelia admitted.

Laughing, Lina shook her head. "You had me worried there for a minute, N-kun! It's what's inside that makes you villainous or not... and even what most people call a villain isn't! Most of US have been on wanted posters at one time or another."

"You have?" This innocent game was really getting old, Nakoku grumbled mentally.

"Mm-hmm. Actually, I think the MOST villainous one of us hasn't ever been!"

Xelloss blinked. "Who, me?"

"But... but... I don't like it! WAAAAHHHHHH!" Nakoku broke into a wail of tears that fountained out around him.

Zelgadis had made his bedroll and was crawling into it. "Are we quite finished with these needless dramatics?" he asked, bored.

Sniffling, Nakoku nodded.

Off to one side, Xelloss was laughing. "N-kun," he chuckled, head resting on a fist, "lying is a skill that takes years to cultivate. Ordinary teenage boys don't have it."

"What do you mean? He's so mean to me!!!!" Nakoku wailed again. The whole camp turned on Xelloss, picking up various heavy objects.

"Stop picking on him!" Amelia demanded.

"At this rate, we'll never get to sleep!" Lina added.

Xelloss waited until they were asleep to contact his mistress. He wanted his attention free.

Xellas-sama?

A pause, then she answered. Yes, Xelloss? Any news?

I have continued to feel our Master's presence every night, mainly contacting Lina, noticably. She has also been using his Power much more frequently. I believe progress is being made.

Good.

Thought you'd like that! Xelloss sent her a mental grin, and she grinned back. He's also been causing some disturbance in the sleep patterns of the others... nothing big, I think.

I have been working with the presence inside her now to slowly wear away Amelia. Xellas told him.

Working?

It's very fun, really.

Great! Wish I could join in!

Me too, but it would draw her attention. Anything else?

We have been joined by one of Hers.

A long pause now. I see.

I don't think he knows it, though.

That's just like Her. Well, we'll see. Nothing we can do against that one. We'll just play the hand we have, and bluff if necessary.

As always.

Yes, Xelloss. As always. And how is your chimera?

That's the odd part. He's been having nightmares as well, but I don't think He has done anything there yet. Don't really understand it.

A sense that Xellas had shifted. I don't suppose it could just be spillover?

Probably.

Have you checked it out?

Not yet, Xelloss hedged.

Xelloss? Don't get your emotions confused with your duty.

I know, Xellas-sama. Don't worry, I'm no longer that young.

Chuckle. That's good. Keep in contact. She broke mind contact.

Xelloss lay back. "Not that young," he murmured aloud. "I'm just waiting until a better time."

"Hello, Lina."

Lina didn't turn. "You again."

"You're surprised?"

"Frankly, no."

He laughed. "That's good."

"I just don't want you here. What is it I did last time?" she wondered aloud. "Oh yeah. Cepheed. Cepheed Cepheed."

"What makes you think that attracting his attention would be any better?" Shabrinigido asked her.

"Just a guess? Cepheed! Here, Cepheed! Good dragon god!" [W2]

Suddenly, another woman's voice was there. "Hey, Lina."

"Who are YOU?" Lina demanded.

"Don't want to say just yet. I'm just here to get you out."

Shabrinigido was looking mad now. "I don't recall inviting you."

"Naw, but she did by default. You know, delegation of authority and all that. Hold on, Lina, I'm just booting you into a nicer dream for a moment."

"But I - "

MMmm... food... food everywhere... Lina began salivating.

"You should not be here," he told her sternly.

Luna shook her head, sighing. "You know, Shabby, you're going about this the entirely wrong way."

He crossed his arms, unamused, shoulder pads growing spikes as the dreamworld took his displeasure and made it visible. "I don't recall asking for advice from YOU."

The Knight of Cepheed snorted. "You should, though. I know my little sister, and I know that the thing she HATES is getting people trying to seduce her, mentally or physically. It's a childhood thing."

Shabrinigido bowed sarcastically. "And what do YOU suggest?"

"Just offer her the power. It gets more attractive the less words come with it." Luna shrugged. "I figure, since she's basically had the world offered to her before by the Lord of Nightmares, it can only be LESS attractive when offered by, frankly, a lesser god."

For a moment, the dark lord didn't seem to know whether to laugh or get angry, then he shook his head. "And why should I believe you'd help me?"

"Believe it or not, Cephy isn't as mad at you as you are at him. His kids are, of course, but they're like that. After all, I'm the only one who can pass on his messages, and a lot of them don't wanna listen to a human." Luna waved a hand slightly, and a waiter's tray appeared in it. "Being a Knight doesn't pay the bills, but it's what I am. And Lina is your Knight... but she doesn't wanna accept it. You're not helping that. Apologize to her."

Shabrinigido shifted to his Mazoku form, looming over her. "You expect ME to apologize to a human?!"

Luna wasn't fazed. "Look, Shabby, you're not going to help along the rest of the world for another few years. You're partly dead. Cephy's in a coma. And both of you are needed for the whole end of world bit, unless Lina gets really pissed and miscasts the Giga Slave. So you might wanna cut your losses and get on her side, because chances are it's gonna be the winning one."

Teeth clicking together, Shabrinigido seemed to be considering this. "Why did you come? Why not Cepheed himself, if he's so forgiving of the past?"

"Cephy's not too strong right now. And you yourself couldn't have done this until a little while ago. Maybe another time." Luna rearranged things on her serving tray. "You could do dinner some time. I know some nice places."

"Mazoku don't - "

Luna shrugged. "I tried! Anyway, think about it, 'kay?" Suddenly, she was gone.

Shabrinigido frowned, as much as he could, then returned most of his conciousness back to his current resting place.

"Amelia."

Amelia looked around. Not again. Please, please, not again.

"Think about it. Every time he is injured, think about it. Think of your love for him."

The shaman blinked. This was a new refrain. "Hey, are you the same person?"

Pause. "Always. Just think, Amelia. Consider the offer."

"I will."

"Lina?" Gourry looked around. Funny, he was SURE Lina had been there just a minute ago.

"What do you want?"

He looked up. She was floating above him, cloak and hair flying in the wind. Her eyes were glowing red. "Woah, Lina, it's a new look for you... I like it though..."

"Do you want me, Gourry?" Lina smiled, eyes narrowing sweetly.

He blushed. "I... I mean... Lina... You... I..."

"Too bad, Gourry." Her hands raised, and in them was pure fire. "Too bad. I don't want you."

Stunned, Gourry watched the flame rush towards him.

Guntair rolled over in his sleep, murmuring Amelia's name. "Amelia..."

Sleepily, she smiled up at him. "Hey, Gun."

"I love you."

One of her small, almost child-like hands caressed his face. "I know. I love you too."

Her eyes were blue. No, they were violet. Wait... now they were red. Guntair frowned. "Amelia? Why are your eyes doing that?"

Violet. "Doing what?"

Blue. "Changing colours?"

And red. "I don't want to lie to you Gun... but I don't know."

Guntair was shaking. Something was wrong here. "There's something not right..."

"Does it matter?" Blue. "I'm still me." [B18]

Uncertainly, he pulled her close again, burying his face in her shoulder, not wanting to look at those eyes any more. "I know."

"Hey, Xel, whatcha doing?"

The younger Mazoku held a finger up to his lips. "Shh... you'll scare it away."

Xerinier peered around at the butterfly Xelloss was stalking. "Pretty thing."

"Look at the eyes on its wings." Purple, like their own. "Isn't it just perfect?"

Suddenly, Xelloss dived, coming up with something inside his hands. "Got it! It's struggling, but I have it!"

"Rub the stuff on its wings off," Xer advised. "It won't be able to fly away, then."

"I thought that was moths."

"Try anyway."

Xelloss shrugged and complied. "Damn!"

"What? What?" Xer demanded.

"Ripped it!"

Xer shrugged. "Useless now, let it go." Silently, they watched it flop on the ground. "You can always find another," Xer pointed out.

"That was the first one I'd found, but..." Xelloss trailed out. "Anyway, wanna play a game?"

Suddenly, Xer remembered what he'd come out for. "Papa's looking for you."

Immediatly, Xelloss stood. "You waited this long? I can't keep him waiting."

"Hey, maybe you should show him what you're made of," Xer joked. "One, two, and he'll be obeying your orders!"

Xelloss closed his eyes, then opened them as he tripped over a root, phazing out before he hit the ground. "Gotta practice that," he muttered, before turning back to Xer. "If I do that, though, he really WILL see what I'm made of... inside!"

"Where the hell's that namagomi?!"

"I can't believe you let him call you that," Xer whispered.

"Do I have a choice? Anyway... it's better than some things he could call me."

Their father came into view. "You're never around when I want you! Haven't you learned enough yet?"

"Yes, Papa."

"Yes you haven't?" Their father laughed slyly. "Well, I'll just have to show you!"

"Yes, Papa."

The spirit watched that chimera toss in its sleep. Xelloss had moved over beside it and was watching it sleep.

'Invade its dreams!' the spirit urged, but Xelloss did nothing. 'Damn, it's like I do this for no reason.'

Was he going to be subservient his whole life? The spirit had decided not. And the spirit was going to have his way.

'It just takes time and patience.'

"Hey, Cephy."

At his name, the tall man turned gracefully, large feathered wings somehow adding to his balance instead of hindering it. "Luna!" he exclaimed. "A pleasure like always." He brushed his long white hair out of his eyes.

For some reason, in the dreamworld, the only place he could dwell for now, Cepheed always appeared in his half-ryuu form. "Any news?"

Luna smiled, serving Cepheed some ice water. He needed no sustinence in this world, but it was just something she always did. "I was just talking to someone."

"Whom?"

"Guess."

Smiling, the Ryuzoku lord seemed to consider. "Your sister called me. Her?"

"Only briefly, not the one I meant. Guess again."

"That Mazoku friend of yours? Whatever her name is?"

"Close. Think bigger. Guess again."

Cepheed's eyes widened. "You're kidding. Him? And he let you talk?"

"No choice. Lina's dreammaking."

Whistling, Cepheed shook his head. "How was he?"

"Touchy," Luna shrugged.

"Same as always, then. Say anything interesting?"

Luna sat down in front of her Master. "He was upset you hadn't come instead of me."

"I - "

"Yeah, I told him. Didn't listen."

Cepheed sighed. "He never does."

Luna smirked. "I can tell. Anyway, I told him that he wasn't gonna win over Lina with seduction, yada yada. Upshot? He probably won't do it, but he might think about it. He is getting stronger though."

"How's the trip going?"

"I gotta stop to make a little money, you know. Just 'cause I'm your Knight, people don't stop and give me free food, Cephy."

"Slowly, then?"

"I'll get there before Shabby's managed to get resurrected," Luna shrugged.

"You hope."

"Gettin' to know me too well," Luna laughed. "Yeah, but it's as fast as I can go without actual teleportation."

Cepheed smiled. "Besides, you want to run into your sister."

"That too." Luna looked around. "Sorry, Cephy, gotta wake up now. Bye!"

He wiggled his fingers in farewell at her, and she vanished.

Gold. Gold above him. Gold below him. Gold around him.

"Mother?"

'I'm Right Here, Nakoku.'

Gold.

"Xelloss," Zelgadis murmured, shifting uncomfortably in his sleep.

What do you dream of? Xelloss wondered, caressing his chimera's face. Me? You stink of fear. I could find out why, but...

Not yet.

Maybe I'll even ask you before I do.

But not yet.

What is it like, to sleep? Second-hand experience tells me nothing. Is it different to you?

Even nightmares... fresh and new? The past, the future, or just an imagining?

What about me is scaring him?

Or should it be, what isn't?

"Right!" Lina said, feeling refreshed from her sleep. Bleary eyes blinked at her. "So, who has the map?"

Nobody moved.

"I asked, who has the map?"

Slowly, Gourry raised a hand. "Ano... Lina?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I, uh, tore it up in my sleep."

"YOU WHAT?!"

Gourry flinched. "I tore it up in my - "

"I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME, YOU IDIOT!" Lina slapped her head. "Now what?!"

Quietly, Zelgadis spoke up. "I can guide you."

"Of all the... what?"

The chimera looked uncomfortable. "I can guide you. I used to live around here."

"Great! And we can drop in to see your family as well!" Amelia exclaimed. "I can't wait to meet your family."

"Why not?" Zelgadis said bluntly. "The one you met wasn't too pleasant."

"Well, no, but that was just Rezo..."

Lina grinned, packing her bag. "They can't all be that psychotic, right?"

"Don't bet on it," Zelgadis muttered.

Xelloss put an arm around his shoulders. "Aw, but I WANT to meet your family, honey pie!"

"Don't call me that," the chimera growled warningly.

"You met Xellas-sama, who I GUESS you could call my family, so it's only fair," the priest told him, smiling.

N-kun seemed uncertain, child's face serious. "You sure we should stop? I've GOT to get going to Zefilia!"

"What are you doing there?" Lina asked. "Why Zefilia?"

"Dunno yet. Find out when I get there."

They nodded, not asking.

Amelia hesitated. "Xelloss-san? Why do you keep calling Zelgadis-san that?"

"Calling him what?" Xelloss asked innocently.

"You know... that name..."

"Zelgadis? It's his name."

"No... the nickname..."

"Zel?" Xelloss seemed even sweeter. "It's a short form, Amelia-chan!"

Amelia coughed. "No... your... uh... 'honey-pie'?"

"Oh, THAT name!" Xelloss smiled. "But isn't it so cute?!"

Zelgadis raised his hands warningly, light growing in them. "That's it, you die."

"You're being hasty again, honey pie!"

"ELMEKIA LANCE!"

From the far side of the clearing, Xelloss coughed up smoke. "THAT's why, Amelia... 'scuse me while I go all dazed and stuff... mmm..."

"Guntair-san?" Nakoku asked, tugging on the Ryuzoku's pants. "Are all Mazoku that sick?"

"Yes, N-kun. At the very least." Unaccountably, Guntair was blushing.

"Oh."

Lina brushed off her hands. "Right! Someone pick up the stupid Mazoku so we can get back on our way!"

Amelia frowned. "Ne, Zelgadis-san, shouldn't Xelloss-san have come back to his senses yet?"

"I don't know," Zelgadis admitted, carrying the priest, who was twitching. "Elmekia Lance is a very strong spell."

Suddenly, Xelloss opened his eyes, winking quickly at Amelia. He flashed a quick victory sign. "Ne, Zel! You're carrying me! That's so sweet!"

Zelgadis snorted. "Whatever."

"It's adorable, really!"

Rolling his eyes, the chimera considered dropping him. "What has gotten INTO you today?!"

"It's actually a question of what HASN'T - " Xelloss began. Zelgadis made his decision and dropped him.

Nakoku looked at Guntair, worried. "Would you like my handkerchief? That nosebleed's fairly nasty."

"No.. id's ogay..."

Behind them, Xelloss and Zelgadis were still arguing. "Xelloss, stop hanging off my legs! We're trying to go somewhere here!"

"So am I!" Xelloss smiled.

"Hands off the legs!"

"Where would you like them instead?"

Guntair tilted his head back. "Agtually, yes blease."

"Don't make me hurt you!"

"Why not?" Xelloss was laughing.

Nakoku looked around. "Somebody help! I think Guntair's going to faint from blood loss!"

"No... I'm okay... really..." Guntair's head bounced as it hit the ground.

Once the group had revived Guntair and stopped the squabbling with a couple of fireballs from Lina, which sent Xelloss back into a catatonic state, they got moving again.

"Zelgadis, it's your house. You knock."

"My hands are full."

"Guys, Guntair's got another nosebleed!"

"It's still your house, Zel, you knock."

"I don't WANT to knock!"

"Zelgadis-san! Are you embarrassed?"

"Look at me, I'm scaly! Of course I'm embarrassed!" [B19]

"Well, knock anyway!"

"Do I have to?"

"This is insane!" Lina declared.

Xelloss nodded, obviously having been awake for a while but pretending. "Okay." he hopped out of Zelgadis's arms. "I'll knock!"

"NO! WA - "

Knock. Knock. Knock. The sound reverberated around the courtyard of the huge mansion.

Zelgadis sweated. "I'm doomed."

The huge door swung open and a tiny woman with the same bouncy hair as Zelgadis peered out. "Zel-chan? Is that you? ZEL-CHAN!"

The chimera gasped for air as his mother enveloped him in a bear hug that would make a warrior envious. "Hi... mom..."

"Oh, and you brought friends!" Fast enough that they couldn't avoid it, she gave them the same treatment, one after another. "This is wonderful!"

"...yeah," Zelgadis agreed, trying to hide behind his hair.

His mother peered at him. "Ne, Zel-chan, haven't you been bathing regularly? Your skin is... flaky."

"No, mom, I was cursed by Grandad. So I ran away from home. You remember?"

She put on a lecturing pose. "I remember your running away, young man, and don't think I've forgiven you yet!"

Zelgadis sighed and hung his head. Then there was the OTHER reason he'd run away... "Yes, mom."

His mother was suddenly perky again. "So, introduce me to your friends!"

"Uh... mom? Can we come in first?"

"Oh, of course!" As unstoppable as a tidal wave, his mother ushered them in. "I'm Serin Graywers, Zel-chan's mommy, of course, and I'm SO glad he's finally brought friends home..."

Under cover of her chatter, Xelloss leaned over and whispered, "What a friendly lady."

"You could call her that."

"I'd be being generous, but I could."

Serin led them into the spacious reception room. "So, now that we're in the nice, warm, house," she indicated the drafty room with a wave of her hand. A gust of wind put out a torch on the wall, "why don't you all introduce youselves?"

A long silence. Gourry hid behind Lina. "You're the leader, you go first!"

"Uh..." Lina pulled Amelia forward. "You're a princess! You go first!"

Desperately, Amelia grabbed N-kun and held him in front of her like a shield. "You're the youngest! You go first!"

Nakoku squirmed out of her grasp and scampered behind Guntair. "You're a dragon! You go first!"

Guntair sweated as Serin turned to look at him. "Uh..."

Xelloss stepped forward and took the woman's hand, smiling. "Hello, Lady Serin! I'm Xelloss Metallium, a very, very, very, very, very, very - "

Kicking him in the shin, Zelgadis whispered, "Just get on with it!"

" - very good friend of your son's," Xelloss finished, shaking her hand rapidly. "And I am incredably honoured to meet such a beautiful young woman! Oh, and how surprised I was to learn that you were Zel's MOTHER! You must be kidding, surely someone so young and pretty MUST be his sister, his YOUNGER sister even!"

Serin giggled. "Oh, you! But you MUST stop, I'm a married woman!"

Still smiling, Xelloss fell back, hand over his heart. "Ah, such a pity! I shall have to find someone else, but it could never be the same after meeting you, Lady Serin!"

Giggling, Serin leaned over towards Zelgadis, who seemed stuck in face-fault. "I LIKE this one," she stage-whispered.

Clapping her hands together, Serin turned towards the others. "Now, obviously if you've all come so far, one of you must be Zel-chan's girlfriend. Now, which are you?"

Silence. They shifted nervously.

"Now, let's see... the blond woman, isn't it?"

Gourry looked around then pointed at himself in disbelief. "Me?! I'm a guy!!!"

Serin peered at him. "You must be kidding, right, miss?"

Zelgadis shook his head. "Mom, that's a guy. Listen to his voice, if you don't believe me."

"I just thought that she has a cold. Hmmm..." Serin lowered her gaze to his pants. "You're right, he's a guy."

Blushing, Gourry tried even harder to hide behind Lina. "I... I'm Gourry... I'm a swordsman..."

Serin giggled again. "I can tell... oh, you'll have a wonderful time talking to Gery!" In a whisper to the others, she added, "Gery's Zel-chan's daddy." She turned back to Gourry. "He's a retired swordsman, you know."

"N... no, I didn't..."

Her attention was immediatly torn away again. "Let's see... The red-head! She looks very active... Zel-chan likes active women..."

A quick glance at the chimera showed him clearly trying to will himself to death.

Lina laughed, not too sure how to deal with this woman. "No, actually, I'm not Zelgadis's girlfriend... I'm happily single, thank you... I'm Lina Inverse."

Horror etched itself onto Serin's face. "You mean... the abominable sorceress Lina Inverse?!"

Lina twitched. "I'm... not... abominable," she said, smiling through gritted teeth.

"Oh, if you say so, dear." Serin was back to her perky self. "So that leaves... her!"

Amelia's eyes widened and she blushed widely. "I'm actually Guntair's girlfriend," she said, attaching herself to the dragon's arm. "Right, Guntair?"

"Yeah! Yeah!" he yelped as she cut off his circulation. "You are!"

Serin frowned. "You mean you haven't brought home a girlfriend?"

"No, mom," Zelgadis said softly, giving up on willing himself to death and trying to make the floor swallow him instead.

"Oh dear, this is bad," Serin murmured. "Your father won't be pleased." In a stage whisper, she informed the others, "Gery thinks Zel-chan's a pansy."

Now Zelgadis had forgotten the floor and was simply trying to disappear.

"So," Serin said, switching emotions with a speed to make flying fishmen proud, "who are you, young miss?"

Amelia sweated. "I'm... Amelia. Call me Amelia!"

"A pleasure to meet you, Amelia! Perhaps you two young ladies can help me in the kitchen later?"

They made uncertain noises until she turned her gaze on Guntair. "So you are that young lady's boyfriend?"

"Uh.. yeah."

"Do you treat her right? You look like a rough fellow!"

Guntair blinked. "Me? Rough?"

"I hope you aren't abusive!"

"NO! Of course not! I love her a lot!"

"That's nice, dear," Serin smiled. Nakoku cringed as her gaze travelled to him. "Oh no! Don't tell me this is your child! Are you two even married?!"

Amelia blushed brightly. "He's not ours! He's just travelling with us!"

"Good! A child his age shouldn't be travelling alone!" She smiled at Nakoku. "And what's your name, little boy?"

"I'm N-kun..."

"What a CUTE name!" Serin gushed. Suddenly, the door from the next room swung open.

"WOMAN! What are you doing, making all this racket?!"

"Look, dear, Zel-chan's home!"

The travellers looked up... and up... Zelgadis certainly didn't get his height - or lack thereof - from his father. And not only was he tall... he was brawny.

Xelloss whistled softly. "There's a good fighter."

Then Gery belched. "Gods, ZELgardis, you've certainly been away a long time! Making a REAL man out of yourself, I hope? Gods, I hope that this MONSTER isn't the thing that calls itself our son!"

Zelgadis sighed. "Hello, father. Rezo cursed me."

"Good for him, good for him," Gery harumphed. "By the way, have you seen Rezo lately? He hasn't been by for a while."

"Yes, actually."

"Doing well?"

"We killed him. Twice."

"The stupid priest pro'ly deserved it. I still think that magic in the family leads to defects."

Lina shifted angrily but didn't say anything.

"So, I hope you brought back a woman for yourself?"

"No, father."

Gery snorted in disgust. "Why am I not surprised? So neither of these women are yours?" He gave Lina and Amelia a cursory inspection. "Gods, they're wearing breeches! Din't anyone ever tell you two that it's a woman's place to wear skirts and stay in the kitchen?!"

Amelia sweated. "Uh.. no... sir!"

Lina crossed her arms. "I'd like to, but there's work that has to be done."

"None of that, woman!" Gery roared. "In MY house, a woman does only housework! You unnerstand?"

Serin giggled and laid a hand on her husband's arm. "Oh, you! They're guests, they're not going to be doing any work! Besides, we've got servants to do that!"

"It's still 'mproper!" Gery insisted.

Xelloss snickered, leaning towards Zelgadis. Imitating Serin's voice, he murmured, "I LIKE this one."

"You! Did you just talk back to me?"

"Don't bait him," Zelgadis warned quietly, but the smile on Xelloss's face told him he might not have bothered.

"Me? Talk back? Yes, that was me," Xelloss said, smiling brightly. "Do you want me to do it again?"

Gery walked up to the Mazoku and gave him a quick once over. "He looks fey," he said in disgust. "I'm not havin' no fey boys stayin' in my house."

"Oh, didn't your wife tell you that I'm terribly enamoured with her and want her to run away with me after a whirlwind romance?" Xelloss asked mildly.

"WHAAAT?!"

Serin giggled yet again. "Oh, don't worry about him, dear. Why would I run off with him, when I have you?"

"He tried to take you away from me?!" Gery was beginning to turn red with anger. "I oughta - "

"Oh, don't, dear! Your heart!"

"But Lady Serin," Xelloss sighed. "Don't you want a demon lover?"

Zelgadis covered his eyes with his hand. "Let me just die now,"he said faintly.

"A demon?" Lady Serin gasped, going pale. "Oh, my!"

Gery snorted. "Demon? There's no such thing as demons! Only a pansy would need to make such a thing up to protect himself!"

Xelloss opened his eyes and his smile darkened. "I beg to differ, there are indeed such things as demons." [B20]

Serin put a hand to her forehead. "Oh, I think I'm going to faint!"

Sweating, Guntair slapped Xelloss across the side of the head with the flat of his sword. "You'll have to forgive him, Sir Gery, he was dropped on his head a few too many times as a baby and is a little... you know..." Guntair spun his finger beside his ear.

Bored with the last game and wanting to move on to a new one, Xelloss smiled at a plaster bust on the wall. "Oh, lady! How beautiful you are! Surely just one kiss..."

"See," Guntair said, sweating even more strongly.

Gery nodded, warily. "I see. A room away from everyone else, then."

Xelloss hugged a coat-rack. "Beautiful lady!"

Harumphing, Gery turned to his wife. "Well, woman, are you going to stand there, or are you going to show them to their rooms?"

"Oh, yes! We kept your room just the way it was, Zel-chan!" Serin exclaimed, recovering in record time.

Grinning widely, Xelloss gave Amelia a huge hug, burying his face in her busom. "Oh, my love! What large - "

Teeth bared in something resembling a grin, Guntair backhanded Xelloss into the far wall.

"See?" Serin said triumphantly. "Isn't his room ADORABLE?!"

A long silence. "It's so... cute!" Amelia exclaimed.

His bedsheets had puppy dogs on them. Posters of famous heros adorned the walls. The carpet was fluffy.

Zelgadis groaned and sunk to the floor. "Really... mom... you didn't need to keep my room EXACTLY the same..."

Wandering past into the room, Xelloss picked up a book left on the bed. "How to be a Hero in Three Easy Lessons," he read. Briefly, he raised an eyebrow at the book, then gave it a hug. "My lady, my love! How your..."

Pouting at Zelgadis, Serin said, "But Zel-chan, it was the only thing of you we had LEFT! We had to keep it!"

Guntair stopped snickering as Amelia elbowed him.

A whistling noise sprung up from somewhere downstairs, and Serin headed for the stairs. "That's the tea! Be up with it in a minute!!"

As soon as she was gone, Xelloss stopped embracing the book, sat on Zelgadis's bed, and opened it to page one. "Interesting reading material, Zel."

Zelgadis sighed. "Father gave it to me."

"Ah. Explains everything."

"Zelgadis!" Lina exclaimed. "I never expected your room to be so..."

"One comment about the room and I blow this whole place up, okay?"

"... Okay."

Serin's voice floated up from downstairs. "Tea's ready! Come and have some and then I'll show the rest of you to your rooms!"

The excitable old woman smiled at them. "So... Lina-chan, what do you do for a living?"

Lina stared into her tea cup. "Well, mainly I wipe out bandit holdings and steal their treasure, but sometimes I save the world. The latter doesn't put food on the table, though."

"How fun! Do you enjoy your work?"

Slowly, Lina realized that Serin only listened to half of what she was saying. "I wouldn't say ENJOY, but listening to bandits scream and plead for their lives is sort of thrilling."

"That's nice, dear. And you, Xelloss-san, what do YOU do?"

Xelloss smiled brightly. "Mainly I hinder people, spy, kill, and work with my entire race's goal, which is to bring about the end of the world as you normal mortals know it."

"Sounds like interesting work!" Serin gushed. "Does that mean you're self-employed?"

"No, actually, I work for one of the five dark generals under Ruby-Eyed Shabrinigido. She likes to chase living creatures, make them offer anything for their survival, then kill them anyway."

"How wonderful!" Serin turned to Amelia. "What about you, dear? Do you want to be a housewife?"

Amelia jumped to her feet and posed. "I am a champion of justice!"

"Hard work?"

"These days, yeah."

Serin smiled at her and Lina. "Would you two like to help me make dinner?"

What could they say. "Um, okay," Ameila agreed uncertianly.

"Why not?" Lina shrugged.

Nervously, Guntair leaned over to Amelia. "Say... have you ever cooked before?"

"Sometimes... well, I try..."

He sweated. "I... see."

Clapping her hands together excitedly, Serin took their unfinished tea away from them and swept them to their feet. "I'll just show you to your rooms and then we girls can get cooking!"

Guntair poked at the burned thing in front of him with a fork. "Ano... what IS it?" he asked cautiously.

"It's chicken... chicken... chicken something!" Amelia said proudly. "The rest didn't turn out but Serin-san saved the best so you could try it!"

He forced a smile. "Great! I'm... honoured."

Gourry stuck his spoon into his soup and tried to lift it again. It stuck there. Pulling hard, he managed to detach the spoon, but couldn't get the soup off the spoon in his mouth. "It's really good," he lied, resorting to using his knife to lever it off.

"It's not too thick?" Lina asked nervously.

"Thick?! No... it's just the way I like it!" [B21]

Meanwhile, Serin was bringing in her own cooking for the others. Setting bowls down, she began serving them. "Xelloss-san, you really must try this spaghetti!"

Xelloss raised a hand. "I don't really eat very much."

She waggled a spoon at him, spraying sauce. "A growing boy like you needs good nourishment. If you don't eat every bite that I put out, I'll be Very Insulted."

The Mazoku sweatdropped as she continued ladling pasta and sauce onto his plate, forming a huge mound.

After serving him, she turned to Zelgadis. "Now, Zel-chan, how much would you like?"

"I'll... stick to the tea," Zelgadis told her.

"Nonsense! Am I your mother?"

"Yes, mom."

She smiled determinedly. "Then when I say you eat, you eat."

Zelgadis sighed. "Yes, mom."

Xelloss smiled as he listened to the latch fall into place on the outside of his door. They obviously didn't want the crazy man getting out in the night.

Whistling, he examined the room. It clearly hadn't been used for years, layers of dust on everything, window cracked, potted plants long dead. "What a lovely room," he murmured.

Still, just a little longer to wait, and he wouldn't be there any more.

Xerinier watched as claws opened his brother's chest, revealing internal organs. Xelloss's eyes were closed, no noise escaping other than the rasping of his breath.

"This is wrong," Xerinier said aloud.

Their father turned towards him slightly. "What did you say?"

"I don't like this," Xerinier said stubbornly. "Xel didn't do anything wrong."

"You..." their father began to walk towards him. "I give you life, a place to stay, and THIS is how you respond?" Suddenly, his movement was hampered slightly by Xelloss hanging off a leg.

"Papa, don't get mad at Xer! He didn't mean it!" A quavering smile appeared on the child's face. "'Sokay, Xer, I don't..."

Their father reached behind him and jabbed his clawed hand INTO the wound, reaching for Xelloss's heart -

Zelgadis sat bolt upright, shaking off the hand that had touched him. "Who... what... what's going on?"

Xelloss's face, adult, smiled at him. "You were having a nightmare. Thought I'd wake you."

Slowly, Zelgadis's heart calmed. "Oh... yes, that's right. A nightmare."

The Mazoku curled up next to him. "Ne, ne, Zel... don't you think that you should tell me what these nightmares are about? You're having them every night. Frankly, you're becoming a wreck. What if we get into a fight?"

"I'll be fine," Zelgadis whispered. "I don't want to talk about them."

"Maybe talking will help."

"I said, I'll be fine!" His voice was getting too loud, and he lowered it again hurriedly. "Besides, what could talking do?"

Xelloss wrapped his arms around the chimera and nuzzled his neck. "It might make you feel better."

Zelgadis tried to slide away, but the priest wasn't letting him go anywhere. "Let go!"

"Uh-uh." Xelloss grinned. "Either we talk, or we play."

Snarling at that smiling face, Zelgadis said, "I don't suppose if you're so worried about the sleep I'm getting you'll just let me go back to sleep?"

"And have another nightmare? Now, really..."

"All right," Zelgadis sighed. "They're kind of... stupid, really."

He paused, and Xelloss made an encouaging noise.

"They're about... you, as a child. And your brother... and your father... They were... very violent."

The trickster whistled softly. "Now THAT's unusual... especially since I've never talked about my father." His brows creased slightly. "Hmmm... sounds like induced dreaming."

"What?"

"Induced dreaming. Nobody living's been around to do it, so I have to say it's probably a spirit, either a nature spirit or a spirit of the dead. Though I don't know why it'd choose you or that subject." Xelloss shrugged.

Zelgadis toyed with the stupid bedsheets. "How do I... stop this?"

"Oh, you don't. You can't, you're the dreamer. However," Xelloss smiled, "I can. You'd have to let me into your dream, though." When Zelgadis hesitated, he added, "I've already been in your mind, way back, remember? So it's not much different, except you aren't awake."

"And you can stop this?"

"I think so. Have to confront whoever's doing it, but it should still be easy."

Finally, Zelgadis nodded. "Okay. What do I have to do?"

"Just go to sleep. I'll do the rest."

Lina sighed heavily. Why this again? She didn't even turn. "I know you're there."

"Yes."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't just get out of this dream now?"

Silence.

"Okay." She raised her voice. "Cep - "

"I'm sorry," Shabrinigido said.

Lina's jaw dropped. "What?"

"I'm... sorry. My power is yours, whatever use you choose to make of it. I was trying to manipulate you to my own ends. I'm sorry."

She turned to see the dark lord with an apologetic look on his face. "You're... sorry?" Lina could hardly believe it. Shabrinigido was apologizing?!

He didn't meet her gaze. "Yeah. You're my Knight, and I made that choice for better or for worse. You'll have to discover by yourself what that means, but my power will always be there for you."

She shook her head. "What's the catch?"

Grinning, he pulled her close. "Why do you think there has to be a catch?" Suddenly, he kissed her, full on the lips.

Her eyes widened. "Mph hassa! Mfffmugg!"

Releasing her, he smiled. "There. See you again, Lina."

He vanished from her dream, leaving her dizzy and angry. "That bastard! Why should he even THI - "

The landscape shifted around her as a more normal dream took over. She was in a city, and a huge marshmallow with Gourry's head was trashing it...

She couldn't let him get away with that. It wasn't the distruction of the city she minded... but so much sweet sugary stuff in one place and it was going away from her? No way. [B22]

Amelia clutched at her bedsheets, eyes wide. "I am not going to sleep... I am not going to sleep... I am not... zzzsh... uh! No, I can't... zzzzshttt..."

Strangely, that night, Amelia dreamed only of playing with adorable little babies... cute, black-haired, yellow-eyed babies... with wings...

Xelloss smiled gently at his sleeping chimera, watching as Zelgadis's eyebrows already began to crease as the nightmare set in. These feelings... they were odd in a way, so protective, but he couldn't deny that they were... nice.

He shook his head. "More important things now..."

Getting comfortable - his body would go limp as his astral form took over - Xelloss carefully, using his staff for a focus, touched Zelgadis's forehead, extending his conciousness out... and in...

"Papa!" Young Xelloss gasped, as his father's claws closed around his heart.

"Do you trust me, namagomi?" His father asked cruelly, tightening his hand.

"Yes, papa!"

Snorting, their father released his heart and flung him into the far wall. "You are nothing. I don't know why I keep you ar - "

Xerinier stood, angry, as their father turned when the blast hit him. Not very powerful from a Mazoku as young as Xer, it did little more than scorch his skin. "You little bastard," their father snarled. "How DARE you?"

Xer smiled. "Go on. I'm not scared."

Roaring, his father advanced. Xer closed his eyes briefly and took his Mazoku form, still much the same as his usual, but large leathery wings extended from his back and claws from his fingers and toes. A dark aura hovered around him.

But it was no good against someone stronger both physically and in power as their father was. Xer made a small noise, half pain half pleasure as their father's claws swiped across his belly, his chest, a fist slamming into his head. His eyes widened as his father took ahold of an arm with each of his own and began to pull...

"Stop," Xelloss commanded and the scene froze.

Zelgadis turned and saw Xelloss, the adult Xelloss, HIS Xelloss floating beside him, watching with him. Xelloss smiled sadly. "Yes, I was afraid of this. That was exactly the way it was, you see, Zel? And there's only a few people who know that." He shook his head. "You can come out," he called softly.

"Indeed."

The voice was almost that of a child, one barely into adolescence. Both Zelgadis and Xelloss turned.

Xerinier tossed back long hair, blood trickling down from his forehead. His wings were torn, bone showing, slashes were across his chest, his stomach, and faint lines at the joining of legs, arms, and head to his body were present. The blood was forming a slight puddle at his feet, sitting on nothingness. "Hello, Xelloss."

Xelloss smiled. "Happy one-thousanth."

"Hardly." The dead Mazoku's expression was harsh, and the smile on the trickster's face faded. "How can you have done this to yourself?" Xerinier demanded.

Shaking his head, Xelloss asked, "Do what? I killed them for you, Xer. I grew strong. What's wrong?"

Xerinier spat. "I fought the pull of her resting place for you. I wanted to see you safe. For a while, I actually thought you'd broken out from that stupid pattern. And now look at you."

Confusion warred inside Zelgadis. The child, the adult, the brother... so alike and so different. Why was Xerinier hating Xelloss like this? Xerinier was one of the few people Xelloss spoke of with real love... why was this happening?

"I don't understand." Xelloss was echoing Zelgadis's thoughts. "What do you mean, Xer?"

"You've made yourself servile again!" Xerinier shouted. "All very well and good to have power, but you just let yourself become a servant to other people after killing your OLD master! How could you do this? I DIED for your freedom!"

Xelloss took a step forward. "I'm not a servant. I may serve Xellas-sama, but I'm not a servant, really. We're more friends. She GAVE me all her power because she trusted me."

"Huh." Xerinier snorted. "You still serve. You were meant to be a loner, Xelloss. Serving a master is bad enough, even if she is one of Shabrinigido's generals... but this!" He pointed at Zelgadis. "This is the last straw!"

Zelgadis's jaw dropped.

"Excuse me?" Xelloss demanded. "Why the HELL should my choice in lovers affect you?!"

"You could have such power, Xel! If only you weren't making LESS of yourself! Your OLD lovers had the right idea, find a lover for power and use him or her! And now what? You find a... a ROCK that makes you feel sentimental and BIND yourself to him, cutting down on your power and what you're willing to do to get your way! They're all USING you! Maybe not the same way Father used you, but they still are!"

Xelloss shook his head. "You're. Wrong."

"You know I'm not, otherwise you wouldn't be angry!"

"I'M ANGRY - " Xelloss stopped, then took a breath to calm himself. "I'm angry, Xer, because I thought that you, of all people, would understand. My love for Zel and my affection for Xellas doesn't make me subservient. I serve Xellas but I am still, in many ways, my own master, because I CHOSE to serve Xellas. And Zelgadis - just because I DO things for him doesn't mean that he OWNS me. Ne, Zel?"

It was difficult to make his voice work in a situation like this. "I never even assumed I own you. You're far too independant."

Xerinier laughed bitterly. "Oh, sure, he says that, and you'll believe him. He makes you weak, Xel, and you shouldn't put up with that."

"Yes, perhaps he does," Xelloss admitted, and Zelgadis felt his heart just sink. "But I made you weak, too, because you loved me. You died because you loved me."

"That's different!"

"How?"

The spirit shook his head rapidly. "Because I... you... it just was!" He pointed a finger at Xelloss accusingly. "You're trying to change the subject! I'd tried to drive him away from you with his dreams, hoping that if he left you you'd remember the way things really are."

"I appreciate your intentions, Xer. And I am desperately greatful for what you did so many years ago. But in this you're wrong. Though it makes me weaker, it also makes me stronger, because I have something to fight FOR."

Xerinier shook his head again. "No! I won't listen to this! You need to be free, Xel! And I can't let it go like this!" He turned to Zelgadis. "I'll destroy his mind and then you'll be free!"

Xelloss stepped in front of Zelgadis. "Sorry, Xer, but I can't let you do that. Don't make me fight you, I really don't want you. You're the only happy memories from back then." He smiled. "I'm happy now, don't you see? Whether I serve Xellas or whatever you think, can't you tell I'm happy? What else is important? I wasn't happy with pa... with father. I am happy now."

"But you're happy for the wrong reasons!" Power began to gather in the spirit's hands. "You should be happy for the right ones."

The priest raised his hand, and his staff appeared in it. "Please, Xer, stop now. Don't go any further. Please."

"I have to! I have to do it for you!" Xerinier's power was burning bright now, and it exploded outward into Zelgadis's dream.

Painpainpain, memories of pain, memories of horror, people dying, wrong ones living... The dreams burning... Xelloss laughing and killing, Xerinier's body lying torn apart on the ground but not quite dead... pain... Make it stop!! Zelgadis's mind screamed.

And suddenly it did.

Zelgadis blinked, as though a bright light had just flashed in his eyes. "Wha - "

Xelloss stood before a fading spirit version of Xerinier. "How could you?" Xerinier whispered, eyes wide. "Why?"

"I'm sorry, Xer." Xelloss reached out and tried to take the spirit's hand. "I'm sorry. You wouldn't understand, you wouldn't stop. I didn't want to."

"Why?!"

There was nothing left but a wisp of the spirit left now, but Xelloss answered it anyway. "Because you forced me to choose between two things I loved. I'm sorry."

It was gone. Xelloss turned back to Zelgadis, wiping a streak of blood like a tear from his face. "Well... it's over. You shouldn't have nightmares like this any more."

Oh... Zelgadis slowly realized what Xelloss must have done. "L-sama... gods... Xelloss, I'm sorry. I didn't want anything like this to happen."

"It's okay," Xelloss said absently. "He was already dead for a thousand years."

"But... your memory wasn't."

"No... but my memory's still there, even if he's changed what it meant." A corner of Xelloss's mouth twitched up in an attempt at a smile. "It's okay. It's better than not having dealt with it at all and letting him remain so angry, ne?"

At you... Zelgadis didn't say it. "Th - thank you." Why were the words so awkward in his mouth. "And... I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Xelloss's attempt at a smile was better this time. "It's better this way... isn't it?"

Zelgadis didn't have an answer.

"Anyway..." the Mazoku paused for a long moment. "You must have other dreams... do you mind if I stay and watch? I don't... have dreams of my own."

What could he say? Zelgadis just nodded as the dreamscape began to shift around them. "Of course."

Early in the morning, Gery hesitated outside Zelgadis's door. His son was back. He probably should go in there and give him a better greeting.

Damn, if he never knew how to behave around the boy!

Still, he WAS his son...

Gery opened the door and his eyes went wide as he saw the purple-haired fey-looking boy curled up beside his son. "Z...Z.. ZELGARDISSSS!" he screamed, waking everyone in the household up.

"Why are we running again?" Nakoku panted as they sped through the forest.

"Overstayed... welcome," was all Zelgadis answered.

Amelia coughed. "We've been running a long time... surely your father would have... given up by now?"

An angry shout behind them told them otherwise. "Zelgardis, you get back here, you..."

"What did you DO?" Lina demanded, not pleased to be running away this early in the morning.

"I didn't DO anything," Zelgadis told them, not exactly a lie. "Dad just... doesn't get along with me... and they're both a bit..."

"Insane?" Guntair put in. "We'd kinda... noticed..."

"Right!" Lina flung a fireball back, frying Gery. "It's okay, Zel, I lowered the power, it should stop him but not hurt him!"

Xelloss, floating with them, glanced back. "Uh, Lina-san, don't look now, but you've started a forest fire that's rushing towards us much faster than Gery could have..."

Lina glanced back. "Oh no!"

"I told you not to look!"

It was odd, in a way, Zelgadis noted. Sometimes, the more things changed...

"We're gonna die!" Nakoku wailed. "WAAAAAHHHH!"

...the more they stayed the same.

Author's Notes

Writer's notes

W1 - Whoo-hoo. Evangelion flashbacks...

W2 - grrr... "No, bad Cepheed! No tearing Shabrinigido's pants!" grr yip!

Beta reader's notes

B1 - Lessons Xelloss really didn't need to learn...

B2 - Nightmares, as catching as the common cold and just as hard to get rid of.

B3 - Justice for her mother ... for all those like her ... just agree to become part of the race that feeds off that sorta thing.

B4 - It's probably a good thing that Lina thought he was Gourry. Likely, was the only thing that kept her from attempting to smash Maoh Shabranigdo into the nearest solid object.

B5 - Poor Homen. Oh well, there are worse ways to go...

B6 - Aww... the beastmaster really seems to have grown attached to her. Sorta cute. Sorta scary, but sorta cute.

B7 - Footprints. Scent. Aura. Magical residue. Need I continue?

B8 - Do the Slayers cast ever actually use horses that aren't attached to a cart of some kind? (W: yes, for food in a pinch.)

B9 - "...contemplating whether or not I sould join with those funny eyes that seem to float in my soul, simply so I can get a decent night's rest."

B10 - Someone's suicidal this morning...

B11 - Welcome to the convention of people who use singleletters as names! I'm M, nice to meet you. S will be giving a lecture on the finer points of intimidation in a few minutes...

B12 - Adults? A sorceress of indeterminate age who looks 15 or 16, a princess and a chimera who both look even younger ... that only leaves Xelloss, Guntair, and Gourry. An idiot swordsman, a maniac mazouku, and an emotionally stunted dragon. Yeah, sure. Adults. Whatever.

B13 - Neither are you, Xel. Not much, anyway.

B14 - Neither are you, Lina. You're acutually just a two-dimensional drawing, and your voice isn't even your own. Sorry.

B15 - Does that mean she's nakid now? (W- Sorry, not rated R. Yet.)

B16 - Mark your calenders everyone.

B17 - Yeah, everyone's come out to celebrate Pick on Xelloss Day!

B18 - Even though I'll probably be a pure Mazoku by the time we reach the Koku no Tani, and all your relatives will probably try to kill me.

B19 - But you're pretty!

B20 - Would he show them how his staff works?

B21 - Ah, the lengths love will take thee

B22 - Hmm... Lina eating Gourry? That's beta-reader is drowned as the Gutter Tsunami hits her...