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Author's Prologue
Harukami: Whoo-hoo! I finally got around to writing this last part!
Zelgadis: greatly subdued IS this the last part?
Harukami: nervous fidgit Well... I hope so. I think so. Maybe. I might have to do a connected series.
Amelia: Yaoi as well, no doubt?
Harukami: If it's connected... but believe it or not, I actually get some m/f in this part.
Amelia: Lina and Gourry, huh? Nobody loves me at all.
Harukami: pat pat You'll see. Yes, everyone! Here we must raise the question to be answered in this part: Will Zel and Xel EVER get any?
Guntair: wandering on before anyone attempts to answer Is this where the cast is supposed to meet?
All others: Who's he?
Harukami: Sore wa Himitsu desu! ^_^ But yes! I have original characters in here! Yume, Guntair, and all Yume's minions are MINE!
Guntair: You're welcome to Yume and her minions, but can I have myself back?
Zelgadis: Great. Just great. Someone else is pulled into this mess.
Guntair: I didn't ask for this.
Xelloss: looking down from where he's baiting Valgarv None of us did, but we just have to learn to enjoy the ride. ^_^
Guntair: Are you Mazoku?
Xelloss: How did you guess? Was it the eyes, the smile, or the levitation?
Valgarv: COME BACK DOWN HERE, YAROU!
Guntair: I. Hate. Mazoku.
Xelloss: I can see this is going to be a beneficial relationship.
Guntair: I. Hate. ALL. Mazoku.
Valgarv: Great, I'll stand on your shoulders and we can drag him down and kill him.
Xelloss: ^_^;;
Harukami: Can I just get to the fic, guys?
Minna: grumble grumble
Yume ran long red nails over her viewing stone. "Hmm. I see. The Beastmaster is on the move."
Laughing, she settled back in her chair, the near-translucent red dress shifting to show a large amount of flesh. "I've attacked and attacked her current interests [1], but she hasn't given up." She reached for the rope to summon one of her servants. "It must be time to make it a little more personal."
Ringing it, a Tentacle Beast came low to her feet. "Fetch my little pet," she told it.
Briefly, she contemplated turning to her more inhuman form, but she knew that the one she was in now was far more frightening to her pet than the other. This form could do things to him that the other could not.
Two more human-looking servants dragged her pet to her feet, pushing him into a low bow, their claws gouging scores in his back. "Hello, pet," she addressed him with a smile. "Your pleasure in seeing me is, as always, complementary.
His long black ponytail had slid over one shoulder, red-clad as were all the servants or slaves of hers who wore clothing, and the flesh it revealed had new, reddish scars on it, welts that she knew agonized him. It would fade, in time, his people being close to as regenerative as was her own. That was a pity, she always thought, because those marks of pain branded him as hers as no clothing could. A smile rested briefly on her face.
Fighting against the hands that held him and gouging more red lines across his shoulders in the process, he managed to lift his head, revealing a proud face and malevolent yellow eyes with their slit pupils [2]. Those eyes always bothered her. She could brand him and brand him as much as she wished, but those eyes would always remain his own, always remain Dragon.
"Damn you," he hissed at her.
One of her servants raised a hand to claw at his face for his lack of respect, but she shook her head. "Do not. I will be sending him out in a bit and I do not want any signs of recent abuse on him."
He spat at her. "Do you seriously think that I would do what you want me to?!?"
She rose. "You are my slave, pet."
"Heh." He tried to fight off her servants' hands momentarily, then turned his attention back to her. "You can do what you like to me. You always have. Yet I know that the hatchlings are safe now, in return for me, so I will take it. But I will never... NEVER do your will."
Yume laughed, sashaying closer. "You are such a stupid Dragon, pet."
"What?!"
Sliding down beside him, she began to caress him. He flinched away from her, but there was nowhere to run. "You think I'd give away my trump card?"
"We made a deal!" He cried out. "A Black Dragon slave in return for the hatchlings back! You'd already shown you were serious, ruining their minds while still in the eggs and then selling them as pets at carnivals [3]! You gave the eggs back, I saw you!"
She nibbled along his neck and he whimpered as fear flooded back into him with the memories of all the times before. "Stupid pet. Those were fakes. Now I have a full-grown Dragon slave as my pet AND a bunch of eggs waiting to hatch... or to be ruined and sold. Poor Black Dragon hatchlings, never learning to take on humaniod form, thinking of themselves as insuperior beings to humans... you don't want that to happen again, do you?"
"Damn you," he whispered, defeated. "What do you want me to do?" After she told him, he tugged at the leather harness he was wearing. "So I can remove this?"
"No. I can't have you turning into your full Dragon form whenever you wish, can I? You will wear that. But, unfortunately, I must get you into different clothing. The Beastmaster has a servant among them, and he would recognize the uniform. Something in blue, perhaps." Her predatory smile widened. "I'll choose it and dress you myself, my pet."
A strange look was on Zelgadis's face when Xelloss had finished explaining. "I see," he said. He glanced down. "Why did you tell me this? Why didn't you just do it?"
Xelloss's smile was contemplative. "I'm not sure. Of course, it's much easier to kidnap you if you know it's going to happen and let me."
"That's not why."
"No, but it sounds good, doesn't it?" the Mazoku smiled.
The chimera sighed. "You're twisted." He put his head on one side, thinking. "Still, if Lina DOES have that power, it would be better if she knows it, than if she discovers it by accident and puts everyone at risk."
"Oh, assuredly."
"Even if she chooses not to BE the Knight, she still should know she has a chance at it."
"Definitely."
Zelgadis glared at him. "Stop agreeing like that."
Laughing, Xelloss shook his head. "I can't win, can I? So what do you say?"
"Yes, you can kidnap me." The chimera thought hard. "You'll have to do it in front of the others though, to get them really riled up. Otherwise..."
"I know. I won't be able to tell you when I'll do it, though, I'll just seize the moment and you at the same time." Xelloss snuggled closer. "So now that THAT'S decided..."
A wicked smile crossed Zelgadis's lips. "If you're going to kidnap me soon, I had better be well-rested so I can put up a proper-looking fight. Goodnight, Xelloss."
"But Ze~e~e~elllll...."
"Goodnight, Xelloss."
"You're still trying to get back at me for having to leave earlier."
Zelgadis pulled a blanket up around his shoulders. "Mm-hmm. Goodnight, Xelloss."
Amelia turned over, wiping a hand across her nose and wincing as it hurt a lot more than she had expected. "Gods, crying brings out the worst in me," she sniffed.
She slid out of bed and peered at the small mirror provided with their rooms. It was nice for Lina to have agreed to kick Gourry out of his bed and sleep in his room so that Amelia could have a room to her own. She didn't really want other people to see her like this. She figited slightly, trying to get her hair back into something resembling its normal bounce. "Why can't I stop crying? It's nothing more than I should have... expected..." she felt the tears welling up again and held her breath, trying to keep them in. Not again. She didn't want to cry.
She couldn't stop crying.
Gods, if she'd confessed and Xellos DIDN'T love him...
He'd better! She thought fiercely. I risked myself because I thought he might have loved Zelgadis-san... I wanted to let him know how I felt... Oh, gods! She doubled over, clutching at her chest, the sharp stabbing pain that struck through her.
Slowly, she dressed in her usual outfit. Maybe she'd better talk to Xelloss. He was a Mazoku and fairly cruel more often than not, but he had said he could feel positive emotions... maybe it would make her feel better to talk to him.
The young shaman walked down the hall quietly, not wanting to wake anyone else up as the floor creaked. She stopped at the door of the room they'd got for Xelloss, and hesitated. What if he laughed at her? Teased her? It was certainly in his nature to do so.
Maybe she shouldn't...
Her resolve firmed. She was Amelia Wil Tessla Seiryuun, and she would not back out of this like a frightened child.
Even if she felt like a frightened child.
She rapped lightly on the door, and was met with silence. Asleep? It WAS late at night, she supposed, and just because she wasn't able to get to sleep, that didn't mean that HE wouldn't be able to.
But she HAD to talk to him. She turned the knob slightly and opened the door a crack, peering in.
Nobody was there.
In fact, it looked like Xelloss hadn't even bothered to have a look at the room.
Swallowing her heart again, she closed the door. Maybe I can talk to him later, she thought.
Still, there was no way she could go to sleep tonight. Maybe... "I'll take a walk," she murmured aloud.
This WAS a city, and there would still be some shops open. Maybe she could do some shopping.
And if some thugs attacked her, why, they'd feel the Justice of Amelia's hand!
Somehow, 'justice' seemed to stick in her throat.
Shopping. Yeah. That might be nice.
Xelloss watched Zelgadis sleep, gentle smile lingering about his lips. Funny, he'd never thought he'd be feeling like this. Not for anyone.
Anyone.
He reached out to brush some wayward hair out of Zelgadis's eyes. The hair pinged back into place immediately. Oh, yeah, Xelloss remembered, it was about as malleable as iron.
He was cute.
Zelgadis sighed slightly in his sleep, bottom lip sticking out in a small pout. Xelloss's smile turned slightly more wicked and he poked at the lip. Zelgadis, still asleep, bit him.
Oh, yes. This was simply the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to him.
Rough cobbles ground under Amelia's boots as she walked. She was beginning to feel tired now, after a long time spent walking in the dark with nobody there. Nobody.
And the only shops that seemed to be open were... she blushed.
Passing another lighted window, she glanced at it, prepared to look away quickly. Then she stopped, realizing it was something else.
A magic shop.
She tried to decide between it and just going back to the inn, and chose to go in. After all, she came here to get cheered up.
As the door opened, the shopkeeper waved at her. She waved back, more cheerfully than she felt, and turned to examine some of the goods. The first thing that caught her eye was a nice looking dagger, and she picked it up, examining it, only to feel the shopkeeper's hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, miss," he said apologetically, "but that's not for sale. It's mine." [4]
She blushed immediately and handed it to him. "Sorry!"
"No, no. Most people just don't see it." He smiled lopsidedly at her. "I'm Jef. What can I help you with?"
"Actually, I'm just looking around."
"We've got a sale on love potions."
For a second, she actually debated it, then sighed, disgusted at herself. "No, thank you, though."
Jef leaned in close, looking around... as if there was anyone to overhear! "I'll be honest with you, miss. Most of the stuff we have in right now is junk and not worth your time. However," he pulled out what looked like an ordinary stone, "this is the best thing you'll find in this city."
She sweatdropped.
He shook his head. "Really! It's even better than enchanted weapons. This is a Canceller. It stops magic for half a minute, if it hits the enchanted object. Can't you see how useful that would be? If there's some artefact about to cause the end of the world in an instant, hit it with this and the world is saved."
Amelia sighed. "Sure, I'll take it. Can't hurt to have something like that on hand." She reached into her pouch. "How much is it?"
He smiled. "Five silver pieces."
Her mouth dropped. "You're selling it very cheaply for something that powerful."
Jef shrugged. "Nobody else would buy it. It looks like a rock after all. But it's actually made from a piece of the very top of the Staff of the Gods. [5] Very useful thing. You look like you can use a fallback piece."
Smiling, she counted out the money. "Maybe it will come in handy sometime."
Guntair ran a finger under his harness, trying to get it away from his chest for a moment. He hated the damned thing. It trapped him, and always gave him the vague feeling that something unpleasant was walking over his skin. It made him smell like sweat.
Checking himself over in the mirror, he sighed. He couldn't deny the fact that Yume did have good fashion sense. She... it... knew how to make him look his best. It almost made him want to disfigure himself.
He knew what she'd do to him if he did that. He loosened the ponytail some, not letting it escape its ties, but covering the fresh scratches on the back of his neck from Yume's nails. He felt bile rise in his throat and choked it down. He would be strong.
His deep blue shirt was open at the chest, revealing the disgusting harness but making it look like simply an adornment. The shirt tucked under the waist of the harness and flared out behind him like two tails. His pants were black and tight at the top, relaxing at mid-thigh. Carefully, he attatched his thigh sheath and slid a dagger in it. If his sword went missing, he didn't dare go unarmed. Not when he wasn't able to take on his true form.
Carefully muttering under his breath all the things Yume had told him to say, he followed one of her servants to the outer chamber. Yume herself waited there, that hateful smile lingering on her lips as she ran her gaze over his outfit, making him feel dirtied. "Aren't you forgetting your weapon?"
Damn, she was forcing him to talk again. "You kept it, remember."
She waved a hand and a servant dragged it forward, unable to lift it. Yume lifted it with one hand, bringing the full ten feet of his blade [6] around to point at him. "I was just checking to see you did." Reversing the blade, sliding it in her hand, she handed it to him hilt first. "Do your job, pet."
He took his favourite weapon from her wicked hands. "Of course." He walked past her, out into the fresh air he so rarely experienced.
Behind him, her voice rang out. "And I do not think you would enjoy the result of failure... my pet."
Morning broke, and it was time to get on the road again. The group of adventurers gathered hurriedly to get everything together. Amelia was noticibly bleary-eyed, and Zelgadis was looking fairly suspicious and kept fingering his lip. Xelloss was Xelloss. Lina and Gourry finished off the pantry at the inn and they were on their way before anyone noticed. [7]
Lina and Gourry rode at the front, chatting together excitedly about something or other, probably having to do with the rumours of a gang of bandits lurking nearby. Which meant Amelia rode beside Zelgadis with Xelloss floating above.
"So." Zelgadis cleared his throat. "Sleep well?"
"No." It soon became clear Amelia wasn't going to elaborate.
"Ah."
Xelloss flipped over onto his stomach, floating in a position like he was laying down, and reached down to restyle Amelia's hair. Zelgadis casually Flare Arrowed him.
Then closed his eyes and tried to pretend he hadn't suddenly felt the blast of pleasure coming through the staff. So Xelloss still hadn't turned that off.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw Amelia looking at him a bit oddly. He tried to think of something to say, and, unable to, began to panic.
Surprisingly, Xelloss pulled a save. Having recovered and floated up to their level again, he turned to Amelia. "You must be awfully tired, mustn't you? If you like, I'll carry you so you can sleep without the horse bumping you up and down and up and down and up..." he bobbed with his words.
"No. Thank you."
"...and down and up and..."
"I said no, thank you." She was beginning to eyebrow-twitch.
Xelloss turned upside down so he was eye-level and continued. "and down and up and down and up and down..."
"Would you stop that?" she asked crossly.
"Oh, but it's fun. And up and down and up and..."
"BURST RONDO!"
The repeated blast hit the Mazoku squarely and blasted him into the dirt ahead on the road, where he was promptly stepped on by Lina and Gourry's horses.
Zelgadis doubled over his saddle, gasping for air.
"What's YOUR problem?" Amelia demanded.
He somehow managed to turn his gasps to chuckles. "That was... well done."
Amelia and Zelgadis's horses stepped on Xelloss, who was just beginning to get up again.
The chimera went into a fit of coughing.
The young shaman eyed him. "Zelgadis-san, you're acting very odd today." Her smile almost looked real to Zelgadis, and he would have believed it if it had reached her eyes.
"Uh... yeah. I didn't sleep too well either." Her eyes widened and he fought to contain a blush. "I, uh, kept having weird dreams."
"Ah." She went silent again.
Xelloss caught up, dirtied and with his cloak torn slightly. There was a hoofprint in the middle of his forehead. "You know," he said, "I don't think that anyone's ever actually ridden over me before. Pity, it's an interesting experience."
Zelgadis glared daggers at him.
"Ne, ne, Zel-kun, don't you think it would be? Maybe you should try it sometime."
The chimera's hands twitched.
Turning to Amelia, the Mazoku priest's smile widened. The hoofprint had mysteriously disappeared. "You're awfully quiet today."
"Am I?"
"I know! Why don't we play twenty questions! I'm thinking of something, ask me a yes/no question."
"Uh... is it blue?" Amelia sighed, clearly wanting to be left alone.
"Sore wa Himitsu desu!" Xelloss answered cheerfully.
"FREEZE ARROW!"
The reins snapped in Zelgadis's hands.
Amelia turned her attention back, ignoring the frozen Mazoku in the road behind them. "So. Uh. That's a nice new shirt you have, Zelgadis-san. I didn't think you had any other clothes... Zelgadis-san?"
"Uh..." He pulled his mind to the present. "Yeah. It's, uh, new."
"Suits you."
Somehow, Xelloss had unfrozen himself and caught up again. "His last one tore, didn't it, Zel-kun?"
Zelgadis sighed. It was going to be a long road trip.
The Black Dragon shielded his eyes from the sun, looking for a glimpse of his quarry on the road, and sighed. The leather was hot against his skin in this weather.
Around him, he could hear Yume's troops moving into position around the pass to set up a good ambush. It was vital to her plans that he get the adventurers to trust him.
And of course, her troops were disposable.
Lina ran a hand through her hair, and leaned towards Gourry slightly. "Don't look now, but it seems we're riding into a great ambush area."
"So we do the usual? Let them attack and then defeat them?"
"That's the plan."
"Do you think we should tell the others?"
Lina glanced over her shoulder. Zelgadis was riding with his eyes closed and a look of dispair on his face, and Amelia was hitting Xelloss repeatedly with something heavy. "I don't see how we could point it out without alerting possible ambushers. We'll just have to hope they notice it as well."
Xelloss opened his eyes slightly, ignoring momentarily both the saddle repair equiptment slamming into his head and the delicious distress/desire coming from his chimera, sensing something odd on the air.
His smile began to become his true smile.
Other Mazoku.
Looked like his chance was about to happen.
Amelia dropped the equiptment with surprise as people rushed in all around them. It landed on Xelloss and knocked him to the ground. "Wh - what?"
Lina and Gourry were already off their horses and hacking at the enemy with glee. Zelgadis looked like he was in shock and didn't move even when someone charged at him with a sword raised. "Zelgadis, look out!" she screamed, terrified, as the blade swung down at him. She needn't have worried; the blade snapped off and flew to bury itself in the ground nearby. The attacker looked surprised and went for the chimera, arms out.
He disintigrated into dust as Xelloss rose from the ground and touched him, whispering something softly.
The young shaman's eyes were wide with terror as the Mazoku she'd just been beating rose. His purple aura glowed around him malevoleantly, and his eyes were open truly and promising death to whatever they fell upon. He glanced at her briefly, and she fell back, whimpering, hating to be afraid but not able to help it. His smile widened, hungrily, and he pulled something from his cloak.
Throwing it to the ground, he murmured a word, and everyone froze, unable to do anything but watch.
He put out a hand and a blast of energy exploded from it, winding into bands and surrounding Zelgadis. A pained noise was torn from the chimera's throat as they touched him. Xelloss Metallium picked the chimera up, smile wide as the bands burned into his own clothing.
"I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid here is where I must take leave," he said clearly. "And I'm taking this with me. Orders and all that. I can't say what will happen to him when my master gets ahold of him, but that will be as it may. Come and get him back, if you can. I'll be waiting." He gave a mock bow to them all, and vanished.
Everything started again, and Amelia fought with tears flowing from her eyes. She should never have even begun to trust him. Never.
Guntair rushed into the battle. That must have been the servant of Yume's enemy. Pity, he'd had an urge briefly to help whoever was the enemy, but seeing the anger on the adventurer's faces, he realized that there was no way he'd help someone like that. He was as bad as Yume herself.
One of them was crying.
The kidnapped one's lover? Guntair wondered. One of Yume's troops was bearing down on her and she didn't seem to care. "WATCH OUT!" He shouted, rushing to her side and cutting the attacker down. That was one of the ones who had hurt him.
The girl crumpled.
He bend down to her level. "Are you ok?"
Amelia looked up. The newcomer had slit pupils and a concerned expression. "Who..."
"Tell you later!" the swordsman shouted, spinning to cut down another enemy. "Gotta fight!"
He wielded the weapon as if it was light. Amelia shook her head, suspicious but at the same time greatful. If he hadn't saved her then, she'd never be able to rescue Zelgadis.
She gathered energy for a spell.
"RA TILT!"
Lina and Gourry blinked as the enemy was abruptly cleared away. "Well," Gourry said, "that was fast."
The red-haired sorceress blinked. "Amelia, did you just use the strongest shamanist spell to annihilate a bunch of bandits? No, wait, stupid question." Her bemusement cleared away to anger. "Xelloss..."
The new swordsman cleared his throat. "Actually, miss, those weren't bandits. They were Mazoku."
"HUH?"
He turned, anger on his face. "I've been hunting that group down for a while. I make it my job to kill off as many Mazoku as possible."
Lina peered more closely at his eyes. "Are you..."
"I'm a Black Dragon." A bitter smile crossed his face. "I was cursed by some Mazoku to prevent me from becoming my true form, and since them, I've hunted down all Mazoku." He held out his hand. "My name's Guntair."
The sorceress's eyes grew dark. "How'd you like to come along to help track down a certain Mazoku?"
Zelgadis glared silently as Xelloss placed him on the ground gently, dusted him off, and only then removed the spell.
"I didn't hurt you TOO much, did I?" Xelloss questioned.
"I'll live. I should have expected it when you said you'd put on a good show."
The Mazoku smiled. "Could you have expected any less from me?"
Getting shakily to his feet, the chimera glared at his clothes. "You've ruined them."
"You could always take them off."
"No thanks. Where are we?" Zelgadis looked around.
The room was a semi-dark cave, lit only by phosphorus light. "We're in my master's domain. Wolf Pack Island, her... uh, reception room," he smiled, then peered into the dark ahead. "Ah... Xellas-sama?"
A husky chuckle and the light rose around the far end. "That was fast, Xelloss."
"Aren't I always?" Xelloss smiled. He nudged Zelgadis. "Zel, this is my master, Xellas Metallium, the Beastmaster. Be polite."
Zelgadis's eyebrows raised at the sight of the wolf-shaped, tentacled Mazoku but in never crossed his mind to be rude. "My lady," he said politely, bowing.
Xellas chuckled again. "What a nice young chimera," she said, amusement in her voice. "Xelloss?"
"Ah, yes, this is Zelgadis Greywars. Can I keep him?"
The chimera shot him a look.
"Whaat?"
Xellas sighed. "Xelloss..."
"Please?"
The Beastmaster rose from her haunches, giving an odd sort of shrug. "Up to you, of course, but I'm not going to forbid you." Her tongue hung out in an odd smile. "And, of course, up to the chimera. Good work, Xelloss. Did it all go according to plan?"
"Yes, Xellas-sama. They'd all gladly see me hanging dead from a tree tied there by my intestines with my feet nailed to my ears."
"Good. Don't let them get to him too easily. Move him around now and then. I'm going to go hunt now."
Xelloss bowed, took Zelgadis by the arm and teleported them to his own domain.
Zelgadis sweatdropped as he stumbled with the abrupt location change. "Xelloss... was she laughing at me?"
"Probably. She IS my master."
The chimera sighed and for the first time looked around. "Giku!"
"What, don't you like the silk sheets? They're new."
Zelgadis turned to Xelloss, something like desparation in his eyes. "Xelloss, it's been a really long day."
"All the more reason to make it better at the end, ne?"
"I don't think..."
"So don't," Xellos smiled. "Sometimes it's nice to just act. Really, Zel-kun, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were shy." He wrapped his arms around Zelgadis and began nuzzling the chimera's neck.
"Stupid Mazoku." Zelgadis tried half-heartedly to push the Mazoku away but just succeeded in knocking them both to the bed. "Oh... don't..."
Xelloss pressed his whole tall body against Zelgadis. "Don't what?" he purred.
"Uh... that."
"You are shy!" Xelloss exclaimed, delighted. "Why? I've felt your desire all day. So why?" He laughed. "It's almost like you're a virgin!"
Zelgadis fought anger and embarrassment and ended up looking away, blushing.
The Mazoku ran his fingertips over a red cheek. "You don't mean..." he blinked, completely surprised. "You are, aren't you?!"
"Shut up," Zelgadis growled, pushing away from Xelloss. "Just leave me alone."
"But why? You've certainly been old enough for a while." He pulled Zelgadis near again. "And from what I felt, you'd certainly have a hard time staying celebate, with your hormones!"
"Not when nobody wants you," Zelgadis growled.
"Mm?" Xelloss tried to capture Zelgadis's lips again, but the chimera pushed him away.
"When Rezo made me like this, I was barely out of childhood!" Zelgadis snarled. "I lived in the woods away from anyone who wasn't family. Grandfather made me like this on a brief visit. After that, no one would touch me! I'm an ugly freak!"
"Zelgadis," Xelloss sighed. "You..."
"Everyone who met me hated me or feared me! When Lina met me, she automatically assumed I was evil, just because of how I looked! Amelia's first response was similar but with revulsion added as well! The only people who didn't care were three people who worked for me, one of whom was a freak as well and the other two who were old guys who'd worked for my family for ages!" Zelgadis sobbed, letting it out. "It never mattered if I wanted or loved anyone, because I was a monster! The only time they'd ever be willing to look at me was to stare at my freakish face!"
Xelloss wiped away his tears, running the wetness between his fingers, and then kissing the trails. "I don't think your face is freakish. I think it's beautiful."
"Shut up! Just shut up, shut up!" Zelgadis turned away. "Don't look at me!"
"It's okay, Zel, it's okay..."
"NO IT'S NOT! It's never been okay and it will never be okay! I'm an ugly freak who everyone hates! Just leave me ALONE!"
"Zel..."
"Don't look at me! Don't touch me, don't look at me!" Zelgadis covered his face, letting the harsh tears flow.
Xelloss reached out hesitantly, patting his hair. "Zel, listen to me. I'm Mazoku. Do you know what that means in this situation?"
"That you're enjoying this?" Zelgadis sobbed.
"No! That's not what it means!" Xelloss hoped he was saying the right thing. He'd never dealt with anything like this before. "It means I've lived a long time and seen an awful lot of things. A lot of things. And a lot of people. Many of whom aren't even human-SHAPED. And they're still people. I like beautiful things, and I like you. I honestly don't know how you can think you're not beautiful."
"I'M JUST A MONSTER!"
"Monstrosity is determined by what you do, what you are. If either of us is a monster, it is me," Xelloss told him, turning the chimera's face up to his. "I'd understand if you couldn't be with me because of that. But this," he shook his head. "I just don't see it. You are so beautiful, heart and body, I've longed for you since we met. Even when you hated me. I wanted to possess you as one possesses a beautiful thing. Now all I want is for you to think of me as your equal, forgive me my faults, and let me rest in your beautiful arms. So your skin is blue. So you have scales here and there. So what." He forced Zelgadis to meet his eyes. "So what."
Zelgadis sniffled. "But..."
Without releasing his eyes, Xelloss reached to the side and grabbed his staff. "Touch the gem."
"Wh - "
"Touch it. If you have any trust for me at all, if you want to know exactly how I feel, touch it."
The chimera couldn't break eye contact. He tried, and couldn't. "I..."
"Touch it."
Reaching out with a trembling hand, he laid his finger on the red gem.
And So beautiful. Skin like the sky on a sunny day, hair like the few passing clouds in it, lit up by the sun
Saw His/your glare melting me like I was ice, making me taunt to draw it out again. Just as long as he/you looks at me.
Himself The warmth flowing between them/us the first time they/we truly courted, never wanting it to end... I know so much is wrong, but as long as he/you are here, it will all be alright
In The slightly nasal tone of voice humourous at first, but then I want nothing more than to hear it always
Xelloss's I'm sitting on a roof after you/he kissed me for the first time and trembling for the first time in centuries. I wanted this so badly, why am I scared?
Heart because I'm a monster and he/you are so beautiful. And I love him/you. I love him. I love you.
Trembling, Zelgadis removed his finger and stared at Xelloss. "You..."
"Yeah, me."
"But..."
"But?"
Zelgadis broke into tears again.
Xelloss's eyebrows creased and he pulled the unresisting chimera into his arms. "I'm sorry. I... I thought I was making things better. I didn't mean to..."
The shaman rested his head on Xelloss's shoulder. "You didn't. You..." He clutched at Xelloss's shirt. "Thank you... I..." he mumbled something.
The Mazoku stroked his hair. "Hmm? Shh, it's alright now. It's okay. I'm here."
"But... I have to tell you..."
Pressing his lips to the top of Zelgadis's head, Xelloss pretended that tears hadn't sprung up in his own eyes. "Whatever it is, it can wait. You've been through a lot. You're right, it's been a long day. Rest now."
Zelgadis shifted to get comfortable in Xelloss's arms. "...okay."
The Beastmaster sighed as she ran with her pack, closing the link between herself and Xelloss to almost shut. So.
When he fell, he fell hard.
Hopefully, this wouldn't end like the last ones.
Guntair sat down beside Amelia. "So, miss..."
"Call me Amelia."
He smiled. "All right. Amelia, what's this Zelgadis fellow like?"
She blinked. "What? Well... he's fairly quiet, and the most powerful shamanist I know. His grandfather turned him into a chimera, so he looks a little odd, but he's..." she swallowed back a lump. "He's really a very nice guy. He's been travelling with us for as long as I remember. Actually, he knew Lina-san and Gourry-san before I even joined them. I think he helped prevent the rebirth of Shabrinigido."
The Black Dragon's eyebrows rose. "Really. Interesting. What kind of chimera?"
"Uh... part human, part golem, and part Mazoku."
Hand slipping to his side to touch his sword - he had to carry it seperately, it was too large to sheathe - his eyes hardened. "Really."
The young princess turned to him. "He's really a nice guy. Don't hate him for that, it's not his fault."
Guntair blinked at her vehemence. "Is he your lover?"
She winced and tears formed in her eyes. One escaped and she wiped it away, hoping he hadn't noticed. "N - no. I'm sort of like his little sister, in a way."
He looked down at her and she had a suspicion he knew. "You must like him a lot."
"Y - yes, I do."
"And the Mazoku... Xelloss or whatever his name is. What about him? Why would he kidnap this Zelgadis?"
She fixed her eyes on the ground. "I'm not sure. I... I used to think that he might have... been in love with Zelgadis-san. But the way he treated him..."
"Mazoku don't love," Guntair said harshly, hugging himself. "At most, they use sex for control. Not out of any love. They are evil, purely evil..." his hair fell to one side as he pulled his knees to his chest, revealing the scratches and scars on his neck and back.
Amelia gasped. "Guntair-san! Where did you get these-?" she reached out to touch one and he flinched.
"Please don't touch me... I don't like being touched," he whispered.
She shook her head. "But... everyone needs to be touched. Otherwise, how can they be comforted?"
"There is no comfort in touch."
Suddenly, she realized what he must mean. Was it possible? But he had all the signs Amelia had seen in some of the women back in her father's court... the ones who never talked. Impulsively, she reached out and gave him a big hug. "Here, I don't want to hurt you, but I want to hug you to make you feel better, do you understand?"
"I - "
The young shaman pulled back and looked at him seriously. "Do you want to talk? I swear I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to."
He turned his face away. "I - I'm afraid to talk. She might hear. And then she'll kill you all for sure!"
It must be possible. After all, you just had to not want it. "Here." Quickly, she cast a protective circle. "It won't last longer than an hour to someone really powerful, but I can make it hold that long." She smiled at him. "Trust me."
He choked on his own tears and nodded, beginning to explain.
Amelia's eyes were wide as she listened, feeling another bit of innocence slip away. But perhaps, she realized, it was for the better. She couldn't protect anyone if she didn't know what could happen. She waited until he was finished talking, and paused, gathering her thoughts. "You have gone through horror," she whispered. "And although we can't undo the past, I can tell you for sure that if the others know you were so much as hurt, we'll all do everything in our power to protect you. We would all sooner die than let people get hurt like that... like anything."
"I can't tell them! I can't!"
She put her hand on his shoulder comfortingly. "Lina and Gourry were two of the three people who prevented the rebirth of Shabrinigido. They did that for the sake of people they considered friends. You're our friend now. And as long as this Mazoku lady was weaker than Shabrinigido, they'll do it again. No matter what."
He kept his head low for a long moment, then looked at her. "All right." Then his eyes widened. "But the eggs! If she finds out she'll kill the hatchlings!"
Amelia sighed. "Well, I don't know all the details of course, but isn't it possible that she was just lying to get you to go along with her plans? You said that you saw her give eggs back. And if they'd been fake, wouldn't you have heard of attacking Black Dragons now?"
Guntair's jaw dropped. "Of course. I... I feel so stupid."
"You're not stupid, just scared," Amelia said, putting her arm around him. "Which is natural and normal. You're right to be scared, but everything's all right now. Even if you don't tell the others, I'll do all I can to protect you."
In his mind's eye, he saw what Yume would do to her if she was the only one between him and her. No, he couldn't do that to this sweet girl. "Call the others."
Xelloss stared at the sleeping chimera in his arms. Shabrinigido-sama, he was... he was... "You are my everything," he whispered. "I wish Xer was alive to meet you."
Maybe, just maybe, by the time the others came to kill him, he'd have Zelgadis feeling good about himself again.
The next morning, as Gourry cooked breakfast over a small fire, Lina outlined a map in the dirt. "We can't do anything against Yume yet, not until we've got Zelgadis back, you understand that, right, Guntair-kun?"
Guntair nodded.
"So our first goal is to make it to Wolf Pack Island, which is the only place I can think of that Xelloss would have taken him."
Gourry scratched his head. "What's Wolf Pack Island?"
Lina sighed, and it was clear to Guntair that this sort of thing must happen a lot. "Wolf Pack Island is where Xelloss's Mazoku master, the Beastmaster lives. Because of this, although the Island itself is publically accessable, most people don't go there. It'll be difficult to get a boat across. And the Beastmaster will probably have her own realm within it that we won't be able to get into without permission. Do you understand now?"
Gourry's forehead creased and he put his hand to his chin. "I would have to say... no, not at all."
The red-haired sorceress hit him over the head. "Just follow me and try not to think too hard."
"Okay."
"Where IS Wolf Pack Island?" Amelia asked.
"From what I remember, it's actually not too far away. Pretty lucky." Lina smiled grimly. "It means we won't have to wait as long to kill Xelloss for his betrayal." She turned to Gourry. "Don't hesitate to use your sword, Gourry. Xelloss has proven himself to be a threat to us."
The blond swordsman nodded. "After what he did to poor Zelgadis... yeah, I won't hold back."
Amelia sighed. "Still, it's really weird. Just before, Xelloss was teasing me and Zelgadis-san like always. He even let me beat up on him. It's really weird to think he betrayed us like that."
"He's Mazoku," Guntair said grimly. "Of course he would do that. It's what Mazoku do."
Zelgadis woke slowly. Strange, he was sleeping in a soft bed, not on the hard ground. Had he stayed in an inn this time?
His eyes opened and he stared at the distinct lack of anything around. Empty space. He was lying in a bed in empty space?
Memories came flooding back, and he flushed. Xelloss loved him. Xelloss truly loved him.
Where was Xelloss now? He sat up.
There was a door in the nothingness. From it came the smell of bacon and eggs, and a cheerful humming [8]. Wait a minute... bacon and eggs?
He slid out of bed and rubbd his eyes sleepily, walking unsteadily across the nothing-floor to the door.
Xelloss turned to smile at him. "You're awake!"
The trickster priest was wearing his usual outfit, but had added bunny slippers and an apron with 'Himitsu' written across the front. Past him was a pan of bacon and eggs, sitting on a flame which sprang from nothing. "I didn't know what you liked, so I decided bacon and eggs were a good likelihood. Oh, and do you like the kitchen? It was sort of a last minute thing since I don't have to eat normal food. As long as you don't ask what kind of eggs they are or where I got the bacon, things should be okay. Right?"
Zelgadis blinked, then broke out laughing.
Unsure of whether to be annoyed or amused, emotions flickered rapidly across Xelloss's face, and eventually laughed. "What's so funny?"
"Y - you! Th - the apron is bad enough, but the... the slippers!"
Xelloss looked down at them, bemused. "What's wrong with them? I like bunny slippers." He held out a foot and pretended to make it hop. "And they're made from real bunnies."
The chimera's laughter slowed to a stop.
Sighing, Xelloss pulled a plate out of a non-existant cupboard. "It was a joke, Zel, a joke."
"...Oh."
The Mazoku handed him the plate and a knife. "Anyway, eat up! You so thin!" He put on a strange accent. "You so thin! How you gonna get a lover, you so thin!"
Zelgadis gave him a strange look. "What's the occasion?"
"Hmm?"
"You're stranger than normal."
Xelloss's brows creased. "Stranger than normal? Isn't that an oxymoron?"
Chewing, Zelgadis thought about that. "I don't think so. It's just an over-simplification. If it was an oxymoron, it would contradict itself. In reality, it just is really obvious."
The priest threw his hands up in dispair. "I didn't want a lesson." He made a chair for Zelgadis to sit in and levitated up himself. "So, how did you sleep."
"Very well." Zelgadis found himself blushing and looked down. "Th - thank you."
Feeling Xelloss's hand on his shoulder, he looked up into the eternal smile. "Don't. Don't thank me for something like that."
"But I - "
"So when do you think that Lina and the others will come?" Xelloss asked quickly.
"It depends," Zelgadis responded. "They might figure out where we are very quickly. Um. If they... try to attack you... will your master step in?"
"No," Xelloss smiled. "Finding out whether Lina is the Knight of Shabrinigido is very important to her. Even if one of her enemies attacked while they were on this island, she wouldn't show herself."
Zelgadis was silent for a long moment. "I'm sure that they won't try to kill you."
"Sou."
"Xelloss? There's something I want to tell you."
The Mazoku bounded over and swept the plate out of his hand, tossing it to disappear into the nothingness. "Later, later! Right now I want to show you around, ne?"
"Alright. Later."
Lina knocked on the ferryman's door. He peered out. "What is it?"
"We'd like a boat to take to Wolf Pack Island."
He laughed. "Don't be stupid. I don't rent out my boats to go there, little boy."
Fire sprung up around her. "What did you call me?! Gourry, let me go! He called me a - "
"Lina, calm down, it's just an old man!"
Amelia leaned in close to the old ferryman. "You won't rent out boats? Not even for..." She reached into a pouch and pulled out a solid gold ring. It used to be her mother's, but sometimes people were more important than things. Mother would have understood. "...this?"
The ferryman lifted it and examined it. Amelia felt herself shaking, and Guntair put his hand on her shoulder, comforting her. She smiled reassuringly at him. When they'd got Zelgadis back, they could help him.
"Well," the ferryman hemmed and hawed. "I suppose I could let one go..."
Zelgadis sat on the bed nervously, waiting for Xelloss to return. During the middle of their tour around the island, the Beastmaster had called him, and Xelloss had teleported him back here, telling him to wait. He had to have been gone for hours.
He knew perfectly well that Xelloss could very easily die in the next little while. Just to find out about Lina's powers. Why had he allowed this? Why hadn't he said no?
Probably because he knew that if he hadn't, Xelloss would have really kidnapped someone. And he didn't want the trickster priest to have any new regrets.
Still, the thought of losing him hurt. Especially now.
"Hey."
Zelgadis looked up to see Xelloss floating there, smile a bit sad. "Hey yourself."
"Xellas-sama says that Lina-tachi will arrive soon," Xelloss told him. "Probably tomorrow. I'll have to set you up in the acutal island to look like you've been tied up and maybe tortured."
"I know."
"As long as you do." Xelloss floated down to sit next to the chimera. "You mind?"
"No. Not really."
"Good."
They sat in silence for a while. Then Zelgadis raised his head. "Xelloss, I have to tell you that I - "
Xelloss's lips were on his, silencing him effectively. "Shh,not now. Not tonight. Tell me tomorrow. After it's all over."
"But..." Zelgadis began and Xelloss kissed him again. His lips wandered across Zelgadis's cheek to his ear, which he bit lightly, teasing but not demanding.
Possibly the last time they'd see each other.
"Xelloss..." Zelgadis pushed away from him slightly, and that eternal smile was back across the eyes.
"I understand," Xelloss told him, smiling. "Sleep well. I'll see you tomorrow."
"That's not what I meant," Zelgadis whispered. "Open your eyes."
"What?" The smile faltered.
"Open your eyes. I want to see your eyes as... as we make love."
Hesitantly, almost as if he was afraid, Xelloss's revealed his Mazoku eyes. Zelgadis stared into them, slit-pupiled and unreflective but still beautiful. He smiled suddenly, brightening his whole face, and pulled Xelloss's head down again, kissing the Mazoku. "Beautiful," he whispered as he started to undo Xelloss's clothes. "You aren't the monster you think you are. Not anymore... ah... mmm."
Xelloss rolled so he was on top [9] of the chimera. It was enough. Whatever else was left unsaid then, it was enough.
Zelgadis opened his eyes sleepily to stare at Xelloss. The Mazoku was watching him. "Hi."
"Did I wake you?"
"Mmm... not really asleep."
"Ah." Xelloss's eyes started to turn up in his smile, but Zelgadis touched his cheek.
"Don't."
"Alright." Xelloss kept his eyes open, just gazing at the chimera.
"Xelloss?"
"Yes?"
Zelgadis glanced down uneasily, pulling at a fold in the bedsheets then asked, "Why are there scars on the backs of your thighs?"
"Sage." Xelloss answered shortly. "Enchanted whip. Library. You remember me telling you about that?"
"Oh. Yes, I remember."
Xelloss shifted and his gaze slid away. "He decided not to disfigure my face."
"I can understand why." Zelgadis smiled at his Mazoku.
A gentle smile touched Xelloss's face. "Go to sleep, Zel. It's going to be a hard day tomorrow."
"Mm. I still have to tell you - "
"Tomorrow," Xelloss reminded him. "You agreed to tell me tomorrow."
Zelgadis's eyes closed and he sighed. "Yes. When it's all over."
Xelloss gazed at the sleeping chimera and sighed. "When it's all over. If not, and I die, you'll be past the point of no return."
And I can't do that to you.
Morning. Lina shook Amelia awake. "Let's go."
"Zel."
Zelgadis awoke to the sound of Xelloss calling his name. "Mmm?" he murmured, not fully awake yet.
"It's time." The Mazoku's eyes were smiling and not revealing any of his thoughts. "Xellas-sama told me to get everything ready."
"Everything being me?"
"That's right," Xelloss smiled. "You're everything."
"Does SHE get up this early?"
"She doesn't go to sleep."
"Oh."
"So." Xelloss pulled out a length of chain, which Zelgadis eyed with trepidation, coming fully awake. "Let's go."
They pulled the boat up on the shore, making sure it was secure. Lina let out a sigh. This was it. The point of no return.
In the distance, wolves howled.
"So that's why they call it Wolf Pack Island," Gourry breathed, drawing strange looks from his companions.
Choosing to ignore that comment, they went up a hill. The whole island was made of broken hills and bushes. "I can't see anything in this," Lina complained. "We're just going to have to do this the old-fashioned way."
She took a deep breath and the others prepared themselves for her casting a spell.
"XELLOSS! COME OUT HERE YOU TRAITOROUS ROTTEN BASTARD! GIVE ZELGADIS BACK! FIGHT LIKE YOU MEAN IT!"
"I've never heard her do that one before," Gourry whispered.
To everyone's amazement, Xelloss phazed in above them, waving his staff and smiling adorably. Guntair hissed. "Hello, everyone," Xelloss smiled. "I'm sorry it took me so long to greet you, but I was... busy. Mazoku business. And as for giving Zel-kun back, well, I'm afraid he's rather tied up right now. If you come to him, though, he's at the top of the hill. Meet me there, and I will... fight like I mean it, as you said." He waved at them and phazed out again.
Peering towards the hill, they could see a broken tree... and perhaps something hanging from it. "Let's go," Amelia said, finally completely resolved to killing Xelloss.
Zelgadis raised his head as the Mazoku phazed in at his side. "Xelloss?"
"Just a second." Xelloss held out his staff at arm's length and concentrated. Zelgadis felt something snap... the feeling of 'Xelloss' that had seemed so ever- present had just disappeared. Xelloss had removed the spell.
"What do you think you're doing?!?"
"Upset? You kept asking me to." Xelloss smiled at him. "I just don't want to be distracted at a critical moment."
The chimera hung his head again, looking for a moment like the prisoner he was pretending to be. "Xelloss. Don't do anything stupid."
"Would I do that?"
"You do it all the time."
Xelloss laughed and moved a few steps away. "Here they come."
"XELLOSS!" Lina screamed, then skidded to a halt as they all drew a collective breath. "L-sama! What did you DO to him?"
Zelgadis knew he looked like a sorry sight. Hanging from the tree with chains, clothing torn, and with burn marks on his skin - actually the hurried result of some ash rubbed on - he could very easily have been tortured for the last few days. [10]
The Mazoku placed his staff under his head and lifted it. "Him? Oh, he'll be all right. He was stronger than I thought he would be."
"KISAMA!" Lina screamed as Amelia fought tears. Her aura began to glow red around her.
Laughing mockingly, Xelloss raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Now, now, don't be so hasty. We're all old friends, after all."
The aura grew, blossoming around Lina. Her eyes snapped open, glowing a deeper shade of red than their natural colour. Ruby.
When she spoke again, her voice carried a much heavier inflection than usual. "Xelloss Metallium. I'm going to kill you."
Xelloss smiled.
Power surged.
"DON'T!" Zelgadis felt the word tear itself from his throat.
The Power hesitated, on the verge of lashing and destroying. Xelloss turned, surprise written on his face.
"This has gone far enough!" Zelgadis cried out. "I'm sorry for deceiving everyone, but Xelloss ASKED me to come with him, to find out.."
"Stop!" the Mazoku shouted, flinging a hand out. "If she knows what power she might have, she'll deny it and supress it, and this will have been for nothing!"
Lina's eyes went back to their normal colour. "What do you mean? What power? I'm a perfectly ordinary sorceress!"
Amelia began to stalk up the hill. "Zelgadis-san, how can we believe that this happened with your will? He HURT you!"
"I knew it would happen," the chimera replied. "but he came to me with his story and asked me. He would have had to do it anyway, he was ordered to so that..."
"Please stop," Xelloss said in a sing-song voice as he began to walk down the hill towards the people who had been his friends. "Xellas-sama is going to be pissed enough as it is!"
"But... but Xelloss enjoyed hurting you!" Amelia cried. "And it was obvious from the way he was acting that..."
Zelgadis shook his head. "Haven't any of you realized yet that he's the only one among us who is always acting?"
A honey-like chuckle filled the clearing and Guntair whimpered suddenly, falling to his knees. "This is such a pity," a female voice said as a beautiful, dark-haired woman phazed into the clearing. Her dress whipped around her, removing what little modesty it pretended to. "I'd been hoping you'd kill each other off, but I see I have to step in. Who should I kill first? My traitorous pet? The adventurers? The favourite of my enemy? Or the one whom you all came for?" A dark smile flitted across her face. "Yes, that would be nicely ironic." She turned towards Zelgadis and raised a hand.
The chimera watched as a blast gathered in front of her hand and sped towards him, eating up the ground as it went. He realized with a sinking heart that, Mazoku nature or not, there was no way he could survive that. And the chains wouldn't let him go anywhere. As he watched his death coming towards him, he was filled with the sudden amused thought that it was HIM going to die, not Xelloss.
And a figure phazed in in front of him, arms to either side, taking the blast.
Xelloss screamed as this new power burnt through his body. There was no pleasure in this pain. Just agony.
He could hear, as if far away, Zelgadis crying something out, his friends shouting. It didn't affect him. All he had to do was make it through this, and whatever followed, and Zelgadis would be safe. That was what mattered.
He couldn't stop screaming.
The companions watched in horror as Xelloss appeared in front of the chimera, protecting him, gut-wrenching scream torn from him. Amelia screamed something, but she wasn't certain what.
Power ended, and Xelloss stayed in the air a moment longer before hitting the ground with a wet thump. His hand inched out in a motion as though he would push himself up but he went no further, laying still.
Zelgadis screamed and wrestled with his chains.
Yume laughed long and hard. "This is a development. So the little priest of Xellas's and the chimera were telling the truth. And the stupid little priest sacrificed himself to save a lesser being! Probably, he believed he was in love with the chimera. This is so amusing!"
"KISAMA!" Zelgadis shouted, and a link snapped in the chain, letting him slide to the ground. He bent by Xelloss.
Hearing a low growl beside her, Amelia turned to see Guntair pale and furious. "If only I could become my real form," he murmured, eyes radiating anger. "This stupid harness... but it doesn't matter! I'll kill her anyway!"
Guntair swung the sword off its resting place against his shoulder and charged his master. She watched amusedly as he imapaled her, then walked along the blade to caress his cheek. "My stupid, stupid pet. Betraying me for these children. You shall be punished very severely indeed."
He whimpered, dropping the blade which slid from her body.
Amelia shook her head. Guntair would get killed! She couldn't let that happen. A spell? No, this was a powerful Mazoku. What, then?!
Reaching into her pocket, she felt a small round object and her eyes widened.
Perhaps.
If she could break the spell...
Please, gods, let my aim fly true! Removing the Canceller, she aimed and threw. For a moment, she thought she'd missed.
It struck the harness.
Guntair felt his confinement disappear. The straps were still around him, but they were only leather now. He roared his fury, and expanded, becoming what he truly was.
He delighted in the look of terror beginning on Yume's face.
Payback.
It wasn't enough! Lina agonized as the Dragon tore at Yume's body. It immediately began to reform. She's too powerful! What can I do? I can't risk a Giga Slave... or even a Dragon Slave, and anything lesser CAN'T work!
They said that I had a power I wasn't aware of.
She closed her eyes and felt within her a familiar presence. It couldn't be! It couldn't! She'd destroyed him!
But...
But he called to her. My daughter. Use my power. It will not harm you. Use what I have given you. Call upon me.
I can't! She agonized. Not His power! I don't dare!
The Black Dragon fell backwards as Yume reformed and laughed at him.
Oh, hell.
Lina reached for the Power inside her.
Guntair turned his head on its long neck as Yume's gaze went terrified again, looking past him. The sight he saw...
LINA glowing with a Mazoku's power, eyes ruby red, the Ruby-Eyed's power gathering around her...
And blasting against Yume, missing him entirely.
Still, can't hurt to make sure she's dead, he philosophized, tearing into the limp body and scattering the pieces.
Zelgadis knelt beside his lover. "Xelloss?" he turned the body over, wincing as the third-degree burns became apparant. "Xelloss, you bastard, don't die on me now! Not yet!"
Slowly, the Mazoku's eyes opened, as if with a great force of will. "Sor-ry."
"You stupid bastard! What did you do that for?!"
"Just... because." Xelloss sighed and his eyes began to fall shut again.
"NO! I'm NOT going to let you die, you hear me! You're not going to die!" He felt tears form and fall, one hitting Xelloss's cheek.
Xelloss couldn't open his eyes again. "Wet... you crying?... I told you... not to cry... didn't I?"
"I don't think so," Zelgadis sobbed. "I seem to be doing this a lot."
"Stupid," Xelloss whispered. "I'm just a... damn Mazoku, remember?"
"I LOVE YOU!"
The trickster priest froze. "Uhn... damn. Didn't want you to... say that until... it was all over."
"But if you die now... it IS all over!"
"I am... so stupid. I know... it hurts you to say that... but somehow, it... makes me... happy." Xelloss smiled. "Maybe... I should be glad I heard it, not... worried. Don't... hurt yourself like... this. You weren't... supposed to say that until... I was... safe. Otherwise... there was no way... you could go back. It'd be... too late."
Zelgadis shook his head and brushed Xelloss's hair off his face. "Can't you see? It's already too late. As soon as I wanted to say I love you, it was too late."
"Don't have... much 'xperience with... these things. I..." Xelloss's eyes snapped open as a red power filled the air around him. "Shabrinigido-sama? Perhaps... I can still..." his eyes drifted shut again. He sighed and stopped breathing.
Zelgadis's eyes widened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out.
Then, suddenly, the red power around them lifted the priest into the air. His skin began to mend itself, healing in front of Zelgadis's eyes. Xelloss's chest rose again, breath returning, and the priest opened his eyes and smiled. "I'll be damned. She used Him."
And Zelgadis still couldn't find any words.
"The Knight of WHAT?!"
"Shabrinigido-sama," Xelloss explained patiently, smiling. He'd left Zelgadis still sitting in shock back by the tree. "That's what brought me back from the edge and annihilated Yume-sama. Couldn't you tell?"
"Yes, I could tell I was using the power of the father of Black Magic, but that doesn't make me the Mazoku Knight!" Lina raged.
"Maybe it's a family occupation?"
"SHUT UP!" Lina screamed, furious, as Guntair, Amelia, and Gourry cowered back. "Even if I DO have the power, I am NOT becoming the Knight of Shabrinigido! I don't even LIKE Shabrinigido, he tried to kill me and my friends! I am NOT NOT NOT!"
Xelloss raised his hands, trying to calm the furious sorceress. "In the end, it's your decision, but you do realize that as a Mazoku, I'm duty-bound to do my best to try to convince you that it's a good idea."
"GO AHEAD! TRY! IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE MY MIND!"
"Not now, no, but both Mazoku and sorcerors live a long time. I don't see myself leaving the party any time soon."
Guntair snorted. "Listen, Mazoku, you've got a lot of nerve to - " he was over-powered by Lina starting up again.
"OH YEAH?! AND WHAT IF I DECIDE TO BECOME A HOUSEWIFE AND HAVE LOTS OF KIDS?!"
Xelloss smiled at her. "Wouldn't I make a terrific uncle?"
Lina sputtered.
Suddenly, Zelgadis came up behind Xelloss and whapped him over the head. "Zel! Not now!"
"You bastard! Don't ever do something like that to me again!" He snorted. "What the hell was it with that die live thing?"
The trickster's smile brightened. "Lina's the Knight of Shabrinigido and - "
"I AM NOT!"
" - she sort of overdid it on the power thing and brought me back to life. Lucky, ne?"
"Don't. Ever. Scare. Me. Like. That. Again."
Xelloss blinked. "Scary."
Suddenly, Zelgadis noticed Guntair. "Uh... who are you?"
"I'm Guntair of the Black Dragons." Guntair scowled at the scaled chimera. "You are the one who's sort of like Amelia-chan's big brother?"
"Uh..." Zelgadis processed this. "Yeah. That's me."
Guntair growled. "You helped that Mazoku convince Amelia-chan and the others that you'd been kidnapped and injured. She cried over you! I outghta..."
Zelgadis was getting rapidly overwhelmed again. "I didn't mean..."
"Guntair, don't!" Amelia cried.
"Yeah!" Xelloss glomped Zelgadis and stuck his tongue out at Guntair. "You leave my sweetie-pie alone, you big bad Dragon!"
Dead silence.
Wind wooshed.
"Your what?" Lina asked dryly.
"My - "
Zelgadis covered Xelloss's mouth with one hand and tried to shake him off his arm. "Your nothing, you damn Mazoku!"
Xelloss bit him.
Guntair snarled. "Are you trying to make Amelia-chen feel even worse, Mazoku?!"
As Zelgadis shook his injured hand, Xelloss pouted. "Honeeeey," he whined teasingly, "that nasty Dragon's being mean! Beat him up for me!"
"EVERYBODY, STOP THIS!" Lina shouted, trying to bring calm back to the group.
Xelloss released the chimera's arm and bowed. "Whatever you say, mighty Knight of Shabrinigido!"
The sorceress lost her cool. "Grrrr... FIREBALL!"
Guntair, Zelgadis, and Xelloss were all crispied in the resulting spell. Xelloss giggled and fell over. "Yes, Lina, that's right. That's the way a good Knight behaves."
As Lina began to chant the words for the Dragon Slave, Zelgadis blew out a puff of smoke and reflected that, at least, the rest of his life wouldn't be boring.
(author swoons and hits her head on hard Stuff) (maybe one day I'll do a connected series about Xelloss's attempts to convince Lina to become the Knight or an Amela/Guntair, but don't expect it any time soon.)
1 - See 'The Nature of Friendship'.
2 - Both Mazoku and Dragons have slit pupils, but they're shaped slightly differently.
3 - Yay! Tie-in to episode one!
4 - The dagger's Life-Giver. Both he and Jef are from a story set in my other Amberton.
5 - Aren't all rocks?
6 - "Hello, and welcome to the convention of People with Huge Swords. I'm Cloud Strife, your host. Take a seat, I believe there's a spare one beside Sanosuke, there. Sephiroth will be giving a speech on the value of Mako... hey, wait a minute!"
7 - The empty pantry, of course.
8 - This time, he was humming 'Secret, Dakera no Message'
9 - Of course he was on top. Zelgadis is a rock and weighs it.
10 - The give away that he hadn't been was that his hair wasn't done up in pink ribbons. Now THAT'S torture.
Note on Names
Yume is pronounced You-may.
Guntair is pronounced like it's spelled. Say it with a Japanese accent.
Xellas looks like a wolf with tentacles coming from her back. Just if you're wondering.
Xer = Xel's short nickname for the brother I made up for him. ^_^