Author note: It's me again. Thanks for the reviews. Yes, Zelgadis is a smart lad. He just gets caught in the moment.
OMG HERE IS THE POEM:
"My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honor remains
The arrow has left the bow of the goddess" - Act IV Loveless
"We have to go find Amelia!" Zelgadis didn't wait another second before heading in the direction the monsters had vanished. Lina grabbed his arm holding him back. There was no use in following them. It wasn't like the monsters ran to their hideout and left foot prints to follow. There was nothing to follow. They had no idea where they had gone and now wasn't the time to go boldly in to save the day. They needed answers, now!
"Let's not be rash." Lina said looking over at Zanil. The young half monster's eyes widened a little. "Explain yourself." Milgesia looked at Zanil with eyes of pity. He was way younger than Filia. To have the young have to fight grown up battles, it didn't seem fair.
"All the answers will be given once we reach our destination." He would have to remember to thank Milgesia later. Zanil distantly wished they never had to meet their destination. Peering over at Filia, his chest tightened. If there was anything he ever wanted in life, it was her. He just wanted her to stay by his side. She had given him so much of her attention. When it was the two of them at the shop, she saw him. She didn't act like his mother and ignore him for the most part. She actually saw him and loved him unconditionally. It wasn't his mother's fault for being preoccupied with her thoughts. His father selfishly had taken the hearts of everyone he loved and never once returned their feelings. Why did they all believe that he loved them? He was a monster. Monsters can NEVER love. His mother would sit by the window looking off into the distance. Waiting. Even if she had trained her children to hate the monster, she waited for his return. Zanil knew his mother hated monsters. Being one, it was just a matter of time before she begun to hate him as well. Filia never judged him. Never hid him from anyone. Never spoke of him in shame. She was everything he wanted. Now being Xellos's son, would he even have the right to stand next to her? She would begin to hate him as well. He knew it. She'd pretend to care, like his mother did but she would feel nothing but emptiness. The only one that could fill that emptiness, was her son. HER son. The one she will proudly show off in the future. The one she would do anything for. The one that would befriend Zanil in the future. Someone even Zanil had to admit was loved even by him: Adonis.
Adonis had everything but hated it all. Adonis was loved by all and always confident. He was an intelligent man. He excelled in arts and academics. He was skillful with a blade and his spells were always executed perfectly. If there was anyone Zanil wanted to be it was Adonis. His golden hair shined in the sun with a brilliance that illumination spells could never achieve. He always stood proudly and he had reason to do so. He was perfect. Perfection could always stand proud. Filia paid most of her attention to Adonis. Adonis unafraid of people's thoughts would venture with his mother to go shopping. However, Adonis loathed it. He never wanted to be with his mother. He believed she was the reason his father left him. Zanil was the complete opposite of Adonis. He knew the reason why men left their women. He knew it was all the male's fault. He knew because his father was evil. There was no good in Xellos's heart. Why focus so much love on him? Why? He looked away from Filia and sighed. It was silly. Filia was just like his mother. How long will they sit by the window and wait for a disgusting monster to return? How long would he have to watch those he love suffer because of one entity? A thing that couldn't love. A thing that was nothing more than darkness. In his thoughts, Zanil began to hate himself. It was after all, his fault that this happened. His father only kept appearing to his mother because he wanted Zanil as a tool. If Zanil was never created, his mother would have had peace. Perhaps him and Adonis could agree on that. He was a mistake.
"Mr. Zanil." Filia's voice was soothing as always. It was perfect like Adonis's. How he wished he could be a golden dragon and hold in his voice a song of beauty. How he wished he could have beautiful golden wings and scales. "I…I'm sorry."
"You did nothing wrong." Zanil replied. They left the conversation to that. There was nothing else to say. Everything that was needed to be said was said. In this silence, they both found peace. Milgesia directed them along a different path. They weren't going the same direction they did when they were looking for the Claire bible. This path could lead to anything. It wasn't that they didn't trust Milgesia. It was the fact that random things kept popping up and no one knew who was their friend and who was their enemy. In times like these, it was better to stay on guard all the time.
On the side of the mountain top near a large groove there was a small stone door. Lina looked at it briefly. They were on a different mountain top than before and this certainly wasn't a secret door. She looked at Milgesia after noting that there was no lock. He wouldn't really be hiding something important in this easily opened door. They entered into a cave and came towards another door. This door was large and had four square pictures etched into the side of it. Milgesia slid his hand on a combination of them and it slowly opened. There they could see the inside of an old temple. A young woman with long black hair greeted them. She looked innocent enough. Her eyes were beautiful and doe like. Her hair was in small bom boms on top and she wore a lacy dress.
"You're late." She said calmly.
"I'm deeply sorry, my lady." Milgesia bowed slightly. "We met up with some trouble."
"I know. I knew before you left that Xellos and Dynast would attack you." Milgesia gulped after being slightly shocked. So it was true. Dolphin could see through the flow of time.
"If you knew why didn't you help us!" Lina yelled. Dolphin looked at her with a neutral face.
"I didn't want to be rude to my new guest." She told them gesturing to the other side of the room. There Ayame and a busty sorceress chatted animatedly. The sorceress was wearing little to nothing and angrily shaking her head to the smiling Ayame. Apparently, they were having an argument. If they were having such, why did Ayame show no signs of anger?
"Naga!" Lina exclaimed in shock. What was she doing here? Naga looked over at the gang and huffed. She stomped over to Lina and smacked her in the face. Lina, who would never expect such a bold gesture at a time like this, fell over.
"You are the one that will have to take responsibility for losing Amelia!" She yelled and quickly snapped her head to Zelgadis. "And you! Some protector you turned out to be." As if her words were like bullets, Zelgadis placed his hands on his chest. She was right. He did nothing to save her. Ayame quickly jumped in front.
"What is done is done." He stated serenely. "I doubt she has been harmed. All we need to focus now on is getting her back." He spoke calmer than Zelgadis. He spoke with no sadness or bitterness in his tone. It was soothing to hear the voice used in such a way. However, it was unnerving to know that someone wasn't the least bit concern over the situation.
Lina, of course, was enraged. The floor beneath her was cold and dirty. It was hard not to take note of the hard marble. Her face was currently pressed against it and her hands scrapped the surface. How dare she hit her like that! Quickly, she pulled herself up to get back a Naga. Nothing was going to stop her now. She grabbed Naga and shook her.
"What's the big idea!?" She yelled. "How dare you hit a delicate lady like me!" Everyone exchange glances before Milgesia cleared his throat. Nothing happened. He tried clearing his throat again but Lina was only readying a fire ball. It was now Dolphin's turn to handle the situation. She grabbed Lina's arm which shocked the sorceress. This got Lina to stop shaking Naga who appeared to be absolutely dizzy by it. Milgesia was taken aback by Dolphin's reaction. He then cleared his throat for the third time as Dolphin came back to his side.
"If you want to know why we are all here, then I suggest we all sit down." He told the group motioning to the tea room. Gourry distantly wondered what non human's fascination with tea was. They all sat down calmly. Naga sat on the opposite side of the room than Lina. This didn't prevent Lina from glaring at the already startled sorceress. And thus the battle raged on in their eyes. Once again, Naga was losing. Ayame made sure he sat between them across from Zelgadis. Zelgadis could only observe Ayame. He watched how he sat quietly. It was almost prince like. He was graceful with every move. Why was he so perfect? It was everything he wanted to be. Ayame had the looks Zelgadis dreamed of getting back and with them an aura of perfection. Perhaps it was because Ayame was the human form he once had that Zelgadis saw it as perfection.
"Milgesia." Dolphin spoke softly. "There is a shortage of chairs." She looked up at him with worried eyes as Gourry sat in the last chair. Milgesia smiled at her softly.
"I rather like standing."
"Can we just get with the answers!" Lina demanded. "I am so tired of not knowing what the hell is going on!" Dolphin nodded. It was time to shed some light on the situation but she couldn't be the one that would do so. It was true that her eyes were able to see the future but she was not able to get the whole picture.
"It would be wiser to get the information from someone from the future." She gestured to Zanil and Ayame. Everyone looked at the two silently. They were from the future? Zanil did seem to know a lot about future events. It was all starting to make sense. Then wouldn't the golden dragon also be from the future? Naga was in complete shock. When she happed across Ayame in a cave she would have never imagined him being from the future. He only shared her a smile and spoke of who she was. Then again, he seemed very knowledgeable and calm. He knew exactly who she was and what she was doing in the cave. It was rather suspicious now that she thought about it. It was as if he knew what was to come and had no fear of it.
"I'll speak." Ayame gestured to himself. "I think Zanil has taken the limelight too much." Zanil silently thanked him and took this time to think back to what had happened. "My name is Ayame. I came on my own accord." He stopped for a moment and looked down. "In the future, there was peace for a while. Riksfalto soon showed up stronger than ever and began a new war. Many perished. It was a war between non humans but I couldn't shake the injustice of it all off." He clenched his fists and gazed off. He couldn't get upset. If he did then the worse would happen. "Zanil, Val and Adonis all went into the war."
"Val." Filia uttered in shock. Why was he there? Three men go into battle but why and what was their connection?
"Val wanted to help because his brother asked him to." Ayame clarified. Zanil's head shot up.
"Adonis." He spoke. "Adonis told him to." Suddenly the repercussions of saying who the son was hit him. He told her. He told her that the person that had been attacking her was her son. " Ms. Filia…" Filia put her hands on her stomach. That golden dragon. That golden dragon monster that fought with such strength and cruelty. That was her son. Tears fell down her cheeks. That evil man was her son. She placed her head in her hands as Lina watched her in pity. Milgesia looked down. Poor little dragon. Dolphin was keen on emotions and the wave of anguish, sadness, pity and regret hit her faster than anything ever did. She should eat her fill and enjoy it but she did not. Instead her small hand reached for Filia's in an effort to comfort her. Milgesia put his hand on Dolphin's shoulder with a soft smile to Filia. A dark lord trying to give her comfort? Filia smiled bitterly. The world was ruined and nothing would ever be fixed again. A twisted shadow of the old world was all that remained. Her life was meant to bring a cruel monster into this world and watch him destroy it. This news tasted bitter and no person especially a dark lord could ever comfort her. As if ignoring her feelings, Ayame went on.
"After Beast master Zelas was ruined, Adonis went crazy." Ayame told them. "He wouldn't even listen to me."
"You were friends then." Zelgadis interjected. Seemed both the boys were betrayed by Adonis. Zelgadis took in Ayame's words and analyzed them. He was fitting pieces to the puzzle faster than anyone else. The person he was most interested in was Ayame.
"I guess you could say that." Ayame almost whispered. "I think the reason why the Princess was abducted was because of me. Because of my father." Everyone looked around perplexed. "My father made sure Adonis couldn't be with the one he loved and I agreed with him." Zelgadis looked down. Amelia was taken because of his father? His head shot up as his mind brought the only logical conclusion.
"So, I am your father." Zelgadis confirmed. Ayame nodded silently. It was a simple thing, really. Zelgadis was a smart man and it was only logical that Ayame was his son. The family resemblance was uncanny. To get back at Zelgadis for keeping him from the one he loved, Adonis kidnapped Amelia.
"Do you love her?" No, stop thinking about that! Zelgadis shook his head. There were do many things he wanted to ask but couldn't get around to uttering. Questions about Ayame's mother. About Ayame's upbringing. About his cure. His cure! That was all that truly mattered wasn't it? Perhaps he finds his cure and settles down with a nice girl and raises a son. But where is the cure? Wouldn't Ayame know? After all, Ayame was from the future, he should know.
"So, do I find a cure?" Ayame looked at him surprised. Why was he surprised that Zelgadis was asking such a question? Any person could tell that he wanted freedom from the horrors of this body. He wanted to be able to go into town without hiding. To not be hunted by people or ridiculed. To not have a baby cry at the mere sight of him. To be able to love freely without shame of his appearance. Knowing that she wouldn't be horrified by his body.
"I can not tell you that." He admitted. Zelgadis jumped up and approached him as he spoke. What was stopping Ayame from telling him? There was no reason not to tell him! The sooner, the better.
"Why can't you tell me? What difference does it make?"
"Please, Mr. Zelgadis." Ayame looked off worried. What was he to tell him? Without thinking, Zelgadis's fingers found Ayame's collar and brought him up. Ayame half struggled as he found it hard to breathe. He brought his teeth down onto his cheek in an effort to suppress his emotions. The pain. Focus on the pain with no feeling. Immediately, Zanil jumped out of his seat. If it continued Ayame might break.
"Stop!" Zanil shouted upon deaf ears. "He's fragile!" Zelgadis paid him no heed and continued to yell at Ayame. He was a man possessed by the desire. The desire for normalcy. Nothing could stop him from this. A curse within a curse. His desire was blacker than any darkness.
"I am asking you a simple question! Why can't you answer?" His fingers curled tighter around the shirt collar, brushing is rocks onto Ayame's fair skin. Ayame's skin underneath those fingers was becoming red with abuse.
"Father, you are hurting me." Ayame spoke calmly. He couldn't show him any emotion. That was what infuriated Zelgadis more.
"Why are you so calm!? Why can't you show some emotion, damn you!" He then threw him on the floor. Filia put her hand to her mouth. His own son. Lina was also unable to move from her seat. No one did anything to stop this. They didn't know how to stop it. What could they do? Ayame coughed and coughed. There seemed to be no end. Zanil immediately went to his aid trying desperately to find a way to help him. Red was in his hands. It wasn't a lot but it was enough to petrify everyone in the room. Zelgadis backed up. What was wrong with him?
"He's fragile." Zanil repeated. "He is more fragile than any person here. He was born that way."
"It's ok." Ayame spoke pushing Zanil away lightly. "I just bit my cheek." He had bit into his cheek lightly but it was enough to fill his mouth with his own blood. The tiniest cut bled forever, it seemed. He was weak. Because Zelgadis threw him, he knew his body would become terribly bruised. Zelgadis stared at this fragile creature. This thing that had to be protected. His son. Ayame looked away.
"Don't treat me like a freak." He said lowly. It was in a way that Zelgadis understood. Even though Ayame looked human he was still cursed. Cursed with a body that could not work right. How did this happen? Was there a cure for it? "Stop it." Ayame told Zelgadis as if he knew what was going through the man's head. "My father wasted too many years away from me trying to find a cure for me. Searching for something like that is useless." It was there in that voice. That voice that stayed forever calm. The answer was there. Zelgadis didn't like thinking about these things. Was it futile to search for something to cure him? To cure his son? Could it be that there was no cure and just wasted years spent in vain. Zelgadis shook his head. It couldn't be. Just because one person didn't know where his cure was or how to cure it didn't mean it didn't exist! He had to keep trying. Just because he was told by people time and time again that there was no way, didn't mean that was true. What was done CAN be undone. It had to be!
"I hate to break all these family reunions but, can we get back to the princess?" Naga asked determined. Dolphin looked at her knowingly making Naga twitch in frustration. "We have to find a way to save her."
"You're really gung-ho about it." Lina stated annoyed.
"The princess is my business!"
"Why is that?"
"I…"
"Mind if I butt in?" Milgesia asked quietly. The two decided to rely on glares once again to finish their argument. Gourry didn't think anything about it. He just thought they must have eaten something badly today to be looking like that. "You can stay here for the night and gather your strength. Then we'll be able to figure out what we can do. There are many rooms in this temple and I am sure you'll find them safe and comfortable." Ayame was the first to get up and nod to him. He didn't want to stay in this room anymore. He was on the verge of showing himself completely. He couldn't do that. His father had told him to never do that. Naga walked to him with wary eyes. She would have to watch over this kid closely. He still had to keep his end of the bargain. From the future or not, he promised to help her protect the princess. How could he protect her if they were both just camping out at the temple!? They should grab one of those monsters and demand answers. Unfortunately it seemed they really did have to come up with a plan. Lina got up and decided after eating, they will get a needed rest.
"Do we even know where to start?" Lina asked before doing anything else. Everyone looked at her blankly. What were they to do? Even Zanil was without an idea. Even though they grew up together, Adonis left much of himself to mystery. Ayame sighed.
"Irises." He said softly. "The garden was full of irises." Everyone turned to look at him. Ayame stood silently not paying anyone any attention. If there was one person Adonis would never harm, never cross, and always reveal to, it was Ayame. Ayame was one of the privileged. He knew more about Adonis than perhaps Adonis himself. Zanil smiled softly. It was no secret that even he could not reach the level Ayame was on.
Adonis was known for running away from his mother at the market place. However, it didn't become a problem until he challenged himself to jump over the seyrune castle wall. He frequently would jump onto buildings and use his learnt magic to sit on the highest peak of the town. He wanted to see everything. For a dragon, a silly wall was nothing. He climbed atop easily and jumped over ready to cause mischief. He would have also. The royal family would have been completely at a loss at the damage one dragon child could do. That was if he didn't fall into a flower bed and was the cause of a cry from the tiny caretaker of it. The guards yelled that there was an intruder. Adonis looked at the care taker and voiced a short apology. He had to get out of there. The child said nothing but stared at the mangled beauties. Adonis taking this as anger decided to leave sooner than later. He was stopped by a tug on his sleeve. A small iris was picked from the disheveled bed of crushed flowers. The tiny porcelain hand held it out as the guards came. A soft smile was behind it. Adonis's mother always told him to not receive without giving. He leaned over and gave the long haired caretaker a kiss on the cheek. To him, she appeared to blush beautifully and ran off to distract the guards. She wore white and had light colored hair. Her eyes were just like the flower. That was the day a nine year old learned the value of love and a six year old learned about friends.
Amelia opened her eyes as a sweet fragrance hit her nose. Looking to her side, a beautiful flower sat in a pot. It's color was a lighter shade of purple/blue. It could have been both of those colors if you looked at it in the right light. It reminded her a lot of the eyes of someone she knew. Its petals were opened wide as if wanting to embrace her. It was the only thing she focused on at that moment. She lifted herself up from the bed. Its silk sheets slid down from her form gently as she reached to touch the plant.
"Hold on there." Adonis's voice sliced through the silence. "Blood irises are very fragile to the touch. Like the color?" He walked into the white room, barren of decorations or other furniture. There was only one solitary window but it was only big enough to bring light to the flower. "I made it myself. It was between a purple blood iris and a white one. The white ones are very rare." He took this time to sit on the bed softly. Amelia immediately recoiled into a corner of the bed. Adonis smiled softly. Such a skittish creature he had captured. "Want to hear a story about the iris?" There had to be an exit. Amelia's eyes darted around frantically. She had to get back to her friends. She had to get out of there. Adonis didn't wait for her to respond and went on. "There was once a beautiful princess who loved a man who would always travel in search of something." Suddenly, Amelia's frantic heart felt as if it had stopped. Those words. Why did it seem so familiar. The situation. Was it hers? Adonis stretched his arms and breathed in. "She would always look out the window waiting for him." Her eyes peered down. Was she waiting? It was just normal to think about a comrade, wasn't it? "One day, he came back with a beautiful blood iris. White in color. It was from one of his journeys in the outer world. One of the rare types." Peering up at her face, Adonis noted that she was interested in his story now. She had moved closer to him and was no longer shielding herself from him. "It reminds me of you, he told her. No, she replied. It reminds me of you. Now tell me, what does that flower remind you of?" Amelia took another look at the flower. She knew who it reminded her of but she wasn't about to say it. "How long do you want to wait for that flower, princess, knowing that he will just leave after he hands it to you?" Her expression spoke more words than her mouth ever could. Heartache. Was her love futile? Was there even a hope for it? Adonis lifted his hand to caress her cheek. She recoiled immediately leaving him to retract his hand. How could he get her to see him and no one else? Sighing, he jumped up off the bed. Her frightened eyes watched his every movement. Her senses were heightened and her heart was beating so fast. What was he trying to do? Leaving her with her thoughts, Adonis exited and closed the door. A loud click let her know that she had been locked inside. She sighed. Blood iris. She never heard a flower with that name. It seemed dangerous but beautiful.
Riksfalto happened to pass the door while Adonis stood by it. She looked at him confused.
"Tending to your flowers?" She asked in a mocked tone. Adonis smiled.
"There is only one in my heart." He told her referring to the single flower he cherished. The general rolled her eyes.
"Blood irises?" Xellos chimed in out of nowhere. Riksfalto felt as if her soul leaped from her body. Turning around she looked at him with rage. It only worsen when she noticed him smiling back.
"Could you refrain from doing that?" Riksfalto growled. Xellos remained un-phased.
"I only take orders from the dragon." Xellos happily informed her. It was perhaps the best order he ever got from his mistress. In this way, he got to annoy the crap out of Riksfalto and she could do nothing about it. That always made his day. No person could ever fathom the delight he got from doing that. Riksfalto was strangely easily irritated. It reminded him of someone. Without another word, Riksfalto walked away from the two.
"Good job, Xellos." Adonis said with a small pat on Xellos's head. It was like a master thanking his dog for barking away an intruder. "By the way, what are you doing here?"
"I was studying up on blood irises." Xellos admitted peering at Adonis with a predatory look. Adonis once again seemed unaffected by his gaze. He shrugged off the minor inconvenience and looked off.
"Now, why would a monster study flowers?" Adonis questioned hinting at nothing. He was good at hiding his motives but Xellos was a master at it. He was also a master at knowing when someone was affected by his words. This made reading Adonis easy. To the untrained eye he seemed not caring. However, to Xellos, he could feel the anger emitting from him.
"Something I decided to do next to morning glories."
"What?"
"Anyway, I couldn't find much about them." Xellos hurriedly told him. This coaxed a breath of relief from Adonis. "Well, not under the common name we use. The common name that the locals call it is much different. I found lots about it there." Adonis tightened his jaw and sent a glare that filled Xellos's soul with familiarity. He only remembered once being glared at like that and it wasn't by Filia. "Don't reveal your weaknesses to others." With that he left.
Adonis was at a loss. What could he do? Everything he ever wanted have been taken from him. When he was little his father only cared about his duties. Never even looked at him. Adonis had no father. Zanil had a father that was more like a boss but Adonis had none. He wasn't even viewed as a subordinate. Which he would have gladly switch places with Zanil. Zanil hated Xellos. Why? Xellos was everything to Adonis.
"Come on, Adonis!" Val called to his little brother. It was one of those rare times that Adonis wasn't playing with Zanil. Zanil had locked himself in his room and said he wouldn't come out until evil was gone. Adonis didn't understand what he meant. He could sense no evil. Val climbed up a tree and taunted Adonis. That was rude! Adonis no matter how small he was, was never going to take that from his brother. He began to climb up the tree. He was only 5 years old and that was in human years! He aged like a human for that part. Dragons mature fast but after "maturity" (usually this indicates sexual maturity) they age slowly. His small hands couldn't grasp well and human form was still something he couldn't master well either. Quickly he found himself falling. The ground was nearing more each second. Closing his eyes he braced for impact but found that he had hit nothing. Looking up, a violet haired man smiled down at him.
"Little dragon, be careful." He told him softly. "We can't have you killing yourself now." Xellos. Adonis smiled brightly. Xellos wasn't an evil man at all. Hugging the monster, Adonis felt at peace.
Adonis smiled softly. Xellos was the only guy who understood him much to his mother's disgust. She would always pick a fight with him. For what reasons, Adonis couldn't remember. "Stay away from my children" She would always say. "Go find ones of your own" Zanil. That's why Zanil had to leave the village. It was her fault. He use to hate his mother. Looking at the spot that Xellos once occupied, he sighed. He use to hate her so much.
"Mother, Zanil, Val…" Adonis muttered the names of those he couldn't stop thinking about. They were everything to him. They made him happy no matter what but that wasn't enough. All of them were betrayed by him. It was better this way. It was all for the greater good. "Forgive me." His mind then drifted from his family. From his friends in the village from everything. It went back into a garden. His secret place where his mind wandered at times of stress. Even in this secret place his memories still reached him. His most painful ones had ways of sneaking in regardless.
In his memory, he could see a young Ayame with his head in his hands. Just his back and nothing else. His shoulders shaking up and down as he small sobs were barely heard.
"Ayame, please, forgive me."
I like this:
Preview (with Lina narrating): Amelia! Amelia! Where are you!? What? Dynast, what do you want? Helping us? What happened to being our enemy? Also, looks like we are into another father son reunion monster style. Zanil don't put down your guard! Zel just apologize to Ayame. What? A kiss? Amelia!!! Ayame!? Adonis????!!! Wait! Forbidden love!? Now that's something fan girls talk about!
Author: At the end of this, I thought to myself. Did I reveal too much of Ayame? I know it's fast pace and all but I feel like it's rushing. Do you? Also, if there are any grammar mistakes, do tell me. This quietness about it isn't helping my writing. I do go back and read after I post and I find some now and then. Any thoughts about how you interpret the story or how you think it will end please leave me. It helps to know if I am confusing the reader or not. Any suggestions on my writing style will also benefit me greatly. Thank you.
P.S: I decided to warn you and forgo the suspense. There is some questionable feelings for other dudes in the fic. You've been getting a taste of that. To ease your pain, I will reveal that none of the main characters are gay or support gays. Well, Xellos is enigmatic about it so he doesn't count. Zanil is not gay. Adonis...You can kind of tell where his lie. Ayame has no preference.
