Meanwhile, hiding in the tower of a dark, gothic-style castle in the thick woods, MAD sat upon a magnificent throne, relishing his victory. Fuhoko was still sleeping deeply, hidden away in his private bedchamber. He had plans for her, but for now they could wait. Oh, how his black heart burned and swelled with the pride of having made such easy work of stealing her away!
"The best part..." MAD thought aloud, "is that Xellos will never be able to get her back Even if he were to find my lair, my minions below would dispose of him swiftly and without mercy. No matter how strong he is, he can't possibly see ALL my tricks coming!" He cackled darkly, delighted with the grotesque images that ran through his mind. Oh, yes That too would be a grand reward. He licked his lips. It was time to begin the girl's transformation. He raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
"It's time!" He declared. No one responded. MAD frowned in disgust at the lack of respect for his command. He cleared his throat.
"IT'S TIME!" He said again, more firmly.
A long, ominous silence followed. MAD growled, irritated.
"What the hell is going on here? I demand action!" The only answer he received was a howl of empty wind.
At that instant, a cold chill ran through him. He clenched his fists. This wasn't happening. His plan was flawless, his resources endlessly on hand! HOW COULD IT POSSIBLY BE FALLING APART?!
He rushed to his bedchamber, convincing himself that when he opened the door, the girl would still be there, sleeping deeply in his bed, unaware of her new surroundings and completely untouched. He reached the door and wrenched it open. Hurrying in, he scanned the room with his dark, demonic eyes.
Everything was indeed as he had left it. He frowned despite his relief. Then his eyes narrowed.
"Idiot " he told himself, "You're imagining things. The stupid thing probably drifted off and forgot where he was supposed to be." MAD's body relaxed. Yes, that was it. The minion he'd devised to help him with Fuhoko's "alterations" was simply wandering. He'd return soon enough, and after a thorough punishment from MAD, he'd do his job. Then everything would be perfect. Yes that was all there was to this minor grievance. But what to do until the foolish creature made his way back? An idea formed. MAD's eyes darkened, and a cruel, somehow eager smirk broke across his face. It couldn't hurt to break her in just a bit, and as long as she remained asleep she wouldn't protest. He moved closer, his newfound arousal rapidly building. He shivered as he debated where to start.
"What does it matter? She's mine either way." He grasped the fabric of her top and prepared to shred it. Then he froze, recognizing only now the cloak she had wrapped over her shoulders.
"That cloak," he spat under his breath, "belongs to-"
At that moment, Xellos stepped out of the darkness.
MAD cringed, hissing the name of his unwanted guest.
"Xellos "
At that moment, Fuhoko's eyes fluttered open. It took her a moment to come to awareness, and in that moment the situation became deadly.
MAD launched a vicious onslaught of blades and slivers of dark energy at Xellos, striking with deadly speed and managing to make several severe lacerations on his body. As though unaware of the blood pouring from his wounds, Xellos retaliated, sending a wave of dark energy that pinned MAD fast to the wall. MAD struggled, cursing at Xellos at the top of his lungs. Xellos looked at him maliciously, eyes open and livid with the deep contempt he felt toward the other mazoku.
Fuhoko's eyes widened. Scared and confused, she clung to the headrest of the bed, simultaneously pulling Xellos' cloak tight around her.
With tense, stiff footsteps, Xellos walked close to the restrained and infuriated MAD.
"You've made one too many mistakes The book and your foolish domination plan are things of one nature, but stealing Fuhoko away from me " A frighteningly cruel smirk formed. His eyes nearly glowed with his dark intent. "that, Makoto, is the one thing I intend to deal with personally."
Fuhoko's eyes softened. She could swear there was something in the way he had said that "stealing Fuhoko away from me " Did he mean that he cared for her?
For once in his long life, MAD's eyes showed true fear mixed in with his usual cruel insanity. He knew all too well what Xellos was capable of, and he couldn't allow himself to suffer that. Not if he could weasel his way out of it.
"Xellos, I can help you " he pleaded, masking the disgust he felt at his expression of weakness, "I'll let you in on my plan. You can have the bulk of the power, even. All you have to do is release me. What do you say?"
Xellos threw his head back and laughed; It was a deep, cruel sound that erupted from deep within him, coming forth packed with intense disdain. MAD's eyes widened. Fuhoko cringed. Seeing Xellos like this was unsettling and scary.
Xellos looked straight at MAD, eyes dark. His tone was acidic; his aura flared, then curled around him like an ominous shroud.
"What kind of fool do you take me for?" He hissed, sending long spikes of darkness through MAD's limbs, starting with one in each wrist and ankle, and then continued his monologue of fatal loathing, slamming a spike through each limb every time a new sentence began. Each time, MAD let out a strangled gasp of agony. By the time the speech was over, there were spikes embedded deep in his shoulders and the bases of his legs.
"You poor, insignificant bastard. You really think you're clever, don't you? Do you really believe that if you push me to my limit, it will make me less able to destroy you? Your power may match mine, but you fail to use it when it would most benefit you, and THAT IS WHY YOU WILL FAIL EVEN IN DEATH!" With these last few words, he sent a torrent of poison-tipped needles into every vital nerve and vein in MAD's torso. MAD went rigid, screaming with the immense panic and torment. He had indeed underestimated the priest, and with rage that he was unable to express, he vowed to himself that if he survived, he'd repay Xellos for this suffering by never allowing such a mistake again. Oh yes, the Mysterious, Trickster Beast Priest would see what MAD was truly capable of soon enough...
Xellos seemed to sense this and lashed at MAD with long tendrils of dark energy, which tore off long strips of flesh and muscle, at the same time sending powerful waves of lightning rippling through MAD's entire system. He would tear away every last resolve, disembowel every last bit of MAD and his feeble dream of conquest. Yes, part of this was to prevent the insane plan from coming to fruition, but in the dark heart of the mazoku with violet features, the most important thing he had to protect was the girl who clung for her life to the bed, whom was not sure at the moment which of the two males was more frightening.
MAD choked on blood and his own forced cries of anguish. He realized with sudden terror that Xellos was killing him. This wasn't a rescue mission for the girl so much as a lethal ambush! He strained with muscles that failed him, screaming with rage and fear at his attacker. Then his head drooped, his end nearing. He had no energy left.
Satisfied, Xellos dropped him carelessly, secretly delighting in the dull thud the body made upon impact with the cold stone floor and the pool of dark blood that formed quickly beneath the near-lifeless form. MAD glared at him with cold defeat in his eyes. Xellos simply walked toward the bed where Fuhoko cowered, thereby acknowledging his victory. He would leave MAD to whichever path his failing life slunk down. If he lived, what did it matter? Surely even HE was not foolish or insane enough to make another attempt, and even should that be proven untrue, Xellos would handle it. MAD had lost, period. What happened to him now meant nothing.
Fuhoko trembled with fear as Xellos silently unbound her. She was unsure of him, even though he seemed calm now. Indeed, it was as though in the moment between MAD's cruel landing and reaching the bed, Xellos had completely forgotten what was going on. He gently lifted her in his arms, carrying her bridal style. She shivered.
"Are you alright?"
The softness in his tone startled her more than the fact that his voice had broken the eerie silence of the room. She looked up at him. His eyes were back their normal state, closed and slightly upturned. He seemed genuinely concerned.
"Yeah " she said. She snuggled against his chest, suddenly feeling worn out. "Thank you "
"It's true," she thought warmly to herself as she began to doze off, "he loves me." Then she was asleep, lying calmly in his arms. Xellos, despite the discomfort of the snuggling and the sense of her warm, tender feelings toward him, smiled softly. He turned and walked calmly out of the castle, then cast Ray Wing and headed back to the others. It was night by the time he reached the group's new campsite.
Relieved that Fuhoko was alright, the group finally relaxed. A few questions as to what had happened were posed to Xellos, who simply responded with his usual phrase as he gazed with calm fondness at the girl he had worked so hard to rescue.
"That is a secret " he said quietly, lightly brushing a bit of hair away from Fuhoko's face. No one said another word, as though for once the annoyingly consistent words were a legitimate answer. A short time later, they all went to bed, leaving Xellos to sit by the fading flames of the campfire, with Fuhoko still sleeping peacefully, her head in his lap.