DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Slayers... I do own the bagle factory...

YIKES!!! I TOTALLY THOUGHT I POSTED THIS YESTERDAY! SO SORRY!!!
Yea! Happy Sunday all! I posted up a links page on my hompage! Come check it out! I'm waiting to put up new polls till next week.

I went down a notch in my ranking, I was aiming to go up by one notch, so I'm sad. I'll give the deck one more try, then I'll disband it.

Special thanks to:

Ukchana: The magic thing, you know how spiders see all around them cause they have eight eyes? I assume astral vision is something like that, seeing straigt ahead in only one direction, has gotta be tough then. Luckily! He really came through in the end! (nn) I'm so glad you like it!

flam3gurl: Hee! Well here ya go! I was cracking up after writing this chapter! Send me your character info real soon, okay?

WildfireDreams: Your words of encouragement lift my soul as always. (nn) Hee! JK, but really, thanks!

Story Weaver1: Hee! I couldn't have said it better! I'm so glad you like it!

icecrystal48: Luckily they bought so many, eh! Cuase I'm not done ripping them! (nn)

As always, you guys are the best! Luv ya!

- Nicci

Chapter: Ten

Day Two… End…

Filia gasped as she felt her feet touch back down on the ground, with a quick reassessment she realized she was in her room.

"Hey, Xel…" Her words we're cut short as her eyes widened in horror at the sight of the giant whale hurling towards her.

Xelloss grinned down at the whale, since it was smashing Filia's head he might as well address his goodbye's to it.

"Filia." He stated amiably, looking the whale deep in the eye's as Filia kicked her legs. "I have to say! I had a lovely time! Let's do it again, tomorrow!"

He smirked at the whale as he heard Filia stop kicking, probably in shock from the complement. Then, at the thought of being left in this position, she began kicking again, this time twice as hard.

"For now, however, may I have a kiss goodnight?" He asked softly, extending a gloved hand to the now blushing whale plushy. Xelloss sweatdropped, maybe he was taking this a bit too far…

However, it was then that Filia's legs went still again and he smirked.

Leaning in with a still weary sweatdrop, he kissed the scarlet faced sea mammal.

From under the whale, Filia herself turned bright red, and then twitched at the exaggerated amount of kissing noises he was making.

Xelloss grinned as Filia started kicking again, pulling away and giving a mock bow to the whale. "And now, good night!"

With that he was gone, leaving Filia to kick helplessly in rage.

OOO

The princess and the chimera walked along in silence. Amelia was content, happy with her stuffed animals and having spent a whole day with Mr. Zelgadiss! Zelgadiss was just happy that Amelia was happy.

"I had a lot fun today, Mr. Zelgadiss." Amelia stated shyly, looking up at him with a shy smile.

"Me too, Amelia." He replied with a small smile as he ruffled her hair.

"If you stayed…" Amelia stated carefully, looking over at the horizon. "… Everyday could be like this. Grandpa's still running the kingdom, along with daddy so you and me would have a lot more time to just be, you and me."

Zelgadiss stared at her sadly. "Amelia, I have to go. You know that."

"No you don't!" She yelled, shocking them both and she turned to the side, her tiny fists clenched. "I love you just the way you are, the only one who doesn't love you is you. I know you think I'm just some silly kid with a crush, but I'm not. I just wish you were grown up enough to love me more than you hate yourself."

"A…Amelia…" Zelgadiss whispered in shock, wondering for the first time if that was really what this all meant to her. And what about him, did he really hate himself more than… did he love her?!

He stared at the tiny princess, her tears running down her cheeks as she stood tall silently enduring her own pain, for fear of being too honest and causing him the same pain. Slowly, as though time had slowed he reached out, willing himself to comfort her, to walk over, put his arms around her and…

"You are a very bad princess!"

Amelia whirled around in shock and rage and Zelgadiss waved his hands warily. "That wasn't me!"

They both turned to see a furious Mr. Joane stalking up to give Amelia a piece of his mind.

"There is no bagel factory in Saillune!" He hissed, enraged at being tricked by something so… stupid!

Amelia whirled on him, all her pain turning into rage at this arrogant fool who was nurturing her loves' hate of himself for his own means. "You! Well I'm sorry, but maybe I wanted to spend the last days Mr. Zelgadiss and I might have together with him, and not YOU!!!"

Tears welling up in her eyes she ran sobbing across the drawbridge and into the castle.

"Amelia!" Zelgadiss cried but, she was too overcome to reply and then she was gone. Inside the walls, temporarily safe from her own heart.

Zelgadiss sighed, running a hand through his wiry hair as he turned to Joane. Who was still glaring at the place where the princess had been.

Zelgadiss narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms and stated coolly. "Perhaps you had better stay somewhere else while we're here. Her castle, her rules, and I get the feeling Phil isn't going to like you upsetting his daughter too much, nor do I."

Joane glared at him and hissed, turning away and stalking off into the night.

Zelgadiss glared at him watching his back as he headed back into town.

I wonder, can I really trust him? This dragon who seems to care nothing for causing pain to humans, the very creatures other dragons care so much about protecting. This dragon who hurt Amelia…

…Amelia…

OOO

"Oh man, Lina…" Gourry murmured, as he edged up the stairs, Lina in his arms and the bag over his shoulder. "You sure do have a lot of stuffed animals now."

With a grunt he kicked open the door to her room, dropping the bag on the floor as he walked over to her bed, gently holding her.

He smiled looking down at her. She was so tiny, just like a kid… a really angry kid who liked to yell and blow up things. And who liked to kick him, hit him, slap him, back-hand him… the swordsman sweatdropped.

"Boy Lina, I wonder what you must have been like when you really were a kid." Gourry stated warily, setting her on the bed with a smile. Lina was really something…

Gently he covered her up with the blanket, and on an afterthought, tucked the jellyfish into bed beside her.

"Now I can even protect your dreams…" He whispered softly, and closed the door behind him.

OOO

Xelloss grinned setting the dragon plushy on the table as he leaned back in his chair and pulled a book out of nowhere.

"So…" Zelas stated smoothly, sticking her head in and leaning against the doorframe. "How did it go?"

Xelloss grinned, closing the book and setting it aside. "It was a sad day for mazoku kind…"

Zelas arched a brow as he hung his head in mock shame. "Explain."

Xelloss picked back up, grinning again. "Hai Mistress. It appears that the mazoku race is inferior to the ryuzoku in… Bumper Cars…"

"Bumper cars?" Zelas repeated deadpan, and Xelloss gave a solemn nod.

"And what…" Zelas asked calmly. "Do tell, are bumper cars?"

Xelloss grinned, relaxing back in his chair. "It's exactly as it sounds Mistress!"

"So they are cars…" Zelas deducted and Xelloss nodded cheerily. "…that… Bump?"

"Precisely!" He replied, raising a finger. "And to date only one ryuzoku, and on mazoku know how to play… and she beat me…"

"So then…" Zelas put together with a grin. "One can only assume that every member of her race is superior to those of our race in such an activity. Oh Xelloss… I fear I will have to tell the other Lords of this…"

"Oh dear…" Xelloss murmured nervously, running a hand through his hair as he let out a wary laugh. "I really wish you wouldn't…"

"But Xelloss, darling…" Zelas replied with a smirk. "The honor of our race!"

Xelloss chuckled warily. "Really, it's not necessary…"

"Oh?" Zelas replied, crossing her arms and arching a brow. "Then you have good news to go with this then?"

"Why yes!" He replied cheerily, raising a finger. "I got to kiss a whale!"

Zelas stared at him and then turned away, laughing liquidly. "Well… now I have to go tell Dynast!"

"Wait!" Xelloss yelped. "You're supposed to ask me to explain!"

"Bye, Xelloss. Don't wait up!" Her laugher echoed as she faded away and Xelloss slumped back down in his chair.

"Oh dear... How very unfortunate…"

Hee! I can't stop laughing at that... poor Filia... We'll rescue her next week! (nn)