Author's notes: Minor edits and few more descriptive lines added while other fixed of continuity errors. This was the last posted part of Mind Games on my dead website. I do have the next part ready, though it isn't typed. I had started writing it on paper while I was at work just recently and when I went to type it up my computer got a fatal virus. The whole system needed to be wiped. Thankfully I had backed up everything this time, but when I get some free time I'll type up the next part. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed in the past. I had little intensions of going back to writing Slayers fanfics after I lost my website, but reading some of the old reviews for this story were what swayed me. I have new inspiration and motivation because of all of you. Thank you from the deepest part of my heart.

Mind Games

Scene Sixteen, Aftermath 2

By Relm

Right after the kiss Filia became red in the face. "Goodnight." She retreated back into her home leaving De Tanga standing at her doorstep dumbfounded.

"Goodnight." De Tanga said softly. He didn't know what just happened. Kissing Filia had been something that he was thinking about but he had never intended to kiss her. Of course De Tanga wasn't the one that instigated the kiss, Filia had kissed him! He knew they had been getting closer these past few days but he had never intended to let it get this far. And as bad he felt about the situation a part of him was secretly pleased that Filia returned his feelings. 'But I committed myself to help Xellos, not to betray him. What should I do?'

...

Xellos was so surprised at what he just saw he fell out of the sky and hit the ground hard. "That bastard! I'll kill him! Nobody kisses my Filia!" He yelled. As soon as he said it he was shocked. When did he start thinking of Filia as his?

::Xellos come here at once!:: Xellos' master beaconed.

Xellos grumbled and phased away.

...

Filia let out a big sigh as she stood with you back against the door.

"You're home late." Val called out from the living room.

Filia nearly jumped. "Val! You startled me! What are you doing up?"

"Waiting for you obviously. I was worried. I never know what that idiot Xellos is going to do."

"He didn't do anything. The night went fine." Filia smiled.

"You're flushed in the face. Do you have a fever?" Val felt Filia's forehead. "No seems normal. Have you been drinking?"

"Yeah a little." Her grin widened.

Val frowned. "Well you do seem a bit drunk..." Not that Val had too many experiences with his mother to compare to. Growing up fast meant he didn't spend as much time with her as many people the age he appeared to be with their mothers. Plus Filia rarely drank as it was. He was aware that seemed happy in a giddy way. 'I wonder how much did she drink...' "So what's up?"

Filia blushed. "Just a moment ago… I… kissed De Tanga."

Val stood there blinking. "You what?"

"I kissed him. And he kissed me back!"

"I thought this was just a game, to mess with Xellos' mind." Val wasn't stupid he saw the chemistry building between the two. But he was worried, worried what Xellos was going to do. He knew that he had suggested that her and De Tanga would be good together, but he hadn't meant it like that. He wanted Xellos to be out of the picture first.

"I know! But I just couldn't fight the impulse. He's a really nice man."

"What about Xellos?"

"What about him?"

"Aren't you worried?"

"Why would I?"

"Mom you know he was watching. He's going to be very jealous."

"So what if he is? I'm not his girlfriend, not even his friend. I can't stand him. And beside why would he be jealous anyway?"

"Mom it doesn't matter whether he's jealous or not he's going to react to this. And he's a monster. He could do terrible things. What if he does something to De Tanga?"

"De Tanga is a monster too. And he can take care of himself."

Val shook his head. "I think you're playing with fire here Mom."

"Well I'm happy for your concern if you don't mind I'm going to go to bed."

"Yeah I think you should. Goodnight Mom."

"Goodnight Val." And up the stairs she went humming and stumbling away.

Val watched his mother while shaking his head. His first impulse was to follow her to make sure she got to her room, but he knew that would annoy her so he just stood there waiting and watching her until he saw her get up the stairs. 'I'll check on her later.' He decided. Then his thoughts went back to De Tanga. 'I wonder if he's still outside.' Val opened the door and sure enough De Tanga was still standing outside. "Hi."

"Hi." De Tanga responded startled.

"You want to come in?"

"Sure."

Once De Tanga was in the house and the door was closed he changed back to his normal form.

"So I'm assuming that Xellos isn't around?"

De Tanga nodded.

"So… you kissed my Mom." Val narrowed his eyes at De Tanga.

De Tanga couldn't look up; his eyes were fixated to the floor. "To be fair she kissed me."

"So you didn't kiss her back, she kissed you and you're the innocent party in all this?" Val was going to grill him and grill him good.

De Tanga was silent.

"Well?"

"I kissed her back. I don't know what came over me."

"That's kinda the story I got from her. So you like her and she likes you back. But that's not what you were planning on doing when you two started this little game."

"No it wasn't."

"So what are your intentions with my mother? Have you changed your mind suddenly about pursuing a relationship with my mother?"

De Tanga was silent once more.

"De Tanga."

"I don't know."

Val sighed shaking his head. It wasn't that he was upset with the idea of De Tanga and his mother together. Val would be the first one to admit that Filia needed someone in her life. He wanted his adoptive mother to be happy, and he was aware of De Tanga's effect on his mother. But as happy as De Tanga could make her it wasn't wise while Xellos was still around to cause mayhem. "Well you should know you two are doing something very dangerous here. Maybe you can deal with Xellos on your own but what if he comes after my Mom? What if he hurts her?"

De Tanga shook his head. "No he wouldn't do that to her."

"What if he kidnaps her? What if he keeps her prisoner? He already did that to you."

"He won't." De Tanga insisted shaking his head.

"How do you know?" Val was clearly getting irritated. De Tanga wasn't doing a very good job of reassuring him.

"Because it's very unlikely that his master would let him." De Tanga had some ideas why Greater Beast would want Filia to remain unharmed. It seemed that she herself has a strange agenda too. 'It's possible that maybe she is wanting the same result as me. That would be an interesting turn of events.' De Tanga mentally mused.

...

Xellos appeared before his master kneeling with his head down. "You summoned me Master?"

"Xellos I'm very disappointed in you."

"What have I done to disappointed you Master?"

"You openly make claims of a woman that clearly has interest in someone else. Am I to understand that you believe that this dragon is yours?" Her voice was stern but velvety at the same time as she gazed at the wine glass in her hand and the wine it contained.

"I don't know why I said that Master."

"You have feelings for this woman, don't you my minion?"

Xellos was silent.

"I asked you a question." Zellas demanded glaring daggers at her minion. If it had any other monster than her general priest should would have caused great pain or death for avoidance of her questions. Xellos may be her favourite but she would only tolerate so much from him.

"I don't know." Xellos admitted. Deep down he knew what the true answer of that was, but he couldn't bear to admit it to anyone or himself.

"Seems you do not know much. Well I have this piece of advice for you. If you want something you should do your best to get it. But you can't take what is not yours. Harming this rival of yours will do you no good if you really do desire that dragon. Nor can you force her to be yours. Now I have decided that young ancient dragon isn't a threat to us nor will he develop his powers any time soon. I am changing your assignment."

Xellos' eyes went wild. "To what my Master?"

"You will go to Farnard. There is a man there dabbling in strange magical practices. I want to you observe him and see if his abilities could be of use of us. His name is Galnod."

Xellos frowned. This was something that he hadn't expected.

Greater Beast Zellas noticed Xellos disappointment. She found it most amusing. "Is there any problems with your reassignment?"

"No Master." Xellos stumbled slightly on his words.

"If you really do care for the golden dragon then I might be swayed to let you stay on your current assignment."

Xellos' frown deepened.

"Well are your feelings for her so strong that you would wish not to leave her?"

"No Master, I will go to Farnard."

"Excellent. I'll expect a report from you in a couple days."

"Yes Master." Xellos phased out leaving Greater Beast alone.

"What delicious misery you emit my dear Xellos. But will you be able to stay away?" She chuckled darkly.