For the Love of Evil
The Teacher From Hell
By: Kiavie Willowroot

Seven years ago, still on the Sea Blossom...

"FFFFFIIILLLLLLIIIAAAAAAA!" Xelloss yelled out. "Give those back!"

Filia scaled up the mast of the crow's nest that Xelloss was found on. She reached the observation point and smiled wickedly down at him. "Now why EVER would I do a thing like that?" She asked sweetly.

He glared at her, his eyes narrowning dangerously. "Filia, you're going to start another war. You're going to regret this if you go through with it."

Marner watched from the wheel, sighing heavily. "How much of my ship are they going to destroy this time?" He muttered. He learned a long time ago that there was nothing he could do to stop the bitter fighting between Filia and Xelloss. Filia had come to live with them eight years ago, and was now fifteen years old, Xelloss being seventeen. "I thought kids were hard, teenagers are a whole different species on their own."

"But Xelloss-CHAN, we need a new flag!"

Uh-oh, I see where this is heading... Marner looked at his first mate and walked solmnly to the farthest part of the deck away from those two.

"DON'T CALL ME CHAN YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING LOUD MOUTHED MEAN TEMPERED ILL MANNERED BRAT!" He fummed, actually developing those fangs that normally female characters develop then they are mad.

Filia sputtered. "Ill mannered... loud mouthed....BRAT! Namagomi!" She flung up a pair of purple boxers with little hearts on them and pinned them to the mast, the finishing touch being Filia sticking her tongue out at him. "Baka!"

Marner gulped. She used the "insult". She called him "namagomi" again.

"Nama...gomi?" Xelloss' whole person turned several shades darker.

"Oh great, the "spell slingers" are gonna go at it again." His first mate put on a pair of sunglasses and sat down on a pile of thick rope.

"You are SO DEAD blondy!" He snarled. "And give me back my underwear!"

"Make me!"

"FIREBALL!" A huge ball of flame flew right at her. "Ack!" She jumped out and cast a levitation spell.

Marner got a little irritated. "If you two insist on trying to kill eachother, would you please try not to get my ship involved in all this. Otherwise, NO FIRE SPELLS!"

"Fine!"
"Fine!"

"Quit copying me!"
"Quit copying me!"

"I said stop it!"
"I said stop it!"

Both let out a frustraited scream and a whole flurry of spells.

The first mate chuckled. "Oi, so when are you two going to realize you have a crush on eachother?"

Marner got a panicked look on his face as he quickly scooted away from his first mate. "And here I thought you were smart.." he muttered.

"Nani?"
"Nani?"

"Me like HER?"
"Me like HIM?"

Both looked at him darkly, an almost bloodthirsty look was in both of their eyes. Even more frightening was that Xelloss turned to Filia and smiled. "Do you want to take care of this or me?"

Filia thought for a moment. "You, I took care of the last accusation."

An evil grin slid across his face. "No problem. I will enjoy this all too much. We can fishish this later, anywho. This is more important."

He took an odd pose as he looked at the first mate and bagan chanting.

"Darkness beyound twilight..."

Marners eyes grew big. He made a point of it to recognize that chant after Xelloss' first explosion. What is wrong with that boy, horomones?!?

"Xelloss, not THAT spell!"

He stopped in midchant. "Fine. Something else then."

This time Xelloss kept the chant quiet so Marner could not hear it. At this point his first mate was white with fear, and looking like he was about to run.

"Oh no you don't! You stay there and take it like a man. Or they are both going to hunt you down. Better one than the both of them. And I'll be damned if my ship is gonna take damage because you said something stupid."

Two big streams of tears ran down either side of his face. "But Captain..."

"Explosion Array!"

*****

Later, that night Filia walked up to Xelloss' door and knocked. "Hai?"

She stepped in and looked around briefly. For some reason, in the past five years, Xelloss had become increasingly interested in music. There was several insruments lying around, a piano tucked in a corner, and music sheets scattered across the floor. His room was almost always tidy so he must have just made a mess. Filia new he liked music, but she thought it was only a little.

"I didn't know that you were this interested in music."

He smiled, and sat down with a violin in his lap. "I didn't quite know that either."

"Why do you like it so much?"

"Why do you like to sing so much?"

A flush of heat rushed up her cheeks. He can hear me sing at night...how embarrising..."I guess, well, it lets me talk without talking. If that makes any sense." She sighed.

"Well, I guess you can say the same for me, though I never really thought of it that way."

"You're hiding from Tarrama-sensei, aren't you?" Filia accused suddenly.

"Like your not hiding yourself." He snorted, checking the strings of the violin and making the proper adjustments.

Tarrama was a woman who appeared, quiet mysteriously, in their lives about the same time that Xelloss and Filia first (?) met. She insisted that captain Marner take her along with them to teach both children the proper uses of magic. She explained that she felt strong magical energies from both, and that they were liable to let loose of their power in any stressful situation if not taught to control it. He agreed, as well as parted with a sum of his money for the service. Now for almost five years this woman has been hovering over them and nagging them around every corner.

"I am so glad she did not see that scene we caused earlier today." Filia breathed. "She would have scolded us to no end."

"One of these days she's going to get a fireball to the rear." Xelloss grumbled.

Filia laughed lightly. "I would love to see that. Anyway, do you really want to ditch lessons today?"

Xelloss grinned. "Any chance, any time!"

"Then come on, we only have so much time."

"How are we going to hide from her?"

"We are docking, right now."

"Yare, yare, Fi-chan. I never knew that you had this naughty streak in you." A cat-like smile crossed his face and he gently laid the instument inside a leather case.

Filia glared at the young man. "Knock it off, Xelloss. This has nothing to do with being naughty, and don't be getting any idea's, Namagomi. I am just perserving my sanity...but now that I think about it, bringing you along doesn't contribute to that..."

"You're heartless."

"Quit complaining. Let's go, she'll be noticing it's time for our lessons any moment now."

So the young Filia and Xelloss snuck updeck, hiding in shadows. After the plank was placed and several of the men were leaving, Filia and Xelloss went to make their move...when they were intercepted by a looming shadow, which Xelloss collided into.

"Nani?" He looked at the face and moaned. "I didn't do anything!"

Marner looked at the two of them, hiding in the shadows, and snickered. "Um-hum. Nothing, eh?"

Filia blushed when she realized what he was implying. "It's nothing like that! We are just trying to get away from her." Almost as if she would be invoked by speaking her name, Filia glanced nervously behind her to see if her sensei appeared.

"Eh....? Oh, her. I understand." He chuckled to himself lightly. He didn't like her much, either. In fact, he hated the woman, but for some reason she always managed to talk him into letting her stay. He almost threw her off the ship once when he saw her slapping Xelloss when she was first teaching him. Apparently he wasn't learning fast enough for her tastes...he solved the abuse problem quickly though, and threatened to take her life if she ever tried it again.

"Go ahead, I'll cover for you."

"Really?!"
"Really?!" They glared at eachother as they said the same exact thing at the same time once again.

"Sure, you two need a break from that wicked woman anyhow." Marner smiled at them both. "But I don't know if she'll try to find you, she can be weird sometimes. So don't make yourselves obvious, otherwise, no spell-slinging. Got it?"

"Thanks dad! Gotta go!" Xelloss said hurriedly and grabbed Filia and started to run at break neck speed.

"Xelloss! Why are you running so fast?"

"Before he changes his mind! He just agreed to take on evil-in-carnate by himself! And he's right, she might follow us, so let's get out of here!"

Filia nodded, realizing getting out of the vicinity probably was the best idea.

*****

Filia and Xelloss walked to the farthest side of town, noticing that, even at night, that the streets were very busy.

"I wonder what is going on?" Filia asked curiously.

"Hey! Candy apples!" Xelloss wandered off to a vendor that was packed full of sweets.

Filia sighed. "Doesn't matter how old he gets, candy will always be his favorite. Ohhhhhhhh, how pretty!" Filia found someone sitting on a carpet selling all sorts of jewlery. There was a silver braclet, with five pretty blue sapphires set in a row. Admiring them with adoring eyes, she looked at the jewler with hope.

"How much is this?"

The man didn't seem able to talk but he indicated a price tag on the blanket that was laying below the spot that the bracelet was resting. She sighed, noting that it was more than she had with her. "Oh well..." She saw Xelloss walking up to her, happily nibbling away at a carmel apple. He offered her the other he was holding in his other hand. "They're good, you should try it."

"You spend your money on the most wasteful things..." Filia muttered, but took the gift.

"No, I don't. It all depends on your presective on life."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "How is that?"

"I'm happy enough with my life to not want or need anything more than a candy apple to be satisfied." He grinned at her, and continued to nibble at the apple. "But the thing that would make me really happy is if sensei would drop off the face of the earth, but it seems no amount of money will do that. Soooooo....I'll stick to my sweets!"

"Humph. The way you hollar all the time and whine to me, you don't seem happy. But I have to agree with the sensei thing."

Xelloss thought about this for a minute, and turned around, looking at the crowd. "I can understand that, but the truth is that you are the person I talk to the most. I guess I'm generally not that talkative to people. I'm an introvert I suppose. I don't know why you make me so mad, I guess you just have a gift." He teased. Then something caught his attention. "Hey, looks like someone has some tea pots down there, Fi-chan, why don't you take a look."

"Really? Don't mind if I do..." She walked away happily. As she walked away, he knelt down to the blanket to look at the bracelet she was looking at. "Well, it IS pretty, I guess, but it would look better if it was...hey, there we are!" He held up a bracelet of the same design, only this one was with amythist stones. "Purple." He finished his sentence. Xelloss laughed to himself, handing the man a bag of money, not bothering wait for change. He knew there was enough to pay for the bracelet in the bag though and that was all that mattered.

Filia was paying special attention to a tea cup with little wild flowers painted on the base and handle when Xelloss walked up. Behind him, in the distance, she noticed something that scared the wits out of her. Like he has done to her so many times, she grabbed his wrist, set the cup down and ran with him in tow through the crowd.

"Fi.i...i...i...i...li....i...i..i.a..a..a..a..!" Xelloss was hardly able to get her name out.

"It's sensei! She was in the crowd!"

WHAM!

Filia, this time, knocked into someone.

"Yes, I was in the crowd. What do you two think you are doing, skipping out on lessons?" A woman, still relativly young looking, stood before them in a menacing way. She wore a light blue cloak, and a while sheer dress beneith. Her eys seemed to lack pigment, and were slanted, accompanied by an angular nose and a small firm mouth. Her hair was white and short, but kept neat in appearance.

Filia couldn't get anything out, and Xelloss just starred at her with a look of total dismay.

Tarrama looked at Xelloss and smiled at him in a preditory way. "Your dear, so-callled "father" told me that he was giving you the day off, but I am the one who will determine when you get a day off. Today is not that day. Get back to the ship, now." She stuck her nose up in the air and pointed towards the direction of the docks.

Xelloss and Filia looked at eachother an sighed. Filia's eyes watered up. I thought I would be able to just get away from her...why wont she leave us alone?

Fi-chan, don't get so depressed... Xelloss thought to her.

Listening to my thoughts again, namagomi? How do we do this anyways?

They started walking slowly to the docks, keeping their conversation in their minds.

I'm not sure. All I know is that I am not going to tell her. She'll try to keep us from doing this.

Xelloss....

Hm?

I think I hate her...

Xelloss giggled quietly outloud, his eyes growing big when he realized his mistake.

"What are YOU laughing about?" Tarrama snapped, grabbing his hair and pulling his head back to make him look at her th hard way.

"Iteee! Let go, that hurts!" I'm going to kill her!

"What's funny you insolent little brat?" An evil grin crossed Xelloss' face as he winced with his eyes in pain. "Sore wa himitsu desu." Xelloss, are you all right?Filia didn't want to intervine, it would only mean Tarrama being even more rough with him. Filia and Xelloss might be old enough to stand on their own, but Tarrama had worked on building an intense fear of her within them.

Filia, this really hurts! It's like she is trying to pull the skin off my face by ripping my hair out!

"Don't give me that cocky attitude!" She snarled, pulling harder. Xelloss yelped and tried to push her away from the akward position he was in.

"Let him go, you're hurting him!" Filia grabbed Tarrama's arm, trying to make her stop. Tarrama looked as if her mind snapped, and she backhanded Filia. Not a good choice on Tarrama's part.

For some reason, Filia was very stong for a girl her size and stature...actually, borderline massivly frighteningly stong for no apparent reason. Match this with a bad temper and...

"Excuse me?" Filia this time clutched her arm with an iron grip and ripped her away from Xelloss. "I said LET GO!' Filia then punched the woman sqaure in the face. Blood poured out form the woman's nose, and her body crumpled to the ground.

Xelloss thought his eyes were going to fall out. "Ano...Filia-chan, was that nessasary?" He rubbed his head where his hair was being pulled and winced, looking down at Tarrama.

Fila gasped, and knelt down by the woman. She began to cast a healing spell, but Xelloss pulled her away from the crumpled woman. "No, leave her."

"But she's hurt!"

Xelloss grabbed her shoulders and looked at her with a very serious look. "And she is going to hurt you in return, and a lot worst, when she comes to. You know what I think?"

"Nani?"

"We get the hell out of here." He smiled. "Ditch her. I think we have learned plenty, how about you? We know enough to get by, and certainly enough to control ourselves, don't you agree?" She nodded. "So leave her like this?" She pointed to Tarrama.

"Most definitly. In fact, I say kick her while she's down!" He grinned at her.

Filia laughed, and let herself be lead to the boat by Xelloss.

When they arrived, Marner gave them an apologetic look. "Erm, sorry. I tried to stop her. Eh? Where is Tarrama?" Marner examined the space behind Filia and Xelloss noticing that their shadow was not following them.

Xelloss smiled. "She is not feeling well. I think she has decided to stay here for now. We can leave without her. In fact, let's leave right now."

"Not feeling well...but..." Marner began.

"Yes, dad, NOT FEELING WELL. We can leave anytime, right now preferrably."

Marner smiled a little, and saw the look on Filia's face. Then he understood. "You clobbered someone again, didn't you girl?"

Her face blushed horribly, and she smiled a little nervously. "Now why ever would you think that?"

Marner chuckled to himself and smlied broadly. About time those two got away from her. "Alright, boys, we're leavin'! The crew immediatly began to hustle, getting themselves ready. "You two stay below deck for a while, you both look tired. Besides, it looks like it's going to be rainy."

"Are you sure you wont need us?" Xelloss asked, knowing that sometimes he needed help on deck. "I mean, I'm the one in the crow's nest most of the time. That other guy you've got can't tell his left arm from his right. Like he'll do any better with clouds and rain."

"And don't you need me to steer if there is a storm?" Filia asked, becoming concerned herself. "Sometimes those waves can be rough, and well...I..." She became steadily embarrised again.

"You're stronger than most of us. Don't be embarrised about it girl. Hell, I'm glad you are as strong as you are, you're too pretty to not be able to defend yourself from the like of him." Marner patted Xelloss on the shoulder jokingly.

"Hey, now, that's...." Xelloss began, irritated.

"I was just joking boy, don't get defensive. Anyway, go to bed, both of you."