"Hmmmm

"Hmmmm. So my Lina-chan is missing, eh? I wonder where she could possibly be." pondered the mazoku, "Filia, Sylphiel, Amelia, and Gourry all don't know where she is, but then again Gourry wouldn't know where Lina-chan was even if she was fireballing him… that leaves, Zel-kun!" as he teleported away with a gleeful look.

In the Desert of Carthal…

"C-O-F-F-E-E! Haven't you heard of coffee!?! What kind of place doesn't have coffee?" raged the Chimera at the local innkeeper.

"Like I says to ye before, we do not have any of the cafee ye keep talking about nor has anyone here even heard of the cafee. Either take the rations ye already paid for and get the hell out or I am gonna have to beat ye, I've had enough of ye whining about the cafee!" Retorted the short, balding man.

"It's C-O-F-F-E-E! For Cepheid's sake, what do I have to do to get some coffee around here?" grumbled Zelgadiss as he began packing the bought supplies. "I have to get on the road again soon, if I hope to find her alive."

"Zelly-itooshi, have you missed me?" asked Xellos, glomping onto Zelgadiss from seemingly nowhere.

"Ack, get off me you damn mazoku. As much as I would love to beat you into oblivion, I'm on a mission right now and don't have time for raw garbage such as you." sneered Zelgadiss after punching Xellos into the inn wall.

"My my, so touchy, looking for your cure still or looking for MY Lina-chan?" Xellos inquired absently while dusting himself off.

"What did you say?" snarled Zelgadiss, whirling with sword drawn against Xellos. "I knew you had something to do with her disappearance, where is she you bastard! Tell me before I slit you from head to toe."

"Calm down Zelly-boy, I had nothing to do with my Lina-chan's disappearance. In fact, I am here to investigate, since I know you were the last one to be with her out of our little group."

"You lie. And she is not your Lina-chan, she is mine."

"Why would I lie to you Zel? And aside from arguing who Lina-chan belongs to for the moment, where is she?" Xellos gravely inquired, opening his eyes.

Realizing that Xellos was for once telling the truth, at least about not knowing where Lina was, Zelgadiss slumped down and tiredly whispered, "I don't know."

"Well, why don't we start with telling me what you do know."

Zelgadiss leaned back in his seat looking haggard. Taking pity on the chimera and needing the information quickly, Xellos produced a large cup of hot black coffee for Zelgadiss as he began his story.

"Well, I suppose you already know as much but here is what happened.

Lina and I had been traveling together alone for several months. Although Lina sent regular letters to Filia, Sylphiel, and Amelia, she chose not to tell them that we were traveling together. Why? Well, because she though Amelia would be hurt if she knew we were together. Anyway, things were going well… better than well actually, you see she and I started seeing each other differently, but I suppose you already knew that." Noting Xelloss' solemn nod, Zelgadiss decided to continue. "Anyway, it was a slow development and nothing really had happened physically between us when I lost her. We had been scouring an old abandoned temple for hints of my cure and treasure for her, when it happened."

Elsewhere…..

"Why hasn't anyone come yet?" whispered the weeping sorceress. "I wonder how long I have been here, I haven't even been hungry since I've been here. Has it been days? Months? Years? Oh god, Oh god, I wish someone would hurry up and find me. I can handle Dark Lords, Xellos' tricks, Gourry's stupidity, Naga's laughter, anything… I'd even welcome fighting Phibrizo again, right now. I just can't handle being magicless, alone, and in the dark. Not even dark, emptiness! Please, someone find me anyone… Luna, Zel, Xellos….anyone…"