~Chapter Three: And the Complications Begin...~




Xelloss was experiencing an emotion that he'd hardly ever had the occasion to experience before.

Fear.

He shrank back before Filia's adoring gaze, smiling nervously. "Er, Filia? Are you *sure* you're feeling alright?"

"I'm feeling great, Xelloss-sama!" The blonde girl beamed. "Thank you for asking...you're so considerate..."

Xelloss decided at that moment that he needed a good, *strong* cup of coffee to calm his jangling nerves.

~*~

//Ahh...nothing like a good strong cup of coffee to wash down a nice breakfast,// thought Gourry happily as he finished the coffee in his cup and started on his eighth plate of breakfast for the morning. Just then, Lina poked him.

"Oi, Gourry," said the crimson-haired sorceress, yawning. "Pass me the coffee...I can't seem to stay awake this morning."

Turning to her, the blonde swordsman passed Lina the pot of coffee, noting somewhere in the back of his mind - as he did every morning - that Lina was very pretty (despite her lack of...assets). He would never actually *tell* her so, of course, as that would probably end up with her trying to kill him. Most situations ended up like that...not that he minded, really. Gourry knew that he wasn't the smartest of people, not by a long shot, but he *did* know that Lina genuinely cared for him. He'd known ever since she'd come to save him from Hellmaster Phibrizo. And for now, just that knowledge was enough; who knew what would happen in the future?

~*~

Taking the jug from Gourry, Lina poured herself a cup of coffee and sipped it happily, eyes sliding closed as she savoured the rich taste. //Ahh...I can feel the caffeine working already. No wonder Zel likes this stuff so much.//

"Lina-chan?" Xelloss tapped her on the shoulder. "Could you pass me the coffee, please?"

"Yeah," she turned to him, opening her eyes, coffee cup in one hand, coffee pot in the other.

//Ooh.// Crimson eyes widened. //Cute.// Then she mentally smacked herself. //Since when do I find *Xelloss* attractive?!?//

Unaware of the internal debate currently going on in Lina's head, and just as unaware of his impending doom, the purple-haired Mazoku poured himself a cup of coffee. //Ahh...// He could feel some of the fear - inspired by Filia's extremely strange behavior - dissipating already, just by *inhaling* the fragrant scent of the coffee.

Maybe he should ask someone about Filia's strange behavior. "Lina-chan," he began, turning to the crimson-haired girl, coffee cup full of still-untouched coffee in his hand.

She turned to him, beaming, eyes sparkling with...adoration?

"Yes, Xelloss-sama?"

Violet eyes widened, and Xelloss dropped his cup of hot coffee...right in his lap.

~*~




[to be continued...]