Chapter Fifteen

"Uh," Sylphiel opened her eyes. Gently she stretched her arms and spread her fingers, arching her back and reaching out her legs. Sleepily she peaked out of her goose-down comforter and gave a squeak. It was freezing! Bringing her blanket close Sylphiel looked to see how Xelloss was handling this blizzard and...hit the door..."Ow!" Sylphiel rubbed her nose "What?!" Quickly she rose, forgetting the cold and threw open the door. Sylphiel approached the bed speechless and then smiled. Both Filia and Xelloss lay there sleeping. Filia slept on her side her head resting on Xelloss's chest while one of his arms was wrapped around her body. A blanket came to Filia's shoulder. Sylphiel didn't have the heart to wake them and slowly, as not to disturb their slumber, crept from the room and once more closed the door. Now Sylphiel mad her way downstairs. She was still in a sort of a dream state as she approached Lina and Zel at the fireplace. The logs shifted as a few dieing sparks took flight. Zelgadiss was curled against the coffee table in a light sleep. Lina lay beside him, stretched out, one of her hands resting on his. A blanket was strewn across the floor, partially covering both of them. Sylphiel took a step towards the kitchen and looked towards Zel as instantly he awoke "Sorry," she said.

"What time is it?!" Zel looked around for a clock.

"Hm?" Sylphiel checked the clock on the stove "Six. Want anything?"

"Coffee," Zel rose, taking the sofa throw over in hand and wrapping it around his slender body.

"Well good morning," Sylphiel smiled at his groggy expression and laughed.

Zel said something under his breath as he sat at the table, that Sylphiel couldn't make out.

"Well coffee will take a second," she said amused by his current disposition.

It was seven when Lina at last was conscious.

"Good morning," Sylphiel said cheerfully, so cheerfully in fact that it made Lina wince.

"I know," Zel said from the table, now fully clothed, as Sylphiel swept past "It's a little creepy...but...," he sipped his coffee.

Lina looked at him through one eye, this one only halfway open. There was no way in hell she would get up now. Nothing could ease the pain of those first few minutes when you wake before your time.

Zel motioned to the stove "Sylphiel cooked,"

Ah, the painkillers had arrived.

BANG! Filia and Xelloss where awakened by the sound of "Lina Vs. the heat of the oven Round 1".

"Mmm," Xelloss tried to close his eyes and go back to sleep, forgetting momentarily where he was.

Filia opened her eyes slowly. It was too early "Huh?" Filia heard Xelloss groan. Memories of the night before flooded into her mind. What had she been thinking?! She had a boyfriend! This was Xelloss! She didn't love Xelloss...did she...?

Xelloss gave another moan, eyes still closed, as the clouds moved out of the path of the sun and brightened the room.

Filia stifled a laugh and felt suddenly what she had come over her the night before "I guess I do," Filia smiled and reached for his hand, intertwine her fingers in his.

"Huh?" Xelloss opened his eyes and saw Filia. It took him a moment to actually come to his senses. Xelloss tightened his hand on hers and then realized how early it was and that the sun was in his eyes "Too early," he whined and then rolled onto his side, Filia going over with him.

"Ya!" Filia was caught off guard by the sudden movement. Then she laughed "Come on," she giggled poking at Xelloss who had pulled the pillow over his face "Over we go," Filia put her hands on his shoulders, using her weight to push him over so that now he lay on his back again and she on top of him "We have school,"

"School?!" Xelloss sat up suddenly sending Filia tumbling backwards.

"Ya!" Filia rolled onto her back on the other end of the bed and laughed "Oh Gawd. Remind me never to try and wake you up again,"

By the time both Filia and Xelloss had actually made it out the door they had both lost all will to be conscious.

"So anyway...I think..." Lina was just finishing off the last of the pancakes when she saw Filia and Xelloss coming down the stairs.

"What?" Zel knew something was wrong. Lina had actually stopped in mid bite. Lina didn't just leave food lying around! Then he saw what she was staring at.

"Oh no," Xelloss headed towards the door, he didn't want to explain the situation between he and Filia at the moment...it was too early in the morning...

Filia looked at Lina and Zel then to Xelloss opening the door. Escape? Interigation? Escape? Interigation? The answer would have been simple had Xelloss not ran back into the house rubbing his arms, now fully awake and completely alert "Snow!" he managed.

Lina and Zelgadiss continued to stare making Filia feel much to uncomforatable "Forget it, snow day," remembering where Sylphiel's family kept jackets she grabbed two from the downstairs closet and still in a hurry ran from the house dragging Xelloss with her.

K-chan walked down the street yawning. She hadn't expected that yesterday...who woulda guessed that guy she had ran into in the street would have been her the new student in her...her...whatever that period was that she used as a much desearved naptime? He hadn't seemed thrilled to see her either. She couldn't blame him. If some guy had offered to be her one and only, to do whatever she said, to be totaly and utterly subserviant to her she would have...hey...wait? What was he mad about?! Why-why if she saw him now she would just give him a piece of her mind!

As if on cue the magenta haired teen came running down the sidewalk "Fuyu!" He shouted. He looked abselutely furious and was running straight at her?!

Oh no! I take it back! I don't wanna give him a piece of my mind! I need it all! I like it where it is!, K-chan sheilded herself.

"Fuyu!" The man came to a stop before her and K-chan noticed was looking behind her. She then noticed two gloved hands on her shoulders.

Whoever was holding her shoulders laughed "What?" the voice was that of a male and was brimming with false innocence.

"Can you just stop this?!" The "magenta teen" had yet to notice K-chan whose eyes were wide.

"Stop what?!" he laughed and suddenly K-chan felt a chill "Aki let me have my fun,"

"Fun?!" K-chan tried to pull away "Hey now!"

The man holding her laughed at her words and dipped her back so that he could see her face. His skin was pale and strange in contrast to his black gloves and trenchcoat. His white hair came to mid-back, a few stands blowing into his face in the wind "I'm sorry dear but that's not what I meant...but if you insist...Wait do I know you?" He put his head to one side in his question.

K-chan opened her mouth in horror at his rude comment and raised a hand to slap him.

"Ah!" The "magenta teen" caught her hand before if struck the pale young man "I wouldn't do that," he suddenly realized who she was.

"Oh!" K-chan lashed out in anger at the "magenta teen" landing a good punch squarely in his jaw.

"Ah!" He stumbled back, rubbing his jaw and squeazing his eyes shut in pain.

"Thank you miss," the man rested a hand on the side of her face and smiled.

K-chan found herself smileing back...though she wasn't sure why...

Gently he released her and bowed deeply "My name is Fuyu,"

"K-k-chan," she could hardly get a syllable out.

"K-chan?" He studied her face "That won't do? What is your full name luv?"

"Ah," K-chan's mouth just kind of dropped and she wavered not sure of what to say.

Fuyu took both her hands in his gloved ones and held them to his chest "Very well my Kyuusei. Until we meet again," laughing he ran away and dissapeared from site.

"Ah," the "magenta teen" at last confronted K-chan after a painful cracking of his jaw "No!" He saw that Fuyu had ran away and glared at K-chan "You," he spoke with loathing as the girl faced him though his voice seemed unaccustomed to a tone this harsh.

"Huh? YOU!" K-chan returned the glare "YOU STOPPED ME FROM HITTING HIM!"

"You let him get away! You practically defended him!"

K-chan was silent...he...he was right.

"I'm sorry," the "magenta teen" lowered his eyes "My name is Aki. Please excuse my behavior,"

"K-chan," the girl's voice was far from kind.

"K-chan?" Aki frowned at the name "Do you have a proper name?"

"No," K-chan snapped.

"Very well my Kageri," and with that he ran after Fuyu disapeariing after a moment as well.

It took K-chan a moment to react "HEY! What do you mean kageri?!" K-chan sniffed "I am not,"

I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. I was really busy with school and writer's block and what-not? A little side note here on the Japanese used in this fic (only nickname wise)

Kyuusei: Savior.

Kageri: a rain cloud over someone's happiness, shade, gloom.

Some of the origional characters in this fic have Japanese names...er...well Japanese words for names but that is unimportant.