Chapter 9: The time draws near….
By::: Destiny Dreamer
"Good morning. Are you well?" Filia walked into the room, holding a tray of warm water and cloths. Dee groaned and sat up, "Where am I?" "A room. I am here to care of you." The blond Ryuzaku dipped a cloth into the bowl, and started to wash Dee's face and arms. "Be careful of your arm. I had to stitch it while you were sleeping." Dee lifted it to examine the tiny row of black thread trailing down her arm. "You are good. Thank you." Dee whispered, pulling up her legs to hug them. " My name is Filia." "You are a Ryuzaku." Dee stated, "Shouldn't you have killed me? I would have been better off." Filia shook her head, "Don't think that way. I have too many times. It gets you nowhere. I help you because I wish too." "I'm still in Zellas' house aren't I? Where is Xelloss?" Dee asked. "He is busy." Filia answered, "You need more rest. That will accelerate your healing powers." She nodded muggily.
***
"So when do you think Xelloss-San, and Filia-San are coming back?" Amelia asked. Zelgadiss shrugged, as he stabbed another invisible opponent. Most everyone here were honing up on their fighting skills, Be it weapons, or magic. "I don't know….but I really would like to leave now." Elerot said, standing up, and inching towards the door. "Oh But Elerot, Don't you want to help us fight?" Lina asked sweetly. "No. No I don't. I'm the big scary bad guy here. You can't make me help you." He crossed his arms over his chest. "Uh huh." Lina nodded, "Of course. But you're still staying here. At least one of us can hide behind you, if Dolphin tries to blast us into tiny pieces." She shrugged cheerfully, and continued practicing her sword. Elerot gulped, "Really?" he asked timidly. "Oh yeah" She grinned, "If you're not on either side, then you're part of the scenery. Like a rock, or a tree. Therefore we may use you as a human shield. It's in the handbook." "What handbook?" Elerot demanded. "The handbook that came out about the same time as your Be a evil villain in just three days! Guidebook." "Oh." He blushed. "Villians don't blush, just in case you were interested." Martina reminded him. "Yeah…ummm" He fanned his face till it returned to it's normal shade. "That's better." She smiled, and returned to practicing her own magic. "Why can't you all just leave me alone." He mumbled pulling up his legs to hug them, "If I had my way, you would all be my trembling slaves." "Yes, yes, we know dear." Lina patted him on the head.
She then turned to Martina. "Martina? What spells do you know? I'm going to teach you a little more." Martina's eyes widened, "Really?" She nodded grimly, "I want everyone to be able to defend themselves, and a casual fireball, won't help you." Martina rolled her eyes, "I know more then that. Sheesh." "Then sit, and learn whatever you don't know, ok?" Lina demanded irritably.
"Lina-San seems to be in a pretty bad mood, Ne Zelgadiss-San?" Amelia asked him. "She's nervous." Zel answered shortly, his sword making a slight whistling noise, as it swung through the air. "Nervous? Lina-San? Why?" "Because. 1. Dolphin killed Zellas, and has Xelloss practically on the run." Amelia nodded, "But Lina-San could take her right?" "And 2." He continued, ignoring Amelia's question, "You must know by now, Lina has a kind of sixth sense, when it comes to battles. She must think this is going to be rough. And I have to agree with her. This is one of the mazoku lords. Just like Phibrizio, and Gaav. Neither of those we could kill without help." "True." Amelia nodded, "But everything turned out alright before. It'll be the same with this one!" She grinned, "Victory for the Slayers." Amelia did the victory sign, and Zelgadiss has to smile.
***
"Ok so Dee's dead. That shouldn't be any problem right?" Dolphin asked herself, as she paced back and forth, "No of course not. All I needed from her was to help fight Zelas. Zelas is gone now, and Xelloss will soon be too." She giggled cheerfully, "Just you wait y'all, This is going to be a spectacular event!" She flopped down on her couch, and pulled up a bottle of wine, and one of the two glasses on the table, "A toast." Dolphin grinned, to the invisible crowd before her, "To me, and all I shall become!"
Her giggle was more of a cackle then.
***
"Oh you just wait, Deep Sea Dolphin. You think I don't know what you're up to? You think I'm that lousy of a god?" L-Sama, aka The Lord Of Nightmares, glared down upon her lowly subordinate's form, in the pool that stood before her. "You know what? You're not getting away with it. Lina's in your way, and in a fight between you, and her/me, you lose." L-Sama grinned, "I don't why you think you could win." "Because." Dolphin's form looked up at her, "You can't interfere on your own. Things like this are supposed to happen one of these days. I just want it to happen now. And if you think your precious Lina, is going to stop me, you've got another thing coming." Dolphin glared up her evenly, and then the picture fuzzed out, leaving L-Sama's own reflection staring back at her. "Damnit." L-Sama whispered.
***
"Ok, that's it!" Gina stood up defiantly, "We're going out!" "Out? Why?" Amanda asked. "Because, our moms and dads are in trouble. They hafta be. Why else would it take them so long to come back?" Gregory shrugged, "Maybe they had to go far away." "Well, if they are in trouble, we're going to rescue them!" "How fun! We're going to be nights in shining armor now!" Xelia grinned. Val sighed, "Are you sure this is a good idea?" "Of course." Gina looked serious for a moment, "Our parents could be seriously hurt, and may need our help. Besides," she shrugged, "I want more fun" "Ok, we'll need some food, and how are we gonna get past 'Manda's and Greg's granddaddy?" Xelia asked "Be sneaky of course" Gina's eyes glinted.
"Got everything?" Amanda asked Xelia. She nodded. "Ok let's move out. Valgaav said, "Gregory, you know what to do." The tiny prince nodded and raced over to the door. Pulling it open, he stared at the guard beside it, "Excuse me sir, but me and my friends would like something to drink. Oh and something to eat also." The guard smiled, "Of course, I'll be right back. The guard strode off, and Gregory waved a hand, "C'mon!" The 5 kids snuck down the hallway, and out to the palace grounds. "This is so easy." Gina grinned, "Now all we need to do is hitch a ride on a wagon that's leaving." The others nodded. They only had to wait a few moments in the bushes, before a cart approached. They ran out and scrambled into the back. Inside we several goats, who didn't pay much attention to them. "Ok everyone under the hay until we're out." Val whispered. They did as commanded, and within minutes, were off on their second adventure in just a few weeks.
***
"So…" Filia said, sitting across from Xelloss. She was still in his house, and at his mercy, which should have scared her speechless. And she was speechless at least. But not from fear. She was just highly uncomfortable. Xelloss wasn't saying anything. Just sitting there in front of her, quiet and as still as stone. "Dee….She…she will get better. Give her a couple weeks." Filia said, trying to make conversation. "And then what." It was a question, she supposed, but it didn't sound like he cared about the answer. "And then…and then…" She stalled for a second. What was going to happen with her? She was only going to live as long as her master did anyway. Then she was going to die, maybe not right away, but soon after, much like… "Like Xelloss is going to." Oddly enough, Filia felt her life would strange without him. "Xelloss?" Filia asked. "Hm?" he didn't look up. " I'm….I'm sorry." "For what?" "For…For, you know…" "He looked up at her now, "What?" "For, well, even though you were obnoxious, rude, annoying, and my kind's worst enemy, I shouldn't have treated you so bad. I'm sorry, and I….I would like to start over." A smile grew across his face, "A Ryuzaku, I mean Filia, apologizing? To a Mazoku? Since when did you think I have feelings?" "I think, no, I know, you have feelings. Now anyway." He nodded, "I can feel sad, or happy, or angry. I have the whole range of emotions that both humans, and Ryuzaku do." His voice lowered to a whisper, and pulled her near. Filia heart got caught in her throat, "What's he doing? Is…is he going to kiss me?" Filia wasn't sure if she was supposed to feel disgusted. "Mazoku can feel love." his breath was ragged, and he seemed paler then he usually was. "You…you can?" Filia whispered back. "Oh my god, what's going to happen?" He nodded, "I loved Zellas…very much. She was a mother to me." "Oh." "Am I disappointed? I'm so stupid, thinking Xelloss liked me. And me liking him? What was I thinking. It must be the wine." She didn't glance at the glass in front of her. Because it was still full, and she didn't want to know that.
Xelloss pulled away from her suddenly, "I have to go do something. I'm sure Dee may need something. Why don't you go check on her." "Yes, that might be a good idea." Filia scrambled out of the chair, and made her way down the hallway.
Xelloss stared into the nearby mirror. "I don't have much time left. Dolphin better make her move soon." Although she was probably waiting until he was too far gone to do anything about her. Even in this condition, he could still harm her, at least a little, before she wiped him out. "So I'll just have to pretend…"
***
"You'll be well soon." Filia said, as she handed Dee a pill, "Eat this, it'll help." Dee shrugged and swallowed it. "So why are you hanging out here?" Dee asked, once the pill was gone. Filia shrugged, "Xelloss didn't have time at the moment to bring me back, and now I'm caring for you." "So you're not living with him then?" Filia laughed, "Of course not! What would make you think that?" She sat up to look at Filia squarely, "You like him." "I do not!" Filia stood up, with an outraged look on her face. "A Ryuzaku in love with a Mazkou, kinda sad actually." Dee mused. "I'm telling you, I don't like him. He's…he's icky!" "Icky?" Dee giggled, "Is that the best insult you have?" Filia's tail popped out, and her hand reached for her mace. Suddenly Dee lay back down, "I can see why though, I like him too. A lot." Filia's hand fell, as her anger dissipated, "You..like him?" Dee laughed, "Not in the 'Xelloss you are my one true love! Let's marry right now!' way, but I do have a crush on him." "So mazoku are capable of those kind of feelings though?" Dee nodded, "Of course. It's frowned upon, but…"
"But how can you have good feelings when you live to cause bad ones?"
"You have the whole range, good and bad. Why can't we?"
Filia shrugged, "You are a strange race."
"Thank you."
The dragon woman stood up, "I'd better let you rest some more. I shall check on you later." Dee yawned, "Thanks." As Filia turned to leave, Dee spoke up again, "Filia-San?"
"Yes?" "Don't worry, I won't tell Xelloss you like him."
Filia stopped, and was about to argue, then she sighed instead, "Thank you."
***
"Oh L-Sama. Do I really like Xelloss?" it seemed hard to comprehend in her mind. I like Xelloss, I like Xelloss…That just seemed weird, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Sure he was annoying, and his pet hobby was bugging her. But she still hung around with him. Actually enjoyed having him there, instead of being by herself. Her thoughts were interrupted by a croak, "Filia…" It was Xelloss. She ran into the other room, to find the trickster priest collapsed on the floor. "Xelloss?" She ran over to him. He was feverish to the touch, and his eyes were glassy. "She picked him up, and hurried to the nearest bedroom. "It'll be ok, Xelloss, just hang on." She whispered…
***
Xelloss let out a tiny fake moan, and released a bit of his power for a second. If Dolphin was listening in, she would think he didn't have long to stay. Filia leaned over him worridly, "Xelloss please hang on." He looked up at her, "Filia?" "Yes?" He reached up a hand a pulled her near, so close their noses almost touched. Her eyes widened as he brushed his lips against her cheek. She was so surprised she almost didn't hear him whisper, "Play along, Dolphin needs to think I'm almost dead." Her look of relief as she nodded slightly, almost made Xelloss grin, until he remembered he was supposed to be in incredible pain. He curled up into a fetal position, and let his powers fluctuate again. Filia let out a tiny cry, "No Xelloss, it'll be ok!" She seemed to be getting into her role. "Filia?" he whispered, "I want you…to promise me….you'll…take care of yourself." "She nodded, and a tiny tear crept down her cheek. Xelloss smiled softly, "All…this…emotion for me?" She nodded, "Xelloss…please don't leave me." He looked up to her, with own eyes filling with tears, "Imagine what could….have happened between us…" his eyes closed and he fell into a feverish sleep.
***
Filia was shocked. This playacting thing had unintentionally turned into something more. Maybe. She looked down at him sleeping, maybe faking it, she had no way to know. She decided to add one last line to the little play, "Don't worry Xelloss, I'll find a way to save you. I have to. I…" this was the clincher. Should she? "I don't want to live without you…." Her heart stopped, as she leaned over to kiss him on the cheek, just as he had done to her. At the last second, he shifted slightly. Her lips hit his softly. A blush grew across her face. It was her first kiss. And what strange circumstances did it come in… She pulled back slowly after a few moments, and before leaving, gave Xelloss one last glance.
***
"He's going to die soon, he's going to die soon!" Dolphin danced across her room. "I can start my plan now…." She hurried over to the chest at her bed, and pulled out several things. A book, and a vial of an unknown liquid was all she needed. She disappeared to the temple of L-Sama, and made her way to the alter…..
Oh yeah, another cliffhanger! I love dishing those out^_^ Anyway chapter 10 is the last part. It's been fun, but I bet you're all going, "Is this thing ever going to end?!?" I still have yet to figure out if Zel and Amelia are going to end up together…. Let me know ok? I don't how many people are fans of that….personally I like Zel/Filia, but I like Filia/Xell better *shrug*
Anyway, Review, and I'll love you forever!!!
~Destiny Dreamer