Chapter Four: Unexpected Trip



"Welcome to the Renard Hillside Inn!" The innkeeper invited them in with an expansive gesture. Lina was looking around her, still paranoid. It had taken them thirty minutes of walking to convince her that they needed to stay in an inn that night. As it was, her nerves were still shot. She jumped at every little noise and kept constantly next to Gourry. Personally, Xellos thought that it wasn't for comfort-it was to use him as a shield against Luna. I suppose it was a good thing Luna was like that to her younger sister. Otherwise Lina wouldn't be so strong, now. Of course, Lord Shabranidigo, Rezo, and numerous other beings probably don't see that as a good thing, Xellos thought, being sure to cloak his thoughts. Even if Imbri was naturally telepathic, she couldn't get past his barriers. That was, as long as he remembered to not let thoughts fly around freely. They settled for three rooms, like normal. Imbri and Xellos would be sharing one. Lina was worried that if Luna found her, Amelia wouldn't be enough of a shield.

Maybe I should stay with Gourry…Lina blinked at her own thought. Whoa. Now where did that thought come from? Lina shook her head to clear it. It must be the fear. It does strange things to people.

Xellos was talking quietly to Imbri. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but it looked to be interesting. Imbri was growing extremely red around the face. Another feeling Lina couldn't shake was the one about Imbri and Xellos. It just wasn't right-Imbri didn't have a clue who he was. She had to tell her.

Xellos winked out of existence, leaving behind a fuming Imbri. Lina walked over to her and sat down. Not before looking around nervously, Imbri noted to herself.

I hope Luna's not anywhere around here…

"Why, Lina?" Lina looked over at the girl.

"I didn't say anything."

"Yes you did. You said, 'I hope Luna's not anywhere near here.'" Lina stared at the girl. Her jaw hit the ground. "What'd I do, now?"

"I didn't say that out loud." Now Imbri was the puzzled one.

"But I heard it clear as day…" Imbri's voice trailed off as she realized the implications of what she had said.

"Are you telepathic, Imbri?"

"I…I suppose so, I guess."

"Have you always been?" Imbri shook her head. "I think…" she thought hard. "I think it started when we came close to that temple. I started hearing the voices then." Imbri laughed. "And here I thought I was going crazier."

"Crazier?"

"Yeah." She paused. Better not talk about my real voices yet, she cautioned. "So, you mean I can read Xel-er, other people's thoughts?"

"It seems so, unless they have a barrier up against intrusion." Imbri grew red.

"Are you suggesting that I intruded into your mind on purpose?!" Lina held up her hands.

"No, I was letting my thoughts fly about freely. I didn't mean to imply…"

"I know, I'm just a little jumpy. This is all really new to me, you know." Imbri thought back to when she had been home. "I've always been empathetic, ever since I remember. Really sensitive to what others were feeling and how it affected me." Lina placed a hand on Imbri's shoulder.

"Let's go somewhere quiet, Imbri. I need to tell you something." Imbri nodded.

***

Xellos was greeted with a howl as he materialized on Wolf Pack Island. The wolves circled around him. He had purposely not gone immediately to Juu- ou. He wanted to hunt first. Swiftly, he shed his human form and took on a more natural one-that of a wolf. As his brothers and sisters greeted him playfully, nipping and nuzzling, his mind wandered and thought of Imbri. I wonder what form she'd take naturally? Would it be that of a wolf? He shook his furry head and grinned, quite literally, wolfishly. I shouldn't be thinking about her when I'm not on the job. He growled at his younger siblings and took off after the scent of a young deer, the other wolves following in hot pursuit.

The hunt went well, leaving the pack well sated from the meat, as well as the fear the deer had given off. Reluctantly, Xellos separated himself from the pack and resumed his human form. The pack whined a bit at loosing their favorite playmate, and one female gave the wolf equivalent of a sigh and lightly tugged on his cape, but Xellos just grinned and scratched them all on the head before leaving to make his report.

***

"Lord Beastmaster," Xellos said as he bowed. Xelas frowned.

"Formality, formality, Xellos! How many times do I have to remind you?"

"Sorry, Mother."

"What do you have to report on Imbri?" Xellos smiled.

"Well, those talismans worked like a charm."

"Of course they did," Xelas smirked, looking not unlike her son.

"It's amazing how much power she can use through them. I didn't think they were supposed to amplify magic that much." Xelas frowned.

"Amplify magic? They aren't supposed to amplify magic at all. They're mere catalysts, just to get the fire started, so to speak, not to add fuel to it."

"Then Imbri-chan is very powerful indeed," Xellos muttered to himself. "There was also another unexpected development," he began.

"I don't like unexpected developments."

"Imbri's telepathic."

"What?!" Xelas nearly dropped her wine glass. "She's telepathic?!"

"That's what I said."

"Has she always been?"

"I don't think so, but she must have had some latent ability. It showed up around the time we reached the temple."

"Before she put on the jewels?"

"Hai." Xelas was up now, pacing back and forth, her companion wolf, Xef, keeping pace with her, occasionally reaching over and nuzzling her encouragingly. Xelas absently stroked his head.

"She must have some sort of latent ability…empathy maybe…that might be what have reacted to the talismans. This…this is curious, though. And very interesting." Whirling on Xellos, she asked,

"Has she found out who you are, yet?"

"No ma'am."

"Hmm. Maybe it's time to tell her." Xelas raised her arms dramatically. "I don't know! Start extolling the virtues of power and being a Mazoku." Xelas sighed. "I just don't know," she muttered softly.

"We've never come across anything like her before," Xellos reminded her. I sure haven't met anyone like her before, he thought to himself. Xelas watched her son with interest.

"So, Xellos," she asked, leaning forward. "How are her emotions? Are they rich and delicious? Come, tell mommy all about her…" Xellos did as she asked and sat by his mother's feet. Her voice was soft and compelling as she stroked his silky hair. "Tell mommy all about her…is she very pretty, Xellos?"

"Yes…she's very beautiful."

"What does she look like?"

"Long blonde hair that glows red when the sunlight hits it in the morning. Green hazel eyes that flash when you tease her…shapely body…very flexible…" Xelas raised one white eyebrow at that little tidbit of information. She was using her unique method of extracting information. It wasn't that she didn't trust Xellos. She just wanted to know the details that he might have held back…and just how he was turning Imbri to their side.

"Is she a plaything, Xellos?" He stumbled at that question.

"I don't know. She's unique. Sensual…reserved…a living contradiction." That also was interesting. This was the deeper Xellos, behind her General/Priest-his "feelings," so to speak.

"What are her emotions like, Xellos?"

"Rich, sensual, unpredictable…one minute she's serious, the next, she's playful and cheery. But there's always an undercurrent."

"An undercurrent, darling?" Xelas purred, hiding the obvious interest she felt.

"Yes…she hides her anger and hatred."

"I thought you said she was unpredictable."

"She's a contradiction. She tries to hide away her fear, her anger, and her hate. But when she lets herself slip…it's glorious," he murmured, a smile on his face. This is getting very, very interesting now, Xelas thought.

"What's her personality like?"

"Contradiction. Masochist…sadist…creative," Xellos chuckled at his little thought. Xelas decided not to think about that one. "True darkness underneath her mask. Something about her, though…not all dark…I can only see the flashes when she's genuine and kind."

"What about her past? Has she talked about it?"

"No. It seems painful to her, though. Sometimes, I'll say something or do something that will spark a reaction. It must be about her past, though. That's the only reason I can think of." Xelas took a sip of her recovered wine. This would be her last question.

"And how does she make you feel, son? Hmmm?" Xellos smiled, his eyes closed like he was sleeping.

"She makes me feel…well, you know."

"I know?" Xellos cracked open his eyes.

"Sore wa himitsu desu, Juu-ou-sama!" Xelas let out an exasperated sigh.

"You're impossible, Xellos."

"Thank you, Mother. I try." She chuckled humorlessly.

"And you succeed with out fail. Every time, my General/Priest. I want you to tell her who you are. Then bring her here. I would like to meet her."

"What about the others?"

"Hmm. What about them? I suppose you'll rejoin them later." Xelas paused, one hand stroking her chin thoughtfully. "I can't really think of anything that they need to be doing right now. Just let them wander. And bring Imbri to me."

"Of course, Juu-ou-sama." Xellos bowed and was gone.

***

"He's a what?"

"A Mazoku. A Monster, Demon, whatever you want to call him. Bottom line, he's evil." Imbri stared at Lina, disbelief on her face. Then, to Lina's surprise, Imbri began to laugh. "What's so damn funny?"

"It's really ironic," she managed to say, shoulders shaking with repressed chuckles.

"What?"

"My parents always told me that I was attracted to the dark side of things. I guess it's true." She laughed again. "Go figure." Lina was stunned. She was taking this extremely well. Maybe she was in denial or something.

"Are you…okay?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"

"It's just that, well…you slept with a demon!" Imbri shrugged.

"Shit happens." Lina shook her head. She would never figure Imbri out.

"Well…I just ought that you ought to know. They can't feel, Imbri. They feed off negative energy." Imbri laughed again.

"I guess I know why he sticks around so much. I'm sure I'm a veritable buffet to him." With a sad smile, she clapped her hand on Lina's shoulder. "I appreciate you telling me, Lina. You're like the older sister I never had. But I can take care of myself. Could I be alone right now?" Lina looked dubious, but she reluctantly nodded and turned to go.

"Just be careful, eh, sis?" she said before walking out. Imbri smiled at the closed door.

"I will, nee-san," she whispered.

"Imbri-chan?" Imbri flinched at the sound of his voice. With a sigh, she muttered,

"You did it again, Xellos."

"Is something wrong, Imbri-chan?" he asked, touching her shoulder lightly. She flinched again, shrugging off his touch and turning to face him. Xellos felt a twinge of something he couldn't name.

"No, nothing's wrong…Mazoku." Xellos chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Oh, you found out about that, eh? Actually, Imbri-chan, I was coming to tell you that. And to ask you if you wanted to meet my master."

"Oh? I get to meet your boss? Boy, I feel special."

"Do I detect a hint of sarcasm?"

"Quite possibly."

"Well, you know now. I wish I had been the one to tell you, but"-

"But the joke's on me, as always, isn't it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh, come on. Imbri's the fool. Deceived again. But hey! What's new? It's not like this is the first time this has happened. I'm sure it won't be the last time, either. I guess it's true that daughters always fall for men like their fathers. I remember that's why I said I'd never get married." She smiled cheerily. Xellos could see straight through that. She was hurt. It wasn't anger, though, just a deep, abiding ache of sadness. Deceived her? Me? He grew angry, opening his eyes and staring at her. Imbri didn't back down. She was just too tired of the endless games and masks that everyone had put her through.

"Are you calling me a liar, Imbri-chan?"

"And what if I were, Xellos. What if I were? Would it really matter if you were a liar? Everything's the same here as it was there."

"I have done a lot of things, Imbri. Bad things. But I never lie. Ever." Imbri looked at him and laughed.

"Everyone lies, Xellos," she hissed. "You lie, I lie. This world is a lie. Life is a lie. If you believe otherwise then you are a liar. You're lying to yourself." His amethyst eyes glittered dangerously.

"I. Don't. Lie." His voice was harsh.

"Believe whatever you like, Xel-chan," she spat. "Denial is a happy state of mind, isn't it? Do you like living there?"

"Listen to me," he hissed, grabbing her shirt and lifting her off the ground easily. Imbri stared directly into his eyes; fear wasn't even a factor.

"I'm not afraid of you, Xellos. You're just like my father. But you can't hurt me like he could." She laughed, even though he was shaking her. "You can hurt me physically, but never emotionally. That part of me is dead, and that's what really hurts."

"Dammit! I don't lie! I. Don't. Lie!" Imbri just laughed harder.

"You're a fool, Xellos," she spat, grabbing his wrists and digging her nails into his warm flesh. Xellos didn't flinch. Imbri started to panic. She began wriggling and kicking. "Let. Me. Go!"

"No," he whispered harshly. "Say it."

"Say what?" she asked, trying to keep the whimper out of her voice.

"Say it. I don't lie."

"Fine. You don't lie, Xellos."

"Say it like you mean it, Imbri." She looked up, startled. His voice had changed. It was…almost…husky. Xellos changed his grip on her shirt, which put his closed fists directly over her breasts. Her eyes widened at her body's reaction to his, albeit rough, touch. I can't be liking this! I'm still mad at him! Damn him!

"Say it."

"No, you bastard," she shot back. He kissed her roughly.

"Say it!"

"I hate you."

"I love it when you're angry. Now tell me." Imbri looked at him. She couldn't win like this. And this game was all about winning. She let go of his wrists and raised her arm, striking him across the face. Her nails left bloody marks. Xellos smiled harshly. "Oh, getting rough, aren't you?" She watched in slightly detached amazement as his skin healed right before her eyes. Imbri then wrapped her legs around Xellos's waist and reached down to kiss him. The kiss was carnal and wild. Xellos lost himself in her passion.

That night, as they lay together on the bed, Imbri smiled to herself.

"What are you smirking about?" Xellos asked from beside her.

"You. You're so easy." He propped himself up on one elbow and opened his eyes.

"Me? Easy?"

"That's what I said, Xel-chan."

"You're one to talk. One little touch from me and you're putty." Imbri snorted.

"Look at the crow calling the raven black. All I have to do is this," and she demonstrated what she meant. Xellos (nearly literally) melted into her roaming hands.

"You're sadistic bitch, you know that?" he gasped.

"Isn't it wonderful?"

***

Xelas looked around her at the mid-sized inn. The sign read "Renard Hillside Inn." That would be the right place. The tan woman stepped through the door to be greeted by the innkeeper. Xelas turned on the charm.

"Excuse me, kind sir," she began, fluttering her eyelashes. The plump little man's eyes widened. "Would you happen to be able to answer a few of my questions?"

"A-a-anything!"

"First, is there an party staying here under the name Inverse?"

"Well, ma'am, I'm not supposed to give out information like that…" Xelas pouted and batted her lashes again.

"Please?"

"Well, only this once…" he consented, going behind the counter to check. A moment later, he nodded. "Yes, there is a party here by the name of Inverse. Rented three of our rooms."

"What are the numbers of the rooms?"

"Aw, Miss, please don't…" Xelas used a small mental nudge. "Well, okay. Seven, twelve, and thirteen. They checked in last night."

"Thank you. Also…do you have a waitress here by the name of Luna?" The man sweated briefly and Xelas could taste an inkling of fear in his aura. Boy, Luna sure keeps them on their feet, doesn't she?

"Y-y-yes, we do. If you're looking for her, her shift starts in ten minutes." Xelas smiled and leaned forward, caressing the man's cheek.

"Thank you," she purred. "You've been a dear." Mentally, she thought about what silly creatures humans were.

"Not a problem, ma'am." Xelas turned from the man and astrally scanned the hotel. Ah-ha! There's my little General/Priest. I wonder if he's alone? She couldn't sense any others with him. She smiled and went up the stairs, ignoring the innkeeper's look. Room…seven. Yes, definitely seven. Xelas ignored the door and teleported into the room.

"Xellos! I'm hee~rre!" she sing-songed, a smile on her face, eyes closed happily. She loved surprising Xellos.

"GAAAAHHH!!!!"

"Holy shit!!" Xelas opened her eyes fractionally. Her eyes shot open and she beheld the sight before her. There was a startled flurry of sheets and limbs; momentarily Xellos emerged, purple hair tousled and sticking out in various all directions. He blinked, still in shock.

"Xellos?! Who is that?" A second after the pissed voice spoke, the owner of the voice emerged from the sheets, longer hair just as tousled as Xellos's, clutching the wrinkled sheet to her chest..

"Long golden hair that glows red when the sunlight hits it in the morning." Comprehension dawned on Xelas. She grinned.

"Have you got a friend there, Xel?"

"I-uh, well…"

"Who. Is. That?" The girl in the bed whirled on Xellos. Quite literally, Xelas noted with interest. She pinned Xellos below her slender body and wrapped her fingers around his neck.

"GAAH! Ack! Im…bri… can't…breathe…" She let his neck go, but continued to straddle him. Xellos caught his breath and gasped out, "That's"- Xelas cut him off, and shook Imbri's hand.

"Xelas. Pleased to meet you, dearie." Imbri looked over Xelas coldly, noting her figure and other attributes.

"And you know Xellos…how?"

"Aw, son, I'm proud of you! You got a jealous one!" Imbri blinked a few times. Son?! What in the hell?! Xellos chuckled and sat up, Imbri still straddled across his lap.

"Mom? Do you mind?"

"Not at all, son," Xelas said with a wicked grin. "You were right, she's very beautiful." Imbri pushed him back against the pillows.

"You were talking to your mother about me? You stupid Mazoku!" She tried to throttle him again.

"Ooh, Imbri-chan, you're getting rough again." Imbri went bright red and scrambled off Xellos's lap, hiding in the sheets.

"For God's sake, Xellos?! In front of your mother?" Xelas chuckled.

"Hey! It's not something I can exactly control! If you happen to get me"- Xelas slapped her hands over her slightly pointed ears.

"Too much information, there, Xellos!" Xellos blushed faintly.

"Well no one's asking you to stay, Mother," he muttered. Xelas raised an eyebrow.

"Good. I'll talk to you two later." She looked at Imbri and grinned, showing pointed teeth. "Give him a good lesson, Imbri," she said with a wink, disappearing from sight.

"Aw, geez. Well, that was embarrassing. Is your mother always like that?" Xellos laughed nervously.

"Maybe I should tell you…"

"Tell me what?" Imbri asked dangerously.

"Well…she isn't just my mother…she's my boss."

"You're boss just walked in on us canoodling?"

"Canoodling? Is that what you call what we were doing?" Imbri trailed her fingers over Xellos as if she were looking for something-which she was.

"And what would you call what we were doing?" she asked archly. Xellos smirked and twitched. Imbri grinned and bided her time…wait for it…

"Well, I would have to call it"- NOW! Imbri attacked. Xellos twitched in agony.

"Oh-ahahahahaha! Oh, gods-Imbri-eheheheheheheh!!! Stop…that… GAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! That fecking tickles! Aahahahahahehehehehe!" Imbri threw him back on the bed, straddling him once again, as he tried to get up.

"You're not going anywhere," she whispered. She had him-she knew his weak spot. This game was hers.

***

It was nearly noon before Imbri and Xellos came downstairs. Lina and Gourry were well into lunch by then, Amelia sat quietly, calmly chewing her sandwich. Zelgadis drank coffee. And I thought I had a coffee fix at home, Imbri thought to herself with a smirk.

Xelas was sitting in a corner, talking to a waitress. Imbri sighed and sat down at the table. Lina and Gourry were too busy stuffing their faces to acknowledge her arrival. Zelgadis looked up from his coffee at Xellos and Imbri sitting next to each other.

"Lina said you know what Xellos is," he stated calmly, locking her eyes with his. "So why are you still with the demon?" Imbri glared at him, then laughed. Zelgadis looked puzzled.

"Because he's good in bed," she stated simply after her laughter abated. Xellos looked hurt.

"Aw, Imbri-chan! Is that the only reason you stay with me? I'm hurt." He pouted, a whine in his voice. Imbri looked thoughtful for a minute before replying.

"Okay-it's not just the…canoodling."

"It's my good looks, charm, and grace, isn't it?" Imbri shot Xellos a look.

"Er, no. I can abuse you!" Amelia and Zelgadis sweatdropped. Xelas looked over at their table. She could feel something…unusual… radiating from her son…interesting, she thought, standing to go over to them. Luna had left to go back on duty a minute or two ago, and her bottle of wine had just run out.

"Xellos! Imbri! Glad to see you two finally came down!" Imbri blushed and looked down into mug of tea, muttering something under her breath. Everyone looked up to see the newcomer. No one except Imbri and Xellos gave her a second glance. "So, son," she said, sitting down next to Xellos. "How's it going?" Lina stopped eating. She blinked. Then she blinked again.

"SON??!!" she yelled, choking on her food. Gourry slapped her on the back, concern etched on his face. Xelas crossed her legs and pulled out a cigarette from god-knows-where.

"You must be Lina Inverse, right?" Lina just sat there, a cute little expression of shock on her face.

"And you might be?" Zelgadis asked, having retained his senses.

"Xelas." Zelgadis's eyes shot open.

"The Beastmaster? The Mazoku Lord, Juu-ou?" Xelas grinned wolfishly, looking a lot like Xellos.

"The one and only." She flicked her fingers and the cigarette lit itself. Before she had taken more than two puffs, a statuesque woman came over to their table. Imbri looked up, wondering who she was. The woman wore a waitress's uniform and carried a tray upon which was a bottle of red wine another cup of tea, and an entire roasted chicken. Shoulder-length lavender hair framed her smirking features, and lavender bangs hid her eyes from view.

"No smoking, Xelas." Xelas pouted.

"Aw, just this once, please?"

"It's bad for your health." Imbri listened to the exchange with interest. The woman's voice was low, tinged with humor and something else she couldn't quite name. It's dangerousness, Xellos said. Imbri looked surprised. She hadn't thought she had spoken out loud. You didn't, Xellos said, laughing. I'm speaking to you in your mind. Imbri smiled slowly.

Cool, I get a new voice.

I'm not a voice!

Then what are you? You're in my mind, aren't you? Xellos grinned, mentally and physically.

And tonight I'll be-

Sleeping on the floor unless you behave, Imbri grinned back.

Aw, Imbri-chan, you're so mean! The waitress "looked" at the girl. Imbri felt those unseen eyes on her and she looked up at the older woman. She smiled genuinely at Imbri.

"So you're the one," she murmured under her breath. Imbri stood up.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Lina looked up at Imbri's angry exclamation. All the blood drained out of her face and she dropped the turkey leg she had been holding.

"L-l-l-Luna!" The waitress's smile widened, looking somewhat sinister as she turned to Lina.

"Ah! Lina-chan! How good of you to stop by and see your older sister!"

"H-h-hi, L-l-l-l-Luna," Lina stuttered.

"What? No hug for your Nee-san?" Luna frowned. Lina stood up and walked over to her older sister. Gourry noted how much her legs were shaking. Suddenly steeling herself for it, Lina dashed in to give her sister a quick hug. Luna wouldn't let her go, though. Instead, she slapped her on the back heartily, and held her close. "That's more like it, sis!" Lina sighed. This was what she had been afraid of. Luna loved torturing her.

"Excuse me, I hate to break up this reunion, but what did you say about me?" Imbri asked, arms folded across her chest. Luna released her little sister and turned to the demanding figure before her. Shorter than Luna, Imbri had to look up-putting her in a position of disadvantage as far as physical intimidation went. Not that Luna's unseen stare had a way of making people comfortable.

"I said that you're the one who ordered the tea," Luna said, a grin on her face. Imbri narrowed her eyes.

"That's not what you said," she insisted. "You said something about me being the 'one'. What are you talking about?" Luna continued to grin, making the gesture look somehow sinister.

"I'll tell you soon enough. For now, however," she stated, taking out her pad of paper. "Everyone orders or you'll be kicked out." Luna "looked" at Lina.

"It's on me today." Lina grinned, still shaking slightly. Her sister seemed to want to be nice tonight. I'd better take advantage of it while I still can, Lina thought.

As the day progressed, the group mostly hung around the inn. Imbri noted how much Xelas drank-more than her mother and father combined. Eventually, Imbri joined her in a glass.

"Aren't you a little young to be drinking, Imbri?" Xelas asked, amused. Imbri sipped the red and swished it around her mouth, taking air in to savor the flavor.

"I've been drinking for as long as I can remember. I've never been drunk or had a hangover. I'm responsible with it." She involuntarily winced as she thought of her parents. They weren't responsible with drinking. "And if I'm responsible, then who cares how old I am?" Xelas looked interested in her logic.

"And just how old are you, Imbri?"

Imbri giggled and wagged a finger.

"Sore wa himitsu desu!" Xelas sighed and rolled her eyes.

"You've been hanging around my minion too long." Imbri giggled again.

"I'll let you in on this secret, then. I'm sixteen." Xelas blinked, mildly surprised.

"You're only sixteen?" Imbri straightened.

"What do you mean, 'only?' I may be young, but that doesn't mean that I'm not capable of acting like an adult. How old is Xellos? He acts younger than I do!" It was Xelas's turn to laugh.

"Child, he is far older than you." Imbri looked skeptical.

"Come on, how old is he?" she wheedled. Xelas leaned closer.

"One-thousand twenty-four years and thirty-nine days old." Imbri blinked. She looked like she was about to laugh, but she realized that this wasn't her world-it could happen.

"J-j-just how long do Mazoku live?"

"Forever, unless they're killed."

"I guess that means that Xellos is very powerful; if he's been able to stay alive for this long, right?" Xelas grinned, looking over at her son, who was leaning against the wall, sleeping.

"I like you," she said to Imbri. "You don't miss much." Imbri blushed faintly from the praise.

"Thanks." She took another sip of the wine. "So-if you're Xellos's boss…why are you here? Certainly not just to check up on him."

"No, not just to check up on him. I wanted to meet you, the Slayers, and talk with my old friend, Luna." Imbri felt a bit skeptical, but didn't let it show. If Xellos was powerful, she didn't want to think about how powerful his master might be.

"Do you know why Lina is so afraid of her sister?"

"Sorry, I can't say that I do," Xelas replied, sipping her fiftieth glass of wine.

"Well, do you know what Luna was talking about earlier?"

"Nope. Sorry." Imbri still felt skeptical. She let it drop, however. Xelas looked over at Xellos, who was still napping against the wall. With a wicked grin, she turned to Imbri. "I guess you two were busy last night. Didn't get much sleep, eh?" Imbri went bright red.

"Well…not really." Xelas laughed.

Would you call Xellos over here, please?

What? Oh, no. Your in my head, too?

Yes, now call Xellos over, please.

Fine. Xellos? XELLOS!

Huh? What? Juu-ou? Is that you?

No, you baka. It's me.

Oh, Imbri. Hello. What'd you wake me up for?

Orders, koibito.

Koibito, eh? Imbri refused to answer his gaze or his thought. Xelas chuckled again.

"Come my dearies! We're going for a little walk!" She got up and strode out the door. Xellos and Imbri exchanged shrugs and followed. After all, there wasn't much they could do against the Beastmaster herself.

***

The small group came to a halt in the middle of a forest on the outskirts of the village where they were staying. Imbri looked around her in wonder. It looked so much like the woods around her house…she could almost make out the faint path that would take her to the family's pet cemetery. She remembered the bird feeder they had put over the cats' grave. The almost overwhelming ache of sadness that hit her every time she thought of her cats hit her full force, causing her to stumble. Xellos caught her before she fell to the ground.

"Why are you so sad?" he asked, helping her to her feet. Imbri shook off the waves of heartache before answering.

"Just…a memory."

"Memories that cause such anguish are worth hearing about," Xelas spoke up from where she had stopped in the clearing. Imbri shook her head.

"I'd rather not."

"Ah, but talking about it might ease the pain," Xellos said. Imbri snorted, almost amused.

"Why would you want me to do that for? I thought Mazoku feed off negative emotions? Wouldn't me talking about it be working against you?"

"See what I have to put up with, Mother? Such suspicion! What did I ever do to deserve this?"

"It's the reputation, son. Comes with the territory."

"Well, if you must pry…"

"Oh I must." Imbri shot Xellos a look before sitting down in the clearing that looked so much like the one near her home.

"Well, when I was younger, I had two cats. To make a long story short, when they died, I wasn't there. I never got to say goodbye to them- I never quite got over it. I guess the scars just never healed." After a second, she half-laughed and finished, "We even put up this little angel bird feeder over their graves. Kind of ironic."

"All of that grief for two little kitties? I would have thought it was for a family member or something," Xelas commented. Imbri shook her head and laughed hollowly.

"Oh, no. Those cats were closer to me than my family ever was. I wouldn't even cry if one of my family members died. But I still cry when I think about my cats." Xelas shook her head.

"You humans are a funny bunch. Delicious emotions, whatever their sources." Imbri snorted again.

"I think you've got it mixed up-painful emotions, hurtful emotions. Emotions that get in the way of your judgment and cloud your thinking. Misleading emotions like love and happiness. Tricks."

"Ah, the bitterness and anger you're giving off right now is refreshing," Xelas grinned. Imbri stopped and focused on the bottle in her mind, the one that kept all of her emotions out of the way. Soon, she was under control. Xelas pouted. "Spoil sport," she muttered.

"What did you bring us here for, Juu-ou?" Xellos asked.

"Ah, yes. I got distracted. What I brought you here for was for a little experiment."

"Experiment?" Imbri asked, dubious. Xellos echoed her sentiments.

"Oh, come on, Xellos. Don't tell me you don't want to see what Imbri's true form is."

"Well, I do, but"-

"My true form?" Imbri's interest was snared. "What's that?"

"It's what animal you most resemble. Since I am the Beastmaster, well, it's one of the things that I do. Would you like to see?" Xellos was about to say something, but decided against it when he saw the look in his master's eyes.

"Yes, I think I would like to see. I have a pretty good idea of what I am, but I'd like to confirm it." Xelas placed a hand on either side on Imbri's temples. A silver light mingled with the red light that rose from Imbri.

"And what do you think you are?" Xelas asked, curious. Imbri smiled faintly.

"Sore wa himitsu desu." Xellos smirked and Xelas sighed in irritation. That was erased when she found what she was looking for.

"Ah ha!" She released Imbri's temples and stepped back., gathering her energy around her.

***

Imbri looked around her in awe. The power gathering around Xelas lit up the clearing beyond the daylight. But…there was something else…the edges of the clearing began to flicker…almost like they were growing smaller. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the familiar bird feeder. Then it was gone. The lighting flickered again-the bird feeder- and beyond that a small garden with flowers and an angel statue.

***

Xelas had almost gathered the right amount of power-changings were hard when the form's owner wasn't doing the switching. And when you're attempting to turn the bearer into a Mazoku…

There! She finally had enough power. As she cast it forth, into Imbri, the girl screamed and fell to the ground as a crack of lightning hit the clearing. The immediate thunder shook the three, actually knocking Xellos and his master from their feet.

Then, there was silence.

***(POV Change)

The last thing I remembered was the thunder and me screaming. When I came to again, I was home. I wasn't in my room where I had cut my arm…I was outside, on the ground by Spike's grave. The bird feeder was just above it, filled partially with seed and partially with water. The angel held them in her apron without complaint, the same smile on her face.

I shook my head in wonder. I've had some strange dreams before, but that was-I shook my head again. Strange. To say the least.

"Uhhhhh." I squeaked and nearly jumped out of my skin.

***(POV Change)

This must be what a hangover feels like, I thought to myself, coming to. We were still in the clearing…but somehow it seemed…a lot smaller. Imbri was standing above me, a look on her face that said that I must've grown two heads during my stay in Unconscious Land. Then I saw the little angel bird feeder. Beyond that was a strange looking house.

"We aren't in the clearing anymore are we?" Imbri kept staring at me.

"No…you aren't real. You were a part of my dream." I sat up and frowned at her behavior.

"What are you muttering about?" I snapped. "It's me, Xellos."

"Xellos," she whispered. "Then it wasn't a dream. It was real. Then…is this a dream?" Well, even if it was a dream… where was Juu-ou? It couldn't be a dream.

"It's not a dream, because if it were, you wouldn't be in my dream talking about dreams," I snapped again. Imbri looked at me curiously.

"What are you so mad…wait, no, your frustrated. And Xelas is over there." I looked to where she was pointing. Imbri realized what she said and gasped.

"What?"

"Xellos? I can read your mind…"

"So? You could already hear my thoughts before, and I'm not guarding them right now." I made my way over to Juu-ou-sama, who was lying, conked out on the glade's floor.

"But, Xellos, I can sense your emotions. You're worried about Xelas, right?"

"Well that should be obvious." I helped a slowly awakening Juu-ou to sit upright against a nearby tree. Imbri knelt beside me.

"Xellos," she whispered. "Read my thoughts. You're powerful enough to break through any barriers that I might have, right?" I sighed.

"Fine," I snarled, wishing she would just leave me alone. It wasn't hard, she was thinking of-my mind reached for magic that wasn't there. What? No magic? What's happened? What's wrong with me?

"Can I try an experiment?" Imbri asked. Too shocked to argue, I nodded dumbly. Imbri drew her knife and easily cut my arm.

"Ouch! What in the Hell'd you do that for?" I yelped, yanking back my bleeding arm.

"It's not healing, Xellos," Juu-ou murmured weakly. I stared at my arm, willing it to heal. It wouldn't. It just bled and bled.

"You idiot," Imbri muttered, ripping out the seams that held her left sleeve in place. She wrapped the sleeve around my arm to stop the flow of blood.

"What'd you do that for?" I murmured, still awed that the cut didn't heal.

"We're mortal, Xellos," Juu-ou whispered, her golden eyes wide.

"And we're in my world," Imbri added.

"If we're mortal," I began. "Then how come Imbri still has her magic?"

"She doesn't just have her magic, Xellos, she has our magic, too."

"I'm Mazoku?"

"Yes. See, your eyes have changed." I looked. Sure enough, Imbri's eyes were more brilliant, with split pupils, and they had lost all of their reflection.

"Well," Imbri said, "That's my house over there. Let's go." She added, more to herself, "I wonder what my parents will think."

***(POV Change)

Imbri looked nervous as she walked up the steps to the mobile home's deck. Her eyes darted around her nervously. She was wondering where all the cars were-why wasn't the dog barking in the back yard, things like that.

"What kind of house is this?" Xellos asked from beside her.

"It's a mobile home. That means it was premade and towed up here by a large truck. Then they slapped it together when they got here." Xellos had no idea what she was talking about, but took her word for it. "This isn't right," Imbri whispered to herself. "There should be another car here, and the dog should be barking…but there's nothing." Imbri tried the door knob, but it was locked. She opened the screen door and reached for the key she knew she kept in there. There! But it was much rustier than it had been when she left. When she put it into the lock, it barely opened the door. But the point was that it worked.

With a small sigh of relief, Imbri stepped into the house. And nearly fainted. It was abandoned. Aside from the normal dust and cobwebs that she had expected there to be, sunlight filtered in through holes in the walls and the ceiling.

"Was it always this messy?" Xelas asked from the kitchen.

"Well…messy, yes, but it wasn't in this state of disrepair! It's almost like no one's been here for years."

"Maybe no one has. I've heard that sometimes time runs differently between worlds."

"If that's true, then…everyone I know could be dead?"

"Yeah, that's about right," Xelas confirmed.

"My parents…dead?" Imbri knew she should be disturbed. Even if she hated them, she should care that they might be dead. "I never got to say goodbye," she whispered. But it came out more wondrous than concerned. "It's strange," she finally said. "I should be sad. I will miss them, so I should feel sad. But I don't feel anything." She turned to Xellos. "Is this how you feel? Like nothing matters? No concern, no nothing?"

Xellos's face was a mixture of puzzlement and hurt. All these emotions were washing over him. He hadn't felt so alive since he had been human…and now…it was too much. Then there was Imbri-his Imbri that had always been so alive and full raging emotions. And now she was empty. It shouldn't bother him, but it did because of those damn emotions.

"That's part of being a Mazoku," Xelas said from where she had perched on a section of countertop she had wiped off. "You don't have to worry about emotions or feelings. It's a much easier way to live, you know."

"You seem rather unaffected by being a mortal," Imbri noted. Xelas shrugged.

"Well, what can I say? I've never been human before. It's rather amusing." Imbri grinned without humor.

"Don't you just love all of our happy little emotions?"

"Quite."

"Well," Imbri looked around her and sighed. "I suppose we should be going now. I just want to check one thing." She walked to a closed door past the kitchen and opened it cautiously. A faded paper sign on the doorway said, "Abandon all hope ye who enter here." Imbri touched it briefly before entering her room. It was just the way she remembered it, just dustier. Faded posters decorated the walls and her Christmas lights still dangled about the room. Her model horses were still in good shape, scattered about the room, and her books were still lying around everywhere. With a small smile, she climbed up her bunk bed ladder to see if her stuffed animals were still there. There they were, in surprisingly good condition. Almost reverently, she picked up her blanket and stuffed animals. She set them down a minute later, a true smile lighting her face. Time to try out my magic! She formulated what she wanted to do in her mind and did it-wrapping a gentle strand around the faded pink blanket and animals. Then she stored them in a subspace. Next went her model horses and various books, followed by her jewelry. With a smirk, she closed the space and turned to Xellos and Xelas, who had both been watching her with interest.

"What on earth are you going to do with all of those things?" Imbri smiled at Xelas.

"I'm going to tuck them away till later when I can restore them."

"Well," Xellos asked, "Are we going now?"

"Just one more thing." Imbri grabbed her whip that hung on the side of her bed. "Now we can leave." Then she closed up the house again, more out of habit than anything else.

***

Xellos and Xelas (though she'd never admit) looked at the road with awe in their eyes. Imbri frowned.

"This is disturbing. I know this street wasn't so busy when I was here. In fact, it wasn't even paved." They had walked from her house to the street, which Imbri found to be much more developed than when she lived there. "I suppose I found out what I needed to know," she murmured to herself. "We're going to a friend's house. Hopefully she'll still live there. Now how do I work this teleportation thing?"

***

"Where are we now?" Xellos whined, poking at his red skin. Imbri had teleported them to a nice, two story house that Xellos and Xelas found slightly more normal for them, but only after forcing them to walk down a road or two in the burning sun, sufficiently frying Xellos's pale skin.

Imbri walked up to the front door and rang the bell. A moment later the door opened. A small girl looked up at Imbri, her red/brown eyes wide.

"Who're you?" Imbri smiled.

"My name's Imbri. What's yours?"

"Luken." Imbri's smile widened. Now she was almost positive that her friend still lived here.

"Hi, Luken. Is your Mommy home?"

"Yeah. I'll get her." Luken shut the door and Imbri's sensitive hearing could hear her little bare feet pattering through wooden floored hallways. Moments later, Imbri could hear the sound of larger, running feet. The door flew open and a petite woman appeared, looking like a larger version of her daughter.

"Imbri?" she asked, breathless. "Is it really you?"

"Jenna!" Imbri and the woman embraced quickly.

"Omigod, Imbri. How is it possible? You died."

"Well, it's a long story. Can we come in?" Jenna noticed Xellos and Xelas for the first time.

"Of course, of course. Enter my humble abode. I'm Jenna."

"Xelas," the white-haired femme said, retaining her regal posture.

"I'm Xellos," the former Trickster stepped forward, a smile on his face. Jenna smiled back and lead them into her living room, indicating they should sit on the couch.

"All right, Imbri, spill. I want to know it all." Imbri rubbed her wrist.

"Well-how old are you, now, Jenna?"

"What? Don't change the subject."

"Please? I need to know."

"Twenty seven." Imbri blinked.

"Twelve years in less than a month?" Imbri whispered.

"What are you mumbling about, Imbri? Now I told you, so spill all ready. What the hell happened to you?"

"Well, you aren't going to believe me…wait. You said I died? How'd I die?"

"Oh, no. You first. I'll tell you after you're finished telling me what happened." Imbri pouted and crossed her arms.

"Same old stubborn Jenna. Well, here goes. I was sitting at home a mon-I mean, twelve years ago, playing with my knives. It slipped and I accidentally cut my vein. After a minute or so, I ended up passing out from the blood loss. When I came to, I was on the side of a dirt road, staring up at a tree. I tried to get up, but I blacked out from the pain. When I finally woke up again for more than five seconds, I was in a bed, and Xellos was sitting next to me. I don't know how I got there, but somehow I was transported from our world into their world."

"It seems the time frames between the worlds are…slightly…different."

"You call twelve years slightly different, Xelas?" Imbri asked, slightly incredulous.

"Well…what happened in the…month…that you were there?"

"Lots. I got these gems, and discovered I had magic…I realize how insane this must sound to you." Jenna shook her head.

"No, I believe you, Imbri. I never doubted you when you said you would never kill yourself. Now I know you didn't."

"Is that what everyone thinks happened to me? That I killed myself?"

"Didn't you try to?" Xellos asked. Imbri glanced at him. He had been more silent than she had ever seen him.

"I didn't!" Xellos pursed his lips and didn't say anything else. Imbri looked at him again, to make sure he wouldn't try and defy her. I didn't try to kill myself!

"That's what everyone thinks. When your parents came home that evening, they found your body in a pool of blood on the floor of your bedroom."

"Wow. They actually checked to see if I was alive? Amazing." Jenna looked at Imbri sadly.

"You'd be surprised how much they cared for you, Imbri. Your death nearly killed them both. They had a beautiful funeral for you, then they cremated you."

"They followed my wishes?"

"Yeah."

"Well, where are they now? I came here near my house, but it looked like it hadn't been used in years"-Jenna looked at Imbri, eyes sad.

"Imbri, they died ten years ago." Imbri blinked. Again, she knew that this knowledge should disturb her more than it did. Her parents…were dead. Okay? She had thought as much before. So what? My parents are dead. Why don't I care? What's wrong with me? Oh, I'm Mazoku now. I just don't have emotions like I used to. I should feel sad…

"They're dead." She stated it as a fact, not visibly dwelling on it.

***(POV Change)

I watched Imbri's face carefully. I really had forgotten all about the range of emotions humans can experience in a short period of time. Just watching Imbri brought some strange ones to mind. There was this one…it was like the lust I had felt for her before…but there was something else behind it…something deeper. Curious. I would have to ask Juu-ou when we got back to our own world.

On another note, Imbri seemed made to be a Mazoku. She didn't have any of the normal side effects that humans suffered when becoming Mazoku. I wondered if she would revert back to normal if-when we returned to our world.

Then an oddly disturbing thought occurred to me. This was Imbri's world. This was where she belonged. What if she didn't want to go back? My guts seemed to twist in my stomach. That's funny, I don't remember having guts.

"Xel-chan?" Imbri's voice snapped him out of his reverie. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, koibito." Though he didn't look at her, he could feel her smile.

"Koibito, eh?" Xellos smiled in return.

***(POV change)

Jenna looked between Imbri and Xellos. There was something deep going on between the two of them. It's strange, Jenna thought, smiling secretly. Imbri never really believed in love. She was so certain that there was no such thing as true love…

"So, Imbri…" Jenna smiled wickedly. "Are you and Xellos married?" Both jaws of the concerned parties dropped.

"WHAT!!??" they both yelled at the same time.

"Well you are, aren't you?"

"Well, no, but…" Xellos stuttered. Imbri chuckled.

"Jenna, you know I will only marry for love, and I"-

"I know, you don't believe in love." Jenna pouted. "I thought it was worth a shot. Imbri, could I talk to you alone for a moment?" Xellos stood up.

"I can take a hint." He looked pointedly down at his mother, who was innocently sitting, looking around her blankly.

"Juu-ou-sama?" She sighed.

"Oh, okay, I'm coming." Once they had left, Jenna leaned forward and looked deeply into Imbri's eyes.

"I wish you would reconsider you stance on love, Imbri." Jenna tried not to be disturbed by the emptiness in Imbri's eyes. They weren't normal.

"Why should I, Jenna? I notice you have Luken. Where's her father? Did he leave like my first father left me?" Jenna's eyes darkened.

"No. He didn't leave. He was killed." Imbri felt a slight twinge of sadness.

"Well, I'm sorry."

"You don't seem like it, but that's all right."

"What can I say, Jenna? I'm not the same person I used to be."

"No kidding. As I was saying, though, you should reconsider"-

"And as I said, 'Why?' Give me a good reason to."

"Xellos."

"What about him?"

"He's your reason." Imbri smiled, then began to chuckle. "What's so damn funny?"

"Mazoku can't love, Jenna."

"Mazoku?"

"Monsters, demons…that's what Xellos is in his world. When we came over here, I became Mazoku. I know it's true. Mazoku can't feel love. In fact, their experience of any emotion is limited."

"You said Xellos is Mazoku when in his world. He's not here, though is he?"

"You're sharp as ever. He's human here."

"I thought as much. You should see his eyes when he looks at you, Imbri."

"Don't be silly, Jenna. Xellos and I have a mutual relationship built on sex. Nothing more. What you see is lust."

"Denial is a happy place to live, isn't it, Imbri?" Imbri's memory clicked. She remembered when she told Xellos that. Was it true? Was she really in denial?

Imbri stood up abruptly. Jenna stood with her. "Are you leaving, now?"

"Yeah. I want to try and get back. If we can re-create the conditions then we should be able to travel again."

"You're leaving? Why don't you stay here?"

"But everyone thinks I'm dead here."

"Exactly. You could start over, like you always wanted to. I'm the only one who knows what happened." Imbri thought about it a moment. It was true-she could completely start over with a new life, in her world, with the powers of a Mazoku. But…

"I've already started over," she said quietly. Jenna smiled secretly again.

"You know, I always knew that you didn't belong here." Imbri grinned.

"And that I wasn't quite human, right?"

"Yeah." They hugged briefly, and Imbri could feel the sadness radiating from her friend.

"Don't be sad, Jenna."

"Of course not. Take care."

"You too." Imbri walked out to where Xellos and Xelas were waiting. Before leaving, she turned and looked back to see Luken standing by her mother. "She's beautiful. Looks just like you," Imbri said wistfully. Jenna smiled back.

"Thank you." Jenna blinked and they were gone.

***

"Okay, so where'd they go again?" Gourry asked Lina.

"They went for a walk, Jellyfish brains!"

"Oh, that's right." Lina looked around. Luna had left her alone, and Lina was staring to act more like her normal self. That is, until Luna's shift ended. The purple-haired woman sat at Lina's table calmly watching her younger sibling.

"Lina."

"Luna."

"Imbri's the one, Lina."

"The one what?"

"The one in the prophecy."

"And what prophecy would that be?" Luna took a deep breath and summed up the prophecy,

"Born from Chaos and Darkness, a child will bring the greatest evil known into our world. Stewing and fermenting on the hatred in this world, the balances of the five worlds must be restored by the eight who represent all sides to life. Men, women, good, evil, shamanistic, chaotic, magicless, ancient, Earthly, and the one who brought the Terror." Lina blinked.

"Five worlds? I thought there were only four."

"Imbri, your friend, is from the fifth world. It isn't ruled by L- sama. Sometimes, though, the barrier between this world and hers is thin. I think that was how she got here."

"Are you saying Imbri's the one who will bring this Terror into our world?" Luna nodded.

"Unwittingly, I think."

"But the eight…"

"I don't know who they are, exactly. I have an idea, though. Good"-

"Well, that's white magic."

"Evil"-

"Mazoku."

"Shamanistic"-

"Zel?"

"Chaotic"-

"Dunno about that one."

"I think it's you. You're the most chaotic person I know." Lina was tempted to glare at her older

sister, but refrained. "Magicless"-

"Someone without magic."

"Really. I wouldn't have figured that one out. Ancient"-

"A really old person?"

"Probably not. Wasn't that Ancient dragon supposed to be reborn?"

"Oh, yeah. Valgaav."

"Earthly"-

"Clueless."

"As usual. I think it's someone else from Imbri's world."

"And"-

"Imbri," Lina finished. "Well, that's that. Should we tell Imbri?"

"I still don't feel right about this," Luna said, frowning slightly. "Something doesn't add up right."

She "looked" at Lina. "No, don't tell Imbri. Prophecies about people tend to make the people they're about nervous."

"Tell me about it," Lina muttered under her breath. Gourry had fallen asleep, head resting on the oak table. Lina looked over at him fondly. "The big oaf doesn't even know what's about to happen, does he?"

"Well, Lina, we aren't exactly sure ourselves."

"You know, with you being the Kn"-Luna slapped her hand over Lina's mouth.

"Ix-nay on the Ight-Knay."

"Well, I still would've thought you would know more about this." Luna leaned forward.

"Cepheid isn't exactly omnipotent, y'know. He told me what he could." Lina smiled wryly.

"I don't suppose he knows when Xellos, Imbri, and Xelas will get back, does he?"

"Actually, he does. They should be back tonight."

***

The trio sat in various places around Xellos and Imbri's hotel room. They had tried everyday for the past week to get back into the other world- the results being obvious. Not wanting to sleep outside, Imbri decided to rent them all hotel rooms. Jenna lent them the money. Imbri worked at night as a bartender to earn them the money to pay her back and to keep living. Well, she thought, at least I don't have to eat.

"Okay, you two. Someone else is going to have to get a job if we're going to continue on existing in my world. Unfortunately, there are no robbers to rob, just jobs to take. What can you both do?" Mother and son whistled innocently and looked around the room, anywhere but at Imbri. "Oh, come on, you have to be useful for something."

"Well, I'm good at manipulating, drinking, smoking, and playing games," Xelas offered. Imbri sighed.

"That's good, except that we don't have any time for you to run for political office. How about you, Xel?" The Trickster stood there, one hand on his chin, looking dashingly handsome in his customary turtleneck and a pair of tight black jeans.

"Hmm. I'm good at being secretive." Imbri shook her head.

"No good. No time to establish you as a spy for anyone, not to mention you don't even exist in this world." She sighed in frustration. Xellos came up behind her and began to kneed her shoulders. With a soft moan, her head lolled back and she smiled up at Xellos. He grinned back. Xelas looked between the two and smiled to herself.

"I think I'll be going, now…" Neither answered her. She laughed quietly to herself and left the room. Xellos continued to massage Imbri's shoulders.

"You know," he whispered in her ear. "You get way too tense." Imbri raised an eyebrow suggestively.

"Are you going to relax me?" He planted a moist kiss on her neck, lips trailing down her bare shoulder. Imbri groaned again as Xellos's lips roamed.

***

Xellos lay awake that night, thinking of the dilemma they were all in. What if they never got back to his world…and then that question about Imbri…would she go back? Xellos sighed. Gods, how he wanted to be Mazoku again. He just wasn't cut out for this Human thing. Too much thinking, too much emotion…he never used to analyze this much. Xellos vowed, assuming he ever got back, that he would have newfound respect for the Human race.

Imbri moaned and turned over in her sleep, snuggling closer to Xellos's body warmth, wrapping her arms around his waist possessively. Xellos looked down at her and a wave of emotions swept through him-lust for her body was the one he recognized. There were others though-the one that respected her mind and her craftiness, the one that always wanted to see that spark of life and sometimes anger in her eyes, the one that wanted to just look at her and experience everything about her…her moods, her feelings, her thoughts. Then there was the emotion that made his stomach turn to think of anyone else where he was right now.

Imbri's nose began to itch and she wriggled it again his side. Xellos snorted softly and scratched it for her. She sighed in her sleep and was still again.

***

In the second month of their stay, Imbri counted up the money and found that they were ahead. She counted and counted, but still came up with the same figure-they were seven hundred dollars over what they should have.

"Xellos! Xelas! Do you two know anything about this?" she demanded. Xellos, completely innocent, for once, said as much. Imbri turned to Xelas.

"Do you happen to know anything about this surplus?" She shrugged, keeping a straight face.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Xelas…don't make me pry."

"Oh, all right. At night, I go out sometimes. And I'll be damned if men don't drive up in these car contraptions and ask if I want to have sex with them." She shrugged. "I didn't know they were going to pay me for it." Imbri's jaw dropped.

"What? You've been selling yourself as a prostitute? That's illegal!"

"Sex is illegal here?" Xelas asked, slack-jawed. "You two are sure in trouble." Imbri blushed furiously.

"No, Xelas. Sex for money is illegal." Xelas shrugged.

"Well it sure seems silly to me." There was a silence in the room for a moment before Xellos asked,

"…So…does anyone want a burger?" He had developed quite a fondness for the grilled meat. Imbri looked slightly green around the gills.

"Urrrrgggggghhhh," she moaned. "How can you think of food? I think I'm going to be sick." Xelas ignored her and continued Xellos's thought.

"Mmmmm. With some fries and a Coke?" Imbri suddenly stood, knocking over her chair in her haste to get to the bathroom. A few nasty sounds, a flush, and the sound of running water later, Imbri emerged, looking much worse for the wear. She was clutching her stomach, and staggering. Xel helped her to the bed and made sure she was sitting before asking what was wrong.

"I'm sick to my stomach, that's what's wrong," Imbri rasped. Flinging a hand to her forehead, she flopped backwards onto the bed and began her dramatic lament. "As it weren't bad enough that Xelas is a prostitute, I'm also late, and now I'm catching the flu"-Xelas stood from her chair where she had been intently examining her nails. Pushing Xel out of the way and peering into Imbri's eyes, she asked,

"Did you just say you were late?"

"Yeah, not that I ever really paid attention to it before, but I haven't had it in a wh…" Imbri's voice trailed off. She stared at Xelas. "Please tell me that Mazoku just don't have periods."

"Normally we don't. However, if one is originally human and"-Imbri slapped a hand over Xelas's mouth.

"I don't want to hear it. If I don't hear it, then it isn't true and I'll be okay."

"But what would be wrong with"-

"I'm sixteen! If my parents knew, they would kill me!"

"But your parents are dead. And you said yourself that you much more mature than any other sixteen year olds…"

"But I'm not that responsible! I'll probably kill it!" Imbri hung her head. "I'm just like my mother," she murmured.

"Why?"

"Well, my parents that died weren't my biological parents. They were my adopted parents. My real mother put me up for adoption, just like her mother put her up for adoption." Imbri laughed hollowly. "How bleedin' ironic. I suppose that I will be following in her footsteps after all. Carrying on the family tradition and whatnot." Xelas's nails dug into her shoulders.

"You can't!"

"What?"

"You cannot give this child up for adoption!" she hissed. Imbri narrowed her eyes.

"And who the Hell are you to tell me what I can and cannot do with my child?!" she yelled. Xelas narrowed her eyes and stared at Imbri intently.

"You cannot do it. This child will be completely unique. Human parents would do no good to it. It would never work. You must keep it."

If Imbri had been human, she knew she would be curled up on her side, sobbing her eyes out. She almost missed the tears. Almost. If she hadn't been Mazoku, she probably wouldn't have been able to handle this as well as she was doing now.

Xellos watched them both, a shocked expression on his face. Imbri simply sat silently, contemplating the things she could do. She could kill it…but even as a Mazoku, she retained her human scruples, though she didn't really believe in them any longer. The only option was to let it live. Once it was here…then she would see whether or not to keep it. Xellos moved closer to her. Xelas got up from the bed, a mad, almost fanatical gleam in her eyes. Xellos quickly took her place and wrapped his arms around her. Without seeing, Imbri laid her head on his chest and continued to silently sit.

"Imbri…Imbri-chan?"

"Hush, Xellos," Imbri whispered. "Just be quiet and hold me." Xellos did as he was told, gently stroking her hair. Xelas continued to stare at them- her eyes still gleaming. This was it! The child that would bring the Mazoku and Humans together! Chaos and Evil…it would be unstoppable. She hid her smile as best as she could, turning and going to her room. Once she was gone, Imbri began to ramble. Xellos had noticed it was one of her nervous habits, Mazoku or not.

"My God, Xellos. What have I done? I can't bring a child into this world. I won't be able to take care of it. I'll end up killing it-I know I will. I'm not ready to be a mother…how could I be so stupid. You stupid, stupid girl. Couldn't keep your hormones under control, could you? Let yourself lose control. How could I be so irresponsible? This child doesn't deserve to have me as its parent. Its innocent…a mistake. Just like me. A mistake. An accident. Never meant to happen. A love child. A bastard. Just like me. Just like me." Xellos realized Imbri wasn't even talking to him anymore. She was berating herself. Xellos made a disgusted noise and pulled away from the girl in his arms.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked her fiercely. "What in the Hell's wrong with you?" Imbri looked at him blankly.

"Nothing's wrong," she whispered.

"Did you hear any of that you were just spouting? That is a load of shit, Imbri. Do you hear me? A load of shit. You haven't done anything. We did something. You aren't going to bring a child into this world. We are going to bring a child into this world. It is not going to be a mistake. Or an accident. Or never meant to be. It will be loved and cherished. Just like you." Xellos stopped shaking Imbri. Her eyes were wide, and he wondered if any of his words were sinking through her Mazoku exterior. Some of what he said must have gotten through. It had to.

"Do you hear yourself, Xellos?" Imbri asked him after a moment. "Love? Cherish? What nonsense! Xellos, you can't love and I won't! You're Mazoku! They don't love! No one can love me, Xellos. No one has a reason to. Why should they? All I've been to anyone in my life is a burden and to even think that you love me is a trick someone is playing on you. It's just lust. There is no such thing as love." Xellos just stared at her. He had never opened up this much to anyone before, not when he was human, not even to Juu-ou. And she was rejecting him. Yet…all he felt for her was a stronger sensation of that love. And pity.

"Imbri…I'm not Mazoku, now. Before…it was lust. But the seeds of love were planted, Imbri. And I wasn't always Mazoku. I was human first. I know what this is, and I know it's not a trick. I. Love. You." His voice was soft, compelling. Imbri just shook her head and stood, pulling completely away from her lover.

"I can't believe this. I…I…I won't believe this. It can't be. You can't love me. It isn't possible. I can't love. It doesn't exist. It's just a trick. A cruel trick." Xellos stood, looking down at his koibito.

"It isn't a trick." He stroked her cheek. "Once we get back to my world, you'll know." She pulled away again.

"But once we get back to your world, you'll be Mazoku again, and I'll be human. I still won't love, and you'll be as if nothing had ever happened. It will be as if none of this ever happened."

"You're forgetting our child." Imbri refused to meet his gaze. Xellos grabbed her shoulders and shook her again. "Imbri! Our child."

"Xellos…what makes you think I'll even go back with you?" Xellos stopped. His face went ashen and his skin became cold.

"You…you have to go back with us…"

"No, Xellos I don't. I like this power too much. Why would I want to go back to a world where I am nothing when I can stay here and rule this pathetic place? When I can pay back this world for all the shit it put me through?" Xellos shook his head, as if he couldn't believe what his Imbri was saying.

"Imbri…if what matters to you is being Mazoku, then…that isn't a problem. We can make you Mazoku back in our Universe."

"Can you? What if that's what I really want? Can you handle that? Didn't you say you loved me? How can you love me if we're back in your world and we're both Mazoku?"

"It isn't what I want. It's what will make you happy, koibito."

"Argh! Don't call me that, Xellos!"

"You called me that, once, didn't you?"

"Yeah…but I was human-"

"And now I'm human, Imbri." She stood, mouth agape, jaw working as if to say something. Finally, she threw up her hands. Whether it was in defeat or disgust he couldn't tell.

"Can we…can we just forget this for now? Until everything is back to normal?" Xellos smiled.

"Normal?" She smiled wanly in return, most of her anger dissipated.

"Well…as normal as just being ourselves can be."

***(Approximately six months later, earth time.)

"Imbri?" A scream pierced the room, knocking over two lamps. They shattered on the floor. Nearly seventeen years of pain and heartache flowed into the screams of pain sounding through the room. Imbri's nails ripped into Xellos's flesh. He stifled back his own scream of pain as his arm bleed freely.

"I. Will. Kill. You," Imbri hissed at her lover. Xellos sweatdropped. He didn't doubt that Imbri would try and make good on that threat. He just hoped it wouldn't be until they were in his world again. Xelas, was, of course, nowhere in sight, having run out for a minute that would likely end up lasting the night. A wail that wasn't Imbri's broke through the heavy air of the room. Imbri gasped and fell backward onto the pillows. A certain wonder in his eyes, Xellos picked up the infant and began cleaning it off carefully. Imbri made an effort to raise her head, but failed. With surprising tenderness, Xellos brought the infant to Imbri, sitting beside her and helping her to sit up.

"Look, Imbri-chan. Look at our child." Silently, with wonder in her Mazoku eyes, Imbri carefully took the baby from Xellos. She looked into the eyes of her child, and saw herself mirrored in them. Despite the Mazoku "lack of higher feelings," Imbri felt a sensation in her chest that she had only felt once before-when she was with Xellos.

"It's a girl," Imbri whispered, more to herself than anyone else. "My little Lilith…" Xellos smiled, eyes open and staring in obvious adoration of the infant.

"Lilith. It suits her." He bent down and kissed the top of Imbri's head. "You couldn't give her up if you wanted to now, could you?" Imbri looked up and stared at him, eyes wide. She clutched the child closer to her breast.

"Give up? No…" In her mind she wondered if this was what her mother had felt like when she was born. Warm, fuzzy, protective. But she still gave me up. Because it was best.

"I will not let you give her up, Imbri. Even if you wanted to." Imbri smiled faintly, amused at the condition they found themselves in.

"Will you listen to yourself, Xel? Over a little baby girl-child." The whole situation was absurd. But Imbri realized that Xellos was right. She couldn't give her up now. She wouldn't. And perhaps, for a little while, she would have Xellos to help her.

***

Imbri looked up from feeding Lilith. Something was pricking the back of her mind, something like…

"Xellos! Xelas! Get in here, NOW!!!" Imbri yelled. She settled Li- chan on her hip. Xellos and his master came into the room a moment later.

"What is-" Xelas began.

"It's the portal, I can sense it opening up again!" Before the two startled ex-Mazoku could blink, Imbri had transported all of them to the same small clearing that they had occupied nearly ten months before. Lilith didn't make a sound as the clearing's edges began to distort. Imbri knelt down on the ground, covering Lilith with her body. Xellos crouched beside them both, trying to protect his lover and his daughter. Xelas watched, still standing, waiting for the feeling of her powers coursing through her veins.

Mental darkness swept over the group once again.

~ ~ Owari ~ ~