WARNING: Chapter length exceeding previous allowances. You have been warned.

After the two of them set up the tent, Zelgadis went back to the fire, and Amy sat across from him on the other side. Zelgadis still couldn't believe how much he felt he should know her from somewhere. And there was the coincidence about their last names.

"Um," Amy said from across the fire. "Could you tell me about yourself, Zelgadis-san?"

Zelgadis stared, and stiffened. 'Zelgadis-san'? Amelia used to say that. Frowning, Zelgadis took a closer look at Amy. Bright blue eyes... A cheerful smile... She called him Zelgadis-san... Could it possibly be...? Was there anyway it could be...? "A... Amelia?" he asked tentatively.

Amy gasped, and her eyes filled. She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Zelgadis stood up incredulously. All at once, Amelia jumped up and threw her arms around Zelgadis's neck, hugging him tightly. Slowly, Zelgadis pulled her back, and asked, "Amelia? What... What did you do? Why are you out here? What's going on? Are you in trouble?"

Amelia hugged Zelgadis again, crying into his shoulder. "It was awful, Zelgadis-san," she cried. "I was at the palace and it was so bad, they kept telling me I had to do this and that and I couldn't leave the palace and I finally got tired of it and I left, and then this gang said they were sent to kill me and they found me and kidnapped me and I got away, but I was scared, and I went to this town, and all the people hated Seyruun and I was really really scared so I decided to disguise myself so I wouldn't be recognized until I got back to Seyruun, but I didn't know the way, so I had to ask someone, and that's when I found Landen-san, and then we started traveling, and I think he likes me too much, but I don't like him, and it's all just really really bad."

Carefully, Zelgadis brought Amelia's arms down, and said, "But... look at you... Your hair..." His hand reached up and barely brushed the edges of her terribly short hair. "I hardly recognized you."

Amelia sniffled, and said, "I... I didn't want to, Zelgadis-san, but if I kept my hair the same then people would know who I am and they might want to... to kill me like that other gang did, and I just got really scared and I didn't know what else to do! And that's why I used a different name, too, because I didn't want anyone to recognize me because I was scared of what would happen!"

Zelgadis led Amelia back over to the fire, and they sat down. Zelgadis made Amelia explain everything to him from the beginning, and when she was finished she was in tears again.

"That jerk," Zelgadis growled, referring to Landen when Amelia reached that point. "He has no right to suggest that after knowing you for just hours!"

Amelia titled her head. Was that a note of jealousy she detected in Zelgadis's voice? "Zelgadis-san?"

"Yes?" Zelgadis asked, his voice still ringing with anger.

Cautiously, Amelia asked, "Why... Why are you going to Seyruun?"

Zelgadis looked at her, and said, "I was just going... to... see... you..."

"Really?" Amelia asked. "But, why didn't you come see me sooner? Lina-san and Gourry-san and even Filia-san all came to see me, but the person I wanted most to come didn't... you didn't."

Zelgadis was stunned. He hadn't thought that Amelia would have wanted to see him. "I... I didn't think that... you'd want me to come." he stammered.

"Now why wouldn't I want you to?" Amelia asked of him. She leaned her head against Zelgadis's shoulder, and said, "I missed you, just like I missed Lina-san and Gourry-san and everyone else."

Hesitantly, Zelgadis put his arm around Amelia's back, and held her a little. Of course, it was just at that moment that Landen came out in his pajamas, wondering why "Amy" hadn't gone to bed. When he saw Zelgadis and Amelia sitting like that, he began sputtering incoherently in anger.

When Landen finally regained his voice, he demanded, "What in L-sama's name are you doing to Amy?"

Zelgadis and Amelia jumped up in shock, Amelia standing defiantly beside Zelgadis.

"You haven't known her more than an hour, and you're already making moves on her?" Landen shouted, taking a step closer. "How dare you!"

Crossing his arms, Zelgadis said, "Excuse me, but you did exactly the same thing, Mr. Righteous."

Landen glared, and said, "Yes, but I'm not a... a... whatever you are! A monster!"

Zelgadis started a little in shock. He hadn't really expected Landed to put it that bluntly.

"Don't you ever call Zelgadis-san a monster!" Amelia yelled to Landen. "He is NOT a monster! He's a nice person, and he never did anything to hurt you, so don't be so mean!"

A little irritated, Zelgadis said to her, "I don't need you defending me, Amelia."

Amelia looked up at him, and said, "I want to help!"

"He doesn't want your help!" Landen said. "I do! Come with me, Amy! Leave that freak alone. I'll take you to Seyruun safely."

Zelgadis was furious now. How dare that stupid woodsman threaten to take Amelia away like her knew her? Despite Amelia's warning, Zelgadis strode forward angrily, his fists clenched at his sides. Landed cowered in fear, and tried to back away, but Zelgadis was faster. Before Landen even saw it coming, he recieved a mighty blow in the face from a very hard and heavy stone fist.

"Zelgadis-san!" Amelia shouted in protest.

Landen scrambled to his feet, his hand over a bleeding nose. He shot a fearful look at Zelgadis, and then scampered off to his tent.

Amelia dashed up to him, and said, "Zelgadis-san, that was not nice or just!"

Zelgadis turned on her, saying, "It was completely just, Amelia. He was going to--" He cut himself off when he realized what he was about to say.

"He was about to what?" Amelia asked curiously, her shock forgotten. "Zelgadis-san?"

"I just got back to you," Zelgadis told her. "And he tried to take you away again. I... just... nevermind. I was just looking out for you, that's all."

Amelia blushed a tiny bit. Zelgadis looked down at her, and stared. He would never get used to Amelia looking like that. Not ever. He remembered how midnight-black her hair used to be. It was strange, looking at her now. It was like he was seeing a completely different person, except he knew it was Amelia.

"Wh-what are you looking at?" Amelia asked, her blush deepening.

Zelgadis shook his head a little. "You've changed so much. It's only been a year."

"Only? That year seemed to last an eternity," Amelia told him. "After everyone else came to visit, I wanted so much to see you too. But you never came."

"But... I'm here now," Zelgadis said. "That counts for something, right?"

Slowly, Amelia nodded. "More than you'd know," she said, smiling again.

"We should get some sleep if we're to get to Seyruun tomorrow," Zelgadis told her after a moment of silence. Amelia nodded vaguely, and wandered over to her tent.

"Good night, Zelgadis-san," Amelia said before she went into her tent.

Zelgadis nodded, and slight smile playing on his lips. He went to his tent, casting one final look over his shoulder in the direction of Amelia's tent.