Disclaimer: Ah. So you've caught me! You where lucky, Ronald Mcdonald! But the HamBurgler shall strike again! WAHAHAHAHAH! Blah. The last time I put up this fic I forgot the disclaimers! Then it went buh-bye! ;_; Well, I won't make that mistake THIS time! MUAHA! No, no I won't. Oh yeah, anyways, Slayers, not mine, idea, hands off, because it's mine. Me no own, you no sue? Okay? Okay. Anyways, on with chapter two! WOO! Yes, yes, I finally got the damn thing done. ^_^ Pointy. @.@ One helluva long disclaimer…

Anyways, on with it!

Chapter Two

Zelgadis and Xellos, peeping Toms?!

Zelgadis blinked, wincing at the bright light seeping through the open slit in the tent. "Ugh…morning already." He grumbled, turning over so his face was in the pillow. "HEY, ZELGADIS-SAN!! Wake up!" Xellos yelped, whacking him over the head with a frying pan. "You're going to help me cook." Zelgadis groaned, clutching his head. "OW!! Well, smart one, you just ruined that frying pan! Remember, my hair's wire." Xellos frowned, turning the pan over to find an array of small holes on its bottom. "Oh, well, guess we have to go fishing then!"

Zelgadis growled. "You mean YOU. Not 'we'." Xellos grimaced, crossing his arms with the frying pan still in hand, tilting his hips to the side. "Oh, come on! You know that Lina-san, Amelia, and Gourry are to lazy to help out." "Gourry's not." "Well, he actually sorta is since he's still asleep." "THEN WAKE HIM UP!" Xellos smirked. "I already tried. It's a no go. The lug's sleeping like a log." "Grrr…fine, but…just…don't do anything weird!" Xellos laughed, "But my! That would be unlikely of me, ne?" "Sadly." Zelgadis grumbled, getting up and stretching a little. Xellos whistled, looking over Zelgadis's exposed skin. "Where're your clothes? I don't remember you ever sleeping half naked, Zelgadis-san." "Ack! Crap! Lina still has them…" "Eh?? Lina still has them!? What did you two do?!" Xellos's eyes lit up. Zelgadis frowned, socking him in the face.

Xellos laughed, rubbing his face. "Nothing! She was just cold, and we where both just drunk." Xellos giggled giddily. "Shut up, you fruit." Xellos grinned overly brightly, giggling again. "Well, let's go get your clothes then, Zelly…" Zelgadis growled, peevishly mumbling to himself.

Zelgadis shoved Xellos out of the tent and soon followed him, looking around for Lina. "Where did she go?" Xellos frowned. "I don't know… Maybe you'll just have to go fishing without them." Zelgadis blushed. "No way! And risk getting seen?!" Xellos sweatdropped, undoing his cloak and wrapping it over Zelgadis's shoulders. "Then wear this." Zelgadis blushed a bit darker, removing the cloak and shoving it back to Xellos. "I'd rather be seen half naked then be seen in your clothes!" He remarked, shuddering. Xellos chuckled, positioning his cloak back over his shoulders. "Well, alrighty then."

Xellos and Zelgadis had been traveling around a bit, looking for a good place to fish. "Xellos, do you even KNOW if there's a good place to fish around this place?" Xellos nodded. "I'm positive. It's not that far from here." Zelgadis growled, looking to the side of the path they where going down. "…I just hope this isn't some sort of sick joke or something." Xellos laughed. "Oh no, not yet…er…I mean, I won't pull one off yet for today." He stammered, sweatdropping. Zelgadis sweatdropped as well. "Well, okay then."

"Ah! Here we are." Xellos grinned, motioning his staff over the new surroundings they had just came across. There where high, towering cliffs, lush green trees, and indeed, a small creak. "Xellos, that creak's a bit small, don't you think?" Xellos shook his head. "Yeah, well there's a cliff in the way of our vision, so just move aside from it…" He murmured, doing as he just implied, Zelgadis doing the same.

Zelgadis and Xellos looked around a bit more. There was a large lake in the center, and a water fall. Zelgadis yelped, going an easy shade of red, shoving Xellos over and then hiding behind the cliff again. "Lina's there!" Xellos blushed, pulling himself behind the cliff again. "Then maybe we shouldn't shout like that, Zelgadis-san!" He hissed. Zelgadis blinked. "Wait…why would she be bathing so early? You'd think she'd pull off her usual 'too hungry to move' routine." Xellos nodded. "Eh…that is a bit odd for Lina-san." Zelgadis shrugged, feeling his blush clear at last. "Well, guess we have to find another place to fish then." Xellos bit his lip, frowning. "Yeah…about that…" "…What, Xellos?" Zelgadis asked in a low tone, fearing the answer himself. "Eh…this is the only place for a good…well, let's just say LONG time." He commented, pulling out a map from his bag, showing it to Zelgadis while tracing his fingers over the possible routs, which where indeed, far. Zelgadis growled. "Just HAD to hit me with that frying pan, didn't you?" Xellos shrugged. "Yeah."

Xellos blinked. "Too bad this forest's enchanted, too." "What do you mean?" Zelgadis growled, glaring at Xellos, who stammered nervously. "Eh…well…that is…you see, um… the creatures of this forest are protected by a spirit, except the things in the water." "…why not the water creatures?" Xellos cleared his throat. "Oh, well, the water spirit and the forest spirit had a bit of a spat between each other, so the forest spirit set a curse on the water spirits creatures." Zelgadis blinked. "How did you come to know of this?" Xellos dragged a large book from his back being entitled, 'Top One Hundred Facts Of World History'. "You still have that stupid book?" Xellos nodded. "Hey! It's actually fairly useful." He frowned, placing the book back into his bag.

Zelgadis shrugged, turning on his heel to walk down the path again. "Well, I guess we should head back, then." "And walk all the way back here again?" "…Actually, come to think of it, Xellos… You could have just teleported us here!" He snarled. "So just take us to the next water area." Xellos sweatdropped. "Eheh….well, Okay then. I guess so."

Suddenly, Zelgadis and Xellos's blood ran cold. (Well, maybe not Xellos. Er…he has no blood. O.o) Zelgadis turned around again, seeing Lina in a towel, glaring at them both. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!?" Xellos's eyes went wide. Zelgadis grinned, trying to sneak off. Xellos grabbed the waist of his pants. "Ohhh no you don't." "Xellos!" Zelgadis hissed. Lina growled, popping her knuckles. "I'm going to count to ten for you to explain everything." Zelgadis's eyes widened as well. "Xellos!! Er…teleport us somewhere!!!" Xellos smiled. "OKAY!" "…with ME." "Oh…okay." Xellos glomped Zelgadis and teleported away.

Lina frowned. "I saw that coming…" She shrugged, hoping back into the water and tossing her towel elsewhere. "Oh well! Now that that's over with…"

Elsewhere, Zelgadis and Xellos plopped down onto a dark and murky terrain. Zelgadis growled. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU!!! You knew Lina was bathing, didn't you?! DIDN'T YOU!!?" Zelgadis pounced on Xellos, who squeaked. "No! I swear it! If I did, I would have-" "Gone there a long time ago with a camera?" "Er…no…although that doesn't sound like a bad idea." "Oi…fruit. ANYHOW! …where are we?" Xellos shrugged. "All I know is it that it's near a body of water. In other words, I have no clue." "GAK!" Zelgadis face faulted.

Xellos blinked, helping Zelgadis back up. "Um…you didn't see anything on Lina, did you?" Zelgadis shook his head. "No." "Then don't be so freaked out." He stated, getting up himself and dusting off his black pants. Zelgadis looked around. "Ooo…Morbid." He said in a sarcastic tone, his eyes tracing over the dense fog around them both and the bare trees which swayed slowly with the well rhythmic wind. Xellos nodded. "Indeed, that." Unexpectedly, the trees began to rattle vexingly as the breezy wind picked up to a gust and the fog began to thicken, as well as the ground becoming damper. Sounds had also begun to stir from underneath them both, sounding as if it was all over. Groans, cries, chattering voices and sickened cackles.

Zelgadis went wide eyed. "W-what the hell?" Xellos blinked, the sounds getting louder and more threatening. "Hm. Well, isn't this eccentric!" The trees began rattling against each other so hard that splinters of shattered wood began to shower about in random directions, swirling in the gust. The roots of the trees where also moving slowly as the voices and sounds got even louder, almost hurting both Zelgadis and Xellos's ears, but being loud enough to be annoying.

"…How did I know you'd choose some place that'd mean trouble!?" Zelgadis growled, looking at his lively surroundings, drawing his sword. As he did so, the roots of the trees slapping it from his grip, clutching around Zelgadis's wrists and ankles. Zelgadis yelped. "WHAT THE HELL?!" Xellos sweatdropped. "I was going to warn you…don't draw your weapons in places like these." Zelgadis growled. "Oh, so only the forest gets to be incommodious!?" Xellos shrugged. "Pretty much." "Are you going to help me or what, Xellos?!" Xellos giggled. "I will in a sec."

Lina sighed contently, wrapping her towel back around her petite body. "Ahh! That's MUCH better, although I was a bit paranoid after Xellos and Zelgadis where peaking…" She shrugged, picking up her clothes. She frowned, taking the pins out of her hair, allowing the locks to wash over her shoulders in a cascade of crimson. She had been traveling with Amelia, Zelgadis, Gourry, and Xellos for a while. It actually had been a few years after the downfall of Darkstar, and everyone was changing their appearance. Zelgadis, for example, had a different cloak now. It was still beige, but there was a shall over the cloak, held by two ruby orbs. Gourry pretty much looked the same… Amelia had also grown longer hair, and it was darker than before. More of a azure hue, rather than violet. And yes, she was starting to look more and more like her older sister…

Lina shuddered. Yeah, like she WANTED to remember that freakish woman. Lina shrugged her shoulders, gathering her things. I wonder where Zel and Xellos are…? Lina frowned. "I need to teach those two a lesson." She growled, pounding her fist into an open palm. "Heh, heh, heh…"

Zelgadis grumbled at his current situation, which wasn't getting any better. Several vines climbed over his body, pulling him around like a rag doll. "Xellos! YOU CAN HELP OUT NOW!" Xellos chuckled. "But I wanna see if you'll turn part tree, too!" "DAMMIT! NO GAMES! HELP OUT!" Xellos pouted, his chin carefully placed between his laced hands. "Awww…fine," Xellos got to his feet, brushing off his pants. "I will." Zelgadis scowled, snarling. "Then hurry, why don't you?!" Xellos crossed his arms, frowning. "Now ask me like that, and I'll NEVER help you!" Zelgadis twitched, making Xellos chuckle and snap his fingers, causing the forest to screech and then drop Zelgadis, whom of which was caught by Xellos, draped over his arms. "Hello there!"

Zelgadis didn't have any time to try and escape his hold, or really care. "How the hell did you do that!?" Xellos grinned fruitishly, bringing his index finger to his nose. "Sore wa himi-" "Don't give me that!" He demanded, ramming his stone elbow into Xellos's gut. Xellos shivered, and his grin broadened. "I gave a sending." He said surreptitiously. Zelgadis blinked a few times. "A what?" Xellos sniggered, hugging Zelgadis so his face was in his chest. "Telekinesis, Zelly!" Zelgadis growled and shoved Xellos away from him, who merely shrugged, complying, dropping Zelgadis onto his ass.

Zelgadis groaned and sat back up, wincing. With that, he received an ill manner chuckle from Xellos. "What?" Xellos brushed his hand by his hip, smirking. "There's dirt on your pants, Zelgadis-san." Zelgadis squeaked, blushed, and shoved Xellos away again. "Well, thanks for the info, but I can take care of that myself!" He grumbled, dusting himself off. "I thought it was all muddy here. Where'd the dirt come from?" Xellos looked around. "Well, the forest is leaving us alone now, it seems. Perhaps this how the forest looks when it isn't so violent." Zelgadis nodded, looking up. "And now the trees are so thick with leaves, I can barely see the light percolate through to the ground…" Xellos shrugged, stomping his staffs end to the ground lightly, trying to get Zelgadis's attention. Zelgadis looked over at Xellos, arching a rock laced brow. "Yeah?"

Xellos cleared his throat. "I think we should get moving before something else unexpected and random happens, ne?" Zelgadis nodded, looking back up and narrowing his eyes, going silent. Xellos blinked. "Something the matter?" Zelgadis shook his head, looking over at Xellos. "No…It just seems like Deja Vu. I think I've been here before." Xellos shrugged. "Possibly. Now lets get going." Zelgadis agreed, following Xellos out.

Lina groaned, rubbing her stomach vigorously. "Damn it…Xellos was supposed to get breakfast, but Zelgadis and he ran away!" She furrowed her brows with a frown. "Just like my luck, isn't it?" The small girl sitting behind Lina, just as hungry as she, nodded, rubbing her stomach while sweatdropping. "Yes…but Miss Lina, I'm sure they had their reasons…" She stammered. Lina glared at the girl. "AMELIA! 'They had their reasons' to watch a helpless girl bathe!? I think not!" Amelia frowned, crossing her arms. "You know, they might have been going for a dip, themselves!"

Lina laughed. "As if Zelgadis would ever bathe with Xellos." Amelia smirked smugly in return to the laugh. "Yeah, well maybe Mr. Zelgadis went to bathe, and Xellos showed up once he went to the water fall. You know how he likes to 'surprise' people." Lina blinked. "Well, that MAY be true, but look. Zelgadis would probably worry about bathing when the rest of us are awake, don't you think?" Amelia frowned sadly, looking at her lap. "…Not really…he leaves without notice sometimes… He doesn't care whether or not it worries us." She murmured quietly.

The two young girls sat in silence, then, "Ah, come on you two! Like Amelia said, I'm sure they had their reasons. And I'll say this, I'm sure they'll be returning. So we shouldn't worry about that until they get back, right? Then we can ask the questions." A tall blond man between and sort of in back of the two brightly mused, thudding a hand on each of their shoulders with a hearty grin.

Amelia smiled and nodded, glancing at Lina sternly. The glance gave off a sorta… 'You know he's right for once, so don't go off judging people while they're still not proven guilty!' thing. You know, an Amelia kind of thing to say. All…justicey! Ahem…anyways! Lina smirked, glancing at Amelia with an awkward gleam in her eyes which in return said, 'Yeah, for ONCE...well, maybe not for the first…but still. And if he isn't right, you're going to regret those words!' You know, a kind of Lina-ish thing to say. Amelia shuddered and glanced over her shoulder, feeling a bit uneasy from the look that Lina had just passed her.

Lina sniggered. How can she be the sister of Nahga? I mean, Nahga would have jumped me and tied me to a tree for the rest of the night, then I'd toss her a fireball somehow, so on and so forth. But no, Amelia shrivels up and puts her tail between her legs. Lina contemplated to herself with a self-satisfied smirk, picking herself up from where she was sitting, sliding her crimson hair over her shoulder. "Well guys, come on! We all have huge appetites that we all need to satisfy! Let's go get some grub!" The two nodded and stood up as well

So now the group was separated slightly, Xellos and Zelgadis apart from Lina, Amelia and Gourry.

Well, let's just hope we don't have to blow up anymore Dark Lords! ^.^;