Disclaimer: ... I'm fresh out of disclaimer jokes today, so just take my word for it, I don't own these characters. But in compensation for the lack of a disclaimer joke I offer this yellow sock. A real must have for Xelloss fangirls. Removed only yesterday for the first time since the war of the monsters fall..... Its 100% authentic... give it a sniff and see what I mean!

Lina, Zelgadiss and Xelloss were greeted outside the maze after a frustrating two or ten hours of trying to find the way out, by Gourry.

"How did you get out here?" the red-head sorceress exclaimed in response to Gourry's claim of having 'been waiting hours and hours' Which he had.

Gourry simply pointed to the door behind him.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh! Why did you take us through that maze then?!" Lina began to throttle Xelloss.

"I didn't say you had to follow me!" The mazoku yelped in defense, teleporting a moderately safe distance away. "You chose to."

"He does have a point Lina." Zelgadiss cut in, as much as he hated saying it. "Lets all just head onwards?"

Xelloss pulled out his map of where they were going, turned it round a few times. When satisfied that it was correct, he pointed East.

"Thataway!"

Zelgadiss stood and tapped his foot after taking the map from the mazoku.

"No, that 'map' is a drawing... I suggest we follow the map on the otherside."

"Good Idea Zelly!" Said the other Xelly brightly. "West we go!"

"Correct." Zelgadiss pocketed the map himself and set off in the correct direction, followed by Xelloss, Lina and finally Gourry. It wasn't long though, before Lina and Gourry had diverted themselves toward a nearby town, with a copy of the map, promising to meet up with the other two further ahead. Needless to say, Zelgadiss was a little less than enthralled at who his 'travelling buddy' was. On the other hand, Xelloss was a little more than enthralled at the prospect of tortur... er... travelling with Zelgadiss.

"Sooooo..." The purple haired genki one began. "Find a cure for your hideous body yet?"

"No." Came the growled reply

"Still looking? Or Given up that pointless search at last?" This should indeed get a good reaction, worth jumping aside, right about..... 3...2....2 and a half... Now! Mmmhmm... Elmekia Lance for a reaction, not bad.... same he was such a lousy shot though.

"Xelloss?" Zelgadiss sighed as he gave up trying to hurl spells at the other 'Xelly'.

"Yes?"

"Come here." There was a slight tint of blush creeping across Zelgadiss' cheeks as he took Xelloss' hand into his own. I can't really put into words to describe Xelly 2's reaction, but it looked a bit like this... 0.o; follwed quickly by a 'oh-ho-ho-I-can-have-fun-with-this-yaoi-thing' smirk.

The smirk was interrupted though. As Zelgadiss slammed a fist into the Mazoku's face. Hey, it might not have much effect, but he felt MUCH better!

"I wouldn't want to do that with a piece of rock anyway." Xelloss replied bitterly rubbing his nose.

Another punch.

"... I'll shut up now."

"Good." Zelgadiss replied.

"Glad that makes you happy."

"No you're not."

"You're right."

"So I am."

"Good for you."

"Shut up like you said you would then."

"No."

"YES! Or I'll make Amelia sing to you when we get her back."

"Well then...." Xelloss patted Zel on the shoulder. "I'm sure you'll understand if I leave her in there."

"Oh I will.... But I don't think Lina will."

... that must have made it about 3-2 to Zelgadiss. And so, the two walked onwards, one constantly frowning because the other was constantly grinning, and one constantly grinning because the other was constanly frowning. It was like some kind of unspoken understanding between Zelly and Xelly.

As night began to fall, Zelgadiss looked across at the starts then at he's annoyingly genki companion.

"How much further?" He asked.

"Not much further at all. Infact, we're about to - "

"Walk into it?" Zelgadiss asked as he peeled himself off the invisible wall.

"Right!"

"How do we break into a place that we can't even see?" Zelly may as well have been talking to himself, Xelloss wasn't next to him anymore. He was standing on a treetop, apparently casting some spell.

"And as soon....." Xelloss muttered to himself quietly. "... there's a break in the clouds, the base that can only be seen by moonlight will appear." With perfect timing, he pointed at the hidden goblin castle as a shaft of moonlight pierced the clouds and lit it up. "See it okay there Zelly?"

"I see it fine... AND DON'T CALL ME ZELLY!"

"Quiet." The Mazoku told him, now next to the chimera. "What would you like to do.... Bust straight in or.... sneek in?"

"Bust." Zelgadiss opted for. He had a strange idea that the sneeking option probably included lots of stairs.

"Okay!" Xelloss replied, throwing Zelgadiss through the double doors and running in afterwards.

"Come out and show yourself!" Zelgadiss yelled at the empty room. "That was unnecessary." He additionally hissed at Xelloss.

"Worked, didn't it?" Xelloss hissed back, looking around cautiously.

"Come out and show yourself!" Came a voice.

"Hey I said that!" Zelly yelled back.

"Yeah, twice." Xelloss commented.

"Hey I said that!" Came the echo again.

"Do you think anyone's in?" Xelloss was floating, pulling at a cobweb on the chandelier (and dropping the pieces on Zelly, of course).

"You made me come to the wrong place didn't you?"

"No." Xelly scooted away from the chandelier in respect of its next action.

To fall.

On Zelly....

With an enormous crash and shatter.

Zelgadiss stuck his head out of the chandelier remains, a candle embedded in his hair.

"WELL IF THAT DIDN'T GET THEIR ATTENTION, NOTHING WILL!"

*** meanwhile, outside***

Lina turned to Gourry as after looking carefully at the castle walls.

"So they went in here.... I can't hear any fighting, so they must have snuck in through this secret entrance." Lina said to herself outloud, opening it and going in.

"I think they took the front door." Gourry said.

"Don't be an idiot Gourry. What kind of person would do that?"

Gourry shrugged and followed Lina up the stairs.