Palace Life - by Harukami

PART 1 OF THE FAMILY SERIES - SET AFTER FRIENDSHIP TRILOGY

Beta read by Ishiki

"Honey piiiiie! That Dragon's threatening me! Get him!"

Grinning like the maniac he was, Xelloss dodged Guntair's angry sword

swings, hiding behind the sweatdropping chimera. "Honey pie, are you

just going to let him get away with this?"

Zelgadis sighed as the Black Dragon's ten-foot blade deflected

off his shoulder. (W1) "Do you mind? It's not my fault he's incredably

annoying." He shrugged at Guntair.

The Mazoku tugged at his ears. (B1) "Honey pie, how can you say

that?"

"Because it's true."

"I know," Xelloss smiled. "But you always try to spoil my

fun."

"Oh, do I?" Zelgadis asked mildly.

Xelloss pinged at a scale with his fingernail. "Perhaps not

always."

Amelia turned away and sighed. So. She'd suspected that

Xelloss was... in love with Zelgadis, and it seemed, from the vein

of his teasing, that that was getting more and more likely. Maybe

they were already lovers. The way Zelgadis was reacting...

"You... you FRUITCAKE!" Amelia looked up to see Xelloss and

Zelgadis get into a fist-fight.

Then again, maybe they weren't.

It wouldn't be so terrible if she just KNEW!

Would it?

Maybe, Amelia gulped, maybe anyone who she fell in love with

wouldn't love her...

No. That was stupid. They said your first love never worked

out.

Her survival instincts kicked in and she ducked as Guntair's

sword whistled through the air where her head had been. Guntair froze

in the process of sitting down next to her. "Sorry!" he said quickly,

shifting his sword to rest on his other shoulder. "I come to see how

you're doing and instead I almost kill you!" (W2)

Amelia laughed shakily. "It's okay. With this group, I'm

used to almost dying. I was just lost in my thoughts."

"Oh." Guntair looked down. "Uh. Yeah. So. Um."

The young shaman waited. "Did you want to say something?"

"Uh... well, I wanted--"

"CUT IT OUT, YOU GUYS!" Lina bellowed. "WE'LL NEVER GET OFF

THE ISLAND AT THIS RATE!"

The two fist-fighters paused. Xelloss struggled out from under

one of Zelgadis's arms to smile at Lina. "Don't worry, I'll put

you up at my place for a night! Will you want separate or shared

sleeping quarters? I'll do my best for the Knight of Shabrinigido."

"I AM NOT THE--" Lina took a deep breath. "Shared quarters

would be fine. I don't want to impose."

"Great," Guntair muttered. "A Mazoku knows where I'm

sleeping. I should be pleased about this?" (B2)

Xelloss laughed at him. "Don't be so uptight. Now can I go

back to getting my hands all over Zel?"

Zelgadis's jaw dropped. "You..." He slammed a fist into

Xelloss's face. "Ecchi!"

"Ow, Zel, not now... no, put down that rock!" Tussling ensued

again. (W3)

Guntair glowered. "So why should I like this Zelgadis? He's

doesn't seem to care about how this sort of thing must hurt you!"

He waved at the tussling pair. Looking at Amelia, he asked, "Are you

alright?"

She blushed. "Yeah. As I said... he's sort of more an older

brother." Liar. (B3) "Though their tussling is more flirtatious than

usual."

"Call mercy, fruitcake!"

"Uh-uh! You'll have to hurt me a lot more before that

happens!"

Amelia turned back to Guntair. "So, what were you saying?"

"Oh," Guntair coughed. "Nothing, really." He stood, and

Amelia ducked another sword swing. "Want to explore the island?"

Wolf howls rose again.

"..."

"Or not. I guess I'll break up the Mazoku and the chimera's

fight." He smiled, showing pointed canines. "Forcibly, I hope."

Amelia sighed.

***

"THIS is our room?" Guntair asked dryly, looking pointedly

at the one and only feature: the jumbo bed.

Xelloss smiled. "No. This is MY room. I'm making yours

right now."

Amelia stared, eyes wide. "But... the bed. It's so... big.

I didn't even think you slept. What do you DO..." she stopped

suddenly, cheeks flaming.

"I make the bedsprings squeak." He put a hand out and

demonstrated. "Keeps me entertained for hours." He turned, blinking

innocently. "Zel, maybe you should see a doctor. That cough sounds

nasty.

"..."

"And you're so flushed!"

Everyone shifted uneasily. "Uh," Lina said. "Our rooms?"

"Get distracted, did I? Well, here you go." Xelloss clapped

cheerfully, and pits opened up under everyone's feet

but Zelgadis and Xelloss's. He smiled.

Zelgadis's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?" he asked

suspiciously.

***

"KYAAAAA!" Lina screamed as she fell, hit a bed, and bounced

five feet in the air again. "Woah! Levitat-ion!" Slowing her

momentum as the spell took effect, she took a look around.

A bed was the central feature of the room, with bright,

garish bedsheets. A clothes hook and a mirror were the only other

features. (B4) Carefully, she attempted to touch down on the nothingness

which everything rested on and felt solid floor, although it appeared

to be nothing but space. Pushing off towards the ceiling, she

attempted to go through the hole, but it, as well, was solid.

"XELLOSS!!!"

The Mazoku's voice echoed in the room. "Ne, Lina-san, isn't

the room pleasant?"

"How do I get OUT of here?" Lina hollered, slamming her fist

against the nothing-ceiling.

"Oh, I'll let you out for breakfast tomorrow," Xelloss's

voice said cheerfully. "But I have to create this, you know, and it

gives me a headache if I make every room connected. I don't need a

headache right now. Do you like the bedsheets?"

Lina peered at them. Focussing, she saw the words, 'Welcome,

Knight of Shabrinigido!' and a picture of HER, giving a victory sign,

with her eyes a ruby red. "Grrr... XELLOSS!!"

"And enjoy the company! Bye bye!" the voice faded away.

"What does that mean?! Come back here, you annoying--"

"Aw, man -- that hurt!" Gourry moaned, sitting up from

where he'd crumpled on the ground. He blinked and looked around,

and his eyes widened in fear. "Huh... Augh! I'm falling! I'm

FALLING! Help meeeee!"

Lina sighed, landed, and walked over to hold out a hand to

Gourry. She was used to his phobia by this time. "Here, get on the

bed. You'll feel better."

Eyes wide, he scrambled over to the bed and dragged himself

onto it. Sitting there, he pulled his knees up to his chest. "I

was falling, Lina, really I was!"

She sighed. "I know, Gourry." Sitting beside him on the bed,

she patted his shoulder, trying to calm him. "I know." (B5)

He put his head on his knees.

"Gourry, WHY are you afraid of heights?"

Gourry shook his head. "Dunno, Lina. My family never said,

I don't think."

"You don't remember?"

"No." He flushed slightly. "I don't remember anything past

the time my parents found me."

Lina's eyes widened. Gourry had been found? Adopted? "Oh.

Sorry for asking."

"Why?" Gourry had nothing but curiousity in his eyes.

"Nothing." She slid off the bed. "You take the bed this time.

I'll sleep on the floor."

The blond swordsman shook his head stubbornly. "No. I won't

let a lady sleep on the floor."

"But you'll just have another panic attack!"

"It doesn't matter. You take the bed."

This was going nowhere. "OK. We both take the bed and

sleep on the edges."

"But..."

"But nothing. You'll be a gentleman, won't you?"

Gourry blushed. "Yeah." (B6)

"OK. I'll get on the other side." Lina walked around to the

other side and sat down. By mutual consensus, neither of them

undressed.

Lina laid down and sighed. So did Gourry. As soon as they

were still, the bed dipped in the middle. Rolling towards each other,

they stopped pressed up very closely. Lina scowled. "This is hard."

"I'm sorry!" Gourry blushed. "I didn't mean to! I'm sorry!"

The sorceress's eyes widened as she took in his meaning.

"Gourry, you pervert!" (B7)

SLAP (W4)

***

Amelia and Guntair looked at each other. They looked at the...

single... bed.

"Uh," Guntair said.

The shaman peered at the bed sheets. "There seems to be

writing here. Uh, let's see... 'Just... get... on... with... it...

you... two...'." As her mind deciphered what her mouth had just read,

her face got the idea to blush. "ANO!"

"THAT STUPID MAZOKU!" Guntair howled. "WHY, I OUGHTA..."(W5)

Amelia wondered why he didn't finish that sentence.

Guntair hunched over, and stripped off his shirt. (B8) "Gun..."

Amelia began, blush deepening.

Then she saw the wings growing from his back as he shifted

to his half-Dragon form.

"I'm coming up there to kill you," Guntair shouted, flying

at top speed towards the space they'd fallen from.

And hit a solid barrier. "I-TAIIII!" He plummeted back

down and changed back. "Damn! Amelia, you're the younger, you

get the bed. I'll sleep on the floor."

"I don't really feel right about..."

"You don't want to take away my reputation as a gentleman,

do you?" (B9)

Amelia couldn't stop blushing. "No."

"Then take the bed."

"Ok."

Soon, Amelia felt sleep begin to overtake her. Just before

she dropped off, she heard a harsh whisper. "Amelia-chan... you

awake?"

'No,' she decided, not saying anything aloud.

The Black Dragon dropped back onto the disgusting, Mazoku-

created floor with a sigh. "The damnedest thing," he mumbled, "is

I don't know how he knew that I--"

Amelia fell asleep. (W6)

***

Zelgadis's eyes widened as Xelloss turned back from his

conversation with Lina. "You didn't."

"Didn't I?"

"You did."

"Great second guess."

The chimera flopped down onto the bed with a sigh. "You are

so..."

Xelloss waited for Zelgadis to finish the sentence, and when

he didn't, he started filling in possible words. "Sexy? Daring?

Adorable? Sadistic? Masochistic? Purple? Tall? Irresistible?

Say something!"

"I was going to say, 'dead in the morning', but I guess

that masochistic covers that."

The Mazoku smiled. "Oh, I'll live. You see, Someone promised

to put in an appearance."

"'someone'?"

"Capitalize it."

Zelgadis's eyes widened. "You mean your Someone?"

"That's right."

The chimera sighed. "That should be... interesting." He

paused. "Look, Xelloss, I hope you weren't upset about earlier."

Xelloss tilted his head curiously. "Upset about earlier. What

about earlier is there to be upset about?"

"You know, fighting and all that."

"And I thought you just wanted an excuse to get your hands all

over me." (B10)

Zelgadis blushed. "I just..."

"... don't want the others to know? If it bothers you..."

"It's not so much that. I just don't want everyone to think

that I..." the shaman hesitated. "...There's no way I can end that

that sounds nice, is there?"

"That you fell for a fruitcake? A Mazoku one at that? Who

is male? And generally is bent on the opposite goals of most of the

group? And is suspected still by all of them of probably being an

enemy?"

"Yeah. That I fell for you."

The Mazoku smiled. "Keeping secrets is my specialty. But if

it isn't too difficult for you... why? Why do you care about what

the others think?"

"I -- I don't know. I just..." Zelgadis glanced down. "I

don't want to hurt Amelia more than necessary. And... and I'm

embarrassed. I don't know why! I'm sorry!"

Xelloss shook his head. "They say that that happens for the

first little while, but I don't really remember that far back, myself.

As to the rest... your secret's safe. As safe as it gets. I don't

understand most of your reasons, but I'll honour them. Actually,

there's a lot about you I still don't understand." Xelloss wrapped

his arm around the chimera and buried his face in the scaled neck.

"But I look forward to learning. Never give up a learning experience,

you know." (B11)

***

It was morning by now, surely. It had to be morning.

Guntair raised a hand. It was fuzzy. Maybe he should have

really tried to sleep. But he didn't WANT to sleep in a place created

by a Mazoku! Even if said Mazoku actually HADN'T done anything yet. (B12)

"Papa..." Amelia murmured from the bed, rolling over.

Strange, that. How every single bit of important things

seemed to focus when she moved. "No, no more spinach... 's unjust..."

She continued rolling. Off the bed.

The Black Dragon squeaked and tried to move away, but his

reflexes were fuzzed. She landed on him and sighed contentedly,

curling up on his stomach. "Cookie's ok."

Freezing, Guntair felt his brain explode. He was somewhere

between abject terror(a remainder of his days with Yume) and ecstasy.

Maybe he should wake Amelia up. No, that would require a connection

from his brain to his dead body. Uh. Now what? (W7)

"Mmm..." Amelia sighed, nuzzling into his chest.

He whimpered.

Amelia opened her eyes. "Uh... Guntair? What are you doing

there?" she asked sleepily.

"Fall. Bed. Off of. You."

"Huh?"

"I. Um... " Maybe his face was steaming.

The young shaman came more awake. "What?! You... you

enemy of Justice! How dare you take advantage of a young girl in

this situation?!" She grabbed his shoulders and began shaking him.

Too much, Guntair decided, and fainted for the first time

in years.

Amelia blinked, looking around. Wait. She was on the floor.

Not the bed. In fact, it looked like she'd fallen off the bed, to

where Guntair was laying. Had that been what he was trying to say?

"Wake up! I'm sorry!" she shook him again. He flopped weakly.

"Oh no! I've killed him!"(B13)

Xelloss stuck his head down out of the nothing-ceiling. "Hey,

it's time for break... oh, dear, seems to have been bad timing. But

there's a bed right there, why the floor?" (B14)

The princess turned tear-filled eyes to him. "I think I killed

him," she wailed, not really listening.

"What enthusiasm!" Xelloss murmured, eyes wide with surprise.

In the background, there was the noise of someone choking. "However,

Amelia-san, hitting his head on the floor can't be helping."

Face doing a slow burn, Amelia stopped shaking him. "Guntair-

kun?"

He came awake again. "Uh... Amelia-chan? What're you doing

there?" (B15)

"Didn't I ask that?"

"Uh..."

Xelloss cleared his throat. "If you two will stop with the

foreplay, breakfast is ready."

Blushes burned on both their faces, then Guntair growled,

angry. "What are you implying?!"

"That it's gonna get cold if you dally there all morning,"

Xelloss replied, withdrawing his head.

Guntair's growl deepened, then he sighed, realizing it was

basically useless. He snagged his shirt with one hand while

transforming into his half-ryuu form. "Hop on, Amelia, I'll take

you up."

Unaccountably, Amelia's blush only deepened.

***

Xelloss grinned as he stuck his head down the other hole,

feeling Zelgadis's eyes on his back. "Good morning, Lina-sama! How

did you sle--" (B16)

"FIREBALL!"

Falling back crispied, Xelloss landed at Zelgadis's feet.

"Itai..." he sighed contentedly.

"Told you," Zelgadis smirked.

Voices floated up from the new hole. "But Lina! How do we

get up there?"

"Oh... half a second. Levitat-ion!"

"AAAHHH! I'M FALLING!"

"WATCH WHERE YOU'RE CLUTCHING, YOU PERVERT!"

"LIIIINAAAA! I'M FALLING!"

They arrived just as Xelloss staggered to his feet. Amelia

and Guntair were already there. "Well," Xelloss murmured, bouncing

back like a badly-aimed rubber band, "if you'll follow me to the next

room, we'll get breakfast underway."

Guntair ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "What are

we having?"

"Well," Xelloss smiled, "I've already eaten, but..."

"Eaten what?" Guntair asked suspiciously.

"A normal Mazoku breakfast, negative human emotions. But

anyway, I think the Dragon Eggs are almost done." Xelloss phazed out

just in time as a sword cut through the air where he had been. "Why,

Gun-kun, whatever's wrong?"



Everyone scattered as the Dragon started swinging wildly.

"Bastard Mazoku! How dare you! You only ever..."

Xelloss put his hands up, laughing and sweatdropping. "You

get so worked up over a little joke!"

"Joke?"

"Yes, joke. You know, thing said or done to cause laughter."

"IT WASN'T FUNNY!"

The Mazoku tsked. "If you'd bothered to smell the air, you

would have noticed I put on sausages, not eggs."

Immediately, Lina, Gourry, and Amelia began to drool.

"Sausages?" Amelia asked. "What kind of sausages?"

"Hmm? Oh, that's not important. Anyway, let's go." He

led the way to the 'kitchen'. "Knight-sama, what do you want, ten or

fifteen?"

"Twenty!" Lina ignored the 'knight' just this once. (B17)

Xelloss had them all served and actually in a good mood in no

time. "I've never tasted meat this yummy before!" Gourry exclaimed.

"Oh, you know, good hunting on this island," Xelloss smiled

modestly. "Sometimes we even cultivate this kind."

Guntair still hadn't touched his. "What kind?"

Suddenly, a pretty young dark-skinned woman bounded into the

room, her blond hair trailing out behind her. Her long ears twitched

as she sniffed. "Xelloss, you cooked! And I haven't had human meat

for so long!"

Dead silence, except for the sound of Amelia dropping her fork.

The woman looked at them, and sighed. It was then that they

noticed her eyes were even more frightening than Xelloss's. "It was

a joke."

People didn't begin eating.

"By the smell," the woman continued, "I'd say it was Trillin

meat. Trillins are small mammals that live only in this small area.

Quite delicious creatures."

They began eating again.

"You two share the same humour," Guntair noted dryly. "She

your lover, Xelloss-kun?" (B18)

Xelloss fell off his stool. "Uh... no."

The pretty woman produced a plate out of nothing, and began

serving herself sausages, sniffing each before putting them on her

plate. "No. I'm his master." (W8)

Dead silence, except for the sound of Amelia dropping her fork.

Lina pointed and her mouth moved several times before words

came out. "You... YOU'RE the Beastmaster?!"

Guntair growled.

Xellas ignored this, smiling at Lina instead. "Yes. And you

are the Knight of Shabrinigido-sama, I believe.

The sorceress stared at her plate. "There's some mistake. I

am not the Knight of Shabrinigido, and I never will be."

The Beastmaster shook her head. "Oh, you most definitely

are. I'd recognize Shabrinigido's touch anywhere."

"Look, even if I DID have the power to be the Knight of

Shabrinigido -- which I don't --"

"Yes, you do," Xelloss piped up, rising from the floor.

"-- I don't particularly want to be the protector and fighter

for a bunch of heartless killers who live off human fear and hate.

No offense."

"None taken," Xellas responded, half-closing her eyes. "But

you might find the power quite attractive if you think about it. Oh,

and Xelloss?"

"Yes, Xellas-sama?" The others were surprised to see the

near-subservient behaviour the priest was exhibiting.

"You will continue to travel with these wonderful people, will

you not? I believe you have your own reasons for doing so as well."

"Definitely, Xellas-sama!" Xelloss smiled.

"Great," Guntair muttered.

The Beastmaster began eating the sausages, and raised her

eyebrows at Xelloss. She swallowed. "Aren't you going to introduce

me to the others? I already know the nice chimera--"

Zelgadis prudently ducked his head. "My lady." (B19)

"-- see? He's such a sweetheart. But who is everyone else?"

Xelloss smiled at her way of getting to be politely introduced,

considering she knew them all almost as well as he did, through his

reports. "Well, this adorable little shaman is Amelia," he patted

Amelia's head. Guntair growled more loudly than before. (B20) "Amelia Wil

Tessla Seiryuun, champion of justice. Which means that she's nearly

out of a job."

Amelia looked down, stammering. "Uh-- pleased to meet you?"

she ventured, deciding that it might be better than trying to argue

the point. (W9)

"That," Xelloss pointed, "is Gourry Gabriev. He's a swordsman,

and not much more."

Lina scowled. Gourry smiled. "'S right! Nice to meet you!

There's a lot of wolves on this island, isn't there?"

Xellas blinked. "Yes. That's right. Plenty of wolves."

Her servant recovered from his fit of hysterics in record time.

"And the Black Dragon over there is Guntair, no last name given, so

he's probably not important. He did eat Yume-san, though."

The Beastmaster smiled. "Getting rid of her was a pleasant

surprise. Good of him to take her off my pa-- uh, hands." (B21)

Guntair snarled at her. "I didn't do it for you. I hate

Mazoku."

"I know. It's quite delicious." Xellas shook back her long

hair. "I am Xellas Metallium. Of course, it is good to meet you

all personally. I hope to get much closer to you all, over time." Her

smile was almost predatory. "Especially the Knight of Shabrinigido."

"I. Am. Not. The. Mazoku. Knight. CAN YOU ALL GET THAT

THROUGH YOUR HEADS?!"

It was obvious Xelloss had learned his dangerous smile from

his master. "You could always find another piece of Shabrinigido-sama

himself and ask him. I'm sure he would be more than willing to tell

you."

"AND WHY SHOULD I TRUST WHAT HE'D SAY? HE TRIED TO KILL ME!" (B22)

Xellas tilted her head. "Don't most people? From what I

heard, that seems to be the trend. And he was in such a bad mood

from being dismembered and all that. I'm sure you can understand."

"It was his own fault," Lina sulked.

"Probably, he was a little arrogant. But when you're a demon

god, you're allowed to be. From what we understand, though, he's been

rather interested in you since. Especially since he was nearly certain

you were his Knight. And now we all know it."

"I AM NOT! NOT! I should know!"

"And he shouldn't?"

"Well... yeah, but..."

Xelloss prudently changed the subject. His master would

understand. Break her in slowly. "Sooo... where're we heading now,

minna-san?"

Guntair coughed slightly. "I was hoping we could visit my

family, and tell them that I'm okay now... and find out the truth

about the hatchlings... It's--" he paused, looking at the two Mazoku,

"-- down fairly south."

"Oh," Xellas dismissed. "We know where all the Dragon

populations are located. Don't worry about talking about the Koku

no Tani. In fact... Xelloss, a map?"

Xelloss obediently produced one.

The Beastmaster bent over it. "If you take this nearly

direct path, you should pass through all of your hometowns, starting

with Seiryuun of course, then to the nice chimera's hometown, then

Gourry's... and the Knight's... and then to the Koku no Tani." She

smiled. "You all must visit your families. Wouldn't it be awful if

they found out you were in the region and didn't visit?"

Lina moaned. "Great, it's true. Mazoku really DO love

torture."

***

"No. I am not getting in that boat," Zelgadis stated flatly.

"I hate water."

Guntair scoffed at him. "Surely you aren't afraid of getting

a little wet."

"No. I'm afraid of getting very wet. Very permanently wet."

The Ryuzoku laughed disdainfully. "Oh, come on, surely you

can swim."

Zelgadis smiled darkly. "Yes, I can swim. My arms make the

motions just fine. I used to do a wicked dog paddle. However, ever

since an unfortunate encounter with a family member of mine, I have

this bad habit of sinking in water, whether I make the nice swimming

motions or not. I am NOT getting in that tiny rowboat."

A light hand tapped his shoulder. "Ne, Zel, I can carry you."

Blink. "What?"

"I can do--" Xelloss flew down quickly and picked him up.

"--this." He began to float out over the lake.

"THIS IS NOT FUNNY!" Zelgadis raged. "PUT ME DOWN NOW!"

"What, now? Here?"

For the first time, Zelgadis noticed they were over the water.

"No! Don't!"

The others all stared at the tiny rowboat. "So, who rows?"

"You do," Lina and Amelia said together. (B23)

Guntair and Gourry sighed. "Why us?"

Lina batted her eyelashes. "You want me to ruin my delicate

hands, Gourry?"

"Ne, Guntair-kun, you surely don't want li'l ol' me to row,

do you?"

The two men looked at each other. "Why do I know that I'm

going to give in?" Guntair sighed.

Gourry shrugged. "Dunno. But it always works like that."

The trip to the mainland was, to put it frankly, embarrassing.

There was the time Gourry thought he saw something in the water and

dropped his oar to look. They couldn't get the oar back, and Guntair

ended up giving his over and rowing with his sword, which didn't fit

too well in the dinky rowboat anyway. And, of course, up ahead

Zelgadis was clinging to Xelloss and trying not to scream as Xelloss

flew in dangerous dips and swirls just to prolong the torture. But,

eventually, they made it anyway.

Quickly, they rushed over to the ferryman's hut. "We brought

your rowboat back," Lina called back.

The man peered out, surprised. "You... you made it! I was

sure you died! Ah, you were rescuing two of your friends, I see.

And you survived the Mazoku. Was it bad?"

"Oh, terrible," Xelloss gushed, putting a hand to his heart.

"She had us chained up and was torturing us terribly! She is a

completely evil character! She even made us ruin our most prized

possessions! Terrible, terrible! Never trust a Mazoku, my good

sir, and especially not that evil, evil being. Oh, my heart!" He

broke into fake tears. (B24)

The ferryman shook his head. "I can tell it was a true trial

for you," he sighed as everyone else lay on the ground,

twitching. "But did you kill that evil creature?"

"Oh, no, escape was the best we could manage," Xelloss mourned.

"These Mazoku are incredibly hard to kill, don't you know? Oh, I

cannot bear to talk about it!"

"Uh--" Lina broke in, coughing hard. "You were holding onto

our horses. Can we have them back now?"

The old man froze. "Uh, well... I sort of assumed you'd die

like all the last ones. So I, um, sold them to the stable hands."

"You." Fire began to glow around Lina. "What?"

"BUTit'snoworry!" The ferryman assured her very quickly. "Just

take my stamp to him and he'll give you only the best and put it on my

tab! Honest!"

"Thank you," Lina said coldly, and they began to leave.

Xelloss patted the man on his shoulder. "Thank you for all

your kind words! And remember, be careful. You never know who you

meet who might be one of those evil beings." He opened his eyes, and

very slowly winked at him.

The old man froze, clutching at his heart and falling over.

"Ma-- ma--- ma-- ma..."

"Zoku," Xelloss finished helpfully, and followed after the

others.

Maybe he'd have a heart attack and die.

That could be nice.

***

"I can't believe that stupid old man sold our horses," Lina

griped when they were on the road. "I hope he has a heart attack

and dies, or something."

Xelloss smiled. "Your wish was my command, Knight-sama."

Lina looked at him suspiciously. "What did you do?"

"Do?" Xelloss looked innocent. "Why do you think I did

anything?"

"Because you're you."

"I didn't DO anything. I just said stuff. And looked at

him a little. And his seizures weren't too bad. He might have lived."

Xelloss smiled brightly.

"I can't believe you! We have to go back and check on him!"

Amelia exclaimed.

"Oh, don't bother. Even if he did die, they'd have found

him already."

***

The trip was uneventful. Well, almost uneventful.

***

Xelloss blinked suddenly, looking towards the horizon. A

smile bloomed on his face.

"What?" asked Zelgadis. He was grumpier than usual. He'd

been riding for an awfully long time, and he was more sore than he

was used to. (B25)

"Nan demo."

"No, I recognize that smile. What?"

"You'll see."

"Do I have to blast you?"

"That would be nice." (B26)

Suddenly, a bunch of Lesser Mazoku surrounded them. The

leader, an ugly brute with two horns, laughed. "Well, a bunch of

yummy looking humans. Prepare to--" He paused, and his eyes widened.

"Aw, shit!" He threw himself to the ground, prostrate. "Guys, get

down!"

They looked more closely at the group and their faces

showed various states of excitement and terror. They also flung

themselves to the ground.

Xelloss snickered.

"Oh great Knight of Shabrinigido-sama," the leader intoned,

then looked up, stars in his eyes. "Can I have your autograph?!"

Lina twitched. She began to glow red. "I AM NOT THE--"

KABOOM (B27)

***

The *rest* of the trip was uneventful.

***

"Look!" Amelia pointed over the hill. "There's Seiryuun! Oh,

it's so good to be home!"

Guntair smiled at the shaman. Then his eyebrows creased.

"Amelia, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Uh--" Amelia glanced around at the others. They all were

looking carefully away, whistling. "Okay, I guess. There's

a big tree over there--"

The Ryuzoku grabbed her wrist, and Amelia ducked his sword

as he spun and dragged her behind the tree.

Amelia laughed nervously. "So, Guntair-kun, what is it that

you wanted to talk to me about?"

"I -- uh, well... nothing, really." He blushed.

She sighed. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Then don't tell me 'nothing'. You keep doing that!"

He sighed and stared at the ground, kicking at the stone.

"Amelia... I really admire you."

"Thanks."

"No, don't thank me. Not yet. I... I know I'm not even your

own race. I know I'm nothing really special. But... somehow you've

become so very important to me... even after what Yume did. You

risked yourself for me. You cared, when nobody else had. You were

sweet and kind and beautiful and..." his eyes teared up. "I know

I'm dirty after Yume. But... but I love you! I'm sorry. After

Zelgadis, it's got to be tough, but... I'm sorry."

Amelia swallowed. What to do? She liked Guntair... a lot...

She WAS attracted to him... but love? She just wasn't sure. It was

too sudden. After Zelgadis... but if she stayed silent, it would be

just like it had been with Zelgadis and her... she should give him

a chance! She didn't want to hurt him... or lose him in her silence...

She blinked. "I... love you too, I think. I'm not certain,

love is a difficult thing. But... I want to share myself with you.

However," she raised a stern finger at his sudden joy, "we can't do

anything but date for a long time."

"That's okay! As long as I can be with you!"

"I AM a princess, after all, and it's going to be difficult

enough to tell this to father without," she blushed, "other things."

"Oh, this is great! I'm so happy that you care! I-- I--" he

stopped. "You're a what?!" (B28)

Amelia sighed. "Didn't you wonder why my family name was

Seiryuun?"

He pointed at her, gulping. "So your father whom I am to meet

is a king?"

"No, just a prince." (B29) Amelia grabbed his hand and dragged him

with her, chatting happily to the Dragon, whose eyes were as large

as saucers. "He's really nice, and he taught me everything I know,

well, that's everything that Lina-san and Zelgadis-san didn't teach

me. I'm sure he'll like you a lot!"

The others watched as Amelia dragged the shell-shocked Guntair

along. "Methinks the boy is whipped," Xelloss stage whispered.

"Oh, and look, Gun-kun! They got the tower rebuilt! Oh, this

is fantastic, it means he won't be mad at me anymore! I didn't mean

to blow it up!"

Guntair's sword slipped from numbed hands. The others dodged.

Xelloss picked it up as though it weighed nothing and slung it over

his shoulder, mocking Guntair.

Amelia glanced back over her shoulder. "Hurry up, everyone!

Xelloss-san, give that back! How did you get that, anyway?"

The Mazoku shrugged. "Here, Gun-kun, catch!" He reversed the

blade and tossed it lightly at Guntair. The hilt smacked into the

Dragon's head, knocking him to the ground, where he lay twitching.

"Gun-kun!" She bent down and checked briefly that he was

alright, then stood in front of Xelloss, planting a hand on her

hip and extending a finger. "Throwing large dangerous objects at

people is unjust and cruel, you know!"

Xelloss smiled. "Is it? I never guessed!"

"You did that on purpose!" Amelia began to glow with the

power of Justice.

"Who, me?" Xelloss looked affronted. "Any GOOD swordsman can

catch their own blade when tossed at them."

In the background, Gourry was digging a trench with light speed

and Zelgadis and Lina had donned hard hats.

"So you're saying that Gun-kun isn't a good swordsman? I really

HATE you!" A pair of jumbo boxing gloves appeared and belted Xelloss

into the stratosphere. (W10)

"That had to have hurt," Gourry commented from the trench.

Guntair moaned. "Did you get the number of that donkey cart?"

The boxing gloves faded out of existence as Amelia's anger turned

to concern. "Gun... are you okay?! I was so scared! My poor Gun-kun!"

From the trench, retching sounds emerged. Xelloss had returned,

now wearing full military regalia and a little x-shaped band-aid on his

forehead.

They blinked at him. He shrugged and was back in his normal outfit

immediately.

"I'm okay," Guntair laughed nervously, hand behind head. "I guess

I was just a little dazed... itai!"

A growling emerged from the trench. Dryly, Zelgadis called out,

"Sorry to interrupt you, but maybe we should get into Seiryuun main

before Lina's stomach deafens us."

"Oh, leave me alone! I haven't eaten for a few hours!"

They climbed out of the trench. "So, Guntair," Xelloss said

cheerfully, "can you walk or do you want me to carry you? It's the

least I can do after being so clumsy with your blade."

"Touch me and die, Mazoku."

"Maa, maa."

***

They attracted a lot of attention on their trip to Seiryuun's

palace. People immediately recognized their beloved princess, and

were shocked to see her in the company of a large, slit-pupiled man

with a ten-foot sword, a floating priest who occasionally terrorized

the crowd, a blue-skinned, scaled creature, and two others who had

been on wanted posters a few years ago and were famous for leaving

towns they passed through as smoking craters.

Tallis smiled. This was too good to miss. Finally, he had

some dirt on the princess...

***

A courtier cleared his throat. "Your Royal Highness?"

Prince Philionel sighed. "What is it, another document

I am to sign?"

The courtier coughed. "No, Your Highness. There are

people here to see you. One of whom you should be most glad to

see."

This piqued the Prince's interest. "Who could that be?"

he said in his usual growly voice. "Well, show them in."

"Ow!"

"Hey, leggo!"

"Watch it with that!"

"Do you MIND?"

"No, I don't mind at all."

"Damn Mazoku."

Phil blinked at the voices coming from the hall, then

rose to his feet as a jumble of people tumbled into the room.

A small figure squirmed out from under the pile, and curtseyed.

"Your Royal Highness, I, Amelia Wil Tessla Seiryuun, ask permission

to enter your throne room."

Barely able to make it through the rest of the formalities due to

the huge grin on his face, he answered, "Granted, daughter mine." He

flung his arms open. "Amelia-chan!"

"PAPA!" She ran to him and he picked her up and placed her on

his shoulder. "Papa, I've got so much to tell you!"

"Amelia-chan! You've been gone so long! Surely you didn't think

I was THAT upset about the tower, did you?"

"Papa, I've been on adventures!" Her eyes sparkled. "I've fought

for JUSTICE!"

"THAT'S MY GIRL!" he roared, bouncing her on his shoulder.

"And... and... I have a boyfriend!"

"WHAT?!?"

Lina patted the wide-eyed Guntair on the shoulder comfortingly.

"It's okay, Guntair-kun. He's really a pacifist at heart."

"But..." he whispered to her. "But, he looks like a..."

"Bandit? That's what I thought too."

"WHICH ONE IS HE?!" Phil roared, mustache bristling. Guntair

swallowed hard and stepped forward.

"Uh... your Highness... I guess that's me."

"Amelia-chan?"

"Yes, papa?"

"Why does he have slit pupils?"

Amelia smiled brightly. "Because he's a Dragon, papa!" She

jumped off her father's shoulder, slipped, and smacked her face on

the floor. Both Phil and Guntair took a step towards her but she

bounced upright again, flashing a victory sign. "Almost made it

that time!" She bounded over and gave Guntair a big hug around the

waist. "I care for him a lot, papa!"

Phil sighed and rubbed his forehead. "But, Amelia-chan, he's a

Dragon."

"Yes, papa."

"Which means he's not human."

"Yes, papa." She frowned, placed a hand on her hip, and stuck the

other finger out at her papa. "It's unjust to be prejudiced against a

person due to their race alone, papa! If you don't like him because of

that, I cannot forgive you!"

The crown prince shook his head. "It's not that, Amelia-chan." He

waved a hand expressively. "You're the Heir, you know, Amelila-chan."

Guntair spun towards Amelia, and the people behind him dodged the

sword swing. "You didn't tell me that," he said, panicked.

"Does it matter? Yes, I know I'm the Heir, but..."

Prince Phil tugged on the ends of his mustache. "And, however much

we may dislike it ourselves, we have to keep our line clean. Which means

completely human. So I'm afraid you'll just have to break up."

"BUT PAPA!" Amelia wailed. "THAT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S NOT JUST! IT..."

Her eyes sparkled darkly as she thought of something. "You know, Dragons

are really big advocates of justice."

"They are?"

The Black Dragon realized he'd been addressed. "Uh, yeah! We fight

for justice all the time! The Ryuzoku are even more justice-driven than

most humans!" He hoped he was saying the right things. "Justice all the

way! Nothing else!"

Xelloss snickered behind them. "Unless they're stronger than you,

at which point you ACK!"

Guntair smiled, having finally found a use for a ten-foot blade that

sticks out behind you. "Oh, yeah. Just ask any Ryuzoku anywhere. The

Black Dragons are even MORE justice-driven than any other!"

"Like the Golds, who ACK!"

"Justice. Definitely."

Amelia turned back to her father, smiling. "You see, papa! Marrying

into the line can only make the royal blood MORE pure!"

Prince Phil blinked. "I never thought of that." He turned to

Guntair. "All right. You have my permission to marry my daughter."

"MARRY?!"

The Prince scowled at Guntair. "Surely you intended to remain

honourable?"

"Of course! But... but... but..."

Behind him, Xelloss started humming an inane tune, an amazing feat,

what with having his lungs skewered by Guntair's sword.

Amelia made a save. "But it's awfully soon, papa! He just

confessed his love to me a little while ago! Mustn't he prove his

worthiness during his courtship?"

Phil laughed his dark laugh. "BWA HA HA!! I thought that was

obvious!"

Guntair sagged, relieved. Then he stood up again. "What are

the courtship rules?"

"Oh, we can't tell you that," Phil admonished. "Part of it is

how well you behave on your own."

The Black Dragon sweatdropped. Why do I think this doesn't mean

sharing your fresh kill? he thought, worried.

He shot a glance back at the others. Lina smiled and shook her head.

Gourry and Zelgadis shrugged, not knowing any more about Seiryuun's customs

than he did. Xelloss was bleeding against the far wall, having been flung

there when the Dragon had turned, since he'd still been impaled on the

blade.

"Amelia-chan?" Phil was saying. "Do we need to get a doctor for

your friend? He looks rather... uh..."

Xelloss held a hand up. "Oh, no, no. 'Tis but a flesh wound." (W11)

"You were run through!"

"A mere scratch!" Xelloss poked at the hole in his abdomen. "No,

what I need is only time to catch my breath." He laughed giddily. "That

was such a rush!"

Zelgadis sighed, almost wistfully.

Phil dropped a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "So, introduce

me to the rest of your friends. I know Lina-san and Gourry-san, but

I've never met the others."

"Well," Amelia bounced over and clapped a hand on Zelgadis's

shoulder, than winced. "This is Zelgadis Greywars. He's been teaching

me a lot in Shamanism! He's been like a big brother to me!"

The chimera sweatdropped.

"He doesn't look human either, Amelia-chan."

"Well, no, but that's not his fault." She perked up. "He's PART

human, though!"

Xelloss had risen, healed already, and wandered back into the main

group. He was examining a candlestick on one wall. "And who's that?"

"His name's Xelloss," Amelia said reluctantly, wanting to draw

attention away from the trickster priest as soon as possible.

Xelloss opened his eyes, smiled, and waved.

Zelgadis slapped his forehead. "He's going to cause trouble,"

he murmured, thinking aloud.

"That's... an interesting staff you have there, Xelloss-san."

The Mazoku smiled. "Isn't it? It was very difficult to get ahold

of." He stroked it lovingly. "You didn't want to leave your last master,

did you, baby?" he crooned to it, then turned back to Phil. "Wanna see

what it can do?"

"Don't even think about it," Zelgadis mumbled, still half to himself.

"The gem must have been expensive," Phil noticed.

Xelloss's smile became darker. "Not for me."

The crown prince coughed, unaccountably nervous. "So, by the

way you healed, you're not human either, right?"

"That's what it seems, ne?"

"So." Phil examined his boots. "You're a Dragon too?"

Xelloss seemed even more amused. "Well..."

Guntair snarled. "Don't even talk about that creature with

such kind comparisons!"

Phil raised an eyebrow at him. "Creature?"

"He's a rotten Mazoku!"

Xelloss pouted. "Ne, Gun-kun, isn't that awfully cruel? You

wound me terribly! I've never rotted!"

"No, I try to wound you." Guntair swung his sword off his

shoulder, then, remembering, added, "For justice. But you just won't

die and leave us in peace!"

"So you want me to leave you in peace and try to make it so by

leaving me in pieces? That's so unjust!" Xelloss smiled brightly.

Phil frowned. "So he's a Mazoku? Isn't that those... demons?

Amelia-chan, what are you doing travelling with a demon?!"

"Well..."

Xelloss batted his eyelashes. "I'm not that bad! Honest!" He

waved a hand with his fingers crossed. "Amelia-chan, tell him that you

stayed in my domain once and no harm came to you!"

"It's true," she verified, not adding that he'd tried to make her

sleep with Guntair.

"And I've fought on your behalf many times. So don't be so

prejudiced against me because of my race," Xelloss smiled, eyes

glittering.

Guntair just growled. "One of these days, Mazoku, you'll slip

up, and then you'll be sorry."

"Oh, I'm never sorry. No regrets, you know how it is."

Phil called a servant hurriedly, before fighting broke loose.

"Uh, Amelia-chan, you help get your friends settled in, and then maybe

you could join me in the meeting in the council chamber? I'm sure

everyone will be pleased to see the Heir back."

***

"The Heir's back, and she's brought her fiance?!" a councilman

shouted. "Impossible!"

"Now, calm down," Prince Phil tried to bring about order.

"And I've heard that the betrothed isn't even human," Tallis

said, throwing another stick on the flames.

"What?! What is he?"

Phil laughed. "It's not what you think..."

Tallis waved a hand. "Some kind of monster. A Dragon, or

something."

"A Dragon seduced our princess?" shocked whispers went around

the room.

"Now, now," Phil soothed, "I don't believe there was any seduction

involved."

A noble woman squealed, "You mean he just..."(B30)

Babble.

Phil slammed a fist on the table. "Nonsense! They both chose

this and are happy!"

Tallis ran a finger around the rim of his wineglass. "You mean,

the princess chose this perverted relationship?"

"Excuse me." Silence fell as Amelia stepped out of the doorway.

She was clad in a long, flowing, pure white gown. Sapphires the

same colour as her eyes sparkled in her ears. Her Shamanistic pentacle

dangled around her neck. However, her eyes were cold. "I do not believe

that there is anything perverted in two intelligent beings falling in

love. Especially when both are young and innocent, and risked their

lives for each other during attempts to wipe out evil as it is encountered.

Whoever can claim such a relationship to be perverted is the sick one...

sick in heart, soul, and mind."

"But, Princess, he's a Dragon!"

"Not even human!"

"The people won't stand to have a non-human at a ruler's side!"

"What would the children look like?!"

Her face contorted briefly with anger before she managed to

clear it again. Reminds me of one of the reasons I left, she thought

dryly. "He gave up his freedom when he was barely out of childhood

to save the other children of his people. He was forced to do the

will of a horrible demon, but bore it by thinking of the children.

Finally, he met me and my friends. He came to me and asked for my help.

Together we fought and destroyed the demon. We were passing through

Seiryuun on the way to inform his people he was safe and that they

didn't need to worry about the children any more. He loves me. I

love him. If the people do not understand at first that human does

not always mean honest and just and non-human does not always mean

evil, they will get to learn it when they get to know him." She smiled

darkly. "And as to children, he is quite handsome, so I don't believe

you must worry about their appearance."

Babble.

"But, Heir, are you two even... compatible?!"

She blushed. "He has a human form." She didn't know if Dragons

and humans could crossbreed... but she wouldn't worry about that yet.

Tallis stood. "I do not think you quite understand. If this

is allowed, than all of Seiryuun's proud traditions will be broken."

"A city cannot stay in stasis!"

"Traditions are traditions. And you are discussing, quite frankly,

cross-species breeding to produce the next Heir." He smiled. "There

will be much debating, I think you must see. And it is possible that

you will be deemed unsuitable as Heir."

Amelia cast a glance at her father. He nodded. "Much as I hate

to admit it, Heir, you might be forced to step down in favour of my

youngest brother... Tallis." (W12)

***

Guntair sighed as the servant left him alone in the large room.

Finally, silence. It seemed like such a long time he'd been in

silence.

He wanted to fly. His wings, though they did not exist in this

form, were giving him phantom aches. He wanted to change into his

true form, or at least his half form, and just fly for hours. He

wanted to feel the wind in his hair or on his scales, to see the

clouds rushing by. (B31)

But he couldn't. He knew he couldn't. Amelia was going to be

in enough trouble as it was, without him rubbing his nature in her

family's faces.

His heart ached. He didn't want to pretend to be someone else

any more. He wanted to be himself. If it was just them, Amelia

wouldn't mind him flying. She might ask to ride on his back. He wanted

to share flight with her.

Guntair blushed. Stupid. He had to be with her as a human, even

though he wasn't one. No mating flight, she was no Ryuzoku. He

could handle that. As long as he just got to be with her.

Surely being human wasn't that bad.

If you were human.

But he wasn't. However human he looked, he wasn't human. He

would never be human. He was a Dragon. A Ryuzoku. A creature of

the air, not the land. A carnivore. A non-human.

Perhaps he should never have confessed to Amelia about how he

felt.

NO! They'd work something out. He loved her! Wasn't that

enough?! Wasn't it enough for everyone?

No. Love wasn't enough. He had to keep pretending to be human.

Not for her; she'd seen him in his true form, had allowed him to take

his true form, and she didn't care. She knew that he was just himself.

But her family... and she was a princess! That was even worse! Why

couldn't she just be a normal person? (B32)

But if she'd grown up in different circumstances, would she be

the same person he fell in love with?

"Yoo-hoo." He glanced over to see that annoying Mazoku stick his

head through the wall. "I was wondering who was in this room!"

"Damn Mazoku," he swore half-heartedly. "If I'd not been someone

in this group, I could have had a heart attack and died.

Xelloss shrugged. "Can I come in?" He stepped through the wall.

"No," Guntair said belatedly. "Go away."

"Grumpy?"

"Go. Away."

The priest laughed, that stupid smile plastered on his face like

always. "I was wondering if you wanted me to bring Amelia a message

or something tonight."

The Dragon snarled. "You stay away from her."

Xelloss tilted his head. "I didn't say I'd go into her room

anyway. But I CAN get in without anyone seeing. And if I'd wanted to

do things to her, I could have done it at any time while we were on the

road."

"Why would you care?" It was said in such a sigh that it was hardly

a question.

If possible, Xelloss's smile brightened. "Oh, you're going to

go through enough suffering that I don't NEED to provoke any more."

"Just go away."

"A message?" Xelloss held out his hand insistently.

"Maybe I don't want to send her one," Guntair said sulkily.

Xelloss broke out in harsh laughter. "Oh, what a brave lover

you are!"

"FINE!" Guntair stomped over to the writing desk provided, and

grabbed two sheets of paper and a quill. He scribbled quickly on one

note, and then a little more slowly on the other. Folding them, he

handed them to the trickster without looking back. "Just put them on

her pillow or something."

The Mazoku's voice was steadily amused. "Do you want me to bring

something of hers back to you... panties or whatever?"

Guntair grabbed the writing chair and flung it at Xelloss. The

priest phazed out then back in, and watched it smash into the wall.

"JUST GET OUT!" Guntair howled.

Xelloss bowed easily, and stepped through the wall into the next

room beyond, where he could hear screams, Lina's voice shouting,

"XELLOSS, YOU PERVERT!" and then lots of explosions.

Sinking back on the bed, Guntair sighed. What was that all about?

The Mazoku had no reason to help him, only to hurt him. Not like he

wasn't hurting enough, pretending to be human right now. Then again,

so was the Mazoku.

*That chimera's face, angry. "Haven't you all realized that he's

the only one of us who is always acting?!"*

No. Not anymore he wasn't.

Did the Mazoku want to go back to just being a normal Mazoku as

much as Guntair did? Did he just want to be himself?

He shook his head and rose. No, he couldn't identify with a

damned Mazoku. It was just a weird, irrelevant coincidence.

Opening the door, he turned to a servant who was passing by. "I'd

like to explore the town. Can you tell me the way out of the palace?"

***

Stopping outside Amelia's room, Xelloss opened the notes, curious

as the proverbial cat. The first one said only, "I know you read this,

Xelloss. Don't even think about the next one."

Xelloss shrugged and opened the next one. "Amelia.. I know that

you've probably got into a lot of trouble because of me, and I'm sorry

about that. But I love you and always will... never forget that. G"

Nose wrinkling, Xelloss contemplated tossing both notes away.

Nothing there of any interest to him. His smile widened. But if

Amelia had been convinced by her family to dump Guntair, this would

break her heart. And if she hadn't, this would make her convictions

stronger and break her family's hearts. Either way, Xelloss only stood

to benefit.

He laid the important letter down and left as unnoticeably as he'd

come.

***

Amelia just stared. "You think I might have to step down as Heir

in favour of Uncle just because I'm in love with a just man?"

The smile on Tallis's face grew. "A just dragon, Amelia."

"And that's not all!" someone threw in. "We heard you were

travelling with a Mazoku."

"We weren't!" Amelia protested. "HE was travelling with US!

And wouldn't go away! Believe me, we tried!"

"And some criminals!"

"They were framed!"

Prince Phil rose. "Anyway, Amelia-chan, I'm sorry, but for

obvious reasons, the first part of this discussion must be held without

you."

Amelia curtsied, seething inside. "Your Highness." Inclining her

head to the other councilmen, she left. She managed to make it to the

end of the hall before breaking into tears.

"Hey, Amelia! Wanna... what's wrong?!"

She looked up as her friends rushed towards her and hurriedly

wiped tears away. "Nothing's wrong! What's up?"

Fortunately, they didn't ask. "I remember a lovely ice cream shop

from when we were here last," Lina told her, "and we were just on our way

out to find it, shop, whatever. Want to join us?"

"Where's Guntair?" Why wasn't he there?

Lina shrugged. "Nobody answered the knock on his door."

"Maybe he's out, too," Gourry pointed out.

Hmm. Shopping when she was depressed seemed to be a habit of

hers now. "All right. Stick around a few minutes while I get changed."

Rushing up to her bedroom, she flung the dress to one side with a

relieved sigh. Her adventuring outfit was good enough! Now, where were

her wrist-pom-poms? Looking for them, she saw a note resting on the pillow.

Reading it, her eyes filled with tears as her heart filled with resolution.

They'd weather this. No matter what, they'd weather this.

Snatching up a money pouch, she ran outside to meet the others.

***

"Oh yes," the store woman gushed, "it's so very you!"

"Is it?" Guntair murmured uncertainly, turning to look at himself

in one of the mirrors. "I don't much like red. Do you have it in

black?" (W13)

The lady shook her head. "Good sir, black is so sullen-looking!

And so hot in this weather. You DO want to impress your girlfriend,

don't you?"

"My girlfriend's family," (B33)he corrected.

The woman shook her head and began digging through racks again.

"Then black is out, and so, unfortunately, is red. Pale colours would

be better. Light blue? No, too shocking with your eyes... brown is

right out... how about... white? White is always a favourite. Don't

go on trips wearing it, though, it gets dirty so easily."

He fingered the shirt the saleswoman was holding out. Maybe...

perhaps... "All right. I'll try it."

***

Lina was in heaven. Gourry had bought her THREE ice-cream cones.

She licked at them happily.

Gourry turned his money pouch inside out and groaned. "I so can't

believe I did that." Resolving to make the best of a bad lot, he

turned to Lina. "Can I have a taste?"

She glared at him. "You bought them for ME, didn't you?"

"Well, yeah."

"So I should be the only one having them."

He hung his head. "That's harsh." He glanced over at Xelloss,

also licking happily away, and actually contemplated asking before

his small amount of intelligence cut in.

"Thank you SOOO much for buying me this, honey pie," Xelloss

oozed, smiling with ice cream all over his face.

"Don't call me that," Zelgadis replied automatically, scuffing

at a stone with his boot and hoping nobody noticed the small blush

across the bridge of his nose.

Xelloss pouted. "Hai, hai." The smile grew again and he licked

the ice-cream cone, watching Zelgadis out of the corner of his eye.

"I like sweet things so much." He licked it again, teasingly. "You

might say it's one of my big failings. It's almost indecent!" He closed

his eyes in enjoyment as he took a long slurp of the ice-cream.

"MMMmmm."

Amelia rolled her eyes as she watched Zelgadis go bright red and

begin to smoke. She wasn't upset by stuff like that any more, she was

surprised to notice. They could have each other! Zelgadis deserved

someone nice... well, someone, at any rate.

She blinked down as she felt a tug on her cloak. A little

boy was standing there, finger in his mouth. "Yes?"

He pouted, then waved a wet hand. "Hi, 'nee-san!"

"Hello," she said, amused.

"My friends say you're Princess Amelia." The boy smiled brightly

at Amelia as he pointed back at a bunch of whispering little boys.

She patted the little boy on the head. "That's right."

"They say you're sleeping with a Dragon. Issat true?"

Amelia blinked. "I--- I -- I'm NOT! He's just my boyfriend!"

The boy put his head on one side. "Is something wrong, 'nee-san?"

She knelt beside him. "I'm just a little embarrassed. Everyone's

assuming that the only thing we have is all immoral, and nobody seems

to understand that we love each other!"

He patted her hand comfortingly, then paused. "'Nee-san? What

do those big words mean?"

Sighing, Amelia shook her head. "It isn't important."

Squirming away, the little boy waved. "Well, see you, 'nee-san!

Bye bye!"

Amelia waved back, then turned away just as Lina screamed, "Kid!

Watch out!"

The young princess swung around, eyes wide, in time to see the

cart bearing down on the kid.

***

"Thank you for your time!" the saleswoman called out as Guntair

left the shop, bags in hand, still wearing his old shirt. He waved,

sweatdropping slightly.

That would have been nicer if she hadn't been trying to get her

hands all over me, Guntair decided uncomfortably, still shivering

from the Yume flashbacks, looking both ways to check for

traffic, then freezing as he saw the group of his friends across

there. Damn! I wanted time to myself. Can I face them all? I

could slip away now. They're all watching Amelia talking to that kid

and not paying any attention to me. But still Guntair remained still,

unable to decide. As Amelia said goodbye to the child and turned

back to the group, he realized he had to decide right then. They'd

see him any second. He squared his shoulders and looked both ways

again, preparing to cross the street.

Which was how he saw the speeding cart. Heading right for the

child.

Dropping his bags and cursing, he flung himself onto the road,

wings emerging in his body's automatic response to danger, ripping

free from his old blue shirt.

Touching down in the middle of the road, he caught the boy up,

cradling him tight as he pushed off again. The cart clipped his

leg and he grimaced at the pain, but continued on to the other side of

the road. He handed the child to the first person there -- Amelia --

and only then collapsed, clutching at his leg and swearing. "Damn,

that hurts!"

Amelia handed the child over to one of the others with their

hands free -- Zelgadis -- and rushed to Guntair's side. "Gun-kun!

Are you okay?"

Zelgadis stared at the child. The child stared at Zelgadis,

then, recovering from his shock, started to cry. He hammered his

fists into Zelgadis's chest, wailing for his mother.

Patting Zelgadis's head, Xelloss made funny faces at the child,

trying to stop the crying. "Aw, Zel, isn't he cute? Doesn't it just

make you want to have children?"

"Frankly, no."

"Good, you aren't getting any." (B34)

Meanwhile, the cart had screeched to a halt, and the driver

jumped out. "Gods! Is Joey-chan okay?"

Jiggling him, Zelgadis replied, "I think he's just scared."

The driver immediately turned to Guntair. "Are you okay,

Mr... uh..." he blinked at Guntair's wings, "Mr. Dragon? I was

so worried when I saw little Joey there -- I know his mother, she

works just a few doors down from me -- and I tried to pull back the

horses, but they couldn't stop in time, I was so scared... thank

you so much!" He bowed. "Thank you! The mother will thank you too,

when we get Joey back to her!" He stopped, seeing the way Guntair

was rubbing his leg, and noticing blood seeping through. "Are you

all right?!"

Guntair forced a laugh, wiggling his foot and bending his knee.

"Well, it isn't broken. I'm all right." Using Amelia for support,

he rose, putting his wings away as he shifted to his full hominid

form.

The man looked at Amelia, then his eyes widened. "Heir-sama!

Then you must be --" he glanced back at Guntair. "This is a great

honour!" Flushed excitedly, he took the crying baby from Zelgadis's

arms, and bowed twice. "Thank you so much! It's such an honour

to meet you, Heir! Uh... I'll just take him to his mother! Thank

you!"

Wincing, Guntair tried to smile at Amelia. "Uh... I hate

to cut your outing short, but can we go back to the palace? I don't

think I'm up to much walking."

***

Phil was waiting at the door. "Amelia-chan!" he cried out,

scooping her up in his arms and making Guntair lose his balance

and fall over, "I was so worried you'd run off again!"

Amelia sighed and scrambled out of her father's arms. "No,

I'm not going to do that until this whole mess is solved."

Prince Phil seemed to notice Guntair laying on the ground

groaning for the first time. "What's wrong with him?"

"Uh... he hurt himself saving a kid from getting run over

by a speeding cart."

Guntair tried to get up and fell to the ground again. "I'm

okay!" he gasped. "Don't worry about me!"

"Oh. Okay." Phil turned back to Amelia. "Amelia-chan, you

just admitted to planning to run off again."

She raised her chin. "Yes. I promised to come with Gun-kun

to his homeland so I could meet HIS parents."

Guntair laughed nervously, then groaned. Xelloss bent down.

"Does it hurt that much?"

Damned if he'd admit he was in pain to the Mazoku. "No, not

really."

"Really." Xelloss's eyebrows raised. "So this doesn't hurt." He

poked at the injury. "And this doesn't hurt? Or this? Or this?" (B35)

"WILL YOU STOP THAT?!"

Xelloss pouted, feelings apparently hurt. "What did I do? You

said it didn't hurt."

"Xelloss," Zelgadis warned.

The Mazoku sniffled. "But he said that this--" poke "--didn't

hurt!"

Crossing his arms, Zelgadis pulled out his fierce look. "I mean

it, Xelloss."

"What did I do wrong? If doing this... or this... doesn't hurt,

why do I have to stop?" His smile was purely wicked.

Amelia clapped a hand to her forehead. "Healing spells! I

forgot I could do those!" Swatting Xelloss to one side, she knelt

beside Guntair and chanted quickly, healing his leg.

Wiggling his foot, the Dragon smiled at Amelia. "Thanks...

Amelia-chan."

She blushed. "No problem." Their eyes met and they stared at

each other.

"Uh-oh!" Xelloss exclaimed. "Love beams! I'm gonna get cavities!"

Still gazing into Amelia's eyes, Guntair casually backhanded the

Mazoku.

Prince Phil cleared his throat, and they both turned to him, faces

red. "So. Dinner will be in about an hour."

Amelia nodded. "So... Gun... you wanna go for a walk in the

gardens?"

Guntair blushed brighter. "Uh..." he indicated his torn shirt

and blood-stained pants. "Can I get changed first?"

***

An hour. An hour until he had to go among people. He hated

being among people.

Maybe he could plead a migraine?

Zelgadis sighed and sank back on the bed. It neatly sunk downwards,

nearly burying him as it collapsed inwards under his stony weight. He sighed,

rolled out, and pulled off a pillow. The floor tonight.

A head popped through the closed doorway. "Yoo-hoo!"

Zelgadis groaned and covered his face with the pillow. "Hello,

Xelloss."

"You look really weird with a pillow for a head, did you know that,

Zel?"

A weight settled itself on his chest, and Zelgadis removed the

pillow to see Xelloss sitting there cheerfully. "Go away?" he asked

hopefully.

"Uh-uh." Xelloss smiled at him. "You're being grumpy again.

Why?"

"Short answer or long one?"

"Whichever."

Zelgadis closed his eyes. "Shopping. Crying kid. Bed made for

non-rocks. Dinner with people. No cure. Damn."

"You've got me," Xelloss pointed out.

The chimera looked dubious. "Is that supposed to make me feel

better or am I to add that to my list of grievances?"

"Mou." Xelloss tugged on Zelgadis's ears. "Hidoi."

"Quite. Now can I have some time alone?"

Xelloss bounced up to his feet. "I'm going to make you feel better!

I have just the thing!" He rummaged around in the air and pulled out

a funny looking box. "Kareoke!"

"No." The chimera glared at him. He knew what that was. "No.

Definitely not."

"Onegai?"

"NO!"

"Just one little song?"

Zelgadis sighed. "Do you understand what 'no' means?"

"No." Xelloss smiled.

Briefly debating smothering himself, Zelgadis sat up and glared

at the Mazoku. "You're impossible."

Xelloss tossed the box away. "No, just very improbable."

"But I really don't want to talk. I want to be alone."

The Mazoku grinned. "Jealous of A-me-li-a?"

"I am not!"

"Oh, really?"

Glancing away ashamedly, the chimera toyed with a tassel on the

pillow. "Of course not. Just because she has a real home... and a family

who cares about her to no end and believes her troubles... well, most of them...

Money... humanity... a love who she can talk about and publicly admire and

not be worried about being shunned by all her friends..." he ground to a stop.

"Why would I be jealous?"

Eyebrow-twitching, Xelloss pointed out, "I may not be the best person

to talk to about some of that, y'know. But... what do those things mean

anyway? A family... I've never really had a good one. Only Xer, and you

know how that ended. A home? I create my home. Home is where I am, and

my domain, and you saw how much I made of that. Money can be gained easily.

If you want money, I'll kill someone rich and give his money to you, if you

like, but knowing you, you probably don't. Humanity... well, I'm fine

with being who I am, and I think you are great as you are. Have you

considered that you might stop being the person you are today if you lost

two thirds of your being? And..." Xelloss looked down. "I don't really

have a nice solution for the last. You could throw me over..."

"No!"

"... or figure something on your own. But you must realize that

Amelia is putting what her entire life's training has been for on the line

to love Guntair. It's not like it's easy on her either." He shrugged,

falling silent. "That's it."

Zelgadis glared at him. "Stop that. I was busy being sorry for

myself and now I feel guilty doing that."

"Aw, spoil your mope, did I?"

"I wasn't moping!"

"Just like you weren't jealous?"

The shaman looked away. "Yeah."

"So." Xelloss put his arms around the chimera's neck. "Whaddya

wanna do until dinner?"

"Nothing."

"Spoilsport."

***

Amelia's jaw dropped. "Wow, Gun-kun, you look... good."

Guntair tugged uncomfortably at the front of his white, lace-up

shirt. "You don't need to sound so surprised about that."

"I'm not! It's just... wow... I mean..." (B36)

The Ryuzoku blushed and brushed back his hair, which had come

out of his ponytail. "I... thanks."

Amelia surreptitiously wiped away drool. Yes, she decided, definitely

worth throwing heirdom away for.

She suddenly noticed Guntair was talking again. "... gardens?"

"What?" She pulled her mind away from the pretty mental images.

"Oh yeah! Just this way!"

Watching him move out of the corner of her eye, she whammed into

the outer door. "Owie..." she moaned, not getting up.

Guntair came into her line of sight, eyes wide, hair falling like

a waterfall over his shoulders. "Are you all right?"

Mmm. Maybe her klutzyness had a use.

***

Tallis was looking forward to dinner. He just knew that the

stupid Dragon would mess up. It was just a Dragon. How impressive

could it be?

***

"So, Amelia, start at the left and work inward, right?"

"What?!"

"The cutlery."

"Oh. Yeah, that's right."

***

The lords and ladies of the courts were Gossiping. Amelia had

arrived already, as was her right as Heir, and the others were being

announced at that very moment.

"Sir Gourry Gabriev, follower and protector of her Royal Heir."

Nobody entered. Then Gourry stumbled out as if pushed, laughed,

and sat down.

"What a country bumkin!" Lord Felingi laughed quietly, and his

neighbors agreed.

"Zelgadis Greywars, renowned Shaman and grandson of Rezo the wise."

A blue skinned... creature, was all the nobles could think of to

describe him... entered. He bowed slightly, and seated himself at the

indicated seat.

"What IS it?" Lady Relenae whispered.

"Lina Inverse, Sorceress supreme and knight of ... WHAT?!"

"I am NOT!" As Lina stalked in, the paper spontaneously combusted

in red fire. The herald sweatdropped and pulled out another paper.

"Xelloss Metallium, priest and general of her lordship the

Beastmaster..." the herald trailed off nervously. Silence fell as

Xelloss floated in.

Eyes open, his smile widened dangerously. "What? Don't be quiet

on account of me." Immediately, talk began again, close to a babble.

"And Guntair of the Black Dragons."

Silence fell again as Guntair stepped in, almost shyly, and this

time, it fell for another reason entirely.

"Oooh..." Relenae murmured, blushing. Her husband, Eiyu, glowered.

Guntair was clad in a cream poet's shirt, unlaced to his waist and

showing a nice amount of bronze chest. His hair cascaded down almost

femininely, his yellow, slit-pupiled eyes wide and slightly frightened.

His pants were an almost blinding white, tight around the hips then widening

slightly at mid-thigh. He gave a low, noble bow, and seated himself

with the perfect amount of delay.

Whispering started up among the ladies.

Servants began bringing trays of food, setting Gourry and Lina to

near-drooling. Guntair smiled at one of the serving women as she passed him,

and she blushed and stumbled slightly.

Amelia simmered.

"So, Lord Guntair..." Relenae murmured. "You are a Lord, aren't you?"

Guntair smiled sweetly at her. "Among my people, we do not have the

same class structure, but you could call me that, I suppose." He picked

up the fork furthest to the left, baby finger curved daintily. "But you

were saying?"

"Yes... Uh... you do not look as I imagined a... Dragon to look."

His eyes turned up at the corners sweetly as he smiled. "And

how is that, my lady? Surely you did not imagine me coming to the table

as a scaled being?"

Relenae gazed at her food. "No... of course not. I merely..."

Jealously, Eiyu leaned over. "She is trying to say that you

look so nearly human. Not quite, but almost."

"Indeed." Guntair smiled at him just as sweetly. "I am not,

of course, attempting to disguise myself. This is one of my natural

forms, as it is with all my people." He took a small bite after he finished,

then dabbed his lips with a napkin.

"Gun-koi," Amelia called down. "Could you pass the salt down,

darling?"

Guntair blushed prettily. "Of course, Amelia-chan." He reached,

careful not to let his sleeve dangle in any food, and handed it to

his neighbor, who passed it along. Noticing Lady Relenae's glass empty,

he remembered the rule Amelia had briefed him on, and filled it carefully

with some wine.

Relenae blinked at it. "Oh, yes." She gulped it back.

He raised an eyebrow. "Go easy, my lady."

Across the table, Tallis grew more and more annoyed. His plan

wasn't working! The Dragon had PERFECT manners! And what did he have

to go and look so human for?!

And if only those annoying two would stop arguing over the food...

and he wasn't too pleased to be seated next to the Mazoku...

"That's an interesting wine you're having," The Mazoku commented.

"Which is it?"

Ignoring all protocol, he handed the jug over to the Mazoku, who

tsked slightly. How the hell did he realize that he'd broken the

rules?! He wasn't supposed to realize! The Mazoku poured his own glass

and held it up to the light. He tasted it slightly. "Mmm... very similar

to one back in my homeland."

"Oh?" Common politeness demanded Tallis make small talk with this..

creature.

"We have to improvise, you know. Grapes don't grow... normally

in Mazoku domains."

"Why not?"

The Mazoku smiled at him and Tallis felt shivers run up his

spine. "My master is quite the hunter. She has, however, a nasty tendency

to run the deer and... other creatures... whatever which way, which

includes over the wild grapes. You see, she cares much more for meat

than for any alcohol."

"...Really."

"Oh, yes. Quite a pleasant change, really." He sipped his wine,

then peered at Tallis with those intense Mazoku eyes. "I'm not frightening

you, am I?"

"Of course not." Yes. "I didn't actually think of Mazoku as

drinking wine."

Xelloss laughed. "What did you expect? Blood cocktails?"

"Well..."

"Much too warm weather for that sort of thing, this time of year."

Tallis wasn't very hungry any more. "I see. So..." he noticed

that the Mazoku wasn't eating. "Aren't you hungry? The beef is

quite tender."

"Actually, I'm having a wonderful meal."

"But you aren't eating."

"Not human food, no."

Tallis laughed nervously. "Surely you aren't going to tell me

that Mazoku eat human souls?"

Xelloss looked surprised. "Of course not. Where's the fun in

that? We far prefer to save souls for later, for more... interesting

pastimes."

The nobleman was seriously wishing he could escape. "So what

do you eat?"

"Sore wa... himitsu desu."

Just at that moment, Gourry lost his hold on the rack of lamb

he and Lina were fighting over, and slammed back against Xelloss, who

spilt his wine. All over Tallis. "I'm terribly sorry," Xelloss smiled,

brushing at Tallis's front with a napkin. "Here, let me..."

"No!" Tallis rose. "I'll just... go get changed!" Relieved,

he escaped into the kitchen, where he got an idea for a solution to a

more... long-term problem.

He pulled a small packet out of a front pocket. He'd been hoping

he'd not have to use that for a long time... but he had no choice.

And assassins do what assassins do.

Hmm... pudding was Amelia's favourite food, wasn't it? So that

private, expensive bowl with the sugar all over it in a victory sign

must be hers. Nobody would notice a little more powder in all of that.

***

Zelgadis sighed, wishing he could ignore Lord Felengi's annoying

questions, but not quite sure of himself among these people to. "No,

I wasn't."

"But if you were not born like that, what is it? A bad magical

experiment?"

"You could say that."

"With such a prestigious humanitarian in the family as Rezo,

surely you could be healed?"

"..."

"Could you not?"

The chimera glared, and sipped his tea. "Rezo did this."

"Surely you jest!" Felengi broke out laughing.

Having seen how Xelloss had dealt with the one beside him,

Zelgadis almost wished the Mazoku was over here. "He went insane, turned

me into a chimera, tried to resurrect the dark lord Shabrinigido,

so we killed him. I thought everyone knew that."

Felengi was stunned into silence. (B37)

Zelgadis was surprised to notice Tallis return, in a clean shirt.

So Xelloss wasn't as good as he'd thought. "Good news," Tallis called

out. "Dessert is on its way."

Almost as soon as the words were spoken, dessert was brought.

Amelia's eyes sparkled at the sight of her pudding. "PAPA!

You had my favourite made!"

Phil cackled. "Just for my kid!"

"Oooh..." she happily dug in, and was finished with a speed that

would make Lina envious. "Ahh... I love pud-ding..." she coughed, suddenly

looking upset. "Maybe... I ate too... fast..." she clutched at her

stomach, other hand covering her mouth as her eyes widened.

Guntair flung his chair back, to hell with protocol, and was by

her side in a minute. "Amelia... are you okay?"

"I don't... feel too good." Amelia's face had already gone

pasty and her breathing was very rapid. "I think--" she passed out.

Guntair caught her before she slid out of her chair. "Amelia!"

Lina cursed and looked around for some kind of enemy, Gourry

drawing his sword at the same time. Zelgadis had taken a few steps

forward, then stopped. He doubted there was anything he could do.

Xelloss had phazed out, and was by their side. He reached out

to touch her and Guntair growled deeply. "I'm trying to help,"

Xelloss said softly. "Take her pulse."

The Dragon placed his fingers against her throat. "It's going

through the roof! And her temperature's sky-high!"

Casually, Xelloss scraped a finger alongside the inside of the

bowl and tasted the food. "Mmm. Plenthigosum. Strong poison used

by many assassin groups in the north. Minor white magic will only make her

heart beat faster and spread the poison through her body."

"Poison! What do I do?!"

Xelloss's eyes were serious. "There's no cure."

"WHAT?!? There's gotta be some way!" the Dragon's eyes were begging

Xelloss that it was just a joke.

"Well... white healing could possibly flush it out."

"Great!" Guntair looked around. "Is anyone here a Healer?"

Silence. Then Lina said, "Gun... none of us are good enough at

White Magic to cure something like this. Amelia herself's the only

one who could do that."

"No! I will not let her die! I WILL NOT, DO YOU HEAR ME?!"

Xelloss cleared his throat. "There are three other choices,

and they have to be made soon."

"What?! Tell me!"

The Mazoku held up three fingers, and curled one under. "One.

You can let her die."

"No! I--"

"Two. I can kill her and raise her as part-Mazoku, under my

master. This shouldn't harm her too badly, but it might ruin her mind,

and of course, Xellas can get rid of any personality traits she feels like."

Guntair's eyes filled with tears. "That's as bad as... what's the

third?"

"Three. I'm a priest. I know Dark Curing. But it means I could

influence her health to the worse any time I chose, make it much easier

to make her a Mazoku if I chose, and could permanently taint her."

The Ryuzoku was crying openly now. "Is there any way else?"

"No." Xelloss tilted his head. "For her to survive... you'll

have to trust me and continue to."

Guntair lowered his head so his eyes were in shadow. "Then... if

it will save her... do it." He wished he didn't feel like he was

condemning her.

"Lay her down."

Swallowing his fears, Guntair laid her out on the ground, then

took a step back. Her breathing was so harsh, it was

coming in audible pants.

Xelloss laid his staff down along her body. It made a sizzling

sound as it touched her, and her body arched slightly, making a whimpering

noise. Guntair took a step forward, but was warned off by a look from

Xelloss. "We only have a little time."

Next, the Mazoku met Prince Phil's eyes. The Prince was crying.

"Save my little girl."

Xelloss smiled.

He raised his hands over Amelia's body, and it floated up,

staff still sticking to it.

And he called upon the power his mistress gave him.

"Master mine, whose darkness holds my soul"

//In her domain, Xellas's eyes glow as she looks up.//

"I call upon thee"

//She smiles, much the same as Xelloss.//

"Grant me thine heart to hold, to bleed"

//a power gathers in her hand, threading it to her servant//

"to pour out, fight off invasion"

//'So, Xelloss. You use a spell I thought you never would, would

never care enough to.'//

"Thine heart, my heart, the heart of the one lying here"

//And she can feel it, that pure heart//

"Burn through to cleanse with thine dark power, the depths"

//'Should I call her to me? Should I wait?'//

"of all you grant me..."

//'Wait. See what he has planned'//

"DARK CONSUMATION!"

//Power.//

Dark power flared in Xelloss's hand, burning through Amelia,

the young girl's back arching and unseeing eyes opening wide as they

change from blue to red to blue and back to red, flashing back and forth

before they finally decide on a deep violet and close again. The dark

lightning still flickering across her body slightly, Xelloss lowered her

to the floor and removed his staff, and only then did he double over,

breathing harshly.

When he raised his head, his smile was back, if weak. "Well.

It DOES work."

Guntair looked up from cradling Amelia's body. "What is

that supposed to mean? Didn't you know it would?!"

"Never healed anyone before." Xelloss shrugged, eyes hooded.

"Just let them die."

The Dragon held back a snarl. "Will she be all right?"

"Amelia's stronger than I believed," the Mazoku smiled. "She

may have a few... difficulties connecting with herself, but she'll

be fine. She has been tainted, but her own purity makes it difficult

for taint to take hold." Suddenly, Xelloss's knees wobbled, and

he grasped his staff tightly, sliding to the floor. "Oh, my."

Zelgadis was behind him, holding him up. "You just did a

major spell. Rest a bit."

"Mmm... In a moment." Leaning back, he raised his staff.

"Who was responsible?"

Tallis had almost been to the door when the dark energy

caught him and bound him tighter than any chains. He swallowed

hard. This wasn't the way it was supposed to have happened!

Phil growled. "You! How dare you do this! I thought you

cared about Amelia-chan!"

The nobleman sweated. "Of course I do! She's my darling

little niece! This Mazoku's obviously just..."

"Li-ar..." Xelloss sang tiredly. "I can feel it from here..."

"Whose word do you trust more?!" Tallis demanded, trying

to keep the fear down. "That... DEMON's or mine? I'm your

BROTHER!"

Phil closed his eyes. "Right now... his."

Tallis struggled against the dark magic bonds, and they

burned into him until he stopped moving. "This is an outrage!

I was supposed to be the Heir, not her! It's not fair! I only--"

He fell silent as his ears picked up a noise, low and

dangerous. Guntair was walking towards him, tugging to loosen

the laces of his shirt, growling. "You almost killed her. She almost

died because of your.... Stupid. Aspirations."

"No! That's not true! I didn't mean to put that much in!"

Xelloss was obviously getting some strength back. "Li-ar.

Li-ar." (B38)

Prince Phil spoke again. "An attempt on a princess's life

is punishable by death. You knew that, Tallis."

"No! I didn't want to hurt her!" The smell of burning

flesh filled the room as Tallis struggled.

Xelloss sat up. "Hurt him," he suggested. "He hurt her, he

hurt what is most important to you... hurt him."

An agreeing growl was his only reply.

"Don't just kill him! Make him suffer."

"Yes." Guntair's shirt hit the floor and his wings extended.

"I want to hurt him!"

Amelia stirred, moaning, then subsided again. Guntair hesitated,

looking back at her.

"She won't be awake for hours," Xelloss whispered. "Make him

pay. Do it."

"Amelia wouldn't want..."

"He tried to kill her. If the spell had taken less time, she

would have died. How would you feel without her?"

The crown prince cleared his throat. "Our customs are for

quiet, easy death with capital punishment..."

"Not ours," Guntair said, turning away from Tallis. "But... I won't.

I don't want to upset Amelia."

Xelloss groaned. "Pathetic. Look what I do and do I get one

tiny reward? No, of course not."

Zelgadis rolled his eyes. "You could try resting to recover

like the rest of us."

"Where's the fun in that?" (B39)

Guntair stopped by Prince Phil. "If I can make a suggestion,

though? How about Plenthigosum? Make the punishment fit the crime."

***

Amelia dreamed. Floating in blackness, she saw two red eyes

watching her. "Hello?"

The voice was surrounding her when it spoke, like she was inside

it. "Are you one of ours?"

"I don't understand."

"Are you one of ours?"

She creased her brows. "What are yours?"

"Are you one of ours?"

"Maybe! I don't know! What are you?" (B40)

"Are you..."

"I don't know!"

The voice quieted and the eyes blinked out. Now that lady...

the one from Xelloss's place... was there. "Are you one of mine?"

"Yours?"

"Are you one of mine?"

She felt tears fill in her eyes. "I don't understand! Why

do you keep asking that?"

"Will you reject me?" The woman stepped forward, smiling

oddly. Her hand reached out to touch Amelia over her heart. "You

are strong enough to reject me, if you want to pay the price."

"Price? What price?" Amelia was beginning to get afraid. This

wasn't like her normal dreams at all!

"Death, Amelia. You're lingering at the edge. My priest is

trying to heal the poison, but you must choose. Do you want to

live, and have part of me, or to die, and remain pure?"

Amelia looked at herself and realized her body was burning.

"What do you mean by having part of you?"

The Beastmaster held up her hands, blood pooled in them.

"Drink. It WILL give me some power over you, but it will save

your life. The Ryuzoku agreed to let this choice happen in the

first place."

"You... want me to become a Mazoku?" Amelia was shocked.

Xellas laughed. "That is a choice, but it is not always

yours to make. After you do this, I could do that to you, but

I do not intend to... yet. No, this WILL taint you, but it will

also save you. You will still be the same you. But you will also

contain parts of me... and Xelloss."

"Xelloss?"

"His heart and mine went into this spell. That is our price

for the small hold over you. Our blood, here, in my hands. But there

is not much time left, Amelia."

Do I want to live? she asked herself, and thought of Guntair.

YES!

Kneeling, she drank, trying to pretend that it wasn't what she

knew it was. It tasted... odd. Almost spicy, rich. She almost

didn't want to stop.

Then she screamed as she felt something burn into her.

What was it? Those eyes! They were... they were inside her, now,

no longer outside her!

She closed her eyes and tried to breathe. Cool it, Amelia, she

told herself. Xellas-sama told me that it wouldn't make me Mazoku.

I'm okay. It's just burning the poison out.

"Are you one of us?" Those eyes asked.

"You are mine when I choose," Xellas reminded her.

A familiar voice, but almost sad. "Don't lose yourself.

You have a lot. Don't forget that." She opened her eyes and gazed

into the face of Xelloss. His Mazoku (perfectly normal, a part of

her pointed out) eyes gazed mournfully at her, tears of blood staining

his cheeks. "Don't forget what you have. Don't lose yourself." (B41)

"Xelloss?" She reached out to touch the blood on his cheeks,

but he was gone.

She was cold. Perhaps... she put her hand to her heart and

summoned warmth. Maybe it would be enough.

***

Guntair was just pulling the blanket up around her neck when

she opened her eyes. He gasped. "You're awake!"

She raised a hand and rubbed at her eyes. "I had the weirdest

dreams," she complained, and leaned towards the mirror. She blinked.

"Gun-kun, is it just my imagination or are my eyes purple?"

"They're purple," he agreed, grinning stupidly, relieved

that she was alive.

"Why are they purple? My eyes are blue!"

He shrugged. "They were almost red for a time. It's not that

bad. Your eyes are just as pretty when they're purple as when they

were blue." He smiled at her.

She blushed. "I-- am I all right?"

"You're acting normal."

She ran a hand through her hair and stood easily. Guntair was

by her side to support her, but she waved him off. "I feel fine.

Shouldn't I still have some ill effects?"

Guntair couldn't stop smiling at her. "Xelloss says not."

"Oh."

Suddenly, Prince Phil rushed in. "Amelia-chan! Are you okay?!"

"My eyes are purple." (B42)

Phil's eyes widened as he looked at her. "What are you doing

out of bed?!? Get back in there at once!" He picked her up and placed

her firmly back in.

She immediately tried to get out of bed again. "But, Papa...

I'm fine!"

"You almost died!" her father scolded.

She sweatdropped. "Yeah... but I'm okay now!" She held up

fingers in a victory sign. "Justice overcomes, ne, Papa?"

"And don't let me catch you out of bed again!" he shook his

head. "Children these days think they're immortal." (B43) He turned at

the door and shook a finger at her. "I don't want to see you out

of bed for at least a WEEK. Do you hear me?"

"But Papa..."

"Don't even THINK about it." He turned and left, muttering to

himself.

Amelia fell back against the pillows, groaning. "This is

awful! I feel great and he's confining me to bed! I wanna be on the

road again... I wanna fight for JUSTICE! I don't wanna be stuck here!"

"It is a problem," a familiar voice said from the doorway. They

turned, startled, to see Xelloss leaning against the doorframe. He

wiggled his fingers at them. "You're feeling better."

She nodded. "Yeah. And... you helped me in that place, didn't

you?"

"I helped you OUT of that place, if that's what you mean," Xelloss

laughed. "And that was something I NEVER expected to do!"

Toying with the bedsheets, she thought back to her memories.

"Thank you. You cast the spell, didn't you? The nice master lady

said so. But... when I saw you there, right after I drank the blood,

you were crying. You were crying tears of blood. Why were you crying?"

The Dragon and the Mazoku stared at her. "Drink what? How?" Guntair

asked.

Xelloss shook his head. "I don't know what you mean. I cast

the spell, and I made an itsy bitsy sacrifice, but that's all. And

I never cry."

"Oh." She examined her hands carefully. "I remember... But

that must have been a dream." Thinking about it, she could still

feel the red eyes. "A dream."

Guntair sat beside her on the bed. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah. Just a bit confused," she shrugged.

The Mazoku slapped his forehead. "So that's what Xellas-sama

meant!" He smiled brightly at Amelia. "She told me that when I cast

the spell, whoever did it might have trouble remembering 'which them

is the real one'. That must be it."

"Whatever that means," Guntair snorted. "Do Mazoku always

make things this complicated?"

"Sore wa Himitsu desu," Xelloss smiled. He ignored the

sweatdropping Ryuzoku and turned his attention back to Amelia. "I

was talking to the others, and we all want to be off as soon as possible.

Wanna sneak out?"

Amelia's jaw dropped. "You mean, ignore my father's explicit

hopes?"

"He could have a heart attack and die!" Guntair added, shocked.

Xelloss shrugged. "Leave a note! Besides, Gun-kun, don't you

want to get to your tribe soon?"

"Of course, but Amelia..."

"Is fine!"

They both looked at the young shaman, who was deep in thought.

"Well," she said suddenly, "if I don't leave soon, I'll never get

away! Tonight soon enough for you?"

Xelloss's smile brightened. "Perfect. Just perfect. I'll

tell the others." He popped out of existence.

Guntair turned to Amelia. "Are you sure about this?"

"Gun... do YOU want to hang around my relatives any more?"

"....No," he admitted, "but I'll deal with them if you--"

"Don't particularly wanna stick around either." She held

out a victory sign. "We gotta spread justice, right?!"

Inside her, red eyes laughed.

Guntair's laughter was much different. "Right!"

"Yosh! Tonight!"

***

Homen's eyes widened as he gazed at the pendant. "Wow..."

A good thief could recognize a real ruby when he saw one.

And this ruby teardrop was too good to believe. He held it up

to the light. "This is great," he murmured to himself, careful

not to be too loud, in case he woke the priests. "Imagine, a

treasure like this in a shrine to Cepheed." (B44)

He quietly snuck out, then raised it to get a better look.

It sparkled in his grasp. "It's--" Glancing closer, he could see a

tiny sparkle in the centre. "A fault? Well, it's barely visible.

It'll still bring a great price." Somehow, he didn't want to sell

it. "I'll just hold on to it until then."

Sliding it around his neck, he carefully placed it next to

his skin and covered it with his vest.

In the darkness, the tiny light blinked.



END OF PALACE LIFE - PART ONE OF 'FAMILY'

Writer's notes (Wx)

W1: And, yes, it hurt. But Zelgadis is used to taking pain and not

flinching. Unless he has a direct connection to a masochist...

like in the Friendship Trilogy.

W2: The dangers of a ten-foot blade. *sigh*

W3: An inanimate one.

W4: I'm evil, aren't I? ^_^

W5: Bow down and kiss his feet in happiness?

W6: Yes... I am. Definitely evil.

W7: Dead brain? They say you write what you know well the best.

W8: I don't know if any of the slayers charas have met Xellas-sama,

so I just assumed that they haven't.

W9: Oh dear. Does that make her OOC?

W10: Does anyone know what this attack's called?

W11: Oh no. I made Xel quote Monty Python. *groan*

W12: Yes, I know he only has 2 brothers. So he now has three. *shrug* So

what?

W13: No, red doesn't hold the best memories.

Beta Reader's notes (Bx)

B1: Poor Zel-kun. Aren't his ears long enough already?

B2: Yup. 'specially since he's deciding the sleeping arrangements...

B3: "Liar, liar, pants on -" "Fireball!"

B4: And when you say 'only other features', you really mean 'only other

features'. No walls, ceiling, floor...

B5: Poor Gourry.

B6: Or else she'll throw a fireball at you, which would fry the bed,

which means you'd probably try to sleep on the mirror...

B7: But Lina, that's a complement, really... You did hate it when he

thought of you as a little girl. This means that he doesn't anymore.

I hope.

B8: Wow, you mean his clothing actually survived his transformation to

full-ryuu? Impressive. (W: Ah, you see, this is Slayers. Half nudity

for half form, full censorship for full form)

B9:He has a reputation? (W: In his own, mind.)

B10: Well, that too...

B11:Especially one like the one they're probably about to embark on...?

*sound of rushing water is heard as the poor beta-reader continues on

that train of thought...*

B12: Nope... I'm guessing that he was rather... preoccupied.

B13: But Amelia-san, I thought you knocked him out before you got to

that point...

B14:Because they wanted to *the sound of rushing water fills the air,

thankfully drowning out the beta-reader's next comment*

B15:Yes Amelia, what are you doing straddling his torso with your hands

fisted in his shirt?

B16:Is anyone wondering where Zel slept? Or his 'wanting to keep it a

secret' completely futile, as anyone with half a mind (even Gourry)

must have realized it already?

B17: She would, for food.

B18: *sweatdrop*

B19:*His* lady? Like she's Xelloss's lady? Hmmm, no wonder she was so

pleased with him.

B20: Possessive, ain't he?

B21:Yes, Xellas-sama. Hands, not paws. Hands.

B22:Well, you tried to kill him. Fair's fair.

B23: Why am I getting flashes of Otome no Inori?

B24: He is *so* twisted.

B25: From the saddle? Or from - *rushing water drowns her out*

B26:But would not lead to any situation that would make his bottom feel

better.

B27: Wow, so now things explode without her even having to chant a

spell? Scary.

B28: Surprise!

B29: Just the CROWN prince... nothing special...

B30: Lay there while she fell on him :P.

B31: All of which are things the poor guy hasn't been able to do since

he was a kid... *sigh* Poor Gun-kun.

B32: Because the dragon always goes for the pure, innocent princess,

Gun-kun. Don't you know that?

B33: The girlfriend was impressed enough when he was without the shirt...

B34: Kids from those two? Scary...

B35: Xelloss as Asusa? Pink dress and all?

(W-Xelloss LOVES his little

Zelly!)

B36: And we watch as Amelia's hormones go into overdrive...

B37: "And then his assistant went insane and created a Rezo copy.

It decided it wanted to be as good as the original, so it called

up Zanafar, and we had to kill it too..."

B38: Of couse. Tallis seems to make a very *good* snack.

B39: Oh, it depends on how you define 'rest'... soft, cozy

bed, warm bo-*sound of rushing water*

B40: Think, Amelia. Ruby eyes. Sound familiar?

B41: Or Guntair will hunt me from one end of the globe to the other...

B42: Yep, she's back to normal. She barely escapes death, and yet

she's worried about her eyes.

B43: Well, if you managed to survive HALF of the stuff Amelia has,

you'd think you were immortal, too.

B44: Idiot. A ruby. In a shrine to CEIPHEED. Didn't you

hear any stories about the end of the world when you were a kid?

(W - well, Gourry hadn't... or maybe he just forgot them...)

Ooh... lots of notes... ^_^;;

Notes on series: OK, because I hate when you don't know what order

big series go in (and this is gonna get bigger!)

Powers of Heart and Soul timeline

-Friendship Trilogy

-Nature of Friendship

-Beyond Friendship

-Strains on Friendship

-Family series

-Palace Life

-?