GATHERING NO MOSS - by Harukami

Part two of 'Family' - sequel to 'Friendship'

(Betaed by Ishiki)

In which many strange dreams occur, we discover that Zelgadis's

family is ALL as weird as the ones met so far, a brief appearance is

put in by another's family member, and Xelloss keeps more secrets.

Zelgadis tossed uncomfortably in his sleep.

//"Okay, Xel, you can look now."

The speaker was a young Mazoku, seeming to be about eleven years old.

He had long, deep purple hair to mid-back, and his eyes were a deep

violet. He smiled at the younger Mazoku beside him, and pointed to what

was on the ground before him.

A small animal, resembling a squirrel, was tied out spread-eagled,

cut open from stomach to chest. It was whimpering squeakily, but

unable to move.

The young Mazoku removed his hands from his eyes, and however

young he was, only seeming six years old, the eyes were immediately

recognizable as Xelloss's. "Xer-chan! Isstill 'live!"

Xerinier smiled at his little brother. "Yep. I wanted you to

have the experience of holding life in your hands."

Chibi-Xelloss croutched in the bloodied ground. "How?"

"You have to work fast," Xer warned him, "it's already dying.

But here." Tossing his stick away, he took ahold of one of Xelloss's

hands and pushed it into the slit in the body. "This is the heart.

Do you feel it?"

The young Mazoku's eyes widened in delight. "It's beating! It

won't stop moving! It--" The squirrel's body jerked, and Xelloss's

eyes filled with blood-red tears. "It burst!!"

Xerenier shook his head. "Xel, other creatures don't heal

like we do. The slightest pressure can kill them. Don't feel bad,

it happened a lot to me at first as well. Just practice, and soon

you won't kill other non-Mazoku without trying to. Hold their lives

in your hands and know you can kill them at any time you want, but

wait. It's more fun that way." (B1)

Raising bloodied fingers absently to his lips, Chibi-Xelloss

nodded carefully.

"What're you two brats doin' out here?!"

The two children turned, and Xelloss whimpered as a claw swipe

bashed him into a far tree. "Papa..."

"We were just playing," Xer protested.

"Get back into the house," the monster roared. "I'll deal

with this lazy namagomi!"

Xelloss looked up at his father and screamed.//

Zelgadis jerked awake with a start, finding himself staring at

the star-littered night sky. "That... was odd," he murmured.

Beside him, Xelloss rolled over, awake as always. "You were

thrashing and scared. Nightmare?"

"Yeah," Zelgadis said uncertainly. "That's right."

***

Xelloss watched the chimera -- his chimera -- as he fell

back asleep. Zelgadis had been having nightmares nearly every

evening now.

What did it mean? What was bothering Zelgadis?

The Mazoku knew -- in theory, not in practice -- that most dreams

were the subconcious way of dumping things that happened. But he

had a feeling these were different. He almost wanted to invade

Zelgadis's mind to see.

But would he like what he saw there?

"No!"

Xelloss rolled over to see Amelia toss under her blanket, then

subside again. Maybe the nightmares were catching. (B2)

Hmm.

***

//"Are you one of one of ours?" (w1)

"NO! No, I'm not!"

The red eyes watched her. "Do you want to be one of ours?"

"NO!"

"You are one of hers. It's just one more step."

"NO!" Amelia covered her ears. "I'm not listening!"

Those eyes were laughing at her. "Listen, Amelia. You

can be so much more than you are now... don't you want the power?"

"NO!"

"You could change the world, Amelia." Red eyes, promising so

much. "You'd be powerful enough to strike fear into the greatest

of ill-wishers. Justice, Amelia. Don't you want it?" (B3)

"I--" Amelia's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't help

it; she was listening.

"Let me show you what you could do, Amelia."//

***

In her dream, Lina was wielding a huge power. //Red burned through

her, burned out her, burned in her. "My Father, my Son, my Lover, grant

me the power to change. This energy you gave me, let it speed to do

your bidding. Take my soul, burn me to a new world. WORLD BURN!"

The red power washed over the world, changing it to the way

she wanted it to be, making everything go her way.

Watching the flames dance, she suddenly felt arms wrap around

her from behind. Strong arms, swordsman's arms.

"Gourry?" she asked, eyes closed. (B4)

The man's words were whispered, his breath tickling her ear.

"No. Not Gourry."

She shivered, feeling oddly chill. "Who are you?"

"Guess." His voice was like satin, smooth, carressing.

Lina opened her eyes. The strong arms were clad in red velvet.

Hair the colour of rare meat was draped across her shoulder, long, but

not too long. The skin of his hand as he embraced her was a pale

brown. "Who are you?" she asked, beginning to get angry.

He laughed. "Look at me and ask me that." He loosened his

embrace. "Look at me..."

She turned, and her gaze was caught by eyes lacking white or

pupil, eyes a pure, ruby red.

"... My Knight."//

***

In his sleep, Gourry turned over. //He was hunting. He was

catching dinner for Lina. He wanted Lina to like it.

"Gotcha!" he crowed, checking his traps. Good sized rabbit.

Carefully, he skinned it, prepared it for cooking. Wrapping

the body in oilcloth, he brought it back to camp.

Lina looked up and smiled. "You're back!" She jumped up and

ran to him. "You brought dinner!" Smiling with love, she wrapped

her arms around him.//

***

In the chill night air, Xelloss gazed at the stars. Around him,

everyone was dreaming.

What can it be like, he wondered, to dream? I've entered other's

dreams before, but I've never experienced them first hand. What is it

like? I know that people sometimes know they're dreaming, and sometimes

they don't and it's a complete other world. Why?

Why?

He smiled. If I'm not careful, I'll become a philosopher.

Suddenly he froze, sensing the air. "Something..."

A familiar sense, as familiar as himself. Perhaps...

it couldn't be! Was one of the seals beginning to fracture?

Xelloss sent his mind out. //"Xellas-sama?"//

//Paws on dirt, a brief halt. The prey would escape, but

she'd just track it again later. "Yes, Xelloss?"//

//"I'm sensing something... odd." He sent her a brief

pulse of the Presence he was feeling. "Is it just me, or..."//

//"Xelloss."//

//"Yes, Xellas-sama?"//

//"Come here. Now." She broke contact.//

Tilting his head on one side, the priest shrugged and teleported

himself to her domain, where she was already waiting. "So?"

She was looking uneasy. "Xelloss, for a few days now, we --

that is, I, and I believe the other generals as well -- have been

feeling one of the seals weaken. The seal is the one hidden in the

temple of Cepheed in--"

"Of course!" Xelloss smiled. "From the Koku no Tani, where we

were unable to enter."

"One of the reasons I wanted you to stay with the group, of course,

since they were in fact heading straight for there. But it's possible

that the reason it weakened is because it has been removed from the

shrine."

Her servant gazed at her evenly. "Do you want me to leave the

group and search for it on my own?"

Xellas hesitated a long moment. "No," she finally decided.

"We're still uncertain as to whether it's been removed or not. If it

has, it has obviously been stolen, and Shabrinigido-sama will be doing

his best to eat into the thief's mind. He will, of course, eventually

succeed, and the thief will be the key to his rebirth. (B5) If it is still

in the shrine and is weakening anyway, you will be heading right for it.

Perhaps we could even convince Amelia to take it for us." (B6)

Xelloss bowed. "Xellas-sama. Is that all?"

The Beastmaster shook her head. "No. Xelloss... it's approaching

the next century anniversary. How are you doing?"

"I deal. I always deal. Every one hundred years, I deal,"

Xelloss pointed out. "And if he hadn't died, I would never have fallen

into your service, Xellas-sama." He smiled. "Xer died a thousand

years ago. I don't think you have to worry about me any longer."

She chuckled. "All right, Xelloss. Go back and play your little

games."

He smiled. "Don't I always?"

***

Homen clutched at the necklace, as he doubled over, coughing.

Maybe they were chasing him! Was there some way to track him? (B7)

His breath wheezed in his throat, and for the thousanth time,

he cursed his weakness, his breathing, his heart. Slowly, he calmed.

No, if the Dragons were chasing him, surely they'd know where he was

by now.

Lifting the ruby teardrop, he gazed into it's depths. The fault,

appearing like two glowing flecks of light, winked. Grinning suddenly,

he winked back. "You 'an me, we'll do all right."

***

"Good morning, minna-san," Xelloss chirped. Five faces glared

at him.

Lina scowled. "You call this morning?!" She peered upward.

"That's obscene!"

"The sun's up," Xelloss pointed out. "If you want to eat and

get going before noon, we should start soon!"

Immediately, three stomachs rumbled. "What did you make?" Amelia

asked.

Xelloss tilted his head, curious. "Make? Why would I do that?

Honestly, cook once for you guys and you come to depend on a guy."

The red-haired sorceress groaned and pulled the blanket back

over her head. "Just five more minutes."

***

Nakoku gazed up at the sun shining down, one hand shielding his

eyes. If he had his way, he'd travel by night, but it was easier

to beg rides this way. Besides, an eight-year-old child sleeping by

the side of the road aroused suspicion.

A cart ground to a halt beside him, and he turned a bright,

child's smile to him. "Hey, mister!"

The driver peered at him. "Kid, where're your parents?"

"Dunno," Nakoku shrugged. "I'm trying to get to Zefilia! Do you

know how I can get there?"

Pursing his lips, the driver considered. "That's miles and miles

away, kid. There's no way you can get there."

Nakoku sniffled, hating the act but knowing it worked. "Please,

mister! I gotta get there really bad! It's important."

"Your parents live there?"

He shook his head. "Sister."

"Ah." The driver's eyes widened. "I see." He sighed. "Well,

I can only take you to Raldale, but that's on the way there. It'll be

a long trip past there."

Pupil-less green eyes lighting up, Nakoku held out a hand for the

driver to help him up. "Thanks so much, mister! I won't forget this!"

***

On foot again (they'd left their horses behind way back in

Seiryuun)(B8), they kicked up dust as they walked. Xelloss floated over

their heads, smiling eyes surveying the road before them.

Guntair glanced to the side and smiled at Amelia. The shaman

smiled back tiredly. "You all right?" Guntair asked her.

She yawned. "Strange dreams. You know."

He shrugged. "I don't dream much, myself."

"Oh." Again, in her mind's eye, she saw a spell rushing

towards Guntair, blood fountaining from his mouth as it crashed into

him. And again, only this time a red-violet eyed Amelia jumped in

front of the blast, saving him, healing almost immediately.

//You could save him from situations like that.//

Guntair frowned. "Amelia? What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh!" She cheered up again. "Nothing! Just deep

in thought!" (B9)

"Okay." He shrugged, accidentally cutting down a signpost with

his blade.

"Gun?"

"Yeah?"

"Promise me you won't die."

He blinked at her. "Amelia, I'm not going to die. I'm

not that easy to kill, you know."

She blushed. "Yeah, I know that in my mind, but my heart's

still scared... I guess I've just been thinking a lot about life and

death."

His smile was like the sun coming out from behind the clouds.

"Well, don't worry."

Xelloss had floated back to their level. "Yeah, it's really

difficult to kill Ryuzoku. Injure them, no, but kill? It takes so

much!" He laughed, shaking his head as if reminiscing.

The Ryuzoku scowled at him. "You aren't making her feel better."

"No? Pity." Still smiling, he floated up again and tried to engage

a tired Lina in conversation. (B10)

"Goddamn Mazoku," Guntair snarled under his breath.

Amelia hesitated. "Well... he did save my life. It doesn't make

up for past things, but... I don't know." She shook her head.

Guntair wrapped an arm around her. "Anyways, just don't worry.

Everything will be fine."

***

Zelgadis was walking with his eyes half-closed, trying to get rest

he hadn't been able to get while asleep.

A hand fell on his shoulder. "Tired?" Xelloss asked.

"Mm."

"Keep having nightmares?"

Tired eyes glared at him. "Aren't Mazoku supposed to sense

that sort of thing?"

Xelloss shrugged. "Yeah."

"Don't you know, then, if you were there?"

The Mazoku smiled suddenly. "It's pointless to try to make small

talk with you, now isn't it? What are they about?"

You. A very young you. "Nothing really," Zelgadis lied. "I really

can't remember now. Seems stupid by the light of day."

***

"Thanks, mister!" Nakoku waved as the cart pulled away, then

examined the sandwich the nice old man had given him. Ham. He

shrugged, then took a bite. Pretty good, actually.

Rummaging in his pockets for money, he sighed as he came up with

a few silvers only. "Maybe they'll let me stay anyway," he murmured,

heading into the inn.

***

"I'm so hungry..." Lina moaned. "I'm sooooo hungry... When

are we going to make it for dinner?!"

Zelgadis sighed irritably. "You've been saying that every

minute. It's not making the food come any faster."

"I know... but I'm still hungry!"

Xelloss floated up. "Well... it might just be my imagination...

but I think I see an inn up ahead!"

Gourry looked at Lina. Lina looked at Gourry. They both set

off. "I'm gonna get there first!" Lina shouted, tripping Gourry.

"Mou! No fair!"

Smiling at the others, the Mazoku priest shrugged. "I've gotta

teleport there and beat them otherwise they won't beat me into the

ground." He vanished.

The remaining three sighed and made their weary way towards the

inn.

***

Lina skidded to a halt inside the inn. "Quick, innkeep, give

me all your..." she stopped as she saw a little kid with his eyes

wide as his money span across the room. "What's going on here?"

"Nothing," the innkeep said, sweatdropping. He bent down to

the little boy's level. "Listen, kid. Two silvers is not enough

for a night's lodging and dinner. Do you understand?"

The kid nodded, then slowly went around picking up his coins.

"Yeah, I know, mister. But it's all I got, and I don't wanna spend

another night on the road... but I'll go anyway." He pocketed his

coins.

Lina frowned. "Hey, kid, what's your name?"

The little boy blinked. "You talking to me?"

"See any other kids?"

"I'm... N-kun." (B11)

Lina smiled at him. "Well..." She turned to the innkeep.

"N-kun's stay will be included in our group, all right?"

The innkeep shrugged. "If you can pay, it's fine by me."

N-kun blinked. "Hey, thanks, lady!"

"You don't mind sharing a room, do you?"

The expression on the boy's face sank. "Uh... I can't stay

with other people. I have horrible nightmares any time I sleep

around others."

Gourry patted N-kun's head. "That's okay, little boy. I'm

sure we can afford a spare room for you."

"Gourry, we can't--"

The blond swordsman just looked at Lina.

Sighing, the sorceress dug in her cloak. "All right."

***

Nakoku sank back into his seat at dinner, under the eyes of

four strangers and two half-strangers. "Uh... hi?"

The strange scaled one -- probably a chimera, Nakoku noted --

rolled his eyes. "Picking up more strays, Lina?"

The sorceress who had first offered to pay looked offended.

"If he's a stray, then so are you... and Amelia... and Guntair!"

"I'm good in battle and a time-tried companion," the chimera

said dryly.

Ok, Nakoku thought angriliy, I have to say something here.

"Pleased to meet you too," he said sarcastically.

The purple-haired floating one patted Zelgadis's head. "I

think he likes you, Zel!"

"I think he's adorable!" The bouncy small one said. "He's so

cute! I'm glad he joined the party!"

The black-haired man shrugged. "So, what's in the soup?"

"Wait wait wait," Nakoku said, then remembered to sound childish.

"It's nice that you paid for my night, but I can't stay with you

guys, even if you ARE adults. (B12) I've gotta see my sister at Zefilia!

So I gotta get going tomorrow, and..."

"Zefilia?" Lina asked, looking up from the menu. "I come from

there. We're heading in that direction, actually. It's a fairly

long trip. Come with us, why don't you? Safety in numbers, you know.

I'm kinda well-known as a bandit-hunter, and we're all good fighters!"

Nakoku began to get seriously worried. "I don't really do too

well around people..."

Bouncey-girl raised a finger. "You can never overcome a fear

without first confronting it!" she recited.

The blond guy... Gourry?... stood up and slammed his fist down

on the table. "I won't have a little kid travelling alone and that's

final!" he exclaimed, then sat and turned to a waiter. "How big is

the gynormous platter?"

Sighing, Nakoku brushed his bangs out of his eyes. It was going

to be one of those days, obviously.

Well, he could always sneak away when night fell while they were

on the road. "I'm N-kun," he ventured shyly.

"I'm Amelia Wil Tessla Seiryuun, champion of justice!" the bouncy

one exclaimed. Suddenly, she blushed and turned her attention to the

menu again. "I'll have all of... these."

"I'm Guntair," the black-haired guy said, smiling. "I'm a

Dragon. Have you ever seen a Dragon before? Oh... never mind about

the soup, just give me three ultra-rare steaks."

Lina just handed her menu to the waiter. "Just give me one

of everything."

Nakoku's jaw was half-way to the table.

The chimera sighed. "I'm Zelgadis. Coffee only, if you please."

The waiter was scribbling furiously.

"Uh..." Nakoku began, before his hand was grabbed by the floating

guy.

"I'm Xelloss! It's always nice to meet someone new!" Xelloss

opened his eyes.

Mazoku, Nakoku noticed, hiding it and pretending not to know.

"You got weird eyes, mister!"

"Only the ones I've always had." To the waiter, Xelloss just

quickly said, "Chocolate sundae, nothing else." When the others looked

at him, he grinned. "Refined taste?"

All gazes were now on Nakoku. "Uh... I'll have the chicken

cordon bleu," he said.

Simultaneous facefaulting.

"... whatever that is," he added.

***

"So I'm sharing a room with you, Gun-kun?" Xelloss asked the

pointless question, flopping down on one of the beds.

Guntair growled. "I'm no happier about it than you are, Mazoku."

"What makes you think I'm not happy?"

Snorting, the Dragon examined his own bed. "That's right, you're

always happy." He pulled back the sheets and examined the inside.

"I don't see why you need a room, you admitted to not even sleeping."

Xelloss figured he wasn't expected to answer the question. "Out

of curiosity..."

"Yeah?"

"Why are you doing that?"

Guntair glared at him. "I'm checking to see that they aren't dirty,"

he said carefully, as though to a child.

"But... you were sleeping on the ground for the last few days,"

Xelloss pointed out.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Laughing, the Mazoku checked for squeaky springs. "I will

never understand Ryuzoku, you know?"

"Thank Cepheed," Guntair sighed, deciding the sheets were clean

enough. "That would be the day I actually started fearing you."

"You don't fear me now?"

Guntair got into bed fully clothed, obviously preparing for

having to move fast in the middle of the night. "Of course not."

"You think there's no reason to?" Xelloss opened his eyes. He

knew they gleamed slightly in the dark.

"There's nothing YOU could do to ME." Guntair slid a dagger

under his pillow.

"I'm glad you feel that way." Xelloss chuckled darkly.

"Pleasant dreams."

A few minutes later, he spoke again. "It's got to be

uncomfortable, sleeping with your hand under the pillow like

that."

"Shut up and let me sleep."

Xelloss found a nice squeaky spot and shifted to it, knowing

it would slowly drive Guntair up the wall. "Ever meet any Dragons

who WEREN'T Blacks?"

"I thought I told you to shut up."

"Just making friendly night-time speech."

Guntair rolled over. "Go screw yourself."

"You think that would be any quieter?"

The Dragon twitched and cut his finger on the dagger under the

pillow. "Ok, things I didn't want to know. I am not asking. I am

not... that isn't even physically possible for a Mazoku, is it?"

"Why do you want to know?" Xelloss grinned. "And, no, not technically,

but it would make a great conversation topic, wouldn't it?"

"No. And I'm sleeping, so shut up."

"And talking about--"

"We weren't."

Xelloss snickered. "Could have fooled me. Anyway, how are things

between you and Amelia?"

Snorting, Guntair replied, "Why the hell should I tell you?"

"Well," Xelloss began, "since I saved her life at a cost to myself

at your request, I think perhaps I have a RIGHT--"

"It's going fine."

Slowly, the Mazoku began squeaking the mattress. "How far have

you gotten?"

"THAT's none of your business."

"Aw, come on, tell me."

"No."

"I bet you've slept with her!"

"I have not!"

"Oh?" Xelloss grinned. "Why not?"

"Would you stop that stupid noise?" Guntair snarled. "And SOME

of us have our minds someplace OTHER than the gutter!"

"Oh, so that's why you're so touchy. You're not getting any." (B13)

"I--" Guntair realized the Mazoku was baiting him and shut up.

"I'm going to sleep now."

"I could give you some pointers, you know," Xelloss made the bed

squeak a little louder. "Seduction is a fine art."

The Dragon snickered. "Unlike you, I don't need to seduce someone

to make them love me."

"You're STILL not getting any."

"What the hell was Lina-san thinking when she put you in a room

with me?" Guntair wondered.

Xelloss put on a lecturing tone. "You see, she wouldn't put a guy

in a room with a girl because she thinks many wicked thoughts about such

things. She loves Gourry and didn't want to shut him in a room with me.

She didn't want to deal with the spell explosions she is used to finding

when I piss Zelgadis off, so you were the only sacrificable male left."

Guntair shook his head. "But why would Zelgadis blast you? Aren't

you two lovers?"

Long silence in which even the squeaking stopped. "I'm sorry, but

that information's classified," Xelloss told him finally. "I could

tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

"That's not funny."

"Who says I was joking?"

Guntair's hand tightened on the dagger. "It's not like I WANT to

know, you can keep your secrets. I was just saying that since you knew

so much about me and Amelia..."

"And Guntair?"

"Yeah?"

"When I promise to keep a secret, I mean it," Xelloss said

flatly. "And if you breathe even a word of that to the others, you'll

wish you were a Gold Dragon."

Guntair frowned. "Gold Dragon... what ABOUT the Gold Dragons?"

"Ask Lina." Suddenly his usual jovial self again, Xelloss

said, "Good night, Gun-kun!" And disappeared.

The Ryuzoku shuddered. He really, really did NOT like Xelloss.

***

Rising, Nakoku stretched and sighed. Mmmm... almost nightfall,

he smiled. Almost time to be normal again... if just for a little while.

There was a knock on his door, and Lina's voice called, "Hey,

N-kun, you all right?"

Damn, damn, damn! She'd better go away soon, or she'd hear the

difference in his voice. "I'm fine! I'm just going to bed now!"

The moon was rising! Hurry up! he agonized.

"Okay," Lina's voice called back. "I'll be just two doors

down if you need me!"

"Great!" Nakoku listened as she walked away, then threw open

the window. Moonlight shone in upon him and he... grew.

Adult Nakoku shook back his long, black hair, sighing with

relief at being himself again. Leather creaked as he crawled into

bed.

***

Zelgadis woke suddenly, feeling someone touch his shoulder.

Survival instincts kicked in and he threw the intruder as hard as he

could.

Gourry opened his eyes, blinking. "Hey, Zel... why's there a

Xelloss-shaped hole in the wall?" he asked sleepily.

"No reason," Zelgadis said firmly. "Go back to sleep."

"Okay," Gourry agreed, turning over and falling asleep immediately.

Rubbing his head, Xelloss crawled back through the hole and over

to Zelgadis. "Nice instincts."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Zelgadis demanded.

Xelloss smirked. "That's a nice way to greet your--"

"Shh! You'll wake up Gourry!"

"Okay, okay. But I need to talk to you, so--" Xelloss grabbed

Zelgadis and suddenly they were both out in the stables. The horses

snorted at them in surprise.

Zelgadis stumbled, then looked around the smelly stables. "If

this is your idea of romance, I'm not interested."

"Such a sweetie, you are," Xelloss smiled. "But, alas, it wasn't

precisely romance I wanted to talk to you about. You can change the

subject if you'd like, though."

"Don't think so. What did you want?" Zelgadis crossed his arms

across his chest, feeling the chill of the night air.

Xelloss floated up, legs crossed, scaring the horses who sniffed

the air curiously. "Several things, actually.

Did you know that Guntair knows?"

"Guntair knows what?"

"That we're lovers."

"HE WHAT?"

"Shh, you'll wake the stable hands." Xelloss glanced around

the stable. "He brought it up in casual conversation, actually. Don't

worry, I think I scared him enough that he's not going to mention it

again."

Zelgadis slumped. "L-sama. If he knows, the others must know."

"Not necessarily. He's newer and doesn't have the same long-term

opinion the others do."

The chimera shook his head. "I suppose I can still hope. What

else?"

"What do you think of our little child-friend?"

"N-kun? I think he's going to be a bother, but we can deal with

that."

Xelloss had a nonchalant expression on his face. "Don't you think

he seems a little... unusual?"

"No. What do you mean?"

***

//"You aren't real," Lina said lamely. "You are NOT real." (B14)

Shabrinigido chuckled, breath tickling her cheek. "None of

that. You're too strong to lie to yourself like that."

Yes. She knew he was real.

His hands tightened around her and she blushed slightly when

she realized where they were. "Hey, stop that!"

"Stop what?" he chuckled. "This? Or perhaps you are referring

to... this?"

"HEY!" She pulled herself out of his arms. "Ok, so maybe

you ARE the dark lord Ruby Eyed Shabrinigido, but that gives you NO

right to do that! Fine, so even assuming I AM your knight -- which I'm

not -- you don't need to try to seduce me!"

He was laughing. He was laughing at her. Lina fumed.

Raising his arm, the dark lord ran a hand through her hair.

"Like flame."

"Great," Lina groaned. "Just great. And I thought getting hit

on by criminals was bad."

Chuckling again, he pulled the furious sorceress close. "You

are angry, but I sense you are enjoying yourself. Why be angry? Give

yourself up to it."

"Uh, let me think," Lina said sarcastically. "Maybe... no?"

"You don't need to want me," Shabrinigido told her, red eyes

glinting as he watched her, "so long as you want Me."

"Which made absolutely no sense," Lina informed him.

"Me, Lina. Everything I represent. The power. You've felt it

before, I gave it to you freely. You can make everything the way you

want it to be. That pretty blond boy? He can be yours."

Lina shook her head rapidly. "Gourry? Who says I want him?"

"You can't lie to me, Lina. I am your lover, your father, and

your son. My power makes me all that, it burns in your blood. Recreate

the world. You can do it any time you choose." Suddenly, all around

them, the world was burning, changing. "Cure that friend of yours?

Easy, my avatar used my power to create him, you can unmake him.

Create a world of justice for Amelia? Easy to make her her own world.

And yourself... never again would you have to fear. Not even your

older sister. You could make her fear YOU."

"Onee-san?" Lina blanched. Then suspicion seeped back into

her face. I can't believe I'm listening to him! she agonized.

"That's all you want me for, isn't it? To defeat Onee-san because

she's the Knight of Cepheed?"

Suddenly, the burning was all around her, scorching her

briefly (B15). "NEVER say that name in my presence again, do you

understand? Never."

Lina stuck her tongue out. "Cepheed. Cepheed Cepheed

Cepheed!"

Briefly he shut his eyes, and a smile flickered across his face.

"I'm not angry. It's one of the reasons I chose you. But think about

it, Lina. Think of what you could do."//

All of a sudden, Lina woke. "Bastard," she snarled, then clapped

a hand over her mouth as she remembered she wasn't alone.

Glancing over at the other bed, though, she saw she hadn't woken

Amelia. The younger girl was biting her lip in her sleep and mumbling

a denial.

Lina crushed the little part of her that was glad that it wasn't

just her having her nights disturbed like this.

***

Far away, a woman sat up in bed, smoothing down the bedsheets

as she processed what she'd learned.

"So. She's in trouble again," she murmured, disturbing smile

lingering on her lips. "Guess I've gotta bail her out."

She'd hand in her resignation in the morning. It was about time

she went to the shrine in the Koku no Tani anyway. And if she managed

to catch Lina on the way there, in her usual capacity... couldn't hurt.

That settled, Luna Inverse rolled over in bed to go to more

pleasant dreams.

***

//"Are you one of ours?"

Amelia covered her ears. "STOP ASKING ME THAT!"

"Are you one of ours?"

"NO! NO NO NO!"

"Are you one of ours?"

"STOP!"

"Are you--"

"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

The eyes inside her chuckled. "Are you one of ours?"

"NO!"

"Do you want to be one of ours?"

Amelia opened her eyes. Beside her, Guntair rolled over sleepily.

"'Sa matter, 'Melia? Bed too rocky?"

Startled, the shaman realized that she was outside, in a travelling

arrangement. "Doesn't it bother you?"

"Naw... Ryuzoku don't feel it as strongly as humans, I guess. You

want my under-blanket?"

She blushed. "No, it's okay."

He smiled at her, yellow eyes shining. "Amelia, I love you."

"I... I love you t--"

Suddenly, screams rang out as people charged into the wooded clearing

around them. Everyone threw off their blankets, coming awake, reaching for

their weapons. Guntair grabbed his sword, but still half-asleep, stumbled.

A monster -- no other words for the disgusting, wolf-like appearance --

leapt at him, teeth flashing. Everything seemed to become slow, for a moment,

as Amelia screamed. Blood fountained from his throat as he fell, croaking

out her name, and she bit her lip, hard enough to draw blood. There was

nothing. Nothing she'd been able to do! She was a shaman, why hadn't

she done anything?!

Stop. Repeat.

Amelia opened her eyes. Beside her, Guntair rolled over sleepily.

"'Sa matter, 'Melia? Bed too rocky?"

Startled, the shaman realized that she was outside, in a travelling

arrangement. "Does it bother you?"

"Naw... not you, either, then? I guess Ryuzoku and Mazoku are alike

in that respect."

She blushed. "That and others."

He smiled at her, yellow eyes shining. "Amelia, I love you."

"I... I love you t--"

Suddenly, screams rang out as people charged into the wooded clearing

around them. Everyone threw off their blankets, coming awake, reaching for

their weapons. Guntair grabbed his sword, but still half-asleep, stumbled.

A monster -- one of the Beastmaster's servants gone rogue, Amelia noted --

leapt at him, teeth flashing. Everything seemed to become slow, for a moment,

as Amelia used the power granted to her when Xelloss and the Beastmaster

had made her part Mazoku to phaze out and phaze in again in front of Guntair.

The ex-pack member ripped her throat out and a strange pleasure washed through

her as it healed again. She caught the wolf-creature with a jaw in each hand

and used the strength granted to her to rip it in two, blood fountaining.

Behind her, Guntair laughed. "Thanks, Amelia!"

And Amelia was back in the place where the eyes inside her burned

into her. "You see? Become one of ours and that's what you can get."

Amelia felt her resolve weakening. "No... it's not right..."

"Amelia, do you want to save him?"

"Yes, of course!"

"Become one of ours and you can."

What was the right answer? Was there one? Amelia opened her

mouth. "All ri--"//

And came awake as Lina shook her. "Huh? What?"

The red-haired sorceress sighed. "You were thrashing about like

crazy, so I thought it would be better if I woke you."

I think she just saved me. "Thanks, Lina."

"No problem."

***

Zelgadis scratched his head, settling back into bed.

The little Xelloss had told him didn't make sense. He

had a feeling that the priest hadn't told him everything, but maybe

he didn't know everything.

Not human, not Mazoku, not Ryuzoku, not a created being, but

still sentient? There wasn't such a thing on this world, not that

Zelgadis knew.

Probably Xelloss was just overreacting. It was the only explanation

that made sense. So what if he felt a little odd, acted a little

mature, and had no pupils at all?

Zelgadis sighed. At this rate, he'd never get to sleep.

***

//Lina whooped. "Look at this haul, Gourry!"

He had eyes only for her. "Yeah, lucky hit with these bandits!"

"I'm glad you agreed to stay on and do this with me." Her red

eyes were happy.

"Me too."//

In his sleep, Gourry smiled.

***

//Guntair was flying. He was flying as hard as he could, and

as fast, wings aching from lack of use. "Amelia!"

Her voice was distant. "Hey, Guntair! Come and find me!"

For some reason, he couldn't tell what direction it was coming

from, and looked around desperately. "Where are you?"

"Find me!"

"I can't! Where are you?"

"Find me!"

"AMELIA!!!!"//

***

Finally, Zelgadis slept.

//Long hair flowing out behind him, Xerinier bounced into his

younger brother's room. "Hey, Xel!"

He stopped fast, seeing his father turn towards him. "I--"

His father waved a clawed hand for him to be silent, wings

rearranging themselves. "Either go away or be silent. I am dealing

with our little namagomi."

Xer peered around his father to see Xelloss against the far wall,

purple eyes wide, pupils dilated to seem almost round, but no emotion

on his face at all. The older brother didn't move to help, shifting

uncomfortably and glancing back and forth between the two.

"Who made you come into this world?"

"You did, Papa," Xelloss answered, child's face serious.

"Who keeps you alive?"

"You do, Papa."

"Who do you rely on?"

"You, Papa."

"Who do you trust?"

"You, Papa."

"Who do you want to keep happy?"

"You, Papa."

"Anyone else?"

"Only you, Papa."

"Who is your master?"

For a minute, Xelloss's face showed uncertainty. "I am..."

Calmly, their father slashed Xelloss with his claws, opening up

bloody scrapes across the child Mazoku's chest. Xelloss shivered

and rolled with the blow, but did not make any other response. "Wrong

answer. Who is your master?"

"I..."

This time, their father grabbed Xelloss and slammed him back

into the wall, holding him there. Xelloss was shaking, but the

expression on his face was difficult to read as fear. "One more

chance, Xelloss. Who is your master?"

"You are, Papa," Xelloss whispered.

"And you are lousy namagomi. You are trash, boy. You know

that, don't you?"

"Yes, Papa."

"Do you like being namagomi?"

"If you want me to, Papa."

"Good boy." Their father glanced back at Xerinier. "Shut

the door, don't be useless like this one."//

***

This night, Nakoku didn't dream. He slept, but where his mind

went was not a dream.

He was in a sea of gold, wrapped in his mother's arms.

***

Everyone looked up as Nakoku bounded down the stairs. "Hey,

minna!" he chirped. "How did everyone sleep?"

Bleary eyes gazed at him, then went back to contemplating menus.

"I slept great!" he informed the world in general. "Everything's

wonderful today!"

"Kid?" Lina said.

"Yeah?"

"Don't make me regret allowing you to join on with us."

Nakoku whistled, and four people winced. "That bad, huh?"

Silence. "I think I'll have the mutton," Lina muttered.

"In the morning?" Xelloss exclaimed cheerily. "Boy, Lina,

you can sure pack it away!"

She glared at him with bloodshot eyes. "Don't even start with

me, Xelloss, don't even start. I've faced down Sha..." she hesitated,

"... the Ruby Eyed and don't think that you'd be that much harder."

"Well, if you're willing to Giga Slave everyone here and--"

"Just shut up," Lina commanded.

Guntair waved a spoon unsteadily at Xelloss. "You're such a

annoyance, you know that? Stupid Mazoku."

"Aw, you're so SWEET!"

Nakoku pretended to be surprised. "A Mazoku?!" he shouted. People

around the inn were beginning to look at them strangely. "But those are big

and ucky!"

"Thank you," Xelloss told him. "It's people like you who do WONDERS

for my self-esteem."

"You mean you ARE a nasty demon thing?!? But... but..."

"Not so loud!" Zelgadis hissed. "We're attracting attention!"

Lina patted Nakoku on the head. "It's okay, N-kun. He's annoying

at times but he usually doesn't do anything really bad."

Xelloss hit his open palm with a fist, making a 'pon' noise. "I get

it! It's pick on Xelloss day! Everyone join in for the festivities!" (B16)

"Don't mind if I do," Guntair snorted.

Nakoku looked around nervously as a waiter came up to their table

and cleared his throat.

"I'm afraid you'll have to leave, misses, sirs."

Lina blinked. "You're kicking us out?"

"Management orders. I'm very sorry..."

"AND WE'RE NOT EVEN GETTING FOOD FIRST?!?"

She began to glow red.

***

"Was that REALLY necessary?" Guntair asked Lina as they sped

along the road at top speed, hoping nobody was following. "Blowing

the whole place up, I mean?"

"I hope no one was hurt," Amelia worried.

Gourry scratched his head. "You know, Lina, you're not even using

spells to do your dirty work any more, you're just, you know, DOING it."

"What's that supposed to mean? FIREBALL!"

"I take it back!"

Zelgadis's brows creased. "I think he's right, though. You do

seem to be getting stronger."

Lina sighed, head down. "I don't want to talk about it."

"But--" Amelia began.

"I said I didn't want to talk about it, okay? Just drop it."

Xelloss glanced back over his shoulder. "Ne, Lina-san, don't

look now, but there's an angry mob following us."

The sorceress glanced back. "Oh no!"

"I told you not to look."

Nakoku bounced up and down on Guntair's shoulder. "Ow! Watch

it! That hurts!" At least he wasn't on the shoulder with the sword,

though, he reasoned.

"Lina-san, they're shouting, 'Kill the abominable sorceress and

her Mazoku friends'," Xelloss reported.

"I AM NOT ABOMINABLE!" Lina screamed back at them. "How many

times do I have to tell people that?!"

Zelgadis stopped. "Right, enough of this. Levitation!"

"Ow, wow, Zelgadis-san!" Amelia exclaimed. "I can't believe

I forgot about that! Levitation!" On her way up, she scooped

Nakoku up.

Lina sighed. "Levitation!"

Xelloss, already floating, followed them up.

Back on the ground, Guntair and Gourry sweatdropped. Quickly,

Guntair stripped off his shirt and tucked it in his belt, not wanting

to lose yet another outfit. Changing into half-ryuu form, he took

off after them with a few flaps of his wings.

"WHAT ABOUT ME?!" Gourry screamed. Seeing the crowd gaining on

them, he began running. "Liiinaaa! Somebodyyyyyy!"

Diving down, Lina let him grab her around the waist. "Don't

get any ideas," she warned him

"I'm not! Just get me out of here!"

Lina went up again.

For a moment, the only sound was that of the angry mob screaming

things. Then Gourry began screaming as well. "I HATE FLYING!"

"Jeez, Gourry, will you knock it off? Now isn't the time for

a panic attack! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GRABBING!"

A whistling noise filled the air, then a wet thunk. Xelloss

coughed, fiddling with the arrow stuck in his back, the tip having just

emerged from his front. "Don't look now, Lina-san, but they've got

archers."

Lina glanced down and saw the many rows of arrowheads pointed at

them. "Oh no!"

"I told you not to look!"

Amelia slapped her forehead, almost dropping Nakoku, who squeaked

and grabbed onto her busom. "Hey, Zelgadis-san! Sustained Raywing

bubble, okay?"

"Right!"

They both counted to three. "RAYWING!"

The bubble came up around them just in time. Arrows bounced off

the protective shell almost as soon as it came up.

"I'M FALLING! I'M FALLING!"

"OH, WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?! I'M GETTING REALLY PISSED OFF!"

Silence for a moment, again, then a wet noise as Xelloss pulled

out the arrow without bothering to break off the arrowhead.

Nakoku blinked his big green eyes. "Say, do you guys always

lead this interesting a life?"

***

"You're quitting?"

Luna nodded. "Yessir."

"You CAN'T quit now! It's our busy time!" (B17)

"Sorry, sir."

The manager sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's your

other job, isn't it, Luna? I've told you to quit it!"

"Can't, sir. 'S my destiny. You know." She didn't elabourate.

"So you keep saying. Is it really that important?"

Luna shrugged, handing in her keys. "Fate of the world, sir.

Maybe I'll see you again."

Tugging on her short waitress's skirt, she walked out the door.

***

Homen was scared.

Not that he didn't have reason to be. Last night, a dark shadow

had flown over, huge and frightening. A dragon.

He clutched the ruby necklace to his chest. "They can't find us!"

he whispered, frightened. "I just got 'ya, I can't let ya go yet!"

It glinted.

Suddenly, he was calm again. "I'll just stick to the woods. They

won't be able to see me with all the cover."

***

Nakoku squeaked, "We're stopping HERE?!"

Tapping her foot impatiently, Lina sighed. "Do you SEE a handy

inn nearby? NO! Neither do I! Don't tell me you haven't slept outside

before!"

"It's not that," he quavered. "I get horrible nightmares when

I sleep around other people, remember?"

"Deal, kid. Sorry, but everyone gets nightmares."

"I--"

Amelia shook her head. "It's no use arguing with Lina-san when

she's in this mood," she whispered. "Just go along with it."

"But--" Nakoku suddenly thought of something. "I'll just

sleep off by myself in the woods!"

Somewhere in the woods, a troll howled.

"I'll be okay..." Nakoku said uncertainly.

Gourry slapped his fist. "I won't allow a child to sleep off

in the woods alone! I won't!"

"But--" Nakoku began.

"But N-kun is not a normal child, is he?" Xelloss said slyly.

Sweating, Nakoku backed away, stunned look on his face. "What

do you mean? Of COURSE I'm a normal child!"

"Oh?" Xelloss asked. "Then you've got no worries staying with

our group, do you? Surely nightmares are worth it when the other

choice is the trolls in the woods."

Nakoku panicked, then broke into tears. "WAAAAHHHH! He's

being so mean to me! I don't wanna have nightmares!"

Amelia hugged the child. "It's okay. We'll not let him

tease you any more, okay, N-kun?"

Nakoku sniffled.

Smiling, Guntair patted him on the head. "Don't worry, kid.

We'll protect you." Brushing his bangs out of his eyes, the Ryuzoku

hesitated. "Hey, you don't... smell normal."

Oh no! Nakoku wailed mentally. "It's been a long time since

I've had a bath! I'm sorry!"

"No... that's not what I meant..." Guntair hesitated. "Never

mind. I'm probably mistaken."

Xelloss chuckled. "Ne, Gun-kun, which do you trust more, your

nose or your eyes?"

"Well... my eyes, I guess."

"Sou? Perhaps that's the right thing," Xelloss allowed, smiling.

Lina sighed. "Enough with your riddles. What are you trying to

tell us, Xelloss?"

"Tell you?" Xelloss looked surprised. "Why should I be trying

to tell you anything? We'd better pitch camp, it's getting dark."

Glancing up, the child realized it was, indeed, getting dark.

"Ok," he sighed. "I'll tell you."

"Huh?" Amelia said.

"I... I'm under a curse," he whispered. "Every night, it...

transforms me. I don't like it, so I'm looking for a cure. The next

big city on my road is Zefilia. That's all, I wasn't lying about

anything else!" He blinked his big eyes, using this form to his

advantage. "Honest!"

Sitting down in front of him, Lina asked suspiciously, "What

KIND of a transformation?"

The moon came out.

As it shone down on Nakoku, he felt the change that was so commonplace

to him now. His whole body lengthened, almost uncomfortably, his white

child's tunic changing into a black leather body sheathe. He fought down

the relief he felt every night at successfully finding himself again

and remembered to act. Pouting widely, he fell to his knees. "This!"

he wailed. "Isn't it TERRIBLE?!"

Lina blinked. "Well... no. Actually, you're sort of bishounen.

I was expecting something more, well, monsterous."

Nakoku batted his eyes at her. "Really? You think I'm bishounen?"

"Jeez, don't tell me you turn into a normal adolescent in OTHER

respects too."

"But LOOK at me!" he wailed. "Black leather! Evilly glowing green

eyes! Mouth that can't stop smirking! I look like a VILLAIN!"

"He has a point," Amelia admitted.

Laughing, Lina shook her head. "You had me worried there for a minute,

N-kun! It's what's inside that makes you villainous or not... and even

what most people call a villain isn't! Most of US have been on wanted

posters at one time or another."

"You have?" This innocent game was really getting old, Nakoku grumbled

mentally.

"Mm-hmm. Actually, I think the MOST villainous one of us hasn't ever

been!"

Xelloss blinked. "Who, me?"

"But... but... I don't like it! WAAAAHHHHHH!" Nakoku broke into

a wail of tears that fountained out around him.

Zelgadis had made his bedroll and was crawling into it. "Are we

quite finished with these needless dramatics?" he asked, bored.

Sniffling, Nakoku nodded.

Off to one side, Xelloss was laughing. "N-kun," he chuckled,

head resting on a fist, "lying is a skill that takes years to cultivate.

Ordinary teenage boys don't have it."

"What do you mean? He's so mean to me!!!!" Nakoku wailed again.

The whole camp turned on Xelloss, picking up various heavy objects.

"Stop picking on him!" Amelia demanded.

"At this rate, we'll never get to sleep!" Lina added.

***

Xelloss waited until they were asleep to contact his mistress.

He wanted his attention free.

//Xellas-sama?//

A pause, then she answered. //Yes, Xelloss? Any news?//

//I have continued to feel our Master's presence every night,

mainly contacting Lina, noticably. She has also been using his

Power much more frequently. I believe progress is being made.//

//Good.//

//Thought you'd like that!// Xelloss sent her a mental grin,

and she grinned back. //He's also been causing some disturbance

in the sleep patterns of the others... nothing big, I think.//

//I have been working with the presence inside her now to

slowly wear away Amelia.// Xellas told him.

//Working?//

//It's very fun, really.//

//Great! Wish I could join in!//

//Me too, but it would draw her attention. Anything else?//

//We have been joined by one of Hers.//

A long pause now. //I see.//

//I don't think he knows it, though.//

//That's just like Her. Well, we'll see. Nothing we can do

against that one. We'll just play the hand we have, and bluff if

necessary.//

//As always.//

//Yes, Xelloss. As always. And how is your chimera?//

//That's the odd part. He's been having nightmares as well,

but I don't think He has done anything there yet. Don't really

understand it.//

A sense that Xellas had shifted. //I don't suppose it could

just be spillover?//

//Probably.//

//Have you checked it out?//

//Not yet,// Xelloss hedged.

//Xelloss? Don't get your emotions confused with your duty.//

//I know, Xellas-sama. Don't worry, I'm no longer that young.//

Chuckle. //That's good. Keep in contact.// She broke the mind-jioning.

Xelloss lay back. "Not that young," he murmured aloud. "I'm

just waiting until a better time."

***

//"Hello, Lina."

Lina didn't turn. "You again."

"You're surprised?"

"Frankly, no."

He laughed. "That's good."

"I just don't want you here. What is it I did last time(?),"

she wondered aloud. "Oh yeah. Cepheed. Cepheed Cepheed."

"What makes you think that attracting his attention would

be any better?" Shabrinigido asked her.

"Just a guess? Cepheed! Here, Cepheed! Good dragon god!"(w2)

Suddenly, another woman's voice was there. "Hey, Lina."

"Who are YOU?" Lina demanded.

"Don't want to say just yet. I'm just here to get you out."

Shabrinigido was looking mad now. "I don't recall inviting

you."

"Naw, but she did by default. You know, delegation of authority

and all that. Hold on, Lina, I'm just booting you into a nicer dream

for a moment."

"But I--"

MMmm... food... food everywhere... Lina began salivating.//

***

"You should not be here," he told her sternly.

Luna shook her head, sighing. "You know, Shabby, you're going

about this the entirely wrong way."

He crossed his arms, unamused, shoulder pads growing spikes

as the dreamworld took his displeasure and made it visible. "I don't

recall asking for advice from YOU."

The Knight of Cepheed snorted. "You should, though. I know

my little sister, and I know that the thing she HATES is getting people

trying to seduce her, mentally or physically. It's a childhood thing."

Shabrinigido bowed sarcastically. "And what do YOU suggest?"

"Just offer her the power. It gets more attractive the less

words come with it." Luna shrugged. "I figure, since she's basically

had the world offered to her before by the Lord of Nightmares, it

can only be LESS attractive when offered by, frankly, a lesser god."

For a moment, the dark lord didn't seem to know whether to

laugh or get angry, then he shook his head. "And why should I believe

you'd help me?"

"Believe it or not, Cephy isn't as mad at you as you are at him.

His kids are, of course, but they're like that. After all, I'm the

only one who can pass on his messages, and a lot of them don't wanna

listen to a human." Luna waved a hand slightly, and a waiter's tray

appeared in it. "Being a Knight doesn't pay the bills, but it's what

I am. And Lina is your Knight... but she doesn't wanna accept it. You're

not helping that. Apologize to her."

Shabrinigido shifted to his Mazoku form, looming over her. "You

expect ME to apologize to a human?!"

Luna wasn't fazed. "Look, Shabby, you're not going to help

along the rest of the world for another few years. You're partly dead.

Cephy's in a coma. And both of you are needed for the whole end of

world bit, unless Lina gets really pissed and miscasts the Giga Slave.

So you might wanna cut your losses and get on her side, because chances

are it's gonna be the winning one."

Teeth clicking together, Shabrinigido seemed to be considering

this. "Why did you come? Why not Cepheed himself, if he's so

forgiving of the past?"

"Cephy's not too strong right now. And you yourself couldn't

have done this until a little while ago. Maybe another time." Luna

rearranged things on her serving tray. "You could do dinner some

time. I know some nice places."

"Mazoku don't--"

Luna shrugged. "I tried! Anyway, think about it, 'kay?"

Suddenly, she was gone.

Shabrinigido frowned, as much as he could, then returned

most of his conciousness back to his current resting place.

***

//"Amelia."

Amelia looked around. Not again. Please, please, not again.

"Think about it. Every time he is injured, think about it.

Think of your love for him."

The shaman blinked. This was a new refrain. "Hey, are you

the same person?"

Pause. "Always. Just think, Amelia. Consider the offer."

"I will."//

***

//"Lina?" Gourry looked around. Funny, he was SURE Lina had

been there just a minute ago.

"What do you want?"

He looked up. She was floating above him, cloak and hair

flying in the wind. Her eyes were glowing red. "Woah, Lina, it's

a new look for you... I like it though..."

"Do you want me, Gourry?" Lina smiled, eyes narrowing sweetly.

He blushed. "I... I mean... Lina... You... I..."

"Too bad, Gourry." Her hands raised, and in them was pure

fire. "Too bad. I don't want you."

Stunned, Gourry watched the flame rush towards him.//

***

Guntair rolled over in his sleep, murmuring Amelia's name.

//"Amelia..."

Sleepily, she smiled up at him. "Hey, Gun."

"I love you."

One of her small, almost child-like hands caressed his face.

"I know. I love you too."

Her eyes were blue. No, they were violet. Wait... now they

were red. Guntair frowned. "Amelia? Why are your eyes doing that?"

Violet. "Doing what?"

Blue. "Changing colours?"

And red. "I don't want to lie to you Gun... but I don't know."

Guntair was shaking. Something was wrong here. "There's something

not right..."

"Does it matter?" Blue. "I'm still me." (B18)

Uncertainly, he pulled her close again, burying his face in her

shoulder, not wanting to look at those eyes any more. "I know."//

***

//"Hey, Xel, whatcha doing?"

The younger Mazoku held a finger up to his lips. "Shh... you'll

scare it away."

Xerinier peered around at the butterfly Xelloss was stalking.

"Pretty thing."

"Look at the eyes on its wings." Purple, like their own. "Isn't

it just perfect?"

Suddenly, Xelloss dived, coming up with something inside his

hands. "Got it! It's struggling, but I have it!"

"Rub the stuff on its wings off," Xer advised. "It won't be

able to fly away, then."

"I thought that was moths."

"Try anyway."

Xelloss shrugged and complied. "Damn!"

"What? What?" Xer demanded.

"Ripped it!"

Xer shrugged. "Useless now, let it go." Silently, they watched

it flop on the ground. "You can always find another," Xer pointed out.

"That was the first one I'd found, but..." Xelloss trailed out.

"Anyway, wanna play a game?"

Suddenly, Xer remembered what he'd come out for. "Papa's looking

for you."

Immediatly, Xelloss stood. "You waited this long? I can't

keep him waiting."

"Hey, maybe you should show him what you're made of," Xer joked.

"One, two, and he'll be obeying your orders!"

Xelloss closed his eyes, then opened them as he tripped over a

root, phazing out before he hit the ground. "Gotta practice that," he

muttered, before turning back to Xer. "If I do that, though, he really

WILL see what I'm made of... inside!"

"Where the hell's that namagomi?!"

"I can't believe you let him call you that," Xer whispered.

"Do I have a choice? Anyway... it's better than some things

he could call me."

Their father came into view. "You're never around when I want

you! Haven't you learned enough yet?"

"Yes, Papa."

"Yes you haven't?" Their father laughed slyly. "Well, I'll just

have to show you!"

"Yes, Papa."//

***

The spirit watched that chimera toss in its sleep. Xelloss had

moved over beside it and was watching it sleep.

'Invade its dreams!' the spirit urged, but Xelloss did nothing.

'Damn, it's like I do this for no reason.'

Was he going to be subservient his whole life? The spirit had

decided not. And the spirit was going to have his way.

'It just takes time and patience.'

***

//"Hey, Cephy."

At his name, the tall man turned gracefully, large feathered

wings somehow adding to his balance instead of hindering it. "Luna!"

he exclaimed. "A pleasure like always." He brushed his long white

hair out of his eyes.

For some reason, in the dreamworld, the only place he could

dwell for now, Cepheed always appeared in his half-ryuu form. "Any

news?"

Luna smiled, serving Cepheed some ice water. He needed no

sustinence in this world, but it was just something she always did.

"I was just talking to someone."

"Whom?"

"Guess."

Smiling, the Ryuzoku lord seemed to consider. "Your sister

called me. Her?"

"Only briefly, not the one I meant. Guess again."

"That Mazoku friend of yours? Whatever her name is?"

"Close. Think bigger. Guess again."

Cepheed's eyes widened. "You're kidding. Him? And he

let you talk?"

"No choice. Lina's dreammaking."

Whistling, Cepheed shook his head. "How was he?"

"Touchy," Luna shrugged.

"Same as always, then. Say anything interesting?"

Luna sat down in front of her Master. "He was upset you hadn't

come instead of me."

"I--"

"Yeah, I told him. Didn't listen."

Cepheed sighed. "He never does."

Luna smirked. "I can tell. Anyway, I told him that he wasn't

gonna win over Lina with seduction, yada yada. Upshot? He probably

won't do it, but he might think about it. He is getting stronger

though."

"How's the trip going?"

"I gotta stop to make a little money, you know. Just 'cause

I'm your Knight, people don't stop and give me free food, Cephy."

"Slowly, then?"

"I'll get there before Shabby's managed to get resurrected,"

Luna shrugged.

"You hope."

"Gettin' to know me too well," Luna laughed. "Yeah, but it's

as fast as I can go without actual teleportation."

Cepheed smiled. "Besides, you want to run into your sister."

"That too." Luna looked around. "Sorry, Cephy, gotta wake

up now. Bye!"

He wiggled his fingers in farewell at her, and she vanished.//

***

//Gold. Gold above him. Gold below him. Gold around him.

"Mother?"

'I'm Right Here, Nakoku.'

Gold.//

***

"Xelloss," Zelgadis murmured, shifting uncomfortably in his

sleep.

What do you dream of? Xelloss wondered, caressing his chimera's

face. Me? You stink of fear. I could find out why, but...

Not yet.

Maybe I'll even ask you before I do.

But not yet.

What is it like, to sleep? Second-hand experience tells me nothing.

Is it different to you?

Even nightmares... fresh and new? The past, the future, or just

an imagining?

What about me is scaring him?

Or should it be, what isn't?

***

"Right!" Lina said, feeling refreshed from her sleep. Bleary eyes

blinked at her. "So, who has the map?"

Nobody moved.

"I asked, who has the map?"

Slowly, Gourry raised a hand. "Ano... Lina?"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I, uh, tore it up in my sleep."

"YOU WHAT?!"

Gourry flinched. "I tore it up in my--"

"I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME, YOU IDIOT!" Lina slapped her head.

"Now what?!"

Quietly, Zelgadis spoke up. "I can guide you."

"Of all the... what?"

The chimera looked uncomfortable. "I can guide you. I used

to live around here."

"Great! And we can drop in to see your family as well!" Amelia

exclaimed. "I can't wait to meet your family."

"Why not?" Zelgadis said bluntly. "The one you met wasn't too

pleasant."

"Well, no, but that was just Rezo..."

Lina grinned, packing her bag. "They can't all be that psychotic,

right?"

"Don't bet on it," Zelgadis muttered.

Xelloss put an arm around his shoulders. "Aw, but I WANT to meet

your family, honey pie!"

"Don't call me that," the chimera growled warningly.

"You met Xellas-sama, who I GUESS you could call my family, so

it's only fair," the priest told him, smiling.

N-kun seemed uncertain, child's face serious. "You sure we should

stop? I've GOT to get going to Zefilia!"

"What are you doing there?" Lina asked. "Why Zefilia?"

"Dunno yet. Find out when I get there."

They nodded, not asking.

Amelia hesitated. "Xelloss-san? Why do you keep calling Zelgadis-san

that?"

"Calling him what?" Xelloss asked innocently.

"You know... that name..."

"Zelgadis? It's his name."

"No... the nickname..."

"Zel?" Xelloss seemed even sweeter. "It's a short form,

Amelia-chan!"

Amelia coughed. "No... your... uh... 'honey-pie'?"

"Oh, THAT name!" Xelloss smiled. "But isn't it so cute?!"

Zelgadis raised his hands warningly, light growing in them.

"That's it, you die."

"You're being hasty again, honey pie!"

"ELMEKIA LANCE!"

From the far side of the clearing, Xelloss coughed up smoke.

"THAT's why, Amelia... 'scuse me while I go all dazed and stuff... mmm..."

"Guntair-san?" Nakoku asked, tugging on the Ryuzoku's pants. "Are

all Mazoku that sick?"

"Yes, N-kun. At the very least." Unaccountably, Guntair was blushing.

"Oh."

Lina brushed off her hands. "Right! Someone pick up the stupid

Mazoku so we can get back on our way!"

***

Amelia frowned. "Ne, Zelgadis-san, shouldn't Xelloss-san have come

back to his senses yet?"

"I don't know," Zelgadis admitted, carrying the priest, who was twitching.

"Elmekia Lance is a very strong spell."

Suddenly, Xelloss opened his eyes, winking quickly at Amelia. He flashed

a quick victory sign. "Ne, Zel! You're carrying me! That's so sweet!"

Zelgadis snorted. "Whatever."

"It's adorable, really!"

Rolling his eyes, the chimera considered dropping him. "What has

gotten INTO you today?!"

"It's actually a question of what HASN'T--" Xelloss began. Zelgadis

made his decision and dropped him.

Nakoku looked at Guntair, worried. "Would you like my handkerchief?

That nosebleed's fairly nasty."

"No.. id's ogay..."

Behind them, Xelloss and Zelgadis were still arguing. "Xelloss,

stop hanging off my legs! We're trying to go somewhere here!"

"So am I!" Xelloss smiled.

"Hands off the legs!"

"Where would you like them instead?"

Guntair tilted his head back. "Agtually, yes blease."

"Don't make me hurt you!"

"Why not?" Xelloss was laughing.

Nakoku looked around. "Somebody help! I think Guntair's

going to faint from blood loss!"

"No... I'm okay... really..." Guntair's head bounced as it hit

the ground.

Once the group had revived Guntair and stopped the squabbling

with a couple of fireballs from Lina, which sent Xelloss back into a

catatonic state, they got moving again.

***

"Zelgadis, it's your house. You knock."

"My hands are full."

"Guys, Guntair's got another nosebleed!"

"It's still your house, Zel, you knock."

"I don't WANT to knock!"

"Zelgadis-san! Are you embarrassed?"

"Look at me, I'm scaly! Of course I'm embarrassed!" (B19)

"Well, knock anyway!"

"Do I have to?"

"This is insane!" Lina declared.

Xelloss nodded, obviously having been awake for a while

but pretending. "Okay." he hopped out of Zelgadis's arms.

"I'll knock!"

"NO! WA--"

Knock. Knock. Knock. The sound reverberated around the courtyard

of the huge mansion.

Zelgadis sweated. "I'm doomed."

The huge door swung open and a tiny woman with the same bouncy hair

as Zelgadis peered out. "Zel-chan? Is that you? ZEL-CHAN!"

The chimera gasped for air as his mother enveloped him in a bear

hug that would make a warrior envious. "Hi... mom..."

"Oh, and you brought friends!" Fast enough that they couldn't

avoid it, she gave them the same treatment, one after another. "This

is wonderful!"

"...yeah," Zelgadis agreed, trying to hide behind his hair.

His mother peered at him. "Ne, Zel-chan, haven't you been bathing

regularly? Your skin is... flaky."

"No, mom, I was cursed by Grandad. So I ran away from home. You

remember?"

She put on a lecturing pose. "I remember your running away, young

man, and don't think I've forgiven you yet!"

Zelgadis sighed and hung his head. Then there was the OTHER reason

he'd run away... "Yes, mom."

His mother was suddenly perky again. "So, introduce me to your

friends!"

"Uh... mom? Can we come in first?"

"Oh, of course!" As unstoppable as a tidal wave, his mother

ushered them in. "I'm Serin Graywers, Zel-chan's mommy, of course,

and I'm SO glad he's finally brought friends home..."

Under cover of her chatter, Xelloss leaned over and whispered,

"What a friendly lady."

"You could call her that."

"I'd be being generous, but I could."

Serin led them into the spacious reception room. "So, now that

we're in the nice, warm, house," she indicated the drafty room with

a wave of her hand. A gust of wind put out a torch on the wall, "why

don't you all introduce youselves?"

A long silence. Gourry hid behind Lina. "You're the leader,

you go first!"

"Uh..." Lina pulled Amelia forward. "You're a princess! You

go first!"

Desperately, Amelia grabbed N-kun and held him in front of her

like a shield. "You're the youngest! You go first!"

Nakoku squirmed out of her grasp and scampered behind Guntair.

"You're a dragon! You go first!"

Guntair sweated as Serin turned to look at him. "Uh..."

Xelloss stepped forward and took the woman's hand, smiling.

"Hello, Lady Serin! I'm Xelloss Metallium, a very, very, very,

very, very, very--"

Kicking him in the shin, Zelgadis whispered, "Just get on

with it!"

"--very good friend of your son's," Xelloss finished, shaking

her hand rapidly. "And I am incredably honoured to meet such a

beautiful young woman! Oh, and how surprised I was to learn that

you were Zel's MOTHER! You must be kidding, surely someone so young

and pretty MUST be his sister, his YOUNGER sister even!"

Serin giggled. "Oh, you! But you MUST stop, I'm a married

woman!"

Still smiling, Xelloss fell back, hand over his heart. "Ah,

such a pity! I shall have to find someone else, but it could never

be the same after meeting you, Lady Serin!"

Giggling, Serin leaned over towards Zelgadis, who seemed stuck

in face-fault. "I LIKE this one," she stage-whispered.

Clapping her hands together, Serin turned towards the others.

"Now, obviously if you've all come so far, one of you must be Zel-chan's

girlfriend. Now, which are you?"

Silence. They shifted nervously.

"Now, let's see... the blond woman, isn't it?"

Gourry looked around then pointed at himself in disbelief.

"Me?! I'm a guy!!!"

Serin peered at him. "You must be kidding, right, miss?"

Zelgadis shook his head. "Mom, that's a guy. Listen to his

voice, if you don't believe me."

"I just thought that she has a cold. Hmmm..." Serin lowered

her gaze to his pants. "You're right, he's a guy."

Blushing, Gourry tried even harder to hide behind Lina. "I...

I'm Gourry... I'm a swordsman..."

Serin giggled again. "I can tell... oh, you'll have a wonderful

time talking to Gery!" In a whisper to the others, she added, "Gery's

Zel-chan's daddy." She turned back to Gourry. "He's a retired

swordsman, you know."

"N... no, I didn't..."

Her attention was immediatly torn away again. "Let's see...

The red-head! She looks very active... Zel-chan likes active women..."

A quick glance at the chimera showed him clearly trying to will

himself to death.

Lina laughed, not too sure how to deal with this woman. "No,

actually, I'm not Zelgadis's girlfriend... I'm happily single, thank

you... I'm Lina Inverse."

Horror etched itself onto Serin's face. "You mean... the

abominable sorceress Lina Inverse?!"

Lina twitched. "I'm... not... abominable," she said, smiling

through gritted teeth.

"Oh, if you say so, dear." Serin was back to her perky self.

"So that leaves... her!"

Amelia's eyes widened and she blushed widely. "I'm actually

Guntair's girlfriend," she said, attaching herself to the dragon's

arm. "Right, Guntair?"

"Yeah! Yeah!" he yelped as she cut off his circulation. "You

are!"

Serin frowned. "You mean you haven't brought home a girlfriend?"

"No, mom," Zelgadis said softly, giving up on willing himself

to death and trying to make the floor swallow him instead.

"Oh dear, this is bad," Serin murmured. "Your father won't

be pleased." In a stage whisper, she informed the others, "Gery

thinks Zel-chan's a pansy."

Now Zelgadis had forgotten the floor and was simply trying to

disappear.

"So," Serin said, switching emotions with a speed to make

flying fishmen proud, "who are you, young miss?"

Amelia sweated. "I'm... Amelia. Call me Amelia!"

"A pleasure to meet you, Amelia! Perhaps you two young

ladies can help me in the kitchen later?"

They made uncertain noises until she turned her gaze on

Guntair. "So you are that young lady's boyfriend?"

"Uh.. yeah."

"Do you treat her right? You look like a rough fellow!"

Guntair blinked. "Me? Rough?"

"I hope you aren't abusive!"

"NO! Of course not! I love her a lot!"

"That's nice, dear," Serin smiled. Nakoku cringed as her

gaze travelled to him. "Oh no! Don't tell me this is your child!

Are you two even married?!"

Amelia blushed brightly. "He's not ours! He's just travelling

with us!"

"Good! A child his age shouldn't be travelling alone!" She

smiled at Nakoku. "And what's your name, little boy?"

"I'm N-kun..."

"What a CUTE name!" Serin gushed. Suddenly, the door from the

next room swung open.

"WOMAN! What are you doing, making all this racket?!"

"Look, dear, Zel-chan's home!"

The travellers looked up... and up... Zelgadis certainly

didn't get his height -- or lack thereof -- from his father. And

not only was he tall... he was brawny.

Xelloss whistled softly. "There's a good fighter."

Then Gery belched. "Gods, ZELgardis, you've certainly been

away a long time! Making a REAL man out of yourself, I hope? Gods,

I hope that this MONSTER isn't the thing that calls itself our son!"

Zelgadis sighed. "Hello, father. Rezo cursed me."

"Good for him, good for him," Gery harumphed. "By the way,

have you seen Rezo lately? He hasn't been by for a while."

"Yes, actually."

"Doing well?"

"We killed him. Twice."

"The stupid priest pro'ly deserved it. I still think that

magic in the family leads to defects."

Lina shifted angrily but didn't say anything.

"So, I hope you brought back a woman for yourself?"

"No, father."

Gery snorted in disgust. "Why am I not surprised? So neither

of these women are yours?" He gave Lina and Amelia a cursory inspection.

"Gods, they're wearing breeches! Din't anyone ever tell you two that

it's a woman's place to wear skirts and stay in the kitchen?!"

Amelia sweated. "Uh.. no... sir!"

Lina crossed her arms. "I'd like to, but there's work that has

to be done."

"None of that, woman!" Gery roared. "In MY house, a woman

does only housework! You unnerstand?"

Serin giggled and laid a hand on her husband's arm. "Oh, you!

They're guests, they're not going to be doing any work! Besides, we've

got servants to do that!"

"It's still 'mproper!" Gery insisted.

Xelloss snickered, leaning towards Zelgadis. Imitating Serin's

voice, he murmured, "I LIKE this one."

"You! Did you just talk back to me?"

"Don't bait him," Zelgadis warned quietly, but the smile on

Xelloss's face told him he might not have bothered.

"Me? Talk back? Yes, that was me," Xelloss said, smiling

brightly. "Do you want me to do it again?"

Gery walked up to the Mazoku and gave him a quick once over.

"He looks fey," he said in disgust. "I'm not havin' no fey boys

stayin' in my house."

"Oh, didn't your wife tell you that I'm terribly enamoured

with her and want her to run away with me after a whirlwind romance?"

Xelloss asked mildly.

"WHAAAT?!"

Serin giggled yet again. "Oh, don't worry about him, dear. Why

would I run off with him, when I have you?"

"He tried to take you away from me?!" Gery was beginning to turn

red with anger. "I oughta--"

"Oh, don't, dear! Your heart!"

"But Lady Serin," Xelloss sighed. "Don't you want a demon

lover?"

Zelgadis covered his eyes with his hand. "Let me just die now,"

he said faintly.

"A demon?" Lady Serin gasped, going pale. "Oh, my!"

Gery snorted. "Demon? There's no such thing as demons! Only

a pansy would need to make such a thing up to protect himself!"

Xelloss opened his eyes and his smile darkened. "I beg to

differ, there are indeed such things as demons." (B20)

Serin put a hand to her forehead. "Oh, I think I'm going to

faint!"

Sweating, Guntair slapped Xelloss across the side of the head

with the flat of his sword. "You'll have to forgive him, Sir Gery,

he was dropped on his head a few too many times as a baby and is a

little... you know..." Guntair spun his finger beside his ear.

Bored with the last game and wanting to move on to a new one,

Xelloss smiled at a plaster bust on the wall. "Oh, lady! How

beautiful you are! Surely just one kiss..."

"See," Guntair said, sweating even more strongly.

Gery nodded, warily. "I see. A room away from everyone else,

then."

Xelloss hugged a coat-rack. "Beautiful lady!"

Harumphing, Gery turned to his wife. "Well, woman, are you

going to stand there, or are you going to show them to their rooms?"

"Oh, yes! We kept your room just the way it was, Zel-chan!"

Serin exclaimed, recovering in record time.

Grinning widely, Xelloss gave Amelia a huge hug, burying

his face in her busom. "Oh, my love! What large--"

Teeth bared in something resembling a grin, Guntair backhanded

Xelloss into the far wall.

***

"See?" Serin said triumphantly. "Isn't his room ADORABLE?!"

A long silence. "It's so... cute!" Amelia exclaimed.

His bedsheets had puppy dogs on them. Posters of famous heros

adorned the walls. The carpet was fluffy.

Zelgadis groaned and sunk to the floor. "Really... mom... you

didn't need to keep my room EXACTLY the same..."

Wandering past into the room, Xelloss picked up a book left on

the bed. "How to be a Hero in Three Easy Lessons," he read. Briefly,

he raised an eyebrow at the book, then gave it a hug. "My lady, my

love! How your..."

Pouting at Zelgadis, Serin said, "But Zel-chan, it was the only

thing of you we had LEFT! We had to keep it!"

Guntair stopped snickering as Amelia elbowed him.

A whistling noise sprung up from somewhere downstairs, and Serin

headed for the stairs. "That's the tea! Be up with it in a minute!!"

As soon as she was gone, Xelloss stopped embracing the book,

sat on Zelgadis's bed, and opened it to page one. "Interesting reading

material, Zel."

Zelgadis sighed. "Father gave it to me."

"Ah. Explains everything."

"Zelgadis!" Lina exclaimed. "I never expected your room to be

so..."

"One comment about the room and I blow this whole place up,

okay?"

"... Okay."

Serin's voice floated up from downstairs. "Tea's ready! Come

and have some and then I'll show the rest of you to your rooms!"

***

The excitable old woman smiled at them. "So... Lina-chan, what

do you do for a living?"

Lina stared into her tea cup. "Well, mainly I wipe out bandit

holdings and steal their treasure, but sometimes I save the world.

The latter doesn't put food on the table, though."

"How fun! Do you enjoy your work?"

Slowly, Lina realized that Serin only listened to half of what

she was saying. "I wouldn't say ENJOY, but listening to bandits

scream and plead for their lives is sort of thrilling."

"That's nice, dear. And you, Xelloss-san, what do YOU do?"

Xelloss smiled brightly. "Mainly I hinder people, spy, kill,

and work with my entire race's goal, which is to bring about the end

of the world as you normal mortals know it."

"Sounds like interesting work!" Serin gushed. "Does that mean

you're self-employed?"

"No, actually, I work for one of the five dark generals under

Ruby-Eyed Shabrinigido. She likes to chase living creatures, make

them offer anything for their survival, then kill them anyway."

"How wonderful!" Serin turned to Amelia. "What about you,

dear? Do you want to be a housewife?"

Amelia jumped to her feet and posed. "I am a champion of justice!"

"Hard work?"

"These days, yeah."

Serin smiled at her and Lina. "Would you two like to help me

make dinner?"

What could they say. "Um, okay," Ameila agreed uncertianly.

"Why not?" Lina shrugged.

Nervously, Guntair leaned over to Amelia. "Say... have you

ever cooked before?"

"Sometimes... well, I try..."

He sweated. "I... see."

Clapping her hands together excitedly, Serin took their unfinished

tea away from them and swept them to their feet. "I'll just show you

to your rooms and then we girls can get cooking!"

***

Guntair poked at the burned thing in front of him with a fork.

"Ano... what IS it?" he asked cautiously.

"It's chicken... chicken... chicken something!" Amelia said

proudly. "The rest didn't turn out but Serin-san saved the best

so you could try it!"

He forced a smile. "Great! I'm... honoured."

Gourry stuck his spoon into his soup and tried to lift it again.

It stuck there. Pulling hard, he managed to detach the spoon, but

couldn't get the soup off the spoon in his mouth. "It's really good,"

he lied, resorting to using his knife to lever it off.

"It's not too thick?" Lina asked nervously.

"Thick?! No... it's just the way I like it!" (B21)

Meanwhile, Serin was bringing in her own cooking for the others.

Setting bowls down, she began serving them. "Xelloss-san, you really

must try this spaghetti!"

Xelloss raised a hand. "I don't really eat very much."

She waggled a spoon at him, spraying sauce. "A growing boy like

you needs good nourishment. If you don't eat every bite that I put out,

I'll be Very Insulted."

The Mazoku sweatdropped as she continued ladling pasta and sauce onto

his plate, forming a huge mound.

After serving him, she turned to Zelgadis. "Now, Zel-chan, how

much would you like?"

"I'll... stick to the tea," Zelgadis told her.

"Nonsense! Am I your mother?"

"Yes, mom."

She smiled determinedly. "Then when I say you eat, you eat."

Zelgadis sighed. "Yes, mom."

***

Xelloss smiled as he listened to the latch fall into place

on the outside of his door. They obviously didn't want the crazy

man getting out in the night.

Whistling, he examined the room. It clearly hadn't been used

for years, layers of dust on everything, window cracked, potted plants

long dead. "What a lovely room," he murmured.

Still, just a little longer to wait, and he wouldn't be there any

more.

***

//Xerinier watched as claws opened his brother's chest, revealing

internal organs. Xelloss's eyes were closed, no noise escaping other

than the rasping of his breath.

"This is wrong," Xerinier said aloud.

Their father turned towards him slightly. "What did you say?"

"I don't like this," Xerinier said stubbornly. "Xel didn't do

anything wrong."

"You..." their father began to walk towards him. "I give you

life, a place to stay, and THIS is how you respond?" Suddenly, his

movement was hampered slightly by Xelloss hanging off a leg.

"Papa, don't get mad at Xer! He didn't mean it!" A quavering

smile appeared on the child's face. "'Sokay, Xer, I don't..."

Their father reached behind him and jabbed his clawed hand INTO

the wound, reaching for Xelloss's heart--//

Zelgadis sat bolt upright, shaking off the hand that had touched

him. "Who... what... what's going on?"

Xelloss's face, adult, smiled at him. "You were having a nightmare.

Thought I'd wake you."

Slowly, Zelgadis's heart calmed. "Oh... yes, that's right.

A nightmare."

The Mazoku curled up next to him. "Ne, ne, Zel... don't you think

that you should tell me what these nightmares are about? You're having

them every night. Frankly, you're becoming a wreck. What if we get

into a fight?"

"I'll be fine," Zelgadis whispered. "I don't want to talk about

them."

"Maybe talking will help."

"I said, I'll be fine!" His voice was getting too loud, and he

lowered it again hurriedly. "Besides, what could talking do?"

Xelloss wrapped his arms around the chimera and nuzzled his neck.

"It might make you feel better."

Zelgadis tried to slide away, but the priest wasn't letting him

go anywhere. "Let go!"

"Uh-uh." Xelloss grinned. "Either we talk, or we play."

Snarling at that smiling face, Zelgadis said, "I don't suppose

if you're so worried about the sleep I'm getting you'll just let me

go back to sleep?"

"And have another nightmare? Now, really..."

"All right," Zelgadis sighed. "They're kind of... stupid, really."

He paused, and Xelloss made an encouaging noise.

"They're about... you, as a child. And your brother... and your

father... They were... very violent."

The trickster whistled softly. "Now THAT's unusual... especially

since I've never talked about my father." His brows creased

slightly. "Hmmm... sounds like induced dreaming."

"What?"

"Induced dreaming. Nobody living's been around to do it, so I

have to say it's probably a spirit, either a nature spirit or a spirit

of the dead. Though I don't know why it'd choose you or that subject."

Xelloss shrugged.

Zelgadis toyed with the stupid bedsheets. "How do I... stop this?"

"Oh, you don't. You can't, you're the dreamer. However," Xelloss

smiled, "I can. You'd have to let me into your dream, though." When

Zelgadis hesitated, he added, "I've already been in your mind, way back,

remember? So it's not much different, except you aren't awake."

"And you can stop this?"

"I think so. Have to confront whoever's doing it, but it should

still be easy."

Finally, Zelgadis nodded. "Okay. What do I have to do?"

"Just go to sleep. I'll do the rest."

***

//Lina sighed heavily. Why this again? She didn't even turn.

"I know you're there."

"Yes."

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't just get out of this dream

now?"

Silence.

"Okay." She raised her voice. "Cep--"

"I'm sorry," Shabrinigido said.

Lina's jaw dropped. "What?"

"I'm... sorry. My power is yours, whatever use you choose

to make of it. I was trying to manipulate you to my own ends.

I'm sorry."

She turned to see the dark lord with an apologetic look on his

face. "You're... sorry?" Lina could hardly believe it. Shabrinigido

was apologizing?!

He didn't meet her gaze. "Yeah. You're my Knight, and I made

that choice for better or for worse. You'll have to discover by

yourself what that means, but my power will always be there for you."

She shook her head. "What's the catch?"

Grinning, he pulled her close. "Why do you think there has

to be a catch?" Suddenly, he kissed her, full on the lips.

Her eyes widened. "Mph hassa! Mfffmugg!"

Releasing her, he smiled. "There. See you again, Lina."

He vanished from her dream, leaving her dizzy and angry.

"That bastard! Why should he even THI--"

The landscape shifted around her as a more normal dream

took over. She was in a city, and a huge marshmallow with Gourry's

head was trashing it...

She couldn't let him get away with that. It wasn't the distruction

of the city she minded... but so much sweet sugary stuff in one place

and it was going away from her? No way.// (B22)

***

Amelia clutched at her bedsheets, eyes wide. "I am not going

to sleep... I am not going to sleep... I am not... zzzsh... uh! No,

I can't... zzzzshttt..."

Strangely, that night, Amelia dreamed only of playing with adorable

little babies... cute, black-haired, yellow-eyed babies... with wings...

***

Xelloss smiled gently at his sleeping chimera, watching as Zelgadis's

eyebrows already began to crease as the nightmare set in. These feelings...

they were odd in a way, so protective, but he couldn't deny that they

were... nice.

He shook his head. "More important things now..."

Getting comfortable -- his body would go limp as his astral form

took over -- Xelloss carefully, using his staff for a focus, touched

Zelgadis's forehead, extending his conciousness out... and in...

//"Papa!" Young Xelloss gasped, as his father's claws closed

around his heart.

"Do you trust me, namagomi?" His father asked cruelly, tightening

his hand.

"Yes, papa!"

Snorting, their father released his heart and flung him into the

far wall. "You are nothing. I don't know why I keep you ar--"

Xerinier stood, angry, as their father turned when the blast hit

him. Not very powerful from a Mazoku as young as Xer, it did little more

than scorch his skin. "You little bastard," their father snarled.

"How DARE you?"

Xer smiled. "Go on. I'm not scared."

Roaring, his father advanced. Xer closed his eyes briefly and

took his Mazoku form, still much the same as his usual, but large

leathery wings extended from his back and claws from his fingers

and toes. A dark aura hovered around him.

But it was no good against someone stronger both physically and

in power as their father was. Xer made a small noise, half pain

half pleasure as their father's claws swiped across his belly, his chest,

a fist slamming into his head. His eyes widened as his father took

ahold of an arm with each of his own and began to pull...//

"Stop," Xelloss commanded and the scene froze.

Zelgadis turned and saw Xelloss, the adult Xelloss, HIS Xelloss

floating beside him, watching with him. Xelloss smiled sadly.

"Yes, I was afraid of this. That was exactly the way it was, you

see, Zel? And there's only a few people who know that." He shook

his head. "You can come out," he called softly.

"Indeed."

The voice was almost that of a child, one barely into adolescence.

Both Zelgadis and Xelloss turned.

Xerinier tossed back long hair, blood trickling down from his forehead.

His wings were torn, bone showing, slashes were across his chest, his

stomach, and faint lines at the joining of legs, arms, and head to his

body were present. The blood was forming a slight puddle at his feet,

sitting on nothingness. "Hello, Xelloss."

Xelloss smiled. "Happy one-thousanth."

"Hardly." The dead Mazoku's expression was harsh, and the smile

on the trickster's face faded. "How can you have done this to yourself?"

Xerinier demanded.

Shaking his head, Xelloss asked, "Do what? I killed them for you,

Xer. I grew strong. What's wrong?"

Xerinier spat. "I fought the pull of her resting place for you.

I wanted to see you safe. For a while, I actually thought you'd broken

out from that stupid pattern. And now look at you."

Confusion warred inside Zelgadis. The child, the adult, the brother...

so alike and so different. Why was Xerinier hating Xelloss like this?

Xerinier was one of the few people Xelloss spoke of with real love...

why was this happening?

"I don't understand." Xelloss was echoing Zelgadis's thoughts.

"What do you mean, Xer?"

"You've made yourself servile again!" Xerinier shouted. "All

very well and good to have power, but you just let yourself become a

servant to other people after killing your OLD master! How could you

do this? I DIED for your freedom!"

Xelloss took a step forward. "I'm not a servant. I may serve

Xellas-sama, but I'm not a servant, really. We're more friends. She

GAVE me all her power because she trusted me."

"Huh." Xerinier snorted. "You still serve. You were meant

to be a loner, Xelloss. Serving a master is bad enough, even if she

is one of Shabrinigido's generals... but this!" He pointed at Zelgadis.

"This is the last straw!"

Zelgadis's jaw dropped.

"Excuse me?" Xelloss demanded. "Why the HELL should my choice

in lovers affect you?!"

"You could have such power, Xel! If only you weren't making LESS

of yourself! Your OLD lovers had the right idea, find a lover for

power and use him or her! And now what? You find a... a ROCK that

makes you feel sentimental and BIND yourself to him, cutting down

on your power and what you're willing to do to get your way! They're

all USING you! Maybe not the same way Father used you, but they

still are!"

Xelloss shook his head. "You're. Wrong."

"You know I'm not, otherwise you wouldn't be angry!"

"I'M ANGRY--" Xelloss stopped, then took a breath to

calm himself. "I'm angry, Xer, because I thought that you, of all

people, would understand. My love for Zel and my affection for Xellas

doesn't make me subservient. I serve Xellas but I am still, in many

ways, my own master, because I CHOSE to serve Xellas. And Zelgadis--

just because I DO things for him doesn't mean that he OWNS me. Ne,

Zel?"

It was difficult to make his voice work in a situation like this.

"I never even assumed I own you. You're far too independant."

Xerinier laughed bitterly. "Oh, sure, he says that, and you'll

believe him. He makes you weak, Xel, and you shouldn't put up with

that."

"Yes, perhaps he does," Xelloss admitted, and Zelgadis felt his

heart just sink. "But I made you weak, too, because you loved me. You

died because you loved me."

"That's different!"

"How?"

The spirit shook his head rapidly. "Because I... you... it just

was!" He pointed a finger at Xelloss accusingly. "You're trying to

change the subject! I'd tried to drive him away from you with his dreams,

hoping that if he left you you'd remember the way things really are."

"I appreciate your intentions, Xer. And I am desperately greatful

for what you did so many years ago. But in this you're wrong. Though it

makes me weaker, it also makes me stronger, because I have something to

fight FOR."

Xerinier shook his head again. "No! I won't listen to this! You

need to be free, Xel! And I can't let it go like this!" He turned to

Zelgadis. "I'll destroy his mind and then you'll be free!"

Xelloss stepped in front of Zelgadis. "Sorry, Xer, but I can't

let you do that. Don't make me fight you, I really don't want you.

You're the only happy memories from back then." He smiled. "I'm

happy now, don't you see? Whether I serve Xellas or whatever you think,

can't you tell I'm happy? What else is important? I wasn't happy with

pa... with father. I am happy now."

"But you're happy for the wrong reasons!" Power began to gather

in the spirit's hands. "You should be happy for the right ones."

The priest raised his hand, and his staff appeared in it.

"Please, Xer, stop now. Don't go any further. Please."

"I have to! I have to do it for you!" Xerinier's power was

burning bright now, and it exploded outward into Zelgadis's dream.

Painpainpain, memories of pain, memories of horror, people dying,

wrong ones living... The dreams burning... Xelloss laughing and killing,

Xerinier's body lying torn apart on the ground but not quite dead...

pain... Make it stop!! Zelgadis's mind screamed.

And suddenly it did.

Zelgadis blinked, as though a bright light had just flashed in his

eyes. "Wha--"

Xelloss stood before a fading spirit version of Xerinier. "How

could you?" Xerinier whispered, eyes wide. "Why?"

"I'm sorry, Xer." Xelloss reached out and tried to take the spirit's

hand. "I'm sorry. You wouldn't understand, you wouldn't stop. I didn't

want to."

"Why?!"

There was nothing left but a wisp of the spirit left now, but

Xelloss answered it anyway. "Because you forced me to choose between

two things I loved. I'm sorry."

It was gone. Xelloss turned back to Zelgadis, wiping a streak

of blood like a tear from his face. "Well... it's over. You shouldn't

have nightmares like this any more."

Oh... Zelgadis slowly realized what Xelloss must have done.

"L-sama... gods... Xelloss, I'm sorry. I didn't want anything like this

to happen."

"It's okay," Xelloss said absently. "He was already dead for

a thousand years."

"But... your memory wasn't."

"No... but my memory's still there, even if he's changed what

it meant." A corner of Xelloss's mouth twitched up in an attempt at

a smile. "It's okay. It's better than not having dealt with it

at all and letting him remain so angry, ne?"

At you... Zelgadis didn't say it. "Th-- thank you." Why were

the words so awkward in his mouth. "And... I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Xelloss's attempt at a smile was better this time.

"It's better this way... isn't it?"

Zelgadis didn't have an answer.

"Anyway..." the Mazoku paused for a long moment. "You must have

other dreams... do you mind if I stay and watch? I don't... have

dreams of my own."

What could he say? Zelgadis just nodded as the dreamscape

began to shift around them. "Of course."

***

Early in the morning, Gery hesitated outside Zelgadis's door.

His son was back. He probably should go in there and give him a

better greeting.

Damn, if he never knew how to behave around the boy!

Still, he WAS his son...

Gery opened the door and his eyes went wide as he saw the

purple-haired fey-looking boy curled up beside his son. "Z...Z..

ZELGARDISSSS!" he screamed, waking everyone in the household up.

***

"Why are we running again?" Nakoku panted as they sped through

the forest.

"Overstayed... welcome," was all Zelgadis answered.

Amelia coughed. "We've been running a long time... surely

your father would have... given up by now?"

An angry shout behind them told them otherwise. "Zelgardis,

you get back here, you..."

"What did you DO?" Lina demanded, not pleased to be running

away this early in the morning.

"I didn't DO anything," Zelgadis told them, not exactly a lie.

"Dad just... doesn't get along with me... and they're both a bit..."

"Insane?" Guntair put in. "We'd kinda... noticed..."

"Right!" Lina flung a fireball back, frying Gery. "It's okay,

Zel, I lowered the power, it should stop him but not hurt him!"

Xelloss, floating with them, glanced back. "Uh, Lina-san,

don't look now, but you've started a forest fire that's rushing

towards us much faster than Gery could have..."

Lina glanced back. "Oh no!"

"I told you not to look!"

It was odd, in a way, Zelgadis noted. Sometimes, the more

things changed...

"We're gonna die!" Nakoku wailed. "WAAAAAHHHH!"

...the more they stayed the same.

END Family part 2: Gathering No Moss.

Writer's notes:

W1: Whoo-hoo. Evangelion flashbacks...

W2: grrr... "No, bad Cepheed! No tearing Shabrinigido's pants!" grr yip!



Beta reader's notes:

B1:Lessons Xelloss really didn't need to learn...

B2: Nightmares, as catching as the common cold and just as hard to get rid of.

B3:Justice for her mother ... for all those like her ... just agree to become part of the race that feeds off that sorta thing.

B4: It's probably a good thing that Lina thought he was Gourry. Likely, it was the only thing that kept her from attempting to smash Maoh Shabranigdo into the nearest solid object.

B5:Poor Homen. Oh well, there are worse ways to go...

B6:Aww... the beastmaster really seems to have grown attached to her. Sorta cute. Sorta scary, but sorta cute.

B7:Footprints. Scent. Aura. Magical residue. Need I continue?

B8:Do the Slayers cast ever actually use horses that aren't attached to a cart of some kind? (W-yes, for food in a pinch.)

B9:"... contemplating whether or not I sould join with those funny eyes that seem to float in my soul, simply so I can get a decent night's rest."

B10:Someone's suicidal this morning...

B11:Welcome to the convention of people who use singleletters as names! I'm M, nice to meet you. S will be giving a lecture on the finer points of intimidation in a few minutes...

B12:Adults? A sorceress of indeterminate age who looks 15 or 16, a princess and a chimera who both look even younger ... that only leaves Xelloss, Guntair, and Gourry. An idiot swordsman, a maniac mazouku, and an emotionally stunted dragon. Yeah, sure. Adults. Whatever.

B13:Neither are you, Xel. Not much, anyway.

B14: Neither are you, Lina. You're acutually just a two-dimensional drawing, and your voice isn't even your own. Sorry.

B15:Does that mean she's nakid now? (W- Sorry, not rated R. Yet.)

B16:Mark your calenders everyone.

B17:Yeah, everyone's come out to celebrate Pick on Xelloss Day!

B18:Even though I'll probably be a pure Mazoku by the time we reach the Koku no Tani, and all your relatives will probably try to kill me.

B19:But you're pretty!

B20:Would he show them how his staff works?

B21:Ah, the lengths love will take thee

B22:Hmm... Lina eating Gourry? That's *beta-reader is drowned as the Gutter Tsunami hits her...*