A/N: Insert the standard "I don't claim the rights to these characters" spiel here. Beware, this story contains adult themes (i.e., big chunks o' lemon) and gets VERY explicit at times. Read at your own risk. Also, this story only covers the exploits of Lina and Xellos. Gourry, Amelia, and Zelgadis' adventures during the time frame that "Penance" takes place are detailed in a fic called "Pursuit of Merit", which is about halfway written but probably won't be done until '05. "Penance" is followed up by "Reckoning" and then "Absolution" series, all of which are available here on fanfiction.net.

You can view this story in its un-chaptered form at my website, also. I went back and broke it up into chapters because I was getting complaints that it was too long. Sorry if the chapter divisions seem awkward in places, or if some chapters seem too short or too long. That's what happens when you write a story without chapter divisions, and then later chop it up.

Reviews are welcome!!

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Two days later Xellos sat in a chair, heels propped up on a side table, quietly turning pages of a book in the firelight. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and he fingered a page, looking at the words but not reading. His glance stole over to where Lina was still sprawled in the bed, tangled in the heavy bedclothes and snoring softly. He smiled softly to himself, recalling the countless times during the blizzard that they had made love, the infinite number of intimate discussions while holding one another tightly. He was happy, he realized, perhaps for the first time in his existence. Oh, he had sampled glee, pleasure, satisfaction, et cetera in his life, but never such happiness. The feeling seemed to saturate his entire being, and he felt as if he could relive the past few days and never tire of them. He wondered, for the very first time in his memory, what the future held for him. Where would he be in twenty years? What did he want? An image of an older version of himself came to mind, sitting in a chair by the fire, grey at his temples and a great big book in his lap. Lina would be there, he would do his best to see to that, and perhaps even children, or grandchildren. A smile wound across his face and he shook his head at himself, thinking that it wouldn't be so bad, to live a mortal life. In the end, he could accept his mortality, if he could live it out with her.

A small sound roused him from his thoughts and he looked toward the bed, where Lina was waking up. Sighing, he put down his book and went to sit on the edge of the mattress, gently stroking her hair until her eyes fluttered open. Good morning, Lina dear, he whispered.

she grumbled. Why are you up? You should be in here, keeping me warm.

The blizzard stopped, he said by way of explanation. I imagine you'll be going back to the Library tomorrow, and I needed to catch up on the texts you wanted me to read. After all, you haven't given me very much free time in which to translate things.

Excuses, excuses, she grumbled, reaching up and tracing the muscular grooves in his torso. He snatched up her wrist and kissed the soft skin on the inside, earning himself a purr.

Three more months, he said, releasing her and standing.

Until what?

he explained, finding that he dreaded it. He knew Lina was up to something, and he wanted to be wandering again, but he had gotten used to their little, cozy life. He knew he was a bit nervous that Lina would decide to up and leave him. It would be bearable if she did, but it wasn't something he wanted to happen. What will you do in the spring, Lina? I never asked you.

She sighed and bunched up more pillow under her head and he tried to ignore the nervous pounding of his heart. Oh, I don't know, she replied. I don't think Lorander's giving me the whole picture. I thought I found what I was looking for, but it turns out that they're only half the books from a set. I need to read the others to really know what's going on. They aren't here, though. I suppose when the snow melts I'll go find the other parts of the set. I think they're in a place called Moleccia.

Xellos whispered, eyes narrowing.

Yeah. I figured you and I would head there as soon as we can.

One of the things he liked least about being a human was the way emotions could wage wars inside of him. A horrible battle was going on in him at the moment, between dawning horrified realization and aching joy that she wanted him to continue journeying with her. Joy won the struggle, and he broke out into a grin. Then that's where we shall go, he said, going to the window and looking outside. Snow covered almost the entire window, so deeply was it piled outside. He stood with his back to her, leaning against the wood and unintentionally blocking her view of the snow. A scowl broke over his face and he glared outside, his misgivings surging to the surface again. Yes, it was very nice that she was going to have him stay with her. However, Moleccia had been an ancient capital for research in the time before the War of the Monster's Fall. It was famous for its endeavors to find a way to defeat Monsters once and for all. Was that what Lina was after as well, or was it merely a coincidence that the volumes she was searching for were in Moleccia?

You know, her voice said from the bed, and he smoothed out his features before turning to her with his customary smile.


I was always curious about you, before.

He slowly opened his eyes.

She smiled lazily at him. Yeah. I wondered what your body was like underneath all those clothes. I was curious if Monsters in physical form were similar to human men. I also wanted to know how your tastes ran.

Well, my body looked exactly the same before, he explained, eyes following her as she gracefully rose from the bed, wrapping sheets around her and going to where he had tea brewing on the hearth. As for my tastes, I think you know them by now.

She laughed and poured herself a cup of tea, leaning a hip against one of the many tables in the cooking area. You like everything and anything, and so far you haven't done the same thing twice.

He raised an eyebrow, stepping away from the chilly wall and folding his arms across his bare chest. I could say the same for you.

Her laughter resounded through the cabin again and she smiled, putting down her cup as she watched him come over to her. It's just so much fun, she murmured, putting her hands on his shoulders and placing her head on his chest. She trailed her fingers down to his cold-hardened nipples and drew little circles around the sensitive flesh, making him smile.

I'll play as long as you like, he said softly in reply, taking her hand and pressing it firmly to his chest so that she could feel his heartbeat. Looking down into her eyes, he realized that he cared very deeply for this woman, would die for her if necessary. It wasn't the same caring he had for her before; back then he had only cared for her like a pet or a favorite toy. Now, however, he found he was truly happy to spend every waking second with her.

Lina whispered, and stood on tiptoe to kiss his neck.

Knowing that all her bare skin was just fractions of inches away from him, he decided that now was as good a time as any to start a round of lovemaking. His long, elegant hands turned her away from him and towards the fire, his fingers tracing her neck as she leaned back into him and sighed. With a single pull he released the drawstring on his pants and stepped out of them, pressing his body the length of hers as he let his hands wander beneath the sheet. He gently caressed her body, finding all the little spots she was fond of and manipulating them, his touch becoming more and more impassioned as time wore on and her reactions became more violent. With a single gesture he lowered her to the rug in front of the heart and pushed the sheet up over her hips, shuddering as he drove into her from behind and she cried out. Lina was a noisy lover and he found that he thoroughly enjoyed it. After all, his objective was to take her to higher states of euphoria each time he touched her, and her sounds seemed to be a good gage of how well he was doing.

He spread her legs with his thighs and pushed himself to the hilt, gently rubbing her back with his palms as he felt her stretch and change to accommodate the new position. He leaned over her back and rested his head between her shoulder blades, closing his eyes and controlling his breathing. He didn't want to rush it, and so fought the desire to begin immediately. Her muscles tightened around him and he emitted a low sound somewhere between a growl and a groan. He began to withdraw as slowly as he could manage, feeling her skin clinging to his as he moved. A long noise left her, like an elongated sigh with a deeper timbre, and he saw her dig her fingers into the rug. He pushed himself into her again, once more going as slowly as he possibly could, aware of the fluctuations of her inner muscles as he did so. He buried himself in her as deeply as he could, closing his eyes and shuddering as her fluids began to work their way down the front of his thighs. That was one more spectacular characteristic of Lina's: it didn't take long for her to be worked up beyond belief. Her own natural passion made his job very, very easy.


He repeated the slow process several more times, finally clenching his jaw with the effort of going at such a pace, Lina crying out as she allowed her torso to collapse to the rug. Her ragged panting was one of the sweetest sounds he had ever heard, and he smiled as he pounded into her faster, earning himself a yell. He gripped her hips tightly, stabilizing them as he began to move slightly more quickly. She cried out and the sound encouraged him, his breathing beginning to come more deeply as he closed his eyes and reveled in the feel of her. Leaning over her back, he delighted in the sensation of her smooth, flawless skin against his chest and cupped her breasts in his hands, fingering her nipples and taking the back of her neck in his teeth. He heard his name shouted as he increased the tempo yet again, sliding in and out of her easily. He bit down harder on the skin of her neck and was rewarded with a passionate cry as she pushed her torso level with the rest of her body, making it easier for him to get at her neck. Finally it seemed like reason abandoned him altogether and he moved against her as quickly as he could, carried along by her escalating sounds. He had the fleeting thought that he was very happy they had no neighbors, then tumbled over his limit violently. His entire body spasmed and he cried aloud for the first time, but he continued moving until she also came. She collapsed entirely beneath him, and he felt a split-second of panic as he crashed down on top of her. He pulled out of her and rolled to the side, taking some of her sheet and pulling it over the both of them. She lay flat on the floor, smiling at him from underneath half-closed eyelids.

We need to buy a new rug for the hearth, he said, putting a hand over his eyes and stretching his muscles. I'm afraid we've ruined this one.

We can take care of that when we get back into town, she murmured, sidling over to him and lying with her head on his chest. Her hand snaked down between his legs, wiping her fluids from his skin. He smiled and kissed the top of her head, the afterglow still filling him with a loose, warm feeling.

Yes, we can discuss that later, he mumbled, and closed his eyes, just enjoying being next to her.

Half an hour later, Lina rolled over and rubbed the back of her neck. They still hadn't moved from the rug in front of the hearth, nor had shown any inclination to. You left a mark! she said, fingering her skin.

He reached over and pushed up the heavy length of her hair, eyes widening when he saw a red little nip-mark on her skin. Oh, I'm sorry, he said, leaning in and kissing the skin.

It's okay, she murmured. I sort of liked it.

His eyebrows raised fractionally. All right, he said. I'm still sorry for leaving a mark.

She laughed and pushed him back down on the rug. Don't apologize all the time, she said sharply, but with humor.

I'm sor. . . er, okay, he replied, watching her suspiciously as she straddled him. Suddenly she leaned down and bit him sharply where the muscles of his neck and shoulder joined, making his whole body leap with surprise. He clapped a hand to where she had bitten and looked up at her, eyes wide. What are you doing? he asked breathlessly. She didn't answer, leaning down and nipping him in a different spot. He yelped and tried to squirm away, but she held him fast. They repeated the process numerous times, and he stared up at her in disbelief, fingering the small red marks she had left upon his skin. he protested.

Don't you like it? she murmured.

He blushed, his gaze darting away. I didn't say that, he muttered. A movement caught his eye and he looked at her, watching as she reached down between her own legs, then put her moist fingers to his lips. Desire began to flicker in him once more as he tasted her upon his lips, a shudder running the length of his body. Sometimes he wasn't certain if she was for real, or if he had actually died upon becoming human and it was all one amazing dream. Oh lord, again? he whispered.

she commanded gently, grabbing his hand. In one motion she guided his fingers inside of her and leaned forward, biting him on the side of the neck. He yelped and moaned simultaneously, producing a strange, garbled noise.

But it was just half an hour ago! he said.

She pushed his fingers farther inside of her and he put his head back and gasped. Reaching around behind herself, she gripped him between the legs, his body responding immediately to her touch. See, you're ready, she said with a raised eyebrow, removing his fingers from her. You're not really complaining, are you?

He blinked at her, not sure how to react. Well, no, but-

Then shut up, she growled, leaning down and biting him again. He gasped and reached for her, but she had turned around and was kissing the inside of this thigh. Before he could grasp her, she took his length in her hand and drove herself down upon him, facing away. He watched in fascination as he disappeared inside of her and she wasted no time, going at him fast and furious. His arousal level rose to match hers, and he sat up as much as he was capable of doing with her upon him. She cried out and gripped his ankles, finishing almost immediately. He gasped and she attempted to move off of him, but he grabbed her left ankle and pulled her back down. She tried to turn around but he drove into her with all his might, making her gasp. She reached behind herself and he grabbed her right wrist, twisting her torso slightly. Her muscles contracted as she tried to struggle against his grip, but he just pulled her down onto him more tightly. She alternately moaned and growled, tugging on his grip, but he would not be denied. Besides, her struggling wasn't what he knew she was capable of, and her position was like nothing he had ever felt before. His stomach muscles burned with the effort of keeping everything in place, and before he knew it she was coming again quite noisily, crying out with pleasure and struggling even harder than she had earlier. He followed suit and spilled over, finally releasing her limbs and allowing her to collapse. Her buttocks clenched against his stomach as her body was wracked with spasms and he let himself fall back onto the rug, panting. He closed his eyes and wiped the sweat from his forehead, wondering how he, who had spent so many thousands of years trying to help destroy the world and therefore humankind, had stumbled into earthly paradise. Lina was his heaven and his earth, and he had a feeling that no matter how hard he might try and hide it, she knew.