Dancing with the Devils


Chapter Five





The female ryuuzoku braced her body slightly. Her back was erect as she gazed queerly down to her lap, indeed there was that same speculum she held in the obscure valley. "I don't remember taking that mirror with me, did you....?" she inquired as her azure eyes narrowed and she wrinkled her nose in thought. A downy chuckle echoed throughout her mind as she clenched her hands in rage.

"Yes, I took the mirror or more accurately you took it, it's the same thing since we are one at the time being." the voice explained serenely as the dragon he possessed suppressed a tremor of disgust. "My dear dragon you are so quiet. I would have thought you would be hopping mad to hear that a mazoku is possessing your holy body.......iya tainted body now." he mocked as the ryuuzoku shrieked and leapt off the bed; the mirror whizzed of her lap and landed on the floor with a clank! "Watch what you're doing you clumsy scamp that mirror is fragile."

"I hope the cursed thing breaks!" Filia clamoured as she booted the reflector with her foot. The dragon keeled over onto her knees as the mirror crashed into the bedpost, another convulsion of pain and vertigo swept through her. "What the....why do I feel so much pain." she choked as she shifted to sit down on her bum and placed a hand on her drumming chest.

"Since I am connected with the mirror you are too. I guess next time you'll listen to my warnings and be a bit more careful." the demon purred as his host scowled and brushed a few strands of golden locks from her pinched visage.

"Listen I want answers, you disgusting piece of mazoku filth. Just who are you and why you took the liberty of resurrecting me? Are you working for someone? Is it that Beastmaster, or..." the dragon gulped and gritted her teeth as a tight frown etched onto her face, "....Or is it Xellos?" she whispered as she determinedly glared at her feet. The ryuuzoku groaned as the creature inside her mind silenced, her arms working on their own as she reached out and grabbed the mirror bringing it to her chest for some form of assuage and ease.

"Fair enough, dragon I shall answer your questions but how about we do it face to face." the voice proposed as the former priestess felt her eyelids grow increasingly heavy. Her body went limp as she managed to curl herself into a small ball. Her forehead rested peacefully against the dark glass.

"Face to Face, huh." she muttered as sleep enveloped her.

*


"Now here's a place I'd thought I'd never visit again." Xellos groused. The trickster priest stood on top of a minute flower shop that was adjacent to a very familiar home. The monster viewed to the left of the quaint house to the building beside it. "Armaments and Antiquities," he read, "They seem to doing surprisingly well without her." the mazoku observed as he saw a few customers walk inside the shop. "Might as well get this over with, before they go back inside the house." the demon anticipated and with a flick of his cape he teleported to the sidewalk He saw a mother and son walking his way and smiled a mischievous smile.

"Here you go, little boy." the mazoku grinned as he passed a wide lollipop with numerous colourful swirls to the boy with sandy hair being held by his ample mother. The monster restrained a smirk. That candy was made to give anyone who tastes it the biggest rashes they ever had for 24 hours. With an amused chuckle the plum haired priest made his way to his destination. Xellos placed his gloved hand on the doorknob, giving it a gentle turn.

*


With an abraded sigh the creature opened his eyes, revealing his eerie amethyst orbs as he cautiously trudged into the dwelling. Xellos gritted his teeth and frowned, "Why do I feel so annoyed right now? My mind seems so.....troubled." he concluded as he stepped into the hallway that lead to the kitchen. The mazoku poked his head inside the room and looked at the small rickety table; one of its leg was a two inches shorter than the others. "I can sure go for some tea right now or something much stronger." the priest mused as he eyed the tea kettle slightly debating if he could make himself a quick batch.

The purple-haired monster teleported to the living room and was surprised with the difference of decor. "Well I guess they couldn't keep it all the same." he said as he noticed that the couches and chair were shifted around. On the walls were a few pictures and weapons, not as finely crafted as Filia's but just as good and sturdy. The demon turned to the coffee table and scoffed. There was a gaudy looking vase on top of it with very contrasting acid colours. Xellos shook his head and sighed as he examined the remainder of the room.

"What's that....I remember that picture." he stated as he saw a small picture with a bronze frame that was rusting. The servant of the Demon Lord picked up the photo and observed it very closely. The two beastmen were in the picture with Filia and not to mention Val's egg was also there being held by Jillas in a woven basket. All there faces looked so carefree and happy. He even had to admit that the ryuuzoku did look much cuter and prettier from the last time he saw it even her face shone more with light and joy.

"I wonder what she looks like now." Xellos thought out loud as his mind made a mental sketch of a skeleton like figure with stringy blonde hair and a sharp edged face. The monster blinked and folded his arms behind his back and emitted a very low whistle, "Yare, yare perhaps not." he said rather tersely brusquely teleporting upstairs.

A few moments later a slender shimmer in the room appeared as a lean figure focused into view. The individual moved around the environment slowly taking in all that was around him. The creature came to the same picture the monster held a few seconds before. The figure grimaced, picked up the photo and inspected it very, very closely.

*


Xellos scowled so far he has found no evidence that the two beastmen have gotten in contact with the ryuuzoku like he suspected. She has definitely not come here and didn't look like she was coming soon or she would have teleported by now. "Might there have been a problem with her resurrection that inhibits her abilities or perhaps its the interference of Shabranigdo-sama?" he thought as he was about to take his leave passing the small ladder that lead up to the dragon's former chamber.

The plum haired priest careened his head to the side and opened one eye up at the ladder. He emitted a reluctant sigh placing his hand onto the device slowly climbing up. The mazoku pushed open the hatch and hopped inside. "Of course, they didn't change a thing. How....nice." he finished lamely as he took in the room looking the same way he saw it exactly five years ago on that fateful day. The pink comforters were neatly made and clean rid of the spoils of Filia's blood. The vanity table seemed to have taken up a dusty surface but it still donned the brown hairbrush and cracked mirror.

Xellos grinned; he remembered exactly how that mirror broke. On a personal day off he decided to visit Filia and teleported hastily to her room, only to get an eyeful of her human woman assets as she changed into her flannel pyjama. Not allowing him to explain the situation she yanked her sheet around her nude body, located her mace, and tried to destroy everything in sight which caused the little mishap with the glass.

"How odd, even though she'll probably try to kill me, I'm quite anxious to see her again." Xellos muttered as he walked to her bed and sat down. "Of course I'll probably have to kill her again, too." he grinned darkly unsure if he was amused with the fact or not as he stroked the pink sheets subconsciously. The priest angled his head to the side. "I wonder when our paths will cross once mo.... you can come out, now." the priest ordered as his eyes opened in distrust. He was not alone and he knew it, hastily he conjured his staff into his hands ready to fire.

The monster silently cursed and sweat dropped, "Not know!" his mind plagued as the invader appeared him. In the individual's hand he held the photo of Filia and her troupe. Slowly the ruby tipped staff melted out of view as Xellos shook his head. "Val, what are you doing here? I believe no order has been sent out for you to have left Wolf Pack Island especially when it's so close to your ascension." the monster priest scolded amusedly as the Ancient Dragon shuffled slightly on his feet and looked around rather nervously.

"I apologize Aniki, but I have questions that I want answers to and after I had recuperated from my bout with Juu-ou-sama I tried to seek you out. However you were not in the castle or on the island for that matter. I went to ask one of the servants and they told me you went on another mission and they ordered me to return to my room, but Ichosenottolisten and came searching for you. Everyone's on high alert what's going on?" the dragon asked as the mazoku in front of him motioned for the boy to sit on the bed.

Val balked and scrutinized his gaze at the bright pink comforters, then timidly sat down beside the priest. "A series of serious events have occurred and demands total security, which is why you should have been confined to your quarters," Xellos added rather concisely his face a little grim but quickly shifted to a more jovial expression, "But I guess that I can't blame you for leaving I would have committed the same thing myself. Now about those questions you're going on about. How about I start with your past instead of the picture of the dragon you hold." the mazoku hmmed for a second and poked his charge in the shoulder.

The emerald haired youth stared longingly at the picture and turned to look irritably at his guardian, "Alright I can wait. It would make more sense for me to hear about my past life first instead of the people or beasts I met," he said with a shrug and sigh, something still nagging at his inquisitive mind, "....but still I'm curious about her and the others." he thought as he stared intently at Xellos.

"Well I'm not the greatest expert at what happened in your past life but from all the information I collected it goes like this," the priest started making sure he had the boy's attention. "I'm not positive but you were probably around 900 or so it was around the time of the Monster's Fall War that your race was annihilated at the hands.....my mistake claws of the Golden Dragons that served the Fire Dragon King." the demon smirked as he saw the same vile expression Valgarv always wore when he referred to the dragons of his race's demise on Val.

"You were the only one left, the last of your kind practically struggling for life. Soon you came across a demon you probably recognize as the man with an orange overcoat and a fiery red mane. His name was Maryu-ou..."the monster stopped as he was cut off by the Ancient.

Val's eyes widened with recognition as he mouth opened just a crack, "Garv......sama." he whispered slightly surprising the priest beside him. Of course no matter what, Val would never forget that particular name. The youth shook his head, his ponytail flapping from side to side. "Go on Aniki, excuse me for my interruption." the boy mumbled with a pained expression on his face.

The servant of the Demon Lord nodded his head and continued. "At the time you two had a lot in common both being hunted by your own kind. So Garv struck a deal with the past you. He would give you strength and a new life if you served him. In your condition you agreed and from then on were known as Valgarv servant of Garv. You had a few differences in your personality and appearance. Valgarv for instance was quite cocky and was equipped with a horn on top of his head," Xellos described patting Val on the head like a common mutt; the Ancient scowled and swatted his annoying hand away.

"A couples years past and Garv was destroyed a by a human sorceress known as Lina Inverse, yes the same sorceress I speak about and occasionally travel with. Is there something wrong, Val?" the mazoku questioned immensely enjoying the banquet of emotions he was dining off the ryuuzoku.

"No......well yes, how is that Garv...er...sama," he stopped and reluctantly eyed his keeper's smiling face, "How is it that he was defeated by a mere human, is she that powerful?" he inquired wondering the true power of this Lina Inverse. Xellos bobbed his purple head up and down.

"Yes, even in such an ill endowed package she is very strong and her knowledge of magic surpasses numerous types of mazoku and ryuuzoku. Her onee-san is even the Knight of dear ole' Cepheid. Truly she's not someone to mess, her temper is mostly fuelled by her small breasts and her greed for money or love of rare magical devices." Xellos explained as he remembered the time he handed Lina over his blood orbs.

Val rolled his eyes and scratched his head. He suddenly had the urge to sigh out loud and rub his temples, "This Lina Inverse....sounds like a real shrewd." He yawned. Many kingdoms away a redheaded sorceress broke into a sneezing fit.

*


A-choo! The magician blinked suspiciously and dropped the nearly dead bandit from her vice like grip. A-choo! The redhead rubbed the skin under her nose and looked up at the sky in confusion. "Hmm, I think someone's talking about me. Probably telling the heroic deeds of Lina Inverse." her eyes shone as she leaped upon the charred bandits back and performed a dramatic pose, ignoring his shriek of pain.

A young man with a long golden mane tapped his chin thoughtfully as he looked at the petite girl. "Don't two sneezes mean someone is bad mouthing you, huh, Lina." the guardian known as Gourry Gabriev observed not noticing the feral look that crossed the girls features.

"Fireball!" a soprano voice screeched as a medium sized orb of ember went streaming from the sorceress positioned hands to the dazed mercenary. With a boom! and a yelp Gourry was nothing more than a smouldering corpse sunk waist down in the ashen earth.

"Hmph, that one he had coming at him but wasn't that a little extreme, Lina." a man wearing a beige tunic berated as he raised his steely eyes from the map he was holding to the sorceress poking a stick at the blonde. The magician smiled and gave the chimera a wink as she managed to help Gourry onto his feet ignoring that she just stepped in another bandit's bruised face. "Another dead end, then." Zelgadis muttered placing an x onto his map and sullenly looking at the ground scattered with groaning bodies.

"Dead end, what do you mean? I was able to find three gold amulets and two rare elven crystals. Not to mention my money pouch is practically gonna burst, I thought this was a pretty great haul." Lina grinned noticing the plain and dull look on the shaman's face. "I guess this wasn't much fun for you since you didn't find your cure, huh." she contemplated as she walked over to the chimera placing a reassuring hand on his back. "Well cheer up, looking all sullen won't help and if it makes you feel any better you can treat me and Gourry to dinner." she laughed as she began to slap Zelgadis on the back.

The chimera gritted his teeth and the expression on his face clearly stated -please-don't-touch-me. "Oi, Lina!" Gourry called. The sorceress and shaman turned to see the swordsman stoop down. He seemed to be holding something in both of his hands. "My sword broke." he moaned as he stood and showed his companions his broken sword. The hilt was in his left hand while he carefully held the blade with his right.

"You broke it again, I knew that slimy merchant forged some cheap sword, but he practically charged the thing like it was made out of gold and silver. Money grubbing bastard how can anybody be so saw caught up with getting rich." she hissed not noticing the pained expression on Zelgadis' face. "Well we can't help it now I guess the only best place to buy weapons at cheap prices, would be A and A." she finished as Gourry tilted his head to side and hmmed thoughtfully.

"Did you say..."he breathed reluctantly not sure if he should, "T and A?" he questioned brightly, not expecting the white gloved fist to come streaking to his face so fast. The chimera sighed once more raising his index finger to rub his throbbing temples.

"Idiot! Aho! Baka!" Lina bellowed her hands on her hips, "I said A and A as in Armaments and Antiquities, not....not....T and A." she sniffed bitterly her cheeks staining a rich scarlet. "Anyway we haven't visited Jillas and Gravos for a while and they seem to know how to make a great deal." the small breasted girl said as she lead her way down the dusty road followed by her two companions.

*


"My head aches. Where am I?" Filia inquired as she roused her weary body slowly opening her fluttering eyelids. The blonde blinked, she had returned to her natural form, an adolescent Golden Dragon. The ryuuzoku flared her wings surveying her environment. She seemed to sitting on top on a small grassy hilltop. Filia crossed her eyes in fact all she could see was fresh green grass being ruffled slightly by the wind on the horizon. "How odd." she muttered looking up at sky only to be greeted with a cold black nothingness.

The Gold growled fiercely as lightning licked passed the sky, something was definitely coming. "Yes, I understand know I must be in the recesses of my mind." she concluded a large bolt of lightning shattered across the sky throwing everything into dark oblivion. The dragon clawed her spiky blonde mane away from her snout as she narrowed her eyes into slits; she saw nothing only the darkness. "Where is the scum?" she thought frantically.

"My dear Filia, I don't think I should be the one called scum. I mean look at you, a wretched spirit clinging onto her rotting corpse, pinning over her death and possibly the death of her loved ones. Me, scum? My dear that is clearly far from the truth." a sultry voice stated, as an amused chuckle rang out through the void. The ryuuzoku willed her body to turn around but she could not. She greatly feared of what she would see.....of who she would see.

"Be gone from my mind, you...you namag..." the dragon cut short thinking over her choice of words and emitted a low growl from her throat her tail lashing to the right. "You filth." she spat her voice quavering. The chuckle that echoed around the dragon shifted into hearty laughter on the verge of being a low growl.

"Foolish ryuuzoku, I think you should realize your place in this situation we share, however before I go on I do hate speaking to a creature's back, do turn around and if you choose not to I will do the act for you." he warned as the Gold stiffened and made no movement to turn. A sigh echoed around her as she felt a bit pressure wrapping itself around her tail.

Filia shuddered, "I can do it myself!" she thundered, swiftly turning around, coming face to face with the Dark Lord. Ruby Eyes Shabranigdo. A burning surge of rage and fear licked through Filia's body as she saw the behemoth of a creature before her. Bearing her teeth, Filia roared at her oppressor. "How dare he possess my body not only is he a mazoku but the lord of that vile race." the female hissed stretching her wings to take flight.

"Dear, Filia I believe there is some unwanted tension between us. We being in our original forms are making our natural instincts take over. I see it would be best for us to borrow our human guises, hmm." he suggested not even waiting for her response. The gold felt her stomach turn queasy as she was eaten by the black light the small beacon of golden light being snuffed out by the darkness. "You can open your eyes now, I hope that wasn't too painful." the demon laughed. The tone in his voice suggested that he wanted the experience to be as painful as hell.

Not wanting to obey his order but also wanting to watch her antagonist's every move Filia reluctantly opened her azure eyes. There he was standing so calmly in front of her. The former priestess looked over the Dark Lord with fascination. His black man cascaded past his shoulders the ends nearly touching the floor; the bangs that hung loosely from his pale face made an excellent mask for his eyes. His garb was a lush robe stitched in nothing but black and red embroidery. A smirk etched onto his cruel lips as the expression on his face screamed -enjoying -what-you-see-? The demon had style and chose a very attractive body to boot, the dragon had to hand him that.

"Well, dearest Filia seems that you're looking much less hostile." Shabranigdo observed tranquilly walking over to the cautious and wary dragon. The girl took a few steps back as he continued to make his way towards her form. "Now, now no need to act so standoffish I believe we should get down to business, " he said while catching her arm in vice like grip and wrenched her closer, "We do need discuss many things, you did say you wanted answers." he added as the Gold ceased her futile struggling.

Filia's mind buzzed she was quite putout that even with her dragon strength her struggling was no use against his power, the feeling made her feel weak and ill, but she needed to keep her cool there were answers she needed. However some things do need to come first. Filia felt his hand slide off her arm as another smirk danced upon his lips. "I could use some tea." the dragon said through clenched teeth. The Lord of all mazoku balked as the smirk on his lips clearly vanished. "I could use some tea." she repeated in a more clear voice.

"Why is there any need for a beverage? We are in your mind. Any food or drink you consume will give you no nutrients." he said seeing the same impassive look on her face. Shabranigdo frowned; "Well if you want to drink so badly conjure some up yourself we are in your mind." he reminded watching the pained expression etch onto her face. "That's right," his face showed a look like he just remembered something important, "You barely have any control over your mind anymore, in fact the one creature that basically controls you would be me." he smiled a feral grin.

"That steaming pile of filth. I hope he rots in the Sea of Chaos when this all over." Filia seethed mentally her shoulders shaking in anger. The mazoku tsked shaking his index finger from side to side.

"Steaming pile of filth, why that's quite rude," he said reading her aghast expression, "Don't look so shocked I can hear every little thought you say so get used to it." He finished calmly. The two figures were lapsed into an eerie silence as the mazoku sighed and rewarded her with an egotistical grin. "Milk or sugar?"

*


"Then we united the five weapons of light, Filia and I summoned the powers of our respected Gods and Lina-san recited the chaos words. The energy of nothingness we created turned into a great power and destroyed Dark Star and Valgarv as well." Xellos told watching the stricken yet anxious face of his young charge. "With Sirius' mission complete he returned to his world along with the weapons. Lina-tachi however were bitter against the battle we won, especially Filia." the monster recited as Val clenched onto the frame harder, "Miraculously though a small dragon egg came before us and was given to Filia to raise and she intended to do so with a concrete resolve."

The Ancient Dragon gulped, his eyes widening as the grip on the frame loosened. "So...so she wasn't a lover. But more of a mother or an older sister figure, wasn't she Aniki? What...what happened next?" the emerald haired youth questioned as the plum haired man contemplated if he should tell the Ancient the rest of the story.

"Why not better not to antagonize the boy and let him pine over what happened in his past life." the mazoku decided a cheery smile on his face. "Well after that Lina-san's troupe went their own ways. Filia along with her two beastmen servants went to this kingdom and built their new home waiting for you to hatch. All was well for this quaint little family, until I was assigned a new order." Xellos glanced at his charge and saw that his golden eyes were listless and dull as if he was figuring things out for himself. "I think he's able to finish the story."

"Juu-ou-sama...she...she ordered you to kill Filia, didn't she and to take me to Wolf Pack Island where I would be trained and turned into a mazoku. That's what happened next, isn't?" Val asked even though the answer was staring at him right in the face. The trickster nodded his head feeling the heat of the boy's anger and confusion. A pregnant silence followed after that as the dragon licked his lips. "Aniki, if it wasn't for you....if it wasn't for you." he hissed, barring his fangs dangerously, "I would have been living a better life with Filia, Jillas and Gravos." the dragon scowled his pupils shrinking into tiny slits as he glared at the creature.

The demon grinned and nodded his head, "Why yes Val, if it wasn't for me, you would have had a much better life filled with an abundance of happiness and joy much more than what I tried to give you and of course Filia would still be alive." Xellos reminded a tone of wistful longing was embedded his voice as the youth growled and looked eagerly around the room. Val so much wanted to take the maces hanging on the wall and bash the mazoku with them but he couldn't. "If you want to attack Val, I won't stop. You have a lot stress on your shoulders and if hitting me will help I'm willing to make that sacrifice."

The dragon gritted his teeth tossing the picture onto the bed with a tight scowl on his face. "I would never attack you, Aniki even though the offer is very tempting. I suppose I can't blame you. You must follow the orders of your superior no matter how vile the act is. Even though I don't remember her clearly I can't forget what you've done to Filia however I can't forget how you treated me all these five year an how you protected. You even delayed the ascension for four years, you truly don't want me to become a mazoku." the Ancient whispered watching Xellos' surprised expression shift into a smirk.

"So you knew all along that I've been the one delaying Juu-ou-sama. My boy you are quite a sly observer." the priest complimented gazing at the window. It was getting close to sunset. A loud bang! was heard as three pairs of tromping footsteps were heard in the house. "I think its best we leave and I think we should keep this little visit to ourselves." he suggested.

The ryuuzoku wrinkled his nose and snuck a glance at his guardian, "Aniki, I do not wish to be a mazoku." he whispered as they both teleported out of the house.

"I know."
*


Three beasts stepped casually into their home and prepped to get their dinner on the way. One out of the trio twitched their red tail and took a sniff of the place. "Gravos!" he called hearing a grunt like reply, "I think someone was here?" Jillas said as he took another sniff around the room feeling slightly dizzy as if he's been drugged.

Gravos placed a large vase on the floor that needed re-polishing and probably a fresh new paint of coat. "Are ya sure? I'm not doubtin' ya but we've been workin all day and ya do look a little under the weather. Perhaps ya should sit down fer a while." the ogre ordered as the red fox bobbed his head up and down and ventured to the living room where his other companion was.

The teenage gold fox twitched his tail and looked curiously at a table. It was missing something. The young fox whizzed around and faced the older beast. "Ne, Jillas-ojisan, didn't there used to be a picture there?" Paulu asked as the red fox raised brow in confusion.

*


"Damn, I really wish Amelia was here. These prices for our meals are outrageous. Honestly, all that money we got today is practically depleted by food and board, with her around she could've struck a deal being Princess of Saillune." the sorceress moaned looking over the Inn's menu sullenly. The girl turned to the patiently waiting waitress and grinned, "I'll take two of everything on this page." she ordered as the waitress smiled, none the less there was an unnoticeable twitch in her cheek as she went to get the orders from the two gentlemen.

"I'll have, hmm," Gourry tapped his chin in thought looking over the menu again. His face brightened as he turned to the waitress, "I'll have what Lina's having." he concluded as the waitress nodded her head another twitch in her cheek as she turned to the last figure at the table.

"Coffee, please and perhaps today's special." he said placing the menu on the table as the waitress offered him a genuine smile. This one seemed to be normal. Zelgadis sighed as he reached for his pack bag; he needed to look over his map. The chimera blinked in surprise as he grasped only air. "I thought I placed it....Lina, Gourry!" the shaman shouted as he watched his two companions digging around in his pack, "Would you two get out of there!"

"Hey, Zel have you been holding money out on us. Hey what's this book doing here?" Lina questioned as she wrenched it out, not noticing Zelgadis' very red face. "Lustful Women?" she read the title curiously, "Gourry catch." she blurted as she tossed the pack to the blonde. "Wow, Zel I never pegged you the type to read these novels....hey give it back." Lina cried as the chimera wrenched the book from her grasp and glared at the swordsman.

"Oi, Zelgadis doesn't this belong to Amelia?" the mercenary inquired as he brought out a pink bracelet with a blue orb attached to it. Gourry twirled the object for a while waiting for the shaman's face to return to its normal colour instead of the steaming scarlet. Lina snatched the bracelet and inspected it carefully.

"Hey this does belong to Amelia. Hey Zel did she give it you as a present?" the sorceress joked nudging him in the elbow a sly smile on her face. "Or perhaps....a dowry?" she laughed as she placed the bracelet in his shaking hands. The chimera balked, he could hear wedding bells or perhaps the drums of war as he looked sourly at his companions.

"Alright you bastards, I'll pay for today's meal and lodging if we forgot all of this ever happened." he offered placing the book and bracelet into his bag. He seethed at both of their grinning faces.....well Lina's grinning face Gourry looked a little on the confused side. Drumming his fingers against the table Zelgadis came to a resolution that he might have to irk up his coffee to get through the night.

*


"Ne, Zel." Lina roused the shaman taking a small sip from her tea cup and placing her last plate onto the large pile her and the swordsman created. The chimera raised a brow at the sorceress to show that she held his attention. "This afternoon with the bandits did my Dragon Slave look a little odd to you?" she inquired taking another sip from her cup. The wiry haired man placed down his coffee mug and frowned.

"Your Dragon Slave looked the same to me Lina but I wasn't casting the spell so I wouldn't know. Did you notice something off or did the spell feel somewhat different?" Zelgadis asked propping his elbows to rest on the table as he stared at the snoring swordsman and listless magician.

"Yeah, when I was conjuring it just felt odd like the power source was growing stronger but I also felt another presence or the interference of another being which restricted the Dragon Slave from almost blasting us to bits with the bandits. However when I fired the spell I saw that the colour of the energy was a bit different. In the core of the blast you could see a golden orb." she finished draining the rest of her beverage, "I don't really know what this means maybe I should hold off using the Dragon slave fo....Gourry get off me!" Lina shrieked as the swordsman accidentally shifted in his sleep and fell onto her lap. With a swift punch the blonde was sprawled on the floor while the small breasted girl crossed her arms agitatedly. A pregnant silence ensued after that, until the chimera broke it.

"How do you think they've been?" Zelgadis asked quietly waving for the waitress to come and refill their drinks. The redhead raised her brows in surprise and thought on it for a while. Coming to a conclusion she leaned back in her chair.

"Well the first couple months, years even were probably hell for them. It was hell for us too coming to face reality. They may have known her for a lesser time than us but Jillas and Gravos really seemed to have bonded with her. Some sort of family I guess." Lina said passing her cup to the waitress with a smile. "But if those two are something they are survivors. Heck look how many times we tried to get rid of them, I mean I even blasted Gravos with a Dragon Slave and he's still alive." the sorceress chuckled rather morbidly.

The waitress placed their drinks gently on the table, suspiciously watching the snoring swordsman stationed on the floor. "Don't mind him, he's fine." Lina stated as the girl nodded her head and zipped away. The red manned girl took up the cup and took another long sip enjoying the slightly burning tingle on her tongue. "Filia really did make a mean cup of tea though. No matter how many restaurants I go to they don't have the same taste." she complimented.

"I have to agree with you on that."

*


"My dear friend Dnarc brought me to your grave and since you were the closest dead creature around....." the Lord of all mazoku told taking a sip from his teacup and eyeing the dragon mischievously, "….and wanting to get rid of the foolish human as soon as possible I decided to become one with your body and we finished off that idiot bandit." he explained ignoring the flinch the ryuuzoku made.

The blonde slammed her teacup onto the small table. The glass shattered into minute jagged shards. "We killed him, how dare you? I did no such thing. I would never kill a person on such standards, you possessed my body and toyed with it like some marionette." she hissed watching his bored expression. He sighed loudly as the teacup returned to its former state and plopped back into her hands.

"Correction, dearest Filia we indeed kill him, together. With your own hands you ripped out that mundane's throat and snuffed out his life, it was quite thrilling and whether you admit it or not the fact remains you did kill him." he growled noticing the slump of her shoulders as she went silent. "No need to worry about me possessing your sacred, holy body, even if it does mean pissing off that whelp Cepheid," he mocked, "As soon as I find another dead beast I'll take their body and you can return to the earth and rot for all I care. Once again a mazoku will have the pleasure of taking your life."

The former priestess wanted to scream. She wanted to obliterate the creature with all the strength she contained, but went against it. Truly all the balls were in his court, for now at least. "Speaking of your death, Juu-jin-kan Xellos, the general priest of Juu-ou, you.....loved him did you not?" Shabranigdo asked innocently watching her reaction. And quite a reaction it was.

The dragon saw nothing but red as all logically thinking escaped her mind. Despite who he was he had gone too far. Filia abruptly stood up knocking her chair over as she swiped up a knife sitting casually on the table and swiftly lunged forward. Her body soon went rigid as the knife was just a few millimetres away from his chest. "What the...?" she questioned as she felt herself being pushed back.

"We mustn't forget our manners, Filia." he reminded as her chair stood up on its four legs and she was once again seated in it. The knife was torn from her grip and was laid neatly on the table in the same position as before. The mazoku smiled as the dragon's shoulders shook violently, "Well perhaps love was a little strong of a word. I should have said fancied, either way it's quite odd that you, a ryuuzoku would develop a feeling of admiration towards a mazoku. Even though he killed thousands of your race, visited only to pester, it just didn't matter anymore. You didn't mind it, did you? You wouldn't mind if he kept visiting you forever." he stated knowing he was right as he heard her gritting her teeth.

"What lies are you spouting? I never fancied, as you put it that namagomi mazoku. He is nothing but filth, him and his decrepit master. He killed me for heaven's sakes! He ended my life and I despise him. I despise him and I despise you!" she vented her eyebrows crossing to make a very sharp V. The creature before her smirked and gave her a small shrug.

"You ryuuzoku always did have a thing with confronting the dirty truth, but deny it all you want, you did fancy him. Most of all you didn't even trust him but you were hurt by his betrayal when your heart made its last beat." he acknowledged standing up from his seat and sending her a venomous sneer. "Oh well, I think this is enough chat time for now, you'll be waking up soon. Till next time." he muttered as he vanished from view.

Filia blinked as her eyes refocused painfully. She was no longer in the haunting abyss of her mind, but back in the guest room she was lodging in. The dragon noticed she had somehow made her way to the bed. The hideous mirror was nowhere insight. Pushing away the linen that confined the former priestess, she sat up a sour frown on her face. "How dare him. Me in love with....Xellos....." she muttered, her hands clenching.

"I HATE HIM!" she shrieked quickly covering her mouth hoping no one heard her. The dragon blinked and looked over at the still door. With a sigh she resumed looking up at the top of her bed and relaxed her body onto the mattress. She was a little tired and planned to get some undisturbed sleep. The ryuuzoku yawned and allowed her eyelids to droop.

"Good Afternoon!" a soprano voice yelled as Filia in surprise jumped off her bed and painfully landed on the floor. The Lady of the house came rushing to the dragon's aid. "Oh, I'm so sorry Filia-sama. I just wanted to wake you up for something to eat. You've slept till noon." the woman said helping the dragon to her feet.

The former priestess wrinkled her nose as she stood up on her stiff legs. "Its noon, already?" she inquired as she gazed towards the windows being blocked by thick curtains. Kasumi nodded her head and walked towards the covered glass pulling the drapes away. A wave of light washed through the room ridding the area of all shadows. Filia smiled the sunshine was what she really needed right now.

"There that's much better." the human female stated as she looked towards her houseguest with a nervous face. "Filia-sama, please forgive me but my servants in their process to clean your soiled clothes destroyed it in the process. They said it turned to dust like it was years old, but please accept these clothes I bring for you to wear." she said handing the dragon the bundle of clothing.

Filia smiled and accepted the garment. "Thank you, Kasumi-san." she replied as the woman smiled and walked towards the door.

"When you're done you may join me for lunch." she added as she sashayed out the door and closed it behind her. The dragon grinned she was hungry as she placed the garments on the bed. Filia raised a brow it seemed that Kasumi had brought three pairs of human priestess garbs for her to choose from. With a sigh the dragon raked her gaze over the clothing.

"Which to wear." she mumbled to herself looking keenly at the sky blue hakama and a white robe with long sleeves. The ryuuzoku reached for it but stopped. Her mind went blank as she picked up a different outfit to wear. Like in a daze she took off her bathrobe and quickly placed on the priestess garb. When she was done she flicked a bang from her face and turned towards the mirror.

She was wearing a coal black hakama with a dark scarlet robe with black lining; the sleeves practically went past her waist. The dragon smiled a fanged grin, pleased with her appearance she made her way out the door.

*


"He wishes to meet me?" Filia inquired her azure eyes alight with astonishment and curiosity as she gazed at the Lady of the house from the rim of her teacup. Kasumi nodded her head, dabbing an embroidered napkin at the corner of her lip.

"Yes, Houshi-sama requested a special audience with you. Word has it that he would like to personally thank you for saving me and my son's life." she explained a bright smile plastered on her face as she rose from her seat, "He would like you to attend to the temple as soon as you can. When shall I take you Filia-sama?" she questioned rising from her seat.

"I suppose now would be a good time." she said wiping the napkin against her mouth. "Or maybe I shouldn't, what if the monk tries to question me if he senses an evil presence," she thought standing up and pushing her chair under the table, "but perhaps the monk might just be able to help me and get rid of that foul mazoku," she thought triumphantly as an amused hmm echoed through her head.

"Don't count on it, pet."

*


"This is a lovely temple." Filia commented as she and Kasumi were led by the High Priest around through the inner sanctum of the shrine dedicated to an unknown God to Filia. The dragon snuck a glance towards the Houshi as he was explaining something about the statue they stood in front of them. "He doesn't seem to be aware of the creature within, if he can't even sense it he probably isn't strong enough to help me." she stated mentally unaware of the two human's worried gazes.

"Filia-dono. Filia-dono." the priest called tentatively as the blonde stiffened her shoulders, her eyes wide and alert. "I'm sorry but it seemed your mind was much farther away from this world, like you were burdened with a thousand thoughts at once." he said raising a brow while a perplexed look crossed the dragon's pale features. "You act like you're tied down with an unwanted guest." He finished, narrowing his eyes slowly with a curt nod.

The blonde set her jaw and stole a quick glance towards Kasumi who was looking at her with apprehension. "I'm fine." she spoke softly placing a hand on the human woman's shoulder. "Really I am, I was just thinking about my pilgrimage to explore the lands." she lied as the monk sighed a frown etching onto his face as he turned to the black haired woman.

"Kasumi-san, if you don't mind I want you to remain here for now. I would like to show Filia-dono.....the sacred alter. To bless her on her journey and keep her out of harms way." The Houshi stated hastily taking the ryuuzoku's arm.

The woman's eyes widened in surprise as she slowly made a smile bow, "Hai, Houshi-sama." she obeyed straightening her back as she watched them slowly walk down the long corridor. Filia offered the the black haired woman a reassuring smile as she and the priest walked further down the hall. The dragon stole a glance towards the human male and the pressure on her arm increased.

"Please, wait till we arrive at the alter." he whispered softly leading her towards a pair of black doors that had numerous sets of bird carvings engraved in the metal. The priest released his hold on the blond and began to mutter a few things under his breath. Filia recognized those words.

"A Holy Incantation." she thought as her stomach made a nauseous churn. She placed her cool palm on her sweating forehead as she saw the doors begin to open up. "I could go for some tea right, now."

*


The dragon convulsed as the large doors closed behind her. The alter room was reeking with holiness and her body was repelling it thanks to the presence deep inside her. Filia watched the head priest move sluggishly to the center of the room where a pedestal was placed with a large book on top of it. "Filia-dono." he called softly, "Please step into the water." he ordered delicately pointing his slender finger.

The ryuuzoku stiffened her shoulders as she viewed a small pool at the very end of the room. The pool was at the base of a large bird deity statue that gushed water from its opened beak. The dragon nodded her head and slowly trotted towards the water; her heart racing.

"You fool! Do you have any idea what you're doing? I have let this gone far enough." a voice berated as the dragon gritted her teeth and continued to move forward, ignoring the demon's complaint. Her foot touched the cool surface of the water, "Since you refuse to listen to reason I shall now take control." the mazoku hissed as the dragon ceased her movement and closed her burning eyes.

The monk noticed her lack of movement and sighed as he felt the pressure of terror engulf the pale maiden. "Thank you Filia-dono or whoever you are that controls her that should be far enough." he spoke as he moved from behind the pedestal and approached the dragon that had one foot in the water. "Open your eyes demon!" the monk barked a staff melting into his waiting hand.

A low growl emitted deep from the blonde's throat as she barred her canine like teeth that were beginning to protrude past her bottom lip. "As you wish, Houshi-sama," she mocked in an alien voice slowly opening her eyes to reveal a dark hue of red.

"As I expected, two nights ago there was a major disturbance in the holy grounds of that forest. When I sent a messenger of the order to investigate he saw that the kamidana shrine was nowhere to be found and the earth had been dug up, as if something crawled out from within its depths." The head priest stated narrowing his eyes, "But that wasn't all was it? While Filia-dono was resurrected she was fused with a great evil. An evil that threatens the beings of this world." he concluded as his white robes ruffled slightly.

A husky laughter echoed from the female as she pushed her bangs from her amused visage. "My, my, you seem to be quite informed of the situation. Which is nice and all but what exactly are you going to do about it?" the former priestess hissed her red eyes shone a fierce scarlet. The priest closed his eyes and began to mutter something as a confused look graced the girl's features, her eyes shifting back to their familiar cerulean. "What the....I'm losing control over her body!" he screamed mentally as he felt himself being pushed back into the secluded areas of her mind.

Filia's vision was blurry as she felt something hard press against her breastbone. She narrowed her eyes as she saw the priest looking very grim in front of her, his staff jabbed on her chest. "Filia-dono." he said calmly slowing pushing the rest of her boy into the water. The dragon shakily bobbed her head to show she was listening. "The reason you decided to come to this temple, was it because you wanted me to exorcise the foul beast that lives within you?" he questioned as the girl gave a faint nod, "However, the reason why I summoned you, is to kill you and the mazoku you hold inside."

That got the dragon to speak, "Kill me....but can't you just exorcise the beast. I want to see friends and family again. I want to make sure if they're alive and safe, I can't just die yet. Not when I've been given a second chance at life which was wrongly taken from me!" Filia shouted as she struggled to step out of the pool only to find out she couldn't move. The priest fiercely shook his head as the girl slowly began to rise into the air; a holy symbol was erected behind her to keep her in place.

"I am deeply sorry; Filia-dono but you and that creature are indeed linked. An exorcism isn't enough to rid you of his presence. However if you're life is taken then the demon inside will die as well. Your existence jeopardizes the fate of this world and all its inhabitants so you must die!" he thundered bracing himself as clutched his staff with two hands, a savage wind was churning and gusting throughout the room as a garbled scream sang throughout the dragon's mouth.

The former shrine maiden's pupils shrunk as her head turned upward to stare mindlessly up at the swirling ceiling. She was going to die, again. She never even had the chance to see....embrace her love ones once again. The dragon found it harder and harder to breathe as the very fibre of her body and soul was being eaten away and she blacked out.

*


"Xellos." she thought faintly but was wrong as she saw the stirrings of an angry beast shrouded in darkness.

"So this is my thanks." The creature hissed in his human form slowly circling the dragon that was standing in a small patch of light. It seemed Filia in her distress had retreated to her mind to escape the pain inflicted on her body. "I unselfishly give you, your so called second chance which you were so wrongly robbed of and you blew it." he growled his black brows knitted together. The ryuuzoku bit her lip and swallowed the lump in the throat as she sank down to sit on her rear.

His words held some sense of truth and she knew it, but it would be a cold day in hell that she'd ever admit. "Perhaps, but the priest is right my existence is a threat to the world, so I suppose I should be exterminated." she replied her shoulder slumping as she closed her eyes in defeat, a tremor of pain coursing through her. The mazoku winced; he too could feel her pain and glared at the girl. ".......but I would've loved to see Val just one more time, if he's alive that is." she cried raising her hands to cover her face.

A cruel smile etched onto the mazoku's thin lips as his dark mind conjured up a plan to pluck the young dragon's very fragile heartstrings. "There, there dear Filia." he comforted in a much softer tone, approaching her carefully. "It is quite a shame you won't be able to see this Val, but I did warn you did I not. Thanks to your foolishness your wish shall be denied. If you had allowed our auras to intermingle and not have tried to get rid of me. I would have allowed you to see your loved one's before I disposed of you and to returned you to the earth." he stated grabbing a few strands of her hair and twirling it around his index finger.

The female jerked back and skidded away from him, her azure eyes bloodshot and her pale cheeks tearstained. "What are you babbling about? You'd probably discard of me before I even had the chance of seeing my family again. At least this way I'm taking you with me." she seethed as the monster shook his handsome head.

"Untrue, my dear I would have allowed you to see your friends and family just once more then I'd rip you away from them, but because of your foolishness it cannot be." he shrugged as his red eyes began to narrow, seeing her shift in her position and demeanour.

"Even...even if I did allow you to stay....there's no changing what's happening now. It's too late for me to change any of this." she reasoned seeing him shake his head once again.

"Ah, but there is something we can do. Unite our powers and join with me Filia. Destroy the priest that is so willing to destroy." he stated walking closer to her. Filia's head reeled; she didn't want to kill anyone. "In this world you should know by now its kill or be killed....but it's your choice, do as you wish." he whispered as the light seemed to fade away and the darkness swallowed her again.




Author's Note: First of all I would like to thank everyone who reviewed chapter four, very nice and helped me get a move on, on chapter five which I now finally completed. I have to say this chapter was pretty long and could've been longer but I just couldn't add anymore so the rest is going to chapter six. Well if you have any suggestions or complaints I'm all ears and just e-mail. Remeber people to review, I like hearing comments on how to make this story better. Bye!