The sun was ruthless as it beat down upon her body. Her white cloak flapped in the summer breeze as her long golden hair flew about her face. She entered the town, her feet switching from walking on a dirt road to the stone one of the town. She looked solemn, walking into the nearby tavern to find something to drink and for a place to get out of the relentless sun. Her legs were hidden beneath a long pink dress as she walked towards the bar.
The tavern was large and filled with voices; some people by the front of the tavern were laughing, while a group near the back were whispering among themselves. The windows were large, where the dust danced in the rays of sun coming into the room. The building was wooden; a wooden floor that was almost nearly spotless, wooden tables, a wooden bar, wooden beams in the high ceiling for support, and wooden stairs leading to a landing above, where anyone could see people leaving their rooms. The walls were brown, making it seem as if the whole place was made entirely out of wood. Walking past the tables where people sat laughing loudly, the woman walked up to the bar.
"Hello," came her soft voice, her hand moving to her face to brush away her gold hair. The bar tender nodded in return, his hands busy cleaning a glass behind the counter that separated the two. She continued past the bar to a wooden table, and sat herself down with a sigh. Many men turned to look at her for a moment before they continued with their meals. A young waitress with short brown hair and green eyes approached her table.
"I'd like some tea, please," she asked from her seat, where she felt grateful in the cool tavern. The waitress nodded and left quickly, leaving her alone to her thoughts. Her eyes clouded with worry, and she mentally kicked herself for ever leaving her home. Oh, I do hope he's all right, she thought to herself, boring a hole into the table with her eyes and she stared blankly at it. If that stupid namagomi even touches him, I'll!…She banged her fist against the table, and her other hand found her mace-sama hidden beneath her pink skirt.
Everyone in room looked up at her, startled. Their eyes roamed from her to the mace held in her hand. Some of the men got up from their tables and slowly left the tavern, their eyes never leaving the angry woman. The waitress hesitated, then inched up slowly with a teapot and cup in her hands.
"Ummm…M-Miss? H-here's your…your tea," she said, her voice dripping with fear as she quickly dropped the teapot and cup in front of the angry blond. Filia sighed, and, seeing the tea in front of her, began to calm down. She put her mace back under her skirt, and poured herself a cup, sipping it slowly and savouring the feel of hot tea running down her throat. "Maybe I shouldn't have left Val alone with Jillas…my poor Val, I shouldn't have left him. That namagomi is gonna get it if I find out that he's been around MY Val!"
She took another sip, trying to calm herself down. She'd left Sairaag a month ago, and was worried that she had been away for too long. "But Amelia's missing, and I have to find her. Besides, Sylphiel is probably watching Val along with Jillas." She took another sip, finding herself calming down with each one she took. The hot liquid felt good as it traveled down her throat.
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After drinking the whole pot of tea, Filia felt as if she should continue on her search for the lost Princess. The sun was just as relentless as ever when she stepped outside, and she felt as if she were carrying a dead elephant on her back. The sun continued to beat down on her, even when she walked through a trail that lay inside a forest. Not even a canopy of trees could save her from the heat. Her golden hair was plastered to her face, and she stopped beneath the shade of a tree to wipe her hair from her rosy cheeks.
Her pink dress clung to her because of the heat and humidity, her white cloak wearing her down. She took off her white cloak and was about to sit in the somewhat cool shade of the tree. That namagomi better not be part of Amelia's kidnapping…and he better not be near Val! Oooh, that namagomi just gets on my nerves when I think about him-
There was a sound, and a feeling began to fill her entire body; a feeling she was both used to and hated. Filia's angry thoughts stopped midway as she heard a noise. She took her mace and swung around quickly, only to have the object of her thoughts standing right there.
"My dear Filia, you're looking quite…hot today, ne?" asked the purple haired and happy looking Xellos.
Oh L-sama, not him! NOT HIM!! "What are you doing here, namagomi?" She didn't feel like putting up with him; it was too hot and she was too tired. "And don't call me 'dear'!" She swung her mace at him, but he disappeared and reappeared beside her, still smiling that same annoying smile.
"My dear Filia, I'm glad to see you too!"
"Go away, Xellos, I don't have time for you. Go back to your Beastmaster."
"Oh, but my dear Filia, I only came to see how you're doing." His face still held that smile, and the longer she looked at it, the more she wanted to pound in his face with her mace. "Besides, Mistress Beastmaster doesn't need me at the moment. Although," he added, his smile becoming wider, "I might have something interesting to tell you…"
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say, namagomi. And stop calling me 'dear'!" Her fists curled up into tight balls at her sides, one of which still held her beloved mace. She was swimming in rage now, and it was all that namagomi tricksters fault. Did he have horrible timing, or what? It was enough that he had made a few visits before when he dropped by her antique shop now and then, but now, of all times? He would pay dearly…just, not at that exact moment.
Xellos reached out and lightly touched her nose with his finger, and avoided another swing Filia took at him. "Now, now, Filia dear, there's no reason to get all worked up."
"I'm NOT all worked up, you stupid namagomi priest!"
"Oh?" He said, opening his eyes slightly, his purple pupils showing through the cracks of his eyelids. "Then why, Fi-chan, is your tail showing?"
Filia looked at herself to see that he was right, and blushed, her face turning a light crimson. Oh, he's going to get it. Stupid namagomi…he's probably enjoying this right now. "What do you want, namagomi? You're wasting my time!"
"Well, I told you I only came to see how you were doing, Filia dear. My, you look so worked up," he said, smiling that smile of his. Oh, I'll give him something to smile about, Filia thought sinisterly, as she glared at the mazoku in front of her. "And," he continued, "I thought I'd give you some advice!"
Filia laughed out loud; a high, mocking laugh. She almost had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard…almost. "Hah! You, give me advice? A golden dragon like me doesn't need advice from a stupid ugly namagomi mazoku like you!"
"Why thank you Fi-chan!" Xellos piped.
Filia, ignoring his comment, continued. "A rock would give me better advice than you! Now, Xellos…what do you really want???"
"Now Fi-chan…I'm hurt! And I already told you what it is I'm doing here…"
"Save it. Fine, I'll hear you out. But…why do you want to give me advice?"
"Ah…Sore wa himitsu desu!" He replied, holding up one finger and giving her his infamous smile.
"NAMAGOMI!!!!!" Filia shrieked, swinging her mace violently but once again missing.
"My dear Filia, how violent you are! Tsk, tsk," she said, picking up her white cloak. The sun was slowly beginning to set as the end of the day drew near, but it was still quite high in the sky. He threw her cloak back at her, and she caught it, her face completely red and her tail swishing around as violently as her mace had been. "Its just advice…And I just want to give it to you, Fi-chan."
"Then…give…it!" she spat, glaring at him intensely.
"My Filia, how cute you look when you're mad!" She lifted up her mace, and he held up his hands as if he surrendered, but she still swung at him, and once again, she missed. The things the heat could do to a girl, especially when tired.
"Well, seeing that little Val isn't with you, I'm guessing you're looking for Amelia, am I right?" he asked, leaning on his staff that he held in his white-gloved hand.
"Oh, no, I'm just out picking berries!" she yelled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her golden tail pounded at the ground behind her, and she fought the urge to change into her ryuzoku form and burn him to a crisp. No, I refuse to let him see me naked, even for one second!
"Well, I suggest you stop looking."
"What?? You think I'm going to listen to you, namagomi?? Why should I?"
"I have a good reason…or else I probably wouldn't have gone through the trouble of telling you."
"Oh, yes you would. You just LOVE negative emotions and whatnot, and you absolutely enjoy it when I get upset! You would've come to bug me anyways!!"
"True, true, dear Filia, quite true," he replied, looking quite calm, unlike the golden dragon that stood before him. "But," he continued, opening his eyes to gaze into hers, "I have a very good reason, Fi-chan. I suggest you go to Saillune, and meet up with Lina and Gourry."
"What? Meet with Lina and Gourry in Saillune?" She eyed him warily. "Why should I believe a namagomi like you?"
"You don't have to believe me, Filia. I'm only giving you some advice."
Filia sighed heavily, and dropped her mace to her side. She knew that Xellos never really lied, but there was always something else about whatever he said. He twisted the truth, and he most likely twisted what he was telling her, also. OOOH! How he gets on my nerves!!! But…what if he's serious…what if he's telling the truth?…
"Why?? Why should I meet up with them?" she asked, her voice sounding tired.
"Sore wa himitsu desu!" he replied, his eyes closed once more and smiling, as he began to disappear.
And a clear, shrill scream rang throughout the trees, causing all the birds resting in the branches to fly up, and all the people of the town nearby to turn their heads towards the forest.
"NAMAGOMIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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Zelgadis returned to the tavern once again, after yet another day of searching and asking the townsfolk. He began to doubt that Amelia was even in the town anymore, or that she was even near, but something made him stay. He sighed, not knowing what to do.
"It's all my fault she ran," he said quietly as he sat at a table in the tavern. He sipped his hot coffee, relishing in the feeling of the hot liquid traveling down his throat. At least I know I can still feel…
Where could she have gone? I've checked nearly half the houses in the town! I thought this place was small…He heaved a sigh, and stared into his dark coffee. I've got to get her off my mind…she just keeps haunting me, as if…as if she's…He shook his head violently. No, she can't be. How can I even think about that? She's fine, I know it.
He finished the last of his coffee and walked up the wooden steps and into the dark hall. It seemed like forever to him before he finally reached the door to his room. He inched the door open, and found the bed made and the room tidy. He walked slowly to his bed, and kicking off his boots, he lay down. I probably won't get any sleep…I hardly got any the night before. He went under the cool covers, and turned in the bed to stare out the window, but all he could see was the dark sky.
He closed his eyes, not wanting to think of her. Anything but her. He was just worried about her, nothing else. And he was guilty because he was the reason she had run away. Damn it, I'm NOT supposed to be thinking about her.
But she was the sole thing that filled his every thought, and he blamed himself more and more for her disappearance. It's all my fault she ran…I'm a monster. It's all my fault, I have to find her, and tell her I'm sorry. But she'd never forgive me, and who would? And I can never forgive myself. I'm a cruel, heartless mercenary swordsman, with no heart what so ever.
I hurt everyone close to me. It's all my fault. Why did I ever do that to her? What was I thinking? I'll be lucky if she even wants to look at me ever again. I'm not a human…just a monster, with no heart. All I do is cause pain…I am pain…and…it's…all…my…fault…
And as sleep began to wash over him, he could only see…those startlingly blue eyes…And her image filled his head as he slept an uneasy sleep, cursing himself for what he was…a monster.
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*AN: Hiyas! Well, I think I like this chapter! I have to thank my brother for reading over Filia and Xellos' conversation, and for assuring me that it was good characterization and that it was slightly funny.
And is it ryuzoku? I'd really appreciate it if someone told me how its spelt. ^__^
Thanks to Ryo Hoshi, Lauren-sama and MoroTheWolfGod for assuring me that its 'mazoku' *grins* And sorry, Moro, that Zel didn't have too big a part in this chapter, but he'll have a bigger one next time, I swear! *grins again* And to Winged Dancer; I guess we sorta portray Zelgadis in the same way, no? It's just so fun when he's in denial like that! And to Lauren again, I'm glad you really think that my characterization is good ^^ And there's no need to be sorry! I'm glad enough that you read my fic!
At first I was a bit worried about Filia and Xellos, but now that I think about it, I'm really happy with how they turned out. I'm also happy with the length of this chapter! YAY!!
Thank you so much to anyone who's reviewed! I love all of your encouraging reviews; they really keep me going! I'm going to make monuments of all of you…after I finish this fic, or course! *smiles* Toodles! –Vivi Laney