Author's note: This is the last chapter I'm writing before my exams. Enjoy!

Kara Metallium: new reviewer! *glomps*

Phizzy-chan: I couldn't really imagine them doing you-know-what. [phibby: what's you-know-what? I wanna know!] I don't like Zel much either, but if I didn't add him I'd get pelted with mashed bananas. Which I think is disgusting.

Cookie: Yup, they should get to know each other more!

shikome kido mi: You made a good point about the darkness bits and Xelloss' character. I'll try to keep a mixture of silliness and scariness at the same time!

Soobin: When I did Lina and Zel's greeting, it didn't take much time or effort to think of it. It just came naturally to me. I thought it was funny, looking at it from Amelia's perspective since she idolizes Zelgadiss, and Lina's greeting him like some guy on the street.

Ishy-chan: I couldn't think of any other way to introduce Amelia and Xelloss. (-_-)

Ichiban Victory: another new reviewer! *sprays confetti* I think it looks like L/X too, but for the moment she'll be paired with Gourry. Rabid fangirls, eh? I think I could make that idea into something much more interesting . . . *rubs hands with glee*

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Chapter 7: Animosity

When the meeting had finished and everyone had left, Amelia latched herself onto Lina and pestered her on their way to a nearby coffee shop. "You know Zelgadiss-san? How come you never told me before!" she squealed.

"Oh, I met him while working backstage while I was in university. He was doing some show and we kept in contact."

"I'm going to see him almost every other day now! I'm so excited!"

"Amelia . . ."

"Yes, Lina-san?"

"You're cutting off the circulation on my arm." (-_-)

"Oops."

They found a comfy corner in the coffee shop that had spacious unoccupied sofas. There weren't many people because it was three in the afternoon and still working hours for the great majority of people. By the time they had purchased their drinks, Amelia had stopped "interrogating" Lina and they chatted on other matters, such as Lina's old university life and other general topics. Amelia really missed having these girly-chats, since Lina only came back during the summer and that her . . .identity made it an obstacle for her to make any trustworthy friends. Knowing that her best friend had finished her degree and was back in Seyruun to stay and work with her was something that never anticipated. She knew she wouldn't give anything to have it otherwise. "Hey Lina-san," she suddenly whispered, "Isn't that Xelloss-san?"

Lina turned her head and saw the tall purple-haired man at the counter. The girl at the counter was blushing like crazy as he said something. Lina couldn't really hear from such a distance, but it was probably some flirtatious thing. Ick. She shrugged and turned back to her friend.

"Oh, he's coming this way! Don't you think he's quite cute?"

"Amelia!"

"I think he's quite cute!"

"What about Zelgadiss?"

"He's cute too, but that's different."

"You have a thing for your executive producer and Zelgadiss? Pick one, for Ceiphied's sake!"

"Why? Do you want one of them too?" she teased.

"That is so not like you!"

"Well, I was only joking . . .hi Xelloss-san!" Amelia waved as her executive producer approached them. Lina felt his presence as he stood behind her. She didn't turn around -- she wasn't in the mood to deal with formalities and "small-talk" with someone she met just 2 hours ago. "Hello Amelia-san, Lina-san," he replied.

"Hi." Lina said coldly, still not turning around.

"Lina-san, you should look at someone when you talk to them," Amelia admonished.

"My neck hurts today."

"Lina-san!"

But Xelloss didn't seem to mind Lina's cold attitude. "Want me to give you a neck massage?" he offered brightly. Lina choked on her coffee. "WHAT?" she demanded, turning around.

"Ah, problem cured." (^-^)

". . . . . . ."

"Can I sit here?"

"No room. Go sit somewhere else."

"But there's plenty of --" Amelia started, but stopped when Lina leaned forward and hissed, "This guy is weird."

"Oh, I'm not weird." He beamed, poking his head between them. The girls were startled, and Lina immediately put him in a tight neck-lock. "DON'T DO THAT!" she gritted her teeth. Xelloss seemed to enjoy it immensely, although it was getting increasingly difficult for him to breathe.

"Lina-san, I think you're hurting him."

"Will he die? Because if he does, maybe we can get a new executive producer."

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"Stupid annoying fruitcake." Lina muttered under her breath for the zillionth time when she got back to her new office. Amelia had finally persuaded her to let go to Xelloss, and she left them on the assurance that Lina would not kill her executive producer.

"But can I hurt him really badly?"

"Lina-san!"

That guy was really strange. He seemed so happy when she tried to hurt him really badly. Maybe he was one of those sadists. Eeew. She shuddered as images of him being in tight leather and a whip and that annoying smile on his face entered her mind. Okay, that did not make any sense! "Long day . . ." she shook her head. Maybe it's the long hours . . .Oh look, I'm starting to hallucinate now. I can see Xelloss is kneeling right beside me . . .WHAT?! At a second glance she found herself looking into his cheery face. "WHEN DID YOU GET IN?!" she yelled, flattening herself against the window. Xelloss rubbed his head as though slightly embarrassed.

"My, my, Lina-san. I was here all along!"

"Why are you hanging around here? Don't you have your own office?"

"But being here is much more fun!"

She sighed in defeat. "Okay, why don't we do this: we'll trade offices, if that makes you feel better."

"Ah, but how else can I supervise you if you insist on me leaving?"

She banged her head on the table. "Great. Now I have a "hands-on" manager and I have no time to myself whatsoever." She shot him a death glare. "You're getting a kick out of this, aren't you?"

"I'm a very good employee." He feigned a hurt expression.

"Besides annoying me, don't you have your own work to do? I'm getting a headache," she said, rubbing her temples.

He pondered for a moment. "Hmm . . . .nope." With that, he leaned forward and gave her a peck on the cheek.

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Author's note: Ta da~! *does happy dance*