Chapter 10: We need to talk.
Author's Note: Because of many problems, both directly and indirectly because of the story, I've decided to discontinue it. For those of you who were enjoying it, though few and far between you may be, I'm sorry, but Chapter Nine is the last chapter.
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PS: Psyche! Oh, man, I had you guys going, didn't I? Lol . . . that was fun. Anyways, onto the reviews . . .
ShiAne: Glad you liked it. Giddy with funny huh? Well, there's more where that came from.
Carla Fox: God Lord? I'm not that great, am I? The fics not really just about Z/A. It's about all the characters, it's just that Zelgadis is the catalyst for them being in a group again. Well, actually, he really hasn't realized his feelings for her. DON"T HIT ME!!! Seriously, his head can be pretty thick (pun intended) when it comes to anything involving emotions.
Dreaming One: Well, the way I see it, the Halcyon Field is the equivalent of nuclear warheads for the dragons. Their ability to phase is nulified by the field, so it's something that takes away their escape route, if they find themselves outmatched. In short it's like hearing an H-bomb is going to hit your town in five minutes, you'd be shell-shocked (non-coincidental expression) too.
Shadow eXtreme: Jeeze, you really hate Duncan, don't you? I mean, just because he's slightly melodramatic doesn't mean that his entrails should be spread across a blood-stained field while a dark cult prepares for the summoning of their demon lord, does it? . . . Ummm . . . That was not a spoiler. Really. I mean that.
Clover the Sea-Beast: Doesn't that sting? Seriously, I'm glad you liked that scene, it was one of my favorite to write. I'm going to have plenty more Xellos/Filia scenes, if only because Ukchana will make me. She withholds favors if I don't obey her. So, dammit, I'm going to do what she asks because I really like strawberry cheesecake.
Kari-chan: Tame? What made you think that? Let's not forget that in the series Xellos seemed plenty nice and sweet. In fact, he was nice enough to ask how the Fire Dragon King was doing. The fact of the matter is: Xellos has made an art out of seeming to be 'tame' when, in fact, he's thinking of different ways to manipulate whoever he happens to be talking to, at the moment.
Rurouni Kai: You probably hate Amelia because you've never sat down to think about her as a character. Zelgadis' emotional torture is out in the open for everyone to see, but Amelia's is a bit more subtle. Her mother was murdered when she was very young, her sister ran away from home at a young age, two family members have tried to kill her. If anything you've got to respect someone who keeps going after all that. And, overall, she's grown the most out of any of the Slayers characters over the course of the series (Filia grew faster but that's because she only had one season of show time). And I bet you want Duncan to die for the same reasons. I hope that you can take a second look at characters that I believe are more intricate than their behavior would suggest.
Chaos-Anita: Thanks for sticking around, not really sure why though. I'm curious about this Holy Crab. And it's given me ideas. Evil ideas that should never see the light of day.
Handsome Puppy: Not for another 20 chapters or so will things get "better". Evil laughter If things go as I think they will, they'll be friends in another 8 chapters or so. However, the characters have this interesting ability to go off in a direction I never considered. Oh and Ukchana has pointed out to me that you've never reviewed her fanfic. Why are you reviewing this steaming pile of text when you could be reading something good? Modern Day I, by Ukchana. You dig?
Blueramza: Glad you like the story. You also should check out Modern Day I, if you want another good story. I give it my personal stamp of approval.
Reiko5: That was not Xellos being angry. That was Xellos being determined. However he does get angry in another chapter after this one. Who does he get angry at? That, of course, is a secret.
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Zelgadis smiled grimly as he felt the spell catalyze. If nothing else, she'll be free and I'll be the one in danger.
The figure's smile began to fade as the chimera's own grew. "What are you planning?"
A quick flash of inhuman speed, and Zelgadis slammed into the monster. A dagger slid from his sleeve in the same motion, landing squarely in his hand. "This," he shoved the knife into its twisted form. "RAH-TILT!" The blue energy flared white as it flowed directly into the skeletal body, conducted by the metal.
Falling to the ground, the shrine maiden watched, barely able to keep her eyes open, as the cellar became flooded with white-hot light. "ZELGADIS!" More blood threw itself onto her lips, staining her chin.
The dull roar of the energy faded, revealing a single stoic figure. Feeling light-headed, Amelia tried to blink away the blurriness. With a nearly inhuman speed, the figure strode up to her. "You," it growled, "are such a pain to look after."
Relaxing, she smiled up at Zelgadis. "S-sor-" she broke off as a cough worked its way up through her mouth.
Growling, the chimera fixed an angry glare on her. "Don't talk." He muttered as he brought a hand to her throat. "Recovery." The familiar white light burst into existence. As he watched the flesh mend, he growled softly, "They'd better have us out of here soon."
((()))
"Come on, Zel," the tiny redhead said, slapping him on the back. "Xellos pulled you out of there almost directly after you killed that monster. It's not like you had to sit down there for hours or anything." Ribbing him with her elbow, she whispered to the quietly stewing chimera, "I bet you wouldn't have minded staying down there for a little while longer."
Zelgadis shot to his feet, a grim expression on his face. "Not now, Lina."
As he walked off into the encroaching darkness, Lina stared after him. "Oh, Zel . . . if only you thought about other people once in a while." Letting her gaze drop to the ground, the sorceress didn't notice the tall figure approaching her from behind.
"Hey, Lina." Gourry said cheerfully, tapping her shoulder. "I got you some tea."
Looking up sadly, Lina silently took the tin cup. "Thanks."
"Don't worry, Lina." Turning back to the small fire, he threw another log on.
"About what?"
"I'll always think about you." Picking up a sharpened stick, the swordsman punctured a potato and stuck it into the flames.
Keeping her back turned, the petite redhead stared at the ground, hiding the film of tears that were starting to spring up. "Thanks, Gourry." Where would I be without you?
A small smile sneaked onto the young girl's face as she watched her protector attempt to cook a potato. The smile grew a little as fire leapt onto the skewer and began to eat away at it. A lot worse off, that's for sure. She chuckled quietly as the warrior tried to extinguish the flames, accidentally breaking the stick and sending his dinner into the fire.
((()))
"Princess, I'm so glad that you're alright." Duncan sat across from her, roughly a yard away, as close as she let him come. "If anything had happened to you, I don't know what I'd do."
For a moment, Amelia ignored his earnest words and expression. Then, allowing herself the ghost of a smile, she whispered. "You can thank Mister Zelgadis for that. He saved me."
Nodding, the dark-haired man tried again to slide closer. Keeping his grin from slipping as she backed away again, the young nobleman smiled warmly at her. "I have much to thank him for. Not only does he invite me along, he protected you in my absence. He's quite the helpful fellow."
Wistfully, the princess stared off into the deep woods, in the direction the helpful chimera had gone. "Yeah," she murmured quietly, "he's always doing things like that."
"Excuse me, you two." The light voice of Filia floated out from the starry night. "I hope I'm not intruding, but I was hoping for some company." The dragon stepped out from the shadows that were nearby an ancient oak tree.
Smiling brightly, the young monarch shifted even further from Duncan to make room for the dragon. "Sure, Miss Filia."
Only a very slight hesitation marked the young man's agreement. "Of course, the more the merrier."
((()))
"The more the merrier, eh, Zelgadis?" Xellos' voice drove into the chimera's skull, bringing a pounding sensation to his already frayed nerves. I will not turn to face him. There's no way in hell he's getting that much respect from me.
"What do you want? To smart off and run away again?" Snorting derisively, the stone man turned, walking further down the path that led back to the, now demolished, cottage. Though he managed not to turn or increase his pace when he heard the priest following him, he couldn't avoid a grimace.
"I wanted . . . to thank you." In the dead of night, with only the nearly silent song of the forest insects, his words were nearly thunderous.
The chimera stopped, shocked by his words. "For what?!"
A soft rustle told Zelgadis that the demon was shrugging. "For protecting Amelia, what else?"
Barking a laugh, he kept walking. "I didn't save her for your benefit." A grim smile slid onto his face when he didn't hear another set of footsteps.
"Then why did you?" The wind nearly drowned out the question, but Zelgadis' ears picked it out clearly enough.
Resisting the instinct to yell how it was 'none of his business', the chimera instead smirked back at the demon. "I have my reasons."
"What might those be?" The nasal voice asked with amusement.
Lengthening his pace, the blue-skinned warrior tried to leave behind his greatest aggravation. "Mine. My own damn reasons!" He spat loudly at the priest. "And they're none of your business!" The shaman swore inwardly at the continued deterioration of his patience.
Watching silently as the swordsman leapt into the trees, Xellos mulled over his options. I have two choices; force an angry reaction, or force a self-contemplative one . . . Smiling slightly, he phased next to the solitary man. "Do you know," he began in a calm voice, "why I am trying to find your cure instead of just killing you?"
Snorting, the stone man leaned back onto the trunk of the tree, doing his best to ignore the annoyance.
"I could just kill you, that would be enough for my superiors. But instead, I convinced them that if I did, Lina would seek revenge against them. If I hadn't done that, you would probably already be dead. Dynast wants you erased, and quickly, too."
He paused, nasal voice growing more subdued. "You see, Amelia mentioned that 'one cannot live on intentions alone'." A twisted smile worked onto the demon's face. "It's quite an interesting phrase, don't you think?"
For a moment, the only sound in the dark forest was the light wind. Then, shattering the silence, came an uproarious laughter from the dour chimera. After a few seconds, he was able to choke down the guffaws to respond incredulously, "So, what you're saying is that you, want to help me?! Sorry, I don't buy this reformist act of yours." Zelgadis' continued laughter began to taper off as the dark priest remained silent. A handful of silent moments slipped by, causing the shaman to narrow his eyes.
"Help you?" The smile broadened into a feral grin as the dark priest waggled a finger menacingly. "You misunderstand." With that, Xellos disappeared, leaving the shocked-into-silence swordsman alone.
((()))
"You brought Valteria with us?" Lina Inverse's eyes bugged out her sockets as she stood and watched Filia adjust the blanket in her backpack.
"Well," the dragon replied petulantly, "why not?" Gently she laid the egg back inside his makeshift cradle.
"Gee, I donno' . . ." A vein popped in the sorceress' forehead. "Maybe because . . . everywhere we freaking GO, the END OF THE WORLD follows us?!"
"Lina!" huffed the blonde dragon, "don't say things like that, babies can hear you through the shell!"
Eyes widening, the redhead sat back down jerkily. "S-sorry, Filia. I guess I'm just a little high-strung, it's Zel, ya know?"
After a moment, the ex-priestess nodded, a sad smile on her face, and silence returned to the campsite.
"Hello, everyone," the cheerful form of Xellos called from the tree-line. "Did you get on well without me?" His eyes opened slightly as he sensed the turbulent emotions running through the group. Apparently not, he mused quietly. This group needs something to lift their spirits.
Phasing next to a despondent Amelia, the demon reached into his satchel and pulled out a deck of cards. "Aw, don't feel down. How about a game? Old Maid, Poker, Gin-"
"You PERVERT!" Shooting to her feet, Filia stomped over to the evil priest. "How DARE you suggest something like that?!"
A soft wind blew across the camp, throwing dust and leaves along the ground. "Uh, Filia?" Lina cautiously stepped towards the dragon. "You okay?"
Thrusting her finger at Xellos, the blonde shouted, "Miss Lina! What are you saying?! He just wants to see me naked!"
Calmly, the purple-haired demon mulled over her accusation in the following silence. Finally, he raised his finger, announcing happily, "This is true, but I have no idea how that ties in with cards!"
Sweat beaded out on the sorceress' forehead. "Filia . . . what the hell are you talking about?"
"H-he . . . he said Strip Poker! Weren't you listening?!" Shivering, the shy maiden sat heavily down, wrapping her cloak around herself tightly.
Scratching her head, Lina plopped herself down at their fire. "Better than you, as far as I can see." She looked up, smiling, as Gourry tapped her shoulder, handing her a fully cooked potato. "Thanks."
"W-what are you talking about? Amelia, Duncan, you heard him, didn't you?!" Twisting her scarf, she stared pleadingly at the other two onlookers, who were shaking their heads woodenly, Amelia's lips pressed together tightly, her face red. "But, he . . . he said it!"
"Filia," the sorceress planted her hand over her face. "He said poker, not strip poker. The only one who was thinking 'naked thoughts' was you, okay?"
A loud burst of laughter from the princess kept the dragon from responding. "I-I'm so sorry Miss Filia, but . . . but-" Another peal of laughter kept her from continuing the apology.
Face flushed red, Filia flashed to her feet, hands and scarf clenched at her side, tearing it from her neck. "This is not a laughing matter! What is wrong with you people?! It's perfectly obvious-"
"Hey Lina, look! Filia's neck is hurt!" Narrowing his eyes, Gourry tried to determine what sort of animal would leave a bite mark like the one on her neck. "It looks like-"
((()))
Zelgadis took a deep breath of the cool night air. All around him silence hung like a cloak. Finally, some peace and quiet. Leaning back into the crook of the branches he closed his eyes contentedly. How did it all change so much? Amelia, friends with that conniving slime.
He paused for a moment, frowning. Damn, with all that confusion I never got a chance to figure out how I'm going to get Amelia to forget about me and go after Duncan. The wind blew over his resting form, growing stronger, then suddenly a tempest, knocking him from his perch.
Reflexively he spun in mid-air, landing in a crouch. What that hell is . . . his thoughts trailed off while his eyes widened. Over the tree-line came a large mushroom shaped cloud. Ame- Growling, the chimera cut the thought short. "My head's so damn rattled I'm not even thinking straight." Leaping back into the trees, Zelgadis tried to see more of the disturbance. "Probably Lina, or Filia . . ." he muttered, mouth twisting slightly.
There's no point in you going, you know. The tiny voice in his head that had been plaguing him for months now, whispered to him. All you really do is cause them problems.
"Rei Wing!" With a howl of wind, Zelgadis was airborne. "It's probably Filia again," he growled, eyes narrowing. "There's no reason to worry." Up ahead, he could see smoke from the blast beginning to dissipate with the increasing wind. "I never should have left those idiots alone." He narrowed his eyes, muttering, "God knows the countryside can't take it."
Even over the rushing air, the chimera could make out a singular shrieking voice. "Godammit Filia, why, the hell did you flip out on us?! We're all calm reasonable adults, why aren't you?!"
Allowing a smile to touch his eyes for a moment, the young shaman descended from the night sky.
"Hey, Zelgadis!" Cheerfully, a soot ridden Gourry waved to his approaching friend. "Welcome back!"
The chimera raised his hand in return. "Thanks, Gourry. What happened here?" Lightly, Zelgadis dropped to the ground, blue eyes staring at the burnt grassland that, only minutes before, had been a more or less organized camp. Lina, as he expected from the yelling, was indeed badgering Filia about her lack of control. Dimly, even with his eyes, he could make out the cloaked figures of Xellos, Amelia and a frightened looking Duncan.
"Well," the blond swordsman raised his hand to his chin and then, closing his eyes, he began to explain. "It all started when we found out that Xellos was eating Filia."
Wham. Slowly, the stunned sorcerer picked himself up off the ground. "W-What . . . What the hell are you talking about?!"
"Xellos gave Filia a Hickory."
((()))
"This time, I'm gonna beat you, Gourry!" With a manly swagger, Lina Inverse stepped away from the others and directed the blond swordsman to a wider area of the forest clearing.
"Lina, I don't know. We do this all the time and nothing changes." With a sad sigh, Gourry adjusted the bundle in his arms: the weapons for the match. "I try to lose, I really do! I'm sorry." Dejectedly, he plopped to the earth. "How about if I just concede? You get really mad when you lose."
The tiny sorceress shook her head, causing her fiery hair to cascade wildly. "No way! This, is going to be it! This time . . . you lose the battle." Cackling loudly, Lina sat down and began carefully arranging the pieces on the chessboard.
The tall blond shrugged. "Okay . . . if you say so."
Shaking his head, Zelgadis gestured towards the two chess players. "I never imagined I'd see the day when Lina and Gourry would be so interested in such a intellectual game." Tiredly, he turned back towards the fire, eyes widening when he saw Amelia pick up another chess set from Xellos' leather satchel.
"I bet," whispered Xellos, appearing nearby, "that you've always dreamt of being with a more cultured adventuring group." The nasal grate of the priest's voice was a knife to the chimera's already frayed nerves. "I have other boards if you'd like to test your skills against, oh . . . say a certain princess from a certain kingdom that we have, most certainly, just departed fr-"
"Shut up." Growling, the blue-skinned man sat down on a tree stump, the trace amount of a good mood vanished. He turned away, opening his eyes onto the image of Amelia, holding an ornate chess board, her eyes sad and dejected. He watched, an apology on his lips, as she backed away, stumbling slightly over the uneven earth.
Haltingly, he reached out a hand, "Amelia . . . I-" the chimera's voice stuck in his throat as he watched tears fill the princess' luminous sapphire eyes.
He watched, unable to speak, as the fragile girl turned and ran into the deep woods, the low hoot of owls just beginning in the twilight. Out of the corner of his vision, he barely saw the dark priest turn away, violet head lowered.
Growling for the thousandth time tonight, the cobalt-skinned man slowly stalked after her, wondering why, if he wanted her to hate him, he was even bothering at all.
((()))
Xellos watched as Zelgadis followed his friend at a lackluster pace. I'm such a fool. Several thousand years old and I still act like a child. He sighed quietly, not caring that it was an autonomic response. Somehow, it seemed to fit the situation.
A fleeting thought passed through him. Should I follow? No, he frowned slightly as a realization rose to the front of his mind, I'll just cause more trouble than I already have. "Dammit."
"Xellos?" A familiar soprano voice shook him from his thoughts with a start.
Half jumping at the unexpected sound, he turned and saw Fila roughly ten feet away. He tried to fake a smile, but felt it turn to a grimace. Slowly, he nodded at her, unsure of what else to do.
"Y-you- . . . I-" The blonde dragon paused, her lips pressed together in uncertainty. Suddenly, her mouth hardened, "You are such a problem! Can't you do anything besides hurt people?"
The demon sighed again, his face dropping to hide in the shadows, "Seems that I can't, doesn't it?"
The question caught the young woman off-guard, "W-what-" her eyes narrowed as she took an uncertain step backwards, "what are you trying to do, make fun of me?"
He shook his head slowly. "No, my dear. I am not," a slight grin appeared on his face, "not at the moment, anyways." Slowly, the grin faded, leaving only the monster's somber gaze behind.
Words suddenly exploded from the dragon's mouth, "You don't care, do you?! You're an awful excuse for a friend! You-" She cut off at the startling change in the dark priest's stance. Oh Cepheid, what have I done? Fear trilled down her spine as he turned his amethyst eyes on her.
"You think that I am an awful friend? That I can do no right, or even change my despicable nature?" He took a menacing step towards her,. "You think that I deserve to feel pain myself for all that I've inflicted?" The night's wind rose quickly, throwing the demon's cloak behind him, whipping wildly in the gust. Another step and the dragon could see his eyes plainly, open, icy, the essence of fear itself.
Involuntarily, the ex-priestess took a step backwards, the empty pit of her stomach tried to wrap around itself as she realized that she might have pushed him too far.
"You," began the demon, his voice almost too quiet to be heard, "are correct." He spun on his heels, turning his back to her. "Now," he spat, "take your victory and leave me be."
Silence hung heavy in the air, the night sounds filled the tiny clearing. The dragon stared at the black cloaked figure before her. Finally, she turned her back on him, crossed her arms and shakily pronounced, "I . . . I never said those things." She fidgeted with her scarf slightly, stunned by the benevolence towards him that was sweeping through her.
He smiled a little now; watching Filia when she was off balance was always a lift to his spirits. And she definitely feels more than a little shaky about feeling sorry for a demon. He could feel it, the compassion, rolling off of her in waves. For a second he felt the old illness, and then he pushed it aside. "Thank you."
A small smile touched the young woman's lips. "You're welcome. Goodnight . . . Xellos." Silently, she started back to her tent.
"Not just yet," intoned the once again cheerful voice of Xellos, "we have a game of chess to play."
The blonde turned, confusion plain on her face. "What?"
Xellos' faint smile broadened into a full grin. "My dear, you are in need of unwinding as much as any of us, here, and I happen to know that dragons have a fondness for chess."
The ex-priestess bit her lip slightly. Spending time with Xellos isn't my ideal from of relaxation, but-
"And virgins. I know for a fact that dragons have this extremely odd fetish-"
Throwing her skirt aside, Filia whipped out her mace, racing after him as he darted in and out of the path of her destruction. "Get back here! You pervert!" Swinging the iron weapon in a vicious downward arc, the dragon growled in frustration as the priest effortlessly reached up and caught her mace-wielding hand.
"Alright," Xellos intoned with melodramatic sadness. "I'll lay off the virgin jokes for now . . . Hmm, that didn't come out right, did it?" He frowned down at her stunned expression. "Neither did that." Shaking his violet head, he sighed, "You really do bring out the pervert in me, Filia, I have to admit."
"See!" she tried to put some force behind the word as she slowly dropped her arm, his hand still around her own. Seconds ticked by and the two of them stood there, holding hands in the pale moonlight. Her blonde head lowered, the ex-priestess could only stare at their entwined palms. It feel so soft, and he's so gentle . . . but he stopped my swing with no effort. Finally, tilting her sapphire eyes up to him, Fila spoke quietly. "Xellos?"
"Yes, my dear?" he asked, a small smile on his lips.
"Can I . . . " the dragon began haltingly, "can I have my hand back?"
"Of course," he let his hand slide from hers slowly, until he held on with just his fingertips, "but what do we do now?"
"Chess, I suppose it's the thing to do tonight," the young woman answered softly, "but not alone." Another smile flickered onto her face and she spoke in an almost affectionate tone. "You're not trustworthy enough."
Clutching his chest as if he'd been stabbed, the demon plastered mock disbelief onto his face. "Oh my, Fila! How can you say that?"
Giggling slightly, the blonde adjusted her scarf, turned and walked lightly back towards the campfire.
For a half-second, the dark priest stood there, head lowered in contemplation. Then, with a grin he vanished and reappeared at the dragon's side, carrying a chessboard.
((()))
At a slow hike, Zelgadis made his way through the deep wood. He bent down and let his fingers brush a few broken twigs. She definitely went this way. I'd have to be blind to miss the trail she's leaving. Standing again, he began to work his way in the new direction.
Mouth curling, he tried, again, to force himself to turn back. Fool! Isn't this exactly what you wanted? No Amelia, no Lina, Gourry, Filia, and no Xellos. You could just wander off. Just go off somewhere and die. They'd never be able to find you, not with how fast you move, you could- Dropping to his knees, the chimera held his head, trying to drown out the voice that sounded like his, yet wasn't. Stop it! he yelled back, not caring how silly it sounded to have an argument with himself. I know what you are now. With a mocking chuckle the other-self faded slowly.
Shaking his head, Zelgadis looked up to see his quarry standing over him. "Amelia?"
She nodded once, her wide blue eyes red and the skin around them puffy. "Are you okay, Mister Zelgadis?"
For moment, the heartless swordsman felt like crying himself; quickly, he closed his eyes. How can she do this? How can she have the energy after all I've done to her? He felt a small hand rest on his shoulder. Raising his head back up he saw a soft smile on the princess' face.
"Back to camp, Mister Zelgadis?" Amelia shivered slightly and hoped that the chimera took it for the night's chill air. Even with stone skin I can still feel his muscles . . . Oh Cepheid, she groaned inwardly, please don't let him see I'm blushing.
Rising steadily to his feet, the swordsman made no move to shake her hand off him. His voice was low, almost grave as he looked across the early evening sky, finally settling his eyes on the young shrine maiden. "Back to camp."
((()))
"Hmmm . . . a knight opening? Quite bold, my dear." Xellos slowly leaned back on his non-existent seat, carefully contemplating what the dragon's objective might be. A knight opening is very risky . . . fast and hard to predict, but very vulnerable.
"Frightened already?" A smile flashed onto the blonde's face. "I thought you were a General?" Her sunny expression faded, as he moved a pawn a single space forward, to a quizzical look. His grin gave her pause as she wondered what he was thinking. Is he trying to goad me? Or is he really that cautious? "Aren't monsters supposed to be a little more chaotic?"
"Oh, Filia! How you wound me!" he gasped melodramatically, raising his hand to his forehead. "I thought you would have realize by now that I'm not an average demon!"
She giggled again while moving her other knight. "I might've if you didn't go around practicing epicaricacy all the time." Quickly glancing, she tried to determine if she's finally managed to stump the dark priest. Someone like him should know every word for being a sadist.
"Oh, I'm terribly sorry, my dear." Xellos' smile opened into a slightly evil grin. "If I'd known that you were such a paraphiliac, I'd have taken an entirely different route to make you my parnel."
A light wind blew across the camp. The blonde dragon shifted uncomfortably, then looked up at the demon. "Ummm . . . can I?" Flushing the woman face glanced down into her lap.
With a sigh, the monster crossed his legs and waved his hand at her as he looked aside. "Oh fine . . . that is why I bought it for you."
The young woman shifted her weight and began to rummage around the pockets of her heavy blouse. After a few seconds she pulled out a mid sized leather bound book. Hastily she opened it and flipped towards the later half.
"O-oh," the monster cried out in glee, "so that's where you keep it!" Leaning forward over the chess board, he winked at his opponent. "I'm honored . . ."
Blushing heavily, Filia shirked back slightly. "H-hey . . . it was just in my blouse!" Finally, she found the right section and skimmed down the page. "Just because I was carrying it on my person does not mean that-" Suddenly, the blonde shot to her feet, face red and pointing to a line in the volume. "I am not addicted to unusual sexual practices!" Snapping the book shut, the young woman lunged to swing at the offensive demon.
Calmly, the demon leaned back, avoiding the attack easily. "Oh, but you are a parnel, then?"
Indignantly, the ex-priestess buried her nose back into the book, unaware that Lina and Gourry were approaching from a nearby clearing. Xellos, however, cheerfully waved them over and then held a finger to his lips.
"W-what?!" sputtered the young woman, eyes wide. "I am not nor ever will be your MISTRESS!!"
"What?!" came a familiar sorrowful male voice.
Shocked at the realization of who owned it, the dragon spun around, face growing more red when she saw a sad looking Gourry and an amused Lina standing there.
"You're breaking up?!" the swordsman despaired. "Does that mean that you're calling off the wedding too?!"
Cackles of laughter from the sorceress drove the dragon to untold shades crimson. "What wedding?! There's no wedding, none at all!"
"But what about the children!" shouted the blond warrior, a plaintive look on his face.
At this, Xellos joined the redhead in laughter.
"What children," Filia yelled, "where are the children?!" Flustered, she sat back down, wrapping herself tightly in her heavy cloak.
Gourry began ticking names off his fingers as his two other friends continued their laughter, "John, Paul, George, Ringo, Velma, Fred, Daphne, Shaggy, Mary Kate, Ashley, Buffy, Cordellia, Xander-"
"Alright, Gourry," Xellos sighed, "that's enough." Restraining himself from laughing anymore, the demon stood, grabbed his staff, and clapped the swordsman on the shoulder. "Don't you worry anymore. I'm sure everything will work out just fine."
"Really?" asked the hopeful mercenary, his eyes wide and innocent.
The demon General nodded reassuringly while he reached, with his staff, over to the still laughing redhead and gave her a quick strike to the head, knocking her to the ground.
"Ow!" The petite girl grabbed her head and rubbed gingerly. "That hurt, you jerk!"
The ex-priestess glanced up, looking between the sorceress and the priest, her sapphire eyes wider than normal.
"I'm sorry, Lina," intoned the violet-haired priest, his voice haughty, "but I can't let you laugh at Fila any more." He waved his finger at her in a superior manner.
Hand still on her injury, the young girl rose, eyes ablaze with anger. "You did the same thing, you ass!" She groaned slightly and tried to ignore Gourry's sudden interest in her injury. Angrily she swiped at his fingers as they ran through her fiery red hair. She sighed again when the swordsman refused to stop and just switched to poking and prodding.
"No," the priest shook his head in a superior manner, a slight smile touching his lips, "I only laughed at her until she became upset. After that, I stopped."
Annoyed, the Dragon Spooker brushed away her protector's meddlesome fingers, "knock it off Gourry. Anyways," she viciously pointed at the demon, "you coulda' warned me if you were gonna do that!"
Sitting down in mid-air, Xellos dropped his smile, "Well, that is true. However, there really wasn't time, you see."
Confused, Lina glanced over at Filia and, finding a mirror for her own puzzlement there, turned back to the trickster. "Time for what?"
"Well," Xellos brought his grin back a little, "Filia's such a delicate thing when it comes to stress and teasing, that I thought I should be nice to her."
The young woman in question gazed up at the mysterious priest, her blue eyes shimmering slightly in the moonlight.
Scratching her head slightly, the powerful sorceress glanced up at her protector and shrugged, "Sure, if you say so."
"Well, Lina," retorted the snooty demon, "it's obvious, isn't it? Either we be nice to Filia, or she'll try to kill us all." Shifting his head to one side, Xellos easily dodged the heavy dictionary that hurtled past him.
"Oh!" growled Filia. "Get out of here, everyone! And you, Xellos, just when I thought you were turning into a tolerable person!" With a yell, the dragon swiped up her mace and leapt towards the monster. She froze, blinking as the petite redhead behind him frantically scrambled away, dragging her yellow-haired guardian with her. Groaning quietly, Filia put her mace back in its clasp and sat wearily back down at the chess board. "Your move." She moaned out, covering her face with her hand.