Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers, Miho however is MINE. BWHAHAHA!!
Miho's notes: I suddenly got...an inspiration of sorts. I had a really nice dream about the move Labyrinth and slayers kinda mixed. It was great. Oh yeah, if you haven't seen Labyrinth I implore you to do so. Yes. Go. See. Movie. Now! So demanding aren't I? Oh righty-o, feed the Authoress, that's me, with reviews!
Soft melodies spun through the towns dimly lit center, the festival of 'The Ruby Flame' was starting. People started filling the town center, where the music could be heard well. Little did these people know that the true meaning of this festival had ancient roots, which had grown far into time.
The festival had at first been created because the king of the town, yes he was called their king, had fallen deeply in love with a commoner. The King not knowing how to win her affections invited her to join him in dinner one evening. She accepted gratefully. Later that evening the King took her to the center of town and he sung to her as they danced.
The King was very pleased with himself, and he asked his lady to marry him. This she also accepted. The same night they first danced, they were wed. Later the King declared that his town from henceforth shall hold a 'ball' of sorts on the same night every year, he called is the night of the Ruby Flame, ruby being his ladies favorite jewel and flames being the heat of the passion they felt for one another. It is now legend that two who dance on this night shall be made one, their souls locked for all eternity.
Lina sighed as she sat on the fountains edge. She gazed wistfully upon the dancing couples; each had a look of happiness and content on their faces. Lina hadn't been asked to dance by anyone, she had expected Gourry to ask he like he did at every other type of 'dance' they had been to, but sadly he did not. Wondering why she hadn't been asked, she maybe thought it was because of her appearance. Lina looked down at her reflection in the water, it didn't seem strange to her. Her fiery red locks were not messy; in fact they cascaded down her back like a waterfall, carefully brushed. Her lips were adorned with gloss, making them shinny and slightly darker. She had applied the tiniest bit of dark pink eye shadow to her eyelids, and a bit of light blush. Lina had kept her gold round earrings on. She put a lily into her hair, its white contrasted nicely with her hair, or so she thought anyway. She had a dark red ribbon tied around her neck as well.
Lina let out another sigh, her face seemed fine and she KNEW her dress was perfect. It was strapless and the top half clung to her like a second skin. At her hips is flared out, much like any wedding dress one would see, but upon the silk material was embroidery of ancient symbols. The way they were places made a fair design you could only see on the rich. At the start of Lina's cleavage, yes I believe she has a fair amount, a shawl of sorts was sown into the dress, it wasn't on her shoulders but a little underneath them. It created a teasing look, Lina thought it be rather stunning. A little below this 'shawl' were the starts of her gloves, she didn't have much to say about those they were normal dark red silky gloves that started a little above her elbow. The dress itself was a dark red like the gloves, the patters and symbols on it were a light red, they stood out noticeably, but elegantly. The shawl was the same light red color as the symbols.
Lina growled at her image, she looked pretty, didn't she? So why hadn't ANYONE asked her to dance?! Sighing again, she lifted her head to the crowd of dancing people; a little away from her was Gourry and Sylphiel. 'Gourry looks so good....' She cried to herself, 'but then again, so does Sylphiel!'
Sylphiel DID look good; wearing her hair up in a bun...She was showing off her creamy shoulders. Her dress was plain, a dark blue silky material that clung to her, showing off her curves.
Lina turned her head to look for Amelia and Zel, she knew they were dancing with each other, but where? Looking to where the singers were performing she saw...Xellos?! He was talking to the leading singer, the singer gave him a wink and a smile, nodding and stepping down. The 'band' that was playing started a soft tune, and girls swooned over Xellos as he started singing. Looking directly at Lina he started. "There's such a sad love, deep in your eyes. A kind of pale jewel open and closed within your eyes. I'll place the sky within your eyes."
Lina gasped as he let the music play for a moment, walking towards Lina he offered her a hand. She meekly took his hand staring into his amethyst eyes, searching for a reason. Lina was about to speak, but Xellos brought his finger to her lips to silence her and continued singing as they started to dance. "There's such a fooled heart beating so fast, in search of new dreams, a love that will last, within your heart." His voice was rich and silky, but was everywhere; all could see he was singing to the girl he held as he spun her. "I'll place the moon within your heart..."
She was flushed, her heart was fluttering. 'Xellos is dancing with me, and this song. It's directed at me?!' The thought of it made her face grow a deep shade of red as she continued to stare awe struck into Xellos's eyes. Xellos smiled down at her and continued to sing, "As the pain sweeps through, makes no sense for you. Every thrill has gone, wasn't too much fun at all. But I'll be there for you, as the world falls down. Falling in love..."
This was too much for Lina to handle as she looked around, the crowd around her was watching the two dance, but dancing at the same time. Lina blushed deeper and looked back at Xellos; she felt a familiar flutter in her heart. It was like the one she felt when she looked at Gourry. Lina's mind raced, was she experiencing love for her mazoku? 'Whoa...MY mazoku? Since when is he mine?' Lina unwillingly put her head on Xellos's chest and he pulled her closer, continuing his song.
"I'll pain you mornings of gold, I'll spin you valentine evenings. Though we're strangers 'till now, we're choosing the path between the stars. I'll leave my love between the stars..." His voice sounded oddly sad; at the sound Lina felt the compelling urge to tell him it was ok and that he shouldn't be so sad. 'What NOW?!' she growled to herself, 'I'm getting protective?!' Unbeknownst to Lina a tear fell from Xellos's eye as he continued to sing, the song drawing to a close. "As the pain sweeps through, makes on sense for you. Every thrill has gone, wasn't too much fun at all. But I'll be there for you, as the world falls down, falling in love." When he stopped singing the crowd roared into applause and cheers, woman were begging him for an encore.
Xellos cupped Lina's chin gazing deeply into her eyes as if searching for her soul. When she tried to speak he put a gloved finger to her lip shook his head and disappeared. Lina was left standing alone in the crowd of people, looking very confused and shocked. She looked from side to side, only to see Zel and Amelia giving her strange looks.
Amelia was shocked, very shocked. Who would have thought Xellos could sing, much less love? Amelia smiled, everyone had a good side! 'Well, since this seems to be the night of confessing love I think I'll sing a song as well!' Amelia whispered something to Zel and ran off towards the stage, upon arriving she talked to the lead singer again, who nodded and took a spot in the crowd. Amelia smiled brightly to everyone then her smile landed directly upon Zelgadis. At this Zel's heart seemed to stop as he started at his lovely princess. (Everyone's calling everyone else theirs!) Zel burned her smiling picture into his brain, the way her eyes shone just from looking at him. Her dress was pale blue and complemented her already compliment-able body. It was rather like Lina's dress, save the shawl and the designs. 'Of course....' he thought, 'Amelia looks times ten better in it than Lina...' He blushed at the thought.
Amelia cued the band to start and they started to play a slow, but slightly upbeat song. Amelia breathed deeply as she blinked a few times before beginning. "I once thought that I'd never feel love. Man was I wrong..." The beat started out really slow, but after the first line it took off into an upbeat fast song. "I feel it now; I feel it like it's attacking me. I'm in love, what am I waiting for? Waiting for a sign, for a sign." The beat slowed down again, "I once thought I'd never get loved back. It broke my heart, I cried myself to sleep so many times, but I know I was wrong..." The beat once again sped up, "I got my sign! I got what I was waiting for, I got it so fast. The clock is going Tick-tock tick-tock tick-tock, show me what I'm waiting for. Take a chance, cause you might like what I'm waiting for. I just want you too love me. Time is short, life is shorter, give me what I'm waiting for." Slower beat, "What am I waiting for? I can't breathe, the fear of you rejecting me. I'm waiting for you, go look at the clock! Tick-tock Tick-tock!" She drew out the last Tick-Tock and then resumed as the beat sped up again, "Let's take a chance and show each other what we're waiting for!" This repeated for a bit, the beat changing each time, sometimes the words. When Amelia finished and jumped off the stage everyone was in applause.
Zelgadis started in awe at Amelia, "Was that song for...me?" he managed to get out. Amelia nodded brightly, the song now playing was something about "Life being wonderful because of you." Amelia giggled, hoping Xellos wasn't in the vicinity, that'd be pain to his ears!
Xellos looked around, he was looking for Lina. He needed to talk to her, and badly. That's when he heard the current song playing, he fell on one knee his expression becoming somewhat pained. "The damn song!" he snarled. He looked up covering his ears to see a young woman hugging herself with her eyes shut tight. "DAMNIT!" Came the scream from the woman. She covered her ears and shot a glare at the singer. Xellos looked at her eyes, her left was amethyst like his own and her right was gold like a dragons almost, both her pupils were slits like his own. He wondered silently if she was a mazoku.
As the song ended Xellos rose from his fetal position dusting himself off. He walked towards the young woman, she shot him a glance. "Why hello!" He said merrily to her. She glared at him, "What in L-sama's name do YOU want Xellos Metallium?!" Xellos looked shocked for a moment, "How did you know my name?" She quickly tied her dark purple hair back into a pony tail that descended from the middle of the back of her head. Her bangs looked like his, except that she had two chest length pieces at the edges of each side of her head. The two long pieces covered her temple, but left her ears showing. Xellos looked her over again, until realization sunk in. This was his life long friend, she was also like the daughter he never had...well not really daughter...but whatever. When he says 'life' he means when she was still human, cause she isn't human anymore! Her eyes glared down upon him, but she smiled. "Surprised to see me?" her voice held no emotion, but her eyes held a tint of sorrow.
Xellos grabbed her into a hug, his voice over joyed. "MIHO! Yes of course I'm glad to see you, I thought you were dead!" Miho giggled, "C'mon Xel, ME? Dead?" Xellos let her go and nodded, "You do have a point..." Xellos eyes flashed with a long forgotten emotion, known only to himself. Miho gazed into his eyes as he spoke. Xellos's voice was soft, "What happened to you? You've been gone since the war of the Mazoku's fall!" Miho nodded as she started her story...
Miho's Notes: Well that's all folks!!!! Don't forget to feed your authoress with REVIEWS! LOTSA 'EM!!! ;;; ;;; I feel oh so sorry for Lina, Gourry kinda DITCHED her. TT Anyways, The song Xellos sung to Lina was David Bowies 'As the World falls down'. The song Amelia sung, which I thought sucked, is something I made up, while under the influence of Gwen Stefani's – What are you waiting for? So I used some ideas from it, avoid suing me O.O;; Can't wait to write chapter 6 for y'all!