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Faces: Finale! Chapter 3 Crossing Stars
Zelgadis readjusted his tan cloak and growled as the rain continued to pour down, soaking him. It had been raining for more than three hours, and he was now thoroughly soaked. On the plus side, however, they had managed to find a path that led in the general direction he was going.
"Ano..."
He sighed. "Let me guess...Not familiar?" He turned to the self- proclaimed 'Turtle Queen of the Forest' in annoyance.
"I'm afraid not," Mutsumi answered in chagrin.
"Why am I not surprised?" he whispered, starting down the path again.
Mutsumi followed him. "Gomen nasai," she offered apologetically. "I could have sworn I'd know the way by now."
"Never mind," he told her gruffly.
"Perhaps there'll be a sign up the road," she suggested hopefully.
He grunted.
"Or maybe we'll happen along an inn!" she told him.
He stopped suddenly, his eyes narrowing.
"Uh oh," he whispered. "Chimera sense tingling..."
Mutsumi hadn't noticed his change of stance. "Or maybe that cuddly- looking werewolf up there will give us directions!"
Zelgadis looked up sharply and saw Mutsumi pointing up at a low- hanging branch of a nearby tree. Atop this branch was...
The memory of the fight in the canyon shot through Zelgadis' mind. While he had fought Scarrin, Sylphiel and Amelia had been fighting...
"Ano, Mister Werewolf!" Mutsumi began, clapping her hands together. "Could you help us please! We're in trouble!"
Zelgadis sighed and drew his sword. "Yeah," he agreed, stepping forward. "We're in trouble all right."
Gandrav smiled as his band of berserkers began to emerge from the forest around them.
"I don't understand why we couldn't just fly there!" Filia bit out as she marched forward. All her possessions were wrapped up in a tablecloth and hung from the end of a stick she held over her shoulder. Xellos followed just behind her. "Wouldn't it have been faster?"
"True," Xellos answered seriously. "But I know Jinnar. He sees the obvious and thinks himself clever for it. He'll expect us to come from the air. It wouldn't surprise me if the skies above Wolfpack Island are watched. Probably the skies around this area as well."
Filia didn't answer right away. Something about Xellos' tone over the past few days had bothered her. She mentally snapped her fingers as she realized what it was.
Xellos hadn't made a joke or played a prank on her in the last few days.
It surprised her.
He was so serious all of a sudden.
"Namagomi, are you all right?" she asked, deliberately using the insult. She wanted a reaction.
"Of course, Filia chan. I'm fine," was the simple reply.
Liar, she thought.
"Well, then let's press on," she demanded, stalking ahead of him. "We have a long way to go."
Xellos watched as she walked on. He blinked and looked down suddenly. Taking his staff in his left hand, he watched his right in frank concern. It continued to shake until he wrapped his fingers around the staff again.
It was getting worse.
"Namagomi! Where are you?!"
"Coming, Filia chan," he muttered before starting down the road again.
It was a nice, stormy day on Wolfpack Island. The sky was thick with thunderclouds. The sounds of agonized screaming could be clearly heard from the dungeon. It was a beautiful day for sweeping.
Which was what Iffy was doing.
She scowled slightly as one of Her Ladyship's wolves sleepily ambled Over to the area of the courtyard she had just swept and laid down there. It yawned widely then started scratching.
"You're doing that on purpose," Iffy pouted.
The wolf spared her a glance before resting its head on its paws and Going to sleep.
Before Iffy could continue pouting, she heard a scream behind her. This wouldn't be anything new if it weren't for the fact that she recognized the owner of that scream's voice.
"IFFY! HELP!"
She turned just in time to catch General Priest Jinnar as he ducked Into the courtyard.
"Lord God General Priest Jinnar Sir!" she cried in surprise.
Jinnar, his suit wrinkled and his hair mussed, looked about fearfully before ducking behind the sleeping wolf. "Don't let her find me!" he cried. "Do you understand?! Don't let her get me!"
Iffy blinked. "'Her?'" she asked. "Lord God General Priest Jinnar Sir," she began, "Did you offend Her Ladyship or something?"
"No, you idiot!" he screamed at her from behind the wolf. "It's that dragon hussy! She's after me again!"
Iffy could only blink at the sight. Here was the General Priest of the Grand Army of Wolfpack Island...cowering from...
"JINNY CHAN!"
Iffy turned and found Amara Ul Copt laughing happily down the courtyard steps. In her hand was a coiled bullwhip. She searched the courtyard for a few moments before skipping up to Iffy.
"Ms. Iffy," she began with a bow, "Have you seen Jinny chan? He promised he'd take me to the dungeon today!"
Iffy stared at her in disbelief, then smiled. "Yeah! Sure! He's right behind Cerberus here!" She pointed at the giant wolf.
"IFFY! YOU IDIOT!" came Jinnar's scream.
"JINNY CHAN!" Amara cried happily. She ran behind the wolf and squealed happily. Jinnar was screaming obscenities and threats. Iffy just listened happily.
"STOP! I MEAN IT! I'LL ANNIHILATE YOU!"
"Yes, my Mazoku passion god!" Amara cried back. "ANNIHILATE ME!"
"HELP! HELP!"
Iffy frowned in disapproval and shook her head. "Jeez, get a room..."
Zelgadis brought up his sword and caught the blows of two berserkers on it. Gritting his teeth, he strained against the force they were putting on his sword. Finally, with a cry, he shoved them back. Turning, he just barely parried two swings from a different berserker.
"Yay!" Mutsumi cheered from the sidelines. "Go Zelgadis!"
Zelgadis grunted as his back struck the tree next to the woman. A berserker had the staff of his halberd against the chimera's neck and was pressing, trying to strangle him.
"Mutsumi....help," he croaked.
The Turtle Queen blinked. "How?"
"Knife," Zelgadis gagged out. "Belt..."
Mutsumi reached down to his belt and pulled his dagger. "Now what?"
"Throw it," he croaked.
The woman turned, reached back, and threw the knife into the forest. A dull clang signaled its abrupt contact with a nearby tree.
"I hit it!" Mutsumi cheered, clapping.
Zelgadis growled in frustration and kneed the berserker in the groin. As he continued slashing at the enemies with his sword, he continued asking himself one question.
"Why me?!"
Filia growled as a branch snagged the hem of her skirt. She readjusted the load of firewood in her arms and tried to free herself without...
*RIIIP!*
"Augh!" she cried in frustration. She threw the wood down and reached down, pulling the branch off her torn skirt. "Can't anything go right for me?" she grumbled.
It was bad enough that her sister was kidnapped. It was bad enough that the namagomi had to come along. But couldn't she do the simple task of bringing firewood back to camp without SOMETHING GOING WRONG?!
And speaking of which, why was SHE getting the firewood?! What about HIM?! Where was HE?! Why wasn't HE helping out?!
She was cold, still wet from the rain, tired, hungry and frustrated as all Hell, and he couldn't lift one damn finger to help her out?
Picking up the firewood again, she pushed her way through the forest. Anger rolled off her like heat from a star.
He claimed he wanted to help her, so where was the help? It was time To find that Mazoku and educate him in the way things were going to be from nowon.
She was just clearing the brush into their campsite, and about to Start yelling, when she saw him.
Xellos was hunched over, clinging to his staff like a lifeline. His shoulders were shaking ever so slightly. She could hear a sound emanating from his throat, as if he were trying to choke down a painful gasp.
She took a step forward and heard a twig snap under her foot.
In less than a second, his eyes were on her.
Like an animal suddenly caught in the gaze of a predator, Filia went Stock still. There was something in his eyes, something she hadn't seen before.
The gaze made her blush, and it was then that she realized her mistake.
She had marched into this campsite feeling rage and bitterness, and for Xellos, that was probably the same as if she had put on a slutty outfit and crooked a finger at him.
The dragon took a step back. "Xellos," she began cautiously. "Are you all right?"
Xellos rose to his feet slowly, still shaking slightly. There was a kind of dark glow around his eyes, eyes that were staring directly at her.
(Oh dear Cepheid,) she thought fearfully. (The Peak finally pushed him over the edge.)
He growled at her.
Filia swallowed nervously and took another step back, keeping the firewood she carried between him and her almost like a shield. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, and something in her mind knew that HE could hear it, was listening to her fear and drawing even more strength and determination from it.
"Xellos," she began calmly, doing her absolute best to calm herself. "Listen to me. You're not yourself. Just...just sit down and try to calm down, okay?"
Another step back.
He barred his teeth at her, and she stopped. She wasn't going to get away from this that easily.
She'd have to turn into a dragon and hope that she could fly fast enough to get away.
Looking down at her chest, she saw the blue orb that allowed her to transform. To get to it, she'd have to drop the firewood, and if she did that, Xellos would KNOW what she was trying to do.
Her pulse roared in her ears. Xellos hadn't taken one step towards her, but was watching her intently, waiting for her to do something.
She dropped the firewood.
Her hands flew to her chest.
Then he was there.
Her back hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from her. She tried to touch the orb on her chest, but found her arms pinned above her. Looking up, she saw him there.
"Xellos," she gasped fearfully. "Don't do this." She struggled a bit, but knew it was futile. Her only hope was to reason with him. She looked into his eyes and saw that was futile too.
There was nothing funny about his eyes now. No humor in them. It was if he wasn't really in control.
She suspected he wasn't.
The dragon flinched as he trailed a finger across her cheek. It didn't hurt. She half expected it to. But it did do something that surprised her. It left a tiny trail of darkness that burned like an ember for a few moments. She felt a warm sensation along her cheek where the darkness burned before it slowly faded.
Filia shook with fear and apprehension. He touched the other side of her face, this time with all five finger tips, and felt the warmth emanating from the contact. She took a breath and found that the fear was beginning to evaporate. It was if she had taken some drug to suppress it, yet she didn't feel groggy or lightheaded. She felt perfectly fine.
His fingers moved down to her neck, and the trail of darkness on her face didn't fade as it had before. She whimpered and closed her eyes as a warm glow suffused her entire being.
(Fight!) her mind screamed at her. (Fight!)
But she didn't want to. She felt calm, at peace.
Passive.
She opened her eyes and looked down to see something odd. Xellos was trailing his fingers up her arm, but now, where the dark light met her skin, a bright white light was emerging from her. It melded with the dark light, dancing with it, blending together.
More light emerged from her and darkness from him, fusing together at several parts.
She heard him growl above her and sighed, reaching up to touch his face. He had released his grip on her hands and seemed to be just floating above her. White light seemed to pool in the air at her fingertips as she brushed his face...
Suddenly, he screamed and flew backward.
The white light faded, and Filia felt herself lying on the ground again. She blinked and sat up.
"Wha..." Her hand went to her head. Looking up, she saw Xellos struggling to his feet not far away. "What...I..." She blushed and turned away, unable to speak.
She watched as Xellos tried to rise to his feet, but fell to one knee again. He was shaking like a cherry blossom caught in a typhoon, desperately trying to hold on in the tempest that was Peak.
He turned his head toward her, and she nearly cried at what she saw. There were very few times when she could remember seeing Xellos looking almost human. And he looked that way now.
A human in intense pain.
The animalistic look in his eyes was gone. There was just the pain.
"Go," he gasped out hoarsely. It was hard to understand him at first. She could only shake her head. "Leave," he begged.
"Xellos, I..."
"GO!" he screamed at her, falling forward. He just barely managed to catch himself. "I...I can't control it anymore, Filia chan," he told her. She could hear the absolute pain in his voice. "I...I can't keep my promise to you...if you stay."
She stared in shock. Only a few moments before, he'd had her. She was at his mercy and they both knew it. And now, here he was, begging her through his pain and anguish to leave before his condition forced him to do something he swore he wouldn't.
Taking her would end his pain. He knew it. She knew it.
But he wouldn't do it because he had promised her.
Amara's words came crashing back to her.
"The well being of the female SUPERCEDES his own! SHE becomes HIS life! A Mazoku male will NEVER leave his mate! He will never put her at risk! He will never ignore her or betray her!"
Filia watched him clutch at his chest. Black tendrils of energy streamed lazily from his body. Energy with nowhere to go. She could just barely hear him between gasps.
"Make it stop, Ruby Eye," he prayed. "Make it stop."
"And if protecting his mate means he has to die, he'll die," Amara's words haunted her.
She took a tentative step forward.
Xellos saw her move and started to backpedal away. "Stay away from me!"
Filia ignored him and knelt next to him. She couldn't believe she was going to do this. She was being torn in so many different directions, it actually hurt. Her hand slowly went out to him.
He snagged her wrist in his hand and growled. Filia swallowed fearfully for a moment, but didn't try to move away. Instead, she rested her other hand on his.
That was all he needed to see.
A second later, Filia found herself on her back again, Xellos above her. This time, though, she wasn't as shocked.
"Xellos," she gasped apprehensively. "Please," she begged. "Be gentle. Please. I'm not like you."
Somehow, though, she knew she needn't have worried. He touched her face as he did before, and she felt the warm sensation his fingertips left. She closed her eyes, this time embracing what she was feeling.
Because she opened herself to it, it was different this time. She could feel it. It wasn't light that was emerging from her, or darkness from him. It was their spirits, their very essences, mind and body, heart and soul.
She gasped inwardly as she found herself in his memories. She saw his birth, his "childhood" as a Mazoku, learning the things from Metallium that would keep him alive for ten thousand years.
She suddenly saw it all, knew it all. Everything there was to know about him. Some she knew already, some she was now discovering. It suddenly dawned on her that if she could see his thoughts, then he could see hers.
This made her recoil for a moment, but only a moment. After that, she opened herself to him, letting him see it all. Every thought, every fear, every moment of memory she knew.
She could see light even with her eyes closed. It grew brighter and brighter, then suddenly...
Zelgadis rested against a nearby tree, his sword clutched tiredly in his hand as he panted.
He looked up in exhaustion as he felt something cool and damp touch his forehead. Mutsumi was standing next to him, patting his head with a wet cloth.
"You were very brave out there, Mister Zelgadis," she told him.
The chimera said nothing. After losing the last of its berserkers, the werewolf had fled, probably to get more. They didn't have time for this. He pushed her hand away and walked forward. It was time to go.
As he moved forward, he noticed a pack on the ground. He wondered if one of the berserker might have dropped it and knelt down to pick it up. He was surprised to find many of his own belongings in it.
He blinked. "Duh, it's your own pack, Zel," he muttered to himself as he threw it over his shoulders.
The chimera almost chuckled. How could he forget something so obvious?
Filia stared up at the sky in a perfect mixture of shock and contentment. Nearby, their tiny campfire was nothing more than embers giving off a soft, red glow.
She was different. She could feel it. It hadn't been as simple as letting Xellos, "tag her" as Naga had so poetically put it. It wasn't just sex. It wasn't sex at all, really. Not the way she understood sex to be. They were both still dressed as a matter of fact. But the feelings, the thoughts, the emotions that had consumed them both.
It was better than sex.
Or so she had heard, anyway...
Amara had been right. Understanding. Understanding the Mazoku and the Ryuuzoku was what was needed. Now that she had felt Xellos, seen his life, his thoughts. She knew him. And while she hadn't necessarily been wrong about a lot of things about him, she now understood those things a bit more.
She swished her tail lazily back and forth in thought. She could feel Xellos' arms still holding her tightly, possessively. One thing she knew for sure was that there was no taking that step back. She was his mate now, and she knew from his memories what happened to males that attempted to rival Mazoku by courting their mates.
This idea should have frightened her, and yet it didn't. It almost...comforted her.
That's how she knew she was changing. He was linked to her now. The thought of being away from him seemed distant and alien. It was almost as if...
She blinked.
By sharing their thoughts...could he have shared his Peak?
Before she could continue the thought, she felt fingers touch her tail. She blushed and felt the appendage swish back and forth a bit faster. Curious, she decided to try something.
//Can you still hear my thoughts, my mate?//
She chastised herself a moment later for being silly, but was surprised when she heard his voice in her head.
//Of course, Filia chan.//
She felt his fingers drum lightly on her tail and squirmed a bit. //Namagomi! Stop that! You know what that does to me!//
//Indeed,// he thought back at her. She could see his grin in her mind.
//Hmmph!// she mentally sniffed. //At least you're feeling better now...aren't you?//
She felt his lips graze her shoulder, then suddenly squeaked as he bit her.
//Much,// he purred in her mind.
//Well,// she thought as she blushed. //That's good then...// This would definitely take some getting used to, she thought to herself.
//Indeed it is,// he piped in, overhearing her thought. //By the way, you were fantastic. It's hard to believe I'm your first Mazoku...// He poured in just enough innuendo for her to notice it.
//HOW DARE YOU!?// she cried at him, anger welling up in her. She stopped suddenly as she felt pleasure roll through him, and as a result, through her as well. //You did that on purpose,// she accused him.
//Hard to trick you now, isn't it?// he replied.
She squirmed around until she was facing him. //Xellos...you would never...REALLY...hurt me...would you?//
He smiled at her and trailed his lips to her ear. //Just a little...my mate...//
Then he nipped her again.
Zelgadis woke up with a start, panting. He closed his eyes again and tried to control his breathing.
It was just a dream. Just a bad dream. Just one more bad memory.
But it was over.
He opened his eyes again as he realized that something was wrong. His pillow was too soft...which was very odd because he didn't HAVE a pillow out here in the wilderness...
Slender fingers gently touched his forehead and trailed down one of his spiky, metallic hairs.
His head was resting in a woman's lap.
"Syl...chan?" he whispered.
Mutsumi smiled down at him. "No," she said quietly. "Mutsumi chan."
Jinnar peered around the corner of a granite wall and tried to see through the darkness beyond. It had been quiet lately...too quiet.
He nearly jumped out of his astral form when a woman's voice sounded behind him.
"Lord God General Priest Jinnar Sir?"
Turning on his subordinate, Jinnar raised a fist. "BONEHEAD! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT SNEAKING UP ON PEOPLE?!"
Iffy saluted smartly. "That when you do it, to finish them off with the first blow, Sir!"
Jinnar grit his teeth and muttered a curse. "Forget it! Have you seen the dragon?"
"You mean Evil Princess Amara?"
Jinnar blinked. "Pardon me?"
Iffy smiled and nodded. "She felt that she should have a more Mazoku-ish name if she was going to be your wife, so we brainstormed and came up with 'Evil Princess Amara.' You like?"
Jinnar's eyes narrowed. "Why are you encouraging her?"
Iffy only blinked in confusion.
"Forget it," he muttered. "Where is she now?"
Iffy smiled. "The throne room."
Jinnar screamed and took off down the hall at mach five. Iffy blinked after him.
"I don't see why he's so upset," she commented, scratching her head. "Evil Princess Amara and Her Ladyship were getting along fine when I introduced them." She smiled. "Oh well! Not my problem!" With that, she disappeared.
Jinnar was panting by the time he reached the throne room, which is a sign of how distressed he was since Mazoku didn't really need air. What he found when he got there stunned him.
Xelas and Amara were sitting together at a small table, drinking tea and laughing together.
"Why do I suddenly feel so very very cold?" he asked himself.
Xelas must have heard him because she looked up and found him there. "Ah, Jinnar! Great timing! I was just having a conversation with your female here."
"Actua..." he began, but was cut off when Amara leaped out of her chair at him.
"JINNY CHAN!"
"AUUUGH!!!" He hit the ground hard as Amara slammed into him at full force.
Xelas nodded sagely. "I can definitely feel the pain in this relationship," she noted. "You got yourself quite a firecracker there, Jinny boy." She paused a moment later. "But why haven't I seen her around before?"
Amara rose to her feet and bowed graciously. "That's because I'm not a Maz..."
Jinnar hopped up and covered her mouth with his hand. "She's...um...one of Deep Sea Dolphin's maids!" he blurted.
Xelas' lips curled up slightly in disgust. "One of Dolphin's tarts, huh? Well...at least she has better manners than most of them. Still, I'm not sure I approve of one of my Mazoku marrying into THAT family..."
Jinnar started to sweat.
"Still, being a General Priest should have a few perks, so you two have fun. I have stuff to do. Later!" With that, the Mazoku queen disappeared.
Jinnar breathed a sigh of relief.
"Jinny chan?"
Jinnar growled and turned, preparing to rail against the woman who very nearly got him killed. Before he could open his mouth though, he felt a sharp pain in his chin, accompanied by an even sharper crack.
The general priest took a step back and blinked. Amara grinned and raised the bullwhip again.
"CUT THAT OUT!" he screamed.
*whi-CRACK!*
Zelgadis hopped to his feet as if suddenly confronted with a snake. "What are you doing?"
Mutsumi looked up at him, still on her knees. "You were sleeping fitfully," she told him with a bemused smile. "I was trying to comfort you."
"Thanks," he said gruffly. "But I don't need comfort."
"Who's Syl chan?" she asked suddenly.
"None of your business," he replied shortly, turning away from her.
"Is she your wife?"
"No."
"Ah!" Mutsumi cried, clapping her hands together. "An illicit lover!"
Zelgadis blushed crimson. "It's none of your business!" he told her flatly.
"Tell me about her!"
The chimera looked at her incredulously. "Why do you want to know?!"
"Why don't you want me to know?"
Zelgadis started walking away. Mutsumi gamely caught up with him and skipped along beside him.
"You're not ashamed of her, are you?" she joked. "Is she fat?"
"She is not fat," Zelgadis told her evenly.
"Ugly? Does she have warts?"
"No," he growled. "She does not have warts."
Mutsumi blinked at him. "Then what?"
He turned on her suddenly. (She's possessed by one of the seven shards of Ruby Eyed Shabranigdo and is going to die unless I help bring the entire Grand Army of Wolfpack Island down on top of Seyruun!)
Instead he said, "Nuth'n."
"Please, Zelgadis chan!" Mutsumi begged, practically hopping up and down.
Zelgadis sighed. "Fine." He continued walking. "She's about your height. Blue-violet hair. Brown eyes. She's a priestess of Seyruun."
"She sounds very pretty," Mutsumi told him. "I hear priestesses of Seyruun are very skilled."
"She's not a priestess from Seyruun," he corrected her. "She's from Sairaag."
"But you just said a moment ago that she was from Seyruun."
The chimera blinked. "No, I didn't," he told her.
"Yes, you did," Mutsumi assured him. "My height, blue-violet hair, brown eyes..."
"Green eyes," he corrected.
"You said brown."
He stopped in his tracks, looking confused.
"So which is it?" she asked.
She watched as he seemed to think long and hard. Then, "Brown," he told her and continued on.
Mutsumi smiled widely and clapped. "Very pretty!" She chased after him.
Gandrav growled as he counted his remaining berserkers. He was down to his last three. Scarrin would not be pleased, but it appeared that the werewolf would not be able to capture the chimera with so few men.
He'd have to go back.
Scarrin would not be pleased at all...
He went still suddenly and sniffed the air. His hand went to his sword, but before he could draw it, a knife was at his throat. Someone was standing behind him.
The werewolf remained perfectly still. He could feel the curved edge of the knife pressing against his neck. The chimera must have found him, yet he didn't smell the same scent he associated with Zelgadis. It smelled more feminine.
His assailant reached around with the other hand and showed him a crystal. Staring into it, Gandrav saw Scarrin's face appear.
"Gandrav," his master began, "The woman with the knife at your throat is one of my new hires. I sent three of them to assist you. Knowing how cunning and difficult Greywords could be, and with Vanya still missing in action, I thought you would appreciate the help. They have their own orders, so don't interfere. Just assist them."
Gandrav felt the knife being pulled away and turned quickly. Three women stood there in loose-fitting outfits. Their faces were hidden by cloth masks, almost like veils.
(Kunoichi) he thought fearfully. (Why would Scarrin hire THREE of them?!)
The crystal continued. "Remember, Gandrav. Don't interfere."
The werewolf swallowed nervously.
Scarrin finished. "The last thing you want is to make the Order of the Royal Teardrop upset with you..."
End Theme: It Is You (I Have Loved) by Dana Glover. The Xellos-Filia love theme.
Author's Notes:
Time to use my fic to plug some sites! First up are the two sites I helped create. The Two Guys Review Site at http://www.cavdav.dragonsanime.com Also, the Give Sylphiel a Chance Foundation at www.sylphiel.org. This is a site dedicated to our favorite shrine maiden. Now if only Taloon would update... http://www.geocities.com/relinapeace/sylphzel/lone.html This is a site dedicated to Zelgadis and Sylphiel. It's pretty new, so I'm trying to throw some publicity its way.
The next chapter will probably take awhile in coming. My new job takes A LOT of time out of my day, and by the end of it, I'm usually too beat to want to write. I'll give it my best, though.
Faces: Finale! Chapter 3 Crossing Stars
Zelgadis readjusted his tan cloak and growled as the rain continued to pour down, soaking him. It had been raining for more than three hours, and he was now thoroughly soaked. On the plus side, however, they had managed to find a path that led in the general direction he was going.
"Ano..."
He sighed. "Let me guess...Not familiar?" He turned to the self- proclaimed 'Turtle Queen of the Forest' in annoyance.
"I'm afraid not," Mutsumi answered in chagrin.
"Why am I not surprised?" he whispered, starting down the path again.
Mutsumi followed him. "Gomen nasai," she offered apologetically. "I could have sworn I'd know the way by now."
"Never mind," he told her gruffly.
"Perhaps there'll be a sign up the road," she suggested hopefully.
He grunted.
"Or maybe we'll happen along an inn!" she told him.
He stopped suddenly, his eyes narrowing.
"Uh oh," he whispered. "Chimera sense tingling..."
Mutsumi hadn't noticed his change of stance. "Or maybe that cuddly- looking werewolf up there will give us directions!"
Zelgadis looked up sharply and saw Mutsumi pointing up at a low- hanging branch of a nearby tree. Atop this branch was...
The memory of the fight in the canyon shot through Zelgadis' mind. While he had fought Scarrin, Sylphiel and Amelia had been fighting...
"Ano, Mister Werewolf!" Mutsumi began, clapping her hands together. "Could you help us please! We're in trouble!"
Zelgadis sighed and drew his sword. "Yeah," he agreed, stepping forward. "We're in trouble all right."
Gandrav smiled as his band of berserkers began to emerge from the forest around them.
"I don't understand why we couldn't just fly there!" Filia bit out as she marched forward. All her possessions were wrapped up in a tablecloth and hung from the end of a stick she held over her shoulder. Xellos followed just behind her. "Wouldn't it have been faster?"
"True," Xellos answered seriously. "But I know Jinnar. He sees the obvious and thinks himself clever for it. He'll expect us to come from the air. It wouldn't surprise me if the skies above Wolfpack Island are watched. Probably the skies around this area as well."
Filia didn't answer right away. Something about Xellos' tone over the past few days had bothered her. She mentally snapped her fingers as she realized what it was.
Xellos hadn't made a joke or played a prank on her in the last few days.
It surprised her.
He was so serious all of a sudden.
"Namagomi, are you all right?" she asked, deliberately using the insult. She wanted a reaction.
"Of course, Filia chan. I'm fine," was the simple reply.
Liar, she thought.
"Well, then let's press on," she demanded, stalking ahead of him. "We have a long way to go."
Xellos watched as she walked on. He blinked and looked down suddenly. Taking his staff in his left hand, he watched his right in frank concern. It continued to shake until he wrapped his fingers around the staff again.
It was getting worse.
"Namagomi! Where are you?!"
"Coming, Filia chan," he muttered before starting down the road again.
It was a nice, stormy day on Wolfpack Island. The sky was thick with thunderclouds. The sounds of agonized screaming could be clearly heard from the dungeon. It was a beautiful day for sweeping.
Which was what Iffy was doing.
She scowled slightly as one of Her Ladyship's wolves sleepily ambled Over to the area of the courtyard she had just swept and laid down there. It yawned widely then started scratching.
"You're doing that on purpose," Iffy pouted.
The wolf spared her a glance before resting its head on its paws and Going to sleep.
Before Iffy could continue pouting, she heard a scream behind her. This wouldn't be anything new if it weren't for the fact that she recognized the owner of that scream's voice.
"IFFY! HELP!"
She turned just in time to catch General Priest Jinnar as he ducked Into the courtyard.
"Lord God General Priest Jinnar Sir!" she cried in surprise.
Jinnar, his suit wrinkled and his hair mussed, looked about fearfully before ducking behind the sleeping wolf. "Don't let her find me!" he cried. "Do you understand?! Don't let her get me!"
Iffy blinked. "'Her?'" she asked. "Lord God General Priest Jinnar Sir," she began, "Did you offend Her Ladyship or something?"
"No, you idiot!" he screamed at her from behind the wolf. "It's that dragon hussy! She's after me again!"
Iffy could only blink at the sight. Here was the General Priest of the Grand Army of Wolfpack Island...cowering from...
"JINNY CHAN!"
Iffy turned and found Amara Ul Copt laughing happily down the courtyard steps. In her hand was a coiled bullwhip. She searched the courtyard for a few moments before skipping up to Iffy.
"Ms. Iffy," she began with a bow, "Have you seen Jinny chan? He promised he'd take me to the dungeon today!"
Iffy stared at her in disbelief, then smiled. "Yeah! Sure! He's right behind Cerberus here!" She pointed at the giant wolf.
"IFFY! YOU IDIOT!" came Jinnar's scream.
"JINNY CHAN!" Amara cried happily. She ran behind the wolf and squealed happily. Jinnar was screaming obscenities and threats. Iffy just listened happily.
"STOP! I MEAN IT! I'LL ANNIHILATE YOU!"
"Yes, my Mazoku passion god!" Amara cried back. "ANNIHILATE ME!"
"HELP! HELP!"
Iffy frowned in disapproval and shook her head. "Jeez, get a room..."
Zelgadis brought up his sword and caught the blows of two berserkers on it. Gritting his teeth, he strained against the force they were putting on his sword. Finally, with a cry, he shoved them back. Turning, he just barely parried two swings from a different berserker.
"Yay!" Mutsumi cheered from the sidelines. "Go Zelgadis!"
Zelgadis grunted as his back struck the tree next to the woman. A berserker had the staff of his halberd against the chimera's neck and was pressing, trying to strangle him.
"Mutsumi....help," he croaked.
The Turtle Queen blinked. "How?"
"Knife," Zelgadis gagged out. "Belt..."
Mutsumi reached down to his belt and pulled his dagger. "Now what?"
"Throw it," he croaked.
The woman turned, reached back, and threw the knife into the forest. A dull clang signaled its abrupt contact with a nearby tree.
"I hit it!" Mutsumi cheered, clapping.
Zelgadis growled in frustration and kneed the berserker in the groin. As he continued slashing at the enemies with his sword, he continued asking himself one question.
"Why me?!"
Filia growled as a branch snagged the hem of her skirt. She readjusted the load of firewood in her arms and tried to free herself without...
*RIIIP!*
"Augh!" she cried in frustration. She threw the wood down and reached down, pulling the branch off her torn skirt. "Can't anything go right for me?" she grumbled.
It was bad enough that her sister was kidnapped. It was bad enough that the namagomi had to come along. But couldn't she do the simple task of bringing firewood back to camp without SOMETHING GOING WRONG?!
And speaking of which, why was SHE getting the firewood?! What about HIM?! Where was HE?! Why wasn't HE helping out?!
She was cold, still wet from the rain, tired, hungry and frustrated as all Hell, and he couldn't lift one damn finger to help her out?
Picking up the firewood again, she pushed her way through the forest. Anger rolled off her like heat from a star.
He claimed he wanted to help her, so where was the help? It was time To find that Mazoku and educate him in the way things were going to be from nowon.
She was just clearing the brush into their campsite, and about to Start yelling, when she saw him.
Xellos was hunched over, clinging to his staff like a lifeline. His shoulders were shaking ever so slightly. She could hear a sound emanating from his throat, as if he were trying to choke down a painful gasp.
She took a step forward and heard a twig snap under her foot.
In less than a second, his eyes were on her.
Like an animal suddenly caught in the gaze of a predator, Filia went Stock still. There was something in his eyes, something she hadn't seen before.
The gaze made her blush, and it was then that she realized her mistake.
She had marched into this campsite feeling rage and bitterness, and for Xellos, that was probably the same as if she had put on a slutty outfit and crooked a finger at him.
The dragon took a step back. "Xellos," she began cautiously. "Are you all right?"
Xellos rose to his feet slowly, still shaking slightly. There was a kind of dark glow around his eyes, eyes that were staring directly at her.
(Oh dear Cepheid,) she thought fearfully. (The Peak finally pushed him over the edge.)
He growled at her.
Filia swallowed nervously and took another step back, keeping the firewood she carried between him and her almost like a shield. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, and something in her mind knew that HE could hear it, was listening to her fear and drawing even more strength and determination from it.
"Xellos," she began calmly, doing her absolute best to calm herself. "Listen to me. You're not yourself. Just...just sit down and try to calm down, okay?"
Another step back.
He barred his teeth at her, and she stopped. She wasn't going to get away from this that easily.
She'd have to turn into a dragon and hope that she could fly fast enough to get away.
Looking down at her chest, she saw the blue orb that allowed her to transform. To get to it, she'd have to drop the firewood, and if she did that, Xellos would KNOW what she was trying to do.
Her pulse roared in her ears. Xellos hadn't taken one step towards her, but was watching her intently, waiting for her to do something.
She dropped the firewood.
Her hands flew to her chest.
Then he was there.
Her back hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from her. She tried to touch the orb on her chest, but found her arms pinned above her. Looking up, she saw him there.
"Xellos," she gasped fearfully. "Don't do this." She struggled a bit, but knew it was futile. Her only hope was to reason with him. She looked into his eyes and saw that was futile too.
There was nothing funny about his eyes now. No humor in them. It was if he wasn't really in control.
She suspected he wasn't.
The dragon flinched as he trailed a finger across her cheek. It didn't hurt. She half expected it to. But it did do something that surprised her. It left a tiny trail of darkness that burned like an ember for a few moments. She felt a warm sensation along her cheek where the darkness burned before it slowly faded.
Filia shook with fear and apprehension. He touched the other side of her face, this time with all five finger tips, and felt the warmth emanating from the contact. She took a breath and found that the fear was beginning to evaporate. It was if she had taken some drug to suppress it, yet she didn't feel groggy or lightheaded. She felt perfectly fine.
His fingers moved down to her neck, and the trail of darkness on her face didn't fade as it had before. She whimpered and closed her eyes as a warm glow suffused her entire being.
(Fight!) her mind screamed at her. (Fight!)
But she didn't want to. She felt calm, at peace.
Passive.
She opened her eyes and looked down to see something odd. Xellos was trailing his fingers up her arm, but now, where the dark light met her skin, a bright white light was emerging from her. It melded with the dark light, dancing with it, blending together.
More light emerged from her and darkness from him, fusing together at several parts.
She heard him growl above her and sighed, reaching up to touch his face. He had released his grip on her hands and seemed to be just floating above her. White light seemed to pool in the air at her fingertips as she brushed his face...
Suddenly, he screamed and flew backward.
The white light faded, and Filia felt herself lying on the ground again. She blinked and sat up.
"Wha..." Her hand went to her head. Looking up, she saw Xellos struggling to his feet not far away. "What...I..." She blushed and turned away, unable to speak.
She watched as Xellos tried to rise to his feet, but fell to one knee again. He was shaking like a cherry blossom caught in a typhoon, desperately trying to hold on in the tempest that was Peak.
He turned his head toward her, and she nearly cried at what she saw. There were very few times when she could remember seeing Xellos looking almost human. And he looked that way now.
A human in intense pain.
The animalistic look in his eyes was gone. There was just the pain.
"Go," he gasped out hoarsely. It was hard to understand him at first. She could only shake her head. "Leave," he begged.
"Xellos, I..."
"GO!" he screamed at her, falling forward. He just barely managed to catch himself. "I...I can't control it anymore, Filia chan," he told her. She could hear the absolute pain in his voice. "I...I can't keep my promise to you...if you stay."
She stared in shock. Only a few moments before, he'd had her. She was at his mercy and they both knew it. And now, here he was, begging her through his pain and anguish to leave before his condition forced him to do something he swore he wouldn't.
Taking her would end his pain. He knew it. She knew it.
But he wouldn't do it because he had promised her.
Amara's words came crashing back to her.
"The well being of the female SUPERCEDES his own! SHE becomes HIS life! A Mazoku male will NEVER leave his mate! He will never put her at risk! He will never ignore her or betray her!"
Filia watched him clutch at his chest. Black tendrils of energy streamed lazily from his body. Energy with nowhere to go. She could just barely hear him between gasps.
"Make it stop, Ruby Eye," he prayed. "Make it stop."
"And if protecting his mate means he has to die, he'll die," Amara's words haunted her.
She took a tentative step forward.
Xellos saw her move and started to backpedal away. "Stay away from me!"
Filia ignored him and knelt next to him. She couldn't believe she was going to do this. She was being torn in so many different directions, it actually hurt. Her hand slowly went out to him.
He snagged her wrist in his hand and growled. Filia swallowed fearfully for a moment, but didn't try to move away. Instead, she rested her other hand on his.
That was all he needed to see.
A second later, Filia found herself on her back again, Xellos above her. This time, though, she wasn't as shocked.
"Xellos," she gasped apprehensively. "Please," she begged. "Be gentle. Please. I'm not like you."
Somehow, though, she knew she needn't have worried. He touched her face as he did before, and she felt the warm sensation his fingertips left. She closed her eyes, this time embracing what she was feeling.
Because she opened herself to it, it was different this time. She could feel it. It wasn't light that was emerging from her, or darkness from him. It was their spirits, their very essences, mind and body, heart and soul.
She gasped inwardly as she found herself in his memories. She saw his birth, his "childhood" as a Mazoku, learning the things from Metallium that would keep him alive for ten thousand years.
She suddenly saw it all, knew it all. Everything there was to know about him. Some she knew already, some she was now discovering. It suddenly dawned on her that if she could see his thoughts, then he could see hers.
This made her recoil for a moment, but only a moment. After that, she opened herself to him, letting him see it all. Every thought, every fear, every moment of memory she knew.
She could see light even with her eyes closed. It grew brighter and brighter, then suddenly...
Zelgadis rested against a nearby tree, his sword clutched tiredly in his hand as he panted.
He looked up in exhaustion as he felt something cool and damp touch his forehead. Mutsumi was standing next to him, patting his head with a wet cloth.
"You were very brave out there, Mister Zelgadis," she told him.
The chimera said nothing. After losing the last of its berserkers, the werewolf had fled, probably to get more. They didn't have time for this. He pushed her hand away and walked forward. It was time to go.
As he moved forward, he noticed a pack on the ground. He wondered if one of the berserker might have dropped it and knelt down to pick it up. He was surprised to find many of his own belongings in it.
He blinked. "Duh, it's your own pack, Zel," he muttered to himself as he threw it over his shoulders.
The chimera almost chuckled. How could he forget something so obvious?
Filia stared up at the sky in a perfect mixture of shock and contentment. Nearby, their tiny campfire was nothing more than embers giving off a soft, red glow.
She was different. She could feel it. It hadn't been as simple as letting Xellos, "tag her" as Naga had so poetically put it. It wasn't just sex. It wasn't sex at all, really. Not the way she understood sex to be. They were both still dressed as a matter of fact. But the feelings, the thoughts, the emotions that had consumed them both.
It was better than sex.
Or so she had heard, anyway...
Amara had been right. Understanding. Understanding the Mazoku and the Ryuuzoku was what was needed. Now that she had felt Xellos, seen his life, his thoughts. She knew him. And while she hadn't necessarily been wrong about a lot of things about him, she now understood those things a bit more.
She swished her tail lazily back and forth in thought. She could feel Xellos' arms still holding her tightly, possessively. One thing she knew for sure was that there was no taking that step back. She was his mate now, and she knew from his memories what happened to males that attempted to rival Mazoku by courting their mates.
This idea should have frightened her, and yet it didn't. It almost...comforted her.
That's how she knew she was changing. He was linked to her now. The thought of being away from him seemed distant and alien. It was almost as if...
She blinked.
By sharing their thoughts...could he have shared his Peak?
Before she could continue the thought, she felt fingers touch her tail. She blushed and felt the appendage swish back and forth a bit faster. Curious, she decided to try something.
//Can you still hear my thoughts, my mate?//
She chastised herself a moment later for being silly, but was surprised when she heard his voice in her head.
//Of course, Filia chan.//
She felt his fingers drum lightly on her tail and squirmed a bit. //Namagomi! Stop that! You know what that does to me!//
//Indeed,// he thought back at her. She could see his grin in her mind.
//Hmmph!// she mentally sniffed. //At least you're feeling better now...aren't you?//
She felt his lips graze her shoulder, then suddenly squeaked as he bit her.
//Much,// he purred in her mind.
//Well,// she thought as she blushed. //That's good then...// This would definitely take some getting used to, she thought to herself.
//Indeed it is,// he piped in, overhearing her thought. //By the way, you were fantastic. It's hard to believe I'm your first Mazoku...// He poured in just enough innuendo for her to notice it.
//HOW DARE YOU!?// she cried at him, anger welling up in her. She stopped suddenly as she felt pleasure roll through him, and as a result, through her as well. //You did that on purpose,// she accused him.
//Hard to trick you now, isn't it?// he replied.
She squirmed around until she was facing him. //Xellos...you would never...REALLY...hurt me...would you?//
He smiled at her and trailed his lips to her ear. //Just a little...my mate...//
Then he nipped her again.
Zelgadis woke up with a start, panting. He closed his eyes again and tried to control his breathing.
It was just a dream. Just a bad dream. Just one more bad memory.
But it was over.
He opened his eyes again as he realized that something was wrong. His pillow was too soft...which was very odd because he didn't HAVE a pillow out here in the wilderness...
Slender fingers gently touched his forehead and trailed down one of his spiky, metallic hairs.
His head was resting in a woman's lap.
"Syl...chan?" he whispered.
Mutsumi smiled down at him. "No," she said quietly. "Mutsumi chan."
Jinnar peered around the corner of a granite wall and tried to see through the darkness beyond. It had been quiet lately...too quiet.
He nearly jumped out of his astral form when a woman's voice sounded behind him.
"Lord God General Priest Jinnar Sir?"
Turning on his subordinate, Jinnar raised a fist. "BONEHEAD! WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT SNEAKING UP ON PEOPLE?!"
Iffy saluted smartly. "That when you do it, to finish them off with the first blow, Sir!"
Jinnar grit his teeth and muttered a curse. "Forget it! Have you seen the dragon?"
"You mean Evil Princess Amara?"
Jinnar blinked. "Pardon me?"
Iffy smiled and nodded. "She felt that she should have a more Mazoku-ish name if she was going to be your wife, so we brainstormed and came up with 'Evil Princess Amara.' You like?"
Jinnar's eyes narrowed. "Why are you encouraging her?"
Iffy only blinked in confusion.
"Forget it," he muttered. "Where is she now?"
Iffy smiled. "The throne room."
Jinnar screamed and took off down the hall at mach five. Iffy blinked after him.
"I don't see why he's so upset," she commented, scratching her head. "Evil Princess Amara and Her Ladyship were getting along fine when I introduced them." She smiled. "Oh well! Not my problem!" With that, she disappeared.
Jinnar was panting by the time he reached the throne room, which is a sign of how distressed he was since Mazoku didn't really need air. What he found when he got there stunned him.
Xelas and Amara were sitting together at a small table, drinking tea and laughing together.
"Why do I suddenly feel so very very cold?" he asked himself.
Xelas must have heard him because she looked up and found him there. "Ah, Jinnar! Great timing! I was just having a conversation with your female here."
"Actua..." he began, but was cut off when Amara leaped out of her chair at him.
"JINNY CHAN!"
"AUUUGH!!!" He hit the ground hard as Amara slammed into him at full force.
Xelas nodded sagely. "I can definitely feel the pain in this relationship," she noted. "You got yourself quite a firecracker there, Jinny boy." She paused a moment later. "But why haven't I seen her around before?"
Amara rose to her feet and bowed graciously. "That's because I'm not a Maz..."
Jinnar hopped up and covered her mouth with his hand. "She's...um...one of Deep Sea Dolphin's maids!" he blurted.
Xelas' lips curled up slightly in disgust. "One of Dolphin's tarts, huh? Well...at least she has better manners than most of them. Still, I'm not sure I approve of one of my Mazoku marrying into THAT family..."
Jinnar started to sweat.
"Still, being a General Priest should have a few perks, so you two have fun. I have stuff to do. Later!" With that, the Mazoku queen disappeared.
Jinnar breathed a sigh of relief.
"Jinny chan?"
Jinnar growled and turned, preparing to rail against the woman who very nearly got him killed. Before he could open his mouth though, he felt a sharp pain in his chin, accompanied by an even sharper crack.
The general priest took a step back and blinked. Amara grinned and raised the bullwhip again.
"CUT THAT OUT!" he screamed.
*whi-CRACK!*
Zelgadis hopped to his feet as if suddenly confronted with a snake. "What are you doing?"
Mutsumi looked up at him, still on her knees. "You were sleeping fitfully," she told him with a bemused smile. "I was trying to comfort you."
"Thanks," he said gruffly. "But I don't need comfort."
"Who's Syl chan?" she asked suddenly.
"None of your business," he replied shortly, turning away from her.
"Is she your wife?"
"No."
"Ah!" Mutsumi cried, clapping her hands together. "An illicit lover!"
Zelgadis blushed crimson. "It's none of your business!" he told her flatly.
"Tell me about her!"
The chimera looked at her incredulously. "Why do you want to know?!"
"Why don't you want me to know?"
Zelgadis started walking away. Mutsumi gamely caught up with him and skipped along beside him.
"You're not ashamed of her, are you?" she joked. "Is she fat?"
"She is not fat," Zelgadis told her evenly.
"Ugly? Does she have warts?"
"No," he growled. "She does not have warts."
Mutsumi blinked at him. "Then what?"
He turned on her suddenly. (She's possessed by one of the seven shards of Ruby Eyed Shabranigdo and is going to die unless I help bring the entire Grand Army of Wolfpack Island down on top of Seyruun!)
Instead he said, "Nuth'n."
"Please, Zelgadis chan!" Mutsumi begged, practically hopping up and down.
Zelgadis sighed. "Fine." He continued walking. "She's about your height. Blue-violet hair. Brown eyes. She's a priestess of Seyruun."
"She sounds very pretty," Mutsumi told him. "I hear priestesses of Seyruun are very skilled."
"She's not a priestess from Seyruun," he corrected her. "She's from Sairaag."
"But you just said a moment ago that she was from Seyruun."
The chimera blinked. "No, I didn't," he told her.
"Yes, you did," Mutsumi assured him. "My height, blue-violet hair, brown eyes..."
"Green eyes," he corrected.
"You said brown."
He stopped in his tracks, looking confused.
"So which is it?" she asked.
She watched as he seemed to think long and hard. Then, "Brown," he told her and continued on.
Mutsumi smiled widely and clapped. "Very pretty!" She chased after him.
Gandrav growled as he counted his remaining berserkers. He was down to his last three. Scarrin would not be pleased, but it appeared that the werewolf would not be able to capture the chimera with so few men.
He'd have to go back.
Scarrin would not be pleased at all...
He went still suddenly and sniffed the air. His hand went to his sword, but before he could draw it, a knife was at his throat. Someone was standing behind him.
The werewolf remained perfectly still. He could feel the curved edge of the knife pressing against his neck. The chimera must have found him, yet he didn't smell the same scent he associated with Zelgadis. It smelled more feminine.
His assailant reached around with the other hand and showed him a crystal. Staring into it, Gandrav saw Scarrin's face appear.
"Gandrav," his master began, "The woman with the knife at your throat is one of my new hires. I sent three of them to assist you. Knowing how cunning and difficult Greywords could be, and with Vanya still missing in action, I thought you would appreciate the help. They have their own orders, so don't interfere. Just assist them."
Gandrav felt the knife being pulled away and turned quickly. Three women stood there in loose-fitting outfits. Their faces were hidden by cloth masks, almost like veils.
(Kunoichi) he thought fearfully. (Why would Scarrin hire THREE of them?!)
The crystal continued. "Remember, Gandrav. Don't interfere."
The werewolf swallowed nervously.
Scarrin finished. "The last thing you want is to make the Order of the Royal Teardrop upset with you..."
End Theme: It Is You (I Have Loved) by Dana Glover. The Xellos-Filia love theme.
Author's Notes:
Time to use my fic to plug some sites! First up are the two sites I helped create. The Two Guys Review Site at http://www.cavdav.dragonsanime.com Also, the Give Sylphiel a Chance Foundation at www.sylphiel.org. This is a site dedicated to our favorite shrine maiden. Now if only Taloon would update... http://www.geocities.com/relinapeace/sylphzel/lone.html This is a site dedicated to Zelgadis and Sylphiel. It's pretty new, so I'm trying to throw some publicity its way.
The next chapter will probably take awhile in coming. My new job takes A LOT of time out of my day, and by the end of it, I'm usually too beat to want to write. I'll give it my best, though.
