Author's note: A huge thank you and hugs all around to everyone who urged me to continue. You people don't know how much you rock! Seriously...I'm thinking Christmas cards or something. ;-D I'm taking your advice and just writing for myself. Of course, I have to let you all know that I take forever to write. But don't worry, I'll steadily keep at it until it's done. Well, anyway, here's the latest chapter! Hope everyone continues to enjoy it. Oh, and just so everyone's happy...Warning: Some of the characters in my fanfic are slightly out of character, doing and saying things that probably wouldn't happen on the show. Deal with it!

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Crush : Nightmares and Prisoners

Frantic knocks pounded on Zelgadis's door, causing him to awaken and nearly jump out of his bed. What the? He ran groggily to the door and opened it, surprised when a small princess ran by him and sat down on his bed, shaking.

"Amelia," he started, closing the door and walking towards her. "What's wrong?"

"They're after me...they won't stop." Amelia's voice trembled with emotion. "Make them stop!"

Zelgadis bent in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Make who stop, Amelia? Who's after you?"

"The demons! They're everywhere...can't you hear them?" Amelia began sobbing hysterically.

Zelgadis stopped to listen. I don't hear anything but her. "Amelia...I don't understand. Are you sure you didn't just have a bad dream?"

Amelia shook her head. "The faeries!" Amelia began to fling her arms in front of her, swinging violently at her face.

Zelgadis nearly fell over at her actions. "Amelia! Calm down. There's nothing here." He held her arms to her side, afraid she might hurt herself. "No one's going to hurt you."

Amelia stopped struggling and crying and looked up into Zelgadis's face. "What about you?"

Zelgadis looked at her, confusion flaring up in his eyes. "What do you..."

"You want to hurt me, don't you?"

"Of course I don't. Why are you saying that?"

When she didn't reply, he stood her up. "Amelia, answer me. What's wrong with you?"

Amelia slowly lifted her eyes to meet his stare. "Do you really think I'm good?"

Zelgadis burrowed his eyebrows in confusion. What the hell is she talking about? "Amelia...I don't know what you're..." he words were interrupted by a pair of soft lips.

Amelia stood on her tip toes and deepened the kiss, bringing her arms to his shoulders. Zelgadis reflexively brought his hand up to stroke her back. Moving his arm up and down, he faintly noted the silk fabric. Amelia moved her leg up to just below his waist. Surprised, Zelgadis stopped their kiss to look at Amelia. Amelia grabbed his hand and moved it to her thigh. She began kissing him again, more passionately than before. Zelgadis returned her kiss and began to gently massage her thigh, inching his way up her leg. Coming to his senses, he pulled her away.

"Amelia," he said breathlessly. "We need to stop."

Amelia backed away and sat down on his bed. He then noticed what she was wearing. She had on her black silk robe accompanied by the set of black satin underwear he found earlier that day.

Damn. How am I supposed to think clearly with her in that? He looked at her eyes. They were filled with an emotion he couldn't put his finger on.

"Come here," commanded Amelia.

Zelgadis slowly walked to her. "Amelia, you're not thinking clearly...you.." Zelgadis was again interrupted by Amelia. This time, she put her hands behind his neck and pulled him on top of her.

Amelia looked up at Zelgadis and leaned up to kiss his neck. He braced himself up with his arms, not wanting to crush her. What is she doing? Oh...that feels good. He closed his eyes as she kissed up his neck to just below his ear. Nibbling on his earlobe for a moment, she stopped to whisper very softly in his ear.

"Take me."

Zelgadis snapped his eyes open and found he wasn't with Amelia anymore, but in an old abandoned church. He looked around and was startled to see an old beggar woman quickly making her way to him.

"Sir! You mustn't leave them behind. They're in danger ...something horrible is coming. You must be ready."

Zelgadis looked down at the woman. "Who's in danger...be ready for what?"

"No time to talk...no time. You have to be ready. Yes, yes...you have to be ready." The woman walked away, mumbling to herself.

Zelgadis watched the woman walk off and began to wander through the church, looking for Amelia. He saw a long hall and decided to see where it led. Walking down, he heard voices emanating from the walls.

"...no angels in the air...unholy days are coming...the demon is here..."

He walked slightly faster, unsettled by the voices. He came to the end of the hall, angrily finding out it was a dead end. He looked at the wall, noticing a mirror in the center. The frame of the mirror was exquisite, adorned with just about every jewel known to man or monster. The gold trim sparkled and reflected back every ray of light that hit it. Zelgadis was about to turn around and look for Amelia elsewhere when something caught his eye in the mirror. An image flashed up for a split second before disappearing. He looked harder into the mirror, and the image appeared again.

"Amelia..." Zelgadis murmured. Tears formed in his eyes and threatened to spill down his cheek.

The image in the mirror showed Amelia chained inside a circle drawn on the floor. She was wearing a white cotton gown that was bloodied and torn. Around her, hundreds of demons, faeries, and other horrible-looking creatures watched her misery with delight. A man, shrouded in darkness, walked up to her and spoke.

"It's time."

At his words, a bolt of lighting struck Amelia. She was lifted up as far as her chain would allow and slowly drained of her life.

Zelgadis couldn't watch anymore. "No!" he shouted over and over again. "Stop!" Zelgadis banged on the walls of the hall.

"Zelgadis! Wake up!" Amelia shook him violently, avoiding his swinging arms. "Zelgadis!" she screamed in his face.

Zelgadis awoke with a start. "Amelia?" He looked at her face.

"Yes, it's me," she said. "You were having a nightmare."

Zelgadis breathed deeply. "I'll say." He looked at her again. "Are you okay?"

Amelia looked questioningly at him. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Zelgadis smiled at her. "No reason...just making sure."

Amelia noticed he was sweating. "Hang on a second." Amelia ran out of the room and appeared again a few moments later with a wet cloth in her hands. She put the cloth up to his forehead. "Better?"

Zelgadis closed his eyes and leaned back on the headboard of the bed. "Much. Thanks."

"What did you dream about?"

Zelgadis opened his eyes and looked at her. "I dreamt.." He looked at her soft, concerned eyes. "Just being chased by a monster. That's all."

"Sorry to hear that. You'll feel better after a little while, though." Amelia smiled up at him.

Zelgadis looked down. "You always wear that when you take a nap?" he asked about her short, white, silky gown. He also noticed it was somewhat see-through, her white underwear very much visible underneath. Very nice, he smirked.

Amelia blushed profusely. "Well...yeah. I sleep in it. I just...I heard you screaming, and I thought you were in trouble. Didn't have time to change," she rambled.

"Ah." He smiled. Guess I should start crying out in my sleep more often. Zelgadis was really having to fight the urge not to touch her. The gown just barely reached her thighs. Don't stare. He gazed back up at Amelia's crimson face. He took the cloth from her hands and held it up himself.

"Why don't you go change now?" Zelgadis suggested. She smiled gratefully and hustled out of the room. Zelgadis smirked. I hate being a gentleman.

A few minutes later, Amelia knocked on Zelgadis's door.

Zelgadis looked at the door from his bed. "Amelia?"

"Yeah, it's me."

"Come in." Zelgadis hadn't moved a muscle, still a little too shaky to try walking.

Amelia entered the room quietly and looked at Zelgadis. "Feeling any better?"

Zelgadis pushed off the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Much. Thanks." He noticed she had a new shirt on, a short sleeve black shirt with a silver butterfly on the front. The jeans looked the same as the ones she had on before the training.

Amelia looked at the shirtless Zelgadis. Maybe I should burn all his shirts...he looks perfectly fine without them. She smiled and sat down beside him. "Good." Then she remembered something, and a worried look arrived on her face.

Zelgadis studied her new expression. "What's wrong?"

Amelia looked at Zelgadis. "Well, I just stopped by Lina's room." He nodded for her to continue. "They still aren't back yet."

Zelgadis shrugged. "I guess they decided to get more than just ice cream. Making it an all day outing."

"Yeah...that's what I thought at first. Then I noticed...the room was completely empty. All her stuff was gone." Amelia was beginning to get scared. "So...I went ahead and looked in Gourry's room. His bags aren't there, either."

Zelgadis soaked this information in thoughtfully. "Well...they wouldn't have gone on without us. Hmm."

Amelia began sobbing. "What if they've been kidnapped?" she asked worriedly.

Zelgadis shook his head. "Not likely...a kidnapper wouldn't go through the trouble of getting their luggage."

"Then what?"

"I have no idea..." Zelgadis thought for a moment. "I can't imagine what's happened to them." He felt Amelia's shoulders shaking beside him and put an arm around her. "We'll figure this out, Amelia."

"What should we do?" she squeaked.

"Well. I guess we should head out...travel around, see if anyone's seen them." Zelgadis racked his brain for a reason why they were missing. If they have been kidnaped, someone might be trying to draw Amelia and me out. Doesn't matter...we can't just sit and wait for something to happen. Not when our friends' lives are at stake. Zelgadis glanced at Amelia. "We should probably leave now...before nightfall. That okay with you?"

Amelia gave a small nod. "If it'll help."

Zelgadis got up, walked over to his bag, grabbed his black T-shirt, and pulled it on. Tying it, he stood up with the bag and looked at Amelia. "Your turn. I'll be downstairs checking out." Amelia nodded and left his room.

Amelia quickly climbed down the stairs with her own bag, looking for Zelgadis. Spotting him waiting by the door, she hurried over to him. "All checked out?"

Zelgadis nodded. "Everything's done." He noticed she was carrying her sword, not having a place to keep it while walking. "Here, I'll get that." He gently took her sword and motioned for her to go first.

"Thanks," she smiled weakly and walked out the door.

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After a couple hours and walking through a few villages and asking around, Amelia and Zelgadis came up empty. Now, the sun was setting, and they were in the middle of village with no information.

"No one's seen them...or knows where they are," said Amelia sadly. "We're never going to find them."

"Hey...they haven't disappeared off the face of the earth, which means we're going to find them sooner or later." Zelgadis looked at the sky. "We should go to the town inn for tonight."

"We could walk to the next town...cover more ground. We could just walk all night." Amelia suggested.

Zelgadis raised an eyebrow. "We...could. You're not sleepy?"

"No..." Amelia yawned, "not at all."

"Uh, huh." Zelgadis smiled at the young girl. "Very convincing."

"Well, I guess we should sleep tonight. So we'll be refreshed to start another search tomorrow." Amelia looked around. "So, where's the town inn?"

"I'm pretty sure that's it right over there," he said, pointing to a crowded building about a hundred feet away.

Amelia followed his gaze. "Wow...it looks pretty busy. Hope they have a room."

Zelgadis nodded. "Yeah." He began to walk towards the building, Amelia close beside.

Once inside, he leaned over and whispered, "Stay close," in her ear. She nodded. He walked up the desk and began to speak to the innkeeper. "I'd like two rooms, please."

"Sorry, sir. Only have one left."

Zelgadis looked at Amelia and raised his eyebrows, silently asking her if it was okay. She gave a shy nod. He looked back at the keeper. "I'll take it."

"Alright." After getting their names, the man began to write them down in the book in front of him. Leaning over, he grabbed the only key left. Reaching his hand out, he spoke to Zelgadis. "Thank you for choosing the Crimson Tavern. You pay when you check out."

Taking the key, Zelgadis nodded and headed up the stairs. Making sure Amelia was behind him, he entered their room and set his stuff down. He glanced at the bed, then at Amelia. She was looking at the small bed as if it were a dragon.

"The floor doesn't look too uncomfortable," he told Amelia as he closed the door. "I don't mind sleeping on it."

Amelia looked at Zelgadis. "No...I don't want to make you.."

"Well, I'm not having you sleep on the floor while I get the bed." Zelgadis smiled. "It's okay."

"Well...okay," Amelia sighed. "I'm actually not that tired...did have that nap earlier."

"Yeah, I wasn't planning on sleeping just yet either." Zelgadis handed Amelia her sword. "You weren't too bad today," he added, motioning toward the sword.

Taking it, she glanced at Zelgadis. "Do you really think I'm good?"

Zelgadis nearly fell back. Those words...that expression on her face. They're exactly like my dream. Zelgadis stared at her until she spoke again.

"Zelgadis? What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost." Amelia waved her hand in front of his face. "You in there?"

Zelgadis snapped back to reality and looked at Amelia. "Oh, sorry. Just worried about Lina and Gourry." Idiot. Still...I hope this isn't a sign.

"Oh...me, too." Amelia put her sword down and walked over to the bed. "Zelgadis...I still don't feel right about making you sleep on the floor."

Zelgadis, still trying to recover from his earlier shock, walked to the bed and sat beside her. "I told you, it's fine. Believe me, I've had worse."

Amelia looked at the floor. But we could share the bed. Amelia began to blush slightly. I can't say that...I'd just embarrass myself. Besides, I'm a princess of a kingdom. I can't just sleep in the same bed with any guy. I have a responsibility."Okay, but I still feel bad."

Zelgadis smiled at the young girl. "I'll be fine." Either way, I'll still get to see you in your nightgown. Zelgadis got up and walked to the window. Don't say anything else. If you suggest sleeping in the bed with her, you face two outcomes. You either get slapped into next week...or, if she actually does agree, you have to fight the demon in you all night not to touch her. Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the strange woman making her way towards the inn.

Amelia yawned. "That's weird. I'm really tired all of a sudden." Amelia looked at Zelgadis. "Would you mind if I go ahead and sleep?"

Zelgadis turned towards her and smiled softly. "Not at all. I think I'll try to sleep as well."

Amelia nodded and picked up her bag. She scanned the room and spotted what she was looking for. She grabbed the long, lavender robe and, after letting Zelgadis know she was going to change, left the room.

A few moments later, Zelgadis heard a knock on the door. That's odd. She has the key. He opened the door and was hit with another wave of shock. The beggar woman from my dream.

"Y-yes?" Zelgadis asked shakily.

"Here. Take this. It'll protect you." The woman threw a coloured stone at Zelgadis. "Keep it safe. Tell no one of its presence."

Zelgadis caught the stone easily and examined it. Upon closer inspection, he found it was actually an amulet. It was a beautiful blue gem that sparkled when the light hit it. What I am supposed to do with this?

"Excuse me, miss, but what is..." Zelgadis's sentence trailed off into silence as he looked up at the empty hall. Zelgadis shook his head. Either something extremely odd is happening...or you're going crazy. He looked back down at the stone. 'Keep it safe,' she said. He slipped it into his pocket and closed the door.

Okay. Time to worry. Two things from your dream have transpired. That means, most likely, more things will happen.

Zelgadis cringed as he remembered the ending of his nightmare.

I'm not going to let that happen. Whoever that guy was...I'll kill him before he has a chance to. I just...I wish I could've gotten a clearer look at his face. He looked human, which means he could be anyone.

Zelgadis sighed. Calm down. You're not going to protect anyone if you're panicking. Just keep a close eye on her. Zelgadis smirked in spite of himself. That shouldn't be too hard.

Searching the room, Zelgadis found two more blankets in the drawer of a desk. He made a makeshift bed on the floor and pulled off his black shirt.

A couple minutes later, Amelia entered the door with a timid expression on her face. "Um...there's a lot of people in the bathroom. Would you mind if I changed in here?" Don't blush. Don't blush.

Not at all, he thought evilly. Zelgadis tried his best not to smirk. "Of course not." He watched her as she made her way to the bed.

Amelia pulled her nightgown out of her bag. She shyly glanced over at Zelgadis, who was still looking at her. "Could...you.."

"Oh, of course." Zelgadis realized what he was doing and quickly turned around. He heard her unzipping her jeans and had to force himself not to turn back around. God, I want to watch her. He listened intently as she tugged the jeans off.

Amelia pulled off her shirt, slightly whimpering.

Zelgadis heard her quiet cry of pain. "What's wrong?"

Amelia looked at Zelgadis. "Oh, just my back. I guess it was a little worse than I thought. You know, in the stables."

"Can you heal it?"

Amelia tried to put her hand over the wound on her back. "No...I can't reach it."

"Do you want me to...can I help?" Zelgadis kept his back to her.

Amelia blushed as she looked down at her underwear, the only garments on her at the moment. "No...that's okay. I think it'll be fine."

"But if it isn't treated, it might get worse," Zelgadis argued.

"Well.." Amelia started. She thought for a moment before slipping on her robe and holding it closed. "Okay."

Zelgadis slowly turned around. He walked towards her and sat on the bed, motioning for her to do the same. She did so, her back facing him. When she didn't show any signs of moving the robe, he smiled to himself.

"Amelia, I need to see...can you lower the robe?" he asked gently.

Amelia swallowed. "Oh..sorry." She pulled the robe off her shoulders, letting it hang loose on her back.

Zelgadis lightly ran his fingers across part of the wound. He noticed some of the wound was behind her bra strap. "Uh, Amelia?"

"Yeah?" she asked nervously.

"I can't get to all of it. I need to.." Zelgadis put his fingers on her shoulder where the bra strap was to make his point clearer.

Amelia's eyes threatened to pop out of her head. "O-okay."

"Are you sure?" Zelgadis asked.

"Yeah...go ahead." Amelia swallowed again.

Zelgadis slid his fingers under the strap and slowly pulled it off her shoulder. He stared at the expanse of her skin. Mmm...that'd be so nice to kiss. Shaking himself out of it, he raised his hands to the wound. A soft glow of white light appeared after a moment and the wound slowly disappeared.

"There you go." Zelgadis lowered his hands.

Amelia looked over her shoulder and smiled at him. "Thanks."

"Glad I could help." Zelgadis got up and returned to his former stance.

Amelia slipped the robe off and pulled her nightgown on. "Okay."

Hearing her word, he turned back around, happily seeing the nightgown. He bent over and settled under the covers of his bed.

Amelia quickly crawled into her bed and pulled up the covers. "Good night," she called softly to Zelgadis, blowing out the two candles.

"Night."

"Sweet dreams," she added.

Zelgadis smiled in the darkness. "Thanks."

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In a room filled with shadows, far away from civilization, a man sat in front of a clear sphere hovering in the air.

"Show me," the man demanded in a low, steady voice.

The transparency of the ball altered to reveal the room in which Zelgadis and Amelia were sleeping. The man reached his long fingers to stroke Amelia's face.

"Soon, my sweet. Soon." He looked at Zelgadis. "And you...will lead her to me." He began to grin.

"You'll never get away with this!" a voice from behind him shouted.

"Yeah, just you wait," came a second voice.

The man turned around the face the couple.

"You two should learn to respect your elders. I did arrange to have your things be brought with you. You should thank me." He arose from his chair and made his way to them. "Just feel lucky you're worth more to me alive." As he came closer, he could make out their expressions. The red-haired girl was looking as defiant as ever. The blonde man held the same anger...although he seemed slightly calmer.

"You're a coward," she spat out.

"Now, now. None of that." He snapped his fingers. An unseen force pulled the girl away from him violently, sending her crashing into the back of their small prison. The man began to chuckle. "Have a nice night. Don't let the bed bugs bite." As soon as he left the room, the blonde swordsman began to speak.

"Lina, are you alright?" He ran over to her, helping her up.

"I'm...fine, Gourry." Lina coughed. She looked up at Gourry, who had a worried expression firmly planted on his face.

"Lina, who is that guy?"

Lina looked towards the door the man had existed from. "I don't know, Gourry. He hasn't said his name...but I have a feeling I've never heard of him before."

"How are we going to get out?" Gourry searched Lina's face for an answer he knew wasn't there.

"I...don't know. He took your Sword of Light and my powers." Lina glanced back up at Gourry. "We're in trouble."

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Muahahahaha! The villain has arrived! Scared? ;-) Well, that's it for now. Hope it's enough to keep everyone satisfied for a little while. Please, let me know what you think!