…Who Sat Down Beside Her

(And offered her a really sweet deal!)

Hours later, Xelloss found himself watching Lina again from high above in the trees. She and Zelgadis had found a spot to camp for the night and Zelgadis had immediately left to hunt for dinner. He gazed down at their camp again. She had been pacing back and forth across the clearing restlessly, looking for something to do. Now she sat down next to a pile of pebbles and started flicking them across a circle she had drawn in the dirt. He shook his head in mock pity at Lina's odd little diversion.

click A pebble skittered across a crudely drawn circle in the dirt, bouncing past a rock in the middle.

"Damn." Lina carefully aimed again, and launched her next salvo.

click: "twelve points…"

click: "thirteen points…"

click: "Damn."

He glanced at the 'peace offering' he was holding. Surely Lina would appreciate that he'd actually gone out of his way to do something nice for her. Besides, it was quite obvious little Lina was bored, and he knew she'd most likely enjoy a visit from him. She might complain a bit, but that never mattered. Simply by being as much fun as I am, I'm quite sure my presence makes anyone's day at least fifty percent better… unless I'm killing them. Never mind that, I'll just bring my 'gift' here down to her, and start the fun off by sneaking up on her. Lina does appreciate a good startle every now and then. It's good for the heart. He levitated down to the ground, then silently snuck over to her tree and removed the lid.

Lina sighed and looked down at the small pile of rocks and pebbles she had gathered up. She was bored and tired of waiting and it had only been maybe half an hour. The small clearing they'd chosen for camp hadn't offered much in the way of entertainment, and this was the best she could do. While Zelgadis went hunting, she'd been trying to kill some time with a little game she'd just concocted. Unfortunately, it was harder to concentrate on her aim when she was so perplexed about the day's events. She leaned back against a tree as she stretched, and considered Xelloss' odd actions earlier that afternoon. Just seeing him again was a shock to her—she'd always figured that once whatever business he'd had with her was finished, he'd simply disappear. He had, too, for over two years. Well naturally, she'd wondered about him—from time to time—but that was all. She'd once read that Mazoku were able to attune to the astral signatures of places and other beings in particular. No sense in attracting the attention of such a high level Mazoku by asking after him, talking about him and the like. As attuned to her as he had once been, she was sure that that would be all it took to attract his notice. She wondered if that was the reason he'd popped up. There seemed no other explanation for it. His sudden appearance had been pretty pointless, but she hadn't given him the chance to explain himself. That is, if he even would, knowing him. Lina had just turned on her heel and marched off. Then he'd only watched as they walked away. Why not attempt to join them, as he had in the past? Why show up after two years of nothing just to tease them? She certainly wasn't on some big quest, and last she checked, she hadn't heard of any pain in the ass prophecies, either. Just her, in a forest…

…With a crabby Chimera. Talk about a pain in the ass.

Just what the hell was that all about anyway? Lina wondered. She glared at nothing in particular as she considered her traveling companion's actions that afternoon. What a jerk! First he bitches about my plan, which would've worked had there only been any bandits around. Then Xelloss shows up and he goes completely mental! She threw the rest of her pebbles away in disgust. She knew he'd gone off to hunt mainly to be by himself and she still couldn't figure out why. What had Xelloss done to him? Before he'd shown up, Zel had just been grumpy; afterwards, he was absolutely skittish. She kept going over it but still she was truly bewildered. She really hadn't given Xelloss much time to be annoying, right? She'd had the struggling Mazoku in a chokehold, so he hadn't been able to do anything! Well, it didn't seem Zel was going to tell her, no matter what. Whatever, he'll probably be fine by the time he gets back.

She snuggled up in her cloak against the tree and closed her eyes. Suddenly, her stomach complained loudly, making her grimace. Man, was she hungry. Lina rubbed her stomach miserably. She could almost smell the roast rabbit or whatever they'd be having later. She sniffed and definitely detected the aroma of stew. Zelgadis wouldn't have caught a couple of rabbits and decided not to share, would he? He wasn't that mad at her, was he? Lina was puzzled. If that was the case, Zel surely knows he would pay dearly for not inviting me to dinner…

That smell had to be coming from somewhere! Her eyes shot open and darted around the clearing. Hmmm, nothing… But she could swear the smell was getting stronger. It smelled like rabbit, not much in the way of spice—probably pretty simple fare, but she was in no position to complain. Perplexed, she scanned the clearing another time, then tilted her head up to sniff. It was close! Lina bowed over backwards so she could continue to follow her nose wherever it led her. Funny, it seems to be right under my nose… She opened her eyes, and found herself staring at a huge iron kettle. "What the—"

She had only been staring at it a second, when she heard a light masculine chuckle. Alarm shocked her out of her position as she jumped to her feet and backed off about five feet.

"My goodness Lina, you can do tricks too? Can I keep you?" She looked up and was annoyed to see Xelloss wink at her. He grinned, nonchalantly leaning against her tree, somehow balancing that enormous kettle on one hand.

Despite the fact that her heart was still racing from his sudden appearance, Lina's hopes leapt. That kettle has to be here for a reason, and I know of none other than my stomach! She beamed at Xelloss, and his grin brightened in response. She pointed eagerly at the kettle. "Hiya, Xelloss! You wouldn't happen to have brought all that to eat by yourself, would you?" She began to inch a little closer to him, closing the gap little by little.

"Why, certainly not! That would be rude of me, don't you think?"

An abrupt thought stopped Lina in her tracks. "You didn't cook it, did you?" She eyed him suspiciously.

Xelloss pursed his lips and peered thoughtfully at her for a moment. He then indicated with a jerk of his chin the burden he was carrying. "Oh no… I just happened to be walking by elsewhere in the forest and found it stewing away unattended," she snorted at hearing him say this in a wondering tone, when suddenly he resumed his earlier perky demeanor. "So naturally I decided to take it to someone more appreciative!" He gestured towards her with a gentle sweep of his staff, and inclined his head to her.

"Really? It's for me? Well thenI humbly partake!" Her full-on charge gave Xelloss just enough time to swiftly place the kettle on the ground before Lina caromed off of him. This sent the Mazoku priest flying, however Lina was already digging into the stew and could hardly be bothered to care about that.

A few moments later, Xelloss frowned at her from where he lay sprawled in the dirt of the forest floor. "Really Lina, must you always be so violent when it comes to food? I'm not competition, you know." He may as well not have spoken—the feeding frenzy had begun. He stayed on the ground where he was, but propped himself up on his elbows to see her better. "Call it my peace offering to you." He paused for her reaction, and was pleased to note she actually stopped eating to look at him curiously. "I apologize for whatever I may have said to you this afternoon—I'm sorry I angered you." Xelloss dropped his gaze in order to pretend to appear faintly contrite. After a moment of her continuing silence, he looked up to see her staring at him as if he had grown another head. She swallowed a mouthful of stew slowly, and then burst into guffaws. He watched her sourly as she continued to laugh at him.

He sighed as he considered the situation; I wouldn't believe me either, as Mazoku are never sorry for anything. "Well anyway, never mind that. I had something of a trade in mind." Lina continued to giggle, but she continued to watch him as he spoke. "I promise you'll like what I'm selling. You might even find it interesting and more than a little enjoyable."

Lina was still wiping tears from her eyes and chuckling, but she composed herself eventually. "Ahem, heh heh… Uh, what's that, Xelloss?"

He finally got up from his reclining position to sit on his heels next to her and lean toward her confidentially. "Well, you were bandit hunting earlier, were you not?" At her slow nod he continued. "I can help you! I know of a bandit hideout not too far from here."

Lina looked at him warily. "You're not trying to pull the same trick on me twice, are you Xelloss?" His eyebrows rose, silently questioning her and Lina continued, "I mean, you're not going ahead to let them know we're coming to give them the chance to run?"

"Now why would I do that? I'm offering a sort of trade. You need to bulk up your traveling funds; in return, I'd like to join up with you again. I'm quite sure we can work something out."

"You want to do what?! I don't like that idea, Xelloss. You live to cause trouble, and I'm not in the mood for any." Lina crossed her arms, looking at him out of the corner of one eye. "I wouldn't even want to consider what Zel would do."

Now that last comment had him annoyed… "You're beginning to sound like him… Live a little." He looked deeply into her eyes, noting her nervousness. I'm making little Lina into a ball of tension, despite all the nice things I'm trying to do for her! He held up his gloved hands as a gesture of harmlessness. "I'll not lead you into harm... I promise. I'll even 'pledge' it."

She gasped, her eyes growing wider as she grasped that Xelloss was actually in earnest. "You're serious!"

"Do you want me to?" Violet eyes gleamed as he smiled mischievously at her.

Lina shuddered involuntarily. "I'll make no pledge with a Mazoku for any reason." She drew her knees up, clasped them in her arms and rocked back a bit. "Why do you want to follow us? What is it you want this time?"

"I'm following a bit of my own research, I suppose you could say."

"That's not an answer!" At this he opened his eyes again and stared at her crossly. He was beginning to get a bit frustrated with her. Oh, how I miss her vanished gullibility!

"I'm offering you easy gold, your old 'convenience item' back, and yet you still balk?" Xelloss let some of the frustration leak into his voice. She could be as blockheaded as a dragon sometimes, when she wanted to be. Besides, there was really no way she could say 'no' to him, was there? He was hardly prepared to back off, and continue following unbeknownst to her. All that remained was for Lina to accept gracefully, because this way promised to be much more fun! Lord Xelas had asked him to keep an eye on Lina, which he could easily do while accompanying her. Xelas had also asked him not to be obvious about it. Certainly, he could be subtle. Also, it's true about the good guardian remaining hidden, but there are no better than I at hiding in plain view. He knew very well that a swordsman, a sorceress and a priest traveling together would be unremarkable, to say the least.

Well, traveling together for the time being, that is, his mind whispered darkly. Surely, driving off the Chimera would be easy enough. He shuddered to think he would have to waste the time to follow him on his ridiculous and never-ending search for a cure.

Lina spoke then, startling him out of his reverie. "Listen Xelloss, I know you'll do whatever you want anyway. But don't get in my way, and don't bait Zelgadis. I don't want you upsetting him like you did earlier. I want to have fun on our trip to Buldein."

"Buldein?" In amused bafflement Xelloss laughed, "That dusty old hole in the ground?"

"What do you mean, 'old hole in the ground'?" Lina glared at him, and leaned closer to him threateningly. "It's a perfectly reasonable place for me to go!"

Upon noting Lina's threatening stance toward him, Xelloss was amazed someone so diminutive in stature could still manage to loom so well. It appears as if I might be getting two beatings from Lina in one day, which is quite a track record—even for me, he reflected. However, knowing Lina as he did, he knew exactly what to say to mollify her. "It is? I just can't imagine why someone of your caliber would have anything to do with the place."

She sat back on her heels, his offhanded compliment causing a slight blush to tinge her cheeks pink. "Well, that's none of your business anyway. If you don't like it, don't come."

"It's settled then. I'll be joining you for a while, Lina."

"Whatever." Lina's eyes rolled as she said it but then she said, "And what about those bandits?"

"I promise to lead you straight to them in the morning. Besides," Xelloss pointed at the kettle next to her, "don't you think I should return this?"

"I knew it!" Tackling him, Lina grabbed a fistful of Xelloss' cloak and dragged him up to eye level. He raised his eyebrows and tried to look innocent of whatever it was Lina thought he was guilty of. She snarled in his face as she shook him. "You were already there?"

Ah, she suspects me of possibly backstabbing her. "But it was only to snatch that kettle for you." His eyes bored into hers as he softly whispered to her, "You know well, Lina—when I wish to remain hidden—"

"What the hell is he doing here?" Xelloss turned his head just enough so he could see Zelgadis standing at the edge of the clearing. Xelloss smiled to himself, thinking the evening suddenly took a turn for the better. This couldn't look good to the Chimera. Lina was practically sitting on his lap, no matter that she had a fistful of his cloak; Zelgadis was behind him and couldn't see that little detail. This suddenly must have occurred to Zelgadis too, because he abruptly paled in anger. "And what the hell are you two up to?"

Xelloss tilted his head back and with a mischievous leer drawled, "Now Mr. Zelgadis, why'd you have to come and interrupt the fun I was having with my little Lina?" He illustrated his point by walking his fingers up her thigh.

Xelloss' little overture to Lina was punished swiftly with the application of her elbow in his throat. "Urk!" She never appreciates me enough… And after all I've done for her!

His eyes slid open to watch Lina look up at her friend. "What are you talking about Zel? I was just throttling him for some information."

Zelgadis relaxed then and said in exasperation, "I've already told you Lina, throttling doesn't hurt him, it's just a game to him."

"Well, maybe. But it sure makes me feel better!"

This earned her a snorted, "Whatever."

Scowling at them both, Zelgadis strode into the clearing. As he passed Xelloss and Lina, he dropped a dead rabbit next to them. When Lina peered up at Zelgadis questioningly, he said, "I killed it, you clean it." He then tossed a sack next to the rabbit. "There're tubers in there. We can have—" He stopped when he saw the kettle. "You've already got food?"

Lina let go of Xelloss' cloak as she saw Zelgadis's disapproving frown. "Yeah… Xelloss brought it." Zelgadis closed his eyes and hung his head.

Xelloss waited for the inevitable outburst he could feel bubbling to the surface. Zelgadis stood with his head down and fists clenched, but the air was crackling with his fury. The Chimera certainly can project anger and loathing very well. We'll surely have a nice journey with all this lovely negativity flying around, Xelloss thought as he watched the Chimera beginning to boil over.…Of course, that reminds me of someone's need for an attitude adjustment. I can think of a few ways in which he might learn some respect for his elders and betters. He gazed flatly at Zelgadis. Beast Master said Lina was the special human… she said nothing of the Chimera. I wonder what he'd look like if I peeled the stone off... Imagining violent things put the smile back on Xelloss' face.

Unaware of what images were flitting through the Mazoku's mind, Zelgadis finally blew up at Lina. Gesticulating at the kettle, Zelgadis shouted, "And you ATE it! What the HELL were you thinking?"

Lina dropped Xelloss, then stood up and crossed her arms, glaring back at her friend. "Hey, damn it—I'm fine! He stole it from a bandit camp I'm gonna raid tomorrow!"

Xelloss felt it was the perfect time to break the news, and he wanted to be the one to do it. He jumped up with a grin on his face. When Zelgadis turned to glare wrathfully at him, Xelloss pointed at himself and winked at the Chimera. "Yes, Mr. Zelgadis, and I'm leading you there! I'll also be traveling with you from now on! Won't this be fun?"

That seemed to take something out of Zelgadis, and he slumped to sit on the ground. "Oh, I see." Zelgadis glared up at Xelloss. "Bandits and food was basically the price of admission, wasn't it?"

"Bingo! Admitted, one Mazoku!" He cracked an eye open to gauge Zelgadis's reaction. "You're taking this awfully well… I'm so pleased."

"Like I have a choice?"

"That's the spirit!" Xelloss laughed at Zelgadis's cold expression as he turned away from him. "I'll get the tea ready."

That night, Xelloss suggested to them that he take the entire watch to save them the trouble. His offer was refused by both humans. This didn't disappoint or surprise him; trust was such a scarce commodity these days. So, the first watch belonged to the Chimera. Xelloss watched him from his perch in a tree as Zelgadis moved around the camp. Lina was fast asleep in her bedroll, having turned in a few hours ago. Zelgadis hadn't said a single thing to him yet, which didn't surprise Xelloss in the least. Zelgadis could probably go the entire watch without saying a thing to him. In fact, the Chimera just sat in front of the fire doing nothing, as unmoving as a rock. Xelloss smiled and thought, Nice analogy.

Despite what he'd said earlier, Xelloss was of two minds about whether or not he was pleased with Zelgadis's acquiescence to their new travel arrangements. If Zelgadis chose to be a little more civil, he might get through this journey with his life. Xelloss would not have to be suspected of certain foul deeds by Lina, no matter how attractive said foul deeds were to him. Still, ticking Zelgadis off was so much fun, and ever so rewarding. Unfortunately Lina had told him to behave. It matters little, Xelloss decided. There would be numerous chances on the road to divide the two hot-tempered humans. That could come later, so for now he would pretend to get along. Whatever it took, it was worth it. He'd gotten awfully sick of flitting around through the trees, out of their sight and knowledge. Aside from that, if he had to protect Lina from attack, he'd much rather do it as a comrade at her side, rather than suddenly swooping in from nowhere and saving the day. That sort of approach smacked too much of the 'prince on a white horse' cliché which humans tended to love. Xelloss highly doubted Lina would react to it in the same way Martina had, years ago but his sudden appearance would raise questions. Of course, he preferred to be the one asking the questions.

Speaking of which, Xelloss was curious about a few things. He looked back down to the quiet camp, eyes resting briefly on Lina's sleeping form, then moving to spot the Chimera. Surprise surpise, he hasn't moved an inch. Softly, so as not to disturb Lina's rest, he addressed Zelgadis. "So, where's the swordsman?"

Zelgadis started, spooked by the unexpected comment in the otherwise silent clearing. He scrutinized Xelloss before saying, "He's in Navian."

"Oh? I've never heard of the place. It must be really boring and peaceful."

"I suppose." Zelgadis snorted at the Mazoku's assessment. "Lina left him there so he could retire, I guess."

Well, wonders never cease! Zelgadis was in the mood to speak with him, actually answering questions instead of evading them. Xelloss grinned at him then, "Lina will probably go through more than a few sidekicks before she's done traveling."

"You know about that already?"

"How could I not?" Gracefully, Xelloss jumped down from his perch. He slowly rose from his crouch, his eyes fixed once again on the sleeping object of their discussion. "Little Lina has a surfeit of magical ability. I know what that does to a human; she's going to be around a long time…" He gazed down at the sleeping girl. "I'm sure she and I will be having fun for centuries, at least."

His gaze flicked to Zelgadis in time to see the Chimera shudder. "Why don't you leave her alone?" He growled at Xelloss. "What's your interest in her?"

"Normally, my dear Mr. Zelgadis, you know what I would say to that." A smile split the darkness of his shadowed features, but he didn't bother looking up. He could feel the Chimera's fascinated abhorrence well enough. Rather, he continued to study Lina's sleeping face as he continued to speak. "However, seeing as you've been so forthcoming to my questions, I'll play nice." Xelloss walked to the fire, seated himself in the grass, and gestured at Zelgadis's teapot. "May I?"

"Go ahead, you brewed it." Zelgadis nudged it close enough for Xelloss to help himself.

Eschewing Zelgadis's tin cap, Xelloss produced a china cup he kept on his person. He poured and said, "Why does Lina interest me, eh?" He sipped the tea and gazed thoughtfully into the fire as he considered the question. "I suppose it's for the same reasons the average human is terrified of her. Don't you think Lina's inordinately violent nature wouldn't please a Mazoku?"

Zelgadis "Don't tell me Mazoku are capable of crushes… I'd know you were lying."

Xelloss looked up then, his eyes opened wide in surprise and amusement. "A crush?" he laughed delightedly. "Maybe under Mazoku terms, I do!"

Zelgadis twitched in annoyance and glared balefully into the fire again. "Ridiculous. I'm sorry I asked."

After a while, something else occurred to Xelloss. He suddenly looked up at the Chimera, who tensed immediately. Ignoring the amusing fact that his every move put Zelgadis on the alert he asked, "So, you never told Lina what I did earlier this afternoon, did you?"

Zelgadis instantly blushed and looked away mumbling, "I fail to see what purpose that would have served."

"I'm shocked, Mr. Zelgadis. Surely you wouldn't pass up the chance to see Lina avenge herself upon my person?"

"If you want the pain, you tell her, pervert." Zelgadis continued to look away, still trying to hide the painfully obvious blush, much to Xellos' ongoing amusement.

He giggled softly but persisted, "But you're her friend. It's undoubtedly your duty to inform her."

Zelgadis clenched his jaw and growled, "No… you bastard... it was you that did it." He then glanced nervously over at his sleeping friend. "…And Lina doesn't know what 'don't kill the messenger' means."

"Especially when she also finds out you didn't step in to save her from me." Zelgadis turned to stare at him in surprise as Xelloss finished smoothly, "I'm sure that would be most displeasing to Lina."

They both turned to see Lina, still sleeping and blissfully unaware of the conversation. Zelgadis whispered to him, "L-let's just keep that little secret between us, alright?"

Author's Notes: Whew, what a problematic chapter! Should be smooth sailing from here on out for a few weeks. Well, the next chapter is looking mighty dark, so a little lighthearted stuff now will soften the blow. Like it so far? Let me know!