Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. They are the property of Hajime Kanzaka and Shoko Yoshinaka.

Author's notes: Sorry I took so long with an update. Please review!

Chapter Ten

Zelgadis and Lina checked into an inn in the village Zel had just come from. Zel forced himself to show no sign that he had been injured by Dynast's spell until he was safely in his own room. Only then did he allow himself to break down – that is, he fell on his back on the bed and began chanting recovery spell after recovery spell until he worked himself into a trance to match his exhaustion.

His voice was becoming hoarse, and as his heart beat slowly became more regular with the healing taking place within his body, he began to relax. It was then that he was at last able to open his eyes and bring himself again to his feet.

Zel wasn't sure how long he had been there. He needed something to eat to restore his strength . . . and he wanted to see Lina.

He left his room and went over to Lina's, knocking on the door politely and asking her permission to enter the room. She gave it, and he opened the door.

She was lying on the floor in front of a small fireplace, with a small cup of tea in her hand, though it didn't look like she would be able to drink from it without sitting up. Lina was on top of the furs he had found her in and was now wearing what appeared to be a white dress. Her hair was spread out behind her and the light from the fire was accenting her slender body under the light fabric.

"Zel," she said, bringing herself up only a little bit. "Would you like some tea?"

He nodded and sat down in a chair near her.

She poured him a cup and handed it to him. "There is some food over there," she said indicating a small table by the window that was spread out for two people to dine at.

"Is that for us?" Zel asked.

"Well, yes," Lina said, not really showing much interest in it.

"You didn't have to wait for me you know. I wouldn't have minded if you ate without me," he said, trying to sneak in an implied joke about her eating habits.

However, Lina didn't seem to catch the joke, and said earnestly, "I heard you in the other room, chanting. I couldn't eat when I knew you were suffering like that. I wanted to wait until you were healed."

"I see," Zel said, looking down at the small girl, and for a moment she appeared much smaller than he ever thought she was. "Have you lost weight Lina?"

"I don't know," she said.

Zel looked at her again, and he decided that she looked dangerously thin. He glanced again at the meal spread on the little table, and again at Lina. "Will you eat with me? I'll bring the table over here so we can be close to the fire."

She nodded her agreement and picked herself off the floor with her furs to make room for the table. Zel carefully picked the table up – fully set – and carried it over to the fireplace. He was proud of himself that even though he was not yet fully healed, he had not upset any of the cutlery or dishes. Lina looked impressed as well, even though it was only a small thing. With that they sat down together.

Zel took a dinner roll between his fingers and tore it in half while regarding Lina across the table from him. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Dynast?" she asked clearly.

Zel assented, "Of course Dynast."

Lina was chewing a piece of dried meat very slowly and deliberately, and staring into the fire. For a moment Zel thought she wasn't going to answer him at all when suddenly she said, "He's in love with me."

Zel didn't choke on or spit out his food, but instead concentrated on Lina with utmost seriousness. His jaw clenched, and he honestly didn't know what to say.

Lina glanced at Zel, "You needn't look at me like that. It's not as if I accepted him or something. Besides, can a mazoku really fall in love?" She laughed, but not heartily, "And he's not just an ordinary mazoku either, he's one of the five dark lords. I ought to fall for him and complete my training as a black mage."

"I don't think that's funny," Zel said, refusing to make light of such a grave situation.

Moments passed. She shrugged her shoulders and returned her attention to her meal.

"You were angry at him for impersonating me though?" Zel asked.

She smiled. "I don't know that you're not him yet. I mean, you proved to me that you were Zel when we were at the castle, but since then you left me alone in this room. Dynast might have switched with you in that time and managed to fool me again into believing that he's you."

"Do you really think that's what's happened?"

"I'll find out soon enough," she said, looking into the fire gloomily again.

"Have you devised a way to tell the difference between us, even when he plays at being me?" Zel asked, hoping she would give him a clue as to how he could identify himself to her.

"Easy. Zelgadis Greywers is not in love with me. He never was and he never will be. If you speak one word to me about how much you care for me, then I'll know that Dynast is you," she said, challenging him.

It was on Zel's tongue to tell her that that was completely unfair, but he managed to keep himself silent. The only thought that appeared in his brain was again the impossibility of ever finding a woman who he cared for who would return his love, but he refused to think about his own problem when Lina had obviously been through a great deal. What has Dynast done to Lina using my appearance? Zel wondered for the hundredth time.

He felt sick.

"What's the matter?" Lina asked him suddenly.

"Nothing," Zel said. "I was just wondering what exactly happened between the two of you to sour you against me so. It is completely ridiculous to act as though I care nothing for you. We have been friends, we've been on many adventures, and most recently I followed you up to the North Pole to save you from a mazoku – if you happened to need saving," Zel paused. "I mean, yes, of course I obviously care nothing for you," Zel said, the last line ripe with indignation.

"I'm sorry," Lina said, matching the hostility in his voice. "But, you see, I really thought it was you. From the way he was acting, I really thought you were in love with me."

"You thought I was in love with you?" Zel asked, his tone softening considerably.

She shrugged her shoulders. "Yeah . . . but then it turned out to be Dynast and not you at all."

"Did he kiss you?" Zel asked with unknown determination.

"Hm," she said, blushing and bringing her hands together as she seemed very excited about the topic. "Did he?"

Zel brought one of his hands into a fist. Is she flirting with me?

"Are you sure you want to know?" she asked.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I suppose – since you're such a shy virginal creature. However, I would like to know how you found kissing a freak like a stone golem chimera. Was it pleasant?"

She pouted, "Don't make fun of me Zel or you'll be eating a fireball. Besides, pure girls like me are hard to come by and thus much more desirable than ordinary run-of-the-mill females who have been hopelessly manhandled."

Zel wanted to laugh at this as she had successfully lightened the mood by teasing him about Dynast kissing her, but just as she spoke she brought her hand up to drag all her red curls over to one side and allow her white throat to be accented by the firelight. The light in her eyes was . . . indescribable. Zel suddenly found himself unable to look at her – she was that beautiful.

"And I don't like how you refer to yourself as a freak. You're not! If you manage to be so kind to me, why can't you be so kind to yourself?" she questioned.

"And you?" he asked, wanting to change the subject. "How did you react to this news that I had fallen in love with you?"

"Well," Lina said. "It would be hard to explain to you."

"Will you try?"

"I don't know," she said, getting up from the table, and standing right by the fireplace. "I want to tell you a lot of things. You know, about what happened and such, but I just don't think I can."

Zel got up too, and walked up close to her. "Lina, once again, you really don't have to tell me what happened. It's not really any of my business, but I would like you to answer one question for me."

She nodded.

Zel continued, "You said that you didn't think I was a freak. I know you have never thought I was, but I was wondering if my appearance would have been the thing that caused you to reject Dynast? Even if the answer is not very nice, even if it's hateful – I really want to hear it."

Lina sighed. "Do you really believe that there is no possibility that a woman could care for you in that way because you are a chimera?"

Zel didn't answer her, but looked at her intently.

"I see," she said. "I can see that it would hurt you far more, if I kept the truth to myself, than it would hurt me to tell you the true state of affairs," she took a deep breath. "Please promise me that what I'm about to tell you – that you'll never bring it up again, or make fun of me later for it."

"I promise," he said softly, getting the feeling that she was about to admit something quite serious. He kept his eyes fixed on her, wanting very much to hear what she was about to say.

"Okay then," she said, seeming satisfied with his word. "Dynast did not confess that he was in love with me until he simultaneously confessed that he was not Zelgadis Greywers, but Dynast Grasucherra. What I am about to say is the part that I do not want mentioned to me again," she took a deep breath, taking a moment to prepare herself for what she was about to say. "Had he not confessed that he was Dynast – I'm not sure how things would have played out. That's why it is hard to explain to you – I would have spent the rest of my life completely devoted to him."

"Devoted? What does that mean Lina?"

She turned and her eyes were brimming with liquid. "It is so hard to say," she said. "Especially to you because you don't share my feelings, but I cannot allow you to go throughout your life – no matter who you might love – with the false idea that your stone golem aspect ruins your chance for true romantic feeling. That can't be the case when I love you so deeply."

Zelgadis could not believe her words. "Do you really mean what you just said, Lina?" Zel asked.

"You don't have to do anything for me Zel. I know that you can't care for me like that. I believe you when you tell me that you are my friend, and I'll have to be content with that," she said, turning away from him.

He caught her wrist.

"Please . . . Lina?" he said gently. "If you stand still for one moment . . ."

"What Zel? There's no reason for you to make excuses for me. You don't have to say anything to make your rejection of me easier on me. I was not expecting you to share my feelings. Please don't make my confession a mistake by making yourself uneasy about my feelings. I . . ." she said, attempting to free her wrist.

"If you would just stand still for one moment," he said, interrupting her. "I could tell you . . ."

"I said it before Zel," she said, her voice becoming more heated. "You don't have to tell me anything!"

He clamped his other hand over her mouth before she could say another word.

"I could tell you that I love you," he said.

He took his hand off her mouth and looked into her eyes sincerely. Her eyes examined his – very carefully.

Before he knew what he was doing he had brought her into his arms and for the first time in his life bent to kiss Lina. He kissed her lightly at first and then pulled away to gauge her reaction. Her eyes were closed, but she was smiling. He kissed her again, and again. He had never done this before and could only barely feel her lips with his kiss, but from the sound of her breathing he could tell that he was perhaps being too rough with her and lightened his touch a little. He couldn't feel her properly, he knew that and tried to appreciate what he could – how she smelled, how she tasted . . . he was suddenly thankful that at least that was not spoilt for him.

Then suddenly, she fell limp in his arms.

"Lina?" Zel asked, wondering if he had gone too far and this was her way of telling him so, but she didn't move when he pulled off. She had fainted. He was confused at first, but at last decided to flatter Lina by believing that she really was as innocent as she'd always said she was. He lifted her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. There was a tear running down her cheek, and he smiled as he knew it was a remnant of the tears she'd shed at being forced to tell him her love for him. She had been much braver than he had been willing to be, but it seemed that she really did need someone to protect her, and he resolved that he would be that for her for the rest of his life. He covered her gently with her furs and took her hand in his to kiss it.

His heart seemed to swell up in his chest. Oh, he was happy. He had never been happier in his life and Lina . . . he would make her this happy. No matter how long it took – he would make her happier than she had ever been.