Well, what luck! Chapter five already! ;) I'm so happy. Thanks to all who reviewed! No da!

Disclaimer: Mm-hmm. I own this fic, and the second song. Go me.

Chapter Five: The First Actual Battle in This Fanfic! Huzzah!

Zelgadis angrily stuffed some mushrooms into his pack. What did it matter that he had fallen asleep on top of Naga? He didn't have ANY "lovey-dovey" feelings for her! Suddenly, Xellos appeared beside the Chimera, and started singing "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match…" in his ear. "SHUT UP, XEL!" Zelgadis roared, and ran farther up the mushroom field. Xellos grinned, and motioned for Naga and Amelia to walk next to him. Getting his drift, the two girls suddenly sang "Otome no Inori" at the top of their lungs (no, I don't own this song):

To this small girl loving is

wonderful, my darling

A glistening rouge (a longful dream)

a pink peach

I want to reach for it - a maiden's prayer.

I float to the night sky - the silver of this happiness

I like to shake the waves of darkness

my little heart is aching so profoundly

let my heart leap into your origin

I beg you, let me reach, it's this maiden's will

It's all I am, this pretty me.

I'm giddy, that cologne (a beautiful dream)

a light blue parasol

I wish it would come true - it's this maiden's will

I beg you, let me reach, it's this maiden's will

the last kiss is a boomerang

this boomerang is a ticket for a one way trip

It's all I am, this pretty me

I feel like I'm on top of a white pegasus

delivering the jigsaw of love's last piece

Just as Zelgadis was about to turn around and give his three companions a piece of his mind, they started up again, but with a different song:

Darling, Darling!

How your arms forever embrace me and adore me!

Darling, Darling!

I wish for only you!

Your heart belongs to me, you see

In this innocent and natural form of magic

As I touch your heart

Darling, Darling!

My heart beats like a drum as you sleep

Are you dreaming about me?

Darling, Darling!

My hands clutch yours

Darling, Darling!

Your eyes, your loving eyes

Open once again, to the sound of my love!

Darling, Darling!

You know this to be true

Say these words, I'll say them too:

I

Love

You!

Zelgadis blushed, covering his enhanced ears to the sound of the other's laughter. Picking up three squashed mushrooms, he flung them in their direction. With a squelch, the ruined vegetables embedded themselves in Xellos, Naga, and Amelia's faces. "Hey, c'mon, we were just having fun!" Amelia squeaked. Zel turned around, smiling in a twisted way, hands full of more squashed mushrooms. "No more love songs." He made as if to throw the vegetables again, but stopped with a real smile at the cries of "Okay, okay! No more love songs! JUST DON'T THROW 'EM!"

Meanwhile…

Phibrizzo calmly moved a chess piece with a likeness of Zelgadis across his "board", which was really a hologram of the world up to his temple. There were many other chess pieces placed all across the "board", some of which were actually rather close to where Zelgadis, Xellos, Amelia, and Naga were. Grinning childishly, Phibrizzo decided to move one of his favorites: the last Golden Dragon…

Back with the four travelers…

Xellos and Zelgadis laughed as they rolled through the poppies that were nearby. Amelia and Naga followed suit, nearly bumping into each other in their happiness. Suddenly, a little girl with blond hair came running towards them. "RAAAAH!" she screamed. Xellos blinked in surprise, and then said "Filia! It IS you! How are you? Last time you were just—" he stopped in mid-sentence. Filia's eyes were gold instead of their usual blue; on her was the attire of an executioner. "Xellos, you will pay…" she growled, lifting a mace that had not been there a few seconds ago. "For what?" Xellos asked, readying his staff. "FOR EVERYTHING! NOW DIE!" Filia roared, and leaped up into the air, mace at the ready.

However, before she could use it, Xellos fired a minor magic blast at her—just to get her off balance before his real attack. Suddenly, Filia's mace hurtled into his shoulder, rendering it useless. His staff clattered to the ground. Filia cackled in triumph, and fired a black-magic spell called Dark Claw, which was basically the same as Fireball, but with darkness instead. Anyway, Xellos looked on semi-helplessly, his face a bitter and cold mask. Zelgadis roared "GET AWAY, XEL!" but his friend didn't hear him. He was focused solely on Filia. With a bound, Xellos was next to her. Grinning mischievously, he lifted up her skirt—and pulled out a rotting tail!

"AUGHH!" Xellos yelled in horror, and jumped back down to earth, leaving Filia enraged slightly. Before she could blink, another Dark Claw slammed into her stomach, and she fell, her eyes turning slightly blue, then gold, then blue again. "Xellos…" she whispered.

Back with Phibrizzo…

Phibrizzo smiled evilly at the "Filia-piece" in his hand. "You're not much use to me anymore, kid. I'll make it…slightly painless." He whispered to it, knowing that Filia could hear him. He raised his index finger slowly…

Meanwhile…

Xellos stood impassively, watching Filia's fall with slight interest. "She's the last of the Golden Dragons. I used to visit her." He informed the others. "It looks as if something's gotten a hold of her since." Zelgadis had the dry heaves. That tail…it's horrible, black and dripping form was imbedded into his mind. Looking up, he noticed that Xellos was suddenly very tense. "Oh, God, no, please no…!" Xellos held his hands behind his head, as if trying to block a blow. "Phibrizzo…get out…GET OUT!" he screamed, amethyst eyes opening fully. At the same time, Filia's fall had stopped. Blinking in confusion, she righted herself…then disappeared with a blink of an eye. The last look that the four companions hand of her was her eyes, now blue, pleading at thin air. As Zelgadis looked on in horror, a familiar voice entered his head:

A beautiful sight, wasn't it? It asked, sounding amused.

Phibrizzo…why did you do that to Filia? To Xellos?

Because it's fun. Admit it, her face was lovely in her last moments.

A little, but that still doesn't give you the right—

Stay out of this, Zel. Came Xellos' voice. It was cracked, and angry.

Ah, Xellos, just the man I wanted to see! Or should I say—Mazoku? Phibrizzo's voice chortled mentally.

I'm not like you, Phibrizzo. I have a life. Xellos' voice now seemed haughty, scorning.

Perhaps. But don't forget, now that Zelgadis knows, what's to stop him from killing you, hm? Phibrizzo seemed confident in his information.

Why would I kill my best friend? Even if he IS a Mazoku, that doesn't change the fact that he and I have been together since we were kids. Who thought up the masquerade? He did. Who made life still seem worth living after the "Chimera-Incident"? He did. So, you see, I don't want to kill him because he's saved me so many times. Zelgadis swelled with pride as he said these words. He sensed Xellos did too.

Well, I wouldn't bet on Amelia and Naga being as appreciative. Ta-ta. Hellmaster Phibrizzo's voice faded out of sight, letting Xellos and Zelgadis' thoughts go back to their own minds.

Xellos opened his eyes slowly, fearful of what he might see. Zelgadis was bent over him, holding a pitcher of water. "Wake up, Xel. Amelia and Naga left." He muttered, apparently angry with himself. "Well"—Xellos lifted himself up with difficulty—"I suppose Phibrizzo was right on that account. Your probably wondering just who I am really, and where I came from. This may help, I guess." He handed Zelgadis a faded scrap of parchment. Looking at them, the Chimera mentally read:

I, Xellas, make a request to Rezo Greywords and family:

My son, Xellos, has long been sought by Hellmaster Phibrizzo, my older brother. He (Phibrizzo) is ruthless in his ways of gaining my son. He even went so far as to kidnap his little friend, Filia, from her house one day. In any rate, my son will not be idle. He has amazing power, even for a Mazoku, and is a hard worker. Be warned, he loves playing tricks and annoying people. I hear also that you have a child, a male. That is good, for my son craves company in his room at Wolfpack Island. My instructions to him were/are: Travel to the Greywords Mansion, befriend the boy, and live a good life with him. Even get married if you wish. That is all.

Good luck and good fortune!

Xellas Mettalium, 5th Mazoku Lord, Lord Beastmaster.

Zelgadis blinked in surprise. "Huh…you know, this explains a few things. Like on every holiday, you would dissapear for a few hours, then come back, happier than usual. And the fact that whenever someone was sad, you would look at them dreamily for a moment, then comfort them. It all makes sense!" Xellos smiled and stretched. "Glad you think so. Now then, let's get going. With any luck, we'll be in Sandaria by nightfall." He chirped, and slung his pack over his shoulder. Following his lead, Zelgadis jogged after him, wondering if he should tell the Mazoku that Amelia and Naga were a few miles ahead, possibly waiting for them…

What do you think? R&R! I'll give you Filia's mace if you do! (holds up mace and makes a Filia face) "Namigomi!"