Zelgadis stood up, again finding himself in a long corridor. He had been here forever, it seemed, always searching but never finding what he sought. He knew he had to find a room behind one of the countless doors, but by now he had been in them all.

"Why am I still here? I can't find what I'm seeking here." Zelgadis scowled as he glared at the various doors, from simple wood to elaborate metal. He would have gladly turned his back and left, but there was no way out. He had tried countless times. Not wanting to stand around he moved down the corridor. Maybe he would get lucky and find something out of the ordinary...

"Study, library, ...lavatory..." Zelgadis coughed into his hand as he listed off the contents of the doors he passed. There was a sudden creak behind him, causing Zelgadis to look to see what had caused the disturbance.

Unlike the rest which had been secured to the wall on their hinges, one door was about ready to fall from the wall. Even now it wobbled slightly, emitting another creaking sound. Zelgadis walked up to the door. "I didn't see you before.." He pushed gently against the door, which caused it to break away completely and fall to the floor. Zelgadis paid it no mind as he stepped into the room.

Something about this room seemed very familiar, but for the life of him Zelgadis couldn't recall why. He saw a small bookcase against a wall, one of the books laying on the floor. He stooped to pick it up. He opened the cover, surprised to find not printed text but someone's actual handwriting. This was no ordinary book.

He continued to flip through it, noting the book was broken down into entries, each with a date, description of an event, and a signature. He skimmed through it, nothing important catching his eye. Until,

'..I know Mister Zelgadis isn't happy here. Already he has sacrificed so much time to help me, instead of pursuing a cure to his own condition. I know I can't keep him here forever. I care too much for his well-being, even if it means sacrificing my own. I love-"

The rest had been obscured by something dark..and red. Zelgadis felt his heart race as he noticed the entire page had red spatter all over it. "This is..." Zelgadis looked up, finally noticing a bed in the corner. And in it...

Zelgadis stumbled to the side of the bed, crying out in anguish when he saw a lifeless body laying haphazardly on the bed. "No! NOOO!" He cried out in despair, grasping the limp girl in his arms. He hung his head and mourned freely, at a complete loss at what else to do.

Amelia had been looking on the entire time, afraid to interfere for fear what would happen. She had been shocked when he stumbled across this dream version of her room, even more so when he found her journal and had read the entry she never got to complete. And now he was sobbing over her body... Unable to watch his heartbreak any longer, she stepped silently closer.

"Why do you mourn?"

Zelgadis gave a start at the intrusion, but didn't look up, instead resting his head against the dead girl's arm. Finally after a moment of silence he replied in a hushed and broken voice. "I am such a fool. All I ever cared about was myself, and now...now the one I cared about most...is..." the rest was lost in his weeping.

Amelia didn't respond, in shock at this revelation. "I have been such an idiot, so preoccupied with my own fears to see that Mister Zelgadis still needs me!" Amelia mentally berated herself for letting her fear get the better of her. She had to stand up and do what was right.

"Can't you see? What you grieve over is nothing but a shell. She's not there."

Zelgadis remained silent, looking forlornly down at the girl in his arms.

Amelia felt like crying seeing him this distressed. "She's here, has always been here, with you. Mister Zelgadis, she...I am here." She lowered her arms to her side, watching.

Zelgadis finally looked up at the familiar name, finally recognizing who was talking to him. He looked back down at the girl in his arms, then gently lowered her back onto the bed. He slowly gathered himself up before finally daring to look behind him. "Amelia!" This time he gave a cry of joy, and without thinking held her close as if afraid she would disappear if he let go.

This time Amelia did cry as she hugged Zelgadis back."I am so sorry! I was so afraid, so ashamed of what I did to you. How can you ever forgive me such a horrible thing?"

Zelgadis closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, the fault is mine. You were right. I was so obsessed with my stupid cure! I did leave you vulnerable...and paid the price. I sacrificed your life, Amelia. If anyone's not to be forgiven, it's me."

Amelia pushed away from Zelgadis, forcing him to look at her. "Never say that. You couldn't have known. No one knew...that I was to be killed..." She looked away from Zelgadis' gaze, looking at the body still laying on the bed.

This time Zelgadis gripped Amelia's chin to bring her focus back to him. "You say you're dead, yet here you are. How is this possible? Why are you still here?"

Amelia shook her head. "I don't know. I've wondered that since I first found myself laying out in an alley."

Zelgadis looked down at her in surprise.

Amelia decided not fill him in on the details. "I'm just thankful I'm not completely gone. I could never live with myself if I had left without saying good bye." Amelia wiped at a rogue tear.

This time Zelgadis' eyes bugged out in fright. "You're not leaving are you?"

"No!" Amelia exclaimed in fright herself, remembering what it had been like being on the outside, completely unseen or known to her friends. "I-I mean, I don't plan to. ...I don't want to leave you, Mister Zelgadis. You, Miss Lina, Mister Gourry, or anyone! It's so unfair..." This time it was Amelia's turn to break down as the entire situation again crashed down on her shoulders.

Unsure what else to do, Zelgadis held her close again. "Don't cry. Please, don't cry, Amelia. There's got to be some way to-"

His rare moment of comforting Amelia was interrupted by a rather angry voice just outside the room.

"Zelgadis, WAKE UP ALREADY! We need your help!"

Amelia couldn't help but give a small laugh as she wiped more tears from her eyes. "I think Miss Lina wants to speak with you. You better go."

"But-" Suddenly Zelgadis wasn't in Amelia's room, but back in his cell with Lina and Gourry looking at him. He panicked for a moment. "Amelia? Amelia!"

"I'm here." A quiet voice responded.

Zelgadis felt relief wash over him, suddenly feeling his spirits lift more than they had for the past few days. Ignoring the confused looks on his companions' faces Zelgadis just beamed back at them.

"She's here. She's still here!"

oOoOoOoO

Author's notes: Oh man but the time flies! Shortly after posting the previous chapter my parents decided to go crazy and redo the part of the house where my computer was at. I had to spend some time preparing my room to house my computer and desk, while still being able to keep other things as well. (Such as my sewing table, which is getting some use now that the computer is so close!) I had actually had all of this written up already, but I had hoped to add more to it before ending the scene. HA! All it's doing is getting longer and longer, so I finally decided to break it off where I had originally planned and post it up while I work out just where this scene is going. Ah, the trials of fanfiction...

And since I forgot last time, it's feedback time:

DQBunny - Argh, I am embarrassed to read my older fanfics now! Although the ideas are still sound, even I can tell I've made progress in writing. Maybe I should have paid more attention to writing when I was still in school...

I think I'm attached to 'Sir Gourry' now. It does seem to do a better job of showing just what Sylphiel thinks of Gourry. (And even though he's really a mercenary, he does act the part of a knight very well!)

Maddy02 - Any review is better than no review. I'm just glad to see people are still reading this, and wanting for more! (And no, I don't want to be evil and forever separate Amelia from her body. I just haven't decided on the best way to reunite them yet...)

Gerao-A - I've not decided if they'll be stopping or helping Naga yet. This story wants to be slow to reveal all the details to me. Either way, Naga's far from gone in this story. She's not yet had a proper reunion with her little sister, and no way am I going to skip that!

Chalicity - Lina did hear Amelia a few chapters back, and she even came in contact with Amelia's dream. I know that Lina has a certain ...weakness? in that she can come in contact with spirits. I might make more use of it later, it just depends on what happens and where the story goes. Thanks for reading!

Lina Gabriev - Sylphiel shaking down a guard? I think she'd feel horribly guilty for doing such a thing! The idea is amusing though... I hope you liked this chapter. Both Amelia and Zelgadis are more content now.

Thanks again to all who reviewed, and to anyone who reads this! I always write to entertain myself first and foremost, but it's always a treat to see other people are enjoying it as well. I'll try and get the next part written out soon!