Chapter 5

Tango

On the balcony...

"Lina-san?" came an all too happy sounding voice. "Lina-san are you out here?"

Lina had been rudely and savagely kicked from her bliss, and she hesitated wanting nothing more than to borrow deeper into Xellos' embrace yet scared that Amelia would see her like this. Xellos made a small sound of irritation and she looked up. His eyes were closed, but his face was turned back towards the door and he was frowning slightly.

"I guess I better go see what she wants." Did her voice sound that sad? Xellos looked down at her, eyes open once more and she was surprised to see her sadness and longing radiating back.

"I'll take you to her then," he said in a soft resigned voice. The voice didn't suit him. He released her slowly from his embrace and she found her arms trailing slowly as well. With an abruptness that startled her his innocent happy face snapped into place, his eyes closed and he hooked his arm through hers leading her back to Amelia.

"Ah Amelia-san how are you?"

"Xellos-san! What are you doing here?"

"Now, now Amelia-san, isn't this party to celebrate the defeat of Darkstar? It isn't very just of you to exclude me."

A contrite look immediately appeared on Amelia's face. "Sorry, but I didn't know where to send your invitation. I wasn't trying to exclude you Xellos-san really!" Xellos simply beamed his fruitcake smile back at her. Amelia finally seemed to take notice of Lina who was shivering slightly. It was cold outside. "Lina-san are you cold?"

Lina glared at her. I wasn't a few minutes ago she thought savagely. But she managed a civil nod. Xellos arm was still strung through hers and she pulled it just a bit closer, trying to absorb some of the warm it gave off. Amelia blinked and looked slightly confused, as though she wasn't sure what to say. "What did you need Amelia?" Lina asked in soft resignation.

The princess perked up slightly, "have you seen Zelgadis-san? He said in his reply to my invitation he would come. But I didn't see him at the banquet." She seemed slightly sad and she was playing with something in her hand. Lina saw with surprise that Amelia was fingering one of her wristbands, the other Lina knew she had given to Zelgadis. Lina was even more surprised that Zelgadis had agreed to come all the way back to Seyruun. Lina herself had wanted to stay and explore the new territory. Granted finding out that there wasn't any good magic there had taken that desire down several notches, but even so Amelia had been forced to bribe Lina with the celebration feast and a private cook staff while she was here. Lina would still probably leave soon, she just hadn't decided where to go yet.

"I haven't seen him. I didn't even know you had gotten ahold of him. How did you manage that?"

Amelia blushed slightly, "well I sent out a squadron of messengers and one of them found him."

A squadron? thought Lina. "I see," said Lina smiling slightly vindictively.

"L-Lina-san?" squeaked Amelia.

Lina grinned down baring her fangs. "How many messengers did you send to find Filia?"

"Um... well just, you know, I sent a few"

"Did they find her?"

"Oh yes!" Amelia said beaming. Lina had absolutely refused to be drug into details about the ball, instead spending time reading in the Seyruun library and terrorizing the cooks Amelia had assigned to her. "Filia said she didn't want to travel though. Apparently the egg is going to hatch soon! She's decided to name him Valteria, isn't that pretty?" She slowly came to a halt under Lina's gaze. Amelia chuckled half heartedly. Lina was about to go in for the kill, when fate decided to spare the girl.

"Amelia?"

"Zelgadis-san!" she whirled towards the door at the sound of his voice and hurtled towards him. She hugged him hard and Zelgadis blushed slightly, awkwardly patting her back. "You came! I'm so happy you came! Did you get anything to eat? I didn't see you at the feast. Where did you get this suit, it looks nice on you. Did you see Gourry and Lina yet? Isn't Lina's dress pretty?"

But Zelgadis had been staring in slight surprise over Amelia's head. He had noticed Lina, and that she was arm in arm with Xellos who still had his fruitcake look firmly in place.

"Lina?"

"Good to see ya, Zel!" Her smile was a bit forced. Zelgadis really didn't like Xellos, and he looked as though he wanted to say something about it.

"No greeting for me? That's not nice Zelgadis-san! And here I was so happy to see you!"

Zelgadis lost his look of confusion in favor of the standard mixture of annoyance and anger he displayed towards Xellos.

"Why should I be glad to see you?" he spat glaring at Xellos.

"Yare yare," murmured Xellos starting to bring up both hands in his usual placating gesture, but when he realized that one was still twined with Lina's arm a truly happy smile flickered over his face before his usual fruitcake grin reappeared. He held one hand up in a facsimile of his usual "harmless" gesture. "I did help defeat Darkstar didn't I? So I have just as much right to be here as you." His smile was still the harmless one, but his eyes opened ever so slightly and glinted under his bangs. "Maybe more," he added in the softest of undertones. He could tell from the way Zelgadis stiffened and the way Lina glanced up at him that the only one who hadn't heard was Amelia. His eyes drifted shut again and smiling at the naive little princess he said brightly, "I guess Lina-san and I will be on our way then."

"Good to see you Zel," said Lina as Xellos gently lead her back into the ballroom. Had it been anyone else she might have been upset, but mostly she was curious to see what he was up to. He made his way to a corner, where the lighting was a little lower and pulled out a chair at one of the smaller tables for her.

"I'll be right back Lina-chan," he said, his eyes once again open, "don't go anywhere."

She blushed, but instead of hitting him or telling him she'd go anywhere she wanted, she just smiled softly. He walked off and despite his unique hair she quickly lost track of him, probably because she was short and sitting wasn't giving her a higher vantage. Lina was torn between amused and upset with the interaction between Xellos and Zelgadis. Xellos hadn't exactly been unprovoked... but Zelgadis was a good friend, in spite of his angst. In fact Lina frequently asked his opinion on serious things, granted her other traveling companions were inappropriate for this; Gourry could never follow even her half of the what she said much less offer input, and Amelia's justice fixation often got in the way of any true discussion. Zelgadis was fun to be around when he wasn't moody, and somewhat like the brother Lina had never had. Smart, fun to tease, and able to keep up with her, Zelgadis was indeed family in Lina's eyes. Amelia was too, but like a little sister, who needed Lina's protection and was irritating from time to time. Gourry... Lina was no longer sure where Gourry fit into her world. She knew that she still cared about him, but the hurt she had felt at him being with Sylphiel was rapidly diminishing in the presence of Xellos. Xellos, he was a mazoku, and he was the most intriguing person Lina had ever met. She had no idea how to classify him, or what to do with him. Her thoughts had gotten more confused in light of his actions tonight, how could a monster be so sweet? Her thoughts were interrupted as said monster appeared out of the crowd, carrying several plates of desert. All serious contemplation fled as a veritable buffet of desert approached. Stars shown in Lina's eyes as Xellos smiled at her and placed small plates heaped with desert in front of her. Beaming at him she was about to dive in when he spoke to her.

"Lina-chan?"

"Yes?" she was looking at him, but kept sending glances of longing at the chocolate cake nearest her.

"Would you like some sauterne?"

Her eyes now met his fully, stars back. "They have sauterne?"

Xellos laughed, it was a surprisingly light sound, "actually I got this, sauterne would have been too expensive in quantities for a ball this size. I'm sure they could afford it, but I doubt the Royal Family would spend that much just on drinks."

"How did you know I liked sauterne?" she asked, his knowledge never ceased to surprise her.

"Because it's the best," he replied as though it were obvious. "It's also fairly rare, and you are from a country famous for grapes and vineyards."

Lina smiled at him, a soft smile and said "Thanks."

Smiling he poured two glasses and handed one to her. Then he held it out to her in toast. "To the most beautiful woman here tonight," he said softly, eyes open and looking straight into hers.

Lina blushed, he had not only called her beautiful, but also a woman. She stared back for a moment, trying to see if he was teasing her, but he wasn't. Though embarrassed she managed to clink her glass to his and take a sip. Lina usually ate and drank at incredible speed, but sauterne she savored. It was made from the very last of the grapes, which were ripened until they almost, almost went bad. The result was that they had more sugar and the wine they made tasted like liquid candy. Lina gave a soft sigh of satisfaction as she licked her lips, this was her very favorite drink, and it was almost impossible to get outside of Zelphila. It was impossible to get at the inns she and her friends usually stayed at. Xellos was smiling back at her, the look was both tender and dangerous. He picked up a fork, and scooped up a piece of cake, and held it out to her his smile becoming more predatory. She flushed brighter still, but she leaned forward and closed her mouth around the morsel, refusing to back down from the challenge she read in his eyes. Xellos continued to slowly feed her bits of cake, chocolate, and fruit. The process was somehow incredibly sensual, and though Lina was determined to match him in whatever kind of contest this was, she blushed the entire time. After all the desert was gone, she and Xellos sat in silence, sipping the last of the wine, and gazing into the others eyes. The rest of the ball had ceased to exist for Lina, her world had narrowed to Xellos, the glorious taste of the wine, and the warm fuzzy feeling enveloping her. A small part of her mind wondered where everyone had gotten to, but the thought faded even as it formed.

"Dance with me," he said softly, putting his empty glass on the table. He stood and held out a hand to her, gently she placed her hand in his. He drew her forward to the dance floor, then bowed over her hand, kissing it. She blushed and curtsied back to him, before even realizing it was part of the dance. He took her into his arms, and everyone else vanished as the warm feeling enveloped her once again. She was hardly aware of it, the dancing seemed so natural, but she knew distantly that they were dancing beautifully. Not a simple box step, but one that turned, drifted, merged, and floated along the melody. Their moves were perfectly in sync, and Lina felt like she was floating. How had she never realized how attractive he was? He was looking down at her, his expression was one she was becoming familiar with, warm, tender, but still with a hint of danger. Somehow she didn't mind that look in his eyes, though she usually was embarrassed by anything so touchy feely. She knew that Xellos respected her, and it was an odd realization. He respected her, she could see it in his eyes. He wanted her, she could see that too.

The knowledge gave her a heady feeling and a slightly predatory look came into her own eyes, as she pressed a bit closer to him, letting her body brush against him as they moved together. His eyes gleamed as his grip on her tightened. His movements changed slightly, instead of drifting along the melody together, they began to flow with the harmony. Moving slower, and more sensuously, their bodies slid against each other now, instead of exchanging soft brushes. The steps became larger, longer, and more languid. Xellos was holding her lower back tightly, keeping her stomach pressed against his, as he led her across the floor. His eyes were burning amethyst coals, and her own glowed back with the same fervor.

The dance ended and a more spirited piece began. Lina realized that she was breathing heavily, and still pressed to Xellos so tightly she could feel resistance to her chest expanding. Looking up at him she saw her own heady feelings mirrored before he smiled and releasing his hold on her, bowed once more, she curtsied back, wishing she didn't want so badly to be in his embrace. He held out his arms and she went to him gladly. She noticed the mildly reproving look he sent the musicians before he swept her into the upbeat tempo of the new song. He wasn't holding her pressed against him anymore, but he was holding her closer to him than the music called for. He suddenly released her, to spin her in a circle, and her surprise must have shown because as he caught her back up amusement glinted in his eyes. Lina's eyes narrowed, and she followed along all the more aggressively. She spun, and swirled, and allowed Xellos to lift her up and swing her around with the music. Before she was aware of what she was doing her feet were moving in a familiar tempo from back home, and Xellos was matching her. She twirled as he took her hands and wound her in and out of his arms in the rose pattern. She wondered where he had learned this dance, after all she knew it because it was from her homeland. It was probably the only dance she really knew, and that only because she'd been too terrified of Luna to refuse to learn. When this dance ended she was breathing as heavily as she had been last time, but for different reasons. The musicians now began another one of the stately court dances, and Lina nearly burst out laughing at the reproachful look Xellos sent their direction.

"Let's go back outside," she said beaming at him. She couldn't help but feel giddy after the dance, her blood was still pounding and she was sure she'd never had so much fun. Xellos smiled back at her, a different smile once more, this one was happy and full of genuine laughter. How many smiles do you have? she wondered.

"As you wish, Lina-chan." He smiled and offered her his arm, which she took without hesitation. Placing his hand on hers he led her towards the balcony on the other side of the ballroom. When they had been outside earlier, it was on the west balcony which overlooked the rose gardens. The balcony they were on now was to the east and overlooked the hedge maze. Lina shivered slightly as the cold penetrated the warmth she'd built up from the dance. In a movement so natural it felt they'd done it before, Xellos wrapped his hand around hers, freeing his arm and then draping it over her shoulders.

"Thank you," she said, and was slightly surprised to find she meant it. Lina had never been a touchy person before, yet tonight she welcomed the warmth Xellos was wrapping her in.