Author's notes: I bet you weren't expecting another chapter up so soon! I know I sure wasn't, but I stayed up until midnight last night writing this one. Sorry, but it seems like my inspiration boost is starting to dissolve. I'll keep writing, but things might start to slow down a little from here on out.

What's on the Inside

Milgazia wasn't quite sure why he had helped his long hated enemy, but as he watched Xellos continuously toy with the clock he had taken off the wall, the golden dragon felt something that no monster could ever feel. It was pity. He knew Xellos' future now was as unclear as the waters of the Demon's Sea.

His acquaintance, Filia, appeared shaken by the recent turn of events. She had never shown any fear towards the Beast Master, yet she was afraid. He recognized this, though her fear stemmed more from concern and confusion than actual fright.

"Is he going to be ok now?" she asked in a soft whisper.

"The truth is, I'm not sure if he will ever be ok," Milgazia replied truthfully.

Xellos looked up from the clock, smiling his normal closed-eye happy smile. He had heard them both dragons realized.

"Well, I'm not Deep," the monster said setting the clock down on the table. He felt the pain inside him beginning to stir. No. He must not think about those things.

"Deep?" Filia questioned glancing at Milgazia who was beginning to get a little restless. He had never been away from the valley for such a long period of time before. He wanted to return, but he couldn't let Filia remain here by herself with the Beast Master.

Filia noticed this and she rested her hand on his shoulder in a reassuring gesture.

"You should return to the valley elder. I'll be fine here."

After a bit of hesitation he started for the door. "Very well," he said. "But if anything happens, don't be afraid to seek me out."

Filia went to the door and watched Milgazia slowly make his way down a trail that led away from the town. When he was out of sight, he transformed into his golden dragon form and took to the air. He soon became nothing more than a golden speck against the clear blue sky.

Xellos stood watching the fading Milgazia from behind her. When she turned around however, she was startled to find him so close and took a step back. What was she thinking being left alone with a crazy monster?

"He's gone…" Xellos whimpered as another pang struck him. He gasped and clutched his chest tightly. "Filia…"

The golden dragon guided him back inside and sat him down on her sofa. He drew closer to himself and stared intently down at the floor, trying to block everything out. It couldn't hurt if it was nothing…

Filia returned to the kitchen and began boiling another pot of tea. She was worried. If Xellos had another attack, she wasn't sure if she'd be able to help him or not. Her eyes wandered back to Valgarv's egg that was still resting peacefully by the window. The sunlight was falling on it. She reached out and touched it lightly. It was warm.

Before she met Valgarv, everything had been so much simpler…

The kettle let out a piercing whistle, and Xellos screamed in agony from the other room. Filia quickly removed the kettle from the stove before hurrying to the monster's side. He was gripping his head, with his eyes squeezed shut, and screaming over an over. Had the whistle made him react like this?

"Xellos," she said softly, reaching for one of his arms. He drew back from her. His eyes snapped open and he managed to choke down another tortured scream.

"F-Filia…" he stammered. "It hurts… Make it stop… Please…"

What could she do? Filia's eyes searched the room hoping to find the answer, and suddenly it came to her. She dashed back into the kitchen and grabbed the clock off the table. It was funny how the clock seemed to have a calming affect on him. She brought it back into the room and held it in front of him. His eyes lit up and he reached out and took it.

"Oh," he said as he watched the hand on the clock tick by. "There's still time."

"Do you want some tea Xellos?" Filia asked still sounding a little unnerved.

"No… no tea," he replied as he turned his head in the direction of the kitchen. "It stopped…. was it me?"

"Don't even think about that!" Filia snapped at him, and he flinched. All of this day's stress was beginning to get to her. She calmly reminded herself to be more patient with Xellos as she went back to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea.

When she returned to the room, Xellos was standing by the sofa. The clock was still in his hand, but he wasn't watching it anymore. He was watching her.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked. There was a hurt in his voice that Filia couldn't ignore.

"Of course not," she answered.

She couldn't help noticing the way he was standing. It looked as though he was being weighed down by an unbearable force. She took a sip some the tea cup she held in her hands. Should he be up after that ordeal? She had to wonder…

Going to her shop tomorrow to check on things was probably out of the question. She had left Grabos in charge so she could visit with Milgazia, but now she had to keep an eye on Xellos. Even if she could slip away for a few moments, she would be worrying about him the whole time.

When did she start feeling responsible for him?

"Why don't you lie down for a bit?" Filia suggested.

The clock slipped from his hand and crashed against the floor. His eyes widened and he backed away from her until he had pressed himself against the wall. He could feel it already as the memories began to tear into him.

"No!" he cried hugging himself tightly. "Not again…"

He had already had an overdose of pain that day… and taking anymore was insufferable. When it struck him, his legs gave out and he fell forwards. He closed his eyes, dreading the shock of when his body hit the ground.

Filia reacted without thinking. She dropped her tea and moved to catch him. He fell into her arms and knocked her off balance. She ended up on the floor with Xellos lying limply in her embrace.

At first she though he had fainted. He was so still. When he began to whimper in pain however she knew he was awake. She wanted to comfort him, but she wasn't sure how.

"I broke the clock…" he said weakly.

"Yes, I know," Filia replied in a gentle voice.

"You… aren't going to hurt me…?"

She looked down at him with a startled expression on her face. Where did he get that idea from? She thought about it and remembered she was still carrying a very heavy and potentially dangerous mace on her... but Xellos was a monster. Nothing physical could actually hurt him… could it?

After the battle with Dark Star, everyone had lost contact with each other. Before they parted ways however, Filia remembered noticing that Xellos seemed a little agitated. Before she could question him however, he vanished. She had always assumed he had left to wreak havoc somewhere else.

"How did this happen to you…?" she asked herself.

Xellos cringed and cried out as his being was torn away at by something Filia couldn't see nor comprehend. All she could do was hold on to him and wait for whatever was tormenting him to stop.

"You're trying to steal my secrets!" he wailed. "I can't… I can't…"

More notes: Ahh! I killed the clock in this one! I was tempted to call this chapter 'Good Bye Clock-san,' but I decided against it in the end. T-T Sorry Clock-san, the Slayer's world just wasn't big enough for you I suppose… Anyway, thanks for the reviews! I love them always.