As usual, I don't own anything. I'm just a fan writing some fiction. Please enjoy!

58- To Love or Be Wise

"Enrique? I need to ask a favour of you."

Enrique had been busy babysitting with Zara and Amelia, but Pestis had abruptly pulled him out of the room and across the hallway. Enrique had no time to protest or question the situation- he could only go along with it.

"What are you talking about?" he asked hesitantly as Pestis pulled him into a small alcove near a window. The hallway was completely deserted at this time of day, but Pestis still looked hesitant to speak loudly.

"Listen…" Pestis continued, his voice dropping down to a whisper. "Azarel is in Seyruun City, but you can't tell anyone else."

"Huh? Why? How'd you figure that out?"

"Filia and I tracked Azarel just now and got the coordinates. We think it's likely that Azarel is behind the magical beast attack, but since we can't identify a motive, we want to be absolutely sure before telling the others."

"Wh-what do you want me to do about it?" Enrique stammered. "You know that Azarel and I aren't… well, we don't see eye-to-eye."

"I'm not asking you to speak to Azarel. What I want to know is what Xellos knows about this situation. I thought that you could somehow get in contact with Lorelei-"

"Lorelei? That's what this is about?" Enrique stiffened. "I don't know how to get up with her. She comes and goes when it's convenient for her."

"Surely there must be some way. If the magical beast attack was something of Azarel's doing, Beastmaster's subordinates are probably going to take notice. And, if it was something of Beastmaster's doing, then her subordinates will likely be surveying the extent of the damage. You have to act quickly."

"Why me? Why not get Zara to talk to her?" Enrique pouted. "He's her boyfriend, after all."

"Has he said that recently?"

"Not him. But if he hasn't talked to her in a long time, she probably still thinks that."

Pestis raised an eyebrow. "Which would perfectly explain why she's been flirting with you, right?"

"W-well…!" Enrique bristled at the professor's words, mostly because he couldn't argue with them.

"What are you so upset about? Are you afraid that your feelings about her are conflicting with your love for Zara? Or are you mad at her for leading you on when she's already in another relationship?"

"I don't know."

Pestis sighed. "Well, before you're able to question Lorelei, you'll have to get over this relationship issue. Come to think of it, she's a song sparrow- or was, at one time, wasn't she?"

"Huh?"

"I remember Xellos telling me about her… about this sparrow that he rescued- er, killed, really."

"Killed?"

"Well, that's how you turn a mortal creature into a Mazoku. A true Mazoku can't have a physical body like a mortal creature does." Pestis shrugged.

"That's harsh." Enrique cringed. "Does she know that she's dead?"

"She's not dead. Her spirit is very much alive. It just isn't in the same form it was." Professor Nisery continued. "But Mazoku created from mortal creatures still retain some habits of their previous lives. Likewise, I've read somewhere that up to twenty-percent of song sparrows will take multiple mates during a single breeding season. Maybe she's interested in both of you."

"…that… doesn't make any sense."

"That would solve your problem, wouldn't it? You could be with her and Zara."

"Zara already told me that he doesn't want to bother with romance-y stuff until he's older and understands it better." Enrique defended. "I can't drag him into this! No matter how I may feel about him, he's my friend first, and so I respect his decisions."

That quieted the professor for a few seconds. "Yes, of course…" he murmured. "…then you could just get together with Lorelei, no problem."

"It's not like that! I mean, I like her, but not like-"

Pestis smiled and tapped on Enrique's head playfully. "Enrique and Lorelei, sitting in a tree- oh, dear, that just doesn't flow well at all-"

"Stop it!"

"Wait, wait, I have, like, five more of these. If you like her so much, why don't you marry her? Yeah, see? That's one's a little more… uh-"

Enrique's nose wrinkled in disgust. "If you like Miss Filia so much, why don't you marry her?"

Pestis stopped. "…Filia? Why her?"

"W-well, you've been spending a lot of time together… you seem to like each other a lot, so…"

The professor waved his hands a few times. "I guess that makes sense, but really-"

"Pestis and Filia together? Now that's an idea…"

Both Pestis and Enrique jumped. They hadn't heard anyone approach them, so a voice speaking out was unexpected. Enrique turned to face her.

"M-Miss Lina! How much of that conversation did you hear?"

"Just a little bit." Lina shrugged, pausing briefly before continuing. "Azarel is in the city."

"That was the whole thing!"

Pestis quickly slapped a hand over Enrique's mouth. "What? Where'd you hear something silly like that? Surely it wasn't from me- I wouldn't ever say any such thing, no ma'am. Not me. Maybe you're mistaken, 'cause I certainly didn't-"

"Gourry and I met with Azarel today while doing recovery work."

Pestis' mouth hung open, and he dropped his hand from Enrique's mouth. The boy squirmed out of his grip and moved to stand against one of the walls.

"What happened?" Pestis breathed.

"Gourry happened to see Azarel surveying the damage. He confronted them, and Azarel admitted to causing the magical beast attack in order to get your attention."

"M-my attention?!" Pestis stammered. "There are plenty of other ways to get my attention! Why would Azarel need to destroy all these buildings?"

"Who knows?" Lina shrugged. "It was clear that Azarel wanted to see you and wouldn't take no for an answer, so we agreed to send you out there at dusk."

"Don't sign me up for things like that!" The professor yelled with his eyes closed. He then opened them, calming slightly. "But I will go. I need to know why Azarel would do this. It couldn't have been just to get my attention. There's another secret agenda here."

"Right. Which is why I was thinking…" Lina moved over and slipped her arm around his shoulder. "…what's this about you and Filia together?"

"Nothing at all. Enrique was just teasing me." Pestis replied firmly. "Weren't you, Enri- hey, where'd he go?"

The boy had disappeared, likely eager to get away from the discussion. Lina didn't mind, though it took Pestis a minute to accept that his subordinate had ducked out.

"I was just thinking that it might be a pretty good idea." Lina continued, grabbing Pestis' head and turning it back around so that he could look her in the eye.

"Now look- Filia and I have a very good friendship, and I want it to stay that way."

"You wouldn't have to get married, or anything." Lina explained. "But I thought maybe a fake relationship would be a great way to get the attention of certain… villainous types."

There was a pause. Professor Nisery blinked a few times and squinted at Lina as if he were trying to better understand what she was saying. "…a fake relationship? You're suggesting that I pretend to be with Filia? Xellos would killme!"

"Xellos knows how to pick his battles. He'd be sooner to confront you about the whole deal diplomatically rather than through fighting. You know that."

"But…"

"And it would grab Azarel's attention too."

Pestis shook his head. "When I got married- a long time ago- Azarel wanted nothing to do with it. Maybe-"

"So you think this is a bad idea?" Lina took a step back. "Sorry, sorry. It came to my mind all of a sudden when Enrique said that, and I just sort of went with it-"

"No… you might… have a point."

"I'm afraid I'm not following this train of thought." Filia shook her head in disbelief. "Why would we be trying to make Xellos jealous? Romantic rivalry seems like the last thing we want right now."

"I personally think Xellos needs to be taught a lesson." Pestis insisted. "A woman like you is a treasure, and he has not been treating you as such lately."

"I was thinking it would give us some leverage- plus it would likely bring everyone together." Lina explained. "Xellos and Azarel are both working independently on something large-scale, and we can't waste our time and energy trying to hunt them both down at once. Azarel wants Pestis' attention, that much is clear. If Pestis is preoccupied with a love affair, Azarel will have to do something about it."

"You mean, like burning down the whole city instead of just part of it?"

"Be quiet, Gourry."

Gourry did as he was told, turning around sullenly in his chair. He had Luke with him and had been trying to lull the baby to sleep when Lina had burst in with Filia and Pestis and declared that she had a perfect plan. He had a bad feeling about this whole deal, but he knew that when Lina got her mind fixed upon something, there was no stopping her…

"What we'll have to do is make it convincing. You guys can't let anyone else know that this is fake."

"Like… anyone else?" Filia gasped. "You're asking us to lie to the others? To Zelgadis and Amelia and Shizuri and…"

"It's not really lying as much as it is…" Lina's voice trailed off as she fought to find the right word. "…acting. You're a good actress, aren't you, Filia?"

Pestis raised his hand. "Lina, may I… have permission to tell just one person?"

"Who?"

"Zelgadis."

"Why?"

"I don't want him to think I've given up on him and am chasing someone else." he answered with a completely straight face.

"Why?" Lina repeated.

"Because I made a promise to be honest with him, and I don't want to go back on my word." Pestis answered again with the same seriousness.

"…fair enough. Zel can keep a secret, at least."

"Hey! Then I should get to tell someone too!" Filia demanded.

Lina groaned. "Are we forgetting the meaning of the word secret?"

"How exactly are we going to get the word out about this? It's not the sort of thing people advertise." Gourry spoke up. "I guess Mister Nisery can slip something about it in his conversation with Azarel tonight, but Xellos-"

"Xellos has spies. It won't be long before he hears about it through his assistant." Pestis offered. "I was actually speaking with Enrique earlier about the possibility that he might question Xellos' assistant next time he sees her. We could count on Enrique to spread the word."

"We should formally invite Xellos to the wedding." Lina's eyes took on a mischievous glint. "Wouldn't that just fly in his face?"

"I'm up for anything that'll bother Xellos." Gourry volunteered. "…er, sorry, Filia."

"Don't apologize. I'd like to teach him a thing or two." Filia replied. She closed her eyes. "I can't stand that bastard sometimes… he's so conceited, it gets predictable at times. He's not even that funny or good-looking."

"Then let's do teach him a lesson." Pestis jumped up from his seat and approached Filia. He reached out for her hand and dramatically dropped to one knee. She gasped, but couldn't hide a little smile. "Filia Ul Copt," he began slowly, "for the short time I have known you, I've been constantly impressed by your strength and your courage. You are a marvellous woman, and encompass all the values to which I aspire. Will you do me the honour of pretending to be my girlfriend so that we can unravel this evil Mazoku plot which currently threatens the balance of the world?"

Filia looked like she was about to burst into laughter. She covered her mouth as she spoke. "P-Professor… of course."

"BRILLIANT!" Pestis jumped up and clapped his hands. "This is going to be fun!"

Lina suddenly realized it was too late for second thoughts. She glanced over at Gourry, whose eyes read 'I told you this was a bad idea.'

She wondered if maybe she should listen to her husband more often.

"Lina, how exactly did I get roped into this again?" Amelia whispered as softly as she could, so that the professor who was walking at least ten steps in front of them couldn't hear. "Zelgadis told me you needed me, but he didn't say for what."

"I need you because I want to keep an eye on Azarel. I don't trust them and I don't trust Pestis with them. I volunteered myself and Gourry earlier, but he didn't want to come. You were my next choice."

"I'm… honoured… in a way." Amelia stammered. "But why me?"

"Because you're the princess of Seyruun. Azarel needs to answer to you."

"I don't like it." Amelia sighed. "But I guess I have little choice. We just need to-"

"AZAREL!"

Pestis' voice echoed around the empty streets as he ran up to the cloaked figure. He grabbed hold of their shoulders, shaking them back and forth.

"What the hell were you thinking? Causing all this damage to get my attention? Why didn't you write a letter? Some kind of correspondence? There are peaceful ways to resolve this-"

"I didn't MEAN for all this to happen!" Azarel lashed out, tossing the professor back. Pestis fell onto the ground but immediately picked himself up, brushing his pants off. Azarel continued yelling. "It's not my fault if my little heat beast did exponentially more damage than intended! It's all because somebody put a high-level barrier around it!"

Pestis blinked a few times in confusion.

"Y-you… didn't put up the barrier?"