Wow, you guys certainly give reviews! I appreciate all of them, and so many too! ^_^
Since I got so many, it seems only right that I answer as many as I can. ^_^
I'm really happy that everyone found the last chapter to be so funny. The scary part is, a friend of mine read it and said, "It makes perfect sense to me" and then told me what each part stood for metaphorically. Cabbages=children, etc, that kind of thing. I was like "Hey, I never planned for it to make sense! You're a whacko!" ^o^
The old lady in the elevator was actually also in Crazy Elf Paladin's fanfic; he said I could borrow her. ^_^
Badgerwolf: what Iyzeka was doing . . . let's just say, it's what a lot of young women do these days with their boyfriends. ^_^
Shahrezad: Delays are okay! I love that you understand HOW Iyzeka is innocent. It's that exactly, where she doesn't know what is right or wrong when it comes to society. She knows that if something hurts someone it's wrong, but if it doesn't hurt anyone she gets confused. LOL. I like angsty guys too. Xellos and Filia will probably take quite some time before they realize subconsciously and consciously that it's alright for them to love each other. I, personally, enjoy watching them as they explore their inner selves and slowly stretch the boundaries they've lived with for so long, even if it does take a little while. ^_^
Neko-Metallium & Beast Master Zelas: Agreed, some things are worth the wait! Wasn't that a catsup commercial?
Icy Discordia: Your review actually had me thinking for a while, the part about them being practically human. I always remembered the scene where Goury spoke of Filia and Xellos and said "Well, they're only human" and Amelia said "No, they're not". But the irony is, Goury was right psychologically! While Xellos is a twisted example of a human being, both Xellos and Filia behave exactly as a human would or could. Thus the belief that it's not good and evil, but order and chaos.
Amber (Rykfiction): I will send you that beta! I promise! Anyway, thanks so much and, yes, the creativity can be a dilemma. I had to finally spend a lot of time BECOMING Xellos again. (as nuts as that sounds, it works) Damn, is he full of pain and twisted suffering! As to the fic, though, I feel like I have something personal invested into it and I refuse to do myself or the characters the injustice of never finishing it. ^_^ (hugs)
Mistress DragonFlame: I sleep . . . really! Sometimes . . . ^_^
Xeria Malstrum: It's only been a month, silly! ^_^ But the fact that it feels like three to you is a very sweet thing to say! True, realistic romance has always been one of the things I felt fanfiction was lacking. It's a pet peeve of mine if characters get together too soon.
As to everyone else who I didn't reply to, I still really appreciated your reviews! ^_^
Oh, and something you guys might find interesting: In my Slayers world, Xellos and Filia COULD have gotten together 700 years earlier, when the group was all still alive. What was the one variable that prevented it? Zelgadis disappeared and never returned. If he had come back . . . things would be very different.
Hong Kong, China
June 8th, 2002
The corridors of the opera house loomed around him; he felt so very small.
Kendar sighed as he followed Xellos and the dragon woman, his eyes guiltily straying to her as he considered what he had seen.
No matter how he tried to argue it, the slight man considered, he could not win. The emotions that Xellos had exuded, with no magic to guard them, could not be denied.
The Mazoku frowned and turned a corner with the couple. No . . . But how could it be?
How could Xellos, General and Priest, brilliant tactician and merciless killer . . . care? About anyone? He was Mazoku, and that itself should make it impossible . . .
The bright lights of the opera seemed to fade away into nothingness as Kendar once again became tangled within his own dark mind. Impossible . . .
Demons cannot love . . .
Was it possible that this man was NOT Xellos? No, Kendar would recognize him anywhere . . . the ravages of war, when the only one you could count on was your commander . . . He could never forget General Xellos . . .
Loyalty had never been a strong suit of the Mazoku, but Xellos had a strange way of making you loyal . . .
The demon shook his dark head, gray eyes hollow as he slumped to huddle on the ground once more; his blind gaze noticed nothing of the bustling theater around him.
General Xellos . . . He'd had an odd, fierce protectiveness of his troops, if only because every demon was needed against such great odds, for the dragons were many . . . oh so many . . .
And how could one not return that loyalty?
Shaking his head, Kendar slowly exhaled, his human form drained from the unusual feelings coursing through him. Was it possible, then?
Could . . . could I have felt . . . a GOOD emotion? Even back then? Loyalty was said to be an idea . . . I never had a reason to study emotions in others until I had Xellos as my commander, and saw how easily he could manipulate people by merely assessing their feelings and plying them into his hands.
He had become better at telling what non-Mazoku were emoting . . . but he had never looked back at his own sensations from the past until this moment . . .
Kendar knew that Xellos had not become as weak and defenseless as he was made out to be . . . but he also had to admit that the rumor-mill had caught onto something when they said the General-Priest was "cavorting with dragons". However, that same network of nasty, shadow lies had been cut short recently: the day Beastmaster Haramon's remains had been discovered.
So, what we have is an interesting web of things that do not compute, the demon mused, falling back on the childhood whimsy of logic and reason. A long time ago, he had learned just how useful such ridiculed concepts could be . . .
Xellos' signature was all over Haramon's astral taint . . . And there was practically nothing left to identify the dead Beastmaster by, barring the faint magical residue remaining. Xellos did a thorough job of killing him . . . he is no faint-hearted flower, no matter how much time he has spent pleasantly entertaining dragons.
But he has also displayed positive emotions . . . and he yet lives.
Forced to confront these obvious signs, Kendar's non-corporeal mind threatened to disintegrate into random electrons from the strain. Clutching his body's head, the demon winced. This means . . .
"We . . . CAN feel positive emotions . . ." His voice rasped as he pulled at his sienna hair, growling at the pain but welcoming it. "And we will not die . . . or become something else, such as a human, instead."
His whole world had been blown apart.
((()))
"I'm so sorry for my rudeness on the phone," the manager gushed, dark eyes darting from his impromptu guests to the other employees, then back again.
The tuxedoed Mazoku waved his hand as they were led along the lush corridors of the opera house, warm saffron lights reflecting off his companion's draping amber dress. Filia seemed notably distracted by the surroundings, her azure gaze taking in the gold-inlaid mirrors and the pine and oak furnishings.
The Asian man almost tripped over himself as they followed him up a winding, crimson-carpeted staircase. "I have to apologize for our state of disorder, we really should have been more prepared for such noble guests—"
"Thank you," Xellos rolled his eyes, "yes." Glancing to the blonde on his arm, he tugged on her hand slightly, bringing her gaze back to him as they passed the flourishing potted palms and brocaded tapestries of the second level. "Veria?" he asked, dipping his head to the dragoness.
"Sorry." She flushed and dropped her chin as they slowed before two long, deep ochre curtains.
"Here," the manager bowed low, hand over the breast of his tuxedo, "we have our best booth for you." He raised his other arm and pulled back the curtains, revealing a good-sized room bathed in golden light from the stage beyond and below it.
The demon led his date through the doorway, giving the man a dark smile as they walked by. "Thank you, this will do nicely."
"Is there," the manager asked nervously, "anything else we can do for you?"
Xellos broke into a grin and folded his arms across his black suit-coat. "Yes, actually . . . there is."
((()))
"Okay," Val poked the list in his hand with the pencil, "so, we need pliers, a hammer, lawn furniture, a bottle of—"
"KAAAAAHN!" Once again, she stood before the open doors, basking in the night air and screaming.
"Stop that!" Rising, the young dragon stomped over to the window and pulled Iyzeka away, closing the glass doors tight to block out the sounds of the howling dogs. "What is WITH you, anyway? Why do you keep doing that?"
The redhead slouched petulantly onto the leather couch and folded her arms. "It's fun! Mommy and I do it all the time."
Brows rising tiredly, Valgaav replied, "I bet. Anyway, we have work to do. Let's do an inventory of what we have."
With a nod, the demoness began to sort through the pile of junk on the coffee table. "Hmm . . . we have duct-tape, a screwdriver, some Cheetos, a broken lamp, a makeup kit, your mother's lingerie—"
"Um, we don't need that," the teen quickly added, looking away. "Can you . . . put that back where you got it?"
((()))
"You ordered . . . takeout?" Filia stared at him, mouth hanging open.
Shrugging from where he sat next to her, the Mazoku leaned back on the plush, satin-upholstered sofa and closed his purple eyes. "Why not? We're paying a hundred times the regular price for tickets here. They can afford to shower us with extra amenities."
She snorted and pursed her lips, but couldn't bring herself to be too angry. "Well, I guess I'm kind of hungry, too," the dragoness admitted, eyes straying to the wide theater spread out below them.
"Of course you are." He gave her a proud grin and cocked his violet head. "And it should be here any minute."
Shaking her head, Filia adjusted her copper dress and listened to the dim sounds of people meandering into the lower level; the well-dressed aristocrats laughed and chatted as they found their seats, the warm opera house lights twinkling upon the ladies' fine dresses.
"Poor Val," the dragoness finally said, though she felt as if she were forcing the thoughts past other, more solid concerns. "I can't believe you made that joke about the Doors concert." Flushing, she looked down. "He wants you to be his father, but you're not; a flippant joke like that might have hurt him."
Xellos opened his eyes to glance at her, his hand finding hers on the couch and grasping it. "He's tougher than that. Guys can take a lot of punishment. And anyhow, that was a small price to pay for humiliating us in front of all those people, I'm sure. But is that really what's concerning you?"
Frowning, Filia let the feeling of his fingers wrapped around her own calm her. "I . . . I'm not sure . . ."
She gazed out over the balcony again, and something between the looming darkness and the sparkling gowns seemed to gnaw at her . . .
. . . and Time will starve on your flesh . . .
The sharp memory overrode her senses, and she fell back on the sofa, cerulean eyes wide.
"Veria?"
That was it . . . the strange prophecy she had tried so hard to forget was rising to the surface of her mind, and now she found herself forced to fight the terror it inflicted on her.
—What's wrong, why are you suddenly so frightened?— Xellos demanded in her head, and a tiny sensation of darkness licked over her as the link was formed.
—Last night . . .—
Sighing, the demon nodded, hand tightening around hers as his violet eyes narrowed. —I had hoped the day would be distracting enough for you that you'd forget about it for a while.—
—I did forget . . . but I guess it came back.— She tried to smile up at him, but it came out ashen and weak. "I'm okay, really."
The purple-haired man gave her a disbelieving stare, brows raised, and began pulling her closer to him. Filia relented as he wrapped an arm around her back, settling into his embrace with a tired exhale. —Filia,— his gentle thoughts reached her, —please, tell me what you saw. If it's troubling you this much . . . I'm sure if you talked about it you'd feel better.—
She closed her eyes, breathing in the clean scent of him, and tried to banish the revelations from her memories; a tired frustration was all she could accomplish. —Okay— the dragoness finally relented, scrunching her eyes shut but unable to shake the disturbing recollection of that night. —I . . . was meditating. And . . . something in my mind spoke. As if it were me, but it wasn't.— Unable to stop herself, Filia's fingers crept under his suit-coat and around his back.
—Is it at all like the way we are speaking now?— Xellos asked, his hands slowly rubbing her shoulders up and down in soothing circles.
—No, it's not nearly as loud and obvious. It feels more as if I myself were thinking the thoughts . . . but I know they're not mine.—
—What did it tell you? I know it's frightening,— he quickly added, but Filia shook her head and buried her nose deeper into his tuxedo jacket.
—I have to tell you. It may be important.— Pausing, she winced and clutched his waist tightly. —It . . . it said . . . 'time' . . . it spoke of it oddly. And . . . then . . .— She had to stop to breathe, then realized that she would begin to hyperventilate if she didn't calm herself. Leisurely inhaling, the saffron-haired woman raised her head, eyes still closed. —Then it said . . . three times we would wait. And years for days and days for years . . . Then . . . this is the scary part . . .—
She felt him move one hand away and suddenly she could feel something brush her face. Opening her eyes, Filia blinked and smiled at his concerned amethyst gaze, his hand holding her head up. —It . . . said . . . "Time will starve on your . . . flesh" . . .— Unable to stop the instinctual fear that filled her, Filia looked away, trying to pull her chin from his fingers.
Xellos held her still, violet eyes staring into her own. "Veria," he murmured at the barest edge of hearing, "don't be afraid of this."
She bit back a whimper, his words taking all the tension from her body. When he dropped his hand, she collapsed against him, and he lifted her to sit against him, hugging her delicately as if she would shatter at his touch.
—I won't let anything happen to you . . . and I also think that your fear is preventing you from seeing what your prophecy is saying. I don't think it's bad at all.—
Though Filia had no clue as to what he meant, an odd tranquility settled over her, and she sat up to smile into his kind eyes. "Thanks."
"No problem," he whispered back, winking.
—You know . . . whenever we're linked, I can sense at least a little of your miasma,— she told him shyly.
—That's not bad, is it?—
—No.— The dragoness beamed and buried her head into his chest. —I miss feeling it all the time . . . I'll be very happy when we can remove the broaches.—
—So will I.— Cocking his head, he noted, "But, I think our food has arrived."
She turned at the sound of a knock on the wall, then the curtains slowly began to part, light from the hallway flowing across the floor. "Okay," the blonde nodded as the opera house staff began wheeling in a cart of food.
With a contented sigh, Filia's gaze became unfocused as she looked out onto the stately red curtains swathed across the opera stage. So . . . then I DID have a prophesy, she mused. If Xellos says that it will be alright, then I know it will. I'm not sure how or why . . . but he'll make it right. No matter what it takes.
((()))
"AHHHHHHHH!"
Val raised his head from the couch to glare at the maroon-haired demoness. "What?!"
"Zombies, zombies!"
Rolling his eyes, he lay back again and picked up his book, absorbing the words in the warm light of the table lamp. "It's just a game."
Fearfully, Iyzeka returned to the television, game console gripped in her tiny hands. "They're everywhere. This game is scary," she moaned, green eyes wide with terror. "Um, where should I go now?"
"I donno', where are you?"
"AHH! Run, run . . . faster! No, don't go over there!"
"I told you that you should have played as the guy first. He has better weapons."
"They're EATING ME!!"
((()))
"Zander, you know Chinese. What are they saying?"
"Hmmm . . . 'blah-blah-blah-love, blah-blah-blah-death, blah-blah-blah-alien stole my baby—"
Filia glared at her companion and leaned back against him on the couch. "I mean it!"
"Well," the Mazoku took another bite from the plate of food in his hand, "you could always look at that little television over there in the corner," he pointed to the side of the booth with his fork. "It translates the opera, don't'cha know," he added with a smirk.
Raising her head to give him another harsh look, the fair-haired woman folded her arms across her shimmering dress and looked away again, resting her overflowing curls against his shoulder. "Fine, be that way."
"You want some cake?"
"No," she harrumphed, azure eyes narrowed at the surrounding darkness lit only by the stage and a nearby lamp. "I'm trying to watch my figure."
"Hmm . . . that's okay, " his voice dropped to a low sultry tone behind her, "I'll watch it for you, if you want."
Xellos laughed as the dragoness groaned, then shook her head. "You're incorrigible."
As if taking his cue, he added, "And you can encourage me as often as you like."
Beneath the Ocean
June 6th, 2002
Kendar quaked as he stepped into the dank audience chamber, the walls swelling and falling as if the very room breathed. "You requested me, Your Highness."
Upon the dais, his king sat against one moss-covered pillar, eyes hollow. "Kendar . . . you must have discovered something by now. I know you've spent a great deal of time . . . in China."
In the shadows and stillness, liquid dripped and plopped. "Yes, sir. I . . . I did find something." Oh, Mother of All, please give me something to tell him . . . The brown-haired Mazoku fell to his knees, begging inside his mind as his slate eyes widened fearfully.
"Very well . . . what have you found?" Telgaln's voice trailed off with disturbing serenity.
Grasping onto composure, the slight demon fought for words. Something, something . . . A dim memory brushed his thoughts, a memory of sound, of a commanding voice . . .
"When you mustn't lie . . . find a different truth to tell."
Thank you, Xellos . . .
Raising his head slightly, Kendar opened his mouth. "I have found a man who looks, sounds and acts as Xellos, Lord, and has occasionally shown unusual behavior around his wife. However, he and his companions do not seem to be searching for anything at all, just enjoying themselves as tourists."
With a snarl, Telgaln pulled his lanky body from the slimy floor and began pacing again. "Then you'd better make sure. All other leads have fallen through . . ." the dark man stomped as he turned to walk the length of the dais, "any oddities have explanations; drugs, infidelity, etcetera, etcetera . . . What are THIS man's reasons?" he turned to glare at his servant, "What is this strangeness, Kendar?"
"Um," the demon stuttered, "he is too passionate for the length of their joining. Ten years and he still seems to want her as if they were newly wed. He also seems guilty for some things that he does, that other men would take for granted, and their right."
Nodding, Telgaln raised an ashen hand to his chin, ebony eyes narrowing in thought. "That does sound quite promising. If it were Xellos and his companion, my sources have no proof that the two have been intimate, and much proof against it. How many children are there?"
"Two, Sire."
"Yes, they would need at least one. Male?"
"Yes." Damnation . . .
With a grin, the crazed glint returned to his empty eyes. "Perfect. If it IS Xellos, the other child will be another Mazoku under Zelas' charge. And you say that he looks like Xellos? Does the wife look pale and flaxen as a wretched Beast?"
"Aye . . ." Kendar breathed slowly as the murk soaked into his skin, not knowing that luck touched him; his agony and fear for Xellos and his Lady tasted no different than his own fear for his life.
"Then watch them further. At the first sign of them searching for anything at all, find what they are after first, and call for me. They WILL go for it, and then we will be there."
((()))
"Xellos?" Filia whispered very softly, his arms around her. "Xellos?"
She lay on the edge of the couch, spoon-style with him behind her. Long before, he had put aside his food, and they had slowly melted together as the opera had progressed.
"Xellos?"
Turning, the blonde rolled her eyes as the dim blue and yellow light fell across his pallid features, revealing his slumbering form. Shaking her head slightly, Filia returned to lying against him, slipping her shoes off to snuggle her toes under his calves. "Hmm . . . this is nice . . ."
In response, he moved a bit, one hand shifting to wrap around her stomach. With a smile, the fair dragoness sighed and relaxed, her back warm on his chest, and listened to the soprano's voice trill and dip as she sang of her one true love.
((()))
"Wow, you're really good at this," Iyzeka purred as she leaned over Val's shoulder.
"Thanks. I've already beaten it a few times, so it's no big deal." With a bored sigh, the Ancient dragon tapped the buttons, and another group of zombies fell to the digitized woman on the screen.
The redhead blinked at the television, shaking her head. "I can't believe you can kill them with only the knife. That's amazing."
Valgaav gave a half-shrug and leaned back against the coffee table, messy teal spikes brushing the surface as he stretched. "I've had time to get better . . ." —And it's a game made for humans, don't forget. I have faster reflexes and I'm more intelligent.—
—True.— The tiny demoness settled in next to him as he raised his head and returned to directing the character on the screen. —By the way, I'm curious as to where you think we should look next for the stone.—
Humming, Val narrowed his eyes and seemed to concentrate on the game. —I'm not sure anymore. We checked all the museums, antique shops, and even some of the more affluent businesses. I felt that we should stay in the city, but we've exhausted all the options I could come up with. Where else could it be?—
—Well,— Iyzeka considered, —let's look at it logically.—
—You, use logic?— mocked Val with a smirk, golden gaze locked on the television. —Just kidding, okay, what's your idea.—
She rolled her eyes slightly, then leaned against his shoulder. —In the meeting and elsewhere as well, Mistress Zelas said that you found the first stone fragment in a tomb that held a lot of magical power for an ancient location.—
—True . . . however, I could only sense the power of the tomb when I entered the room itself, and I couldn't even sense the stone. Xellos is the one who found it, and only because his senses were heightened by Mom getting really upset at him.—
—If that's the case, though,— Iyzeka rubbed her cheek against his shoulder affectionately, —then wouldn't it be smarter to look for the sites of strong magical power instead of looking for the stone?—
Valgaav set down the controls, a tired look on his face, then he smiled. "How about some ice-cream?" he asked.
"Sure!" She hopped up and followed him, offering,
—Yes,— came his dour reply to her sent thought as he stood up and began padding towards the kitchen. —That's what Xellos was planning. But I find that I'm unable to sense sites of power unless I'm actually standing in one.— The dragon turned on the kitchen lights and opened the freezer, frowning at the bare, icy shelves within.
"No ice-cream?" whimpered the pixie at his side, viridian eyes sorrowful. —So then, if you can't sense it, why not use a method of predicting where sites of power might be? Isn't there a Chinese discipline that does that?—
His mouth opened and he blinked. "Maybe room-service has some." —You're right, I must be so dense to have not thought of it! So, what we need is a Feng Shui specialist to find us the sites with the most "chi", as the Chinese call it.— Grabbing the phone, the t-shirt clad teen pressed the zero and waited, mouth turning down as he pressed the receiver to his ear. "Yeah, could we have some room service for room four-oh-five? Yes. Do you have any ice cream?"
Iyzeka began to dance around the kitchen, hands waving in the air as her feet thumped on the floor. "ICE CREAM! ICE CREAM!!"
"YES!" Val spoke over her clamor, "DO YOU HAVE A LOT?"
"ICE CREAM!"
((()))
"So," Xellos asked as they strolled down the third story corridor towards their suite, "are you serious about that whole philanthropic escapade of yours you were talking about yesterday?" I hope that Val's feelings of impending doom are over, otherwise she's gonna force us into going against his premonition. But it would be out of character for my 'wife' to change her mind.
The blonde narrowed her azure eyes and pulled herself up tall, crossing her arms over her copper gown, her ringlets of curls tossing. "Yes, I was. Do you have a problem with that?"
Sighing heavily, the tuxedoed demon growled, "Dammit. No, I guess not. You do know you're driving me crazy, don't you?" he added, brows rising over an unimpressed expression.
Filia beamed and slung her purse over her shoulder, gait becoming more buoyant as pride lifted her chin. "What goes around comes around, after all. It's only fair." She laughed as the violet-haired man pouted back.
"You're so mean," he grumbled, stopping before suite 405 to fumble in his trousers for the key. "Next you'll make me go to baby showers."
"Good idea!"
"Dammit." With a melodramatic sigh, Xellos unlocked the door and swung it open. The Mazoku stepped through the doorway, then stopped still at what he saw, his shocked companion gasping behind him.
"OH MY GOD!"
"Eeep!" Straddling Valgaav's lifeless form on the carpeting, a shirtless Iyzeka gazed fearfully behind her at the two adults in the doorway. "Um . . ."
Xellos strode forward, eyes narrowing as a slow anger beginning to burn in him. "Iyzeka, didn't I ALREADY have a TALK with you two ABOUT THIS?!"
The demoness' emerald eyes widened in terror as she backpedaled off of her dazed companion, back hitting the television stand. "Y-yes!"
With a growl, the man glanced back at his date, her large azure eyes already filling with tears. Returning to Iyzeka, he spat angrily at the teen, "WHAT did you think you were doing?!"
Behind him, Filia dropped to her knees, sobbing, "My poor baby's been molested again!" Her curls bobbed as her body shook in the weeping.
Mouth gaping, the petite redhead covered her bra-clad chest with her hands and attempted, "I-I was just pretending to be a zombie!"
"And WHAT," Xellos put his fists on his slender hips as he stood over the girl, "does that entail?"
In a tiny voice, she answered, ". . . eating him."
Thunk. The amethyst-haired demon slowly dragged himself up off the floor and began to dust off his tuxedo. "ExCUSE me?" he weakly asked, head aching.
Silence greeted him, and Xellos turned to find Filia passed out on the gray carpeting. "Wonderful. So, Iyzeka?"
Tears began pouring from the girl's eyes as she began to plead loudly, "PLEASE DON'T KILL ME AND TURN ME INTO ONE OF THE WALKING UNDEAD CURSED TO WANDER THE EARTH INFECTING DOGS AND BIRDS AND PEOPLE AND EATING FLESH—"
"Hey!" Xellos held up his hands. "Okay, listen, I'm not going to turn you into a zombie, kill you, o send your soul into eternal torment. I'll even make you a deal and never force you to watch 'Waiting to Exhale'."
"But I like that movie," Iyzeka mournfully added.
Rolling his violet eyes, the Greater Beastmaster took a deep breath and let it out. "Okay. Whatever. The POINT is, you should know better about this." His lips pursed as he folded his arms across his chest. "'Eating him'. Good God."
She fidgeted under his angry glare, then blinked as the blonde woman on the floor began to stir. "Oh, Missus Mettler . . ."
With another sigh, Xellos pivoted in place and briskly returned to Filia's side. Exhaling slowly, he knelt beside her and shook her shoulders. "Okay, Veria. Time to wake up."
The dragoness squinted and blinked, then took his hands, slowly rising. "Oh, no!" she said as she spotted her son on the floor. "My Val! What have you done to him?!"
Shaking his head, the priest led the fair-haired woman over to the couch and sat her down, her copper dress hanging oddly from her shoulders. Before her, her son lay dazed, eyes wide open and unseeing, the pixie-girl huddled next to him.
"Well," Xellos mused, cat-eyes scanning the lanky boy, "he doesn't seem to be missing any clothing . . . yet." His gaze raked over the demoness, who cowered further. "Yep, he's still a virgin."
"WHAT?" Filia glared up at him and wiped her reddened eyes. "How can you tell? ANYTHING could have happened!"
"Hmm . . ." Leaning over Valgaav, the Mazoku waved his hand in the dragon's face; the golden eyes were unresponsive. "From how stunned he is, of course! I know Val, and he'd never do more than kiss a girl unless they were engaged to be wed. This thing must have really floored him . . . literally. I think he's still in shock."
Xellos' long purple locks brushed against Val's face as the demon peered at him. With a jolt, the boy on the floor blinked and shook his head. "Wha . . . what happened?"
"Yep," the 'business man' nodded and straightened, "still a virgin."
"Huh?"
Tisking, the demon answered, "you had a little more excitement than usual. As for you," he turned his cold amethyst eyes upon the curled-up and shivering redhead, "go to your room. YOUR room. Not his."
Iyzeka nodded and shot up fast, grabbing her shirt. "Yes, sir!" She turned and ran to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
With a groan, Xellos sat down on the sofa next to his saffron-haired 'wife'. "I wonder," he sighed, "if I can lock her into her room . . ."
