Well, well, well! What have we here? Light footfall echoed in the small cavern as a visitor entered, taking in the sight before him. He tapped his chin lightly, grinning like the Cheshire cat. I smell blackmail! Oh yes, yes indeed! He produced a Polaroid camera from his cape and snapped away like crazy, holding back wicked giggles of delight. I doubt very seriously dear Amelia-chan will take this too well! Hmm...shall prove entertaining at the very least. Oh, I can almost taste the aggravation! Xelloss moved a bit closer for a headshot, then slipped off into the shadows when the two sleeping forms moved. Hmm, shall I wake them? I think I shall. The mazoku picked up a large rock shard, and aiming it just above Zelgadiss' head, let if fly with deadly precision.

Zelgadiss jerked up with a shout as the shard busted over his head, against the cavern wall. "Oi! Who's there?" He called out into the seemingly empty grotto.

Lina rubbed her head gingerly as a bruise formed on her forehead. "Zelgadiss! Don't do that without warning me first!"

The chimera sighed. "Sorry Lina, I was asleep...thought someone was here though. Put me on my guard." He embraced her and muttered another apology.

Lina relaxed, with a ridiculous smile plastered across her face. "I figured that much, so I'll forgive you." She planted a few light kisses along his neck.

Xelloss, who had diminished into the darkest corner, began to fight nausea. No, I'm not seeing this, it's worse than I thought. And here I was, just thinking it a good joke to play around with, when they are actually an item! I could solve that problem, in time. But I can still use this to my advantage. Though I'm not surprised at all. Lina chooses intelligence over appearance. Clever girl... He folded his arms behind him while he waited for the best time to interfere.

Oblivious to the fact they had company, the two continued on as if the world had stopped turning only for them. For the first time, Zelgadiss didn't blush, but only let out a short laugh. "Hey, that tickles..."

Lina smirked. "You're ticklish, Zel?"

"Well, yes but-" He stopped himself, too late to see the mischievous glint in Lina's eyes.

"Oh really, well that only means one thing! Prepare thyself for the tickle monster!" She laughed as Zelgadiss took her hands tightly in his and struggled backwards.

"Lina, I'm still injured you know, and so are you!" He gasped while she continued to laugh. He fell over backwards and curled into a fetal position, blocking of any attempts for Lina to tickle his middle.

Lina sat back and folded her arms in a pout, wincing slightly from the pain in her chest. "You wet blanket! Laughter is the best medicine don't you know?" She grinned. "I guess I got a bit carried away, though. We'll continue this little game later."

"Ah!" The sound of vigorous applauding caused Lina and Zel to jump in their skin. "Good show, good show! Very entertaining, yes?"

That voice! Lina's skin crawled. "Xelloss! Come out where we can see you!"

The priest emerged from the shadows with his pleasant smile and relaxed air. "You remembered me Lina? How thoughtful of you!"

"How long have you been here, pervert!" Zelgadiss snarled at the mazoku priest, sword drawn and eyes flashing.

"Tisk, tisk, rock boy! Are you planning on doing away with your only ticket out of this delightful little mess you have landed yourselves into, hmmm?" He shook a taunting finger at the irked chimera. "Besides, what would you and Lina-san possibly have to hide?"

Lina walked up to him and flicked him on the nose. "You're treading on thin ice Xelloss!"

He grinned right back. "I already have!" He chuckled at her perplexed look, over his own inside joke. He took her by the hand and dragged her outside with him into the early morning light. "You are ready to go, are you not?"

"Go?" Lina sputtered. "Of course, baka! We've been here much too long as it is! Come on Zelgadiss, let's get the hell out of here!" She motioned for her friend to join them.

Zelgadiss approached slowly, sword now sheathed, but still regarding Xelloss with hidden malice.

"Why, Zelgadiss!" Xelloss exclaimed with sickening sweetness. "I do believe you've changed some since I last had a look at you!" He grinned as he felt the tidal-wave of negative emotions gushing from the angered chimera. To make matters worse, Xelloss reached out and pinched his cheek. "Don't we just look precious!"

Lina meanwhile had fallen over backwards in disbelief. "X-Xelloss? Have you been out in the heat too long?"

Zelgadiss froze for a minute, in stunned silence. Even he didn't expect that from the kooky priest. Regaining his composure, he batted the mazoku's hand away.

Xelloss stepped back and laughed, shaking his hand slightly. "Oi, Zelgadiss-san, you seem to be loosing your touch. What's wrong, boy? Gone soft?" He let out a cackle. "Oh shut your stupid trap, moron!" Lina snapped as she rose. "For your information, he seems to be loosing his chimera body!" Her voice went dead as she saw Zelgadiss exasperatingly waving his hands and shaking his head at her. Hmm? He didn't want me to say that? Oh well.

"Is that so? Well, then I suppose it would hurt far much worse if I did this?!" He whipped out his staff and quicker than Zelgadiss could react, sent a hard, body-braking, blow to his middle, then came down on his back, even harder than the first stroke. Zelgadiss all but cried out, and stood, half bent and trembling violently for a moment, then collapsed in a shivering pile onto the sand before Xelloss' hovering form.

Lina's knees almost gave in, eyes wide in fear and anger, so that she could barely keep her thoughts straight. "Xelloss! You disgusting, fifthly, pile of shi-"

The mazoku put a gloved finger over her. "No, no, Lina. Ladies shouldn't cuss."

In an instant, Lina's arms snaked out and she grabbed Xelloss by the wrists and swung him viscously over her head and onto his back where she put him in one of her famous headlocks.

Xelloss' voice squeaked out. "I was-only-helping the guy-"

Lina's eyes burned like two out-of-control forest fires. "NANI?!"

The priest phased out of her death-lock and tapped her on the back, while clearing his throat and readjusting his collar. "Helping him realize what a necessity his chimera form really is. Wouldn't you agree, Zelgadiss-san?"

The chimera didn't answer, he only lay curled up and shaking, they way Xelloss had left him. "I think he agrees, don't you Lina-chan?" He raised an eyebrow. "Lina?"

The sorceress numbly passed the mazoku by, to where she settled next to her friend and pulled him gently into her arms, voice shaking. "I'm sorry I said anything, Zelgadiss-sama. I'll kill him, I swear it!"

"N-not quite yet, we need him to get back-to-" He forced out with a weak smile. "But if I may, I will be the one to end his miserable life." Zelgadiss hooked his arm around her tiny waist and gave her a tight squeeze, wishing to escape the dreadful, agonizing pain.

"My, are you plotting my ruin without my input? I could tell you all my weak points," he began with a wink.

"But it's a secret, right? Don't waste your breath Xelloss!" Lina glowered, trying to hold back her sense of wild panic. "We are going now!"

"Now?" Xelloss rubbed his chin. "Yes, yes we could. That is if you want to leave your beloved chimera behind."

Lina gritted her teeth. "Well, I can't have that..."

Xelloss smirked and sat down a couple feet away. "I thought you might say so. But who's to say he'll ever recover enough to chance the trip back, eh? Seems unlikely to me." He began to chuckle.

"What are you talking about, filth? If you hadn't beaten him like that, he would have been fine!" Lina shook with overwhelming anger. She held her breath when Zelgadiss broke into a coughing fit. Her face twisted in fear as blood welled up and trickled out his mouth. "Zel!"

The chimera only shuddered and gurgled an inaudible reply.

"Zelgadiss! Don't move! Hold on-" She felt her body turn to jelly as she tried to stop her friend from struggling. "Damn it Xelloss! Help me, heal him, do something!"

The mazoku priest shrugged. "Sorry Lina-san, but mazoku aren't healers, we delight in pain; we only take care of ourselves, and those we are ordered to care for. My Mistress didn't say boo about returning Zelgadiss; only you." His voice was colder than usual as he spoke and Lina felt the back of her neck prickle.

"I'm not going back without him, Xelloss." Her throat knotted up and she bent over the chimera, and took his paling face in her hands. "Zelgadiss, don't leave me..." her voice was strained as she spoke and was soon choked up in tears. "ZEL! Zelgadiss, you can't die on me, not after everything we've been through. Please, no! Gods no...Zelgadiss!"

He was aware that everything was becoming colder, darker. He couldn't breathe; blood had filled his lungs. He only saw Lina's tear streaked face, seeming to pull further and further away from him. Sorry...loved...you... He tried to mouth the words, but only more blood spilled out his mouth.

I am loosing him...I'm loosing him! Lina's mind was on fire, eyes wide in disbelief. All hell had broken loose in such a short span of time. In a split second she knew what she had to do. She pulled out a dagger from her cape and backed away from Zelgadiss' suffering form. The naked blade against her chest, she shouted out threats. "If Zellas wants me returned safely, how will you do that now? I'm killing myself. I would rather die here with Zelgadiss than return! I swear I'll kill myself, if you don't take us both now! I will do it, I don't care about anything else. Keep back, and promise me!"

Xelloss raised an eyebrow, hiding an onslaught of nagging fear in a simple grin. "If I promise? Well, if you insist, dear Lina! So be it! Now if you'll put that nasty little pointy object away?" He took a mocking bow. If I don't bring back that fiery redhead alive, there's no telling what the Mistress will do to me.

Lina decided to trust in his promise. He might tell only half-truths, but he didn't lie, well so far. She returned the dagger to its sheath and ran to Xelloss' side, kneeling next to Zelgadiss' prone form. Fearing the worst, she bent over him and kissed him. Is this good-bye? No! I won't have it! She ignored the coppery taste of the blood in her mouth and held him tight. "What are you waiting for Xelloss? If he dies, so will you. I promise you that I'll hunt you down and serve your head on a plate to a pack of wolves! Or so help me!" She never pulled her gaze away from Zelgadiss' face.

Well that image was enough to convince him. Though he wasn't afraid of her, oh no, it was more that he felt a great deal for the sorceress. Exactly what he felt though, was a different story, could it be love or more so lust? Well whatever it was, it was more than he liked to admit. So if it pleased her, he'd do as she ordered.

Before Lina had time to breathe again, the world around them vanished into a deep void of nothingness.

More to Come~

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