Lina was in the best of moods, now that she'd had her fill of food and drink. She paid little heed to the hustle and bustle around her as she weaved her way through the packed streets, Zelgadiss in tow. "Crowded isn't it?" She piped up.

Zelgadiss shrugged. "Yes, and what are you after this time?"

Lina smiled. "Nothing, nothing at all." Her eyes scanned over the booths. "Just looking..."

Zelgadiss grabbed hold of her arm and dragged her back. "No; not even looking." He shot her a troubled glance.

Lina pouted. "Why the hell not?"

"I'll be broke soon if you don't quit." He pulled her along with him to the end of the street. "Lina, I'm not saying you owe me anything for the expenses, clothing and food-wise, but please?"

Lina giggled. "I know that...and I won't leave you broke either. As soon as I can get my hands on a nice stash of treasure, I'll pay you back." She stepped back for a minute and rocked back and forth on her feet, eyebrows raised in a mischievous manner.

"I said you don't have to." He insisted.

Lina bit her lip, eyes narrowing slightly.

"What is it now?"

"Hmm?" Lina walked a half circle around him and then as fast as lighting, slapped him hard on the behind and took off running with a laugh. "Hard as a rock!"

"Lina!" Zelgadiss blushed furiously beneath his hood, then, adjusting his mask, shot off in pursuit. Wait; just wait until I get my hands on you!

"Z-Zelfilia? So Sylphiel's there now?" Gourry tapped his chin as he walked along the streets of Sairagg. "Wait a minute!" He stopped suddenly as a light clicked on upstairs. "Lina's family is there; that means I could find her again. I hope so!" That thought alone quickened his pace. Providing I can find out exactly where her family is.

As the sun began to set, Gourry came upon an inn on the outskirts of town, where he promptly checked in for the night.

"I still don't understand why she gave me the slip..." He muttered to himself as he lay back on the bed to frown at the ceiling. "I didn't think I did anything to make her that angry." As his eyelids drooped a bit, the swordsman decided his contemplating could wait until the morrow. It definitely wasn't getting him anywhere now. Yet it just didn't make any sense to him, as to why she'd part from his side. After all the dangers and trying times they'd been through together. "I told her I would protect her for life, didn't she understand what I meant when I said so?"

"How about a game."

Amelia turned in the soft sheets of her bead and moaned. "Mmm...Game..." She muttered and stretched.

A shadow hovered over her half dozing form. "Yes, it would be so very much to your advantage."

Amelia's eyes batted open and she lay still, sorting those words around in her head. Wait, she wasn't asleep, so that meant someone was in her room. Her blood ran chill and she spun around to face...

"Amelia-chan! Long time, no see." The mazoku priest waved at her with a freakish grin as he hung over her bed in suspension. "So what would you say? Hmm?"

Amelia's jaw went slack. It took her a moment before she realized it was night time, she was in bed, and in her nightgown. The princess eyes rolled back and her face changed to crimson as she furiously drew up the sheets around her. She would have let out a scream, had not Xelloss anticipated it and slapped a gloved hand over her mouth.

Amelia went cross-eyed and whacked his hand away, eyes narrowing. "Xelloss!" She gasped under her breath. "Why now? Why of all places to you choose to show up in my room? At night? What is your game?"

Xelloss assumed cross-legged position as he continued hovering, and put his hand to his chin. "Well, a little bird told me..." He began with a curl of a smirk. "...that the chimera left you for another."

Amelia bit her lip. "So what if he has?"

Xelloss frowned mockingly. "Oh, you mean you don't love him like you so fervently proclaimed to?" He backed away and lit on the ground, next to the foot of her bed. "That's a shame, because..."

Amelia raised an eyebrow and pulled the sheets tightly around her shoulders as she moved closer to the edge of the bed. "Why? Why is that?"

The mazoku took a place at the edge of the bed and leaned against his elbow. "I have a plan for you to win back his affection."

The princess sighed and shook her head. "He never felt anything for me but brotherly love, he made it clear to me; very clear."

"This doesn't sound like the Amelia I know." Xelloss replied casually. "But what if he really would love you, if the other rejected him?"

"You mean Lina." Amelia scoffed. "Against her, I don't have a chance."

"Which is where I come in, Amelia dear." The trickster priest reached out and bopped her on the tip of the nose.

"Xelloss, you aren't going to do anything to Lina-san, are you? I m-mean...d-do anything." Amelia sputtered.

The mazoku only smiled back in reply.

"You can't possibly think she'll ever want to-"

"Now why would it concern you, don't you hate Lina for stealing away your man? Shouldn't she be taught a lesson?"

"I, dislike what she's done, but revenge isn't the just way of going about things." Amelia was beginning to lose her nerve. "You monsters don't know anything about love; it's all a game to you...you'd mess around with anyone, wouldn't you?"

Xelloss nodded and snapped open one inquisitive, purple eye. "True, we don't understand what love is, human love to be exact. I don't love Lina, and if I slept with her, it would provide some enjoyment, but I'd only be after another, then another...perhaps you!" He leaned over her, his bangs covering his eyes.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat and she backed up against the wall, all but mummifying herself in the sheets. "You, you fiend! Get away from me! Don't you lay a hand on me; creep! I'll call the guards on you!" She was seething now.

Xelloss sat back and laughed. "You really think I'd want to do it with you, Miss Justice Freak of all that is pure and gooey goodness? Hah! Not a chance in hell, Miss. No offense, but your personality is too pure for my taste and it repels me. But, I might have changed my mind, you were so very tasty just now. All that negative emotion really turned me on." He grinned as he watched Amelia's face colour once again. He slipped back from the bed and wandered to a corner of the room.

"You have a sick mind, mazoku!" Her voice wavered.

"Thank you, Amelia-chan. Now think about it will you?" With a wink and a bow, he phased out.

Under the ghostly light of the full moon the very same night:

Two figures hastily moved through the crowed path of trees. One of the figures, in particular, proceeded the other, every now and then turning to glance back at her companion.

"Zelgadiss?"

"Hmm?"

"You're it!"

"Not this game again." He sighed. "You know you'll be in big trouble if I catch you, Lina Inverse?"

Lina crossed her arms defiantly. "How so?"

"Because I still haven't got even over a certain incident earlier today." He grinned back.

"You mean when I smacked you on the butt?"

"Hai?"

"Then why don't you?"

"Nani`?"

"Why don't you get even then? Come on, scaredy-cat!" She jerked his arm. "You're it!" She stuck out her tongue at him and dashed off through the brush.

The last he heard as she faded from sight was taunting laughter. Oh so that's how she wants to play?What was it about him chasing her that she enjoyed so much anyway? Perhaps this was her way of continuing from where they'd left off the two and some years ago, that one dark, star-filled night.

Minutes later, Lina came to a shaky halt, twirling around in the maze of trees, searching for the chimera. She was positive she was in for it this time. "Oi! Zelgadiss-san!" Her eyes darted around in the dark of the forest. Okay, so he was going to use the method of surprise again was he? This time she'd be ready. "Come on Zel, you can't fool me twice!"

"You're right, Lina would be too smart for that." Said a cool voice.

Lina pivoted and bent her gaze in the direction she'd heard his voice. "Zelgadiss?" She laughed nervously. "Not fair hiding you know." She couldn't pick him out from the mass of trees. "Zel?" She jumped slightly at the snap of a twig to her right. "Zelgadiss, what are you up to?"

Silence.

Two arms snaked around her waist and held her close and a deep chuckle rung in her ears. "Lina?"

She threw her head back to meet his intent gaze. "Yes?"

His eyes flashed with emotion long hidden, as if he was considering two different options. Of those two options, he chose the latter. "Prepare yourself for the tickle monster!"

"Eh?" Her mouth dropped open, then she doubled over in silent, repressed giggles as his hands found her middle. "S-Stop that! Or-or I'll dragu slave you into the next century!" But he didn't relent and soon the sorceress was brought to her knees, laughing and gasping for breath. "Mercy!" She squeaked.

Zelgadiss refrained from tickling her to death, but left an arm around her waist as he kneeled beside her. "Had enough?"

Lina bit her lip and with a shrug turned her head to him. "Is that the best you can do?"

Zelgadiss raised an eyebrow. "You mean you haven't had enough?"

The sorceress rose as her breathing slowed to normal. "No I think that'll suffice." She continued to watch him.

"What? What is it?"

"Oh, I was kind of thinking..." Lina trailed off to a whisper.

"I didn't hear the last part." He replied as he tilted up her chin.

The sorceress half smiled and shrugged again.

Before she could draw breath, the chimera's lips met her own in a deep, lingering kiss as he pulled her into a close embrace. She returned the kiss with renewed passion and longing, arms locked around his neck. Lina's head was burning now and she felt she would pass out from this sweet intoxication of emotions. She clung to him, knees wobbling. "Zelgadiss." She gasped as her grip loosened and she almost fell back, but for him reaching out to grab her. "Nice catch."

The chimera's only reply was a cunning smile.

Lina rested her head contentedly against his chest as he cradled her in his arms, reclined against a large oak tree, half conscious of the faint glow of the campfire before them. This was nice, he supposed, sitting here quietly with her in his grasp, without the threat of receiving a beating. You're a funny young woman, Lina Inverse. First you tease me, then play with my emotions, and now all you want to do is nap. Are you afraid, Lina-san? Maybe she was.

His eyes traveled to her peaceful face. It was alien to him, how warm he felt right now inside and out, in spite of the chill of the night air and the whisper of fall settling in. Until a couple of minutes ago, he had never felt so alive, not even when meeting Lina again the last few days previous. But it was her, he knew, that had awakened his sense of feeling. He'd had other ideas for them planned tonight, but they could wait. It was enough just to hold her close, just barely.