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Chapter 26

nikka-chi: Maybe I can own Lina-san...

Lina: Oh, hell no.

nikka-chi: Awwh, why not?

Lina: Because the infamous Lina Inverse doesn't belong to anyone! Haven't you seen my show?

Zelgadiss: Your show?

Lina: Yeah, my show. I'm always the first one to appear in the opening song.

Zelgadiss: Since when did that make you the owner?

Lina: Just shut up.

nikka-chi: Err, nevermind. On with they story! :D

---

"What is that smell?" Lina asked, scrunching her nose in disgust. The passageway proved to be a murky and damp place, obviously a previous sewer of sorts. The steps made strange noises and the lights flickered constantly, which didn't help the nervousness rising to her throat.

"I don't want to know." Zelgadiss answered, cringing as his hair pulled an abnormally large cobweb from one of the lantern posts.

Lina sighed, slouching as she trudged down the stone steps. They had only been walking for a couple of minutes and she was already bored, and not to mention hungry. How had she ever gotten into this stupid mess? It had all started as soon as she had found the lance, and she hadn't even touched it yet.

'Yet' was the keyword here. Things would get even worse when pretty soon, and she sure as hell wasn't looking forward to it. Why should she be? As soon as she had it in her hands, she was as good as dead.

"Lina-san, we should stop here." Xelloss cautioned, taking a sudden halt.

Lina stopped as well, cocking her head to him. "Why? We're right in the middle of this damn thing, there's no turning back now."

"Lina," Zelgadiss started, still trying to pry the cobweb from his hair, "I think he's right. Look."

She frowned, but did as he said, turning her head to squint into the dim light. A shadow stood a couple dozen feet away, it's darkened figure poised on one of the lower steps. Whoever it was didn't make any move towards them, or to retreat. "Who the hell is that?"

"I don't know, why don't we go down there and shake his hand?" Zel answered, his voice laced with sarcasm.

"Well, excuse me Mr. smartass." Lina spat, rolling her eyes. Trying to focus she turned away again. "So what do we do? If we go back those guards will have us in a second, but if we go down who knows what this guy'll do."

"Lina-san, it's not like you couldn't take him." Xelloss put in, giving her a smile.

She thought about that for a moment before smiling smugly, crossing her arms in confidence. "Yeah...yeah you're right! I can take that punkass-hey! He's gone!" She blinked into the light, gawking at the vacancy that was once inhabited by the mysterious figure.

"That was certainly a short visit." Xelloss mused almost cheerily, starting down the stairs again.

Lina frowned at him, resising the urge to grab him by his neck and throw him down the stairs. He knew something, damn him, and he knew that she knew that he knew!

Sighing in self-defeat, she decided to let it go for now. Taking a second to calm down she started down the stairs with Zel just behind her, their shadows dancing in the dimmed lights.

It wasn't long before they hit solid ground...and a dead end. The stairs hadn't taken them anywhere! Just to a big circle-shaped tile platform! Where could that man have dissapeared to if it was a dead end? Damn.

Lina slammed her fist into the wall in frustration, revealing a sizeable crack once she removed it. "How could it be a dead end? There was a guy down here just five seconds ago!"

Xelloss ignored her, assessing the situation. The stairs had decended into a sphere-like platform of which there was no sign of an exit. There were lanterns outlining the walls, but besides that it was empty. It was blatantly obvious that this was not a dead end, it was only made to look that way.

"So what do we do now? Just blow up the wall and see where it takes us?"

Lina shook her head. "Nah, the walls would cave in."

"It's nice to see you back on your feet, Ms. Lina."

All heads turned to the stairway, on which the dark figure from earlier now stood with his cloak shadowing his face, but that didn't stop Lina from vaguely recognizing his voice. Still not sure of who he was, she turned to face him fully. "Can we help you?"

"No, but I can help you. Pull that lantern behind you, but blow it out first, you'll burn yourself."

Lina turned to follow his instructions, but took stopped to give him a cautious eye. "Why should we listen to you?"

"What other choice do you have, little girl?"

She frowned at his pet name, but figured that his reasoning was reasonable enough for her tastes, and did just as he said. His method proved to be sucessful for as soon as the lantern was pulled it was revealed that it was indeed a secret lever, and a part of the stone walls had opened to reveal another passage way.

"The west wing is through that passageway, follow the hall you enter into till you reach the huge double doors, that is where he is."

"How do you know we aren't just humble travelers?"

"It's best you aren't, for your purpose not only here in this little kingdom but for the rest of the world is great. I wish you luck Lina Inverse, you'll need whatever you can get."

Before any of them could blink he was gone, leaving them all to ponder on his wise words. Lina turned to Xelloss, her face in a frown of concentration. "I feel like we've met him before..."

"I think we have, Lina-san."

"Where?"

Xelloss only chuckled, ignoring her question and instead leading the way into the newly-discovered passageway.

"H-Hey, wait damn it! Tell me! You know who he is don't you?! Don't ignore me Xelloss! I'll kick your stupid mazoku ass!"

 

Chapter 27

nikka-chi: Alright, even if I don't own any of you all of you have to play nice since this is my story. Got it?

Lina: Like I'd listen to a pip squeak like you.

nikka-chi: Oh, so then you do want more lemony chapters Lina? That's a surprise, I didn't take you for that sort of girl.

Lina: 'blushes' W-What?! No!

nikka-chi: Then be nice. T-T

Lina: Whatever you say! Just no more lemons!

nikka-chi: No more lemons? Ha! When did I say there wouldn't be anymore of them? :3

Lina: ...

---

"Pretty fancy ain't it?" Lina asked in admiration, her mouth agape in amazement at the golden glory of the hall's golden columns and floors. "But why is this the only place in the palace we've seen that doesn't look like it's from a haunted house?"

"It means that that guy was right, and whoever is at the end of this hallway is the one we're looking for."

Lina didn't answer, too busy running the tips of her fingers over the gold-glazed walls as they walked slowly past. Xelloss took the lead, even his false face unreadable. He wasn't really ever the talkative type, but that stupid goofy smile on his face wasn't even there anymore. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Do you think Hiyo is alright?" Lina asked, attempting to probe some sort of social communication from him. Instead Zelgadiss answered, only accomplishing the easy task of pissing her off.

"What do you care? It was your idea to leave her there."

"Oh yeah, like you wouldn't be whining right now if you were still hauling her ass around everywhere."

He had nothing to say to that.

"Alright then." Lina concluded, taking charge yet again.

Although Zelgadiss had taken her mind off of Xelloss for that short time, her mind was right back there again. He was more of a curse than anything else, even when he wasn't talking she was annoyed at him. Or was it that she was worried about him?

Oh hell...

That was definitely not it. It couldn't be it. Oh god, please don't let that be it.

This had to be Hiyo's fault. After what she had said to her, what else would she think about? This is probably what she wanted to happen...like reverse psychology.

"Lina-san?"

A voice interrupted her thoughts, a voice she immediately recognized. Blinking she lifted her head up to realize that they had come to a stop at two enormous double doors, and that both Zel and Xelloss were giving her strange looks. "Are you ok Lina?" It was Zelgadiss this time, his brow creased with worry.

"Err, yeah. I'm fine, fine. What's wrong with you two?"

"Well, I thought that you might be worried about..."

"What? Oh, right. Of course not, I can take this guy no problem."

"You aren't even a little scared Lina-san? If you can't handle him with your normal magic then you'll have to use the spear."

"But if I can handle him, then I can take his spear away and combine it with mine. Everybody's happy."

"There still isn't any way I can convince you to leave, is there?" Zelgadiss questioned, his question serious but his voice soft.

"Afraid not."

"Guess there isn't any point arguing it anymore then. Ready?"

Lina laughed, stepping forward to stand before the doors, and performed a swift roundhouse kick. They burst open with a smack as the hit the walls on either sides, and Lina smirked. "Ready? I was born ready."

OoO

"Who dares enter my throne room unannounced?" A booming voice called, the speaker only a shadow seated atop his golden throne.

Lina stepped through the doorway and into the light, her sarcasm at the ready. "Pizza delivery."

"Guards! Seize them! They are the intruders!" He was standing now, his face visible in the bright sunlight through the glass above them. His hair was a deep gray, his eyes creased and wrinkled from old age, and there was an unusually large scar running down his face from his eyebrow to his chin.

The eyes that glared down at them were an astonishing blue, their aquatic depths making them impossible to miss against his fair complexion and dark hair. It was startling to see such an angry man with such beautiful eyes that were wrinkled from years of joyous laughter.

There was no joy in his face now, twisted into an unrelenting hatred of all things. Was this what she would look like sometime soon?

Raising her palm, she easily blasted off the dozen or so guards that came thundering out of nowhere with a practiced 'Fireball!'.

"Now your highness, this is no way to greet your guests." Lina taunted, examining her slightly charred glove.

"I will greet my 'guests' any way I please." The king retorted, his voice oozing arrogance.

"Cocky bastard, aren't you?" She responded, ending with a little laugh.

"What is it that you seek here, young sorceress?" Another voice sounded, his voice as smooth as it was menacing.

"I'm sure it's nothing you can give me." Lina answered, tilting her body the side a bit so that she could identify the new arrival.

The man stepped out from behind the throne, his face uplifted into an ironic little smile. His hair was long and brown, pulled back into a band at the back of his neck, only his bangs lay perfectly on his forehead. The clothes he wore suggested royalty, but he bore no resemblance to the king, and the guards all poised around the room made no move to bow their heads to him.

He was cute, yes, but annoying. The sides of his mouth were upturned in an ironic little smile, and his eyes laughed down at her as if she were some kind of peasant. Pfft, asshole.

"How cute. You're here to take the lance then, aren't you?"

"How did you know that?"

"I didn't. You just told me."

Lina opened her mouth to retort, but the man silenced her with his upraised hand, "Now Ms. Lina Inverse, what do you intend to do now that you're finally here? It's obvious that you are the one who retrieved the piece of the Heilege Lance from the Kouyoko Mountains, and that you are here to put an end to the chaos that my humble leader has been causing, but just how do you intend to stop him?"

She opened her mouth again, only to be cut off for a second time. "Will you use your spear? Or will you stare into the face of what you will become and run away, scared of your own future?"

"I am not scared." Lina countered, finally managing to get at least a couple of words in between.

"You aren't? Then go on, take it from him." He waved his hand nonchalantly towards the king, who lifted up the spear, as if teasing her. Lina rolled up her sleeves, her nostrils flaring and her eyes going wild. "Alright buddy, I think it's hightime you and your damn king get your asses kicked nice and hard."

Zelgadiss stepped forward to rest his hand on Lina's shoulder, finally cutting in. "Lina I think you should calm down for a second, these guys don't look like they're playing around."

"Do I look like I'm playing around? No. So get your goddamn hands off me."

He did as she commanded, lifting his hands in a mock surrender. "Fine. Get yourself killed."

Xelloss chuckled, taking a backwards step before lifting himself into the air. He hovered for a moment before turning to teleport, but Lina's voice stopped him. "Running away, Xelloss?"

He half-turned his body towards her, his face upturned into a grin. Her back was still facing him, but her head was just barely shifted to the side enough so that she could see him out of the corner of her eye. "Running away? Of course not. I'm merely going out for a walk, Lina-san." His voice was soft, but she didn't buy into it.

"Don't pussyfoot Xelloss, I know exactly what you're doing. So just leave, go on. Get the hell out. I can handle these dickweeds." Giving him an arrogant upturn of her nose she fully-turned her face away.

"Come now, Lina-san, I have orders not to interfere. I'd never leave you alone if it were of my own free will, but unfortunately it's not."

"Bullshit." She spat, still not bothering to give him even a backwards glance.

Xelloss chuckled, shrugging. "Believe what you want, but there is so much you just can't see Lina-san. I wish you luck!" Then he was gone, leaving Lina feeling a bit betrayed, and maybe even a little hurt. His words confused her, but her own feelings drove her even deeper into the bottomless pit of nothingness.

Stepping forward, she was pulled back by Zel's arm yet again. He was holding out the spear, and she gave him a startled look. "Xelloss really isn't that bad of a guy, afterall." He gave her a little smile and a shrug, and she found herself smiling too. "I'm really sorry about this, Zel."

"Yeah, I know. I'll try everything I can to get the spear back from you, Lina. I promise."

Just before her fingers wrapped themselves around the shaft of the spear, she whispered with what seemed to be her whole heart, "I know you will..."

 

Chapter 28

nikka-chi: Omg, I've almost written 30 chapters! Woah...:O I am so good.

Xelloss: I don't mean to interrupt, but aren't you supposed to be doing the disclaimer?

nikka-chi: Ah, right. Err, Gourry why don't you do it?

Gourry: But I'm not even in this story!

nikka-chi: That's ok Gourry. Do it anyways or I'll kill you :)

Zelgadiss: 'sigh' Since you idiots can't do this right, I guess I'm the one that has to do it.

nikka-chi: Would you Zelly-chan? That's so sweet of you! :3

Zelgadiss: nikka-chi does not own anything of The Slayers, and all copyrights go to its respectful owner and creator.

--

Zel stepped back, both mystified and a little scared, as a whirlwind started to encircle Lina's small body. Her hair whipped all around while her clothes flapped in the wind, she grasped the spear firmly trying to both control the power and keep her body under control.

Calming down the winds, she turned away from Zel, and faced the king and his apprentice. "What are you?"

She asked, her voice echoed by a much stronger, and deeper monotone. The man behind the king motioned for him to sit back down, and stepped forward. "What am I? That's not important at the moment, Ms. Lina. But you are keen for noticing that I am not a human."

"How did you know my name?"

"I know many things, Lina Inverse, many things."

"Interesting." Lina mused, still struggling to keep the flow of power intact, but not showing it.

Her eyes slowly traveling to the king, her eyes narrowed once they fell upon him. "I will take away your land and your half of the spear, and rule in your place as queen." She stated without smugness, taking one step forward and raising her lance chest high.

The king's eyes only widened for a second, before his lips curled upwards into a vicious snarl. "Xaldin, take care of this wench. I won't interfere until it is absoulutely neccesary." His gaze met hers before speaking again, and his words came out in a slow drawl. "Wouldn't want to get my hands dirty." Xaldin bowed his head. "Yes, my king.

Lina flinched, nearly losing control. Muttering a curse, she swung her lance forward, sending a lighting bolt flying toward the king. Xaldin suddenly materialized before it and sucked it into the palm of his hand. Giving the mute Lina a smile, he teleported to stand just before her. "Lina Inverse, you will die here."

Raising his arm, Lina watched as a blade began to morph out of his hand, black lighting coiling itself around the pointed tip. His arm cackled and blinked, the whole room seemed to shake with the lighting itself, and Lina's eyes lowered into slits. Whatever it was, it struck down, breaking through her barrier. Surprise caught her off guard for only a moment before she jumped back hastily, the spear increasing her agility as well as her reflexes.

Xaldin laughed, making another lunge, but his attack was parried by Zelgadiss's sword. "I'll stand in your place as his opponent, Lina, just get the other half of the spear!"

Hesitating, Lina sighed before nodding, and turned her head towards the king. He looked bored, his eyelids drooping in a careless manner, and she just had to smile at his obvious show of some serious balls. Teleporting into the air above him, she brought the spear down, causing an immediate explosion of the shield his own lance held.

Bellowing in pain as the shield reversed itself onto him, the king raised his own spear to shoot an immense amount of fire up at the sorceress. Dodging easily, Lina didn't have time to move again as a black lightning bolt came from the side. After recovering, she turned to see Xaldin with his foot crushing into Zelgadiss's torso, and his swordarm pointed towards her.

"Stay out of this, mazoku." She nearly growled.

"Not a chance, little priestess." Lina blinked, unconsciously letting her guard down for the moment. "Priestess?" Xaldin smirked, raising his eyebrows and shrugging innocently. Her face fell into a scowl, and she bit into her lip so hard blood trickled down. Xaldin only laughed obnoxiously. "You'll find out soon enough, but for the moment they're isn't any reason to tell you."

Assessing him for a moment, Lina took a deep breath. Putting both hands onto the spear, she slammed it into the ground. A purple light emitted from the floor, forming to make a strange symbol of what she supposed to be an alchemy sign. Chanting a spell that came naturally to her mind, she felt the lance grow larger until it became bigger than her own body. Near the middle, a violet stone glowed in the dim light of the now darkened castle. Opening her eyes as if for the first time, Lina noticed that she could see within the mazoku.

A slow smile started to form on her lips, and she couldn't help but laugh. "Now you're mine." In a purple blur, she flashed towards him and cut from his waist up, catching him off guard. He stumbled back with a growl, and looked up at her with such blinded hatred that if she hadn't had the spear, she'd have high tailed it out of there in a quick minute. "How...did you know where the"-'cough' Blood?-"stone? was?" He sputtered and fell to one knee.

Lina frowned, pausing. "Truthfully? I don't know how. But that isn't important." She strode to him slowly, taking her sweet time, taking great pleasure in the dramatic emphasis of her soft footsteps. Finally stopping before him, she swung her foot into the side of his head, sending him to the ground a few feet away. Coming to his groaning side again, she slammed her foot into his groin with great force. "What you said before...priestess? Is that supposed to mean something? Or is that just one of your sick little jokes?"

Xaldin gazed up at her for a moment before his eyes glazed over, and he started laughing. His laughter sounded strained-hysterical even-, and Lina removed her foot slowly. The realization took it's time coming, but when it hit it wasn't exactly a joy. This mazoku...was no mazoku afterall. He was a puppet, a trapped soul inside of a nearly empty shell. Was this the power of the infamous spear? Is this what she could do if she so desired? Would she ever...want to?

Now looking down into his sea green eyes, she saw not anger, but sorrow and pain. This man was once human, but was now forever cursed as a walking cold piece of flesh. How could she have missed it? He looked as if he hadn't eaten in ages, and she could see that there were red rims around his beautifully tragic eyes. If she had been her normal self, she would have cried for this man, but she could feel nothing. At the moment she felt just as empty as he, and she could feel nothing in her heart.

Reaching down, she laid a gentle hand on his icy cold chest. His eyes searched hers desperately, trying to find the meaning of her gesture and if she was the enemy. Giving him a smile, she lifted the spear to where his heart would be, giving him a questioning look. His smile was gentle as he nodded weakly, and she stuck it in, for some reason feeling as if she knew exactly what was happening. A green light grew from his chest first, then his body lit up like a giant glow stick. Still he smiled at her, and his lips whispered something to her, and she found herself grinning back as his body dissapeared slowly.

'Thank you, great White Priestess.'

 

Chapter 29

"What have you done? That was my creation! You have no right, you stupid bitch!" The king's voice thundered behind her, and she spun on her heel. "He was your prisoner, and you had no right to put him through such pain."

"He was my most trusted companion-my brother." The king sneered as if Xaldin was a toy instead of his own flesh and blood.

Lina paused, feeling a strong itch to slap the life out of him. "Your...brother? Do you even realize what you did to him? Not only did you kill him slowly, but you forced him to be eternally loyal to someone so coniving as yourself. Not to mention you took full advantage of the fact that he was your brother."

He cackled menacingly. "And you see yourself as different from me?"

"I only want your land, and your blood upon my blade."

"For now that will satisfy you, but you'll see, it won't be enough. It'll never be enough. Eventually your cravings will get worse, and no matter how hard you try...it will never go away. The urge to kill, to torture, to inhale the suffering around you. It will become inevitable to even the most holy of priests, and so you too will become like me-lost in your own bloodlust."

Lina glared, not sure what to say. A part of her was terrified of this future, but the other half was screaming in pleasure at just the thought of all the blood to be spilled all around her. No matter how much she tried to convince herself that this was only the spear talking she still couldn't help but doubt even herself. Maybe this wasn't just the power of the lance, maybe all of her noble acts of justice were all just a facade. All those bandits she had been killing, all that treasure she'd stolen, all those shops fried to a crisp.

'Am I a monster?'

'Do you really need to ask?' A second voice echoed in the back of her head, one that was smooth and all too familiar.

'...Xelloss?'

'Hello, Lina-san.' She could just picture his innocent grin.

'Why the hell are you talking in my head?'

His soft chuckle filled her mind, almost warming her heart. 'Why, Lina-san, can't you tell? Now that you're holding the spear, I can speak to you through it. Of course I can only do this because I'm a mazoku.'

'Oh, well what do you want?'

There was a short pause, and then Xelloss's voice floated once again through her conscience like a soft breeze. 'Lina-san, you can't lose yourself to this. You aren't a monster, and I think I would know.'

Lina didn't even realize that she had been gritting her teeth. 'What do you care what I am? I'm just your little toy.'

'This isn't the time to get emotional, Lina-san, remember that everyone is depending on you. Do you really want your friends to die?'

'No...I don't think I could ever want that.' Even in her mind she sounded unconvincing, and that in an of itself made her want to hide in the darkest corner of the world.

'Then just think about them, and whether or not they think you're a monster. You know they don't Lina-san; no one does.'

'Is there some sort of importance in this conversation? I'm busy.'

He sighed deeply before answering. 'Ah, yes, of course. I just wanted to inform you that there is someone else with you in there. Whoever it is appears to be very powerful, but only from the outside could I sense his presence, which means he wants to be hidden for the moment.'

'Whose side is he on?'

'I hate to say this, but I really don't know. Just be aware Lina-san, and keep your guard up. He is watching you from the shadows. Good luck!'

'Ah, wait!'

Silence.

'Xelloss?'

More silence.

'Damn.'

Opening her eyes, Lina recollected herself. The king was giving her a wary eye, watching her like a hawk. It was obvious that he was very suspicious of whatever she had just done, and he should be.

Taking a deep inhale, she felt her face relax along with the rest of her body. Lowering her spear she let her thoughts focus on reversing everything, and she concentrated her whole body on bringing light into this curse. Taking a few steps forward, she could smell the fear oozing off the king's pale body, and yet he stayed glued to that very spot with his eyes wide. A small reassuring smile tugged at her lips, and she imagined her old companions voices speaking to her heart.

Amelia, telling her that she had always known that Lina had it in her to be quite the justice seeker.

Zelgadiss, convincing her that she had never killed a bandit who didn't deserve to have their ass kicked.

Sylphiel, smiling warmly and softly assuring her that Lina always had everyone's best interest at heart no matter what happened.

Gourry, giving her a goofy grin and telling her proudly that he would never have protected her if he thought she was evil.

Even Xelloss, bragging about his status as a real monster and that Lina would never handle being told what to do all the time by anyone but herself.

If possible, the man's eyes grew even wider as a single shiny tear slid down Lina's cheek. Reaching up to touch it in disbelief, she wiped it away with embarrassed haste. Finally lifting her gaze to the king's, she realized that he was crying as well. "I can...finally cry. But how?" He gave her a hopeful look as if expecting her to have the answer. She looked down at her spear, and decided that this was as good a time as any to try it out. Giving the king an uneasy glance she willed herself to unclutch her fingers, and to her surprise, the lance slid from her hand to the ground with a loud clank.

"Oh hell yeah!" She smiled widely, shooting her fist into the air before lowering it to shove it to point a finger into the king's face. "Hah! Now what, you old geezer? Bloodlust my ass!" She reached down to yank his spear away from him to throw it on the ground, and started stomping on it. Feeling very much like herself, she laughed a haughty laugh. "Bahahahahaha!"

The king gave her an appalled look before shaking his head and giving her an amused grin. "You really are something, Priestess."

"Oh, god, not that stupid Priestess stuff again. I kill bandits, old man. The whole purify thing just doesn't go well with me." She waved her hand nonchalantly for emphasis.

He nodded his understanding before letting his gaze drop to the floor, and his brow creased into a frown. "What will you do now that you have two pieces of the spear?"

Lina let her gaze lower as well as if seeing them for the first time. "I don't really know. Maybe I'll find the other pieces? After all, dumbassess like you shouldn't have so much power to fling around." Her smile was rueful.

It took the king a second to realize that Lina was being funny, and he laughed. "I suppose so."

Lina snapped her fingers all of a sudden, suddenly remembering. "Oh, yeah! You're son. You do know he's been hospitalized, don't you?"

The king gave her a surprised look and answered slowly. "No, I didn't know. I don't remember hurting him."

"Did you hire anyone to do it?"

The king paused to think, but shook his head. "No...I don't think so. Where is he hospitalized?"

"Some city out west of here, that's where I came from just before I found out about you."

"I'll order a carriage to take me to him immediately." He started to turn away from her, but stopped to take her hand between both of his. "Thank you very much, young sorceress." He gave her a heartfelt smile and left the room in a hurry.

Lina shook her head, and suddenly realized that Zel was still hurt. Turning to rush to his side, she felt his neck for a heartbeat. Luckily, under his stony skin, there was a very strong thump. He was just unconscious, maybe even with a concussion. Nothing too serious. Dragging his body up her back, she wrapped his arms around her neck after picking up the lance that had somehow merged together. Tugging him along she made it to the exit, and was surprised to see that the people of Nara weren't...well...dead.

The people around her looked unharmed, baffled, but unharmed. The smiles that now graced their faces lit the atmosphere like a giant Christmas tree, and Lina felt her own spirits rising without any reason as to why. Mostly there were people fussing over children and guards rushing people into the nearest hospital to be checked on.

In the distance, she saw a skinny figure waving its arms franticly at her. As the person approached, Lina smiled to herself as she recognized that it was Hiyo. "Oh, Ms. Lina! Thank goodness you're alright! Is that...Mr. Zelgadiss?! Oh dear. Hand him here, I'll bring him to my daddy." She smiled and took the rocky burden off Lina's shoulders before dragging him away. Lina almost reached out her hand to question why Hiyo's father was here, but figured that it wasn't worth the trouble.

"Made it out quite nicely then, Lina-san?" A voice that held a somehow comforting sound to it. Turning swiftly, Lina turned to realize that it was Xelloss, and despite herself she smiled brighter then she ever recalled towards him.

"I guess so, but some weird things have happened." She took the now whole spear and handed it to him as proof. "You keep it for now, I don't want to go through that again." Xelloss raised his eyebrow at her before nodding and settling them into the back of his cloak.

She looked around at all the people, who were now fresh faced and no longer bloodied. "Xelloss who did all this? How are they all healed?"

"Why, it was Hiyo and her father, Sano-san, of course. They are users of white magic Lina-san."

"Still ripe with assholeness, aren't you?"

Xelloss only grinned and shrugged, not bothering to deny it.

"Anyways, how did Hiyo get out before me?"

"I imagine she awoke on her own, and escaped through a window."

She gave him an accusing look. "You helped her, didn't you?"

"Now, why would I do that? She reminds me far too much of Amelia-san for me to go anywhere near the happy little tart." He shivered, his face twisting into a temporary frown.

"Xelloss, Hiyo isn't smart enough to know that sort of thing. Someone had to have helped her out." Lina was impatient now, knowing for sure that Hiyo was a tad too dense to be able to make such a professional decision. If she really had awoken alone, she would have burst through the doors screaming her head off, and then had a triple panic attack at the sight of Lina holding the spear. What a revolting image.

Xelloss chuckled, and tapped Lina on the nose with the tip of his staff. "Appearances can be very deceiving Lina-san, I thought you would have known that by now."

"With you here, how the hell can I not?" She huffed and tilted her nose a bit higher.

"Ah, how sweet of you."

OoO

"Wow, look at all this food!" Lina exclaimed, rubbing her lower tummy in excitement. "Thanks, Xelloss!"

Xelloss smiled at her over the brim of his teacup. "No problem, Lina-san. It's been a rough day on you." She gave him a weary look before shrugging, and started on the main course.

They were sitting together in Lina's room, where Xelloss had requested entrance after declaring a feast in Lina's honor. Of course he knew that if he hadn't mentioned food she'd have never let him set foot in her room without teleportation. It was pretty easy to get on Lina's good side, but it was much more amusing to see her angry. This was one of those rare occasions where Xelloss decided to see just how far his kindness could get him. Lina wasn't stupid, though. No matter how much food he stuffed into her she still had a sharp mind, and would start to question him.

For now, she was completely involved in devouring her meal. Xelloss merely sipped his tea, watching as her fiery hair glistened in the fire's glow behind her. There were many things he admired about Lina, but there were also things he couldn't explain why he liked them about her. She was a human, for starters, but a smart one. Her spirit is strong, and her power is impressive even from his point of view. Not to mention he was one of the only humans he'd ever met that didn't blabber on about happy and positive things all the time. In fact, it was very rare for Lina to ever have any kind of positive emotion-other then when she was eating.

Maybe that was what he liked most about her. To humans, her moody attitude and quick-temper was annoying, but to him it was exciting and intriguing. He never seemed to be bored around Lina-san, and had to admit that he liked her company more than any human he'd ever come into contact with. There was another trait that he found very interesting; she wasn't the least bit afraid of him. Of course, she knew of his power and acknoweded it willingly, but she had never shrank in the wake of his power and seemed to have a sort of trustworthy deeming for him.

That was the interesting bit. She had said that once out loud that she trusted him, but maybe he had lost that trust long ago. With Lina-san, anything was possible. That was what was so fun about her!

Lina caught his stare, and reached for her wine glass to swallow down her last bite of food. "Do I have something on my face?" She asked after they exchanged stares for what seemed like hours. "Yes, actually, you do." Lina seemed puzzled for a moment, but shrugged in conclusion that Xelloss was just teasing her. Until she saw that smile, that smile.

He leaned across the table to give the corner of her mouth a swift lick, startling her into a momentary silence. But it was only momentary. "What the hell was that, you pervert!?" Her face had turned bright pink, and her anger was obviously meant to steer him away from the fact that she was thoroughly embarrassed.

Xelloss only shrugged. "It looked tasty."

Lina scrunched her brow into a frown. "But you don't really like food."

"When did I mention food?" The bright pink turned to a deep red as his words registered, and she stammered for a snappy retort. "Um...err-I mean-"

"Finished? Good." He cut her off with a bright smile, scooping up her empty plates with one hand in one swift motion. Her mouth hung open in baffled stupor, and she quickly snapped it shut. "I'll just be a moment." He reassured her before disappearing, and true to his word he was back in almost a flash with his hands ridden of the creamy white plates.

"Thanks..." She muttered lamely, now unable to bring herself to look him in the eye. Xelloss had always managed to bring her down to her lowest whenever they were alone, and she never really understood why. Most of it was his usual spontaneous suggestive comments, and that dangerous smile that would light up his face and darken it all at once. Lina didn't know exactly what he wanted from her, and sometimes it just frustrated her that he was the type to beat around the bush till the damn thing had no more branches to beat.

She could feel his eyes on her, even when his mask was in place she could feel them, burning their own special imprint onto her delicate skin. An invisible marking, a means of claiming her in a way that shook her to the core. Daring to look his way, she saw that his face was indeed focused onto her, and his eyes slit open with a boldness. His eyes dared her own to hold his gaze, to be trapped within the amethyst depths with no sign of return.

Feeling anxious suddenly, she rose out of her chair so fast it almost toppled over in her wake. Blanching, she hurried to the window, turning her back to him so that she could brace her hip against the window sill. Maybe if she ignored him, he would leave on his own. Ha! Fat chance.

As if on cue, Xelloss was magically behind her, his hands snaking around her body while his fingers traced a trail from her shoulders to her fingers where he entwined them firmly. His mouth was at her ear, and her head had fallen backwards into the crook of his neck with surprising ease. There it was again, that instant spark that lit up whenever he was near. But just being around him wasn't enough to ignite the fire, it was the way he touched her that caused the friction of that spark to explode into a ball of furious passion.

Blushing, she snapped her head up, shoving his hands away while shrugging out of his hold. "You should go..." She whispered meekly, afraid to look at him.

For a second, she couldn't even hear him breathing, and it was as if the whole world had stopped moving. But then his breath was at her neck, causing the tiny hairs to stand on end with a less then comfortable intimacy. "Why?" His voice was in her ear, draining all her self respect and in its place came a heated desire. "...Why? Why what?"

His low chuckle sent a shiver up her spine, and her mind became a gray fog. "Lina-san." He murmured into her neck, his right hand curving around her stomach to hook her into place against his abdomen, while his left hand reached up to take her chin gently between his fingers. Guiding her head back, his eyes met hers with a gleam as the pale moonlight shone into his violet pupils.

Lina became dazed as she felt her eyelids lazily droop, and her gaze dropped to his lips and then slid slowly back to his eyes. They seemed to sink into her mind, enter her very soul, trying to snake his way into her heart. Throwing all caution to the wind, she felt her own body shift backward as their lips met.

Xelloss's hand slid from her chin to her hair, closing his hands into it firmly, but gentle enough to let her know that she wasn't trapped. Her body warmed excitedly, despite the fact that Xelloss was as cold as ice, his body barren of a heart. She felt happy, content even, as she twisted in his grasp to face him fully.

The kiss deepened at the new access of angles, and she didn't think twice about the repercussions, or even what her real feelings for this monster were.

'"But Ms. Lina he has to be doing it because he cares about you."

"Hiyo, mazoku aren't the type to care about anyone but themselves and their master. Those kind of positive emotions hurt them, so they just don't bother feeling them."

"I think you're scared."

"Huh? Me? Scared? Of what?"

"Of getting hurt. You've been hurt before, haven't you?"'

Lina's eyes flew open, and an increasing feeling of fear crept into her belly. Pushing him away with more force then she had intended, she watched as stumbled back with a strange look on his face. "What's the matter, Lina-san?" His voice sounded strangled, maybe even a little wounded.

"I...I don't know." She looked to the floor with shame, feeling the pity tears well in her eyes and burn the back of her throat. "Why, damn it? Why can't I just keep pushing you away? I don't need you! So...why do I feel so torn at the thought of you not being here?" Her head rose to reveal the stream of shining tears down her pale face.

Xelloss's face was empty, all emotions wiped from him completely. Not even his mask held any sort of feeling, and he looked more like stone as the moonlight made his skin seem gray and stony. Lina held a hand to her mouth as a sob escaped her body, and she turned away from him once again.

"Lina-san, I don't think you've let go."

She sniffled. "Let go of what?"

"Gourry-san."

There was a long, dreaded silence that filled the room.

Xelloss watched the back of her head, feeling a strange hatred for the blonde swordsman that still haunted Lina. No matter how many times he tried, he still knew that he was just another version of Gourry in her mind. Although the details weren't known, he knew that the boy had hurt Lina-san more deeply then anyone knew, and for some reason a pang of regret rang through him as his plans ran through his mind.

But why should he feel bad?

He shouldn't, but he did.

"Lina-san...let me be there for you." His own words shocked him more then it did her, but he knew that everything he said from now to the end would just be pretty nothings. Her shoulders stopped shaking from the tears, and she let her head rise so that her eyes could meet his. She let her eyes scrutinize him for a long, long time as if trying to read his complicated mind.

He stepped forward to envelope her into a tight embrace, one that held no passion, nor hatred, just pure and untainted love.

 

Chapter 30

LEMON ALERT! This is not for anyone who isn't old enough to read explicit, suggestive, or smexy content. Although I myself am not even old enough to watch an 'R' rated movie, I am still by all means a very perverted 9th grader:p (although I look at myself as 'deviate') So if you don't like this sort of stuff, then get your ass off this page! smank you:)

:o everyone get the beer and wine coolers, panda-chan is going to read my lemon! :00000000 oh hells yeah:D bout time she got a little action, we all know big sis needs it;)

---

"Is this a lie, too?" Lina's now meek voice was muffled by the pressure of Xelloss's chest, but her words were crystal clear in his mind. For a split second, the overwhelming urge to tell her the truth pulled at his non-existent conscience, but that wouldn't be tolerated. ...By anyone. And wouldn't it only send her running? That wouldn't do. "No Lina-san, I don't want to hurt you anymore." His hand stroked the back of her head tenderly, and he felt as if he really did mean those words. So in a way, it wasn't exactly a lie.

Trying to hold back the tears, Lina balled her hands into fists in his shirt. Feeling somehow comforted by his words, she felt a smile begin to grow. But it soon sank into a frown, and she sucked the inside of her cheek. "Y-you do know that I'll never forget him, don't you?" She asked hesitantly, biting her lip in anxiety at his awaited answer. For some reason she had this suspicion that he would immediately through her away from him, and give her that horrible look of hated she had only seen on the rarest of rare occasions-never directed at her.

Her eyes widened as she felt his hand slide to her shoulders, and push her gently away from him. Knowing in her heart that he was going to reject her, she felt a new wave of tears well in the back of her throat. But instead of giving her a look filled with anger, it was filled with amusement...and...love? "Of course I know that Lina-san, no one forgets their first love." His voice was gentle as his finger reached up to wipe a stray tear sliding down her cheek. "There is no such thing as getting over such a strong love as you had for him, but you deserve a chance to love, and be loved in return."

She searched his eyes for a moment, wondering if she should let herself be pulled into his massive web of what she once thought to be lies. Could he be right? Putting her hands onto his shoulders, she rose onto tippy toes and melded their lips together. She lingered there for only a bit before lowering herself, a smile playing on her lips. "Are you offering?" Her voice was playful, but the meaning behind them and his answer meant the world.

Xelloss chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "If I am?"

"Then I'd do this." Their lips met again, but this time Lina took control...for the moment. Xelloss thought with a grin, vastly enjoying the pull of his neck as her hand curled into his hair. Kissing her back with a renewed passion, he had somehow backed her into the small space between the dresser and the bed. His icy cold hands slid into the back of her shirt, sending tons of pleasurable shivers up her spine.

Moaning into his mouth, she bit his lip approvingly as his fingers intimately massaged the fragile bones trailing down her back. Briefly breaking their kiss, she reached down to pull her shirt up and off, making Xelloss smile wickedly. Not giving him any chances to spout off some irritatingly time-consuming comment, she crushed her lips to his again with a wild passion.

Exploring her mouth with his daring tongue, Xelloss stepped his right leg forward to cage her between himself and the wall dominantly. Lina was too lost in her own pleasure to notice, and snaked her fingers up Xelloss's chest to slip his cape off with a soft swoosh. Smiling greedily against his lips, she groaned as he broke the kiss abruptly, but moaned aloud as the heated feel of his tongue against the tender spot under her ear made her melt with wantonness.

Nibbling his way into her self control, Xelloss reached around to unclasp her flimsy bra with one swift motion, causing an abrupt gasp as the soft caress of the night air invaded her skin. Unable to hold back a triumphant grin, he glided his palm from her thigh all the way up to her breast, using his fingers to massage them carefully. At her whimper, he took it into his hand fully, his mouth still working its magic on the upper skin of her ear.

As his hand squeezed firmly, but tenderly, Lina let out another yelp followed by a drawn out moan. Despite the icy coldness of his fingers, her body was on fire, steam practically oozing off of her skin. This felt right, this felt happy, this felt really...good. Oh, gods, it felt damned good. Her eyes were closed with over-whelming pleasure, and her body squirmed against his while her breath came in strangled pants.

Taking another step ahead, Xelloss made use of his task-deprived hand and moved it downwards towards her most aching part. Quickly undoing the buttons of her slacks, his hand took full advantage and sank beneath her panties to cup her boldly. Her eyes flying open, Lina bit her lip to suppress the very loud moan that begged to escape her lips.

That being his 'go sign', Xelloss slid one naughty finger through, and Lina's hands clutched his upper arms demandingly. Using a second finger he rubbed her tender clit just enough so that her hips bucked in a very unladylike fashion. The hand on her breast pressed just a tinsy bit harder and he meshed their lips together eagerly, pumping his fingers in a tantalizing rhythm that made Lina want to kill him, and kiss at the same time.

Check on that last one.

Her mouth opened into a silent scream and her head thumped backwards into the wall, her body shaking as a rippling orgasm ran through her. Finally lifting up his head, Xelloss watched Lina's flushed face as she panted softly with her eyelids shut tightly. Sensing his gaze, she lifted her eyes to his, and smiled a bright and uncharacteristic smile. Suddenly turning her attention downwards, she frowned. "You're wearing too many clothes." She stated simply, with a tone she tried to pass off as sagely.

Xelloss looked down to his shirt as well, grinning. "So I am." Lina grinned along with him mischievously, reaching down to yank off his shirt eagerly and without shame. Going right along, Xelloss lifted his arms at her annoyed grunt and raise of her eyebrows. Once she had tugged it off, she placed her hands firmly onto his pale, yet toned, chest.

Exploring the curves of his newly exposed skin, Lina amazed even herself at how curious she was off the first male body she had ever had nearly full access to. His low chuckle made her rise her eyes to meet his amused gaze, and she blushed a bright red. She opened her mouth to excuse herself, but he shook his head and hushed her with a finger.

"I understand Lina-san," He bent down his head to place his lips just next to her ear. "And I'm honored to be your first." She laughed, the sound for the first time to him sounding musical and it warmed a part of him he never knew he had. "You damn well better be." She mumbled as he lifted his head so that she could become lost in his kisses for the umpteenth time.

Somehow they found themselves on the bed, Xelloss perched atop Lina-san's writhing body against the cool sheets. Their tongues and limbs entwined together almost as if they were one, completing each other in a way that neither of them could ever want, but deep down they know they need with a desperation.

"Lina-san, are you ready?" Xelloss breathed into her ear, his voice rough and nearly a grunt. Not bothering to think about it, Lina bobbed her head up and down in a nervous nod with her eyes closed tight. He slowly lifted his head from her neck, and took her chin between his forefinger and thumb, causing her eyes to open hesitantly.

"Are you sure? There is no such thing as a second first time Lina-san, I don't want you to regret tonight." He searched her gaze for any signs of panic, or fear, but he only saw that they were softening in the most adoring way. "I'll never regret it, I promise. Now hurry up, I'm not a very patient woman." She smiled ruefully, sliding her free hand into his hair to yank down his head for one last kiss before they began.

Biting his lip before allowing him to lift himself off of her, Lina shifted slightly as he rose from the bed to rid himself of his pants and his shoes. Lina watched him with shy eyes, curious yet bashful at her first view of the full male body-human, or mazoku. It didn't matter which it was, it was still her first time, and she would keep true to her word and treasure this night no matter what happened afterwards.

Climbing back onto the bed, Xelloss lowered himself to slid off Lina's slacks and, with her permission, her panties as well. Taking in her delicate naked beauty, Xelloss couldn't help but smile to himself at just how beautiful Lina-san really was. To most mazoku, humans' naked bodies were all the same, but to him hers would be the most meaningful one he'd ever had the pleasure of seeing.

"Xelloss..." Lina whined in embarrassment, her face turning a deep scarlet in the orange fire light.

Xelloss chuckled knowingly, bracing his hands on either side of her fiery red head and staring deep down into her amber eyes. Returning his gaze, she smiled softly, nodding her acceptance. Moving his hand a little to the left, he took her hand in his and his face grew serious, bur caring. "It will hurt, but just for a bit Lina-san, I promise."

For a moment her eyes grew wide, but they softened visibly and a grin spread all across her face. "I trust you, Xelloss."

Leaning down to give her a fatherly kiss on the nose, Xelloss returned her smile.

Lina's hand tightened impulsively as Xelloss guided himself in, slowly, oh so slowly. She winced slightly at the unexpected pang of hurt, and resisted the urge to cry out in pain. He watched her face fill with thousands of emotions, and felt them with unwanted ease, and for the first time regretted the ability to absorb human emotions.

Taking it slowly, he waited for her to stop squirming, and fully inserted himself within her warm depths. A long, drown out moan/sigh escaped her lips as she felt herself being stretch in a way she never imagined possible. She still throbbed, and ached, but it was worth it because of the beautiful feeling of pleasure that ran through her senses with every stroke of him within her.

Instinctively she lifted her hips to meet his, feeling herself become lost in the mixture of emotions and feelings, she bit her lip as she felt her tender folds open even further as they both neared their climax. It made her want to cry, but she didn't dare to cry in such a cliche' moment. She remembered a vague memory of her mother telling her and her sister of the night of their parents' wedding night.

She explained that the immense joy to have given herself to her one, and only, true love made her so full of happiness that tears of contentment were flowing down her cheeks before she even knew what was happening. At first, their father had become terrified, begging their mother's forgiveness for hurting her in such an unforgivable way. But she had waved him off with a laugh, and after explaining, they laughed together at one of the most memorable moments in their long lives together as husband and wife.

Lina hadn't understood then, and shrugged off the mushy story with a grunt, thinking that it was just what mothers did. Now, she felt as if she knew exactly what her mother had been saying, and somehow regretted ever doubting that such a thing could occur in a life like hers.

Xelloss watched Lina beneath him, watching as she moaned and grinded against him in a more intimate way then he ever thought he'd see her act-especially towards him of all people. Unable to resist, he crushed his lips down onto hers with an unknown source of over-bearing lust and probed and invaded her mouth with a dominance she'd have normally rejected.

Momentarily surprised at Xelloss's outburst, Lina soon eagerly returned it with just as much feverish passion as he, and with one final stroke they were toppled over the edge of self control and climaxed in each others arms. Breaking their kiss, Xelloss searched Lina's dazed eyes for any signs of remorse, but she only smiled lazily. "That was...amazing."

After a moment of giving her a surprised stare, Xelloss chuckled, lowering himself to snuggle into the crook of her neck. Laying himself behind her spooning-style, and smiled against her hair. "Indeed it was Lina-san, indeed it was."

They drifted asleep together, exhausted from their night of naughtiness.

OoO

"Lina..." His voice called, making her heart skip another beat, bringing heat to her cheeks. "Lina, I love you."

His face was shadowed, but his voice was familiar. "Who are you?" Lina whispered, welcoming his warm embraced as his arms took her tiny body into their safe haven. His hand stroked her hair, and tenderly brushed a stray curl behind her ear. "I love you..." He murmured again, lifting her chin upwards so that he could place a soft kiss to her lips.

"I...I don't know you." Lina stammered, feeling over-powered by this mysterious man's hold over her self control. "But you love me." He insisted, his voice never faltering with insecurity. "Who are you?" She tried again as his lips went to her neck, nearly knocking her feet out from under her. But his arm swooped around her waist, holding her up firmly.

"You have to know who I am, because I love you."

"But I don't know who you are!" Her voice was panicked now, and she felt herself become frantic to know who this self-proclaimed lover was.

"Lina-san!" Is that your voice? Are you going to tell me who you are?

"Liiiiiiiina-saaaaan." Slowly opening her eyes, Lina realized that it was Xelloss who was calling to her...and that she had only been having a weird dream.

"Xelloss?" She gurgled sleepily, her eyes only opened to slits as she struggled to regain full consciousness. Vaguely, she felt his hand stroking her cheek tenderly. "Yes, Lina-san, it's me. You were having a bad dream." Her eyes were open now, and before she could stop herself, she looked down at their naked-and still entwined-bodies.

Blushing for no apparent reason, she turned her head, resisting the urge to cry out in embarrassment. Xelloss only chuckled and pulled her body even closer to his, nibbling on her shoulder. "Sleep alright?" He purred, ignited the fire that at first resisted to be anything but dampened. "Mmmhmm." She couldn't help but crane her neck back so that she could smile at him.

"Thanks." She murmured as she snuggled her nose into the nape of his neck.

If things continued like this, she'd have a hell of a lot of explaining to do when they went down for breakfast.

Damn.