"Now WHY is tonight special?" Yume asked again as Zelgadiss finally got her to sit down and let him brush her hair.

"Because it's a celebration of life." He answered for about the twelfth time. "And it only comes around once every five years."

"I'm almost five." She replied proudly, kicking her feet as he secured the ponytail.

"I know." He said with a smile.

"So what happens tonight?"

"Your Aunts are going to take care of you."

"And I get to sleep in the forest and dance and sing and have fun right?"

"Exactly."

"And why aren't you and Papa going to be there?"

"Because this is a special night for us too and we have to be somewhere else." He finished with her hair. "There you go, now find your bedroll so you'll have it for tonight."

"Okay To-san." She ran out of the room to try and find the elusive blankets as Zelgadiss gathered his own belongings. He had just finished packing his bag when he felt a pair of very welcome arms slip around his waist. Leaning back into the embrace he sighed. "You're early."

"I didn't feel like waiting." Xellos replied smoothly, nibbling at Zelgadiss' ear. "Besides, I am going to be here to make sure that absolutely nothing goes wrong."

"Good." He moaned lightly as Xellos' teeth pulled on his earlobe. "I don't want any mistakes."

"We should just start now then." His hands drifted lower to toy with Zelgadiss' belt. Before the chimera could choose a reply however, they were interrupted by a delighted exclamation.

"Papa, you're home early!"

Xellos let go of him as they both sighed and then the mazoku picked up their daughter happily. "Hello Yume, are you looking forward to tonight?"

She nodded. "To-san says it's going to be a lot of fun."

"Yume." Zelgadiss said sternly, looking at the mess of blankets that now lay on the floor of the doorway. "What have you done to your bedroll?"

"It got all mucked up." She answered, looking guilty. "I can't get it fixed, Papa, will you help me?"

Xellos nodded and they managed to get the bedroll in order with very little difficulty. Happy with the outcome Yume left the room cheerfully as she went to finish packing and Zelgadiss smiled.

"Sucker."

"Oh be quiet."

"She's got you wrapped around her little finger."

"I can't help it." Xellos admitted cheerfully. "I just can't resist that puppy-dog look."

"You better learn how to get over it before she becomes a teenager, especially since her female role models have been Lina and Amelia."

He looked momentarily disturbed by that thought before finally smiling again with a shrug. "I'll deal with that later. Are you ready?"

"Shouldering his pack Zelgadiss smiled suggestively. "More than ready."

"Let's go then."

Gathering their daughter and her belongings they left her to be babysat by her exuberant Aunts and then made their was to a very familiar secluded forest clearing. Xellos watched as Zelgadiss made camp, spreading out the blankets as dusk began to fall around them. The second things were set to the chimera's satisfaction he found himself knocked flat on his back looking up into the heated gaze of his love. "I thought I was the one who's supposed to be overcome with need tonight." He teased.

"I always need you this much." Xellos replied seriously, the words sending waves of pleasure through Zelgadiss' body. "You're mine and I am going to make very sure that I get to keep you."

"Yes love." Zelgadiss replied only seconds before the mazoku caught his mouth in a demanding kiss. It had been five years since their first kiss, since an accidental meeting in this clearing had joined them together and every time they were together Zelgadiss thanked the fates that had placed them in the right place at the right time. He moaned as he felt Xellos' hands remove his belt and then chuckled as his shirt was pulled up over his head almost right after. "You are impatient tonight aren't you?"

Xellos grinned as he ran his hands down the flat planes of Zelgadiss' chest. "Well, there's going to be no time for foreplay once the moon comes up, so I think we should get as much in now as we possibly can, don't you?"

"Oh yes!" He replied as his lover's hand drifted lightly over his erection. Darkness was deepening around them now, Xellos was right they really didn't have much time. Sitting up he began to strip his lover quickly, still marvelling at the beautiful body he was not only allowed but encouraged to touch all he wanted. When they were dressed only in their pants Xellos captured his mouth again, drawing the kiss out slow and sensuously while contrasting it with the demanding pressure of his trapped erection against the chimera's. He couldn't remember when Xellos had begun to take the more active role in their lovemaking but it didn't matter, it felt wonderful to surrender under that skilled touch and to know that he was that wanted and that needed.

Speaking of need, he sighed as he felt the shift in his own and turned his pleasure-clouded gaze to the horizon where he could now see the cheerful face of the full moon as it began rising above the distant mountains. For the first time in years it was a welcome sight, just as welcome as the fire that was stirring to life within him; a deeper but no greater insistent desire than Xellos had evoked on his own.

"Xellos." He moaned, pulling at the mazoku's pants. "Please."

"I see our time is up." He answered with a smile as he allowed Zelgadiss to strip the remaining clothes from his body before returning the favour. "That's all right, I couldn't have waited much longer anyway."

Zelgadiss smiled before pushing the mazoku onto his back, coming down on top of his lover. He needed this so much, needed him, it was almost unbearable. "Xellos, I love you." He whispered as he found the vial of oil they'd brought and began to coat his fingers with it.

"And I love you." The mazoku replied, arching himself into Zelgadiss' touch and moaning as the chimera's fingers entered, tormenting his as they prepared his body. "Forever."

Zelgadiss groaned, then positioned himself at Xellos' entrance, kissing the mazoku again before thrusting into his welcoming channel. "Forever." He gasped out as he drew back again before once more pressing himself into the heat of his lover's body. Xellos' hands clung to his shoulders as he continued to drive himself into the mazoku's body and he could hear his name falling in delightful whispered from his lover's lips with every movement his made.

It was almost too much, the sound and touch of Xellos' love drove him on towards the edge faster than he had anticipated for on this night he had not hope of holding back. "Xellos!" He gasped out as his climax came and he continued to cry his lover's name over and over as he buried himself deep within the mazoku's body, lost completely within his pleasure.

Xellos' grip on his shoulders had turned to a soothing caress by the time his breathing slowed and he felt capable of moving again. He could not remember hearing his lover's climax, but the evidence of it now coated their stomachs and he smiled, happy that they'd both reached completion in the heated moment. Xellos returned the smile as Zelgadiss rolled off to rest beside him then snuggled closer as he kissed him deeply.

"Happy Anniversary love." The mazoku whispered as the blankets were drawn up around them. Zelgadiss just sighed, kissing him back before setting down and falling asleep in his lover's arms.