Author:  Zellie G'
Title:  United by Power

United By Power

Notes

Navy = Flashback

Chapter 1

She leaned on a wall of an Inn where they said to meet. Her crimson cape moved in the breeze like a bat taking flight along with her long, black tresses as they feel over her shoulders with each sigh of the wind. She blew smoke out of her mouth as she took another drag from her cigarette. Her ruby eyes scanned the area. She laughed mentally, not believing who she was about to meet with. The woman who actually destroyed one of her father's parts. Only a human too. It amazed her really.

She sighed and stretched. She was at least 10 minutes early and she knew Lina would be there. So, that just left her alone with her thoughts. She knew she should be mad that Lina destroyed a part of her father, but she wasn't. Her mind slowly took her back to that day when her mother died and the reasons behind it.

Rose was only five when she heard the screams of her mother faintly. She got up quickly, clutching the covers to her as fear built deep inside of her and started to surface. The little dragon/mazoku quietly made her way to her door; sneaking downstairs and outside where the screams had come from. Rose ran towards the woods and stopped when she saw her father and another mazoku putting her mother in the ground.

The little girl's eyes grew wide as she whispered/whimpered, "Mommy...?"

Shabrinigdo looked at the other mazoku and said, "There, now my daughter will be brought up to be a strong and powerful weapon. One that will make me proud. Without the influence of her mother, a Gold dragon, she will bring chaos that only I can teach." He brushed his black hair out of his face. His human form showing a 22 year old man, black hair, blue eyes, and a built that would put any muscle builder in the world to shame.

Rose began to cry as she heard his words and she yelled, "Daddy! What happened to mommy!? Why is she in the ground?!" She tears poured down as she gripped her father's arm.

He mentally cursed, but simply put on a sad face and answered, "Mother died honey. We were just burying her." False tears streamed from his eyes as he picked up his daughter. "She is in a better place now." He smirked to his words without Rose knowing.

Rose sniffled and clenched to her father and sobbed, "Why did mommy have to leave?'

He looked at his daughter in the eyes and said, "It was just her time dear. Now lets go home. Daddy won't ever leave. He'll teach you everything you need to know." Having more meaning in his words than she knew.

She wept on his shoulder as he carried her home and put her back to bed. "Sweet dreams little one. Everything will be fine," he said softly and kissed her on the forehead, then blowing out the candle in her room and leaving the door a little bit open as he retreated to his room.

Rose cried softly, not really understanding her father's words to the other mazoku, but never forgetting them as she finally went into a deep sleep.

12 years later

"ROSE! Where have you been!? I had everybody, counting my dark lords, searching for you! You need more training," Shabrinigdo roared at her daughter as the 17 year old just stared at him with a smug grin.

"Oh, shut up father. Your acting like I'm a little kid again, " she rolled her eyes and turned her back on him, not really giving a shit what he thought.

Shabrinigdo grabbed her shoulder and turned her around and growled, "You will show respect to me Rose!"

Rose shoved his hand away from her, "Like hell I will! What are you going to do? Kill me like you did my mother!?"

Shabrinigdo gasped in surprise and stared at her, his red eyes glaring into her own.

She smirked, now knowing the words he spoke when she was five meant. She had never forgotten them. Never. Now, she understood their meaning. "Thats right father, your strong and powerful weapon, the one you could train to be more corrupted and evil like yourself. Well, I refuse to be apart of this game any more! Goodbye father! Now I get to go to a better place. Away from you!"

She stormed off, but Shabrinigdo stopped her, grabbing her arm and yelling, "Your not going anywhere! Do you understand!?"

She stared into his eyes and said, "Yes I am. Don't try to stop me either." She pulled her arm out and walked out the door, slamming it shut, and teleporting away for a new life.

Now, the 400 year-old Rose, stood straight up and turned as she heard the Inn door open and six members stepped out. Lina was the first in front, followed by the blonde swordsman, the chimera, the princess, the Gold dragon, and the mazoku priest. They stayed that way in a straight line facing Rose as Lina stepped forward.

Lina examined the woman carefully. Her red eyes stared back into hers, noticing her eyes seemed to glow red more than anything. Rose wore black leather pants that had a symbol of some sort going down the side of each pant leg. Her tight, leather shirt was black also, with the same symbol going down the side of the arms. She also had black boots with red gloves reaching her elbow. Of course having a sword with a black casing and gold handle, with a red belt holding it on. Lina smirked. She already liked the girl. Except for the fact that she was built bigger in the chest area, which seemed everybody did compared to her. Her hair was about the same length as Lina's and she was only about two inches taller.

Lina walked up to her and said, "So, I guess you came to fight since I killed a part of your father. I'm I right?"

Rose smirked, stepped up closer and said, "No. Your wrong. I'm actually here to thank you and asking you to let me join your group."

That got a reaction out of all of them and Lina turned to her friends. "Well," Lina said, "What do you think guys?"

Firia sneered, "The daughter of HIM! No way! What makes you think..." Firia was cut off as Rose pulled out a necklace that was hidden in her shirt. On it was a silver wolf pendant and next to it was a golden dragon pendant.

"I'm half your kind. Now are you going to deny me?" She looked at Firia as Firia shook her head.

"No," Firia mumbled, "I guess I won't."

Zel just nodded, Amelia thought about it and gave in, Gourry... well... had no word in it at all, and Xellos was very pleased.

Lina smirked and turned back to Rose and said, "Welcome. Your part of the group."

She held out her hand and as Rose's hand met hers, a flicker of dark and light magic seemed to encircle their hands as they met.

Rose simply smirked and answered, "The pleasure is all mine."

She met everybody and shook their hands, the magic flicker doing it to all of them. As Rose got to Xellos, she stopped and said, "Oh, I already know this fruitcake. Long time, no see Metallium."

Xellos smirked and opened his eyes, grabbing her hand and kissing it lightly, "It has been a while."

Rose pulled away and smirked, "Yes it has."

Chapter 2

Navy = Flashback

Rose woke up in the Inn where they had stayed the night. The sun came pouring in the window as she yawned and streched. She had been with the group for a month now. Not bad really. She liked the company actually. She hadn't really been close to anybody ever since she left her father. She sneered. Not wanting her thoughts to drift to that asshole.

She got up and started to get dressed as she heard Amelia stir in the bed that they had to share thanks to the shortage of rooms. She sighed and said, "Morning Amelia. Sleep well?"

Amelia rubbed her eyes and looked at her, "Very well, thank you. Did you? I heard you crying in your sleep again. You never tell me why though." Amelia gave her a worried look.

Rose just simply smirked and answered, "Just bad dreams Amelia. You live long enough, you get a lot of them," looks away and whispers, "Too many of them really."

Amelia didn't hear her and started to get dressed, not wanting to push her to far, but curious to know what the nightmares have been about. They both finished getting out of their night clothes and into their regular outfits. They came downstairs and Rose took a seat on the side of the table as Amelia took one across from her. Soon after Rose sat down she felt a very familiar power behind her.

Without even turning around Rose rolled her eyes and said, "Good morning Xellos. You can stop trying to sneak up on me every morning," she looked up as the waiter came in front of her, "Oh, can I please have a coffee with sugar?"

The waiter nodded and turned to Amelia as she ordered almost everything; getting Lina's food so she won't have to wait on it.

Xellos sat down next to Rose and said, "Nothing surprises you anymore does it my dear?"

Rose snerred for the second time that day already and said, "Stop calling me my dear. I'm not your nothing." She knew that was a mean statement, but the truth hurts.

Xellos just continued to smirk and whispered to her, "For now at least."

Rose streched, making sure to whack Xellos upside his head, "Don't even start with me this morning Xellos."

Soon, they were joined by all the others. Regular morning. Lina fought Gourry for the food, Amelia got what she could, Firia sighed and drank her tea, Xellos just smirked, and Zel and Rose sipped their coffee slowly.

Then, right after that, they ventured off into the new day that usually brought treasure, food, speeches, and of course, more and more bandits. Rose walked behind the group a lot, liking to stick to herself. Unfortunately, she wasn't alone for long.

"Good day Rose! Why do you stray all the way behind us? It would seem like you don't like us anymore," Xellos said, smirking and looked down at her as he floated above her.

Rose ignored him and kept walking. She had had many very close calls with Xellos in the past, so she wasn't ready to deal with them now. Not at all. She looked back up at him and said in a voice that he had known all to well to leave her alone, "Xellos. Please." It was a simple request that he understood.

He floated back over to Lina and the rest of them. Lina looked back at him as he landed next to them and walked along, not saying a word as the smirk fell from his face.

Lina cocked her head and said, "So, what is her deal?"

Xellos just shook his head, eyes open and said almost in a whisper, "She just wants to be alone," he thought for an excuse, "She says she doesn't fell well." He smirked and gave a wink at Lina. "No worries."

Lina just nodded and kept walking, but Firia wasn't buying it as she caught the look in the Mazoku's face. Yet, she didn't say anything at all, not wanting to start a conflict.

Xellos went back deep into his mind, a time when he had thought he had forgotten, but knowing he never would have. He sighed and thought to himself, Oh to go back and start over.

He watched her as she went into her home and smirked. It had been at least 20 years since she ran away from home. Xellos smirked from the tree he was sitting in and sighed. He was watching, waiting, and taking his time. He knew Rose wouldn't trust him at first, but he was prepared for that. Xellos' smirk widened as he saw Rose's silhoutte showed her removing her clothing and putting on a nightgown. This will be interesting...

Rose sighed and streched. She had a very stressful day and was really looking forward to some rest. She blew out the candle on the wall and laid in her bed, keeping a very dim candle lit on a dresser on the other side of the room. She smirked, it had been so much better being away from her father. She could finally start over. A new life. Not known as..... she heard something. Someone was in there with her.

Xellos cursed himself mentally as he accidently hit his foot against the dresser from where the candle gleamed. He soon recovered and blew it out before she had a chance to see who it was though. He smirked in the darkness. She was only half mazoku but her father still was Shabrinigdo. She didn't know the true power she posessed. Which was fine with Xellos.

Rose was getting pissed. Her temper always did come before her fear did. She looked in the darkness about her. She finally stood up and walked to the foot of the bed and growled, "Who is there?! Show yourself now!"

Xellos walked into the light in front of her. His cloak, gloves, and shirt were to the side of him on the ground and his chest seemed to glow in the moonlight that came blazing in through the window. He smirked and said, "As you wish."

She gasped and slapped him across the face hard. She bared her teeth and snarled, "How dare you come in my house without my permission! I should kill you here and...." She was cut off as he kissed her gently on the lips. Very gently. Almost like a rose petal had been pressed to her lips.

Xellos pulled back and smirked at her. He knew how to keep her quiet. Yes... he knew.

Rose was stunned for a minute. Then she looked up in his eyes, that were open and looking down at her now. Her eyes turned from a ruby red to a sky blue, the color of her mother's eyes. She had learned how to do this after a couple of years. She put her anger aside and whispered, "Xellos..... why?"

He smirked and whispered back, "Sore wa himitstu desu."

She rolled her eyes as his arms found her waist and wrapped around her tightly. "Don't give me that Xellos. I want an answer. Now. Did my father tell Zelas to send you and seduce me then bringing me back? Or what? Come on. There has got to be a catch."

Xellos just shook his head while walking over to the bed and laying her down slowly. "No," he said softly, "No one sent me. I sent myself."

Rose was on fire by now. Gods she wanted him, but she was not about to admit to that. She looked deep into his eyes and asked, "But Xellos, why?"

Xellos lifted up and stroked the side of her face. "Why? Cause I want you. I want to know every part of you. Inside and out," he leaned down and whispered slowly in her ear, "You are my desire."

Rose couldn't believe this. The same fruitcake Mazoku that she had bossed around while living with her father was asking her to have sex with him! No! Not sex. He was full mazoku. It was just a fuck to him.

She shook her head and said, "No Xellos. I know what you did to the Golds and I'm half Gold. Besides, I want to be in love with that right person. Not someone all I'm feeling is desire for."

Xellos chuckled and said in a light tone, "What if I said I did love you? Then what? You could love me and just not know it." He began to kiss her neck and jawline very gently, letting his hands massage her hips lightly.

Rose closed her eyes and let him. Not really caring about the love and just wanting this desire. She brought her arms around his back and kissed him deeply, surprisng both of them.

Xellos kissed back with much more force and passion, finding his hands go up her nightgown and grasp her breast gently. Rose moaned out in more of surprise and pleasure. She molded her body against his as he brought the nightgown above her head and cupped her breast in his mouth lightly. She squrimed under him, moaning lightly a his tongue teased her hardened nipples. He let his teeth nibble very lightly on her nubs while letting his hand slip in between her legs. Rose looked down at him, desire and lust drowning her and it showed in her now almost glowing blood, red eyes. His mouth went back up to reclaim hers as he let one of his fingers enter her tight passage. She clenched the bed sheets and arched her back up slightly.

Xellos removed his finger with a surprised look on his face. "Rose, you stayed a virgin all this time?"

Rose nodded, a tremble in her voice, "Yes. I just haven't found that perfect one yet."

Xellos kissed her deply, letting his tongue search every inch of her mouth. He then seperated and looked deep into her eyes, "Oh, but you have now."

Rose gave him a little grin as she watched Xellos remove his pants. He kissed down her chest and breast again, then making his way to her stomach. He let his tongue make little circles around her belly button, satisfied as he heard erotic moans escape Rose. He moved in between her legs, kissing the inside of her thighs, licking every inch of them. He let two fingers into her virgin womanhood slowly, loving it as Rose seemed to moan and whine at the same time. Hew slid them in and out of her, testing the virgin barrier.

He soon removed his fingers and let his head make his way in between her thighs. he looked back up at her with a knowing smirk. She looked down at him with wanting eyes and nodded, as if giving him permission. He let his tongue lash out and lightly lick the outside of her passage. She arched up more, almost coming off her bed as his tongue finally entered her all the way. The moans came out low and passionate. He moved his tongue in her as if he was kissing her mouth. Rose bit back a cry of joy to the sensation filling her.

His hands went up to her breast and massged them slowly, letting his thumbs play with her nipples. Rose was at her peak and almost came until Xellos pulled out and positioned himself between her legs, looking down at her with a smirk crossing his face.

Rose whispered softly, "You are such a tease."

Xellos just chuckled low and whispered back, "I know. But I know you love it."

He kissed her deeply again, his manhood at her entrance. Rose kissed him aback and suddenly stopped, anger coming back. She kept seeing all those Golden dragons die. One by one as Xellos blew them up like they were an old toy that was no use to him anymore. She looked into his eyes, hatered flaring at him.

Xellos looked deeply into her eyes, a wondering expression on his face. "Rose, what's wrong?"

Rose pushed him off of her and sat up, looking down where he now layed beside her. "Get out Xellos. I don't want to see you anymore." Xellos couldn't believe his ears! She was kicking him out!? He sat up with her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Come on Rose. You don't really want me to leave now do you?"

Rose let a soft tear flow from her eyes. She was sick of being torn between good and evil. Half Gold, half mazoku. It was killing her. She wanted Xellos, but he killed all those Golds and she couldn't get around him without seeing them die. "Xellos. Now. Please." She pulled away from him and laid down,turned on her side, looking away from him.

Xellos was about to say something to her. He really didn't know what to say, but he didn't want to lose this one. Xellos sighed, knowing she could blow him here to hell and back if she wanted too. He got up and put his clothing back on, turning to her and whispering, "Goodbye Rose."

He teleported out, leaving Rose there on her bed, tears coming down her face like little streams in the middle of a clearing in the woods. She clenched her pillow to her and pulled her knees to her chest as she whispered in to the darkness, "Goodbye Xellos."

Xellos didn't even see the tree as he ran straight into it. He feel back on the ground in front of Zelgadis. Zel snickered to himself and helped him up. Zel turned to Xellos and said, "Someone has his heads in the clouds. You do know there is a tree there?"

Xellos just smirked and said, "Yes. I know. I was just thinking that there isn't a town for a while."

The whole group looked up at him and yelled, "WHAT!?"

Lina growled and punched the Trickster priest in his side. "Thanks for telling us that now Xellos." She looked at the sky and back at him, "I guess we will have to camp out for the night."

Rose streched and said, "Fine with me. We are pretty close to a spring. We can camp near there."

Firia nodded and said, "Good idea."

Lina nodded back and kept walking not noticing Xellos was back into his daydream state. She glanced at the group without Xellos noticing and shrugged.

Zel came up to Lina and Amelia's side and said, "He has been like that all afternoon. What the hell is wrong with him?"

Lina and Amelia both shrugged. Amelia glanced at him and said to Lina and Zel, "He almost looks depressed."

Gourry cocked his head at his three friends and said, "He looks love sick to me."

Firia and Rose even heard that and all of them, besides Gourry and Xellos, gasped in surprise. Gourry just shrugged and kept walking on.

Firia's eyes were wide as she gathered her words in a whisper so Xellos couldn't hear, "Him!? Gourry! He can't love! No mazoku can."

Gourry just titled his head and said, "Well, he looks like it to me."

Zel, Amelia, Lina, and Firia looked back at the Trickster as he looked off in the air, not paying any attention to their little conversation.

Lina shook her head and mumbled, "Oh forget it. He probably is just thinking of a new way to piss us off."

With that they continued their way to the campsite. Rose walked along Zel and Firia but found herself looking back at Xellos. As she looked back their eyes locked on each other and for one second something went between them. Rose tried to pull her eyes away from his, but they wouldn't budge. His amethyst eyes darted into hers like daggers to her heart. No. Pull away, Rose said to herself. She finally pulled away and kept walking.

Zel whispered to Lina so the others wouldn't hear, "Something is really up between those two."

Lina nodded and said, "I know," she quietly, looking back at Rose and Xellos, "I know."

Chapter 3

They settled down at the campsite near the spring like planned. Rose laid out her sleeping bag and walked back to the fire with the rest of the group. It was a cool outside and the breeze blew slowly through the top of the trees. Rose looked up and looked at the stares, amazed at how they are always there and never seemed to change.

Lina and the others were all talking about where they should go next and how to get there. Rose, not paying attention at all, just nodded to their routes and shortcuts to get there. Lina finally looked up across from the fire at her and said, "Rose. Are you going to help us or are you going to ignore us all night?"

Rose shook her head and looked back at Lina with a grin, "Sorry. Just thinking."

Xellos stared at Rose and smiled, "Head up in the clouds Rose?"

She glared at him and didn't answer. She paid attention to the rest of the conversation and tried her best not to look at Xellos. Gods it hurt her though. She could feel his eyes on her and didn't wan to meet the gaze.

Zel was the first to get up and go to his sleeping bag. soon followed Firia, Amelia, and Gourry. Lina stretched and said, "Rose. You can go on if you like. I'll take first watch."

Rose shook her head and answered, "No. Go on. I'm not that tired and I can tell you are."

Lina just got up and turned to her. "Thanks. Wake either me, Zel, or Gourry up for next watch. Goodnight Rose," she rolled her eyes as she walked to her sleeping bag and said, "Goodnight Xellos."

Xellos smirked and called back, "Goodnight Lina-chan! Don't let the mazokus.... I mean, bed bugs bite."

Lina laid down and answered back to him very sarcastically, "Hahaha. Funny fruitcake." With that she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Oh gods. I'm alone with him, Rose thought to herself. She streched again and warmed her hands by the fire. Her red eyes looked deeply into the flames as it swirled as if in an endless dance of burning and warmth.

Xellos sighed and finally broke the silence, "Fire is such a beautiful thing. It reminds me much like love. It is so hot and wild when it first comes out. Dancing about as if not a care in the world. Then the fire seems to die out slowly as if the one who whiched it loved didn't feel the same and so it finally goes out. It becomes nothing but ashes and smoke and the wind carries it away in the cold of night."

Rose stared into his eyes the whole time, trying to find any truth behind what he said that applied to himself. Rose gulped and said quietly, "Yes. You have a point, but how would you know so much about love when people say you can't feel that emotion."

Xellos narrowed his eyebrows and said, "Do you believe everything you hear? I can feel love Rose. Just because I feed of negative emotion doesn't mean I can't positive ones of my own. When one loves and doesn't get the same feeling back from that person who seems to be the object of their affection, they slowly seem to melt away. Their heart sinks, their soul is crushed, pride broken, and finally their mind goes crazy. Not to the point where they have to put in a crazy bin, but secretly their mind loses it."

Rose felt a bad vibe from this before she asked but she had to anyway, "So, who was your love Xellos?"

Xellos just gave a slight smile and said, "Isn't it obvious Rose. You were. I was hoping you would have seen that in my little speech."

She looked down and said in a voice just above a whisper, "I'm sorry Xellos. I just can't be with you."

He stood and sat down next to her, starring straight into her face and eyes, "And why not? Is there a rule saying you can't? Cause if there is I sure the hell have never read it or seen it!"

Rose sneered and said in a tone that sounded between anger and sadness, "Xellos. That night, when you and I almost had sex, I kept seeing all those Golds die. All of the ones you killed. Now, tell me I can still be with you when that is my first thought. Seeing my kind die like that."

He was shocked and didn't want to answer to that. He just shook his head and said softly, "I'm sorry. I can't begin to tell how sorry I am, but if I knew that I would meet you and you had to go through this, I would never have killed them. I am so sorry."

She kept her headdown, tears flooding her eyes. She looked up at him, blinked so the tears could finally come out, and whispered, "Xellos. This isn't like you. Not at all. Why the change Xellos?"

Xellos took her hand in his and out it on his face, holding it there and kissing her palms lovingly. "I love you Rose. I always have. You are what changed me. I haven't been the same since that night."

Her tears finally flooded down her face as his arms wrapped around her in a tight embrace. She whimpered onto his chest as he rocked her gently. Her words came out broken but he understood them, "Xellos ..... we can ne ... never be toget .... together."

He pulled back and wiped the tears from her face and stroked her hair, "Yes we can. It has to be. My desire, my passion, my love," he leaned down closer to her ear, "My Rose."

Rose turned her head so she could be eye level with him. He leaned in and kissed her lightly, having his arms still around her waist. She kissed back as his tongue licked over her lips. She shyly opened her mouth as he slowly began to search the inside of it. He pulled her closer to him and let his hands go up the back of her leather shirt.

Rose let him, missing and wanting this feeling again. He removed his tongue from her mouth and began to kiss her earlobe and jawline, taking it slowly. She put her head to the sky as his kisses ran down her chin to her neck.

He went back up to her lips and kissed her deeply again, being more faster this time. She let her tongue be entangled with his until she saw the same scene again. She pulled away and whispered, "No .... not again"

Xellos' face was sad stricken as he came closer to her and kissed her lightly on he lips, only to be pushed away again as Rose's tears streamed down her face and her words were chocked, "No.... Xel... Xellos... we can't."

She got up and ran in the woods, not looking back as Xellos stood and watched with a pain expression. He sighed fighting back tears himself. He sat back down, taking the watch now, knowing she would be back and she wanted to be alone. He stared into the fire that was slowly dying and whispered, "Yes. Just like the fire." He could feel what human soul he had left begin to break as the fire went out.

Chapter 4

The morning sun swept over the small group of travelers as a lark sang it's morning song in the distance. Lina slowly opened her eyes that were being showered on by the rays of heat. She sat up and looked over at the fire, seeing Xellos with his eyes open and poking the fire with a twig that had been out for a long while now. His face showed that of hurt and pain. Lina blinked, making sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. Nope, they weren't.

She quietly got up and stretched, keeping her eyes on him. He didn't even acknowledge she was awake and kept poking the ashes and burnt out wood that hadn't completely burned all the way. He sighed and put his head down in his hands. Lina cocked her head to the side and stepped towards him until she saw Amelia get up and come towards her.

Amelia put on her regular chipper face and voice and said, "Morning Miss. Lina!"

Lina just stood there and saw that Xellos heard that and watched as he quickly recovered; putting his happy face back on. She rolled her eyes and said in a not so happy voice, "Morning Amelia."

Soon after Gourry, Firia, and Zelgadis were up and eating breakfast. Zel sipped some tea of Firia's since there was no coffee in the woods, Lina and Gourry fought as usual, Amelia just sighed and shook her head, but Xellos kept looking in the woods.

It was about that time Gourry stopped stuffing his face and asked, "Hey! Where is Rose?"

Everyone looked up to that and turned around, looking at each other, and finding no Rose in sight. Firia looked at the group and said, "Do you think her father got her?"

Lina shook her head and answered, "No. Rose is strong and she wouldn't have gone without a fight. We would have heard it."

Zelgadis nodded and said, "Right, but where you'd she....."

Xellos interrupted the chimera and said, "Look. You go ahead and when I find her we'll catch up with you guys later."

Firia laughed to herself and shook her head. "What are you plotting Xellos? That doesn't seem like you."

Xellos just smirked and stood up. "Well, I know her better than all of you and we know are way around much better. Don't miss me to much." With that he teleported out as the others sat there wondering.

Lina just shrugged and got up. "I wouldn't worry to much. I doubt he would hurt her."

Firia nodded her head and said, "He may be a fruitcake, but he isn't dumb. He knows he wouldn't win and even if he did, he wouldn't be the same afterward. She is strong. Very."

The group finished their breakfast and packed up, going off into the new morning into whatever trouble they could find and steal only L-sama knows what.

Meanwhile

Xellos teleported to the spring to see Rose asleep at the edge of it. Her leather outfit seemed to glow in the sunlight and she shifed a little as it hit her eyes. Xellos silently walked over to her, feeling something radiating off Rose. He didn't like this. Not at all. He finally ran to her side and dropped to his knees beside her. She was freezing cold and blood ran out from under her, most of it dried already.

Xellos was frantic with fear and surprise. "Rose!? Rose come on!" He took her in his arms as her eyes opened slightly. Blood came running out of her stomach and it wasn't healing that fast. She coughed up some and winced in pain.

"Xe ... xellos .... i didn't .... didn't even see them... attack. I didn't even def ... defend myself it was.... was ... so fast." She felt the blood come out more and cried out as the pain filled her whole body. "No! Xellos ... I don .... don't wanna die."

Xellos felt his own tears come down. He wasn't crying!? No way! But he was. He didn't want to lose Rose, even if she couldn't be his. "Don't worry Rose. You'll heal and with my help you'll be back to normal in no time."

He quickly set her down and removed her cape. Gods she was freezing! It was cold last night and she was out here the whole night with no warmth. Xellos bit back some more tears and put his hands on the wound. He looked up at her and said softly, "I'm afraid this will hurt a bit."

She didn't even have time to nod as started the spell. All she could really remember was her screams fill the air and feeling a dark energy, but some what peaceful, enter her body. She arched upward as Xellos tried to hold her down. He knew this would happen and he wasn't looking forward to it. He put all he could in this healing spell that was dragging his energy away. He closed his eyes and waited.

She finally hit the ground again and stopped screaming. The last thing she did was look at Xellos before she eyes closed and she went into a deep sleep. Xellos opened his eyes and looked at her. Just as he thought. He knew the dragon in here couldn't take it. If she was full mazkou maybe, but he knew it would hurt like hell.

He wrapped her in her leather cape and laid next to her. His body felt exhausted and tired. He groaned a little from the power that had been taken out of him. He knew it would hurt him. He was prepared for it though.

He snuggled close to Rose, putting his arms around her body to warm her. He closed his eyes and buried his face gently in her hair. Soon, rest and tiredness took over him too and his body fell weak and sleep was shared between them.

Meanwhile

The groups ears perked up as they heard the scream distantly. They were already a good mile away from their campsite, but the scream sounded familiar. Lina looked at her friends with wide eyes and said, "That sounded like Rose. You don't think that namagomi hurt her do you?"

Zel growled slightly and answered, "I wouldn't doubt it! He probably ....."

Firia stopped him in mid-sentence and said, "No. He isn't going to hurt her nor did hurt her. Maybe that was somebody else screaming."

Lina looked at the dragon maiden and said, "How are you so sure he wouldn't kill Rose."

Firia just shrugged and kept walking, "I just know Lina. Look at him when she is around and you'll learn a thing or two."

The group was shocked at her answer but let it slide. Lina just looked at Firia and thought, She has been acting very odd here lately. She acts almost close to Rose at times. The petite sorceress wasn't in the mood to confuse herself so she let it go and kept up the pace to the next town with the others.

Meanwhile

Time passed by swiftly. What was two minutes became two hours. Then three hours, four, five. It wasn't till ten hours later that Rose weakily open her eyes. Slowly letting the past memories come flooding back to her. She felt warm. Someone had their arms around her. She turned to see Xellos asleep next to her, holding her close and lovingly.

She smirked warmly. She liked this. Seeing him next to her like long lost lovers reunited. Now that she thought about it, thats exactly what they were; just more complicated than that. Rose slowly lifted her hand to brush the hair out of his face, trying to ignore the little bit of pain that was still in her stomach.

Xellos felt a hand go through his hair when he finally snapped out of his slumber. He opened one of his eyes and was meet with Rose's. He then opened the other and moved his arm a little. Weakly. Tiredly. He never knew he could ever be this weak before. He looked at Rose and spoke quietly, "You okay?"

She just nodded and moved in closer. "Thanks to you Xellos. I would have died out here if you didn't help me." She snuggled against his chest, loving the warmth between them and wanting more. Her mind flashed back to how this happened again. The sword that went deep in her stomach and the eyes of the one who did it. She could remember hitting him with a fireball, a big one. It worked but not for long. He was fast and the sword tore her all the way through.

Xellos looked at her as her mind drifted off. She looked scared and nervous. He raised himself up a little and looked down at her. Who did this to her? His love. His desire. His Rose. "Rose, who did this? They will pay. No one does this to you and gets away with it in my presence Rose. Now who?"

Rose turned up and looked at him, her eyebrows went down as she said his name. "Dynast. Dynast Grausherra."