Is it you?

Author: Nicca-Chi Title: Is it you? : Chapters 21-25

Is it you?

Disclaimer: I don't own The Slayers but a few added little spells and chars and such. Please don't sue me and I'll give you cookies :D

Chapter Selection

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30
31 | 32 | 33 |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Chapter 21

ADULTS ONLY! MATURE MATURE MATURE MATURE! (Sorry panda-chan...:O)

--

"Wa-Wait Hiyo. I don't think this is a good idea. What if it doesn't work?" Hiyo gave Lina a final nudge and a confident wink. "Don't worry Ms. Lina, it will. I promise." And with that the door was shut with finality.

Lina sighed and turned to face the empty hallway, looking down to give herself a twice over. She was only in her pajamas just as Hiyo had instructed her to be, and mentally gave herself a kick. These pajamas were thin and tighter then she remembered them being, which was what she supposed was the proper attire for such a mission. The deep velvet color made her skin look delicate and pale, while her eyes shone even in the dim light of her hotel room.

Sighing again, Lina padded softly down the hallway towards Xelloss's hotel room. Stopping just in front of it, she felt a strong feeling hum through her body. Anxiety was taking over and all she wanted to do was turn tail and run for what she thought to be her life. But what would she tell Hiyo? Taking a deep breath, she lifted her hands to unbutton the first two buttons of her pajama top.

Make yourself look seductive.

She shivered at Hiyo's confident instructions, and lifted her hand again this time to knock ever-so-slightly. Please be asleep. Please don't hear me. Please don't answer the door. She pleaded silently, hoping that mazoku were very heavy sleepers.

To her extreme displeasure, Xelloss did answer the door with his usual grin in place. He opened his mouth to greet her, but as if drawn there his head tilted downwards to her exposed v-shaped flesh, and his eyebrows rose. "Well good evening Lina-san, is there anything I can do for you?" He purred, his eyes opening to meet hers boldly.

Lina ignored him, and instead of answering only breezed past into his hotel room.

"Aren't you cold Lina-san? I worry about how careless you seem to be about the temperature drop." Xelloss chuckled and shut the door softly. "Xelloss do you have anything to drink?" She asked, hoping to relax her body with an easier tactic. He nodded and strolled to the tiny cabinet next to his bed.

Pulling out two glasses and a bottle of what she supposed to be very expensive wine out, he turned his back to her so that he could pour them their beverages.

Turning back to her he handed a glass to her, and took a delicate sip of his own just as she took hers. Tasting it, she smiled at Xelloss's good taste. He smiled at her over the brim of his glass and stepped just the tiniest bit closer.

Lina took a deep breath and raised her eyes to meet his. If there was ever a time to ask, then this was indeed the time. "Can I ask you something Xelloss?"

"I suppose."

"What emotions can you feel?"

Lina bit her lip nervously, and thanked the gods that Hiyo wasn't here right now. This was definitely not part of the plan, hell, it wasn't even her plan. She didn't know what kind of answer she'd get, and she didn't really know what would happen after she got the answer or even why she wanted to know at all.

Ever since Xelloss waltz back into her life things have gone from bad to worse to great and then all the way down to hell on earth. All of these mixed signals and heated conversations were driving her absolutely insane, and not mention it made her want to kick his ass.

It wasn't like she could make up excuses for him, or even herself. What she really wanted to tell herself was that it was all just a dream, just a really bad dream that she'd wake up from soon, really soon. Unfortunately that was not the case, if it was she wouldn't be standing here basically half naked with Xelloss staring her down.

"Why, Lina-san, that is a very dangerous question." Xelloss drawled, stepping forward to stand just a breath away. Dangerous? Hell yeah it was dangerous; everything with this damn priest was dangerous. Lina was never very keen with these things so the dawning of the situation at hand was a very slow one.

It would appear that the seducing was being reversed, and not exactly in the best of ways. The plan was to get him off guard, drug him, and then let him wake up as if nothing had ever happened. What was the best way to achieve this? Seduction. The point was to make him feel like he'd made her feel; used, forgotten, and most of all confused.

Lina jumped slightly as the butterfly touch of Xelloss hand on her upper arm shot through her senses. "Answer it anyway." She whispered, momentarily forgetting everything Hiyo had told her. Xelloss leaned down, pausing just above her lips. "You want to know Lina-san?" A soft kiss, one she could barely feel against her parted lips. He tasted of good wine and heated lust. His fingers brushed the hollow of her ear and led a fire igniting trail down her neck to the exposed skin just between her breasts.

"Yes." She breathed, feeling her body vibrate with excitement and anxiety. "I can feel..." Another kiss, one that lingered longer than the last, and then his lips were gone again. She resisted the urge to pull him back and instead reached her arm up to grip the crook of his arm for support. An unusual surge of passion shot through her and the glass in her opposite hand was dropped, crashing to the floor with an ignored shatter. Giving her a darkened look, his lips found her neck and trailed down to suck at her collar bone and then just below to the hollow between her breasts.

There was a mixture of annoyance and pleasure welling up inside her, and she found herself enjoying this more then she had counted on. A light went off at the back of her mind that shouted something was wrong, of course something was wrong. Her body was on fire, a fire that started to make her itch to be touched and caressed in a way that would make her scream.

Shouldn't she be pushing him away? No, there was an even better question. Did she want to push him away?

No.

Feeling one side of her shirt slip off her shoulder she shuddered as the night breeze from the window touched her delicate skin. She knew that she should walk away, just turn around and forget that he had ever touched her, but it was easier said then done...especially with lips sucking and gliding over her skin, tempting her to lose herself in the feeling of sin.

A strangled moan erupted from her as he slid the other side of her shirt slid down her arm to kiss his way up her bare breast, and she tangled her free hand into his silky hair. "Xelloss, what did you do?" She whispered, leaning her head back and taking deep breaths.

"Nothing really, but your next question should be what I put into your drink." She pulled back, preparing to bite his head off with a series of pre-thought insults, but she failed miserably as her legs wobbled and collapsed. Xelloss reached forward to catch her by the waist, not the lest bit surprised at her response.

"You drugged me!" Lina pushed at him as hard as she could, but was only rewarded with sore arms and a smug Xelloss. "Indeed I did Lina-san, and now your body will be useless against your heart's desires."

"My...heart's desires?"

"Yes Lina-san. This is what you wanted isn't it?" Her eyes widened as the realization of his question hit home, and it hit hard. This wasn't what she wanted, she didn't even really know what she wanted, but there wasn't any way to escape as far as she could tell.

"Xelloss...wait...stop!" He ignored her struggled pleas as his hands removed her top completely, revealing her bare chest. Lina was going to strangle Hiyo for convincing her not to wear anything under this damn shirt, if Xelloss ever let her leave that is.

Backing her up against his door, he grasped the back of her head with his hand firmly and let his lips connect with hers. The taste of good wine and oddly a hint of tea wafted through her senses as his tongue invaded her mouth. Her limbs felt weak and her body screamed for skin-on-skin contact with this man...who wasn't really a man at all. She had the worst of luck.

Lifting her pajama clad leg up to hoist around his hip, he skimmed his opposite hand up to palm her breast gently. The feel of his grin against her mouth as her hips bucked against him brought mixed emotions to the surface. "Let me go." She breathed, breaking away from his firm lip lock.

"Break away if you can Lina-san, if you can." He taunted, rubbing his thumb gently over her sensitive nipple and watching her every response.

"You're an ass." She hissed between clenched teeth, trying not to scream in ecstasy, and squeezed her eyes shut tight.

"It's a pleasure."

"I hate you."

"Indeed."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because this is what you want."

"No...it isn't."

"Ahh, then why did you come here?"

Damn. He had her backed into a wall, literally. "Point taken." She murmured, her eyes flying open just as his hand slipped into her pajama bottoms. "Xelloss wait I-oh kami..." Lina bit her lip as his fingers invaded her opening swiftly, and lifted both hands to grab his shoulders.

Xelloss watched her face relax and tighten as his fingers stroked her, bringing her closer and closer to the edge. She could never tell what he was thinking when his eyes were open; it was like trying to look through tinted glass with shades on.

"You still haven't told me what emotions you can feel, damn it." She ground out, her breath hitching as he used a third finger to rub her clit with the delicasy of a lover. "Lina-san, you should know by now that I can feel everything." His head lowered to suck at her earlobe gently as another shudder spread through her heated body.

"Everything?"

"Everything." He confirmed, lifting her other leg up so that she was straddling his hips and being supported by the wall behind her. Her mind was spinning so fast she thought she'd faint right in his arms. She was so shaken that she barely felt herself being carried and laid down onto his bed.

He hovered over her, his hand still creating a series of sensations all through her body while she writhed under him. "Xell...oss, this isn't right...this can't be right."

Xelloss chuckled and increased his firm rhythm, pushing his fingers in and out, driving her up the wall with passion. "Who said it was right Lina-san?"

"But it has to be right."

"Not tonight it doesn't."

Lina blinked, the sharp sting to her heart stopping all other feelings in her body. This didn't matter to him at all Sensing her discomfort Xelloss stopped moving, staring down at her with curious eyes.

Biting back tears she felt a rush of energy shoot through her and she shoved him off, jumping off the bed in a half-naked fury. "You don't undertstand Xelloss!" She yelled, folding her arms over her chest furiously. "You really are an idiot, more so than ever before!"

Lina couldn't help but let one tear slide down her cheek as her pain turned into fury. "Damn it Xelloss this isn't about touching, or wine, or drugs, or the lance, and this isn't even about why I came here. It's about love Xelloss, love! I can't let you do anything you want to me just because you want to, and your damned right I want to as well but I just can't do it! I want my first time to be with someone who I love, and to be honest it doesn't even matter as much if he loves me or not, just as long as I know that it's worth it in the end. And you know what Xelloss? I DON'T love you! At all! I have no positive feeling towards you whatsoever, in fact if you were struck dead right this moment I wouldn't shed a tear!"

She choked out a sob before slamming the door shut, and running down the hallway in a half naked blur of tears.

Chapter 22

"I hate him! I hate him! Ugh I hate him!" Lina yelled, pacing around the room like a spoiled child. She had barged back into their room still topless and with hickeys to spare as Hiyo hurried out of bed to offer her a nice robe, and now she was venting what appeared to be pent up anger.

"Ms. Lina maybe-"

"He is such a selfish little fruitcake! Touching me like that...and drugging me, drugging me! He drugged the infamous and beautiful Lina Inverse!"

"Well I'm sure that-"

"That bastard has some nerve putting something in my drink! I still feel all hot everywhere because of whatever he did to me!"

"Ms. Lina please just-"

"I was the one who was supposed to be seducing him, not the other way around! The one in charge was supposed to be me! Not him, me! Xelloss is just a selfish, fruity, twisted, freaky, son of a-"

"MS. LINA!" Hiyo screamed. "Please, there is no need for such language."

Lina cocked an eyebrow at her, resisting the urge to protest that Hiyo was three times the evil person she was. "Hiyo I don't know what to do, he'll never let me live this down!"

"Maybe, but you really should just ignore him Ms. Lina. I know I was wrong to send you off to him like that, but what he did would have happened sooner or later you have to admit."

Lina shrugged and crossed her arms, using childish methods to avoid facing her problems as usual. Xelloss just didn't understand anything, did he? Drugging her, confusing her, and to top it off attempted rape! Keh, she'd teach him a lesson tomorrow morning, oh yes, a good lesson.

OoO

"Morning Lina." Zelgadiss mumbled, not looking up from the newspaper in his hands, not that it mattered much to Lina since her head was down as well as she collapsed into her chair. "Yeah, morning."

Xelloss smiled at both of their bowed heads, and chirped, "Why, hello Lina-san. How are you this morning?" Her head shot up so fast Xelloss had to resist the undeniable urge to wince. "I'm fine." She grated out, clenching her teeth visably before turning her attention to the newly arrived waitress.

Hiyo frowned, looking at each face seated at the little table and contemplating just pouring her tea on all of them. Zelgadiss had barely uttered three words all morning and was oblivious to the hostility around him, Lina was in full on pout-mode and only spoke when spoken to (of course an insult followed by a death glare was directed towards Xelloss anytime he decided to speak), and Xelloss just sat with that smile on his face sipping tea, seeming to enjoy the less-then-happy moods they all donned.

Hiyo was used to her little brothers and sisters fighting, and of course she was familiar with the silent treatment that trailed after such childish fights, but this was utterly ridiculous.

"Err, Ms. Lina, I think it would be a nice idea if we headed out after breakfast. Wouldn't you agree?" She asked, hoping to lighten the atmosphere.

"Whatever is fine with me, but since we have so much to carry we should probably leave behind the unnecessary baggage." Lina grumbled and turned a pointed look at Xelloss, lifting an expectant eyebrow. He raised a hand to his chest, an innocent and wounded look on his face.

"You couldn't be speaking of me now, could you Lina-san?"

"I didn't say that."

"Not directly."

"Would you two keep it down? I'm trying to read." Zelgadiss mumbled, his eyes still glued to the paper.

Lina ignored him, and turned her stone gaze right back to Xelloss. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means what I said it meant."

"Didn't I just say to shut up?" Zelgadiss was looking up now, giving them both a irritated look. Xelloss smiled. "My apologies Zelgadiss-san." Zel snorted and lowered his head back down to the newspaper.

"Whatever." Lina responded, digging into the food that the waitress had dropped off.

Hiyo put her head in her hands, and rested them down onto the table. They were all acting like little children, no they were acting much worse then children. "Oh kami, this is going to be a long trip to Nara..."

"Lina-san, you shouldn't eat so much you know." Xelloss observed over the brim of his tea cup, earning himself a scowl from the little sorceress.

"I can eat as much as I want, and it's none of your damn buisness." She responded through bites of food, emphasining her point by taking large bites while speaking.

"Indeed it isn't." Xelloss murmured, hiding his smile with a sip of his tea.

"Lina?"

"What?" Lina grunted, regrettably putting down her fork and turning her attention to Zel.

"You need to see this." He handed her the newspaper over the table, and watched her face as she skimmed through the article.

"What the...?" Her face scrunched up in confusion, and she blinked trying to make sense of the words. "Is it already this bad?"

Hiyo gave her a questioning look, and Lina slid the paper over the table to her. "Oh no..." Hiyo murmured, giving Lina a worried glance as she read through.

"What is it?" Xelloss asked, leaning over to try and peek at what ever seemed to be so interesting. Hiyo shoved it into his hands and pointed down to the article. "You know that prince that visited us while Ms. Lina was asleep? It says here that he was attacked on his way back to his kingdom, right here in this town we're in. He has been comatized for the last two days in the hospital just down the road from here."

"So someone didn't want him returning to Nara." Lina mused, leaning back into her chair.

"It would appear that he didn't tell anyone that he'd spoken to us." Zelgadiss put in, taking the paper back from Xelloss.

"If he had then someone would have come for us by now, so it seems we are the uninvited guests."

"No surprise there..." Zelgadiss mumured.

"But besides that, we need to find out who did it."

Hiyo held her finger in the air to interrupt. "Um, Ms. Lina, how do you know that it wasn't just a coinsidense? It could have been just another robber gone wrong."

Lina smirked, and plucked the paper from Zel's hands. "It says that there he had a bag of coins attached to his hip when he was found just outside the village, which proves that if he had gotten mugged that little bag wouldn't be there."

"So is it safe to assume that this King sent assassains out for Fairaag's head?" Xelloss piped up, his gaze roaming from face to face.

"Personally I think it's all just too fishy, too obvious. I have a feeling that someone knows Fairaag visited us, and whoever knows doesn't like it."

"Does this mean we aren't going to Nara?" Hiyo asked, watching as Lina resumed eating her breakfast.

"Hell no! What are you, crazy?" She answered between munches, swallowing down her last piece she stood up. "Hurry your asses up! If we hurry we can make it to the outskirts of Nara before sunset."

Chapter 23

"So, Ms. Lina, have you and Mr. Xelloss had the chance to talk?" Hiyo asked, walking side-by-side with Lina ahead of Xelloss and Zelgadiss. They had left their last village hours ago, and now the sky had darkened signaling that the sun was setting. They were nearing the forest just outside the palace, and there they planned to make camp.

Lina snorted, scoffing. "No, why would I talk to that fruitcake?" She gave a backwards glare to Xelloss, who only smiled and waved.

"Well, because Ms. Lina you need to settle things with him. You can't go on like this forever."

"Why not? It's not like he cares about me, so why should I care about him? It doesn't make any sense."

"It doesn't have to." Hiyo answered, grinning at Lina's confused expression. "Ms. Lina, I know that Mr. Xelloss keeps deceiving you at every turn, and maybe he doesn't deserve to be trusted, but I think you should trust your heart even if it doesn't make any sense. Love doesn't always make sense Ms. Lina, remember that."

"I don't love him."

"Are you sure?"

Lina shook her head, avoiding eye contact. "Even if I do, and I don't, that kind of love will never make either one of us happy."

"That doesn't matter Ms. Lina, as long as you know you love him you'll find enough strength to believe in him. I think Mr. Xelloss just needs someone to have faith in him, even if he is a monster, he needs someone who needs him too."

Lina shrugged, looking out over the horizon. "That someone isn't me Hiyo, I just can't find it in me to love anymore. That part of me is gone."

"Ms. Lina hurt is a part of being in love, and when you fall in love either way you'll end up getting hurt one way or another. The best part is that love means trusting someone else to take your pain away with their love."

"Not from my experience."

"The way I see it, Mr. Xelloss is the one destined to heal your past wounds and bring a new kind of love to your heart."

"He doesn't even have a heart."

"I hope you aren't speaking of me, Lina-san, that's awfully rude." Xelloss pouted, suddenly appearing just beside Lina. "How did you ever guess?" She asked sweetly, rolling her eyes.

"And I'm the heartless one?"

"Now, now, Mr. Xelloss. I'd appreciate it if you didn't provoke Ms. Lina. She's very tired." Hiyo cut in, holding up a hand to both silence Lina and warn Xelloss.

Xelloss lifted an eyebrow, but complied with her wishes and gave Lina an apologetic grin. Lina just grimaced and turned her head the other direction.

Zelgadiss had caught up to them now, eyeing Lina and Xelloss. "Did something happen between you two? Lina is being more hostile than usual."

"Yes."

"No."

Both Lina and Xelloss had answered in chorus, you could just guess who said what. They turned their gazes to each other, Lina giving him a glare, and Xelloss answering her with a smirk. "Lina-san you couldn't be embarrassed about it could you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Zelgadiss stepped in. "Neither do I, but now I'm curious. Just what the hell is going on?"

Xelloss held up an informative finger, a smile spread wide across his face. "Well, Lina-san and I-" Whack! Xelloss was interrupted by Lina's fist connecting with his jaw, sending him flying backwards. "SHUT THE HELL UP!"

"Oh, Ms. Lina don't-" Hiyo put her hand on Lina's chest to hold her back, but she shoved it away and advanced on Xelloss.

"Argh!" Her eyes were blazing as she leaned down to yank him to his feet by his shirt. "Tell me something Xelloss, why do you do this? Why?!"

"Why do I what?" Xelloss stared through his eyelids up at Lina's flustered face, knowing she was going to hit him again. In truth he really didn't understand her question, nor did he think he could push her this far more than three times in less then two days. It was in some sick way an accomplishment for him.

Lina bit back the tears, feeling the anger rise up and catch in her throat. Of course he didn't have an answer, hell, she didn't even have an answer. Biting her lip she decided to do something that no one would have expected, even her. Pulling him forward she rose to her tippy toes and closed her eyes shut tight just before she crushed her lips to his, using all of her pent up anger and frustration and turning it into something new.

Xelloss's eyes flew open, not for even a second had he predicted this. He wasn't really complaining, but this was not like Lina at all...and in front of Zelgadiss and Hiyo? Deciding it was better if he didn't move, he let his body stand completely still until she lifted her lips from his.

Resting her forehead on his, she stared into his eyes, never blinking. "Much better." She murmured, stepping away and releasing his shirt from her fingers. Putting her right hand to her side, she jutted out her hip and stuck the opposite hand's index finger into his chest.

"Now that this is all settled, let's just call it even. I loved the look on your face so much that I've decided to let it go...for now." She turned to walk past the stunned Hiyo and Zelgadiss, pausing only to look back at Xelloss with a smile and say, "But if you piss me off again, I might just have to tear your damn finger off. And that's no secret."

Xelloss stared at her for a moment before he found himself returning her smile, his eyes closing yet again as he gave Hiyo and Zel a respectful nod and continued on behind Lina.

Hiyo and Zelgadiss exchanged baffled glances and looked back forth between each other and them. "Mr. Zelgadiss, what just happened?"

"Hell if I know."

OoO

"Ms. Lina are you sure this is a safe place to make camp?" Hiyo asked, her voice shaking as she looked around the darkened forest. Lina rolled her eyes and bent down to set a piece of wood onto the growing pile of lumber in the middle of the small clearing. "Of course I'm sure, and even if it isn't we can take on any asshole that decides to wonder through here."

Zelgadiss lifted his hand, and mumbled a small spell lighting the wood on fire expertly from years of outdoor adventures. "It's not like we have much of a choice anyways, the closest hotel is most likely inside the city's gates. To be honest from what we've heard about the city of Nara I'd rather take my chances with any forest bandit."

"Damn straight." Lina mumbled, laying out her mat just beside the fire. Hiyo followed suit, laying hers down next to Lina's. "I know, but what if there is something...worse out here?" Hiyo protested, unconvinced of the lesser dangers in the forest.

"Then I'll kill them Hiyo, don't worry about it." Dusting herself off she turned around to reach into her bag, and pulling out the dried fish she'd saved from earlier she smiled. "It's dinnertime!"

Xelloss couldn't help but chuckle, watching them all from his perch in the tree branches above. He was glad that Lina-san was back to her usual self, hungry as ever. In a way it meant that he would have to try harder now to annoy her, since during the past couple of days it had been far too easy.

Lina glanced up at Xelloss, and smiled slightly. Now that things had been smoothed out, she felt more natural around him and it just felt good to clear the air. In fact she could hardly remember why she was mad at him in the first place...oh wait...yes she did.

She grimaced as the memory of that weird chapel came to mind, and all of the strange horrors that lay within it. Blinking, she realized something she'd almost forgot, something very important. Swallowing the last of her fish, she reached down to lift her shirt up.

Zelgadiss's mouth dropped open and he turned his face away, Hiyo's cheeks turned pink and she quickly averted her gaze to the ground, while Xelloss just leaned forward, peering over the leaves to get a better look.

"Lina, put your shirt down!" Zelgadiss ordered, his face still turned the other way. Lina rolled her eyes and frowned. "Idiot, that's not what I'm doing. Look at my stomach."

Both Zelgadiss and Hiyo opened their eyes and turned them towards her mid-section, and gasped. "Oh Ms. Lina how is that possible?" Lina shrugged, her face grim.

"Don't know, but it doesn't look good."

"That shouldn't be there Lina, it's impossible." Zelgadiss frowned, and turned to face Xelloss up in the trees. "Xelloss get down here." Instantly Xelloss was beside Lina, looking downwards towards her tummy. "Well, Lina-san, that is a very interesting scar you have."

"Do you know what could have caused this?"

"Obviously whatever Faroh used to try and kill Lina-san was no ordinary weapon."

Zelgadiss snorted. "Like we didn't know that?"

Xelloss shrugged, smiling. "You asked."

"Do you think he could have dipped it in Dragon's Blood?" Lina put in, staring down at the whole in her stomach in disgust. "Dragon's Blood?" Hiyo questioned, her face scrunched up in confusion. "Why would Dragon's Blood be that powerful? I don't think that it would have that sort of effect."

Xelloss frowned, realizing that Lina was probably right. The ryuzoku were getting smarter, and apparently they had already realized his master's plans for the little sorceress...and they had found the perfect backfire. But plans were plans, and no matter eventually he would still have to follow through.

Lina shook her head. "Not just dragon's blood, I mean the poison Dragon's Blood. It was used in ancient times past to ward off monsters from villages, one touch to a mazoku's body and it is highly likely that they'll die...or be in excruciating pain for a very, very long time."

"What is it made of?" Hiyo asked, eager for the details of whatever this poison was.

"I'm not sure, I remember reading about it a long time ago. The details are foggy but I remember something about holy water and things like that. I never thought I'd encounter it."

Zelgadiss watched Xelloss think, suddenly feeling like he was somehow involved. Vaguely he listened in on Lina's explanation and cut in, "If it is used to kill mazokus, then why would he use it on you?"

"And why would he use Dragon's Blood if he said he was trying to kill Lina-san?" Xelloss put in, his face hardened with serious thought.

"He knew that I'd live, he wanted me to live. The ryuzoku have some sort of plans for me," She tilted her head to Xelloss, "And you know all the answers, don't you Xelloss?"

His face loosening into a smile, Xelloss held his finger in the air and opened one eye in a roguish wink. "Sore wa himitsu desu Lina-san."

Chapter 24

nikka-chi: I don't own, but I really really want to own Xelloss:(

Xelloss: Whatever are you talking about, nikka-san? You do own me:D

nikka-chi: Omg really?! :D

Xelloss: Why, of course! I am forever under your command...just as long as you give Lina-san and I more lemony chapters.

Lina: Do it and I'll kill you. T-T

Zelas: Ahem, Xelloss? Just who are you forever under commandment of again?

Xelloss: Err, why you of course Juo-sama. 'sweat drop'

Zelas: That's what I thought.

nikka-chi: D;

NOTE: I am not like, an official beta reader or whatever, but I am panda-chan's (MoonPrincess623) beta person! She is an amazing writer and has the most freaking great potential EVER!

:D IF U LIKE MY STORY THEN READ HERS! Chaos Girl DO IT OR NO FRENCH TOAST! T-T

And of course, a biiiiiiig thank you to all of my loyal readers who have been keeping up with this story and giving me the confidence I needed to go on! ;))))))

FRENCH TOAST IF YOU READ AND REVIEW!:0

--

Lina awoke with a yawn, and propped herself onto her elbows lazily. Looking around the campground with one dreary eye open, she found herself not to be the only one awake. Hiyo was sitting cross-legged leaning against a tree, her striking blue eyes focused intently on Lina. Her mouth was set into a hard line, her face frozen in a mask of a mixture between anger and concentration.

Lina frowned, lifting an eyebrow expectantly. She had never seen Hiyo with such a serious expression, and directed at her no less. Maybe she was just a really hard thinker...

Hiyo blinked, as if just realizing Lina was there, and her face softened into a gentle smile. "Morning Ms. Lina, I was waiting for you to wake up. I wanted to bathe in that little spring we spotted on the way here, but I'm too afraid to go alone. You wouldn't mind coming to clean off with me, would you?"

Lina was still a little weary of Hiyo's change in mood, but brushed it off. What was she thinking, suspecting Hiyo? That was a laugh. "Sure, but let's make it fast. I don't want Xelloss spying on us." She replied as she rose to her feet, brushing herself off.

Hiyo nodded, glancing up in the tree Xelloss had inhabited last night, and frowned. "Ms. Lina?"

"Yeah?"

"Mr. Xelloss isn't here."

Lina rolled her eyes, turning to stare up into the tree as well. "Damn priest. He'll be back, don't worry. He always comes back...unfortunately." Hiyo couldn't supress a smile at the annoyed tone in Lina's voice, but hid it quickly at Lina's dagger glance.

"Anyway, he's not important. Let's go wash up." Hiyo nodded and trailed after Lina through the woods.

They reached the spring within the next ten minutes, and both stopped to admire the beautiful scenery. "Oh gosh Ms. Lina, it looks so beautiful." Hiyo breathed, stepping forward to run her fingers through the water.

"Yeah, you're right." Lina agreed, slipping her head band off her head. Walking behind a tree, she rid herself of the rest of her attire hurriedly, shivering as the old morning air chilled her delicate skin. The russle of clothing and the small splash of water told her that Hiyo had slipped into the spring, and she stepped slowly from around the tree to follow suit.

They smiled at each other slightly, wading around in the water a bit. "Ms. Lina this feels so good, but this water feels like its been heated." Lina nodded sheepishly, pointed at herself. "Yeah that was me, I warmed it up a little while we were changing."

Hiyo laughed. "It's ok Ms. Lina, it's not a bad thing."

Lina felt a bit uncomfortable at the sudden awkward silence that fell, and shared a nervous smile with the little sorceress. Averting her gaze away, she bit her lip and tried to think of a way to start up a more comfortable conversation. What kind of things were you supposed to say to a naked younger girl with boobs three times the size of yours?

She opened her mouth to speak, but Hiyo beat her to it, her face tilted upwards towards the rising sun. "Ms. Lina what will happen after you've touched the spear? Do you really wish for that kind of destruction?"

Lina shook her head, and lifted her eyes to gaze up at the pink-orange rays in the sky as well. "No, I think you misunderstand me Hiyo. I want to end this war, because I am unofficially the one who started it, but I am not strong enough. I don't want the spear for world domination, or destruction. You didn't think I wanted to end this world, did you?"

Hiyo turned her head, and Lina did as well, crystal blue meeting smoky amber boldly. "Of course not Ms. Lina. I was just curious." Her voice lacked the usual happy-go-lucky luster that the normal Hiyo spoke with, and instead it was replaced with a steady and firm fully female's voice.

Lina squinted, assessing Hiyo cautiously. This was quite a change, not exactly a bad one, but a surprise none the less. Suddenly Hiyo had the air of an elder about her, a touch-me-not aura that warded off anyone within their right mind. Where was the Hiyo of innocence, the young naive Hiyo?

"Ah, were you now Hiyo-san?" A smooth voice interrupted her thoughts, and broke of her and Hiyo's starring contest, bringing both pairs of eyes up to the dark figure looming in the trees above. With a screech, Lina sank into the waters neck-deep and yelled up at the intruder, "Don't you know anything about privacy?!"

Xelloss chuckled, leaning back against the trunk of the tree while still standing on the branch. "Of course I do Lina-san, but that doensn't mean I have to respect yours."

With a growl, Lina stood up while covering her bosom, and screamed, "FIREBALL!" The echo of his laugh remained even after he teleported out of sight, leaving only the charred tree behind. "Stupid ass..."

She turned to Hiyo, who had her slender arms crossed over her chest, she seemed to have reverted back to normal. "I don't think he'll be coming back, but there's no telling with him."

"Ms. Lina...Mr. Xelloss sort of creeps me out."

Lina laughed, almost hysterically, and sank back into the waters. "Welcome to the club."

OoO

"Where the hell are they?" Zelgadiss asked himself, scratching his head and taking a thousandth look around the campground.

"You wouldn't happen to be looking for Lina-san and Hiyo-san, would you now?" Xelloss's voice sounded just behind him. Zel turned to face the smiling priest grimly. "You know where they are, don't you?"

"Yes, indeed I do."

"Are they hurt?"

"...Maybe. Who knows?"

"You know, damn it!"

Xelloss chuckled, patting Zelgadiss on the shoulder compassionately. "Don't get so worked up, Zelly-san. You might faint."

Zelgadiss shrugged him off and took a swing for him, but Xelloss dodged, standing just next to his fist. "Where are they?" Zel growled, eyeing him closely.

Tapping him on the nose, Xelloss teleported into the tree. "Sore wa himitsu desu, Zelgadiss-san!"

"Get down here, damn you!"

"Ah, but why? It looks to me like you have more pleasurable company."

Zelgadiss frowned up at him n confusion before turning to find Lina and Hiyo climbing out from the bushes, their hair still damp from the bath. "Hey Zel, morning." Lina greeted with a grin, but Zelgadiss was too busy chasing Xelloss through the trees to notice. "I'll kill you Xelloss!"

Xelloss chuckled while teleporting from tree branch to tree branch, Zelgadiss only one step behind him as they raced through the forest. "This is so nice of you, Zelgadiss-san, offering me my morning meal." He called, dodging an Elmekia Lance with another laugh.

Lina rolled her eyes and started packing up, motioning for Hiyo to help her. "Shouldn't we stop them?" Hiyo asked, padding over to wrap up the mats. "Nah, they'll settle it themselves. Xelloss only wants his breakfast."

Hiyo gave Lina a confused look, "Mr. Zelgadiss stole his breakfast?"

Lina laughed, thumping Hiyo on the shoulder. "That's a good one. Heh, but no. Xelloss is a mazoku, and mazoku feed off of negative emotions. It's one of the reasons he travels with us actually, we're more like a buffet to him than anything else."

"Ah...I see. So Mr. Xelloss was only teasing us for harmless fun?"

"You could put it that way, although nothing with Xelloss is harmless."

As if if on cue, a thunderous cracking sound exploded through the forest, and they turned to find Zelgadiss and Xelloss to be the cause. Zel was breathing heavily, his face reddened in anger as he glared at the priest, who stood atop a cracked tree obviously cut down in the hot pursuit.

Lina shook her head, turning back to concentrate on her work. "See? I told you." She mumbled, buckling the strap to her carry bag. Hiyo nodded, more in amazement than understandment, and picked up her own bag.

"Alright you two, that's enough playing around! I want to see this city of chaos with my own eyes."

OoO

"Who are you? No one passes through these gates without authorization, or official buisness with his royal highness." Lina put her hands on her hips, rolling her eyes at the guards high and mighty tone. He loomed over them at what she guessed to be 6 feet tall, or maybe taller, his shoulders broad and his chin squared. That didn't mean that he could boss around the all powerful sorceress, Lina Inverse.

"Listen here, tiny, we do have buisness with 'his highness'. So if you'd just..." She stepped around him, reached out a hand to push the gates open, but he swatted her away. "I don't think so, little girl."

Lina's eye twitched, her eyes blazing as she raised them to meet his. "What did you just say?"

The guard gave her a slow, sly smile, realizing her weak spot. "I said 'Little Girl'." He taunted, sharing a laugh with the other guard on duty.

Hiyo raised her hands to cover her eyes, sighing. "Oh kami..."

Zelgadiss snorted, turning his head the other direction. "Here we go again."

Xelloss lifted two fingers to his lips, a worried expression on his face. "Oh dear."

"That's it!" Lina said, rolling up her sleeves. "I'm going to give you one last chance, before I kill you both." They laughed again, almost doubling over. "And what's a little stick like you gonna do to hurt us?" Their taunts brought another growl from the little sorceress, and a bearing of her canine-like teeth.

Lina smirked, raising her hands slowly, a spell forming on her lips. Both guards exchanged baffled glances and backed up, cowering in the obvious power that surrounded her.

Her cape flapping behind her while her hair whipped on the wind, she poised her palms in a sphere just in front of her, bracing her feet firmly. "DRAGON SLAVE!"

Needless to say, there wasn't much left of the guards...or the gates...or half of the city for that matter.

Lina climbed onto a piece of stone, peering above the chaos she had created. Half of the city of Nara had been reduced to crumbs, and yet no one gave her a glare or even a strange look. They all stared at her with tortured eyes, most of them beaten and bloodly-and not from her dragon slave.

It looked as if the gates had served as a no-way-to-escape sort of thing, and most of the people around her only gazed past her to the green grass and wilderness beyond. "Jesus..." She whispered, feeling the hurt from these poor people sink into her own heart.

Even the children looked as if they had been whipped mercilessly, and one she spotted didn't even have a hand. She cringed, the sudden smell of dead bodies wafting into her senses. Turning away, she turned to throw up, choking violently.

Standing to wipe her mouth with tears in her eyes, she climbed over the last of the rubble to officially enter the city. There were dead bodies scattered everywhere, and among them were people barely alive themselves, either mourning the dead or staring at the newly arrived visitors.

Hiyo put a hand on Lina's shoulder, her other hand clamped over her mouth. "Ms. Lina...what...dear kami..." She fell to her knees, her whole body trembling with shock. Lina glanced down at her, wanting to give some sort of support, but she knew that this was no time to fall apart.

Zelgadiss took her stead, lifting Hiyo up and into his arms bridal-style. "Lina what are we going to do?" He gave her a worried look, glancing between her and Hiyo.

She turned back to him, her face grim. "This doesn't change anything, we continue as planned."

"But what about these people? Shouldn't you help them?" Xelloss asked, stepping over a bleeding corpe, fresh from death.

Shaking her head, Lina turned away to let her gaze roam the sea of faces around them. "It won't do any good. The only thing we can do for these people is to kill him, this king. Then we focus on anything else we can do, if they are still alive by the time we're done."

Slowly stepping forward, she pointed ahead. "And that's where we'll find the culprit."

Zelgadiss squinted, shifting Hiyo in his arms. "Is that a castle?"

"As far as I can tell it is, so let's get moving." Lina replied, motioning for them to follow as she ventured further into the layers of dead bodies and bloodied people.

The people didn't make any move to stop them, only stepped out of their way, as if they just knew that they were there to save them. All eyes were on them as they made their way to the black castle beyond.

Chapter 25

nikka-chi: I still don't own Xelloss...:(...And it's all Zelas's fault!

Zelas: My fault? I created him! If it weren't for me he wouldn't even exist.

nikka-chi: You could share! 'pout'

Zelas: Just be thankful I even let him leave the island.

nikka-chi: Keh, bitch...

Zelas: What was that?

nikka-chi: 'smirks' Oh nothing, nothing.

"Dear god look at these people." Zelgadiss muttered, trailing behind Lina cautiously. Lina closed her eyes and turned her head, trying not to look at the haunting images surrounding her. "How's Hiyo?" She asked, staying off the subject.

"She fainted, but she's fine."

She nodded, not bothering to look back. "Lina-san, what do you plan to do once we arrive? This king's spear is probably just as powerful as ours, which means alone you are no match against it." Xelloss asked, giving Lina a worried glance.

"We'll see about that."

"Lina-san I don't quite think you understand. He'll kill you, it's almost like you trying to defeat a shinzoku alone."

"Then I guess I'll have to use my lance, now won't I?"

"But then you'd be just as crazy as him, and even if you do defeat him there won't be any chance of reversing the influence of the spear." Zelgadiss put in, for once agreeging with Xelloss.

"Which means?" Lina inquired, obviously not taking this as seriously as she should.

"You'll stay like that forever."

"So there isn't any way at all to stop me?" She turned back now, her eyes showing no emotion, her face set hard in stone.

"There is one way." Xelloss started, his eyes opening to shine in the blinding afternoon sun.

"And what is that?" Lina inquired, taking the bait.

"I'd have to kill you." He answered simply, a smile upturning the sides of his lips.

"Ah."

Turning around again, she sighed deeply. "Fine, then. Kill me. Zelgadiss can have the spear once I'm gone."

Zelgadiss blinked, giving the back of her head a startled look. "Lina...no. This place isn't your responsibility, we can leave!"

"Are you serious? Are you blind? Look around, Zel! What the hell am I supposed to when I'm staring into the faces of all these helpless people, these innocent people? You make the decision then. Look that woman right there," She pointed to a wide-eyed female off to the side with cuts running down her face and torn clothes, who cowered in the shadows at the sudden attention, "that we're leaving! Tell her! Tell her how selfish we are!"

Her voice was breaking now, her eyes watery and her hands shaking. It was obvious that she was biting her lip, a small trail of blood running down her lip. Never had she suspected that this place had been this terrible, but now she knew that it was her resposibiblity to fix it, to save all of these tortured souls. The full weight of what she was about to do was hitting home, crushing her resolve.

All Zel could do was stare, glancing at the woman in question. He sighed, lowering his head in shame at the realization of what he'd suggested. "I'm sorry Lina, I wasn't thinking." She nodded, turning from him. A strangled sob sounded from her, and she wrapped her arms around herself.

"Lina, are you ok?"

Letting her arms drop to her side, she answered flatly. "I'm...fine." Taking a deep breath, she

Xelloss had watched the scene unfold, his curiosity budding. Lina was scared, more so than he ever imagined she'd be. Of course he'd seen her in many states of distress, but this was different. She knew that as soon as she took hold of the spear she'd have the uncontrolable urge to do exactly what this king had done to his subjects, and having that little power over one's self would be quite terrifying.

Lina of course would never admit it, she'd fight to the end, get herself killed, and never utter a word of fear or weakness. That was, from one point of view, incredibly stupid...but from her perspective? It was being brave, strong, independant, and reliable to a T.

It was one of the many traits Xelloss admired about her, and despite his cruel comments, he respected her. How could she not want to save this people? Why, even Xelloss himself felt some sort of pity for them. Not enough to care about them, but enough to give them the decency of one compassionate thought.

A creak brought him to reality, and he looked up to see Lina clutching both hands around the steel bars that were the gates to the palace. She shoved them open, bringing a cling-clang as it swang forward granting them entrance. They all looked up to the ominous looking castle that seemed to loom in a enormous shadow of darkness, and a shiver ran through their spines.

"Are you ready?" Lina breathed, taking a step forward.

"I suppose." Xelloss answered nonchalantly, his air of superiorness radiating.

"Yeah." Zelgadiss seconded, giving Lina a confident smile.

"Alright then, let's go."

OoO

"I told you, we should take the right!" Lina shouted, jutting her finger in the direction spoken.

"No, the left!" Zelgadiss jutted his finger as well, only his in the opposing side to Lina's.

"Right!"

"Left!"

Xelloss sighed, his eyes darting between Lina and Zelgadiss as they fought over which hallway to take that would lead to the throne room; where they assumed this king would be.

Hiyo sat propped next to him, still unconscious, and lay limp almost irnonically. Eventually a guard would find them by following the shouts, but who was he to interveine? Lina would just yell at him, and Zelgadiss...well Zelgadiss hated him either way.

It was a lose, lose situation.

For once he wish that the perky little Hiyo were conscious, for she was usually the only one who could bring reason into the stupid arguments they had gotten themselves into. Xelloss could probably wake her, but why should he care? It wasn't really his problem, and he didn't feel like it anyway.

"Listen, Zel, I'm expierienced with this sort of thing. I think I know what I'm doing."

"Do you know how many ancient ruins and mazes I've been through, Lina? And besides your sense of direction is useless."

"Oh, yeah right! You just can't face that I know something you don't!"

"Wha- That's so idioic that there aren't even enough words to describe how stupid you sound."

"Don't give me that high-and-mighty bullshit! You aren't any better than me!"

"I beg to differ."

"Fuck you!"

Lina was red-faced now, her hands clenched into tight balls at her sides. Zel was of course one of her dearest, and oldest, friends, but he was an asshole 99 of the time. His arms were crossed, his body turned half-away from her, just oozing arrogance off his stone body.

She clenched her teeth, lifting her hands to blow his ass up with another dragon slave, but a chorus of voices interrupted her.

"What was that?!"

"I don't know. Could it be the intruders from the gates?"

"You check down the main hall, I'll go this way towards the right wing."

Zel and Lina exchanged surprised glances, and turned their heads towards the voices. There were two or three guards towards the end of the corridor, and one of them was heading for them fast. He couldn't see them due to how dark and shadowy the palace was.

Lina took advantage of this and hurried over to grab Xelloss by the collar, and while she dragged him off she whispered harshly to Zel, "Get Hiyo, you idiot!"

He nodded, pulling Hiyo into his arms and trailing behind Lina and the carpet-sore Xelloss.

After what seemed like forever, they stormed into the nearest room possible, barely dodging a new wave of guards hot on their trail. Lina collapsed onto the floor, her breathing heavy and constricted. "Those guys...don't...give up...do they?"

Zelgadiss placed Hiyo onto a near by couch before collapsing into a chair himself. "It's your fault, Lina. If you'd have just gone my way sooner then we wouldn't have had to run."

"Whatever, it's not like you couldn't of given up either." She grumbled in response.

Zel blinked, turning to Lina in surprise. For the first time since he'd known her, Lina had actually admitted that she was wrong...Sort of.

She caught his gaze and blushed in embarrassment, turning her head away. "W-What are you staring at?"

He smiled slightly, "Nothing."

Xelloss sat quietly off to the side, seemingly forgotten. A sourness filled him suddenly, aimed particularly at the chimera who was now filled with the sickening emotion of affection. Resisiting the urge to cringe, he instead decided to interrupt, "Excuse me you two, but shouldn't we be worrying about how to reach the king?"

Lina nodded, rising to her feet. "We should search this room first, there might be some sort of secret passage."

"Secret passage?"

"Yeah, evil castles like this always have them." Lina answered, running her hands along the stone walls for a hollow spot, or a button. Shifting her attention to the bookcase she searched through them, pulling them out slightly.

Xelloss watched her for a moment, before something just beside her caught his eye. "Lina-san, step to your left just a bit."

"Why?"

He raised his eyebrow at her, and she sighed in exasperation. "Fine, fine. I'll do it. But I don't think that-ah!" Jumping back with a yelp, she staring in shock at the bookcase that had just swung open to reveal a darkened passageway. Turning to give Xelloss an incredulous look, she stuttered, "How did you know that?"

"It's simple, that tile had a darker outline to it. Which means that it this king just recently had the previous one replaced. So what else could it have been?"

She frowned at him for a moment before shrugging. "Anyways...we'll leave Hiyo here and lock that door. She'll be fine as long as we've got the guards attention in the throne room."

Zelgadiss frowned at her before nodding, and following her down the steps into the unknown. Xelloss gave Hiyo a lasting look before doing so as well, knowing that something wasn't right about this 'little' girl.

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