Rezo knelt next to Amelia and placed a cool cloth to her forehead. She had contracted a fever and Rezo was simply to drained to heal her. Rezo heard the tent flap rustled and looked up as the tall red haired Mazuko walk in.
"What is the matter with her?" Garv asked as noticed that Amelia was tossing and turning. Rezo sighed and shook his head.
"She is sick and I am too drained of magick to help her." Garv looked at the tall human.
"What troubles you?" Garv asked.
"This always happens to me, I care for someone and fail them when they need me the most." Garv nodded.
"I understand, like my adopted son Valgarv. I have failed him many times and he was on the brink of insanity, but a girl has brought him back." Garv knelt next to Amelia and cast a spell.
"What?" Rezo asked.
"She will be fine now, and do not fear a trick, I am not like Xellos." Garv spit the name out. "My gift to you for you valiant behavior in battle." Garv turned to leave. "If you wish to repay me, then you can spar with me in the mornings... and oh yeah. Tell her that you love her." Garv smiled bitterly. "I am getting soft. Offering romantic advice to a human. This seems to becoming a habit."
"Thank you... I don't even know your name I'm sorry."
"Garv." The red haired Mazuko murmured.
"I'm Akoushi Rezo." Rezo held out his hand but Garv hesitated. "A ritual greeting and showing of friendship among us humans." Garv nodded and shook Rezo's hand. Amelia whimper and Garv left. Rezo knelt next to Amelia's palet. The warrior queen opened her eyes and stared up into Rezo's worried face.
"Rezo? What happened?" Amelia asked as she sat up.
"We were captured and you were gravely wounded." Rezo murmured as he held out a water skin to Amelia. "I healed that wound but between the battle and Resurrection I was pretty much drained of magick. I'm sorry you got captured as well."
"Rezo." Amelia whispered.
"Yes?" Rezo looked at Amelia questioningly.
"You talk to much." Rezo didn't like the grin on Amelia's face one little bit.
"Yes well I've alwa..." Rezo was cut off when Amelia kissed him. [1] Rezo was shocked and taken aback but he didn't protest as Amelia kissed him with an almost desperate urgency. "And that was for?" Rezo asked mildly bemused when Amelia broke off the kiss.
"So you would shut up." Amelia grinned.
"Hmm interesting." Somewhere during the kiss Amelia had ended up half way in Rezo's lap cradled against his chest. To be perfectly honest, Rezo was loath to let go of Amelia, but he did anyway.
"Ne Rezo." Amelia whispered somewhat huskily. "I think I found that sweet and sensitive guy I was looking for, and he was always there right under my nose." Amelia smiled up at Rezo.
"Oh what's his name?" Rezo asked with a grin.
"Baka he's you." Amelia growled as she kissed Rezo once again. Rezo chuckled and held Amelia.
"Yeah me too." He whispered.
Zelgadis had a more rude awakening. Namely a kick in the gut.
"Wake up." Xellos growled to the indigo haired human
"Xellos quit it!" Lina cried. The purple haired Mazuko sneered.
"I'll leave you two alone." Xellos said with an odd inflection and left.
"Zelgadis." Lina whispered as she knelt next to the pale man. Zelgadis opened sapphire colored eyes that were as hard and cold at the beautiful blue gems.
"What do you want Lina?" Zel asked frostily as he sat up clutching his ribs.
"Zel?"
"I got captured to save you. But the question is, are you here of your own free will Lina?" Zelgadis asked venom dripping from his voice.
"Zel how can you say that?" Lina asked shocked.
"Because you seen to have a lot of sway with Xellos. Are you sleeping with him, love him?"
"Zel I am not in anyway shape or form associated with Xellos!" Lina shouted. "The guy killed my Neechan and other horrible things not to mention killed the Slayers!"
"Then where were you Lina? Huh, why did you suddenly disappear and reappear at the attack?"
"You... you think I betrayed my own people for a Mazuko bastard that has made my life a living hell!?" Lina screamed.
"I don't know! I don't think I can trust you at this point Lina." Zel said softly. "Please leave, I can't think with you here." Lina stared at Zel in horror, he thought she would betray her people, betray him.
"I take it back Zelgadis, Xellos isn't the bastard you are!" Lina slapped Zel and ran from the room in tears. Lina only made it out the door before she started to sob. She leaned against the wall and slowly sank to the floor. For the first time in years Lina allowed herself to truly cry. She was all alone, Zel hated her, or at least thought she was some kind of traitor and everyone else was dead. A pair of amethyst colored eyes watched Lina from the shadows; Xellos snarled. How dare that human hurt his Lina-chan like that.
When did I start to think of her as Lina-chan? Xellos asked himself as he phazed into Zelgadis' room.
"You boy will die." Xellos growled as he looked at Zelgadis. In his hand, Xellos' stave glowed a dull red, the color of dried blood. Zel snarled and glared at Xellos.
"I will see you dead for hurting my loved ones." Zel snarled.
"Ha! What care I for your loved ones human. I am Mazuko, stronger then you, faster then you, better then you." Xellos asked scornfully. "You hurt Lina-chan and that in itself deserves death." Xellos said with a frightening cheerfulness. Xellos pulled Zel's sword out of nowhere and tossed it to the human. "I hope you won't mind if I use my own sword." Xellos grinned tightly and unsheathed his own sword. Zel felt his blood freeze in his vein as the sight of the Hikari no Ken, the Sword of Light. The Mazuko half of Zelgadis shivered and flinched back at the sight of the burning white blade. "I understand you are half Mazuko, half Mazuko, with half our powers. But I sense you power, your Mazuko parent must have been strong indeed." Xellos lunged forward and Zel parried with his own blade. Yet he felt sinking defeat when the Hikari no Ken sliced through his blade and Zel leapt back.
"Chicuso!" Zel snarled. Xellos smiled darkly.
"Not bad for a half-breed." Xellos admitted.
"Fireball!" Zel dried and Xellos laughed.
"Please is that all you've got?
"Source of all souls, which dwells
Within the eternal and infinite
Everlasting flame of blue.
All power hidden deep within
Be called forth here and now!.
Ra-Tilt!!!"
Zelgadis shouted and Xellos barely phazed out in time. The violet haired Mazuko was glaring and extremely angry when he reappeared and kicked Zel in the kidneys.
"You will pay for that!" Xellos snarled as he held out his slightly burned arm. Zelgadis cried out in pain as Xellos slowly ran the Hikari no Ken down his arm.
Lina had calmed down somewhat when she heard Zel's screams of agony.
"Zel!" Lina shouted as she pushed against the door but it was locked. "Fireball!" Lina cried as she burst through the door. Lina's ruby colored eyes widened when she saw Xellos standing over Zel with the Hikari no Ken laid against his forearm. Lina could see similar burn marks on Zel's bleeding chest. The flesh red and raw from the scorching heat of the Hikari no Ken.
"ZEL!" Lina screamed. Xellos stop!" Lina's eyes burned ruby red. "You... you monster! How dare you hurt my friend like that." Lina powered a spell in her hands.
"Darkness Beyond Twilight,
Crimson beyond blood that flows."
Hang on Zel, I'll save you. Lina silently pleaded.
"Buried in the flow of time.
In thy great name I pledge myself to darkness!
Let the fools that stand before us
Be destroyed by the power you and I possess.
Dragon Slave!!!"
Lina channeled all her rage, her sadness, fear of loneliness into that spell. Please Lord of Nightmares, let this work. Lina silently prayed as she cast her heart and soul into that spell so that she could save the one that was more then her friend. In that last moment, Lina was honest with herself, she loved Zel and she would do anything to protect him. Lina released the Dragon Slave and it flew towards Xellos....and failed! Lina heard the Mazuko general's amused chuckle.
"Not bad Lina-chan." Xellos appeared from the smoke carrying the Hikari no Ken before him and the Dragon Slave wrapped around the blowing sword making it appear crimson instead of white. Lina ran to Zel's side and raided the strongest shield she could against the spell.
"Lina... run." Zel whispered his voice hoarse from screaming.
"No." Lina whispered. "I'm staying with you Zel, from now on." Lina grinned down into Zel's sapphire colored eyes. Lina held out her hand, and Zel grasped it in a surprisingly strong grip. Lina pulled Zel to his feet.
"Lina, incase I forget to tell you... I love you." Zel whispered.
"Love you too Zel, but we got a Mazuko to flay alive."
"How sweet." Xellos said mockingly as he giggled and prepared to release the Dragon Slave.
"Xellos I'm gonna take that sword and shove it where the sun don't shine!" Lina shouted. "Zel help me with the shield." Zel smiled and placed one hand on Lina's shoulder and she gasped as she felt his power run through her. "Or you could do that." Lina grinned up at Zel. Over the link from his energy, Lina felt Zel's love, a warmth that enfolded her senses. His trust and confidence in her also tugged at her emotions. "Come on I'm ready!" Lina snarled. Xellos laughed darkly.
"You asked for it." Xellos released the Dragon Slave and it slammed into Lina and Zel's shield.
"Is that all?" Lina asked. Xellos laughed
"Hardly. But I need you both alive. Garv Flare!" Zel tried to pull Lina out of the way when he felt their shield shatter.
"Lina!" Zel cried as he pulled her against him. "Balus Wall!" Zel shouted in a last desperate attempt at shielding Lina." Zel's Mazuko half was probably the only thing that saved him from the fire.
"Zel." Lina whispered weakly as she caught Zel as he slumped against her.
"Hmmm I can't have him dying, yet." Xellos murmured as he cast a healing spell on Zelgadis. "As for you." Xellos said somewhat archly as he kissed Lina. "Sleep." [2] Xellos caught Lina as she fell next to Zel. The healing spell would insure that Zelgadis would live but not be perfect. Which would suit Xellos' plans perfectly. Xellos picked up the two mortals and carried them to the throne room of Shabrinigdo. "Shabrinigdo-sama I present to you Lina Inverse and Zelgadis Greyweres, the leaders of the Slayers."
1 - I don't want to hear any protest against this!
2 - Xellos never passes up a chance to kiss Lina. rolls her eyes