11 monthes later
"GOURRY!" Lina screamed at her not-so-bright partner, "gimme' that chicken back!" Lina and Gourry were catching a quick meal while they waited for Zelgaddiss to finish his nap on their way through a small town after leaving Amelia's palace.
"But, I just wanted a peice!" Lina gave him a dirty look before jumping acress the table and grabbing the cooked bird from him with one hand and smashing a plate over his head with the other.
"Same old Lina-chan," exclaimed a familiar voice from behind her. Turning, Lina faced the Mazuko who had been absent for nearly a year since their last encounter.
"What do you want?" Lina snarled at him.
"Can't old friends pop in on oneanother from time to time?"
"What friend?" Lina stated blankly.
"Owchie, Lina-chan," he mocked, "I just wanted to tell you my secret, and this is the reception I receive?" Xellos chibied as he turned from the now curious sorcerress, pouting to himself. "Fine then. I'll just go tell someone else." Xellos returned to his normal size and begane to fade.
"No wait!" Lina called.
"Yes?" he inquired sweetly.
"I want to know."
"Too late! I'm already offended!" Xellos then phased out completely, leaving a room full of shocked customers and a very content swordsman.
Lina didn't even notice the missing chicken as she called out for Gourry to fetch Zel and for the check to be brought.
Now what the hell was that all about, she couldn't help but wonder. What's that fruitcake got up his sleeve?
"I want to go home," Rina said to herself as she sat infront of her mirror. Xellos had given her a personnel room where she could retreat whenever he permitted it. She brushed her long golden hair and missed the sound of her door opening.
"I should hope not," Xellos walked up behind her and placed a gloved hand on her shoulder, but Rina nolonger cringed at his touch. It's no fun anymore... Oh, well. Tonight will bring back every once of delicious pain. Yes that, and so much more... Xellos couldn't contain the evil smile which leered at Rina in the mirror. Secretely she wondered whether she should do something...
later that night...
Rina pulled the short silk gown over her head just as Xellos entered the room.
"Go away Xellos."
"Ooh, Rina-chan... since when do I take orders from you?"
"I'd rather be shove a Lagunda Blade up my nose than bed with you again."
"Sorry," Xellos quipped pulling her against him, "you don't have a choice."
She tried to push him away, but didn't really put her full effort into it. It wasn't like it would've changed the outcome.
Xellos was only in his pants so it didn't take long before he himself in her, Xellos pinning her down as he did so so that she'd be unable to move. Rina was so close that Xellos could feel her heart beat in his own chest as he kissed her lips.
Breathing heavily, he whispered, into her open mouth, "Rina-chan?"
"Ne, Xellos," the situation caused her soft voice to become deep and gutteral, but still came out barely above a whisper.
"He's not dead." Rina's eyes widened and flashed a shade of purple. Xellos felt her heart skip several beats and smiled wider with the amount of shock and horror she so suddenly radiated with.
"Wha - ?" she stammered, trying to sit up but Xellos held her firmly in place, continuing to kiss her mouth and down her neck.
"Get off! GET OFF! Please Xellos!" she screamed and begged, shifting into every possible position, but the Mazuko priest ignored her pleas.
He purred as a result of the hightened sexual pleasure her squirming form provided, and feed deeper on her pain until it all stopped. Suddenly thrown out of his haven Xellos looked down at Rina's face to find it twisted into a pain filled expression, tears staining her cheeks, as she dozed in the ignorant oblivion of unconciousness.
Xellos's laughter found it's way out of her room and echoed down the corridors
"How could you?" Tasuki's voice rang in her head.
"I... I had no choice! Please! I didn't know..."
"I can never forgive you for this betrayal! I thought you loved me?!?" Tasuki turned away from Rina and begane to walk away.
"Tasuki I love you! I have never stopped loving you! Please believe me!"
Tasuki stopped sharply and turned, rushing back to where Rina stood and scooped her into his arms. All anger leaving his eyes, replaced by the love they normally reflected.
"I love you too, my Rina-chan," Tasuki's voice faltered through the sentance and sounded different. Rina looked up to find herself nolonger in Tasuki's arms but rather those of her tormenter, his evil eyes were open as he smiled evily at her.
"Rina-chan, you do love me! You said so yourself."
"No... NO! Get away from me! Stay away!" Rina screamed as Xellos boar down on her, transforming into a creature of nightmares which tore at her flesh and bone, seeking for something she did not posess.
Rina bolted upright in her bed in a cold sweat. She shivered and had to keep her mouth clenched shut to keep her teeth from chattering. She sprang from the bed and rushed to the dresser to pull on her clothes.
Slipping into her old uniform felt good and she smothed the wrinkles out of the material. She looked again to where Xellos still lay, smile plastered across his features and the moon glinted off her eyes. I am going to kill him, Rina decided. But not know. It would be too easy, too effortless to count.
"Kanichiwa, asshole," Rina saluted as she slipped out the door and ran barefooted down the hall, shoes in hand.
She could sense them on her heels. Demons, and lots of them. As she ran Rina realized that in the year she'd spent with Xellos, she hadn't left the sanctuary once. Lost in her thoughts, Rina failed to notice the dark shadow of a rock sticking five, or so, cetimeters out of the ground and her foot caught on it. She hit the hard dirt ground with a thud and was immediately yanked off to her left.
"FIRE BALL!!!" A large mass of flame and heat roared past Rina's right and slammed into her persuers, toasting them(daha ha ha! Sorry I couldn't help it!) Recovering slightly she turned to see the face of a handsome blonde man who smiled and blushed red. He stood just as a short red-head and a blue skinned man rushed up.
"Looks like we made it just in time!" the red-head exclaimed to Rina.
"Tha - tha - " Rina was shaking as her body went into shock and her knees buckled. The blonde scooped her up in his arms as if she weighed no more than a pillow, and gently placed her in the blue skinned mans arms.
To shaken to protest, Rina shut her eyes as both the red-head and the blue man shouted "Ray Wing" and took off. The blonde man in a vise grip on the red-heads right ankle.
"Wakie, wakie, Rina-chan!" Her eyes fluttered open, only to be greeted by Xellos's smiling face. Rina opened her mouth to scream, but no sound escaped. A horrified look crossed her face as she realized he'd come to take her back.
No, she mouthed to him as she tried to move, but her legs and arms would not respond.
"Oh, yes," he said scooping her up over his left shoulder. Never before had Rina felt such an absolute helplessness. In a last bail attemt to attack Xellos, she bit down hard on the soft muscle on the underside of his arm, bet he meerly sighed.
"Rina! Stop that now! We can play later."
Just then a streak of blue flashed over head and Xellos looked up in time to see Zelgaddiss drop from above and land with incredible weight on top of the Mazuko. Rina flopped onto the groung, all feeling returning immediately to her numb limbs.
She jumped to her feet in time to see the pair circling each other in anticipation. Rina received a sideways glance from both men at once and stepped back a few steps.
"FLARE ARROW!" Zeldaddiss screamed, releasing the spell from his outthrust hands. Xellos simply phased out and let loose a torent of darkness, which Zel barely managed to side step. The battle was far from equal, and Rina raced back to where the red-head slept.
She shouted out for her, but Rina found that her voice was still a useless whisper. Bending over the sleeping form, Rina shook the girl furiously, only managing to cause Lina to roll onto her side and mutter something about food. Teardropping, her head sank to her chest and a large explosion sounded in the distance.
That woke her up. The pair raced towards the sound, Rina's heart filled with fear of what she knew she would find.
The entire forrested area was void of all life save for the two girls. Xellos nor the blue-skinned man were anywhere in sight. A light peice of clothe was noticeable in the charred surroundings and Lina rushed over, swipping the scrap before her. Rina cautiously walked up behind her and peered over her shoulder, reading the message scribed onto the fabric.
Kannichiwa Lina and my Rina-chan! As you may have noticed, your chimera is missing, and I assume that you miss him, ne Lina? All I want is what's mine and you can have yours back. Until I receive her, your posessions will continue to, shall we say, disappear? Domo Arigato!
Xellos
"WHY THAT SELF-RIGHTOUS, ASSHOLE OF A DEAMON!" the red-head swore viciously before collapsing in a sobbing heep at Rina's feet. Rina stooped to comfort her, drawing Lina up to her. Lina accepted the guesture and wept into her shoulder.
meanwhile...
Xellos phased into the feeding room he had origionally held Rina captive in, and flopped his heavy burden onto the same wooden slab which he usually feed off of. Strapping each limb in it's respective restraint, Xellos sat back in a chair and smiled, waiting for his plan to unfurl.
the next day...
Gourry awoke the next morning and roaring a tremendous yawn, his eyes poped open. Something wasn't right... his brain was yelling something at him but the slow minded swords-man could not quite put his finger on it. Something was... missing, yes that was it! Maybe Lina would know! Wait! Where was Lina, and Zelguldis, and that blond girl... Grabbing his sword, he rushed off in the direction of their small foot prints, coming across the charred clearing in seconds.
The Lina and the blonde were curled up in one anothers arms, asleep on the ground.
"Lina! Gourry exclaimed across the clearing, "are you OK?" The blonde stirred slightly and opened her eyes slightly, trying to adjust them to the sudden brightness day provided. Gourry ran over and scooped them both up into his big arms.
That did it.
Both of their eyes shot open and Lina bashed the dim-witted boy over the head with her fist.
"Put me down!" she raged. Gourry set the two girls on their feet. Same height, same stature, same unruly hair, big eyes, with color and skin tone being the only major difference.
"Wow," Gourry starred in surprise, "you two look really similiar." The comment caused the pair to turn to each other and for the first timetake their duplicate in. Lina circled Rina taking in her long hair, and blue eyes, and the fact that her double seemed to be a bit, make that a lot, better developed than she herself was.
Rina could only stare in shock at the mirror image of herself. Was this who Xellos had referred to? It had to be, who else could it be.
"Hmm..." Gourry said drawing their attention back to him, he was starring at Rina's chest in deep thought. "There's a difference! Lina definitely doesn't have any of those!"
BAM
Lina and Rina both slammed their fists into his face, sending him careening backwards into one of the distant trees.
"Owch..."
"Ugh..." Zelgaddiss awoke, every inch of his stone body ached. What happened? I feel like I got hit by a... a... fruitcake. The memories flooded back... His thoughts had kept him awake... the blond Lina. Xellos had appeared to try and take her back... the fight... then nothing...
Zel left the past and returned to the present, and his situation. His arms and legs were held in place by thick, enchanted binding which could suppress even his unnatural strength.
Xellos! What was that priest up to? Why am I still alive? Surely fruity hates me, just as much I hate him... so why? The answer struck like lightening. To Xellos love was only as strong as the ties you held on the other. In a sense Zelgaddiss belonged to Lina and since the blonde belonged to him... Xellos was only using Zelgaddiss as a bargaining chip in a game of life and death. And if Xellos didn't get what he wanted... This is going to be very painful.
"Zel - gad - diss?" It was Xellos. "Are you awake now?" His head peeked around the doorframe.
"Go away fruitcake."
"YEAH!" Xellos skipped through the doorway, coming to a bouncing stop inches from where Zel's head rested on the cool surface. "Now the fun begins!"
"That's awful," Lina muttered after finally getting the story out of Rina.
"You don't even know the worst of it. Tasuki was the world to me. I love him so much but... but..." Rina couldn't continue through her tears of disgust.
Lina stood to comfort her, but was pushed away.
"Please stay away from me! I wish I had died! Whay did you save me! You had no right! I had no right..."
"Rina, don't blame yourself. Xellos is an evil demon, intent on getting what he wants. You couldn't have done anything against him."
"You don't understand! It was my fault, I allowed it to happen! I thought he was dead... Thought that if I could get home..."
Whatdaya' mean, thought he was dead?" Lina suddenly questioned.
"I held him in my arms, there were no signs of life, pulse, breath, nothing! He was dead! But now, Xellos told me... told me..."
"Told you what?!?"
"Told me that Tasuki is not dead!"
"Why that sonovabitch! He musta' used some sort of spell on him! And you never knew?"
"Not until the night before last... How could I? Tasuki means everything to me, he was - is my world, and despite Xellos I still love him. But now I'll never see him again, and if I did, he would never want me back." Her tears of pain ran dry, as a feeling of anger rose in her.
"And know I've drug you into it too. I had no right to pull you into my problem like this," Rina said looking at Lina and Gourry.
Lina starred deep into her eyes and they flickered a deep purple. Blinking in surprise she looked again but the blue had retured along with the tears.
"Gods, Lina! I'm so sorry! I just wanna' get Zelgaddiss back to you!"
The sounds of electricity and Zelgaddiss's screams caused Xellos to squeel with delight and pause his assault. Xellos smiled down at the panting chimera.
"Now don't you wish you'd minded your own business?" He curiously questioned.
"No."
"Well then, it seems I have more work to do."
"Leave me alone, you loony - "
"Uh uh... Wouldn't want to make me mad..."
" - FRUITCAKE! ARGHHH!!!" Xellos begane his onslaught again with such an intense power that Zelgaddis passed out, the electricity surging through every cell of his body.
Lina tossed and turned but sleep still evaded her. She knew something was happening to Zelgaddiss and it put every nerve on edge.
As dawn broke, Lina groggly drug herself out of her makeshift bed near the smothered fire and woke up Rina and Gourry. The trio then begane their way towards the port several cities away. Getting to Wolfpack Island was proving to be a tedious activity since the lack of magic users made it nearly impossible to speed up the process. Not to mention it was that time of the month, so it was up to their feet to carry them to their destination.
Oh well, Lina thought as they neared a small town, atleast this way I can eat and try and get my mind off Zel. Going deeper into thought, Lina briefly wished she'd just tradded Rina over to Xellos. What the Hell am I saying? She's lost everything: her love, her life, her world... Lina glanced over her shoulder to where her duplicate was shuffling several meters back, and a surge of hatred and disgust raised in her mind as she drifted her thoughts towards the Mazoku. When I see that shithole next, I'll make him wish he was never born.
The town was relatively quiet, most likely due to it's size. Lina and Gourry raced ahead to the Inn and had already ordered their meal by the time Rina finally entered. She smiled at Lina's concerned glance and walked over.
"I think I'll turn in early. I didn't sleep much last night," Rina explained.
"They only had two spare rooms, so we'll have to share. I finished here. I want to get some extra slep too. Gourry get the bill!"
The two girls walked up the stairs and Lina opened the door. Finding everything to be in order, they proceeded in, Lina closing and locking the door behind her. Rina ploped face first onto the bed as Lina pulled off her shoulder gaurds and cape. She turned off the light.
A sharp pressurized sealing noise was evident right away and Rina sat up. No sooner had she done so, an unknown force shoved her and Lina against opposite walls, an eerie blueish glow filling the center of the room. In the midst Xellos appeared, an evil smile leering at both girls at once. He winked at Rina and vanished, a red orb of light taking his place.
The pressure suddenly dropped to normal, and Rina hit the lights as soon as her feet reached the ground, immediately wishing she hadn't.
"Oh, my Gods..." It was Gourry, lying dead in the center of the room. His eyes were missing along with many of his inards, his stomach sliced open from naval to sternum. A sickening feeling grew in Rina's stomach as she leaned over and retched. Lina was unconcious and tears stained her soft cheeks.
Filling with a sudden hatred she'd never before experienced, Rina stood up from her stooped position and walked stiffly to the door. She slammed it open and stormed down the dark hallway, leeping over the rail to the first floor. Landing in a crouched position she took advantage of the situation and sprang up and through the window, leaving no trace of glas in the frame.
"XELLOS!" she roared, "SHOW YOURSELF! XELLOS!"
"Ne, Rina-chan?" said a voice from behind her. Rina spun and faced the innocent smiling face of the Mazoku priest, evil intent flashing in her once blue eyes.
I like the red, Xellos decided taking in the change in hair color also. Black is definitely her color.
Rina flashed him a devilish smile, revealing a pair of gleeming white fangs.
Xellos smiled, he's hoped this would finally push her over the edge.
Lina stirred from her resting spot on the floor, and opened her eyes in time to hear Rina shouting for Xellos. Turning her head from Gourry's disembowled form she pulled herself up to the window and watched in disbelief as Rina scandelously kissed Xellos, he returning the kiss with such vigor, Lina thought he might snap her spine.
Xollos lifted one hand and waved at Lina his eyes briefly meeting hers before they phased out still pressed against one another.
Lina heard a low maon from behind her and spun. Zelgaddis was lying on the bed where Rina have previously planted herself.
The deal was complete.
Part 4 | Fanfiction