A dark figure stood on the top of a tottori, and the sillohette could be seen beckoning to another -- who was only just arriving.
"My, Zelgadiss Graywords, aren't you slow today?" he first one said, more of a statement than a question.
Xellos smiled as he patiently watched Zel's face turn into annoyance. "I thought you were faster than than," he continued.
"Oh shut up, Metallium. I am not mazoku like you are, and cannot move from one dimension to another." The chimera crouched down, and looked around the grounds below them.
Xellos crouched down with him. "Are you so anxious ... that you feel you have to be arrogant towards me?" he whispered into his ear.
Zelgadiss pushed him away. "Stop it, and shut up. If they hear us coming, I'll kill you. And I mean it."
The mazoku sighed dramatically. "Oh Zelgadiss. You don't need to look for them. I can already sense where they are."
"What? How?"
He laughed flatly."My powers are obviously greater than yours. They are to the north of here, by the beach. There should be a circle of trees. I sense that they are there."
Without saying another word, Zelgadiss leapt off the stone pillar, and ran in the direction Xellos had directed him too. The mazoku watched him. Although his chimeric form allowed him the ability to run faster than most people, Xellos was definitely quicker and sharper.
I don't know what I ever saw in him, Xellos said to himself, shaking his head.
He suddenly disappeared from view.
He re-appeared at Zelgadiss' side, and leaned an arm on his crouched back. The chimera shrugged him off annoyedly, and gestured for him to shut up or else.
Circle of trees... circle of pine trees... Here. Zelgadiss paused in his steps, and pricked up his ears. His hearing was excessively good, and could hear more than most, even Xellos.
"are... ure... no...hat...?" Voices could be barely made out, and the shuffling of clothes were definitely audible. Looks like Xellos can be useful sometimes afterall, he thought.
He moved quietly yet quickly towards the sound, and Xellos followed him, though in a more relaxed manner.
The conversation was more audible now. "Then who called this meeting?" a male voice enquired quietly. "Philiolel is away with his daughter in hell knows where training some of our newer followers."
"Then who was it?!"
A tense silence followed.
Zelgadiss frowned. Is something wrong...?
Xellos crept up behind him. "It was me," he whispered into his ear. "Wasn't it a good idea? We have them trapped."
For a moment, Zel stood still. "...how?" he managed finally.
"I can change shape..."
"Not so loud, you idiot," Zel hissed back.
Xellos shrugged and smiled, and gestured towards the small group again.
"I wonder... if..." a ninja began, who then quickly lowered her voice, "someone else set us up."
Zelgadiss tried to peer closer to catch a glimpse of their faces. Especially of that ninja who just spoke. Her voice sounded strangely.... strangely familiar. As stupid as that sounded.
A tense silence followed.
Zelgadiss slowly turned around to inquire their next move from Xellos.... only to find that he had disappeared. "Xellos?" he called in loud whisper.
Where did he g --
His question was answered in the next instant. A massive blast of power was elicited from the otherside of the circle.
Zelgadiss swore under his breath. What is he doing?!
But Xellos had already started to attack, what could Zel do now but also attempt to capture them? He held his hands out before him, and released a fireball.
All 5 members of the small gathering were up, and defending themselves. Three of them ran in Xellos' direction, whilst the other two headed for Zelgadiss, who stood ready waiting for them.
He stood behind one tall pine tree, and remained still hoping to fool them. He quickly looked at the approaching couple. It was dark, and the moon was currently covered by a cloud. They couldn't see him, but Zelgadiss could just make out a swordsman and a ninja.
Good, he thought. Which means neither should know magic...
He could hear another burst of magic from Xellos, and watched both predators spin their heads round. This was his chance. "Fire arrow!!" he shouted, releasing several blasts at both.
"Gourry!!!" a shrill voice screamed. The ninja ran towards the falling figure after letting down her magic shield.
Damn!! Zel cussed. She does know magic --
"FIREBALL!!"
"Shield!!" he yelled reflexively. He leapt out of peril's way.
He looked round. Where is she?!?!
His eyes whipped left and right, and he listened as hard as he could. Was she so quiet that he couldn't hear her?
A shuffle of leaves behind him. "Freeze arrow!!" he shouted.
He felt something sharp and painful on his leg, was suddenly lying on his stomach. He had been tricked and was injured slightly. He felt his arms being twisted behind him, and he clenched his teeth in pain.
"You tricked us into coming here," a voice mumbled at him. "But don't think you can capture all of us, asshole. I've seen your magic, and it isn't good enough to even surpass mine."
Zelgadiss smiled. "But," he responded in whisper, "my physical strength appears to be higher than yours..."
"What?"
He violently pulled out his arms from her grip, and flipped her on her back.
"Oph!!" she groaned. damn!! she shook her head trying to relieve it of her pain. And then she gasped.
Zelgadiss looked at her masked face, only her eyes revealed. Those red eyes... they seemed so familiar.
They suddenly seemed so full of pain. So red and...
I've seen this red before...Where.....? He stopped.
"No..." he murmured to himself, "no..."
He shook his head in painful disbelief, and a trembling hand reached out to remove the cloth that would reveal the truth...
The ninja tried to squirm out of his grip, but with no success. His grip on both her hands were too tight. Her eyes squeezed shut waiting for him to see...
He stopped. He sensed a predator behind him. Zelgadiss whipped his head around and looked up.
"Xellos?!"
The consistently smiling mazoku had his staff raised. "Good-bye Zelgadiss," he said.
The ninja's tears fell at the sound of his name, and she cried out when he was suddenly lying atop of her, unconsious from the blow of magic that had just hit him.