"Damn, I'm thirsty, are you sure there's a creek around here Amelia?"
"That's what the map says Lina-san."
Zelgadiss woke slowly, and decided that he had to still be dreaming, but the voices kept getting louder.
"We've been walking for hours, are you sure you're reading that right?"
"If you hadn't blown up the water bags, we wouldn't have to be doing that."
"I told you that was an accident. When'd you get so mouthy anyway?"
"Um, Zel-chan?" Xellos stirred against him, causing Zelgadiss to finally open his eyes, "We might want to consider getting up now."
"I'm not being mouthy, I just - AAAHHH!!!"
Zelgadiss winced as Amelia stepped into their campsite, quickly followed by Lina and Gourry, all three of them staring in shock. He could feel himself blushing, but he couldn't stop it.
"Hi guys!" Gourry said cheerfully, "Long time no see."
"Gourry, we just saw them a week ago, you know, when Zel said he wanted to be 'alone' for a while."
This was getting more embarrassing by the second.
"Actually," Xellos said, throwing his arms around Zelgadiss, "WE wanted to be alone."
"So I gathered," she replied with a smirk, "Well, we're going to find the creek so we can replace our water supply. If you guys want to meet up with us once you're decent, we won't be far. Come on Amelia." Lina pulled the still-stunned girl after her as they headed off in the direction of the creek. Gourry waved again and then headed off after them.
"Well, at least they're going the right way." Xellos observed after they we gone.
"That was humiliating." Zelgadiss replied as he sat up, please to find that his cheeks were no longer burning. "Do we want to meet up with them?"
"I don't know," Xellos said thoughtfully, "Why'd you leave them in the first place?"
Zelgadiss began to smile. "To get away from you of course."
Xellos looked at him in surprise and then began to laugh, "Well that certainly didn't work, did it?"
"Nope," Zelgadiss answered, "But I'm glad it didn't." He began to get dressed, turning when he was done to find Xellos, also clothed, watching him.
"Will you be all right?" the mazoku asked, looking serious.
"Yes." Zelgadiss answered, "I don't think I'll be able to forget again, but I think I'll be able to deal with it now. Besides," he said with a smile, "Now I have you, right?"
"Right," Xellos replied, taking Zelgadiss' arm as they began walking after the others, "And you're stuck with me."
Zelgadiss laughed, he'd been stuck with Xellos for a while now, but suddenly it seemed a much more enjoyable prospect.
"Holy shit!" Lina's voice reached them from ahead, "Who did this to the forest!?"
"Isn't it great?" Xellos called running forward to brag about Zelgadiss' destructive capabilities. The chimera winced, but smiled again shortly. It seemed like things were getting back to normal now.