Trees flashed by in a blur as Zelgadiss ran through the forest, trying his best not to hit any of them. His cloak had been torn off by a bramble bush a few miles back and the rest of his clothes were fairing only marginally better, but he'd managed to keep his sword so he was fine with that. He hated that he was running, but he honestly didn't know what else to do. Even with his sword he knew he couldn't defeat his pursuer. Of course, he didn't think he'd be able to out run him either, but he was still trying. That probably meant he'd try to use the weapon anyway once he was finally caught. Wondering what the point was, he leapt over a fallen log and continued to run without missing a beat. There really wasn't a point of course, except that he hated to give up. He was nothing if not tenacious.
The attack came out of nowhere, striking the ground in front of him and sending him flying backwards. Lying dazed for only a moment, he struggled to get his stunned system to function and was actually able to stand before drawing his sword. A low, dark chuckle met the gesture as his pursuer came into view for the first time since the ludicrous chance had begun.
"A sword, Zelgadiss-san?" Xellos asked mockingly. "Really. Even with its enchantment you don't actually expect it to hurt me, do you?"
"I won't know until I try." He growled in return as he wondered, for the hundredth time, what it was that had set the priest against him. He'd never truly trusted Xellos, of course, but this was a far more direct betrayal than the one he had expected. In truth, he'd wanted the mazoku to prove those fears unfounded in the end.
"Suit yourself. It's more fun if you fight anyway." Xellos smiled, his eyes open and shining with dark delight, then he attacked. He moved forward so fast that Zelgadiss barely had time to block. He never had a hope of countering, just like he didn't have a hope of winning. The fight did last longer than he had expected however, but in the end he saw his sword shatter and knew that he was lost. The only weapon he had left to use against the mazoku was the Ra-Tilt, but he wouldn't do that. Assuming the attack worked, there was actually a chance that it would kill Xellos, and he couldn't bring himself to do that, even now.
"You fought well Zelgadiss-san." Xellos said as he knelt beside the chimera's fallen form. "I am impressed, but we both knew how this battle would end."
Looking up at the trickster priest, Zelgadiss asked the question that had been on his mind since he had first begun running. "Why?"
"Sore wa himitsu desu." Came the predictable answer, and Zelgadiss resigned himself to never knowing the reason for his fate.
"You're a bastard." He muttered weakly.
"True." The mazoku replied. "Any last words Zelgadiss-san? Or were those them?"
Thinking about it for a moment, Zelgadiss decided that he really had nothing left to loose. Nodding, he motioned for Xellos to lean in closer. With an amused smirk the purple-haired priest did so, apparently expecting some sort of trick. That wasn't what the chimera had in mind, however. He'd never been very good at deception. The direct approach had always served him well, and he used it now to reveal one of his best kept secrets. When Xellos was close enough, Zelgadiss leaned forward and pressed his stone lips against the mazoku's soft ones, waiting patiently for whatever response Xellos would give.
That response turned out to be a gasp of surprise before pulling away in shock. Zelgadiss closed his eyes, and let himself relax against the soft ground as he waited for the mazoku to end the battle. The final blow did not come however, and the chimera eventually opened his eyes again to determine the reason. He found Xellos still sitting beside him, a look of confusion on his beautiful features as he pressed his fingers lightly against his mouth.
"Why?" He asked, repeating the chimera's earlier question.
"Because." Zelgadiss replied. Though the answer was about as enlightening as the mazoku's had been, it was the only one he could offer. Even he didn't really know the reason; he just accepted the feelings.
Silence stretched out between them as Zelgadiss watched Xellos struggle with the answer. Finally the priest whispered, "I don't understand." Then he was gone and Zelgadiss was left alone in the clearing that had been created by their earlier battle.