Sorry this took so long, but this is the sequel to Dolphin's cry. blank looks Uh, anyway, Run to the Water was also written by Live and it's also on the Distance to Here cd.
The way you're bathing light,
They say that grief and pity can drown a man.
I wonder what it could do to a mazoku.....
Oh desert speak to my heart..
I suppose it's my own fault.....
It was I who sinned after all.
oh woman of the earth -
Never to love, mazoku are not to love.
Especially human girls.
Wonderfully chaotic isn't it?
A grand secret yes?
maker of children who weep for love.
"Please Dynast!" Was that a pleading tone?
"Greater Beast, he is weak. He needs to be conditioned."
"But what if he - "
" - Are you saying that you care?"
"....no. He is a faithful servant, that's all."
Such a shame it's a secret no longer.
Maker of this birth.
When a mazoku fall in love...well let's just say that they don't function quite right. And when they feel heartache - they lose it entirely. Mazoku are not accustomed to feeling real pain after all. Their system shuts down- an internal defense mechanism. Then they must be cleansed - purged from the offensive feelings.
Keeps one strong.
Xellas is looking at me with such sad eyes...please dont'.
I can't have you joining me in this place.
'Til your deepest secrets are known to me...
I believe that I fell into this "coma" a few days ago, when I found out that....
Best not to think about it.
Xellas-sama called Dynast in her desperation...
I wish she hadn't.
It is rather hard to prostest when one isn't awake.
I will not be moved.
What exactly happens when a mazoku is conditioned you ask?
Why, they return to their source of origin of course.
Where? You really don't know?
The Sea of Chaos.
That ought to whip you into shape ne?"
I will not be moved.
Oh don't feel sorry for me.
I'm the one who sinned after all.
But....
She promised.....
Don't try to find the answer -
I honestly thought that L-sama would help her remember...
It just proves that Lina is Her favorite, not I.
As long as she's happy....
At least she never forgot.
- when there ain't no question here.
I can take some comfort in that.
Some.
I still can't believe that she's going to, will be....
Wed.
And it's not to me.
....I don't like this feeling.
Brother let your heart be wounded,
I'll bet that she'll look beautiful, wearing all white...
Pure.
But she's not pure, didn't we already discuss that?
She's both.
But I don't suppose that gray would make the most enchanting wedding gown.
I don't want to be conditioned.
I don't want to wake up.
and give no mercy to your fear.
Mmm, did you know that it's a very strange feeling fading away into nothing?
Tingly actually...
"Xelloss!" Xellas desperately grabbed his translucent form.
Please don't mistress... I can...
Fading away to nothing.
To chaos.
I can dream of her there.
Without him.
Gourry.
Destined.
I really hate that word.
"XELLOSS DON'T YOU GO!!"
I'll miss you Xellas-sama......
....mother.
Adam and Eve live down the street from me,
"What?" Lina's head shot up, red eyes startled.
Amelia scowled at her. "Lina-san, please pay more attention! I need to have those bridesmaid dresses made soon!! What color?"
"I don't know... you're better at this kind of stuff anyway."
"But it's your wedding!"
"I know - OW!!!!!"
"Lina-san!" Sylphiel called from across the room. "If you don't hold still they'll never get that dress done!"
Babylon is every town.
When Sylphiel had found out that Lina and Gourry where...getting married she took it surprisingly well. She had dedicated herself to the planning since Lina was so inept at it. She and Amelia where going to be the Maids of Honor.
But still....
"Why do I have to be in it when they make it!?"
"So it'll be perfect!" Amelia chirped.
It's as crazy as it's ever been.
Lina smiled, she had the best friends didn't she?
"Hey let's get someone in here to work on her hair and veil!"
If a bit over enthusiastic. "Why?"
"So we'll know for sure that's how you want it fixed on the day."
"Which color!?"
Love's a stranger all around.
"All done!" cheered the tired tailors, hairdressers etc.
"Really?" Lina shook herself out of her reverie. She couldn't shake the weirdest feeling lately.....
"Wow Lina-san," her friends breathed.
She grinned and studied her reflection. Her hair had been dome mostly in an upsweep, white roses strung throughout her curls. Her veil was sheer and topped with a plain gold tiara. And the dress... Amelia had spared no expense, pure white silk, diamond studded bodice, full skirts and elegant sleeves.... quite the exquisite wedding gift.
She glanced at her gold band with the small diamond. In a few days she would be Mrs. Gabriev...
Lina Gabriev.
Why didn't that sound right?
"I wonder if Xelloss-san will show up," Amelia pondered out loud.
In a moment we lost our minds here -
Xelloss?
An odd feeling in her stomach.
Would he...
"Lina-san?"
That time....
In the Sea of Chaos.
What was it?
A prayer?
He prayed for her.
Didn't he?
That feeling again...
Something's wrong.
- and lay our spirits down.
Gourry had saved her, Gourry had brought her back.
No, before that...
Xelloss had....he'd...
I...
I remember...
That time...
"What's wrong!? Why are you crying!?"
I promised.
Today we lived a thousand years.
With a loud whoop, Lina tore the tiara and veil from her head.
That feeling...
It was -
"Lina-san?"
"Sylphiel!" Lina grabbed the Shrine Maiden's hand and placed her ring within it. "Please, keep this."
"?"
Lina smiled gently. "I do care about him. Please... Sylphiel, take good care of him for me. I know he cares for you too."
"I-I don't understand."
She threw her head back and laughed. "Wonderful!! I don't either!! I'm sorry, take care of him - you'll probably make him happier anyway." She quickly put on her talismans, they didn't quite match her dress. She always kept them close incase of an emergency, incase of...
No.
They where a link.
Always.
All we have is now.
"Where are you going!? And what are you doing!?"
"giggle I have no idea but..I'm doing something I always wanted to do!"
"What's that?"
"Turn my back on destiny! Raywing!"
Run to the water and find me there.
Lina felt her hair fall to her back as she soared through the air, most of the flowers falling to the ground below.
Where are you?
She could pray too.
L-sama, where is he?
Burnt to the core but not broken.
Please?
Wait...
Where?
She stood on a magnificent beach with golden waves.
How did I get here?
Does it matter?
We'll cut through the madness -
"Xelloss!"
Where is he?
"Xelloss!"
We'll find a way.
I promised him.
She clasped her hands. Please!
It was chance that she looked up and saw the black orb holding a certain unconscious mazoku.
There!
- of these streets below the moon.
It hurt.
It hurt a lot.
The power of oblivion.
But he didn't want to wake up.
These streets below the moon.
She watched in confusion as the black energy winked out and he was dropped into the golden waters.
"Xelloss!"
Swim.
"Swim you idiot! XELLOSS!!!"
And I will never leave you -
So warm.
The freedom from the burden of consciousness.
This must be what it's like to stay inside the womb.
Tired.
Warm.
Safe.
Xelloss curled up and sank deeper.
'till we can say:
"Xelloss!" She ran into the water against gold waves. "Xelloss!"
Leave him My Chosen.
"Xelloss!" She felt her sleeves shred in the violent liquid.
Have I not provided a suitable mate?
The world was just a dream.
Frustrated, she kicked off her pointy shoes, they where just too damn hard to work with. "Xelloss!!" Her long skirts billowed around in the frothy water. "I'm coming!"
We where sleeping, now we're awake.
Have you forgotten My Rule? The races are not to mix.
She was now treading water. "Xelloss!"
Go back.
Lina gritted her teeth and fought against the current pushing her back.
Not yet.
Not now.
"I'm going to save him!" she screeched.
'Till we can say:
"If You really wanted absolute obedience You should have never given us minds of our own!" She took a big breath and dived under the thick gold water.
There!
He was floating in the Sea, his hair dancing around him like a halo.
I'll save you!
In a moment we lost our minds here -
She grabbed his wrist and pulled him to her.
I promised!
My will....
Free will...
and dreamt the world was round.
My mind.
I have a mind.
And I choose the path that wasn't laid out!
A million mile fall from grace.
She hugged the priest to her as the confining water exploded with a golden spray.
A prayer.
Touch.
Heart.
It touched You that time didn't it?
Didn't it?
Thank God we missed the ground.
They where a comical pair - the small red head in a ruined wedding gown holding an unconscious mazoku General-Priest...
The Lord of Nightmares cried in joy in the form of golden droplets.
Finally.
One who understood.
After all what is free will if one doesn't use it?
Run to the water -
Lina looked sharply at the new landscape. A beach? A normal beach?
Blue water lit by the moon.
How?
Did it really matter?
and find me there.
"Xelloss!" She shook him.
Wake up....
Please?
Burnt to the core but not broken.
"Oh, I won't let you stay asleep forever!" she warned.
You know how it happens in stories right?
Do you really need it spelled out?
We'll cut through the madness -
Feeling every bit the part of the great hero, Lina placed a firm and passionate kiss upon him.
After all, that's what they do in the stories.
of these streets below the moon.
Xelloss could feel himself stir.
No, he didn't want to wake up.
But something....
Sweet.
Soft.
Lips.
With a nuclear fire of love in our hearts.
"Wha?" His violet eyes fluttered open to see a very happy Dra Matta staring back. "Lina?"
She smiled through fresh tears. "I thought that would work you stupid pervert."
"What did you - "
She placed her fingers on his lips. "Does it matter?"
Deja vu.
Yeah I can see it now Lord.
They gave quite a name to role reversal actually - the damsel in her torn dress and tearful face resuscitating the unconscious hero.
Perfect.
Out beyond the breakin' waves and tribulation -
"You saved me..."
wink "Is it so hard to believe?"
"B-but why?"
it's a place and home of ascended souls
She placed herself on his lap. "Don't tell me you forgot."
He stared at her, in far too much shock to do anything else.
"Did you forget?"
shock
"I never did."
who swam out in love.
"I never forgot, I just now remembered."
"Lina..."
Run to the water and find me there.
She ran her hands through his soggy hair. "I do believe that I promised ne?"
Burnt to the core but not broken.
Promise?
Yes...
Yes you did.
And you kept it.
We'll cut through the madness of these streets below the moon.
With a nuclear fire of love in our hearts.
The Mother of All smiled at the odd couple.
Perfect in their imperfection.
Two understood.
This was a proud day.
Rest easy baby, rest easy.
"What will we do now?" Xelloss held her, still on his lap, firmly under his chin.
"I dunno...who cares?"
"And Gourry?"
"I - I don't think that he'll ever want to see me again."
And recognize it all as light and rainbows
Xelloss frowned and pulled her to her feet.
"?"
He winked at her. "Yare yare, no one will hate you Lina-chan, especially Gourry."
She looked away. "But I - "
" - He's smarter than you think. He'll understand. Do you already regret the path you chose?"
"No."
"Then why worry so much? It is your life."
smashed to smithereens and be happy.
He pulled her into a silent waltz. "You did what you felt what you had to do. Life is change after all."
Life...
Life is change.
"Where should we go?"
"Can't we just stay here?"
Yes, let's stay right here...
Run to the water and find me there.
But let's move on in the morning because -
Life is change.
Not everything is as it seems.
Things change.
People change.
Situations change.
A fabulous secret isn't it?
It's chance.
It's luck.
It's choice.
It's personal freedom.
It's living for now.
And wouldn't it be boring other wise?
Run to the water.