Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Poison ❯ 14 - epilogue ( Chapter 14 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: Poison -- Epilogue (chapter 14 of 14.5)
Author: Tsutsuji
Date written: September, 2005
Fandom: Slayers
Rating: NC17 - MA version
Pairings: Zelgadis/Xelloss
Type: yaoi/slash, adventure
Warnings: m/m sex.

Disclaimer: I do not own the copyright to these characters and I'm making no profit from this fic and intend no copyright infringement.

NOTE: Chapter 13 has been revised, especially the ending, because that really wasn't the ending. This is.

Summary: The journey is over, and a new one begins....

---

There was nothing left to say, and that was good because Zelgadis couldn't find his voice to say it if there was...

"You see how it is, Zelgadis-san," Xelloss said in a strange, soft tone. "I can give you so much pleasure, but I have to cause you some pain as well..."

"Xelloss..." Zelgadis breathed, but he couldn't reply. He couldn't say "I don't care, I just need to feel you," and he couldn't say "It's okay if you cause me pain, because I can't give you any anger," as he wanted to. He couldn't speak, because Xelloss had already dropped slowly to his knees in front of him, trailing fire-hot kisses down Zel's neck and chest and stomach. Now he knelt there, rubbing his cheek like a cat over the stony sharpness of Zel's hipbone. Xelloss' hair felt like warm silk flowing over Zel's erection. Zelgadis didn't have breath enough left to say anything at all, but he didn't think he needed to.

Xelloss slowly turned his head, and his tongue licked like a flame over the tenderest skin at the top of Zel's inner thigh. His surprisingly soft cheek pressed against Zel's erection, but his fingers dug into Zel's hips now, holding him in place. Excruciatingly soft and warm, Xelloss' lips grazed the very tip of his cock, and Zelgadis choked back a moan of needful bliss.

He couldn't bear to look at his own body, especially not at his own engorged cock with its purplish-blue skin stubbled with rocklike chips, the most horrible and embarrassing part of his horrid body. But he gazed down on Xelloss, at the purple sheen on his dark hair, at his pale face and his dark lashes hiding his inhuman eyes. He saw the tip of Xelloss' tongue dart from between his lips just before he felt its touch.

Zelgadis could not believe that anyone, even Xelloss, could bear to touch him like this, as ugly and deformed as he was, and this part of him especially. He had been shocked the first time Xelloss took him in his mouth this way, but he was utterly amazed this time because now he finally believed that Xelloss wanted him like this.

Xelloss slid his tongue around the soft tip of Zel's cock, which was one of the few smooth, fleshy places on his stone body. Zel heard his own moan as if it came from someone else, because it had to be someone else who was feeling this. It couldn't be him.

Xelloss swirled his tongue around the hard length for a few long seconds. Zelgadis could feel his own pulse against that hot, soft pressure, growing stronger and more uneven with every passing moment. Xelloss sighed, after a while, and pulled away only to rub his cheek against him again.

"I didn't think I'd ever have the pleasure of tasting you again. At least, not like this," he said against Zel's skin. "I thought, at best, I'd have to be content to only taste your pain and nothing more."

Zelgadis closed his eyes and twined his fingers in Xelloss' hair. He still couldn't speak, his breath was caught somewhere in his chest. What else could he do to give Xelloss what he needed, or to tell him how much he needed this? Even the groan of frustration that burst from him wasn't enough.

His emotions flickered, light and dark in turn. Right at that moment he couldn't find his anger or despair, even though he thought of what he lost and gave up for Xelloss, how he gave up his chance to be normal just to save the Mazoku's life. He couldn't bear to remember the pain of betrayal he felt when Xelloss lied to save him, but for Xelloss' pleasure he tried to recall the physical agony of the near-fatal wound he'd suffered afterward...

"No!" Xelloss growled through clenched teeth.

Startled, Zelgadis glanced down again. Xelloss face was twisted in a demonic glare in answer to Zel's remembered pain; his eyes flashed dangerously. Zel didn't understand why he looked so angry. Didn't he just say he needed Zel's pain?

Xelloss curled his arms around Zel's waist and clutched his back to pull him forward, possessively. With another low growl, Xelloss took him in his mouth. Zelgadis bucked with his knees trembling, feeling engulfed in heat and hunger. At that moment, Xelloss could have sucked out his soul from his body, and he would have been powerless to stop him.

Glancing down again through the sparks in his vision, he saw Xelloss' eyes close in concentrated bliss. Then his attention was drawn away by a sudden flare of heat from Xelloss' fingers on his back. Claws of flame tore at his back, the only heat and touch that could penetrate his stone flesh.

"More," he pleaded, mouthing the words silently, writhing in Xelloss' grasp. "Take more..."

The excruciating pleasure in his groin was still greater than the pain in his skin, so he dug his own fingers into Xelloss' shoulder, deep into human-like flesh. He glared down at Xelloss now in frustration, desperate to give Xelloss whatever he wanted.

Somewhere in the haze of his thoughts he understood that Xelloss didn't need his pain the way he did before. He wasn't weak now; he wasn't hungry for the dark energy he would get from rage and anguish. Illogically, knowing that only made Zelgadis need to give it to him even more.

"Xelloss! Take it... damn you..."

He yanked on Xelloss hair, so unsteady on his feet that he would have stumbled if Xelloss didn't hold him, but he couldn't pull Xelloss off of him. He twisted in Xelloss' grasp, but he couldn't get more of that fire from the demon's fingertips.

Xelloss moaned deep in his throat. The vibration around Zel's cock nearly stopped his breath. There was a pause between heartbeats, and then Xelloss sliced his back with claws of fire. He screamed and shoved his cock deep into Xelloss' throat.

Zelgadis was caught in a moment of pure madness, horrible pleasure and blissful pain colliding in his body, offered and taken, until he thought he could feel Xelloss' desire coursing through his senses just as Xelloss could feel his. Then there was a moment of clarity when he looked down again and saw Xelloss, saw himself, watched his own cock pulsing and Xelloss drinking him in, and thought it was beautiful.

Then the room spun, his feet left the floor, and he was falling backward through space.


Moments later, Zelgadis realized he was lying on his back looking up at the ceiling far overhead. It was on the same ceiling he'd stared at days ago after being yanked back from the brink of death. Now, instead of healing hands and White Magic, there was a leering demon bearing down on him, holding him down with one hand while lifting and spreading his legs with the other.

Zelgadis' suddenly focused vision was caught first by Xelloss' smile, then by his half-lidded eyes, and then by the pulsing strength in Xelloss naked, human body. At the edge of his vision, he seemed to see a darker outline, a powerful shadow that spread and swirled beyond Xelloss' human shape. Then he watched, fascinated, as Xelloss drew his hand away to slide seductively up his own firm thigh, to his own thick cock.

He stared up at the Mazoku. Again, in the back of his mind, he remembered that Xelloss was not human and this body was only an illusion. The pulsating erection Xelloss stroked with his own hand was only the magical manifestation of all the agony and pleasure the Mazoku could give him.

At the same time, Xelloss prodded him with heated fingers, pressing inside him. He was so limp and drained from his own release moments before that he could barely resist the quick, rough invasion. Seconds later, he felt like his bones would melt anyway. His eyes rolled back and he stared up at the shadowed ceiling helplessly. He heard Xelloss' hum of satisfaction, and he could just imagine the grin that bent those soft lips. Even though he thought his spine and his stone flesh would melt, he felt the tightening in his groin again.

Xelloss' weight fell on him, and he managed to look up to see the Mazoku's face looming above him, grinning. He groaned, and that earned him the full, fixed gaze of Xelloss' wide-opened eyes.

A spiral like a spell of power began to wind between them. Zelgadis shrank in fear from that demonic, hungry gaze, and Xelloss sighed and plunged his fingers deeper inside him and bore down on him, spreading his legs wider and higher; Zelgadis gasped in pain as he was forced open, and the glitter in Xelloss' eyes grew brighter; Xelloss shifted to press the rock-hard tip of his cock against Zel's stretched opening and Zelgadis whimpered in pain, terror and longing; Xelloss pierced him, and Zelgadis choked on a scream and clutched at Xelloss' shoulders, drawing him in.

The spiral wound like magical threads of power to bind them together. Zelgadis felt Xelloss' body in his, pounding and throbbing, slowly growing harder and faster. He heard Xelloss groan, and felt him pulse, burst, and melt inside his body, and he felt himself melt as if he was within Xelloss as well.


Zelgadis drifted back out of purple-shaded darkness into ordinary shadows, and found the soft, amethyst gleam of Xelloss' eyes watching him. He blinked slowly, savoring the weight and warmth of Xelloss' body draped alongside his. This was what he'd longed for more than anything else and what he'd been certain he would never have again. He wondered if Xelloss knew that. What sense could it possibly make to the Mazoku? But then again, Xelloss had no reason to stay here in this form at all now, and yet, here he was.

Vague sensations resolved into specific points of pleasure: Xelloss' hand that was curled around his thigh, his head resting against Zel's shoulder, soft hair brushing the tip of Zel's ear. There was a feathery softness beneath Zel's head; he eventually realized this was the stuffing from a pillow ripped open by his wire hair while he thrashed around under Xelloss. He smiled. He hadn't shredded a pillow for some time, not since his last nightmare about Rezzo. This was a much better reason to wake up with his hair full of feathers.

Zelgadis was sore in some places he'd never felt anything before, and very tired in a very pleasant way. He struggled against drowsiness, fearful that if he closed his eyes and slept, Xelloss would vanish again. He sighed, remembering to try not to feel too content. To his astonishment, Xelloss nestled against his neck with an answering sigh, flinging his arm across Zel's chest, relaxed yet possessive.

"My, my, Zelgadis-san," Xelloss murmured against his collarbone. "I knew your stamina was greater than any ordinary human, but even so, I'm impressed with your performance just now. I didn't except even you would be able to climax twice in such a short time!"

"What?" Zelgadis found he had trouble following words or thinking very clearly. Finally, though, it occurred to him just why he felt so drained of life he could hardly move, and yet so incredibly satisfied.

Xelloss laughed and discouraged his feeble effort at thought by kissing him. The surprise of tasting his own essence on Xelloss' lips cleared his mind a little.

Even then, he couldn't think of anything to say, although he wanted to. Something horribly trite, like, "That made me glad I gave up everything I ever wanted for you," perhaps. Something that would make Xelloss stay without making him laugh, if that was even possible.

He decided it was pointless to try to speak, anyway. Xelloss huddled even closer, throwing one leg across his. After nuzzling Zel's ear with his lips he settled in with his face against Zel's neck. It was clear he wasn't going anywhere right away. Relief settled like a warm blanket over Zelgadis. He turned his head to press his cheek against Xelloss' hair.

"I'm glad you're back," he murmured, and fell asleep.

---

Zelgadis sat straight up in bed with a gasp, then immediately wondered what had a startled him awake. The room was full of daylight and fresh air streaming in through the window he'd left open. He only had enough wits to notice that much before the sharp rapping on the door made him jump again.

"Oy, Zelgadis!" Cheerful but concerned, Gourry's voice came through the closed door. "Are you awake in there? We got worried about you when you didn't come down for breakfast. Anything wrong?"

Before he could think of any kind of answer, the latch clicked and the door opened a crack. A blue eye framed with golden hair peered through.

"Oh, there you are!" Gourry said cheerfully, pushing the door a little wider, and then...
"Hey! Xelloss!"

Clutching the blanket to his chest, Zelgadis froze halfway to sitting up. It took a second for his fogged brain to comprehend the fact that he was under a blanket, and to remember that when he fell asleep he'd been under Xelloss and nothing else.

Then he followed Gourry's smiling gaze and realized Xelloss was sitting beside him on the bed, leaning back against the headboard with his hands behind his head. He was on top of the blanket, not under it, but he was wearing nothing but his trousers and a grin.

"Hello, Xelloss!" Gourry said with a friendly wave. "Welcome back!"

"Good morning, Gourry-san!" Xelloss said, just as cheerfully. "Oh, dear, did you say we missed breakfast? It's my fault, I'm afraid. I arrived late last night and then kept us both awake until late. We had things to catch up on, you know!" He looked down at Zel out of the corner of one glittering eye.

"Ah," Gourry said, nodding wisely. "Well, that's okay. When you're done catching up and want breakfast, let us now, and we'll all join you!"

Gourry ducked out as quickly as he'd appeared. Zelgadis wasn't sure, but he thought he heard the swordsman humming as he walked away, or maybe, chuckling to himself. Surely Gourry didn't think...? Of course, if he did, he'd be right, but still...

Xelloss sighed happily and sat back with his eyes closed. Zelgadis sighed as well, less happily, and slumped down into the bed again.

"I suppose that was your breakfast, wasn't it?" he muttered.

Xelloss just grinned.

A few minutes later, Zelgadis had managed to climb out of bed and pull his clothes on, hotly aware of Xelloss' gaze the entire time. He tried to imagine his friends' faces when Gourry told them he'd found Xelloss in his room, in -- or at least, on-- his bed. Images from the night before kept flashing in his brain, but each time they were derailed by the sight of Gourry's smiling face peering in at them.

"This is going to be awkward, to say the least," he muttered to himself.

"What are you going to tell them, Zel-san?" Xelloss asked quietly as Zel started to open the door.

Zelgadis glanced back at him. He was fully dressed in his familiar clothes, staff and gloves and all, only missing his traveling cloak. He knew Xelloss wasn't referring to the matter of being found in his bed, although that would be difficult enough to explain.

"I don't know," Zelgadis answered, but as soon as he said it he did know. "Nothing."

He kept thinking that he'd find some way to explain what he'd done in Shimeria, but now, with Xelloss standing there like a walking temptation, he knew he could never explain it all to them. There were some things even his dearest friends didn't need to know.

"They'll hear the rumors eventually," Xelloss said quietly. "Lina-san certainly will, probably from some unlucky gang of bandits!"

Zelgadis remembered what Lina had said just the day before about nearby bandits stealing ugly jewelry. If the Relics had already reached Seyruun, the rumors could not be far behind.

"They'll hear that some Mazoku destroyed the Shrine," he answered. "And they'll assume it was you."

"They'll also hear that a chimera-man was seen in Shimeria at the same time. They'll assume the chimera was there to find his cure and that he heroically tried to defend the Shrine."

Zelgadis couldn't read Xelloss' expression.

"They wouldn't believe me if I told them the opposite is true," he said. He saw Xelloss' eyebrow twitch slightly although his eyes remained hidden. "Unfortunately, they'll also assume that it was you who attacked me and prevented me from being cured."

Xelloss' face did twitch at that. "Oh, so they will! I hadn't thought of that! Lina-san will be quite angry with me, I suppose. Not to mention Amelia!"

Zelgadis chuckled. "Yes, it could become dangerous for you around here when they figure that out. Well, I can't let them damage you after I went to all that trouble to save you, can I?"

Xelloss looked up at him at last. Surprise flickered in his eyes, along with something else Zel couldn't fathom.

"So, you do plan to tell them the truth?" the Mazoku said in that same, quiet voice he'd used a moment ago.

Zelgadis suddenly realized why he sensed so much tension hidden in Xelloss' question.

"Oh, I see," he said softly. "That part of the bargain remains in effect, doesn't it? You're not only going to stay near me to protect me from the Soldiers. You're guarding the Mazoku's secret as well, aren't you?"

Xelloss regarded him through narrowed eyes for several seconds. Then he cocked his head to the side.

"Do you wish to tell them the truth, Zelgadis-san?"

Zelgadis shook his head. "No. I don't."

Xelloss sighed. Zelgadis wondered if he was hiding some relief under mock regret and worry.

"Then it will become awkward around here for me soon," he said. "But that's the price of fame, I suppose!"

"You needn't worry. You have to stick close to me now, right?"

"Why, yes..." Xelloss looked puzzled.

"Well, we'll be long gone before they figure it out," Zelgadis said. He grinned when Xelloss' eyebrows shot upward.

"You're - that is, we're leaving Seyruun?"

"Yes. Tomorrow." He caught Xelloss' eye with a sly grin of his own. "Remember all those stories of ancient magic you told me on the way to Shimeria?"

Xelloss furrowed his brow as if trying to recall.

"To tell the truth, I wasn't thinking much about what I said then!"

"I know. You were just trying to distract me. You mentioned some places I've only heard of in fairy tales before, but you spoke of them as if they were real. I did some research in Prince Phil's library while I've been here. I was especially curious about the place where, according to legend, the study of magic began thousands of years ago. I have an inclination to seek the Lost City of Skye, the ancient home of sorcerers and wise men. Legends say it sank beneath the waves thousands of years ago. I hope you like seafood, Xelloss, because we're heading for the coast, starting tomorrow!"

Xelloss gaped at him. Zelgadis tried not to feel too smug, but it wasn't every day he got to startle the trickster priest into speechlessness, after all. The truth was, he'd just thought up the quest for the Lost City on the spur of the moment. He didn't really care where they went, as long as it was nowhere near the Valley of Shimeria.

Xelloss watched him with a strange expression, almost wistful.

"I see, Zel-san. Can I guess that you hope to find some method to return yourself to a normal human among the magical lore of the lost city? I can hardly believe you still cling to that goal," Xelloss said.

Zelgadis paused. He hadn't even been thinking of that, and he discovered he didn't really know the answer to the question.

"Perhaps," he said after a long pause. "Right now, though, all I want to find is breakfast!"

He turned away and opened the door. When Xelloss brushed past him into the hallway, he realized that last statement was a slight exaggeration. He almost wanted Xelloss again, right then and there. Instead, he took a deep breath and drew himself together to face his friends.

---

"What! You're leaving again already!" Amelia cried after Zelgadis announced that he was leaving Seyruun the next morning.

As soon as he and Xelloss had appeared, the others had joined them at the dining table on the sunny terrace. Lina, Amelia, and Gourry gave no evidence of having eaten breakfast once already that morning - in fact, he would have guessed they hadn't eaten for days if he didn't know them better. They hardly seemed surprised that Xelloss had suddenly appeared again, even if he did appear in Zelgadis' bedroom.

"Zel," Lina said with a dangerous grin around a mouthful of toast, "You promised you wouldn't go off on your own without an explanation first, remember?"

"Well, yes, but... I'm not going off on my own!"

"Huh?" they all said at once.

Lina turned to Xelloss, who sat there watching them all with his benign smile. Gourry looked blank and Amelia looked a little nervous, but Lina nodded with a knowing smile.

"Oh, I see! Xelloss is going along with you, is he?" she said. "You've hardly been here long enough to catch up on all the news and tell us what you've been up to, Xelloss!"

"Ah, well, nothing much out of the ordinary, lately," Xelloss said with a shrug.

Zelgadis lifted his cup of tea to his lips and shoved his chair back from the ruins of breakfast. He sat back to watch Xelloss try to explain where he'd been for the past several weeks. Naturally, Xelloss did a masterful job of not explaining a thing. It was several minutes before Lina found a chance to ask the inevitable question.

"Yeah, yeah," she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "That's all very interesting, whatever you're talking about. What I really want to know is, how did you happen to be there to rescue Zelgadis from whatever it was that attacked him?"

Zelgadis braced himself for whatever was to come out of the Mazoku's mouth. If Xelloss gave his usual answer, the full force of Lina's inquisitiveness would be turned back on him. But Xelloss didn't miss a beat.

"Ah, that! It was just a chance meeting on the road, you know!"

It was enough of the truth that Zelgadis could agree without a twitch when Lina looked to him for more explanation.

"That's all there was to it, really," he said, nodding. "Basically."

"Uh-huh," she said.

She still eyed each of them suspiciously, but at least it was clear from her curiosity that she hadn't heard enough rumors to put the story together yet. Still, Zelgadis realized she'd been patient with his silence as long as she could stand to be. It occurred to him that Xelloss might weave a tale more fantastic than the truth, and more embarrassing, if he was cornered into giving some explanation. But Xelloss was saved the trouble of coming up with any further explanation when Gourry pushed his empty plate away and sat back.

"So, where are the two of you going together?" he asked, with an alarming twinkle in his eye.

Gourry's expression reminded Zelgadis of the look on the innkeepers' faces that morning back in Shimeria. Trust the forgetful but observant swordsman to jump to that conclusion, he thought with a sigh. He saw Xelloss try to hide his smile. He felt his own face flush, but he had to hide a smile of his own as well.

"Zelgadis-san wants to look for the fabled Lost City of Skye," Xelloss announced. "I thought I'd tag along and see what he finds out about it."

"Oh, but that's just a fairy tale, isn't it?" Amelia said. "There wasn't a real city like that, was there?"

"According to the Sorcerer's Guild, it never existed," Lina said thoughtfully. "They sent numerous ships out to sea to look for it, but they never found any reliable evidence."

"Well, I don't know if it was real or not," Xelloss said. "It was long before my time, if it did exist. I'm curious as well, but at any rate, it will be pleasant to visit the coast at this time of year!"

"Oh, sure," Lina said, nodding. "Right before the winter storms start to hit!"

"So, Lina, is that why we're going north instead?" Gourry asked.

"Well, partly."

"What!" Amelia wailed. "You're leaving too?"

"Now that I know Zel's out of danger, and all the big feasts and speeches are finally over, I'm ready to hit the road again!" Lina said with a cheerful wink that did nothing to make Amelia feel better.

Zelgadis peered at Lina from behind his cup of tea. He hadn't realized she'd stayed in Seyruun because she was concerned about him. Now that he thought about it, he'd never known her to stay in one place for so long, even if the food was great. Then again, he rarely stayed this long in one place, either.

She sat back and stretched, then sighed with a faraway look in her eyes. "It's been a long time since I visited my hometown. If we don't run into any trouble on the way, we should get there in time for the harvest festivals!"

Gourry nodded. "That means we'll probably get there in time for spring planting," he said. He sounded absolutely serious, but he was prepared to duck when Lina's fist shot out to pop him in the ear.



The next morning, he stood just outside the gates of the City of Seyruun, looking at the westward road that led across woods and farmlands toward the Coastal States and the distant sea. Xelloss stood beside him silently with his face shadowed.

At the city gates, Amelia was anything but silent, although she did her best to maintain her dignity as the Princess of Seyruun. Lina and Gourry stood nearby at the start of the road that circled northeast around the city walls. They were already arguing (in a relatively friendly way) about the best route to take north to Zefiera.

"It's not fair that you're all going off to have adventures without me!" Amelia wailed.

Lina broke off her fight with Gourry in mid-sentence. "Amelia, as the Princess of Seyruun, you have duties here in the city. Besides that, you need to go on with your training as a Shrine Maiden!" she said sternly.

Gourry switched gears just as quickly and nodded at Amelia. "You're a great warrior, Amelia, but with friends like us, you need to be a great healer as well!"

"That's true, Amelia-san," Xelloss spoke up unexpectedly. "By the way, I never thanked you and Lina-san for taking such good care of Zelgadis-san after I brought him here."

He bowed to them. Amelia's eyes got very large and shiny, but Lina regarded him skeptically.

"Xelloss-san," Amelia said, throwing her arms wide. Before anyone could stop her, she leapt forward and flung herself upon him in a bone-crunching hug. "Even though my heart breaks to see you and Zelgadis-san leave, knowing that you saved his life makes the light of friendship burn in my heart!"

Xelloss cringed helplessly in her embrace. Zelgadis stood frozen, torn between the urge to laugh out loud and the desire to tear her away and jump between them to protect Xelloss.

"Amelia!" Lina cried, laughing. "That's no way to thank a Mazoku! You'll make him sick with all those friendly feelings!"

"Oh!" Amelia jumped back as if she'd been grazed by a Mono Volt. "Xelloss-san! I forgot!"

Again, before anyone could stop her, she raised her hand and pointed at the startled Mazoku in a familiar gesture.

"Xelloss-san, it was wrong of you to let Zelgadis-san be hurt in the first place!" she cried. "Now it is your duty to protect him from any further harm, or feel the wrath of my burning Fists of Justice!"

"Oh, my!" Xelloss cried. He drew back from her but he sounded impressed. "If you say so, Amelia-san, I certainly will do my best to look after him from now on!"

"Humph!" She glowered at him a moment longer, then turned away abruptly. Her shoulders slumped; she looked as weary as if she'd just battled the Dark Lord himself.

"That was not easy," she panted.

"Don't hurt yourself, Amelia," Lina said. She still sounded amused.

"Hey, Lina," Gourry said. He nudged her in the shoulder but he was looking at Xelloss. "Friendship won't really make him sick, will it? I mean, it's okay if we all like Xelloss, right?"

Lina grinned. "Well, it doesn't really do him any good...!"

"Lina-san!" Xelloss cried weakly. "You mean to say you only like me on purpose? All this time, I thought your positive regard for me was real!"

"Oh, it is, Xelloss," she said. "At least it will be as long as you really do keep Zelgadis out of trouble from now on!"

"I'll definitely do my best to do that!" Xelloss replied, with a wink aside at Zel.

"I don't need a guardian," Zelgadis muttered, but he knew he should have known better than to protest.

"It's okay, Zelgadis," Gourry said. He threw his arm around Lina's shoulders. "Xelloss can be your guardian, just like I'm Lina's guardian!"

Lina gave them all a long-suffering look. For once, Zelgadis knew just how she felt.

A moment later she turned away, then reached back and pulled Gourry along behind her while he was still trying to wave goodbye. Zelgadis bowed deeply to Amelia, but then he turned away quickly too, before the diamond-bright tears could start falling from her eyes.

He started down the westward road with Xelloss at his side. Soon the sounds of the city (and of Lina and Gourry arguing) faded away behind them. Looking along the road as it wound through the golden meadows of the kingdom of Seyruun, Zelgadis smiled. Even though he wasn't driven by his familiar goal of finding a way to be normal, Zelgadis still felt as excited and eager as he'd ever felt at the start of a journey. He might not have helped saved the world on his last journey, but somehow it seemed as if everything had turned out all right, after all.

On the other hand, he reflected, his unusual feeling of peace with the world could be due to the mind-blowing things Xelloss had done to him last night, and again this morning....

Xelloss kept pace beside him as the road wound up and down over small hills, and through the many villages that clustered near the White Magic capital. The Mazoku was light on his feet now, very different from the plodding, determined priest he'd been on the journey through Shimeria.

Even so, Zelgadis still felt his physical presence sharply, except that now there was more to it. Now he could also sense the strong, magical energy brimming just below the surface of Xelloss' human facade. He thought the constant reminder of Xelloss' true nature would disturb him, but that hidden power now intrigued his astral senses just as the physical form had aroused his human desire.

Xelloss watched him out of the corner of his eye as they walked. Either he already knew the direction Zel's thoughts were taking, or he was trying to inspire those very thoughts with his suggestive grin. Those thoughts began to warm Zelgadis inside in a way the late summer sun could never do.

The Mazoku gazed at the golden meadows on either side of the road, and at the road itself winding away toward the afternoon sun. Then he looked sidelong at Zelgadis. His amethyst eyes gleamed with a light of their own.

"How far do you wish to travel before we stop to rest?" he asked innocently. "I assure you, I won't grow weary and make our day short as I did before. We can walk all night if you want to!"

"Don't be absurd," Zelgadis muttered irritably.

Xelloss' smile grew wider and Zel's face grew hotter. At least Zel wanted to get well out of sight of Seyruun City before they stopped for the night, but he began to think he was going to be the one making their days short this time.

"Well, then," Xelloss continued, "shall I help pass the time with stories while we walk? Did I tell you the one about the dragon and the troll who met in a tavern....?"

Zelgadis winced and stumbled over an invisible pebble in the road.

"Please don't!" he said with a shudder. "Xelloss... one more dragon joke and I swear I'll blast you to the astral realm for good!"

"Ah, Zelgadis-san!" Xelloss sighed happily. "It is so good to be traveling with you again! Just like old times -- only better!"

Zelgadis glared at him. Xelloss chuckled.

"Damn Mazoku," Zelgadis muttered under his breath.

Xelloss turned and caught his gaze.

"Foolish chimera," he said with a smile.

Xelloss turned away and continued on serenely, walking beside Zel with his usual bland smile.

Zelgadis sighed. Foolish indeed, he thought, to be starting off on a journey to places unknown with a seductive trickster of a Mazoku as his self-appointed guardian! But he smiled to himself as he followed Xelloss' gaze toward the horizon, and once again found he was content to be simply walking along at his ease, ready for whatever adventures awaited them down the road.

---
--- The End ---
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(Truly finished this time! Thanks - again - to all the readers and other fic writers who inspired this story and gave me such great feedback all along the way.

I'm not promising anything... don't hold your breath... but there is likely to be a sequel. This chapter is the Epilogue to Poison, and it might also be the Prologue to the further adventures of Xelloss and Zelgadis in a story that might be called -- Birth Rite.)