The phone rang. “Lina-san!” Firia exclaimed. They haven’t talked in years.

“Hey Firia! It’s me! You know, the beautiful, genius, sorceress? We need help!”

“Help? What’s wrong, Lina-san?”

“It’s Xelloss.”

“Xelloss?” Firia nearly dropped the phone. That dumb mazoku? That was the cause of this? “nani?”

“Look Firia, I know you and Xelloss aren’t really the best of friends, but you’re his only hope at the moment. PLEASE come to town, OK?” Lina asked. No, more like, if you don’t I’ll dragon-slave your ass a million times.

“Hai, Lina-san, but what’s the namagomi up to these days?” Firia replied not-so-willingly.

* * * * * *

“Baka” Firia muttered under her breath. He wouldn’t live much longer if he kept this dumb thing up. “Lina-san” Firia stood in front of her old comrades. The flat sorceress Lina Inverse, The not-so-small anymore Princess of Saiyruun, and a still ever-so- quiet chimera. Two people missing, Gourry, the swordsman, Xelloss that obnoxious mazoku.

“hey Firia, long time no see, but you ARE late, I now have to go”

‘for a mazoku like him, why not be late?’ “gomen nasai, Lina-san”

“well, I need to go, Zel and Ameria will help you”

“forgive me for asking, but where are you going Lina-san?”

“She and Gourry-san and going on a honeymoon” Ameria said, smiling.

“Thanks Ameria” Lina mumbled while ray-winging to her destination.

“I should’ve known….” Firia sighed.

“anyway, been a while, ne Firia?” Zelgadiss said.

“hai, konnichiwa Ameria-san, Zelgadiss-san, how are you?”

“Fine, but right now, we promised that we’d help Xelloss-san, it wouldn’t be just if we lied to her”

“yes, and that if we didn’t, we’d be ranga bladed, dragon slaved, etc…. till the day we die” Zelgadiss added. “I don’t believe you talked me into this Ameria”

“hai, that’s pretty much why I’m here too” Firia sighed. ”So where is that namagomi?”

* * * * * *

“ I HAD to ask, didn’t I?” Firia moaned. “What am I supposed to tell Valteria when he asks me what I did while I was gone? ‘oh, you know, saving my worst enemy from learning how to be a mortal for a couple years, getting him out of strip bars, getting him of his most-likely alcoholic addiction, you know’”

“well, we all tried Firia-san, we even got Sypheil to do it, she barley knows him!” Ameria said with understanding.

“well, if I had to do it, YOU have to do it” Zelgadiss said handing Firia her clothes that she would wear in the bar. She couldn’t go in her Priestess clothing, several reasons.

“Lina will pay” Firia growled taking the stuff from Zelgadiss and going to her hotel room to change.

* * * * * *

“Damn you Xelloss…” Firia said under her breath while walking into the bar. “You’ll pay dearly for this…” After a good 15 minutes or so of searching. She found him all right. Drunk, probably way to many times the limit, surrounded by women who probably didn’t care much about people seeing them nude. The priest/ General didn’t recognize Firia, other than being drunk, she looked so much different. Firia gave a death glare to the drunken women, who mumbled something about the beer being the best tasting while laughing and moving to some other male. Humans. That’s all Firia could think of while picking up the nearly unconscious mazoku in her arms. When she was out the door, she ran to Zel’s and Ameria’s car.

When they reached the hotel, Firia laid the now unconscious killer on his bed.

“so he’s officially mortal for five years” Zelgadiss concluded. “man, Firia, you are so lucky” he added sarcastically.

“gods, why must I do this?” Firia complained. She nearly fainted with all the alcohol smelling like shit on the mazoku. “Zelgadiss-san” She finally asked.

“nani?”

“you know, Xelloss REALLY needs to be cleaned up, you’re the only male present.”

“Firia, you are NOT making me bathe that… that thing!!” Zelgadiss said pointing to the “it”

“Since when was Xelloss-san an ‘it’?” Ameria asked.

“You have to, for Lina’s sake, remember?”

“She’s right Zelgadiss-san, it wouldn’t be right NOT to”

“Whose side are you on?”

“Look, Zelgadiss-san, I don’t want to take care of it for five years, I have to, you can bathe him ONCE. ONCE isn’t that big compared to FIVE years!!” Firia said picking up and throwing the horribly smelling trickster priest to the chimera.

“L-sama…..” “Ameria-san I need to get cleaned up really quick, please excuse me” Firia was out the door with a towel and her priestess clothing.

“hai” the energetic princess said.

* * * * * *

“Firia, you will pay” Zelgadiss threw the purple haired mess on the bed.

“at least the smell’s gone” Ameria noted taking Zel’s hand.

“Well, Firia-san, We have to go now, we hope to keep in touch”

“hai, please do. I might go insane if I have to be with it for five years”

“bye Firia-san”

“Bye Firia, talk to you later”

“bye Ameria-san, Zelgadiss-san” “As for YOU, namagomi” Firia growled. He would’ve had to go to the hospital, if not dead already. Firia had to use her magic on him, knowing she’d regret it later.

“Great, I get to bring home my worst enemy” she sighed picking Xelloss up and teleporting to her room in the top floor of the pottery shop. She tied him up, despite his condition, so he couldn’t do anything. Mortal or not, he could still kill or hurt someone. She went and did her part of the day, Mondays were normally slow at the shop. Late that night in her room, she found Xelloss, nearly out of the ropes, pissed as ever.

“let me got stupid ryozoku”

“ah, so the not-so-great priest has finally awaken.” Firia said mockingly.

“shut up and let me go”

“Lina-san would kill me”

“your point? Not like I won’t when I get my powers back foolish ryozoku”

“foolish, ne? Well, I thought you might be hungry, but then, what would a FOOLISH ryozoku like myself know anything?” Firia said sitting right next to Xelloss where he could perfectly see her eating what WAS his food.

“look, gomen. Please untie me?” Xelloss tried a new approach.

“Please:? Gomen? Is this Xelloss speaking?” Firia asked sarcastically shocked. This was fun.

“Firia, LET ME OUT!!”

“momma? What’s all the noise? Who’s he?” a boy around 5 or 6 years old came and hugged Firia.

“Valteria, hey, meet Xelloss, he, um, well he’s staying here a while. “ Firia said holding the child to her.

“hey Valteria, my name’s Xelloss, the trickster Priest. Mind helping me out? Your kind, loving mother wouldn’t help me” Xelloss said sweetly.

“sure” Valteria came and whipped out a knife.

“whoa, Firia, you let this kid have a KNIFE? Thats dangerous!”

“Jirias gave it too him” Firia shrugged.

“Mommy, why didn’t you let him out?” Valteria asked un-doing the last knot.

“um, because..”

“because we were having a game! I get to be tied up while she takes advantage of me!” Xelloss said quickly.

“namagomi…”

“momma? Nah..” Valteria said.

“Speaking of ‘momma’ who’s the lucky ol’ dad?” Xelloss asked while grabbing Firia’s food and eating like Lina or Gourry.

“um, well, you see.”

“I’m an adopted kid!” Valteria covered her. He knew what he really was and all that. Xelloss didn’t need to.

“adopted?” Xelloss said, well more like ‘ahdofed’ due to all the food. He hadn’t eaten in days, mortals couldn’t live like that.

“hai” Firia said before grabbing Valteria and taking him to his room and read a book before going to bed.

After a half-hour of sitting in a ryozoku’s room listening to murmurs below him, Xelloss was relieved to have company, even if it was Firia.

“so, how are you these days?” Xelloss said before looking up to see Firia, with her mace-sama, about to hit him. “hey Firia! Maybe we can work this out! Firia!”

“If I can’t kill you I can hurt you!” She hissed. Xelloss stopped her.

“hey, I can’t hurt anyone, I’m harmless NO point in scarring your poor kid for life with my blood everywhere, ne?” He compromised.

Firia sneered. He was right. Damn. “We, XELLOSS, If I can’t have my bed nor room, at least let me have my Pajama’s.” she hissed.

“Ah, Firia, it seems you are very happy that Lina has appointed you for this mission” Xelloss said putting on his ever-so-popular cheery face.

Firia slugged Xelloss hard while getting her stuff. Xelloss’ arm was severely bruised.

“Why not stay with me?” Xelloss said trying to recover.

“why WOULD I?” Firia asked. About to leave the room. Xelloss just lied back down on her bed, it was quite comfy, and at least for a ryozoku it’d have to do.

He put his head in the pillow and realized how foolish he was. Here he was, a mortal in the house of the one whom had him #1 on her hit list. He hated her with a similar passion as well, If he was a mazoku he’d kill her, soon he would.

* * * * * *

“So, Xelloss” Firia said the next morning waking him up cruelly with ice cold water.

“Damn Firia, why do you do this?” Xelloss whined angrily, as if he didn’t know.

“To stay here, you must earn your keep”

“Earn? My keep?”

“Yep” Firia grinned evilly. This would be sweet. “I’ll show you your job” Firia without warning grabbed Xelloss by the neck and dragged him down the stairs, nearly choking him to death.

‘Great’ Xelloss thought sarcastically ’ not only am I stuck here with Firia, I have to work too. Just great’

“Here, greet all the customers, and you better be nice otherwise you’ll regret it” Firia showed him where he would stand all day greeting whomever came in.

Soon enough, people came in, then one young girl maybe 17 or so saw Xelloss, and nearly drowned in her own hearts. She got all her girlfriends over, and it was a busy day. A VERY busy day. Xelloss, mobbed the entire day, decided to recommend them certain pots and stuff, and the women would do whatever he said, they liked him so much. Near the end of the day, later towards night, Xelloss was talking to the most recent crowd of young ladies when he saw a group of fine-looking men with Firia, kissing her hand and stuff. Lightly blushing, Firia took it as if it were normal.

‘That’s my ryozoku…’ Xelloss thought. He stopped himself. What did he just say? HIS ryozoku? That took his attention. Firia? HIS? L-sama, since when did he want her? He wasn’t supposed to be capable of-

“Excuse me, Xelloss-kun?” A young lady asked.

“Oh, hai, gomen, I just lost it for a minute” Xelloss said slapping on the ol cheery face.

“Oh, I TOTALLY know what you mean!” the girl went on and on. Xelloss didn’t listen to a word she said. He had other things to think about.

“L-sama! The profits are skyrocketing!” Jiras said counting up to days money.

“Thanks to yours truly” Xelloss said.

“A rather large tour group of college students are here for the week, I guess they like pottery” Firia said ignoring Xelloss.

“Well, Ja ne Firia, I’m going to bed, Valteria woke me up early” Jiras went to sleep while Valteria came back from his friends house. He was just in time for dinner.

“So, Valteria, how was school?” Firia said playing around with the meat on her plate.

“Sugoi mamma! How did the pottery business go?”

“Great! We made awesome profits!” Xelloss said out of nowhere.

“That reminds me, Xelloss-san, how was your day?” Valteria asked ever so innocently.

“Probably the best day of his long life” Firia said mockingly.

“Why Firia, are you jealous?” Xelloss said smiling.

“Jealous? Jealous of college girls who have no idea who the hell you are? Why the hell would I be jealous?” Firia shot back whipping out her mace-sama.

“Momma! Momma please!” Valteria jumped to his mother before any blood slaughter could accrue. “Momma, why do you and Xelloss hate each other?” he asked when she calmed down. “And for that matter, if you two ate each other, why is he here?”

“Well, I don’t HATE Xelloss…” Xelloss gave a look as if he were to laugh insanely.

“Ok, so maybe I DO hate him, but He, well, he hates me back, and Lina-san, an old comrade, well, she-“

“In other words, we hate each other, Lina made her take care of me and I can’t go anywhere” Xelloss concluded rudely for her.

“Oh….” Valteria said.

Firia and Xelloss exchanged angry looks at each other while Valteria ate like a good six year-old.

“Momma, can Xelloss read me a story? I want to see how he reads bedtime stories,” Valteria asked.

“Um, well, okay, hold on” Firia decided to let the boy have his wish, but he must consult Xelloss with something.,p> “Momma?” Valteria went to the blonde’s room to see her beating him threatening him about reading horror stories to the boy. “Momma?”

Firia dropped Xelloss on the ground. ”He’s ready Valteria” Firia picked up Xelloss until he could finally stand, and dragged him along to The rocking chair.

“…The End” Xelloss finished a story called ‘Romeo and Juliet’ to see Valteria asleep in his small bed. He was tempted to kill him, but Firia hid all weapons away from him. He could beat the kid, but he’d scream and wake everyone up. Maybe another time. He wasn’t that desperate for bloodshed yet.

“Well?” Firia said in her chair in her room.

“He liked it” Xelloss said jumping to her bed.

“ Namagomi, I have the bed” Firia growled.

“You’d have to kill me first”

“I’m tempted” A fight came after that, Firia was on the bed, but Xelloss was on it too.

“Xelloss, get off! It’s 3 AM I’m tired, I have to get up at six. Get off” Firia was REALLY tired. ”I’m tempted to take a knife and stab you through your chest and die and go to hell- where you belong” she added.

After a moment of Silence, she was asleep, she couldn’t help it. She was sleeping curled up like a ball on one side of the bed, he hair covering most of her, with Xelloss on the other side not minding her company. He too, was tired, but he didn’t want to sleep. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ he thought. He could kill her-then and there, as well as everyone else, and make off, why didn’t he? He looked at her, moving her position a bit, so he could see her sleeping face. She hated me. She truly hated me. She only did this for Lina, who would nearly kill her if she didn’t. But still, maybe she…. Nah. Oh well, that settles it. I won’t kill her- yet. Soon, he too was taken over by sleep.

* * * * * *

“Namagomi, look what you did!” Firia yelled pointing to all the shattered pottery pieces.

“Not my damn fault Lizard lips” Xelloss hot back cringing at his nickname.

“Yes it is! L-sama, just clean it up, alright?”

“Whatever spoiled dragon”

Around 7:30 AM, the place opened and Firia said good bye to Valteria, who left for school on his bus.

“Now, let’s get started” Firia said still very tired. The day was just as busy as before. Firia hated all the clueless men who called on her. She got them every day, now college students came; Firia was probably older than their great-grandparents were.

“My dear Firia, please except these as a gift” The young man gave her a box of chocolates- to add to her collection.

“Um, thank-you” Firia let the man kiss her hand.

“Talk to you later” The man said as if he had a chance with her “I’m going to be sick” Firia thought. Everyday, the same thing. L-sama.

“Momma?” Valteria came to her and hugged her.

“Valteria! What’s wrong?” She asked surprised to see the boy in tears. ”School isn’t out for another hour!”

“Momma, the teacher hurt me. He said I didn’t do something right, momma! Look!” He showed her his arm. Red with blood.

“L-sama! When I get that teacher” Firia growled. “C’mon Valteria, over here” She whispered as she picked the child up whom dug his head in her shoulders.

“Firia? Where are you going?” One of the men asked. “Who’s the kid?”

“I’ll be right back!” Firia said happily- yeah, happy all right. Whatever.

Firia took Valteria to his room and performed a healing spell. Valteria’s arm was perfectly fine, but Firia still wanted to kill the teacher. “Valteria, what happened?”

“he asked me to answer a question”

“What question?”

“If Ancients were still alive”

“you said yes, right?”

“yes, then he took his whip-thing and him my arm three times and said I was foolish! I ran out and came to you!” The child hugged her furiously.

“gods, why this? Now?” Firia sighed and picked up the child. The school’s teachers and such would be here any minute for him. Firia asked the child a question.

“Valteria, do you wish to continue school, or would you rather so it here? With Me?”

“Yes mamma, please. I have no friends there anymore, Josh moved away, all the kids are mean, it’s not fair!” The child wept in her shoulders. Great. Just great.

“Firia?” Xelloss said of all people.

“Xelloss” Firia hissed. “Can’t you see that I’m busy?”

“but Firia, some people are looking for Valteria, hey, why is he so sad?”

“don’t ask. Let me speak to them.” Firia soothed Valteria quickly and told him to stay in his room. Out at the front of the pottery door, stood Valteria’s teacher and principal. “may I help you?” Firia asked stepping outside. She was thank full she had fully learned to keep her tail from popping out, otherwise it would be out already for a while.

“Are you Mrs. Firia Ul Copt?” The principal asked.

“It’s Miss. Firia Ul Copt”

“Oh, well, that son of yours is a menace. We have full authority to through him out of this school” The teacher said.

“ I have full authority to sue you” Firia shot back surprising the men.

“excuse me?” They asked. Firia had to keep her temper down, so as not to have the customers overhear this conversation.

“You have physically hurt my Valteria”

“Prove it” The teacher said.

“nani? Is this true?” the principal asked the teacher.

“nah, she’s making up shit sir, don’t listen to her”

“Firia-san, is this true?”

“He slapped him three times with a whip! He’s in his room resting now from such cruelty!” Firia hissed.

“I’m terribly sorry Miss. Firia, will you excuse us? We’ll be back later tonight” The principal politely said as he shoved the teacher into the car and drove off yelling. Firia grinned.

“nice job Firia-chan!” a low voice said behind her back.

“namagomi, don’t you have work to do?” She growled.

“ Hai, right on it!” Xelloss said going to the ladies calling his name.

“dumb mazoku…”

“Valteria sweet, you’ll be with me for a while, ok?” Firia held the child once more before returning to work.

“Firia! Look at all the people here!” Giros said at the cashier. Firia was amazed at how many people were there. They small pottery shop was nearly filled. All because of HIM?! He wasn’t THAT good-looking…

* * * * * *

“ mamma?”

“hai?”

“can Xelloss-san read me a story again? I like the way he reads. Please?”

“um, alright, just don’t stay up too late.”

“Sugoi! Thanks!!”

“right” Firia frowned. What was Xelloss reading him?

“Xelloss-“

“I know, I know, you want to sleep with me, right?”

Xelloss said happily before drinking something.

“like hell I do! Valteria wants you to read him another book” Firia sneered.

“hey, it was a joke!” Xelloss said seeing the disgusted look on Firia’s face.

“So, want to read another book? Or do Romeo and Juliet again?” Xelloss asked the cheery little child.

“I want you to read it again! It’s really cool!"Valteria said nestling up in his bed.

“ok, here we go”

“damn, this situation is so not real life” Xelloss said, he never really was into drama’s, but whatever the kid wanted.

“night Valteria”

* * * * * * She started to mold out the basic shape of the pot. If would take things off her mind. Firia started to shape it more and more. It was pretty late. Firia was going to go insane if she didn’t do something active. Just then, someone came in breaking one of the pots.

“Xelloss?! What are you doing?” She asked a little bit angry.

“Oh, gomen nasai Firia, let me make one for you”

“You? Help? And no females surrounding you?”

“You’re a female” Xelloss said cheerily. Firia sighed.

“My point is Xelloss, why would you want to help me? Especially in pots?”

“I don’t know, I’m bored?”

“You sound like a teenager. But oh well, I’m telling you if you dare touch me with any shattered pieces of the pot, I’ll kill you”

“Hai” Xelloss said thinking. “Thanks for the idea little ryozoku” A sharp piece sliced his cheek, thrown by Firia.

“Xelloss, what are you doing?” Firia started to pick up the pieces to the pot he broke, then he went to her half-finished pot.

“Seeing how the hell you do this”

“I’ll teach you, don’t touch that!” She hissed. This would be FUN.

(not)

“Yes ‘mam!” Xelloss mocked her.

“Xelloss, if your gonna do this, leave me alone”

“Do you seriously want to make pots all night?”

“Better than being with you”

“Is it?” Xelloss was pushing his luck.

“Unless I have a death wish, you’d kill me, I know you’ll find a way”

“Hmmm… true, I do have my ways”

“Namagomi, leave me alone. I’m going to sleep, in MY bed” She teleported to her room, on her bed. By the time Xelloss came up there she was nearly fully asleep.

“Firia, this isn’t a nice thing to do to your guests”

“Who said I was nice?” she moaned.

“Come on, your no fun. Why don’t you stay up?” Xelloss tried.

“Because, unlike you mazoku, I have to work for my living, and I also need energy for it. Leave me alone before I decide to break my promise with Lina”

“Mortals” Xelloss sighed. He found some blankets and started to go to sleep.

Xelloss woke up due to Firia’s walking on the floor near him. She acted quietly, and if she hadn’t stepped on his dark hair he would’ve never known she left. He decided to follow her at a distance. She went down, wrote a note, and then quickly went outside, transformed, and left. Xelloss read the letter-

Dear Jiras, Valteria, and Giros, Please don’t worry about me, I promise to be back before the store opens. I just wanted to go outside a little and get some air. Thanks for understanding

~ Firia Ul Copt

After a good two-hour walk, Xelloss found Firia, in her human form, sitting on a large rock at the edge of a waterfall. He was exhausted, but he eventually made it up to the rock next to hers, she was meditating, and didn’t even notice him. For a couple seconds anyway. Her eyes snapped open.

“Namagomi?! What in L-sama’s name are you doing here?”

“Why Firia, I thought you might want company!” Xelloss said pasting on a smile despite his panting. “It’s really is beautiful here” Xelloss said looking down at the deep waterfall. He moved back a little. Man, would he not want to fall down.

“It’s past sunrise, I should go back” Firia stood up before Xelloss grabbed her.

“The are you doing?!” She hissed. Ryozoku occasionally came here, if they saw him on her…

“You can’t leave me! It’ll take hours to get back!!” He held on tight to her waist.

“Namagomi, it’s your own problem” Firia tried shoving him off, just then, she fell back into the waterfall. With Xelloss on her, she didn’t have time to concentrate. She just teleported to her room, Xelloss clung to her waist, like a small child.

“What would your master say about this?” Firia asked looking down at him, smiling, she now had the upper hand on their battle. Xelloss immediately let go. For a split second, he showed a sign of fear, replaced by his cheery face, and he stood up.

“ She’d wonder why I didn’t bring to Wolf pack Island before” Xelloss said. “you’d make an excellent treat”

“Sure, whatever” Firia went out to where she met Valteria, Jiras, and Giros, and they started another half/ busy day at the shop. The college students were gone now, so business was normal. Later on in the day, while Firia was teaching Valteria in math, the phone rang. “I’m fine Firia, I was calling to see how Xelloss was doing”

“Please tell me your taking him away from me”

“you wish. You have four more years of him, Zelgadiss and Ameria can’t take care of him, they travel, Gourry and I need our space”

“and I don’t? I have a kid!”

“So? He should be with someone single”

“Lina-san, are you accusing me of liking suck trash!! That … THING??”

“ Well, he could like you-“

“he’s a mazoku!! A Mazoku! They aren’t capable of emotion!”

“whoa, calm down Firia, I was just calling to see if he’s ok”

“He may live…. If he’s lucky”

“Don’t you dare kill him Firia, you’ve not only have it coming from me, but from even HIS boss. Worse than he is”

“hai, I know, I know, look, I have to go, tell Gourry I said hi” Firia hung up before she could get angry.

“Who’s your mom talking to?” Xelloss asked Val.

“Lina-san” Val said fiddling with his math work.

“Lina?” Xelloss said smiling…Then, he frowned. Would Lina take him away? With her and Gourry?

“Anything wrong Xelloss-san?” Valteria said working on adding.

“Val, you want me to stay, right?”

“Ok course Xelloss-san! Why wouldn’t I?”

“I dunno…” Other than the fact that I’m a cold hearted killer…..

“Valteria- let me- Xelloss? What are you doing?”

“Mommy? Will Xelloss-san leave?” Valteria went over to stand by Xelloss, and hugged his leg, getting huge never-put-down eyes.

Firia sighed. “No, Xelloss won’t go away, as a matter of fact, he’s going to stay for a while” Firia was a little mad. No, VERY mad. She was stuck with that filthy trash in her holy home. For a good more four ½ years. Yay. Not.

“yay! Thank you mommy!” Val went and hugged Firia tightly. Firia sighed again, gave Xelloss another death look, and left to see to her customers.

“Xelloss-san? DO you like Mommy?” Xelloss felt a warm sensation around his face. Was he…. BLUSHING?

“Your red as a tomato! You do, huh?”

“Uh, Well, you see…”

“It’s okay. I don’t mind. I just wanted to know”

“Oh, well, okay then…” ::Goes to put cold water on face::

“I wonder if Mommy likes Xelloss-san…” Val thought stuck on a hard question.

“Damn Xelloss…” Firia hissed making pots in her craft corner area. She just finished on a pot with a small design or golden dragons on it. She started her next one, hoping the tension inside her wasn’t going to go far. She already was in a bad mood.

“Firia? Firia-chan?”

Firia froze. What did HE want? “Go away you evil bastard”

“Firia, it’s 10 PM. Valteria wants you to put him to sleep.

“Nani?” Firia forgot about the time. Then, she just snickered. “No seriously, why do you want to waste your time with me?”

“Well, Valteria said he wanted to talk to you, I’m serious Firia-chan”

Firia threw her largest pot at him, breaking it on his chest hard.” Don’t Firia-chan me namagomi” She left him on the ground, he would soon suffer from blood loss. Xelloss, in extreme pain, was able to grab her ankle.

“Firia, if you kill me you won’t be happy”

This made Firia stop. She looked down at Xelloss, his blood was red. He was mortal. He wouldn’t heal without magic. She sighed, and healed him to a point where he wouldn’t suffer any MAJOR damages.

“Anything wrong Valteria?” Firia softened her tone.

“Mommy, could you read me a story?”

“Well, sure Val. What story?”

“Well, Xelloss-san read Romeo and Juliet, could you read that too?”

“um, sure”

When Firia finished the story, she thought Val was asleep, so she kissed him on the forehead and was about to leave when a very unexpected question popped out of his mouth.

“Ano, Mommy? Do you like Xelloss-san?”

“Nani?” “He likes you mommy”

“What are you talking about?”

“Mommy, don’t hate him. He’s not that bad”

“Val, did he brain wash you?” Firia was red. What? She was red?! Just because Xelloss like her?

“No, mommy, never mind. If you don’t like him it’s ok”

“Um, Val, can we talk about this tomorrow?”

“Sure Mommy, good-night”

Firia went out of the room, storming out to the dumb mazoku.

Xelloss was lying on her bed. ”Namagomi!”

“nani? What's with you?”

“What the hell did you do to my kid?”

“um, what DID I do?”

“Smart-ass! He’s talking about stuff only YOU could have filled his mind with!”

“like what?” Xelloss started to get angry. Why would he do that? A waste of his time!

“um.. well…” Xelloss couldn’t help but notice that Firia was blushing madly.

“well?” He pretended not to notice.

“He just said stuff I KNOW would never happen”

What could Valteria POSSIBLY tell her that wouldn’t happen. Then, he had a flashback

“do you like mommy?”

Shit. He told her, and she refuses to believe it. Xelloss is now in a large mess. What was he supposed to say? “I think I know what he told you, it’s not like your blushing doesn’t give it away” Xelloss replied somewhat cruelly.

“Just leave me alone Xelloss” She hissed. She was about to turn around.” Xelloss, really, is this true? I’m sure Zelas would have a time with this.”

Xel frowned. She was right. He knew it. She only rubbed it in more. “Stupid Dragon” he muttered.

“stupid Mazoku” She almost left, but Xelloss said something that caught her ear.

“I really do like you, you know"

“my ass you do” Firia wouldn’t face him, her face was too red for comfort.

“you think a kid like him makes up stuff?”

“you did something, I know you did”

“Do you like me too?”

"........”

“Well, do you?”

“……….::redder face::…..”

“L-sama, I admitted it, why don’t you?” “I admitted I like a ryozoku”

“Shut up! Shut up SHUT UP!!” She was nearly in tears. Xelloss remained silent, just wanting to run up to her. Before a split second past she ran strait to him, and cried in his chest, hugging him tightly. Xelloss was dumbfounded. One minute they were fighting, the next, she was in is arms. Interesti...

“Don’t worry Fi-chan, it’s ok” He tried to comfort her. She just stopped crying and realized what she did. She abruptly lifted her head up. She was on the bed, half-lying down, hugging HIM, his was sitting up straight staring at her with his slit eyes. She couldn’t believe what she just did. SHE ran to him, HE , IT didn’t run to her. L-sama, did she really like him? She stood up off the bed.

“Gomen nasai… Xelloss” Xelloss just sat there, expressionless face pasted on, but she took her arm and guided her back to the bed. He kissed her lightly, sothing he had wanted to do for a while now. He had the next 4 ½ years to be with Firia, before he’d be a mazoku then, and when that happens, he doesn’t care what he does. Now, he just wanted to be with Filia.