Xellos grimaced as he anticipated his master's reaction to this latest

development. Zelas was NOT going to be pleased. With a heavy heart he

went

to make his report.

"Master." he said.

"Ah, Xellos. So, is Lina Inverse now weakened?"

"Actually, the result of her trip to Ura no Shinden was not quite what

we

expected." he said hesitatingly. "Instead of seeking power and

knowledge,

she wanted something a bit more specific."

"What?" Zelas growled.

"It seems Lina was looking for a way to turn a chimera human." he said.

"So I can imply from this that she has become a chimera?" Zelas asked

with a

hint of ice in her voice.

"Yes." Xellos agreed.

"So instead of decreasing, her powers have increased." she stated.

"Yes."

"That's not all, is it?"

"No," he admitted, "it's not…Zelgadis is with her, and they seem to

have let

each other know their feelings."

"So you failed in not one, but TWO missions." Zelas said, her voice so

cold

Xellos was sure he could feel icicles forming.

He dropped his head. "It would seem so, yes."

Without any further warning, Xellos was slammed into the back wall.

"Did I not stress the importance of keeping the Chimera from accepting

his

condition in any way? Did I not tell you that the fastest way this

would

happen would be if he were to love and be loved? Did I not tell you to

IN

ALL CIRCUMSTACES keep him and Lina especially from getting together?!"

she

raged, "I thought I had impressed upon you the dangers of mixed blood,

the

unpredictable ways in which powers combine! Have you any IDEA what a

danger

the two of them could be to us? Go." She ordered curtly, "And I had

better

hear more encouraging news in your next report."

Xellos bowed stiffly and phased out.

* * * * * * * * * *

"So, what do you want to do now?" Zel asked Lina as they stood together

after Xellos disappeared.

Lina sighed. "I don't know." she admitted.

"Lina, whatever happens I'm staying with you, you know that, don't

you?"

"Oh Gods Zel, do you have any idea how long I've wanted to hear you say

that?" Lina almost sobbed.

"Lina, I'm so sorry. I never knew…I never thought it would be possible

for

someone to love me." He turned her in his arms so he could hug her,

"That's

why I was always off looking for a cure. I thought maybe if I was

human I

might have a chance with you."

"As if that ever mattered to me." she said, "But I didn't want to

bother

you, you seemed so focussed…"

"If I had been able to feel you then the way I can feel you now, I

swear I

never would have left you so lonely."

"Speaking of which…" Lina pondered, "How is it that we can sense each

other's emotions?"

"I don't know." Zel admitted. He drew back fractionally to look at

her. "I

have a theory though."

"Why don't we sit down and try to figure this out."

Zel nodded and sat back against a tree, and Lina sat leaning against

him.

She snuggled into a position where she could look at him, and sighed

contentedly when he wrapped his arms around her.

"So, what's this theory of yours?" she asked.

"Well, for as long as I've been in this body, I've tried very hard to

repress most of the Mazoku elements…the Golem is mostly manifest in the

body

itself, although a little of it carries over into connecting me with

the

earth to boost my shamanist magick. The Mazoku gives me my speed and

my

enhanced senses, but there is much of the Mazoku nature which I

repressed.

I wasn't able to deal with it, and I didn't want to become even more of

an

outcast and less human…additionally, I'm pretty sure Rezo blocked some

of it

soon after creating this form…he didn't want me strong enough to

challenge

him." Zel explained.

"And Mazoku feed off of negative emotions." Lina guessed where this was

heading.

"Indeed," he gave her a squeeze, "so if that were combined with the

inborn

psychic talent I did possess, it would make sense that I would be able

to

sense emotions."

"But why would those skills suddenly appear?" Lina asked, confused.

Zel blushed a little. "I have a companion now, someone else to

understand

me. I must have unconsciously let some of the barriers down when I

realised

that."

"Oh Zel." Lina smiled, blushing a bit herself, "You can let anything

out

around me, and I'll help you figure it out and tame it, we'll do it

together, I promise."

Zelgadis' response to this suggestion was to kiss her ardently, and

Lina was

almost bowled over by the love and trust he projected to her.

"Come on." he said a couple of minutes later, "Much though I'd like to,

we

can't stay here forever, the others will worry."

"I suppose you're right." Lina agreed.