"You know, moping really doesn't do much for that face."

Startled out of his thoughts, Zelgadis looked up. It was so dark he could barely discern the voice's source--not that he needed to.

"Did I get the short straw or something, Xellos?" he asked.

"No. I just felt like dropping by." Zel heard the pad of footsteps coming across the grass, and then a soft wooden sound as the mazoku's staff planted itself in the ground. "Call me a glutton for punishment."

"Go away."

"No."

The wind picked up a little, pushing clouds away from the sliver of moon suspended in the sky. A watery, pale light spilled into Zel's hair and over his face, throwing his features into sharp relief; Xellos remained a vague silhouette, head cocked to one side.

"So, it's Lina this time, is it?"

Zel gritted his teeth. "I told you to go away."

"It is, isn't it. Damn, I'm good at this."

"I'm warning you--"

"Relax. I know you've Got Feelings For Her." He shifted a little, and moonlight glinted off the silver fastenings of his cloak. "I don't know what you've been told, but angst really isn't that cute."

The chimera bit back a shout of anger; then, with an effort, he shut his eyes and started to count to ten. Ignore him and he'll probably go away...

"You want her." He sensed a smile, and a sudden, cloth-like rustling told him Xellos was moving closer. "And you don't do such a good job of hiding it. I mean, you're a fine actor and all, but there's more to this quest for humanity than just feeling the wind on your face."

One, Zel repeated firmly to himself, two, three...

"I see how you look at her. You probably just use the word special to describe her, but it's more than that and you know it."

...Five, six, seven...

"You hadn't laughed for a long time before you met her. You still don't laugh easily unless she's the joker. She makes you a human in an unfortunate body, not just a stone-skinned freak-show act."

Zel swallowed hard. He would not lose control. He would not. He wouldn't rise to the bait... he wouldn't let the words get at him...

A sudden current of breath moved past his ear as the mazoku leaned in close, and then he heard it:

"You want to be able to touch her with real hands."

Zel snapped.

Almost before he opened his eyes, he swung out; his fist connected with Xellos's shoulder, driving him backwards and knocking him off-balance. There was a sickening noise as he hit the ground, the breath slammed out of his lungs by the impact.

"I said, leave me alone," Zel managed, somewhat lamely.

For a moment Xellos just lay there, blinking; then he smiled slowly.

"You have got it bad for her," he said softly, struggling to catch his breath again. "Good. I was worried for a minute."

"Shut up!"

"I'll tell you something," he continued, pushing himself up into a half-sitting position. His eyes glittered with reflected light. "You want to get rid of that stone body and court your lady fair as a human? Fine. Sure. No problem."

Zel took a step back. "You couldn't--"

"Oh no?" The mazoku's hands were tightly wrapped around the staff now; he pulled himself to his feet, somewhat shakily. "Hey, you want it, you got it. I'd be glad to oblige."

"Uh." The chimera felt his throat go dry as Xellos advanced, hefting the stick in his hands to hold it as if it were a quarterstaff. Were his eyes glowing now?

"I'm sorry, were you about to say something?"

And then he charged.

Zelgadis only had time to raise his hands in self-defence. The staff smashed into his open palms, sending a surprising wave of heat through his arms and across his shoulders as he stumbled backwards; those glowing eyes pierced and held his, their gaze filling with malice; inky hair and darker cloth swirled around him, engulfing him, swallowing his form like black flames.

"You want it, Zelgadis? You got it."


It seemed a century before his head stopped spinning; the burning only lasted a moment after that, although he felt mildly bruised, and one of his shoulders still ached. God... his ears were ringing like mad, and he was sweating as if he had a fever...

Then he noticed he was actually sweating.

With a trembling hand he reached up to touch his face--and drew back with a gasp. He could feel warm skin. Springy and damp with sweat and undoubtedly human. Even through the material of his gloves--

Wait. Gloves?

He looked down at his hands. Even partially obscured by the dim moonlight, they were distinctly unfamiliar--not only in their slightly more muscular shape, but in the darkish, silky fabric that sheathed them...

Shivering, clumsy, his heart in his throat, he ripped off the gloves and then ran his fingers through his hair, roughly. It was longer. He had bangs.

He heard a low chuckle somewhere nearby, recognized the voice as his own. He whirled, his eyes adjusting to the darkness--and saw his own silhouette standing a few paces off. Or at least, the silhouette of his chimeran body; the coquettish pose was most definitely not one of his own.

"Like I said, Zelgadis," his voice said, smugly. "I've given you what you want."

"I--" He swallowed, struggling to overcome his own shock at hearing Xellos's voice coming from his throat. "I never asked for this!"

"Haven't you learned? What you ask for and what you want are often two different things."

"Change us back," Zel croaked.

"No."

"Then at least tell me why the hell you've done this!"

In the darkness, he sensed a smile.

"Ahh," the mazoku drawled contentedly, "now that is a secret."

And vanished into thin air.



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