CabinFic, part 4

Zelgadis stirred as a brush of fabric and a whiff of perfume floated by his face. "I see my little Xello-chan finally got what he's been after all these years," the female said in an amused tone of voice.

With a gasp, Zelgadis woke up to morning sunlight, unconsciously tightening his arms around Xellos, who was still out, having been so tired after their second, probably ill-advised bout of lovemaking that he'd promptly passed out and hadn't woken since.

Even though Zelgadis had gotten up several times during the evening and the night, Xellos had barely stirred. Clearing his eyes of sleep, Zelgadis looked up to find a highly amused woman, one with dark golden hair, jangling bracelets, and a cigarette in one hand, looking down at him. "Well, well," she purred, seeing he was awake. "You must be Zelgadis the chimera."

Zelgadis nodded cautiously. "And you are . . .?" he inquired, suspecting he already knew the answer.

The woman's strange, feral eyes crinkled up at the corners as she smiled, and Zelgadis suddenly realized he could see right up her skirt. She wasn't wearing underwear. He blushed and scooted away.

"I'm Juuou-sama, of course," the Greater Beast replied, still amused. "I'm here to collect my priest from you, and to thank you for taking such marvelous care of him." She crouched down, and motioned for Zelgadis to move away from Xellos. Zelgadis did as he was told, not about to argue with Zelas Metallium. "I would have come sooner," the Dark Lord went on, "but I didn't want to . . . interrupt." Zel blushed again.

Zelas Metallium stretched forth one finger, and laid it on her servant's forehead. Zelgadis felt a brief surge of power, and then Xellos stirred, woke up, then sat up, energy and power abruptly and totally restored. "Well, hello there, mother-of-mine!" he said cheerfully, leaning over to give her a quick peck on the cheek. "I take it you've met Zelgadis?" he asked, with a puckish grin.

The Beast Master nodded with a feral smile. "Just now, in fact," she purred sweetly.

Xellos stood up and began hunting for his clothes, totally ignoring his own nakedness. Zelgadis was more modest, and wrapped the blanket around his waist, blushing furiously, before he began looking for his own bits of discarded clothing. He found them, and quickly dressed, face still burning with a blush.

"Now, where did I put my pants?" Xellos wondered aloud, looking around the room. His master smiled, and held them up. "Right over here, Xellos," she said mischievously.

He perked up. "Ah, there they are!" he exclaimed, then walked over, took them from her, and started to put them on, not even bothering to turn his back.

The Beast Master noticed Zel's stricken look and smiled. "I made him," she explained, stroking her servant's bare back possessively. "There's nothing there I haven't seen. Didn't I do a good job?"

Zelgadis nodded, stunned. Xellos just grinned.

Zelgadis slowed, only just then really realizing that this little hiatus was about to come to its end. He'd known it would have to, but he'd hoped. . . . He sighed, and watched as Xellos retrieved his stained shirt from the corner where Zel had thrown it. The priest put the shirt on, and as he did so, the stains on it rippled and disappeared. Cloak followed shirt, then socks, gloves, and shoes, while Zel was still pulling on his own shirt.

Xellos retrieved his staff from the mantelpiece, where Zel had stashed it earlier. Zelgadis fumbled with his sword belt, carefully not looking up. His sensitive hearing caught Xellos walking over to his master, then a pause. "Give me a minute," the priest said quietly, then turned and came over to where Zelgadis had finally managed to buckle on his sword belt, still not looking up.

Xellos put his hand underneath Zel's chin, forcing the chimera's head up. Xellos's eyes were open, and softer than usual. He stared solemnly at Zel for a moment, searching the chimera's face for something, then leaned forward and gave him a quick, gentle kiss. "When next we meet," he murmured, holding Zelgadis's eyes with his own, "will we be enemies, you and I?"

Zel was silent for a brief moment, then shook his head wryly. "No," he said at last. "No, I don't want that."

Xellos smiled. "Good. Neither do I. Give me another kiss, Zel-kun, and then I've got to go."

Zelgadis kissed the priest, then Xellos turned and disappeared. Xellos's master lingered for a few moments longer, smoking and watching Zelgadis with inscrutable, predator's eyes. "You'll find your friends in a town about three miles due east of here," she said conversationally. "They're waiting for you at an inn." She paused and blew smoke in his direction. "I shall say goodbye," she said easily, "but I think that we shall see each other again, little Zelgadis Greywords," she finished, a laugh echoing in her voice, then with a flick of ash she was gone.