Sweat poured down the chimera's face as he completed the final part of the ceremony. Everything had gone well, and his peace had been uninterrupted. Finally, with the new moon high in the clear night sky, Zelgadis had managed to finish all of his charms and potions. The eve of All Hallows, the time of the Samhain ceremonies, was a perfect time to create incredibly potent charms, if one was able to filter out all of the chaotic spiritual energy. Zelgadis had been lucky. Using techniques that he had learned long ago from his great-grandfather, Rezzo the Red Priest, not only had he been able to filter out the energy that he did not need, he had been able to draw upon the strengthened and renewed energies of the Earth. Now, he would have to wait until the Spring, and the time of the Beltane ceremonies before he could forge similarly potent charms again.
 
 
 

Sighing with relief, Zelgadis sat back, resting against an ancient oak that had sheltered him since dawn. A part of him was still amazed that he was been completely undisturbed. Traveling with Lina Inverse and her friends was incredibly taxing on the quiet man's nerves. Although he cared for his friends, they were sometimes too much for even his patience to bear. Zelgadis assumed that Lina had taken a similar opportunity to replenish her magical energies, or to re-stock her potions as well. After all this time traveling with chaos surrounding him, Zelgadis was beginning to notice that silence was what unnerved him. Shaking his head, clearing his thoughts, Zelgadis tended to the fire that had been burning throughout the night.
 
 
 

"How did your ceremony go Zel-kun?"
 
 
 

Startled half out of his wits, the chimera jumped and spun around. After a second, his mind recognized the voice, even though his eyes could not yet find its source. "Where are you Xellos!? How long have you been here?" he asked, turning about as he spoke. Being so close to the fire, Zelgadis was temporarily blinded by it whenever he looked into the shadows that surrounded the small clearing he had called home this day.
 
 
 

"I've been here since before the sun rose to greet the sky this fair morning. And it was a lovely day wasn't it? The sky so blue, the clouds so white and light. Oh! But of course. You were to busy to notice any of these things, weren't you Zel? That's much too bad."
 
 
 

"Chh! I thought mazoku hated things that were beautiful." Zelgadis scoffed. Still unable to see where Xellos was hiding himself, Zelgadis gave up and turned to face the fire once more, to stoke its embers to ensure that it lasted him for the rest of this night.
 
 
 

"Can't you feel it Zel? It's practically tangible. I can almost taste it. It feels so good. It tastes so wonderful! I love this feeling. I never grow tired of it. Do you?" Xellos voice, no matter where Zelgadis turned his head, seemed to be coming directly in front of him.
 
 
 

"Oro? What are you talking about Xellos?" Zelgadis had a fair idea what the mazoku was talking about, but Xellos was as unpredictable as the North wind sometimes. And the chimera was not up to taking chances.
 
 
 

"Do you think that your spells are the only things affected by the magic in the air this night Zelgadis? Mazoku feel it too. And we can draw on the energies released by the ceremonies and celebrations as well as you, Shaman." The last word was whispered directly into his ear, and Zelgadis shivered. Turning his head to the left, where Xellos had finally manifested himself, the chimera found himself face to face with the one member of his traveling group that tormented him more than anyone else. Surprised, Zelgadis found himself staring into Xellos' open eyes, scant inches from his own. Mesmerized by violet intensity of the mazoku's eyes, Zelgadis didn't notice when Xellos shifter closer to him. He did notice, however, when Xellos planted a surprisingly gently kiss on his cheek.
 
 
 

"What are you... Yamete! Don't..." And suddenly, Zelgadis found himself wondering why he was protesting. After all, he liked the mazoku. Felt for him even, which is why Xellos casual tormenting when they were together got on his nerves so. Tension, similar to, if not the same, as the kind that erupted between Lina and Gourry every now and then. For Zelgadis, however, the tension never abated. He was tense when Xellos was around, afraid that he could not keep control of himself, that he would slip and reveal his feelings to them all. Yet when Xellos was not around, Zelgadis wished he was, and was uneasy because of the absence of a familiar, if sometimes annoying, presence. The others were not here now... Had no idea where to find them. Blinking, Zelgadis sat up a little straighter. "How did you find me anyway? And why were you here. You could have interrupted or affected my spells. Ruined my charms and potions! Why-" A soft finger pressed to his lips silenced him.
 
 
 

"Yare yare, Zel-kun. Aren't we full of questions all of a sudden. Now for some answers..." Xellos smiled, tilting his head mischievously to the side. "I can always find you. I will always find you. And my method for that is simple. But not for discussion." Grinning, Xellos continued. His fingers still on Zelgadis' lips, he began to trace their outline in the firelight. "I was here simply because that this is where you were. And that is all the explaining I need to do there." Shifting still closer to the chimera, Xellos smiled, his eyes glimmering and dancing with and emotion that the chimera had never seen before. "And I would never have affected your spells. I know how hard they are to preform at this time of the year. I also know how potent they will be if successful. I decided to watch over you, and keep various nuisances away from this area. And mazoku can appreciated things of beauty. I most certainly do. Do you understand?"
 
 
 

"Zen zen wakarimasen." Shaking his head, Zelgadis began to pull away from the mazoku, confused. It did not make sense to him. Why would the mazoku watch over him like some sort of dark version of a guardian angel? Why would Xellos have spent the day watching him when he could have been off gathering energy or creating mischief at one of the larger gatherings that were taking place this night? It didn't make sense. It seemed to go absolutely against the nature of all mazoku. Unless there was something to be had. What did Xellos want?
 
 
 

"You still do not realize? Then let me make things as clear as the night sky for you Zel." Capturing the chimera around the waist, Xellos pulled the smaller man into his lap as kissed him, gently, but firmly. Zelgadis stiffened in surprise. Xellos could tell by his taste that the young man was not afraid, simply unsure, unaware of what it was that he wanted, what they needed. As Zelgadis relaxed, Xellos began to massage the young man's back in small circles. Fingers dancing deftly on several of the chakra points on Zels spine, Xellos began to feel Zel respond to him. When Zel relaxed fully into his grip, Xellos pulled their lips apart, and was delighted to hear a soft moan of disappointment. Breathing deeply, his breath almost visible in the night air, Xellos smiled at the young man in his lap. "Do you understand now?" Zelgadis eyes seemed unfocused, glancing from the mazokus chin, to his ear, to his lips, and then back again. Drawing a few deep breaths, the chimera finally found his voice.
 
 
 

"Naruhodo." Zelgadis was rewarded with a smile from the mazoku. "But... Why? Why me?" Xellos sighed. Rolling his eyes, the mazoku could not pass up this opportunity. Looking Zelgadis full in the face, he grinned. Placing a finger to the side of his lips, he spoke.
 
 
 

"Sore wa Himitsu Desu." Zelgadis blinked. Rolling his eyes at the mazoku, he couldn't help chuckling. Smiling, he decided to let the issue rest for the night. He didn't really want to waste time arguing right now anyway. He leaned forward and kissed Xellos firmly. He heard a surprised intake of breath, and then felt the mazoku's lips respond to his own. Zelgadis found that right now, he really didn't care about anything else. The kiss was long and deep, expressing the feelings that the two had kept hidden from each other for so long. Zelgadis wished it would never end.
 
 
 

Some time later, the two did break the kiss. Breathless and gasping in the light of the new moon, Zelgadis stared deeply into the incredible violet eyes of his new lover. Struck with wonder, the chimera and mazoku sat silently fora while, cherishing to moment. It was, surprisingly, Zelgadis who broke the silence. "I think I get it now Xellos. What you were talking about earlier. I can feel it also. The magic." Xellos remained silent, staring into the bright blue eyes of the one creature on the planet that he loved. "Arigatou."
 
 
 

Xellos blinked. "For what?" Zelgadis traced his fingers down the side of Xellos face, silent, his gaze following the path his fingers had taken. Glancing up into Xellos' eyes, he answered with certainty.
 
 
 

"For Love."
 
 
 

Smiling, the mazoku lowered his chimera to the cool ground. "You are most welcome. Now then, do you think that you are ready to celebrate the rest of Samhain with me? I'm sure there are a few things that I can show you this night that you have never experienced on the eve of All Hallows before. Are you ready to truly feel the magic of this night?"
 
 
 

Zelgadis smiled up at Xellos. "Yes. I am ready Xellos. Teach me. Celebrate with me. I want this. Onegai." Xellos leaned down to kiss Zelgadis' forehead.
 
 
 

"Certainly koi." The two lay in each others arms.
 
 
 

The happenings of the rest of this night is held in trust by one mazoku, one chimera, and an ancient oak. If you ask the oak tree, maybe you she will tell you a tale about two lovers that found each other on a Samhain night. Perhaps she will tell you a story of two souls that merged through the strength of their love. Or perhaps, she will tell you nothing at all.
 
 
 
 
 

Fini.