Finally I got some time to write the story. I was so tired. Right after exam, projects! Ah-!! I am going nuts over them!

Anyway, this chapter is getting a bit rushing. 'cause if I don't rush the story out, I got a feeling that it would never be completed until I don't even know when. Forgive me if it's very very badly written. (As well as the mistakes I made. It's about 1 am in the morning over at my place when I finished this chapter. A bit totally wore out.) Enjoy.

Chapter Eight

“Gourry! That's my food!” Lina shouted as she pushed Gourry, grabbing the chicken from him.

“But, Lina! There are other foods on the table!” Gourry protested as he held tight on his chicken. The whole table was full of foods ranging from cakes to chicken to deserts. Amelia and Syphiel sweatdropped as they looked at the couple, knowing very well that their friends wouldn't stop their fight until one wins. Just then, the door to the hall opened and in came Filia who dressed as per usual, in her white dress.

“Filia-san, how is Xellia doing?” Amelia asked in concern. Filia just shook her head and Amelia saddened. Even Lina and Gourry who were fighting, stopped their fight (and Gourry took the chicken away) and listened to the conversation.

A week had passed and nothing strange happened. Everything in Saillune went back to normal. The gang didn't even knew if this was a good sign or bad. But one thing was certain. Kousa wasn't making any move, which was getting them worried. What exactly is on his hand? And why does he want to kill Lord of Nightmare? So that he could become the 'King' of this world? And worst, Xellia. She hadn't been able to sleep in the night. After that incident, she seems to be afraid of the night, crying before the night came. Only lately did Xelloss managed to calm her down and she could sleep for a while in the night.

“Filia, where's Xelloss?” Lina asked as she settled herself for another slice of chicken while Filia took her seat opposed her.

“Oh... Xel? He's at the library. He says that he had something to talk to Lon,” Filia replied smiling.

“So, you and Xelloss are getting along pretty well, I suppose,” Lina smirked, making Filia blushed while Amelia got a bit excited, “Haha- Lover bird.”

“Lina-san!” Filia protested but continued to smile while Lina laughed.

“I wonder what Xelloss would be discussing with Lon anyway,” Lina continued, “After all, the only one who he even discuss anything with is Zelas.”

“I have no idea as well,” Filia replied, placing a finger against her lips, “But I sure hope he is not going to be up to his mischief again. That namagomi.”

“Well, certainly we have to expect that from him,” Lina giggled, “After all, he IS the Trickster Priest-General of Zelas Metallium.”

“I suppose,”Filia agreed.

Lon sat alone against the window in the library with a book in her hand. She was reading until she sensed a presence in the room and immediately identified it.

“Xelloss...” Lon sighed as she closed the book was reading and looked towards the dark presence that was taking form.

“I am surprised that you recognize my presence already, Lon,” Xelloss smiled as soon as he took his human form.

“What do you want?” Lon asked, ignoring what he was saying. Even though in her heart, she knew what Xelloss was going to ask. She knew.

“How rude,” Xelloss grinned, “I am only here to ask a few questions.”

“I will put that back in your mouth,” Lon replied as she turned to face him, “You disturbed me while I was reading.”

“Lon, let's be a bit serious for once.”

“... What?”

“Jyuu-ou-sama had gave me permission to act on my own account. So this will be for my own interest. Are you willing to listen?”

“...”

“Who are you?”

Lon sat quietly as she watched Xelloss looked at her sternly.

“Why did you ask such a question?”

“Because I can't help to think that you had already knew what is going on and knew what would happen.”

“And what makes you feel so?”

“When we first met, you told me that we would become friends. And we did. When we met Kousa, you seems to be not surprise to see him again. And calmly took him off. When we reached Saillune, you didn't hesitated to say that Kousa's target is the Book of Infinity Spells. And yes it is. You knew all of it before it even happens. You knew about it and did not hesitated to provide us the information about it. How?”

“...” Lon closed her eyes. Xelloss was observant after all, able to see through her little hints, “And how does that even going to make you sure that I knew them right from the start?”

“Because you never seems to be afraid,” Xelloss replied, “If you never knew about it, any normal human would have fear. But you never did. Unless you are telling me that you aren't...”

By then, Lon grinned at Xelloss who stopped to look at her with his eyes widen open.

“Let's just say...” Lon spoke as she continued to grin at Xelloss and rising her hands straight, “That my clues had led you well. However, one mistake would be that even if I am human, I wouldn't be afraid for that very matter.”

“Lon... Who, in L-sama's name...” Xelloss stopped as if strike with the answer, “No... It couldn't be... You... You had no form...”

“Yes. I truly had no form...” Lon told him, her eyes and hair glowing gold, “But there are times where I took form in a little girl and play around the very world I create... All of you had never fail to amuse me. It made me wonder why, in the first place, did I made you all so interesting...”

“Forgive me, my lord,” Xelloss kneed before Lon who made her way over to him.

“Zelas had taught you well,” Lon smiled, “She has always been my proudest creation among the Mazoku.”

“Jyuu-ou-sama?” Xelloss asked, still staring at the floor.

“Sha-chan wouldn't have thought that I wouldn't interfere his creation would he?” Lon laughed, “I need to make sure that things are interesting here.”

'Sha-chan?' Xelloss thought. Lon who seems to notice his little wonder, laughed even louder and patted Xelloss' head.

“Ruby Eye Shabranigdo,” Lon replied and turned to walk towards the window again, “This is how you people call him isn't it? And I thought calling his little name makes it more friendly.”

“...” Xelloss just kept quiet, still unable to belief that the very person that was standing in front of him now was HER.

“My proudest creation for Shinzoku would be Suifeed, I suppose,” Lon continued as she looked out of the window at the city, “For the Ryuuzoku would be Filia's father, Bazaard Ul Copt who unfortunately died during the Kouma Sensou.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Xelloss asked as he looked up at Lon.

“Because I have to, Xelloss, ” Lon turned around, smiling, “I am now here to end the very game I started. But for this game, I need Lina Inverse, the most wonderful creation of the human, to end it for me.”

“Lina-san desuka?” Xelloss asked.

“But I would have prefer Luna-chan to do so if not for the fact that she is blessed with Suifeed's soul,” Lon giggled, “So I have let Lina-san do the job.”

“Lina-san wouldn't like what you have just say, Lon-chan,” Xelloss replied before realizing that he had called Lon with a -chan behind, “I didn't mean it...”

“It's alright to call me that Xelloss,” Lon smiled, “And you certainly had act on your own which is important for you now .”

“Important?”

“Yes, important for both you and Zelas. For now, for the future.”

“For the future?”

“I wouldn't say that much on that,” Lon smirked, “It's a game after all. When the time comes, you will see.”

“But...”

“Just call me Lon, Xelloss,” Lon continued, ignoring Xelloss' slight protest, “I wouldn't want Lina-san and the others to know about my identity until it's necessary. Even though it would be soon from now to tell her the truth...”

Xelloss blinked at Lon who reassured him of what he had just heard, replied.

“Hai, Lord of Nightmare, mother.”

A little figure stirred inside a blanket on the bed as the sun shone into the room. Pulling the blanket away from her face, Xellia opened one of her eyes and looked around the room. Her mother was no where to be found. She was still tired. After all, she wasn't able to sleep for the past one week. If not for her father's help, she wouldn't have been able to sleep for four hours last night. Sitting herself up, she looked out of the window and into the blue sky.

“I wonder how's Garbos and Jilias doing...” Xellia whispered as she pulled her knees closer to her. Her tears were fighting to fall down her cheeks. “Why me? Why? Why must I be the one?”

She knew the reason why she wasn't able to sleep for the past few days. She was afraid. Not only Kousa... But everyone around her. She had never seen anyone of them in such a situation before. She had never seen anyone killed or badly injured in front of her before. She had never thought it would be such a horrible scene. She had never seen Lina and the others in action. And she took it by shock. She shivered when Lina casted Laguna blade. She had almost panicked when Lina narrowly missed Kousa's attack. She feared when Kousa was injured by Lina's blade. Even now, when she recalled back that very scene, she shook in fear.

“If I haven't chose to use that power, I wouldn't have to face with all of these facts,” Xellia cried, her tears traced down her cheeks.

“Are you sure?” A voice asked from above, making Xellia to look up in to see who it was. Her eyes widened in fear when she saw the owner of the voice.

“Hello there, little Xellia, how's your night? Hope you weren't having a nightmare...” Kousa grinned as he floated down towards her.

“So Lina-san, have you decided on whether or not you want to kill him?” Amelia asked as she continued to watch Lina eat at high speed. Her question managed to stop Lina from eating and looked up at her.

“You know, Amelia, I never really thought about that...” Lina admitted making all fell over except Gourry.

“Lina-san?” Sylphiel spoke in a unbelievable tone.

“Well... That's so Lina...” Amelia sighed.

“Lina-san, you should really think about it,” Filia replied, “After all, you did say that L-sama had told you that you are the one who would end his life didn't she?”

“Yes, I suppose,” Lina answered.

“Mother will not just say anything out of random,” Filia continued, while Lina continued with her food, “Lina-san, are you even listening to me?!”

“Yes yes Filia,” Lina sighed, “I understand what you are trying to imply. But...”

Lina stopped and placed her untouched food on her plate. She had never killed a person. She had forbid herself to kill any man. Even if he was a bad man.

He no longer is a human, Lina-san.

'Why does Lon's statement keeps coming back to me?' Lina thought.

“AH!!!!!!” Xellia's voice sounded throughout the whole palace, shocking everyone. (Except Lon)

“Xellia!” Both Xelloss and Filia shouted at once when they heard their daughter's cried. (Even though they were at different, they acted the same, at the same time. )

“Let's go,” Lina shouted, signaling to others to follow but Filia stopped them.

“We wouldn't make it in time,” Filia shouted and started to cast the teleport spell (Well, I should use the term 'shifting spell' sometimes...), transporting all of them into Xellia's room.

“Lina-san!” Lon shouted who spotted Lina and the others. Xelloss was looking sternly at Kousa who held the unconscious Xellia closed to him, floating above them.

“Lon! Kousa!” Lina shouted, “How dare you show yourself here all of a sudden!”

“Well, you don't expect me to knock on your door and wait for you to invite me in, do you?” Kousa asked, “Now... I have what I want...”

“Let my daughter go!” Filia shouted in anger.

“If that's what you say...”Kousa smirked as he let go of Xellia and vanished both at once. Noticing the abnormal, Xelloss vanished as well, reappearing slightly below Xellia to catch her. But before he could, a sword pieced into Xellia's heart directly from above her.

“You are too late, Xelloss. You should have notice my little action,” Kousa smirked as he pulled his sword of her, letting her fell into Xelloss' arms. Filia who saw the scene, fell to her knees in shocked and so did the others. (Except Lon that was as she knew it right from the start.) Landing on the floor, Xelloss narrowed his eyes at Kousa, biting his teeth in anger and his staff held very tightly in his hand.

“Now with the blood I need, I should be going,” Kousa smirked.

“You aren't going anywhere!” Amelia shouted, “Laphas Seed!”

“Useless, Princess Amelia,” Kousa replied as the spell repelled from him. A magic circle encircled him. “I, Kousa, bid myself to the darkness of the chaotic sea. I opened the gate towards the darkness with this blood. The blood of the light and the dark!” A bright light surrounded Kousa, blinding everyone. As the light dimmed, Lina scanned around to find Kousa no where to be seen.

“Where is he?” Syphiel asked, looking around.

“The Sea of Chaos,” Lon replied calmly.

“Xellia...” Filia cried as Xelloss handed Xellia's motionless body to her. After Xelloss did so, he turned angrily at Lon.

“You knew about this, why didn't you stop it?” Xelloss shouted at Lon, while walking towards her.

“Because Lina didn't kill him in the first place,” Lon replied, “And don't worry, Xellia-chan isn't exactly dead.”

“She isn't?” Lina questioned.

“No,” Lon replied, “At the least, for now. But before anything can be done on her, there is something I must ask you Lina.”

“What?” Lina asked unhappily and impatiently. She didn't like Lon's tone. What did she mean when she say Xellia isn't dead at the least for now?

“Are you going to kill Kousa?”

“Does that worry you?”

“Yes.”

“What?! I thought you don't like him!”

“I don't mean that Lina Inverse! If you aren't going to kill him, it would be a waste to bring you to the Sea of Chaos!”

“You have a way to get to the Sea of Chaos?” Zelgadiss asked who just arrived. Lon made a face.

“I after all, wrote the Book of Infinity Spells. And yes, I know a way to enter Lord of Nightmare's dimension. Well, the same way how Kousa enters it. So are you going to kill him?”

“But he is...”

“He is no longer a human, Lina-san! How many times do I have to repeat myself before it sinks into your thick-skin brain!?”

“Thick-skin? Who are you saying thick-skin?!”

“Do it for this world, Lina,” Lon pleased, “For the sake of the people living here, for everyone you loved, for yourself. Kill him, Lina.”

“Lina-san.” “Lina.” Everyone placed their eyes onto her, making her looked at everyone before looking back at Lon and sighed.

“I suppose I can't say no to this right? After all, I am the hero, am I not?”

“Count me in then.” An voice sounded in the room, making everyone jumped. Zelas grinned as she appeared in the room. “You didn't forget about me did you?”

“Zelas?! Why are you here only now?” Lina shouted.

“Well, I can't miss the fun can I? And beside, that Kousa had injured my grand-daughter. I wouldn't let him off easily would I?” Zelas replied with a serious look, ignoring Lina's question.

“We don't have all the time in the world,” Lon sighed, “I supposed all will be going. I will open the gate now. Once there, I will heal Xellia. So Filia-san, stop crying.”

“Sorry, Lon-chan... I just...” Filia sobbed.

“Trust me,” Lon sighed even harder, “She will be fine.”

“Okay...”

“Xelloss, stay with Filia.”

“Sure,” Xelloss shrugged, “After all, she is my golden dragon after all...(Filia blushed upon hearing it.)”

“Stay close then,” Lon commanded and started casting.

“I, Lon, command you to open your gate. ( Two magic circles appeared within the room. One above and one below them.) The gate to the infinite darkness. (Wind gathered around everyone. Light started glowing.) Darkness beyond darkness. The Sea of Chaos.”

As soon as her last statement came, light blinded them as they felt the force pulling them down as if sucking them in. When the light dimmed and the feeling stopped, Lina and the others opened their eyes to find themselves surrounded by darkness. A chilling feeling came upon everyone as they scanned their surrounding. Lina who had been here once, whispered.

“So I have come, the Sea of Chaos.”