The Soul Touch Chapter 12

Lina groaned as she awoke in the middle of the night. She apparently had cried herself back to sleep as she felt the wet cloth of the pillow against her face. She slowly sat up, seeing out the window it was still night time. Checking the time, she noted it was about 4am in the morning. Looking to her right, she saw Sylphiel and Amelia each in the remaining beds, sound asleep. She let out a sigh and looked down at her outfit, she had collapsed on the bed and not even bothered to change clothes. The only things she took off had been her shoulder armor and cloak.

Slipping out of the bed, she decided to walk outside the inn, taking in the night air. A few drops fell onto her face as it was raining. She let out a heavy sigh, as the rain covered the tears that weld up in her eyes again. She covered her face into her hands and sobbed loudly and heavily as there was no one to see her now, letting her heartbreak hit her fully, though thanking her lucky star she never was stupid enough to confess her feelings for Gourry… The moron, he would have ruined the moment completely.

But something stopped her train of thought as a pair of arms snaked around her from behind, and a gentle voice of concern at her ear. "Miss Lina, what are you doing out here? It's raining and you'll get sick at this rate, and you shouldn't be alone!"

Lina gasped at the voice, turning her head to see the pair of amethyst eyes scowling at her. "Xelloss…" she breathed. "… What are you doing here?"

Xelloss looked at her, his face full of confusion. "I told you I am to remain by your side, I apologize it took so long to come back, mistress had a lot to discuss with me as you turned down the remaining lord's offer."

Lina quickly turned her head away from him, choking back a sob. "Just leave me alone."

Xelloss rubbed his thumb against her eye, drying her tears. "… You've been crying. What happened?" he hadn't closed his eyes, though they were narrowed as he turned her head to face him.

"Who cares? Just enjoy your damn meal asshole." Lina spat. Oh how she wished she had her powers to blow him the hell away!

Xelloss sighed, his fingers brushing her wet locks of hair away from her face. "I do not wish to revel in your sorrow, as appealing as it might be to my Mazoku nature…" There was something odd on his expression, almost like remorse over her being upset. "Tell me what's bothering you."

"You were right, ok?" Lina snapped, glaring at him. "Gourry doesn't think of me as anything more than a kid he was protecting… He and Sylphiel are…" she choked on her sob.

Xelloss closed his eyes with a sigh, pressing his lips against her forehead. "I apologize, I merely was speaking the truth. Come, let's get you out of this rain." His other arm still tightly around her waist, he teleported away holding her.

They arrived in a small room where the walls looked like the inside of a cave, there were several trinkets on the shelves, a large bookshelf with several books on it, and a bed in the corner with violet sheets.

"W-where are we?" Lina asked after a moment.

"My chambers." Xelloss answered. "I didn't think you wanted your friends to see you like this."

"You mean we're on Wolfpack Island?" Lina gasped.

"Yes, though I mostly use this room to keep things I've collected over the years." Xelloss shrugged, walking over to the bed and sitting her down. "I should have something in here for you to change into…" he turned and opened up a black chest in the room.

"Excuse me?" Lina blushed slightly.

"Miss Lina, I know how fragile humans are. You need to get out of those wet clothes." Xelloss sighed, rummaging through some cloth.

"I'M NOT GETTING NAKED WITH YOU HERE PERVERT!!!" Lina snarled, grabbing the nearest thing on the table and tossing it at his head.

Xelloss chuckled softly at her reaction, shaking his head. "I didn't mean it that way, Lina. Besides, you really want to get into it I've already seen you in your most natural state."

An anger vain popped on Lina's forehead, she lunged at him, taking him into a headlock. "THE FUCK DOES THAT MEAN FRUITCAKE?? YOU'VE BEEN PEEPING ON ME?!"

"N-no you misunderstand…" Xelloss groaned, squirming a bit. "Lina, you should know how the Astral Plane works, how everything looks more on there, and how a human would look…"

Lina blinked, her eyes went wide with realization as her arms loosened. "… Oh…. Ok I guess that is true… Clothes wouldn't exactly show up on the astral side, would it...?"

"Exactly, which you're just as lovely on either side." Xelloss smiled, then kissed her cheek.

Lina's face turned bright red as she released him, stumbling back against the bed, still sitting on the floor. She started into space for a few moments until she felt something fall into her lap. It was Xelloss's cloak.

"You feel a little cold, why don't you put that on for right now?" Xelloss offered, going back to pulling out some items from the trunk.

Lina blinked, looking at him, then the mantle… Then slowly wrapped it around herself.

"Ah, here we go." Xelloss said after a moment, placing on the bed a pair of violet pajamas. He rubbed his cheek looking at her for a moment, then lifted her up back onto the bed. "… I'll wait outside for you to change." He smiled, pressing his lips against her hair and slowly walking out of the room.

Lina felt her cheeks flush as she held the cloak tightly around herself. She quickly shook her head. "What's the matter with you? It's Xelloss! XELLOSS!" she snarled to herself. But then her eyes strayed to the door… He was being awfully strange, and worried about her. For the longest time Lina never thought of Xelloss in any sort of romantic way, when she thought he was human… Well, she assumed he was a priest after all. She did think he was cute and kind of a waste so that thought never crossed her mind otherwise… And when she found out he was Mazoku… "… Oh damn that fruity Mazoku! Why does he have to keep confusing me so much?!" she quickly changed out of her damp clothes into the pajamas, surprised they fit her quite well. "Alright Xelloss, I'm done." She called out.

Xelloss smiled and walked back into the room, resting his staff on the table. He picked up the wet clothes and draped them over the chest, leaving his mantle next to her clothes. "They suit you well, Miss Lina." He smiled gently at her.

"W-whatever…" Lina snapped, sitting cross-legged on the bed. "X-Xelloss… Can I ask you something? And no, 'That is a secret' crap." She hissed low.

The priest ran a hand through his hair. "… Well, I suppose it depends on the question. I cannot answer something my mistress forbids me to answer."

Lina rolled her eyes. "Fine, if you can't just tell me you can't answer it…. How many Soul Touches have you had?"

Xelloss chuckled softly at that, opening his violet eyes. "Why Miss Lina, are you perhaps jealous of your predecessors?"

"SHUT UP AND ANSWER THE QUESTION ASSHOLE!" the crimson haired sorceress growled.

"Counting this one?" he asked.

"Of course stupid!" she was losing her patience by this point….

Xelloss smirked and held up his index finger. "One."

Lina just looked at him dumbfounded. "… WHAT?! B-but you've been around for…"

"Over 1014 years? Yes I know." Xelloss chuckled, waving his finger. "While I always found humans amusing and all, I've never had a Soul Touch with one. But some Mazoku go their whole lives without Soul Touches, others go through thousands." He tapped his finger to his chin. "I guess you could say no human or other creature could measure up to my expectations?"

"So you're freaking picky?" Lina raised her eyebrow.

He smirked. "Or maybe I was waiting for the most beautiful sorcery genius to be born into this world."

Lina's entire face turned red when he had just used her own title for herself now.

Xelloss walked over and finished turning down the bed, pulling her into his arms. "I believe though you still need some rest, Lina-ch… Err Miss Lina."

She raised her eyebrow at that, surprised he stopped himself. "And just what do you think you're doing Xelloss? I warned you about sexual harassment."

"One, you don't have your powers now so there's no point in threatening me, Lina." Xelloss flashed her a wicked grin, which her face was starting to turn deadly so he raised a hand. "But I have no intention. I just think you'll be warmer this way." To prove his point, he pulled her close to him and lay back on the bed, pulling the covers up to her shoulders. "This will very much do for me now."

"Yeah, because on the Astral Plane you're probably groping me." Lina joked.

"Miss Lina, on the Astral Plane I don't have arms." Xelloss laughed into her ear. "I'd merely look like you're encased in a tornado."

"But Xelloss… Mazoku don't sleep, why are you…?" Lina looked up at him, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"Would you believe me if I told you I wanted to?" his amethyst orbs were staring deep into her crimson eyes, as his hand was rubbing her back. "I shall try to stay until you fall asleep, or until Lord Beast Master calls me."

Lina felt her blush increasing again. "… X-Xelloss… Thank you for…"

Xelloss placed a finger over her lips. "No need, as a Mazoku I'm not really built for comfort. But your rage about me did get your sorrow to calm down." He slowly removed the finger, closing his eyes and smiling at her.

Lina just glared at him for a moment, why did that idiot have to say that? He actually did comfort her a bit, and did he HAVE to remind her how upset she just was? She let out a sigh, and decided the hell with it, she lightly pressed her lips against his.

That made the Mazoku's eyes flare open, his hand that wasn't on her back moving up to caress the back of her head, as he moved his lips to kiss her back.

But Lina did break off the kiss abruptly, leaning her burning cheek against his chest. "… Tell anyone I did that, and I'm going Ragna Blade your ass."

Xelloss smirked, looking down at her and running his fingers gently through her hair. "…. It's a secret, then."