The sun cut over the horizon, casting a hazy glow of pinkened delight upon features flushed by the last blooms of youth. Vivid sapphire absorbed the lazy ascension with girlish longing, her heart a-flutter with the unfulfilled dreams of a maid. Even though it was silent, she knew the moment he moved to stand next to her; leaning idely against the off-white railing of a marble balcony. He seemed surprised that she would be up so early, and asked in genuine bafflement, "Amelia aren't you usually asleep right now?"

"Hm? Oh...no, I always get up early enough to watch the sunrise. It's a habbit I've had since I was very little. Is it that shocking Zelgadiss-san?"

She surveyed him quietly, without trying to look like some obsessed stalker...he was so increadible. A blush crept over her cheeks as she noted he had yet to fully dress, and was conversing barefoot, chest bared to the sky. Yet, he seemed oblivious to her scrutiny which was odd considering how self-conscious he usually was. Correction, he seemed worried about such things in a crowd; could he finally be comfortable around her?

Subtle, very secretive his angel was,but he knew the tiny glances she gave him. His pulse raced at the thought maybe she liked him as much as he...oh god what the hell had come over him? He, the monster made of stone, pretending he could fall in lo-

"Not really, you and I share that much in common I suppose. Though I could never imagine Lina and Gourry getting up to do anything other than eat." He murmured drolly, quickly halting his train of thought before it went too far. His fingertips fairly itched to reach out and gently clasp her shoulder, he wanted so badly to hold her in her arms and murmur soft words into her ear. He had to get himself under control, unfortunately his eyes refused to stay fixed upon the mountains and kept being drawn back to appraise her well endowed form. How long had they been traveling together? 3 years, or was it more? Even more odd was the fact he could remember when her birthday was...in a couple of days she would finally be seventeen. The little imp was clad in an almost transparent shirt, the ivory material warmed by her peach skin underneath, the buttons undone just below her breasts-exposing her midriff. Barefoot, the only other thing she wore were loose slacks that were secured about her waist by a drawstring. The chimera knew he was in over his head, and that ellicited a very sour frown.

"Is something the matter Zelgadiss-san?" Amelia questioned in a surprisingly gentle voice, startling the poor man even further as it would seem she was very in tune with his moods. She took a wavering step closer, not stopping until her frame was almost brushing against his. He couldn't help it, his hand reached out to lightly capture a lock of her raven hair...even as his breath hissed from his lungs in a pained rasp. He was almost over the edge, her near proximity to his body close to undoing his sense of balance. The world teetered and when she shyly touched his cheek, toppled over.

"No...nothing's the matter." He vaguely heard himself reply as he cupped the nape of her neck in one sturdy palm, tilting her head back...she gasped in amazement as his lips met with her own in the sweetest of kisses. It was over far too soon, as he pulled away in self-disgust; appalled by his own behavior. He respected her far too much to make such improper advances! He swallowed, then flinched as he saw tears tremble on her sooty lashes. Now he was about to make her cry! "Why...how do you make me feel so strangely?" He mused aloud, as if he expected L-sama to give him an outright answer.

"*sniffle* You're not alone Zelgadiss...you do the same to me. I believe it's called affection." She said in a tiny, hurtfilled voice; wounded by his retreat. "I love you." She blurted out, cheeks reddening at her impetous daring.

"...you...really do?" A hint of fear was laced in the querry...no! She would only be disapointed by caring for such an abomination like he was. He wanted to believe so badly, because...he paused, the depth of his emotion scared him.

"C-can you say you *gulp* like me, even if it's just a little bit? What is it you are afraid of?"

He halted, wanting to run away from her all to acute question...oh he was more than "afraid", he was terrified. It was impossible for him to love someone, wasn't it? How was it this slip of a girl broke through his defenses, and got to him? He who was supposed to be an unfeeling bastard, who never had friends...undone by a child.

"Amelia...I..." He couldn't say it, the three words that would change everything forever. How could her burden her with...the abomination he was. Or even better, hold her back by his simple choice in life-style? Yet, he couldn't leave...and let her think he hated her. "I...I mean..."

"You don't have to say anything." She murmured quietly, her eyes oddly solemn. "I'll be right back." Amelia called over her shoulder, darting into her room as if on some unknown quest. This, unfortunately enough, gave Zelgadiss a moment to brood. Okay, he couldn't say it back, no matter how much his soul cried out that it was true. This was frustrating, and he had no clue as to where to go-heck what to even do now.

"I assume tomarrow you'll be off on some journey again...running away from how you feel." His angel had returned, her hands cradling an unknown object. She tossed it at his head, and he caught it in a reflexive gesture, his gaze noting it to be one of the bracelets she always wore on her wrists. "Just take it with you, and remember me wherever I go...I'll always love you. Maybe you will be able to come back to me soon, and finally be at peace with yourself." Before he could form a suitable reply she had vanished into the inn once more...and like clockwork the following morning a nomadic stranger wandered through the lands; his hooded cowl billowing in the wind as sand brushed against his thin frame. She had been right...and while he still had problems thinking it, he loved her back. The clever girl had bound herself to him eternal, just by giving him a gift more precious than anything in the material world. Amelia had cared for him in more ways than he had ever imagined possible, and her unconditional affection would forever endear him to her.

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