Debt

My day began when I decided to take a shortcut on the way to my next destination. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brightly, not a cloud in the sky. Well, that's typically what the 'usual' beautiful day looks like, right?

My mind was set on my goal; finding a way to destroy Lina Inverse. That flat-chested, scrawny, whiney, low-class, snotty, mean little bitch! If you couldn't tell, I'm not really a fan of her. Why would I be, she destroyed my castle and my dreams of world domination. Plus, she insulted my lord, Zomelgustar! All hail the monstrous Zomelgustar!

Anyway, getting back to my day, I was on my way to the nearest town I could find. It was approximately two miles away, from what the map told me. I noticed that the road looped around a little, and if I cut through the woods I could make it there in half the time it would take me to walk the designated path. I'm so smart! Only someone of high intelligence, such as myself, could think of something this brilliant!

As I walked through the woods, knocking random branches out of my way, only to be smacked in the face as they swung back and hit me, I realize that maybe this wasn't such a good idea. It's beginning to get dark now, and I have no clue where I am. I should be there by now.

"Oh, Lord Zomelgustar, show me the way!" I scream out in frustration, holding his blessed statue to the sky.

I can hear rustling in the bushes... A response! 'Thank you, Lord Zomelgustar! I guess I should follow the noise, and I will soon be at the village!' I think to myself and follow the sound. I push my way through the bushes and... 'Oh crap.'

"Well, well, well... Look what we've got here, boys," a burly bandit-looking guy stood in front of me, undressing me with his eyes. Why wouldn't he, I am the most beautiful princess in the entire world... without a kingdom. Damn you Lina Inverse! Oops... Maybe I should pay attention to the problem at hand... I'm in trouble. I look behind him and there are about eight other men with him. I'll admit, the odds don't look very good for me, despite the fact I have Lord Zomelgustar on my side.

"Umm... Hi! I was wondering if any of you.. umm... guys know where the nearest town is... You see, I, uh, kind of lost my way... and I tried to take a shortcut.. but.. hehe, yeah..." I don't know what I'm trying to do, get myself killed or get myself raped. Either way, the outcome sucks.

I hear an outburst of laughs come from the group, and I frown. 'Let me see,' I think, 'talking to them didn't work... so that only leaves one thing, RUN!' I jet out of there like a red-headed sorceress running out of an empty super-market. I love similes that have no point.

My ears pick up a numerous amount of feet stomping towards me and random screams of, "Let's get her!" and "She's getting away!" I run even faster, fearing the treatment they'll give me will be ten times worse for trying to escape.

Then, it all stops. The stomping, the screaming, even the cursing I heard when one of the bums tripped and fell over. 'Did they give up?' I think as I slow down and stop.

Curiosity killed the cat. Meow. Stupidity draws me back and I retrace my steps to where I believe the bandits stopped. My eyes widen when I see all the bandits lying dead on the ground. 'What happened here?' I ask myself.

"Oh, Miss Martina, are you okay?" I turn my head to see a mysterious purple haired man walking towards me... Wait a minute, he looks familiar... AND HE'S CUTE! "Do you remember me? I'm Xellos, we met when you put that curse on Miss Lina."

"Of course, how could I forget you, Master Xellos! Thank you so much for saving me from those terrible bandits!!" I reply.

"Oh, no problem, as long as..." I run towards him and grab onto his arm. Maybe I should have let him finish his sentence. Oh, he smells so nice. "...you're okay..."

The sun had almost completely disappeared behind the mountains in the horizon, and fear runs through me once again. At least I have Master Xellos with me, my hero. I let go of his arm and look at him in the eyes... or... the place where eyes would be if they were open, "Master Xellos, could you please escort me to the nearest town. You see, I'm lost, and I'm scared to spend the night out here alone."

"Oh, Miss Martina, it will take you until morning to get to the nearest town," he replied with that cute little smile of his.

"UNTIL MORNING!?! But, but but... the map said that I should have been to town an hour ago, so, I must be close!! Master Xellos, please tell me we're close to town!!"

"Let me see that," he calmly demanded as he took the map from my hands. Oh, his hands are so big... Umm... I mean, his hands are so soft. Wait... he has gloves on. Oh never mind! He casts a light spell and carefully reads the map. I watch with amazement. "Oh, silly Martina-san. You must have been holding it upside down! We're five miles away from this town!" he smiled with his cute little face. I don't know how he can make light of this situation.

Despite his calm attitude, I was freaking out! "Master Xellos!! What am I going to do!? I can't be out here all alone! I'll get raped, or murdered... or.. or... I'll get really dirty from sleeping on the ground!" Breath in, breath out, breath in, breath out.

"Well according to this map, there's a lake around here. It should be right through those bushes, maybe about thirty minutes away. That's probably the safest place for us to stay since these parts of the woods are crawling with ogres and golems..." US?! Master Xellos will be spending the night with me, just us... together, all alone. This might be better than I thought...

We've been walking for about twenty-five minutes now, and I'm too tired to go on. I know I have to, but, a princess shouldn't be treated like this! I'm royalty! I deserve better... but, then again, what's better than traveling with a purple-haired cutie?

In the distance, I hear an owl. Taking this as a good opportunity to get close to him, I cling onto him in fright. "Master Xellos, I'm scared!"

"Don't worry, Miss Martina. We're going to be there soon," he replies as he guides me towards the lake. We're finally here. What a peaceful, safe looking place. I can finally get some much needed rest.

'What a beautiful night,' I think. The moon is high up in the sky now, and the stars are so clear. Well, that's what the typical beautiful night looks like. The lake reflects the moon's aura and I can't help but think what a romantic situation I was in. Clinging to the man of my dreams in front of a beautiful moon, and a beautiful lake in the middle of the night... secluded. I begin to blush furiously.

"Here," he says as he drapes his cloak over my shoulders, "It's a little chilly tonight."

"Thanks Master Xellos," I reply and smile. I can see his grinning face in the moonlight. He is so adorable. I sit by the edge of the lake and he soon joins me.

"It's a beautiful night," he comments quietly. I nod in agreement. "Full moon tonight," he continues.

"Yes," I say, "I can't remember the last time I sat under a full moon and really experienced the feeling of its beauty." I move in a little closer to him and rest my head on his shoulder.

"I sit under the moon every night."

"Really?" I ask. He nods. "That's so beautiful, Master Xellos. Poetic-like." I lift my head off his shoulder and smile.

"I guess you could say that," he replies with a grin, "It's the only place I feel completely comfortable with... under the stars in the sky."

He opens his eyes for a brief moment, just long enough for me to notice how beautiful they truly are. I wonder why he doesn't open them more often.

The silence begins and it starts to annoy me, so I take it as a chance to finalize my plans of making him mine, "You don't know how grateful I am that you saved me today..." I manage to choke out.

"Oh, it was noth-"

"No," I cut him off and turn towards him, "I am in your debt, Master Xellos." I place my hand on his knee. There's no turning back now. He jumps a little by my touch, but I don't back down.

I begin to slide my hand up towards his upper thigh. "I think I should pay you back," I go in for the kill. I turn his head towards me and bring his lips slowly to mine. I pause momentarily, but continue by pressing my lips onto his.

I open my mouth a little, hoping he will do the same. He does, but pauses slightly, as if he's unsure if what he's doing is the right thing. We kiss passionately until I break it off to get some air. I begin to back down against the ground and pull him on top of me. He hesitates again, and I wonder why.

His hands begin to slowly roam my body as I try to remove his shirt. I have to admit, this is going a little fast, and that's my fault, but I want this... I need it.

He whispers huskily in my ear, "Martina... are you sure you want to do this?" He begins to kiss my neck and traces towards my chest. He pauses again and waits for a reply before he goes any further.

"I was sure from the moment I saw you, Master Xellos," I reply and go in for another wet kiss to seal the deal. Wondering the exact same thing he was, I ask, "The question is, are you sure you want to do this?" Playfully, I bite his lower lip.

He opens his eyes for the second time that night. They're so enticing, and they actually remained open for more than a second this time. He answers my question in a peculiar way, "Sore wa himitsu desu, Martina-san."

Somehow, I accept this answer as a yes...

The rest of the night happened in a haze. A wonderful, beautiful, spectacular haze. It was, indeed, a magical evening. I claimed Master Xellos as my own, and he was none the wiser.

When I awoke the next morning, I expected to have warm arms wrapped around me. I suppose I was mistaken, because when I woke up, he was gone. Disappointment and regret begin to invade my body, when I realized that I may have made a terrible mistake.

'Why would he leave me?' I think to myself trying to hold back the hot tears about to stream down my face. I can't. I begin to weep like a widow at her husbands funeral. Once again, with the simile...

Thinking there may be a reasonable explanation for his disappearance, I get up and look for any sign of him. I see a piece of paper lying under a rock by the edge of the lake. I pick it up and notice it is from Master Xellos! Thank Zomelgustar!! It read,

Dear Miss Martina,
Sorry I had to make such a hasty departure, but I remembered I had to meet someone in town this morning. You looked so peaceful when you slept, so I decided not to wake you. Maybe if you hurry you can still catch me in town.
Sincerely,
Xellos

The fact that he left didn't really bother me as much as I thought it would... but, I figure, after a beautiful, magical night like that, wouldn't he at least write, "Love, Xellos" instead of "Sincerely, Xellos"?! It made it sound like we were only... friends.

Maybe I shouldn't have made it seem like I was just repaying a debt! Lord Zomelgustar, tell me! Does he love me!? Show me the answer, Mighty Lord! Lord Zomelgustar!!

"I guess I should head to town now, and see if I can still catch Master Xellos... Wait a minute. Which way is town? Is it that way? Master Xellos? Lord Zomelgustar? Somebody? Anybody?! Help me!!!!"