The young ryuuzoku tightened the hold on her mask as she walked up the marble steps of Saillune palace. Her white dress flowing from side to side. Her blue eyes detected a group of joyful couples rustle up towards the entrance with such passion in their eyes; the dragon couldn't help but feel a bit envious. Filia stopped as she saw a pathway leading to the rose garden and a small fountain. The Gold took a deep breath and quickly waltzed over to the fountain, to double-check her outfit.

"Not bad, if I do say so myself." she mused out loud as she looked at her reflection. To any ongoer, they would stop breathless, as they would see with the untrained eye a majestic looking young blonde woman in a white flowing gown with gold trimmings that flared out at the end. Her rosy and cheerful visage half shielded by a golden mask with 2 white feathers placed upon the sides, as her hair fell down to her back. The maiden growled as she remembered just what happened to her before she prepared for the masked ball, Amelia was holding.

"Did he have to insult me, I mean I only asked him because Jillas and Gravos couldn't come with me at least for some company.....namagomi jerk." she seethed her golden brow rising in anger and rapidly reverted back to its former position as she stifled a chuckle. "Funny, how he always brings out the worst side of me...in a way I bring out the somewhat good in him." she mumbled walking towards the entrance of the ball, not noticing a familiar presence slowly transpire itself.

The blonde blinked as the extravagant decorations completely entranced her. The ballroom was white with a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling and small golden candles encircling the oval-shaped room. The floor was shined so brightly the dragon saw a perfect reflection of herself. The dancers that were now moving to the fast beat of the music danced with such enthusiasm and grace. The warm hot smell of food wafted to her and nose and she looked to the buffet table knowing she would meet some old friends. Her masked eyes shining brightly with its own glow.

Filia mentally gave herself a pat on the back as she soon recognized four travelling companions and close friends making total pigs out of themselves except for one chimera. "Hello, Lina-san." she said getting the attention of the redheaded sorceress her red mask going into a small tilt.

"Filia, that you?" she questioned slowly approaching the dragon in wobbly steps, probably not used to wearing high heels. The ryuuzoku nodded her head and was greeted in a long hug from the sorceress. "It's been so long.....hey Gourry, Zel, Amelia, Filia's here." she shouted getting the attention from the three.

"Filia?" murmured the three in slight doubt looking upon the masked blonde by the fiery red head. With a well-mannered bow and smile, the 3 rushed over to the young ryuuzoku and greeted her with open arms.

"This ball is quite extravagant Amelia, you've outdone yourself." Filia complimented taking a small sip from her glass. Amelia smiled from behind her pink and white mask.

"Thank you, Filia-san." she flushed her masked cheeks getting a little rosy. Lina tapped the dragon on her shoulder, seeing her make a small jump.

"So, has our favourite mazoku escort you to this ball and is planning to ruin everything." Lina pried trying to get a little confession. Filia choked on her punch and blushed at the question looking from left to right.

"What?! No,..no way. He isn�t here why would he be here in the first place." she hissed giving Lina the clear message to drop the conversation.

The ball continued and the group reminisced of the times of past still unaware of a very mysterious and handsome masked figure. Filia's long ears quirked to the beginning of a very familiar tune that enchanted her very soul. The music once again bewitched her as everyone else was wrapped under the spell of the rapturous rhythm.

"Kiss From the Rose..." the dragon breathed her past�s memories of her fist ball flooding back into her mind. Gourry Gabriev smiled from under his blue jellyfish mask reaching his hand towards the sorceress. With a hidden blush she reluctantly grabbed it. The princess giggled as she saw the swordsman sweep the redhead onto the dance floor with such poise. Zelgadis cleared his throat his bluish-greyish mask with a small tear on it make a small shake. He grabbed the princess' hand with ease and led her into the dance. Filia's eyes drooped as the music continued. Her heart thumped as she saw many couples dancing with such grace.

"Beautiful..." she mouthed to herself seeing a flickering of a black aura before her eyes. Soon to be replaced with a man in a purplish-black mask dressed in a black outfit stretching his confident arm towards the baffled dragon. Filia gulped no longer in control of her own body and waltzed towards the mystery man. She grabbed his hand a felt a small brush of cold that shook her to her spine and the tip of her hidden tail only to be replaced with a melting sweet heat. The man pulled the blonde unresistingly into his arms into a firm grip to keep her close to him as he lead her into the dance with such charisma couples eyes darted towards the new dancers. Filia gazed at the man and could almost feel his pompous smirk that reminded her deeply of someone. Now that your rose is in bloom.

"Who....are...yo..." she was silenced as he brushed his lips against hers, his smirk growing larger as he could feel her blush and rewarded her with a small dip and slid her back into his arms. The dragon's eyes unfocused and glazed over as the room went from grey to black and the only people alive were her and this man. The only sound she could detect was their beating hearts and soft pats of their feet. The man's amethyst eyes darted all over the dragon, admiring all her features that he usually neglected noticing in the past. The dragons ears made another quirk as she felt the climax of the song approach and the movement of her and her mystery man speed up that her face flushed with heat. He twisted and turned her. Both of them unaware of the crowd of people they were attracting with the heat of their movement.

"Careful, now...." he whispered as the dragon almost tripped over her own feet and was caught with ease as he held her back into a more comfortable position. Filia blinked and her world came back into colours, it soon came to her knowledge that the dance was over. The man gave her a cheshire grin and brought her milky white hand towards his lips. She caught a white flash of canines as he placed a soft kiss on her hand. He released her hand and slowly strode passed after caressing her rear slightly.

"Till we meet again, my dear Filia." he whispered walking a few more steps but soon came to a halt and approached he once more pulling something out from his pocket; a finely crafted purple rose. "I almost forgot." he said as placed his lips on a finely shaped petal and gave a brief kiss and handed it to the stunned dragon and soon left the scene towards the balcony.

"Kiss.....rose....how'd he know?" she questioned to herself her feet commanding herself to confront her not-so-much mystery man. Amelia blinked as she saw Filia chase after the mystery man and she was about to go after her when Lina placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her completely.

"Lina-san...." Amelia protested but only got a silent shake from the redheaded sorceress.

Filia eye's narrowed as she saw her mystery man standing beside the flower garden, totally aware of her approaching presence. He turned to her his smile still firm on his face. "How did you know about that, Xellos?" she asked his mental mask shattering before as she still clutched the rose with trembling. He smiled behind his physical mask and took one step closer.

"Ah, so my dear Filia has figured out it was me?" he asked his brow rising in satisfaction. Filia nodded her head slightly lowering it to avoid his gaze until he cupped her chin to look at him at eye level. "The answer to you question Filia dear, is yes I knew about that particular custom what about it?" he tested her with a small ounce of mocking in his voice.

The ryuuzoku gulped and her mind and heart felt like shutting down. "Th..that...was the song from my first ball. It was very important to me." she whispered her voice hardly getting picked up by the priest's ears.

Xellos paused and gently scratched the base of her chin. "Yes, I know I heard you talking to Val about it yesterday you were so immersed in the past that you didn't even sense me." he stated as his lips parted into a grin.

Filia drank in the smell of his scent; it was like some roguish cologne mixed in with some sort of metallic smell. "But, then why did you decide to do that dance with me. I mean there were plenty of girls at the ball without partners." she listed hoping the answer would be a good one.

Xellos finally released her chin, yet her slightly unfocused gaze was directed upon him. He smiled at her and took in her emotions like an exquisite dish. "Why, you say my dear. Because I wished to dance with you and only you," he answered catching her hand.

The dragon blinked obviously she was very confused. "Bu..but Xellos "The Kiss From a Rose" dance is very.....it's for people who are dedicated to each other and you didn't even want to come to the ball with me in the first place." she reasoned her voice rising in anger and a bit of hurt.

The mazoku held on tighter to the blonde's hand as she struggled to be liberated from his grip, but to no success. "Filia, listen to me I wanted to dance that song with you. I also knew what that song is meant for and I still wanted to dance with you," he said in a rough voice as the dragon slowed down and ceased her struggling.

The priest relished in content as the dragon stopped her struggling as he pulled the dragon once again unresisting into his arms, into a warm embrace. He slowly led her into a small dance keeping her very close to him. Filia's sight became grey once more and she could only see the man who was holding her and the roses around her. "What are you thinking my, lovely dragon?" he asked leading her into a small turn.

The dragon's eyelids became heavy until her eyes barely opened. "I'm thinking about you. The way you're acting it's like you're in love. And we all no mazoku can't love." she reminded herself in a saddened voice. The priest pulled her closer to him and once against brushed his lips against hers giving it a small tug.

"Who told you something like that?" he asked his voice very apparent with slight amusement. "I mean its true mazoku don't usually love but it is possible. Yet we choose to subdue those emotions. I mean I love you...I think....maybe it's lust but I seriously doubt it." he added quickly noticing her eye�s widen in shock. She once again tried to be freed from his grip but he would not let her go.

The dragon's senses were screaming making her panic but she needed to ask the priest an important. "Xellos are you saying that you're in love with me or is this some sick trick?" she asked her curiosity overcoming her. Xellos sighed and caressed her cheek that wasn't hidden by the mask.

"Tell me Filia dear, do you know what comes after the kissing of the rose and handing it to your partner?" he asked stroking her golden mask. The dragon shook her head, as her senses became to calm down.

"No, I fell asleep so I didn't know what happened next, I was very young." she acknowledged her voice getting softer. Xellos quieted her and removed her mask in a swift gesture.

"Let me show you." he spoke in a melty voice as his mask vanished and he placed his lips on the shocked dragons. There world becoming grey and silent.

"I love you, Xellos," she thought as she felt him deepen the kiss. Xellos purged her mouth open.

"I love you my dear, Filia," he murmured as he continued to kiss his lover.

The End