His pebble-strewn majesty sat at a small French style café, his new bodyguard at his side.  The waiter came to take their orders.

    "I'm not terribly hungry.  I suppose have some tea, perhaps a scone."

    "Ummm…Zelgadis-sama, could I order?" Naga grinned hopefully.

    "Of course.  We're getting to know each other.  I don't see why not.  Whatever you want."

    "Really?!" Naga exclaimed gleefully.  "All right then.  I'll have three of those muffins, some of this weirdo soup," to pointed o the menu, "Some of this stuff and some, heheh, high tea."

    "Oh dear." The chimera sighed.  Why did he treat all the chicks with appetites?

    Their orders arrived shortly and the conversation began.

    "So, I hope you don't mind my asking, but I heard you weren't always so reasonable.  I heard you were sorta standoffish, if you know what I mean.  But you're not?"

    Zelgadis took a sip of his tea.  "Actually, most of that is true.  I was, in past years the way you described.  I still am in other ways.  But I recently acquired this strange illness that made my face this freakish.  At first I was deeply depressed.  I almost handed over my throne I was so embarrassed by my looks.  I still am.  All that's changed is that I realized that being sore about my ailment doesn't help.  I must look for a cure and still be as I was before - as congenial as possible.  I will always have the people on my side that way.  I know how hard it is for you, which is why I gave you a second chance."

    "Hey, with all due respect and everything, you have no clue how hard life is for me."

    "It's probably harder for your victim's family." Zelgadis remarked coolly.

    "You think so?  I don't enjoy never being able to see my family, my real family.  I don't enjoy killing people and constantly being on the run.  I don't enjoy getting the cash and then thinking of what I had to end to get it.  That's not fun.  Hell, it pays well, but then you use that cash for your flight out to your next job.  I can't tell anyone who cares about me.  They write me letters whining about their cute little problems, like getting dumped by a boyfriend or tearing a whole in their new favorite dress.  I have to live with killing people.  That's what I do.  You don't know anything about a hard life.  You have a palace and servants and money you didn't have to work for."

     The chimera set down his tea cup on it's saucer.  "I have responsibilities, I'm always in the lime-light, constantly being followed by the media.  I have no privacy.  Everything I do or say is scrutinized and twisted into awful things I wouldn't ever say.  People either don't trust me, or they think I'm some sort of super-human who never makes mistakes."

    Naga was silent for a while, giving herself a chance to think about what had been sent.  Finally she said, "So why did you come to Tokyo?"

    "That's difficult to explain.  I suppose one would call what I have ESP.  I can sense things others cannot.  I have had the ability to do so ever since I developed the skin disease.  Often these visions come in my dreams.  I know they are real though, because I remember them so clearly, down to the smallest detail.  And when I am dreaming them it is clearer than any reality.  In this one vision I dreamt that a flying book would attack me.  The next day I was in the library and someone behind me was tugging on this book that wouldn't come out of the shelf, it was in so tight.  He finally tugged so hard the book gave way and flew at the back of my head, knocking me out for a while." He chuckled quietly.  "Strange, but it is true."

    "That's pure coincidence though.  That might have happened to anyone.  Weird little things like that happen to me all the time." Naga looked at the man skeptically.

    "How do you explain my countless other visions, as well as the one I dreamt just before coming here?"

    "What was it about?"  Naga managed through a mouthful of muffin.

    "Well, there was a girl, several, actually.  One that looked just like you and a girl with long read hair.  There was one with short hair, your color I suppose.  A tall girl with long blond hair and large earrings and another girl with blond hair, a law enforcement officer I guess.  There was one guy with short purple hair and a lady with long purple hair and one with curly turquoise locks.  They were all with me, standing in front of Tokyo towers, and we were fighting the lady with purple hair and another - a hefty female stranger who kept saying she was just passing through…"

    "Yeah, that is pretty peculiar I suppose." Naga consented.  "So, what were you planning on doing the rest of the day?"

    "Well, I'm not sure what to do.  Exploring is a good idea.  I'm not very familiar with Tokyo.  Tonight I though we might go see the new Lina Inverse concert.  I met her the other day.  She seems very nice and people tell me she's very talented."

    "Wow, Lina Inverse?"  Naga bubbled happily.  "You have never heard Lina Inverse?  She's the hottest pop star around!  We're really gonna go to her concert tonight?  This'll be so cool!"
 

End Part Six.