Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

Search for the Aqualord	By : RoseThorne Category: +S to Z > Slayers Views: 1533 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: We do not own Slayers and do not make any money writing this.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Title: Search for the Aqualord

By: Chrissy Sky and Rose Thorne

Summary: A sacrifice from an unlikely source brings new changes to Zelgadis� life.

Warnings: YAOI. Zelgadis/Xellos. Slight spoilers for Rev-Evo.

-

4. Terrible! Intimacy Interrupted

-

Zelgadis pulled his hood down further over his eyes, muttering about what a cheapskate Lina Inverse was.

They had arrived at the village and Lina had carelessly suggested that he take Xellos to the tailors�and pay for it himself�and headed off to an inn with Amelia and Gourry before he could reply.

The village was of a descent size even if it was pretty far away from the major cities. There were just enough people walking along the streets to make him feel uncomfortable, so he kept his face hidden.

How strange it was to be walking beside Xellos unaccompanied. He couldn�t remember a time when they had been completely alone together. Xellos had certainly not sought out his company before. If anything, the priest had always seemed more interested in Lina.

Of course, this made it harder to deny to himself the effect Xellos had on him, but he would keep hiding it from everyone else. It was stupid anyway�Xellos� form had never been real, and though he was human now, it wouldn�t last forever. They had to change Xellos back into a Mazoku or else things would get a lot worse very quickly.

Even if he was stuck with his curse, it was no reason for Xellos to be as well.

Then there was the uncomfortable fact that Xellos had always reminded him of a demented version of his grandfather, and thinking about Rezo always brought back those feelings of betrayal and hatred. All of his insecurities and trust issues stemmed from that one event, and no matter what, he couldn�t forget it. He couldn�t forget that the person he had loved the most had turned him into this.

How could he even consider open up his heart again after that? And to Xellos of all people, one of the most untrustworthy people he had ever met. There was just no way.

He muttered again about Lina, and Xellos patted his back lightly. The touch startled him.

�She wouldn't be Lina-san if she acted any differently.�

Zelgadis sighed. Xellos was far too accepting of Lina�s bad traits. �She dragged Amelia with her to pay for their meal.�

Xellos laughed softly. �I'll pay you back, Zelgadis-san.�

The younger man shrugged. �It's not money that bothers me. I have more than I use, generally � not that I let Lina know that!�

�Smart,� Xellos said, looking around. �I haven't been to this village before. Perhaps we should ask where their tailor can be found.�

�You'd better ask,� Zel grumbled, pointedly tugging on his hood again. �People will get nervous if I do.�

Xellos nodded and touched his arm gently before turning to the nearest villager. Zelgadis surreptitiously moved his arm away � where had Xellos irritable avoidance of touch gone? � and kept his face averted from the villager.

Xellos spoke to the woman in his usual polite manner, and she was all too happy to give them directions. �Thank you, ma�am,� the former priest said and turned back to Zel. �Shall we?�

Zelgadis nodded and led the way down the street, eager to get away from curious gazes of the townspeople. �Hopefully it won't take too long.�

Xellos� smile grew. �I shall keep it simple,� he promised.

It would have been easy to spot even without the directions, for the shop�s window was decorated with clothes of a rather flamboyant style. Zelgadis supposed it was the current fashion of the upper class, as no one certainly dressed that way locally. The patterns and colors seemed more like something that Gioconda would have worn. The reminder of the sadistic woman did nothing to help his mood.

He entered the shop and let Xellos taking the lead, trying to stay as unobtrusive as possible and hoping the eccentric man wouldn�t ask for anything like what was in the window display. That would be embarrassing to walk beside, though at least the attention would be on Xellos and not himself.

The tailor was a young man with sandy blond hair, and Zelgadis thought at first that he was only an apprentice. But there appeared to be no one else in the shop, and as the man spoke, suddenly the window began to make sense.

�Very nice,� said the tailor, eyeing Xellos up and down in an openly appreciative manner. �I rarely get to work with fit sorcerers.�

Xellos positively brightened with gleeful amusement, looking much like his normal self. �Oh?�

�No, most are overweight. Use their magic to do everything for them.�

Xellos giggled. �Our group definitely gets its exercise.�

The tailor glanced over at Zel and smiled. �So it seems. Does he need clothes too?� He seemed far too eager to perform the task. The appreciative gaze bothered the chimera; he felt almost as though the man was undressing him with his eyes.

�Ah, no, Zelgadis-san prefers his shaman garb.�

Zelgadis shifted, highly uncomfortable with being the center of attention. �My clothing is fine.�

�I'm not saying it isn't!� said the tailor quickly. �In fact, guys can rarely pull off the all white look, but you definitely can. You, on the other hand...� He turned his attention back to Xellos, chewing thoughtfully on a pin. Zel didn�t feel that was the smartest thing to do with something sharp. �I think I've got an idea.�

Zelgadis relaxed once Xellos became the tailor�s focus once more. He watched from his corner as Xellos was primed and measured into a sleek black outfit � thankfully of a casual traveling design. Xellos put up with and was seemingly amused by the tailor�s almost endless flirtations. It seemed so casual, as though the man didn�t really even notice that he was doing it.

A cape and new boots finished off the look. Xellos did a little turn in front of the mirror, studying the way the material hung on his form. �Lovely,� he said, admiringly. �Absolutely lovely. And the material is so soft...�

�Looks durable, as well,� Zel murmured politely and pulled out his coin purse. It was a bit pricy, but Xellos did need his own clothes.

�Thank you, sirs,� said the tailor, smiling. �Come again if you ever have a need.�

Zelgadis rather hoped not. He put the spare clothes Xellos had worn in his pack and they left the shop.

�What a delightful young man,� Xellos murmured cheerfully, his staff tapping softly on the ground as they walked.

Zelgadis shrugged, disinterested now that they had left the shop. �I guess. Let's just get back to the inn.�

Xellos tilted his head in a curious gesture, but his newly-human eyes expressed sympathy. �Yes. I need a bath, actually.�

�Well, Lina chose this inn for their baths as well as the food, so you're in luck.�

�Splendid,� he said with a smile, then began batting his eyelashes in a particularly foolish manner. �I don't suppose you would assist me? I'm still feeling weak, and it's not something I would like to ask Amelia-san.�

�I don't intend to take a bath,� Zel answered gruffly, discomfited.

�You would not have to get into the water.�

�I would still have to get undressed.�

And that was the entire problem. He couldn�t stand people looking at him � at all. He could feel their eyes on him and anxiety would build unbearably in his stomach. He would feel hatred and disgust for what he was. He was a freak.

He didn�t want anyone to see him.

Xellos� smile was oddly kind. �What if I fixed it so that no one else would see you?�

�Just drop it, Xellos,� Zelgadis all but snapped. �Please.�

�It would only take a few moments,� the former priest continued to prod gently.

Zel sighed in frustration. �You're not going to give up, are you?�

Xellos� smile was bright and smug. �You know me well enough by now to know that,� he pointed out in a cheerfully reasonable tone.

The chimera scowled at him suspiciously. �What would you do?�

His reply was far too happy, and he wagged a playful finger. �Hi-mi-tsu desu!�

Zelgadis glared at the typical answer murderously. Xellos may be human, but he was still an irritating bastard. �Then forget it.�

His head tilted to the side, hair falling slightly in his face as he looked at Zel seriously. �Please,� he murmured softly.

�Can't you just ask Gourry?� Zel asked, all but pleading.

�I prefer you,� Xellos said.

The words sunk in slowly; for a moment Zelgadis struggled to process them. He blinked at the purple-haired man, his face heating from a blush. �Why?�

Instead of replying like a sane person, Xellos moved too quickly for him to react, darting in and kissing his cheek. Then just as quickly he was gone, rushing toward the inn door. �Wait for me in the changing room! It won't take long!�

Zelgadis stared after him in shock. It was embarrassing to consider that the casual, brief contact was his first kiss.

Shaking his head to clear it, he walked inside. He hesitated a moment, pondering the logic (and the foolishness) of the whole thing before he made up his mind. He went to the baths and found the dressing area completely devoid of people, as was the bath itself.

Zelgadis waited and did not undress. When Xellos came in, he looked incredibly pleased with himself as he placed a sign on the door. The door closed before Zel could read what it said.

�What did you do?� he demanded.

Xellos smiled. �It was far more innocent than usual and no one was harmed. I promise.�

Zelgadis huffed, reminding himself that Lina had once recently said that Xellos never lied. �Fine.�

Having evaded explaining himself, Xellos began to undress. Zelgadis turned away and, after another moment of hesitation, did the same. He knew this wasn�t the smartest thing he�d ever done, especially after that playful kiss earlier, but it also wasn�t safe to leave Xellos alone. Since Xellos had insisted that he be there and not Gourry, he was practically obligated to stay, wasn�t he?

He was obligated, since Xellos had been cursed saving his life. Zelgadis wrapped a towel around his waist and followed Xellos out to the bath area.

It was a completely enclosed pool, with some potted plants set along the sides for decoration. The water steamed lightly, and the air in the room was hot and damp. Almost immediately the moisture began to solidify on his cool, stone skin in tiny beads. Zelgadis sat down near the edge and watched as Xellos slipped into the water.

The former Mazoku made a cute, surprised sound. �Oh! Oh my�� He trailed off, giggling. Xellos turned around to face him, with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. He was more than beautiful.

�The water feels different in this body,� Xellos confided in a soft, slightly breathless voice.

The effect it had on Zelgadis was instantaneous. Desire surged through his body. Xellos was human now, not the hard to reach Mazoku priest he had always been. Zelgadis could easily overpower him, pull that soft, enticing body out of the water and have his way with him. The thought, though tempting, sent a sickened shiver through him; he could never take advantage of someone like that, even Xellos.

He looked away, uncomfortable with his reaction. �I barely feel it.�

�Oh�� The smile faltered slightly. �I didn't realize.�

�I'm used to it by now. The warmth doesn't seep through my skin, either. One of the problems with having stone skin.�

Xellos folded his arms on the edge of the bath, looking up at him with surprisingly expressive purple eyes. Zel�s heart constricted. �Among many, it seems... But you seem almost content with it now.�

His discomfort grew. �I wouldn't say content, but I don't really have a choice but to accept it. Not a real choice, anyway.�

Xellos nodded and continued in a softer voice. �I hope that if I find the same waiting for me, I can be as... courageous as you.�

Zelgadis looked away, deciding not to answer. He wouldn�t call it courage since, as he had just said, he had no real choice in the matter. It was either accept what he was and keep up this casual search until he found out if Rezo was telling the truth or not, kill himself, or go mad. The latter two weren�t very appealing.

Movement from beside him brought his attention back to Xellos as the other man turned away.

�Wash my hair?� Xellos asked gently.

Startled, Zel hesitated. Could he really touch him like this? He certainly wasn�t in the mood anymore, and not being able to see Xellos� eyes seemed to help as well. At least the bastard wasn�t asking for more than that � though Zel wouldn�t put it past him.

�Sure.� He grabbed a shampoo bottle that was sitting nearby and squirted some of the liquid onto his hand, then shrugged. �I don't have hair to wash, so...�

�It's alright. Hold on.� Xellos slid back into the water enough to get his hair wet up to his scalp, then sat back up again. �There.�

With trepidation, Zel worked the shampoo into the short purple locks. He was careful to avoid pulling the hair or scraping his head with stone fingers. Xellos� hair felt soft and wet under his fingers, but because of his skin Zelgadis couldn�t feel it all that well. He concentrated on the task.

Xellos sighed suddenly and leaned backward. Uncomfortable still, Zelgadis shifted backward. �I'm not hurting you, am I?�

�I'm fine. You're doing well. Please continue.� He could hear the smile in the reassuring tone, and figured it was probably the truth.

Zel finished lathering the shampoo, then pulled his hands away carefully, not wanting to pull Xellos� hair accidentally. �There,� he murmured, dipping his hands into the water to wash away the soap. He stood and moved away from the bath.

�Thank you.� Xellos dipped down under the water once more to wash out the shampoo. As Zel watched, his pale body suddenly began flailing underneath the water, and he noticed another figure in the water. Neither of them had noticed the intruder.

�Xellos!� Zelgadis didn�t think about it. He leapt back to the pool and yanked Xellos from the Mazoku�s grip.

Freed from his attacker, Xellos clung to Zel tightly, choking up water and gasping. �Zelgadis-san,� the former priest whispered hoarsely.

The Mazoku rose from the water with a high pitched, giddy laugh. It was large and black, thankfully not very humanoid, meaning that it was a lower-level monster. It waved the towel it had stolen from Xellos around in the air mockingly. �So it's true. You really are pathetic now, Xellos.�

Zelgadis pushed Xellos behind him protectively and began to chant. He got a face full of wet towel as the Mazoku flung it at him, interrupting the spell. Cursing, he struggled as the Mazoku caught him, its hands burning against his hard skin.

The Mazoku continued to laugh. �A bath is such an intimate thing. Do you like this one, Xellos?�

He let the words fuel his anger and managed to yank the towel from his head, pulling some of his hair out with it. He ignored the pain. �Elmekia Lance!�

The Mazoku squeaked in surprised and teleported away, back into the water.

�Freeze Arrow!� he heard Xellos gasp behind him, the spell freezing the bath water. Zel looked back and saw that Xellos had propped himself up against a wall. He was still coughing and very naked.

Swallowing hard, Zelgadis returned his attention quickly back to the frozen bath, circling around it and watching carefully. Along the way he saw another towel someone had left behind and tossed it to Xellos, who wrapped it around himself.

�Careful,� Xellos wheezed softly.

As he continued to cough, Zelgadis felt his concern grow. �You okay?�

Xellos laughed weakly, a strained sound. �There are slightly more pressing matters at the moment, dear.�

It was the startling endearment that distracted him from the bath. He looked at the purple-haired man in surprise.

Xellos blushed, then looked alarmed. �Zelgadis-san!�

The warning narrowly saved him, enabling him dodge the blast of dark energy just in time. But the Mazoku anticipated the move and appeared in front of Zel in a flash, grabbing him by the throat. Zelgadis struggled furiously for a moment before casting, not really thinking about it. �Ra Tilt!�

Familiar blue-white energy consumed the Mazoku. Its cry was cut off as it disintegrated. The proximity of the blast caused the remaining energy to rebound. Though the Ra Tilt was not supposed to affect him physically, being that close to the shockwave sent him flying. He cried out as he hit the tiled floor, breaking several tiles with his impact.

He lay there, unable to move, and heard Xellos cry out his name. He felt the former priest touch his back lightly. He only realized that they had been joined by their friends when Lina spoke.

�What happened?� she asked.

Zelgadis didn�t resist as Xellos pulled him into his arms, too weak to fight it. His neck throbbed and his chest burned from the spell�s rebound.

�A lower Mazoku attacked,� Xellos answered her. �Zelgadis-san dispatched it with Ra Tilt, but got caught in his own spell.�

�That's not good,� said Amelia, who bent down on the floor with them. �Zelgadis-san may have injured his spirit.�

�Mostly just superficial, I think,� Zel told her weakly. His eyes were unfocused, and she was just blur. Moving was still painful. �Ow.�

He felt Xellos� arms tighten around him. �Zelgadis-san��

�I'll be okay,� Zelgadis answered, too tired to ponder the worry in Xellos� voice right then. �Give me a minute.�

Amelia cast Recovery anyway and he felt marginally better for it. His vision cleared a bit, revealing the worried princess, as well as Lina and Gourry, peering down at him.

Lina cleared her throat. �Let's get you two dressed and in bed.�

Then Zel remembered that neither he nor Xellos were wearing anything but towels. He didn�t have the strength to be embarrassed about it. He tried to stand and failed. �Give me a minute,� he murmured again.

Gourry was there suddenly, pulling him up. Xellos moved to his other side, helping the blond keep him on his feet.

The girls gave them some privacy as Xellos and Gourry worked to get him to the changing room and dressed in a pair of pajamas provided by the inn. He tried to help them as much as he could, but his limbs moved sluggishly.

The two men managed to drag him upstairs, helping him into bed, where Zelgadis was all too thankful to curl up.

�You need anything, Zel?� Gourry asked.

Zelgadis struggled against his pain and exhaustion to reply. �Someone needs to keep watch. Don�t know if I got it. They might try again...� He trailed off, too tired to continue, hoping they would understand.

He heard Xellos� gentle voice very close by. �Shh, it's alright. The servant was destroyed. Rest.�

A comforting warmth enveloped him and Zelgadis drifted easily into slumber.

-

Xellos sighed as he watched the young man pass out. It was probably overdue, considering what the chimera had unintentionally done to himself. Only Zelgadis� force of will had kept him conscious this long.

�He's right, though,� Gourry whispered, his tone uncharacteristically grave. �He won't be able to fight if they try again tonight.�

�I�m aware.� Xellos didn�t his eyes off the sleeping youth. �We'll have to make do. Gourry-san, stay with the ladies tonight. I will stay with Zelgadis-san.�

The decision was made quickly and without thought. Just like the kiss earlier, Xellos reminded himself chidingly.

Gourry frowned. �Are you recovered enough, though?�

Xellos threw a slight smile his way. �I've recovered sufficiently enough to use offensive spells. You'll be right next door if they try it again. Just break down the wall.� The suggestion was casual, but it would be amusing if the blond actually did so � though less so if there actually was danger in the night.

Gourry glanced at Zel before smiling a little in return. �Okay.�

�We will see you in the morning then,� Xellos said, dismissing him as politely as possible.

Gourry took the hint and nodded, grabbing his sword before leaving.

Without the blond�s distracting presence, Xellos was left alone with the object of what had once been an ignorable affection. Now everything was different.

No longer did he have a Mazoku�s ability to compartmentalize his emotions; for the race of evil did have emotions, despite what humans and Ryuzoku believed. No longer was he able to simply set aside what he felt for these humans and focus on his duty. He no longer had a duty to speak of � and oh did that burn, the yearning for something more intolerable.

He could have lived forever and never known this emotional and spiritual freedom, even as his body was imprisoned in this shell. In losing one thing, he had gained another�a human�s capacity for free will. He could think for himself, choose his own destiny, see the hypocrisy in the Mazoku race and would even be able to speak of it to others.

The yearning he felt was to keep these distracting sensations, which would be the paramount of stupidity even without considering that he was slowly losing control of his inhibitions.

The kiss earlier was only the tip of it, Xellos knew. He could feel his once unshakable resolve dissolving like salt in hot water. Soon, he would not be able to hold back at all, and Xellos knew that this would only damage his relationship with the chimera. Zelgadis, even if he could feel that way for him, was stronger and would be able to resist.

Every time he looked at the young man, he felt a strange stirring in his chest; his heart fluttered, his hands and other more embarrassing places started to sweat, and he felt strangely flighty. He wanted to grab Zelgadis and give him all the things the chimera was denying himself.

He wanted. For the first time in his long life, Xellos wanted, for himself, with a searing force that threatened to consume him. He could feel it slowly driving him mad, and it had only been a day. A single day of humanity, and he was losing himself.

But he couldn�t just leave the source of this conflict alone � not now.

Zelgadis had always been of an interest to him. So much so that he had feigned disinterest, necessity forcing him to focus on Lina regardless. But while Lina was indeed a very interesting human, he did not find her exotic and captivating like Zelgadis.

His heart was pure and enduring, and he was as beautiful outside as he was on the inside. Xellos had always known that the young man was his nearly perfect match in every way � perhaps in a peculiarly dysfunctional way � but now he felt it.

Sighing deeply, Xellos lay down beside the sleeping chimera and curled and arm protectively around him. The terror he had felt as Zelgadis � distracted by him no less � had been attacked by that servant, still gripped him.

�Foolish boy,� he hissed softly. �You seriously could have been wounded��

Zelgadis shivered and curled tighter around himself, as though he�d heard him.

Xellos rubbed his back, soothing him back into a deep sleep, and continued to watch him until the early hours of the morning, lost in his thoughts.

He didn�t remember falling asleep, but was woken some time before dawn when the shaman moved.

�Zelgadis-san?� he asked, realizing he had fallen asleep holding him, which sent a sleepy thrill through him.

Zelgadis� voice was soft and hoarse as he answered. �Xellos?�

A wide yawn escaped him. �You should be resting...�

It was a long moment before Zelgadis spoke again. He seemed almost confused. �Thirsty.�

�I�ll get you some water,� Xellos whispered immediately and sat up. He poured water into a glass from the pitcher nearby before holding it to Zelgadis� lips.

He sipped at it slowly, seeming to know better than to swallow a lot at once after being strangled.

Xellos lightly brushed Zelgadis� hair out of his eyes. The thin wire locks felt like guitar strings.

�Were you injured?� Zelgadis whispered, not seeming to notice or care about the touch.

Xellos smiled. �I swallowed some water. Nothing serious.�

Zelgadis nodded and closed his eyes. �I shouldn't have cast Ra-Tilt at such close range. Didn't think that would happen.�

�Neither did I,� Xellos confessed, sitting the cup aside and lying back down beside him. �I was worried,� he added softly.

Zelgadis was already falling back to sleep. �My own fault. I'll be okay.�

�Yes, dear.� Xellos kissed his forehead lightly, unable to resist.

�Don�t call me that,� Zelgadis grumbled, relaxing.

Xellos giggled softly. �Yes, dear.�

He wasn�t sure whether Zelgadis heard it the second time or not. The shaman began to snore quietly. He placed a barrier around them and allowed himself to doze for the remainder of the morning.

-

TBC.
- 3
- 4
- 5
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Search for the Aqualord