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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
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.

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8. They're Talking About a Child Named Zelgadis?

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The tailor they found was only a little older than the one who had made Xellos� clothing, but his personality was far more sedate and professional. He seemed friendly enough, but immediately assumed that Zel-chan�s unfortunate skin condition was also due to the shrine. The child whimpered again and Xellos turned a scathing glare on the tailor. Gourry clarified that only his age had changed and the man apologized quickly, but Xellos was unwilling to forgive the insult so easily.

He softened his expression only for Zel-chan, as the boy had to stand while the tailor measured him. Zel-chan clutched the fabric of his pant leg at first, but soon began venturing a few feet away as the tailor cut into cloth, interested in watching the man work. He kept Xellos� cloak wrapped around him like a shroud.

Xellos watched his curiosity and smiled fondly, warmth filling him, replacing the cold sorrow that had been building there in the last few days. It was much easier to take care of Zelgadis like this. The child seemed to be able to trust him more easily and the idea warmed Xellos immensely. He carefully avoided thinking about Zel-chan�s inevitable return to his adult form. It would happen, but for the meantime this was not a problem. It would be best for Zel-chan and Lina-chan if the adults accepted things as they were and didn�t let the children panic unnecessarily.

That he was enjoying himself was beside the point.

As the tailor worked, Xellos� opinion of the man shifted, bettering significantly as he proved to be both competent in his craft and kind to Zel-chan, patient with the child�s skittishness.

Gourry watched from nearby, holding the bundle of Lina and Zelgadis� adult clothing. �So what are we going to do about the shrine, Xellos?� he eventually asked. �We can't get in with that spell, can we?�

Xellos shook his head. �Lina-san and Zelgadis-san have no doubt dealt with similar curses before. When they're back to normal, they'll probably have some ideas.�

He spoke comfortingly but confidently, hoping Gourry would drop the subject for the time being. It wasn�t something he wanted to worry about right then.

In addition to the clothes, they had the tailor make Zel-chan some underclothes and a hood to cover his features; the child retained his older self�s regrettable shyness. When it was done, Xellos reached into Zelgadis� coin purse to pay the man for his work. The clothes were very nice, the same off-white as his normal outfit and durable enough to survive extensive travel. Xellos had no complaint.

�Hey, couldn't you make clothes based on his old ones?� Gourry asked suddenly.

The tailor blinked. �Yes, I could.� He nodded to the bundle in Gourry�s hands. �If you'd like, you can leave them with me overnight and I'll have them ready in the morning.�

Gourry fished Zelgadis� clothing from the bundle. �I dunno what Lina wants, but Zel'll probably want clothes just like this.�

The tailor studied the articles of clothing and nodded. �It won't be any trouble, sirs.�

Xellos crouched down next to Zel-chan. �We�re finished, dear.�

The child flushed from underneath his new hood and nodded, lifting his arms, silently asking to be carried. Xellos picked Zel-chan up and placed him on his shoulders before standing. He stooped as they went through the doorway so that the boy wouldn�t hit his head.

�So what do we do now?� Gourry asked, following them outside.

�Hopefully Amelia-san and Lina-chan will meet us at the inn. Let's have a late lunch while we wait.� He petted Zelgadis� leg gently. �Zel-chan, would you like an ice cream?�

Zel-chan nodded shyly. ��kay.�

�Alright.� Xellos stooped again as they entered the inn. They found a table and he sat before shifting the child to his lap.

Gourry frowned suddenly. �Aw. Amelia's not here. She can't buy lunch.�

�I'd hate to take more of Zelgadis-san's money,� Xellos murmured.

�It's ok. She'll be back soon, right?�

Zel-chan looked up at him hopefully before Xellos could answer. �Ice cream?�

Xellos melted. Those two words were the most he had spoken since the �I�m not a monster!� incident several hours before. He could not deny him such a simple pleasure. �Of course, Zel-chan. I promised.� He signaled for a waiter.

Gourry smiled. �What kind of ice cream do you want, Zel?�

Zel-chan blinked at him bashfully. �Dunno.�

�Chocolate?� Xellos asked gently. It was most people�s favorite flavor.

�Strawberry?� Zel-chan asked hesitantly, biting his lip as though he were afraid it was the wrong answer. Xellos smiled and cuddled him to show otherwise.

The waiter nodded. �Right away. Anything else, sirs?�

Xellos ordered some actual food as well, though Gourry said that he would await Amelia�s return before ordering. To Xellos� displeasure, the waiter suggested a booster seat. He was reluctant to let go of the boy, but he asked Zel-chan if he would like one anyway. The child nodded and the waiter retrieved one, placing it in the chair beside Xellos.

Once in the booster seat, Zel-chan initially looked around the dining area with curiosity. Then he noticed that people were looking at him in return and quickly ducked his head, hiding under his hood.

Xellos noticed�he had trouble taking his eyes off the boy for a second�and smiled threateningly at anyone who dared to look. That their stares only held interest without hostility or judgment meant nothing to him; he only cared that they had made his chimera feel uncomfortable. Those who had been staring quickly shifted their attention away when they realized they had been caught, satisfying Xellos.

Still, the child didn�t lift his head until the ice cream arrived. At Xellos� gentle urging the boy picked up his spoon and took a bite of the treat. After that first taste he smiled and dug into the rest of it with gusto, accidentally smearing ice cream around his lips, too happy to notice as his hood slid back a little. He was, in Xellos� opinion, absolutely adorable.

Outside, he heard the distinctly harried voice of Amelia yelling after Lina-chan. The diminutive redhead ran into the inn, giggling. Xellos stared at the very pink dress she was wearing. �Oh my.�

Zel-chan put his spoon down as soon as he saw her, then lifted his hood back up to cover himself. He was obviously not looking forward to encountering his �sister� again anytime soon.

Amelia ran in soon after, breathless. �Lina-chan!�

Lina darted under the table. �Ame-chan can�t catch me!�

Grinning, Gourry reached under the table and grabbed her, pulling her out as she squirmed in his grip. �But Gourry can!�

The girl giggled as she struggled. �Nooo!� Then she saw Zel-chan�s bowl of ice cream, which the boy was tentatively trying to eat while keeping his head covered. �Ice cream! I want ice cream!�

�No, Lina-chan,� Xellos chided gently. �No dessert today. You're still being punished.�

She pouted cutely. �But, but! I want ice cream!�

Xellos felt himself softening despite the girl�s bratty behavior�which had, undoubtedly, caused Amelia�s obvious exhaustion. �Well... If you apologize to Zel-chan and promise not to call him a monster again, then you can have a little. After you eat first.�

Lina-chan pouted for a bit longer until it was clear that he would not budge. �Okay.� She turned to Zel-chan. �I'm sorry you're a monster. I won't call you it again.� With that proclamation, she looked back at Xellos. �Ice cream?�

Zel-chan started to sniffle again and Xellos winced, rubbing his head. He was beginning to understand what had made Amelia so tired. �Lina-chan, Zel-chan is not a monster.�

�He looks like one!�

�Nonsense, dear child,� he said. At the moment she was anything but a �dear,� but he somehow managed to keep his patience. �I'm a monster. Zel-chan is just a boy. You shouldn't judge others by how they look. It's not nice, and if you're not nice, no one will want to play with you.�

Xellos pulled the crying boy into his lap�where, in his opinion, he should have stayed�and rocked him gently, murmuring soothing words.

Lina-chan seemed to consider his words. �Okay. I'm sorry you look like a monster. I won't call you one again.� She turned to Xellos, slightly exasperated at being forced into politeness. �Ice cream now?�

Xellos frowned. Her tone goaded him immensely. �After you eat your vegetables.�

The waiter brought out their dinners at exactly the wrong moment. Lina-chan glared at the former priest challengingly. �He didn't eat his vegetables yet!�

Xellos raised an eyebrow. He certainly wasn�t going to be cowed by a spoiled little girl. �Zel-chan was a good boy the whole day. You, young lady, are pushing the limits.�

�You don't know the half of it, Xellos-san,� Amelia muttered from where she had sunk into a chair, her face pressed to the table. She and Gourry placed their orders with the waiter before he left again, the princess not bothering to lift her head to order.

Nodding, Xellos looked at Lina-chan carefully. He knew one definite way to get her to behave, but he had no idea if it would work. Neither Lina nor Zelgadis seemed to remember their lives up until that point. He decided to take the gamble.

�Lina-chan... If you don't behave and do as we say, I'll have to tell your Nee-san how you've been acting.�

The girl�s eyes went round and terrified. �No, no! I'll be good! Promise!� She clung to Gourry�s arm. �Don't let him!�

The man patted her head gently. �He won't if you keep your promise, Lina-chan. Now eat those veggies and you can have your ice cream.�

She looked like she wanted to pout, but thought better of it. �Okay,� she said and began eating her dinner when it arrived.

Xellos smiled in approval. Then he turned his attention back to Zel-chan, asking whether he wanted to finish his ice cream. Zel-chan didn�t answer at first, hiding his face against Xellos, strands of his wire hair poking through his shirt. Xellos ignored the slight pain and continued to hold the boy close. That the little chimera had spent most of the day upset was worrisome.

�Want to take a nap?� he asked softly, wondering if perhaps he would feel better without so many people around.

�Can I finish his ice cream?� Lina-chan asked Gourry softly, ever the opportunist.

Zel-chan heard her and pulled away. �Ice cream,� he said in a small, firm voice, clearly not wanting the girl to have it.

Xellos set Zel-chan back into his seat before casting a healing spell on himself; he wasn�t sure whether the boy�s wire hair had broken the skin, but he didn�t want to find out. He was relieved when the child didn�t notice the spell. The last thing he needed was another thing to feel self-conscious about.

He couldn�t help but notice that Zel-chan occasionally looked at Lina-chan while he slowly finished the ice cream as though to gauge her reaction. The boy seemed almost pleased with her jealousy, and ate even slower to draw out the event. Xellos could hardly blame him, given what she had said.

When he was finished with his ice cream, Xellos got him to eat a little of his dinner before Zel-chan was obviously disinterested in the food. Xellos ate only broth, not wanting to keep the child there longer than necessary. His eyes were already starting to droop and he clearly needed a nap.

�He�s so quiet,� Amelia murmured.

�He's dealing with a lot,� Xellos replied.

�But he's only a child, Xellos-san. Lina-chan doesn't remember anything.�

He wasn�t surprised that Amelia had also noticed their lack of memories. Xellos glanced at Zel-chan sadly. �He doesn't need to remember the details. Lina-chan pointed him out and now he knows he's different.�

�If it, like, unaged them, wouldn't it have put him back to normal, too?� Gourry asked, confused and thoughtful, once again pointing out the obvious.

�One would think so,� Xellos agreed. He didn�t want to admit that this had not occurred to him yet. �It depends on how the curse itself works.�

�Poor Zelgadis-san,� Amelia whispered sadly. The boy blushed over the remains of his dinner, clearly uncomfortable with all the talk about him.

Xellos decided that Zel-chan could wait no longer for his nap. After ensuring that Gourry would help Amelia with the rambunctious Lina-chan, he carried the boy upstairs and into their small private bathroom to wash the remains of the ice cream off Zel-chan�s face. Some of it had gotten on his shirt on the way, but he didn�t mind; clothes were easily washed.

Xellos wet a cloth in the sink and gently wiped the pink substance from Zel-chan�s face. However, he had carelessly forgotten about the mirror and the boy got a good look at his face for the first time. His expression was a mixture of horror and fear as he took in his own blue-tinged, hard skin, the darker stones around his eyebrows, cheeks, and chin, and the wire that was his hair. Tears formed in his eyes.

Xellos shifted to block his view, but the damage was already done. �Don't, Zel-chan. You are not a monster.�

Even to his older self, such a statement would not have mattered, wouldn�t have changed how he felt about his appearance. The child was no different, but where Zelgadis would have closed himself off and buried his emotions, Zel-chan was too young to repress them. He cried softly, hiccupping, and Xellos cuddled him close, cursing himself for forgetting about the mirror, for causing his pain.

�Shh, dearest. It's true. You're just different. You're special. It doesn't make you a monster.�

Zel-chan hid his face against Xellos again as he continued to cry. �Don' wanna be different.�

�I know, Zel-chan.� He continued to cuddle the boy as he took him to the bed. �It'll be alright. I won't let anyone hurt you. I'll always be here.�

It was a promise that, on his pride and ego, he would try with all his might to keep�even when Zelgadis was an adult again and he had to return to being a Mazoku.

Zel-chan would not let go of Xellos as the former priest carefully removed their cloaks and boots. He was forced to hunch over awkwardly to accommodate the little chimera�s hold. Zel-chan continued to cling until Xellos was forced to lie down with him. His sobbing slowly subsided as he fell asleep.

Xellos held the boy as he napped, studying his features. The younger Zel-chan still retained the strong jaw-line, and the little dimple above the darker stones on his chin. The boy had an adorable little button nose where the adult�s had narrowed and elongated to give him a more elegant look. The lashes framing his eyes seemed longer in this child-form, perhaps because his face was so much smaller. He wondered if these differences mirrored Zelgadis� appearance as a child, or if this was only an approximation.

He rose after several hours in order to wash his shirt in the sink and hang it in the window to dry. He changed into a clean shirt from bedclothes provided by the inn. When he looked back at the bed, he saw that Zel-chan had pulled the blanket over his head.

�Zel-chan?� he asked, wondering if the boy had woken up, but he got no response.

Xellos slipped underneath the blanket and found the child hiding in the near-darkness. �Hi, there.�

Zel-chan quickly hid his face against the mattress.

Xellos petted his hair reassuringly. �Zel-chan, it's okay. I like how you look.� This earned a startled look from the boy and the former Mazoku smiled lovingly. �I always have,� he murmured.

The boy�s lower lip began to tremble at that. Xellos pulled him close.

�You're the dearest person to me, Zel-chan,� he whispered comfortingly, holding the boy against his chest.

Zel-chan clung to him. �Don't want anyone to look at me.� His voice was soft and muffled, and absolutely heartbreaking.

�Want to eat dinner here tonight?� Xellos asked.

The boy nodded and allowed Xellos to pull the covers off them. Pulling a cord beside the door, Xellos called for up a maid from downstairs and ordered their dinner. At the intrusion of someone unknown, Zel-chan hid underneath his hooded cloak, staying under even after the maid returned with their dinner and left.

The shyness was endearing even while it saddened him. Xellos prodded the boy gently into sitting on his lap at the table, but had to feed Zel-chan at first in order to get him to eat. He started with fish sticks, and was relieved when Zel-chan liked them enough to become interested in the rest of the food.

Gourry came through the unlocked the door early during their meal, looking positively exhausted. �That Lina-chan is a handful...�

Once again, Zel-chan hid his face against Xellos. He murmured assuring words but the boy was stubborn. Xellos smiled apologetically at Gourry. �He's very shy tonight, Gourry-san...�

Gourry frowned. �Aw, Zel. I've seen how you look. You look just fine to me.�

The boy sniffled and looked up at Gourry shyly, tentative. �You don' think I'm a monster?� he hiccupped.

The swordsman smiled reassuringly. �Not at all. You're my friend, Zel.�

The boy relaxed a little. Xellos smiled, relieved that Gourry was able to get through to him, then gently prodded him to continue eating.

Gourry looked a little relieved himself. �I'm gonna go get a bath. You guys going to come?�

Xellos shook his head. �I think Zel-chan and I will wash off in the restroom sink and take a proper bath in the morning.�

The boy bit his lip in displeasure. �Don' want a bath.�

Xellos nuzzled the boy�s rock cheek with his own smooth one. He remembered Zelgadis� reluctance before, and knew the reasons were the same. �It'll be just you and I. Don't worry.�

�I can stand guard while you do, if that helps,� Gourry added helpfully.

The little chimera nodded slowly, clearly troubled and uncertain still, but not willing to disobey authority figures.

Gourry picked up his pajamas. �It'll be okay.� He looked at Xellos, worry showing in his blue eyes. �Maybe we can ask around town and see if anyone knows anything about that spell.�

�Tomorrow,� Xellos assured. �Zel-chan needs to rest now.�

Gourry nodded. �Alright. I'll be up later. You guys can have the bed again.� He departed with a smile.

After he was gone, Zel-chan picked up a fish stick and bit into it. He was soon taking bits of the other food tentatively with a fork and Xellos watched him, eating a little as well, but leaving the majority of it to the boy.

The boy suddenly looked up at him apologetically and Xellos noticed that he had spilt a bit of spaghetti sauce on his pant leg. Xellos smiled in understanding and kissed Zel-chan�s nose. �Don't worry. Nothing you do will ever make me displeased with you.�

Zel-chan looked truly relieved and very obviously avoided eating anymore of the pasta. Xellos decided he wouldn�t have the child become afraid of eating of all things and fed him the pasta. The boy ate carefully, keeping his hands under his chin in order to catch anymore stray bits of food. Zel-chan tried a few other things on his own after that, including a carrot, but soon seemed to lose interest.

Xellos had the boy wait on the bed as he called up another maid, giving her the tray and politely inquiring about a storybook. The girl smiled sympathetically, not seeing Zel-chan�s face as he quickly hid himself again, and said she would look. In the meantime, Xellos got his chimera ready for bed. The inn did not provide pajamas for children�the town had obviously grown tired of taking care of child sorcerers�so Xellos put Zel-chan in bedclothes that were far too big for him, rolling up the sleeves and legs.

They washed quickly using the bathroom sink again, though this time Xellos covered the mirror with his cloak before bringing him in. The boy looked both relieved and sad when he saw this, but at least he did not start crying again.

The maid eventually returned with a book of fairy tales. It looked as though it had been left by previous lodgers, its cover slightly careworn. She was just leaving when Gourry returned.

The blond sat down in the armchair nearby. �Lina's driving poor Amelia crazy.�

�Poor Amelia-san,� Xellos said regretfully, setting the book down. �But I can't read to her as well. Lina-chan and Zel-chan aren't getting along.�

Gourry nodded sadly. �Lina's gonna be mad at herself for saying that when she's back to normal, if she remembers it.�

Xellos frowned. He did not want to think about when the two would be normal again just yet. It was selfish perhaps, but he did not look forward to being pushed away by his chimera again.

Gourry didn�t notice. �I can go get his clothes before breakfast tomorrow. Amelia gave me the money for them, and also replaced what we used of Zel's money.�

Xellos hummed noncommittally and sat down beside Zel-chan to begin reading the book. He made sure to carefully select a story without monsters, instead choosing one with a dragon as the villain. He held it so that Zel-chan was able to see the pictures and the child sat close, holding onto his sleeve with a tight grip. As Xellos read, he noticed Gourry fall asleep out of the corner of his eyes, clearly lulled into a state of restfulness by his calm voice.

Zel-chan�s eyelids started to droop as it had a similar effect on him, but the young Zelgadis retained the stubborn streak that was part of what had always attracted Xellos to the strong chimera. He hung on for as long as he could. But eventually he lost his battle with sleep and relaxed against Xellos� arm with his thumb in his mouth.

It was, by far, the cutest thing the former priest had ever seen in his long life. He set the book aside and doused the light before curling protectively around the sleeping child. Xellos fell asleep watching him.

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TBC. Please review!

- As many of you have noted, Xellos is peculiarly emotional. Part of that is how Chrissy writes him, and partly to do with a reason that will be discussed later on.
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Search for the Aqualord