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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.

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- 8
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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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9. Second Attack! The Slayers Return

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Morning dawned as clear and bright as the day before; a perfect summer day, Xellos noted as he rose before Gourry and Zel-chan. As he was dressing in the bathroom, Gourry knocked and said he was going to get Zelgadis� clothing from the tailor. He was relieved that the blond was taking the initiative to run that errand early. They could take a bath after breakfast when Gourry returned.

When he emerged, he gently woke Zel-chan. The boy stirred slowly, rubbing his eyes sleepily, and Xellos got him out of bed and helped him dress.

�No bath?� Zel-chan asked hopefully.

�Yes, bath. After breakfast downstairs.�

The child pouted, not at all pleased with either of these ideas.

Xellos melted at the cute expression. �You can't hide from the world forever, Zel-chan.�

�Can so,� he said, pulling his hood up to show the former priest just how easily he could hide.

He wasn�t quite sure how one being could be so adorable, but he was also concerned; this couldn�t be normal behavior for a child. Xellos pulled the boy into his lap, cuddling.

�You can't. You're braver than that. And I'll be right by your side every moment.� Zelgadis had always been very brave to Xellos. Reckless certainly, but brave nonetheless.

Zel-chan bit his lip and considered this carefully. ��kay,� he sighed eventually.

Xellos smiled and carried him downstairs, hoping that the closeness would help reassure the little chimera. Gourry had yet to return but Amelia and Lina were already there, occupying a table for five. Amelia looked positively exhausted and more frazzled than he had ever seen her. Xellos winced in sympathy.

�How is Lina-chan doing?� he asked delicately.

�She only slept a few hours,� the princess murmured tiredly. �I don't know where she gets the energy!�

Lina giggled impishly, not repentant at all.

�We might have to contact Luna-sama if Lina-chan doesn't start behaving for Amelia-san,� Xellos murmured idly.

The smug expression left the girl�s face immediately, replaced with fear. She clung to Amelia�s arm, whimpering and promising to be good.

�Who�s Luna-sama?� Zel-chan asked with shy interest.

�Someone very scary,� Xellos told him in a conspiratorial whisper. �If Lina-chan picks on you again, say you'll tell Luna-sama.�

The whispering and the creation of a secret plot seemed to appeal to the boy. He grinned, showing sharp little demon teeth as he nodded. It was the first time he�d seen that expression, the first real smile, since the transformation the day before, and it suited Zel-chan far more than the sorrow and worry. His eyes sparkled with life and pleasure and he looked like a mischievous little boy � exactly as he should, Xellos decided. He hoped he could keep that expression on the child�s face.

This time, Zel-chan stayed in his lap.

Gourry joined them soon after and flagged down a waitress, ordering a large breakfast for himself. Xellos made sure that Zel-chan was eating before asking how it went.

�The clothes look good,� the blond swordsman said. �They're a lot better-made than his old ones, too.�

Xellos smiled. �I hope he'll be pleased with them.�

Though thinking of the elder chimera made him instinctively start petting the child�s hair. He found that he was still quite troubled about what would happen when Zelgadis would return to normal. It was unwise to get used to the closeness that his shared with Zel-chan, but there was no way he could push the boy away now. Zel-chan needed him.

�Well, he'll at least be glad he doesn't have to go to the tailor for measurement,� Gourry pointed out. �I don't think he was looking forward to that.�

Xellos nodded, remembering Zelgadis� aversion to being at all undressed in front of anyone else. That he had gotten the chimera to dress down to a towel in the baths had been due to his tenacity alone, Xellos knew.

Amelia looked up sadly. �I hope he's not too upset with Lina-san when they get back to normal.�

�He won�t be,� Xellos assured, smiling.

The princess nodded, looking thoughtful. �He's so well-behaved. And so quiet. I wonder if he was really like this as a kid.�

Xellos laughed softly. �Probably not as quiet, but he was raised by Rezo-san. I doubt he would have put up with too much.�

�I wonder if he had a happy childhood...�

Xellos studied the top of the boy�s head. Zelgadis� early life was something of a mystery even to him. He didn�t like mysteries when he wasn�t in on them. �Remember, he trusted Rezo-san. Some of those years must have been happy for him, until the incident happened.�

�I suppose so,� she agreed doubtfully. �But sometimes children trust and love unconditionally. He looked up to Rezo-san, but that doesn't necessarily mean he had a happy childhood. I'm sure Rezo-san was busy as the Red Priest...�

Xellos nodded, relenting. �These are things I do not have experience with.�

Amelia was startled, having obviously forgotten. �Oh, that's right. You didn't have a childhood...�

Xellos smiled, rubbing the back of his head. �Not really. Moments after my �birth,� my master ordered me to destroy a fleet of dragons.�

He wasn�t sure how the princess could have forgotten, as it was the main purpose of their current travels � to find a way to return him to his Mazoku self. Amelia couldn�t know how he wished to remain human; though, knowing the girl, perhaps she wanted him to remain human for her own idealistic reasons.

�How awful!� Amelia cried, shocked.

Xellos laughed uncomfortably. �Actually, I rather enjoyed it.� He supposed that, in his own way, he had been a child, but it wasn�t really comparable to human childhood. Perhaps Zelgadis had made a valid point when he�d teased that Xellos didn�t have much practice at being an adult.

Over the course of the meal, Lina�s behavior improved a great deal. She convinced Amelia to let her and Zel-chan have ice cream, and buttered Xellos up by offering the boy the strawberry from her ice cream. Even if it was blatant bribery and manipulation, Xellos still approved, if only because it made Zel-chan happy.

After deciding to spend the day researching the spell that had transformed Lina and Zelgadis, they parted from the girls in order to visit the baths. Gourry watched the door as he had promised, and Xellos made sure there was no one in the water before helping Zel-chan undress. Almost immediately upon the removal of his clothing, Zel-chan grabbed a towel and draped himself in it, the towel large enough to wrap around his small body several times.

Xellos patted the boy�s head fondly before removing his own clothing.

�You don't look like a monster,� Zel-chan said suddenly.

Xellos blinked down into the large, curious eyes that looked over his naked body. At first he was confused what the boy meant. Then he remembered the previous day and how he had scolded Lina.

�Oh, that. As I said, sometimes monsters don't look like monsters. And I'm not a monster anymore. I'm human now.�

The boy almost instantly looked hopeful. �Can I change too?�

Xellos closed his eyes to hide his emotions, forcing a smile. �Maybe.�

How could he possibly tell Zel-chan the whole truth? He didn�t know for certain if there was a way to make him human again. In his current state, if there was, Xellos would gladly help him get it.

After almost drowning the boy � Zel-chan was small but he was still made of stone and had sunk like one � the bath proceeded uneventfully. They washed and redressed before joining Gourry.

Xellos decided that it was time they looked for the girls. The less time Amelia had to deal with the rambunctious Lina-chan alone, the better. He lifted Zel-chan onto his shoulders, noting with satisfaction that the despite the incident in the bath and having to be naked the boy still looked happy.

As soon as they stepped outside, Xellos saw that they were just in time to help the princess. She ran past, chasing after the impish little girl, who appeared to have forgotten her promise to behave. Gourry ran after them to help.

Xellos gasped as Lina-chan dodged Gourry, suddenly dartin down a dark alleyway. They couldn�t let the girl out of their sight; it wasn�t safe.

�Lina-chan! Hold on tight, Zel-chan,� he told the boy riding his shoulders as he followed quickly.

Lina-chan, still out of sight, screamed. The three adults quickened their steps, following the sound. As they turned a corner, they saw what had happened: Lina-chan had been caught by a Mazoku. It was fairly large, though only vaguely human-shape. He had the little girl by her ankle and dangled her in the air threateningly.

She reached out to them futilely, her short limbs flailing, the dress falling over her torso to reveal that Amelia had also decided that pink was an appropriate color for undergarments.

�Ame-chan, help!�

Gourry and Amelia moved into action immediately, careful to not hit Lina. Xellos hesitated before joining the battle, quickly removing Zel-chan from his shoulders before casting. �Ra Tilt!�

The Mazoku let go of Lina-chan in order to teleport. Gourry caught her and rolled to the side in order to avoid the spell as well.

Xellos hissed in anger, recognizing the typical move of Mazoku combat. He turned quickly and cast even before he saw the Mazoku reappear. �Blam Blazer!�

His quick thinking caught the servant off its guard, the spell hitting him square on. The Mazoku howled in pain. The attack wasn�t enough to destroy him, and made a grab for Zel-chan. The boy yelped in fear and scrambled away from the outstretched, monstrous hand, only to find that escape was unnecessary. A shield had been quickly erected around him by Xellos.

Xellos smirked smugly as the Mazoku�s hand connected with it, bewilderment flashing across the malformed face. Then the servant turned on his former ally, sending a blast of energy at Xellos before he went after Zel-chan again.

Xellos dodged, barely, but cast nothing else � as a human he could only cast one spell at a time. He chose to protect Zel-chan, even if he left himself open for attack. It was a gamble, but not much of one; a second later Amelia appeared to back him up, as he had expected she would.

�Elmekia Flame!�

The Mazoku cried out and sizzled a bit, but still did not die � Dolphin was clearly sending higher-level minions after them, hoping to take them out while Lina and Zelgadis were incapacitated.

The creature attacked again, and this time Xellos could not evade its supernatural speed. He went flying, crashing into some empty crates nearby and hitting his head sharply against the side of a building. Xellos did not even have time to curse his ineptitude as he lost consciousness.

-

The shield around Zel-chan failed as soon as Xellos was knocked out and the monster took advantage, grabbing the child. �Surrender or he dies!�

In a flash it was over. A black blade of power struck the Mazoku in the back before he could carry through with his threat. Zel-chan was flung away, hitting a wall and falling to the ground with a cry. Amelia rushed to the child and held him close.

�Wha-What?!� the Mazoku gasped, trying to turn to see who had gouged him. He saw a petite redhead in a torn pink dress that was far too small for her.

Lina Inverse, greatest sorcery genius of her time, was once again an adult, and she was none too pleased with having been attacked and used as bait. The fact that the tiny pink panties she was wearing were now pinching uncomfortably in rather sensitive places only fueled her rage.

She smirked. �Ragna Blade!� she finished, slicing him through easily.

The Mazoku screamed, disappearing as he was destroyed.

�Good riddance!� Lina sighed, glad to be herself again.

She remembered all that had transpired while she had been under the spell, but it seemed almost too bizarre. She hadn�t remembered anything of her past, only vague impressions of things. Like how she had known, instinctively, that she could trust these adults. She�d also known that she could drive them crazy, Lina remembered with some amusement.

Gourry looked around worriedly. �Where�s Xellos?�

Before she could answer, a hand shot out from the rubble he had landed in. �Here!�

The blond man helped Xellos up. �You okay?�

Xellos was obviously injured, but he brushed off Gourry�s concern with a strained smile. �Never mind me. Zel-chan��

�He�s mostly just frightened,� Amelia said, healing a cut that the child had likely received when the Mazoku grabbed him. Lina could remember feeling its sharp claws against her skin as it had dangled her upside down.

Lina wasn�t sure what to think about Xellos� seeming concern. She didn�t know what to think about Xellos having real feelings for Zelgadis, and decided not to worry about it on at the moment. She was a bit more concerned about Zel. �I�m back to normal. Why isn�t he?�

Amelia shrugged. �No idea. We must find out more about the spell.�

Xellos took Zel-chan from the princess in a decidedly possessive fashion. �Zel-chan, I'm sorry. Are you alright?�

The child pressed his face against his guardian, shaking. �Scared.�

Xellos cuddled him close. �It�s alright, dear. The Mazoku is dead. You�re safe.�

Lina looked away, down toward her feet, uncomfortable with Zel-chan�s fear. Then she realized exactly how short that dress was on her. �Ah! Amelia, this dress!�

Amelia blushed prettily and nervously offered over her cape, which Lina quickly wrapped around herself. They returned to the inn quickly so that she could get some proper clothes � and in case Zelgadis transformed back unexpectedly, all of them knowing that the chimera wouldn�t want to wind up standing naked in the middle of town.

He did not, and it wasn�t until they arrived back at the boys� room that any of them noticed that something else was wrong.

Zel-chan suddenly cried out, �Xellos-san! You're bleeding!�

Hearing this, Lina and Amelia rushed in after them. �Xellos-san, you should have said something!� Amelia chided as she began to heal him.

Zel-chan, frightened by the sight of blood, had to be taken away from Xellos and cleaned up by Gourry. Leaving the situation to their capable hands, Lina slipped out momentarily to get dressed in some proper � and not pink! � clothing.

�So we need to figure out what's behind that spell and see if the effects are reversible,� she summarized upon her return.

�Xellos-san will need to rest here,� Amelia announced, and her tone left no room for argument from either Lina or the former priest himself.

Zel-chan returned to Xellos slowly. By then he had his hood up and was obviously hiding. Lina winced guiltily, remembering all the things her child self had said to him. It made her sick with herself � Zelgadis was like her best friend. They understood each other on a deep, fundamental level, and Lina could usually depend on his level head, anything to do with Rezo notwithstanding.

Lina approached the bed slowly. �Zel-chan, I'm sorry about what I said. You're definitely not a monster.� She smiled as the child looked at her uncertainly. �Definitely.�

Zel-chan smiled weakly. �'kay. How'd you get so big?�

She grinned. �Lotsa milk and veggies.�

�But Amelia-san had to bribe you with ice cream before you'd eat those.�

Lina laughed a little. �Yeah, I remember that. I'm pretty spoiled.�

The boy seemed to think about this dilemma. �Is it like how Xellos-san stopped being a monster and turned human? Will that happen to me?�

Lina hesitated. She wasn�t sure which sense Zel-chan meant � being adult or being human again, and she didn�t want to try to address the latter. �Eh... Well, we're still trying to figure that out, but hopefully. We'll be back in a little while, so take care of Xellos, okay? �

Zel-chan nodded readily. �'kay.�

�Poor Zelgadis-chan,� Amelia murmured sadly.

Lina shook her head at the girl and tugged her out of the room. �C'mon. Let's find someone to talk to downstairs.�

They left, closing the door behind them, and went to find out anything else they could about the spell.

-

Xellos sat awake while Zel-chan slept. The boy had fallen asleep shortly after the others had left, clearly worn out by the events of the morning. The child had no nightmares but he stayed close to Xellos, one small, blue hand holding tightly to his pant leg.

His shirt was ripped and caked in his own blood from the attack, so he had tossed it aside and now that Zel-chan was fast asleep, he could not get up to get a clean shirt. Not that being shirtless was necessarily a problem. Xellos knew his frame was fit. He had no reason to be modest � except perhaps regarding the small hairs that were appearing on his torso.

Gourry returned hours later and informed him that Lina needed to speak to him downstairs. It was close to dinner anyway, so Xellos woke Zel-chan from his peaceful slumber and carried the boy with them downstairs.

Amelia turned bright red as soon as she saw him, chiding, �Xellos-san!�

Xellos shrugged, not caring about his appearance. �I'll need to go to the tailor again myself, now. What have you learned?�

Lina, her face also flushed, would not look at him. �You know, Zel has two shirts he's not using, and this inn provides pajamas. Pretty sure the restaurant is �no shirt, no shoes, no service,� too.�

Xellos sighed at the human prudishness and left Zel-chan in Amelia�s care as he went up to change. He chose Zelgadis� older shirt, not wanting to wear the new one before the chimera had gotten a chance to himself. Doing so would be rather rude. He noticed that Zel-chan had neglected to take his hood down with him, and took it with him as he returned to their table below, not wanting the boy to be uncomfortable.

�You realize,� Xellos told the others as he helped Zel-chan put the cape on, mildly peevish, �in my true form I never wore clothing.�

Lina glared. �Yeah, yeah, Mr. Polishing fake boots while Phibrizo gives Lina a back massage.�

Xellos inclined his head and dropped the issue. Sometimes one had to respect the opinions of their friends even when they felt differently; plus Lina looked rather like she might hit him if he said anything more on the subject. He took Zel-chan back into his lap and they ordered dinner.

As they waited for the food to arrive, Lina leaned forward toward Xellos to tell him what they had learned. �Apparently the length you remain in the shrine effects how long you remain small. And it's not a complete reversion, so that's why he's still a chimera.�

The former priest grew thoughtful. �He was in the entryway a little longer than you were. After all, you ran screaming almost immediately,� he said pointedly.

Lina winced, remembering. �Yeah...�

�The locals said we shouldn't worry unless it's more than a few days,� Amelia continued. �That's usually the longest it's lasted, especially given that he really wasn't inside for very much longer than Lina-san.�

Xellos frowned at the back of the boy�s head. The chimera could very well turn back to normal right there in his lap. Zel-chan would be gone, and the closeness with him. Zelgadis would not trust him anymore.

Gourry noticed. �What�s wrong, Xellos?�

Xellos hid his face, shaking his head. �It's nothing. Please don't worry.�

He watched the blond swordsman through his bangs as he frowned thoughtfully, then brightened. �Don't worry. I'm sure Zel will like you just as much once the spell wears off.�

Xellos was so surprised that he lifted his head. Sometimes it still surprised him how perceptive Gourry could be. �It's... a bit more complicated than that, Gourry-san,� was all he admitted.

Amelia frowned now as well, and when she spoke her voice was soft. �Zelgadis-san is a lot more open as a child, isn't he? It's hard to take care of someone who closes himself off.�

�You realize he's going to remember every word you say around him, right?� Lina pointed out casually.

�I realized it was a possibility, Lina-san,� Xellos responded in the same tone.

�You realize that if I hadn't very much deserved it at the time, I'd kick your ass for saying certain things.�

Xellos was unrepentant for having used her fear of her sister against her, again. �Yare yare.�

�It's really surprising that you remembered her even during the effects of that spell!� Amelia said. �Zelgadis-san doesn't remember anything, not even Rezo-san.�

�That's not entirely true, Amelia-san,� Xellos admitted softly. �He remembers his discomfort with his body. That wasn't entirely Lina-san's fault.�

�Some things you can't forget,� Lina murmured with a haunted look, and Xellos wondered if she were thinking of her sister again. Obviously whatever punishment Luna-sama had meted out had been unforgettable.

�Poor Zelgadis-san,� Amelia said sadly. �He's only a child now, and still all he can think about is a cure...�

Xellos frowned and cuddled Zel-chan close, as though he could futilely make the child feel better.

He loosened his hold as dinner arrived, allowing the boy to eat. Again, his own appetite was missing as he helped Zel-chan eat.

Lina actually paused instead digging in immediately, as was her custom. �I kinda hope the spell wears off soon. Then he'll be able to help me figure out how we're going to get into that shrine!�

Xellos did not react, but Lina must have seen something in his expression because she continued on.

�Look, Xellos, it's not safe for him to be so helpless while they're after us. He could've been badly hurt, or worse, this morning. It's really better for him if it wears off quickly.�

�Yes,� he agreed softly. She was right, of course. He knew she was. As a child, Zelgadis was defenseless and an easy target. The servant from earlier that day had been after the children specifically. But even so, Xellos felt selfishness well up in him.

Lina started eating and talked through her mouthful. �And don't go blaming yourself, either. We accepted the risks.�

Xellos hummed noncommittally and continued to watch Zel-chan eat.

The meal and their usual banter continued on until the boy was obviously falling asleep. Xellos took him promptly to bed, dressing him again in a set of pajamas that were far too large for him, keeping the cuffs loose for the unavoidable. He lay beside Zel-chan, watching him sleep. Gourry came up to bed later and took up the chair again, creeping quietly so as not to disturb either of them.

Gourry turned out the light and Zel-chan cuddled closer to him as though the sudden darkness had disturbed his sleep. Xellos� presence seemed to calm him as he relaxed again almost immediately.

Xellos smiled sadly. In the next few hours Zel-chan would return to normal for sure.

He could not sleep.

Several hours later, the inevitable did indeed happen. The child�s small body was enveloped in a holy light. It elongated, the build morphing from that of a child to a slender, muscular young man. There was a sharp ripping sound and Xellos winced � he had forgotten about the underpants! Zelgadis� strangled gasp confirmed that the garments had indeed stretched on some very unfortunate locations.

The chimera left his arms and struggled to the bathroom. Xellos followed him worriedly.

�Need a knife,� Zelgadis murmured in a pained voice, sounding barely awake. He was leaning against the bathroom wall, grimacing in pain, his fangs flashing in the sliver of moonlight shining through the high window.

Xellos nodded and returned quickly with a knife from the chimera�s own belongings, helping Zelgadis as he cut the remainder of the undergarments off, helping him pull the fabric from uncomfortable crevices. The shaman seemed to be too tired and in too much pain to even be embarrassed, and Xellos had honestly hoped to be able to touch him like this under different circumstances. Zelgadis sighed in relief when the task was done, and cast a quick Recovery spell before stumbling back to bed.

The former priest followed and joined him uncertainly. He thought the chimera would surely push him away, but instead Zelgadis pressed close and fell back to sleep.

Xellos curled around him protectively without hesitation. He pulled the chimera close, once again feeling the sexual attraction that had been missing during the past few days, letting it mingle with a feeling of loss. He let sleep overtake him.

It seemed that the rejection would wait until the morning.

TBC.
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Search for the Aqualord