Disclaimer: I do NOT own Slayers. I am not making any profit from this. I just love writing. I can't stop. It's a disease. Alexia, er, *Alex*, Dela Barca, Marco and the shadow creature thingies (geesh, I over-did it, ne?) are my creations.
- CAUGHT UP IN TIME - by spare
CHAPTER 4 : I THINK I MADE A BOOBOO...
Blood. Lots and lots of blood.
Fire. Ashes. Screams of dying men. Buildings burnt if not instantly destroyed by the first wave of attacking creatures, what was once a thriving community transformed into a blackened pit of death and despair.
She stood at the center of it all, alone and frightened.
Of course she was aware this was just a dream, another of the recurring nightmares brought about by memories she thought forgotten. Years and years of running away, hiding from the shadowy hunters that sought and killed them relentlessly. The creatures powerful enough to cancel the powers of even the two strongest races in existence. And still, she remembered being told of the origin of it all. How what was once a world populated by the mortals called humans along with the Ryuzoku, Mazoku and the little-known elves became a living hell ruled by soulless black entities. How everything her parents knew ended one fateful day, in the hands and fatal knowledge of one single person. An event that happened years before she was born, yes... An event she was now going to stop.
She had to wake up. Time shouldn't go to waste.
With that thought, the girl named Alexia opened her eyes.
Yes, she was still in the soft bed, in the home of the kindly blond woman named Filia. She yawned, stretching her arms, noticing she had woken up a little later than she was accustomed to. The sun was high in the sky. Voices of who had to be Filia-sama's customers drifted from downstairs, over the delicious smell of tea and sweet breads.
Oh, but she felt so much better now. She allowed herself one last lazy yawn and jumped out of bed, fresh as a daisy. She noticed a pile of neatly folded clothes on the chair by the window. A white shirt with gold trimming. A sash. Black drawstring pants. A pair of boots. She put them on. 'Looking good,' she thought, surveying herself on the vanity mirror at the other end of the room. All set to conquer the day. She wasn't back to full power yet, but what she recovered was enough for the job, if what she knew was true. It wasn't as if she had to worry about *them* right now. She forced her usual sunny smile onto her face. She thought of teleporting outside the room, but decided against it. Now that would be too... conspicuous. She didn't want her host to suspect too much. Yet. 'Better walk, then.'
Humming softly to herself, both hands in her pants pockets, Alex walked out of the room to the bustle of the teashop below.
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Downstairs, Filia was busy chatting and serving the morning away with her usual customers, staunch patrons of her locally famous tea. A few were asking if she could spare a few other pots to sell, but she graciously turned them down.
This 'Pot Breaking Festival' was quickly catching on. She had seen several people turn back dejectedly after seeing the SOLD OUT sign on the pottery display by the counter. Other pottery shops in and out of the city were fast running out of stock as well. Add the fact she happened to see what must have been a gigantic cloth balloon in the shape of a pot being built on the roof top of city hall, visible even at the distance.
Taking care of the last of the orders, the dragon maiden sat down, bouncing little Val on her hip. The young Ancient cooed happily, seemingly amused at the customers drinking their mid-morning tea in the spacious room. She smiled at her son distractedly, her mind wandering to the conversation she had had with Xellos yesterday evening.
Yes, she had to admit the girl Alex's aura was very much like Valgarav's was. Distinctly Mazoku... and Ryuzoku at the same time. But Alex's eyes were very normal, not the unreflective slits that characterized those of the so-called 'evil race'. It greatly puzzled her.
She remembered having brought up dinner for the girl later that night, and the young woman ate almost as heartily as she had that morning. Xellos had hinted trying to talk to her about the portal or her strange aura, but Filia just couldn't work up the courage to ask her that. Alex went back to sleep again and the dragon found herself staring at her sleeping form on the bed. The girl looked so peaceful, so innocent in her sleep. Xellos was certain she had great power, but it was almost unbelievable, seeing her like this. But then, looks were always deceiving. The namagomi, Miss Lina, even herself were very good examples.
"Ohayo, Filia-sama," a cheerful voice called out. Alex stood halfway down the stairs, an unnervingly Xellos-y grin on her face.
Filia smiled at the young woman. "A good morning to you too, Alex dear. Feeling better I take it?"
She nodded. "Hai. Thanks mainly to you, Miss Filia."
The dragon blushed yet again. "Think nothing of it. I am just happy to see you well again."
Silence.
Alex was gazing at her intently, an almost wistful look on her young face. Filia felt she needed to tell her more, but didn't know what else to say. For a while the two women just stood there, gazing each other. Until at last it was broken by the aqua-haired baby in Filia's arms.
"Ma...! Mama!" Val exclaimed, tiny hands reaching out to the purple-haired teenager by the stairway, an expression of rapture on the little one's features.
Filia's eyes widened in a combination of wonder and pride. It was the second time someone had gotten him to say his first word. Well, to her anyway. Xellos once argued with her that Val had called the filthy Mazoku 'Da' (shudder) one time he had gotten Filia to let him baby-sit while she was too busy... Enough of that, anyway. She turned to Alex. "I think he likes you."
Alex smiled, stepping forward and stroking his cheek. "Is he your baby?" she inquired to Filia.
"Oh, he's Val," the dragon maiden replied, proudly gazing at her adopted son. "He's not-- well, it's a rather long story. Anyway, I'm taking care of him now," she finished, rocking the child gently in her arms. The little Ancient gurgled happily.
"He's so kawaii," Alex remarked, closing her eyes and smiling. She held out an index finger to the child's nose and was rewarded by Val's high pitched laughter.
This Kodak moment was interrupted, however, by the timely rumbling of the girl's stomach. Interesting how the sound carried through the rest of the customer's tables, eliciting good-natured laughter and elbow-nudging by the tea-drinking patrons of the shop. Filia sweatdropped politely.
"Oops," Alex said sheepishly, blushing an interesting shade of pink. "Ah..."
"Gomen, I completely forgot," Filia told the young woman, "I left some breakfast for you at the kitchen." The dragon rose, leading the still slightly embarrassed Alex into the private dining area.
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"Feel it?"
The other man nodded. "She is here."
A man with a long thin nose and greasy black hair snorted haughtily. "Very weak. She has expended a large amount of her energy."
"The girl does not stand a chance against us, brother," a burly man with a moustache agreed.
One voice was doubtful. "Does she know we have followed her here?"
"That may cause problems, yes..."
"No," insisted the jolly-faced townsman. "She is not aware of our existence. We have to be careful, though."
"How much time do we have left?"
"A day."
"Then tomorrow..." The burly man smiled. Then he turned to a wagon parked at a deserted corner of the street, MYPROS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY painted on its sides. Though it was too dark inside to tell, one could almost swear the forms heaped upon each other within the wagon were the unconscious bodies of human men. "In the meantime, what do you suggest we do with these... mortals?"
A short man with beady eyes looked hopefully at their leader. "Shall we drain them?"
Townsman shook his head. "No, brother. We need them alive. Our forms are more easily retainable with living specimens to copy from."
"Very well then." One lowered his head in disappointment.
"Now hush. I sense mortals approaching." The seven settled themselves.
Three guardsmen approached them from the other side of a building. Right behind them was the tall and imposing figure of a man with a scraggly growth of beard covering most of his aged face. This one stopped a while to shout orders to a lanky young man cowering meekly from the other side of the street before addressing the group.
"Hey! You guys the balloon makers?!?" He half-bellowed, half-inquired Townsman and co.
/Ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin?/
/Sumabay ka na lang./
The seven men nodded. The man clapped his beefy hands together. "About time you arrived! Paid ya good money to set up the festival balloon, wouldn't be good service if you was slacking off, would it?!" He pointed a finger to the roof top of the tall building that served as city hall. "Right there! Now get to work!!!" Seemingly satisfied with himself, the man turned and left, to where he had sent the lanky servant a while ago.
The three guardsmen remained. "Uh, we'll escort you to the building..." One indicated the parked wagon. "We'll tow it in later, OK?"
With that, the seven seemingly ordinary festival balloon builders followed the three to city hall.
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"So what are you planning to do now, Alex?" Filia inquired, setting down a plate of cookies in front of the girl.
"Well, since I'm OK now, I guess I could continue on my journey, ne?" Alex answered, taking an enthusiastic bite on one dragon-shaped cookie.
"I see... Well, take better care not to run into bandits again, do you hear? Traveling alone as you are, I mean..." The dragon trailed off. She knew Xellos was watching close by. The Mazoku didn't bother to hide his aura from her. She knew the namagomi wanted her to ask Alex about the portal. While she felt uneasy trying to pry, a part of her wanted to know as well.
"Don't worry, Filia-sama, I will," the girl replied with her usual grin. Her blue eyes wandered around the kitchen, resting on the teapot by the stove. "Um... If it's not too much of a bother, Filia-sama, can I have some tea? It's been a while since I've had a decent cup, and, well, yesterday's tea was great."
"Oh, you like my tea?" Filia went all starry-eyed, happy that another enjoyed her favorite beverage. She stood up to pour her guest a cup. "I was about to offer you a cup..."
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"This is not going well," Xellos muttered from his perch outside the house. He knew Filia could sense him, and was trying to get the girl to talk about the rune. Not that he wouldn't be able to do a better job taking some facts out of the young woman. Playing the observer just gave him the space he needed to watch and compare the girl to Filia.
For indeed the resemblance, to him anyway, was striking. Alexia had Filia's blue eyes, delicate, refined features, slender frame. He shook his head.
Sighing, he saw the two females finish their midmorning chat and leave the kitchen. Filia was back at the counter with Val on her lap. Alex headed for the door, bowing a perky goodbye.
"So she's leaving, is she?" The Mazoku thought to himself. It was time, he decided, to take matters into his own hands.
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"Alexia-chan! Feeling well enough to take a stroll, ne?"
"Oh, hello, Mr. Xellos. And it's *Alex*."
"Oh, Alexia-chan, Alex-chan, what's the difference? Such pretty females should be proud of their given names." Xellos grinned at the young woman as she came out of Filia's shop.
Alex grinned back. "And pretty females should be free to be called their preferred nicknames."
"Alright, *Alex*," Xellos held up his hands. "So, where are we off to now, ne?"
"Well, around town, I would guess." The girl made off, not wanting to waste her time.
"Care to tell me more?" The trickster pressed on.
"Should I?" Alex replied, smiling sweetly.
"A penny for your thoughts my dear," Xellos grin was getting a bit strained.
"Well..." Alex paused as if to consider the statement very carefully. Then her face lit up. Xellos gazed at her expectantly. "Can't tell you!" Alex said, grinning.
The Beastmaster found himself face-faulting on the hard pavement. Composing himself, he forced his fruitcake smile back in place before attempting another question.
Unfortunately, the one who had previously evaded his subtle and not-so-subtle lines of interrogation was cheerily walking away, off to another corner of the street. Cursing silently, Xellos kept an easy pace with the young woman via floating lazily behind her.
"Now, now, can't we talk some more?" Xellos pressed on.
"I'm in a hurry I'm afraid," Alex replied, matching Xellos' eternal grin.
"You had talked to Fi-chan, I take it?" the Mazoku went on. "She's quite the wonderful host and caretaker, isn't she?"
"Most definitely," Alex smiled wider.
"Such a fine lady is so hard to find these days... Of course, her temper is a problem.." Xellos chuckled at the fact. He made a mental note to himself to visit Filia again later in the evening. For the meantime, though, he was determined to bug this young woman all day.
"Say, Mr. Xellos," Alex suddenly piped up, "You really like Ms. Filia, don't you?"
"Eh?" the Beastmaster was none the less taken aback by the observation. Avery keen, over-imaginative and dreaming of the impossible observation. He frowned, taking up defensive mode. "What makes you say that?"
"Oh nothing," the girl waved her hand noncomittally. "It's just it's so obvious, is all."
"Obvious, huh?" Xellos fought not to twitch and give himself away. 'Maybe this girl's telepathic?' Aloud he said, "In what way?"
Alex smirked, slowing her walk. "Couldn't you tell?"
"Um, wouldn't you want to elaborate on that?"
"Can't tell you," she replied simply.
Xellos crossed his hands behind his back. "Is that so, Alexia-CHAN?"
"It's Alex." The girl's grin never faltered.
"Sure, Alex it is--" Xellos was fighting a losing battle. Unfortunately, he knew it. L-sama, as if Filia wasn't enough--
/................................./
A pause. A shift in the air.
It was only a second -- a fraction of a moment, but it shocked Mazoku and girl nonetheless.
Both pairs of eyes snapped open, alert and aware. the beastmaster managed to compose himself. In a moment the cheerful mask was back, while inwardly he struggled to shake off the feeling of utter dread.
Alex, however, wasn't quick enough to manage such duplicity. Blue crystalline eyes grew wide with shock.
"Well, what was THAT, Alexia-chan?" the Mazoku beside her inquired.
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"Amarsil!" Townsamn growled out the idiot's true name in an uncontrolled fit of anger.
"F-forgive me, brother," the shadow-man pleaded, shifting fully back to his borrowed form.
"Careless..."
"You did not have to drain the specimen so quickly," scolded a cold voice.
"I am sorry. I... lost control..."
"Will the others come looking for it?" a man nervously inquired.
"Hopefully not. If they do, we'll be forced to reveal ourselves prematurely." Townsman spared a moment to glare at the man. "Be careful not to slip, even a little next time, brother. Or I will NOT let you feed..."
The man nodded obediently.
"Quite a waste," another remarked. "To think the poor mortal came here to bring us these... materials to build this 'festival balloon'."
The other six glanced at the pile of cloth, sticks and odds and ends that had fallen haphazardly on the spot where the mortal stood not too long ago.
"At least these weren't destroyed during the feed. Might as well put them to use..." The others agreed.
"But brethren, do any of us know the first thing in building such a contraption?"
The pointy-nosed man spoke up. "Certainly. The science involved in such a device is so primitive--"
"But what about the mission?" One protested.
"It is due in a day. Ample time to amuse ourselves."
Silent agreement. "So I suppose we shall go to work, then?"
"Certainly."
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Author's Rants: I REALLY didn't plan any of this. Isn't it funny how the most ridiculous impulsive ideas turn out to be quite important plot points in the end?!? ^_^ Oi, um, well, how do I put this... Well, those of you who could understand the words wedged between the / __ / here are free to post this ficcie!!! Kumusta na, ha? (sweatdrop) OK, enough of that. I'm really, really sorry to inform you guys I might not be able to finish this story any time soon because it's bound to be a very busy month for moi. But stay tuned, a few weeks or so I might come up with a new chapter. Anyways, thanks, arigato, salamat and enjoy!
FESTIVAL OF BREAKING POTS UP NEXT...