Accustomed to his face
By Draqonelle mailto:draquonelle@hotmail.com
Part 1/?
Rated PG so far.
no I do not own Slayers nor Lerner and Lowe's My Fair Lady. Nor all
the series I
intimate (clue at) I am a poor otaku scraping together enough to get
Trigun.
i"I've grown accustomed to his face.
The way he makes the day begin.
Grown accustomed to the tune
that he whistles night and noon.
His sighs his woes.
His highs his lows.
A second nature to me now
Like breathing out or breathing in-"i/
"DAMU BRAS!"
Dawn was too early to be a fruitcake, in Zelgadis's humble
opinion. All at once a blast hit the tree Xellos was serenading
Zelgadis from, and caused it to topple over with Xellos in it.
Zelgadis rolled over and stretched. Zelgadis woke up and saw Amelia
returning back from her morning jog. And no one else in sight.
Obviously Xellos had left.
"Ha. Good morning Zel-chan." the levitating mazouka
addressed him.
Zelgadis regarded him with a cold eye and muttered, "I knew
that wouldn't work."
"I need some true musical appreciation. Amelia-sama. What
do you think of my singing?" He glomped her and rested his head on
her shoulder.
"Your voice is wonderful. It echoes and reverberates with
the resonance of Justice. Xellos-chan."
Xellos grinned and pointed at himself "I have a royal
recommendation. See Zelgadis."
Lina stretched and put on her cape. "Man what a great night.
Under the stars."
Lina hummed, "After that haul last night I slept like a dead
log."
Gourry yawned "Yeah you might have slept. I feel like I was
sleeping on an anthill. With ants crawling on it."
"Really. You don't say." Xellos feigned interest "What do
you think it was?"
"It must have been Ants." Gourry said.
"I'm in a good mood. Let's get moving into the next
village." Lina said waking up.
"Where are we going Lina-kun?" Amelia asked.
"That's obvious. We're headed for the next village to get
some food."
"But after that? I'm a princess. I need to get back to my
Daddy."
"Well. There has to be something."
"It looks like were are coming up towards a sign."
"Pelonia. Home of the Pelonian Pickled Peppers Fair."
"Pelonia. But that sounds familiar. Something magical."
Lina said.
"Home of Magical Wonders?" Gourry read on the sign.
"Yeah but I think my Grandfather told me about it. Yes. This
is where you can find the worlds greatest seeress. If anyone can
tell us our future it is her."
"Oooh. You mean the Lady of Moon." Xellos smiled.
"Yes. The Mystic Moon."
"Yes she was amazing. She used her strange cards as runes to
read the future. She saved her world. There was no greater seer in
my generation."
"Well that's great." Lina said "We can find our future out
from her."
"Yes well she WAS."
"What do you mean was?"
*****
They arrived in the tiny village of Pelonia.
A little girl ran up to them.
"Welcome to Pelonia. Have some piscus. I made them myself."
"Wow I was kind of hungry. Thank You!" Amelia smiled.
"Amelia I'd."
She grabbed a piece of the rind and her face turned pink
then blue.
"Ouch. Hahahahahahah HOoooooooT."
"The world famous Pelonian piscus pepper" Lina "The Dragon
Pepper, The Devil Rind." Lina sniffed another pepper and put it in
her mouth "I just love hot peppers. They got a real kick to them."
The townsfolk gasped and applauded as Lina ate the pepper.
"Say young lady you might be interested in the Miss Red Hot
Chili Pepper Contest."
Lina cooed, "Really well I do think I am cute. It's so sweet
of you too-"
"Just think, when you're grown up you can join with all those
pretty girls up there."
Lina turned bright blue and glared at the man.
Amelia stared at the bustling villagers puting up the banner.
"Oh boy. Look at the stands. Ooh Magic amulets." Amelia
tugged on his arm.
The chimera smiled softly.
"It's going to be a lot of fun." Amelia laughed.
"It does. It looks like it will. They have it so easy here."
Zelgadis said.
"Bunch of silly fools." Lina said. "You should feel sorry
for them. Stagnate in one place, while we get to travel the whole
world. Well Gourry Let's go get some piscus."
"Piscus?" Gourry said. "I hate piscus. It's so spicy and
sour."
"What's a matter, chicken?" Lina said. " We might as well
kick back while we're looking for her. My Grandpa says this Lady of
the Moon is 98% percent accurate. Guaranteed. I want to know what
treasures I'll find , what adventures I'll experience and
everything."
"That seems like a frivolous thing." Zelgadis shook his head.
"You can find out if you'll change back into a human,
Zelgadis-san." Amelia said.
"The only reason Lina wants to go is to find out what boys
she's going to end up with. It's pointless.."
Amelia scratched her chin. Maybe she could find out if maybe
one day Zelgadis would be hers. She giggled.
"That stuff is too spicy, Lina-san. You could get a belly
ache." Gourry ripped away the jar.
"You are so careful." Lina yanked them back "Don't be a
baby. Be a man."
"I'm a man. A man who doesn't like spicy peppers."
Lina and Gourry began scuffling.
*****
The party was well underway. All the girls in the village
were excited to see two new cute sorcerers and the dashing blond
swordsman at the party and lavished attention upon Xellos and Gourry.
Lina was turning three shades of pink trying to attribute her
jealousy to the hot peppers. Amelia had completely vanished for
once, looking for a glass of milk to quell the heat in her
mouth and soon was prostrate in the praise of the milk boy saying how
Justice filled he was. The chimera was glad at the lapse in her
pursuit. Maybe Amelia would get some and leave him alone. He
proceeded to leave the crowd when.
"Well Hello, there." A nasal whiny voice came from chili
pepper red hair and large boobs. A gorgeous and frightening nightmare
vision of sequins and ribbons "You're a sorcerer aren't you."
Zelgadis froze at the annoying frequency of her voice..
"I'm Candy. Candy Ercanti? Say it real fast."
Zelgadis whimpered, and covered his face.
"Can he or can't he." Zelgadis said.
"It's a little joke?"
Zelgadis tried to run.
"Oh you're so shy. Tell me. Do I deserve to be Miss Red Hot
Chili Pepper?" She tossed her blinding red curls.
"Uh Yes."
"Don't be so shy." She poked him "Oh Muscles. Your built
like a rock" Candy groped him.
Zelgadis panicked "Sleep." And the red head toppled onto him.
He clawed his way out and hyperventilated as he ran.
Xellos smirked and followed him as he tried to hide again,
literally disappearing with none of the villagers noticing.
*****
Zelgadis sat down by the fountain. He barely made it out
without being unmasked. What would the "woman" say if she knew?
She'd probably just continue
being the type who didn't look to picky.
It was times like this that hurt Zelgadis worse, knowing that
he was so close to having a normal life. But whenever someone
discovered the real him they ran away. Unless they were irritating..
What made it worse was all the couples were smooching and tasting
each others peppers
in obscene ways looking for a bit of privacy. Zelgadis was lonely.
He went to look for
any place he could be actually alone.
He came to a small clearing in the willows, a small heart-
shaped place. Of course it had to be heart shaped to gouge the point
into his chest even deeper. The heart shapped willow grove lead out
into a small pond. The willow leaves fell like curtains providing a
perfect lovers' hideaway. In the willows he noticed two wood pigeons
flutter. They approached each other hesitantly. He smiled. Soon
the two similar birds flew off together, brown wings fluttering with
knew fervor. They landed on the top of the tree.
Of course Zelgadis being transfixed with the birds didn't
notice the elderly couple getting to second base under the tree. One
was a white winged tenshi and the other a woman with short grey hair.
"They looked up. "Oh my Star's Van, put on your cloak. It's
a peeping tom."
"What?"
Zelgadis froze and covered his face.
"You stupid perv." The Tenshi-kun bristled it's white wings.
'I wasn't-"
"Van. Calm down." the woman gasped. "You've been like this
since we were kids."
"That's because you are so beautiful Hitomi."
"I'll leave you two-"
"You don't go no where you voyeur you."
"Voyeur? I was-"
"Oh you just like to see people express their love." The old
buzzard fluttered his wings.
"Are you crazy? Old man you're- you're like 400." Zelgadis
shrugged.
"Oh so now she's not good enough to stare at." the old man
poked him.
"Don't put words in my mouth." Zelgadis deflected his finger.
"Oooh you hellion. When I find your Pa I'm gonna-"
"Can I please go and rip out my eyes, sir?" Zelgadis
whimpered.
"Why you punk!" The guy punched him. and hurt his hand.
"Oh Pookie -sama." The short haired woman glomped him
"My hand." He whimpered. "How will I grip my sword, Hihi-
chan?"
"I'll kiss it and make it all better."
They went at it again.
Zelgadis stumbled over his own feet to escape. He pushed
aside the leaves. He sat down and grumbled. This was a low point.
He was spying on elderly couples and not
even realizing it.
He sat looking at the serene still pond, feeling as empty as
lifeless as the space ahead of him. Xellos appeared in front of
him. "So Where's Candy? You two were hitting it off so well. A
chimera in love."
"Shuddup. I need a drink. There is an old couple...."
Xellos clutched his forehead. "That Van boy you'd think that
he'd learn his lesson by now. They've only been together for 70
years."
"They are lucky to be so... active." Zelgadis said. "I
almost feel jealous of that shriveled old man."
Xellos took a step to the side away from Zelgadis, "How so?"
"I wish I were at the end of my days. If I can't have
anyone, I might as well..."
"Oh." Xellos nodded, "You have me. Do you think I'd ever let
you die?"
"Yes."
"Oh come on. You are my favorite person. My best friend,
off the record. I just keep telling Xellas-sama that I think of you
as my pet to throw her off track. I'd do anything to help ya Zel-
chan."
"How about you stop calling me that?" Zelgadis poked Xellos
in the forehead.
"I mean someone who doesn't irritate me." Zelgadis said.
"That's how you know someone loves you. They never stop
irritating you."
Zelgadis sat on the log of a fallen oak. The one just built
for two.
"So only people like you get love me. How do I know you
aren't just being annoying?"
"You don't. I can't love you I'm a mazouka."
"I am alone. There is no one of my kind. There is no one
who can know me. There is no one who will love me."
Xellos felt the despair stab him too. He smiled. He did
like it when Zelgadis fedhim. It was a good breakfast.
"I would rather die than know I had this body forever."
The flavor of his pain shifted becoming to sweet to bear.
Xellos shook his head. He hated when it got the level of suicidal.
He liked Zelgadis too much to waste him. Mortals were no fun to play
with if you didn't take care of them. Most monsters couldn't
grasp that concept, preferring destruction in any form. Xellos was a
bit of connoisseur. That level of misery, anger, frustration and that
inexplicable aftertaste Zelgadis left with
him, could not be snuffed out.
"You've got to get a little perspective kiddo. We are
different. I am different. So? You can't live wishing to die."
"How can I not when I hate myself?"
"Hmm. That is an interesting question. The bigger one
being, why you do you hate yourself? Is it because your ugly and
heavy... Because of blue skin, or those deep eyes." Xellos brushed
his nose. "There are a thousand trillion variations of life in this
universe. More than you can dream? Would you think that skin and
eyes could ever change what is beautiful? That your strength, grace
and power doesn't comprise your heart and soul. That you think that
your greatness can mean nothing to anyone."
Zelgadis became angry again, but he did not speak. Xellos
liked that.
"Zelgadis you are different. You are cursed with power and
strength. Like a lily in a bouquet of long stem carnations. A pearl
in a pile of stones. An onion roll on a tray of bagels."
Zelgadis stared at him.
"I'm sorry I like Barbara Streisand." Xellos said, "I was
watching Funny Girl last night and-"
"What?"
"Never mind. Just enjoy the view." Xellos sat. Zelgadis
brooded, facing the crystal pond. Xellos only watched his companion
finding nothing more interesting than him. Oh Zelgadis could he ever
realize how perfect he was. He was a pretty fool. And
those blue eyes nearly too black, speared the mazouka like a baby
seal or one of those rare species of whales writhing in agony on the
end of a harpoon. How could he not realize his perfection? Xellos
watched his chest take in air, and his eye lids flutter. He
could watch the blood beat into his lips and his face. Everything
still and perfect in the beauty of the sun and water.
"I've got it." Xellos said. The he grabbed Zelgadis.
Probing him with a sultry look.
Zelgadis stared right at him, suddenly much too aware of what
the mazouka next to him wanted. Xellos touched his shoulder. Their
eyes met and the chimera spoke.
"Are you kiss me and make me feel desirable?"
"You are desirable Zelgadis.'
"ANd you're going to make love to me."
"We're going to have sex anyway."
"And You hope I'll forget you are a masochistic psycho demon
who wants to drive me in the depths of insanity to feed off my own
despair?"
"No." Xellos twisted his brow, forgetting to take his arm
down. "Damn how did
you get so smart?"
Zelgadis gave the arm such a cold look the mazouka shook it
off like it had blasted it with liquid nitrogen.
"You don't count, Xellos. You are evil and twisted. If you
desired me like that, it would only prove how evil and disgusting
both of us were."
"So sex would just make you feel worse about your self
image?" Xellos tilted his head.
"Yes." Zelgadis pouted.
In a shadowy swoop of black magic, Xellos pinned him to the
log, "I've never wanted you more in my life." Xellos purred and
descended with a brutal kiss, causing the old log to crack in half.
Of course the second he made contact with his lips, he chipped
his tooth and bruised his nose. "Ow."
"Serves you right." Zelgadis said.
At this the innocent country sweethearts who had wandered
into the grove froze at the sight.
"What's a matter? You never see a chimera and a mazouka
making savage love underneath a willow tree?"
"Yeah. A few trees down you'd be even worse off."
"Uh." The boy froze."
Zelgadis growled "Go away. The log is broken."
"Yeah take a picture it will last longer." Xellos said.
The boy froze. the girl pulled on his arm "Let's get out of
here before they kill us."
The boy was dragged off `Booboo they broke our log."
Zelgadis smirked sat up and brushed himself off.
"Did I hurt you?"
"Of course you did, silly boy."
"Your tooth feel better now?"
"Yes a little."
"Good. DON'T KISS ME!" Zelgadis punched him and he went
sailing butt first into a tree.
Xellos pulled himself up "A challenge. Hmmm. On to plan 2."
"Plan two. What does that involve? Dynamiting yourself."
"You don't like to be you? You think you are ugly and
repulsive and no one likes you and you'll be alone for the rest of
your life and..."
"Yes." Zelgadis cut him off.
"Don't be you then. Let me be you."
"Excuse me?"
Xellos smiled his dark smile.
"Give me your body and all your problems will be solved."
Zelgadis backed up slowly towards the pond.
"Xellos. Don't-"
Zelgadis knew it was too late. Whatever the mazouka planned,
he was too far away to stop him. Xellos let the violet fire of his
eyes penetrate his. He trembled.
"Ra-"
"No you must be silent for this. You can't talk." He grabbed
his hand.
"There is only one way this is going to work." Xellos huffed
hot air on his face, "How long can I watch without wanting? I've
watched you closer than any. You're every move is irresistible to
me. I want your body so bad. I can feel myself crawl out of my
skin."
He could feel demon heat pour out of his purple eyes. "Hold
my hand and tell me what you feel, Zel-chan"
Zelgadis blinked twice and turned to run.
Xellos smiled. Did this creature know him better than
anyone? He licked his lips. He would have his prize soon enough.
Zelgadis plunged into the deep bush. Where Xellos could not
travel without damaging himself? He was glad he could not feel the
pricks and needles of the underbrush.
Xellos purred. "You're very good at making me want you."
Xellos smiled, a bramble cutting into his cheek. Xellos smiled at the
twinge of his own pain.
"Monobolt." Oh crap.
Zelgadis burst from the ground in a burst of magic and
panic. Zooming into the sky he was panting, not out of his effort
but of his dread. He was feeling the panic flush
his skin from marble to lava.. He certainly knew how to make a
fellow desired. But no-
he couldn't catch him or something. Zelgadis couldn't think about
that.
Xellos poised on the air and watched his prey flee. He could
taste his fear. He lifted into the air and floated towards the boy.
"I want your body Zelgadis."
"You are a crazy out of your head fruitcake mazouka.":
"And I want your body. I'll have it. In exchange you'll
have everything you want."
"Stop."
Xellos saw a pond ahead it would be perfect for a splash
down. Xellos knew it was time for the hunt to end. Zelgadis did
too, like all prey. It knew when it was caught.
Xellos grabbed Zelgadis's ankle and pulled him close "Tell me
again, Zelgadis."
Zelgadis was breathing fire, he rested his head against the
mazouka. "I-" The chimera's breath hurt. He couldn't say what he
should have. His lips were burning. His mind burned away from normal
thought.
"I guess we're going down on each other." Xellos gripped the
chimera around his waist and sunk to the earth. At the loss of
weightlessness Zelgadis felt his stomach rise into his heart and his
heart in his lips. And his lips swollen with the kiss on his lips.
Falling from life into death. He felt everything except bad. The
fear, the hunger. He kissed Xellos back clawing his fingers into his
skin. The slight touch of statue fingers was bruising the mazouka's
skin. Pain, sweet last full pain. He bit his mouth deeper.
And then no more air.
Zelgadis passed out.
*****
Lina looked back in the square.
"What was that?"
"It sounded like a gold dragon passing. Or a bomb our
something."
They saw the house. A tall woman exited. The sign over her
head was of a blue globe that looked very strange.
"This is the place my Grandfather told me about." Lina said.
A frail old woman with short hair swept her doorstop.
"Are you the fortune teller?"
The woman's green eyes glazed over.
"Blood! Death! Destruction!" She gripped her short hair. "The
end of the world is here."
Gourry scratched his head looked at Lina "Wow. She's good.
She knew you were coming."
Ahead of them was another group of young people.
"I don't tell the future. Destiny is Free Will."
"But Ma'am we came all this way. My village is willing to
pay you more-"
"No. Go away."
"You can not imagine the pain I have seen. Every time I tell
the future the visions become stronger and more terrible."
"What do you mean you don't tell the future?" Lina went super
deformed.
"Xellos was right." Gourry said.
Lina's lower lip quivered "But my Grandfather told me about
you. He said something Remember the Destiny Wars and the White
Dragon."
The old woman froze "Wait a second."
"You are the grandchild of Dryden Fassa."
"Yeah." Lina said. "That's him."
"I can't believe it. After all these years I thought the
Destiny was forgotten...What's your name?"
`I am the Extraordinary Lina Inverse, Bandit Killer-"
"Dragon Spooker." Gourry said.
"Me and my friends have come all this way."
"Do you know how many girls and boys come to me asking for
their future? You can only make your own future." she said.
"But we don't know where to begin. I come all this way and
nothing to show for it."
"Tell Dryden, Hitomi said hi."
"But there must be some way Ma'am." Gourry said.
At this a grizzled old bearded man came in the room.
"Hihi-chan. Who are these?"
"More people who want their fortune read. I'll get rid of
them."
"You should have seen this woman in the old days. Those
cards are amazing little deedly bobs."
The old man grabbed his taller wife.
"Eww don't kiss me you've been eating peppers."
The man kissed her. She made a face.
"Hah. I love the Pepper Festival. Every year I come. Piscus
Peppers are just about my favorite thing in the world."
"We know."
"Well off to the competition."
The old man walked off whistling an old tune.
"I hate Piscus." the seeress shook her head "And We come
here every year, so he can make a fool of himself."
"Why don't you tell your husband you don't want to go?"
"He still thinks he's champion. He might not be swift with a
sword anymore but he thinks he has to prove he can eat any one under
the table."
"I propose a challenge." Lina said.
"I'm not listening." The Seeress turned around.
"How about an eating contest?" Lina said
"I don't like to eat." The Seeress responded.
"I will challenge you husband to a contest of Pelonian Piscus
Peppers."
"But those are impossible to eat." Gourry gasped.
"And if we win the contest."
The seeress's green eyes lit up "If you beat the old goat,
then Vanny would never eat Piscus Peppers again. That would be
wonderful."
"When I beat him."
"But that's impossible. He's won this contest for thirty
years."
`Well I can eat any pepper he can. I'll beat him."
"If you do that, I would take out my cards again and tell you
your future." Hitomi said.
"Do we have a deal?" Lina asked.
"By the Blood of the White Dragon I agree."
Lina shook her hand she smiled to herself i"I'll know my
future in no time. I wonder what my husband will look like. I
wonder how many children I'll have. I wonder if I'll be the most
powerful sorcerer on Earth. It'll be a snap."/I
*****
Zelgadis woke up very wet. Very very wet. He hadn't felt
that wet in... forever. Every inch of his skin was soaked or seemed
that way. He could feel his skin goose pimple at the wind. He had
to get out of these wet... gloves?
Underneath his... skin. He gasped. He could see the wet
flesh with little bumps on it. He touched his face. He touched his
hair. It was wet. Really wet, not just rusty.
He had skin. Real skin, prickling shivering flesh. Had
Xellos finally... Well what did he do?
"Ne Zel-chan. You look cold? I'm cold too. Why don't you
take off your clothes and dry off? I know I am."
A bluish elfin creature said from the cover of woods.
Zelgadis couldn't see so well. Where was that crazy Fruitcake
Mazouka? To go through that with him, whatever it was- and just
leave him alone.
The voice was soft and beautiful, but he was surprised at the
quality of sweetness. He could trust that voice.
"His smiles his frown
his ups his downs,
a second nature to me now
Like breathing out and breathing in.
I was content before I met him,
happy as can be
surely everything can that way again
but I've accustomed to the trace
of something in the air
Accustomed to his face."
Zelgadis recognized the song. It was Xellos's song. Could this
pixie know it too? What was going on?
Light strange hair and two blue eyes glared at him.
A cute blue little mouth smirked back at him "Zelgadis, you
never told me you could sing. Shame on you. We could have done
duets."
Zelgadis had about four feet and a convenient oak leaf to
prevent him from having a mental break down.
Zelgadis looked at himself naked smoking and sitting about
ten feet away lounging completely bareass naked in the forest.
"I'm naked." Zelgadis muttered.
Zelgadis's body stared at him confused. "No, not exactly.
Guess again."
"Am I dead? Is this an astral out of body experience?"
"Zelgadis. It is too cloudy for the dramatics." The chimera
in front of him smoked his cigarettes again. He flicked the ashes
towards him.
"Dramatics. You fucking try to-"
"Ooh excellent diction."
"And then it's like... I'm human but I'm not. And then I'm
naked... but I'M not and-"
The ashes formed a Louis the Fourteenth mirror.
"I thought would be sunnier when we tried this so you could
just look in the pond and boom. But well, It never works out, Zellos
does it."
"What is going on why are you calling me-"
Zelgadis looked in the mirror.
"Oh my God."
A wet Xellos with broad open eyes looked back at him.
Xellos tittered with Zelgadis's face. Zelgadis couldn't
believe this. He was-
"I'm flattered." Xellos bumped himself, his old body, out
of the mirror and spun, clad in blue briefs. "You aren't so bad
yourself, kiddo? Love the new digs"
Xellos hugged him.
"I'm you?" Zelgadis clutched his purple hair.
"No, you are you. I am me. But I'm being the you that you
don't want to be."
"But I don't want to be you. I want to be me."
"You told me that you hated being you. So I'm being you so
don't have to be and the price of that is being me."
"I- me-you." Zelgadis was dizzy. What was going on?
Zelgadis looked at the blue skinned chimera smiling smugly at
him. He lunged on the chimera, "I'm going to kill you."
"Calm down." Xellos in Zelgadis's body or maybe Xelgadis or
whoever.... He tried to ease his friend's mad confusion. Zelgadis
grabbed his stony old and throttled the chimera next to him
"I wouldn't do that I if I were you ." Xellos croaked.
"You are me." Zelgadis punched Xellos. He smacked him on the
head. He heard a crunch.
"OWWWWWW." Zelgadis winced. He was do longer a chimera. And
his hand struck the stone.
The chimera smiled and stepped away from the mirror.
"Are we all done now? Can I explain to you what happened?"
"I know what happened. You-- we- um." Zelgadis covered his
new body.
"Oh let me try Zel-chan. You having a perverted mind thought
I wanted to have mad passionate sex with you even though you said no
and we were interuptted. And then you ran off like a scared rabbit.
Honestly. You're mind is so deep in the gutter Zellos."
"You said you wanted my body..."
The chimera's body spun around in front "You see." Xellos
smiled. "I did want your body. For me."
"Why didn't you just tell me that?"
"It was fun. And I'm a Mazouka. I had to do it this way.
It was irresistible."
Zelgadis shivered.
"Was it good for you Zellos-kun?"
"But I don't want..."
"Let me explain this. It may not be your destiny to be human
for a thousand years. Hmm? You want to have a human body. Well
since your human body is tainted by the golem curse. I got you a new
one. Young, healthy, beautiful violet eyes. Gorgeous hair, pouty
lips and a high cute little butt. It's not made of marble but it can
crack clams."
"But I want to be me."
"Huh? You said you hated your life. You said you didn't
want to be a chimera. You're not a chimera."
He grabbed Xellos. "I am a mazouka now."
The stony face began trembling then bursting out in raucous
laughter.
"You? A mazouka? You're not a mazouka." Xellos pushed him
away "Stand back."
All of a sudden from the chimera body a tall wolf/spider
monster began to form. Zelgadis jumped back. Xellos returned to his
chimera form.
"You're talking that old husk. Don't make me puke with
laughter." Xellos grinned. He lifted up Zelgadis's arms. I got that
at a very desperate beautiful young man trying to drown himself.
He's currently a giant man eating crow. Unless he's died."
"It won't work. You're immortal. I'm only made of rock. I
mean I'll live a long time but not forever."
"His body was mortal. I just used magic to keep it young and
beautiful. It's mint condition." Xellos pinched his cheek.
"I think you people call it a soul. You believe that there
is something more than the body. Not even a Goblin can confuse the
soul for the body."
"So this is a mortal body?"
"More mortal than yours." Xellos smiled stroking his stones
on his new arm. "I don't deflect sword blows. I just survive them.
Look on your stomach."
Zelgadis looked confused "You want me to look at your body?
No."
"Oh come on."
"I'm not getting undressed for you, you Fruitcake" Zelgadis's
eyes flashed with anger.
"There is nothing there I haven't seen or touched."
Zelgadis's now peach skin turned bright red.
"There is a scar on your right breast from the battle with
Phribrizzio."
"Okay. I'll take your word for it."
"If you wanted to you could even go mortal. The whole works
grow old, let your butt sag and get crows feet. If you wanted."
"It is a mortal body."
"Basically yes." Xellos smiled. "It's everything you want
Zellos."
"What did you call me?"
"Well Xellos. I think it's perfect. My body but your in
charge."
"That makes you, Xelgadis? No one will be able to tell we've
changed."
"Now we got to go over the rules? There is only one. Since
we did this in secret, we must never tell anyone. The second the
word escape our lips and it is heard we will change back."
"That's stupid. An auditory locking mechanism."
"What about everyone who wants to kill you?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Xelgadis smiled. "The
Mazouka and non-mortals know the difference. maybe even the
dragons. I wonder if Firia would tell. It's very strange."
Zellos took a long look at himself
"All we have to do is either be so obviously out of character
they guess or try to hide it. Now I'm in favor of plan 2a. I'll go
get thrown out of a whorehouse and you brood and drink coffee and
have unresolved sexual tension with Amelia."
Zellos shook his head. "If we act strange they'll want to
know what's going on."
"Zellos. You really think that they would care if you acted
strangely. They wouldn't just take it for granted you were a
horrible monster and cast you out." Xelgadis covered his mouth in
fake shock. "You mean they actually care about you?"
"I just don't want you embarrassing me." Zellos grumbled.
"This will be fun. I've always enjoyed acting."
Zellos bit his lip.
*****
Zellos stood in Xellos's clothes dried out as Xellos or
rather Xelgadis handed him his accouterment. "Now here is your
staff, "You'll have to carry it for me into the next
town. But I need it back, it's my power. Be careful. I don't want-"
"I'm not going to break your staff." Zellos said. "Here's my
sword."
"I've never had a sword before. It's so cool. I feel like a
hero. A knight in shining armour." Xelgadis held up the sword.
"Don't use it."
"Nah. I won't break it. I just never learned how to sword
fight before."
"If you use mine I use yours." He rattled the staff.
"Well I have your blue underwear."
"What? You can't have my... undies."
"Undies. oh you are cute. Look as long as I'm Zelgadis, I
have his sword, his cape, his tight wities"
"Well I have your underwear then hah!"
Xelgadis laughed. "Well you would if"
Zellos covered his mouth "You don't..." Zellos blushed. "You
are a pervert."
"I'm a pervert in your underwear." Xelgadis wiggled his rump.
"Grrr." Zellos frowned.
'We could always pretend we had mad passionate sex that
brought you out of your shell." Xelgadis hugged him again. Zellos
removed his hand. "That's why Xellos has Zel-chan's undies." He
laughed at the word undies.
"I'll get them back." Zellos pointed in his face "One day."
"Zelgadis-san. Xellos-chan." Amelia shouted.
"Oi Xellos." Gourry shouted.
"What are you two morons doing out here? We've been looking
for you everywhere."
"Show time."
Zellos took a deep breath.
But it was Xelgadis that acted first "Flare Arrow."
Zellos ducked.
"Oh god they are at it again." Lina grumbled.
"Why do they hate each other so much?' Amelia frowned "Xellos
is not the evil heartless fiend everyone makes him out to be."
"How would we know? He never tells us anything." Lina
said "Sore wa himitsu desu." She raspberried. "Weirdo."
"He has justice in his heart. If only Zelgadis-san would see
that." Amelia said.
"Zelgadis has his head so far up his-"
"I have had it with you you you you you...." Xelgadis turned
beat red "Fruitcake."
Zellos stared at his old face scrunch up in hatred, he
couldn't help but laughing "Oh excellent diction." Was he always so
incoherent?
Xelgadis gritted his teeth "Flare-"
"Zelgagis what's going on?" Gourry asked. he looked at
Xelgadis. He looked over to Zellos for a second then shook his head.
"These two guys are trying to kill each other again." Lina
scoffed.
"Why can't you two just get along?"
Zellos looked at Xelgadis "That's what I told him I said. We
should be friends."
"You didn't say that. You just ki-" Xelgadis looked straight
at the others, then Amelia.
"Never mind. Just don't talk to me. Don't look at me.
Don't even think about me."
Xelgadis flung his cape and began walking.
Lina darted her eyes furtively "Zelgadis we're going that way.
Xelgadis spun around in the right direction.
Zellos applauded.
A bolt of electricity hit the purple haired mazouka.
*****
And so they walked back to the village.
"The Seer said she would do it. But we had to win the
Pickled Piscus Pepper contest. If we win then she'll read us her
tarot cards."
"And if we don't?" Xelgadis asked.
"All that indigestion for nothing."
"Do we have to do this, Lina?" Gourry frowned "I hate spicy
food."
"We've got to know our future." Lina said.
"Well then we had better get back in time." Zelgadis
said. "I'd never want to miss an opportunity to watch Lina stuff her
face." The chimera rolled his eyes. "Let's hurry up and get there."
Gourry walked up next to Lina. "Lina I got a bad feeling
their is something wrong with Xellos? He's acting all mooney around
Xelgadis? And I don't know. They aren't themselves."
"They were ripping each other to shreds, arguing over
senseless trivialities. Same old same old. Why?"
"They acted really weird it wasn't what they said. It was
how they said it. or I don't know." Gourry bit his lip.
Then all of a sudden Lina remembered
"You didn't say that. You just ki- never mind."
'You're right. Zelgadis was acting weird. It almost sounded
as if they ... kissed or something."
"They've always really liked each other underneath."
"You mean Zel and Xel." Lina froze.
Gourry only nodded.
Lina lost her ability to stand on her own power.
"Ouch my brain broke."
Gourry tried to help her up "That would explain it. If they
had -"
"No." she yanked her head away
"It would explain why I felt all that tension between them."
"No."
Lina you are so-"
"No they didn't!"
Gourry furrowed up his brow, "But Lina I thought you said
that you thought."
"NO!" Lina howled like a panther and panted.
"Okay."
"It would kill Amelia." Lina clutched her heart.
"Maybe we're wrong."
"No it makes perfect sense. The fighting the anger, the
fury, the passion, the fire of their love burning like a thousand
suns" she fanned herself up. "I need a drink of
water." She squirted her canteen on herself.
"Are you going to be okay?" Gourry helped Lina up.
"Oh, Poor Amelia. Her boyfriend fell for a maz-"
"What are you two talking about?" Amelia peered over Lina's
shoulder
"Ah Um. Amelia?" Gourry stammered.
"Where are Zelgadis-san and Xellos-chan? They must have
wandered off again."
Lina covered her mouth and began crying. "They probably just
wandered off the path. He's not going to abandon. He doesn't hate
you." Lina hugged her friend He's just confused by these passions
and emotion." She squeezed Amelia "Don't worry Zelgadis still loves
you." She collapsed crying into Amelia's arms.
"How many insanity spice peppers did she eat?" Amelia
whispered to Gourry.
"I'm going up ahead. You go find them."
Amelia sped ahead "Zelgadis-san, Xel-chan."
"We've got to find them." Lina said. "Before Amelia. It's
sooooo sad."
"What's sad? It's time Xellos settled down with another nice
monster and Zel is a chimera too. He's probably very lonely if he
hangs out with the likes of us. It's good that they found someone."
"But always thought Amelia and Zelgadis would get together
one day." Lina said "It would have been cute."
"Ah. But Zelgadis probably would jump out a window. Amelia
is a real spitfire."
"We have to know for sure." Lina grabbed his face.
"It's none of our..."
'Just don't blow my cover. We'll get them to tell us."
*****
Zellos looked at Xelgadis. "How come your so good at being
me?"
"Careful observation. Like I said I was obsessed by you."
Xelgadis dusted off his
shoulder.
"You are a better me than I am. Am I really that... you
know?" Zellos tugged on his arm.
"Full of yourself? Over reactionary, uptight?" Xelgadis
offered.
"I was going to say short."
"Ah there you guys are!" Lina grinned and waved her arms like
an idiot.
"Lina take down your hand." Gourry said. She uncovered her
eyes.
"You two keep running off together dick as thieves, I mean
queers of feather, I mean..."
"You'd think that you were going off to smooch or something."
Gourry said he winked at Lina. She smacked him
"Gourry!!!"
"Sorry. You want to know, Don't you Lina?" Gourry rubbed his
bruise on his
face.
"Well not like that." Lina said.
" Why don't we leave them alone to smooch and stuff, Lina?"
"Shutup? Okay?"
Zellos whimpered.and began to bristle. He was going to open
his big fat mouth when from outside his body.
"What are you talking about? I would never ever even think
of doing anything remotely like that with this namagomi fruitcake."
Xelgadis turned bright red and blushed.
Zellos shocked. He didn't know a mazouka could blush. Then
he realized what he must do.
"Oh well if you did, wouldn't I be the best choice?" He
smiled at Xellos. It came out his mouth before he could guard it.,
followed by two kissie lips.
Xelgadis twitched his wrists "Ra-"
"Chill out you two. I don't want to know what this is
about." Lina said.
"But Lina you said-" Gourry pointed.
"Shutup? Okay
"It's none of your business." Xelgadis crossed his arms.
Zellos stared at him. He was just baiting the red head. She would
guess sooner or later that they were really lovers.
Zellos tried to think. What would be the Fruitcake do, what
would be the most offensive and horrible.
"That's right. You have no right meddling in our affairs.
Literally. On the other hand I could give you pointers."
Xellos saw Lina begin to sizzle. Yes that was a Xellos
Fruitcake move.
Amelia gasped "Oh my."
Gourry grabbed Lina by the cape as Lina began to float with
rage.
It was like being in the Fruitcake's body had taken over his
mouth.
Xelgadis began to open his mouth "Damu Bras."
Zellos bumped out of the way, into Amelia.
"You anti-justice monster." Amelia said coughing. "Amelia
I'm-
A mazouka wouldn't apologize.
"I hate that Mazouka." Xelgadis said gritting his fangs and
pounding his fists.
The others backed off and quickly sped ahead.
This was going to be a strange and interesting trip Zellos
thought.
On the path back to the village, Lina and Gourry whispered to
each other
"I knew something was wrong. I knew it."
"You didn't even think that they liked each other." Gourry
said.
"We can't tell Amelia."
"Tell Amelia what?" The princess insisted.
"AMELIA!" Lina squeaked "I- I- I- have to go to the inn and
pay our bill."
Amelia looked at Zelgadis. Oh something had to be wrong with
him. And Lina offering to pay for dinner. The way he was whispering
to Xellos.
"Gourry-san. Do you think that- I?" Amelia tried to face the
swordsman but he kept turning his back. "Gourry san! Pay attention."
"What is it Amelia?"
"Well you... Why do you think that Xellos and Zelgadis are
sweethearts. I mean I never saw anything, but they are so weird."
"I don't know. They just have a lot of passion. Like I
don't think you could make Zelgadis that angry. And Xellos is always
hanging around him." Gourry said.
"Oh." Amelia nodded sympathetically. She could never imagine
it being said aloud. But here was Gourry, telling her what she had
always feared.
Gourry shrugged "I don't think Zelgadis would try to hurt
you. Lina says I shouldn't say anything. She's usually right."
"Say what?"
"Um About Xellos and Zelgadis kissing in the woods."
"They were kissing in the woods?" Amelia gasped.
"No."
"Yes, they were kissing. Why didn't you tell me?" Amelia
"Well um. I didn't see them."
"Gourry." She clasped the swordsman, "If you are a warrior of
justice you cannot lie to me. What do you think?"
"I think. I think it would be great if they had a sausage on
a stick and fried and
ketchup, I think that whatever is going on between Zelgadis and
Xellos is between them.
I think that love is beautiful and knows no reason. I think I should
shut up before Lina comes over here and bashes me over the head."
"Of course." Amelia said, letting the boy leave.
"Lina-san don't hit me.. but..." Gourry ran to Lina and his
voice trailed off.
Of course. If she could fall in love with Zelgadis-sama, why
would the Justice Deprived Mazouka be moved by the same passion. He
was so skilled so powerful. And pretty. Oh. She had a rival. But
if she remained pure in her body and heart and kept to
justice surely she would win. She was the heroine after all. No
temptation could sway her beloved Zelgadis from the path of Justice.
He was probably just Bi-curious. She enjoyed a guy who was open-
minded. Open minded promiscuity was a great character of
justice.
She would not relent. She would love him 75 times more. And
let the Mazouka weave his web of lust and depravity. To engage and
fulfill Zelgadis's carnal desires. Amelia knew that he loved her.
Even if the chimera didn't.
*****
"How did you learn to be me so well?" Xelgadis muttered.
"I just said anything that came into my head."
"You see why I teleport now. Don't you?"
"They think everything is normal now." Zellos said.
"This was easy." Xelgadis said.
Just then Amelia came up to the two.
"So you fiend Mazouka. You want to corrupt Zelgadis with
your twisted passion."
Zellos looked up."Uhoh."
"Now you will face the power of Love and Justice."
"Oh boy." Xelgadis said.
TBC
By Draqonelle mailto:draquonelle@hotmail.com
Part 1/?
Rated PG so far.
no I do not own Slayers nor Lerner and Lowe's My Fair Lady. Nor all
the series I
intimate (clue at) I am a poor otaku scraping together enough to get
Trigun.
i"I've grown accustomed to his face.
The way he makes the day begin.
Grown accustomed to the tune
that he whistles night and noon.
His sighs his woes.
His highs his lows.
A second nature to me now
Like breathing out or breathing in-"i/
"DAMU BRAS!"
Dawn was too early to be a fruitcake, in Zelgadis's humble
opinion. All at once a blast hit the tree Xellos was serenading
Zelgadis from, and caused it to topple over with Xellos in it.
Zelgadis rolled over and stretched. Zelgadis woke up and saw Amelia
returning back from her morning jog. And no one else in sight.
Obviously Xellos had left.
"Ha. Good morning Zel-chan." the levitating mazouka
addressed him.
Zelgadis regarded him with a cold eye and muttered, "I knew
that wouldn't work."
"I need some true musical appreciation. Amelia-sama. What
do you think of my singing?" He glomped her and rested his head on
her shoulder.
"Your voice is wonderful. It echoes and reverberates with
the resonance of Justice. Xellos-chan."
Xellos grinned and pointed at himself "I have a royal
recommendation. See Zelgadis."
Lina stretched and put on her cape. "Man what a great night.
Under the stars."
Lina hummed, "After that haul last night I slept like a dead
log."
Gourry yawned "Yeah you might have slept. I feel like I was
sleeping on an anthill. With ants crawling on it."
"Really. You don't say." Xellos feigned interest "What do
you think it was?"
"It must have been Ants." Gourry said.
"I'm in a good mood. Let's get moving into the next
village." Lina said waking up.
"Where are we going Lina-kun?" Amelia asked.
"That's obvious. We're headed for the next village to get
some food."
"But after that? I'm a princess. I need to get back to my
Daddy."
"Well. There has to be something."
"It looks like were are coming up towards a sign."
"Pelonia. Home of the Pelonian Pickled Peppers Fair."
"Pelonia. But that sounds familiar. Something magical."
Lina said.
"Home of Magical Wonders?" Gourry read on the sign.
"Yeah but I think my Grandfather told me about it. Yes. This
is where you can find the worlds greatest seeress. If anyone can
tell us our future it is her."
"Oooh. You mean the Lady of Moon." Xellos smiled.
"Yes. The Mystic Moon."
"Yes she was amazing. She used her strange cards as runes to
read the future. She saved her world. There was no greater seer in
my generation."
"Well that's great." Lina said "We can find our future out
from her."
"Yes well she WAS."
"What do you mean was?"
*****
They arrived in the tiny village of Pelonia.
A little girl ran up to them.
"Welcome to Pelonia. Have some piscus. I made them myself."
"Wow I was kind of hungry. Thank You!" Amelia smiled.
"Amelia I'd."
She grabbed a piece of the rind and her face turned pink
then blue.
"Ouch. Hahahahahahah HOoooooooT."
"The world famous Pelonian piscus pepper" Lina "The Dragon
Pepper, The Devil Rind." Lina sniffed another pepper and put it in
her mouth "I just love hot peppers. They got a real kick to them."
The townsfolk gasped and applauded as Lina ate the pepper.
"Say young lady you might be interested in the Miss Red Hot
Chili Pepper Contest."
Lina cooed, "Really well I do think I am cute. It's so sweet
of you too-"
"Just think, when you're grown up you can join with all those
pretty girls up there."
Lina turned bright blue and glared at the man.
Amelia stared at the bustling villagers puting up the banner.
"Oh boy. Look at the stands. Ooh Magic amulets." Amelia
tugged on his arm.
The chimera smiled softly.
"It's going to be a lot of fun." Amelia laughed.
"It does. It looks like it will. They have it so easy here."
Zelgadis said.
"Bunch of silly fools." Lina said. "You should feel sorry
for them. Stagnate in one place, while we get to travel the whole
world. Well Gourry Let's go get some piscus."
"Piscus?" Gourry said. "I hate piscus. It's so spicy and
sour."
"What's a matter, chicken?" Lina said. " We might as well
kick back while we're looking for her. My Grandpa says this Lady of
the Moon is 98% percent accurate. Guaranteed. I want to know what
treasures I'll find , what adventures I'll experience and
everything."
"That seems like a frivolous thing." Zelgadis shook his head.
"You can find out if you'll change back into a human,
Zelgadis-san." Amelia said.
"The only reason Lina wants to go is to find out what boys
she's going to end up with. It's pointless.."
Amelia scratched her chin. Maybe she could find out if maybe
one day Zelgadis would be hers. She giggled.
"That stuff is too spicy, Lina-san. You could get a belly
ache." Gourry ripped away the jar.
"You are so careful." Lina yanked them back "Don't be a
baby. Be a man."
"I'm a man. A man who doesn't like spicy peppers."
Lina and Gourry began scuffling.
*****
The party was well underway. All the girls in the village
were excited to see two new cute sorcerers and the dashing blond
swordsman at the party and lavished attention upon Xellos and Gourry.
Lina was turning three shades of pink trying to attribute her
jealousy to the hot peppers. Amelia had completely vanished for
once, looking for a glass of milk to quell the heat in her
mouth and soon was prostrate in the praise of the milk boy saying how
Justice filled he was. The chimera was glad at the lapse in her
pursuit. Maybe Amelia would get some and leave him alone. He
proceeded to leave the crowd when.
"Well Hello, there." A nasal whiny voice came from chili
pepper red hair and large boobs. A gorgeous and frightening nightmare
vision of sequins and ribbons "You're a sorcerer aren't you."
Zelgadis froze at the annoying frequency of her voice..
"I'm Candy. Candy Ercanti? Say it real fast."
Zelgadis whimpered, and covered his face.
"Can he or can't he." Zelgadis said.
"It's a little joke?"
Zelgadis tried to run.
"Oh you're so shy. Tell me. Do I deserve to be Miss Red Hot
Chili Pepper?" She tossed her blinding red curls.
"Uh Yes."
"Don't be so shy." She poked him "Oh Muscles. Your built
like a rock" Candy groped him.
Zelgadis panicked "Sleep." And the red head toppled onto him.
He clawed his way out and hyperventilated as he ran.
Xellos smirked and followed him as he tried to hide again,
literally disappearing with none of the villagers noticing.
*****
Zelgadis sat down by the fountain. He barely made it out
without being unmasked. What would the "woman" say if she knew?
She'd probably just continue
being the type who didn't look to picky.
It was times like this that hurt Zelgadis worse, knowing that
he was so close to having a normal life. But whenever someone
discovered the real him they ran away. Unless they were irritating..
What made it worse was all the couples were smooching and tasting
each others peppers
in obscene ways looking for a bit of privacy. Zelgadis was lonely.
He went to look for
any place he could be actually alone.
He came to a small clearing in the willows, a small heart-
shaped place. Of course it had to be heart shaped to gouge the point
into his chest even deeper. The heart shapped willow grove lead out
into a small pond. The willow leaves fell like curtains providing a
perfect lovers' hideaway. In the willows he noticed two wood pigeons
flutter. They approached each other hesitantly. He smiled. Soon
the two similar birds flew off together, brown wings fluttering with
knew fervor. They landed on the top of the tree.
Of course Zelgadis being transfixed with the birds didn't
notice the elderly couple getting to second base under the tree. One
was a white winged tenshi and the other a woman with short grey hair.
"They looked up. "Oh my Star's Van, put on your cloak. It's
a peeping tom."
"What?"
Zelgadis froze and covered his face.
"You stupid perv." The Tenshi-kun bristled it's white wings.
'I wasn't-"
"Van. Calm down." the woman gasped. "You've been like this
since we were kids."
"That's because you are so beautiful Hitomi."
"I'll leave you two-"
"You don't go no where you voyeur you."
"Voyeur? I was-"
"Oh you just like to see people express their love." The old
buzzard fluttered his wings.
"Are you crazy? Old man you're- you're like 400." Zelgadis
shrugged.
"Oh so now she's not good enough to stare at." the old man
poked him.
"Don't put words in my mouth." Zelgadis deflected his finger.
"Oooh you hellion. When I find your Pa I'm gonna-"
"Can I please go and rip out my eyes, sir?" Zelgadis
whimpered.
"Why you punk!" The guy punched him. and hurt his hand.
"Oh Pookie -sama." The short haired woman glomped him
"My hand." He whimpered. "How will I grip my sword, Hihi-
chan?"
"I'll kiss it and make it all better."
They went at it again.
Zelgadis stumbled over his own feet to escape. He pushed
aside the leaves. He sat down and grumbled. This was a low point.
He was spying on elderly couples and not
even realizing it.
He sat looking at the serene still pond, feeling as empty as
lifeless as the space ahead of him. Xellos appeared in front of
him. "So Where's Candy? You two were hitting it off so well. A
chimera in love."
"Shuddup. I need a drink. There is an old couple...."
Xellos clutched his forehead. "That Van boy you'd think that
he'd learn his lesson by now. They've only been together for 70
years."
"They are lucky to be so... active." Zelgadis said. "I
almost feel jealous of that shriveled old man."
Xellos took a step to the side away from Zelgadis, "How so?"
"I wish I were at the end of my days. If I can't have
anyone, I might as well..."
"Oh." Xellos nodded, "You have me. Do you think I'd ever let
you die?"
"Yes."
"Oh come on. You are my favorite person. My best friend,
off the record. I just keep telling Xellas-sama that I think of you
as my pet to throw her off track. I'd do anything to help ya Zel-
chan."
"How about you stop calling me that?" Zelgadis poked Xellos
in the forehead.
"I mean someone who doesn't irritate me." Zelgadis said.
"That's how you know someone loves you. They never stop
irritating you."
Zelgadis sat on the log of a fallen oak. The one just built
for two.
"So only people like you get love me. How do I know you
aren't just being annoying?"
"You don't. I can't love you I'm a mazouka."
"I am alone. There is no one of my kind. There is no one
who can know me. There is no one who will love me."
Xellos felt the despair stab him too. He smiled. He did
like it when Zelgadis fedhim. It was a good breakfast.
"I would rather die than know I had this body forever."
The flavor of his pain shifted becoming to sweet to bear.
Xellos shook his head. He hated when it got the level of suicidal.
He liked Zelgadis too much to waste him. Mortals were no fun to play
with if you didn't take care of them. Most monsters couldn't
grasp that concept, preferring destruction in any form. Xellos was a
bit of connoisseur. That level of misery, anger, frustration and that
inexplicable aftertaste Zelgadis left with
him, could not be snuffed out.
"You've got to get a little perspective kiddo. We are
different. I am different. So? You can't live wishing to die."
"How can I not when I hate myself?"
"Hmm. That is an interesting question. The bigger one
being, why you do you hate yourself? Is it because your ugly and
heavy... Because of blue skin, or those deep eyes." Xellos brushed
his nose. "There are a thousand trillion variations of life in this
universe. More than you can dream? Would you think that skin and
eyes could ever change what is beautiful? That your strength, grace
and power doesn't comprise your heart and soul. That you think that
your greatness can mean nothing to anyone."
Zelgadis became angry again, but he did not speak. Xellos
liked that.
"Zelgadis you are different. You are cursed with power and
strength. Like a lily in a bouquet of long stem carnations. A pearl
in a pile of stones. An onion roll on a tray of bagels."
Zelgadis stared at him.
"I'm sorry I like Barbara Streisand." Xellos said, "I was
watching Funny Girl last night and-"
"What?"
"Never mind. Just enjoy the view." Xellos sat. Zelgadis
brooded, facing the crystal pond. Xellos only watched his companion
finding nothing more interesting than him. Oh Zelgadis could he ever
realize how perfect he was. He was a pretty fool. And
those blue eyes nearly too black, speared the mazouka like a baby
seal or one of those rare species of whales writhing in agony on the
end of a harpoon. How could he not realize his perfection? Xellos
watched his chest take in air, and his eye lids flutter. He
could watch the blood beat into his lips and his face. Everything
still and perfect in the beauty of the sun and water.
"I've got it." Xellos said. The he grabbed Zelgadis.
Probing him with a sultry look.
Zelgadis stared right at him, suddenly much too aware of what
the mazouka next to him wanted. Xellos touched his shoulder. Their
eyes met and the chimera spoke.
"Are you kiss me and make me feel desirable?"
"You are desirable Zelgadis.'
"ANd you're going to make love to me."
"We're going to have sex anyway."
"And You hope I'll forget you are a masochistic psycho demon
who wants to drive me in the depths of insanity to feed off my own
despair?"
"No." Xellos twisted his brow, forgetting to take his arm
down. "Damn how did
you get so smart?"
Zelgadis gave the arm such a cold look the mazouka shook it
off like it had blasted it with liquid nitrogen.
"You don't count, Xellos. You are evil and twisted. If you
desired me like that, it would only prove how evil and disgusting
both of us were."
"So sex would just make you feel worse about your self
image?" Xellos tilted his head.
"Yes." Zelgadis pouted.
In a shadowy swoop of black magic, Xellos pinned him to the
log, "I've never wanted you more in my life." Xellos purred and
descended with a brutal kiss, causing the old log to crack in half.
Of course the second he made contact with his lips, he chipped
his tooth and bruised his nose. "Ow."
"Serves you right." Zelgadis said.
At this the innocent country sweethearts who had wandered
into the grove froze at the sight.
"What's a matter? You never see a chimera and a mazouka
making savage love underneath a willow tree?"
"Yeah. A few trees down you'd be even worse off."
"Uh." The boy froze."
Zelgadis growled "Go away. The log is broken."
"Yeah take a picture it will last longer." Xellos said.
The boy froze. the girl pulled on his arm "Let's get out of
here before they kill us."
The boy was dragged off `Booboo they broke our log."
Zelgadis smirked sat up and brushed himself off.
"Did I hurt you?"
"Of course you did, silly boy."
"Your tooth feel better now?"
"Yes a little."
"Good. DON'T KISS ME!" Zelgadis punched him and he went
sailing butt first into a tree.
Xellos pulled himself up "A challenge. Hmmm. On to plan 2."
"Plan two. What does that involve? Dynamiting yourself."
"You don't like to be you? You think you are ugly and
repulsive and no one likes you and you'll be alone for the rest of
your life and..."
"Yes." Zelgadis cut him off.
"Don't be you then. Let me be you."
"Excuse me?"
Xellos smiled his dark smile.
"Give me your body and all your problems will be solved."
Zelgadis backed up slowly towards the pond.
"Xellos. Don't-"
Zelgadis knew it was too late. Whatever the mazouka planned,
he was too far away to stop him. Xellos let the violet fire of his
eyes penetrate his. He trembled.
"Ra-"
"No you must be silent for this. You can't talk." He grabbed
his hand.
"There is only one way this is going to work." Xellos huffed
hot air on his face, "How long can I watch without wanting? I've
watched you closer than any. You're every move is irresistible to
me. I want your body so bad. I can feel myself crawl out of my
skin."
He could feel demon heat pour out of his purple eyes. "Hold
my hand and tell me what you feel, Zel-chan"
Zelgadis blinked twice and turned to run.
Xellos smiled. Did this creature know him better than
anyone? He licked his lips. He would have his prize soon enough.
Zelgadis plunged into the deep bush. Where Xellos could not
travel without damaging himself? He was glad he could not feel the
pricks and needles of the underbrush.
Xellos purred. "You're very good at making me want you."
Xellos smiled, a bramble cutting into his cheek. Xellos smiled at the
twinge of his own pain.
"Monobolt." Oh crap.
Zelgadis burst from the ground in a burst of magic and
panic. Zooming into the sky he was panting, not out of his effort
but of his dread. He was feeling the panic flush
his skin from marble to lava.. He certainly knew how to make a
fellow desired. But no-
he couldn't catch him or something. Zelgadis couldn't think about
that.
Xellos poised on the air and watched his prey flee. He could
taste his fear. He lifted into the air and floated towards the boy.
"I want your body Zelgadis."
"You are a crazy out of your head fruitcake mazouka.":
"And I want your body. I'll have it. In exchange you'll
have everything you want."
"Stop."
Xellos saw a pond ahead it would be perfect for a splash
down. Xellos knew it was time for the hunt to end. Zelgadis did
too, like all prey. It knew when it was caught.
Xellos grabbed Zelgadis's ankle and pulled him close "Tell me
again, Zelgadis."
Zelgadis was breathing fire, he rested his head against the
mazouka. "I-" The chimera's breath hurt. He couldn't say what he
should have. His lips were burning. His mind burned away from normal
thought.
"I guess we're going down on each other." Xellos gripped the
chimera around his waist and sunk to the earth. At the loss of
weightlessness Zelgadis felt his stomach rise into his heart and his
heart in his lips. And his lips swollen with the kiss on his lips.
Falling from life into death. He felt everything except bad. The
fear, the hunger. He kissed Xellos back clawing his fingers into his
skin. The slight touch of statue fingers was bruising the mazouka's
skin. Pain, sweet last full pain. He bit his mouth deeper.
And then no more air.
Zelgadis passed out.
*****
Lina looked back in the square.
"What was that?"
"It sounded like a gold dragon passing. Or a bomb our
something."
They saw the house. A tall woman exited. The sign over her
head was of a blue globe that looked very strange.
"This is the place my Grandfather told me about." Lina said.
A frail old woman with short hair swept her doorstop.
"Are you the fortune teller?"
The woman's green eyes glazed over.
"Blood! Death! Destruction!" She gripped her short hair. "The
end of the world is here."
Gourry scratched his head looked at Lina "Wow. She's good.
She knew you were coming."
Ahead of them was another group of young people.
"I don't tell the future. Destiny is Free Will."
"But Ma'am we came all this way. My village is willing to
pay you more-"
"No. Go away."
"You can not imagine the pain I have seen. Every time I tell
the future the visions become stronger and more terrible."
"What do you mean you don't tell the future?" Lina went super
deformed.
"Xellos was right." Gourry said.
Lina's lower lip quivered "But my Grandfather told me about
you. He said something Remember the Destiny Wars and the White
Dragon."
The old woman froze "Wait a second."
"You are the grandchild of Dryden Fassa."
"Yeah." Lina said. "That's him."
"I can't believe it. After all these years I thought the
Destiny was forgotten...What's your name?"
`I am the Extraordinary Lina Inverse, Bandit Killer-"
"Dragon Spooker." Gourry said.
"Me and my friends have come all this way."
"Do you know how many girls and boys come to me asking for
their future? You can only make your own future." she said.
"But we don't know where to begin. I come all this way and
nothing to show for it."
"Tell Dryden, Hitomi said hi."
"But there must be some way Ma'am." Gourry said.
At this a grizzled old bearded man came in the room.
"Hihi-chan. Who are these?"
"More people who want their fortune read. I'll get rid of
them."
"You should have seen this woman in the old days. Those
cards are amazing little deedly bobs."
The old man grabbed his taller wife.
"Eww don't kiss me you've been eating peppers."
The man kissed her. She made a face.
"Hah. I love the Pepper Festival. Every year I come. Piscus
Peppers are just about my favorite thing in the world."
"We know."
"Well off to the competition."
The old man walked off whistling an old tune.
"I hate Piscus." the seeress shook her head "And We come
here every year, so he can make a fool of himself."
"Why don't you tell your husband you don't want to go?"
"He still thinks he's champion. He might not be swift with a
sword anymore but he thinks he has to prove he can eat any one under
the table."
"I propose a challenge." Lina said.
"I'm not listening." The Seeress turned around.
"How about an eating contest?" Lina said
"I don't like to eat." The Seeress responded.
"I will challenge you husband to a contest of Pelonian Piscus
Peppers."
"But those are impossible to eat." Gourry gasped.
"And if we win the contest."
The seeress's green eyes lit up "If you beat the old goat,
then Vanny would never eat Piscus Peppers again. That would be
wonderful."
"When I beat him."
"But that's impossible. He's won this contest for thirty
years."
`Well I can eat any pepper he can. I'll beat him."
"If you do that, I would take out my cards again and tell you
your future." Hitomi said.
"Do we have a deal?" Lina asked.
"By the Blood of the White Dragon I agree."
Lina shook her hand she smiled to herself i"I'll know my
future in no time. I wonder what my husband will look like. I
wonder how many children I'll have. I wonder if I'll be the most
powerful sorcerer on Earth. It'll be a snap."/I
*****
Zelgadis woke up very wet. Very very wet. He hadn't felt
that wet in... forever. Every inch of his skin was soaked or seemed
that way. He could feel his skin goose pimple at the wind. He had
to get out of these wet... gloves?
Underneath his... skin. He gasped. He could see the wet
flesh with little bumps on it. He touched his face. He touched his
hair. It was wet. Really wet, not just rusty.
He had skin. Real skin, prickling shivering flesh. Had
Xellos finally... Well what did he do?
"Ne Zel-chan. You look cold? I'm cold too. Why don't you
take off your clothes and dry off? I know I am."
A bluish elfin creature said from the cover of woods.
Zelgadis couldn't see so well. Where was that crazy Fruitcake
Mazouka? To go through that with him, whatever it was- and just
leave him alone.
The voice was soft and beautiful, but he was surprised at the
quality of sweetness. He could trust that voice.
"His smiles his frown
his ups his downs,
a second nature to me now
Like breathing out and breathing in.
I was content before I met him,
happy as can be
surely everything can that way again
but I've accustomed to the trace
of something in the air
Accustomed to his face."
Zelgadis recognized the song. It was Xellos's song. Could this
pixie know it too? What was going on?
Light strange hair and two blue eyes glared at him.
A cute blue little mouth smirked back at him "Zelgadis, you
never told me you could sing. Shame on you. We could have done
duets."
Zelgadis had about four feet and a convenient oak leaf to
prevent him from having a mental break down.
Zelgadis looked at himself naked smoking and sitting about
ten feet away lounging completely bareass naked in the forest.
"I'm naked." Zelgadis muttered.
Zelgadis's body stared at him confused. "No, not exactly.
Guess again."
"Am I dead? Is this an astral out of body experience?"
"Zelgadis. It is too cloudy for the dramatics." The chimera
in front of him smoked his cigarettes again. He flicked the ashes
towards him.
"Dramatics. You fucking try to-"
"Ooh excellent diction."
"And then it's like... I'm human but I'm not. And then I'm
naked... but I'M not and-"
The ashes formed a Louis the Fourteenth mirror.
"I thought would be sunnier when we tried this so you could
just look in the pond and boom. But well, It never works out, Zellos
does it."
"What is going on why are you calling me-"
Zelgadis looked in the mirror.
"Oh my God."
A wet Xellos with broad open eyes looked back at him.
Xellos tittered with Zelgadis's face. Zelgadis couldn't
believe this. He was-
"I'm flattered." Xellos bumped himself, his old body, out
of the mirror and spun, clad in blue briefs. "You aren't so bad
yourself, kiddo? Love the new digs"
Xellos hugged him.
"I'm you?" Zelgadis clutched his purple hair.
"No, you are you. I am me. But I'm being the you that you
don't want to be."
"But I don't want to be you. I want to be me."
"You told me that you hated being you. So I'm being you so
don't have to be and the price of that is being me."
"I- me-you." Zelgadis was dizzy. What was going on?
Zelgadis looked at the blue skinned chimera smiling smugly at
him. He lunged on the chimera, "I'm going to kill you."
"Calm down." Xellos in Zelgadis's body or maybe Xelgadis or
whoever.... He tried to ease his friend's mad confusion. Zelgadis
grabbed his stony old and throttled the chimera next to him
"I wouldn't do that I if I were you ." Xellos croaked.
"You are me." Zelgadis punched Xellos. He smacked him on the
head. He heard a crunch.
"OWWWWWW." Zelgadis winced. He was do longer a chimera. And
his hand struck the stone.
The chimera smiled and stepped away from the mirror.
"Are we all done now? Can I explain to you what happened?"
"I know what happened. You-- we- um." Zelgadis covered his
new body.
"Oh let me try Zel-chan. You having a perverted mind thought
I wanted to have mad passionate sex with you even though you said no
and we were interuptted. And then you ran off like a scared rabbit.
Honestly. You're mind is so deep in the gutter Zellos."
"You said you wanted my body..."
The chimera's body spun around in front "You see." Xellos
smiled. "I did want your body. For me."
"Why didn't you just tell me that?"
"It was fun. And I'm a Mazouka. I had to do it this way.
It was irresistible."
Zelgadis shivered.
"Was it good for you Zellos-kun?"
"But I don't want..."
"Let me explain this. It may not be your destiny to be human
for a thousand years. Hmm? You want to have a human body. Well
since your human body is tainted by the golem curse. I got you a new
one. Young, healthy, beautiful violet eyes. Gorgeous hair, pouty
lips and a high cute little butt. It's not made of marble but it can
crack clams."
"But I want to be me."
"Huh? You said you hated your life. You said you didn't
want to be a chimera. You're not a chimera."
He grabbed Xellos. "I am a mazouka now."
The stony face began trembling then bursting out in raucous
laughter.
"You? A mazouka? You're not a mazouka." Xellos pushed him
away "Stand back."
All of a sudden from the chimera body a tall wolf/spider
monster began to form. Zelgadis jumped back. Xellos returned to his
chimera form.
"You're talking that old husk. Don't make me puke with
laughter." Xellos grinned. He lifted up Zelgadis's arms. I got that
at a very desperate beautiful young man trying to drown himself.
He's currently a giant man eating crow. Unless he's died."
"It won't work. You're immortal. I'm only made of rock. I
mean I'll live a long time but not forever."
"His body was mortal. I just used magic to keep it young and
beautiful. It's mint condition." Xellos pinched his cheek.
"I think you people call it a soul. You believe that there
is something more than the body. Not even a Goblin can confuse the
soul for the body."
"So this is a mortal body?"
"More mortal than yours." Xellos smiled stroking his stones
on his new arm. "I don't deflect sword blows. I just survive them.
Look on your stomach."
Zelgadis looked confused "You want me to look at your body?
No."
"Oh come on."
"I'm not getting undressed for you, you Fruitcake" Zelgadis's
eyes flashed with anger.
"There is nothing there I haven't seen or touched."
Zelgadis's now peach skin turned bright red.
"There is a scar on your right breast from the battle with
Phribrizzio."
"Okay. I'll take your word for it."
"If you wanted to you could even go mortal. The whole works
grow old, let your butt sag and get crows feet. If you wanted."
"It is a mortal body."
"Basically yes." Xellos smiled. "It's everything you want
Zellos."
"What did you call me?"
"Well Xellos. I think it's perfect. My body but your in
charge."
"That makes you, Xelgadis? No one will be able to tell we've
changed."
"Now we got to go over the rules? There is only one. Since
we did this in secret, we must never tell anyone. The second the
word escape our lips and it is heard we will change back."
"That's stupid. An auditory locking mechanism."
"What about everyone who wants to kill you?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Xelgadis smiled. "The
Mazouka and non-mortals know the difference. maybe even the
dragons. I wonder if Firia would tell. It's very strange."
Zellos took a long look at himself
"All we have to do is either be so obviously out of character
they guess or try to hide it. Now I'm in favor of plan 2a. I'll go
get thrown out of a whorehouse and you brood and drink coffee and
have unresolved sexual tension with Amelia."
Zellos shook his head. "If we act strange they'll want to
know what's going on."
"Zellos. You really think that they would care if you acted
strangely. They wouldn't just take it for granted you were a
horrible monster and cast you out." Xelgadis covered his mouth in
fake shock. "You mean they actually care about you?"
"I just don't want you embarrassing me." Zellos grumbled.
"This will be fun. I've always enjoyed acting."
Zellos bit his lip.
*****
Zellos stood in Xellos's clothes dried out as Xellos or
rather Xelgadis handed him his accouterment. "Now here is your
staff, "You'll have to carry it for me into the next
town. But I need it back, it's my power. Be careful. I don't want-"
"I'm not going to break your staff." Zellos said. "Here's my
sword."
"I've never had a sword before. It's so cool. I feel like a
hero. A knight in shining armour." Xelgadis held up the sword.
"Don't use it."
"Nah. I won't break it. I just never learned how to sword
fight before."
"If you use mine I use yours." He rattled the staff.
"Well I have your blue underwear."
"What? You can't have my... undies."
"Undies. oh you are cute. Look as long as I'm Zelgadis, I
have his sword, his cape, his tight wities"
"Well I have your underwear then hah!"
Xelgadis laughed. "Well you would if"
Zellos covered his mouth "You don't..." Zellos blushed. "You
are a pervert."
"I'm a pervert in your underwear." Xelgadis wiggled his rump.
"Grrr." Zellos frowned.
'We could always pretend we had mad passionate sex that
brought you out of your shell." Xelgadis hugged him again. Zellos
removed his hand. "That's why Xellos has Zel-chan's undies." He
laughed at the word undies.
"I'll get them back." Zellos pointed in his face "One day."
"Zelgadis-san. Xellos-chan." Amelia shouted.
"Oi Xellos." Gourry shouted.
"What are you two morons doing out here? We've been looking
for you everywhere."
"Show time."
Zellos took a deep breath.
But it was Xelgadis that acted first "Flare Arrow."
Zellos ducked.
"Oh god they are at it again." Lina grumbled.
"Why do they hate each other so much?' Amelia frowned "Xellos
is not the evil heartless fiend everyone makes him out to be."
"How would we know? He never tells us anything." Lina
said "Sore wa himitsu desu." She raspberried. "Weirdo."
"He has justice in his heart. If only Zelgadis-san would see
that." Amelia said.
"Zelgadis has his head so far up his-"
"I have had it with you you you you you...." Xelgadis turned
beat red "Fruitcake."
Zellos stared at his old face scrunch up in hatred, he
couldn't help but laughing "Oh excellent diction." Was he always so
incoherent?
Xelgadis gritted his teeth "Flare-"
"Zelgagis what's going on?" Gourry asked. he looked at
Xelgadis. He looked over to Zellos for a second then shook his head.
"These two guys are trying to kill each other again." Lina
scoffed.
"Why can't you two just get along?"
Zellos looked at Xelgadis "That's what I told him I said. We
should be friends."
"You didn't say that. You just ki-" Xelgadis looked straight
at the others, then Amelia.
"Never mind. Just don't talk to me. Don't look at me.
Don't even think about me."
Xelgadis flung his cape and began walking.
Lina darted her eyes furtively "Zelgadis we're going that way.
Xelgadis spun around in the right direction.
Zellos applauded.
A bolt of electricity hit the purple haired mazouka.
*****
And so they walked back to the village.
"The Seer said she would do it. But we had to win the
Pickled Piscus Pepper contest. If we win then she'll read us her
tarot cards."
"And if we don't?" Xelgadis asked.
"All that indigestion for nothing."
"Do we have to do this, Lina?" Gourry frowned "I hate spicy
food."
"We've got to know our future." Lina said.
"Well then we had better get back in time." Zelgadis
said. "I'd never want to miss an opportunity to watch Lina stuff her
face." The chimera rolled his eyes. "Let's hurry up and get there."
Gourry walked up next to Lina. "Lina I got a bad feeling
their is something wrong with Xellos? He's acting all mooney around
Xelgadis? And I don't know. They aren't themselves."
"They were ripping each other to shreds, arguing over
senseless trivialities. Same old same old. Why?"
"They acted really weird it wasn't what they said. It was
how they said it. or I don't know." Gourry bit his lip.
Then all of a sudden Lina remembered
"You didn't say that. You just ki- never mind."
'You're right. Zelgadis was acting weird. It almost sounded
as if they ... kissed or something."
"They've always really liked each other underneath."
"You mean Zel and Xel." Lina froze.
Gourry only nodded.
Lina lost her ability to stand on her own power.
"Ouch my brain broke."
Gourry tried to help her up "That would explain it. If they
had -"
"No." she yanked her head away
"It would explain why I felt all that tension between them."
"No."
Lina you are so-"
"No they didn't!"
Gourry furrowed up his brow, "But Lina I thought you said
that you thought."
"NO!" Lina howled like a panther and panted.
"Okay."
"It would kill Amelia." Lina clutched her heart.
"Maybe we're wrong."
"No it makes perfect sense. The fighting the anger, the
fury, the passion, the fire of their love burning like a thousand
suns" she fanned herself up. "I need a drink of
water." She squirted her canteen on herself.
"Are you going to be okay?" Gourry helped Lina up.
"Oh, Poor Amelia. Her boyfriend fell for a maz-"
"What are you two talking about?" Amelia peered over Lina's
shoulder
"Ah Um. Amelia?" Gourry stammered.
"Where are Zelgadis-san and Xellos-chan? They must have
wandered off again."
Lina covered her mouth and began crying. "They probably just
wandered off the path. He's not going to abandon. He doesn't hate
you." Lina hugged her friend He's just confused by these passions
and emotion." She squeezed Amelia "Don't worry Zelgadis still loves
you." She collapsed crying into Amelia's arms.
"How many insanity spice peppers did she eat?" Amelia
whispered to Gourry.
"I'm going up ahead. You go find them."
Amelia sped ahead "Zelgadis-san, Xel-chan."
"We've got to find them." Lina said. "Before Amelia. It's
sooooo sad."
"What's sad? It's time Xellos settled down with another nice
monster and Zel is a chimera too. He's probably very lonely if he
hangs out with the likes of us. It's good that they found someone."
"But always thought Amelia and Zelgadis would get together
one day." Lina said "It would have been cute."
"Ah. But Zelgadis probably would jump out a window. Amelia
is a real spitfire."
"We have to know for sure." Lina grabbed his face.
"It's none of our..."
'Just don't blow my cover. We'll get them to tell us."
*****
Zellos looked at Xelgadis. "How come your so good at being
me?"
"Careful observation. Like I said I was obsessed by you."
Xelgadis dusted off his
shoulder.
"You are a better me than I am. Am I really that... you
know?" Zellos tugged on his arm.
"Full of yourself? Over reactionary, uptight?" Xelgadis
offered.
"I was going to say short."
"Ah there you guys are!" Lina grinned and waved her arms like
an idiot.
"Lina take down your hand." Gourry said. She uncovered her
eyes.
"You two keep running off together dick as thieves, I mean
queers of feather, I mean..."
"You'd think that you were going off to smooch or something."
Gourry said he winked at Lina. She smacked him
"Gourry!!!"
"Sorry. You want to know, Don't you Lina?" Gourry rubbed his
bruise on his
face.
"Well not like that." Lina said.
" Why don't we leave them alone to smooch and stuff, Lina?"
"Shutup? Okay?"
Zellos whimpered.and began to bristle. He was going to open
his big fat mouth when from outside his body.
"What are you talking about? I would never ever even think
of doing anything remotely like that with this namagomi fruitcake."
Xelgadis turned bright red and blushed.
Zellos shocked. He didn't know a mazouka could blush. Then
he realized what he must do.
"Oh well if you did, wouldn't I be the best choice?" He
smiled at Xellos. It came out his mouth before he could guard it.,
followed by two kissie lips.
Xelgadis twitched his wrists "Ra-"
"Chill out you two. I don't want to know what this is
about." Lina said.
"But Lina you said-" Gourry pointed.
"Shutup? Okay
"It's none of your business." Xelgadis crossed his arms.
Zellos stared at him. He was just baiting the red head. She would
guess sooner or later that they were really lovers.
Zellos tried to think. What would be the Fruitcake do, what
would be the most offensive and horrible.
"That's right. You have no right meddling in our affairs.
Literally. On the other hand I could give you pointers."
Xellos saw Lina begin to sizzle. Yes that was a Xellos
Fruitcake move.
Amelia gasped "Oh my."
Gourry grabbed Lina by the cape as Lina began to float with
rage.
It was like being in the Fruitcake's body had taken over his
mouth.
Xelgadis began to open his mouth "Damu Bras."
Zellos bumped out of the way, into Amelia.
"You anti-justice monster." Amelia said coughing. "Amelia
I'm-
A mazouka wouldn't apologize.
"I hate that Mazouka." Xelgadis said gritting his fangs and
pounding his fists.
The others backed off and quickly sped ahead.
This was going to be a strange and interesting trip Zellos
thought.
On the path back to the village, Lina and Gourry whispered to
each other
"I knew something was wrong. I knew it."
"You didn't even think that they liked each other." Gourry
said.
"We can't tell Amelia."
"Tell Amelia what?" The princess insisted.
"AMELIA!" Lina squeaked "I- I- I- have to go to the inn and
pay our bill."
Amelia looked at Zelgadis. Oh something had to be wrong with
him. And Lina offering to pay for dinner. The way he was whispering
to Xellos.
"Gourry-san. Do you think that- I?" Amelia tried to face the
swordsman but he kept turning his back. "Gourry san! Pay attention."
"What is it Amelia?"
"Well you... Why do you think that Xellos and Zelgadis are
sweethearts. I mean I never saw anything, but they are so weird."
"I don't know. They just have a lot of passion. Like I
don't think you could make Zelgadis that angry. And Xellos is always
hanging around him." Gourry said.
"Oh." Amelia nodded sympathetically. She could never imagine
it being said aloud. But here was Gourry, telling her what she had
always feared.
Gourry shrugged "I don't think Zelgadis would try to hurt
you. Lina says I shouldn't say anything. She's usually right."
"Say what?"
"Um About Xellos and Zelgadis kissing in the woods."
"They were kissing in the woods?" Amelia gasped.
"No."
"Yes, they were kissing. Why didn't you tell me?" Amelia
"Well um. I didn't see them."
"Gourry." She clasped the swordsman, "If you are a warrior of
justice you cannot lie to me. What do you think?"
"I think. I think it would be great if they had a sausage on
a stick and fried and
ketchup, I think that whatever is going on between Zelgadis and
Xellos is between them.
I think that love is beautiful and knows no reason. I think I should
shut up before Lina comes over here and bashes me over the head."
"Of course." Amelia said, letting the boy leave.
"Lina-san don't hit me.. but..." Gourry ran to Lina and his
voice trailed off.
Of course. If she could fall in love with Zelgadis-sama, why
would the Justice Deprived Mazouka be moved by the same passion. He
was so skilled so powerful. And pretty. Oh. She had a rival. But
if she remained pure in her body and heart and kept to
justice surely she would win. She was the heroine after all. No
temptation could sway her beloved Zelgadis from the path of Justice.
He was probably just Bi-curious. She enjoyed a guy who was open-
minded. Open minded promiscuity was a great character of
justice.
She would not relent. She would love him 75 times more. And
let the Mazouka weave his web of lust and depravity. To engage and
fulfill Zelgadis's carnal desires. Amelia knew that he loved her.
Even if the chimera didn't.
*****
"How did you learn to be me so well?" Xelgadis muttered.
"I just said anything that came into my head."
"You see why I teleport now. Don't you?"
"They think everything is normal now." Zellos said.
"This was easy." Xelgadis said.
Just then Amelia came up to the two.
"So you fiend Mazouka. You want to corrupt Zelgadis with
your twisted passion."
Zellos looked up."Uhoh."
"Now you will face the power of Love and Justice."
"Oh boy." Xelgadis said.
TBC