A Sailor Moon/Slayers Fic
Episode Two: Reunion! The Game Begins
By Sakura
The next day,
Hotaru woke to find Xellos once again sitting in the chair. A tray of food lay
on the night stand beside the bed. "Ohayo, Xylia-chan," he said
cheerfully. "Did you sleep well, imouto?"
"Hai,
thank you." She was feeling better
than she had in months. The constant fatigue she felt was gone. She looked at
the tray of food and saw eggs, what looked like some kind of meat, and toast.
Not exactly what she'd expect a mazoku to eat. A glass of juice stood beside
the plate.
"I didn't
know what you'd like for breakfast so I guessed," he said as she took a
sip of the juice.
"This is
fine. Arigatou."
"You're
welcome," he replied. "Ne, Xylia-chan, if you want we can talk about
what happened yesterday while you're eating."
"I'd like
that very much, but what about you?" she asked when she noticed there was
only enough food for one.
"Oh, I'm
fine. I just ate myself."
"Oh. Well,
I'd like to know what you meant by I was healed of something inside me."
"You didn't
know? Kawaiso (Poor thing). It appeared you had some kind of alien parasite in
your body that kept you from using all your powers," he said as Hotaru
began eating. She was hungrier than usual.
"An alien
parasite? Do you... Do you think it was what caused my seizures?" she
asked in between bites.
"Seizures?"
"Hai, every
so often I would suddenly get this enormous pain and become so weak I can
hardly move. Then I would black out. I'd find myself in my bed later after I
wake up."
"I think it
was your mazoku side fighting to get rid of the parasite, Xylia-chan. No wonder
you couldn't use your powers. If you were fighting that thing, you'd be too
weak and busy to use them. Even our master had trouble getting it out of you,
but it's gone now so no more worries, ne?"
"But I don't
have any powers. All I can do is heal wounds."
"That's just
the tip of the iceberg, 'mouto-chan. You've got more power than you know,"
he said handing her a perfect purple rose.
"It... It's
beautiful!" she said, stunned.
"I knew
you'd like it." He produced a black porcelain vase from his travel bag and
put the rose in, placing it next to the tray. "I'm glad to have you back,
sis. Juuou-sama's been pretty lonely with just me here for company."
"Juuou-sama?"
"She's our
mistress Xylia-chan," he explained. "You see, since I'm her priest,
you're her general, or used to be. I sort of took over for you when you
vanished."
"But, I hate
war! How can I be someone's general? War is terrible!" she said not too
pleased at learning about this tidbit of her past. She had done a lot of
thinking last night and came to the conclusion that what Xellos had said about
her being his long lost sister had to be true. So she began to slowly accept the
fact that she may be stuck in this strange world. And since she was stuck it
was best to stick with someone she knew or at least was acquainted with.
Xellos smiled
sadly. "You still haven't changed much, little sister. You didn't like war
when there was an easier way to solve things. You were a mazoku and still you
didn't like violence."
"Was I
really like that?" she asked curious about her mazoku life.
"You sure
were. It must have been our human blood. I don't like wars much myself, but
they're good for the balance of things."
"Balance?"
"Surely you
must know about the balance between good and evil," he said. She shook her
head. "Yare, yare, what are they teaching in that world of yours? Oh well,
guess I'll have to explain. You see, Xylia-chan, if the forces of good get too
strong in this world, it is up to us mazoku to even things out. Otherwise, it'd
be a very boring place if there's no hate or fear. Not to mention the end for
the entire mazoku race."
"What do you
mean?" she asked perplexed.
"Do you know
what mazoku eat?" asked Xellos. She shook her head. "We survive on
negative emotions, Xylia-chan. We feed off of humans' fear and hate." She
stared at him in shock. "That's why I didn't join you for breakfast. Since
you're half human now, you'll need regular food to survive, but you can still
feed on emotions too."
"B-but
that's not right!" she exclaimed. "That's a terrible way to
live!"
"Actually
it's not so bad, 'mouto-chan. We don't harm the humans much. They're more than
capable of doing that theirselves."
"But still,
too feed off them, like... like..."
"Cattle?"
She nodded. "We can't help being the way we are. That's how we're made,
sis. Humans feed off other creatures too, you know."
She grew silent.
He was right. What right did she have to say that when she herself had eaten
unborn embryos and the body of another living thing? "Gomen nasai
onii-san. I'm sorry to have insulted you."
"I forgive
you. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes! If good gets too strong in this world, it
would mean we mazoku'd run out of food and die of starvation. So it's our job
to make sure what happened to the anczoku happens to us or the humans."
"Anczoku?"
Hotaru was now completely interested in learning more about her new home.
"The race of
Ancient Dragons. That is a rather long story, and I'm afraid we don't have the
time for it. I'll tell it later if you'd like." She nodded. "Good,
now finish up your breakfast so we can go see Juuou-sama."
"Sure...
onii-san." She was still a bit uneasy at calling this complete stranger
her brother, but she did feel as though she knew him all her life. "Um...
why are going to see your mistress?"
"Our
mistress," he corrected. "Because she wants to see you."
"Oh. Um...
why?"
Xellos marveled
at how very little his sister had changed. She still trusted him immensely,
which of course was remarkable for a mazoku. Even when he'd answer her
questions with 'Sore wa himitsu desu' she'd just shrug it off believing either
he'd tell her when he was ready or she'd find out on her own. She was still the
curious little mazoku she had been as well.
Along the way to
Xellas' audience chamber, he filled her in on what she had been like as a
mazoku and what their world was like. She was relieved that she hadn't changed
much, but she didn't like the fact she had been just as devious as he and she
vowed to make sure she didn't go back to old habits. She was glad however, to
learn that she was the more merciful of the two, unlike her brother who killed
without a second thought.
They were walking
instead of teleporting because Xellos thought Hotaru was still too weak to try
using any of her powers yet. Besides she needed some catching up. Once they
reached the chamber, he politely knocked on the doors. A voice from the other
side called, "Come in Xel-kun, Xylia-chan."
He obediently
opened the door and motioned for her to follow. She nervously crossed the
threshold and gasped at what she saw. From what Xellos had told her about their
master, she was expecting some kind of beast monster.
On a throne
covered with various animal furs, sat the most beautiful woman Hotaru ever saw.
She had long, slender legs the color of creamy coffee and a figure any girl
would die for. She had long, white hair that cascaded over her bare shoulders
down to her waist and was wearing a very revealing outfit of animal skins that
hardly left anything to the imagination.
She smiled at the
girl's amazement. She had that effect on people when they first saw her in that
form. "Okaeri (Welcome back), Xylia-chan," she said, her voice husky
as she took a sip of the wine she had been holding in one slender hand.
"Xylia-chan,
Juuou Xellas Metallium-sama," Xellos said introducing her before kneeling.
Following her brother's example, she knelt before the
Beastmaster. "Ma'am," she said meekly. Xellas chuckled.
"Kawaii,"
she said smiling.
"You wanted
to see us, mistress?" Xellos said reminding her as to why they were there.
"Hai. I
wished to inform Xylia of your current mission since it concerns her as well.
But first things first," she said. "How are you feeling Xylia-chan? I
trust you slept well."
"Hai, ma'am.
Thank you."
"Good. No
side effects from your healing?"
"No ma'am.
Thank you for healing me, Juuou-sama," she said truly grateful for being
set free of the suffering she'd been through for so long.
"You're
welcome, dear. Now," she started, "I want you to go see, Garv. Find out what he wants and then report back
to me before doing anything."
"Hai,"
said both of them.
"Oh and one
more thing. Take good care of her this time Xel-kun. I don't want to lose my
general again.
"As you
wish, my mistress," Xellos said bowing and turning to leave.
"You have
something to ask," Beastmaster said noticing Hotaru had indeed wanted to
say something.
"If you don't
mind, ma'am," she said timidly.
This
reincarnation of her general was very amusing indeed. "Not at all, my
dear. Ask away."
"Um...
Xellos onii-san said you were like a mother to the both of us and..."
"You want to
know what he meant by that," finished the mazoku lord.
"Hai,"
the violet haired girl said.
"Didn't he
tell you?"
"Tell me
what, Juuou-sama?"
"Tsk. Tsk.
Shame on you Xellos, leaving something so important like that out," she
said in an amused tone. "Well, my dear. I'm the one who made the both of
you mazoku. Ever since then you've been like children to me."
Xellos looked at
his master. "Forgive me, Juuou-sama. I should have told her."
"You're damn
right you should have," she said in mock anger. "Anyway, get going
you two. I'm anxious to see what that baka Garv is up to."
"Hai,"
Xellos said.
"Yes, ma'am.
It was nice meeting you," Hotaru
said bowing before leaving with her brother.
"What a
charming girl my general's become," Xellas said to herself refilling her
goblet with more Zephilian wine. "Things are certainly going to be more
interesting with her around. Thank L-sama that dummy found her when he
did."
*****
Outside the inn,
a purple haired man and girl appeared from nowhere. The girl leaned against her
brother, not used to teleporting. "You'll get used to that,
Xylia-chan," the man, stroking her back.
She was getting
used to the mazoku's shows of affection, however, she could not get used to him
calling her by a different name. "Onii-san," she began.
"What is it,
'mouto-chan?"
"Could
you... um... could you not call me
that? My name's Hotaru."
"But,
Xylia's your name," he insisted.
"No it
isn't! My name's Hotaru Tomoe! Not Xylia or anything else!" she shouted,
causing several passersby to stare at them. Normally Xellos wouldn't have
minded, but Grausherra's spies could be anywhere and he couldn't risk getting
her or Lina in any danger. That would be against Juuou-sama's orders, and an
angry Beastmaster was not a pretty sight.
"Yare, yare.
I'll make a deal with you, little sister. You let me call you Xylia in public
and I'll call you Hotaru when we're not," he said hoping that would calm
her down a bit.
She really didn't
like it, but it seemed as long as she was stuck in this weird Dungeons and
Dragons world, she had to go along with what her brother proposed. "All
right, but please introduce me as Hotaru to this Lina person of yours."
"If that's
what you want." She nodded. "Shall we go see if she's awake
then?" he said opening the door for her.
Hotaru carefully
stepped through the doorway, eyes darting everywhere; a habit she had ever
since she could remember. A throw back to her life as Juuou's general maybe?
The violet haired mazoku followed her.
Inside the inn's
common room, people were staring as a red haired girl sat at a table and fought
with a blond man and a black haired girl for the mountain of food before them.
A man in a beige hood sat sipping from a mug. Huge sweatdrops surrounded his
head. "Must we go through this every morning?" he asked, extremely
embarrassed that everyone in the inn was staring at them.
"Yup. She's
definitely awake," said Xellos smiling.
"That's
her?!" Hotaru said pointing to the redhead.
"That's my
Lina-chan," he said proudly.
Not sure if she
should laugh or run out of there, she clung to her brother. "Oh, you'll
love her Hota-chan. She and her friends are some of the most amusing ningen I
know."
With that, he
gently led her to a table in one of the darker corners.
'She reminds me a
little of Usagi-san when she's eating,' the girl thought to herself, smiling
remembering the picnic she and Chibi-Usa had gone on. "Um...
Xellos-nii-san, shouldn't we be joining her?" she asked.
"Not just
yet. I don't wish to involve the others, amusing as they are."
"So how are
we going to get to talk to her. It looks like she's too busy right now."
"Easy, sis.
Just watch," he said getting up from his chair. He quickly phased out only
to reappear behind the red haired girl who was standing on her chair.
"I'm telling
you for the last time, Amelia, that sausage was mine!"
"But
Lina-san, it's unjust to keep so much food to yourself! Gourry-san and I are
hungry too," said the black haired girl.
"So order
yourself some more food. You're the princess of Seiruun for crying out loud!
You could afford as much as you'd like!" Lina shot back.
"But
Lina-san..." she began only to go quiet when she saw Xellos phase in
behind the red haired girl. Holding a finger to his lips, he motioned for the
princess not to say anything. She nodded smiling, knowing it would be just what
the greedy sorceress deserved.
"Ohayo,
Lina-chan. You're rather genki today," he said in her ear before nibbling
it. Amelia went red, she was aware of Lina's relationship with the mazoku but
had been asked to keep it secret.
The redhead
screamed and hit the ceiling before landing on her bum. Amelia and Xellos
laughed as she rubbed her sore butt.
"Damn it,
Xellos! Don't sneak up on my like that!" she yelled and began to pound him
into the floor. "And you," she said to Amelia as she beat on the
mazoku, who was off in his own private heaven, "Some champion of justice.
Why didn't you warn me he was there?!"
"Hmph.
Serves you right for being so greedy, Lina-san," said Amelia smirking.
From her table, Hotaru
looked on in shock as her brother was getting beat upon by the redhead they
were supposed to pick up. She was about to go over and break it up, when
suddenly a flash of memory came to her. He had played the very same trick on
her once and she had done the very same thing Lina was doing right now. Shaking
her head she said, "Where'd that come from?" She smiled, it wasn't
much to worry about since it seemed to be a happy memory. "Maybe it means
I'll be able to remember how to use my powers, if I'm starting to remember
things."
Seeing his sister
wasn't going to interfere with his little 'snack', Xellos dusted himself off
and whispered in Lina's ear. "Ne, Lina-chan, when you're finished eating
breakfast, meet me in your room."
"Hentai!"
said Amelia who couldn't help eavesdropping, being so close to them.
"Lina-chan
and I have some business to discuss Ame-chan, though it would be nice to have a
little fun too," he said innocently.
Lina smacked him
on the head before saying, "You perv. This had better be about what we
talked about last night."
"Oh it
is," he said, "Well, I must be going. I just wanted to say 'Ohayo.'
Ja minna." He went back to the table where Hotaru sat.
"Lina,
whatever that fruitcake's up to, you know it's going to be no good," said
the hooded man.
"I know,
Zel, but Imma a big gil. I cin take care o myself," she said with her
mouth full of eggs.
"I hope you
know what you're doing, Lina. Xellos is nothing but trouble," said
Zelgadis.
"Oh was
Xalis here?" asked the blond man looking up from his tenth empty plate.
"It's
Xellos, Gourry," Lina said before going back to her meal.
Meanwhile, Hotaru
was healing what wounds he hadn't already. "'Nii-san, are you all
right?" she asked worriedly, "Lina-san hurt you pretty good."
"Oh, don't
worry about that, Hota-chan. Lina-chan always gives me a few love taps now and
then," he said caressing a particularly sore spot.
"Love taps?!
She was practically beating you into a pulp!"
"You have a
lot to re-learn about mazoku, 'mouto-chan," Xellos said, "Come along,
she should be finishing soon." With that they teleported to Lina's room.
*****
Lina managed to
sneak back to her room and was surprised to see Xellos with a young girl who
resembled him uncannily. As if he could read her mind, the mazoku priest placed
an arm around the girl's shoulders and said, "Lina Inverse, meet my little
sister, Xylia." A huge smile was on his face.
"Xellos you
promised to use my name!" said the girl.
"Oops sorry
about that, sis," he said rubbing the back of his head.
"Your
sister?!" Lina stood there in shock. "How?! When?!"
"I was
surprised to find her too, Lina-chan. After all we all believed she was gone
for good.
"No
way!" This had to be one of his sick jokes, her mind said.
"No joke, pet.
She's the real thing. Now no fighting ladies, there's plenty of me to go
around," he said smiling and winking.
"'Nii-san no
hentai!" Hotaru said smacking him playfully.
"Gods, you
really are his sister!" Lina said as Hotaru smacked him again.
"Yoroshiku
(Pleased to meet you). My name's actually Hotaru now, but everyone seems to
insist on calling me Xylia," she said holding out her hand. Xellos had
been right, she was beginning to like this girl. Something about her reminded
her of Usagi's friend Rei. "'Nii-san's told me a lot about you."
The little
sorceress eyed the girl suspiciously, then decided she was harmless for now and shook her hand. "Don't
worry Lina-chan. She's a lot different from me," Xellos piped up.
"I
bet," Lina muttered under her breath.
"Are you
ready, Lina-chan?" Xellos asked gently grabbing her arm.
"Yeah, I
guess we'd better get this over with," she replied.
Xellos, Hotaru
and Lina then teleported out of the inn.
*****
"Gee I
wonder where Lina is," said Gourry setting up a fire.
"That's
right. Lina-san said she forgot something in her room and that she'd catch up,
but that was hours ago," Amelia added.
Zelgadis said
nothing, worrying about the red haired girl silently. 'You hurt her fruitcake
and I will personally kill you,' the chimera quietly vowed.
"Damn! She's
not there," said a blue haired figure hidden in the trees. "He's not
going to like this." The figure then teleported when she felt her master's
summons.
*****
At the north pole,
a young boy set on an enormous throne in a fortress built of ice and stone.
"Sherra, report," he said in a voice too old for the thirteen year
old body.
A woman not that
much older in appearance than her master appeared into the room and knelt
before him. "All is in readiness, Dynast-sama. The army awaits your
command."
A smile that
could even freeze fire appeared on the mazoku lord's face. "Excellent. And
what of the Inverse girl?"
The woman
shuddered and began to play with her braid. She knew all too well the reward
for failure. "I could not find her, my lord. She was not with those you
described."
He swore and she
cringed, expecting a killing blow. "Damn that namagomi fruitcake of hers!
I'm sure Juuou and her servant have something to do with this!"
"Do you
think she suspects?" Sherra asked, daring to speak out of turn.
"No. But,
Sherra..." he said tenderly placing a hand on her cheek as she blushed,
"my general. You must find them at all costs. Do not let them
interfere!" He was very aware of his general's feelings for him and he
used those feelings to control her whenever she began to show signs of
rebelling. His hand quickly went around her throat squeezing ever so gently.
"I will not let you see another day should you fail a second time,"
he warned.
"I-I will
n-not fail you again, Dynast-sama," she vowed.
"For your
sake, Sherra, I hope you do not," he said sternly. "A good and loyal
general such as you is extremely hard
to come by these days."
"Thank you,
my lord," she said bowing.
"That is
all, you may go," he said dismissing the blue haired mazoku.
Sherra then
teleported from the throne room to find the two people who could possibly ruin
her beloved master's plan.
********
What do you think minna-san? C&C welcome at Firia@linainverse.net.
No flames please.