All Disclaimers can be found in part 1
Title: Golden Spheres and Silver Snow
Author: Simone of the Zordiak
Part: 5/?
E-mail: burning_night@hotmail.com
Lina growled a little as she paced up and down in the small kitchen of Filia's
house in Zephilia. Since Zelgadis had sent them back to the world-plane, she
had neither seen or heard of him, or of his lover. She shook her head. Even
after nine months, she couldn't believe it. Zelgadis, the Mazoku Lord? There
was something fundamentally wrong with this picture! She had tried to find him,
to force some more answers out of him, but he had been nowhere to be found.
Well she could think of three places where he could be, that she hadn't
searched, but even she wasn't able to open a gateway to the Sea of Chaos, or
Hell and she knew that going to Dynast's Ice-fortress would be suicidal. Even
if he had helped her in the guise of the halfelf, he no longer was part of the
group and she didn't want to know what he was planning now. In the living room,
Filia's voice grew louder, as she coached Val's egg through the final stages.
Soon the little dragon would hatch. Her pacing grew more and more restless. She
had been banned from the living room when she had almost broken one of Filia's
favorite vases. She was more nervous than Filia and that meant a lot. But it
wasn't every day that the last surviving member of a species hatched. A loud
wail signaled the birth of the tiny ancient dragon and Lina rushed into the
living room. She stopped at the door, taking in the picture. "Oh my, he is soo
cute!"
***
Filia looked at the tiny baby sleeping in his crib and smiled. It had been a
long and stressful day for the little guy and now his tiny body simply couldn't
stay awake anymore. She stood up and blew out the single candle illuminating
his room. Her dress rustled a little when she walked into the living room,
which by now was empty of all her numerous guests she had received today. Lina
had been here, driving her almost crazy with her nervousness, Milgazia, Jiras
and Gravos. Later Luna Inverse had come by and Lina had abruptly left when she
had seen her sister. Sometime during the next days, Amelia had promised to
visit with her newly returned sister Gracia, Sylphiel and Gourry had sent a
messenger that they were sorry for not coming sooner, but they had been forced
to interrupt their journey. Filia slumped down unceremonly in one of her
favorite chairs. Without the guests, her house felt rather empty and lonely.
She knew Val would change that soon, but still...
Someone knocked at the door. Sighing she went to answer the door. Her eyes went
wide and she smiled as she saw who had knocked. "Shinzui! It is so nice to see
you again." She hugged the small female Dragon God. "Filia. My favorite golden
one. How does it feel to be a mother?"
Filia tilted her head thoughtful. "I think it hasn't settled in yet. There was
so much to do today, so many people. It will take a while before..." Shinzui
nodded understandingly. "We knew you would have your hands full today. That's
why we decided to come a bit later." "We?" Filia looked up and only now she
noticed that Shinzui hadn't come alone. "Oh, sorry I didn't see you. I was a
bit distracted." Zelgadis smiled openly at her. "It's OK, Filia, we don't
mind." Filia returned his smile, then looked at his silent companion. She
opened her mouth to greet him, then got a confused look on her face. "At which
name shall I call you?" "Dynast is fine with me," he answered shortly. Even
after several months, being close to Shinzui was making him uncomfortable.
Especially since the mischievous dragon liked to play pranks at everyone, him
included.
Filia gestured for them to come inside when Zel spoke up again. "We have
brought somebody else with us, I hope you don't mind it, but he's been really
anxious to see Val again." Again? She thought confused, but then she nodded her
consent. From behind them, a man appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He was
tall, roughly build and had red hair, that almost reached the ground. "Filia,
meet Maryu-ou Gaav." Gaav? But he was dead! How could he be here when he was
dead? "But you are dead," she blurted out. "He was dead, Filia, but now he's
alive again." Zel stated and when she looked at the Mei-ou, she felt really
stupid. Obviously Gaav had been reincarnated, like so many other people she had
been told about. Without any further words she let them in. Gaav instantly went
to Val's room, sitting down in front of the crib and staring at the tiny bundle
of aqua hair, peach skin and delicate darkblue/black wings.
Filia wanted to go after him, to see that he wasn't doing anything to her
precious little Val, but Zel held her back. "Let him, Filia. Valgaav has been
like a son to him. When we told him what had happened to him, he has been
devastated. He needs some time with him, to redefine his role in his life."
And Filia let him be.
Later, Filia didn't know how much later, but she felt rather tired so it had to
have been quite some time that had passed, she silently crept into Val's room.
She couldn't suppress a smile at the quiet picture before her. Sometime during
the last hours, Val had obviously woken up and Gaav had taken him out of his
crib to keep him quiet. Now he was lying on the floor, sleeping and Val was
curled on his chest, sucking his thumb, sleeping as well. The arms of the
Chaos Dragon were wrapped protectingly around his precious little bundle and
Filia knew she couldn't separate them without waken them... something she
didn't have the heart to do. Instead she went to fetch a spare blanket, tucking
it around the sleeping pair.
"They are sooo cute," whispered Shinzui from the doorway. "We should take a
picture of them," she turned to the silent pair next to her, "Zel, could
you...?" She made big pleading eyes at him and he sighed in defeat. "OK. But no
blackmailing until Val is 21, understood?" She pouted, but agreed. Zelgadis
concentrated and three little, multicolored balls of crystal appeared in his
hand. "Done."
Filia joined them at the door, looking questionly at the three crystal balls.
They didn't look like soulorbs and she trusted him not to do anything dangerous
in her home, but she was curious what they were. With a knowing smile Dynast
led them into the living room.
"Let us see them. Come on, please?" Shinzui bounced around the slightly
embarrassed Mei-ou. Zelgadis shook his head at her attics, but complied with her
pleading. Fascinated Filia watched as he fed a little bit of magic into the
balls, which expanded until they were flat multicolored crystal pictures of the
scene they had seen in Val's room. "This is beautiful, Zel how do you made
those?" "I use the afterimages left by the souls to create them. Practically
these are frozen moments of life. It's a little something I found out while
experimenting with my powers. I think each one of the servants of mother could
do something similar." "Yes, but you wont teach me how to do it. Meanie."
Shinzui pouted. "Because you only want to learn it to get pictures of Chaotic
Blue in the shower." Zelgadis mock glared at her, crossing his arms. She pouted
some more, using her best 'innocent me' look at him, then she sighed as she
realized that it didn't had the desired effect.
Her pout vanished and she squealed happily as Zel handed her one of the three
pictures. Another one he gave to Filia, who was a bit surprised by the
unsuspected gift. The last picture Dynast tucked into a hidden pocket in his
cloak. "You didn't made one for HER?" Filia asked as she saw him handing the
last picture to his lover. "No, mom likes to make her own pictures. If you ever
come to the Sea of Chaos again, remind me to take you an a tour to her Hall of
Memories. She has pictures from everywhere and everyone. Except those..," and
he glared at Shinzui again, "..that this crazy dragon stole." The female
Dragon God whistled innocently, yet the tips of her ears were of a rosy hue. "I
don't know why, she must have hundreds of pictures of him already. Her entire
room is pflasterd with his pictures." He shook his head sadly. "You want to
know the strangest thing of it? She's had this raging crush at him for several
thousand years, but every time he's close by, she can't open her mouth. She's
never told him. It's a pity." At this point of his story, Shinzui's tail was
sticking out from her dress and she was deeply red in her face. "Mom, he's
being mean!" She shouted towards the ceiling. To Shinzui's big disappointment,
L-sama decided not to whack him with her shovel, but her loud laughter was
audible in the room.
***
He didn't know when they finally left Filia's house, it had to have been very
late, but before he could have some private snuggle time, he had to check
something. Zel teleported into a tree, to watch the events unfold.
He hated this. Mother had forbidden him to interfere, this had to happen, yet
he felt guilty for not stopping it. But fate was nothing to trifle with.
The three nekojin camping in the clearing under his hiding-place had no chance
against the bandits that were storming their camp. The man was a vicious
fighter, but the bandits had the upper hand just because of their numbers. He
felt the souls of the pair leave, striving upwards to his sisters realm. The
third member of the party had been hidden before the prying eyes of the band
of murderers yet and if anything went as he had predicted it... there they
were, Sylphiel and Gourry, woken through the noise of the fight. They had
camped not far away and now Gourry was cutting through the bandits like they
were only made out of wet paper. Sylphiel kneeling next to the fallen woman,
trying to find any sign of life. Gourry, finished with the bandits, moved to
stand next to her. It was time to appear on the scene.
Both of them whirled around as he walked into the clearing. Gourry greeted him
as if nothing had happened, mispronouncing his name as usual, but Sylphiel had
heard about him becoming a Mazoku Lord and eyed him uncertainly. "What are you
doing here?" she blurted out.
"Collecting souls, Sylphiel." He waved with his fingers and the mistlike souls
of the bandits floated to hoover and then disappeared through a tiny portal
over his hand. "They were murderers, so they belong to my domain and I came in
person to check up the little one."
She looked around, confused. "What little one?" He walked past her, opening one
the packs of the dead travelers, revealing a sleeping baby boy. "His name is
Azarias and one day he will be a warrior of fate." Sylphiel looked at the
child. He had the most delicate cat-ears, poking out of purplish red hair,
and his hands were holding his fluffy cat-tail in a deathgrip. Warrior of fate
or not, right now he was only a baby and he hadn't anyone to take care of him
anymore.
"He's so small." "Yes, and he has nobody left to care for him, Sylphiel, so
you will take care of him." "What? Why me?" Zelgadis shook his head. "I don't
think that my domain is the right place to raise children... I'm Mei-ou, a
mazoku, I wouldn't be able to raise him properly. And there is no one else
except you. Or do you know of anyone who could take care of him?" Sylphiel
shook her head. No, she didn't know anybody. She reached out and touched the
baby boys check. His ears started to twitch and then he opened big, bright,
jadegreen eyes, the slit-pupiled eyes of the nekojin, looking at her while
sucking at his thumb. And Sylphiel's heart melted.
***
Zelgadis smiled as he merged with the shadows. Another circle closed, another
story brought to an end. Sylphiel would take good care of the boy, finally
letting go of the memories of the past, rejoining the living. And the child,
harboring the reincarnated soul of Sairaags destroyer, would finally know the
joys of his own life and identity.
***
The months passed. Gaav had long since moved into Filia's house and Val had
started calling him dad, as he was calling Filia mom. The relationship between
Gaav and Filia developed slowly, but surely and all who knew her had gotten
used to the sight of the two of them together... almost all of them. Lina had
already tried to kill him three times and it was only because of Zelgadis
interference that she was still alive. Gaav was slowly getting frustrated with
her. She didn't seem to be able to get over with the past. Hell, Zel didn't
held a grudge against him and if he remembered correctly, he had almost killed
his now-sibling. And like her, most of the dragons couldn't accept Filia's
choice of partner, breaking their contacts with her. The only one still
visiting them on regularly basis was the young golden dragon elder Milgazia,
but boy, was he stuffy. He endured him for Filias sake, secretly plotting for a
way to make him loosening up a little. So far without success. But today that
wasn't important. He felt his fingers shake a little as he brushed out his
hair... he wanted to look at his best, now that he finally had decided to take
that last step. Today he was going to propose to her.
***
Warmth, precious warmth. Dynast snuggled closer to the source of bodyheat,
entrapping the other man in his arms. So warm, pliable. One of his hands
started to wander, slowly tracing a path over his partners chest, outlining
every little stone imbedded into his lover's skin. Zel was such a beautiful
creature. And Zelgadis was all his, just as he belonged to him in return. He
sighed as he let himself drift back into halfsleep. Such peaceful moments were
rare and to be savored. Unfortunately this moment was coming to an abrupt end.
A red and orange whirlstorm appeared in their room, whooping with joy, dragging
him away from his bedmate and into a bonecrushing bearhug. "She said yes!" The
Gaav-whirlwind shouted again and again, while finally letting him out of the
hug... only to wake Zel with the same method. Dynast had had it. Nobody
interrupted his private snuggle time! He summoned several years worth of arctic
coldness into a small ball and threw it at his overzealous brother. Gaav was
shockfrozen long enough for him and Zel to really wake up and get dressed.
"So, now that you have cooled down a little, could you tell us why you deemed
it fit to wake us like that? All this bouncing and raving like a lunatic, I
thought madness was Dolphins métier." Gaav whacked him and then started
bouncing again. "She said yes! I asked her and she said yes! Isn't that
fantastic?" And again Dynast was victim of his overenthusiastic brother as he
was hugged and shaken and twirled around.
"From all your shouting and bouncing I take it that your proposal to Filia has
been successful." Zelgadis dry voice cut through the room and Gaav sheepishly
dropped Dynast on the ground. Still the smile on Gaav's face let the brightest
lightning spell appear like a dim flicker. Had he been a human, his happiness
would have rendered his brothers incapable of doing anything, but luckily for
those two, only human emotions had those effects... So after Dynast had whipped
some none-existing dust from his clothes, he congratulated his brother for his
luck. Filia, with her strong spirit and quick temper would be a worthy mate for
Gaav. He was happy for his brother, who had sprung the important question to
his mate sooner than him. Out of the corner of his eyes he glanced at his own
special one. One day he would spring the question to him... someday soon. He
already had found the perfect rings. Silently he watched as his lover embraced
his brother. The smile playing around Zel's lips was genuine and he couldn't
help, but feel a wave of warmth washing through him. Warmth... those feelings
were precious to him, before he had met Zel he hadn't felt something like that.
And one of his own, rare smile graced his lips.
***
Lina Inverse world was rapidly spinning out of control. Filia, a ryzoku, a
priestess of the Fire Dragon King, was going to marry a mazoku! And not any
mazoku, but the Chaos Dragon! The one that had tried to kill her, Lina Inverse,
sorceress supreme! That couldn't be real, this had to be a horrible mistake, a
nightmare! Yet it was true. The preparations for the wedding were already
running wild, as both had planned to invite lots of people... ryzoku, mazoku,
humans and other creatures she had no name for. And nobody was there to help
her stop this madness. Gourry was happily playing father to Sylphiel's adopted
son, Xellos has vanished without a trace and Amelia was helping Filia with the
preparations. Milgazia, the golden dragon elder, had agreed to take SaiChuRo's
place at the wedding and give her away. Dynast and Shinzui were going to be the
witnesses and Zelgadis was arranging for the priest. Lina shook her head. It
looked like everything was against her. Even her own sister! That had been a
real shock. Even if she had problems with her personally, Luna was still the
Knight of Ceipheid, and as such had to protect the ryzoku against the mazoku.
But Luna Inverse had just calmly asked if she could be the maid of honor!
***
"Do I really have to wear this? It is so tight." Gaav complained as he tugged
at his tie. Dynast watched as his brother paced through the room like a caged
animal, nervousness radiating out of every pore of his body. In all his life,
he had never seen him like this. But then again, he had never seen him getting
married before. "Yes you do. You promised Filia, remember?" Gaav groaned and
slumped into a chair. "It's the eyes... she always gets me with the eyes. When
I 'm about to say no to something, she turns those big pouty eyes at me and I'm
lost. Remember that, they always get you with that pouty look." For a moment
Dynast was confused... why did Gaav warn him about that? Then he turned around
and his eyes met Zel, who stood in the doorway, looking at him with the most
adorable pouty expression on his face.... he could feel his insides turn to
mush. In this moment, he would have done anything for him. Gaav, who had
followed his eyes, groaned. "It's already to late for you. I told you the eyes
would get you." Zelgadis winked at him, mischievously. "Actually I'm here
because we are about to begin. Are you ready?" One last time the nervous groom
fought with his tie, than he straightened and followed Zelgadis out of the
room.
***
The temple was decorated in red and gold. Red for Gaav and gold for Filia and
everyone had to admit that the colors went well together.. which unfortunately
wasn't true for the wedding guests. Xellas was sitting in the back, fuming
because she wasn't allowed to smoke, Dolphin was playing with crystallized
jellyfish and humming insanely and the other mazoku were having a staring match
with the invited ryzoku, but they didn't dared to do anything else, because
Zelgadis had announced to send anybody, who disturbed this wedding, to hell and
everyone had taken a look at the serious looking Mei-ou and had decided not to
try his patience. He was quickly developing the reputation of being the most
feared mazoku after Shabranighdo-sama.
Right now, Zelgadis wasn't doing anything to proof his reputation, he was
merely speaking with Sylphiel and Gourry Gabriev, apologizing for not having
been able to attend their wedding and checking up their child. The pair looked
happy, having settled down in the slowly growing NeoSairaag and from the look
of Sylphiel's gently swollen belly, it looked like their boy was going to have
a sibling in a few months... a sister, Zel could tell by looking at the unborn's
soul.
Zel watched as Gaav, Shinzui and Dynast took their positions before the altar
and gave the musician the signal. He could think about possible futures later,
right now he had a wedding to manage.
tbc
-----------------------
Chaotic Blue : Demon King of one of L-sama's other worlds
nekojin : Catpeople
Title: Golden Spheres and Silver Snow
Author: Simone of the Zordiak
Part: 5/?
E-mail: burning_night@hotmail.com
Lina growled a little as she paced up and down in the small kitchen of Filia's
house in Zephilia. Since Zelgadis had sent them back to the world-plane, she
had neither seen or heard of him, or of his lover. She shook her head. Even
after nine months, she couldn't believe it. Zelgadis, the Mazoku Lord? There
was something fundamentally wrong with this picture! She had tried to find him,
to force some more answers out of him, but he had been nowhere to be found.
Well she could think of three places where he could be, that she hadn't
searched, but even she wasn't able to open a gateway to the Sea of Chaos, or
Hell and she knew that going to Dynast's Ice-fortress would be suicidal. Even
if he had helped her in the guise of the halfelf, he no longer was part of the
group and she didn't want to know what he was planning now. In the living room,
Filia's voice grew louder, as she coached Val's egg through the final stages.
Soon the little dragon would hatch. Her pacing grew more and more restless. She
had been banned from the living room when she had almost broken one of Filia's
favorite vases. She was more nervous than Filia and that meant a lot. But it
wasn't every day that the last surviving member of a species hatched. A loud
wail signaled the birth of the tiny ancient dragon and Lina rushed into the
living room. She stopped at the door, taking in the picture. "Oh my, he is soo
cute!"
***
Filia looked at the tiny baby sleeping in his crib and smiled. It had been a
long and stressful day for the little guy and now his tiny body simply couldn't
stay awake anymore. She stood up and blew out the single candle illuminating
his room. Her dress rustled a little when she walked into the living room,
which by now was empty of all her numerous guests she had received today. Lina
had been here, driving her almost crazy with her nervousness, Milgazia, Jiras
and Gravos. Later Luna Inverse had come by and Lina had abruptly left when she
had seen her sister. Sometime during the next days, Amelia had promised to
visit with her newly returned sister Gracia, Sylphiel and Gourry had sent a
messenger that they were sorry for not coming sooner, but they had been forced
to interrupt their journey. Filia slumped down unceremonly in one of her
favorite chairs. Without the guests, her house felt rather empty and lonely.
She knew Val would change that soon, but still...
Someone knocked at the door. Sighing she went to answer the door. Her eyes went
wide and she smiled as she saw who had knocked. "Shinzui! It is so nice to see
you again." She hugged the small female Dragon God. "Filia. My favorite golden
one. How does it feel to be a mother?"
Filia tilted her head thoughtful. "I think it hasn't settled in yet. There was
so much to do today, so many people. It will take a while before..." Shinzui
nodded understandingly. "We knew you would have your hands full today. That's
why we decided to come a bit later." "We?" Filia looked up and only now she
noticed that Shinzui hadn't come alone. "Oh, sorry I didn't see you. I was a
bit distracted." Zelgadis smiled openly at her. "It's OK, Filia, we don't
mind." Filia returned his smile, then looked at his silent companion. She
opened her mouth to greet him, then got a confused look on her face. "At which
name shall I call you?" "Dynast is fine with me," he answered shortly. Even
after several months, being close to Shinzui was making him uncomfortable.
Especially since the mischievous dragon liked to play pranks at everyone, him
included.
Filia gestured for them to come inside when Zel spoke up again. "We have
brought somebody else with us, I hope you don't mind it, but he's been really
anxious to see Val again." Again? She thought confused, but then she nodded her
consent. From behind them, a man appeared seemingly out of nowhere. He was
tall, roughly build and had red hair, that almost reached the ground. "Filia,
meet Maryu-ou Gaav." Gaav? But he was dead! How could he be here when he was
dead? "But you are dead," she blurted out. "He was dead, Filia, but now he's
alive again." Zel stated and when she looked at the Mei-ou, she felt really
stupid. Obviously Gaav had been reincarnated, like so many other people she had
been told about. Without any further words she let them in. Gaav instantly went
to Val's room, sitting down in front of the crib and staring at the tiny bundle
of aqua hair, peach skin and delicate darkblue/black wings.
Filia wanted to go after him, to see that he wasn't doing anything to her
precious little Val, but Zel held her back. "Let him, Filia. Valgaav has been
like a son to him. When we told him what had happened to him, he has been
devastated. He needs some time with him, to redefine his role in his life."
And Filia let him be.
Later, Filia didn't know how much later, but she felt rather tired so it had to
have been quite some time that had passed, she silently crept into Val's room.
She couldn't suppress a smile at the quiet picture before her. Sometime during
the last hours, Val had obviously woken up and Gaav had taken him out of his
crib to keep him quiet. Now he was lying on the floor, sleeping and Val was
curled on his chest, sucking his thumb, sleeping as well. The arms of the
Chaos Dragon were wrapped protectingly around his precious little bundle and
Filia knew she couldn't separate them without waken them... something she
didn't have the heart to do. Instead she went to fetch a spare blanket, tucking
it around the sleeping pair.
"They are sooo cute," whispered Shinzui from the doorway. "We should take a
picture of them," she turned to the silent pair next to her, "Zel, could
you...?" She made big pleading eyes at him and he sighed in defeat. "OK. But no
blackmailing until Val is 21, understood?" She pouted, but agreed. Zelgadis
concentrated and three little, multicolored balls of crystal appeared in his
hand. "Done."
Filia joined them at the door, looking questionly at the three crystal balls.
They didn't look like soulorbs and she trusted him not to do anything dangerous
in her home, but she was curious what they were. With a knowing smile Dynast
led them into the living room.
"Let us see them. Come on, please?" Shinzui bounced around the slightly
embarrassed Mei-ou. Zelgadis shook his head at her attics, but complied with her
pleading. Fascinated Filia watched as he fed a little bit of magic into the
balls, which expanded until they were flat multicolored crystal pictures of the
scene they had seen in Val's room. "This is beautiful, Zel how do you made
those?" "I use the afterimages left by the souls to create them. Practically
these are frozen moments of life. It's a little something I found out while
experimenting with my powers. I think each one of the servants of mother could
do something similar." "Yes, but you wont teach me how to do it. Meanie."
Shinzui pouted. "Because you only want to learn it to get pictures of Chaotic
Blue in the shower." Zelgadis mock glared at her, crossing his arms. She pouted
some more, using her best 'innocent me' look at him, then she sighed as she
realized that it didn't had the desired effect.
Her pout vanished and she squealed happily as Zel handed her one of the three
pictures. Another one he gave to Filia, who was a bit surprised by the
unsuspected gift. The last picture Dynast tucked into a hidden pocket in his
cloak. "You didn't made one for HER?" Filia asked as she saw him handing the
last picture to his lover. "No, mom likes to make her own pictures. If you ever
come to the Sea of Chaos again, remind me to take you an a tour to her Hall of
Memories. She has pictures from everywhere and everyone. Except those..," and
he glared at Shinzui again, "..that this crazy dragon stole." The female
Dragon God whistled innocently, yet the tips of her ears were of a rosy hue. "I
don't know why, she must have hundreds of pictures of him already. Her entire
room is pflasterd with his pictures." He shook his head sadly. "You want to
know the strangest thing of it? She's had this raging crush at him for several
thousand years, but every time he's close by, she can't open her mouth. She's
never told him. It's a pity." At this point of his story, Shinzui's tail was
sticking out from her dress and she was deeply red in her face. "Mom, he's
being mean!" She shouted towards the ceiling. To Shinzui's big disappointment,
L-sama decided not to whack him with her shovel, but her loud laughter was
audible in the room.
***
He didn't know when they finally left Filia's house, it had to have been very
late, but before he could have some private snuggle time, he had to check
something. Zel teleported into a tree, to watch the events unfold.
He hated this. Mother had forbidden him to interfere, this had to happen, yet
he felt guilty for not stopping it. But fate was nothing to trifle with.
The three nekojin camping in the clearing under his hiding-place had no chance
against the bandits that were storming their camp. The man was a vicious
fighter, but the bandits had the upper hand just because of their numbers. He
felt the souls of the pair leave, striving upwards to his sisters realm. The
third member of the party had been hidden before the prying eyes of the band
of murderers yet and if anything went as he had predicted it... there they
were, Sylphiel and Gourry, woken through the noise of the fight. They had
camped not far away and now Gourry was cutting through the bandits like they
were only made out of wet paper. Sylphiel kneeling next to the fallen woman,
trying to find any sign of life. Gourry, finished with the bandits, moved to
stand next to her. It was time to appear on the scene.
Both of them whirled around as he walked into the clearing. Gourry greeted him
as if nothing had happened, mispronouncing his name as usual, but Sylphiel had
heard about him becoming a Mazoku Lord and eyed him uncertainly. "What are you
doing here?" she blurted out.
"Collecting souls, Sylphiel." He waved with his fingers and the mistlike souls
of the bandits floated to hoover and then disappeared through a tiny portal
over his hand. "They were murderers, so they belong to my domain and I came in
person to check up the little one."
She looked around, confused. "What little one?" He walked past her, opening one
the packs of the dead travelers, revealing a sleeping baby boy. "His name is
Azarias and one day he will be a warrior of fate." Sylphiel looked at the
child. He had the most delicate cat-ears, poking out of purplish red hair,
and his hands were holding his fluffy cat-tail in a deathgrip. Warrior of fate
or not, right now he was only a baby and he hadn't anyone to take care of him
anymore.
"He's so small." "Yes, and he has nobody left to care for him, Sylphiel, so
you will take care of him." "What? Why me?" Zelgadis shook his head. "I don't
think that my domain is the right place to raise children... I'm Mei-ou, a
mazoku, I wouldn't be able to raise him properly. And there is no one else
except you. Or do you know of anyone who could take care of him?" Sylphiel
shook her head. No, she didn't know anybody. She reached out and touched the
baby boys check. His ears started to twitch and then he opened big, bright,
jadegreen eyes, the slit-pupiled eyes of the nekojin, looking at her while
sucking at his thumb. And Sylphiel's heart melted.
***
Zelgadis smiled as he merged with the shadows. Another circle closed, another
story brought to an end. Sylphiel would take good care of the boy, finally
letting go of the memories of the past, rejoining the living. And the child,
harboring the reincarnated soul of Sairaags destroyer, would finally know the
joys of his own life and identity.
***
The months passed. Gaav had long since moved into Filia's house and Val had
started calling him dad, as he was calling Filia mom. The relationship between
Gaav and Filia developed slowly, but surely and all who knew her had gotten
used to the sight of the two of them together... almost all of them. Lina had
already tried to kill him three times and it was only because of Zelgadis
interference that she was still alive. Gaav was slowly getting frustrated with
her. She didn't seem to be able to get over with the past. Hell, Zel didn't
held a grudge against him and if he remembered correctly, he had almost killed
his now-sibling. And like her, most of the dragons couldn't accept Filia's
choice of partner, breaking their contacts with her. The only one still
visiting them on regularly basis was the young golden dragon elder Milgazia,
but boy, was he stuffy. He endured him for Filias sake, secretly plotting for a
way to make him loosening up a little. So far without success. But today that
wasn't important. He felt his fingers shake a little as he brushed out his
hair... he wanted to look at his best, now that he finally had decided to take
that last step. Today he was going to propose to her.
***
Warmth, precious warmth. Dynast snuggled closer to the source of bodyheat,
entrapping the other man in his arms. So warm, pliable. One of his hands
started to wander, slowly tracing a path over his partners chest, outlining
every little stone imbedded into his lover's skin. Zel was such a beautiful
creature. And Zelgadis was all his, just as he belonged to him in return. He
sighed as he let himself drift back into halfsleep. Such peaceful moments were
rare and to be savored. Unfortunately this moment was coming to an abrupt end.
A red and orange whirlstorm appeared in their room, whooping with joy, dragging
him away from his bedmate and into a bonecrushing bearhug. "She said yes!" The
Gaav-whirlwind shouted again and again, while finally letting him out of the
hug... only to wake Zel with the same method. Dynast had had it. Nobody
interrupted his private snuggle time! He summoned several years worth of arctic
coldness into a small ball and threw it at his overzealous brother. Gaav was
shockfrozen long enough for him and Zel to really wake up and get dressed.
"So, now that you have cooled down a little, could you tell us why you deemed
it fit to wake us like that? All this bouncing and raving like a lunatic, I
thought madness was Dolphins métier." Gaav whacked him and then started
bouncing again. "She said yes! I asked her and she said yes! Isn't that
fantastic?" And again Dynast was victim of his overenthusiastic brother as he
was hugged and shaken and twirled around.
"From all your shouting and bouncing I take it that your proposal to Filia has
been successful." Zelgadis dry voice cut through the room and Gaav sheepishly
dropped Dynast on the ground. Still the smile on Gaav's face let the brightest
lightning spell appear like a dim flicker. Had he been a human, his happiness
would have rendered his brothers incapable of doing anything, but luckily for
those two, only human emotions had those effects... So after Dynast had whipped
some none-existing dust from his clothes, he congratulated his brother for his
luck. Filia, with her strong spirit and quick temper would be a worthy mate for
Gaav. He was happy for his brother, who had sprung the important question to
his mate sooner than him. Out of the corner of his eyes he glanced at his own
special one. One day he would spring the question to him... someday soon. He
already had found the perfect rings. Silently he watched as his lover embraced
his brother. The smile playing around Zel's lips was genuine and he couldn't
help, but feel a wave of warmth washing through him. Warmth... those feelings
were precious to him, before he had met Zel he hadn't felt something like that.
And one of his own, rare smile graced his lips.
***
Lina Inverse world was rapidly spinning out of control. Filia, a ryzoku, a
priestess of the Fire Dragon King, was going to marry a mazoku! And not any
mazoku, but the Chaos Dragon! The one that had tried to kill her, Lina Inverse,
sorceress supreme! That couldn't be real, this had to be a horrible mistake, a
nightmare! Yet it was true. The preparations for the wedding were already
running wild, as both had planned to invite lots of people... ryzoku, mazoku,
humans and other creatures she had no name for. And nobody was there to help
her stop this madness. Gourry was happily playing father to Sylphiel's adopted
son, Xellos has vanished without a trace and Amelia was helping Filia with the
preparations. Milgazia, the golden dragon elder, had agreed to take SaiChuRo's
place at the wedding and give her away. Dynast and Shinzui were going to be the
witnesses and Zelgadis was arranging for the priest. Lina shook her head. It
looked like everything was against her. Even her own sister! That had been a
real shock. Even if she had problems with her personally, Luna was still the
Knight of Ceipheid, and as such had to protect the ryzoku against the mazoku.
But Luna Inverse had just calmly asked if she could be the maid of honor!
***
"Do I really have to wear this? It is so tight." Gaav complained as he tugged
at his tie. Dynast watched as his brother paced through the room like a caged
animal, nervousness radiating out of every pore of his body. In all his life,
he had never seen him like this. But then again, he had never seen him getting
married before. "Yes you do. You promised Filia, remember?" Gaav groaned and
slumped into a chair. "It's the eyes... she always gets me with the eyes. When
I 'm about to say no to something, she turns those big pouty eyes at me and I'm
lost. Remember that, they always get you with that pouty look." For a moment
Dynast was confused... why did Gaav warn him about that? Then he turned around
and his eyes met Zel, who stood in the doorway, looking at him with the most
adorable pouty expression on his face.... he could feel his insides turn to
mush. In this moment, he would have done anything for him. Gaav, who had
followed his eyes, groaned. "It's already to late for you. I told you the eyes
would get you." Zelgadis winked at him, mischievously. "Actually I'm here
because we are about to begin. Are you ready?" One last time the nervous groom
fought with his tie, than he straightened and followed Zelgadis out of the
room.
***
The temple was decorated in red and gold. Red for Gaav and gold for Filia and
everyone had to admit that the colors went well together.. which unfortunately
wasn't true for the wedding guests. Xellas was sitting in the back, fuming
because she wasn't allowed to smoke, Dolphin was playing with crystallized
jellyfish and humming insanely and the other mazoku were having a staring match
with the invited ryzoku, but they didn't dared to do anything else, because
Zelgadis had announced to send anybody, who disturbed this wedding, to hell and
everyone had taken a look at the serious looking Mei-ou and had decided not to
try his patience. He was quickly developing the reputation of being the most
feared mazoku after Shabranighdo-sama.
Right now, Zelgadis wasn't doing anything to proof his reputation, he was
merely speaking with Sylphiel and Gourry Gabriev, apologizing for not having
been able to attend their wedding and checking up their child. The pair looked
happy, having settled down in the slowly growing NeoSairaag and from the look
of Sylphiel's gently swollen belly, it looked like their boy was going to have
a sibling in a few months... a sister, Zel could tell by looking at the unborn's
soul.
Zel watched as Gaav, Shinzui and Dynast took their positions before the altar
and gave the musician the signal. He could think about possible futures later,
right now he had a wedding to manage.
tbc
-----------------------
Chaotic Blue : Demon King of one of L-sama's other worlds
nekojin : Catpeople
