More info, because I don't they'll be a lot of question to answer. First this is only one or two years after the Slayers Try, but Val's rate of growth was incredibly fast. Therefore he appears to be around ten even though he's only about one or two. Okay, that's it, please review.


If You Can Count to Ten




Scrunching her eyes tightly closed; Ari emitted a sneeze surprisingly explosive for such a tiny being. A flock of black birds erupted from the trees and flew away, squawking in annoyance and fear. A pale blush stained her cheeks as she wiped her nose with a handkerchief. The whole party had stopped to stare at her in mute surprise.

"Why did she do that?" the blonde swordsman, Gourry, demanded.

"Why do you think?" Zelgadis retorted while Lina settled for driving her elbow into his head.

"You should excuse yourself," Filia told the little girl.

"Excuse me," she mumbled softly.

The rest continued to look at her before finally turning away. The same thought was running through all of their heads, "How could she make such a noise?"

Ari shifted slightly in the uncomfortable saddle, her short legs unable to reach the stirrups. She kept glancing around, looking for that Mazoku who had entered the shop earlier. She hadn't known what the priest had been exactly; it seemed, at least to her, as if some small package of knowledge had been opened in her brain, triggered by the man's presence. She hoped she wouldn't get in trouble for guiding these people to the Temple without her parent's permission. After all, mommy had always told her not to go with strangers.

"What's that?" she inquired of the boy riding the horse next to her. He cut her a glance with his amber eyes, a bored smirk on his face.

"I heard what they said about you not letting that Xelloss guy come because he was touched by demons," he told her. "Well, my mother, Filia, was touched by the gods, so why haven't you said anything about that?"

"I don't know," she replied looking at the elegant blonde. "I don't think she works for them anymore, I guess." She hadn't gotten any sense of wrong from the dragon lady and so she had naturally assumed she was all right.

"So what is your mother doing here? She doesn't look like an adventurer?"

The boy gave an indifferent shrug, aqua hair falling across his face, "Something about a rare collection of pots and vases held in the Temple. She owns a pottery shop."

Ari nodded thoughtfully, dark green eyes sparkling. Miss Filia must be a very dedicated storeowner to inspect her products first hand. Her parents did the same thing so they were gone more often than not.

"Why'd she bring you?" she asked regarding him with superior amusement. "Aren't you old enough to stay home by yourself?" He looked about ten, only a year older than her.

"I'm only two," the boy muttered lowly. "Mother doesn't think I'm old enough to be on my own."

The girl stared at him in shock. She couldn't have heard him right. Only two? That was impossible, he didn't look two. She narrowed her eyes and scrutinized him closely, looking for anything that would explain the reason for his appearance.

"What are you looking at?" he demanded irritably, glaring at her from underneath his aqua bangs.

"I was just wondering what you were," she replied airily. "I mean you can't be a normal person, can you?"

"I'm a dragon," he replied tartly. "An ancient dragon according to my mother. The last of my kind."

He cried out when she leaned over and yanked at his hair.

"What was that for?" he cried angrily, rubbing his hurting scalp.

"Mommy told me that a dragon in human form has to a wear wig because dragons don't have hair," Ari replied amiably, a sing song quality in her voice. "I guess it isn't true, unless that wig's on really tight."

"This is not a wig," the boy growled, twin flames burning in the depths of his feral gold eyes. The girl shrugged cutely and gave him an innocent smile. He rolled his eyes and turned away, determined to ignore her the rest of the journey. He would've sworn except for the fact that his mother had eerily acute hearing when it came to him cursing.

"Lunch time," Lina declared suddenly.

"Yeah," Gourry and the princess Amelia cheered.

"But Miss Lina, we are almost there," Filia cried as the aforementioned individual started unloading the horses of the burdens.

"Just let it be," Zelgadis told her sympathetically. "We both know how they get around food." As if to prove his point Gourry and Lina were battling over a loaf of bread while Amelia wolfed down several sandwiches at once.

Ari's dark-green eyes narrowed as she suddenly sensed something. Spinning around she found no one there, yet she had been sure someone familiar had been watching them. Was it that demonic priest?

* * * *

Please review and that's about all. By the next chapter I'm pretty sure that they'll reach the Temple.