A rather old, semi-OOC fic, by now I'm a bit embarressed by it. I don't own Slayers, although once I did want to.

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Her claws trailed gracefully down the outside of the false womb, her golden eyes unfocused as Zelas used her sight to gaze within it.

"My son ... what pain made you choose this path ... made both of you choose this path." Zelas sighed, turning away, her golden hair falling about her face. It would be some time before they would be ready to emerge. A wry smile crossed her face. "I never thought I would be a mother again at my age .... "

She laughed softly. "And this time it shall be twins!"

The laughter died as she looked again at the false womb, at the two who floated so peacefully within it. "But I will miss you, my trickster priest. As much as I may enjoy the new you, I will miss who you were."

A faint ding caught her attention. The orb upon her worktable was glowing.

"Yes?"

Are they all right?

"They're doing fine, and gestating nicely. You do know how much time this will take, don't you?"

I am well aware of the time needed. Have you found the necessary ingredients to give me a body?

"One of your hairs, one of the first koppii's, one of the koppii of the koppii, one of Zel's, one of Xeros's. Should work just fine, as long as you're here to step into the body before another soul claims it."

Good. Use the slow genesis to create it. The fast one allows for more flaws.

"And after the trouble with the first two, there's no way I want to deal with another rogue koppi in my lab."

The process allows, in fact requires, closer surveillance.

"How long will it take?"

Five years. It will be a child's body at first, but I will age and grow.

"And how long will that take?"

Twenty years.

"Well, I've waited over fifteen years to get my hands on you again, twenty five shouldn't be too much of a wait, my darling Rezo."


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Miss Lina was still crying. Amelia frowned in worry, nibbling nervously on her lower lip. It had already been a month since ... their death, and Miss Lina was still grieving. The prince was getting worried, and so was Amelia and Gourry. Nobody had any idea on how Firia felt, as she had neither moved, nor spoken since it ... happened. Lately she had taken to screaming, late at night. Not very often, about once a week. Firia had completely withdrawn into herself, and nothing seemed to reach her except the period during the day when she was left in Lina's room. They had started that in hopes it would snap either one of them out of their depressions. It seemed to help, at least a little. When they came back after an hour or two, Lina had been curled up asleep in Firia's lap, and Firia had been humming something too soft to be heard as she rocked Lina back and forth. But the instant one of them moved into the room or spoke, Firia would tuck Lina into her bed then stand in the middle of the room and stare into nowhere.

Things were not going well.

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Lina gazed up at the mural on the north wall of the bare room. "Maybe a little more red? ... Hmmm ..."

She idly mixed up a new shade of red as she contemplated her work. A faint whisper of sound drew her attention to the doorway leading to the rest of the small house. Firia smiled at her, carrying a tray of food, mostly a bowl of soup and a loaf of fresh brown bread. Firia shook her head, her expression amused.

Lina smiled sheepishly. "I worked through dinner again, didn't I? I'm sorry Firia ... it's just that I finally got the right shade of purple." She gestured towards a portion of the picture, drawing Firia's gaze to it. Firia nodded thoughtfully, a deep sadness showing in her eyes. Her hands flew in in a series of gestures Lina had long ago grown proficient in understanding.

"I'm glad you think I caught him correctly ... It took me a long time to find the right way to protray him."

Another series of gestures.

"It was hard to do Zel ... I miss him so much ... I guess no more than you miss Xeros, right? It's amazing that either of us came out as well as we did after the shock ... "

Quick flutterings of Firia's hands, completed with a firm solemnity.

"I would have survived? ... maybe, but I think I'd be off gibbering somewhere ... or suicidal."

A questioning set.

"Yes, I did think about suicide for a while ... but it would only have hurt everyone else even more."

A set of smooth movements, with a stern look on Firia's face.

"You're right ... That we don't know why they did it hurts even more ..."

Both women turned to look at the mural, at the faces of their beloveds caught in paint and plaster. A single glance exchanged, and Lina spoke what they were both thinking.

"We don't know why they commited a mutual murder ... and suicide."


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Rezo stood at the base of the stairs, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Coming!" Zelas's voice floated down from above, the click of her heels becoming louder as she hurried down the stairs. Rezo gave her a quick kiss when she was on the third step from the bottom, the stairs placing her at the same height as himself.

Zelas smiled as she stepped down to stand beside Rezo, quickly putting an earring into her left ear. She looked back up the stairs, a bit impatient. "Children! It's time to leave!"

A pounding rumble started somewhere above there heads and worked it's way down the stairs, soon resolving into five children of varying ages, the youngest being six, the oldest, eighteen.

Rezo frowned slightly, counting heads and coming up two short. He looked at the eldest, directing his question to the young lady. "Where are your older brothers, Mara?"

Mara shrugged, her jaw moving rapidly as she chewed her gum. She was currently going through a punk stage, and had dyed her hair green and cut it in a mohawk. The youngest, Mala, piped up with the answer. "Zelros and Xeadis are in the gaming room, Papa."

Rezo ruffled her hair, smiling down at the little girl. "Thanks, punkin. Zelas, why don't you go ahead and take these ones to the festival while I go talk to our oldest?"

"Sure, honey. Gather round, children. It's time to go." And with a gesture, Zelas and the children were gone, leaving Rezo to head back up the stairs.


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