Love Chibi ^_^v
Oh yeah- when Death speaks it's in Small Caps but you can't see it on here. It's not the same in italics…. ^_^
Chapter ThreeMe and My Big Mouth
When Xelloss came too, the only thing he saw was the white plaster ceiling. The pattern moulded into it, which was too painful for him to relate even as a human, told him he was in a guest room of the Seyruun palace. There was a steady tapping noise.
'Who-' he slurred.
'I convinced Filia you weren't going to wake up for a good while yet, so Val dragged her out to eat breakfast.'
Xelloss sat up. His head spun, and he hurriedly lay back down, watching the little maces whirl past his vision.
'Ah.'
L'risia. She wasn't happy with him. Her voice wasn't as…girly, as Filia's. Hers was more of a low dusky kind of voice. She could make her voice do almost anything, in fact, but most of the time it was dry and sarcastic. It was currently very clearly not happy with him.
'I suspect you realise what put you in the condition you're in.'
'Yes ma'am.'
'And what will we do in the future?' she prompted. Xelloss licked his dry lips.
'Watch my big mouth, sensei.'
'Well done. Especially while-?'
'In human form, sensei, and when out of practice.'
'Good boy.' Xelloss felt L'risia's cool, dry hand pat his forehead as she passed him on her way to the door. 'I'll go get Filia. Pretend like you're just woken up.'
'I think I need some ice cream.' Xelloss said piteously.
'I'm sure.' The door shut. Xelloss sighed. Her bedside manner lacked a certain sympathy.
'How is he?' Val asked.
'I think he's waking up.' L'risia said, and didn't bother shutting the door behind her. Filia got to her feet and L'risia politely held the door open a bit wider and listened to the dragon's footsteps down the hallway. Everyone grinned as, in the silence, they heard the steps speed up to a run. Val sighed.
'Right… what happened to him? You seemed really pissed with him.' Lina said, looking at L'risia and rocking a sleepy Roudy on her lap. They had all gathered in a lounge room, with Amelia absent due to her royal duties. Zelgadis, despite his duties to Amelia, couldn't get away from that ball fast enough and would take any excuse. Even if it was Xelloss, of all people.
Val's eyes narrowed as he noticed a smirk flitter across Rei's face, and met the boy's golden eyes easily. Rei smiled beautifully, suddenly, and then turned his gaze towards L'risia. A lot of Val's self-control went into keeping a scowl from his face. What the hell-
'I just think Xelloss said something a bit rude.' L'risia shrugged.
'L'RISIA!' Lina yelled, or tried to. Gourry clapped a hand over his wife's mouth and indicated her sleeping son, and daughter in the next chair. Lina's shoulders relaxed. Gourry released her gently and smiled at L'risia.
'You can't tell us, L'ri?' he asked, demonstrating a surprisingly good grip on the girl's enigmatic way of speaking.
'Yeah.'
'You seem to be saying that a lot lately.' Val commented, almost to himself. Rei and L'risia glanced at the dragon sharply, but the humans in the room didn't hear him. L'risia smile was bittersweet.
'Rei, won't you stay the night?' Filia asked. Rei looked at the woman in surprise.
'What?'
'Well, L'risia usually-' Filia was cut off as she noticed L'risia's rueful smile. 'L'risia?'
'I'm sorry Filia but something came up and I have to leave right away. Rei's coming with me for a bit.'
'Do you want me to come?' Val asked, though he knew what the answer would be. It felt like a lead weight in his chest as L'risia shook her head.
'No… sorry. I'm sorry.' L'risia said again, raising her voice more so as to include Xelloss and Filia in her apology. Filia smiled.
'No, I understand. That's the way it is with-' she flicked her gaze at Rei.
'He knows.' L'risia said simply. Xelloss rolled his eyes towards the sky.
'-servants of the Lord of Nightmares, isn't it?' Filia finished, placing a hand on Val's shoulder. 'Well, don't forget to visit when you're free, L'risia- you're welcome as well, Rei.'
Rei bowed.
'Thankyou, Miss Filia.' His smile changed to be almost sadistic. 'And you too- Xelloss, Val.'
'Yes.' Xelloss and Val nodded. L'risia and Rei disappeared.
'Ow! That hurt, L'ri!'
'Stop annoying Val and Xelloss, you little twerp.'
'That's a really stupid word. "Twerp".'
'It is, isn't it? Seriously, Rei, just stop it. You're not half as bad as I'm sure they think you are.'
'That's the point. What would my followers think if they knew I hung out with the Lord of Nightmare's niece and own the entire series of Cardcaptor Sakura?'
'WHAT followers?! You don't have any!'
There was a small, thoughtful silence, as if two people were musing on the last minute of conversation.
' … you own all of Cardcaptor Sakura? Seriously?'
'Shut up.'
Time passed.
It has a habit of doing that.
'Val, for goodness sakes, stop pouting and get out and DO something!' Filia whipped the pillow out from underneath her son's head and brought it down on his head.
'I don't really feel like it…'
'For the last time there is no WAY L'risia could be having an affair with a fourteen-year-old kid!'
'Did I say I was worried about that?!'
'No, but I can't think what else has made you act this way! For the last three months you've been acting weird, like you're waiting for something better!'
Val scowled.
'For gods sakes, you're acting like a little kid…' Filia moaned.
I hate kids…hold still you- I SAID HOLD STILL THIS INSTANT YOU VILE, STUPID, IGNORANT LITTLE-!
The child froze, stopping his aimless buzzing around that reminded Death of a very determined bird with one wing. Death could almost feel sorry for him. After all, the way he had gone had not been pleasant. Death's hood turned down to the little body on the ground. Like the others; covered in little cuts, the blood soaking into the leaves that had settled on the early winter floor of the forest. The numbers were increasing. In terms of how many murders by your regular Mazoku, demons, Trolls and humans were done per se the murders were still almost insignificant. It was the feel of the murders and the effects that were bothering. The murders themselves appeared to be done to taunt the Lords of this World, like a Post-It note with a distasteful reminder that keeps turning up on your computer screen. Death found herself in an increasingly bad mood, which explained her harsh words to the terrified child, who was standing stock-still.
Sorry. Don't move.
The glistening scythe swung through the air, severing the glowing blue thread that linked the spirit of the child with his former body.
'Whee…Hey, Missus.' the child said, relaxing a little as the motion of the scythe set him free to tumble gently in the air. Death leaned on her scythe.
Yes? And it's "Miss", thankyou.
'Okay, Miss… what happens now?'
Hm?
The child was looking a little scared. L'risia had already explained the facts of the situation to him, i.e. that he was dead. It was fortunate it seemed he hadn't been very happy when he was alive. No family, abusive caretakers, the whole bit. According to the child his leg was broken, although it was hard to tell now..
'Well… the priest says there's these Angels and Demons and-'
Angels and Demons?
The boy nodded, slowly fading.
I think it will be more interesting than that.
Death pushed back her hood and watched time begin again. L'risia's feet remained a foot above the ground, her silvery eyes fixed on the body below her though she didn't really see it.
'Hmph.'
'Having fun?' Rei asked, popping into existence behind her. 'That robe and scythe look suits you, by the way.'
'Thanks. I think. And in answer to your question, not really. While being Death itself is all right in it's own way, I have other duties which I still have to do at the same time as this and I do not appreciate being responsible for hunting down the bastard who does this as well!'
'It must be tough on you.' Rei crooned.
'Don't patronise me. Remember you're doing in this as well.'
Rei scowled and pulled a face, before looking serious again.
'Actually, I need to talk to you about that. I've been hunting down Shabby on the astral plane and I found a fragment of his consciousness.'
'Oh, so that's where you've been.'
'Yeah, and I am starving. They can't cook worth a damn there.'
'Rei, darling, they're Mazoku. They're not supposed to be good at cooking. Back on track please?'
'Right, right. Anyway. Shabby reckons that we're getting whatever it is pissed off so if we make targets of ourselves. Er… and…'
'What?' L'risia asked warily. Rei whispered in her ear. 'WHAT?!'
'That is exactly what I said.'
