Kin & Kind, Pt. 5
A couple months after returning to Seyruun, Lina giggled a real giggle for the first time in a long while as a tiny limb caused a strange, hollow tickle in her middle. A corresponding ripple crossed the surface of her naked abdomen. She watched in fascination as more movement followed. Here was confirmation of new life forming. She had rolled her hair in such a way as to form a pillow for her neck and was resting her head on the edge of a quiet, shallow natural pool in a sun-dappled glade in the woods near Seyruun. Letting her body relax in the water, she watched her belly, which seemed to float like a jellyfish in the pool. Jellyfish. Tears began trickling down her cheeks.
"Damn it, Gourry, you should be here!" she moaned, sitting up and splashing the water with both fists. For a few brief moments she considered just letting herself sink down in the water and not coming up, but the thought of the life within saved her yet again as did her own innate, insatiable curiosity as to what life itself had to offer.
Yes, he should be there to share the joy of the quickening of their child. But given their dangerous life style, she knew he might not be when they decided this baby was a delightful 'accident'. Most of the time now she put on a cheerful face and attitude for others, but without him she felt inside like one of those stuffed cotton dolls with the mechanism that spouted pre-set phrases when a ring in the back was pulled. She missed his arm around her waist or hand on a breast as they snuggled at night. The warmth of his smooth, muscular chest had been so comforting on chilly evenings. She even longed to feel him affectionately ruffle the hair on the top of her head, although when she had first met him, it had infuriated her. She was also achingly uncertain what future motherhood would produce without his support. She needed his calm reassurance and matter of fact outlook on life.
Just when she started to feel depressed again, she thought of her first visit with Sylphiel after Gourry's death.
[Flashback]
When Lina felt emotionally ready, she sought out Sylphiel, who had become high priestess of one of the more prestigious temples in Seyruun. It was especially hard for Lina to break the news of Gourry's death to Sylphiel, not only for the pain it caused Lina herself to relate it, but also because Lina knew the depth of the priestess' feelings for Gourry.
As a powerful priestess of white and holy magic, Sylphiel knew right away Lina was pregnant and clapped her hands joyfully, but when she asked, "Where is Gourry, Lina? I want to congratulate him, too," Lina tried to hid her deep hurt by seeming to return to a feigned callous attitude.
"Oh, that big, dumb blond that used to hang around me? Yeah, he's the father of the kid, but he didn't stick around."
Sylphiel eyes widened in shock, "But, but I can't believe Gourry would desert you, especially in your condition."
Lina clenched her teeth and dipped her head for a few seconds.
"Lina, do you need to talk? I ask not only in my official capacity as a priestess, but as a friend." Sylphiel reached out to embrace the sorceress.
Suddenly Lina lifted her head and, looking Sylphiel straight in the face, blurted out, "Oh gods, Sylphiel, the truth is, he died after protecting me!"
She accepted Sylphiel's embrace and told her what had happened. Emotion broke through the priestess' professional facade, and both women sank weeping in each others arms to the floor in Sylphiel's small, comfortable living room. In a strange way Lina felt comforted, for she had never felt as close to Sylphiel as she did then, despite the stab she took to her already wounded heart when Sylphiel looked sadly away and said, "At least you had happiness with him for a while. Many never share such love, and now you have something miraculous to remind you of him." Lina gave a small smile and nodded her head in agreement. Sylphiel always could make her feel better. The white shrine priestess fit her calling very well.
Now semi-floating in the pool, Lina thought, yes, Sylphiel had been right. She did have a small miracle forming inside her. Said small miracle caused another ripple in her abdomen. Lina rubbed the mound of impending motherhood absent mindedly, her hands gently moving in small circles. She again contemplated the child literally within and her stretching skin.
"Is that the start of stretch marks? Thanks a lot, kid. First you take away my black magic, and now I've gotta invest in cocoa butter. Otherwise my tum will look like a rotting grapefruit when you're out."
"Very interesting and very dangerous," cackled a rough, female voice. "My master will be delighted that I killed you just in time."
The mazoku 'female's' four hands started to glow with power, and Lina felt annoyance, rather than fear.
"Hey, interrupting a pregger in her private soak isn't nice!" Lina responded and used her pregnancy enhanced shaman powers to promptly set up a strong shield. But she knew that was only a temporary measure. She couldn't maintain it forever, and the Blast Blade under her pile of clothes was out of her reach. She started to gather power to cast Ra Tilt.
A sudden blast of light coming from behind and over the sorceress' head totally disintegrated the creature.
"Wow, they've grown bigger!" an achingly familiar voice chuckled.
"G-G-Gourry?!! She stuttered and covered her breasts with her hands. "No, you're either a ghost or another mazoku in disguise!!!" she angrily shouted and started to prepare a white defensive spell.
Golden hair swung down, strong arms pulled her out of the water, and a voice laughingly whispered in her ear, "Page 63, no mustard."
Lina gasped and stared. His words confirmed it was he and a deep, passionate kiss on the lips that he was no mazoku. She chortled and promptly fainted.
And awoke to find herself dressed in her loose, magenta maternity robe and wrapped in his warm arms. She and he were lying in the shade of a water oak that stood near the pool.
"Wha-? How, how, how?" she inquired, struggling to sit up and staring at his face in amazement and disbelief. "Amelia couldn't have been wrong. I held a mirror to your nose for several minutes, and there was no breath! You were so cold, still and white!"
Although he was dressed differently, the summer gold tresses, the face, the hands, everything that made him Gourry were the same. Only the once innocent blue eyes held a greater depth, and a glimmer of light, like the bright flecks in lapis lazuli, seemed to appear here and there.
"Hey, remember when you told Sylphiel I could be killed and still wouldn't die?" he reminded her. "You were right, as always." He then gathered her back in his arms, kissed the hair on top of her head, and murmured, "Mmmm, you are more beautiful than ever."
"But you took out that mazoku with magic! Since when can you do that?" she blushingly asked, looking up at him and toying with a lock of his hair.
With a serious face, he replied, "Since The Golden Lord restored me. I guess I was only partly dead when you sent my body down the river. My soul was still lingering, because I didn't want to leave you. And thank you, by the way, for remembering my family's final voyage tradition. It made things much easier for the Lord. If I had been buried, I would have been mostly dead, or, if I had been cremated, I would have been definitely dead."
"That still doesn't explain the magic and with no incantations, no less." She said impatiently.
"The Golden Lord gave me back myself and then some."
[Flashback]
Gourry awoke to find himself floating in a place he vaguely remembered. Pain was gone. As he puzzledly looked around, he noticed what seemed a golden version of Lina slowly materializing in front of him.
"Lina? Didn't I save you after all? Don't tell me you're dead, too!"
The figure answered in a low, ringing female voice, "No, I am not your Lina. I thought appearing in this form would make things easier to explain to you by giving you someone familiar to look at."
"Eh, I usually have a hard time following what Lina says. She's too cute," Gourry admitted ruefully and rubbed the back of his head in his usual befuddled way. "Maybe you'd better take someone else's form so I don't automatically switch off what brain I've got, Ma'am."
"Male or female?" the entity asked.
"Female?"
"You got it. Men seem to admire this one." She disintegrated in sparkles and reassembled as a tall, long-haired blonde woman whose bangs covered Her eyes. What could be seen of Her face was in perfect proportions and gorgeous, as was Her body. She was clothed in a strapless, black sheath that reached Her feet and that was slit high up the side. Her slender arms were adorned with gold bangles, and Her fingernails were finely manicured. She was truly drool-worthy. "You like?"
"Yeah, a little too much," he admitted sheepishly. "I'll still have a hard time listening. Maybe if you were dressed a little differently?"
The Lord of Nightmares sighed and flicked a hand in annoyance. She was then dressed in jeans, hiking boots, and a long sleeved, loose-fitting, plaid flannel shirt in place of the sexy dress and spike-heeled sandals. Her hair was done back in a long braid. Crossing Her legs and sitting down in mid-chaos, She inquired, "Ok, now?"
Gourry sat down in the same way and responded, "Yeah. Thanks. Uh, how come I'm back here in one piece, body and all, and not dispersed or in heaven or in hell or whatever? And what do I call you?"
"Well, dear boy, to begin with, I have a little deal I'd like to propose to you. It's a darn good thing your wife and friends didn't bury or cremate you. It woulda meant more work for me to start from scratch. As to the second question, some call me the Lord of Nightmares, some the Lord of Dreams or Visions, some the Mother of All. I am all of these. Moma-sama, I guess." She gave a very un-lord like giggle. "But you may call me [dramatic pause] T.I.M."
"Huh?"
"Terrifyingly Infinite Majesty."
"Really?"
"Or, I guess the usual fanfic spawned, redundant L-sama will do."
"Yes, L-sama, T.I.M., Ma'am," Gourry acknowledged with a salute of his hand to his forehead.
She smiled and said "Let's get down to business. The Balance between Light and Dark is getting harder and harder to maintain, although, actually, I like things just a tad off. It makes watching more interesting than if everything was sunshine and roses. However, there are times nowadays when I feel I must interfere to keep things from going too far out of whack, as much as I'd like to refrain from doing so. But it's difficult without any servants directly linked to me and having to wait for someone to cast the Giga Slave. You know what a mess THAT creates. My Dark side finds it amusing, but my Light side is appalled at the clean-up needed. What I propose is I'll give you your physical body back with a memory restoration and upgrade. Nothing of your skills and present memories will be lost, but you will be able to do what your world calls magic."
"Why me of all people, and what is the catch?"
"You did something no human, or in your case, part-human, ever did. You TOUCHED me. And in the Sea of Chaos, at that. Your pure heart and strength of love enabled you to defy me and enter my Sea of Chaos. You broke barriers no other physical entity could breach, even those with magical power. Normally only astral beings like the mazuko and dragons can do such a thing, but not if I don't want them to. Plus that little brat of a grandson, Phibrizzo, also managed to release an unexpected hidden power in you. You are much more than you know, and I mean to bring you up to full potential."
She continued, "The catch is every once in a while you will let me take over when the Balance is such great danger there is no other way."
"Be your puppet, in other words?"
"No, really an avatar," Seeing his puzzled look at the word 'avatar' and fearing an awful pun was in the making, She warned, "Uh, uh. Not a word, or this interview will end unpleasantly." He shut his mouth and complied. "Avatar means you'd be my representative on your world, somewhat like a messenger at times," She added.
"And I'll get to be with Lina and our child?" he asked as he looked down and stroked the lock of red somehow still in his hand.
"Oh, yes, Lina'll be needed, too, as well as your children, although I don't want to say how or why at this moment. Let me just comment that now, of all times, she and your future children need your protection the most. You'll be my true Swordsman of Light."
"You won't use my body too often, and I'll have free will otherwise?"
"Of course. It's the free will that makes my creations interesting to watch!"
After a few moments of thought, he struck his fist in his hand and said, "Ok!"
"Before you return though, you will need more training. Otherwise, who knows what disaster may occur? Ah, wait a minute, as an omniscient being, actually, I do."
"How long? Lina will miss and need me."
"Sorry, won't say. First, I'll upgrade your wetware for more memory and wireless networking with me. Then I need to create a dimensional pocket for you to live, study, and train in..." L-sama murmured more to Herself than to him, as She caused Gourry to fall into unconsciousness again.
[End of flashback]
Gourry explained to Lina, "L-sama said there is too much that must be done to preserve the right Balance in this world. The Lord of Order and Chaos apparently requires us both here. On the human level I'm still Gourry, but Moma-sama has made me something else.
"Yeah, you sure are "something else," Gourry. "Moma-sama?" That's, that's...you, alright," Lina commented. "But why did the Lord of Nightmares take you from me, and why has She returned you to me?"
"Because now you need protection more than ever, especially since you insist on going places alone like this in your condition." he answered, gently rubbing her rounded belly.
"Condition, smishion. I can't stand the fuss, fuss, FUSS of Amelia and her father. And then Amelia's sister, Naga, is back. I traveled with her before I met you. She is SO irritating. Just wait until you hear her laugh. I absolutely HAVE to escape every once in a while." Lina groused.
"Now that I'm back, we can escape together. You really can't be without protection, and as L-sama's human rep., I'm supposed to provide it. Since that adventure with Phibrizzo, you have been truly one of L-sama's as well, although not conscious of it. I don't know the full extent of Her intent, but T.I.M. will reveal more to us both at a later time."
"T.I.M.?"
"Terrifyingly Infinite Majesty."
"Whatever. I just hope it isn't at an inappropriate time, like when we're eating, bathing, or (blush) in bed," Lina commented. "But I'm still not clear why we're Chosen and if that is a good thing."
Gourry replied, "Anyway, it seems the majority of what's left of the mazoku lords wish to destroy our world of order, not destroy the world itself. They desire to subsitute a world of chaos. Hellmaster's destruction apparently made them realize they were mistaken as to Mother of All's intent in their creation. The rebel Gaav actually was carrying out Her Will more closely. We apparently can help prevent total chaos… Whoa, is that the baby moving?!"
"Yes. The movement just recently became very noticeable," she giggled and then said thoughtfully, "Yet the Lord of Nightmares is Chaos, the Sea of Chaos. Why would She want Balance?"
"Ah, come on, Lina. You must be aware L-sama is not only Lord of Nightmares. She is a Dark Lord and a Light Lord, and also the Opposite of Nightmares, the Lord of Visions. Chaos can accidentally create order by being chaos. Thus L-sama is Chaos and Order, demon and god, Lord of Opposing Natures, keeping us off balance to maintain Balance." He added, "Although L-sama admitted total Balance is boring and prefers it to teeter-totter."
"LOON. Appropriate name, I suppose," Lina muttered under her breath and then declared aloud, "L-sama HAS done a number to improve your thinking processes. Coherent, philosophical thought from a jellyfish?"
"If it makes you feel any better, I can still forget names and stuff."
"Yeah, like coming back to me before this," she furiously cried and suddenly grabbed him in her famous choke-hold. "These have been the worst months of my life. I've been close to suicide because of you!"
"URK, grk! Let …me…explain!" he managed to gasp out. "Sheesh, being pregnant hasn't calmed you down."
"It's because I AM pregnant and have missed you very, very much that I'm this way, you jerk!" she huffed, but relaxed her hold.
"Lina, it took time for me to learn, understand, and use responsibly the powers L-sama has given me. To appear again to you beforehand would have been dangerous to both of us and to the Balance. And let me tell you, the accelerated magic training I got was no fun. I can't tell you how many times I got killed, maimed, and restored until I got things right."
Here Lina muttered in sympathy, "At least my sister only almost killed me."
Gourry continued, "So blame L-sama. She did let me peek in on you from time to time, though. I did think and hoped She might let me return when you went to my family and my sister began plotting to get you killed."
Lina sucked her breath through her teeth and gave him a fist on the top of his head in her inimitable style. "Damn, I wish we had visited them the first time I was with you in Elmekia. On the other hand, I had strongly suspected your brother was behind the assassin at our wedding and probably would have blasted the wrong person's butt to blazes."
"And caused a never-ending family feud with revenge being taken by all sides."
"Like your new outfit, by the way," Lina grinned and changed the subject.
Indeed, he was radiant in white trousers and tunic with golden trim on his sleeves and collar. Golden gauntlets, greaves, and pectoral armor lay by his side.
"Thanks, Lina. By the way, that's my sword, isn't it?"
"Ah, shoot, you noticed. Now I suppose you want to take it back. Say, since you can do magic now, why do you need it?"
"And why does Zel need a sword and you, Love, since you both use magic?"
"Umm, does anyone else know you are alive?" she asked in return as she made a show of reluctantly giving him the Blast Blade. "If they do, they are going to suffer more than I have!" she added menacingly.
"No, L-sama just dumped me here."
"So what else can you do? Ray Wing?"
"Of course."
"Prove it!" she challenged, her hands on her hips, nose lifted up at him, and a dangerous twinkle in her eyes. "How about we give Amelia and Zel a little surprise? I think they're in Amelia's apartment in the castle."
Gourry put on his armor and the Blast Blade. Then he scooped her up in his arms, and with a shouted "Ray Wing!" they zoomed out of the green glade.
And succeeded in scaring the be-jabbers out of Amelia, Sylphiel and Zelgadis as they flew in through an open window of Amelia's castle apartment. It didn't help that Lina was also screeching, "Wa-hoo! Daddy's home and Momma's hungry!"
Sylphiel, who was visiting,flopped down in a swoon on the floor. Zelgadis, who had been sipping tea and leaning over the back of the chair on which Amelia sat, spilled the hot liquid all down his front and Amelia's back, causing her to jump up, trip over the prone Sylphiel, and fall flat on her face into a chocolate and caramel cheesecake Sylphiel had just made and was about to serve. Lina gobbled up the remains of the cheesecake in seconds flat while the others recovered from shock and faint and began questioning Gourry, who looked longingly at the rapidly disappearing cake and the cause of its disappearance.
Suddenly Xelloss phased in but did not notice the swordsman, who made "bunny" ears with his fingers back of the mazoku's head. Xelloss gave a puzzled look to see Zel smiling so broadly at his appearance. Usually the chimera's normally angered expression at his arrival gave the mazoku evil satisfaction and a nice little snack. As golden waves of goodness slapped the back of his dark astral self, he turned to see Gourry. "Well, I see the Lord of Nightmares finally did an upgrade on you, Swordsman. The Mother of All always did favor blonds," Xelloss complained.
"And what brings you here, Fruitcake?" Zelgadis growled.
"Why, I haven't congratulated Lina on conceiving," the trickster explained with false innocence.
"Well, that's a better response than "It's a secret," although not truly informative. 'Truly' as in 'truth', that is."
"Ach, the pain of mistrust," and Xelloss melodramatically clutched his chest. "Actually, I'm here for a little game, if anyone would care to take me up on it."
"A game?" Lina snorted. "I bet it's more than that and dangerous besides."
"Oh, not at all," the mazoku reassured them. "No one will be hurt, if one of you plays."
"And if no one does?"
"There might be some problems," Xelloss admitted, and his purple cat eyes opened halfway.
"What might this game be?" Zel asked through his gritted teeth.
"Actually, it's more of a little musical competition." Xelloss then magically pulled a fiddle and bow out of the bag he always wore by his side.
"And the prize?" Amelia asked.
"Why, Lina's baby. When it's born, of course."
"WHAT!!!" everyone else in the room shrieked.
"Tsk, tsk. Calm down and I'll explain," the mazoku purred.
Amazingly enough, considering it was his child Xelloss was talking about, Gourry spoke and moved his palms in a downward motion to settle everyone. "Let's hear this nonsense before we kick his butt." He glared at Xelloss.
Crossing his feet at the ankles, Xelloss seated himself in the air as though sitting in chair. "As you well know, Lina has been most emphatic about never joining us, despite all she draws on our dark power. That blond bozo over there just brings out the good in her too well. My master thinks the mazoku will do better with her child, especially if we can bring it up in our ways without human, elf, or draconic interference. Zelas made sure Lina and Gourry were safely together until Lina became pregnant. We had planned to eliminate Gourry to make adopting the child easier, but Mother of All interferred. We'll face The Mother's wrath if we harm him now."
"How do you know it will have the Talent? It could be hopeless about magic, as Gourry once was," Lina scoffed.
"No such luck, Lina. Through her powers, Zelas was able to determine your daughter's potential when the child was conceived. She could exceed you, given proper training."
Lina looked at Gourry with stars in her eyes and clasped his hands. "A daughter! We're going to have a little girl!" Lina bubbled.
"Uh, actually, Lina, I knew that. The Golden Lord told me."
"And you didn't tell me?!" She punched him in the stomach and grabbed him in that choke-hold again.
"You didn't ask, and I haven't had the time to tell you yet," he gasped out.
"Ah, can we get back to my proposition, folks?" Xelloss testily asked, waving fiddle and bow in the air.
"I take it there's something to do with music?" Zelgadis commented.
"Why, yes, my good Chimera. There is. Dare any of you 'play fiddle with the devil', aka, me? Well, you don't really have to play fiddle. Any instrument will do."
Rage boiled up in Zelgadis.
"Mister Zelgadis, there's steam coming out of your ears. Better adjust your lid and turn down the heat," Xelloss joked.
Zelgadis turned to his friends. "Lina and Gourry, you know I'm an excellent guitar player. Do you wish me to defend..."
"No, Zel, the darkness in your soul won't let you win. I'll play. It's my child," Gourry explained simply.
"Huh? What instrument can you play?" Amelia looked askance at the golden swordsman.
"This," the man replied and produced a beautifully inlaid wooden flute.
Lina smiled with love and remembrance at her husband. "That's right. You played beautifully for your grandmother's dance circle. Go, Gourry!" and she added softly and imploringly, "Please."
With an trademarked evil, amethyst-eyed grin, Xelloss placed the fiddle against his chest and raised his bow confidently. With an initial loud screech that had everyone, except Gourry, writhing in pain he played "The Devil went down to Zephilia," "Night on Kataart Mountain." and other songs that caused great sadness, despair, and doubt in their hearts. They collapsed on the floor and stared mournfully at nothing.
Except, again, for Gourry, who serenely and beautifully countered with "Red-haired Girl" and other melodies that lifted their hearts and set them to dancing. As he played and his body swayed with the music, Gourry's hair swung in great swoops, sending golden reflections flashing throughout the room. But it was the power of the "Kiss in the Sea of Chaos" that finally caused the 'devil's instrument' to break in two in Xelloss' hands and the monster's face to go green. The mazoku collapsed on himself and black fluid flowed from his mouth as he phased away, unable to stand up to the love and joy filling the room. They heard him mutter as he left, "That's not fair, Lord of Nightmares."
Only Lina noticed that Gourry's eyes were golden and and rapidly turning back to blue.
"Yuck," Amelia said as everyone cheered in jubilation. "I hope the palace maids can get that monster ichor stain out of the rug."
As Lina clung to his neck and covered his face with kisses, despite her normal reluntance to give public displays of affection, Gourry gave a self-satisfied smile. A sudden rumbling caused him to look at the Seyruun princess pleadingly.
"Gods, Amelia, I'm still human enough to be as hungry as Lina! When can we eat?"
"Yeah, that cheesecake just wet my appetite," Lina pouted, snuggling into the curve of Gourry's arm and chest.
"Guess you two are almost back to your usual selves," sighed Amelia. "Our poor cooks! Well, let me warn them to get busy."
Later that evening, to Gourry's and her delight, Lina discovered more than one type of appetite had returned to her, which was fine, since she hadn't yet entered her final trimester. But let's draw the curtain on this particular episode and this fic. To paraphrase an ancient folk tale and folk song ending: There's bread and cheese on the shelf. If you want more food, then get it yourself.
"Konets"
(The end)
says the old mother
NOTES at the end of it all and possibly some explanations for my reader-friends not in the U.S.:
Fans of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" might have enjoyed the T.I.M. joke.
Apparently 'sama' can loosely mean either 'lord' or 'dear.' Thus the 'L' in L-sama being short for 'Lord of Nightmares' can be like saying 'Lord of Nightmares Lord,' but it's one of those fanfiction things like Zel and his coffee that have come into common fanfic usage. 'L-sama' is useful English language fanfic 'shorthand,' though; everybody knows who it is.
In certain Christian extreme fundamentalist churches, the fiddle is considered the 'devil's instrument,' as it could stir the animal passions and lead to 'unholy' dancing. ;-D
"The Devil Went Down to Georgia" was a song popular in the U.S. a while ago. Its story concerned a fiddle competition in the U.S. Southern state of Georgia for the soul of the human competitor. "Red-Haired Boy" is an fast, bouncy old fiddle tune from the Southeastern U.S./Ireland. It's spunky and can have a few dark, minor sounding chords in it. It fits Lina. The last song title is just made up and has only a relation to the last episode of Next.
Tying up some questions from readers about references in other parts.
For Slayers fans who haven't had access to translated manga: In the first manga of Super Explosive Demon Story, the next to last episode, Lina and Gourry ran into an old buddy of Gourry's, who had fought next to him in a war. Without war, Grize had become a drunken brawler by day and guard to a cult of demon worshipers at night. He didn't care about demons, but hoped that raising a powerful one would start a war, because he thought the adrenline rush and spoils of war were better than guarding a scrawny little girl. Grize tried to murder Lina while she was concentrating on preventing the raising of the demon. In probably one of the hardest moments of Gourry's life, Gourry had to kill his old friend, although true to his style, he tried to prevent it by talking to him and warning him off first. The creators themselves seemed to have written Gourry OOC.
Usually my stories have no continuity with each other. Early on, this one did have some hints to another story which never can be published here. If you're interested, e-mail me, and I'll tell you where it and my earliest efforts at Slayers fanfics may be found. The ones on fanfiction.net are the ones people have said they've liked best.
My other pen name means "Old Mother," and with a kid in her mid-twenties, that's what I am. Good anime appeals to all generations, and can take an old lady's mind off her responsibilities and aging bod.
Bye!. Thanks for reading!