The Status Quo
Chapter Two: What Mazoku Can Do
part 1
Filia shut the door behind her with her foot as she carried the now fully awake and hungry Val past the rows of ornate pottery and deadly maces (kept on racks higher above to protect smallish hands). She couldn't help but smile and even began to hum a song as she prepared a formula for Val. Xellos's games and tricks that he would play on her had began as annoying and downright frightening, but now they seemed to have become almost amusing, though still annoying. She stifled a yawn as she began to feed Val, propping up on her knee she thought about the first time he had attempted the stunt he pulled earlier. It was several weeks ago, she had awoken from what little sleep she could get in the company of a child as young as Val to discover him missing from his crib. She frantically searched throughout the entire house turning over almost every piece of furniture she owned. It was only after this overflowing of surprise, fear, and panic that she noticed that Xellos was outside. She opened the front door to find Xellos sitting in a rocking chair beside a little table that held two cups of tea, feeding baby Val. She became instantly filled with righteous anger, bashing him on the head before another thing could be said.
"Xellos must have really enjoyed that game" she thought because he attempted virtually the same thing eight times more on different days the following weeks until today. She had come to decide that if he wanted to feed off of her emotions that she should at least give him something to chew on. So as long as no harm came to her Val, and she knew that he would not do such a thing, she would express all the anger and frustration she felt inside. After the bottle was drained Filia walked back to the nursery, patting him softly on the back in case he had to burp along the way. She turned the rocking chair that was facing the eastern window around before sitting in it so that the sun would not be in her eyes before seating herself in it. She gently rocked back and forth cradling Val in her arms as feeding always made him drowsy again for a short period it was very convenient to have the chair right next to the crib. Singing something soothing always helped a baby to fall asleep, digest, or both so she began to search her mind for something suitable. It was then that unbidden she recalled a song made her stop rocking.
She had gone shopping nearly a month and a half ago and as a measure of last resort she enlisted the aid of Xellos in babysitting Val while she was gone. It was only a short while, but even so she was extremely apprehensive.
"If he gets hungry you have to feed him using a bottle and this formula" she explained irritatingly as she pointed toward the items,
"Hai Fi-chan"
"Then you have to pat him on the back very softly to help him burp if he has to"
"Hai Fi-chan"
"And if he messes his diaper you have to change it, do you know how to do that?!"
"Hai Fi-chan"
"I'll only be gone for an hour or two at the most so don't do anything bad while I'm gone, and if you hurt one hair on his head I'll kill you!"
She promptly slammed the door, a few seconds passed before the door slammed open, "And stop calling me Fi-chan!" she yelled in anger before slamming the door a final time, "Hai, Fi-chan" he said quietly with his trademark closed eyes smile, as baby Val cooed in his arms.
She was so worried about Val in the care of that Mazoku that she couldn't even haggle properly and ended up paying a lot more for the wares she was purchasing, but she couldn't help it. She sped home as fast as she could, the cart full of various pottery and mace type items practically flew, until it came to a skidding dust filled stop at the entrance to her home. She ran as fast as she could inside, past the shop and into the kitchen she could find no sight of them, she thought abut screaming for the Mazoku to come out at the top of her lungs, but before she could she heard a noise coming from the nursery. She reached the top of the stairwell and simply stared into the nursery, there was Xellos rocking in the chair cradling a sleeping Val in his arms. She clutched the door frame as she heard the soft notes of a song that Xellos was singing
"Somewhere in the world,
There is a Darkness beyond the Light,
Somewhere in the world,
There is a Light within the Dark,
Your heart will find them there,
It will know who they really are,
That they are the same,
That you may love them equally
Because you are...
His voice had cut off at that moment, that soothing, kind, trusting voice that just seemed to radiate warmth, apparently because he noticed her presence there for the first time. When she pressed him about its origin he had blown her off with his usual, "sore wa himitsu desu" which had followed by the usual mace and grab Val maneuver. Filia completed singing what part of the song she had heard Xellos sing, she noticed how fast it seemed to put Val to sleep as she held his warm weight in her arms.
"I'll have to ask him what the rest of that song was one of these days" she spoke to herself quietly so as not to awaken Val as she placed him gently into his crib.
The day was passing slowly, uneventfully, so few customers came that day that several times Filia thought that she might have forgotten to flip the open sign on the door. She just sat lazily sipping her tea as late afternoon came on. She found herself wishing that Xel would show up just for the company. However, the Mazoku didn't return that afternoon like he usually managed to do, nor did he show up in the evening. Filia was on her 3rd cup of coffee and fourth Val related disturbance before she decided to go to bed feeling slightly depressed.
Filia awoke the next morning to bright sunlight streaming through an open window that was on the wall to the back of the headboard of her bed.
"This doesn't feel right" she thought, "Val should have woken me up earlier than this" a quick check of the clock to the left of her bed revealed that it was already 9:00AM in the now latish morning. If that was not startling enough of a revelation a familiar voice was heard to the left of her well rested yet still morning clogged brain.
"Ohayo, Filia" said the voice until Filia turned her head to confirm it was him, then to lay back in bed, for a few moments then confirm it again with more of a shock.
"Xellos what are you doing here?!" she half questioned half screamed hurrying to cover up what was already covered up by a decent set of pajamas.
"I came to apologize" he said in his jovial manner pulling from either behind his back or from the astral plain a gorgeous bouquet of sunflowers.
Birds swam in the sea, fish sunned themselves comfortably on sandy beaches, and porcupines played violins in the vastness of space, and now Xel was apologizing.
"For me?" Filia could only question weakly,
"Hai"
Filia stared from the flowers she now held into her hand to Xellos's now slightly open eyes, "something isn't right here" was the only thing that came to mind.
"umm, thanks, though I'm not really sure what it is your apologizing for" she responded honestly as she got out of bed fixing her hair in a more presentable manner,
Xellos straightened from his bent position, "Let's just say their payment for all the sleep you lost due to my fun"
Filia's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "this really doesn't seem right at all" she thought as she placed the flowers on a nearby table to decide what to do with them later, "this better not be some kind of sick game, Xellos" a hint of anger rising in her at the thought. She turned to face him once more.
"So what happens now?" she asked him as he stood there on the other side of her bed staff in hand. Xellos scratched his chin in thought, "hmm, well Val hasn't had a bath in a little while, well besides that one time..." recalling that one inspired lake incident a little while back. Filia blushed slightly at the memory, "He hasn't so what about it?" she asked sounding protective,
"I was thinking we could go to the hot springs together, I hear they're very good around here" he stated whimsically his eyes closed once more. Filia was slightly taken aback
"why does he all of a sudden bring this up? What could his game possibly be this time?"
"you mean like a family trip?" she asked sounding nonchalant as she became very interested in some of the sunflower pedals,
"If you want to make it one"
Filia's heart was pounding slightly faster now, she turned around to see Xellos's eyes were completely open, his expression seemed that of a slight smile. "I suppose if its just to give him a bath it would be fine considering today is a Saturday"
Xellos nodded as he phased out of the room, Filia smiled, "if I make it one"
She dressed rather quickly taking a short period to brush her hair and dress in springtime light blue blouse and skirt combo. She was halfway down the stairs when she noticed Xellos standing in the kitchen wearing his usual shirt and pants, except now he was without his usual cape, gloves, staff, and amulets he usually had, it made a real difference in his look.
"Shall we go then?" he asked as he stood holding Val in a basket
"sure"
They walked down the dusty path that went from the shop to the center of town and the hot springs a little further away all in one 2 mile stretch. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, the air was fresh and crisp, birds flew high in the sky, yes it was a gorgeous day.
"Its such a beautiful day!" Filia couldn't help but exclaim as they casually walked among the wildflowers and grassland that her home was just skirting
"un" was Xellos's only reply
Filia turned to find that he was not staring at the beauty that was around them but rather at her, she quickly turned away feeling a blush creep up, "but I'm sure you much prefer the darkness since you are a Mazoku" she said quickly shaking her head the blush receding away,
Xellos smiled in contemplation as he altered his gaze back to the road, they were approaching a small grove of trees that temporarily blocked out the sun, "There are many enjoyable things that can be done in the nighttime, but to say that I like the night doesn't mean I don't equally enjoy the daytime, Filia"
"oh, is that so?" Filia concluded with a slight chuckle as they excited the grove, the town was very small, its main street which they were now walking on covered only a few hundred feet, it petered off on one end to Filia's shop and the other end to a large expanse of hot springs.
They reached the hot springs quickly marveling over its size, it was one large pool in the center with smaller pools circling it. At the center of the larger pool was a large rock as well as several other flat rocks on various other locations around the pool. There didn't appear to be anyone else there. "alright then" Xellos said putting down Val's basket, "I suppose I should go in first"
"alright"
"I trust you wont peek"
"Like I'd want to" Filia responded flustered as she turned around. She heard the sounds of Xellos taking off his shirt, pants, and shoes. The splashing of the water as he got in taking Val with him.
"Alright Filia, I'm behind a rock" he called back at her from the spring, "alright then" was her response before removing her own blouse, skirt, and undergarments. The matter was decided on so quickly that she hadn't even thought about needing a towel. She turned to the hot spring, "yare yare Fi-chan I didn't know how grown up of a body you had" came the jovial shout from Xellos who had decided to hide behind one of the many flat rocks that still provided a great view. A surprised and enraged Filia could do little more than shout, "Damn you Xellos!" before hoping into the water to conceal herself.
Xellos turned to Val who he held in the water, "your mommy really does have a nice figure, your very lucky" to this of course the baby squealed, Xellos smirked until a descent sized rock hit him square in the head, "and a good temper too" he added before cautiously moving to the far side of the larger rock.
"I can't believe he would remind me not to peek and then peek himself! He makes me so angry I could just bash him! If only I had my mace!" she fumed, "but wait a minute..." a mental image of Xellos moments ago filtered back into her mind, "yes that's him peeking at me, do I really need to be reminded of this embarrassment, mind?" but his eyes were closed a little voice resounded in her head. Another look at the memory revealed that yes he wasn't looking, Filia was confused.
"So what does that tell me exactly, that he was being considerate, or he just doesn't care" in an instant she felt the later must be true, however...
"He has been very considerate and downright helpful for some time now" she spoke softly into the water as she lay against the rock. Memories came to her of all the times he had been there even if it was just to annoy her by playing another one of his tricks like replacing her tea with coffee or drawing on the walls, or that time when he... kissed her on the cheek to apologize for uprooting her garden that meant so much to her. She shook her head shaking away the blush that had crept up, she sat up straighter against the rock as she calmly listened to the myriad of sounds the spring was making.
All around was the sounds of running water, it dripped from rocks and overhanging trees, it raced from pools higher up creating a gentle current. The steam rose up all around her as little bubbles rose from its depths. And somewhere in the back of her she could hear the joyful splashing of play. It suddenly felt very lonely bathing by oneself. Filia desperately wanted some company, or at least to see what was going on what with all the frantic splashing she was hearing, "but I can't go over there, that would be peeping, and the last thing I want is to be a peeper" but you are curious to see what he looks like, right? "What do you know your just a voice in my head!" she exclaimed to no one in particular, "alright that's it, this is crazy, I'm talking to a voice in my head" she shook said head violently. "Alright here's my plan!" she exclaimed to her head, "I will go over there and peep at Val, now if that means Xellos is there than thats fine because I'm a girl and if he looks over and finds me then he's peeping and thusly I can bash him, and if he doesn't then everyone will be none the wiser! That should work right?"
Logic Confirmed
"Alright then let's go" determination spreading she slowly crept across the larger rock using whatever means for cover. She reached the other side quickly to find Xellos sitting in the water next to a shallow pool where Val sat. He was presently splashing water on Val playfully, Val was apparently pretty good at splashing as Xellos hair was dripping with water. It was so strange to Filia to see a Mazoku do the kinds of things that seemed to come natural to Xellos. She hardly had to explain how to feed Val, or to change him. He discovered on his own how Val liked to be rocked and had even given her some pointers on how he should be held as if he had done it all before. Seeing him now she could only smile at how much like a father he had seemed to become, so not the typical demon image that one would think of, if she didn't know any better she would swear he was a human and not a creature of the dark. The Mazoku, the sworn enemy of all dragons, the only thing on his body that made her think of them was his eyes that remained so blank and distant, that seemed to show no emotion with. The rest, oh right the rest... she had noticed that she had been staring at Xellos for quite some time noticing his thin yet strong exterior, his playful smile that he wore on most days, his sopping purple hair, the way all this made her heart go apitter patter. She watched as Val got a good hold on a lock of his hair...
Xellos was very much so enjoying himself so much so that he had almost forgotten what it was he was supposed to do today, a task he would disdain to no end. He looked at the little baby who sat so cutely in the shallow pool he was in merrily splashing the water about, "Hey Val" he said in the kind of childlike voice reserved exclusively for discussing important matters with children, it caught Val's attention so that he was now looking straight at Xellos. "Just between you, me, and the water I'm going to have to do something very terrible in a very short while, but I want you to be strong for your mother, because by the time its all over things should be just as they are, I hope"
Val looked at him strangely, "So what do you think of that?" Xellos commented as he leaned his head in so it was level with Val's. He quickly felt a tugging on his hair as he noticed the toddler had a firm grip on his hair and was pulling at it. He smiled sweetly as he lifted the baby from the pool and gently released Val's grip from his hair as he walked toward the larger rock. Undaunted Val grasped on to one of his fingers and refused to let go, "Your a persistent little thing aren't you, strong grip too, reminds me a lot of your father" his smile fading for a moment as if he were suddenly remembering something unpleasant as he walked back toward the large rock. Filia chose this moment to leave fearing that Xellos would want to leave soon only to find her spying.
It was roughly fifteen minutes later however that Xellos signaled that they should probably go. Filia was back on land and dressed in the instant he had called her mind blazing. "What did he mean by Val's father? How could he know anything about the Ancient Dragons if only Golden Dragons were involved in their massacre?" she shivered slightly at that thought the memories of the truth still scarred in her memory.
Nevertheless she looked away as he exited the hot spring and put on his clothes once more securing Val in the basket. "How about lunch?" Xellos offered
"You offering lunch Xellos? How unusual"
"I don't think it is so strange for the number of times you've had me over"
"Uninvitedly" Filia sneered, Although it could be a good opportunity to ask a few questions... "What about Val?"
"Don't worry he's covered" Xellos commented revealing a hidden compartment beneath where Val lay containing two bottles of formula and a whole diaper changing kit, "wow, you come prepared" was all Filia could say
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Chapter Two: end
Sorry for the strange break here, I was planning on making this and chapter three one longish chapter, but I felt that posting it like this would satiate those readers who wanted to see part of where this was going. The next chapter should be finished very quickly so don't worry this is only a temporary cliff hanger :)