Protector

Chapter: 11

All Roads Lead to Zephilia


Next Chapter up...The plot really starts moving from here on out. Hope you enjoy.


Zel opened his eyes when he felt the presence. He sat up and looked around for a moment before saying, "What do you want?"

"Just checking up on you...it seems you've been busy," Vladimir replied as he phased into the clearing.

"Whatever," Zel commented as he slid on his pants without getting out from under his cloak. "What else do you want?"

"Just to let you know that you need to return to the rest of the group and lead them to Zephilia...and yes I know how she reacts to her sister," Vladimir said with a sigh.

At the moment Lina's eyes fluttered open to see Zel sitting cross-legged and looking up. She turned to be met by their visitor. He was about as tall as Zel, if not a little taller, wearing a black trench coat and a strange mask on his face. She also noticed the red hair with sliver streaks fall down to his shoulders. She sat up, while having the place of mind to wrap the cloak around her nude body, and asked, "Let me guess, you're Vladimir?"

"In the flesh...so to speak young Inverse," Vladimir replied somewhat jovially.

Lina looked at the knight with caution before asking, "Why are you protecting me all of a sudden?"

"Let's just say my master finds you too valuable to die," Vladimir replied.

"Could've fooled me...last time I saw your master he was trying to kill me," Lina shot back while she held out a hand for Zel to give her clothing to her.

Zel complied and as Lina was dressing he asked, "Yeah that same question has been nagging me as well. Why all of a sudden the change?"

Vladimir laughed for a second before replying, "That piece is dead. I mainly serve the Demon King of the North, and he seems to think the opposite about you."

Lina, who'd just finished putting back on her shirt, turned and asked with wide eyes, "The Demon King of the North, but he's sealed away in the Karratar Mountains. How can you serve him?"

"Just because he's sealed doesn't mean he can't manifest a small bit of himself...not enough to cause notice but enough to give orders," Vladimir replied while standing up.

Vladimir turned his gaze to Zelgadis and said, "Remember your goal is to reach Zephilia...don't lag behind," before he phased out leaving them alone again.

Lina slowly turned to Zel and asked, "Did...did he say Zephilia?"

Zel sighed and nodded, "For some reason there is something to do with all this mess in your home town."

Before Zel knew it the usually strong Lina Inverse was clutching onto his arm like a frightened two year old. He looked down at her and ran a hand through her hair while whispering, "I know you're afraid of your sister but don't worry I'll be there with you."

Lina smiled weakly and said, "Okay...but only as long as you're there."

Zel nodded as he picked Lina up and said, "Hold on," as he phased out.


Xellos sat at the table with Amelia and Gourry as they ate. He had finally finished healing from that with fight with Ristos. 'Damned old codger still has a good bit of power...well at least I injured him enough to keep him away for a while,' he thought as he watched the two gobble down food at an astounding rate. He took a sip of tea as he tried to relax. Suddenly he felt an aura he knew very well and stood up quickly. "Mr. Xellos what's wrong," asked Amelia as she noticed his movements.

He started walking towards the door of the inn while saying, "Looks like our friends have returned."

As he was reaching the door it flew open to reveal Lina Inverse looking as good as ever. She walked to the group and said, "Heyya guys so how do your little fight with the mazuko go," as she sat down.

"Mrs. Lina," Amelia yelled as she hugged Lina.

"Hey Lina, glad to see you're back," Gourry smiled but then arched a brow and asked, "Hey what happened that bounty hunter guy?"

Lina pried Amelia off of her and said, "He should've been right behind me," Lina turned to see Zel walk in with his hood up.

All looked at him until he stopped at the table and flipped back his hood to show a human Zelgadis, "Hey guys."

Amelia just gawked at this amazing looking man in front of her. Her normal lunge for his arm hadn't even crossed her mind. She was too awestruck by the looks of human Zelgadis. She then asked, "But...that's...that's Mr. Zelgadis...where's Mr. Durzan?"

Zel sighed and said, "Follow me," as he led everyone up to his room.

Both Amelia and Gourry held curious looks. Whereas Xellos and Lina just followed along in case Amelia had a conniption fit about what she was about to see. They all packed into his room and Zelgadis shut the door behind him. "What is this about Mr. Zelgadis," Amelia asked a bit concerned.

"Just watch," Zel commented as he closed his eyes and drew in the dark energies that he commanded. In a few seconds his body shifted from his normal form to that of Durzan that they had seen before. He then opened his eyes and in his now bass voice asked, "This answer your question Amelia?"

Amelia was speechless as she watched Zelgadis turn back into his normal appearance and remarked, "Before you ask...Yes I'm a mazuko and no it wasn't because I wanted to look human and that's where we'll leave it," before going silent.

Lina smiled while patting Amelia on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry even if he is a mazuko he is still our Zelgadis."

While Amelia was recovering Xellos phased next to Zelgadis and glomped him saying, "Finally came over to our side Zel-kun."

Zel phased out of Xellos' grip and hit him on the head while saying, "I didn't have much choice in the matter...besides what do you mean finally?"

Xellos sat up and said, "Well another reason I stick around you guys is to scout for mazuko potential and you fit the bill the best Zelgadis."

Zel just rubbed his temples as he stood and opened his door saying, "Okay now that you all know you can go back to what you where doing. Well, I need to talk with Lina and Xellos in private."

Amelia and Gourry where herded out of the room and the door was locked with only Lina and Xellos left in Zel's room. He sat on the bed and closed his eyes for a moment. He quickly opened his eyes when he felt a weight on his lap to find Lina sitting on his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck. He wrapped an arm around her waist as she laid her head on his shoulder. Zel then looked at Xellos, who was smirking as usual, and said, "Well as you know the Knight of Shabarnigdo turned me into a mazuko and sent me to protect Lina. Now I've got orders to get the group to head towards Zephilia."

"Hmm, I see. Oh, that means I'll get to see Luna-chan again that will be wonderful," Xellos replied sounding as happy as a clam.

Lina shuddered in Zel's embrace as Zelgadis sweatdropped. "You are a fruitcake aren't you?"

"Sore wa himitsu desu," Xellos replied as he looked at Zelgadis and then commented, "And, I think I'll leave you two alone while I get Gourry and Amelia ready to go," winking at Zelgadis before phasing out.

Zel sighed as he looked down at the lovely red head that had taken up residency in his lap. "I don't know sometimes with that Xellos."

Lina giggled as she looked up at Zel before saying, "Forget about him and think about this," as she kissed him.

Zel accepted the kiss as he brought Lina closer to him. As he extended the kiss he nimbly rotated them so that Lina's back was on the bed and he was straddling her hips. A few moments later they released from the kiss and Lina giggled as she commented, "My Zel...We just did it yesterday and you're ready to go again? Is this another side effect from becoming a mazuko?"

Zel smiled as he ran his hands down her side to her hips while asking, "What do you think," as he leaned down and kissed her again.


The next morning found the slayers group walking down the road leading away from town. They all now knew their final destination was Lina's home town of Zephilia. They continued down the road until it got dark and then set up camp. Zelgadis took watch, seeing as how his new abilities allowed him to go without sleep, and because no one truly trusted Xellos. As Zel watched the group sleep Xellos sat next to him and said, "So the knight has something for us in Zephilia?"

"Yeah, he didn't say what but he said I needed to get you all there," Zelgadis replied while not looking away from Lina.

Xellos followed his gaze and couldn't help but smirk. He had a feeling something had happened between them and that stun Lina pulled after Amelia and Gourry left proved he was right. He looked at Zel and said, "So been a busy boy haven't we Zel-kun?"

"Yeah I...," Zel trailed off when he caught what the trickster priest was eluding to. He blushed slightly then sighed and said, "It's not that hard to guess."

"I know I just had to say something," Xellos smiled before he phased out and left Zelgadis to his watch duties.


Disclaimer: Any characters or ideas from The Slayers do not belong to me. I am not selling this material, just writing for the heck of it as I go.

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