The Price of Self

Chapter: 4

Eyes of the Blind

Another chapter up.

Lina looked around the market square in the small town. She had gotten up that morning to prepare to leave. Zelgadis was starting to feel well enough to travel and Lina knew it was best to get out of the town before the locals started to butt in. 'I just need to get something to help Zel out and then we can go,' Lina thought as she walked into a magic shop.

"Good morning Miss. How can I help you," called the middle-aged shop owner as Lina walked inside.

Lina looked around for a moment before she smiled and asked, "Do you have anything in the way of staves? I have a friend that is having some trouble with his eyes and I thought that a staff would be useful. He can use it as a walking stick as well as whatever spell it has attached to it."

The man smiled before coming out from behind the counter and said, "That is a wonderful idea Miss. This friend is lucky to have someone like you looking out for them. Over here we have a collection of staves to look at."

Lina looked to see the decent sized collection of staves that the shop had. As she looked her eyes landed on a metal staff with metal rings at the top and she shivered. 'Zel would go ballistic if I got him something that sounded like Rezo's staff,' Lina thought before she continued to look.

After a moment she found a simple wooden staff that was twisted and gnarled at the top. She pull it off the rack and asked, "What does this staff have attached to it," Lina asked as she set the bottom of the staff on the ground.

"That one will always return to the owner's hand once the command word, 'Return,' has been spoken," answered the shopkeeper as he looked at the wooden staff.

Lina smiled while thinking, 'That's perfect. Just what Zel needs right now,' before saying, "I'll take it."

After paying for the staff she walked out of the shop and back towards the inn. Once Lina arrived she headed up the stairs and towards the room Zelgadis was in. As she approached the room she noticed Gourry had fallen asleep on his watch in front of Zel's door. Lina glared at the swordsman as he slept with the chair leaned so only the back legs supported him. Lina used the staff to jar the back leg of the chair which sent Gourry falling to the floor. After a moment the blonde swordsman woke up and said, "Hi Lina. Your back from shopping that's good. Now I can get something to eat."

Lina sighed and nodded, not wanting to deal with Gourry at the moment, and entered the room. She saw Zel sitting in the bed looking towards the door that she had come in through. "Hello Lina," Zelgadis replied as he smiled slightly.

Lina shut the door behind her before turning around and asking, "How did you know it was me and not Gourry?"

"Well he normally doesn't come in the room, but it was your scent that gave it away. You and Gourry have very distinct scents from one another and when the door opened it pushed a little bit of it to me," Zel explained as he leaned back in the bed and thought, 'That and the blood I can smell because of that time of the month.'

Lina smiled as Zelgadis explained the capabilities of his chimeric form. 'At least he isn't moping about being a chimera or about the curse during these moments,' Lina thought as she sat down in the chair that was always next to the bed.

She sighed and said, "As soon as Gourry's finished eating we need to head out of town. The villagers won't remain docile forever if we stay here."

Zel said before turning his head in Lina's direction and replied, "I know...besides we need to get to a larger town that might have a library. Hopefully, then we can begin looking for a way to cure my eyes," before he tensed at what he had just said.

Lina saw Zel tense and grabbed one of his hands. When Zel moved his head up towards Lina she smiled and said softly, "Zel don't do this to yourself. You are not him and you won't become like him."

Zel turned his hand over and wrapped his fingers around Lina's small hand before replying, "I'm okay Lina," he then smirked before continuing, "Besides, if I start to get out of line you'll be there to put me back in my place."

Lina chuckled before delivering a playful bop on Zelgadis' head before replying, "Damn right! We should probably get ready to go."

Zel sighed as he slid out of the bed and began to move toward where the rest of his clothes were being kept. As he slowly moved he heard Lina move to the other side of the bed before he felt her arm entwine with his as she said, "You know you can wait for me to help you. You don't have to do everything by yourself."

Zel smirked as he heard a slight amount of irritation in Lina's voice because he constantly refused to ask her for help. "It's just the way I'm used to doing things Lina. No, need to get bent out of shape because of one little thing."

Lina huffed as they reached where Zel's clothes were and she let go of his arm. She grabbed his sword and began to attach it to his belt while saying, "Well, I'm here now and you can ask me. Now hold still and let me finish this."

Lina finished attaching Zel's sword to his belt before she stepped back and grabbed his cloak. Lina approached Zel while saying, "Just stay still and we'll be finished in a moment."

Lina then tossed the cloak behind Zel and caught it with her left hand. It was a this moment that Lina realized that she now had her arms around Zelgadis with each hand holding an end of his cloak. She blushed at the thought of being caught in this position and moved the cloak up to his neck. Lina then brought the jeweled clasp up and tied the cloak onto Zel. Lina stepped back with a blush still staining her face as she looked at Zel. "Could you please put my mask and hood on. I don't think it would be a good idea for the villagers to see my face right now," Zel asked as he still stood there.

Lina wanted to protest but then she though over what Zel had just said. 'He's right. The village people are not Zel's biggest fans so it will be better this way.'

Lina grabbed the cloth mask that she had purchased for Zel a few days earlier at his request. She moved in front of Zel and held up the cloth. "Zel move your hands up please," Lina asked as she watched Zel comply.

Once Zel's hands hit the cloth he grabbed onto the mask and held his position. Lina then walked around to his back and had to stand on her toes to reach over his shoulders. Lina blushed again and grabbed the mask before saying, "Okay Zel I've got it you can let go now."

Zel complied as he dropped his arms back to his sides as he felt Lina's arms brush his shoulders. Zel blushed while Lina finished tying the mask on his face before flipping his hood up. Lina walked around and finished positioning the hood before stepping back and saying, "There...you look no worse for wear."

"Thank you Lina," Zelgadis nodded as he found a chair and sat down.

Zel then found his shoes and pulled them on his feet. As he was about to begin trying to tie the shoes he heard Lina moved forward and say, "Let me take care of that."

Zel was about to protest that he was not a child but thought better of that idea. 'Last thing I need is Lina anger with me. It's hard enough to dodge her fireballs when I can see,' Zel thought as he waited for Lina to finish.

After a few more minutes before Zel heard Lina announce, "Okay that's done. Now let's get Gourry and get out of here."

Zel nodded and stood up as he made his way to the door. A moment later he felt Lina's arm entwine with his and she began to lead him through the hallway. "I think I can make it okay until we get to the stairs Lina," Zel somewhat protest as they continued down the hall.

Lina sighed before saying, "Zel just let me help you. I understand that you don't like to rely on other people but I can't just sit back and let you stumble around when I can help you."

Zel sighed before saying lowly, "If you insist."

After slowly coming down the stairs Lina located Gourry and got him to finish his food. After leaving the town the group began to walk down the small trade road connected to the small village. Zel felt Lina's arm remove itself from his arm and he asked, "Lina is something wrong."

"No," Lina replied as she reached into the pocket dimension in her cloak. She pulled out the walking staff she had purchase and blushed as she moved it towards Zel before continuing, "I thought this could help you out some."

Zel grabbed a hold of the object that Lina had tapped against his right shoulder. He felt the object before realizing it was a staff or walking stick. He smiled before saying, "Thank you Lina. This will be a lot of help."

Lina smiled with a faint blush on her face as she walked beside Zelgadis as he used her gift to help move along the road.

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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