Okaaaaayyyyy, it took me a little while longer than I thought it was
going to take,
but I do have it in! The third episode of Slayers: Double! Thanks to
Ryo Hoshi,
I now have the first two chapters up on _her_ page. (and I am really
sorry about
the whole situation with that, Ryo. Gomen!) You can find the first two
chapters at
http://matrix.crosswinds.net/~hoshiryo/Fanfic/Past4gt1.txt
and
http://matrix.crosswinds.net/~hoshiryo/Fanfic/Past4gt2.txt
Now, onto the fic...after the normal disclaimer bit..
~Murasakikaze
~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: (the one all the lawyers make us stick in here)
No, I do not own select characters and I do not lay claim to them. If I
did, I know that
the blood-thristy aforementioned lawyers would be at my home chanting
"Fresh
meat! Fresh meat!" Also, do not sue me, please. I am not gaining profit
from this and
I do not have a couple billion dollars lying around. I'm not Bill Gates
(thank the kamis).
:End Disclaimer
~*~*~*~*~
And now F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!
Slayers: Double!
By Murasakikaze
Episode 3: Old Acquaintances Die Hard
Naria sat in the darkened room and stared at her lap. She slowly
pulled her hair
out of the ponytail and let the long waves of blue wire rain down. She
conscientiously
ran a hand through her thick mane of stiff hair and wondered what human
hair felt like.
Her eyes wandered up to the vanity and she scowled slightly. <Why are
you doing
this to me? I thought you would leave me alone after all of this..> Her
ears picked up
footsteps and she quickly snuffed the single candle as she jumped into
bed. The
footsteps paused outside her door and Naria closed her eyes.
"Naria, you awake?"
She didn't answer for a few heart pounding minutes she could hear
his heavy
breathing just outside the door. <Zelgadis, go away. Just turn around
and go away.>
she silently prayed. He did just that. The soft padding melted away
into the silence
of the night and she sat up in bed. After relighting the candle she sat
down at the
vanity and stared up into the mirror. The fire danced off her skin
eerily and actually
allowed her golem stones to be seen. Normally they were such a light
blue that they
blended with her skin, but fire seemed to have an opposite effect on
them, turning
them a dark gray color.
"I thought I was rid of you..." she whispered and felt the back of
her neck. "Why
are you here?"
"I thought it'd be interesting to see you again, Naria."
"I already told you to leave me alone," she replied, daggers seeping
their way into
her pretty voice. She hadn't been talking to him intentionally, but he
always seemed
to pop up at the most inconvenient times.
"Such hatred from you, Naria. It hurts, it really does." The man
snickered and
stepped up behind her.
"What do you want from me? Last time I saw you, you wanted
something and you
always wanted something when you came to see Kako. Now what is it?"
"That is a secret, my friend. Get your rest, you'll need it." Naria
felt his presence
leave and silently cursed the Mazoku priest. She grabbed the edge of the
desk and
heard the wood splinter.
"I hate dealing with you..." she muttered and reached up to remove
her new
headband. She had bought it in town to hide what she knew was happening.
Naria
leaned forward and caught her reflection in the mirror again. "Yeah,
it's there, just like
I thought it would be. Damn."
She brushed the bangs out of her eyes and ran her fingers along the
small scar,
growling.. The chair groaned in protest as she slid it across the room.
Naria changed
into the provided pajamas and settled down on the bed. The candle still
sat on the
dresser and cast shadows on the ceiling. The chimera sighed and smiled
slightly.
She was willing to accept certain things, but he was another matter.
She'd deal with
him when the morning came.
"You're still out there, old friend...and I know that you realize what's
happening to me. Still, it won't do you any good. Oyasumi, Xell-chan."
~~~~~
The next morning came quickly and so did the first big disaster of
the day, or
rather, the first few disasters of the day. First of all, Lina and Naga
arrived at the table
first with their clones and practically wiped out the kitchen. Next,
Zelgadis had
disappeared last night and had left a note that he'd be back sooner or
later. The next
incoming disaster could be summed up in these few words:
"Champion! What are you doing in my bed?!"
By the time Naria decided to wander downstairs the tavern was in a
state of
chaos. "Well, this is interesting..."
Naga and Lina were in a battle over who would get the last whole
chicken and
Mira-chan and Naga's mirror twin were cowering under the table. Gourry
was trying to
figure out how he was going to pay for everything and that Ryouga boy was
being
pummeled by the justice loving princess. Mira-chan lifted her eyes for a
moment and
saw Naria standing in the doorway.
"Naria-chan, help me!" she cried. The chimera in question could see
the
waterworks were starting to form and knew what she would have to do.
Naria sighed and walked over to the table, snatched the meal from
both women,
and devoured it in less time than it took to blink. Then she leaned down
to help
Mira-chan out from under the table.
"Arigatou, Naria-chan!" the inverse said with stars in her eyes (if
she ever had
anything else in them that is). Naria frowned a little and wondered what
she was
going to do about the two sorceresses holding the huge fireballs.
"Wait one moment, Mira-chan." Naria turned to a passing waiter and
hefted him up
off his feet. "Ten chicken breakfasts for that table. I'm paying."
The waiter nodded, visibly shaken, and disappeared into the kitchen.
"Now, what were you saying?"
"Well...there's a strange man over there with purple hair and he's
waving to you..."
Mira-chan repeated and pointed behind her. Naria turned and saw him
standing in the
corner, smiling like he always did. <You little freak.>
"It's good to see you again, my friend," Naria said a little too
loudly. Lina turned
and dropped the spell she was about to fire. Naga, noticing Lina's
reaction, stopped
also. Gourry looked up and Amelia stopped hitting the other boy with the
Hammer of
Justice.
"It's good to see you too, Naria. How is everyone else? Hello,
Lina!"
"X-Xellos?!" Lina picked up the nearest plate and hurled it at him.
Luckily, Naria
caught it while it was mid-flight.
"Oh, not happy to see me?" The Trickster Priest's grin widened and
he stepped
out of the shadows, resting his staff against the wall. "Naria, are you
going to tell
them now or later?"
"I'll tell them once you tell me what you needed me here for." Naria
stepped in front
of Mira-chan and narrowed her eyes. "I know you sent the two clones to
me to give
back to Lina and that you've been pushing me to this town ever since the
compound
blew. What do you want?"
Xellos smiled and opened his eyes slightly. "That is a secret, my
dear Naria."
"What isn't a secret with you, Xell-chan, I'll never know, but a
secret is nothing but
a mystery that needs to be solved. I'm good at solving mysteries," she
hissed.
"Oh? We'll see about that."
~~~~~
"What do you mean Xellos is an old acquaintance of yours?" Lina
could feel the
suspicion level rising for this supposedly dead girl.
"It was a long time ago, Lina, don't worry about it." Naria stood
and waved goodbye
to them. "Listen, I have stuff I gotta do. I'll see you around. Take
care of Mira-chan
for me."
"Yeah, why do you have such a strong connection to Lina's mirror
twin...and who
the hell is this Xellos person?" Naga (the original of course) demanded.
The chimera stopped and thought about that for a moment. "A promise
I made a
long time ago. It's all in the past and pasts are to be forgotten like
the people who
created them, Naga."
The door closed, but the tension didn't decrease. "Why is she so
secretive all the
time?! She's worse than Xellos!!"
"Does that mean you like me?"
"NO!" Lina jumped up and threw the Xellos chibi across the room.
"I'm hurt!" He mocked an injury and disappeared.
"Lina...you have weird friends..." The White Serpent stared at the
door for a
moment, a huge bead of sweat trailing its course down her head.
"Not any better than you and those ten laughing idiots," Lina
grumbled.
"You dare mock my girls' laughing abilities?!" Naga hopped on top of
the table and
whistled. "Show her your work!"
The doors, windows, closets, and dresser drawers burst open and a
Naga clone
was produced by each. In complete unison they all lifted their hands to
their mouths
and drew in a deep breath.
"Prepare yourself, Lina Inverse!" The original Naga smiled and began
the torture. "OhohohohOhohohohoOhohohohohohOhohohoho!!!!"
From somewhere outside, people could hear one girl scream in terror.
~~~~~
Naria pulled her long hair back into a braid and kept walking. Lina
wasn't going to
be happy when she found out...nor would anyone else with the exception of
Xellos. Of
course, he already knew what was happening and would no doubt sell her
out the
moment the chance arose.
"Where are you heading?"
Naria smirked and straightened up a little. "My secret, not yours."
"Oh? You want to become a Mazoku-in-training? I'm so proud!"
Xellos hugged her
from behind and received a very nasty punch in the nose. "Ow.."
"Serves you right, you idiot! I made a pact with you a long time
ago and it ran out
a long time ago so why do you still hang around me?!" Naria turned and
placed a hand
on her sword. "I already told you all that I know. What else do you
want?"
"You'll see all in due time..." The energy field around him
flickered for a moment,
then he was gone.
"You made a pact with that Mazoku?"
Naria froze and felt a chill run up her spine. <Learn to control
your anger,
Naria...damn, why couldn't you just ignore the stupid priest?!> She
slowly turned to
face the newcomer and grimaced under his stony gaze. His eyes asked for
an
answer, but she didn't feel like giving one. Naria shrugged and lowered
her eyes.
"I'm asking you a question and shrugging isn't an answer." His
voice was flat, but
still held the angry edge that Naria had hoped never to hear again.
"I don't want to tell you because it's in the past...and the past is
dead," she
muttered. "Zelgadis, just..move. Let me pass before anything else
happens.."
"What did happen to you last night? You slammed into that tree and
I know you
didn't get winded," he demanded and pointed towards a nearby tavern.
Thankfully it
was far, far away from the inn they were staying at. "Go."
Naria's eyes narrowed and she shook her head. "You aren't Kako or
Mirai. You're
in no position to tell me what to do."
"Then I'll tell you, go, Naria."
The chimeran girl whirled around and found the young scientist
standing behind
her. The long blond hair was gathered into a simple ponytail and a tired
smile adorned
her pale face.
"You...you're alive?" Both Zelgadis and Naria stared at her.
"Naria...get inside. There's something I have to talk to you
about," Mirai motioned
towards the tavern again and the girl reluctantly went inside, followed
by Zelgadis and
Mirai.
"Interesting...very interesting...so Mirai's come back has she?
Well, then the
game is finally afoot."
Inside the tavern...
"No! You can't do this to me! I know what's happening and all I
have to do is get
back to the...island...oh, crap."
Naria sat back down and hid her face in her hands. Zelgadis stared
at Mirai's
blank face for a moment before reacting.
"You said you were against it and now you're forcing it on her?
You're the perfect
example of a damn hypocrite, you know that? You can't take it away from
her!"
"You haven't seen what I've seen..." Mirai whispered.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?! I have your memories,
Mirai. I am you
and now you're going to take away everything from me!" Naria jumped back
up and
turned to leave. "I don't want your help. I'll find a way to reverse
this somehow and I'll
save myself and the others. Just leave me alone!"
"You can't do that and I won't allow you!" Mirai stood and snatched
the chimera's
wrist.
Zelgadis grabbed Mirai's arm and jerked her back. "Don't touch
her."
"You of all people should understand this, Zelgadis."
"I understand that you're trying to take her freedom away. She's
only been free for
two weeks now and yet you're going to take it all away from her. Yeah, I
really
understand that."
"Naria, you don't even know who I truly am..." Mirai begged.
"I don't care who you are. You are a forgotten past and as far as
I'm concerned I
don't know what you're talking about. Mirai, just let me die with my
friends and those
that I love..." She pulled back and hung her head. <At least I don't
have to hide it from
my brother anymore..>
"Naria...you're dying?" Mirai felt the man's grip loosen and freed
herself.
"Zelgadis...it's a long story and unfortunately it has a very bad
ending."
"I don't think it's that bad, Naria."
"Xell-chan...this isn't the time for you to be here." Naria looked
up and saw the
priest standing in the open doorway. "Go away."
"On the contrary, it's a perfect time for me to be here. We can
renew our
contract." He smiled and stepped in, allowing the door to slam shut
behind him.
"You did have a contract with him! What the hell are you holding
her to, Xellos?!"
Zelgadis turned to meet the Mazoku and leered at him.
Naria sighed and lifted her head to meet his gaze. "Xellos, I will
not renew the
contract and I don't need to make a new one. I had enough troubles when
I was in
business with you."
"Naria, what are you talking about?" Mirai's eyes bored holes into
the Trickster's
head and she watched the impertinent little Mazoku smile back at her.
"Yes, Naria, what contract are you talking about? The secret's out
now and it's
not fun unless you torture someone with it." Xellos walked over to her
and took her
hand. "Go ahead and tell them."
Naria pulled her hand back and growled at him. "I don't have to say
anything, you
freak."
"Am I the freak or are you?" Xellos held up a small mirror and
Naria's hand flew up
to her forehead. "You see? What did I say?"
Naria mumbled an "excuse me" and ran out of the tavern. She headed
straight for
the edge of the city and heard everyone running behind her, yelling for
her to slow
down. Buildings melted into countryside and Naria finally reached the
river she knew
had to be there. She quickly stripped off her cape and sword, then
removed her
headband before diving into the icy waters.
<Get it off me! Mirai, get it off me!> her mind screamed as she
frantically tried to
wash her face. She could hear them coming as she surfaced and again
tried to wash
the blood off her face. <They can't find out. They'd try to help me. I
don't need their
help and I don't need them. Oh please...Mirai, get it out of me!!>
Suddenly the world went black and Naria slid beneath the river's
surface. Zelgadis
and Mirai both saw her go under, but it was Zelgadis who was the first in
the water.
Mirai followed in suit and both searched the muddy river for a sign of
the chimeran girl
through the shield of the Rei Wing.
"Where is she?! Zelgadis, find her!" Mirai pressed her hands
against the force field
and tried to make it go faster. "We have to find her!"
"Calm down!" he shouted and pointed to their left. "She's over
there."
After successfully pulling the unconscious girl into the protective
bubble, Mirai took
her from Zelgadis and carefully examined her. The woman's eyes narrowed
visibly and
she sighed in defeat.
"I was hoping to get to her before this stage took place..."
"What do you mean?" Zelgadis asks as he watches Naria's face
carefully. Her
bangs are hiding her eyes, but he can clearly see the tear the lingers on
her cheek.
"It's what I was sent here to do, but I was hoping to get to her
before the..." Mirai
trailed off and brushed the hair out of Naria's eyes. "Look for
yourself."
A small bump is forming on a patch of light blue skin on Naria's
forehead. The
square shape makes it look more like print than anything else and a thin
trail of blood
is coming from her hairline.
"What is that?"
"Her leash has been reactivated by something or someone. I have to
enslave her
again or she risks dying of a brain hemorrhage. Her mind is dying,
Zelgadis. It's what
made her trip last night. It's the reason why she's forgetting things
and why her
emotions are going haywire. Sooner or later, anyone will be able to tell
her who she is
and she'll believe them. It's actually very sad when you think about how
strong she
used to be," Mirai explained and slowly rolled Naria onto her back. She
removed a
small chip from her pocket and rolled the stone back from her neck. "You
might not
want to watch this.."
"You say that she's dying, right?"
Mirai stopped and nodded.
"So why are you going to enslave her again? Why not just remove the
leash?"
Zelgadis suggested. "Isn't that easier?"
Mirai closed her eyes and nodded again. "It would be easier and
less painful, but
we-I can't do that."
"Of course not. If you did, she'd go insane and end up killing
everyone, isn't that
what you saw?" Xellos popped out of his dimensional space and kneeled
down next to
Mirai. "I'm right, aren't I, Goddess of the Future?"
Zelgadis looked at the two of them angrily. "You're a goddess and
you can't do
anything about this?"
"Listen, I know you care for my 'daughter' like your own sister and
I know you want
to protect her, but you have to realize that even if I am a goddess that
doesn't mean
that I can just go about changing the world because I don't like it.
Certain people have
to die or live so that the future is secure. I had to take away the God
of the Past
because he had spent too much time on earth and had abused his powers.
That is
why you came to Garrou to kill Kako. He'd gone insane and had lost his
immortality.
A new god has taken over Kako's position now and he's doing a better
job," Mirai
added as an afterthought. "If I don't take her freedom now...Xellos is
right. The leash
functions as a way to bring the clones back to the island, but it also
stabilizes their
sanity."
"How is that again, Mirai-sama?" Xellos asked coyly.
Mirai gritted her teeth slightly and continued explaining. "Think
of it this way. If
you were given four thousand personalities and were constantly being
turned on and
off at a single person's whim, wouldn't you go insane? The leash is a
way to separate
the personalities from each other. If a clone was given all their
personalities at once,
the conflicting voices would cause their circuitry to short circuit and
the most
aggressive personality would take over. For most people it would be
their drone
persona, but for Naria...she was a berserker for a really long time..."
They were all silent for awhile and Mirai began to move towards the
personality
chip again.
"Wait." Zelgadis reached over and pushed her hand away. "At least
let her breath
the real air before you take her mind away."
Mirai consented and when they had laid her out on the soft grass by
the river, she
smiled sadly and began to remove the chip. Naria's brow knitted in pain
and she
opened her eyes.
"M-Mirai...w-what's going on?" She flinched slightly and wiped the
tear from her
face. "Why are you crying? What's wrong? Wait...where's Mira-chan? Is
she
okay?"
"I'm sorry, Naria, but Mira-chan will never see you again." Mirai
closed her eyes
and looked up at Zelgadis. Xellos had mysteriously disappeared again and
now they
were alone in the clearing.
"No, I promised her I'd protect her...I made that deal with Xellos
so I could protect
those that I loved. No, you aren't going to take her away like you took
him away from
me!" Naria tried to sit up and found that her limbs wouldn't move.
"Naria...sleep, my child. It's time for you to sleep," Mirai cooed
and placed the
chimera's head in her lap and she slowly eased the chip out of her.
"Oyasumi, Naria."
"No...I...d-don't...w..want...t..to..." Naria's dilatory speech made
everyone cringe.
Suddenly a rustling in the brush caused Zelgadis to look up. <Oh,
crap.> A
young redheaded girl appeared in the clearing and looked around as if she
was lost.
"Zelgadis! The nice purple-haired man told me I could find
Naria-chan here. Have
you seen her?" Mira-chan asked as she came closer to them. She had
improved
greatly ever since Naria had begun working with her. She wasn't as timid
even if she
didn't like fighting, cussing, shouting, or anything loud. "Have you
seen her,
Zelgadis?"
He didn't answer and looked down at the calm face of the now
off-line chimeran
drone. Unfortunately, Mira-chan followed his line of vision and screamed
again.
She forced everyone out of the way and grabbed Naria, hugging the
chimera to her.
"What did you do to her?" she sobbed. "Naria-chan, wake up.
Please, don't go to
sleep...why are her eyes so dull? Please, don't let her die..."
That's when Zelgadis noticed what the inverse had already seen. The
thin trail of
blood had run all the way down her face and was mixing with her wet
clothes to make
it seem like she was bleeding from her heart.
"Don't worr-" Mirai cut him off and motioned for him to leave them
alone.
"Naria will never be able to consciously see her again. Just let
her have a few
moments alone before I take her."
"Why are you taking her anyway? I can't even believe I'm standing
by while you do
this," he muttered.
"Naria-chan...please wake up...don't leave me here alone.
Naria-chan..."
Mira-chan's voice was getting noticeably smaller and less high pitched.
<She's
grieving.> Mirai noted incredulously. <I never knew they could
grieve...>
"...no...Naria-chan...wake up..."
Xellos smiled slightly as he watched them in the clearing. She'd
come around
soon enough, he mused. Naria only needed a little more pushing before
she would
convert and she had such incredible power inside her...he grinned again
and
disappeared. Mirai and Zelgadis turned away as they continued to argue.
Mira-chan
hugged Naria to her and pressed her face into her wirelike hair. As the
inverse cried
softly, no one seemed to notice the single tear shimmering in Naria's
eye.
~to be continued...
Any comments, criticisms, and (hopefully not) flames can be sent to the
following
address and will be greatly appreciated. MSTs are fine by me and will be
enjoyed
greatly. Thank you for your time and ja ne!
muteki@juno.com
~Murasakikaze
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