Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction / Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Twin Dark Crystals ❯ Chapter 2

Chapter 2:

Lina reached her hometown, Zefilia, in no time and flew down the streets in a rush, a trail of dust behind her. She didn't care at all whether she accidentally knocked someone over because of the speed she was going at or whether someone was horribly insulting her to watch where she was going. If someone were to insult her about her underdeveloped look, she could care less. Iya… none of that mattered to her right now. The only thing that did was that she had to get back to her house at once and she would do anything to get there a.s.a.p. Even if it meant that she had to sell her soul to a mazoku, she would willingly do so without hesitation.

*Onegai be ok, nee-chan…I know it's you. You're the only one that calls me Li-Chan when it's only the two of us….. Shicashi.. Why is there blood are over the letter? What kind of trouble are you in, nee-chan? How can that even be? Nee-chan's the Cephied Knight and her magic is far greater than mines, tenfold. What or who could be that powerful to beat you or injure you?…. It's all so confusing. And the only way I'll find out is I see you again… forget about that. I just hope you're alright right now, nee-chan…* She bit her lip, her eyes flashed with hope, worry, and determination as she raced faster down the road. Passer bys quickly jumped aside and watched her flying form zoomed down the street, wondering what`s going on.

Lina could see her house up ahead which she hadn't been back to for a few years or so already. There were a few buildings around that were in rubble and some parts at the back of her house was a complete mess as well. A crowd of people stood outside, surrounding the house, gossiping to one another and wondering what was going on. Lina approached her home and landed on the ground. She started to push her way through the crowd, and overheard a conversation in the process.

"Did you hear?"

"Hear what? About what happened here?"

"You don't know! The Cephied Knight had been attacked by some mazoku. That's why some of the buildings are in rubble."

"*gasps* Are you serious?"

"Aa. Also, I heard that the Cephied Knight was injured, in a serious and fatal condition. But everyone is afraid to go in. We don't know if that mazoku has left yet or not."

The redhead gasped and her eyes narrowed as she finally got through the crowd. She starting running in and heard voices shouted for her to stop.

"Iie! Don't go in there girl!"

"It's too dangerous!!"

But she just ignored their cries and quickly kicked open the locked door to save time. "Nee-chan! Otousan!" she shouted frantically as she raced through the living. Her eyes darted everywhere, hoping to see her sister or father around. "Otousan!! Nee-chan!!" she then ran towards her father's room first and opened the room, searching around the room the instant the door opened but no one was in there. She then ran to her sister's room and opened it swiftly. She gasped in horror at the sight in front of her, and stood there frozen solid.

Zelgadis, Amelia, and Gourry reached the crowd of people and landed on the ground. All three of them searched around for the redhead but saw no signs of her in sight. "I saw her fly this way. Where do you think she is?" Zelgadis asked as he masked his face and pulled the hood over his head.

"I don't know…" Amelia answered. She then tapped a man standing next to her and he turned to face her. "Sumimasen, sir. Demo, have you seen a girl about my age with red hair down to her back. She's wearing a cape--"

"--and she has a sword with her, no?" he asked. This caught Zelgadis' and Gourry's attention as well. All three of them nodded, waiting anxiously for an answer. "Yea, I saw her. She was the one who dared to run inside that house." He then pointed to Lina's house. The swordsman and the chimera quickly ran throught he crowd, without a word as of thanks or bye.

"Arigato sir." Amelia said with a bow before following them. "Oi, Zelgaids-san! Gourry-san! Wait for me!" Gourry reached the door first and rushed, the other two did the same. "Oi! Lina! Lina!! Where are you??!!" Gourry called as he searched around for her.

"Lina-san! Where are you?!! Why did you run off like that??!!.. or should I say fly off like that." she mumbled the last part. Zelgadis pulled down the mask and the hood as the trio split up and looked around the fairly large house. They then heard a familiar voice-- or should I say shout --coming from one of the rooms which caught their attention very quickly.

Her sister's room was pretty much rubble itself but some things were still ok. However, her father lied on the cold floor a few feet away form her, unmoving. Usually, she could clearly see his chest heave up and down every time he slept but now…nothing. Blood poured out from his head, down the sides of his face, leaving a pool of thick crimson red around him. And what was most terrifying was the look one his face. His eyelids were still open, more than it was supposed to be as if it were to pop out at any second. His face was awfully pale and he looked older than he usually was, his face showed nothing but pure terror. She didn't, couldn't even look at her father's face and she turned away. Father at the end of the room, she saw her sister lying on the floor, facing away from her with a pool of blood surrounding her as well. She knew she wasn't crying. She usually was not one to cry and nothing could come out of her mouth. Not choked sobs, not a single word. She couldn't take it anymore. The silence in the room was just killing her. It was never this quiet in her house and she felt as if the silence was eating her away bit by bit. She just felt mute, and her throat hurt like hell as she tried to say something. Anything. Her hands by her sides turned to fists, her knuckles now white and a few blood slid through her fingers from her nails that dug into her palms. Suddenly, she burst and screamed into the open. "Iya!!!!!!!"

The three figures came running towards the room and stopped at the open door. They looked at Lina and then at the other two figures in the room, shocked at first but it then changed to sorrow. "Otousan… Nee-chan…" Lina choked out as she fell to the floor on her knees.

Amelia took a step forward, her hand clenching her chest. "Lina-san…… Gomen nasai…"

"Lina…" the other two just said. They didn't know what to say. Suddenly Lina heard another familiar voice calling out her name from across the room. The sorceress' head immediately jerked up and looked at her sister. "Nee-chan?!" Without waiting for an answer, she got up and ran to her. She helped her sister sorta sit up by supporting her head on her stomach and lap. "Nee-chan!!" Amelia, Gourry, and Zelgadis did the same as well.

"Lina--." Luna said, her face just as pale or probably even more pale than her father. Lina held up her hand and placed it over her sister's wound which was her stomach and concentrated, a white glow formed around her hand. "we'll help too." Amelia and Zelgadis said, and they too did the same thing. But then Luna's hand grabbed onto Lina's wrist, making Lina loose her concentration. She looked to her sister, a confused expression on her face. Zel and Amelia stopped, confused too.

"I know when.. it's my time to go… Don't waist your…energy on me.." she replied softly.

"Demo nee-chan--!!" Lina protested but was cut off.

"It was my destiny..to die like this..Lina…"

"Iya!! I know I can still save you, nee-chan!!" Lina shook her head refusing to believe any of this…crap. But that stern look from her sister silenced her.

"I'm not your…aneue <older sister>, Lina.." Luna confessed.

"N..Nani?!!" the other four exclaimed. "What are you talking about, nee-chan? You _are_ my nee-chan Luna, no matter what anybody says." she stated.

"…I'm not kidding around, Lina." she said tiredly. She then reached inside her shirt pocket and pulled out a picture, the same one Lina's real father gave to them all those years ago. She handed it to Lina and Lina took it with more confusion, looking at it. The other three looked at it as well. "Go to my drawer…and find a…small black box…… Open it…and read the letter…inside…You'll understand…everything….As my last request…"

"Don't talk like that nee-chan. Everything's going to be ok." Lina tried to reassure.

"Aa, Luna-san. Everything will be fine, ne Zelgadis-san, Gourry-san?" she turned to them and they nodded but that sad look they tried to hide was very convincing. Luna just shook her head, a small smile planted on her face. "Lina… Please do as I… in the letter…I just wrote it not too long ago…. Everything that happened today will be explained the best that I could too…Be careful and take care Lina…" Her eyelids closed for the last time and her head tilted to the side laying limp in her sister's lap.

"Iya…iya…Nee-chan!!!!!" she screamed loudly and hugged her sister. She didn't know why, she still didn't cry by then. Although she was terrified of Luna, she still loved her very much no matter what horrible thing Luna had done to punish her. Her sister and father were as good as dead now and she couldn't even shed a tear. L-sama, she was disgusted with herself. How she hated herself right now. She looked at Amelia. Even _she_ was crying and she wasn't even close to her sister and father like she was. Nothing still came out. That only made her hate herself more. She didn't know how she had sat there in silence and would have continued to do so if it wasn't for the familiar voice that called her name. She looked up with a `hmm?'

"Lina. Daijoubu desu ka?" Zel asked. His eyes then widened and he lowered his head. "Gomen nasai Lina. I shouldn't have asked that. You sister and father are………umm…and I go and ask bakana questions." he lowered his head. Lina could hear him softly cursing himself for his stupidity.

"Iya, Zel… You were just worried about me. Arigato. Minna too…Daijoubu." she smiled a weak smile and laid her sister gently down before walking to her father, kneeled, and closed his opened eyes. "Onegai rest in peace Otousan, Nee-chan…" she said softly, barely above a whisper, her head bowed. She then stood up, the portrait still in her hand, and walked over to the drawer just like her sister said. She opened the top one, and just like her sister said, the small black box was there. Gourry, Zel, and Amelia walked over to her as she opened the lid and took out the folded piece of paper that was inside. She slowly unfolded it, the others stood away from her as to give her her privacy. "You guys can come and read it too if ya want. I don't mind at all." They reluctantly nodded to her and walked back over, crowding around her.

Dear Lina,

If you're reading this right now then it would mean that me and your father have…passed on. Iya…That's not right. I am not your real sister and neither is your otousan.. But I'll explain about that later. First of all…you're wondering why and how could anyone beat you're great and powerful "nee-chan", ne? A mazoku appeared in my room out of nowhere and started demanding to know where you were. I said I didn't know but even if I did, I wouldn't have said a thing `cause I knew this guy was bad news. I could feel the incredible power aura coming from him, nothing like I've ever seen or sensed before. Even before he appeared, I had a bad feeling the minute I woke up this morning…

Anyway, we didn't tell him and we were going to fight in here but decided outside would a better fighting arena. We started fighting, magic with magic, sword with sword but I knew I was going to loose. He started attacking otousan once he saw that I collapsed to the ground and otousan was no match for him either. I asked him why he was after you but he didn't say why… He disappeared a minute probably looking for you but had no such luck so he appeared again outside. He threw one last blast at us, sending us back here to my room and he vanished once more, not coming back this time.. I think you know the rest after that…

Believe me when I say that I am not your real blood sister and same goes for otousan… It all started sixteen years ago, Lina. That's right, when you weren't even one year old yet. Me and `tousan were walking home through the woods when we heard some shouting and decided to check it out. When we got there, a mazoku was going to attack a man who was holding a small child, that child being you. I destroyed the mazoku but when I checked the man, he was badly injured and offered to help him but he refused. He pleaded for me and `tousan to take care of you, his daughter, and we promised. He then handed us the portrait I had given you. The boy with red hair in that drawing is your brother and that little child next to him is you. He and you were separated form him and told us to find him and we agreed. So we searched for him for years but we couldn't find anything on him. Now it's your turn to look for your aniue[1] Lina. I know he's still out there and I know he's alive. Don't ask me how I know…I just do.

Your father said that his name was Himura Madougu. Your aniue right now should be twenty-six years old since your father told us he was ten at that time. His name? Himura Shinta. And that would mean that yours is Himura Lina, no longer are you Lina Inverse. We didn't want to tell you because we didn't think it was time. Gomen nasai that you had to find out this way Lina. We never meant it to be like this. I hope you can forgive us. There are not much things that can really help you find him but I, we know you will with your friends' help and all. Also, I know that the mysterious mazoku will try to come after you again. You may think I am more powerful than you but I can sense a powerful aura inside you too, like you had sealed it away or something. I know you can defeat them and be victorious in the end like you always manage to do no matter how bad the situation looks or is. Shicashi.. Onegai take care of yourself and be careful anyways. Sayonara Himura Lina. "Nee-chan" and "Otousan" will always be with you no matter what.

With love,

Luna Inverse

p.s. We have always loved you no matter what. Even though you may be scared or terrified of me most of the time…… <ok, so it's all the time…> onegai don't feel bad that it was your fault that we died. "It's what families do." Smile,… if not for yourself…then for us. We don't ever want to see a depressed expression on that face of yours. A sad look just doesn't suit you at all. ^.~ Once more, take care..as always……

Lina looked up from the letter, as did the others once they finished reading it. They just looked at the short sorceress, not a word spoken. She had a sad expression on her face but then she shook her head and it changed into a smile. But it was smile that didn't reach her eyes and the chimera was the only one that saw through her mask.

"Iya. You're wrong nee-chan." she said as she looked down at her sister. "Like I said, you _are_ my nee-chan no matter what anyone says and so is otousan. And for that. I'm keeping my name. Lina Inverse, that's me."

"Lina-san…" Amelia said admirably. "You are so strong and brave!" she exclaimed.

"Aa, Lina. I'm glad you're ok." Gourry said with a smile as he put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed a little. Lina turned to him and he gave her a look of reassurance, one that said, I'll always be here if ya need me. Lina understood it well. She nodded and smiled back. Zelgadis smiled a sad smile at her, which she or any of the others were oblivious to it. *I know you're hurting inside Lina… Why won't you let it all out. Maybe that way, it will be easier on you.* He inwardly sighed. *But Amelia is right. You _are_ strong to be able to endure all of this. I just wish you didn't do that though. I know that your sister said that you should be try to be happy but I hope you can at least just let it all out before you fulfill her requests. You're only hurting yourself even more with that mask you have on right now…*

A funeral was held parading throughout the town a few days later and almost everyone, or probably _even_ everyone was there since everyone was friends with the Inverse family. Lina and the others kept quiet and said nothing, soon leaving once the funeral and the burial was over. Near sunset, almost everyone had gone home, all except three travelers who stood behind the petite one, whom had kneeled before the two tombstones in respect. They had already placed flowers in front of them, which were white roses and white carnations by the way.

"Nee-chan. Otousan…. With all due respect… ugh.. What I'm trying to say is that…" Lina sighed. "..I know nee-chan and otousan wants me to be Himura Lina once again, shicashi…" she shook her head in refusal. "That's not me. I may have an aniue and I will find him, but me, the one standing right here right now is not Himura Lina. Boku wa Lina Inverse, otousan's musume…. I will always remember my birth parents shicashi you guys brought me up and took care of me…eto..sorta." she mumbled the last part as she still remembered how terrified her sister was. She suppressed a giggle but it came as it went, again replaced with a serious yet sad expression. "I will never forget nee-chan and otousan for everything you guys had done for me… I love you guys a lot." She then bowed, still in her kneeling position, once. twice. then three times. She absently bit her lip and looked at the tombstones again before she got up on her feet. She felt a presence move next to her right side and she turned her head slightly, seeing Amelia standing there.

"Rest in peace, Luna-san. Inverse-san." she then bowed once too. Lina's lips curved up into a small smile as she looked at her friend. She felt two hands on each of her shoulder and she first looked to her right staring straight at Gourry, then to her left, who was Zel. Both in which smiled at her and she did the same in return, adding a mouthed `arigato' too. After one last glance, she and the others walked away from the grave, all standing side by side as they walked down the empty path. The breeze blew their capes and hairs in the wind and they soon disappeared from sight.

~ A few days later ~

Everything was slowly gong back to normal for Lina and the gang. The chimera had been silently watching the redhead as they traveled on the road asking people if they have seen or ever heard of Lina's missing brother. They themselves looked but had no such luck. He knew that Lina was trying her best to fulfill Luna's wishes and he smiled about that but he knew it was all just a mask, an act. He truly hoped that the old Lina would come back, even if it meant her teasing him again or trying to hit him on the head without injuring herself since his stone was as hard as rock. He mentally chuckled when he remembered those times. When she would start cursing at him because he just had to a chimera and at herself for forgetting as she would cradle her dear hand while it hurt like hell.

He said nothing about any of that to her though. He didn't want to make the young sorceress any more sad and guilty abut anything than he knew she already was. Sometimes at night near the forests or in the plains she would always be lost in her own thoughts with a depressed face when she thought no one was looking. However, not a single tear was shed and Zelgadis knew that that was one of the things that were tearing her up. They were in the city now and Lina was the one that wanted to stay at an inn. No one disagreed about that. They knew that they all needed a bath and definitely something comfortable to sleep in instead of in those not so comfy tents they had been sleeping in, in the last few nights.

"Oi! There's a restaurant up ahead!" he pointed. "And boy does the food ever smell good!!" Gourry exclaimed as he brought up his pace, ahead of the others.

"Oi, Gourry! Chotto matte yo!" Lina too ran after him. Amelia just looked at Zel and they followed closely behind them. Both stopped and looked at the sign above. "The Shiroi Fuyu…<White Winter>." They didn't say a thing as they glanced at the other They entered the inn with a nod and took a seat around the square table around the middle of the restaurant. Lina across from Zel, and Gourry across from Amelia, who sat at the left of Lina and Gourry, at the right of Lina. The restaurant was kinda busy but there were a few empty tables though. The quartet each took the menus that was given to them by the waiter that just came to their table. "How can I help you guys?" he asked.

Zel looked up, his mask and hood on. "You wouldn't happen to have coffee would you?"

"Aa we do." he answered with a nod.

"A cup o coffee, black." he set the menu down. Amelia followed his suit and looked at the waiter. "I'll have a number 3 and a number 5." The waiter jotted both things down.

"And you sir?" he turned to Gourry. Gourry looked up just then, handing him the menu. "I'll take everything on this side." he pointed on the menu. The waiter paled as he looked at all those foods.

"Oi, great choice Gourry! I'll take the same as him triple portions!!" Lina exclaimed, handing him the menu as well. If it was any more possible the waiter paled even more, now looking like or even worse than a ghost. "T..T..Tri..ple portions????" he stuttered. All Lina did was nod and smile enthusiastically. The waiter said nothing and just left back to the kitchen.

"I'm so glad you decided to come Aoshi-sama!" Misao exclaimed with a smile. "I had nothing better to do." was his only answer. Misao absently frowned a bit at that but it disappeared the second it came, replaced with that smile again. "So, where do you guys wanna eat at?" she turned to her friends.

"Anywhere would be fine, Misao-dono." Kenshin replied.

Yahiko looked around. "Which place is good?"

Misao stayed silent for a while thinking and then snapped her hands as she thought of a place. "The Shiroi Fuyu! That place has really good food, ne Aoshi-sama?" she turned to him. He just merely nodded back.

"Kakoii!! What're we wait'n fer then. Let's go!" Sano ushered Misao forward to lead the way.

"Sanosuke! Misao!" Yahiko and Kaoru ran after them. Kenshin just smiled as only he and Aoshi were left. They didn't say anything as they walked in silence but it was soon broken by Kenshin. He turned to his tall friend. "We should hurry before we loose them, ne Aoshi-dono."

"Aa…" he said and they brought up their pace a little. They turned left on the corner just like what the others did and they didn't see any one of them. Suddenly Misao's and Kaoru's head stuck out of a restaurant up ahead on the left.

"Kenshin! Aoshi! / Aoshi-sama! Himura!" they both shouted. "Over here!" Kenshin nodded and they both walked to the restaurant and entered.

Lina jerked her head up and turned around her towards the voice she heard when that person shouted the name Himura. Zel also turned around after she saw Lina doing so, wondering what she was trying to find. She didn't find anyone with red hair so she defeatedly turned back her gaze to the food that was just set in front of her right then. "Do desu ka, Lina?" Zel asked. She looked up with a smile, shaking her head. "Betsuni <nothing.> I just thought I heard something."

She then began to dig in her food grabbing a chicken leg and chowing down like she usually did. All Zel and Amelia could do was sigh as the two began to fight for their food again. "Oi! Stop taking my food, Gourry!!"

"Me?! You're the one taking my food, Lina!!"

Amelia tried to sneak a bowl as the two were fighting but they stopped and glared at her. "Drop the bowl Amelia!!" they both shouted at the same time.

"Demo, Lina-san! That was my bowl of food!" They just ignored her and she was glad as she began to eat as well. With his speed, Zel immediately snatched a chicken leg and started eating it before the two arguing could say anything. "Zel! That was uncalled for!!" she pouted. He couldn't help but laugh at that, being very amused and all.

Kenshin and them across the table from them, just stared at the group who were fighting for the food. "Look at them go…" Kaoru said with bulging eyes in surprise.

"Aa…. You think they can finish _all_ of that food?" Misao asked.

"I know what you mean. That's an awful lot, even for me." Sano agreed.

Yahiko nodded as well. "I admit, They're good…."

"They don't look like they're from around here." Aoshi pointed out. Everyone besides Kenshin blinked their eyes and stared at the ex-Oniwa Banshu Okashira. "Whata ya mean, Shinomori?" Sano asked. Aoshi just turned his stare from them back to the group across from them, not a word said. The others looked at Lina and them again, for the first time seeing the strange clothing.

Yahiko nodded. "Oi, you're right. They're wearing such weird outfits. They're definitely not from around here alright."

"Why do you think they're here?" Kaoru voiced everyone's thoughts. Well, almost everyone's. Kenshin stayed quiet. His eyes unconsciously slightly narrowed at Lina. *Why do I have this feeling that I knew her from somewhere? That she is someone very important… A girl around sixteen or so with a cape…* he recalled Madam Korenai's words. *Could she be the chosen one?* he then saw Amelia too. *Demo she has a cape too and looks to be around sixteen or so… Hmm….* Someone's familiar voice brought him out of his thoughts. He looked up meeting Kaoru's hands waving in front of his face.

"Oi Kenshin. What're ya thinking about? It's been ten minutes since we've been callin' ya." Sano said.

"Daijoubu desu ka Kenshin?" Kaoru asked with worry.

"Aa.. I was just thinking about what Korenai-dono said about the chosen one. Do you think it could be one of them?" Everyone stared at the foreign group again.

"Oi, you're right! A girl with a cape. People usually don't wear capes, let alone onnas." Yahiko reasoned. The others didn't say anything, thinking about what Kenshin had just said.

Four buff, not to mention ugly, men just came in and took a seat across from Lina's gang and Kenshin's gang; all three groups forming a triangle, sorta. Hmm, what were the odds that four guys would come in, two had brown hair, while the other two had black hair. Funny thing was, it was like as if it were equal, only one of the two brunettes had a mustache, and same went for the two with black hair.

"Oh my God Frank, Karl, did you guys hear?" The guy with only brown hair asked his two black haired friends.

"Nani George?" Frank, the one with the mustache asked back with curiosity.

"Me `n Jack here heard rumors that the infamous Lina Inverse is in town!" He said with an evil gleam in his eyes.

Lina and Gourry, who had still been fighting halted when they both heard Lina's name spoken across from them. Zel and Amelia stayed quiet. Lina and Gourry ate normally for once, wanting to hear more of what the strangers across from them were going to say. Misao and them all noted that the foreigners across started to settle down calmly when they heard the name Lina Inverse. They're eyes looked at them suspiciously out of the corners of their eyes. Lina, who was the one facing them saw them, half glared at them and half narrowed suspiciously at the same time wondering who they were as well.

"Lina Inverse??!!" Karl exclaimed. "You mean _the_ Dra-mata??!! The enemy-of-all-who-lives??!!!"

"Yea the dragon spooker…" Frank joined in, getting more into the subject than he was before until he heard the names his partner was saying. "The flat chested sorceress who single-handedly defeated _the_ Dark Lord Ruby-Eye Shabranigdo ??!!!"

"Yea! The pesky no breasted sorceress that also defeated the Hellmaster Phibrizzo!!" Jack said. "Not to mention the one that that always leaves chaos and destruction in her wake. Heh. Some say, trouble is her middle name… and when you think about it, it is most definitely true."

With each name that they had insulted her with, Lina's clenched fists tightened, more or so making her knuckles as white as ever. Her face was flushed with fury, ready to blow up any minute. *Ooh!!! How dare they?!! I swear once I finish what they hell they've got to say, I'm going ot sooooo firball their asses!!!! Just watch bakayaros!!!! You shall suffer the wrath of the beautiful and talented sorceress, Lina Inverse!!!* Lucky for them, Gourry had a hand on her should as to keep her down, so did Amelia, for now that is… Zel just sat there indifferent as he took another sip of his coffee. Kenshin and them saw how Lina was reacting but said nothing, just wondering if she was the girl they were talking about. Probably is, but you can't be too sure…

"Yea, so? Whata bout her?" Frank asked with a snort.

George shook his head. "Iya, iya. I heard that the Meiji government are after her!! _And_ they're giving 1050 gold coins fine!!! We'd be loaded dude!!"

"Whoa……" the two black haired guys said in awe.

"Rumor has it that one of the government's high officials were assassinated just the night before last night and the guards said that it was Lina Inverse!!" Jack then began to speak more softly. "If we could get our hands on that flat chested sorceress…" He trailed off and the others nodded their heads understandingly, evil gleams in their eyes.

That was the last straw. Lina only saw red now as she was going to get up. Gourry grabbed her arm but she shook it of and slammed her hand down at the table, the force of it completely breaking the thing. All the food and plates on it broke into a thousand pieces as they hit the floor. Everyone in the inn looked at her. "How dare you insult the beautiful and talented sorceress Lina Inverse like that?!!!" she shouted pointing to them.

"L..Lina In..verse!!!" they shouted, stuttering in shock as they stood up from their seats. They drew their swords, their hands still shaking but then George snapped out of it first. "Get her!!" he told the others.

"I'll show you!!!" she seethed and prepared an `Elemakia Lance' but Amelia grabbed one arm and Gourry grabbed the other. All other customers had already ran out of the inn in fear of the angry girl there in the middle of the room, all except Kenshin and them and the four bakas.

"Lina-san! You can't hurt them! We must justify them and bring them to court!" Amelia preached about her justice and all.

"Lina! Calm down!" Gourry said.

After Zel took another sip, he looked at the four. "I suggest you'd better leave now, while my friends have Lina in their hands. I don't know what would happen to you guys if she…got out of their grasps." he merely said. The four paled and George dropped his sword. Zel smirked at that.

"Amelia!! Gourry!! Let go!!! I'll show `em for insulting me like that!!!" she struggled out of their grips, mainly Gourry's.

"Quiet!!!!" Kaoru shouted over all of the shouting, bringing everyone's attention to her. Gourry and Amelia unconsciously loosened their grip on Lina and she took this opportunity to make them suffer. She pushed them aside and threw her attack. "Elemakia Lance!!"

With his incredible speed, Kenshin ran in front of the four-- who were actually bandits --and unsheathed his sakaba and spun it in front of him. The big firey attack connected with the spinning sword and the force made Kenshin stumble back a few steps. The blast engulfed all five of them and not to mention everyone that was in that half of the room as well. As the dust cleared, everyone was in ashes and they all turned their attention to the once furious sorceress, who was surprisingly clean and tidy. Zel, Gourry, and Amelia frowned when Lina took down the defense barrier. They weren't hurt that bad, mostly the four bandits, whom she was mostly aiming all her anger at.

"Oro????" came a dazed Kenshin in the rubble. Now, half of the inn was a mess while the other half was just like how it was before. "Kenshin!!" Kaoru, Yahiko, and Sano shouted. Kaoru then rant o him, and helped him up.

"Lina-san!!! You didn't have to get us too!!!" the hime no Seryuun whined.

Lina crossed her arms. "You know magic too, Amelia. You should have put up that barrier." she said.

"Oi Lina Inverse!! That's your name, isn't it?!" Misao called. Lina turned to look at her but wasn't really paying attention. Most of her anger was released but some was still there. "Why'd you go and hurt Himura and us like that?!!" That made the others, especially Lina jerk their head up, looking at her. Kenshin, by now, already stood, with Kaoru helping him.

"What did you say?" Lina asked carefully, her voice not in the least showing anger but hope instead. *Did I hear right? Did she say Himura?*

"You heard me!!" the omnitsu shouted.

Zel decided to speak for her again. "What did say your friend's name was?"

"Kenshin."

Lina shook her head in denial. "Iya, iya, iya. That was not what you said. You…you said….Himura…… ne?" her voice was soft, more quiet unlike before. You could hear the fear and the hope in her voice when she said that, making Misao's anger from before cease and was replaced with confusion instead. She just nodded her head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Lina turned to Kenshin and walked up to him. Kaoru stood protectively of Kenshin but Lina seemed oblivious of it. She turned to her friends, unsure and they gave her a smile and a go-ahead nod. She returned the smile and then stopped about a feet or two in front of him and the other girl. She lowered her head and bit her lip, not knowing how to start. Her heart was pounding and beating so hard that she thought her ear drum and her heart would explode any minute. *Why am I being so nervous? I mean, so what if he turns out to be the one that isn't my aniue. I can always look for him somewhere else. So why am I so tense? So jumpy?… Oh L-sama I hate this.*

She just turned and started running out the door of the inn, leaving very confused people, some who were calling her name.

"Lina!! / Lina-san!!" They started running after her.

"Oi, Lina!! Chotto matte yo!!" Gourry shouted. Kenshin stared at the girl that ran off, the one named Lina they called, and couldn't help but feel that if she was out of his life, he would really regret it. He didn't know why, he didn't know what kind of connection he felt with that girl, but he had to talk to her to find out. And he wasn't going to just give up like this. He to started running out of the inn after her just like her friends did.

"Kenshin!! Doko ni iki masuka?![2]" Kaoru shouted.

"Kenshin!!" the others, with the exception of Aoshi, shouted his name wondering why he's following them when he doesn't even know them, or so they think.

"I'll be back minna-dono!!" he shouted and continued to chase after Lina.

"Ugh… Himura-baka!! He's always like this!" Misao and Kaoru ran off first and the others followed.

The manager of the inn stepped up, his face pale with fear. "Oi… who's gonna pay for…the…..damage?…." He softly asked. He didn't want to deal with people who knew how to fight but someone's gonna pay for the mess. He then saw the four bandits lying on the floor, whom were now wide awake. "You four are going to pay for this mess!!!"

"B..B..But--" George started but the manager cut him off.

"You're the only ones left here and you'll pay for it!!" he said sternly. "Or… do I have to see the government about this….hmm?" All four growled in anger and clenched their fists.

"You'll pay for this Lina Inverse!!!!!"

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