Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Dramata Kurage! ❯ Chapter 10 ( Chapter 10 )

Disclaimer: Slayers and their characters are not owned by me. They belong to Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi and any other companies which own them. I'm just borrowing them for a little bit and I promise to give them back all in perfect working order.

10.0
I was glad as Lina started to read the book and found it was something she would enjoy. It made me happy that I was able to cheer her up somewhat from having to lay about in a bed all day. I knew she would get bored of that pretty quickly. I didn't expect her pat on my leg and I blushed immediately but either Lina decided to ignore it or didn't realise what she had done. I kinda looked for a moment where she patted my leg and I couldn't stop the flush of red from going away.

Did she mean anything by that? Or was she just excited with something to do that she just did something she wouldn't expect. Anyway, it seemed she was deeply involved with the book and I didn't really have anything to do but sit around. I figured that maybe I could help out Koland or Algeea in someway, just as a sort of repayment for how well they were looking after Lina.

"Hey Lina, I'm just going in the other room for a bit. If you need anything just shout ok?" I didn't know if she heard me, since she seemed more interested in the book and looked like she was concentrating fully on it so she could translate it. So I just left quietly leaving Lina in peace.

I went into the other room and saw Algeea cleaning up, brushing the floor clean the large clumps of dirt and looked like she would mop up after it to clean the rest. "Hi, you know I could do that for you. I don't really have anything to do now so maybe I could make myself useful around here, and maybe repay you a little for helping Lina so well."

Algeea blinked a little in suprise at first but smiled and handed me the brush. "Sure thing, I wouldn't mind taking the break! You're very kind though, most people just sit around and do nothing."

I took the brush and nodded. "I don't mind helping out, and I just feel all that you had done for us, I feel I should do something."

"Well thank you very much, I'll have a few more things for you to do if you want to!" She grinned as she started to leave.

"Sure thing!" I sweatdropped a little, I didn't think of taking over the place, but I did offer the help in the first place so it was only my fault. I got down to it and starting brushing away, trying to get around to all the hard to reach places. I even moved tables out the way and closets to reach underneath those. After finishing that I took the mop and started using that, going over just what I had done until the entire room was completly spotless.

Feeling pretty proud and went into the kitchen, noticing a pile of dishes ready to be washed. A bit after that I had cleaned, dried and put away all the dishes as well as brushing and mopping the floor. With that done I started to move into the other rooms and cleaned those too and soon enough I had the entire building pretty much spotless. The only room I hadn't done was the one that Lina was currently occupying.

I went back to the main room just as Algeea returned along with Koland. Algeea's eyes widened a little as she saw how clean the room was. "My, my, my. You really cleaned this room good." She said almost in shock.

"Umm..thanks, I was still bored so kinda got to work on all the other rooms too." I said a little shyly, scratching the back of my head.

Algeea quickly rushed into the kitchen and then a couple of the other rooms and came back in amazement. "You're really good at this, maybe you could work for me since that 'friend' of yours has no appreciation for you." She laughed.

I smiled a little in response but shook my head, taking the comment a bit more seriously then I think she intended me to, now looking back on it. "Sure I'd like to, but Lina's my priority. I'm her guardian and I've promised that I would be for the rest of my life."

"Oh I see." Algeea gave a little knowing smirk, but I wasn't sure what it was for. "Well considering you've done such a good job, maybe I could get you something to eat, you sure deserve it!"

I was about to decline, but suddenly my stomach grumbled very loudly and I blushed a bit. "I guess that's a yes then."

"Well I better get to work then!" She then went into the kitchen and started cooking.

Kurage

10.1
So, while Gourry played housemaid, I decided to wait for my last treatment and practice the first spell out. The five steps were pretty easy, and I was impressed with how I was doing, seeing as how my leg was still stiff and revolting, and thus distracting.

I read over the final print of the spell, finding myself overjoyed at the irony of it all. Used properly, the spell could be used for honing and focusing swords of magical properties. The only sword I could think of was Gourry's new Blast Sword, or maybe even Zelgadis's sword. I was more interested in using it on Gourry's, however.

These thoughts were going through my head calmly, like normal thoughts would, when one thought struck me; why the hell wasn't Xellos sending more people after us? This would be a perfect time, and it's obvious that he knew where we were. Why not finish us both off while we were vulnerable?

I smacked my forehead with my hand. Here I was, lazing about, taking my time, without even thinking properly. Even as I thought about it all, I was putting these people in danger. Or was I? I mean, it's been what, two days? And nothing had happened yet? Why not? Xellos wouldn't have any trouble getting new men...why was he taking his sweet time?

I frowned and closed the book, giving it a suspicious look. Was this something? Did I have to be better again in order to get Xellos's attention? Or was it really just laziness?

Or...something else?

I put the book aside, feeling more worried than anything else. I didn't like the idea that each move I made looked like it was a calculated risk by someone else. I wondered if the book and this healer was part of this whole mess, and it wasn't convenience or anything, but planned.

I started getting up when the door opened, and in cam Koland. I narrowed my eyes at him, suddenly suspicious of the old man, and he stepped back a little before glancing back at me.

“Not in the mood for a healing?” he wondered mildly, crossing his arms.

I decided that now was the best time to get the hell out of here. Something was wrong, VERY wrong, and since I didn't know what it was, I had to get out of it before it got me. I got up to my feet and hobbled over to the dresser, grabbing onto my clothes. I searched through them and found my dagger. I unsheathed it and pointed it out at Koland. He blinked slowly, slow confusion dawning in his eyes.

“Normally I'm not a suspicious person,” I began calmly, holding the dagger out between us. “Even I admit to being too laid-back sometimes. But something stinks out of all of this. Why would you agree to help us if we hadn't paid yet? And why would Gourry come back with that book?” I gestured to the Elfish book. “Ironically, a book describing methods for enhancing magical swords?”

I looked closely at Koland, my eyes taking in any sudden move or gesture that might give him away. “And why,” I concluded, “hasn't the person who is after us attacked us yet?”

A silence went between us, and to this day I cannot tell what Koland was thinking in the span of that time.

Koland then opened his mouth to answer, but the door opened, and in came Gourry with a pile of food, presumably, for me. He froze, looking from me to Koland, then back to me. He set the food down carefully, then, bless his trusting heart, withdrew his sword and held it out close to Koland.

He blinked, looking nervous, and I grinned. “Now you have no choice but to tell the truth,” I said calmly.

Dramata

10.2
I quickly finished what Algeea had cooked for me and I patted my stomach in satisfaction. Then I thought for a moment. "Oh, if I'm hungry, I bet Lina is just as hungry too, I'll help you out and cook some food for Lina." Algeea nodded and smiled as I followed her into the kitched and quickly got to cooking, bringing together a very impressive meal. I took the trays and headed for Lina's room.

I stepped in feeling pretty bright and ready to give Lina some food which I was sure she's be pleased about now, only to see her with a dagger pointed at Koland. I blinked for a second but I knew Lina wouldn't do something like that without real reason. So I put the trays down and unsheathed my sword, pointing it to Koland's neck. I glanced over to Lina, wondering why I had to have my sword at his neck. Lina asked Koland for the truth.

Koland seemed a little nervous, maybe he had something to hide, but he did have a sword and a dagger aimed at him so I think any person would be a little nervous. "I'm just a simple healer, I have no evil intentions towards either of you. I do not know of the man who wishes to attack you and I don't want to. I just trust you that you will pay us for our services. I can tell that your friend Gourry is a trusting person, from his actions to the look on his face. He wouldn't cheat us of anything, he wouldn't dare, it's not his way."

I looked back to Lina wondering if the answer was good enough but I could see she wasn't sure. I looked back to Koland and withdrew my sword. "I think it's best if you leave us alone for a little, so I can speak with Lina. Oh and in awhile can you please send in your young helper."

Koland nodded quickly, relieved to not have the sword at his neck anymore. "I'll sent Bratham in shortly." He then quickly left the room.

I took the trays over to Lina and handed her the food which she eagerly began eating away at. The whole time she just kept quiet, seemingly more interested in the food. I was beginning to wonder if she was becoming sick.

Not long after Bratham came in, knocking to make his presence known and entering quietly. I handed him the empty trays but had a few questions first. "Koland and Algeea. How have they been the past few days?"

That seemed to strike a nerve immediately. "It's funny you should ask that sir. They're usually very kind and gentle people, but I've noticed the way they've been treating your friend. I've never seen them like that before, treating them roughly. They've been more snappy towards me aswell." He responded, taking the trays but trying to be discreet as he spoke. He seemed worried about something.

I nodded and suddenly grew worried and nervous. It was then I began to think if he had really been healing Lina, or maybe Algeea was doing something to her. I looked back to Bratham with a serious face. "Take the trays, put them in the kitchen, and excuse yourself. Tell them you're picking a few things up for us. Leave and don't come back, you're in danger." I didn't mean to frighten the boy, but his life was in danger, he nodded quickly and left.

As he did so I looked back to Lina, she looked pale now and I was getting more worried. "Forgive me Lina, I'm not being perverted." I took the hem of her nightgown and raised it slowly to above her thigh. I grabbed her wrists as she was about to attack be and then I looked down to the wound.

My eyes widened and I bit my lip. And then I felt an anger grow up inside. What used to be her wound had healed over but now was black. The black was also fading outwards from the wound, following the lines of her veins. That meant it was in her blood, they were poisoning her. I pulled the hem back down and looked up to Lina letting her hands go. "I'm sorry..." I felt bad now, I brought her here and put her in more danger now. "I'm sorry for letting them harm you..."

Within mintues I had our things gathered together. I was leaving this place and I was doing it now. I put both her things and my own in my bag, so I could carry them all on my back. I needed to do that because I had to carry Lina, she wasn't going to be walking on that leg. Even if she could, that poisoning was only going to spread. I leaned down and picked her up in my arms.

I opened the door silently and made sure the way was clear, figuring that Koland and Algeea were busy with something. I was just glad I didn't have to attack them, as I felt they were still innocent in this, they must have been manipulated. Once safe I carried Lina out of the building and then ran. I ran and ran, not sure how long for and not caring, I just knew I had to get away from that place quickly. I was stupid for taking her to that place. I should have realised that the whole town could have been influenced by Xellos, I had seen it before and I should have realised, but I was scared of losing Lina, I just wasn't thinking.

Soon enough I started growing tired, carrying Lina along with all our things was alot and it just wore me out. I slowed that and just walked slowly, regaining my breath but never stopping. I didn't want any of the people from the town to catch up. I didn't want any mercenaries hired by Xellos after us. I didn't want to have to face off with Xellos. More importantly I knew Lina was running out of time. I wasn't going to be desperate this time, I was going to someone I knew I could trust. I was heading to Seyruun to get Amelia's help.

Kurage

10.3
I frowned, following Gourry's gaze to my leg. When I saw, I wrinkled my nose and shivered a little. It was times like this that I really, REALLY wish I had never put on those nighties.

When Gourry apologized, I wanted to smack him again. How the hell could he have known about any of this? I sure as hell didn't; they seemed genuine enough…Algeea sure seemed nice enough, if not a little gruff in what she did…wasn't that part of her job?

It occurred to me that I was being naïve. If someone wants to know something about you to later use against you, then surely they would hide behind an archetype that their appearance gave them. If I were to assume the worst about Algeea, then she was merely using her age and her position as a ruse to get my guard down. Something, I admit, she did successfully.

It also made me wonder; these people who helped us, were they the same as they were when Gourry came in that first night? Why else would they heal my leg when they first saw me? Or was that a ruse? It was still confusing. Had they been replaced? What the hell had happened?

My thoughts were cut off when Gourry decided to scoop me up yet again in his arms. I wanted to tell him off, but I noticed his hell-bent determination on this, so I let it go. For now. I really hoped he wasn't getting used to carrying me around like this, because it was too embarrassing.

So, the rest you know. He ran us both out of there. I wasn't too sure where we were going, but I figured Gourry had a plan, so I kept quiet and just looked ahead, keeping my senses focused around us in case of an ambush.

During the duration of our traveling, I couldn't see what Gourry's rush was. I felt fine. I was a little stiff in my leg, but I wasn't surprised, seeing as how my leg was an explosion of black goo. It reminded me of that damn chicken leg, and I wanted to fall over in annoyance. Of course. If you can't get me one way, get me another way, right, Xellos?

I frowned as Gourry slowed to a walk. “Gourry, where are we even going, anyways?” I demanded, glancing sharply at him.

He mumbled, but I heard the words “Seyruun” and “Amelia”. Ah. That would explain much, actually. We WERE going north-ish.

However, this is what I didn't get; why were we walking?

I sighed and squirmed a little. Gourry frowned and stopped, and before he could try to grab me again, I slid out of his hold. He opened his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand and shook my head. “It's faster this way. I won't be putting pressure on my leg, and it's faster.”

I hobbled over behind him and encircled my arms around his waist. I shut my eyes and muttered under my breath, and slowly, the Ray Wing took effect. Before Gourry could say another protest, we were airborne and headed north at a much faster pace, all thanks to me.

And did I mention I was still in that damned, horrifying orange nightie?

Dramata

10.4
I was a little tired from the running that I wasn't ready for Lina to squirm out of my grip. I was going to start shouting at her, using up energy was only going to make her feel worse, make the poison travel around her body quicker. However before I could say any of that she had her arms around my waist and suddenly we were off into the air. Now I was more angry, now she was putting herself in more danger.

I'd started to tell the difference between a few spells and I knew the one she was casting now was going to take a lot out of her. I also knew I couldn't start yelling at her in midflight, she needed alot of concentration and with her state worsening, if I broke it, we'd both start plummeting to the ground. I know I like pancakes but it wasn't enough to end up being one. So I kept quiet whilst we sped towards Seyruun, I just hoped that by the time we got there, it wouldn't be too late for Amelia to help.

I had to admit that she was right, we were going to get there alot faster. I just didn't think she realised that she was putting pressure on her leg, just not in the way she was thinking. It suprised me that she hadn't realised that, but I thought maybe she was just desperate to try anything, just so I didn't have to carry her around everywhere. I could tell she hated that, she didn't like looking weak, she had to be strong. This was just one of the occasions when I wished she wasn't so hard headed.

After a few hours I could see Seyruun in the distance but I noticed the shielding in the spell was getting weaker, we were also alot closer to the ground. I started to worry now for Lina's health and I knew I had to make her stop now. "Lina!...Lina! You have to stop!" I grabbed her hand on my waist and I think it suprised her because suddenly the shield of the spell was gone.

We plummeted a few feet to the ground, whilst I managed to turn in mid-air and grab Lina protectively. I hit the ground first on my side, since I had the bag on my back, if I landed on that I probably would have snapped my back in half. The price for landing on my side was hearing the crack from my arm. I was pretty sure that was my arm and the intense pain as I grinded along it on the ground confirmed it.

We finally slid to a halt and I laid there for a moment trying to catch my breath back. I looked down to Lina and it looked like she was still breathing but it was shallow and quick.

Dammit!

I sat up slowly and looked to my arm. Luckily it hadn't broken the skin, but it rendered it useless until I could get it healed. Lina was more important now though. I looked down to her leg and I hated that my thoughts were right. The blackness had spread from the wound and was right down her leg now. I knew we weren't far from Seyruun, but I also knew we didn't have a lot of time. I held onto Lina with my good arm and slowly got up, then when I was ready I started running again.

I just kept thinking about how crappy it would be to not have Lina around. I think that's just what got me through the pain and the tiredness as I ran as fast as I could which I admit was not that fast. I wasn't thinking about failing as a protector and causing the end of the world as Veryna insisted on showing me in those dreams. All I could think about was just how lost I would feel not having Lina about, I guess it was selfish, caring more about one person than everyone else. I just don't think the rest of the world is worth saving when none of them made you feel your life was worth living, and the only one who did was gone.

The sun was starting to set behind us as Seyruun was bathed in a light of red, and I just felt glad I was there but I still had to get to Amelia. I just prayed that she wasn't sent on some royal mission somewhere. I'd let the city's healers heal Lina, but I didn't know who I could really trust anymore, especially when Koland and Algeea had been so kind and were instead trying to kill Lina. I just had to get to Amelia, I knew I could trust her, of all the people in the world, she would be the last to give in to some mazoku. It just wasn't right. I smirked a little thinking that.

Finally we got into the city and I kept running, dodging some of the people in the way, knocking the others who I couldn't dodge quick enough only to cause more pain for my arm, I just gritted my teeth and kept running with determination. Lina's breaths were like my countdown, the quicker and shallower they became, the less time I knew I had.

I got to the gates of the castle and stormed my way past the guards. At first they tried to stop me but I think when the light from the lamps caught my face, they recognised me and realised the urgency of the situation. I got into the main door. "Where's Amelia!" I demanded of one of the servants.

"She's in an important meeting, she musn't be disturbed." He responded in that usual tone, like he was higher than you were despite being the servant. He must have been the head one or something.

I just brushed past him ignoring his shouts and ran up the stairs. I then kept going through the long corridors, looking at each door, trying to remember which one was the right one. Coming across the door with expensive looking detail, I realised was the right one. I smashed it down suprising all the people in there who seemed to be in the midst of an argument. Out came one voice I recognised instantly.

"Gourry-san!..Lina..-san?" I saw what used to be the small kid stand up in an amazing dress and was now a beautiful woman, but still easily recognisable as the Amelia I remember from two years ago.

"Help Lina...she's poisoned." I then collapsed to my knees. "Please...heal her" I then slumped to the ground and blacked out from the mixture of pain and exhaustion, the last sound I heard being Lina's pained shallow breaths.

Kurage

10.5
As we traveled through the air, it was then I started noticing something off about my health. The moment I cast the spell I felt woozy, like I had just twirled around in the air many times before landing on the ground. I decided it was most likely a whole lot of nothing and ignored it.

But after a while, it became a more glaring issue. As time passed, it became harder to stay airborne. My eyes itched and felt heavy, and my whole body ached. Keeping the spell going was getting taxing, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could go on with it.

Dimly, I remembered thinking, oh, that was what they were doing. They were making sure that if I used magic, it would mess me up. That's sort of interesting. And from far away, I heard Gourry shouting at me to stop, so I did, and it felt better to stop.

After that, it was like a blurry daze or shapes and sounds, incomprehensible even to this day. Voices and shapes that had to be people. I remember wanting to talk and say something, but all I could manage to get out was mumblings, and even then that was hardly useful.

When I woke up, I woke up slowly. I didn't even notice I was awake until my eyes opened and all I could see was blurs in front of me, shapes I couldn't figure out. My leg hurt, my eyes hurt, and I felt like a huge pile of crap.

“Lina-san, you're awake!”

At least my ears were working. I knew that voice anywhere, no matter how crappy I felt.

I squinted, then squeezed my eyes shut and tried again, and now I could see the black hair and the big blue eyes.

“Amelia,” I blinked slowly, “did we make it to Seyruun?”

Amelia did the only thing that Amelia would do in a situation like this; she glomped me. Before I even sat up to accept a glomp that I knew had to be coming, she just jumped over and glomped me.

I hugged her back as she spoke to me. “You had me scared to death, Lina-san! You came in here unconscious and your leg was messed up! I thought you would never wake up!”

I smiled. Good ol' Amelia. Two years and she's still pretty much the same girl. “Amelia,” I said gently, “d'you mind letting me up? I can hardly breathe…”

Indeed, the princess was hugging me so hard I could hard take in a breath. She blushed and let go, and I sat up slowly, hissing from the sharp pain in my leg. Amelia noticed and nodded to me slowly. At least now I could see her 99.

“Your leg was so bad we had to drain it,” she explained, taking a seat next to me. “It was so horrible. The healers had no idea what could have made such a wound. Anyways, once it's done, I'll summon them back and have them heal the wound.”

I leaned over and poked my leg gingerly, noticing the small cut and the slight drip of black goo. I wrinkled my nose and decided it would be best not to touch or look at it anymore. I sat up again and looked over at Amelia.

She looked pretty much the same, except she had grown a little taller and her hair was a bit shorter. She was dressed in formal Seyruun regalia, and it occurred to me that our arrival was amidst a meeting. However, Amelia didn't seem fazed by this. As usual, she seemed only to care about the well-being of her friends.

I jolted, fear suddenly filling me. “Gourry,” I demanded, reaching over for a hand hold so I could get up. “Where's Gourry?”

Amelia came over quickly and stopped me, hands on my shoulders. She gently pushed me back down. “It's okay. Gourry-san is being treated in another room.”

I swallowed slowly, still not getting it. “Another room?” I echoed.

She nodded slowly. “Yes. When he came here, he passed out, and when my healers examined him, they noticed a broken arm.”

I inhaled sharply. “And he still managed to get here?”

Amelia nodded slowly. “You know Gourry-san,” she replied. “He would never let anything come between helping you and himself.”

I frowned at her, but she smiled blandly, so I let it go. “How long do I have to wait around?” I wondered, rubbing my forehead.

Amelia sat down again once she decided I wasn't going anywhere. “Once that poison gets completely out, you can go.” She frowned, looking seriously at me. “Lina-san, what happened? I've never seen anything like this, and we have hundreds of healing cases a month.”

I glanced over at her. If I could trust anyone in the world, it would be Amelia. Especially on matters of Mazoku. Amelia may think that praising life may reverse the general evil a Mazoku may have, but in her heart, I know she's not that trusting of them. Or at least, she knows they have ulterior motives.

So I explained everything to her. About the book, about the Blast Sword, about Xellos. About the healer and his wife and the escape here. She took it all in, very calmly. It occurred to me then that this Amelia WAS different than the one I left behind two years ago. She was more composed, more mature, more serious.

I paused, letting it all sink in. She closed her eyes for a moment, nodding slowly. Then, before I knew it, she was on her feet, her fist raised, her eyes ablaze. “Then we just need to find Xellos-san and either cure him of his madness or get information from him! Either way, JUSTICE will COME FIRST in this adventure, Lina-san!”

So much for a change.

I sweatdropped. “Since when is this an adventure...?” I demanded.

“Anyway!” she continued, grinning from ear to ear, either not hearing me or deciding to ignore me. “It's clear to me that you both need a shrine maiden in your midst! That way, you won't have to depend on shoddy and seedy side-road healers, who in the end backstab you with no sense of the eternal Justice that gives us all life!”

I groaned, leaning back on the pillows. “Amelia, you don't need to leave here. You have your duties, especially now that the king finally succumbed to his illness a year ago.”

Amelia froze, blinking. “You heard about that?”

“The whole continent heard about it. Everyone's been waiting for it for years. Only YOU guys seemed to be the surprised ones when it finally happened!” I answered.

Amelia blushed, smiling bashfully. “Yes, well, he was very beloved. And Daddy makes a great ruler now.”

I resisted the urge to pinch her cheeks. “Especially with his darling daughter at his side,” I teased.

Amelia glowered at me. “You know I'm a good politician by myself--” she began, but was interrupted when a man dressed head to toe in white opened the door. I say up again.

“Amelia-hime,” he said formally. “The other patient has woken up, and he seems in a state. We may need your assistance in this one.” He looked apologetic.

I smirked. “Sounds like Gourry is awake,” I observed.

Amelia paled. “Yes. Alright. You finish up the healing on Lina-san's leg, and I will see to Gourry-san.” She stood up and walked out quickly.

I glared suspiciously at the healer at first, but then decided that if Amelia trusted him, it was good enough. Amelia wasn't an idiot. I was sure she hand-picked everyone on her cabinet, including the healers. And she was right; she was a good politician. Still, sometimes a person can't help innate paranoia.

As he came over and healed my leg, I listened. Yep, there it was - the sounds of cursing and crashing. Gourry was definitely awake. I wanted to giggle.

Dramata

10.6
I could feel myself coming around and waking up, and the first thing I noticed was the immense pain in my arm. Another thing I noticed was the comfortable bed I was now lying on. Slowly I opened my eyes and immediately I was blinded by the light. I grimaced and tried to blink a few times to adjust my eyes to the light. I heard murmurs and mumbles around me and I was trying to remember where I was. I ran the events over in my head as to what happened. I remember escaping from the healer's and carrying Lina till I was tired. She then picked me up as we flew off which I wasn't too happy about. Then we fell. That's where the pain came from, but I just remember having to make it to Seyruun, then I saw Amelia.

I opened my eyes and I could see around me about four people, they looked like healers. My gut reaction at that time was to get the hell out of there. Considering our last encounter with healers didn't end too well. I sat up quickly only making myself dizzy and looked around me once more, I didn't see Lina. "Where's Lina?" I asked a little groggily, but they seemed more interested in trying to push me back down, although now I realised they were probably trying to heal me at the time.

I didn't think about that and only forced myself up and this time I was getting angry. "I said where is Lina!" Still they were trying to push me back down but I wasn't going down easily without a fight.

"Please sir, you must lie down otherwise we can't help you." They tried pleading with me.

"I don't want you to help me! I just want to see Lina!" I pushed up with some force causing a couple of the men to fall to the ground. One of them ran out the door, I figured he was going to try and get help, probably more people to hold me down.

"You must calm down! Your friend is getting help but you need help too, she is being attended to. You can see her when you're better."

"Screw that! I'm seeing her now!" I growled and pushed back up once more and managed to swing my feet of the bed. I stood up quickly but again I suddenly went dizzy. I took a step and instead of it being firm, my knee buckled and I fell to the side smashing straight through a table. I started cursing then because I landed straight on my broken arm.

"Gourry-san! What in Ceipheid's name are you trying to do?"

I recognised that voice immediately and looked over to the open door where Amelia was stood. Her arms were crossed and she looked like an angry mother scolding her child, and I was the kid. I looked down a little and rubbed the back of my head. Then I remembered myself for a moment and stood up quickly. "Where's Lina?" Of course standing up to quickly made me lose balance again. Amelia caught me though before I went to far and settled me back down on the bed.

"Lina-san is in the next room. She's resting because we had to take care of her leg, but she's fine now. You can see her but only when you let my healer's heal your arm. I know you want to protect Lina but you can't do it when your sword arm is broken." She said calmly as she sat down beside me. "I've spoken to Lina and I know what's happened, but you can trust these healer's. I trust them with my life."

I nodded slowly, I trusted Amelia so if she trusted them, then they must be ok. "Ok then, they can heal me first."

A couple of the men came over then and gently took my arm, they examined it a little, they then turned to Amelia. "We're going to have to reposition the bone because it's moved out of position."

Amelia seemed to frown but nodded a little, she then turned to me. "They have to pull on your arm and make it go back in the right place otherwise they can't heal it. It means it's going to hurt alot but they heal it the second it's in place."

"It's ok, just get it over with." I mumbled a little.

The next couple of moments were some of the most painful I could have remembered. I gritted my teeth hard as they yanked on my arm and I felt like I was almost blacking out and about to fall forward, but Amelia held me back up and then within seconds they started healing the arm, the inital pain quickly subsiding and now I was just left with a dull ache.

"I interrupted you in the middle of something important didn't I. I'm sorry but at the time I felt like you were the only one I could trust to help Lina." I said looking down, I felt bad for just intruding on Amelia like this.

"It's ok Gourry-san. I'd help you guys in a second if I knew you needed it."

"It was my fault. My fault for letting Lina get like that. I should have realised that I couldn't trust anybody in that town."

"Gourry-san...stop blaming yourself. Lina-san certainly isn't. There was no way you could have thought someone would do that to Lina-san. You have an admirable quality in you, and that is not thinking the worst of people. Your instinct was to find someone to help Lina-san, and you thought those healers would do that. No one could have thought they would have done that."

"I guess so." I looked over at my arm as the two men continued healing it, the white glow of the healing spell entering into my arm, it felt warm and nice.

"I have to go back to my meeting, you made quite an entrance" She smiled and laughed a little. "Anyway, once you're healed, you can see Lina-san. She's just in the next room. Just take it easy ok? You completly wore yourself out bringing Lina here with your arm like that." She then stood up and headed for the door.

"Thank you Amelia."

"It's fine Gourry-san, oh and I'm sure you must be hungry, you and Lina-san always are! So I've got the kitchen staff to get some things together for you. Just head over to the dining hall when you want." She then closed the door behind her.

I just sighed a little and rubbed my head as they continued healing. Then after about 10-15 minutes they were done. "Ok sir, we need to keep your arm in a sling even though we've healed your arm. It needs time to recover and so just needs some rest. So please refrain from using it for about a day." They then put the sling over my shoulder and I placed my arm inside it so now my arm was resting across my chest.

"Thank you, and sorry for all the hassle I caused." They just grumbled as they left. I just scratched the back of my head feeling a little bad for the commotion I caused.

I got up from the bed slowly this time and I felt ok then. I then made my way out of the room and headed over to the room Lina was in. I knocked on it a couple of times and waited to hear a call. When I did I entered and closed it behind me. I looked to Lina and just felt and sudden sense of relief go through me. She was ok, and even her leg was getting better. I walked over to her and because we were alone, I hugged her tightly.

Kurage

10.7
Ah, the hug. One of the most softest and warmest things two human beings can engage in.

It was one thing to be hugged by Amelia. She was like a little sister to me. But to be hugged by Gourry? Something totally different.

And something new. It felt somewhat familiar, but that was a time best kept to myself. I mean, if he didn't remember, then why drudge up old feelings, right? Anyway, I'm not getting into that.

The hug was tight. Very tight. Bear-hug tight. I don't think Gourry has any idea how to do things any other way. The guy is pretty big, especially compared to little ol' me. But it was nice, comforting.

When he hugged me, I dunno. It felt warm and comfortable, even if it was tight. I just collapsed into it. You would have, too, if you had been having the week I was. I leaned in close to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, hugging back as tight as I could.

I know. I'm not the type of girl who does things like this on a regular basis. But we were alone, and Gourry and I, over the past years, had grown closer. Not touchy-feely close and definitely not couple close, but close. And because we were alone, it didn't matter that he was touching me and it was personal and I was still wearing that horrifying ugly POS nightie.

What mattered was that it was Gourry doing the hugging and holding. What mattered was that he knew how tired I was and how emotionally drained I was and what I needed at that exact moment. What mattered was that despite all of the healers that had come in here to try and fix me, Gourry's hug was the only thing that seemed to make me feel more like myself again.

I clutched onto the back of his shirt and buried my face into his shoulder, shutting my eyes. I was sick of it all - the Mazoku, the fighting, the injuries. I was sick of Xellos and knowing that somewhere he was taunting us and feeling the anticipation of him suddenly popping up and lodging another attack - or worse, a joke. All I wanted was to forget about it and pretend that nothing was outside of this room and outside of Gourry's strong arms and that everything would be as happy and fun as beer and skittles on a sunny day.

But I knew better.

I sighed deeply and open my eyes, starting to pull away from Gourry. We had to get down to it. We had to start planning, and we couldn't ignore it just because both of us were feeling vulnerable.

But Gourry wouldn't let go. I tugged a little on his shirt, trying to signal him to let go, and finally he relented, but only a little. He still kept his hands on my shoulders lightly. By this time I was bright red and assuming the worst in him. I mean, both of us were sitting on a bed, we had just been hugging, and now he had his hands on my shoulders. It made me assume the worst, but, and I am so embarrassed to be admitting this, it also made me a little excited. I mean, looking up at him, noticing how focused his eyes were on mine, made my heart speed up, a lot.

And still, to this day, I wonder what he was thinking, especially since, no matter how much I hinted that he should let go, he wouldn't. I thought of saying something, but I didn't want to. For some reason, I didn't want to cheapen the situation, if that made sense. As if speaking would shatter this nest we had made for eachother.

Either way, I didn't move. But I didn't take my eyes away from his, either. I couldn't. Something inside me...refused to.

You can stop making gagging noises now. I'm done.

Dramata

10.8
Everything felt alright in that hug, and even better when she started hugging back just as tight. I kinda wanted to forget about everything that had happened and might happen, and just stay with Lina like this. However as Lina started to pull away I could tell that we couldn't just give up, we still had to face up to what was out there no matter what.

The thing was I felt like I couldn't let go. I held my hands on her shoulders and I felt a flurry of feelings inside me. It was like the hug reawakened something inside my mind that I had forgotten. I looked into Lina's eyes with my hands on her shoulders and suddenly we weren't in the room anymore. Lina was bathed in gold..but it didn't seem like Lina. I then remembered back and when I last saw Lina like that, she went into the black void, it was that Lord of Nightmares.

Now I began to remember, following her in, not wanting her to leave. I felt like I wasn't supposed to just grab onto her because of who she really was but in the end I didn't care, I didn't want her to leave. I gave up the Sword of Light to get her, and I was willing to give up everything else if it meant getting her back. But when I held onto her she was gone, and I was alone. I felt horrible then. I felt completly alone and it was the worst feeling I experienced.

Then she reappeared and she was practically in my arms when she reappeared in a coloured light. When she opened her eyes I knew it was her, I knew it was Lina and I hugged her because I was so glad to have her back. But then I felt something more, I felt something more powerful inside, even my heart started beating fast. We pulled away slowly and I knew what was meant to happen next. We both moved in closely together and we began to ki..

I blinked rapidly when I saw how close I was to Lina's face, only a few inches and instead of the look I remembered, she looked confused and blushed. I realised we were back in the room but I was about to kiss her. I blushed deeply and quickly pulled away, and started apoligising over and over. I didn't feel like I was in danger of losing my life like usual, but instead I felt bad cause I had the feeling I was taking advantage of her.

I grabbed a seat and pulled it up beside her but couldn't stop blushing, but now I felt like I had reawakened memories inside that I had lost. I don't think I lost them because of my usual forgetfulness, it was more like I was made to lose them, but all along I knew something important had happened. Now I was starting to wonder if Lina knew what happened, but the way she reacted when we returned suggested that she didn't really remember.

I looked up to her, still blushing for what almost happened, by heart was still beating fast from it. I tried to get myself together and took a couple of deep breaths. "Umm, I think we need to work out what we're going to do." I started and began thinking things through. I knew we were supposed to go to Filia's, but that was before we realised Koland and Algeea weren't really doing their jobs properly. I looked down to my arm and knew what needed to happen first.

"Well I think first of all we need to recover, my arm should only take a day. How about your leg?" I asked as I looked over at it once more. The black was all gone and it was then I started to wonder what it was but I decided to save it. "I think after we're ready to go, we should still go and see Filia, I think it's important to find out if this Veryna is really someone we can trust. That's all I can think of for now, I've probably forgotten something though, right?" I smiled a little trying to lighten the mood.

The thing was, I couldn't get what happened to her leg out of my mind. My first guess was poisoning, and that's what it seemed like, but maybe they found out something different when they drained it. "Hey Lina, you know your leg. Did you happen to find out what that black stuff was? Was it just poison or was it something else?"

Kurage

10.9
My face was on fire.

There is no other way to describe it. I haven't felt my face go that warm in a long time.

I sat there, my hands folded in my lap, my eyes firmly on my hands, and all I could think of was how...close...we had gotten. I mean, Gourry was there, he was RIGHT THERE, he was pulling me there, and then he just focused and stopped and now I was blushing and finding my hands amusing.

I cleared my throat, afraid to look at him. “Er...yeah,” I said slowly, trying to stop my voice from squeaking. I looked down at my leg and poked it a little. It didn't hurt at all anymore, and it was a nice healthy colour again. “I haven't a clue what that's about. Obviously Xellos has some plan...and besides it only started bothering me when I cast the Ray Wing...”

I frowned. I put my hand to my chin. “Only when I cast the Ray Wing, which is an elemental spell. I wonder what would have happened if I had used black magic...” I paused for a minute, thinking about it. What would have happened? Would anything have happened? If what I was suspecting was actually fact, then no. In fact, it probably would have felt fine.

Aw, what the hell! Didn't I have enough to worry about? Now I had to worry about what I have to eat and what I have to touch? For fear of Xellos trying to turn me into something for him to play with!

GROSS.

I opened my mouth to explain it to Gourry, when the doors opened and in came the food, which was the only thing that mattered at that moment. I was starving, Gourry was starving, and that was that.

After the dust settled and the plates were empty, it occurred to me that these plates came into the room by people, who took them away. I blinked slowly, then thanked them, and they just rolled their eyes and said nothing.

As they walked out, in came Amelia, all smiles and...dressed for adventure.

I stared. “Amelia...” I began, but she interrupted me and tossed me my clothes. MY CLOTHES. I hugged them like they were long lost friends, and then did inventory to see if everything was there. When I was sure, I shot a look to Amelia.

“Amelia,” I began.

“Yes,” she agreed, still grinning. She was wearing the same old tan outfit, which HAD to have been mended for her few inches of new height. She looked exactly the same, except something was different, and I couldn't place it.

“You know you don't have to come with us. You probably shouldn't, seeing as how you have your duties here,” I concluded. I glanced over at Gourry, who was looking confused. I sighed and turned back to Amelia.

She looked offended. “But Lina-san, you need me to come along. Obviously, you do. I'm proficient at white magic, and even though you're good at a regular healing spell, well, you know I'm better.” She grinned.

My eye twitched a little at that, even though I very well knew it was true. Then it came to me. “Amelia!” I blinked, staring at her wrist.

“Yep,” she agreed, looking smug.

I pointed to her left wrist. “What is up with that?” I demanded. The bracelet she had on had a red jewel on it, when usually it was blue. And indeed, as if in confirmation, the bracelet on her right hand was the same old blue one.

Amelia frowned and covered the bracelet with her right hand. “Nothing is up with that!” she said, her voice a little too high to be normal. She laughed in the same way, and she turned bright red.

Wow.

“Amelia,” I frowned at her. “Where is your bracelet?”

“This is my bracelet! It's always been red! Always! I like to mix it up! Keep it different!”

Uh, yeah right. I'm pretty good with detail. I'm not a moron. I knew better. “Whatever, Amelia, where is it?”

Amelia blinked slowly, her face still deep red. She had a pathetically cute smile on her face, a smile that a person wears when they feel guilty. “I...lost it?”

I said nothing, and she laughed again, the sound grating my ears. I held up my hands and sighed. “Okay, okay, okay.” I looked over at Gourry, then at Amelia. “Get out, both of you. I haven't worn decent clothing in days.”

Amelia looked affronted, but Gourry got up and walked over to the door, a little too hesitantly to be normal. Amelia looked up at him curiously, but he didn't say anything, and she followed him out the door.

The moment they were gone, I fell back onto the bed and hugged myself. I stared up at the ceiling.

I'm a girl, right? So you know that girls can sometimes feel very intense emotions. Now, I'm not saying that guys don't. Of course not. But being a girl, I can be afflicted by these emotions, usually without wanting to.

And the one fleeting thought in my head was one of those moments...

Gourry almost kissed me, I thought, turning a little red. He almost kissed me, and then he stopped. What did that mean? Did I want him to kiss me? Did he want to kiss me? And why did he stop if he did?

I growled and covered my face with my hands. This was too much. Too confusing. Too worrisome. Maybe it would be good for Amelia to come with us. It would be good to have a buffer there, someone there to distract us both from whatever the hell that was and slowly bring us back to treating eachother normally again.

My mind was made up. I refused to confront this. Maybe it was a fluke. Maybe it wasn't. But I wasn't going to be the one to address it first.

I got out of bed and started to get dressed.

Dramata