Slayers Fan Fiction ❯ Dramata Kurage! ❯ Chapter 11 ( Chapter 11 )

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.

11.0
I still felt a little flushed by the time Amelia came in but I don't think that she noticed at that point. Instead she seemed more excited and interested in joining us. I felt kind of confused by it all, since I thought Amelia had important duties to do around in Seyruun. I thought if she wanted to adventure still, she would have stayed with us, but instead she returned to Seyruun. The other thing on my mind was that I didn't want Amelia to get involved, I knew if she did, that she would put herself in great danger and I didn't want to expose her to it. Ideally Lina wouldn't be, but she was at the centre of it all.

I agreed that she would be good to the group, being strong in white magic which would have been useful for Lina in the first place, and maybe we wouldn't have had to go through everything we had. She was being pretty stubborn with it all, and I don't think we could just tell Amelia bluntly that we didn't want her to join us. I don't think she would see the fact that we were looking out for her. I felt that Lina and myself didn't want to put Amelia in any sort of danger she didn't have to be in.

I noticed Lina changing the subject to Amelia's bracelets and I admit that Lina was right. I can be forgetful, but only forgetful of certain bits of information. I often remember other things that normally other people don't look for, and Lina had that also, although I like to think I'm a little more observant than her. I also wondered what happened to her other blue bracelet, and I didn't believe for one second when she said she lost it. Amelia wasn't the type of person to lose things like that, she was more organised than Lina.

Lina then wanted some privacy and at first I didn't want to leave. Thoughts of something going wrong whilst I was away, like Xellos suddenly appearing and attacking Lina, or maybe even threatening her in attempts to get me to give up my sword. However I could see the look from Lina was a pretty determined one so I took that as my cue, with Amelia following me not long after.

I didn't want to stray too far from Lina's room but I didn't want to look like an eavesdropper so we headed back into the room I was given, I then sat down on the bed, Amelia sitting beside me but a few feet away. My thoughts ran back to what I had forgotten all those years ago. It was then I started to realise I didn't know much of what happened before I saw Lina, or who I thought was Lina, try to leave.

"Amelia?" I asked, getting her attention.

"Yes, Gourry-san." She responded in her usual happy tone.

"What happened all those years ago when I was taken by Phibrizzo. What happened? I don't really remember anything that happened until I woke up and saw Lina going away into that black thing." I didn't really look at her, I was afraid she might see something in my eyes, so instead I focused on the ground instead.

"Hmmm, what took you so long to ask? Although I guess long absences in your memory are not that uncommon for you!" She chuckled a little and I just tried to tend to my wounds. "Well first of all I remember Lina chasing after you, but she collapsed from exhaustion. We were all kind of worried about her, and just hoped that she would be ok."

I glanced up to Amelia for a moment. She was just swinging her legs back and forth and looking off into the distance.

"She woke up finally and came down for breakfast, acting like nothing had happened. The thing was as she got her meal she commented about you not stealing any, and of course you weren't there. I'd never seen Lina like that before, she suddenly stopped and hid her face a little. I guess she was so used to you being around, it was like you weren't gone, but when she remembered, I think it hurt her."

Glancing back up, I saw Amelia's face soften. It made me wonder how many times she had gone over those events in her head.

"We realised that at that point, Phibrizzo wanted Lina to do something for him, with you as bait to do it. She considered not going to Sairaag cause that meant keeping you safe and alive. She was worried going and doing what he wanted, he would end up going against his word and kill you. In the end though, she decided to go to Sairaag and do whatever it took to get you back."

I stared at the ground as I continued to listen, and I started to see things in Lina that I wasn't really used to seeing.

"Anyway, we got to Sairaag and eventually ended up facing off against Phibrizzo. He was pretty adamant that Lina do whatever he wanted her to do or there would be consequences."

Suddenly Amelia's voice softened to almost a whisper. I looked up to Amelia and I don't think I ever saw her like this. Her face was dark in expression, she almost looked pained.

"Because Lina wasn't doing what he wanted, he started to kill us one by one. Starting with me first...and then I guess he did the same to the rest...I don't know what set her off, either it was because we were all gone, or because he was finally threatening to kill you. But she cast the Giga Slave and sacrificed herself. You remember the Lord of Nightmares, don't you Gourry?"

I nodded, how could I really forget the cold look in her eyes despite them normally being the firey ones of Lina.

"She said that Lina gave up everything she was, all to save you."

I felt like I'd just been thrown into a bath of ice cold water. I was hit with something powerful and it was like I was made to realise things. Things that were blurry before were now clearing up. I don't really remember the Lord of Nightmares saying those words, although now looking back I think her words got to me. I think maybe it was because as time passed, I decided to forget those words. Especially since Lina had nothing to say about it, I think because of that I worked out that it wasn't that important.

But now things were starting to clear up, and I was beginning to understand what these feelings were, and why I was having them. Immediately I stood up from the bed and turned to Amelia. "Thanks for telling me, I need to talk with Lina."

Amelia seemed to suddenly grin as she looked up at me. "Hey, it's about time!"

I blushed immediately and waved my hands at her. "No no no! It's nothing like that!" But Amelia just seemed to laugh, so I left.

I headed straight over to Lina's room, knocking firmly on the door and entering without waiting for a reply. I looked to Lina as I closed the door who looked suprised as she was putting on her headband. She looked a little pissed off and was about to launch a verbal assault towards me but I stopped her in her tracks.

"I remember, I remember what happened three years ago." I could see her looking at me strangely, not understanding what I meant. I closed the distance between us quickly and grabbed her gloved hand, and stared straight into her eyes. "You sacrificed yourself for me, and I chased you into oblivion. You disappeared right infront of me and then you came back in my arms...and...I remember...I remember we kissed."

I paused for a moment to let it sink in, I wasn't really sure if she understood me, or took in everything I said. When I thought enough time had passed I added on. "What's going on between us Lina?"

Kurage

11.1
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe I couldn't breathe Icouldn'tbreathe. It was worse than that. It was like I stopped breathing, then started up again, quickly, like I was trying hard to breathe fast enough to catch up to my heart. I could feel his hand through my glove, his hand holding my hand, and I faltered. I looked up into his eyes, and saw how focused they were again, and once more I faltered.

“I...I...uh...I...” I blushed and tried to laugh, but it came out all squeaky and forced. My heart felt like a little animal doing jumping jacks in my ribcage. Oh, man, he was so close. I couldn't look anywhere without seeing him, be it his eyes or his hair or his hand.

I tried to talk again but I couldn't get anything out. It was like my throat was parched of all intelligent speech.

What WAS going on between us? I didn't know. I always thought we were just in it for the high jinks. You know...chase the bandits, steal the cash, blast anyone else, all of that crap. Right?

Except eventually I started seeing it as less of a tag-along gig and more of a friendship. Except eventually I started to really discover that Gourry was really growing on me. Except eventually, one day, the one man that had stuck around without any question, without wondering about my motives or morals or anything, got taken away, because I had played my cards all wrong and he wasn't there anymore because of that.

I had thought it was habitual. I had thought that Gourry being there was mere habit for the both of us. I figured if both of us were used to eachother, then why bother trying to get used to something else, right?

Except whenever I thought of him, my chest hurt. Except whenever someone talked about him or said his name, my heart sped up and my mouth went dry from fear and worry. Except even then, even though her intentions were good and just and in no way shape or form ill, I still was jealous of Sylphiel and how easy if was for her to be able to wear her heart on her sleeve and not be questioned for it.

And the moment in question? Nothing else mattered. I did what I did because I had to. I did what I did because if I didn't, someone innocent would die. It had nothing to do with Gourry, it wasn't about him, and it was wrong of Phibrizzo to even use him to get to me, so why should Gourry be punished?

No.

I could say it was duty that led me to it. I could say that it was obligation and honour and justice. Saying that would be a lie. It was a selfish move. Real honour would have been to not cast the Giga Slave, and not risk the world. Gourry would have understood that; he would have accepted that and probably would have done the same thing had he been given the choice. I did it because it was in my heart. I did it because to me, a world without Gourry wasn't worth living in.

And why was that? Why was the world void of Gourry worth nothing? When my mind came across it and I realized it, my hands started shaking. I felt betrayed that after all of these years it was still there, still deep down, still willing to make me a fool, and for what? For WHAT?

I lowered my head and tugged my hand away quickly, as if Gourry's hand was on fire. I hid my eyes with my bangs, determined not to look at him. Slowly, carefully, I regained control. My heart slowed down, and I stopped shaking. But I knew I had buried myself. I knew by the silence that Gourry knew damn well what my body language meant, and even if I tried, he wasn't going to let it go.

Slowly, I turned back around, unable to stop the blush that spread to my cheeks. I looked up at him, right into his eyes, and I said the only answer that was honest.

“I don't know.”

Dramata

11.2
I looked at her closely, waiting for her to reply but there was nothing. If anything she looked like she wanted to run away but I wouldn't let her. I kept a hold of her hand and was refusing to let go because I wanted to know what was going on. I was staring into her eyes, trying to see what she was thinking but there was nothing and I don't know what it was inside but I started feeling bad. My hand loosened it's grip on her hand and then not long after she snatched her hand away and turned away from me.

I hung my head a little, not really sure of what I was doing anymore. Instead of working things out, I was only causing Lina trouble and frustration. I raised my head a little to look at her as she started looking back at me, and then she told me that she didn't know.

That must have set something off because I started feeling angry now. "Dammit Lina. How can you say that? After everything that's happened between us, all the years we've been travelling together. Don't you feel something growing between us?" I looked at her closely again, my eyes showing a little bit of hurt in them. I grabbed her hand again, making sure not to let go.

I raised her hand so she pointed to her head. "You have to stop thinking with this for once in your life Lina. What you need to start doing is think with this!" I brought her hand down and placed it on her chest over her heart, my hand placed on top of hers. "You have to start thinking with your heart." I let her hand go slowly and brought my hand to my chest. "I'm always listening to this, because what's up there doesn't always tell me what I need to know." I pointed to my head at that point. "So maybe you need some time to start listening to it."

I hung my head back down a little and turned, leaving the room quietly. I headed straight back to my room just as Amelia was leaving. She looked at me brightly at first, and then confused. "Gourry-san? Why are you not talking to Lina-san?"

I felt too hurt at that point to really talk with Amelia at that time. "Now's not the best time, Amelia." I just walked past her, my bangs covering my eyes from her, and I entered my room closing the door behind me and leaning back against it for a few moments. "Well done, Gourry...you're as smart as always..." I mumbled to myself sarcastically.

I noticed my room had a balcony so I walked out onto it. The balcony gave a nice view of the royal gardens, but I wasn't really in the mood to admire them. Instead I was thinking about how I'd probably messed things up between Lina and myself. I leaned against the stone railing and just stared off into the distance. I began to wonder if there really was anything, maybe Lina was right in not knowing because there wasn't anything there in the first place.

I just couldn't understand it. Why was I so scared of losing Lina, so scared that I would give up anything to make sure I could get her back. Maybe because I'm taking my job as her protector so seriously. Am I mistaking feelings that I think are between Lina and myself, with my desire to do my job well?

I think what I was more worried about was messing things up between Lina and myself. Maybe she wouldn't want to travel with me anymore. Probably because what I said to her was going to make things weird between us. I didn't want to mess things up like that, if anything that was the last thing on my mind. Of course I didn't sit down long enough to think of the consequences, and so I end up messing things up. Maybe Lina would just pretend nothing happened, she's pretty good at doing that, and maybe I should do the same thing. I sighed as I started to look at the surroundings, wondering of ways I could fix things.

Kurage

11.3
It's not fair. I do what I'm expected to do. I'm strong and I'm brave and I don't back down. I do what I should do when I'm called to do it. But when I want to do something, something I want, something that would be completely unnatural for me to do, I lose the bravery and the hard-headedness. Why? Because deep down, when it comes to feelings, I can be the biggest coward in the world.

And Gourry just proved it to me.

I stood there, my hand on my chest, my breaths shaky. I'm not too sure what I was staring at, but it was brown. Or something. I don't know.

“Follow my heart, huh...?” I murmured, biting my lip. I sat down on the bed, resting my head in my hands. What did my heart say? What did it matter? Did any of it matter? I'm not Sylphiel, or even Amelia. I can't just come out with my feelings and expect roses and chocolate. People expect things from me, don't they?

But Gourry isn't people. Gourry is Gourry. He doesn't expect anything from, except that I just do my best, right? By making excuses, making up fake expectations that people may or may not have, was that really following my heart? Or was it my head that insisted on these things, these expectations and regulations that I had to follow in order to truly be myself?

Why was listening to my heart uncharacteristic for me? I'm not girly or romantic, but I have feelings. I have them. So why would listening and feeling these feelings be so out of character for me?

I looked up slowly, staring at the door. I could either go out the door and follow Gourry, or I could stay here and do nothing. I could say nothing. I could pretend nothing happened and we would go on with our lives after a while. Sure, it would be strained at first, but we would move on, right?

Right?

I shook my head. What was I thinking? Of course they wouldn't.

I got up quickly before I could talk myself out of it. I walked out of the room and looked around. Oddly, no Amelia in sight. Come to think of it, no one was in sight.

I listened. I couldn't hear any activity. I couldn't hear anyone moving. Was this some sort of joke? Did Amelia clean out the hallways so that Gourry and I wouldn't be disturbed or something?

I almost lost my nerve, right then and there. Something was too weird about this. Something was wrong, wasn't it? Or was I merely projecting?

I shook my head. For once, I wasn't going to think about it. I was going to be stupid and reckless and I was going to go to Gourry and be a stupid, reckless idiot. Why not?

I darted quickly down the hallway and went to the door that I knew was Gourry's. I didn't knock on it, I just barged in. I looked around, only to discover that the room was empty. I frowned, then noticed the balcony door was open. I walked over and peered out, and there he was, leaning over the railings.

I walked out onto the balcony. Gourry jumped and looked over. Jeez, the guy must have been lost in some thoughts to be startled like that by me.

“Hi,” I said quietly, looking up at him. He turned to me, about to reply, but I talked over him, lowering my head. “I usually follow my heart but it gets me into trouble. I try to be what people see me as, and that involves using my mind, not my heart. I keep forgetting that, with you, there is more than that. I keep forgetting that it's okay to let my guard down sometimes because you've seen me at both my best and my worst.”

I took a breath, and he tried to talk again, but I looked up at him sharply. “And besides, when did you start remembering things like that, anyways? But, I guess that's not the point, is it?” I hesitated, fidgeting with my gloves, looking up at him. My face grew hot before I could control it, and I wondered what I was doing there.

I sighed, shutting my eyes, determined not to look at him while I said the thing I was about to say. “The thing is, Gourry, that yes; I have feelings for...about...well, for you. I mean, isn't it obvious? I guess it isn't. But I never wanted to admitted it to you because I always thought you kind of knew anyways, and why complicate things between us, and also, you probably have someone waiting for you at home anyways...” I started faltering again, thinking of Sylphiel.

I lowered my head, keeping my eyes shut, determined not to look. “So you see, it's hard for me sometimes. I just wanted you to know that. I just wanted you to know that it's not personal. I just don't want to get my hopes up and have things change for nothing...” My voice was quiet now. I played with my gloves and kicked at the ground, feeling my face grow warmer and warmer as the silence passed. I didn't know what to say to fill the silence. I had said all I wanted to say.

Dramata

11.4
I jumped when I heard a noise behind me, thinking immediately that something was wrong. The thing was, instead of thinking we were about to be attacked, it was worse. Lina was standing there, and I was more worried than being attacked with Lina standing there. I wanted to say something and I opened my mouth, but the thing was, I didn't know what I say. Lina helped me with that though by saying what she wanted to say. I stood there and listened to what she said and as she spoke, everything that I had been thinking of before had just shattered into pieces.

I didn't really know what to do or what to say. I had poured my heart out to her only to hit a brick wall and I was starting to accept it, but now she was breaking down the wall and letting me in, but I was still dazed from hitting the wall at full speed. The thing that stuck in my mind was when she mentioned about someone waiting for me back home. She carried on but it was stuck in my head about what she said and I kind of felt frustrated by it.

She finished and she looked awkward, and for some reason I was frustrated and a little angry. I stepped forward, pushing her chin up so she looked at me and I looked at her, showing I was serious. "Do you think this is supposed to be easy? Do you think I found it easy to tell you what I said to you before? It's hard, it's scary. Lina...I don't think I was ever as scared about anything before when I told you what I remembered."

I looked down at the ground now. Now it was my turn to feel nervous and bashful. "I have feelings for you, and they've been growing from the day we met. At first it was because I felt like you were a little sister who I had to protect. Then when I realised you didn't really need protecting, I felt like we were close friends. Then when I lost you, I felt like I should die, and I realised how much I really care about you."

I was blushing deeply now and I didn't really know what she was beginning to think of me. I turned away now, not wanting to look at her and suddenly finding the gardens much more interesting to look at. "I found it hard to tell you because...well...first of all you have such a reputation, and I felt like if I said anything, you'd beat me into oblivion, or blast me with a Dragon Slave or something. But the real reason I didn't want to say anything, was because I didn't want things to change. I didn't want things to get weird between us. I like the way things are now, I like fighting with you over food, and if anything between us changed, I don't know."

I started rubbing my arm as it was aching a little, I guess those healers were right about needing to rest it. I turned back around to face Lina whilst still rubbing my arm. "I don't have anyone waiting at home Lina. I don't think my family even want me back, not at least without the Sword of Light, and even then I don't think they would be too happy. You're all I have in this world Lina, I have nothing to go back to, no-one to settle with."

That was all I could think of to tell her, that was everything I had inside of me to tell her. I turned back around, leaning back on the railing and looked at the rest of the gardens, not knowing how Lina was going to react.

Kurage

11.5
Listening to all of this made me feel sad. I had no idea that Gourry was so out of touch with his family. I had always thought maybe there was some sort of connection between him and his relatives. But then, he never really talked much about his family.

And as for the no-one-waiting comment, well, I had always thought Sylphiel was waiting for him. Maybe she was, but he wasn't coming back to her. I felt a little guilty. I mean, she had known him first, hadn't she? But still...I mean, it's not like I was taking him away from her...

I wanted to hit myself on the head. What was I thinking! Was I actually staking claim on Gourry! What the hell was wrong with me!

I frowned deeply. This is what I'm doing wrong, I thought suddenly. I'm thinking, and the thinking is affecting how I feel. I guess I understand how Gourry remains so genuine all the time, because he doesn't let his thoughts cloud his feelings.

I think I just made an excuse for stupidity.

...well, we all make mistakes.

ANYWAYS.

I looked up slowly, peering at Gourry through my bangs. I noticed how tired he looked, and how strained he looked. I never realized how hard things could get for him. He always seems like an eternal optimist. I guess we're all different with our shields down.

Without thinking, I crept closer to him. I stood beside him, keeping my eyes focused on the gardens below. I didn't want to embarrass myself or anything, but I had a feeling that somehow, inevitably, I would.

I leaned close and nervously, hesitantly, reached over with one hand. I felt my face go hot even before my hand made contact with Gourry's arm. He blinked and looked over at me, and I looked back at him, unable to say anything. I just crept closer, sliding my hand up his arm and then over to his back.

It was like we were moving in a slow, weird, mutual dance. When I came closer, so did he. When I touched him, I soon felt his hand on the small of my back. When I turned to look right into his eyes, I saw they were already on me. And what's weird was that even during all of this, I didn't once lose any nerve. I just kept searching his eyes, and the awkwardness and the nervousness sort of...went away from me.

It felt like before. Back then. It felt natural and together and okay. We just sort of...came together. I turned to face him, and he turned to face me, and I looked up at him, and he looked down at me, and it was all...natural.

Before I knew it, I was hugging him, tightly. Like he had hugged me before. I put my whole heart into it. I smushed close and hugged tight and shut my eyes and all I could feel or see or smell or anything was Gourry. I didn't even notice if he was hugging back or not. I just wanted to express how I felt, without letting my words get in the way. And that was the best I could come up with.

And I didn't want to let go or move away either. I stayed put, and he didn't seem to mind.

Dramata

11.6
I sensed something beside me and as I turned to look I froze for a moment. I saw Lina standing next to me and she was pretty close. Her hand was already up and then she touched my arm. I blinked quickly, since I was suprised that Lina was being so bold. I'd never seen Lina show signs of affection, unless you count the way she touched my leg when I got her that book. And of course there was then.

Her hand followed up my arm and then across my back, and I returned the gesture, my hand going down her arm and then across the small of her back. I then turned to her and looked into her ruby red eyes and wrapped my arms tightly around her and it felt right. Lina was hugging me back just as tightly, pressing very close to me. I hung my head and rested it gently on the top of hers and the ache in my arm was gone. I breathed in and could smell her scent.

I don't know how long we were stood like that for, and it didn't really matter because right now nothing else mattered. It didn't feel like the hug from before which felt like we were avoiding things, now we'd accepted them. I pulled away but not fully so I was still in her arms and I raised a hand to her cheek, now I leaned down and the distance between my face and hers got closer. This time I didn't stop, I kept going until my lips pressed against hers gently.

The second our lips touched it was like electricity jolted through my body, my heart began to race and my fingers started tingling. I pulled her in closer to me and felt her gloved hand press against my cheek, and felt her thumb gently caressing it. We finished the kiss only to go back into the hug and stayed like that for awhile once more.

Finally we pulled away from each other and now I was lost for words, but I'm not sure I really needed them because I think I said everything I had to say in those two gestures we shared just moments before. I knew then, for sure that I loved her. I cared for her so much, and wanted to protect her with my life because I was in love with the dramata.

I took her hand and turned back to look out at the gardens, interlocking my fingers with hers and enjoying the view and being able to be so close to Lina. That was the longest I think we had been together in silence and it wasn't awkward or weird, if anything it was good. I just hoped that despite this, everything else wouldn't change. I meant those words about not wanting things to change and I don't think it would be good for us for those things to change because I felt it was those things that brought us closer together in the first place.

I moved around behind her now wrapping my arms around her waist and leaning my chin on her shoulder. I enjoyed holding her petite body in my arms, I felt like I was protecting her from everything in the world. Then suddenly my instincts told me I needed to protect her now. I quickly turned my head sharply keeping Lina out of the way, only to be met by a swing by a staff to the cheek. It cracked hard and sent me to the ground in a dazed state. I knew straight away who it was.

"Aww Lina-san. Here I was thinking you liked the dark types, and not the tall handsome blondes." Xellos smirked, setting his staff back down beside him.

I stood up quickly, and spat a bit of blood out from my mouth and glared at Xellos, wondering if this was going to be it.

11.7
When Gourry kissed me, I didn't fight it. I leaned into it. When he kissed me, everything felt peachy, as corny as that is. It was warm, it was soft, it was nice. It was full of want and need from the both of us. I pushed closer and kissed back, realizing, feeling, understanding. Nothing else really mattered at that moment.

I felt strong, I felt happy. I felt many things that usually a few explosions make me feel, only this was way better. And when Gourry pulled away, and when we just looked at eachother, there was no denying now what was in my heart. I felt myself go pink at the thought, but either Gourry didn't notice, or he didn't mind.

Things were quiet for a few moments, until Xellos decided to whack Gourry upside the head with the butt of his staff. I turned sharply just in time to see Gourry go down. Xellos stood in front of me and grinned, holding his staff casually in one hand.

He was quick, but I was quicker. In a flash, I had him in a headlock. He dropped the staff and whined pathetically. “Lina-san, you can't keep doing this each time I see you...” He squealed, smiling haplessly at me.

“What the hell is your problem, Xellos?” I snapped, tightening my hold around his neck. “You pop in and out in the most annoying way possible, say stupid remarks, and then leave!”

Xellos squirmed a little. “Need...air...explain...”

I sighed and dropped him roughly. He landed on the ground with a thud, but before I could get up, both Gourry and I were ready for him, sword and dagger out and pointed right at him. He blanched at sweatdropped, realizing right away that he was cornered.

Xellos sat up and grinned, and I swear I wanted to smack him upside the head with the butt of my dagger, but I resisted. “First things first, Xellos,” I said, glaring at him. “What happened to the healer and his wife?”

He sighed. “I assure you, nothing life-ending. I just put a little influence on them, that's all.”

“And what the hell were they doing to my leg?”

Xellos smiled mysteriously. “Well, I thought you had that figured out.”

I felt a chill go through me. So, I had been right after all. “And how would doing that get your boss the Blast Sword? Gourry sure as hell noticed, and using me to get to him wouldn't have worked.”

Xellos shook his head, looking sorry for me. “Lina-san, how can you be so simple? Haven't you ever heard of two birds with one stone? If you became a Mazoku at the same time as us getting the Blast Sword, well, wouldn't that be something, ne?” He opened one purple eye and looked up at me.

Gourry, I noticed, had stiffened a little in his stance, and was looking at me sharply from the corner of his eye. “And why do you want the Blast Sword, Xellos?” I asked again.

“Oh, what Juuo-sama does with it is not up to me, Lina-san,” he answered, getting up to his feet. Both Gourry and I followed his movements with our blades, but he pretended not to notice. “However, I am her servant, and I will do her bidding. So eventually I will get the Blast Sword.”

I leaned closer, pressing the tip of my dagger right to his neck. He blanched again and looked a little doubtful, but he kept his aloof smile plastered to his face. “But, out of respect for our old alliances, I'm willing to give you a chance.”

Yeah, that doesn't sound like there's a catch to it.

“A chance for what, Xellos?” I said quietly, narrowing my eyes in warning. I knew he had something to say to me. If he hadn't, he would have phased out by now. Xellos never sticks around if he doesn't have to, and I have known this for as long as I have known him. However, I was willing to hear him out; in doing so, I was allowing a chance for him to hint or let something slip.

“I could probably strike up a deal with Juuo-sama,” he replied. “As you know, your magical prowess is most coveted by us Mazoku, especially your skill with Nightmare magic.”

“So?” I replied, not liking where this was going.

Xellos smiled happily. “Well, if you were to instead come willingly and not force us to waste time trying to force you to join, I'm sure Juuo-sama would reconsider her claim on the Blast Sword, don't you think?”

I blinked, taken aback by it. Xellos nodded slowly, knowingly. “Of course you knew that, didn't you? And you also know that neither of us are in any position to fight here, what, with my powers weakened here in Seyruun and your injuries still incubating.”

I gritted my teeth. “And? What about it?”

Xellos backed up slowly. “When I come back again, Lina-san, THEN will it be the time for us to fight. Unless, of course, you accept my offer, which of course I will ask you again before we fight. Depending on your answer, of course, will bring different outcomes. I just hope you pick the right one, the smartest one, especially for his sake, ne?”

I opened my mouth to protest, or to yell, or anything, but before I could, he of course phased out. I sighed and sheathed my dagger, turning to Gourry. He glanced at me for a moment before doing the same with his own sword.

“Come on, we better tell Amelia,” I admitted. I turned to walk out of the balcony, then stopped, turned around, and smiled at him, a small smile, one I knew he would understand. I of course wouldn't accept Xellos's offer. And I of course wouldn't forget what had happened there, either. He must have gotten the message, because he gave me a tiny smile of his own before shortly following me out the balcony's door and back into the room. From there, we headed towards the main hall, to talk to Amelia, and to get to the bottom of this.

Dramata

11.8
I continued to glare at Xellos as Lina grabbed him into a headlock and seemed to have him subdued. I raised a hand to my cheek and rubbed it a bit, still tasting blood in my mouth. I watched then as Lina threw him to the ground at which point I unsheathed the Blast Sword and had it ready to attack him, alongside Lina who had her dagger at the ready.

At which point Lina began questioning Xellos, about the healer, what they were doing to Lina. I was confused when Xellos told Lina she should have figured already what was happening but I couldn't work it out. I kept glancing to Lina hoping for some sort of explanation, since now I felt a little out of the loop. However I was about to be filled in by Xellos, who mentioned something about Lina turning into a mazoku.

That caused my whole body to stiffen up and I glanced back at Lina, and wanted to know what the hell was going on. Lina being turned into a mazoku? It started to affect me and I began to doubt Lina. Becoming a mazoku would give her alot of power, something I know she likes, but would she really go that far. The thing that really got to me, is why didn't she even tell me that's what the black stuff was for. Maybe she hid it from me because she didn't want to tell me, and maybe she was just going to do it without me knowing.

I kept shooting my look between Lina and Xellos, Lina because I didn't like the talk of her becoming a mazoku and Xellos, because I know he could attack us in any second. At which point Xellos began to get up. I glared back to Xellos and followed him with my blade closely, at which point my arm began to ache up again but I ignored it, I couldn't let something like that distract me.

He then began suggesting a way of making a deal which included not taking the Blast Sword, but I wasn't happy with it the second he suggested it because I knew there was going to be some sort of catch. I began glancing back to Lina, and almost felt like screaming at her to just ignore him, and then let me attack Xellos when I had the chance, I knew that at least with the Blast Sword I might have a chance against him. But Lina gave him the chance and listened.

The second I heard it I felt a little sick inside and looked to Lina immediately to see her response. Xellos was right with the fact that we couldn't fight, he just neglected to mention the state of my arm which would also be a factor, but the thing that stood my hairs up was maybe he neglected me because I wasn't even a threat to him.

At that point he made the final choice, that either Lina accepted to become a mazoku and leave the Blast Sword alone, or we end up fighting. His words caused a shiver down my spine when he mentioned that he hoped Lina made the right choice..for my sake. He didn't stay to listen to Lina's reaction, and disappeared, but Lina still wanted to make the point but realised it was useless because he was already gone. She just sighed and sheathed her dagger, I looked over to her, still worried about her thoughts of becoming a mazoku. I then sheathed my sword figuring the threat was gone.

The moment I did I crossed my arms as Lina began heading back to the room, going on about talking to Amelia about what just happened. I wasn't moving though, I felt we had things to talk about and I wasn't going to move an inch until she began to talk to me and tell me she wasn't going to become a mazoku. She stopped when she realised I wasn't following, and looked back at me. She must have known what I was thinking because she gave me a little smile. I took that smile as to mean she wouldn't be doing that. I still wasn't sure of her though, I had the feeling she could have just done that to make me feel better but still be seriously considering Xellos's choice. I returned a smile of my own though after a few moments of thinking it through, deciding to trust Lina.

I followed Lina closely as we walked through the corridors, my mind still on what Xellos was talking about. I didn't like it at all, but I just felt glad that I manage to stop whatever that was in Lina's leg from spreading. I guessed if it continued to spread, she would have become one of them. And that would have been just as worse as losing her.

We met up with Amelia where Lina began to explain what had just happened with Xellos and the things she was thinking about doing. I just stayed quiet in the background, my head down at the ground as I still thought about it all. I kept a hand on my aching arm, wondering if I should have put that sling back on. I blinked a little when I heard my name being called. I looked up to see both Amelia and Lina looking at me, Amelia with a confused look, Lina with an annoyed one.

"Didn't you hear what we said, Gourry-san?" Amelia questioned.

"Umm..." I blushed, feeling a little embarrased now. "Sorry, I was listening." I scratched the back of my head. Amelia sweatdropped and Lina looked like she was about to blow up, but held it back, and decided to carry on talking with Amelia. I just kept thinking about things in my mind. I didn't want Lina to become a mazoku. I didn't want to lose Lina.

Kurage

11.9
Amelia took the news well…

“EH!” she shrieked, standing up and flailing her hands. “Xellos was HERE! In this PALACE! HERE!”

I sighed and tugged at my bangs. “Yes, Amelia, he was here.”

“And you didn't come and get me!” she was suddenly angry at me. “You didn't come and tell me as soon as he showed up?”

I stared at her. “Amelia, it's not like---“

“What if I had wanted to say hello!”

I fell over. Right to the floor. I then quickly got up and went right up to her. “What are you talking about, Amelia!” I demanded. “This is the guy who wants to kill us!”

Amelia looked ready to cry. “But I thought if maybe I could talk to him he would see the error of his ways.”

I smacked my forehead. “Jeez, Amelia. Just sit down and listen. If you're going to join us, you need to be sane.”

Her eyes went sparkly instantly. “I can come along?”

I frowned at her sternly. “If you listen.”

Nodding slowly, she sat down quickly, but she still beamed. That's what I like about Amelia; she has enthusiasm, but she has enough sense to keep it in check when the need arose.

I sat down next to her, and Gourry sat down next to me. I noticed from the corner of my eye that he looked a million miles away. Either that or he was just in dense-land.

I explained to her the whole situation, this time in detail. Except, of course, the details on the balcony. She didn't need to know that. I also told her about the previous pans Gourry and I talked about, about going to Filia.

Amelia thought for a moment. “Mm, but going to Filia-san, although theoretically sounds like a good plan, would actually end up problematic, don't you think?”

I blinked. “What do you mean?”

Amelia thought again, then said, “Well, Filia-san has a lot of baggage, especially when it comes to Xellos-san. I don't think it would be a good idea to suddenly spring this all on her, especially when she's just found a routine with her shop.”

I stared. “How do you know?”

Amelia smiled innocently. “I visit sometimes. I like Filia-san, I like talking with her. It's always nice to have a fellow shrine maiden around, even if she is much more powerful than me.”

I glanced at Gourry. “Did you know about this?” I demanded. When he just sat there, I frowned at him. “Gourry?”

Amelia titled her head. “Gourry-san?”

He seemed to jump out if, blinking at us as if we had both materialized. When it was well known that he wasn't listening, I felt irritated, but I let it go. It was more important to plan things out than to be petty. Besides, I'm sure if it was really bothering him, he would tell me later.

I turned back to Amelia. “Okay, Miss Expert, since you seem to know best, where do you think we should head to next, then? Obviously we need some sort of plan. Xellos isn't going to stay dormant for long.”

Amelia once again paused to think it over. I pretended to do the same, but the truth was, I was tapped for ideas. This whole situation was going over my head. It was complicated when it should have been simple. How can you fight someone who has the power of dimensional manipulation and dimensional attack in their grasp? It's impossible to predict their next move, and I wasn't going to fool anyone into thinking I could do it.

Amelia finally snapped out of it, just when I was starting to feel gloomy. “What about that dragon lady you talked about?”

I looked over at Amelia sharply. “What, Veryna? What makes you think she would be of any use?”

Amelia smiled. “What makes you think she wouldn't? She's the one that started all of this, isn't she? She's also the one that seems to appear when you least expect it, or want it. You said yourself, Lina-san, that it was a little suspicious. Don't you think that now, after all of this, it would be prudent to question her?”

I stared at her.

Wow.

She really WAS a good politician.

She convinced me. It was a good plan. If all fails, why not start all over again? I stood up, leaned over and casually poked Gourry so that he would pay attention again, and declared, “okay then. So we'll go visit our friend Veryna and see what she has to say.” I turned to Amelia. “Are you sure about coming along?”

Amelia grinned and held up her fists. “Yes! Absolutely!”

I smiled back. “Okay, in that case, go tell your dad, and then bring us some food! I'm STARVING HERE!”

Amelia sweatdropped, but Gourry seemed to come to life suddenly at the mention of food. He looked up at me with hope in his eyes. “Come on, Amelia, hop to it, we're both starving here!”

Amelia groaned a little in exasperation, but rushed out of the room.

I laughed and sat down, waiting for my feast.

Dramata