"Everyone, this is my father, Katsuhito Inverse, head of the Inverse Dojo," Lina introduced with a hint of exasperation.
"Actually, Katsuhito isn't his real name but it was the one he adopted ever since he met that traveling martial artist when he was young," Narina explained with the same exasperated tone.
"What exactly is a dojo?" Zel asked.
"Well, it is a school for a discipline of martial arts. The training facilities are behind this manor. I think it is unique in the entire world."
"It most certainly is," Katsuhito smiled brightly. "Now tell me, Terim, exactly what kind of family business brought you to Zefilia."
"Well, you see, it's like this. We need to meet your eldest daughter Luna. She was a witness to a wedding that now wants to be annulled."
"I see what you mean. However, I cannot condone such a course of action. Divorce is not something to be taken lightly."
"Exactly what I told them but perhaps they'll listen to you better."
"Be certain of it. Who are the married people in question?"
"My eldest son and your youngest daughter."
"Oh, that's good. They're both right here. Now listen you two--WHAT!!"
"Here it comes," Lina groaned.
"Absolutely not! I do not condone this marriage!! Do whatever you have to but this marriage is considered canceled!!"
"But I thought you just said it was alright," Terim replied.
"Not when it concerns one of my little girls, especially my baby girl!! I haven't even set up an arranged marriage to screw her over yet!"
"You were planning on arranging a marriage for me?!" Lina screamed.
"Don't yell at your father!" Katsuhito scolded. "My little baby is not getting married to some stranger I've never even met!"
"Good. So we're agreed," Zelas said satisfied, crossing her arms. "We can just get Luna to sign the papers and this will all just be a bad memory."
"Yes, yes of course. It would dishonor our ancestors to have my baby married to such a weakling."
"I don't recall my opinion being asked," Narina remarked dryly.
"Are you calling my son a weakling?!" Zelas roared.
Terim shrugged. "It has begun."
"Of course. Who else would I be calling a weakling? Why else would my little baby not tell me about her being married unless she was ashamed that he was a spineless weakling. Oh what humiliation she must have gone through!" Katsuhito whirled on Zelgadiss. "What kind of deceit did you employ to trick my innocent little baby?"
"Well...we weren't exactly in our right minds at the time I guess..."
"You were doing it under the influence?! Such irresponsibility!"
"Dad! I've been drinking wine since I was six!"
Katsuhito's face dropped, tears welling up in his eyes. "Dad? You're not calling me 'Daddy' anymore?"
Lina turned her back on him. "You have no right to control my life."
"So you want to marry this weakling?"
"Stop calling my boy a weakling!"
"Any person who wishes to court one of my little princesses, much less marry one of them, must defeat me in a battle to the death!"
"Who would want to marry the brat you have for a youngest daughter anyway?"
"You seek to insult our family honor?! I accept no weaklings as suitors."
"Like my son would ever think of wanting to court that kid!"
"Hold your tongue or I'll be fighting you to uphold the honor of my family."
"I'd like to see you try!"
"Could we get back to the question at hand?" Terim pleaded.
"For your friendship I will overlook your wife's indiscretion this time."
"And the divorce?"
"I do not bless any suitor who has not defeated me in combat. All those who I have defeated are weaklings. Those who don't dare to challenge me are spineless weaklings."
"Stop calling my son a spineless weakling! He can wipe the floor with you!"
"Is that a challenge I hear?"
"You bet your principle-bound hide it is!"
"Um, mom..."
"Now Zelgadiss," Terim put a hand on his son's shoulder. "If you want to keep this marriage you'll have to defeat Katsuhito. Do you want to keep the marriage?"
"I..." Zel looked hesitatingly at Lina who was talking quietly with Narina.
"Of course, losing may not be allowed either. You know how your mother is. She can't stand for anyone picking on her son."
"Fine then! The challenge will be held immediately in the courtyard! Lina, come with me!" Katsuhito ordered as he marched out of the room. Lina looked briefly back at Zel before following her father.
"Hmmm," Narina pondered. "Looks like you're in quite a mess."
"Now, Zel dear, you're going to beat the crap out of that old man aren't you?"
"Of course he will Zelas," Terim reassured his wife. It seemed that her indignation over the insulting of her son had caused her to temporarily forget that winning the challenge equaled Katsuhito's unspoken approval to Zel's marriage to Lina.
"Terim, why don't you go take Zelas for some wine tasting?" Narina asked sweetly.
Terim took the hint to leave with his wife.
"Now then Zelgadiss, I would like some time to get to know you better but that will have to wait until after the battle. It is completely unarmed combat but with your stone skin you may be able to last longer than previous contestants."
"How did you know about my skin?" Zel asked startled.
"Lina told me. Don't let your unfamiliarity with Katsuhito's technique confuse you. Though he said the battle was to the death, it is actually to the point where Katsuhito or you can no longer fight back. Now I want you to listen carefully to what I'm going to tell you. It'll help you defeat him."
"Wait, why would you tell me that?" Zel wondered suspiciously.
Narina smiled wickedly. "I would love to see him taken down a few notches and you're the best candidate I've seen in ages. Besides, Lina asked me to tell you."
Lina chewed nervously on her lip. What she was deathly afraid would happen was now happening right before her eyes. Her father was frightfully protective of Luna and her, and Lina could easily recall the numerous suitors for Luna. Not one had beaten her father.
Katsuhito Inverse was an exceptional fighter, Lina could admit that without any paternal partiality. His disappointment in her following magic instead of fighting did not put a dent in his obsessive protectiveness over her. This fight would most likely end in death, she didn't want to think whose.
"Chin up, Lina." Narina drifted up to her descendent. "It's about to begin."
Katsuhito wrapped up his stretches as Zel stepped forward, devoid of his sword and oddly enough, his cape as well.
"That husband of yours certainly travels well." Narina nodded to a pile of blades and other weapons. "Spring-loaded daggers, hidden knives, even the edge of his cape was weighted."
Lina sweatdropped. She knew Zel carried quite a few hidden weapons on him but she didn't think he was carrying *that* much. How in the world did he manage to wear all that and still move without making a sound?
"Alright then. Here are the rules. No weapons. None of that blasphemous thing you call magic. No dirt throwing. No insults. No cheap shots like hitting in the groin. No teleporting. No interference from outside parties. No gouging or biting. No instant kill attacks. No ki attacks. Fathers defending their daughters' virtue are exempt from all above rules."
"DAD!!"
"Okay, okay. I'll follow them too. Well then whelp. Will you concede defeat now? Or shall you force me to make my youngest baby a widow?"
"He'll beat the stuffing out of ya!!" Zelas screamed, suddenly appearing on the sidelines waving a bottle.
"How much has she already drunk?" Narina wondered.
"Enough to keep her largely unconscious for the majority of this fight," Terim answered, catching his wife as her alcohol consumption caught up with her.
"Just remember to pay me for those bottles."
"Alright, the fight will begin at three. One. Two. Oh my god, what's that over there?!?"
Everyone minus Zelas looked over in the direction Katsuhito pointed.
"Three! Inverse Screw Crash!" Katsuhito made a running leap into the air, swinging his leg around to connect his feet with Zel's head. But instead it connected with Zel's swiftly raised arm and Katsuhito pushed himself off to flip in the air and land on his feet again. Still, the force of the attack had pushed Zel back several feet.
Zel winced and tried to move his fingers. That kick had stung! Narina hadn't been kidding about Katsuhito not holding back. If Zel hadn't blocked, he could have been out for the count with a small concussion at best. If Lina hadn't told Narina to warn him...
Zel quickly glanced at the petite sorceress standing at the sidelines. Her arms crossed across her chest, only the constant fiddling with the gems on her gloves told Zel how worried she was. The more anxious Lina got, the more restless her fingers became.
That was all the observation Zel could do before Katsuhito began to launch his attacks again. It was all the chimera could do just to dodge and block them all. What was this guy made of? It was like Katsuhito totally disregarded the fact that Zel's skin had the consistency of stone. Heck, even Zel wondered if his skin was even stone anymore with all the hard punches and kicks slamming into him.
"All he's doing is defense," Terim sighed. "He'll never beat Katsuhito at this rate. Even with that skin, the pain will wear him down. Oh and Lina? Please remember to breathe. I don't want to explain to either of them that you died of lack of air."
Sheepishly, Lina took in a deep breath. She had been so absorbed in the fight that she hadn't dared to breathe. But Terim's assessment of Zel's condition was dead on. He couldn't concentrate solely on defense. With his strength, Zel could possible knock out her father with one hit. The problem would be in finding an opening in her father's defense and a break in Katsuhito's offense. She resumed chewing on her lip.
Terim looked at Lina, looked at Katsuhito, and then smiled. So that was what the old coot was up to.
"Not...not bad...whelp," Katsuhito gasped, slightly shaking his fingers to get rid of the numbing sting that was also making itself known in his feet and shins. Felt like he had been hitting stone. Well, Terim's son certainly did have an odd skin color, not to mention texture.
Zel didn't reply, he felt like he had been hit all over with Filia's mace and used for cannonball practice for several hours. No wonder Lina and her sister were still single.
"Keep...going...?" Katsuhito asked, studying the young man.
Was Lina's father playing with him? If he was, Zel feared what he could do when he was really serious. And if he was serious, well, Zel wasn't sure how much more he could take. The young Graywords had already gone way beyond what he thought he could take. Everything in him was screaming to call off the fight. Everything that is, except for one small voice that insisted he keep standing, a voice that always raised itself when he caught a glance of Lina's fearful eyes.
Zel looked her way again, somehow gathering strength from it. He nodded.
Katsuhito didn't miss that glance the insolent whelp gave toward his youngest daughter. Nor did he miss Lina's reactions to the fight. There was only one thing left to test.
"Well then...this will be the end," Katsuhito smiled as he dashed toward the young man.
Lina gasped.
Zel could barely see the older man but just then, there! An opening! As Katsuhito whirled around to kick Zel, Zel dodged and hit upwards toward the martial arts master undefended torso. Katsuhito flew into the air, landing several yards away.
"That's my boy!" Terim cheered.
A wave of relief washed over Lina and she sank to the ground. Zel had won. Wait, why was she so happy about that? Because it meant he hadn't died right? She didn't want her friend to die. That was it. Wasn't it?
Zel also fell to his knees, the pain overwhelming. Shakily, he caught Lina's eyes. She could see the confusion there and smiled weakly to reassure him. Then he looked at her father's prone form.
"So Dad finally got beat," Lina laughed weakly. "Aren't you glad? Narina."
Narina was looking at Katsuhito with an odd expression.
"Narina? Narina what's wrong?" Lina shook the older woman.
"Lina...your father...he..."
Lina's hand closed tightly on Narina's arm, her face paling. "Wha...What about him? He'll get up soon. Raving like a lunatic as usual. Calling foul and everything. Right Narina? He's alright. He'll wake up soon."
Narina closed a hand over Lina's and shook her head. "No Lina. He won't be waking up again today."
By now, Terim and Zelgadiss had noticed their conversation.
Lina shakily stood up, shaking her head as tears began to fall. "No. No, he's alright. Daddy's alright. He has to be. Daddy has to be!!!"
From the now clouded sky, rain began to fall.
Rain pattered on the windows. It was a very lonely and sad sound, Zel decided. He still couldn't believe it. Not even after both his father and the doctor had examined Katsuhito. Lina's father was dead. They both insisted that it was simply heart failure, that it wasn't his fault.
But watching Lina crying over her father's body, Zel couldn't believe that. If he hadn't accepted that challenge, Katsuhito would still be alive. Why had he accepted it anyway? Hadn't he wanted to dissolve the marriage between himself and Lina? Why chain her to a monster such as himself?
And now, not only a monster, but a murderer. The killer of her father.
Whatever chance he may have ever held with her were destroyed by one careless decision. How could he even think of staying in their house after what he did?
Well, he hadn't made that decision. The light rain that had begun earlier became a regular thunderstorm and neither of his parents or Narina would hear of him going out. Lina hadn't said anything all. It took himself and his father to pull her away from the corpse and then she tore herself away and ran to the manor. No one had seen her since.
Lightning blazed through the darkness outside. Thunder rumbled soon afterwards. Zel leaned back in the easychair of the den, wondering where did everything go wrong.
:Perhaps when you ignored yourself?: asked that inner voice, the same that had urged him to stay standing during that tragic battle.
"What are you talking about?"
:Admit it to yourself. Silently if you have to. It's rather pointless to hide it now.:
"Hide...what?" Zel asked reluctantly, the answer he had refused for so long to acknowledge much less accept.
:Should I lead you through it?:
Zel nodded slightly.
:Do you remember when you first met her?:
A midnight visitor coming to buy stolen treasure from someone who stole from stealers. Thinking back, Zel found it a rather amusing situation though at the time, he was only annoyed at the added hassle. The sorceress grated on his already worn nerves. Her death wouldn't have bothered him in the slightest.
When he finally stepped in to capture her, his opinion of her dropped even further with her weak spells and tricks. She raised herself to 'amusing' during her verbal spat with Zolf. Then when he escaped with her later that night, it was only to use her to get the statue. Her helplessness frustrated him as much as it frustrated her.
Even now, her care-free attitude sent him off balance though he had learned to hide his smiles. She always made jokes or outrageous remarks to throw off her opponents. Somehow, she was still the only one that could make him break his stone mask. She was the only one that could look past the walls that separated him from everyone else.
His opinion of her had done a 180 degree turn after their battle with Shabrinigdo. When she accepted his handshake, an allowance he rarely indulged in even before becoming a chimera, that was the first time he ever considered anyone even remotely as a friend.
So when had things changed? When had Lina gone beyond the first real friend he ever had to something more? Zel didn't know, but he supposed it was something that had grown slowly over the years since. When had he first noticed it? That ridiculous Temple of Marriage or what not that Jiras made up to get to Gourry's Sword of Light?
True, he had been quietly relieved that he hadn't been paired with Amelia as soulmates, even if he didn't really believe that kind of stuff. But there was that twinge when Lina became worried over Gourry's disappearance and took it out on Amelia.
That painful twinge returned again when they were trapped in that weird amusement park attraction. The only time he had seen her in a dress, even if it was an ordinary one. There was that lost pained look in her eyes when she saw that puppet whose long yellow hair resembled Gourry's.
Yes, that was it. That was the reason he chose to ignore what he had felt for quite some time. Gourry was always there for her. He was always with her. He was handsome, he was caring, he was human, and he was *there* for her.
Unlike Zel.
So he had to let her go, as much as he didn't want to. Lina belonged with Gourry. It was as simple as that.
"Keep telling yourself that and maybe you'll eventually believe it," Zel muttered to his reflection.
"Tell yourself what?"
Zel looked away from the window to Narina. "Nothing."
She gave him a I-don't-believe-you-but-I-won't-ask-now look. "You left the dinner table rather quickly. Did the food displease you?"
Zel shook his head. "I don't eat that much."
"So your parents also told me. How are those clothes?"
By the time everyone had returned to the Inverse Manor, they were soaked to the skin. Narina had produced dry clothes for everyone. Zel had changed out of his usual clothes into a pair of dark blue breeches, white open collar shirt, and black knitted vest. He had refrained from asking how Narina had found clothes that fit perfectly.
"They're fine."
"That's good. I was wondering if you could do a favor for me. Lina didn't come down to eat at the table and she hasn't sneaked into the kitchen for food either. I have a tray of food that I'd like you to bring up to her."
There was no tray Zel knew of that could hold enough food to satisfy Lina.
"She's likely to be in her room on the second story. Just take the front stairs, turn down the left hallway, and her room is the third on the right. I'm afraid I have to take care of...the arrangements for her father else I'd do it myself." Narina smiled apologetically before leaving.
Seeing Lina wasn't the very last thing Zel wanted to do right now but it was pretty down there. He had no idea what to say to her. He had no idea how she'd react though if she tried to fry him, Zel couldn't blame her. On the other hand, he was very worried.
First, he had never seen her break down like that. Even when Gourry was taken by Fibrizo, Lina had kept a cheerful front in front of everyone. Second, Lina had run away and hidden herself. From what he knew of her, this wasn't typical of her either. Third, she hadn't eaten anything yet. If even Lina's stomach couldn't motivate her to move, well...
Zel stood up abruptly and left the den. Outside in the hallway was a tray of food which was enough for a normal person but a drop in the bucket for someone with Lina's appetite. It'll probably be enough to get her started, Zel figured picking up the tray.
Following Narina's directions, Zel found himself before Lina's bedroom. Though the second story wasn't lit, the combination of his night vision and the flashes of lightning allowed Zel to see the curving script that spelled 'Lina' on the door.
Shifting the tray to one hand, Zel knocked on the door. He had no intention of barging in on Lina, normal or not. There was no answer but the storm outside was quite loud. Zel knocked again, harder, just to be sure.
When it went unanswered again, Zel slowly opened the bedroom door. No light was lit, Zel had to depend on his night vision first to get a layout of the room. When he couldn't see Lina, he cast a Lighting. The globe of light revealed a clean neat room, one wall lined with books, another holding a desk and several chests, the third having the bed, and the last with a large wardrobe and the door he just came through.
All in all, it was quite clean for a room that no one had been using for several years. Zel placed the tray of food on the desk. No dust. Someone had been taking care of her room. He looked around room again.
This time he saw her, leaning against the headboard of her bed, arms wrapped around her knees close to her chest.
"Lina?" Zel called softly. The girl made no reply. He knelt next to her and was about to shake her when he stopped. Lina's head was resting on her knees, the trails of tears still fresh on her face.
"She fell asleep crying." Gently, almost fearfully, Zel wiped away one of the trails. Then he noticed her wet hair and clothes. Lina hadn't even changed out of her rain-soaked clothes.
"You're going to get a fever if you keep this up," Zel muttered, sliding a hand under red hair to touch her forehead.
Lina stirred at the touch, opening her eyes. "Who..."
Zel's voice caught in his throat.
"Oh. Zelgadiss. It's you."
He had never heard Lina so...so...what was the word? Sad? Apathetic? Tired? Yes that was it. She sounded tired, like she didn't have the strength, or the will, to go on. A frightening thought gripped him. She wouldn't kill herself. Would she?
"Lina. You missed dinner."
"I did? I must have forgotten."
Lina? Forget food?
"Lina, are you..." What was he going to ask? Was she alright? Her father just *died*. And by Zel's hand no less. What was he still doing here before her? Causing her even more pain? He stood up abruptly to leave.
"Zel. It wasn't your fault."
Zel halted midstride.
"Don't blame yourself."
"But..."
Lina shook her head. "It was Daddy's fault. It was his stupid idea. Even at his age, he still insisted on doing that."
Zel looked at her. Katsuhito couldn't be that much older than his own father. No, wait, hadn't Lina said she was almost 500 years old? Of course, she had been arguing with his mother at the time. But if that was true, then Katsuhito must have been *really* old.
"How is your...how are you feeling?" Lina asked.
"Fine."
"Truthfully Zel."
"Like I've been hit by a hundred cannonballs all over."
Lina smiled faintly. "Thought so. You were walking stiffly. It was quite a beating, even with your stone skin."
"I'd cast Recovery..."
"Except given the damage you took, the cure would be worse than the disease ne? Sit down already. Your legs must be screaming."
With a notable lack of grace, Zel plopped onto the floor but decided that sitting was too strenuous. "Mind if I decide to collapse right here?"
"Knock yourself out."
Zel kicked back and sprawled out on the floor. He would be feeling like a punching bag for days. But that would be nothing compared to what Lina was feeling.
"Lina. I'm sor-"
"Zel. I told you already that it wasn't your fault. There's no need to apologize."
"Yes it is my fault. If I hadn't accepted that challenge, your father would still be alive."
Lina felt her heart drop and swallowed hard. "You...wish you never fought my father?"
"I..." Zel closed his eyes. "I wish none of this ever happened. I wish I never agreed to go to that party. I wish Xelloss never spiked that punch. I wish... we never got into this mess. I wish I never fought your father and... killed him."
Lina bit her lip and shut her eyes tight as she felt the tears form again. He hadn't wanted any of this. She had been idiot to even hope. He said it himself. He wished that they had never been married. That they would never be married.
He could hear her stifling her tears. Why did she bother when he could hear her doing so? Was he only able to bring her pain? Never looking at her, Zel got up quickly, despite protests from his sore body.
Lina's head jerked up at his sudden departure, one hand reaching to grab him.
"You're still wet. You'd better dry off before you catch a cold. Narina is handling the arrangements for your father's funeral tomorrow." Saying so, he strode quickly out of the room.
Her hand curled around empty air as the tears flowed more freely down her face. Lina lifted her fist into the air and brought it crashing down into the floor.
Much later, Lina stepped out of the warm bath, her tears having run out some time before. It seemed so strange, being back home. But nee-chan was gone on some part-time waitressing stint. And Daddy...
She fiercely dried her hair and then the rest of herself before slipping into a pair of pajamas. As she crossed the hallway from the bathroom to her bedroom, old memories flickered before her eyes. But they weren't only memories of her father.
Shadows of the past played over the dark silent hall as the wind and rain fought to enter the manor. This three story building had held the Inverses ever since they settled in Zefilia before the land even had a name. The vineyards and the country had only begun shortly before she was born.
Lina came to her room without meeting a soul. Narina had probably shown Zel and his parents to the guest rooms on the other side of the manor. For such a large house, it remained largely unoccupied. The Inverse family had never been very large.
Inside her room, the Lighting Zel had cast still shone brightly.
Zel...
With a groan, Lina flopped onto her bed and rolled over to stare at the ceiling. Gods, just what was she going to do? Everything was just a huge mess now. And all thanks to Xelloss' liberal spiking of the party punch with some weird Mazoku-brewed liquor. He must be laughing his head off right now.
Lina hoped that whatever Zelas was doing to him, she'd continue. If she could, she'd kill that purple hair fox herself. All she had wanted was for Zel to come to the little get-together of old friends. He had been surprised when it was her that contacted him through Amelia's blue gem talisman. It still took some sweet talking to get him to come but it was easier than Lina expected. Zel could be so blindly stubborn about the oddest things.
Now that she thought about it, that 'dream' she had about Zel being in her inn room most likely wasn't a dream. Lina covered her face with her hands as her cheeks burned up. Sweet Ceiphied, they had shared the same room, even the same *bed* if they had been acting as a married couple before returning to reality.
"He was probably trying to get away before I woke up," Lina sighed, rolling on to her side to try looking at the wall for a change. And came face to face with an old gray stuffed animal, Slate. Smiling faintly, she stroked Slate's fur. "Who is this 'he' I'm talking about? That's right. I haven't told you what I've been doing since I left did I?"
Lina pulled the old toy in close. For the longest time, Slate had been her only confidant, listening to her rants about her father and sister, raves about new spells, or elaborate plans for escaping and going out to see the world. She snorted. Who was she kidding? She had *still* talked with Slate the night before she left Zefilia six years ago.
"Alright then. I mainly wandered around at first, blowing up things I didn't like, running into several mages who wanted to make a name by killing me, learning that trashing bandit camps was a quick way to get some cash. There was also this person that I traveled off and on with but I'll just skip her. Why? Well, first she had this horrendous laugh. See, that's why I didn't want to talk about her."
If anyone ever heard her talking to a stuffed animal, they'd strap her in a strait jacket, lock her in a padded cell, and throw away the key. But Lina figured that only Narina knew, there was very little Narina didn't know if it concerned the family, but her ancestor rarely divulged anyone else's secret.
"It was after I finally got away from her that I met him. Well, that is first I met Gourry and then I met him. Who is Gourry? Tall blond handsome guy with brains of a jellyfish. He *is* good with a sword though and he used to have the Sword of Light before Sealius took all five weapons back to Dark Star's world. Oh hush and just let me talk alright? You'll hear it all eventually."
"I mean, it was nothing like in the stories. No love at first sight. I mean I was intrigued, what self-respecting mage wouldn't be. But he probably didn't think of me as anything but an annoyance. No we didn't meet in the midst of a dashing rescue or some passing glance. Just an under the counter transaction in a small inn room. Hardly the most romantic of places."
"He started out as my enemy, actually the enmity was all on his side. You know how I have that sixth sense about people if I can talk with them for awhile. I knew he wasn't evil, just determined. But he confused me like crazy. You see, he actually captured me but then he let me go, wanting me to lead him to the statue. And since it was that time of month, he had to act as my bodyguard. Yes, I can take care of myself even without magic but we're talking about hordes of trolls and berserkers here."
"When it's all said and done, I wasn't thinking of him *that* way then. I liked him as a friend, he is one of the few sane people I've met out there. Plus he's good with sword and spells. That isn't a combination you see very often, not among those that have normal life spans. And he's even more obsessed than most normal people are, though it didn't really show until I met him again in Zoana after the Sairaag incident. Gourry and Amelia were surprised at how cold he was but I wasn't. We were simply on different sides, something that happens often for mercenaries."
"We had fun during that search for a copy of the Clair Bible. You know, there were times I would purposely drag on the trip just to rile him up. It was good that he was focused on his goal but he had to learn to lighten up. Perhaps I overdid it sometimes but he's perfected that I-don't-care stone poker face that unless you drive him over the edge, he won't do a thing." "What's that? Restraint? He usually is though if you *ever* get on his bad side, you'd better run. But he'll catch you anyway. He likes to hold a grudge. Unfortunately, they always seem to be against people he can't touch like Rezo and Xelloss."
"Slate, he isn't that bad. So when did I start thinking differently? I don't know, maybe right after I woke up from Lord of Nightmare's possession. Gourry, of all people, was holding me and yes, I knocked him into the water. For some reason, I couldn't help wondering what he thought about that. Pretty strange for me to be thinking like that when only a few days earlier, I was convinced that it was Gourry that I liked."
"Oh shut up. I was confused alright? I've taken Gourry's presence for granted and when Aqua asked me about him I just freaked out. At the time, he was very important to me, but not in the way I thought. He was like how I wish nee-chan was, an older sibling to watch out and take care of me when I was down."
"I understood the big brother thing by the time we met him again. And I was thinking about him more but you know what? I was also trying to forget about him. Why? Because Amelia quite obviously has a crush on him. Sure I've got the most powerful spells under my belt but she's a decent spellcaster when she isn't carried away by her justice fanaticism. Plus she's pretty and she'll grow older in his lifetime. Unlike me."
"And now, I'll probably never see him again. All of because of Daddy's stupid overprotectiveness. Daddy's dead and he is convinced it was his fault. Yes Daddy is still challenging every and anyone who even wants to look at one of his daughters. Why else wouldn't I want to come back here with him? I knew the fight would happen and that I'd probably lose one of them. But now, I've lost both."
The sphere of light flickered and then went out, draping the room in a curtain of darkness broken only by the flashes of lightning. The raging turmoil of rain and wind outside was nothing compared to the hearts of two people laying restlessly in bed.
Before the mound of moist fresh dirt covering the coffin of Katsuhito Inverse were the closest friends and family of the deceased. Neither Zel nor Lina had spoken to the other though Narina saw them look at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. Terim was supporting his wife who was still recovering from the effects of her drinking binge the day before. She was clear-headed enough to understand what was happening.
The funeral had been short and to the point. There were no unexpected surprises or mishaps, excluding the priest's accusation of murder and Lina dislocating his jaw with a well-placed punch. But after Narina fixed that, the man of faith finished the blessing to put the deceased to rest.
"So you'll be returning home now?" Narina asked Terim.
Terim readjusted his supporting arm around Zelas' shoulders. "There is still another matter to be finished." He nodded toward Zel who was reluctantly following Lina a distance away.
Narina followed his gaze. "That will soon be settled I hope."
"And not to the satisfaction of some people. When will the person of the day arrive?"
"Soon enough. I wish those two would hurry it up," Narina frowned, still looking at Lina who was trying to get Zel's attention.
"Zel? Central Control to Zel, please respond," Lina half-heartedly joked. He had been distracted all morning and went out of his way to stay out of hers. Not that she wanted to talk to him in front of everyone. But Slate had helped her come to a decision last night, or rather very early this morning. Lina didn't doubt that Zel would leave now that the service was over. With his mindset, she'd likely never see him again.
And if that was the case, she wasn't going to pine away like some fragile glass princess from some unvoiced love. She was Lina Inverse, she had faced worse things than what she was about to do now. Unfortunately, she couldn't recall a single one of those worse things.
Zel shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. He should have left right after he learned Katsuhito had died. He should have left last night. He should have left first thing this morning. So why was he still here?
Easy answer. One word. Lina.
She was preoccupied when she finally came down this morning though it was obvious she barely slept at all. If Lina had seemed even a shadow of her usual self, he could have left with a slightly lightened heart. But as long as she remained withdrawn and unsure, he couldn't be drawn away. Not even by a possible cure.
Throughout the night, he had wrestled with the question. She was his friend and if he told her, it could shatter one of the most precious things in the world to him. Zel wasn't sure it was worth that.
But the *most* precious thing in his heart was slipping away. Perhaps, if he said something, he could keep it from shattering. If he did nothing...
"Zel...I...I need to tell you something..." Lina said shakily. Her hand gripped tightly to his sleeve. She could feel the heat rise in her face.
Zel frowned and leaned forward, not noticing one of his hands trace one of her flushed cheeks to tilt her face up. The cooling touch was refreshing against her warm skin.
"You've got a fever," Zel sighed. "I knew you would from staying wet so long."
He was so close. All she had to do was say it but her vocal cords refused. She threatened to Dragu Slabu them if they didn't comply.
"Zel. Zel, I love you," Lina blurted out.
Zel blinked. He usually trusted his hearing, by far his most enhanced sense. Still, he couldn't have heard correctly. There was a saying that if you thought about something to much, you would begin to see or hear it. That must be what happened. He looked into her bright eyes, her flushed cheeks-oh that was it. She had a fever and was now delirious.
"You're delirious Lina. You'd better to bed quickly now," Zel said, turning to call Narina.
Lina began to see red. Here she was, tearing herself to pieces about telling him how she felt and he thought it was just a result of delirium?! Well, she'll certainly fixed that idea!
She grabbed Zel by the collar the same time she levitated herself above the ground. Startled, Zel turned back toward Lina, only to have the question on his lips taken by hers. He almost fell over backwards into the mud as his mind registered that yes Lina *was* kissing him.
Terim and Narina exchanged knowing smiles. The priest huffed indignantly.
"Such behavior before the deceased!"
He received two mud pies in the face to his additional disgust.
Lina finally broke off the kiss, not because she wanted to, but her dull headache was making her lose control of the levitation spell. Her feet unsteadily touched the ground, Zel's arms holding her close to him.
"You still...think I'm delirious?" she asked with a faint smile. Even if she never saw him again, at least she had this to remember him by.
Zel was still trying to retrieve his voice which had jumped to ranges beyond human hearing when Lina kissed him. Either she was *very* delirious or...there was a very small chance, something was better than nothing, that she did care, no, she really did love him.
"I know you're leaving. But I just wanted you to know."
Leave? After learning that?
"Don't feel guilty about it. I mean, you probably like Amelia anyway-"
"Amelia?!" Zel sputtered. The idea was utterly ridiculous. If she could say it, then what was stopping him? "You're the one I love," he whispered, resting a cheek on her silky hair.
Now it was Lina's turn to wonder if her hearing was failing her. Or maybe she was delirious as Zel said.
"If this is delirium, I don't ever want to get better," Lina mumbled, wrapping her arms around Zel.
"And just what is going on around here?" asked a clear sharp voice.
Everyone looked to the speaker, a tall purple hair lady wearing a traveling cloak over a waitress garb. Zelas waved.
"'Llo Luna."
"Into the wine again," Luna noted rolling her eyes. "You'd better remember to pay for it this time. What's the tombstone for?"
Narina shrugged. "Your father."
Luna raised an eyebrow and snorted. "How long has it been?"
"Oh I'd say right about...now."
A loud, yet muffled thumping could be heard.
"How deep and how much?" Luna asked, sharing a conspiratory smile with her ancestor.
"Twelve feet but enough duct tape, chains, and metal bars to rebuild half of the town."
The mound of fresh dirt began to shake.
"Oh I was sure I did the blessing correctly!" wailed the priest. "The restless undead have returned to wreak revenge on the day of its murder!!"
"He died yesterday," Terim corrected helpfully as Narina and Luna snickered.
"Well, then to wreak revenge on the day after its murder."
"If there was even a murder," Narina added.
Zel and Lina looked at the woman in confusion. "What?"
"250 year charged super burning electrifying ultra ki blast!!"
The grave erupted. The priest fell to his knees praying to deaf ears and all of the dirt oddly enough fell on him. Katsuhito Inverse leaped out of his grave, completely hale and hearty, and glared at Narina who was smiling widely.
"All those bindings on the coffin were a bit overdone don't you think?" he growled.
Narina shrugged unrepentant. "For pulling such a ridiculous stunt, you're lucky I didn't just kill you while you faked your death."
"Oh. You knew?"
"We both did," Terim added.
"And I wasn't surprised since I knew you could," Luna put in.
Zelgadiss was speechless.
Lina wasn't. But actions speak louder than words, especially for her. Not one of the four adults said a word as Lina picked up her father's large tombstone and smashed it over him.
"Lina!" Zel restrained her from doing anything else.
"I can't believe you pulled such a dirty trick like that! To think I actually *cried* over you!!" Lina screamed at Katsuhito as he dusted off the stone pieces.
"I was hoping to make him leave." Katsuhito glared at Zel as if this was all his fault.
"Lina, calm down. You're..." Lina slumped in his arms. "...sick."
"That's just like her to not tell anyone," Narina sighed and then signaled to Zel. "Take her to her room. I'll bring up some chicken broth."
Keeping one arm around Lina's shoulder, Zel slipped the other one under her and picked her up. He scouted a safe distance around Katsuhito who was glaring daggers at him but received a slight approving nod from Luna. No one said anything until he entered the manor with Narina.
"Father, that was a very low dirty trick to pull," Luna glared at her father.
"Now, now, Miss Luna. He was only trying test Zel's resolve," Terim said, trying to dissipate the tension.
"Don't be mislead, Mr. Graywords. He absolutely hates to let either of us go. More so for Lina since she resembles mother. You'd think he'd trust my judgement about Lina's choice."
Energy crackled between the father and daughter.
"Get over it, Father. They both love each other. Lina still loves you but there is someone else in her life now."
Katsuhito glared at his eldest daughter for awhile longer before dropping the staring contest and sighing. "Yes I knew she loved him."
"That was what the challenge was for wasn't it? You used those battles to judge your daughter's feelings toward the suitor," Terim smiled.
"Yes you're right. And I realized then that Lina loved him more than her old man. You were both right about my faking my death. I did it partly out of spite, but also to see if his feelings were true to her. If he had left, I would have gone off and killed him."
"Really?"
"If it was anyone else but your son then yes. For your sake, I would just probably have dragged him back and knocked some sense into him until he did realize what a treasure my baby girl is. Even if she does prefer that frivolous magic."
"So they're not getting a divorce?" Zelas pouted.
Terim squeezed his wife's shoulders. "Come dear, Zelgadiss is happy. That's what counts. Besides, now you have the Chaos and Destruction Poster Child as a daughter-in-law. Great for showing off to your other Mazoku friends."
Zelas smiled. "You're such a silver-tongued devil."
You would think that someone nearly half a millennia old would know how to avoid getting a fever," Zel said, covering Lina with the blankets.
She stuck her tongue out. "No one is perfect."
"Ah, so the truth is revealed," Zel smiled, brushing several strands of hair away from her face.
Lina caught his hand in her own and held it against her cheek. "I wonder what happened to everyone else."
Zel winced. "I'm not sure I want to even imagine. Look what happened to us."
"We got married," Lina pointed out.
"Not that I have any complaints there but think if everyone else also got married off."
"You'd better make sure your mother keeps that special brew of hers *out* of Xelloss' hands. Losing three months of your life and not knowing what you did then is very unsettling."
"Still, in this case, I think fate erred in our favor."
"So, finally getting cozy?" Narina asked, holding a tray of steaming soup and a book. "Here you go."
"What's the book?" Lina asked, twisting around to get a better look.
"Luna's wedding present. She said it might have something of interest for Zelgadiss."
"His cure?" Lina asked excitedly, sitting up before vertigo hit her and she fell back in bed.
Narina winked. "Seems so. I'll leave you two alone now."
"Zel. If this is from Luna, then it'll probably have a very good clue or lead to finding the cure you've been searching for," Lina smiled weakly.
"Good clue or not, we're not going anywhere until you're well again," Zel said firmly, leaning over his wife. It sounded so right. "We'll go together."
"Till death do we part," Lina murmured as she wrapped an arm around Zelgadiss' neck.
"Not even then," he whispered back before they kissed again.
Author's note: Sooooooo what do you think of Lina's father Katsuhito? Yes he's weird. But then who isn't in Slayers? What do people think?
Theria