Something More Chapter 3

Author: DQBunny Title: Something More - Lina's Unexptected Surprise

Something More

Chapter
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Disclaimer: "Slayers" does not belong to me, but belongs to Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Araizumi. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.

Note: This fic was originally written for the LiveJournal community, "30 romances," a themed community similar to "30 kisses." All 30 parts will be combined to form one complete story that is the prequel to "Law of the Land." This chapter contains theme #5 - Trickery ; Magic.

oOoOo

Chapter Three: "Lina's Unexpected Surprise"

Lina had found a notice in the next village, but like the first one, it didn't give her real name. Just as a precaution, she had removed her cloak and headband before going in the inn, stowing those away in Gourry's pack. She considered stopping at a seamstress shop and seeing if there were any simple ready-made dresses for purchase. It annoyed her to take these measures, but the unpleasant memories of being wanted a few years earlier had taught her a few things about disguises and getting what she needed when she was really desperate.

She considered herself lucky though. Gourry wasn't wanted and none of the notices said she was traveling with a partner. So when they arrived at the inn to get rooms for the night, Lina amended her usual request.

"One room, please," she stated to the innkeeper. "But, with two beds." She stepped on Gourry's foot when she heard the intake of breath behind her. Normally, rooming together was a last resort when there were no other rooms, but she didn't want to risk being attacked by some overzealous warrior eying the chance to make some quick cash off her bounty.

After they were escorted to their room, Lina claimed the bed near the window by flopping on it. Automatically, she cast a Lock spell on the window, then simply relaxed. Dimly, she heard the sounds of Gourry removing his sword, then his armor. She yawned and settled herself more comfortably. Maybe just a small nap. Then dinner...

She woke just as the first rays of dawn started to peek on the horizon. She stirred and noticed that she now had a blanket tucked around her. She glanced across the room and noticed Gourry sleeping soundly in his bed, snoring lightly. She stretched and tiptoed to the door.

She visited the washroom, then crept outside to see if the tavern nearby happened to be open for an early breakfast. It wasn't, so she headed back to the inn. After making sure no one was around, she yanked the Sorcerer Guild notice off the bulletin board there and cheerfully torched it. Then she headed back to her room to lie down for a couple more hours.

Lina slipped behind the privacy shield to change into her pajamas so she would have a couple of hours at least without her clothes on. This time, she slipped beneath the covers and stared at the ceiling. It'd been an hour or so from dark when they reached this village and so she must had slept about 10 to 12 hours. She wasn't surprised considering the conditions they'd been camping in and her overkill of the Raywing spell yesterday.

She thought she'd be able to fall back asleep fairly quickly, but instead, she stared at the ceiling. The last time she'd made anyone mad enough to the point where she'd actually been wanted was when Eris was luring her into Sairaag to face Copy Rezo. Before that, Zelgadiss had wanted the statue containing the Philosopher's Stone for the real Rezo - then to prevent him from using it. Since then, while she definitely had a reputation, it mainly kept most people away from her.

The guard duty that the group had performed in Atlas City had been the last time Lina had stepped into a Sorcerer's Guild problem. She tended to avoid the guild except to use the libraries upon occasion. That's where its strength lie. She always felt a bit cheated that the guild mainly catered to the upper-class and nobility by offering various classes in what she considered trick and very basic spells. Any of the serious spells, including most of the harder spells, were self-taught.

Lina had been the youngest graduate ever of the Zefielia Sorcerer's Guild. Most who entered didn't walk before they were 14 or 15. She'd far exceeded what the guild could teach her when she was 12. Because of her age, the head of the guild decided that her color would be pink. Her classmates had teased her and said she would be a perfect cabaret dancer. Lina had decided it was time to listen to Luna's urging for her to go out and see the world and had fled before the official ceremony.

So, technically, she wasn't really an official member of the Sorcerer's Guild, she mused. She'd taken all the requisite classes, but skipped the graduation. Some still knew of her title, and she wondered how in the hell Gourry had picked up that knowledge. She figured she'd gotten a bit tipsy and let it spill. It was the only way. At least he didn't rub it in her face.

She exhaled and turned to face him. Still asleep. She watched him and wondered about the strange incident in the forest. She'd never seen Gourry get physically ill following a flying stint, but they'd spent a lot of time in the air the day before. He'd always hated it. The first time she carried him, he'd clung to her waist and whimpered like a child, even after they'd landed. Since then, he usually bore the task in somewhat stoic silence - or he'd complain and annoy the living daylights out of her.

But nuzzling her neck? Automatically, she touched the side of her neck that his lips had grazed. That was just so...so not Gourry.

They were physical with each other to a certain degree. He constantly ruffled her hair like a child. She's slap him on the back and drag him by the arm. He would sometimes put his arm around her. Occasionally, they hugged. Lina was even quite sure that they'd kissed at one point, but couldn't decide if that had been real or just simply a dream she'd had while the Lord of Nightmares had taken over her body. It was safer to believe that it had been just a dream, otherwise it would make things too...weird between them.

But, she hadn't been dreaming when he nuzzled and kissed her neck. Though, she was quite certain he was. What do you dream about, Gourry, she wondered as she drifted off to sleep.

oOoOo

She stirred a few hours later when she inhaled the lovely scent of bacon, eggs, toast, sausage and other breakfast-type items. She shot up and noticed that the table in the room was covered with food, glorious food. And lots of it, though Gourry was currently plowing his way through a good portion of it. He glanced up when she let out an involuntary squeal of delight.

"Good morning, sunshine," he said, though it sounded more like "goof mwing, sonshen" because of the food in his mouth.

Lina practically dove for the empty seat. Within seconds, she'd loaded up a plate and was filling her equally empty stomach. "This is fantastic! I thought that this inn doesn't serve any meals."

"They don't." Gourry quickly helped himself to more sausage before Lina could grab the remaining on the platter.

Her fork halted midway to her mouth. He'd gone to get the food and carried it back? Granted, the tavern was next door to the inn, but it was still a lot of food. And he'd paid for it. Lina bit her lip and fought the urge to blush. That was so sweet of him, especially after what she did to him yesterday. Damn it, she hated it when he made her feel this way, especially after what he'd done to her.

"Oh, and that arrived for you," Gourry pointed at an envelope lying on top of Lina's wardrobe.

"Mail?" Lina shoveled a couple more forkfuls of eggs and sausage into her mouth, grateful that she didn't have to acknowledge the breakfast, at least for now. "We usually don't get that unless it's from Amelia." And even then, she thought, the letters were sporadic. After constant begging from the princess, Lina had purchased a mailbox at a town she and Gourry normally frequented during their travels. Every few months or so, they'd stop and check to see what news Amelia had sent their way.

"Yeah, the innkeeper said the guy's been searching for us for months."

Her interest piqued, Lina reached for the letter. A second later, with an involuntary slap of the wrist, she batted away Gourry's fork from getting her bacon. Then she retaliated by going for his eggs.

The two immediately waged war on each other, only stopping when the last morsel of food had been devoured and they both were pleasantly stuffed. Lina eyed the dirty plates and knew what she had to do. With a sigh, she located a bucket used for dirty laundry and started to load the dishes into it.

"Whatcha doin'?" Gourry asked, chewing on the last bite of toast.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking the dishes back."

"You don't have to do tha..."

"You paid for breakfast, idiot!" Cheeks now scarlet, Lina hastily kept stacking the plates. She didn't want to talk about this, she so did not want to talk about this...

He scratched his head. "I did? I thought you paid for it."

"Huh?" Lina scowled at him. "You didn't go through my cloak pockets while I was asleep, did you?"

"No, no!" Gourry immediately threw up his hands, preparing to ward off a spell attack. "Someone knocked on the door and when it opened, and when I answered, there was all this food and that letter. I saw you'd changed clothes, so I thought you ordered it and went back to sleep."

Lina whirled around and stared at the letter once more. Now she snatched it up and tore it open. She shook out a piece of paper and began to read it. After the first sentence, the color drained from her face and she weakly sank onto Gourry's bed.

"Lina, what is it?"

Hands now trembling, Lina forced herself to read the letter aloud. "Dear Lina. I've been trying to find you for several months. I figured that a free meal would stop you long enough for this letter to reach you. Come home now. Luna. P.S. You owe me for the meal. It's dated two months ago."

"Luna...that's your sister, right?"

"Yeah." A sick feeling churned in Lina's gut. "My sister wouldn't be ordering me to come home unless it was something serious. And I mean something really serious."

"Do you think something's happened to one of your parents?"

"Gods..." Now the worry turned to near panic. Lina raced behind the privacy screen and redressed. "How fast can you be ready to go, Gourry?"

"Give me five minutes." He grabbed a clean set of clothes from his pack and quickly took Lina's place when she scurried out.

It was more like 10 minutes, but they were dressed and ready for the road. Lina was already mentally plotting out the fastest route to Zefielia. Something was wrong with her parents. It had to be that. She wondered if she could talk Gourry into flying again, but doubt she could.

She quickly settled the bill and they headed out into the street. They had to pass through Saillune to reach Zefielia, and Saillune City would be in their path. Maybe she could ask Amelia for a carriage. The princess would probably do so in a heartbeat, though it would most likely mean they would gain a third traveling partner and...

"Lina-chan!"

She froze, nearly running into Gourry. That voice...

They both whirled around. Standing a few feet behind them was a tall man with black hair and an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth. He was a bit broader than Gourry, and looked to be quite young with a face that was nearly as handsome as a woman's. Something about the man tugged at the back of Gourry's mind, as if he'd seen him somewhere before.

Gourry felt Lina tense at his side. His hand automatically moved to his sword's hilt.

"Pa...pa...," she stammered.

"Pa? Pa who?" Gourry frowned and tried to figure out this latest mystery.

"Papa!" Lina shrieked, then ran toward the man.

oOoOo

Additional notes: The description of Lina's father, and subsequent background, is taken from the story "The Thing He Sees Beyond the Point of His Sword," published in one of the Slayers Special novels.

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