Slayers Dream : Chapter 2

Purin-chan: So how was the last chapter o.o? I’m gonna need encouragement to finish this fic minna-san! I had originally intended to get L/Z together at the end of this fic when I had started, but somehow I got hooked on the L/X couple ;_;. I can’t decide!!! The only idea I have right now is to get one of those couples together and kill the other one (dun worry, I’ll get Lina to fall in love with the one that dies too), demo…demo…but I can’t kill one of them ;___;. ::turns chibi and hugs both Zel and Xel::

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    Lina sneezed, causing Zelgadis to jump in surprise. His hands left her waist as he asked if she was feeling alright.
    "Daijoubu, daijoubu, a little cold can’t stop me!" she replied casually, making a little peace sign at him for proof. However, a strong gust of wind decided to blow in at that moment, causing her to shiver violently and sneeze again.
    Zelgadis sat down in front of the fire beside her. His eyes flickered with worry as he stared at her.
    Lina put on a gentle smile and repeated, "Daijoubu. I’m fine, really."
    Zelgadis frowned at her and whispered, "There’s nothing less reliable than your ‘I’m ok’s’".
    Lina stared at him in disbelief. Not only was he showing emotions, but his emotions were directed at her. Could it be possible that…?
    "Hey look, the storm seems to be calming down. Why don’t we just stay here for the night and head out when the sun is up?" he asked, interrupting her thoughts.
    "Alright. Sounds fine to me!" she replied.
    "I’ll take the first watch," he said, walking over to the cave entrance.
    "Oyasumi, Zel."
    "Oyasumi, Lina."

    Lina woke up as the first rays of the sun peeked over the horizon. Reality came back to her as she realized that she was alone again. She used the tree trunk for balance as she slowly stood up. Her head was throbbing in pain from last night’s alcohol.
    "It seems like you have had too much to drink, Lina-san."
    Lina spun around, immediately forming a fireball between her hands. She blinked once, then twice, then recognized the figure who stood before her. "Sylphiel!"

    Zelgadis drowned the fire and stomped out the remaining sparks with the sole of his shoe. He then tied the hilt of his sword to the belt around his waist. Tonight he would leave. Tonight he would ensure Lina that she would never be hurt because of him ever again.
    He never thought in a million years that this would be the most crushing blow Lina has ever received in her life.
    Zelgadis took one last look at her. She was sleeping soundly, her fiery hair cascading over her closed eyes. For a short moment he felt a tugging pain in his heart as he watched her curl up in her blanket and murmur something. He then took an item wrapped in a black velvet pouch and quietly laid it beside her.
    "Zel…"
    He looked up at her, startled. Then he realized that she must have been talking in her sleep. "The poor thing is dreaming about me," he thought. Carefully, he reached over and moved a strand of hair away from her eyes, smiling as he watched the corners of her mouth slowly curve up into a gentle smile. He then placed a small kiss on her cheek and wrapped the blanket closely around her. And with that, he disappeared into the stormy night, never knowing what Lina had later whispered in her sleep…
    "Aishiteru…"

    "I never imagined that I would meet you out here near Saillune!" Sylphiel exclaimed. "What business did you come here to take care of Lina-san?" she asked ever so politely.
    Lina’s smile disappeared and her face became dark and solemn.
    "Oh dear, did I ask something that wasn’t of my business? Gomennasai," Sylphiel quickly apologized.
    "Sylphiel…you have as much of a right to know this as Amelia does…" Lina finally said, breaking the growing silence between them. She dropped her head in order to avoid eye contact with Sylphiel, then began quietly. "Zelgadis…he is…has been…gone…" she whispered.
    Sylphiel stared in bewilderment as Lina collapsed to her knees, trying not to sob. "It cannot be true… It just cannot be true! Zelgadis-san dead before any of us?" Sylphiel half screamed, half cried as she shook Lina’s shoulders.
    "He isn’t dead yet!" Lina objected harshly, causing Sylphiel to step back, hurt written across her face. Lina swallowed, then continued softly, "He isn’t dead yet. He merely disappeared without a trace."
    "Not even an object of any sort?" Sylphiel asked sympathetically.
    "Well…I did find something when I woke up and found him gone, but I was af…didn’t want to see what was inside of the package," Lina replied, untying the small velvet bag from her belt and handing it over to Sylphiel.
    "Lina…san…" Sylphiel whispered as the bag rested itself in the palm of her hand. "Watakashi…watakashi…" She looked into Lina’s crimson eyes which had once been shiny and bright, but were now dull and full of pain. She found herself frowning when Lina mouthed the word "please". "Lina-san, I cannot do this for you. If you found this package left behind by him, then it was meant for you to open, not me." Sylphiel handed the bag back to Lina.
    "Sylphiel…"
    "Lina-san, I have always thought you were strong, not only physically but emotionally as well. And if you are not able to face this problem here and now, you shall prove me wrong," Sylphiel scolded her.
    Lina looked down at the bag in her hands and hesitantly began to pull at the strings. When the knot was finally undone, she found herself crying. "I can’t…I can’t do this…It hurts too much…" Lina whined pitifully.
    "Lina-san…you can only run from this problem for a certain amount of time before it catches up to you and takes you away forever…but if you face it now, you will have no regrets," Sylphiel encouraged her, kneeling down and giving her a light hug.
    Lina paused for a while, debating things over in her mind, then smiled and replied. "Alright, you win. I’ll open the bag myself." She said, pulling the layers off one by one. When the last layer was finally off, she stared at the item in wonder.
    "Zel…" her voice choked as the tears rolled off her face and onto the velvet cloth.
    "Lina-san…" Sylphiel enveloped her in another gentle embrace, doing the only thing she could…
    She comforted her.