Slayers: A past Reborn
Chapter one: Memories
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Lina was relaxing on the patio at the inn she and Gourry were staying. It had been a hectic day, beating up bandits and such. After a very large meal and a nice, hot bath, she had decided to rest out on the patio. It was a clear and serene night. So much had happened lately to her, and Gourry, and all the others. The fight with Phibrezo had left her feeling weak. Not magically or physically weak, but emotionally. Hey, once the Lord of Nightmares inhibits your body, life just seems a little dull afterward. Not that roaming around aimlessly still didn't have its fun, however, it wasn't as rewarding as before.
On top of this restless feeling, there were all these other feelings that had now been added to the picture. One was Gourry. Sure, she really didn't remember what happened after that Giga Slave was cast, but before then, when Gourry had been trapped in that crystal, his life force slowing draining away from him... she had finally admitted to herself her feelings. Tears ran down Lina's cheeks as she recalled these memories. All of them came flooding back, knocking down her defenses to the point that she didn't hear someone walk out onto the patio behind her.
"Lina?" Gourry asked her quietly, realizing she was crying.
Lina jumped a bit and quickly went to wipe away the tears. Gourry sat down in the chair next to her and looked intently at her, trying to figure out what was wrong. She avoided his gaze, choosing to stare at her gloved hands, folded in her lap.
"Lina... what's wrong?" Gourry asked her.
For a moment, Lina said nothing. Then she got up and walked to the edge of the patio. Looking down, she could see that lake with the moonlight shining off.
"Lina... please answer me..." Gourry trailed off, watching her.
"Nothings wrong Gourry." Lina said quietly, still staring down and the lake.
"Something has to be wrong Lina... why else would you be sitting out here by yourself, crying?"
"I wasn't crying!" Lina snapped quickly then sighed. Why was she always trying to be so strong?
"Lina, if something's wrong, you can tell me... you know that, right?"
Lina sighed again. "Yes Gourry I know and..." she trailed off, thinking of telling him the truth, then decided against it, "If something's ever wrong, you'll be the first one I tell, ok? Now, I'm going to sleep. G'night!" putting on her cheerful act, Lina turned and quickly walked off the patio and back into the inn, to her room, leaving Gourry by himself. Would she ever confide in him? He wondered to himself... maybe someday... but Lina was like that. Secretive. But, he was her protector and... more, but he didn't think he could ever tell her that. She'd probably fireball him. Sighing, Gourry headed off to sleep too.
**The Next Day**
The next day was beautiful and sunny. They decided, over a large meal, that they would head on to the next town.
As they walked on, destroying any bandits they happened, Lina was deep in thought. All these things kept running through her head. Why had she gotten so emotional last night? And why did she feel like she couldn't tell Gourry? He was her best friend, they had been travelling together for almost two years! She should be able to tell him something like this… shouldn't she?
Gourry walked down the trail and glanced at Lina. She was being too quiet. It wasn't like her to not be talking at all. At least if she was in a bad mood she would spout off here and there about little annoying things but this, this kind of mood scared him. This wasn't Lina. It was like something was on her mind that was so sacred to her that she couldn't tell him. And that hurt him deeply. But, then again he could be just playing into this too deep. Sighing, he glanced at the red head walking beside him.
Feeling his eyes upon her, Lina quickened her pace a bit.
"If we want to make it to the next town by sunset, we've gotta hurry!"
The sun was already making its descent across the horizon.
"Lina, I don't think we'll make it there before sunset."
"Of course we will! We just have to quicken the pace!" Lina said without looking back.
"Look Lina, I'd like to sleep in an inn tonight too, but we aren't going to make it so we might as well just set up camp and get some dinner," Gourry said in that 'I may be an idiot but I know a thing or two`.
Lina stopped walking, lowered her head and sighed. Well, one thing about Gourry, when he was right, he was right.
"Alright Gourry, we might as well stop," Lina said, looking around. She walked off the path a bit to the right, where there was a clearing. "We can just set up camp here."
Gourry smiled a bit, "We passed a stream a little bit back. I'll go see if I can catch us some fish." Saying that, Gourry head off back the direction they had came from. Lina sighed and opened the sub-space she used to carry they stuff around. She really had wanted to stay in an inn tonight. For some reason she had a bad feeling about sleeping outdoors tonight.
**Later that Night**
Later that evening, as Gourry slept, Lina stared up at the sky. She found herself doing that a lot lately. Was it not right to be questioning herself like this? Why were all these thoughts coming to her now, after all that had happened to her. And now it wasn't just the Gourry being taken incident that kept popping up in her mind. All of it…from the time she began traveling. First there was all those battles she had had with Naga, who she preferred to not think of, and then when she met up with Gourry, and Zelgadiss, and Amelia, all those battles…Why her? Why-
Something moved behind Lina. Slowly she sat up, trying to appear as if she didn't sense someone there. Just as she was about to turn around and fireball whatever it was, the thing clapped its hand over her mouth and pulled her up to stand. Lina quickly bit the things hand and yelled "Gourry!" before whatever it was covered her mouth again.
Gourry woke with a start, and grabbed his sword habitually, however this time it was useful. His eyes narrowed as he saw that a dark figure was holding on to Lina. "Let her go!"
The man let out a harsh laugh and then in a rasping voice said, "Make me pretty boy!"
Lina silently gasped. She had heard that voice before. It was so familiar, but she couldn't place it…like a distant memory of someone…
Gourry carefully considered what to do. If he did anything, Lina could get hurt. Then again, if he did nothing, Lina could still get hurt. Of course, while he was thinking this over, Lina decided to take matters into her own hands, or elbow, which jabbed into the mans stomach, then while he was winded from this, she raised her foot and stomped her heel on his toes. The man let go of her enough for Lina to free herself. Running a few feet away, Lina whirled around to face the man, fireball ready. The man laughed and took a step, so that some of the light from the moon shined on him. "Hmph… still an annoying little brat, huh? Some things never change." Lina looked at him closly and then that same memory flash came to her. His silver hair and silver eyes…where had she seen them before? Then a name came to her and she gasped as the fireball in her hands slowly dissipated. "…Jeran?"
Jeran laughed and slowly disappeared, saying "Till we meet again, Lina Inverse…"
Gourry looked at Lina, "Are you alright? Who was that?"
"Jeran…someone I haven't seen in a long time…"
"You know him?"
"No…I knew him…a long time ago."
"Why did he attack you then?" Gourry asked, more puzzled then before.
"I don't know Gourry…" Lina trailed off. Jeran, someone she hadn't seen since back before she had begun to travel. Back when she still lived at home, back in Zephilia. Why had he come back now? And why had he attacked her?
