Forward/Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers. This odd little piece struck me this morning, and I suppose I'm fairly satisfied with it. Don't know where in the heck it came from, though. And, more likely than not, something a whole lot like this has been done before. A lot of odd thought-type things seem to be done on Lina. ^^ In any case, I hope it makes sense. It's about Lina, I think it's from the perspective of one of the guys in the Slayers cast, I'm not sure who. However, it doesn't have an inkling of romance in it. ^^

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You know, I think I've finally figured you out.

The real you, I mean. Not just your happy-go-lucky façade.

Yes, I know it's a façade now.

You always seemed so predictable, so easy to read. As time passed, you never seemed to change.

But the personality we all read was the wrong one. You hid your real thoughts beneath.

You tried to hide all the pain you've suffered long ago by creating a new life; a new personality; a new you altogether. You buried your worries beneath a carefree attitude.

I had always wondered why you took so many extraordinary risks, why you never seemed to think of the consequences if you made a mistake. You never seemed worried. That's because you didn't really care about yourself, isn't it?

And you tried so hard not to show weakness because you wanted everyone to respect you. You wanted to show us all that you could stand perfectly well on your own.

I admit, your exterior was hard to see through. You were nearly flawless. I wouldn't have known, if I hadn't seen you once or twice act so uncharacteristic of the personality we all are familiar with. That, and I have the tendency to over-examine everything. And I notice small details that others forget to see.

I think I'm the only one who knows about this, other than you.

And you even had me bewildered when you suddenly started acting even more fiery, even more carefree, even more exuberant. You seemed to toss all common sense to the wind, and turned from 'well-known' to 'legend'. You did great things, it was as if you were, and are now, at the very peak of your existence, performing incredible feat after incredible feat. You're stronger than you've ever been, and I believe you've reached a level of fame unattained by any other. You're making your way into books, and people are anticipating with great interest what unimaginable deed you'll complete next. But I know what you're doing. Like I said, I think I finally understand you.

It has always been ridiculously easy to compare you to a flame, you know. You're bright, miraculous, untamable. You burn all that touch you, and yet a kind of magical warmth radiates from you to those who stand close by, the warmth everyone in our group has experienced. You're greatly feared because of all the destruction you can cause.

Fire also, coincidentally enough, usually lives a short, energetic life. And it is said to shine most brightly right before it dims out of existence.

You're dying, Lina Inverse. And you know it. You're trying to live the last of your life to the fullest before you finally fade away.

You know everyone else will be heartbroken when they find out, don't you? But obviously, you never plan on telling anyone. I'll miss you. We all will.

It really is a shame, how the brightest and most brilliant flames often lead the shortest lives, before flickering away into nothingness.