Gourry's Choice
Ramon: Another Lina and Gourry fic, which many will enjoy.
Sunny: The Slayers and all its characters don't belong to us, it belongs to Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Arazumi.
Alandra: we hope that you people can enjoy this new fic.
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Chapter 2
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The Slayers agreed to stay in the Castle of Ullon all because of Gourry, still with much discomfort from Lina but she did not open her mouth ever since the visit from Pinto and his sister Linda, she is trying to act like she doesn't care but her attitude is telling a different story.
Each one of them received a different room which became good for Lina, she doesn't want to hear any remarks or discussions from Amelia or Zel, she really doesn't want to talk about it because she is too disturbed even if she is acting cool. Its only been three weeks since the defeat of Hellmaster and the end of the torment she felt in that event, and now some shyly, girly, irritating queen is making the moves on the man Lina wanted to save, and to makes things worst Gourry is considering her offer, it is like Lina is enduring the horrible pain she felt before but this time is more painful. She almost feels like her heart will stop.
Amelia, Zelgadiss and Lina waited in front of Gourry's door for the dinner, they still haven't had their dinner yet. Gourry is taking too long because he is trying out a suit that Linda gave him.
Amelia takes a peek at Lina, she can see by her face that she is trying to act like she doesn't care but all of this is disturbing for her, she can see that by the look of Lina's eyes, they are almost watery. Amelia still haven't talk to Lina yet because she is afraid that Lina's reaction might turn out bad and end hurting her some more. Normaly Amelia would motivate Lina or Gourry and play matchmaking with them but she decided to stay on the quiet side for the moment because of all the dreadful actions that Lina endured a few weeks ago, she suffered the enough when Hellmaster kidnapped Gourry and this were current events that possible is still marked in Lina's hearth but this time is different because Gourry is still taking into account Linda's offer, this must be more shattering for Lina then when Gourry was taken from her. So Amelia tries to start a conversation to make Lina forget her situation. "So… Miss Lina, are you still thinking about what Pinto said? Do you plan on fighting that Mazoku that he mentioned?"
"Nope, or course not!" Lina responded very simply.
"But why Lina?" Amelia replied a little revolted. "Didn't you hear what Pinto said? The Mazoku has been attacking this city and hurting the innocents! I know that most of the times you work for money Lina but you even refused to accept the payment that Pinto was willing to give, why did you do that?"
Lina only tsked and looks at Amelia with an irritating look. "Amelia, you really have to stop on just believing in what you hear. You really should start by believing in what you see as well."
Amelia looked confused. "W-what? What do you mean?"
"Amelia." Zel called. "Pinto said that this city was attacked by a Mazoku, right?"
"Hum……right."
"Well look outside the window Amelia." Lina points to the window right behind them. "Look at the city. Does it look like it was attacked by a Mazoku?"
Amelia looks out the window to see a very peaceful town and the people walks around minding their own business, none of them have the looks like if they were attacked by horrible monster, and most importantly the city does not have the look like it was attacked, Amelia should know that because she saw many cities that end up victimized by a Mazoku attacked or maltreated by Lina's Dragon Slave. "Why no…it seems serene."
"Exactly, this means that Pinto lied to us. Remember Amelia, there is always two sides to every story. I remember this one time when I and my old travelling companion when to this village that ask us to rescue some villager that got lost in a ruins but the real truth is that the ruins were occupied by a vampire and the villagers tricked villagers and offer them as sacrifices to save themselves. Or course in the end I end up beating that big mouth vampire and blow up the village with a Dragon Slave. "
"But why did Pinto lie? Why would he go to so much trouble?"
"I don't know but he became very much suspicious when he offered me a big deal of money, one which I can but an entire kingdom with it. It is obvious that it is something but for him to want me here."
"Even so we have fallen to his trap." Zel said. "He used his sister to lure us here because she is in love with G……"
Amelia rushes to Zel and covers his mouth, he was about to say something that would bother Lina for sure.
Lina just remain unmoved, she knows very well what Zel was about to speak but as much as she hates to admit it he is right. Pinto manipulated them all by using his sister and Gourry but now the big question is why is Pinto doing this? What does he want with Lina? What is his purpose?
In that moment Gourry comes out of his room with the cloths that Linda gave him, it is practically the same as the one that Gourry uses but with a different design. "So how do I look guys?"
Lina did not bother to answer him, she just turns her back at him. "Let go get dinner I am starving!"
No one said another word, they did not even bother to answer to Gourry's question, they just stare to the direction that Lina went. Her depression can be felt in the air.
--
From outside the castle Xellos continues to spy on Lina and the others while eating his popcorn. He is truly enjoying this. "Now Lina, don't liberate your negative emotions all in once, I'll end up getting fat!" he joked and chuckling coldly as he did.
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The Slayers were dinning in one of the dinning rooms with Pinto and Linda.
The dinner went on calmly, bizarrely calmly. Lina and Gourry didn't go on with their usual food fight, this time was completely different. Lina stayed in her seat eating calmly, eating a vast number of foods but still calmly with no smile on her face, just with an angry and serious face. Gourry on the other hand is eating happily like he always do.
Amelia and Zelgadiss stare at their friends with a concern look, this is the first time ever since they travel with Lina and Gourry that they ever had a meal with such a horrible ambient. They are so used to spend a meal with the usual fights that Gourry and Lina have over the last piece of chicken wing, this is without any doubt the worst meal they ever had.
Amelia could not continue with this, as soon as the meal is over and Lina is on her own she will have a serious talk with her.
"So…how is it Gourry?" Linda asked shyly. "Is it good?"
"Why yes it is, it is very good indeed. Best meal I ever had." Gourry responded happily.
"Really?" Linda replied with the same tone. "I'm so happy to hear that because I am the one who made that meal?"
Gourry blinked. "Really you did?"
"Yes, and I also made those clouts for you."
"Really? You did?" Gourry asked in amaze. "Wow, I never saw a queen that would make dinner and a sweater."
"Yes, I might be a queen but I am also a woman." Linda said with a blush.
Gourry just smiled at her which made Linda's heart melt.
Lina could not take it any more and got up from her seat. "I'm done. I shall return to my room." And then she left the dinning room.
"Lina wait!" Amelia ran after her friend.
"Well then, I shall leave as well." Pinto informed. "I have some matters that I need to accomplish." And he left the room.
"I also made some delicious desserts. Would you like to taste them Gourry?" Linda asked.
Gourry was already mouthwatering with the words desserts. "Desserts? Oh yeah I would like to!"
"Very good, I shall bring them at once!" Linda said excitedly and left the room, leaving Gourry and Zelgadiss alone.
Zelgadiss that he became quite curious of why Gourry is still thinking about Linda's offer considering that he promised to protect Lina forever. After what he risked back in the Sea of Chaos it became quite obvious that Gourry is not the type of man that breaks his pledges and it became quite clear his feeling for Lina. Its time for Zel to have some questions answered. "So tell me Gourry, are you really going to accept Linda's offer of marriage?"
"huh?" Gourry looks back at Zel. "What do you mean?"
"You said that you were going to think about it. You even wanted to stay in the castle to ponder about it."
"Well, I just thought that it would be best to stay in the castle considering Lina's current condition."
"Current condition? What are you talking about?"
"Lina is having her time of the mouth. She possibly started to have it a few hours ago."
Zel almost feel down from his chair. "How-how do you know that Lina is going to have her time of the month?"
"After a long time traveling with Lina I kept I touch of when that comes. Just to keep me more alerted when that happens, you know how many enemies that Lina makes almost every day." Gourry responded quite simply.
Zel had his mouth wide open. "Wow, Gourry……that was a….how to put it…… that was a very intelligent thing to do!"
"What?" Gourry complained. "Why do you people get all amazed when I say something clever? What do you think I am? An Idiot?"
Zel did not respond, that question is so easy to answer. But now Zelgadiss starts to understand why Lina wanted to refuse the job even if she was getting paid so richly, she knew she was going to get her time of the month and she didn't want to fight in her weakest condition. "So that means that set this up just to keep Lina save? You really don't want to marry Linda, do you?"
"That I am still thinking…" Gourry responded with his eyes a little saddened.
Zel could not believe in Gourry's reply. "Still thinking? But what about Lina? You said that you would……"
"Lina doesn't want me around." Gourry interrupted. "The only thing she wants from me is my Sword of Light."
"Huh?" Zel could not believe that Gourry said that after all the events that happen during their fight against Hellmaster, after Lina almost sacrificed herself and the world only to save him, after he follow Lina into the sea of Chaos to save her from the Lord of Nightmares. Can it be that Gourry already forgotten about that? He would not be that dense to forget about these things, would he? "Now why do you say that?"
"I heard her confession on that day when we left Sylphiel back to her uncle."
Flashback.
Gourry walked around the woods to try to find Sylphiel and Lina, they left to have some kind of a conversation, possibly about past events. It was already dinner time and so Gourry volunteered to find the girls even if Amelia told not to, even so Gourry ignored her and went on finding the girls.
It's been twenty minutes since he started his search but with no results, Gourry started to worry about them. Then he started to hear voices and he realized that it was Lina and Sylphiel.
Gourry follow the sounds until he found Lina and Sylphiel near a river. "Ah, Lin…"
"WHAT?! Me and Gourry?" Gourry heard Lina screaming, luckily he was hidden behind a tree and Lina did not notice him. "Me in Love with Gourry? Now why the heck would I fall in love with an idiot, jellyfish, moron like Gourry? The only thing I want from him is his Sword of Light!"
Gourry felt like he died a thousand horrible deaths when he heard the words that came out of Lina's mouths. After all this time she still considers him to be nothing but a nuisance? Even after all the dangers and adventures they shared together, even after the battle they had with Hellmaster and Garv and even after he save her from the Sea of Chaos he means nothing to her?
Gourry walk away and rerurned back to where the others are with the fake excuse saying that he did not found the girls.
End of Flashback.
"You see Zel? What is the point of staying with some one who does not appreciate all the hard work we do? What is the point of staying with some one who only wants my sword?" Gourry said with some difficulty. "So maybe it is better to stay with someone who can appreciate what we are and what we do."
Zel listened to entire story with an amazed look, he's still surprised that Gourry even remembers what happen then and that he was foolish enough to believe in Lina's words. Anyone could see that all that was a way she used to cover up her embarrassment, but to Gourry it would obviously be truthful. All of them are still a little beat up after the hearth beating events they all suffered because of Helmaster and Garv and so possibly Gourry is still not thinking straight and hearing those words from the one he risked his live on the Sea of Chaos must be truly demoralizing, making Gourry feel more unappreciated than before and most importantly, heart-broken. "Gourry, listen here. The truth is……"
In that moment Linda enters the room with a plate full of desserts. "Here I am. I brought all kinds of yummy desserts for you Gourry."
"Oh goodie, goodie!" and Gourry starts to chow down on the desserts that Linda brought him.
Zel sighed, he knows that now it is impossible for him to have a serious conversation with Gourry now that he is all focused on his meal and knowing Gourry that meal might take a lot of time. So Zel desided to leave the conversation for another time and hopping that Lina and Gourry don't do anything drastic until then.
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"Miss Lina wait!" Amelia called as she reached for Lina who is still walking towards her room with a very unfriendly look. "Are you just going to leave Mr. Gourry with that woman? You are not going to do anything about it? You are just going to let Mr. Gourry marry that girl?"
"This is Gourry decision, not mine! I don't care if that Jellyfish gets married with Linda!" Lina tried to act as cold as possible but deep inside she is devastated.
Amelia knows that no matter how much she tries to convince Lina to admit her feelings for Gourry she will always deny it no matter what, even in a situation like the one she is experiencing, she is too proud and too stubborn. So Amelia decided to try a little reverse psychology and hoping and praying that Lina doesn't fireball her. "Well, maybe you are right. This is Mr. Gourry's choice after all. Maybe he'll be better with Miss Linda."
Lina stop on her tracks when Amelia said that last one.
"After all Miss Linda isn't that rude like you are Miss Lina. She cooks, she makes dresses and she isn't that much of a spoil like Miss Martina was. Miss Linda is a woman in love and she demonstrates her love with things that she can do." Amelia continued with a very save distance from Lina. "When was the last time you ever did anything to Mr. Gourry, Miss Lina?"
"Hey!!" Lina snapped, turning to Amelia. "I did a lot of things for Gourry, like…..like……like……"Lina remain in silence, Amelia did made a good point, when was the last time that Lina ever did anything for Gourry? The only thing she ever gave him were punches, insults and more punches. What kind of man would want to stay with some one like Lina even if he made the promise to protect her with his life? Lina starts to walk away back to her room and hopping that Amelia doesn't see her tears.
As soon as Lina was out of sight Amelia landed on her knees and sighing in relieve to see that Lina didn't Dragon Slave her. She just hopes that now Lina will take the first step and put her pride aside to save the relationship she has with Gourry.
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The hours passed until night arrived, everyone's in their proper rooms sleeping, except one.
Lina could not sleep, Amelia's words keep echoing in her mind. "When was the last thing I ever did for Gourry……?" Lina gets up from her bad and headed to the window, looking down at the sleepy city and thinking about past events, especially back to the last time she saw Sylphiel.
Flashback.
The Slayers decided to stay at Sylphiel Uncle's house for dinner, Sylphiel decided to pick up some wood for the fireplace and she asked Lina to assist her.
After a few minutes of picking up wood Sylphiel finally decided to have the conversation she was planning to have with Lina. "Lina, can I ask you something?"
"Yeah, what is it?" Lina responded picking up another wood that is standing next to the river.
"Why did you risk everything by casting the Giga Slave and even sacrificing yourself? You know that was Helmaster's plan but even so you cast it."
Lina dropped the woods when Sylphiel ask her that, this is the one question that she hoped that none of them would ever ask. "Well…Phibrisio had you all trap in the inside those crystals and he was about to break you all. I had no choice."
Sylphiel knew that Lina is lying. "You are not being truthful Lina. The Lord of Nightmares explicitly told us that you cast the spell in order to save Gourry dear."
Lina blushed hard with the news, she did not know that and she wonder what was Gourry's reaction to it? "She-she did?" Lina slowly turns to Sylphiel who has a soft smile on her face.
"You really love him, don't you?"
"WHAT?! Me and Gourry?" Lina screamed in embarrassment. "Me in love with Gourry? Now why the heck would I fall in love with an idiot, jellyfish, moron like Gourry? The only thing I want from him is his Sword of Light!"
Unknown to Lina is that Gourry heard what she said and left with his heart completely broken.
"Lina, you don't need to lie to me: I can see that it is true." Sylphiel said calmly.
Lina did not respond at first, it seems that Sylphiel knows Lina very well, very well indeed and she also knows that this topic must be very painful for Sylphiel.
Sylphiel just looks down at the river with her eyes starting to get watery. "I can figure that, I notice that every time you two are together and how Gourry was so distressed when you got hit by Copy Rezo and when you were possessed by the Lord of Nightmares. I learn how to use the Dragon Slave in hopes to get Gourry's attention but it was all in vain, Gourry admires your bravery and your cunningness, Lina. His heart belongs to you."
Lina blushed hard when Sylphiel said that. She turns her back at Sylphiel so that she could not see her blush but Lina's heart doesn't stop beating. "Sylphiel……what are you trying to say?"
"You know about my feelings for Gourry dear but in the end he has chosen you. I don't hate you for it Lina, you are a very good friend to me even in the times when I was not sure of my self and you even risk your life to save mine." Sylphiel could not herself and so she released a sob which made Lina look back at her. "it is pointless for me to try to struggle in the inevitable, so I…..so I…"
"Sylphiel…."Lina whispered. Lina can understand that Sylphiel is trying to say that she is giving up on Gourry but the words don't come out because this is too painful for her. In a certain way Lina and Sylphiel became rivals when it comes to Gourry but she is also a good friend and she never does anything to upset others. Poor girl, she lost her family and her city and now she is losing the man she loves with great sacrifice.
Lina walks to Sylphiel and hugs her, consoling her. "Go ahead Sylphiel, cry. Let it all out."
Sylphiel could not help herself and she cried, cried on Lina's shoulders. Letting out the torment that's been inside of her heart.
And mentally Lina is thanking her for the sacrifice she is making, Lina is so thankful that she could not help releasing a tear herself.
End of Flashback.
Lina starts to understand the pain that Sylphiel felt in that moment and once again and once again Amelia's words keep echoing in her mind. A woman in love and she demonstrates her love with things that she can do. "What is Amelia trying to say to me?"
Lina does not admit it to any one but she admits it to herself, she has fallen in love with Gourry but she will never said it out loud. Is Amelia trying to tell Lina to show her love for Gourry with things that she knows how to do? Like Linda? "NOOO!!" Lina screamed in her mind. "I don't do stupid stuff like this! I don't stuff that makes me sound weak! It is so ridiculous!"
Lina rushes over to the bed and jumps on it, trying to remove the vision of seeing her self doing cooking or anything girly. "Why the heck should I do that? This is Gourry's fault! Why should I do something to that brainless Jellyfish?" Lina paused for a moment with a sad look. "Because I don't want to lose Gourry……he might be a jellyfish but he's my jellyfish. I don't want to lose him like I almost did against Hellmaster." Lina shakes her head. "Wait a minute, what good will it do? How can I be sure that Gourry will not marry Linda if I do anything for him?...well, maybe this will show Gourry that I really care for him……" Lina thought with a blush on this last one but then she shakes her head again. "NO WAY! I have my reputation to protect here! I can not let it be stain if rumors starts to be spread about me doing stuff like that, I'll be a laughing stock!...but if I do nothing I will lose Gourry……"
Lina just could not decide, she is divided between her pride and her feelings for Gourry, in one way or another she will end up winning and losing but she knows that the last one is where she will lose the most. "I can't decide... I'm completely divided. What can I do?...I know!" an idea popped in her head and she walked to where her cape is hanged and pick up a coin from one of the magical pockets in the cape. "I'll throw a coin up to the air and let chance decide for me. Heads I will do it. Tails I won't do it."
Lina throws the coin up to the air and let it fall on the palm of her head, and it gave Tails. Lina did not like the results so she looked up with an innocent look and turn the coin the other way around. "Well what do you know? It gave Heads. So I will do something for Gourry!"
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The next day arrived with a calm fresh breeze in the air, the birds chirping and the sun showing his firsts rays between the mountains.
This is truly a day which nothing can happen. That is the first look that it seems to give but suddenly an explosion is heard in the kitchen of the castle. The explosion was so big that it woke up everyone in the kingdom.
"What was that?" Gourry cried when he hears the explosion.
--
Moments later Gourry arrives to the kitchen to find it all burn. "Smells like barbecue here."
"Gourry, what happen?" Linda asked when she arrived to the kitchen.
"I don't know I just got here." In that moment Gourry starts to hear some coming from the smoke. It is Lina caring a plate with flour all over herself. "Lina? What are you doing here?"
Lina let out a nervous laugh. "Me? I was just……cooking something."
Gourry and Linda sweat dropped, Lina is the one who destroyed the kitchen?
"Why did you destroy the kitchen Lina?" Gourry asked.
"HEY! I didn't destroy anything!" Lina snapped. "I was in the kitchen baking some chocolate chip cookies, the stove were taking to long to cook it so I decided to put some more pressure on to it and……" Lina then starts to looks around her. "And the rest is all a mess."
Gourry and Linda fall down, anime style, when Lina said that.
"Miss Lina, look at our kitchen! It is completely destroyed!" Linda cried. "Why were you in the kitchen any way?"
Lina did not respond to Linda, she just walks to Gourry with her plate. "Here Gourry, I made this for you…" Lina said very shyly and shows the plate holding one fist sized chocolate chip cookie.
"For….for me?" Gourry asked in shock.
"Yes…" Lina responded with a blush on her face but not looking at Gourry. "I wanted to make more but the darn stove blow up before more could be made."
This caught Gourry by surprise, Lina has never done anything for him before and she made him a cookie. Gourry did not know what to think about it. "It is for me? Really, really, really for me?"
"Yes…" Lina responded with a soft smile on her face. "So do you want to try it?"
Gourry had his mouth watering with the sight of the cookie. He was about to grab it when he realized something. "Hey wait a minute! This cookie doesn't have any hypnotizing potion that will make me give you my Sword of Light, does it?"
Lina open her eyes wide open when Gourry said that. She felt hurt with that comment. After all the hard work she made, after getting so dirty and bulling the cookers she can not believe that Gourry would insult her like that. She baked the cookies with all her heart and this is the thanks she gets? "You…you insensate jerk!" Lina was so emotional distress with that comment that she throw the plate right on Gourry's face, breaking the cookie she made into pieces.
After that Lina ran back to her room with tears in her eyes.
"Gourry, are you alright?" Linda asked and she kneels down to Gourry.
"What happen, what was that explosion?" Zelgadiss asked as he and Amelia finally show up to the scene.
Gourry did not respond, he just stares to where Lina ran and then looks down at the pieces of cookies that are all spread on the ground.
--
Lina return back to her room and landed to the ground with her tears hitting to flour. "That idiot….after all the hard work I did he blows me off like that?" Lina puts her hand on her hearth, it is emotional hurt. "Why……why did I hade to fall in love? Why do I have to feel the pain of rejection?" Lina just wanted to die so she could not feel the soreness she is suffering right now.
--
From the top of one of the buildings near the castle Xellos applauds to the spectacle that he is seeing. "Magnificent! Absolutely magnificent! I love sad stories, they are so delicious! And so now what is going to happen next? Will Gourry marry that Linda girl? Will Lina blow up another kitchen to show her love for Gourry? What is Pinto's plan? And will I ever get some more popcorn? I will just have to wait and see."
To be continued……
Alandra: more to come up soon with some more emotional moments. you'll just have to wait likr Xellos
Ramon: read and review please.
