Chapter 2: Something is Amiss

Three days later found the group out on the open road again. Lina and Gourry were having an animated discussion on the exquisite breakfast they had had earlier that morning, vowing to eat at that restaurant on a return trip. Amelia and Zelgadis were farther back on the road, both taking in the nice weather and pleasant company. All might have continued on as it was, but in the blink of an eye the group was surrounded by bandits!

Just as the leader stepped forward to threaten the group, Lina cracked her knuckles and got an evil grin. "Excellent, this will save us having to do more mercenary work. Fire Ball!"

Everyone looked at Lina, the bandits in curiosity, but her companions in shock!

"Wha..what? Nothing happened? Well then, how about Burst Rondo!" Lina had again held out her hands making the proper gestures, but nothing happened. The only sound to be heard was the wind blowing through the trees.

After the initial shock wore off, the bandit leader came to his senses. "I don't know what you're trying to prove, but hand over yer valuables if you want to leave here alive!"

"Fools!" A voice boomed from nearby. Lina, Gourry and Zelgadis didn't even look, but the bandits all turned to look up a nearby tree which Amelia was suddenly perched in. "You who would dare attack peaceful travelers, all for ill-gotten gain? Surrender your evil ways now, or prepare to face my wrath!" Amelia launched herself from the tree then, a spell on her lips. Even though she didn't think the bandits would actually surrender, she was always willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

"Forget this," the bandit leader spat, "get them! We'll plunder their corpses!"

Amelia hit the ground running, the others quickly following after her. "Mercy may have saved you, but through your own arrogance you have sealed your fate. Prepare to be defeated by my justice! Visfarank!" Amelia continued to charge forward and planted a fist right in a bandit's gut. She was expecting him to be sent reeling. Instead her fist thumped painfully against his armor. Only then did she notice that her spell had not gone off.

The bandit laughed at the attempted attack, quickly lunging out at the smaller girl with his own fist. Amelia quickly jumped away, but before the bandit could follow where she'd gone off to, Zelgadis was suddenly right there, and angry. The last thing the bandit knew was a sword sliding through his gut.

Gourry and Zelgadis made quick work of the bandits. Lina and Amelia lending a hand where possible, but the two were in too much shock at having their magic fail to be much help.

When the dust had settled, any bandits that had been able had fled the scene. Others lay in heaps, having paid the ultimate price for their choice in livelihood.

Gourry was the first to approach the girls. "You guys okay?"

Lina and Amelia could only look at each other in complete confusion. Why hadn't their magic worked?

"This can't be happening again," Lina said, disbelief heavy in her voice. "It can't be! Quick, Amelia, try something basic!"

Both Lina and Amelia chanted a Lighting spell then, both holding out a hand for where the gathered magic would manifest...but nothing happened. The two stared dumbly at each other, not even sure how to react.

Gourry and Zelgadis watched silently, trying too to figure out what this could possibly mean. Both were waiting intently for Lina or Amelia to say something, neither prepared for when Lina suddenly whirled around and launched herself at Zelgadis, latching onto his arms.

"Zel, cast something! Anything!" Lina pleaded. She looked very distressed as she shook Zelgadis.

Zelgadis shrugged Lina off, feeling very awkward being put on the spot. With everyone watching him intently, Zelgadis hesitantly followed suit and also chanted a Lighting spell. When he held his hand out for the magic, it quickly manifested itself in the form of a ball of light.

"Ah!" Gourry pounded his fist. "It worked! But...what does that mean?" Gourry turned to Lina for an answer.

Lina looked even more confused now. As she puzzled through this new tidbit of information she turned back to Amelia, who was also puzzling over things.

"Oh!" Amelia snapped her finger, "Miss Lina, it's not...er, you know," she glanced back at Gourry and Zelgadis who looked back expectantly, but all it did was cause Amelia to blush. She turned back to Lina instead, trying to calm herself.

Lina looked at her curiously, but things suddenly fell into place. "Oh...oh, that. Umm...er, no, I just barely got over that about a wee-" Lina cut off her train of thought as she shot a glance back at Gourry. She returned her gaze to Amelia and coughed nervously. "What about you, Amelia?"

Amelia made sure to keep her eyes on anything but Zelgadis and Gourry, who were still looking on with interest. Unable to say anything without feeling further embarrassment, she instead shook her head 'no'.

Lina frowned. "I would have almost been relieved if it were just that."

Gourry suddenly perked up. "Oh! It's that thing girls don't like talking about! That's what you guys were wondering?"

Zelgadis coughed into his fist, fighting off his own blush. "Granted, it's not a subject that usually comes up. At least not in our company." Zelgadis suddenly found a small rock on the ground very interesting.

Amelia just covered her eyes while Lina whirled back to face Gourry, stomping her foot as she went.

"Gourry! Why is it you can't remember what happened a week ago Tuesday, but you remember that?" Lina glared angrily at Gourry.

Gourry just gave a laugh. "That's because I've always wondered what it is! No one ever tells me, but it comes up all the time." He smiled at Lina, the picture of innocence. "Is it something important?"

Lina lost the battle and was overcome by a major blush herself. Her aggressive stance dropped as she turned away from Gourry. "Nevermind. Lets just get out of here before something else tries to jump us."

"But Lina!" Gourry called after her, but Lina was already walking away, Amelia in tow. He dropped his arm back down to his side. "See? No one ever tells me! Is it some secret girls aren't allowed to tell?" He looked to Zelgadis for an answer.

Zelgadis just ribbed his forehead, trying to fight off his own growing blush. "Don't worry about it, Gourry. It's just one of the many weird quirks of girls."

"So you don't know either, huh?" Gourry looked at Zelgadis in surprise.

"Er..well, no, not really." Zelgadis ducked his head. "It's not exactly something Rezo taught me. He was male, after all."

"Huh," Gourry replied, but then he shrugged. "Oh well, maybe someday Lina will tell me."

Zelgadis stifled a smile. "Maybe so."

The two men dropped off into silence as they started after Lina and Amelia.

To be continued...

Next time: "What?" Lina suddenly sat up and frowned at Zelgadis. "You expect me to stay here, cooped up to do nothing? I can't afford that!"

Author's notes: You better believe I enjoyed writing this chapter! I've had people question me on Zelgadis not knowing. I've a sneaking suspicion he knows more than he cares to on woman's issues, but he's not exactly grown up with women surrounding him so I doubt he knows exactly what "that time of the month" is all about. (As it is, I doubt it's a topic he'd want to talk to Gourry about when women are present. Talk about awkward!)