Love and Pain
Ramon: our new fic. Another Lina and Gourry fic, based of the events after Slayers Evolution-R episode 4.
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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After the event with the Zombies the Slayers received a delicious meal from the Part of Prince Jeran, he rewarded Lina with all the meals that she wanted, even more than what she desired. During all that time Lina acted all sweetly to Jeran and taking a quick glance at Gourry who never showed any emotion, in fact he's been unusually quiet during the meals, Lina found him a bit out of character but she took that as a good thing, a sign of how he is jelouse about the situation.
Because of those reactions Lina is now in her room, waiting for him to come to her, to talk to her, to complain to her about her going to sweetly with the Prince. So far he never appeared.
It's practically three in the morning and Gourry never show up like Lina hoped. "Why doesn't he appear? I can't believe that I am waiting for that idiot like this. Blast it!"
With the anger Lina throws a jar of water against the wall and then walks to the window. "Why doesn't he show up? I made enough scenes to make sure that Gourry could get jealous, still he doesn't show up? Didn't I make enough scenes or……" Lina's expression changes, it gets more sadden. "Or…or doesn't he even care for me? I am just someone who he needs to protect? An obligation? After all this time is that what I am to him?"
A single tear runs down her eyes as she remembers all the adventures she shared with the blond swordsman, from the first day that she meet him until the day they defeated Zanaffer in Seilune.
They defeated many bandits, fought against Dark Lords and strong Mazoku's, started to haunt Pirates together and much more. Of course in all those times Lina insulted, beat, slammed, bashed, kicked Gourry so many times. True there were times that Lina did not meant to do it but she cannot help it, it is in her nature. There were times when Lina was afraid that Gourry might leave her forever but after all the times he stand in her side after all these dangerous battles without complaining all that fear faded away, even when she and Gourry defeated Zanaffer with the combine force of the Ragna Blade and the sword of light made by Pokota. That is until this latest incident with the Fish-people.
"Was Gourry so desperate to be rid of me that he would accept staying with those smelly, crazy fish people?" she asked to herself with more tears in her eyes. "Is he so sick of me that he would accept to stay with anyone?"
These thoughts disturber Lina so much that she ran to her bed and sank her head in the pillow, in hopes to remove these thoughts from her mind.
She spends the entire night with the pillow in her head.
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Pokota, Zel, Amelia and Nama are now in the living room, enjoying their peaceful breakfast. Well, all but Nama because she is an armor.
"Pu-pu! It is not fair!" Nama bellyached. "Nama wants a yummy meal too."
"You can't. You are an armor." Pokota reminded very sarcastically.
"Rabbit toy is so mean to me!" Nama acted like a little girl.
"Rabbit toy!?!?!" Pokota shouted.
Amelia immediately pulls Pokota away from Nama. "Pokota, please calm down. We don't want to make a scene in ……" Amelia notices the look on Zelgadiss's face.
It is a look that she knows very well, he always gets that look whenever he starts to suspect someone. Most of the times, his uncertainties, are correct. "Mr. Zelgadiss, what is wrong?"
"I am having some bad vibes with this Jeran character. I believe that he is hiding something."
"What makes you say that?"
"Remember yesterday when you ask him the name of this city? He purposely failed to respond that question."
"So what?" Pokota replied. "His entire kingdom is being over run by a cruel sorcerer. You can not expect him to have his mind entirely there."
Zel was about to protest when Lina entered. "Hey there everyone! What is the meal for today? I am so hungry I can eat a bull."
"Ouch, now that is a bit overreacted." Amelia thought, but then again, this is Lina Inverse. She then notices that Lina seems a bit fatigue, her eyes are practically closed, she obviously did not sleep well last night
"Hey everyone." Gourry greeted. Everyone greeted back, expect Lina. He then notices Lina weariness. "What is wrong Lina? you seem tire."
"I just didn't get enough sleep. That is all." She responded without looking at him as she walked to her seat.
"Maybe you should go back to your room and try to sleep a little bit more." Gourry suggested. "It won't do you any good to stay in that condition."
"WHY DO YOU PRETEND TO CARE!!!!" Lina snapped furiously and psychologically at Gourry, after what was on her mind last night seeing Gourry is the last thing she wants.
She shouted so angrily that she practically did not thought of what she was doing and she basically did not wanted to yell at Gourry but she really wanted to blow up some steam and poor Gourry became the victim.
Amelia and Zelgadiss look at their friends with a shock, they have traveled with Lina and Gourry for quite some time, they all fought against powerful foes together, they saw the unreasonable fights between Lina and Gourry about some food, they saw the countless times when Lina insults and hits Gourry but this time is enormously different. This is the very first time that they see Lina shout at someone like this, Lina is angry but she seems emotionally angry, it is almost like she felt abandoned.
Pokota is only a temporary member of this gang and during the time when he was human he saw many couple arguing over many different things, serious things, silly things but this is the first time he saw quite a distressing scene, it is almost like Lina wanted to cry.
Gourry on the other hand took that snap in a different vision. He's completely heartbroken with the way Lina shouted at him, she has insulted and bashed him many time but this is the first time she acted that way with him. He felt like Lina is saying that he no longer wants to stay with him, that she wants to stay with Jeran.
In that moment Jeran enters the room rapidly. "My friends, the Zombies have return!"
"Good, something to blow away." Lina stormed and left the living room.
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Lina, Gourry, Pokota, Jeran, Nama, Amelia and Zelgadiss ran down the streets and not too far from them they see three Zombies walking swloly towards them.
"Just three?" Amelia wondered.
"Who cares, I am in the mood to bust some heads and these poor fools are going to get it." Lina prepared to form a fire ball when she notices the Zombies opening their mouths really wide.
And blasts start to come out of the Zombies. The Slayers manage to dodge the attacks really easily but they were defiantly caught by surprise.
"Since when does Zombies shoot blast from their mouths?" Pokota shouted. "This never happen before!"
"Could it be possible that the Sorcerer gave these Zombies some powers?" Amelia asked as she and Zelgadiss fly up into the air.
"It is impossible. No sorcerer, no matter how powerful he is, can transfer powers to any creature he creates. Unless that the Zombie use to be a skillful sorcerer, even so it is impossible for a zombie to have powers." Zel responded.
The three Zombies continue to shoot various blasts against the Slayers, the blast come out so rapidly that none of them have the chance to throw any spell.
"I hate this!!!!" Nama wined as she continues to dodge the attacks very difficultly.
Gourry backs away and sees the Zombies are throwing big blasts and most of all they are back to back with each other, it is impossible to catch them by surprise. Gourry then notices Lina who practically is worn out, after all the times he traveled with her Gourry always notices Lina's impressive agility, something that's always supportive for her in her fights but now he is seeing none of it. He cannot believe that it is all because she had a hard night, something must have happen to Lina for her to stay like this.
"What is wrong with me?" Lina asks herself and lands down on her knees, she only started this fight and she feels like a sick kitten. She never felt like this before and right about now it is defiantly not useful for her because she is becoming an easy prey.
One of the Zombies throws a large blast directly at Lina and could not do anything to dodge it.
"LINA!!!" Gourry cried as he ran towards her.
Suddenly Jeran stands in from of Lina and blocks the attack with a shield spell. Gourry stopped on his tracks and sighed in relieve to see that Lina made it out alright.
"Are you alright Lina?" Jeran asked worry.
"I'm fine…I'm fine…..but I feel so tire….I can't barely stand up." Lina responded tiredly.
"Then hold my hand, I will give you some of my energy to help me destroy these beasts." Jeran gently holds Lina's hand helps her on her feet.
A bright light surrounded both Lina and Jeran and they started to levitate into the air. The energy begin to grow bigger and bigger that even some houses started to fall apart.
"W-what is that energy?" Pokota stuttered, he never felt this much energy before, it is even stronger than Zanaffer.
The energy is so immense that it almost made Amelia and Zel fly away.
"Lina?" the mere image of seeing Lina flying to the air with energy makes Gourry remember when Lina was possessed by the Lord of Nightmares, not a pretty image for Gourry.
Lina points the palm of her hand to the three Zombies and shoots a gigantic fireball, so big that it was practically the size of two houses.
Two of the Zombies end up vaporized only one of them manage to survive. The remaining zombie uses his last energy to fly away.
"Miss Lina, that was amazing!" Amelia hooted as she, Zelgadiss and Pokota landed back to the ground.
Lina did not reply, she simply kneels down exhausted, panting heavily.
"Lina what is wrong?" Zel asked.
"I'm…I'm just tire, that is all…." Lina responded between the heavy breathings. "But……there is a Zombie….that manage to get away. We need to catch him."
"You are in no condition to go after him." Jeran stated as he grabbed Lina when she was about to fall.
"Mr. Jeran is right, Miss Lina. You will become an easy prey if you come with us, you need to rest." Amelia agreed.
"Just what was that that happen to Lina?" Zelgadiss asked. "She was power up with an immense energy, something that it could match the power of the Ruby Eye Shabrimingodu."
Jeran stayed in silence for a second and responded. "There is a good reason why my city is being attacked. We know an ancient secret about the transference of powers, it became a very rare magic because of the sacrifices it must occur."
"Sacrifices?" Amelia asked.
"Yes. In order for a sorcerer to have his powers transfer is to observe the magic and life force of another sorcerer."
Every one stayed in a dead silence with such news. They have heard about such spell but they always believed that it was nothing but stories.
"AIIIIIII!!!!" Nama shirked. "What a scary story!"
"So wait a minute, what happen to Lina was power transference?" Pokota asked.
"Yes, I transferred some of my powers to Lina and the results were beyond my comprehension." Jeran responded as he cleaned the sweat on his forehead.
"Wait a minute, you can transfer magic?" Amelia asked.
"Yes, with this transference I shorten my life but it was worth it."
"Huh? You risked your own life for Lina's safety? But this spell is dangerous; it completely destroys the life whose powers are removed!" Pokota stated.
"That is why it became a rare magic, I am surprised that it did not became a forbidden magic."
"Ok, ok people, we are wasting time with this debate. We have to go after the Zombie before we lose track of him….." Lina tried to get up again but she fell down of Jeran's arms.
"You are in no conditions Lina, let me take to the infirmary to take care of you."
"There is no need…..you should worry about yourself, you transferred some of your powers, you are obviously in much worse condition than me."
"Do not worry, I am fine." Jeran assured with a soft smile.
Lina blushed when Jeran smiled like that, it looks so much like Gourry's smile. And speaking of Gourry Lina looks back at him to see that he is with that exact same serious look in his face when they were at Miss Mermaid's house. Lina wonders if he is like this because of the way is getting along with Jeran or because of how Lina treated him at breakfast. What ever the case Lina is not ready to talk to him yet. "Ok, you win Jeran." She then looks back at her friends. "You guys better move along and follow that zombie. Try to find who is behind this and take care of him."
Zel looks at Gourry to see that he is not saying a single word to protest or any of the kind, it is almost like he gave up. Lina started this little ridiculous game only to make Gourry jealous but he can feel that things are getting out of hand.
Before anything could be said Jeran begin to carry Lina back to his castle.
Zel look back at Gourry to see him walking in the opposite direction. "We possibly should not leave Lina alone."
"You worry too much, she is with Jeran." Pokota said.
"Yes, and that is what is worrying me. I don't trust that guy."
"But he was fair when he mentioned the spell that is the main reason for this mess. He risked his own life for Lina. If he was this unfair he would have done the things he did. I believe his actions are louder than his words." Amelia said.
"We better get a move on, Gourry is already a big step away from us." Nama pointed at Gourry and everyone rush over to follow him.
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Zel and the rest of the gang follow the Zombie in discrete, luckily the zombie can not feel their presence so it makes it easy for them to follow him, still they are using extreme caution, just in case the sorcerer they have been hearing about manages to do a sneak attack on them.
The gang ends up hiding behind an enormous bolder when they notice that the zombie is now passing by a bridge.
"Let's wait here a minute, as soon as the zombie passes through the bridge." Zel spoke in a low tone.
"By the way the thing is moving so slow its going to be a long time." Pokota grumbled.
The gang then looks back at Gourry who is not wearing a pleasant face, he is obvious upset about Lina and Jeran.
"Mr. Gourry, are you still upset because of Lina?" Amelia asked, this is the best question she could come up with and she hopes she did not made the worst one.
"She doesn't care about me." Gourry responded in a bit disheartened tone. "I am nothing but her bodyguard. She said so herself back at the fish people's house, right in front of my face. And just today she…..she bashed at me so coldly."
"Man, ever since I meet these people I never saw Gourry like this." Pokota thought. "He and Lina has always been quite a team."
"Besides she was always dreaming and talking how she wanted to marry a handsome prince, and Jeran fits that list….so I guess that her dream finally come true."
"Mr. Gourry, that is not true, Lina does not hate you! She is just upset about the entire situation with the fish people, that is all."
"Upset? Why would she be upset about that? I am nothing but her body guard."
"Yes, she was upset." Amelia spoke firmly. "She was just as upset as when you were kidnapped by the Hellmaster."
"Gourry was kidnapped by Hellmaster!?!?!" Pokota squealed. "W-w-w-wa-wa-when did this happen?"
Zel steps on Pokota to make him shut up. "Don't interrupt, and don't talk so loud."
"Mr. Gourry, I know that Miss Lina is defiantly not the easiest person to endure but you of all people must know when she is distressed. She felt so lonely when you stayed in the fish people's house during that week. She only shouted at you because of that gloominess. You can not give up on her because of foolish misunderstanding."
Gourry did not say a word, but the expression on his face changed a little. "She was upset because I stayed there?"
"Yes, she felt like you abandoned her."
"But I was only going to stay there for a little bit, not forever. I did say that."
"Yes, but in her heart she felt abandoned."
"But what else can I do. She now likes that Jeran guy. He and her have a lot in common, like magic and powerful spells. I have none of that."
Amelia could not believe the way Gourry is acting, it is like he is giving up very easily. It is obvious that he is not convinced the enough, it is like he feels like Lina really fell in love with Jeran. "SO…you are going to give up on Lina?"
"I guess is for the best she stays with Jeran. She can finally calm down and live a normal life. After all the bandits are practically extinct because of her, she probably will want to settle down. And if you say that Lina now hates me because she thinks that I have abandoned her, then I….."
"WILL YOU STOP IT!!!!" Zel interrupted furiously, he was getting tire of this nonsense.
"I thought you said do not shout." Pokota murmured.
"Don't you understand what is going on here?" Zel growled. "Are you just simply going to let Jeran get to close to Lina with out putting up a fight?"
"That is Lina's choice, not mine. If she wants to be with Jeran, then I'll be happy for her and hope she gets….."
Zel could not take it anymore, so he grabs Gourry by his collar and pushes him against the bolder.
"Mr. Zelgadiss, what are you doing?" Amelia yelled.
"Sorry, but I have no patience for Gourry's idiocy, since I am in a bit of a rush to find the Hellmaster's Vase and I am getting tire of this romantic stupidity. SO I am going to ask you again, Gourry, are you going to let Jeran stay with Lina without a fight?"
"This is Lina's choice."
"Yeah, but what do you feel about it?"
"Well……." Gourry looks down with thoughtful eyes. "If she is happy about it then I'll be happy for….."
Zel presses Gourry against the bolder more firmly. "No, you idiot! I am asking WHAT do you REALLY feel? That is the question I am making! Are you really happy about Jeran being with Lina? After all the adventures and battles you shared with Lina you are just going to stand down and do nothing?"
Gourry then stares at Zel with angry eyes, he's been in a lot of stress in these last hours and Zel's been pushing him with all these interrogations. SO Gourry pushes Zel away from, making him fall down to the ground very hard, releasing all his stress in that push, much to the surprise to everyone present. "NO, I DON'T like it!!! I don't want Lina to be with some other guy! I want her to continue to travel with me and have all these crazy adventures. The all idea of Lina being with Jeran is driving me crazy!"
Everyone gazed at Gourry in surprise by the way he let it all out, he sure had those torments build up inside him.
"Metal note, never upset Gourry again." Zel said to himself.
Amelia smiles at Gourry, he toke the first step that everyone was waiting, she feels like the relationship between Lina and Gourry will finally have their walls taken down. "See Mr. Gourry, that is what Miss Lina wants."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Gourry asked all confused, it's like he returned back to his usual self.
"Lina has been getting all mushy with Jeran only to make you jealous." Pokota said as he got up.
"Pokota is right, Mr. Gourry." Amelia assured with a smile. "After that incident with the fish people Lina only wanted to feel that she was an important person to her life. But by the way you have been doing nothing she feels like you don't even care for her……"
"That is not true, I……" Gourry paused when he thought about the situation. Don't be surprised. "So if she was only making me jealous. So she got angry at me this morning because I didn't see her and complain to her about this situation……Oh man, I am such an idiot."
"We know." Amelia, Pokota, Nama and Zelgadiss agreed in their minds.
"I'm sorry you guys, but I must go back. I have to set things straight with Lina." After saying that Gourry left before anyone could say a thing to him.
Amelia watches softly as Gourry walks back to the city. "I hope everything works out for Lina and Gourry. It is about time they admit their feelings for each other."
"For crying out loud, Amelia!" Zel snarled as he slowly got up, the push that Gourry gave him really took him down. "Why don't you start worry more about me?"
"Well, I have to admit that you made quite a unique match making, mr. Zelgadiss." She teased.
Zel blushed with the comment. "Never mind that. Can we focus our attention on the problem at hand?"
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Lina rested in one of the room of the castle while she waited for Jeran to bring a medicine for her.
Her mind focused on her blond Swordsman, she could not help but to blush at the way he stared at her after the battle, it was the same look he gave her back at Miss Mermaids house. She starts to regret about doing this little jealousy game.
Lina lets out a deep sigh and rest down on her bed, looking up at the ceiling. "The look at Gourry's eyes back at Miss mermaids house……I know I have seen them before, I don't know why I was so nervous back then, or touched…..I don't remember when I saw that look before but it reminded me of something very touching that he said to me, I don't remember what."
Lina could feel her body getting tire and slowly her eyes begin to shut. At the exact same moment she closed her eyes Lina finnaly remember when she saw that look in Gourry's eyes. She sits up with a loud gasp. "Oh gosh! That is it! It was back then!!!"
Lina remember back to her fight against Kanzel where she faked her own death to catch the Mazoku by surprise. Gourry then bonk her on the head with serious look. Listen, can you consider my feelings next time? Those were the words he expressed on her, something that touch her feelings very deeply. There were many times that Gourry's words can gie her the turn up and make her feel sentimental but the words, the attitude he gave her back then really touched her.
"But, why did Gourry look at me like that again? I didn't do anything wrong, I just……" Lina pauses when she remember what she said back then, she embarrassedly assured that Gourry was nothing but her body guard. Those words must have really upset Gourry for him to look at her like that. "I…..I really messed up this time. I've been playing with this jealousy plot when I made things ever worse between me and Gourry." Lina then determinately gets up from the bed and puts on her shoulder protectors and her cloves. "Alright, I am not going to continue with this game anymore. I am going to do what I should have done. I am going to talk to Gourry and straight things up again."
In that moment Jeran enters the room. "Lina? What are you doing?"
"I am sorry Jeran, but I have to go."
"Go? but you are not healed yet. You need your rest."
"I know but I have to help my friends….and , I need to speak with Gourry." She shyly admitted.
"Gourry? Your protector?"
"Yes….I'm sorry if I hurt your feeling but…….I am strongly attracted to him, and I only used you to make him jealous. I hope you are not upset if……" Lina stopped her saying when she heard Jeran chuckling sinisterly. "What is so funny?"
"You used me? I believe you are mistaken, Lina Inverse. I used you!" Jeran points his hand at Lina , she magically is pull to the wall and gets stuck on the wall.
"Jearn, What are you doing!?!?!"
"I believe it is time to reveal everything. First, my real name is not Jeran, it is Zanato!" Jeran, now known as Zanato, changes his looks, he has a long grey hair and he is dressed in red and black.
"You trick me? You have been setting us up the entire time?" Lina tried to break free but to no avail.
Zanato chuckled sinisterly. "Yes, I still can not believe that you all believed in the foolish lies and fantasy tales that I have told you and your friends. Most importantly, I can not believe how you never noticed that I am the one who has been making you weak with the food I've been giving you. I heard that you were intelligent."
Lina grunted for not realizing it sooner but her mind was so focused on Gourry that she lost her guard. She then notices something unusual in Jeran……Zanato's power. "Just what are you exactly? You powers seem abnormal. Are you a Mazoku?"
"No, my dear. I am a Vampire."
Lina scoffed with that response. "You lie. If you were a Vampire you could not go out on the day light."
Let us just say that I am a new race of a Vampire. I am the result between the mating between a human and a female vampire and this is the result. Thanks to this bounding an alteration occurred on me, I don't have their weaknesses but I am immortal like all vampires. I don't need blood to survive but I become extremely powerful when I take the life force of my victims."
"Victims? SO the people of this city……"
"They were all murdered by me, and the Zombies that you fought are all my slaves, they use to be the people of this city who had their life force drained."
Lina gasped. "You are rotten to the bones! You set everything up so you can drain the life force from me and my friends."
"Indeed. It was an amusing act. But I noticed the impressive power you hold, Lina Inverse, it was like nothing I ever felt before so I had no choice but to weaken you a bit. I gain a small part of it when I help you destroy those zombies. It was small yet impressive. Every time I drain the life force of a powerful sorcerer my powers reach a very high level. The same level I had before I was sealed."
"Sealed?"
"Yes. One thousand years ago I was sealed by a very powerful enemy who apparently hold one of the seven pieces of Shabrimingodo. But a few days ago I was released from my prison when an enormous creature made of energy and a head that is very equal to a tiger attacked the city where I was imprisoned. I took the chance to flee while the creature destroyed the miserable waste land which I was imprisoned."
"Could he be talking about Zanafer?" Lina thought. "Zanafer must have attacked the city where Zanato was incarcerated and sadly during the attack Zanato broke free. And the one who must have sealed Zanato is probably the one who released the first of the seven pieces of Shabrimingodo."
Zanato then turns his head to the window. "Someone is coming! Why…..it is your foolish protector."
Lina gasped. "Gourry?"
Zanato chuckled sinisterly and turns back to Lina. "I did not expect anyone to appear so soon but that does not matter. It is time for me to enjoy a very entertaining spectacle."
"What are you talking aboutAAAAAAAHHHH!" Lina cried in pain when Zanato grab her by her neck and an energy shield surrounds Lina.
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From the place he was in, Gourry could hear Lina's screams. "Oh no…Lina!!!"
To be continued……
Alandra: sorry if we took so long to update this fic, people.
