I am soooooooo sorry for the late update...It took me like three weeks just to write the chapter, then I was extremly lazy and didn't want to type...So here is the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Syerrah: 'Do I have to?'
Julia: 'Yes, go on.'
Syerrah: sigh 'I don't own Slayers or any of it's characters. There.' sniffles 'happy?' goes into clasic anime style gloom mood
Julia: 'Yes'
Angela: 'Julia, that wasn't nice; now Miss Syerrah is crying.' pats Syerrah on shoulder
Julia: 'Feh, crybaby.' Angela pulls out a katana 'okay okay, I'm sorry!'
Angela: 'Good' turns to readers and puts sword away 'Sorry about that, Julia wanted us to write an Inuyasha fanfic, so she was trying to depress Syerrah away from Slayers for a while.'
Olivia: 'Sorry, we havn't introduced outselfves yet. I'm Olivia, I'm quiet, shy and gentle. I'm called the 'sweetest of the bunch''
Angela: 'I'm Angela, I'm alot like Olivia, only I'm more outspoken and I carry a katana around (which is named Himitsu Kimotchi or Himi for short) so I can keep Julia in line'
Julia: 'I'm Julia. I'm hyper and random and nothing like those two, cuz I'm the best.' Angela swings Himi at Julia 'er, that is, I'm the best at what I do...which is randomness and crazyness.'
Syerrah: '...' traces circle in the dirt with finger
Julia: 'Oi! Your turn!' pokes Syerrah
Syerrah: 'Huh? Oh, I'm Syerrah (pronounced Sierra) I'm kinda inbetween Angela and Julia...I'm bubbly and funny and me and Julia sometimes like to pull pranks.' Grins mischevioulsy
Angela: 'From now on, we'll be appearing in the author's notes and on our profile page. We'll even be in some reviews. Blame all the bits of randomness and stuff that doesn't make sense on Julia over there. We try to keep her away from the chapters, but sometimes she finds her way to them anyway.'
Syerrah: 'As to who the original personalitly is, our lips are sealed. Or most of ours are anyway...'
Julia: 'Acctually, the original personality is--' Angela tackles Julia 'Eheheh, guess my lips are sealed too...' mouths 'come back later, I'll tell you'
Syerrah: 'On with the story! That's what you're here for, right? No? Then why are you here? Surley not to listen to Julia and Angela argue...'
Olivia: Stands in waitress outfit. 'Okay, time for cookies!'
Yokai Summoner Gets a cookie for their review! Yay to you!
Timmyspwolf Also gets a cookie. I'm not gonna track you down, you reviewed in time for me to not give you puppy eyes n.n
Linni-Kins Cookie for you!! Yup, Gourry understood the explanation. He's getting intelligent.
Gerao-A Yay! Another review! Cookie!! Thanks for all of your constant reviewing! And I checked, and Air Jay didn't mention anything about him suspecting a body switch...It don't count unless you say it. :p
Thank you all for your encouraging reviews that keep me going!
Different Person, Chapter Seven.
Righting the Wrongs.
"Lina? Liinaaa!" Gourry called, waving a hand in from of her face "are you okay?" he asked.
"Fine, fine, just thinking" Lina assured him and stood up to pace. If I'm supposed to attack 'Fred' then I'm gonna need some help….but to tell Zel and Amelia...Zel will laugh and Amelia will rant on about how 'unjust' it is to not recognize your true friends…Lina sighed. However, I suppose I have no choice
"Naga, go find Zel and Amelia and tell them I want to talk to them." Lina instructed while rubbing her forehead wearily.
Naga looked like she was going to protest, but seeing the look on Lina's face, thought better of it.
"Why're you gonna tell Zel and Amelia? I thought you didn't want them to know…" Gourry said as the door closed behind Naga.
"I wasn't at first, but we're gonna need all the help we can get. Since this guy managed to switch his and your bodies, he can obviously use magic and his magical power transferred into your original body, so he's gonna be hard to defeat."
He shrugged. "What ever you say."
There was a sharp knock on the door as Amelia, Naga and Zelgadis stepped in.
Zel's eyebrows shot up and Amelia looked confused and slightly unsurprised.
"Who-" Zel asked as Naga closed the door behind them.
Lina sighed. "I'll start at the beginning." She quickly explained everything she knew; by the time she was done, Zel's eyebrows had disappeared into his hair and Amelia was trembling with suppressed emotions.
"See Miss Lina! I knew it wasn't Mister Gourry! Such an Ally of Justice would never ignore their friends!" She burst out finally, striking Justice Pose #812 atop the bedpost.
"How did you get here Gourry?" Zel asked, trying to tug Amelia down before she fell down.
"Uh, I walked?" Gourry said while trying not to laugh: Amelia had just tumbled into Zelgadis's lap and bother were blushing amazing shades of red.
"And how did you know where to go? We must be at least 15 miles from the inn you last stayed at." Zel pressed, standing up with his face red-well, more purple because of his blue skin.
"As much as I'd love to hear the explanation, we have better things to do." Lina interrupted with an annoyed look on her face.
"Right. Soo…what's the plan?" Gourry asked. "Do we even know where Fred is?"
"Fred?" Amelia and Zel asked at the same time.
"We decided he needed a name. Lina dubbed him 'Fred,'" Naga informed them. "Though I, myself would have giving him something more original, like Nago." She laughed.
"Nago? Have you lost you mind Naga? That doesn't even sound like a name!" Lina groaned. "Not that I can be sure you had a mind to begin with…" she muttered under her breath.
"I still kinda like Fred…though Nago sounds cool too…" Gourry said obliviously.
Zel cleared his throat. "I hate to interrupt this debate, but didn't we have something to do?"
Amelia closed her mouth. She had been about to suggest 'Justice' for a substitute name when Zel had stopped the conversation. Besides, such and evil person isn't worthy of the name 'Justice' they would surely stain it. She told herself as Lina walked to the window.
"Still," Zel said, "Will this really work? I mean, I'd hate for Naga to have gotten two curses mixed up and told us the wrong way to fix this one..."
Naga opened her mouth to protest, but surprisingly enough, it was Lina who spoke. "I understand that you don't know Naga very well, but I do. And oddly enough, even though she has made that kind of mistake before, I trust her. Something tells me this is the right thing to do."
Naga looked alarmed. "Lina, do you feel alright? Are you still sick?" she put a hand to Lina's forehead. "Your head feels hot."
She soon realized, however, it was not a fever that was turning Lina's face red. "I am perfectly healthy, but if you don't remover your hand, I won't be able to say the same for you." The hot-tempered young woman growled dangerously.
"Besides, I found Fred." She gestured towards the window she had been looking out.
The rest of the group gathered around the window to look out. Sure enough, in the inn's courtyard, 'Fred' was leaning up against a tree with a content look on his face.
"All right, let's go." Lina seethed as she unlatched the window.
"Are you sure about this Miss Lina? What about your magic?" Amelia asked in concern. "Is it back yet?"
"Back enough." Lina replied as she pushed the window open; I hope. Truth be told, not all her magic was back yet, but she was counting on that being all she needed.
Lina skillfully leapt from the window and landed quietly on the ground.
Somewhere above her, Lina heard Zel tell Gourry to wait in the room before the chimera jumped down beside Lina.
Of course, Gourry, being Gourry, paid no attention and dropped silently to the ground beside them.
Lina let her face harden as she walked forward. He's gonna pay. After what he put me through, this guy is gonna wish he had never heard my name.
"Oh? And to what to I owe this…delightful visit, Miss Inverse?" the so-called-Gourry asked in a mocking voice. "Surely I've made it quite clear that I want nothing more to do with you."
Lina's eyes narrowed and she gave him her best death glare. 'Fred' looked a little as if he wanted to back up, but he quickly masked his emotions again. Lina wasn't surprised. Her glares had been known to make everyone from a simple farm boy to a high classed Mazoku take off running.
"Now, in the name of justice, we will defeat you Fred!" Amelia declared as she stepped out from behind a tree.
'Fred' raised an eyebrow. "Amelia, as I'm sure you know, my name is Gourry." He said slowly, as if Amelia wouldn't understand otherwise.
Lina growled and advanced a few steps closer to 'Fred'. "Don't you dare try and say your Gourry, you filthy little piece of trash."
'Fred's' other eyebrow shot up. "Filthy little--now this certainly is a change from what you were saying just the night before last."
"Don't you say another word about that." Lina was now only a few feet from 'Fred'.
"Or what? You couldn't hurt me even if you wanted to, you're too we-" his next words were cut off by a resounding smack that echoed around the courtyard.
'Fred' stumbled backward from Lina with a cry of pain: the fuming redhead had slapped him across the cheek as hard as she could. This was, actually, quite hard.
'If you don't shut it, I'll make you quiet." Lina growled as she started to close the newly formed distance with a menacing look on her face.
"Little wench, you'll pay for-" he fell silent, now looking at something behind Lina. "You." He spat, eyes focused on Gourry.
"Ah, yes, I never did mention it, did I? We know what happened. And we know how to reverse it too. Give it up." Lina advised an evil glint in her eyes.
'Oh, gonna kill me are you? You don't have the heart" he taunted, then addressed Gourry. "Did you enjoy the show? I hope so." He smirked, "I tried my best to make it entertaining"
Lina glanced over her shoulder. Gourry's face was white with anger and his hands were clenched into tight fists.
She faced the front again and resumed glaring at 'Fred'. "Just what do you mean?"
"Ah, yes, I never did mention it, did I?" he mocked, 'I left Gourry a present when I tied him up in a cave." He leaned forward and whispered in Lina's ear. "A vision spell. Focused on you."
A vision spell…focused on me? Gourry heard and saw everything?! Lina's face went pale. 'Fred' leaned back, a smug look on his face.
Everything? Everything?! Even when I yelled at him? Even when I said…? "You filthy piece of trash!" Lina crouched slightly and kicked 'Fred' in the stomach. At least, that's what she tried to do. Gourry's reflexes appeared to have remained in his body and it was easy for 'Fred' to block her blow.
He caught hold of Lina's ankle and twisted her leg, causing her to fall.
Lina used her hands to break her fall. Crap, this is going to be harder than I thought….
"Demona crystal!" came a call from behind Lina. 'Fred' jumped back to avoid being hit by Naga's spell.
Lina quickly got to her feet and whipped a trickle of blood off her cheek from where she'd been cut by a rock. "Who are you anyway?" she demanded in a deadly tone.
His face darkened. "My name is Daimiss Roulif, a member of the Gabriev outcasts."
"Wha--" Lina gaped.
Again, Lina glanced over her shoulder at Gourry. His face showed surprise.
"Long ago, before the swordsmen of light defeated Zanafar, there were two brothers: Safron Roulif Gabriev and Denimer Lauds Gabriev. The two were identical twins.
"As their mother died in childbirth and there was no midwife, no one knew who was older." Daimiss started, eyes fixed on Gourry
"Their father, who possessed the sword of light at the time, was very fond of both his sons, and was thus forced to chose which should inherit the sword and with it, the family legacy.
"The time came, on the twins sixteenth birthday, when their father mush pick who to give the sword. His favor changed many times, from as little a thing as who brought him a book, to as large a thing as whose sword skill was greater at the time."
His eyes blazing, Daimiss continued, "Finally, the father made his decision. It has been long since forgotten what caused his decision, but the one he chose to inherit the sword of light was Denimer Lauds.
"Furious and jealous, Safron Roulif took every opportunity to try and take the sword. Finally, when he realized it was hopeless, Safron left. Not one word to his family, he up and ran off, promising himself he would not rest until he hand the sword, which he'd convinced himself was his by birthright.
"He married and started a new family, and formed a new clan, not finding the Gabriev name worthy of association with himself.
"Safron had four kids, three girls and one boy; he gave all of them the surname of 'Roulif' and they in turn passed it on to their kids. And in the way, the great Roulif family was formed.
"Safron Roulif was my great, great, grandfather, and I too, have been bestowed upon the name of Daimiss Roulif." He paused, eyes glinting.
"What does this have to do with us?" Gourry asked suddenly, stepping forward to stand next to Lina.
Daimiss stepped closer as well. "everything." He moved so he was nose to nose with Gourry. "If Denimer Lauds -your great, great, great grandfather- hadn't wrongfully inherited the sword, Safron wouldn't have been cast into exile; and I wouldn't be the second best swordsmen on this planet. I'd be the best."
Lina pushed Gourry behind her. "Fool, you might have the name of the best sword family on this planet, but Gourry would still be the best." She snarled angrily.
Daimiss's face darkened. "We'll see. Now that I have this body, I'll travel around and disgrace the Gabriev name. Then Roulif name will get the glory it deserves!"
"Hmph, as if" Lina snorted. "The name 'Roulif' already has all the glory it deserves. None."
"Trying to disgrace a family name to satisfy your own greed is selfish! I Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune will stop you!" Amelia yelled from the top of a tree where she was perched, standing in Justice Pose #483. "Justiceeeee Strikeeeeee!"
Daimiss easily dodged Amelia's dive and kneed her in the gut, sending her flying into the wall of the inn.
"Amelia!" Zel and Naga cried at the same time.
Naga's eyes flashed as she stepped up next to Lina. "Freeze arrow!"
"Fireball!"
"Whaa--" for it was not Lina or Zel who cast the spell, it was Daimiss. He caught Naga off guard and the glowing ball of fire hit her square in the chest.
"Crap." Lina hissed. Amelia and Naga were out of commission and Zel was taking care of them; Gourry was out of the question, there was no way he could fight, his body (the one he was in) would soon be too badly damaged for him to do anything. So that left just Lina.
Let's end this. Gourry, go stand by Zel." Lina ordered, pulling out her dagger. When Gourry hesitated, she shot him a look. "Do it!"
"Planning to fight me on your won? What a brave girl. But it won't be enough." Daimiss sneered as he unsheathed the sword of light.
Lina growled menacingly. "Thief, how dare you use Gourry's sword?!"
"I am Gourry new." He laughed. "No one can stop m-" he cut off and dodged Lina's dagger.
He sliced at Lina who managed to block with her dagger. "You'll NEVER be Gourry." Lina said angrily as she stabbed at him.
He deflected it with ease. He kicked at her legs, hoping to put her off balance. "I am Gourry." He laughed. "What's this? Why aren't you using magic?"
"I don't need to!" she lied, plunging her dagger into his sword arm.
Daimiss grunted in pain, but taking advantage of Lina's lack of defense, disarmed her. Grinning with triumph, he swung his sword up to Lina's neck, only to find Lina wasn't where she was a few seconds ago.
An arm snaked out of nowhere and grasped the hilt of the sword. "You're so dead!" Lina used her other arm to take a hidden dagger from her boot.
Daimiss lunged back, but it was too late. "Shadow Snap!"
The dagger just managed to pin the edge of his shadow. "This makes things easier." Lina tugged her other dagger from the tree where it had struck.
Lina moved back to Daimiss and gritted her teeth.
"Are you going to kill me?" he asked, managing to imitate Gourry's. His eyes filled with tears as he pleaded. "Lina…You're really going to kill me?"
He…He looks…He looks like Gourry…..I can't… Lina's arms dropped uselessly to her sides. I-I can't do it….I can't kill him…Gourry… The dagger fell from Lina's hands as she stared into Daimiss's face.
"You shoulda killed me when you had the chance." Daimiss laughed, his shadow slipping out of reach of the dagger. He lunged forward and stabbed at Lina.
"Lina!" Zel, Gourry and Amelia yelled.
The sorceress gasped as pain shot through the right side of her gut.
Lina opened her eyes to see Naga facing Daimiss with her back to Lina.
"Naga, you…?" Lina whispered in confusion.
The older woman looked over her shoulder and quickly faced forward again. "Are you all right?" She asked in a shaky voice.
Lina looked down at her stomach. Blood was pouring from her wound and dripping onto the ground.
That's right…Naga can't stand the sight of blood…Lina remembered, realizing why Naga had looked away from her so quickly.
With much pain and her legs shaking, Lina struggled to her feet.
"You've really done it this time! Trying to imitate Gourry to stop me from killing you….despicable!" Lina put one hand on her wound and staggered towards Daimiss.
"Lina…" Naga breathed as Lina unsheathed Naga's sword and, with great difficulty, managed to hold it steady.
Lina ignored Naga's attempt to warn her and charged forward, brining her -or rather Naga's- sword around in a sweeping motion meant to disarm Daimiss.
It, however, failed to accomplish said objective. Daimiss blocked easily with an arrogant smirk. "I don't need to imitate anyone to stop you from killing me. You're too weak to even scratch me." He hissed. Their swords locked together, causing Daimiss and Lina's bodies to press together in an effort to push each other back.
"Is that so?" Lina challenged.
It was only then that he realized his mistake. Lina had managed to push Daimiss backward into a tree and at the same time, lever the sword of light away form her body.
Crap, my vision is going blurry. Better finish this quickly. Lina thought.
With a gulp, Lina pulled her sword back quickly and lunged under Daimiss's guard, stabbing him directly in the heart.
The sword of light dropped from Daimiss's lifeless hands as he fell backwards. It was odd, seeing someone receive an obviously fatal wound, a sword protruding from his or her chest, yet no blood.
Lina squeezed her eyes shut and turned around. As angry as she had been over the arguments she had had with 'Gourry' she watch him die right before her eyes. She loved him too much.
There was a strangled gasp and a bluish flash of light.
Lina opened her eyes a squinted at where Daimiss had lain. The blond man was sitting up and looking down at his hands.
"G-Gourry?" there was a questioning hesitation in Lina's voice as she spoke her companion's name.
He looked up and Lina searched his eyes for that glimmer that was always there.
He smiled, causing his eyes to sparkles and Lina's heart to melt.
Lina felt her knees give out as she started to fall. At the last moment, Lina stopped falling and launched herself into Gourry's arms, sobbing.
Gourry blinked a few times and then started to stroke Lina's hair gently as Zel helped Amelia to her feet.
Naga turned to Zel and Amelia. Let's go inside." She said with a pointed look at Lina and Gourry. "Right, it would be unjust to watch them." Amelia agreed.
Sometime after the two princesses and the chimera disappeared into the inn, Lina looked up at Gourry, her face streaked with tears.
"Gourry… what all did you see in the vision spell?" she asked, her voice shaking.
Gourry hesitated. "Everything" he sighed finally.
Lina turned her face away.
"I'm sorry." She whispered after a long silence.
"For what?" Gourry asked, surprised.
Lina tugged on a lock of her hair. "For-for the stuff I said…y'know…"
"Is that what you're worried about? The things you said to the other guy?"
Lina turned back to face Gourry. "At the time…I thought I was saying those things to you…" she bit her lip, turning to look at a tree. "Are you mad?"
"Do you still mean them?" Gourry put a finger under Lina's chin in turned her head to face him again.
Her ruby eyes were filled with tears again.
"No, of course not." She said softly.
Gourry smiled. "Then no, of course I'm not mad" He said just as softly.
Lina let the tears leak out of her eyes as she buried her face in Gourry's chest.
"Can we- Can we just stay like this…for a little longer?" her voice was muffled by Gourry's shirt but her heard her perfectly. "Yeah," he murmured, stroking her hair again. "Yeah…"
Syerrah: 'Just so as you all know, there will be an epiloge, so just wait for it...if it's not up by the beginning of June, don't expect it to be up till July, cuz we're gonna be gone on vacation.'
