Amade sighed tiredly and turned to gaze out the large window to his right.  A week, he thought, and still no sign of any of them.  Ame-chan, come back to me, the forlorn prince prayed, pouring every ounce of emotion he could into the words.  She just had to come back to him! 

"Lina-san and her friends will find Her Majesty," a deep voice offered sympathetically as a large hand dropped onto the prince's shoulder. 

"Yes, Sire," Amade whispered, glancing up at the bear of a man standing next to him.  "Prince Phillionel, Amelia's your daughter and yet…"

"I don't seem worried?" Phil finished when the young man trailed off.  A soft, sad chuckle escaped the ruler's lips as he too turned his eyes to survey what lie beyond the window.  "I'm concerned what evil has befallen my precious daughter, but I know that she has a strong heart and will hang in there until Lina-san and her friends find her."

"How can you be so sure?  That the sorceress and company will, I mean?"

To this the burly crowned-prince allowed himself a laugh.  "Never doubt what those kids can do, young one.  You've never seen them in action, but do not fear, Lina-san will go to the ends of the earth to find Amelia and bring her back.  That girl is… indomitable."

"'Indomitable', Prince Phil?" Amade repeated, unsure what the dark-haired man meant.  "No human's undefeatable…"

Phil chuckled and patted the young man's shoulder as he turned away, answering over his shoulder.  "You've never had her mad at you."

Amade had heard the legends that revolved around the touchy redhead and her companions, but he had yet to see anything to found the unbelievable tales.  They couldn't be that bad… could they?

"FIREBALL!"

"Flare Arrow!"

"Elmekia Lance!"

Explosions rocked the once serene forest, fires licking eagerly at the nearby undergrowth in an effort to consume what the fighting hadn't already destroyed.  A violet-tressed man carrying a staff whispered a few words and the flames were extinguished with a brief but powerful gust of wind, leaving the smouldering remains.

"Aisha-san?"

The young brunette glanced up at the priest expectantly, "Yes?"

"Why do you not assist Lina-san and Sylphiel-san?"

"Because I really don't know why they're fighting," Aisha replied, looking back at the redhead as she let loose another ball of flame.  "I mean, if they'd give those poor men a chance, they'd flee…"

Xelloss chuckled softly.  "True.  But the girls do not intend to allow them to escape."

"Why not?" the young woman asked innocently, noticing Zelgadis and Gourry step closer to hear the priest's response. 

Seeing the men's sudden interest, Xelloss leaned down and whispered into the sorceress' ear.  Her face suddenly contorted in rage and with a muttered curse, the slender woman stalked over to where the two women were blasting spell after spell at the hapless brigands trying to flee before them. 

"Move over, Sylphiel-san.  My turn!" Aisha growled, stepping between the shrine maiden and the world renown sorceress.  Raising her hands to her sides, she began to gather power.  Sylphiel's attacks hesitated as she turned to watch what the younger woman was casting.  Her eyes suddenly widened and she threw up a protective barrier around the group as Aisha thrust her he hands forward with a yell.

"DRAGON SLAVE!!"

The three men stared, slack jawed at the petite brunette who was dusting off her hands casually.  Sylphiel fell to her knees panting from the effort of erecting such a strong protective shield so quickly as Lina turned, smiling with satisfaction to Aisha.

"Nice job," Lina said brightly, slapping the slight woman on the back companionably.  "Couldn't have done it better myself!"

"Thank you, Lina-san," Aisha beamed as the three started back towards the men.  "But I couldn't let them get away with that!"

"Neither could I," Sylphiel said softly while stepping up to Gourry's side and hooking her arm through his, hugging him gently.  "Although I don't normally condone such destruction…"

"They deserved it!" Lina crowed, stomping her foot angrily.

"What did they do?" Zelgadis finally asked, unsure if he even wanted to know the answer.  What had happened that goaded even the tender hearted Sylphiel into tossing a few spells at the band of brigands.

The three women flushed and it was Lina that answered, her tone dark.  "They spied on us…"

"And that warranted a Dragon Slave?" Gourry wondered, scratching his blonde head.  "We're always being spied on.  You take those trolls yesterday."

"While we were bathing, Gourry-sama," Sylphiel said quietly, her flush darkening.

Interesting, Xelloss thought, neither of them mentioned th…

"And the filthy bastards tried to take advantage of us!" Lina growled, turning away.  "I say good riddance to the lot of 'em.  Too bad Aisha beat me to the punch though…  That would have been gratifying."

Zelgadis swallowed hard, watching Lina stalk away.  He could just about see the flames of her anger flaring around her petite form.  Making a mental note not to encourage her wrath for the remainder of the day, he turned to the petite brunette next to him.  Curiosity showing in his eyes, he asked, "Why'd you wait so long to join the 'fight' then?"

"I left the lake before they did.  I must have left just before the scoundrels were noticed," she answered heatedly before storming after the redhead.

The chimera nodded in understanding and started to follow the fuming sorceresses, Gourry and Sylphiel falling into step next to him.  He could hear the swordsman whispering comfortingly to the woman clinging to his arm and sighed.  He knew that he'd have to tread lightly around the two women ahead of him. 

Aisha was normally an easygoing girl but once her temper flared, she was very much like Lina, he mused.  Now he had not one, but two sorceresses that would flip out at the drop of the hat, at least until their tempers cooled.  That'll take a hell of a lot more things being blown up, the blue-skinned chimera thought grumpily.  This day wasn't going well at all.

Dusk found the group of travellers at a tiny inn in a small town near the border between Zefilia and the Seyruun kingdom.  Supper had come, been consumed, and the dishes cleared as the troupe made their way to the baths before bed.

"Are you alright, Aisha-san?" Sylphiel asked in her soft voice as she scrubbed the brunettes lean back.  The young woman nodded but said nothing.

Lina sighed and moved to sit before the pair in the warm water.  "Aisha," she began, fighting down her typical irritation towards overly sensitive people.  Keeping her voice low and reassuring, she settled a companionable hand upon the slight woman's shoulder.  "Don't worry, alright?  Everything will work out fine.  It always does."

"How can you be so sure that everything will go as you want it, Lina-san?" Aisha whispered sadly.  "How can you take time like this to eat and bathe and rest when Amelia-hime is out there, L-sama knows where?"

"Look, Aisha, Amelia's a strong kid.  Though it doesn't look like it, especially when she's all decked out in her party get-up, she can look after herself pretty well.  As for the rest of what you said; we can't fight if we're tired and hungry.  You're a sorceress, you know that.  As for the baths… well, it helps relax right?"

"Well, a little," Aisha conceded.

"Right.  Besides, who wants to die all dirty?"

Aisha's eyes widened and Sylphiel cast the fire-tressed sorceress a dirty look.  "Really, Lina-san… must you scare the poor girl?  Can't you see that she's worried enough as it is?  That we all are?"

"She'll toughen up," Lina muttered as she climbed out of the bath.  "You did."

Nothing more was said as the sorceress towelled off and moved into her room.  Sitting down on the edge of her bed, she fumbled through her cape for her brush.  Finding it, she pulled it through her hair in long, even strokes, working out the occasional gnarl with distracted hands.  …that we all are…  The words floated through her mind as she methodically smoothed out her damp hair.

"I know we are, Sylphiel.  I know…"

Please, don't think that I don't care.  I do.  More than I think you know.  More than I'm willing to admit to anyone else.  She's my closest female friend and like a little sister.  How can I not be worried?  Aisha's sweet but too naïve to be here, just like you're too sensitive to really be coming along, Sylphiel.  Zelgadis has locked himself away inside his thoughts because of how much he's blaming himself.  Gourry's worried also, but keeps up a normal façade for the sake of everyone's sanity, mostly mine I'm sure.  Xelloss… even Xelloss has been quieter than normal.  I'm not sure if he's worried as such, but he doesn't seem to be enjoying our situation in the slightest.  I wonder why…?

I should have stayed and visited with Amelia and Amade.  Then maybe, this never would have happened… But I didn't.  I had to go dance and flirt with a Mazoku!  When did I change so much that I couldn't sense a trap?  That I couldn't say no to a charming smile and a suave voice?  Life's changed so much…

"Perhaps a massage?"

Lina didn't bother to turn to see who'd appeared in the air behind her.  She'd felt the power around her flux slightly when Xelloss'd entered and merely shook her head in response.  "No, thanks.  I don't really want one right now, Xelloss."

A weight settled onto the mattress behind her, making her sink slightly, and warm, bare hands settled gently upon her upper arms.  His thumbs grazed light arcs across her skin as he shifted closer.  "What do you want then?" he whispered softly against her ear, making her shiver.

"I don't know.  Amelia back, safe and sound, for one."

Xelloss frowned slightly.  He could understand the sorceress' wishes but not the odd quality to her voice.  It was dull, almost listless.  That wasn't his Lina-chan!  Where was the fire, the spark, the energy?  He felt the sorrow and guilt wafting from the lithe form in front of him and he couldn't suppress a shudder even as he drank deeply of the emotions.  He hadn't felt such a dark aura around the young woman in years, since their last great battle; the battle with Darkstar.  Even then, her dark emotions were often equalled or surpassed by hope, desire and overall delight in her thoughts of the future.  Where were those buoyant feelings now?

"I'm tired, Xelloss," she whispered, shaking him out his reverie.

"Then lay with me," he told her softly.  Snaking his arms around her waist, he tenderly pulled her further onto the bed then down to lay next to him as he pulled the blankets over them.  "Sleep now."

"Why do you stay?  Enjoying a meal?" she asked sharply, though she made no move to pull out of his gentle hold.

"No," he replied honestly, squeezing her lightly around the middle with one arm as he tucked the other under his pillow to rest his head higher.  "I'm just keeping you company until you sleep."

"Then you're leaving?"

"If you wish?"

Lina shrugged slightly as she closed her eyes.  It was up to him.  "No funny stuff," she remembered to mumble as she shifted slightly, getting comfortable.

"As you say, Lina-chan…"

Lina relaxed at his promise and allowed herself to enjoy the heat curled along her back.  She felt his hand run faint circles around her abdomen, almost petting as he settled tighter against her.  Feeling safe within his light embrace, she allowed herself to sleep.

You need someone, don't you, Lina-chan the priest mused as he continued his gentle pattern on her stomach.  "You're not alone," he murmured against her temple before he kissed it tenderly. No, you're never alone.  You have your friends around you always.  Gourry will always be there for you no matter what his relationship with the soft-spoken shrine maiden is.  Zelgadis, for all his stone skin, has a warm heart and will always be a shoulder for you as well.  The young woman, Aisha, has already formed a fondness for you and will soon become a good, reliable friend for you, I'm sure.  And Amelia, once you get her back, will always be there for you to talk to.  She always has, despite settling down with Amade.  Then, there's…

"Me."

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AN: Soooo… what d'ya think?  Bit better?  Worse?  Let me know!