Lina gave Zelgadis a long strange look as he came down the stairs of the inn, smiling to himself. Her brows lowered slightly and she set her fork down. Gourry peered at Lina. "Hey- you going to eat that?" he asked.
"No, you can have it," Lina said absently, gaining Zelgadis's attention immediately.
The Chimera-Turned-Human made his way over to Lina, putting a hand to her forehead, "Are you sick? You do look a little flushed, maybe we should stay here a day or two till you're feeling better-"
"Zel!! What's up with you?! You," she pushed his hand away from her forehead, he was making her blush. "You look happy!"
Zelgadis's smile returned, "That's because I am, Lina. Does it surprise you all that much?"
"Well.... yes," the small sorceress replied, taken aback. "What happened? Yesterday you were ticked off, then last night you looked nervous, now you're happy."
Zelgadis patted her head a little, "You wouldn't understand, Lina," he said gently. Amelia came trotting down the stairs to glomp Zelgadis's waist happily and got a soft laugh in return. "Good morning Amelia."
Lina blushed furiously, "You two didn't...."
Amelia peered at Lina in confusion. Zelgadis blushed deeply, "LINA! How could you think that I'd do something like that when Amelia's only sixteen." He frowned deeply at her.
Lina turned even darker. "Okay..." she said, turning her attention back to her food, or trying to.
Canthrea then made an appearance, "My.. that's a lovely color on you, Lina," she commented on the sorceresses blush. She caught sight of Zelgadis sitting moodily with his arms crossed. "Hey, wipe that smirk off, I wasn't that good was I?" she teased.
Zelgadis glowered, blushing deeper. "Stop it! All of you!" Canthrea came over and sat in his lap, smirking at Lina and Gourry as she played with the hair right next to Zelgadis's ear. "Ca- Canthrea! Stop it!" he tried to push her off his lap but she refused to move. Finally, he gave up, blushing as Canthrea slowly braided his hair. Amelia came to his other side and draped her arms over his shoulders, breathing on his neck.
"Wow, look at that, Lina, Amelia and Catbina are all over that guy!" Gourry said. Lina reached over and hit him.
"You stupid! That's Zelgadis!"
"And my name is Canthrea, don't forget it," the Chimera woman said softly, not bothering to even look at Gourry as she slowly ran her fingers through Zelgadis's black hair, unwinding the braid she'd just finished.
"Please.. get off me," Zelgadis asked softly, blushing deeply.
"Oh, we know you like it, Zelly-kun," Canthrea murmured into his ear then licked his cheek at the same moment Amelia kissed the other side of his face. Canthrea got up laughing, "A beautiful shade of red he's turned, eh, Amelia-san?"
Amelia agreed much with plenty of giggling. As apology for embarrassing him so much, Amelia gave him his coffee and Canthrea sat in a chair of her own. Zelgadis's blush refused to subside, however. He almost spit his coffee out when he suddenly found Xelloss sitting in his lap.
"My! Now I see why she didn't want to get up!" Xelloss exclaimed and wiggled some.
"FRUITCAKE!" Zelgadis screamed, grabbing at Xelloss's throat but found the Mazoku had disappeared to behind him with his arms draped over the young human man's shoulder like Amelia had been moments before. Canthrea cackled, about rolling on the floor, Amelia was blushing once again.
* * *
Once again, they were on the road, Zelgadis walking flanked by Canthrea and Amelia. Lina glared over her shoulder at all the attention he was getting and Gourry was completely oblivious.
"Hey Lina," Zelgadis spoke up when they reached a crossroads, "Its been fun and all, but this is where we split." He shrugged.
"Where are you going?" Lina asked, folding her arms across her chest.
Amelia beamed, "To Siraag then back to Seyruun," she answered.
"So you're going with him?" Lina asked and got a vigorous nod from the princess. "And what about you?" Lina looked at Canthrea who smiled sweetly.
"Of course I'm going with him. I will be staying in Siraag."
Lina narrowed her eyes, "What's in Siraag that's so interesting?"
Canthrea pondered, "Things?"
The small sorceress pondered this for a long time. Now what all is in Siraag...? Not much, considering that the new town there is still small... being lead by Sylphiel. What else of interest is there? There's that guild that studies Copy making, but would that really interest Canthrea? It might.. besides, I should go pay them a visit. "Alright! We'll come too."
Zelgadis almost fell over. "Lina- weren't you going to Atlas City?"
"Yeah? So? Not like I HAD to go there, I can sell my stuff anywhere along the route," Lina smiled, her fangs almost showing. Besides, I want to see what you guys are up to.
Zelgadis heaved a sigh, "Fine. Just don't get in the way-... Why do I even bother saying that anymore? You're going to get in the way weather I tell you or not." Canthrea giggled behind her hand.
The entire group turned, headed away from Atlas City, instead on its way toward Siraag.
* * *
Almost a week and Lina still could not figure out why both Canthrea and Amelia were being so attached to Zelgadis. He seemed to be making an effort to pay the same amount of attention to each, leaving Lina lacking for any conversation at all. Of course, she couldn't expect much from Mr. Jellyfish-Brain. In fact, he now sat snoozing beside her at the campfire they'd lit for the night. She looked around, not finding Xelloss anywhere nearby either. "Must be out tormenting someone else for a change," she sighed to herself. She almost wished he were here to relieve her boredom.
Amelia yawned widely and curled up against Zelgadis, halfway in his lap. He gently caressed her hair from her face and glanced toward Canthrea who smiled slightly in return. He then glanced across the fire to see Lina's glare. He cringed somewhat and looked away. Canthrea leaned over to ask a question of him and he turned his attention to her, speaking softly.
Lina strained her ears, hearing a few terms for Shaman magic passed between them and sighed, pulling her knees against her chest, wrapping her arms around them. It was going to be a long night.
* * *
It was early in the day when they topped a hill that looked down upon the new town of Siraag but instead, Zelgadis lead the way to a fork in the road, taking the one that wound off toward the magic guild that wasn't too far off. They were there by the time the sun was past its zenith and falling.
Lina thumbed her chin, "They're not going to let us in," she said, "not after what happened last time."
"Then you stay out here, Lina. I'd rather that you didn't screw this up for Canthrea," Zelgadis retorted, marching up to the front door and knocking. He spoke softly with the person who cracked the door open slightly. Finally gesturing for Canthrea and Amelia to come forward.
Lina glowered as they left her and Gourry outside under the watchful eye of the door guard. They were NOT going to let her in. After what seemed like forever to the little sorceress the doors opened again and the three stepped out.
"What did you guys do in there?!" she shrieked.
Canthrea smiled, "I'm going to be studying here," she stated.
"But why did you all have to go inside?" Lina whined, finally having conformation as to why Canthrea wanted to come here.
"That's-" Zelgadis started then all three of them lifted a finger and smirked, joining in to say, "a secret." Zelgadis only managed to throw a shield up before the fireball hit them.
"Why don't we go visit Sylphiel while we're here? I'm sure she wouldn't mind cooking for us," Zelgadis changed the subject and it caught Gourry's attention.
"Food?" the swordsman asked brightly. They turned their path toward New Siraag.
It was evening by the time they finally made it to Sylphiel's new home. They knocked on the door and were welcomed in immediately. "Oh Gourry Dear! Ms. Lina! Ms. Amelia!" Sylphiel gushed, hugging them all then stopping, looking at Canthrea and Zelgadis. "Who are they? She looks somewhat like Mr. Zelgadis, but so does he- did something terrible happen, Ms. Lina?" the shrine maiden gasped, clasping her hands together in horror, thinking some strange spell had split Zelgadis into two people.
Lina snorted, "Hardly!"
Zelgadis chuckled, bowing deeply to the shrine maiden, "I'm Zelgadis, this is what I used to look like, though."
"You found a cure? Oh how wonderful!"
Zelgadis shook his head. "No, this is Canthrea, she is the one who now has my curse. She took it from me and placed it upon herself."
Sylphiel looked at Canthrea with wide watery eyes, "Oh how brave and self sacrificing of you Ms. Canthrea!" she gushed once again. "You're all probably tied and dirty from your trip here, come in! I have extra bedrooms and you can have baths and I'll get to making dinner! I'm sure you're hungry Gourry Dear!"
Gourry grinned, "I sure am! Your cooking is always the best Sylphiel!" He yelped when Lina stomped on his foot.
They were led up the stairs of the rather large house Sylphiel now lived in by a servant who was all too glad to be in the shrine maiden's employ. "Mistress Sylphiel took me in when I returned to Siraag to find it completely gone. I really have no family left so she lets me live here and help her run the house. I don't mind. She doesn't make me do anything she wouldn't be happy to do herself," the young woman explained. Staring at them all with wide eyes, she let them into their separate rooms.
Zelgadis paused outside of his room and shuffled in his cape some before producing a bag, "Here, Canthrea, take this, you'll probably need it," he said and handed her the bag. She smiled, bowing her head.
"Thank you," she said and he stepped into his room.
Opening the bag, she peeked in then pulled out a wire brush and strong soap, "Well, wasn't that nice of him," she sniggered some, pulling the bag over her shoulder and stepping into her room.