Nine - Emerald Weapon
Early the next morning, the three finished breakfast in Gourry's room and were sitting around the wooden table.
"So, how are we going to find the killer?" Raymia asked as Marshie bounded around on the floor.
Lina blinked. "Well, I, uh... First, we need to analyze who we know that would want to kill Amelia."
"Well, I don't know anyone," Gourry stared at the ceiling.
"He's right, Lina-san. There's no one." Raymia stated.
Lina frowned. They were right... Or were they? "She never mentioned any rivals to the Crown. So I don't think it could be that..." Lina rested her chin in her palms.
"And they used a knife. Not very formidable." Ramia pointed out. "So it must not have been a magic user."
"Yeah, why would they leave a knife behind for people to get leads from?" Gourry wondered.
Lina blinked. "The knife! Did they already take it away?" She looked at Gourry. "HEY!" She pounded the table in front of him.
"Ahh!" He jumped, blinking at her.
"Baka ne..." She closed her eyes angrily and prepared to whack him over the head but someone grabbed her arm.
"Lina-san, no!" It was Raymia. "We don't have time for this! We have to find that knife." Lina frowned and nodded, lowering her fist as Raymia released her.
"Oh, THAT knife? I have it right here!" Gourry grinned, pulling a knife out of his boot. Lina promptly whacked him over the head. His face met with the table and Raymia groaned.
"Never mind that." Lina hissed, referring to Gourry's injuries as she grabbed the knife from her hand. She sat back down, folding her legs underneath her so she could be a little taller than the table. She unsheathed the knife and gazed at its surface. Her eyes covered every inch of the blade. It was a little longer than a dagger. Long enough to be a small sword. And it was clean. Gourry had had enough sense to clean if before putting it in his boot. Nowadays, they didn't have anything to analyze fingerprints or blood so it didn't matter. Raymia and Gourry leaned closer to Lina, looking over the weapon themselves.
Suddenly, she froze. Raymia and Gourry looked up at her questioningly. Lina threw the small sword on the table and stood abruptly. Her eyes were wide. The other two stared at her as she reached for the spot where her own dagger should be... It was gone. Lina exhaled a short breath, a hand still hovering over her hip. 'That's my...' Her eyes slowly wandered to the dagger on the table. The emerald jeweled handle was an exact replica. The blade was long enough. Lina finally made eye contact with her friends. "That's my sword..." Lina said quietly.
Raymia and Gourry's eyes widened in identical horror. Lina walked over to the table and picked up the sword. Her gaze turned to Gourry, ruby red orbs bore into his blue eyes. Gourry blinked at her.
"Gourry, are you sure this is the right sword? You didn't find this somewhere else?"
"N-no. I went back and got it after I carried you to my room."
Raymia blinked. "After you what??"
"Hey! I was unconscious!" Lina retaliated.
"WHAT?!" Raymia backed away from the table, staring at Gourry. "Gourry-san, you- you-"
"NO!!" Lina and Gourry yelled together.
Raymia cowered from their yelling, then blinked, slowly making her way back to the table. She decided not to ask any more questions.
Lina and her friends turned their attention back to the dagger. Lina jawed tensed. 'Amelia was killed with my sword?? Why? How?' She sat back down, the other watching her vacant stare. 'The killer was able to get the sword from my room without me even knowing? What if I would've woken up? I could have stopped them... I could have-' Lina's eyes blinked back into focus as she willed the thoughts away. Gourry and Raymia were staring at her with concerned expressions. Lina frowned.
"Whaat?" She glared, gripping the dagger.
"But if it was your dagger, Lina..." Raymia started. But something in Lina's eyes made her stop. How could she even think Lina could have killed Amelia? Even if it was a little bit logical and they had no other leads, how could she? Raymia adverted her eyes from Lina's and shut her mouth.
Lina's eyebrows creased. Almost like she could read Raymia's mind. She knew what she was thinking. The same thought had crossed her mind. Only she knew she didn't kill Amelia. She shifted her eyes to Gourry.
"But wouldn't that mean that..." It seemed as if a light bulb went off in Gourry's head. Then he looked down at Lina, catching her gaze. And they just stared at each other for a moment. Her, wondering if he was making the accusation as well, and him wondering if he should. Lina's eyes narrowed and she stepped back from the table.
"What, do you both think I killed Amelia now?" Lina growled through clenched teeth.
Raymia's head jerked up to look at Lina. "No! You would never do that!"
"Even Gourry's 'figured it out'. Don't you think I killed Amelia, too, Gourry?" Lina glared at him.
An angry looked crossed his face and he stood. Lina blinked as he grabbed her arm. His piercing blue eyes stared right at her, as if they were going to look right through her. Lina held her breath and looked up at him.
"We never said any of that, Lina! Do you hear me?" His voice was strong and he wasn't joking around. "We don't think you killed Amelia and we never will." He slowly released her arm. "So don't worry... We trust you." Gourry shifted his gaze and sat back down in his chair, resting his chin on the backs of his hands.
Lina stood there, blinking. She couldn't believe Gourry had just said all that. But she smiled as she looked at him and Raymia. "Thanks, guys." She took her seat back at the table. Raymia smiled up at her, tears glittering in her eyes.
Lina cleared her throat, looking down at the dagger again. "Anyway. I just don't understand how they got this out of my room without me knowing."
"Well, we had done a lot of traveling that day so you were probably just really tired," Gourry pointed out.
"Maybe they... are really sneaky and good?" Raymia sweatdropped at her weak supply of suggestion.
Lina took a deep breath, deciding whether or not to tell them. "And then there's that strange vision I had..." Her eyes looked off in a random direction, waiting for them to ask.
"What vision, Lina-san?" Raymia blinked.
Lina looked back at them. 'This is going to give them even more reason to believe I killed her... But they don't really think that, do they?' She closed her eyes briefly, then looked into the eyes of her friends. "It happened after I found... Amelia." She glanced at Gourry. "Remember when I fell to the floor and you ran over there?" He nodded. "It was then. Just before I passed out. I had a vision that I... that I was the one who killed Amelia." Raymia gasped, but she continued. "I saw it all in horrible detail. As I raised this dagger above my head to-" Lina paused, setting her elbows on the table then rested her chin backs of her hands. She closed her eyes, her eyebrows creasing as she spoke of the horror. "And I heard her scream and call out my name." She opened her eyes once more. "It was so real, I... I passed out."
Raymia and Gourry sat in silence. Watching her with their wide blue eyes. They didn't know what to say.
What could anyone say to that? Lina rose to her feet, placing a hand on her hip, eyes cast downward. Her audience waited. Then she lifted her head, fiery bangs subsided to reveal bright ruby eyes.
"I don't know why I had those visions. But I do know, that whatever the cost, I will avenge Amelia's death. Do you hear me?" She narrowed her eyes, searching her friends' faces. "I'll make them pay even if risking my own life is the case. Amelia's death will not be in vain."
Raymia stood. She looked up at Lina with a determined expression. "We will avenge Amelia's death in the name of Justice no matter what the cost!" She declared and stuck out a hand, letting her palm hover over the table.
Gourry nodded and stood as well. The girls' eyes turned to him. His blonde hair covered his face until he lifted his head. "Amelia's killer will pay with their life." Gourry meant what he said. He stuck out his hand as well, letting it fall on top of Raymia's.
Lina looked at her friends then placed her hand on top of theirs. "Victory will be ours," She declared, grinning. They all nodded firmly in reply. Amelia's death would be avenged. No matter what.
Lina, Gourry, and Raymia were walking down the dusty street. It was a few hours after noon. With no leads so far, except that the killer used Lina's own dagger, they were very confused.
Raymia sighed, her posture slouching as she walked beside Gourry. "Lina-san…"
Lina and Gourry glanced at her.
"I'm so hungry… T_T"
"But we just ate!" Lina yelled, pausing in her stride to thrash her arms at the little blonde. Raymia cringed and Gourry stopped to scratch his head.
"Actually, I think it was a few hours ago, Lina… 9.9"
Lina twitched for a second, clenching her fists by her sides and focusing on the ground. She looked up at them suddenly, an angry glare on her face. "How are we going to get anything accomplished if you two keep eating all the time!"
Raymia blinked. She'd never heard Lina demote food before. "You're right, Lina-san. But I'm still not finding clues at all." She moaned.
Gourry nodded. "Me too! Err, me neither! Um… uhh…"
Lina growled. But the truth was, none of them were finding any clues. Then she put on a smile and waved a hand care freely in the air. "Well, I suppose a snack wouldn't hurt." Lina winked at the girl.
"Wai! Arigato!" Raymia cheered and glomped Lina. Lina shook her off, still smiling. They made their way down the street towards the nearest restaurant. But suddenly, a strange presence made Lina stop. Raymia and Gourry stopped as well.
"What is it?" Raymia asked Lina. An angry look had crossed her face. Then suddenly, a smiling close-eyed priest appeared in between them. "Nani yo?!" Raymia shrieked and fell backwards. Gourry caught her, blinking.
"Xelloss!!" Lina glared at the purple haired Mozaku. "What are you doing here?" It wasn't that she hated Xelloss. Just that whenever he was around, something was bound to go wrong.
Xelloss chuckled at Lina's behavior. "I've heard about the occurrences, Lina. And I came to check on you, that's all."
Lina saw right through his cheerful act. She clamped a hand down on his shirt. "Why are you really here, Xelloss?" He could tell by the tone in Lina's voice that she wasn't joking around.
Xelloss sweatdropped. "Let's talk inside, shall we?" He pointed to a restaurant stationed behind him.
After everyone except Xelloss and Raymia, who ordered ice cream, ordered large amounts of food, Xelloss seemed ready to tell his tale. Lina popped a piece of food in her mouth. "Alright, Xelloss. Start talkin'."
"Well, you see…" He wasn't going to just spit it out. After all, he was the mysterious priest. He enjoyed watching them squirm.
"Xelloss!" Raymia complained at his side.
He sweatdropped, waving a hand at her. "Alright, alright." Then he became serious, opening his brilliant violet eyes in effect. Lina knitted her brow and listened carefully. "I have reason to believe that Amelia's killer is not human."
"Then why would they use my sword?" Lina asked him.
"Hmm…" He placed a gloved hand on his chin, loosing the serious air once more.
"You ARE going to tell us, aren't you, Xellos-san??" Raymia glared at him.
"I thought you would have figured it out by now, Lina. They could have used some powerful spell that would leave no evidence. But instead they chose your dagger. The reason for that is…" He paused, waiting for her to lean in. When she did, he continued, quite pleased. "To blame you for Amelia's death."
Lina reeled back. "What?! But who would want to do that?"
"Someone who doesn't like you very much?" Raymia suggested. Lina glared at her.
Gourry gasped suddenly. "That could mean one person out of any ten villages!!"
"Gourry!!" Lina whacked him over the head routinely then turned her attention back at Xelloss. He was casually licking his double fudge ice cream cone looking as carefree as a small child. Lina sighed. "Well?!"
"Either that or," He spoke in between licks of ice cream. "They want something from you."
Lina blinked. "Want something… But what?"
"That…" He lifted a finger and the group cringed. "Is something I don't know." They all sighed a sigh of relief. Then Xelloss pushed his chair back and stood. "That's all for now, mina." He waved to them and casually walked out of the restaurant.
"Xelloss!! Wait!" Raymia called, holding his dripping ice cream cone in one hand.
"Come back here!! Jerk!" Lina yelled, shaking a fist at him.
Gourry just continued eating his delicious dish, oblivious to anything else that was going on.
Lina sat back down in her chair and sighed. "Well, we might as well eat while the food's warm!" She grinned, piercing a fish fillet with a fork. She lifted the scrumptious food to her mouth and chomped down on it. But she froze and her eyes bugged, then came the waterfall tears as she removed the fish. "It's cold… T_T"
Gourry looked up. "H-hey, where'd Xelloss go?"
Raymia just shrugged and smiled and started eating Xelloss' leftover ice cream. n_n
Early the next morning, the three finished breakfast in Gourry's room and were sitting around the wooden table.
"So, how are we going to find the killer?" Raymia asked as Marshie bounded around on the floor.
Lina blinked. "Well, I, uh... First, we need to analyze who we know that would want to kill Amelia."
"Well, I don't know anyone," Gourry stared at the ceiling.
"He's right, Lina-san. There's no one." Raymia stated.
Lina frowned. They were right... Or were they? "She never mentioned any rivals to the Crown. So I don't think it could be that..." Lina rested her chin in her palms.
"And they used a knife. Not very formidable." Ramia pointed out. "So it must not have been a magic user."
"Yeah, why would they leave a knife behind for people to get leads from?" Gourry wondered.
Lina blinked. "The knife! Did they already take it away?" She looked at Gourry. "HEY!" She pounded the table in front of him.
"Ahh!" He jumped, blinking at her.
"Baka ne..." She closed her eyes angrily and prepared to whack him over the head but someone grabbed her arm.
"Lina-san, no!" It was Raymia. "We don't have time for this! We have to find that knife." Lina frowned and nodded, lowering her fist as Raymia released her.
"Oh, THAT knife? I have it right here!" Gourry grinned, pulling a knife out of his boot. Lina promptly whacked him over the head. His face met with the table and Raymia groaned.
"Never mind that." Lina hissed, referring to Gourry's injuries as she grabbed the knife from her hand. She sat back down, folding her legs underneath her so she could be a little taller than the table. She unsheathed the knife and gazed at its surface. Her eyes covered every inch of the blade. It was a little longer than a dagger. Long enough to be a small sword. And it was clean. Gourry had had enough sense to clean if before putting it in his boot. Nowadays, they didn't have anything to analyze fingerprints or blood so it didn't matter. Raymia and Gourry leaned closer to Lina, looking over the weapon themselves.
Suddenly, she froze. Raymia and Gourry looked up at her questioningly. Lina threw the small sword on the table and stood abruptly. Her eyes were wide. The other two stared at her as she reached for the spot where her own dagger should be... It was gone. Lina exhaled a short breath, a hand still hovering over her hip. 'That's my...' Her eyes slowly wandered to the dagger on the table. The emerald jeweled handle was an exact replica. The blade was long enough. Lina finally made eye contact with her friends. "That's my sword..." Lina said quietly.
Raymia and Gourry's eyes widened in identical horror. Lina walked over to the table and picked up the sword. Her gaze turned to Gourry, ruby red orbs bore into his blue eyes. Gourry blinked at her.
"Gourry, are you sure this is the right sword? You didn't find this somewhere else?"
"N-no. I went back and got it after I carried you to my room."
Raymia blinked. "After you what??"
"Hey! I was unconscious!" Lina retaliated.
"WHAT?!" Raymia backed away from the table, staring at Gourry. "Gourry-san, you- you-"
"NO!!" Lina and Gourry yelled together.
Raymia cowered from their yelling, then blinked, slowly making her way back to the table. She decided not to ask any more questions.
Lina and her friends turned their attention back to the dagger. Lina jawed tensed. 'Amelia was killed with my sword?? Why? How?' She sat back down, the other watching her vacant stare. 'The killer was able to get the sword from my room without me even knowing? What if I would've woken up? I could have stopped them... I could have-' Lina's eyes blinked back into focus as she willed the thoughts away. Gourry and Raymia were staring at her with concerned expressions. Lina frowned.
"Whaat?" She glared, gripping the dagger.
"But if it was your dagger, Lina..." Raymia started. But something in Lina's eyes made her stop. How could she even think Lina could have killed Amelia? Even if it was a little bit logical and they had no other leads, how could she? Raymia adverted her eyes from Lina's and shut her mouth.
Lina's eyebrows creased. Almost like she could read Raymia's mind. She knew what she was thinking. The same thought had crossed her mind. Only she knew she didn't kill Amelia. She shifted her eyes to Gourry.
"But wouldn't that mean that..." It seemed as if a light bulb went off in Gourry's head. Then he looked down at Lina, catching her gaze. And they just stared at each other for a moment. Her, wondering if he was making the accusation as well, and him wondering if he should. Lina's eyes narrowed and she stepped back from the table.
"What, do you both think I killed Amelia now?" Lina growled through clenched teeth.
Raymia's head jerked up to look at Lina. "No! You would never do that!"
"Even Gourry's 'figured it out'. Don't you think I killed Amelia, too, Gourry?" Lina glared at him.
An angry looked crossed his face and he stood. Lina blinked as he grabbed her arm. His piercing blue eyes stared right at her, as if they were going to look right through her. Lina held her breath and looked up at him.
"We never said any of that, Lina! Do you hear me?" His voice was strong and he wasn't joking around. "We don't think you killed Amelia and we never will." He slowly released her arm. "So don't worry... We trust you." Gourry shifted his gaze and sat back down in his chair, resting his chin on the backs of his hands.
Lina stood there, blinking. She couldn't believe Gourry had just said all that. But she smiled as she looked at him and Raymia. "Thanks, guys." She took her seat back at the table. Raymia smiled up at her, tears glittering in her eyes.
Lina cleared her throat, looking down at the dagger again. "Anyway. I just don't understand how they got this out of my room without me knowing."
"Well, we had done a lot of traveling that day so you were probably just really tired," Gourry pointed out.
"Maybe they... are really sneaky and good?" Raymia sweatdropped at her weak supply of suggestion.
Lina took a deep breath, deciding whether or not to tell them. "And then there's that strange vision I had..." Her eyes looked off in a random direction, waiting for them to ask.
"What vision, Lina-san?" Raymia blinked.
Lina looked back at them. 'This is going to give them even more reason to believe I killed her... But they don't really think that, do they?' She closed her eyes briefly, then looked into the eyes of her friends. "It happened after I found... Amelia." She glanced at Gourry. "Remember when I fell to the floor and you ran over there?" He nodded. "It was then. Just before I passed out. I had a vision that I... that I was the one who killed Amelia." Raymia gasped, but she continued. "I saw it all in horrible detail. As I raised this dagger above my head to-" Lina paused, setting her elbows on the table then rested her chin backs of her hands. She closed her eyes, her eyebrows creasing as she spoke of the horror. "And I heard her scream and call out my name." She opened her eyes once more. "It was so real, I... I passed out."
Raymia and Gourry sat in silence. Watching her with their wide blue eyes. They didn't know what to say.
What could anyone say to that? Lina rose to her feet, placing a hand on her hip, eyes cast downward. Her audience waited. Then she lifted her head, fiery bangs subsided to reveal bright ruby eyes.
"I don't know why I had those visions. But I do know, that whatever the cost, I will avenge Amelia's death. Do you hear me?" She narrowed her eyes, searching her friends' faces. "I'll make them pay even if risking my own life is the case. Amelia's death will not be in vain."
Raymia stood. She looked up at Lina with a determined expression. "We will avenge Amelia's death in the name of Justice no matter what the cost!" She declared and stuck out a hand, letting her palm hover over the table.
Gourry nodded and stood as well. The girls' eyes turned to him. His blonde hair covered his face until he lifted his head. "Amelia's killer will pay with their life." Gourry meant what he said. He stuck out his hand as well, letting it fall on top of Raymia's.
Lina looked at her friends then placed her hand on top of theirs. "Victory will be ours," She declared, grinning. They all nodded firmly in reply. Amelia's death would be avenged. No matter what.
Lina, Gourry, and Raymia were walking down the dusty street. It was a few hours after noon. With no leads so far, except that the killer used Lina's own dagger, they were very confused.
Raymia sighed, her posture slouching as she walked beside Gourry. "Lina-san…"
Lina and Gourry glanced at her.
"I'm so hungry… T_T"
"But we just ate!" Lina yelled, pausing in her stride to thrash her arms at the little blonde. Raymia cringed and Gourry stopped to scratch his head.
"Actually, I think it was a few hours ago, Lina… 9.9"
Lina twitched for a second, clenching her fists by her sides and focusing on the ground. She looked up at them suddenly, an angry glare on her face. "How are we going to get anything accomplished if you two keep eating all the time!"
Raymia blinked. She'd never heard Lina demote food before. "You're right, Lina-san. But I'm still not finding clues at all." She moaned.
Gourry nodded. "Me too! Err, me neither! Um… uhh…"
Lina growled. But the truth was, none of them were finding any clues. Then she put on a smile and waved a hand care freely in the air. "Well, I suppose a snack wouldn't hurt." Lina winked at the girl.
"Wai! Arigato!" Raymia cheered and glomped Lina. Lina shook her off, still smiling. They made their way down the street towards the nearest restaurant. But suddenly, a strange presence made Lina stop. Raymia and Gourry stopped as well.
"What is it?" Raymia asked Lina. An angry look had crossed her face. Then suddenly, a smiling close-eyed priest appeared in between them. "Nani yo?!" Raymia shrieked and fell backwards. Gourry caught her, blinking.
"Xelloss!!" Lina glared at the purple haired Mozaku. "What are you doing here?" It wasn't that she hated Xelloss. Just that whenever he was around, something was bound to go wrong.
Xelloss chuckled at Lina's behavior. "I've heard about the occurrences, Lina. And I came to check on you, that's all."
Lina saw right through his cheerful act. She clamped a hand down on his shirt. "Why are you really here, Xelloss?" He could tell by the tone in Lina's voice that she wasn't joking around.
Xelloss sweatdropped. "Let's talk inside, shall we?" He pointed to a restaurant stationed behind him.
After everyone except Xelloss and Raymia, who ordered ice cream, ordered large amounts of food, Xelloss seemed ready to tell his tale. Lina popped a piece of food in her mouth. "Alright, Xelloss. Start talkin'."
"Well, you see…" He wasn't going to just spit it out. After all, he was the mysterious priest. He enjoyed watching them squirm.
"Xelloss!" Raymia complained at his side.
He sweatdropped, waving a hand at her. "Alright, alright." Then he became serious, opening his brilliant violet eyes in effect. Lina knitted her brow and listened carefully. "I have reason to believe that Amelia's killer is not human."
"Then why would they use my sword?" Lina asked him.
"Hmm…" He placed a gloved hand on his chin, loosing the serious air once more.
"You ARE going to tell us, aren't you, Xellos-san??" Raymia glared at him.
"I thought you would have figured it out by now, Lina. They could have used some powerful spell that would leave no evidence. But instead they chose your dagger. The reason for that is…" He paused, waiting for her to lean in. When she did, he continued, quite pleased. "To blame you for Amelia's death."
Lina reeled back. "What?! But who would want to do that?"
"Someone who doesn't like you very much?" Raymia suggested. Lina glared at her.
Gourry gasped suddenly. "That could mean one person out of any ten villages!!"
"Gourry!!" Lina whacked him over the head routinely then turned her attention back at Xelloss. He was casually licking his double fudge ice cream cone looking as carefree as a small child. Lina sighed. "Well?!"
"Either that or," He spoke in between licks of ice cream. "They want something from you."
Lina blinked. "Want something… But what?"
"That…" He lifted a finger and the group cringed. "Is something I don't know." They all sighed a sigh of relief. Then Xelloss pushed his chair back and stood. "That's all for now, mina." He waved to them and casually walked out of the restaurant.
"Xelloss!! Wait!" Raymia called, holding his dripping ice cream cone in one hand.
"Come back here!! Jerk!" Lina yelled, shaking a fist at him.
Gourry just continued eating his delicious dish, oblivious to anything else that was going on.
Lina sat back down in her chair and sighed. "Well, we might as well eat while the food's warm!" She grinned, piercing a fish fillet with a fork. She lifted the scrumptious food to her mouth and chomped down on it. But she froze and her eyes bugged, then came the waterfall tears as she removed the fish. "It's cold… T_T"
Gourry looked up. "H-hey, where'd Xelloss go?"
Raymia just shrugged and smiled and started eating Xelloss' leftover ice cream. n_n