Author's Note: "Slayers" belongs to the great Hajime Kanzaka and the people at Software Scupltors. I am a college student, therefore I am poor. I am a science major, therefore I will always be for. As I am making no profit off of this, please do not sue me. The titles in this fic were taken from the songs "Dante's Prayer" by Loreena McKinnett and "If I Could" by October Project. Read and enjoy! Chapter 1. If I Could, I Would Always Keep You Safe Gourry stared in pleasant surprise down at Lina who had, clear out of the blue, slide her arms through his, and was contentedly chattering away about the newest prospect for a replacement for the Sword of Light as she walked. "Since we're so close to Seyruun we might as well drop by and see Amelia while we're here, I mean, there doesn't look to be any immediate danger and it'd be a good thing to check up on Seyruun, make sure none of the royal family is in any danger or anything, may be get a bit of a reward if there is. Then we can head off to the ruins of Vladair, where they say lies a mystical sword. The one that you have now is good as a temporary measure, but only a temporary measure, because, I dunno, call it women's intuition, but I've got the feeling we've not seen the last of the monster race. At any rate, Vladair is located in…" On and on she went, Gourry listening in and out to the bits he found important, thinking on the important bits when she went on about the location of places or how magic worked or something else beyond his grasp. It certainly would be nice to drop by Seyruun and visit Amelia, even if Lina put it under every other guise rather than merely checking up on a close friend. And as for getting him a new sword, she definitely had a point. The Sword of Light was at its home now, and Gourry was glad for it, but he couldn't very well protect Lina against monsters with the plain steel sword that he had now. He'd feel much better when he had something a little more useful, especially when he didn't know a drop of magic. Yet one thought kept sailing through the rest. She had laced her arm through his! Yes, it was a small gesture, but for Lina who seldom showed affection, it was as if she had all but kissed him! Feeling brave, Gourry took his free hand and patted her arm with it, letting it rest there. When she looked up and smiled at him rather than Fireballing him, he couldn't help but smile back. Finally, things were changing between the two of them. They had been the best of friends and traveling companions for, what was it now? Three? Four? Yes, four years now. They had been an unstoppable team on the battlefield, often reading each other's thoughts and moves without the need for communication. He just anticipated her strategy and backed her up on it, and it worked! They had faced down Dark Lords and monsters and bandits together, Lina the brazenly bright light that called upon the attention of those near and far, Gourry the more subtle force, never where he was supposed to be, yet hurting the enemy just as much as Lina without creating quite as much destruction as his companion. Many times death had come uncomfortably close, and when the icy hand had nearly enveloped him forever Lina had cast a spell with the destructive capacity to destroy to whole world with for him. And when, burning in the power that she had released from the spell, Lina had nearly been taken from him forever, he had braved Chaos, going farther than Zelgadis, Amelia and Sylphiel even without the magic that they possessed to claim her back. Yet they had never been lovers. But may be that was starting to change. May be Lina was growing comfortable with her feelings. May be now would be a good time to ask the question that had been on his mind since the defeat of Phibrizo. He had hesitated, though, because she had been so uncomfortable with her feelings, yet she had been acting different lately, ever since Dark Star had been defeated. May be now would be a good time to ask if…No, he told himself, tonight, when we make camp, or when we reach Seyruun. Whichever comes first. On they walked, Lina rambling on about Vladair's layout while Gourry contented himself with loosing himself in the day that was starting out so well. Of course, it couldn't last. The first sign that either of them had that something was wrong was the familiar prickling sensation of coldness, hate and death that ran through them whenever a monster was near. Sharing a quick glance, Lina quickly jumped to the left while Gourry jumped to the right, avoiding the ball of energy that was aimed at the middle of where they now stood, the place they had once been, that was now reduced to cinders. "FIREBALL!" Lina yelled, aiming for the place from which the ball of energy had emerged from, smiling the usual smile she wore when she got to show off her magical capacities. Gourry unsheathed his sword, wishing now that he had not returned the Sword of Light to its home. His current sword was useless against a monster. The most he could do was prove a simple distraction for Lina while she chanted her spells. It was better than nothing though. Vile laughter was heard from above, and before them appeared a spherical monster, much like the ones he had faced with Amelia and Zelgadis several years ago, except this one was a lot bigger, and rather than bearing a slick, shiny surface wore a greasy, slimy coating. "So, it appears as though my sources were correct. Good, once my task here is finished, then there will be nothing to stop me from completing my mission to destroy the world and gain my place back within the Monster Race!" Lina didn't look very impressed, "I'm so sorry that the monster's banished you from their little club three thousand years ago, Goidbyn, but I'm afraid that I kind of like living in this world you so long to destroy so I guess I'll just have to kill you." "Um, Lina, whose Goidba?" Gourry asked, scratching his head. Lina sighed, "You don't know about. . .Oh why am I surprised? Goidbyn was a monster who was banished from his race for reasons that remain a mystery till this day. It is said that he'll do any task to regain his position within the monster race, however, and I guess that means he's planning to return to world to the void that is Chaos in order to secure his place." "That's correct," Goidbyn said, "And in order to make sure that my plans go smoothly, I need to make sure that the infamous monster killer Lina Inverse is out of my way. Now, enough talk! Die!" he said, hurling yet another ball of energy at them which both, needless to say, dodged easily. "Darkness beyond twilight. . ." Lina started chanting, and Gourry knew that it was up to him to distract Goidbyn to give Lina time to finish casting the Dragon Slave. With a battle cry tearing at his throat, he charged the monster, only to be caught by surprise as a tentacle spewed forth from the creature to attack him. Gourry parried the blow, his sword not even severing the tentacle, yet effectively diverting its path away from him, only to gasp with surprise as more came at him. He thrust aside those that he could while dodging the rest of them, wishing desperately to have the Sword of Light back. "May all the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I possess!" Lina yelled, and Gourry relaxed. This was almost over. "DRAGON SLAVE!" More destructive than the waves of a tsunami was hard put to describe the power that was released from Lina's spell as it washed over Goidbyn, yet his maniacal laughter remained unchanged, his body undamaged, and Lina and Gourry both gaped at him in surprise as Lina let the spell die, "He's powerful enough to withstand a Dragon Slave? Oh, this is just great!" "Silly girl," Goidbyn chided, "I thought you would have learned by now never to underestimate your enemy." Lina chuckled, "And if you think that's the only ace up my sleeve then you've got another thing coming!" Despite her words, Lina was not very happy with the situation. She had only two spells left that had a hope of scratching him, and those were the Ragna Blade and the Giga Slave. Lina doubted he had more power than Gaav had had, meaning that she could probably destroy him with the Ragna Blade, even if it did mean depleting her energy reserves and would leave her wounded until she could reach Seyruun for a healing spell…meaning Gourry would probably have to carry her there, embarrassing though the thought may be. And the Giga Slave, well, that was only for use when the circumstance was absolutely damned if you do, damned if you don't, and things weren't quite that bad…yet. But if the Ragna Blade doesn't work, I won't have enough strength for the Giga Slave. Lina brushed the thought aside. Now was not the time for indecision, now was the time for action, so they could hurry up and get this distraction over with. "Lord of Darkness of the Four Worlds," she began, calling forth her usual magical amplification spell, the amulets on her neck, wrists and waist glowing, feeding power to her that she would use to strike down her newest foe with. As usual, Gourry didn't need to be told what his companion was doing. Once more, he charged at the monster, prepared this time for the barrage of tentacles that attacked him. Goidbyn laughed, "Ah, the Protector, you might as well give up and run. My quarrel is not with you, but with that witch you so guard. It'd be better if you didn't witness the end I've thought up for her." Gourry grinned without mirth, "Sorry pal, but if you pick a quarrel with Lina, then you pick a quarrel with me. Besides, that girl's too stubborn to die, and I wouldn't want to face her punishment should I give up and run out on her." "Humph, stupid human." Goidbyn said, suddenly diverting one of his tentacles from Gourry and hurling it at Lina. "Oh no you don't!" Gourry said, jumping through the air and intercepting the tentacle, knocking it away from the sorceress and landing between Goidbyn and Lina. His lips curled into a snarl, daring the monster to just try and reach her again, driving Goidbyn back a little bit as Gourry unleashed another attack against him, fairly impressive for a man with no magical capacity and only plain steel for a sword. Another tentacle made a move towards Lina, and Gourry batted it away, only to have the tentacle curl along his sword, and then another one curl around his arms, holding him in place. Gourry twisted, trying to break free, hoping that Lina was nearly done spell casting because things were definitely starting to take a turn for the worst, and sure enough he heard her chant, ". . .Power that can smash even the soul's of the Gods! RAGNA BLADE!" Her arms raised high over her head, Lina felt the familiar spark of energy that grew between her hands and solidified into a void of energy, the Sword of Chaos and Darkness. With a gleam in her eye that promised death to her enemy, she looked up to see how the fight between Goidbyn and Gourry went. Her eyes widened and her heart leapt into her chest as she saw Gourry pinned by a mass of tentacles with one speeding for a deathblow aimed straight at his head. "Gourry. . ." she breathed, and then charged, singing a battle cry of her own as she struggled to make it in time and to control the sword of chaotic energy held within her hands, leaping high into the air, bringing the sword down, directing her fall between Gourry and the Goidbyn. . . Gourry looked up at the sound of Lina's battle cry and gasped as he saw the tentacle headed straight for him. There was nothing he could do, pinned as he was, and while he felt a stab of regret over all the things left undone, at least he had managed to protect Lina and had given her enough time to complete the Ragna Blade and. . . He felt his heart flip in his chest as she directed her attack to the tentacle, felt his heart sank as he realized she wouldn't be able to direct the Ragna Blade between herself and the tentacle before it reached him, but she could put herself between them. "Lina. . ." he breathed, and then shouted, "Lina, no!" Too late. With renewed urgency he fought against the tentacles holding him in place as the tentacle ripped through her chest. She screamed and the Ragna Blade flickered for a moment, and for a heart pounding second Gourry feared it would dissipate, but it didn't. Somehow, Lina had managed to keep control of it and slowly she continued forward to use it against Goidbyn. One by one, the tentacles unsnaked themselves from Gourry and went towards Lina, though he picked up his sword and tried with all his might to keep them away from her. Finally, she reached Goidbyn, and brought the Sword of Darkness down upon him, relieved as it cleaved his body more easily than it had Gaav's. Her relief was only temporary, however, as she suddenly felt her body being stabbed repeatedly by Goidbyn even as she slowly but surely sliced him in two. She hit the ground hard, rolling to her side, the blood draining out of her from numerous wounds as Goidbyn's scream echoed on the waves of his destruction at having been so close to achieving his goal, only to be defeated by a mere girl. Well, at least it seemed as though he had taken her with him. "Lina!" Gourry yelled, his heart in his throat as he ran to her side, turning her over to assess her wounds. Blood gleamed through her teeth as she smiled at him, "Victory." She breathed, though her hands were desperately working on trying to cast a Recovery spell on herself. Her energy was draining fast, though, but if she just rested, she knew she could pull through. Gourry was not so convinced, "Lina, what did you do? I'm the protector, you're my charge, get it right next time!" he said, the pain in his voice belaying the harsh tone of his words, "Don't you know how I'd feel if anything happened to you on my account?" he whispered. Lina looked up at him, surprised at the pained expression on his face, did she really look so bad? "Didn't you ever think that all this time you were protecting me may be I was protecting you as well?" She coughed suddenly, her body shaking and Gourry, feeling unbearably helpless, stripped off his shirt, tearing it to ribbons to dress her wounds with. It was obvious even to him that her Recovery spell wasn't working. Softly yet firmly she continued, "Besides, it's my own fault if I decide to get all heroic and sacrificial, not yours, and don't you forget it or I might just have to beat it into you!" Despite her words, which sounded enough like Lina that Gourry was at least confident that she was lucid, he knew she was not in good shape. Oh, where were Sylphiel and Amelia when you needed them? Amelia. Amelia was in Seyruun, or hopefully she was. She might have been sent out on some diplomatic mission, but even then Seyruun was the White Magic Capital. Surely someone there would be able to do that on spell that Sylphiel had performed on Lina when they had been fighting that Copy Rezo/Zannafar guy. That was it! He had to get Lina to Seyruun and he had to get her there now! With this new plan in mind, he hastily finished dressing her wounds as best he could and lifted her into his arms. It never ceased to amaze him how someone had managed to pack so much power and energy into someone as small and weightless as Lina. "Gourry?" she asked, her voice sounding ages away. "Just hang on, Lina, I'm going to get you to Seyruun." He said, hoping that his voice projected the confidence that he did not feel. He could not remember a time when he had been so scared, not even when she had been injured fighting Copy Rezo. Sylphiel had been there to take care of her then. But now Sylphiel was nowhere near, and Amelia was close, but was she close enough? How far away were they from Seyruun anyway? Holding her close to him, he ran with all his strength down the road they had been taking to Seyruun. Getting there was the only thing that mattered now, all he had to do was get there. Lina started coughing again, and Gourry felt her body spasm reflexively, and then felt a piece of him being torn apart as she started to go lax in his arms. "No!" he said, "You've never given up before! Never! You were always too stubborn to! Don't Lina, please, stay." Despite his words he could feel that he was loosing her, "Please Lina, stay…I need you." He wasn't even sure if she heard. All he knew was that the girl with whom he had faced down Dark Lords and monsters and all kinds of terrors with and had always come out the better for it, the woman that he had grown to love, had gone lax in his arms, her once light weight a leaden one in his arms and in his heart.