Recap : After the gang got back together, they followed Filia (or their stomachs) to a restaurant (go figure). Lina's sister Luna found them, and Lina... freaked, to say the least. To wake her up from her coma, Zel poured some hot chili juice down her throat. When she starts to spout fire, however... well, a certain naughty little mazoku 'cures' her...
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Amelia smothered a laugh as she watched Lina flush red. Forgetting her princess dignity, she collapsed in giggles. Gourry, uncertain of the silence, poked his head out from under the table from which he was hiding under. Crossing his arms, Zelgadiss frowned slightly at the sight before him.
Xelloss backed off slightly, breaking away from Lina. He had to bend over to see her lowered face. "Okay now?" he asked, grinning at her. When she didn't respond, he brushed her bangs to the side and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Kawaii," he whispered in her ear.
The sorceress was blushing furiously. Her first kiss (that she knew of) had been taken by a mazoku... and not just any mazoku, mind you. She hadn't reacted quickly enough when he neared her again. She was about to slap him when she heard him tell her she was kawaii, but instead dropped to the ground, for her legs had turned to liquid beneath her.
"Hmm..." Luna remarked. "Looks like Xelly-chan has a crush on that brat sister of mine... I wonder what Zelas would say...?"
The blonde swordsman came out from under the table and was now glancing around confused at the tense atmosphere. The chimera, however, stared forcefully at the ceiling, trying to ignore what was happening, but was finding it quite difficult. His eyes continued to float downwards.
Xelloss patted the girl on her head, then walked over to Zelgadiss and asked, "Jealous?"
"Feh!" he spatted out. " Why should I care..." he added as a side thought.
Xelloss chuckled lightly. " You are jealous... but of whom?" he asked. "Me for kissing Lina-san or Lina-san for being kissed by me?"
Zelgadiss started to flush slightly at the question. Instead of answering he turned his head sharply away from Xelloss.
The mazoku pouted for a moment, then smiled as an idea hit him. He edged closer to Zelgadiss and leaned his face over his shoulder. " I can kiss you, too, you know..."
The other man's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected words. He turned to see the fruitcake's smiling face over his shoulder. Then he turned if possible, a brighter shade of red.
After standing a few moments in shock, Filia finally blinked out of her stupor. She couldn't believe that that mazoku had kissed Lina and was now teasing Zelgadiss. She calmly handed Val over to Amelia. Then, she whipped out her Mace-o-sama and swung quickly at Xelloss's head. "You Namagomi!!! You dirty mazoku, what did you think you were doing?!?!?"
Xelloss turned around to see the mace just inches from his face. He casually leaned back out of its range, forgetting that there was someone else behind him...
Zelgadiss's eyes popped out as the mace mad contact with the back on his head. "This wasn't the kind of kiss I expected..." he thought in his head as he dropped to the ground.
"Oi! Lina? Are you alright?" Gourry asked, while moving his hand up and down in front of her face. She was staring blankly off into space. "Amelia! Something's wrong with Lina!"
If she hadn't been holding Val, the princess would have face faulted. "Never mind... she's probably still healing from that kiss." She giggled.
"Zelgadiss-san!" Filia dropped her mace and went over to Zel. "Go- gomen nasai! Are you alright?"
Upon hearing the ryuuzoku's worried voice, Amelia turned. When she saw that Zel had been whopped with the mace, she ran over. "Zelgadiss-san! Zelgadiss-san!"
Luna stalked over to Xelloss, who was amused by the whole situation and had sat down and ordered a cup of tea. "How has she been?" she asked him.
He glanced up at her curiously. "Lina-san? Or are you talking about Juu-ou-sama?"
She rolled her eyes. "Who do you think I mean?"
He thanked the frightened waiter with a nod and sipped at his cup. "Juu-ou-sama has been the same since you last saw her," he replied.
"By the way..." Luna pointed at Zelgadiss and Lina. " Are they... do you...?"
Xelloss looked away, then replied, "I don't know."
Lina, meanwhile, buried her face in her hand and sulked. "My first kiss stolen by a mazoku. my innocence has been taken away from me..."
"Innocence? what innocence?" Gourry asked Lina.
Lina shot him a characteristic glare. "Urasai, anta."
In response to the two girls, Zelgadiss stirred a bit before sitting up and rubbing the lump that appeared on the back of his head.
"Zelgadiss-san?" Filia poked the chimera's shoulder.
Amelia squatted down besides Zel. "Zelgadiss-san..." She put Val down and put her arms around the chimera, trying to help him up.
The red headed sorceress stood up and folded her arms, though her cheeks were still tinted pink. "A--Anyway, we should get going..." She paused and looked over the group. "But... I want my sushi first! ^.^" she declared before heading over to the sushi bar.
Luna rolled her eyes. "She'll never change."
Seeing that Amelia had taken over, Filia gently scooped up Val. "Tell Zelgadiss-san... gomen nasai for me," she said. She sat in the nearest chair--she had a feeling, and didn't want to get between the princess and her crush.
Lina returned with a large plate... well, plates, rather, of sushi and set them down. Gourry looked over. "Lina... can I have some?"
She glared at Gourry. "Go get your own food," she told him, holding a protective arm around the plates.
Xelloss scanned over the group, choosing his next victim. Deciding that he had picked on Lina enough that day (and would get his butt kicked if he got anywhere near her for now), so he teleported behind a certain ryuuzoku...
"Hmm... looks like he's been growing doesn't it?" he commented upon the young Val.
Filia glance up to see the mazoku hovering above her. "What do you want?" she asked, glaring at him.
Xelloss smiled, glad that she could be intimidated as easily as always. " I'm just checking up on how baby Val is doing. Is there something wrong with that?"
Zelgadiss, now awake, stood up while being helped by Amelia. "I'm fine..." he said. He untangled himself from her grasp. "We should get going..."
"Go where?" Gourry asked, eyeing a certain someone's food.
"To Lina's parents' house..." He walked over to Lina quietly and grabbed both of her wrists as she continuously continued to scoop food into her mouth. He twisted her arms behind her and dragged her out while motioning with a swift movement of his head for everyone to follow.
Lina struggled and thrashed, attempting to release herself from Zelgadiss's hold. " Wait, wait! I didn't get to try the salmon kind yet!" She continued to try and walk back and didn't notice the wall Zelgadiss walked around. Of course, she ran into it and followed behind him quietly while rubbing the growing lump on her head. Maybe not so quietly...
Amelia blinked, then followed him out. "Zelgadiss-san... what are you doing?"
Filia sweatdropped. "I suppose I should go now. I'm going with the others." She moved herself out from Xelloss's gaze and ran out to follow the others.
Luna shrugged in hopelessness. "Well, back to work."
Xelloss surveyed the damage, realized that if he stayed he would have to pay for the damages, and ran out behind them leaving one small silver piece to pay for everything.
~*~*~*~
Gourry walked alongside everyone else, not noticing the stares they were receiving from all the people they were passing.
"Is it just me or is everyone around here staring at us?" Zelgadiss asked cautiously, eyeing the people staring at them.
"Why is it that they are staring?" Filia wondered aloud softly, turning red.
Lina glared at the surrounding people, scaring off most of the crowd. She scoffed at them. "You think they'd at least say what's the matter..."
"Huh? Are they?" Gourry asked looking around.
"Yes they are jellyfish brains."
"Oi... Lina where exactly do you parents live?" Zelgadiss asked curiously as he watched a man near them run in fear.
She gave the swordsman a side glare, then turned to Zel. "Well, they run a store in my hometown Zefielia. Her mood dropped. "I never wanted to go back..." she muttered.
Xelloss followed behind them quietly... watching you-know-who as always.
Amelia walked faster to catch up with Lina. " Lina-san?"
"Hmm?" Lina slowed down a bit so Amelia could keep up with her pace. "What is it Amelia?"
"I don't know if I can go with you..." Amelia said softly. "Daddy sent me on a mission. That's why I'm here "
Lina stopped walking and turned to face her. "What's up? Another peace treaty? A threatening kingdom? War?" A little more lightly she also asked, "By the way, how's Phil-san doing?"
"A peace treaty," Amelia said. She smiled a bit. "He's doing well. Very active and often tours our city to make sure everyone's doing alright, as a true servant of Justice should!"
Xelloss sneezed at her mention of justice. "Guess she'll never change," he muttered.
Lina sweatdropped. "That's good to hear..." Though if anything did happen to that giant dwarf for a prince, she wondered how Amelia would take it. "Should we come with you and help 'persuade' them?" Lina asked with an innocent, deceiving-to-people-who-didn't-know-her kind of grin.
The princess narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Lina. "As long as you uphold the code of Justice..." Her eyes softened. "Besides, it's nice to travel with you..." Her eyes flickered to Zel before going quickly back to Lina.
Lina flashed a peace sign at her, then turned to everyone else. "Okay, it's been decided, then! We go with Amelia to see what's his name and make him sign the treaty! Then we can go see my parents later..."
Xelloss groaned. He didn't like the idea...at all.
Filia nodded her agreement. "I think she is just happy at the prospect of not having to see her parents for a while longer..." she murmured to herself.
Xelloss backed off a bit. "Umm... peace treaties aren't my kind of thing... so I'll leave this to you! Ja mata!" He waved before vanishing into the air.
"Xelloss-san..." Amelia half grumbled. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself. 'Maybe it's better without him.'
Lina stared at the spot he vacated for a while, then scowled quietly and looked away. " Baka mazoku," she muttered.
Zelgadiss let out a sigh of relief... 'Not having *him* around would make this mission go by quicker,' was all Zel could think as Xelloss left.
"Treaty?" Gourry asked. "What treaty?" he asked himself this time, sort of testing his knowledge.
"The peace treaty Amelia's father asked her to bring to another country/city," Filia said, rhater patiently. She felt relieved when Xelloss had left, and was even up to explaining simple things to Gourry.
"All right, then... off to Zefielia!" Amelia cheered, walking briskly.
"Zefielia? Isn't that..." Filia pondered.
Imaginary glass shattered before Lina. She froze in place, speechless from the shock. " Ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze...?"
"What is it Lina-san?" Amelia stopped, looking back.
"...I REFUSE!!" she screamed, taking off in the other direction and digging a hole with her fingers, then burying herself in it.
"Hmm... that was unexpected," Xelloss remarked from his sitting place atop a bell tower. He sweatdropped at her.
Amelia's eyes went widened before she turned to the others. "What...?"
"I believe Zefielia is Lina-san's home kingdom," Filia informed her.
"Doesn't she have to go there anyway?" she asked.
The dragon nodded. "Lina-san, you have to go there to see your parents... this just saves you the trip!" she called in the direction the sorceress had gone.
"IIIEEE~!" she cried back, though since she was underground, it reached the surface as a loud earthquake.
Xelloss fell from the tower from the "earthquake". He landed on his head with a thud and an "Ouch."
Amelia sighed. "It's useless..."
"Lina-san..." Filia said, pulling out the piece of paper Luna had thrown, "The end of this note says, 'You better go... or else. Love, Sis.' I don't think she means you'll be punished by her parents..."
Lina whined, " Do I have to...?" she cried back like a little child.
"Lina-san you MUST come with me! Peace treaties are made in the name of Justice... and you ARE a servant of Justice, aren't you?..." Amelia ranted.
Filia sighed and sat on the ground, setting up tea on her blanket." Would you like some tea?" she asked Zel and Gourry. "By the way," she remarked off handedly, "Since Amelia-san is a princess bringing a peace treaty, I'm sure the king and queen would be more than happy to treat her and her friends to any food they wish... they may even throw a feast for us..."
Lina's ear twitched. "A... reward?" A few moments later her hand popped out of the ground, along with the upper part of her body. " Let's go and let them have a taste of Justice! Ne, Ameria?" Lina asked, fire lit in her eyes.
Ameria smiled. "I knew you would come through as a servant of Justice!" She agreed, pretending she hadn't heard anything about the reward. She leapt onto a rock, striking a pose, "Justice triumphs over everything! It can turn the weak to the strong, the evil to the good, and the hopeless to those who always succeed! In the end, we servants of Justice know that Justice will win!" Spontaneous lightning flashed behind her as she finished speaking.
Lina joined Ameria on top of the rock, " You're exactly right!" she declared, though the imaged portrayed behind her was a shower of gold coins.
Filia nodded, sipping her tea. Something about it tasted... odd. Odd... odd... she gagged and spit it out on the ground. This was not the tea she normally had. It burned her mouth, and her throat, and her vision blurred. "N-nani..."
Zel also had the same reaction towards the tea. "What... where the hell did you get this tea, Filia?" he asked. He would have been yelling if his voice hadn't been reduced to a rasp.
"The same place I always get it..." she answered. She painfully reached over to pull the tea bag out of the pot.
"Filia-san? Zelgadiss-san?" Amelia asked, coming off her rock. "What's wrong?"
"Huh? Filia, Zel, you guys look like you're going to be sick." Lina hopped down also and snatched the bag from Filia. She sniffed it, and sneezed. Once. Twice. Three times. "THIS IS PEPPER!!!" she yelled, throwing it on the ground... hard.
In the background, Xelloss was laughing his head off.
"I'll... be... fine..." Filia murmured. She found the water she carried to make the tea and poured some into a clean cup. She handed it to Zel, who gulped it down rather irregularly. Raising another cup to her own lips, she rejoiced mentally at the clear water. When her brain cleared, she poured another two cups and the two victims downed those.
"How did those end up as pepper?" the princess wondered aloud, peering at the bag.
Filia stood, eyes shaded, and head bowed. "I think I know..." she said very monotonously. Suddenly, she whirled around. "XELLOSS!!!" she screamed into the air, ignoring the other people that were now backing away... far away...
"Hmm?" The mazoku popped into the air, a big smile plastered on his face.
"You...!!! How did you...?!"
"Sore wa... himitsu desu," he replied, waggling his finger. He winked. "You should know better, Filia-san." With that, he disappeared again.
"Um... we better go," Amelia informed them softly, tugging on Filia's arm.
"Then lets go!" Gourry shouted, raising his fist into the air.
Zel, who had held back from attempting to pulverize Xelloss, sighed, cleared his throat, and followed them. Then, out of the shadows, mysterious black clawed hands dart out and grab Zel, pulling him from the rest of the group and leaving only a note.
"I've never been to Zefielia..." said Gourry. "Oi! Zel, have you?" Stopping, he looked behind him to see a dotted outline of Zel, only with out him. "Eh?"
"Huh? Where's Zel?" Lina asked, leaning back around the corner. "And... when did the crowd disappear?"
Gourry looked over Lina's shoulder to see an empty street. Scratching his head he walked back down the street. "Huh? What's this?" he asked, picking up the dusty note off the ground. "It's a note from Zel!" He exclaimed. "It says 'Go on without me, I'll meet up with you later,'" he read. "Well I guess Zel wants us to without him..." Gourry said with an expression that he was in deep thought.
Lina nearly ripped her hair out. "Mou...! Why does that guy always go on his own!?" she asked, frustrated. "You would think he'd change after all this time...!" She paused. "Wait, this does seem a little unlike him..."
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Hai, hai, I know I said we wouldn't update unless we got reviews... well, we got one! ^-^ Thankies! Want to know what happened to Zel? Want to tell me about any mistakes in here? (I didn't type this chapter! Blame it on her! *points to Flame* Just kidding, but she did type it...) Review! Click...
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Amelia smothered a laugh as she watched Lina flush red. Forgetting her princess dignity, she collapsed in giggles. Gourry, uncertain of the silence, poked his head out from under the table from which he was hiding under. Crossing his arms, Zelgadiss frowned slightly at the sight before him.
Xelloss backed off slightly, breaking away from Lina. He had to bend over to see her lowered face. "Okay now?" he asked, grinning at her. When she didn't respond, he brushed her bangs to the side and kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Kawaii," he whispered in her ear.
The sorceress was blushing furiously. Her first kiss (that she knew of) had been taken by a mazoku... and not just any mazoku, mind you. She hadn't reacted quickly enough when he neared her again. She was about to slap him when she heard him tell her she was kawaii, but instead dropped to the ground, for her legs had turned to liquid beneath her.
"Hmm..." Luna remarked. "Looks like Xelly-chan has a crush on that brat sister of mine... I wonder what Zelas would say...?"
The blonde swordsman came out from under the table and was now glancing around confused at the tense atmosphere. The chimera, however, stared forcefully at the ceiling, trying to ignore what was happening, but was finding it quite difficult. His eyes continued to float downwards.
Xelloss patted the girl on her head, then walked over to Zelgadiss and asked, "Jealous?"
"Feh!" he spatted out. " Why should I care..." he added as a side thought.
Xelloss chuckled lightly. " You are jealous... but of whom?" he asked. "Me for kissing Lina-san or Lina-san for being kissed by me?"
Zelgadiss started to flush slightly at the question. Instead of answering he turned his head sharply away from Xelloss.
The mazoku pouted for a moment, then smiled as an idea hit him. He edged closer to Zelgadiss and leaned his face over his shoulder. " I can kiss you, too, you know..."
The other man's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected words. He turned to see the fruitcake's smiling face over his shoulder. Then he turned if possible, a brighter shade of red.
After standing a few moments in shock, Filia finally blinked out of her stupor. She couldn't believe that that mazoku had kissed Lina and was now teasing Zelgadiss. She calmly handed Val over to Amelia. Then, she whipped out her Mace-o-sama and swung quickly at Xelloss's head. "You Namagomi!!! You dirty mazoku, what did you think you were doing?!?!?"
Xelloss turned around to see the mace just inches from his face. He casually leaned back out of its range, forgetting that there was someone else behind him...
Zelgadiss's eyes popped out as the mace mad contact with the back on his head. "This wasn't the kind of kiss I expected..." he thought in his head as he dropped to the ground.
"Oi! Lina? Are you alright?" Gourry asked, while moving his hand up and down in front of her face. She was staring blankly off into space. "Amelia! Something's wrong with Lina!"
If she hadn't been holding Val, the princess would have face faulted. "Never mind... she's probably still healing from that kiss." She giggled.
"Zelgadiss-san!" Filia dropped her mace and went over to Zel. "Go- gomen nasai! Are you alright?"
Upon hearing the ryuuzoku's worried voice, Amelia turned. When she saw that Zel had been whopped with the mace, she ran over. "Zelgadiss-san! Zelgadiss-san!"
Luna stalked over to Xelloss, who was amused by the whole situation and had sat down and ordered a cup of tea. "How has she been?" she asked him.
He glanced up at her curiously. "Lina-san? Or are you talking about Juu-ou-sama?"
She rolled her eyes. "Who do you think I mean?"
He thanked the frightened waiter with a nod and sipped at his cup. "Juu-ou-sama has been the same since you last saw her," he replied.
"By the way..." Luna pointed at Zelgadiss and Lina. " Are they... do you...?"
Xelloss looked away, then replied, "I don't know."
Lina, meanwhile, buried her face in her hand and sulked. "My first kiss stolen by a mazoku. my innocence has been taken away from me..."
"Innocence? what innocence?" Gourry asked Lina.
Lina shot him a characteristic glare. "Urasai, anta."
In response to the two girls, Zelgadiss stirred a bit before sitting up and rubbing the lump that appeared on the back of his head.
"Zelgadiss-san?" Filia poked the chimera's shoulder.
Amelia squatted down besides Zel. "Zelgadiss-san..." She put Val down and put her arms around the chimera, trying to help him up.
The red headed sorceress stood up and folded her arms, though her cheeks were still tinted pink. "A--Anyway, we should get going..." She paused and looked over the group. "But... I want my sushi first! ^.^" she declared before heading over to the sushi bar.
Luna rolled her eyes. "She'll never change."
Seeing that Amelia had taken over, Filia gently scooped up Val. "Tell Zelgadiss-san... gomen nasai for me," she said. She sat in the nearest chair--she had a feeling, and didn't want to get between the princess and her crush.
Lina returned with a large plate... well, plates, rather, of sushi and set them down. Gourry looked over. "Lina... can I have some?"
She glared at Gourry. "Go get your own food," she told him, holding a protective arm around the plates.
Xelloss scanned over the group, choosing his next victim. Deciding that he had picked on Lina enough that day (and would get his butt kicked if he got anywhere near her for now), so he teleported behind a certain ryuuzoku...
"Hmm... looks like he's been growing doesn't it?" he commented upon the young Val.
Filia glance up to see the mazoku hovering above her. "What do you want?" she asked, glaring at him.
Xelloss smiled, glad that she could be intimidated as easily as always. " I'm just checking up on how baby Val is doing. Is there something wrong with that?"
Zelgadiss, now awake, stood up while being helped by Amelia. "I'm fine..." he said. He untangled himself from her grasp. "We should get going..."
"Go where?" Gourry asked, eyeing a certain someone's food.
"To Lina's parents' house..." He walked over to Lina quietly and grabbed both of her wrists as she continuously continued to scoop food into her mouth. He twisted her arms behind her and dragged her out while motioning with a swift movement of his head for everyone to follow.
Lina struggled and thrashed, attempting to release herself from Zelgadiss's hold. " Wait, wait! I didn't get to try the salmon kind yet!" She continued to try and walk back and didn't notice the wall Zelgadiss walked around. Of course, she ran into it and followed behind him quietly while rubbing the growing lump on her head. Maybe not so quietly...
Amelia blinked, then followed him out. "Zelgadiss-san... what are you doing?"
Filia sweatdropped. "I suppose I should go now. I'm going with the others." She moved herself out from Xelloss's gaze and ran out to follow the others.
Luna shrugged in hopelessness. "Well, back to work."
Xelloss surveyed the damage, realized that if he stayed he would have to pay for the damages, and ran out behind them leaving one small silver piece to pay for everything.
~*~*~*~
Gourry walked alongside everyone else, not noticing the stares they were receiving from all the people they were passing.
"Is it just me or is everyone around here staring at us?" Zelgadiss asked cautiously, eyeing the people staring at them.
"Why is it that they are staring?" Filia wondered aloud softly, turning red.
Lina glared at the surrounding people, scaring off most of the crowd. She scoffed at them. "You think they'd at least say what's the matter..."
"Huh? Are they?" Gourry asked looking around.
"Yes they are jellyfish brains."
"Oi... Lina where exactly do you parents live?" Zelgadiss asked curiously as he watched a man near them run in fear.
She gave the swordsman a side glare, then turned to Zel. "Well, they run a store in my hometown Zefielia. Her mood dropped. "I never wanted to go back..." she muttered.
Xelloss followed behind them quietly... watching you-know-who as always.
Amelia walked faster to catch up with Lina. " Lina-san?"
"Hmm?" Lina slowed down a bit so Amelia could keep up with her pace. "What is it Amelia?"
"I don't know if I can go with you..." Amelia said softly. "Daddy sent me on a mission. That's why I'm here "
Lina stopped walking and turned to face her. "What's up? Another peace treaty? A threatening kingdom? War?" A little more lightly she also asked, "By the way, how's Phil-san doing?"
"A peace treaty," Amelia said. She smiled a bit. "He's doing well. Very active and often tours our city to make sure everyone's doing alright, as a true servant of Justice should!"
Xelloss sneezed at her mention of justice. "Guess she'll never change," he muttered.
Lina sweatdropped. "That's good to hear..." Though if anything did happen to that giant dwarf for a prince, she wondered how Amelia would take it. "Should we come with you and help 'persuade' them?" Lina asked with an innocent, deceiving-to-people-who-didn't-know-her kind of grin.
The princess narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Lina. "As long as you uphold the code of Justice..." Her eyes softened. "Besides, it's nice to travel with you..." Her eyes flickered to Zel before going quickly back to Lina.
Lina flashed a peace sign at her, then turned to everyone else. "Okay, it's been decided, then! We go with Amelia to see what's his name and make him sign the treaty! Then we can go see my parents later..."
Xelloss groaned. He didn't like the idea...at all.
Filia nodded her agreement. "I think she is just happy at the prospect of not having to see her parents for a while longer..." she murmured to herself.
Xelloss backed off a bit. "Umm... peace treaties aren't my kind of thing... so I'll leave this to you! Ja mata!" He waved before vanishing into the air.
"Xelloss-san..." Amelia half grumbled. 'Oh well,' she thought to herself. 'Maybe it's better without him.'
Lina stared at the spot he vacated for a while, then scowled quietly and looked away. " Baka mazoku," she muttered.
Zelgadiss let out a sigh of relief... 'Not having *him* around would make this mission go by quicker,' was all Zel could think as Xelloss left.
"Treaty?" Gourry asked. "What treaty?" he asked himself this time, sort of testing his knowledge.
"The peace treaty Amelia's father asked her to bring to another country/city," Filia said, rhater patiently. She felt relieved when Xelloss had left, and was even up to explaining simple things to Gourry.
"All right, then... off to Zefielia!" Amelia cheered, walking briskly.
"Zefielia? Isn't that..." Filia pondered.
Imaginary glass shattered before Lina. She froze in place, speechless from the shock. " Ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze-ze...?"
"What is it Lina-san?" Amelia stopped, looking back.
"...I REFUSE!!" she screamed, taking off in the other direction and digging a hole with her fingers, then burying herself in it.
"Hmm... that was unexpected," Xelloss remarked from his sitting place atop a bell tower. He sweatdropped at her.
Amelia's eyes went widened before she turned to the others. "What...?"
"I believe Zefielia is Lina-san's home kingdom," Filia informed her.
"Doesn't she have to go there anyway?" she asked.
The dragon nodded. "Lina-san, you have to go there to see your parents... this just saves you the trip!" she called in the direction the sorceress had gone.
"IIIEEE~!" she cried back, though since she was underground, it reached the surface as a loud earthquake.
Xelloss fell from the tower from the "earthquake". He landed on his head with a thud and an "Ouch."
Amelia sighed. "It's useless..."
"Lina-san..." Filia said, pulling out the piece of paper Luna had thrown, "The end of this note says, 'You better go... or else. Love, Sis.' I don't think she means you'll be punished by her parents..."
Lina whined, " Do I have to...?" she cried back like a little child.
"Lina-san you MUST come with me! Peace treaties are made in the name of Justice... and you ARE a servant of Justice, aren't you?..." Amelia ranted.
Filia sighed and sat on the ground, setting up tea on her blanket." Would you like some tea?" she asked Zel and Gourry. "By the way," she remarked off handedly, "Since Amelia-san is a princess bringing a peace treaty, I'm sure the king and queen would be more than happy to treat her and her friends to any food they wish... they may even throw a feast for us..."
Lina's ear twitched. "A... reward?" A few moments later her hand popped out of the ground, along with the upper part of her body. " Let's go and let them have a taste of Justice! Ne, Ameria?" Lina asked, fire lit in her eyes.
Ameria smiled. "I knew you would come through as a servant of Justice!" She agreed, pretending she hadn't heard anything about the reward. She leapt onto a rock, striking a pose, "Justice triumphs over everything! It can turn the weak to the strong, the evil to the good, and the hopeless to those who always succeed! In the end, we servants of Justice know that Justice will win!" Spontaneous lightning flashed behind her as she finished speaking.
Lina joined Ameria on top of the rock, " You're exactly right!" she declared, though the imaged portrayed behind her was a shower of gold coins.
Filia nodded, sipping her tea. Something about it tasted... odd. Odd... odd... she gagged and spit it out on the ground. This was not the tea she normally had. It burned her mouth, and her throat, and her vision blurred. "N-nani..."
Zel also had the same reaction towards the tea. "What... where the hell did you get this tea, Filia?" he asked. He would have been yelling if his voice hadn't been reduced to a rasp.
"The same place I always get it..." she answered. She painfully reached over to pull the tea bag out of the pot.
"Filia-san? Zelgadiss-san?" Amelia asked, coming off her rock. "What's wrong?"
"Huh? Filia, Zel, you guys look like you're going to be sick." Lina hopped down also and snatched the bag from Filia. She sniffed it, and sneezed. Once. Twice. Three times. "THIS IS PEPPER!!!" she yelled, throwing it on the ground... hard.
In the background, Xelloss was laughing his head off.
"I'll... be... fine..." Filia murmured. She found the water she carried to make the tea and poured some into a clean cup. She handed it to Zel, who gulped it down rather irregularly. Raising another cup to her own lips, she rejoiced mentally at the clear water. When her brain cleared, she poured another two cups and the two victims downed those.
"How did those end up as pepper?" the princess wondered aloud, peering at the bag.
Filia stood, eyes shaded, and head bowed. "I think I know..." she said very monotonously. Suddenly, she whirled around. "XELLOSS!!!" she screamed into the air, ignoring the other people that were now backing away... far away...
"Hmm?" The mazoku popped into the air, a big smile plastered on his face.
"You...!!! How did you...?!"
"Sore wa... himitsu desu," he replied, waggling his finger. He winked. "You should know better, Filia-san." With that, he disappeared again.
"Um... we better go," Amelia informed them softly, tugging on Filia's arm.
"Then lets go!" Gourry shouted, raising his fist into the air.
Zel, who had held back from attempting to pulverize Xelloss, sighed, cleared his throat, and followed them. Then, out of the shadows, mysterious black clawed hands dart out and grab Zel, pulling him from the rest of the group and leaving only a note.
"I've never been to Zefielia..." said Gourry. "Oi! Zel, have you?" Stopping, he looked behind him to see a dotted outline of Zel, only with out him. "Eh?"
"Huh? Where's Zel?" Lina asked, leaning back around the corner. "And... when did the crowd disappear?"
Gourry looked over Lina's shoulder to see an empty street. Scratching his head he walked back down the street. "Huh? What's this?" he asked, picking up the dusty note off the ground. "It's a note from Zel!" He exclaimed. "It says 'Go on without me, I'll meet up with you later,'" he read. "Well I guess Zel wants us to without him..." Gourry said with an expression that he was in deep thought.
Lina nearly ripped her hair out. "Mou...! Why does that guy always go on his own!?" she asked, frustrated. "You would think he'd change after all this time...!" She paused. "Wait, this does seem a little unlike him..."
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Hai, hai, I know I said we wouldn't update unless we got reviews... well, we got one! ^-^ Thankies! Want to know what happened to Zel? Want to tell me about any mistakes in here? (I didn't type this chapter! Blame it on her! *points to Flame* Just kidding, but she did type it...) Review! Click...