Disclaimer: No officer, I didn't steal the Slayers characters. It was. .
. *points at the reader* that person! Go get 'em!
Dawn warmed the world and Sairaag slowly came to life. Farmers began to work their fields. Merchants opened up their shops for another day of sales. Children played in the streets oblivious to the doom that walked among them.
Lina Inverse walked down the streets of Sairaag staring in wonder at everything around her. The city had been restored to its former glory. Even after all the destruction that had plagued the city, the people had just rebuilt again. There was probably a lesson in there somewhere, but Lina's mind was occupied by other thoughts.
"Where are we going anyway?" Emily hurried to keep up with her mother. "You said the fragment was in Sairaag, but. . ." She looked around before continuing. ". . .the city's so big. We could spend days searching for it."
Lina shook her head. "No, I know exactly where it is. Do you see that?" Lina pointed to the ruins of Hellmaster Phibrizzo's temple. Even after all these years, the temple ruins still loomed over the city like a festering sore. "That's where we're going Emily."
Emily nodded. "Right."
They both stood quietly staring at the temple for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Destiny awaited them within those walls.
Lina broke the silence. "Right after we eat! Come on." She turned and walked into a small café. She plopped down at a table and yelled, "Hey! What do I have to do to get some service around here?!"
Emily sat down across from Lina as the waiter came hurrying up.
"I'm very sorry ma'am. We don't open for another half hour."
Lina stared at him with a murderous expression on her face.
The waiter gulped nervously and continued. "But, I'm sure we can make an exception for you ladies. What can I get for you?" He handed them both menus.
"Well for starters, coffee. And keep it coming." Lina shot Emily a nasty look. "Some of us didn't sleep very well last night."
Emily returned Lina's glare. "Excuse me? You basically told me that you were dying last night and you're giving me grief because I had trouble dealing with it? You're impossible!"
Lina was about to say something when she saw the waiter backing away from the table. "Hey! I'm not done with you yet!"
The waiter stammered nervously. "I thought you ladies would like a moment to look at the menu."
Lina shook her head and waved a finger at the waiter. "Uh-uh. Just bring me two of everything." She casually tossed her menu to him. "And where's my coffee?!"
The waiter looked terrified and confused all at once. "But. . .well, ma'am I haven't had a chance to. . ."
Lina sighed and waved him off. "Whatever."
The terrified waiter turned to Emily and forced a smile. "What can I get for you miss?"
Emily perused the menu briefly before handing it to the waiter. "I'll have the breakfast special."
The waiter nodded and quickly departed lest he spark Lina's wrath.
Emily looked at Lina. "So what do we do after we get the fragment?" She smiled at the waiter as he put a cup of coffee in front of her. "Thank you very much."
Lina glared at him. "Is my food ready yet?"
"Well, no. It'll be ready in a few minutes."
Lina slammed her head down on the table spilling her coffee. She whined, "I'm not hungry in a few minutes! I'm hungry now!"
The waiter retreated to the kitchen.
Emily frowned. "Mom, you don't have to be so rude you know. Anyway, you didn't answer my question."
Lina sighed and mumbled, "What?"
"What are we going to do when you get the fragment? We don't know where the other ones are."
"We're just going to have to count on Zelgadis for that part."
Emily almost choked on her coffee. She stared at Lina incredulously. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah, really."
Emily sighed and massaged her temples. "Okay mom, let me see if I've got this straight. You're relying on Zelgadis to. . ." She started listing points on her fingers. ". . .find three Soul Render fragments, figure out where we've gone, and get here before the Lord of Nightmares awakens inside you?"
Lina glared at Emily irately. "Well. . ." She thought for a moment about the situation before she favored Emily with a weak smile. "Yeah. What about it?"
Emily sighed hopelessly. "Nothing." She shook her head and sipped her coffee. "You have a lot more faith in that priest than I do."
"Hmm?" Lina perked up. "What did you just say?"
Emily rolled her eyes. "I said you have a lot more faith in Zelgadis than I do."
Lina shook her head angrily. "That's not what you said. Something about a priest."
Emily shrugged. "Well, yeah. The kids from Cruso said that Mr. Priest killed dad. I thought it was kind of odd that Zelgadis was a priest, but whatever. I mean, he doesn't even look like a priest much less act like one." Emily noticed that Lina looked seriously troubled. "Mom, are you okay?"
Lina ignored Emily and mumbled to herself, "Mr. Priest. Could they have meant mysterious priest?" An image of Xellos's smiling face flashed through her mind and her eyes widened in shock. "Could it be? Could it have been him?"
"Mom, what's the matter?"
Lina looked up at Emily frightened. "We have to go. Right now."
"Now? But. . ."
"No buts!" Lina dragged Emily out of her seat and ran out the door.
The waiter returned to the table a moment later carrying a huge tray of food. "Here we go! Two of everything on the menu and one breakfast combo." He looked at the empty chairs and then at the door. He didn't know whether to be relieved or angry. After a moment, he settled on relief.
Emily gasped for air. "Mom, where are we going?"
"To Phibrizzo's temple! If Xellos is involved, we don't have any time to waste."
Amelia looked around confused. There was no sign of any violence in the city. No property damage. No casualties. "Zelgadis? Do you think we made a mistake?"
Zelgadis shook his head. "No, I'm positive that this is where Lina would have gone. It fits the pattern."
Phil frowned. "I hope that they weren't caught by those assassins."
Zelgadis stopped walking and crossed his arms. "No, Lina wouldn't fall for anything like that. She's here, I'm sure of it." He looked around for a moment and his eyes widened in surprise. "Holy. . ."
Lina barreled into the group at full speed dragging Emily behind her. "What the hell are you doing Zel?! Get moving or get out of the way!"
Zelgadis and the others picked themselves up off the ground and sprinted after Lina and Emily.
Lina looked up to see Zelgadis running beside her. "Zel, you said that you didn't want to hurt the people in Cruso. What happened?"
Amelia looked concerned. "Cruso? Zelgadis, that was you?"
"I'll explain later Amelia." Zelgadis turned back to Lina. "I still don't understand what happened Lina. My chimeras were supposed to be docile. They just ran wild."
Emily smiled at Phil. "Hi."
Phil returned her smile. "Hello." He looked concerned for a moment. "Emily, doesn't that hurt?"
Emily noticed that Lina still had her in a headlock and was dragging her down the street by her neck. She sighed. "Not really. I'm used to it."
Lina continued. "They just went wild, right? Almost as if someone had cast a spell to make them more aggressive."
Zelgadis nodded. "I guess that could be a possibility." He gasped. "Lina! Are you saying. . ?"
Lina glared at him. She had a dangerous tone in her voice. "Where have you been for the last twenty-eight years Zel? More specifically, what have you been doing?"
Zelgadis swallowed nervously. He glanced over at Amelia who was looking at him questioningly. He turned back to Lina. "Well, I've been doing research of course. Trying to find my cure."
Phil interjected. "Mr. Greywords, didn't you say that Xellos character helped you in your research from time to time?"
Amelia gasped in surprise. "Zelgadis? You've been associating with that demon?"
Lina held up a finger to silence Amelia. "Later Amelia!" She nodded angrily. "Just as I suspected. Xellos was in that village wasn't he Zel?"
Zelgadis nodded. "Yeah." He could feel Amelia's questioning gaze.
"And you said that the kids told you that Mr. Priest killed their parents right?" Lina looked down to see Emily beaming happily at Phil. She rolled her eyes and shook Emily violently. "Hey! Pay attention!"
Emily gasped. "Oh, what?" She looked at Lina. "Yeah, Mr. Priest."
Zelgadis frowned. "Mysterious priest."
Lina nodded. "Right. Xellos, mysterious priest."
"Well, I guess you've finally figured it all out Lina."
Lina and the others skidded to a stop. Standing in the middle of the street ahead of them, Xellos smiled wickedly. "I've been waiting for you."
Lina snarled at Xellos. "You killed Gourry didn't you?" She released her hold on Emily and took a defensive stance.
Xellos thought for a moment before smiling. "Well, I guess you could say I had a hand in it. I think gravity did most of the work for me though."
Lina was trembling with barely contained rage. "Why?"
Xellos yawned.
Emily drew her sword and stepped forward until she was next to Lina. "Answer her! Why did you kill my dad?"
Xellos shrugged. "Call it a disciplinary action. When you meddle in demon affairs, you're bound to get hurt." Xellos glared at them darkly as he continued. "Interfering with Lord Ruby Eyes is an unforgivable crime."
Lina whispered, "But, why Gourry? I dragged him into everything. You know that it's my fault."
Xellos laughed. "Oh Lina! That's precisely the point! Gourry was relatively innocent and I killed him anyway." His expression was full of mirth as he regarded Lina. "I killed him because that would hurt you more than anything else I could have done to you! Think about it Lina! Gourry's death is your fault you know."
Lina fell to her knees. "Oh Gourry. . ."
Emily looked at Lina for a moment before she turned to face the demon priest again. "Monster!"
Xellos smiled at her. "You'll die momentarily my dear. I'll be sure to kill you before Lina." He turned to Lina. "Consider this another part of your punishment, Lina."
Lina looked back and forth between Xellos and Emily frightened.
First, I have some other business to deal with." He turned to Amelia. "And what about you Miss Amelia? Regretting your association with Zelgadis now?" He shook his head. "A murderer and heartless as well. Isn't that right Zelgadis? You're partially responsible for Gourry's death as well. To say nothing of those poor, dead people in Cruso. My, my. You more of a monster than even me. Bravo!" He clapped his hands a couple times.
Zelgadis stared at him mutely. He turned to see Amelia looking at him distrustfully.
Phil spoke up angrily. "You're lying! You brought all of this about, demon!"
Xellos opened his violet eyes and regarded Phil darkly. "Young man, I do not lie. These pathetic people brought everything that happened to them on themselves. Just as you have now." He pointed at something behind Phil.
Phil turned to see his father riding down the street towards them at the head of a large group of soldiers. "Father?"
Edward was shouting orders to the men. "Burn the city! There must be no witnesses!"
Phil watched in horror as the soldiers scattered and began to cut down helpless civilians. Several men began to set fire to the city.
Xellos laughed. "You see? If you had just stayed in Seyruun where you belong, these people wouldn't be dying. That goes for you as well Miss Amelia!"
Amelia recoiled as if she had been struck.
Phil stared at the trickster priest for a moment before he turned to face Edward. "Father! Please stop this! These are innocent people! They've done nothing to deserve this treatment!"
Edward turned to face his son. He looked at him with a mixture of pity and disgust on his face. "Son, you always were a huge disappointment. I let you spend too much time with your mother." He nodded to an archer standing next to him.
A moment later Phil fell to his knees, an arrow lodged in his stomach.
Emily and Amelia screamed his name simultaneously and ran towards him.
Xellos melted into the shadows only to reappear a moment later in front of the fallen prince. He leaned down and lifted Phil's chin until their faces were inches apart. He whispered, "Do you see?" He gestured to the carnage surrounding them. "Do you see what your foolish ideals have wrought?" He laughed and disappeared right before Emily's blade cut through the space his head had occupied.
Amelia crouched down next to Phil. "Phil? You're going to be alright."
Phil ignored her. Instead, he looked up at Edward with a bewildered expression on his face. "Father?"
Edward looked at him distastefully. He then turned to Lina. "Inverse, you are hopelessly outnumbered. If you surrender, I promise you will die a quick death."
Lina looked around at her friends wordlessly. Phil was down. Amelia and Emily both looked as if their spirits had been broken, and Zel. . . She glanced over at Zelgadis. He was looking around as if he didn't know where he was or why he was there.
Lina turned her gaze back to where Edward was waiting for her answer with Xellos by his side. She realized that they had lost the battle before it had even begun.
Next Chapter: Things are looking bad for the group. Edward has an army at his disposal and our heroes are already down by one. On top of that Lina's not going to fight?! But neither is Xellos for that matter. . .
Notes: Everyone still with me? Good. This chapter is pretty much filler to get us to the big climax which is much better IMO, than the other extremely sucky ending I had planned out originally. I hope it was entertaining filler though.
On to the reviews!
CT, despite what you might think, I love L/G. Chapter 20 wasn't a fun one to write, but it had to be done. The original results of Lina's dream were going to be far worse than the slap on the wrist I ended up letting her off with. E-mail me if you want to know what it was.
Matakishi, was it painfully obvious or just kinda obvious?
Hikari, thanks for the kind words about the story. Regarding the sequel I mentioned, it's not going to be a direct follow up to this one. The way I'm figuring it, the sequel's going to take place at least a couple hundred years in the future. *Sigh* I hope I didn't give too much away there. . . Anyway, don't look for it for a little while. My ideas on it are extremely preliminary at this point.
I hope everyone is sitting down. . . Well I assume you are anyway. You are looking at a computer screen right? Okay. Everything is done. There are 4 more chapters after this one and I'm thinking of throwing them all up at once early next week. Or would you rather I put them up a little slower? Tell me!
Until next time peeps!
Dawn warmed the world and Sairaag slowly came to life. Farmers began to work their fields. Merchants opened up their shops for another day of sales. Children played in the streets oblivious to the doom that walked among them.
Lina Inverse walked down the streets of Sairaag staring in wonder at everything around her. The city had been restored to its former glory. Even after all the destruction that had plagued the city, the people had just rebuilt again. There was probably a lesson in there somewhere, but Lina's mind was occupied by other thoughts.
"Where are we going anyway?" Emily hurried to keep up with her mother. "You said the fragment was in Sairaag, but. . ." She looked around before continuing. ". . .the city's so big. We could spend days searching for it."
Lina shook her head. "No, I know exactly where it is. Do you see that?" Lina pointed to the ruins of Hellmaster Phibrizzo's temple. Even after all these years, the temple ruins still loomed over the city like a festering sore. "That's where we're going Emily."
Emily nodded. "Right."
They both stood quietly staring at the temple for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Destiny awaited them within those walls.
Lina broke the silence. "Right after we eat! Come on." She turned and walked into a small café. She plopped down at a table and yelled, "Hey! What do I have to do to get some service around here?!"
Emily sat down across from Lina as the waiter came hurrying up.
"I'm very sorry ma'am. We don't open for another half hour."
Lina stared at him with a murderous expression on her face.
The waiter gulped nervously and continued. "But, I'm sure we can make an exception for you ladies. What can I get for you?" He handed them both menus.
"Well for starters, coffee. And keep it coming." Lina shot Emily a nasty look. "Some of us didn't sleep very well last night."
Emily returned Lina's glare. "Excuse me? You basically told me that you were dying last night and you're giving me grief because I had trouble dealing with it? You're impossible!"
Lina was about to say something when she saw the waiter backing away from the table. "Hey! I'm not done with you yet!"
The waiter stammered nervously. "I thought you ladies would like a moment to look at the menu."
Lina shook her head and waved a finger at the waiter. "Uh-uh. Just bring me two of everything." She casually tossed her menu to him. "And where's my coffee?!"
The waiter looked terrified and confused all at once. "But. . .well, ma'am I haven't had a chance to. . ."
Lina sighed and waved him off. "Whatever."
The terrified waiter turned to Emily and forced a smile. "What can I get for you miss?"
Emily perused the menu briefly before handing it to the waiter. "I'll have the breakfast special."
The waiter nodded and quickly departed lest he spark Lina's wrath.
Emily looked at Lina. "So what do we do after we get the fragment?" She smiled at the waiter as he put a cup of coffee in front of her. "Thank you very much."
Lina glared at him. "Is my food ready yet?"
"Well, no. It'll be ready in a few minutes."
Lina slammed her head down on the table spilling her coffee. She whined, "I'm not hungry in a few minutes! I'm hungry now!"
The waiter retreated to the kitchen.
Emily frowned. "Mom, you don't have to be so rude you know. Anyway, you didn't answer my question."
Lina sighed and mumbled, "What?"
"What are we going to do when you get the fragment? We don't know where the other ones are."
"We're just going to have to count on Zelgadis for that part."
Emily almost choked on her coffee. She stared at Lina incredulously. "Oh, really?"
"Yeah, really."
Emily sighed and massaged her temples. "Okay mom, let me see if I've got this straight. You're relying on Zelgadis to. . ." She started listing points on her fingers. ". . .find three Soul Render fragments, figure out where we've gone, and get here before the Lord of Nightmares awakens inside you?"
Lina glared at Emily irately. "Well. . ." She thought for a moment about the situation before she favored Emily with a weak smile. "Yeah. What about it?"
Emily sighed hopelessly. "Nothing." She shook her head and sipped her coffee. "You have a lot more faith in that priest than I do."
"Hmm?" Lina perked up. "What did you just say?"
Emily rolled her eyes. "I said you have a lot more faith in Zelgadis than I do."
Lina shook her head angrily. "That's not what you said. Something about a priest."
Emily shrugged. "Well, yeah. The kids from Cruso said that Mr. Priest killed dad. I thought it was kind of odd that Zelgadis was a priest, but whatever. I mean, he doesn't even look like a priest much less act like one." Emily noticed that Lina looked seriously troubled. "Mom, are you okay?"
Lina ignored Emily and mumbled to herself, "Mr. Priest. Could they have meant mysterious priest?" An image of Xellos's smiling face flashed through her mind and her eyes widened in shock. "Could it be? Could it have been him?"
"Mom, what's the matter?"
Lina looked up at Emily frightened. "We have to go. Right now."
"Now? But. . ."
"No buts!" Lina dragged Emily out of her seat and ran out the door.
The waiter returned to the table a moment later carrying a huge tray of food. "Here we go! Two of everything on the menu and one breakfast combo." He looked at the empty chairs and then at the door. He didn't know whether to be relieved or angry. After a moment, he settled on relief.
Emily gasped for air. "Mom, where are we going?"
"To Phibrizzo's temple! If Xellos is involved, we don't have any time to waste."
Amelia looked around confused. There was no sign of any violence in the city. No property damage. No casualties. "Zelgadis? Do you think we made a mistake?"
Zelgadis shook his head. "No, I'm positive that this is where Lina would have gone. It fits the pattern."
Phil frowned. "I hope that they weren't caught by those assassins."
Zelgadis stopped walking and crossed his arms. "No, Lina wouldn't fall for anything like that. She's here, I'm sure of it." He looked around for a moment and his eyes widened in surprise. "Holy. . ."
Lina barreled into the group at full speed dragging Emily behind her. "What the hell are you doing Zel?! Get moving or get out of the way!"
Zelgadis and the others picked themselves up off the ground and sprinted after Lina and Emily.
Lina looked up to see Zelgadis running beside her. "Zel, you said that you didn't want to hurt the people in Cruso. What happened?"
Amelia looked concerned. "Cruso? Zelgadis, that was you?"
"I'll explain later Amelia." Zelgadis turned back to Lina. "I still don't understand what happened Lina. My chimeras were supposed to be docile. They just ran wild."
Emily smiled at Phil. "Hi."
Phil returned her smile. "Hello." He looked concerned for a moment. "Emily, doesn't that hurt?"
Emily noticed that Lina still had her in a headlock and was dragging her down the street by her neck. She sighed. "Not really. I'm used to it."
Lina continued. "They just went wild, right? Almost as if someone had cast a spell to make them more aggressive."
Zelgadis nodded. "I guess that could be a possibility." He gasped. "Lina! Are you saying. . ?"
Lina glared at him. She had a dangerous tone in her voice. "Where have you been for the last twenty-eight years Zel? More specifically, what have you been doing?"
Zelgadis swallowed nervously. He glanced over at Amelia who was looking at him questioningly. He turned back to Lina. "Well, I've been doing research of course. Trying to find my cure."
Phil interjected. "Mr. Greywords, didn't you say that Xellos character helped you in your research from time to time?"
Amelia gasped in surprise. "Zelgadis? You've been associating with that demon?"
Lina held up a finger to silence Amelia. "Later Amelia!" She nodded angrily. "Just as I suspected. Xellos was in that village wasn't he Zel?"
Zelgadis nodded. "Yeah." He could feel Amelia's questioning gaze.
"And you said that the kids told you that Mr. Priest killed their parents right?" Lina looked down to see Emily beaming happily at Phil. She rolled her eyes and shook Emily violently. "Hey! Pay attention!"
Emily gasped. "Oh, what?" She looked at Lina. "Yeah, Mr. Priest."
Zelgadis frowned. "Mysterious priest."
Lina nodded. "Right. Xellos, mysterious priest."
"Well, I guess you've finally figured it all out Lina."
Lina and the others skidded to a stop. Standing in the middle of the street ahead of them, Xellos smiled wickedly. "I've been waiting for you."
Lina snarled at Xellos. "You killed Gourry didn't you?" She released her hold on Emily and took a defensive stance.
Xellos thought for a moment before smiling. "Well, I guess you could say I had a hand in it. I think gravity did most of the work for me though."
Lina was trembling with barely contained rage. "Why?"
Xellos yawned.
Emily drew her sword and stepped forward until she was next to Lina. "Answer her! Why did you kill my dad?"
Xellos shrugged. "Call it a disciplinary action. When you meddle in demon affairs, you're bound to get hurt." Xellos glared at them darkly as he continued. "Interfering with Lord Ruby Eyes is an unforgivable crime."
Lina whispered, "But, why Gourry? I dragged him into everything. You know that it's my fault."
Xellos laughed. "Oh Lina! That's precisely the point! Gourry was relatively innocent and I killed him anyway." His expression was full of mirth as he regarded Lina. "I killed him because that would hurt you more than anything else I could have done to you! Think about it Lina! Gourry's death is your fault you know."
Lina fell to her knees. "Oh Gourry. . ."
Emily looked at Lina for a moment before she turned to face the demon priest again. "Monster!"
Xellos smiled at her. "You'll die momentarily my dear. I'll be sure to kill you before Lina." He turned to Lina. "Consider this another part of your punishment, Lina."
Lina looked back and forth between Xellos and Emily frightened.
First, I have some other business to deal with." He turned to Amelia. "And what about you Miss Amelia? Regretting your association with Zelgadis now?" He shook his head. "A murderer and heartless as well. Isn't that right Zelgadis? You're partially responsible for Gourry's death as well. To say nothing of those poor, dead people in Cruso. My, my. You more of a monster than even me. Bravo!" He clapped his hands a couple times.
Zelgadis stared at him mutely. He turned to see Amelia looking at him distrustfully.
Phil spoke up angrily. "You're lying! You brought all of this about, demon!"
Xellos opened his violet eyes and regarded Phil darkly. "Young man, I do not lie. These pathetic people brought everything that happened to them on themselves. Just as you have now." He pointed at something behind Phil.
Phil turned to see his father riding down the street towards them at the head of a large group of soldiers. "Father?"
Edward was shouting orders to the men. "Burn the city! There must be no witnesses!"
Phil watched in horror as the soldiers scattered and began to cut down helpless civilians. Several men began to set fire to the city.
Xellos laughed. "You see? If you had just stayed in Seyruun where you belong, these people wouldn't be dying. That goes for you as well Miss Amelia!"
Amelia recoiled as if she had been struck.
Phil stared at the trickster priest for a moment before he turned to face Edward. "Father! Please stop this! These are innocent people! They've done nothing to deserve this treatment!"
Edward turned to face his son. He looked at him with a mixture of pity and disgust on his face. "Son, you always were a huge disappointment. I let you spend too much time with your mother." He nodded to an archer standing next to him.
A moment later Phil fell to his knees, an arrow lodged in his stomach.
Emily and Amelia screamed his name simultaneously and ran towards him.
Xellos melted into the shadows only to reappear a moment later in front of the fallen prince. He leaned down and lifted Phil's chin until their faces were inches apart. He whispered, "Do you see?" He gestured to the carnage surrounding them. "Do you see what your foolish ideals have wrought?" He laughed and disappeared right before Emily's blade cut through the space his head had occupied.
Amelia crouched down next to Phil. "Phil? You're going to be alright."
Phil ignored her. Instead, he looked up at Edward with a bewildered expression on his face. "Father?"
Edward looked at him distastefully. He then turned to Lina. "Inverse, you are hopelessly outnumbered. If you surrender, I promise you will die a quick death."
Lina looked around at her friends wordlessly. Phil was down. Amelia and Emily both looked as if their spirits had been broken, and Zel. . . She glanced over at Zelgadis. He was looking around as if he didn't know where he was or why he was there.
Lina turned her gaze back to where Edward was waiting for her answer with Xellos by his side. She realized that they had lost the battle before it had even begun.
Next Chapter: Things are looking bad for the group. Edward has an army at his disposal and our heroes are already down by one. On top of that Lina's not going to fight?! But neither is Xellos for that matter. . .
Notes: Everyone still with me? Good. This chapter is pretty much filler to get us to the big climax which is much better IMO, than the other extremely sucky ending I had planned out originally. I hope it was entertaining filler though.
On to the reviews!
CT, despite what you might think, I love L/G. Chapter 20 wasn't a fun one to write, but it had to be done. The original results of Lina's dream were going to be far worse than the slap on the wrist I ended up letting her off with. E-mail me if you want to know what it was.
Matakishi, was it painfully obvious or just kinda obvious?
Hikari, thanks for the kind words about the story. Regarding the sequel I mentioned, it's not going to be a direct follow up to this one. The way I'm figuring it, the sequel's going to take place at least a couple hundred years in the future. *Sigh* I hope I didn't give too much away there. . . Anyway, don't look for it for a little while. My ideas on it are extremely preliminary at this point.
I hope everyone is sitting down. . . Well I assume you are anyway. You are looking at a computer screen right? Okay. Everything is done. There are 4 more chapters after this one and I'm thinking of throwing them all up at once early next week. Or would you rather I put them up a little slower? Tell me!
Until next time peeps!
