A/N: Hello everyone!  Thanks for the reviews! ^_^

(To Slayers) Oi!  There's food in the other room!

*All of them go running towards the said room*

A/N: Alright, now that they aren't here, I'll answer your questions:

Alea Seikou – Kamikaze = Divine wind or suicidal?

A: Well, in the Slayers world, Korin's main power will derive from a very strong network of wind.  Meaning, she channels the chaotic power she receives from L-sama and uses it in the form of wind.  So basically, I'm going for the divine wind definition.

Filing Sloth: Giving up on "Liona Inverse the Dragon Tamer"?

A: Of course not.  This story is a prequel of sorts so that that story makes a bit more sense as far as why she can control creatures the way she does.  Other things as well.

A/N: Hmm… That's it?  Okay then.  Read, Savor, and Enjoy the Story!  Don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own any material that isn't mine.

Run!  The Mazoku are Everywhere!

            "Kami . . . kaze?"  Gourry closed his eyes and assumed his "thinking" pose.  "Hmm…"

            "Ah!  - Umm… What's that?"

            Lina thwacked Gourry on the back of his head.  "Jellyfish brains!  'Kamikaze' literally means 'divine wind'."

            Korin smirked.  She closed her eyes in a Xellos-like manner and nodded.  "My, my.  You certainly know your vocabulary.  Yes, I am a knight whose specialty is divine wind.  Observe."

            Korin raised her right hand and with a swift movement, swung it downwind to the right.  Her hand movement released a small torrent of visible wind from her fingertips, directly past the Slayers.  The five arrow-shaped wind bolts slashed the tree behind them.  A second passed before the tree toppled down in one clean sweep.

            Korin then made another gesture and a gentle wind softly guided the falling tree to a quiet landing.  Liona clapped happily and giggled.  The others looked from the tree to Korin, to the tree, and back to Korin, amazed.  Korin smiled and mock-bowed before Liona.

            "I'm glad you liked my performance."

            Lina smiled and shrugged.  She put a hand on Korin's shoulder and said, "I don't know who you are or what your purpose is, but thanks for protecting the little ones."

            In a voice low enough so that they could barely hear, Korin replied, "I'm only doing what I was ordered to do."  In a regular tone, Korin smiled and told them, "It was nothing.  Mazoku that are too afraid to come out of the shadows are nothing to be afraid of."

            A moment passed.  The statement sunk in.  The five Slayers (Including Filia) simultaneously exclaimed, "EHH?!?!"

            Gourry, surprised, verified, "That was a monster?!  I couldn't see him too well."

            Filia shuddered.  "Another mazoku!  Oh Kami-sama, why me?"

            Korin smirked.  She thought to herself, "Interesting who she's praying to when I can channel her thoughts straight to L-sama."

            Lina had a questioning look on her face.  "How did you know a Mazoku attacked?"

            Korin blinked.  She gestured for the wind to act as a cushion so that she could comfortably sit cross-legged in the air.  She slightly cocked her head to one side and asked innocently, "Wasn't it obvious?"

            They all shook their heads.

            Korin sighed.  "You, more than anybody else, should know that Mazoku have a distinct air about them.  First, most Mazoku will naturally reek of blood because they've killed so many times.  Second, all Mazoku have a stronger astral presence than other beings, since that really is much of their original form.  Third, his eyes showed the traditional Mazoku slitted eyes.  You didn't notice those things?"

            Zelgadis angrily stated, "We were all too /occupied/ to notice those things.  By the way, you seem awfully familiar with the characteristics of Mazoku.  Just who are you, really?"

            Korin sighed again and shook her head.  "I seem to have gotten myself on your suspicion list, haven't I?  Maybe I said too much.  Well, truth be told, I do several odd jobs for my master, many of which that include Mazoku.  I can truthfully swear to you that I am /not/ a Mazoku or an evil being.  Can't you trust my word?"

            A small growl came from the back of Zelgadis' throat.  It was obvious that he didn't.  Meanwhile, Liona had been squirming to get out of Gourry's grasp.  Before anyone could stop her, she wriggled out and jumped onto Korin's chest.  Korin was expecting this, so she softly wrapped her arms around Liona's small figure and smiled softly.  Liona immediately let go.  Korin's scent had intoxicated Liona's senses so that she felt incredibly tired.  Korin bent down her head and whispered into Liona's ear, "Don't worry little one.  L-sama is watching over you.  As long as I'm here, I will protect you from all danger.  But let this be a secret between us two."

            Korin held up a now fast asleep Liona.  She descended and carefully handed her over to Lina.  With a jump, she levitated back into the air.  "Well, Lina-san.  My job is temporarily put off.  My only advice to you and your friends is to be on the watch every minute of every day.  If you aren't, you'll be in for a major surprise when you reach Dils.  Well then, duty calls.  Try to stay out of trouble for Liona's sake.  Farewell for now."

            With that, Korin teleported away.

            A stressmark appeared on Zel's head.  "She tells us to trust her and that she's not a Mazoku, and then goes and teleports like one!  I don't trust her one bit."

            Lina shrugged and turned in the direction of Dils.  "Nothing we can do about it.  We owe her for protecting Val and Liona-chan.  The only thing we can do now is take her advice and wait for them to come to us.  So let's go!"

            A shout of agreement came from all of the travelers.  They started to walk in the direction of Dils.

            Over the course of the remaining week, they were attacked several times.  None, however, were as big as the day that Korin made her appearance.  Speaking of Korin, she hadn't appeared again at all until they arrived in Dils, but her presence was evident.  Now, Gourry and Lina tried even harder to protect Liona, but even for them, some fiends would still get through their defense.  But if anyone outside of the Slayers even came within one foot of Liona, a golden shield would appear around her and blast the intruder back at least 8 feet.  That would be when Lina and or Gourry would finish the intruder off.

            Finally, Lina-tachi reached the capital city of Dils.  There were several things that they all noticed immediately.  First, sentries were on guard at every single doorway and every so often, they could see groups of soldiers roaming the streets.  Second, all of the buildings were gray and dreary.  Third, the sky was thickly covered in gray storm clouds.  These things made the Slayers automatically feel uneasy and dread what was to come.

Lina's stomach growled, quickly followed by Gourry and Liona's stomach.  With food in their minds, they set out to find the closest restaurant or inn.  The others followed them down the street.  About five minutes later, Lina finally spotted a large restaurant called, "Dils Diner".  Lina started to walk through the doorway before the crossed spears of two door sentries stopped her.

Outraged as usual, especially with her hunger increasing dramatically by the second, Lina exclaimed, "What's the meaning of this?!  Do you have any idea who I am?!"

With eyes looking straight ahead, the left sentry mechanically stated, "Show your ID.  This diner is reserved for people who have identification."

This made Lina even madder.  "What?!  ID?  I don't need no stinkin' ID!  I am Lina Inverse- Sorceress Extraordinaire!"

The right sentry repeated in the same manner but a bit firmer, "Show your ID.  This diner is reserved for people who have identification."

"That's it!  FIREBALL!!!"

The sentries didn't even flinch as the ball of fire bounced off of their armor.

"Nani?! (What?!)  What happened?"

Filia and Amelia held Lina back before she tried to attack again.  Filia answered, "Of course it didn't work, Lina-san.  Didn't you notice that their armor is made out of orhalthcon?"

"Eh?  Oh, you're right."  Lina let out an exasperated sigh and escaped their hold.  "Fine then.  We'll just have to eat elsewhere.  Come on; I'm hungry."  Lina turned and walked away.  The others looked at each other and ran after her.

The Slayers went all over town looking for a place to eat.  Unfortunately, every place demanded the same thing; identification.  Hours later, the seven weary travelers rested on the edge of a large fountain.

Lina sighed.  "That was the last of them.  Darn it, why does this city alone insist on asking for ID?"

It was then that Korin teleported in.  "Yare, yare.  What are you all doing, sitting around?  Didn't you have a mission to accomplish?"

Amelia let out a heavy sigh and answered for everyone.  "We're too tired to go to the castle.  We need food and rest but everywhere we go, we're asked for ID, and we don't know what they mean by that."

Korin rolled her eyes and exhaled deeply.  "You guys are hopeless.  Here, follow me; I'll get you in."

Slightly puzzled, Lina, Gourry, Liona, Zel, Amelia, Filia, and Val, followed Korin to the castle gate.  Like the Slayers, she was stopped and asked for Identification.  She wordlessly held out her hand, spread out her fingers, and launched her wind attack.  The two shots on either side of her middle finger hit both eyes of both sentries.  The middle one attacked the gate at the exact middle, unlocking it.  Korin easily pushed open the gates and gestured for them to go inside.

The Slayers all sweatdropped.  Lina exclaimed, "THAT'S their idea of identification?!"

Korin shrugged.  "I guess you could say that.  Don't worry; all of the sentries here are mazoku – they can easily heal from that kind of attack."

Gourry, Amelia, and Filia's eyes became saucers.  "ALL of them?!  So this place is crawling with mazoku?!"  Filia shuddered.

Xellos suddenly popped in and said, "You aren't /scared/ are you, Filia-san?"

"Eh?  NAMAGOMI!"

Before Filia could hit him with the mace, Xellos teleported away again.  Unfortunately, Korin was standing directly behind where Xellos was.  If it weren't for Korin's wind shield and power, she would have been sent flying.

In a grim tone, Korin stated, "You shouldn't play around at a time like this.  I suggest that you go in before those two sentries revive themselves.  If they do, I'm not going to help you."

After easily choosing entering over facing the sentry mazoku themselves, the Slayers walked through the gate.  Korin closed the gates behind them.  Korin then confidently strode towards the front door, repeated the action and once more walked through.

The Slayers were amazed at the interior.  Everything was constructed of a shiny ice-blue marble.  The multiple chandeliers up above each housed 10 blue flames on gray candles.  Korin silently led them through the empty corridors to a giant set of double doors.  Korin used her wind to open these doors as well.  This was repeated a final time as Korin opened the doors to what was the Slayers' greatest delight, at the moment.  It was a long table filled with piles of succulent dishes of food almost identical to the buffet that was at the temple of the Flare Dragon (Filia's ex-temple/shrine).

Korin finally told them, "Eat as much as you want for now.  Be sure to feed the kids as well.  I have other business here, so you must excuse me.  Well, bon appetit!"

Gourry stated as he drooled, "I don't know what you just said, but let's dig in!"  A loud shout of agreement echoed throughout the large room as the Slayers did just that.  Korin smirked once more as she backed out of the room and teleported to a different part of the castle.

When all of the Slayers were stuffed, Korin returned.

After acknowledging that everyone was well fed, she led them to the other side of the castle.  In one room, there were two luxurious canopy beds – both a blood red in color.  There was also a basic dresser and mirror as well as an adjoining bathroom.  Korin led the girls to this room before leading the boys to the room across the hall.  This room also had two canopy beds, but these were a dark blue.  It also had a desk and an adjoining bathroom.  Korin left them to change into the supplied clothes and go to sleep.  Korin did the same for the girl's side.  When Amelia asked where she was going to sleep, Korin just smiled and shook her head.

"When you wake up, meet up with the guys and follow the corridor back to the main entrance.  From there, turn and go up the stairs and through the door to the throne room.  I'll be waiting for you there, as well as the king and his advisors.  Well, good night."

Once everyone was in bed, Korin blew out the light and disappeared into the night.  When Lina woke up the next morning, she went over to the window and peeked outside.  To her surprise, it was the same exact temperature and color as the day before.  Apparently, the sky didn't change whether it was morning, noon, or night.  The clock on her bedside table told her that it was approximately 8:30 AM (I don't know how their clocks work).  Lina changed back into her clothes and fixed her hair.  During this time, the others happened to wake up.  Lina took Liona and the four girls (including Liona) went across the hallway to the guys' door.  Amelia quietly knocked.

Zelgadis soon opened the door.  He was fully dressed and had a sleepy but awake Val in his arms.  Zel was incredibly grumpy for some reason, however.

Amelia sensed that something seemed off.  She asked, "Zelgadis-san?  What's wrong?  Are you sick?  You seem a bit different this morning."

Zel gruffly handed Val over to Filia and replied, "This is how I always am before I have my coffee.  Not to mention Gourry snored so loud throughout the night that I could sleep.  I'll be fine."

Amelia smiled and nodded.  Filia looked around and said, "I think that's everyone. . . wait.  Where's Gourry?"

Zel opened the door wider and said, "Where do you think?  He's sleeping like a log."

Lina used one hand to hold up her head and sighed deeply.  "I'll handle this."

Lina quietly crept up to Gourry and smirked as she put a gloved hand on Gourry's mouth.

"Fireball!"

Gourry woke up with a start as he felt that his mouth on fire.  He ran wildly throughout the room trying to put it out.  Lina laughed hysterically for a few moments, but finally put it out with an Aqua Create.

As soon as Gourry realized that he was now soaking wet, he looked at Lina who was still trying to suppress her laughter.

Amelia put her hands on her hips and declared, "Lina-san, that was unjust!  Gourry-san could be scarred for life!"

Lina winked as she said, "Then maybe he'll think twice about sleeping with his mouth open that wide next time."

Gourry pouted.  "Liiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa. . . "

Lina picked up Liona and headed out the door.  "Come on, we can't waste time here – we've got an appointment to keep."

Clueless as always, Gourry asked, surprised, "Eh?  We do?  With who?"

Lina conked Gourry on the head as she said, "Jellyfish brains!  Yes!  With Korin and the king!"

Amelia gestured Lina to lower her voice.  "Please calm down Lina-san.  After being woken up by being fireballed in the mouth, I'm surprised he can even /talk/ right now."

Lina waved it off.  "Oh he can handle it.  Come on, we're already late."

Lina-tachi started to walk through the corridors and easily found the throne room.  With a deep intake of breath, Lina pushed opened the heavy stone doors (with the help of Zel and Gourry) and walked in.

As soon as the doors opened, blue flames were ignited along the whole length of the walls.  Directly in front, in a cushioned stone throne, was apparently the crowned king.  He was blue-haired and would have been considered handsome if his eyes didn't have an extremely ice-cold look in them.  On his right side stood a woman with braided darker blue hair and an almost emotionless face.  On the left side stood Korin, with a satisfied look on her face.  On either side of the aisle connecting the Slayers with the throne were a few empty stone-cold benches perfectly align with each other.  Korin motioned for them to come forward.  Filia felt hesitant, and had an even worse feeling than when she sensed Xellos before meeting him, but she slowly followed.  Once they were all inside, the doors shut behind them with a loud, echoing slam.  All of the Slayers' hearts skipped a beat in that one second.  They instinctively turned to see the door closed tight.  After a moment, they realized there was nothing they could do but walk forward.

When they stopped directly in front of the king, Korin motioned for everyone but the first speaker to seat themselves on the first benches.  Gourry, Lina, and Liona sat on one bench while Zel, Filia, and Val sat on the one across from them.  Amelia stayed up front and began telling the king of the peace treaty information and all of that boring legal stuff (^_^!).  It was quite plain to see that everyone in the room was getting bored, especially when she started to get off topic and was ranting about the injustice of attacking peaceful neighbors. . . That was when the King snapped and gruffly interrupted her, "Get to the point.  Why are you here?"

Amelia blushed and simply stated as she held out a piece of paper (with writing) and a pen, "We want you to sign a peace treaty with Seyruun.  We don't want to fight another kingdom if we can prevent it from starting."

A stressmark appeared on the king's head.  "That's all you wanted to say?"

"Umm.. Yes." Amelia blushed a bit more.

The king smirked.  He snapped his fingers and two guards teleported in and held both of Amelia's arms.

Amelia cried out, "Lina-san, help me!"

            Lina and Zel abruptly stood up and shouted, "Amelia!  Elmekia Lance!"

            They both aimed for the eyeholes in the two soldiers.  It went inside the armor and effectively killed the weakling mazoku.  Zel held up Amelia as she verified, "Is that a no?"

            The king sarcastically said, "I'm glad you caught my drift.  Seyruun is quite possibly the most dangerous kingdom to us right now."  He smirked again.  "We'll attack it first."  The King snapped his fingers again and this time, the woman on his right side teleported in front of Amelia and teleported both of them away.  She went so quickly that nobody had enough time to react.  Zel punched the floor in his frustration (that had to hurt since it was made of stone).

            The King harshly laughed.  "Lina Inverse!  You're the one we want!  If you won't join us by choice, it will have to be force!"  As his parting words, he added, "Oh yes, I am known as Grausherra – Dynast Grauscherra."  With that, Dynast, one of the three remaining Mazoku Lords, teleported back to his main base.

            After a moment, Korin spoke.  "What do you intend to do, Lina-san?"

            With fire in her eyes, Lina quickly answered, "Isn't it obvious?  We're going to go rescue Amelia!  She's like a little sister to me – I can't just abandon her.  Right, Zel?"  Lina winked in Zel's direction.  After a few silent moments, he replied while standing up with his head hung down, "Ah (Yes)."

            In her usual loud voice, Lina declared, "Alright!  We're going to rescue the princess . . . erm…  Korin, do you know where they took her?"

            Korin smiled.  "I would think that it would be Dynast's base in the North Pole.  He's always either there or here, and he's obviously not here."

            Lina's face suddenly revealed her dread.  "The North Pole?!  We'll freeze to death!"

            Korin smiled.  "I suggest you bring a cloak."  Korin teleported away.

            Filia involuntarily shivered.  "Lina-san.  Do you really plan to purposely travel to a M-mazoku's home in, of all places, the North Pole?  That's double suicidal!"

            Liona spoke for Lina.  "Can't abandon Amelia!  Amelia friend!"

            Gourry messed up Liona's hair as he patted her head.  "Well said, Liona-chan."

            Lina agreed.  Zel, with his head still hung, turned and slowly walked towards the door.

            "Uh.. Zel?  I don't think we should go that way."

            Zel stopped at Lina's words.  He turned and coldly asked, "What makes you say that?"

            "Well think about it.  Didn't you hear Korin before?  This place is /crawling/ with mazoku that small magic won't do much against.  Considering that their king isn't here, and Korin isn't here to help us, I'd say we'd be very much outnumbered."

            Filia asked, "Then what do you suggest we do?  We can't stay in here forever."

            Lina grinned.  "I'm so /glad/ that you asked, Filia-/san/.  How about you teleport us all out of here?"

            Fila stepped back.  "Eh?!  Me?  Where do you want to teleport to?"

            "Well, we'll need supplies first.  You know, heavy cloaks and food.  We'll need to rest up too.  How long do you need to rest between teleporting?"

            "How long?  Well, I just rested so . . . maybe an hour or two at the least."

            "That should be long enough.  Okay, how about you teleport us to Gyria?  That's the city about 30 miles east of here."

            "I suppose - /anything/ to get out of this place.  Everyone, gather around."

            Everyone held onto each other as Filia teleported them into the city of Gyria.  Just in time, too.  Just before Filia teleported them, Lina saw the throne door slam open, revealing throngs of waiting mazoku soldiers.

A/N:  Much too long. --__--!  Oh well.  Sorry it took so long to post this chapter – I kind of procrastinated.  Oh yeah, about the reviews.  Before you actually click the review button (to view them), it says there are six.  But when you actually open it, there are only three.  Just to let you know, even if it doesn't appear there, I still received your reviews and I greatly appreciate your time.  Oh did you see?  I have a website now ^_^  If you want to check it out, here's the link:

Enjoy!  Please leave a comment if you can!