Disclaimer: Three words: Slayers. Not. Mine.
Girltalk
Realization
"What do you mean?" Lina shouted, waking up several of the inns other guests. Amelia had just finished explaining why Eruk wasn't in his bed. "He left again? Just how irresponsible can that guy get!" It was obvious that Lina wasn't to pleased with Eruks actions. "He's the entire reason we're out here in the first place!" While Lina was complaining, Taki tried to calm Sylphiel down. She had been worrying about him ever since he disappeared the first time. Lina looked out on her friends "I say we go on to Xen" she suggested "If Eruk really wants to go there, I'm sure we'll meet up on the way".
"But miss Lina…" Sylphiel complained "we can't just leave him here. He might be hurt or something even worse". Before Lina could answer, the door was pushed open. "Eruk, you're back!" Taki cheered. "Sorry to make you worry" he said, while making his way to the table. He sat down in the seat across from Lina. Sylphiel kept staring at him. She could feel that he was different from before. It almost seemed like all his doubt had vanished. Somewhere deep inside she was waiting for him to say something to her. After everything he had been through, he could at least assure her that he was fine. But despite her wishes, he never looked to her side.
Having finished their breakfast, they all went to their rooms to gather their belongings. Eruk looked around his room to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. "Are we going somewhere?" a muffled voice came from inside his cape. He smiled, and opened a large pocket, allowing Nimph access to free air. "you are sooo mean" she complained "Keeping me inside that stinking pocket of yours". She flew up in front of his face "See these wings? They were made for flying, not riding in a pocket".
She continued to fly around and complain before a thought occurred to her "Hey why don't you ever change?" Eruk looked at her in surprise "Change?". Nimph landed on his shoulder "sometimes the mistress changes and becomes so very scary". Eruk nodded "I've seen that happen. How about this for an explanation: without you to counter her extreme negative energy, her mazuko side runs wild". Nimph seemed to think on this information "It sounds possible" she agreed "but how do you know so much about this?". Eruk shrugged "I can't say I know much about all of this, but you do seem to have a calming effect on their… my kind of chimeras. I would have used you to keep control over an otherwise crazy girl".
The two of them continued to talk for a short while until a knock on the door interrupted them. Quickly he snatched Nimph from midair, and stuffed her back into the pocket. "who is it" he demanded, sounding more gruff than he had intended. Sylphiel carefully opened the door "Eruk? Is there something wrong? Are you hurt?". He turned away, not wanting to look her in the eyes "I'm fine Sylphiel, no need to worry about me". He felt a movement from inside his pocket, "Sylphiel, I'm sorry but I have no time to talk right now". He picked up his pack and walked past her.
She looked after him as he left. From what Amelia had told, he hadn't wanted to wake her up during the night when he regained consciousness. During breakfast he hadn't even looked at her, and now this. It was obvious that he tried to avoid her.
She walked over and sat down on the bed. For a while she just sat there, looking out the window. Had she done something wrong to deserve that kind of treatment? Her thoughts were interrupted as Taki ran into the room "Hey Eruk, you there?" she shouted. She stopped dead in her tracks "Miss Sylphiel? why are you here?". Sylphiel lowered her head "I came to talk to him, but he didn't have the time". Taki sat down next to her "He didn't have time for you? Somehow I find that hard to believe!". Sylphiel raised her head and looked at the younger girl "what do you mean?" she asked, blushing slightly.
Taki sighed and went over to close the door. "Miss Sylphiel" she started "I'm going to speak my mind, ok?". The shrinemaiden blinked a few times in wonder. Taki took a deep breath and crouched down in front of her "miss Sylphiel, I want you to know that I respect you very much but…. " she held a short break, looking unsure if she should go on. "But miss Sylphiel, you really are stupid!" the words just blurted out of her mouth. She immediately regretted, as a tear ran down the older girl's cheek.
Taki sat down next to her and put and arm around her "look, I didn't mean it like that". She carefully brushed the tear away from Sylphiels face before she continued "It's just that it's so obvious that you are totally nuts for that guy!". Sylphiel stopped sobbing, and started blushing "It's not like that…" she started, but was cut of by Taki "Oh don't give me that! You love him, end of story". Sylphiel turned away from her friend "Has it… really been that obvious?" she asked in a low tone. Taki nodded "at least to me it is. But to be honest I don't know if any of the others has noticed just how bad it is".
Sylphiel let out a small sigh of relief. She remembered all to well how the others had reacted a few years earlier. Nobody had ever made fun of her crush on Gourry, but she had always felt that none of the others really understood her. While Taki was talking she let her mind wander of. Since the first time she saw Gourry, he had been her knight in shining armor. He still was, but things had changed. He was with Lina now, and in their own strange way, they were happy. Despite that she would still sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and think of him. But lately that had changed too. Quite often when she thought of Gourry, the image inside her mind would change. His body would shrink a bit, his golden hair grow shorter and the color lighter, until it was almost white. It was just like Taki had said. Maybe this was what true love really was about? Not just worshipping somebody for who they were.
"Miss Sylphiel? Are you alright?" Taki gently poked her side "You just stared out into space" a small smile grew on her face "and you started saying some weird things all of a sudden. Sylphiel started getting worried that she had just spoken some of her thoughts out loud "Ummm weird things?" she asked innocently. "uh-huh" Taki nodded "All of a sudden you started about getting him drunk and…."
"I did nothing of that sort!!!" Sylphiel cried while blushing ferociously. Taki fell down on her back, laughing "you really fell for it? All you did was sitting there in your own little world" she assured the blushing girl "but now I can't help wonder what you were really thinking of…" she added with a smile.
Before Sylphiel had the time to answer, Amelia peeked into the room "Hey, we are getting ready to leave now" she said "You'd better come down before miss Lina leaves without you".
"Listen, what I have tried to tell you, is that I'm sure he feels the same way about you" Taki whispered before she chased after Amelia. Sylphiel looked after her as she vanished down the hallway. "Eruk… loves me too?" she whispered.
"So, how is she?" Lina asked. She had done her best to hide it, but she was concerned about her friend. Taki shook her head "I really don't know miss Lina" she answered truthfully "But it's obvious the last few days has been really hard on her". Lina rolled her hand into a fist "What the hell is wrong with that guy anyway? It's like he has more secrets than even Xellos!".
"Miss Lina, could you please avoid mentioning that name in front of me?" Filia protested, but no one seemed to pay any attention to her. "I mean what has happened to him in the last few days?" Lina continued on "In the beginning he seemed like a nice guy, but now he has turned into an insensitive jerk!".
"Yeah, it's like he is turning into a whole new person" Amelia agreed. "The Eruk I know would never have done anything to hurt poor miss Sylphiel" Filia added. While the three girls were talking, Zel and Gourry sat by another table minding their own business. "Say Zel, what do you think the girls are talking about?" Gourry asked. He had been curious about it for sometime, but knew better than annoy Lina even further. "Even though I can't hear them very well, I'm quite sure that they are talking about Eruk" Zel said, while sipping a cup of tea. "Oh yeah that guy!" Gourry exclaimed in a sudden moment of intelligence "Could you tell me what's going on Zel?".
Even though Gourry was not the brightest guy, he had learned that whenever Lina was in a bad mood, asking somebody else was actually a lot less painful. Zel put his cup down "Gourry, to be honest I don't know" he admitted "But I think it would be best for us to stay out of it. This is a problem between Sylphiel and Eruk. I say we let them take care of their own problems". Gourry stared at him "Shouldn't we help them?". Zel sighed "Maybe if he losses it again, but apart from that, there is nothing we can do". Even Gourry understood that something was really bothering all of them, and stopped asking any more questions.
Authors note:
Another short chapter this time. Not much I can do about it.
In the next chapter Eruk makes a decision that changes a whole lot of things. He leaves the group. Will him and Nimph go on alone for the rest of this fic? Or are they teaming up with someone else? You'll just have to wait and see. Because of the Christmas, I'm not sure if I'll have the time to update next week, but don't worry this fic will go on once thing settle down a bit.
Special Announcement!!
Good news to all my fans!
A few day's ago I decided that I wouldn't let this fic stand alone, so I'm currently working on a sequel.
The title has yet to be determined, but I got a pretty good idea for a plot. Hope you are looking forward to it.
