Author's response to reviews:

Ysengrinn: Hmph. I am a very sarcastic person but my boyfriend is slowly getting me to be nice. Mostly by wearing me down with his sweetheart ways and the sheer niceness of his personality. Normally I don't like to do an original character/made up character pairing because frankly I don't like to read them and I have a sneaking suspicion my distaste is shared by many. But that is who Sylph will probably end up with.

(And yes I agree. Gourry would be a fitting succesor to Prince Phil. Both brainless and easy going but thank goodness Gourry is a lot easier on the eyes.)

Sarie: Well thank you, dear. I write for those that review like you and Ysengrinn. You both are clear on what you like and what you want me to write which I appreciate. (Don't tell Ys but you two have influenced my story considerably.) By the way 'Dorm Room Wars' is still one of my favorite stories! I highly recommend it to everyone else.

graywords-girl: Your praise is making me conceited. I don't want to end this so quickly but I'm afraid that this story is taking a backseat to all of my other writing projects.

Midnight Yume-Chan: I'll do both just so you don't have to choose. Okay?

There will be two more chapters. The last will be Amelia's wedding but the other I have no idea about. If you have an idea please email me. My address is on my profile. Convince people to read and review this story. Secret that no writer likes to reveal: Reviews make me want to write.

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Disclaimer: No I do not own Slayers nor am I making profit in writing this story. I am merely borrowing characters who will be returned in almost pristine condition. ^_^

Sapphires And Sakura Blossoms

Chapter Eight: Amelia Asks A Question

By

Samanda Hime-sama

Lina Inverse awoke slowly as the sunlight insisted on shining into her eyes. After a few minutes of lying in bed she finally moved to stretch her arms. She started her morning like she normally did and stumbled out of bed to dress.

Half an hour later she was downstairs waiting for the female servant to come back and serve her a very modest (for Lina) breakfast. Lina rubbed her hands together in anticipation, as it was set in front of her. She bowed to the servant in thanks and started to eat.

Zel came in as she was sipping her tea and munching on a piece of toast. He blushed a litte and felt suddenly shy as she looked up at him and smiled.

Hi Zel! She greeted him.

Zel took a seat next to her. "Good morning, Lina."

Ready to go? Lina paused eating and asked him.

Zel looked surprised. "So soon? But I thought you'd want to stay around here for a while."

No Lina shook her head. We did what Amelia asked us to do. Both of them will be caught up in wedding plans now and each other. They won't miss us.

Zel had to admit that she had a point. He nodded his head in agreement then waved over a servant and asked for a pot of coffee.

Turning back to Lina he asked. "So where are we going?"

Zel had come to terms with his feelings for Lina some time ago and was used to her odd behavior. But still that mischievous glint that appeared in her eyes and her sudden devilish smile gave him chills down his stone spine. (And that is a trick indeed!)

Lina grabbed Zel's hand and dragged him out of the castle. They were almost out of the castle when Zel remembered something so important that he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Hey, my coffee!"

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Two months had gone by for Zelgadiss and Lina as they searched for Zel's cure. On the whole the time that they had spent together was wonderful and they had grown closer. Don't get me wrong, they had problems like every couple does. Since they were on there own they spent too much time together and occasionally got tired of each other's company, fought like cats and dogs or wanted to spend some time apart but they got through it.

The only really dark spot that they had was in their search. They had no luck in finding anything to reverse his chimera-ness and Zel had started to fall into a depression. Luckily Lina was there to help.

"Hey," Lina said exasperated. "Why aren't you talking to me, Zel?"

Zel mumbled. "Got nothing to say."

"Dammit!" Lina yelled at him. "Don't sulk. We'll find something."

Zel looked up with blazing eyes. "No we won't!" He shouted back. "It's hopeless. I'll never be human again."

"I don't care!" Lina yelled back at him. "I'd love you even if you turned Mazoku like Xellos. I love you, Zel, not what you look like."

Zel's anger was suddenly gone. "Do you mean that?"

"Of course I do," Lina's anger softened and she touched his face. "I help you look for a cure because you want it, Zel. The only reason I'm helping you is because you think becoming human again will make you happy. And your happiness is all that I want."

Zel looked away, ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry, Lina. Do you forgive me?"

"There's nothing to forgive," Lina shrugged.

Zel smiled and put his arms around her. Lina melted into his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. They stayed like that for a very long time before Lina pushed away, wiping at her eyes. Zel let her go, knowing that she wasn't as affectionate as he was and that she needed to regroup.

"We ought to start back to Saillune soon," Lina spoke. "Gourry and Amelia's wedding will probably be sooner than the rest of us want."

Zel laughed. "Then let's pack up and head back now. It's only an hour past sunrise. Won't they be surprised at the change in you."

"You mean us," Lina said, smiling.

"At the change in us and in you," Zel corrected then smiled mischeviously. "I wonder if they'll ask what cured you and let you speak again."

Zel laughed and grabbed their packs. He took off running using his Mazoku speed and prayed Lina wouldn't catch him until she had calmed down a little.

Lina turned red and took off after him. "You better run, Zel. When I catch up to you, you'll be sorry!"

Well maybe the two of them hadn't changed as much as they thought. At least in some ways.

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"Miss Lina, Mister Zelgadiss!" Amelia hurried down the main hall towards them and gave each of them hugs. "How are you?"

"We're both fine now," Lina said with a smile and thought, if only Zel and I hadn't decided to chase each other in the rain like little kids.

It took Lina and Zel a week to reach Saillune because three days into the journey Lina had fallen ill. A worried Zel had nursed her back to health and she was fine in two days but Zel made them travel lightly each day to conserve her strength. Zel's fussing had annoyed Lina but she had kept her temper and let him have his way. After all it felt nice that someone was seriously worried about her.

Zel turned red as he thought about chasing Lina like a little kid then tugging her to the ground with him as he kissed her.

"You're speaking!" Amelia squealed. "So you found your cure. How wonderful. Tell me all about it."

Zel cleared his throat and Lina flushed a bit. "I'll tell you some other time, Amelia. How are you and Gourry doing?"

"Very well," She smiled. "The wedding's next week. I was just about to send out yours and Zel's invitations."

"I'm glad we came now instead of then," Zel told Amelia. "I wish both of you well."

Amelia led them towards their rooms as she kept speaking. "Thank you, Mister Zelgadiss."

Lina's right hand rose and brushed back an errant strand of hair. Amelia saw a sparkle out of the corner of her eye and stopped. She snatched at Lina's hand and saw the golden engagement ring with a sakura blossom picked out in sapphires on it.

"When were you going to tell me?" Amelia asked her in accusation.

Lina blushed and glanced at Zel, who was even redder. "Soon, Amelia. I was going to tell you later."

Amelia smiled. "Well I guess I can just ask you now then, Miss Lina. Did you want to have a double wedding ceremony?"