Disclaimer: Slayers don't belong to me. Not now, not ever… Sigh….

Meeting old friends

Who blew up the kitchen??

"Well, we might as well stay at this inn tonight" Zelgadis suggested. The Palace inn was known as one of the best in town, and as the name suggested it was the one closest to the royal palace. "Miss Sylphiel?" Anna looked up at the older woman "I'm starting to get really hungry".

The three of them entered the small restaurant and found a table in a secluded corner.

"Wow, this sure is a nice place, isn't it?" Anna beamed. She still had some difficulty believing that she was actually here in the royal city of Seyruun. "If you're that hungry, we'd better find you something to eat then" Sylphiel giggled. Just as she was about to call a waiter over to the table, an explosion rocked the normally peaceful inn.

"EEEK" Sylphiel and Anna screamed and hid beneath the table. "An attack?" Zelgadis wondered. He stood up and drew his sword "Whoever it is, the must be pretty stupid attacking so close to the palace.

"DAMN IT PART-TIMER!!!" an angry yell came from the kitchen.

"What's going on?" Sylphiel peeked out from beneath the table. A thick black smoke came from the kitchen. It was obvious that whatever it was that caused the explosion, it was in the kitchen. Sylphiel was just about to suggest that they should investigate what happened, when a man came through the smoke. "Sorry 'cough' about that" he bowed deeply "It's only a minor accident 'cough' and nothing to worry about".

Zelgadis sheathed his sword and sat down "a pretty unusual accident, if you ask me" he muttered.

"Are you two going to hide down there all night?" he asked the girls on the floor.

"Didn't I tell you to stay out of the kitchen part-timer?" the innkeeper yelled at someone "I honestly don't know why I hired you in the first place! Now get out there and do your job!". He pushed a girl out of the kitchen "The couple at table 9 looks like they are ready to order".

The girl dusted herself off "Ok boss" she sighed. She had only wanted to help in the first place.

Sylphiel climbed back to her seat. She couldn't hear the waitress' voice clearly, but somehow it was familiar to her. "Something bothering you big sis?" Anna asked carefully as she found her seat next to the shrinemaiden. "No, nothing to worry about" Sylphiel smiled back "I just thought I had heard that voice somewhere before". The strange look on Zelgadis' face clearly showed that he thought the same. However, seeing that both of them had stayed at that inn before, none of them kept dwelling on the thought.

"Damn old geezer…" the waitress muttered as she strode through the room "just because I make one little screw-up…". She set her course towards the dark table in the corner of the room. It was not a very popular table among the waitresses. The people who normally used that table, were usually up to no good. Usually it was used by lecherous old guys who spend most of their evening checking out the waitresses. The owner of the inn had refused to do anything about the problem since those men often were pretty good business.

As she approached the table, she slowed down. It didn't look like any of the regular customers at the table. From what she could make out in the dim lightning, it looked like a couple with a child. She smiled to herself. At least she wouldn't have to worry about fighting of perverts who tried to look under her skirt. She put on her brightest smile and strode forward.

"Hi there" She greeted the couple happily "are you ready to order yet?". Little by little her voice trailed of, there was something familiar about that couple, but she couldn't put a finger on what it was until the woman looked up from her menu.

"Miss Sylphiel!" she screamed and hugged the woman tightly.

Sylphiel dropped her menu in surprise. Zelgadis quickly cast a light spell. Sylphiel quickly recognized the waitress in the dim light. "Miss Taki?" she asked carefully "is that really you?". Taki let go of the shrinemaiden and nodded eagerly "of course I'm me!" she exclaimed.

"So that's why you are here?" Taki asked. She had gotten permission to take the rest of the evening off and had joined her friends at the table.

"Yeah, who should have guessed that we'd ever see this day coming? I must say that I had never thought those two would tie the knot" Zelgadis remarked dryly while sipping his tea.

Sylphiel politely ignored his remark "what have you been doing lately?" she asked. "Oh I've been working here" she smiled happily, "but most of the time I'm just hanging out with Amelia".

"Big sis?" Anna interrupted "I'm really tired" she yawned loudly. "I'll show you to your room then" Zelgadis stood up "I'm not in the mood to listen to girltalk all night anyway".

The two girls kept on talking.

"So, why are you traveling with Mr. Zelgadis?" Taki asked "and what's up with the little girl?". Sylphiel told Taki the entire story on how she met Anna and met up with Zelgadis. Taki sipped on some water while she listened to the shrine maidens story.

"Miss Sylphiel?" She asked after a little while "is HE here too?". The sad look on Sylphiels face told her more than words. "He's still not back yet?" Taki concluded "but I take that you've heard from him?". Again Sylphiel shook her head "no, I'm afraid not". Taki put her cup of water down "what?" she shouted "not a word from him in more than a year? I don't believe the nerve of that guy!".

Taki's face was beet red. It was difficult to determine whether it was anger or embarrassment. It was not a secret that she too, once had a crush on the same guy, but her feelings had since changed into admiration and friendship. "I just wish I knew what had happened to him" Sylphiel sighed.

Sylphiel slowly opened her eyes. For a brief second the room she was in felt strange, but only until she realized where she was.

"This is the part I dislike most about traveling" she mumbled to herself. She turned around wrapped the blanket tighter around her. A warm feeling started to spread in her body as she woke up little by little. "It's today" she thought "we are going to see miss Lina and Gourry dear today".

She sat up and yawned loudly, something that she would never have done if there was others around, she reminded herself. It was impolite.

She climbed out of the bed and went over to the window. "What a nice morning" she thought at she opened the window. A shiver ran through her body as the crisp, fresh winter air started filling the room.

"This is wonderful!" she giggled. She could feel how her body started to wake up from a long nights rest. Her skin tingled as the cold air blew over it.

The sensation was broken when someone knocked the door. "Sylphiel! You up yet?" Taki called. Somewhere deep inside Sylphiel didn't want to answer but she did anyway. "Then come downstairs soon" Taki called back "we are waiting just for you!". Through the closed door, Sylphiel could hear her friends footsteps as she hurried down the stairs. "I'd better get going myself" she thought "As nice as this is, I could catch a cold".

"Sis!" Anna yelled the moment Sylphiel entered the restaurant area. "Good morning everyone" Sylphiel nodded politely as she joined them at the table. "Geez miss Sylphiel, you haven't changed at all" Taki teased her "you still are such a sleepyhead". Sylphiel blushed a little, but said nothing in response to the other girls teasing. "you're no fun" Taki pouted and returned to her breakfast. They ate in silence, not because the atmosphere were gloomy, but because the sound of repairs from the kitchen drowned almost all other sound.

"So this is where you've been all morning part-timer?" the innkeeper walked up to their table.

Taki swallowed a piece of toast "Sorry boss" she shrieked "I'll get to work right away!".

She rose from the table and ran towards the kitchen. "Not so fast there" the innkeeper got a firm hold in her apron "what I wanted to say, is that you can have the next few days of". Taki spun around "Wow! You really mean it!? Thanks boss!" she cheered. "Yeah yeah, all good…" The innkeeper laughed nervously. Taki was a good waitress, and cute too, but her nature seemed prone to troubles and sometimes things just got out of hand, just like last night.

One of the cooks had fallen ill with a bad flu, and she had insisted to fill in for him. A kind gesture, but about the only thing Taki's skills didn't cover, was cooking. Luckily, she only managed to blow up the kitchen last night when she accidentally got the recipe for Seyruun stew mixed up with one of her notes on how to make gunpowder.

The innkeeper shivered at the thought of last time she had cooked. She almost ended up killing all of the guests by making something she called "The dradora surprise". Clearly the girl had traveled far for someone her age, but the barrier lands were simply not ready for this kind of food yet.

"Oh wow" Anna looked up at the grand palace "I couldn't see all of it last night". Taki padded her on the back "And there's even more to the palace than you can see from here".

Anna was speechless. She had not even imagined that such a large building could be made by human hands.

"So you are back now?" the palace guard greeted them as they walked up to the gate. "Yes" Sylphiel nodded "Can we please get inside now?".

The guard looked around "Sorry miss, but I'll have to confirm your identity first".

The shrinemaiden sighed, she had hoped that they could get inside with no problem. Security had been tightened ever since the bandit incident last year.

"Come on now Alance, they are with me" Taki stepped in front of the shrinemaiden "Can't you bend the rules for my sake?" she asked.. "Ah miss Taki, shouldn't you be working now or something?" The guard joked "Or have you've been fired again?". Taki's face turned red in anger "I've never been fired! It was all misunderstandings!" she shouted. "come on kid, I'm just pulling your leg here" the guard laughed "Go on inside".

"And who are you calling kid?" Taki shouted "you are only a year older than I am!". Alance couldn't help but laugh. Taki was cute, even when mad.

"Hey Gourry! That's MY chicken!!" A yell echoed through the many hallways. "I guess that proves that Lina and Gourry are here already" Zel groaned "I know those two make a great couple, but I still can't imagine them being married". Sylphiel nodded, it certainly was weird thinking about those two as husband and wife.

"MR. ZELGADIS!". The chimera turned around just in time to see Amelia running towards him. "I'm so glad that you eeeeek".

Zel's eyes widened as Amelia tripped over her own feet and crashed into him.

"Whoops, sorry about that" Amelia laughed sheepishly and looked around "huh? That's funny… I'm sure I saw Mr. Zelgadis here…".

As she sat up she heard a muffled voice from beneath her. "Could you please get off?" Zelgadis mumbled. Amelia looked down and found herself sitting on the chimeras back. "So that's where you were hiding Mr. Zelgadis, but how did you get down there?". She quickly moved, allowing him to stand up. "Don't ask me Amelia, please don't ask me" he muttered as he got up.

"Hello, Miss Amelia" Sylphiel greeted the princess warmly. "Oh Miss Sylphiel, I didn't see you at all!" Amelia spun around and faced the purplehaired girl "how nice to see you again!".

Suddenly Taki cleared her troath "I'll just excuse myself while you say your hellos" she said "I'll just head down to the stables, catch ya later, ok?". She waved as she left the group and headed for the royal stables. "Have fun!" Amelia yelled when something caught her eye. A small girl were hiding behind Sylphiel.

Amelia crouched down in front of her "Hello little girl" she smiled warmly "I don't think I've ever seen you before, what's your name?". Anna looked up at Sylphiel, her past life had taught her to weary of strangers, even nice strangers. "Oh, I see" Amelia smiled, "you are shy, aren't you?". Not knowing what to say, Anna simply nodded. "You don't have to be shy around me" Amelia giggled "My name is Amelia". Anna carefully watched to woman in front of her. She didn't look like a bad person, and she did seem to be a friend of Sylphiels. "My name is Anna" she finally said.

"Miss Amelia?" Sylphiel asked "I heard miss Lina and Gourry dear before, I would like to congratulate them. Do you know where I can find them?" she looked around. The Seyruun palace was huge and she didn't feel all that familiar with the place just yet. "Oh yes, of course miss Sylphiel" Amelia pointed down a corridor "I think they are down in the kitchen".

"I told you already" Lina shouted "keep your hands of my food!". Sylphiel carefully opened the kitchen door. Lina was her friend, but when the fiery redhead was eating it was never a good idea to disturb.

"Miss Lina?" Sylphiel moved a bit closer "Excuse me?".

The couple by the table were way to busy to even take notice of the shrinemaidens arrival. "Excuse me, Miss Lina?" Sylphiel very carefully pocked the sorceress' shoulder.

Reacting fast, Lina grabbed hold of the person behind her. "Now listen to me" she shouted "Didn't I tell you people…" Little by little her voice trailed off as she found herself looking into a familiar pair of green eyes. "Sylphiel?" she asked "what are you doing here?". The shrinemaiden opened her mouth to say something but because of Lina's hands around her troath, she found herself unable to speak. "Oh, sorry" Lina quickly let go of her. "It's just a reflex" she excused herself. Sylphiel nodded in understanding, this was Lina after all.

Authors notes:

So everybody, minus Filia and Xellos, is back together again. Now the fun can get started for real. How will the two lovebirds cope with their upcoming wedding? Will everyone survive having a nervous Lina around? And does Gourry even know what's going on at all?

Those, and many more questions will be answered in the future. But just maybe, things will not turn out quite as expected, who knows?

So, Taki has finally made an appearance. I hope you don't mind me including her in this story as well.