Title: Refuse to Dance

Author: Yugure

Rated: PG-13 for language

Disclaimer: If you think Slayers et al belongs to me... you need professional help...

Part 1

Lina savagely tore up the vanilla scented envelope and the letter within, her eyes dark and focused intently on the small massacre in her hands. Having completed her task, she threw the remains into the roaring fire on the hearth.

"What was that?" Gourry asked, entering the room with two large flagons of cider. He handed one to Lina and sat down on the settee, a look of puzzlement on his face.

"Nothing," Lina growled in reply, flopping down next to her bodyguard with a surly scowl. She took a large gulp of cider and kicked Gourry's feet out of the place she wished to put her own. "Just a little piece of Hell incarnate."

"Really?!" Gourry paused while raising his drink to his mouth. His blue eyes opened wide. With his free hand, he scratched his chin. "I didn't know Hell could carnate..."

"It was just an expression, Gourry!" Lina nearly shouted, exasperated. The offending letter had exponentially reduced her patience tolerance, and now just about anything could set her off.

"Oh." The two comrades lapsed into silence; Gourry, because he couldn't think of anything intelligent to say, and Lina because she was pissed off at everything in the world.

Outside, a winter storm settled in around the small but cozy mountain cabin. Night had fallen hours ago. A fierce wind drove snow and hail against the windows, drilling a repetitious pattern. The cabin was in excellent condition, and Lina and Gourry were very lucky to have gotten it for such a cheap price. Of course, what with Lina's haggling skills involving Fireballs, it wasn't so surprising...

The group had split many months ago. Lina and Gourry continued to travel together, for reasons never very clear to either of them. Amelia had returned to duties at home. And Zelgadis... surprisingly, he had not set out on a solitary search for his cure. He had settled down in Saillune.

Lina wasn't sure why, but that had pissed her off more than anything. In fact, it was one of the reasons she had dragged herself and Gourry onto another adventure. Ever since then, Lina had been in a foul mood. Gourry was smart enough (go figure) to know that he shouldn't question why. He simply allowed his ward to roam all over the land, occasionally stopping her before she walked off a cliff or into danger. "Occasionally" being the operant word. After all, even Gourry got sick of Lina's constant whining...

So now here they were, in the cabin rented out to them for the next week. Gourry pulled his feet up and snuggled down into the corner of the couch, his fuzzy blue slippers protruding over the edge. He peeked over his knees and flagon to see if Lina had simmered down at all.

She had not.

Lina looked like a ferocious, malevolent angel. She herself had pulled her knees up to her chest and snuggled into the opposite corner. She kept her eyes glued to the fire, the flames and sparks dancing in her ruby eyes like magic. Shadows leapt and cascaded in her hair, giving it an ethereal quality. The scowl on her face deepened, if that was even possible, and Gourry felt sorry for whatever or whoever such raw, unadulterated anger was directed at.

"Was it from Sylphiel or Filia?" Gourry hazarded a guess. He was rewarded by the absence of a Fireball.

"No," was the sullen reply.

"Xelloss?" Gourry knew he was pressing his luck, but even the most gentle of hearts can be a bit masochistic.

"No," came the sullen reply once again, this time with a little more vehemence.

"Amelia or Zelgadis?"

"..." Bingo.

"What did they have to say?"

"Nothing important. Nothing that matters. Nothing, nothing, nothing," Lina chanted. She drained the last of her cider and slammed her flagon onto the small table beside her.

"Then why are you so upset?"

"Gourry, why now, of all times, do you choose to be perceptive?!" Lina demanded, swiveling her head towards the swordsman in a rather disturbing way that reminded him of a snake.

"I don't know."

"It was an invitation. Do you know what kind of invitation it might be?"

Gourry paled. He recognized the tone of voice Lina was currently speaking in. It was the one that no matter what he said, he was going to be wrong, and because he was wrong, he would be punished.

"Uh... birthday party?"

"No. Guess again."

"Anniversary party?"

"Getting closer. Guess again." By now, Lina was really scaring Gourry. Wishing he was armed with the Sword of Light and not his fuzzy slippers, Gourry guessed again.

"Ummmm.... Would it, by any chance, be a wedding invitation?"

"BINGO! And do you know WHO'S wedding it would be an invitation to?"

"... Amelia..." Gourry paused, cringing from the predator-like stare Lina was fixing him with. "And... Zelgadis?"

"YES!" A nearby wood chair burst into flames. "You're so smart today, Gourry. I bet you even know what the invitation wanted us to do!"

"Go to the wedding?"

"YES!!!" A crystal chandelier exploded above the dining table, showering the floor with tiny shards.

"Well, shouldn't we go?" At the murderous look on the petite sorceress's face, Gourry threw a pillow in front of his face and hid behind the soft plush. "I mean, they're our friends. Don't they deserve the very best?"

"We can't go."

"Why not? I don't understand why not."

"You don't understand much."

"Lina, please. Tell me what's wrong. Does it have to do with Zelgadis? Why can't we go?" Gourry dropped the pillow.

"Because." To Gourry's surprise, all the tension ran out of Lina's body like falling rain. Her fiery composure diffused to a dull roar. Her voice softened, barely heard above the vicious storm outside. "Because.... I love that cold-hearted, stubborn son of a bitch."