'I rock these bare feet

like no one else can.

My hands are dirty,

I like them that way

Shows who I am.'

Fresh Off The Boat, Nelly Furtado.

Amelia rolled over onto her stomach as she sighed deeply into her pillow. The sweet smell of lilies lingered into her nostrils, and she couldn't help but smile. The smell reminded her of her dear mother. She'd always wear this special type of perfume that would mix with her own smell and create this excellent source of smell that would just make Amelia melt whenever she was near.

The sudden thought of her mother caused Amelia's stomach to clench with pain and regret. It seemed like only yesterday that her mother was standing on top of the staircase, holding her arms out and just waiting for Amelia to jump into them.

Tears brimmed the bottom of her eye-lids. Amelia brought a hand up from under her pillow and she wiped them away quickly, wanting to forget all of it. She needed to just forget, even if it was just for a moment, she wanted to forget what had happened. Why her beautiful, young, freaking gorgeous mother was taken away from her.

She could still remember that day. It was so clear to her.. Too clear. She could still smell the soaked blood on the carpet- mixing with her mother's wondrous scent. The blood that made her barf all over her mother's beautiful body as her tiny hands clasped against her waist. She didn't care that the wet blood was drenching her new white blouse, she didn't care that she was holding someone dead. All that mattered to her was that her mother was gone.

Forever.

A sob escaped Amelia's body. Tears were now streaming down her face and she shook her head. "Mommy.." She whispered before burying herself into the soft lavender pillow. The one that smelt just like her mom did.

Zelgadis walked into the coffee shop with a newspaper placed neatly under his armpit. He walked up to the front counter and asked for his usual, a mug of black coffee. After a moment he took the mug away from the lady's cold hand. He fished out 2.50 out of his pocket before handing it to her. "Keep the change." He spoke before walking away and towards his favourite spot of the whole shop. The corner.

His feet shuffled down the aisles before something caught his eye. He turned around ever so slowly before he finally recognized her. Amelia.

Zelgadis stood in the middle of the café and stared at the young woman. Her head was bent over as if she were reading something– and at least four slices of apple pie were placed in front of her. His feet were glued to the floor as he contemplated going up and talking to her. She looked as if she needed some company– her normal happy sunshine face was placed with a glooming look.

But Zelgadis was the heartless super-business man, not the soft tender, 'heretalktomeandI'llsolveeverything' business man. He was suppose to walk away from ever. He was suppose to look at people who were this sad and smirk. He was suppose to smirk at these people because it was finally they're turn to live at the bottom. To have nothing but a scared body and a bruised heart. He was suppose to..

"Screw it." He mumbled under his breathe before walking up to the lonely woman. He was surprised, he expected there to be at least fifty girls swarming around her holding up their pens and paper– yelling for an autograph of a picture. But no one was even near the young woman. Of course, it might've been the fact that her mood and aurora was flashing a sign that specifically yelled 'Leave me ALONE!'

And why the hell was he walking up to her again? I mean there's still time to turn around and go back to where you normally sit. I mean come on– it's not like she's even going to tell me what's wrong with her. Oh gods, I shouldn't be here. I should be at my own table minding my own business not– oh dammit. She noticed me.

"Mr. Zelgadis? Is that you?" Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. And she sounded as if she really needed to be woken up from the depressed spill that was spilling over her. "I didn't know you went here..."

Zelgadis sighed and sat down. "I had no idea you went here." He placed the newspaper down on the table, next to one of her many pies. He brought his mug up to his lips and took a long sip. He brought it back down with the coffee staining his lips.

Amelia smiled. "Yeah, well.. I wasn't feeling very well at the motel. So I decided I should go out and get some fresh air." She took a piece of pie and brought it up to her lips. Now, Zelgadis thought that with her small mouth she would've taken forever to finish the large apple dessert in front of her. And let me tell you, Zelgadis' eyes were the size of saucers when Amelia finished the one slice in one bite.

Her cheeks bubbled as she tried to chew the mighty bite. And after a few moments, it was swallowed and Amelia when back to being just that, Amelia. "So, Mr. Zelgadis. What're you doing here?"

Zel took another drink of his coffee to calm himself down and stop staring at her as if she were some circus performer paid to eat like she did. But then again, he shouldn't have been surprised– she was, after all, Lina's client.

"Oh, nothing really. I come down here a lot before Gourry's out and about promoting his album. In fact, I live just in the next building."

"Oh." Amelia took a sip of her milk that was placed beside her. "I never really understood why people drink coffee. Doesn't it make you feel too old?"

At that Zelgadis raised an eyebrow, "Too old?"

Amelia nodded. "Yes, too old. I couldn't stand drinking coffee and feeling like that. I prefer a glass of milk. It reminds me that I'm still young and can do things that I still want to do." She smiled. "Like helping my father out with the justice system."

"Justice system?"

"Yes." She smiled. "Justice makes me feel at peace with myself and the world. In fact, it makes me feel good that I'm doing something for the world and not getting paid for it. I love that feeling. I just want to spread justice, love, friendship– anything – to make this world a brighter place."

Now, if he'd known this woman a bit better, he wouldn't have felt guilty for letting out a snort. But when Amelia's eyes darted up to meet his after he did, he wanted to shrink back into his chair and die on the spot. "Uh.. I'm sorry."

Amelia kept his eye-contact for a long moment before the corners of her mouth turned up. "You and Ms. Lina are very much alike." She grinned, "And I mean that in the greatest way possible."

Zel managed a smile and shook his head. "You seem a little... stressed... out. Do you need someone to talk to? Where's Lina?"

Amelia tilted her head in confusion. "I have no idea where Ms. Lina is.."

"Oh."

"But, thank you for being concerned about me. I mean, I really appreciate it." She took another drink of her cup. "It's just.. I've been having a hard time with a couple personal issues. I needed to get away for a bit."

Zel nodded and pursed his lips together.

"I'll get over it though. The world always shines for another day." She grinned. "I should gloom over the past, when tomorrow's another day for great new experiences."

Zel didn't say anything. He stared down at the closed newspaper with a dull interest. The small woman's words filled his ears but he didn't say anything to them. Next to her he was a monster with nothing on his mind but a way to make himself lose the wretched scars that had over taken his body.

Her words were just that, words. The didn't give him any hope, they didn't make him feel much better about himself. In fact, they did just the opposite. He felt like crap. He felt like he'd been walking down the street on a sunny day and ruined everyone's day by bringing a large cloud of gloom and rain that poured down hard.

"Mr. Zelgadis?" Her sweet voice shook him out of his deep thoughts.

"Yes?"

Amelia giggled. "Where'd you go? I've been talking to your for a couple minutes now."

"Oh, I'm sorry."

"It's fine." She shook her head, "You had me worried there."

"What were you saying?" He asked, finished off his coffee.

"Well, I was thinking. Since both mine and Mr. Gourry's CDS are coming out around the same time... Why don't him and I tour together? I mean, I'm sure there would be a lot of people who'd love to see us together in a performance or better yet.." She gasped. "Why don't we do a duet together?"

Zelgadis stared at her for a long moment before he nodded. This girl had a smart head on her strong shoulders. Just think of the money they'd both make from this! And with Gourry's pay cheque and his ten percent.. He could finally.. He could finally look normal.

"Here- let me call Lina now.." He reached down into his pocket and dialled the all familiar number.

Lina slithered down into the tub full of bubbles and let out a long sigh. She'd been waiting for this moment for more than 24 hours. All day she'd been on her feet, shuffling around to the record company for their daily meeting. Lina had argued with them trying to move Amelia's album date to two weeks after Gourry– trying to block his glory out.

But Lina didn't want to hear any of it, so she had insisted that it stay on the same date or she'd..

Lina sighed. She didn't want to think about today. All she wanted to think about was the water calming her nerves, not work– she didn't even wanna go to work–

Her cell phone's loud ring shook her out of her peace. "Dammit!" She groaned out loud before reaching over the side of the tub and fumbling around her clothing on the ground. When her fingers finally grasped the all to familiar size of her precious cell-phone, she let out a loud "Woohoo!" before flipping it open and gasping into the phone. "Hello?"

Moments passed before a smile dawned her features and instantly, money signs filled her eyes and the faint sound of a 'ching ching' rang out in the distance. "YES!" She gasped. "YES!"

"YEEEEEEEES!"

A/N: YAY! another chapter. I knowshort eh? I'm going to try and expand my horizons by.. just a little bit, lol. I'm terribly sorry that I haven't updated this in awhile, my mind wanders, haha. AnyhooI hope you guy enjoy this and please.. leave a review! )

Gerao-A: Lol, thank you. And about the action thing, you're just going to have to wait and see ;)

Yumekage: I know! I was originally going to have it Zel and Lina the stars of the show, but for once, I wanted to take the spotlight away from them and focus it on Ame and Gourry. Don't get me wrong, I love Zel and Linajust.. I thought they deserved a little something-something ya know?

n-msh: Lol, thank you for your review and I promise there's going to be LOADS of Zel and Ame!

Lina Gabriev: I agree with you! Thank you for you review and enjoy!