Having been chased from Filia's room by all the positive emotions Xellos set out to find the nearest source of angst he could to help get himself back into the swing of things.

Surprisingly enough the nearest source of negative emotions wasn't Zel.

Usually in his spare time Gourry would go through a series of sword exercises to keep in shape (not that this required very much given the amount of exercise he got travelling with Lina). Now however, he sat outside under a tree mourning the loss of his sword. His normally sunny eyes were clouded and his good-natured smile replaced by a frown so unlike his usual self that Xellos had to find out why. (Anything that could break even Gourry's spirit was useful information to a mazoku after all)

"My! Gourry-san, why the long face?"

Gourry blinked in confusion and ran his hands over his face and around his head.

"Long face? It doesn't feel any different from usual."

Xellos crashed to the ground in a rather undignified manner and a sweatdrop formed as he moved to crouch near the swordsman.

"No, I mean, why are you upset?"

"It's nothing really, I just miss my sword. I feel like I've lost an arm or something…"

"I see, it must be hard for you -it was such an important family heirloom wasn't it?"

"No, it's not that."

"Oh, what then?" Xellos was intrigued.

"Well I said I'd protect Lina for the rest of my life, without a sword I'm not really much use, I'll only get in her way. And if or when a mazoku attacks she'd be the one looking after me."

Xellos was admittedly rather surprised by the depth of thought the (ex)swordsman had just displayed, he was thinking ahead to the future scuffles they were likely to run into, which was unlike his usual easy going I'll-just-follow-Lina's-lead attitude. Still waters run deep it seems.

"In other words, you don't want to be a burden?"

"What's a burden? Is it a type of fish?"

Xellos hit the ground again. So maybe still waters didn't run that deep.

"Never mind. But why don't you get a sword here? You should be able to buy a normal one somewhere in town until you can find an enchanted blade that would suit you better?"

Gourry brightened

"Hey yeah! Great idea Xellos! Y'know, for a mazoku you're not so bad."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?"

Gourry cupped his chin in his hand for a moment as he thought over his answer.

"That is… a secret!"

And Xellos crashed to the ground again…again.

A/N: I would like to appologise for this chapter, I don't think it's half as good as some of the others. In my defence I can only say Gourry is incredibly hard to write without Lina and that as I start my first year of Uni on monday I've been working to get ready for that rather than on this.

Don't worry though, the story will continue and be updated as reguarly as possible, if you're lucky (and I mean REALLY lucky) I may even have an the next chapter up tommorow (Sunday) :)

Hitteh Pitteh: Oh come on, only after the AZ chapter? I better hop to it then! Ichiban Victory: Just wait untill the FX chapter when you find out what she's learnt! (manical laughter) ahem, it makes sense that once Filia realised the effect of Amelia's justice speeches she would get the princess to teach her. I'd be greatly suprised if it hasn't been done before... Elling: I have been considering a little ficlet concerning Ame's anti-mazoku lessons, maybe once this is over I'll look into that more seriously. I'm really glad you like this and i hope your mouse stays intact long enough to finish it ;) Yexis Mettalium: I have no objection whatsoever to hearing 'I really liked this chapter' every single time. And don't worry, lately I've been pestering myself to get on with this!