Author's Note: I'm sorry that it took so long, so I decided to give you guys a longer chapter as a reward for your patience.

Chapter 7

"It's You!"

The hike back to town was long and noisy. Most of the noises were either Lina's whining for food or her stomach's growling. Rocky was following Lina's example and kept nudging Zel's shoulder as they finally got back into town.

Zelgadis sighed. "Alright fine I'll feed you, although I don't think you deserve it seeing as you ran from Mr. Stone."

"But he only did that because he was trying to rescue you." Amelia pointed out. She refused to let Rocky's good deed go unnoticed.

Zelgadis blushed. "I was able to rescue myself."

"Even when Lina and I had you tied to a post?" Gourry asked.

The hermit gave no answer and silently led Rocky away to get him some oats.

Meanwhile, Lina spotted the nearest tavern and zoomed in chanting "Food! Food! Food!"

Zelgadis and Amelia both glanced at Gourry slightly baffled. "Is she always like that?" Amelia asked.

Gourry nodded. "But it doesn't feel as weird once you've been with her for awhile."

"And that's a good thing?"

The gunman shrugged and entered the tavern. "I'm starving, how about you guys?"

At that moment, Amelia's stomach growled like a bear. "Er...I suppose a bite wouldn't hurt."

The hermit sighed. Great! Now they were eating here too! What ever happened to just buying supplies and getting out of this town as fast as possible so he wouldn't be seen?

Zelgadis sighed because he knew it was pointless to complain. He would just be outvoted. He tied Rocky to a post beside a trough of water. "I guess it can't be helped," Zelgadis thought. "Maybe fate will be on my side for once and nothing out of the ordinary will happen."

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The cook would never forget that day. There were only a small group of gamblers and a group of two girls and two young men. Despite this, he had never cooked so much food before and it was only for two people!

Tall towers of plates were piling up on the table as Lina and Gourry ate. Amelia ate a rather large amount as well, but it wasn't half of the amount of either of the pair.

Zelgadis had only ordered a sandwich and a glass of water. The cook was grateful when he heard Zel's tiny order. Given the others, though, the cook was going to need a long vacation after this night.

Amelia brushed the crumbs from her face. "So what's our plan now?"

Lina swallowed her last mouthful. "Once we're done eating, we'll find a hotel and head out in the morning."

Zelgadis choked. "Tomorrow! No, we're leaving as soon as we're done."

The hermit received blank stares. "And why do we want to do that?" Gourry asked.

"The sooner we leave, the more time we'll save." Zelgadis knew it was a lame answer, but he wanted to leave this town and get away from any possible gossip as possible.

"But I'm tired." Gourry replied.

"And so am I!' Lina snapped, staring Zelgadis down with a death glare.

"I don't care. We're..."

"Look, Zel! I don't know what your problem is but Gourry and I would like to sleep in a real bed tonight! So we're staying!"

Zelgadis tensed and turned to Amelia. She fidgeted as Lina also turned her gaze towards her. "Um...I feel really tired too, actually." Amelia said quietly.

"Fine!" Zelgadis slammed his fist on the table. "But we're leaving as soon as the sun is up! Got it!"

Amelia frowned. What was wrong with him? Why was he so anxious to leave this town? Thinking back, Amelia realized that he anxious ever since they got to this town this morning. Did he dislike this town so much?

Amelia leaned back in her chair. "I wish I could ask him about it." she thought. "But there's no way he would..."

"Mr. Zelgadis!" A new voice interrupted Amelia's thoughts. A slender girl with long green hair approached them. The girl was smiling, but Zelgadis looked less than happy to see her. His expression was as if he had just found a dead mouse in his bed. "...Miwan..." he muttered.

Amelia was on full alert, along with Gourry and Lina. Miwan flipped her hair over her shoulder, unaffected by the stares she was getting. "I haven't seen you in ages! How have you been? Have you written any new stories?"

Zelgadis glumly stared at his empty plate. "I'm doing fine and no I haven't."

Gourry scratched his head. "Is she your friend Zel?"

The hermit darkly remarked, "In a sense..."

"Oh, I've known Mr. Zelgadis for years!" Miwan grinned.

Amelia smiled, but was shocked at the twinge of envy she was feeling. "It's not a big deal if she knows him better than I do." she told herself, but she still couldn't shake off the feeling.

"How about we have dinner?" Miwan asked. "Then we can catch up on old times."

Lina perked up. Those were her favorite words! More food and she wasn't paying! "Sure! We'll..."

"We just ate." Zelgadis quickly cut in. "And I doubt your family would want you to spend your evening with someone like me. The same could be said for your husband, for that matter."

Amelia was thrown back by this. What was that for!

Miwan did seem hurt, but she gave an understanding smile. "Oh...you're still angry about..."

Zelgadis slammed his glass onto the table. "Miwan... please leave."

"Yes of course. We can just try catching up again some other time." Miwan sharply turned and left.

Amelia glared and sprang up from her chair. "Mr. Zelgadis why did you treat her like that!"

The hermit's fingers drummed on the table. "I didn't want her around."

"But there was no need to talk to her like that! She's your friend isn't she!"

"And we could have gotten more food!" Lina joined in.

Zelgadis lowered his gaze. "It's none of your business." Then he got up from his chair.

"Where are you going?" Amelia asked.

"Out to a bar at the other end of town. I'll meet you at the hotel later."

"But..."

Gourry patted Amelia's shoulder. "Don't push it. I don't know why, but it must be a touchy subject with him." The gunman ate one more piece of chicken and got up. "I'll keep an eye on him. I'm sure he just needs to cool down."

"Don't forget that we're meeting up at the hotel!" Lina yelled as Gourry headed for the door.

Amelia plunked down in her chair. "I still don't understand why Mr. Zelgadis treated her like that."

"I bet she's an old girlfriend."

Amelia almost tumbled from her seat. "What!"

Lina sighed. "Come on! Think about it? The icy stare, the fact that he mentioned her husband. She's got to be an old girlfriend."

Amelia frowned. "But why did they break up?"

Lina tossed her hands up in the air. "How should I know! I only just met the guy!"

Amelia sighed. That would explain a lot and Mr. Jones did mention that Zelgadis had a broken heart? Could Miwan be the reason the Zelgadis became a hermit?

Suddenly a loud anguished cry smashed Amelia's thoughts.

"Dammit! Not again!"

Both girls turned around. At another table, there were a group of men along with a laughing curly haired girl. She had the largest feather hat Lina had ever seen and a very low cut dress. The outfit could even be considered too revealing for a saloon girl. She was also wearing the longest gloves Lina ever seen. They had to be the longest gloves in history. They went right up to her elbows.

The girl laughed and her curls bounced along. "Sorry boys! But that's what you get when you play with Martina the Gambling Queen!"

Lina choked. Oh great! The girl played and won a few games and now she thought she was a legend? She must have only just started to call herself that, because Lina had never even heard of a gambling queen and she knew A LOT of legendary names. She was Calamity Lina after all.

Lina sipped her water and muttered "Wannabe."

Martina must have caught the comment, as she instantly fumed in Lina's direction. "What was that!"

"I said you're a wannabe. I bet you've only been the 'Gambling Queen' for a month or so right?"

Martina glared.

Amelia could feeling the growing tension. "Uh...Ms. Lina I don't think..."

Martina slammed her fist on the table. "You're only saying that because you're too scared to face me!"

"Hardly."

Martina's eyes narrowed. "What's your name?"

Lina smirked. "They call me 'Calamity Lina'."

The men gasped. "The Coyote Spooker!"

"Shut up!"

Martina chuckled and drew out her large fan, waving it casually, though Lina could see the sweat on her forehead.

"Oh I see" Martine replied "I should have known you right away, especially given how 'little' you are."

That did it! Lina got out her whip and threw her chair back. "Sounds to me like you're picking a fight!"

Martina appeared amused. "Fights are too violent for me. However..." She picked up the deck of cards. "How about a game?"

Lina's grip tightened on her whip. "For what?"

"Money of course, but let's make it more exciting. If you win I'll quit calling myself the Gambling Queen and give you ten times what you win." Martina smiled evilly. "But if I win you have to grovel at my feet and beg my forgiveness for insulting me and pay me ten times what I win!"

"Ms. Lina, don't do it!" Amelia whispered.

Lina ignored her and marched over. "Fine! But if I win, you also have to pay my bill!"

"Agreed! It will be an honour to defeat the famous Calamity Lina!"

A knot was forming in Amelia's stomach. This wasn't going to end well.

At that exact moment a man wearing a large black hat came into town. His horse was as black as his hat and snorted at the same time the man did. Arriving, he got down from his horse and patted its nose.

"Easy there Howler. You can rest for a bit now."

The man then looked toward the town. It had been a long journey for him, but it was finally coming to an end. The person he had been searching for was here. He could feel it in his bones the same way a coyote knew when its prey was near. He had no idea what this person was doing in this town, but the man didn't give damn about that.

He then drew out his pistol and double checked to make sure he had enough bullets. Satisfied, he pulled his hat down over his face twirling the gun in his fingers before putting it back in his holster, and grinned. "I'm coming for you, Gourry."

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Zelgadis never considered himself to be a drinking man. It was rare for him to enter a bar. However, he was willing to make an exception. The hermit didn't even notice that Gourry was following him until Gourry sat on the stool next to him.

Zelgadis gave a sour look. "Why are you here?"

Gourry calmly ordered a drink and turned to Zel. "You're coming with us aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Then, I'm just making sure you don't get into trouble."

Zelgadis scoffed as he sipped his drink. "I'm quite capable of taking care of myself."

"So is Lina but that doesn't stop her from getting into trouble."

Zelgadis would have protested, but he couldn't think of anything to counter the comment.

"So, is Miwan an old girlfriend?"

Zelgadis choked and coughed hard almost spilling his drink.

Gourry sighed. "Yup, definitely an old girlfriend."

"She is not!" Zelgadis cried once he could speak again.

The gunman raised a skeptic eyebrow. "Do you really expect me to believe that? It doesn't take a genius to figure out that you two had some kind of relationship, and from the way you acted, it wasn't just friendship."

Zelgadis stared into his glass. "Okay...she sort of was..." He slammed his glass. "Oh forget it! It's not any of your business!"

"Hey! Calm down! I'm on your side!"

Zelgadis took a deep breath. "Sorry...but I don't like to talk about it."

Gourry was silent and only replied with a tip of his hat. Suddenly, Gourry sensed that someone was approaching him from behind. This feeling was as familiar to him as breathing, and he knew from it that the man coming was a gunman. Gourry didn't know exactly when he acquired this talent, but he could detect a skilled gunman coming from any direction around him. His body tensed as the figure approached.

Gourry slowly turned to find a man staring at him and grinning. "I've finally found you!" The man pulled out his pistol. "I've spent a whole year tracking you down! I had to search through every town just to find the tiniest bit of information on you, but I've found you at last!"

The man pointed the gun directly at Gourry's forehead. A grave hush fell into the room as the other drinker realized a gun fight or a murder might soon occur.

The man ignored the dramatic mood and continued. "Now, we can finally settle this."

Zelgadis tensed wondering how Gourry was going to respond.

Gourry stiffened and then said "Who are you exactly?"

There was a never louder noise in history as every person in the room fell out of their seats.

The man instantly got to his feet screaming, "It's me you idiot! Zangulus!"

Gourry slammed his hand into his fist. "Oh right! Sorry, I didn't recognize you. Your hair had gotten longer since the last time I saw you. So why were you looking for me? Do I owe you money?"

Zangulus fingers twitched. He was so tempted to shoot the fool here and now! "No! You and I were supposed to have a gun fight!"

"Oh! You mean that life or death duel you challenged me to?"

"Yes!"

Gourry laughed nervously. "Sorry...I must have forgotten about that."

Zangulus's jaw dropped and was quickly joined by Zelgadis's. "How could you forget something like that!" Zelgadis yelled.

Gourry shrugged. "Don't know. Lina has been asking me that for ages."

"Whatever!" Zangulus snarled and gave Gourry an icy cold stare. "We're having that duel here and now!

Gourry blinked. "You mean right now!"

"Damn straight! I'm not leaving this spot until I have that duel!"

"But...I'm kind of on a job and Lina would get really mad if I had a gun fight right now."

"She can blow up a building for all I care! Nothing is going to stop me!"

Zelgadis leaned into Gourry's ear. "He's dead serious."

"I know."

"What do you plan to do?"

Gourry looked back with a grave look. "I only have one option."

Slowly, Gourry stood up. He stared directly at Zangulus, cleared his throat and in his loudest voice yelled "Drinks on the house and Zangulus is buying!"

The bar was bursting with the cheers of each man drunk or sober, all rushing to thank Zangulus.

Zangulus found himself surrounded, forced to shake hands and receive various slaps on the back. "Wait! No! Go away! Gourry, get back here!"

Gourry ignored Zangulus's yell as he ran out of the bar with Zelgadis .

"That was your plan!" Zelgadis asked while running.

"It was either that or getting Zangulus drunk and then make a run for it, but this one was easier."

Zelgadis shook his head. "I bet the girls aren't having this much trouble."

That was debatable. Back in the restaurant, Lina was doing very badly in the poker game. By some fluke or miracle, Lina wasn't sure which, Martina kept getting good hands. Lina was now familiar with the signs that showed Martina had a good hand.

Martina would examine her cards closely behind her fan and then grin and laugh. With each passing card, Lina was getting more and more frustrated. Dammit! How could this curly-haired airhead be this good!

Martina had to be cheating, that was the only logical explanation, but Lina had checked the deck herself before they started playing. None of the cards were marked. So how was Martina winning?

Amelia was also wondering the same thing and she was becoming more and more anxious. She told Lina that playing this game wasn't a good idea! Now she could only pray that justice would prevail in the end.

Amelia toyed with the end of her hair and then realized that it must be in horrible tangles. She hadn't brushed it since that morning. Amelia moved to a the mirror on the wall and gently tried to get any tangles out with her fingers since she didn't have a brush on hand.

Suddenly, her eyes were caught by the far corner of the mirror where there was a clear view of Martina's current hand. There was something very strange though. There was something sticking out of her glove on her other hand.

She watched as Martine drew another card. Then in a very relaxed manner she hid her hand behind her fan. Amelia's eyes widened as Martina pulled out a three of spades from her current hand, tucked it into her glove and from the same glove took out an Ace of Hearts.

Amelia's anger flared and she spun around. "Ms. Lina, she's cheating!"

Lina dropped her cards. Martina almost fell backwards in her chair and glared. "How dare you accuse me of cheating!"

"It's true!" Amelia shot back. "I saw you! You've been hiding cards in your gloves and then changing your cards behind your fan!"

Lina's eyes narrowed. The other men were also staring suspiciously.

"Is this true?" one of the men asked.

"Of course not!" Martina protested, despite the fact her forehead was dripping sweat onto the table. "I'm an honest girl! How dare you suggest such a thing!"

In one quick movement, Lina pounced forward, grabbed onto Martina's glove and pulled. Before Martina could stop her, with one mighty yank her glove came off and a dozen cards scattered to the ground like falling leaves.

Martina gulped as she quickly tried to cover the cards with her hands. "How...how did these get here! Um...just ignore these! They're...they're...family heirlooms for good luck!"

"Like we would buy that!" One man yelled as he and the other men grew closer and a few stood behind her.

"Now! Now! Let's discuss this in a civilized manner!" All reason from the man's face was gone and he moved to punch.

Martina shrieked and ducked.

The man missed and punched the man behind her. That resulted in the other man hitting back, but missed and punched another guy instead.

Chaos broke loose. Tables were turned over. Glass bottles were shattered. Chairs were torn into pieces. The brawl had just begun.

Lina seized Amelia's hand and ran out.

"But the bill!" Amelia stammered.

"Who cares! We'll get arrested if we stick around here!"

BANG

The girls had body slammed into two running figures. They were surprised to discover that they had collided into Zelgadis and Gourry.

The four friends clutched their aching heads.

Lina cursed. "Dammit! Why were you running..."

Just then several shouts came from the direction the boys had been running from.

Lina glared at Gourry. "What did you guys do?"

More shouts and yells came from where the girls ran from.

Gourry stared back evenly. "What did you do?"

"How about we run, and talk later!" Zelgadis snapped, as he scrambled to his feet. The other three didn't need to be convinced.

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Hours later, the sun was beginning to rise as Martina dashed around a corner gasping for air. "I finally lost them!" Her fists tightened. "Damn you Calamity Lina! You ruined my one chance at fame! I will not rest until I have my revenge!"

"Hey you!"

Martina whirled around. "What do you..."

Martina trailed off as she saw the man. He was tall, dark and handsome! The perfect dream man! She quickly regained her posture. "Uh...I mean...what do you want you good looking stranger."

"I'm looking for Wild Gourry. Do you know where he went?"

"Wild Gourry...doesn't he travel with Calamity Lina?"

"Yes, now do you know where he went!" the man yelled.

"No sorry."

The handsome man stomped his feet. "Damn! He must have left town! I'll have to leave now if I want to find him!"

"Wait!" Martina grasped his sleeve. "It just so happens I have a few matters to deal with Calamity Lina." She fluttered her eyelashes. Men always fell for the eyelashes. "Can I come with you?"

The man paused, then "Alright, but I don't have time to dawdle."

"Of course!" Martina replied and silently thanked whatever divine power had given her this chance. "Not only am I going to find Calamity Lina but I also get to travel with a cute guy! What more could a girl ask for...Well maybe a million dollars... and some diamonds and..."

"Hurry up! We can't waste time!"

Martina snapped back to reality. "Sorry. What's your name by the way?"

"Zangulus, now let's get going."

Author's Note: For those who might be wondering in my story Miwan is an actual girl and I do plan to give more details on her relationship with Zel in a later chapter.