To the end

Ramon: Another Lina and Gourry fic, which many will enjoy.

Sunny: The Slayers and all its characters don't belong to us, it belongs to Hajime Kanzaka and Rui Arazumi. Only Air Jay and Kiko belong to us.

Alandra: we hope that you people can enjoy this fic.

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Chapter 5

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Lina and Gourry accompanied Urnt to his home and they putt Ashford to the a bad where Urnt could cast a healing spell on him.

Lina and Gourry were waiting on the living room.

"I can not believe how these people are so cowards!" said Lina in an angry tone. "They were wiling to let Ashford die because Air Jay told them so!"

"Be calm with them." Said Urnt entering the living room. "They have a bad history with Air Jay.

Lina and Gourry got up when Urnt appeared.

"How is he doing?" asked Lina

"He will be alright but he got a real bad beating. I believe that by morning he will be walking again." Responded Urnt. "For what I heard you challenged Air Jay. Very foolish of you."

"WHAT?" shouted Lina. "Didn't you saw what happen? Air Jay beat Ashford so badly and no one would want to help him. Ashford is an old friend of mine, I can stay down when a friend of mine is on trouble."

Urnt didn't say anything, he just sits on the couch. "Its very rare to find someone like you, Lina Inverse. But like I said this town, like many others, have bad history with Air Jay, he came to this town and caused many problems and destructions, and he killed so many people in a way that every one is afraid of him."

"I see." Said Lina remembering her last days when she remembers what people keep saying about Air Jay. "But why would Air Jay come to this place?"

"Because of our dragon cuisines, even that caught the attention of an outlaw like Air jay."

"But why won't the kings of this kingdom send their soldiers to get Air Jay?" asked Gourry.

"They've send it, Air Jay killed them all in a blink of an eye." Said Urnt very difficultly, remembering a very painful memory.

"Were you one of those soldiers?" asked Lina.

"No." responded Urnt holding his missing right arm. "I was a travelling sorcerer like you, very arrogant and very proud, until I came to this very city with a group of bounty hunters to catch Air Jay, but he defeated us all, every one got killed but me, Air Jay just cut my right arm, he let me live so that I could tell Prince Phill what happen. He was just 16 years old that time and he scared me haft to death, since that day I gave up being a travelling sorcerer and decided to retire and I became this town's healer."

Lina did not know what to say, she's been on the road for so long but she never hear of Air Jay and all the things he has done, she just wonders why. "Well Air Jay will have a different opponent this time, he's going to face Lina Inverse! I will get him and collect the bounty on his head!"

"Say what?" shouted Urnt. "After all that I say to you, you want to face that monster? Please don't make the same mistake I did, I came after Air Jay because of the bounty as well, I totally underestimated him."

"I will get him! I have faced many dangerous journeys in my life, and I always came out victorious. I will get the bounty on Air Jay's head and I will make him pay for what he has done to Ashford!" said Lina very determinate.

"There is nothing that you can say that might convince her. Once she gets an idea on her head she can't take it out." Said Gourry.

Urnt looks at Lina deeply on the eyes, he can tell there is something different about this girl. "I see, it isn't about the money that you are after Air Jay, it something else, a pure wish. You are different from me Lina, you are not going after Air Jay by your greed, I wish you good luck. But be careful with his intense desire for battles and the coldness which he operates things, he is full of surprises. Remember all theses things and you might survive."

Lina nodded her head. "I will survive, I will defeat Air Jay."

Gourry did not say a thing but he heard carefully what Urnt said, Lina has a pure wish about getting Air Jay, this made Gourry feel very worry, the last time Lina had a pure wish was when she got possessed by the Lord of nightmares to save him.

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Night time

We find Kiko returning to the room he and Air Jay shared after he ate up all the food of the kitchen. "Au Au Au. (That was good food.)"

When he got in the room he finds Air jay in his underwear and surrounded by six women wearing a towel around them, the entire place looks like a harem. "GGrrrr au? (Damn Air jay, six at the same time?)"

"What can I say? I'm irresistible to women!" said Air jay in a cocky tone. "I love being the bad guy."

"Au au ruff auu? (Shouldn't you pre preparing your self for the fight you have tomorrow against Lina Inverse?)

Air jay just picks up a bottle of wine and drinks it a little. "Relax I can beat her easily."

"Au, au ruff, auu! (Don't be so fast on judging, for what we heard she is responsible for the deaths of powerful Mazokus like the Hellmaster and Garv, she's not the destructive sorcerer for nothing!)"

"Yes, I have already heard about it, but they are just mazokus, mazokus feed on negative energy if they get any positive energy they get weak and die. Lina Inverse hasn't fought anyone like me, but it is true that she is very powerful and I am more than anxious to fight her. In the end if she proves to be just another weakling……..well, we all have to die sometime, right?"

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In another inn where Lina and Gourry are staying, Lina is in her room already in her pyjama, putting the final touches of her letter, Lina was never a good appreciator of letters they always gave her terrible news and this one is another example of it, she took at least 3 days to complete this letter.

Lina let out a deep sigh and looks up to the ceiling. "Alright, let's review my plan here. After I capture Air Jay, me and Gourry will bring him to Seilune, when we get there the soldiers will probably tell us to wait so that they might get Prince Phill or Amelia, by that time I will give this letter to Gourry with the instructions for him to give it to Phill, I will invent some excuse saying that I must go to the bathroom or something of the kind but I am actually running away. By the time Phill arrives I'll be way gone, very far, far away." Lina then looks down to her letter and starts reading what she had wrote.

Dear prince Phill.

By the time you start reading this I'll be way far away. I bring with me the bandit you've been after for so very long time, and of course I want the reward you've putted on him but I want you to give it to Gourry.

Gourry, if you are starting to read this letter I want you to take the reward for your self and please don't come after me. We have been in so many adventures and I always putted you in a lot of danger, and now that you lost your sword of light you will be in even more danger if you continue with me, don't get me wrong I think that you are the greatest swordsman in the world but I just don't want you to get involved in my messes anymore. So please take the reward and start a new life where you can be happy, get married and have a bunch of your kids. These are my wishes Gourry, please respect them.

So Gourry I say farewell to you, you have always been a kind and loyal friend to me, and I will always treasure our friendship.

You will always have a special place in my heart

Your sorceress friend.

Lina Inverse.

Lina let out a few tears when she finished reading her letter. She feels a big weight and pain when she thinks more and more about her plan of leaving Gourry for his own good. "Oh Gourry……" She never wanted to admit it but she has a very deep secret feeling for the blond swordsman, a feeling that has been held back for the fear of rejection and for the terrible incident she faced in the hands of Hellmaster.

"Lina!" said a voice from behind Lina's door, it's Gourry.

Lina immediately cleans up her tears. "Wait a minute Gourry." and hides her letter in one of the magical pockets of her cape and goes to the door acting normally.

When she opened the door she saw a very worry Gourry. "Hey Gourry, what's up?"

"Lina……can I come in?" he asked.

"Well sure come in." she said letting Gourry in, wondering what is wrong with him.

Once he got in he let out a small sigh and turns to Lina. "Lina……why are you so obsessed about going after this guy?"

"Are you an idiot? I've already told about the big money there is bout catching this guy, and I want it!" replied Lina.

"But Lina, there is something else, isn't it? You are not just after this guy because of the money, Urnt said that you have a pure motive to go after Air Jay and I can tell he's right."

"Oh yeah? What makes you say that?"

"I've travelled with you for quite sometime Lina, I can tell when you are in it for the money or not. So tell me Lina, why are you after Air Jay?"

Lina did not say a thing, but she never thought that Gourry would come to her asking for the reason of why she's after Air Jay, but she can not tell him. "You will find out in the end Gourry."

"But why won't you tell me Lina? Don't you trust me?"

"Of course I do Gourry!" she answered immediately and sincerely. "But trust me on this Gourry, you will find everything in the end, and it's really for the best."

Gourry remained in silence for a moment. "Well………I am a little worry here Lina, after everything we heard about this Air Jay guy, I'm starting to think that he will not be a very easy opponent to defeat."

"Hey relax Gourry! We faced Mazokus, evil copies, Darklords, bandits, bad sorceresses, you name it and we did it. We beat them all, so I'm sure that we will defeat Air Jay, easily." Said Lina in her usual optimist attitude, an attitude that always calmed and assured the gang of their victory when they were in difficult situation."

That was enough to calm Gourry. "Well……if you say so Lina." Said Gourry with a smile. "And no matter the problems or the difficulties Lina, you can always count on me. Like I promised you Lina, I will protect you, forever."

Lina blushed when he said that. "yeah…ok. You better go to sleep now Gourry, we have a big day tomorrow."

"Ok." Said Gourry then he left Lina's room.

Lina sits on her bed with tears falling down her cheeks. "No Gourry…….you won't protect me forever." She sobbed, letting her tears continuing to fall.

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The day finally came, Lina and Gourry arrived to the ghost city they have agreed to fight in with Air Jay.

"You know, this city seems quite familiar." Said Gourry, looking around the ghost town.

Lina almost feel on the ground when Gourry said that. "Gourry, don't tell me that you have forgotten about this town? We have been here before when we had that problem with Rezo!"

"Really?"

Lina sighed, it is hopeless to try to make him remember. But she remembers this place very well, she and Zelgadiss have fought some of Rezo's minions here and Gourry came in time to save her from a mazoku that Rezo summoned to kill them all. And most of all it was in this town that she found out that Gourry held the powerful Sword of light, she had a very impressive battle in this town and that is why she wanted to fight in this town, she had fought here once and she has the advantage of knowing this town inside out and most of all no innocent will get hurt.

Minutes later Lina and Gourry arrived to the centre of the city where Air Jay is waiting for them.

Air Jay looks at them and let out a sinister chuckle "Its about time! And here I thought that you got chicken out."

"You don't know Lina, you talking hair ball!" shouted Gourry.

Air jay twitched and glared angrily at Gourry. "Talking hairball? I'm going to kill him!"

"Gourry…." called Lina looking at Gourry. "This is my fight, a fight which I challenged Air Jay for, so no matter what happen I don't want you to interfere. Understand?"

Gourry didn't say anything, but he sure did not like Lina's tune, its like she's is taking this just a way off too personal, but he decide to be very quiet and obey her, he doesn't want to get her upset over him. "Sure Lina…….anything you say."

"Thanks Gourry." and Lina walks to her adversary.

Air Jay just smirked. "Its about time you are done dating, didn't you guys gave your sweet love last night?"

Lina blushed furiously "This is none of your business, you pig!"

Air Jay laughed at her reaction. "Do you know that you are lucky? In a matter of second you will be eliminated by the strongest man of the world."

"Well yuppie!" replied Lina sarcastically. "You are really the most arrogant guy I've ever meet!"

"And I have also told you that I have good reasons to be arrogant." Replied Air jay with his eyes releasing a small fire glow. "I have heard that you have helped the Seilune family and their Kingdome because of some Mazoku attack."

"How do you know that?"

"I heard rumours but I never knew if they were true, but now that I see that they are I will truly enjoy killing you for helping the Seilune family!"

"What is your problem with the Seilunes?" asked Lina very curious to see how Air Jay reacted so furiously by knowing that Lina helped Amelia and her family when it was that incident with Kenzel and Mazenda.

"That is a personal matter." Responded Air Jay with a serious look. "All you need to know is that I'm going to kill you and I will be known as the enemy of all living things!"

Lina grinned. "You are so naïve. I have faced foes much stronger than you, and they all said that they would kill me, but they are the one who ended up defeated and destroyed. And with you it will be the same!"

Air Jay just chuckled sinisterly "You think that you can beat me? Poor imbecile, even if you trained for years or even centuries I will always much stronger than you!"

Lina sighed and puts a hand on her forehead. "Man you are really the most arrogant guy I ever meet!"

"Enough talk!" demanded Air Jay then he grabs a big piece of rock on the ground "When this rock hits the floor, it will be the start of this fight."

"Very well!"

And Air Jay throws the rock to the air. Booth he and Lina are waiting for the rock to fell so that the fight can start and they can beat each other.

To be continued……

Alandra: the fight will at last begin.

Ramon: more stuff coming up soon, a big fight is on the way.

Maliska: please R and R.