I'm kinda upset that I'm not getting many reviews, but at least I figured out why traffic was so low. I had to rate this M. Yeah so please tell all your friends and please leave a review telling me what you like about the story. Anyway on to the next chapter.

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After Lina had had a chance to calm down the three realized that Gourry had not come back yet. They also noticed that it was getting dark out and decided that this was as good a place as any to spend the night.

"I'll go look for him, you two set up the camp." Lina then left in the direction that Gourry had gone earlier when he had stormed off. SHe had just gotten out of hearing distance from where the others were setting up camp when she made out the sounds of a sword fight in the distance. "Gourry?" Concerned that he was being ambushed she ran in the direction of the fighting sounds and came into a clearing and what she saw shocked her into just standing there.

Gourry was there, fighting, but he was not fighting someone she had been expecting him to be fighting. It was Jing. Lina could tell that the younger man was on the defense and wearing down quickly. He already had several cuts and slices in his clothing. Kir hovered nearby but was unable to get near enough to Jing to help him thanks to Gourry's incessant attack. With one more swing of his sword Gourry had knocked Jing to the ground and was preparing a final blow when Lina snapped out of her trance. "Gourry!" Her shout paused him long enough for Lina to rush between the two men. "Gourry, what are you doing?"

Gourry looks down at her, hurt and anger filling his eyes. The kind man Lina had come to know during their travels no where within them. "Why are you stopping me Lina? Usually you have no problem with taking out your frustrations on bandits. So why do you have a problem with someone else doing the same? Or maybe it's just that I choose him as the target?" His eyes harden with hatred for Jing as he looks at the Bandit King.

Lina stared back at Gourry, her fists clenched and she felt her entire body shaking at the look he sent toward Jing. It terrified her, even if it wasn't meant for her. "Gourry what's wrong with you? This isn't like you."

Gourry glanced at Lina and saw the fear in her eyes, fear for the man behind her ,who was struggling to sit up. Lowering his blade and releasing one hand from the hilt he lets his bangs cover his eyes. Lina relaxes at his action but Jing seems somewhat suspicious of the older man's actions.

xxxFLASHBACKxxxx (I know this is weird for me too, but I know you all want to know what happened between the guys.)

Jing had been lazing about after Lina had gone back to her friends. He knew he'd be seeing her again and smiled.

"Hey Jing!" Kir came swooping down and landed on his shoulder.

"Hey Kir. How do you feel about following Lina around a bit more?"

"Huh, well I don't mind. But why do you want to follow her?"

Jing smirks at the bird as an answer and starts to leave in the direction that Lina had gone in earlier. He stopped when Gourry came out of the trees in front of him and he stops as he notices the angry glare being sent his way by the swordsman. "It was Gourry right?"

Gourry begins to shake and draws his sword. "You can't have her."

Jing brings out his blade and holds it up to defend himself. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Lina, I won't let you have her!" Gourry charges Jing and brings his sword down.

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Gourry suddenly reaches out and pushes Lina aside roughly before bringing his sword around on Jing. Jing was ready for him though and had already merged his arm with Kir. "Give me a Kir Royale!" The green blast of energy strikes Gourry dead on his armor, pushing the man back without doing much damage.

Gourry stumbles back and glares hatefully at Jing. Lina by now had had time to regain her footing and was standing between the two men glaring at them both. "Gourry, what the hell do you think you are doing? And you," She whips her head towards Jing, "Why did you use such a dangerous attack?"

Gourry didn't say anything and continued to glare at Jing across Lina.

Jing lowered his arm and separated from Kir, holding his hands up in defense. "I made sure not to hit anything vital. I aimed for his armor." Lina nods at his response and turns back to Gourry, who had still not said anything. "Gourry?" She also took the chance to inspect his armor and proved that Jing had told the truth.

Throwing down his sword angrily Gourry really looks at Lina for the first time since she had arrived. She stood there between them, angry but he noticed her wince and realized that she had most of her weight on her right leg and was wincing slightly whenever her weight shifted towards her left. She also had a large bruise forming on her arm and had dirt covering her left side. "Lina..." His hand reaches forward and she winces. Before he can do anything else Jing has pulled Lina behind himself, ready to defend her from the swordsman. Gourry lowered his hand and looks at the ground. "Lina, I'm sorry, I..."

"Gourry, please just explain why you and Jing were fighting."

"I... Lina I love you. I couldn't, seeing you with him, I just..." Gourry stumbles over his words before just giving up and looking at Lina apologetically. "I'm sorry."

Lna takes a deep breath and pushes Jing to the side gently. "Gourry, I'm sorry I don't feel the same way. But attacking Jing isn't going to change that. I still want to be your friend Gourry, but you need to realize that it won't be more than that." Gourry looks up at them, hurt filling his eyes. "Let's go back to the other's, they're probably getting worried." Lina looks at Jing. "You coming too?" Jing nods before looking up at Gourry again, the swordsman had picked up his sword and was sheathing it before turning and heading back the way he had come. Lina took his arm and pulled him along with her.

Jing notices her limping and sweeps her into his arms to carry her. "You hurt your ankle." Lina blushes but lets the protests that were building on her lips die.

"Thank you."

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The three made it back to camp, Gourry hanging his head in shame and Jing carrying Lina. Zelgadis and Amelia stood up when they got a good look at Lina.

"Ms. Lina!"

Zelgadis looks at Gourry, "What happened?" Gourry just sits down and hangs his head further. Amelia, Lina and Jing look over at Zelgadis who is yet to take his eyes from Gourry. "Gourry, what did you do?"

Gourry looks up at Zelgadis, his face blank. "I pushed her." And he goes back to studying his feet.

Amelia gasps at Gourry's statement and turns to Lina, worry etched over her face. "Ms. Lina?"

"I'm fine Amelia, I just twisted my ankle and bumped my arm. A quick recovery spell and I'm back to normal." Lina was smiling the whole time.

Amelia looked at Lina, not quite believing her but not wanting to argue with her. Sighing, she casts Recovery and heals Lina.

Once healed Amelia steps back expecting Jing to set Lina back onto her feet, but instead he carries her over to a seat by the fire and sits with her in his lap. Lina doesn't fight him but blushes slightly.

"Uh, well Jing wants to travel with us for a bit. I told him it was ok." Lina looks up at Zelgadis and Amelia.

Amelia looks to Zelgadis who lets out a sigh and sits down near the fire. "I don't see any reason why he can't." Taking a cue from Zelgadis, Amelia sits down as well, smiling at the two that sat opposite her.

Gourry looked up at them and clenched his fist, both in anger at himself and at Jing for his luck. The only one to really notice Gourry's reaction was Kir, who was perched in a tree. The bird sighs, realizing that this was only the beginning.

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For several days Jing traveled with Lina and her friends. Zelgadis and Amelia grew to like the young King of Bandits while Gourry just grew more and more frustrated at how close he was to Lina. As they began to approach Atlas City, Lina and Jing looked hesitant to continue, everyone realized that Jing probably wouldn't be bale to enter the city due to his reputation. When they were within site of the large city Jing stopped them by grabbing Lina's arm gently and asking if they could talk.

"I'll bring her back soon." Jing said over his shoulder as he and Lina went into the forest.

Zelgadis looks at Kir questioningly, "Not going with them? I thought Jing was going to leave after saying goodbye to LIna."

Kir shakes his head, "Nah, he said he'd bring her back. Besides I think leaving those two alone is more appropriate." Zelgadis nods and sits on the remnants of a farmer's broken cart that had been pushed off to the side of the road. Amelia looks at him curiously, "They may be a while, so we should make ourselves comfortable." Amelia blushes at what Zelgadis was implying and joins him on the broken cart.

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Jing had taken Lina quite a ways off the road and the two came out in a clearing with a small stream running off to one side and beside the stream was a willow tree. Jing gently pulls Lina over to the tree and into the private space its weeping branches created. "Do you really have to go?" Jing looks up at Lina and is surprised at how vulnerable she looks after asking that question.

He smiles at her and gently takes her chin in his hand, lifting her face to his. "Beleive me, I don't want to." He kisses her gently and then just rests his lips against hers.

"I know, you can't really go into Atlas City because of your reputation." Lina smirks at him and kisses him more passionately than before.

The two spend the next few minutes like that before Lina looses her footing and the two tumble down to the soft grass. Neither seems to notice and they just continue getting more and more passionate. Shortly after they reach the ground their clothes begin to loosen and then come off.

"Lina, are you sure?" Jing looks at her with lust and passion, but mostly love.

Lina smiles up at him and nods shyly, "More sure than I have ever been."

With that the two continue without restraint.

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Over an hour later Zelgadis, Gourry, Kir and Amelia look up as Jing and Lina reappear from the forest. They both looked content and Zelgadis raises an eyebrow at that. "We were beginning to worry about you two."

Jing chuckles, "No need to worry, I brought her back like I said I would." He leans down and pecks Lina on the cheek, and slips her a piece of paper. "If you need to get ahold of me he should be able to help. Bye Lina." He waves as he turns, "Take care of her." And with that Jing and Kir disappear over a hill.

Zelgadis shakes his head and stands up, Amelia had already run over to Lina and was looking over her shoulder as she read the note, "Who's Postino?"

"Lina shrugs, "Not sure but it says how to get in contact with him should I need him."

Well we should get going if we want to be in Atlas City by dark." Zelgadis begins walking toward the city and the others follow, Gourry taking up the rear.

Amelia had positioned herself next to Lina and was questioning her about what had happened while she and Jing were gone. "Amelia, we were just saying goodbye." Amelia notices the light blush that creeps across Lina's face.

Amelia giggles, "Sure Ms. Lina I believe you." And she keeps giggling.

Lina rolls her eyes, still blushing and then laughs. "Fine."

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Ok so this may be a shorter chapter than the others but this is a good point at which to stop. I hope you all enjoyed it and please leave a review. See you again next chapter.