Disclaimers, etc.: see episode one

The Slayers: Courage

By Eugena

Episode Two:

"Engagement! You call THAT an apology?"

Lina Inverse here. Gee, it seems I have myself an admirer. Well, two admirers. It wouldn't be so bad if Gourry liked me. But Xellos? What are you doing? Wait a minute here—I don't know he likes me yet. Well, pretend I didn't say any of that. But I might be in trouble with his "mother" and master, Lord Beastmaster. Hey, Zelgadiss, don't tell me Xellos is going to confess before you!

The Slayers: Courage

Lina and the gang chowed down in a local tavern. No one had yet retold all that had gone on. But right now, as always, their stomachs ruled. After her fifth whole meal, Lina began to slow down. The events of the previous few hours came flooding back to her. A tear came into her eye, but she wiped it away, pretending she had gotten hot sauce in it.

The gang laughed at her cover-up, and all seemed well. Lina tried to ignore the pain inside. Never again could she grow close to someone—certainly not someone who possessed no magical ability. Inevitably, some monster would use it against her. Some monster. Just like Xellos. Sure, he gave Gourry back the Sword of Light, but maybe it was all part of some plan of his. Xellos. Xel. No, don't think like that. It makes him sound like Zel, Zelgadiss.

Zelgadiss was someone she could not get close to. Sure, he made it hard not to get close to him, but after Amelia entered their lives, they had grown distant. Strange. He was first my enemy, now he's one of my closest friends.

"Lina? What are you thinking about?" Zelgadiss asked.

"Huh?" Gourry looked up, spaghetti halfway in his mouth, the rest falling to his plate.

Amelia made some high-pitched noise as she slurped up her spaghetti.

Sylphiel wiped her mouth with a napkin, a small smile on her lips.

Lina smiled before answering, "I'm just glad we're all alright." She wasn't lying. Zelgadiss didn't ask for all she was thinking about. She looked directly at Zelgadiss, then turned away as she felt a blush rise to her cheeks.

Xellos, however, watching from the astral plane, didn't miss the change of Lina's emotions. Sure, she had an entire mess of emotions just a moment ago, but Zelgadiss' voice alone calmed the emotions into one. One which he would normally be disgusted with. But now, he became enraged. Whether Lina's feeling for Zelgadiss were a simple crush or something more, it didn't matter. Xellos could not stand it. He found himself wanting to crush Zelgadiss into a wall.

"I'm glad you are alright, Lina," Zelgadiss said. "We almost lost you."

Lina lowered her voice, nearly a whisper, "Zel . . . ."

"Yeah," said Gourry in a booming voice. "It's a good thing you're okay. I worried about you, Lina."

"Gourry," she said, turning her face towards him.

Xellos' mazoku's blood boiled. Lina's emotions changed again. Confused again. Xellos remembered the time he kissed her as an 'apology.' He had felt heat rise to her cheeks and could almost feel the pulsing of her blood against his lips. Sometimes it was good to have a human-like body.

Xellos turned towards the door of the tavern. Another flood of emotions interrupted him. Immense happiness. Eww. He thought again of Lina's blood against his lips. Lina's blood. His mother and master all but ordered him to kill her. Her blood covering him. On his hands, on his body. Her blood had no end. "Lina," a sickened whisper.

Bam! Martina burst through the door. "Linaaa! Gourry! Zelgadiss! Amelia! Sylphiel!"

"Martina!" Lina shouted.

"Today is such a great day. Zangulus and I are getting married. Of course, you are all invited as royal guests."

"Oh, true love!" cried Amelia. "How wonderful."

"Wow, Martina, you're so young," Lina said, "but I'm happy for you."

"Ohh, Ms. Lina," Amelia whined, "you and Mr. Zelgadiss both think that you are too young for love!"

"Huh?" Lina said as she looked over at Zelgadiss. He blushed, and she saw him. "Huh." She smiled and winked at him.

That's it! thought Xellos. I can't take this anymore!

He phased into the physical world where Lina and the others could see him. "Well, that's wonderful, Martina. Don't you agree, Lina?" He leaned over inches from her face.

"Xellos!" Zelgaddis shouted. "Why are you here?"

"I am merely relieved that I have one less human in love with me."

"In love with you?" Lina laughed. "As if. Once anyone finds out you're a monster, they'll never love you."

"Oh, Ms. Lina," he said as he leaned closer. "You've hurt my feelings. You should apologize."

"I'm sorry," she said sarcastically. "I didn't realize monsters had feelings."

He leaned closer. "I remember once that I gave you a better apology that that, Lina. Don't you?"

Surely, she hadn't forgotten.

"Oh, yeah." What the hell, why not? Make him squirm. She leaned in and kissed him, full on the lips. A 'better' apology than his. She felt him stiffen and decided to make it last longer. I wonder if this will kill him. It might be the only thing that will . . . .

"Ack!" Xellos pushed pack from her. Mazoku or not, he couldn't hide the rush of his blood to his face.

"Did you enjoy your apology, Xellos?"

"Lina!" Zelgadiss recovered from his shock. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Apologizing," Xellos answered with a smirk. He felt Zelgadiss' anger rise, relief to the confused emotions running through him.

"You bastard!" Zelgadiss shouted.

Amelia reddened in embarrassment. Oh, no, Gourry saw this time. Sylphiel and Martina blushed.

"Hey, Lina," said Gourry, "I don't think—."

Lina turned quickly and planted a kiss on Zelgadiss' lips. She whispered against his ear. "You're ruining my moment here, Zel. He's a monster, he'll like your anger."

Zelgadiss blushed.

"Still angry?" she asked him and kissed him again.

"MISS LINA!" Amelia shouted "What are you doing?"

Lina turned to Amelia then looked directly at Xellos. "Apologizing."

Xellos issued a guttural growl.

"What's the matter, Xel? You need another apology?"

"I'm not a replacement for him!" he shouted at her then faded into the astral plane.

Lina breathed a sigh of relief.

Zelgadiss breathed a sigh of shock as he fainted.

Well, that's it for now, folks. But what have I gotten myself into? I've never felt like this before. I've just kissed Xellos. Eww. But is it just me, or did he seem more angry that I kissed Zel. Zel and Xel, what am I going to do? Well, I'll have to prepare for some time alone, because Amelia wants Zelgadiss back. But first, Martina's wedding. Hey, wait of minute! Who said I took Zelgadiss in the first place?

Next Time:

"An Interest? All This From a Kiss?"