DISCLAIMER: I still do not own the Slayers... (n.n)

And now for chapter four, where we finally establish the full plot!

Hee, Enjoy!

- Nicci

Special Thanks To:

Humi

Hee! Why that's the best kind of evil freak! (n.n)

fantasia-49

And now the fun gets funner! (n.-)

Shadow Ice Maiden

Yea! That's just what I'm going for! (n.n)

Kayla-chan1990

Hee! Awesome! Hope you love where this goes. (n.-)

Chapter Four

Three Girls and A Hot Spring…


"Ah!" Lina sighed, sinking deeper into the steaming water, the towel slipping over her eyes as they closed in satisfaction. "I can't think of the last time I got to really enjoy a hot spring! It seems like something crazy always happens!"

"Always?" Filia asked curiously, resting her arm on the side of the tub and propping up her head curiously.

"Yep." Lina muttered, the towel slipping lower causing her to blow hard to get it away from her mouth. "Every time. But not this time, eh Amelia!"

"Nope…" Amelia sighed in a happy little voice, sinking lower into the water happily. Blowing a few bubbles. "Not this time…"

O O O

"You know Zelgadiss…" Xelloss spoke up chidingly. "You look a little tense! I hear this resort has an excellent masseuse!"

"Who in their right mind would try and loosen up a stone-skinned chimera?" Zelgadiss asked dryly, not bothering to look up from his sketch book as he expertly etched his way across it with a shard of charcoal. "Really Xelloss. If you're gonna try and get under my skin at least try and make your taunts realistic."

"Getting under your skin being the intended pun there…" Xelloss muttered under his breath.

"Just because you lower your head and turn it sideways, doesn't mean I can't still hear you." The chimera muttered, still not bothering to look up from his work.

"No." Xelloss agreed, turning back to him with a grin and arching a finger smartly. "But it does mean that I meant you to!"

"Hmpt." Zelgadiss grumbled darkly, his eyes still on his unfolding sketch.

"Why, Zelgadiss!" Xelloss chided, phasing to the chimera's other side to get a better look. "Is that a fairy princess?!"

The chimera felt his cheeks heat and quickly closed the book back up. "I don't have to explain my art to you, Xelloss."

"And say…" Xelloss went on, tapping his chin in feigned thought. "That fairy princess! Why, she sort of looked like Amelia!"

Xelloss beamed maddeningly at the glowering chimera. "Why Zelgadiss! Were you just drawing a picture of Amelia as a Fairy Princess!"

They sat like that for a moment, a beaming mazoku and a glowering chimera.

"You're just bored, aren't you?" Zelgadiss finally responded in a dry tone.

"Quite." Xelloss sighed, leaning his head back against the wall and cracking an eye at the chimera. "Are you sure you don't want to let me cause even the slightest amount of mischief?"

Zelgadiss gave him a warning glare and Xelloss grinned hopefully. "Nothing serious, I swear! Just something to liven things up!"

Zelgadiss snorted, leaning his head back and staring at the door to the changing room. "No. Go join Gourry if you're so bored."

"I make it not a point to get naked with strange men." Xelloss replied wanly, cracking an eye. "Makes 'em jealous."

Zelgadiss clenched his teeth in dark annoyance. "Then go home!"

"Nope." Xelloss replied with a sigh. "That's not an option either. So Zelgadiss, do you want to entertain me, or do you want me to entertain the both of us?"

Zelgadiss sunk his head back against the wall, eying the door calmly. "Well… they have been in there a long time."

"Yeah!" Gourry agreed stepping into the hallway, one towel wrapped around his waist the other drying off his hair. "I bet Lina's hungry! I know I am!"

Xelloss and Zelgadiss shared a long look. Xelloss beamed, Zelgadiss glowered but hung his head in resignation.

"You know Gourry, you may be right!" Xelloss agreed, standing to his feet and wrapping an arm around the swordsman; directing him towards the kitchens. "You should go get both of you something to eat! In fact! I bet Miss Amelia and Miss Filia may even be hungry as well!"

"Hey, yeah!" Gourry agreed, his eyes lighting up. "Yeah! I should go get all of us some food! Everyone should have something to eat when they're having fun! It makes fun even more fun!"

"It sure does!" Xelloss agreed, cracking an eye at the glowering chimera.

"Yeah." Gourry repeated one more time, this time with stern resolve as he headed down the hall. "Don't you worry Lina! I've got your back."

"I think she's going to be more worried about him seeing it." Zelgadiss muttered glaring up at Xelloss as the mazoku watched the unwitting swordsmen head off with an evil smirk.

"And yet you didn't step in, Zelgadiss!" Xelloss countered, cracking an eye knowingly.

"Only because Gourry's sacrifice will hopefully disrupt our time together." He replied coolly, standing to his feet and heading towards his room. "I don't even care enough to stay and watch."

"Hm." Xelloss stated dryly, watching him go nonplussed. "That guy is positively no fun."

"I got it!" Gourry stated proudly, holding up an armful of food. "Fruit and cheese galore! Lina loves cheese! Course Lina also loves fruit, and well, Lina loves everything!"

Oh I doubt very much she'll love this! Xelloss thought with a merry smirk, clapping the swordsman on the back. "Good job, Gourry! Now…"

Before his wonderfully entertaining plan could leave his lips however, the doors to the changing room were nearly ripped open as the three haphazardly dressed females bolted out into the hallway.

"Lina!" Gourry called, holding his arms full of food out to her. "Look! I've got fruit! And Cheese!"

"Fruit! Cheese!" Lina replied scrunching up her nose in disgust as she smacked it out of the unsuspecting swordsman's hands before latching onto one of his arm with a look of blazing hunger in her eager eyes. "No! I want chocolate! Lots and lots of chocolate!"

"Chocolate?" The swordsman echoed in awe. Warming to the change of plan delightedly as Lina nodded emphatically. "Of course! Chocolate!"

"Chocolate!" Lina agreed bobbing up and down eagerly.

"Chocolate!" They cried together, dashing off to find some, neither noticing Gourry was still in a towel.

"I want flowers, pretty little flowers; lots of pretty little flowers…" The princess stated happily, arms held out as she twirled and danced her way after them, humming a little tune.

"Hmm…" Xelloss stated, tapping his chin despite his delighted grin. "Amusing! But definitely not normal!"

He glanced over at still remaining dragoness, who was staring deeply into her own reflection in the green orbs of her head dress. "And what do you want, Filia?"

"What do I want?" She responded coolly, meeting his gaze setting her headdress back on her head as if it were a priceless crown. "Jewelry, Xelloss. I want jewelry."

Xelloss grinned, arching a brow with a coy smirk as he held out an arm for her to take, wondering idly if she would.

And she did! Well, Xelloss certainly wasn't feeling bored now!

"Then by all means!" He stated merrily, wondering just where this new development would take them as he faded them away, town in mind. "Let's go get you some!"

Oh yes Lina, definitely this time! (n.n)

Hee! The madness and fun begins!

See ya tomorrow! (n.-)