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

Hee, now time for things to get a little wild, and just a little weird. (n.-)

- Nicci

Special Thanks To:

Humi

Oh, Humi, you know me! Always a rational explanation, but still gotta keep ya guessing! Cause that's how I roll... (n.-)

VFIN

It's cause I'm Half-French, and All-Geek! Hee, good to know Zelgabunny is still a hit! (n.n)

Shadow Ice Maiden

Hee! Naturally! And it's only gonna get worse... (n.-)

Kayla-chan1990

Heh! Yes it is! And it starts... NOW!

Chapter Five

What A Girl Wants…

Zelgadiss sighed to himself tiredly, holding open his book and staring hard at his sketch. Amelia's eyes were staring back at him with that alluring awe she always through his way.

Why, though? Try as he might he could never understand just what the small princess saw in the likes of him. When she had been younger he'd chalked it up to her teenage hormones, although logically he couldn't fathom what about him would say "good breeding".

True he'd been born nearly a noble, but now he was just a freak.

He'd honestly presumed it was just a phase she'd grow out of. He'd figured eventually she'd find some nice handsome prince and forget all about her childish crush on him.

But she didn't. In fact when they'd been reunited to take on Dark Star the constant chemistries of Lina and Gourry had only further emboldened her crush to blossom into self-proclaimed feelings of "true love".

And now, all this time later, she still gazed up at him with that same look of joyful longing.

He stared at the picture, it stared back at him, and then he closed the book.

"Alright." He stated simply to himself, pulling on his cloak and mask. "I'm going to do something about this. Nothing big, but something."

O O O

"Chocolate…" Lina drooled, hands and nose pressed up against the glass counter.

"It's kinda expensive, Lina." Gourry stated, arching a brow at the outrageous price. In his opinion food was the one thing always worth its weight in gold, but still this was a little excessive.

"Price-shmice!" Lina declared, grabbing him roughly by the towel. "Now are you gonna buy a girl some chocolate, or not?!"

It was then of course, that the swordsman realized he was wearing a towel and nothing else; a fact that the rest of the shop was already more than aware of.

"Eh, no Lina." He replied shaking his head in mild mortification. "I don't have any gold on me."

It was then that Lina also realized that he was only wearing a towel.

And then, as she looked him up and down, his hair still damp from the hot spring. A few drips fell free and trailed their way down his strong swordsman's chest to his navel…

It was then that Lina also realized that he was only wearing a towel…

And for reasons her muddled mind dare not fully entertain, her heart skipped a beat, and then caught up in a rush.

"Erm... unh…" She trailed off slowly, rubbing her flushed face nervously. "That's… fine. Say… how about we… uh… how 'bout we order room service, Gourry?"

"Yeah!" Gourry replied his face lighting up as he flashed her a grin that made her whole body flush crimson. "Great thinking, Lina!"

"Right." She sputtered, rubbing the back of her head with a nervous giggle. "Well… heh… why don't you go get your wallet and then meet me back in… erm… my room…"

What am I doing?! Some part of her mind cried in mild terror, but she had no answer for it and the blood rushing through her veins was much louder than such wary thoughts and so they were washed away.

"Heh, still gonna make me pay, aren't you?" He chuckled, giving her another one of those grins and Lina thought any moment now her heart was gonna saw its way from her chest just so it could break free and tap-dance its little way back to her room first.

O O O

"Look at them, Xelloss…" Filia breathed in awe, unaware that she was still holding onto his arm. "Diamonds, Sapphires, Emeralds. All of them so very beautiful."

"My, my." He murmured in response, opening both eyes narrowly so she could see the bemusement in his gaze. He needed to see whether or not she noticed to be able to tell just how far gone she was. "Always so greedy, Filia. What is it about treasure and dragons?"

"Am I not a Golden Dragon, Xelloss?" She asked softly, meeting his gaze and drawing in a breath letting it out slowly before turning away and gathering up a gold-chain that held an amethyst amulet.

"You know, Xelloss." She murmured, trying to hold her breathing steady as she fingered the jewel, watching the way the light gleamed against both it and its gold frame. "I never really noticed amethyst before I met you."

"Now." She whispered, holding it up between them. "I can't help but notice it, So strong, so royal… so… deep…"

Deep?? He echoed to himself in incredulous delight. Hmm, well yes I most certainly am, but I do believe she's completely lost it otherwise there's certainly no way such a shallow dragon could have ever noticed…

And then he simply couldn't stop himself from narrowing his eyes, and leaning in so very close that he could feel her breath on his face as it accelerated along with her pulse.

"Why, Filia." He murmured smoothly, a cool smirk on his knowing lips. "Are you complementing my eyes?"

"Oh, Xelloss…" She chided softly, unable to break his gaze for even a moment. "I was only speaking of jewelry but what, perchance, if I wasn't?"

What are you doing, Filia! Her soul cried feverishly. Oh no! This isn't you! Come on!

But almost as soon as her concerns voiced themselves they lost themselves to his eyes.

Gods help her, she had never been able to forget those eyes.

Those dangerous mazoku eyes…

Only one pair like them in the entire world…

"Then I'd say…" He stated softly, tracing a gloved hand under her chin and leaning in even further so that his whisper was barely an inch from her lips. "All you have to do is ask, Filia, and I'd steal you both away, back to your room."

He would, she could see it reflecting out at her in those cold and yet blazing amethyst shards…

"Steal it away for me, Xelloss." She breathed, stepping in closer and gazing into his eyes helplessly. Something wasn't right, but she wasn't sure she cared anymore. Not when the mere feel of him standing this close was overwhelming her senses.

"And steal us away too."

O O O

"Lina?" Gourry called, knocking on her door eagerly.

"It's open." She called lazily from inside and he opened the door

"L… Lina?" He stared, taking in the seen before him in mild awe. "Wow. Where did you get all those red pillows? And that weird red gaze thing you're wearing? Oh hey! Strawberries!"

"And chocolate sauce…" She stated coyly, swirling a strawberry in it in what was hopefully a seductive matter. "I found I couldn't wait. Still, this was the only kind of chocolate they had, but that should be fine, ne Gourry? Just as long as you're not afraid to be a little creative…"

Gourry Gabriev did not know a lot of things, but one of the things he did know was when a woman threw on see-through clothes and busted out the strawberries and chocolate she was wanting you to do more than just feed them too her.

He also knew that if that woman was Lina, then she really wasn't herself.

Luckily, he also knew just how to deal with this!

"Say, Lina!" He declared inching his way towards the door. "You know I think that outfit was really intended for someone with a larger figure."

"What was that?!" She cried, hopping to her feet in rage and Gourry grinned, shutting the door just in time to hear the plate of strawberries to clatter off it.

"Whew." He breathed aloud, resting briefly against the door as Lina yelled curses his way. "This could be trouble; I think I should go find Zelgadiss."

O O O

From his space out in the hallway Amelia's door seemed to stretch on above him for meters.

The chimera swallowed softly, shifting the brown-wrapped gift from one stone hand to the other.

You can do this. He told himself, pulling himself upright and stepping forward. Just knock on the door, she'll invite you in, and then you just give it to her! You already know she'll like it for chaos sake!

"Right." He muttered, proper pep-level now achieved and squelched the last of his doubt as he rapped on the door.

"Oh, please tell me that's you, Mr. Zelgadiss!" Her excited voice called from the other side and he couldn't help but grin.

See? He told himself coolly. No problem. She's totally into you, remember?

"Yeah." He stated calmly. "It's me." It's me? Nice.

Shut up! He told himself, readjusting himself back into confidence as he heard Amelia shift something around on the other side of the door.

"Come in!" She giggled, and with an easy grin, the chimera did.

And then his jaw dropped…

There were flowers… everywhere...

Everywhere...

Floor, bed, dressers, bathroom, everywhere…

And amidst the pale blue and purple flowers that covered Amelia's bed lay the princess, clothed in nothing but a periwinkle negligee.

"Oh—bu—" He sputtered his mind latching onto only one of his many thoughts as he yelped. "What if it hadn't been me??"

"Silly!" She giggled, rolling over and cupping her hands under her chin as she gazed lovingly at him. "Who else would it be? Destiny would only bring me my true love in my hour of need!"

"Hour of…" Zelgadiss trailed off, clutching her present helplessly.

He had no idea what was going on, but this wasn't Amelia, and that was no good.

"Mr. Zelgadiss?" She asked worriedly, and he could see the fear of rejection in her eyes. "Is something wrong?"

"No!" He replied quickly, unable to bring himself to hurting her as he stepped to the door. "But I have to go check on something! Erm, I'll be back as soon as I can!"

Almost instantaneously her face fell and then lit back up again as she grabbed a flower from the bed.

"Then I shall count the seconds until your return!" She declared, plucking off a petal with a happy smile. "One petal at a time."

"Good!" He agreed, flashing her a quick smile.

"I'll just be right back, then."

Oh Xelloss, you monster you... (n.-)

See ya tomorrow! (n.n)