"You lying mazoku! Get back here!!"
Lina sighed and followed the sound of Filia's shreiking. Idly, she wondered what Xelloss had done this time to set off the dragon maiden.
"Lina!" Filia called as she saw Lina approaching. "I was just about to go looking for you."
"Why?"
"That - that namagomi said he was taking you out on a date tonight."
"So?" Lina was unimpressed.
"So?" Filia repeated, appalled. "So?! Aren't you angry that he's lying about such a thing?"
"I would be mad - if he'd been lying. Which he wasn't."
Filia's jaw dropped. She sputtered incoherantly for a full minute before managing, "You have to be kidding me!"
"No, I'm not."
"You can't date that - "
"If you say 'namagomi' again, I will hurt you."
Filia tried again. "He's scum! He's even threatened to KILL you!"
"Most people threaten to kill me at one time or another. At least he never threatened me with Oneechan."
"....."
"And if I want to date him, that's my business. Got it?"
Filia blinked at the tiny sorceress, then wandered off, dazed.
Lina was gleefully taking an inventory of her treasure when Gourry approached her.
"Lina?"
"Yes, Gourry?"
"Are you really gonna go out with Xelloss?"
"Yes, Gourry."
"But...you can't!"
Lina heaved a long-suffering sigh. "Why's that?"
"Um...I forget."
BASH!
As Gourry rubbed his bruised head, Lina yelled, "You don't remember? Then don't bother me!!"
"Lina-san?"
Lina opened an eye and looked up. She was lying beneath a large tree and had been hoping for a nice nap, but nooooo...
"What is it, Amelia?"
"Filia-san said you plan on dating Xelloss-san."
Not this again. "Yes. So?"
Amelia struck a pose and pointed down at Lina. "You cannot date a mazoku! They are wicked, evil creatures! It goes against the code of Justice!"
Lina growled softly and wondered which would be worse, listening to Amelia, or what Prince Phil would do if she killed the little princess. Lina was definitely leaning toward the former.
"And what," Amelia continued, "would people think of you if they knew you were with a mazoku? That - "
"That I don't judge others solely on their race, that's what. Unlike SOME people I know."
"....."
"And since when do I decide what to do based on what others will think?"
"....."
"If that's all, I'd like to get back to my nap."
"....."
Lina closed her eyes again. "That's what I thought."
"Hey, Lina!"
"Yes, Gourry?"
"I remembered why you can't date Xelloss!"
"Why?"
"Because you're mine!" Gourry looked obscenely proud of himself.
"YOURS? I am NOT yours!!" Lina shreiked, then proceeded to beat the blond into a bloody pulp.
"Lina, listen - "
"Don't go there, Filia. Just don't go there."
It was getting close to zero hour [ouch, bad pun ^_^] and Lina was in her room, fixing her hair.
There was a knock at the door. "Lina? May I come in?"
Oh, gods, not him, too. "Yeah, Zel. Come on in."
Zelgadiss entered and quietly shut the door behind him.
"Let me guess," Lina said flatly. "You're here to convince me not to go with Xelloss tonight."
"Not at all. If your mind is made up, I sincerely doubt I could say anything to change it."
"...then why ARE you here?"
"To ask you if you would give me the honor of joining me for dinner and dancing tomorrow evening."
"....." Lina stared at Zel. "Uh...sure."
Zel smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
"Yeah. Tomorrow."
He left, and Lina sat down on her bed, trying to get over her surprise.
"Good evening, Lina-chan! Was that the Chimera who just left?"
"Hi, Xelloss. Yeah, that was Zel."
"Trying to warn you about me, was he?"
"No, actually. He just wanted to ask me out."
"Did you let him down gently?" the priest asked with a smirk.
"No. I accepted."
Xelloss looked stunned. "Lina-chan, you can't - "
"DON'T YOU START!!!"