It has been suggested that, in an all-out eating contest between a full-grown dragon, Lina Inverse would actually managed to hold her own. Several dragons, outraged that such a little human girl could possibly hold such a title against them, went forth to find this Lina Inverse and challenge her to said-contest.
It has also been suggested that, in an all-out eating contest between a full-grown dragon, that she would go right on eating her opponent afterwards and leaving nothing behind but bone and toenails. But that's just all a bunch of hear-say and all those missing dragons have absolutely no bearing whatsoever on this case.
Anyway, it was no wonder that, gourmet that she was, Lina Inverse would concentrate all her attention on eating, when eating. Thus it was no wonder that she didn't notice that one of her traveling companions was missing until the much-lauded and well-known princess of Sailoon pointed it out to her.
"What do you mean Zel's missing? He was there when I woke him up for his watch."
Amelia shrugged. "He's not there now. Gourry-san? You had the last watch; did Zelgadiss-san wake you up?"
Gourry nodded, not pausing in his attempt to decimate their rations. Lina whapped him.
"Itai!! Lina, what was that for?!"
"Eating all my food. Anyway, did you notice Zel going anywhere?"
"Uhhh..." A patch of desert somewhere on the otherside of the world refused to freeze over.
Lina sighed and rubbed her forehead, "Nevermind Gourry." Amelia suddenly cocked her head and cupped a hand against her ear.
"Lina-san, can you hear something?" Shouting and faint laughter could be heard in the distance.
Suddenly, a pale beige blur with a streak of purple sped by, laughing. Amelia blinked.
"Ummm, Lina-san? Tell me that I didn't just see Xelloss-san go by wearing Zelgadiss-san's clothes."
Lina was staring intently at another blur moving quickly between the trees. "Only if you can tell me that I'm not seeing Zel wearing Xelloss' cape." She stared some more, then blushed. "And nothing but his cape, it seems." The dark blur suddenly entered the clearing and skidded to a stop.
"FRUITCAKE!! WHERE THE #@(&*^$ &#!! ARE YOU?!" Several trees cringed under the chimera's glare, and started withering.
"Umm, Zel?" Trees withered.
"ZEL!!" He blinked and turned towards her. The trees cheered.
"Lina!" he breathed a sigh of relief. "Have you seen Xelloss?"
"Yeah, he just passed by. But, uhhh, Zel? Why are you wearing Xelloss' cape?" Zelgadiss scowled.
"He stole my clothes." He paused, looked at her, and raised an eyebrow. "I should think that would be obvious."
"No, you didn't answer the question; I'm asking why you are wearing Xelloss's cape."
Zelgadiss colored imperceptibly and muttered, "It was first thing I grabbed."
"And doesn't he look just adorable in it??" Zelgadiss whirled around and lunged forward, grabbing the front of the reappeared mazoku's shirt. Or rather, his shirt, currently worn by the mazoku.
"Give me back my clothes!" The trickster just smiled.
"As soon as you give me back my cape."
"I'll give you your cape when you give me my clothes."
Like a laughing will o' th' wisp, Xelloss suddenly appeared behind Zelgadiss, caught him around the waist, and, brushing his lips lightly against Zel's ears, he asked in a teasing whisper, "Are you so eager to get me out of these clothes?"
Zelgadiss turned his head to protest; but was caught by eyes of molten amethyst that burned and enflamed and yet somehow warmed so that logic and reason had to hold back the will, wish, and cries of aching body and rebellious heart to defy all-known laws of physics and shift a single half-inch backwards into the welcome of open arms and violet eyes...
"A-HEM!" Zel started; and one might say that Zelgadiss slightly blushed. But then again, one might also say that Shabby-chan of the ruby eyes dabbled in world affairs.
"Do you boys need some time alone?" Lina asked dryly.
Amelia only watched with big eyes. Gourry looked confused. Zelgadiss tried to perfect a new magic spell that allows one to spontaneously sink into the earth.
Xelloss laughed, and blurred away again.
"HEY!!" A dark blur chased after its beige-colored mate.
Lina rolled her eyes. "Come on Gourry, Amelia, we might as well pack up and head for the next town. They'll probably catch up later."
Amelia opened and closed her mouth repeatedly and still couldn't catch a single word to express her shock. So she did the only logical thing that she could do under the circumstances. She fainted.
"Well, that took awhile." Lina said dryly. "Come on Gourry, might as pack, she'll be out for awhile. I wonder if the next town has any decent restaurants..."