About this story, this is before Slayers Try, so Filia isn't in this one. So anyway, enjoy!
Chimera and lone wanderer Zelgadis Greywers lay on the soft grass in the forest near the inn where he and his traveling companions were staying. He looked up at the sky, which was blanketed by shining, crystalline diamonds. He stared at them for what seemed like ages until a voice interrupted his silent reverie.
"Zel?" said the voice.
Zelgadis turned around to see a petite, redheaded female, with crimson eyes looking at him. She had a concerned look on her face, which was very odd for her to have because she hardly ever got concerned over small things.
"What is it, Lina?" the blue stoned chimera asked.
The crimson-eyed sorceress, named Lina Inverse, knelt down next to him. "You haven't been at the inn for a while. We were all starting to get worried about you."
Zelgadis looked at her in disbelief. They were actually worried about a monster like me?!
"Hmph," he grumbled. "Why would you worry about me?"
Lina glared at him. "Because you're our friend!"
"Friend? You really think of me as a friend?" the chimera asked quietly.
Lina gave Zelgadis a soft smile. "Of course we do. We're all kinda like a big family now. If we lose one person from our family then we'll be on the lookout for him or her."
"Lina?" said Zelgadis as he looked back up at the stars.
"Yeah, Zel?" asked Lina.
"Do you think that I'll ever be free of this curse?" he asked.
"I don't know, Zel. I honestly don't know." replied the tiny sorceress.
Zelgadis sighed. "I wish I could find a cure, but wherever I go to find it, always turns out to be a dead end."
Lina gave Zelgadis a reassuring smile as she put her left hand on his right shoulder. "Believe in yourself Zel. That's the only way you're gonna find a cure. In my opinion though, you really don't need one."
Zelgadis blushed at her comment. "Yes I do, Lina. I'm a freak of nature. Just look at me!"
Lina shook her head. "No you're not! You're unique, we all are. Dear L-sama! If you wanna see a real freak of nature, just look at me! I mean, I'm short and flat chested at the age of sixteen! How much more pathetic and ugly can I get?!"
Zelgadis turned to look at Lina. All he saw when he looked at her was a beautiful and powerful sorceress who captured his heart.
"You're not a freak, Lina and you're definitely not as pathetic and ugly as you say you are. You never were," said Zelgadis, plainly.
It was now Lina's turn to blush. She never admitted to anyone that she had feelings for Zelgadis. She at first thought that it was a crush just like the one Amelia had on him, but it turned out to be more than that. She wasn't sure what it was, but all she knew was that it was strong.
Zelgadis lay back down on the ground and Lina did the same. They were both looking at the stars together just contemplating their thoughts for one another. After five minutes, Lina broke the silence once more.
"Hey, Zel?" she said.
"Yeah, Lina?" he replied.
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" she asked.
Zelgadis shrugged. "Nothing in particular. Why do you ask?"
Lina chuckled softly. "No reason really. Just curious, I guess."
"Oh," he said.
"Zel, do you ever wonder about things you've missed out in life?" she asked, suddenly.
"Sometimes, I guess. Lina, where are trying to go with these cryptic questions?" he asked, suspiciously.
"Jeez, Zel! You don't need to get snappy, I was just asking!" she spat out angrily.
Zelgadis shook his head. "Hey, Lina? Do you ever think of Gourry in a...you know...romantic sort of way?"
Lina's eyes bulged out at the suggestion. "If I ever have any romantic feelings for that jellyfish brain, it'll be when I'm dead and buried!"
"You don't like him like that then?" he asked.
"NO! Of course I don't! That would be so incredibly screwed up!" she yelled.
"Do you have any romantic feelings for anybody?" he asked.
Lina's blood went cold. How am I supposed to tell him what I feel when I don't even know what it is that I'm feeling! Dear L-sama! Help me!
Zelgadis looked at her and noticed that she was shivering. It wasn't cold that night, but she was shivering harshly and Zelgadis didn't know why.
"Hey, Lina? Is something wrong?" he asked, concerned.
Lina closed her eyes and tried to quickly figure out her feelings for him. I've never felt this way about anyone. I think...I...I...love him. That must be it. There is no other explanation for these strong and confused feelings I have for him. I'll tell him now and even if doesn't return my love for him, I'll always be his friend. Always.
"Zel, can I tell you something important?" she asked, meekly.
"Of course you can, Lina. You know that you can always tell me anything," he replied.
"Do you promise not to laugh at me in any way once I say this?" she asked, not looking at him.
"Of course I won't laugh at you," he said, kindly.
"Okay then. I...I..." she trailed off.
"You what?" he asked curiously.
Damnit! Why can't I just say it! What is wrong with me! Why does it have to be so difficult to open my mouth and say...
"I love you," she said as she caught herself off guard. Oh, L-sama! Did I just say that out loud?! Oh boy! I hope he doesn't freak out! she thought, feverishly.
Zelgadis didn't say anything. Lina looked at him with fear and tears building up in her crimson eyes. Please say something, Zel! Anything! Just open your mouth and speak!
Zelgadis turned to her and the sides of his mouth quirked up into a smile. Lina gave him a strange look, but was surprised when Zelgadis pulled her in for a hug. She was blushing fiercely.
"Thank the gods for making an incredible creature such as yourself," said Zelgadis.
Lina's face turned even redder. She looked up at Zelgadis and he was still smiling at her. "Why do you say that?"
Zelgadis just held her closer. "Because I love you too, my beautiful, angelic sorceress, Lina Inverse."
Lina's eyes welled up with tears of happiness. Zelgadis cupped her face in hands and kissed her. She kissed him back with her whole soul because now it was his to protect.
As the lovers kissed, the stars in the sky shined brighter than before because they were smiling at the two souls that were now as free as they were.
Hope you all are enjoying this story. It's my first Slayers story and I have all of the other chapters already planned out. All I have to do is write them now. Well, anyway, keep reading and ja ne!