Lunchtime at Slayers University, the newest most high tech university in all of California, was a particular favorite thing for a group of five friends. Currently two of them were in an argument.
"Amanda, what I agreed to when you were offering food means nothing to me now that I have eaten it." Amanda pouted a little, and brushed a lock of short black hair out of her eyes.
"Celina please? Garry, Sandy and Zachary agreed. If you go we get the group discount."
"I think it is a bunch of shit. Those are all done by power of suggestion anyway. Besides whose to say we even knew each other back then." Celina crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her four friends.
"Celina, I'll treat you to dinner and the new Star Wars movie you wanted to see. What do you say Cel?"
"You drive a hard bargain, Zach. You have a deal. When do we go?"
"Tonight." Amanda was all grins as she said this.
"Good going, Zachary. The way to Celina's heart, mind, and well just about everything else is through her stomach." Celina glared at Garry and threw the wrapper from her hamburger at him.
"I'm late guys. Professor Mettalium will kill me if I am late for politics." Sandy said this and grabbed her books.
"What's this weeks chapter?" Zachary looked up at her and handed her a book that fell on the ground.
"Thanks. We are learning famous secrets in politics."
"Figures. I swear that teacher is such a fruitcake."
"I'll walk you to your class Sandy. See you back at the dorms Zachary." Garry got up and started to walk with Sandy.
"They are so cute together. Anyway, now that Celina has agreed to go I have to call and confirm our appointment. I'll see you back at the dorm Celina. By Zachary, see you tonight." Amanda waved and ran off to the dorms across campus, throwing one last look at Zachary over her shoulder and sighing.
"I swear one day all that energy is going to make her head explode." Zachary laughed a little then stood up.
"What class do you have next?"
"Fencing and sword play."
"Sounds like fun. Think Professor Zangulus will mind if I sit in on the class?"
"He shouldn't."
"Good. I'll walk with you then."
"M'Lady." Zachary held out an arm for her and the two walked off laughing like children.
"I swear you get stranger everyday Zach."
Later that Night
"Welcome. Step this way please. My name is Martina, and I will guide you through your journey." The woman held back the beads that separated her office from the lobby, and ushered the group through.
"Take a seat on one of the couches. Now relax for me. Is everyone ready? Good. Now take a deep breath. Concentrate on your breathing. I am going to count back from ten, and when I get to one you will be back to the lives you once lived." Each of the teenagers closed their eyes and began taking deep breaths.
"Good, now ten......nine.....eight....seven.....six......five......four....three.....two....one....."
Martina sat back and waited for them to wake up.
Past Life Regression
"Lina! Look out!!" Zelgadis and Gourry ran to the fallen sorceress as two monsters had her cornered.
"LIGHT COME FORTH!" Gourry extended his light sword and ran towards the first monster, while Zel chanted a spell for the other.
"RA-TILT!"
With both monsters vanquished they were able to get to Lina.
"Lina are you alright." Gourry's voice mirrored the concern in Zel's eyes.
"Be fine....Amelia...Shyfiel?"
"They're right behind us, Lina. That was stupid of you to try and take all of them on by yourself. Why didn't you wait for us?" Zel's voice sounded choked up as he spoke to her.
"You looked happy......didn want.....ruin it....be happy....Amelia...Gourry too...with Shyphiel." Zel realized then what she had meant.
"You must have been mistaken Lina. I don't like Amelia. At least not in the way you think I do. I love you. Do you understand me? Lina Inverse you can't lave me now." As he was saying this Amelia and Shyphiel arrived and immediately began to cast high powered healing spells.
Lina was barely aware of what they were saying as she floated in and out of consciousness.
"Lina, please don't leave me. I am half a man without you." A single tear fell from his eye and landed on her cheek causing her eyes to flutter open for a moment.
"Love you." Those words were her last as her spirit left her body.
"Miss Lina......" Amelia merely whispered this in disbelief.
"Why didn't it work? I couldn't save her. It's all my fault." Shyphiel broke down into hysterical sobbing and Gourry wrapped his arms around her to comfort her. His once constantly cheery face, now frowning, the naive and happy go lucky outlook on life now gone from his eyes, only to be replaced with sorrow and loss.
Zelgadis would not allow himself to cry in front of the others. Letting go of her hand, he placed a kiss on her forehead, and walked away from the others, never to be seen again.......
Back in the office
The five woke up with a start, and looked at each other with wide eyes.
"You were all there." Celina was the first to speak.
"And you were the reason we were there. If it wasn't for you I never would have stayed." Zachary said this and looked into Celina's eyes.
"Zel...."
"Lina....."
The rest of the group had a calming sense of rightness as they watched the two embrace in a passionate kiss.
"Gourry dear...."
"Shyphiel...I was so blind then. Can you ever forgive me?"
"You never had to ask." There was a collective ‘Awwww' as the two of them kissed shyly.
"What did you learn Amanda? You have not yet spoke." Martina asked this of the quiet young girl.
"The one I loved was in love with another. I am not upset though. I realize now what I didn't then. It was just a crush, but theirs is a love that has lasted for hundreds of lives." Amanda gave Celina and Zachary a big hug. Garry and Sandy joined in and the five laughed through the remains of their tears.
"Let's go get some pizza. After that I am hungry."
"Celina, when are you not hungry?" The other four laughed at her pouting face. Amanda paid the doctor and they left the office.
Pizza Shack
One hour and three large pizza's later Celina pushed her plate away and gave a contented sigh.
"You know if Celina eats that much after doing nothing, it makes you wonder how much she'll eat after doing something strenuous......Say like, having sex." Garry laughed at the blushes that crept on both Celina's and Zach's faces.
"Garry!" Sandy elbowed him in the ribs, and turned to look across the diner at Amanda.
"Those two look so cute together." The boy in question was a new comer to Slayers University, a Mr Valgarv Dragu, but everyone calls him Val.
"They sure do. I'm just glad we finally realized what we should have a long time ago."
"I'll drink to that." Sandy lifted her soda glass high, and the other followed suit.
"To life." – Sandy
"To friends." – Garry
"To food!" – Celina (Who else?)
"To love." – Zach (He gives Celina a little kiss)
"Amanda get over here, and bring your drink." Celina yelled this and the other two waled over.
"To new friends" – Amanda
"And, to new beginnings." – Val
The group laughed as they brought their glasses together to complete the toast.
I hope you liked that one. I was watching Xena last night, and it seemed like a perfect fanfic idea. Feedback is loved. Thanks for reading.