Firia watched as Val flew off. The blond Dragon sighed and paced restlessly. What had gotten into her? Valgarv was her enemy, he was a Mazuko, well half Mazuko, but that was half Mazuko too much. Yeah, Val was a Mazuko, he couldn't be trusted, and he would throw her to the wolves at the drop of a hat. A tiny voice in the back of her mind protested. If he didn't care about her, then why had he been so angered at Xellos' mistreatment of her? If he didn't care for her then why had he kissed her? Firia growled low in the back of her throat. This was getting her nowhere! Firia heard the rocks tumbled from the lip of the valley overhead, so Val was up there? Yes, Firia saw his shadow slightly.
"Hmph." Firia grinned ferally and began to climb the cliff. She made it to the top without any incidents, but her arms and legs were trembling from the strain. Firia climbed over the edge, and looked around for Val, but he was nowhere to be seen. "Dammit Valgarv, I just climbed up that stupid cliff and you aren't even here!" Firia scanned the horizon, but she still didn't seen any sign of the aqua haired Dragon/Mazuko. Firia sat down, heedless of the dirt that dirtied her clothes. She would just wait here until he came back.
Valgarv wove his spell more tightly around him. He was surprised that Firia still hadn't sensed his presence yet. Perhaps the restraining spell Garv had placed on her also blocked out some of her senses. Seeing that the little Gold would be occupied for a while, Valgarv took off and flew towards where his master Garv was camped this week. Val arrived at that camp and looked around.
"Ho Val!" Garb shouted as he walked out of his tent. The huge man had a welcoming grin on his plain and ugly face.
"Garv-sama." Val executed a precise bow. Garv cocked his head to the side; his creation seemed unsettled, almost angry.
"What bothers you Val?"
"Xellos sir. I came back to my lair this afternoon and I saw Xellos mistreating my slave Firia."
"Yes, but why does this bother you? You don't care for the girl do you?"
"She is a Gold Garv-sama, it's not possible for me to care for her. She is the enemy." Liar! Val's mind screamed. "But I won't have anyone mistreat her, I want the pleasure of breaking her." Val actually managed a cruel smile. "That is the problem, she is being inhibited by the restraining spell you placed upon her, I would like your permission to remove it. This way, if Xellos tries anymore funny stuff, she can rip him to shreds." Garv smiled fleetingly. He hated Xellos almost as much as Garv, but for totally different matters.
"Yes, I see you point, but what is your slave flied away?" Valgarv grinned.
"Then I will have much fun tracking her down and bringing her back." Garv nodded
"Very well do what you will with her. But Val-kun you seem so tense, perhaps to should find some wench and bed her. I'm sure there are plenty of Mazuko women out there that would love to take you to their beds." Val found himself blushing inexplicably, and Garv chuckled to himself. There was an odd light in Val's eyes when he turned and bowed to his master.
"Thank you Garv-sama, and I will think about your advice, as a matter of fact, there is someone I am considering." Valgarv bowed once more and flew off. Garv grinned, the little cubling seemed just about ready to burst.
"You had better bed her fast Val, before you explode." Garv chuckled at his bawdy joke and turned back to his tent
Lina grinned at the blond man, who blushed.
"So you're name is Gourry." Rezo asked, and the man nodded.
"You are an superb swordsman Gourry, what do you do for a living?" Lina asked smiling at the blond
"Oh I am a travelling book salesman." Gourry said with a sunny grin. Lina twitched and facefaulted.
"You... a book dealer?" Zel asked in disbelief.
"Yep." Gourry went back to attacking his food. Zel watched in mild interest as Gourry went head to head with Lina who had picked herself up off the ground. Slyph walked over with a weary smile and she sat down at their table next to Gourry, who blushed red.
"Thank you so much for helping out back there." Slyphial said softly as looked down at her hands.
"Let's cut to the chase." Amelia said irritably. "Listen Gourry, we want to join us against the Mazuko real."
"We?" Zelgadis murmured as he sipped at his tea.
"Yes, I like what I see here, and Seyruune and I will join you."
"What do you mean?' Gourry asked confused.
"We are the Slayers, and we want you to fight for us." Lina said. Slyph looked up shocked. Gourry grinned suddenly
"Sure sounds like a great idea." Gourry stood up suddenly. "Excuse me but my employer is here." Gourry walked over to where a beautiful woman sat at the bar. Gourry explained to her what was going on. The woman looked at Gourry and grinned as she hugged him. "Gira!" Gourry cried as the woman hugged his ecstatically. Lina looked over at Slyph and saw her normally calm and peaceful friend was glaring daggers at Gira.
Hmmmmmm. Lina thought to herself with a grin. Lina looked over Zel; he had a rather panicked look on his face while Amelia leaned over Rezo to talk to Zel, showing more of her already impressive chest. Lina grinned maliciously and kicked the chair Amelia was in. The Warrior Queen fell right into Rezo's lap.
"Auck!" Rezo cried and looked down at Amelia who was blushing all the way up to the roots of her hair. Zel looked over at Lina smiled at her thankfully.
"I owe you." he mouthed the words silently. Lina grinned and looked over at Rezo and Amelia. Rezo had stood up and had deposited Amelia in her chair.
"If' you'll excuse me." Rezo nodded his head at everyone, but Lina noticed the flushed that stained his pale cheeks. Lina looked back over at Zel and made tried to hide her smile. Amelia stood up as well.
"It has been a long day, we're going to go now." Naga followed Amelia out the door and both Zel and Lina burst into laughter.
"You are a wicked person Lina Inverse." Zel chortled. "I don't think Grandfather will ever forgive you." Zel snickered behind his hand. Slyphial stood up as Gourry made his way over.
"Minna, I would like you all to met Gira, my youngest sister." Lina's smiled widened even more as Slyph flushed in embarrassment. The five talked for hours on end, and finally Lina noticed the time, as did Slyph.
"Oh Gods! My father is going to be so worried." Slyph leapt to her feet. "I have to get home!"
"Wait Slyph you can't walk alone at this time of night!" Lina reminded her friend.
"It's not that far, I can make it." Slyph said as she put on her cloak.
"No I will escort you." Gourry said as he stood up. Slyph blushed slightly.
"Please don't bother."
"No what kind of man would let a woman walk unescorted on these dangerous streets at nigh?" Gourry asked as he held out his arm to Slyph. "Please allow me." Lina noticed that Gourry's voice trembled slightly and she looked over at Gira. Gourry and Slyph walked out the door, and Gira grinned to herself.
"What's the matter with Gourry?" Lina asked.
"Oh him? He's so painfully shy, especially around women, but I've never seen him that shy before. I think he has a crush on you friend." Lina laughed.
"That's good because Slyph definitely has a crush on him. The two woman laughed at the though.
"Lina don't you dare interfere. Let nature takes its course." Zel murmured into his coffee cup. But behind the lip of the mug, he too was smiling slightly.
Xellos Metallium stared down at the lesser Mazuko.
"Do you see this woman?" Xellos gestured and a picture of Lina suddenly appeared.
"Yes Lord Xellos." The Mazuko murmured.
"I want you to capture her, but be warned, if so much as a scratch mars her skin, you will pay painfully and dearly." The Mazuko nodded his head and phazed out. Xellos threw back his head and laughed, he would soon have this Lina Inverse within his grasp. And once she was his...... Xellos smiled as he looked at the picture of Lina, once she was his, he would have all the time in the world to figure that out. Xellos whipped around and his cloak swirled around his ankles as he walked out of the room "Soon." he whispered