Zelgadis sits and sips his tea in the tavern. It had been many months since Lina and the rest of them had split up going their separate ways. Amelia went back home to Sailune, Filia stayed in a town to raise up Val, Xellos went wherever he goes when he leaves, Gourry went with Lina off adventuring somewhere, and Zelgadis had left on his own following a lead for a cure.
Well that lead had turned out to be another wild goose chase, but Zelgadis didn't seem to care that much. He found that since he left on his own he hadn't the same drive to find a cure as he once had.
I wonder what Lina and the rest of them are doing...
Why should you care?
Because I...I...I...miss them.
Oh really do you?
Yeah, they are my friends.
Friends? Ha! Freaks like you don't have friends!
That's a lie! I have friends and they don't think I'm a freak!
Really?
Yeah.
Who?
Amelia for one thing. Hell she has like a huge crush on me so she must.
No she thinks of you as a quest for justice. It's because you are a freak that she likes you.
Alright, Gourry then.
He's too stupid to even know the difference.
Argh! Um, Filia, Xellos?
Pathetic choices. Do you really want me to tell you those ones?
No.
So far you haven't come up with one yet.
...
I'm waiting.
...
Ha see I was right, no one.
No you are wrong, I know, Lina!
...
Have nothing to say to that huh?
...
Oh great I'm arguing with myself. Man have I really lost it or what? This is where Zelgadis realized he had been alone for too long. Why now do I start to feel like this? I've traveled on my own before and left them, why is it different now? Have I gotten used to traveling with them that being alone is now unbearable? Zelgadis silently hoped to hear the arguing voice in his head. Not know was killing him, plus he really wanted someone to talk to. Knowing that anyone in the room would think he was a freak if they saw him, he left to clear his mind by walking. Looking back at the tavern while waking forward Zelgadis didn't see the person he was about to collide with. Zelgadis was about to yell at the person till he saw who it was.
"Hey Zelgido!" A very happy and smiling Gourry said.
"Gourry, it's Zelgadis," he says while chuckling softly.
"Ah sorry! So what have you been up to? I'm heading over to the tavern to get something to eat. Care to join me?"
"Well I have already been there, but sure I'll come with you."
Back in the tavern Gourry orders enough food to completely boggle the waiter's mind.
That's nothing, if Lina and everyone else was here they would order 3 times that much. Zelgadis thought.
"So Gourry why aren't you traveling with Lina?"
"Huh? Lina who?"
Zelgadis does a facefault.
"Are you telling me you forgot who Lina is? Lina who destroys dark lords, can control the powers of the Lord of Nightmares, the bandit killer? Can you honestly say that you don't know who she is?"
"Nope don't know who are talking about."
I know that Gourry has a bad memory, but this is ridiculous!
"Oh wait! Now I remember! The 'dragon spooker!' Little girl with no breasts who could pass off for a boy!"
Sweatdrop.
"Don't ever let Lina hear you say that."
"Yeah she would use that dragon thingy spell on me for sure!"
"Anyway so now that you remember who Lina is tell me why you aren't traveling with her."
Gourry would have answered if the food hadn't come. So instead he dug in completely ignoring Zelgadis' question. Zel didn't pursue the matter. Gourry couldn't think straight let only talk when he ate. Sighing, Zelgadis watched Gourry eat while thinking on the possibilities on why Gourry and Lina weren't traveling together.
After Gourry finished his food Zelgadis resumed his interrogation.
"Why aren't you traveling with Lina?"
"Hmm... now why did I...?"
"Did what?"
"Why did I come here in the first place?"
"You came here to eat, but why aren't you with Lina?"
"No I could have sworn I came here for a different reason... Oh now I remember! Take a look at this!"
Gourry hands Zelgadis a white note that had his name written on it with clean and clear handwriting.
"What's this?"
"It's a note from Sylphiel. She invited me over to see her new place in New Siaraag. I guess I has heading that direction before I bumped into you!"
"An invitation huh? Just for you I suppose..."
"Oh no! In the invitation it says that I can bring whomever I want with me! I just think Sylphiel might be lonely over there by herself without her dad."
"Yeah I know what that feels like," Zel thought back to his own situation.
"I know! Why don't you come with me!"
"I don't know Gourry, I'm was looking for a cure..." Oh wait a minute wasn't I just thinking about how lonely I was? Why am I saying no to him?
"Oh come on Zel! You could use the company. And besides I don't quite remember how to get to Siaraag."
"You know I'm not surprised at that. Okay then I'll go with you, provided you tell me why you aren't traveling with Lina. I have been trying to ask you that question for a while now."
"You have?"
"Yes."
"Um Zel?"
"Yeah?"
"Who was Lina again?"
Zelgadis facefaults.
Out on the road Zelgadis and Gourry walked while Zel was desperately trying to get Gourry to remember who Lina was.
"...plus she has red hair. Does that ring any bells?"
"Huh? Bells?"
"Oh nevermind. But do you remember her?"
"Lina? Um, didn't she always steal everyone's food?"
"Yes! That's right, so you remember her then!"
"Yeah a little. But why did we separate in the first place?"
"You don't remember?"
"Um...."
"Oh forget it! Why did I even bother in the first place?"
"Yeah did you? Is there some reason why you want to find Lina so badly?"
"Eh?! What are you talking about?! I was just curious on where she was, that's all!"
"If that's the case then why were you so persistent?"
"You couldn't even remember who she was! What do you think would happen when we meet up with her again and you can't remember her? You would be in big trouble then, to say it lightly."
"So are you meeting her somewhere?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Well you said 'when we meet her', that would mean that you are expecting to find her somewhere."
"I figured that our paths might cross again..."
"You and whose paths?"
"Lina's."
"Oh. Whose Lina again?"
"How do you ever remember anything?"
"Huh? Remember what?"
Sweatdrops.