Zelgadis was amazed; nothing short of astonished...his life it seemed had taken a drastic turn...for the good! Taking Lina's advice was so easy, the whole week they had been traveling on the road he had dropped his cold persona and replaced it with a happier friendlier one. He knew Amelia and Gourry were watching him closely but it didn't bother him in the least. He quickened his pace slightly so he was walking in the lead with Lina. Yes this was why the others stares didn't bother him...this whole week Lina hadn't known what to make of him from his smile down to his new wardrobe. His new outfit consisted of a sleeveless black top (think Ranmaish) with a gold dragon embroidered on the front seemingly about to jump out at you. On his bare muscular arms were two armbands, they were ebony with red dragons engraved. Tiny red rubies made up the scales; Lina had given it to him as a gift on one of their many adventures. His pants were kinda tight but loose enough movement if he needed it. He had worn this outfit once before and the girls in the nearby town had been gushing over him for the whole day till he had to change...but they did the same the next day when he was dressed in his normal ivory outfit ^_^; but they seemed to think he was, how did the girl put it...
"Wow! Did anyone ever tell you, you look great in black" the girl blushed scarlet and her friends giggled as they nodded there agreement.
He preferred not to think about that because it was too embarrassing...but it couldn't hurt to try it would it. And from the secret looks Lina was throwing his way while he talked to her were any equation then he determined that it was worth it.
Lina turned her head forward with some difficulty and mentally gave herself a slap. Zelgadis was just her friend and just cause he looked absolutely gorgeous at the moment didn't mean anything. "Oh Zel you wearing my armbands!" she grinned she didn't know why she was so happy he was wearing her gift.
Zel blushed scarlet under his bangs as he ducked his head quickly. "Um yeah it just seemed appropriate with this outfit..." he looked up and smiled slightly even as his ego went up another ten notches. All day he was being thrown compliments left and right...but of course only one opinion counted. Now to take the next step... "Lina..." he never got the chance to finish however.
Gourry pushed his way between Lina and Zelgadis, throwing a glare Zel's way he turned to Lina and began distracting her with questions about this and that. Zel stood to the side and fumed silently, he couldn't exactly tell Gourry to get lost. Lina would get suspicious and then his carefully laid out plan would be ruined. No he would let Gourry get away with this little insult but starting from here on out he wasn't tolerating any more interruptions. He was a man on a mission...he grinned his father would be proud of him. His dad had chased his mother with that same single-minded goal and had one her in the out and dammit if he wasn't going to accomplish the same thing.
Amelia was throwing him side-glances and blushing, obviously she thought she could still get him to love her in return by ruining his chances with Lina. Wrong...if she got in his way he wouldn't be responsible for the consequences.
Walking a little faster he managed avoid Lina's fireball as Gourry slipped up and made on of his flat chest comments that angered his Lina so. Pushing a hand into his pocket he brought his fingerless black gloves, sliding them on he grinned as he caught Lina staring at him.
"Ne Zel I was just wondering, are you sick? Hmmm maybe you caught the flu bug...Aha! Maybe your possessed!" Lina tapped her finger against her cheek as she pursed her lips cutely trying to think up some reasons why Zel would act so strange.
Zel had to quickly push down the urge to lean in close and capture those beautiful lips for his own. Time enough for that later right now he had to get her past that just friend's stage that she was so fond of.
"What in the world! Look!" Lina pointed but her feet were already carrying her off into the midst of battle.
Zel and the others looked up and gasped as they watched a giant Lion with wings and claws fighting a boy no older then Zel himself. "Lina! Be careful!" did he really need to shout that his love was a reckless one. He nearly crashed into Lina as she stopped and stared gaping at the blue haired youth in front of her.
"Let's go!" the boy cried out suddenly dashing forward his right arm covered in flames as he dashed low at the beast. "TORNADO FLAME!" aiming an uppercut at the beast he drove his fist from the beast's belly all the way up. Spinning in mid air he did a summersault throwing a vicious kick at the beasts head. Dropping to the ground he turned back to the beast "Lets finish this..." rushing up to the beast yet again his fist began to burn with an unholy fire "BURNING FLARE!"
Lina and the other covered there eyes with there arms, Lina watched with interest as she noted that the power seemed to be coming from some kind of device on his arm. "I gotta have it! GIMME GIMME I'll give you 500 gold pieces!"
The boy turned around breathing hard, he looked perplexed at the small girl standing before him. Noticing that she was pointing to his Ra Seru he frowned, "Sorry not for sale..."
"Ok I see you drive a hard bargain..." Lina was about to continue when the boy calmly held up a hand. "You don't understand, me and the Ra Seru are bonded I'll die if you take it away"
"Damn! Well ok!" Lina stated cheerfully.
"We saw you fight that creature, you're not half bad. May I ask why you were fighting that creature?" Zel asked as placed a hand on Lina's shoulder. He inwardly cringed at his show of possevness...Lina would hurt him for sure now. But surprisingly she didn't just glanced at him questioningly before turning to the young man before them.
"My names Vahn, and I'm looking for someone...we were traveling companions and when we separated I lost track of her. And I have a bad feeling something happened to her." Vahn blushed slightly "Her name is Noa...I have to find her and because of the monster that just attacked me I know she is in trouble!"
Eyes large Amelia stepped forward this guy was cute, he was up there with Mr. Zelgadis. His blue hair was cut short but long bangs fell across his eyes. He was tall with muscular arms, and large brown eyes that at the moment betrayed how worried he was. His clothes were simple nothing extradonary, a simple brown leather vest with a sleeveless white shirt underneath. Baggy blue pants encased his legs and brown boots finished the outfit. As for his Ra Seru as he called it, was pink band with a green jewel in the center.
"Well we have nothing better to do why don't you let us come along! I'm Lina Inverse!" she waited for the normal response but when none was forthcoming she frowned. Everyone knew her or so she thought.
"Am I supposed to know you...Oh wait I'm sorry maybe I should have mentioned that I'm not from...around here eh hehehe!" Vahn laughed nervously at his almost slip up.
No one had a chance to notice his slip up as a loud squeal could be heard. The other turned in time to see a slender pink haired girl run towards them. Her large green eyes sparkling as she hugged the surprised youth. "Vahn! You came and you found me! I told Mr. Xellos that you were my friend and you always told me that friends stick by each other!"
"Noa!" Vahn crushed the bubbly girl to his chest. She was ok! He had to just keep telling himself that. "Ne, Ne Vahn who are your new friends!" pulling out of his tight embrace she turned to the other four. "Hi! I'm Noa! Will you be my friend?"
Lina grinned liking the girl instantly "Sure...wait did you say Xellos?" at Noa's nod, Lina bemoaned her fate if Xellos was involved anything could happen and none of it good.
"Lina-chan good to see you again!" Xellos grinned at Lina's cringe.
"Alright fruitcake spit it out what have you done this time?" Zel asked just now realizing that his hand still rested on Lina's shoulder.
"Ah Sore wa himitsu desu!" Xellos winked as he telported out of site.
"Ahhh! I hate when he does that...all this drama is making me hungry who's for lunch! There's a town straight ahead let's go!" with that Lina disappeared in a cloud of dust. Noa grinned and giggled "Lets go!" and charged after Lina.
Vahn walked over to stand beside Zel shaking his head he watched the two disappearing figures "I can see Noa is going to be picking up some bad habits...she's very impressionable and she's taking a liking to Lina"
Zel could only give his friend a look of sympathy as they trudged after the girls.