Journeys: Reparation

Zelgadis stood in the darkened common room outside of the kitchen door and silently cursed his ill fortune. After he had awakened Gourry and had gotten the groggy swordsman to drink down the last of the tea, he had hoped that he could make his way to the kitchen and get some more water without anyone seeing him. Apparently, that was not to be so, for he could hear someone moving around in the next room.

Squaring his shoulders, Zelgadis placed a hand to the door as the soft footfalls on the other side of it subsided. There was nothing to do but enter. He needed the water and this was the easiest place to get it unless he cared to venture outside and find the well. He could deal with the innkeeper. Though the encounter was sure to be unpleasant, surely the man would not begrudge him a little water.

After pushing through the door, Zelgadis froze one step into the room, then fought an irrational urge to step right back out again and brave the weather to find the well after all. It was not the innkeeper. The tiny figure seated at the table in front of the fire was Ana.

"Well, don' jus' stan' there, son. Come in an' tell an ol' woman wha's brung ya here."

"Forgive me for intruding," Zelgadis murmured uncomfortably, his skin prickling under the woman's piercing gaze. Dropping his eyes to the floor, he added, "I did not think anyone would be up at this hour."

"T'cha, child. Old peoples jus' don' sleep as much as ya young'uns. No harm done tha' a bit o' talkin' can't cure."

Dread knotting his stomach, Zelgadis watched the old woman's slippered foot rise and push out the chair across from her.

Though his feet dragged as he crossed the room, Zelgadis obeyed. His fear of Ana had no basis in reality that he could see, so he had no rational reason to justify refusing her.

"I would prefer coffee," Zelgadis ventured as Ana twisted and reached up to the island counter behind her for another mug.

"My friend Gourry has taken a fever," Zelgadis answered, his eyes fixed on the dark brown stained water Ana was pouring.

"Huh, I's tol' 'im he's sick as tha' ot'er poor child, but young'uns, 'specially boys, are too stubborn ta list'n ta an ol' woman."

"Yes, but at any rate," Zelgadis murmured, knowing he would have been smiling if the woman seated across from him had been any other person, for Ana had just described Gourry perfectly, "I just gave him the last of our willowbark tea. I came for some water so that I could brew some more."

Zelgadis watched Ana rise from the corner of his eye and disappear behind the island. After listening to a judicious amount of clanging, he was not surprised when the old woman emerged with a sizable kettle in one hand. He remained silent as she filled it for him, but when she hung it on a hook over the fire, he protested, "That's really not necessary, ma'am." He wanted to get back to Gourry as quickly as possible. Hell, he just wanted to get away from Ana.

"I-, I'm," Zelgadis' voice faded into silence. For some reason, his discomfort intensified at the mere thought of admitting to Ana that he planned to use a spell.

"I's see. Ya'll be a sorc'r'r, then. Well, yas c'n jus' let tha' pot heat th' norm'l way whilst we talk a bit more. As a matt'r o' fac'..."

Surprised, Zelgadis watched Ana cross to the far side of the kitchen, finger wagging absently in the air as though she were trying to remember something, and disappear through a door he had not noticed before. The old woman was only gone for a moment, and when she returned, she bore a small pot which she hung over the fire next to the kettle.

"There. Ya Gourry di' no' eat much for dinner. Tha's broth, sames I's gave ya Lina earlier. Ya git tha' inta him wit' th' tea next time he wakes."

"Thank you," Zelgadis murmured as Ana seated herself again, then fell silent, not knowing what else to say. The old woman remained quiet as well, and though he was careful to keep his gaze lowered, he knew she was staring at him. Finally, skin creeping, he asked, "What do you wish to talk about?"

"Well, how's 'bout ya tell me why's ya won' look me in th' eye? Aye, like tha'! Fust time since ya sat down."

Zelgadis quickly dropped his eyes back to the table, struggling against the sudden urge to cover his face with his hands. Firmly, he laced his fingers together about his mug and desperately tried to formulate an answer which would satisfy the old woman. Finally, finding himself unable to utter a denial, he reluctantly admitted the truth. "I really don't know. You make me... uneasy."

"I-, I know, you've been nothing but kind to me. I have no explanation to offer you," Zelgadis fumbled to a halt, then hastily raised his mug and gulped some tea.

"Pu' yaself at ease, child. I's don' mean ya no 'arm. I's likes ya. Yas nice an' good mann'r'd, no' likes mos' young men ya age."

"Wha'? A girl wit' such a deep voice? Aye, now tha's more like it. Yas gots a nice laugh."

"You know precisely what I meant, Ana, I'm not a human male," Zelgadis remonstrated. For the first time since entering the room, he relaxed enough that the smile Ana had surprised out of him did not entirely fade.

"Aye, tha's plain, child, but I's knows good peoples when's I's sees them. Yas not like them ot'ers."

"Them ot'ers tha' came ta town 'bout five years back. Now, they was a bad bunch."

"What happened?" Zelgadis slowly asked. Though Ana's words had inexplicably tied his stomach in knots again, he found himself suddenly, desperately, needing to know.

"Come late in th' evenin', jus' 'bout dusk, they did, bunch o' trolls, a few human men, an'... somethin' else, an' they burn'd town near ta th' ground. Never did know why."

"Gods," Zelgadis whispered, his eyes closing. Echoes of the nightmare he'd had earlier that night reverberated through him, fuel for his growing sense of foreboding.

"I's had took little Niki out a-pickin' berries so's we wasn' there when it happen'd. I's hid her, bu' I's watch'd an' wait'd. They fin'lly lef'. I's guesses I's in shock or somethin' 'cause I's never notic'd they comin' me way 'til they almost 'pon me. Had no time to hide meself, bu', ev'n as some o' them trolls come at me, tha' somethin' else order'd them off. Don' know why. Look'd right through me. Gave me th' chills, he did."

"Wish I's could 'xplain it ta ya, son, bu' I's don' rightly know who or wha' he was 'cause I's never saw 'neath his coverin's. All in red, he was, cover'd by a hood'd cloak an' a mask. He wasn' very big, bu' he was plain their leader.

All in red, all in red, all in red. The words circling endlessly in his head, Zelgadis swallowed convulsively, forcing the bile rising in his throat back down.

"An' I's 'fraid tha's why me son want'd ta turn ya an' yas friends away. So many died tha' night. Me an' Geeren, we lost me husband, his wife, an' me two grandsons. Peoples still hurtin' over it. Don' make it right, bu' anythin' not human, theys hate 'cause o' it. Now, wha' be wrong wit' ya, son? Ya gots yas frien's chill? Ya looks like yas gonna pass out on me."

"Would that you hated as deeply as they, Ana, and turned me away tonight," Zelgadis whispered, his voice hoarse and harsh.

"Wha'?!? Don' talk nonsense, child. Why would ya say a thing like tha'? Tol' ya 'fore, ya not like them's tha' did it. Ya had nothin' ta do wit' it."

"But, Ana," Zelgadis contradicted, the words torn from him as though something or someone else controlled his mouth, "It's entirely possible that I had everything to do with it."

"Be that as it may," Zelgadis continued, somehow unable to stop now that he had started, "In the past I committed many such atrocities. There are gaping holes in my memory from that time, but-,"

"No," Zelgadis admitted, "But, you described the clothing I wore to please my master. The cloak and the mask. All red."

"Lots o' peoples wear red, child, don' mean a thing tha' ya did once 'pon a time."

"In and of itself, perhaps not," Zelgadis replied, holding onto his mug as though the piece of ceramic were his only anchor. "But, I had a nightmare earlier tonight about a village burning and not being able to stop it, and I know enough about dreaming to know when I dream true. That, and the fact that not only you, but this entire place, make me uncomfortable, convinces me I have been here before and am likely the one that destroyed your town." His voice finally ran down. There was nothing further to say. He could do nothing besides await the judgement he deserved.

Zelgadis' eyes flew open at Ana's soft words and fixed on the tiny, gnarled hand that was patting the back of one of his.

Jaw snapping shut, Zelgadis' gaze traveled the length of Ana's arm, his shock only deepening when the old woman winked at him.

"An, loos'n tha' grip, child. Don' wan' ya ta be breakin' me mug all ta pieces."

As Ana gave his hand a final pat and sat back in her chair, Zelgadis found his voice. "Ana," he whispered, "I just told you I destroyed your town and killed a part of your family. How can you sit there and treat me like I'm your grandson?"

"Well, wha' would ya have me do? Weep an' wail? Scream likes I's terr'fied? Slap ya? Call th' res' o' town an' have meself a stonin'?"

"Something like that, yes," Zelgadis said, barely hearing himself above the old woman's disgusted snort.

"T'ain't goin' ta happen, child. Ya don' need me ta punish ya, ya aleady done tha' 'nough yaself 'tis plain! An' all when ya still don' even know if'n ya had anythin' ta do wit' it!"

Shocked into silence, Zelgadis quickly leaned back in his chair as Ana leaned forward and pointed a finger at him.

"I's don' know wha' ya past was like, an' I's don' wan' ta know. All I's c'n do is judge ya by wha' I's see 'fore me an' wha' I's see is good peoples. Even if'n ya sudd'nly 'member tha' ya did burn this town, still wouldn' change me mind."

"Wha's past is past, son, an' th' peoples sittin' here wit' me is't th' same peoples tha' done all tha' nastiness ya says."

"'Tis easy ta understan', child. In ya dream, th' town was burnin', bu' ya says it yaself, ya was tryin' ta stop it. Ya have clear earn'd th' resp'ct an' love o' friends like ya Lina and Gourry. Both o' them jumpin' in an' defendin' ya like they did. Peoples wouldn' do tha' if'n ya was a peoples wha' didn' deserve it. An' nasty peoples don' worry 'bout sick friends like ya do an' offer ta go wit'out shelter so's they c'n have it. So, if'n ya ever was wha' ya says ya was, ya not no more."

Feeling as though the world had tilted, Zelgadis simply looked at Ana. She could not be correct. She could not absolve him of every heinous act he had ever committed, remembered or not, with a few simple sentences... could she?

Closing his jaw, Zelgadis looked down, feeling the heat of a flush spreading across his face.

"Now, I's don' know if'n anythin' I's says gots through ya head, but I's think I's been flappin me jaw at ya 'nough for one night."

Belatedly realizing that Ana had risen, had crossed to the fire and now stood at the island counter, Zelgadis pushed his chair back and stood as well.

As she turned, Ana handed Zelgadis a tray laden with the pot of broth, the kettle of water, a small, carved wooden bowl, a mug, and a ladle. Mind still moving at less than half speed, he did not resist as the old woman turned him and bustled him right out of the kitchen.

"Go back ta ya Gourry, he needs ya. Make sure ya get tha' broth into him an' have some yaself since I's knows ya didn' have no dinner neither."

Bemused and still off balance, Zelgadis slowly turned to face the kitchen door as Ana let it swing shut behind her. He shook his head, not knowing whether or not he could believe all that she had told him, but admitting in his heart that she was a remarkable woman, as remarkable and accepting in her own way as Gourry. He was truly fortunate to have met her.

Shaking his head again, Zelgadis turned and started for the stairs, but paused, then returned to the kitchen door. With his hip, he pushed it open, stuck his head in, and when Ana turned to acknowledge him, he simply said, "Thank you."

"T'cha, 'tis no thanks I's needs, child. Ya jus' think 'bout all I's says ta ya, hear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Zelgadis assured with a faint smile, then started for his room again. He would think about it and discuss their conversation with Gourry. He did not know that Ana was right. He did not know if anything she or anyone else said would ever eradicate the guilt that was his constant companion.

Yes, he would consider her words, but not right at that moment. Smiling a little, Zelgadis balanced his tray and managed to unlock and open his door without spilling anything. One thing Ana was absolutely right about was that he had a sick swordsman who needed some serious tending and Gourry would always come first.

Hearing the sound of the door next to his room shutting and then footsteps in the hall, Zelgadis rose from the chair at the bedside where he had been watching Gourry. Crossing to his own door, he opened it before Lina could knock.

"Oh!" Lina exclaimed, startled, her hand falling back to her side as she took a few quick steps back.

"Sh," Zelgadis shushed, stepping out into the hall and closing the door behind himself. "He's finally sleeping soundly."

"Yeah, I heard him coughing last night," Lina replied, frowning. "Kept him awake?"

"Coughed himself awake at one point, then every time he closed his eyes after that, he started in again," Zelgadis sighed, rubbing a hand tiredly across his eyes.

"Kept you awake too?" Lina asked, though the answer to her question was obvious. Zelgadis looked quite ragged around the edges... and could not seem to stop yawning.

"Well, yes," Zelgadis affirmed. He shrugged and offered Lina half a smile as he added, "But, that's all right. I got caught up on my reading." He liked to think that the story he had been reading to Gourry was what finally enabled the swordsman to sleep.

"It's all right," Zelgadis repeated. He cocked a thumb at Lina and continued, "I'll survive, but I'd rather allow Gourry more time to sleep before leaving if that's your intention."

"What?" Lina asked, but then realized that Zelgadis had to be talking about the fact that she was dressed for traveling. "Oh, no, Zel," she quickly reassured, "We're not leaving here yet. Amelia's better, but she's still not fully recovered and with Gourry sick now, well, I've already been downstairs and I paid Ana for another day. Just glad it was her, you know and not that Geeren guy. He was nowhere to be found."

"Indeed," Zelgadis agreed with a tiny inward shudder. No one was more grateful than he that they had not again encountered that man.

"It stopped raining finally," Lina continued, "So I'm going out to hire a boat. That lake's absolutely huge, you look out your window yet? Can't even see the island. Don't think I want to Rei Wing out so far. Amelia's definitely not up to it and since we don't know what's out there, I don't want you and me to be drained when we get there, you know."

"Sound reasoning," Zelgadis said. Half turning back to his door, he said, "If you'll just let me get my cloak, I'll-,"

"No, Zel," Lina interrupted, thinking furiously as the shaman turned to face her again. Finally, knowing herself to be no diplomat, she just bluntly said, "I think that since these townsfolk don't like you very much I'll have an easier time if you don't come with me."

"I-," Zelgadis began to protest, but trailed off knowing Lina was right. "Fine, just be careful," he finally cautioned, not quite liking the idea of the sorceress going off on her own.

"I will," Lina assured. "You just take care of these two so we can get out of here tomorrow. I like Ana, but the rest of these people I can do without."

"We'll see what happens, I suppose," Zelgadis replied. It would please him to no end if he never set eyes on this village again. Hopefully, Amelia would be back to normal, Gourry would be much improved, and Lina would remain healthy so that they could get out of there.

"Yeah, well, like I said, you just take care of them while I'm gone. I left Amelia tucked up in bed with a couple of hankies and a book. She already ate breakfast, so she shouldn't need anything for a while."

"In the meantime, while neither one of the sickies need you," Lina said, allowing her voice to grow a little severe. "You should try to catch some sleep yourself. Remember what you told me last night? Well, I don't need you getting sick either!"

Zelgadis simply smiled and nodded. He felt it wise to refrain from pointing out how unlikely it was that he would catch the others' colds. Thanks to Rezo's magics, he had not been sick since his change.

"I'll be back in a bit," Lina called over her shoulder as she strode down the hall.

As tired as he knew himself to be, Zelgadis had no qualms about following Lina's orders. Returning to his room, he curled himself up in a corner of the bed and tried to go to sleep, but found it impossible. Each time he started to drift off, Gourry would cough or wheeze alarmingly as he slumbered, bringing him right back to wakefulness. And, then, his own stomach would join in the conspiracy and start rumbling.

Sighing, Zelgadis finally thrust aside the blankets and carefully rolled off the bed. Maybe if he solved the problem of his all too vocal stomach, he would be able to ignore the swordsman's coughing long enough to nap.

After slipping his boots on, Zelgadis crossed the room to the door, but paused before opening it. He hesitated, wondering if he should don his cloak, but finally left it hanging on its hook and stepped out into the hallway. Lina had said that Geeren was not in the inn and Ana had had ample time to study him last night so there was really no reason to bother with the still damp thing.

Descending into the common room, Zelgadis found the inn as deserted as Lina had reported, which was not surprising since it was likely frequented almost exclusively by townspeople who had their own lives to tend to during the day. Hearing clattering and clanging coming from the kitchen, he crossed the room.

"Oh!" Zelgadis softly gasped, freezing one step into the kitchen, feeling as though he was experiencing a replay of the night before. Only this time, where he had been expecting Ana, he found the kitchen occupied by the small, dark haired child he had caught a glimpse of when they had first arrived at the inn.

"Forgive me," Zelgadis murmured, ducking his head so that his hair would help to shield his face. "I was looking for Ana."

"Then, I'll see her later," Zelgadis said, uneasily reaching behind himself for the door.

"I's c'n help ya, can' I? Poppa be down dockside since dawn an' lef' Gramma in charge, but Gramma, she lef' me in charge when she go."

"A little thing like you?" Zelgadis asked, the question escaping him in his surprise.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know," Zelgadis replied, faintly smiling at the cloud of white which puffed up around the child as she patted herself on the chest with her flour coated hands. The child must take after Ana, for as small as she was, he had thought her much younger... although eleven was still quite young. On the other hand, he supposed eleven was plenty old enough to be left alone in as remote and tiny a village as this, where all the inhabitants knew each other and there were very few strangers... especially if Ana had a hand in the rearing of the child.

"I'm a bit hungry, I thought I might ask your grandmother for some bread and-," Zelgadis began, but trailed off as a bright smile lit the child's face. Not knowing what to expect, he watched her hop off the stool she had been standing on while she worked at the island counter, grab a plate, and come towards him.

"Here! Gramma says ta give ya this if'n ya come down. She says ya didn' eat ya dinn'r, so's ya gonna be hungry."

Automatically, Zelgadis held out a hand as the girl extended the plate. Mouth beginning to water, he saw that it sported a thick piece of ham sandwiched between two equally thick slices of bread.

Zelgadis started to chuckle. The child looked so much like Ana as she scolded him that he just could not help it.

Surprised again, Zelgadis did not resist as a small hand wrapped itself around his free hand and began pulling him around the island counter.

"Okay," Zelgadis meekly acquiesced, seating himself on the other stool at the counter. The girl was definitely Ana's grandchild. He could see the old woman's influence in her every word and gesture and she had the same talent for throwing him off his stride.

Quickly, Zelgadis took a bite of the sandwich and was relieved to see the frown leave Niki's tiny face. Like Ana indeed!

Slowly, Zelgadis regained control of himself, vaguely aware that Niki was thumping him on the back though her strength was not enough to be of any great help. Wheezing, he managed to ask, "A flower?"

Words escaping him, Zelgadis could only stare down into the girl's wide brown eyes.

Already so off balance, it was all Zelgadis could do not to fall off his stool as a small finger poked him in the arm.

Collecting himself, Zelgadis replied, "Your father is partially right." He was uncomfortable, but knew that Niki was only being curious and meant no harm with her questions. "I am equal parts human, mazoku, and rock golem, but once I was fully human."

You have no idea, little one, Zelgadis thought, but only nodded and remained silent. He had no idea how he could possibly explain Rezo to Niki, even were he willing to try.

"It-, it's not that easy," Zelgadis murmured, wishing with all his heart that it were. "Re-, the man who made me like this is dead and only he knew how to change me back."

Zelgadis felt his mouth drop open as Niki giggled, apparently delighted by the fact that his hair just sprang back into place each time her hand left it. Completely at a loss, he just sat frozen while the girl repeated the action several more times.

Zelgadis could only keep staring as Niki turned away, climbed back onto her stool, and started vigorously stirring the contents of the large bowl in front of her.

Fighting the urge to apologize to Niki's scolding, Zelgadis took another large bite of his sandwich.

"Ya know, yas really nice like me Gramma says, Zelg'dis. She tol' me I's should be nice back at ya an' tha' I's nothin' ta be 'fraid of. I's glad she's right an' not me Poppa."

"I-, you're nice too," Zelgadis murmured, finally finding his voice, not really knowing what else to say to that. His reward for figuring out the right thing was Niki's beaming smile.

"I's gonna makes ya a special cookie out'a this batch, Zelg'dis, jus' 'cause yas so nice."

Zelgadis felt his lips curling as the girl placed her tiny hands on her hips and glared at him. "Thank you," he just said, meaning it and knowing better than to continue to argue with her. Still smiling, he placed his empty plate back onto the counter.

"Good, yas done. Now, Gramma says yas gots friends sick upstairs, so's ya should be getting' back ta them. Ya c'n have ya cookie when's ya comes down ta eat dinn'r."

"I'll look forward to it," Zelgadis said as he rose, his grin broadening at the pointed look Niki gave him as she spoke her last sentence.

After leaving Niki, Zelgadis had returned to his own room where he had curled himself around Gourry in another attempt at a nap. He was not sure if it had been his full belly and his encounter with Ana's grandchild that had eased his way into sleep. It could have been the fact that his still sleeping swordsman seemed to be breathing easier. Whatever the case, he had been completely dead to his surroundings until this moment.

Mind quickening, Zelgadis eased himself into a sitting position, Gourry never stirring. He searched the room for whatever had awakened him, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Only slowly, did he realize that his nose had been the culprit. He smelled smoke.

Experimentally, Zelgadis inhaled deeply. Definitely smoke, and it did not carry the scent of food. It was wood smoke, unexpected and out of place. His sense of danger growing stronger with each passing moment, he turned and shook Gourry's shoulder.

Gummy eyes finally opening, Gourry realized that Zelgadis was bending over him, his face drawn and worried. Alarm zinging along his nerves as adrenaline began to pump through him, he tried to ask what was going on, but his words were overcome by another helpless fit of coughing.

"Get up and get dressed," Zelgadis worriedly ordered, slipping off the bed and gathering up the pile of their discarded clothing.

"Wha-, what's wrong?" Gourry finally managed to croak as he sat up and took the clothing that Zelgadis thrust at him.

"I smell smoke," Zelgadis said shortly, concern making him brusque as he dressed.

"I don't smell anything," Gourry muttered, but, nevertheless, he crawled over to sit on the edge of the bed so he could dress.

"You wouldn't smell it if you stuck your face in it," Zelgadis retorted, slipping on his gloves. "Just trust me," he added as he stepped between Gourry's legs and tilted the swordsman's chin up.

Gourry's hands automatically rose to cup Zelgadis' buttocks as the shaman bent and rested his lips against his forehead for a few brief seconds.

Soundlessly cursing the persistence of Gourry's fever, Zelgadis left the swordsman and stepped over to the bed's nightstand. After pouring a dose of the willowbark tea he had brewed the night before into the mug they had been using, he poured the remainder into the canteen. Turning back, he waited until Gourry had finished stamping into his boots before offering the swordsman the mug.

"You're still warm, so suffer," Zelgadis ordered, staring at Gourry until the swordsman obediently drank down the medicine.

After replacing the mug on the nightstand, Gourry deftly buckled his armor about himself then joined Zelgadis where he was waiting beside the door.

Resting a hand on the door, Zelgadis said, "It doesn't feel warm to me, but perhaps you should check."

"No, you're right, Zel. It's not warm," Gourry confirmed after laying his hand alongside the shaman's.

"Then, let's go," Zelgadis replied, opening the door and stepping out into the hall.

"Look," Gourry directed, cocking a thumb at the stairs. Smoke was just beginning to rise from below, coating the ceiling at the end of the hall with a thin haze of gray. Even he could smell it now, and its scent, abrasive to his irritated lungs, sent him into another coughing fit.

"Damn!" Zelgadis growled, though he was not sure if he was cursing Gourry's illness, the fire, or both. Urgency building, he slipped beneath the swordsman's arm, helping the still coughing man to straighten, and moved with him towards the opposite end of the hall.

Pausing with Zelgadis outside Amelia's door, Gourry stood on his own. As the shaman lay a hand against the door and murmured the unlocking spell, he fished a handkerchief from his pocket and covered his mouth and nose with it.

"Amelia," Zelgadis called, opening the princess' door and stepping into the room.

"Eeeeeeee!" Amelia screeched. Starting from a sound sleep, she threw the first thing her hand closed on in the direction of the intruders.

"Damn it, Amelia, it's us!" Zelgadis cried, straightening from his crouch. He had forgotten Amelia's tendency to retaliate without thought when surprised and frightened, and supposed he should be grateful that it was only a book his friend had hurled at him instead of a spell.

"Ai! Zelgadis-san, Gourry-san! Wha-, what are you doing? Gentlemen don't enter a lady's room uninvited!"

"Bu-, but I'm not decent!" Amelia protested, clutching the covers more tightly to her chin.

"Listen, I don't care if you do it naked or stay wrapped in that blanket, but you're going to get up and gather yours and Lina's belongings!" Zelgadis snapped. "The inn is on fire and we've got to get out of here!"

"Oh! Oh no!" Amelia cried. Bracing herself, she thrust aside the covers. In an emergency, she did not have the luxury of modesty.

Grimacing, Zelgadis controlled the urge to strangle Amelia as she clambered out of bed. Not decent? The only things the princess was not wearing were her boots and her jewelry.

"Zel, there-, there's more-, smo-, smoke in the hall," Gourry gasped in between coughs as he drew his head back into the room. He breathed shallowly for a moment, trying to control his breathing, then managed to add, "Don't think we should go that way."

"Then, how're we gonna get out?" Amelia asked, turning back to face the two men, her own pack, as well as Lina's, clutched to her chest.

The sunshine streaming into the room from outside drawing him, Zelgadis crossed to the large window on the far side of the room. Unlatching it, he thoughtfully considered the size of the opening as the double panes of glass swung wide.

"The window?" Gourry groaned, joining Zelgadis and trying not to think about how far down to the ground it was. Though he had been higher, the thought of jumping from the second story window was still disturbing.

"Sounds better than finding out how much of the ground floor of this place is burning," Amelia piped from Gourry's side. She patted the swordsman's arm reassuringly since she knew how much he hated heights. "Just close your eyes and I'll have you levitated to the ground in next to no time!"

"No," Zelgadis contradicted, moving so that he stood in between his two friends. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he told Amelia, "You're still sick. I'll carry you both."

Hands fisted and held tightly to her sides, face a scowling mask, Lina stalked into the muddy center square of Calen's Landing on her way back to the inn. She hated this town and everyone in it, she decided angrily, and time had proven that Ana was still the place's only redeeming feature.

It seemed that all the villagers knew who Lina was and, because she traveled with Zelgadis, every single one who owned a boat had refused to hire it out to her. Well, at least those that were willing to let her ask them in the first place. Most turned her away before she even opened her mouth and she was trying not to remember the language they had used as they did it.

Seething, Lina wondered if the small-minded townsfolk knew that the only reason she had not fireballed the lot of them was Ana. The old woman had told her that morning just why it was they disliked Zelgadis so vehemently and had asked her to control her temper while she was out. She had, making herself smile and repeatedly walk away without retaliating, but if she had to control herself for much longer, she knew she was going to break something inside! Oh, how she wished Ana had not made her promise!

Lost in fantasies about what she would like to do to the meanest of the villagers, Lina only slowly realized that the agitated babbling of the people standing around in the square had nothing to do with her or Zelgadis.

Glancing up, her ears filled with words such as 'smoke' and 'fire', Lina saw that the square was filling with people, all of whom were staring at the thin column of smoke rising from the same direction in which the inn lay.

Alarm tightening her chest more completely than her anger had, Lina joined the rush of people heading towards the inn, springing forward and quickly outdistancing most of them. Visions of her friends burning because some nasty local had decided to rid the town of their unwanted visitors playing behind her eyes, she pushed herself faster, passing out of the center square.

As Lina turned onto the street which led to the inn, she nearly bowled over a tiny, shuffling form. Twisting her body and stumbling off balance, she narrowly avoided a collision.

"Don't worry Ana, I'll get you there right away. Hold tight!" Lina instructed. When the old woman complied without a bit of hesitation, she tightened her own hold around Ana's body and burdens and cried, "Rei Wing!"

Though she could not help but wonder that Ana did not seem the least bit frightened by their sudden flight, Lina held her tongue. She poured her power into the spell, increasing their speed, and cleared the roofs of the surrounding houses just in time to see Zelgadis, Gourry, and Amelia levitating out of one of the upper story windows of the inn.

Lina landed in the yard of the inn half a moment after her three friends did, and releasing Ana, launched herself across the short distance which separated her from them.

"Lina-san," Amelia cried, catching a glimpse of a fast moving streak of red and black coming at her, "You're all ri-aiiii!" Her words cut off along with her breath as one of Lina's arms went around her neck.

"We're fine, Lina," Zelgadis murmured as Lina's arms went around Gourry and Amelia, closing the circle and creating what was essentially a four way hug.

"I wasn't worried," Lina said, finally pulling back a little. Grinning, she added, "I knew something as stupid as a fire wouldn't get you guys."

"Thank Zel's nose," Gourry replied, jerking his chin in the shaman's direction. "He smelled-,"

Caught off guard, Zelgadis almost fell as hands latched onto one of his shoulders and spun him around. His mouth gaping in stunned amazement, he watched the innkeeper's face twist with hate as he drew his fist back.

"No! You leave him alone!" Amelia cried, latching onto the man's upper arm, her weight forcing it down. She had no idea who this person was, or why he wanted to strike Zelgadis-san, but she was not going to let him get away with it while she was there!

"He didn't do anything," Gourry shouted, adding his strength to Amelia's and pushing the innkeeper even farther away from Zelgadis.

The frightened, almost querulous, quality of Ana's voice unlocked Zelgadis' muscles. He turned, along with everyone else, as the old woman pushed her way between Gourry and Geeren.

Facing the inn, Zelgadis extended his hearing. Reaching past the shouting and the crackle and snap of the flames as it fed on the building's wooden interior, he strained to hear anything that sounded like the cries of a frightened child.

Though coughing again, Gourry was still able to get between Geeren and Zelgadis as the innkeeper suddenly leaped at the unsuspecting shaman. Putting his head down, Gourry drove his shoulder into the man's abdomen, tumbling him to the ground. Fighting to catch his breath, he pinned Zelgadis' would be assailant and managed to snarl, "Damn you, he didn't do anything!"

"Ana, surely she got out," Lina soothed. She started to put her arm around the distraught woman's shoulders, but was jostled aside as something pushed between them. "What the-,"

"Zel?" Gourry cried, alarm tearing through him, as the shaman leaped over him and raced towards the inn.

"Zelgadis," Lina shouted, "What the hell are you doing? You're not that fireproof, you stupid shaman!"

As the innkeeper heaved beneath him, Gourry slid bonelessly off to the side. Fear sapping what little strength his illness had left him, he remained in his sprawl, eyes fixed on the small figure which darted around the villagers at the inn's door and disappeared inside.

Zelgadis waded through the thick smoke which filled the inn's common room until he stood just outside of the kitchen. The door was half eaten away and through its remains, he could see the flames busily consuming the interior of the room. Only hesitating an instant, Zelgadis plunged through the opening, for he could no longer hear the whimpers which had drawn him to this hell.

Smarting eyes closed to mere slits, Zelgadis traversed the kitchen, leaping through the flames to get to the next patch of floor not burning when necessary and trusting his speed and stony hide to protect him. Finally, clothing smoldering, he reached the wide area of flagstones in front of the hearth. Looking frantically around, he quickly spied Niki's still form huddled against the outside of the chimney in the corner formed where it met the wall.

Coughing, Zelgadis crouched and gathered the child into his arms. She was unconscious, overcome by the heat and smoke, but his searching fingers quickly found the strongly beating pulse of life at her throat.

Frowning, Zelgadis glanced back over his shoulder. The flames were gaining strength, beginning to lick against the ceiling, and had already consumed most of the open areas he had used to reach Niki. Likewise, he could not see sufficient gaps in the fire to allow him to reach the back door of the kitchen. He could not bring Niki out of the building the way he had come and so found himself as trapped as the child he had come to save.

Grimly, Zelgadis considered his options. It was really rather simple. He could not afford to wait for a rescue, did not believe that even his friends could effect one in time, let alone any of the villagers. Therefore, as he refused to allow Niki to die, he would put the fire out himself... hopefully.

Just as he could channel a weak trickle of energy into a fire spell and use it to heat the contents of a canteen, Zelgadis was certain he could pour energy into a basic water spell, increasing its effects by several orders of magnitude.

Holding Niki's small body more tightly to his chest, Zelgadis curled himself as completely around her as he could and scrunched himself face first into her corner. Focusing, he whispered, "Aqua Create." As he sensed the first droplets of water forming around him, he released as much energy as he could into the spell and braced himself for what he prayed would be a deluge.

Pouring all that he had into the spell, Zelgadis pushed the water out and away from himself and Niki, though that did not prevent his back from quickly becoming drenched. He fed energy into his spell as the sound of hissing began to overpower the painful crackling of the fire and did not let up until long after the hissing was a fading memory.

Gasping for breath, Zelgadis slowly slid down the wall, turning until he was sitting with his back to the corner. Slowly, he smiled. The visibility in the kitchen was still low, but the clouds floating on the air consisted of harmless water vapor rather than smoke.

"Gourry!" Lina cried, catching up to the swordsman bare steps from the front door of the inn. She caught ahold of his arm and, digging her heels in, dragged him to a halt. "You can't go in there!"

"I've got to help him! He's-," Gourry choked through a faceful of smoke, then doubled over, coughing furiously.

"You've got to nothing! You're barely staying on your feet!" Lina retorted, the thick, deep coughs being wrenched from Gourry's chest frightening her. Torn between wanting to stay with Gourry and needing to go to Zelgadis, she hesitated, until Amelia joined them with Ana leaning on her arm.

"I'll tell you what we're going to do," Lina grimly said, whirling to face the two women. "You," she ordered, pointing a finger at Gourry, "Stay here." She turned on Ana before the swordsman even had a chance to protest, not that he could have effectively since he was still coughing. "Ana," she continued, "Make sure he behaves himself." Watching Ana's eyes narrow and her sharp nod, she had no doubt that the old woman could handle Gourry, especially given the swordsman's condition. "And, you," she finished, turning to Amelia, "Come with me. We'll bring him back!"

"Wait," Amelia cried, pulling her hand out of Lina's grasp before the redhead could draw her into the building. "Listen!"

"What?" Lina snapped impatiently, "I don't hear-," She broke off, a subtle change in the surrounding sounds capturing her attention. She did hear! She heard falling water, a roar as powerful as that when the skies opened up during a thunderstorm; she heard sizzling and hissing and popping, as though someone was frying a hundred chickens.

"Ana, don't!" Gourry cried as the old woman stepped past him and moved closer to the inn. Forcing himself upright, he grabbed her around the waist, and with Lina and Amelia on either side of him, fell back several steps.

"Ana, I just-," Gourry managed before starting to cough again. Even as he lowered the old woman to her feet, he helplessly gestured at the burst of steam and water which replaced the smoke pouring out of the inn's door.

"I's know's wha' ya jus', son, an' I's thanks ya, bu' I's wan' someones ta 'xplain ta me wha's happenin'!"

"It's Zelgadis-san!" Amelia said, grabbing Ana's hands and happily spinning the old woman around.

"All right! Way to go, Zelgadis!" Lina crowed. Grinning widely, she turned to Ana and explained, "Zel's not just a sorcerer, he's a shaman. Elemental spells are his specialty and it looks like he just used a water one to put out your fire."

Breathing shallowly, Gourry walked around the women. He had been willing to brave the fire to get to his lover. Now that it was out, he was certainly not going to let a stupid thing like a little cough keep him away.

"Gourry, wait!" Lina ordered, noting the swordsman's intention. "You can't-," She abruptly gulped back the rest of her sentence when Gourry just turned and leveled a look on her that would have frozen Shabranigdo. Okaaaaaay, she silently decided, maybe it was not such a good idea to tell the swordsman that he could not go into the inn. But, she did not have to let him go alone.

"C'mon, Amelia," she quietly said, then knowing the princess would fall in at her side, she followed Gourry into the building.

The blackened, gaping hole that had once been a doorway directing him to the area of the inn most damaged by the fire, Gourry carefully made his way into the kitchen. Urgency building in him, he searched the wreckage of the room for signs of Zelgadis, and finally, through the thinning trailers of steam, he saw a familiar splash of beige and blue over by the chimney.

"Gourry-san! Be careful!" Amelia cried as the swordsman suddenly sprang forward, heedless of the dangers inherent in the damaged room.

"He's spotted him!" Lina said as she quickly made her way after Gourry. Half of her was relieved that the swordsman's height had enabled him to find Zelgadis so quickly. The other half was filled with trepidation, for why, if the shaman was so plainly in sight, did he not hail them?

So still. Both Zelgadis and the child that had apparently compelled him to enter the burning building in the first place were so very still. Gourry dropped down to his heels, and, conscious even now of the women at his back, he reached out and gave the shaman's shoulder a little shake instead of just pulling the other man into his arms.

"Oh, Gourry-san, is he-," Amelia's tiny whisper trailed off. She could not bring herself to consider such a horrible thing.

"No!" Gourry roughly denied, shaking his head. But, almost as though they had a mind of their own and believed Amelia's suggestion when his heart would not, his fingers slid up and over to Zelgadis' neck. Pressing lightly just beneath the shaman's jaw, the one spot where his pulse beat strongly enough to be felt through his skin of stone, Gourry sagged as relief swept through him. Zelgadis was alive!

"He's unconscious, Amelia," Lina said, crouching at Gourry's side. She studied the emotions which quickly played over Gourry's face and when they had subsided, she lay a hand on the swordsman's arm to gain his attention and said, "We should get them out of here. I can take the girl, but Zel... He's so damned heavy. Do you think you can carry him? Or, I can levitate them both."

"No, I'll do it!" Gourry interrupted, and, damn it all, he would no matter how heavy the shaman was. He did not care how irrational it was, but he did not want anyone to lay hands on Zelgadis at that moment other than himself. Struggling to control his breathing, he moved closer.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the jostling of his limbs began to penetrate the comfortable blackness in which Zelgadis rested. Where? Who? Confused and not quite aware, his thoughts circled aimlessly for a moment until he drew in a deep breath and the distinct scent that could only mean Gourry filled his nostrils. Thoughts coalescing, focusing on his lover to the exclusion of all else, he turned his head into the swordsman's neck with a slight murmur. If Gourry was holding him, then everything must be all right and he was safe to return to the nothingness which beckoned so enticingly.

"Zel?" Gourry questioned, the slight whisper of sound and the shaman's small movement just as he had been about to lift capturing all of his attention. Drawing back a little, he slipped his arm out from beneath the other man's legs. Grasping his lover's chin, he gently turned Zelgadis' face into the light.

"Mmm," Zelgadis grunted. Though he squeezed his eyes tightly shut, Gourry's voice drove the solace of sleep right out of his grasp. After several abortive tries, he finally managed to keep his eyes open, and as his lover's drawn face filled his field of vision, he dazedly wondered why Gourry looked so worried.

"You're all right!" Gourry exclaimed, body tightening as he struggled not to throw himself at Zelgadis, or hug the shaman tightly to his chest, or any number of other inappropriate actions considering the company they were currently in.

"Of course, I'm all right," Zelgadis mumbled, losing his fight to keep his eyes open. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Um, Zel, remember the fire?" Lina gently prompted when Gourry's breath caught. She didn't know whether the swordsman was trying not to cough or yell as his face twisted in a grimace, but figured she should say something since it did not look as if Gourry was going to be capable of speaking anytime soon.

"What fire..." Zelgadis' voice slowly trailed off as the fog blanketing his brain finally began to dissipate. The inn. The fire. Niki! His arms were empty! Strength born of alarm suffusing his limbs, Zelgadis thrust Gourry aside and scrambled to his feet.

Catching himself against the chimney, Gourry shouted, "Zel, she's all right. Amelia has her!" The girl was the only reasonable explanation for Zelgadis' sudden agitation. He was not sure just what she meant to the other man, but as he was certain to find out given time, his only thought was to get his lover to calm down.

Whirling, Zelgadis spotted Niki and struggled to keep from snatching the girl out of Amelia's arms. She appeared to be unconscious still, but otherwise seemed all right. Closing his eyes, he swayed, strength leaving him as quickly as it had come. He would never know whether or not he would have fallen, since hands closed on both of his arms, lending him their solid support. Gratefully, he nodded his thanks, and was even more grateful when neither Lina nor Gourry drew any more attention to his weakness by speaking, but only squeezed his arms in reply.

"Come on, guys," Amelia said, turning for the door, "We can find out what happened later. Right now, we need to get out of here." More specifically, they needed to get the little girl she cradled in her arms out of there. As much as she wanted to throw herself at Zelgadis-san and make sure he was really all right, the proper thing to do was to see to the child first.

"She's right, let's go," Lina agreed, frowning when instead of shaking off their support, Zelgadis moved with her and Gourry. "Zel, are you-," she began, but broke off as Gourry completed her question.

Shooting Gourry a startled look, that he did not return since he was staring at Zelgadis, Lina's frown deepened.

"Then, just lean on me," Gourry murmured, smiling faintly as Zelgadis did so with no more protest than he himself had the previous night when the shaman had offered him the same assistance.

Twisting her head to face forward again, Lina studiously ignored the two men's exchange and the fact that Zelgadis' arm was now around Gourry's waist. It did not mean a thing! It didn't! The shaman just needed the extra, added help! He did!

Taking a deep breath, Lina belatedly replied to Zelgadis' earlier statement, "Oh, sure, just a little tired." It was maddening, but although she had promised herself no more speculating, she could not seem to turn off her brain! Perhaps seizing the opportunity for a little banter would distract her from blurting the questions that she still was not quite sure she wanted to know the answers to. "Why'd you push so hard anyway, Zel? I mean, I would have just blown a hole in the wall there and escaped with the girl that way."

"Unlike you, Lina-san," Amelia called back, "Zelgadis-san's solution for everything is not to blow it up!"

"You've got to admit," Gourry began, unable to resist joining in when he saw Zelgadis' lips curl just a bit, "Zel did pretty good here, since he put out the fire. You think those villagers could've? Place probably would've burned to the ground."

"He could've gotten out and then cast the spell to put out the fire," Lina grumbled good-naturedly, not minding in the least that this time she had become the chosen target for the teasing.

"But, then they'd have had to repair the hole in the wall on top of all the fire damage if he did that," Amelia pointed out as she crossed the threshold of the door and finally exited the inn.

"Well, yeah," Lina grudgingly agreed. She started to say more, but on hearing Amelia cry out from just beyond the doorway, she leaped forward instead.

"Oh, he just took her away without saying a word," Amelia softly said, opening her hands helplessly as Lina skidded to a halt beside her. "Why'd he have to do that?"

"Because he's a jerk" Lina growled, watching Geeren hurry away with the body of his child clutched closely to his chest. The hand she lay on Amelia's arm as gentle as her voice was harsh, she continued, "I've got half a mind to-,"

"It doesn't matter, Lina," Zelgadis quietly interrupted as he and Gourry stopped just behind the two girls.

"Let it go," Zelgadis tiredly insisted. Fighting another wave of weakness, he leaned more heavily into Gourry's support as he watched Geeren lay Niki on the ground and, with Ana, kneel at her side. "But, I would ask that either you or Amelia offer to do a recovery spell on the child. Even after this, I don't think Geeren would accept one from me."

"You know," Lina said, frowning. "It kills me, but I think you're right. Gourry," she continued, pointing a finger at the swordsman, "Take care of Zelgadis. Make him sit down somewhere before he falls down. In fact, sit down yourself before you fall down. You look worse than he does! C'mon, Amelia, let's go," she finished, grabbing the princess' hand and dragging her off.

"Don't ever do that again! You scared me half to death, Zel!" Gourry hissed as soon as the girls were out of earshot, or tried to, but his vehemence was undermined by yet more coughing. When he could finally breathe, he fought with himself all over again. One part of him wanted to shake some sense into his lover, but another part just wanted to pull the shaman into his arms and never let him go. Unfortunately, neither action was any more appropriate here than inside the inn, less so since there were even more people milling about.

"I'm sorry," Zelgadis simply said. He was, though he would not have done otherwise given the choice again.

"I know, but-," Gourry broke off with a sigh. It was neither the time nor the place for this conversation either. "C'mon," he finally said, feeling as tired as Zelgadis sounded. Turning the shaman, he steered the other man towards the far side of the inn's yard.

Eyes drifting shut, Zelgadis just placed one foot in front of the other, trusting Gourry to guide him.

"Sit," Gourry instructed, halting Zelgadis on the patch of miraculously dry ground where they had left their belongings and pushing down on his shoulders. After lowering himself to sit next to the shaman, he hesitated, not really knowing how to ask what he wanted to ask, but finally just blurted, "Is this place the inn from your nightmare last night? Did you go in there because of that?" In last night's rain and darkness, he had not seen enough of the place to make the connection while he had been in the dreamscape, but now...

"I-, yes," Zelgadis whispered. With a shiver, he wrenched his eyes away from the intensity of Gourry's azure gaze and bowed his head.

"Ah hell, I'm such an idiot," Gourry muttered. Zelgadis was as drenched as he had been the night before and was probably freezing in the breeze blowing though the yard. Twisting, he retrieved the shaman's cloak from his pack and draped the heavy garment over the other man's shoulders.

"You probably need this more than I," Zelgadis murmured as Gourry sniffled and began coughing again. Suiting actions to words, he shrugged off the cloak and draped it over the swordsman instead.

"Being sick sucks," Gourry grumbled weakly, smiling when Zelgadis started to quietly chuckle. Catching the shaman's eye, he winked, then held open the cloak and offered, "We could share."

"Right," Zelgadis returned, grinning. "Sick as you are, cuddling with a sopping wet shaman is just what you need!"

Zelgadis rocked forward as something barreled into him from behind and thin arms wrapped around his neck.

"Niki's going to be just fine, Zel," Lina called as she approached her friends. Glancing down, she returned the grin of the old woman that was leaning on her arm.

"I-, it's all right," Zelgadis softly assured as Niki released her stranglehold on his neck. Relief and happiness that the girl seemed quite well indeed warred with shock and uneasiness as she came around to his front and plopped herself down in his lap, managing to stir his insides into a confused mess.

Staring into that grave little face and beginning to relax as the relief and happiness won their battle, Zelgadis murmured, "That's all right, too." Slowly and tentatively, his arms went around Niki's small body.

"I's a-stuffin' a cabbage for dinn'r an' I's slipped a-tryin' ta git tha' ol' core out o' it an' I's knock'd over a lamp. I's so a-scared o' fire. 'Tis wha' burnt Mama an' Geer an' Ti all up an' made 'em dead. Bu', I's tried ta git it ta go out, bu' I's couldn', an' it spread so fast!"

"Sh," Zelgadis soothed as Niki's voice began to waver and tears welled in her wide, brown eyes. "It doesn't matter as long as you're all right."

Startled, Zelgadis looked up and barely controlled a flinch as he found himself staring into Geeren's unsmiling face. He slowly relaxed again as it became clear that Geeren meant what he said, though the innkeeper had by no means apologized for his earlier behavior. Dropping his gaze, he tiredly nodded his acknowledgement, simply glad that there would not be another confrontation and far too tired to consider that he may not be deserving of the man's apparent change in attitude.

"Heh, I's be thinkin' ya spen' more time wit' ya jaw hangin' op'n than wit' it closed!"

Gourry quietly chuckled, though his amusement stemmed more from Zelgadis' flush and his generally flustered reaction to the little girl's kiss on the cheek and less from Ana's comment. He was not even sure exactly what the old woman was referring to. Seeing that the shaman was still frozen and not inclined to do it on his own, he reached over and pushed the other man's mouth shut.

Niki's cry bringing him back to himself, Zelgadis leaned to look around Ana and saw the girl slip her tiny hand from her father's and run back towards him.

Puzzled, Zelgadis took the small, slightly damp, paper wrapped package from Niki.

Obediently, Zelgadis complied, though he had no idea what the child might be giving him. He felt his mouth drop open yet again when he finally exposed the package's contents.

"I's sav'd ya cookie, Zelg'dis! Tol' ya I's a-makin' a special'un for ya! I's even made it extra big an' yummy!"

The golden brown circle laying on the paper was broken in three places, but Zelgadis could still clearly make out Niki's handiwork. Spelled out in raisins was his name, or a reasonable approximation of it. Slowly smiling, he met the girl's eyes and murmured, "My thanks."

"Aye, an' I's one las' thing ta be sayin' ta ya an' yas tha' I's almost forget'd too."

Eyes traveling up from Niki, Zelgadis realized that her father had also made his way back to them. Still uneasy around the man, he remained silent and waited for the innkeeper to explain himself.

"I's wan' yas dinn'rs ta be on th' house, we be managing' them somehows, an' I's wan' ya all ta know tha' yas welcome ta stay at me place for as long as ya likes."

"Well, I'll be!" Lina exclaimed as the innkeeper swept his daughter up into his arms. Eyes narrowing speculatively as she watched the pair walk towards the inn, she muttered, "Wonder if he means we get to stay for free, too."

"Lina-san! You never change!" Amelia said crossing her arms over her chest and glaring at her friend.

"Ooooh! I don't believe you," Amelia cried, outraged that the redhead acted as though she did not even know what she was talking about.

"No worries, child. 'Tis like me son did mean tha' yas ta stay for free. Even if'n he don' mean it, ya don' worry for I's be settin' him straight."

"That's not the point," Amelia grumbled. "Lina-san shouldn't have asked in the first place. She's always looking for ways to slide instead of paying her own way."

This time, Gourry decided it would be wise to refrain from joining in the girls' bickering. He was too tired to defend himself in the event that they band together and make him their new target. Grinning to himself, he just shook his head. Neither one of them would ever change, and he liked that just fine.

"Aw, c'mon, Amelia, give me a break," Lina cajoled. "Unless this changes the rest of the town's attitude towards Zel, we're gonna need that extra money to bribe someone into taking us to that stupid island in the center of the lake."

"Ana!" Lina said, turning to the old woman and barely managing to keep from rubbing her hands together in her sudden glee. Ana was a local source and she trusted the old woman enough to believe anything that she said. Why had she not thought of asking Ana about the island before? "We want to go to the old temple there. We're after the holy vessel the clerics there supposedly used to heal people, but I bet there's lots of other relics and treasures we can get our hands on."

"Zel," Gourry whispered excitedly, bumping the shaman's elbow with his own. "You listening to this? Zel?" When the other man remained unresponsive, Gourry tore his eyes from Ana and Lina and curiously looked over at him.

"'Tis true, child, don' matter wha' ya read. Me husband an' me, we was there! We work'd for him when I's ya age, bu' he couldn' help me Geer when a pile o' rocks fell on him and crush'd his leg. Lef' him aft'r tha', came back here an' open'd th' inn wit' th' gold he gave us ta keep quiet 'bout him. 'Ventually, he tried ta con th' wrong peoples. Big, nasty lookin' man went ta see Karl, big nasty lookin' man came back lookin' more nasty, an' then Karl's supply boat stopp'd comin'. Geer an' me th' only one's in town brave 'nough ta go see wha' happen'd. Found Karl dead, we did. So's we clean'd out th' place an' I's t'ain't been back there since."

"It's a fake?" Lina faintly asked again, hoping that she had somehow heard Ana wrong.

"Aye, 'tis, child. I's use ya holy healin' cup as me soup bowl most o' th' time. Fact, I's gave it ta ya Zelgadis for ya Gourry there ta use jus' last night!"

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Lina groaned, her hands fisting in the hair at her temples. "Then, this whole trip was a waste! All that rain, and getting lost, and getting sick, and all these villagers and the nasty things they said, and the fire! We went through that all for nothing!"

"Not for nothing," Gourry murmured. Though he had followed the conversation, he only had eyes for Zelgadis. The shaman was still staring down at the cookie he cradled in his lap, a soft smile still playing about his lips, as at peace as Gourry had ever seen him. Knowing his lover well, he knew this interlude would likely not last, but while it did, he would treasure it. Smiling himself, he softly repeated, "No, not for nothing at all."

Ai! I actually did it!!! This is the longest thing I've ever written in such a short time! I made the deadline!!! ::collapses into a puddle of goo::

::goo reforms enough to speak:: Next up, I believe, is the ever so talented LN, listlady extraordinaire! ^____^ ::goo collapses back to puddle form again::