Zelgadiss follows with a deep blush.
The trickster gladly opens the closet door and shoves Lina and Zelgadiss in. He took out a key, and locked them in the dark, while checking his watch with a wide evil grin.
"Starting... Now!" he cheered.
Gourry, Filia, Amelia, and Xelloss all pressed their ears up to the door, but couldn't hear anything.
"I wonder what they're doing..?" whispered Filia.
Amelia had a sadened look on her face.
"Shouldn't we do something else?" asked Gourry. "We can't just stand here."
"I guess..." sighed Xelloss. "Let's tell jokes on the couch, then." he said running to get a good seat.
"Hey! I get the couch!" chaced Filia.
"Oh yeah?!" laughed Xelloss.
Rolling ontop of the couch, Xelloss and Filia faught madly to get what each of them wanted.
Amelia and Gourry looked at eachother questioningly, then back at the other two.
"Something's wrong with those two....." mumbled Gourry.
Amelia nodded, and walked over to where Zelgadiss was sitting.
Gourry sat beside her.
'Lina's with Gourry, right? SO I have nothing to worry about.... I hope.' thought Amelia.
Filia's teeth glared at Xelloss as she ripped a part of his cape off.
"HEY! That's not fair!!!" argued Xelloss.
Filia felt embarassed, and noticed what she and Xelloss might look like from another's person's point of view....
She was sitting on top of him, and he was holding her back, as she held a piece of black cloth in her mouth.
Xelloss, still struggling to get free, moves his legs out from under Filia, making her get up and sit on the floor.
"Thank you, Filia-san." he smiled victoriously.
"Hmph." she replied with a snarl.
Lina and Zelgadiss couldn't hear anything from behind the door, but eachother's breathing.
"I can't believe this." complained Lina.
"You're the one who wanted to play this game. You should've expected this." replied Zelgadiss, in his usual, cool voice.
Lina sighed in defeat, and decided to sit down. The closet was actually very big. Supposedly a walk-in closet with only blankets inside.
Zelgadiss also sat down, but on the other end of the darkness.
"I wonder what their doing...?" asked Lina.
"Probably wondering what we're doing."
"Oh shut-up. You always say something that makes me feel stupid!"
"Sorry."
"It's ok....."
~silence~
"Zelgadiss...." whispered Lina.
The chimera felt his face turn a deeper red, at the sound of her whispering voice. He didn't reply.
"I promise I won't do anything to you, if you promise you won't do anything to me, ok? We both know we can only be friends..." still in a whisper, Lina shifted in her sitting position.
Zelgadiss sighed in relief, and chuckled. "No problem."
Lina also laughed. "OK! So let's just talk. You ask me a question, and I'll ask you a question."
"Sounds good." agreed the now-covered-in-blankets Zel. *He wanted to be more comfortable.*
"I'll ask first. Remember, you can ask anything! Okay... let me think."
Zelgadiss also thought of what could be a good question to ask.
"Got it! Ummm... This might be personal but.... did making you a chimera hurt...?"
Zel was puzzled. He didn't think she'd ask anything close to that subject. "Well..." he started. "I guess you can say it did. It hurt to see myself be turned into rock.... it hurt to see my own grandfather laughing about it... Yes... It did hurt."
Lina only nodded in reply, which Zelgadiss couldn't see in the dark.
"My turn." he said glad to change the subject. "How did you meet Amelia?"
Lina was also shocked at the question. "Gourry met her first, actually. We split up after you left.
"There were bandits attacking a man, and Amelia wanted to bring 'justice' to them, so she climbed up a tree and fell flat on her face. Lucky she doesn't do much of that anymore... Anyways. Gourry was about to save her, thinking she needed saving, but she proved him wrong by flying the bandit into the river." she paused as she heard a soft chuckle from Zelgadiss. She smiled, and continued.
"Gourry talked to her, and decided to join her on this quest she had to look for Phil, her dad. That was when I saw Gourry again, but he was acting as a tree for Amelia. She was on his shoulders..."
Zelgadiss smiled and closed his eyes, laughing at the picture of Amelia standing on poor Gourry.
"Amelia was such a brat when we met her, but once we got to know her, she was actually pretty nice...
*ahem* "My turn now. Which girl do you like out of Filia, Amelia, and I?"
Zelgadiss widened his eyes, and pushed off his blankets with a red face. "W-What...?!"
"Oh you heard me Zel. I'm curious. I haven't seen you get close to a girl ever since Miwan! Although.... I don't think that counts... TELL ME!!!"
"NO! I'm not going to tell you about my personal life!" refused the chimera.
"Okay okay.... Then I'll tell Amelia that you like Filia."
"So? What's it to me?" Zel replied coldly, which shocked the sorceress.
"Geez, Zel. It's just a question." Lina replied, and pulled her knees up to her chins.
After a moment of feeling guilty, Zelgadiss decided to speak up. "I'll tell you later. Not now, ok?"
Lina silently cheered. "Okay." she smiled.
The sound of a key was heard in the door, and Xelloss appeared before them, shocked that they're not closer.
"My my.... I don't suppose you did anything by the looks of it...."
Amelia and Gourry popped up from behind the trickster, both with smiles on their faces.
"You can come out now." they chorused.
Zelgadiss slowly got up and looked at Lina.
She looked back at him with a face that told him to be aware of something....
'What's she plotting....?' he wondered.
"Since you two were in the closet, you can pick out the next two names." explained Amelia, with butterflies in her stomach.
Lina picked out a name first, and smiled evily at the princess. "Amelia....! I picked you!!!"
"What?! Lina-san!!" whined Amelia.
Zelgadiss felt worried, and wondered who he'd pick. Picking up a neatly folded piece of paper, he read the name out loud.
"Zelgadiss."
Everyone was shocked. But Xelloss, ofcourse.
"Wow, Zelgadiss. You picked out your own name!" smiled Gourry as he pat the chimera on the back.
"In you go!!! Come on, don't be shy!"
Amelia walked in still shocked, and Zelgadiss followed with an expression nobody could see.
They both looked at eachother as the door closed behind them, taking the two into pure darkness...
"I'm sure those two will have fun!" laughed Lina. She looked at Xelloss questioningly. "Why is your cape ripped?" she had to ask.
"Well..." he stuttered...
"Filia bit him." replied Gourry quickly. "Come on! We were telling jokes! It's Filia's turn!" pulling the wondering Lina, he ran to the two empty leathered chairs.
"Speaking of Filia, where is she?" asked Xelloss, but answered his own question as he found her on his couch. "EHHHH?!?!?"
"This is my couch now!" she grinned slightly evily.
"Uh-oh..." sighed Gourry, as Xelloss started to attack her. "Here we go again...."
Meanwhile in the closet, Amelia felt incredibly uncomfortable.
Zelgadiss, used to feeling uncomfortable, sat down with the sound of shifting clothes.
"Sit down." he said with a sigh. "You can't just stand the whole time."
Amelia nodded, and slowly moved to sit.
~silence~
Amelia couldn't take it anymore. She had to know. "What did you do with Lina?" she whispered.
Zelgadiss also whispered his reply, "I asked her how she met you." he admitted bravely.
Amelia was shocked, and moved into deep thought. She was interrupted by the sound of her own shivering. The closet was getting quite cold....
Zelgadiss heard with his ears, and, as quietly as possible, tried to move to give her a blanket.
Either Amelia didn't notice, or she was in shock. Because nothing but shivering came from her.
"Amelia..." whispered Zelgadiss, very close to Amelia's ear.
The princess gasped and felt a soft blanket be placed over her cold shoulders.
"You'll get too cold." he said, ever so sweetly.
Amelia's heart was racing, as she felt Zelgadiss' body leaning against hers.
"Thank you..." she whispered.
Zelgadiss felt warm, and smiled freely in the darkness.
Amelia's thoughts were racing around in her mind. She wanted to get closer to Zelgadiss.... she wanted to, but was afraid to. Her mind told her to, but her shyness told her not to. Thinking this could be her only chance, she suddenly moved as close as she could to Zelgadiss.
The chimera felt her soft head leaning against his chest, and held her softly with his arm.
The princess sighed with happiness, and held Zelgadiss tightly with her soft arms.
"I like your PJ's." chuckled Zelgadiss.
Amelia giggled. "You do?"
"Yeah.... the pink faded roses are nice on that white silk..." he pulled her closer to him, and kissed her soflty on her head. The smell of shampoo made him smile, as he leaned his head gently on hers, wrapping his arms around her fully, and lovingly.
Amelia closed her eyes, and felt like she hasn't felt in a long time.
She felt loved.....
A knock on the door made them both jump, and move away from eachother.
The trickster's voice was heard over the rustling, saying, "I'll be back in one minute. Sorry about that... but be prepared."
The two felt quite awkward, and didn't know what they should do.
After some time, Zelgadiss was surprised to feel the softness of Amelia lean on his leg like a pillow.
Zel felt his face grow warm, and lifted his hand to pat Amelia.
Feeling his movement, Amelia's heart raced with excitement.
She felt his hand pet her head, and move to her shoulders, down to her hand.
Zelgadiss still felt surpised at his own feelings. He never felt this way before, and wanted it to last longer than it actually will.
His hand paused at Amelia's waist, and lifted to start back at her head, as if he was patting a puppy....
Amelia's and Zel's minds both cursed at the sound of a key in the door. Struggling quickly, they moved away from eachother, and looked in the opposite directions, both blushing madly.
Light appeared on both of them, and everyone curiously looked in.
Xelloss smiled, and looked at Lina, who was also smiling.
"You can come out now." he laughed.
Both standing, they walked out of the closet, and moved towards the empty seats.
"Remember guys... it's your turn to pick the next two people." Filia explained, holding out the hat.
Zelgadiss picked first, and waited for Amelia to fish hers out.
They both looked at eachother with a blush, and opened the papers.
Smiled covered their faces, as they both looked at one another's paper.
"Xelloss...." started Amelia.
"And...." Zelgadiss paused, looking at Filia, who had a knife placed against her wrist.
Xelloss was on the ground, about to explode from excitement.
"And Lina." finished Zelgadiss.
"LINA?!?!" gasped Gourry and Filia.
Xelloss jumped high into the air and pulled the shocked Lina into the closet, throwing out the keys to whoever may catch it.
With the bang of the door, they were gone.
...................................
Zelgadiss was the only one who laughed and sat down on the couch.
"I wonder what he's going to do to her....?" asked Amelia to nobody in particular.
"Whatever he does, it doesn't matter to me!" said Filia with not much confidence....
Shrugging, Amelia sat next to Zelgadiss, but kept her distance.
Gourry smiled, and joined the three beside Filia. He wondered how long Xelloss would last.
"So Lina-san! Do you want to-- *gulp*"
Lina had a ready Dragon Slave in her hand with Xelloss' name on it.
"Is that really necesarry? I wasn't going to kiss you or anything... I was just going to ask you something."
"Ask quickly." she growled.
"Alright... I was just wondering.... do you know of any monster who has feelings...?"
Lina's spell faded into a light spell, as she sat down on the other side of the closet.
"I don't think I can remember any monster who has had feelings... Why do you ask?"
"I was just wondering." shrugged the trickster.
Lina thought in the silence. "I'm sure there's one monster out there.... I mean... They must be pretty lonely otherwise." Lina said trying to cheer Xelloss up.
"Very lonely." he replied.
"........................ Xelloss. Do you like Filia?"
"F-FILIA?!?!?!?!?!" twitched Xelloss.
"Shhh! They might hear us!" whispered Lina.
"WHY WOULD I LIKE FILIA?!" replied Xelloss harshly.
"Let me think. DUH! You always tease her. You always flirt with her. Opposites attract. Everyone knows the way you enjoy insulting her!!! Even Slayers fans know that!!!"
"Slayers fans!?" *glares at readers*
"Come on, Xelloss! Lighten up! You know you like her!"
He paused. "I do not like Filia."
"Yes you do! Because you paused before you just said that! HAHA! It's true! It's true!!"
"That's not fair, Lina-san!! Just because I think before I speak--"
"HAHA! Xelloss and Filia sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G! First comes love! Then comes marriage! Then comes Val in the baby carriage! HAHA!"
"Oh you're going to pay for that one, Lina." twitched Xelloss.
"Come on... Just because it's true? HAH!"
A loud banging noise came from inside the closet, interrupting the joke session with the other four people.
"Looks like Xelloss or Lina's getting their butt kicked." laughed Filia.
"I'd say Lina's winning." Gourry chuckled. "There's no way Xelloss can beat her!"
They all laughed, and heard more painful bangs in the closet.
"They have thirty second left." announced Zelgadiss. "Maybe we should let them out before Lina Dragon Slaves the whole place."
Everyone agreed, and moved towards the closed door.
The sound of a key entering the door prevented Xelloss and Lina from doing any more spell casting.
Opening the door, everyone laughed.
Xelloss and Lina were both scratched up and had ripped clothes.
"Well! I'm glad we had fun!" stood Xelloss dissapointed.
"Hmph!" Lina smiled victoriously.
"We only have another twenty minutes left until our time reaches two hours for another game." explained Filia.
"Let's try one more time of Seven in Heaven." jumped Xelloss.
Lina pulled out her paper, and so did Xelloss.
"FILIA!" announced Xelloss.
Lina fell to the floor laughing, with the paper stuck in her gripped hand.
"Lina-san!!!" complained Filia. "WHO IS IT?!?!"
Trying to catch her breath, Lina nods, and coughs. "Okay. Okay. Get off. Get off!" she said breathing for air.
Filia moved away and eyed her curiously.
Lina looked at Filia trying not to laugh. But when she looked at her slip of paper, she broke into another fit of lughter.
Xelloss didn't bother trying to get it from her; he didn't want to get hurt anymore from spells.
SO Gourry and Amelia decided to do so, as Zelgadiss leaned on the couch and watched.
"I GOT IT!!!" cheered Amelia. "It says: *ahem ahem*" she gasped for air, but paused in shock.
"Well, who is it?!" whined Filia.
"I'll say it." Gourry concluded as he grabbed the paper. "It says Xelloss."
*Filia faints* *So does Xelloss*
Lina, still laughing, tries to stand up.
"Let's drag them in." laughs Gourry, picking up the trickster.
"I'll get Filia." agrees Amelia.
"Guys... Guys.. let's do something else..." whispers Lina. "Let's lock them in there for fifteen minutes!"
"Huh? But why?" asks Gourry.
"Because, silly! It's my birthday and I want that!" she smiled proudly.
Zelgadiss, Amelia, and Gourry all looked at eachother.
"Sounds like fun." smiled Zel.
Amelia nodded, and so did Gourry.
Lina, with the key, closes the door on the two fainted friends, and locks them in.
"Well! That's that!" she said wiping off her hands. "Let's tell some more jokes!"
"I have one!" cheered the blond swordsman.
Xelloss, who wasn't fainted at all, slowly sits up from beside Filia. He lets out a long sigh, and wraps a blanket around himself.
Filia was still out cold, and lay flat on the floor.
Time went by, and the dragon stirred quietly.
"Hi Filia." whispered Xelloss.
"Hi." she replied coldly.
"Please don't be mad." he sighed. "Here. It's cold." throwing a blanket, he moved closer to her without Filia noticing.
"What do you want....?" Filia asked uncertain.
Xelloss paused, and answered. "I have to tell you something."
Filia fell silent, at the sound of seriousness in his voice. "What do you have to say?" she whispered.
Only the sound of shuffling clothing replied, as Filia's face grew red at the touch of Xelloss' hands.
"The truth is..." he started.
Filia couldn't see where he was, and wished she could so that she could make sure he was telling the truth.
Before she could decide what to do, Xelloss gently lifted her head and gave her a sweet kiss on the forehead.........................
Blushing, Filia's eyes widened. She wanted to hit him, but she also wanted to hold him tighter. When she decided to move closer--!!!!
"HEY GUYS!!!" yelled Lina as she opened the door. "I WAS JUST-- eh...?" losing all humour, Lina stared at her two friends that were supposed to be enemies.
Xelloss immediately let go of Filia, who's hair was extremely messy from the shock.
Laughing nervously, Xelloss scratched the back of his head and tried to look relaxed. "Well! Time sure goes by when you're having fun!" he grinned. Well, tried...
Lina frowned and scratched her head in confusion and thought. Shrugging she turned and joined the others. As she noticed the two weren't moving, she turned and faced them evily. "COMING?!?!" she ordered rather than a question.
Monster and Dragon looked at eachother and sweatdropped. "Y-Yes!" they said running after her.
"The night's still young! Let's drink!" yelled Lina as Gourry cheered happily beside her.
"I really don't want to..." mumbled Amelia, trying to hide herself.
"I dunno." replied Zel with an unusual smile. "This may be a little fun!" He looked at her happily, and moved to join the others.
"Z-Zelgadiss-san!!!" complained the shocked princess.
