"Tired?" asked Lina still hugging him.
"I guess." he replied with a smile.
"What time is it?" she asked.
Xelloss replied. "11:30pm. The night's still young! Want to play more games??"
"I don't think--" started Zelgadiss.
"SURE!" cheered Lina.
The music stopped, and so did the lighting.
"LIGHTS!" yelled Xelloss, letting go of Filia.
Everyone covered their eyes, feeling blinded by the brightness.
"Let's go to bed now....!" yawned Amelia.
"No! No! No!" jumped Lina. "It's my birthday and I want it to last longer!" she protested. "MORE GAMES! MORE GAMES!"
"Okay." smiled the princess.
"Let's go then." shrugged Gourry.
Everyone followed the grinning Xelloss into the next room. "Okay! Everyone change and meet here in five!"
Slightly tired, the Slayers did so.
After about ten minutes or so, the guys were impatiently waiting in the game room. (i.e. couch, carpet, etc.)
"So what games are we playing now?" asked Gourry. He was in cute blue-sky pj's. Pants and a T-shirt.
"I really don't know.... Let me check." answered Xelloss. He snapped his fingers and started reading a loooooong list of games the appeared. He was wearing black shorts and a sweat shirt.
Zelgadiss sweat-dropped as he read two games on the list. "I highly doubt me, Gourry, or any ofthe girls would want to play these games...." Zel wore pants and a long shirt, both dark green.
"Really? Hmmmmm...." monsters like Xelloss can be cruel...
"I agree.... I doubt 'killing the remaining Dragon Race' would work." added Gourry slightly disappointed in Xelloss.
Deep in thought, the trickster shrugged. "Okay! How about this one?" he pointed.
Gourry and Zelgadiss stared.
"How do you play it?"
"I've never heard of it."
"It's REALLY fun....." the trickster opened his eyes and smiled.
"WE'RE BAAAACK!" yelled Lina waving. She was wearing a red t-shirt and blue shorts.
"Hey! Those are my shorts!" Gourry pointed out.
"And your point is...?" glared Lina.
"N-NOTHING! You look good! Really good! Hehe....!"
"Filia has the cutest pajamas here, though!" smiled Lina as Amelia pushed Filia into view.
She was wearing a white buttoned shirt and long soft pants, that had little golden dragons and chibi Valgaav's everywhere.
"Wowwwww..." the guys admired.
"She made it herself!" added Amelia. She was wearing the same Pj's as before. A pink tank top, and tight pink shorts.
"You really are good at that!" commented Gourry.
"You even have every dragon expression there is!" smiled Zel in awe.
Filia was thankful they weren't looking at her chest.
"Hmmmm!" smiled Xelloss. "You seem to REALLY love Valgaav! What's so cute about him. though?" asked the slightly jealous monster.
"Well..." Thought the dragon. "One, is for being such a great fighter. After all, he DID hurt you, didn't he?" she teased.
Xelloss twitched. "Well excuse me! HE didn't hurt me! DARKSTAR did!"
"There they go again." sighed Zelgadiss, with Amelia nodding.
"Oh well! Let's just get the beds set up." suggested Gourry.
"Yeah. That way we can relax better." agreed Lina.
With Filia and Xelloss still fighting, the other four started to take apart the couch.
"Why do you like Valgaav better than ME?! I didn't try killing your friends!" complained Xelloss.
"You tried killing ME!!!"
"So did Valgaav!"
"Atleast he's not a MONSTER anymore!"
"That's not fair, Filia-san! I just--"
Filia's eyes widened in shock. A piece of the couch just flew at him, and threw him against the ground.
"Huh?" she wondered.
"STOP ARGUING AND HELP US!!!" yelled Lina.
Xelloss jumped up from under the chouch cushion. "You could've just asked!" he said as tears streamed down his face.
"I WAS!!! If you hadn't noticed! You were just too busy flirting with FILIA to notice!" she yelled back.
"NO WAY! We weren't flirting!" cried Filia.
"Yes you were." replied Zelgadiss crossing his arms beside Lina.
"NO!" argued the trickster.
"Yeah..." added Amelia holding up another couch piece to throw.
"NO!!!!!" FIlia and Xelloss both yelled.
"YES!!!!!!!!!!" replied the other four in unison.
The two protesters looked at eachother, and turned away in disgust.
"Just help us!!!" ordered lina.
"Alright." nodded Filia.
"Sure." agreed Xelloss.
After a long time of struggling to get the couch open into a bed, the Slayers finally figured it out. There was a button.
"Ahhh!" sighed Lina laying happily in the middle. "This is a really big bed!"
Gourry lay beside her. "Tell me about it!" He also freely stretched out.
"Move over Lina?" asked Amelia as she sat down beside her.
"Sure." Lina snuggled closer to Gourry, where he started patting her hair.
Amelia felt uncomfortable, and decided to leave the two the bed. She just sat on the ground infront of Zel.
"You can sit on this chair, if you want." the chimera offered, standing up from his sitting position.
"Nah, that's okay." she smiled.
"I'm sure she'd like to lay on your lap instead." winked Xelloss, sitting beside Filia on the floor.
Zelgadiss growled, and sat back down.
"You can be really mean sometimes, Xelloss." complained Amelia pulling her knees to her chin.
"It's the truth, isn't it?" he replied smiling.
Amelia and Zelgadiss both blushed in reply.
"Leave them alone." said Filia on another chair. Xelloss looked up at her from the carpet and whined like a sad puppy.
Filia looked at him. "Oh no...." she said with a slight smile. "Stop acting like that!"
Xelloss sobbed with very watery eyes. *KAWAII*
Ignoring him, the dragon continued to stitch.
"What are you making?" asked the monster, finally noticing what she was doing. His hands were on the armrest and he sat on his knees.
"A shirt for Valgaav." she replied simply and proudly.
Xelloss watched as the kneedle stabbed in and out of the soft fabric.
"You have nice hands." he complimented.
Filia didn't reply.
"They're nice to everyone but me." he added and sat back down without a smile.
Filia paused and looked worried, turning to face the sadened Xelloss.
Lina started to sleep against Gourry, and he kept staring at the ceiling.
"What time is it?" he asked to no one in particular.
"11:57pm" replied the yawning Xelloss.
Lina suddenly jumped up wide awake. "FILIA! XELLOSS! I STILL WANT MY PRESENTS! YOU TOO GOURRY!!!" she demanded.
Xelloss was surprised he'd forgotten. He chuckled. "If you say so, Lina! Filia, you go first!"
Filia nodded happily. Out of nowhere, she pulled out a big basket. "Here!"
Lina happily grabbed it and immediately fell to the floor. "What's IN this thing?!??!" she whined while rubbing her hurt foot.
"Open it to find out." smiled Amelia anxious to see her response.
"Fine with me!" she blushed ripping the blanket covering the surprise. "WHOA--!!"
Glittery gold and silver coins were all gathered into that one basket, making Lin'as eyes turn watery with gratitude.
Gourry eyed it grinning. "Does this mean you can pay for the rent of this place?" he asked the birthday girl.
"NO!" she shot back with a growl.
"Okay....! Okay... It was just a question..." he smiled apologizing.
"It totals up to--" she whispered the amount into Lina's anxious ear.
Her eyes widened in surprise as Filia smiled rubbing the back of her head. "It's not that much...!" she said waving the 'almost-faint' Lina away.
"NOT THAT MUCH?!?!?! WHERE'D YOU GET THIS MUCH MONEY!?!" gasped Lina trying not to choke herself.
"Well.... I do get alot of money from working after hours at the store....." started the dragon.
"Must be hard work! I'd like to see that!" smiled Xelloss.
Amelia and Zelgadiss were already falling asleep.
"I bet my present is better than yours!" argued the blond.
"I bet it isn't!" he replied standing up for himself.
Lina stared as the fight continued. She sighed. "Gourry, what's your present?" she asked looking at him beside her.
He smiled. "I'll get 'em in a sec." he slowly stood up from sitting on the bed and walked out the door.
Lina eyed him curiously. "What's he up to...?"
Xelloss flicked Filia's nose making her fall back into her chair off-balance.
"Who knows?" he replied with a shrug. "But now that he's left...!" using his staff, Xelloss and the shocked Lina disappeared.
That caught Zel's attention. "Huh? Where'd they go??" he asked Filia.
She shrugged angrily. "How should I know?!"
He eyed her from his seat. "What's with your attitude?!"
Amelia, half-awake, started to mumble under her breath.
"Zelgadiss-san... good-night..." she moved closer to him and used his leg as a pillow.
"Stupid!" he blushed moving her aside. "You think my skin would be comfortable?!"
Amelia mumbled something unheard, and grabbed Zel's leg while laying on the floor beside infront of him.
He sighed shaking his head.
Filia was watching the two. Zelgadiss blushing, and Amelia hugging his leg. They looked happy to be together.
'I wonder if I'd ever settle down with someone like that.' she thought as she continued Val's shirt. 'I wonder if I can raise baby Valgaav without a father...' her eyes turned soft.
"Of course I could!!!" she yelled waking both Amelia and Zelgadiss up.
They stared at her in wonder.
She blushed. "Um..! Hehe! Get back to sleep! I was just talking to myself! Hehe...!"
They still stared.
Filia sweat-dropped.
"HEY! WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE ASTRAL PLANE XELLOSS?!?!?! I SWEAR IF YOU TRY TOUCHING ME I'LL SHAVE YOUR HAIR OFF!" screamed Lina holding up scissors.
"L-Lina-san...!" he gasped, moving towards her to calm her down.
"DON'T YOU DARE MOVE!" she snapped.
"Okay okay.. I understand...." he sighed. "I just wanted to give you your present..."
"My present..? Where is it?" she looked around finding nothing but weird colours.
"Here!" he snapped his fingers and the two of them both appeared back in the room they disappeared from, with Zel, Amelia, and Filia all staring at them.
Xelloss sat back down beside the shrugging Filia, and Lina stood clueless.
"Xelloss.. what did you--" she paused as her eyes widened in shock. Running to a corner, she quickly checked why she felt different.
"W-WHAT?!?!" she whispered a scream towering over Xelloss and the still Filia.
"It wasn't my idea! Beastmaster's orders! I swear! I swear on-- nevermind. IT WAS BEASTMASTER THOUGH!!"
"Why on earth would beastmaster give me LINGE--" everybody stared with blushes, except for the now-walking in Gourry. "I MEAN!!! Hahahaha! Nice present Xelloss...! Haha...!" she laughed with a bright blush.
"Lina! I brought you your present!" cheered Gourry.
"Y-yeah... okay.." Lina took one last look at Xelloss.
He whispered, "Maybe you can show Gourry my present later."
Lina fumed as he replied with a wink.
"Lina?! Come on! I really want you to open this now!" called Gourry.
Amelia moved over smiling to see what Gourry brought. "What'cha get her Gourry?"
"We'll see as soon as Lina unwraps it!" he replied with pride.
"Alright Gourry. I'm coming." Lina made her way over to Gourry sitting on the bed beside Amelia.
The swordsman happily help it up to her, making her smile and slightly twitch.
The wrapping was little sword wrapping paper, and lumps would bend it here and there.
"Nice wrapping!" commented the smiling Filia.
"Thanks! But the present's much better!" replied Gourry.
Lina carefully took it and sat beside him. She was hoping it wasn't anywhere near of what Xelloss gave her.
'But...' she stared down at Gourry's gift in thought. 'As much as I hate to admit that... I did accept his gift and should thank him. A gift is a gift after all....'
"Lina? Are you alright?" asked Amelia.
"Y-Yeah." she smiled. "Sorry. I was thinking about how glad I am to have friends like you all. Sure, some are dumb, scary, and obsessed with things.. but that's what makes us individuals, right? I'm so glad......" she started unwrapping Gourry's gift, as everyone around her softened up inside.
Xelloss just smiled saying 'your welcome' for the gift he just gave her.
And even Zelgadiss grinned in agreement.
As the wrapping was ripped off soft fabric was felt on Lina's hands, revealing toys....
She held up a plushie Zelgadiss.
"AWWW!!!" cried Amelia and Filia.
The chimera blushed as Gourry and Xelloss grinned at one another.
Lina smiled and pulled out a Gourry plush. Then Xelloss.. Filia... Amelia... and--
"Where's my doll?" she asked as Amelia grabbed the Zelgadiss one.
Gourry laughed and slightly blushed. "I hope you don't mind, but I sort of wanted to keep it." Pulling a red-haired plushie out of his pocket, Lina blushed.
"Hey look Filia! You even have a tail!" Xelloss pointed looking up the plushie dragon's skirt.
"What are you doing looking up there in the first place?!" she scolded with him smiling back.
"Heh.. Amelia... You're hand is in a 'V' for 'Victory'." smiled the chimera.
She nodded enthusiastically. "And look at yours closely! Notice anything?" she asked teary-eyed.
"Huh?" wondered Zelgadiss as he traded Amelia for his plushie. He gasped. "Gourry! I--!"
Gourry just looked at him with a soft smile.
The chimera's plushie wasn't blue... it was human. Zelgadiss looked as though he would cry.... "Thank you..." he whispered.
"WELL!! Now that all of the presents are out...!" started Xelloss.
"What time is it?" interrupted Lina.
Gourry replied. "12:22am. Good morning everyone!" he smiled.
"It's that early already?" asked Zelgadiss.
"More along the lines of late..." yawned Amelia.
"Hmm... Maybe we should just call it quits then..." shrugged Lina jumping to grab the pillow Gourry was going for.
"Hey! Give that back!" he yelled.
Xelloss whined. "But I still--!"
"I'll get the lights. Go away Xelloss. You don't have to sleep." growled the fanged Filia as she headed for the light switch.
"Hmph! Meanie! I can sleep if I wanted to!"
"....."
"I just don't want to..."
"Thought so." The lights flickered off, and Filia was heard moving back to her seat.
"Don't step on me!" whispered Xelloss.
"Wha-- WHOA!"
"Ow-- Too late.." twitched the hurt Xelloss.
Filia found herself on top of him and blushed as soon as she jumped off.
"Watch where you land next time...! A couple inches higher and BOY! I would've been screaming!" complained Xelloss.
Without answering, Filia plopped sighing into her chair.
"Good night everyone." whispered Lina.
"Good night Lina. Happy belated birthday." replied Amelia.
.
.
.
The silence was broken by a shift of movement and a scary noise...
It definately didn't sound human, and came from the bed.
"Z-Zelgadiss-san!" whispered the frightened Amelia. She shook the chimera awake in his chair.
"A-Amelia? What's wrong?" he asked rubbing his eyes.
"Listen!" she replied.
They both kept silent.
Something was tapping the bed in a repetative way, making a sound every second.
"What is it?" asked Amelia holding the now-standing chimera's arm.
"If that's you Xelloss--!"
"It's not me I swear!" replied the monster.
"Not me either. I hear it though....." replied Filia.
"Lina-san? Gourry-san?" whispered Amelia walking closer to the sound, still grabbing Zelgadiss.
"If this is some kind of joke Lina, stop now. You're scaring Amelia!" he demanded.
A snore was the only reply, making him curse under his breath.
"Filia, turn on the lights." ordered the trickster.
"No!"
"Why not?!"
"I'm.. I'm scared..."
"Scared?! Ha!"
"Well then why don't you go turn the lights on?!" Filia whispered harshly with her tail popping up behind her.
"F-Fine! I will!" he replied standing up from the ground. "I'll prove I'm not scared!"
Xelloss used his hand to search and dropped more than one thing over. He would use two, but the other was holding the cute Filia plushie.
"Hurry up Xelloss! I'm scared!" cried Amelia hugging Zelgadiss' waist.
Zelgadiss kept a firm look in his face, ready to protect the princess and his friends.
"Dammit! I can't find the stupid switch!" confessed Xelloss. Then a bang against a table was heard followed by, "Oww--! FUUUUUUU--DGE!!!!!"
"Poor monster..." sighed Filia slightly feeling sorry for him.
The tapping got louder as a sigh was heard from Gourry.
"How can they not notice?!" asked Amelia shocked.
Zelgadiss nearly fell over when a thought struck his mind. "You know what...?"
"No.. what?"
The chimera looked down at the answering princess.
"Light...." mumbled Zelgadiss as his hand became a ball of light.
Now that they could see.....
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"
Everyone gasped.
"We must feel stupid now..." mumbled Zelgadiss on the floor.
