Subject: [FFML] [fanfic][Slayers][WAFFY] Aftermath
From: The Blood Phoenix
Date: 11/19/1999, 1:55 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com



Greetings one and all.

        After a VERY long time of being away, I actually managed to get a
fic down on paper once again.  It is still in rough draft form and has not
had the help of any pre-readers.

        I hope you enjoy it and all C&C is appreciated.

        Thank you.

        James "The Blood Phoenix" Jones

****************
Begin attached File (I hope)
****************



-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --

A Slayers Fanfiction by The Blood Phoenix

Disclaimer:
The Slayers and all related names, spells, items, etc are the property
of whoever owns them and Software Sculptures who brought the tapes over
here to the US.  No copyright infringment is intended.

	WARNING!  This fic does contain some spoiler about the end of
Slayers Next; you have been warned.  Also, this story is a  
WAFFy and does not contain the usual Slayers humor and violence (I 
do not think I could ever capture that fully)

	Thank you, and Enjoy ^_^

***********
< > indicates thoughts

			"Aftermath"

	
	Ascending the stairs slowly, Lina let her feet drag the floor
tiredly, exhausted to the very center of her being.  Walking the worn, 
but well kept hallway of the old inn, she made her way to the end
and found her room, fumbling around her purse, she found the key and,
placing her hand on the door, worked it into the lock and turned it.

	Inwardly, she smiled.  She wasn't really THAT tired, but the 
overly slow movement, like the action of propping herself on the wall
as she unlocked her room was necessary.  Deep down, she had no idea
if she was fooling anyone, but if she was, she wanted to keep it that
way until she was safely alone.

	As the latch clicked, she slowly shoved the door open and 
trudged inside.  Turning her head, she made sure the hall was empty and
shut the door soundly.  Turning to one side, she lit her lamp with a
quick fire spell and gazed over her room.

	Like most inns, the room was Spartan at best.  It consisted only of
a single bed, a nightstand with a basin and water pitcher, a small chair
and well worn rug.  On the far wall, a single, four-quarter window looked
out over the village.  Despite herself, Lina smiled.  Most people saw her as
an ace bandit killer, and a living fireball who could scare everything from
a little kid to the mightest dragon.  What most people didn't know was how
hard she had worked for her power and reputation.  

	True, much of her power came from sources best left unspoken, but
it had taken much of her seventeen years to gain those sources.  But she
began her life in a room not unlike the one she stood in now.  The only 
thing missing were a few minor keepsakes she had had as a child, before her
falling out with her sister which caused her to strike out on her own.

	Shaking her head, she pushed that thought from her mind, it was 
something for another time.  No, she had more important matters to think 
about, and not a lot of time to complete her preparations.  Laying the key
on the nightstand, she set about her work.

	Walking to the window, she pulled the dark cord holding the draps
open and let them fall closed.  Although the cloth was dark, she decided
it wasn't dark enough.  Extending her hand, she cast a very simple spell
and turned the cloth solid black.  

	Next, she unclasped the cord holding her cloak and sliped it off 
her shoulders to lay it across the back of the chair.  Her black headband
followed suit, as did her gloves.  Finally, she removed the four 
bloodstones and placed them on the cloak.  As she stepped back, she decided
that wasn't quite enough for her tastes.

	The bloodstones, which she had bought from Xelloss where poweful 
indeed and there magickal applification ability had become more than
necessary when casting some spells.  However, given there origins, she
did not trust them.  Xellos was, after all, the Trickster Priest.  She had
no proof of course, but she was sure there was some sort of spell on the 
stones that might let Xellos spy on her; and that was the last thing she
needed tonight.

	Reaching into a hidden pocket in her cloak, she produced a small
oaken box, inscribed with dozens upon dozens of intricate runes.  Opening
it, she placed four bloodstone amulets into the velvet lined interior and
shut the lid soundly.  Muttering a spell, she activated the wards, 
effectively sealing the tailismans off from the rest of the world.  That 
done, she placed the box back into the pocket.

	Preperations completed, she moved to the bed and sat down, her back
against the wall and her legs pulled tightly to her chest.  She had a fair
idea of what MIGHT happen, but she wasn't sure if it WOULD happen and she
didn't want to seem to... eager.  Casting her mind back, she recalled that
they had agreed on twenty minutes.  Giving that it hadn't taken more than
about five minutes to get everything ready, she decided she would just have
to wait.

	Placing her chin on her knees, she let her mind drift.  She was 
more nervous than she could have ever thought possible.  Even when she
had fought Phibrizzo, she wasn't sure that she had been this nervous.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down and reflect on the 
past few days.

	Everyone had very nearly face-faulted when Martina had walked in
on them after the battle of Siaragg.  The aqua-haired, megolomanical --
not to mention clumsy -- princess had been a shock.  However, nearly 
all of them DID face-fault when Zangulus walked in shortly after.  The
real shock had happened only a few seconds later.

	<Married> Lina thought.	 Even now, she could hardly believe that
Zangulus and Martina were now married and probably well into there 
honeymoon.  The thought immediately made her blush.

	Even now, she could see the mock up of the church, polished and
shining in the afternoon sunlight as the couple had walked out arm in arm.
The thought brought a smile to her lips.  Martina had been a source of 
constant headache for months and Zangulus was... well... Zangulus, she 
couldn't describe him any other way.

	In the end though, it was Martina who had snapped her out of the
shock of seeing what Phibrizzo had done to the others.  It was her
words that gave her the courage she needed to look closely at her own
feelings and damn the consequences.  For that reason alone, Lina could
truely call Martina a friend, and because of that, she was happy for 
her and her new husband.

	The wedding had been grandoise, but Lina expected no less from a 
royal princess.  Guests had arrived from all over and her own friends 
smiled readily though the whole ceremony.  Amelia's proclimation that she
wanted to be a bride and a heroine of Justice still made her laugh.

	The aftermath of the wedding was comical at best, but highly
appropriate for some reason.  The final touch had been Xelloss showing up
to return the Gorn Nova, Gourry's Sword of Light to him after both he
and Lina had written if off as lost.  Xelloss was a liar, trickster and
a general nusiance, but even so, Lina had to admit he was a good friend.

	<Or as good a friend as a Mozaku can be> she corrected herself.

	Following the wedding, she and the others had run off, looking for
the next quest, bandits, dragons and what not.  But even though she would
never admit it aloud, something was different.  And that something was
what she was hoping to bring out tonight.

	It was easy enough to set things up.  After all, she wasn't as 
completely without memory as she had claimed, she only hoped that was 
true on all counts.  Getting them to the inn was simple enough as well.

	Dinner had, of course, been its usual heated affair with herself
and Gourry fighting over a large piece of roast beef as Zel, Amelia and
Sylphiel had helped themselves to there own food while quietly conversing
and ignoring the her.  After eating less than her normal amount, she 
complained about a bad headache and excused herself.  The whisper she had
muttered just before leaving had gone unnoticed as far as she could tell;
but the others were more than willing to accept her excuse as she had
dragged herself up the stairs.

	On that thought, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of
knuckles quietly rapping on the oaken door of her room.  Part of her
wanted to jump from the bed and fling it open, but she had to wait.  Two
knocks sounded, then three; on the fourth she stood up quickly, brushed her
hair with her hands and opened the door.

	"Lina?"

	She smiled and opened the door further, stepping to one side.  
"Gourry," she said quietly.

	Likewise smiling, the tall, blonde-haired swordsman entered the
room as Lina scanned the hallway and quickly shut the door, locking it
quickly.  Replacing the key on the nightstand, she returned to her seat
on the bed and beckoned Gourry to sit as well.  Nodding, he took a seat
at the end of the bed.

	For a long moment, the two sat in silence, simply watching each
other and hoping the other would speak up first.  Lina looked hard into
Gourry's blue eyes as he looked deeply into her red ones.

	"Gourry?"

	"Lina?"

	The two laughed quietly as they broke the silence at the same time.
Shaking his head, Gourry motioned for Lina to go first.  Needless to say
this caught her completely by surprise.  As Gourry sat patiently, she tried
her best to collect her now jumbled thoughts.

	"Gourry..." she started.  "I... um... do you remember what happened?
Back in Siaragg I mean."

	To her surprise, Gourry nodded.  "Hai," he said simply.

	For the first time in her life, Lina was completely speachless.  
Gourry, who claimed to be her protector and who normally had trouble 
remembering even the most minor of details had just told her he remembered
something.  What unnerved her even more, was that he said it with no 
hesitation.  As she fumbled over a response, Gourry spoke.

	"Lina, I know I'm not as... smart... as Zelgadis and Amelia, but
I'm not as stupid as I act," he said.  "I don't know why I always act that
way, I just do, seemed an easy way out of having to remember everything."

	"B-but... you, you do remember what happened, what you said?"

	Again, he nodded.  "Hai, I told you to wake up, because you didn't
belong to the Lord of Nightmares.  I told you, that you belonged here
with me."

	Feeling tears threatening to flow, Lina chocked back the lump in
her throat and stared hard at Gourry.  Even if she had been told that she
WAS the Lord of Nightmares, she could not have been more surprised than
she was by this revelation.

	"Did you mean that?" She asked, her voice just barely a whisper.

	Scooting forward on the bed, Gourry moved until he was just a few
inches from the redhaired beauty sitting before him.  "Hai, Lina," he said.
"I wouldn't have said it if I hadn't meant it.  I don't remember everything
that happened when we were in that... thing... but I remember that."

	"Gourry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry for all the things I've done to
you all the time," she said, tears now slowly working there way down her
cheeks.  "After all the things I've done, all the grief I've given you...
you still came after me, you still wanted me back.  I don't deserve..."
Her words came to an abrupt stop as she felt Gourry's finger press against
her lips.  With his other hand, he gently wiped the tears from her face.
The action caused her to freeze completely.

	Under normal circumstances, Gourry new that Lina would have
decked him at this point.  He was taking a very big risk talking to her
like this and an even bigger risk by touching her.  But it was a risk he
was more than willing to take.  This wasn't just Lina to him any more;
this was HIS Lina.  And the last thing he wanted was to see her in pain.

	If it had been a normal day, Lina knew deep down she would have 
already feed Gourry several fireballs for touching her.  But today could
hardly be described as normal.  His touch felt so warm against her skin and
it made her heart beat faster than should ever thought possible.  In that
instant, she realised that this wasn't just Gourry to her any more;  this 
was HER Gourry.  

	In a single, unbelievably fast motion, lean sprang from her seat to
wrap her arms around Gourry in a fierce embrace.  As her head fell against
his broad chest, she let herself cry ernestly.  Immedilately, she felt 
strong arms wrap around her body and a gently hand softly patting the back
of her head.  

	For several minutes, Lina did nothing but cry into Gourry's chest 
and he did nothing more than comfort her.  The embrace was so warm and 
comforting, neither of them wanted it to end.  It just felt... right
somehow.

	Finally, as her tears dried, Lina pulled back and smiled up at 
Gourry.  His blue eyes locked with hers as he smiled back.  Steeling her
courage, Lina moved her arms up to encircle his neck and pull him forward;
Gourry let her.

	If they had both died that instant, neither would have cared.  There
lips touched softly and over a year of passion and longing spread between
them as they held each other, each enjoying the touch of the others skin. 
In a single, swift movement, Gourry scooped her up in his arms, holding her
tightly.

	"Gourry?" Lina asked, breaking the kiss.

	"Hai?"

	Swallowing hard, Lina asked, "Will... will you stay with tonight?"

	At this Gourry's eyes widened slightly but Lina quickly continued
before he could take her question fully the wrong way.  "Nothing, like
THAT.  Not yet at least... but, I don't want to be alone tonight.  I don't
want to lose you again."

	Finished, she smiled weakly.

	In answer, Gourry scooped her into his arms once again and lifted
her, until he could turn around so that his back was to the wall and Lina
was cradled against him.  Once he was settled, he kissed her forehead
lighlty.  

	"Hai, Lina-chan," he said, a warm smile on his lips.

	Smiling her first genuine smile in almost a week Lina snuggled
against him and leaned her head onto his chest; just enough to hear his
heart beating.  Closing her eyes, she let the steady rythm slowly sing
her to sleep.

	As Lina's breathing slowed, Gourry hugged her lightly.  This was
more than he could ever have hoped for.  Leaning his head back, he smiled
and closed his eyes.  He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but in
the moment, he didn't care.  So long as Lina was with him, he would face
whatever the morning brought without question.

	This was his last thought as he too allowed sleep to claim him, the
woman he loved cradled in his arms.


******************
Authors Notes:
******************
If you read this far, thank you ^_^

****Begin Disclaimer****

The Slayers are the property of many many people that are NOT me.  No profit
of any kind (other than the enjoyment of fanfiction readers) was gained from
the work.

****End Disclaimer****


After nearly two years, I was once again inspired to write a fanfic.  This is
the result.  After reading over it, I realized that both Lina and Gourry are
a little out of character, but if you have seen the end of Slayers Next, you
can probably forgive that bit of OOCness.

I don't really know why I wanted to write this, I was actually very happy with
how Next turned out, but I guess I wanted something a little more in it.  Like
many die-hard Slayers fans, I'm a pro Lina-Gourry pairing.  Future tapes may
prove me wrong, but for now, well... I think it speaks for itself.

I really hope you enjoyed this.  It is much more WAFFy than what I usual write
but I just had an idea and it would NOT leave me alone.

Thank you once again.   Constructive Comments and Criticisms are ALWAYS 
accepted and looked forward to.  Flames will be opened, read, and promptly
discarded.

Once again, I hope you all enjoyed this.

Sincerely,

James Jones -- The Blood Phoenix

P.S. for those of you who remember it, I am still working on my Ranma/Shadowrun
fusion, but I have simply had no inspiration on how to link certain parts 
together.  So... although it is on the backburner, it is not quite dead just yet.

-- Attached file included as plaintext by Listar --

**************************************************************
jace@utkux.utcc.utk.edu                   * ///          /// *
James Jones:  The Blood Phoenix	          * \ //        /  / *
Dedicated Anime Fan and          	  *  \ ////   _/  /  *
         avid roleplayer		  *   \_  ////    /  *
"Watch you back, shoot straight, 	  *    \___/    /    *
    conserve ammo and never, ever	  *    /         \_  *
    cut a deal with a dragon."		  *   /,)-_(  \_   \ *
       -Shadowrun Street Proverb	  *   (/   \\ /\\\\  *
					  *         //       *
"No Sanctuary is Eternal"		  *        ((        *
        -Immortal: The Invisible War      *          	     *
**************************************************************



-- .---Anime/Manga Fanfiction Mailing List---. | Administrators - ffml-admins@fanfic.com | | Unsubscribing - ffml-request@fanfic.com | | Put 'unsubscribe' in the subject | `---http://www.fanfic.com/FFML-FAQ.txt ---'