Slayers 1/2

Part Four

Lovely! Ryouga's Magic Training!
*

A Slayers/Ranma fanfiction by Christina Rose
Please send all comments and suggestions to cristina@netdoor.com


It all started with the bracelet... then came the spring... now our
intrepid foursome is in Nerima staying at the Neko Hanten with Cologne,
Shampoo, and Mousse. 

Ryouga: But why do I have to stay here?! 

Lina: Oh be quiet, how am I supposed to teach you black magic if you go
around getting lost all the time?! You're getting free meals and a roof
over your head, so quit complaining!

Gourry: So what are we doing now?

Cologne: (She enters the dining room from upstairs. She's holding a book of
ancient Amazon lore.) I seem to be unable to get you the answers you need,
child. 

Lina: So... what are you saying? You can't help us?

Cologne: I never said that, child. I have to consult the library of Amazon
history and mythology back in the old village. Some of the elders there
might be able to help, too, but we have to go back to China...

Lina: CHINA?! Ryooouuugaaaa....

Ryouga: *Sweatdrop* Um, heh heh... (As the group glares daggers into the
lost boy, voices are heard from upstairs.)

Mousse: Shampoo! Please go out with me, my beloved! 

Shampoo: Mousse! Get away from Shampoo, stupid duck-boy! (Sounds of
crushing bones and other forms of painful violence are heard after the
glomp sound. Something vaguely resembling human tumbles down the stairs,
wrapped in white robes and metal chains. Everyone's favorite (NOT!!!)
purple-haired vixen marches downstairs after it and stomps on it
mercilessly as she walks over to the dining room.)

Lina: Ryouga? Who's the purple-haired girl?

Ryouga: That's Shampoo. What she just stepped on is Mousse.

Zel: Mousse?! Shampoo?! What kind of names are those, anyway?

Gourry: They don't look like hair-care products...

Lina: Oh shut up, Gourry. I can't believe we have to go all the way back to
China again! Geez, as soon as I find a real place to eat, too!

Shampoo: Who guests?

Cologne: This is Lina(indicating said sorceress), Gourry(indicates said
swordsman), Zelgadis (indicates said chimera), and Amelia(indicates said
klutz). They'll be staying here for a few days, and Lina and Amelia will be
sharing your room.

Amelia: Pleased to meet you!

Zel: Likewise.

Gourry: ... (He's too busy marveling at Shampoo's chest. Lina notices, and
smacks him) Ack! Oh! Um, glad to meet you... Nice.. um... (While he's
stuttering, Lina shakes her hand graciously.)

Lina: I'm Lina Inverse, nice to meet you. Why were you beating that guy up?

Shampoo: I no want date Mousse, but he ask me anyway! 

Gourry: What's wrong with him?

Shampoo: Eh?

Gourry: I mean, why won't you go out with him? He seems like a nice fella
and all...

Shampoo: I is already engaged, silly! I no cheat on Ranma!

Lina: No cheat on... Ranma?! You're engaged to _that_ jerk?

Shampoo: Is not jerk! Is airen...

Lina: Oh well, I'll not be sticking my nose where it doesn't belong...

Shampoo: Great-grandmother, it okay I take ramen to Ranma?

Cologne: Yes child, but take it easy on the spices, okay?

Shampoo: I no know what you talking about! Bai-bai! (Shampoo leaves the
store after getting four bowls of ramen from the kitchen and putting them
in their metal boxes. She rides the Bicycle of Death in the Tendo Dojo's
general direction. Back at the store, Cologne bops Mousse on the head to
wake him up. He sits up suddenly.)

Mousse: Oh, hello obaasan. I'll go ahead and heat up the stove before we
open...

Cologne: Mousse, meat our guests. Guests, meet Mousse. (They wave, he
smiles, then Cologne ushers him into the kitchen.) Now I want you to heat
up the stove and ovens, then scrub the floor, set the tables, clean the
windows, clean up the appliances, scrub the grill...

Lina: Boy, I'm glad I was never a waitress...

Gourry: Yeah, working like that, your chest would be even smaller from the
weight loss... *SMACK!!!!* 

Lina: HIIYAAA!!!! (Lina proceeds to pound Gourry into the ground. Ryouga
and the others watch, occasionally wincing in sympathy. After a while, she
quits, seeing Gourry unconcious.)

Amelia: (To herself) Wow, that guy's pretty cute! Maybe I can talk with him
after he gets off work?

Lina: (Takes Ryouga's hand.) Obaasan, I'll see you later! Thanks for taking
us in like this!

Cologne: Really, Amazon hospitality wouldn't permit anything less
gracious... (The two leave without bothering to listen to the rest. As they
are walking down the street, they talk a little more.)

Ryouga: So, um, where are we going?

Lina: I saw this great secluded spot near here where no one can interfere.
Be sure to follow close, I don't want you getting lost on me!

Ryouga: Okay... (She seems to be excited about the magic training, probably
because she wants to see someone beat that pervert Ranma to a pulp! Or it
could just be she's happy to be helping someone she considers a good
friend, whatever the reader wants to believe.** Anyway, let's just join
Ranma now, we wouldn't want to spy on their training...)

Ranma: Man, this sucks! (He's at the dojo, practicing against a straw
dummy. Genma sits back and watches.) 

Genma: Well, it's not your fault, Kuno attacked you first-

Ranma: Yeah, but Kodachi came in with all those explosives, and the
principle had to close school early... (Suddenly a sound is heard. It's an
ominous sound, a sound that should strike fear in the hearts of men
everywhere. *Ding ding!* It's a small foreshadowing, a foreshadowing of
pain and agitation that never ends... It's... the Bicycle of Death. *Crack,
boom, ominous roll of thunder* As expected, the Bicycle of Death makes a
three-point landing in Ranma's face, but, somehow, it doesn't even knock
him to the ground. He just stands there, the bike implanted in his face.
Shampoo aiyaas and flips it back, landing perfectly on both wheels.)

Shampoo: Nihao! Shampoo bring lunch for airen! (She takes the ramen out of
the box.) Husband want have lunch with Shampoo?

Ranma: Sure, why not?***

Akane: Wait just a darn minute! (She's appeared in the doorway, a tray with
her doubtful foodstuffs held with both hands.) Ranma, I thought you were
going to eat the lunch I made for you!

Ranma: Well, uh.. when did I say that?!

Ukyou: Yoo-hoo! Ranma-honey! (Ukyou comes throught the Tendo gate, carrying
enough okonomiyaki for the whole family.) Since the restaurant's closed at
lunch on weekdays anyway, I thought I'd make you and Akane and the Tendos
some lunch!

Ranma: Um, Ucchan, now might not be the best time...

Shampoo: What stupid spatula-girl do here?! Shampoo make ramen for her and
Ranma to share! You no mess up lunch!
 
Ukyou: Hold on a minute, I went to a lot of trouble to make these. Ranma,
were you going to have lunch with Shampoo then?

Ranma: Um, well, I thought so, but you can eat with us, Ucchan! Now we've
got plenty for everybody!

Akane: Um, excuse me? What about my food?!

Ranma: I know! Let's have a picnic!

Shampoo: Aiyaa! Is good idea! (Has a vision of both of them alone on a
picnic, slurping ramen, suddenly they both suck on opposite ends of the
same noodle... you know the rest!) *sigh...* 

Ukyou: (She's seeing a romantic vision of her and Ranma alone in the park, 
looking into each other's eyes, leaning closer... closer...) How nice,
Ranchan and I, alone on a picnic...

Akane: I think he meant the whole family.

Shampoo/Ukyou: Oh yeah... (They both facefault embarassedly, then look at
Ranma and smile. Ranma flushes.)

Okay, now we skip the boring details and go right to where the Saotomes,
the Tendos, Shampoo, and Ukyou are sitting on a giant blanket in a park
under a tree, eating whatever's closest. Nabiki and Genma slurp ramen,
Kasumi, Akane, Soun, and Ranma eat okonomiyaki, and Shampoo and Ukyou are
doing the Ryoko/Ayeka energy-glare thing. Akane is pouting because no one
will try her fried rice, when she hears a loud boom from a nearby grove.)

Akane: What was that?!

Shampoo: Aiya!

Ukyou: What the heck?

Ranma: Let's go check it out! (As the Tendos calmly eat their lunch on the
blanket, the three girls and guy put down their food and walk over into the
now-smoldering grove. They can hear two voices from deeper inside it.)

Voice 1: Great! You're a quick study, that'll make this easier for me. Say,
you want to get lunch? We've been practicing for an hour now, and I'm
hungry!

Voice 2: Wow... I had no idea such powerful magic existed... Come on, we
can wait a little longer for lunch! Show me another spell! (The four
finally come out in a clearing, where they see Lina and Ryouga, who is also
smoldering from what looks like the effects of a wild fireball.) 

Ukyou: Ala...

Ryouga: Akane? Ranma?

Lina: Shampoo?! What are you three doing here?

Ukyou: We were about to ask you the same thing, sugar! Say, I don't think
I've met you! Ryouga's girlfriend, maybe? (Ryouga and Lina blush furiously
at this.)

Lina: (Flustered) And is that any of your business? (Ranma and Ukyou wink
to each other.) Hey, I saw that! We are not going out, okay? I'm Lina
Inverse, who are you?

Ukyou: Hiya! I'm Ukyou Kuonji! Pleased to meet you! (They shake hands.)
Say, were you the ones that made that explosion we heard?

Akane: Yeah, we followed where the sound came from to here!

Ryouga: Well, um, kinda...

Shampoo: What make big boom?

Lina: Well, not to brag, but I _am_ a sorceress...

Ranma: ("Geez, I thought she was just deluded or somethin, maybe she's for
real! What's she doing with Ryouga then?") Do it again! I don't believe
you!

Lina: ("Dang, I still can't fireball him, should I tell him that was
Ryouga? I've recovered enough to pull off a Flare Arrow or two, but it'll
probably bounce off... Oh well, might as well try!" Okay, you've been
getting on my nerves for two reasons, Ranma Saotome. First, you string
along two different girls...

Akane: Three different girls!

Ranma: Hey!

Lina: Okay, three different girls, then you act like a complete jerk in
front of me! You've insulted me, treated me like another one of your
prospective matches, and treated me like a helpless little girl on top of
all that! For all of this, I'll trash you with my magic! Prepare to fry,
Ranma! FLARE... (Ranma watches in disbelief as curving beams of yellow
light gather in Lina's hand, straightening into arrows, and she nocks a bow
of yellow flame back, ready to send the beams flying. He tenses, adopting a
defensive stance, ready to intercept the projectiles when she lets fly.)
ARROW!!!!! (She lets the arrows fly all at once, the yellow fire arrows
streak towards Ranma, who thrusts his hands out Ryu-style.)

Ranma: MOKO TAKABISHYA!!! (A giant globe of yellow energy explodes from
Ranma's outstretched hands, but dissipates as the arrows fly straight
through them and hit him square in the chest.)

*BOOM!!!!!!*

(As the smoke clears, we see Ranma lying on the ground, his shirt has been
burnt away, and the rest of him is blackened and dirty. But you can still
see the whites of his eyes, which are like dinner plates, and his hands,
which are held out in the traditional Takahashi position. Ukyou and Shampoo
lean over him concernedly, while Lina just brushes her hands off.)

Lina: Yup, the 'ol magic's back!

Akane: That was amazing! 

Lina: (Walks over to Ranma and examines his unconcious charred form.) Still
alive! How about that! 

Ryouga: He heals fast... 

Akane: So was it you who made that explosion, Lina?

Lina: Nope, that was my new student, Ryouga!

Akane: Ryouga... you mean, you're learning black magic?

Ryouga: Hai, Akane-san... I have to train for the fight with Ranma next
week.

Ukyou: Wow! If you do spells like that, there's no way you could lose!
Ranma honey might actually lose a fair fight!

Shampoo: ("Ranma lose fight? That no can be! Shampoo have do something! I
know! I get flat-chested girl friends to teach airen magic! Then fight be
even!")

Ranma: No... way... (He groggily gets up.) Ryouga... I'm gonna beat you
once and for all!

Ryouga: No way I'm gonna let you beat me again, Ranma! Come on, Lina, we
can find some place to have lunch.

Lina: Ooh! Food! Now you're talking! (wipes drool from face)

Akane: Hey, I made some lunch if you two want any! We're having a picnic!

Ranma: Geez... invite the whole neighborhood, why don't ya?

Lina: (ignoring the charred Ranma) A picnic sounds great! Thanks, um, what
was your name again?

Akane: Akane Tendo! I made some wonderful fried rice, if you want to try
some...

Lina: My pleasure! (The group of six head back to the hill where the Tendos
are still calmly eating. Kasumi waves to the group.)

Kasumi: Why hello! I don't believe I know you!

Lina: Lina Inverse, pleased to meet you, now where's the food?! (Akane
hands Ryouga a dish of her fried rice. It looks pretty normal for something
Akane cooked. Lina also accepts a dish. Ryouga grabs Lina's out of her
hands and swallows it before she can try some. He forces it down, gulps,
chokes back the tears coming to his eyes, and smiles forcibly, half
grinning, half crying.)

Ranma: ("Poor guy... Man, I'm glad she doesn't expect _me_ to like it!")

Lina: What was that for?!

Ryouga: Um, well, I was so hungry, I couldn't help myself!

Akane: You mean... you liked it?!

Ryouga: Y-yeah! I've never tasted anything as good as your cooking,
Akane-san! I could eat it until I died!

Ranma: (To himself) Literally... (Akane bonks him over the head and turns
back to Ryouga.)

Akane: Really? So it _is_ good! There's plenty more where that came from,
help yourself! (Brings a giant tupperware bowl of it out)

Lina: Don't mind if I do... hey! (Before she has a chance to eat any,
Ryouga wrests the bowl from her grip and swallows the contents down in one
gulp. The others wince in sympathy as he chokes back the urge to vomit and
grins like an idiot.)

Ryouga: Kya, so filling!

Lina: Do you mind?! I want some too! 

(Nabiki leans over and whispers in Lina's ear. Akane's talking to Ryouga
and doesn't notice. Lina gasps in surprise and whispers back. Nabiki nods
grimly, and hands Lina an okonomiyaki, which she munches on absently while
she studies Ryouga.)

Lina: (To herself) Hmm... he's gotta love her if he can eat that and remain
concious! (Her opinion of Ryouga goes up half a notch.)

Shampoo: Shampoo have to leave, help great-grandmother with lunch crowd!
Bai-bai!

Kasumi: Goodbye, Shampoo! Thank you for the food!

Ranma: See ya! (Shampoo leaves, on the Bicycle of Death, of course. We'll
get to her in a moment, but let's stay at the picnic for now.)

Nabiki: So where are you from?

Lina: Well, um, you wouldn't recognize the place...

Nabiki: Try me.

Lina: Well, actually, you should know I'm not from this world, I'm from
another one...

Soun: You don't say?

Genma: Another world? Pass the chow mein please. (Kasumi hands him a bowl
of it.) Arigato, Kasumi.

Kasumi: (Well, what do you think she's gonna say?!) Oh my.

Ranma: What a load of bull... (Lina gives him an icy glare that scares him
silent.)

Lina: Yeah, I'll go back to my world eventually, but I'm gonna enjoy this
one while I have the chance!

Ukyou: (Half believing) So you're from another world? What's it like?

Lina: Well, compared to this one, it's kinda primitive in some ways and
advanced in others. I mean, we mostly use horses for carrying things
around, and we don't have much in the way of technology. But we've got
magic, something this world never really tapped the power of.

Nabiki: (The possibilities of magic fascinated her.) Magic? Like those
explosions we heard? Those were magic spells?

Lina: Yeah, I'm one of the most powerful sorceresses in the world! Even my
friends agree!

Kasumi: My! Could you share a few tricks with us?

Lina: Maybe later. Right now, it's lunch time, and I'm starved! Hey, are
there any of those pizza thingies left?

Akane: Here you go! (She hands Lina two okonomiyakis, which she gulps
without thinking about them. She then spots the box of Chinese food Shampoo
left behind for the Tendos to eat.)

Lina: Ooh! More Chinese! (She digs in, and finishes the rest of it off as
the others watch, dumbfounded.)

Ranma: Geez, with an appetite like that, how come you're so bony and
flatchested?

*SLAM*

(Lina and Akane have each embedded an elbow in Ranma's face.)

Akane: Ranma no baka! That's so like you, to make fun of a girl's weight!

Lina: You pig! (to herself) At least Gourry had an excuse, him being dumb
as a brick about girls and all... This guy's a pigheaded fool to insult a
powerful sorceress like that! (to Ryouga) I've had enough. Come on,
Ryo-chan, let's find somewhere more private where I can train you without
interference or eavesdropping.

Ryouga: (As Lina's dragging him away) Ite, I'm coming!

Akane: Wait up! (She hurries after the sorceress and lost boy.)

Ranma: Akane?

Akane: Well, we're out of school and I don't have anything better to do,
and I'd rather be with Lina and Ryouga than you anyway! Lina! Could I
watch? Please?

Lina: Well... (She glances at Ryouga, who shrugs.) Sure, just don't get in
the way okay?

Akane: Great! ("I always wondered if magic existed! Now I'm watching Lina
teach Ryouga how to blow stuff up with it! Amazing..." The three leave
together, so only Ranma, Ukyou, and the other Tendos are left now.

Ukyou: Hmm...

Ranma: Well, the food's gone...

Nabiki: I just remembered a meeting I had with Kuno! See yall... (She takes
her leave as well.)

Soun: Well, Saotome? Shall we get back to our Go game now that the food's
gone?

Genma: That's a good idea, Tendo! (Now they are gone too.)

Kasumi: I should go back home too... (Kasumi follows Soun and Genma, the
three of them carrying the picnic gear with them.)

Ranma: Well, that just leaves us now.

Ukyou: Wanna go see a movie with me?

Ranma: Sure, Ucchan, nothin' better to do... (And so the picnic disperses.
Let's go back to the party at the Neko Hanten!)

Shampoo: Nihao! (Of course several deliveries are waiting for her at the
counter.)

Cologne: Welcome back! I trust you had a nice lunch?

Shampoo: Me and Ranma go on exciting date!

Cologne: Is that so..?

Shampoo: Well... rest of Tendos come too...

Cologne: Never mind that, you have to take these deliveries. These two are
due in ten minutes, okay?

Shampoo: Hai! I take fast! (Before she's about to leave, she spots Amelia
sitting in the kitchen with Mousse, and glares their way angrily.)

Amelia: So, Mousse-san, you cook too?

Mousse: A little bit, I work in the kitchen when no one's coming in or
ordering. (He doesn't notice the fact that Amelia is obviously smitten with
him, he's just being polite to their guest.) Well, Amelia, why don't I give
you a tour of Nerima after I get off work tonight? There are some great
places to see!

Amelia: Really?! You'd do that for me?

Mousse: Sure, I could introduce you to some friends, maybe buy you
something to eat... 

Amelia: That would be great! ("Maybe he likes me! It must be my good looks,
or my royal charm...")

Mousse: Gourry and Zelgadis can come too, since they could use something to
do...(Mousse doesn't notice Amelia facefault disappointedly. Shampoo leaves
silently.)

Zel: (In Mousse's room, where the guys are staying, with Gourry) I'm so
bored...

Gourry: (Patting his stomach contentedly) Mmm... I couldn't eat another
bite! So what do we do now?

Zel: Well, we can sit here and be bored all afternoon, or we can go out and
find something to do.

Gourry: Going out works for me! Let's go! (The two leave the store, waving
goodbye to Cologne, and this is where we leave them for now. Let's join
Lina, Ryouga, and Akane in another secluded area. This one's on a giant
hilltop overlooking all of Nerima. Not a soul to be seen for miles! Lina's
giving Ryouga, who pays attention politely, a lesson in magic.)

Lina: So you see, you can cast a spell without going through the chant, if
you're strong enough in magic, like me, but reciting the incantation before
casting the spell gives it a lot of extra power. If I cast a fireball
without reciting the incantation, it would just fry whoever I cast it at,
and have a five or ten-foot explosion radius.

Ryouga: Go on...

Lina: But if I did the incantation properly, I could blow up a medium-sized
house and everyone in it! This works with Flare Arrow, Dragon Slave, and a
lot of others too.

Ryouga: I see. So what's a Dragon Slave, anyway?

Lina: Only the most powerful spell in all of black magic! I've blown up
entire cities with it before!

Akane: That strong, huh? I hope you don't use it near Nerima then!

Lina: Yeah, so do I. Anyway, here's how the incantation goes.

Source of all power...
Light which burns beyond crimson...
Let thy power gather in my hand!
FIRE... BALL!!!

*BOOM* (The fireball takes a good chunk out of a nearby hillside. Lina nods
to herself as Ryouga and Akane stare.)

Ryouga: And I could do that?

Lina: With another week, and with me helping you, you'll be about as good
in magic as Amelia is! ("Probably better, since Little Miss Justice isn't
very good to begin with!") You also have to learn how to channel your
innate magic power properly. 

Akane: Magic power?

Lina: Everyone's born with a certain amount of magical ability, it just
varies from person to person. Depending on how much innate talent you have,
you could do amazing things with magic! I already know that you, Ryouga,
have a large amount of innate talent! I mean, you flung a fireball almost
without trying earlier! You have a lot of potential, that's why I'm helping
you. Well, that, and I want to see you beat that jerk Ranma to a pulp!
*giggle* 

Ryouga: ("Wow, I've finally got a talent for something besides fighting and
getting lost!" He considers the implications of this plot development for a
minute. Akane looks at him with new wonder.)

Akane: That's something else! Lina, do you think you could see if I have
any talent?

Lina: Okay, I'll gauge yours the same way I did Ryouga's. 

Akane: Sure! 

Lina: Okay, I want you to close your eyes and concentrate hard. Try to
channel your energy into a globe in your hand. (Akane stretches out a palm,
and tries hard to make an energy globe appear there. For three minutes she
stands there, eyes squeezed shut, concentrating hard, beads of sweat
appearing on her forehead. Finally, a dim spark comes to life in her hand
and dies as soon as it came. Akane falls to her knees, gasping for breath.)

Akane: C... can't... must concentrate... harder... (Lina shakes her head in
disappointment.)

Lina: Sorry, Akane, not much magic in you. Some people can do it, some
people can't.

Akane: Man... ("Aw, I wanted to learn how to throw fireballs like that!
Then I could teach Shampoo a lesson she'd never forget! BWAAHAhahaha!!"
Lina and Ryouga both do the sweatdrop thing, as Akane has unconciously said
this out loud.) *ahem* Um, er, heh heh...

Lina: Anyway, I'll be focusing on teaching you some fundamentals first,
incantations, a little earth magic, some astral energy laws, that sort of
thing. Let's get back to the incantation lesson. I'm going to cast a null
magic spell around the area so we don't do any permanent damage to the
landscape. (She recites a spell under her breath, which is followed by a
flash of dull grey light.) Okay, now I want you to do the fireball
incantation.

Ryouga: Okay, here goes...

Source of all power,
Light which burns beyond crimson,
Let thy power gather in my hand...

Lina: Good! You can recall them by memory, that should help. Now,
incantations are mostly reserved for the more powerful spells, that people
aren't powerful enough to cast without the aid, and used as a needed crutch
for people with little or no talent that study magic anyway.

Akane: You mean if I just recited that I could cast a fireball?

Lina: Nope, not you. I'm sorry to disappoint you like this, but you just
don't have the innate ability Ryouga has! You'd be lucky to pull off a
light spell with a chant! (Akane pouts for a second and gets over it. She
pats Ryouga on the back.) 

Akane: Well, you can do good enough for the both of us, right, Ryouga-kun?

Ryouga: (Happy beyond compare that Akane's being so friendly with him) O-of
course... I will, Akane-san! I will make you proud!

Lina: That's the spirit!

Ryouga: And furthermore...

Akane: Hm?

Ryouga: I want to ask you something, Akane-san...

Akane: What is it?

Ryouga: Would you... that is... would you consider... would you like...

Akane: What?

Ryouga: (He's blushing furiously now.) Would you go on a d... d... da...
(He finally forces himself to spit it out.) Would you go on a date with me!

Akane: ("Why not? We've been on dates before... I wonder if he likes me or
anything?") Sure! You mean tonight?

Ryouga: Uh... um... (The fact that Akane actually said yes finally sinks
into his head.) Tonight?! Um, ah, yeah, that's what I meant... (Lina waits
patiently for the two to finish.)

Akane: Where do we go this time?

Ryouga: Well, I know a great restaurant I could take you to... It's called
Marcelli's, ever heard of it?

Akane: Um, I think so... that's on the other side of town, isn't it? *gasp*
But, Ryouga-kun, the food there's so expensive!

Ryouga: That's okay, the owner owes me a favor... (Ryouga had saved his
life by beating up the thugs in the dark alley that were about to mug him
and leave him for dead. Brute strength can come in handy! ^_^)

Akane: Where are you staying right now?

Ryouga: Actually, I'm staying at Cologne's restaurant with Lina and her
friends right now.

Akane: I'll be there at seven to pick you up, okay? (Akane knows full well
Ryouga couldn't make it on his own. So just walk with him there!)

Ryouga: G... great! (Lina smiles happily.)

Lina: Can I finish now?

Ryouga: Um, yeah, go ahead, I'm listening...

Akane: I'll see you two later, okay? I should probably be going now, dad
might be worried about me.

Lina: Bye! See ya later, Akane! (As Akane's leaving, Lina continues with
her magic lessons. Let's just join Gourry and Zel in their quest for
something to do, already in progress.)

Gourry: It feels so good to get out of that stifling armor! It's so hot
here! (As the viewer can see, Gourry's wearing a t-shirt and shorts now. {
Author: *drool* } And Zel's wearing a baggy windbreaker over his shorts,
which does nothing to hide that incredibly handsome stone physique that all
the girls love. {Author: *drools some more* }) Hey, what's that place over
there?

Zel: (Looking at the place Gourry's pointing to) Looks like a tennis court!
Let's go!

Gourry: *gasp* And what's that up ahead?! A swimming pool? (Sure enough,
right next to the public tennis courts, is a public swimming pool!)
Alright! (Runs ahead of Zel, making a beeline for the pool.)

Zel: Gourry-- wait! (The two arrive at the entrance. The girls immediately
notice the handsome guy with the long blonde hair, and the guy with the
blue skin and hair. It gets even better when the blonde one flings off his
shirt, revealing a chest of solid muscle! 

Girls: *drool*

Girls' boyfriends: Hey! I saw that! Stop that drooling! (Gourry, eager to
relieve the summer heat, climbs up to the high dive before Zel can stop
him, and executes a flawless double-flip and dives into the pool with a
giant splash. Zel rests one hand against his forehead in exasperation, as
Gourry emerges laughing, and also with...)

Gourry: ACK!! (He hastily covers his chest with his hands, too late for the
guys who were watching jealously and noticed a girl with beautiful, long
blonde hair emerge from the pool.)

Guys: *drool*

Guys' girlfriends: *SMACK* Quit gawking!

Zel: I tried to warn you...

Gourry: Kuso... I forgot all about that! Come on, give me my shirt!

Zel: Come and get it! (He waves it over his head. Gourry, determined,
climbs out of the pool, chest in plain view for all the guys at the pool to
see, and snatches it from him indignantly.)

Gourry: (Putting his shirt back on) Honestly... 

Zel: Come on, let's find you a hot shower. (Unfortunately, as the two find
out, there isn't a hot shower to be found at the pool.)

Gourry: (Still disgruntled) Geez... guys are staring at my chest! Come on,
Zel, let's go play tennis! (The two leave the pool area and the last we see
of them is an overhead view of Zel serving the ball and Gourry-chan
returning it with a powerful swing.)


End of Part Four

********************************

Author's note: YES!! I finally finished part four! Sorry it took so long,
school started again and I just couldn't find the time to write it! That,
and I was forced to read Faulkner's Unvanquished *shudder* It took me a
full two days to recover from the horror and get back to writing...

* Okay, I couldn't resist the title! I just wanted to say that since I
started writing this thing!
** I personally think Lina is teaching Ryouga magic because she notices he
has natural ability, and she wants to develop it further. He's a good
friend, and she wants to bring out his full potential.

My thanks to everyone who's contributed their ideas to the story,
especially ^Lina_Inverse^ , whose help and feedback has proven invaluable!
Look for part five to come out in about two weeks! See Ryouga go on a
successful date! (maaybe, maybe not :P) See Amelia try to make romantic
advances towards Mousse! See Shampoo act jealous! All this, and more, in
the next episode!

Please send your feedback and opinions of the story, I love to hear what
people think!

Until next time!
Jya ne!

Christina Rose