NO!  I don't own these characters except for two of them.  Those are MINE
and MINE alone!!!  AHAHAHAHA!!!  *calms down*  Okay, but the rest of the
Slayers cast aren't mine and never will be mine unless I go to an
alternate universe.  So, until that happens, nice people who made
Slayers, don't sue me....

Murasakikaze  ENJOY!!		   

			      The Dying Flower
			Chapter Four  New Friends


	Amelia awoke and looked outside, everything was perfectly calm.  The
birds were out and people were milling around again.  However, Zelgadis
wasn�t back, she could feel it.
	"Zelgadis-san, where are you?" she whispered and went to get dressed.
	Downstairs, Lina and Gourry were already in the war over breakfast. 
Amelia walked in silently and sat down between the two warring friends,
an unusually brave thing to do.  Lina noticed this and between fighting
with Gourry she asked what was wrong.
	"Amelia, what�s-GIVE THAT BACK!!-wrong?" Lina grabbed the sausage back
from Gourry and picked off most of his breakfast in the process.
	"Zelgadis-san still isn�t back and it�s already daylight," Amelia picked
at her food, thoroughly worried.
	"I�m sure he�s-LINA, THAT�S MINE!!  NOT FAIR!!-fine.  Don�t worry,"
Gourry smiled at her as he grabbed the breakfast plate back from Lina.
	"Yeah, Amelia, I�m sure you have-DON�T HOG IT ALL!!!-nothing to worry
about," Lina snatched the platter back and began shoveling food down. 
This continued for quite awhile, however, the author is too lazy to write
it all in.
	Zelgadis opened his dark blue eyes and looked outside the cave.  The
rain had stopped and it was daylight.  He turned and saw Kaira sleeping
on the other side of the burnt out fire.  <Some watch.> he thought and
stood.  As he moved towards the opening, he heard her stirring behind
him.
	"Morning," he called back and stepped out, reaching back for his hood. 
When his hand came up empty he turned back sharply.
	"You forgot this, Zel-chan," she handed him his cloak and threw her own
black one around her shoulders.  "I guess we�ll be seeing each other."
	She turned away sadly and walked off.  Zelgadis watched her go and felt
a slight twinge of something, but disregarded it.  Everyone else would be
worried and it was time he got back.   He walked off in the opposite
direction and didn�t look back.
	Kaira watched him go with the aid of an illusion spell.  Her old friend
was no longer a friend anymore and she couldn�t stay anymore.  The second
she�d been found out she knew, he�d be coming soon.  Kaira turned her
eyes to the sky and breathed in deeply, Sailoon had the most beautiful
sky above it�too bad she had to leave.  As soon as Zelgadis had
disappeared she turned and leapt off into the forest.
	From the shadows just a few feet away, someone emerged.  He wore only
black and seemed to be there and not at the same moment.  He laughed to
himself and watched the thief speed away.
	"So�I�ve finally found you again, Kaira�not long now, my friend.  Not
long at all," the image shimmered and disappeared.
	"Zelgadis-san!!" Amelia went flying out the door and greeted Zelgadis
with a hug.  "Are you okay?"
	Zelgadis was staring at the princess as she backed off.  He coughed in
embarrassment, "I�m fine."
	"Where were you, Zel?" Lina and Gourry came out from the inn and waved
to him.
	"I took shelter in a cave when the storm moved overhead," he told them
and adjusted his hood.  "Is everyone okay?"
	Gourry nodded, "Yeah, not like a little rain can stop Lina, right?"
	Zelgadis smiled under his mask and asked, "So now what?"
	"Well, we still have that reward out for the thief and I aim to catch
her," Lina cracked her knuckles and smiled.  "Did you see her yesterday?"
	Zelgadis thought for a second and shook his head, "No, I couldn�t see
much after the rain started."
	"Zelgadis-san, let�s go have some breakfast," Amelia tugged on his arm
and led him inside.  Zelgadis followed her in and that was that.  Lina
and Gourry went to check out the marketplace just like any other day in
Sailoon.
	"Excuse me, but I couldn�t help but overhear your conversation.  May I
ask you something?" a tall man approached Zelgadis and Amelia after they
had ordered.  "May I?"
	He motioned towards a chair next to Amelia and she readily agreed.
	"What is it that you need?" she asked cordially.
	"Well, do you need information on the Rose Thief?" he asked and threw a
look over his shoulder.  Zelgadis noticed this and studied the tall ma
with black hair.  He wore a white shirt tucked into a black belt over
brown pants.  His boots were muddy on the bottom, but he wore no sword.  
	"Why do you ask?" he demanded with narrowed eyes.  
	"I saw her this morning heading towards the palace," the man turned to
the princess.  "Hime-sama, I�m afraid of what she might do.  Please do
not take this wrongly.  I come with good intentions."
	"What time did you see her?" Zelgadis drilled the man like an army
sergeant.
	"Around six this morning," the man replied.
	"You-" Zelgadis began and caught himself.  It was a lie.  Kaira hadn�t
left the cave until around eight�but he couldn�t say anything or he�d
implicate himself.
	"What is it, Zelgadis-san?" Amelia turned to him.
	"Nothing," he replied simply.  "Thank you for the information."
	The man stood and bowed, "Good luck in finding her."
	With that he left.  Zelgadis watched him go and stood.
	"Where are you going?" Amelia stood and watched him move towards the
door.  "What about breakfast?"
	"You go ahead and eat, I have to do something.  Sorry for the
interruption," Zelgadis pulled up his face mask and stepped out into the
daylight.
	Amelia sat down and picked at her food as it was set down before her. 
He always seemed to walk off when they could have a nice meal
together�she sighed and rested her head in her hand.
	Kaira slipped through the open window on the second story of the
library.  Her bedroom window was locked, so she had to settle for the
bathroom one.  She stepped down and balanced herself on the rim of the
tub before stepping down and moving out into the hall.  She made sure
that no one was downstairs and walked into her bedroom.  The cave floor
hadn�t been altogether wonderful to sleep on and she flopped onto the
bed, closing her eyes.
	"Well, you sure have changed, Kaira," the deep voice postponed her
slumber and she sat up noticing someone leaning against the wall in the
darkness.
	"Who are you and what are you doing in my home?" she demanded and threw
her cape down on the ground.  
	"What?  You don�t remember me?  I�m hurt," the man emerged slowly. 
Sunlight hit his fine features and glinted off the stones on his face.
His skin was a deep blue color and his hair was more like a midnight
black.  His dark eyes searched her face and he smiled as he sat down next
to her on the bed.  He wore the robes of a priest only a dark black color
and his long hair trailed down his back.
	"There�s no way that you�" Kaira stood and backed away from him.  "I
already told you to leave me alone."
	"But, Kaira," he looked at her as she moved quickly towards the door. 
It slammed shut in her face and she whirled around, glaring daggers at
him.  "How can you forget?"
	"Because I want to!!  Just leave me alone and tell you-know-who to leave
me alone too!!" Kaira kicked the door over and jumped the railing.  As
she approached the ground, a figure shimmered in and caught her.
	"That wasn�t very nice, Kaira," the man said and set her down on the
ground.
	"I told you to leave me alone!!" Kaira slapped him across the face and
ran towards the door.  
	"Kaira!" the chimera turned and caught her arm.  "Please, I�m just
following orders."
	"Orders?!  Are your orders to stalk me and ruin my life?!" Kaira pulled
away from him and charged up a blast.  "I hate libraries and I hate you!!
 FIREBALL!!"
	The energy released from the spell pulsed around the books stacked up
around the man and made everything burst into flames.  Kaira ran out the
front and put up an illusion spell to change her clothes.  Then she ran
away from the burning building.  She turned back to see if he was
following and felt strong arms close around her.
	"GO AWAY!!" she screamed and pushed against the person�s chest.
	"Kaira!  Stop it!" 
	She looked up and saw Zelgadis fighting against her.  She relaxed and
stepped back.  
	"I-I have to go," she pushed her way past him and kept walking.
	"Kaira!  What happened back there?" he pointed to the building and the
crowd gathering around it.
	"Nothing!  Nothing at all.  Just get out of here, Zel, get out of here
and forget that you ever saw me," Kaira turned and noticed someone
standing behind Zel.  
	"You lied to me�"
	Zelgadis spun around and saw a small girl behind him, "Amelia�"
	"You said you didn�t see her�how could you lie to me?" Amelia�s eyes
were welling up in tears.  "I won�t forgive you, Thief!!  I won�t forgive
you!!"
	She charged up a blast of energy and ran forward with it.  Kaira just
watched her come and drew her sword to meet her.
	"I�m sorry�." she whispered as the blade connected with the princess and
pulled to the side.  Amelia fell over, holding onto her side.  "I�m so
sorry�"
	She healed herself and stood, "You, the one who stands against Justice,
will suffer against the Hammer of Justice!!" 
	For once in her life, Amelia actually produced a huge mallet and began
to run back towards Kaira with it.  Halfway there, Zelgadis caught her
around the waist and held her back.
	"Amelia!" he forced her to look at him.  "Calm down!"
	Amelia was still staring daggers at Kaira, "You lied to me about her,
Zelgadis-san!!"
	"I know," he felt her relax and loosened his grip on her.  "I had to."
	Kaira stepped up beside Amelia, "I made him promise�and now it�s time
for you to forget all about this, Princess Amelia."
	She placed a gentle hand on Amelia�s forehead and closed her eyes, "Time
is but a fragile thing I hold in my hands.  Blackness consumes the mind
as quickly as night falls.  Join my power and clear the mind of all that
happened.  Astral Plane, Lord of Nightmares, I call your power to my
hands to bond with my soul and become one."
	A soft black light came out of Kaira�s hands and floated above Amelia�s
head.  The princess�s eyes went blank for a second and then she passed
out.  Zelgadis caught her as she fell and laid her carefully down on the
ground at the end of the alley.
	"What did you do?" 
	"I just made her forget about coming here and seeing what she saw.  Like
I did with you," Kaira watched the sleeping princess and closed her eyes.
 "It�s time you got out of here, Zel.  He�s coming�"
	"Who?" Zelgadis looked up at her and narrowed his eyes.  "Who�s coming?"
	"A dark demon�of unimaginable power�" Kaira swallowed hard and opened
her eyes, they had a vacant look to them.
	"Kaira?" Zelgadis waved his hand in front of her face and noted that
there was no reaction.  "Kaira?!"
	"Don�t mind her.  She�s just�sleeping," a tall man entered the alley and
touched Kaira on the shoulder.  "Now, I told you I had a job to do."
	"Who are you?" Zelgadis demanded and drew his sword as he stood.
	"I�m the dark demon with unimaginable power," he mocked him and a black
beam of light came out of his hand spiraling towards Zelgadis.  He dodged
and watched the wall vaporize.  
	"Come now, Kaira.  Someone wants to see you," the man grabbed Kaira
around the neck and whispered something in an ancient language.  Kaira�s
eyes regained the light that used to be there and she fought against him
as he pulled her to her feet.  "Now, this isn�t your real form and he
wants to see your real form."
	A bright flash of light surrounded them both and Zelgadis shielded his
eyes with his arm.  Somewhere within the ball of green and blue light
someone screamed and Kaira was thrown out of it.  She rolled to her feet
and stood staring at her hands.
	"Y-you�I�ll kill you!!!" Kaira drew her sword and screamed at the man
emerging from the light.  The chimera laughed at her despair.  Zelgadis
saw the tears trickling down her face and rolling off�off her golem
stones.  "Zeren, I�ll kill you for that.."
	"I don�t want to hurt you, dear Kaira, but I think the other chimera
will suit my needs!" Zeren turned to Zelgadis and fired a single black
shot as he drew his sword.  
	Zelgadis rolled away again and got up, unsheathing his sword in time to
block the blow.  He forced Zeren back and stood ready to defend and
attack.
	"Astral Vine!!" they both shouted and charged at each other.  
	"Zeren!!  No!!" Kaira ran forward and grabbed the man�s arm.  He turned
and struck her in the face, she flinched and moved back.  Zelgadis
noticed Zeren flinch also, then he attacked.  Kaira watched the battle
ensue and as they parted once again she ran forward and blocked a blow
from Zeren�s sword.
	"Zor latte ausopi intante," she growled.  "Just like you said."
	Zeren backed up and saw the bruise crawl up both their arms. He sneered
at her before taking off down the alley.
	"What was that?" Zelgadis walked up behind her and watched the man
vaporize into nothingness.  "Mazoku�"
	"Zor latte ausopi intante," Kaira repeated.  "You and I are same."
	Zelgadis looked at her and noticed the small line of blood coming from
her mouth, "Are you okay?"
	She nodded, "Now Zeren�s pain and my pain are the same�he won�t dare
kill me."
	"You better tell me about this Zeren person," he sheathed his sword and
turned to Amelia, still safe behind a row of boxes. 
	"I..I can�t," Kaira trailed off and looked at Zelgadis.  "It�s time I
left."
	She resumed her hardened outer appearance and pulled a bag out of a
hidden cubby.  
	"Good-bye," Kaira said simply and jumped to the top of the house next to
her.  Zelgadis watched her go and turned to Amelia.
	"Let�s go," he sighed and picked her up.  Lina and Gourry came running
up and saw the unconscious Amelia and hurt Zelgadis.
	"What happened?" Gourry looked behind them at the war zone in the alley.
	"We were attacked," Zelgadis replied simply, handing Amelia over to
Gourry.
	"By who?" Lina checked the path carefully with her eyes and returned her
gaze to her chimeran friend.  
	"Another enemy," he replied.  "We better check on Amelia, she may be out
for awhile."
	Lina nodded and waited for Zelgadis and Gourry to leave.  She looked up
to the rooftops and saw someone lurking behind a chimney. A slight breeze
ruffled her hair as she watched the person watching them.  
	"Another enemy�" she repeated before turning her back and following her
friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C&C wanted!!  Please tell me if you're reading this.  Even if I don't
need to work on grammer or anything.  Tell me if you like it or not!!!

Send any C&C to the address below.  You can send flames there too.  I'm
cold and they'll fuel my fireplace very nicely.

muteki@juno.com


"What do you mean by a 'special banquet?'"
"I was given an invitation to a special banquet being held next week."
"But isn't that the same time that I'm getting fired?"
*silence*
"We have a problem..."

~conversation of the voices in my head...O_o scary....
___________________________________________________________________
Get the Internet just the way you want it.
Free software, free e-mail, and free Internet access for a month!
Try Juno Web: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj.