Well, it's a part of the fifth chapter that in my opinion wasn't screwed up. The rest will be rewritten as a new chapter. So if you read it already you can skip this. If you think that it's still screwed up then tell me WHY exactly so I can do something about it. Don't just call me names OK?

Disclaimer - I don't own Slayers. I own Brau in a sort of way, but if Kanzaka wants him he can have him.

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"What is thy business in the capitol city of Seirun?"

"Take a wild guess." said the beggar. He was covered in linen cloth from head to toe and was stinking with rotten flesh. The guards at the gate and common travelers had covered their noses and backed off.

"They don't have a leprosy healer in Seirun as far as I know I'm afraid."

"I know. But it's the princess' marriage and I hope to urn some cash. I'm trying to make a living you know."

"Sure. Here you go" the guard gave him a coin. "Enjoy the time you got. You ain't got much."

"Gee. Thanks for reminding me."

After this rather unusual conversation the strange leper had entered the city. People were giving him strange looks. But none of them knew that he was even stranger than they thought*.

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'You suck Greywolf. And you know it. Don't ya?'

'I suppose you would do it better?'

'Well at least I wouldn't try to make the guards to attack me.'

'Sure. You always throw the first blow.'

'Hey look someone's coming! Act as a beggar!'

"Help the lame... I mean the leper." he cursed under his breath while drawing his hand with a bowl. He didn't see who was coming because he lowered his head to show how poor and miserable he is.

"Do I know from somewhere?"

"Zangie-kun? Why are you talking with that disgusting creature? Come on just give him some coins and let's go."

'Zangie-kun?'

'Don't tell me. I don't want to know. It's not happening.'

"Sure thing Martina-chan. It's only that I thought I recognize his voice from somewhere."

'Yep. The scarecrow and the beast.'

His benefactor was backing away but he caught him by the collar and pulled face to face.

"What are you two doing here?" he asked. Now he was sure.

"So it is you!" exclaimed Zangulus. "What are you doing here? Aren't you having a wedding tomorrow?"

"Do you know a place where we could talk peacefully?"

Of course. Let me guess got enough of the justice freak and trying to run away?"

"Later. First show me the place."

"Zangie-kun!!! You're not taking your rotting friend to our..."

"I love you too Martina." he said taking his mask off for a second.

"Oh! It's you Zelgadis-sam... san." she said bewildered. "What are you doing here?"

"You'll tell us later." suggested Zangulus. "Now let's go and hide you somewhere. Don't you think dearest?"

"Well... sure."

When Martina was looking the other way the swordsman gave Zelgadis a knowing wink. he just shook his head. Then he thought of something.

"Say Zangulus have you seen Lina and Gourry somewhere here?"

"Yes. Though the red devil was pissed off for you so you shouldn't near her."

'This is just great.'

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"So again why are we here Lina?"

The sorceress didn't bother to answer. She just stopped and turned around to face the swordsman. Then she planted a major blow on his face and resumed walking. Gourry got up after a while and continued to follow her. Then suddenly a light bulb flashed.

"I know why you are so mad at me all the time! It's because you've lost your earring right?" he said smiling.

The girl stopped abruptly and turned back slowly, in the meantime blushing hard. She had her eyes closed as if trying to conceal tears. The swordsman was curious of her strange behavior so he came closer. Talk about naivety.

"BAKA!!!" she screamed at top of her lungs while nailing him with a kick. "Why do you keep following me?! I told you thousand times to leave me alone! I tolerated you till you had that fucking Sword of Light but looks like it didn't reach your dense head that I don't need a fucking bodyguard!!!"

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'OK there goes my hope that she took it gently.' thought Filia while nearing both of the mercenaries. 'I'm digging my own grave doing this but here goes nothing.'

"Hello Lina-san. Long time no see!" she faked a smile and hoped to survive long enough to explain something. "You're for the wedding too?"

Well, stressed mind is NOT the best adviser. Fortunately for her Lina wasn't angry to the limit. Yet.

"Yo Filia" she said bluntly. "Yeah we're here for the wedding. I've got a present for Amelia she'll never forget."

"That's nice." said the dragoness. And because she drank a little too much of her new favorite beverage to raise courage her mind wasn't very efficient. So she added: "What about Zelgadis-san?"

"Don't worry!" chirped Lina. "I didn't forget him. He's going to be so happy he just might lose his head!"

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 "Achoo!!!"

 "Bless you. Looks like someone's been talking about you behind your back."

"Probably Lina. Or maybe some spoiled Amelia-lover." said the chimera. He had already taken a bath to wash off the stench of rotting meat and wore new clothes. He also had explained most of the story to the happy worshippers of the big and ugly made-up demon. Now they were facing a question: what now?

"I think you should just go to the palace and..."

"I don't think it's such a good idea honey." Smiled Zangulus. He didn't show a bit of awkwardness though he seriously thought that Zel was simply skipping from his own wedding just a while ago. "Xellos is probably waiting for him. By the way Zelgadis it was Xellos who invited you to the wedding wasn't it?"

"Yes."

"Then don't you think it could be a..."

"Trap? Of course. But I don't think I have much choice. Who knows what he's up to? Besides whatever he is up to he's doing this in MY form."

"How about simply killing the bastard?" suggested the swordsman.

"I don't think we could. He IS quite powerful you know."

'Give me call and I'll rip him to tiny bits.'

'Don't be so sure. You're just a brau demon after all. Besides I don't want to destroy the city only because you want a piece of a fruitcake.'

'Hey we can always share!'

'I don't eat junk food**.'

"I know what!" exclaimed Martina happily. "Amelia's bracelet! She told that she gave you one when you departed few years ago."

"Well... she hasn't GIVEN me the bracelet. Three days after I've left the rest I was drinking from a water flask and found a bracelet hanging from the neck. She must've done it while I was sleeping though I can't imagine how."

"Whatever! Do you have it?"

"I've lost it somewhere" he blushed. The married couple facefaulted. "I know how stupid it sounds but I didn't pay any attention to it anyway. I wouldn't even exclude the possibility that the fruitcake has it."

"Great. Way to go mister blockhead." smirked Zangulus. Then he remembered something. "Say Zelgadis exactly WHY is the red demoness so willing to end your torment on this world? One would've thought that she's jealous. Is she?"

"..."

"Is she?"

"..."

"You lucky bastard!"

"I didn't say anything!!!"

* - Some kinds of leprosy are very contaminating. But some aren't and you could catch it only if touched the skin of the leper. So the plagued can live in towns as beggars.

** - I also don't own Diego or anybody from the Ice Age movie.

Review please.