Hello hello! Ura here with the 8th installment of "Crimson Drowned in Blue" And since last chapter was an Amelia/Zelgadis chappie, I'm gonna make this a Lina/Gourry chappie for the fans. And I promise to make the next chapter a split one.
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Chapter 8: Realizing the Truth
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It was almost noon and Lina awoken with a jolt, but quickly laid back down when a rush of dizziness came to her. She slowly rose herself this time, holding her blanket in front of her like a shield. Slowly yet cautiously she gazed around the room to take in her surroundings.
Hey!...Hey this is my…
"Hey Lina, your finally awake!"
"Ahhhhhh!" she shrieked. "FIRE BALL!"
The fire burnt man let a gassy cloud of smoke come from his mouth in a comical way. "Nice to know your back to yourself." He said almost sarcastically.
Lina, who had her eyes closed the entire time, opened her left eye slowly to see who she fired in her doorway.
"(Gasp) Gourry!" she exclaimed happily, and rushed over to him.
"Uhh, hey? Should you be moving around so suddenly?" he asked worriedly. "You were out for-"
"Are you okay?" she demanded checking over him, pulling and poking random parts of his body. "Did she hurt you? You're burnt to a crisp! Who could've done this to you?"
"Hey Lina calm down." He asked more than told. "Everything's just fine, and your parents are just great!"
"My parents!" she demanded stepping up to his face.
"Since when did you know my parents?" she questioned, making him to step back in fear.
"Well…since we got in Zelolo and we bumped into your sister." The very relation made her blood chill. "You passed out and she brought us to your home. I met your mom yesterday and she seemed really nice. I just met your dad this morning and he's quite a person to be around!" he spoke cheerfully.
"My father…" she whispered, nearly falling back in her hopeless state, but quickly regained her bearings and demanded where he was at.
"Hmp…he's downstairs." Gourry explained. "He told me to come up her and wake you up anyway."
"Oh…I see."
He soon stepped to the side to allow her passage to the hall so they could walk to her parent's location together. It was quiet at first with Lina buried deep in thought of what to say or how to even look at her father. Not wanting anymore awkward moments between the two anymore Gourry decided to break the silence.
"So Lina how come you never told us?" he asked, taking her out of thought.
"Told you what?" she inquired.
"That you were from such a great homeland." He explained. "Come to think of it, you never spoke of your own life while we were traveling."
"……"
"Lina?...Lina I just wanna say-"
"What do you know we're here!" she interrupted, walking over to her parents. "Hi mom, hi papa." She greeted giving each a hug and a kiss.
"Oh Lina look at you! You've gotten so beautiful!" he mother complimented. "Gourry don't be so stiff come sit down!"
He wearily took the offer and sat in the seat across from the Inverse Family.
"Oh, Kebar look! Our little girl has grown up without us." She sniffed on the brink of crying her eyes out.
"Jenell, I highly doubt Lina wants to be bothered with your tears after a long journey." Kebar scoffed.
"Oh really?" Jenell snapped. "Then what do you think we should discuss after seeing our daughter in over 5 years hmmm?"
Kebar gulped in fear. If anyone stayed around the Inverse family for just a moment, anyone could tell that Lina got her fiery short temper from her mother and her vast eagerness for knowledge from her father.
"Well how about we get more information about his fine young man she brought home with her?" he replied.
Lina blushed at the remark and began to fidget in her seat like a nervous child, which she pretty much looked like sitting between her parents.
"Oh your right darling, we still don't know much about you Gourry dear." said Mrs. Inverse, quickly snapping back to her polite self. (a/n: ….scary much?)
"Uhh…well" he started sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "There's really not much to say."
"Ohhh how cute!" Jenell cooed. "He's being bashful."
"Somehow I don't think that's the right way to explain it." Lina muttered with a sweat drop.
"Well that's okay…Lina can tell us all about you, right sweetie?"
Lina bowed her head in defeat…How can she tell her parents that after three years of traveling with a guy whom you risked your life for twice, dressed like a girl, and even shared a room with that you knew nothing about him! All she knew was his name was Gourry Gabriev and he obtained the sword of light as a family heirloom, that's it! The question of one's past never came up as apposed to neither wanted to talk about it. So how….
Lina hadn't noticed but the room remained quiet for awhile waiting for her to say something. At first her parents thought she was being shy, since Lina was never fond of showing much emotion. But after a few more minutes they soon realized she didn't know anything and suddenly became uneasy until Mrs. Inverse spoke up.
"Umm…Gourry dear, do you think you can run an errand for me?"
"Uhh sure." He stuttered, standing to receive his instructions.
"I need you to go to town and pick up some fresh fruit from the produce district. I need grapes, peaches, apples, plums, blueberries, and-" She paused when she saw the lost look in his eyes when she started the list.
"Uh, how about I make you a list?" she asked, walking to the kitchen to scribble her list down.
Gourry stole a look at Lina before turning his attention back to Mrs. Inverse, who ten on cue handed Gourry her shopping list and he went on his.
He was just the garden when he suddenly realized, he didn't know were the produce district was at…let alone the main part of town! He walked back into the house and right before he turned toward the area he left the Inverse's he heard they were talking and quickly ducked behind the corner.
"Now Lina…about the letter I sent to you." Her mother began. "As I told you your father is gravely ill and…and…" she broke down into sobs as her husband soon took over.
"What your Mother is trying to say dear is that I don't have much time. My power weakens everyday and I really don't know how much longer it'll be."
Lina eyes watered at every word and she couldn't bear the thought of losing her father.
"If it's anything I want is for my daughters to be happy, that's all. And for me to, for me to at least see a grandchild before my time comes." He confessed.
"A grandchild?" she asked.
"Yes…" he wheezed before breaking down in a fit of coughs.
"Oh…oh Kebar are you alright?" Jenell asked worriedly.
"Yes, I'm fine." He paused. "Lina, your sister is a knight of Cepheid, and as a knight she must remain a maiden at all times, this not allowing her to be married. I will admit that I wanted you to be married when you were younger, however…"
He paused again unsure of what to say next.
"We just want you to be happy Lina." said Jenell. "This is why we set your engagement for next month the day after the first full moon with Aric Enlightmen."
"Married?" Gourry thought, nearly losing strength in his legs.
"What? Mother no!" she protested. "Father!"
"Sorry dear but it's the only solution" her father began. "Unless of course…" he turned toward the window, and instantly Lina knew what was on his mind.
"Gourry!"
"Me?"
"But you proved so yourself Lina that the two of you know nothing about each other." Jenell stated.
"The same for me and what's his face!" Lina yelled. "Only I don't know his name!"
"Don't get that tone with your mother Lina!" Kebar snapped.
She sunk her head again and apologized for her rudeness leaving a quiet room once again.
'So this is it." thought Gourry. "This is were I can't be with Lina anymore."
He sadly lifted himself off the wall and walked out the door. He was supposed to do something, it was on the tip of his tongue but for the life of him he couldn't remember! All that concerned him now was Lina. She was getting married to some unknown guy and couldn't really protest because it was her father's last wish.
He continued on to the stairs of the porch were he sat in pity for himself and for Lina.
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MEANWHILE INSIDE
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Right after Gourry made his exit; conversation began once again with the Inverse's.
"However Lina I'll make you a deal." Her father began.
"A deal?" she wondered. Courage and an old sense of self arouse in her again and she spoke as if ready to make a business trade. "Shoot."
"You'll still get married on the first full moon of next month. However I'll let you decide who to." He started.
"I must admit I like that Gourry fellow. He's dense but wise, clumsy but strong, stupid but loyal."
"Dad, stupid and dense is the same." Lina remarked with a droopy look.
"Same thing." He nodded off. "Any way, if you manage to confess your feelings for one another before then, I'll allow you to marry him. But if no progress is made before then you'll be wedded to Enlightmen."
Lina was ecstatic! She couldn't believe what she had just heard! She was off the hook somewhat, but the wager was still on!
"Men shouldn't be the only ones able to use magic." Kebar continued. "They think women aren't capable of it…guess they never met my daughter." He finished with a smirk.
"Oh daddy!" she cheered jumping into his arms, you're the best!"
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BACK OUTSIDE
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"Hey lemon head, whatcha doin?" came a voice.
"Huh?" he came out of his 'zone' and saw Luna standing in front him with a concern gaze.
"Look I know you've only been here a day. But you've been here long enough for me to know something's wrong with you." She implied.
"Oh…It's just Lina." He sighed.
"Ohhhhh…I see, girlfriend problems huh?" she assumed.
"Girlfriend? Nonononononononono, it's nothing like that!" he tried to defend.
"Oh don't play dumb!" Luna argued. She was going to say more when she noticed the paper in Gourry's hands.
"What's this?" she asked taking the paper. "A love letter?" she smirk evilly.
"NO! Nothing like that!" he retorted.
She looked at the list and quickly dropped her smirk.
"What do you know, you were right. Come on I'll take you there." She volunteered.
"Huh?"
"To the produce district. I gather you don't know your way there right? It figures my mother would do something like that; never thinking ahead." She sighed began to walk off. "Well what are you waiting for? Come on!"
He reluctantly ran to her to follow her into town and planned to remain silent but…
"So why were you sitting out there on the stairs?" she asked.
"Oh it's nothing to big a deal." He replied modestly.
"Nothing to big a deal? You can't fool me buddy! You're in love with my sister!"
He blushed deeply dumbfounded for words before stammering. "N-nno I'm not!"
"Yes you are!" she confronted. "You give all the signs. The way you held her and spoke sincerely of her yesterday, the way you refuse to leave her side while she was asleep all day and night the way you seem all depressed about her. Face it man, you're in love."
He pondered the thought for a moment but quickly shook it off.
"No…Lina's engaged and she has to be married by the first full moon of next month." He said defeated
"First full moon? I thought there was only one full moon a- ohhh…there's two of them next month, that's right! Hahaha silly me." She joked.
This didn't faze Gourry at all as he continued to think of Lina.
"Man this guy doesn't give up easily." She thought.
"So tell me what all is going on." She suggested.
Before Gourry knew it he was pouring his heart out to Luna. All that happened to today, his thoughts, his feeling toward her. He even went as far as to tell her the first time they me and how it came to be that he was her protector. Each story amazed Luna, but what amazed her even more was that so much love and memory could be packed into such a man.
They had already reached town and was shopping for the various fruits her mother requested. Things were getting awkward, and as much as Luna hated to admit it, she actually liked Gourry, and didn't want to see him in agony.
"But I thought you were her protector." She questioned, hoping it'd push a button or two.
"I am!" he snapped.
"Ouch! I only wanted to push a few buttons not an entire console."
"Well according to your story it sounds like you promised to protect Lina all your life."
"Yeah so?"
"Well, if Lina is hurting from all of this, then isn't your job to protect her from that harm?"
Man I hope this guy catches the hint.
"You mean that Light guy may try to kill her?"
She smacked her face from the idiocy contained in one being. Of all the men her sister could fall for she fell for the dumbest.
"No you idiot! Tell her how you feel! That way she wouldn't feel she had the obligation to marry the guy. And who knows? My father just may allow you two to be together." She hinted and walked off with the groceries.
"Tell her how I feel…" he thought absentmindedly. "I would but…will she return my love?"
He then realized Luna was far ahead of him and ran up to catch up with her so we wouldn't be lost trying to find home.
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TBC
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I have nothing cool to say… :s
-Ura out