Gourry, what the hell are you doing?

I'm doing the introduction Lina

Yes, I can see that, WHY?

Well, you weren't here and I figure after everything going on recently you kinda needed your beauty sleep-

FIREBALL!

Mission accepted! Code-name Gourry?

My name's Gourry, Gourry Gabriev. I've been travelling with Lina and the others for... well, a long time now. Long enough to know when something's up. I think something big happened today, but I'm not sure what exactly.

I first realised something was wrong when Amelia ran by me crying. Amelia's a sweet kid; more likely to grin and bear whatever's wrong in her world than cry about it. I don't think I've ever seen her cry before that actually. I –know- she has, with the whole thing about her Dad a while ago, but I never saw it. Anyway where was I? Right, right, Amelia was crying so I figured something had seriously gotten to her. It all started out like this;

Hesitantly, Zel moved towards the princess and gently-

-whoops! Sorry, wrong part. It started like this;

Amelia sighed and closed the book she'd been poring over. Three hours, and she hadn't found anything except for a more detailed map of the local area –which she had already copied out, compared to her old map, and annotated. Not a mention of Iris, except in the lists of Sages and occasionally in some magic lore that wasn't helpful.

Carefully pushing her chair back so it didn't scrape along the floor, she went in search of Zelgadiss, in the hopes he'd found something more useful. The library wasn't particularly big, but it took her a while to find him, having been looking in the wrong places.

"Zelgadiss-san?" she was surprised, and slightly perturbed at finding him here "Weren't you supposed be looking in the artefact and temples sections?" she left the obvious "instead of in the curses/cures section" unsaid.

After a prolonged silence she tried again "Zelgadiss-san?"

"Cold hearted sorcerer-swordsman, cold hearted sorcerer-swordsman"

"I'm a little busy just now Amelia" he replied carelessly, without looking up. Annoyed, Amelia crossed her arms and glared at him

"Zelgadiss-san! We're supposed to be looking for information on how to get to the temple and about Iris! Lina-san was counting on us to find something, we can't let her down –it'd be unjust. Besides that, how are we supposed to move on if we're not even sure where we're going?"

"'Besides that' you say? Look, I don't really care about Iris or the Heart; all I'm interested in is my cure, you should know that by now." Zelgadiss glared right back "if I can find it here and not have to continue on this… venture with you lot then all the better." Stung, Amelia stepped back; he really didn't want to be with her-with them?

"Z-Zelgadiss-san?"

""Cold hearted sorcerer-swordsman, cold hearted sorcerer-swordsman"

"Like I said, I'm a little busy just now Amelia"

Hardening her expression the princess turned on her heel and began storming back to the inn "Fine then, I'll leave you to it." Something in her voice must have conveyed her hurt and betrayal to him over the feigned anger, as just as she reached the great oaken doors leading outside his chair clattered back and he called her name.

Amelia ignored him and, as soon as she was through the doors and out of his sight, broke into a run along the street. If he didn't want to spend time with h-them, then she was going to make it easy for him. And serve the fool right.

Zelgadiss cursed. A hollow feeling in his gut alerting him that his self-induced solitude wasn't really what he wanted, despite appearances, and there was no need to punish Amelia for caring.

Of all things, for caring; about the mission, her friends –about him

He hollered after her again, ignoring the dirty look the librarian gave him as he breezed past the front desk; they had been the only people there anyway.

Spotting her moving back to the inn he took off after her. Apologising wasn't a concept Zelgadiss could claim to be entirely familiar with, especially over other people's bruised feelings; but he could at least explain he hadn't meant it.

Amelia was nowhere in sight when he reached the inn, but Lina (who was sitting at a table with Xellos, going through what seemed to be their considerably waterlogged packs) caught his eye with an arch look and gestured over her shoulder to the stairs. He rushed by, not daring to even look at Xellos as he passed for fear of what he would see. The mazoku would be having a field day with this.

He was so intent on not looking that he practically ran into Gourry and the taller man put a hand on his shoulder as he steadied himself.

"Whoa Zel, what's the hurry?"

"Not now Gourry" he replied hastily and the swordsman stepped aside and frowned after him as he took to the stairs three at a time. First Amelia, now Zel; what was going on?

"Amelia! Amelia, wait, listen!"

Finally upstairs, Zel made up the distance between them and grabbed Amelia's hand with the intention of spinning her around to face him properly. Amelia had other ideas however. She stopped suddenly and pulled her arm forward. Inertia being what it was the chimera kept moving.

Before he could react and stop, Zelgadiss felt himself being rolled over Amelia's back. A magically enforced elbow to his gut knocked the wind from him and the princess, never letting go of his hand, pulled the fingers back as she twisted his wrist round in a more painful submission lock than he had ever had the misfortune to experience. The inevitable impact with the ground forced what was left of his breath from his lungs and he found himself staring up into her hurt face and tear-filled eyes. It was only then he realised how much his remark had truly cut her.

With a barely chocked back sob, Amelia threw his hand away forcefully and ran on. Not stopping to catch his breath the chimera followed after her, but her door slammed in his face just as he arrived, locks both magical and mechanical bolting him out.

Zel's usually dignified posture slumped as he closed his eyes and lent his forehead against the door, completely and utterly defeated. "Great, just great…"

Downstairs, Xellos made to rise but without even looking up from the bag she was sorting through Lina stopped him

"Leave it Xellos."

"But Lina-san, I-"

"Leave it."

Thwarted, Xellos sank back into his seat and tried to content himself with just feeling the negative emotions from a distance.

At least there were plenty of them.

Once Zel had gone by me I figured he probably said something that upset Amelia. He has a habit of doing that. Not deli- delib- on purpose but I don't think he always realises the effect his words are going to have on other people. Usually Lina deals with keeping moral up, but she was busy and I thought Zel was more likely to open up to me than Lina. So I decided it was time for a talk, man-to-man… or man-to-chimera… or whatever

Gourry's heavy footfalls alerted Zel to his approach and he quickly turned round and stepped away from the door, blushing. Mercifully Gourry didn't seem to notice, or at least, didn't comment, instead he indicated outside.

"Hey Zel, you busy? Feel like a sparring match?" There was something in his voice, a distinctly un-Gourry-like quality that said it wasn't a question.

"No," Zel smiled sadly at the irony "no, I'm not busy" he replied and followed his friend outside.

The street wasn't the best place to fight, so the two made their way to the town gate, signalling to the guard they would be back shortly and stopped within view of the wall. Gourry drew the Blast Blade and took a defensive stance. Taking the hint, Zelgadiss drew his own blade and attacked, lunging forward.

Gourry's stalwart defence pushed Zelgadiss back off him and he watched his friend stumble back with observant eyes. Once Zel realised the swordsman wasn't going to counter-attack he lunged again. With an expert flick of the wrist Gourry wrenched Zel's sword from his grip and sent it flying from them.

Now Gourry pressed forward and Zelgadiss rolled to the side to grasp his sword. He remained on one knee as the attacks kept coming, clashing against his blade with enough force to send vibrations through his skin and down his bones.

Finally it ended and Gourry sheathed his sword. He frowned apparently dissatisfied with his still kneeling friend.

"What did you say to her?" Zelgadiss frowned back and got to his feet, folding his arms defensively.

"What makes you think I said anything? Maybe she's upset at something she read."

"Body language." Zel's eyes narrowed

"What do you mean?" Gourry sighed and sat down, crossing his legs he leant an elbow on his knee and rested his chin in that cupped hand.

"If Amelia had just read something, you'd be angry that she was upset at something like that –unless it was really big. If you were angry there'd be more strength in your attacks and you'd be too proud to stay on your knees. Too proud to defend actually, considering you don't really have to." Gourry righted his head and pointed a finger at the chimera, his eyes decidedly harsher than Zel could remember seeing them "But, your attacks were weak and predictable. If you'd put any effort into it you could have read the pattern in my attack and defended better. So I think you're feeling guilty, which is distracting you."

"You got all that from five minutes of swordplay?" Zelgadiss asked, impressed.

"That and Amelia was crying." Zel's shoulders slumped and his head fell forward

"Right, that… well I… I told her I was too busy looking for my cure to help her with Iris and… that as soon as I had it I could be away from you all… maybe not in so many words but that was the gist of it." Gourry watched the deject chimera for a moment before standing and clamping a hand on the younger man's shoulder. Zelgadiss looked up hopefully.

"You're in big trouble." Zel's head slumped forward again.

"I knew that!" he replied sharply. Gourry grinned and moved back to his position on the floor, Zel followed sitting opposite. The swordsman scratched his head for a moment before delivering his verdict

"It's alright to care about people Zelgadiss."

Zel blinked and his eyes narrowed in confusion, before replying with an indignant tone

"I know that"

"Really? Because every time we get close you push us away again. We were really, really worried about each other yesterday and the day before. Now it's like you're trying to make up for it by being cold."

Zel remained silent as he digested Gourry's thoughts. He knew what the swordsman said was true, but couldn't find any means of justifying or defending himself. Eventually his head sunk in acceptance and Gourry continued

"If you keep that up and push us away every time you get worried, you'll end up lonely." Gourry smiled reassuringly "But if you explain to Amelia that you're upset and you do want her, all of us, around then you'll know we've always got your back. You just need to find a way of explaining to her."

"What" Zel asked, deadpan "be all teary and clingy and hug her and rave about justice?"

"If that's what it takes." Zel sent a glare Gourry's way which had the potential to make grown men wet themselves, Gourry only smiled "Hey, it has to be less painful than paying Lina's tab anytime she's upset." Zel looked away, frowning as Gourry continued

"You need to take care of your friends Zelgadiss. If that means letting go of your pride for a minute and accepting that you do care for people beside yourself then is that so much?" Zel was silent for a moment longer before sighing and looking back to the swordsman

"I'm tempted to take insult at you comparing this to one of Lina's fits. You're right though. The thing is, how? She's shut herself off and even if I could get in what do I do, what do I say?"

"Oh I don't know. Climb to her window with a rose or serenade her from the ground or something" Gourry said standing up and offering a hand to help Zel up. Taking the offer, Zelgadiss raised a brow at the swordsman's comment.

"Roses, serenades? What kind of cheap romance do you think this is?"

"The kind that ends with the two of you alone in her room."

Zelgadiss started, flushed and scanned Gourry's mask of perfect innocence for any sign of a grin or a joke, finding none he blushed more.

"You can't mean what I think you do." Gourry shrugged

"That depends what you think I mean. Don't worry, so long as you keep the noise down no-one else will ever know." Now he could tell Gourry was fighting to keep the smile from his face. He let his hand drift back to his sword and growled

"Gabriev. Start running." Gourry laughed aloud and gingerly, so not to cut or scratch himself, ruffled Zel's wire hair.

"Don't make threats you can't keep."

"The saying is 'don't make promises you can't keep'. And don't treat me like a kid" he protested, straightening the kinks in his hair.

"Then stop acting like one. Go be a man and apologise."

"It's a wonder Lina hasn't killed you yet, if this is how you treat her."

Gourry smiled and put his hand on Zel's back leading him back towards town, despite the chimera's protests and dragging feet.

Sometimes it's strange to think I actually am the oldest of everyone. Except Xellos, because he's a really, really old man, though he doesn't look it. But that has nothing to do with what I meant to say...

After that talk, I wondered if being the oldest made me responsible for…anything. For keeping us all together, making sure they don't get hurt emotionally, making them consider others and be better people for it. Anything other than Lina's safety.

But then I realised, and I think I knew it all along, if that makes sense, but I realised that being older doesn't make me responsible -however being their friend does.

We have to consider each other's feelings and take care of one another, so that someone's there for us when we need them. I think a lot of people would be a lot happier if they had someone there for them. And if those people were happier there'd be a lot less fighting.

I hope I can remember all that later, it sounds important.

Zel and Gourry made their way back to the inn and snuck past Lina and Xellos who were still sorting through the packs the priest had recovered from the lake, discarding everything that was too water-damaged and trying to save what was left.

Gourry stopped at the top of the staircase, and motioned for Zel to continue round the corner to the rooms.

"I'll stay here and make sure no-one comes up for while." Zelgadiss nodded his thanks and continued on pausing outside Amelia's door. With visible hesitation, he gulped and rapped his knuckles against the door softly.

"A-Amelia?"

There was no answer from within and Zel sighed, he knew this wouldn't be easy. Facing a door was worse because he couldn't see her reaction to know if he was only making a bigger fool of himself. He fidgeted with the bracelet on his canteen for a minute wondering if it would be worth his damaged pride when his actions hit him; Amelia was his friend, the bracelet was proof of that; his pride, and his fear, would have to take second place.

"Listen Amelia, I…" he paused and swallowed, finally set aside his own feelings and started again "I'm an idiot and a fool. In no way, shape or form do I ever want shot of you or Lina or Gourry or Xel- well, maybe Xellos. Even when I find my cure I'll still want to be part of… what did I call it? Your ventures." He paused again and when there was no sound from within continued.

"I want to help you find the Heart of Iris, and if I ever say I'm too busy for you again then by all means fireball me. Or have Lina do it, either way. You're one of my best friends Amelia. One of my only friends, and I wouldn't trade that for-" he stumbled on his words, he couldn't say 'anything' that wasn't him, wasn't his priority, not yet. He took a deep breath and finished "-for a lifetime away from Xellos." He hoped that would do.

The silence echoed loudly and he grew nervous, shuffling from one foot to the other.

"I hope you're not asleep. I really don't want to say all that again. For that matter I hope I have the right room and I'm not talking to myself -or worse, to a complete stranger" he added, looking down the corridor to count the rooms. Then his sensitive ears caught a giggle, and movement in the room.

The door opened and Amelia stood there, hugging her arms into herself. Her face was thankfully clear, dry and free from tear stains. A small smile graced her features and humour twinkled in her eyes. The only mark of any kind he could find on her were ink stains on her forearms; apparently she had been constructive with her time rather than wasting tears on him- Lina's influence no doubt.

"I'm worth more than a lifetime away from Xellos-san, huh?"

Hesitantly, Zel moved toward the princess and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, meeting her gaze with a half-smile of his own.

"Much more. Friends?" he asked and Amelia nodded, slipping her arms around his waist in a hug.

"Friends" she agreed.

Peering round the corner at the end of the hallway, Gourry smiled then jumped suddenly feeling another figure graze against him

"Aw how cute. Hehehe Zel-kun is in for the teasing of his life!" Lina grinned and rubbed her hands together gleefully. But stopped and sighed when she felt Gourry's hand on her shoulder.

"Oh alright. Come on they're serving dinner now."

Something big happened today. I'm not sure what, but I think it's something to do with us being together. And looking at those two, I'm sure that whatever happens if we stick together we'll come out of it just fine.

"Hey lovebirds! Come on, last one downstairs has to pay the dinner bill!"

"Lina-san it's not like that!"

A little burnt maybe, but alright.

I know what you're thinking. "That was lame" "Where was Lina" "We want Lina!" right? Well don't worry, every jellyfish needs his moment and now all the mushy introspective stuff is over with we move on to some real cool magic from yours truly.

Next time on Slayers HEART; Nightmare! What are monsters afraid of?