Disclaimer: Don't own nothing! :D

Note: Heeeeeeeeey, guess what everyone?! My story has been posted onto an archive on a special slayers hentai website! I know that sounds horrible, but really, it has lots of cool stuff:)

(the link is my 'homepage' on my website...;3)

isn't that freaking awesome?! i've read through it and everything, and there are some really talented stories on there and i am so honored to have been asked permission for my story to be there as well. Seriously, you really have to check it out. It's updated monthly from what I can tell, and the guy that owns it is very honorable-for serious.

cheers!

:)

"Back already, Lina-san?" Xelloss asked a bit sarcastically as Lina ran into the waiting room, her hair a mess and her face a flushed red.

"Sorry, Xelloss. That took longer then I thought it would." She replied between breaths, adding the last part as an afterthought.

Xelloss nodded, watching her. "What did they have to say?"

Lina thanked the gods that her face was already red, because she was betting that a blush was creeping into her cheeks anyway. "Umm, well I met King Gregory's son. He's a very...nice guy." She chose her words carefully, trying to dance around the subject of their conversation.

"Ah, yes. Fairagg, was it? He was indeed a very charming young man. You forget Lina-san, I met him while you were passed out only days ago."

"Right, I forgot." Lina muttered under her breath, turning away. "Well, let's head back now before Hiyo sends her daddy out to look for me."

OoO

"Back so soon, Lina?" Zelgadiss asked, looking up at her over his newspaper.

Lina shrugged, feeling more exhausted than she remembered just from the walk back. Or was it her little episode with her supposed 'fiance'? She shuddered.

"Ms. Lina, you should head up to your room to get some rest. You look awful." Hiyo advised, giving Lina a worried stare.

Lina gave Hiyo an annoyed look. "Gee, thanks, Hiyo. You really know how to make a girl feel better." Turning and heading for the stairs, she didn't give Hiyo a chance to reply.

Hiyo lifted a hand in an attempt to stop her, but Zelgadiss shook his head. "Relax. She's probably just really tired. I'm sure it's nothing serious."

"...But I didn't mean anything by it." Hiyo murmured, lowering her eyes to the table in shame.

Xelloss watched her closely, his eyes catching her every movement. His suspicions were appearing to be confirmed, and it was obvious that something was not right about this innocent little girl. He glanced up at the oblivious chimera seated in front of him and sighed. Maybe not all that obvious.

Even so, this girl was up to something. She was far too nice, too naive, too harmless. In a way, she was very much like him. And that was defientely something that everyone here should be terrified of.

OoO

Lina collaped onto her unmade bed, breathing in the sweet scent of last night's lovemaking. It gave her some comfort to be surrounded by the prescense of Xelloss, even if in reality, he wasn't here at all. To her though, he was still right beside her, his eyes smiling down at her while he brushed her hair behind her ears. When did she fall so in love with him? Since when did she think of him as a support instead of an obstacle?

Everything was happening too fast. This trip, her life, the world. Everything. It seemed like everyone was just slipping by her, leaving her alone to search for her own answers.

Sighing, she sat up, turning to peer out the little window behind her bed. The little people below her skipped by happily, oblivous to the horrors of the world around their tiny little village. It made a tiny part of Lina very jealous to see all of these people so safe in their little bubbles of complete and utter contentment. What was it like to be just like everyone else? To wake up in the morning in the same bed as the night before, to see the shining ocean just over the hills every day of her life? What was it like to be stable?

She'd never know.

Because she was special. She was Lina Inverse, one of the most famous sorceresses of the world today. Her life was wrapped into the small bundle she carried on her back everywhere she went, and it was a life she'd never escape...ever.

The weird thing was, she'd never wanted anything more then this kind of life. She had always enjoyed her days as a wanderer; it gave her the only happiness she'd ever known. Or maybe that was because Gourry was there beside her. Yes, that's right. As soon as Gourry left, everything had fallen down around her.

Lina was strong though, and she knew that she would have to get over him one way or another. But was her one way out Xelloss?

"Lina-san?"

She turned her head slowly, the shining amethyst eyes coming into her view. "Hey, Xelloss." She greeted him softly, a smile spreading across her face.

He smiled back, his eyes expressing the concern he was feeling. Apparently Lina had been too deep in thought to hear his entry, and the strong emotions vibrating from her body made him worry.

"Are you ready to leave yet? We think we may have found another piece to the spear." Lina nodded, standing and walking to the chair where she had left her armor. "Where are we going?" She asked while slipping on her special boots.

"Atlas City." There was a long pause, and Lina looked up to find Xelloss staring at her expectantly. "Oh." She answered lamely, looking away while donning the rest of her attire. He watched her silently, his eyes boring into her soul, making her skin crawl.

"Are you all right, Lina-san?"

"I'm fine." She knew that she had answered too fast, and that her voice cracked a little, and she coughed to cover it up, but Xelloss had caught it. He wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her head. "You know, Lina-san, it's ok to tell me how you feel. It's a waste of energy to be jealous of ghosts."

She let out a sob, closing her eyes tight. "Xelloss, I know I'm being so unfair, but just the thought of seeing him again...it scares me." She sniffled, and then continued. "I don't know what I would say, or even how to say it. And it feels like I'm being so selfish because I'm here with you, but my heart still knows him. I-I can't deny that."

"It's not like anything is definite Lina. Who knows if you'll see him at all? There are millions of people in Atlas City."

"...Yeah, you're right. Let's just...go..."

"As you wish, Lina-san."

Just in case you don't remember, Gourry and Sylphiel are in Atlas City together living happily ever after. Oh, dear:)