The first thing Zelgadiss noticed was the overwhelming loss of strength in his exceptionally sore body. He noted he'd felt better, mouth curling into a smirk. It didn't take him long, before he became aware of a slight weight against his shoulder. He rolled his head to the side, feeling a soft, warm head of hair brush across his face. He relaxed slightly, but refused to open his eyes, as the mid-day sun shone full in his face. In a normal circumstance, he would be aggravated over being in so helpless a state, but this was different. Feeling too drained to move a muscle; Zelgadiss lay there, back against the boulder, waiting for something to happen. And which it did, a few minutes later; though the chimera took no notice as sleep had overcome him.
Lina moved her head ever so carefully and rose to a kneeling position. With a stretch and a big yawn, she regarded her friend with her usual cheerful air, as if the previous night's events had never occurred. No, she had not forgotten them, nor would she for a very long time, but Lina refused to give in to despair.
The sorceress leaned in very close to him and whispered. "Zelgadiss-san, feeling better?"
Zelgadiss' face twitched and he batted an eyelid, but he tilted his head to the side, his only reply, faint breathing. Lina sat back and rubbed her neck nervously. Well, no use bothering the poor guy. I may as well go searching for something to eat. That'll be rich, I bet there isn't anything around here all that interesting, oh well.
Her thought process shattered as something sent a chill up her arm. Her gaze slowly drifted to a strange looking insect sitting on her right hand. Lina held her breath, wondering what the heck it was. The bug moved suddenly, its pointed abdomen curling over its back. Lina let out a terrified shriek and all but jumped ten feet into the air. She shook her hand like mad, sending the large scorpion flying. It hit the sand beside her and she crushed it under the toe of her boot. "Yuck! What a sick looking bug!" Then her eyes darted over to Zelgadiss' still quiet form, hand over her mouth. Surely the ear-piercing shriek would have woken him. He was so very sensitive to everything.
"Zel?" She waved her hand across his face a few times before laying her head to his chest. At the sound of a heartbeat, she relaxed. Biting her lip, she ran her hand along his face, tracing his features, in almost a loving manner, then froze. What the heck am I doing?
She'd never touched his skin before, and had always been curious of the texture, whether it was either rough or smooth like polished marble. Yet it was neither of these. As she studied his relaxed features, her mouth gaped. For the first time since they had found themselves here, she took notice that Zelgadiss wasn't looking quite the same. She could have been certain he had lost a few of the raised stones around his eyes. Before she could catch herself, she raised her hand and pinched his cheek. This only set her mind pondering even more. His stone flesh had given a little to her touch and she was quite sure, being part rock golem, that shouldn't be possible.
"I don't believe it!" She muttered. "Then, this is why the bullets wounded you? How could it be, unless your curse is fading. That must be it, or my name's not Lina Inverse." She smiled slightly at her conclusion.
"Well, your name is Lina Inverse..."
Lina started and found herself staring straight into his eyes. "Z-Zel."
"I was wondering the exact same thing, myself. I can't see why it couldn't be plausible." Came a tired reply.
Lina folded her arms and cocked an eyebrow. "Wait a minute, how long have you been conscious?"
"Ever since you screamed bloody murder. But you finally got my full attention when you pinched me. I wondered what had gotten into you." He managed a wry smile that caused Lina to blush several shades of crimson.
"Well, I-" She glared at him. "How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Even in the helpless state your in, still come off so...so....bold, sure of yourself. You smart ass you-" She smirked.
"Oh, I don't think I'm that helpless..."
Lina raised an eyebrow in question, as Zelgadiss took her right hand in his and kissed her ever so gently on the top of her hand. Lina felt a chill run up her spine and she pulled her hand away in haste. "D-Don't do that!" She snapped. She scooted away and pulled her legs up under her chin and stared at the ground. She was too distracted to notice Zelgadiss was blushing furiously. He was surprised at himself, but it was too late to turn back.
"Hmm, nani?" He replied, with an innocent air.
"Do-what....you just did?" She sputtered, feeling a lump rising in her throat.
"Which was, pray tell?"
Lina slowly raised her head, eyes narrowed. But as soon as she met his gaze, discovered her heart beating wildly. "I'm not even going to waste my voice."
Zelgadiss closed his eyes and rolled his head back against the boulder. "Lina, exactly where do you and I stand?"
"Huh?"
The shaman sighed and shook his head. "Never mind."
Lina frowned and edged her way closer to him. "We are good friends, very good friends, Zelgadiss."
Zelgadiss gazed back at her with half opened eyes. "Yeah, I know that. But that's not what I mean."
Lina furrowed her brow. "Zelgadiss, I cannot give you a clear answer. Besides, I always thought it was you and Ame-"
The chimera stopped her in mid sentence. "She's a nice girl, but I don't feel anything more for her than brotherly love. She has her good points, and I'll admit that I was physically attracted to her, but that all faded when I realized that was all that drew me to her in the first place. I want to love everything about someone, not just pieces." He faltered over the word love. He was feeling ill in the pit of his stomach and figured he was wasting his time.
Lina suddenly felt as if she was loosing air. She choked as her throat tightened and forced out. "But, Zelgadiss, I can't give you the answer you want to hear. I don't know exactly how I feel about you, when..."
"Gourry, right." Zel muttered miserably.
"Yes Gourry. Look, as of this point on, I hold both of you in the same light. You have both followed me faithfully, protected me, and I've had your friendships. You can't possibly understand how difficult this is for me to make a decision. How can you expect me to answer you now." Lina spoke haltingly, throat stinging and on the verge of tears. She gazed up at him, her fiery eyes flickering, silently begging him to drop the subject. I just need some time to think.
Zelgadiss turned his head the other way, his voice forced. "I'm sorry, Lina. I don't know what came over me."
There was a long span of tension between them, which was only broken when Lina suddenly hopped up and took off. "Oi, Lina?" Zelgadiss shouted out worriedly.
"I'm going to find something to eat!" She called out over her shoulder. "Aren't you hungry?"
Zelgadiss nodded numbly, not that he was, after making a miserable fool of himself.
"So I'll be back in a bit! Don't you go anywhere now." She winked at him and waved, before disappearing over the rise.
"Like I could." He smirked. "She sure recovers from emotional anxiety quickly; wish I were able."
Not too far away, Lina crouched over the small stream. She stared into the clear water absently for a long while before she filled the flasks. Why are you stalling, Lina? You know you just lied to him big time! What are you waiting for? You almost lost him twice now; are you going to wait for another horrible incident before you let him know how you really feel?
"Shut up!" Lina replied gruffly to her inner voice. She let out an exasperated groan and tilted her head back. "Why am I doing this?" Or more importantly, what am I afraid of?
"Well, I expect she won't be coming round for a while, do you?" Zelgadiss yawned lazily in the miserable heat. He shut his eyes in annoyance and slouched where he sat, only to wince in pain. "Damn!" He folded his arms crossly. "Well, I have absolutely no idea where to go from here. This desert seems to go on around us forever, and I suppose you won't point us in the right direction." I must be losing it... He cracked open one eye and smirked at something in front of him. The shaman didn't have another chance to sink back into deep thought because right there and then, someone stole behind him and covered his eyes.
"Guess-"
In an instant, Zel's arms shot up and placed an iron grip on the wrists above his head.
He heard a yelp of surprise and let out a sigh. "Lina."
"Yeah, who'd you think it was? Ow, Zelgadiss, your hurting me, let go!"
"Gomen, Lina, but what do you expect. You know how I am. I don't take surprises too well." He let loose his grip and she worked her way over to him. He frowned at the red finger marks on her wrists where he'd griped her and took her hands in his and massaged her arms. "Sorry..."
"Nah, I had it coming. I should know better." Lina smiled and shrugged.
"Heh, well I should learn to loosen up a bit." He replied, eyes straying from the redhead, again to something ahead of him.
"Um, Zelgadiss? What are you looking at?" Lina tilted her head in a childlike manner that made him smile.
"I have company..."
"Nani?"
Zelgadiss turned her around and she laughed as she saw a large golden form sitting a few yards away. "A camel? How did he get here?"
"He just showed up. I think he's wild or escaped from a settlement. I would say the latter." His eyes widened when Lina got a crafty look on her face.
"This is great!" She clapped her hands together. "We've got a ride."
"Lina..."
"Then when he's no use to us anymore, I've heard camel flesh isn't that bad."
Zelgadiss made a face. "Lina-san, how cruel! He's been a better companion than you have, for the last few hours."
Lina fell forward on her face, then spun around folded her arms. "Companion?"
"Listens to me for a start." He said in a casual tone. "Yes, a very good listener..." A small smile curled on his lips, but Lina didn't notice.
"Y-You were talking to an animal? A dumb camel, and you think he's a better companion than me?" Lina's eyebrow twitched as she laid a hand to his forehead. "Zelgadiss, are you feeling okay?"
The chimera rolled his eyes. "Yes Lina, I'm perfectly sane." He began to chuckle at Lina's genuinely worried expression. "Here I have been stewing in the heat, while you've gone off to gods know where, and so who else would I have to talk to all this time? I should be asking you if you are alright, to become jealous over a camel; Lina you are a riot. That you would actually believe-" His voice trailed off as Lina gave him a warning glance.
"Well, if that's how you are going to act towards me, then I guess I'll have this all to myself..." She pulled out a cloth containing the collection of wild fruit and such she'd found around the stream. She popped a date into her mouth and sighed. She lifted one of the flasks to her mouth and drank long.
Zelgadiss raised an eyebrow. "Suit yourself. I don't have an appetite. I doubt I could keep anything down. I'm still quite sore." He sank even lower against the boulder and closed his eyes.
"You're no fun. A joke for a joke, Zelgadiss. I was just paying you back for making a fool out of me. You can have some." She held out the flask to him.
"I said no, I don't need anything." He turned his head away.
"Zelgadiss, you should have some water though. You don't want to dehydrate." She crawled over and hovered over him. "Come on."
Zelgadiss took the flask and drank the whole contents of it in one gulp. "Thank you." He made a face though as the liquid hit his stomach and shoved the container back over to her.
Lina nodded. "Besides, I was just playing along with your little joke."
Zelgadiss grinned. "Oh, sure you were..."
Lina stuck her tongue out at him. "Hey, are you strong enough to stand?"
Zelgadiss smirked and blinked stupidly at her. "Well, actually, I was kind of comfortable where I am."
Lina clenched her teeth in annoyance and refrained from smacking him over the head. "Zelgadiss!"
He sighed long. "I don't really know, but I'll give it a try. We can't stay here forever now, can we?"
Lina smiled. "Well, this isn't my idea of an ideal situation." She crouched down and took his hands. "I'll help you. On the count of three; one, two...three!"
Zelgadiss used all his strength to lurch to his feet, and with Lina's help, succeeded in standing, only overbalanced and nearly knocked Lina over as he collided with her. The sorceress yelped and threw her hands tightly around him to keep from falling backwards and he did the same to steady himself. Only, now they were both blushing. For a small space of time, they froze in each other's gazes.
Lina's voice came out in a jumble. "Uh-uh...are-you-balanced-now, Zel?"
The chimera nodded numbly. "I think so."
Lina laughed nervously. "Good then..."
"Yeah..."
"Zel?"
"Huh?"
"What are we doing?"
"I don't know..."
Silence.
This is kind of nice...
I wonder what she'd do to me if I kissed her right now?
"So..."
"So?"
More silence...
"Okay! Let's see if we can catch that camel!" Lina broke free and headed toward the beast, which was still sitting quite happily, chewing on dried grass.
Zelgadiss sighed and followed, wincing as he took each step. "Be careful Lina."
"Here, camel, nice camel; Lina needs you're help." She approached the animal with caution, hands outstretched. "Nice camie wamy..." She smiled as the desert creature turned his head ever so slightly, "Good boy, stay right..." and spat on her, right in the middle of the forehead. "...there..." Lina made a sour face. "Oh that's disgusting!"
Zelgadiss chuckled behind her. "Camels spit. Told you to be careful."
Lina pivoted and glared over at him. "Yeah, I knew that..." she wiped her forehead in displeasure.
The camel yawned loudly and rose to his feet, snorting lazily. Zelgadiss stiffly walked past Lina and held out a hand to the beast. "Hey now, stay...shh..." He laid his hand to the camel's muzzle. The camel huffed his warm breath in Zelgadiss' face and shook his head.
"You need to do something about that breath of yours. Well Lina, now what? He seems tame."
"Keep him right there, I'm getting some more water." She disappeared but returned within minutes.
"I take it we'll attempt to ride him? But what do we use for steer him?"
Lina shrugged. "I haven't a clue..." she sat down and sighed. "Gee! Why don't I think of these things?" She knocked herself in the head with her fist. "Damn, well, kill that idea then..."
"Don't worry about it Lina. We don't need the camel." He took her by the shoulder. "Come on, nothing will ever be accomplished by hovering around in one place forever."
"Hai, lets go." She rose and slipped her arm gently around his waist and they started off once more, but at a slow pace for Zelgadiss' sake. She turned her head to look at the camel one last time. "So long poor creature, you escaped your doom." She grinned up at Zelgadiss, who shot her a knowing sidelong glance, and then turned her attention back to the dusty road ahead.
"Mmmhmm..." The grey-gloved hand held aloft a discarded set of armored shoulder pads. "Interesting." A huge grin spread across the face of the stranger. "I shall find you soon, Lina-chan!" The mazoku priest clapped his hands together cheerfully. A slight breeze tousled his shoulder length hair as he lifted a hand over his eyes to view the endless, white sea of sand. "This aught to be a piece of cake." He picked up his staff and phased out. Now I only have to figure out what direction they chose... He smiled as he reclined in a velvet covered seat, sipping dark red wine, in a little dimension all his own. Shouldn't prove too difficult, considering the distance they'd have to travel. Won't be long now, no indeed.