AN: Hello everyone and thank you for checking out this story. I'd just like to tell you a couple things before you get started. I started writing this story before I knew about Gourry's past (as per what the creator told us about it, anyway) and so that whole part of the story is a bit AUish, but other then that, it follows the anime and is set sometime after DarkStar. Also, when I began writing this, I didn't know that 'monster' was a bad english translation of 'mazoku'(which translates roughly to demon or demon-folk). So instead of changing everything (really, I'm very lazy), I'd just a leave a note explaining everything. Thank you for your time.

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Chapter One: Haunting Past.

The wind blew coolly, bringing along a reminder that fall was setting in. The leaves had just started changing and the sun blazed just a little less brilliantly. They’d been walking since morning, enjoying the final days of summer. They were walking north, which was another reason at the weather change.

Lina glanced over at Gourry, wondering why he’d become so quiet lately. She’d asked him twice, but both times he’d just smiled and said he was fine. Anyone else would have taken his dopey routine at face value, but Lina Inverse knew better. Sure, Gourry had his special moments, but he wasn’t out and out stupid, no matter how much she made fun of him.

“Hey, Gourry,” she said. No answer. “Gourry!” she repeated. Nothing.

Gritty her teeth, she grabbed his arm and shook him senseless.

“Huh?” he muttered, looking vaguely surprised.

“What’s going on in that empty head of yours? I was trying to get your attention.”

“Just thinking, is all.” He replied with a shrug. She rolled her eyes.

“Thinking about what?” she demanded, still disbelieving.

“We’ll be into town soon, another fifteen minuets at best.” He sighed.

She gave him a slightly confused look and he knew he should have kept his mouth shut. He was going to add something about how he’d read the map last night, but knew it was useless. She’d never believe that. It was then that he realized that Lina’s hand was still clinging to his elbow, and that was enough to make him forget about everything else.

Smiling slightly, he set his other hand over hers. This contact was enough to distract her as well and she tried to pull away, but he laced his fingers with hers.

“Gourry…” she said softly, looking at the ground.

“Hmm?”

“Please let go.” She asked in a very small voice. He rarely heard her sound so… vulnerable. Slowly, he released her tiny hand. A few moments of awkward silence followed, but Gourry soon grew sick of it.

“I’m hungry. I hope there’s a good restaurant in Terrily.”

“The town is called Terriele” the sorceress sighed.

“Whatever.” He shrugged. “I hope they have good food.”

The mention of food, as always, perked up Lina’s mood.

“I hope so too. I’m starving!” she agreed.

As Gourry had predicted, the walk soon ended as they entered the small town. The first inn they came to happened to support a modest restaurant as well, so the travelers were immediately sold.

Lina demanded that they eat before they even saw their rooms, so of course Gourry complied. They were seated and there orders had been taken and as soon as the food got there, everything would be perfect.

“I think we should start heading east.” Gourry said nonchalantly.

“Sure,” Lina replied, drumming her fingers on the table. “As soon as we see what’s in Saliian.”

“No,” he snapped. “We’re not going any further north.”

“But it’s only another day and-“ she began.

“I don’t want to, Lina.”

“Why?” she demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. Gourry looked away, searching for any excuse not to answer the question. As he gazed across the room, he met with dark green eyes. First they widened with recognition, then immediately filled with a hate so deep it made the swordsman shudder. Lina waived her hand in front of his face.

“We’re leaving.” He said quietly as he grabbed her arm.

“No, I’m hungry.” She snapped, yanking back her captured limb.

“Lina, you don’t understand, we-“ he began, something near panic in his voice.

Just as she was about to let her fist connect with his face, a young serving girl with bright green eyes approached their table. Her face was elegantly shaped, and she walked with her chin held high. Lina had a sneaking suspicion that the girl had a noble upbringing.

“Is there anything I can get for the two of you?” the girl demanded. The waitress, who couldn’t have been any older than Amelia, was studying Gourry just a bit too closely for Lina’s comfort. She was about to interrupt their silent little tryst when those hate filled eyes descended on her.

“We don’t need anything.” The swordsman said, voice angry and cold. The girl looked as though she was about to say something more, but instead she scowled and walked away.

Utterly confused and just a little upset, Lina looked to Gourry expectantly.

“We should get an early start tomorrow.” He said after a long moment of silence. “I’ll-“

“I’m going to bed.” The sorceress interjected and got to her feet.

“But dinner-“

“Good night, Gourry.” She said softly and retreated to her room. He thought of going after her, but couldn’t fathom what he’d say. Finding he no longer had an appetite of any sort, he (much to the disapproval of the restaurant) cancelled the order and went to bed.

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Dark clouds hovered low, blocking out the early morning sun. The wind had picked up a bit, but it was still warm enough. Gourry stood at the end of the hall, waiting for his sorceress. He had wanted to leave before dawn, but Lina had yet to emerge from her room. Sighing with borderline annoyance, he tapped on his companion’s door.

“Lina,” he called and got no answer. Knocking a bit harder, and still getting no reply, the ex-mercenary tried the handle. To his surprise, the door opened.

Cursing, he kicked it open the rest of the way, expecting any number of horrible things. Sword drawn, he burst into the room to find… his beautiful sorceress curled up on top of her blankets. Caught up between the urge to hug her or throttle her, Gourry sheathed his , he closed the door and walked over to the bed. He wondered why Lina would be so careless as to leave her room unlocked all night. It may not have seemed like much to others, but with all the enemies she’d gathered, the difference between a locked and unlocked door could be the difference between life and death.

He studied her for a long moment before realizing that she’d been waiting for him. Waiting for him to come and explain what was going on. Running a hand through his hair, he wondered how much of her trust his mistake had cost him.

Sitting next to her, he gently pushed her hair out of her face and ran his knuckles down her pale cheek. His heart ached just looking at her.

“Lina,” he whispered, fingers lingering on her small face. “Wake up.”

When he got no response, a soft smile lit his features.

“Breakfast is ready, Lina. You better get up before I eat it all.”

Instead of jumping up and running out the door as he expected, she just shook her head and curled into a tighter ball.

“Go away.” She murmured.

Gently, so as not to startle her, he picked her up and settled her onto his lap. Seeking warmth, the sorceress wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her small form trustingly against his. Knowing that this was the closest he’d ever get to the woman he loved, he reveled in the moment. She was so small and so soft. How could anyone so fragile be so strong?

“You had better not have been lying about breakfast.” Lina muttered darkly into his shoulder. He looked down in surprise.

“I thought you were asleep.” He said dumbly. Watching her face color to match her hair was more entertaining then it should have been. Refusing to meet his eyes, she slid from his lap.

“I just… realized I wasn’t cold anymore.” She said quickly. He thought of pointing out how warm it was, but decided against it. Instead, he only smiled. Silently, she brushed her hair and tidied up. The swordsman was pleasantly surprised that she hadn’t asked him to leave during her morning ritual.

“Hey, Lina-“

“I’m hungry.” She interrupted and headed for the door.

“But last night-“

“Just forget about it.” She snapped, turning to face him.

“Alright,” he whispered, sorrow filling his perfect sapphire eyes. Feeling a pang of guilt, Lina sighed.

“It just doesn’t matter, alright?” she said softly. He only nodded, but it was obvious that several things were still bothering her protector. The sooner they were out of this town, the sooner things would go back to normal.

“So where are we heading?” Gourry asked casually, but Lina heard the pleading in his tone.

“East, I think. We haven’t seen the coast in a while.” She replied with a shrug. A large smile claimed the swordsman’s features and he placed his hand atop her head.

“Thanks, Lina.”

Her eyes found his and she smiled back, anger and doubt forgotten. Absently, he stroked her hair and it didn’t occur to her to tell him to stop.

That’s how the young, raven-haired, serving girl saw the pair. There were soft smiles on both their faces and Gourry’s hand tenderly entwined in the sorceress’s hair. Anger swelled within the younger girl as she saw the obvious love the couple shared.

“Leaving already?” she growled as they came down the stairs.

“Actually-“ the red head began, meaning to put an end to the girl’s attitude.

“Yes.” Gourry interrupted as he shoved Lina behind him. Thankfully, she held her tongue.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s none of your business, Alisia.” He snapped. He heard Lina’s sharp intake of breath and wondered if her surprise was at his anger or his use of the other girl’s name.

“Why don’t you go home and visit Briseya’s grave?” she shouted, stepping closer. Saying nothing, Gourry turned to leave. “You killed her, Gourry Gabriev, and you will pay for it!” she screamed and lunged at him. Lina was in front of him in a second, fireball in hand. Alisia shrunk away from the destructive magic, but red-head didn’t care. She tossed the fireball at the girl and ran out the door.

The two ran until they were well out of sight of the inn then finally dropped into a walk.

“Gourry-“

“It’s nothing.” He cut her off and began to walk faster. He had to get away. There were too many dangers here, too many memories. He should have never let Lina take him this far north. He was pulled of his racing thoughts when the sorceress grabbed his arm. Her tiny hand held tightly as he tried half-heartedly to pull away.

“What the hell is going on?” she yelled, stomping her foot. At a less dramatic moment, it would have been cute.

“Why did you run away when you were thirteen? Why won’t you go home, Lina?” he shouted back.

“I-I… It doesn’t matter!” she exclaimed.

“Exactly! I don’t ask you about your past, so don’t ask about mine!”

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he regretted them. He watched as Lina’s face crumbled and how, horribly enough, tears came to her eyes. Her hand dropped away from his arm.

“Fine.” She said in a very tiny voice and looked away.

“Gods, Lina, I’m sor-“ he stammered, reaching out for her. Taking a step back, Lina just shook her head.

“It’s none of my business.”

Refusing to look at him, the red-head walked away.

End of Chapter One.

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Thank you all for reading. Please tell me what you thought.