Disclaimer:  I don’t own slayers, and I’m too lazy to look on the back of the tapes to see who does.

 Standard warnings: continued exposure to any piece of fiction written by myself will induce insanity. Thank you.

        The sun baked the earth in its golden rays, the air practically hissed steam, as a figure in white moved onward. It was already late into the afternoon but the heat hadn’t let up. The cloaked man stopped by a spring. Once again splashing water into his face and clothes, cursing the fact stone skin could not sweat. The heat etched into his veins setting the warm blood inside of him alight mixing an intoxicating fume of rage and lust. It had been to long he decided, he had to resolve it tonight.

                                       It only took him a few seconds to find their trail again and he was off. They weren’t to far ahead of him that was certain. He idly wondered how they would react; it was so hard to predict them sometimes. He supposed Lina would give him a pat on the back and make a big deal about how distant he was, while Gourry would just welcome him back as if he had just been gone for a few minutes. He wondered how they would react to his little confession.

          For a few seconds he began to slow down, the fear of rejection and betraying a friend cutting deep within his soul. They accepted him, they had not looked upon him with disgust as so many others had, but had welcomed him with open arms. Could he do this to them? What would be their reaction? What would he say ‘hello I’m in love with you’? He began to laugh a strange hollow laugh. He was an idiot to think he could have his cake and eat it too, he’d ruin everything with his little confession. Or perhaps he had already ruined it; he began to shake as he remembered that night that Gourry had seen it in his eyes. The swordsman had automatically moved toward Lina as if saying we belong with each other.

          He began to walk the way he had came only to turn around and see they were right behind him, he sweatdropped.

“Why does it feel like the lord of nightmares is laughing at me?” He moaned right before an angry red head put him in a headlock.

“So your trying to avoid us huh, Wont even come to visit your friend? Always acting like a stranger huh? I should fireball you.” Zelgadis began to panic trying to pry himself away. ”Just kidding.”  Lina said releasing him.

“You should feel lucky Zel, if it weren’t for the dragon cuisine you’d be a dead man.” Gourry joked and smiled stiffly.

        “Dragon cuisine?” he managed to mutter when he finally was able to breath normally again. Before he even knew what happened Lina had grabbed his and Gourry’s arms and had begun to drag them down the forest path.

“Guess what’s a few miles ahead, and note it has to do with a little admirer of yours.”

“OH GOD NOT ASHFORD’S.” Zelgadis yelled and tried to pry himself away, but Lina merely tightened her gripe.

“Yup, and this time they’ll actually have the dragon. Free of charge of course.” Lina began to cry. “After all these years I will finally get what deserve OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO.”  Both her companions’ just sweatdropped.

                           After a few hours of continual running, and exasperated cry from her companions they had finally made it to Ashford’s small restaurant. Soon the poor chefs found themselves faced with the infamous Lina Inverse and her two worn out companions. Unfortunately for the chefs..

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT ISN’T DONE!”

“You cannot rush a master piece of pure genius, it needs at least two more hours to cook to reach absolute perfection.” Ashford said trying to repel away a bawling redhead. “But I want it now!”  

                    Zelgadis laughed at the red head. He had to admit she looked cute sometimes, especially when she was trying to get her way. He felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked up, sapphire colored eyes came into contact with azure. Gourry looked at him for a moment uncertain, I want to talk to you about something. For a moment Zelgadis was certain he read distrust and hurt in the swordsman’s eyes, but Gourry just looked away. “We need to talk.” Gourry said gravely and motioned outside.

                    They walked side by side, not speaking but moving silently along each a little wary of the other. Gourry lead them to a small pub near the edge of the town. It was a dingy little place that looked like it had never heard of soap. They sat down across from one another, their expressions stern. They stared at one another their expressions hard and unwavering. 

          “ I know why your hear.”  Gourry finally said, his fingers pulling at the collar of sweat drenched shirt. Zelgadis began to itch at his hot skin , cursing it a second time for denying him even the least bit of comfort. “water” He said waving toward the bar tender, he then turned toward Gourry. “Does Lina know?” He asked his voice wavering ever so slightly. The bartender arrived and handed the cup of water to Zelgadis who immediately drenched himself in the cool liquid the cascaded ever so pleasantly down his chest .

“No” Gourry said still eyeing him suspiciously.

              “Why not?” Zelgadis said gritting his teeth and making an almost feral sound. “She has something to do with this you know.”

“I’m doing it so you wont get hurt. Lina’s not the delicate flower type, if you tell her your bound to get bruised.” Zelgadis merely laughed at this.

“How would you know?”

“Lina cares for me?”

“But how much does she really care, and how much do you really care? How long has it been and you haven’t even bedded her?” At this Gourry seemed to snap and grabbed him by the collar. “What happens between us is non of your business.”

                “Your just afraid to admit the truth, aren’t you? Hiding under a veil of false pretenses.” Gourry stared blankly at him for a moment. “Veil of false pretense as in your hiding from the truth, by living behind lies.” Zelgadis explained helpfully.

“Oh thanks, wait.. I mean, why would I hide from the truth. My life is perfectly fine. It’s going exactly the way I want it too.”

                   “Except your being bussed around by a so called little girl who you can’t even play knight to anymore. Not now that Gorna nova (sp) is gone, you’re just a hopeless sidekick.”

“As if your life is better wandering from place to place searching for a cure you can never find.” This time it was Zelgadis turn to snap and he grabbed the swordsman’s arm.

“I wouldn’t have to be alone, If you would just stop being such a stubborn idiot. You don’t love Lina; she’s just like a little sister to you that’s all. Let her go she’ll be happier in the end as will you. You need to stop living in that macho little mind of yours and accept how you feel. I’ve learned how , so can you.”

“I can’t leave her.” Gourry gritted out and pushed back Zelgadis’s arm. “Truth is I don’t know how I feel, but I can’t just abandon her.”

“ Lina’s not a delicate flower, you said that yourself. It’s about time you discover exactly how you feel, and you now there’s only one way to answer that.” Gourry felt a stone hand on his shoulder.

“I’m ready,” he said.

              Lina patted her stomach that slightly bulged at the remains of its ever so delicious feast. She was in a good mood, and nothing could get her down. Not the fact that the guys had disappeared. Or that she had spent three hours looking for their no good mugs to find out little more then they had been in a bar a few hours ago. OR the fact she had to pay for her own room. OR the fact she was in a big personnel crisis right now, and the people that were responsible for it had somehow ditched her. Okay so maybe one thing was getting her down.

         It had been months since the last she had seen Zelgadis. She had thought that for certain that her feelings would have gone by now, yet their weight still remained, and yet she still loved Gourry. It was driving her insane being split in two, she cared for both of them so much it hurt her to think she would hurt them. She sighed, willing her companions to her side so she could evoke great physical harm on them for tearing her apart from the inside. If only I could decide which one I care for. She shook the thought out of her head and continued to walk on toward her lonely room.

                      Suddenly she heard something that made her heart run cold, it was a small-agonized moan. “Gourry?” Lina said her eyes going wide, it sounded like the swordsman was just a few feet away from her. She turned toward the room and hesitantly pressed her ears against the door.

“Please…. don’t..” She heard Gourry say in gasps of breath.

“This has been to tiring….. I’m afraid I’ll have too.” Came the cold voice of none other then Zelgadis.

                      Immediately slammed through the door, tears in her eyes,

“Stop don’t kill him I love him.” Suddenly she opened her eyes, and gaped. Gourry was the first to realize the horror of the situation as he desperately grabbed on the smooth torso of his lover. Zelgadis felt Gourry grab unto him, as he witnessed his entire life flash before him.

                     Lina continued to stare gaping like a fish out of water. I loved them both of them, and all this time they were gay! They didn’t even have the decency to tell me that they’re gay. I spend over three freaking years throwing myself at them and they were probably screwing each other the whole time!  The look that came across Lina’ face was enough to set the world on fire.

     Gourry threw his arms desperately against his lover. “I love you he began “. Pressing the bulk of his body against his smaller companion. “I love you too. Gourry.”

“Yes?”

“I should have listened to you about Lina.”

“DRAGU SLAVE!”

Author- Bwahaha! This piece of fiction was induced by reading too much Gourry bashing found in various alt coupling stories, as well as cannon coupling stories. So instead of being a responsible author and writing a powerfully moving Gourry story, I wrote some small bit of yaoi to make myself feel

Read and review: This story needs at least one review to prevent me from deleting it. Three to make me feel good, and five to get Gourry and Zel the best medical help to deal with yaoi induced catatonia.