Wow! We're at Chapter 9 already! This is record timing for me! YAY! (dances insanely and falls over) Gehhh…

"Once Innocent" is my own song. DO NOT TAKE IT.

Disclaimer: I don't own Slayers.

Chapter 9: Band Practice Again and Truth or Dare

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Lina yawned, and stuffed her homework into her bag. "Thank God that's over." she grumbled. "No kidding. I swear, if I hear another math problem, I'm gonna hurl." Phibrizzo groaned, pretending to make barfing motions. "Hey, when's dinner?" the redhead asked from her position on the wood floor. "Whenever you feel hungry, I guess." Phibrizzo replied, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. "Oh. Well, I'm hungry, so…" the ruby-eyed freshman grunted, and hopped to her feet. "The kitchen is downstairs, near the place where you met the gang." the dark-haired boy instructed, before his stomach began growling. "Oh. Looks like I'm hungry, too." he laughed. "Well, what're we waiting for!" Lina asked, grinning widely. Her partner grinned as well. "Last one to the kitchen table has to do the other's homework for a week!"

"You're ON!"

--

"……" Phibrizzo stared glumly at Lina as she finished off her ramen. "Looks like you've lost, for once!" Zellas said with a smirk as she gave her brother his own bowl. "Yeah, well, I'm sure in Truth or Dare…" Dynast chuckled, as he reclined in a battered old La-Z-Boy. Lina suddenly remembered something. "Hey, isn't your concert tomorrow?" she asked the sulking freshman on her left. "Eh? Oh, God, yer right!" the leader of the "Demon Lords" gang (and band) gasped, and leaped out of his chair. "You can watch us practice if you want!" he called to the redhead as he and his other four band members raced down the creaky stairs to their basement. "Sure! Be right down!" the new houseguest yelled back, downing her ramen.

--

Five minutes later, the whole band was assembled in the basement, with Lina sitting on the floor watching them. "Alrighty, let's GO!" Phibrizzo yelled, and with that, the practice began. "This song's called 'Once Innocent'. Hope you like it, Li-Li!" he called cheerfully to the one-girl audience. Sighing, the redhead shrugged and signaled for him to continue. The whole band complied, knowing that tomorrow would be their big debut:

-Piano Solo-

Phibrizzo:

Shadows surround my room in the middle of the night

For the longest time, I don't know what to do

Then, father comes and protects me again

Dynast:

Throughout our lives

Our hopes and dreams

Rested on the biggest things in our hearts

But now, we're on our own

No one's left to wash this pain away

They've left behind the one thing we could never feel again

Valgaav:

In our rooms

We hope and pray

For the one person that could save us from ourselves

And our own ambitions

-Chorus-

In our eyes, they are gone

Yet they're here inside our hearts

Through the months and the years

Our hopes, fears, and happiness

Have slowly drifted away…

All we have is the lullaby they sang

When we were once innocent

Phibrizzo:

Shattered heartbeats echo in our minds

A song that never had a tune

Replays through our darkest fears

Before the sun comes up

Life begins so normally

Then suddenly, it changes lanes

Dynast:

One would almost think

There's something we should do

To keep us from going insane

Over the loss of the ones we…loved

-Repeat Chorus-

Phibrizzo:

My heart is racing

"Let it be them"

I wish they'd come back again

But, I know by now it's only a dream

A fallen leaf in the tree of my mind

Valgaav:

As my pulse quickens

I think of her again

One more loss in my life

I wonder "If this is what I am to be…

Why can't I just cry?"

Dynast:

Why can't we just start it over?

Phibrizzo:

Why can't our lives become better?

Phibrizzo, Valgaav and Dynast:

Why are we so lost?

-Piano Solo-

Phibrizzo:

Shadows surround my room in the middle of the night

For the longest time, I don't know what to do

Then, father comes and protects me again…

It took Lina a few seconds to realize the song was over. When she did, she leaped up from her seat and began clapping wildly. "WHOO-HOO! That was great!" the redhead cheered. Phibrizzo flushed slightly, and rubbed the back of his head. "Eh, it's nothing, really. Now, we still have to practice. The rest of the songs are going to be a surprise, so if you don't want to spoil it…" he explained. His partner was already halfway up the stairs before he'd finished saying "surprise". "Don't worry! I'll just wait for you guys to play Truth or Dare!" the immature freshman called, scrambling up the creaky stairs.

--

Half an hour later, the "Demon Lords" and Lina were seated in a circle in front of a bottle. The lights in the room they were in—the living room—had been dimmed slightly. "Alright! Ladies' first!" Phibrizzo said with a grin at Zellas. "Okay." the blonde guitarist smirked, and spun the bottle. It landed on Gaav. "Gaav, truth or dare?" she asked her younger brother. "Uh…dare." Gaav answered with leer. "Oooh, good choice. Right…I dare you to run around outside butt-naked and scream 'I love cheese' at the top of your lungs!" Zellas cried, overdramatically pointing her index finger at the drummer.

"WHAT!" the whole group (except Zellas and Dolphin, who were laughing) screamed. "That's too good!" Phibrizzo laughed insanely. Lina snorted with laughter, and fell onto her back, rolling on the ground in mirth. Valgaav stayed silent, as usual. Sighing, Gaav began to strip off his clothes in front of everyone. "OUTSIDE!" Dolphin squealed, covering her eyes in mock-horror. "Well, so-rry!" the shirtless (and ugly) teenager smirked, and walked out the door.

"Quick! To the window!" the eldest of the Rubyeye siblings roared, and charged to the nearby window. Lo and behold, there was Gaav, running in circles on the front lawn, screaming "I LOVE CHEEEEESE!" at full blast. Lights were turning on in every house in the neighborhood. Laughing uncontrollably, Zellas called "You can come in, now! Hurry before the cops come!" Blushing uncontrollably, the now fully-nude drummer charged through the door, yanking his clothes on hurriedly. "Okay…now it's my turn!" he gasped. "Alright, whatever you say, Cheesy!" Dynast teased, crossing his arms over his chest.

--

Amelia and Zelgadis looked at each other worriedly. "You think Lina's alright?" the goth asked, twiddling his thumbs. "I'm actually glad the teacher paired her and Phibrizzo up." the raven-haired beauty replied with a smile. "Really? Why?" the brown-haired young man asked. "Well…let's just say I know stuff." The "Princess" giggled.

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YAY! Chapter 9 IS DONEEE! (done) R&R please! I'll give you the keys to the Rubyeye house if you do! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!