Ghost Slayers
Chapter Twenty-nine
By Relm
It took about a half hours worth of Filia screaming at Xellos before Filia got fed up with the ghostly professor and stormed off. And it was a real big letdown for Lina as she got the popcorn when the fight stopped.
"Shouldn't someone go see if Miss Filia is okay?" Amelia wondered out loud.
"I'll go." Xellos offered putting his hand up.
Lina rolled her eyes. "Keep this is up I'll hand her a zapper to use so that she can smack you."
"So if I get shocked I'll be able to touch things? Interesting..." Xellos mused looking through his hands.
"You could at least pretend that you're a little freaked out by all this." Zelgadis grumbled in obvious disgust. When he became aware of predicament he hadn't exactly been happy. If anything Zelgadis had been confused, worried and a bit depressed. Xellos however seemed to find the whole situation fascinating and didn't seem the least bit bothered about being a 'ghost'. This was annoying to the librarian.
"Why would I be freaked out for? I can go through walls." Xellos mused demonstrating this fact by putting his hand in and out of the wall.
Lina narrowed her eyes at the professor. "You'd better not be thinking about peeping on any of us." She warned him with a deadliness to her voice.
"Oh what a marvellous idea!" Xellos clapped his hands together in delight.
"Mister Xellos!" Both Sylphiel and Amelia protested.
"Don't worry he won't be doing anything." Lina assured both women.
"How would you know that?" Xellos wondered.
"Because I'll kill you if you do." Lina replied sweetly.
"Idle threat." He smiled back at her. "I may be dead already. So why should I care if you kill me again?"
"Zel can you do something for me?" Lina turned to Zelgadis.
"What?"
"Try and hit him."
Zelgadis raised an eyebrow at this request. Truthfully he hadn't known the professor for too long but he was already feeling the urge to strike him. So Lina's request was an amusing one that Zelgadis was more than willing to oblige. With one good whap Zelgadis smacked Xellos upside the head. The sound of the contact of Zelgadis' hand and Xellos' neck was loud with a sharp crack. Both men may be transparent and able to go through things but they were both capable of hurting each other. "How did you know I could do that?"
"Well Slimer can touch other ghosts and since he can't touch other of you that means you two aren't ghosts." Lina explained. "We don't know what you two are at this moment but one thing is for sure you two are the same. So guess what Zel, you get to be my enforcer."
Zelgadis glared at Lina. "Is that a fancy way of saying that I'm going to be stuck being the fruity professor's babysitter?"
"I don't need a babysitter." Xellos insisted. "And even if I did do you really thing that you can stop me? I can hit you back."
Zelgadis rolled his eyes. "By the looks of your arms I doubt you'd give me much of a fight."
"Yours don't look bigger than mine." Xellos countered.
"Do I seriously have to babysit him?" Zelgadis whined.
"Please Zel?" Lina flashed him the cutest look she could manage.
Zelgadis found himself unable to resist or look away from Lina. "Okay... fine."
"Thanks and now you can go find him and make sure he's not doing bad." Lina said with a smile.
"Find him? He's right here...?" Zelgadis looked around and realized that the professor had indeed disappeared. "What the hell he was just here!"
"He's probably harassing Filia. Go find her." Lina advised him.
"Miss Lina what are we going to do about Mister Xellos?" Sylphiel asked once Zelgadis left the room.
"Well I'm not sure." Lina admitted with a sigh. "The situation was complicated enough when it was just Zel we had to worry about. But how many other poor souls are wandering around like ghosts because of this damned book? It's very possible that the victims gravitate to those they were close to. That would explain why Xellos popped up here; he came because of his love/hate connection to Filia."
"But how would that explain Mister Zelgadis following us here? None of us knew him before hand." Amelia rationalized.
"Yeah but he's been a 'ghost' a lot longer and I'm sure that he wasn't terribly close to the people around him. But my point still stands, there could be dozens or hundreds of people that have already fallen victim to this book. We need to find it and stop it from hurting anyone else." Lina tapped her fingers in thought. 'Of course if we get the book what will we do with it?'
"We can assume that the book was at the university... But the book seems to vanish once it attacks so it's probably not there. But still it would be a good idea to check the school out. Maybe we can find a clue as to where it went." Sylphiel suggested.
"It might be futile but it's better than nothing. Why don't the two of you go to the university and check it out?"
"What if they ask about Mister Xellos?"
"Tell them he's really sick with the flu or something." Lina suggested.
"Won't they wonder why we would know this rather than them?"
Lina frowned. "Okay um... then tell them Filia told us because the two of them are dating."
Amelia and Sylphiel just stared at Lina with complete utter confusion and horror. "What?"
"Hey it's the easiest way! Alright fine I'll call the university and get Xellos to talk to them."
"Get him to say he has mono. Because then he'll be off sick for a while." Sylphiel surmised.
"Good idea."
...
Once Sylphiel and Amelia left to go the university and Xellos called in sick Lina went to get herself ready for the things she had to do that day.
"What do you think you're doing?" Filia demanded coming into the room.
"I'm getting ready to go to the bank." Lina replied while finishing brushing her hair.
"No you're not!"
"Yes I am. I need to cash those cheques ASAP. We're up to our ears in bills Filia!"
"But you were strangled and electrocuted yesterday!"
"So what I'm supposed to stay cooped up in a room for the rest of my life? I feel fine. And as the owner of this business I have responsibilities. Cashing cheques and dealing with bills are a big part of that."
"Can't someone else do it?"
"No, and you know that. My name is on the account." Lina exclaimed while rolling her eyes.
"Well you should have someone come with you." Filia rationalized.
"You're not going Filia."
"Why not?
"Because I need you as insurance to keep Xellos from wandering off."
"Why do I have to babysit that... thing?"
"Because Xellos is a pain in the ass that doesn't listen when you tell him not to do something. I don't trust him by himself."
"And why can't Amelia or Sylphiel watch him?"
"I sent them to the university to investigate. So you're my only option."
"But Zelgadis and Slimer are watching him." Filia protested. She really wanted to get the hell away from Xellos. He kept looking for more and more ways to annoy and scare her. It was getting very frustrating.
"It doesn't matter. He's connected to you just like Zel was to me. If he happens to get frightened he'll end up popping up by you. And the last thing I need is that ghostly fruitcake professor popping up at the bank while I'm trying to deal with the finances. So quit arguing with me Filia! You're staying and that's final! Now get back to watching Xellos. I don't want you to let him out of your sight till I come back." Lina ordered Filia.
"Fine." Filia grumbled.
...
"It feels like ages since we've been back here." Amelia mused out loud as she and Sylphiel walked the halls of the university.
"It wasn't that long Amelia. However it is nice to see the place. Doesn't look like anything has changed."
"I'm sure Mister Xellos changed the classroom when he took over Miss Filia's class. It's a good thing she isn't here I'm sure she would be livid."
"I would be mad too if someone stole my job." Sylphiel sighed. She remembered just how upset the blond teacher had been. It had been horrible.
RING RING! Amelia's phone rang loud and clear. "Who's calling me?" Amelia wondered out loud as she fished around her bag for her cell. "It's my sister. Hello?" Amelia answered her phone.
"Hey Ame, it's your big sis."
"Hi! What's up? Is something wrong?"
"Oh yes something completely terrible!" Gracia/Naga exclaimed over dramatically over the phone.
"What happened? It's not Dad is it? Is he okay?"
"OHOHOHOHO! Oh Amelia you are always so easy to fool! I'm calling because I need a favour. I have to some dinner thing tonight for the theatre. Some charity or something I don't remember. But I need a date!"
"Sis the only guys I know are ghosts or not available!" Amelia protested.
"Oh c'mon now Ame! You wouldn't let your poor big sis go all alone would you? A champion of love and justice wouldn't turn their back on someone in need."
Amelia frowned. "Fine I'll find you someone. But you owe me!"
"OHOHOHOHOHOHO! Get him to pick me up at the theatre at 7pm. And make sure he's pretty!" Gracia/Naga added that last bit before hanging up.
"Great." Amelia muttered. "My older sister needs to find an attractive single man for her to take to some charity dinner tonight."
"That's a tall order on short notice."
"What am I going to do? I don't know anyone who would be willing to go out with her! Why did I say yes?" Amelia cried out loud.
"How about asking one of the professors here at the university? We're already here so it wouldn't hurt to ask." Sylphiel suggested.
"Most of them are married or too old for my sister's tastes."
"That Hellmaster Phibrizzo guy isn't too old and I'm pretty sure he's single."
Amelia shook her head. "My sister is as tall as Officer Gaberieve! She won't want to go out with someone quite so short or young looking."
"Well there's got to be someone you could ask."
"I HATE THE DUMB FRUITCAKE!" A man yelled slamming a door as he entered into the hallway. "He calls in sick the last moment so we can't even get a sub! And who gets stuck with his class? ME! And it's not even my field for crying out loud!" Val yelled once more as he stomped his way through the halls.
Sylphiel looked at Amelia and motioned towards Val.
Right away Amelia shook her head.
"He's not too young, not too old and I'm pretty sure he's tall enough for your sister. And Miss Filia is always telling me how her stepbrother has no social life." Sylphiel pointed out.
"He won't say yes though!" Amelia protested. To be honest she didn't like Val all that much. Amelia was used to abrasive personalities but Val scared her a little bit. He was always so angry.
"You won't know unless you try." Sylphiel pushed Amelia in Val's direction blocking the angry man's path.
"Um hello?" Amelia said shyly.
Val looked her over with a frown plastered to his face. "You work with Filia... what do you want?"
"I need a favour. My older sister needs a date for a charity dinner-"
"No." Val answered right away.
"But you don't even know her!" Amelia protested.
"I don't care. I don't want to know her. Now leave me alone." Val brushed past her not caring one bit.
"It's a shame poor Gracia would have to be turned down by two guys." Sylphiel spoke up.
Val barely acknowledged her as he looked in her general direction.
"You see, Mister Xellos would have taken her but he's so terribly sick." Sylphiel explained.
This made Val stop and think for a moment. "So this Gracia woman was going to be his date?" He demanded looking at Amelia.
Amelia unable to lie convincingly opted to just nodding. It wasn't a complete lie; Xellos surely would have gone with Gracia/Naga if he was asked. Because going out on a date with a tall busty lady would surely annoy Filia and Xellos lived to annoy his precious Filia.
"If I went out with this woman I'd be stealing that idiot's date?"
Again Amelia nodded.
"Okay where and when do I need to meet this woman?"
"A-at the Sailune theatre... at um 7pm." Amelia stammered.
"I suppose I have to dress nice. It's a good thing I look good in a suit." Val mused going into a classroom and slamming the door.
Both Amelia and Sylphiel let out a sigh of relief.
(Author's Notes: I'm a weirdo I know... I'm going to throw some Naga/Val in this fic. I hope that doesn't bother anyone but after writing 'Dance of the Nutcracker' I've become quite fond of that pairing. Plus giving Val a more active role in this fic works out better than what I had originally planned for the plot/climax.)
