Finally chapter 4! XD I'm getting so lazy! Thanks so much for the positive reviews, they're muchly appreciated.

Towards a Resolution

"Well, aren't ya happy looking!" Kid thumped Serge on the back, "I take it you two worked out yer problems?"
Serge nodded, unable to suppress the smile that lit up his features, "But you could have waited a few more minutes."
Kid glanced sideways at Serge but remained silent as they walked down the hall to Miki's room.
Miki raised her thin eyebrows when the pair entered, "Did Slash make a miracle recovery or are you just naturally that happy, Serge?"
Serge jumped a bit before grinning sheepishly and pulling on the ties of his bandanna.
"Neither." Kid rolled her eyes, "It's no use askin' him. Let's just figure this out."
The three took seats around a small, black lacquer table that stood near the window. The dancer drew the curtain and rested her face on her hands, her fair face obscured by shadows.
"Keep your voices down," she cautioned, "Did Slash have any more information."
"Nothing that we didn't already know," Serge sighed, "The serving girl brought him a cup of tea and he drank it thinking it was from either Kid of me."
"Why in the world would someone do something like this!?" Miki slammed her fist on the table, "and with our concert approaching!"
"He'll be ok by then." Kid suddenly piped up, "I grabbed the tea cup as a last minute thought from the inn and while Serge was with Slash I took it to the local doctor. Seems it was a mild poison, and only enough ta make him sick for a bout a week." Miki's faces visibly brightened, "Only a week!?"
Serge threw an arm around Kid, "Good job! You're smarter than I thought!"
"And what's that supposed ta mean!" She shoved him away, but pride shone in her eyes, "So, are we just gonna wait til he's better?"
"I'd like to." Serge stood up, "and we could all do with a rest. Yamaneco's not going anywhere and if it does go over a week I'll call in someone else."
"Sounds fair enough…"
"But that still doesn't tell us who did this!" Miki burst out, "I want to know. And kick their ass for hurting my Slash!"
"'My Slash'?" Serge went slightly pale.
Miki rubbed her head and blushed a bit, "Sorry, we're just really close and I'm really protective of him. It just kind of came out."
"Is that all…" Serge breathed out in relief.
"Well mate! Go and tell him the good news! Ya probably wanna get back to him anyway, right?" Kid winked.
Serge blushed and coughed a bit, "Y-yeah." He stammered and ran from the room.

"Serge is a nice boy." Miki commented as the door shut as his footsteps became fainter on the polished wooden planks of the boat, "He's loyal t his friends."
Kid smiled a bit, "He is…Hey, Miki, do you have any clue as to who might've poisoned Slash?"
Miki tapped her chin, "I'm not familiar with the residents of Termina but they don't seem like the type who would hurt an idol. Besides, with all the commotion about Yamaneco and the Porre Military and then you guys being mixed up in all this, anyone could be responsible…"
"What would you say about the people on board the boat?"
"You think one of the team members could be responsible?! But they love Slash!"
Kid focused on a tour poster above Miki's bed, "Yeah. But whoever poisoned him didn't plan to kill him. I told ya that the particular drug used only makes the victim sick when it's such a small dose."
"You do have a point. But why?!"
"Dunno…"
"Well, if it was one of our group members I'll throw them out into the middle of the ocean! Into a group of feeding sharks!" Miki snarled a bit.
Kid chuckled, "Yer really protective of him, ain't ya?"
Miki blushed a deeper shade of red this time, "I love him…I truly do. I would do anything for Slash."
"Love?" Kid looked puzzled, "Like between a man and a woman?"
"From my side that's how it is. I know Slash doesn't feel the same way though. Ever since he started traveling, when I talk to him he seems distracted. I think he may have found someone else," Miki groaned, "I have the most rotten luck with love!"
"Eheheheh, I'm sure you'll find someone." She put a hand to her forehead, now I just really hope she doesn't ask why I keep suggesting Serge go visit Slash. Or open the door.

Serge glanced fondly down at the sleeping Slash and pulled the soft blanket over him. He was preparing to leave the room when the door burst open.
"How is he!?" the Magical Dreamers' manager inquired anxiously.
Serge felt his muscles relax, "He's asleep now. I think he's feeling a little better."
"Good!" the manager's face melted into a mask of relief, "So you think he'll be ready to perform in the concert coming up?"
Serge shrugged, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Let's leave him alone now."
As the two strolled the deck the manager began speaking, "Hey…how did Slash hook up with you guys anyway?"
Serge blinked, "I think Miki asked us to looked for him and we obliged. Slash wasn't to keen on coming back here so we took him with us."
"That boy gets distracted so easily! Were you in there checking on him just now?"
"Y-yeah, I guess you could say that…"
"Hmmm, looks like you're getting sunburned, your face is red. Anyway, he is lucky to have friends like you. Slash won't be rejoining you on your journey, but I'm sure-"
"What makes you think he's not coming with us?"
The manager gave him an incredulous look, "He's sick, not rehearsing and we have a show coming up! Besides," he narrowed his already squinty eyes, "There's someone out to kill him!"
Serge scowled, "Slash has been working so hard! On fighting and singing! He's actually one of my most powerful and well-balanced teammates now. And I don't think someone's out to kill him, and even if someone were I would protect him! Like everyone else I care about!"
Confrontations where everyone doesn't come out ok! Slash's slightly upset voice rang out so loud in Serge's head that the deck momentarily wavered in front of him.
"He's coming with us!" Serge stated and turned quickly on his heel, the manager crossed his arms and watched the blue-haired boy marching quickly away from him.

"Are ya off to kill something, mate?" Kid flattened herself against the wall as Serge stomped by.
"W-what?" He stopped and turned, "Oh, hi Kid."
"Don' sound so happy!" Kid stuck her tongue out and smacked Serge on the back, "What's the matter? "
"I'd rather not talk about it where everyone can hear."
"Then let's make a quick trip to the tavern. Ya never ate this mornin' anyway."
Kid settled into the seat across from Serge and waved a waiter over.
"What will it be?" The young man smiled politely.
"Just some soup," Serge tapped his fingers on the worn wood tabletop restlessly.
"Water," Kid smiled at the man and then turned to face Serge, "So why are you so upset?"
"Well, Slash had just fallen asleep so I was going to leave-"
Kid smirked.
"Stop thinking like that. He's sick and needs to sleep, that's all. But were not discussing him here, so I was leaving when the manager walked to see how Slash was doing. We were talking and he said something about Slash not traveling with us anymore." Kid scratched her head, "Sounds a bit pig-headed but pretty harmless to me."
"It was the way he said it and the reasons he gave for him not being able to leave again. He actually sounded happy to bind Slash to this boat again! And then he said 'someone's out to kill him' and looked at me like I was the one who did it to him!"
"I think ya took what happened to him the hardest of us all…did it really seem like he was accusing you?"
Serge paused as the waiter brought the food to their table.
"He didn't use any names but seemed like he was implying that we're not good company. He even went so far as to say that Slash hasn't been practicing at all because of us!"
"And that's why he sings and plays that bloody guitar everywhere we go," Kid rolled her eyes, "And didn't he hear us talkin'? Whoever poisoned Slash sure as hell didn't want to kill him, either that or they were an idiot."
Serge stirred the reddish liquid in his bowl slowly, "I feel so bad for leaving…I guess what happened is kind of my fault."
"Why'd ya do that anyway?
" "Well," Serge attempted to smash a small piece of potato in the bowl.
"Tell me. Now." Kid pinned him with a gaze that could rival Marcella's on a day when she really wanted something to die.
Serge swallowed hard, "Well, you see, last night at the inn I woke up in the middle of the night and Slash was still up. We started talking and he said how there was someone really important to him already. I…didn't realize whom he meant. So, to avoid talking to him in the morning I just ran off. You know the rest."
"Yer kinda clueless when it comes to ambiguous declarations of love. Many people's heart woulda skipped a beat if someone they liked told them that in the quiet moonlight, "But I guessin' you know whom he was talking about now?"
Serge choked on a spoonful of soup before gulping it down with a hiccup.
"I guess so." Kid grinned, "Bask in his attention, Serge. I personally saw this coming from the first time we met up with him in the woods."
"So, you don't mind?"
"Naw…" Kid reached across the table and grabbed Serge's hands, "You're me best mate, Serge. I want you to be happy, ok?"
"Thanks Kid!" Serge swung her hands up and allowed them to hit the table hard enough that the soup bowl clattered over. Some of the other diners spared annoyed glances in their direction and Kid rubbed her newly sore hands while glaring her now embarrassed friend.
She bit her lip to keep from laughing, "Yer welcome. Now, if you're done causing a ruckus how about we head back to the Magical Dreamers' ship and then find a place to hole up for the night?"