Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN SLAYERS. You'd think by now you get the idea, ne? ^_^
- JUST ANOTHER AU FIC -
Chapter 10 : We're NOT On A Date
He grinned, running a bare hand through his silky length of straight purple hair.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Xellos stood before the full-length mirror in his bachelor's bedroom, appraising his appearance contentedly. While he wasn't one to care for outward appearances -- except for how to manipulate them to his advantage, of course -- he thought he looked good, at least for another night out with the blonde.
Black slacks, dark coat and silk tie over a cream-coloured shirt. Classic and simple.
Humming a soft tune, the Mazoku business lord made his way out of the expansive yet sparsely decorated bedroom, with its off-white, gray marble walls and Chinese scroll paintings; and outside, into the terrace. He was quite alone in his expensive four-room penthouse suite, just a city away from Saillune. Had been for practically ten years, or as long as he took over the management of Wolfpack Corporation. Not that he actually came here often during those long years, always shuttling off and away to some other foreign city overseas, working, always working.
He looked down at the city some twelve storeys below him. The sun had set almost an hour ago, and the streets were now a blur of fluorescent lights and vehicles. All gold. And light. Light mixing with the inky darkness.
He regarded the scene with bemused, open eyes. Filia. If things went as planned, she'd fall for him soon enough. From there he could manipulate her quite easily, somehow convince her to sell out to Wolfpack, and make everyone happy. Moral a method or not, he didn't mind. How many other owners had been driven to their knees thanks to him?
Oh, but she was a very delightful plaything, indeed. So much different from all the others. Slender and graceful, every inch a lady, oh, but what beautiful rage! It almost made up for his allowing her to call him 'raw garbage'.
Almost too late to admit it to himself, but he had missed her. Perhaps she even missed him, too. Though she would probably rather die than admit it. Even with her company in the verge of ruin, so much pride... It might perhaps even hurt *him* to break her, once she realized the trick she'd played into.
He shrugged the thought off. He wasn't one to concern himself with that aspect. She'll get over it. Even if she didn't, why would he care, anyway?
He glanced at his watch. Seven-fifteen. It was about time, he decided, to leave for his second visit.
*~*
The door opened. "Yeah, who is it?" a young, slightly impatient voice drawled.
Xellos grinned at the young man, unfazed. "Is Filia-san home? I came to pick her up for our dinner date..."
"So it's you, huh? Come in, I guess," the teenager offered, ushering him into the living room. "Mom's not here yet, she phoned a while ago to say she'll be delayed a bit. You're here early," he remarked, eyeing the older man warily.
The Mazoku fought the urge to squirm, instead retaining his calm, benevolent grin. Aqua green, spiky hair. Golden eyes. A wild, rakish look about him. He was Filia's son?
"In case you're wondering, I'm adopted," the teenager answered for him. "My parents were distant relatives. They died about eight years ago. I ended up in a street gang for some time, until Uncle Miggy brought me here. Mom-- Miss Filia has taken care of me ever since." He crossed his arms. "The name's Val, by the way. And you are--?"
"Xellos Metallium, at your service," the purple-haired man put in with a courteous bow.
"Oh yeah, the Wolfpack president guy. Reknowned business tycoon, and fruitcake, at least according to Mr. Zelgadis. Well, have a seat, Xelly. Wanna drink while you wait for mother?"
He grinned. "It's Xellos, not 'Xelly'. I wouldn't say no to some tea, if you happen to have any."
The teenager smirked. "Alright, Xelly. Be right back. You make yourself comfortable, or whatever."
Xellos' seemingly closed-eyed gaze followed Val as the young man left the room. Well, that was rather unexpected. So his Fi-chan was a single mom, eh? Frisky young fellow, too. Must have gotten it from her.
The Mazoku stood up, looking around the room. Pretty comfy place. A set of antique chairs with intricately embroidered throw pillows served as the collective couch. A small, bowl-shaped ceramic vase lay on the center table, with baby's breath and hydrangeas carefully arranged within it. A narrow oaken drawer was pushed up against one side of the room, cluttered with figurines, framed pictures of Filia's relatives, and pieces of pottery. Polished wood panel walls, with paintings of the past Ul Copts lining a narrow stairway, mostly white-haired, wrinkled old men with severe faces.
He thought back to that little escapade when he'd first met Filia, smiling in spite of himself at the memory. He had heard the ancestral mansion had burnt to the ground in a fire about six years ago. The clan didn't bother to rebuild, as most of them had migrated already to the north, in the Kaltaart region, practically leaving the entire business to Filia alone. She had apparently settled for this two-story clapboard house, which they also owned, just two blocks away.
Funny how the firepeople had not managed to save the large mansion from burning to the ground -- the fire took out about a quarter of the district, or so he'd heard, from the laundromat in Third Street to the bakery in Fourth -- but the Ul Copts were able to save the portraits and other memorabilia. It wasn't so big a loss, considering the ancestral house was insured, he surmised. And memories have that way of refusing to die. Never forgotten.
He walked over to the drawer, fingering a small but exquisitely detailed tea cup, tiny flowers painted on the side, gold lacy patterns near the rim. Did you forget me, Filia? He thought wryly, picking the piece up.
"Mom made that."
Xellos turned, gently returning the tea cup back on the surface of the drawer. "It's quite an exceptional piece, if I say so myself," he remarked indulgently.
Val nodded, setting down the black lacquer tray with a steaming cup of green tea on the center table. "She's a talented potter. Unfortunately, managing business doesn't leave her enough time to really test out her skills. Here's your tea."
The purple-haired man obliged, and strode across the room for the beverage. A sip. Good. He didn't really feel too comfortable around Filia's son, the boy looked like he was going to eat you or something, but--
"Xelly."
"Hm?" Xellos replied, trying not to twitch at the 'Xelly' comment. Did improper name calling run in the Ul Copt family? He succeeded in retaining his sunny smile. The lad had been staring at him rather fixedly while he was drinking, almost as if he was deciding something.
Val folded his arms. Then continuing to glare at him through hawk-like eyes, he finally blurted out, in a dead serious tone, "What do you want with my mom?"
Ah, now that explains the cold treatment. Feeling protective, eh? The Mazoku's grin widened, amused. "Well, it's no secret. Your mother is a lovely, engaging young woman. I think it's rather obvious I would find her attractive." He set down his now empty tea cup to face the young man properly.
"A likely answer," the green-haired young man commented, the suspicion in his golden eyes not wavering one bit.
"Oya, you're mature for your age."
Val smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment. But listen, Xelly," he said, unfolding his arms, "I'm on your case. If ever you make my mom unhappy, if ever you end up making her cry, or worse," at this, the younger man lightly jabbed one index finger at Xellos' chest to emphasize his point, "I happen to know quite a few old gangster friends who could make life a living hell for you. And no, they ain't no ordinary street thugs, either. You do remember Gaav, don't you?"
Xellos frowned. "Gaav?" The black sheep of the Mazoku family, if there ever was one. The kid *knew* him? Even Zelas was reluctant to speak about the man. Too... uncultured, as she would put it lightly.
The youth's toothy grin grew wider, seeing just the slightest hint of discomfort at the Mazoku's demeanor. "You hide your feelings well. That's good. Maybe too good. Of course, I know you ain't up to just fooling around with my mom." Val turned away, hands casually in his jeans pockets. "Who knows, maybe, in a few months, you could be my new... father." He chuckled, then, in all too familiar Gaav-ly fashion, gave Xellos a rough pat on the back. Xellos managed a laugh too. Even if he was sweatdropping.
Still smiling sharply, Val walked off to pick up the tray and tea cup, heading for the kitchen. "Mom should arrive any minute now. It was nice talking to you, Xelly. And please don't tell her anything about our little conversation. I like to keep my good boy front, for her, you know. And I'm a nice guy, really. I think you are, too."
Xellos shivered.
*~*
"And would you also have tea, sir?"
The blond-haired man frowned. "No. I hate that stuff. Don't you have any wine? A seventy-seven?"
"Well, we do..."
He nodded impatiently, waving the stewardess away with beringed hands. Obnoxiously large rubies, emeralds and garnets winked in the dusky light of the first class Saillune Airliner cabin. "Seagrams 7 with Seven Up. Get it?"
"Alright, sir." The stewardess nodded, and left.
Beside him, a man who looked in his mid-forties chuckled softly. "Still don't like tea, Heigel? I thought you would, considering you'd be taking over that family business of yours."
Heigel smiled boredly, running his hand, each finger adorned with jeweled rings, through his short platinum hair. It was actually bleached blonde, but who could guess? His father would only take him in if he'd dyed his hair the appropriate color. All the more to convince the other relatives of his 'acceptability'. Spoiled, naive snobs, all of them.
"Do they know? I mean, you've informed them already of the changes, haven't you?" Another man in a depressing black traveler's coat inquired from across them. "What's the current owner's name? Fifi, Fanny or something?"
"Filia," Heigel corrected. "Not yet. Well, that lawyer friend of theirs, Greywers, knows. I'll be arranging a small meeting with him as soon as we arrive. But for now," he tapped his hand slightly over his short wooden cane, "I want to keep it under wraps. Don't want to hurt the woman's feelings, or anything, eh, Senator?" He turned to the large, dark-haired, bemustached man sitting directly across him.
The senator just looked back at him dubiously. The fool. He'd never completely won him over, no matter how spotlessly clean his record was... after a few under-the-table deals, of course.
"Well," the senator replied tentatively, "It would be kind to break it to her gently. I myself find this matter uncomfortable, but, as long as you're on the side of justice, Heigel..."
"Yes, I am," the blond man acceded. Suddenly disinterested with trying to explain things -- these geezers were very wearying to deal with, that was for sure -- Heigel proceeded to direct his attention to the rounded window, staring at the dark sea some thousand feet below them.
*~*
The purple sports car parked right in front of her house was indication enough of who else was in her home. She trudged along, adjusting the long-sleeved, high-necked gray blouse she liked to wear in cooler weather, and opened the door.
"Val, I'm home," Filia called out, booted feet stepping into the living room. "Is Mr. Metallium-- oh." She sweatdropped.
"Hello, Filia-chan," The Mazoku in question greeted from one of her family's old mahogany chairs, leisurely flipping through a photo album he'd managed to fish out from who knows where. And not just any photo album, either. The enormous pink one, with satin covering and matching ribbons. The one that contained quite a few embarrasing baby pictures.
Frantically, she swooped to snatch the photo book away, but he was just a little too quick for that. "Interesting pictures, Filia-san," Xellos happily commented as he plopped back down on the chair, cross-legged. "This cute little blond girl in the dragon costume doesn't happen to be you, does it? Quite an adorable creature. Too bad somebody must have left the zipper open, ne? I didn't know you were one for candy-stripe underwear..."
"Namagomi!!! GIVE THAT BACK!" Filia growled, eyes flaming. WHAP-THWACK-WHAP**
"... Mom?" Val inquired, stepping out of the kitchen.
The blonde looked up from her enjoyable activity of Hit The Annoying Namagomi, not that she'd actually succeeded, Xellos managing to dodge each blow. The aqua-haired youth was sweatdropping at the sight of his adoptive mother with a handbag raised high above her head, with the purple-haired Mazoku standing not a few feet away, his nose buried in the photo album.
"Val!" Filia exclaimed, abruptly dropping the handbag, which conveniently landed on Xellos' purple head.
The teenager grinned at his mother sheepishly. "Xelly got here a little early, so I made him some tea and lent him some photo albums to go over while he waited. I thought it would be alright..." he trailed off, noticing the blonde trying to retain a calm, caring and understanding facade through smoking ears.
"It's... quite alright, Val," Filia assured, succeeding not to face fault. She turned to the still happily grinning Mazoku, one eyebrow raised. "'Xelly'?"
"Yare yare, name calling seems to run in your family, Filia-san," Xellos remarked, handing the photo album back to Val and grinning quite pleasantly at the younger man. "Val-kun and I had managed to get to know each other in your absence. Fine young fellow, isn't he?"
"You have--?" She replied.
Val just smiled warmly at the two of them. "Um, I take it you and Xelly'll be leaving soon, mom?"
Filia shrugged. "Well, I have to make you some dinner..."
The youth shook his head. "Nah, I'll be fine with frozen pizza." He turned to Xellos. "You take care of mom, OK?"
"Will do," the Mazoku affirmed. "Well, Filia, shall we?" They'd walk to the front porch, Val following a step behind. He offered the blond woman his arm congenially.
"Alright, I guess," she agreed.
Val saw the two of them off, the perfect little angel, waving after the purple sports car as it drove off into the night.
*~*
For the evening Xellos had driven them to Ippon Yari, a well-known Japanese restaurant in the northern district. The place wasn't any less expensive-looking than the one they'd dined in the other day, Filia noted, low uniform wooden tables, tatami mats, and paintings of flowers and writings in Kanji. Attendants waiting on you every which way.
It didn't help the blonde's already mixed feelings about this, the way the other diners turned their heads to acknowledge them. Nor did the knowing glances some exchanged as they were led to their table. She could just see the news item sure to appear in Saillune Express the next morning: Wolfpak CEO Dates Dragon Crest Owner. Something like that... She thought, glancing hesitantly at her -- alright, *date*. She still found it a strange word to use regarding the Mazoku.
He grinned back at her, taking a delicate bite of sushi. They'd been together a full hour, and strangely enough, she couldn't find it in herself to deny she enjoyed the company. They had managed to talk about old times again, and also to recount what new things had happened to them since they last heard of each other. She'd even laughed, rather heartily, at some of the more amusing tales he recounted when in one of his business trips. He listened intently to what she had to tell, mostly regarding what happened with her as Dragon crest administrator over the years, about Val, and her life, in general.
His attention, the way he would gaze at her, even without opening his eyes, this unnerved her. Yet it flattered her at the same time, and... she could barely admit it, but... Perhaps she was actually beginning to like the annoying namagomi???
But she couldn't possibly think that! Alright... Find something particularly disagreeable about him...
There were several, she noted. His face, and general appearance, first of all. Too gentle. And innocent, the way he smiles. And his eyes, which he almost never opened. Too mysterious. Too inviting. And dark. Darkly beautiful.
The soft chuckle from across the low table stirred her out of her thoughts. "Penny for your thoughts, Filia-chan," Xellos remarked, smiling into her blue eyes.
She could only blush. "I--" she started, then paused, not really sure what to say back.
*~*
Unbeknownst to the two, other pairs of very familiar eyes observed them silently just a few tables away. Or more accurately, two pairs. If only the other two would refrain from... eating (devouring?) too loudly.
"That's MY sushi, Gourry!!!" Lina yelled, deftly snatching the seaweed-wrapped morsel away with her chopsticks.
"But that was in *my* corner of the table, Lina!"
"I still got it *first*. So it's mine! . . . Hey! Give that BACK, Gourry!!!!!!"
"Na-uh! I got it FIRST, Lina!"
This is their idea of a romantic dinner? Zelgadis thought, sweatdropping, as he tried yet again to ignore the two foodfighting lovebirds on the other side of the table and keep his eyes trained on Xellos and Filia. So far the fruitcake hadn't managed to make Filia lose her temper just yet. Interesting.
Now, if only he could have some coffee. Didn't authentic Japanese restaurants serve coffee? He thought they did, but apparently not, at least where this particular establishment was concerned. Why in the blazes did they pick a Japanese restaurant for their date?! And WHY do we have to follow them?
Oh, yeah. Because Lina said so. She thought it would be good to follow them here, whatever her reasons. And Amelia of course agreed. For whatever reasons. And so he found himself a part of a double-date -- evening gathering, he corrected. Only Gourry and Lina were on a date. And the two they were observing. He and Amelia were NOT on a date. At least, not technically. So it was ridiculous to sit so close to her and think just how radiant the dark-haired young woman looked tonight. Even if the simple light blue dress she had on showed off her well-endowed, lithe figure quite nicely--
"What's the matter, Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia inquired, looking up from her share of sashimi and teriyaki steak.
The Chimera jerked out of his wandering thoughts. Damn! You'd been staring at her, you idiot! "N-nothing, Amelia," he remedied, trying to keep a blush from surfacing.
"If you say so," the raven-haired secretary tentatively replied, then turned her attention back to the couple sitting three tables away. She sighed dreamily. "Aww, look at them. It's just so romantic! I knew that someday, Filia-san and Xellos-san shall resolve their differences with the burning light of the love they'll feel for each other! Who were once mortal enemies, now having a romantic dinner date together! Truly, love and justice shall--" She paused in mid-speech, noticing the sweatdropping table occupants around her. "Oh, right, I forgot we're supposed to be inconspicous," she smiled sheepishly, abruptly plopping back down in her seat.
"What's 'inconspicous'?" Gourry asked, chewing down six sushi in rapid succession. He adjusted the oversized tinted glasses and baseball cap Lina had lent him. How that really helped in hiding who he was, if just to avoid the hordes of fan girls who have that nasty habit of following the movie star around, the wiry-haired attorney had no idea.
"Just eat your sushi, Gourry," Lina interposed through a healthy swig of sake. "Hey, lighten up, Zel! We'll be paying for this, after all!"
Zelgadis frowned. Really, he had a lot more important things to do than playing Cupid's spies, or whatever. Like finding a way to tell Filia that... Not that he has enough time... "It's not that, Lina. But I refuse to see how spying on Xellos and Filia's date would help us any."
Lina raised an eyebrow as she managed to pilfer a strawberry rice ball from Gourry's side of the table. "How's that? You're the one who thought we oughta keep an eye on Xellos." She grinned, then grabbed the menu, furiously flipping through the selection. "And we are! Hmm, I think we'll go for seconds..."
The Chimera fought the urge to facefault. "Are you *sure* you didn't drag us all the way here just so that you can eat?"
The redhead shrugged innocently. "Gourry and I already had reservations in a French resto, but we canceled so we could follow Fi and Xel here. And I'm starving, naturally. It takes a lot of energy being an in-demand lawyer, you know."
"Then *why* do I have to go with you?!"
"Well, I just thought you needed a break. And of course, since Amelia was also coming, I surmised you'd want to-- OK, OK, I'll shut up, sheesh." Lina trailed off as she saw Zelgadis turning bluer than usual as he furiously waved his hands in desperate 'Shut Up! I Don't Want Amelia To Hear!' gestures.
"Hm? What's that?" Amelia piped in, turning from her flame-haired friend to Zelgadis and back. "Lina-san's right, though, Mr. Zelgadis. You ought to relax a bit and enjoy yourself. Life isn't all work, you know." She gazed up brightly at him.
"Alright, sure," the wiry-haired lawyer replied, avoiding her eyes. He looked down at his own reluctant order of sushi and sake, taking just a teeny bite of the roll of rice and raw fish. He wasn't one for Japanese food, but...
"That's the spirit, Zelgadis-san!" Amelia encouraged, downing her own cup of sake.
Gourry however had paused eating, mainly because Lina had grabbed the remaining sweet strawberry rice balls, but also because he was intently observing the now empty table three tables away. He scratched his head, puzzled. "Oi, we're supposed to be observing Filia and Xellos, right?" he asked the rest of the group.
"Of course we are," Lina affirmed through mouthfuls of rice cake.
"They're gone."
*~*
Author's Ramblings: Ooh, reached ten chapters! Yay! Might get this fic finished yet. Please be kind and not whap me with Mace-sama for the gaping plot holes and grammatical errors that might've appeared in this. ^_^ I try my best to be consistent. (Jiyuu: And failed, miserably.) Arigatou gozaimasu, minna!
TYING THINGS TOGETHER ISN'T EASY, BUT...
- JUST ANOTHER AU FIC -
Chapter 10 : We're NOT On A Date
He grinned, running a bare hand through his silky length of straight purple hair.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Xellos stood before the full-length mirror in his bachelor's bedroom, appraising his appearance contentedly. While he wasn't one to care for outward appearances -- except for how to manipulate them to his advantage, of course -- he thought he looked good, at least for another night out with the blonde.
Black slacks, dark coat and silk tie over a cream-coloured shirt. Classic and simple.
Humming a soft tune, the Mazoku business lord made his way out of the expansive yet sparsely decorated bedroom, with its off-white, gray marble walls and Chinese scroll paintings; and outside, into the terrace. He was quite alone in his expensive four-room penthouse suite, just a city away from Saillune. Had been for practically ten years, or as long as he took over the management of Wolfpack Corporation. Not that he actually came here often during those long years, always shuttling off and away to some other foreign city overseas, working, always working.
He looked down at the city some twelve storeys below him. The sun had set almost an hour ago, and the streets were now a blur of fluorescent lights and vehicles. All gold. And light. Light mixing with the inky darkness.
He regarded the scene with bemused, open eyes. Filia. If things went as planned, she'd fall for him soon enough. From there he could manipulate her quite easily, somehow convince her to sell out to Wolfpack, and make everyone happy. Moral a method or not, he didn't mind. How many other owners had been driven to their knees thanks to him?
Oh, but she was a very delightful plaything, indeed. So much different from all the others. Slender and graceful, every inch a lady, oh, but what beautiful rage! It almost made up for his allowing her to call him 'raw garbage'.
Almost too late to admit it to himself, but he had missed her. Perhaps she even missed him, too. Though she would probably rather die than admit it. Even with her company in the verge of ruin, so much pride... It might perhaps even hurt *him* to break her, once she realized the trick she'd played into.
He shrugged the thought off. He wasn't one to concern himself with that aspect. She'll get over it. Even if she didn't, why would he care, anyway?
He glanced at his watch. Seven-fifteen. It was about time, he decided, to leave for his second visit.
*~*
The door opened. "Yeah, who is it?" a young, slightly impatient voice drawled.
Xellos grinned at the young man, unfazed. "Is Filia-san home? I came to pick her up for our dinner date..."
"So it's you, huh? Come in, I guess," the teenager offered, ushering him into the living room. "Mom's not here yet, she phoned a while ago to say she'll be delayed a bit. You're here early," he remarked, eyeing the older man warily.
The Mazoku fought the urge to squirm, instead retaining his calm, benevolent grin. Aqua green, spiky hair. Golden eyes. A wild, rakish look about him. He was Filia's son?
"In case you're wondering, I'm adopted," the teenager answered for him. "My parents were distant relatives. They died about eight years ago. I ended up in a street gang for some time, until Uncle Miggy brought me here. Mom-- Miss Filia has taken care of me ever since." He crossed his arms. "The name's Val, by the way. And you are--?"
"Xellos Metallium, at your service," the purple-haired man put in with a courteous bow.
"Oh yeah, the Wolfpack president guy. Reknowned business tycoon, and fruitcake, at least according to Mr. Zelgadis. Well, have a seat, Xelly. Wanna drink while you wait for mother?"
He grinned. "It's Xellos, not 'Xelly'. I wouldn't say no to some tea, if you happen to have any."
The teenager smirked. "Alright, Xelly. Be right back. You make yourself comfortable, or whatever."
Xellos' seemingly closed-eyed gaze followed Val as the young man left the room. Well, that was rather unexpected. So his Fi-chan was a single mom, eh? Frisky young fellow, too. Must have gotten it from her.
The Mazoku stood up, looking around the room. Pretty comfy place. A set of antique chairs with intricately embroidered throw pillows served as the collective couch. A small, bowl-shaped ceramic vase lay on the center table, with baby's breath and hydrangeas carefully arranged within it. A narrow oaken drawer was pushed up against one side of the room, cluttered with figurines, framed pictures of Filia's relatives, and pieces of pottery. Polished wood panel walls, with paintings of the past Ul Copts lining a narrow stairway, mostly white-haired, wrinkled old men with severe faces.
He thought back to that little escapade when he'd first met Filia, smiling in spite of himself at the memory. He had heard the ancestral mansion had burnt to the ground in a fire about six years ago. The clan didn't bother to rebuild, as most of them had migrated already to the north, in the Kaltaart region, practically leaving the entire business to Filia alone. She had apparently settled for this two-story clapboard house, which they also owned, just two blocks away.
Funny how the firepeople had not managed to save the large mansion from burning to the ground -- the fire took out about a quarter of the district, or so he'd heard, from the laundromat in Third Street to the bakery in Fourth -- but the Ul Copts were able to save the portraits and other memorabilia. It wasn't so big a loss, considering the ancestral house was insured, he surmised. And memories have that way of refusing to die. Never forgotten.
He walked over to the drawer, fingering a small but exquisitely detailed tea cup, tiny flowers painted on the side, gold lacy patterns near the rim. Did you forget me, Filia? He thought wryly, picking the piece up.
"Mom made that."
Xellos turned, gently returning the tea cup back on the surface of the drawer. "It's quite an exceptional piece, if I say so myself," he remarked indulgently.
Val nodded, setting down the black lacquer tray with a steaming cup of green tea on the center table. "She's a talented potter. Unfortunately, managing business doesn't leave her enough time to really test out her skills. Here's your tea."
The purple-haired man obliged, and strode across the room for the beverage. A sip. Good. He didn't really feel too comfortable around Filia's son, the boy looked like he was going to eat you or something, but--
"Xelly."
"Hm?" Xellos replied, trying not to twitch at the 'Xelly' comment. Did improper name calling run in the Ul Copt family? He succeeded in retaining his sunny smile. The lad had been staring at him rather fixedly while he was drinking, almost as if he was deciding something.
Val folded his arms. Then continuing to glare at him through hawk-like eyes, he finally blurted out, in a dead serious tone, "What do you want with my mom?"
Ah, now that explains the cold treatment. Feeling protective, eh? The Mazoku's grin widened, amused. "Well, it's no secret. Your mother is a lovely, engaging young woman. I think it's rather obvious I would find her attractive." He set down his now empty tea cup to face the young man properly.
"A likely answer," the green-haired young man commented, the suspicion in his golden eyes not wavering one bit.
"Oya, you're mature for your age."
Val smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment. But listen, Xelly," he said, unfolding his arms, "I'm on your case. If ever you make my mom unhappy, if ever you end up making her cry, or worse," at this, the younger man lightly jabbed one index finger at Xellos' chest to emphasize his point, "I happen to know quite a few old gangster friends who could make life a living hell for you. And no, they ain't no ordinary street thugs, either. You do remember Gaav, don't you?"
Xellos frowned. "Gaav?" The black sheep of the Mazoku family, if there ever was one. The kid *knew* him? Even Zelas was reluctant to speak about the man. Too... uncultured, as she would put it lightly.
The youth's toothy grin grew wider, seeing just the slightest hint of discomfort at the Mazoku's demeanor. "You hide your feelings well. That's good. Maybe too good. Of course, I know you ain't up to just fooling around with my mom." Val turned away, hands casually in his jeans pockets. "Who knows, maybe, in a few months, you could be my new... father." He chuckled, then, in all too familiar Gaav-ly fashion, gave Xellos a rough pat on the back. Xellos managed a laugh too. Even if he was sweatdropping.
Still smiling sharply, Val walked off to pick up the tray and tea cup, heading for the kitchen. "Mom should arrive any minute now. It was nice talking to you, Xelly. And please don't tell her anything about our little conversation. I like to keep my good boy front, for her, you know. And I'm a nice guy, really. I think you are, too."
Xellos shivered.
*~*
"And would you also have tea, sir?"
The blond-haired man frowned. "No. I hate that stuff. Don't you have any wine? A seventy-seven?"
"Well, we do..."
He nodded impatiently, waving the stewardess away with beringed hands. Obnoxiously large rubies, emeralds and garnets winked in the dusky light of the first class Saillune Airliner cabin. "Seagrams 7 with Seven Up. Get it?"
"Alright, sir." The stewardess nodded, and left.
Beside him, a man who looked in his mid-forties chuckled softly. "Still don't like tea, Heigel? I thought you would, considering you'd be taking over that family business of yours."
Heigel smiled boredly, running his hand, each finger adorned with jeweled rings, through his short platinum hair. It was actually bleached blonde, but who could guess? His father would only take him in if he'd dyed his hair the appropriate color. All the more to convince the other relatives of his 'acceptability'. Spoiled, naive snobs, all of them.
"Do they know? I mean, you've informed them already of the changes, haven't you?" Another man in a depressing black traveler's coat inquired from across them. "What's the current owner's name? Fifi, Fanny or something?"
"Filia," Heigel corrected. "Not yet. Well, that lawyer friend of theirs, Greywers, knows. I'll be arranging a small meeting with him as soon as we arrive. But for now," he tapped his hand slightly over his short wooden cane, "I want to keep it under wraps. Don't want to hurt the woman's feelings, or anything, eh, Senator?" He turned to the large, dark-haired, bemustached man sitting directly across him.
The senator just looked back at him dubiously. The fool. He'd never completely won him over, no matter how spotlessly clean his record was... after a few under-the-table deals, of course.
"Well," the senator replied tentatively, "It would be kind to break it to her gently. I myself find this matter uncomfortable, but, as long as you're on the side of justice, Heigel..."
"Yes, I am," the blond man acceded. Suddenly disinterested with trying to explain things -- these geezers were very wearying to deal with, that was for sure -- Heigel proceeded to direct his attention to the rounded window, staring at the dark sea some thousand feet below them.
*~*
The purple sports car parked right in front of her house was indication enough of who else was in her home. She trudged along, adjusting the long-sleeved, high-necked gray blouse she liked to wear in cooler weather, and opened the door.
"Val, I'm home," Filia called out, booted feet stepping into the living room. "Is Mr. Metallium-- oh." She sweatdropped.
"Hello, Filia-chan," The Mazoku in question greeted from one of her family's old mahogany chairs, leisurely flipping through a photo album he'd managed to fish out from who knows where. And not just any photo album, either. The enormous pink one, with satin covering and matching ribbons. The one that contained quite a few embarrasing baby pictures.
Frantically, she swooped to snatch the photo book away, but he was just a little too quick for that. "Interesting pictures, Filia-san," Xellos happily commented as he plopped back down on the chair, cross-legged. "This cute little blond girl in the dragon costume doesn't happen to be you, does it? Quite an adorable creature. Too bad somebody must have left the zipper open, ne? I didn't know you were one for candy-stripe underwear..."
"Namagomi!!! GIVE THAT BACK!" Filia growled, eyes flaming. WHAP-THWACK-WHAP**
"... Mom?" Val inquired, stepping out of the kitchen.
The blonde looked up from her enjoyable activity of Hit The Annoying Namagomi, not that she'd actually succeeded, Xellos managing to dodge each blow. The aqua-haired youth was sweatdropping at the sight of his adoptive mother with a handbag raised high above her head, with the purple-haired Mazoku standing not a few feet away, his nose buried in the photo album.
"Val!" Filia exclaimed, abruptly dropping the handbag, which conveniently landed on Xellos' purple head.
The teenager grinned at his mother sheepishly. "Xelly got here a little early, so I made him some tea and lent him some photo albums to go over while he waited. I thought it would be alright..." he trailed off, noticing the blonde trying to retain a calm, caring and understanding facade through smoking ears.
"It's... quite alright, Val," Filia assured, succeeding not to face fault. She turned to the still happily grinning Mazoku, one eyebrow raised. "'Xelly'?"
"Yare yare, name calling seems to run in your family, Filia-san," Xellos remarked, handing the photo album back to Val and grinning quite pleasantly at the younger man. "Val-kun and I had managed to get to know each other in your absence. Fine young fellow, isn't he?"
"You have--?" She replied.
Val just smiled warmly at the two of them. "Um, I take it you and Xelly'll be leaving soon, mom?"
Filia shrugged. "Well, I have to make you some dinner..."
The youth shook his head. "Nah, I'll be fine with frozen pizza." He turned to Xellos. "You take care of mom, OK?"
"Will do," the Mazoku affirmed. "Well, Filia, shall we?" They'd walk to the front porch, Val following a step behind. He offered the blond woman his arm congenially.
"Alright, I guess," she agreed.
Val saw the two of them off, the perfect little angel, waving after the purple sports car as it drove off into the night.
*~*
For the evening Xellos had driven them to Ippon Yari, a well-known Japanese restaurant in the northern district. The place wasn't any less expensive-looking than the one they'd dined in the other day, Filia noted, low uniform wooden tables, tatami mats, and paintings of flowers and writings in Kanji. Attendants waiting on you every which way.
It didn't help the blonde's already mixed feelings about this, the way the other diners turned their heads to acknowledge them. Nor did the knowing glances some exchanged as they were led to their table. She could just see the news item sure to appear in Saillune Express the next morning: Wolfpak CEO Dates Dragon Crest Owner. Something like that... She thought, glancing hesitantly at her -- alright, *date*. She still found it a strange word to use regarding the Mazoku.
He grinned back at her, taking a delicate bite of sushi. They'd been together a full hour, and strangely enough, she couldn't find it in herself to deny she enjoyed the company. They had managed to talk about old times again, and also to recount what new things had happened to them since they last heard of each other. She'd even laughed, rather heartily, at some of the more amusing tales he recounted when in one of his business trips. He listened intently to what she had to tell, mostly regarding what happened with her as Dragon crest administrator over the years, about Val, and her life, in general.
His attention, the way he would gaze at her, even without opening his eyes, this unnerved her. Yet it flattered her at the same time, and... she could barely admit it, but... Perhaps she was actually beginning to like the annoying namagomi???
But she couldn't possibly think that! Alright... Find something particularly disagreeable about him...
There were several, she noted. His face, and general appearance, first of all. Too gentle. And innocent, the way he smiles. And his eyes, which he almost never opened. Too mysterious. Too inviting. And dark. Darkly beautiful.
The soft chuckle from across the low table stirred her out of her thoughts. "Penny for your thoughts, Filia-chan," Xellos remarked, smiling into her blue eyes.
She could only blush. "I--" she started, then paused, not really sure what to say back.
*~*
Unbeknownst to the two, other pairs of very familiar eyes observed them silently just a few tables away. Or more accurately, two pairs. If only the other two would refrain from... eating (devouring?) too loudly.
"That's MY sushi, Gourry!!!" Lina yelled, deftly snatching the seaweed-wrapped morsel away with her chopsticks.
"But that was in *my* corner of the table, Lina!"
"I still got it *first*. So it's mine! . . . Hey! Give that BACK, Gourry!!!!!!"
"Na-uh! I got it FIRST, Lina!"
This is their idea of a romantic dinner? Zelgadis thought, sweatdropping, as he tried yet again to ignore the two foodfighting lovebirds on the other side of the table and keep his eyes trained on Xellos and Filia. So far the fruitcake hadn't managed to make Filia lose her temper just yet. Interesting.
Now, if only he could have some coffee. Didn't authentic Japanese restaurants serve coffee? He thought they did, but apparently not, at least where this particular establishment was concerned. Why in the blazes did they pick a Japanese restaurant for their date?! And WHY do we have to follow them?
Oh, yeah. Because Lina said so. She thought it would be good to follow them here, whatever her reasons. And Amelia of course agreed. For whatever reasons. And so he found himself a part of a double-date -- evening gathering, he corrected. Only Gourry and Lina were on a date. And the two they were observing. He and Amelia were NOT on a date. At least, not technically. So it was ridiculous to sit so close to her and think just how radiant the dark-haired young woman looked tonight. Even if the simple light blue dress she had on showed off her well-endowed, lithe figure quite nicely--
"What's the matter, Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia inquired, looking up from her share of sashimi and teriyaki steak.
The Chimera jerked out of his wandering thoughts. Damn! You'd been staring at her, you idiot! "N-nothing, Amelia," he remedied, trying to keep a blush from surfacing.
"If you say so," the raven-haired secretary tentatively replied, then turned her attention back to the couple sitting three tables away. She sighed dreamily. "Aww, look at them. It's just so romantic! I knew that someday, Filia-san and Xellos-san shall resolve their differences with the burning light of the love they'll feel for each other! Who were once mortal enemies, now having a romantic dinner date together! Truly, love and justice shall--" She paused in mid-speech, noticing the sweatdropping table occupants around her. "Oh, right, I forgot we're supposed to be inconspicous," she smiled sheepishly, abruptly plopping back down in her seat.
"What's 'inconspicous'?" Gourry asked, chewing down six sushi in rapid succession. He adjusted the oversized tinted glasses and baseball cap Lina had lent him. How that really helped in hiding who he was, if just to avoid the hordes of fan girls who have that nasty habit of following the movie star around, the wiry-haired attorney had no idea.
"Just eat your sushi, Gourry," Lina interposed through a healthy swig of sake. "Hey, lighten up, Zel! We'll be paying for this, after all!"
Zelgadis frowned. Really, he had a lot more important things to do than playing Cupid's spies, or whatever. Like finding a way to tell Filia that... Not that he has enough time... "It's not that, Lina. But I refuse to see how spying on Xellos and Filia's date would help us any."
Lina raised an eyebrow as she managed to pilfer a strawberry rice ball from Gourry's side of the table. "How's that? You're the one who thought we oughta keep an eye on Xellos." She grinned, then grabbed the menu, furiously flipping through the selection. "And we are! Hmm, I think we'll go for seconds..."
The Chimera fought the urge to facefault. "Are you *sure* you didn't drag us all the way here just so that you can eat?"
The redhead shrugged innocently. "Gourry and I already had reservations in a French resto, but we canceled so we could follow Fi and Xel here. And I'm starving, naturally. It takes a lot of energy being an in-demand lawyer, you know."
"Then *why* do I have to go with you?!"
"Well, I just thought you needed a break. And of course, since Amelia was also coming, I surmised you'd want to-- OK, OK, I'll shut up, sheesh." Lina trailed off as she saw Zelgadis turning bluer than usual as he furiously waved his hands in desperate 'Shut Up! I Don't Want Amelia To Hear!' gestures.
"Hm? What's that?" Amelia piped in, turning from her flame-haired friend to Zelgadis and back. "Lina-san's right, though, Mr. Zelgadis. You ought to relax a bit and enjoy yourself. Life isn't all work, you know." She gazed up brightly at him.
"Alright, sure," the wiry-haired lawyer replied, avoiding her eyes. He looked down at his own reluctant order of sushi and sake, taking just a teeny bite of the roll of rice and raw fish. He wasn't one for Japanese food, but...
"That's the spirit, Zelgadis-san!" Amelia encouraged, downing her own cup of sake.
Gourry however had paused eating, mainly because Lina had grabbed the remaining sweet strawberry rice balls, but also because he was intently observing the now empty table three tables away. He scratched his head, puzzled. "Oi, we're supposed to be observing Filia and Xellos, right?" he asked the rest of the group.
"Of course we are," Lina affirmed through mouthfuls of rice cake.
"They're gone."
*~*
Author's Ramblings: Ooh, reached ten chapters! Yay! Might get this fic finished yet. Please be kind and not whap me with Mace-sama for the gaping plot holes and grammatical errors that might've appeared in this. ^_^ I try my best to be consistent. (Jiyuu: And failed, miserably.) Arigatou gozaimasu, minna!
TYING THINGS TOGETHER ISN'T EASY, BUT...