The Slayers: Lina Zelgadiss Xelloss Gourry Amelia Val Filia Sylphiel
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~*~ Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special! ~*~
Part Four
"Mr. Zelgadiss?" Amelia called as she knocked at the door to his room in the carriage house. "Please, it's lunchtime… and it's hot out here…Hi!"
Zelgadiss, recently awakened, opened the door and squinted into the brilliant sunlight. "Hi. Sorry, I must have been dead to the world. Just a second and I'll get Beast up too. He needs…something."
He roused the slumbering animal and scratched his head, "Come on boy, let's see what the leftovers are like at the Mayor's, eh?"
"Daddy's gone for the day, as you'd expect, but there's plenty to eat, I'm sure. The cook should be back from shopping any time with real dog food and your father called to say we should take you over to meet the insurance adjusters at 1:30."
"Thank you, Amelia. Your family's been very kind…"
"And you guys were so smart to collect those emergency clothes and things before you left last week," Amelia smiled.
"Yes well that would have gone up in smoke too if Rezo hadn't insisted Val drop the boxes off before we went…and that we include our special things as well."
"Pictures?"
Nodding, Zel expanded the list, "Yearbooks, awards, keepsakes, heirlooms…amazing that we did that…Val's crate from his mother, Xelloss' staff and box of mementos… He'd just given me some things that had belonged to my mother, his sister. I might have lost those forever." He shook his head and ran his fingers past his eyes, clearing away stray lavender bangs.
Patting Beast on the head, Amelia looked down and crooned to the wolf-dog, "And we are soooo glad you were staying with the professor while we were gone, aren't we?" She walked on ahead and held open one of the back doors to the mansion, "And our equipment and musical instruments are stored with you in the carriage house for now."
She was relieved that Zelgadiss was composed and speaking to her. He hadn't said a word the night before as he witnessed his home of less than a year burn in an extremely hot, unnatural blaze. Beside his father and friends, Zel had clung to the wolf-dog, eyes brimming with tears a short time, then allowed himself to be driven home by the mayor.
Rezo had offered to stay and deal with the officers and firemen, permitting the boys to leave and sleep off some of the shock. Luna was on the scene. She had been returning home from work, when she spied the smoke. Later, she drove Lina and Filia back to her place for the night, while Gourry drove Val in his new Suburban to his home. Xelloss and Sylphiel were taken to the shrine…
~*~
Knock, knock
Xelloss opened the door to his tiny, single-room in the 'visiting priest' section of the shrine. On the floor was his box of keep-sakes, his ruby-capped priest's staff, and a bag containing all that remained of his wardrobe—two pairs of pants, socks, underwear, a t-shirt and a log-sleeved, cotton shirt. Beside his cot-like bed stood a small table with his toothbrush, deodorant, and shampoo bottle. His damp towel hung from a hook and his hairbrush was in his hand.
"Yes? Sylphiel? You are not supposed to be in this part of the shrine, my dear…" he smiled, then opened his eyes.
"'A priestess may enter the priests' dormitories to convey a message', quote, unquote from the rulebook and I'm here to escort you to lunch!" The tall slender girl smiled shyly beneath his dark gaze. "I, ah…packed a picnic to take to the gardens, if you like… We have just enough time before you gotta go meet with insurance guys."
"Picnic? I'd be delighted. Lead on!"
She settled the basket brimming with goodies in a shady spot, while Xelloss shook out a blanket and spread it on the grass.
"We'll have to eat this fast, before the dessert melts!" she warned as she passed him a carefully wrapped sandwich and a napkin.
"No problem. I'm starving. Chips and pickles, too? Oh, yes…Hmm… so what's for desert? Slap! Ouch!"
She giggled at his feigned look of outrage, "No peeking! You KNOW you have to eat your meal first! Growing boys need nutritious food…"
"I'm NOT a boy! I'm a MAN. And I don't seem to be growing much any more…" he pouted, "…but I'll eat!" He met her gray-toned eyes a moment, then smiled his eyes closed and adjusted his glasses. "This is good, thanks for going to all the trouble."
"OH! No trouble at all, not … for you."
They passed the time quietly eating and talking about the tour and fair. Finally Sylphiel ventured into the topic she'd been avoiding. "What are you going to do?"
"Do? Oh, about the house, well…it depends… Zelgadiss may not… I don't know…We'll see what the insurance agent says and… more importantly, I need to replace my contacts, clothes, ah…my computer stuff…" he ending in a groan.
Placing a slight hand on his arm she said comfortingly, "You can stay here as long as you want."
~*~
Val shook his head. Shit. Where was he anyway? At first it was like his troubled past, waking up from a late night of partying on the couch, or worse, of some stranger's place—but this place was nice… and clean…
"Val? VA-AL! You up?" called a young voice from the other side of the door.
"Uh…yeah, sure…" Val growled, pulling on the same pants he'd worn the night before, still smelling of smoke. He couldn't tell if it was a girl or boys voice that he had heard, but since it was Gourry's family room couch under him, it could be either Joey or one of the girls. He searched, bleary-eyed for his shirt, as a blonde head popped in through the opening door.
"Sorry if I woke yuh or anythin' but Gourry said I should take yuh over tuh the garage room tuh shower an' he's got some stuff yuh can wear, 'though yer thinner than him… Wow! And yuh got cool scars too! Not so…awful as Xel's but…awesome…and anyway…Gourry says a guy called an' yer gotta go meet some guys 'bout the place at 1:30 and you'll wanna eat and so…"
Val held up a hand like a shield, "Yeah, I got about halfa that. Take me to Gourry then…and ah…my step-dad gave me mosta these…not cool…" he added while snatching up his dirty shirt and cramming it over his head and down, covering his marked torso.
~*~
The two unusually tall men stood close together and spoke in low voices. One, with pitiless eyes, spiky blue hair, and a harsh demeanor shook his head, challenging his comrade's words: "Sirius, think again. We don't have time to be careful anymore, if we ever did. We must find those relics and…"
"And how do you propose we find them, Erulogos? Ransack every home, office and shrine? Methods that would place us no better than the syndicate slime, and we must rise above that. Yes, we must do our duty, but we should also attempt to leave this place intact, its people and their livelihoods safe!" Sirius' voice rose slightly. He ran a nervous hand through his odd, pink-tinted and streaked hair. "I want to stop the threat to OUR land, but not at the cost of THESE peoples' land!"
"You are soft, brother. You take on too much personal responsibility for our actions…and this will cause you to fail. 'Find the relics'—those are our orders to find and deliver them, when the time comes. Yes, I will be as ruthless as I must, and I shall succeed. The future of our people depends on it!" Erulogos spat.
"And what of these people? What of their future, brother?"
"Let them look to their own, and may the strongest survive…"
~*~
Amelia had been expressing her concerns about certain odd statements Chiriko had made to her while at the fair, when Zelgadiss interrupted…
"He even chose to ride with Mr. Xelloss instead of me! I can't think of what I could have done to have…"
"Before you go any further, Amelia, I need to tell you that… it was me. I was the one who told Chiriko that… we'd...and Xelloss had…and even him, uh, that other guy…Mel…vin…" Zelgadiss said in a low voice, barely, and blushing slightly with shame of his admission.
"YOU! You told him that! About us kissing? Why?! Why would you do such a mean thing? Now he thinks I'm some kind of… I don't know the word… easy, brazen… messing around with the guys in my band… on over-night gigs! Is that what YOU think of ME too?!" Amelia yelled, angry with the cold boy with the folded arms standing beside her.
"No, I don't."
"THEN WHY? That really hurts! He was a friend, a nice friend who I liked and now…"
"I don't know why… sorry…" he said, although his tone of voice said 'tough shit'. How could he explain 'why' to Amelia, when HE didn't know why in hell he had spouted such personal crap to the kid in the van? And right now he was more concerned about losing his home and possessions. Who could have done such a thing, and why???
Whack!
He hadn't even defended himself. Why should he have? Amelia had never slapped him before, but now caught off-guard, he simply gaped a moment, stared at her, then turned away. He'd deserved it, really.
"I'm a NICE girl! A-And I won't let you take my nice-ness for granted, Mr. Zel-Ga-diss! You…you are a very inconsiderate person!" she cried out to his back, then marched away.
Sigh… Well, THAT was another disaster. As if the fire wasn't enough… Checking his watch, he noted that he'd have to hurry to catch the bus, if he was going to make it to the meeting on time…probably be late.
~*~
"That dessert was wonderful, Miss Sylphiel," Xelloss adding the 'Miss' part humorously as he strained to see what she was doing. He'd have to get new glasses too!
"Thank you! Now lean down and closer… " she said as she raised the flower-studded crown of twigs higher, "…and…there! I crown you 'Prince of the Garden'!" Amid giggles, his and hers, she fit her crudely crafted band of weeds to his head and sat back to admire her workmanship.
"So how do I look?" he asked wrinkling up his nose at a dangling plume of purple loosestrife, tickling his nose in the process.
"Hmm…" The pretty girl brushed his heavy bangs to the side and poked the offending flowers deeper into the twigs. "Better…"
Both hands were resting on his shoulders. She was very close.
"It's getting hot…" he observed.
"Hmm…" she nodded then kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Ah…it's really time for me to go, if I'm to make that appointment on time. And you KNOW how our Zelgadiss is about being on time!" he said pulling away gently. She didn't release him quite so fast though.
"Sylphiel," he said in a kind, but more serious tone, "You have a meeting with the other priestesses as well, which you need to be on time for."
"I can be a little late…"
"No!" he said abruptly, then more gently explained. "I have to work at getting and keeping people's trust…yes, like your father's in particular."
"But after losing your house and all… he wouldn't expect you to…"
"That's the point! All the more reason for us to act responsibly and be on time!"
Sylphiel had to blink to make sure that Xelloss hadn't suddenly transformed into another person overnight. "Oh, all right…"
Pulling her to her feet, Xelloss added, "And… I'd promised him pretty much that I'd keep my hands off of you, which is VERY hard when you look at me that way, my dear!"
"You mean like this?" she stared at him with big puppy-dog eyes.
"Yes!" he grinned and poked her on the forehead with a finger. Then they both started giggling as Xelloss grabbed hold of the basket and staggered on back.
~*~
"Hey, thanks man fer the rags. All my stuff's gone or out at the settlement right now," Val nodded to his equally tall friend and dripping water from his clean hair. "Not my style though…"
"Yeah, yer a regular skater-dude now. Guess yer skinnier than me, huh? Kinda baggy in the extreme. So, looks like we gotta eat quick so ya can make that meetin' with some insurance guys." Gourry plucked off some grapes and passed a box of cereal to Val.
"Shit…gotta move AGAIN! And I lost my computer and all…"
"How bout yer place? We're nearly done fixin' Lina's place and can work on yer old house. It could be done and you an' Zel and Xelloss could move in … a few weeks or less if I call in more help," Gourry suggested.
"That is ONE good idea! Come with me to this meetin' an' talk it over with the others, 'kay?"
"Sure. Anythin' to help."
~*~
"We will pay you #50,000 for each relic you deliver, and a bonus if you can do it by the end of next week." Sirius spoke in a flat-toned voice. He chose to enlist help from the two young men; they had already lead him to the home of another of their kind, a kid alone in the world, whose name was all he had on a strip of paper—VAL GAAV. The home had been empty, boarded up for some time with a few strips of yellow 'police crime area' warning tape blowing in the wind.
"I should like to find this person, Val Gaav. His home was abandoned," the streaky, pink-hair man intoned.
"Oh, eh…ya want him, too? Shouldda said so in the first place! He don't live there anymore. Here I'll write out the new address for ya… want us to take you there too?" asked the extremely short red-headed kid with beady eyes and pointed nose, known simply as Jillas.
"Do ya think we outta give out that number? Da boss, he don't want strangers snoopin' 'bout, what with him bein' clan now an' all…" Gravos was a big, dumb thug-like kid with a shaved head, but he was a very loyal friend.
"Do not be concerned. I am no stranger, just a clan member far removed," Sirius said smoothly. Lies and truths, so close at times. Clan, hmmmm.
"Besides, mebbe he'll help with getting' this stuff, if we cut him in on the take. He knows the houses better than us, and has that 'in' at the shrine,' Jillas added conspiratorially.
Gravos nodded.
"Right then, we got addresses and looked over the places for two of the things you want, but that other at the shrine will be a real bitch to get a hold of…and as for the other two, well, I haven't got no clues!" Jillas told his new 'employer'.
"I do. Concern yourselves with the first two exclusively," Sirius commanded.
"Ah, one more thing…Yer not from around here, are ya? I thought so! Ya talk funny," Jillas grinned with pride.
"I am from…Europe."
~*~
Xelloss was already at the scene when Gourry and Val walked over.
"Hey!"
"Hey."
"Whoa…not much left…" Val said.
"No. Zel's car and Zelas'…pointedly taken out…my place…gone. The garden's still there but the firefighters and hoses and equipment pretty much did a job on the plants, though the ash is good for the root crops…" Xelloss rambled on, mostly to himself.
The fire inspector and a team of insurance-claims-examiners were deep in discussion with Detective McGywn. They were all in agreement; it was not an accident.
"I smell a sophisticated fire-starter used over there by the car remnants and near the…practice room. Syndicate calling cards," Xelloss mentioned in passing to the detective. "I must have REALLY pissed someone off."
"No kiddin'?" Val mused nearby. "Knock off three top posts, two really, but Gaav counted someplace to somebody, I figure, and this is what it gets yer."
Xelloss smiled slightly and stepped carefully around the crumbling, charred remains of the house he'd come to call home. Nothing left. What should he do now?
"Ah, here comes Zel," Gourry said. Shading his eyes from the sun, he could just barely make out the familiar figure hopping off at the bus stop a few blocks down. "Funny, I thought Amelia'd be givin' him a ride."
Running the rest of the way, Zel soon joined the other co-dis-inhabitants of the destroyed house. "Yeah? Any news?"
"Gourry came up with a good idea," Val started. "He's about done with Lina's place, then he was plannin' on starting mine. We could help him evenings an' get us a place to live in before school starts."
Zel looked to Xelloss for his take first.
"This place is…totaled and before rebuilding, we need to talk and think about what it is we want to replace it with. Don't leave it all up to me, but Val's place sounds great. I for one can't stay where I am much longer."
"Why's that, lover-boy?" Val smirked, teasing Xelloss for a change.
Xelloss actually blanched and dropped his jaw wordlessly.
"Heh, heh… See, what did I tell ya, Gourry? He's yer ticket outta those Sylphiel-blues. Mebbe ya outta stretch out that re-mod-o-ling timetable some more just ta be sure she's got plenty of time to sink in her hooks a little deeper, huh?" Val chuckled.
Surprisingly, Xelloss said nothing. Zel shook his head, "You can be in control, you know. You've only been there one night and already, what?"
"Nothing! We just had a picnic lunch together!" Xelloss said defensively. "But…it is DEFINITELY too close for comfort!"
"He means that she's more ag-gres-sive than him," Val smirked.
"S…She's…" Xelloss stuttered out in defense again, then broke down. "…Persistent, you're right. And I'm… not really ready… I'm…"
"Shakin'. Hey, sit down before ya fall down," Gourry said sensitively, helping the obviously disturbed kid onto the grass.
"Hey, sorry, man…I didn't mean nothin' by all that…" Val said gently.
Xelloss looked as if he were about to cry, when he drew a deep breath and met Zel's worried gaze, "I…I'm so sorry about your car, little brother… and your stuff…both of you…I'll cover whatever the insurance won't, I promise…"
"Forget that! It's not as if you did all this," Zel admonished him. His friend's displays of what he considered un-masculine emotional behavior embarrassed him. Zel turned his back on him and walked off a short distance.
"Oh… Now there's where you're wrong. I brought this on! I got something in the mail and ignored it…" Xelloss dug into his pants pocket and withdrew a ring, a signet ring with syndicate markings. "They did this because I didn't…answer. So, in fact, it is my fault!"
"What? I thought you said that last 'task' was IT? End of contract, end of servitude, end of your connection!" Zelgadiss barked as he spun around and grabbed at Xelloss's sleeve. "How long have you been hiding that thing?"
"Since my mother's funeral. I guess I was in error!" Xelloss said loftily.
"ERROR? Why didn't you TELL me… or McGywn? Bastard! You just…hide that thing in a pocket and think the problem will go away? Now I haven't got my car or clothes or computer or MY DRAWINGS! I can't believe this! You're not a moron, so you had to have 'erred' on purpose. So, tell me, FRIEND, what's so damned important that it's worth… ALL this? WHAT? Tell me, damnit! TELL ME! And don't you DARE wrap it in another lie!" Zelgadiss was flushed and shaking with barely leashed anger. One hand was twisted in the fabric of his friend's sleeve, while the other was clenched in a tight fist.
"I'm sorry…but…it's a secret," Xelloss whispered and turned his face away.
Thwack! THUD!
Zel lit into the other guy with a repressed fury the others had not seen before. Frustrated by his inability to open up and speak candidly to Amelia earlier and that ensuing confrontation combined with his personal losses and physical exhaustion, the shock and horror of the situation crushed Zel's self-control.
Laden with countless layers of guilt, exhaustion both mental and physical, and a deep-seated sorrow, Xelloss put up weak defenses to fend off his friend's attack.
It became bloody and awful and took both Val and Gourry to separate the two boys. Gourry finally extracted Zel and sat on him to keep him still while Val dragged the unconscious Xelloss—for Xelloss had passed out at the first sight of his own blood—to his car and hefted him onto a bench seat.
"This is so shit-ass stupid! We got enough problems without you two at each others throats!" Val snapped.
"I'll get off, when ya promise to leave off hittin' the guy. He's blacked out, Zel," Gourry said exerting all the control he could muster and speaking calmly. "I won't let ya keep hitt'in a guy once he's down—like ya did! That's dishonorable, Zel."
"Oh…" Zel moaned and lay still. "I'll kill him, if they don't get him first."
McGywn ambled over, "I dunna think so, son. Where ye stayin'?"
"Amelia's," Gourry supplied for Zel. "But, if ya gotta cell ta lock him up in, it would serve him right."
"I'll take him back to my place. Zangulus is there now and they can talk music and stay outta trouble," McGywn lead Zel away, dialing the mayor's house and leaving a message. "You. Ye kin stay in the patrol car a bit while I see that yer brother's taken care of. Do I need to lock ye in? Good."
"I called Adams, just ta be safe," Val explained to the detective. "Bloody nose…I don't think Zel connected much, but I ain't the doctor."
"Good. I'll send the insurance fellows home. They're about done. Xelloss was right, it was a syndicate job, all right," McGywn said.
"He's gonna want ta leave Seyruun," Val said looking at the silent kid lying still in his car. "Anywhere he goes, they'll follow him. He's a danger to this place, and he knows it. Mebbe I'll invite him along when I go with Milgasia to the ancient clan lands."
"Might be a good idea. It would be hard for them to find ye out there. Let me know what ye decide, a'right? Ah, here's the Doc now. That was quick. He musta been leaving the hospital…"
Xelloss woke up a few minutes later and assured everyone that he was fine, no head injuries to worry about. Adams stopped the nosebleed and bandaged the cuts. "Where are you staying? The Shrine? I'll call Nels Lahda then and see who can stay with you tonight, just in case…"
"Miroku. He's on call, but… he'd be fine…" Xelloss suggested as he closed his eyes.
"Come on, I'll be going back to the hospital and pass the shrine so I can give you a lift," offered Adams. "Val? You staying out at the settlement?"
"Gourry's. I haven't had the chance to drive back. We were supposed to stop by Lina's, Filia's there… I'd take her back too."
"I'd rather all ye kids stay put today and tonight. I dunna think they'll be attacking here agin so soon. Be safer than the roads. My boys'll be on full alert. We'll find the devils, if they're still in town," McGywn assured them.
The group agreed to the plan and parted, each car to it's own destination.
"All righty," the detective began as he pulled away from the curb. "What's goin' on ta set ye off like that?"
Dark as midnight, Zel raised his head. "He was contacted by someone in the syndicate after Zelas' funeral. Something's up and he didn't tell us. He's in danger… we all are AGAIN, and he knew…but didn't tell me…him and his damned secrets…"
"Who do ye think it was?"
But Zelgadiss said nothing. He shook his head and leaned back.
"Val thinks he'll invite him along on his trip," McGywn said hoping to get a meaningful response out of the angry kid.
"We have more gigs to do first, then… I couldn't care less what happens to him…"
"Hmm, I see," muttered McGywn and continued the drive to his house in silence. Disinterest--that was one thing he didn't believe Zelgadiss felt toward his friend!
~*~
A dark car purred up a few houses down from the blackened foundation of Xelloss' house as the last of the patrol cars pulled away. "Well, he doesn't live THERE anymore."
"No," Sirius agreed with his brother. "Those shiver young goons mentioned that the boy we are looking for was 'clan'. The nearest clan settlement is one called the Cephied Believers. I think Almayce should know this immediately. Our trail grows cold here."
"Yeah, let's focus on tracing those relics," the cruel-eyed man sneered through clenched teeth.
~*~
"I'll take yuh over to my disaster area, 'kay?" Val said to Gourry as they cruised past the corner market on their way to Val's home when he'd lived with Gaav. "I haven't checked it in a while and what I planned ta do to it before… has changed some."
"Maybe."
"Maybe, what? Ya don't wanna go over or you thinkin' 'bout the changes?" Val wondered as he turned onto the main road over to his previous residence, the GAAV House.
"Hard to say if all three of ya are gonna get back under one roof. I've never seen Zel go nuts like that. He didn't even give Xelloss a chance to say nothin'. My guess is, Zel will go his own way…or move back with his dad," Gourry said.
"Yeah, who knows? So much fer that perfect couple award, huh?" Val smirked.
"Heh, guess I gotta cancel that banquet and everything," Gourry joked.
They walked around, circling the exterior. "I got the paper work ta go sign, then we can start rippin' off the boards. It's big inside, fer a single story with three bedrooms and a couple baths. I figure ta knock out the walls, makin' them equal size-like, add a bathroom…new stuff for the other bathrooms and kitchen…dis-sin-fect the whole place, if ya get my meanin'."
Gourry did. The repair work at Lina's was one thing, but fixing the house of a low-level, ex-drug lord and crime boss…one that had been used as a flop-house and gods-only-knows for years…Gourry knew it would have to begin with a dangerous-chemical cleaning crew and include lots of new plumbing. His musings were interrupted by Val.
"Yo, look over here at this…Someone's been nosin' around here, loosin' the boards over this window, mashin' the bushes…"
"The sooner we get started, the better then. Probably bums lookin' for a place ta sleep. Dad and I have had a few buildings where we've had to chase off druggies," Gourry said.
"Yeah? Hope that's all. I'm startin' ta get par-a-noid, man!" Val muttered, his voice tightening to reveal his apprehensions.
~*~
"THEY GOT IN A FIGHT!" Sylphiel cried over the phone to Amelia. "A-and Xelly's face is bruised and…and…it's AWFUL!"
"Oh, Sylphiel!" Amelia broke into tears, unable to say more.
"He's lying down in his room and won't talk about it AT ALL! That nice Dr. Adams dropped him off and told me to keep him quiet and watch out in case…in c-case… Ohhhhhhhhhhh…" she wailed.
"I'm calling Miss Lina," Amelia said with determination. "Mr. Zelgadiss has gone too far this time! Hurting Mr. Xelloss, his best friend! And, did I tell you? No, I couldn't have… We just had a fight, a yelling one. He told Chiriko things, private things about me so that now he thinks I'm… promiscuous! That's right, ME! And when I asked him why… he said he didn't KNOW why. Now Chiriko won't talk to me!"
"Oh, Amelia, how awful! I wondered why Chiriko chose to go on those rides with Xelloss, instead of you. Why don't you come over…invite Lina and Filia too, if you want and we'll talk about it? I can't leave in case, you know, he…NEEDS me. Oh, yeah, and I got you something at the fair. Uh, huh! Filia and I visited the booths and she got some really cute earrings and something for her hair. Okay, call me back if you can't come, okay? Bye then!"
"What are you blabbering about, Amelia? Slow down!" Lina said irritated by the interruption. "Can't this wait? Filia and I were gonna try and round everyone up to go out to dinner or something. What? So WHAT! There's been dozens of times when I've wanted to punch his idiotic smile away…Filia too! So what if Zel finally let off a little steam? The doc dropped him off? That sounds more serious then… Where's Zel? Oh… all right, we'll be there in 15. Yeah, bye."
Lina hung up the phone with a crash. "Come on, Filia. There's some kind of trouble in Slayersville. We're goin' over to Sylphiel's! Do you know where Val is? Well, I'll try Gourry's cellphone on the way…Hold it. Gourry? Lina here, say can you give me a lift over to Sylphiel's?"
"Uh, hi Lina," Gourry said mystified by her voice. She'd never called him before like that, just out of the blue. "Sure. I'm at Val's old place lookin' it over. Yeah, he's here with me. Okay, we'll be by in a few minutes, but…Lina? There was a little trouble today… Oh, you've heard already? Oh, Sylphiel, huh?"
"Yeah, she was all hysterical so Amelia want's us to go over and try and help. You were there?! So, was it serious? Yeah? Where's Zel now? He drove off in a POLICE car?!!! Was he arrested or something!?! You don't THINK so?!!! Gourry you idiot! Didn't you ask? You HOPE he was?! AAAAHHhh! We have gigs startin' up this Friday again! Was Zel's hand okay? FOR PLAYING GUITAR! AAAAAAAH! Okay, okay…I'll call McGrath or McQuinn or…who? McGywn, right. Hurry up!"
"Gods! Do I have to EVERYTHING myself? HELLO? Yeah, I'm looking for that policeman…McGywn…yeah…Detective, huh? Yeah, that's cool, I'll hang…Yeah, hi, this is Lina Inverse calling ya. You arrest my buddy Zelgadiss? NO? Great. So, where is he? I see. So I can't talk to him right now, huh? Okay, than…can ya tell me…his hands weren't broken or nothin', were they? sigh Oh yeah, everything he owns and his dog are at Amelia's. Okay, just thought I'd let you know. Thanks. Tell 'im…Lina called, if ya remember, okay? Thanks again."
"Yeah he's all right," Lina said to Filia. "He's under lock and key at Detective McGywn's place for the time being. 'To cool off', I believe he said. He better hope Xelloss is okay, too! I tell ya, they're just like little boys sometimes! Only thinkin' about themselves! What about me?! I gotta hold this band together and look what I have to work with!"
Before Filia could say anything, Val drove up, parked and Gourry hopped out and opened a door for the girls.
"Well, at LEAST I can depend on you!" she snarled at Gourry. "Have I entered Bizarro World or something? Zel's taken away by the police to live with Zangulus…Val owns a Suburban AND a country club… Xelloss has nothing and lives in a shrine… and… I own a house with a brand new roof!"
"You're welcome," Gourry smiled.
"Oh, yeah, at least you haven't changed. Thank the gods I've got you!"
Gourry beamed a sunny smile her way, "Oh. For. Joy!"
~*~
By Friday, little had changed, or a lot, depending on your perspective.
Zelgadiss was travelling with Zangulus in Zangy's car-- with Martina to boot-- to their next string of gigs. He'd even been so considerate as to clear it with Lina first. As Lina put it, "As long as I don't have to ride in that car, fine. He gonna play sax? She gonna sing my song? She'd better or she can't come. Oh, they gotta get their own rooms, too!"
Xelloss chose to sit beside Chiriko in order to set him straight about dear, sweet Amelia. He filled him in on all Amelia's perfections: her code of righteousness, her modest ways, and especially her high principles, personal standards and faultless morals. Chiriko was pleased, and at the next stop, he sought her out to apologize for jumping to the wrong conclusions based on unconfirmed reports. Amelia held Xelloss in high regard after that, deciding that he deserved true love and happiness in his life as well.
Filia nabbed the seat beside Val, who drove his own vehicle as usual. "It's really very funny thinking about it…" she began.
"What?" Val wondered.
"This time last year, can you imagine what you'd have said if someone had told you that you'd be remodeling that old place so that you and Xelloss, and maybe Zel, would live there? That you'd own this car?"
"And have someone like you sitting next to me?" Val smiled wistfully. "I woulda had a good laugh or punched that someone fer yankin' my chain. No, this last year has been…unbelievable. How about you? You gotta little bro?"
"This time last year part of the settlement was moving to where it is now, and I thought that was the whole world. I feel like I've lived out a couple lives since then. What an incredible year!" she sat thoughtfully staring out the window. "I'm going to miss all this…"
"What do yer mean?"
"These road trips…Then Sylphiel is leaving to visit Japan…And you're leaving soon, right? I'll miss you, you know," Filia said, not meeting his eyes.
That made him stop breathing a moment. Lately, she'd hardly given him the time of day. He was sure that she'd lost interest in him. He'd just been a novelty to her, the dangerous punk, the baddest of the bad boys. Had he understood her correctly just now?
"Miss me, huh? How so?" He figured that he had nothing to lose by asking.
"Why…who will I talk to out at the settlement?"
"You've got that pretty cousin to entertain," he answered with some trepidation. Might as well throw that one out and see what she says.
"Julian? Well yes… that's true. So, will you and Milgasia drive all the way or fly?" she said airily, way too lightly for Val's taste.
That hadn't gone quite as well as he'd hoped. "Ah, I don't know. I'm leavin' it up to him, but I've asked Xelloss to come along too."
"Xelloss! My God, Val, you can't be serious! You know how much he bugs you?"
"Yeah, well, we share some ugly past history and he needs a change of scenery while the house is getting fixed up. And I think him and Zel want some space, if ya know what I mean."
"Hey! How about puttin' in a CD up there!" Tasuki shouted from the middle seat.
"Something I can really sing to!" Nuriko joined in. "And stop kicking me!" He sniffed, more offended than angry, knocking Tasuki's offending foot to the floor. "Cross it over the other way or just leave them on the floor, or wash them more often!"
"I have just the one!" Xelloss piped in, from the back-most seat beside Chiriko. "Here, shove it in!"
The Best of Queen filled the van, the 'friendly' van.
Gourry drove Amelia's van with Lina at the helm beside him. Amelia and Miaka chattered ceaselessly like best of friends, mostly about their different friends. Sylphiel felt lucky to sit beside the charming, though odd Chichiri.
"So, Nuriko tells me that Xelloss is living with you at the shrine. Sounds interesting, no da!"
Sigh… "It MIGHT be if he wasn't always so busy with his duties. Also, I can't enter the men's dormitories without my father's consent, and HE doesn't think that should happen very often. I DO get to see him for dinner each night! He just LOVES my cooking. I only fix a few things, my mother does most of the work, but I like to add my special touch whenever I can. And Xelloss loves desserts. Especially ice cream. I've tried making my own ice cream. We even bought an electric ice cream maker, you know? It's, like, really easy to do, too. First, you need the freshest cream…"
Chichiri didn't mind. He dozed off in no time, no da!
It was a happy, comfortable van.
Hotohori, Tamahome, Mitsukage, and Yui followed behind in a world of their own…
~*~
The Clan Elder, the leader of all the Cephied Believer Clans, met with the stranger. "I understand. I shall keep the secret of the relics and preserve the secret of the Ancients. However, there is one who you will need to lure to your cause who holds the power of the ancients and of the syndicate, but knows not how to wield it. His name is Val Gaav, and you will do well to bring him into your confidence as soon as possible. With my help and his, your cause has hope for success, I am certain."
Almayce bowed and thanked the man as he took his leave. "What an old blowhard he is! I can't wait to get this over with and go home," he muttered to himself. "These Cephied people are such bores!" He slipped into the backseat of the cream-colored limousine with a loud sigh.
"Sir? Would you like to return to the Grand Hotel Seyruun?" asked the chauffeur.
"Yes, that's EXACTLY what I'd LIKE to do, but I'd best get this over with quickly. According to my latest information, the next fellow I need to speak to can be found out at the Cephied Clan Settlement. You wouldn't know how to find that place, would you?"
"No problem, Sir. I can get you there in less than an hour. Help yourself to a drink and there are several movies available for your enjoyment…"
"You're a capable man surrounded by incompetents. What is your name?"
"Mine? Vurumagen. And really, with all do respect, Sir, people like me are a dime a dozen."
"Hmm, more like one in a million, I'd say. Just wake me up when we get there," Almayce sighed.
~*~
"You know, a person could get tired of eating out," Xelloss opened the topic of discourse over a late lunch.
"Not ME!" Miaka squealed. "I need FOOD, and lots of it! And I'm too busy to cook. Eating out is the BEST!"
"I disagree. A healthy diet includes many foods, and a great deal better ones than we've been eating lately. The fair in particular. I miss…" Xelloss nearly said Zelgadiss' cooking, but when he looked to the side and saw Zel's hard, blue stare avert immediately, he paused a moment to consider his next words. "Not to say anything is amiss with your mother's cooking, Sylphiel, but I miss helping out in the kitchen with Zelgadiss. He was teaching me to cook and I found it enjoyable. That's why I had the garden put in, for fresher ingredients. But, I guess that's all over now."
There was a painful longing in his voice. No one knew if he was referring to the garden and kitchen gone, burned to the ground, damaged beyond repair, or if he meant that his happier times cooking alongside his best friend were over. He sat in silence eating little for the remainder of the meal.
Zelgadiss had overheard. With his acute hearing, he heard far more that was being said about him than he wanted to hear, and it hurt inside. He missed those times as well, with the easy camaraderie and intelligent conversations. Didn't Xelloss think he wanted those good times back too? This was the longest estrangement the two friends had had, or at least the most serious. And Beast had been moved to live with his father because Zangulus was 'allergic' to dogs, causing Zel's grief and loss to be even more pronounced than before. It really HURT; he hurt with loneliness and pride.
Oh, yes… Zel had oodles of male pride which prohibited him from approaching his friend or even looking at him. Xelloss had essentially betrayed them, keeping some SECRET, and now he and Val had lost their house and security and lots of good things. Had they been home, they would have died as well! If all those 'good times together' meant so much to him, WHY had Xelloss risked it? Why had Xelloss risked so much unnecessarily? AND he'd promised it would be over with, after the nursing home 'task'! He'd promised him, at the same time he'd known that it wasn't true. He'd had that ring and knew. He KNEW and LIED…to him!
"You LIAR!" Zel roared, jumping up from his seat, storming over to Xelloss' chair and whipping him around to face his wrath, "That's all you are, one big lie! You can't possibly have any feelings! You just know how to give lip-service to them like…a talented actor. I don't want to hear ANY MORE drivel from you. DO YOU HEAR ME?! You have screwed up my life from the moment we met and now there's just nothing left of it. I'm back to square one, even less! With everything I own in a couple boxes. After these jobs-- which I'm doing for Lina's sake and NO ONE ELSE'S-- don't call me, don't look for me, don't contact me in any way for any reason! I hate you, Xelloss Metallium, for everything you have done to my life, and I hope you die, just like that slut of a mother you had, by the hand of the syndicate whom you love far more than ANY of us!" Zel spat the last words inches from his face, then pushed them apart and fled the restaurant.
"Leave him be," Gourry said, placing a hand on Lina's arm to stop her from flying after Zelgadiss.
"Think you'll be able to hold your moody band together a few more days?" Hotohori asked arrogantly.
His coldness stunned everyone within hearing distance, including the fan-girl Yui. She was in fact so appalled at his insensitivity, that it was she who first reached out to the pale and plainly aggrieved Xelloss. "Come with me. We'll get some fresh air."
Outside, she continued to do all the talking, while he listened, still dumbfounded by Zel's harsh words. "I've had my best friend turn on me too, once…It was the worst time of my life! But eventually we forgave one another and now… Miaka and I are back, like nothing had ever happened! Well, mostly…"
~*~
"Mr. Almayce," the tall handsome man with the flowing blonde mane began, "I received a fax from the clan elder a few minutes before you called. He wants us to provide you with support and assistance, if possible. So, with that in mind, please tell me now, what's going on!"
"Milgasia… tell me first, what you know about the extinction of the Ancient Clan."
"To answer that, let me give you a little background. Ah, I don't know what organization you are with, but here we were once all Cephied Believers. When the schism occurred, it left the conservative branch, the Ancients, and the new-age branch, referred to as the Goldens. For years there was ill will, but healing was needed, so the leadership agreed to a yearly clan reunion. It was more often a ten year or five year meeting, what with all the work it involved and the numbers of people to move. The meetings also rotated the hosting job from one clan to another; that is, until a deadly plane accident resulted in the deaths of all the remaining members of the Ancient Clan."
"That all happened soon after I agreed to lead this particular faction of the Cephied clan. I had been with another clan far to the south, an assistant, when the call came for me to fill an opening here. Well, not HERE in this location since this group only recently moved to this settlement. My point being… I was busy with my own problems and although I was deeply saddened by the events which took place, and attempted to participate in the ensuing investigation, I hadn't given the Ancients a thought until this past year," Milgasia paused to listen to the other man's word.
"Hmmm?" he asked. Listening again, Milgasia answered somewhat evasively, "The Clan Elders handled all the investigations into the airplane accident. This past year? Nothing to concern you, a personal problem and details of interest only to the local clan. Now, what has this all to do with the Ancient Clan?"
"They took something of ours, several valuable relics. We want them back. In their entirety, the relics are…most important. I was hoping to meet with the Ancient Clan leadership, which I understand is impossible, but there is one last survivor?"
"There might be," Milgasia said cautiously. "Proof is impossible. The person of interest knows nothing of his heritage and will be unable to assist you in any way."
"He. He may have one of the relics and not even be aware of it."
"I still don't know what are you looking for or what group you represent," Milgasia noted his suspicions rising.
"I am…from Europe. Your Clan Elder felt that you need not know more than that. As far as the relics are concerned… there are five: two swords, one axe, one staff, and a bow, as in bow and arrows. Quite old, but remarkable only for their markings and insignia, clan marks. You know of what I speak."
Milgasia shrugged, unwilling to say more. Oh, he knew three of those items. He'd seen most of them in the hands of a group of remarkable kids, and he was not going to entrust this man with there secret locations. Clan Elder be damned! "I am planning to accompany the young man of Ancient ancestry to the Ancient clan lands. If you'd like, I'll assist you in a search of the area. For the rest, I'm afraid that I am of little use to you in your search."
Almayce nodded. Now he was getting somewhere at last! "When will you be leaving?"
"Soon. Where can you be reached?"
"Here is my private number. I must press upon you that time…is crucial."
Milgasia nodded as he took the small card and set it on the table. Standing up, he held out a hand, indicating that it was time for his guest to leave. "I understand," he said, but thought, "Crucial to you…but not to me…"
*~ End, Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special, Part Four. ~*~
