The Slayers: Lina Zelgadiss Xelloss Gourry Amelia Val Filia
~*~ Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special! ~*~
Part Eighteen
Zelgadiss had hoped that by running far enough and fast enough, he'd miss the shopping experience, but he was wrong. Amelia held the trip up particularly for him. It had been his suggestion, after all!
"I have to shower," he said in passing to Lina. "Why don't you all just go on without me." He avoided Gourry, who was glowering, uncharacteristically, in his direction.
"We've waited this long for you. A few minutes longer's okay," Lina said. "Besides, I think Gourry wanted to talk to you in the car. He was wondering where'd you'd run to and was about to chase after you when Beast started howling."
Zel ducked into the bathroom with his duffel bag. He didn't linger more than five minutes, toweled off, then quickly yanked on some clothes. Gourry was waiting for him.
"Everyone's in the car, waitin'." Gourry blocked the path to the other rooms. There was no where to run but out the front door and into the car. He noticed that Zel was assessing his situation intently. "Yer comin', all right. I'm here to make sure ya don't try and sneak out."
Zel sighed and nodded, "I wouldn't do that. Sorry, about this. I really thought just the ones that needed clothes would have to go."
"Well, ah…Lina wants new stuff fer the band contest, now. And Xelloss agreed. Even Val didn't say no."
"Again," Zel said meaningfully to his friend. "I am sorry. Ah…look on the bright side…" he waited until Gourry gave him a more hopeful look, "Lina tires of shopping shortly after her stomach growls 'feed me', which can't possibly be more than a couple hours away…tops."
Gourry smiled, "Yeah, too bad you couldn'ta run a bit farther, huh?"
There was the outlet mall up the coast a few miles and then there were the resale shops-- the best, Lina had heard. Val was in the driver's seat and so it was re-saling that they went.
"But Miss Lina," Amelia complained. "Not all the band is here to try on clothes!"
"I know what Filia can get into, if she hasn't grown," Lina replied.
"So…" Amelia started hesitantly, then lowered her voice to a whisper so that only Lina (and Zel, by mistake) could hear her. "…Miss Sylphiel is really out of the band permanently? Did you tell her that? Does Miss Filia know? What happens to her solo? Won't we need a replacement?"
To the questions, Lina answered: yes, no, grunt, you can have it, grunt.
Amelia wasn't satisfied. "I'm not sure how I feel about seeing her again. Or what I'll say to her when I do when school starts. He's so…sweet and vulnerable and it was so…unjust! But, do you really think that hurting her this way makes up for what she did to Mr. Xelloss?"
Lina shrugged her shoulders, "Don't know, don't care. Yo! Val! Stop at this one!"
"Yeah, right. I'll stop right here in the middle of the street, that okay with ya? No? Well, how 'bout I keep goin', like I was doin', and find a parkin' place," Val spouted off. "Shit, when did I start takin' orders from girls, anyway?" he muttered.
Gourry, sitting in the passenger seat, overheard him and offered by way of a reply, "The day you noticed them, I figure."
Val smacked at Gourry, who leaned away from his long reach. "Aaaahh…" Val chuckled. "That's yer problem, Mr. Nice-guy Gabriev."
"Okay. Here we are, yer highness!" Val snapped as he shut down the engine and climbed out of the car. "I don't need nothin' so lead the way."
"Ooooo…I've never been in places with prices like theeeeese," Hokuto squealed with excitement.
Wide-eyed with concern, her twin brother reminded her, "H-Hokuto, we only have so much left to live on this month!"
To which Zel replied, "Don't worry about it. Xelloss, Val and I can cover it…consider it a bribe to your bands to stay out of the running."
"How kind you are!" Hokuto said, giving Zel a little peck on the cheek, causing him to blush furiously. "But we have plenty for a few clothes and you know I always look out for you, Subaru! I mean, we can't have you running around without any clothes to wear, can we?"
Subaru just sputtered nonsensically for a few seconds and gave up as everyone else entered the Lina-designated used clothing store.
Xelloss followed Lina into the store and wandered over to the men's hanging clothes. "Hey Lina! How about this idea for the band. We could shock everyone with these!" He held up a short-sleeved, button-down oxford-cloth shirt and a pair of plaid Bermuda shorts in one hand, and with the other, he jammed a floppy fishing hat over his head which pushed his long bangs completely over his eyes. "Cool, what?!"
Lina rolled her eyes, "Yeah, that would about do it. We could call ourselves the Nerd-Slayers, too!"
"How about we all wear clothes that match our eyes!" Amelia cried out. She had found a skimpy dress she believed would match her own bright blues.
Xelloss groaned, but Lina agreed to think about it. "But, Liiiiinnnnaaaa, " Xelloss now whined, holding his PURPLE eyes wide and rolling for her to see.
Gourry pawed through the t-shirts and asked Zel, "What color are my eyes. I never see 'em, ya know."
"Blue."
"Like yours and Amelia's, huh."
"No," Zel cast him a stern expression. "Mine are blue-green. Yours are sky-blue and Amelia's are gray-blue. All different."
Gourry looked stuptified. "Sky Blue?"
Zel sighed, "Here…like this shirt. Light and bright." His eyes met Gourry's and then he looked away embarrassed. "Go ask Lina…" he finally muttered and stole away behind a tall hanging rack of bathrobes.
Gourry smiled and pulled out the shirt. It was extra large, too. He scanned over the tops of everyone's' head until he spotted Lina squaring off against Val and Xelloss. "Hey, Lina! How's this one?"
"Huh?' she followed the sound of Gourry's voice and caught his head rising from out of the gloom. "Oh, that's pretty close, Gourry. See Val? Gourry can match colors, so you can, too!"
"Um…well…actually…Zel did it for me…" Gourry conceded.
"Zel, huh? Get him over here to help Val, then. Where did he go?"
Lina couldn't see over or through anything, but Gourry noticed him over chatting with Subaru and pointed him out to Lina.
"Traitor," Val hissed at Gourry.
"I am NOT wearing purple!" Xelloss insisted. "You don't understand. I had that color shoved down my throat for most of my eighteen years by my mother. I most certainly won't start wearing it now that I have the freedom of choice."
Lina was returning with Zel in tow and Subaru quaking in his wake. Hokuto had armloads of clothes for her brother to try on, "Now where is he…Oh! Suuuuubaruuuuu!"
"R-Right here, H-Hokuto," he said forlornly looking at the numbers of items in her arms. "Y-You are n-not buying all of t-those, a-are you?"
"Maybe, but first you're going to go and try them on. Hurry up, over there's an open dressing room!" she smiled while stuffing the clothes into his arms.
As he carried the load in the direction she pointed, he sighed obediently, "Of c-course, H-Hokuto…"
Val watched the tender scene and shook his head as Subaru passed him, "You are so whipped…"
"Val!" Lina yelled by his ear. "Get over here and let Zel show you how to find the color GOLD!"
Val nearly told them both where to go, but remembering that they would be sharing, or practically sharing in Lina's case, a roof over their heads, he decided that a good, hard glare would have to do instead.
"Yeah, he's a tough one," Hokuto chuckled to Amelia.
"But he writes poetry and plays piano and can be really sweet, too! When I see him holding little Quinny—that's Filia's baby brother—he looks so friendly and warm. Just don't get caught by his eyes, though. They're so dreamy…"
Hokuto smiled, "You're sure it's the skinny brooding guy you like best? Sounds to me like you could fall for the tall punk one as well."
This time it was Amelia's turn to blush. "Oh, no…my daddy wouldn't let me go out with someone like him, ever! Anyway, as much as I admire his good qualities, I could never fall for Mr. Val and I know he and Miss Filia make a great pair. When she sits at his piano and they sing together? They can't hide their feelings then." Amelia looked at Val and Zel standing side by side arguing over the latest orders from Lina.
"So…how did he get to look that way?" Hokuto asked.
"Well, the green hair's natural, but the piercings…" Amelia began to explain.
"No, silly, not him! Zelgadiss! With the weird hair and…all. I mean, no guy I've ever known would intentionally dye their hair lavender-gray!" Hokuto chuckled.
Amelia smiled, "No. What happened was…"she explained Zel's accident leading to his scars and other unusual features. "I hardly notice anymore. He's just…Zelgadiss, to me."
The moment Amelia said the word 'me', Lina hollered, "I HAVE IT!"
Gourry's breath caught in his throat. He was standing closest to her and her voice sent shivers up and down his spine-- that, and Lina was waving assorted shirts, vests and pants dangling from hangers. They all sported stripes. Gods-awful ones in all colors and widths.
Val halted mid-word, a 'gold' shirt in his hand. Zel turned slowly, folding his arms over his chest defensively. Amelia chirped, "What is it, Miss Lina?"
"S T R I P E S !" Lina shouted with glee, or devilish intent, depending upon whom you were.
"Oh…my…" Xelloss gasped, leaning on a counter of bad jewelry for support.
"Ah, shit!" Val growled.
"Oh, joy…" Zel moaned.
"Um, Lina?" Gourry began courageously. "Ya mean like clowns?"
Amelia giggled, "Oh, no! Miss Lina means for us to find clothes with stripes for our band outfits, right?"
"Yeah!" Lina answered. "There's lots of stuff with stripes, men's shirts especially. Look, ya wear a t-shirt with a loose striped thing over it…or …these…pants…" she practically drooled over an outrageous pair of black and white striped pants that might fit someone…"Oh, Ze-el?"
Hokuto, Subaru, and Amelia were standing closest to Zelgadiss when his face lost all its color. Amelia, recognizing the symptoms first, nudged Subaru, who caught the poor kid just as Zel's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed.
Now Gourry had just become accustomed to having to wear the sky-blue t-shirt, so finding that he was expected to just switch gears and start looking for stripes…stripes! Well, he dug in his heels and said, "No."
Lina turned her attention on Gourry, narrowing her eyes and aiming her fiery attack his way. "What?"
Xelloss was closest to Gourry, and although he had no reason to feel he needed to save the poor lug from his idiocy, he saw a way to get in on Lina's good side. "He was answering me," Xelloss smiled, "He's afraid that there won't be anything his size smaller than a tent. I'll go look with him, okay?"
Lina nearly returned his smile. "Yeah, you do that… Now, is Zel awake yet? Don't bother then. Just stack him up in the corner with the stuff we want to buy and we'll leave him to pay for it. Amelia? I think this jumpsuit is your size…"
Val shook his head and loped off in the direction Xelloss had taken Gourry. Hokuto left her brother to drag Zel out of the way, while she continued bargain hunting on her own.
Zel's eyes fluttered open to see a pretty pair of green eyes looking concernedly down at him. "Gahhh!" Zel gasped when he realized that the lovely eyes belonged to Subaru. He pushed off the floor and leaned back against the wall.
"A-Are you feeling better? I-I didn't m-mean to s-startle you. I'm s-sorry! I-I j-just wanted t-to see if you were breathing." Subaru looked as if he might stop breathing himself!
Zel closed his eyes. "Yes. I'm fine. This happens every so often. It's very…embarrassing, as you can imagine. I hate the attention it brings me." Zel opened his eyes to find Subaru had backed off to give him some space. Good. "Um…thanks for getting me out of the middle of the store. I'm all right now. I can get up, now."
As soon as Zel was standing, Amelia spied him and ran over to see how he was. "Oh, Zelgadiss, I got rid of those pants Miss Lina wanted you to try on. I told her they'd be too big and that she should see if Mr. Xelloss would like them instead. And," she gave him her best smile, "I found this instead!"
To Amelia's credit, she had actually found a great looking shirt for Zel. It was a black and white striped long-sleeved men's shirt, but it was soft and more black than white. "With a black t-shirt and jeans…I think it would look cool."
Nodding his approval, Zel reluctantly had to agree with her selection, "Yes. It's not bad at all, Amelia. I think I could wear this on stage and not wish I were dead. Thanks."
That made her day. Amelia glowed with pride. "You are very welcome, Zelgadiss! Now I need to find something for Miss Filia. Want to help me?"
But Zel had had enough trauma for one day. "No. I'm going to find a drinking fountain," he muttered and quickly ran for the door.
"With black tights and cute boots, this would suit you, Amelia," Lina offered the younger girl a blue on blue striped short jumpsuit that could only look good on someone like Amelia, who thought it was darling, luckily. Hokuto agreed.
"Where did you find that? It's soo cute! So, what does Filia look like? She the leggy blonde Amazon? Right, I remember seeing her perform once…lemme think," Hokuto helped Lina shift through racks of clothing, with stripes in the radar.
In the meantime, Val was thinking about how he could get 'stripes' to work for him. They were an acceptable motif, after all… The men's suits looked intriguing. Yes. He nabbed a possibility and sneaked into a dressing room to try it on first.
Gourry wasn't certain he liked having Xelloss helping him. Although he dressed more conservatively than the others, he never could trust the guy, and when it came to choosing clothes for him…
"How about this?" Xelloss adjusted his glasses and held up the article in question to check for size. "Looks big enough and you could keep the blue t-shirt and just wear this vest over it."
"Um…not bad, Xelloss. Green stripes're better'n red, right?"
"Or purple!" Xelloss smiled.
"Ah, thanks fer the help, man…" Gourry smiled. "How 'bout I help you now?"
Xelloss frowned a little, "Okay, but…I don't think…" He noticed that Gourry wasn't listening to him and dropped the complaint. He trotted behind the tall blonde young man to the sleepwear. "Ah, I don't think…"
"An' these say real silk…" Gourry was saying over his head.
Silk red and black striped pajamas.
Gourry continued defending his choice, "Yer need loose cool pants, right? Yer don't gotta wear the shirt. Pocket's kinda hokey…"
"My…Gourry…these may do nicely," Xelloss smiled.
Lina passed by them on her way to the dressing room with a eye-shocking bundle of red and orange stripes. "How'er ya doing guys?" She looked at Gourry's vest and t-shirt and froze in place. "Whose idea was this? Xelloss? You have the crappiest taste in clothing, I ever tell you that? No? Well, I am now. Gods…I leave you two to fend for yourselves a few minutes so I can take care of my meager needs and this is what you come up with? ARGH! Come on, Gourry. I'm gonna see that you get fixed up right. Xelloss? Go find Val. He's pretty excited about somethin' in the suit area."
Gourry turned to give Xelloss a pitiful look and Xelloss strained to return a smile.
Amelia, still carrying her blue striped jumpsuit and blue t-shirt joined Hokuto in the lady's dresses. "How are you doing? Oh, you have lots of things!"
"Yeah, mostly for Subaru. He's so fun to dress up. Like my own big boy doll. Oh, look at this!"
Lina dragged Gourry over to the men's jeans. "Hey, these are as long as I am tall. Whaddayer think?"
Dark denim striped jeans. He could live with those, maybe.
"Try 'em on and that nice t-shirt…oh…and this, too!"
"A scarf?" his voice wavered.
"Yeah, it's a little funky but you could use it like a belt or t'tie yer hair back or somethin', okay?"
He took the pants without question. She tossed the scarf over his shoulder and aimed him at the dressing room. "Good!" she muttered. "Now for Val…" On the way she snagged an extra large 'engineer's' work shirt for Gourry. She scampered over to his dressing room and yelled, "Gourry? Open up!"
"Er…ah…not right now Lina." He voice was muffled.
"Oh, well…try this too!" and she tossed the shirt over the top of the stall and ran off to claim her next victim.
Val, however, was already strutting about in his 'find' and showing it off to Xelloss. "Clas-sic Zoot suit, dude!"
Xelloss was giggling. "You going to go shirtless with it as well?"
"Naw, I gotta idea fer that. Where did that hid-e-ous gold-puke shirt go to?" Val grumbled and returned to the dressing room to hunt through the piles of discards lying around on the floor. "Hey, Xelly-dude!"
Xelloss shook his head at the latest nickname and sauntered over, "Yes, Vally-boy?"
"Here's a t-shirt ta go with those pajamas. Ah, do those gotta button or somethin'…in front?"
Xelloss caught the shirt as it flew over the top of the stall and answered, "Yes. I'll be decent, don't worry."
"Good. Yer wouldn't wanna embarrass Lina or anythin'," Val said as he emerged from the room re-dressed with the gold colored t-shirt under the suit jacket this time.
Xelloss smiled as he entered the same room Val had just left, "I will be wearing striped boxers underneath, just in case!" Then he started laughing.
A concerned clerk tapped Lina, who'd been benevolently surveying them for a moment, on the shoulder. "Um, Miss…make sure you don't get your own clothes mixed up with ours, you know…" he begged, helplessly.
"Oh, don't worry," Lina waved off his concerns. "We're rock-stars. We know what we're doing, and you'll come out of this with money in your pockets, so just relax."
"Waitaminute—you're that kid band, the Slayers, aren't you?"
"Yup! I'm Lina Inverse, the fearless leader—and it looks like I'm needed over here!" Lina spotted a fashion-crime being committed. "Thanks for letting us use your store!"
"S-sure!"
Next door, Zel smiled and made his purchase. He'd have to tell them about this place… He unscrewed the cap off his bottled water, took a sip, and started back to the resale shop.
Lina had her outfit chosen. Stripes suited her fine! She found a searing red and orange striped cotton sundress—at least, it was a sundress for a twelve-year-old. On her, it was short and scorching. Lina may have been short, but what height she had was all in her legs, like Hokuto. In fact, Hokuto knew exactly what to do with that little number.
"Oh! You wear it with thigh-highs and boots, of course! It's awesome!"
"You got it! But I'm not sure what kind of boots I've got…"
I have the perfect ones! What size shoe do you wear?" she inquired.
"Oh, sevens or so…"
"Me, too! We're really about the same size, you know!"
"Yeah, sure are…Tell me about these shoes—you sure you don't mind helping the enemy?"
"'Course not! The Seals are gonna win for sure anyway! Or maybe the Harbingers… Oh, and I need to find stuff for Subaru…" Hokuto pulled out a long slinky dress with spaghetti straps and black and blue stripes. "Wow! Here we go! Subaru!"
Subaru looked up, afraid of what punishment might come if he didn't respond immediately to her whims. "Y-yes?"
Hokuto caught her twin by the arm. "How 'bout this?" Hokuto beamed, swinging the skinny, striped dress around.
"H-hok-ku-t-to…" Subaru choked out. His face flushed; his knees weakened.
Zelgadiss had chosen that moment to re-enter, and the scene he was met with was of Hokuto holding a dress out like an offering to Subaru, who looked like he was going to faint. In a flash of demon-speed, he stepped to the poor boy's aid, supporting him at the shoulder. "Steady, there…"
"What the hell's wrong with you all!" Hokuto demanded, shaking around the dress angrily. "It'd look fine!"
"Not on him!" Gourry sputtered.
"WHAT?!" Hokuto wondered. Suddenly, she figured it out, and laughed until she nearly cried. "Oh ho ho ho ho! You—you thought that I meant for—ha ha ha ha!"
Subaru dissolved in a blush. "Oh…"
"I meant for FILIA!" Hokuto explained. "I may have wild tastes, but I wouldn't put my brother in a dress!"
Amelia let out her held breath. Zel sighed. Subaru's heart rate slowed closer to normal.
Lina rubbed the fabric between her fingers. "Yeah, that'll do. Filia wears 'slinky' good and it kinda goes with Amelia's blue stripes, too. Good job, there Hokuto. Maybe fashion design is your forte, huh?" She leveled her ruby-eyed gaze toward Zelgadiss. "You look pleased about somethin'. Show me what you have to wear for the contest."
"Not that it's your business…" he muttered way under his breath, and looked over at Amelia.
She took up the hint and produced the shirt she'd chosen for him from under her armload of clothes. "Here. Isn't it just great? I think it keeps the dark, mysterious thing going for him."
Lina nodded, "Let me see you in it, with this!" To his horror, Lina produced a mostly white vest with narrower black pinstripes. To which she added, "I could add a tie…or scarf…"
Zel's eyes raked over the vest. "Fine." That was it. One word and he was off to the dressing room. Why bother arguing in public? It would hurt him more than her in the long run anyway.
"There's Lina. She'll wanna see this on us so we may as well show her now," Val said to Xelloss.
Xelloss was pulling at the form-fitting, sleeveless black t-shirt Val had chugged at him. "This is worse than one of those mesh things of yours that I've been wearing. This doesn't cover my belly button!"
"Yeah, and the pajamas don't either. What will yer fans think!" Val coughed and snorted at the scandalized expression painting Xelloss' face.
Lina smiled at the sight of Val in his striped suit. She would have chosen it for herself had there been anything her size. Xelloss at his side was running a hand nervously through his hair. Gods, he looked hot, too, and luckily, he was so unaware of it. "Much better, you guys. Val…what can I say…absolutely terrific…comes to mind."
"Oh, yeah? Well, I gotta fix up this t-shirt a bit…" he grinned. He opened a knife he'd had hidden away in the palm of his hand and aimed it at his chest.
Xelloss gasped then cried out in alarm, "Ohhh…noooo…" His Karate training lent his instincts precision, as he lunged at Val and twisted the wrist holding the knife.
Val dropped the knife in surprise as he held off Xelloss with his other hand, "Dude! I'm not gonna cut myself! Shit! What kinda nutcase are you…" At which point he realized what kind Xelloss was and stopped talking. Obviously, Xelloss was associating the blade with his own chest being mutilated. In a gentler tone, Val said, "I meant to just add some slashes to the shirt. I'm not gonna touch myself, promise. Okay, Xelloss?"
Xelloss nodded and closed his eyes. He was scared and had reacted automatically. His innate fear of knives and being cut broke through his usual self-control. He felt the warmth of a small soft body clinging to him and offering him some sympathy. Soothing.
"It's okay, Mr. Xelloss. We all understand," Amelia said as she pulled away.
Xelloss smiled faintly and adjusted his glasses. "Sorry, Val. Go ahead with what you were going to do."
Val pulled the shirt out from his chest and cut and tore four nearly parallel opening across the front. As if some clawed beast had ripped it!
"Now, the look's com-plete!" Val smiled smugly at Lina, who nodded.
"Wow, I haven't done a 20's outfit in a while!" Hokuto gushed. "That looks soo cool! Val, has anyone ever told you that you could go into modeling?"
"Huh?" No one had.
"Yeah, you're so tall and you're skinny and pretty muscular, too, and of course you've got a great face and piercing eyes!" she listed, making his ego inflate dangerously.
"And you…" she turned to Xelloss and outlined the pronounced biceps muscle on his arm. "…Could, too! Great hair…I didn't realize how really well-build you were under those clothes." She ran her hand up under his snug t-shirt a few inches, then stopped.
He recoiled. "I have some very unattractive scars, which I'm sure you don't want to know more about."
She patted his arm, "Hey, sorry. I still think you look hot in those clothes, though."
"Ah, well…I'm feeling pretty warm, actually!" he giggled nervously.
Lina clear her throat, "So, about the outfit…"
Val interrupted, "He'll wear the mesh shirt and be fine."
"Oh, Subaru!" Hokuto cried. "Val looks too cool in that thing! You've gotta go try on some of these things to make me feel better!"
"N-no, I really don't think—"
"That's right, I think for you! Now go!" she dumped a pile of things in his arms and pushed him towards the little dressing rooms, closets with white-washed slat doors.
"Wait—" Lina grabbed something dark off a rack. "I wonder if this would…just a sec, guys, I'm gonna try this on."
"I wanna try on my stuff, too!" Amelia gushed.
"Then I'll do it, too!" Hokuto decided.
The boys exchanged secret glances. This was the price you paid for hanging out with beautiful girls…
"Drum roll, please!" Xelloss said as Lina emerged minutes later. "First we have the lovely Lina Inverse, in a fiery little— very LITTLE—number which is effectively cute with the contrast of the bulky men's sport coat! It's says she's cute, in charge, and ON FIRE!"
"Stuff it, goofball," Lina snorted. "But looks like I'll take it, eh?"
"Very nice!" Gourry nodded.
"Can we…move on?" Zel wondered to himself, since no one was listening.
"Needs the fishnets and high heels," Val commented.
"That's tights and boots!" Lina corrected with a punch.
Amelia hopped out.
"Next, we have sprightly Amelia Wil Tesla Seyruun, who's looking very eighties-chic in blue and green jumpsuit with bike shorts and blue T! You can tell she's young, active and energetic!"
"You look nice!" Gourry smiled.
"I'm…ready to go," Zel told himself.
"Be better without the second pair of shorts," Val noted.
"She'd get cold!" Lina punched him again.
"Now, the ravishing Hokuto Sumeragi graces us with her overwhelming presence!" His voice caught in his throat. What could he say about…that? "Oh, my… It's a Hokuto original, biker-punk with a feminine flair! Denim vest with flashy vinyl trim, turtle neck tank, and a garter belt OVER her shorts! I'm in love!"
"It's…nice," Gourry decided on.
"So what's new…" Zel sighed to himself in answer to Xelloss's outburst, of course.
"The collar's a little high, but the nylons are…" Val grinned.
Lina stepped on his foot without comment.
"You look good in anything!" Amelia praised her.
"Are we through now?" Zel whispered.
"Just one more delicate crea-ture," Val chuckled.
"C-Can I come out n-now," Subaru's muffled voice sounded from the dressing room.
"Yes!" Xelloss answered. "And now, for the male point of view, we ha-have…ah…" Xelloss blinked and was back in his announcer persona instantly. "Subaru Sumeragi in a most unusual treatment of the yellow rain slicker! By wearing it under a clear plastic outer coat and over a black satin shirt and pinstripe slacks, he gives us a rainy-day pop version of Mr. Val Gaav's altered twenties look!"
"That's…nice," Gourry's smile was forced.
"He needs to get out of here, too…" Zel muttered.
"He don't look nothin' like me!" Val sputtered.
"Oh, he looks like a little brother! Perfect accessory to make you less threatening, Val," Lina elbowed him with more force than could possibly be necessary.
"Very yellow!" Amelia said.
"Oooh! It's so cuuute! I'm a fashion genius!" Hokuto applauded herself.
"Ah…can I…take it off, now?" Subaru squeaked.
"The faster the better," Val grumbled very quietly and moving out of Lina's hitting range.
"Yeah, but you've got to try on these, too, so that we have alternate things to wear while we're here!" she handed him a stack of clothes that made his spirits visibly droop.
There were a few more Sumeragi twin fashion vignettes before they were done. Subaru ended up with red jeans, a black button-down shirt and an over-long denim jacket, as well as the yellow horror. Hokuto found a skirt with built in flounces, something oddly-shaped done in pink faux fur, aqua green denim shorts and a lavender halter top that matched the lighter highlights in Zel's hair, Amelia commented.
"That's enough for me," Zel remarked and moved toward the door.
"Wait," Xelloss called out. "There's just time for one more sensational outfit from the twins. Let's make this one a seasonal delight, eh?" he giggled.
To everyone's surprise, they both came out of the dressings rooms wearing…nearly identical outfits!
"Whoa!" Xelloss took a double take. "I do need my eyes checked because I am seeing double!" he said lightly. "Okay, so the twins are going nautical this time wearing navy sharkskin clamdiggers with matching sailor tops. The lovely lady with a red tie and the…ah…handsome young man with a yellow one." He bent over toward Zel and whispered, "I did get that right, didn't I? It would be soooo embarrassing if I mixed them up, wouldn't it?"
"It would kill your chances getting the girl, yes."
Lina looked at Val then at Xelloss, "Okay…then my work is done. Where's that lazy clerk when you need 'im? I wanna go get lunch. Burger and fries and…a big chocolate malt!"
Money changed hands mysteriously, the bags were deposited into the Suburban, and then the kids roamed the town looking for a 'greasy spoon'—with the twins dressed in the sailor outfits, to Hokuto's delight and her brother's polite, silent anguish.
"Nothin' like the sea air to charge up an appetite," Lina said.
"What sea air?" Zel muttered. "You've been indoors all morning."
Lina shot him a warning glare. "THE sea air. In or out it's all the same air when you're at the beach, which we are."
"Not after it's been filtered through the air conditioners and ventilation system," Xelloss corrected her. "After all that processing it's not the same air at all, actually." He grinned down at her, then took a seat at another table.
She stuck out her tongue in reply. He returned the gesture.
"Ooooo yucky!" Hokuto squealed. "Tongues are so…weird looking anyway."
Xelloss giggled, "You ought to see Zelgadiss'. It's the longest thing. He can touch his nose with it!"
Zel had opened his mouth to answer a question posed by Gourry, when he heard Xelloss' comment. He snapped his mouth shut and blushed, of course, like always when everyone was turning to gape at him.
"I will kill that guy someday…" Zel muttered through gritted teeth, keeping his tongue well hidden.
"Oh! Do it Zelly!" Hokuto giggled. "Show us!"
Lina nudged him a little, "Ah, come on, Zel. Just do it and get it over with. Don't make such a big deal about it!" She smiled at the deadly stare he was giving her right then. "Besides, its just more proof that you're not all human. You know part elf, part human…a chimera!"
Now a year ago, Zelgadiss would not have done it. He wouldn't have walked around in public without his concealing, hooded sweatshirt, even in the summer heat. He wouldn't be sitting at a table being gently teased by a group of friends, old and new. He wouldn't have just purchased clothes sporting stripes or another earring to add to his recent collection, his secret passion. No, a year ago he would not have gotten himself into this situation at all. So thinking, he supposed that this was progress, in some illogical way.
"All right," he sighed, set down his menu, closed his eyes, swallowed, and…stuck our his tongue, stretched it, reached up to touch the end of his nose…
"Oh my Gawds! That is so cool!" gushed the young waitress. She had arrived toting platters of food and drinks. "I hadda cousin who could do that but…wow…he had pimples and a crew cut and YOU are sooo cute."
Zel, speechless, had cause to blush as the waitress set his burger and ice water in front of him.
"Yeah, he's an elf!" Xelloss added. "I don't suppose your cousin…"
"Elf? Naw, nothin' that cool…Portuguese or was it Puerto Rican, I fergit. So, where's the other folks? I got four more super-sized ta go?"
"That's for us!" Lina signaled her end of the table. "And this is just starters! Better bring me two more!"
"Me, too!" Hokuto cried out. "I just looooove to eat!'
"Um…if its not too much trouble…" Gourry smiled.
"Naw, I got all day. My shift just started. How 'bout you, elf, and yer cute buddies?"
"This one would like a soda!" Xelloss cheerfully waved.
Zel shook his head. He wasn't able to speak yet. Elf! Yep, looked like Xelloss might be turning into rough duty for Zel. The rest of lunch passed without excitement.
"So, what's next on the docket?" Hokuto asked, bowing to Lina for the activity planning.
Zel replied, "We are going to enjoy the sand and surf back at the house. I don't want to leave Beast all alone much longer."
"HA!' Xelloss chuckled. "That dog will sleep all day if you're not there to annoy him."
"Says the master of annoyance…"
But no one was listening to them trade witticisms, Lina was leading them onward and upward.
"Look at this place! And it was right next door to the first shop we went into," Lina pointed out.
Amelia gasped a bit wide-eyed at the Goth-garbed hooker with nine-tails modeling in the window, "Um….its kinda…"
Hokuto grinned, "It sure is! Cool accessories and wigs, and ooooooh the best brands of black lipstick!"
"Brands?" Gourry whispered to Val. "There's more than one kind?"
"Yeah, wanna try? Some go on smooth and easy, while others smear and…what?" Val looked over at Gourry.
"I never saw ya wearing …stuff like that," Gourry said, hold back a smile with tremendous difficulty.
"Only for those…special occasions," Xelloss smiled. "Right, Val-ly?"
Val snorted something demeaning to him and shuffled over to the men's clothes.
"Where's Zel?" Gourry asked Xelloss.
"Showing Subaru the earrings, or something. Zelgadiss' new shadow."
Gourry watched Xelloss walk away and thought that the way he'd said that sounded like he might be a little bit tinged with jealousy. Xelloss and Zelgadiss had been close, like brothers, for coming upon a year. Zel was his best friend and now, it seemed he was ignoring Xelloss and paying more attention to the new kid. Maybe that was why Xelloss had been acting up again. Gourry sauntered over to Val, "Do ya think yer could help me get Zel alone?"
Val shrugged. He didn't care why. "No problemo, dude."
Val was decked out in his full punk regalia, complete with chains that jangled softly when he moved. Zelgadiss looked up when he heard the noise descending on him. "Yes?"
"Just checkin' out yer progress, dudes," Val folded his arms and smirked at Subaru.
He pointed out a silver hoop the size of a dime. "Y-you've had a lot of experience, I see. Does it hurt…much?"
Val's smile widened, "Naw…over inna sec. Here, lemme in-tro-duuuce you to the lay-dee in charge." Val led the slender youth away by the arm to find the sales clerk doing the piercings, leaving Zelgadiss standing alone.
"B-but I don't want—!!!" Subaru protested frantically.
Val's job was done…
Zelgadiss, having already made his purchase secretly earlier when he'd been out getting water and having no audience, scanned the room for another friend in need. His eyes met those of Xelloss and he tilted his head in a gesture indicating that he should join him. Xelloss skipped over with a winsome smile. "Hi-ii!"
"What do you think of that one?" Zel asked, pointing out an earring shaped like a dagger.
Xelloss bent, nose to the glass, "Cool…gonna add it to your collection?"
Zel started. "How do you know about…" he lowered his voice, "…about that?"
Xelloss smiled, "I've seen it. Oh, don't worry, your secret earring fetish is safe with me."
"No it's not. You tell everyone anything eventually."
"Not really. Lina knew about the nose trick before me. I just beat her to it. Besides, it's cool. Amassing earrings…now, that's a secret worth keeping. Want to head back to the beach house?" Xelloss asked.
"Yes. We could walk. It's only a mile or less, even."
Xelloss altered the placement of his glasses and said, "O-kay, do-kay! But you tell Lina!"
Zel told Gourry…to tell Lina while he and Xelloss slipped out unseen.
They headed out to the beach, found the firm damp sand, took off their shoes, and with their backs to the sun walked homeward. Xelloss returned a ball to a little boy who had bumped into his leg while in hot pursuit of it. Zel watched and noticed that his friend's distinctive purple hair shimmered in the bright sun, making them quite conspicuous. Xelloss laughed and pointed out how Zelgadiss' hair appeared to be made out of gleaming wires when exposed to the intense glare off the ocean.
"See? Those people notice it too! Oh, there's some girls. Great, they can't miss us!" Xelloss snickered.
"I think that they're looking at you," Zel sighed. "Now I know why I've spent my summers inside the chemistry department's computer room. Look at my arms!"
Xelloss looked. "Aside from a slight sunburn…actually the scars are fading. Maybe more sun on your skin is what you need to cure your markings, eh?"
That was interesting news! "You really think so?"
"Yeeees. I don't make up stuff like that, you know—not to you! Hey, they're waving. Wave back. That's the way. See, you can be friendly to strangers…as long as they're younger and prettier…"
"And girls," Zel added promptly. "They're too young, I think."
"Yes, I agree. Probably middle school age, from the…braces…"
"And the fact that they are sitting with adults…there, under the umbrella…frowning and wishing we'd just disappear."
"Well, then…" Xelloss grinned and took a step toward the girls. Zel moaned under his breath, stood his ground, and watched Xelloss as he hopped over and knelt down by the cutest girl and said 'hi'.
After a few seconds, Zelgadiss slowly walked over to join them. He was reticent to speak at first, but when one of the girls introduced herself, he had to respond.
"Hi! I'm Jiyu Nanohana, called Jubei!" the sweet-faced, brown-haired girl said proudly.
"…I'm Zel."
"Yeah, we recognized you two. You played at a dance at our middle school last year...the a…"
"Slayers. Yes, we did. You have a good memory. We didn't play for long, just filled in for the deejay." Zelgadiss had determined that they were far too young to be interesting and was ready to move on.
"Yeah…but we're going to Seyruun High as freshman this year," Jubei cried cheerfully.
"See you there!" Xelloss said as he stood up. He smiled and followed Zel down the beach. "Hey, wait up!"
"Too young," Xelloss whispered as he caught up.
"Glad you are able to tell."
"We need to be friendly to our fans, Zelgadiss."
"Of course."
A little further down the beach and Xelloss started talking again.
"Zelgadiss? I've been thinking…"
"About what?" Zel slowed his pace to allow Xelloss more breath to talk. He hoped that he'd say what was on his mind and get it over with.
"Something Subaru had said…he'd been visiting the Sakura Burial Mounds with his grandmother, receiving training. I've heard of them…before," Xelloss said.
"Could it have been shrine related?" Zel hoped.
Xelloss shook his head, "No. I thought so at first, since he'd mentioned his training, but no… This memory goes way back. Something I must have overheard a long time ago."
"An Eastern," Zel dropped his voice very low, "syndicate operation or one of their outposts?" Gods he hoped not, because if it were true, then the Syndicate had just made contact with the heir apparent of three-fifths of everything under Shabrinigdo's organization plus all of DARKSTAR's—Xelloss! Could the twins really be plants--syndicate spies?
"I don't know, Zelgadiss, but I'm afraid," Xelloss said, his voice husky with emotion. "I need to go home. A home and live normally for awhile, I think. Do you think our lives will ever be normal? You know, live in one place for years at a time. Go to school or work, but not into some battle. I'd really like to avoid seeing people die, too. And…I'd like to meet someone…a girl who'd think I was really cool."
"Yeah, me too," Zel conceded and walked on in golden silence. For both of us, but you especially, he thought.
Xelloss was not one to believe that 'silence is golden'. "I wonder if Zelas actually had time to cut me off. I mean, before the helicopter blew, she said my inheritance was over since I wasn't going to dance to her tune any more."
"Unless she didn't think that you'd follow through with her instructions from the beginning, I don't see how she could have had time to do anything." Zel glanced at his friend a moment. What now?
"Do you think that DARKSTAR's people…the one's who remained behind in…Europe or wherever…do you think that they will trace his death back to me somehow? Do you think that they will try to contact me?"
"Oh, Xelloss," Zel's voice cracked. "I don't think so. No one knew but Zelas and she wouldn't have left a paper trail or note. She didn't even have a headquarters to work from, did she?"
"When I was picked up and taken for medical care…it was all by helicopter and I was blindfolded so I don't know where I was, but it wasn't far. My guess is that it must have been one of Gaav's old abandoned places."
"Do you want to go check out some places for…I don't know…computers or some other kind of information she might have left for some minion to find?" Zel hoped Xelloss did not, but he would have done it!
"I think we'll meet with our lawyer first, then we'll see. Maybe McGywn would do us a favor and track down the last details. I need to practice as the Nuriko stand-in and…I don't know how many other things…" Xelloss sounded on the verge of despair.
"Hey, stop that. Stop worrying, you are beginning to sound like me! We have the rest of today and tonight here at the beach. Let's not think about all the rest of our problems…yes, I said 'our'… You're not alone. I'll be right there and so will Lina and Gourry and…the others like before, like always." Zel stared hard at his friend. He had to believe him. He had to believe that he wasn't going to face his problems alone.
Xelloss smiled faintly, "Thanks, Zelgadiss. You're right, I've always got my little brother to lean on, huh?"
~*~ End, Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special, Part Eighteen. ~*~
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