~*~ Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special! ~*~
Part Twenty-seven
~*~
Now that Xelloss had arrived, the relief was evident in Lina's whole disposition and deportment. Now she could enjoy watching and listening to the competitors-- so, she did.
Returning bands trying out together for the second cut were tuning up or sitting around talking or listening. Lina recognized a few of her friends from the Suzaku Seven. One, Tamahome, was deep in conversation with one of the members of the band she now knew as Leafe Knights."See that guy with Tamahome?" Zel asked her.
"With the white mop of hair? Nice looking, huh?" she smiled.
"If you say so," Zel grumbled. As if he cared about things like that! What was with Lina sometimes? "He's a math major, ah… Sasame's his name. Friend, I guess of Hayate's. Both members of…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know…the Leafe Knights. Another bunch of knights—how many does that make? Good band, however, for a gaggle of vocalists. Personally, I prefer our buds the SS." Lina said.
Nodding, Zel agreed. "Yes. And more than the one's up there now, DBZ."
"R-iiiiight!" Lina chuckled. "Dragon Ball Z! Should be called the BHG—Bad Hair Guys!"
Zel smiled and shrugged. "They're not as polished as the others, was my thought. They're rappers, anyway. It's a different kind of thing, and sort of hard to compare…"
"Loud too!" she shouted over the singing boy-band's screamed words.
'…Woh! I am full now-- Full blast of power!
Show up, come out, marvelous-- Full blast of power!
Woh! I am full now-- Full blast of power!…'
Zel pointed to his plugged ears with a smirk, "I could hardly be the judge of that."
"Maybe I outta get me a pair of earplugs too for the next one of these," Lina said. "Hey, look! Speaking of dragons…The Dragons of Heaven and the Dragons of Earth – I got the two names right…right? Sure I did. I see Subaru and Seishirou …and there's Hokuto. Must be time for the bands playing musical instruments to compete in the next round."
But Zelgadiss' attention had roved over to a more attractive diversion: the Goddess Fantastic Club. Some he remembered from that evening at the dance club. How could he not? The lovely Belldandy (lead vocalist for the group) and her two sisters Urd (guitar) and Skuld (bass) were truly guy-candy, and Zel was a guy.
"Uh, Zel? Where did you go? Oh, I see. And there goes Gourry and Val and, of course, Xelloss is already introducing himself. Filia!" she shouted over her shoulder. "Guy action over there."
Filia squinted, spotted Val schmoozing with Urd, and snorted, "Huh! He doesn't have a chance. She's too smart and clever, besides, I think she's more interested in talking guitar with Zel, see?"
Lina nodded. And Gourry and Skuld were admiring her shiny bass guitar as well. "I guess our boys look beyond the flesh and right straight to the heart of the matter."
"All except," Amelia pointed out. "Poor Mr. Xelloss. I think he's forgotten all about Miss Bell's boyfriend, Mr. Keichi."
"Not now, look. Val's gonna save him. See, he's pulled the idiot over to Kei's keyboards to talk shop so Bell can tune up in peace and quiet…Ha! Xelly-poo got the message and is moving off in the direction of…the Dragon people, I think. Well now, what's Zel up to?" Filia asked. She was afraid that she might need glasses soon, but was too proud of her 'state of physical perfection' to admit it and get her eyesight tested. Instead, she depended on others to fill her in on the fuzzy details.
Sylphiel, bored with just looking, said, "Let's go over and see him. I've never really met them and they're like stars, right?"
"Leave me out of it," Lina said with a brush of her hand through the air. "I'm gonna chat up Hokuto."
~*~
"So, Zel, how's your car doin' these days. Haven't seen ya at the auto-shop," Keichii greeted him.
"I'm afraid the old one… crashed and burned, you might say," Zel said simply. "But I have a new one now."
"Oh yeah? Crashed and burned? Yeah, I hear ya. Stuff like that happens to me all the time. I run through more cars and motorcycles…" Keichii smiled at Zelgadiss. They were about the same height, Zel maybe an inch or two taller. Zel thought he reminded him of a happy Van.
"Is it outside? Can I have a look at it?" Keichii asked.
"Yes, but…no." Zel shook his head and chuckled. "I let Xelloss borrow it and I have no idea where he parked it. It's all right. I'll swing by the shop later and have you guys check its timing. I, ah… don't know anything about cars and I guess I should."
"No problem. That's where my business comes in. Oh, by the way, I heard yer band, the Slayers. You guys were awesome!"
Zel smiled again, "Thanks."
"Really! Our bands gotta tour together!" Keichii assured him.
"We did that some over summer with the Suzaku Seven. It worked out satisfactorily for both bands; I think it might be fun," Zel gaze swept over Bell and her sisters briefly. "But, Lina makes those decisions for us." Zel looked for her flaming red hair and noticed her at a distance talking to Hokuto. Xelloss was there and oddly enough he was not smiling. "How about we discuss this later, all right?"
Keichii nodded and waved him off, "Later! And good luck!"
~*~
Xelloss had slipped away from the goddesses, heart intact, and then raked the room for some familiar faces. Ah, yes… the Dragon people. He strode deliberately over close to Subaru, and then stood nearby listening to the Dragon-bands interact. How two bands could co-mingle and compete so passionately was beyond his experience to balance, but the randomness and edginess of it all excited him, and so he drew nearer. There appeared to be some kind of power struggle, kept in balance by the two leaders and coincidentally lead singers, Kamui and Fuuma. At the outskirts different band members paired up and were either deep in discussions he couldn't make out or in the throes of budding romances. Subaru was nervously adjusting and re-adjusting his outrageous hat—another Hokuto special, Xelloss knew—all the while his older friend—and admirer, so it seemed—Seishirou was speaking to him in a low voice. Xelloss decided to inch closer and eavesdrop on that conversation just as Lina decided to do the same.
Hokuto jabbed the much older man, Seishirou, in the arm, "Heh! When it comes to Subaru, you understand everything, right?"
Seishirou shrugged and turned up the corners of his mouth, "Yes. That's because I put a lot of effort into it!"
Making a heart-shape with her fingers, Hokuto sighed, "Subaru and Sei-chan make a perfect couple."
"H-hokuto! What are you saying?" Subaru stuttered and blushed with embarrassment.
Hokuto continued airily, "What are you ashamed of? Didn't Sei-chan fall for you at first sight?"
Xelloss felt for the poor kid. Imagine having a sister dredge up such personal facts in front of all your friends and fellow band members, not that anyone was paying her any heed. The rest of the band seemed caught up in their own little dramas. He considered extricating Subaru from her, when he felt cool hand on his forearm.
Lina shook her head and pointed to her ear. "Listen," she mimed.
Hokuto pointed to her brother brandishing her microphone and holding him as if at sword point, "You Subaru, the current top Onmyouji and the 13th head of the Summeragi clan that has spiritually protected Japan for thousands of years…" She flicked the microphone toward Seishirou. "And Sei-chan, the first son of the Sakurazuka clan that protects Japan from the shadows using the same powers as the Onmyouji…"
"Despite what you say, I'm just an ordinary vet. It may be the family tradition, but I don't have the personality to do that," Seishirou interrupted with a laugh. "However, since you are my future sister-in-law… Let's deepen our family relationship from now on."
If Xelloss thought that Subaru was disturbed by his sister's early words, it was nothing compared to the reaction following his good friend's declaration. "W- What exactly do you mean by that?!" Subaru gasped, sputtered and stuttered simultaneously.
But Seishirou just smiled serenely. "It's almost our turn to go on. Do I look okay?"
Hokuto turned on her brother, "Why don't you take him over there, someplace less crowded and check?"
"H-Hokuto!" was all the poor flustered kid could choke out.
"You idiot! In these times, it's perfectly natural for lovers to act like that!" she laughed.
Subaru frowned slightly, getting himself under control, "Hokuto-chan! But putting all that aside…there's something present here. Something…wrong…"
Xelloss had to agree, but he wasn't sure if they were thinking of the same type of wrong. Xelloss could barely contain his anger anymore. He's had his own abuse at the hands of an older man and did not consider the situation unfolding in from of him as amusing at all. Lina clenched onto his arm tighter, however. Tight enough to halt his blood flow.
"Hey!" Hokuto gesticulated wildly, "Are you trying to change the subject? What happened to the love between the head of the Sumeragi and one of the Sakurazukamori?! If things don't change fast, there'll be no progress. Sei-chan, as a man, don't be shy."
He smiled and replied lightly, "I keep trying to set things in motion but…I'm sure I have no charm at all."
Subaru murmured eyes down and askance, "That's not true."
"What's so familiar about that name, Sakura…zuka…mori? I should know that," Xelloss muttered, then stopped as the conversation continued.
Subaru spoke a word or two in Japanese, which Xelloss could barely make out, much less translate in his head. With another kind of expression that Xelloss could not quite grasp, Seishirou drew the boy's attention to him again, "Subaru-kun…"
"Yes?" Subaru answered innocently.
"Am I sexy? Will I knock them dead on stage?" Seishirou's eyes glinted hard, obscuring his inner soul.
Hokuto chucked aloud, "Oh, Sei-chan! You're fine as a paradise dragonfly, but Subaru was conditioned by our grandmother. Really! His morals and fashion-sense were drilled into him by grandmother since he was little and giving him a miserable life as a child. Like these gloves." She grabbed her brother's covered hands. "They're unfashionable, but since granny told him to wear them, he never takes them off. (By the way, mine are quite fashionable). But it's fun to match his clothes with his gloves!"
Lina squeezed Xelloss' arm, this time causing him to wince.
"They suit you very well, Subaru-kun." Seishirou spoke into his ear, earning him another rosy blush.
"Oh ho ho ho ho, I pick out all Subaru's clothes, but you know that… And his band's costumes, too! Do you like them? My design! Oh, and my fantastic outfit too!"
Seishirou turned to Hokuto and said, "I think the band's outfits are striking, but it doesn't matter what I like. In fact, what we like really doesn't matter at all. Oh, but…you look nice too." Then in a split second, he returned to Subaru saying, "I was speaking of the clothes, by the way. Whether or not the judges like the music is what brings us here today."
Subaru retreated into what Xelloss thought appeared to be a melancholy state. He gazed into the far off distance and asked, "Why do people have feeling such as 'liking'? If it's of so little value, then why do we like things?"
Seishirou paused a moment to consider before answering, "It's because we're lonely. With the feeling of 'liking' we can dream. There's no person so strong that he can live without dreams. But I really like you Subaru-kun. I'm not such a fool that I'd force such a feeling on you, but..."
Xelloss tensed, ready to jump to Subaru's side. That older guy was close to intimidating Subaru into a corner.
Subaru began, "Seishirou-san, I…"
Seishirou pushed harder, "Yes, Subaru-kun?"
Xelloss growled, ready to pounce, when Lina beat him to it, "Hey Hokuto, Subaru! Great lookin' band getups! You do those all by yerself? Mebbe I will let ya take on my band next! 'Course, the striped thing is pretty eye-catching, eh?"
Subaru caught Xelloss' eye and smiled. He looked relieved, if not harried as well. But the level of alert was lowered, thanks to Lina's intervention. Seishirou backed off and faded into the crowd, but not before he met Xelloss' eyes with his own. A cold chill ran down Xelloss' spine followed by a flash of heat leaving the hair on his arms standing on end. What was it about that man that gave him the creeps?
He closed his eyes and focused his attention, scanning his memory banks for the information. Weeks ago at the beach house, Subaru opened up and told a very unusual story. How had that gone? Lina had declared that…'Tomorrow is always there, undecided, ready to be discovered, and you can't just cling to all the bad things that have happened to you as an excuse for being to scared to face it!'
Xelloss smiled faintly. Yes, that was Lina's way of looking forward to the future, good or ill.
But Subaru had had a different take on it, one that placed more importance on events of the past and their check on the power of free choice. How had he put it? 'But you can't ignore the past, either. Things happen for a reason, and past events cause future ones. So the future isn't as free as you say, I fear.'
Fear. Yes, that consolidated all Xelloss had felt emanating from Subaru a few moments ago—fear of the future. Could he really divine what was to come, or catch a glimpse or two of it? Xelloss didn't believe Subaru could. He was sure the kid knew things, however, that he might be unwilling to share.
But he had offered up a story that day. How had that gone? Xelloss plugged his ears with his fingers to block out the surrounding voices. He had a photographic memory, but it required intense concentration to achieve. It began with a reference to Sakura flowers, cherry blossoms—a creepy poem:
'Sakura is pink but it wasn't always so
It used to be white, as white as the snow
But under every cherry tree
Lies a buried dead body
The roots drunk up all the blood
The bodies turned all into mud
Now the petals are as pink
As the purest child's cheek.'
When asked where he had heard the poem, Subaru had claimed not to remember but that somebody had told it to him once under a cherry tree… Ah, yes, now he remembered what Subaru had said:
'It was spring, and I was visiting the Sakura Burial Mounds with my grandmother, receiving training, you see. And I…don't know what happened, but I was wandering around—sakura is so beautiful! —and I saw this person. I was seven. I saw this person, a young man in a high school uniform. It was strange that anyone would be there, since it's private property, but I didn't think about that at the time. I asked what he was doing, and he said that poem, told me to remember… It's called 'The Sakura Murders,' I think. And then…he made a promise, but I can't quite remember…but I know that he said we'd meet again someday. And…I believe him. The future…isn't as undecided as you say…'
Xelloss smiled, he had located the information he had been searching for: the Sakura Burial Mounds. That seemed familiar… Something he HAD wanted to forget…but now he wanted to remember, badly.
"Miss Lina! Mr. Xelloss! Oh, and Mr. Zelgadiss, good I found you all!" Amelia cried between pants. "It's time for us to go back on stage in fifteen minutes!"
Xelloss hadn't budged. "Mr. Xelloss, are you okay? You look so…dreamy-eyed." Amelia peered up to his face with sensitivity.
Lina thwacked him on the back, "Wake up, buster! Time to put on a show!"
"Ah…ha!" He gasped having the wind nearly knocked out of him. "Of course, MISS Lina." He smirked and bowed irreverently to her, then twisted out of the way of another Lina-punch.
~*~
"…The winner in the 'new Band Entry' category is… the Slayers!" the announcer shouted over the screams of the audience. "So would the musicians and the drummer please come to dais to receive your prize."
"AND the drummer?" Xelloss complained. "Was he insinuating that I am not a musician?"
"Naw, he insulted ya flat out," Val barked out with a harsh laugh. "No in-sin-u-atin' at all."
Xelloss made a face, "Well, tell me, Vally-boy, what's the difference between a keyboard and an onion?" He paused a moment for Val to think it through. "No one cries when you cut up a keyboard."
Gourry and Zelgadiss were chuckling by now as they pushed their way up to the raised platform where the awards rested.
"That drummer one was pretty funny," Xelloss overheard Gourry say to Zel.
"Oh, you think so?" Xelloss said archly. "Well, I got one for you. How many bass players does it take to screw in a light bulb?"
Zelgadiss shook his head and tried to shove Gourry further away and put an end to the jokes before they went sour. Gourry, however, out-weighed Zelgadiss by 50 pounds or so, and could not be displaced.
Before he could stop him, Xelloss cut to the punch line, "Only one…but he broke ten bulbs before he had to ask the lead guitarist how to do it after determining that they didn't push in!"
Oh joy… "All right, Xelloss, that's enough," Zel growled. Gourry had stopped laughing and they were only a few feet from the dais.
"I have one for you too," Xelloss said glibly. Without pause, he said, "What do a vacuum cleaner and an electric guitar have in common? Hmmm? Can't guess Zel-gaaaaaaadiss? Well, I can tell you from personal experience that both suck when you plug them in!"
Lina caught that one and laughed. "Fun-neeeee!"
Now Zelgadiss was inspired to tell one of his own making. "All right, drummer-boy, you in particular ought to get this one—not! What do you get when you cross an augmented chord with a diminished one? A demented one!" Zel smirked into his best friend's surprised face, satisfied that he had silenced him for a while as he climbed the first of the steps and stood in line beside Lina.
Lina accepted the award certificate, the packet of free-bies from the sponsors—including a free hour at Macross Studios, and a check. She grinned when she looked at the amount they had won and waved it in the air, "This'll help, thanks! Ya know what they say about us musicians, right? Stuff like…'what's the first thing a musician says at work?—Do you want fries with that?'"
The crowd roared with laughter.
The best singing group award went to the Suzaku Seven next. They stood and took their bows. Tamahome and Hotohori carried the awards off stage as Nuriko and Tasuki sought out Lina for a brief word.
The best band over-all honor was awarded to, split by, the two opposing Dragon bands. Fourteen women and men from the bands crowded the stage extending both friendly and antagonistic glances toward one another. Pretty tense, all-in-all.
The emcee for the event stood at the podium for a final word before sending them all home. "As is the customary finale, the four finalists—five today—are asked to do a number for the crowd. Just entertainment! Make it fun and dance if you all feel the twitch! We'll start with Miss Hitomi, our solo winner…"
She sang Hemisphere (from Ra Xephon). It began bubbly, then spread to a sort of plaintive cry for identity, her beautiful sweet voice carrying though the hall the driving beat rising with the strings setting off a round of kids dancing in small clusters. The Rayearth and Sailor girls formed a line of 'backup' singer/dancers and all had a blast.
Lina and Tamahome, Kamui and Fuuma completed a transaction just as the song ended. Kamui hopped up to the podium as both Dragon bands tumbled onto the stage, battling for positions at the shared instruments. "Instead of going last, the Dragons of the Earth and Heaven are next doing a combined song called 'eX Dream' (from the 'X' series)."
Wow, that song chased even the most reticent out of their chairs to dance. Together, the two bands covered any weaknesses that any one of them alone may have had, and Kamui…his voice was amazing.
Lina had conveyed 'the plan' to her own band for their final number while the cheering fans quieted.
"Whatever you say," Val shook his head. He never thought his racy number would be the closing one for the contest.
Hotohori stepped to the front and grabbed the microphone, "The Slayers and Suzaku Seven have been on the road together this summer and decided to roll our final pieces into one—so you may all get out of here quicker. When we come to the chorus, feel free to join in…the words, well, you'll catch on immediately. Thank you!"
Val grabbed a microphone and stood with the SS guys, gave Gourry a nod, then waited for the guitar startup. "Nyeeeeeeeee AAAAAaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. He let out a blood curdling shout, which was followed by Xelloss coming in on the drums. It was his truly raunchy, grunge rocker 'Only the Lonely Soldier'.
Theirs was the only band brave enough to perform anything like it that day, and the crowd roared, getting into the tough, low-brow lyrics, rough style, and easy to shout 'Only the lonely sol-DER!' chorus. Val in his striped Zoot-suit look pranced and flailed against a rainbow background of Chinese-dressed Suzaku Seven dancers. It was a spectacular, unrefined, and completely exciting end to the event. And when it was over, Val lapped up the adulation and grinned as hordes of new girl-fans swamped him. It weren't opera, but it was moving!
~*~
Filia slipped her ponytail through the elastic band, shook out her striped costume and hung it on a hanger. "Ready for mine, Sylphiel?"
"Uh, huh...this'll cost us to clean all these, yuh know? I think I'll do it myself and just send out the suits. The dark-haired beauty took Filia's costume and hung it alongside Lina's wild one. "Gourry dear? I don't see your things yet. Oh, I'll fold them for you." She smiled and looked up fetchingly into his dreamy blue eyes.
"Uh...okay. Ah, thanks." Gourry dumped his load of clothes in a heap, the last being his t-shirt that he'd used to wipe off his bass guitar before locking it up in its case. "That'll give me time ta collect cables."
"You're welcome," she sighed. She brushed his arm with her hand, then turned to her work.
Zelgadiss, already done with his clothes and guitar, was ticking off items on their equipment list. He didn't want to remove parts belonging to the contest or leave anything of the Slayers behind. Zel looked up to see Gourry shaking his head in confusion. Gourry caught Zel and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess she's just bein' friendly and all... again. Just funny. I was getttin' used ta bein' ignored."
Zel returned his shrug. "Must be getting bored with the guy. It has been a few weeks. Too bad. I was getting to like him."
Gourry hadn't moved. "Yer kiddin' right?"
"No, he's a good listener and a computer hardware geek. My kind of..." Zel replied.
"Not 'bout him..." Gourry interrupted. "I meant, ya don't think she's...droppin' him, do ya? Bein' engaged is serious."
"She's too young, obviously, to sustain a long term relationship. There... that's our equipment, except for the drum parts Val added on, but he and Xelloss appear to be checking that over. As fun as this has been, I have other things to do. I'm ready to go home."
"Yeah, me too." Gourry flipped his mane of hair to the side. He was unable to let the other problem go, however, which was quite unlike the usually easy-going guy. "I juss don't think she should be flirtin' with nobody."
Meanwhile, Val and Xelloss were disassembling their pieces from the contest drum kit. Val dropped a shiny bit of hardware into the parts bag and Xelloss crossed it off the list. Filia left Amelia and Lina to sort out the remaining microphones from the Slayers equipment and joined the two boys on the floor. "Need any help?"
"Nah, thanks anyway. Just takes a few minutes." Val glanced over at what Xelloss was doing. "Not that one, Xell-bob. I know, it looks like ours but it was already attached, I remember seein' that and thinkin' it was like ours when I was settin' up our cymbals." Val pointed out the last fitting which was just out of his reach. "Can ya undo that one and then what's left on the list? The stuff I added on, I circled, see?"
"O-kay, do-kay, Mr. Val!" Xelloss answered cheerfully.
"Sooooo, you're about finished then?" Filia asked. Not bothering to wait for an answer, she continued. "So, Val? My parents have, like, these tickets to go to some ballet in Atlas City next Friday night and... it's a thing we've done for...like, forever...as long as I can remember anyway, but this time I get to invite a friend and I thought maybe you'd want to come along...and I KNOW it'll be booooring and all but we'll go to a great place for dinner and get to stay at the Astoria Plaza Hotel, which is really fancy, that night. We'll be back Saturday sometime. So, what do you say?"
Val sat up and stopped his work a moment. "Uh...I'd like ta and everythin', but..."
"But?" she placed her hands on her hips.
"That's the Friday I gotta be at court." Val stood up and folded his arms over his chest. "And, I don't know fer how long."
"Court?" Fillia echoed.
"Yeah...Jillas and Gravos. They're on trial fer holding me hostage last summer and I'm testifyin' on their beee-half. They helped in the end..."
"That sucks!" she commiserated briefly, and then pursued the topic. "So, if Xelloss saved your life-- or at least got you well--" Filia said, and then asked Xelloss pointedly, "And didn't those two creeps call you their 'boss'? You know, I'm capable of remember facts too! Then, if I'm not mistaken—which I'm not!—you ought to be going to court with him."
"Well, I'm not," Xelloss spoke, his voice echoing from the depths of the bass drum from which he was removing his bass drum pedal. His tone sounded as if he were a tiny bit pleased to inform Filia of her 'error'. "McGywn took my statement and wrote me out of the entire enterprise." To her surprised expression he added, "It certainly is nice to be special."
"Ex-ten-uuuu-ate-ting cir-cum-stances," Val explained. "Lucky shit..."
"So...you can't go," Filia huffed.
Xelloss pulled his head back and smiled, "But I can!"
Still laboring over the cables, Zelgadiss and Gourry continued their discussion. Zelgadiss raised an eyebrow in response to Gourry's condemnation of Sylphiel's flirtatious ways. He offered his view. "Probably not. Sylphiel shouldn't be flirting, but its better she discover that she's made a mistake now than after they're married."
"Yeah, guess so. Me? I get married once. That's it." Gourry said with certainty.
"Fine, if you get lucky and make the right choice."
"I will, I believe that a person makes their own luck happen." Gourry's eyes switched over to Lina and back. "…but it'll be awhile 'fore that happens"
"Well," Zel laughed, "No matter how long it takes for you, you'll have me beat."
"Huh? You not plannin' on gettin' married...ever?"
"Let's just say it's highly unlikely and leave it at that," Zel said in his clipped fashion that meant he probably had a weak logical excuse for his stance on some emotional issue.
"Yuh don't wanna have yer own place an' kids an' a special person to share it all with someday?" Gourry pressed.
"Want? Well, I can want it all, but what I'm saying is that it's unlikely that I'll find that right girl…any girl for that matter… and settle down. Actually, I can't imagine kids either." Zel met Gourry's eyes. "Well, it's the truth. Let's face it, I'm not going to win any awards for either my mutated appearance or my stoical personality. I'll be satisfied to land a job after college."
And at the other end of the stage, Xelloss stowed the final hardware in the box and stood up. "That's the final week for the Russian ballet troupe Kirov's presentation of "Le Corsaire"— in the area; and it is outstanding! I'd love to see it, and I wouldn't be any trouble, I promise." He could see the uncertainty in Filia's eyes, or surprise at his flood of information and interest. Her lack of confidence in her ability to control the situation was apparent. "I'll pay for my own meals and room, of course," he added quickly. What good was pride going to do him around Filia anyway?
"He'd have a good time." Val said coming to Xelloss' defense oddly enough. Perhaps he was still basking in the glow of his own moment in the spotlight. In a voice too low for Filia to hear he muttered, "And I wouldn't have to worry 'bout you an' him, since he's got a girlfriend these days."
"Well..." Filia narrowed her eyes a moment, looking Xelloss over. "You don't think Eris will mind?"
"Ah...yes...well...actually...no. I don't think so..." Then, in an imperceptible whisper, he added, "...not any more."
"Hnnn," she sniffed. "Yeah, well, I'll check with mom and see if that's okay with her then. Although, I can't believe I'm letting you horn in on this thing."
"Thanks, Filia. It will be fantastic, you'll see!" Xelloss said brightly, and then grabbed hold of one bag to tote it to the van outside. "Oh, say...Zel-gaaaaaaa-diss!"
Gourry was about to argue with Zel about his miss-perceptions concerning his looks and his screwed up outlook on life in general, when Xelloss ran into them. It was a good thing since nothing Gourry could have said would have broken through Zel's tough protective barrier of denial. Zelgadiss was afraid to try any serious attempts at dating because he was afraid to fail, his thin veneer of confidence and male ego were far too fragile at this point in his life. Maybe with a successful venture under his belt someday and he might dare to dream.
"Yeah, I'm right here. You don't have to scream, Xelloss. Anyway, you have my car keys," Zel began. He caught an odd look on his friend's face and misinterpreted it. "Just keep them, for now. Grab your stuff and leave the box for someone else to carry to the van. Come on, lead on. Val will take everyone else home."
"So," Amelia broke in because everyone was about to disperse. "We'll all see each other after lunch at the school to go to orientation and… identification pictures… and… sign up for clubs…and…the sports team coaches will be there and… Look for me! I'll be registering prospective new student body council members!"
"Yeah, that's the plan," Lina answered with an overhead stretch and a yawn to dissolve away her tension from the contest. "I might not wake up in time, though…"
"I'd come over and getcher, but I'm gonna be at the house… Ya know, Xelloss' old place that burned down? Doing some lot prep there and I gotta get in as much time learning stuff as I can." Gourry's wide-eyed blues hoped for Lina's forgiveness.
"Oh, you bet. That's important stuff. S'okay, Amelia can give me a call, right?"
"You bet, Miss Lina!"
"Later!" everyone cried out.
"So…" Zel nudged Xelloss.
"Hmmm?"
"So? Where's the car?"
"Car? Oh, gods, Zelgadiss!" Xelloss' eyes flew open.
"Yes! My car! The one you drove to get here!" Zel spat out along with a dose of his rising hysteria.
Xelloss appeared baffled. "I honestly can't remember…"
Zelgadiss stopped and dropped his bags. "What?!"
Xelloss watched the myriad of emotions wash over his best friend's face for just a moment longer. One, two, three… "In all the rush to get here and the trauma…I…" He scratched his head, then added brightly, "Well, I just plain can't remember where I parked it!"
"Xelloss…" Zel growled. He drew his hands into fists and commenced to twitch with pent up anger. He raised his eyes to search for and locate Xelloss'. That's when he perceived that twinkle in his friend's purple cat-eyes and his broadening smile-- that annoying expression of superiority.
"Just kidding!" Xelloss giggled. "But…"
Zelgadiss started with alarm, "What?" What, now?!
"But we'd better hurry," Xelloss said as he picked up Zel's clothes bag. "I may have parked it in a tow-away, no-parking zone!"
"Damn you anyway," Zel sputtered.
The two guys shot off like bullets. Of course, the car was parked safely under a street light, half a block from the hall, intact, but the joke had been fun anyway!
~*~ End, Seyruun Summer High Jinx Special, Part Twenty-seven.
