(((.-) Zel ||^.^|| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina ||((.^)||
Gourry ((^.^))Amelia
Seyruun High Jinx
Chapter 8
Amelia and Lina had been smiling conspiratorially because, during their break,
the 'Seven' had revealed to them that they would be playing a string of sappy
ballads for slow-dancing next. Zel,
nauseated, crumpled into that fateful chair and watched the couple shuffle,
pretending that he couldn't hear the music. The dance had been going exactly as
he'd expected it to. Disappointing, actually.
"Umm.Hi," a shy girl's voice tried to be
heard over the music.
He looked up. A girl dressed almost exactly the same as Amelia, short- skirted
sailor fuku, bow, boots, and all, but with long
blonde hair stood in before him. It was Bunny from acting class.
"Hi," he returned.
"Will you…dance with me?" she asked, blushing.
Zel's color mirrored hers. He searched for Lina or Gourry or someone to get him
out of it, but there was just Amelia talking to some girl he'd never seen
before.
"Sure," he said finally, and led the very pleased Bunny out to the
dance floor.
Now, despite what anyone would ever guess, Zel could dance. He'd had lessons
(which he'd never tell anyone about), and it was part of why he was so good at
fencing. Bunny would never have occurred to him as a partner, and she was a bit
clumsy, but he found the experience to be much nicer than he feared. He didn't
notice a surprised and stricken glance from Amelia.
But he did notice the group of Bunny's friends who pointed to them, overjoyed,
and said "Look! It's Sailor Moon and Tuxedo
Mask!"
It was then that it hit him. The mask was wrong because it wasn't a Phantom of
the Opera costume. From what he could glean from the chattering girls, he and
Bunny were dressed as two romantic leads from a very popular TV show. He was
going to kill 'Sailor Justice', just as soon as this number was over.
As the song ran out another group joined the Lina Zone. A sweet-looking girl
with short light brown hair, Hitomi, was wearing an angel costume. She had in
tow, two guys. One, a pirate, was the handsome, tall, blond, Senior
class president, Allen. The other, a shorter, solemn-faced, dark haired guy
named Van, dressed as a Zorro-type character.
Hitomi was giggling with Filia, "And I can't decide which! Allen is so dreamy and Van...so true - he goes
to all my track meets."
Amelia sighed to herself, tears collecting in the corners of her eyes. I wish I had such a nice problem. But no one
loves me, no one returns my feelings! I wish...I wish he'd notice
me…or-or--something. She watched Zel wave to Bunny and start back to the
gathering.
Lina recognized a 'breakdown' about to happen. One look at Zel and Bunny told
most of the story.
Allen was trying to get her attention, "Lina, I was told you could help me
find a fellow, Xelloss. You know him?"
"Gods, what's up with him now?" grumbled Lina, more to herself than
to Allen. "There, the jester dude."
Xelloss had slipped into a seat mostly in the dark. He sat, eyes shadowed by
his bangs, in silence. Lina nodded in his direction, and Allen removed Hitomi's arm and approached him.
"I'm sorry about the... disturbance. I have the guy's name and he'll be
reported to the principal in the morning..."
"NO!" the word burst from his mouth with a look of horror,
"Can't you just forget it?! Leave
the…principal out of it...please," cried Xelloss.
"The best way to stop abuse is to report it, and .okay, I'll let it go,
but not another incident. You see my sister's had a lot of trouble in her life,
so I've had some experience with cruel behavior."
Lina was trying to comfort Amelia, head off Zel, and listen in on Allen's
conversation, when Sylphiel tugged on her sleeve, "Umm, Lina, I hate to
bother you but..."
"What? What?!" growled
Lina.
"May I dance the next one with...Gourry?"
Lina stared for a moment. Why did SHE have to make that decision? She was
tempted to scream 'NO!' into that annoying little girl's face. But Sylphiel's
entire life had led up the this moment, so…"Why
are you asking me? Ask him, if you want to dance with him!"
Gratified beyond all words, Sylphiel did all but kow-tow
to Lina, before grasping Gourry firmly by the arm and leading the befuddled guy
onto the dance floor.
Sighing, Lina realized that she couldn't see anything but dark blobs jostling
about in a milky netherworld. The black-clad Zelgadiss loomed in front of her.
"Say, Zel, why's it so hard to see in this place?" Lina squinted.
"It's the fog machine. That and they are dimming the overhead lights and
turning up the ..." he began dryly.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it…mood stuff. Speaking of moods," she looked to
where the teary-eyed Amelia sat, dejected and sniffling, all alone.
"Oh, gods..." Zel moaned.
"Yep, buster, you're going to dance with her because it's your
fault!" Lina hissed. "You danced with that other Sailor Loon, instead
of her, and you're even dressed as-"
"Yes, I know, and believe me, I wouldn't be if I HAD known! It isn't my
fault-"
"Oh, shut up and go dance with her! You'll make
her existence! Just look at Gourry and Sylphiel, they're happy!"
"Gourry looks like a wet dog. A confused, gawky,
two-left-footed wet dog. And don't compare me to them, all right?"
"I'll drop-kick you over there if I have to!" Through the fog, Lina's
eyes glowed an eerie, deadly red.
"Fine, fine..." Zel resigned himself to his fate.
"Besides, it's either that or help me. I've got
another fire to put out back with Xelloss."
Zel thought, Amelia or Xelloss? No brainer there!
Better to take on Amelia… Aloud
he agreed, "Okay, Lina."
He stood in front of Amelia and tapped her on the shoulder, "A-Amelia? If
you don't feel like it, I'll understand…umm... (I will NEVER EVER go to another damn dance…he promised himself
silently.) I'll just sit here by you, all
right?" His face felt hot, and his
heart dirty.
"Mr. Zelgadiss? What are you asking?" sniffed Amelia, brightening.
"Ah...would you like to dance?" he managed to spit out, looking at
her from the corner of his averted eye.
"Y-Yes I would!" and she grabbed his hand and skipped into the fog.
Lina watched them disappear. "Maybe they'll all get lost in the fog and
I'll never have to see them again," she hoped. "At least Filia and
Val can take care of themselves. Everyone else are
like some sort of helpless invalids I have to baby all the time. Speaking of which."
"It's okay, Lina, you don't have to come save me again. I've had a great
time. I danced with a psycho lady, and that
was the highlight. Oh yeah, there was someone you strong-armed into dancing
with me, did I forget to thank you for that
one? Thanks, Lina. And you sent
Zelgadiss to save me from my friend Noriko, which embarrassed both of us and
was completely unnecessary, thanks again.
Oh and some guys decided to push me around a little, that was especially nice. What's next?" Xelloss finally shut up and
looked up at Lina, who was not a happy camper.
"Xelloss, you senseless idiot! You, all of you,
you're all idiots! I try to get you
guys out and among other living people, and you have to drag your feet every step of the way. I do something nice for you, and you just snot off to me. Don't you realize that
it's hard for me? You think people
don't try and push me around? That
I've got a charmed life? That I don't have any of my own problems?" There were angry tears starting in her
flaming eyes. "You're all so conceited! You only think about yourselves,
and not embarrassing yourselves, and doing things for yourselves. I can't stand
it! I'm always looking out for you, and trying to make sure that you're all
having fun, and no one's feelings are hurt and all that crap! Well, I'm sick of
it! You don't like who you danced with? Well, I didn't dance with ANYONE
tonight, Xelloss, I've been so preoccupied looking out for all of you horrible
people!" she grabbed his arm. "So now we're going to go out there and
dance and have a GOOD TIME!"
"My, my, Lina, and aren't they playing our song?" he smiled goofily
while shaking off her harsh words.
"It's Send In the Clowns, by Steven Sondheim, Xelloss."
"I know!"
They wafted out into the mist. Surprises abounded that night. Not only Zel, but
also Xelloss pulled a talent for dancing out of the proverbial hat. Not that
that kind of dancing was particularly challenging, but it's still nice to know
that some boys know how to dance.
"Feeling better?" they both asked at the same time, and then answered
'Yeah,' with a relieved laugh.
"So…when did you learn to
dance?" Lina asked.
"I took dancing lessons. At first I was forced to go, but after awhile I
really liked them. Of course, by then I was encouraged to switch to something
else. That's when I started Karate. Too bad, I think I could have been the next
Fred Astaire," he smiled.
"You know Ginger Rodgers did everything that he did in high heels and
backwards!" joked Lina.
"Okay, I could have been the next Ginger Rodgers, too!" he laughed.
"You idiot!"
"Aw, Lina, I thought we were friends again. Now it's your turn to
tell me about you. You can start with your dance lesson experiences."
"You can tell? Never had 'em,
my sister taught me, part of her punishment. Hated them.
'Nuff said...Xelloss? Why didn't you tell us about
Karate? What's to be embarrassed about? When Sango told us you had a black belt
I almost flipped."
"Well, Lina, I think that... that's a secret. No don't hit me! I just can't tell anyone about certain
things... Yeah, I know…that sounded
lame," he chuckled.
"Yeah, if our English teacher heard that, she'd make you say it again,
twice as long and twice as informative."
"I think a little mystery makes a person more interesting, no?" he
asked, carefully leading them around a cluster of scream-guys. "Like this lighting.
Like hide and seek in the fog.
It's no longer a gym; it's a fantasyland, and a lot more
interesting."
"I think I just stepped on someone's foot," said Lina.
"It was mine."
"Oh, sorry," said Lina, "Look, there's the wolf-punk and hippie-sprite."
"Ah yes, 'and through the mists the unlikely couple...' I forget the rest
of that quote. They do look to be having
a good time. That must be a big load off your shoulders, right Lina?"
"Don't start up again, Xelloss, or I'll have to start complaining
again. Besides, you're the one who needs
help most of the time, and you know it, admit it!"
"Or what? You'll step on my toes again? OUCH!
That was mean, Lina. But you're right. You know, no one has ever...stood up for
me before. Oh, look! Here come Sailor Justice and Tuxedo Zel!"
"Ha! Even for all that flack, look how happy Zelgadiss is! He likes
dancing, I know it, and Amelia's just glowing! Or maybe that's the
lighting."
"Another of your machinations?"
"'Machination'? I warned you, Xelloss. No, it's not a 'machination'. Amelia was just
wasting away for loneliness, and Zel needs to get over
his load of issues." she shrugged. "Amelia wouldn't snot off at me if
she knew I got Zel to dance with her," Lina sniffed. "Or maybe she
would. Oh, well. They're happy now."
A few more steps and twirls, and the singers began a chorus of 'Oohs' like a pack of howling wolves. Well, wolves with
nicely harmonized voices. Xelloss was right; it was kind of mysterious and
ethereal, full of mist and fairy lights, the dancers costumed in a myriad of
odd devilments. Like a mad ball, or a demonic ritual. Next they passed the indecisive Hitomi, who'd
finally chosen sullen, devoted Van. Allen was talking to his deranged sister, the Harlequin Xelloss had danced with. He waved to
her, and she waved back. Van, too, was
waving, to someone slightly beyond Xelloss and Lina. Another turn,
and they saw it was Gourry, still dancing with Sylphiel, who received the wave.
In trying to wave back, Gourry missed a few steps and fumbled a bit, setting
Sylphiel off into a few delighted giggles. Then she squeezed his arm a little
tighter. He looked as if there was a bizarre fungus attached to his appendage.
"Ah, the Princess and her Knight in rather...dull
armor," Xelloss snickered.
"Hey, Gourry's not dumb, just..." Lina trailed off.
Xelloss caught an edge to that, and didn't like it. Lina stood up for him,
sure, but she stood up for Gourry, too. A bit of jealousy began to simmer
inside him. "Sylphiel certainly doesn't mind."
"She's even more empty-headed
than he is. And it's okay if I say it, Xelloss!" she said defensively.
"Well, at least Gourry's not enjoying it, heh, heh… Hey, what's with that look, man?"
"I was wondering…are you doing this, dancing with me now, just because you
were feeling sorry for me?" he asked, bitterness seeping through.
"NO, you idiot,. I get other people to do that
kind of thing," she winked. "I'm here because I wanted to be. I
wanted to dance with a friend, just like all of them." she waved a hand to
indicate Filia, Val, Amelia, Zel, Gourry and Sylphiel. "That's why we're
all here. To have fun together as friends. Right?"
Xelloss nodded slowly, and then smiling all the while, asked "Would you
like some fresh air?"
He couldn't hear what Lina said, but took it to be an affirmative. He lead her gently by the elbow to a hall exit, down the hall
to the teacher's lounge. There he pulled out a giant set of keys, found one he
liked, unlocked the door and directed Lina inside. "Trust me…"
He quickly moved through the dark to the far side of the room, jangled the keys
again, and opened a door leading to an outside atrium.
"Where are we, Xelloss?" asked Lina, in a less than trusting tone.
"One of the teacher's lunch areas," he answered simply pulling her to
the grass beside him, "Nice stars, eh?"
"What are you doing with keys to the teacher's lounge?" she asked
suspiciously.
"They gave them to me when I needed to work on the school's computer
system over that weekend, remember?"
"That was a month ago. Don't you
have to return them?"
"They haven't asked," he grinned.
"Well, I've had enough air. Let's go back."
"So soon? Whatever you say,
Lina." Xelloss stood and offered her a hand up, which she didn't
need or use. He fumbled with the lock, and while opening the door said, "I
wanted to thank you for the dance, Lina. And tell you that despite how happy
your friends looked dancing, I know all the guys thought I was the luckiest one
of all."
Lina had nothing to say. She silently followed the purple haired kid back out
into the hallway, where he stopped with his head cocked to the side, listening.
"What?" she asked.
"This way..." he answered, guided her to another locked door by the
gym. He took her by the hand and led her into a pitch-dark passageway.
"Xelloss, where are we going?" her voice wavered a bit. She wasn't
against stretching the rules a little but she also didn't want to spoil a good
time by getting caught in off-limit areas, or worse breaking an ankle in the
dark. "I won't move until you tell me!" she demanded.
"So suspicious,
Lina. Ten more steps, that's all."
"You'd better be right. I'll be
counting," she bit off.
"Well then, make that twelve, you're shorter."
She could feel his grin. It was too dark to see. Twelve steps and she knew
where she was. She felt a curtain. She was right behind the stage!
"Would Lina Inverse please come up to the stage?" said a voice Lina
recognized as Tasuki's.
Lina stepped into the light.
"Great, Lina, thanks! Say I'd like you to do me a
favor..." Tasuki began.
Xelloss spotted Gourry and the others, trotted down the side stairs and joined
his friends below.
"Where were you?" Gourry
asked.
"Getting some fresh air," he answered simply. "Oh look, it seems
Lina's going to sing!"
Tamahome had removed his headset and was jumping to the floor where Miaka the
angel and Yui the devil were waiting for him. Lina adjusted the headset for her
and nodded to Tasuki.
"For our last song tonight groans from the audience we'll
be doing an A cappella version of a little ditty Lina and I wrote awhile back,
called Fair Wind. So give a hand to
the little lady, and good night from us all!"
cheers
On a head signal from Tasuki, the boys began a complicated, harmonized
introduction, then came Lina:
"My baby don't you know,
How much I like you besi-ide me…
…
…I know I'm just a Fai-air Wind ...
It's okay, you can go
a-nee-where…
…
…Ba-by, don't be 'fraid.
If you try to fly a-way,
On your ti-ny shi-ny wings,
I will fol-low you every day,
And ev-vry night…"
Gourry, Zel, Val, and Xelloss all looked at each other, "I think we've
found a singer."
Outside, the music over, the dance done, Lina and friends waved good bye to the
Suzaku Seven. Miaka and Yui were both still hanging on Tamahome, much to Lina's distress. Hitomi dropped
by with Van, Allen and his sister, Celena to say good night. Zel and Gourry had a brief 'fencing
tournament' word with their teammate, Van, while Inu, who had just walked up
with Sango and Kagome, joined them for a 'word' as
well. Kagome reminded Zel and Xelloss about the archery team, but they noticed
a dangerous gleam in her 'friend', Inu's, eye that
kept their mouths shut. Sango and Xelloss bowed once again to each other, and as
she turned to go, Sango winked at Lina. Xelloss didn't catch that as he was
captured by the wild-eyed Celena, who whispered something in his ear making his
eyes go wide. With that, the parties
broke up and departed.
Amelia's van was parked close.
"A guy could get used to lux-ur-y, ya know," joked Val, sliding
into the back-most seat and stretching out his long legs to their maximum extension.
All the guys squeezed into the back seats, leaving the girls the front area and
freedom to discuss the Suzaku Seven in earnest. The band notion had taken hold
and the four guys made plans to do an equipment check the next day, "...but
not too early!"
Once they reached the mayor's, they changed back into their school clothes and
found their other belongings. Amelia insisted that they ALL let the driver
deliver them at their respective homes, and so she and Filia waved good bye for
the last time that night.
"That was…wonderful, wasn't it, Miss Filia?"
"Yes. You did a fine job of it, Amelia."
"Umm…yes he did…er, I mean… we
all did!"
**** ( ^^ ) ****
End Seyruun High Jinx Chapter 8