(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 31
THE SLAYERS
"Hey, those look like pretty tasty lunches!" grinned McGywn as he greeted the boys.
"That was a cruel thing to say," moaned Zelgadiss, pushing away the green Jell-O, fatigued-green beans, and indeterminable casserole plate du jour.
Xelloss stared out the window.
It was going to be a long day—
"I had a chat with yer doctor an' he okay'd a visit," the officer looked from one boy to the other.
Zelgadiss spoke, "I risked a lot to get that tape because I know its damned important to him. I can guess that he doesn't want it to get into the wrong hands, which means anyone's but yours, if you get my drift here—but there's something more. Xelloss? That's your cue to say something—"
"Hi—officer—I'll get it—McGywn. I want to see it. Did the video player arrive yet?" Xelloss asked in a soft voice.
"I'm told its coming. But I donna think I've got the stomach to watch that agin."
"Not watch—listen—" Xelloss closed his eyes.
"Well, I'll be goin' now, and let you two rest—oh, by the way Zelgadiss, the doctor agrees and has arranged with the mayor ta bring in some friends o'yers, but a couple are hard ta find out at that settlement o'theirs. Rest now—"
"Thanks, officer. For everything—" Zel sighed and closed his eyes.
Zel awoke at the sound of a tapping on the door. He growled something indiscernible and the intruder entered.
"Lina!" he gasped. Relief washed over both kid's faces.
"Zel! You're—okay, right? You look—" she wasn't sure how to finish that.
"Like shit. Like I feel. It's okay, I've looked in the mirror," he smirked and pointed to the bathroom. "I can shuffle about-- Him? Probably asleep. He's spacey-- is everyone else out there?"
"Uh, huh. What do you want me to do with them?" Lina asked.
"You're asking me? That's new—"
"Hey! If you're going to act that way I won't give you the present I brought!" Lina smiled evilly.
"Present?"
"Pants."
"Pants?" he chuckled. "Thanks, you remembered."
"How could I forget! The first time I visited you in the hospital you wouldn't see me until you had clothes to wear. Course you were covered in bandages and I saw you anyway, but the next time I came I brought you pants," she grinned.
"Yeah, thanks really. These hospital—gowns are—" he blushed.
"Pretty revealing, eh? Well here you put these on, yeah underwear too, and I'll let the others in—"
"How about, I close off Xelloss' part of the room with the drapery and everyone stay on my side, then let him see you one at a time—He only recognized your name last night, Lina. I've been telling him stories, but—we'll warn them not to be disappointed if he doesn't act familiar, all right? Now I need a little privacy—"
"Gotcha!" Lina smiled and left the room.
Minutes later, the door opened the Gourry and Lina, Amelia and Sylphiel, and then Val and Filia filed in and stood around uncomfortably.
"Hi?"
"Hi, everyone—I look messed up, but I'll be fine in a couple weeks—even play the guitar, so don't look so depressed," Zel said.
"Lina and Gourry have told us about what happened—but the paper—" Amelia began.
"Let me see that!" Zel grabbed the paper and began to scan for information. Gourry slipped out of the room with Val.
"Damn—they had to tell the world, didn't they—Well, just what he needs, his mother's identity plastered on the front page—" Zel slunk back onto his bed.
Gourry and Val returned with chairs for everyone.
"Zelgadiss?" Xelloss' plaintive voice called from behind the screen.
"Yeah? Hey, we have some visitors. Hold on—"
Zel got up and spoke to Xelloss a moment then looked around the curtain and caught Lina's attention. "All right, You know this one, right?" ask Zel.
Xelloss looked up expectantly, then smiled, "Lina!"
"Oh, god, I'm gonna lose it, Zel," she whispered in passing.
"No you won't."
Lina took a deep breath and smiled and winked, "Good, if ya didn't remember me then I'da been worried!" She picked up his limp hand and sat on his bed. She gave it a little squeeze, and he pressed back. "Good and I brought you something too—Hey, big guy, get in here!" she called to Gourry. Zelgadiss whispered to Gourry and led him in. Lina was displaying pants and boxers for Xelloss. "Getting' in past the police and snagging stuff was hard so we brought along the band pants and bought ya new shorts and—" Gourry pulled out a pair of drum sticks from under his coat.
"Drumsticks?" Xelloss stared in wonder and squinted at the tall blonde guy. "You must be Gourry!"
"Not those!" hissed Lina.
"Ah, that's right—oh, I got ya these too," Gourry handed Xelloss his glasses case. "They almost wouldn't let me leave the loft with these, so I had ta put em on and pretend they were mine. Hope I didn't bend em, or anythin'—"
"Thanks!" Xelloss smiled and let Lina put them on him.
"They must have removed the contacts last night, 'cause they're not in—your eyes are kinda red though. Now you may behold Lina Inverse in all her glory—in focus!" Lina laughed.
"You're beautiful," Xelloss smiled and added, "And can sing too—"
"You betcha! I'm gonna sing a tune for ya too! Ahem—" She took a deep breath, than began, "Baby don't be 'fraid –" she sang the tune she'd written in a soft sweet voice neither Gourry or Zel had heard her sing in before.
When she was done, Xelloss smiled again and raised an eyebrow, "Familiar, but I don't remember you singing it quite like that."
"Course not! This is a hospital room not a concert hall. Get outta here, and I sing it right!" she shouted, then smiled and winked. "Now give him those sticks," she demanded of Gourry.
Gourry placed them in Xelloss' hands, "This is how you always held them—" and watched Xelloss' fingers tighten around the familiar wooden shapes.
He looked around for something, the lunch tray was in range and so was Lina. He chose the tray and using his wrists and some arm, tapped out a weak rhythm. "If you say so—" he chuckled.
"Oh, yeah. You are a great drummer. Get your strength back and you'll be—the best," said Lina. "Hey, how about getting dressed now? Okay, Zel?"
Gourry and Zel helped Xelloss into his clothes and sat him up. Gourry had done most everything, "Just like dressing my little brothers!" he laughed. "Though, I think you're moving your legs some—"
Xelloss closed his eyes, tired from the experience.
"Maybe we should go—" Gourry began.
His eyes snapped opened, purple orbs glittered dangerously; then he smiled, "No way!"
Lina looked at Gourry, "There's one more thing……"
Gourry smiled sheepishly, "I, ahhh, almost forgot—This is yours—we used it to call the police and I, ahh, kept it. Lina remembered ta put in new batteries before comin'—Here." Gourry set the cell phone on the bed beside his hand.
Amelia had had a death-grip on Zel's good arm. He was terrified that she might do something embarrassing to him, but she simply hugged HER Zel and cried on his shoulder. "Ah, Amelia? Xelloss wants to see you now, but remember the game? He has to guess your name first, right? All right, now let go—"
Amelia bounced in and threw herself at Xelloss. He looked a bit confused but wrapped his arms around her and patted her back. "You—must be Amelia—but I can't be sure until I see your eyes—That's right! Hey, Zelgadiss! You were right, they are big and gray-blue!" he giggled. That giggle. For the first time in a couple days.
She sat up blushing. Zel had left the room to avoid the laughter.
"Look what I brought you! I didn't know if you had thought to save a copy from your performance—see? Here's your name!" Amelia showed Xelloss the cast list from the Nutcracker. "Harlequin dancer, Mr. Xelloss Graywords, Thursday and Sunday. Isn't that wonderful?"
"Ballet? Yes, I can dance, can't I—" he gazed fondly at the names and pictures, holding the booklet in his own hands and flipping the pages.
He didn't notice the gasps and mutterings from his friends who had just learned that he had been a ballet dancer as well as one who fancied ballroom dancing.
Amelia stood up, "We also brought both of you a CD player of mine and the CDs you, Xelloss, had left in the RV from our road trip."
Xelloss shook his head. The road trip wasn't familiar. Amelia moved to the side. Zel lead Sylphiel in and pushed aside the curtain. Most everyone was crowding around anyway and they needed the extra space. Chairs were drawn up and she had her turn.
"Hi, Xelloss—I, I finished the kimono for you. I hope it fits okay. I had to guess about a few things, but it's too big for Zelgadiss—" Her voice trailed off and she pulled out a gorgeous fold of fabric and shook it out. From a distance the pattern looked like marbled charcoal with black trim. On closer inspection, you could make out an overall design of interlocking gold Chinese dragons and silver-gray Fu dogs either dancing or fighting. Gourry helped him sit up and remove the hospital rag and slip into the kimono. Sylphiel showed him how to tie the inner tie (controlling her shaking hands quite well). She tried not to notice his scarred chest. Quickly she tied the outer sash loosely around him and smiled.
"It fits! And you look so—nice!" She blushed slightly under his intense gaze.
"You are Sylphiel, right? Wait a second, don't go—I need a mirror!" he cried out.
Filia hopped up, "I have one, in my purse—" She dug around and pulled out her hand mirror. "Here you go!" she said, pushing the handle his way.
Xelloss flung up his hands, guarding his face from her blow, which –of course—didn't come.
Filia saw him flinch and drew back. "I'm not going to hit you, Xelloss. Here, take the mirror." She rested it on the bed.
He smiled, "Well, that's odd. I don't know why I did that, but it's nice to be able to move my arms." He picked up the mirror and studied his face. "Zelgadiss? I do not look like her. And my hair is not the same color!"
Sylphiel giggled and turned away. Zel sighed and hid his face in his hands.
"I also brought you a date pudding I cooked. The last one, well, ended up in your face or hair, I believe." Sylphiel told him a bit of the story and he laughed.
"Thanks, I'm probably going to get hungry and it looks good," he smiled and looked over at Filia standing behind and to the side of Sylphiel. "And you—with the pretty face, you are—Filia. Right? I know, you and I were once lovers and then we broke up and now we can barely stand one another—" he grinned.
She did nearly whomp him over the head, but chose to laugh it off, "You're not even close. Now hold still!" Filia plunked down at his side and began combing out his hair. "I can't do a thing with these bandages in the way—and you need a hair cut—okay, then just a trim. You don't need to hide any more. No! I'm not doing it now—when you get home—our next band practice. There that looks much—more like you," she slipped the comb back into her purse, waited for him to admire himself in the mirror, then put that away as well.
"Here are the CDs you left in the RV—thanks, Zel," she said rising and offering Val her seat by Xelloss.
"Yo!" Val said and placed a sack in Xelloss' hands. "Open it, go on—"
"Jelly-filled doughnuts, brioche, croissants— smell good. Thanks, Val!" Xelloss smiled.
"Ya know me?"
Xelloss shrugged, "One name left—but I know we were friends—" his voice trailed off.
Val nodded, "These came from Polly's Pies and Pastries—ring a bell? No? Hmm, well ya walked there lots and got stuff. Kiki lived upstairs—Kiki? Ah, Zel? Shit, he's gonna find out sooner or later. I went ta see'r, but her Uncle said her parents came and some lady talked to 'em and they packed up and left. Gone back to, ah—Paris, I guess. I gotta note, for ya—here. Save it fer later, if ya want—"
The door opened and an intern rolled in a TV and VCR. Gourry popped over and plugged it all in. "Yeah, perfect timin', eh? See I got the music video you an' Zel here made of our band. Wanna see it? Okay, here Gourry, since you're closest. Oh, an' that little girl, Kiki, helped with the recordin' of this--"
Xelloss was staring down at the envelope in his hands. The music, so familiar, rang from the TV. Zel slipped the note from his hands and secretly hid it in his own pants pocket—that could wait, whatever it said.
"Yes!" Xelloss laughed. "I remember this! Zelgadiss? Look at the crows! They are so cool! Who put those in? Me? Ha! I know that song! That's me! Yes! Yes! The Slayers!"
Everyone sang along as the song snippets went by. Amelia started unloading a sack, which she'd drug in before. "So now you'll all want one of these to wear—" and out came matching T-shirts, black, long-sleeved and with the Slayers logo emblazoned across the front. The girls drew the curtain and frantically tried theirs on. When they were done, they giggled and clamored out to show the boys, who were changed, except for Zel, whose sling and bandages prevented him from wearing his, and Xelloss, who was still being aided by Gourry.
"Now, ain't that sweet," leered Val admiring the girls lined up in identical tops.
"Thanks—Amelia," said Xelloss, "They're great. I love mine," he smiled, leaned back and closed his eyes. "Thanks—everyone."
They chatted on a little while until it was clear that Xelloss was unable to stay awake any longer. As they started to pack-up and find their belongings, Phil entered the room.
"How'd it go?" he whispered to Amelia and looked over at Zelgadiss.
"Oh, Daddy! He's gotten so much better since we came! He can move his hands and arms some and I think he remembers a few more things. Mr. Zelgadiss looks happier too, don't you think?"
Phil grinned, showing his huge teeth, "I think they both look tired, but are too polite to kick you out—so I will. You can come back another time, if the doctor lets you—that's right say your good-byes and file out." He leaned over close to Zel's ear and spoke privately a bit, "How are you feeling about all—this? Terrible business, but I understand you were very brave."
"Brave, but ineffectual, I'm afraid. The hero was Beast. He's a great dog." He smirked over at Xelloss who had one eye open his way, "Too bad you missed Beast in action! He was great—straight for the throat—Glad he likes ME! Heh, heh—"
"I don't like dogs—do I?" Xelloss asked, and then drifted off to dreamland.
Quiet. The room was quiet. Zel lay back on his bed, closed his eyes and fell into a contented sleep. --Only to be interrupted an hour later by the irritating dinner tray. His had a note on it, "I ordered real food for you guys, all right! I wasn't sure what you'd eat, since you hardly ever eat anyway, sooo I ordered lots!—You can thank me later! –Lina (who else?)"
Zelgadiss chuckled and looked over the tray, filled to overflowing. The mashed potatoes did smell good, as did the warm roll and butter. Tea! A cup of tea! Thank you Lina Inverse, wherever you are! Pie? That, he can have unless—blueberry? Worth a try—
Xelloss moaned, "Food?"
"Yep? Can you handle a fork and spoon? They won't trust us with knives, apparently. Yeah, you have to sit up first. Hey that's a first for you. You know why it looks good don't you? What? No, I didn't cook it—Lina ordered our dinners. Odd selection but it is mostly edible. No meat, no sauces—simple and filling, though a bit heavy on the dessert scale-- How's the soup?"
"Hot. So, you going to clue me in as to whom those guys were, I mean besides my best friends apparently?" Xelloss smiled oddly.
"Nope, you'll have to figure that out for yourself. How would I know how you secretly felt about them anyway," Zel was sounding miffed. He was ready for some alone time, not talk-about-feelings time.
"Okay—" Xelloss got the point and continued eating in silence.
"Zelgadiss?"
"Call me Zel."
"So, which one is my girlfriend?"
"What?" Zel choked on his bite of roll.
"Is it Lina? Or is she your girlfriend?"
Zel tried to think of what he could say to Xelloss that wouldn't hurt him. He didn't want to hurt Xelloss. The poor kid had had enough hurt to last a lifetime. "Lina's-- not your girlfriend. Or mine. Or anyone's. None of them.…(oh dears gods, how can I be saying these foreign words?) are going out with anyone. We're all just friends. Lina's been my best friend forever, like I told you, and she's kind of like your best friend, too."
"What about you?" Xelloss frowned.
"I'm your little brother, so I don't count," Zel smiled painfully at his damaged friend.
"That little black-haired Amelia seemed pretty darn friendly," Xelloss said. He stared up at the ceiling, having drained his soup bowl and downed a roll slathered in butter.
A shudder passed through Zel unbidden. "Yeah, well, she's four, ah….three—she just had her birthday-- years younger than you-- just a little kid. Doesn't know better." Like Kiki? Oh, this could go into all sorts of directions Zel wished to avoid. In fact, any direction referencing relationships with the girls were unwanted. However, Xelloss's mind seemed to be on one track. And so there was a clashing of the minds.
"Sylphiel must like me some—to make me this," Xelloss pulled at his kimono.
Zelgadiss sighed audibly, "I believe you told me or she told me that you were paying her to make it—a friend, like I said before."
"Filia—now there's an eyeful—"
"Don't push it, Xelloss! You and she, how can I put this—haven't been close, barely friendly in the past, so—back off," Zel glared, angry that he had to be the one to gossip about his friends.
"Oh."
"That's right."
"Zelgadiss?"
"Hmm?"
"Are you going to eat your pie?"
"No—would you like to have it?"
"Yes, although I wish it had—"
"—a scoop of ice cream on top—" Zel finished for him.
"Or two! You must know me very well!" Xelloss laughed.
And at times, not at all, Zel thought.
The next morning, even before breakfast rolled in, a strange medical examiner entered their room and began reading Xelloss' chart.
"Hello. I am here to do a mental examination prior to your commitment into a mental facility," the sour looking man recited mechanically.
"Where's Doctor Adams?" Zel asked abruptly.
The stranger ignored him and flipped through a few pages of his own chart.
"I asked politely, where's Doctor Adams?" Zel demanded anger flaring.
"I am here to see Xelloss Metallium. First question—" the examiner began.
"Don't say a word, Xelloss! Understand! Nothing! I'll get the doctor!" yelled Zel hopping up from his bed and tugging on his pants. His left leg was bandaged from a long scrape to the shin. The pants rubbed against this causing him to wince in pain. Out the door he flew after pausing to give Xelloss a reassuring glance over his shoulder. Xelloss looked bewildered.
Zelgadiss must have looked particularly harried. He caught the attention of the nurses at the central station immediately. He explained the situation and, surprisingly, they took him seriously. Calls out to Dr. Adams rang out over the intercom. Zel grabbed onto one of the kindlier looking nurses and begged her to help him back to the room. Even that worked. Once they returned to the room, the nurse demanded that the examiner report in at the central desk BEFORE seeing restricted patients. It might have come to fists, had Dr. Adams, along with two security aids not come in at that moment. The examiner was escorted off.
"Zelas' doing, I suppose." Zel sighed from his bed.
"What makes you think so?" asked the doctor.
"I don't know exactly—stuff Xelloss used to say. For some reason, he really hates her, which's not normal. She gives me the creeps too. Why she'd want to put him away—I couldn't guess. It has to be expensive. She doesn't need the space! That wasn't very funny, I know—I wonder what doctor put him away before, and if it was really necessary and for so long—what was it, a year?"
"That doctor was—my father. You can count on it that I will look into the matter carefully. I don't believe your friend is going to improve locked away from his friends, do you?" smiled the doctor.
"No, I—" Zel began.
"HEY! Are you guys talking about me over there? Cause I am over here!" said Xelloss, his face unsure and unreadable.
At this point the doctor turned to him an spoke in quiet, reassuring tones. He was pleased at all the progress Xelloss was making.
"We'll get you up and walking tomorrow, I think—some exercises to get you started, and who knows? You'll be able to go home soon!" said Dr. Adams encouragingly. "I can't justify keeping you both here much longer."
Xelloss nodded then added, "For some reason that doesn't make me feel any better."
"Well, security will be improved around here, so you don't have to worry about strange intruders. Although—I may have to let your mother in—with my supervision. Now unless you have any other questions, I've other patients to see—No? Oh, officer McGywn is coming in before lunch and—here's your breakfast and a menu for tomorrow so you can make your own choices."
Breakfast wasn't bad, course it was simply cooling scrambled eggs and toast with a lonely sausage and orange juice to drink. Zelgadiss begged for two cups of tea so plaintively, that the dour servant conceded and returned shortly with the cups, a pot of hot water and some tea bags.
Zel's obvious show of pleasure—and he was looking pretty pitiful these days—melted her heart and she added a couple packets of sugar before leaving.
"Shit!" Xelloss moaned.
"Huh?" Zel turned his head towards his friend.
"I have to—pee—don't laugh! I can't just get up and walk over—"
"Call a nurse for help. That's what they are there for. I can't carry you and I don't have an empty pot to—" Zel smiled faintly. His leg was bothering him more, and suddenly he was overcome by a wave of exhaustion.
"Never mind. I've buzzed. Thank you," Xelloss said tersely.
In bounced a cheerful, pretty girl about three years older than Xellos. The nurse was panting, out of breath from rushing around. "Sorry I took so long! It's always so busy around lunch time. Now which one of you called?"
Zel muffled a laugh and pointed over at his friend, "He did—he can't walk, you see, and needs to—"
Xelloss' eyes were saucer-like. Not much embarrassed him, maybe, but this!
Thankfully, she was a professional. She knew what to do. "We keep bed pans and things under the bed. I'll help you—"
"Thanks!" he croaked. "I can do the rest!"
"I need to check your bandages and—yours too!" she added, moving over too Zel's side. She scanned his chart and looked at him. "Have you been moving that arm and shoulder much? It's fine if you do. Let's see if your handsome friend is ready now—"
Zel lay back and closed his eyes. He could hear running water, the sounds of someone washing their hands, soft murmuring.
"This looks like it had been painful, hmm? No? You don't remember? Well it's healing nicely. I'll give you a bath and wash your hair tomorrow—" she said kindly.
Xelloss mumbled something shyly in reply.
"Now I'll wash up and check my other gorgeous guy," she said gaily disappearing into the bathroom again.
The next thing Zel knew, she was standing over him, scolding him gently, "—don't know where the clothes came from but it makes bandage changing verrrry difficult so, take off your pants!" Much to Zel's discomfort, he could hear Xelloss giggling.
The giggling stopped with her next words, "Oh, my—this is very bad. An infection starting up here. Let me take your temperature first and signal the doctor for further instructions."
Doctor Adams rushed in and efficiently checked the wound and temperature, "Take him to intensive care and start IV and antibiotics—" and then they were gone.
Suddenly Xelloss was alone, so alone. His memories just rolled out the door. There was no one to talk to. He tried hard to think, think about faces, names, events from the past, but it was all a jumble. And so empty. Tears welled up in his eyes. Then his hand touched the cell phone. Think, think—got one!
"Yeah, you got Lina. Who's this?"
"Lina?" Relief flowing over him, he continued on, "It's Xelloss."
"Oh, yeah? How're ya doin'?"
"Oh—" his voice started to waver, "I don't know—not so good. They—doctors took Zelgadiss away to the ICU. He's got an infection—he's real sick Lina!" his voice giving away to desperation. "I, I just typed in the first number that came into my head and I got you. And I needed to talk. It's so lonely in here." Tears were streaming down his face uncontrolled.
Lina was shook up all right. Friends were in trouble. She began talking to Xelloss. She talked about whatever came to mind, school stories, band, nothing too personal, but events he might remember. After awhile he sounded less tense, and she asked if he would like to talk to someone else too.
He made the oddest request, "Are any of our friends priests or priestesses?"
"Uh, yes. Sylphiel's a priestess at the largest shrine in town and Filia is of some sort. I'm not sure about Amelia's status these days—Ah, Xelloss, why?" Lina asked. He was more confusing than ever.
"Would you do me a favor, Lina? Thanks. Please call the others and tell them about Zelgadiss. Tell them to send get well vibes, okay?"
"Sure—"
"And, Lina? Would you give me Sylphiel's number. I'll call her myself."
"Yeah, here goes—" she repeated the number off the border of her calendar. The calendar was two years old but she couldn't get rid of it—it was her phone directory now. "Anything else?"
"No. Thank you, Lina. Gods, if it hadn't been you who answered—I don't know—what I—" he began shakily again.
"But it was me, wasn't it? And that's what counts. Now what counts is Zel getting back and you being better so you can walk outta that place, okay? OKAY?" She was terribly afraid for her friends, and she did not do 'helpless' well.
"Okay—Will you call me, later?" he asked quietly.
"You betcha, if I don't hear back from you first. Bye now!"
"Bye, Lina—"
click
"Sylphiel speaking, may I help you?"
"I hope so—it's Xelloss, Sylphiel."
"Xelloss? What a surprise! How are you?"
"Ah, Zelgadiss is really sick. He has an infection so the doctor's wheeled him off to the ICU. And I, I was worried."
"Oh, dear, that's awful! Poor Zelgadiss. I'm glad you called me."
"Sylphiel?"
"Yes, Xelloss dear?"
"You are a priestess, right? So what do priestesses do for a sick person to help them?" he asked quietly.
"If you're interested, I'll tell you—" Patiently she explained the rituals and chants to the silent boy on the other end. "Most were taught to us by a very great healer who they called the Red Priest. Oh, no! He wasn't really red, but he wore a beautiful full length red wool hooded cloak. You know, Zelgadiss might know his real name. He knows just about everything historical about Seyruun. And, Xelloss, don't worry, he'll come through this okay. He's been through worse, but I will sing and light the candles for him—"
"Thank you, Sylphiel—oh, can you tell me a story, about you and me—or just something you can recall?" he asked in a subdued voice.
"Oh—ah—Yes, I remember watching your karate match. I had never seen you serious before. What? Oh, you were—funny, cheerful, and nice—you really bugged some people too, but—that's not what I want to tell you about. You didn't come out until the second half—with the other black-belts. Yes. So strong and—well-- yeah. You and a partner—I'm not so good with names—a really tall cute guy with hair about my color and--- well, doesn't matter. You two beat all the others. It was really neat! But the best part was when you came out and showed off this long staff thing. Like a baton? But nearly as tall as—who's short? —Lina! It was really, really neat!"
"Well, later we had a surprise party for you, to celebrate your victory. Zel cooked pasta for us and made croutons! I didn't know he could cook! You put out a tablecloth on the grass and candles everywhere! It was so magical! Afterwards you were so cute cleaning and picking up—what was it they called you? Neat freak—but it was lovely how you kept our practices prepared and special all the time. Hey, I'm really sorry, Xelloss, I gotta go. My Dad's given me three warnings already. But I have your cell phone number and can call you later, okay? Okay, well—bye then—"
"Bye, Sylphiel, and thank you," he smiled and hung up. "Now I have something to think about—" he thought, then closed his eyes and rested.
Lunch rolled in, and out. McGywn didn't show. He'd wait until Zelgadiss' condition was known.
Dinner rolled in, and so did Zelgadiss, still attached to an IV drip and groggy, but definitely alive. A nurse detached the IV and helped him to sit up, then left.
"So, miss me did you?" Zel smirked over at his beaming friend.
"You? And did you see the dessert? ICE CREAM!" giggled Xelloss. He called Lina immediately and gave her the good news, then asked her to spread the word for him before his phone batteries died.
"Oh, joy—" but this time, Zel really meant it.
"Oh, Xelloss?" asked Lina before he hung up. "Gourry just stopped by. I think he'd like to talk to Zel, okay—just a second—"
"Ah—hi, how'yer doin' there?" Gourry asked.
"Zel's just back, so—better, that's for sure!" chuckled Xelloss. "I'll pass this over to him, but first I have a favor to ask. You seem to be a rather—cunning guy, the way you smuggled my stuff out for me-- Could you find Zel's—" here he dropped his voice to a whisper to finish. Again, in normal volume he called out, "Phone call for Zel-gaaaaaa-diss!"
"Thanks," Zel muttered jumping up and taking the phone from his friend's hand. He sat down a bit woozy and cleared his throat, "Hello? Oh, Gourry! Yeah, thanks, me too! The whole gang, tomorrow? Sounds great—that is, if it's not too much trouble—all right, well—see you then, bye!"
"Visitors?" smiled Xelloss.
"Yes," sighed Zel. "Now I should try and eat more or the nurse threatened to hook up the IV again—"
"You do look thin, but you always have!" Xelloss smirked.
"Sounds like you remember some things—" began Zel with an acidic comment to follow, but decided it wasn't worth the effort and settled down to finish eating. He even ate his partially melting ice cream.
They had voted on turning on the TV to check out the news, when Officer McGywn strode in.
"Hello, lads! Glad to see yer smiling faces agin," he looked over at Zel then Xelloss. "It must be hard bein' in such close quarters fer so long, eh?"
Zel shook his head and retreated into Zel-land with his eyes closed.
"Well, mebbe I should hold off on this tape fer a bit longer—"
Xelloss nearly sprang out of his bed, or would have had his legs been cooperative. "No, please! It won't take long- I know what I'm looking for, listening for. Please put it in and hand me the remote. You don't have to watch, and Zel? I don't recommend it for you either. You know what its showing."
The officer pushed in the tape and watched Xelloss' face as he fast-forwarded through the first part of the tape. Zel looked up by mistake when the tape slowed to normal and the volume increased. For an instant a younger Xelloss, slender and pale screaming and crying and bloodied became burned into his mind. Zel had to cover his ears and bury his face under pillows to block out the horror. He was determined not to lose his dinner. It was hard enough to eat it in the first place. So he hummed a tune that had started in his mind, then many more—
Xelloss closed his eyes. He was waiting for something-- "This is it coming up—now—" he listened intently and then, his lips moved to repeat the words he had been waiting for. The tape paused. "Just after he flipped me over, he started whispering in my ear. At the time, I couldn't understand any of it, but I recognized it was French. He spoke French around me a lot. I ignored it. Good thing too, it wasn't very—healthy for a kid. Anyway, I couldn't remember the words at the time, or later because they were just sounds—"
McGywn looked at him in awe, "Yer were half dead then and yer remember-- and now?"
Xelloss smiled darkly, "I took French."
Xelloss offered to write out what he had understood, but McGywn said he'd have an expert go over it as well anyway.
"He was telling me that my—mother—paid him to – torture me—to drive me insane or kill me, didn't matter which. I passed out soon after that part, so I doubt he chatted much more, though it appears he had hours of fun left in him—"
"No. Yer won't watch no more of that. I'm takin' it back now. I want yer t'fergit this ugly stuff fer now and rest up. The doctor'll be comin' in to see yer two and is bringin' both yer parents too. " He looked gently at Xelloss and patted his back, "That was an evil monster if I ever saw one. I wouldn't put it past that kind'o man to try an' implicate an innocent lady in his ugliness, so don't you jump to conclusions, right?"
Xelloss nodded, then added, "Promise me not to let her know about the tape. Zelgadiss said she asked him about it earlier and he told her nothing. I don't want him to get into some kind of trouble and I don't want her questioning him or me about the contents, okay?"
McGywn had successfully extricated Zel from his pillow prison before answering in the affirmative. After bidding them good day, he left.
Zelgadiss was pleased to have kept down a meal, so they opted out of the TV viewing and listened to music on the CD player instead. Music and quiet. Rest. An hour later, Doctor Adams entered, accompanying Zelas and Rezo. Xelloss answered yes/no questions, but remained otherwise uncommunicative during the brief visit. That left Zel to hold up most of the conversation, for a change. To his surprise, it seemed that his father was concerned about their welfare. After half an hour, hospital security escorted the parents out of the building. The good doctor stayed on and checked their charts.
"Feeling stronger, Zelgadiss?" Dr. Adams asked.
"Yes. I'm much better," he answered briefly. "Aren't I?"
"Yes. There's no reason you can't be released tomorrow—except—But I'll leave that up to you. You don't have to decide tonight. You can wait until tomorrow," Dr. Adams replied.
"What about him—Xelloss? Can he go home too?" Zel asked.
"I want him walking first. Xelloss? You listening? I want you walking tomorrow. You are going to try it with help? Good. You seem to have many friends outside of your band, they've been trying to visit and call, but I'm afraid all the calls are screened to eliminate cranks and threats and of course no visitors—BUT, they've been busy with fan mail and some other surprises—You'll have to wait to see everything in the morning."
The doctor left them to think. Mostly they listened to music and fell asleep.
Along with breakfast came the mail.
"Hey look at this one, Xelloss! It's from your dojo," Zel shouted and put it on top of the pile of 'get well' cards. He waited for him to open it and look at all the names.
"Nuriko—that's your sparing partner, I think you call it—" Zel began.
"That must be the guy Sylphiel was telling me about, heh, heh. All she could remember was that he was tall and that his hair was like hers," he smiled at the memory of the pleasant conversation.
"Not that he's a cross-dresser and sings with the Suzaku Seven? How could SHE have left out that—er, ah—all the girls seem to be – enamored of that local group," Zel muttered off and found another name. "Sano. He's let Val move into his trailer, for a while until Val's—life is settled. I'd rather wait until your memory returns than have to explain all of that, all right? Well, too bad, then--- Oh, Sango—she's a nice girl— "
"Great! What does she look like and who—" Xelloss stopped the questions about Sango. Zel's frown told him to stifle it. "So—what's that card? For you? Who from? 'Kids from Atlantis'? Is that another band or something?" Xelloss chuckled.
"A cult of Draconians who believe they are descendents from the lost land of Atlantis—What? How would I know how they got off the island—sprouted wings and flew, I guess. I know one, Van, from fencing, mostly. Allen, the senior class president, is one, too, though he's really popular, so he keeps a low profile on his cult affiliations. You danced with his sister a bit at the Halloween dance. She's all right—no that's wrong, she acts crazy sometimes but he looks after her. Yeah, she's nice looking, I guess. Listen, I'm not one to talk about other's appearances, all right? Anyway here's Hitomi and—What? No, she's Van's girlfriend, I think. Sometimes, when I can't stand sitting at the same table as the rest of you guys, I sit with them and talk. Why? Because—I am not a very friendly person."
Xelloss smiled, "You sure seem friendly enough to me!"
Zel ignored him and scanned the other cards. "Here's a big one with your name on it—Looks important."
He let the purple-haired kid peruse it alone before going over and sitting on his bed. "SO?"
"This is from the cast of the Nutcracker Suite. Look there's a note from the head choreographer and everything!" Xelloss beamed.
"That's really great, Xelloss. You should keep that forever. The guy gave you his card. He even came and heard the band at the Mayor's Ball! I think he wanted you to start dance up again, seriously. Yeah, well—I'm sure not all the guys are gay—"
"Zelgadiss? Tell me. My Karate partner was a cross-dresser and I liked ballet dancing—I'm not—"
"NO! You're definitely not gay, Xelloss, but you got teased some. The karate was a good idea for you—any way here's another card from the lady who owns the local deli, another from the man who runs the hardware store, hmmmm—one from the owners of Polly's Pies. Let me open that first, all right? Thanks—it's all right, you can read it."
"These are nice people to send these cards. Sooooooo, I'm a nice guy too, right?" Xelloss asked. He was harboring those doubts you would expect would crop up if you had lost much of your memory and self-awareness.
"Yeah, sure. Fine. You have improved—" Zel added in all honesty.
Xelloss laughed at his friend's obvious signs of discomfiture when telling him about his real personality. "I guess that will have to do. I've 'improved'. Like a new version of an old laundry detergent. 'And now the new AND IMPROVED XELLOSS! Still talks and sings, but now he comes with his own cell phone and drum sticks! 'Course you don't get something for nothing. If you read the fine print, you will see that he no longer walks—"
They both laughed at his jokes, as grim as the ending was. Neither of the boys believed that either the memory problem or the walking disablement was permanent, just lingering signs of the shock done to his psyche.
Zel opened a card signed by all the fencing team and smiled, "Gourry drove around and collected some signatures from some of my opponents too! Like Inu, you met him—fierce guy about my size with long white hair and attitude to HERE! 'Course after the girls painted his fingernails—oh, yes and yours, and Val's, and Gourry's toenails I believe. ME? Oh, no! I was with Lina and Kagome---Yes, she is nice and Inu's--- friend. Shit, Xelloss, I never knew this about you. Categorizing the girls based on their appearance and availability! If Lina knew that she'd—inflict bodily injury to your person, which is why you kept it a secret, I'm sure. That's enough of this for me. I'm listening to music, so don't bother me, all right? Good."
The next day brought a real workout for Xelloss. He'd been taken away to a rehab room, so Zelgadiss had a morning of quiet to reflect.
Go home? Love to be in my own room but—am I afraid to be alone? Oh, no. That's not quite right. Afraid to be with Zelas. That's it. Xelloss needs to get on without me, but what if he takes it as a rejection? Ah—when did my life start getting so damned complicated? Oh, yes. September—friends.
This productive process was abruptly halted by the return of his roommate.
"Look at me! I'm on a walker!" Xelloss chortled as he rolled into the room.
"Congratulations," said Zel curtly.
"That means we can leave in a day or two, the doctor told me," added Xelloss, hoping to drum up a bit of enthusiasm from his gloomy friend.
"You. He meant you. I can walk out of here right now," Zel corrected him.
"That's right, me. So—have you decided? Lina and the rest of the band is coming to see us today," Xelloss added enticingly.
"I could leave with them."
Xelloss looked devastated for a split second, but turned away so hide his face. His memories were returning, but he needed stimulation. He needed to talk about the things going on. He needed his best friend, but he knew Zelgadiss was yearning for his solitary life.
"If I had the chance, I would. I'll make it a day or so here alone. You've done more than anyone else on the planet would ever do for me, so don't think it'll hurt my feelings if you want to go. Yes, I mean it!" Xelloss smiled faintly.
Zel shrugged. That performance hadn't fooled him. "I'll think about it. I don't crave going up and down those stairs to my room right now and—I'm not crazy about being under the same roof with Rezo and Zelas, to be honest." There I said it. I told him the truth.
Xelloss smiled, "I don't blame you. If you go, stay in the loft at night, if it would make you feel—ah, safer."
Now why did he have to go and say something so—kind. "Thanks, Xelloss. That's extremely generous of you. I'll think about that too."
Early that afternoon, Lina & Co returned. Zel could hear them enter the hallway.
"Really? You hear them? You must have better hearing than I have!" laughed Xelloss.
"I do. These alien graphed ears give me hearing superior to that of all you other human beings," he smirked.
"HELLOOOOOOO!" yelled Lina, banging her way into the room, trailed by the others.
"My Guitar!" shouted Zel leaping from his bed and flying to Gourry. Not the Fender, but he couldn't play that in there anyway.
"Xelloss' idea. I knew where to find it though," Gourry smiled and handed the acoustic guitar over to Zel.
"Actually, Zel, I told him where to find it," corrected Lina, "I saw it on the floor of your closet, in your room the day before the road trip. If you remember--"
Amelia pushed past and stood near Zel, "You look so much better. Does your leg hurt you much any more? Or your shoulder?"
Zel waited for Sylphiel to get by before answering. "I'm fine. But I—"
His words were cut off by Filia's voice lamenting to Xelloss, "I am sooooooooooo sorry for how awwwwwful I've been to you lately."
Xelloss looked astonished. Zel looked at Filia, then Val for explanation. Lina folded her arms across her middle and stared at Filia.
Sylphiel appeared oblivious, staring mostly at Val when she said, "Your hair is different. It looks more—natural, nice—"
"Yeah, I just toned it down a bit at the settlement, that's all. I can still spike it up, if I want, but it's gettn' long," he said, fingering an earring self-consciously. Indeed, his pale green hair flowed past his shoulders now. He wore it bangless, brushed off his face and tied loosely at the nape of his neck with a piece of–
"String?" asked Zel.
"Hemp twine. Lotsa that stuff around there—natural and all—" his voice trailed off. "Man, I'm getting sick of—of organic crap! All that health food is gonna kill me! I need preservatives and MSG! I wanna drink something BLUE and eat something that came off a dead animal!" he ranted. Then, noticing a disdainful look from Filia, changed the subject. "Anyway, there's more to say, right, Filia?"
"Yes there is. First, I know I've been a bit—"
"Bitchy?" offered Zel.
"Okay—I was thinking 'testy' around you all lately, but mostly I've taken out my anger on you, Xelloss. And for that, I am sorry," she paused while Xelloss took this all in.
"Apology accepted, Filia," he smiled, still baffled by the turn of events.
"Oh, that's sweet, thank you, but let me explain. I have always been an only child. I've had my parent's undivided attention for 16 years, well, more like 15 plus. Now gulp they are having a baby. A BABY! At their ages and all! Every night after I'd get home from school, it was baby, this and baby that—it was my turn to get my room redecorated, but now its 'oh, dear, you'll be moving out to your own place soon. It will do won't it?' They are even asking Val to paint the baby's room! The baby gets more of his time than I do, not that I need much of his time, I mean. The baby isn't even born and it has the very latest in colors, crib design, and monitoring systems installed! I hated this baby from the start, and do you know what colors the baby's room is being done in? PURPLE! Somehow, Xelloss I blamed you and have been most—"
"Unjust and sometimes cruel—" offered Amelia.
"Yes—to you. Val helped me see this these past two days. He also pointed out to me that if it hadn't been for the distraction of the baby, my parents wouldn't have let me spend so much time away from the settlement with you guys either, so—I have the baby to thank for all the freedom I've enjoyed. So to all of you, and to you especially Xelloss, I am truly sorry for any pain I've caused and I will try to make it up to you in the future—okay?"
Xelloss was still speechless. He didn't recollect any incidents with her that bothered him, but then his memory was returning in a scattered manner. "That's okay, Filia. I've forgotten it all—really! No memories, remember? All I've got is straw—"
At which point he surprised them all by 'standing' up and, doing a fantastic Scarecrow dance, and singing the entire 'if I only had a brain' piece. Gourry and Val played Tin man and Cowardly lion on either side, often actually propping him up. The kids were all roaring with laughter so hard, that it brought two staff members into the room. The nurses were so happy to see him up and about, that they forgave the noise 'as long as you keep it down from now on!'
They quieted down. Sylphiel commiserated with Filia about the new baby. This began to grate on Lina. Not one to hold in her feelings for long, Lina finally let loose with a volley of attacks, "What is your problem? Look at Gourry and all his siblings, does he complain? NEVER! How about Val? He lost all his family. Don't you think he might miss them? Does he ask for sympathy? HOW ABOUT ME?!? Wanna hear about my life for a change? Yeah? Well—"
She took stock of her friends and began, "Okay, Dad died, so I never had any positive male role-models other than freakin' ZEL and he's my age, so he doesn't count! Then, my Mom goes off to the big city, too wrapped up in herself to care that she's leaving me with my poor college-age sister! And my sister! She's a crazed MANIAC who thinks that the only way to—to raise me is to hit me! And she's SCARY! REALLY SCARY! But I still feel sorry for her, cause she should be out living her life, but instead she's gotta be waitressing to raise me! And I have to work, too! I don't have any great hordes of money to inherit when I'm eighteen or when I bump off some stinkin' relative! I have to make my own money and get a scholarship if I want to go to college—AND I DO, 'CAUSE WAITRESSING SUCKS ASS!!! And I never even had a younger sibling to push around!"
"That's where I come in," Zel muttered.
"SHUT UP! I heard that! And YOU! So after my Dad dying and my Mom getting all selfish and shit, my best friend has a horrible accident and is sent to the hospital! I visit him there, like, every day, but he's so morose and sullen I didn't even know if he gave a rip about me, but I still came 'cause he's my best friend and I can't just ABANDON him to depression! So I sacrificed my time and possibly his friendship to save him, and no, don't thank me, I don't care right now! So, while Zel was all sick and miserable, I was pretty miserable, too, and I ….I got involved with Nahga and.…those people.…and we did all sorts of bad shit, and it got worse as we got older, because she stared hanging out with druggie kids and the get-drunk-every-weekend crowd, and…..and then there was Val, and…. Then I ditched Nahga 'cause she was getting too wild and I was sick and bloody tired of bailing her out every five minutes, and dealing with the wreckage in her wake! So then I was out of a best friend, 'cause Zel was growing up and he was a boy and I didn't think he'd want to be my best friend any more since I was a girl and.… Woah, that was too much there. But I guess it didn't happen, because last summer, when I thought we were growing apart, I met Gourry and saw Amelia again, and then this year….it's all different and confusing but fun.…and…. and I have to go to the bathroom!" she cried, and vamoosed in a blush.
There was a thick silence. It was one of those silences when you can hear the desert wind blow tumbleweeds across the screen, or crickets chirping ironically outside. The friends all stood around, feeling uncomfortable, shocked, and unsure of how to process the deluge of information that Lina had loosed from the great dam of her brain. They remained swamped in the quagmire of it all for a while.
Xelloss broke the silence. "So, who's Nahga?"
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val