(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 52
THE SLAYERS
Special thanks to the creators of the Slayers Try Treasury Vox from whence originated the Zelgadiss vocal.
"What?" Val asked first thing when he saw Filia on his return from dropping off Gourry and getting his temporary license at the DMV. "Somethin's up. Oh, here's dinner for twenty- Gabriev-style. Ya don't hav'ta eat the meat part. So?"
Filia took the cartons and shoved them where they would fit in the refrigerator. "Well, my folks have gone to a meeting at the Mayor's and we have Quenten Shadowrun to baby-sit. It's no biggie. We'll take him along to the grocery. I have a list based on the carrying capacity of the refrigerator."
"Oh. Well, okay. Get him and let's go. What's that stuff?"
"Carseat for him and bag of baby stuff, just in case. The carseat fits into the shopping cart, too, so it's all right. You hold him, I'll get the seat hooked up…yeah…okay, now set him in and lock that over his head… SNAP! Let's go!"
Val just did what he was told. He wondered, Stuff, just in case of what? It's only a trip to the grocery? but kept it to himself.
There is nothing like a simple trip to choose food items to attract or estrange two people—like a magnet, it goes both ways.
"Tofu? Fried, I guess. I don't eat it, do I? Oh. Okay, as long as I can get some meat, too!
"Do we need ALL those vegetables? How 'bout some apples? Nah, it don't matter if they're OR-GAN-IC or not…get the cheapest." Val said with disdain.
"Everything you put in your body matters! You really ARE what you eat, you know. Where's the fresh foods grocer? Ah, there she is…Excuse me, we'd like to try this apple. Are Fugi's still good? What? Oh, yeah, thanks. His name's Quenten…about a month old…Oh, he's not MINE! He's my little brother! Thanks for the sample. Okay Val see? That's one good apple. That's the one to get."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" Val rolled his eyes. "Whatever. So, what else? We've got tofu, veggies, fruit…but nothin' to really EAT. Besides, who's gonna cook this stuff? I sure ain't doin' it."
Filia thought. "Well…I can't really cook either. You're right. Zel isn't going to be up to any kitchen work for a few days, Xelloss is worthless, Lina's bedridden and a disaster in the kitchen anyway…"
Val grinned. "See? Veggies and tofu ain't no good."
Filia huffed. "We're not going to put them back once we've picked them up! We'll manage somehow. It'll be fun…maybe…a cooking project! You and I can cook a few healthy meals! It'll be…"
"Ca-taass-tro-phic! I didn't say I wouldn't do it!" he soothed her, anticipating a meltdown. "But we should have a back-up plan. Luckily," he grinned, leading Filia and her baby brother down an aisle stocked with colorful, un-natural packages… "I have an ace up my sleeve! I've had to cook fer myself fer years, ya know…"
"Oh, no…not—"
"Mac 'n cheese, ramen, rice-a-roni, chicken soup—especially good fer the sickies. Anything out of a box, can, or bag is my specialty!"
Filia moaned. "Just think of the chemicals! The MSG alone! If you are what you eat—"
"Then I'm cheap and easy. So?"
"No no no! That's not true at all! That's what everybody says about you, but I know that it's not true. People just like to rely on stereotypes and avoid thinking, looking deeply…"
"Then maybe yer shouldn't use that stoo-pid phrase anymore," he smiled. Before she could think up a clever come-back he added, "So by lookin' at ya, I shouldn't think yer high quality and hard-to-get? Ha! Hey, bananas! I got dessert covered. Banana cream pie. Didn't think I could do it, huh? Well the re-ci-peee is on the box of vanilla pudding. No problemo, Filly-girl!" he smirked and loped over to the fruit aisle again.
~*~
Back home, Zel stirred. Beast grunted, snorted, and whined don't you want to sleep some more? . But it didn't hinder Zelgadiss. Guilt was catching up to him again. He was supposed to be taking care of his friends, not sleeping!
"Hey, Beast. You want to come with me on my rounds? Good boy. You can be my trusty side-kick. If I suddenly collapse, you'll go get Rezo—my father, right?" He kept his hand on the dog's collar as he descended the stairs. The company was priceless.
Xelloss remained asleep, thankfully. Zel left him. He would be the one ordering him around for the next few days. He should treasure the moments when…who was he kidding? He'd rather be helping him than wondering about his health. What if he never regained his light, goofy self? Enough! On to Lina.
"I'm bored. BORED! Give me something to do before I go insane, Zel! I've been talking to myself, and I can't argue with or yell at myself! It's boring when there's no new stuff to think about…"
"Right, right…Let's see what Xelloss keeps up here in his aerie. He's got to have a bookshelf or something…"
Lina groggily watched Zel rummage through a pile of paperbacks sitting next to Xelloss's bed. Then it hurt too much to look up, so she closed her eyes and just listened…Zel had a nice voice…
"Man…'Les Miserables', 'Best of Isaac Asimov', the scripts for 'Caberet', 'Man of La Mancha' and "Threepenny Opera'…any of that sound good? Man, he's such a fool for musicals…Lina? Lina?"
She had drifted off. Zel sighed. Why did he bother? He slunk down the stairs to her bedside, tucked a found copy of 'Wizard of Oz' into her arms, and left. (Is there a theme developing here?)
~*~
"Isn't that…a lot of ramen?" Filia winced at the sound of cellophane crunching in the shopping cart.
"'Course not! See, they're all different flavors! Here's Yakitori and Beef Curry, Lemon Pepper Chicken and Tomato—"
"Enough! They're all meat and chemicals! I still don't like it!"
"Yeah, well, it's easy to make, Filly-girl. Even you can do it. See, ya just mash up the noodles with that handy-dandy meat tenderizer," he shot a grin at her, "dump 'em and the flavor dust-shit in a pot of water, turn it up to 'high', and let is cook till it boils over! Perfect every time, I gua-ran-tee."
"That's…a travesty of cooking, Val!"
"Hey, I didn't say I was no gourmet!"
"Well, promise me you'll at least buy those…bagged salads, too."
"Yeah, I'm getting there. It'll be my third time in the veggie isle—a record fer me!"
"I might have guessed…Val? Have you noticed that we're getting some dirty looks?"
"Yer must be kiddin'. That's what I GO for. Ah, that reminds me. Gotta get more gel. Used it all up this mornin'. Next aisle!" He led the way, threading through the other shoppers, ignoring their stares.
"Well, it's new to me…" Filia snapped. "Oh, yuck! Drool! Val! Stay with him while I go out to the car and get a diaper to wipe him off."
"Catch!" Val shouted as he aimed the car keys in her direction.
When Filia returned, Val was chatting with three girls while holding little Quinny. "Like sharks to the bait…" Filia grumbled. He did look pretty cute holding the baby. Less…harsh, more…nurturing. Quinny's drool was nowhere to be seen. "So, I'm back," she stated awkwardly. It is my little brother. Now go away! All of you! Go!
One of the girls she recognized from school or someplace inconsequential seemed to know Filia too, "Oh, I know YOU…is it YOURS?"
"HE is my BROTHER," she said flatly, then turned to Val. "We need to get back." Val nodded and let her push the cart to one of the lengthy checkout lines. He said a few departing words to the lingering girls, then looked for Filia. She paid no attention to the censured glances aimed at her, while she thumbed through a fashion magazine. Val slipped around a couple carts and joined her in line.
"So you found something to clean him up with?" Filia asked without looking up from her magazine.
"Yeah, handkerchief in my pocket. Now there's an outfit for the band!" he smirked, pointing to a beaded-bra top worn with skin-tight hip-huggers, laced up the front.
She sniffed, "I can just see Sylphiel and Amelia trying to convince their dads to buy THOSE."
Val chuckled, "I can just see Amelia in that…"
Filia snorted in disgust and elbowed him. That's when she caught one of the glowering older women passing by say to another, "That's so terrible. She's so young to be raising a baby…and with an awful man like that!"
"Man? He's just a kid too. Poor baby. Those teenage parents are the worst!!" said another.
Filia blanched. So that's what the dirty looks are about. They're not directed at Val, they're directed at ME!
Val started unloading the shopping cart, humming a tune.
"Val, you have plastic to pay for all this?" she said in a hushed voice.
"Yeah. What?"
"I'm going out to the car…with Quinny," she said and rushed out of the store.
Never before had she felt so misjudged! What if he had been her son? Val her boyfriend… Why couldn't she be a good mother? Why assume she was bad? Why assume he was hers ANYWAY?
By the time Val reached the car and had unloaded the bags, Filia was indignant and in tears.
"Hey!" He moved the baby into his carseat and locked him in. "Filly-girl?"
She covered her face with her hands and turned away from him. He climbed into the driver's seat and leaned closer, "Filia? What's up? This isn't about those girls checkin' out Quin-boy, is it?"
She shook her head violently and waved with one hand, "Just g…g…go home. Please!"
"Okay…" he started the car and pulled out of the parking lot. He saw the entrance to the park near Xelloss' and parked the car. Val unlocked the baby's carseat and carried the combo under one arm, while opening Filia's door and gently tugging at her to get out. "Come're."
Together they walked over to a park bench and sat. Val plunked Quinny on the ground to gurgle happily up at them. She had wiped off the few tears, but was dark as a storm-cloud. "Those people were staring at ME! Calling ME an awful teenage MOTHER, for gods'sakes Val! I'm never been so humiliated!"
Val nodded and trapped her hand under his, "Ya know, Zel goes through stuff like that every day sometimes. After awhile, ya start believin' it. Fer him it's his looks. Some folks whisper that he oughta wear a mask so they don't hav'ta see him. Yeah…it's true! I went shoppin' with him more than once. Computer shoppin' with him and Xelloss and me. We all looked pretty weird together, I suppose. Xelloss bought respect by running up a huge credit card bill. I heard someone say that, really! I nearly killed the dude, but Zel stopped me with a look. It hurt, but he understood. He didn't want to look at himself either."
Filia felt miserable. What had she said to Zel the other day? 'Ice-cold'- he had to be at times, didn't he? He had to protect himself somehow.
"Val…lets go home. I need to talk to Zel."
"That would be a good idea. And Filia?"
"Hmm?"
"If it makes ya feel any better, the things they were calling me were even worse." Suddenly, he grinned. "At least you get to be the victim! I'm the predator, ya know. Geez…I know kids our age who…ya know…anyway, I was always thinkin', maybe if people didn't," he paused to look over his shoulder and pull out of parking lot, "didn't judge people so damn fast, didn't insult 'em, then they wouldn't be so terrible. Right? If they had some self-a-steem, maybe they wouldn't take it all out on the kid later, ya know? Maybe ya don't. Oh, well. So, yer gonna patch things up with Zel?"
Filia wiped a trail of drool off of her brother's face. "I'm going to try. But he can be so difficult to talk to. He's so smart and so cynical; it can be a real chore to get past those defenses."
"Yeah, but he's cool, deep down in the depths of that frozen heart," Val chuckled.
Filia narrowed her eyes.
"Hey, I'm just messin' with ya. I know, I know, it's not funny. But teasin' is a way of…ah, hell with it! Enough of this philosophy shit! Let's have some music."
~*~
They were home in a few minutes. Zel was up wandering around. He opened the door for them. "You won't believe the kitchen. Luna's taking food over to her place to store it because we're running out of room in the refrigerator!" he said eyes glittering with excitement. "Everybody's bringing us FOOD! University people, the high school staff, friends!"
Zelas! They'd forgotten about her how her death would effect so many others. Not the syndicate boss Zelas, but the educator, supervisor, board member, and wife of a well-respected university professor was dead! Rezo had had to go to his room to rest, so many people had stopped by to pay their respects in the past hour.
Filia ushered Zel into the kitchen to sit and rest himself, have a cup of tea, and watch the baby while she unloaded the groceries and Val manned the door. Val liked to be in charge of the door. He figured he could always become a club bouncer, if everything else fell through.
"What does your father want to do about her funeral?" she asked Zel.
"Cremation and… he's checking her will… Xelloss knows, but he's… undependable right now. Which reminds me… he asked me to ask you to bring Milgasia to see him as soon as he brings your parents back. Only the Gods know why…no…not even them…"
Filia stopped fiddling and pulled up a chair next to her friend, "Zel, we're here talking like nothing's happened, but that's not true, is it? I put you on the spot and said some cruel and UNTRUE things to you the other day."
She took a breath and didn't let him get in a word before saying, "No, don't say 'it doesn't matter' because I know it does! You have such a…an honest way about you and a warm heart, really. You are the best kind of friend ANYONE could want. And, while I've got you listening…you have a really sexy voice. When you were reading poetry in front of the class in composition, remember? Yeah, well you didn't hear, but I did and Lina did…we heard lots of other girls whispering about your voice. No, they were NOT snickering about your skin or hair either! Well, you'd better believe me Graywords! It's true! When you are ready, there are lots of girls out there waiting…wanting to go out with you and get to know you. Just so you know… Don't forget what a wonderful person you really are…none of us—Slayers 'us'—will.
"Now that I've embarrassed you again…Oh, come on Zel! Talk to me!" Filia demanded.
"I don't know which is worse. Listening to you insult me or my intelligence," he said bluntly, stood, and walked toward the door.
Filia threw her teacup after him (which he dodged with ease) screaming, "You are IMPOSSIBLE!"
He smiled, "I have to live up to my heartless reputation," and left the room. Okay, so Filia had tried. He'd forgiven her already, but she seemed more sincere than usual. Well, he couldn't let her know that he appreciated the kind words. That would imply he believed her! 'Sexy voice'—oh, Filia, I'm not THAT gullible!
His thoughts immediately moved on, Xelloss at his mother's funeral. Do I really want to imagine that? No. Might as well check on him…
Milgasia returned with the Ul Copts half an hour later. Filia lead Milgasia to Xelloss' room. "Xelloss, you up? Oh, hi Zel."
"Just leaving," he muttered and left the clan with Xelloss.
"How are you feeling?" Milgasia asked stiffly.
"Ask me later," Xelloss smiled despite the bandages. "I have some papers for you. Zelgadiss has gone to bring them here. I wanted to talk about things…"
"This can wait until you're feeling better," Milgasia began uneasily. "Whatever it is, you should rest and heal." He found a chair and sat down. He ran a hand through his long blonde hair, and then said, "I didn't believe you were going to really do anything. Then when I saw you there…giving Lina the chance to safely follow me… then later after taking that brutal punishment from…Gaav. I didn't think you were going to survive. Tell me, was he really a step-father of yours?"
Xelloss nodded, "It was a surprise to me too, like I've said."
"But to treat you that way…"
"That was my life. I try not to think about it and prefer not to talk about it either. Ah, Zelgadiss! Thank you. Here are the old deeds to the properties on Wolf Pack Island and to the island itself. As you can see, they are in my name. I typed this out earlier, just in case I didn't make it. Which was a good idea since the CIA never returned my signature pendant…Any way, this paper says that I am returning the island to your clan's control. Cephied Clan. All the properties and structures. As of…today! I have only one request…"
Milgasia was flabbergasted. He had not expected Xelloss would actually follow through. Generosity from a kid who was the son of ZELAS! He barely recovered enough to respond politely, "Request? What would you like? Shouldn't we have a lawyer check all this?"
Xelloss shook his head, "Later, if you want. Fribrizzo, the Mayor's lawyer helped me with this… OOMPH! "
"Oh! Xelloss! I…I simply love you for this!" cried Filia, wrapping his immobile, bandaged and blanketed torso in a hug.
Val had followed Zel and was standing in the doorway waiting for Rezo to join them. Unluckily, his timing prevented him from hearing anything else but her affectionate admission. Zel instinctively turned to catch Val's expression change from surprise to hurt to a frown as he backed out of the doorway. Zel leaped up as fast as his injuries permitted and caught Val's arm just outside the door.
"Xelloss just signed over Wolf Pack Island to her clan. Land rights, resort, everything. It's worth MILLIONS! That's what that's all about…excitement, not romance I hope to the Gods…," Zel wheezed and coughed with the exertion.
Val shrugged. "'Course. What did you think I was thinkin'?"
"Come on back in. This is something you fought for as well…" Zel added.
In fact, Milgasia was calling Val back to personally thank him for his role in making this all happen. Val strode over to Milgasia's side, noticing that Filia was sitting on the bed, but no longer snuggling with Xelloss. He flashed a warning glare to Xelloss, but the bandaged kid's single eye was closed. Val forgave him instantly as a pang of guilt passed through his shattered emotional state. He hadn't noticed that Milgasia was speaking to him…
"I went to great lengths at one time to stop the transfer of the property to the syndicate. Whether or not, Val, you are the result of my failed attempt to sway Zelas, it cost me my family. My wife left me and joined another clan, although no one knew why… I know I have not pursued proving my paternity…but it has not been out of shame. I'd be proud to call you son. You see, if I did that then, because of clan law, I would gain control of your inheritances until you are 21."
There was a sharp intake of several breaths as the assembly understood the importance of his words. He continued after a pause, "Zelas kept you out of Gaav's hands seeking to take advantage of his absence and gain that control, but she didn't understand clan law correctly either. The magic number is 21, unless you have no living parents—foster fathers do not count. So you see, you are to become a very rich young man, Valentine of the Ancient Clan, just as soon as the paper work on Gaav's death clears…any day now. I would look like some kind of opportunist, wouldn't I, if I waited until this time to pop up and claim clan paternity rights?"
Val smiled, "Thank you, Sir. I don't want the test done either."
Xelloss cleared his throat, "I DO have a request." He waited for Milgasia to attend to him. "I would like to have her remains buried on the island and I'd like you to make it appear that turning it over to you was HER idea—HER last wishes, okay?"
"Who?"
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Ya gotta be nuts?"
Xelloss answered the gasps of confusions, "Because… I want everyone to think that MY mother was a good person, like my real father was a good man. I don't want to be known as that 'son of a bitch', you understand? The son of an admired lady sounds better. I bet Zel and Val don't want to be pitied for living with an icon of evil either, correct? How about you, Rezo? 'Course not! No one really wants to find out that she was fooling them all. So, deal? Am I making sense?"
"Perfect sense," Milgasia nodded. "Again, you amaze and humble me, young man. Although…her remains may have another resting place. You find out anything yet, Rezo?"
"I'm waiting on the will. Now Xelloss, I appreciate what you're doing here, but I also want you to get credit for what you've done," Rezo said with great warmth.
"Credit? I'm alive and so are my friends and we have unfettered futures to look forward to…Ummmm…do you think I can visit the island sometime?" Xelloss asked with a quiet laugh.
Milgasia smiled, "I'm certain that anytime…"
Val interrupted, "How about a Slayers event here? We can have a vay-cay-shun on the Island. There's beaches, woods, stone walls…"
Milgasia smiled more, "I can't see why not…"
Filia broke in, "Wolves…are there still wolves there?"
Rezo nodded, "Oh, yes. I can attest to that. All night they howl…Quite disturbing, damned dogs."
And so the conversation continued in that vein for some time, until Zelgadiss noticed Xelloss slumping with exhaustion. "All right. Take your planning and scheming outside. The patient needs his rest before dinner!"
"Yes, Doc-TAR Zel-GA-diss dude!" Val smirked as he led the way out.
Filia bent over Xelloss and whispered something into the tired patient's ear that made him smile, and then she left Zel alone with his friend.
"So…what was that all about?" he asked Xelloss.
"Me following through with one of my promises?"
"Not that, the Filia-thing."
"You want to know what she said?
Zel nodded.
"Maybe it's a secret…no…just kidding, little brother…She just said 'thank you' and called me 'rare' or something or some kind of reference to raw meat… 'Hunk' maybe…heh, heh, heee… That's all… Tell Val not to worry…much…" Xelloss smiled and opened his eye. His expression was unreadable.
Zel looked at him seriously. "You know, the night before this whole mess started or right around then, I had all kinds of second thoughts about you and this plan of yours. I even had this really crazy thought that maybe you were doing the whole thing JUST so you could impress Filia, and give her Wolf Pack like a prize. Tell me that was all wrong. Tell me that you really risked your life and everyone else's life for the righteous cause, as Amelia would put it…CORRECT? Nod your head… Good. I wanted to see it or hear it from you. Then I congratulate you for your good deed today. Now I'll let you rest. Need anything? Water? Sure, I can get that…"
~*~
"Why am I all alone?" Lina wondered aloud, just to hear the sound of her own voice. It kept her company. "I'll bet Xelloss is just drowning in visitors. May hell consume them all."
She flipped idly through the book Zel had left her. "Zel is such a Tin Man…Speak of the devil!"
Zel entered the room.
Lina covered up her joy at a visitor with a retort. "You should knock before entering a tender young maiden's room."
"I see no tender young maiden, only the dreaded sorceress Lina. Now, do you want news or to insult me?"
"Oh, news, I suppose. And can you make sure I get the newspaper tomorrow, speaking of news?"
"I'll take your request into consideration. Xelloss," he looked her in the eye, "turned Wolfpack Island over to the clan."
"VACATION TIME!" Lina hollered, and then winced with the pain of exertion.
"Probably, when we all get better. In the meantime, you need to calm down, drink more water, and relax. Doctor's orders."
"Which doctor?"
"Doctor Zel. Now, drink your water," he grinned.
~*~ Saturday.
Zel did bring Lina the paper the next morning, though she was asleep when he left it with her. As a supplement, he switched the TV on to a news channel. He listened with half an ear while he scrambled eggs and toasted bread for breakfast.
'…on our coverage of the recent Syndicate meltdown. The two shrines that were destroyed this weekend are still being surveyed for evidence. Here's a few local opinions…"
Zel stepped away from the sizzling frying pan to hear better, taking a few wet dishes and a towel to dry them with to occupy his hands.
"…Well, it's obviously a government conspiracy. They want to take out the independent shrines and replace it with a national organization, throwing our local traditions to the winds!" barked one mad-looking zealot. Zel almost went back to the noisy depths of the kitchen, but the next speaker caught his attention.
"…I think it's those smug Cephied Clan members behind it all. They've come out of this far too well off, with the new acquisition of valuable resort land and new money. It just seems suspicious to me, that the people who died were all traditional enemies of the clan…"
Zel paled. He quickly replaced the dishes on the counter, threw the towel down, turned off the heat on the range, and ran. Lina had to know this. Things would not go well if this was kept from her for long.
"…For the record, the clan denies any involvement in the incident."
"Lina! On the news—"
But Lina already knew. She was holding the paper, folded back to display a certain article.
"So, Zel, what do we do? The clan looks bad, the syndicate looks like the victim… and we're nowhere to be seen."
"Of course. Lina, we're kids. The right people wouldn't believe a word of what we did, and the wrong ones would make our lives hell. Would you really want to go through the rest of high school with that story being the first thing anyone knew about you? You'd be a target, a celebrity, infamous…"
"I know, I know. I've already thought about that stuff. I just don't want to lie, Zel. I don't want to fake it. I can only act like Lina."
"As demonstrated by your Queen Titania, agreed. I guess I'm more flexible. I don't really want anyone to know who I am, so it doesn't bother me—"
"Liar. It does bother you. You're pretty moralistic, Zel. You don't want to live a lie, do you? Anyway, that's a dead-end street. Why is the news story coming out like this? We can agree that we're out of the picture for a good reason, but Zelas is a good guy, the shrines were destroyed by Gaav and Phibrizzo, who then destroyed themselves. And if Xelloss wants his mom to be remembered as such…that can't be good for him. Someday, he'll breakdown and—"
"You forget. Xelloss is an excellent actor. He's so layered, with wheels within wheels, that you can't tell what's really him and what's a façade—if even he can make the distinction."
"True, but he's only human, not some monster. Someday, this will all come crumbling down…for him, for you, for me--and for the Cephied clan, as well. Zel, they're coming off as bad guys! They helped us so much, though I hate to admit it, and now they're going to be demonized. It'll kill Filia, and Val's going to have a hard time, too. Damnit, how can we live with the public making opinions based on false information?! If we're the only ones who know the truth, how can we live in this world?!"
Zel put his hand on her shoulder to steady her. "Lina, calm down. You're getting hysterical. It's not that big of a deal—"
"Not that big of a deal?! We watched our friends—each other—get brutalized mercilessly, we saw people shoot each other to death, saw them commit suicide! You and I are going to go back to school and be the only ones who've seen that kind of world. How can I talk to the others who haven't seen it? Who don't understand? Haven't you thought about this?"
She was close to tears, but too strong for that. Even with all the stress and frustration, she was maintaining her dignity. Zel admired her infinitely for that. "We know. The Slayers know. It's…enough for now. We've only got a year left, right? All advanced placement and college-level courses next year—"
"Which are sounding more and more…"
Zel looked at her in surprise.
"Trifling. That's the word. But anything that will get me out of high school ASAP is good. I'm sick of school."
"I thought you liked it."
"So did I. But now…all I want to do is…well, I dunno. I'm not that far yet," she smiled suddenly, and Zel felt a huge load fall of his heart. "But I'm working on it. Damn, this is serious. I really was getting pretty hysterical there, wasn't I?" she laughed. "That's what happens when I'm left alone with my thoughts. And this book." She held up Xelloss' beat up copy of 'The Wizard of Oz.' "They don't ever talk about what happens when she goes back. They show her cruddy life in Kansas, her marvelous adventure in the magical fantasy dream world, and then she gets her desire—to go back to her dreary home! They never talk about how she deals with her friends at school, how nobody can possibly understand her since she had a magical fantasy adventure that no one else had. I wish they went into that a bit more…"
"She probably gets sent to the same institution where the kids from the Narnia books and all the other children's fantasy novels get sent. Though, if I remember correctly, wasn't OZ all a dream Dorothy had to convince her that her home wasn't so bad?"
"In the musical version. The book isn't so clear on that fact."
This was the real Lina, talking seriously about dated fantasy novels. A good time to bring up: "So, what do you want for your birthday?"
"My birthday? Gods, it IS coming up real soon, isn't it! I dunno. Lots of chocolate. And a band that's operational. That is, if a motorcycle and college scholarship are out of the question." She winked playfully.
"Heh. You forget. With our money, it's quite feasible—"
"Oh, go to hell, you rich pricks! I'm probably the only Queen whose servants are richer than she!"
"Probably," Zel agreed with a smile. "Anyway, I'll bring you your breakfast. I was cooking when I heard the news," Zel said. "Later."
"Later, but not TOO much later. Hey, do ya think I can get rid of this IV?"
"I think so. Your appetite is nearly normal and you're drinking plenty, but only Dr Adams will know if you're ready to get off the meds. Now, I must retreat to the galley, your highness!"
Lina smiled. That had a nice ring to it…'your highness, Lina Inverse!'
~*~
"Come into the cave, my slave," Xelloss called out.
Dr. Adams entered the dimly lit room, "I suppose you may address me that way. You are paying a great deal for the privilege, however. Yes, it's me. Hello, Xelloss. How are you feeling today?"
"Dr Adams! I thought it was Zelgadiss! Sorry about that. You won't charge me extra for the insults, right? Feel… I feel stronger, like I can stay awake for more than an hour at a time, maybe. No headache so far today. This face bandage is really awful and itchy and hot… I'd like to have bi-ocular vision again. Ah… what's with the chest bandages? Broken ribs? Oh… like Zelgadiss, huh? My shoulder's sore and stiff. I guess I'm just noticing some of the other stuff, now that my head's clearer."
"Hmmm, that's correct. You're off the pain-killers and your brain chemistry is stabilized. Your healing ability is remarkable! Being at home has been good for you, it seems. You had a bullet through that shoulder so it's bound to be sore. Anything else?"
"Well, it may just be an aftereffect, but beautiful young women keep falling into my lap and then start to cry or get all emotional," Xelloss smiled slyly.
"Sounds serious. Symptomatic of some other changes going on in your life. I'm not sure there's any easy cure for that…" the young doctor grinned. "But, since your father figures have been rather…poor, if you have any questions…growing-up, adolescent-type questions, please ask me. You know, you can talk to me about anything, Xelloss."
The poor kid scrunched up his face, "Thanks, actually I'm doing okay in the friend department. Amazing isn't it? A nutcase like me! But… I don't seem to be able to figure out girls too well. I mean I figure them out AFTER I've made a mess of things. The rules are complicated and everyone seems to know them but me!"
Adams chuckled, "Join the crowd! That's what growing up is all about. Learning the rules. Everyone's different, I'm sure you've noticed that."
"Yeah, Lina can hit me, but otherwise she doesn't make much contact. Amelia likes to give everyone hugs, but especially one somebody who doesn't appreciate them—not me. Filia is hot and cold and unpredictable. Sylphiel is emotional, off the charts at times. Now, I have to treat them all with kid gloves or I'm overly aggressive, which I don't mean to be! Am I making sense?"
"Plenty. Just slow down and you'll do all right. Also… watch out. As soon as word gets out about your wealth, you'll have more unwanted attention. Then it might get hard knowing who your friends really are," the doctor warned gently.
Xelloss nodded, and then moved on, "So how's Lina doing?"
"Remarkably well, too. However," he started to caution Xelloss, "she's in no shape for a party at the beach. Sorry, but she wouldn't be able to have much fun and the risk of pneumonia…not worth it. You'll have other times coming up. It's almost summer vacation."
Xelloss nodded, "My first summer with friends…"
"That should make it the best one," Adams said gently. "What's wrong, you're a bit low?"
"There's so much to do and I haven't the energy. Like what? Like a birthday party for my… for Lina, and a funeral, and I'm becoming a priest and the ceremony is next weekend and it's really important for me to go. I have something to do… something special. And Zelgadiss hasn't said anything exactly, but I know it's just a matter of time before he and his dad move back into their house, and Val too. And I know I'm 18, but I…I don't want to be here alone. Maybe I'll e-mail Kiki and she'll come back. She said she'd marry me, did you know that? No? I don't want to be alone…" Xelloss whimpered. He looked up desperately, "I thought when this was all over, that I'd feel better, but I don't! I'm nervous-like and sometimes my heart starts pounding and I feel like I'm going crazy!"
Dr. Adams calmed him down, "First of all, no one is leaving you to live by yourself. I know the professor has no plans to do so and Zelgadiss, well, he'd be just as lost without you. So…erase that set of worries from your mind. Next, I have a good friend stopping by later. The psychiatrist, yes. It sounds like you're suffering from anxiety attacks—very common after the trauma you've been through. I hesitate to fill you full of more medication, for numerous reasons, including your susceptible liver, if that's actually the case, which I'm not certain is true, and your age. As you know, growing up is learning to adapt to life's up and downs…without drugs. So, I want you to talk to him. He's a nice man. Will you do that?"
Xelloss closed his eye, "Yuss. Can Zelgadiss be with me?"
"If he wants, that would be fine, but I want you to do the talking, not him, just yet. He needs help also, but I don't want to confuse matters, understand? You agree? Fine, then. Anything else before I go? Hmmm oh, well, you are welcome. I'll check on you later. Bye."
~*~ Monday.
Sylphiel and Amelia talked one another into going back to school. Amelia's van picked up Sylphiel and together they rolled into Seyruun High amid screams of delight from friends and hundreds of onlookers.
Val and Filia arrived independently. Filia had returned to the settlement Sunday night, after Lina assured her that she'd live until Filia dropped by after school. After all, Luna would be with her until her 11:00 class. Filia, Val and Sylphiel were the center of attraction in the silk-screening class.
A 'moment of silence' was observed at the midday to show respect for the passing of their principal.
Amelia, Sylphiel, Filia and Val sat together at their table. Within five minutes half the school had passed by to wish them well and asked about the missing band members.
"I'm glad I came today," Sylphiel sighed.
"I'm glad the others didn't," Val grumbled. "Especially…"
"Zelgadiss…"
"Xelloss..."
"Lina…"
"Yeah, and Gourry too. Maybe next week things will be back to normal and Gourry can sneak back in," Val finished. "Lina and Zel might make it back after Me-mor-i-al Day vacation."
"Xelloss too, right?" asked Sylphiel.
"Nah... He said he's not coming back, and I believe him," Val said as he chugged a cup of tea. Addictive tea! It DID have caffeine in it, after all.
"NEVER?!" Sylphiel cried out. "Oh no…he's got to come back! I…ah, well, you know, it wouldn't be right without him, and he has lab work, too!"
Val gave her a strange look, "You're awfully eager to see him. Stop by and give Zel a break entertaining him, then."
"Oh, that's a good idea! I will! Well, today's party day, right? So… tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll bake him some cookies and…" Sylphiel brightened perceptively.
"Ice cream," Filia offered.
"Yes! Ice Cream! He'll like that!"
"Better take some to Lina. She wouldn't forgive you if you left her out. And Gourry, you haven't forgotten him now, have you?" Filia added. She was having a hard time understanding the signs she recognized to be 'crush'. Since when did Sylphiel care so much about Xelloss? Had she missed something? Amelia was busy chatting with other friends so she could press her for information. Sylphiel and Xelloss? What did those two have in common? The Shrine. The Slayers. Dark hair with bangs. That it? Yup! Soooo…
"Oh, of course I'll visit Gourry too, silly!" Sylphiel giggled.
Gods, and they both giggle don't they?
~*~
"YES! They'll pick up everything for the party on the way home. We have food, but the snacks and cake and more drinks… and Gourry. They'll get him too. Now I'm going over to check on Lina. Stop worrying!" Zel cried out to Xelloss as he backed out of the room.
"Decorations? What about those? Zelgaaaaaaadiss? Leave me, will you? Okay. I'll come up with my own plan then…" Xelloss sighed and leaned back onto his pillows.
Zel was greeted by a strange, moist projectile hitting him in the face. "Lina?!"
"Oh, sorry, Zel. I wasn't aiming for you."
The next thing Zelgadiss noticed was the strange objects littering the floor, orange, finger-shaped things scattered about…"Lina, what's going on?" They were those baby carrots Filia had bought for Lina's snacking pleasure.
"I've rediscovered how much I love throwing things." Another carrot sailed through the air and bounced off the wall. "Kleenex boxes work well, too, but there's a limited supply of them. There's plenty of these nasty little vegetables, though. Who bought these dry li'l numbers, anyway?"
"Filia. You're supposed to eat them."
"They make better projectiles."
"You're bored."
"You're a genius. You know, the best thing about this place is the lack of a TV."
"Is that so?" Zel asked disinterestedly, doing the necessary alterations to Lina's medical equipment.
"You can really think in the quiet."
"You think?"
"And there is the window to look out of. Luna took down the curtains. The purple was getting me down, ya know?"
"Indeed."
"And India ink cats run across table cloths spread with too much peanut butter, don't you agree?" Lina asked guilefully catching her friend in a non-listening state—which was starting to annoy her.
"Hmmm," he nodded.
Lina grabbed Zel by the only body part reachable, his wrist, "What did I just say?"
"Ah, you'd like something to eat…peanut butter and…Indian food tonight?" Well, he tried.
Lina gave up. Why torture the guy, right?
He sighed and hung his head, "Sorry, I'm all listened out and it's your birthday. I wish I could make it a better one for you but…" he suddenly turned away. He would have moved off but she still had a vise-like grip on him.
In a moment of tenderness, Lina yanked him back to yell at him a bit about him trying to do too much. "Zel, now that's enough…Zel? ZEL!"
"That's me, Zel. I have stuff to do so I'll see you later," he mumbled, turning his back and wiping his eyes, then tugging at his sleeve like a squirrel struggling against a bear trap.
Lina whispered, "I've never seen you cry and I know you're not going to now, but I can tell you're upset about something. Gods know that you've got plenty to cry about, so why don't you tell ME about it and I'LL be the listener for a change."
After a few more words of encouragement, Zel conceded and plunked himself down on her bed. He sounded a bit wavery and younger, "It's just… we'd planned a really cool party for you. It'd be at the beach where we'd do the fort thing and Gourry has a volleyball net he said he'd bring, and we'd have a cookout, Xelloss had that planned, and…" he stopped to breathe. "And now it's going to be a…"
"It's going to be the best you can do under the circumstances, I understand that Zel. And I…appreciate all you're doing, even if I haven't said so."
"But…it's nothing compared to what you did for … after my accident, just you, every day or two… and I was so…" Zel looked at her with an anguished expression.
"You were pretty difficult, to be sure, but you were a lot worse off than I am now and younger and…"
"All alone…Gah! It was an awful time. Thank you for the friendship back then… and now," Zel said softly.
"Don't mention it," Lina muttered.
There was an awkward silence.
"Ah, which reminds me," Zel stood. "IF you release me, I'll go get my guitar and …I'll be back."
Lina blushed. She'd forgotten about THAT! "Sorry! I just didn't want you to squirm away. Sure, go, go, go!"
Lina shook her head, "Yeesh, he's getting touchier all the time. Gourry's…not afraid enough of me any longer and Xelloss! I've let him get away with way too much as well. Hmmm, when I get better I'm going to have to whip them back into shape. I can't start getting all soft, can I? Not me. I'm the Lina Inverse, band leader and…what did he call me? Oh, yeah, sorceress supreme. Good touch, Zel. Ah, speaking of my lackey, heeeeeee's baaaaaack!"
Zel smiled at the return of her good humor, "So I started this song in December when I was in the hospital and I think I finished it during this round in sick bay. I, ah, have to warn you, it's more than a bit sappy, even Xelloss gagged the first time he heard it so…don't say anything until I'm done, all right?"
"Shit, Zel you are rattling on and on more and more. You know who you sound like?"
"You better not say 'the goofball'," Zel growled.
"YOU! You sound like you used to, before the accident. More like that anyway, but older, of course. Oh, forget it! Stop glaring at me! Sing your tune already!" Lina commanded.
"Well, if you don't want to hear it…" he countered.
"I do. Now…"
He picked up his acoustic guitar and said, "It's called 'More Than Words'". He found the first cord and fingered a short introduction, strumming a cord, then sang:
'I used to love it…
Looking up at the sky alone in the middle of the night, reminiscing.
I was young…
More stubborn than anyone, and iced over with pride.
…
When I close my eyes,
I can see that person I used to be
Who kept his heart so closed fading away into the distance.
I was so lonely, but now,
I have so many friends here that never make fun of me…'
"Ah, maybe I ought to change that to 'seldom make fun of me, hmmm? Ha! Okay, I'll go on…"
'Ahh, dear friends forever.
…
In this cold unmoving body, I feel my heart becoming warmer.
Does this mean someone's becoming precious to me?
…
I'll never say goodbye to my friends,
Because I'll make our dreams come true.
This is the real me, dear friends forever.
You who snapped me out of it, my dear friends forever.'
A knock preceded the voice at the door, "Lina? You in there? Oh, ah…Hi, Zel."
"Gourry. I wrote a new song and, ah, inflicted it upon Lina here. Hey, I have a few things to take care of if everyone's here, so…I guess, since the weather's good we'll be eating outside on the grass. Lina, if I brought in a wheelchair, could you get yourself into it?" Zel asked.
"Yeah sure. I'll be okay," Lina grinned.
"I'll trust Gourry to let me know. Gourry? You okay with babysitting Lina awhile? I thought so…" Zel smiled and left.
"How're ya feelin', any older today?" Gourry smiled and pushed his hair out of his face. "Yer look…about 16."
Lina frowned, "I look about 12, but thanks anyway. I feel better actually. How 'bout you? Moving better?"
"Yeah, I'm not so sore all over, but the doctor says 'no school' yet. Guess my big bones take a long time to heal, huh?"
CRUNCH
"They all take too long to heal. Ah, don't worry about the carrots," Lina smiled.
"Throwin' carrots? I'll give ya somethin' Xelloss won't mind findin' on his floor. Here…" Gourry handed her a pack of cards from his pocket. The trashcan was empty, so he carried it closer to Lina and gave her a demonstration. "Try tossin' the cards into the basket; hats work good too."
While she tossed, he scooped up the carrots and stuffed them into an empty 'natural, organic' potato chip bag.
~*~
"Fiiiiiiilleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Xelloss called from his cave.
Stomp, stomp, stomp…
"Yeah, yeah… What NOW? Do you do this to Zel all day? He's nearly a skeleton as it is! What… Oh… paper cranes… Did you make ALL of those? They're very good. Who brought you the paper? Sylphiel? Hmmm… you know what that must mean?" Filia smirked.
"Zelgadiss likes to run around. Covers up for his hyperactivity, I think," Xelloss half-smiled. "I don't make him do anything…or Sylphiel. She's being … thoughtful, unlike SOME people I know who feel they must badger the weak and infirm."
"She must like YOU now. So be proud. You've finally made a conquest," Filia smiled with finality. He was rolling the thought around in his head, which gave her the opportunity to continue. "So, when you get better, what are you going to DO about it?"
Xelloss hid his eyes. He had thought of the right retort but had to prepare himself for the delivery. It wouldn't due to break out laughing, when you're pretending to be serious. "Filia? I don't know. You see, you kiss better so I was hoping for more opportunities with you. Of course, not until you can bear to look at me again, you know… these bandages are covering up a mess underneath. But… it was worth it! I'd do it all again to save the wolves…"
Filia didn't say anything. She wasn't sure how he meant that…IF he meant any of that Opportunities…save the wolves…club the Xelloss! I know he isn't interested in me, so what's that all about…guilt. That must be it!
She looked for something very big and hard to wallop him with. Her eye caught sight of Val's skateboard and she thought 'weapon'. As she sprinted around the bed to the other side of the room, Filia caught her foot in the IV stand and tripped. Xelloss stretched out his good arm automatically and caught her, preventing her from falling.
Val chose that moment to walk in.
Xelloss looked up, shrugged, and dropped her. "Oopsie," he said in an off-hand manner.
"Fer a bed-ridden invalid, you sure can do a lot of damage," Val snorted.
"She started it!" he whined.
"I'm sure… Ah, now, Filia, don't wail on the poor guy! He's too weak to defend himself! Shit, you wouldn't make a very good knight."
"What was that?" Filia demanded.
Val held up his hands and raised his eyebrows. "I'm just sayin' yer not very chiv-al-rous, y'know? No honor--"
"I have plenty of honor! I know more about honor than your shrunken punk brain could ever comprehend!" Filia retorted.
"Yeah, yeah, calm down. Ya know, I could've made some comment about you and Xelloss getting' cozy, but I decided this would be the less dangerous road. Just goes to show that I've got crappy judgement," he shook his head and left the room, since he'd forgotten what the business he had there was already.
He ran into Zel in the hall. "So, where's the wheelchair?" the semi-frantic Zelgadiss asked intensely.
Val slapped his forehead. "That's what I was goin' in there fer! I fergot all 'bout it…Xelloss and Filia were bein' all weird an' stuff and I just—"
Zel mumbled something about Val catching 'Gourry Syndrome' from sharing the same hospital room. "All right. You check on the others and the food, I'LL deal with the clowns down the hall!"
~*~
"Why are you so good at this?" Lina exclaimed. She and Gourry had a contest going at card-tossing. She'd taken the red suits, Gourry the black, and they'd been flinging the little pieces of paper into the trash basket for nearly half an hour.
"I have all sorts of cool tricks," Gourry replied.
"Yeah, I guess you can skateboard well, too. And you're a really strong, well-balanced fencer. You've got good coordination."
Gourry laid down his hand of clubs and spades. "Are you okay, Lina? You're not…going to die or anything?!" he looked at her with serious concern.
Lina blinked. "Die? What? No, we're past that possibility. Why would you think that?" she sputtered. "Stop looking so serious! You're scaring me! Do you know something I don't?!"
Gourry shook his head quickly to mask the relief on his face and to reassure Lina. "No…no…I just thought you were being so nice, it was like you were—"
"I can be nice! It's not so unusual for me to be nice!" Lina yelled.
Gourry smiled. "That's Lina back. Don't worry. I—we like you any way you act, mean or nice. Not mean," he corrected himself to avert another outpouring of Lina-ness, "just normal."
Lina took a deep breath. He was trying to express himself and keep from angering her, and he ended up talking himself into holes. Who's fault was that? Her own, for yelling at him every time he opened his mouth. Did she really yell at him enough to make him suspicious when she gave him a compliment?
Before she could find the right words to apologize, the whole conversation was completely driven from her mind by Gourry's next comment. "Thank you, Lina. For comin' after me…for saving me. I didn't say it before 'cause I was scared to, I guess, but…you took that bullet for me and I…didn't want to think about it 'cause if you had…if you had…" his voice cracked, so he avoided saying the difficult words and simply moved on to the next part of the sentence, "then I dunno what I would've done…without you…"
"Gourry, forget it…you don't have to think about that. We're all fine now, and everything's okay—"
"You didn't have to save me, but you did…and I'll never forget that. I can't forget it. I owe you my life, Lina. I owe you my LIFE. They say it in movies and stuff, but I really mean it."
"No no no! You don't owe me anything! You saved me, too, remember? You called me back when I was gonna die…I don't know what you did, but it worked and—"
"It was nothing like getting shot, Lina! You were gonna die for me—"
"But I didn't!"
"No, but you were going to, and I…I just want to thank you, not make you mad at me!"
No…he wasn't crying. Couldn't be. Could he be? Oh, gods, no… "Gourry? Gourry, I'm not mad at you! I just don't want you to owe me anything. I was gonna do it by my own choice, you didn't ask me to. You don't owe me anything, Gourry, since I chose to do it myself. Understand?"
He was looking the other way, so she couldn't see whether it was sinking into his skull or not.
Gourry wiped his face with the back of his hand, snorted quietly, and turned around. "Yeah, but…I WANT to owe you…I'm really grateful…that's the word…and I want to do something for you and today's even your birthday and I couldn't do anything special and…and…"
It was the most he'd said in weeks. Recently, he'd been so astute, so perceptive, so unlike he'd ever been before. Or maybe he was always like that and she just never noticed—had any reason to notice, that is. Was that fair to him? Just because he wasn't a genius like Zel and Xelloss didn't mean that he deserved to be ignored. Unlike them, he was stable and happy, no angst, no haunted past.
"It's okay, Gourry. We all had more to think about than a birthday party. I'm not mad, I don't blame you. Don't worry about it!" She tried to laugh, but all she could do was smile weakly.
"But—"
"What do you want me to say?! 'I'll get even wit-chu latah'?!"
He laughed a little. "I guess that would be stupid, huh?"
"Yes! So, see? Let's just say that we're even, and let it go?"
"I don't want to let it go. It was my life—and yours! How can you just let that go? Don't you ever think about my feelings?"
"I just want everyone to be happy! I'm sorry if I can't do that—"
"Don't be mad, Lina. Please don't be mad."
"I'm not mad! I'm just—" yelling, Lina? Great… "I just don't know how to talk to people when they're talking about this kind of stuff. Okay? I don't know how to do it. I feel like Zel, like how he can't talk to people about this stuff."
"'This stuff'?"
"Yeah! You know! Feelings…and stuff." She looked down at her hands and blushed. It wasn't fair! She was stuck in bed and a captive participant in this conversation!
"It's okay, Lina. I don't know how to talk about it, either. But that's okay, 'cause you understand right?"
"Understand?!"
"What I'm trying to say."
"Gourry…"
He placed a hand beside her face, a huge hand that could cover the whole of it, "Lina…"
"LINA! Has Gourry gotten you ready for the party? Are you ready? Val sent me to remind you," Sylphiel called as she began to push open the door.
Gourry straightened, "Ummm, I'm workin' on it. Ah, where's the wheelchair, Lina? Oh, yeah, I see it. Now you just hold on. Put an arm around my neck like this and then your feet go on the ground. See, didn't hurt either one of us!"
"I can walk the two steps it takes to get into the wheelchair. Just make sure that the IV rolls with me, okay?" Lina winked and smiled. "Whew! That was an invigorating walk. Now, my knight, roll on!"
"Sure thing, your majesty," he smiled and pushed the wheelchair forward as Filia held open the door.
"Lina! You look so pretty with your hair up and your pink cheeks. The exercise must be good for you…or the company," Sylphiel smiled, closed the door behind them and followed them to the party.
~*~
Zel ran into Filia carrying an armload of brightly colored paper cranes in the hall two steps later.
"Honestly that guy is SO irritating, Zel. Only someone like YOU can put up with him!"
Zel stepped aside as she rushed by. "I'll take that as a compliment then."
"Take it or leave it. I SHOULD just trash these things but he's guilted me into stringing them and hanging them for decorations!" she yelled as she retreated out of sight.
"I don't think 'guilted' is a word, but then, no one's listening to me anyway…" Zel shrugged and entered his friend's room. "So what did you say to her this time?"
"Nothing much. She's so easy to tick off," Xelloss said, then changed the topic. "Have you come to take me away?"
"No, and if you can't play nice with others, no one will. You'll be left here and miss the festivities. Don't look at me that way! Is there a wheelchair here…that's it. Good. When we're ready someone will get you…maybe. All right! Val will, unless you messed that up too. No? Good. You need him to help you into that… you don't? Fine. Come out when you're ready then and I won't bother worrying about you. What?"
"Would you unhook the IV, please little brother, first…before you go? Thanks," Xelloss looked at him pleadingly.
"Sure. Still can't deal with the sight of blood, eh?"
"Not mine!"
"So…want to know what Filia told me?" Xelloss asked with the barest hint of a smile.
"Not really. Filia says a lot of things. She's as bad as you, always scheming. At least she's giving up on me for awhile, so I suppose you are her next victim in the pairing department. So who's the one?"
"How did you know?" Xelloss chuckled. "Sylphiel. She said Sylphiel likes me now, that's why she brought me the origami paper. She meant LIKE likes me and wondered what I was going to do about it," Xelloss confided.
Zel shook his head, "Filia has been busy again, huh? She's giving up on me and so now she'd into matchmaking with you. Forget it. Enjoy the attention and stay out of the fray. I'd like to give Sylphiel credit for simply being kind and remembering you exist in your little lonely cave." Zel smiled, "Sylphiel, huh? Don't worry about her. She's a bit expressive of her emotions and likes to do random act of kindness. Really, I think she's just trying to be nice to you because you've had a run of hard luck."
"That's what you thought about Amelia."
"And it's true!" Zel insisted.
"No it's not."
"Yes. It is. It's all settled too."
"Settled?"
"Settled. Filia started it. Pointing out what an 'ice-cold bastard' I was, then I pointed out that Amelia's too young to have romance on the brain, and THEN sometime later… Amelia seems okay and Filia apologizes and I am off the hook, for awhile," Zel sighed. "In the end I'm guilty of being a 'typical guy'. How about that?"
"Off the hook? Having a girl like you really puts you out, doesn't it? Don't bother to answer that one, little bro, I'm not looking for a fight with you. So if you're not interested in Amelia then…I mean, she's cute, has a very nice figure, is smart and interesting, has money, is very thoughtful and kind-hearted, and will turn into a good kisser with some practice," Xelloss smiled, his one visible eye flickering with glee.
Zelgadiss glared at his friend, "What's that predatory look about, huh? What are you thinking of doing? Leave her alone, Xelloss."
Xelloss only smiled a moment, and then said, "Okay, but I'm not the one you need to be concerned about. I'm certainly not your competition with her…"
Zelgadiss gave him an odd expression, perhaps even a bit haunted.
"Okay. Can I go now? Now that you've shot down MY hopes for romance in the near future," Xelloss chuckled.
"Did I? Good. You have more important things to think about. Like getting well and Lina's birthday party and… Besides, you had given up on girl hunting once, so I know you can do it again. Now, here's the chair for you. I need to see if Amelia has help…" Zel began reeling off his responsibilities.
Xelloss lowered himself gingerly into his wheelchair and looked up, "Ah…speak of the devil…Hi, Amelia! Yes, we're coming. Zelgadiss was just giving me a hand. Would you like him to push you? I can manage on my own, you know…Karate builds upper body strength and muscles. Maybe you'd like to join Zelgadiss and me at the dojo sometime? I could give you some lessons…yes? Oh, goody! A reason for me to go on living!"
"Oh, Mr. Xelloss! You are such a tease. You must be feeling better today. I'll think about the karate, though…I felt awfully defenseless in front of Gaav and Phibrizzo. Maybe I SHOULD learn to defend myself! Zelgadiss? Won't you be training with that master swordsman…Mr. Himura this summer?"
"Ah, yes, if he hasn't forgotten. It may take me awhile to get into shape enough for that, though. But as for you, I'm not so sure that…" Zel began.
"Ooooo, don't you say that I'm too young, or too short, or too weak, or too…"
"…'Busy', I was thinking. It takes up at least three nights a week, or two nights and a weekend day. The band was taking four…and I know you do other clubs and activities as well. That's all! I didn't mean to offend," Zel added quickly.
"I'll have PLENTY of time in summer, Mr. Zelgadiss," Amelia said defensively, but not angrily. "Oh, Miss Sylphiel? Is Mr. Val around? Yeah, I need him…to…Yes! Can you give me a hand? Please help Mr. Xelloss get outside. Thank you. He's trying to be all independent, but I can tell he can't push with one arm. Now don't give me that defiant look, Mr. Xelloss, I know how hard it is to make this wheelchair go. I have a newfound admiration for anyone who must rely on one of these everyday of their lives. I had plenty of help at school today, friends and all, but there are places where the ramps are inadequate—too sharp a turn or too steep or missing entirely! I'm going to record all the short-falls at our school and ask the other wheelchair users for input and fix the problem!" Amelia cried enthusiastically.
"A new 'cause' Amelia?" Zelgadiss chuckled.
"You bet, and a worthwhile one too!" she smiled as she twisted around and punched his arm gently. "I'm genuinely interested! I never take on anything I'm not sincere about. Never."
Zelgadiss held his tongue. He could tell when he was about to stumble into a verbal trap. He did, however, quickly sneak a peak at Xelloss to make sure he was keeping out of the conversation. Val had his hand plastered over Xelloss' partially bandaged mouth and shot a 'got it UN-DER control' look back. The indignant purple eye said, 'I'm going to get you back for this, and it's going to hurt.'
Oh, joy…
The party began a healing process for the band. No fighting, scheming, or tears, instead there was laughter, singing, and only some gentle teasing. Rezo and Luna had helped haul out the kitchen table and chairs for the bipedal folks. Candles ran down the center of the red-covered table. Filia had engineered a tree-full of tiny 'fairy' lights in the overhanging tree limbs. And there was food. Plenty of that! It was Lina's birthday party after all!
"Zel, would you do me—the birthday girl—a favor?"
"Your wish is my command. Ah…don't make me regret saying that, all right?"
"Too late," Lina grinned. "I'd like you to play that new tune for everybody now. Yes, right now. You were going to haveta play it sometime! Now, it is MY birthday, today, April 1st! That's right, my minion, as ordered."
Only a little reluctantly did he do so.
'…
I'll never say goodbye to my friends,
Because I'll make our dreams come true.
This is the real me, dear friends forever.
You who snapped me out of it, my dear friends forever.'
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val