(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 53
The SLAYERS
Amelia's van picked up Sylphiel each morning on the way to school. By Friday, Gourry was added to the schedule. Xelloss and Zelgadiss had entrusted Amelia with their locker combination. They promised to 'will' it to her when they finally graduated from the high school forever, because she loved the idea of a locker that she could climb into and hide, when needed.
Filia went straight home to the settlement for the rest of the week-- to catch up on home cooking, they all guessed—so Val caught a ride home with Amelia. This enabled them to deliver homework both directions to Lina, Zel, and Xelloss, though the enthusiasm for doing mundane class work was lackluster at best for the home-bound trio.
Lina was bored enough to dive into her reading and writing, but was too tired to open the math book, so Zel prodded a little. Xelloss couldn't care less about anything. Often he was giddy, excited and looking forward to a life free of worry. At other times he was depressed and angry about his weakness, appearance, and pending duties.
Zel lost patience with both of them by dinner time and found that Val was a sanity-saver for him. He could go cook in relative quiet while Val gave the others the news of the day and newest gossip, the good stuff that Amelia and Sylphiel hadn't already told them. After dinner, Val either hung out to do his homework or went to the music store to put in a few paid hours.
Thursday afternoon, Sylphiel visited Xelloss first, bringing him a sack of soft cinnamon cookies that she'd made the night before. "Hi, how are you feeling?"
"About the same, although I'm off the IV now, which is more comfortable, and the doctor said I could go to the funeral and entering-priest ceremony in the wheelchair without the head bandaging. He's taking it off tonight and we'll see," Xelloss said in a flat tone.
"Why, that sounds wonderful! But you don't look so happy?"
"Just moody. Adams says that's part of the head trauma so don't worry about it. He says that about nearly every problem I have though. I don't want to look like an accident victim at the ceremony. And my cloak, the one you made? It's a mess and my hair is god-knows-how too long and my FACE! You haven't seen it, but even Zelgadiss grimaces when he changes the bandage," he whined some more.
Sylphiel was really nice, though. She simply smiled and said, "I can fix the cloak while we talk. Zelgadiss mentioned some tears, so I brought extra fabric and thread, wasn't that smart of me? Where is it? This closet? Okay, you know…it's not too bad. Even with my broken arm, I can fix this, if you help. Then I'll have Amelia's van driver stop at that corner cleaners and have them do a rush job on it so it will be ready tomorrow. No trouble at all! Now where did I put my bag? Oh, thanks! I just get distracted sometimes and forget stuff. Course you wouldn't understand, would you? You are SO SMART you could forget half of what you know and no one would notice. Oh, here comes the doctor with Zelgadiss now. Should I go? No? Okay, I'll get out of the way and repair this. Do you have any scissors?"
Zelgadiss nodded to her and the doctor greeted them both. He let Zel remove the bandage and then tenderly poked and prodded the area. Adams spoke to him all the time, "Well, Xelloss, as long as you avoid re-injuring your face, I think we can leave off the tape. How does that sound? Mirror? Maybe later. The swelling is localized to the cheekbone area and the bruising is…going to take some time to completely go away. Yeah, go ahead and put on your glasses. I'd like to do an eye examination to be sure your right eye has improved."
Xelloss passed the test, then asked, "What about my shoulder and ribs?"
"Next month you will be 90%, as long as you take it slowly, rest, eat, and follow directions. Are you being a good patient?"
"You'd have to ask Zelgadiss about that. I'm demanding, I think, but I don't want to be," Xelloss replied in a low voice.
"Exercise is on your list now, which will help your attitude. Walk around the house, stairs… a few at a time… between houses would be fine too."
"I can go visit Lina then?" Xelloss' face lit up a tiny bit.
"Only if SHE wants you to," Zel interjected. "She can't get up yet and will feel very resentful if you can. Anyway, you can't go now. She has a visitor and so do you."
After the doctor left, Xelloss asked Zel and Sylphiel to stay longer. "I have an idea for the priest-initiation ceremony I'd like to run by both of you, okay?"
~*~
"Oh, Lina! Look who I brought to see you! You remember Chiriko from the Suzaku Seven, right?" Amelia asked.
The young guy in question nodded and smiled, "Tasaki sends his regards, by the way, and will probably stop by later with Nuriko. We were so struck to hear what happened to your band. You don't look like you'll be cutting loose Slayers' style real soon, huh?"
"Nah, can't stand for long yet, but…I'm getting' better. So're the others. Next month we'll start talking practice again," Lina added hopefully.
"I hope so, 'cause we got this idea. Wanna hear? Okay, we got this tour this summer, not far…Seyruun, Atlas City, beach area… In fact, we got the job at the resort you played at in December, I think, because we promised to try and get your band…as our opening act! What do you say? We'll do all the promotional stuff, though any help or $ you can put in won't be turned down, and we'll be managing the gigs too. The food and lodging stuff we can do later, if you're interested, which I hope you are 'cause it would be so really cool to do this together 'cause then we can do a song together maybe and we mesh so well and…and…"
While he paused for air, Amelia said thoughtfully, "This might be just the kind of thing we need to get the band jump-started again. This…accident… has been a huge blow to us all, and especially Mr. Xelloss, who lost his mother. A little something to work toward might help him out of his slump."
Lina looked at Amelia questioningly, "Slump?"
Amelia nodded, "Mr. Val told me he's really up and down, mostly down when he gets home after school. I haven't gone over there, I, um, left that for Miss Sylphiel to do while I visit with you."
Lina looked at their guest, "Well, sounds good to me. Saturday will be a bad day for us, funeral and all, so tell Tasaki and the others, if I don't see them first, that I'll test the waters and get back to them next week. It may BE just the ticket, Amelia, like you said. Thanks…thanks for the offer."
Chiriko and Amelia fell into a mutual 'happy hug', just as Zelgadiss tapped on the partially opened door and pushed it open, "Lina? Xelloss had this idea… Oh… sorry, I'll come back later. You're busy, I can see." He left the practice room quickly, sporting a faint blush.
~*~
"SO? Does she like the idea?" Xelloss asked Zel as he slumped moodily into the chair by the computer.
"Amelia's visiting Lina."
"And…?"
"I don't know…I didn't ask."
"Why not? You can talk, can't you?" Xelloss asked a little exasperated at his reticent friend.
"No. Yes! They were…busy."
"Zelgadiss…."
"They came to visit with Lina and will go then I'll go back over."
"They? Amelia and who else?" Xelloss continued to prod.
"Chiriko was on his way over from the middle school and Amelia waved him down and we gave him a ride over. He was really excited about something," Sylphiel interjected.
"Yes. Busy."
"Too busy to hear you out? Lina's NEVER too busy to listen to what you have to say. And Amelia's more than happy to let you carry on…" Xelloss teased.
"This was too personal to share with … strangers. That's all. Now…I'm going to start dinner, while you have company," Zel muttered and left.
~*~
One moment Zelgadiss was there entering Lina's place to speak to her, the next he was gone.
"Zel? You there? Come in and listen to this!" Lina called back.
"Oh… he's gone, Lina," Amelia said clearly distressed. He saw me in the arms of Chiriko… oh no…Certainly he didn't think it was anything more than friendship?
"Something wrong?" Lina asked.
"I didn't come to see Mr. Zelgadiss, just you. I've been…avoiding him a little. He seems to need the space. And just now…he ran off as soon as he saw…us hugging. No you didn't do anything wrong, Chiriko. Nor did I! Mr. Zelgadiss gets uncomfortable about some things. He wasn't expecting to see me here, I suppose," Amelia explained.
"Not just you…" Lina sighed.
~*~
"There, I got all the rips fixed. Some cleaning and it will look wonderful on you," Sylphiel cheerfully. "Oh, don't worry about your face. Everyone will understand. And soon you'll be good as new. Wow…your hair is…"
"What?" Xelloss asked concernedly.
"Really long! Wasn't it about chin-length at the beginning of school? Now it's below your shoulders, see? It separates at your shoulder. Oops! Oh, I won't touch it, I know it's all bandaged. Is that where the bullet hit? Did you pass out then?"
"Ah, I let Gaav beat me up a bit more before I completely passed out. Gah… but it's stiff. Ah…thank you, Sylphiel, for taking care of my cloak for me. Please have your father give me a call tonight so we can discuss my plan, okay? I can't seem to call at a convenient time. So, honestly, how's my face?"
Sylphiel glanced at him and blushed, "I think it's beautiful…"
KNOCK, KNOCK!
"Mr. Xelloss? Is Miss Sylphiel in there? It's time to go, oh… hi guys. Sorry to interrupt, but I've got homework and stuff…We'll see you Saturday! Oh, I almost forgot," Amelia said. "Miss Filia said that she would trim your hair tomorrow before she and Val head out to the settlement for the night. I guess Milgasia will bring them back Saturday morning. That sounds like a lot of running around to me, but…who knows. Anyway, Mr. Xelloss, you have the head bandage off! You must feel, soooo much better with that awful thing off. Bruises? I guess so, but I'm not looking at those. You ought to know me well enough by now to know that I don't really pay much attention to superficial things like that!"
As she and Sylphiel rolled out to the van, Chiriko doing the pushing, Xelloss thought about what she'd said. Zel, standing at the door had heard, Xelloss knew from the look in his eyes. She hadn't considered Zelgadiss to be one of her causes because she didn't consider his appearance to make that big of a difference. Their eyes met, Zel's and Xelloss'.
"I'm making dinner. Why don't YOU get some of that exercise and go talk to Lina yourself," Zel snapped and stalked off.
~*~
"Sure, the Doc says I can go to the ceremony, Xelloss. What you're planning though…well, if Zel and Rezo are cool with it, what can I say? You clearing it all with Sylphiel's dad? Good, do that tonight. Well, you're a sweet guy, you know? Face is a mess, but that's okay, it gives you that tough, street-fighter look, heh heh. Yuh, need to tie back your hair in one of those ponytails, yeah, and grease it back a little…yeah, Val's got crap to do that with I'm sure, bangs too. Yeah, roll up your sleeves and you'll look like a real brawler!" Lina laughed with Xelloss in a light-hearted moment.
"Shit, my hair is long enough for a ponytail. I never had it this long before. I was always a mean, generally troubled, smart-aleck with short hair…a loner. I think I'm trying to over compensate now. You're smiling…"
"You and Zel traded places. He was more carefree and funny and you were the troubled loner. Then you switched roles so that he became the gloomy one and you became the goofy guy," Lina observed.
"And now?" Xelloss asked, folding his arms.
"You're both coming together, rounding out, a little of each, normalizing…"
"So says Lina, shrink-extraordinaire…" Xelloss smiled.
"Right!" Lina grinned.
"So… tell me about Amelia and Chiriko," Xelloss asked.
"Zel told you about that, huh?"
"Noooooo, I was hoping you could shed a little light on his sudden snappish behavior, Doctor Lina," Xelloss smiled.
"The idiot barged into my room, saw Amelia and Chiriko in a joyful hug, then tore out without learning the true story—which, by the way…"
Knock, knock, Bang!
"I served Rezo his dinner, want me to bring you yours in here?" Zel shouted in at the door.
"How about I help carry our dinners over here and all three of us eat here. Val too, if he's home," Xelloss suggested.
"Yeah, good idea. Zel, I have some really interesting news I want to share," Lina said supportively.
Zel nodded and Xelloss followed him out. Ten minutes later, Val, Xelloss, and Zel were eating on the floor of Lina's 'place', while she ate on her lap and explained the deal with the Suzaku Seven.
"Yeah, could be good," Zel concurred.
"Somethin' to work toward," agreed Val.
"Hope I can still play," Xelloss smiled weakly.
Knock, knock, Bang!
This time it was Rezo at the door, "Kids? There is a lawyer, Mr. Fribrizzo, here to see most of you. Shall I let him in?"
"Yeah, the more the merrier!" yelled Lina. "You too!"
As it turned out, he had the preliminary numbers for some of the financial wizardry he'd been paid to perform on the behalf of the kids awaiting news of their inheritances—not to mention the various hospital-related agencies waiting to get paid for services rendered.
"I can do this in private with each of you separately…NO? Okay, then…Val you may look this over…" Fribrizzo handed him a sheaf of paperwork with a number circled at the bottom of the last page.
"WHOOOPEEEEIIIIIIIIIAAA ! I will NE-va HAF-ta work a-GAIN!" he bubbled with glee.
"What you see there is the trust from the Ancient clan, you being the sole inheritor, and some insurance settlement from your mother. Note, this does not count the Gaav-syndicate numbers, which are more complicated, seeing as Xelloss may be a partial inheritor of that as well… What, Xelloss?"
"Forget it. Give it all to him. He suffered living with the creep longer than me," Xelloss waved his hand and dismissed the multi-million dollar offer outright. "It may not amount to that much in the end since Gaav was no money manager and much of his stuff was in illegal drugs and overseas interests."
Val shook his head, "Thanks, dude. Every little million helps, ya know."
"Zelgadiss. This is for you to look over. Again, your portion of the Metallium estate from your mother will take a while to determine completely, but the Grayword's inheritance is clear."
"Holy shit…" was all Zel could muster. He'd never imagined wealth of such magnitude in his life, only the amount it would take to cure his scars or buy a car.
"And Xelloss, this is all based on some preliminary figures we had on the inheritance YOU get directly from your father, and then from his daughter…"
"That's Zelgadiss' mother. Give all that to him, please," Xelloss asked calmly.
"Okay… the syndicate portion you get from your mother is, as I said earlier, not complete but I've put what we know and as estimate for what we don't. There is also a dance studio, which you now own…Let's see…no Gaav money, right? Right… Ah, then there is the part of your mother's settlement related to the school board, which is divided between you and her husband…"
"That all belongs to Rezo here. He got her the position and…well…it's his," Xelloss muttered.
"And you've taken care of the Wolf Pack Island business, correct? Good. Well… may I give you boys a little advice? Don't do anything immediately to draw attention to yourselves. It's not in the bank, anyway. You and I will have many more meetings to determine how you should go about handling all this, okay? Okay… Any questions; that is that I might be able to answer?"
"Yeah, I have one!" Lina interjected. "How come these guys get all this dough, and the clan gets its reputation screwed, and the Shrine Collective is down two shrines with no money for compensation?"
Leave it to Lina to bring them all down to earth.
Val was first to answer, "I think that I have an idea to solve ALL kinds of problems. Ready for the dude with the answers?"
"Shoot," grinned Xelloss who shot the first --from the top of a pile of paper pellets that he's been rolling between his fingers—of many balls at Val's head. He was trying to see how many he could get to stick in Val's hair.
"Okay…Ah, how 'bout we all rebuild the shrines, but in secret? I mean, like, in the clan's name, not ours. Since Gaav destroyed the small one in Ridkou Village, I'll pay for that one. Hope those catacombs ain't irreplaceable…How much do ya think that would cost?" Val asked the lawyer.
"I…I don't know, but I will find out. I think that would go a long way to subverting whatever plans the syndicate has to damage the reputation of the Cephied Clan, but…" Fribrizzo began.
"Bingo!" Xelloss laughed, landing another pellet in Val's spiky hairdo.
"The Red Priest took out the Sairaag shrine…" Zel began.
"And most of Sairaag…" added Lina.
"And little Hellmaster blew it up the second time," Xelloss said as he flicked off a couple more paper wads.
"So Xelloss and I will cover the costs to rebuilding that one," Zelgadiss finished. "But the town is more in need of some jobs than a fancy building."
"I'll look into that for you as well. There are some high-tech firms looking for cheap industrial space and trainable but entry-level type positions. Perhaps a little financial incentive would encourage them to consider Sairaag. Well, kids that's a lot of work for me to get started on!" the lawyer laughed. "Anything else?" Fribrizzo asked in admiration of the generous kids he was working with. "You're wise to keep this secret and make much of it appear to be coming from others or you will have every suffering agency in the land after your money."
"Something for the hospital…Doctor Adams, to help his father … McGywn the, Mayor's office… I don't know… another helicopter? Ask quietly, okay? Thanks. That's all folks!" Xelloss waved a 'found' carrot stick stub in a familiar cartoon rabbit's salute.
"Don't eat that," Lina warned him, knocking the offending vegetable out of his fingers. "I've been using them for ammunition, you know, target practice."
~*~
Thursday Evening.
Zelgadiss tapped on the door, "You awake?"
Xelloss mumbled in a half-awake voice, "Hmmm, am now. What time is it?"
"Your watch and glasses are on the nightstand. I took mine off when I had my shower."
"Thanks. Ah, good to see you again, Zelgadiss! Is that you?"
"Obviously. Who else would offer to do this for you?" Zel asked as he began removing the bandages from Xelloss' shoulder.
"Well, there was this nurse…" Xelloss snickered.
"Who is not here now…"
"You're right. So what was up with Amelia's visit today?"
"She brought that kid from the Suzaku Seven. Lina told you about that."
"So? They want us to play, to open for them. So… So?"
"So… he was holding her in a very familiar way when I walked in."
"Offering her solace and sympathy for her serious injuries," Xelloss smiled.
"AMELIA, not Lina," Zel scoffed at his friend.
"Oh, well…It's what you wanted, right? For her to move on and leave you alone?"
"She's only four…fifteen! She's got years for all that, what's the rush? Why not do other stuff? I mean, she'd usually so busy and…" Zel started to explain.
"And paying attention to you, my friend," Xelloss smiled cunningly.
"I said to her, when she and Filia were on the attack, that she should wait a bit, give herself some time…"
"And you…" Xelloss whispered.
"So I guess she simply decided to not to wait," Zel sighed.
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Why?" Zel asked.
"Because I know how it feels… to have somebody look at me in a special way and make me feel important to them… then … to lose that. It's a sad, empty feeling," Xelloss said meaningfully.
"Kiki?"
"Yeah… and Lina. Not that I was ever special to her or anything. Gourry kissed Lina and she returned from the dead. Sounds like a gothic romance novel, doesn't it? I guess that was just a matter of time. They are… wrong for each other, but …And you know Gourry couldn't be bought off either! All the money in the world wouldn't buy either of them," Xelloss shook his head.
"Ah, well… I'm going to bed now. Tomorrow should be quiet until Filia and Val drop by. Filia's cutting your hair?" Zel wondered aloud.
"Trim, I think. I like it long. Hides my face now. Zelgadiss?"
"Hmm?"
"How did you ever manage to look at yourself in the mirror after the accident?"
That took Zel by surprise. "I was curious. After that…I didn't look purposefully. I still don't, you know, much… unless I have to. You'll be back to normal in a few weeks, so don't obsess."
"It's hard. Good night, Zelgadiss."
"'Night, Xelloss, thanks for ah…"
"Same here, little brother."
Friday Afternoon.
While Zelgadiss was helping Xelloss wash his hair over the kitchen sink, Val was taking a shower, washing the gel out of his hair so that Filia could give him a trim too.
Filia was visiting Lina. "I'm going to hang all these cards and notes that were sent to us while you were in the hospital. I brought string from home and some tacks. Oh, and Sylphiel brought me more paper cranes—plus all the ones we all collected last month and the new ones Xelloss had me string—I think we have about 1000! Here!" Filia shouted to Lina, dumping an armload of paper cranes and a needle and thread on her lap. "Bored? How about stringing a few hundred for the cause."
"The cause? Us getting well, huh? Sure, why not. I'm not much good for anything else, am I? More reading homework and an essay and math and a Spanish dialogue to do alone. I guess that makes it a monologue! Science… I'll get Zel to explain what's going on in that class. No history? Oh… read that chapter. Cool. A day of school reduced to three hours of reading and writing. So why does it take 7 hours there? Oh, yeah, it keeps us out of the way while the grownups work. Do I sound cynical?" Lina smirked over at her friend, who was standing on a chair stolen from the kitchen and pounding a tack into the wall with a shoe.
"Cynical and sarcastic. Just like Mr. Martyr Zelgadiss. There, how does that look? Cranes and cards, does it make a statement? Could I turn it into a project for my art class? Oh, here come the boys. Hello! Be careful and don't trip over the chair! Val, are you going to be first?" Filia asked snatching up her hair-cutting tools and pointing to the empty drum throne.
"Ah, sure. I wanna be done before ya get all bent out of shape fightin' with him," Val grinned and nodded to Xelloss. Val had a towel over his shoulders and his shirt in a hand. He slumped onto the stool and closed his eyes as Filia combed out his snarls. The personal contact felt nice. Had he been a cat, he would have purred.
"So…Do you want it pretty much the same or something new and dramatic?" Filia asked. She ran her fingers through the long part in back. "I could even it out or keep it uneven and jagged or cut it short or…cut it like…"
"Just like usual, but trimmed. Whatever. Don't cut it too short, but it is getting' kinda long. Just don't give me the same haircut as Xelloss!"
"Better save the clippings for Lina," Zel chuckled. "Didn't Adams tell you the same joke? No? Well, he said he could make millions selling Xelloss' hair, had he had to cut it off at the hospital. So, Lina could sell Val and Xelloss locks for her college fund."
"Don't laugh! I'd do it, too!" Lina laughed, in spite of her command to them not to. "But you'd have to get some of Zel's and Gourry's, too to be complete."
Zel covered his head protectively, "Gahhh! Stay away! My hair doesn't grow! Don't touch it!"
"Why would I want to touch that weird mess you call hair anyway? But Gourry… I'd trim his hair," Filia smiled as Val's eyes flew open to meet hers. "You should probably close your eyes while I'm trimming near your face."
"Yer cuttin' below my chin. My eyes should be safe," Val pointed out. He liked the feeling of her breath on his cheek and he liked the serious look on her face as she concentrated on keeping both sides even.
"Are you going to wear it up and spiked for the funeral?" she asked.
"Ah…I'm not sure. I think Rezo would like it…not that way. The thing's for him as much as anybody."
"Okay, then how about that black head band to keep the hair out of your eyes?" Filia suggested. She put some 'leave it in' conditioner on her hands and rubbed it through his hair, instantly giving it a healthy, green shine.
"Maybe."
"I'm going to dry it now and then brush it out," Filia informed him as the dryer roared to action.
When the dryer was quiet, Lina looked up from her book, "Val! Wow, is that you? Nice hair!"
Filia guided him to the bathroom, where there was a mirror, "You can decide what you want to do to it in there. Xelloss? You're next. Yes, put on your shirt. I don't think you want any hair working its way into your bandages. Is any part of your upper torso NOT wrapped in gauze? No, DON'T show me! It was just a rhetorical question, idiot! Oh, your hair is almost as long as Val's! It grows so fast!"
She punched him on the 'well' shoulder for that. "Lucky… So, what do you want, Xelly? Short, trim, or are you growing out the bangs or…yeah, yeah, midway through your eyebrows. Fine. How about the rest? You don't want to get confused with Sylphiel, do you? All right, then you need it off the shoulders, with those idiotic bangs. Why 'idiotic'? Because no other guys wear their hair that way these days."
"So it makes me look different…distinctive…like me. I like it that way," Xelloss smiled. "Oh, and thanks for not saying anything about my face. Pretty awful, huh?"
"Yes, but it's temporary, right? Does it hurt still? That's too bad…" she concentrated on making the sides even and then moved to the back.
"Nice cut, Filly-girl. Guess I owe ya somethin'. How 'bout dinner out? I need to get a book too," Val added as a reminder of her previous 'date' promise.
"Sure, tonight? Isn't Milgasia picking us up in a hour though?"
"I'll take care of that. There's a ride back later," he checked the clock on the wall. "That the right time?" he queried the semi-astonished Xelloss.
"Huh? Time? Yeah," Xelloss answered. Did Val just ask Filia out? And didn't she just agree? That was easy, wasn't it? I could do that! Xelloss thought to himself.
Val was making a cellphone call outside, so Xelloss took the opportunity in hand, "Filia, would you consider going someplace with me?"
She snorted and banged him on the head with her comb, "Idiot! Weren't you paying any attention just now? I have plans tonight! Now chin down and hold still so I can finish back here. You want this razor straight."
Well, she didn't say 'never', did she? Xelloss smiled faintly.
"Now the drier…you conditioned it already, didn't you? I can tell, it's so silky and slick…" she continued on in that vein.
Val stepped back in. Lina remembered her news, "Oh, did Amelia tell you about Chiriko's visit? Yeah? What do you think? Good, huh? Opening act, gigs already set up…"
"Sounds great!" Filia agreed. "When can Gourry start playing? How about you, Zel? Xelloss, has the doctor even thought about you?"
"Gourry can start soon, if he sits so his shoulders don't carry any weight," Lina answered. "There, all strung. Here, Filia, hang 'em high!" Lina pushed the paper crane chains off her lap.
"Same for me," Zel said. "But it'll be May before Sylphiel gets her cast off, and Amelia…at least that long.
Filia turned off the noisy hairdryer. Xelloss' hair was done. He swished it slightly back and forth. "Thank you, Filia. It's all swingy now."
"You're welcome, Xelly-bean. Listen, we were wondering if the doctor's said anything about you being able to play the drums anytime in the next decade," Filia said in a slightly mocking tone of voice.
"Ahhh, no. I'm not very mobile. This shoulder's shot, literally, with both sets of muscles, front and back, ripped up. There's some kind of stitching here…"
"Abdominal muscles, internal organ stitches—spleen, I think," Zel noted.
"And ribs, here…" Xelloss pointed to one side.
"Three on that side and two on the other," Zel corrected.
"So I can't move. So I can't play drums," Xelloss looked down at his hands. "But I can teach Joey some."
"Not while I'm staying here, buster!" Lina shouted. "Peace and quiet. That's what the doctor ordered. NOT, I repeat, NOT drum practice with Gourry's idiot-stick little brother!"
"Okay, dokay, Lina!" Xelloss grinned. "He's a nice kid, actually."
"You say that because he worships the ground you walk on. Geesh, he even wears his hair like yours… 'cept it's yellow not purple. Heh, heh, he's even about your height…no, more like Zel and skinny too… and isn't he only 12 years old?" Lina chortled.
"I'm as tall as Xelloss!" Zel asserted. "It's those Nordic Gabriev roots…not the French side, at work that makes them all so tall. I don't have Nordic genes…"
"Which reminds me," Filia grinned. "Whatever happened to those jeans you guys were wearing home from the hospital. Wearing, did I say wearing? I meant poured into!"
Zel turned from Lina to Filia and blushed. Xelloss laughed. "Luna picked them out and brought them for Zelgadiss to wear. Gourry passed off a pair to me by mistake. So you noticed the new look?"
"Oh, yeah…" both Lina and Filia moaned, and then cracked up laughing.
Val gathered his overnight stuff and Filia and left, 'borrowing' Zel's car to get to the restaurant and bookstore downtown.
Zel prepared spaghetti with meat sauce with endive braised with garlic in olive oil. The meal was served in 'Lina's' room, with Luna and Rezo joining them on beanbag chairs. Luna and Rezo shared a bottle of wine, while Zel, Lina and Xelloss enjoyed Italian sodas.
"I gotta hand it to ya, Zel, you sure can cook," Luna teased the poor kid with praise. "You and Xelloss make perfect roommates, well almost perfect. Tell you what, you can move into our place next…no, that won't do…just invite me over for dinner once in awhile after Lina's moved out, okay? Lina, you should move into Val's room once he's gone, though. Perfect setup for a gal who can't cook or clean! What do you need that Gabriev guy for? Oh, height, yeah. You are pretty much a sawed-off little runt, aren't ya?"
Zel looked sideways at Lina, who looked tired, embarrassed, and angry all at once. "I think Lina needs to rest. We all do. We have an overly busy day tomorrow, which I'm not looking forward to all that much; that is, until the evening ceremony with Xelloss, of course. So Dr. Zel says…Luna, help me wash dishes. Lina close your eyes and wait for your sister to help you get cleaned up. Xelloss, you can go collapse until I can…good, you can get dressed all by yourself, huh? Fine. Father? I need a hand up, thanks."
And they all obeyed Dr. Zel once again.
Saturday morning.
The funeral had a huge turn-out from the political and educational community. The press was out in full-force to get pictures of the family and goggle at a regular Who's Who in Seyruun. Rezo, Zelgadiss, and Val were seated in hard, metal folding chairs up front, while Xelloss was restricted to a wheelchair between Rezo and Zel. Val sat next to Zel, and kept glancing around to find the other Slayers. Xelloss kept his eyes on his hands, which were folded on his lap.
Nels Lahda had been kind enough to conduct the funeral for his longtime acquaintance, Rezo, even with the busy afternoon and evening ahead of him at the shrine.
Zel kept his eyes on Xelloss. He never quite knew what to expect, but he wanted to be ready to stifle any improper outburst or provide him a shoulder to cry on…whatever was necessary to get through this.
Speaker after speaker came forth, praising some person who was a complete stranger to her son and step-son. Zel had felt one of them should speak of their 'mother', and he hadn't wanted it to be Xelloss, so he had volunteered to do it. Sylphiel's father introduced him, and he rose, slowly and moved to the lectern. Xelloss raised his eyes and listened to his friend's words.
"Zelas, I wanted to thank you for two things-- for my best friend and brother by marriage, and for my father. When Xelloss and I first learned that our parents were to be married, we could hardly stand one another."
Zel turned to Xelloss and smiled, then continued speaking, "But, proximity and necessity drew us together. And now, by your death, we shall be bound together forever as brothers. I also wanted to thank you for my father. Without your involvement, he and I may never have rediscovered our relationship. So, I thank you, Zelas. You changed my life in unanticipated ways, and made me a better person."
With that said, he returned to his chair. The grateful look in his friend's eyes told him that he'd said the right things. Xelloss had loved his mother, not the woman that died, but the idea of a mother, and now he mourned her passing. Pieces of his childhood had been lost bit by bit; fathers, his old room, his innocence, a mother…and now it was gone forever. Tears held back for days, now trickled from his eyes unchecked.
He loved the funeral. Particularly because it was hers.
~*~
Val drove them home in silence. "We goin' to the big feast or whatever's happenin' at the re-cep-shun hall? No? Good. I ain't used to being lost in a crowd of black. I usually stand out! So, you guys wanna rest and let me do lunch? Yeah, I can cook! I bought tons of crap…enough for Lina and that sister of hers."
"They're giving us some space and eating at the hall, as long as Lina can…she has to be back in an hour to sleep," Zel answered.
"Good. Then it's just us," Val nodded and parked in front of their house.
Hot steaming bowls of ramen noodles, flavored with different little packets of dust and a tossed green salad, straight from the bag (dressing included) awaited the family at the kitchen table, while a freshly-made banana crème pie chilled in the refrigerator. Val was so proud. His first dinner party.
Xelloss looked pale, but dove in with a hearty appetite. Zelgadiss complemented the noodle soup as 'just the thing' for the day. The beautiful spring day had turned windy and wet again. Capricious Spring! As fickle as… Xelloss' moods. Rezo ate sparingly.
Sigh… "I will miss her. She was at least two different women," Rezo began. Zelgadiss stopped eating to listen. His father never spoke of personal things, so this was worth paying attention to. "The one your father first loved, who grew up to be the principal of your school…now there was a fine lady. I didn't need eyes to see the way she was admired, I could feel the envy the other university professors felt when he walked into a room with her on his arm, or later when it was me with her on MY arm. She loved you then," he paused for Xelloss to get his meaning.
"She loved you when she was that woman. It is too bad that she had received the syndicate conditioning which could turn her into…that other creature. Anyway, today we will think of the first one and mourn her death."
Xelloss nodded then swallowed his soup, "Val? Great stuff, can you make more?"
"Sure, dude," Val stood up to reach Xelloss' empty bowl, "If ya want, I'll even show ya how."
Zel's head sank to the table, "Oh, joy. My father going all sappy and Val giving Xelloss cooking lessons…"
Saturday evening.
"All right, Xelloss, I have everything I can carry, which is myself. Val has put the packages and your staff in the trunk already. Val even tied the wheelchair to the roof, in case you start to self-destruct… Look, Rezo's standing on one foot, waiting. What's keeping you?" Zel shouted at the bathroom door.
Silence.
"Xelloss, just don't look in the mirror. This is about you becoming a priest, not a beauty pageant! It will be dark in the Shrine hall, your hair and bangs cover your face better than mine! Besides, everyone will expect you to be half dead so… that's better. Grab your cloak and let's go."
"Okay," the solemn-faced young man said as he followed his closest friend out to the car.
The hall was filled with kids and their parents. Sylphiel led the Slayers group to a reserved seating area where there was room for Amelia and Lina's wheelchairs, Xelloss' too could be stored handily. Gourry and all his family were seated beside Lina and Luna. Amelia and her father took their seats beside them. The Ul Copts and Milgasia (to Xelloss' surprise) were seated directly behind them, with a space for Val as well. The young priest Miroku (Inu's friend and sometimes boyfriend to Sango, dojo friend of Xelloss') directed Rezo, Zelgadiss and Xelloss to a roped off area for the entering priests and priestess' and their families. Val helped them place the wrapped bundles and Xelloss staff (also under wraps) at the front, slightly away from the other staves.
Fifteen minutes later, the lights dimmed and the previously inconspicuous candle flames sprung to life, giving the room an aura of magic and mystery. Nels Lahda stepped up to the lectern and began the invocation. He asked that the young people be granted the strength of will and character to succeed in their individual missions, to uphold their vows, and to serve the shrine as their duties would require. He said a few more words and then called out the names of the twenty-five new priests and priestesses. One at a time, the young people rose and accepted their new staff from the leader of their chosen shrine. Nels Lahda had a kind word to say to every one. He had saved Xelloss for last.
"Xelloss Metallium, come receive your staff," the high priest intoned as he had done for all the other young people before him.
Xelloss rose slowly, with help from Rezo, and together with Zelgadiss, joined Nels Lahda at the front of the hall. There had been considerable murmuring in the hall at the sound of his name, but now a hush swept the room.
"I understand you have a staff for me as well?" Nels Lahda smiled down at the kneeling young man. "If you're having trouble, please feel free to stand up," he added in a low voice.
Xelloss looked up and grinned, "That's okay, I'm not sure I can GET up!"
Nels Lahda nodded to Miroku to assist. Xelloss smiled and stood firmly with the aid of Miroku's strong arm, while Zelgadiss picked up a packaged staff, and Rezo held a soft bundle in his arms.
"Zelgadiss and his father Rezo Greywords, son of the great Red Priest, would like to return these priceless artifacts to the shrine for everyone to see. These are the originals, protected by these caretakers from destruction in Sairaag and by desecration by the…the…others… over the years since that time," Xelloss said seriously as Zel and his father unwrapped the treasured heirlooms—the tall ringed-staff and flowing red mantle—of the Red Priest.
The crowd's reaction was immediate. "Oohs and Ahs" echoed around the hall. Few people believed that the Red Priest was ever a truly real, living man. Fewer still knew of the relics' existence.
"They offered me his staff, but I feel unworthy of such an honor. Besides, it belongs here for everyone to see. Might even draw visitors, neh?" Xelloss' eyes glittered with merriment.
"I'm certain it will," Nels Lahda smiled in return. "Thank you all." He slowly unfolded the other staff, while asking, "Is this the staff you choose, then?"
"Yes. I know it's unusual, but it will be a constant reminder to me of why I chose the priesthood and my obligation to carry out my assigned duties. I also think it looks kinda cool," Xelloss grinned and cocked his head to the side to catch Zel's exasperated expression.
Nels Lahda untied the wrappings covering the blood-red orb atop the long wooden staff, the syndicate power staff. 'Kinda cool!' Good grief! The ruby alone is worth…ah, well… I'll break it over his head if he touches my daughter, however…
Xelloss accepted the staff with a bow, and then returned to his seat with his friend and step-father.
With the formal activities over, Nels Lahda was free to relax and mingle with the kids and parents over refreshments. An armed guard stood watch nearby the valuable relics, allowing anyone who wished to view them, but not to touch them.
The Slayers all clustered together in the center of the reception area surrounded by friends and family for a warm, happy reunion.
"Gourry, you look a little glum, what's up?" Xelloss asked with more interest than was usual for him. He and Gourry got along fine, but they were not close by any standard of measure.
"Ah… this got me thinkin'…'bout my Dad's sword…that I lost. He knows I didn't mean ta, but I took it without askin', and now it's gone," Gourry admitted to his friends.
(Now, to this day everyone who witnessed the scene has agreed, Xelloss pulled it out of thin air. Zelgadiss still will smirk when he hears that said, but he won't give away the secret as to how it was done. So let's just say it was…magic, and tell the story.)
Xelloss grinned and said in his sing-song voice, "You mean this? Were you missing this? Here, it's yours and you'll need it again someday, I think!" Then, Xelloss pulled the legendary Gabriev heirloom sword out of thin air smirk, smirk and held it out to his friend. "Go on, take it! It's kinda heavy!"
Gourry choked, coughed, and gasped, in that order. "M…My sword! T…thanks! Where'd it come from?"
Xelloss smiled evilly, "Let's just say…"
Lina rolled her wheelchair over his foot.
YELP!
"What was that for, Lina?" Xelloss whined.
"That's for starting to say 'that's a secret'. Now, answer him, buster!" she glared meaningfully from her glowing red eyes.
"But I wasn't gonna SAY that," he whined some more. "I was GOING to say that I made a trade with the CIA. My pendant for that sword. You had dropped it on the way out of the Sairaag shrine when you were carrying Lina. The last man out was an agent for the CIA and he picked it up. Funny how he forgot to return it…" Xelloss chuckled to himself. "But I reminded him and now here it is! Wasn't that nice of me to remember?"
Gourry didn't care what the story was, his gave his friend a generous hug then held it up to show his family, "I didn't lose it after all! Xelloss had it! Great, huh?"
Lina punched Xelloss on the hip to get his attention, "Hey, that was another good deed you've done today. You are just racking 'em up lately. How many millions have you let slip through your fingers in the past week?"
He smiled down at her and shrugged, "Doesn't matter…friendship and family, that's all that counts. I've given up a few things, but I've gained some respect, so I'm the rich one in the end."
"So, Master of Deception, which musical did you swipe THAT tripe from?" Zel mused in a low voice to his friend.
"I made that up! I…I meant that! I DO have a sense of honor, Greywords!" Xelloss spat with an intensity Zelgadiss was unused to.
Zel was taken aback. Never had his friend called him by his last name! "Sorry! I meant that as a joke, Xelloss, but it was unfair to you. I'm really sorry!" Zel gasped out. But Xelloss just shook his head and averted his gaze. Zel's sarcastic wit had hurt his friend.
Further discussion was cut off by the Gabriev family coming over to greet Xelloss and thank him for the recovery of the precious treasure. Xelloss glowed with pleasure. People liked him, admired him…all except for his 'friend' who mocked him. Zel's attitude had dulled the sheen of pride in him.
An hour later they piled into the car-- Zel casting quick, uncertain glances over at his friend sharing the backseat and Xelloss lost in a dark, silent stew of hurt feelings: loss and anger. Val and Rezo chatted amicably in the front seat, unaware of the tension brewing behind them. The drive was over quickly and Val parked the car in front, noting that Luna's car was already back. That meant Lina must have been tired out by the busy day to give up and go home before the party was over.
"I don't need help. I can get in and out of a car by myself," Xelloss admonished Zel.
"I can see that," Zel answered back as quietly as possible.
At the door to 'his' room, Xelloss hesitated knowing Zel was standing close. "I can take care of myself. I'm going to take an aspirin and go to sleep. You can tell the others to leave me alone as well!" SLAM!
"Whoa, dude! What's his problem? I thought he'd be sailin' pretty high after all that glor-ee-fi-ca-shun!" Val asked curious about Zel's gloomy countenance as well.
SIGH "I, um…said something cutting and hurt his feelings …but I think there's more to it that just that…He doesn't want to be bothered. He's taking a nap." Zel 's eyes were caught in Val's intense gaze. "I'll look in on him in a few minutes," he said then pushed Val out of his way and escaped to his own room.
KNOCK, KNOCK
Val answered the door, "Yeah? Oh, hi Filia. I'm not ready tuh go yet. I need to change clothes and pack my bag first. Come on in and wait…the, ah…kitchen's safe, I think."
A few minutes later on their way out the door to Milgasia's waiting car, Filia asked, "Safe? What's going on in there?"
"Zel and Xelloss are fightin' 'bout somethun. Glad I'm outta THERE for the night. Maybe I'll stay at the settlement all week!" Val sighed as he sank his head onto the head rest and closed his eyes. "Those are two messed up, moody guys."
"Do you think you ought to just leave them alone?" Filia asked.
"Lina's there and so's Luna till Monday morning. That'll keep 'em from killin' each other." Val changed the topic. "So, what's new at the settlement?"
"Mrs. Saunders called. She and Sarah, oh you remember those nice ladies at the tea shop, don't you?" Filia started.
Milgasia grinned. So, you let the little lass drag you to a tea shop? Oh, my…son, you must be weakening…or under a spell…
"Yeah…" groaned Val.
"Well, they called to invite us over tomorrow afternoon. They have pictures!"
Val perked up, "They do? That's….somethun… I'll think about it…" he added coolly. Can't forget to be cool.
"Well, yeah… I just thought you might be interested, that's all…" Filia whispered. She felt a little disappointed that her news hadn't swept him off his feet. She decided that a funeral in the morning followed by watching your closest friends fight probably had more to do with his lack of enthusiasm than anything else, and so she let it pass. She sat pensively watching the city's buildings thin out and the familiar farmland expand and stretch out to the horizon. Going home. Her home. The Settlement.
Sunday.
Zel made a breakfast of pancakes and sausages. There was a note on the kitchen table: 'Gotta work. Feed the girl. Be back for dinner early – Luna'
"One less to feed," he sighed and placed the warm plate on the tray with a glass of milk, silverware, and a napkin. He slipped on his shoes, picked up the tray and carried it to the separate residence were Lina was recovering. There he set the tray outside and knocked on the door.
"Lina? You up?" No answer. "LINA! I have your breakfast and it's getting cold!"
"Come in then!"
He unlocked the door and pushed on in, balancing the tray carefully on one hand. "Where do you want it? Oh…right on top of you, eh? I didn't say hello? No, I guess not."
Lina watched her friend out of the corner of her eye while she stuffed a sausage in her mouth. "So what's the matter with you? You're a morning person, right? I slept for 14 hours after coming home last night, but you look like hell."
"Thank you for noticing. I didn't sleep well last night."
"Hmmm?" she tried to urge him to open up a bit, but her mouth now contained two pancakes.
"I didn't have a good day yesterday."
"Giving away your family treasures was a nice gesture."
"Yes. It was the right thing to do."
"Like re-building the shrines and letting the clan take the credit?"
"Yes, if that's possible."
"And returning Gourry's sword?"
"That…was Xelloss' business, not mine."
Lina raised an eyebrow. She had hit a nerve. "So…you are having a problem with Xelloss? That's no surprise. You're either best of friends or fighting, and now you're fighting. You know he's gonna be unstable for awhile and inside he's a turmoil of emotions, a mess…Val gone yet? Well, after I'm done eating, you can tell Xelloss that I want to see him. You try and get some rest before you end up back in the hospital. Is that good lookin' doctor coming today? Good."
Zel sat a few minutes longer, then left to deliver Xelloss' breakfast. Xelloss was up and in the kitchen pouring himself a glass of juice and eating a sausage out of the pan.
"Help yourself," Zel said without meeting his eyes, then left and climbed the stairs. If he couldn't sleep, he might as well read.
CRASH!
He froze midway up the staircase CRASH! CRASH! BANG!
and whirled around.
CRASH! CRASH! BANG!
Rezo, who had thrown on a robe and hurried out of his room at the cacophony of breaking dishes, joined Zel on the stairs. With a hand on his shoulder he whispered, "What's going on?"
CRASH! CRASH! BANG!
Before Zel could answer, however, Luna flew though the front door, "I could hear that from outside!" She rushed to the kitchen and took in the scene.
Xelloss was standing amid piles of shards from dozens of broken dishes. He looked up at her as she cautiously crept in.
"Ho, there…come on kid, let's get you cleaned up, huh? Bet you've hated those dishes for years…Who? Dubois bought them? No wonder…Time for something new…" Luna chuckled in a conciliatory manner.
"Am I bleeding? Just wash it off. No! Don't let me see it!" Xelloss warned her, then whispered, "I faint…" and allowed her to lead him to the bathroom.
"Okay…" Luna answered calmly. "Then I want you back in bed. Gourry called and he and some others are coming over, probably at lunch time…"
"I don't need sleep. I want to wash my hair and take a shower and…I need help and…"
"And that's not coming from me, as much as I might enjoy the experience…" Luna teased. "Oh, don't worry I was joking… maybe. I'll get your male slave to do that. Now what? What's wrong with that little worm?"
"I freed him," Xelloss pouted.
"Ha, ha, ha! How very noble of you, but that was too soon, wasn't it? Now you'll have to pay the guy. I'll work out negotiations and you can…start stripping…" Luna leered. "And you better be nice to him or I WILL BE BACK!" Xelloss looked pale and closed the door and locked it behind her.
Zel was listlessly dropping the larger shards into a paper sack. A broom and dustpan stood nearby. Luna marched into the kitchen, porcelain crunching underfoot. "Do this later! I HAVE to get back to work. I just HAPPENED to be outside because I left the keys in the other place. And it's a GOOD thing I DID, huh? You just gonna LEAVE him standin' there dripping BLOOD on the floor? Was he kiddin' me or does he really faint at the sight of blood?"
Zel had backed up as far as he could, although he was considering trying to hop up onto the countertop next.
"Look at me, you little WORM! Now go give him a BATH or I will have to do it and take it out on your hide later! You have company coming for lunch so get this mess cleaned up AFTER you do what you PROMISED back at that hospital. HE may have released you as his personal slave, but I haven't. NOW HOP TO!" Luna bellowed so that Lina could hear her as well.
Zel scooted like a nervous colt, disappearing from the kitchen and reappearing outside the lower bathroom. TAP, TAP
"It's, um, me. Luna sent me…"
Xelloss opened the door, "I heard. My hair and…all…"
For a moment the two kids just floated in uncomfortable-land. Zel looked at the boxer-clad, purple-haired kid and pictured the injured head on his lap after they fell down that slope in the park in…October? Then again, watching his blood seep into that nasty mattress up in the high school bell tower in… December? He'd never be able to forget his friend hanging onto life in that coma only days ago, wasn't it? Damn!
Xelloss was thinking along similar lines. He remembered opening his eyes, his injured head resting on his friend's lap after they fell down that slope in the park in…October? Then again, waking up, head bound in his friend's torn shirt coming out of the high school bell tower in… December? He'd never be able to forget his friend leading him out of that coma only days ago, wasn't it?
"Xelloss, I'd really…"
"Zelgadiss, I'm sorry…I don't know why I did all that. I felt so angry and you just ticked me off. I don't know why!"
"It's all right. Better me than…someone who doesn't know you so well. We'll tell Adams about it, but he did say you night suffer from all kinds of temporary (we hope!) personality changes following the head injury. If it seemed out of control, then it may have been. Anyway, what do we do here?"
"Well, the nurse gave me a sponge-bath…"
For another moment the two kids returned to that uncomfortable-land. Then Zelgadiss had an idea. "Why don't I run a bath for you, a shallow one? I'll do what I can to help you in and out. Don't worry about the lower bandages, I have to change them anyway…You can, ah…do the rest…you know…"
Xelloss was quick to say, "Yeah, I can do the rest!"
Zel continued, "Right! Until you want me to help with the hair then just…"
Xelloss interrupted, "Yell. I'll yell."
Zel nodded, "Fine. I'll just read a book outside the door then…"
Xelloss nodded and stared at Zel.
Zel smirked, "Give me a moment to draw your bath, Sir."
Xelloss smiled, "Go ahead. You know, I'm not body-conscious at all, but you are making me nervous."
Zel sighed, "I make myself nervous. Now, I shall avert my eyes and help you in…"
Xelloss snickered, "You are such a comedian…Okay, I'm in. Soap and a washcloth and…perhaps you can find an unbandaged square inch of my back to wash before leaving? No? Then, you're excused, Jeeves. I'll call you shortly."
Zelgadiss smiled, shook his head and closed the door behind him. He was glad the 'fight' was over.
The Amelia Van dropped off Amelia, Sylphiel, and Gourry to visit for the afternoon. Gourry helped Lina into her wheelchair and pushed her to the other house and into the living room. Sylphiel let Zelgadiss help push Amelia's wheelchair while she skipped on ahead to hold open the door.
"I brought some tapes to watch," Gourry explained. "A couple favorites of Lina's and I rented some new ones."
Xelloss was already ensconced in a soft chair near the TV. "Movies? Good idea! What are they?"
"Ah…anime," Gourry began.
"An-i-may? Never heard of that one," Xelloss said.
"No…it's not a movie it's…Japanese cartoons for people our age," Gourry tried.
"Subtitled!" Lina cheered, hold one up and waving it around. "Boogiepop Phantom…oooohhhh, I've been wanting to see that one. Kinda dark and… you'll love it Zel. What else? ARISLAN! Cool, Gourry, a pseudo-history of Persia with a dash of Tolkien tossed in… and CLAMP SCHOOL DETECTIVES? Amelia and Sylphiel bait, huh?"
"Yeah, and…" Gourry pulled a last, weather-worn tape without a cover from the bottom of the bag.
Lina's eyes glowed with the childlike elation that had been absent for so long. "Captain Harlock! My all-time favorite! Gourry how did you KNOW?!"
"Well, you've got those posters all over the walls of your room—"
"When did you ever get into my room?!"
"When did she have Captain What-ever posters on her walls?" Zel wondered. "What did I miss while I was a cyborgial recluse?"
"I've been a fan of this stuff since…ages ago, Zel! You should remember, we used to watch it! You know, space-pirates…"
"Alien invaders, plant-women assassins…" Gourry chimed in.
Everyone looked at Gourry and Lina like they were nuts.
"Don't tell me you've NEVER watched anime! Ha, ha, ha, heh, heh…so much for all your Japanese heritage! I can't believe you've missed…" Lina laughed uproariously.
Zelgadiss snatched one of the tapes out of Lina's hands and stuffed it into the TV VCR player and hit the play button.
"I'll order lunch…" he muttered.
By the time the yakisoba noodles and sushi arrived, all six kids were hooked on anime.
"That is not a guy."
"Yes, he is! He's a cute little 14-year-old…"
"Yeah, so was I, and I didn't look like that. Man, he's even got a jeweled tiara! And those are the longest eye-lashes!"
Lina kicked Zel lightly. "Shut up! Arislan's doing the best he can with what he's got!"
"And what he's got is LOOKS!" Sylphiel sighed.
Lina laughed. "See? That's what anime's got: cute guys. It's the same kind of cute you 'n Xelloss are: slight and feminine enough to be non-threatening."
"Feminine?!"
"Yeah, but 'feminine' is a relative term, so…"
A few hours later, the topic resumed.
"And those…those are NOT MALE!" Zel sputtered.
"Oh, how cute! What adorable little boys! So charming and polite!" Sylphiel and Amelia giggled at the antics of the CLAMP SCHOOL DETECTIVES.
"No!" Zel declared. "No! That is NOT what little boys are like! And those kids are voiced by girls, to boot! Dear gods, is this why most boys and girls don't communicate? They're mis-represented?!"
"Zel, you're thinking too hard. This is just cuteness, written by a bunch of crazy ladies in Japan somewhere. Relax, relax…now, let's move on to something darker…Boogiepop, here we come! Now, what'll really irk you about this one is how they all look the same…"
"Wow, now all the girls look like guys!"
"Zel," Lina said, exasperated, "let's just let the topic rest at this: the difference between what a boy looks like and what a girl looks like is minimal, to say the least. I mean, if we all shaved our heads, wore concealing robes, and no one wore make-up, could you tell the difference?"
That gave Zel something to think about, and it wasn't the prettiest of pictures. Xelloss had been listening without talking, for the first time in ages.
"I suppose not…"
"Damn straight, you can't!" Lina admonished. "And never ferget it! Speaking of that, I've got to talk to that Utena girl about joining the fencing team…"
Gourry smacked his forehead. "Oh! I had something to say about that…something…I talked to Zangulus recently and he said something…"
"Don't strain yourself, Gourry," Lina patted his shoulder. "He'll be over here soon, anyway. We can just wait for news 'till his visit, 'kay?"
"Sure," Gourry smiled with relief.
"Why did I never know this stuff existed before?" Zel and Xelloss asked, glued to the TV.
Lina grinned. "'Cause you ain't got no culture', that's why."
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val