(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
Chapter 54
THE SLAYERS
Sunday Afternoon, continued.
"Actually, Zel," Lina continued. "You guys have watched some anime before, but we didn't call it that. Like…Captain Harlock a loooong time ago on the TV, Zel, remember? And, Xelloss you know about the Sailor Moon girls—I KNOW Zel does, heh, heh."
Zel glared at her a moment. Oh yes. Bunny at school dressed like the leading lady and HE (Gods forbid and kill Amelia for it) was allowed out of the house costumed as the leaning lady's love interest. Amelia had a costume she called 'Sailor Justice' and didn't clue him in on the significance of his costume. Neither did all the others.
Amelia blushed and wished she could roll away into a gaping pit.
Xelloss grinned, "Yes I do! Sailor Justice and Tuxedo Zel!"
That sent Zel plowing into Xelloss, "Cut it out, Xelloss! Or I swear when you get better, I'll pound your mouth in!"
"Sensitive?" Xelloss smiled, not the least impressed by Zel's feeble wrath.
"Just don't talk about me and her that way, all right?" Zel hissed in a low voice only Xelloss could hear.
"Sure thing, little brother," Xelloss said patronizingly.
"You done with your scene, kids?" Lina smirked. "As I was saying…there was a time when you watched Gundam Robots blast each other out of the universe, Zel, and you said it was your favorite show!"
"I was a captive audience in the hospital at the time. So what?" Zel snapped.
"That was Japanese animation too. In addition, DRAGONBALL Z and…" Lina began.
"I don't like that," Sylphiel said breezily. "Ugly guys picking nasty fights."
"I gotta agree with ya on that, Sylph," Lina nodded. "The art's gone downhill too."
"Wasn't 'My Little Pony' anime too?" Amelia asked, pulling back from the precipice a bit.
Lina began, "No, Amelia. It was created by Hasbro, an American company to sell toys, but the animation was done in Japan…like all animation was…and mostly is…"
Her words were dismissed by Sylphiel's squeals of delight, as an effusion of childhood memories overcame her intellect. "Oooooh! That show was SOOOOOOOOOOO cute! I still have a huge collection of the little pony dolls in a box at home!"
"Oh, Sylphiel! ME TOO!" gushed Amelia. "Come over tonight and I'll show you mine!"
While they made 'pony' plans, Lina continued her lecture, "That movie we all saw last fall…LOST UNIVERSE…"
"Zelgadiss, remember you and I went with…" Xelloss started to remind everyone, but Zel's glare silenced him this time.
Sylphiel misunderstood his hesitation, though. She thought he was caught up in the emotional turbulence of his romance cut short with Kiki, instead of Zel's 'date' with Amelia. Her face grew pensive as she withdrew into herself a moment, Poor, Xelloss…he must still pine for Kiki…I must help him forget…
Gourry interrupted both of them, "That wasn't anime, Lina."
"That's right, Gourry, at least YOU'VE been paying attention here. That was a live action movie BASED on an anime, which was, like most anime, based on successful manga, er, comic book series. What I'm getting at is…Zel? Are you listening? Xelloss quit bugging him for a minute while I talk. Okay, now where was I? Ah, thanks Gourry, my point is that you like anime-- have always liked it-- even if you didn't know where it came from. There. I've talked enough. Put in the next tape, Gourry."
~*~
As promised, Filia and Val strolled over to the tiny, well-kept cottage of Mrs. Saunders for tea. Her middle-aged daughter, Sarah, met them at the door, "Hello Filia, Val, come right on in. Mother is waiting in the parlor. She's so excited…"
Val wasn't sure why their visit should bestow 'excitement', but nodded affably while Filia chatted about whatever. He had seen homes like this in old movies, but unexpectedly he felt as if he had stepped into the past. Heavy curtains adorned the windows, thickly padded chairs covered in muted, floral chintz flanked a wine-red velvet couch. He had no idea where to sit. Mrs. Saunders waved them on in. "Here my dears, sit by me on the couch so I can show you the pictures!"
Val nodded again. That problem solved. He and Filia took their seats on either side of the old lady.
"I'll bring the tea and biscuits?" Sarah asked her mother.
"And plenty of them!" her mother ordered in her merry voice.
"Sarah and I were out of town last autumn when I understand Milgasia was hunting for information for you. We were visiting her sister and family near Atlas City, you know, Filia-dear, with the fine nephew…Julian… who was such a good friend to you last summer on vacation. I believe they'll be joining us again this summer…Now, where was I?"
"Pictures?" Filia swiftly returned the discussion back on course.
"I wasn't there yet," the old woman smiled slyly. "Well, all right…take a look… Now this is the oldest. These are clan reunion pictures, you understand. I had no family in the Ancient clan. I don't think anyone here did. A few older people left here and joined them but no intermarriages for a long time. You see, they were a rather… snobbish lot. Very aloof…and, it was said, they were very wealthy and powerful, but shrinking… So, this must have been taken 25 years ago. How old are you ah…Val?"
"Seventeen, I think," Val muttered.
"There's been some confusion over his birth certificate," Filia explained. "So which are which?
"Oh, it's hard to tell in this picture because there's no color. But, this one is in color. Yes! Many of the men and a few women have that distinctive green hair color of the Ancient Clan. Like yours, in fact, young man! Now here's the interesting series that I've put together…"
She spread out five large-format glossy photographs on top of the coffee table in front of them. "The reunions were officially every three to five years. These were taken…twenty years ago, seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, and then…ten. Yes, the lovely green-haired people are gone. Ah…the tea. Dear, can you put the tea at that end and put the biscuits at the other."
Val's eyes were glued to the photos. Analyzing each in turn. His attention focused on one particular family group which seemed to grow in numbers as the years went on. Finally he lay them out in sequence. "It's them, my family. Here I bet I can find them in the 25 year old picture. Yeah, here… the couple with the baby, then five years later… there they are again with more kids…"
He took a moment to search out the next evidence, "Three years later, yeah, Filly, with another child, then two more and… the mother's not in the photo, but the father and the older kids are…"
"Val! Do you think that could be YOUR family? It would work! Your mother would have stayed home with a four month old baby…you!" Filia chattered excitedly.
"Then look at this one. Two years later…there's the whole family again Husband, wife, five kids…the youngest…" Val's voice lowered to a near-whisper.
"The youngest has wild green hair, like the father and that other kid beside him, another boy, I guess. Val that has to be you and your family!" Filia cried.
"Then three years later…gone…all gone…" he whispered.
"All but you. You're alive and here. You're here to represent them, as best you can," Filia gently added. He looked back at her.
"Mrs. Saunders… Is there anyway to identify these people by name?"
She smiled knowingly, "Yes. We have vast genealogies maintained for centuries. The trick is searching for the information on the computer…I'm not computer savvy," the old woman sighed.
"But I am," Val grinned.
"Then have your tea and sweets then let's get hacking!" Mrs. Saunders chuckled.
Val clicked away at the keys using all the skills he'd acquired from Zel's patient teaching. "Okay…here's a possibility…Ancient Clan family of seven… ages of the children… a match! The names… I must be Valentine Agares! Wow, we were an important family…my father was the Ancient Clan leader, Filia! Look! It's gotta be…there are NO other families with the right number of kids or the perfect match of ages with the pictures…none… no others even close!"
"Oh, Val! We have to go tell Milgasia and show him this to verify that we've looked at all the data…but it's so wild! Val Agares. Val Agares…you could change your name back to that…a totally fresh start!" Filia announced.
"Yeah…maybe…I'll think about it…" he smirked, and then grinned. "A past and a future…what a day, huh?"
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That day at school, Val and Filia shared the exciting news with Amelia, Sylphiel, and Gourry.
"That's wonderful, Val!" Amelia cried. "Val Agares… sounds dramatic."
Gourry smiled, "So you were the youngest…four brothers and sisters…I still gottcha all beat though."
Val grinned, "Yeah, so Milgasia can't believe we figured it out. You'd have thought that he would have known the other clan leader and his family but he had some lame excuse…So this summer he's taken me ta look over the Ancient clan settlement land. Nothin' there, he says. Everythin' was sold off and closed up long ago."
Filia added, "What I want to know is…what happened to the relics and valuable treasures stored there? Who has the stuff? Clan wouldn't sell it outside of the clan! Something's not right about the whole thing!"
Val patted her on the head, "Calm down, Filly! It's not like I need any more money or nothin'."
"Don't patronize me, Vally-boy!" Filia warned, eyes flashing.
"Ahem…excuse me…Amelia?" intoned a mild-sounding voice overhead.
Amelia turned to face the stranger, only to recognize him as Hojo, a friend, of sorts, to Kagome and classmate to Xelloss and Zelgadiss. "Yes, you are Hojo, right?"
"Yes! You remembered!" he smiled, delighted that someone did, she guessed. "Ah, I noticed a few empty seats…can we join you?"
Amelia looked over at his two younger friends, "Oh, of course! Tambo and Melvin from my English and government classes, hi!"
Hojo took the seat open beside Gourry, while the other two flanked Amelia. Sylphiel and Filia were in conversation on the other side of Gourry and Val, who had been sitting next to Amelia, across from Filia, had taken off to chat with his old punk friends.
"We were sorry to hear about your accident. How are the others?" asked the math nerd with glasses, Melvin.
"We sure miss Zel and Xel around the computer lab!" moaned the equally nerdy, but nice, Tambo.
"Miss Lina and the others are healing, but it may be a month before they can return to school. Mr. Xelloss may not come back at all!" Amelia informed them all.
"Yeah, to be in a coma and then wake up to find out all your friends are hurt and your mother's dead, how horrifying!" Hojo empathized.
"He's been… very upset. But he made it to his induction ceremony and now he is a full-fledged priest in the shrine!" Amelia added cheerfully. "He's very strong and dedicated."
"Who's that?" Sylphiel asked, knowing full well of whom Amelia was speaking.
"Xelloss," Tambo answered. "He was always so nice and indefatigable helping that unfortunate Ryoga in the computer lab. I liked him…even though he stole away the girl of my dreams…"
"Quit talking about him like he's dead!" Filia snipped. "He's practically up and running at home. He just adores having his poor friend wait on him hand and foot."
"By the way, Amelia, HAVE you heard from Kiki lately? She left so suddenly, I never had a chance to say goodbye," Tambo sighed.
"Ms Zelas had her sent back to Paris, you know, when she found out that Xelloss wanted to marry her, and that Kiki'd said YES!" squealed Sylphiel, who loved a romantic soap opera. "It almost broke his heart! But he's over her now, I think."
Amelia and Gourry looked at Sylphiel sympathetically and said nothing.
"Whoa…I didn't know anything like THAT was going on between them!" exclaimed Tambo. "See! I KNEW he wasn't gay, like you kept telling me, Melvin! I told you he liked her and that she wouldn't go out with me because…sigh her heart belonged to him."
"She didn't date because her Aunt and Uncle wouldn't let her because they said that she was too young," Amelia declared like a jail sentence. "And…I e-mail Kiki every week, but…I've not told her much about the accident. Now, Mr. Hojo, was there anything in particular you wanted to talk to me about?"
"No, just asking after our mutual friends, that's all," Hojo smiled and stood. "Looks like lunch is nearly over. See you later!"
Amelia watched the boys go, shaking her head slightly. Gourry reached across the table and laid a knowing hand on hers. Their eyes met. Before he could communicate verbally, Val rejoined the group with a grunt.
"Buncha dumb-asses…" he growled. "Ah, not you guys, them. The cretins I was tradin' stories with. I ain't got nothin' to say to them any more. Nah, that's not right…they ain't got nothin' ta say ta ME that I wanna listen to…"
Amelia nodded, "I know…I don't seem to be able to talk to others…"
Gourry cleared his throat and withdrew his hand from hers, "Others. Ya just said it. There's us… and then there's the 'others'."
Filia stared at the tall blonde guy. "That's right, but it goes deeper too and you, Gourry, most of all of us here know that. We're a special group and I am NOT just talking about the Slayers band-that-plays-music friends, but the Slayers banded-together-to-save-our-lives, friends forever." Like Zel's song…
"That's right," Amelia agreed. "Mr. Gourry, you and Mr. Zelgadiss can communicate with your eyes. I've seen it! Miss Lina can read my mind, I swear! How many of the clan kids come to this high school? Two! You, Miss Filia, and Mr. Val. I think you must be very brave to do that, Miss Filia. It must further separate you from both worlds. Mr. Gourry, whatever you did, we know you saved the life of someone, who had given her life to save yours. Think of the things we have gone through…have done for each other! We do have a special connection. Oh, you guys! Thank you for talking to me about this. I thought that maybe I was just imagining it all."
"Nah, weird as it seems, I've been feelin' it all week," nodded Val.
"Me too," agreed Filia.
"Yep…for a long time. Like family, but different," said Gourry with a smile.
"Come visit the others with me after school today, please?" begged Amelia.
"Of course…" the others agreed.
BUZZ and the lunch hour was over.
~*~
Nuriko and Tasuki were between classes at the university, and so, decided to pay the 'at home' Slayers a call.
Zelgadiss tread wearily to the door. He had just finished washing up lunch dishes and more than anything wanted to sit down and rest, read a book maybe, when he heard the pounding at the door.
Sigh… "Hello? Oh! Nuriko, Tasuki, come in. Social call, right?"
The tall red-headed punk, Tasuki, laughed raucously, "Sure, YOU could call it that! How are ya'll? Shit, you look bad."
"That's not nice to say," Nuriko admonished his boorish friend and co-band member. "Zelgadiss…all right, ZEL, you stretch out on the couch and rest. We'll go find the others…"
"No, that's all right. We'll all go see Lina, she's staying in Xelloss' place and isn't mobile. Xelloss, on the other hand…" Zel began.
"Is right here!" Xelloss finished as he entered the room wrapped in his kimono and sweatpants.
Nuriko flung a hand over his mouth in a very feminine gesture, to prevent a cry from escaping his lips, "Oh." He hadn't been expecting the bruised and broken face. He stepped up quickly to meet his dojo teammate. Before flinging his arms around Xelloss in a hug, he asked, "Can I touch you? Will you break?"
Tasuki grinned and shook his head, "Breakin's not what he's concerned about with you, I'm sure."
Xelloss smiled, "S'okay…" and accepted the friendly gesture. Nuriko was his only friend willing to offer physical comforting, no strings attached.
Nuriko whispered, "I feel bandages all over…but at least you're alive." He released Xelloss and backed away, "I was so shocked to hear about your band…and I'm so sorry about your mother."
Xelloss shrugged his shoulders, his new answer to that statement, "Thanks. I'll be fine. My little brother is taking good care of me!"
Tasuki glanced over at the drained face of the smaller boy with the odd hair and scarred features. "Did I miss somethin', or is that a new name for boy--?"
Nuriko silenced his inept friend with a punch to the stomach, "Brothers as in step-brothers as in they share parents, ah…parent."
Zel turned as he heard the sound of his father entering the front entry from the kitchen where he had been fixing a cup of tea. "Yes. Here comes our father now… Professor Greywords, dean of the chemistry department at your university. Father? A couple of friends from the university have dropped by to see us. We're taking them over to see Lina, but I thought I'd introduce you, since I always seem to forget. Ah, this is Tasuki, who actually used to live in our old neighborhood at one time and knew Lina as a kid…but we, ah…didn't cross paths much back then…And this is Nuriko, who knows Xelloss from the dojo. They're in a band with some other guys known as the…"
"Suzaku Seven. Yes, I remember you talking about them. Well, nice to meet you," Rezo grumbled and stalked off to listen to the news.
Nuriko appeared amused, "I took a class from him once. He doesn't like ME at all."
"Well, maybe if ya stopped the cross-dressin' an' tryin' to look so beee-u-tee-ful ya wouldn't draw attention to yerself, the kind that ya don't want! Ever think of that?" Tasuki snapped as he yanked on Nuriko's long purple braid.
"Ouch! It had nothing to do with THAT! The man can't even SEE!" Nuriko insisted, as Zelgadiss led them all out the door and over to Lina's.
TAP, TAP
"Lina? You up for visitors? All right…" he unlocked the door to their old practice room and waved the others in ahead of him. At his first chance, he slipped inside, fell onto 'his' beanbag chair, closed his eyes, and prepared to simply listen.
Lina glowed. To be the center of attention and to have soooo many friends to talk to was nice, but she found it difficult explaining the accident-that-didn't-happen. She found it hard to find ANY safe topic of conversation. Clan, syndicate mobsters, CIA, intrigue after intrigue with danger lurking along the way…were not to be discussed.
Xelloss, however, lived up to his reputation as the master of deception, and found LOTS to talk about. "So, how are things back at the dojo?"
"We REALLY miss you. I've had to work extra to cover your hours and there isn't ANYONE for me to spar with that even comes CLOSE to you. PLEASE tell me you MIGHT make it back?" Nuriko pleaded.
"My doctor's making no promises. This time I got head injuries I barely survived. I shouldn't take unnecessary risks, like getting kicked in the head…"
While they continued to babble, Tasuki looked over at Zelgadiss. Zel was watching the other two young men.
"Hard to decide which is the prettiest, eh?" Tasuki chuckled.
Zelgadiss blushed, but Lina laughed, "Right now, Nuriko has him beat. But after the bruises are gone…must be a purple hair thing!"
"No!" Zel shouted adamantly. "Xelloss looks like a guy, Lina. He dresses like a guy and mostly acts like one too!"
Lina stared at Zel, "Oooo-Kaaay… moving on."
Tasuki said, "So now that I've gotten a good look atcher…I get what Chiriko was sayin' about yer band gettin' back together. He ain't playin' drums next week an' YOU ain't 'bout to run around singin' like ya did."
"Not next week, you're right! But next month…I'm countin' on singing again!" Lina grinned.
Zel closed his eyes again and relaxed.
"So what do you THINK about your band opening for ours? Good, yes?" Nuriko asked Xelloss.
"Hmmm, yes. It would be great. Everyone likes the idea, right? Ah, Zelgadiss is asleep. Well, right, Lina?" Xelloss called from his beanbag seat.
"Yeah, beats waiting tables this summer!" Lina laughed. "I just don't want to make a commitment until I know we can do it. Ya know, run through a few practices and see if we still got what it takes to be a band. You guys don't really understand what all we've been through, but it takes my heart away for me to be reminded right now."
Xelloss had never heard Lina admit to weakness of that kind, of heart. She always had spirit to spare! He tried to stand up but failed, until Tasuki lent him a hand. "Thanks…the abs aren't back yet either."
"What happened to yer stomach?"
"Ah, internal injuries and I was sewn up, I think. Dr. Zelgadiss could fill you in on the details, if he were awake. He's quite knowledgeable these days and has the medical lingo down pat."
Xelloss smiled then turned to Lina, "Lina, don't worry about the band. Once everyone starts playing again or singing again, it will all come together, you'll see."
He rested against her 'bed' and fingered a loose lock of her hair. "Whatever you want to do, we'll do. Wherever you want to take us, we'll go. Whenever you…"
"Yeah, yeah, I get the picture. What, where, when, no questions asked, huh? So you're loading it all on me? I get to make all the decisions? I get the stress?" Lina cried out.
Xelloss opened his mouth to protest, but Lina got there first, "And WHAT do you think you're doing with MY HAIR?"
Xelloss smiled. He didn't drop the curl which he had teased into wrapping itself around his little finger. "Nothing. See? It likes me, I think."
His purple gaze glittered flirtatively. He knew Lina didn't have the energy to fight him off, so he thought he'd have a bit of fun, and hoped to hell that she'd forget it after recovering. "I've never seen this color before, up close. It's very rare."
Lina frowned. She knew perfectly well what he was up to. Zelgadiss was not going to protect her either. "Release my hair, Xelloss Metallium or I will inflict great pain upon you in two weeks. And, as you'll remember Gourry saying, 'an elephant never forgets' and nor do I!"
"O-kay, Do-kay, Miss Lina Inverse!" he giggled, then leaned over and kissed her on the nose.
She was left speechless and blushing as he moved away and back over to the two young men lounging on beanbag chairs and watching the performances with amusement.
"Oooh, yer playin' with fire there, dontcha know!" Tasuki laughed, sending his multiple earrings jingling together.
"Really? You think so?" Xelloss grinned. "I wouldn't know about that."
Nuriko smiled, "Lina, you all seem pretty close…more than just a band, eh?"
Lina turned her burning ruby gaze from Xelloss to Nuriko, softening her expression at the same time. "Yeah. I've got to say, MOST of them I consider to be my very best friends. But some, ONE fruitcake in particular, needs to be taken down a notch or two. Tasuki? You wanna teach this guy to mind his manners for me?"
Tasuki's eyes widened, "Who ME? ME? Yer askin' me ta punch out that guy? Even hurtin' like he is now, he'd have me beggin' fer mercy before I could land the first hit! Oh, no, I'll leave the fightin' to yer ladyship."
Nuriko chuckled at the thought, "You both seem particularly close to Zel here, or he wouldn't be around taking care of you."
"He's my best friend," they both declared simultaneously.
"Guy-type friend, that is," Lina added, glaring at Xelloss for stepping on her lines.
Nuriko bent over the sleeping kid and brushed a wiry strand away from his face, "Poor kid. He was probably pretty cute before the accident…" he said softly.
"If he wakes up, you just might find out how cute he can be!" Lina warned. "He's very sensitive about his looks and hates, I mean REALLY hates, to be touched, so…that's right. Blackbelt or not, HE'S faster than lightening and…"
"…And his verbal assault will kill you if his icy cold stare doesn't!" Xelloss finished glibly. "He yells at us all the time! I think our demands are starting to get to him! Oh, I have an idea!"
Xelloss climbed the stairs to his loft/bed for the first time in weeks. He moved slowly, but made it to the top, then to his dresser, where he dug around until he found what he wanted. Pleased, he cautiously climbed back down and joined the others now clustered around Lina.
"Zelgadiss let me borrow these," he reassured Lina as he opened Zel's yearbooks from grade school and the one he had from middle school.
"Tasuki, you must have gone to the same school, right? But you don't remember Zelgadiss and from the way HE tells it, he and Lina were glued to the hip most of the time," Xelloss grinned at Lina who was ignoring him pointedly while thumbing through Zel's first grade book.
"You ought to be in the fifth grade when I was in first?" she asked. "Yeah, here you are. Same wild orange hair and devilish sneer."
"Ha! That's me all right! Whata cool lookin' dude I was, too!"
Nuriko scrunched up his nose, "So what happened since? Oh, I'm teasing you. You were just…"
"A real tough little brute, to my recollection," Lina smiled. "Now, on to ME!"
As always, Lina's flaming hair and bewitching smile popped off the page. Xelloss pointed her out unnecessarily and asked, "So…where's Zelgadiss?"
Silence. Both visitors looked over the pictures carefully. Finally, just when he was about to admit defeat, Tasuki said, "Well, there's the cute girl you hung out with…that one with the dark hair. But I don't see Zel."
Nuriko gasped as Xelloss grinned, "Tasuki, look at the eyes…the eyes…that blue-green…that sarcastic grin…oh…my…Gods…Xelloss, tell me that's not Zelgadiss…"
Lina nodded, "Pretty cute, huh?"
Xelloss picked up another book, "Wait till you see him in the fifth grade…Here's Lina…yeah, I think she's gorgeous too!"
Lina punched his arm, causing him to nearly drop the book, but she was smiling too.
"I'll let you find Zelgadiss. BINGO!" Xelloss laughed.
"I think I'm in LOVE!" Nuriko moaned. "Oh, my. No wonder he's so sensitive! Lina, this is awful! Isn't there ANYTHING that can be done for him?"
"Yes," Xelloss answered instead. "But he's refused treatments. It's true, Lina! I was there in the doctor's office and heard it all. Expensive, but even Zelas was willing to pay for it! Experimental, but…anything could help a little! But he said…he'd THINK about it. I don't think he wants to look like…" Xelloss stopped. He didn't want to say anything too personal. He just realized that he probably had said too much already. "Please don't tell him I told you that. I'm sure he wanted to keep it to himself."
The others nodded. "Of course," Lina muttered.
"Hey, he's Asian, isn't he?" Tasuki asked.
"Half. So am I! You see, his mother was my sister…Oh, ah…you can forget I said THAT too. I guess I'm not so good at keeping secrets anymore, huh Lina?"
"Maybe we all are…maybe we have too many. Oh, I don't think he cares about that one. It's too weird to believe anyway," Lina sighed with fatigue. "One last book then I gotta rest-- like it or not, guys."
Xelloss held open the sixth grade year book. "I found this one. He never actually shared it with me. This picture was taken two days before the accident, so I guess it brings back memories for him."
Yes. Zelgadiss had been a very attractive boy. And Lina had been right, he had been very feminine looking with dark shoulder-length hair, huge sparkling eyes, and this time, a real smile.
Next thing Zelgadiss knew, Xelloss was shaking his shoulder. "Hate to wake you, but the guys just left and Lina's going to take a nap so… I thought you'd like to come back with me."
"Yeah, thanks. Sorry, Lina… I'll leave you in peace and quiet. Gods only know who'll stop by after school's out," Zel sighed and slowly rose and ambled out the door. Little did he know how true his off-hand statement would be!
~*~
The Amelia Van pulled up to the Slayers' boarding house, just as two familiar kids climbed out of their car parked across the street.
"Hoy! Gourry!" Zangalus shouted.
"Zangalus? Oh…" Gourry greeted his fencing teammate.
"Wow! What a big house! I knew Xelloss was rich, but this is disgusting! Life is SOOO unfair! I hope there's something to drink!" spat Martina. "I'm dying!"
"Well, it's Lina's digs too, so there's gotta be something!" Gourry laughed. "Zel knows where here's stuff to drink."
Without knocking, Gourry opened the front door and held it for the SLAYERS and friends, playing doorman. "We're here, Zel!" he called.
"'We' who?" he sighed, juggling glasses of water and a bag of potato chips for 'her ladyship'. Xelloss popped up behind him, waving spastically. "Oh, 'we' as in 'us'. Hi, guys, hi Martina, Zangalus. Just a sec, I'm—"
"Who do I have to know to get something to drink?" Martina asked.
"Something to drink? There's cans of fizzy shit in the fridge, you can have anything you find. Now, if you'll excuse me, Lina is waiting impatiently…" Zel slipped through the crowd and stepped gingerly to Lina's little sub-house.
"How rude! Zangalus, get me something to drink!"
Xelloss raised his eyebrows as he watched the dark-haired boy dutifully fetch Martina a can of soda. "She has you whipped!" he whispered furtively, met only with a dazed expression on Zangalus' face.
"Oh, Xelloss! It's good to see you up and about! Are you feeling better?" Sylphiel asked.
"Why, yes I am, thank you," he patronized her. "Just a few more weeks, and I'll be able to take off these bandages—"
"And look at yourself in a mirror?" Martina asked with the sensitivity of a sledge-hammer. "You look AWFUL."
"Thank you, Martina. I would not have known that without your astute observation!" Xelloss smiled, the snot oozing from every syllable. "Would you all like to follow Zel's example and go visit Lina, where we can all catch up together?"
Gourry opened the door again, and they funneled out, only to pack themselves like sardines into the much smaller box where Lina was kept.
"Gah! What are you all doing HERE?" Zel squeaked when he turned around to find himself face-to-face with a crowd.
"We're visiting Miss Lina, of course!" Amelia asserted. "Here, Miss Lina! I have your math homework, and the new book you have to read for English!"
"That's TWO books…woah! Science fiction in a lit class? I'm impressed! That teacher isn't so bad after all! Aw, but I've already read 'Brave New World'…1984! Never got around to that one…Liked Animal Farm, though, so I guess me and Orwell will get re-acquainted…"
"You only have to read one, but she didn't know which one you wanted. I'll take back that other one—"
"Don't WE need books, too?" Zel asked.
"I have your books. I only picked up two, since I forgot about Xelloss, but Amelia remembered, luckily," Filia pulled two more paperbacks from her bag.
"You forgot about ME? How could you forget about ME?" Xelloss whined, as much from physical pain getting to him as a friend's neglect.
"Not entirely," Filia answered. "Here, I…I repeat, I collected your math and science work…and…this note is from the office. Something to do with that place...Whispering Oaks."
Xelloss had been reaching out to grasp the papers, but suddenly blanched and dropped his hand.
"Xelloss? You all right?" Filia asked, afraid that he might faint. "Where's that well guy…Zangalus? Yeah, come here quick. Help Xelloss sit down before he falls down!"
"I'm okay," he mustered, but accepted the aid of the other boy's strong arm to get settled in a beanbag chair before opening the note.
Lina's curiosity was piqued, "So, what's it all about? I thought that…involvement was all over?"
"Obviously, from his reaction, he thought so too," Zel observed. He knelt stiffly beside his friend. "Don't read it now. Wait. Just enjoy your friends for a bit, all right?"
Xelloss nodded and looked for a pocket into which to stuff the note. "Here, I'll take it. I have pockets," Zel offered. Xelloss released the note, happy to be relieved of the responsibility.
"NOW then," Martina's voice rang out like a fog horn. "I'd like to talk about what happened FOR REAL back at those shrines and all. You wouldn't BELIEVE what I've had to go through since then! Meetings with secret police, buying off my parents to drop charges and having to agree to some idiotic story that Zangalus and I were in some car following the band and suffered only MINOR injuries…"
"Well, you didn't get hurt, did you?" sniffed Filia.
"I WAS EMOTIONALLY DAMAGED! And HE (pointing to Xelloss who was looking defeated on his drab beanbag chair) is to blame for it ALL!" Martina raged.
"Xelloss? He almost died! His just buried his mother last weekend! How can you come here and scream at him that way, you insensitive klutz?" Filia railed back. She could insult her friend, but damned if she was going to let that little witch hurt him!
"Dead?" Martina's face shed every ounce of color. "Your m…mother died? Oh…Xelloss, I…I didn't knoooow! Nobody told me!"
"It's been in the papers for weeks, Martina. The high school principal? Zelas Metallium? Ringing bells now?" Lina spat from her perch on her 'bed'.
"Your mother was thaaaat woman?" Martina's eyes rolled back into head and she fell heavily…into Zangalus' arms.
"Well, deposit her someplace and tell us about how you're doing," Lina directed Zangalus, who looked a bit confused as to what to do with an unconscious Martina.
Once that she was laid out on a few bean-bag chairs, with Amelia absently fanning her, they were able to move on.
"The story's pretty much the same with me," Zangalus said. "We were bought off, silenced with money… But at least we came through unscathed, more or less. And I…came out with a little more than I bargained for," he grinned, indicating Martina.
"But," he went on, "that's just the beginning. I have news about the fencing club…"
"Yeah!" Gourry remembered. "See, Lina?"
"See what?" she wondered. "Oh, that…what's up with the fencing club, Zangalus?"
"It's horrible!" he cried. "They had a revolution or something, and now—now—"
"Now WHAT?!" Lina demanded.
"Now there are GIRLS on the team!"
"Woo-Hoo!" Lina cried. "Take that, you sexist pigs!"
"No, no, you misunderstand!" Zangalus hushed her. "They'll kick our ASSES! Those girls, Umi and Fuu and Utena…they're taller, faster, and more skilled than half the guys on our teams—taller than Van, Zel, and Inu, better than Inu, especially, which isn't so bad since he's one of the opposition, but—"
"Well, I'm joining it as soon as I can move! Ha, ha! I'll take on all you, plus those girls!" Lina sighed with contentment. Ah, a new challenge!
"Let's just focus on getting better first, Lina." Zel shook his head.
"YOU don't seem too concerned, Zelgadiss," Xelloss wondered.
"I have faith in my partner, so I'm not worried. Zangalus, I wouldn't freak out if I were you, either. Van is pretty solid, too."
"I dunno…he's fierce, but he's not stable. Just mention that brother of his and he becomes a demon, but he'll regress just as quickly…and he's kinda shifty around girls…"
"Well, I'll take care of that! Just give me a few minutes with him and a sword, and I'll—"
"Scare the hell out the poor kid. He's messed up enough without your influence," Zel assured her.
Martina moaned and came to her senses at last. Sylphiel brought her a drink, and then settled in beside Xelloss protectively. "Xelloss is a full priest in the shrine now, Martina."
"What? That was quick. So, does that mean you can't have a girlfriend or ever get married? How sad for you! Just think of all the happiness you're gonna miss!" Martina ranted on.
"Um, I think you have the wrong idea or the wrong religion. The shrine's priest's are free to marry, Miss Martina!" Amelia spouted.
"Oh…well, did I tell you I'm back at Seyruun High? Transferred back to stay and I DON'T have to work, thanks to that LARGE sum of money I got paid to shut up…" Martina continued without skipping a beat.
"How much do you think it'll take to shut her up now?" Xelloss whispered to Zel who was sitting at his elbow.
"Oh Lina, what an awful thing you had to go through JUST to come to grips with the truth about your FEELINGS!" Martina was now hanging on Lina's 'bed' emoting. "I mean, both you AND Gourry BOTH had to almost DIE for you to realize your TRUE LOVE!"
Near death was certainly in the air. And if Lina had been in tip top health, Martina's head would have been flying through the air as well.
Gourry buried himself in conversation with Zangalus, a safe spot. This new fencing team crisis was just the thing to mend broken fences.
Amelia compassionately grabbed Martina by the wrist, "Well, it's already time to go! Lina and Xelloss need their beauty rest before the doctor comes! I'd walk you to the car, but I'm in a wheelchair…Zangalus?"
Val, who had been in the house making some phone calls and getting a little peace and quiet, was standing in the doorway now. He had overheard enough to know that it was time to help expedite Martina's exit. He wore his most forbidding expression and jangled into the room, "Hey! The doctor's gonna be here soon. Zangalus! Time to go, huh?"
The two kids thanked Xelloss for the drinks, said their good-byes, and then Val whisked them out to the car with a growling "Good bye!"
When he returned, alone, there was a universal sigh of relief.
"That has got to be the most obnoxious female on the face of this earth!" Zel muttered.
"Do we have to go, too? Is the doctor really on his way?" Sylphiel asked Xelloss.
"No and…no, not today. That was Amelia's clever ploy to rid us of a growing pestilence, with only the threat of a doctor!" he chuckled.
Sylphiel missed the joke, but was relieved to know she could stay longer, "Well, that's wonderful. Now we can all talk freely, can't we? So let me tell you the news…okay Filia? Good. It's just sooo exciting! We were hanging the first few t-shirts up to dry…you know, the one's Val and Filia and me all designed for the band? And a bunch of kids wanted to buy them, already! So now we have to make more! It gets better! Um…where was I? Oh, ah, we started making more and one of the kids came back and said he wanted to buy TEN more, that kids ALL over the school were gonna want them! Anyway…now the whole silk-screening class has decided to help and just make OUR t-shirts to sell!"
"It's the first time the art department's ever broke even. If we sell enough, we'll get to keep the profit," Filia added with a touch of well-deserved pride.
"Wow, guys! That's great!" Amelia gushed. "But, doesn't the band get to have some, too?"
"Yeah, I was just calling around to see if I could get us a deal on ink and shirts. We'll be doing a lot of them, but…" and he reached around and pulled a handful of red-toned, cotton-knit shirts out of a grocery sack. "We get these to wear for now." He held up one of the shirts to show off.
"Wow!"
"Cool…"
"You guys are very talented!"
"I'm going to wear mine now! Well… I DO have a tank top under this sweater!" Sylphiel giggled. "Xelloss, help! I think I got my sweater caught in my hair clip!"
Xelloss reluctantly assisted, but only managed to undo the clip and cause her miles of hair to come tumbling down in his face. He shook himself free, and then frowned over at Zel, who was smirking back. Filia pushed the boys outside while she and Amelia changed into their tops, then helped Lina get hers on.
"OKAY! You can come back in now and look…" Amelia called.
Val had his on, of course, but the others would have to wait until their chests were unwrapped before struggling into t-shirts.
"I have to say, those are professional looking," Zel noted.
"Lina, that t-shirt matches your hair, only darker. Looks nice. Good taste in design too," Xelloss complimented everyone involved.
"Really great!" Gourry added with a smile, "Thanks!"
"I'm feeling like singing. Put on a CD we can all sing to!" Lina commanded.
"As you wish, your highness," Zel smiled and found and old Beatles album.
'Yesterday…
All your troubles seemed so far away,
Now it looks as if they're here to stay,
Oh, I believe…in yesterday…'
The Slayers could still sing together, at least. Now if only their drummer wouldn't keep falling apart…
~*~
Val stumbled into the house, dropping his book and pen. "Yo," he mumbled to Zelgadiss, who was standing in the kitchen.
"I don't really want to commit murder at age 17, but I am THAT close," Zel hissed holding up a shaking hand with fingers pressed together.
"Bad day?" Val asked as he helped himself to a soda. Zel was straining to control himself. "Oh, ah… where is he now? His room, huh? Where's the mess? I'll go talk to Rezo, you…can hang out upstairs."
Rezo was seated in his comfortable Lazyboy chair 'watching' TV. Pillows were strewn, some ripped and spilling their foam guts onto the floor, and the two table lamps' shattered remains lay near the wall where they had been smashed. Rezo pointed to a cardboard box and broom, dropped on the couch. "Val? Glad you are home. I believe Zelgadiss has had enough of that…his step brother for the day."
"Yeah, sure…" Val groaned and loaded the box with shards then stuffed the pillow remains into a garbage bag. He swept a bit and considered the job completed, when the front doorbell rang. "I'll get that…"
"Oh! Hi Val. That's right you're staying here too! How nice! Say, Inu and I are here to see Zel and Lina and Xelloss, too, if they can have visitors…" the bright and cheerful Kagome greeted him.
"Yeah? Well come on in, I'll take you up to Zel's," Val said as they climbed the stairs to Zel's room. "Xelloss is…I don't know, I just got home and… Zel? You decent in there? KA-GO-ME's here and…Inu."
Zel opened the door. He was unused to having visitors in his room, girls in particular, and Kagome was… "Ah…hi…"
"Let 'em visit with you a minute while I go check on Lina," Val smirked. He didn't think it would do his friend any harm to entertain guests on his own once in a while.
Zel widened the doorway and stepped aside, "Come in. There's a beanbag chair and one at the desk…"
"Oooh! Nice view, Zel. Come over here Inu! Look, there's the park! Wow, your room is really nice…clean too!" Kagome laughed. "See, Inu? And he's taking care of two others and his blind father and probably feeds Val too—and HE manages to make his bed!"
Inu growled something about evil older brothers.
"I agree, whatever you said," Zel sighed and plopped down on his bed. "I nearly killed mine today. He's so damned irritating!"
"Who?" Inu asked, sitting at the foot of the bed.
"Xelloss…" Zel hissed.
"HE's your stepbrother? I thought that was some kind of a joke? So, it was your…stepmother who died? Your dad still here then?" Inu wondered.
"Yes. To all of it. It's the family from hell, really! But…" Zel shook his head. He didn't know why he was telling this gruff kid all this stuff out himself. He hardly knew him!
"So your mother…divorced?" Inu asked cautiously.
"Died when I was born. She was from Japan and was actually Xelloss' older sister, whom he never met, obviously. Getting the picture? Well that's the part I can talk about, the rest is so damn, bloody awful I get sick thinking about it." Zel sank into a gloomy state, and then realized that Kagome was also present. He sat up suddenly, "Kagome, sorry. I didn't mean to…"
"Let off some stress? Don't worry! I think it's healthy, plus… I find your story really interesting. My home life's so ordinary and boring!" she sighed, smiling some.
"Feh! You got it easy, girl! Me, ever since my father died defending my mother…who died anyway…I've had to live IN MY OWN HOME like an outcast begging for scraps, while MY brother lives royally! The only thing I own is my father's sword."
Zel remembered seeing it one night at a fencing match. Inu had brought it in to show his teammates and Zel couldn't help himself. It was huge with a white fur swatch at the grip. "That was one truly awesome sword, Inu. I don't think I could even swing it. Gourry has a family heirloom, too, that he can use, but I nearly cut off my own foot trying to pick it up!" Zel chuckled slightly at the memory.
"Yeah, those old ones can be heavy. You had to be REALLY strong to fight then!" Inu agreed.
"I've got one too, from…my grandfather. Want a look?" Zel grinned, pleased to have something to share with a new friend.
While they were talking shop over the old blade, Val lumbered in.
"Lina is up and takin' vis-it-tors now. Ah, why don't we go ahead while the swordsmen live in the feudal era," Val grinned slyly to Kagome.
He could be quite devastating when he turned on the charm, and around young, pretty girls, he could.
"Okay!" Kagome squeaked in a tiny voice. "Are you a Japanese history buff?" She asked, not knowing what else to say to the six foot tall, green-haired, handsome punk kid.
"Heh, heh…nah, not me! Zel's been makin' me pick up those swordfightin' an-i-may videos on my way home from school. He and goofball watch that stuff most the time now, when they're not bustin' up the house…Xelloss, anyway. KNOCK! KNOCK! Lina, Kagome to see ya! Sure, comin' in…"
Zel and Inu were still discussing swords as they clamored downstairs. A distraught-looking Xelloss met them at the base. "Zelgadiss…I…I'm sorry. I don't know why…"
"You couldn't help it, I know…Ah, Inu's here and Kagome…we're visiting over at Lina's, want to join us?" Zel asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Xelloss nodded. "Ah, hello, Inu. I'm a mess right now. After I, ah, brush my hair. Go on, I'll be over in a minute."
Inu watched the strange kid walk away, "So, he's in a bad way? He looks like he's been fighting."
"It's not his fault. It's a side-effect from the head injuries he received. He…has some serious mood swings and looses control. He's been on a rampage today, though he's quieted down now, thankfully," Zel explained quietly as he led Inu to the other house.
"Oh yeah? I do that sometimes, even without the head problems! Guess you think I'm nuts, too?" Inu growled.
"I'm not one to judge what's normal. Just look at me and think if I could lead a normal kind of life," Zel said, pushing aside his bangs to reveal more of his scarred face.
"Eh, you're all nuts over here!" Inu chuckled. "Got room for another? I'm dyin' to get outta my house! You think THIS place is hell, but it looks like heaven to me!"
They reached the back door, when Zel heard the front doorbell ring. "What NOW? Oh, well…" Zel went out the door and tramped across the yard to the front of the house. Inu followed like a trusty dog.
A small contingency from the Draconian cult stood outside the door. "Hey, Van! Over here," Zel shouted.
"Zel? You're moving around pretty well…Inu Yasha!" Van gasped. He knew Kagome from school, but did not socialize with the fencing competition.
Zel froze. "Your last name is Yasha? I never knew…"
Inu stalked up and glared at everyone, as usual. "It means demon."
"Sounds…ruthless, ne?" quipped Xelloss from the front door. "More visitors? Allen! Long time no see? Eh, don't worry, I'm perfectly harmless. I'm so weak, I can't even defend myself."
Van glanced at his feet to avoid eye contact. Zel he liked, but the others made him think of the other odd people in his life he tried to avoid. That's when he noticed the box of lamp parts and bag bursting with pillow stuffing.
Allen followed his eyes, "Doing some redecorating?" He stared at Xelloss, then Zel, a kind look of understanding in his eyes. "We have a house 'cleansing' every so often. Less often this year than last, and last year less than the year before. My sister, you see. She has a serious personality disorder. Horrible abuse case when she was younger and I was… sent to a boarding school out of town."
He placed a hand on Xelloss' shoulder and they all walked slowly to Lina's. "I can never forgive myself for not being there to help her, so now I'm seeing to it that she receives the very best treatment. She'll never be truly normal, but I hope that she can find some level of self-control and happiness in her life. Someday, perhaps she can have a friend or two."
Xelloss looked askance at taller, poised guy of the same age as himself. He appeared serious and sincere, dropping that supercilious mask that Xelloss hated. "I thought she was different, good different, I mean, when I danced with her in October. A free spirit. When I'm up and about, I'd like to see her again, to talk, of course." He remembered the conversation with Dr. Adams…the one in which the doctor had mentioned her sad case. Wisely, Xelloss said nothing to Allen about it.
Allen nodded, "Hmmm, she looks for you in the halls, you know, just to wave and be acknowledged as another living being. She certainly has noticed you're missing. I could bring her over next time I come, if you'd like. She likes to go to the park…"
"I bet she likes the swings best," Xelloss chuckled. Allen nodded again.
"The middle one goes…" Xelloss began.
"The highest," Allen finished for him.
"Yeah!" Xelloss grinned and twirled around, "All us nutcases know THAT!" He giggled and danced the rest of the way to Lina's door.
Zel smirked, "It's comforting to know that he can maim or kill with minimal effort." For Van's benefit he added, "Karate. Blackbelt with several layers of expertise above that. Good thing we're friends. Actually, he's not at all violent toward any of us. Just some pent up anger and issues to work out. Lina? We're here…"
"Hey! Allen, Van…Inu come on into my lair. Yeah lots of cranes and cards. So, which of you guys did the hauling and which did the painting? Yeah? Thanks!" Lina grinned. She did remember when people did her a good turn…an elephant never forgets the good stuff, either.
Xelloss thanked them as well. "You did a very good job on the hardware. I can't believe you guys did it for us."
"Yes," agreed Zel. "But you did so good a job that these guys are too comfortable being home. I don't know if I can get them to go back to school."
Allen smiled and clasped Lina's hand, "You must come back. The place isn't the same without you. Too quiet without your…beautiful turbulence." He placed a delicate kiss on the back of her hand and released it smiling.
Lina glared a moment, then grinned, "Good try, buster, but that stuff doesn't work on me, ya know. Ask Xelloss! He'll tell you I'm immune!"
"But he's right, about the place not being the same without you. And your other poor friends!" Kagome said. "You wouldn't believe who's sitting at your table nowadays! Tambo, Melvin, and Hojo! Oh, they're nice enough but…"
"WHAT?" Xelloss gasped dramatically. "HOJO? In my chair? How can this BE?"
"Actually, I think Amelia's sitting between Tambo and Melvin so… that puts Melvin in your traditional spot. Hojo's more where Lina sits. Isn't that right, Van?" Kagome asked.
"I dunno. Could be," the boy fell into a black mood to match Zel's darkening face.
"Well, I think I'm right. Melvin and Tambo have some connection to Amelia…a class or something. They're all freshmen, right? Hojo's a junior but lives next door to Melvin, I think he said once. Anyway, I think Melvin has a crush on Amelia, cause…" Kagome continued, mostly to Lina and Xelloss, who were paying attention.
Zel was staring out the window. His control over his part of the world was crumbling. He was brought back into the discussion by Van. "So, I suppose Gourry has told you the fencing news?"
Zel turned toward him and nodded, "The girls' team is joining us. Sounds like a good idea to me. Most of them are as skillful as the best of us, and certainly more brutal!"
"Huh? Girls on your fencing team? Heh, they'll be pushovers!" scoffed Inu.
"You think so now, but I'm not joking. Umi and Utena and Fuu are merciless and NEVER lose. They also stand about five inches taller than you and have the trained edge over all of us…they really train!" Zelgadiss emphasized.
Van added, "Their coach got another job and they're pissed that our team gets more money for events and equipment. So now we share. I don't mind either. Frankly, we'll be unbeatable—just a warning, Inu, no offense. My partner, on the other hand…"
"Zangalus? Don't worry 'bout him," Lina said, joining into the boy's discussion. "He was over the other day and we set him straight. Besides, he's gonna be kept pretty busy, from what I could tell, and won't have time to worry 'bout what he can't help. Busy? OH!!!! Martina! Yes, she's back for good! Noticed her? Betcha did!"
"Now, then, there's another good reason to come back. No one can deal with Mad Martina like you guys!" Kagome said.
"That's not exactly a compliment, ya know," Lina muttered.
"Well, I'm a bit off today. I go into a BIG fight with my little brother this morning. He was looking for something in my room without asking…" Kagome began.
Inu practically snorted, "YOU think that little twerp is a problem? I'd trade him for Sesh ANY day. You remember how he beat me up for borrowin' that stupid motorcycle of his?"
Van shook his head, "My brother…ran out on my family when we needed him the most. He's brought nothing but disgrace upon us ever since!"
Val added his two-cents-worth, "Humph! I just found out I had a mother, father and four brothers and sisters…all but my mom and I died before I knew them…then she died a few years later…Anyway, from the photos…I had at least one older brother and he had hair the color of mine…" His voice drifted off as he gazed out the window, imagining what those kids would be like today.
Allen shook his head, "I'm sorry that you never got the chance to know him…all of them. Your life would certainly turned out to be…much easier."
"Hah! Havin' Gaav for a stepfather don't sound good to you? He was Xelloss' stepfather first!" Val sucked in his words. He didn't mean to have told them about that. He shot a truly apologetic look at Xelloss, who simply smiled and shrugged.
"So? My life's an open book now!" Xelloss chuckled.
"You guys are scarier than shit!" Inu hissed.
"Gourry had an older brother, did you know that Van? Yeah, he told me about him in the hospital, this LAST round. Died of a drug overdose a couple years ago," Zel said quietly. "He wouldn't want that to get around, but I know you guys will keep it to yourselves."
"Brothers, heh! Talk about scary, my sister can probably take on ALL your screwed up brothers at once, and THEN some," Lina yelled.
"Oh, Gods, she's right too!" both Zel and Xelloss gasped together.
"Well, maybe we should have a party…invite 'em all to it…and see who survives," Lina giggled.
"Only if we get to help!" Inu added.
That made everyone laugh and relax a bit.
Seems that they all found ways to make a few connections to the outside world. Sharing painful moments and a few laughs acted like a catharsis. They all had their share of troubles in varying degrees, but they were not alone.
Lina began to think about these other kids. They needed a network, a community of others to socialize with when their personal lives became too harsh. They all did. Maybe it was time to consider going back to school. There WAS a higher purpose to all this, and Lina knew she would have to take an active role in it soon or later. And it might as well be sooner so she could mold everyone to her standards, right? Right! "School's not just about classes, it's about forming bonds with others for the future!"
Zel focused his blue eyes on her red ones, "Lina?"
"Did I say that out loud?" she asked. "Well, I was thinkin' here and all…maybe I will go back to school in a few weeks. Just to claim back my lunch table territory, if nothing else!"
Zel smiled a smile of relief Now, that's my Lina coming back to life!
~*~
Later that evening, Zel did his rounds. He knocked on Lina's door, but was turned away by Luna.
"She conked out at 7:30! I bet you and Xelloss spent too much time with her and she didn't get any rest, am I right? Visitors too? Probably PILES of them all in this little room! Well, she was WASTED!" Luna ranted.
Zel's anguished expression must have been so pitiful that it melted Luna's heart just a little. Before he spun on a heel to get away, she clenched his shoulder in a iron-clawed grip and said, "But she was the happiest I'd seen her in a long time. Now GIT!"
He looked her in the eye, then smirked and walked away.
Ha!
Next he checked the front room. Rezo had gone to bed and Val was watching the last ten minutes of some stupid law show on TV, his history book open on the couch as well as a pocket-sized book in his hand.
"Yo…commercial break. You going ta bed?" Val asked.
"Yes. Doing my rounds first. Lina fell asleep at 7:30, Luna said… we didn't let her get enough rest. But she was getting back to normal."
"Good. I'm tired of all the mopin' 'round. I'm ready to do some music," Val grinned.
"Yeah, me too. Soon, real soon. So, what's the book?"
"Oh, this?" Val looked a bit embarrassed. "Ah, poetry. I like to read it and…sometimes write a little. If I get good enough, maybe I'll write somethin' I can turn into a song…like you did. That song you did, at Lina's birthday…the shit, man. Good poetry's like that, I think. I may not always get it up here ( he pointed to his head) but I feel it in here," he said with his hand over his heart.
"Deep, Val, and true for me, too. I can't often say how I feel, but if I sing it, it's like someone else is doing the talking for me."
"Yeah, and poetry's easier to write than essays or stories…I don't have ta worry 'bout sentence structure or spelling," Val chuckled at his own failings.
Where did all that arrogance get off too? Zel wondered.
"Well, 'night. See you in the morning for breakfast," Zel said with a sigh.
"Yeah, sure, but ya don't have ta get up. I kin do my own, ya know."
"I know you can, Val. It's just…I like the company," Zel said and stood up and walked to the next waiting room.
Val watched Zel leave and chuckled to himself, Heh, what happened to the loner guy?
"Xelloss? You still up? What are you doing sitting here in the dark? I'll turn on a light click. I just wanted to know if there was anything I could get for you before I headed upstairs… What's that? XELLOSS! I thought you got rid of that thing! You don't need it anymore! Here, give it to me and I'll…" Zel choked back his panic. Xelloss was crinkling a prescription label (which he'd been peeling off ) in one hand and in the other he was rolling something between his fingers-- that little vial, that lethal little vial of instant death the doctor had given him before the "adventure."
"Zelgadiss, please. That note from the office at school. Do you have it?" Xelloss asked.
"Yes. Here. Now give me that thing."
Xelloss swatted away Zel's hand and tore open the note and read it, eyes glued to the message. He shut his eyes a moment then met Zel's penetrating gaze. "I've got to do one more thing…then, it will be all over…"
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val