(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val
THE SLAYERS
Chapter 58
Saturday.
Everyone was to arrive around noon for lunch, then band practice. Xelloss had gone out early to pick up food from the delicatessen. Around 10:30, Zelgadiss heard a truck pull up in front of the house and voices in conversation. Xelloss, it seemed had something new going. Straining for a look out his window awarded Zel nothing. If he wanted to learn more, he would have to use more than his acute hearing.
He slid down the banister to the hall and checked the front window. BELLIAR'S TENT AND AWNING announced the delivery van. Curiosity got the better of him. Zel scooted around to the back door. He's never even used the back door before. Xelloss, he knew, had been working on a 'surprise' for him, and so, he had avoided sticking his nose into the backyard until now.
He peeked out the grimy window in the door and watched. Two new teak tables and matching chairs had already been unloaded and were placed invitingly on the cement and brick patio. A large wooden trellis suspended overhead provided shelter from the elements and support for at least two, that Zelgadiss could see, wide porch swings which were in the process of being hung by two delivery men. He drew back from the window with a smile. He had only caught a glimpse of the yard beyond, so the surprise would still retain a bit of mystery for him.
How odd… but nice, he thought.
The van roared away and Xelloss appeared in the kitchen where Zel was musing in a chair, an unread book in his hand.
"Hello!" he bubbled with glee while making neat piles of plates, utensils and napkins.
"Like some help?" Zel asked.
"Yeah, thanks. Take these tablecloths and the deli sacks and…we can come back for the drinks…outside!" Xelloss chirped as he made for the door, himself laden with items.
"Sure…" Zel sighed, tossed some hair out of his eyes and stumbled out the door loaded with cartons.
"Set the food on the side table and help me with the tablecloths," Xelloss said.
"All riii-ght," Zelgadiss said distracted by the view. "Xelloss! You did all this?"
Xelloss grinned. His friend looked pleased and surprised the perfect combination. "Not at all… I hired people to do it."
Zelgadiss smiled and walked around looking at the multitude of raised beds with the start of green things growing.
Xelloss continued, "Nothing fancy. Just pathways and raised planters for you to grow fruits and vegetables…flowers, herbs… I've been reading about gardening but I'm going to need Filia's help—if she actually knows anything and is not all 'talk'. This closest bed…should be for the kitchen herbs, so I planted chives and parsley and thyme and rosemary. Nice blue flowers, huh? And, ah, oregano and dill seeds."
Xelloss stood by a small tree in a pot on rollers. "This is a Turkish bay tree. It has to be rolled indoors if it frosts in winter. Ah, what else… Right now you can plant about anything so I put in carrots and beans and salad green stuff…over here are sunflowers and pumpkins a couple kinds…There are five different kinds of tomatoes and basil in this bed…and some hot peppers. I think they're the kinds you like to use, but we can order others!"
Zelgadiss mumbled something about, "They'll be fine…I can't believe this…"
Meanwhile, Xelloss rattled on, "You can see a few plants, but pretty soon the seeds will come up and it'll be crowded. Oh, here are strawberries blooming already! I think this walkway would look nice with roses on the arches, but berry vines would be good too. Whatever you want… those we plant in fall…What? Something wrong?"
"I…I can't believe this! You built all this…for ME?"
Xelloss nodded, a bit of apprehension creeping into his brain. Was he entirely off doing this without consulting Zel first? After all, it was his house too. "I can change it! Anything! All of it, if you don't like it! I should have asked you, maybe, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I actually didn't do much…I paid Gourry's sisters and Joey to do all the planting and…you don't have to do anything! Really! Joey wants a job and is happy to trade work for money and drum lessons…um…"
"Xelloss! It's all right…I love it! It's wonderful! I wouldn't change a thing! Ah, I'll hire Joey to help though, its more than I can handle, especially if the band gets busy," Zelgadiss started laughing. "I can't believe it! It's so unexpected!"
"Well you like to cook and I like to eat…" Xelloss smiled again, recovering from his doubts.
"I think…it might be fun. So this is all going to be a garden party today?"
"Yep!"
"I looks…very nice out here. I'm sure it will be… ah, the doorbell… Lina, that's my guess," Zel smiled.
He was correct. Lina and Gourry were first. Val and Filia had been dropped off at Sylphiel's and together with Amelia, picked up ice cream before arriving. Lastly, Rezo entered accompanied by Mrs. Shearer and one of her luscious cheesecakes.
"Oh, my dear what a wonderful back yard you have here. It was so sweet of you to invite me too. Where should I put this?" Mrs. Shearer asked Xelloss.
Zelgadiss unburdened her of the cheesecake, saying, "Thank you…would you like a tour? Yes? Ah, Xelloss? Why don't you give Mrs. Shearer the tour while I distribute drinks?"
Rezo settled into a chair with a gingerale, "He's been worrying about this all week. I'm amazed that he got it all done. I hope you appreciate what your good friend has done for you here! Did you tell him? Good. This is marvelous…smells like rich soil and food. Maybe I'll buy you a barbecue…"
Chucking to himself, Zelgadiss wondered about the company his father had been keeping lately. When had the word 'marvelous' come into the old man's vocabulary? And when had barbecued food entered his mind? As a matter of fact, when had Mrs. Shearer been apart of his life? That looked intriguing… Well, if wanted a little company, so be it…At least she looked closer to his age…and could cook… What was he thinking? About his own FATHER! Shit! He'd been listening to Amelia and Xelloss talk relationship crap too much!
However, things were almost spoiled by Lina's dour mood. They had been sure it was only school getting to her, but she hadn't even brightened at a party. Most frightening of all, Lina didn't seem to have an appetite!
Luscious deli food and dazzling desserts were piled in front of her, and for perhaps the first time in her life, she wasn't ravenously devouring them. This fact was not lost on her friends. Her suddenly dark, moody persona hung over them like a pall, the polar opposite of her usual fiery exuberance.
"Miss Lina…" Amelia began.
"What?!" Lina growled. "Why are you all staring at me? I'm just not hungry, is all! You never freak out when Zel doesn't eat!" Lina pounded the table, making her paper plate laden with cheesecake hop to the ground with a sickening splat.
Gasps went around in a wave. Lina stared at the splattered food impassively.
"Here, Lina," Gourry pushed his plate in front of Lina. "You can have mine."
Lina stared at that piece of cheesecake instead, and neither thanked him nor ate it.
Looking at Gourry's confused, crest-fallen expression, Amelia knew that a swift topic change was needed. Perhaps reminding Lina of better days would cheer her up? "Do you remember the first time we all met? We had come to school to pick up our class schedules. Everyone was there that morning, though…we didn't all know who we were or who we were going to be," she began.
"Yes. I thought I had a chance to be in an acting class without anyone I knew knowing about it," Zel smiled at the recollection. "The next thing I knew, everyone was talking about being signed up for the same class!"
"Oh, yeah…Sylphiel and I were wandering by when she spotted Gourry. We were all so excited about getting that acting class together, although, I can't remember anyone I was with but Sylphiel now. I had broken my watch and had 'head cheerleader' on the brain that day. But I did see you, Zel, and a couple of other interesting new faces…" Filia smiled at Val and Xelloss.
"I wanted to be Juliet in Romeo and Juliet…I still remember…" Sylphiel sighed dreamily.
Gourry chuckled, "It took me the longest time to figure that one out, the acting class. I didn't sign up for it, I'm sure."
Val laughed hoarsely, "Ah, shit I know what yer all talkin' 'bout now…I was so out of it back then. I was livin' in a madhouse and called it 'lucky' if I even made it to school. I sure as hell didn't sign up for that class, but it turned out to be a good one, eh? Oh, yeah and me and you, Gourry, didn't we paint that board of yours that day?"
Gourry nodded with a smile, as Lina spoke up for the first time, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Then HE (pointing to Xelloss) shows up smiling like the Cheshire Cat and Zel tried to make his usual get-away…"
"Right! I was going to change my schedule. I couldn't stand the thought of being in an acting class with…so many people that I knew… humiliation at every turn. I kept checking my watch because I knew the office would close early… but HE (pointing to Xelloss as well) kept getting in my way…making me late!" Zel tried to explain.
"I think I slowed you down too, Mr. Zelgadiss, because I remember the first time I saw you at school that day. Miss Lina introduced us and it took me a minute to place your face. Then I remembered…I'd met you over the summer when my daddy gave your father an award in chemistry. I thought you were an interesting person and I was so excited to find out that you were a special friend of Lina's…but you were…let's just say…in a hurry to be someplace else fast."
Zel blushed, "I thought you were shocked to see someone so scarred, as was the norm, and…I really was in a hurry to get that class changed. But…I guess my karma wasn't on my side that day…"
Xelloss folded his arms and smiled smugly, "It had nothing to do with your 'karma' little brother. You do realize now that that was all rigged, right? I mean, that was the only class I could fix all of us into, what with the funny schedules, different grade levels…It was quite difficult, but I managed it. And YOU, Mr. Zelgadiss," he grinned and pointed at him this time, "YOU almost wrecked it all! I had to think up a shitload of crap to slow you down!"
"No kidding…so that's why you were such an obnoxious jerk that day!" Zelgadiss grinned back.
"Well, I couldn't have been THAT bad! You did play a game over the Internet with me that day!"
"Oh, joy…"
"And just think how we've changed!" Filia said. "We went from a bunch of strangers to people we'd give our lives for…"
"And we went from penniless kids to a horde of millionaires!" Xelloss giggled.
"If there's anything left after we rebuild those stupid shrines," Val snorted.
"Oh, come on! We've got plenty!" Xelloss snorted back.
"Well, I'm using mine for college…and I thought, maybe I could help out…anyone else who needs it…" Zel mumbled. "I mean, Gourry might be interested in some trade school to add new ideas to the company when he takes it over, and some business classes might be useful for him…"
Gourry turned red and coughed. "I…I don't need any of that, I mean, I'm grateful that you'd think of me, but…." He glanced at the now sullen Lina. "It seems like there's someone else…who needs it more…"
All eyes were on Lina again. The heat of their glances was enough to light her fuse and set her off.
"No!" she screamed, as if they were talking about feeding her to a pack of wolves. "No! I don't need your charity! And I'm not going to college!"
Another wave of gasps.
"But, Lina…"
"Shut up! I hate school! I hate all the people and the stupid curriculum! I…I don't even think I'm going back to school next week! I've HAD IT!"
Val stood up. "Yo, Lina! You listen to me! You bitched and whined at me fer years about getting' back to school, and now yer quitin' on me? What the hell is that?!"
"I was wrong, okay?!" Lina screamed back. Tears were stinging her eyes. "I was wrong! School is pointless and stupid! After…after all we went through, that stuff is shit! I almost died, okay? Why would I need to know trig? They teach you some weird, convoluted version of history that leaves out all the secret treacheries and real reasons behind everything! Think about it—what do we really know? It's so easy to hide the truth…"
"Lina…" Zel swallowed.
"The kids and teachers at school all 'know' that we got injured in a car wreck! They're positive that's what happened! But we all know that's not true…
"There are people who think the whole thing was some plan of the Clan to take back their lands any way possible! But we know that's not the truth. People are stupid! They learn in school to believe anything written down, anything a person in authority says. But it's all wrong…" she broke off into silent tears of anger and frustration. "I hate this world…"
"Lina," Zel said, firmly, "Lina, that doesn't mean you give up."
"But I'm tired of fighting…its impossible to change the whole freaking foundation of the world!" Lina cried.
"Things looked impossible when we knew that Xelloss was going off to fight the syndicate. Things looked impossible when Gourry got kidnapped. Damn it, things looked impossible when you gathered this group of random people together to eat lunch that first time!" Zel ranted. "But you did it, Lina. It was you. We couldn't have done it without someone strong and scary and determined to terrorize us into formation. You can do anything, Lina. And you know it. If you give up right now, you'll be adding to the mindless parasites on this world who you hate. If you give up, you'll be shaking the foundation that we all stand on. Understand?"
"Why do you have to rely on me?"
"Because you're the only one who we CAN rely on!" Zel declared.
Amelia stood up too. "There's no one who can do what you have, no one who can tell our story like you, because there's no one who knows us like you!"
"If you want the truth told," Filia started, "you'll have to—"
"Do it myself," Lina whispered. "I…"
Silence struck them, and they all watched her again. She dragged her sleeve across her eyes, effacing the tears. Still hiding her face, Lina picked up a fork, inserted it into the thick, creamy slice of cheesecake, lifted out a chunk…brought it down to her mouth…
"I…" She looked up, and there was the most frightening look of evil determination on her face, "I'm going to eat the whole cheesecake!"
"No, Lina!!" Gourry dove to cover the remaining half moon of dessert.
"Ha ha ha ha ha ha!" Lina laughed demonically. "I know what I'm going to do know! I've figured it out…and there's nothing anyone can do to stop me!"
"I can eat the whole thing first!" Gourry cried.
"Not that, you idiot!" Lina yelled. "I mean, I know what I'm going to do with my life! I know how I'm going to do it! How I'm going to spite the whole freaking world! When your reality is based on lies, it's like a house of cards in wonderland waiting for something, or someone, to come along and blow them all down!"
"Umm…how?" Xelloss asked.
"That…" she turned to him, "is a secret!"
Even though no one knew what Lina had in mind for her future, they were relieved that her spirits were improved. So much recovered, in fact, that they had a good practice and spoke seriously afterwards about the band's future. The best news was: They agreed that the Slayers were up for touring, and so, Lina placed a call to Tasuki.
"Hey, Lina here…yeah, lots better. You still got that opening act spot open? Offer's still good? Good, then we…accept! When's the first gig? That soon? Great, I'll let the others know, then… and, ah…thanks, bud… yeah, yeah, you too! Bye!"
"So, we've got to get our act together?" Filia asked. "How soon?"
"What?!"
"Oh, joy…"
~*~
The next week was a whirlwind of activity. Students had last minute work to complete, tests to makeup, and projects to turn in.
Monday morning.
Lina was returned from the dark side. Being uncharacteristically sensitive, she started out apologizing for her former grouchy behavior to all her friends and acquaintances, as she ran into their familiar faces.
The transformation was overnight and apparent to everyone from the start. It was a Monday morning, so she had to manage her acts of contrition in spite of her normally grumpy-first-thing-in-the-morning personality, and she did it well. 'Grumpy', however, was not morose. Zel was morose.
"So, Zel, what's your problem?" Filia asked on their way to history class. "I thought you were all over that note thingee by now."
"Huh? Oh, that," he blushed at the memory of that incident. "No, I had completely forgotten about that…until now."
"Oh, sorry. Then what?" she asked again pausing in the hallway and pulling him aside before entering the classroom.
"Nothing. Let me go," he said looking first at his shoes then at the door.
Filia tossed her pony tail and snorted like an angry mare, "No can do. Tell me or I'll set Lina on your case. She's too excited about something mysterious to notice you right now, or too used to you. Me? I'm looking for a cause…"
"Then go save the wolves…"
"Zel-el…do I need to get Xelloss involved? And you know I hate to stoop to that…Ah, ha! That got a reaction. So, it has to do with that nitwit…should have guessed right off, of course. So, spit it out…fast. I don't want to be late and he's looking at us and is about to come get you…"
Zel swallowed and spoke quietly in a rush of words, "Xelloss put in that whole garden thing for me…"
"Yeah, nice wasn't it? So?"
"So…I'm worried…wondering what he's about to do next…"
"What, like…be the best friend you've ever had? Sounds dangerous, Zelly."
"NO! Like run off and do something dangerous. Like before…He's so…"
"Like, nuts?"
"No, unpredictable and secretive," Zel finished at last, exposing his innermost anxieties to a different friend.
"I have an idea…I have my ways of goading him into giving out info…No, I won't tease him into thinking I 'like' him either. I'm not that…well, I just won't, that's all. I'll find out before the day is done, or the week…tops!" she smirked and pranced on in to her seat.
Xelloss watched her curiously, then Zel as he wandered in obviously disturbed about something. Earlier, Xelloss thought Zelgadiss appeared to be forlorn as well. Lina at last seemed back to normal, he sighed internally with relief. He truly wanted his best friends to be happy, and after all the horrible things his friendship had brought them so far, he had a long way to go to make up for it all. The problem was, he didn't have much experience at doing nice things without cross purposes. He wanted them to know he was sincere, not simply seem sincere. And his closest friend, Zelgadiss, was so skeptical.
At lunch Lina was so… well, Lina. First thing into the cafeteria, she jumped up onto their table and began a speech, "Hey! It's Lina Inverse talking here, so listen up! I understand that a Lina impersonator was here last week…"
Giggles…
"Well, she's been taken care of…" Lina smiled evilly, causing more laughter. "Now, I'm back and to celebrate I'm announcing an eating contest. Ah, rules and awards to follow… All interested bodies, come on over!"
So, she had declared a food eating contest right then and there. "Xelloss, you take care of the prize, will ya?" she winked and continued collecting both spectators and contestants from around the cafeteria, to his amusement and consternation.
Their entire table became the playing ground, forcing non-combatants, like Zel, Sylphiel, Filia and Xelloss to either stand and watch or find other places to sit. To be fair, they all had to eat the same type of food. Xelloss suggested ice cream and since he offered to provide the financial backing, ice cream it was! He collected others, like the aforementioned Slayers, to carry bowls of soft-serve to each of the contestants. Shortly an entire crew of 'carriers' was required to keep the food supply coming and ensure that no shortages occurred.
Val and Zangulus were impressive, as were a handful of others, size being of no importance: Ranma, Ryoga ate with appetites leaning toward the ferocious; Amelia and Bunny were neck and neck for the longest time, but Gourry and Lina were remarkable, beautiful in their utter disregard of their actual carrying capacity or health. One by one eaters, literally in some cases, dropped off leaving a hearty few to shovel it to the bitter-sweet (chocolate/vanilla swirl) end.
When there were only five minutes remaining in the lunch period, only two contestants were left. Lina and Gourry were taking it slowly, but both were entirely bent on winning, and apparently both were able to as well!
"Xelloss, do something before they kill one another," Filia demanded.
"ME? Why ME? It wasn't MY idea in the first place. I'm just pay-rolling the operation!" he complained.
"I'm sure you'll have no trouble thinking of something to say that will put one or both of them off their feed. Now DO IT!" she yelled.
"Okay…" he whimpered and crept up behind the two friends. "Ahem…I thought I might mention the prize, before we run out of time."
"Don't matter ta me…" Gourry mumbled.
"Bring me another!" screamed Lina, unaware of Xelloss' interruption.
"It might," Xelloss snickered and drew up closer to Gourry and whispered into his ear. When Gourry only blinked, Xelloss whispered a bit more explanatory information. Gourry's eyes went wide, his spoon slipped and fell onto the floor. The bell rang.
"And we have a winner!" Val laughed, standing on the table. He yanked Lina up beside him, raising her arm in triumph. "Lina Inverse! Let's hear it for her, eh?"
The crowd roared and cheered then quickly dispersed to all quadrants of the school.
Lina eagerly looked around searching for the reward, "Well? So, what's the prize Xelloss?"
"Ah…time for PE, neh?" Xelloss smiled, wiggled his fingers 'bye', and scuttled out quick like a bunny. He hadn't a class, since the community service job was completed, so he had been accompanying Zel to the computer lab and lending a hand. That was where he was hiding now, behind a terminal, in a corner, a dark corner, a dark, dark corner.
"Lina, no. He's not here," Zel insisted. "You can look and see for yourself. No, I have no idea what the prize was that he had in mind but my guess is that you'd be better off not finding out. I know, I can go to hell and take my opinions with me. Thank you. Now, either search the premises or go to class, but let go of my sleeve and don't rip my shirt, please. That's right. Someplace else. Far away, I hope for his own good," Zelgadiss sighed as Lina hurled herself out the door and down the hallway.
When she was out of sight, Zel turned, scanned the room and after settling his gaze on that shady-looking corner terminal, walked on over to it and said, "All right, you owe me one. What did you tell Gourry to scare him off a sure win?"
Xelloss peeked over the top, first to check for incoming Lina-powered fists, then for Zelgadiss. Finding the later, he cleared his throat and replied, "Well, you have to understand that I didn't have much time to plan this out. I wasn't planning on anything in particular until Filia urged me on. So I had to think of something fast. It's not really complete either and will require the participation of a few others…you probably…" He paused and smiled, as if that was explanation enough.
Zelgadiss' eyes glittered, "And the prize is…"
Xelloss smiled, "Well, since Lina won…after school today she gets to decide which of her friends get to serve her lunch on a school day of her choice."
"And…"
"Well, she can have those lucky individuals dress up any way she likes and…carry her in on a chair and bow and scrape… just for lunch, you understand!" Xelloss assured Zelgadiss. "She may not choose you!"
"Oh, of course not. It might embarrass me, so of course she wouldn't dream of asking me… It could have been worse. I wonder, why did Gourry get so upset?" Zelgadiss asked.
"I, ah, told him something different," Xelloss smiled. "And of course, that's a secret!"
"Of, course it is and of course you did. You set her up to win then," Zelgadiss shook his head.
"Me? Why, yes, I thought it would be for the best, you see."
"I see… well, you going to help Ryoga find his missing files today, or shall I?"
Xelloss smiled, "I'll take him on. You can help Hojo, I think he want's to talk to you anyway,"
Zelgadiss nodded and wandered over to Hojo's terminal. "How is your project? Done? That's good to hear. What? Kagome and Inu…problems. Well, I don't want to know…or get involved…or…all right, go ahead and tell me then…Who? Kikyo? Never heard of her…"
~*~
Tuesday Evening.
Rezo was talking privately with Xelloss after dinner. Zel and Val were invited to join them in a half an hour for an important 'family' discussion, but for now, just the two men were sitting in the front room.
"I thought about all you've said to me over the last few months, and came to the conclusion that you were misinformed somewhat as to the circumstances surrounding your father's death. I'd like to clarify a couple things for you at least, things I remember from those times," the older man began wearily.
Xelloss nodded and settled uncomfortably on the edge of the couch. He wasn't sure if he wanted to hear this at all, but Rezo never wasted his breath, and so, he figured he'd better hear the old man out.
"You see, chemo doesn't work for alcoholics because it's too hard on a liver which has already been damaged by excessive alcohol. Now whether your father truly understood that or not, I don't know, but I know he didn't tell the doctor treating his cancer about the extent of his drinking problem. The cause of that, you've guessed right about. He didn't tell me directly of her infidelity. I really only just understood the extent of …her behavior when you… exposed the truth. But he was sick about her next failed pregnancy. That birth certificate…you modified that to appear to be … to mislead everyone into thinking it might have been Val's, correct?"
Xelloss nodded and looked down at his hands, "Yes, Sir…"
"Well, there was a live birth, but the infant died of complications within minutes. That occurred about a year after your birth, certainly not much later. It was very close to the time of…Zelgadiss' birth…"
Rezo swallowed hard before continuing. Xelloss wondered how such a cold man could still feel so deeply about an event seventeen years in the past. He remembered the record that he changed, but it had apparently been altered before by someone else because the dates and death didn't match this story.
"It was certainly a sad time for us all, when it should have been a time of joy, but my wife was dead, his…Zelas was left unable to bear any more children after that. He knew it hadn't been his anyway since…well he just knew and then the drinking began. I believe he even knew about the cancer at that time, at least that something was seriously wrong. I'm telling you this because I know you harbor fears at times about more undiscovered siblings out there, and I want you to know that there aren't any. Just you and your…sister."
Xelloss looked up and met Rezo's hard gaze, "Yes, thank you. I WAS concerned."
"The other point I wanted to get across I'm still getting to so hold on…" Rezo sipped at his cup a moment, then said, "The chemo…when your father realized that chemotherapy was his last resort, he took it knowing that his damaged liver might not last. He did it because he wanted to be there for you, his son, Xelloss. You were everything to that man! You can't imagine how proud he was of you…and you looked so much like him too, as much as a baby could, mind you."
Rezo paused for Xelloss to wipe his eyes, and then proceeded, "But his health deteriorated rapidly after that. The cancer had spread to his liver and… there was no hope. He told me that he knew his death was eminent and that he didn't want you to be left in her sole custody. He wanted me to take over for him…ME! I was so deep in grief, I couldn't even take care of my own son, let alone my good friend's energetic older one as well. But I promised to do what I could. And I did, although looking back, I wish I could have done more and made different choices. I made sure your mother and you had a home and she had a career… a 'cover job' as it turned out, but…that was out of my control, that syndicate mess."
Rezo sat back and turned the cup in his hand, stirring up the dregs of tea and some memories as well. "Then came Gaav… but she disposed of him quickly. He didn't work with her teaching image, for one thing…I sent money and secured the principal position for her, but remained on the sidelines until…well, more recently. That was what I wanted you to know, Xelloss. Oh, and thank you for giving those momentos to Zelgadiss. He was showing them to me this morning. Ah, and here come my other boys … come on in and sit down. I hope this won't take too long because… my favorite financial show is coming on in a few minutes."
The boys all knew that Rezo was joking, his sort of sarcastic humor that Zelgadiss inherited.
"I would like you all to know about my plans, such as they are. You all know Mrs. Shearer by now, which makes this a lot easier…"
Zelgadiss' eyes grew wide. Xelloss had warned him that he'd seen them together not a few times now, down by the deli counter and that he suspected something was cooking… brewing with a touch of romantic spice. His mind reeled while he tried to remember if she had children of her own…a niece for sure…he didn't know!
"SHIT!" he burst out. "Does she have a daughter?"
Everyone turned to stare at Zelgadiss. Rezo cleared his throat, "Why yes, but, now, as I was saying…"
"You're going to marry her, right?" Zelgadiss interrupted for the second time in a row. "And move in a STEP-SISTER?!! Where? My room, I suppose…and I'll have to go…stay with HIM?" Zel pointed to Xelloss.
Rezo gave him a frown, "Her daughter is 28, married with a baby in Atlas City. She is not moving into this house, I am not getting married, and in fact Dorothy, Mrs. Shearer to you, and I will be…"
"Living together… UNMARRIED, for gods'sakes?!" Zelgadiss was on his feet and shouting.
"Shall I silence him, Rezo?" asked Val with a smirk on his face.
"BUT YOU HEARD!" Zel sputtered in excitement.
"SHUDDUP!" yelled both Val and Xelloss.
"I ain't heard nothin' but yer shit, now zip it and listen ta da man!" Val retorted.
Zelgadiss sighed and fell back onto the couch, deflated for the time being.
Rezo shook his head, smiling slightly, and then continued. "I think it's time for me to move back to my own home…"
Xelloss tensed.
"I've had it all fixed up, repaired, painted, re-carpeted …all except for the basement laboratory. I had intended to rent it, but now I feel you all could use the space. You're growing up. This is legally Xelloss' property to deal with, and I know you're not anxious to kick anyone out, but… Don't interrupt me, son…" he warned with a wagging finger in Zel's direction. "You're not moving with me. You are staying here to keep an eye on your brother."
"Mrs. Shearer is moving in with you?" Xelloss ventured.
"Yes. She had approached me immediately after Zelas' death to offer her assistance with house-keeping duties at this house. Knowing that we had a house full of mostly young men, she figured we'd be helpless. As it turns out, I'm the only one who can't take care of himself, so she will be renting the lower bedroom, adjoining spare room and bath at my house while seeing to it that I'm fed, the house is in order and that I get shuttled to and fro…in exchange. I think it works out quite nicely. She'll save money and be able to rent out that terrible apartment of hers above the deli, to her nephew and girlfriend… We're hoping that will encourage them to get married quickly and live frugally." Rezo paused, smiled, and said to his son, "You can stop holding your breath now."
"I wasn't holding my breath…much…" Zel objected.
"Nah, he'd be out cold by now," Val chuckled.
"So when might all this take place?" Zel asked.
"I wanted to speak to you all first before proceeding, and then Mrs. Shearer will move in and let me know when to start packing. I really have few things to move…I'll leave the TV and furniture, since Dorothy wants to buy some new pieces." Rezo began.
"Of course. Why is it women always want to replace what YOU have with their own stuff or new stuff?" Zel smiled.
"I can answer that one!" Xelloss chirped. "Because he chooses such ugly old crap to begin with…"
"Well, it all looks alike to me…" Rezo said defensively, but chuckled with the others at his own joke.
"WE need some new stuff too!" Xelloss added.
"Yeah, since ya broke everything, yer paying fer it too!" Val pointed out.
"So… you're staying too?" Xelloss smiled. "I mean, I really want you to, but I was afraid you'd be going, once your house got fixed up."
"I don't know what I'm doing, exactly. But I don't want to take care of a place alone…especially when I'm goin' back and forth to the settlement all the time. I think I'll have Gourry and his dad fix it up slow like. By the time they're done I have a feelin' Sano and Megumi will be ready to move in."
"Val? Sano tell you something he hasn't told me?" Xelloss asked.
"Ah, maybe…I took him that kimono Sylphiel finally finished…a thank you fer puttin' me up fer so long, and he's thinkin' 'bout askin' Megumi to marry him. They can have the place for cheap and save the double rent they have to pay otherwise."
"Mr. Val, you are becoming quite the gentleman!" Xelloss laughed in an imitation of their friend Amelia.
"So, with fixing up your place, Lina's house and the basement lab…Gourry's going to be getting a lot of work experience," Zelgadiss pointed out. "I still want to do more for him though…"
"I got it!" Xelloss hopped up. "A memorial fund…in his brother's name, the one that died in college. We can fill it with money so his brothers and sisters can go to college…or use it for a business loan…whatever. He might let us do that, right? I'll call Fribrizzo and ask how to do that…"
"You do that, but let ME talk to him. I think I can make it sound like it's his reward for cutting off the drug traffic from Gaav and company…he might buy something like that in his brother's name…" Zel said.
"Okay, dokay, little brother. I think your idea's cool, Professor!"
Rezo nodded, "Thank you for saying so, Xelloss." He smiled noting that that had been the first time Xelloss has called him that, a sign of respect. He waited for his son to say something.
"Yeah, place'll be quiet without the TV goin'," Val chuckled.
"Three teenage guys, a house to ourselves…and a hot tub…" Zel said with a smile.
Rezo was surprised. That was not what he had expected from HIS son. "There will have to be some rules, of course!"
"Oh…sure…of course there will be…" Zel grinned and shook his head as he stood to go. "Lots of them… tons… lists and lists… volumes and books… posted and collated, stapled, in notebooks, a library full… with spine labels… Dewy Decimal system, I think," his voice receding up the stairs and into his bedroom.
"What do you think he meant by all that?" Rezo asked, exasperated.
"It means, he thinks your idea is fine and he's going to be all right!" said Xelloss. "We all are!"
~*~
Wednesday Evening.
The lawyer, Fribrizzo, met with his most highly valued clients (barring the mayor, of course) Xelloss, Zelgadiss, Val, and Rezo. By invitation, Luna and Lina joined them on this most auspicious occasion.
"We're not done!" Xelloss cried out to the frazzled, by this time, looking man, "Just hire some more help if you need to! I've got more money to dole out."
"And I feel…I know I owe other people something, too. Like Sylphiel, who is not present here tonight. She lost her parents, because of my grandfather. I want to be sure she has money for college or whatever," Zel said hurriedly.
"Not to mention our fearless leader, Lina!" Xelloss grinned. "Don't you feel guilty about her father's death too? Of course you do! So…getting this all down, Fribrizzo? Good. That's what this is partly about, isn't it? We want that house she shares with her sister to be in THEIR names, not the absentee mother. And we want it completely paid off and fixed up. And we want money put aside for Lina to go to college, right little brother? And a nice little bundle in a dowry so she'll attract quality suitors, right Lina?"
Lina was in shock. She had been prepared, or as Xelloss put it, 'pre-warned' by Rezo and her sister earlier. She thought they must be joking—still did, especially when Xelloss said the silly 'dowry' part-- but the lawyer was busily typing it all out on his laptop. She started to make odd noises.
"I'll get this in a legal format, then let you boys fill in the amounts after we've discussed some figures…"
"Lina, I can't replace your father in you life, but…let me, er, us try and do what he would have done for you, if he were alive today, please," Zel said in low voice, attempting to stifle any argument from her.
"Well," Lina conceded, "it does fit in with my plan pretty nicely…"
~*~
Thursday.
Half of the classes were simply showing movies now that the end was in sight. Teachers were preparing tests, or packing suitcases, for the final few days. It helped student attendance figures to have weather which was cool and overcast with occasional drizzles.
Filia spent her bus ride to school thinking about how she'd extract Xelloss' secrets, if he had any left. She'd just be direct, she decided. That would be best. Flirting would just fuel his overactive imagination and possibly his teenage-male libido as well, so scratch that. Pressure wouldn't work, nor would pain—he was practically raised on both. Barter. Yes he liked games and trade-offs… Now what did she know that he might want to know too? Gossip! Ah…
Catching his attention after English was a cinch, extracting him from the company of Lina and Zel was another thing all together. "Hey, Xelly, wait up a sec!" Filia shouted, 'dropping' her notebook and scattering a few papers with her foot for good measure.
"Problems, Filly-dear? Here, let me help," he smiled and chased down the errant scraps gallantly--that is until he opened his mouth. "Really, I thought you were much better at walking and talking at the same time than this!"
"Yeah, well…thanks. Listen I want to know something and I want you to tell me straight. I'm willing to give you some info in exchange, all right?"
"Okay…what kind of info?"
"I wanna know why you did that garden thing for Zel. The REAL reason, mind you. Not some 'because he's my best friend,' or, 'my only living relative' crap either!" she said.
"Oh…what makes you think those weren't my reasons?"
Filia caught his eyes open with her own penetrating glare, then said, "Because whenever you do something caring, it's to distract attention from some dark and mysterious, possibly destructive machination you're carrying on someplace else. It's why people like Gourry and me can't trust you and why my Zel is worried about you, and I don't want him eating up his guts over you again!"
Xelloss' smile faded. "That wasn't a very nice thing to say, Filia…and not true either! I'm trying to do kind things for those who've stood by me and I owe… My friends understand--and trust me! That's it, the truth at no cost to you, because you're my friend, too."
He stomped off frowning, saddened by her words. Gourry trusted him! He let his little brother and sisters come over and work and he had taught him to ride a bike and was going on an all-guy bike trip with him. He was his friend, like Val and Lina and…the others. Certainly Zel had liked the garden! He'd accepted it all on good faith, an act of friendship and good will with no evil intentions involved. Where did Filia get off saying that kind of stuff to him anyway? It sure made a lousy start to the day…
He was still smarting from her barbs when he fell into a seat in the back of the history room far removed from his friends, and proceeded to fill a page of notebook paper with swirling lines. It was a more productive thing for him to do than watch the stupid documentary the teacher was firing up on the classroom VCR… Noticing his mood, Zel looked to Filia for an explanation.
"Oh, I just hurt his delicate sensibilities a bit. He's trying to play the honorable good guy and do good deeds for his friends, so relax Zel. He's not planning the next suicide mission or anything."
Zel flashed an angry glare her way, "Then you'd better go apologize. The sooner the better."
Rolling her eyes at the suggestion, she eventually conceded the point and caught him during the class 'study time'. "Xelly? My mistake. Everybody loves you and your good deeds so come on back to your chair and help pry Lina's secret out of her… like only you can."
Understanding that that was Filia's way of saying 'sorry for hurting your feelings', Xelloss nodded and slid his books over to his customary seat.
"What did you think you were doing sitting way back there?" Lina hissed. "Don't you know it's too late to try new seating arrangements? You're stuck with the rest of us for the duration, short as it is…"
Her short rant did the trick. Yes, these were his friends who cared what happened to him and how he felt, even if they contributed to his grief as well.
"So, Filly…" he whispered while the teacher was starting up another fascinating movie short. "What kind of gossip were you willing to turn over earlier?"
"Did you hear about Kagome and Inu breaking up? Yeah? Oh, from Miroku at the shrine? No? Hojo? Oh, yeah, you've got him in some classes. And Zel? She's been talking to him? Umm… that's good…No. I know it's a secret. I'll bug Zel about it tomorrow. Thanks. Okay… well, you know Sylphiel's crazy about… You know? You've 'talked'? AND? Status quo while you sort out your life. Thank the gods. You two are like so wrong for one another. Why? You've got practically nothing in common to talk about…and her father…WHAT?"
"I said, having a girlfriend's not all about conversation, that's all," he smiled. "I'm sure you and Al-len did more than converse while you were together!"
"He wasn't my boyfriend and we did stuff, but not what your dirty mind is implying…"
"Besides," Xelloss interrupted. "At first, what did you and Val have in common, hmm? Long legs."
"He and I have the clan in common and music and art and… poetry," she rejoined.
"Poetry? Ah, the Valentine's Day poem…"
"Better stuff than that! Better than you write! He keeps a little notebook with…ah, nothing, forget that I said that…" she blushed as Xelloss leveled his grin her way.
"Poetry…and you've admitted that he's your boyfriend now? Interesting…"
"No! He's not my boyfriend, so don't get all excited. That wasn't what I was going to say anyway… I was going to tell you about Amelia, but…"
"Amelia? Umm, she's not going out with Melvin anymore?"
"Ah, I don't know about that, she might, but she still likes Zel, regardless of his lack of interest in dating," Filia said at last maneuvering the discussion off of her love-life.
"Well, I wish her good luck. He's…complex. What? Class is over already? When did it start? Did I miss anything important Lina?" Xelloss asked with mock concern.
"Important? This class? You are sooooo funny, Xelloss!" Lina smirked.
Xelloss fell in step with Zel on his way to the same science class. "You look happy. Filia divulge some secret to you?" Zel asked.
"Oh, yes, and she's just so much fun to annoy! It just makes my day."
"Oh, joy…"
~*~
Friday.
Friday was an early release day for locker clean-out. Amelia recommended that they all haul their stuff via her van that day, regardless of the fine weather.
"We'll have plenty of time to practice too!" she added.
This practice was important since they only had this one plus next Friday to practice before a Saturday run-through with the Suzaku Seven THEN the Sunday afternoon gig in town. School was nearly over and every day counted now. The weekend was filled with studying and tutoring for some, so Saturday practice was cancelled. The following week began with two days of finals, Monday and Tuesday, and then a make-up day Wednesday, which none of the Slayers would need. That was it! After that, the cheerleading squad planned a party Wednesday afternoon, which Sylphiel and Filia planned to attend together. Lina and Amelia decided to spend that time at Lina's doing her annual 'paper blow out' and room cleaning. And the boys…they were taking a two-day over-night bike trip. They would leave Wednesday early and return Thursday not-too-late. So little time, so much to do… But first things first: lockers and finals.
Somehow, 'finals', that name that sends shivers of panic down any semi-conscious students' spine, is mostly thunder. The Slayers had already vowed not to worry too much about them. After nearly dying, one's priorities become changed, and although not everybody fell as hard as Lina had, everyone was more disassociated with school than before. But even so, once they added up which classes they actually had serious final tests in, the situation looked lighter.
Finals were spread across two days, the first with extra-long periods for the odd-numbered classes, the second with the same for the evens. That meant that they only had the possibility of four tests per day, though with lunch added into the equation, there was the promise of one day with only three. Of course, then there were the classes in which even the teacher wanted to start vacation early…
It was lunch, and the Slayers were gathering together to eat and chat. And what was there to chat about but finals?
"Let's see…day one is English, History, Lunch, Math. English will be light, knowing that dumb-bunny teacher," Lina snorted, "History is a joke, lunch is lunch, and I'll just spend it studying for blasted, evil math!" Lina declared. "Day two is Spanish, in which we're watching a movie that I can miss, Science, PE, Cooking. Science will be a straight-forward multiple-choice test, PE and Cooking are off. Hey…that means I've got only four tests!" she laughed maniacally. The others glared at her with envy. "Oh, come on, don't look so pissed! You guys have most of the same classes as I do!"
Zelgadiss thought a moment then said, "English…History…Math…ditto, but math might be difficult…"
Xelloss interrupted, "It wasn't last year for me! He lost the test and had us make up some questions and then we spent the rest of the time coming up with the answers. 'Course, we all knew he really had had no intention of giving us a test because he always makes up the grades the weekend before so he can sneak out to the beach early."
Looking at his friend with a blank expression, Zel continued on, "So the first day is nothing much. The next is German…"
"Ditto for German! She's going out with the Math teacher and they'll be packing it in together…You didn't know? Zelgadiss! Don't you pay attention to anything going on around you?" Xelloss grinned.
"No. I generally avoid knowing things like that. So Science…computer lab has none…and cooking. Guess that day won't be so bad either," Zel sighed and sipped at his canned juice. "You have English anyway," he said to Xelloss.
"Uh, huh… and History and Math too. Then the next day there's science and cooking, same as you. So knowing that…that frees up our weekend for some fun, right?" Xelloss asked.
"Not for ME!" cried Amelia. "I have gobs and gobs of stuff to go over and review sheets to write up and study cards and…"
"Lots, got it, Amelia," said Lina. "Val? You're smiling."
"Yeah, I figured out it ain't so hard to pass everythin'. Mostly all ya gotta do is show up…except for…" Val said in unison with Gourry,
"History!"
Sylphiel shook her head and moaned, "My math class is gonna be trouble, but all the studying in the world won't help."
"Well, Xelloss, why don't you offer to tutor her like Zel does for Gourry and Val?" Filia asked as she settled into her chair with a fresh cup of tea.
"If you'd like, I could…" Xelloss smiled. "And Filia? I can help you with your French…test. You can practice on…I mean, WITH me any time."
SMACK! OUCH!
"Filly! It was just a joke!"
"A stupid one!" Filia said and pounded on him with her lunch sack one more time. Unfortunately, the sack ripped open, spilling uneaten grapes and vegi-chips over his head. "Oh, I'm so sorry!" she cried out.
He wiped the food off and shook his hair, then with a disgusted look said, "I'm sure you are. I'll come up with a funnier one…in English composition, I think… something lewd and meaningless to impress the teacher…Maybe an essay on… Lost at Sea: Zelgadiss and Me…by Filia Ul Copt. Drifting on a raft for days with nothing better to do than…"
Smack!
"Ha, ha!" Xelloss laughed as she chased after him trying to land another slap.
"What's their problem?" Val asked as he sank into his customary seat at the table.
"Nothing. He seems to feed off her anger, though, so I guess he was hungry today. So where were you?" Lina asked.
"Oh, I juss gotta talk to my old gang every so often. Jillas and Gravos need a good example ta follow. Hey, I'm one of the good guys now, aren't I? They're goin' ta classes and told me they were passin' everythin'. Guess no one wants summer school, either. At first they all teased me 'bout livin' in the nerd house, but now…I gotta job and do real music with a band and…have stuff ta do. So they know if I can do it, so can they…you know, make somethin' of our lives…Shit, what garbage am I sayin'? Do I sound like the nerds now? Come on, Lina, tell me! I gotta know!"
Lina smirked back, "Yeah, must be catching, huh? Why do think I had to get outta that place as fast as I could? I was starting to talk relationship crap, well kinda. Not to mention the gross-guy shit…which WE WON'T SPEAK OF AT THE LUNCH TABLE!"
"Gods no!" Filia agreed. "I'm still eating! Lina, you're one tough girl to have survived a gun…ah…such a serious accident and then staying at THAT place for a month. I don't know which would have been worse, had it been me."
"Had it been you, Gourry wouldn't have… tried so hard," Xelloss smiled. That started off another volley of attacks from Filia aimed at silencing him.
Sylphiel sighed and Amelia rolled her eyes then turned to Zelgadiss. "So you guys have your bike trip all planned?"
Gourry answered, "I booked us at the first camp at Seyruun lake. They got water and a bathroom there…short ride up and back with swimmin'. Not much, a test run. I did it once with my big brother and I was only Joey's age."
"Why not ask Joey too?" Amelia asked.
"He's takin' care of Zel's garden. He wants to get a drum set," Gourry answered. "One first time camper'll be enough, anyway."
Amelia nodded. Of course he meant Xelloss. "Well, Miss Sylphiel, Miss Filia, and I can do that some time, if he'd like to go with you."
"Thanks for offerin', Amelia." Gourry smiled. "So there's tutorin' after practice today…or is that on Saturday?"
Zelgadiss said, "Ah, today and, if necessary, Saturday as well. Just bring everything and we'll sort out study groups then."
"Lina…" Xelloss coughed, "just when do you plan on having your lunch party? The other participants in the contest want to know…"
Lina chowed down on a large slab of blackberry pie from the restaurant where Luna worked, and ignored him. Suspense…she was suddenly the mistress of suspense, toppling Xelloss from his post as mysterious one. She had an event AND a secret plan!
"Lina!" Xelloss whined. "You've got to do it SOME time! I'm so looking forward to seeing Zel in a bunny suit, or whatever other disgusting creations you can come up with…"
Lina swallowed her mouthful. "Whatever I force him to do, you'll be ten times worse, smart guy. And—" she grinned and raised her voice, "I'm holding the lunch party during lunch on the last day of finals, so tell all your friends in the other lunches to come on down and see people embarrass themselves for me!"
There were cheers all around.
The bell rang to signal the end of lunch and the scheduled classes, and the Slayers left ensemble to find their lockers and empty them. In Lina's case, Gourry simply rolled over a trashcan so she could save steps.
The sounds of locker clean-out were varied and strange. There were cries of disgust and alarm, exclamations of recognition, and waves of laughter. Paper was rustled, shredded, balled up and tossed into large metal trashcans, keepsakes were fondly crammed into bursting backpacks. Organic trash—old lunches, rotting flowers—was also common, and sometimes lockers would be so fetid that they had to be exhumed, rather than cleared out.
"Check this out!" Val laughed, seizing something out of the massive Xelloss/Zel locker. "Look! It's, like, solid!" It was a Frappecino bottle, left there by Zel—presumably in the first week of school. There had been an inch or so of fluid left, which, as Val had said, was now nearly solid, a slowly oozing sludge.
"Gross!" Filia and Sylphiel squealed.
"Cool!" Lina laughed. "I've got one, too! What once was tea, now is—mutagenic toxic waste!" Lina brandished a bottle of yellow stickiness at Zel.
"Pretty, Lina," Zel ignored her. "There…mine—ours—is now clean," he informed Xelloss. They stood back and nodded at a job well done: the locker was bare but for two over-loaded backpacks and a few orderly books.
"You know," Lina said, glancing first at the clock and then at her mess, "I don't have time for this! Here—we—oof—go!" Lina wadded the whole pile of paper into a mass and rammed it into her bag. "I'll just sort through this when I get home! Problem solved!"
"But, Miss Lina---what if there are papers you need for classes in there?" Amelia wondered.
"There won't be," Lina brushed the idea off as if it were the most preposterous thing she'd ever heard. "Now…almost time to go home. I was wondering, Amelia, if you might help me with costumes? I have an idea for my lunch party on Tuesday, and if you help me, I'll let you off light," she grinned evilly.
Amelia was more than happy to help, even without the promise of lessened embarrassment. She loved dressing up her friends, as they found out on Halloween all those months ago, and had plenty of resources to outfit tall and small alike in anything Lina could dream up… Since the Amelia van was already dropping people off that day, it would be just as easy to simply take Lina home with her.
At the mayor's house, later that afternoon, the two girls sat in Amelia's room, in a sea of papers while the younger girl put away the items she'd taken home. Lina was cleaning out her backpack and carrying on a running monologue,
"I wrote such an evil, but good book report on this book. I loved it, but my teacher thought it was inferior to whatever dreck she wanted me to read…
"Gods! I got assignments from LAST year in here! AHHHHH! That can go to hell too!
Jettisons a notebook, launches papers…
"Now we get to the frightening stuff, this is my 'go to hell' pile, this goes… a cool pile of stories, poems—those I keep.
"This is the best…ah, I can do it better now, OUT WITH YOU!
"Vocabulary for Jane Eyre…oh I could have used that!
"More Spanish! Anything from Spanish is going OUT! RIP!
"I'm taking Japanese next year, so are you…I'm gonna be able to read Manga next!
"What's this? Every once in awhile… oh, this was worded oddly…the characters were flushed out…don't you think they meant fleshed out?
"Some of these are…scary things…living in here…I might keep this…no …I already have three beginnings to that story!
"Math… RIP!
"So THAT'S what I did with that assignment!
"On to the next trash can to fill!
"In my current mood, if the teacher had wanted this he wouldn't have given it back, right? RIP!
"I thought I got rid of this! It keeps coming BACK!
"It says…useful stuff about space and planets…I could use this for a sci-fi story, eh?
"Look! It's ALL in folders now! It looks like I'm organized with everything in folders, heh, heh, heh."
"Oh, Miss Lina, you are hopeless, you know?" Amelia laughed at her dear pack-rat friend.
"Yeah, well who cares. It's time to look into those costumes!"
On their way down to the couch-house full of costumes left over from Halloween, Amelia asked, "So, what did you have in mind?"
"A mad tea party! You know what THAT means!" Lina grinned.
Amelia was delighted. "Oh! Perfect! I can't wait! You know, the local Storybook Theater group dropped off their old costumes…I'm sure we have everything you'd need!"
"Lucky!" Lina laughed. "See, the fates shine on my idea!" she congratulated herself. "So, here's my line up…"
~*~
Monday came and went. They were optimistic about their performance on their tests, for the most part, and summer was now so close they could taste, smell, hear, and feel it al around them. The idea of constraining themselves inside of that school building a moment longer was unbearable. Of course, they still had a day of tests (such as they were) to focus themselves back on.
However, it wasn't the thought of those tests that had Lina's friends in a sweat of stress and panic, but instead the promise of extreme embarrassment during the lunch party. That was a scarier thought than any test a teacher could throw at them.
The hour was fast approaching. Xelloss carried the box of pastries he'd been ordered to bring, and Zel tried to hide the thermoses of tea in his backpack. Amelia cheerfully toted a tea set, and after dropping it off at the table, went to hunt down Lina's victims and give them their costumes in paper bags.
Val took it with all the cool and calm as if he was the courier in a drug run, stealing away a casually as possible. Amelia had to drag Gourry, however, though Sylphiel and Filia giggled and took theirs like the strong girls they were. Even Zangulus and Martina were not spared!
Zel looked like he was being given a life sentence. And, as he opened his bag in the boy's bathroom, he realized he was… the White Rabbit. Thankfully his costume was not the head-to-toe white fur it could have been. He pulled on the white dress pants, complete with fluffy tail sigh followed by a white shirt and sigh pale pink vest. He tied the mint green bow tie expertly, and then drew on the white and black checkered jacket. One look in the mirror gasp! to check the tie, then on with the tall furry ears and the soft white gloves moan. Lastly he clipped the gold chain to his belt and pocketed the gigantic pocket watch.
"My, my… aren't you looking sharp! I just KNEW that Lina was going to dress you up like a bunny!" Xelloss giggled. "Look at me! What do you think?"
Zel looked into the mirror at the apparition in purple, "Oh…gods…" he moaned shaking his head, "Except for the 15 inch ears and fuzzy tail I almost look… but you…"
Xelloss grinned, big grin, "If only I could teleport…" He turned to show off his purple and yellow striped tail, which matched perfectly his three-piece suit. The shirt was barely visible in forest green, but the tie fairly glowed in lime green and candy-pink polka-dots. Atop his head were ears, cat ears in purple and yellow stripes—the Cheshire Cat. "We'd better hurry, we don't want to keep little Miss Alic-a-lina waiting… or are you always late…for a very important date?"
"I'm changing my name next year," Zel muttered, "because Zelgadiss Greywords will never live this down…"
"…I don't get it," Gourry scratched his head. He and Val had emerged from the other bathroom, costumed as well, and met Zel and Xelloss in front of the cafeteria. The tall blonde was hard to miss in an outfit composed of white pants and turtleneck with shiny, silver spray-painted cardboard armor and a ridiculous helmet topped with a white plume. A horse's head was stenciled onto the breastplate on his front.
"You're the White Knight," Zel sighed. "Although he was from the 'Through the Looking Glass' story rather than "In Wonderland,' I thought."
"What?"
"It's a mad tea party—Alice in Wonderland, dude," Val told him. "Ever see that movie? Read the book?"
"Yeah…yeah, I know what you're talking about," Gourry brightened. "But I don't remember any White Knight…"
"From the whole Chess metaphor in the second book," Zel shrugged. "The Disney movie left that out."
"Oh. So…Val is…"
"The Mad Hatter," he grinned, tipping his purple top-hat. Under that, he wore a black-and-white striped suit with a fluffy cravat and dainty gloves. Somehow, he managed to make it look good—maybe the slightly crazed look in his eyes helped, as well as his jaunty way of wearing it. He figured that if he was going to dress up, he might as well make the best of it.
"And I'm the Cheshire Cat!" Xelloss purred.
"Then you—" Gourry pointed to Zel.
"I…" he clenched his teeth, "am the White Rabbit!"
"So," Val wondered, "Where's the March Hare?"
"Right here, Mr. Val!" Amelia popped up out of nowhere. She, too, was wearing a suit, though hers was made of brown velvet, with ears to match. She had a large blue bow-tie at her throat and a fluffy tail to match Zel's. "We're both rabbits!" she informed him, enthusiastically.
"That's…wonderful…" Zel choked.
"Great!" Val laughed. "Now, for the hot girls…"
"Hey!" Amelia sniffed.
"Hot UPPERCLASSMEN, then," he amended, winking at her.
"OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!"
"Oh, man…" Val paled momentarily. "Like she needs this power-trip…"
Filia entered the scene, in a stunningly flouncy red dress, complete with heart-shaped stand-up collar to frame her beautiful and haughty face. She even had a crown and scepter to add to her authority. "How do I look?" she asked.
"Lovely!" Amelia gushed.
"Scary…" Val whispered.
` Sylphiel rounded out the group as a gray-velvet version of Amelia, but with large round ears and a rope tail. She was fiddling with her lavender bow tie when she saw the others, Xelloss in particular. "Oh! You're so bright! I feel so dull and…"
"Mousy?" he smiled. "You're the Dormouse then. And here comes the fetching duo: Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee!"
Zangulus looked more glum than dumb (if that was possible!) as he entered arm-linked with Martina in matching red and yellow striped British school-boy outfits and propeller-caps. Waddling closer to the colorful group clustered outside the cafeteria door, Martina demanded, "So now what?"
"Lina!" Xelloss called. "Time for your entrance! That's right, climb up top. Comfy? Good. You like the suit? I'm not fond of the color but…the fit's swell! Okay… Val, Gourry… if you'd take the rear corners while Zelgadiss and I take the front ones and… Zangulus, yes, if you'd stabilize the back…then we are ready! On the count of three…"
The boys lifted the table then, with a few unsteady steps and not a few groans, Lina was hoisted up and carried aloft a cloth-draped cafeteria table into an empty slot in the lunch room. They proceeded, some willingly, some less so, accompanied by a fanfare of whistles and wolf howls from the already assembled crowd in the cafeteria. Amelia and Filia gathered Martina and Sylphiel to spread out the assorted food, including Zel's tea and Xelloss' pastries, Amelia's finger sandwiches and tea set, Filia's herb bread, Val's cheese assortment, Sylphiel's lavender biscuits, and Gourry's curried chicken salad. Martina and Zangulus supplied sugar cubes and honey, milk and lemon for an English-style tea.
Lina beamed, waved, and blew kisses. Sitting like an empress observing her thralls below, she smoothed her crisp white pinafore over her French blue dress. Black and white tight-covered legs adorned with shiny Mary Janes dangled loose as Gourry lifted her off the table, then she started kicking, "I can get down myself!"
"Not today!" he smiled and took the less-than-gentle pounding to his shoulder in stride as he pulled out a chair with his foot and lowered her ceremoniously into it. His eyes passed over her admiringly; he'd rarely seen her in a dress, and never one like that one. "Ya look…that's a nice color on ya, Lina," he managed to say.
Blushing at the compliment, she replied, "Ah… sure…thanks…but then everything looks good on me, right?"
Each of her friends took turns serving her tidbits and then passing the plates of tasty morsels around. Taking his duties seriously, Val poured tea, and while he poured he recited a poem:
"Twinkle, twinkle little bat!
"How I wonder what you're at!
"Up above the world you fly,
"Like a tea tray in the sky…
"That was from the book, ya know," he added with the barest hint of pride, then added with a dashing leer, "More tea?"
"No! You can pass me the sugar though, and Zel! Bring me those sandwiches!" Turning back to Val, she added, "I have something of my own to read…later, after I have more to eat!"
"There's one. The sandwiches are not ALL for you," Zel instructed her. "Tell me what you want and I'll pass it…"
"ALL, asshole, ALL the sandwiches NOW!" Lina shouted.
Zel stood and did her bidding all the while attempting to be invisible so as not to draw attention to his bunny-self.
"OH! HOW CUUUTE!" came a squeal of delight from behind. Bunny, the sailing club leader, scooted up to Zel and gave him an affectionate, and to his mind, over-zealous squeeze. "I could just hug you to DEATH!"
"I think you may have just done that!" Xelloss chuckled.
Bunny giggled and released her hold, then grabbed Amelia up in a similar display of warmth while asking, "So is your band gonna wear these costumes to perform in?"
"No… I'm too hot simply sitting around," Amelia began. "These are for…" and she explained the eating contest award to her friend while leading her swiftly away from Zelgadiss. She hoped he noticed and appreciated the gesture. He did, with a weak smile in her direction.
Next thing Amelia knew, however, Kagome was wrapped in Zel's arms, sniffling a tiny bit about how his white ears reminded her of…someone else's white mane. He didn't seem to mind and consoled her as best he could until Allen and Van wandered over. Using the opportunity to interfere, Amelia handed off Kagome to Allen while Van admired Zel's courage, or brazen audacity, to wear that costume to school.
"Looks ta me like it's made him a real babe magnet!" Val laughed in passing as he refilled empty tea cups.
"Nice cravat, Val," Allen said. "Could start a new fashion, though, not in keeping with your former grungy look."
There was a time when Val would have ripped into the other guy lashing out in anger, but times and events had smoothed even Val's rough edges a mite. "Nah… ya gotta have the top hat ta really look right and balance the weight," Val grinned and spoke in his most outrageous dialect instead, "…but they ain't got no hat hooks around no more."
Van stood beside Zel's chair as the rabbit-kid sat down, and shook his head at the sight of Xelloss, "You… remind me of a cat, I mean a particularly clingy brown striped one I once had… called Merle, I think she was… brown and yellow… She never was too fond of Hitomi though…"
The friends ate and drank and carried on as usual…
At one point, both Zel and Amelia were standing side by side. When Val noticed he joked, "Somebody better keep an eye on those two…You know what they say about rabbit breedin' habits, don'cha? Heh, heh…"
"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" bellowed Filia.
Zelgadiss and Amelia hopped apart faster than, well, two bunnies. Xelloss was laughing so hard, tears were flowing and hiccups started.
Filia glared at him and asked, "Aren't you supposed to be able to disappear or something, Xelly-cat?"
"What, and leave only my hic! grin for you to re-hic!-member me by? Ah, shit…Sylphie? How do I hic! get rid of these hic-hic!-cups?" he whined.
"Running helps," she began to explain, which eventually led to Xelloss chasing Sylphiel around the table—much to her obvious delight—meowing like a tom-cat to her mousy squeals.
"OFF WITH HIS HEAD, TOO!" bellowed Filia over the din.
As soon as the food was consumed down to the last crumb and drop, Lina checked her watch. Lunch was nearly over. She climbed atop the table, with a hand from Gourry, and whistled for attention, "Hey! Listen up! The time has come, the leader said, to speak of many things… Of shoes and ships and ceiling wax… of cabbages and kings…And why the sea is boiling hot, and what the future brings…"
"What's she talking about?" Gourry whispered.
"Shh!" Amelia warned.
"She's going to reveal her secret plan!" Xelloss told Gourry.
"Shut up, the lot of you, or—"
"OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!"
"Exactly, Filia. Couldn't have said it better myself," Lina grinned approvingly. "Now listen up good, guys, 'cause I'm revealing my inner soul here, and if you piss me off, I'm gonna blow. Get it? Okay. Deep breath. After the whole…incident…I was left feeling pretty…lousy, you know? Like, what was there left in the world for someone who's almost died? I've only seen the worst side of growing up…evil, abusive, greedy adults. Adults who lie, cheat and steal. I don't want to be like that. I understand that the truth about our accident is concealed for our protection, but to hell with that! I don't wanna be a liar!" Lina cried. "I don't want to live a lie, I don't want to uphold the status quo, I don't want to help perpetuate the lies our stinkin' society is based on! There's gotta be more to life than what I've seen…
"So, what I'm getting at is that, well, I'm going to go to college, become a journalist and writer—and deal in truth, not lies! I'm going to change the world if it kills me! Even if every big corporation, religion, and government hates me, I'll never give up!" She raised her fists in determination. "And the first part of my plan to do that is…well…I've gotta tell our story. Maybe it shouldn't come out too soon, but it'll take me a while to write it anyway, and we'll all be out of school in the next couple of years, so…
"Here's what I've written so far. I'm terribly modest, of course, but I'm sure you'll still recognize my rather toned-down character," her eyes sparkled and she took out a sheaf of papers to read from.
"Summer was almost over, only another week until classes would start. Today everyone was picking up their class schedules, paying fees, and greeting friends not seen all summer. At the center of the whirlwind of activity, stood a petite, fiery redhead named Lina Inverse, 2nd year student at Seyruun High School. She exuded…hmmm maybe I mean 'shone with'… confidence and 'can do' energy, and so, attracted followers like moths to a street-lamp."
"Why Miss Lina, that's our story isn't it? That's how this year began, right?" Amelia asked.
Lina looked up and smiled, "Yep! Wanna hear more until the bell rings? Okay, then…where was I…"
"Probably about to disturb my serenity," Zel smirked.
"Right!" Lina smiled. "It goes…'Ah, ha! Got 'em all! Hey Zel, how about you?' Then I describe you and your creepy, good looks."
Putting a hand over his face, Zel shook his head and tried to hide a smile.
"Yeah, then I land into you for ignoring me…'Well? Are you listening to me? What did you get? Oh just gimme that!' I said snatching the schedule out of your grasp. 'Yeah, mostly the same stuff. Acting? Hey we have acting together…' So then a gaggle of starry-eyed choirgirls chimed in, "Acting Ooooo we have acting too!' Then I describe one, ah… you Sylphiel, yeah I say nice things! What do you take me for, Zel?"
"Well, we weren't the best of friends back then," Sylphiel reminded her.
"Yeah, right…well… I don't lie…although it IS from my point of view. What I'll do is write up a day or so from memory then read it back for you guys to fill me in on YOUR innermost thoughts or, if you must, your feelings at the time. It won't be easy 'cause looking back, we were a year younger and our current selves aren't the same. In any case, I make the final decisions as to what goes in or not, so if I don't agree then… too bad. Write your own versions!"
"Lina, whatever you do will be fine with all of us, I'm sure," Zel said. "This will take quite awhile to write. We'll probably forget too many details to make it interesting anyway."
"I'm starting this summer…and I bet that I can write this entire year of action in about five years…" Lina began.
"But, if you had a laptop to carry to practices and jobs and all…" Xelloss smiled.
"Then I'd have it done by next summer and be ready for the next project!"
"Sounds like a trip to the local computer store again," Zel smiled.
"Well then, let's go!" Lina cried. "After school, that is."
The bell rang signaling the end of the lunch period for everyone else, but for the Slayers, it was just the beginning…
.
End Seyruun High Jinx -- year 2001-2002
(((.-)) Zel |||^.^||| Xelloss |{{^.^}}| Lina |((.^)|| Gourry ((^.^)) Amelia |))-.-((| Val