Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT!
Chapter 18
What Doesn't Kill You, Makes You Stronger!
" 'Gators today, dragons tomorrow!" -- Xelloss
"You didn't tell them everything," Zel said to Xelloss.
"No. I didn't think it was anybody's business. That my parents were homicidal maniacs is enough, but that it was worse than expected and that it pervaded both families, well…" Xelloss frowned. "Damn it all! That my father poisoned his first wife and later his own daughter...hoping to kill her unborn son...you... as well… well… that's between just you and me, right?"
"Absolutely. Who might understand the entire picture? I mean, only we can see it from your father's point of view; that is, the woman, his trusted wife, did poison him first, nearly damaging his liver beyond repair…" Zel smiled faintly.
Xelloss shrugged, but returned the knowing smile of shared secrets with a friend. "Yes, and that he was able to get operatives into your father's lab, sabotage it, and nearly kill you again...from Japan...past Zelas! Hard to believe anyone could be so hell-bent on destruction."
Zel's turn to shrug. "You know, I should talk to my father about this. It means that his experiment wasn't the cause of the accident. If his records are intact...if the experiment can be reproduced, maybe...maybe more than a hearing improvement medicine can come out of it! Perhaps the cure for his blindness was there all along!"
Xelloss smiled. "Yes. He might let Eris and Vurumagen continue with the work after all."
"Sorry," Zel said looking up at his friend.
"It's okay, Zelgadiss. She was just a learning experience for me. I know the difference between infatuation and love. I know how being in love really feels."
Happy for the change of topic, even to one skirting romantic issues, Zel asked, "But Xelloss, what good is that if it's just one-sided? Why not broaden your horizons? Lina is not the only possibility out there."
"For me, she is. And you know the feeling. Why, if she came up to you right now and said, 'Zelgadiss, you are the only one for me. Take me I'm yours.' – you wouldn't have a problem with it, not for a second! And not just you, Gourry would too, obviously, and Val, even! So you do know how I feel. I live and breathe 'Lina Inverse'. I can't get her out of my head. I'm crazy, head-over-heals, in love with her and I'll just explode if I have to hold it all in."
"But you will. You promised her in order to stay with the band." Zel reminded his friend with a sharp edge to his voice.
"Yes. But only for gigs and practices. I can pursue her other times. And I will. I will give her no opportunity to forget that."
"That's nuts, Xelloss. No girl's worth that much effort."
"Lina is, and you know it," Xelloss smiled slyly. "You can't deny it, can you?"
But Zelgadiss didn't answer. He didn't have to.
"And now I can drink alcohol like a fish and be no worse off than the rest of you!" Xelloss quipped.
Zel's hard look told him in no uncertain terms how he felt about that!
"Just kidding, little brother!"
Shortly after that, the band took turns, girls first, naturally, getting into their cots and turning in for the night.
Filia loved the natural world, which seemed the complete antithesis of her stuck-up, cheerleader persona at the high school. She only seemed shallow, whereas Sylphiel really was shallow. Sylphiel was really nice, but simple and lacking intellectual depth. No, Filia was not shallow, but she could be a bitchy snob a lot of the time. However, the beautiful setting and the 'country fair' atmosphere put Filia in a near euphoric mood. With breakfast over and work in the future, Filia felt now was the time for some exercise.
"Who wants to come with me?" She looked around for volunteers. Val and Zel were on 'guard duty' at the stage, with Gourry wandering between them and the snack bar to keep busy. Sylphiel and Amelia were repairing tears and sewing loose buttons on the band's costumes. Lina was relaxing and writing, working on the script for the musical. Zel's plans for taking down the syndicate would be a challenge for her. The two had spoken in general terms, but now she was focusing on the details.
"Later, Miss Filia!" Amelia cried out. "We have to have these fixed first, but it won't be much longer."
"In a bit. I got this idea I've got ta write down while I'm thinkin'. Later," Lina said without lifting her eyes from her papers.
Xelloss was returning from the bathroom, humming a tune. "So, what's a person to do for entertainment around here?" he asked nobody in particular.
"Go for a walk. Come on." Filia brushed by, giving him a little tug on a lock of hair.
"Okaaaay..." And he followed her dutifully. "The ah... shops...no, booths! Yes, artsy-crafty booths aren't open yet, but they're in the opposite direction..."
"I want to see this beautiful park, the trees, the...stream. Take me to that stream you took a bath in." Filia smirked to herself when he looked surprised. She was passing up a shopping experience, and with the only guy she knew who didn't detest it.
"I didn't actually do that, you know."
"Sure, just take me to it. You do remember the way?"
"It was dark and Zolf led me and I wasn't paying much attention..." He paused. Filia was tapping her foot, waiting. "But I see the path over this way." He smiled and gestured with an arm.
Together they entered the narrow winding trail down to the stream. Along either side were tall bushes and wild berry plants cut edge-like, or the trail would have been grown over. At the very tops, the branches had been left untrimmed so that they grew wildly, tangling together and forming a roof of leaves.
"This is like a tunnel," Filia laughed. "I feel like Alice in Wonderland chasing after the white rabbit!"
"It's much nicer in the daytime."
"I'll bet," she smiled. "I hear the water up ahead."
The stream was churning along still, more green than black in the dappled light. The water had receded, exposing mud-caked stones at the edges due to the dry summer and fall.
It was so lovely a place even Xelloss looked good to her. Funny, he had changed a great deal over the past year. She could remember the goofy, irritating kid hanging around the lunch table, but this was not the same guy. This Xelloss was far more self-possessed, poised, and downright handsome. Despite his slimness, she knew he was terribly strong. Only a few months ago he held her life in his arms threatening to break her neck. Arms like bands of steel held her immobile, yet it wasn't that long ago that she could recall those very same arms guiding her gently but surely on the dance floor after the ballet with her parents. Yes, he certainly had a nice body. She had seen plenty of that! Those nude photos had left nothing to her imagination! And Filia had seen several nude males before...models...in her art class. Xelloss had them all beat, in spades. He was so...strange and sexy. Of course, she wouldn't let him know about that. He didn't even seem to suspect that aspect of his charm.
And yet, he was still annoying. That hadn't changed at all! Filia turned away from him and his whining rant, to soak in the beauty of the gurgling stream.
"...There were biting bugs and I swear an alligator, though I KNOW there aren't any 'gators' this far north, but that's what it looked like in the dark..."
"Well of course not, but there are...Oh, gods! Xelloss! Look!" Filia gasped and clung to his arm in fear.
Xelloss followed hers eyes with his own. There floating just beneath the water, the barest of ripples alerting the viewers to his location, was a long dark form. Beginning with two eyes rising above the surface behind a long flattened snout and ending four feet later with a slowly undulating tail, was, indeed, a large reptile. ' 'Gator' or no.
"Oh my..." he said, voice low. A smile turned up the corners of his mouth. "The boy scout was wrong, then..."
"This is amazing! We have to show this to everyone! I bet a reporter will come and photograph it!" Filia chattered on excitedly. "Xelloss Aren't you a bit...afraid of it? I mean, it could have taken a sizeable bite out of you!"
He was fearless, now, in the light of day, completely dressed and fully intending to remain that way. He could tell she was agitated by the intensity of her grip on his arm, and her tight-toned, clipped-word voice, which had sounded more like her friend Sylphiel. He moved his purple gaze from the alligator to Filia's face, and smiled serenely. "Do you want me to catch it for you?"
"What? Are you crazy? Don't! You don't have to risk your fingers to impress me!"
Really? He wondered at that turn of phrase. "I impress you...already?" he asked, puzzled.
And much to his surprise, and glee, she blushed. She pounded him on the head soundly with her mini backpack. "With your guts, you witless fool!" she screamed.
He laughed and danced out of her reach. She chased after him all the way back to their tent, where Gourry had joined the girls.
"What's the trouble?" he asked uncertainly.
Filia, dropping the chase, returned to announcing the important wildlife find. "You won't believe this! You have to come with us and see this for yourselves!"
Lina looked over to Xelloss for a larger sound bite. "What is it?"
But he was on a roll. "That's...a secret!" he giggled glibly.
"Idiot..." Lina muttered as she got to her feet. "Okay, I'm curious. Lets go."
Clustered together by the river, they couldn't believe what they saw with very own eyes. Certainly Gourry couldn't.
"It just ain't possible," he said with a shake of his head. "Hey, ouch!"
Lina punched him hard. "It is and it's there, idiot! So, Xelloss, was that there last night? That alligator? Yes? And you...Gourry, yes you, who else was I talking to...?"
"Um...Xelloss?"
"I said WHO ELSE! Gah!" Lina threw up her arms in frustration. "Xelloss, so you almost took a bath in alligator-infested water?" She pivoted on a heel and said to Gourry, "What would we do...where would I be now if he lost a few of his fingers or a hand..."
"Or worse..." Xelloss mumbled.
"What could be worse!" Lina cried out. But before he could gasp out a reply, she was grappling Gourry by the neck. "Did you set him up for this?"
Now, was this a great frame up or not? Gourry shot Xelloss a wide-eyed look of desperation. He hoped Xelloss didn't think that he actually knew the place was dangerous. He wasn't the kind of guy who'd do that to anyone, especially a friend. Xelloss knew that, didn't he? He knew that they were friends, deep down...in spite of Lina, right? Gourry knew that Xelloss could doom his chances with Lina, maybe permanently! Xelloss could win! All he had to say was...yes...
Xelloss noted Gourry's expression with some satisfaction. He was in the driver's seat now, wasn't he? Boy, he could kick that guy right out of the running, maybe for good! He sighed. But what would Zelgadiss say? Xelloss bet that Zel had masterminded the practical joke to begin with anyway and was, therefore, more responsible than Gourry in any case. No, Zel would take the blame for Gourry, and he'd fair no better in the end. Besides, what would Zelgadiss think of him if he fingered Gourry for the crime. What crime? It had been a joke and nobody knew about the alligator. No, he would have to be gallant here. Be a man for a change!
"Lina, my, my," Xelloss smiled benignly. "Don't get so excited about a little reptile like that. You know I lived for years with a much more dangerous snake-in-the-grass and I turned out unscathed. Besides, Gourry here and I were playing practical jokes on one another. There's always a bit of risk involved, you know? I didn't know really what all was in that basket of grapes I poured over his head. There might have been a black widow spider! So, leave him be. It was a good trick on his part. Quite good. It will be tough coming up with a better one too, but just stay out of it. It really isn't any of your business anyway. It's a guy-thing."
Lina had released Gourry by this time and was looking for all the world as if she were about to throttle Xelloss for his audacity.
"Besides," Xelloss continued, ignoring all her danger signals, "everyone knows...there aren't any 'gators this far north. That's a snapping turtle, a small-mouthed one native to this area. Eats mosquitoes, I believe, and other tiny, tiny, things. So, you see, I was safe all along! Now, look again. Isn't that really just a turtle?"
Lina paused in her move to wallop him over the head to look. Indeed, there was no alligator at all. Not even a ripple!
"Where did it go?" Lina demanded.
"What, Lina?" Xelloss asked smoothly.
"The alligator! It's gone now. What did you do with it?" Lina asked Filia suddenly.
"Me? What makes you think I had anything to do with anything? It was his 'gator-turtle thing!" Filia squeaked.
Lina's eyes narrowed. "Xelloss... Filia... this was all your doing, wasn't it? You guys trying to pull one over on me, huh? Well, Lina can take jokes with the big guys, but I'll have you know that I knew that wasn't any 'gator in there." Spinning around to point her finger in Xelloss' direction, she asked him, "Just tell me how you did that...and I'll let you off easy." She smiled girlishly hoping to soften old Xelloss.
He smiled, "It was magic."
Gourry swallowed. Xelloss was about to go down. Xelloss had had the chance to do him in, but he didn't; he'd done the honorable thing. Now, it was Gourry's turn to do the same for Xelloss.
"Um, Lina?"
That diverted her fist for a second.
"What?"
"Um, what he means is, um...well, a...that is a...secret, ya know?" Gourry opened his eyes wide, silently beseeching her to forgive and forget.
Lina froze in place. What had Gourry said? He's used one of Xelloss' lines here. Wait a minute... didn't they both stick up for one another just now? Wasn't that a good thing? Hey, it was like they were making peace here, wasn't it? Instead of fighting over her, they were fighting against her. Well, now that was refreshing! They were treating her just like one of the guys. Well, hurray for miracles!
Lina laughed aloud, "Fine, fine...keep yer damned secrets of the watery deep. Geesh, what a stupid... Amelia? What time is it?"
"The other band should be arriving any time now, Miss Lina!" Amelia answered cheerfully.
"And...? More importantly?" Lina smiled.
"Um...I smell...the barbeques again! It must be time to visit the food vendors!" Amelia cried out, punching the sky with her fist for emphasis.
"Right! So, come on, enough with the nature walk. On to lunch!" Lina shouted and broke out into a run.
"Well, I'm with her on the nature stuff," Xelloss sniffed. "I've had more than my share of it already."
"Gods, Xelly, you are such a priss!" Filia snorted.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Ah, I wouldn't say that, um..." Gourry interrupted Filia with a quick smile at Xelloss. "He can make 'gators appear and disappear like magic. Sounds like him an' nature's gotta understanding like. Tough too..."
Xelloss smiled thankfully. "'Gators today, dragons tomorrow!"
Filia smiled, "Natur-ally..."
Val was first to spot the oddball paint job on a van inching its way cautiously up the uneven road to the stage. He loped over to check it out, just in time to catch Bobbie climbing out from behind the driver's seat of the Flying Fig- or Black Lavender- or whatever-Express .
"Hey, ah...Val! Man, I wasn't sure we'd get here in time. It's a lot further than I thought. This our stage? Cool, huh?"
Val nodded, but he was more interested in who did the spray painting designs on the van. What looked like vines, demons, rats, and figs loomed large in the artwork theme.
"Oh, that was me!" Bobby smiled proudly. "You like it? It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I needed to show the world some of my favorite things."
"Like the song, huh?" Val grunted. "Nice technique. How'dya get this fine filmy effect over here?"
"I borrowed a friend's airbrush. Yeah, kinda cheating, I know. Looks like a spray paint original, but I used real artist equipment. You won't tell anyone?"
"Me? Hell no. I wanna learn how and try it myself!" Val chuckled. "I did our name on the bass drum, but Filia had me doin' silk screenin' fer that. Mostly I just did some...outdoor stuff."
Bobby let that one ride and asked if they should set up their gear now.
"Lemme getcher some help," Val told him, and then stomped up the steps to the stage. "Rodimus? Think you could give us a hand here? Folk band has ar-rived."
Bobby, Pearl, Luke, Sarah, and Lee each carried a bag, box, or sack up onto the stage. There, Rolf and Zelgadiss directed them where to place their things.
"Yer got plenty time. I'll set you up with mics for the instruments and singers then will run ya through the mixer. Couple tests and yer be balanced, I promise," Rodimus told the dubious Bobby in the longest sentence Zel had heard him say yet.
Zel added, "He's right and he really knows his business."
Bobby wasn't so sure. "We've never used a mixer and all the mics before."
Zel nodded. "It's out of doors and the sound vanishes without amplification. Trust me on this; he'll make you all sound the way you want to sound, even to the audience way out there." He waved into the distance. "Ah…It's starting to fill up."
Pearl supported Zelgadiss, respecting his experience and knowledge. "Bobby, he knows what he talking about. I can only sing so loud, and my little amp won't carry us that far, not to mention that your harp..."
"Sold!" Bobby chuckled. "Okay...Rodimus? Show me how it's done."
By this time Lina, followed by Amelia, Filia, Gourry, Sylphiel, and Xelloss had joined the group at the stage. Amelia suggested that a few of them should run and pick up food and drinks while the others run tests. She and Sylphiel convinced Gourry and Xelloss to help and off they went.
When Bobby was satisfied with the sound system, he and Lina talked over their sets, making a few changes to the line up of songs. They agreed that Bobby's band should begin, then the Slayers would come on and they'd do a few songs together, then the Slayers would close out the set. This they would repeat again an hour or so later for their second performance. Bobby said his band would be leaving after that, opting not to spend the night.
"Most of us have to get back and change and regroup, you know, to pick up our folks for the party at the mayor's," he explained.
"It's a long drive back after driving all the way here," Gourry noted.
"Yeah, but we take turns so it isn't so bad. If we feel like it, we do have an option to stay at Pearl's god-brother's house for the night. It's about half way back." Lee ran a hand through his long straight bangs and sighed. "Bobby! I'm going to go fill a water bottle, you need anything?"
No, but Lina did. She accompanied the young guy with the retiring nature, making him a bit uncomfortable with her dynamic and demanding presence. Before they had returned, she somehow had weaseled the poor kid into buying her three slices of pizza and a can of soda.
"How can you afford to travel with her?" Lee asked Gourry with an exasperated sigh.
"Plannin' ahead," Gourry smiled. "I got a real job that pays pretty good."
"I've never seen anyone eat like that!" Lee gasped as he watched Lina down each slice in a single bite accompanied by a gulp of soda.
"Yeah, she's a one-of-a-kind," Gourry shook his head.
"You know, most kids at school are afraid of her," Luke confided. "Val too. But Amelia's in student government and Sylphiel's a prep. You're all pretty random, actually."
"You should talk!" Sarah, with her short spiky hair teased the other goth-dressed height-challenged, but male, teenager. "How tall are you?" she asked Gourry.
"Ah...about 6'8'', I think, but that was last summer when a doctor... checked me..." he was uncertain how to explain it much more. He had been treated for minor cuts and contusions following the Darkstar incident, like most of the others. "I was about 6'6'' in the spring when I was...er... measured earlier."
"You're still growing that fast? I'm impressed." Sarah shook her head in a combination of disbelief and wonder. She herself stood barely five feet tall and was a freshman in high school; Luke was maybe as tall as her, if he stretched.
Surfeit at last, Lina wiped off her hands and declared that it was time to get changed and ready to perform.
"Okay, Lina!" Gourry shouted and parted from his friends of less stature.
"You realize his hair's longer than you are tall, doncha?" Sarah asked.
"You could stand on my shoulders and he'd still be taller," Luke countered with a wink. "Maybe even two of you!"
"That's not true. Close, but not true," Sarah continued their gently barbed repartee into the girl and boys' bathrooms.
Bobby and Lina introduced their bands to the jolly crowd of music lovers. Today they were the Flying Figs and the Slayers. The weather was slightly cloudy, which was a good thing because the audience would sit longer in the un-shaded seats to listen rather than run to the far away trees and rest.
"Lotsa kids, huh?" Bobby noted to Lina as he wove his way through the web of cabling to his harp, dressed in renaissance-type garb with poofy sleeves, and bright vest, and a funny hat—normal for him.
"Yeah...guess the word got out that we'd be out here. My aunt, who's in charge of this festival in some way, said she had us in all the advertising sent out in the newspapers. Great, hope they're noisy. I like the interaction. Really gets me goin', ya know?"
Bobby smiled and nodded. Collecting her long skirts, Pearl rose from her stool, guitar in hand, and introduced the first of their songs with a warm smile and friendly wave. Lina walked off the stage and hopped to the ground to listen. Yeah, she'd made a good decision choosing this band to work with. Nice, steady, competent guys with no major problems...like being on the syndicate's hit list.
Easy to listen too as well, she thought. Interesting arrangements of Anime music using folk instruments and clever segues using familiar video game tunes. Best of all, they were attracting more kids. From all over the fair, Lina could see kids of all different ages, some with their parents, moving toward the stage area to listen. Yeah, Lina liked this band loads.
She tapped Gourry on the shoulder, "Time for us. We'll do a combo song next and this one of theirs is about over."
He nodded and sent the message down the line, first to Amelia on his right, then she to Zel and so on to Xelloss. Lina caught Filia's eye and pointed to her watch. Filia smiled and poked Val in the ribs to get his attention, then whispered in his ear. He ran a finger across her shoulder to her hair and fingered it a moment all the while nodding in agreement to whatever it was she was saying. He looked Lina's way, and gave her a thumb's up. The Slayers were ready. Leather and stripes ready.
As Bobby stood to take a bow at the song's end, Lina slipped in beside him, microphone in hand. "Hey! Let's hear it for the Flying Figs, okay! Don't worry, they'll still be playin' some more, but if they'll all move over a bit, we'll be joinin' them on the next songs. Just a little taste for you of what's comin' up for our upcomin' musical."
After their first set was finished, both bands decided to wander about and enjoy the booths. There were merchants selling handcrafted candles, jewelry, painted and dyed t-shirts, cutting boards and fancy wine corkers and holders. Lina and her friends would have enjoyed perusing the things except for the fact that they could not—they were besieged by fans everywhere they went! Autograph seekers and pining boys and girls mobbed them all. They were lucky to keep their clothes intact and their hair attached. The boys didn't mind so much, considering that they were not as interested in making a purchase as in making a good impression with their fans.
The Flying Figs, on the other hand, were less known and so freer to try out the games as well, like grape stomping –Bobby excelled at this! With his long legs and greater mobility than any of the others of his band, Lee was more adept at barrel rolling. Pearl tried grape tasting, but found that most of the varieties tasted alike to her. Luke and Sarah ran around frightening the little kids and creating havoc until Bobby reined them in when he enlisted them to help stomp his barrel of grapes. In them end, they were able to take back to Seyruun one fine bottle of their own foot-pressed grape juice—which later turned to vinegar since none of them could even stomach the idea of drinking it.
The break passed far too quickly. Soon, Lina and Bobby were signaling their respective bands back to the stage for their second and last show of the day.
After running through their final set, the Slayers took their bows. Gourry rested his bass on its holder; Zel replaced his Fender in its case. The crowd was pretty excited, cheering, and yelling.
"Think we outta do an encore?" Val asked Lina.
She shook her head pointing to her throat.
"How 'bout I take care of it?" Val asked. When she nodded agreement, he nabbed Zel. "Why don't we let Xelloss do that number we do in the back yard, ya know yer guitar...my piano?"
Zel shrugged, "Fine by me. Ask him."
Val grabbed Xelloss by the arm as he hopped around his cymbals. "What Val?"
"Fer an encore, let's do that 'Forever' song. Just you, me, an' Zel, 'kay?"
Xelloss smiled. "Lina's never heard it. Sure it'll be okay?"
Val smiled, "'S'long as she don't gotta sing, she's cool."
He bent down to speak into the front mic. "Fer our en-core tonight," he announced. "We're gonna let ya see the drummer a bit. His other big number hadta be skipped 'cause our stand-in drummer couldn't make it this weekend."
The audience clapped and settled back into their seats. Val loped back to his synthesizer, then started flipping switches for a 'piano' effect he used with Filia's solo. Zel reached for his acoustic guitar, and checked the pickup. Xelloss, still holding his drumsticks, stood awkwardly and smiled shyly from under his bangs. He was not used to being the center of attention like this, not sharing the spotlight. He looked around and caught Lina's curious expression. Oh, boy. He hoped that he could pull this off right. He wanted Lina to admire all the hard work he'd been putting into vocal lessons lately.
Xelloss squinted and held one hand up to shield his eyes, "So, these must be those famous bright lights of stardom you hear so much about!"
"Yeah, we usually keep him in the dark back there ya know," Val said into his mic jokingly.
Xelloss smiled and dragged the stool over that Zel used for his solos. He sat gingerly on the edge of the stool, and then dropped one of his drumsticks.
The audience twittered.
"Ah…" he sighed and hopped off again to retrieve the rolling stick.
When he twisted around for the microphone, he noticed that Zel had in the meantime subjugated the stool and was currently tuning one of his strings.
"Hey!" Xelloss said. He tapped Zel on the shoulder with one of the drumsticks.
Again, chuckles rolled through the audience certain now that this was part of their usual act.
"Oh, yes, well...thanks for getting this for me," Zel smirked up from under a fringe of bangs and patted the stool affectionately.
"It wasn't for you. It was for me," Xelloss insisted.
"You don't need it. It helps me support my guitar. Besides, you've been sitting most the evening while I've been standing. It's only fair."
Xelloss stood arms folded. The audience twittered and laughed aloud.
"Well, so what do I do? If I stand, what do I do with my hands?"
"I play the guitar. You? Try using them to… express yourself," Zel said smugly.
Xelloss, seeing that they were drawing more and more chuckles, proceeded to put on a short, soundless pantomime act demonstrating how he'd like to hang Zelgadiss and beat his dead body with his drumsticks. "Ah, I get it!" Xelloss laughed over the audience's noise.
"Funny..." Zel sighed, shaking his head.
Val figured that was enough of the comedy routine, and started up the song, playing the introduction on the piano setting. Zel picked out the melody and rhythm. "What do you think? Are you going to sing or not?"
"Okay, little brother," Xelloss smiled, lay the sticks down under the stool, and took hold of the microphone in one hand, leaving his other hand limp at his side. He focused on the mood and words.
"On a count of three..." Zel said softly.
Xelloss listened to the instrumental opening for the right moment, and then began:
"Could it be forever? Or is my mind just a ramblin' on? I touched you once... I kissed you once...and now I feel like your mine."
A hush settled over the audiance as those seated furthest out strained to hear the gentle voice from the striking young man with the purple hair. The song was familar to some, an old song by the 70's singer David Cassidy, so a few voices could be heard singing along with him.
"Well, I feel like your mine, And I see in your face I'm not wrong to have these feelings. Well, I feel like your mine, I've never known a time before that's had so many meanin's."
Lina shifted uncomforatbly as she felt the eyes of her firends glance off of her in their bounce back and forth between Xelloss and her. The song was for her, to her, and they all knew it.
"Could it be forever? Or am I just awastin' time? I don't think so, 'cause your lettin' me know, you make me feel like your mine. Well, I feel like your mine, and I can't remember when the feelings have been stronger."
His voice cracked with emotion and dropped as he sang, "And all I know's I can't let go, I want to be with you...I want to be with you...just a little while longer."
Girls cried out, a few screamed, and others started a chant, "Xel-loss, Xel-loss!"
Xelloss smiled. He loved the attention and adulation. "...'Cause I know... this won't... disappear... but..."
Again, his voiced cracked with emotion and a multitude of girls in the audience screamed and wailed. Amelia elbowed Lina and grinned. "This one's going over real good, don't you think?"
Lina nodded. He had developed a sensual charm she hadn't realized could be so attractive to others.
"Could it be forever? Or is my mind just a ramblin' on? Maybe it is, but if is, then I'll be movin' on."
He moved and turned to catch her eye. Xelloss and Lina held each other's gaze a moment. "Well, I feel like your mine, and I see in your face, I'm not wrong to have these feelings..."
The song finished with him crying out with all his heart, repeating his message, "Feel like your mine, feel like your mine. Could it be forever? Feel like your mine, feel like your mine. Could it be forever?"
"All I know's I want you so," he implored, causing the girl fans to scream enmasse. "Could it be forever?"
Oooooh... Now he had lots of screaming girl fans. Lina gauged the crowd's response, grinned and gave him a big thumbs up. Wow, he felt on top of the world. He dipped his head in a quick, nervous bow, stood then trotted off stage, forgetting his drumsticks.
Zelgadiss saw Lina's approval as well, and let out his breath. Did she know Xelloss had sung that for her? He guessed not. Well, now they had another song to add to their repertoire.
Val clapped them both on the shoulder, "Way ta go, dudes!"
Filia blocked their path. "I've never heard that one before." Her eyes met Xelloss' and held. "Your singing voice has really improved."
Xelloss smiled, "Thank you. I've been working on it."
"I mean…really improved. That was…quite moving," she repeated with emphasis.
Xelloss covered his face with his hand, smiling. "Thanks!" Filia being nice enough to compliment him was hard to take.
Val filled her in further, "We sit out in the backyard and try out stuff, some good, some bad. This one came together last week, while we had some time."
Xelloss started laughing, "Look!"
Gourry was politely trying not to tear out his hair while at the same time extricate himself from a fan's grasp. Sylphiel, Amelia, and Lina were standing backs together in the center of a circle of both male and female fans.
Zel heard a volley of squeals, and knew. "Here they come!" he managed to choke out before a crowd of girls shot out of the dark and headed right toward them.
Xelloss slipped behind Filia giggling, "Protect me!"
She laughed, "Oh sure, you brave boy..."
Val and Zelgadiss steadied themselves for...what? An attack? Yes!
Xelloss was laughing. Someone was running their fingers along his ribs, tickling him.
Val's voice could be heard above the din, "'Scuse me. I gotta go get me somethin' to drink...Ach! That hair's attached to my head!"
Zelgadiss was being held immobile, a girl on each arm. Prepared as he thought he was, his senses left him.
They were popular!
From the Authors:
Note: Parts of the song 'Could it be Forever' were by David Cassidy.
Seyruun High Jinx now has a home! Ever wanted to see what the kids look like as envisioned by Frog? No? Well, you can anyway now that our staff photographer has been to their dimension and returned with photos! If you are interested, visit the website. Where? Please go to the author profile for Kaeru Shisho and choose the link. Hope to see you there! --KS
End Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT! Chapter Eighteen.