Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT!
Chapter 37
A Passion for Fishing
"Why indeed? Who knew he could water ski, or would want to at the end of a rope in his street clothes?" -- Xelloss
Fishing For Passion
"Oh Amelia! Bonjour! Mes amis..." the lovely young lady with shining, shoulder-length dark hair worn clipped straight rattled off her greetings in a confusion of French. Her bangs were short, revealing high-arching, expressive eyebrows, and chocolate doe's eyes. She was no longer plain or girlish, but striking.
She fell into Amelia's arms and tearfully told her how happy she was to be back 'home'; that is, after Amelia managed to get her to switch languages and slow down. From there, Kiki greeted each of the other Slayers. Lina yanked Gourry away from the hors d'oeuvres when Kiki drew closer. Mrs. Andrews took over a protective stance by the table of food, ensuring that everyone could get a nibble. Xelloss stood back, smiling and listening. He alone understood all her excited jabbering.
"Whoa, you've grown!" Gourry said as he gave Kiki a hug. "Bet you're taller than Lina... Hey Lina! Stand here an' let me see. Oh, yeah...lots!"
Lina was about to hit him upside the head, when Kiki stepped into her path. Kiki was pleased with his compliment. "I am so happy not to look like a twelve-year-old any more. Lina, you are so petite, but you look mature and you have the most beautiful hair!"
Lina smiled charmingly and thanked her. Kiki managed to say the right things to make others feel good. Zelgadiss she greeted with a warm smile and the lightest touch on his arm. "You have new earrings! So stylish!" she said causing him to blush dreadfully bright.
Yes, Xelloss noticed how nicely she was growing up. She twirled around and flashed him a dazzling smile. "There you are!"
"Bonjour, Kiki. Comment allez-vous?"
"How formal you've become," she giggled and hugged him too. "I'm fine and the house is wonderful! My room, you had it painted lavender, my favorite color. You remembered! That was so lovely of you."
"My pleasure." He bowed grandly, which made her laugh more.
Voices from the next room could be heard. Kiki's parents had presented the mayor with a couple crates of wine and were making sure they were being properly stored. Her mother led the trio back where the kids were gathering.
"Ah, mama, papa, these are my friends who could make it tonight. This is Lina... Gourry... Sylphiel..."
Her mother extended a chilly hand shake to each person in turn, and her father, a small mousy character with bottle-glasses, followed in her wake nodding and muttering a word in acknowledgment with each introduction. The woman stopped her daughter and questioned her in a low voice, to which Kiki replied, "Un moment..." and continued her introductions. "Val... Filia... Zelgadiss..."
The intense woman fixed her gaze on Xelloss, the remaining one to be introduced. In her native language she addressed him, You must be the young man we have to thank for the lovely home.
"Mais qui," he demurred. But when the woman reached out, clasped his arm and pulled him closer he straightened up and paid more attention to her posture and the perplexing signals she was sending out. She looked him over, intently. You are a nice looking boy. A little too pretty, but you are young yet. She stepped back and smiled slyly at Kiki. So this is my future son-in-law?
"W-What?" Xelloss gasped. Had he misunderstood what she had said?
Now, none of the other kids, or Phil could make out what she had said or the rest of the conversation for the next few moments, but it was apparent that Xelloss and Kiki were both confused. Xelloss turned white as a sheet as he listened carefully to what the woman was saying. Kiki was angry and trying to argue, while Xelloss alternately attempted to quiet her and ask his own questions.
Lina's patience wore thin pretty quickly. "What's the problem? Xelloss? What is going on?"
He shook his head and spoke to the mother a little longer before Kiki burst into tears and he parted from her parents.
"Ah, it is so awful, unbelievable!" her voice wavered. "Mama says our engagement is still on."
"That's impossible!" Lina said. "You turned him down a long time ago. Ancient history. Here, let me explain it--"
"No, she had something, a contract she says. That's what they're talking about now."
"Oh, Miss Lina, this is so unjust!" Amelia cried out.
"It's a stupid mistake." Lina nabbed Kiki by the collar. "Or is it? You wouldn't be trying to entrap the guy, would you? Yeah, why else would you come back? You figure you can get at any money his mother may have left him?"
Horrified at the notion her friends might think that of her, Kiki burst into tears and hid her face in her hands. "Oh no! Never. I just couldn't. If I had known she would do something like this, I would have warned him immediately! Please, believe me!"
Amelia was first to comfort her. "Of course you didn't know. I mean, I know you like Mr. Xelloss, but to get married at sixteen!"
"Shush, here comes Xelloss. He's probably cleared it all up," Filia said.
Gourry, Val and Zel had gravitated together into a protective triad to wait out the keyed up group. Arranged marriages, forced marriages, heck, any marriages at all were unreal to these guys in their late teens. Things of the past, or of the far, far future for them.
"Okay? Xelly? Can we finish up and go home now?" Filia swept past the others to have a look at him. They hadn't spoken since his birthday and he had been low then. He was not happy now either. His eyes hidden by his bangs, chin down, he stormed by her without a word. "What the...?" she muttered.
Val and Zel did a quick 'you or me' back and forth. Zel won and Val trotted after Xelloss. He getting to be so res-pon-si-bull!
Lina had gravitated back to the table where Gourry joined her, as did Sylphiel and Zel. Amelia first spoke to her daddy about the perceived problem, then pulled Kiki to the table beside her. "Things will be okay. Daddy won't let you get hurt. He'll make it right. There must be a misunderstanding. Look, here come Mr. Val and Mr. Xelloss back."
Xelloss stood by Val at the end of the laden banquet table. Conversation was limited while everyone ate, everyone except Xelloss and Val. Val knew what was 'eating' Xelloss, sorta, and it had killed both their appetites. Zelgadiss calmly tasted his plateful of food, he could wait and get the lowdown later, now he was attempting be a good guest and not draw undo attention to himself. Lina and Gourry were shoveling it in like there was no tomorrow. Filia kept glancing at Val and Xelloss nervously as if she expected one of them to sprout wings and fly away... or blow up. Amelia and Sylphiel engaged Kiki in conversation, attempting to draw out a few stories about her summer.
It was a tense party, made more so by Xelloss' now silent but unpredictable behavior. Lina was sick and tired of all the gloominess. She had to do something. Fast. "So, Kiki, we got this gig on Sunday, here in Seyruun, if ya wanna come hear us we could get ya in. The next weekend it's a beach trip."
Xelloss surprised her by answering. "I am sure my fiancé would love to come along. We have a lot of catching up to do. Don't we?" He pasted on a smile for good measure.
"Fi-ance, yeah, right," Lina grabbed a soda. Another situation Xelloss somehow fell into and would climb out of eventually. She didn't give it much more thought.
Zelgadiss was immersed in conversation with Sylphiel. He had heard what Xelloss had said, but let it pass. Instead, he asked Sylphiel about her arm and her car.
"I really miss that old car," she cried. "Father said I don't get another, either. It was his old one. Mother says he should get me one and I agree, but, you know, dads are hard about money stuff."
"I know," Zel nodded. "Xelloss had to guilt Rezo into giving me the keys to his old heap, and he couldn't even drive! Would your father object to my helping you out? A trade, say, for all the costume work you are doing for me?"
Sylphiel's face lit up, "Oh Zel! You're the sweetest! You'll come ask him? If I do, father will think I made you, probably."
"Yes of course I will," Zel agreed. He wondered what it was with girls and 'sweet'. Lina had called him a (gag) 'sweetie pie' and now he was the 'sweetest'. He wanted to be tough, thoughtful, but tough. Not sweet. He reached for a soda-- no too sweet, make it an iced tea, plain no sugar-- and blundered into Amelia.
"Oh, sorry Mr. Zelgadiss! My fault. Clumsy old me!" Amelia sounded overly bright, distant, and formal.
"It's all right, I wasn't looking where I was going either." Zel looked down, trying to catch her eyes. "How are you?"
His soft tone sent a shiver through her. "Me? Okay! Just fine." She glanced over the heads. Her daddy was deep in conversation with 'the mouse', Kiki's father. "I miss everyone... you," she whispered. "I really made a fool of myself the other night. I'm so sorry I put you in that terrible position. It was a mistake, one of many I made."
"You really surprised me, in lots of ways," Zel admitted. "I never would have believed you would do something like that, but," his turn to scan for the man, "I thought it took a lot of courage." He wanted to say more. Did he have a chance? He leaned forward and whispered into her ear, "You were very beautiful," then pulled back, spun around, and took off, blushing furiously and cursing Xelloss for having put the notion in his head to tell her such a thing. He should know better than to listen to him. Look at the mess he's got himself into, AGAIN!
Amelia's eyes widened and her mouth fell open. Had Zelgadiss just complimented her? Yes he did. He didn't hate her; he had just said several nice things to her, with no rebukes. Had it all been worth it then? Yes, absolutely! Yes, even if her current freedom was being curtailed, it was worth it.
"You look the happiest I've seen you in many weeks," her father commented from behind her.
"Yes, Daddy. Thank you for letting me see all my friends like this tonight. I missed them."
Phil replied, "Next, we must help your friend, Kiki. There's a problem here that must be resolved."
"We must see that justice is served!" Amelia cried out.
"For justice!" both father and daughter shouted together with a clap of their hands.
"What do you think that's all about?" Filia nudged Lina.
"I dunno, but I hope it means I get my band back."
School? Lina couldn't have told you what color they'd repainted the main hall over winter break. Her mind was elsewhere. Several elsewheres. After the Sunday band performance (without Amelia), which had been another success financially, it was back to classes again until the weekend trip. Amelia's presence was still uncertain for that, but Joey was on board. Lina's meetings with Xelloss concerning the musical had been productive. Her to-do list was growing, but the items were more detailed, like: secure theater for rehearsals, dance practice for everyone, lighting–Rodimus?
And on and on.
Then there was the other problem. The new problem. Whatever was going on with Xelloss and Kiki, he was keeping it to himself; that is, ever since she'd tried to pry it out of him that first time at her house.
"So, you're going through with it?" Lina put in the CD of musical numbers. It was time to finalize the timing of the dance routines with her finished dialogue.
"By 'it', you mean 'marriage'? Yes, unless–" But then he didn't finish. He had almost revealed something of importance. "I honor my commitments," he finished instead.
"Right. Over Candy that fast?"
"Is it Candy you're asking about?"
"Well, yeah..." Lina realized he was referring to her and blushed. She took a step backwards.
"I'm quite fickle, it seems," he said coolly stepping toward her.
"You didn't use to be."
"Things change."
Lina shook her head. Her back was up against the living room wall. Things might change, but his nature didn't. That woman, Kiki's mother had something on Xelloss, and was using it to control him. Why? Well, to get at his inheritance, of course. Lina always thought in greedy terms, which is why she was so often correct in her analysis. And, since she knew he would not tell her his secret, she was going to have to go through Val and Zel.
One more step and she could feel his breath on her face. He leaned forward, bracing his arms on either side of her head. He searched her face for something– consent, approval, condemnation? Out of the corner of his eye he could see her hand clenched in to a fist.
He smiled, sighed, and pulled away. "Not worth the effort."
What? "What's not worth the effort?" Lina snapped. Boy, he'd better not be thinking I'm not! Whether she wanted his attention or not, her pride knew no bounds.
This time he laughed aloud. "What? Why you, Lina! I don't need to add your reprisals to my other problems right now. I may be messed up, but I'm no masochist! Come on, let's go back to..."
"Hold on. Are you rejecting me?" Lina was steaming up. She reached out and grabbed both his forearms.
"No, I'm not even trying, Lina." His voice grew husky. Instead of pulling away, he hesitated and looked away.
"You're...you're trembling. You're afraid of me?" Lina asked surprised and pleased at the same time.
A chuckle rumbled from his chest as he shook his head in the negative, "Oh...my...Lina..."
A tiny frown creased her brow. Insulting her intelligence now?
Feeling her ire rise, Xelloss grew serious and cleared his throat. His eyes lost their humor and glistened wide and deep. "I'm ah...trembling with excitement, not fear. Anticipation, suspense, hope...but not fear." His face softened and he caught her eyes with his. He added simply, his voice low and thick, "You thrill me."
Lina's mouth fell open. She was nearly weak-kneed at his admission; immobile as he leaned in close again, eyes closed. Outside, a car door slammed shut. Luna coming home. What he'd said was about as corny a line as she'd ever read in cheap romance novels-- Sylphiel's books which she had 'looked at', not hers, of course. However, the way he'd said it, and meant it, gave her goose bumps. A little tingle of excitement stirred the air between the two friends. Who'd back off first, or make a move? Only seconds to go before Luna walked in that door... Who'd show fear and give up before her sister walked in?
Luna opened the door. The next song on the CD began its introductory guitar riff.
Xelloss re-opened his eyes and slid Lina's hands from his arms to his hips, then placed his firmly on her hips. "Three steps forward, pause four counts, three back and pause. On a count of one, two, three, and four..."
Luna dropped her bag and watched the dance practice in progress. They were good together. Xelloss made everything they did appear effortless, which it probably was for him, while Lina was nearly bursting with energy emanating from her petite body. Luna watched with fascination until the song concluded. Xelloss had swept Lina off her feet to the side, partly onto his back, and now she was slinking down to the floor, their lips nearly meeting when her motion ceased.
"Go on...kiss her you dummy!" Luna taunted him.
But he didn't. He straightened, steadying Lina in the process and smiled. "Can't do that, I'm afraid, my knight. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm practically a married man." He smiled and bowed to the confused Luna. "So, my work here is done. See you tomorrow, Miss Lina!"
He danced out the door before Luna had the opportunity to cross examine him. So she launched into Lina instead. "What did he mean by that?"
"I guess it skipped my mind," Lina said with a bored expression. "Somehow Xelloss is engaged to that girl from France...Kiki again."
"You are pulling my leg. I don't like that!"
Lina cringed. "It's true! He is! Although, he's not too crazy about it. I think he's being forced into it by her parents for the-gods-know-what reasons. Val and Zel are working on him for info."
Luna was appalled. "Marriage isn't a game! It's about a serious commitment of two people for life!"
"Save the lecture for him. I'm not the one getting engaged. If you run, you might catch him at the bus stop." Lina turned off the music. "I've got studying for finals tomorrow," she said and left the room. "I'm not getting involved."
At first, Xelloss was the picture-perfect boyfriend. They sat together at lunch each day her first week back at Seyruun High. He'd walk Kiki to her next class, holding her hand and carrying her books. It was sweet, in a way. She was the envy of many a girl. After that, he'd leave with Lina and work on the musical, maybe return for Japanese class and then walk Kiki home. From there, he'd bus to his own home. He was very attentive.
He called on her one day at home, and took her for a walk around his favorite old neighborhood and to the park, in the rain. They shared an umbrella, his arm around her shoulders holding her close. Very chaste and sweet.
One evening, he brought her over to his house. It was a cold, clear night and they sat outside on the rock wall by the hot tub and counted the stars until their limbs began to grown numb with cold. So romantic. Ah, young love!
"So, he tell ya anythin'?" Val asked Zel in the kitchen as the couple outside was star gazing. "Lina's been leanin' on me for some in-for-ma-shun."
"No, and I haven't asked." Zel met his golden-eyed gaze. "Lina is bothered by all this? I thought she'd be happy to have him off her case."
"Not if it's somethin' syndicate re-la-ted. This sounds like a contract."
Zel nodded. "But he's not a part of that so how could he have entered into a contractual arrangement?"
"How 'bout when he promised that little girl the first time?"
"Oh..." Zel looked serious. "Zelas was furious that he'd attached himself to Kiki. I remember at the time wondering if he'd done it more to get her mad than for that ill-conceived contest of ours. But I thought that ended when Zelas contacted Kiki's parents."
"Wonder how contracts get closed out?" Val mused.
"Someone dies, or it's carried out."
"Think he was old enough at the time to have made a contract with that little girl that Zelas couldn't break?" Val asked.
"Possibly, but I must be missing something here. Kiki was too young, surely, to have made a contract stick, so her parents... Why would they have wanted her to marry Xelloss? Why do they now?"
"Lina'd say 'money'," Val supplied. "I'd say money and mebbe a threat against 'em."
"How did they figure Xelloss had money? Zelas wouldn't have let that slip if she didn't want them to marry. Xelloss wouldn't have said a thing. So how?" Zel shook his head. "That's the question then. Who got Kiki's parents to want them to get married and so make his original proposal into a binding contract?"
"I dunno. I don't know if he knows either."
Sighing, Zel added, "I'm not even certain we're right, but it would help to know. It might give us some insight into how we're going to help him break the contract."
Val flipped a wedge of green hair out of his face. "We gonna do that?"
"We're going to do something, if he'll let us."
"What if he wants to marry the kid? They look cool with the whole idea."
"Then...we'll make sure first. Ah, they're coming back in," Zel warned and turned the page of his chemistry book. "But they're not."
"C'mon, just call and ask. That way you can keep me safe from all the fan girls. It's just the one night and you're not staying in a room with me– banish that awful thought!" Xelloss laughed. He handed Kiki his cell phone, punching her number code. "There, now just say...'Mama, can I go to the beach with the Slayers this weekend? I'll be staying with Amelia, Filia, Sylphiel, and Lina. And Xelloss promises...' Ah...what do I promise? Not to...ooooh, sounds too negative. How about I promise to make sure you're happy?"
Kiki was alternatively pushing his hands away from an encompassing embrace and shushing him in order to make the call. "Shhh, allez-vous-en...go away! Oh, bonsoir..."
"Or, I could get us our own room..." he teased.
She blushed and turned away chattering in French to one of her parents.
Zel looked up as Xelloss fell into a chair next to him. "Aren't you pushing her a bit hard?"
"How do you mean?" Xelloss returned.
"This time last year, she was too young to date. She's not a college girl."
Xelloss rolled his eyes, "Zelgadiss, protector of ladies' virtues. Aren't you the righteous one?"
"Nothing wrong with treating girls with respect."
"Cir-cum-spect in your case," Xelloss smiled.
"They're people. You used to think so, too," Zel insisted.
"Yeah, well just wait. Once you get close and open your heart to them, they'll rob you blind...just tear it out and make you come begging for it back. Once you lose your own self-respect over one, you start re-thinking girls and maybe you just use them back." Xelloss stood up to go after Kiki.
"You are so screwed up," Zel said to his retreating back. "You're logic is faulty because you just came out of a bad breakup and you are hurting. Why not just give it rest for a few weeks? Kiki's a nice kid. So were you not so long ago."
Xelloss looked back over his shoulder and smirked, "I tried 'nice'. It didn't get me what I wanted. So now...? I'm trying something else."
Zelgadiss started to rise and continue his argument, when Val stopped him. "Let him mouth off, if that's all it is, and I think it is."
"They said 'yes'," Kiki said as she handed Xelloss his phone back. "I hope Amelia can come too."
Xelloss smiled as he said something inaudible into her ear, then led Kiki to his room and closed the door.
Zel sank heavily into his seat at the table and opened his book again. They both pretended to concentrate on their homework for a few minutes.
Finally, Zel sighed, "Finals. You know, when these are over, he and I are done with high school. Sure, we'll do the musical, but we're doing that for Lina, really."
Val nodded. "So, that's what...Japanese and Lit finals?" He could see that Zel was really bothered by what had just occurred, but if he wanted to talk about something else, well...that was okay by him.
"Yeah, nothing for the computer lab and the math and science at the university were done before break...different schedule."
"Congratulations then. I'll take ya both out ta celebrate when yer done. Never did get to that pool game before."
Zel smiled, "Sure thing."
Then they heard Kiki shrieking.
Xelloss had closed the door behind him. "Come here. Sit down. It's time I told you a few things about me." He settled himself onto his neatly made bed, plumped a pillow behind his head, and patted the empty place at his side. He could see that Kiki was nervous and unsure. "Come on."
"Can't we do this someplace else?" she asked as she edged closer.
"Nooooo." He smiled. She was a head-strong girl, he remembered. "Just sit. There are people you should be afraid of, but I'm not one of them." He waited her out. Hers had been a very sheltered life and her experience with men was nil. Shy and innocent was more Zelgadiss' type, he decided as he waited a bit longer. Yes indeed... older girls really do suit me better.
Seeing that he was patiently giving her the opportunity to think it over, she slowly relaxed and rested on the edge.
"So what are you so anxious to tell me, Xelloss Metallium?"
"You really know next to nothing about me. I thought I should tell you a few things," he began. He gave her a brief version of his life and how it was interrelated with both Zel and Val's. "Take the principle at your school, Grauscherra. From what we've been able to piece together, he's with the syndicate with orders to seek us out and eventually kill us, us being the Slayers."
"Non..."
"Oh, yes, and he is Zelgadiss' uncle, although the two haven't introduced themselves to one another that way. Ah, Zelgadiss' accident was an attempt on his life to stop him from inheriting both the Red Priest's property but a bit of the Grauscherra Dynasty's as well. Why? Because his mother wouldn't play the game and got offed, and he, the infant boy lived on, and they finally had a chance to get him again. He was in line for power and money, and not under the syndicate's control. They failed on their next attempt but he was changed forever– the chemical burns and all. They just tried again last week in Rezo's laboratory, but this time it was a different organization that tried to recruit him."
"Another? So confusing..."
"Another-- led an aunt of mine." Xelloss stopped and thought about what to say next. "Val. Scary looking guy, huh?"
"He's tough..."
"He could have been all refined like Filia, had his mother not had the bad luck of being taken in by Gaav. Oh, yes...another syndicate guy, but a renegade one who had parted ways with the main group and had started his own second-rate organization. What he did to Val is not as visible as Zelgadiss' scars, but he was very nearly ruined. Gaav was my first stepfather and he marked me..." Xelloss' voice faded away.
Kiki was looking at Xelloss wondering what to say. He had been telling her a few things about the syndicate throughout the week, but the family facts were too confusing for her to follow. She was totally unprepared for what was about to happen. He hopped off the bed and began pacing while continuing to talk.
"But it was my mother who was tired of waiting for me to become a worthwhile syndicate recruit...I ah...have a chemical imbalance in my brain which makes me...different. It's called ADD. Anyway, so I was damaged goods so my mother wanted me either killed or put away...so when my dance instructor took a special interest in me...she bought him off and used him to destroy me...my ah...second stepfather, by the way." He paused to pull off his sweater and straighten out his t-shirt.
"The syndicate destroys people. Everyone it touches becomes spoiled or broken in some manner. Me included. I'm telling you all this because you are being used, we both are. Someone got to your parents and scared them or made them promises...some kind of a deal if they made you hold me to this...this sham of a marriage. You don't want it, and I certainly don't! You must help me find out who's behind it."
"But Xelloss, I have tried! They tell me nothing! They say you built that house and gave to me, for me, as a proof that your proposal was still real. They say you have money, but I see that you live so ...how you say...? Frugally! They said you were after my money...the family estates and vineyards but your mother called and cleared that all up... a deal was made, I guess. I had to sneak and listen in on their phone calls to learn that much. I can't go against what they want."
"You are afraid of your parents? Oh, Kiki...you are not afraid enough of the syndicate. Marrying me would be just the start of your suffering. No you don't understand what they can do..." He was staring at her intently, and then, when he was certain he had her full attention, he ripped off his t-shirt revealing the horribly scarred skin on his chest and back.
And Kiki couldn't help herself. She screamed.
"Huh?" Val snapped to attention.
Zel jumped over the table, bolting out of the kitchen and banging open Xelloss' door before Val stood up.
Xelloss felt time stop. He had the luxury of time on his side. He caught Zel's eyes as the angry blues flashed a warning his way, then he saw something else.
"Leave her alone," Zel growled. He had stationed himself between Kiki and Xelloss.
"I wasn't touching her," Xelloss said, keeping his voice low and raising his hands palms out in a non-threatening manner. Yes, he's seen that look in Zel's eyes before.
Zel turned to Kiki who had covered her mouth with her hands and trying to breathe normally. "You all right now?"
She nodded, "T-those markings...I...t-they...are..."
Zel patted her gently on the back. "Yes, they are terrible. He had no business scaring you that way. Xelloss, I'm taking her home." He stared at his bizarre friend, daring him to stop him.
Yes. Recently, when Zelgadiss was hoping to save 'Rubia', Xelloss had seen that expression in Zel's eyes before. Before, that, too. Yes, he had seen Zel look that way before. Passionate. Sometimes Zel allowed his passions to surface and show. Zel did care about others, besides his closest friends. Zelgadiss did 'fall in love' and he loved to save damsels in distress. Mr. Denial... could it be that he liked Kiki more than anyone might have guessed? Xelloss smiled. Yes, Zel had liked her last year right after meeting her. Lavender was her favorite color...
"Xelloss! I said–"
"That's fine. I understand. Go ahead. I," Xelloss swept her face with his purple gaze. "I only meant to show her what the syndicate does to people. Good night, Kiki. Zelgadiss will take good care of you," Xelloss added quietly and turned away.
"All right then...Do you have everything you brought? Good. Ah...out the front door then," Zel muttered, now self-conscious about his show of emotions.
A Passion for Fishing
"Finals are over and we have what amounts to a three-day weekend at a resort at the beach!" Lina yelled as the van rolled past the outer limits of Seyruun.
"Not to forget, Lina-darling, we have to work most of the time," Filia added with a smile.
"Yeah, but I get out of a basketball game where our team was gonna get creamed!" Joey shared.
Gourry peered out from under his long shaggy bangs. "If Mom had known ya had a game, ya wouldn't be here."
"Yeah, well, I didn't tell her. You didn't either!" he was quick to add.
"That's 'cause when Xelloss called ya ta ask, we didn't think Amelia would be coming an' it was real important that you did."
"So, now I'm here and I ain't goin' back."
"No one's saying that you have to," Lina chipped in. "Band beats a game, right?"
Joey grinned her way. "Yeah, what Lina says is right. Lina's co-ol."
"Oh gods," Filia exclaimed a bit too loudly. "Another one's fallen under her spell."
"Who's that?" Kiki asked.
She and Amelia were sandwiching in Zelgadiss in the middle seat, behind Filia in the front beside Zolf who was driving. Lina, Gourry and Joey sat in back. Val, Sylphiel, and Xelloss volunteered to ride with Rodimus and the equipment so that it wouldn't be too crowded. Zel had offered to join them instead of Sylphiel, but for some reason, Xelloss insisted that he stay instead 'for balance', whatever that meant. In any case, the van carrying the gear was running a few minutes behind the other one.
Zel looked over his back at Joey. "Joey's known Lina all his life. She'd play soccer with him, before Gourry noticed her. They were about the same size."
Kiki smiled and winked at Amelia. "Oh, I see. Filia thinks little Joey is here to be near Lina. It might be so."
"More likely than all that about basketball," Amelia snickered.
Zel closed his eyes. "Does no one ever listen to what I have to say?"
Kiki poked at him teasingly. "But of course! Now say something really deep and philosophical!"
He opened one intensely blue-green eye. Amelia tensed. She knew how he hated to be teased. He didn't like being touched either. He would probably clam up the rest of the trip.
However, to her surprise, he smiled a quirky half-smile and recited a quote, "Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities."
To which Kiki wittily replied, "That was Aristotle! I studied him. We had to learn Greek in school, too. Let's see...he also said 'Man is a political animal', which is a great truth, I think."
Zel sat up and partook of a philosophical discussion the likes of which Amelia had never known. How odd...but refreshing! Amelia joined in. She knew her civics and politics and could trade quotes with the best of them. In this way the miles flew past: Lina, between the two brothers competing, knowingly or not, for her attention and approval; Zel between the two girls competing, knowingly or not, for his attention and approval. Yeah, the trip was just dandy.
"Stop here!" Lina demanded. "It says 'We serve the freshest fish in the world'. I'll be the judge of that!"
Zelgadiss stood outside the restaurant calling Rodimus in the other van. He gave him instructions for finding the restaurant, and then turned to go in. That's when he noticed the sign on the door. 'Catch your own. Reserve your place on a boat today!' He wondered if Lina had seen that, and hoped she hadn't.
She had.
"We can go out in what...a half an hour and be back... Say! Yeah, you cowboy dude! You the guy in charge of the fishing trips? Yeah, if we wanna go now, how long will it take? We gotta gig at nine tonight."
"Good afternoon." The man Lina had addressed adjusted his pale cowboy hat, tipping it to the lady, and causing the fringe on his vest to sway. "Yes, I'm the owner of this establishment. Name's Ashford. Did I understand you correctly? You want to go fishing now? Well, I reckon I can arrange that and get you back before five o'clock. It's still winter. We don't fish in the dark." He was an older man than Zolf, who had just stepped back outside. He sported a short white beard and moustache, which he was twirling nervously between his fingers. He looked the girls over, probably hoping they'd just order burger and fries and go. "However, it's quite costly. You kids might not be able to afford it."
Then his eyes rested on the slight young man entering the room.
The proprietor smiled. "But...I can make a special exception for you."
"Eh?" Lina twisted around to see who he was addressing. "Zel? He's with us, so if you give him a deal, ya gotta give to all of us!" Lina demanded.
Amelia and Gourry, who had gone to the restrooms to wash up, entered the room. They were sharing a chuckle over some joke on their way back into the main entry. When they caught sight of Lina, Filia, Kiki, and Zel standing, Gourry asked, "We gonna eat here, aren't we?"
Ashford's eyes widened. More happy memories flooded his mind. With a sudden change of heart he declared, "Trip's on me. Come on kids, I'll teach you how to round up doggies...er...catch fish like professionals!"
Lina's eyes lit up. Free fishing trip! What an odd duck that guy was, but she wasn't about to argue the price now. "Hey, that's great, but we gotta wait for the others."
"No time, no time!" Ashford shouted. He shooed the entire group of outlandish-looking kids out the back door. "Must hurry if you want to get back before dark!"
"Go on," Zolf urged them. "I'll wait here for the others. We'll find something to do."
"Well, I'm not going on some nasty, smelly boat. I don't even eat fish!" Filia announced.
"I'll stay here with her," Kiki volunteered. "I get really seasick."
"Fine," Lina shouted. "Come on," she ordered Gourry. "That guy's already on the boat."
"But we didn't even get lunch yet," Gourry reminded her.
"Then we better get going and get this over with. It's 'all you can catch!' If we catch it, this guy'll cook it for us. That means the more we get the more we eat! And Zel, don't you even think of going back. You can swim, I know it!"
"It will be fun, Zelgadiss!" Amelia added cheerfully.
"Oh...joy..." Zel muttered as he was washed aboard with the happy crew.
"Arrrrr, me mateys. Now fer the open seas!" Lina intoned in her best pirate captain's voice.
"Well actually...we'll begin in the bay. Chances are, we'll catch plenty and not have to face the big briny. Mighty choppy today..." Ashford muttered to himself.
"Fine with me. So, where the nets?" Lina asked.
"Nets? Where's the sport in that? Start with poles!" Ashford tossed a fist full of fishing gear to Gourry, which tangled immediately in his hair.
"Yo!"
"Hello, Val...Xelloss...Sylphiel. Come on in and sit down. You can get lunch if you want."
"Yeah, sure. Where's everyone else?"
Zolf gestured toward the giant picture window. "You can rent a telescope and watch them fish on the bay."
Rodimus had found an empty table with a comfortable bench seat, stretched out, preparing to fall asleep. "Or you can borrow my binoculars."
"No thanks," Val smiled and settled in at a booth nearby with Filia and Kiki. "'Lo la-dies."
Val made Kiki a little uneasy. He was loud and crude and those studs and tattoos had to have hurt! But with Filia there as well, she felt safe enough.
Xelloss was speaking to a waitress and in a few minutes, he took a glass of water back out to the van. "Sylphiel got a little car sick on the trip here. I think she'd feel better if she got some fresh air, but for now she's resting in the van with the doors open," he explained to the others.
"Do you want to order lunch?" Filia asked him.
Xelloss shook his head. "I think I'll see how the fishermen are doing."
"Take Rod's binock's then," Val suggested.
"Ah...don't mind if I do..."
Filia watched him leave, and wondered how things were going between him and Kiki. "Is he ignoring you? Poor baby..."
"It's okay. I like him, but...I resent having to get married. He does, too."
Filia frowned. "So why do it? I don't get it!"
Nobody did.
"I can't say," Kiki murmured. "Please, don't be mad."
"I'm not mad, exactly, just... You know, he just got dumped by his girlfriend before you came back..."
Val interrupted, "Ah, if he wants her to know 'bout all that, he'll tell her."
"No, he wouldn't. Xelly will just grin and bear it. He leaves the messy stuff for us to tell. So, this other girl just ups and decides to marry her ex, leaving Xelloss hanging. And that came after the one before who used him to get Rezo's old lab notes. I mean, he's got a lotta good points, but he's a glutton for punishment when it come to girls."
"He told me about his life, some."
Val added, "He scared ya with all those scars, huh? I about lost it the first time I saw 'em."
Filia and Kiki both nodded in agreement, then Kiki said, "His face...it's so beautiful. You don't expect..." she shivered at the remembrance.
"Yeah, well," Filia wouldn't have called Xelloss beautiful, but if Kiki thought so, fine. "Zel looks even worse, I think, but after awhile you just see beyond all that and then..." Filia paused and smiled slyly. "Then you're stuck with nerd-one and geek-two."
Kiki giggled. "That's good; I like stuck! I like them both! Zelgadiss is very fun to talk to. He knows so much. And, his eyelashes are so long."
"Huh? He doesn't have any," Filia insisted, although she tucked away that bit of information for further thought. She likes Zelgadiss, does she?
"Oh, but he does! I can't say about the eye he keeps covered up, but his other one has them now. You wouldn't notice because you see him all the time and intentionally try not to stare at him, but I haven't seen him in many months. We sat side by side on the ride over, and I noticed."
"Well..."Val adjusted his black headband. He certainly hadn't. "...shit..."
Meanwhile, Xelloss had strolled out to the outdoor patio seating for the restaurant. There were a few wooden tables under a tattered awning and a small green park beyond that. At the edge of the narrow grass lawn was one magnificent, low-branched tree. With little effort, Xelloss climbed up onto a tree limb to get off the cold, soggy grass. From his vantage point, and with the aid of the pair of binoculars he'd borrowed from Rodimus, he focused in on his ship-bound friends. A moment's observation was all he needed to feel content that he'd been left behind. "My, my...poor Gourry. That doesn't look like fun to me. They may have to cut some of that line out of your hair. Watch it Amelia! Don't yank it all out! Tough luck, Gourry..."
He chuckled and lowered the binoculars. A cool, damp wind stirred his loose hair. "Would you look at those clouds? I think a feel a change in the weather!"
"Is that you up there talking to yourself, Xelly?"
"Filia? My, how nice of you to come visit me!"
"Yeah, well, think what you like. Sylphie's feeling better and we're all thinking about ordering lunch so come in," Filia ordered.
"But it's so entertaining out here!" Xelloss smiled down at her. "We can eat over there."
Filia looked at the tables. "It's chilly, but I'm game. If that's what you want, than come in and tell the others yourself.
"O-kay, do-kay Filly-dear!" He jumped off the limb and landed quietly, all in a single fluid movement. "What are you looking at?" He raised a finger to his face.
She continued to stare closely at his face. "You shaving yet?"
"That's pretty personal, Filia."
"I was just wondering, that's all."
"About what? My personal habits? Or my progress to adulthood?"
"I was wondering what color it would be, that's all. Val won't tell."
"You think his beard is green?" Xelloss made a face. "Ooooh, I see what you mean. How dreadful! Well, what little I grow is dark like my eyebrows, but the sun might lighten it, I don't know and I won't either. I hate facial hair. When Gaav lived with us, he had a huge red moustache for short time. Zelas hated it, too, and made him shave it off. I remember it always seemed dirty...crumbs...beer suds..."
"That's gawd-awful!" Filia grimaced and waited as he held the door open for her to enter first. "Ugh, now I've got that image in my head...and right before eating, too! Xelly! I just hate you!"
Xelloss simply giggled in his odd way and followed her into the restaurant. He knew she didn't mean it, for a change. In fact, odd as it had been, he noted, that had been one of their easier conversations.
A few minutes later, the whole gang was outside on the patio seating.
"Here, let me help!" Amelia cried out. "Stay still, Mr. Gourry, so I don't hook you." She passed Lina one of the freed pole and lines. "You can get started, if you like." Amelia tugged at a particularly knotted mass. "Just a little more..." The hook broke free, but so did her grip on her purse. "Oh, no! My purse! Ooooh!" She watched it sail, a flash of pink against the gray background of sky and bay, and then it was gone.
Amelia scampered to the side of the boat and pointed down into the water. It looked like molten lead under the cloudy sky. "There it is! Floating still... Oh Mr. Zelgadiss, how do I reach my purse?"
"I'll try fishing it out," he said. Taking one of the poles, he let out some line, and lowered the hook to the surface. "Too light-weight..." He bent far over and stretched out his arm.
"I'll hold you, so you won't fall!" Amelia hugged him about the waist, anchoring him in place. "Have you got it?"
"...push..."
"What was that?" Lina shouted down at him "Push what?"
"...over... almost...each..."
"Can you hear him?" Lina asked Gourry.
"He wants somethin' pushed over."
"I'm guessin' not this..." Lina courageously removed Zel's wallet from his back pocket. "Over he goes then!"
And with a push, Zel headed for the sea.
Down,
down
went Zel.
"Miss Lina?" Amelia looked back up from the rippling surface. "Is he going to come up? "
"Sure, as soon as gets your bag. Don't worry 'bout him. Now, where did that other pole go...?"
Amelia peered over the edge watching the tiny rising bubbles. "Shouldn't we throw him a float?"
"He's a great swimmer these days," Lina began.
Xelloss had returned to his outpost and resumed his surveillance of the ship-bound friends. "Oh, my...what are you up to now? Careful...careful, Amelia. Watch the purse. Ah well...it's gone now."
"What's gone?" Filia called up to him. "What are you looking at?"
"The fishermen."
"Fishermen? Can you actually see them out there? Are they catching anything?" Kiki popped up as well.
"It is hard to say," Xelloss answered with amusement in his voice. "Gourry so far has caught his hair in the fishing line. And, ah...Zelgadiss just jumped, or fell, overboard in an attempt to retrieve, or fish for, Amelia's purse. Now, he'd better find a way to get back on deck, or Zelgadiss will catch a cold. Plenty of 'catching' going on, but none of it likely to end up on a plate."
"Water's cold," Gourry remembered and tore a doughnut-shaped float from its moorage at the side of the boat. He waited a moment more for Zel's head to pop up, and then called. "Hey Zel! Grab this!"
Followed immediately by Amelia's happy shout, "My purse!"
Now, Zel trusted Gourry, but he was unable to see a thing– the purse was resting on his head, the handle dangling over the single eye not covered with matted hair. "Ah!" Zel gasped for air the moment the float hit the water sending a wave into his open mouth. "Gah, ha ach..." he coughed, grappling with the buoy.
"Be careful, Zelgadiss! Don't lose my purse!"
With whatever ounce of attention he could spare, Zel ripped off the vision-obscuring bag and flung it as far as he could. The small pink bag with the white faux-fur trim flew high into the air, skidded across the deck, and then was fortunately stopped from reentering the water by a coil of rope.
"Hurray!" Amelia cheered.
Xelloss chuckled, "Ho, Ho!"
"Now what! Give me those binoculars so I can see!" Filia demanded.
"Go get your own, or listen."
"Tell us!" Kiki and Sylphiel both squealed excitedly.
With a condescending smirk aimed at Filia, Xelloss continued. "Okay, our hero, Zelgadiss, has saved the purse, but who is going to save him? Some strong young man might haul him up if he had the wit to pick up that rope I see... Oh, and here comes Lina! I hadn't been following her progress up to now. Oh, well I stand corrected. Lina has caught a fish, considered eatable by most right-thinking people."
Filia, the sole vegetarian in the band, cast about for a large rock or stick to knock him off his perch.
"Yeah!" Lina shouted, but for a different reason. "Hey, Gourry! I caught a fish using a hook full of your hair!"
"You did?" Gourry's attention was diverted from Zel's plight to Lina's triumph. His hair? When had she-?
"Hey!" Zel shouted, finding his voice at last. "Get me out! Gourry! Damn you anyway! Gourry!"
Amelia waved her purse in the air and smiled down at him, "Thanks!"
Bobbing up and down, his clothes glued to his skin, Zelgadiss looked like the miserable wretch he was. He sighed and shivered. "Get Gourry over here to pull me up! Make that before I freeze!"
"Okay, I will!"
But Gourry was having problems of his own. "Oh, no. Please, Lina...no. It don't work that way."
"Sure, just jump in and the fish will be all over you. You didn't see it, but they really went for your hair."
"Mr. Gourry! Zelgadiss needs you to pull him out before he freezes!"
Relieved to have an excuse to distance himself from a crazed Lina, Gourry let Amelia drag him to the far side of the boat. "Ahoy there!" Gourry waved. "You gotta a rope?"
Zel frowned with his one visible eye. "Does it look like I have a rope? Where would I have gotten a rope?"
"What's happening now?" Sylphiel squinted out to sea, but could only spot a blurry dark speck.
"I can't make out what's up with Lina. She's excited about her fish and seems to want something from Gourry."
"What about poor Zelgadiss?" Kiki cried out.
"Things don't look so good for our hero, I'm afraid. Gourry, our devoted knight-in-shining-armor, managed to throw him a lifesaver, but now he seems torn between saving him and serving Lina."
A dark shadow passed below Zelgadiss, then was lost under the boat.
"I got one!" Gourry shouted, holding the rope high over his head for Zel to see.
"Hurry..." Zel urged him. "There's something big out here..." He looked frantically side to side. A knotted end of rope hit him in the back of the head. "Ugh!"
"Hold on."
Zel wrapped the unwieldy rope around the floating ring securing it with a slip knot, then gripped the free end with a numb hand. "Ready!"
"Ah, good news! Gourry got a rope to Zelgadiss and both are busy tying ends to objects, hopefully Gourry' is unmovable. You can never tell with him..."
"Xelloss!" Sylphiel shouted up at him. To make certain he stopped poking fun at Gourry, she slapped the ankle of his freely dangling leg.
Lina stomped over. "What are you up to Gourry? You should be helping me get some fish, not..."
"But there's somethin' big down there," Gourry pointed out as the huge shadowy creature of the deep swiftly swept the area.
Lina's eyes went huge as the dinner plates she imagined might hold a couple of steaks craved from such a beast. "Hey! Ashford! Get over here! What's that big thing in the water?"
"Gourry?" Zel's voice was plaintive. "What's going on? Pull me up!"
"Why that's a Lake Dragon shark!" the man shouted from the pilot's cabin.
"Is it good to eat?"
"Well, yes, but it's a nasty bugger to catch. I'm headin' us out past the jetty to the open water and try an' lose it." Ashford revved the motor and let out the throttle.
"Whoa, Zel!" Gourry yelled tightening his grip on Zel's line. "Hold on!"
"Ahhhhh!"
Xelloss sat up sharply, hitting is head on a limb. "Ouch! There seems to be another problem... or opportunity, depending on what end of the rope you are on, I suppose..."
"Don't be obtuse, Xelloss!" Filia snapped.
"They-who-are-safe-and-dry-on-deck have been pointing with great fervor at something which appears to be swimming in the water with our hero. Yup! Lina's making her demands known. Their captain is taking her wishes to heart and is now taking to the high seas."
"What? That's insane! Isn't Zel in the water still?" Filia screamed.
Val, hearing this, decided to get closer to the action. "Gourry pulled him out, right?"
"No, no our brawny boy scout did not, has not. The ship is heading out at right good clip, dragging Zelgadiss along."
"Oh, no...I wonder why Zelgadiss wants to ride like that?" Sylphiel asked.
Giving her a long suffering look, Xelloss replied dryly, "Why indeed? Who knew he could water ski, or would want to at the end of a rope in his street clothes?"
Gourry hauled up a very, wet, cold, and angry Zelgadiss. He felt bad about having to wait so long to get him out of the water, but while the boat was moving, it had been all he could do just to hold on to the slippery rope. Amelia found the tiny 'galley' and a few supplies to make him a mug of hot chocolate, while Gourry found him a towel and blanket. Zelgadiss, grumbling all the while, removed his sopping wet shoes, socks, jacket, and shirt. The pants would stay on, regardless. Wearing the thin blanket like a cape, he submitted to Amelia's ministrations in shivering silence, accepting the mug with a curt nod and, "Thanks...no tea?"
"No, I'm sorry, Zelgadiss. I found coffee, but I don't know how to make that, but this just called for hot water."
"It's all right."
Another wave rocked the boat, and Zel's arm, causing the drink to splash his hand. "Grrrr..."
"I'll go see what's going on!" Amelia cried out, and left the cabin.
"The boat's stopped. Ah...good. You will be relieved to know that Zelgadiss is safe once again aboard the boat. He's disappeared into the cabin for the time being. Amelia's with him. And now she's not."
"Maybe he found dry clothes to change into," Kiki surmised hopefully.
"That's...a possibility! Seems the winds picking up out there. Damned dangerous fishing weather..."
His further forecasting was interrupted by a young waiter.
"What can I get you today?" the waiter asked.
"I think I'll have the crab salad," Sylphiel said.
"Ah, We are out of crab today."
"Shrimp, then."
"Ummmm, sorry. No shrimp either."
"Fish and chips?"
"Actually, we have no fish at all."
"Huh? Why's that?" Val asked. "Strange fer a place ad-ver-ti-zin' it. I'll have a hamburger."
"Very good, sir. Um...There's this giant shark called a Lake Dragon that moved back into the bay this winter and it eats up or chases away all the fish."
Xelloss looked up. "Oh really? Is it dangerous to people?"
"Sure! It's huge! It could swallow a whole boat! Now, I can recommend the tomato bisque with sourdough bread and a green salad."
"I'll take that," Filia said.
Xelloss found nothing of interest on the menu. "I'll pass and eat later."
"If you'd like, I can arrange to have your lunches carried out here. I'll light the Tiki torches and you'll be toasty!" The waiter, pleased to have found some way to appear helpful to the kids, left the patio.
"We're hitting a little current here..." Ashford was explaining to Lina and Gourry.
"More like it's hitting us," Lina shouted into the wind which was whipping up their hair. "Gourry! Tie that hair of yours up before it strangles me...or you. So, Mr. Ashford, I thought you were going to teach us how to fish, but so far I'm the only one that's caught anything, and that was with an ordinary hook and Gourry's hair as bait. I wanna catch something worthwhile, and that big dragon shark is as good a fish as any– better 'cause it's bigger. But now you are trying to get away from it."
"Well, it scares off any fish it doesn't eat. Bad for fishermen. I don't see it now." Ashford cut the boat engines entirely. "Time for me to demonstrate the correct technique for lassoing bass..."
"He missed all of Lina's subtle signals," Amelia whispered to Gourry.
Gourry smiled and watched as the short girl made certain the man got her message using her more obvious gestures. Clenching the man by his skinny red tie, she nearly choked him as she yelled, "Bass my ass. Forget them. I wanna go after that monster fish, get that? What's the matter? You said they were good to eat, right? So, you gotta problem Mr. Fisherman? Don't you know how to catch one?"
Lifting her off the man's chest, Gourry bought Ashford a brief respite from Lina's wrath. When he could breathe again, Ashford answered, "Oh, no. I've been training to catch dragon sharks most my life!" His eyes misted over as he recalled his past, and then looking at Lina he said, "You remind me so much of my dear, sweet daughter. So energetic! I promised her I'd continue to hunt them down ever since one ate her...Well, you are so much like her."
Lina folded her arms. "I am?" She preferred to think she was unique. "Well, ah...so...how do we get started? I don't imagine you go fishing for those monstrosities with little poles like these?"
"No, absolutely not. You have to throw knives like these," he produced a box of assorted dangerous-looking knives of differing lengths and styles. "I'm an expert."
Lina could not imagine how you'd catch a fish that big by throwing knives at it, and decided that the man was wacky. She would have to do it her way.
"Ah... Couldn't we just fish for the little fish, Lina? It's all the same to me, and we got time to catch lots," Gourry suggested. "I'll take a turn with one of those fishin' poles." He stood with his arm outstretched, but Lina was now looking at him curiously. "Why're you looking at me, Lina?"
"I'm just thinking where to take off some of your hair. If the little fish go for it, I'll just bet the big one will too."
"Oh, Lina...no..." he begged, backing off.
"Looks like an agreement's been reached," Xelloss noted. "The boat is turning back. Lina wants a chance at that shark, you can bet!"
"Has Zelgadiss come out of the cabin yet?" Kiki asked. She sipped at her ice water. "Breadstick?" She offered Xelloss one.
"Thank you. What I don't understand is what it is that Lina wants Gourry to do. It must be pretty awful because he keeps shaking his head and running away from her, which is probably wise considering Zelgadiss' condition."
"True. Gourry has good animal instincts."
"Filia! Not you, too! That's like, so unfair to say about him!" Sylphiel cried defensively.
"Sorry, Xelliness is catching..."
"Speaking of Zelgadiss..." Xelloss said a bit louder. "I believe he's putting in an appearance at last."
Zel was feeling marginally better. He was no longer shivering and was partially dry. The cocoa boosted his energy level enough for him to recount the past few events. "Oh..." Then panic set in. He patted down his wet pants to be sure. "My wallet! Oh, gods...no...it's gone... My driver's license! University ID...high school! Oh joy...when do I have time to replace those? It's the weekend! Oh..." He sank into a pit of justifiable misery.
Then he noticed the boat engines were on full speed ahead, in the other direction. Back to the bay. "What the...?" He tightened the blanket around his shoulders, stood, and wavered out of the cabin, heading for the great outdoors.
"Thar she goes!"
"That's 'blows', but who's counting?" Lina muttered.
"But it's not blowing nothing! I mean, that dragon fish is over there!" Gourry pointed out. His vision was sharp due to not having ruined it by reading too much.
Amelia's 'Zelgadiss sense' cut in, alerting her to his presence in her vicinity. "Zelgadiss, Are you okay now? Miss Lina wants to catch that big fish. It's called a Lake Dragon shark and it eats everything!"
"Oh really..." Zel remarked in a detached manner. "By the way, if it is a shark, then it's not a fish."
"Sharks aren't fish? I didn't now that!"
"So, why do they call it Lake Dragon shark if it lives in the ocean?" Zel asked.
The cowboy-fisherman stopped the boat before answering. "They live in water where rivers wash into the sea, mostly back bays, estuaries. Story goes, they live in some lakes, but I wouldn't know. This one's been here a long time. When I first moved here, I had a ranch mile or two off. My dear granddaughter," he turned toward Amelia, "who you look so much like, was playing in the water. My daughter saw the terrible creature jump out of the water and snatch her away in his jaws!"
"Oh, how awful for you!" Amelia exclaimed.
Lina's eyes narrowed. "I thought you said your daughter was eaten by it."
A tear formed in the man's eye. "Yes, her too..."
"And you said I looked like her."
"Yes, just like my daughter." Ashford wiped his eye with his pocket handkerchief. "And you are the spitting image of my son-in-law."
"I am?" Gourry asked.
He nodded and blew his nose. "And you..."
"Don't tell me," Zel sighed.
"My beautiful wife..."
"Damn." Zel turned his back on them all and cursed his karma.
"But then, I studied hard under the best Lake Dragon shark killer of all time. I vowed to get my revenge someday. And I nearly did, once. But then...it just up and left. I started this restaurant and started fishing, hoping it would return and I would be ready. It's been back a week...and now...with you as my inspiration, I'll take it on with my own hands!" Ashford declared.
Lunch was delivered to the outdoor diners.
"Looks lovely," Filia said of her salad.
"Burger and fries, yeah," Val grinned her way.
"I meant mine."
"And I meant mine," he returned, and then chomped into his hamburger.
Unfortunately, as good as it looked, the food from the restaurant was really bad tasting.
"Can I bring you something, Sir?" the waiter asked of Xelloss who had climbed down to examine the meals served.
"What would you recommend in a dessert?"
"Ah...the ice cream. It comes from town."
"What kinds?"
"Vanilla."
"Okay. Simplest is best."
"Bring me some, too," Val added, abandoning his cold, limp fries. Why disturb their greasy rest at the bottom of their basket?
Flinging her napkin over her nearly full plate of vile tasting greens dressed in catsup-like sauce, Filia also gave up. "One more here."
"Me, too!" begged Kiki.
"Oh...I guess one bowl won't be so bad," Sylphiel sighed.
The waiter beamed as he filled their water glasses. "Five ice creams, coming up!"
"So, what's happening on board the Good Ship Suckers-all?" Filia asked.
Xelloss snickered, "The salty cowboy has been weaving a tale of high sea adventure, I figure. Looks like that's about to come to a precipitous end."
"Here it comes!" Gourry had spied a curious wave making a bee-line directly toward their boat. When it had grown to nearly the size of bulldozer, he apprised his fellow fishermen of its impending assault.
"Eh? Geesh!" Lina gasped at the shark's enormity.
Amelia clenched Zel's arm in a vise-like grip. "Ahhhh!" she cried out.
Zel could only look on in amazement. He was swimming with...THAT!
"My gods! Even I can see that! Are they nuts?" Filia screamed. "Get outta there! Get Out of THERE!"
"Listen to Filia!" Kiki shouted.
"Oh! It's just too terrible to watch!" Sylphiel wailed.
"Xelloss! Think we outta try and help them?"
"Ah..."
The huge animal it the side of the boat with a resounding crash and splintering of wood. "There goes the skiff!"
"And all hope of escape..." Zel uttered with dismay.
"We need a distraction, something for it to focus on while I execute my 'Super sharp knife attack!' " Ashford announced.
"On it!" Lina shouted. "Gourry, time for our 'eat my hair' attack!"
"No, Linaaaaa...!" He was so concerned with keeping his feet on dry deck, he didn't notice when Lina removed his wallet, then his foot slipped and over he went.
All five kids were up and shouting from the shoreline. "Get out of there!"
Xelloss put the binoculars to his face and watched the show, close up and personal. "That thing's amazing! It just rammed the boat and tore up something. There's trash flying all directions. Whoa! That isn't trash! Gourry's overboard!"
"WHAT!" Sylphiel screeched in horror.
Gourry thrashed about until he got his head above water and put his lifeguard training to use, He started treading water before pulling a few strokes to bring him to the boat.
Zel dropped his blanket. "Grab it!" he shouted down at him as he tossed the handy 'rope with doughnut attached' over the side. "Although, you might be safer swimming to shore."
"That's the way! She's got you in her sights!" Ashford cried. "Watch it now, she's coming about! Heading your way. That's it; get your back to me!"
Indeed, Zel might have been safer had Gourry chosen to swim. As the rope uncoiled, a loop encircled his foot, tightened, and yanked him off his feet. "NO! Don't grab it!" he corrected, but it was, of course, too late.
Gourry already had the buoy around one arm and was pulling the rope taut. "Got it! You can pull me up now."
Right.
One more tug and Zel was doing another uncontrolled diving exhibition for the onlookers.
"There goes Ze-el..." Filia called out. She had nipped the binoks out of Xelloss' hands, now that he was out of his tree and standing close to her table. "Oooh, poor guy. Back in the water."
"At least Gourry's got company." Sylphiel was wringing her hands.
Lina considered her situation and drew another conclusion. It was time for her to take over. "Ashford! You good with a lasso? Yeah? Then, rope that baby! Slow it down and don't let it get away!"
"Yes!" he shouted and pulled a lariat out of nowhere. He tied a knot and looped up a rope, around and around his head, the loop enlarged and rounded out into a lazy 'o'. "For my wife and son-in-law!'" He let out a whoop and let'er fly in the direstion of the shark's gaping maw.
"That idiot roped the shark like a horse!"
"Lemme see," Val begged Filia for the binoculars. She batted his paws away.
"Oh, my gods! Lina!"
"What? WHAT!" Everyone yelled at her for more information.
"If yer not gonna let me look, give it back to Xelloss. He does good com-men-ta-ting."
"Thank you," Xelloss said with a nod as Val stole the equipment out of Filia's hands and crammed it back into Xelloss'.
"Va-al!" Filia was astonished that he would do such a thing.
"Now, now," Xelloss said. "No fighting while our friends are in peril."
"Got her!" Ashford yelled. "I'll rope 'er in close and hold 'er tight. You...go for brain...between the eyes!"
After choosing the largest knives she could find in his box, Lina, stashed her wallet collection into Amelia's arms, and then ran to the side. With a cleaver in one hand and a nasty looking carving knife in the other, she hesitated at the side of the ship long enough to locate the kill spot. That was one hellava big fish. And then she jumped before she lost her nerve.
"Lina! No! She jumped over! Lina's jumping onto the shark's back!"
"Yaaaahoooo!" she chortled as she hit the water and the slippery, firm flesh of the fish. Instantly, she was driving the longer blade past the resilient skull and then giving it a good hard twist for good luck. She winced at the sound of cracking cartilage. Using the embedded knife as a handle gave her the leverage she needed to go for the final killing stroke. She slammed the cleaver with all her pent-up- violent might past the brain case, splitting the monster's head open.
"A howling success! A dead-eye aim!" the crazy man shouted in triumph.
"You betcha!" Lina grinned.
"She did it! She killed it, I think."
But then, Lina's hands began to slip. Coated with gore, she couldn't keep her grip on the long knife buried to the hilt in the dying animal. The shark started to buck and twist in its death throes.
"Hang on! Ride 'er cowboy!" Ashford yelled. "Lemme get another rope 'round'er an' keep 'er still."
"Hurry then!" Lina gritted her teeth and desperately searched for a better hold.
"Oh no!" Sylphiel cried out. "It's starting to rain! Are they ever getting out of the water?"
Xelloss, silent, watched the battle with resignation.
"Well?" Filia slapped his shoulder.
Then he gasped and shuddered. "Lina!"
"WHAT!"
One failed attempt to secure her hold, one final spasmodic jerk from the shark, and Lina tumbled backwards into the water.
"Lina!" Gourry sputtered through a mouthful of tail-wake.
Releasing his hold on the float, Gourry pushed off Zel and with long smooth strokes, swam in the direction he'd last seen her. Zelgadiss was right behind him, tugging the float and rope along.
"Lina...she's..." Xelloss couldn't say 'covered in blood and tossed like a doll into the bay', he just couldn't. "...free of the shark. Gourry and Zelgadiss are swimming to help her out."
Gourry was a strong swimmer, despite being fully clothed and with twenty pounds of hair dragging him down. Another stroke and his fingertips felt Lina's back. "Lina!" He didn't wait for her response. He hooked a brawny arm across her torso, under her chin, pulled her onto his chest, and back stroked away free and clear of the roiling water.
Amelia and Ashford were busy topside. "Mr. Ashford. How can we get them back on the boat?"
He pointed out a large net. "Help me attach that to the hook there and the winch will take care of all the hard work. I use it for hauling in the big ones."
"Right!" Amelia was glad to be able to do something, although the large net was heavy and fishy-foul smelling.
Ashford ran out the line on the pulley, secured the net and yelled, "Can you tell them to look out for the net? I'll turn the boat."
"Aye, aye, captain!"
"Here!" Zelgadiss met Gourry partway with the float.
"Yeah," Gourry said gratefully using it to support Lina.
"Lemme go!" Lina snarled, lashing out at her rescuers. "I can swim."
"Okay, Lina." Gourry was reticent to release her, but he did when he was certain she had the float securely around her.
"Quit looking at me like that. I'm not hurt, just cold, wet and getting hungrier by the minute. Zel? What are you doing here? I thought you were topside."
Before he had to explain his ineptitude, Amelia's voice was heard overhead. "Heads up guys! Mr. Ashford's lowering a big net. He want's you to... oops!"
"Ah, Amelia to the rescue. Looks she's netted herself three friends today." Xelloss smiled with relief.
"They are going to be okay now?" Kiki asked. "I'm so glad. Won't they be tired and hungry when they get in? I hope they caught enough fish to eat because...they'll be very disappointed with the food here."
"Oh, my, then there's Lina..."
"I want that shark. Cooked. Now. Anyway-- all ways!" Lina demanded.
The kids had changed into dry clothes from their suitcases packed for their job. Lina and Gourry's hair needed shampooing, but that would have to wait until they had checked into their rooms at the resort. Now, it was time to satisfy their baser needs.
"Well, I can't do the shark today. My chef...I had to let him go. He only did fish and since there weren't any... But I can get him back tomorrow. Yes, I believe I can convince him to come in then."
"Tomorrow! But I wanna eat now! Gimme the crab pot. A whole pot!" Lina was adamant.
"You'd better get her somethin'," Gourry advised. He was shoveling down all the leftovers his friends had found inedible.
Amelia was tired and simply rested her head on the table. "I'll take some too..."
"Like I said, there's no fish...or shellfish. I apologize for that."
Ashford was sweating nervously, and so he reached for his pocket handkerchief again. This time when he pulled it out of his vest, a silver locket slipped out. While he was mopping his face, he didn't notice Xelloss kneel to the floor and retrieve the locket. No one else seemed to notice either.
"Bring on the ice cream!" Xelloss sang as he stood back up. "We'll have a barrel of fun!"
Lina wanted something of substance though. "But what about my stomach? I'll stay here all night! I'll–I'll wait for your damned cook! To hell with the performance tonight! Give me--give me my dragon shark cuisine!" she cried with desperation.
Gourry and Zel sent one another a silent message. "I'll take the feet," Zel sighed.
"No, no!" she wailed as Gourry picked her up and Zelgadiss handled his share and dutifully carried her away.
"Come on everybody. We better move on now," Filia said. "You too, Xelloss. Hey, what's that?"
Xelloss opened the locket and smiled. "Mr. Ashford dropped it. Look."
Filia peered over his shoulder, and then laughed. "That's really weird. Those people in the photograph look like Gourry, Lina, and Amelia."
"And the woman there. Don't you think she bears an uncanny resemblance to..."
"Zelgadiss!" Filia snorted and laughed. "What a scream! Let me show it to everyone!"
But Xelloss shook his head. "No, I don't think that would be a good idea." And he closed the locket and set in down on the table. "Let's go."
"So at least you all got back safely. No one was hurt seriously, right?" Amelia was trying to put a positive spin on the afternoon.
Zel shook his head. He had remembered his lost wallet. "I don't want to think about it. I don't know when I'm going to get my stuff replaced... You probably lost your wallet, too, Gourry."
"My what?"
"Wallet."
"Wallet?" Amelia perked up. "Oh! I forgot! Miss Lina had them all the time, but before she jumped to kill the shark, she gave them to me."
Zel's face lit up magically. "Ah! Whoooooeee!" He leapt for joy and danced around the parking lot, putting on a display the likes of they had never seen.
"What's got into Zel? Val wondered.
"I don't know," Lina muttered shaking her head. "But it had better get out before he gets into that van, or I'll kill him." She grinned and looked in Xelloss' direction. "One nutcase is enough."
From the Authors:
Where are the pictures?
Seyruun High Jinx has a home. Please go to the author profile for Kaeru Shisho and choose the link. You will find the pictures under Seyruun High Jinx NEXT. Pictures for each of the other stories are associated with their links.
KS
End Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT! Chapter 37.