Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT!
Chapter 45
The Musical: Acts One, Two, and Three
Dig a well before you are thirsty. – Chinese Proverb
"Do I need to know right now?" Lina asked Xelloss as they all climbed into the van.
Done with the Rossburg production, they were en route to their own. Rodimus started the engine and drove the short distance to the building housing the Slayers Musical Extravaganza. Xelloss had hinted at something important Lina might want to be aware of.
"Not really," Xelloss replied. "We tossed a clan-dog a bone, and he bit. Your sister's conducting the cross examination as we speak."
Lina shuddered, "Geez, that guy's toast."
They exchanged knowing smiles. Lina's focus migrated out the window while his lingered hungrily on her.
"What?" Lina caught his eyes in the reflection.
"It's a sell out."
"Our musical? You bet! But that's not what you were thinking about."
"You taking up mind reading, too?" he smiled faintly and shielded his eyes behind a fringe of bangs.
"I'm taking up reading yours and you were studying me."
"Ah...so I was."
Lina narrowed her eyes. Xelloss knew that meant 'don't play with me.' "I'd like to take you someplace after this is all over."
"Like a date?"
"Something...longer. A week in Rio...or Cologne...or Madrid, wherever you'd like. Your choice."
"Rio, huh? Always wanted to listen to music there." She looked out the window again, then, when he thought she'd finished with him, she added, "I'll think about it."
He smiled inwardly. He hadn't told her the rest of his plans. He was just testing the waters...
"Oh, I'm getting so nervous!" Sylphiel cried out.
Cool and collected, Filia calmed her, "We're going to have fun out there. Here, I'll look you over. That tunic fits really well."
"Thanks, I practically starved myself to fit into it. Could you help me get this glove on? Zel sure has strange ideas about, you know, costumes. I mean...elbow-length gloves?"
"They make the outfit," Filia said in defense of Zel designs, "... especially with these insignia that match your tunic design. My gloves are great. I haven't shaped my nails in weeks we've been so busy, and they hide them. Is my headdress on straight? I think so, but it keeps slipping." Now Filia needed reassurance.
"It shouldn't, I think something's not right. Here, let me tighten this wire hook," Sylphiel was once again poised and confident, nerves under control.
Zelgadiss caught Zolf's attention from across the stage. Thumbs up. Security under control. He trotted on to check on Kiki who was looking over her video equipment in the sound booth.
Rodimus, Jillas, Gourry, and a serious young man from the local fire department were all re-reviewing the timers, fuses, and the plan of deployment for the multitude of fireworks and sparklers assembled. All set.
Bobby's band had proved to be real troopers, and multi-talented ones at that. The sound-system was ready. Lighting all go. Sets and props, ready as well. Each boy or girl was at their job, attending to last minute details.
The lights flickered in warning, 'Five more minutes...'
"No, Mr. Xelloss, you can't go down there. Mr. Subaru's fine. Just look...NO! Keep your head back. If the crowd sees you, they'll start screaming. They're worked up enough without that. Just peek. See? He's on the side."
"Count D? That's him with Subaru!" Xelloss giggled with excitement.
"Really? A COUNT?" Amelia was impressed by royalty. "But I just see a Chinese...man?"
"That's Count D. Very mysterious man.
"Oh, and what cute guys!" Sylphiel cried out as she joined them.
Xelloss shook his head, "The three being introduced to Subaru? They are from the CLAMP Campus Detective Agency. They're...oh it doesn't matter... I'm glad they showed up."
"Isn't that Miroku?" Sylphiel squinted in the same direction. "It looks like he brought his priest's staff."
"He had better have it..." Xelloss mumbled.
Zel joined them. "You can't miss Kagome's friends. Look for flowing white hair." He was referring to Kagome's boyfriend, Inu,
Gourry knew what Zel was looking for. From his height and with his superior eyesight, Gourry located the cluster of kids Zel was referring to with no trouble. "He's got his sword. Inu. Hiding in his long coat thingee."
Zel nodded, "Thanks." He traded glances with Xelloss. They hadn't time to search for everyone they hoped would come prepared. Buddies appeared to be spaced out evenly around the room on aisles. They had to trust. "Lina and Gourry are headed to the stage. Nahga's waving to you to grace her presence."
"See you later, antagonist."
"Right, Xelloss," Zel smiled. Xelloss was his best friend, but in the musical his role as good or evil was unclear, wavering until the end.
Lina had been standing alone. From her location behind the scenes, she could catch glimpses of faces, mostly people she knew and liked.
"There you are! You look lovely. All ready? How do I look?"
Lina jumped. She hadn't heard Grauscherra's approach. "Eh? Oh, ah yeah, thanks. And, you look fine."
"Wonderful! I'm so excited, you know. Tonight will be my acting debut."
"That's just...great." Lina wondered if she had made a mistake using the man in the finale. Would he pull it off, or was he pulling the wool over her eyes? Xelloss had promised her that he was prepared for a stab in the back, but when would it come?
"And the profits from tonight will fund several teachers' salaries and save the language department next year." He sighed and smiled wistfully. "If only this musical could run for a week, imagine what we could do then?"
That didn't sound like the workings of a syndicate leader about to bring down the Slayers. "Yeah, too bad about that. Never know, though."
The man looked around, "I wonder where that assistant of mine got off to? She has something I wanted to show you and she has my profit numbers."
Lina's eye's narrowed. This guy has got to be kidding, or think I'm stupid– a bad thing to do. "I ran into her outside."
"Oh? What was she doing out there, I wonder? I need her here..."
"Grauscherra, I don't get you and I don't really care, but Sherra was with your goons, Vurumagen and Zazan, trying to kill me or something..."
"KILL? Say what? Var-room-again? Zazan? What's with you kids and the funny names here?"
Lina continued, "Yeah, let's see if these ring some bells for you too? Kanzel, Mazenda...Zelas? Things coming together for you, now?"
"Xelloss, Zelgadiss, too! Such odd names. A Seyruun thing?" he asked without expression.
"NO, you idiot! They are your...minions, er...not Zelgadiss, he's your nephew or something."
"Nephew? What do you mean?"
"Zelgadiss, of course... Geez..." Maybe he was an idiot, too! Now Lina had considerable experience conversing with lamebrains, having both Sylphiel and Gourry to deal with constantly, so she figured to be patient and try to explain things. "Zel's mother was Xelloss' sister...a much older sister who shared Xelloss' father- who was another nasty, nasty man that I don't wanna go into right now... Okay, so it was that sister's mother who was the heir to Grauscherra Dynasty– your family. Get the link now? (As if you didn't already know all this you snake!)"
Maybe he didn't. His eyes were wide in an expression of surprise. "So that's what happened to her, my older...much older sister. I'd heard rumors, but she was said to have died."
"Oh, she did. Xelloss told me his father killed her and his own daughter later when each in turn refused to join his...organization."
"She had a daughter? A grandson? That's Zelgadiss? That one?"
Lina was about to slap the man silly, when she noticed Gourry waving frantically to her to join him. "I much as I'd like to stay and discuss your perverted family and organizational chart, I gotta musical to perform in. I gotta go find my mark."
"Break a leg, Miss Inverse!" Grauscherra said meaningfully and walked off.
The lights dimmed one last time as the recorded version of 'Give a Reason' intensified over the speakers, silencing the noisy audience. And the musical began...
Act One In the beginning, there was evil...
Scene One.
A single spotlight glowed, intensifying and highlighting two figures, one, a woman, was reclining on a chaise lounge the other, a young man, kneeling at her feet. A stream of smoke issued from between the woman's dark, red lips as she pushed a golden lock of hair behind her ear. In the background, the soulful howling of wolves filled the theater.
"You called me here for some reason. What are your orders, Zelas?" Xelloss cloaked in black used his staff for balance as he looked up, meeting her eyes in expectation.
Nahga, as Zelas, smiled and leaned forward, displaying her ample cleavage to the audience. "Why don't you call me 'Mother', okay dear?"
Xelloss shook his head and replied with a smile, "I...think not, mistress, Lord Beastmaster of the monster race."
Zelas-Nahga drew in a lung-full of smoke and expelled another breath. "You always were a stubborn child. Well, then...," she puffed again. "I have a particular job for you. It is very important, so pay careful attention, understand?"
"What is it you want?"
"I want you to get close to Lina Inverse, follow her, become an important part of her life."
"Lina. Is that all?"
"No, that's just the beginning, but the most important part. I also want you to get to know Zelgadiss Greywords better as well. They will become the two most important people in your universe."
"Besides you," he smiled.
"Yes, dear. I am always your number one priority. You live or die at my whim. Follow them and certain others I will have you draw into our net."
"But, why can't I just have friends and lead a normal life for once? What if I just...refuse?" Xelloss' voice cracked with despair.
"Oh...do you need to be reminded? Stand and remove your shirt."
Xelloss regained his feet gracefully then lay his ruby-topped staff aside. He unclasped his cloak and let it pool at his feet. Next, he untied the deep yellow sash at his waist, yanked off his matching turtleneck, and let them fall amid gasps from the awe-struck audience. Very few people knew he concealed a scarred torso beneath his clothes. It was something real that no makeup could have created. One of the observers, their principal, frowned. Lina had given him some new facts to think about and now this.
Clouded in a haze of smoke, Xelloss waited.
"Come closer," she purred.
As she raised her burning cigarette to his exposed chest, a few voices in the crowd cried out, "No!", hoping to stop her from pressing the lit end against his chest.
"Xelloss..."
He reached out and grasped her wrist, "That won't be necessary. I will collect these... friends and follow them, awaiting your orders."
"Yes...you will." Nahga-Zelas smiled and sat back. "Don't forget your place. Remember, I will be watching you everyday."
"I won't forget, my mistress...Zelas." He stooped to pick up his staff and clothes, pausing a moment to give Nahga a wink before straightening up.
"Zelas!" The hiss raced through the audience, repeated as kids grasped the association of this character with their past high school principal.
Sara killed the spotlight and brought up dim floor lights to enable the set crew enough light to see by. Nahga and Xelloss walked nimbly off stage as Zangalus, Val, and Gourry's brother Joey found their marks.
Joey had been a last-minute addition. Originally, Lina had thought to use Miwan to play the young Val part, but amid tearful calls from Gourry's mother and pleading ones from Joey, Lina relented and had him and Zangalus practice their scene at home. They had a chance to run through it again on stage only once– Lina hoped it would suffice.
Scene Two.
A smoke machine operated by the lanky-framed Lee of the Flying Figs, poured out wafts of mist to add to Nahga's nicotine smog. The set was bleak, like gray stone cliffs, and dark, punctuated by flashes of light and sharp claps reminiscent of a battle fought in the distance.
A tall man with a flood of red hair bore down on a young man, huddled in fear at his feet. "Grieve, yes... for all your people are dead, but not for long. We must leave here and I shall take you with me." Zangalus-Gaav unsheathed his sword. "You can stay here and join the bones of the dead, or come with me...join me..."
Joey-as-Val pushed a soft lank of green-dyed hair out of his eyes and looked up into Zangalus-Gaav's face. "I don't want to die," he cried out.
Zangalus-Gaav grinned (which was an awful thing to see. Zangalus rarely smiled because of his crooked teeth.) And grabbed the boy by his hair and pulled him to his feet. "Of course not. You are the last of the Ancient Dragons and harbor tremendous power. You shall be reincarnated as a monster and take my name...ValGaav!"
Another hubbub of 'ValGaav?' echoed throughout the room.
"G-gaav? Y-ou are the m-monster Lord Gaav?" Joey-Val gasped.
"I am Demon Dragon Lord Gaav!" Following this disclaimer, the man appeared to drive his sword through the chest of the boy.
Both shouted and yelled in their shared agony, as the lights dimmed for the next scene change.
Lee and Luke, percussionist and violinist for the Flying Figs, shoved and heaved the sets around. Gone were the stone walls and in place were their carefully constructed break-away shrine walls and bare trees concealing flares and sparklers within their trunks. Everything used in this scene was coated with anti-combustive material. Lina hoped Gourry was right about the concentrations he mixed. She didn't want to burn down the theater this soon into the show!
As with the previous scenes, the lights would begin low, highlighting only the few active participants, but as the actors multiplied on stage more illumination would be added.
John ticked off his roles on a hand jokingly, "I am so lucky a guy to play a dirty, low-down murderer, a maniacal, murdering, mad-child; a murdering mad lord; and a murdering madman of a priest," meaning a common thief, Phibrizzo, Darkstar and the Red Priest. He jangled his ring-topped staff and took his position on what appeared to be the upper level of an open stairway with an elegant swirl of his ankle-length scarlet cape.
In a quick-change move, Zangalus ripped off his 'Gaav' trench coat revealing a plain gray-blue tunic underneath. Pearl, the Flying Fig guitarist, handed him a hooded sorcerer's cape in return for the long red wig, and held his sword while he adjusted the cape's clasp at his throat.
"Yeah, at least I get to be one of the good guys...as well as a murdering madman..." Zangalus shot back in a low voice nearly smiling.
While Zangalus freed his stringy, brown hair from its ponytail, Pearl checked that the blade was returned to the sheath hanging at his side. "Lookin' good, Mr. Inverse, Sorcerer Supreme," Pearl winked.
His smiled and pulled the hood over his head, and, sporting a faint blush, entered the stage as the red-toned spotlight found John-the Great Red Priest.
Scene Three.
"Don't be a fool, Red Priest! If you let loose with your spells, you'll kill yourself...me...and the priest and his family that are still holed up in this place. I don't know if their little girl got away yet. She's only a baby, little Sylphiel! Leave the shrine, come with me. I am a powerful healer as well as sorcerer. This madness you suffer from can be cured!" Zangalus-Inverse shouted.
As Lina's CIA father, who died after evacuating most of the shrine while attempting to talk the madman into turning himself in, Zangalus hoped he did the man proud.
"No! Nooooo! Inverse, you cannot save me...and...the Monster race shall not take my soul!" John-Red Priest hollered in his best impression of a man possessed. "I shall destroy all my records and myself!"
Jillas triggered the fuses causing impressive explosions with sparks and voluminous clouds of smoke to haze over the stage. Cries of surprise and shock were scattered throughout the auditorium. The sets fell apart on cue and the two men fell. And when the smoke cleared, everything had worked perfectly and the audience understood that more good people had just been used up by the evil monsters' agenda.
The prerecorded background music changed to an upbeat, motivational Slayers-Flying Fig tune. Bobby, as leader of the Flying Figs, directed his team smoothly to change sets, arrange the next collection of props, sweep the floor of ashes, and he would have been up in rafters supervising Sara handling the lights if he could have been in two places at once. The gloomy sets were rolled off and the stage was transposed into a forest glade, a crossroads running through it. Bobby, satisfied that all was well, returned to his post in the sound booth. The audience's enthusiastic applause wound down as the lighting brightened and Lina strode confidently on stage, whistling a tune.
Act Two But there was also hope!
Scene One
From both sides of the stage, a thundering herd of kids clothed as raggle-taggle bandits surrounded her. Bad guys Jillas, Gravos, Miwan, John, and Zangalus, masks drawn over their faces, closed in on Lina. Gravos wasn't especially good with memorizing his part, so John had taken the bandit-leader's lines. "Hey, didn't anybody ever tell ya that it ain't safe for little girls to be out wandering alone? Why don't you hand over what goods as you've got, and we'll kill ya quick like."
The bandits all chuckled in evil agreement.
"I'd rather hold on to my gold and my life, so just move it, buster," Lina said in a level tone, hands on her hips.
"Git 'er," John nodded towards Gravos.
"Argh!" Gourry bounded between Gravos and Lina. His sword cut a swath in the air, seeming to slice through the bandits with each arc of his swing.
Lina stepped back, arms folded over her chest and a smile on her face. To the audience she said, "Well, if he wants to do the dirty work, who am I to stop him? Now where do you suppose these guys dropped their loot?"
While Gourry finished hacking up the bandits, Lina located a bag of gold half hidden in a clump of brush. "Yes!"
"Oh? Whatcha got there?" Gourry wiped his blade on his pants and sheathed it. In two long-legged strides, he was at Lina's side.
"Huh? Oh... nothing!" she chirped and hid the heavy bag beneath her long dark cloak.
"Oh, the robbers' loot! That's good. You'll need that, huh? So, ah... My name's Gourry Gabriev."
"Ah...Lina Inverse, Sorceress Supreme." Lina flipped her hair over a shoulder, a shoulder enhanced by enormous decorative shoulder pads and a floor length cloak. That, plus her shiny, ruby-red body-suit and high-heeled boots, made her easily the most recognizable character on stage, which had been Zel's intention when he had designed the costume.
"Lina. Well, looks like you'll be needing a guard," he smiled down at her a moment, looking her over. "I can do that, seeing as I am one." Indeed, if his chest covered with armor hadn't been a dead giveaway, his sword-play was!
The lights dimmed and the spot split, one on Gourry, who spoke to the crowd, "She's a lot younger than I thought. Kinda disappointing. I was hopin' to rescue a babe!"
Next the other spot focused on Lina, whose turn it was to speak out her thoughts, "Geez, he's pretty handy with that sword, but not so sharp up here, eh?" She pointed to her head and chuckled, "Heh, heh..."
The lights were back on Gourry, who said, "But I can't just leave her here. I'd better stick with her till she gets home to make sure she's safe."
Then Lina said, "Guy like that might need me to make sure he doesn't get taken advantage of. Guess I'll let him tag along with me for awhile."
When they turned back to one another and he patted her on the head affectionately, the audience twittered and whistled. The two did have chemistry on stage and a lot of history together.
"Yeah, guess you can follow along..." Lina smiled.
"You bet. Now, where we goin'?" matching her smile.
"Atlas City! Come on, let's go!"
They exited the stage together, ran around backstage and re-entered from the opposite side.
Amelia tugged at her blouse and flouncy skirt nervously.
"You look fine...really nice, Amelia." Zel his chest warming at-- what sounded to his ears –- the unnatural compliment issuing from his lips.
She grinned and winked in return, "Thanks, Zelgadiss. So do you!"
Zel rolled his eyes thinking, That's what I get for being nice...and... it wasn't so bad, after all...now that I think about it... He cleared his throat as he fought the blush continuing to creep up his neck, "Time to go on now..." then he urged her forward with a gentle push.
Scene Two
Zel stood at the side out of sight and watched his friends. Amelia was quite a good actress with a loud, clear voice and good articulation. She did her perky act, greeting Lina and Gourry, asking to join them on her way to Atlas City to deliver an important message from her father, the prince of Seyruun. Lina wanted to look into some rumors of hidden treasure in the mountains nearby and Gourry hadn't considered what he'd do once he got them there.
Zel checked his watch. They were doing great keeping the pace right on target. He listened for his cue– there, Amelia finished her solo number. Zel pulled the cloth mask over his face, and then leapt onto sturdy rock blocking the three travelers.
"Eep!" Amelia squeaked as she jumped back in alarm.
"I'm in a hurry," Lina growled. "So, make it snappy, then get outta my way."
"You are Lina Inverse?" Zel asked.
As she nodded, "You gotta name, buster?"
Zel hopped off the rock and stood no more than a foot from her. "You may call me Zelgadiss. And, Miss Inverse, you have something of mine. I'm willing to pay...a reasonable price, of course, to get it back. Then I will leave."
"Take down that mask, then we'll see about negotiating," Lina demanded.
Zel sighed in defeat, and then lowered his mask to reveal his scarred face. "If you insist...Satisfied?" he asked spitefully, knowing how disturbed they were by his appearance, especially the little girl whispering in Lina's ear.
"He's so...suspicious-looking," Amelia noted.
Gourry stepped up, "Ah, what happened to you, ah...Zelda-geus?"
"That's Zel-ga-diss by the way, and I need that particular magical object from you to cure myself," Zel directed his last statement to Lina bluntly ignoring Gourry's question.
"Miss Lina's a strong sorceress and I'm a white magic priestess and princess of Seyruun. Give us a chance to cure you of...of...what is it you've got?" Amelia asked.
Zelgadiss launched into a musical retelling of his transformation from young lad to disfigured shaman swordsman. At the same time, far from the stage outside, dark figures entered the theater grounds. Two climbed trees, another three scuttled around the far side of the building to claim their outposts, and two more mounted atop the roof and disappeared.
Zolf felt his cell phone buzz and stepped into the foyer to take the call. "Zolf here. Already? Understood. Ah, things are going as planned. There are people staked out all over. No, no sign of them yet. Okay."
Meanwhile inside by the aisle, Sanosuke Sagara, known to his friends as simply 'Sano', spotted an old enemy from out of town and bristled.
"What's the matter?" asked Megumi, his girlfriend for the past year and one half. She graduated with honors the year before and was currently a first-year medical student at Seyruun University. In preparation for an excepted fight, Megumi had taped his hands to protect them from the impact of his tremendous blows. She noticed that he'd been on edge all afternoon and that his older friend at his side was tense as well.
"Nothin' yet," Sano muttered. He elbowed his cohort and ally in need, Kenshin.
Kenshin had noticed the intruder as well- Hajime Saito, a syndicate assassin out of Kyoto. He was not surprised, just saddened that such an evil man was out after these young people. Kenshin's violet eyes glittered as he fought to balance the opposing forces in his mind-- man of peace vs. swordsman. One nod was his answer, followed by a sharp tilt of his head to one side, and the unnoticed movement of a hand to his sword hilt on the other.
Sano followed the movement with his eyes to scan the audience. He found who his friend wanted him to see on the far side of the room. "I get it; Aoshi's showed up with that tough little Misao chick. Good, we can use the back up."
"What's Sano saying?" Kenshin's young girlfriend, Kamiya Kaoru, asked. She shared a few of Filia's classes at the high school, while Sano usually hung out with Val in his classes.
But further discussion was silenced by Megumi's hiss, "Shhhhhh!"
Kenshin smiled apologetically and turned back to the show. He was fond of the Slayers. Zelgadiss had been his sword-technique student for a short while last spring and summer, and a promising one at that! And Lina was such a firebrand, like his girlfriend in many ways. Sano was a friend of Val's and he knew Xelloss from the dojo. Since Val had moved out of his trailer and into Xelloss and Zel's house last year, he and Sano hadn't had much time together, but occasionally they'd meet to play pool. They had all come 'prepared for action' to the must-see musical.
Scene Three
The musical background track changed indicating a lighter mood was coming up. Xelloss stepped out from behind a tree, appearing suddenly in the road. "I'm afraid that little trinket isn't what you're looking for."
Zelgadiss frowned. "I have never met you before. You couldn't possibly know what my business is with these people, and it doesn't concern you anyway!"
"Oh! But I do!" Xelloss chirped merrily. From out of nowhere, it seemed, he produced a small book and waved it in the air.
"Hey!" Lina shouted. "Where did you get that from? That's mine!"
Xelloss smiled benignly and continued, "This contains some very interesting spells, but it's not for you!"
"My cure! Give that to me!" Zelgadiss demanded.
With a puff of smoke and some well-practiced slight-of-hand, the book disappeared from Xelloss hand.
"Wha...!" Zel gasped moments before unleashing his ire, while Lina's face turned pink as she sputtered, "N-no!"
With a coy smile, Xelloss added fuel to the fire, "Oopsie! Well, as I said, it didn't have what you wanted."
That didn't matter either. For a few frenzied minutes, both Zel and Lina threw fits while Xelloss calmly looked on.
"Ah, hello. I'm Gourry Gabriev." Gourry used the moment to introduce himself to the stranger.
"And you may call me Xelloss, the Mysterious Priest. Don't let the name fool you, though; you can trust me."
Stopping her tantrum long enough to hear that, Lina looked the smiling man over. "Oh?"
Zel snorted, "Never!"
Xelloss face fell in disappointment. "Oh my..."
"I think you hurt his feelings, Miss Lina...Mr. Zelgadiss." Amelia turned to Xelloss. "Help us fight for what is right and for justice and earn our trust!"
"That doesn't sound like the Lina Inverse I've been looking for," Zel muttered.
Lina looked a bit embarrassed, "Well ah... I'm not really all good or that bad, really..."
Xelloss brightened however. "Wonderful! Then I'll begin with some news. Although that book was of no importance to you ('...but full of oodles of dangerous spells I couldn't possibly let fall into your hands...'– he directed to the audience), I do know of another book of interest."
"You do? Where? Where?" Lina demanded, then backed off and tried her fool-proof, 'cute-girl' act. "Oh, please Mister Priest, tell me where to find that marvel? Pretty please?"
With a killer smile, Xelloss replied, "There's a shrine on the outskirts of Ridkou Village. I believe you'll find what you are looking for in there."
"All right!" Lina shouted triumphantly. "And it's on the way to Atlas City!"
"In that case," Xelloss removed his wrist bands and gaudy belt clasp. "You'd better take these talismans..."
"Ruby spell amplifiers!" Lina cried out. She clawed them out of his hands and slipped them on before he changed his mind.
"What's the price for them?" Zel asked.
"Nothin'! You heard him! He's givin' them to me!" she insisted.
"Well, I might exact a small fee..." Xelloss purred as he moved in on her and kissed her.
Lina turned red as one of the gems. Again, that 'kiss' was not scripted. He was supposed to speak the line as an aside to the audience!
The crowd applauded with verve and chanted, "More! MORE!"
"Come on, let's go!" Gourry shouted, usurping Lina's line.
"Ah, sure!" she agreed and took off with Gourry right behind her.
But when Amelia started to thank the nice priest, he was no where to be seen. "That's odd. He was here just a minute ago," she wondered, but not for long. She had to run to catch up with the others.
They exited stage left and the curtain lowered for the next act amid murmurs and applause from the audience. Most of the people watching recognized the funny parallels between the characters on stage and the real Slayers band members. Xelloss was a tease, especially toward Zel and Lina, while Amelia wanted to right the wrongs of the world. Lina was greedy and self-centered, but Gourry was the opposite, like a balm to her roughness. The parody was just close enough to be funny...
Next time, Act three...
From the Authors:
Eighty-eight new illustrations for the High Jinx Stories!
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, Summer Special, and NEXT. Pictures for other stories are associated with their links.
KS
End Seyruun High Jinx –NEXT! Chapter 45.