Author's note: I'm back! The first wave of exams are over, which consisted of lots of caffeine, zero sleep and lots of swearing. I had no idea I could swear in three different languages. Oh well, guess you never know until you try, huh?
Since my replies to reviewers are a little longer than usual, please scroll to the very bottom to find the answers to your questions!
Disclaimer: I do not own Slayers. But if I did, Gourry would be in a yaoi with Noonsa. Because fish need love, too.
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"Shh. . . .this won't hurt."
"......grandfather?"
"I'm going to show you something. A secret."
"But I'm sleepy. . .what are you doing?!"
"Sweet boy. . ."
Zelgadiss woke up in cold sweat, gasping for air. Running his hands through his sweat drenched hair, he breathed deeply. Those nightmares again. It had been eighteen years since it had happened, but it still scarred him, and they were getting more frequent. Silently cursing, he got up from his bed and made his way to the bathroom. Splashing the icy cold water on to his face banished the haziness from his mind. Water droplets traced their way down his pale complexion and on to the tiled floor, soon making a small puddle around him. He was still breathing heavily from the nightmare. It wasn't real. No it wasn't. It's all in the mind. He kept murmuring to himself over and over again like a mantra. But as flashes of that man's delicate face and features appeared and the memories accumulated against his will, something from within him stirred. And with sudden compulsion, he threw himself to the toilet and vomited. Coughing and gagging, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and gritted his teeth.
"Damn you, Rezo."
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"Wow, it sounds like a lot of work. Wouldn't it cost a lot of money?"
"Well, that's because it is." Filia pressed the lift buttons. "It's to announce to everyone of your debut, and from that point onwards you'll be in the public eye. Of course, money is of no question. Mazoku Records is never cheap over such matters. Oh, and Lina?"
"Yeah?"
"We'll be needing an outfit for that day. Something extravagant and new."
"Like this one?" Lina produced something from her file and handed it to the blonde woman. Filia looked very surprised, slightly hesitant at Lina's response. She hadn't expected anything to be done, especially about the ceremony which was about a month away. As her eyes scanned the paper, she glanced at the redhead, who was now chatting with Amelia. Drawing her attention back to the sketches, she couldn't but help admire the concept -- it was a marigold dress that stopped halfway just above the knees, with the rest of the dress flowing from behind. Part of it was made from another type of material that would serve as an under dress and hold up the dress at the same time so as to give a wavy feel to it. The top part was a translucent semi-cut just above the chest area, decorated with a silk ribbon. The shoulders were left bare, but compensated by having a puffy band of similar material as the dress, adorned at each arm. Amelia would fit with her innocent image yet still have something worthy for the paparazzi to go after, Filia thought wryly. She had to admit what Rodimus had said in the meeting room was true; and Lina seemed to acknowledge that in her sketches, making a little compromise but at the same time not giving in. Would it succeed? Filia felt uneasiness inside her. It was like swimming upstream against the current. They would all find out once the debut single was out. Amelia tiptoed and looked over Filia's shoulder. "That's so cool, Lina-san! It's so pretty!"
"Yes, this is excellent work. We should get this made soon."
"Heh heh, that's nothing. Hey, when are you going to start recording that single?"
"Next month. I've finished writing the lyrics and gave it to the music production team already." Amelia's eyes shone with excitement. "I got to do something!"
"Oh, Zel couldn't do it?"
Amelia shook her head. "His schedule is full this month, and he says he's not that good with writing happy lyrics. So he suggested I should do it."
"Zelgadiss has his own album to promote, that's why we haven't seen him these few weeks," Filia explained. The raven-haired girl's eyes widened at this piece of news. "Zelgadiss-san's album is out already?" she squealed. "I have to get it!"
Lina winked at her. "Hey, maybe you can get his autograph too. Cool huh?"
Filia looked confused. "Is there something I don't know?"
"Amelia's a really big fan of Zel. She's got all his CDs and stuff in her room."
Amelia could only nod vigorously with sparkly eyes. "Zelgadiss-san is so cool!" Filia could only sweatdrop while the two girls continued to chat incessantly about Zelgadiss as if they were star struck fan girls from the street. Well, actually it was really Amelia who sounded like a fanatic. She shuddered as she recalled how crazy Zelgadiss' fan girls could get; distinctively remembering several incidents where some had clamored onstage and almost torn off his shirt -- thank Ceiphied for security. Lina and Amelia weren't like that . . . right?
Hope is always a good thing.
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Gourry turned to see the petite redhead run towards him. "Hey Lina!" he greeted. Ever since that incident by the drink machine, they had exchanged phone numbers and sometimes met up for lunch. He never saw Lina at the studios anymore (he couldn't remember why, but it was something about a new job), but he thought she was pretty cool. When she wasn't hitting him with her clipboard, that is.
"Sorry for being late. Stuff about work."
"Oh okay. Let's go for lunch then." He took out a leaflet. "Someone was handing this out. It's this new place. Wanna try it out?"
As Lina scanned the leaflet, her eyes turned into big saucers. "You kidding? Of course we're going!" and without warning, she dragged him across the street at abnormal speed, leaving a trail of unsettled dust.
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Filia returned to her office, spending some rare quiet time of solitude. She sipped her tea, gazing at the view from the large windows. Things were going according to schedule and smoother than anticipated. Lina really surprised her that morning. Zelas really knew talent when it came up.
"Why Filia-san, it's nice to see you."
Hiding her displeasure, she turned and forced a smile. "What brings you here, Xelloss?"
"Oh nothing much," he wore his usual smile. "I just wanted to congratulate you on your recent success." Filia's eyes narrowed. "Success," he continued, "on signing the President of Seyruun's daughter to Mazoku Records. You never cease to surprise me, Filia-san."
She ignored him, sitting back into her seat and pretending to sort out her desk. "Hmm . . .I wonder how long you signed her for. Ten years? Funny, seeing that I heard her singing capabilities are rather, shall we say . . .limited? Oh well, that can be changed with a few good singing lessons. I wonder if she knows?"
"You could tell her, but you'd find yourself with a morale-stricken young girl and an investment down the drain. I doubt Zelas would be happy about that," Filia replied. Xelloss held his hands in mock surrender. "Filia-san, I surprised you don't trust me!" He pretended to look hurt.
"Trust is hardly an issue," she said dryly. "I wonder why you offered to be her executive producer. That's not your usual area of expertise."
"Maybe I'm just doing it out of the goodness of my heart?" he suggested.
She snorted. "Oh really. Amelia's not even your type, so it's probably something else."
"Well, it's for the same reason that I decided to let you stay."
She raised her eyebrows. "Which is?"
He wagged his finger and winked. "A secret!"
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"Hello? Anyone here?" Zelgadiss peered into the empty meeting room of the music production department. Oh well, everyone was probably out for lunch. He had planned to see their progress on Amelia's debut song. It had been weeks since he last saw Lina and Amelia. Filia dropped by occasionally to check up on him when she wasn't busy with Amelia, and she'd told him that Amelia had finished writing the lyrics. Curious, he'd decided to see what the music production team had to say about it. Randomly flipping through the papers, something fell out and caught his eye. It was a slightly crumpled piece of paper with pink writing on it. Amelia's lyrics, he thought amusedly. Very pink and feminine. His eyes traced over the words, and he frowned. Hmm . . .there wasn't anything particularly wrong with it, but it was missing something. Picking up a pen nearby, he crossed out some of the words and scribbled something in substitution.
There, he thought with satisfaction, it's perfect now.
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Author's note:
Ishy-chan: Thanks for your e-mails and reviews! I know you like X/L as much as I do.
Phizzy-chan: I update so frequently because the idea was sitting in my mind for so long that I couldn't revise in peace without having the urge to write it all out. Stupid brain. Zel's human eyes are blue? Ah, I didn't actually notice since the only time he was ever human was during one of the episodes in the frist season. I couldn't really see what colour they were, but it was just my assumption they were brown. I'm bad! ;
Soobin: Lina did strangle him in the coffee shop!
Lina Gabriev: A review per chapter! You're too good to me! I hope you'll continue reading this. Anyway, here's the answers to your questions:
1. I don't draw, generally. But I do have some sketches on Lina and Amelia, which I will probably upload and make a homepage on in the beginning of June.
2. No it won't be a retelling of the Slayers Universe -- the chapter on Lina/Gourry was just an exception because I couldn't find a better way to introduce them together. But I'll be keeping some stuff such as the hierarchies, and there will be hints of some of the NEXT episodes (i.e. that Maiden's Prayer song).
3. Why did Xelloss decide to keep Filia? Xelloss gives a hint in this chapter, but it won't be saying much. See if you can guess!
4. Why does Lina have so much power over Zel? It has something to do with the answer to the above question. Hee hee. I may have to write a spinoff story to clarify things. But in a nutshell, it's because Lina and Zel became really good friends during Lina's university days and she's the only one who knows of Zel's inner scars.
5. The lyrics are my own. I didn't think they were that good to make anyone think they belonged to someone else! (-) During high school I wrote lyrics and composed songs. I also worked at a large record company for three weeks as a summer intern, and I got to see some of the not so pretty aspects of that industry. I'm sure if I stayed longer I would've seen more, but thank god I didn't. oO
6. Valgaav won't be in this fic. Syphiel will definitely be here, though. She's the reason why Gourry and Lina break up in the end. [xelloss: you just gave away the plot!]
Kagaya Chou: Oh!!!!! Best friend reviewer alert!!!! Thanks for checking up on this. huggles
I didn't deal with the aftermath of Xelloss' giving Lina a peck on the cheek, but let's just say Lina either beat him to a pulp, or she got red-faced and sat there in shock while he sneaked out of the room.
Can anyone imagine what Amelia's lyrics are? What did Zelgadiss change about them? You'll find out in the next chapter!