[Bows] So sorry it took a while to post. As soon as one problem is fixed, three more show up. But I thank you all for your patience and your patronage. Only seven more chapters to go (makes me kind of sad, to tell you the truth). Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy.

            Zelgadis and Lina approached the school, Zel's thoughts still occupied with Xellos. The doctors had told both him and Rezo that the wounds would heal, and it was a miracle he hadn't managed to sever any tendons. They advised someone stay with him and make sure he didn't lapse into suicidal thoughts again. Rezo had handled the medical charges and promised that he would take care of Miwan's absence from school until Xellos recovered.

            "Rezo is really something," Lina remarked, "With everything he's done for Xellos and Miwan."

            "Yeah, he's a great man," Zelgadis nodded, "And Xellos should be on his feet and able to rejoin us soon." He opened the door for Lina, who nodded a thank you and stepped inside.

            "Don't forget, you have the rest of the week in detention," Lina winked, "I'll see what I can arrange to stop by when I can."

            Zelgadis laughed, "I'll hold you to that. Hell, I'll hold you otherwise," he cracked a small smile and leaned forward to kiss her. She kissed him softly, wanting to kiss him deeper, but drew away, "See you in detention."

            Zelgadis nodded and proceeded to the detention room. Ms. Aqua looked up from her book, a hefty text that he imagined she had a hard time moving around.

            "Morning Auntie," Zelgadis chimed, "How are you?"

            "Not bad, Mr. Graywords," she responded, "My boy, when are you going to learn how to avoid these kinds of situations?"

            "I know, I'll miss you too when I'm gone," Zelgadis chuckled as he took a survey of the room. Sitting in the far corner was Valgarv, who looked very annoyed with the bandage covering his realigned nose. Zelgadis raised an eyebrow; he'd hit him harder than he thought.

            "Alright Zelgadis, take your seat," Ms. Aqua noted, "I know you two have bad blood between you, but I don't want a repeat of what went on yesterday, otherwise there will be trouble. Do you both understand?"

            "Yes," Zelgadis replied.

            "Whatever," Valgarv shot as he glared at Zelgadis. Damn that freak!

            "Good," Ms. Aqua said, "Now, I want both of you keeping busy with something until lunch."

            Zelgadis settled in, not bothering to look back to Valgarv, and pulled out a notebook and pencil. He began writing lyrics; the recent events had cause Zelgadis' creativity to take shape and form, writing a song in response to the emotions he had been feeling, a kind of chant to counter the negativity.

            Looking up from his work, he realized that several hours had passed, the next bell ring releasing them for lunch.

            Something struck him in the back of the head and landed in the collar of his shirt. He reached back and pulled it out. It was a paper football, and he looked back to Valgarv somewhat annoyed. Valgarv only smirked and sat back.

            Turning his attention back to the football, Zelgadis opened it and read the message inside, scrawled surprisingly neat for someone like Valgarv.

            Hey Freak

Guess your little girl isn't here to protect you. Maybe you should tell your little cocksucking boyfriend not to come back, and to keep his girly little fairy faggot boy at home. Bad things could happen again.

Zelgadis crunched the note and stuffed it into his pocket, clenched his teeth, and set his pencil down to keep from breaking it. What the hell was his problem?

"Mr. Graywords, is there a problem?" Ms. Aqua asked as she looked up.

"No, not really," Zelgadis responded, "I guess I'm just worried about Xellos."

Ms. Aqua walked over to him and gently touched his shoulder, "I understand how you feel Mr. Graywords. Oh, what is this you're writing?"

"That?" Zelgadis started, "Oh, this is a song I'm working on for the band that I'm in."

"Oh, you write music?"

"Well, a little music, nothing too special, just whatever comes to mind."

Ms. Aqua picked up one of the sheets, "May I look?"

Zelgadis was surprised, "Sure, why not?" He watched her look closely at the music, raise her eyebrows a few times, and then set the sheet back down.

"Well I must say, we didn't have music like this when I was your age," Ms. Aqua grinned, "But I do wish you and your band the best of luck."

"Oh, it's not my band; Lina's the one who assembled it."

"Well, that doesn't matter too much," Ms. Aqua commented, "The way the two of you are, I would be willing to bet that she would call it 'our' band, as in the two of you."

The bell rang, and Ms. Aqua went back to her desk, "I want the two of you to go to lunch, get your food, and then come back here to serve the rest of the day."

"What if I don't feel like it?" Valgarv asked, his tone condescending.

"Then your in-school suspension will become a suspension of your graduation and a possible expulsion," Ms. Aqua warned, "You've crossed the line one too many times Mr. Valgarv. I will see the both of you in a few minutes."

Zelgadis walked from the room and down the hall to the cafeteria.

"Graywords," Valgarv called, "Did you enjoy my little love note?"

"Fuck off, Valgarv," Zelgadis cursed, "I'm in no mood to put up with your shit today."

"Oh, isn't that fucking inconvenient for you?" Valgarv half-pouted, "Well, I'm still here, and you have to deal with me being here."

"I'm sorry, did you say something Valgarv, or was that blast of hot air a fart that just flew past me?" Zelgadis jabbed, hoping that would shut him up.

Valgarv seethed silently; Graywords was as uppity as his bitch girlfriend and his little faggot friend. He was going to pay for that attitude.

Once at the cafeteria Zelgadis spotted Lina, who waved him over to her.

"I found a table where we can sit," Lina smiled.

"I can't," Zelgadis lowered his head, "I'm supposed to get my lunch and report back to the detention room. Sorry."

Lina sighed, "Hey, that's okay. I'll try to see you this afternoon then."

Suddenly Zelgadis got rammed, sending him sprawling. Lina helped him up, and they both looked to the source.

Valgarv smiled, apologizing with dry insincerity "Oops, I'm sorry Zelgadis, are you hurt?"

"Go piss someone else off," Lina spat.

"Fuck off Inverse," Valgarv shot, "You used to be cool with me, but now you're nothing."

"I'd be nothing if you still thought I was cool," Lina shot back.

"You are nothing," Valgarv smirked, "I mean, look at you; no tits, sorry excuse for a body, and a temper worse than most mules."

"Valgarv, if you don't shut your mouth," Zelgadis warned, his temper flaring.

"What, you'll hit me?" Valgarv taunted, "At least I don't have a depressed psycho faggot for a friend. Why didn't you just let him die, it would've been beneficial for all of us."

In a moment of intense heat, Zelgadis sprung forward, the distance between them a blur that required no effort to cross. Valgarv's smile of confidence disappeared and slowly faded into tense caution. Zelgadis threw a punch, and then another, but Valgarv seemed to avoid each blow.

"Is this it Graywords?" Valgarv mocked, "If this is, I'm no longer impressed." Zelgadis threw another punch and lowered his head, then slung his head back up underneath Valgarv's chin. He heard the clamp of the jaw, and the groan of pain before an elbow connected with his spine.

"My tongue, my fucking tongue!" Valgarv spat, a small stream of blood running out of his mouth, "You'll pay for that Graywords!" He lunged forward and tangled up with Zelgadis, the two of them exchanging blows and curses.

"Zelgadis!" Lina half-screamed as she dove into the fray and looped her arms under his armpits and over his shoulders and started pulling him away. She was amazed at how strong he was, how he pulled like a fierce animal on a chain, and it caused a chill to run up her back.

Other students had joined in, pulling Valgarv away as well, who was fighting and snarling viciously to get at Zelgadis.

"Let me go Lina, I'll kill him!"

"I'd like to see you try Graywords!"

"Zelgadis, stop it," Lina shouted into his ear, "He's not worth it!"

"What's going on here?" Rezo's voice broke through the shouting. Students parted, and Rezo quickly came forward and snatched Valgarv's shirt.

"Mr. Valgarv, I think it's time we spoke with Principal Metallium about your conduct," he turned to Lina and Zelgadis, "Lina, take Zelgadis to my office and leave him there. You may then return and finish your lunch."

"Yes sir," Lina said quietly, "Come on Zel, we've got to get you to Rezo's office."

They walked down to the chemistry office, and Lina turned to look at Zelgadis, "You know, you need to stop playing hero for me all the time, or you're going to get expelled."

"I know I just hate the fact he can never let anything go."

"I understand. Best of luck with Rezo."

Zelgadis rolled his eyes as Lina walked away, "I'll need it."

"What in the hell were you thinking?" Rezo screamed at Zelgadis. Rezo had shown only a minute or two after Lina had left, and now his eyes blazed with fury underneath his glasses.

Zelgadis flinched. It was one of the few times he knew that taking an attitude with Rezo was not an option. Instead, he held his tongue and let Rezo stalk about the room.

"I stopped the two of you yesterday from fighting, and look what happens. You two are fighting again today! What possesses you to do this? You'll be lucky if you don't get expelled for this, as will Valgarv. I raised you to ignore assholes like him."

"You haven't had to deal with him like I have," Zelgadis countered, "How would you like to be called a freak every day because of something you have no control over? How would you feel if friends and people you care about were being insulted to your face? Tell me Rezo, how the fuck would you react?"

"I wouldn't have handled it like you," Rezo said, his voice still pitched, "I would have gone to an authority figure and had it taken care of."

"Oh, well that's fucking brilliant," Zelgadis shot, his voice rising, almost a choke as he continued, "Do you have any idea about why people don't report it? No one wants to be a snitch, even if it means someone will get hurt. In fact, if people know you told you are alienated, a complete outcast. And guess what? Image is everything right now.

"Believe me, I really do wish I could just tell. But no one would be able to stop him. They'd slap him on the wrist, and he'd come after me again without missing a beat.

"But someone has to do something about it, and it might as well be me. No one disrespects those I care about and gets away with it." He choked these last words out and stared at Rezo, his chest heaving as he tried his best to hold back tears

Rezo's face softened and he shook his head, "You know, you're just like your father was at your age. I was always the more controlled brother, and your father was explosive. I shouldn't be so surprised that you jump to defend your friends. Your father did the same for me, even when I didn't need to be protected."

Zelgadis swallowed, "My father?"

"Yes, your father," Rezo nodded, "Now, if you'll give me your side of the story, I can send you back to detention hall, and we'll see about getting this cleaned up."

After the final bell had rung Lina made her way down the hall to detention. She saw Zelgadis coming through he doorway as she approached.

"So, will it death by hanging, lethal injection, or the good old chair," Lina poked. Zelgadis looked up at her and smiled, gently patting her on the head. He let out a wistful sigh and slipped his arm around her shoulder.

"Well, it's going a little something like this: after I explained my half of the story, which was given to Miss Metallium, she changed her original ruling on the first fight, only giving me two more days of detention before I'm free again."

Lina let out a sigh, "That's good news."

"Valgarv didn't get off so easily," Zelgadis continued, "It appears that you, Xellos, and I are not the only people that are getting harassed by him. Complaints have been building against him for a while now, and Miss Metallium is conducting an investigation so as to determine what kind of, as she put it, 'disciplinary action' should be taken." Once again he opened the door for her, and the two of them made their way across the parking lot toward Lina's Shelby.

"How about Rezo?"

"Well, he did chew my ass something fierce, but he understood why I did what I did. I'm damn glad he's on my side."

"Me too," Lina agreed as she pulled her keys out. She looked over to Zelgadis, the black t-shirt he wore over the long underwear shirt, the slow yet confident roll of his steps, and the way the spring wind caught his hair, gently tossing it about his face and concealing some of the scars, and felt a warmth in her chest. He was an idiot for standing up for her.

"You are an idiot, you know that?"

Zel just smiled and nodded, "Yeah, I know. But at least I'm a god idiot." They got to the Shelby, Lina clicked the locks, and they got inside. It still smelled of blood on the interior, and Lina frowned before starting the car.

"Well Zel, you do have to be good at something. I just hope that in the future you and I will be good at keeping out of trouble, particularly if we want to graduate."

"Agreed," Zelgadis nodded as he rolled the window down, "Oh, by the way, I wrote a new song today."

"He kicks ass by day, and writes songs by night," Lina remarked, "How do you manage to keep yourself going?"

"A girlfriend who's as hot-headed as I am," he dodged a blow before continuing, "An uncle who is ruthless about performance," he dodged another swing coming his way, "And at least three cups of coffee a day."

After missing twice Lina sighed and resigned to defeat as she rolled her own window down, taking in the fresh spring air and the sun shining down warmly upon them, giving her mind time to wander. The two of them had already been through so much this year, and now it was almost over.

"You know what?"

Zelgadis looked over to her, "What?"

"You were right," She said as she looked ahead lazily, " We really are crazy."

Zelgadis chuckled and leaned back against the seat, "You are correct."

"Zel?" Lina spoke, only a gentle whisper this time.

"Yeah?"

"What do you think is going to happen to us after these next couple of months are finished," Lina cast her eyes aside to Zelgadis, "I mean, what do you see in the future?"

Zelgadis exhaled slowly what air he had, his thoughts quickly pooling and gathering all the possible endings, and finally answered, "I'm not sure. I am hoping that this will last though."

"How long?"

"Oh, I don't really know," Zelgadis said as he shifted uncomfortably, "For as long as we can stand one another."

Lina nodded, her smile softening, "Good answer. Now all we need is for Xellos to get his ass healed; it's too quiet without him." She wasn't sure where this was going, but wherever it was going was sure going to be a wild ride.