Here's the latest chapter. I hope everyone has as much fun reading it as I did writing it. I couldn't resist adding in the Filia/Val coupling. Especially detailing Filia's eccentric personality. Review if you enjoyed it.

Dance Of The Dead

Chapter Six: The Whole Route

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

"So, which restaurant is the best to eat at?" Zelgadis asked Lina as they settled into his rental car.

"Best food or the most class?" Lina said as she eyed the BMW convertible she was now sitting in.

"Both. I might as well go the whole route with you." Zel shrugged as he started up the car.

Lina was a little offended. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I have a feeling that you wouldn't forgive a guy if he messed up on the first date." Zel said dryly.

Lina turned a little pink and denied it. "No, I wouldn't. Only if it was bad food. And we are not on a date."

"Don't hurt my feelings now." Zel said with a little humor.

Lina sat in silence for a few minutes before saying quietly, "Filia's place then."

"Filia's?" Zel asked.

Lina nodded. "It's a legend around here."

Zel decided that Lina was right about Filia's as they walked inside the restaurant. It had elegance and class in abundance. Zel walked up to the maitre'd so he could put their name on the waiting list but Lina held him back. She touched his arm then stepped up to Zel's side.

"Hello, Val. How have you and Filia been?" Lina smiled at him.

Val was almost as tall as Zel. He wore a nice white shirt and dark gray slacks as a work uniform. Val was handsome with dark hair and green eyes. As he moved, his dark hair was highlighted green in the overhead lights of the restaurant.

Val grinned. "Wonderful. Is this your new boyfriend?"

"No." Zel and Lina said in unison then laughed.

"A colleague. Zelgadis Graywords meet Valgaav Ryuzoku." Lina finished smoothly.

"Interesting last name." Zel commented.

Val shrugged. "What can I say? My ancestors were full of themselves."

Zel's lips twitched. "I see."

"Filia's my wife." Val decided to seat them himself. He waved away a waiter and grabbed two menus. "Both she and I run the restaurant but I leave the executive decisions to her."

Lina laughed. "You end up in pieces if you didn't."

"Don't I know it!" Val looked back at her and winked. He slowed then indicated the table they were to sit at.

Lina seated herself. "Every time I come back, this place only gets more charming."

"That's only because of Filia." Val said proudly. "Her charm got to me the first time we met."

Lina sweat dropped and remembered the way the two had first met. "Uh huh."

The first time Filia and Val met, he had distracted her and she tripped over a rock and sprained an ankle. Filia had overreacted and slapped him. Luckily, the two were able to get over their rocky start.

"Talking about me again, I see!" A blonde with a British accent popped out of the doors leading to the kitchen.

"Only good things, love!" Val said, smiling.

Filia looked at him suspiciously for a second then smiled back. She introduced herself to Zel. "Hello, my name is Filia. Hello, Lina."

Filia was taller than Lina by maybe five inches. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail that ended near the ties of her apron. She had big blue eyes and a supermodel smile. She was wearing a dark blue Chinese style dress with a white apron tied over it. She also had a big butcher knife in her right hand.

Filia must have seen Zel eying it. "Sorry. I was helping Bucky." She explained.

"Bucky?" Lina raised a brow.

Val heaved a sigh. "The new evening cook." He mouthed the word hopeless at Lina.

"Ah, I see." Lina said wisely.

Zel shook his head. "House recommendation?"

"Something easy." Filia winced at a crash from the area of the kitchen. "I'd recommend something Italian."

Val added, "Or the."

"Ravioli for me then." Lina handed her menu over. "And a nice glass of wine. I'll let you pick, Val."

"Spaghetti Bolognese." Zel gave up his menu. "And coffee. Black."

Lina broke in. "Don't... Too late."

"Filia-" Val began.

"We don't serve the devil's brew here!" Filia stormed. "Tea, wine, fountain drinks. That's all!"

Val pulled her away as she continued to rave. "Sorry. I'll get you some tea."

"I forgot to warn you." Lina sighed. "She's always hated coffee. Says it should be banned."

"Where do you know them from?" Zel was curious.

Lina grinned. "Filia and I go way back to elementary school. I was the tomboy who loved to win and she was the little lady who hated dirt. We were good for each other."

"And Val?" Zel prompted.

Lina shrugged. "They met in college. They moved around a while after they graduated then finally moved back here. What about you?"

"We moved around a lot." Zel shrugged. "I live in Visana right now. It's close to my job. How about you?"

"I've lived here in Zephilia for most of my life. Grew up here with Luna." Lina took a sip of water. "I graduated college, married and traveled for a few years. We divorced and I ended up back here where all my friends are. Filia, Val, Amelia and even Xellos have helped me a lot."

"Amelia and Xellos?" Zel asked.

Lina nodded. "I met Amelia in junior high. I inherited Xellos in a way. Xellos' family is friends with Filia's family. There were hopes of them marrying but that didn't last long.."

"Our relationship ended after two weeks of emotional roller coasters." Filia appeared and set down their dinners. "He enjoyed being hit with my mace way too much."

Zel laughed but Filia was serious. He looked at Lina. She explained, "Filia's family is very big on being fit. She used to run after Xellos until it made me tired just to watch her. You wouldn't know to look at him now, but Xellos is really fast. In the end Xellos let her catch him and whomp him with it."

Zel was speechless.

Lina continued, "Filia's family collects antiques but they specialize in weapons. Each has a special one they train with."

"Mine's the mace." Filia said proudly.

Zel's eyebrows rose in alarm but he managed a response. "That's nice."

"I'm pretty good with a katana." Lina informed him. "You should come see us train sometime."

Zel was interested. "Maybe I will."

Zel picked up his utensils and started eating. "This is wonderful. Bucky has some potential after all."

Filia was the one who made the pasta homemade. She preened over the compliment. Over his head Lina saw Filia smiling. Keeper, she mouthed to Lina's horror.

Lina shook her head once. No way.

Filia shook her head. Yes.

Not even if hell froze over. Lina mouthed over Zel's oblivious but blissful head.

Filia stomped her foot. Cephied, you're dumb. Go for it.

Zel looked up at the noise. "Anything wrong?"

"No." Filia said sweetly. "I just ran into something stubborn."

Lina got a murderous look on her face and stared at Filia. A little intimidated, Filia scurried off to the kitchen. But Lina knew she was off to call Amelia and tell her that Lina had found someone worth a serious relationship.

"Gah." Lina muttered in frustration and ate her Ravioli single-minded.

"Delicious." Zel said again. "What's wrong?"

Lina waited until he paused to look at her. "Filia wants me to date you."

"What?" He choked out with wide eyes.

"Yeah." She was satisfied with his reaction and began to eat more cheerfully.

Zel got himself under control. "Our personalities are too different."

"You're not my type." Lina shrugged. "And I'm not yours."

Zel said. "There's nothing wrong with that."

"I am not interested in dating you." Lina announced. "Agreed?"

Zel nodded. "Agreed. Are you done?"

"Yeah, let's get the rest to go." Lina pushed away from the table and stood up.

Zel was still reeling from dinner. He even missed the stand that housed Filia's mace and the plaque that went with it. Date Lina? Not in his life. He couldn't argue that she was hot, because she was. And the more time he spent in her company, the more time he wanted to spend with her. Not a good sign.

Damn it, hormones. Go away. He ordered them silently.

He walked her back to her gallery. Currently Lina was living in the small loft above her gallery since her apartment lease had expired a few months before. The rest of her belongings had been shoved into storage and still awaited freedom.

Lina brought out her keys. "Thanks for walking me home, Zel. You're a gentleman."

"No problem, Lina." He hesitated then added. "Can I ask you a question?"

Lina fiddled with her keys. "Go ahead."

"Can I kiss you?" Zel said in a husky voice as he stepped closer and looked directly down into her shocked face.