2005

GRAVEYARD SHIFT

CHAPTER 21 -The Tournament Game -

"Then there is the joke about the homeopath who forgot to take his medicine and died of an overdose."

The blistering, late-summer sun was baking the aromatic blackberries right on the vines. As Lina and Gourry strode past the brambles, which lined the lakeside path to the docks, a hot dusty gust of wind wafted the sweet scent their way. "Pie...jam...cobbler," Lina murmured aloud, imagining the delicious foodstuffs laid out at her fingertips.

"Where? Oh, the smell. Yeah. We can pick some berries where we're going, if you want." Gourry swung the heavy picnic basket into a row boat, followed by bags of towels and changes of clothes, and then held out a hand to Lina. "It oughta be cooler out on the lake."

"I'm counting on it." Lina moved gingerly to her seat and waited for Gourry to loosen the rope and hop in across from her. His long hair overflowed the edge of the small boat and spilled into the water as he pushed off and began to row. Lina's eyes focused on the pale blond hair as the tips wicked up the water. Looking at his hair prevented her eyes from wandering over his broad, toned chest and strong muscles, sculpted by hours of workouts and weight training and now bulging with the effort of pulling their weight through the water.

"Whew! I think it's hotter," he said. "Not much further, though."

Lina closed her eyes against the bright sun and the even more dazzling hunk-of-a-boyfriend she had. A few minutes more and boat bumped to a halt along a sandy spit of beach. "Hey, this looks great, Gourry. Wanna swim first?"

"Sure." He hauled the boat out of the water and hid the food under the shade of some brush.

Lina yanked off her t-shirt to reveal her tiny bathing suit underneath. With a yelp, she bounded into the shallow water. Gourry was quick to follow her, splashing loudly until he was knee deep, then he dove under the cold, clear water. Together, Lina and Gourry swam and goofed around until they were cooled off and starving.

Lunch consisted of several orders of burgers and fries with a six-pack of pop. Dessert, Gourry explained, could be had at the stand next door to the boat rental office when they returned their craft. Yeah, things were good, Lina decided. They were stretched out side-by-side, stomachs full, and their long, wet hair keeping them comfortable through evaporative cooling. The early afternoon cicadas buzzed down, turning over their vibrating serenade to late afternoon hums. Birds were quiet, resting in the rushes. Nothing stirred as the sun sank behind the distant ridge line.

Lina turned her head to inspect her reclining champion. Rich golden sunlight poured over his muscular body, sticking like honey and making his skin glow. Hair the color of bleached straw spread under and around him, grazing his knees, and when he looked at her he revealed a pair of light cornflower-blue eyes. Gourry represented the best summer had to offer: sunny, warm, open, and virile.

He must have felt her eyes on him. "You all right?" he asked.

"Yeah," Lina answered. Yes, she was happy, almost perfect, but was anything ever really perfect? It could be, if Xel were here...

"Yeah, me, too. I could do this forever, ya know?"

Hearing Gourry's voice, and not the other man's, sent a pang of guilt through to her heart. If it were Xel lying beside her on the isolated beach, the shadows lengthening toward evening, then it would be idyllic. It would be like...Utopia. She would have to tell Gourry how she felt. It was time.

"Um, Gourry? You know, this day has been a lot of fun and all, but...well..."

Gourry sat up, leaning on an elbow, and looked into her eyes. His expression was serious, and with his free arm he reached out to touch her hair. His long fingers grazed her cheek as he moved closer. For a moment, she thought he was about to kiss her, but then he drew back, a wistful smile on his lips instead. "You don't have to make excuses, Lina. It's okay."

"It...is?"

"Yeah, I know you can't think of me as anything but a good friend. He's who you want, I know– at least right now. I can tell the way you look at him, and at me. Even so, I know that I'm what you need. I'll always be there to protect you, Lina."

"You mean that?"

"Sure do. Not that I'm thrilled to lose you, but if I have to, it's okay that it's to him, Xel, you know? Funny guy, pretty tough, 'course he's not good enough for ya, but if that's the way it's gotta be, well... I don't wanna lose you completely, so I figure, I'd best just let you go without a fight."

"Thanks, Gourry. You're one of the best there is." Lina nodded in understanding. "So, ah, you'd do something for me? Something really important, if I asked?"

"Ahhhh, I guess so. What did you have in mind?"

"Promise me first."

"Oh, well, okay, Lina. I'll do it."

"Okay, then here's what you can do for me at the tournament tomorrow..."

"Your makeup looks awesome today."

Valgaav reflexively touched one of the bronze stripes on his right cheek. "Yeah, hope it screws with their minds," he said, his grin turning feral.

"It's messing with mine. You look like a wild man from the jungles." Zelgadiss shook his head and smiled.

"Yeah, we make quite a pair." Valgaav squeezed Zelgadiss on the shoulder. "Over there. Looks like Dad's here already."

If Valgaav and Zelgadiss were tired from play rehearsal the night before, it hadn't hit them yet. They stepped into the bowling establishment to find Gaav in discussion with a slender woman of indeterminate age. From her stance, Zelgadiss could tell that she was self-assured and used to having her way. Her pale blonde hair was pinned back into a sleek chignon and she wore three inch heels, which was unusual footwear in a bowling alley. When he craned his neck for a better view, he knew she couldn't be just anybody; her beauty was arresting.

"She's hot," Zelgadiss whispered to his friend. "That the lady your Dad's seeing these days?"

"No," Valgaav said, his voice flat and his eyes narrowing dangerously. "That is Zelas, Xel's mother."

"N-no," Zelgadiss managed to spit out before his cousin cut him off.

"Yes. She's the dangerous agent of all that is evil. Possibly the worst person you'll ever encounter." Valgaav shoved him out of her line of sight and into a seat. "Stay here and keep out of the way. Check your stuff, whatever, but don't let that bitch get you alone for a chat."

Zelgadiss didn't like being pushed around, but he didn't want to draw Zelas' attention either, so he clammed up and busied himself with wiping off his bowling ball and listening to their voices. With his excellent hearing and Gaav's loud voice he could overhear much of what was being said. The condition of the lanes was in question.

A dressing or conditioner had been used to coat the lanes, which had an effect on the grab, the ball's reaction to the friction between the lane and ball surface. As a general rule, all lanes needed some type of protective coating to prevent burn marks in the heads from the force of the thrown balls. In the past, lane conditioner was used primarily as a protective measure, but now, under the Seyruun Justice System of Bowling, some centers legally used the lane conditioner as a tool to assist in scoring and guiding a ball to the pocket. The area of a lane that was heavily conditioned would retard the hook, and if there was heavy conditioner in the center or pocket area of the lane it could assist the ball into the pocket. It appeared that the conditioner had been applied inequitably across the lanes, and it was Gaav's opinion it was done in a manner that favored Zelas' team.

"I don't like the clean back ends on your lanes, while ours practically glow with oil," Gaav growled. For Zelas' team, this was a generally desirable lane condition in which the back ends of the lane had little or no conditioner. It helped the ball generate a larger hook with the increased friction on the clean back end surface.

"I had nothing to do with the surfacing, Gaav-dear. That's the floor-conditioning machine's fault, and it was officially inspected and sanctioned by the Seyruun Bowling Congress' official rule-making body. I only just arrived myself and took the lanes assigned to us."

Gaav continued to disagree, pointing out that there were no designated lanes, to which she simply smiled and said, "First come, first served, then. Excuse me, little-brother-dear, while I go greet my arriving team."

She moved off, leaving Gaav bristling with resentment. Xel and Lina entered, followed by Vurumagen and Eris. Eris walked directly over to where Zelgadiss was hiding. "Zel, we have to talk. Your grandfather is very upset by all your snooping around."

"Snooping, is it? If he would just tell me what I want to know, there wouldn't be a problem, would there?" Zelgadiss shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "And keep your voice down. Zelas is looking in this direction now. Shit...!"

His last comment was in reference to the two tall men that had just slithered into the bowling alley. Both were uncommonly tall and had unusual coloring. Eris let out a gasp, "Erulogos!"

"Who? Which one?"

"The sallow one with the short, spiky blue hair. He left the Volphied clan to join Zelas on the island. A ruthless man."

Zelgadiss shrugged. He didn't know what the Volphied clan was, aside from being like the Cepheid people Filia professed a faith in, but he thought the man looked frightening. "How about the pink freak?"

"Shhh... That's Sirius, his, ah, friend." Eris' mouth tightened, straining not to look terrified.

"You sure know the worst sorts," Zelgadiss said dryly. He watched Xel walk right up to Zelas and greet her. Lina shook her hand, too. So, he wondered why it was that he had to hide like a...? His eyes narrowed in anger as he answered his own question. Valgaav thought his alien appearance would shock Zelas. So much for cousinly support.

"They're professional bowlers, or at least they were doing the circuit until she hired them as guards at her penitentiary. Dangerous men and we gotta play against them. We're dead. Anyway, my point about your latest escapade... Hey, where are you going? Come right back here and listen to me, young man!"

Zelgadiss' pride was stung, and he took offense at continually being treated like a boy by everyone. Rather than engage in worthless repartee with Eris, who was his teammate after all, he stood, shook out his wiry locks, turned his back on her, pushed up his sleeves to expose as much of his blue skin as possible, and then stalked off to meet his "Aunty" Zelas, if indeed she was any relation to him.

His approach was cut off by the immensity of Gaav. "I want you to examine those lanes," Gaav boomed. He pointed at the far end of the building, about as far away from Zelas as possible. "You'll have difficulty playing if you aren't aware of the varying conditions. Take a benchmark ball and read the lanes for an oil pattern. An experienced bowler understands the benchmark ball by virtue of its roll, dynamic characteristics, surface, and feel. "

Zelgadiss stared at the finger the size of a large sausage and at the lanes in question. Did the man question his expertise? Gaav, too, doubted him? Was his manhood to be tested at every turn? "Why? If the lanes get drier, then I move to the left on the approach and try to play the same target. If the lanes are oilier, then I move to the right on the approach. Not so hard."

"Unless the #$# lane machine put down so much oil conditioner that it didn't soak into the boards, so it just sits on top. As balls are thrown, the oil is subtly moved...it might be pushed left and right, or, it might be carried down further."

"So?" Zelgadiss didn't see the problem, or care.

"Usually, but not always, a house with a lot of carrydown will not allow a ball to hook as much on the back ends, which means the scores will be lower."

"Oh, I didn't know that."

"Then you get your carryoff problem from the bowling ball soaking up the conditioner and removing it from the area of the roll; particularly common on porous and high flaring resin balls, like you use."

"Nothing I can do about that," his defenses shooting up to protect what remained of his ego.

Gaav shook his long mane of red hair. "Not true. If that happens, you need to move inside to continue to find a playable oil line. Usually not desirable, but that's what you do. Now, go check them out."

"Fine." Zelgadiss turned on a heel and marched off on his assignment. He bristled from being told what to do again, as well as from his lack of knowledge. He knew he should be grateful for Gaav's training, but he couldn't see past his own hurt pride at the moment.

Halfway to his destination, he passed the main entrance and heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Zel!"

"Gourry? Hey, what are you doing here? Don't you have a game today?" Zelgadiss asked, relieved to have a diversion from his lane-study task.

In fact, Gourry's entire team had just arrived, minus the coach. Their game had been cancelled, he said, so they all agreed to bring backup balls and support for Gaav's team. Sylphiel was next to push past Gourry and greet Zelgadiss with a warm embrace and kiss; truly balm for his damaged pride. Smiling into his eyes she practically purred, "Isn't this going to be great?"

"It certainly is going to be more fun with you here," he said, grinning. "I'll take those bowling bags."

"Thanks." She let him carry two bowling balls she had brought with her. "What were you doing over here all by yourself?"

Zelgadiss proceeded to explain the "complex lane conditioning problem," as he had had it explained to him and impressed her with his vast store of knowledge.

"You are sooo smart, Zelly. I never would have thought of stuff like that. We'd better look over your team's lanes right away."

While Sylphiel and Zelgadiss walked away head-to head and absorbed in one another and their task, Amelia ripped through the developing crowd hunting for Valgaav. She spotted him standing, arms crossed over his chest, scowling ten feet away from Zelas, who was introducing her son to the two new members of her team. Amelia ran over, squealing as she wrapped Valgaav in a tight hug. "Guess who?"

Gaav raised two bushy red eyebrows in wonder at the young girl encroaching on his son's personal space. This was not the time or the place for non-serious affairs, he felt. He expected his son to rebuff her intentions, and was shocked to see that he did not. Valgaav, in fact, reciprocated with a deep and probing kiss, which damned well had no place at the tournament game, Gaav believed. The formidable man strode a few steps closer, and then growled, "Son...?"

Valgaav looked up from Amelia, eyes bright with excitement and shiny liner. "Hi, Dad. You remember Amelia, right? Her father coached the other Seyruun team we played at the first of the season."

Amelia peeled herself from her boyfriend's grasp and held out a hand to his father. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Rubyeye. We played this other team not long ago. We learned how to fight back at a few of their dirty tricks, and now we are here to right the wrongs that they are certain to inflict upon your team and see that justice is served!"

Gaav's mouth hung open, wordless. One look at his son's eyes, however, and he could tell that Valgaav had found happiness, somehow, in this perky little girl. She had come to lend his son support, so how could he not love her, too? "Well, I can see my son is pleased to have you here, my dear. Let's hope that he can also keep a clear head in his game."

Valgaav felt the blood rush to his face, now shy with everyone staring at him. "I can do that..."

Not to be nonplused by Gaav, Amelia boldly continued. "Oh, he will have no problem concentrating. This game is very important in order to win the championship. I just know you can do it, too!"

"I wish everyone shared your optimism," Gaav said with a gruffness belying his growing affection for her. His attention was torn between his son's distracting new girlfriend and the tense exchange between Xel and his mother.

"I don't believe you've met your replacements," Zelas said to her son. Without waiting for his response, she continued. "This is Erulogos and Sirius."

"Should I be flattered to think it takes two to cover for my absence?" Xel said with humor, although his smile did not reach his eyes. He hadn't wanted to begin a lengthy conversation with his mother, especially one requiring his full attention, when it was Lina and his relationship with her that was foremost on his mind.

"It was fortunate that I acquired them both when I did; Noonsa's untimely demise left a second position to be filled."

"Are you meaning the in the labs or for the tournament, or both?"

"Oh, both, partially. Sirius is a competent lab worker, but requires extensive training. He's not ready as a replacement for even someone of Noonsa's abilities. Erulogos can dispose of the dead, but I've found him far more suited for guard duty in the penitentiary. I wasn't expecting either of them to take over your job; I still shall require your services, when this season is over. The trade with my brother was only temporary, as you recall. And, as far as their bowling abilities are concerned, you'll get a chance to see for yourself."

"I guess I shall." His eyes cast about for Lina, who had greeted Zelas politely and then escaped further inquisition.

"Looking for your little friend? She's over there schmoozing with the blond Adonis creature. That man doesn't like you very much, does he?" Pleased to have made Xel frown and lose his smug confidence, she quickly moved on to the topic of interest to her. "So, tell me, how is work going?"

Xel knew that she was not asking him about the mortuary business. She wanted some indication from him that the information she had sent him to gather was in hand. He, however, preferred to be evasive, playing the role of the secretive trickster for her benefit, and annoyance. He pushed back his worries about Lina, and replied, "Quite well. We've been doing quite a bit of crime scene investigative work lately, and I have enjoyed it immensely."

"Have you? And have you uncovered anything specific about a particular person of interest?"

"Oh, yes, I have, indeed."

She smiled, thinking that she knew what he meant and that he had secured the necessary information on Zelgadiss. "How wonderful. I should like you to come home for a visit. Soon. Bring your friends for a holiday."

He returned her smile, elated to have obtained the hoped for, but not expected, invitation that he needed to complete his own plan. "How very generous of you, Mother. I shall do that. I expect that my friends would all like a short vacation before summer is gone. I have to go; I see Gaav's looking nervous."

"He always does, dear. We'll speak more later."

Gaav's mood darkened as he observed the mother and son exchange pleasantries. Their smiles at parting struck him as truly devious and filled him with foreboding. He never fully trusted his nephew not to throw the game, and now he felt that Xel and Zelas had just sealed their doom.

With that in mind, Gaav called for the game to commence. Vurumagen launched the game with a messy strike, gaining him a rousing cheer from his teammates. Gaav's grim countenance softened slightly. Perhaps things would go better than he thought. He nodded approvingly at Vurumagen, who looked resigned as he moved to sit beside Xel. Next to the serious-looking Xel sat Zelgadiss, who was absorbed in watching the competition while awaiting his turn next.

"I know those two...interesting newcomers," Vurumagen said in a low voice.

Xel glanced down the line to where the tall men sat, both staring back at him. "Erulogos and Sirius?"

"Yes," Vurumagen answered, his face expressionless as usual. "I've met them clubbing. Sirius is charming, but his friend is a sadomasochistic bondage-dom. Very vicious, I'm afraid. I hope it doesn't carry over into his game. Damn, he's good, isn't he?"

Xel agreed, although without any hope of his own. His eyes remained concealed by his bangs. After a few moments, he chanced a quick peek at where Lina sat talking to Gourry and Filia. He was dying to creep closer.

"Don't do it," Vurumagen warned him. "Give the lady some space. And don't look so pathetic. You're our anchor, Xel. Oh, take it easy out there, Zelgadiss. Your lane is the nastiest, for some reason."

Xel closed his eyes, shutting the windows to his thoughts from prying eyes, and set his jaw.

"Reverse block!" Gaav groaned as he slumped into his seat. He had been too soon in judgment. It was an inauspicious start, after all.

Zelgadiss had sent his ball into a very difficult lane condition where the boards closer to the gutter were heavily oiled, while those in the center were dry. When the ball hit the center on his first turn, it hooked too much and rode high, and left a tough spare. He adjusted his throw more to the right the next time so that the ball hit the oil and missed the pocket. The entire shot morphed as a pin flew across the deck without falling; changing what was perhaps an easy spare into a much harder spare. "Ugh!" he groaned as hopes for a win morphed, as well, into a loss.

It wasn't long before the first of the nasty tricks was played on Lina. Her first roll left a pair of pins standing, which she dispatched cleanly for a spare. She wasn't bowling her best, but she was a little stiff and needed a little warming up. On her next throw, she lost her balance when, on her release, the ball clung to her fingertips. Gravity worked the ball loose as she fell head-long to the floor. The ball dropped heavily to the wood planks, then rolled, stricken, into the alley.

"Foul!" shouted an ugly, wall-eyed member of Zelas' team. "She touched the foul line when delivering the ball. Oh! What a beautiful morrr-ning! Oh! What a beautiful day..." he began to sing.

Lina considered throttling the creature from her seat on the floor, a position which, unfortunately, left her legs crossing the restraining line between the lane and the approach-- a foul. Gourry was at her side in two great strides. "You okay, Lina?"

"I gotta beautiful feeeee-ling..." the offensive opponent belted out with gusto. He topped off his act with a dance step, and looked ridiculous.

"Damned fingers got stuck..." she grumbled.

"I'll bet that guy put something inside the finger holes." Gourry picked up her FireBall from the return and peered inside.

In the background he could hear the guy still singing. "Everything's go-ing my way!"

Gourry wished he could shut the fool up, and then decided that since Zelgadiss had the least tolerance for ridiculousness, he would let him take care of the loud-mouth later. He had Lina's bowling ball to repair, first.

In the meantime, Xel reached Lina and offered her a hand up. "That was a nasty fall."

"I'm fine. Just get me a new ball," Lina told him, brushing his hands away. "Who is that asshole?"

"His name's Rahanimu, brother to Noonsa." It bothered him that Gourry had come to her aid first. He was certain that Lina and Gourry had spent the prior day together, but hopefully not the night, and he wondered what had come of it. He had nearly called her house in the morning before the game to ask, but it was she who had called him.

"Beep! I'm home now, but leave a message and I'll call when I'm out."

"Gods Xel...you with your damned phone messages," Lina had grumbled. "Pick up the phone!"

"L-lina! Hi, ah, you need a ride to the game?"

"Yeah, I'm ready any time," she had said in a clipped fashion before hanging up.

Xel had wanted the freedom to take off after the game with her, if possible, so he had immediately told his roommates to go on ahead to the tournament game without him. Xel had grabbed his bowling ball bags and rushed to pick her up without delay. On his short drive to her house he had come to realize how desperate he was to know what had transpired between Gourry and her. It had become crucial to him to know if she had broken up with Gourry or not. When she had jumped into the seat beside him, he had been sorely tempted to ask how her day had gone, but had decided against it. She had seemed so somber at the time. Turning onto the highway en route to the game, he had been oddly discomfited by her silence, and so had refrained from being the first to bring up the topic for as long as possible.

"It will be all right," he had said, hoping to have sounded both strong and comforting, and yet not having said too much either, leaving the meaning open-ended.

"What will? Oh, you mean the game today. Yeah, we'll do fine."

"Will we?"

"I made sure of it. Don't worry. Now be quiet and let me think."

Xel had borne her silence bravely, although it had required an intense mental effort to do so, which was fine as long as he wasn't trying to concentrate on successfully doing anything else. However, now that they were beginning the tournament game, his uncertainty about their relationship was making him miserable and distracting him. Pulling his game together in order to play his best was further complicated by the presence of several unsettling members of the opposing team, Rahanimu being one and Erulogos and Sirius being numbers two and three. And there was Gourry as well. He had no real reason to show up even if his game had been canceled, which Xel found doubtful. What was worse, Gourry wasn't acting the part of the ex-boyfriend. In fact, he had marshaled his team to come support Lina's and was hovering around her incessantly.

"Noonsa's bro-brother...?" she gasped. Lina's eyes shot up to Xel's face in a silent entreaty. "Does he know about our involvement with Noonsa's death?"

Xel shook his head slightly, communicating only to her. "No. He doesn't even suspect we killed his brother."

"Get her a house ball," shouted the same wall-eyed man in an insulting manner. "She's throwing them anyway." He continued singing the familiar tune, a little more off-key. "All them cattle are standin' like statuuuuuues.."

The house ball provided by the center to its customers was usually, but not always, of poorer quality than the modern equipment, usually polyester or hard urethane, not resin. He was implying that Lina couldn't do worse with a cheap ball. The slight made Lina's blood boil, and his singing was giving her a headache.

"How's my ball coming along?" she asked Gourry. Lina was still waiting for him to fix her ball. "I can't blow any more time waiting or I get another foul!"

"Better get another, Lina. You can have one of mine."

"Oh, Lina, I have just the ball for you!" Sylphiel said. "Stay there!"

But there was no time to wait for Sylphiel. Lina was forced to use the first ball she could find and rushed her approach. Lina had thrown what she thought was a pretty decent shot on a crowned condition, but then the ball began to hook back, hitting the area of more oil, and failed to finish strongly, leaving two pins standing.

"Bumped the oil line!" Gaav groaned.

Besides the towering Erulogos and Sirius and the lounge-singer-wannabe Rahanimu, Zelas' team also contained three players from Xel's previous team: Kanzel, Mazenda, and Tiiba.

"Hey, I know that guy, aaah, Tiiba. He worked for my grandfather, in his lab."

Xel spun around to find Zelgadiss at his elbow. "Say what? Really? Are you sure it's the same guy? I worked with him in Zelas' autopsy lab."

Zelgadiss frowned. "Just how many men with a mop of white hair named Tiiba do you think there are? Obviously it's the same guy."

"Well, then, I guess we found another link between them," Xel replied sourly. "Damn, he picked up that spare!"

Eris was next in the line up. Her ball hit the oiled lane surface skate-skidding too much and too far before it hooked toward the pocket. With considerable skill, but bad luck, she picked up all but one of the pins, missing the spare. She sat down grumbling about the lane conditions, and she wouldn't be the last. So far they were behind Zelas' team in points.

"That puts you into the clutch situation, son," Gaav told Valgaav. "You respond well to pressure, so I know I can count on you. Give us a big ball."

Valgaav's accomplished throw sent the ball riding the oil line into the pocket and managed to turn in a respectable strike in the end. The team cheered the best roll yet, pleased with the reverse in their bad luck. Nevertheless, his form was not good, which his father proceeded to point out, and he would have to correct it before his next turn.

Xel, the anchor, was the last player to roll in the team competition. Gaav gave him the position out of respect for his calm maturity under pressure, but Zelas had felt differently when Xel had played for her. She had always played him first, saying that to be last was beneath him somehow. Xel was acutely aware of her opinion, and so was hurt when he heard her derogatory remark aimed at him.

"Don't worry, here comes the anchor that holds down his team, preventing them from moving ahead."

The silvery laugh that followed cut like a dagger, causing him to lose focus at a critical time. His first roll left a nasty split. On his next, he made the spare.

"Covered the five pin," Gaav announced with relief. "Break! I call for a break!"

Zelas agreed, and why not? Her team had the lead. A win seemed firmly in place.

"What's Sylphiel doing?" Valgaav asked Zelgadiss.

"I'm not sure, but it looks like she's feeding the enemy," Zelgadiss replied. Sylphiel had carried a couple sacks over to the opposing team, and was now passing around plates of rich butter cookies, juicy meatball sandwiches, and thick slices of pound cake that she had made.

Lina was appalled. "Shouldn't she be feeding us?"

"She must have some reason," he answered, hoping that she did. "I'll ask her."

And she was happy to explain when she was out of earshot of Zelas' team. "I know it seems strange. I mean, I love a good meal like everyone else, but if you want to perform your best in bowling, or any other sport, you have to monitor what you eat before you take to the lanes. If you are bowling in a tournament, try to avoid anything greasy or high in cholesterol. It may taste good, but in no time it will kick in, and you'll be sluggish, which is not good for a bowler. Instead, we should try to eat light, like maybe pasta with light dressing and a salad. That way your body will have the energy it needs, and still be able to keep the brain focused on bowling. Here, I made you guys some appropriate snacks."

Lina frowned at her meager nutrient bar of oatmeal and dried fruit and the plastic containers of raw vegetable sticks, but she ate them just the same, knowing that what Sylphiel had told them was right.

"Okay, so things don't seem so good right now, but we've got some tricks of our own, right Mr. Gourry?" Amelia said. She was ready to charge up the troops and get them to rise to the occasion, but was it possible or was it already too late?

Gourry cleared his throat, "Well, ah... there's a few things I noticed." He dragged his arsenal over and pulled out a couple balls. He began a slow methodical explanation about how the right ball for the surface could make a difference. "I'm talkin' coverstock, the material that makes up the outer shell of the ball and gives it the hardness, texture, and shine we see. First, ya got yer 'aggressive type'; meaning it is made of a high friction material that gives the ball a large hook when it encounters dry boards. Since you've got one damned heavily conditioned lane up front but with an arid pin area, Varu...vru...er..."

"Vurumagen," the man supplied.

"Um, er...yeah. That's it," Gourry said apologetic smile. "I'd suggest you give this ball a try and see if it don't help bring your ball into the pocket."

"I'll give it a try, sure," the older man said appreciatively.

"Now, this here one's called a 'medium', which displays less tendency to hook, and this other one is a 'mellow', which is the lowest friction material and the least sensitive to dry lanes. Since none of you've got that problem, I don't think you need one of those. Ah, I think you Miss, ah, Eris, got a mellow ball, so you might wanna trade for this medium one of Amelia's, or, better yet, one like this reactive resin ball. See, it's got this surface that grabs the lane sooner, resulting in more and earlier hook than other coverstock surfaces. It reacts much more to differing lane surfaces, hooking more on drier lanes and skidding more in oil. "

"Wow, yeah, sure." Eris held the new ball, testing its weight and enjoying its feel. She believed it could solve her problems.

Lina was grinning. Gourry was in his element, sharing his expertise. This was going to work, it had to. Her idea was for Gourry to bring their friends from his team to help out her team. His team could win or lose; it didn't matter– not like this game. At Lina's bequest, Gourry arranged for his team's game to be canceled. Lina needed him, and he was there for her. She urged him to say more with a comradely punch. "Got something for Zelly in one of those bags?"

"Ah, no, not really, but... Sure, ah...Zel, you were having problems with a serious oil line. As the lane was played, oil got removed from the area of heaviest play, but there was still some oil on the edges of the tracked area. Okay, so the most inside edge is the oil line. You need to keep adjusting your attack line to the pocket to find the oil line so that your ball will not hook too early."

"That makes sense, maybe," Zelgadiss said. His attention was diverted, however, by the antics of Rahanimu. Was he disco dancing? Between him and the re-appearance of Tiiba as an employee of Zelas, he was too distracted to attend to Gourry's wisdom.

Regardless, Gourry was still on a roll. "Now, I think we oughta make use of the polishing kit I brought, while we got time. We can gloss 'em up to lessen the friction between the ball and the lane; the goal being for the ball to hook later and less." Gourry pull out a few bottles and rags, as Zelgadiss moved off on a goal of his own.

Zelgadiss had noticed that Rahanimu had stopped his dancing and was, instead, looking his way, as if he wanted to speak to him. Standing with him was Tiiba. Perhaps it was time to pay Rezo's ex-employee a visit say hello, he thought. If nothing else, if he could get the other guy to stop his annoying singing and larking about, then he would have accomplished something.

What he didn't know was that Zelas covertly luring him over. Zelas had speculated about what the grandson of Rezo might be like, whether he would suit her needs. She had grown impatient with how her son had executed his orders. He had taken an exorbitant amount of time so far. Xel's brief update had left her more or less satisfied with his progress, but she couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet Zelgadiss and impress him with her power. To that end, she instructed Tiiba to demonstrate his usefulness, using Rahanimu's obnoxious qualities, if necessary, to fish for Zelgadiss' attention and reel him in closer.

On closer inspection, Zelas could clearly make out his blue, scarred skin and silvery hair sparkling from the overhead lights as he walked. She was shocked at his appearance. That disfigured creature couldn't possibly be Rezo's heir, she thought in horror. She was certain that a terrible mistake had been made either by her son or, gods forbid, by herself.

Tiiba was keen to rise in the ranks under Zelas. He had a reputation for being squeamish, sometimes called 'The Big Chicken' when he had worked for Rezo, and so had his work cut out for him if he was to impress her with his manipulative methods. He noticed her reaction at once; up close this new Zelgadiss gave him the creeps, too. Tiiba didn't understand why Zelas placed so much value on this weird kid-- a preening, snot-nosed kid as he had remembered him– but he was determined to show her that he could follow orders.

Ever since they had arrived for the tournament, Tiiba had been goading Rahanimu into a jealous frenzy. This was not difficult to do. Like everyone who worked for Zelas, Rahanimu wanted Zelas' favor in order to raise, or in his situation retain, his position in her organization. Each new addition to the 'family' working for Zelas meant a possible alteration to the hierarchy, and his status was on shaky ground now that his more valuable brother was dead and had been replaced by the other two imposing men, Erulogos and Sirius—or so he had been led to believe by his new buddy, Tiiba. Zelgadiss could be the next threat to his security, if his employer brought him on board. Tiiba assured Rahanimu that to insure his job with Zelas, he had only to make Zelgadiss look a bad as possible. "Go ahead. Tell him," Tiiba urged his teammate.

"If you look that way because of some kind of stupid accident you got yourself into, then it's obvious that on your family tree...you're the sap," Rahanimu taunted Zelgadiss.

Two other teammates, Kanzel and Mazenda, who were also standing close by, overheard his cruel jib and laughed. Zelgadiss was struck dumb. He was angry and, with Xel's elegant mother looking on, embarrassed. His blood rose, flushing his face to his ear tips; he was far too flustered to come up with a witty comeback or suitable caustic reply, so he turned abruptly and dashed off.

"Mr. Zelgadiss," Amelia called to him.

"What!" he snapped. At one time he might have passed her by with a curt "Later," but not any longer. Since he'd grown fond of Sylphiel, and appreciative of her caring nature, he was able to recognize the same quality in Amelia. She was an important part of Valgaav's life now, too, which meant he should be respectful, regardless. "Ah... sorry."

"I saw you over there with them...didn't go so well, huh? Well, I've got just the thing you need. Now, I warn you, I won't take no for an answer."

Zelgadiss froze as she grasped his wrist and strapped on a girlish pink bracelet with a shiny blue gemstone weighing it heavily to one side. "Wha...?"

"I'm lending you my lucky bracelet to protect you from the evil lady and to make every throw of the bowling ball the very best that it can be!" Amelia gave him a big smile.

She looked so pleased; he didn't wish to hurt her feelings if he refused the garish gift. It may have been wishful thinking, but he tried to dispose of it as politely as possible. "Oh, well... thanks, but shouldn't you be giving this to Valgaav instead?"

"Oh no, he felt the magic would be stronger if the two people he loved most wore them. They were gifts from him. Lucky charms. They really work!"

Zelgadiss looked from Amelia's shining blue eyes down at his arm and back, then glanced up, catching a glimpse of Valgaav snorting back a laugh in the distance. "I'm going to kill him," Zelgadiss thought to himself. "We'll see, won't we?" he said aloud to Amelia as he pulled his sleeve over the gaudy bracelet, hiding it from view. He decided to give it the ultimate test later, when he would take on Rahanimu or Tiiba, or both.

Meanwhile, Filia took a seat next to Xel. "Hi."

He looked up, his expression one of mild surprise. "Yes? Enjoying the game so far?"

"I noticed that you guys were paying the other team too much attention."

"Oh, did you?" His disinterest couldn't have been greater, and he didn't bother to hide it.

She very nearly stood and left, but she had an observation to share and Gourry thought it was important that she begin with Xel, because he had more influence over what the other players on his team thought and did than anyone else. She drew her breath, holding back an acerbic remark with remarkable composure, and said calmly, "I just wanted to say that if you watch the pros, you'll notice that many of them don't even watch their opponent bowling. After all, this isn't football or tennis, where your actions directly affect your opponent's. Bowling is a game of you against a lane and ten pins, and for many people, watching another bowler get lucky can disrupt their game. So if you tend to get too wrapped up in what the other guy is doing, like Zelgadiss in particular does, then just don't watch. Instead, our team will do the watching and advise you of any actions of importance, while your team concentrates on your own game and ignores other team."

He was not prepared for her intelligent, thoughtful assessment, and barely knew how to respond. "Er... thanks. I'll pass that along, however...that's not my biggest problem." Now, he hadn't intended to add that last part. It just slipped out. He couldn't get Lina, and what it was that she had decided to do about Gourry, out of his mind. "Um, never mind."

Filia guessed that his problems went deeper than the game, and proceeded to do some digging. "So, I'll ask anyway: What is your biggest problem?"

"I'd rather not say," he muttered, but his treacherous eyes swept over to where Lina was talking to Gourry and Gaav.

"Lina, huh?"

He smiled wanly. "Lina, yes."

"Yeah." Filia sat a moment longer, then having nothing to say, got up. If the problem involved Lina, then it was Gourry who should talk to him.

Gaav was signaling that the break was over and was giving his pep talk. "Fortune smiles, then betrays. You win, you lose. But what is going on in their heads? The important thing for any serious bowler to keep in mind is that there is always an element of luck in bowling. Sometimes the best thrown shots do not strike, sometimes your opponent is hitting everywhere but the pocket and knocking all the pins down, or breaking up splits that you are leaving. When the chips seem stacked against you, how you deal with that internally many times affects how you approach the next shot. Now, I want you to go back out there and play ball like I know you can."

Vurumagen started off the next round of bowling with his new aggressive ball. It was a different feel for him-- new, but not bad, and he brought in another spare. "It'll be a strike next time," he said with assurance, "now that I've got a feel for it."

Zelgadiss would have had a strike, he insisted, had "that damned Rahanimu kept his damned mouth shut." It was time to test the power of the lucky charm bracelet. Zelgadiss had had enough of the lounge-singing, disco-dancing bowler. He picked up his gear bag, hopped over his chair, and marched over to where Rahanimu was singing. "You think you're quite the performer, don't you?" Zelgadiss remarked.

"I am. I got my bowling arm and my dancing feet– I got all the moves, and I'm going to tell you all about it each time I make a strike." He demonstrated with a disco dance step and twirl.

"Why don't you take your turn now, and show me just how good you are. Hey, be careful! Stay away from me," Zelgadiss warned.

"Owwweee!"

"Oh, I'm sorry," Zelgadiss said in his ironic tone of voice. His gear bag contained one very heavy bowling ball, which painfully crushed the other player's foot when it landed on it. "I lost my grip when you bumped my arm."

"You... This won't stop me from bowling you into the dirt, you freak! We'll beat you and beat you bad!"

Zelgadiss shook his head and walked away. "As long as it shuts you up," he muttered.

"Just you watch!" Rahanimu shouted. He took up his ball, limped as far as his release point, and then sent it spiraling at a high speed down the lane.

"Looks like fence posts!" Lina laughed at the widely space pins that remained. Watching him miss making the strike made her feel lots better. Indeed, to her further satisfaction, his attempt to make the spare was bad also. His missed throw sent the ball between widely separated pins hitting nothing but air. "Field goal!" she shouted gleefully arms held straight up over her head.

It was Lina's turn next, but her bowling ball was still sticky and she hadn't found another that suited her. Sylphiel shot out of her seat, "Oh, my! I just remembered why I dragged this with me!" It only took her a moment to scoot one of her ball bags to Lina. "I just got this ball this summer to try out and it's too heavy for me. I just don't have the power to make it work, but your swing is amazing. I'll bet you can do something really impressive with it."

"Sylphiel! This is a Dragon Slaver!" Lina gasped. She'd wanted one for years, but they were far too expensive for her income. "Let me show you what this can do."

Xel started to stop her, but seeing the odd gleam in her eye, stepped back, and simply cautioned her with a word, "Control."

Gourry advised, "Don't let it get away from you."

Lina caressed the ball, whispered a word of affection to it, and then attacked the pins with an explosive throw. She handled it perfectly and blew them away. "Gottem all!" Nothing could stop Lina now.

It was Valgaav's turn next, and his father had one last gift to bestow. "Son, I know you've had your eye on this one for some time, but...well, I think your man enough for it now."

Gaav pushed his well-worn bowling bag to Valgaav. "Go on. Open it up."

"Your super Demon-Dragon-King power ball to combat the bad lanes! Thanks, Dad!" With his customary perfect form, Valgaav threw the ball of his dreams for a roaring, and highly gratifying, strike.

After that the game was anticlimactic. As Filia had suggested, they largely ignored Zelas' team. They put aside their personal issues and played their own games as best a possible. As a result, it appeared that the game was starting to turn around for Gaav's team. Even the lanes opened up, becoming easier to control and make good shots as the event progressed. Both teams were scoring well, but Gaav's team gained points with each round, rapidly evening the point totals until it was tied with Xel up for the last shot. All they needed now was for Xel to get his groove back.

Gourry approached Xel cautiously. Their last interaction had ended badly, with Gourry punching Xel's jaw, bruising it severely, and, effectively, disabling his sexual pursuit of Lina for a weekend. Gourry had expected Xel to get back at him, but so far he hadn't made any personal attacks, which was fine as long as Xel didn't choose now to be the time and place for a fight. He was done with fighting anyway. It was time to throw in the towel and let Lina take matters into her own hands. He would always be there for her. Someday she'd grow tired of Xel and he'd be there. He understood her need for excitement and challenges, and that Xel had plenty of that to offer her, but Xel wasn't the guy for her, Gourry knew, because he was. Lina would come to understand that someday. She would.

"Uh, Xelloss?"

"Yes? Don't think you're going to hit me again, because I promise, I won't let you get away with it another time."

"No, I just wanted to tell you that, in case you were wondering, 'cause I don't think Lina'd think to say anything, ah... that's is, you see, yesterday she and I broke up."

Xel blinked. "You did?"

Gourry nodded. "It's you she thinks she wants. Treat her good."

"I fully intend to."

"Good. Well, that's all I wanted to say."

"Ah, Gourry. Why did you tell me this?"

"Because I'm hoping you'll do you what you have to do so your team wins. Winning this is real important to Lina." Gourry's eyes misted over. He blinked back tears then added, "This is all for Lina, what I've done. Just so you know." He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and then left Xel with his private thoughts.

Xel stood and pondered the man's words, adding another layer to his understanding of just what it meant to love someone. "How very gallant of you, Gourry," he said to himself. The man would be a valuable resource in the upcoming undertaking he had in mind. Gourry was bound by loyalty to both Zelgadiss and Lina, was monstrously strong, and not clever enough to out-think any of them. Perhaps they could become friends someday. Friends. Xel's thoughts returned to the here and now. Gourry had said enough. He had finally said something of importance to Xel, the kind of information that could alter the future. In a voice so low no one could hear, Xel muttered, "Thanks for telling me about Lina. You are a good man, Mr. Gabriev."

Xel picked up his ball and smiled. After an hour of grief, the game would all be over in an instant. He took aim, wound up, stepped, and released a wicked spinning ball. All ten pins were swept from the lane, falling helter-skelter, some flying several feet before landing on their sides. In the end, they all found a way to fall down. A strike. Gaav's team won the game by a single point. Their team shouted and cheered and shared hugs, thanks, and congratulations with Gourry's team. Gaav broke away to shake hands with a sour-faced Zelas. Behind him, Xel was quick to do the same.

When Zelas was within earshot of her son, she drew him close and hissed a warning in his ear. "You have won today, but if you don't complete your job, you'll have a poor reception when you come home. That can't be the young man you were to watch. He looks nothing like his grandfather. You had better not fail me."

Before he could reply, there was a disruption as two newcomers pushed into the crowd. Martina and Zangalus had finally joined the rest of their teammates. They had run a few blocks from where they'd had parked, and were now panting. "We're... h-here! H-hey, if it's true that we are here to help others, like... what are the others doing here? Say, where are you going? You're leaving? It's over! How can that be? You said it started at four and it's four and we're here!"

"I said it was over at four," Gourry replied simply.

"I told you he said that," Zangalus said in a pompous manner.

"I thought he said 'go over at four'!" she wailed and tore at her hair in frustration.

Xel had to put space between himself and his mother, and fast before his anger overwhelmed him. Without a word, he stormed past the disturbed Martina, and out of the building, Lina at his heels. Lina had intended to pull him aside and invite him over to her place for a talk, and so, had followed him when he had approached his mother. Lina had been close enough to overhear Zelas' remark and had noticed his subsequent exit. She followed Xel outside the building. "Hey, Xel! Hold on."

He wouldn't have stopped for anyone else.

"I heard what Zelas said to you. Aren't you afraid she might disinherit you and you'd lose everything, not just your job with her?"

It wasn't what he had expected for Lina to say. He had hoped that she might tell him why she'd been so quiet all day and why she hadn't told him about the breakup, leaving that for Gourry to do. He had given her plenty of time and space, he thought. He had enough self-respect not to ask her outright, so he continued to hold out in the eventuality that she might get around to it, eventually. Pretending nothing was different or mattered, he replied, "No, my father would never let her. He is a little higher in the hierarchy than her and as such exerts control and has the final say."

"Hierarchy? What do you mean by that?"

"Ah," he looked around cautiously. "We should talk about this someplace else, later. Besides, there is something she wants and she believes she can manipulate me still to get her what she wants."

"What's that?"

"Zelgadiss. Rezo's direct descendant whom she believes contains the magical DNA with the secrets to longevity. That's all I can say here."

"So, she wants Zelly. That's...dumb." Lina was finished with that topic for the time being. "What is it that you want then?"

His face softened and he met her eyes. "Do you have to ask?"

"Well, I am in the market for a new boyfriend..." she said coyly.

"How nice. Might I suggest me? I'll make your dreams come true."

Lina smiled. "That's what I like about you. You know, when Gourry and I speak, it's in the present tense, but with you... we speak of the future."

Xel laughed. He clasped her hands in each of his and swung her around gently. "Oh...

Sweet as candy

Strong as brandy

That's who I dream-a

Lina, Lina..."

He sang the silly ditty over and over until Gaav and the rest of the friends poured out of the building. Gaav shouted in his thunderous voice: "Party at Madiran's. On me!"

Lina, who was ravenous and loved a party, agreed with an enthusiastic, "Oh yeah! Come on, let's go!"

End Graveyard Shift, Chapter 21