Sing a Love Song For Me Part Three

The first Zelgadis was aware of when he regained consciousness was the feeling of a cool hand on his forehead. The touch was soothing and he relaxed, feeling suddenly safe and calm.

Where am I? he thought blearily. From the feel of things, he was in a bed, probably at the Midnight Blue inn. Why back here? Zelgadis searched his mind for a moment, then memory returned and his eyes shot open. The contest...Lina...!

�Calm down, Zel.� Lina�s voice made him start. He turned his head to see her sitting in a chair next to his bed. It had been her hand on his forehead. �You�re with.... friends.� Her eyes darkened on that last statement, and Zelgadis felt a twinge of guilt.

�Lina, I�m....� Zelgadis stopped. Why should you apologize? a part of his mind stated. You were right, after all. She�s the one who should apologize, not you! But then another, smaller voice spoke up. But she�s here. She looks like she�s been watching me... and I remember she caught me when I fell. I should be grateful....

Lina remained strangely quiet during Zelgadis�s inner musings. Her eyes met his for a moment, and Zel read another set of conflicting emotions in them.

�Zel....� she said after a moment. �I�m---I�m sorry.� She sounded as if she had almost never said the words before. �You were....right. Tactless and rude, but right. I guess for once I shouldn�t have been greedy and--and should�ve thought about someone else for once.� Then Lina�s look turned challenging and she added, �But I�m not dropping out of the contest! And you�d better apologize to me for being such a jerk or I�ll fireball you right here, sick or no sick!�

Zelgadis smiled weakly. That was the Lina he knew.

�All right.� He sighed. �I�m sorry I wasn�t more....delicate about my feelings. I shouldn�t have gotten so mad at you. And.....thank you for watching over me.�

Lina started, then laughed and waved a hand at him.

�Aw, that was nothing! I�m a great nurse, ask anyone! Besides, since I was so nice and kept an eye on you, if you win the contest you can give me some of the money as payment!�

Even though he was lying down, Zelgadis still managed a facevault. Same old Lina, indeed.

As he was pulling himself back into bed, a thought occurred to him.

�How long have I been unconscious?�

�About two days,� Lina said seriously.

�Then...isn�t the contest over?� Zelgadis asked.

�Nope.� Lina smiled widely. �I.....convinced them to hold things off until you were better. That�s two you owe me now!�

�Lina....� Zelgadis�s solemn tone surprised her. �Why?�

�Why what?�

�Why did you watch over me? After everything I said....� Zel�s voice trailed off.

�Just because you were being a jerk doesn�t mean that you�re not my friend anymore,� Lina said. �Friends fight sometimes. I mean, look at me and Gourry. We�re always fighting, but we still hang around together �cause we�re really friends. And�-- her tone turned lecturing-- �we don�t let things fester. Next time you�re mad at me, Zel, I�d really rather you tell me instead of sulking and grumbling and then blowing up for no good reason at all. I really don�t wanna have to beat you up next time.�

Zelgadis eyed her for a moment, then gave his own Lina-esque smile.

�I�d like to see you try.�

�No you wouldn�t!� The two whirled to see Gourry standing in the doorway. �Lina fights really dirty.�

�Oh yeah?� Lina left Zel�s side and headed over to teach Gourry a lesson.

�Hey! What�d I say?!�

�You know what you said, jellyfish brain!�

�Ow! See, you do fight dirty!�

�Grrr....fireball!�

Zelgadis smiled to himself and fell asleep to the familiar sound of a Lina/Gourry squabble.

The next day, Zelgadis managed to drag himself out of bed and get dressed for the next day of the contest. He still felt a little weak, but much better than he had. Just two more days of this, he reminded himself. Then this whole thing will be over.

�Hey Zel!� Lina poked her head in the door. �Are you coming or what? I can�t beat you if you don�t actually show up for the contest!�

Zelgadis opened his mouth for a scathing retort which died on his lips when he saw the mischievous twinkle in her eyes. Instead, he pulled on his hood and mask and swept by her.

�You just keep telling yourself that,� he said dryly. Lina stuck out her tongue at him and followed him down the steps.

Zel had barely entered the main room when he was practically mauled by the waitress quartet.

�Oh! Graywords-sama! Are you feeling better?� Maaya chirped.

�How brave you are, Graywords-sama, to sing while sick!� tittered Ayami.

�Can we get you anything?� Yuko asked.

�Would you like to sit down?� added Hitomi.

�Hey!� Lina jumped in between Zel and the girls. �Leave us alone already, will you? Me and �Graywords-sama� have to get to the contest.�

�Is she bothering you, Graywords-sama?� Maaya questioned. Before Zel could reply, Lina spoke up again.

�You�re the ones bothering us! Now get out of here before I fireball all four of you!�

�Hmmph!� Ayami sniffed. �Come on, girls. We�re obviously not wanted.� As the waitresses walked off, Ayami added loudly, �Though I doubt Graywords-sama could possibly see anything in a flat-chested girl like that!�

Lina growled in anger and rolled up her sleeves. Zelgadis quickly intercepted her by grabbing her arms.

�Come on, Lina. We�ll be late.�

�No! Lemme go! I�m gonna kill them! Lemme go!�

Zelgadis sighed and resigned himself to dragging Lina, kicking and screaming threats, all the way to the town square.

�Stupid brats,� Lina grumbled under her breath. �Call me flat-chested, will they? I�m not flat. My breasts are perfectly fine. Not grotesquely large like those girls have.�

�Are you done ranting now?� Zelgadis asked somewhat sarcastically.

�Give me a few more minutes.� Lina stalked off too the woman�s dressing room, muttering under her breath. There was a sound akin to a small explosion from inside, then she came stalking back out.

�Feeling better?�

�Much.�

The two of them waited patiently while the others before them performed, Lina providing Zelgadis with a running commentary...whether he liked it or not.

�Hah! And that guy thinks he could possibly beat me?�

�She calls that a voice?�

�We�ve got this money locked, Zel.�

Zelgadis sighed and rolled his eyes, wondering if he maybe preferred it when Lina wasn�t speaking to him. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. Lina caught him looking and winked. Zelgadis sighed. Maybe not.

When it was Zel�s turn, Lina touched him on the shoulder.

�You feeling okay?� she asked, true concern in her voice. �I don�t want to have to catch you again.�

�I�m fine,� Zelgadis assured her. �I feel perfectly well. If I didn�t, I wouldn�t be here.�

�You showed up two days ago,� Lina reminded him.

�Leave me alone,� muttered Zelgadis, looking annoyed. Lina started to laugh.

�Go get �em, Zel!� She slapped him on the back, then yelped in pain and began rubbing her hand. Zelgadis smiled and headed out on stage. He glanced back once before he began, and Lina gave him a thumbs-up.

When Zelgadis returned backstage, he was only looking a little shaky. Lina gave him a quick looking-over.

�Okay, I think you�ll be fine,� she told him with a smile. �Now Nurse Lina has to go win a contest, so try not to faint while I�m gone, �kay?�

�Very funny,� replied Zelgadis with a wan smile that she couldn�t see under his mask. �You know, if Gourry were here, he might feel compelled to add that nurses have bigger breasts.�

�WHAT?!� Lina screeched. She closed in to pound him.

�You�re supposed to be on stage now,� Zelgadis pointed out calmly. Lina gave him her patented Look of Death, then stalked out towards the stage.

�Just for that,� Lina told him before heading outside, �I�m not going to dedicate this song to you!�

Zelgadis gazed through the curtain as Lina stepped out on stage. She bowed to the crowd, then took the microphone. Her eyes strayed to where the chimera stood and she winked at him as she started to sing.

Lina bowed to the crowd and skipped back behind the curtain. Zelgadis was regarding her with his usual inscrutable look.

�That song....were you going to dedicate it to me?� he asked in a tone which betrayed no emotion.

�Well...� Lina winked at him and waved a finger in a perfect imitation of Xellos. �That...is a secret.�

Then she swept past him and Zelgadis watched her go, a faint smile on his face.

�Last day, huh, Zel?� Lina nudged Zelgadis with her elbow, a gesture which served only to make her elbow sore. They were waiting backstage with the rest of the contestants. Each would be given a chance to sing one last time, then the judges would convene and announce the winner. Lina was confident that it would be either Zelgadis or herself.

�You�re in an awfully good mood,� the chimera remarked dryly.

�You would be too if you had it in you,� Lina replied airily. �But nooo, you insist on being Mr.Gloom-and-Doom all the time.�

�I do not,� Zelgadis said somewhat petulantly.

�Do so!� Lina stuck her tongue out at him and made a face. Zelgadis suppressed a chuckle.

�Don�t be cute,� he muttered.

�I can�t help it,� Lina said. �Some girls are just naturally sweet.�

�I said cute, not sweet,� Zel pointed out.

�Now you�re just being obstinate.�

�I am not. Are you going to be quiet so we can listen to the rest of the competitors?�

�We don�t need to,� Lina replied. �They can�t beat us. Besides, it�s almost your turn.�

Zelgadis made a surprised noise and looked at the Lina ahead of him, realizing that, while he and Lina were arguing, they had moved to the head of the line.

�See?� Lina said smugly.

�Just for that,� Zelgadis said with a sly smile, �I�m not going to dedicate this next song to you.� He slipped out onto the stage, leaving Lina staring blankly after him.

�What�s that supposed to mean?�

Zelgadis stepped out onto the stage, smiling to himself. With barely a nod at the announcer, he took the microphone. His eyes traveled to where Lina was watching him raptly from behind the curtain, and his smile grew a bit wider.

As the crowd burst into applause, Zelgadis bowed and returned to where Lina was staring at him, open-mouthed. She started to say something, but Zelgadis shushed her.

�It�s your turn,� he said simply, then moved to take a spot near the edge of the curtain where he could see everything.

�Zel--� Lina stopped and gave him a smile which was almost tender. �Yeah. See you when I�m done.�

Zelgadis, watching her as she stepped out on stage, was struck by how beautiful Lina could look when she wasn�t being the Abominable Sorceress, but rather just Lina Inverse.

When Lina got onstage, she paused for a long moment, holding onto the microphone with a faraway look in her eyes. Then she began her final song of the competition.

As the last note died out, the audience burst into applause. Lina went backstage and was immediately met by Zelgadis. He was watching her with a strangely intent gaze. However, all he said was,

�Come on. Let�s go join Gourry in the audience while they announce the winner.�

Lina nodded and followed him outside. As they walked over to where Gourry was standing, Lina�s hand brushed Zel�s.

�And now, what you�ve all been waiting for!� the announcer stated. �It is time to announce the winner of our competition.�

As the crowd cheered, Lina glanced somewhat nervously at Zelgadis. He winked at her to let her know that, no matter the outcome, he wouldn�t be angry with her.

The announcer opened the envelope and stood for a moment in silence as he read the card inside.

�Ladies and gentlemen, we have an unexpected surprise!� the announcer said. �It appears that our competition was a tie!� The crowd gasped and Lina and Zelgadis exchanged smiles. �The winners of this year�s competition are...Tamara Mitsuki and Janai Litura!� Two girls who looked suspiciously like younger versions of two of the judges ran up on stage, smiling widely.

�WHA--� Lina�s outburst was cut short by Zel�s hand over her mouth. It took both him and Gourry to restrain the irate sorceress.

�It�s just a competition, Lina,� Zel reminded her.

�Lemme go!� Lina growled, struggling. �I�ll show those judges whose got the best voice! I want that money!�

�People are staring at us,� Gourry said a bit nervously.

�Come on, Lina.� Zelgadis, with help from Gourry, began to drag Lina away.

�No! It�s my prize! Let me go!�

�Well, at least we did our best.� Zelgadis, Lina, and Gourry were seated around a table at the Midnight Blue inn. Lina was treating herself to what she had referred to as a �consolation dinner.�

�I thought you guys were really good,� Gourry added encouragingly.

�We would�ve won if the thing hadn�t been rigged,� Lina grumbled through a mouthful of chicken.

�There�s no use in complaining about it now,� Zelgadis told her.

�Hmmph.� Lina made an annoyed sound and continued to polish off the last of the meal.

�Ano....Graywords-sama?� Zelgadis turned and groaned mentally. The Waitress Quartet was standing behind him, their faces full of sympathy. The chimera sighed. He�d never get rid of them at this rate.

�We just wanted to see if you�re okay, Graywords-sama,� Hitomi said. �After what happened at the contest, I mean.�

�Is there anything we can do for you?� added Maaya, eager to please.

�Like get rid of any unwanted company? asked Ayami with a significant look at Lina.

�He�s just fine with my company,� she said dangerously.

�She�s not forcing you to sit with her, is she?� Ayami continued. �I heard she was going to hurt those judges just because she lost. We wouldn�t want such a violent person to harm you, Graywords-sama.�

�I--� Zelgadis started to defend Lina, but he was cut off by the sorceress herself.

�Listen here,� Lina growled, rising. �Zel may be too polite to tell you to go away, but I�m not. We�re sick of you hanging around like his own personal set of stalkers. Get over it! You don�t have a chance!�

�Hmmph. How would you know?� challenged Yuko.

�This is how.� Without batting an eye, Lina walked over to where Zel sat, pulled down the bottom half of his mask, and kissed him full on the lips. The waitresses stared. When Lina pulled away, Zelgadis was speechless.

�There.� Lina walked over to the door and gestured to Zelgadis and Gourry. �Shall we?�

Zelgadis looked straight at her for a long moment, then smiled.

�Let�s shall.� He walked over next to her and took her hand. For a moment their eyes met and they smiled at each other.

Chuckling to himself, Gourry went to join them. Together, the three walked off, leaving the waitresses staring open-mouthed behind them.

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