You talk as we walk along, you never imagined I could be so wrong.
Humming your favorite song, you know I've hated that song for so long.
Amelia bounced along beside Zelgadis, singing a silly song under her breath. Zel rolled his eyes under his hood, but said nothing. This over-developed, under-mature would never be taken for a princess. And her naivete was annoying.
"Mr. Zelgadis, isn't it a lovely day?" she asked him.
"If you say so, Amelia."
"Such a beautiful day! Full of goodness and righteousness! And we're all together, champions of justice and love!" Amelia went off on one of her speeches. Zelgadis just tuned her out.
How could we ever agree? Like the rest of the world we grow farther apart.
I swear you don't listen to me, holding my hand to my heart,
holding my fist to my racing heart.
Zelgadis knew that Amelia actually believed that her returned her feelings of affection. Not that he didn't hold some affection towards her, but her constant prattle about 'their love' was embarassing, and worse, her concept of justice, flexible at best, was irritating him.
"...... defeating evil and bringing truth to the lands! And...."
Finally, he couldn't take it. "Amelia!" he interrupted. "Be quiet! There IS NO JUSTICE in this world!"
Amelia froze and stared at him. He big blue eyes began to well up with tears. "How can you say that, Mr. Zelgadis, when you're such a noble and true fighter for good over evil? You...."
"Enough!" He cut her off. "Amelia, you just don't listen. Do you really think that ANY of us care about justice? I just care about finding my cure. Lina just cares about gold and survival. Gourry.... well, who knows what Gourry cares about!" He strode off, leaving her standing there. As he passed Lina and Gourry, Gourry gave him a puzzled look, while Lina's jaw just dropped. Zelgadis didn't bother to look at them. After a moment, he heard Lina's voice speaking to Amelia, but he didn't make any effort to overhear what was said.
Hand over fist, paper around the stone
Scissors cut the paper, cut the paper to the bone.
Another town, another inn. The battle over food ended. Almost immediately, a subdued Amelia excused herself, claiming exhaustion. Gourry followed soon after. Zelgadis barely acknowledged their goodnights. He sipped his coffee, appearing to be deep in thought. Lina stared at him from across the table. Eventually, Zelgadis's curiousity got the better of him. "What?" he asked.
Lina said nothing for a moment, then, "What the hell is your problem? You've NEVER mouthed off to Amelia like you did today. Sure, you've snapped at her, but only when she'd endangered herself."
Zelgadis raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're keeping track?"
Lina frowned. "Don't get smart with me. You've been a jerk all week. Are you planning to take off?"
Zel set his cup down. "Hmph. I wish."
"What was that?!?"
Meeting Lina's eyes, Zelgadis challenged "Like you'd let me? Your pet freak?"
Lina's eyes widened. "Just what do you mean?"
Shrugging, Zelgadis rose. "Not like I have a lead currently anyway. I'm going for a walk."
As he strode out of the inn, Lina watched, still frowning. "I'm going to find out what's bugging him if it kills me." Leaving money on the table, she followed Zelgadis into the streets.
Take a walk outside myself, in some exotic land.
Greet a passing stranger, feel the strength in his hand,
Feel the world expand
The town had been built around a park. There were still trees and shrubs. Wandering down a narrow path, Zelgadis found a pond in the center. A few benches were illuminated by the moonlight. Zel sat on one and stared into the dark waters. What is wrong with me? he wondered. I don't want to hurt them, but I have to keep my distance. If one of them should die.....
So wrapped up in his own dilemma, he didn't notice the rustling of the trees until a stranger burst into the clearing. Zelgadis immediately rose to leave, but the unknown person hailed him.
"Hello, Friend!" It was a man's voice, and slurred with drink. He staggered over to Zelgadis, and collapsed on the bench. Holding out a bottle, he offered "Drink?"
Zelgadis shook his head. "I was just leaving."
"Oh, no! Sit a while! Talk!" The stranger slapped the bench. Suddenly overcome by a perverse need for company, Zel did sit. This drunk wouldn't remember him in the morning anyway.
Sighing, the man waved an arm, indicating the pond. "Good spot. I come here all the time when the missus gets worked up. You in trouble with your missus too?"
"I'm just passing through."
Swilling a mouthful from the bottle, the man coughed, then said, "Ah, troubles of a different sort. You alone in your..... travels?"
"No."
The man glanced as Zel. Admittedly, Zel's voice had been loaded with meaning. "So, ya hate 'em or ya love 'em?"
"What?"
"Well, with a tone like that, your companions must be workin' on you something fierce. Just like my missus. Well, I suspect she does it out of love. And it's not like a man can jsut walk away from his own, right?" With the wisdom of the immensely drunk, the strange man waved his hands about. "I mean, Man is a herd animal. Gotta have friends. Gotta find someone to love. Makes us different than them Mazuko and Ryuzoku, right?"
"Ryuzoku mate."
"Mate? Bah! They still ain't got the same feelings Humans do. You and me, we're humans. I bet one of your companions is a woman, eh?"
"Maybe."
"Ha!" the man crowed. "And you don't want her, but she wants you!"
"How would you know?" Zel pinned the man with a glare.
"Now, no need to get hostile. I'm a good guesser. I'm just saying that folks gotta be with other folks. It's natural. And you can't fight it. No sir. I love my missus, love her a lot. Sure, she gets on my nerves, but she's really only trying to help. Friend and lover both. Ah, my Emily. She's a god one. Yep," and the man stretched. "Can't help caring. You stop caring, you stop being human."
Zelgadis stared at the man a moment longer. Not caring worse than caring? "If you care, you get hurt," he said.
The man shrugged. "Sure. Happens all the time. But the hurt makes the caring more important." He slapped Zel on the shoulder. "If you don't let yourself care, if you don't tell them you care, well, you're hurting them!" He stood and offered the bottle again. Zelgadis shook his head. "No? Ah well, have it your way. Thanks for the company, friend. I'm thinking I better go home and make up with Emily. Wouldn't want her thinking I don't love her anymore." He winked, then extended his hand.
Zelgadis looked at it for a moment, then hesitantly, he shook the stranger's hand.
I feel my spirit resist, but I open up my fist,
And lay hand over hand over......
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