THE BEST THING
by Tokki Chan

*Zel-Lina Shrine: song-fics* e-mail author* credits*

A large crowd was gathered outside the amphitheater. People were talking noisily to one another. One particularly large group of friends occupied a corner on the stairs in front of the foyer, idly chatting to each other. Occasionally, the redhead, and evident self established leader, broke off her conversation and looked around impatiently before returning to the discussion at hand. The Slayers had once again met up in some small town. By coincidence, the most popular idol singer was putting on a huge concert in town. At the end of each concert it was rumored that he gave a kiss to one lucky girl. And to save their sanity, the Slayers agreed to go see his concert. None of them could put up with Amelia's whining and begging for much longer. The large doors to the amphitheater creaked open, signaling that the show was about to begin.
The crowd began to flood in. The Slayers stood in the foyer, an island of stillness while the crowds flowed around them. "Where is he?" demanded Lina Inverse.
"Well, we can't wait forever," said Martina, latching onto Zangulus' arm pulling him toward the theater. "He'll probably be just a little late."
"Miss Lina, the show's starting," said Xellos following Slyphiel and Gourry towards the entrance.
Lina sighed in frustration and turned to go in. "Wait," cried Amelia.
"You wanna see this or not?" snapped Lina.
Amelia echoed Lina's sigh and the group filed into the theater.

***

Zelgadis groaned. That damned sun was shining too brightly. He turned over in the bed and tried to shield his head with his blanket. What business did that sun have to shine so brightly? It's almost like it was noon or something. Noon? Zelgadis sat up quickly and glanced out his window. Judging by the position of the sun it was way past noon. Aw, sh-. Zelgadis jumped out of bed and threw on his clothes. He was supposed to meet Lina and the others hours ago. Using his chimera speed he made it to the marketplace from the inn in a matter of minutes, but the crowds of people prevented him from further sprinting towards the amphitheater. He cursed under his breath as he impatiently picked his way through the hordes of people. He was never going to make it in time.

***

"Where is he? Where is he?"
All was not well for the backstage crew. The curtain call was already half an hour ago and their star still hadn't shown. Needless to say, the production manager wasn't very happy. The stage and production crew was very nervous. If their star didn't arrive soon their boss would have their necks. And so far, things were not looking good. A small faction of the crew was exploring the back alley for escape options.
"No good," Key grip #1 called to Stage Hand #7. He was about to come down from his position atop the wall when something caught his eye: the familiar back of a head. "Wait. There he is!"
The group made a mad dash out of the alley into the marketplace. " 'Scuze me, pardon me, comin' through." The frantic Key grips and stage hands and whatnots waded through person after person, pushing each body out of their way as though they were parting tall grass until they found their prey.
Zelgadis jolted in surprise as he suddenly felt hands grip him strongly and actually manage to lift him and drag him away. Before he could so much as protest he found himself sitting on the floor in the back of some dark theater. Several dark figures were moving around muttering things like "Gee, sir, you've gotten heavy" or "Gosh, sir, you had us worried. If we didn't find you it would be our heads."
His chimera ears told him there were quite a few of these minions milling about, and that they didn't seem to be on the offensive. He stood up and cast, "Lighting!" and quickly drew his sword, ready for the would-be-attack.
The stage crew just stood there blinking in surprise. This wasn't their star at all! It was some scary-looking Stone Guy who not only knew magic, but also had a sword.
Zelgadis returned their blinks. They weren't even armed! Bewildered, he sheathed his sword and waited for an explanation.
"......."
"We're so sorry, sir!" a stage hand finally cried out. "We thought you were someone else!"
CLUNK!!! Zelgadis fell to the floor. "How the hell could you mistake me for someone else?" he demanded. "Does this town just happen to have a high population of stone people?"
"No no," the nervous stage hand stammered. "You see, our star is missing...."
"Oh." They must be referring to that damn singer Amelia wanted to see. Poor Amelia, thought Zelgadis. There was actually only one reason why Lina had acquiesced to seeing this guy's show, and it was out of guilt. Lina and Zelgadis had recently realized their feelings for each other, but didn't come out to the rest of the group because of awkwardness, namely to the princess infatuated with the chimera. For Lina, protective older sister that she made herself out to be, the last thing she wanted to do was shatter the young girl's feelings and illusions of happily ever after that was the guiding light of childhood. Lina and Zelgadis both knew the tragedy of a shattered childhood, and so they agreed to try and preserve Amelia's at least until she grew out of the crush and matured on her own. Which, Lina had confided to him, she hoped would be soon.
"....and your profile looked so much like his..." the stage hand's whiny voice broke into Zelgadis' stream of thoughts.
"...and you're about the same height as he is..." the Key Grip picked up, catching on to where the stage hand was headed with this.
"...and you both have the same build, same hairstyle..." Stage boy #3 grinned wickedly.
"...and the auditorium is so dark that they won't be able to see your face when you perform..." purred Sound & Productions Guy #8.
Zelgadis didn't like the glint that was appearing in everyone's eyes. Now's a good time to make my exit. "Well," he cleared his throat, "I guess it was just a little mix-up." He sidled towards the door. "It's not a big deal," he continued nervously backing towards the door while the crew loomed dangerously forward, "I'll just be going now..."
"Wait, wait," the stage hand slammed the door shut. "Please," he begged, "you're our last hope."
"No!"
The entire stage crew got down on their knees. "Pleasepleasepleaseohpleasepleaseprettyplease!"
Zelgadis rolled his eyes. This was so pathetic. But the stage crew obviously took his silence to mean agreement, for the next thing he knew he was being dressed in some shiny silver getup, complete with matching gloves (you know what singers wear), and having sheet music shoved into his hand.
"This is the song you have to sing."
"I'm not going to do this, I can't..." his voice trailed off as he looked at the beginning chorus.

Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

"...I'll do it," he whispered, scarcely able to believe what he was saying.
"Great!" cried the crew shoving him towards the stage. "Just sing and then find some girl in the audience and kiss her, and you'll be done."
"What-?!" Zelgadis yelped, but the music cue had already begun. He barely had time to adjust the head mike before several unrelenting hands shoved him forward.

***

The curtain rose and the fans went crazy. Amelia nearly fell out of her seat, she was going so crazy. Lina tightly clamped her hands over her ears. All this damn screaming!
"Oppa! Nii-chan!!" somebody stood up and shrieked, wildly waving their arms. (Note: I don't actually know what Japanese girl fans actually scream at their favorite idol singers, but in Korea you scream "Oppa" which means "Big brother," the equivalent of "Nii-chan".)
"Xellos! What do you think you're doing?!"
"Whoops. Sorry, Filia-san. Guess I got caught up in the moment."
The music began.

Sometimes I feel like this is only chemistry
Stuck in a maze searching for a way to
Shut down turn around feel the ground beneath me
You're so close where do you end where do I begin?

Lina unplugged her ears. She blinked. This song, this voice! The voice was definitely familiar; a beautifully rich and low voice, a hint of a whisper. She squinted her eyes and peered closely at the figure on stage. Oh, gods. It's Zel. She glanced at her companions but she seemed to be the only one who recognized the chimera posing as a singer. Her sides shook with silent laughter. I guess he did make it after all. How the hell did they get him to do this? she wondered. Actually, she grinned, he looks good. And then the lyrics to the song sunk in. Lina's eyes grew wide and her throat suddenly became dry. Instantly she felt a strong connection to the song. It was like a deconstruction of her relationship with Zelgadis. He probably felt it too. No wonder he agreed to do it... Lina sat back and listened attentively to the song.

Always pushing and pulling
Sometimes sanity takes vacation time on me
I'm in a daze stumbling bewildered
North of gravity head up in the stratosphere
You and I roller coaster riding love

Gods. Lina exhaled through her teeth. If she had a gold piece for every time that happened. Before they got together, Zelgadis could act in the most aggravating ways. Whenever she tried to get close, he instantly put up a cold front that could freeze molten lava. He always tried to reject her, but... there were those times that gave his soft side away. A side she could occasionally touch. He could be cruelly cold or, an absolute angel. But when he finally let her in, she discovered a depth to his lighter side. And she was pretty sure that this song was a manifestation of that side of him.

You're the center of adrenaline
And I'm beginning to understand...

From his position on stage, a flash of red dulled by the dark auditorium caught Zelgadis' eye. Ah, there she was. A blush rose to his face momentarily when he saw that she recognized him, and then subsided when he realized, with relief, that no one else seemed to recognize him. Ah, to hell with it, Graywords. Zelgadis, even then not believing what he was doing, turned towards her, stepped off stage, and slowly made his way through the audience towards her, singing his heart out.

Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

Lina wanted to burst out laughing with joy. Oh, gods, he's really good at this. She couldn't believe that he had such a wonderful singing voice. She finally suppressed the cheerful peals of laughter threatening to spill out of her throat, but couldn't hide her bright smile. She just couldn't hide her joy at having the one she loved most singing to her, for her.

Walk on broken glass make my way
There are things I would do for love
Farewell peace of mind kiss goodbye to reason
Up is down the impossible occurs each day

The further the song progressed, the creepier Zelgadis found it. It was like someone opened up his brain, located the large portion of it labeled "Lina," and wrote everything down that was in it. Yes, he would do anything for her. For her, he could put aside his quest for his cure and attend to her quest, her needs. Even together, but especially when they were apart, she was the first thing on his mind. He was absolutely intoxicated with her. With her, his life would never be the same ever again. And, he realized to his satisfaction, he wouldn't want it any other way.

This intoxication thrills me
I only pray it doesn't kill me

Lina started. There. There was that look again. Whenever she saw it, Lina's heart clenched in her chest. Those deep blue eyes at once loving and begging. Begging her not to hurt him. Fear. Insecurity. Of course, he would always deny he felt any insecurity. But at moments when he thought she wasn't watching him, she saw it. Zel, you should know me better...

Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

Here he was. He made it to Lina's row. From the minute he saw her from the stage, he never had a moment of doubt who that kiss would go to.

You're the center of adrenaline
And I'm beginning to understand
You could be the best thing about me

He made his way over to her and hesitated. His eyes met Lina's. She nodded, slightly but firmly. He gazed deeply into her ruby eyes, a telling look. Then he planted a quick peck on Amelia's hopeful cheek and scurried back to stage.

Never want to fly
Never want to leave
Never want to say what you mean to me
Never want to run
Frightened to believe
You're the best thing about me

With the last chorus, the curtain fell. The fans stood and roared with applause, leaving general mayhem in their idol's wake.
Lina joined the enthusiastic applause and stood stretching. "Let's go," she said to the others.
Amelia fell into step next to Lina, stars shining in her eyes and her hand still resting in awe on her cheek. A blush invaded her face. "Miss Lina," she said dreamily, "do you think Mr. Zelgadis would be jealous?"

***

Later that night, a couple was nestled comfortably under a tree atop a grassy knoll watching the night sky.
Zelgadis nestled his face deeper into Lina's hair. "You've been awfully quiet. Something wrong, angel?"
"No," she answered flatly, all of a sudden intrigued by the stars.
He sighed and cupped his hand under her chin, tilting her face so that he could look into her eyes. "Come on, tell me."
"Nothing's wrong," she insisted, breaking away from him. "Why should they be? I mean, my gorgeous boyfriend just decides to kiss some other girl who has nothing to offer him but a bigger chest! Why the hell should something be wrong?!"
Zelgadis face-faulted. "Lina, you practically told me to!"
"And you listened!"
"Come one, Lina," he said gently, running his fingers through her hair, "you know it was meant for you."
Lina suddenly felt very silly. "I know," she said, snuggling closer to him.
The lovers sighed in contentment gazing at the millions of glittering stars that dotted the velvety night sky.
Lina's pleading voice broke the silence. "Zel," she said, putting on her best cute pouty face, "pleeeeze?"
"That's the tenth time today." But she could see his resolve already slipping.
"I know. But please?"
The chimera feigned a sigh of annoyance and cleared his throat. His clear voice echoed in the night sky, carrying with it the pure happiness of true love and the bright promise of a future.

You could be the best thing about me
You could be the best thing about me

CREDITS

  • "The Slayers" is the product of Software Sculptors, Tokyo TV, Enoki Films Co., Ltd., Monthly Dragon Magazine, Weekly Comic Dragon, Fujimi Books, Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi, and Kadokawa Publishing Co., Ltd.
  • The song "The Best Thing" was written and performed by the members of Savage Garden