Chapter 3: Prelude to Pain

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Val walks through the Temple with his pack on his back, ready to return to Ruaki's Temple. On his way out he passes the TV room. Zel, who is, as usual, watching TV, sees him walk past, drops everything, and dashes out to catch him.

Zel: Val!

Val turns.

Val: Yeah?

Zel: Where are you going?

Val: Back ta Ruaki's Temple.

Zel: ::oddly upset:: Oh.

Val: ::reluctant:: Anyway, it's been fun, and ... anyway, I have ta go.

Zel: Fun? Yeah right. Fun is not where Xel is.

Xel pops in.

Xel: You rang? ^_^

Zel: No I didn't.

Val: So beat it.

They team up to punt Xel into the customary orbit. Xel returns from his flight with a bounce right next to Duo and Suboshi, who are fighting over something.

Zel: ::soft and hesitant:: Visit sometime?

Val: Yeah.

Shy smiles on both sides. The answer to their growing friendship.

Zel: See ya.

Val: Bye.

Val exits through the special bishounen door (one you don't have to blow up to get through) and waves goodbye. Zel waves at Val's receding form as the other three bishounen dash in holding a detonator and fight the usual fight over who blows up whom, when Steph walks in and clears her throat. They pause and look up.

Steph: Guess what?

Zel: ::cautiously:: What?

Steph waves tickets for something over her head. Six tickets.

Steph: We're going to Germany!

All: ::in unison:: WHAT?!

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