Lina was already in the kitchen when Xellos went into prepare some tea.
"Lina, what are you doing in here?" 'she' asked innocently.
"Eating."
"But it's almost lunch time," Xellos protested.
Lina grabbed another cookie and shrugged. "I know," she said. "So... what are you doing in here then?"
Xellos smiled. "I'm going to make some tea for everyone, of course."
The redhead finished the cookie, and wiped off the crumbs. "Well don't put anything in the tea. I know you very well. Just because you are 'pretty', you still aren't what you seem."
"Then what am I?"
"I can't put my finger on it..." Lina sighed. "Anyway, don't make me a cup. I don't trust you anyhow."
With that, Lina left. Xellos simply laughed and whipped out something from 'her' sleeve.
"This is our newest member, Zeldigas Graywords," Gourry introduced formally.
"Zelgadiss Graywords," the chimera corrected under his breath; obviously having told him more than once.
"He has been a great help to our reputation in Tokyo and our police force. He will be temporarily stationed here, so please make him feel welcome."
(Sakura: How do you say "qing duo duo zi gao' in English?! ><'' oh no...) "Thank you," Zelgadiss said.
Just then, Lina entered the room. "Hey, the guy who helped out at the Tokyo Tower crisis last week!!"
"His name is Zeldigas Graywords," Gourry supplied helpfully.
"Zeldigas? Well I never had a chance to thank you for saving me that day!"
He nodded quietly in return. "No, I should thank you. And my name is Zelgadis, not Zeldigas."
"Oh, is it?!" Gourry asked increduously.
"I told you 5 times before."
"Then why don't you shorten it to something that everyone can remember?"
"Well," Amelia muttered, "I think you're the only one that can't remember."
"But it is a long name," Lina said thoughtfully. "Why don't we just call you 'Zel'? That way, Gourry kachou won't mix up the last two syllables."
"Zel?" Zelgadiss repeated.
Xellos entered the room with a tray, and began handing out cups of tea. Just as she was about to hand one to 'Zel', Lina grabbed 'her' arm, causing her to drop the cup and spill tea on the floor. Something else fluttered to the floor as well. It was tiny plastic bag with a white powder in it. Lina picked it up before Xellos could say anything.
"What is this?" Lina asked.
"...Sugar?"
"No one drink the tea," Lina announced, before turning back to Xellos. "Sugar?"
"...yes..."
Lina paused hesitantly, and suddenly began to laugh; as if nothing had happened. Xellos didn't know what was going on, and decided to laugh as well. Lina suddenly poured the contents of the bag down Xel's throat.
"Then let's see you eat it."
Xellos fell to the floor, shock still obvious on 'her' face, and Lina sighed. (It was actually ... Ma Yeuk... How to say in English?! ><'' A kind of medicine that makes you weak and succumb to unconciousness... ^^)
"I keep telling everyone NOT to let Xellos make the tea!! Don't let 'her' near that kitchen again!!"
The clock suddenly struck twelve thirty, indicating lunch time. Suddenly, everyone disappeared, save Filia and Zel (and Xellos for that matter).
"Where did everyone go?" Zelgadiss asked the blonde.
She was reaching into her bag, and pulling out a lunch box. "Did you bring lunch to eat?" she asked.
"I thought there was a cafeteria here, so I didn't think it was necessary."
"I guess I can spare you some of mine..." she sighed. "See, our strongest member in this department, is Lina, the redhead you were just talking too."
"So...?"
"Well, that's just it. She's also the biggest eater, and if you want lunch, you'll have to beat her in a game of arm wrestle for it. And no one has beaten her yet... So usually everyone just starves... unless they get to the counter first. Which no one does."
"But doesn't the cafeteria make enough food for everybody?"
Filia blinked. "You don't know this girl. Here, let's go to lunch room and you can see for yourself."
Zelgadiss nodded and followed her out. "So who's that other lunch box for? Or ... are they both for you?"
"No... not for me... but I thought... Valgarv might want something to eat... so I... I prepared more this... morning..." she blushed and walked faster. "Anyway, here we are."
Zelgadiss looked through the glass window, and raised his eyes in amazement at the small girl delving to huge amounts of food. Between each plate she ate, there was an arm wrestle between her and another person; all of which who lost immediately, even that big, blonde kachou.
"Does this happen everyday?" he asked incredously.
"More or less," Filia shrugged. "You… don't want to try as well, do you?"
"...I guess... But just for fun."
Just as Valgarv lost, Zelgadiss took the seat across Lina. "I hear... I am to challenge you if I want to eat lunch."
"Well... because you are new, and you DID save my life, I guess I can spare you just this once!!" Lina said 'humbly'. She pushed a tray before him.
"No, that wouldn't be right. I really should participate in this custom, otherwise it wouldn't be fair." He set his arm on the table to challenge her.
Lina shrugged. "It's your choice then."
She lazily put her arm on the table, and joined her hands in his. Amelia counted off (for the hundredth time today; because she was paid in food by Lina to do it). "3, 2, 1 start!"
To make a long battle short, Lina hadn't been prepared for the strength Zelgadiss had displayed, and found herself losing. She noticed he wasn't even using his full power to defeat her!! And so, she lost and had to give up a plate of food. (Grudgingly, of course.) To her dismay/anger, he handed it to someone next to him and challenged her again. When he won that as well, he handed it to someone else. And then he challenged her again. This cycle went on and on until everyone had had a chance to eat.
Lina, nevertheless to say, was extremely pissed off. One, she had NEVER lost to anyone. Two, she had ONLY eaten eleven plates of food today so she was still very hungry. And three, how dare he humiliate her?!
"This is IT, Zelgadiss Graywords," she yelled angrily at him. "the only reason I couldn't win you today, is because I haven't trained myself recently. This time next week, I will defeat you!"
She stormed out of the room, probably to look for something else to eat.
"Zel," Filia said coming up behind him. "I think you better watch out these few days. I think she is really angry with you."
"..."
File 3 | Fanfiction