Chapter 10

The next day Lina was at school with crutched and everyone was zealous to know what happened. She only had to go on crutches for a week, so she'll have them off four days before the talent show.

"Attention class!!" The English teacher entered the room and the students went to their seats. "Today, you have a free work block! You can either work on assigned homework or go to the library and read. If anyone makes a slight peep, that person will spend the rest of the class time cleaning the school washrooms." After that he chose the people who wanted to go to the library and sent them off while he remained in his class. Amelia and Aya pretended to look for a novel at the very last row of book shelves,

"Are you still mad at me Amelia?" Aya asked. Amelia took out a thick hardcover book called, 'The Power of Love And Justice' and flipped through the pages,

"No. . . I'm more upset of myself." She closed the book and let out a discouraged sigh. "I know you didn't go out with Zelgadis. Xellos just assumed that you two were a couple. I was angry at myself for not being straightforward. I should go and talk to Zelgadis!" Aya placed a hand on Amelia's shoulders.

"Your crush is a very cool guy. I know he kinda seems intimidating, but you two will get along fine. I know it."

"Thanks . . . I just hope he likes me back . . . " Amelia brought up her tightened fist up to her face. "I must speak now or forever hold my feelings! I might as well take the risk before it's too late. I'm sure he's a sweet guy and easy to talk to after a couple of days or so."

"That's it Amelia!! Go face your fears!! Take chances!! Make mistakes!! And get--"

"Aya!!" The library teacher pulled the blue haired girl by the ear.

"This is a library, not a socializing room!! You will be reported to your class teacher right now!!" the librarian tugged on Aya's ear harder.

"I'll do it for love and justice!"She called out before Aya got jerked out of the library,

"You go girl!!" Amelia smiled.

'Thanks Aya . . . ' She turned a corner and was close to colliding with the same person, again. Zelgadis and Amelia were face to face staring at each other for a long time. The black hair girl blushed and stuttered,

"D - d - d - did y- you . . . were y - you . . . listen - n - ing . . . " Zelgadis placed a finger over his lips and pulled her into another aisle, making sure no one was nearby. "Umm . . . so. . . were you listening to our conversation?"

"Only by accident, while looking for a book . . . " Amelia's entire face just transformed to deep red. She couldn't find the right words to say next.

"Well . . . I guess the truth is out now . . . " Amelia's fingers held the thick book tighter and nervously, "I've . . . liked you ever since you came here . . . to Greenland. I've never got the nerve to tell you that. I was afraid that you didn't like me back . . . I know I sound stupid an--"

"No." Zelgadis said, his face was turning pinkish red as well. "I was afraid . . . that you didn't like me either . . . " Amelia's face light up and her heart beated like a thousand horses. Or was that Zelgadis'. She couldn't tell. "Omae no koto mo, zuto tsuki datanda ( I've always liked you too) . . . but I thought I was never good enough . . . "

"No you are!! I mean . . . "

"Are you . . . busy on the weekend?" Amelia smiled and shook her head. The librarian returned to the room so they couldn't speak any longer. Zelgadis, though, handed Amelia a note with his phone number and apartment address. On the bottom, he wrote in fancy handwriting, 'Call me tonight.'

It was Wednesday and Filia was on her way to her car after piano lessons. She was only allowed to use the car on Wednesdays, since neither of her parents worked on that day. She searched for her keys in her mini, navy blue backpack as she strode. Suddenly, a male's hand covered her mouth and held a sharp pocket blade against her neck. The area was empty and no one was looking through the building windows of her music school. The stranger carried her into a dark alley and threw her against the wall. Filia was about to scream for help, but the man placed the knife by her neck again.

"If you scream or do anything tricky, I'll kill you." Two other men were with him. They appeared like normal men who wouldn't hurt anyone. None of their hairs were died or spiked or done in weird hairstyles to match the intimidating clothes. The man snatched Filia's backpack and grappled through it to find any money or worth value. "Shit, there's nothing!"

"We can take her car bring her to our place." One of the guys behind the man suggested. Filia's mind raced and she trembled helplessly, not knowing what to do. She was afraid of letting out a single word because the stranger said he'll kill her.

'Please Kami (God), help me . . . I don't want to be raped!! Dareka (Somebody) . . . Tatsukete (Help)!!'

"Good idea, but I'm driving."

". . . . ."

"Who said that?" There was confusion between the three strange men. Neither of them had said a word. The blonde girl, though, recognized the voice from anywhere. She was thankful, not for the first time, but especially today, that Xellos was there. In the entrance of the alley, a young man with a silky violet mane leaned and arm against the brick wall. His eyes glared sinisterly with a devilish grin. The three men approached Xellos, each pulling out a knife from their pockets.

"Kill him!!" The first man, who grabbed Filia, ordered.

"Xellos!!" Filia shouted as the trio assailed to the intruder of their plan. The younger man pulled out a familiar looking scepter with spikes and clubbed the three men.

"Take this!! And this!! And a couple of these!! You bastards!!" He continued to hammer them with Filia's weapon until he was satisfied. A large sweat anime sweat drop slid down the girl's face and a few hair strands curled out of place. "I think that's good enough." He tossed the protection over to the owner and she caught it by the handle.

"Xellos . . . tasukete kurete . . . arigatou . . . (Thank you for saving me)" Filia's face flushed a rosy pink for a few seconds until a question popped in her mind. "How did you know I was here? And how did you get my weapon!?"

"You left your mace on my head today, after school." Xellos was walking away, but Filia stopped him,

"But how did you know I was here?" He looked back at her with his normal blithe face and said his famous phrase,

"Sore wa himitsudesu (That is a secret)."