Chapter 14

"NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA, NA---- (WHA-- 8x)!?!?" Lina stuttered excitedly when she opened the door to Valgarv's resting room. Aya and the biker snapped awake from their sleep when they heard the commotion of three teenage girls, still in their pajamas, freaking out. Not to mention, getting the wrong idea. The turquoise haired guy didn't seem to care about what Aya's friends were thinking and rested his head on the pillow again. Aya waited until she actually got a chance to explain, which was long from now. She ended up having to talk during breakfast and make them see her point of view. They knew Aya wouldn't make love until marriage or make out at least, but it was a surprise to find her in bed with a guy. No doubt, her friends suspected some chemistry going on between her and Valgarv. Amelia, Filia and Lina glanced at each other, grinning and giggling as they put their attention back to their food. The blue haired girl just blushed and stared down at the delicious meal, cooked up by Amelia's best chefs. After Aya ate, washed up and got dressed, she wanted to check on Valgarv, again. He was gone, though. The covers were halfway off the bed and the pillow was wrinkled in a sideways position.

'I guess he left already . . . ' she thought and closed the door. The four friends wouldn't go back home until four o'clock in the evening, since they were going to have another practice today at Amelia's place. The rich girl had to leave for a reason, she wouldn't say.

"It's a surprise." She teased and giddily left to wherever. Meanwhile, the remaining three were heading downstairs to the rehearsal place. Gourry and Xellos should arrive at any time and they had to get ready to start as soon as they came. Since only six days remained, they had to go for extra hours to wrap up the song. As the friends approached the rehearsal room, they heard someone, a male, strumming a guitar and softly singing a song they've never heard of. Aya looked at Lina and Filia, who shrugged their shoulders. No one knew who it was. The voice was beautiful, though, and didn't mind taking their time so they could listen to the flow of the smooth vocalist accompanied by the guitar. When they came to the wide white room, another surprise opened their eyes, literally.

"You're kidding . . ." Filia whispered to herself. Aya and Lina couldn't belief in the picture they saw. The amazing vocalist and guitar player sat on the stage step calmly, but straightened up and tried to put the instrument away as if he had never touched it. No words came out from their mouths, nor did any movement came from their bodies.

Zelgadis depressingly walked back to his apartment with too many things inside his mind. His doctor still had no clue on any medication that would help his present appearance wash away and restore him to his normal self. If there was a cure, it'll no doubt be extremely expensive and would take him a long time until he could buy, or find it at least. He would do whatever it took though, to have a decent look and not walk around like a goblin or something people judge him as. Of course there were the rare type of people who saw past his disorder. Four days ago, when he and Amelia began to go out, they've become not as silent as before. Something about her optimism, smile, kind heart, innocence, understanding . . . and much more he had to learn, drew him to her. She was just one of the few people who would look past the facade and see deeper inside. Graywords came to his apartment and unlocked the door to find an unexpected gift, leaning against the kitchen table. Right before his blue eyes was a brand, spanking new, electric guitar with an uneven, red square at the end and top. Thrilled and stunned at the same time, he walked to the instrument and picked it up, examining it quickly.

"Do you like it?" Amelia asked. She stood at the open entrance, beaming adorably. Zelgadis glanced at his girlfriend and the guitar.

"You . . ." She stepped into the apartment and walked beside Zelgadis, who was testing the guitar's sound. "Did you do this just so I could go join the band?" He questioned. Amelia shook her head.

"I knew you were working very hard to pay for the apartment, school and other stuff, and you really wanted a guitar. So I bought you one for just because!" His hands stopped fiddling with the strings. "You . . . don't have to join . . . but I think it'll be great if you could. My friends agree, too, that you should--" The aqua skinned teenager found the guitar case on the floor, next to where the guitar was and placed the gift inside, sealing the black case. He swung the straps over his shoulder and turned to Amelia,

"When's the practice?" With those three words, the black haired girl rejoiced and jumped on Zelgadis and wrapped her arms around his neck. He almost went off balance and was about the hit the table. He grabbed a chair to hold onto so he could keep himself on his feet.

"ARIGATOU (Thank you) ZELGADIS-SAN!!!"

The two guy members arrived moments after the girls discovered not just Valgarv in the practice room, but his talent and their missing member. All they needed was a little persuasion . . . and lots of force from some people.

"Pleaaaaaaaase!?" Lina clasped her hands together, leaning toward the biker.

"No."

"Just one night for three minutes of stage!! Is that so much to ask for?" Filia mimicked her red head pal, but knelt on her knees.

"No."

"We'll do ANYTHIIIIIIIIIIING!!" Aya begged desperate to get him in the band.

"Why do we want Valentine to be in our band?" Gourry asked anyone who was listening, which was only Lina and Xellos. His girlfriend socked a fist down the blonde's head with extra agitation.

"You jellyfish of a brain!! First off, his name is Valgarv. Second, because we need more people in our group to sound good enough to win!!" Gourry rubbed the large bump on his head,

"Owwww, don't need to get all upset!"

"You said you'd do anything, right?" The turquoise haired teen questioned the offer with a smirk. Aya nodded. He tilted his head up with his index and thumb, pondering over an idea. In a few minutes of rethinking, he decided.

"Alright, you want me to join that bad? I will, only if you'll do what I ask."

"What's that?" Filia said a little unsure if she wanted to heard his proposal. The golden eye narrowed devilishly with his grin. That made the whole group step back a millimeter.

"One is you have to pay me fifty dollars each-- "

"HELL N-- " Gourry covered Lina's mouth and held her back before she could outburst.

"Let's listen to the rest of his thing before we kill him." Valgarv continued on with the list.

"Two, buy me a new motorcycle. Three, help me get rid of Black Death and lastly, give me half of the prize we get from the contest." This didn't just upset Lina, but all the members, excluding Xellos who still had his laid back style.

"Give me a break!! We're talking about just ONE stinkin' contest, which is only going to take three minutes of your entire freakin' life! Doesn't cost a penny for you to join! Ruin your reputation . . . well maybe a little . . . and you want us to pay you for committing suicide!!! Now I'm PISSED!!" Flames raged in Lina's eyes and background. Gourry was still trying to keep the angry girl from beating the already injured biker. Valgarv leaned against the stage step, that came to his waist.

"Then I guess you don't need me to be part of your loser tribe." Filia was preparing to make her deadly mace handy any minute.

"Hey! We're not a loser tribe!" Gourry shot back.

"Deal!!" Aya spat out before any more comments were made. Everyone switched their eyes to the blue hair girl like she was crazy.

"Are you crazy girl!?" Lina was appalled. Who and why would anyone make a deal out of those lists of requests?

"Don't worry, you don't have to do anything. Just trust me." She whispered to her friend and held out a hand to Valgarv for a shake, which he ignored.

"Hmph, I want everything at least by the end of the contest."

"Yokai (Roger)!"

"I won't be able to play the guitar, though."

"Cheapskate!!" Filia, Lina and Gourry were about to pound Valgarv, but they all tripped over a large rubber cord, running across the room.

"My arm is still bad. Nothing I can do."

"Aww, does wittle Val have a boo, boo?" Xellos, appearing suddenly on the stage, behind the biker, snickered.

"Don't fuck with me!!" He took the guitar he recently strummed on and swung the string instrument at Xellos like it was a tennis racket. The sly young man swayed out of the way.

"Getting a little touchy aren't we?" Valgarv threw the electric guitar at him, but the purple haired teen caught it with his hands before it hit min. "Thank you, I was going to get this."

"Kisama---- (You)"

"Tadaima (I'm back)!" The joyful voice of Amelia Wil Tesla Saillune filled the den, putting a stop to the argument that was about to rise. Beside her walked another new member, Zelgadis Graywords, the new guitar player.