Gigaworks presents

SLAYERS ENCORE

Slayers and all related characters and elements are copyright H. Kanzaka / R. Araizumi and are used without permission, Klonnoa is copyright of NAMCO and is used without permission, while all other characters are copyright of Mary, Queen of Scots and are also used without permission, but if she doesn’t like it, she’ll can to raise from her cold, cold grave and say something. Till then, they’re ours.

Episode 2: Engage!

(She’s One Bad Sister!)

Mr. Fawlty stared down his nose at the two boys in front of him. He had been having a grueling day running his respectable hotel. First, a noted critic of the hotel industry had shown up (Mr. Fawlty glared at the trim young man to his left). The Food staff had gone off to a lovely start by giving their esteemed guest a giant melting puddle of ice cream, instead of a roast duck. Then the waiter set fire to the tablecloth and spilt wine on the critic's monogramed handkerchief. Then the large sum of money that was deposited by the critic in the hotel's safe had gone inexplicably missing, and finally, Mr. Fawlty had just spotted a rat scurrying into the Pantry. What a day!

And NOW he had two little boys standing in front of his desk in the lobby. Mr. Fawlty hated children...especially STARING children.

"May I HELP you?" he snapped, irritably.

"I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions." said the taller of the two boys with bright green hair...which made Mr. Fawlty think he was a Punk.

"Piss off," he growled and slammed shut the guest registry book, as though afraid that they might vandalize it.

The hotel critic next to him cleared his thought audibly.

"Mr. Wheaton?" inquired Mr. Fawlty.

’'What now, you rubbish-raking twit?' is what he really wanted to ask.

"Mr. Fawlty," he began politely. "What many hotel inquirers would like to see these days is a hotel that respects and treats children like the important individuals that they are."

Mr. Fawlty broke into a wide grin.

"Of course! Only Joking!" he said through a large toothy grin, that was threatening to crack his face in two.
"Now, my Lads," he said to the two boys, who hadn't moved.
"What would you like me to answer?"

"I was just wondering what your nightly rates were." said the green-haired boy, sounding very mature.

"Twenty silver for the nights stay until noon the next day. We have a special on now; book four days get the fifth free."

"Breakfast?"

"Served in the dining room from 7:00 to 10:30 am. A continental breakfast is included with the nights stay." Mr. Fawlty was trying very hard to pretend that he cared.

"Dinner?"

"Costs extra." Fawlty's grin was starting to fade.

"Cleaning service?"

"WHY THE BLOODY HELL WOULD YOU CARE ABOUT OUR CLEANING SERVICE!!??" blurted Mr. Fawlty.

"cleaning service?" asked the boy again, sternly.

The critic released another "Ahem."

"We take your items to the local cleaners, you will receive it again at 5:00 pm the next day." A vein was starting to protrude from Fawlty's head.

"Anything else, my good lad?" he asked through clenched, smiling teeth.

"I would like to see a menu for dinner."

Mr. Fawlty almost exploded again, but the critic next to him gave yet another cough, and this time he kept his temper in check.

"Certainly!" he cried through a refreshed toothy grin, his mustache twitching.

He left to get the menu, leaving the critic who smiled warmly at the two boys.

Sol leaned over to Val.

"Now?" he whispered.
"No, not yet." replied Val cooly.

A four foot tall, black and white cat-rabbit...thing entered the hotel and rang the bell several times. She looked seriously peeved. After a minute of waiting she shouted, not even noticing Val and Sol, "HEY! Can I get some service here?! Geez! This is SO going on the comment slip!"

The two boys couldn’t help but stare at this angry...thing...whose head didn’t even come over the front desk. Val’s mother would’ve been horrified at her son’s behavior.

Then, Xellos walked in and leaned against the wall, earning himself a glare from the cat-rabbit. "Klonnoa-chan. You really need to lighten up! I was just saying that you looked like you escaped from a circus!"

Sol mentally agreed with him, but Val was to busy seething in repulsion from a certain Mazoku he had never cared to see again.

Klonnoa growled, tackled Xellos, and put him in a headlock that Sol's mother would've been scared of and shouted, "Namagomi! I did NOT escape from the circus and if you’re not careful, I'll kick you so hard that your kids'll be bruised!!"

Sol and Val both winced.

Xellos gasped and managed to pry himself out of Klonnoa's 'death-grip' and snapped back, "Don't push it, kitty."

"DON'T CALL ME KITTY! YOU NAMAGOMI!!"

Xellos's eyes twitched, but then he noticed Val and Sol.

"Hi! Val! Sol! How's everything going?!" He asked cheerfully. Klonnoa joined him and looked the two over. The green haired guy was kind of kawaii. She gave Val a winning smile that made him take a few steps back.

Sol sighed. What WAS it about Val??

"This is Klonnoa-chan!" said the nasal priest. "She's traveling with me for the time being!"

"What are you doing here?" asked Val darkly.

"What does it look like? I’m here to see about a room." Xellos reached out a hand to rumple his hair, but Val knocked it away. He was half tempted to bite it. Xellos only shrugged.

Klonnoa snorted and tripped Xellos. "Don't mind the purple-haired fruitcake. If ya do it right, He'll be beggin' for mercy!"

Xellos laughed, his voice muffled by the floor which he was currently commenting on the weather to. Klonnoa tapped her foot. "You’re supposed to stand up, then laugh."

"Oi! You certainly like to stretch the truth!" he giggled, standing and dusting himself off and grabbing Klonnoa's yellow cap off her head, allowing her long spiked bangs to fall over one gold catlike eye. Klonnoa ground her teeth, her eyes flashing.

"You’re crusin' for a bruisin', you do know that don't you?" she hissed, snatching her hat back, putting it on backwards and walking over to Val and Sol. She cocked a thumb at Xellos and asked, "Annoying', ain't he? He is SO lucky I can't cast Dragon Slave." Sol just sweat-dropped.

"You can't even cast Fireball." Xellos commented.

SPLASH! A ball of ice cold water came in contact with Xelloss' face and Klonnoa burst into a fit of laughter.

"Nailed ya! Itai!" Xelloss' staff then connected with HER head. Klonnoa glared daggers at the Trickster Priest, her gloved hands clutched in tight fists. She looked like she wanted to knock him out while Xellos simply enjoyed the meal of anger and annoyance she was providing him with.

Sol smiled at this pair. They seemed straight out of Vaudeville.

Val only sighed. "Yep, Xel can be pretty be pretty darn annoying most of the time."

Sol stuck his hand out to shake this new friend.

"Hi. My name's Sol-"

Out of the corner of his eye, Val saw Mr. Fawlty coming back.

"NOW!" Hissed Val.
Sol dropped the hand and fell limp to the floor and contorted himself on the floor, screaming jargon and throwing his limps wildly.

Pausing only to wink at Klonnoa.

Xellos only grinned at them amused.
"Boy, Lina could never have thought of this!" he thought.

"go away!!!" Val hissed at Xellos, under his breath. "You'll ruin everything!!!"

Xellos only retreated to a comfy chair in a corner, dragging Klonnoa with him. This looked like good entertainment!

Val's eyes suddenly opened wide as if he just noticed his friend lying on the floor! He shrieked as only a young boy could.

Mr. Fawlty jumped in alarm as he saw Sol on the ground convulsing and foaming at the mouth!! (those antacid tablets did the trick!)

"OMIGAWRN!!" cried Val. "He's having the fits again!!"

Fawlty stood glued to the floor, in a panic.

"Oh BlOodY HeCk! What do we do!!??" cried the distressed Mr. Fawlty.

"QUICK!" shouted Val with authority. "You get something to put in his mouth so he won't bite off his tongue!! I'll call a doctor!! Where's your Teledicter!??"

Mr. Fawlty pointed to his office behind the lobby's desk. Val nimbly jumped over it, while Mr. Wheaton went to fetch some water. The manager's office was tiny and cramped, but somewhere in the midst of it...aha!

Val stepped into the tight closet and placed the blue crystal in the oamulator. He then punched the four red phreems to connect to his' neighborhood's Teledictory code.

"Filia ul Copt, nine-seven, Green Heights!" he said clearly.

There was the familiar blue light encompassing him and there in a small square, about the size of a cookie tin, was his mother's face.

"Hi, Mom."

"Val! My Baby!" cried Filia. "I've been worried sick about you!"

"Mo-o-o-om. I've only been gone 3 days!" whined Val sweatdropping.

"And you said you'd call EVERYday!" said Filia accusingly.

"Mom, you know that not every town has a teledicter! They ARE rather new!" said Val trying to sound reasonable.

"Hah! Poor excuse for not calling your mother. YOU boys are all alike! You get your chance to go out into the world, and you could care less what happens to your poor mother...."

Filia went on like this for four whole minutes, and Val was looking anxiously out into the main lobby. He was afraid that the manager or critic would come back here any minute and demand to know what was going on. OR WORSE!...that Xellos would spoil it all.

"...some day when I'm dead you'll wish you had spent more time with-"

"Mom! I-uh-gotta go! Uh-Sol's on fire-Yah! Better put him out! G'bye!" Cried Val desperately with Filia interrupting at every word.

Before Filia could object, Val yanked out the crystal and put it back on its cradle. He heaved a sigh of mingled relief and exasperation. He then ran back out to the lobby, where the two gentlemen were huddled over Sol, who was still shaking like a maraca, although with far less energy then when he had started.

"I couldn't reach a doctor that was nearby!" cried Val, forlornly, as he started to weep. He was a very good actor.
"I don't know what to do!!"

Just then "miraculously," Sol stopped shaking, and slowly opened his eyes. Val gasped, tears streaming down his face.

"Little Brother!! YOU'RE ALRIGHT!! OH THANK THE HEAVENS!!"

Val sank to the floor on his knees, he then cradled his 'brother' in his arms and cried happy tears!!

All of this was terribly convincing, and Mr. Fawlty and Mr. Wheaton were incredibly relieved that Sol had recovered. And this touching scene between the two boys was enough to warm the heart of even Mr. Fawlty!

"Little Brother, Say something to me!!"

"Man," Sol replied, spitting, "Those antacid pills may look convincing, but they taste like-"

Sol looked up to kindly critic (now turning red) and to Mr. Fawlty, whose mustache seemed about to catch on fire.

"Have I said too much?" asked Sol, innocently.

Val felt like he had swallowed a cast-iron boot-scraper and a cold sweat spread over his body.

He stared in horror at Sol who was chewing on his tunic to get the taste out. He then glanced at the advancing staff.

Xellos and the furry...thing who were just watching, amused.

"BAKA!!!!" shrieked Val. He yanked Sol to his feet and flew out of the hotel, with Sol "flying" behind him. Val was still continuing his scolding.

"IDIOT! MORON! LUNKHEAD! JELLYFISH BRAIN!!"

Val screeched to a halt for a moment.

Where had he heard that before?

He shrugged and kept running.

"For once can't you ever play your part all the way through?? Was it too much to try and act weak for a few more minutes?? We might've even got a FREE MEAL from that!! I can't believe THAT wasn't motivation enough for you! Now we'll have to find somewhere else!! AND ITS ALL YOUR FAULT!!"

Val wasn't particularly mad at Sol. He HAD gotten that free dicter-call, after all. And he was used to the half-brained redhead screwing up his perfect plans. He knew his words were wasted on Sol...but it was nice to be able to vent.

Sol figured Val got that from his mother.

Xellos was still clapping his hands in the Hotel’s Lobby.

"BRAVO! BRAVO!...What acting! What skill!" Xellos said, his smile widening.

Klonnoa nodded. "For once, we agree on something." She then decided to follow the "odd couple" and then bolted out the door, Xellos following at her heels.

They finally caught up with Val and Sol, who were panting in a bush beside the road. Mr. Fawlty and Mr. Wheaton both went past them as good angry mobs should, no matter their size. Val groaned. He would have preferred to have Mr. Fawlty find him, rather than Xellos!!

Klonnoa slapped Val on the back ferociously, knocking the wind out of him. "Val, you’re a pretty good actor, but Sol...you gotta learn not to open your mouth and complain."

Xellos nodded and clapped. "I must agree with Klonnoa-chan on this one. Val-san got his acting skills from Filia-san, wouldn't you say?"

"Don’t talk about my mother." warned Val, his temper rising.

Midnight Thorn had witnessed the previous events, with relish. Having finally caught up to the group, now increased by two weirdoes, she frowned thoughtfully. That purple haired man looked a bit familiar. She seemed to have seen him somewhere before, but wasn't sure when. The furry creature was... um... she didn't know how to describe it.

Anyway, it looked like the two boys could take care of themselves. Perhaps she should leave them now. However, she couldn't seem to make up her mind about it, so she decided to hold a conference inside her head.

~ ~ ~ ~
MT1: Yeah, you should leave them and find more bandits to fight. Having more money means that you can buy more things!!
MT2: But they're just little boys! They could get hurt or something...
MT3: (singing) Koi Ni Koi Suru! Ono no Konni Wa!... oops, are we having a discussion? Sorry. I'll shut up now.
MT4: ... No comment...
MT5: This is ridiculous. Just follow them and be done with it.
MT1: I disagree! I still think we should find more bandits!
MT2: Oh come on! Do you think money is more important than the lives of two innocent boys?
MT5: I think you're overdoing it, MT2. I don't think they're that innocent. Besides, they have those two... erm... people with them.
MT4: ............ yeah.
MT2: But didn't you see why they went through all that act in the hotel? The green-haired one needed to call his mom!
MT5: Maybe you're right... Ok, let's follow them.
MT1: Man, this stinks. I'm warning you, I'll sulk.
MT3: Is the discussion over yet? Can I continue singing now?
MT4: ............ yeah. We're gonna follow them.
MT2: Yatta!!
~ ~ ~ ~

Having finally decided, Midnight Thorn continued following the group.

"My Aunt Luna's house..." said Sol, dashing out of the bushes merrily, "...is about four blocks due north."

Sol wasn't sure of the exact dates, but he knew more or less the story of his aunt. She'd moved to Glistle (a curious burg) before Sol was born, and purchased an Inn/Tavern. She had two daughters, aged 14 and....the other one was...(shudder)....

Sol did whatever possible to keep her out of his head.

He looked up at Klonnoa.

"I think you'll like my aunt. I know Val does."

Val's hair was standing on end as Xellos and ...friend followed them ...like they had been invited along or something! Sol seemed to be getting along with them peachy-keen, but they were grating heavily on Val's nerves. Val Finally couldn't stand it any longer. He let his anger rip loose like a hurricane, forgetting that Xellos only enjoyed that sort of shameless outburst.

"WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING US XELLOS?? I DON'T NEED YOUR KIND OF HELP!! WE DON'T NEED ANY ADULTS AROUND AND WE DON'T NEED YOU!!

YOU AND YOUR PET CAN JUST GO HOME!! STAY OUT OF MY WAY AND OUT OF MY FACE!!!"

Val then saw Midnight Thorn on their tail as well.

"AND WHO THE HECK INVITED YOU?? STOP FOLLOWING US!!"

"Well!" Midnight Thorn gasped in disgust and marched off in a huff.

Val considered frying the three intruders with a flame breath...but decided against it. He was having trouble with those anyway. Instead he turned to his companion.

"C'mon Sol, we're leaving."

Val paused...something was wrong. Sol was not moving.

"Sol? Did you hear me?? I said LETS GO!"

Sol only looked at Val with big baby-deer eyes, pleading.
"Pleeeaaaaase? I like ‘em!"

Val was unmoved.
"No....Don’t look at me like that!...I said No! NO!...aw, fer cryin’...Stop that! No! No means No means No!...WILL YOU CUT THAT OUT!!???.....are you gonna CRY?.. well go ahead!...see if I care!........okay, I’m sorry...but they still can’t........."

The end result of Sol’s little performance was the five of them Standing in the Town Square of Glistle Village.

"To bad you weren’t this good an actor back at that Hotel." he said acidly.

Klonnoa sat on the large equestrian Statue in the square. "I sure hope Sol here is right about me liking this Luna person."

"She is quite nice. Anyways, I believe you dropped this, Klonnoa-chan." Xellos handed his friend a large gold ring with an emerald on top of it. It was about the size of a wide horse-shoe, if not bigger, and a magical aura surrounded it.

"Thanks. I was wondering what happened to it." Klonnoa then looked at Sol and Val and asked, "When are we gonna go in? 'Cause I'm a little hungry."

"Ha! A little? You eat more then Sol, Val and Lina put together!" Xellos laughed. Klonnoa she grabbed Xellos's staff and introduced it to his skull.

Xellos glared. "You like doing this to me, I swear."

"Your right. I cherish every moment of it." Xellos sighed, rather exasperated, and Klonnoa was grinning like an idiot.

Sol forced a smile and sweat dropped.

"On second thought," he said, swallowing hard, "I think it's best if you don't come uninvited. Aunt Luna's not too fond of ... surprises."

Sol's mind flickered back two years to Luna's surprise party. The healers were busy for weeks.

"Why don't we meet back up with you tomorrow at that inn near the edge of town? What's it called again?"

"the Dancing Roach," said Val smoothly.

Klonnoa nodded and dragged Xellos back to the Dancing Roach.

When they got there, Xellos looked around and said, "Well. we should wait here until..."

"Until what?" Klonnoa asked.

Xellos opened one eye, bent so that he was eye to eye with Klonnoa, wagged his finger in her face and said, "Sore wa himitsu desu!" Klonnoa face faulted.

"Xellos no baka..." she muttered darkly, picking herself off of the floor and rubbing her jaw sorely. "Just what are we waiting for, anyways? Never mind..."

Klonnoa-chan soon got her answer as from a dark corner emerged a young woman that might not have been there a minute ago. She was very angular and pale, but first and foremost she was...neat. Not a hair on her head was out of place, there was not one wrinkle on her peach-colored dress, nor a single spot on her crisp white lace cuffs and collars. Even stranger than her appearance were her mannerisms. Sure, she moved around like a person should and yet...there was something too perfect, too precise. The young woman, named Galetea, advanced towards Klonnoa and Xellos with an eerie "klunk...klunk."

"Miss Klonnoa?" her voice was soft and seemed to come from far away. She smiled in an attempt to be friendly, but her eyes stared blankly.
"My master has bid me to come fetch you."

Klonnoa stared at the figure, her eye twitching at the 'miss' statement. "Your...master...oh, him..." she sighed. "Okay. Take us to your leader," she said in a sarcastic tone.

Xellos’s smile widened then faded. Hopefully Klonnoa would follow the plan and not screw it up. "Hiya! So, how is he? Life treating him nicely?" he asked cheerfully, only to get a kick in the shins by Klonnoa. "Ow!...Do it again." he smirked at Klonnoa's annoyed expression.

"Xellos no baka..." she muttered, bopping Xellos over the head with her mallet-sama and dragging the sadistic Mazoku so that him and herself were standing beside Galetea. "We're ready. Beam us up, Scotty."

Val stared nervously at the large wooden door. Sol, who was standing next to him was also staring in equal apprehension. It was an ordinary enough inn. It had the ordinary smells of smoking chimneys, hot food, and sweaty people. It had an ordinary sign, swinging above the street, " THE HALF MOON INN." It had a little more than the ordinary amount of customers. Val could see why, it was this or "The Dancing Cockroach." However concealed within this benign, friendly and downright ORDINARY setting...was a most EXTRAORDINARY person...

Val nudged his companion.

"Dude, YOU knock!"

Sol looked at him funny, and then dawned in realization.

"Huh?...Oh...yah."

Val had met Aunt Luna on Several occasions, and while she was very friendly (in an odd sort of way) she was definitely....imposing. Encounters with her usually started out with a gigantic bear-hug that would knock the wind out of a warlord.

Sol was just about to lift the large brass knocker when the door was flung open...and there she was...Aunt Luna. She was wiping soapy hands on her apron, her hair was short and sensible, but hiding her eyes from sight (there was a rumor that she didn't have any). The two boys tried to look at her respectively, without falling backwards as she towered over them. Her face broke into a wide grin (what they could see of it) and she cried out heartily,

"BOYS! Great to see you! You've both gotten so BIG! C'MERE!"

Before either could object she had wrapped a muscular arm around each boy and drew them in a crushing embrace to her ample bosom. Val tried to fight back tears as he saw a white light glowing in front of him...beckoning.

All Sol could do was cough.

"chlad cho chee chou choo," he managed to get out.
After what seemed like ages of excruciating agony, Aunt Luna finally released the boys from her crushing iron grip.

"Why don’t you come on in, and we’ll catch up!"

Luna looked confusedly at the boys, who were now lying on the doorstep, panting. She shrugged and scooped up both of them in her arms, and carried them inside.

One Chocolate cake later, the boys were recovered and quite at ease. Aunt Luna made the best chocolate cake. The boys were discussing their travel plans, when they heard loud thumping on the stairs, as if something dangerous and hostile were descending them. They were right. It was Sol’s teenage cousin.

Mina was clad in bright orange, the latest color fad, from the colored streaks in her hair, to her large oversized boots that cost their weight in gold. Her hair was twisted up in a trunc’s knot. The schematics of this hairstyle is too detailed to relate to right now, but suffice to say, that its’ only purpose...was to annoy parents.

"Mina! come say hello to your cousins!" called Aunt Luna.

Mina’s head swiveled in disinterest towards Luna. She uttered some strange teenage dialect that sounded rather like "p’shhhhuhhhh." Val and Sol couldn’t help but think she was cool.

"Moth-errrr...Val is not my cousin...he’s just Sol’s little friend." she stated, rolling her eyes as if her mom had called Val something completely ridiculous...like a hat.

Luna shrugged. "Fine. Say hello to your cousin and his friend!"

"Gee, I’d love to, but I really got to go do some stuff.".... It was anyone’s guess whether she was being sarcastic or not.

"What kind of stuff?" asked Luna with a raised eyebrow.

"Y’know! STUFF!" replied Mina, under the impression that she was being perfectly clear.

Luna sighed passively.

"Whatever. Just be back by six, we’re all having dinner together."

"I will if I can and I won’t if I don’t." replied Mina with exasperation.

She finally glanced at the two boys, and gave a halfhearted wink.

"Seeya Squirt," she said and exited after ruffling Sol’s hair and blowing a kiss to Val, who turned beet-red. That was the last Sol would see of Mina, this visit.

Luna looked back disapprovingly and shook her head.

"I’m sorry about that, guys. She’s going through a phase."

The boys tried their hardest to not laugh. They had spent their entire lives going through "phases."

From there the conversation resumed. The boys soon discovered that Aunt Luna was the coolest kind of adult. Not only did she congratulate Val on his medal for Academic Achievement, but she also listened intently to Sol’s account of his suspension for introducing his amazing skill for making armpit farts at the school concert,. She even asked for a demonstration, much to Val’s mortification.

The best thing about Luna though, was that she knew stuff....stuff about Lina. The boys laughed long into the afternoon as did the patrons of the inn. She had lured a big crowd around her table as she related to Lina’s exploits from their childhood. Sol had tears streaming down his face, and Val’s sides were aching, when Luna stood up with her hands on her hips.

"Well, 6:00 dinner time!"

"AWWWWW" said everyone, until they all remembered that next to stories, Luna was famous for HER FOOD! Waitresses came out with soup tureens, dishes and pots full of hot, steaming, rich food and began to ladle out portions to everyone. When the waitress passed over Val and Sol, they looked heartbroken, but Luna just laughed and nudged them.

"We’re eating in my family’s dining room!" she said warmly and guided them behind the main staircase and into a friendly room with dark green walls and oak wood trim. In this homiest of rooms, was a large meal on a huge table...more than even Sol and Val could ever eat! The table was in fact sagging under its great bounty, and was making creaking sounds. From a second door, emerged a tall smiling man with a bit of grey in his short brown hair.

"Uncle Howard!" cried Sol happily as he leaped into the man’s arms for a big hug...but not nearly as fatal as Aunt Luna’s. Val bowed politely until Howard drew him into a very "manly" hug. Val liked Howard. He seemed to be the most sensible person in the family. But then Howard opened the door again and called up the stairs.

"LANI! DINNERTIME!"

Sol’s pupils contracted.

From the hallway outside he heard the soft thump of tiny feet on the stairs and the "jingle....jingle...jingle" of a large bell. Sol’s got a cold chill up his back as that bell came closer...and closer..."jingle....jingle....."

Suddenly, and without warning, the "jingle-jingles" got faster and faster until the door burst open and a streak of blue and purple shot towards Sol knocking him to the floor.

There sitting on his chest was his five-year-old cousin, Lani. Her lavender hair was cut short in a wedge, and was held back with a gigantic pink ribbon. Around her neck was a matching pink ribbon with a large jingly bell on it "to hear where she is," Aunt Luna once said. She was wearing a flouncy blue dress with several petticoats, and around her waist was a sash with a large red bauble at the end. The bauble was now in Sol’s mouth, and it was a good thing too, for if he had had the liberty Sol would’ve been uttering many things that a five-year-old shouldn’t hear.

"HI-YEEE!" she chirped happily as she hugged Sol with a strength rivaling that of Luna’s, and snuggled against his chin.

Sol wanted to die.

Hearing Val laughing, he decided he’d prefer it if Val died.

There was only thing Sol found more annoying than Lani's irascible cuteness: the fact that everyone knew how cute she was. Every old friend knew it, every new acquaintance knew it, and worst of all, she knew it. Also, everyone who had accepted her adorable nature as a universal truth was generally disagreeable to anyone who thought contrary.

Sol thought veeeeeeery contrary. This little spore was as lovable to him as an inside-out chinchilla. You can see where it might have been cute, but it's the inner nature that really gets in the way of beauty.

The town seemed so sure of her cuteness, though, that Sol wouldn't be surprised if they woke each other up in all hours of the night, crawling through each others yards and leering in each others' bedroom windows making sure that no one forgot how cute Lani truly was.

"Why, God, Why has she not been hit by a truck, making everyone's life easier?" Sol asked to any who might heed his prayer.

"Well, for starters," answered Val, "trucks haven't been invented yet."

"Then what are you standing around for? Invent one! For the love of all things holy, hurry!"

Val, having little to no imagination, grabbed a napkin, wadded it into ball, and chucked it at him.

"Here you go, buddy...a truck."

Lani smiled widely down at her cousin, bouncing on his chest.

"Did you finally come to visit me?" She leaned down, putting Sol's neck into a tight hug. "I haven't seen you in a w’ong w’ong time!"

Her amethyst eyes then shifted up to Val. They somehow grew larger in size and sparkled like stars. She dropped Sol, climbing off him, and slowly inching toward Val.

"Hi Val...." she said softly, blushing.

Val sweat dropped.

"Uh...hi." he said quickly...he too was starting to remember why Aunt Luna's house scared him as he inched towards the wall.

"C'mon, Kiddo," said as Uncle Howard scooped Lani up into her booster chair...next to Sol's seat.

"Better YOU than ME," was all Val had to say on the matter, as he tucked his napkin into his shirt.

"Hey Val," Sol whispered. "Why is it that every girl seems to fall for you?"

Val sighed tragically.
"Its the burden of a bishonen." he replied softly.

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight." said Sol as he drowned his food in Gravy.

After a hefty dinner, both Val and Sol were...satisfied. Lani had considerably dampened their appetite. Not wanting to spend another minute near Lani, they feigned extreme fatigue and were led upstairs to the guest room.

"Geez, that Lani is such a PAIN!" whined Sol as he bounced on the soft bed.

"As I recall, you were a lot like that when YOU were five." commented Val, sagely.

"Nuh-UHH!" cried Sol totally shocked and affronted.

"Yes, you were. I shall now do an impersonation."

Val's eyes widened into big shimmering saucers and he chirped in a high-pitched voice (that cracked a little;)

"OH, Val you're so cool!! I wanna be just like you!! You're my bestest Pal! Lets be together FOREVER and EVER and EVER and EVER and EVER and EVER and EVER and...Hey! Where are you going??"

He then returned to his cool and casual self, but with a small smug grin on his face.

"You Lie!" cried Sol hotly, blushing.. why did that sound so familiar? The frank look on Val's face also convinced him that he was prob'ly telling the truth.

"May the world be forever rid of five-year-olds." muttered Sol Bitterly.

Val was about to point out that there would be no future generations if every five-year-old disappeared, but decided it was unnecessary.

"Whatever," is all he said. He started to put on his pajamas.

Later, in the night Val awoke to a burning pain. His arms felt like they were on fire. He tried to hold in his screams, as tears rolled down his cheeks, but it was just too intense for him, and soon he was crying freely.

"SOL!" he sobbed. "ITS HAPPENING AGAIN!"

Sol jerked up in bed, and it was a few seconds before the blurry world subsided into substance. Than the weight of his friend's condition finally feel upon him.

"Holy-" he cried, followed by a word worthy of three boxes of Safeguard.

He was by Val's side in a blink, but he might as well as been a million miles away. Val was writhing in pain, and Sol didn't remember the first thing about his condition! Why-oh-WHY didn’t he pay more attention to his mom!??

"Okay, Val, you just hang in there, oKAY?? I'm going to get help!!!"

Sol thundered into the hallway, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"AUNT LUNA!! AUNT LUNAAAAAAAA!!"

"NO! No! NO!" cried Val helplessly. He didn't want to wake everyone up, not when he was like this! He would have given anything to keep Aunt Luna from finding out...because she would tell his Mom.

Of course it was too late, and Aunt Luna came bursting through their door, sword drawn. Of course anyone confronted with a sword in their bed would be naturally frightened, so there was a good four minutes of screaming from all parties, that woke the rest of the family and half of the borders as well. Thus they all ran upstairs to see what the commotion was. There they were, standing in the doorway, trying to get a glimpse of the action. Poor Val was a sobbing wreck.

Aunt Luna finally managed to shove them all back to their rooms, although she had to wave her sword around a bit. She could then tend to Val.

Unwrapping the bandages from his palms to his elbows, she held back a gasp. Encompassing his forearms were hundreds of scars, old and new, and somehow just reopened.

"Dear Lord." she whispered.

"Wait!" said Sol. "I REMEMBER WHAT TO DO NOW!!!"

Sol had regained his composure and managed to instruct Aunt Luna how to care for Val, with the confirmation of Val nodding or shaking his head when questioned.

Luna tried to be as comforting as possible, as she spread some of Filia's salve on his scars and wrapped his wounds in fresh warm bandages. She then stayed with Val, until he dropped off to sleep, with Sol snoring next to him.

As she started to leave, she heard Val calling her softly.

"Aunt Luna?"

"Hmmm...."

"Could you not tell my mom about this?"

"I dunno...I really think I should." said Luna sadly.

"...um...," began Val timidly.

"Yes?"

"Could you tell her...AFTER I leave tomorrow?"

"Sure thing." She smiled and gave him a wink under her long bangs.

NEXT TIME, ON SLAYERS ENCORE!

Sol: "Who’s the freaky kid with the puppets, and why is Klonnoa wearing pink? Is Xellos behind this? And where’d did Midnight Thorn disappear to? Maybe this familiar face knows!
Find out in our next Episode:

NEMESIS! (A Boy and His Toys)

YOU BETTER WATCH OR MY MOM’LL REALLY CAUSE SOME TROUBLE!!"