“Imagine if you will folks, this young lady’s best friend, the World
Renowned Lina Inverse just went missing.  This lovely, innocent woman is
distraught with the news that she may never see her friend alive again.”
This made her cry harder.  Xelloss, who had been moving the camera this way
and that, zoomed in on the wailing waitress, who had beached herself atop a
swivel stool with no original intention of coming down to share her opinions
the obviously traumatic affair.

     “She was my best customer!”  Felia finally let slip between sobs.  “She never asked for anything
to be put on a tab!  Lent me money when they sued me for food poisoning!  I’ve know her for
years!  This place will go down the crap-hole without her!  WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!”

     “Ahem.  Yes, as you see, this is the kind of pain that dulls with
time, but will never be fully healed.”  He shut the camcorder off and
placed it on a tripod, angled to capture his left profile.  It had always
been his good side.  He grabbed the remote and flicked it, putting his hand
behind his back to hind the control.

     “This reporter has promised you the finest coverage from Tokyo, and I
will deliver that.  And more.  In fact, I promise you that I will have first
hand, recorded coverage of her rescue, or my name isn’t…” and he paused so
that he may later add in a quick riff of heroic music “…XELLOSS MATALLIUM,
finest reporter in the history of Canadian television!” He quickly shut it
off and began to pack up.

     “Just out of curiosity, what gave you the nerve to come back here
after last time?”  Felia was cleaning herself up with the assistance of a
large box of Kleenex.

     “Well, after I heard about the kidnapping, and I assure you, I was
one of the first to know, I quickly went around to everyone I know who knew
Lina and asked them what I asked you.  You aren’t special, you know.” He
added, an evil grin accompanying it.

     Felia gracefully swallowed that comment, but it got caught in her
throat.  “WHAD’YA MEAN BY THAT???!”

     “Never mind.  Hey, can I use your phone?” Xelloss swung the camera
bag over his shoulder.

     “What make you think I’m going to let you after the way you treat
me?”

     “Well,” Xelloss smiled, “In my bag I have worldwide publicity for you
and this hokey little joint.  My footage could very well put Dragon Feast
on the map.  You’ll get tons of customers, once I manage to get finished
with this video.  And I never will get finished if you don’t allow me to
make use of the restaurant phone line, got it?”

     Felia bit her lip.  He couldn’t be allowed to talk to her that way.
NO ONE talked to Ms. Copt that way.  But he had a point.  Without Lina her
diner was worth bubkis.  So she’d just have to beat him up AFTER he used
her phone.  “Okay.” She sounded particularly pleasant.  How she was gonna
hurt him…ohhhh!  It gave her goose bumps!

     He left her drooling in the corner and went to the back.  He fished
through his pockets till he found the King’s temporary number, which he had
quietly stolen come across and borrowed.  He punched in the numbers and
waited.

     Meanwhile, a certain eatery owner had made her way to the back room,
grabbed the other phone and slipped into the broom closet.  She was thankful
that the cord was so long, so that he wouldn’t realize she had let herself
in on his chat.  He owed her at least that much anyway.

     “Hello?  Tokyo Grand Castle Resort”  a woman picked up on the other
end.

     “Yes, this is Xelloss Matallium.  I’m wishing to speak to His
Majesty.”

     “Oh dear.” The woman was obviously new on the job.  “I’m not sure
about that.  You see, his royal Highness asked to speak to no one today.”

     “There must be some misunderstanding.” Xelloss lied.  “I made a
specific appointment to speak with him this evening.”

     “Oh my.  I don’t have you written down, Mr.….”

    “Matallium.”

     “No, I don’t see anything here for you.”  the poor woman was beside
herself with worry.  If she denied him and there was a meeting, that would
be the end of her job.  But if she bothered him and there wasn’t ever an
appointment made, she’d be in deep trouble too…

     “Well, this certainly is a problem.  It is imperative that I speak
with him now…you are sure he never left anything with my name on it?”

     “No sir, I mean, I don’t think so.  I mean…”

     “You mean to say that you can’t even figure out if he left you with
such simple instructions?  Ms., I must say that in a world full of crime
and deceit and with the current kidnapping of a Japanese icon to the world,
we really don’t have time for hotel clerks who can’t do their jobs.  I must
speak His Majesty now, and if you won’t let me, please put me through to
someone who will.  Do I make myself clear?”

     “Yes sir.  My most humble apologies.”   She said quietly, and he
heard ringing on the other end.

     “Ha!  Worked like a charm.”  Felia heard him say.

     “Hello?” another female voice could be heard.

     “Hello, Ms.  May I speak to his majesty?”

     “I’m sorry, he’s not taking any calls today.” It sounded as though
the girl was gritting her teeth.

     “Well, you know that’s a darn shame, cause I’ve got Lina Inverse.”

     “You what??????!!!!!!” The girl took a long, deep breath

     “Felia drew in a sharp breath and covered the mouth piece so she
wasn’t found out.  Sure he was a royal pain in the posterior, but could he
kidnap an international pop star?

     “Okay, here he is.”

     “What have you done with Lina?”  the king’s voice was gruff.

     “Easy, easy.  I don’t really have Lina.”

     “What in God’s name - you’re a member of the press! Goddamn it,
you’re days are numbered, bastard!  The life an innocent girl is not a
joking matter.”

     This time Felia covered the receiver to keep herself from laughing.
What color was the sky where this guy cam from? Innocent! HA!

     “Maybe not.” Xelloss agreed.  “But I some very powerful connections.”

     “What am, I chopped gravel?” Zelgadis twiddled his thumbs, creating a
not-so-pleasant scrapping sound.

     “I beg your pardon sir?”

     “Nothing.” Zelgadis sat up in his chair.  “So what is it you wanted
to know?  God, it’s not like I have anything better to do with my time than
answer questions from press.  It’s not like I want to help Lina, or want to
go out somewhere.  It’s not like I have a life, or free will, or the power
to hang up when I’m through talking.  Go ahead.  Shoot.  I have all the
time in the bloody universe.  In fact, we can do this in person.  You do
have a camera man and a notepad with which to change my wording around
don’t you?  Because if you don’t, I know this little store over in the
Ginza that sells the nicest prints available, and I-.”

     “Okay, I see we are in need of help from the funny farm, here.”
Xelloss interrupted, preventing the crown from going any further off his
rocker, at least for the time being.  “You haven’t a clue.  Yes, I am
member of the press, but I want to help you find Lina.  You know it’s
embarrassingly apparent that you want to help her, don’t you?”

     “What do you want in return?”  Zelgadis was exhausted from cameras
and questions.  “You want glory?  You want money? I’m sure there is
something you want out of this deal.”

     “First hand coverage.  I want to be the first member of the press
worldwide to get the scoop of The Great Lina Search.  Hey!  That’s a
terrific name - T.G.L.S.”

     “Whatever.”  But even though he was exasperated, it really was all
he could do to keep from cracking up.  He was on the phone with a real
loony.

     Gosh, who was this guy? Xelloss wondered.  He certainly lacked the
necessary get-up-and-go. A freakazoid mega-loony.

     Felia shifted her weight, trying to keep that horrid pins and needles
feeling from brutally attacking her left leg.  Who were these loonies, and
why were they taking so long?

     “Fine.  If that’s what you want, than fine.  Meet me tomorrow at
Tokyo Tower at exactly 9:00 PM, got it?”

     “Got it.”  Xelloss confirmed and hung up.

     Naga turned off the speaker phone.  “A loony if you ask me.  It’s a
good thing we’re not really getting involved with this guy.”

     “Who says we’re not?’ Zel sat back and took a sip of green tea.

     “OOOOOOOOOha ha ha ha!  You’re acting naïve again, Zelgadis-sama.”

     “EWWWWW hoo hoo hoo!” Zel tried to mock, which sent Naga into
hysterics.  “You’re acting weird again Naga-chan!”

     “Knock that off!  I’m older than you!” Naga grabbed for her coffee
mug, only later realizing that coffee was not the thing for her at the
time.

     “I don’t know what it is, but I trust him…it might have something to
do with that vision…anyway I’ll go with the deal.”

     Felia put down the phone as quietly as possible.  She had to get in
on this!  She was determined to find a way to save Lina.  Then the petite
diva would owe her BIG TIME and would pay her a truck load of cash.  Felia
began to drool but then caught herself and wiped it off on Xelloss’
jacket, which she hadn’t noticed she had brought until now.

     “Mata ne, Ryu-Sama!”  Xelloss yelled from the front of the
establishment and headed out the door with the assurance of the little
bell attached the door.

     Felia released an exaggerated sigh of relief and began to head for
the diner.  The bell atop the door rang again.

     “Oh, Ryu-Sama - I forgot my jacket.”

     Felia looked down sheepishly at the imported leather jacket with
Xelloss’ initials sewn on edge.  It probably took ten of the finest hides
of the finest bovine to make this particular fine jacket, complete with
tons of pockets all over the place, inside the coat too.  She had always
wanted to have a coat with pockets on the inside, so the could pull things
in and out of them in a mysterious fashion.  And now she’d gone and
slobbered on it.  This was not a good scenario…
 
 

End Part Eight.