Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own Slayers in any way, shape, or form. (I only wish I did) I'm just a poor college student writing to keep my sanity.

After a bit of debate (thanks for the idea comment Lesli!), I decided to work up a sequel to Scattered Tidings. This will be a series rather than another one-shot, and I hope it will do the prequel justice.

Keeper's Wake - Chapter 1

Narrowed eyes watched the ragged man flee blindly, such flight pitifully wasteful in his opinion. If he had ever toyed with the idea of sparing the man, such waste had changed his mind. For such a decorated, if retired, warrior, the fool had been a bigger disappointment than even he had expected, scornful as he was toward knights in general.

With a grim smile he increased his stride, determined to pace the man a bit before moving in for the final stroke. His prey owed him that much for the trouble he'd gone through in travel and tracking alone. If the poor fool was lucky, he might even extend his life with a bit of conversation first, not that he really needed to bother with information gathering.

Then again, his assignment didn't include interrogation. The Council wanted someone to hang for crimes against the Alliance. They only needed the body, information was pointless at this point. Still, they wanted their victim enough that they had offered a bonus upfront, and with terms like that on the line, both sides of the conflict knew he would find the right criminal. It wasn't about the money, it was about pride. It had taken years, but he had a flawless record and a well-earned reputation for his work…some small-time revolutionist wasn't about to be the first black mark against that.

His target was Reolf, an old warrior that had served under the former king, one that had stood firm against the idea of the Council taking over the reigns of the kingdom. Most people disliked the idea of a group of mages running things for them, not to mention the various Mazoku listed among their ranks. Then again, most people were smart enough to keep their mouths shut on such thoughts.

At first Reolf had been ignored; but an army, even one as small as two hundred men, was just begging to be made an example of. As the saying went, cut the head off and the rest of the snake will lay down and die quietly. He was the executioner, one that had briefly debated on giving the man a clean death or not. Everyone died, but the manner of that death was certainly up for some serious consideration. When Reolf had chosen to flee, leaving his men to fend for themselves…well, that had neatly solved the problem for him.

Hitting the base of a hill, Reolf struggled to climb the steep face directly, never thinking to look for an alternative route.

Fool…always know your terrain. How could you have a base here and not think of possible escape routes? Shaking his head a bit in pity, he turned onto a smooth, if slightly winding, back path along the hill. Without a word he drew his sword, the black blade flashing in the afternoon sun. This man wasn't worth drawing a real weapon on, the Guild's signature blade would be enough.

Allowing himself a half-smile, he moved in to end the chase.

...

"He's been taken care of."

Briefly Rezo looked up, frowning at him. Though the man was a senior mage on the Council, as one of the founders of the Cobalt Alliance, it wasn't the titles that affected him. Rather it was the blind stare that Rezo always fixed him with, one that seemed far more knowledgeable than it should be.

"I see you haven't lost your…direct manner, Zelgadis." He paused, sorting through several papers on his desk. "Can I assume that the lack of a body means you already made the proper display we were looking for?"

Zelgadis nodded briefly, before catching himself. "Yes. I imagine there was a certain amount of panic the following dawn. Though you've no doubt received a surrender from their faction already." He paused, then scowled a bit. "And I wasn't hired for conversation."

The responding sigh warned him that a lecture would soon follow. For some reason, despite over a decade of steady - and loyal - service, many of the Council members continued to try changing his personality. His serious disposition bothered them, that much was obvious. He had very few emotions and showed even fewer; it made him a hard target to judge, and an even harder one to predict. The Alliance was still new enough that they distrusted the unknown, never mind that one of their primary goals seemed to be controlling things.

"Do you have another assignment waiting for me?" He spoke up suddenly. Though the question was asked in a quiet voice, it cut Rezo off as effectively as the loudest of yells. Chalking it up to the mage's inability to understand him, he waited for a response.

"As a matter of fact, one did come up while you were gone. We were going to meet later today to decide on who to assign."

Zelgadis ignored the obvious bait. It was clear they considered him a leading candidate; Rezo wouldn't have mentioned it otherwise. "What is my assignment?"

Rezo sighed in exasperation. "Trust you to take the fun out of it." Clearing his throat, he tossed down a scroll. "Everything is listed there. A boat will be waiting tomorrow morning."

With a short wave of his hand, he dismissed Zelgadis without further words. Giving a parting bow to the mage, a formality most of the Guild - and the Council - ignored anymore, he took his leave.

...

Xelloss eyed his chosen prey with a smirk, said target trying a pathetic attempt at escape. Dodging to the right, he caught it rounding a corner blindly. Falling into his grasp, it struggled wildly to escape.

"Master Xelloss…would it be too much to ask that you pay attention to your briefing, rather than playing with a…" She eyed his hands, trying to decide what he'd caught.

"Moth." He supplied smoothly.

She coughed politely. "Yes, moth."

Slowly Xelloss unlaced his fingers, separating his hands with obvious reluctance. Instantly the moth was away, flying in a dizzying pattern toward a nearby bit of light. Eventually it perched on the sill of the room's only window, a position he couldn't help envying a little bit at the moment. Turning his attention back to the female mage before him - not that she could tell through his closed eyes just where his attention lay - he couldn't help thinking that lounging outside in the sun sounded far more appealing than a lecture.

Schooling his expression into a perfect mask of agreement, he otherwise ignored the woman's long-winded speech. Clearly this was a newer member to the Order, or else his reputation would have preceded him; especially the part on how he treated those that sought to lecture him on how he should do his job. There was only one among the Order he would obey…and the pitiful woman sitting across from him wasn't her.

The Cobalt Alliance…often called the Order, the Council, or a half dozen other names, all equally as trite. Truth be told, he found the entire system behind it rather amusing. The idea that a group of mages would form a truce with certain Mazoku was laughable, as was the assumption that said Mazoku would take orders from any human.

But then, when have humans ever thought beyond their own convenience? We help them gain knowledge of lost magic - all bits and pieces we choose, of course - smile and help without question, then simply sit back and wait. Let them spin their webs of betrayal and mistrust…those that fail to destroy each other will become fodder for our greater plans. He smiled, thinking of the moth previously trapped between his fingers.

Such a simple thing to spring a trap; use the right bait, and the prey would be only too eager to throw themselves forward. And power, in one or all of its many forms, was a most compelling bait indeed…no matter the target.

Deciding that enough was enough, Xelloss opened his eyes a bit, fixing the woman with a half-lidded stare. When her throat caught for a moment, he added one of his more suspicious half-smirks. One didn't pride themselves on learning and keeping secrets, only to miss something as obvious as a personal weakness in a co-worker. He knew very well that the woman had an aversion, almost a fear really, of direct attention…especially attention from his race.

Really, one slaughtered town and she's paranoid for life.

Five minutes later he was given an abrupt dismissal. Those that caught sight of him leaving the building didn't fail to note his cheery smile upon exiting.

...

"Off on another assignment so soon?"

Even though he recognized the voice, he shot a quick glance to the doorway on his right. A familiar profile lounged against the open arch, arms crossed loosely against his chest. After taking an extra look - one purposely focusing on possible weapons - he relaxed a bit when none turned up. Satisfied, he continued walking.

Valgarv pushed away from his post, dropping into a matching step beside Zelgadis. "Still as cold as ever, I see…even to your best friend."

"Best friend?"

Three, two, one… Zelgadis barely felt the punch on his shoulder, an intentional favor on Valgarv's part…as well as a blessing. Even given Val's skill, no one really enjoyed punching rock if they had the option not too.

Cracking a smile, Zelgadis reached out and ruffled the younger man's hair, reducing the spikes to a tangle of aqua. Pulling back his hood, Val started to return the favor, only to pull back his hand with a loud curse.

"Damn, I always forget about those skewers of yours! It's not fair having so many defenses you know, makes the rest of us look bad."

Though it was said with a grin, Zelgadis immediately dropped his smile. Despite how useful his form was for his career, it was still a touchy subject. Being an assassin for the Order was difficult enough, but being a chimera on top of it…

It hasn't exactly made me the most social man.

Yet even that had its perks; in his line of work a co-worker one day could become a rival another. Open assignments led to deadly power struggles, more than once he had killed people that only a week earlier had shared a drink with him.

Before he could sink any further into though, Val made a point of clearing his throat. "I know you've heard it before, but you really need to get over your appearance, Zel. So it wasn't exactly what you had in mind…at least it's kept you alive."

Frowning, Zelgadis gave Valgarv one of his special looks…the kind that clearly told him to leave the subject alone. Shrugging, Val flashed him a feral grin before crossing his arms behind his head. Whistling a bit, he resumed walking.

"So, you taking the assignment?" He finally asked as they turned onto another street, one that would lead to both their rooms and the armory.

Zelgadis shot the younger man a look. He was fishing, they both knew it. Either Zel was heading home for some rest, or he was gearing up for his next job. "I haven't decided yet. It was implied that I have first choice."

They both shared a sarcastic look. Any implication from the Order should be taken with a grain of salt. Lying was an art among mages, even more so among Mazoku.

Valgarv stopped then, turning a bit to start at the open door to the armory. "Xelloss was rather high on that list too."

Without a word Zelgadis turned sharply, passing by his friend. Grinning openly, Valgarv followed him inside, whistling an upbeat tune.

...

"This is my assignment, Xelloss. I do not want, or need, your presence…let alone your help."

Xelloss looked up at the fuming chimera, his face safely in its smiling mask. "And here I thought we had something special, Zelgadis."

To add insult to injury, he nonchalantly reached out, brushing aside several razor-sharp bangs. Immediately Zelgadis jerked back, the movement starting a dangerous rocking motion to the boat. Glaring daggers at the Mazoku, Zelgadis was then scolded into sitting down by a furious ferryman.

Content, Xelloss began licking the blood off his fingers…which only further upset the chimera.

"Rezo may be your grandfather-" He paused, savoring the fury radiating off his traveling companion. Satisfied after a bit, he decided to humor Zelgadis. "Fine then; Rezo may be a senior presence on the Council, but I do not fall under his rule."

"When did you start caring about assassinations for the Order? I thought you preferred spying in the most lavish courts available; seducing nobles, stirring up political intrigue, that sort of thing."

"We all play many tunes, Zelgadis. Just because I favor conducting the players, it doesn't mean I can't skillfully play an instrument myself."

He gave a contemptuous snort. "I should know never to expect a useful answer out of you, Mazoku."

Xelloss only smiled, leaning back a bit in his seat. Boats, especially small ferries that only led to bigger boats, had never been his favorite mode of travel. Then again, most human creations were similarly limited, awkward things that took more effort than they saved.

As if reading his mind, Zelgadis changed the topic. "Why are you here at all? You could be there in an instant."

"I enjoy your company."

Zelgadis scowled. "Enjoy tormenting me, you mean."

"One and the same, my dear chimera…one and the same."

They sat in silence for some time after that, with Zelgadis ignoring him long after they'd reached the boat that would take them to the mainland. Xelloss took it in stride, even when the avoidance lasted days instead of hours, expecting nothing less of Zelgadis. It was true; some traits belonged to the soul, rather than being spun from life events. The similarities still amazed him…him, a Mazoku that had seen quite a bit in his long existence.

I remember all the things I've done, all the things I once watched your little group do. I helped in my own way, even if it seemed more like harm at the time. He smirked a bit, thinking back over many fights that seemed almost impossibly ancient compared to his latest role.

In was then, in the middle of his reminiscence, that Zelgadis finally approached him. Suspicion in his eyes, Xelloss simply grinned in response. "Did you need something, Zelgadis?"

The chimera blushed a bit in embarrassment, a look that soon faded into a more sullen expression. "Why are you interested in this target versus all previous ones?"

For a moment Xelloss thought back to that moth of several days ago. So easy to capture, these mortal creatures.

"I take it you read finally read your assignment information? I was wondering when you'd get around to it."

Zel ignored his bait, instead moving to stand beside Xelloss, both men looking out to sea for a moment. "What is one sorceress to you? I'll admit that she has a decent command of spells for someone so young…but she is hardly the first. Her name is flashy, but we both know how often that name shows up anymore. People would rather steal past glory than earn their own."

It took quite a bit of willpower not to laugh in the chimera's face. So much repetition…but most of the minor players had faded beyond obscurity. Only the child of chaos had survived time, her name spread throughout dozens of legends, said as a curse among bandits and criminals.

It had taken a bit of effort over the centuries, but all told, he'd done an excellent job. He owed her that much.

"Apparently the Council considers her enough of a threat, if they sent us."

Zelgadis corrected him instantly. "Me. They sent me, not us. You are just an unwelcome addition on this assignment."

He ignored the comment. "You should know better than expect such information out of me, Zelgadis. I'm in the business of keeping secrets, not sharing them."

Xelloss watched Zelgadis stalk back to his room, muttering insults the entire way. It was tempting to tell him the truth, tempting if only to see what the chimera really remembered.

Out of everyone, I expected you to remember it all, Zelgadis. After all, she held your heart as well. I know for a fact that it crushed you, seeing she and I together. It tormented you to know that you never held the courage to ask first, to reach for the one thing you truly desired. You ran to your princess after, found comfort in a surety. That you followed her into death was just as disappointing. Your fear of solitude was your undoing…not that I haven't had my own weak moments in the past, not that I would ever admit it to the likes of you.

This time…again you two start as enemies. She looks the same, you know, I made sure to check the moment I first heard the rumors. A child with molten hair and burning eyes, all set in a heart-shaped face, a petite frame. Her eyes have that old spark of fresh fire in them now; she is too young to have been worn down by her enemies, too innocent to the cruelties that come with her name, with her soul. Even her attire is the same, or as similar as one can get in this new world. You might be proud of her…if you realized the truth. But then, look at how all of you have turned out, are still turning out…as if you never left this world behind for a while.

Will seeing her spark memories of another time, of deeds done for another world, one of people now long dead and dust?

Xelloss smirked, staring out at the calm water around the vessel. Like the wake behind their craft, it wouldn't be long before their little group began another path of chaos, ripples that he would steer differently this time.

"Don't disappoint me this time, Zelgadis. I've waited far too long for this…far too long for all of you."

Above all the others, he had the highest expectations of Lina and himself. This would be their turn, their time to manage fate. Not even She would cheat them again.