Disclaimer: Let's see. . .car, cats, playstation. Nope, looks like I don't own the Slayers.

The tavern was on the outskirts of the capital. It was just about dinnertime and the place was filling up. Because they were residents of Seyruun, the patrons were a little calmer than one would expect. Sharing two tables in a corner of the tavern, Lina and her large party waited for their meal.

Zelgadis thanked the waiter and sipped his tea. He looked at Lina and pointed to his cup. "Old habit. I haven't been able to taste anything for about fifteen years." He shrugged. "Not that it really matters. I haven't needed food for the last decade."

Lina nodded. "You've changed a lot haven't you?" She stared at his face. "Except for your looks. You look like you haven't aged a day."

Zel nodded and took another sip of tea. "Rock doesn't get wrinkles you know. Besides that, I could say the same thing about you. It's incredible. If I didn't know better, I'd guess you were in your early thirties."

Lina laughed. "It's because I live life by my rules and don't make any excuses along the way!" The server set a huge platter of meat in front of her. "Ah! This looks great!" She began to inhale her food.

Zel chuckled. "I'm sure there's more to it than that, but whatever." His expression grew serious. "Anyway Lina, what are you going to do now?"

Lina smiled around a mouthful of beef. She swallowed before replying. "I figure that for now, I can call us even."

Zelgadis choked on his tea. "Even? It's my fault that Gourry died."

Lina looked down at her now empty plate. "That's true Zel. A part of me will never forgive you for that. However. . ."

Zel took another sip of tea. "However?"

"You did save my Emily." She looked over at the table where Emily was sitting with the kids. "That's something I'll never be able to repay you for." She grinned at Zel. "So you see my problem? Should I blast you with a Dragon Slave or hug you?"

"Knowing you, I'm sure you'll find a way to do both at once."

"Besides, I can't afford to punish you too harshly. Someone's out to get me and I could use a bodyguard." Lina turned to Filia. "What was in that box Filia? That Vance guy seemed to know what he was after."

Filia sighed. "I'm not really sure. It wasn't really what I would call a precious stone or anything. It was just a rock. However, it was heavily enchanted."

Zel's ears perked up. "Enchanted? Filia, did the stone happen to look like this?" He reached into his satchel and pulled out his fragment of the Soul Render. He set it on the table for Filia's inspection.

Filia's eyes widened. "That's it! Except for the color, this is an identical stone!"

The stone began to glow softly and it's color shifted from green to gold.

Vance sat in his employer's chair with his feet propped up on the desk. He stared at the floor of the office fascinated. Blood was dripping from his injured leg onto what had to be a very expensive rug. His blood! This was a new experience. He chuckled. "He can take it out of my fee for all I care." He looked up as the door opened. "Ah, my esteemed employer! He gestured to the floor. "Sorry about the mess."

"What are you doing here? Did anyone see you?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking." Vance sighed. "No, I wasn't seen and I'm here because I work for you. Any other stupid questions?" He glared at the man for a moment. "No? Good." He tossed a box on the desk. "Here's your damn package. Now I'd like my fee. He tried to stand up and grunted in pain. "Oh, and if it's all the same to you, I'd like a healer as well."

"We'll get to that. Did you eliminate Inverse?"

Vance sighed in frustration. "No! I did not get rid of Inverse." He held up a finger. "However, this is still a work in progress. These things take time."

The man snorted. "You can't even kill a woman. Useless."

Vance grinned. "Ah, don't say that! Like I said, she will be dead soon." He glanced at his ruined knee and laughed. "Just as soon as I get back on my feet."

"I think I'll reassign the contract. I had heard that you were a professional. I guess I heard wrong."

"Well if that's how you really feel. . ." Vance shoved his employer against a bookcase and held a sword to his throat. He snarled at the man. "Go ahead and call for your guards. You'll be dead before they open the door. Do we have an understanding? Nod your head."

The man nodded slowly.

"Good! Now you listen to me you pompous ass. As of now, Inverse, her little fox friend, and the others belong to me. Do you understand that?"

The man nodded again.

"Excellent! If you have anyone else attack these people, I will send their heads back to you along with Inverse's. Do you understand that? Good. Now get me a damn healer!"

Emily was halfheartedly picking at her stew. In her mind, she was replaying the fight over and over. She knew that her dad would have been disappointed by her failure today. She could have beaten Vance. She was sure of it. Instead, she had let him get under her skin. She sighed. "Sorry dad. I know you could have won."

She glanced over at the man who had killed her father. Zelgadis. It didn't seem right that he was sitting here chatting with Lina while her father lay in his grave. Wait a second, why was the table glowing? Sensing that something was wrong, Emily stood and walked over to the other table.

"Put it away", Lina whispered. The voice in her head was coming back.

"What?" Zelgadis and Filia looked at Lina. She looked terrified.

"Put it away!" Lina quickly pushed herself away from the table falling off her chair. "Get rid of it!"

The glow from the stone was growing brighter by the second.

Zelgadis quickly concealed the stone under his cloak.

The voice faded. Lina breathed a shaky sigh of relief.

Emily helped Lina to her feet. "Are you okay?" She glared at Zelgadis.

Lina ignored her. She looked at Zelgadis. "That was the Soul Render?"

Zelgadis nodded. "A fragment of it anyway. Strange. Why did you and the stone react to each other?"

Emily thought for a moment. "Maybe it's because of mom's magical power."

Zelgadis shook his head. "If that were true, it would have reacted to me as well. After all, my powers are far superior to Lina's.

"Now just a damn minute!" Lina tried to tackle Zelgadis but was held back by Filia and Emily.

"Sorry Lina. Over the years, my powers have increased by leaps and bounds. It's to be expected given my form." He looked at her. "However, I couldn't activate the stone. There must be something about you specifically. . ." His shoulders slumped. "Damn it! Why do you always get to be the star?"

Lina smirked at Zel. "Because it's my story of course." She rubbed her chin. "Hmm. Time to do a little research."

"You mean you're going to help me?" Zel sounded surprised.

"Of course not! This research is strictly for the purposes of satisfying my own curiosity. I'd like to know why that stone messes with my head. Okay!" Lina jumped up on the table. "To the library!"

Emily sighed. "I think I'll pass on that mom."

Lina looked down at her from her perch on the table. "Why? You haven't forgotten how to read have you?"

"No mother! I'm not an idiot." Emily sighed. "I'm going to take the kids to their grandfather's house." She looked at Zelgadis again. "Besides, I've got some thinking to do. Later." She took the kids and left the tavern.

Lina shrugged. "Whatever. Come on Zel! Let's go see the Crown Princess."

"Amelia?! Why?"

Lina sighed. "Because I need to get into the castle library." She smiled at Zel sweetly. "Don't worry Zel. I'm sure she's gotten over you breaking her heart by now." She glared at him. "You self centered ass."

Zel twitched. "Listen, can we please just drop this? You go see Amelia. I'll check the other libraries in town."

"The hell you will! I'm not going to waste my time searching for your information by myself.

"I thought you said that you weren't doing this for me." Zel crossed his arms.

"Don't change the subject! You know as well as I do that there is nothing in those other libraries that isn't in the castle library." Lina got an evil grin on her face. "Besides, I want to see you squirm. Think of this as part of your punishment. Come on!" She clamped Zel in a headlock and dragged him out of tavern. She called over her shoulder. "Coming Filia?"

Filia put down her teacup. "I suppose." She turned to Jillas and Gravos. "You two watch Val." She stood up and followed Lina and the protesting chimera.

"Sure thing boss!" Jillas waved as Filia exited the tavern. "Well Val, are you. . .where'd he go?" He looked around frantically. "Where is he?"

"Calm down Jillas! Everyone's staring." He stood up from his chair and looked around the room. "He has to be around here somewhere right?"

"Right! He couldn't have gotten too far. Hmm?" The waiter handed Jillas a sheet of paper. He looked it over for a moment. "Gravos?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you have any money?"

"You know Miss Filia carries all of our traveling money. Why?"

"Take a look at the bill." Jillas handed it to Gravos.

Gravos collapsed in a heap on the floor. "This can't be right!" He pointed at something on the bill as he argued with the waiter. "There's less meat than this on a full grown cow!" He looked at Jillas nervously. "Besides, we weren't with them anyway. Right Jillas?"

"Oh, uh, right! We definitely were not eating with Lina Inverse and the boss." Jillas chuckled nervously.

The waiter raised an eyebrow. "Gentlemen, if you'll step this way please?"

From his hiding place under the table, Val giggled. He loved this game.

The castle gardens were envied by countries across the world. Looking around, Lina could understand why. Flowers of every color surrounded them on all sides. The smells all around her were complex but pleasing as well. It was as if the flowers had been arranged so that complimentary fragrances were in the same areas. At the end of the garden a group of minstrels played.

Lina thought that she could get used to this. She grinned and looked over at Zelgadis. "How are you doing Zel?"

Zelgadis looked like he was going to be sick. "I can't believe you forced me into this."

Lina chuckled and turned to Filia who was perusing a book she had brought along. "What do you have there Filia?"

"Oh this? I'm just trying to decide on prices for some of my vases. Even though Vance took my most expensive item, I'm still hoping to make a couple sales here." She smiled. "Who knows? Maybe I'll open another store in Seyruun. I could start a franchise."

Lina chuckled. "Yeah right! Who's going to run it? Jillas?"

Filia looked troubled. "Oh dear. I hadn't even thought of that. . ."

Before Lina could say anything else a familiar voice spoke up from behind them.

"Miss Lina?"

Filia put her book down and smiled.

Zelgadis tried to blend in with the flowers. Seeing that this wasn't working, he instead prayed for a swift and merciful death.

Lina grinned and turned to face the Crown Princess. "Amelia! Long time no see!"

Next Chapter: Emily makes an interesting discovery. The last of the original Slayers has finally shown her face.

Notes: Oh boy. I think that the story is dangerously close to going off on a pointless tangent. Looking over the next couple of chapters, I've decided that some major reworking needs to be done. For instance, you're going to see some romance pretty soon. Not bad right? It was listed as one of the subjects of the story right? There's just one tiny problem that I just discovered.

I CAN'T WRITE ROMANCE. There. I said it.

Not going to panic though. Wouldn't be prudent. Instead, I'm going to throw a second chapter up immediately. Why you ask? Because you deserve it people! Hurray for you!

What? No I'm not trying to bribe you with another chapter while I do massive reworking of the rest of the story. That's just silly. Now go read the next chapter and forget about this bit of hysteria.