Okay, so it's a little short, but regardless, it's still a chapter. I was sitting and staring at the page on my computer forever. Thinking and rethinking. And suddenly - a flash of lightning hit me! Not literally you dunderhead! But I did get sudden inspiration. And so I should be able to come up with the next chapters relatively soon.

Until then -

Ja ne,

Kara Metallium ^_~!

Disclaimer: What I've said every other single chapter. I don't own Slayers, blah blah blah.

Phantom Crossing: Ditto. ^_^

Chapter 12 - Humpty Dumpy Part 2

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
All the king's horses and all the king's men,
couldn't put Humpty together again.

***

And now onto the second half of my request, Miss Kara.

Kara stared at the trickster priest, waiting for him to continue. He shrugged.

And that is? she asked expectantly. He scratched the back of his head.

I've decided not to tell you. Kara raised an eyebrow at him. Because I don't frankly think you can handle it. Really Xellos, you expect me to walk into a trap like that? Think I can't handle it? Please. I can handle anything. I'll play your little game.

Really. Well I suppose it can't be helped. See you when you get back Xellos. Kara waved to the trickster priest and disappeared from his sight.

Miss Kara, Xellos spoke to the seemingly empty air, I really do need your help on this. Kara popped in.

Xellos looked down at the floor.

I need a mazoku powerful like myself to get the final two pieces of the staff. I cannot do it, Miss Kara. The being we're going against-

We? I didn't say I'd help you yet. Xellos smiled grimly.

The being I'M going against knows my astral signature and will know that it is me. I need you to get the pieces Miss Kara. You are powerful and relatively unknown to anyone. None of the other dark lords know of your existence.

And just who is it that YOUR going against Xellos? Kara demanded.

The being is Meiou-sama. Kara's eyes widened in disbelief. No it couldn't be true. Could it? If they got caught, that would surely mean the end of her existence.

You mean you want me to go against the HELLMASTER??? she screeched. You've got to be kidding me Xellos! Like I'd really want to go on an adventure like that! You're out of your mind!

Like I said, Xellos replied quietly, I don't think you could handle it. Kara glared at the trickster priest. So now what do I do? she asked herself. Let's evaluate. If I do take Xellos up on his offer I most likely will get caught, thus die, live in torment, or something far worseIf I don't accept this, then I most likely will live, perhaps in shame. Xellos wants me to get a hold of the last two pieces of the staff. Staff What is so important about this staff? I mean the only staff ever spoken in Slayers was of the Staff of the Gods. STAFF OF THE GODS? No, no, that's not possible. The chances are Kara's eyes lingered on the staff that she still held in her hand from fixing. She scanned its astral signature. It was old, definitely old. It could only be healed with white magic. But surely the Staff of the Gods couldn't be healed with a simple healing spell?

Xellos coughed discreetly and Kara glanced at him. Her eyes returned to the staff a moment more. If this IS the Staff of the Gods, it will never BE completed. The Philosopher Stone is a piece of the Staff of the Gods, and it was destroyed with Shabrinigdo's rebirth. Hell, Juuou-sama could have reborn every piece of Shabrinigdo by now. Why hasn't she? Whether this is the Staff of the Gods or not, I can't take that chance. I can't let them complete the staff. I must help the storyline. She eyed the staff's missing pieces. Only two pieces are missing. If the Hellmaster has both, that means I've got to get those two pieces away from him, and one away from Juuou-sama. One has to be put into an orihalcon statue

Miss Kara- Xellos began.

I will help you Xellos, Kara said suddenly. The priest blinked. Tell me when you're ready to go, and she disappeared. The priest blinked again. And thenhe smirked.