It's ok everybody, I survived my holiday, and this am here bringing you this next chapter. Things have been pretty hectic now that exams are finished, which is part of the reason this chapter was a little delayed, and why I am bringing you only one chapter when I would prefer to post in clumps so there is more for you to read (I am posting a one-shot as well this evening, so keep an eye out for that, it's rated M though for a little bit of language, sorry to those who don't like that).

On that note however, there is another slightly more relevant reason this chapter has been delayed. I know exactly where I want this story to end up, and it started exactly how I intended, and now that this chapter is out of the way the rest is pretty straightforward. However, this chapter was supposed to be a rather important chapter because it sets up what is to come. So I wrote it out, hated it, rewrote it, decided I preferred the first, edited that, and have been staring at it for almost three days now trying to get it right. It gets the link across, I just feel it is not my best writing, but I promise things will get better!

You will also notice a lot (and I mean a lot) of the fluffiness is gone this chapter. I want there to be this nice little romance, but the story I am trying to put with it is certainly not sunshine and daisies. On that note...

CAUTION! There is a scene which may be a little confronting for some of you. I don't feel it makes this story M worthy, but you have been warned just in case.

Anyway, hope this isn't too painful for you, because it was pretty painful trying to write at times.

Chapter 4 - Preludes of War

It took four glasses of water before Kennen was finally able to talk properly, although there was still an evident edge to his voice. Zed had said nothing since hearing about Akali, relying on his disciples to care for the ninja. None of them were comfortable with letting him into their temple, but none argued with the attitude their master was projecting. Each treated the yordle with respect, forcing themselves to bow as though he were a superior. Kennen looked a little awkward at the respect, and Zed was not entirely comfortable with it either.

"What happened?" When he finally spoke, he had made sure to remove all the emotions he had been feeling. He hadn't spoken to Akali in years; he didn't want Kennen to think he still thought about her.

"We're not entirely sure. We were set up in the forests just outside of Navori when we were ambushed. They were clad in black garbs, their features indistinguishable. At first we thought it was your order." Zed scoffed.

"My order would have more honour than to hide who we are."

"You sound like Shen, that's exactly what he said. When we finally caught on to the attack, we were overrun. Those of us left just ran, putting as much distance between them and us as possible. They…" Kennen choked up, tears welling up in his eyes as he struggled to continue.

"They weren't interested in any prisoners, everyone who got in their way was killed. We lost so many. Once we were convinced we had gotten ourselves to safety we counted our numbers. At least half of us had fallen behind." There was a small muttering that went through the gathered warriors, and Zed silenced them, although even he was astonished at the statistic.

"And Akali?"

"She was among the missing. Shen sent me here when things calmed down. It sounded like he expected you to help us." Zed was just about sick of hearing about Shen's faith in him. Was his reputation really that soft?

"Did they say anything about why they were there?" Zed tried to sound as devoid as always, but the words were so clearly forced. Kennen paid no heed however, looking pensive for a moment, as if considering how much to reveal. Zed was not in the mood for secrets.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

"They kept talking about protecting Ionia, but that didn't make sense. Isn't that what we stood for already? We thought that maybe they'd spare us, the ones with the institute, but the way they killed with such recklessness, they weren't checking to see who they were killing." Zed could only imagine how hard it was for him to admit that, because it meant all the less likelihood that Akali was alive. Unlike the champions of the Institute, those outside of the Institutes influence did not have the same laws around harming champions, which made things a lot more complex. He could feel a headache coming on.

"What exactly is going on?" Syndra practically stormed into the room, magic already surrounding her. Nobody had taken the courtesy to fill her in on what the bell had meant, or told her where she could find Zed so he could explain it. She had limited patience with such matters, and she had more than passed that threshold. The sight of Kennen sitting down and talking with Zed only worked to amplify this.

"It would seem the Kinkou have been attacked." Zed's monotonous tone and limited response did little to satisfy Syndra's curiosity, and she just stared at him until he chose to continue. Kennen looked far too terrified to say anything.

"And that I'm travelling to Navori." Kennen squeaked, almost blurting something out before remembering he didn't want to get in between the two.

"Then I'll come with you."

"Not a chance, Kennen will stay here with you. I am going alone."

"Zed, don't be stupid, you'll want as much help as you can get, besides, you were supposed to be protecting me." Syndra reached for his hand, but this time there was no reciprocation. He slapped it away, his eyes narrowing behind his mask.

"This is none of your concern, accept my protection and let me be." Zed took his leave of the pair, heading back to his room, only to be stopped before entering by a very flustered Syndra.

"What is wrong with you!? In the past three days you have seemed all over the place."

"What does that matter to you? I'm saving your life, what more do you want from me?"

"I want to know what goes through your thick skull sometimes! Are you still bent on that whole 'friendship is weakness' thing?" Syndra found herself thrown up against the wall, Zed's arm resting against her neck as he held her in place.

"Listen to me very carefully mage, I'm saving your life, show some respect. I owe you nothing, so if you continue to insult me with your outbursts, I will kill you. Do you understand?" The way Zed did not falter once during his speech was proof he was not bluffing, which brought Syndra to the verge of tears. Her voice caught in her throat, and she found she couldn't respond. He pressed against her harder.

"Do you understand?" When Syndra finally nodded Zed let her drop, leaving her gasping for air. He entered his room and slammed the door behind him.

When he finally exited his room, a small bag hanging off his shoulder, the hall was clear. He could imagine Syndra sitting in the door opposite his, tears in her eyes, and for the briefest moment he felt a sense of guilt. Then he remembered where he was going, whom he was going to find, and suddenly all feelings for Syndra were long forgotten. He made his out into the courtyard, Kennen waiting there with a couple of other members from Zed's order. Zed didn't bother to turn his head in acknowledgement, but stopped before exiting through the large set of ornate doors that marked the end of the temple.

"How did you know where to find me?" Kennen took a moment to realise the question was directed at him, then stuttered a little before taking a deep breath and responding.

"Akali told us that if we ever needed to find you, we should look here. She never said how she knew, but I figured there was no reason to doubt her. She is..." Kennen stopped, realising his mistake.

"She was always the most trustworthy among us." Kennen began to sob, the noise pathetic and weak, but Zed was not about to stop him. Akali had been many things, trustworthy certainly among them, but resourceful was probably her greatest quality. Zed refused to believe she was dead, not after everything she had survived thus far, everything she had done. Zed did not realise he was still standing perfectly still until one of his disciples put a hand upon his shoulder, pulling him out of his trance. He didn't wait around to hear what they had to say, dashing off into the forest, using the shadows to speed his travel. He spent the whole day travelling, running for the most part, but shadow jumping when he could. After many years of travelling Ionia for contracts, he had an intricate network of shadows that allowed him passage to almost every corner of the city-state. Navori, being one of the larger settlements, was easy enough to reach; the difficult part was locating a group of ninjas who had been trained to remain unseen. The sun had long since disappeared before Zed started to get the feeling he was close. He couldn't see them at all, the forests around Navori were too dense for that, but he had spent enough time around Shen's type to know when he was being watched. He slowly made his way into a clearing, sitting himself down in the middle. He waited another moment or two, waiting for his sixth sense to kick in and tell him that he was being followed. As soon as he felt it, the light nagging in the back of his head, he spoke.

"I have travelled a long way, and my patience is wearing thin. Speak now or lose my aid." He waited, but heard nothing, yet his senses told him that someone was getting closer. Once his brain was practically screaming at him, he opened his eyes, instantly feeling his body tense up at the face he saw.

"It has been too long brother." Shen stood with his back straight, his eyes facing over Zed and into the middle distance, as though in a trance. His hand was outstretched, a physical sign of peace, one which enraged Zed. He stood up unaided, silently revelling in the fact that he still stood taller than his former half-brother.

"You lost the right to call me brother a long time ago." Zed scanned him over, noting that not only did he seem fatigued and bruised, but also unarmed.

"You dare approach me without so much as a sword? I should punish this show of disrespect!" Shen simply smiled, finally meeting Zed's eyes.

"Zed, the Kinkou are shattered. If you wanted to finish us off, no weapon of mine would stand in your way. Yet here you stand, talking with the person you claim to be your mortal enemy. You speak tough, but that is all you are doing, speaking." Zed growled, raising his blade as though to strike, but stayed his hand. Shen never flinched.

"I'm not here for you or the Kinkou." There was an extended silence, Shen trying to seem unimpaired by Zed's words, but his hidden emotions were beginning to show. He turned his face away, but Zed heard the unmistakeable wimper of a man in pain.

"They killed so many, students, friends, family…" Shen was fiddling with his finger, catching Zed's attention. The way he rolled his fingers along his digit was as though he was used to having something there. Zed felt another wave of foreign emotions flow over him, a surge that he fought down, allowing him to respond in his typical, emotionless style.

"You were engaged?" Shen laughed, moving his hands to rest by his side and stop his subconscious actions.

"Come with me, I will take you to the survivors." Shen began to walk off, ignoring Zed's question. The assassin followed, the new discovery playing on his mind. Akali had gotten engaged? Not only was it very non-Ionian, marriage being a far more Demacian or Noxian idea, but it also seemed nothing like her. Zed always remembered her as a stubborn individual, one who would never calm down long enough to settle down. Marriage wasn't her thing, was it? It had been so long, Zed understood this, but this simply didn't sound like the girl he had once, loved? Zed was brought from his reflections when he bumped into Shen, who had stopped in the middle of the path in front of a small clearing. Past him Zed could see a couple of small tents and fires, a collection of similarly dressed warriors wandering amongst them. The Kinkou order always seemed to endure, no matter the hardship, but as Zed stood amongst this group, the last of the once great force walking around, looks of defeat and sorrow rampant in the ranks, he realised how low that had fallen. Their numbers were far too low to ever be considered a threat to Zed's order, let alone any other group in Valoran. They would be lucky to hold their own against the Ionian guards, most of which were simply conscripted farmers and tradesmen looking to serve their homeland. No wonder they had reached out to Zed's order, they would never be able to make any move without some help.

Shen brushed himself off after his collision with the assassin, grunting before heading towards the largest tent in the encampment. Zed followed, and soon the two were seated around a small wooden table, papers laid out detailing the status of the Kinkou after the attack. Shen let out a large sigh, letting his helmet fall to the floor after unbuckling it. Zed followed suit, setting his mask upon the table, deciding that his old brother was no threat to him.

"She isn't dead, is she?" Shen's question caught Zed a little off guard, their previous conversation leading him to believe that Shen had given up hope as well. The small optimism was a welcome change to the atmosphere.

"No, I don't think she is."

"And you have come to help us?" Zed growled at this, glaring at the ninja.

"I have come to help her. I couldn't care less what becomes of your order after this."

"You don't get it, do you?" Shen stood, stretching before making his way to exit.

"There is no more order. As soon as we find her, dead or alive, I am leaving for the institute, leaving the Kinkou leaderless. The others will slowly dissipate, leaving you as the greatest force on Ionia. I didn't send Kennen to get help, I sent him so you could know that you've won. You being here is a result of his wishes and your good will, whether you believe you have one or not, so don't act like you didn't come to help. If you won't admit it out of honour, do it out of respect for the wishes of the dead. I'd hate to think that somewhere in the afterlife Akali is looking down at you in pity." Zed stood up, throwing the table aside as he did so.

"How dare you speak about her like that?! Just as you were once my brother, she was once my lover, and I will not let you stand here and talk about us like that." Shen seemed unfazed by this, continuing on his way towards the exit.

"So you do care about what I think? Then help me find her, or at least avenge her." The flap of the tent brushed quietly shut as the last leader of the Kinkou took his leave. Zed sat there for a while longer, lightly banging his head on the table for having fallen for Shen's trick. He hadn't thought of asking Kennen what exactly Shen had said, or for any decent information at all. Shen was right, the reason he decided to come was because he wanted to. It was for this reason that, come the stroke of midnight, Shen was stirred from his sleep by the presence of another in his tent.

"You're right, just like you always were. What first?" Zed's voice was soft, almost a whisper but with more of a growl behind it. Shen couldn't help but smile.

"That's easy, we have a talk with the people who attacked us."

As I said at the start, apologies for the less-than-perfect story. I will be bringing you more chapters soon I hope, definitely (I think) at least one before Christmas. Reviews and criticisms are welcome, and I am expecting a few for this chapter. Thanks for your continued support!

BJ