"Mephisto Pheles."

Mephisto glanced at the man who spoke. He had been aware of him for some time now; he had entered his office several minutes ago.

"Ah, Angel. How nice of you to visit! Please, sit." Angel frowned slightly, not moving, but Mephisto continued. "To what may I owe this surprise? Have some tea?"

Angel shook his head. "This is no time for tea." Mephisto shrugged and began to pour himself some. "Mephisto. Listen to me."

Something about Angel's tone made Mephisto stop. He looked up at Angel's serious face.

"What is it?"

"The Grey Stone."

For a moment they were both still.

Mephisto stared at Angel. "The Grey Stone? What would make you bring up such an old thing?"

Angel's brow furrowed. "You know demonic appearances have been increasing lately."

"Yes."

"We received a report yesterday that Satan himself appeared at a monastery in the far north. Everyone there was killed."

"What?" Mephisto was shocked. "But that hasn't happened since-"

"And this morning," Angel said quietly.

All of Mephisto's joking pretense was gone. "What?"

"This morning he appeared again, thirty miles south of True Cross Headquarters. Mephisto, we have to retrieve the Grey Stone."

"Impossible. You know as well as I do that it's in Gehenna."

"One of our researchers recently found three amulets tucked in a hidden room of the Library."

"No. Where they-"

"Yes," Angel said. "Gehenna Keys."

"So then there is a means of retrieving the Grey Stone."

"Yes, but the requirements to release the Grey Stone from Gehenna's grasp call for the blood of five."

Mephisto said slowly, "We could send Rin."

"What, the demon boy? The son of Satan? He can't be trusted."

"Am I right in saying that this is for the Grigori to decide? And besides," Mephisto smirked, "That's the only option."

Angel's teeth clenched. "Damn you, Mephisto. All right, I'll present this to the Grigori."

"Excellent. But that's still only four."

"Hmm." Angel's eyes shifted away from Mephisto, their gaze distant.

"What are you thinking of?" Mephisto asked him.

"I suppose we could…" Angel's gaze returned to Mephisto. "I must return to Headquarters. I need to discuss something with the Grigori." He turned towards the door.

"Discuss what? Where will we find the fifth?"

"We will inform you of the Grigori's decision," Angel said without turning around. "Be vigilant."

"Angel-"

But he was gone.

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Blue Exorcist. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction, I'd be writing the story line.