I'm back!

The next few weeks in Death City rolled by with out any more sudden deaths occurring. The city was actually quiet for once, which was odd. The normal hustle and bustle seemed to have stopped and the streets were vacant. No one was outside, no one was shopping, no cars roamed the vast land... Death City seemed to be in a deep, dark slumber, the only kind a princess in fairy tales would experience.

After the mass murderer had come to town, the citizens were too afraid to leave their homes any more. Going outside to buy your local newspaper and seeing a severed head one your front lawn isn't a very pretty sight for some. No one had any clue who this monster could be, though. Death City's largest threat, Asura, the strongest Kishin known to man had been defeated almost a year ago. That was the last time Death City had ever been tormented and frightened by masses of dead bodies.

But this time was different.

This someone, or something wasn't even trying to cover up their tracks. The blood was still decorated on the ground and buildings; as if no effort to clean it up was made. This was the scariest part about this strange incident. Some believed it was a lone Kishin that had been trying to find its way home and it just so happened to go through the city. Others saw it as an omen-a bad one at that. This was a sign from their Almighty Creator that the end was near and a new generation would be brought up from their annihilation.

Both ideas seemed farfetched to Maka Albarn, whom declared to be the leader in the investigation of this case. This wasn't some stupid omen or a stray Kishin wandering the city-unnoticed, at that. This something had been purposely murdering citizens and small animals; and the fact that it had been quiet over the past few weeks wasn't helping at all. People were going to start putting down their guard and think that this unfortunate "phase" was over.

Maka sat down at her desk with a pen cap settled between her teeth and the actual pen in her hand. Her room was cluttered with crumpled papers and empty bags of chips. The Meister hadn't left her room for a few days now, let alone the house for weeks. Her deep green eyes were drained from any glimpse of life and beneath them dark circle were beginning to form. She also reeked of "boringness"- at least that's what Soul thought.

Stinking and sleeping was the least of Maka's worries right now, though. She had so much to do before the next attack happened...whenever that was. She solely believed that this killing-fest was far from over, that this foul demon was still lurking and planning its' next attack. Maka couldn't waste time anymore. She had to use her supernatural judgement and try to connect these clues.

The dates, times, type of people killed, animals, how they died...

"You're still in here?" Soul knocked on her room door while entering. "Maka, I knew you were a dork but this is getting ridiculous."

Maka mumbled to herself and continued to jot down information the police had shared with her.

"You know," Soul plopped on her bed and cringed at the sound of crunching papers. There were a lot of papers. "Liz and Patty were planning a surprise party for Kid, and they asked if wanted to come."

"Victims all seemed to be ripped apart limb by limb..."

"I told them that'd we'd go," Soul's crimson eyes flicked to Maka who hadn't seemed to move at all from her seat. "So wear something nice."

"All seemed to be murdered in the middle of the night..."

"You should wear that pretty black dress Tsubaki bought you. It makes you look like less of a boy. Do you like looking like a boy?" He teased and frowned when Maka didn't even give him lip about being an asshole. Soul glared. "Okay, asshole, I think we've had enough detective games for today."

He got off of the bed and lifted Maka from her seat. This time, however, she reacted.

"Put me down! Can't you see I'm doing work here?! Trying to save the world?!"

"Mhm, yeah," Soul slung Maka over his shoulder and walked out of the room. "Ew, you stink. You definitely need a shower."

"Goddamnit, Soul!"

Death the Kid had an amazing mansion.

Maybe it's because his father was Death himself, or because Kid was just that guy who needed to have an extravagant (and symmetrical) mansion. It was made of marble with off white columns in the front that sat in rows beside the large fountain that was sent smack-dab in the middle of the pathway to the entrance of the mansion. It looked beautiful, too, since the sun had finally set and the stars were peeking out. The fountain was a beautiful naked woman that held a Kishin soul in her left had, a large sword with jaded eyes in her right.

Inside the foyer, there were two staircases that curved at led to the second floor. A large, diamond chandelier sat above the foyer; the light reflecting off of the diamond pieces shown on the guests' skins as the all gathered in the large room.

Maka and Soul finally entered, the weapon grinning from ear and his Meister looking as though she'd pass out at any second.

"Guys~!" A busty Patty ran up to the row and hugged them both. Her short blond hair and childish attitude almost made her seem as though she were a real child, but once people got a good look at her body... "You totally missed the surprise, but that's okay. Kid will be happy to see ya'll here, anyway! He's upstairs if you need him."

"Cool," Soul looked over at Maka and gently turned her face towards his. "Wake up, dork. Look as if you're excited to be here."

"I'm not." She said and looked at him with an annoyed glare. "I have work to do and you're getting in the way of that."

Soul sucked his teeth and released her chin, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Whatever," he murmured and left her to stand by herself in the middle of the foyer. Maka sighed and walked back out through the front door.

Why was she even here? Why had she even let Soul drag her here in the first place? Maka wasn't a person who liked large gatherings for one thing. She wasn't antisocial or anything, but she preferred to be alone. It was nice to be around a few friends here and there, but complete strangers at a party? Not her cup of tea. Maka kicked few pebbles that crossed her path and let out another sigh.

"This is such a waste of time."

The hairs on the back of neck stood up. She spun in a circle and held up her hands in a defensive position. Who just called her name? The voice sounded so...

"Maaaaaakaaaaaa..." A long, ghastly purr echoed throughout the courtyard.

What time was it?

Maka lifted the sleeve up of her dress and her eyes dilated. It was just a few minutes passed ten-the time where most of the murders began to happen. Yes, yes this had to be the killer! They were around here somewhere. They had to be.

She took a few cautious steps forward and held her breath. She could sense energy nearby-a strong one at that. Her stomach felt queasy, her nerves were bad and her heart was trying to break out of her chest. She rounded the fountain and then took a second to peer in to the water. Her reflection was pathetic. Maka looked tired, sick, gross and...

Something touched her arm!

With lightning fast reflexes, she turned, gripped the hand that touched her and flipped them in to the fountain!

"I got you!"