I set my book down and stood up; there was a twinge in my side from where the Kishin sword had slashed its way into my body. I unsteadily walked over to my desk; even though I was a member of the DWMA Lord Death still wouldn't let me leave the school unless I had someone with me. My eyes scanned the desk; placed in the middle was a picture that I had made of my father. He wasn't like what Madness had showed me. He was different. I sighed and looked away from the picture, "Let it go already." I moved back to my bed. Sitting down I ran one of my blades over the stone wall.

Stein tapped the vile of blood that was standing on his desk. After he had done surgery on Saber he had taken a blood sample from her. He leaned forward in his stitched chair staring at the blood. Stein had brought the sample back to his home so that no one would get any ideas. He narrowed his eyes, This isn't Black Blood; so why is Saber like this? He thought dragging on his cigarette. A noise made him turn in his chair; he saw that Marie was standing in the doorway looking at him.

She smiled, "Stein you really shouldn't be in the dark for this long." Marie reached for the light switch.

There was a flash of light that blinded Stein. He failed his arms and fell out of his chair onto his back. Looking up at Marie he spoke to her, "I haven't been in here for that long."

She looked down at him, "Really? Alright then what day is it today?"

Stein thought a moment, "Pass." He watched as Marie rolled her eyes and walked out the door. He stayed where he was for a moment still staring at the red blood on his desk.

"Yo Saber you're looking better." Soul said looking up as he saw her walking to class.

I smiled, "Yeah I'm alive, thanks to Professor Stein." I saw the others stay still. I looked around at them, "What's the matter guys?"

Maka's voice sounded a little shaky as she spoke, "You, you were hit by the Kishin sword." She looked at the floor, "Your soul should've become a Kishin egg."

I tried to act like I didn't care, "Like I said I just got lucky." They still didn't look convinced but I just shrugged. Smiling I tried to change the conversation, "Today's just a half day right? I guess that's something to look forward to."

Kid answered her, "Ah yes a school day cut perfectly in half."

I rolled my eyes sarcastically and moved past all of them into the class, "Yep nothing beats a perfectly symmetrical day." When I took my seat I saw that Sid was our teacher for today and not Stein. Out of nowhere a wave of worry slammed into me; I lowered my head and clenched my fists, "Papa?" I lifted my head back up at the sound of Sid's voice.

"Alright class Professor Stein is out on an assignment so I'll be teaching you today." He spoke looking at the class.

An assignment? I thought. That must be one tough assignment if Papa has to go instead of one of us. I jumped as someone poked me in the side. I looked over at Tsubaki; she had a worried look on her face. I gave her my best fake smile and turned back to Sid trying not to pay any mind to her. I clawed at my desk as the class dragged on and on. Finally the bell rang and I ran over to my friends. I tried not to seem worried but there was an edge in my voice, the worry that had come over me from before was still there. I looked at Kid, "Hey you're Lord Death's son right? Do you know what Stein's assignment was?"

Kid raised an eyebrow at Saber's question, "Yes I do, but why do you want to know?"

I tried to come up with a good reason for asking him, "I, well, um, just cause." I didn't feel like he was going to say anything but I still had to know. After a second I turned away but before I could leave Kid told me to wait.

"If you must know my father has sent Stein and Death Scythe on a mission to take down a witch that has been causing trouble." He said looking at Saber. Why on Earth would she want to know? He thought.

A witch? I thought. For some reason the thought of a witch made me shudder. I thanked Kid and said goodbye to the others. Moving swiftly I walked out of the classroom and down the hall. I knew what I had to do and I wasn't going to like it. As I headed back down to my room I avoided everyone who was still in the school. I pushed on the large door that led to my room. Sitting down I closed my eyes, There's a reason why the thought of a witch bugs me so much and I'm gonna find out; even if it means facing them. When I opened my eyes again I was back in the darkness.

Madness formed next to Saber with her normal psychotic grin, "Hunh," she said looking at her, "I thought you'd never come back."

I kept control of my sanity, "I didn't come here to see you," I said blunt and cold, "I came here for him."

Madness's eyes glowed dark red, "Alright I'll take you to him. Just know that if you see if too much him swallow your stupid soul."

A blade shot out of my arm, "I'm not afraid."

Madness laughed darkly, "That's what they all say until the true fear sets in." she started to bring Saber to the door.

I stood in front of the dark red door. It had gotten bigger and a handle was slowly starting to form. I rested my hand on it and closed my eyes. My body was thrown forward into deep madness, but it suddenly stopped. Opening my eyes I saw that I was sitting in ring of fire surrounded by burning builds. My eyes found the dark figure and I had to use all my strength to hold on to my mind. Stuffing my hands in pockets I spoke up to him, "Nice place you got here."

The figure moved swiftly and was soon standing in front of Saber. Looking up he had an eerie calm look on his face, "Welcome home Saber."

Stein gripped his weapon as they stood outside of a large city, "So that's where our witch is hunh?"

Spirit's voiced traveled through his weapon form, "That's right, Lioness, one of the only witch that even Lord Death couldn't beat. For now we're not supposed to do anything but destroy her followers, Lord Death will build up a larger army to take her on."

Stein nodded and jumped down into the city.

"Talk," I said to the Kishin, what do you know about witches, powerful witches?"

Asura twitched, "Ah I see." He messed with hands not knowing if someone else was watching, "You reacted that way because the side of you that's from me has had a very bad past with one witch in particular." He paused looking at Saber's blank stare. He went on, "Her name was Lioness."

The wind whistled in Stein's ears as he fell down into the city. Landing light he moved into the shadows, the only thing that could be seen was the small glow from his cigarette. He went on up to the middle of the city; a large castle loomed in front of him. On top was a stone figure of a lion. Stein walked up to the door, "Ready Spirit?" His weapon partner's blade gleam, "Let's go." Stein sent his foot through the door.

I listened as Asura spoke of the witch know as Lioness. She was the only witch that Asura and Lord Death couldn't beat, but she was hurt so she had been hiding for some time. Lioness has followers that would do her work for her so no has seen her in years. I narrowed my eyes as a wicked smile spread over his face.

"No let me resay that. Lioness doesn't have followers, she has the perfect trap." Asura grinned at Saber, "That's how she kills her prey. She brings them in thinking that they'll only fight her followers but what they don't know is that they are all just copies of Lioness herself. Of course no one has ever lived so they could never tell Lord Death about the fakes."

My eyes grew wide, "But, but, Lord Death sent Papa after a witch. Was it Lioness?"

Asura shrugged, "You tell me."

My mind swirled, it has to be her! Normal Meisters can handle other witches. This witch must be Lioness! And that means that Papa is in trouble! I stood up, "Time for me to leave." I started to float up towards the door but suddenly I was dragged back down. One of Asura's cloths had wrapped around my throat and had begun dragging me down. The ground crack and split as I was thrown into it. Lifting myself up slowly I looked at the Kishin, "So you don't want me to leave?"

He snickered, "Well of course not; I'm not at full strength yet but if you stay here I can absorb your soul." Asura sent out more binds anchoring her to the ground.

My face scrapped against the ground. I tried to stand but the Kishin was slowly draining my life force away. Get up! My mind screamed. Blades shot from my arms cutting myself free; I lunched myself but Asura was just as fast. His fist slammed into my stomach. I went freefalling back down to the ground. I slowly sat up, "I won't let you win!" I stood up, and lunged at the Kishin.

Stein swung Spirit through the air slashing through Lioness's followers. Claws raked down his back sending blood everywhere. Turning he used his soul force to send them backwards. Stein fought all the others using his weapon. A fist to his face sent him flying backwards; slamming into a pillar Stein used his feet to blast himself back at them. Soon the attackers began to vanish; Stein landed on his feet after the last one was beaten. He watched as Spirit turned back from his weapon form.

"That was a little too easy." Spirit said looking around.

Stein agreed with him; taking down a witch and her followers was never that easy. He reached his hand to his back and saw that his fingers were stained with blood. He rubbed his fingers and then looked up at Spirit, "Come on let's get back to Lord Death." He saw his weapon partner nod and the two of them started for the door.

"Leaving already?" a voice echoed through the hall.

"Spirit!" Stein held out his hand.

"Right!" turning back into his weapon form Spirit landed in Stein's hand.

Stein waited for the voice to speak again, but nothing happened. After a second he started walking towards the door again.

"I won't let my prey escape just like that."

A figure slashed Stein's hand, making him drop Spirit. He held his hand and stared at the witch. She was tall, long spikey red hair, fur vest, white under shirt, and her hands where sharp claws. Stein clenched his injured hand, "You must be Lioness."

"You sound surprised." The witch said smiling.

Stein sent his soul wave length into his hands. Shooting at her he tried using his soul force, but Lioness was fast; she side stepped and sent her claws into his side. Blood flew from Stein's mouth as he rolled next to Spirit. He grabbed his weapon; spinning it Stein stood in his stance and waited, "I guess you'd be mad since we killed all of your followers."

Lioness grinned, "What you mean these followers?"

Stein watched as hundreds of Lioness's followers appeared around them. He heard Spirit's voice speak to him.

"What's going on?"

Stein gritted his teeth, "They're soul copies." He blinked as they all disappeared again; he turned his head at the witch.

Lioness purred, "I don't want my copies to finish you off. I haven't had a visitor since Lord Death and Asura had tried to stop me."

A wave of shock slammed into Stein, "What!?" he gripped his weapon; I knew Lord Death couldn't defeat her, but I didn't know that even when he was working Asura he still couldn't do it.

"Relax Stein that was a while ago she isn't that strong anymore." Spirit said trying to calm his Meister down.

Lioness growled at them, "I'm not strong anymore? You pay for that!" her claws grew as she ran at them.

I was going to die I knew it. Asura had beaten to the point where I couldn't move. Closing my eyes I waited for my soul to be eaten. The darkness was all that I saw; I let my soul drift away. Suddenly I was I what looked to be like a castle. Everything was destroyed; I set my feet down on the ground and looked all over. Why did I come here? I thought. A noise made me turn; I saw that my father was fighting a witch with a huge soul. What? Oh that's right! My human side is Stein's soul if I'm going to die than his soul will be sent back to him. I saw him fight the witch with everything that he had. It was hard to watch but I also couldn't look away. Why won't he give up? He can't win. I watched as he used Witch Hunter to slash at the witch but she used her claws to block the attack. Lioness disappeared; when she showed up again she was behind my father. I couldn't yell my voice was gone. Lioness's claws shot through Stein's body and I felt blood fall onto my face. My father fell to the ground and stopped moving. Papa! My mind yelled. I ran over to him but before I could see if he was still alive he coughed and opened his eyes. Rage exploded along with a large roar. The darkness light up and I was thrown back into the room with Asura.

My soul explode sending the Kishin backwards. I flew after him slamming my hand into his throat, "SOUL FORCE!" Asura was sent downwards deep into the ground. I clenched my fist and flew up to the door. Braking out of it I shot past Madness who was sitting across from my body. I opened my eyes and ran out of the room, "Hold on! Please!"

Stein swallowed his blood and stood back up, "Spirit can you still fight?"

Blood ran down Spirit's weapon form, "Of course I can!"

"LET"S GO SOUL RESONANCE!" their souls exploded in power and Stein jumped at the witch. He sent his blade down at her head; Stein watched as Lioness was cut in half. He landed on his feet and fell to his knees.

Spirit kneeled next to him, "Well that was easy." He laughed shakily.

Before Stein could smile claws shot up from the ground. Flipping the two of them escaped in time. Stein watched as Lioness floated down from the ceiling.

She held up one finger, "Good job boys you managed to take one of my 18 souls."

"18!" Spirit shouted.

Lioness looked at her sharp claws, "Yes 18, normal cats have 9 but because I'm more powerful I have been granted 18."

Blood dripped down from Stein's face, "Damn we can't do this 17 more times."

"Say goodbye!" Lioness sent her claws down at them, her teeth glowing at the thought of ripping into her prey.

Stein held his weapon ready to fight again but before he could do anything there was a flash of a blade. He looked down to see that Saber was standing in front of him.

My blades had caught most of the claws but I felt blood flow from some of them had gotten through. I sent my soul force up Lioness's claws and watched as she yelled from the pain. I held up my blade and stared her down, "Listen here! No one hurts my papa!"

Stein was confused, "Papa?"

Spirit shattered, "Oh damn!"