Liz pressed her hand against the brick wall and shoved her pistol-sister under her victim's jaw.

"Alright, kid," she hissed. "No fooling around, time to drop whatever cash you have on you right now."

The boy who looked about fourteen or fifteen stared at them like he was bored. The three white stripes in his hair glistened in the morning sunlight. His eyes were the color of amber, or honey, or something. His skin was pale, and if he hadn't been wearing the clothes he had on, Liz and Patty would have brushed him off as a bum. The kid had on a black business suit made of satin or silk, or whatever.

The boy raised an eyebrow. "Money?" He inquired.

"Yes," Liz growled, "as in Shibucents or Death-dollars. Whatever you have, drop it and I'll consider sparing your life."

The kid let out a sigh, trapped the pistol in Liz's hands between his two fingers, and moved it so that it pointed at the wall beside him.

"Please," he said calmly, "this isn't civilized at all."

This earned him a pistol to the jaw once more.

"You got a lot of nerve, boy!" Liz hissed. "I'll give you ten seconds before I take it by force!"

"Oh, dear," the victim cooed, "I didn't want to do this, but you leave me no choice."

0o0o0

"Liz? Are you okay?"

Liz snapped out of her peaceful reverie and turned to stare at her younger sister.

Patty smiled. "You've been really quiet! Are you okay?"

Liz nodded. "Just a little… Worried is all," Liz replied.

"Oh, okay!"

Liz chuckled to herself and looked up at the sun. It looked a little silly, trying to fight off sleep. Everyone knew the sun would eventually head down to make way for the moon, however, but nonetheless Liz thought it looked a little pitiful.

"Maka's talking to Lord Death over there, big sis!" Patty whispered, pointing over to where Maka Albarn stood speaking with Lord Death, her comrades beside her. "You zoned out a little!"

"I did?" Liz asked. "What'd I miss?"

"Not much, but let's go see what we're missing now!"

Liz found herself being dragged over to listen to what Lord Death was saying. The sisters took up a position by Tsubaki, and were both looking over heads and shoulders to see the mirror.

Lord Death stood in the Death Room, Nygus, Spirit, and Stein at his side. His voice was at its usual, goofy, light-hearted tone, but yet Liz felt like it had a touch, a sprinkle of worry, almost undetectable. Perhaps it was just her imagination.

"Now, kids," Lord Death explained, "as said, acquiring these ingredients can be very, very dangerous. And if you all go to get one, then it could take a long amount of time, and it would be too late by the time you completed everything."

"So," Maka asked, "we should all just split up to find individual ingredients?"

"Correct."

Suddenly, Crona flinched, and Ragnarok came shooting out of her back.

"Now hold on just a second!" Ragnarok screeched. "Why should we be helping at all?"

"Ragnarok," Crona murmured, "Kid is our friend."

"Friend or not, there's no way I'm leaving to risk my skin for that brat! You can't make me!"

"We're going," Crona hissed under her breath.

"Ragnarok," Lord Death interrupted, "Crona can't do this without a weapon. Kid might die if we don't acquire the ingredients in time."

"Well, sucks for Crona and Kid, doesn't it?"

"Hey!" Liz growled. "Stop talking about Kid like that!"

"Who's going to make me?"

"Shut your trap, Ragnarok!" Maka screeched.

"There is no way I'm going along to risk my skin for some pale, lanky, skinny little brat-"

"SILENCE!"

Lord Death's voice made Ragnarok and almost everyone else shrink back in fear. And boy, Lord Death did not look pleased. The eyes on his mask were creased into a furious glare, and he was breathing slowly but deeply from anger.

"That's my son you're talking about, you know," Death hissed, "and if you dare say one more thing, I can guarantee you a slow, painful end! Do you hear me?"

Ragnarok's nod was small, but unmistakable. He eventually vanished back into Crona's back.

"Good. Now, Maka," Lord Death went on, returning to his normal, happy attitude, "The Moondrop flower isn't the easiest to acquire. I don't know anyone who has gone up there, but legend has it that a ferocious beast guards the flower from thieves. If it sees you as a worthy person, it will let you have the flower. You have to choose wisely for the Moondrop."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Now about the Holy Water, it's located at a sacred fountain whose location is noted on the paper. It should be pretty easy to get, but I've heard that there's some… Unspeakable obstacle there. I'd suggest someone strong."

"Never fear!" Black Star exclaimed. "Tsubaki and I will get the Holy Water no problem!"

"Uh, are you sure, Black Star?" Maka asked.

"Of course I'm sure! I'm the strongest one here! Ha, ha, ha!"

Lord Death cocked his head to the side. "Whatever you say, Black Star… Anyway, now the Kishin egg and the Kishin blood are a little… difficult to procure."

"How?" Maka asked. "We'll just defeat someone on the Death list and take their blood. Easy!"

"No, that can't exactly happen," Nygus chimed in. "You see, once you deliver the killing blow to a Kishin egg, there's no blood whatsoever. Its body disappears and leaves only its soul. And most Kishin eggs don't even have blood in their bodies. So, we've decided to kill two birds with one stone here."

"How would you do that?" Liz asked.

"Well, you see, the Kishin who injected the disease into Kid is still on the loose," Stein replied, puffing on a cigarette in his mouth. "Luckily, we think we've figured out who he is."

Liz grit her teeth. Patty held her breath.

"He used to be a meister. His name was Ratchet. He was loyal to the DWMA, but when his wife died he went a little bonkers and wanted some form of revenge against Lord Death."

"So," Death continued, "he killed some of the humans here and made off with their souls. He didn't take his partner with him, however. This whole thing occurred just before you kids were all born. Ratchet being a meister means he has an infinite amount of blood."

"So," Maka said once Lord Death finished, "what's your point?"

"Two of you go and get the Kishin egg," Lord Death replied, "while another pair fights Ratchet and takes his blood as they wound him, and finally takes him out. Do you all think you're up for the job?"

Black Star gave a thumbs-up. "Tsubaki and I are ready for anything!"

Tsubaki smiled. "Right!"

Maka and Soul grinned at each other. "Soul and I are prepared!"

Crona smiled and nodded. "I can handle it…"

"Patty and I will save Kid no matter what it takes!" Liz exclaimed, forming her hands into fists.

"Save Kid, save Kid!" Patty chanted. "YAAAY!"

"Good!" Lord Death tweeted. "Now, I have someone on the Death List that needs to be taken out. You can get the Kishin egg from that!"

"Who is it?" Maka asked.

"Around Death City, he's known as 'the Pale One.' He's a faceless, ferocious creature that dwells within many lairs. He is known for his swift speed and agility, hence why he migrates so often. However there have been reports of sightings in a large, large forest area that is northeast of Death City. It's approximately four thousand miles wide, so don't get lost! The Pale One lures children into his lair, and then brutally murders them and devours their body and soul. No bodies are ever found, not even a trace of blood. Those who aren't captured by him go totally insane, eventually killing themselves in most cases. He's a little on the dangerous side, but I think you kids can handle it!"

Maka nodded. "We'll handle it, sir!"

"Good! I'm counting on you all! Break a leg, but not really!"

"MAKA," Spirit yelled before grabbing the mirror. "DADDY LOVES YOU SO MUCH AND HE WANTS YOU TO BE SAFE-"

Maka disconnected.

"Alright then!" Maka exclaimed, shoving the mirror into her pocket. "Let's assign missions!"

"I call dibs on the Holy Water!" Black Star screeched.

Maka sighed. "Okay, fine, you and Tsubaki can go get the Holy Water. Crona, you'll come with Soul and me and we'll get the Kishin egg. Liz, Patty, you guys will go get the Moondrop."

"Hold it!" Liz interrupted. "Patty and I didn't come to get a stupid flower."

Maka narrowed her eyes. "Then what on earth do you want?"

"We want to save Kid, as well as avenge him. Patty and I want to go after Ratchet."

There was a tense silence among the group.

"Guys," Tsubaki said, "if he could do that to Kid, then…"

"Besides," Black Star said cheekily, "you two don't have a meister with you."

Patty glared at him. "We can wield each other!"

"Liz, Patty," Maka said, pity plastered on her voice, "we just don't want anyone to get hurt."

"Tough," Liz retorted. "We're getting that guy and we're avenging Kid. We call dibs."

"And also," Patty said, "Crona would have to go get a separate mission from you guys. If he didn't, we wouldn't get everything in time, right?"

Maka grit her teeth. "Alright," she mumbled, "Liz and Patty go and fight Ratchet. Soul and I go and get the Kishin egg. Black Star and Tsubaki get the Holy Water, and Crona gets the Moondrop. Are we good?"

Crona seemed to shrink. "I'm alright with it," she said.

"Good!" Maka said, the corners of her mouth turned up in a grin. "We'll head out immediately!"

0o0o0

Once Maka's face had rippled out of sight and Spirit had been calmed down, Lord Death let out a sigh. "Well, Nygus," he said, turning to the school nurse, "I believe you wanted to ask me something?"

Nygus narrowed her eyes. "You wanted me to come here, Lord Death," she replied.

"Precisely! But that's because I know you have something to ask me!"

"How do you-"

"It's a gift!" Lord Death laughed for a moment.

Spirit grinned. "He's done it ever since I became a death scythe, don't worry, Nygus."

Death laughed once more before going on. "But anyway, what's your question, Nygus?"

Nygus paused for a moment, and then said, "Stein told us that Kid would have a nightmare every day of one of his worst fears. Am I correct?"

"Righty-O!" Death responded.

"Do you, by any chance, know of Kid's seven worst fears?"

"I do indeed!" Lord Death replied cheerily.

"... Do you think you could tell them to me?"

Death was stone silent for her last question. He waited a moment, and then turned towards his mirror and stared into the reflection.

"Sir?" Nygus went on.

"I… I can't really tell you," Lord Death muttered. His voice was filled with the remnants of lost memories that he must have been tossing around his brain as he thought.

"Sir, this is your son we're talking about. I might be able to help him if I know his fears," Nygus implored, "please, if you can just tell me his second one, I'll leave you alone. His first one is asymmetry, Stein told us that. Lord Death, for your son, please!"

Heartbeats of dead silence slithered by like cobras. Death still stared at the mirror. Spirit was tense. Nygus's eyes were filled with a pleading that had never been there before.

When Lord Death spoke, for the first time in years he seemed to be at war with his emotions. "He once made me promise not to tell anyone. "

"This is a life and death situation, sir, please, at least tell me one."

Heartbeats. Seconds of pure silence and agony dragged by. It seemed like hours had gone by. Then Lord Death turned to Spirit and dismissed him from the Death Room. Spirit nodded, and made his way through the guillotine archways and out of the room, but not without one look back at his meister. When the death scythe was gone, Lord Death looked at Nygus.

Death inhaled and spilled. "His second worst fear is..."

0o0o0

Midnight. That was what time of day it was. Kid knew as he pulled himself away from the cold hand that grasped his abdomen and opened his eyes and gazed upon the dark purple sky and the malicious moon hanging up in the sky.

Midnight.

Kid slowly angled his eyes in every direction, trying to get a better hold of his surroundings. His head was very foggy and it was hard to think straight. How did he get here? Was he not in the DWMA infirmary just now? Was this another dream? Where was he, anyway?

Kid sat himself up; as he did so, a sharp pain shot up through his forehead. His hand flew to the area, and when he pulled it away, there was blood smeared on his hands.

What one earth happened? The boy thought. Kid gradually made his way to his feet, ignoring the shots of pain in areas of his body and the throbbing pain in his head.

Kid's mind began to slowly clear up, and with this he realized he was in one of the alleyways that made up Death City. He vaguely remembered an alley that resembled this from when he was giving chase to the Thief Lupin. Trash bins scattered about, garbage scattered upon the ground.

That was when Kid noticed the small, blue orb levitating farther down the alley.

Kid... Come…

Wait, what? Was this thing talking to him? Kid eyed it for a few moments, and noticed that it seemed to have arms, and it seemed to be beckoning him over.

Come… Come…

He could hear it. Not in the way you heard someone's voice, but the words and the sound were there, in his mind. The sound was almost like a child whispering, at least to Kid. It had that sort of echo about it. It was eerie, very, very eerie.

Come… Kid…

Kid was hesitant. How many times a day do you see a glowing orb with arms calling to you?

Come…

Well, it was worth a shot. What did he have to lose? Kid began to move to the small orb, using the walls as his guide. Every step sent a pounding into his head, but he continued to move forward.

However, when he reached the strange thing, it began to move farther and farther down the passage.

Follow… Kid…

Something inside of Kid, the wiser side of him, told him to stay away. But another part urged him forward, and he chose to obey that side of himself.

He moved forward, following the orb. Seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like hours. Then, finally, Kid began to hear voices at the end of the alley. They were muffled, but he could make out a few words in between.

"…id… Stop… It wasn't… fault…"

Hold on, that sounded like… Kid began to move faster. Another voice joined the chorus.

"Liz... broke… reaper law… must pay the price."

Was that Kid's voice?

As Kid rounded a corner, the orb disappeared and quite the sight beheld him.

He was standing there, wearing the black cloak that marked him as a Grim Reaper, a silver pistol gleaming in the moonlight as he pointed it at the person at the end of the alley. Kid seemed… Older, in a way. His hair was longer, two of the lines of Sanzu connected. This made the OCD part of Kid giddy for a few brief moments until he noticed the girl at the end of the passage.

The figure had messy, brown hair, teary blue eyes with mascara mixed with her tears. Her teeth were shiny and white, blood dripped from her mouth, and she had cuts and bruises adorning her arms and face.

Kid didn't need to see her attire. He recognized her as Liz Thompson and the pistol in his older self's hands as Patty.

Liz let out a sob. "Kid, please!" She wailed. "Don't do this! I told you, I'm sorry! I had no choice!"

"You have broken one of the most sacred laws of Death City!" Kid heard his alternate self retort. "I have no choice but to punish you!"

Liz wailed again. "P-Patty! Please, help!"

Patty was only silent.

"Kid! Please, don't kill me!" Liz screeched.

Kill her?

Kid made an attempt to cry out, but nothing came from his mouth. He could only hear himself; the others in front of him probably didn't even know he was there.

"Liz," Kid's alternate self went on, "the last thing I ever wanted to do is this. But I have no choice!"

"NO!" Liz screeched, sinking to her knees. "Kid, PLEASE!"

"… I'm sorry."

BANG!

There was the loudest gunshot Kid had ever heard, and blood flew out of Liz's chest. She slumped to the ground and was still as a pool of her own blood formed around her.

If Kid himself could talk, he would have called out Liz's name. His stomach back flipped in his abdomen, and Kid stumbled backward and tightly shut his eyes. Liz was dead. She couldn't be dead! What had she done that made her deserve such an end? She wasn't dead! She couldn't be!

Liz had to die. She broke the law and had to be punished.

Kid beat on the sides of his head. There was that voice again!

You only made the necessary sacrifice. And yet you're afraid?

Kid pulled on his hair.

You can't even sacrifice for the good of your world? How pathetic!

Kid beat his head once more, urging himself out of this place. It had to be a dream!

Kid would soon find himself in his waking world, where he would grab the miniature trash bin beside his bed and hurl.

0o0o0

12:30 A.M.

That was what Nygus read from the clock that hung from the wall of the hallway leading to the infirmary. It was the time. Simple as that. But to the school nurse, it felt like she was about to visit the people who had fought in terrible wars. Every step she made as she made her way to the infirmary door felt like there were anvils stuck to her legs.

Kid would have about finished the nightmare by now, according to Lord Death. Nygus had made her way back to check on Kid and collect her items to go home. Should she go home? Or should she stay by Kid's side and console him?

The second fear.

As Nygus tore her gaze away from the clock, she muttered the fear under her breath.

"The second fear is sacrifice."