Shibusen is was in an uproar. Or at least it would have been, had Lord Death not quickly put a lid on the entire incident. The whole in the wall was repaired before the night was over, and the students and teachers who didn't know what was going one were told that nothing had happened at all. The cover story was that Lord Death had been training with Soul when things got slightly out of hand. Most of the teachers and students bought it, but Altezio and Karin knew better, especially when the young meister noticed the missing crystal the next day, when he, his partner and Ixion were called into the Death Room the next day.

"I've called the five of you in here," Death began, pacing slowly back and forth before them. Karin took a quick dismayed glacnce at the Weapon Meister pair next to her, she and Altezio's so called "rivals" Alex and Luzo, "Because it's time that you took on a two-star mission. Now, I realize that you probably think that accomplishing a mission like this will be simple, but I assure you that, at your level, it will be a true test of your strength, and alone you would surely find your demise."

"I'm your number one Meister, Lord Death," said Alex boastfully, "just let me and Luzo take care of this one. Leave the kiddies here."

"Oh, cram it Mr. High-And-Mighty, before we whoop your ass for the second time this week, right Tez?" Karin yelled, glaring at Alex before looking to her Meister. Altezio, however, was in his own world, looking passively up to the ceiling where the crystal, he noticed, was no longer suspended. After a moment, he reacted to his Weapon.

"Huh...oh yeah sure," he said, shaking his head and turning his emerald gaze to her, a small smirk on his face. Then, he turned his head to Lord Death, and he couldn't help but let the next words fall from his lips.

"So, Lord Death. What happened to the crystal that used to be in here?"

"Oh that?" Lord Death answered, looking up for a moment before continuing, "I had it moved."

"Because of the stuff that went down last night?" asked Karin, suddenly very much interested in the conversation. She recieved questioning glances from the other three people, especially Ixion.

"As a matter of fact, yes. The training between Soul and I last night was a lot more fierce than we expected. In order to keep the crystal from being damaged, we moved it. Coincidentally that is also why Soul isn't here today." At this, the other three seemed to ease up, but both Altezio and Karin continued to look at the Grim Reaper. After a few moments, Lord Death continued.

"As I was saying before, the five of you are to go on a mission in the forests of North America, near Canada, in search of a pre-Kishin coming dangerously close to becoming a full Kishin. He's killed more than one hundred innocents in the short time we've known about him."

The rest of the briefing went uneventfully. Lord Death told the five exactly where they were to go and to be there no later than the next day. As they left the Death Room the five went their seperate ways, with Alex and Luzo going to "get ready" while Tez, Karin and Ixion started on the long walk back to their apartment. The three were silent until they hit the stairs outside of Shibusen, and that was when Karin began to rant.

"Fuckin' god can you believe Alex? 'I'm your number one, Lord Death.' What a kiss-ass."

"Well," Ixion started, running his hands through his hair. It made an electric crackling before he left his hands at the back of his head, "can you blame the dude? No offense but his little brother's Weapon form is actually bigger than he is, and he hefts that thing around like it ain't no thing. He's a regular Cloud Strife."

"Wow Ix," began Karin, smirking now, "if I hadn't known any better I'd say you had a man-crush."

"Whoa now, take it easy. I totally agree with you, the guy's a total asshole but you have to admit, he's got to have at least some talent," Ixion interjected, his own smirk coming out. They continued on like this for most of the walk, bickering back and forth while Altezio listened, though only half-heartedly. His mind was occupied instead with what Lord Death had said before.

"Dad has told me all sorts of stories about the special training he and mom have done in the Death Room...but he's never said anything about the crystal being in any sort of danger...it must have been a lie, but why?"

"Tez?" Karin asked tentatively, but she got no response.

"They told me that the soul inside that crystal was Erik Altezio, and that he was a very powerful Meister. That would easily make it a target...but what good would a soul like that one do. It's not like he was a wizard or anything..." Altezio continued, only to be stopped when something struck him in the back of the head, knocking his hood down.

"Ow! Hey what gives?"

"You were spacing on us," Karin answered simply, "Something on your mind?"

"Just thinking about that crystal...something is up," Altezio answered truthfully, knowing full well that Karin would see through any attempt to cover it up. Fortunately for him, it seemed that his two companions either weren't worried about or didn't care too much about the situation.

"Eh, I'm sure it's nothing," Ixion said.

"Yeah...you're probably right..."

Meanwhile...

Maka put her head in her hands and sighed. She was tired, and she was worried. Erik's release was something that she hadn't expected would ever happen. And that Shibusen could have been infiltrated after so many years of peace was...unimaginable. The woman rubbed her eyes and blinked a few times before going back over the book in front of her, an old tome she had hoped would give her some sort of lead on a place called "Darkholme." Unfortunately, her research was coming up dry.

"Knock knock," came the voice of her husband behind her, and she couldn't help but let a smile come to her lips. If he was coming to her office to get her, chances were it was later than she thought it was. She turned to face him as he walked in, noticing the hand resting at his side.

"It's three thirty in the morning. We should get you home and in bed," he said, picking up the book she was reading and closing it after a moment of disinterest. She went to disagree with him but yawned instead. Soul smiled at this and took her hands, pulling her up into his arms. She went willingly, her legs suddenly tingling with protest: they had been asleep after sitting so long. As they left the room she flipped the light switch, leaving the room in total darkness.

"So, did you find anything?" Soul asked as they walked, his hand snaking into hers and fitting perfectly. She merely shook her head at his question.

"That's all right. We'll find them," Soul said after a moment of silence. Maka agreed and stepped forward, opening a door that would lead them to the outside. The night air was cold, and in her drowsy state Maka felt uneasy. She couldn't be sure, but she thought she felt the presence of a powerful soul somewhere in the world. A soul that she hadn't felt in a very long time.

I'm back. Sorry finals happened and other stuff also happened so I'm a little off my game again. I'll be posting as frequently as I can. I hope you enjoyed and please, R&R even if it's horrible!