"Hey, Black Star," a familiar voice called. The sun was setting. The foreigner would then have to deal with the ever grinning moon with bad dental hygiene.

The blue haired assassin turned to view the owner of the voice. "Yeah, Ling?"

"Did you send me on that chase on purpose," genuine anger laced his voice.

"Well technically it was me and Kid, if you're gonna point fingers at anyone." Black Star shrugged at the question.

"Oh, Ling, you're back," the aforementioned reaper noticed. He looked at the empty hands of the homunculus, relieved to see that a certain annoying legend's absence. "You didn't get Excalibur, did you?"

Ling's face contorted into a familiar grimace. "Why the hell would I want it? It's so annoying. I'd rather work with Greed."

"We figured as much." Kid sighed. "Not even the best meister from the academy could handle the sword's personality." He placed his hand over his chest in grief. "Such a waste that such magnificent symmetry was wasted on such a horrible creature."

"Well, it's getting late and I still don't have a place to stay, so I'll just stay with one of you guys!" He leaned forward with a smile. "So, who's willing to let me stay, huh?"

"You could always stay with us," a female voice recommended from behind the young prince.

Ling turned around to see Maka and Soul. "You'd just have to promise not to eat all of our food, this time," Maka warned with a light hearted laugh.

"I have to eat something," the prince whined. "I can't help it if I have a high metabolism and a large appetite."

"Really, I mean it," Maka growled out.

"I wouldn't mind letting him stay. After all, Black Star eats a lot, too," a patient Tsubaki allowed.

Maka's face shifted into exaggerated shock at her friend's suggestion. "Umm… Tsubaki, that would mean all your food would disappear. You already feed one person that eats up a lot of food already. Don't you think two would be too much?"

Tsubaki turned to face Maka with a gentle look. "I'm sure he doesn't eat too much."

"He ate the whole pantry," Maka and Soul both pointed out.

"Oh…," was Tsubaki's only reply.

Soul shoved his hands in his pockets gruffly. He let out an exasperated sigh. "Gees, why doesn't he just stay with someone who can support his highness?"

"In that case, he'll stay with Kid," a cold and more mature voice observed from the steps. Everyone turned to spot their insane professor hunched over, his hands in his pockets, approaching the indecisive group. Before the juvenile reaper could protest, Stein held up a previously folded paper stamped with Lord Death's mask and his signature. "Lord Death's orders."

Kid took the paper from the scientist, looking it over frantically. "This can't be right…"

The meister and scythe pair made a sound of confusion, catching Stein's attention. "There's a mission that's currently being processed. It's to help him get home." He pointed at Ling, still hunched over. "We spoke again, Marie, Spirit, Lord Death, and I. He decided that it would be in everyone's best interest to change your partners, Ling."

"That doesn't make any sense… Wouldn't it be safer if for everyone if he stayed with one of the teachers," Maka inquired.

The slumped professor sighed and leaned toward the side, his eyes becoming visible. "Well, he's worried that I'll jump off the deep end and… well, you know." He smirked at the group. "Your new partners are now-"

"Kid, Liz, Patty, Professor Sid, and Nurse Nygus," Kid announced, shock apparent in his voice.

"Hey, why can't we help out," a disappointed scythe inquired.

"That would be a matter to take up with Lord Death." He fished a death stick out of his coat pocket, followed by a match book. He lit it and began to breathe in the toxic fumes. When he finally exhaled, he blew out a cloud in resemblance to the quirky death god's mask. "Personally, if you think you're up to the task, by all means. But, I assure you..." He stood up straight finally, placing the stick near his mouth; his glasses were obscuring his eyes again. "This mission is tough. If you feel too overwhelmed, feel free to rely on Death Scythe, Ms. Marie, or I."

They watched as he turned to leave, waving with a flick of his wrist. Kid sighed as he turned to look at Ling. "So, you're to stay with me?" A nod was his reply. Kid clicked his teeth, jerking his head to the side. "Just try not to make a mess."

The prince displayed an innocent grin. "I'll try not to!"