It was already afternoon as she returned from her latest mission but instead returning to her room immediately, she decided to stay in the God Arc vault a little bit longer to take care of her weapon. With a clean towel she rubbed away the blackish aragami blood from the metal while her fingertips trailed over the surface, checking for deep cuts or dents in it.

Fortunately the material was quite sturdy and forgivable.

She let out a sigh of relief. At least, she didn't have to fear that Licca would threaten her to throw a wrench after her like she did often with the new ones who bring back badly battered God Arcs.

"…That's a rare sight." Lucifer flinched slightly before she turned her head to look at the said threatening mechanic. The young woman had one hand placed on her hip, her head titled and watching her with a frown.

"Is there something wrong if I check my own weapon once in a while?"

"No, no, not at all." She wiped some oil stains from her face.

"Let me correct that. It's pretty rare to see you at all. You are not the most social type, aren't you? I mean I have seen you once or twice but that was work related"

"If they would cut my work schedule down a little bit, I might have more time but as things are…" Lucifer trailed off, eyes narrowing a little bit as one of her fingers trailed over one of the deeper cuts. She followed it and then she clicked her tongue in annoyance. The last aragami did get her good with one hit but she didn't expect it to do so much damage.

"Ah…shit. The shield needs some repair."

"Let me take a look." The female kneeled besides her, frown deepening. "That's pretty deep. I fear the mechanism might be affected as well. Against what did you fight?"

"Ouroboros."

"Who was with you? Might take a closer look at their God Arcs as well…"

"There is no need to do that. It was a solo mission."

"You are joking, right?"

"Do I look like I am joking?"

Licca stood up, looking down at her. "No wonder you like crap. You are here just for what? Two or three months?"

"It wasn't my decision to fight it. Orders from above, you know." Lucifer spoke with a drawn out sigh. She was already tired and she hadn't the nerve for another lecture.

"But they can't just give you the mission to fight an Ouroboros alone! You are hardly a veteran at this stage and…"

"You are speaking to the leader of the first unit. Don't forget that." Lucifer interrupted her. "If it kills me, I wouldn't have been fit for this title anyways. How fast can it be fixed?"

"Hold on there! I am not a magician and I don't even know how severe the damage is."

"Please look into it immediately. It's not I use the shield often but better be prepared than sorry." The female mechanic crossed her arms before her chest.

"And what if I say that you can't use it for at least three days?"

"I might not know that much about God Arcs myself but I know enough when you are lying." Lucifer starred directly into her eyes, her intense gaze making the other young woman flinch.

"I honor your worries but things are as they are and I have to work with what I get." Then she shook her head. "It's not like I want to ask you to work after hours but if there is an emergency, I will have to move out. With or without the shield. Please bear that in mind and I apologize deeply that I have not the time to take care of it myself."

"…It's my job but this whole thing worries me. Did you offend someone?"

"Not more than Lindow but I am as stubborn and durable as a cockroach. Unfortunately they know that as well." Lucifer patted Licca's left shoulder as she walked her by with a hint of a strained smile.

"I have to go now. I wish a good day."

As soon she turned her head away from the mechanic, she grimaced and glanced at her right hand which hung and swayed slightly with her steps. It didn't feel broken and she could move it without problems if need should arise. Still, the aragami made her slide quite a distance with on her right side one well-placed attack over the rocky and wet ground. Her clothes were dirty and muddy but she wasn't really keen on looking at the skin beneath it.

Judging from the burning feeling which came in waves just by moving the skin from her right tight up to her waist and her right arm were scratched up and possibly bloody. She rubbed her eyes again. The last days of completing these 'special' missions alone had taken a toll as they added to the normal load of taking care of Shio and doing research about this whole matter of her own.

She was used to constant physical activities and staying awake until the early hours but at this pace she would probably tire her body out and get her into a predicament which would made her whole work fail with just one false step.

If it weren't for the thrill of hunting and being hunted, she wouldn't do this in the first place but something inside her needed it desperately like aragami needed food. It were the only moments were she felt truly alive.

So much as she hated to admit it, she would sacrifice people to experience this addicting tingle inside of her when she could stare into the abyss and laugh at death for one more time. This was the only pleasure she had with her new occupation, not the people, not the pleasure of having a bed or something to eat, but the pure raw threat of dying.

"…Ah, I fell pretty deep."

Her fingers twitched, breaking the bruised, bloody skin on the left which had just begun to regenerate, reminding her that the treatment of her injuries came first.

With a sigh, her fingertips trailed over the left side of her face where the mud still covered up the deep scratches. Even as a God Eater, an infection due to unclean wounds was nothing fun to deal with and she hadn't the luxury of falling ill right now.

Her back leant against the cold metal of the elevator wall while she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her team won't be pleased about her going out alone again but they had to deal with it this time.

The director gave her this mission, empathizing that she was one of a handful of people who he could give this mission. It hadn't been her first Ouroboros and yet her superior called it a very special case. It was the code for a 'former' God Eater who damaged his or her wristband too severely.

The consequence was a complete transformation into the thing they hunted.

Despite that it was stronger than usual aragami of its kin, Lucifer didn't had much trouble with the fact that it was once human. Her subordinates were a different case. She didn't know what impact this knowledge might have on them, so she better left them at home and did it by herself.

Not because they weren't able to do the deed of killing an aragami but because the psychological clash which would came during battle or after that. With an already mind manipulated girl on the team, she wasn't really keen on taking the risk.

Lucifer moved straight to the door at the end of the hallway and opened it without knocking. The person she visited was hardly surprised by her unannounced entry as she walked into the room. Her body stiffened and she saluted, with her balled right hand resting on the left side of her chest.

She never greeted him with the usual sign, refusing to give him the pleasure in showing him how she abounded her previous life to serve him. In his eyes it was a weak sign of flattering rebellion, unable to understand the meaning of this gesture at all. For her it was an amusing taunt since she only did it to introduce herself to her prey.

"Director, I report the threat has been successfully eliminated and the core has been extracted."

He leant back, observing her and folded his hands before him. After a second of silence, he gave her a hint of a pleased smile.

"I'm already informed. Good work. I knew my trust wasn't displaced."

The woman bowed her head slightly.

"Are there...any more missions that require my abilities?"

She could feel his gaze wandering over her.

"No, you are free to go for today"

"Understood."

"Ah, before I forget. Report any abnormalities in the surrounding areas immediately."

"May I ask what kind of abnormalities I should look out for?"

"A special aragami, quite cunning since it avoided our scouts quite easily. Unfortunately I can't give you a better description of it."

"I will keep my eyes open, director." With that she left the room again withholding a chuckle. Her heart was pounding almost painfully against her rips but she forced herself to calm down. A wicked smile danced on her lips for a second and she covered her eyes with one hand until her breathing pattern returned back to normal.

She could feel it in her veins that something big was coming her way.

Lucifer took a deep, shaky breath and started to sort her thoughts. First of all, she needed to treat her injuries and get some new clothing before she met up with the rest of the team. By now, they had to be aware of her little solo mission. Her shoulders slumped a little at the thought.

A sigh escaped her as her heartbeat relaxed and her face shifted to her normal emotionless expression.

"My team won't be happy with me."

"What…What happened to your face!?"

Lucifer grimaced almost at the surprised shout and then grimaced some more as she felt how this facial expression let her scratched up cheek an uncomfortable burning sensation. She could be lucky that the girl didn't get a glimpse on the rest of the injury underneath her clothes.

Although it wasn't serious, it wasn't pretty to look at either.

"Such a surprise. I can get a scratch or two." Her voice was laden with sarcasm. "Now calm down and eat your food."

"This is hardly a scratch! Let me get a look at it." Before her hand could reach her face, Lucifer reacted quickly and slapped it away.

"Please refrain from touching me. I know how to treat minor injuries."

"But…"

"I don't particularly like the Resonance."

"O-Oh…" It was almost entertaining how the girl went from loudmouthed and lecturing to shy and meek in her presence sometimes.

"Hey, Soma! Why won't you come sit with us?" Kota stood up and waved at his hooded comrade who jerked noticeably. Then Lucifer's and his gaze met for a moment and caused the normal warm atmosphere around them to drop immediately.

He then just walked by, ignoring them.

"W-what the hell is wrong with him?"

Sakuya frowned and directed her gaze to her leader.

"Did you two had a quarrel?"

"I wouldn't call it like that since it was his fault. He barged into my room and started a fight there."

"Soma broke…into your room?" Kota blinked. "Dude, that's a new one." Then his lips turned into a smug grin. "That leaves a lot up for interpretation, you know."

"I don't get what you are implying but if you start some unappropriated rumors." She started to smile at him. "I will find you and break some bones inside your body, starting with your hands."

"Come on! What is going on with the two of you?"

"Nothing besides him being a brat and I have no nerve to keep up with his bullshit. At least he speaks with people now." She wanted to add 'without him glaring them into submission' but she bit her tongue slightly. That young man almost did throw out Kota out of the copper the last time they were together.

Luckily this incident had nothing to do with Kota knowing his little secret and more with the fact that he tried to draw something on Soma's face with permanent marker when he was taking a quick nap in the chopper after the mission.

No one had to know that their Leader was the one who woke him by slightly stepping on his foot, just to observe his reaction.

She cleared her throat, trying to hide a smirk as she thought back.

"...So, I get you all a free morning to relax and this is the way you chose to thank me?"

"Still you could have informed us about it and not sneak off in secret."

"I had no other choice. If I had told you about it, you would have insisted to come with me and under the circumstances, I was not permitted to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Out of the corned of her eyes, she saw Sakuya's gaze darken considerably. "I see. Nothing did happen at the mission, did it?"

"Nothing out of the ordinary. A normal elimination mission."

"But why weren't we permitted to come?"

"Let's say, with taking up Lindow's job I also was given every single one of his responsibilities. Don't ask further."

"Still, Alisa has a point. You are butchering your health with taking too much missions. You are quite pale."

Sakuya pointed at Lucifer's still scratched up cheek.

"You can't demand from us to ignore your injuries." She was speaking softly like always, like a mother who scolded a child. Lucifer crossed her arms before her chest, clicking her tongue.

"...I had worse."

That comment didn't help in the slightest as she saw the older woman frown. She bit her lip and leant forward.

"Look, try to put yourself in my position. I work directly of the director and if - let's say - I abandon my responsibilities for working more for the doctor...Things might get complicated for us." She tipped with her finger against the surface of the table, drawing a symbol on it while her lips moved quietly.

"Decoy."

The medic was the first to catch the hint.

"I...see. Still you should get some more free time. Working that much..."

"I'm doing my job and..." She suddenly went quiet, attentively watching the news in the background. The picture of a man flashed on the screen and her eyes shifted to the headline. Lucifer's eyes narrowed. A scientist of Fenrir turned himself in for tempering with results.

"...What happened?" She nodded to the screen.

"He turned up at the security force, saying he was blackmailed and terrorized by someone. They couldn't find any evidence and dropped the case. Then he turned up at their doorstep again, with illegal documents and begged them to be arrested. Something along the lines of he will get killed or worse when he doesn't do it. They never found the guy which terrorized him…Quite creepy if you ask me."

Kota shivered slightly and shook his head.

"Sounds more like a psycho thriller than real life."

His superior folded her arms before her chest, her face becoming unreadable for a moment.

"…That does sound strange."

"Furthermore...This isn't the first incident." Alisa added. "A few days ago another one went missing." Lucifer's eyes narrowed before her eyes wandered to the table in front of her.

"...Things are really turning upside down at the moment, aren't they?" She muttered under her breath and leant her head back.

"Lucifer, the doctor Paylor has requested you."

Hibari called out for her, making the woman growl annoyed as her gaze turned to her unit.

"…Tell me when I have time to take vacation or whatever."

Slowly she stood up and walked away, ignoring their stares and glances before she heard shuffling of clothes.

She turned around. Her whole team stood right behind her.

"We are going with you." Sakuya announced with a smile. Lucifer lifted her right eyebrow and then chuckled, amused by their behavior. They wanted to act like a team in this matter, so she would let them.

"Do I really have to give you permission? Good, it's your free time."

After being filled in what the fox wanted from her, she almost succumbed to the urge to just take his head and crash it into one of his computer screens. But before she got everything bloody, she wanted to be definitely sure, she didn't hear something wrong.

"You want us to do what?"

"Well, Shio should try new clothes, but considering the circumstances...I thought you could get her to dress up."

Lucifer opened and closed her mouth a few times as her mind tried to figure out if this was a joke and how she could get away with attempted murder. The doctor was dead serious and there was only one thought which occupied her mind.

"This is getting ridiculous…"

In a careful manner she rubbed her eyes, swallowing a deep growl that rose to her throat. In the meantime she could have done something useful.

"Alisa, Sakuya...could you please?"

"Sure."

"Of course, Leader."

She just heard the opening and closing sound of a door before she opened her eyes again.

"Can I go now?"

"Ah, there was another reason why I called you here." He placed a letter on the desk.

"There was a young God Eater from the other branch who wanted to pay you a visit. He gave me this letter and I had to promise him to deliver it as soon as I got notice from your return."

"Another God Eater? Hey, maybe it is a love letter!" Kota began to grin. "Man, this guy must have some guts to confess to the infamous..."

"I can hear you, Kota."

"So what?"

"Don't make me rethink about my choice to save you from the fall from the chopper."

She looked at the envelope, turning it around and then opened it.

My dearest old friend,

I hope this person really keeps his promise and doesn't open it. (If so: If I find out - and I will - you will suffer for it.) Nevermind, I thought I will avoid talking to you directly, considering that you have enough to deal with at the moment. I guess you have heard the news and I have to say, it was a delightful snack. I wanted to remind you that I still wait for your answer. A partnership would be highly profitable for us both, so consider it.

Hiro

P.S. I have left you a little present in your room and Asmo-kun requested me to get him a souvenir and I left a gift from him too. Besides your pictures are nice as always and you have an interesting taste in clothing =) (Especially...)

The corner of her right eye twitched not reading any further both in anger and in shame as she noted for whom he needed the souvenir. She felt uncomfortable by knowing that some her 'underwear' was possibly missing.

A man breaking into her room and messing with her clothes wasn't something she wanted to imagine.

"H-Hey...Is everything alright?" Kota's tone was careful and he jerked as he heard the paper being rip apart.

She turned around and put up the sweetest smile she could muster to cover up her need to kill something.

"Yes, everything is alright. Just a guy who dared to pull a little prank..."

Little did she know how her smiling was considered in the Den as a sign of incoming evil. The only times she was caught smiling was killing Aragami or killing someone in her mind in a very gruesome way.

"...Uhm...You..." Soma sighed.

"Don't if you don't want to suffer her wrath."

"My wrath? I assure you, I'm perfectly calm."

Soma made a dismissive sound.

"And a bad liar."

"At least I respect privacy. Not like a certain other who barged into my room because of a tiny problem." She then returned his murderous glare.

"H-hey guys. No need to..." Both of glares directed themselves to Kota who gulped nervously. Their Leader sighed. Fighting right here would do nothing good.

"Right...Doesn't matter right now. I'm going to..."

She couldn't end the sentence as a loud boom echoed from the backdoor. It only took a second to assess the possible outcomes of this noise. Then her head hung low, her shoulders slumped down and she suppressed the growing urge to break something or someone in this room. This sound was akin to her free time waving goodbye. She wouldn't get sleep tonight either.

Sakuya who was covered in dust emerged out of the door.

"Guys, we have a problem..."

"What the hell happened?"

"Shio...Well...Shio has escaped." The leader frowned and wanted to ask how a tiny individual like Shio could break out of a room with just one door. The dust settled and she got a good view of a hole in the middle of the thick metal wall.

"Aragami…right…She is an aragami." She whispered to herself. "Why do I even ask?"

In the pit of her stomach an uneasy feeling started to brew. That girl was an aragami who just escaped the only save place in the middle of an aragami hunting facility.

"Shit." She cursed out loud as realization dawned on her.

"We are making a plan now. Soma, Alisa, Kota...Get ready for moving out. You are with me. Sakyua I need you to observe the signals around the Den. Contact us over the private channel when something pops up. When something asks what happens, lie when necessary. Say that something one of the monitors malfunctioned. If the director calls for me, say I am on a mission with the rest of the unit."

After the first shock, she tried to calm herself down. Losing her head would do nothing good right now. Her moves must be plan carefully right now or the scale would tip to the director's favor. A low growl emitted out of her throat as she stormed out her room. Her injuries and her well-deserved sleep could wait. The pet in her wrist purred. When she got excited or worked up it would mean dinner time.

She just had a difficult time to decide what to feed it first with.