Episode 29: Rising Momentum


It was 6:35 p.m., same day— The Xmas Eve Party was going to be held at the schoolyard. As such, the grand Xmas tree standing before the school was moved over to the side nearest to the stone steps. Moreover, the school entrance was blocked by a grand stage already set up for live performance whilst the rest of the area was filled with fancy tables and chairs. Most of the guests were already present and dressed in their fancy clothes and dashing attires. It WAS a black tie event after all. Was—being the appropriate term considering that turntables, headsets, mixers, and a few more things of the sort weren't what you'd typically find in any formal gathering.

"Okay, now put those two over there and there," Liz ordered as a few 'extra' students positioned TV cameras, lights, and other props to fully complete the stage.

"Liz, what's going on down there?" radioed Marie as she and Azusa were monitoring their activities from the Death Room.

Liz looked around and saw the security camera, "Oh hey! We're just setting up the stage."

"I see. Is Kid there by any chance?"

"Sorry, haven't seen him. But I'm sure he'll turn up later."

"Okay. How about Blair?"

"Nope. Sorry, haven't seen her either," she answered. "But I'll let 'cha know if I see her," she waved at them before continuing with her work.


"Nothing but bad news." Still having no leads in the whereabouts of the witches, Azusa sighed heavily as she reclined on her seat.

"Tired?" inquired Marie. "I think there's still some coffee left in here," she inspected the large thermos left on the table.

"Alright, pour me a cup then," she said, taking off her glasses with one hand whilst rubbing her eyes with the other. In doing so, she felt the utmost relief as this little act greatly eased the stress burdening her mind.

Meanwhile, Marie looked at her and smiled. Seeing that weary side of hers, she recalled their younger days as students when they were always studying for the next big test. During those happy days, Azusa always had the highest grade—a true exemplar of what a student ought to be. But even then, she was always pushing herself. Sometimes, she'd go overboard and end up passing out due to exhaustion.

"Here," she handed her a hot cup of coffee. "You better rest a while. It's still a few hours before the Witching Hour, so you should save your strength 'till then."

"I can't, not as long as that witch is calling the shots," she mumbled, taking several sips.

"Well, I guess it's back to work then," Marie chuckled before emptying the rest of her cup. "But you know, after all of this is over and we've caught all the witches, do you think there'll be more?"

"More?"

"Kishin eggs, I mean. You see, I've been wondering…since we've already defeated the Kishin and after we've captured each and every witch including the Witch Queen, do you think the fighting will stop? And if no, then when will it stop? Will it ever stop?" she asked, sounding desperate for an answer.

"Well, I'm not sure how to answer that, Marie. As death scythe, our duty is to assist the Shinigami in the fight against the Kishin…but if that ends then…I'm not sure. A-Anyway, it's best if we don't think of that yet."

"I supposed you're right," she yawned.

"Well, anyhow, what kind of coffee is this, exactly? It's really good. Is this that Rumba coffee I've heard so much about?" she asked, trying to change the topic.

"Don't know. There's no label on the thermos," she yawned again.

"Thermos?" she looked at the large container on the table. "Wait! Wasn't that the same one Blair came in with?"

"I dunno…Justin-kun drank some earlier and…he seems fine," she said, sounding a bit woozy.

"Justin?" Azusa looked over to the young death scythe that was still fast asleep on the floor, and then back to Marie, who was now sleeping on her seat. "Why that sly little…" she finally realized too late as her empty cup fell to the floor.


Minutes later, the communications line beeped and Sid radioed in. "Sid reporting, major movement here on the rooftops. Shibusen students, lots of them, and they're installing something on the billboards. Is this part of the plan or should we stop them?"

There was no reply. "Death Room, respond!" Sid repeated and still got nothing but silence. "What's wrong with them? Why aren't they responding?" he wondered.

"Perhaps they were attacked," Nygus suggested as she transformed into her human form.

"Unlikely. Shinigami-sama is up there with three of his strongest death scythes. I'm sure even the witch queen wouldn't dare attack them, let alone take them all out," he tried radioing them again, but received the same response. "Whatever the problem is, if it was endangering the mission, we would've been notified immediately."

"Okay. Then, what is your order? Should we stand down?"

"Hmm. Since we can't afford to compromise our positions by going there and asking them what they're doing, we better continue monitoring them. Besides, those are OUR students. I highly doubt they're up to something bad. Though, just to be safe, nobody let your guards down," he radioed to the other teams.


Meanwhile, at the Death Room, all was quiet as Azusa, Marie, and Justin were sound asleep. Azusa was slumped over the controls, her hand outreached to the comm. line. It would appear as though she tried to contact someone, but alas.

What's even more unfortunate here was the fact that despite the increasing number of cameras that were now showing positive sightings of witches around the city, it was all in vain as no one was left standing to monitor them.

An example of such a sighting would be that taken by a single camera at the school's main hallway where Blair was shown walking by…

"Seriously, what the heck is that boy up to?" Blair thought, counting each step to the entrance.

"Where do you think you're going?" someone called out.

"Eh?" she looked around for that person. "Oh. It's just those idiots," she thought, seeing Stein and Spirit blocking her path. "Hi, I'm just heading off to join the party. Nothing suspicious here," she chuckled.

"Shinigami-sama's looking for you. You better go to the Death Room," said Spirit, cutting straight to the point.

"Oh, is that so?" her eyes narrowed. "And if I refuse?"

In response, Spirit changed his right arm into a large scythe blade, "I was hoping you'd say that," he smiled.


Author's Notes: Hey again! I'll be updating the 30th chap within 24 hours of this release... So, please continue reading and don't forget to comment! (Seriously, please do. Just let me know you're still alive :D)