When Manny got back he tried everything to make sure no one noticed him especially Frida. T.J and Andrea he could easily avoid discussing the subject but if Frida saw him with these injuries she would question and interrogate him until he spilled his guts and according to Nicholas he couldn't breathe a word of what had happened with them and the crystal. It was early so she would probably still be asleep considering she slept so late. It seemed that he would make it back to his room undetected but as if fate wanted to make life more difficult for him he ended up bumping right into her in the hall.

"Ow! Hey buddy why don't you watch where you're go- Oh Manny there you are. Where have you been? I was looking all over for you yesterday."

"Uh nowhere!" He said keeping his back turned so she couldn't see his injuries. "I mean didn't you get my note?"

"Yeah it said you had gone to the supermarket to buy milk."

"Well there you go. That's where I was."

"You were at the supermarket all day?"

"Yeah the line for the cash register was very long."

"Long enough to last for twenty-four hours?"

"What can I say? It was a hell of a line."

"Okay so where's the milk?"

"Milk?"

"You said you went to buy milk so where is it?"

"Uhhh...They were all out."

"And yet you waited in a twenty-four hour line for nothing?"

"Uhhhhh...Yeah that's it! Oh well I'm tired now so if you'll excuse me." He started to walk away.

"Hold it!" She said grabbing him by his jacket. "What do you take me for? An idiot? I don't believe a word of that!"

"Get off me!"

He jerked away from her. She was just about to grab him again when she saw that there was blood on her hand.

"What the?! Manny you're bleeding!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are! You've been injured. Let me try to heal you."

"No don't!"

But before he could stop her she grabbed his shoulders and made him face her, giving her a clear view of his bruised, cut, and scraped body that was bleeding a little. Before he could even object she already had him in the clinic and was patching up his wounds.

"Manny what happened to you?" She asked him.

"Nothing I just got into a fight."

"With who?"

"Nicholas. We got into an argument, things got physical and well here are the results."

"What were you doing with him?"

"None your business."

"It is if you get hurt. I'm kind of your personal doctor."

"Frida when are you going to realize your constant worrying is for nothing?"

"When are you going to realize that you're not indestructible? Now would you mind telling me what's going on?"

"No because it's none of your business."

"That's not fair I tell you everything."

"Well hey I never asked you to tell me anything."

"What are you talking about? You're always questioning me about my business. What about that time you demanded I tell you where I was when I left the church to visit my grandma?"

"That was different."

"Different in what way?"

"It just was."

"You are such a hypocrite."

"I am not."

"Then why won't you tell me?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

"Why?"

"I just can't!"

"Is it bad?" Frida asked. "Are you trouble? Did you a break a law? Is my father hounding you again?"

"No! Leave me alone!" In frustration he kicked over a tray and knocked alcohol on her shirt.

"Well thanks a lot jerk! Now I have to change!"

"Sorry but if you hadn't of been in my face with your stupid questions then I wouldn't have-"

But he lost the ability to speak when she started to take off her shirt. His heart gave a sharp pulse and he felt sweat drip down his face.

"What are you doing?!"

"Relax I'm wearing a camisole underneath."

"I don't care! What woman in her right mind starts undressing in front of a man?!"

"Chill out you've seen me wear this plenty of times! Remember you used to live in my room!"

"Yeah well maybe that was a mistake considering the results."

"What does that mean?"

"Oh I don't know let's look at the facts shall we? A seal getting placed on my powers, having to constantly worry about you, us seeing each other-" Blush rose to his cheeks when he realized what he was about to bring up.

"Us seeing each other what?"

"Um...Um...Nothing."

"What?"

"If you don't remember good because I don't want to bring it up."

"Oh no it's too late for that. What is it? Seeing each other what?"

"All...All natural."

Now it was her turn to blush and to get flushed in the face. Next thing Manny knew he was getting smacked.

"You pervert! How could you bring that up?!"

"I didn't want to! You made me say it!"

"Oh God! Who have you told?! Who else knows?!"

"Just T.J!"

"You told that leacher!" She smacked him again.

"And that's another thing you're always hitting me and accusing me of being perverted! Which I am not!"

"Could've fooled me! What's your point in all this?"

"My point is you and I are too close for comfort! And frankly it's getting on my nerves!"

"Okay so if that's the way you want it maybe I shouldn't hang around you any more."

"Maybe you shouldn't! I don't need you anyway!"

"Fine! I'm never speaking to you again Manny Rivera!" She said marching off.

In her fury she walked outside of the church and right past Andrea and T.J. Seeing her anger they figured what had happened and their theory was proven correct when they saw how angry Manny was.

"Oh boy here we go again." T.J sighed.

"Do they ever stop fighting?" Andrea asked him.

"Sadly no. Shall we try to cool them off?"

"I'll take Frida you take Manny."

"Right."

Andrea followed Frida's tracks which led her to a tree and up in that tree Frida sat writing in her diary. Andrea sighed and climbed up after her.

"Mind if I join you?" Andrea said sitting next to her.

"I don't care." Frida said not looking up from her diary. Andrea leaned over and peeked on what she was scribbling. She was writing: Manny Rivera Is The World's Biggest Jerk, repeatedly in large words on a blank page.

"Ouch he must've made you pretty mad this time."

"I swear I can't stand that man! He's thoughtless, jealous, self centered, perverted, rude, egotistical, and just- Ugh! I hate him!"

She threw her diary down in rage. When it landed it opened to a page that had a large heart hit with an arrow drawn in it and in the heart the words: Frida Loves Manny Forever, written in it. Andrea looked at the page then back at Frida with a smirk that made her blush.

"Oh yeah you really hate him." Andrea joked.

The two girls jumped down and she picked up her diary.

"I don't hate him." Frida said. "But I wish I did. Do you know what it's like to have feelings for a guy that you wish you didn't have feelings for?"

"No can't say I do." She lied as she was clearly falling for a leacher.

"I swear I don't even know why I stay with him. He doesn't care about me at all. I mean absolutely nothing to him."

"That's not true. He cares."

"Yeah right the only times he ever helps me is if he has to or if it'll benefit him in someway. I mean he just said he didn't need me."

"Frida you know Manny doesn't mean everything he says."

They started to walk back to the church unaware that they were being watched.

"I don't know what he means, if you ask me he's just an insensitive jerk who needs a good kick in the- Ahhhh!"

"Frida?"

But when Andrea turned in the direction of the scream she found Frida gone. Suddenly the ground be to shake and thunder clapped in the sky however the weather hadn't been calling for a storm.

"Manny Rivera show yourself!"

At the mention of his name Manny went outside with T.J following. Waiting for them was Kane.

"You again? What do you want?" Manny demanded.

"Manny Rivera you have stolen something that doesn't belong to you! Something that I need!"

"You're going to have to be more specific I steal a lot of things."

"You know what I'm talking about! Return the dark crystal at once!"

"Hmm let think about that...Uh no. Sorry but I'm not giving that up to a psychopath like you!"

"Don't be so sure because I know for a matter of fact that you will return it to me and my associate."

"Yeah right! And why would I do that?"

"And you will do it because I have a little leverage you might wanna know about."

"What leverage? Hate to break it to ya buddy but you don't have anything that I could possibly want."

"Are you sure? Because something tells me this little thing means a lot to you."

"What are you-"

"Manny! T.J!" Andrea screamed as she ran toward them in a panic.

"Andrea what's wrong?" T.J asked.

"Frida's gone! We were just walking and then she vanished."

"Oh dear how tragic." Kane said faking concern.

Manny looked up at him with anger filled eyes.

"Where is she?!" He demanded. "What did you do with her?!"

"Relax boy she's fine and I'll give her back to you if you return the crystal."

"I can't! I don't have it! Nicholas does!"

"Then I suggest you get it back or you'll never see your woman again!"

"My woman? Oh God! You're waisting my time! She's not my woman and furthermore she means nothing to me so do what you'd like with her."

"Manny!" T.J and Andrea gasped horrified that he would say that.

Kane however wasn't convinced.

"Hmm...It seems I don't have anything to offer you."

"That's right you don't so why don't you just let the pest go?"

"No I have a better idea. I'll give you til sundown to meet me at the edge of the forest and to give me back that crystal and if you fail then I'll slit her throat."

Kane then disappeared.

"Manny are you crazy? How could you say that?" Andrea scolded.

"What? I don't care. I mean why should I? The seal is off so I don't need her anymore."

"Man you really are the world's biggest jerk!"

"But since you guys care so much about her I guess I could save her."

"What I'd like to know is what's this whole crystal thing about?" T.J said.

"Something I'm not supposed to mention. It's nothing important, just a rock I helped Nicholas get."

He didn't show it but Manny didn't know what to do. He knew all too well that Nicholas wouldn't give up the crystal, not without a fight at least and he was still recovering from his injuries so another beating from him would be murder but he couldn't think about his health. Not with Frida's life at stake. He contacted Nicholas by sending a parrot with message tied to it. His cousin didn't believe in phones for some reason so message by bird was the only way to contact him. When he arrived he talked to him privately.

"Are you telling me that you want to trade one of the most dangerous artifacts in the world, a crucial tool in reviving Diablo, for some woman?" Nicholas said.

"Hey she's a good healer."

"Of all the most foolish ideas I ever heard of this is the most stupid."

"You think I don't know that?"

"Okay then why agree to such a ridiculous bargain? And with Kane of all people. You know you can't trust him. He'll probably kill her even if you give it to him. So either way she dies so there's no need to do this. Now I have more important things to do."

"Nicholas! Please! I have never asked you to do anything for me! Can't you just do this!"

"No."

"Then I guess I'm gonna have to take it."

"Good luck I've hidden it somewhere you'll never find it."

"It's in Davi's bag isn't it?"

"No!" He lied.

But Manny only grinned before changing into his spirit form and going to find Davi. Nicholas quickly followed after him by T.J and Andrea had received orders to stop him knowing that he most likely wouldn't help them. T.J threw special dust in Nicholas's face that temporarily blinded him, and took away his other senses. Manny tracked down Davi in a heart beat.

"No! I will not give you the dark crystal!" He told him. "I am under strict orders from Nicholas nor to hand it over to anyone but him."

"Listen you little twerp a woman's life depends on me getting that rock and you have exactly five seconds to hand it over now!"

"Or what?"

Manny bared his teeth and cracked his knuckles. Davi swallowed hard. An hour later when the dust wore off Nicholas returned to find Davi beaten up and hanging from a tree by his underwear.

"My lord I have failed you." Davi sighed pitifully.

"What happened?" Nicholas asked angry.

"Your cousin beat me up and gave me a tree wedgie then he took the crystal."

"Davi."

"Yes my lord?"

"You're hopeless."

"I know my lord."

...

At sundown the three of them arrived at the edge of the forest with dark crystal. As he said Kane appeared holding Frida by a spider web.

"You freak! Put me down!" She demanded.

"Frida are you alright?" Manny asked her.

"I think so but I don't think arcane guy here will be once I get down."

"Oh do you shut up you loud mouthed bug before I bite off your head." Kane scoffed. "Now then Manny, the crystal."

Manny lifted it up to show him that he had it.

"Here's your stupid rock!"

"Excellent! Give it to me!"

"Wait! Let go of Frida first!"

"I will as soon as you give me the dark crystal."

"I don't trust you."

"Well I'm sorry to hear that."

Kane then transformed into a giant demonic spider and lunged for the crystal. Manny jumped out of the way.

"T.J go long!"

Manny threw it to him. T.J caught it and started to run. But Kane shot webbing at them that trapped them in a cacoon. He then grabbed the crystal which they had dropped and grinned wickedly but Manny surprised him by jumping on his head. The two started fighting each other, unfortunately for Manny Kane was a lot stronger than he was and could shoot both acid and webbing. He began shooting webs and acid at him while trying to crush him, Manny was quick enough to dodge his blows but he knew he couldn't keep it up forever. Then an idea came into his head.

"Right here nasty!"

Kane charged for him and shot large webbing at him. But Manny jumped and tripped Kane causing him to crash and get stuck in his own webbing.

"Well that takes care of him."

"Ahem! What about me?" Frida called.

"Hold on I'll have you down in a minute."

"Quick question, any reason why I was abducted by a spider freak?"

"Long story, I'll tell ya later."

But Kane wasn't done yet. Using acid he managed to get out of his web and shot a webbing at Manny that caught him this time. Manny tried to out but he was stuck, he could hardly move anything except for his fingers. He quickly tried to use his claws to cut himself loose.

"Did you silly children think it would be that easy to defeat me." Kane chuckled looking at the crystal. "Well I have what I want so I think I'll be on my way but before I go I'd like to shed a little blood."

He crawled up the web that held Frida and brought his fangs toward her. She tried to back away but she too couldn't move.

"You bastard! You said you wouldn't hurt her!" Manny shouted while desperately trying to cut himself loose.

"I know but there's something about killing people that pleases me so much."

Kane clutched her neck and prepared to slit it with his fangs.

"No don't! Don't!" Manny pleaded in horror. "Stop! You have your dumb rock! You don't need to kill anyone! At least not Frida! If you want you can kill me instead! So please spare her! Don't hurt Frida I beg you!"

Frida was speechless. He was actually begging for her life even offering himself in her place.

"You want this girl returned to you so badly?" Kane asked. "You love her that much?"

The tiger spirit boy and the blue haired girl looked at each other, each one unable to speak due to the shock of what was happening.

"How touching, I would be moved if I had a heart." Kane chuckled. "But I don't so you two can just say goodbye."

"No!"

SLICE! But it wasn't Frida's neck that been cut. It had been Kane's back which had been stabbed by Nicholas's claws.

"You truly are filth Kane." He said. "Even when someone abides by your demands you still need to satisfy you're sick obsession."

He then sliced through Kane's legs and his web causing Frida to fall. Fortunately Manny managed break free and catch her before she could hit the ground.

"Damn you Nicholas!" Kane hissed. "But no matter I have the crystal so I will have my revenge!"

Then just like many times before he disappeared. Nicholas snarled under his breath as he landed.

"Coward."

He then looked at Manny who was holding Frida, he looked so relieved that she was alright.

"Manny you have no idea what you've done. I can't believe that this woman seems to mean more to you than the safety of our world." Nicholas said. "But I had a debt to pay to Miss Suarez and now that has been fullfilled. So we'll finish this later."

They watched him leave as quietly as air.

"Are you alright?" Manny asked Frida.

"Yes I'm fine."

"Thank goodness."

She looked at him and smile.

"What?" He said.

"You like me don't you?"

"Yeah I guess I do."

"Enough to die for me apparently."

"What? No! I mean I...I...Oh boy."

She giggled.

"Manny."

"Yeah?"

"What did he mean the safety of our world?"

"It means we're all doomed and it's his fault." Nicholas said just before he was gone.