I unlaced my black Air Force Ones and walked inside, unzipping my black vest and putting it to the side. As I smoothed out my blue turtleneck, Anna turned to me and gave me a tiny smile.

"So who did you arrest today?"

Rio grinned after swallowing and spoke for me, as I put my shades to the side. He swallowed and spoke for me.

"I think it was some bank robber. It'll be on the news soon."

As I sat down next to Len, the news came on.

"Welcome to 7:00 News on Jitsunami TV. I'm Ling Choo, here with the latest news report. Coming to you live from Yamanouchi Bank is Tony Kiwa. Tony?"

"It seems that our Yamanouchi back robber has been found and arrested. 27-year-old Hank Hanji pleaded guilty in courts today for theft and illegal auto possession. Hanji had robbed Yamanouchi Bank today, and then stole a local transportation bus. A high-speed police chase came to an end when junior officer partners Mario Scalia and Marcel Avery halted the bus by firing at the tires. Hanji was armed and started to fire, however Scalia managed to unarm him and arrest him. Officials were to charge him with assaulting an officer when Scalia let down the penalty."

Len snorted. "Mario, if I were you I would've let him have the charge."

I shook my head. "He's already receiving the penalty of ten years in prison. I wasn't going to add years to that."

"Hanji will be spending ten years in prison, for robbing special possessions of American Representative Larry Lugini."

"Ten years, Mario? Man, that's harsh. What did he steal from the American guy, anyways?"

I nodded thanks to Anna for the tea and took a sip before answering. The green tea awoke my worn out senses. I opened my eyes and sighed.

"Well, other than a thousand grand, all of his family jewels were stolen."

"What kind of jewels?" Tokagero asked, now very interested. Even though he came clean of his past acts, Tokagero still loved luxuries that were treasured to be stolen. I shrugged.

"Diamonds, tons of them… lots of gold and pearls… um, he kept them all in this jeweled box. That probably got the thief's attention."

I took another sip of my tea and turned to Yoh.

"So Yoh."

Yoh who had been leaning back with his eyes closed, opened one eye lazily and smiled.

"Hm?"

"How was the test?"

"I passed it."

Morty frowned. "Yoh, you got a 70, you just made it."

What do you mean?" Yoh asked, not really interested. But that's the same old Yoh. Nothing fazes him. Take it easy, that's his perfect motto.

"Yoh, you'll never be able to get a good education if you keep on caring less about the percent average!"

That picked my interest. I looked at Morty. "What did you get?"

He beamed proudly. "Well, Mario, I passed with flying colors. I received a 100."

Anna scoffed. "Show-off."

Morty glared but then smirked at her. "Would you like to tell Mario here what you received on YOUR exam?"

Anna leaned on her elbow on the table, resting her head against her hand.

"95."

I rolled my eyes playfully when they continued to bicker. They could argue over the littlest things.

"Congrats to all of you. I'm glad you all passed. Unlike me, however."

Faust looked at me concerned. "Did you fail the exam?"

I shook my head. "Oh, no! I couldn't take it because I was called out of class to go after the thief!"

Morty rolled his eyes. "Every time you're called for a duty, you miss something vital to your mind. Mario, one day you're going to have to quit, or else you'll never get a decent education."

Len scoffed, after gulping down some tea. "Oh, please. Let him go and fight crime. Mario don't listen to him. If you like kicking butt, then go for it. Like I say, it's the thrill of the fight that keeps a spirit going."

"I agree, Morty," Rio added, nodding his head. "Mario's happy place may not lie in the books but on the streets."

"Mario, may I ask a question?" Amidamaru asked.

I nodded, turning my attention towards the samurai ghost.

"Ask away."

"Do you like what you do?"

That was a good question. I figured someday it would be asked, but by some reporter in the next twenty years. And I would say yes, and they would ask how long I've been doing it for and accolade me and so forth… but to live in any type of fame requires some feelings to be hidden away. But to be asked now, by one of my closest friends, dead or not, he deserved the truth. I pondered and considered a good answer that would satisfy the samurai's question. When I knew what to say, I placed my tea down, as all eyes were on me. I took a breath, and then told them.

"I don't know what to say," I laughed nervously. They just laughed softly and smiled. I looked down, smiling. "I guess I do. Protecting the lives of other people and keeping them and their needs safe makes me feel happy that I could restore happiness into their lives and to give them hope and comfort."

I stopped and lifted my eyes slowly to Amidamaru. He looked at me intently, as my smile faded and my eyes hardened.

"However, Amidamaru, there's some things I definitely hate. I don't like being the one who has to take children to foster homes for the littlest and most false crimes. I hate having to investigate homicides and make police reports about murders and suicides. I don't like hurting people just because they hit me, and arrest them for touching or not cooperating with an officer, even if he just wanted to express how he felt. I don't like lying to people either. But if it's what I have to do, I have no choice but to do it."

Amidamaru grinned. "You've really changed Mario."

I felt Faust lean on my shoulder and I wrapped my arm around him. He ran fingers through my hair and held me closer. Tokagero nodded his head in agreement with Amidamaru.

"Yeah, I know. Before, Mario, you were the top prostitute in the Red Light District, but now you're one of the top officers in this city!"

I smiled at Tokagero. "Thank you." He grinned.

"Anytime."

Hours passed and while we all talked, I began to feel the labor of today's work wash over me. I felt so tired I felt that I would fall asleep on Faust's shoulder. Stretching and yawning, I opened my eyes slightly to notice that Len was watching me.

"You need to rest."

I resisted, groaning softly as I shook my head lightly. "I'm not that tired."

Yoh put an arm on my shoulder, and laughed his trademark laugh. I looked at him in curiosity.

"Of course you are tired, Mario. You can take a nap with me!"

That was when Anna shot a cold glare at Yoh and shook her head. "You're not taking a nap, Yoh! You are going to train in about five minutes!"

Yoh frowned and whined. "But I'm already Shaman King!"

"Who cares?" she spat back, "You still need to stay in shape! I will not have a lazy man for a husband!"

Everyone sweat dropped as Yoh was dragged outside. I shook my head to myself.

"Maybe I should go out there and help him," I said, suddenly standing.

"Oh no you don't!" Morty stood up, puffing out his chest. Although he was definitely smaller than me, Morty managed to be able to take a fatherly side to me. He put his hands on his hips. "You go into your room and get some rest! You have been running all over last night chasing an armed bandit and you need to rest for the test tomorrow!"

I groaned. "Morty-"

"Don't 'Morty' me, mister! I-"

"Officer Scalia! Code number 1-8-5-0- come in!"

I looked at Morty. He growled and mumbled for me to answer it. I looked at the others, who nodded. I picked up my radio.

"This is 1-8-5-0. Agent, identify yourself."

"Scalia, this is Avery. Over!"

My eyes widened. What was up now?

"Marcel, what's the problem?" I inquired, my voice sounding slightly concerned.

"Mario," his voice sounded a little paranoid. "We got a situation!"

I narrowed my eyes. "What kind of situation?"

"Well, I don't think you need to go. It's not a big deal. We're just going after the Getalong gang."

I sighed, feeling a little upset that Marcel found it funny to joke around these things. But still, even though the gang was really harmless, I still felt that I really needed to be there. After all, that was my typical attitude. Dean called me nosy, but many called me concerned and overworked. But I didn't care. If someone was helpless somewhere, I wanted to avenge them.

But before I could react, Morty hopped into the air and snatched away my radio. I spun quickly. "Hey-"

Giving me a mean persistent look before talking into the radio, he started to yell at poor Marcel.

"Listen, you- 1234 officer!"

"That's 1550!" Marcel shouted back, angrily.

"Whatever." Morty snapped, "Other than the fact that it's a school night and Mario missed an important exam today-"

"It was a math exam." I groaned, leaning back and lying down, taking out my gun.

"-You have some nerve commanding Mario to come and do another assignment!"

Marcel, forgetting that he had the authority to arrest Morty on the spot, dropped his titles and picked up his pride.

"He's our best cop, you fool!"

"Oh! So you wanna call names now, huh!" Morty was now screaming and his face was very red. Everyone was laughing hard, Tokagero having to hang onto Bason for support. Morty shot them a dirty look, which didn't silence them, but he continued barking at Marcel.

"Look, Darren-"

"Marcel!" Marcel and I called out.

Morty turned to me, huffily. "Mario, say no more." He turned back into the radio. "You, Marcy, shut up and stop interrupting! If you want to get someone to help you fight the Tagalong gang-"

"Getalong Gang," I corrected, rolling my eyes, polishing my gun.

"-Call the police!"

"And I'm what?" I said, annoyingly, sitting back up, and pocketing my gun.

"My tax dollars don't pay for nothing! You think I pay you so that way you can just get kids to do the dirty work for you?"

"Morty, you-"

He turned to me, shrieking. "That's enough out of you, young man! As soon as I'm done talking to this wise guy you're going to bed!" he turned back to the radio. I rolled my eyes, and closed them in deep thought. I could both listen to them, and miss saving the world, or I could sneak out. And I was very stubborn person who didn't listen to people most of the time, so you know what I chose.

"You have some nerve calling and demanding that a 15 year old go after a bunch of sickos!"

"Like I said before, he doesn't have to go!"

No one noticed that I had snuck out of sight. While the others watched and laughed at their argument, I had loaded my gun, put on my brown combat boots and readjusted my vest jacket, slipped on my shades, and slid out the door.

As I walked out, I saw Yoh going through his daily training… or "daily torture" with Anna. He immediately stopped to lock eyes with me. I froze, not knowing what to do. Anna even stopped snapping at Yoh and turned towards me. Amidamaru folded his arms, staring me down. Silence filled the air; the only sound being heard in the background was Morty shouting at Marcel and the laughing of the shamans and their ghost companions. It was Yoh who broke the outside silence.

"Are you going, Mario?" he spoke rhetorically, in a low deep voice.

I smiled nervously, lifting up my shades. "Duty calls."

"You know we'll never hear the end of it from Morty."

"Don't worry about Morty Yoh. You have your own problems to worry about. If he goes on about it too much," Anna pouted, sticking her nose in the air, "he'll get some training too."

I clenched my hands. "So, do I have your permission?"

Yoh shrugged, picking up his sword.

"Anna's okay with it. So am I. Just be careful."

I turned to Amidamaru, who waited expectantly. "And you?" I whispered.

He kept his position, and I looked down, feeling hurt that I would be going against the will of my friends. But he knew that I would be okay… I hope he did. Strongly but softly, he started speaking.

"Lord Mario, I am concerned for you. However, you have a duty to protect, and you have not only a servant's heart, but a samurai's heart."

I blushed, looking up with pride in my eyes. "Thank you."

His expression softened, and he nodded.

"Go, Lord Mario. Go, but I want you to be careful. May the Great Spirit watch over you; may he keep you safe," his last words were but a whisper.

I nodded, feeling relief. "Thank you."

I winked at them, and then pulled down my shades, running out of the gate and running down the street. After all, it wasn't a real walk away. I would get there in ten minutes. But I had better call to confirm that I would be there.

Getting my cell phone, I dialed the number. It rung once, but then it immediately picked up.

"Hello?"

"Marcel, it's Mario."

"Are you coming down or what? Your friend's still yelling at me!"

I could distinctively hear Morty's voice in the background ranting on about how I was supposed to be studying and accelerating in school rather than going on a police chase. I laughed and paced myself, taking steady, rhythmic breaths.

"I'll be there soon, Marcel… if they haven't already been rounded up."

"Oh please, Mario!" I heard him laughing, "We haven't even taken off yet."

I groaned, slapping my forehead. "Why?"

"Because we knew you were stubborn and that you would come anyways." I heard him suppressing more laughter.

I groaned, rolling my eyes. "Man, am I really that predictable?"

Marcel wouldn't stop laughing. How dare he laugh at his partner? I made a mental note to myself to get back at him and I ignored his snickers.

"Okay, I'll be there in five."

I hung up, and quickened my pace. I'd better get there soon… if they were stupid enough to delay their departure for me, who knew what else was going on!

777

I ran through the door, but then slid and fell on my stomach and hit my head hard against somebody's legs.

"Ow!" we both said in unison.

I looked up to meet the eyes of my partner, Marcelin Avery.

Everyone was looking at me and stifling laughter. But it wasn't until Marcel laughed hard and replied, "Don't slip up Mario" that everyone started laughing.

I blushed and turned away. I was a total klutz, falling down stair, out of windows, and off platforms and stages. Needless to say, I was not as graceful and "angelic" as many others thought I was.

When the laughing turned down, I brushed myself off, suddenly remembering what I came to do, and sat up, brushing myself off. I slowly looked up to see Marcel standing over me, extending his hand to help pull me up. I was about to grab it when I remembered what he said to me and drew my hand back looking away.

He frowned. "Oh, c'mon… you're not mad at me, are you?"

I sighed and slowly stood up, but almost fell back, until Marcel held me steady. I turned and took a brief look at my friend, just to see if he was ready for today's new mission.

Marcelin Avery, or Marcel was one of my best friends and allies; we were partners. And many people say we look a lot like twins. We have the same blond hair, only his was slightly longer and darker. We both had bangs, however, but slightly different cuts. We had almost the same shade of skin color, except for the fact that he was a little tanner. And our eyes… well, okay, I'm wrong. Our eyes are totally different, in a way. His are like Faust's but a darker shade of ice blue with purple mixed in and his lashes were lighter, but eyes still stayed dark. I have azure aqua eyes with gold in them, so people can tell us apart just by looking into our eyes. Also by our height, by an inch; while he was 5"3, I was 5"2, and he was 16, while I was 15. And he was more serious. He was ready for battle however. He was wearing the same uniform as I was: the navy blue baggy cargos, the brown combat boots, the lighter blue turtleneck and the black vest. He lowered his shades.

"Are you loaded Mario?"

I nodded, touching my gun on my hip. He smiled. "Let's go, shall we?"

I sniggered.

"Led the way."

777

As we ran through the door, with the other officers along with us, I looked at Marcel curiously.

"How are we getting to the area?"

He kept his gaze focused. "Motorcycles."

I smiled. "Motorcycles."

Wait… MOTORCYCLES!

I froze, stunned from the shock. It was a shame I froze at the wrong time, because I was stepping through the air, and I slipped, falling forward and fell down the stairs, rolling down 20 steps. It hurt, it really did. I felt white-hot pains on my stomach and chest area, as well as my head, neck, and back… okay, so I hurt everywhere. I heard a brief shouting, and then I felt someone lift me up and run with me in his arms. I opened my tightly shut eyes to see that it was Marcel. He looked down at me with very concerned eyes.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded. When I told him that he could put me down, he smirked and set me down near the motorcycles.

As soon as I gathered myself together, Marcel started to snicker at me. "What?" I asked annoyed.

"You ARE a klutz!" he confirmed.

"Oh, shut up." I turned my attention towards the motorcycle and froze. To tell you the truth, I've never ridden one on my entire life. Well, I rode one with the Dead Enders, but I almost fell off. I needed to be with someone I trusted. And sadly, that person was Marcel.

"Marcel, can I ride with you?"

"Relax Mar. it's just like riding a bike. See?" he put his helmet on and ignored me.

He noticed that I didn't respond and he looked at me. "Mario?"

His eyes widened when he saw me look up withholding little tears in my eyes. I was stupid, but I felt insecure that my partner and friend felt that I was a little tag a long and that I needed to quit it. I wasn't trying to be a baby, but I was afraid. I was scared to do it. I needed protection… now. And it wasn't because of what I felt personally.

Something told me that I would need to ride with someone tonight.

That was what made me see ghosts, and sometimes they could merge with me. I am known as a Spirit Prophet, where I can sometimes receive visions and words of prophecy from spirits, as well as the Great Spirit himself. And I knew I had to follow my instinct. And these feelings that I were getting were strange…

… Something was about to happen.

I noticed at the last second that he drew me into his arms and hugged me. I closed my eyes, feeling him hug me. I still hurt, but when someone is there for you, it's always good to have these burdens shared. I felt him stroking my hair, and I hesitated, because we were both guys, but who cares? We weren't in love with each other or anything. We were just friends… really close friends.

"Hey, kiddo… sorry if I said those things to you before. Look, it's okay. You can ride with me. Alright?"

I nodded, and broke away, until he pulled me back to him and pressed his forehead against mines. I looked at him in wonder.

He simply smiled and broke away, after looking into my eyes after a while. I shook my head to myself. What did he-?

"You'll be safe with me, Dominique. I promise. I understand, now. Come," he beckoned to me, and throwing me a helmet.

I sighed and went behind him.

"Hold on tight."

I wrapped my arms around his waist and I clung to him like he was my last breath. He felt the tightness of how I was stuck to him and gave me a questioning look before shaking his head to himself and speeding down the street, with the others behind him.