"S-siblings?" Maka stared. She looked in between Melly and Black Star hurriedly, trying to see any physical evidence that they could be related. But other than the color of their skin and the fact that they both could be completely random, there were no similarities. Melly had white hair, similar to Soul's, and crimson red eyes. Black Star, however, had blue hair that spiked in every different direction and eyes that were a slightly darker shade of blue-green.

"To be technical, we're foster siblings. Sid-sensei raised us both," Melly said with a bright smile. Maka stared in shock at the young witch and wondered how Sid had ever raised two people who were as rowdy as Black Star was and Melly seemed to be.

"What are you doing here, Melly?" Black Star growled at the girl who stood across the dais from him. Again, Maka wondered about the relationship between the two 'siblings'. Black Star looked to have true animosity directed at Melly and she wondered what the girl had done to receive so much treatment from her brother figure.

The girl shrugged his question off as though it didn't really matter whether she answered him or not. "Shinigami-sama asked me here to teach and lead an investigation," she stated bluntly. Obviously, Black Star didn't believe her with his next reaction.

He snorted his disbelief and huffed. "Yeah, right! Shinigami may let you stay in Death City but there is no way he'd allow you to teach in Shibusen, Mellody," the blue haired ninja declared adamantly. It was quiet for a moment after his self-assured statement before Shinigami cleared his throat, breaking the silence. Black Star turned to the god with bugged eyes. He again could not believe this turn of events. His face contorted into one of unpleasantness. "You didn't," he groaned at the powerful deity.

It was another quiet moment when Black Star fainted and fell to the ground in a daze. Melly sighed at her brother's melodramatics and took into serious thought how she had been able to stand his obnoxious behavior for so many years. She watched with mild interest as his weapon partner ran over to his side to tend to him in his unconscious state.

"Black Star!" the girl called out worriedly as she kneeled down next to the boy and placed his head in her lap. She pulled a fan out from where it had been tucked into one of her thigh high stockings. She then proceeded to fan him with the fan that had the kanji for revive painted on it in a valiant attempt to rejuvenate him into wakefulness.

Melly shook her head in disappointment, realizing that the boy before her would never change his theatrics and remain as child like as always. Looking over at her werewolf companion and noticing the textbooks tucked under his left arm, she remembered why she had come to the Death Room in the first place, Melly spoke up to inform her employer of her request.

"Uh...Shinigami-sama," she started. When she had his undivided attention, she continued. "I'd like to get new books for my class. The ones that were previously assigned are inaccurate besides being in vast need of repair. I was wondering if the school could finance me in procuring the tomes more suited for my teaching methods and that contain the correct facts."

"Hoho! Already getting to it I see. I'm glad I chose you for this position, Mellody," Shinigami said, bobbing around in place like a slinky, and she could only imagine that he was smiling with pride behind his mask. "I'll let you get the books you require. When do you think you will have them by?"

"If I go ahead and order them tonight they can be here within the week," Melly stated. "In the meantime, I'll teach them on the facts that I know and hands on learning where it can be done."

"That sounds like a great plan, Melly," Shinigami bobbed his head in agreement of his comment. "I expect to see your students more thoroughly prepared for their field experience with you teaching them."

"Thank you, sir."

With the affirmative from Shinigami to get the new books, Melly felt accomplished for the day and was looking forward to getting home, placing her order for the required books, and sleeping. She trotted back down the long hallway of guillotines and Jim followed close behind her at a fast walk as his longer stride allowed. The hallways were still empty with an echoing silence as the duo padded across the marble floors.

Melly stretched with a yawn as the double doors closed behind her with a contradictory silent bang. "Jim, it's your turn to cook dinner," she said as they began the walk down the numerous steps leading away from Shibusen and towards the city with her hands tucked behind her head.

Jim grunted in reply as they entered into the streets of Death City.

After a few moments of silence, Jim finally spoke up. "I don't see why you don't just fly home. It would be much quicker," the werewolf grumbled.

Melly stopped and turned to look back at her canine-shifting companion, her hands remaining behind her head. She held his ice blue stare with a bored red one, a staring contest ensuing between the two unlikely roommates. Finally, Jim looked away in defeat a mix between a frown and a pout appearing on his face. Melly smiled to herself slightly before turning back to the street and continuing her walk home after her long day at work.

"I'm walking because I enjoy feeling normal from time to time," she explained. "Just because I have the power to do something doesn't mean that it is always necessary to use my power just to make life easier on me, no matter how much I'm tempted. Haven't you ever heard the phrase that with great power comes great responsibility?" she looked at him for a brief moment wondering if he understood her words before turning back when he remained stoic. "Or something like that," she finished unnecessarily.

Jim stared at her back as the young witch continued the walk quietly. He often wondered how he ended up with such a strange partner. This was one of those moments.

It was almost twilight by the time they reached the edge of the forest that was located on the edge of Death City. Melly inhaled deeply the scents of the forest, welcoming the scents of home. Moss, wet soil, the trees and leaves, and a faint trace of honeysuckle. All the scents filled her up as she closed her eyes and her mind brought her back to the first time she had come here.

(Flashback)

"Black Star! Hurry up!" at nine years Melly had no fear as she yelled back at her ego-maniac foster brother.

"One such as me who surpasses god has no need to hurry," the blue haired ten year old yelled back in reply as he trudged slowly up the hill. He could go faster if he wanted to but Melly had been the one to drag them out on this field trip when he could be at home training to become to the new god of this world and one day surpass Shinigami.

Melly stuck her lip out in a pout before the frown turned quickly into an excited smile and continuing up the hill. The silver bangles on her wrists and ankles jingled as she hopped up the hill in playful excitement. At least he would always know where his little sister would be with those bangles that Sid-sensei had given her when she started her training. Some things in life were extremely useful.

I hope he enjoys it, Melly thought to herself as she reached the top of the hill and turned to look back down to watch Black Star walk lazily up the dirt trail. He seemed to be taking his sweet time.

After ten minutes of waiting, the ten year old finally reached the top and the young girl smiled at him happily, unperturbed for him making her wait for him, before running off again, giggling. Black Star heaved a sigh before following after his younger partner in crime once more.

Melly led him into a part of the forest that had seemed to be calling to her. A small brook flowed at one end of the tree shrouded clearing, the water flowing from one of the ancient oaks. The ground was soft and fluffy underfoot, covered by a vast patch of dark green grass and growing moss. A willow tree was rooted in a corner of the clearing and small white flowers hung in the hanging drapes of leaves like flowers in a girl's hair.

As the girl stared around the clearing in awe, Black Star caught up for the second time. He watched as his little sister seemed to become the center of the surrounding plants and greenery. Before anything had happened she seemed to glow, as though the plants were welcoming her into their own personal fold and asking her to stay with them to play.

"Why did you drag me out here, Melly?" the bored looking ninja asked. He may have looked bored but inside he was just now realizing how beautiful his little sister was once she was in a natural element like this.

Melly looked at her brother with a sweet smile. "You know I'm a witch right?" she started. Of course he knew, how could he not? She spent half of her lessons and his throwing things at him at high speeds to see how quickly he could dodge her attacks. Whenever Sid-sensei caught them they would always say it was training for when he became an awesome meister at the DWMA. When he nodded she continued. "Well, Shinigami-sama asked me to use my magic to help keep this forest healthy. This is my first time here and I wanted you to see my first performance. You've never seen me perform before," she finished with a statement.

"But, Melly, doesn't your magic involve music, not plants?" the boy asked.

The witch smiled at him mischievously. "Just watch, silly. You'll be surprised," she said turning back to face the trees.

Melly closed her eyes and lifted her arms above her head. Strands of her white hair brushed and tickled the skin of her arms but she ignored it crossed her wrists in front of each other. Breathing deeply, she whispered into the wind that brushed through the clearing, "Muse music musical muse."

Her bangles chimed once without her moving before she slowly began to move her arms to where the bangles on her wrists chimed a sweet tune. Then she began to turn in circles, balancing on the balls of her feet and moving her anklets to make a matching tune to the ones on her wrists. Her movements slowly turned into an elegant dance and as she danced, bangles chiming, Black Star watched the plants surrounding his little sister begin to glow lightly. He watched in amazement as the plants seemed to take power from the music in the air that was produced by his sister's movements. He turned his attention back to the show and smiled in amazement at his little sister's talent.

Her dance slowly came to an end and Melly stumbled a bit when she stopped moving. A wave of vertigo washed over her and she thought she would end up falling on her face, but someone wrapped warm, muscular arms around her waist to keep Melly's face from becoming well acquainted with the mossy ground.

Melly looked up into the blue-green eyes of her brother with an exhausted smile. "So? What do you think?" she asked. A slight shade of pink covered her cheeks from exertion as she panted to catch her breath.

Black Star nodded in approval and helped her to stand up straight. "We should get back soon before Sid-san gets worried," Black Star said.

Melly nodded and smiled as her brother led her away from the forest, her hand held tightly in his. Protected.

(End Flashback)

Melly opened her crimson eyes and smiled at the sweet memories. She couldn't ask for a better childhood than the one she had, given the circumstances of who she was. She could only imagine the life she could have had if she had been raised by other witches or had simply grown up alone and on her own. The thought scared her and she felt a cold shiver run down her spine but shook it off.

It was quiet again. The birds didn't sing and the crickets didn't chirp. It was almost eerie and Melly knew something was not right in her forest. Then, she heard Jim growl softly.

The witch stopped and looked back at the werewolf and saw him glaring at the edge of the trees along the path they were taking back to their cottage. Following his gaze and looking forward, it took a second to realize who it was that was intruding but then Melly's eyes narrowed when she discerned who was treading on the land she was charged to protect.

"I should have known you were one of those souls I felt," Melly smirked at her own stupidity. "It's been a while, eh, Medusa-chan?"

The blonde woman smiled a snaky smile at the girl in return.