AN: Based on a chat a very long time ago. I know this isn't as… refined as I usually am. But this is one of the most amusing to me.

Faust smiled as he approached the graveyard, craning his neck just slightly to see the figures sitting on the inside of the gate.

Were they… children?

And one of them about… five if he guessed right.

They must have been… after all there was no other reason for them to be there –especially in the rain as they were.

Because a graveyard is not the best of playgrounds –especially compared to the fine one he passed on his way from the hotel.

If this was not his opponent, perhaps he should direct them that way.

He smiled down to Frankensteiny, "Why don't you sit here while I make sure this is them?" He chuckled lightly, taking another look at them, "If it is, after all, I should say hello before beating them down."

Franky yipped before sitting down obediently next to where the scythe had been placed.

Faust nodded and re-adjusted the briefcase in his hand before walking down the steps to the cemetery. He smirked as he listened to them whine about the rain –the wait –as all children do. Talking about someone named 'Anna'.

The more he heard, the more sure he became that one of them was indeed his opponent.

He hoped he didn't disappoint them too much as to who they were expecting as he took a final, loud step to get their attention.

"There you are… Anna, where have you…." The older of the two children stopped dead as their eyes drifted up to his face.

Faust raised a hand welcomingly, "Guten tag."

They continued to stare at him blankly, making Faust's smile become slightly more nervous.

"Asakura Yoh?" he asked hopefully.

The older one nodded, "… Yeah, that's right. And you must be…"

Faust grinned and tipped his hat in greeting, "A pleasure to meet you… I'm your opponent, Faust VIII." He opened his eyes to look them over as he chuckled, "I hope you'll go easy on me."

Not that he needed it of course… this 'Yoh' could only be about… 14 at best. So, there could be nothing of the challenge that the last one had.

Though… it was best not to think of the disrespect Eliza suffered during the last match. It simply made him too mad that his opponent was allowed to die in the hospital of her injuries rather than on the ground at his hand.

But… that was in the past. Now, all he had before him was what was going to be a ten-minute match at most.

Yoh blinked, standing quickly. "Uh…." He smiled nervously, "… Nice to meet you too."

Faust looked him over as he sensed the nerves. It must have been threatening to come across a real opponent for apparently the first time…

This was strange, because the boy hadn't even seen his over-soul yet. Any of them.

Faust decided to laugh cheerily to ease the pressure, "Don't worry, I'm actually quite relieved. I was afraid you'd be some sort of walking horror…"

As his last one had turned out to be… He placed a hand on Eliza's head lightly to shield her from the thought of it.

Don't focus…

The started speaking between themselves, a comment drifting over about how unmanly he looked. His eyebrows came together just slightly at that, but he decided not to make it an issue.

"Do not trust him, Lord Yoh," some previously unheard snarled.

Faust looked up as what must have been this boy's ally came out of nowhere. A samurai reaching for his sword and glaring fiercely into Faust's eyes. The two stared each other down for a moment before the spirit continued.

"I smell it… this one reeks of death."

Faust narrowed his eyes before shaking his head innocently, "I don't understand what you could be talking about. I most certainly do not."

"I've spilled rivers of blood… you cannot deceive me…"

Faust scoffed, "I couldn't… she does not smell of death…. Well…" He smiled nervously for a second, "The smell of death is there, of course, but… it is not all that over-powering… You can still smell her perfume and her shampoo…" He smiled to himself as he took a deep breath and imagined he was taking her in.

"And, besides…. That smell wouldn't have gone to me, even… I mean, it was only a fifteen minute thing before I left to steady my nerves…" The smirk broadened, "And a half hour a while before that…. And an hour early this morning…" He practically giggled as he remembered that one, running his fingers on where Eliza's skull lay against his breast.

When he looked over, the three were staring at him in shear horror.

He hesitated before letting his mouth twitch up nervously, "… Or did you mean something else?"

The samurai took a moment to collect himself again, "I… uh… meant to say that you're a murderer…"

Faust paused for a long while as he processed this. Finally, he realized what he'd done, "…Oh…. Oh!" He laughed nervously, "Well, you are mistaken… you see, I used to be a doctor, and over enough time, you touch a lot of death in that profession…"

The tiny child looked away and muttered, "Yeah, apparently."

Faust sighed internally –he should have kept his mouth shut. Well, there was no going back.

"I should explain myself, shouldn't I?" He said, snapping his fingers to call Frankensteiny over as he threw off his coat and hat. "Meet Eliza, my beautiful partner."

He gazed at her lovingly for a moment as they hissed something to each other.

Faust smiled brightly to her, "Believe me… were you old enough, you would not be able to resist her either."

He leaned close to coo to Eliza as he brought her from her slumber, "Don't worry, liebe… this won't take long. And then, we can be together again."

He looked back to the group, noting that the midget had run off, and frowned.

He couldn't let such a wonderful specimen run away before he had a chance to examine him just a little.

Faust took a quick peek at his pager and smirked –fifteen minutes was plenty of time to be in and out.

As long, of course, as he wasn't interrupted.