(A/N)Sorry I haven't updated in awhile I am very easily distracted…ooh a fly*gets up and follows fly*

The sun was awake and in full bloom, laughing as it rose in the early hours of dawn, suspended in the cloudless sky.

The vast majority of Death City's residents were in a peaceful slumber, basking in the wonderful bliss of a lazy Friday morning. Lance Rodriguez however was not a part of that vast majority.

"Come on Lance get up!"Mark barked to his meister who refused to get up.

"Nooooo," Lance moaned."Just give me like two more hours, three tops."

"Veronica said to get you up right now."Mark said as he attempted to yank away the thin blanket Lance was using as a shield from the sunlight."Or else she'd come out here and get you up herself."

"No."Lance said, pulling the blanket tighter around himself.

"Do you want me to go get her?"Mark challenged."Don't think I won't."

Lance groaned as he reluctantly pulled the covers up, his pupils shrinking back into his irises as he adjusted to the light. Letting loose a weary yawn, Lance grabbed a shirt from his conveniently close wardrobe and lazily found his way into it as Mark impatiently tapped his foot.

"Where is little miss bossy anyway?"Lance asked, pulling up a pair of jeans over his boxers.

"Still in the shower," Mark replied.

"Ger, using all the hot water no doubt," Lance grumbled as he zipped up one of his numerous hoodies."What about you? You take your shower today?"

"Uh huh," Mark answered.

"Get behind your ears?"

"Yes."

"Brush your teeth?"

"Yes."Mark answered, irritated.

"Comb your hair?"Lance inquired.

"Um well no…."Mark confessed.

"Ha gotcha," Lance chortled, producing a comb from seemingly nowhere to straighten his own horrendously bed headed hair.

When he was fully dressed and as groomed as he could be with the bath room in use, Lance turned on some early morning cartoons for Mark and proceeded to make himself a bowl of Death-Os.

He really is everywhere isn't he? Lance pondered as he scooped another spoonful of the sugary skull shaped bits into his mouth. They're not even O shaped.

With that thought Veronica exited the bathroom, a towel draped around her torso and floppy red hair.

"Good morning."The two boys stated distractedly as they gazed in awe at the explosions being produced from the small TV.

Sliding into her room, Veronica dressed in her usual attire; red t-shirt, leather jacket, camo cargo pants, and knee high combat boots.

Returning to the main room she found the two boys still had their eyes glued to the TV. Walking up to it they attempted to position themselves in a better viewing position until she firmly pressed the off button to both of their dismay.

"Hey what gives?"Mark whined.

"Yeah we were watching that."Lance complained."You know it's not very polite to interrupt someone in the middle of their programming Ronnie."

"Shut it!"Veronica ordered, her demands immediately followed with silence.

"Unlike any other day, I can't allow you two to waste this one."Veronica said."We've only three days until school starts and plus now we have to duel that Black Star chap.

"We shouldn't be sitting down on our arses all day, we should be training extra hard."She exclaimed.

"Can't it wait until noon at least?"Lance practically begged.

Veronica simply crossed her arms, but it was enough for Lance to know all his efforts would be futile. Discouraged but still not ready to admit defeat Lance got up.

"You know you're probably right."Lance agreed.

"She is?"Mark said, dumbfounded at the lack of his meister's usual stubbornness.

"I am?"Veronica stated, also perplexed.

"Why of course you are, we always need to be at our best."Lance continued, failing to hide a mischievous smile."Let me just grab my coat…"

"Lance!"Veronica yelled, knowing something was amiss.

But it was too late he had already pulled one of his many devices from the pockets of his black overcoat, before she had the chance to stop him Lance threw a smoke bomb, momentarily clouding the entire room, giving him more than enough time to make his exodus through the missing doorway.

"Sorry Mark!"Lance yelled once he was safely out of reach of any sudden slashes.

"That bastard," Veronica hissed."As soon as he gets back I'm so going to throttle him."

Lance knew Veronica was more than likely going to throttle him the second he stepped foot back into the apartment but that was one risk he was going to have to take to ensure his own laziness, he hated to leave Mark to the beast though.

A few early risers were beginning to join Lance in the cobblestone streets, he checked his cell phone it read five fifty seven a.m. Veronica had honestly gotten him up before six o clock to do extra training of all things.

I can't believe I'm even up right now Lance thought with a groan. Nothing else to do but go for a walk I guess.

Lance was quite fond of going on walks, just him, his Ipod, and wherever his feet took him, preferably some place secluded where he could ponder the things going on around him in peace. Having to deal with the people he had yet to make an act for always made him uneasy which ruined the whole walking experience for him.

His feet soon led him to the most secluded place they could find, the desert.

Hmm. Lance thought slightly amused.A zen walk in the desert huh? God that just sounds lame doesn't it? Like something an aging hippie would write a song about, probably have at some point I'm sure, I should look that up when I get home, after fending off the inevitable sword attack of course.

Thinking of his rapier Lance couldn't help but smile, she was his foil as well as his same. He knew that if it wasn't for her ambition he wouldn't take soul gathering so seriously, he wasn't a man of ambition. He preferred to just let things run their course and hope for the best. Ha cause that's worked out so far.

Veronica on the other hand liked to guide her life how she saw fit, his life too now. She only had two concerns keeping her little brother safe and becoming a death scythe, not a very original goal Lance loved to point out but a goal none the less and she worked devilishly to achieve it or, more accurately, she worked him devilishly to achieve it.

Lance was just happy to have something to do and someone to do it with, he hadn't had a real long term goal in over five years and those were just childish fantasies of becoming a legendary meister like his mother.

He sighed at the thought of his mother, sailing on the stream of consciousness were always risky tides, you could only go the path your mind took you on and sometimes it takes you were you don't want to go.

Knowing this, he looked around desperately for something to distract him from those painful memories he'd rather not delve into but alas there was only sand, not the most captivating thing in the world is it? Lance thought.

Well damn, at least I'm alone.

It was around noon when Felix pulled himself from his comfy new bed, hazy eyed he made his way to the shower, relishing in the soothing warmth. He washed at his leisure, just absorbing the hot liquid as it soaked his entire body.

Grabbing a soft towel off a nearby rake, he set about drying himself and his wavy blonde hair.

Still sleepy despite the shower Felix prepared his breakfast, he found Trish in the front room watching some reality TV show.

"Morning sleepy head," She teased, almost pleasantly.

"You seem to be in a good mood."Felix noted.

"Ah well."Trish said."It's just nice to be in one place for a little while, you know?"

"Yeah I get what you mean."Felix yawned in agreement. He too was taking solace at the fact that they didn't immediately have to pack up their bags like they normally would have after a good night's sleep.

"It's been so long since I was in school. I wonder how it's going to be?"Trish asked.

"Are you sure two years counts as a long time?"Felix mused."I'm sure we'll be fine, I'm an awesome meister and you're an awesome weapon, what could go wrong?"

"I'm sure with you anything that could go wrong will."Trish snorted in good humor.

"Now you're just motivating me to screw up."Felix laughed wearily, sliding an arm around Trish on the couch.

Anyone who didn't know the two well enough would be deeply confused by the sudden transition to fighting to peacefully relaxing the two constantly went through on a daily bases.

After a few hours of watching TV Trish left to check out the nearest supermall and Felix left a half an hour late in an attempt to suppress the overwhelming boredom that now bombarded him.

Dressing in his usual blue jeans and light blue long sleeve shirt combo, he sauntered through the streets of Death City at a slow and steady pace, taking in the city he had been to only twice before.

The first time had been when he and Trish where first partnered up and sent to track as many kishen souls as they could get, the second time was when said souls were confiscated from them for failure to collect the soul of a witch.

I wonder what Lord Death does with all the confiscated souls. Felix wondered, rubbing his chin.

He soon found his destination, a small street corner coffee shop expectantly named DeathBucks. It looked like what you'd expect it to look like, like any other coffee shop. Surprisingly crowded for the size and the location of the place, Felix found himself at the end of a three person line.

As the line dwindled down to him he took notice of the clerk, gazing up at the clerk, clad in her DeathBucks uniform, her raven black hair hung neatly on her shoulders clashing completely with her pale porcelain skin.

"May I take your order?"She asked, staring at him with large midnight blue eyes.

"Mocha frappuccino please," Felix said casually scanning her name tag, Kylanna; she looked around his age maybe just a little older, perhaps she was a fellow student.

"You wouldn't happen to be a student at the DWMA would you."Felix asked as she retrieved his order.

"As a matter of fact I am."She nodded, smiling."Kylanna Tenebrae, one star meister of class full moon, but you can call me Kyla."She smiled handing him his drink.

"Thanks, Felix Dodds, one star trident meister, class crescent moon."He said extending his free hand, which she took without hesitation."Nice to meet you,"

"Same here, I'm partners with my brother Tom by the way."She added as if it had almost slipped her mind.

"Older or younger?"

"Twin actually."

"No way," Felix said in disbelief.

"Very much way," Kyla affirmed.

"Hey since you're in class crescent moon. I was wondering if you knew who that guy is?"She asked indicating a boy of his age in a corner table, his glasses hanging on his nose as he peered down to read a book.

It took Felix a second to recognize his fellow experimental traveler student.

"Yeah that's Lance."Felix answered."He and I are both new students."

"Oh."Kyla said."Is he your weapon partner then?"

"No he's a meister too."

"Well he just came in here ordered chocolate milk and sat in that corner."Kyla explained."Barely said two sentences."

"Yeah, he was pretty quiet the first time me and Trish, my weapon partner, met him."Felix told her, recounting the event in his mind.

"You should try and talk to him."Kyla said."Besides you're holding the line."

Turning around, Felix saw one surprisingly patient person standing directly behind him in line.

"What can I get for ya Killik, the usual?"He heard Kyla say as he made his way to Lance

Felix didn't really know why he was going to talk to Lance. If he wanted to be left alone let him be alone, he thought. But still he found himself pooling a seat from the table Lance sat on, causing the meister to look up.

"Hello Felix."Lance said his face a mask of total indifference."Long time no see."

"Yeah it's been awhile."Felix said desperately looking for a conversation starter."So…How long you been here?"

"Just a day," Lance stated turning a page in his book.

Crap I'm losing his attention. Felix thought franticly.

"So… did you ever find a good weapon partner?"

"Yes two in fact."He said without taking his eyes away from his book.

"Oh and how are they?"Felix asked desperately.

"Just fine."

Silence, except for the occasional page turn, overtook the table as Felix searched for an invigorating topic, finding none.

"So…"

Sighing, Lance shut his book, pushing his glasses up, "can I help you with something Felix? Is there something you want?"

"No not really."Felix shrugged.

"Then why do you persist on annoying me with your pointless attempts on breaking the metaphorical ice?"Lance asked bluntly.

"I…well…um."Felix stammered.

Just as Felix was about to give up from the corner of his eye he saw Kyla approach their table.

"Hello Kyla."Felix greeted."What are you doing here?"

"It's my break."She stated as she entered the third seat at the table."I was going to go grab a bite to eat, but this seems much more interesting."

"Hello I'm Kyla."She said turning her attention now to Lance."And you are?"

"Lance."He murmured, suddenly finding the floor more captivating than anything, even his book.

"Aw you're shy aren't you? That's okay. You don't have to talk to us if you don't want to."

Something between relief and irritation spread across Lance's face as her words hit home.

Sighing heavily, he gave her a long, cool, calculating look before attempting a nervous smile.

"Um…"Was all he managed.

Felix was completely dumbfounded by this. He couldn't have been more dismissive with him but yet he was willing to talk to Kyla?

"So you two are both new students, are there anymore of you coming?"Kyla asked casually

Felix and Lance stared fearfully at one another before shivering in unison.

"Josilyn," They breathed.

"Whose Josilyn?"Kyla asked quizzically."And why does she get that reaction?"

"Josilyn," Lance muttered, daring to speak."Is the single most frightening individual on the face of the planet."

"Mmhmm."Felix agreed."That piercing gaze…"

"Wow you guys are completely serious aren't you?"

"Deadly serious," Lance confirmed."I only met her once, but that was enough for me to never want to do it again."

"Well at least it got you to talk."Kyla noted.

"Ha it did, didn't it?"Felix proclaimed victoriously.

"You must feel so fulfilled."Lance snickered, rolling his eyes.

Standing up now, he picked up his book and tucked it into his black overcoat.

"As much as I would like to stay and chat-"Lance began.

"You don't have to lie, if you feel uncomfortable around us we'll let you leave." Kyla said in a sweet tone.

"No really it's not that. I just have to go, I have a really angry sword awaiting my arrival."Lance stated apologetically.

"Well don't leave her waiting."She said.

"I never said it was a she."Lance said, confused

"A woman just knows these things."Kyla explained.

"I'll take your word for it."Lance smiled before leaving.

"Well he seemed nice."Kyla stated as they watched him leave.

"Yeah, to you maybe," Felix snorted.

"I have to get back to work soon."Kyla sighed, checking the time on her watch.

"Yeah I have to leave now too."Felix added.

"Thanks for providing a few interesting moments Felix," Kyla said, patting him on the back.

"You're very much welcome Kyla."Felix responded in turn before making his way for the door.

I wonder if Trish's day was anything like this.