The day after was spent planning the meeting, and eventually it was decided that the four of them would meet Death at the academy the next day. Death prepared a decently sized round table that would keep his wife and Angel out of reaching distance from one another, and a set of four rather large chairs that Life had provided last time she visited.
Death expected his counterpart to come around an hour and a half earlier than the actual meeting, since she didn't have a realm to travel through, and since it had been several years since they last time they had had a chance to talk.
She arrived right on time.
Life was a large, rounded woman with skin like roasted coffee beans that had vitiligo of a lighter brown in the patterns of rivers and lakes. She kept her hair natural, but close to her scalp so that she didn't have to bother with it too much. Her eyes shone like rich soil. She was wearing a simple white, sleeveless, modern style tunic with a brown hemp belt tied at her waist. Under the tapered floaty bottom of the tunic was a pair of black yoga pants and some sneakers.
"Hello darling." she said, her voice fruity. The two of them embraced, and then sat down for tea.
"So how's Iceland?" Death asked as Life put a square of sugar into her tea. "It's lovely, nice and remote but not too far away from people. It's good for management."
"That's great! How are the kids doing?"
"Pretty well, Magnolia had a time of herself trying to establish a place Australia but she powered through it as I expected her to. The other's are fine as you know, I see Terra warned you of the Demon Sword Meister in Europe."
"Yes, it was fortunate that she caught onto that, thank you."
"Well you're only in America, we have to keep tabs on the Demon weapons and possible Meisters somehow. It's not as if they only develop within the barrier of your soul." she giggled. Death laughed in agreement.
"Now." she said, taking on a more serious tone and putting down her teacup. "How are your children doing?"
"Asura is now dead, as I'm sure you know, and Akira will be fine."
"And your wife's child Rowan?"
"She's… somewhere."
"She won't go far I'm sure." she said solemnly.
Once the two of them finished their conversation and their tea Death took Life on a tour of the campus, talking about how students have progressed, and the rebuilding going on after the fight with Asura. When they got back to the Death Room a jet skinned woman in a Royal blue velvet gown was in the room. The dress was cut and styled like something from the early renaissance period, but with a single, loose skirt instead of the fullness that it would have been at the time. It had a low scooped back and boat shaped neckline, the edges embroidered in a small strand of gold vines that went down from the middle of the neckline and stopped where the waist began. Around her waist was a real gold vine. The skirt was short enough to show the pointed toes of the black leather boots she wore. Her curly crimson hair was braided into a double dutch bun at the nape of her neck, keeping it out of her face. On top of her head was a coronet made of gold with inlays of small glittering opals that matched her eyes. Around her neck on a short pearl beaded chain was a black on white cameo of a blackthorn tree. She was the picture of elegant and respectable royalty.
"Lady Memoria Patisaecula Liberalis, you are looking well," said her husband in joking formality as he bowed. Memoria snorted and stood up from her chair, going to kiss his cheek. Life took a sudden interest in the hem of her shirt.
"It's nice to see you again too," Memoria cooed.
Just then the room filled with the electricity of magic, and there was a sharp cracking sound as another man stepped through a newly made hole in the fabric of the air. He was a toned, rectangular man, the shortest of the group by far but he made up for it slightly through the white patent-leather, chunky heeled platform boots. His pants were bellbottom white PVC, with golden zippered flares that had to open mid-calf to make room for the leg of his boots. His shirt was a white linen plunging v-neck with billowing sleeves that had wrist hugging cuffs. Over that was a white leather vest with gold studs across the shoulders. His ash-blonde hair was slicked back, showing his cold brown eyes, the darkest thing he had against his pale skin.
"Hello Death," he said, inclining his head, "Life," he paused, he and Memoria exchanging frosty looks, "Demon." Angel said slowly.
"Nice of you to show." she replied icily.
"Well then-" Death said quickly stepping between the two, "Why don't we all sit down and get this meeting started?"
"And why is it we're having a meeting again?" Angel asked sourly, pulling out a chair.
"Because one of your angels nearly killed his son." Memoria shot back.
"I had no involvement in that." he said dismissively, with a passive wave of his hand.
Demon clenched her jaw a judged the diameter of the table. Death was glad he made sure there was an extra two feet over her lunging capabilities, even if she managed to slide using that dress of hers.
"I believe that you may want to question your court in order to get to the bottom of what happened." Death said sternly after the long pause.
"Well if I could just question the angel that did it surely I will be able to get to the bottom of it."
"Considering your position I suggest that you do not be so snarky young man." Life scolded.
"Well, when will I be able to question the offender?"
"You can't. She's dead." Death replied.
"Oh." he said, feigning shock sarcastically. "And who is responsible for this development?"
"We don't know. She disappeared when I got there."
"Interestingly convenient." Angel muttered. "And you didn't bother to find the killer before summoning me?"
"I'm sure you're search will glean adequate information, or are you doubting the capability of your court, Erek?" Memoria challenged. Erek bristled.
"I can look into it for myself perfectly fine." he growled.