The next day, Umbra was teaching his class about the dangers of alchemy when Medusa walked in. From her expression, and the fact that she had to hide behind the door when Spirit entered told him everything.

"Spirit, you're bothering my class. Don't you have something to do? I'm sure whatever you're looking for isn't here. Unless that is the students in my class that are of the female variety."

Spirit's face turned red for a moment when he saw how many people were looking at him, "Sorry Professor Ouroboros."

Medusa relaxed a bit, only to realize that everyone was watching her now and their teacher was nowhere in sight. Some of the students were whispering amongst themselves while others turned their eyes to the three pots in the middle of the room.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" Umbra asked.

"I would appreciate knowing where you are." She looked around, but there was no trace.

"Oh, that's right. Did you forget that I'm a demon pot?"

She shook her head, "No, I was just nervous about Spirit following me."

"I doubt that, you looked like you were about to kill him if he didn't stop following you." Umbra chuckled and explained, "Don't worry, you aren't the first. That is the same look his wife gets when he does this. I don't know how she finds him so well, something about sensing his soul."

"She can sense souls?"

"Yes, she told me that I have one, imagine that?" Some of the students laughed. "She also went on to say that my soul is a bit unstable. I took it as a compliment as it's difficult not to get a little shaken when something blows up. Isn't that right class?"

Several more of the students chuckled while others looked away in embarassment. Mostly due to failed projects and experiments.

"All that is facinating, but I would like to know which pot is you."

"I'm right beside you."

Medusa almost jumped back, as if ready for a fight, when she realized the pot sitting beside the door. She had passed by so quickly that she failed to notice Umbra there.

"My, Spirit has you quite jumpy."

"This acadamy is full of surprises, most which I haven't become accustomed to yet."

"You wouldn't be the first. The first time I saw Shinigami, I nearly laughed myself to jelly. If you ever see me do so, please, do me a favor and kick the pot."

"I was under the assumption that the term was 'kick the bucket'."

"Well, I have a love for living and I'm not a demon bucket, as you can plainly see. And if I hear any rumors saying otherwise, there will be double the amount of homework!" Almost a quarter of the class ducked their heads. "Triple for those who start them. I may not have eyes right now, but I can hear like the best of them!"

"A useful trait, I'm sure."

"Not really, my ears are still ringing from yesterdays explosion. Hold on a second." The pot slowly began to overfill from an unseen source. The way it flowed gave it the appearance of liquid crystal, slowlying flowing over and taking the form of the alchemy professor. As for the pot itself, it too changed shape into that of a heavy gauntlet, made of the same black iron. He had only transformed half-way, which was why it was still visable.

Umbra was only mildly surprised when Medusa didn't have the usual reaction to his tranformation. Most people, even some weapons, were awed by it. Hers was calm, as always.

"Alright everyone, I've taken up enough of your time. Class dismissed! Now, time for some training. Would you like to come with me, Medusa?"

"What sort of training do you do?" she asked.

"Because my body shifts with my emotions, I have to train hard to keep up my strength. Actually, I'm the best sparring partner here because I'm so hard to break."

"I'll come with you. I would like to see you fight and you might need my assistance."

"I find that hard to believe, but I won't stand in your way."

The glint in her eye nearly turned his spine to ice. It was if she was telling him that he was in his proper place, beneath her.

In the training hall, Umbra had one of the students wield him, allowing him to seperate from his pot. This was one of the only uses he had for a meister anymore. While they took care of his body, a part of his soul wavelength could exist seperate from his body. In fact, that was the only thing keeping him solid.

As he sparred with the students, he proved to be quite flexible in his actions as he gave each of them a workout to remember. Those who were able to hit him had him bounce back like he was made of rubber. After an hour, at least half of the students in the room had been thrown to the floor.

It was only until a young man named Sid came at him hard and tossed Umbra over his shoulders. The professor came down hard enough to nearly lose his form. Medusa, who had been watching the whole time, was quick to come to his aid. He waved her off, telling her that this was just another part of his work.

He got up and prepared himself for the second attempt. As Sid tried again, Umbra shifted his weight so that the two were falling over. After pulling Sid off his balance, a well-placed foot sent him flying over Umbra's head.

"As you can see, any move has a counter. If you can control your momentum and shift at the right moment, the opponent puts themself at risk for a counterattack. Also, don't repeat yourself. Nothing is more dangerous to yourself than being predictable. Alright, Sid, attack me this time."

Sid was quick, aiming to kick Umbra's legs out from under him, but the professor knew what he was thinking. He quickly jumped, letting Sid's leg pass harmlessly beneath him, and nearly stomped on the youth's head. It was only a split-second shift that his foot missed, and instead landed on the young man's hand.

"With quick wits and quicker reation times and your opponent puts themself in striking distance." Before Umbra could say any more, a medicine ball flattened him.

"And that's why you don't turn your back on a potential opponent!"

"That is very true, Nygus." Umbra melted and reformed. He was hunched over now, for he had been quite solid when he took the hit. Nygus helped Sid back to his feet and Medusa tended to his hand. As for Umbra, he was already flowing back into his pot.

"As skilled as I am, I have to give you credit for the surprise attack, Nygus. And Sid, you did well too, but you can do better. Damn, I'm going to be feeling that tomarrow." Umbra quivered in his pot before turning back into his human form. "Well, I'm finished for the day, so carry on."

"Sorry Professor Ouroboros!" Nygus called.

Umbra didn't give a responce, he just waved his hand as he exited the room. The only reason Medusa wasn't following him was because she still had to make sure that Sid's hand wasn't broken. And the professor was only sore, he had no true injuries.

Outside, the day was warm and Umbra was able to bask in the sun's light in his pot. Even when in weapon form, he still had feeling in his body, so this was a pleasant experience. But the pain wasn't leaving him quickly enough. For a man of nearly fourty years, he was feeling age creep up on him before its time. He needed a break from the chemicals and explosions, having to cleanup all the time was killing him.

"Umbra Ouroboros," a voice called as a woman came into view.

He recognized her immediately, but he didn't make any sudden movements. He slowly slipped out of his pot and transformed it into a gauntlet. "You shouldn't be here. You know there is someone who can sense your soul."

The woman's face didn't show any expression, "I know, but don't forget that I can go unnoticed, just as you can."

Umbra removed a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, "Not true, you know you'll be found out sooner or later."

"You will be discoveres as well! How long do you think you can hide here?"

"For as long as I can. But I don't need you telling when it is time to leave! Dark Needle!" He stomped his foot and a spike ripped out of the ground. It stopped just as it was about to pierce the woman's neck. "Did you forget who I am?"

"I haven't, but have you?" Her expresion still showed no signs of changing.

Umbra's hand began to twitch, "You would dare ask me if I have forgotten who I am?" Another spike emerged behind the woman, poking her in the back and slowly pushing her into the first. A trickle of blood dripped down the spike's length.

But there was no fear in her eyes as she spoke, "How long have you been here, pretending to be one of them?"

"As long as they don't know who I truly am, I don't have to pretend anything! I show them who I was before you came into my life!" He took a long and hard pull on his cigarette, hoping that the twitch in his hand would fade.

"But who are you then, besides a rusty old alchemy pot?"

"Professor Ouroboros, are you here? Who are you talking to?"

Umbra nearly bit the end off his cigarette when he heard Spirit calling. When he looked back, the woman was gone, more blood dripping off the tips of the spikes. He had the blood contained in a vial and banished the spikes.

Spirit ran up and had a look around, "Hey, I thought I heard someone."

"Just an old friend. Never could leave me alone."

"Oh, is that so? An old girlfriend perhaps?" Spirit had a sly look on his face, it was easy to see where this was going.

Umbra shook his head, "She was more like a younger sister. I'll introduce her next time she comes by."

A look of interest appeared on Spirit's face, only to fade just as fast, "Sorry, I'll have to pass on that. For someone of your age, they'd probably over the hill like you."

"Hey, I'm only 38." Umbra lit himself a smoke after casting off the old one.

"That's nearly twice my age. I don't have much interest in women who are old enough to be my mother."

Umbra wasn't going to argue. Then something caught his eye. He didn't see it at first, but he felt something. Cold eyes were watching him and it was causing his hand to twitch under his gauntlet. It was fortunate that Spirit wasn't paying attention.

"Well, I'm going home. I'll see you tomarrow, Spirit."

Spirit waved goodbye and left to meet up with his wife.

By the time Umbra got back to his laboratory, he had gone through a whole pack of smokes. He was on his last one before the twitching in his hand stopped.

"Why, why now? It's been ten years since I killed you!" he slammed his fist into the wall. Even without his gauntlet, he left a large crack. He put his back to it and slipped to the floor. As feelings buried long ago started to rise, he began to laugh to himself.

It didn't matter why, it just felt so good to let loose.