For nearly two weeks, Umbra's condition had to be watched while he slept in the dispencery. His body had expended a lot of itself in making both the gas and the healing application and needed more time. The fact that he had to process the pure alchohol in his system didn't do him any good towards his recovery. The students were still recovering too, for they had lost a lot of blood before they were brought in. But the patches Umbra had created from himself were working just fine. Not a peep had been heard from them since they woke. Sid was alright too and had recovered rather quickly.

Then, for the third time today, Medusa was distracted by the sounds of a muffled chuckle. She calmly walked over to the door and took a peek outside. Nobody was around, a good sign. She quickly learned that Umbra was almost perfectly timed to someone's arrival. But then she remembered that today was a weekend, and most of the students and teachers were off at home or enjoying the warm sunshine.

But she kept herself ready for the red-haired Deathscythe, for he had a habit of appearing whenever she wasn't looking. Although he was usually found close to Shinigami, she was almost hopeful that he wasn't here.

Umbra's hand was twitching when Medusa returned to examine his condition. It was almost as odd as his chuckling. It seemed to react to touch, as if to grab at it. It was as if something was wanting out and was fighting against him to do so. There was so much about him that was a mystery to her.

She was just sitting back down at her desk when a heavy hand slammed down upon with enough force to split it. Medusa stayed seated and didn't move as he touched the side of her neck, sending shivers down her spine. While she didn't sense any killing intent in him, the fact that she had failed to notice his sudden recovery bothered her. How did he get up so quickly, and without revealing any signs of his activity? Had she let down her guard while he was in a state of vulnerability?

Medusa couldn't see what he was doing, for she had her back turned to him. Either she was slipping, to have been caught in his situation, or he really was that good at finding ways past her defenses.

The cold metal of his gauntlet pulled a stray hair from over her eye. Then he took a firm grasp over her neck without squeezing. Then he just stood there, as if waiting for her reaction. Rather than be paralyzed with fear, she sat there wondering just what he expected from her. His fingers melted away as he flowed towards the window and returned to his human form.

He winked and laughed as he revealed a familiar vial as he jumped out the window. Medusa searched her pockets to discover what she already knew: he had picked it from her pocket. She had been so close to learning what few secrets she could from it.

She couldn't hide the smile that spread across her face as she watched him dissapear into Death City. His intentions and destination were unknown to her, just as much as his nature. She woud have wished him luck, but she had to wonder just how much that meant coming from a witch.

A red-headed figure appeared in the doorway with a great smile on his face, "Hello, I'm just dropping in to see if Umbra was... oh, he already left?"

Medusa hoped that Umbra's luck would hold out better than her own.

It was in a quiet section of Death City where Umbra finally stopped. He looked around and was satisfied with the lack of people around. "I know you're there, so you might as well reveal yourself!"

A dark wind blew in, casting a shadow over the area as it passed. It swept up the dust from the street and swirled until a face came into view.

"So, you still remember me, do you?" it asked with a wide smile.

"How could I forget, Reaper Cobra!"

The face's smile grew even wider, "Good, I won't have to remind you then, but maybe I will anyways. Fear Gamma!" The swirling winds became a twister, that struck like a titan's fist, smashing a nearby building into rubble.

Umbra stood his ground as chunks of concrete were hurled at him. But there was to aim to them, and each bounced past without doing any damage to him. It was only when the twister ripped open as Reaper exploded from its heart and hurtled like a bullet when Umbra was forced to move from his spot.

Reaper hit the ground hard, only to vanish in a sonic boom that splattered bits of Umbra across the building behind him. He was a mess, but he was still able to pull himself together. Reaper came at him again, turning back into his human form so he could smash his opponent with his bare hands.

"Now look who needs the reminder!" Umbra liquified and speared his opponent with Dark Needle. "You were supposed to have died over twenty years ago because of this same trick, remember?"

Reaper looked up and smiled, "I do, but this old dog's got some new tricks..." the man turned to dust and vanished.

Umbra wasn't prepared for the sudden wave of madness that hit him. It was a powerful wavelength that cracked the barriers to his mind. It took all of Umbra's willpower just to be able to resist melting under its influence.

"Fear Beta!" a sonic wave sliced through his torso, splitting him in half like a hot knife through butter. It continued on, slicing apart a building and dropping tons of material on top of the demon pot.

Reaper Corbra reappeared on top so he could stand above his fallen opponent, "Well, well, well, this will be a fine grave for you. Buried in your precious city!" He pressed his wavelength even harder, causing the concrete and metal to heat up and melt.

He wanted nothing more than the complete annihilation of his enemy. To destroy him so fully that there wouldn't even be dust left, then leave this pile of slag as the only evidence of his destruction. He had no fear of the rising heat: his wavelength of madness would only rise like the wind.

The burning fist that burst force burned his skin with the brief contact, forcing him to take in more air to heal. Still covered in molten concrete and metal, a new form of Umbra emerged. Like a primal elemental of liquid magma, he rose and let out a roar like a burning inferno.

"Fear Alpha!" Reaper launched an orb of wind that generated a powerful vacuum around it.

"Molten Needle!" Umbra's hand exploded with burning needles and smashed the orb. But the sudden burst of moving air caused rapid cooling in the limb. Umbra tore the limb from his body and formed a new one to take its place. But now Reaper knew what to do and pressed on with Fear Gamma, diving on top of Umbra.

Becuase fire wasn't his natural element, Umbra was consuming more energy than he could maintain. Now he was rapidly running out of strength to burn and his flames were dying out. Reaper laughed like rolling thunder during a storm while he pounded Umbra into the ground. Every strike had the force of a hurricane behind it, driving into him with immense force and tearing him apart. Umbra tried to reform but he was cooling too fast.

When it was done, he was encased in black glass.

Reaper took Umbra's head into his hands and gave it a twist, removing it from his shoulder's, "You were always just child's play!" He threw it down and ground the rock under his foot. "You only beat me before because you had her!"

Umbra's hand, though solidified, reached out and planted itself into Reaper's stomach. Liquid glass grew where his head used to be and hardened into a new one. His jaw broke apart in a wide smile as he spoke, "Do you ever shut up? If it wasn't for her, we would have fought until we ended everything, including ourselves! There would be nothing left to destroy after that, nothing! Only she would have survived! Now, get out of my city before I bring up the urge to prove it!"

Reaper tried to look composed, even with the glass fingers tearing into his mid-section. He vanished with the wind and took off. Umbra knew this because he couldn't sense his presence anymore. He waited until his body boiled and began to melt off off his bones, forming a pool of black ichor beneath him.

"Reaper Cobra... then that must mean..." he trailed off before finishing his sentence, for his jaw was beginning to sag. He put his hand in his mouth and tore his jaw free from his face before dropping it.

More ichor poured from his mouth now that caused the heated mass beneath him to cool. He then punched a hole in his side, letting more of himself pool at his feet until he collapsed under his own weight. What was left was nothing more than a husk of melting glass. Then even that was no more.

Then a hand emerged like the pool was so much deeper than it appeared and Umbra pulled himself free, whole and human again. He felt so much better now that the alchohol wasn't burning in his veins. But his hands were shaking uncontrollably. So much power had been used that it was ready to tear him apart now that the battle was over.

Reaper Cobra: the man who desired destruction of all things and on all levels. It was true Umbra had fought him with the help of another, who's sacrifice made it possible to take him down. But how did he return? Umbra looked at the destruction of the surrounding buildings and street.

"It's only been twenty years and that was your most pathetic performance, Reaper! I was expecting half the block at the very least!"

"Professor Ouroboros?" He turned to see Nurse Gorgon walking towards him, a mixed look of mild surprise and interest on her face. "Are you alright? When you left, I hurried as fast as I could to find you!" Even though they were on the outskirts of the city, Medusa didn't look all that worn out. Umbra was impressed with her endurance. She could easily become a meister if she had that much energy.

"There was no need, I'm alright." At those words, fatigue set in and he hit the ground as his legs turned liquid, "At least I was."

"Why did you leave like that? I was so concerned for your safety."

"It's a long story. One I was hoping to have ended once and for all. Unfortunately, my past has yet to remain just that."

"That must be quite the story. I hope you will tell me one day. But for now, into your pot."

"I will have you know that I can still move!" Umbra's arm suddenly melted, leaving him mostly helpless when his other arm threatened to do the same. With him in this condition and Medusa looked down on him, he couldn't see any way out of this situation and tranformed.

The two didn't speak along the way. Umbra was content to have her do the walking while he regained his strength. It wasn't long before he noticed how she was examining some of the details of his pot. It wasn't much to look at, a little worn and beaten from the many battles over the years. He felt her fingers tracing the many dents and scars that marked him and tried to keep himself from chuckling. She was so focused that she didn't immediately realize it until he started to bubble.

"OW!" Medusa had just dropped him, having remembered the joke he told her when they first met. Pulling himself back into his pot, he made sure as to keep silent during the rest of the trip.

"Just who was that back there?" Medusa asked as they walked into Shibusen. The halls were empty, which allowed them to speak without worry of being heard.

"He is Reaper Cobra. Ever since he was young, his desire was to bring ruin to all."

Medusa looked like she was thinking about how to respond, "It sounds like follows the belief's of the witches."

"Maybe," a part of Umbra rose from his pot so as to speak on an equal level, "but he would destroy them too. Reaper would have their entire society crumble to dust. He views existence as something to be broken, never to create or change."

The nurse was unfazed by his words when she spoke, "Then what use is there to destroy, when you will be left with a world that cannot change?"

"I have thought the same, back when I was still as young as you are now."

She smiled and looked away as Umbra sunk back into his pot.

"You don't know how far you are from the truth," she whispered under her breath.

"Hmm?" Umbra's mind had just been drifting off from fatigue at that moment, so he didn't quite catch what she said.

"Oh, it's just embarring to have someone tell me I'm young."

"When you live through as much as I have over the years, you begin to appreciate youth and beauty."

"There will be no more talk like that, Professor Ouroboros!"

Umbra was taken aback by her sudden outburst and thought that she would drop him again.

She continued with a whisper, "We have company."

He looked to see two familiar weapons and nearly spilled out of his pot. Medusa had to release him as he transformed and he walked over to them.

"Mag Thompson and Marie Mjolnir! I haven't seen you two since you graduated as Death Scythes."

The golden-haired woman, Marie, blushed and looked away. Then the man, with shoulder-length brown hair, walked up to shake hands.

Mag laughed, "I remember your classes well. And I'm thinking that Marie does too, but only for other reasons." He was forced to back down when Marie's hand suddenly transformed into a large hammer.

The professor remembered this well, for while she wasn't his most patient student, she did have some talents. He also remembered that her reason for joining his class was because of a certain other student. If only he could recall the name.

Then he noticed something displayed on the face of Marie's hammer.

"Is that the symbol of thunder, Marie?"

The woman looked at her hammer/hand and nodded, "Yes, Professor Ouroboros, it appeared after I became a Death Scythe."

"Oh yes, the witch you were sent after was known for using lighting magic. It looks like you have picked up on her powers quite nicely. And you, Mag?"

"Me? I've upgraded to a heavier calibur. I can shoot clear through most walls without effort. Trust me, it's been a real treat with the wife and all." Mag leaned in close to talk privetely with Umbra, "Which reminds me, who's your friend?"

"Mag, Marie, let me introduce you to Nurse Gorgon. She's been helping in the dispencery over the past few days. She's also been such a great help when I overdid a mixture."

"Again with the alchohol?" Marie was more angery with him than astonished.

Umbra sighed, "Yes, the very same. I've yet to figure out how to mix it in smaller batches." He suffered a painful jolt in his hand, which reminded him of what he required. "Marie, I know it has been too long, but would you be so kind?"

"I see you've been fighting too." Marie closed her eyes and sighed. Then there was a slight glow where her hand touched his chest. "Is that better?"

"Much." He quickly noticed the confused look in Medusa's eyes from the exchange that went on between the two. "Oh, right. Marie has always sorted me out when I'm unstable. She has been a great help to me on countless occasions."

Marie put a finger under Umbra's nose, "Only because you challanged so many students to a duel! Then you would use the injuries you gave them as an excuse to test a new batch of healing salve that you mixed during that same duel! Honestly, the only reason some of the nurses could administer a proper application was after I calmed them down!"

Umbra stood there, unable to respond without the threat of that hand becoming a hammer again.

Medusa chuckled, "That almost sounds like something Umbra would do. Of course, I haven't been here for very long so I don't have your experience in dealing with him."

"All it takes is a few strong words, or a stronger smack to the head... hmm?" Marie looked around, but Umbra was nowhere to be seen. They spotted him slithering to safety with his pot on his back like an oversized snail. "That is if you can catch him."

It was below the dispencery window where she waited. Several small streams of black matter were crawling towards her, combining into one large mass. It bubbled and swelled until it tore itself open to reveal a person's head.

"We were so close."

The woman didn't speak, as she was thinking to herself.

"He is strong and has potent allies."

The woman stomped on the face, causing it to burst like a water balloon, "I know that. How many are you now?"

"Too many to keep in hiding. We want to devour him now."

"Not yet, not with so many Deathscythes here. And don't forget, you don't have his abilities."

The mass pulled itself together until it had a mouth to speak with, "You cannot hold us for too long. We are always growing, and he will become part of us!"

"Keep your voice down or we will be heard. We are only here to collect the latest sample."

"It had already been done, Cl-"

The woman put her foot against the face's mouth, causing it to become as still as stone. She scooped it up and walked off. It was fortunate for her when she had, for Umbra was now at the window, lighting a smoke.

Once she was out of range of his senses, she stayed for a minute to watch him. She watched as he took a long drag on his cigarette before a woman had him put it out. So many people, it would be most difficult to get to him without their interference. For now, she had what she needed.

But when she spotted him pull something from his pocket, a pair of vials, she knew something needed to be done. If not, there was a chance that everything could crumble before it even started.