I made some changes here after I realized that my next chapter had bits that didn't add up with what I wrote here. Sorry if this confuses anyone who has already read this part. The changes are subtle, but this is for the good of the story.

For the next few days, Umbra tended to Medusa as she was forced to stay in bed while she regained her strength. He could leave now, but had to eat and drink almost on a regular basis to build up bulk. But Medusa wasn't so fortunate, as she suffered from phantom limb. She would tell him about how she could still feel her toes. She even felt pain in her 'foot', but she would simply tough through it rather than remind herself that it was gone. The replacement nurse told her the sensation was natural and would pass with time.

They were alone now, leaving them with nothing to do but enjoy each other's company. To pass the time, Umbra tested his transformations over and over again. But his condition led to him being thick as tree sap, which only hampered his ability to move and shift about. He was in no condition for combat right now, even with a meister.

Medusa asked him about the chemical he gave her before using Soul Reaction. He told her that it reacted with his soul wavelength, allowing him to keep himself in control when someone with Marie's abilities weren't around. But because of all the damage the two had recieved during the fight, both of their wavelengths were weak.

The chemical acted as a catalyst, allowing both of their soul wavelengths to react with each other on a higher level than using Soul Reaction on its own. It was one of the reasons why they became a whole new person, rather than Medusa just becoming part of Umbra. The downside was that their weakened conditions meant the new body had only a short amount of time. That had been made worse by how their new form had used her powers without realizing the drain right away.

As the sun was going down, Umbra gets up and puts on his coat, "I think it's time for me to go. I haven't had a good shower lately and I'm starting to smell."

"I've dealt with worse during my experiements."

"I have no doubts about that." He touched her hand and left her to rest. But while he was in the doorway, he turned and said, "I will fix what has been done, that much I promise."

"I'm still not sure about all this. I haven't been acting like myself lately."

"You'll figure it out. You've lasted this long by doing just that. There's no dought in my mind."

Out in the hall, Spirit was waiting for him.

"Hey, how is she?" the Deathscythe asks.

"She's doing better. Just a few more days or so and I should be able to resonate again."

"You just can't stay out of trouble, can you?" Spirit gives him a pat on the back.

Umbra shrugs, "Things were almost boring before Medusa came around."

"Maybe, but given the alternative, I think boring was what we needed for a little while longer. At least there haven't been any deaths yet."

"Besides the usual, you mean?"

Spirit's mood dropped after he said those words, "Yes, besides those. Don't remind me."

"How's your daughter?"

"Maka? She's playing with her mama right now. I can't exactly bring her here while I'm supposed to be Shinigami's leading Deathscythe. She's still cute as a button and getting smarter every day. Hey, you need help getting down the stairs?"

"Hey, I might be old enough to be your father, but I'm not that old just yet."

Spirit put his hands up, "I'm just asking."

"Well, don't. And speaking of age, make sure you never ask Medusa about hers, she just might punch your clock out if you do." Umbra chuckled as he left Shibusen. Spirit waved as he went down the stairs and returned inside.

Students were still coming and going at their usual pace while Umbra was slower than usual. Normally, he would just transform and slide the whole way down. But that would take much too long right now, so he had to walk like everyone else.

Once he was back at his house, he went straight to his bathroom and stripped off his clothes. When he looked in the mirror, he saw a ghastly sight. All of his ribs were showing and his limbs were scrawny. He'd given up blood and muscle tissue to keep Medusa alive after the seperation of thier fused form. The difficulty came from the blood loss and the amount of toxin that had to be purged from both their systems. Creating an antidote consumed much of his body's materials.

He was famished right now, but he wanted to shower first. He turned on the hot water and stepped inside. He let the water wash away his fatigue, his concerns, and any lingering worries. He didn't have to deal with the usual twitching for awhile, since his soul wavelength was far too dimished to cause trouble.

"I hope you know what you're doing."

Umbra didn't know when or how the man got into his home, but he wasn't surprised, "Even if I didn't, would it make any difference?"

The man laughed, "I guess not."

"How's the family?" Umbra asked.

"Now why would you care about something like that?"

"I don't," he replied.

"I have a son now, a chip off the old block, as the saying goes, I guess."

"Oh, someone to carry on your name?"

"Maybe. He's a tough one, that's for sure. Wouldn't cry no matter what's going on."

"Just like his father. So, what brings you here? I haven't heard from you in twenty years."

"I've been around. Some of the jobs send me to some remote places. And I was certain you didn't want to see any of us for awhile after what happened."

"I remember." Umbra could never forget. "But why have you returned now?"

"I've been hearing strange things about what's been goin on around here. Figured I'd come by and see if you knew anything."

"I know quite a bit about it. Reaper Dragoon's back."

"I'm glad to hear that. Now I have a chance to pay him back for what he did. The others will be happy for the news as well."

"His sister's back too."

There was a disturbing silence, broken only by the running water.

"Are you sure?" the man finally asked.

"She came to me, over a month ago. I saw Reaper some time after that. Then I saw something new. A creature that has a similar form to my own. But it's body contained a poison that helped to put me in my current condition."

"Ya, you haven't looked this bad since that one battle. But enough about that. You still haven't told me what happened to you back there. You were the strongest among us, even though you didn't belong to our clan. But you came out a changed man, broken even."

"And I still don't plan on telling you." There was acid in Umbra's words, but he didn't fear hurting the man's feelings. One would require emotions to be hurt by them. Umbra wasn't so fortunate, though, as his returned to him long ago. Now all they did was remind him of how mortal he was.

"I've always known you wouldn't. But what are you going to do now? I don't know about you, but my clan has become much more powerful lately."

"Yes, I can almost smell the blood on your hands."

"Feeling sick about it?"

Umbra snickered, "Hardly, I'd be losing my touch if I was so sensitive to a little blood. Or a lot of it, in your case. But I can also smell something else on you. You'd best be careful, lest Shinigami take an interest in you."

"Don't worry, there is nobody in Shibusen who can defeat me."

"That's what I'm worried about. I've been out of the loop long enough to know that a lot has been going on without my notice."

"It won't help that your attention is on a woman now." There was an obvious tone in the man's voice. He wasn't happy about this new development. "How do we know she won't change you, or worse, make you lose your edge?"

"Trust me, she isn't anything you need to worry about. She is a powerful ally. She can also be our worst enemy if crossed."

"Aren't all women the same way? So, how'd you get her attention? Using that old wit and charm you're so well-known for?"

"That and the edge of a blade. She took it quite well. I must say that I am impressed. She was too."

"I'll bet, at least if what you're saying is true. Just don't get in over your head."

Umbra chuckled, "That's what I should be telling you. Don't forget, I'm a demon pot, existing below the surface is what I do." He stopped the water and stepped out, only to discover that he was alone. The only sign of anyone being there was the star carved in the wall.

"Be sure you survive. I may require the services of your clan at some point." Even though there was no responce, he knew that the message got through.

He was drying himself off when he heard someone at the door, he was popular today. Standing outside was a new face, but one he knew quite well. "Hello, Stein."

The man looked him over, taking note of his condition before handing him a smoke. Umbra nodded his thanks and pointed him to the kitchen. His hunger wasn't going to deal with itself any time soon. He pulled out his computer chair and kicked it in the man's direction, who sat down and rolled over to the table.

"I heard what happened from Spirit. I'm not surprised you survived the attack."

Umbra was reaching for a jar of pickles when he replied, "When did you ever have confidence in my abilities?"

"After I heard about what happened from Shinigami. It sounded to be quite the battle. They're still doing the repairs right now."

"Unfortunately, it wasn't enough. You've probably already heard about her condition."

The man shrugged, "I was told about the creature's abilities. I really would have liked to have dissected it, see what it was made of."

"I think you'd need a giant petri dish instead of an operating table. The thing was as slippery as me. Speaking of cutting something open, what else have you been doing?"

"What do I usually do?" Stein asked.

Umbra laughed, "You haven't changed. But you would be surprised by what I've done. I pulled a scalpel on the woman just a few days ago. That was an interesting day, I can tell you that much. I wasn't sure about what she would do, seeing as she's not one to run. She has to be the first to fight back rather than piss themselves in fear or run away."

"I'm sure you know what you're doing. Otherwise, you'd be dead on my table and waiting for dissection."

Umbra didn't even faulter, he just nodded in total agreement. Even if Medusa had shown quite a bit of emotion that day, she wasn't about to let it take over again. It was possible that she was rusty when it came to matters of the heart, if she even had one. Being a witch certainly didn't help things when most people wanted you dead for several centuries. And there was the matter of keeping herself safe and protected. While being near a Deathscythe promised a great deal of protection, it was also a dangerous place to be. It was fortunate that the same could be said about a witch as well. If either of them faultered, it would be their head. Umbra may be as a liquid in his weapon form, but he wasn't invicible.

"So, any thoughts on how long it will be before you can regnerate her leg?" Stein asked.

Umbra put out his cigarette, which had burned all the way to the butt, "Another few days before my diet starts to really kick in. But I'm going to look like a damn raisin until then." He took out another and lit it up. He couldn't remember the last time he had a talk like this with Stein. In fact, he couldn't remember having a conversation with him that didn't focus on their latest experiment or dissection.

"I'm sorry to hear that. The students have had some concerns about her condition."

"I'm guessing it's from those who didn't have her coming to me for assistance."

Stein raised an eyebrow, "You've been experimenting again?"

"I've always been experimenting, but lately, thing's have been different. Medusa's different from all the other nurses."

"Yes, they haven't gone to Marie for assistance." Stein flicked the ash from his cigarette into the tray.

Umbra's jaw would have dropped off if he wans't in human form, "Was that a joke? Damn, I must be getting old if I lived to hear that come from you."

"You can always come by my laboratory and we can find out."

"I think I'll pass. I don't feel my age just yet and I don't need someone to tell me how old my organs are. And I like them where they are."

Stein shrugged, "My loss."

"So, are you going to stay?"

"Not really, I'm just here to check up on things. After what I've heard, I wanted to make sure you weren't going to get yourself killed without my notice."

"I'm not dying just yet. I have to deal with a few loose ends that have come up again."

"Well, I'm sure you'll tell me all about them when I return."

Umbra walked Stein out and hands him a pack of cigarettes for the road. Stein accepted them with a nod and left. When the Deathscythe walked back into his kitchen for something to eat, he found someone sitting at the table. The woman wore a simple mask: all white with black markings for the eyes. The Deathscythe was a little confused at first because he didn't hear her come in. Before Umbra could say anything, the woman put up a hand.

"I have come with a warning. You're encounter with Reaper has begun to unsettle your soul."

"I've seen the dreams." Umbra wished he didn't have to suffer them, but he was smart enough to know that wasn't going to happen.

"Yes, but you may also know that this will lead to your return."

"What did you say?"

"These memories have opened old scars that have disguised your old powers. But always remember that the past is known to repeat itself. You must be careful and prepare yourself, for the cost may be your life." The masked woman shook her head. "I have seen the future, but I cannot see your future, or the one you will have with the witch, Medusa. It is a mystery to me, but I am confident in what you will do."

"What do you know about her?"

"She will be a powerful ally, but know that her heart is not set in stone. Her life as a witch will lead her to betray even you if she feels the need. If you wish to stay by her side, she will require sacrifice."

Umbra shrugged, "We both know the answer to that."

The masked woman slowly nodded and removed a pair of coil bracelets from her wrists. "Here is a gift for her, I am sure that she will like them. They will be the first sacrifice and will serve her well in the future."

"I thought you said you cannot see into our future."

"I said that I cannot see into your future with her, not the future she makes on her own."

"Is that true or are you just not going to tell me?"

"What I do and do not know are not to be shared easily."

Umbra thought about demanding more answers but guessed that what he'd been told would just have to do. If he knew too much, there was a chance it would derail all of his plans without meaning to. Knowledge was a powerful thing, just like the woman who now sat at his table. She knew so much, but had to keep it to herself to prevent causing damage to the futures she witnessed. It was a heavy burden to bear, for it meant that she had no say in the matter.

The only reason she came to Umbra was because the two knew each other so well. In fact, she was the reason Umbra existed in the first place.

Careful, if you let your mind wander too far, it may not be able to return. With that, the masked woman faded away, leaving Umbra to ponder the braclets on his table. The metal was like silver, but much stronger. It was possible they had enough strength to deflect even one of his attacks, but he wasn't about to test that. These were a gift for Medusa and he would make sure he got them to her.

Right now, the day was over and it was time for him to try and get some sleep.

"Umbra, are you home?"

Damn it, Marie got herself lost again...

"So, you still haven't planned on showing yourself." The masked man asked. He wore a simple mask: painted black except for a thin white smile where his mouth should be.

"There is still much to do before that moment."

"He knows of the return of the other two."

"Probably because of you," the woman put a knife to the masked man's throat. He didn't move and it was impossible to see his face.

"I have not said anything about you or them. The cold one came to him, and her brother, Reaper, did so himself soon after. She was sloppy enough to allow him to obtain a vial of her blood."

"I knew it was a bad idea to wake her so early. She's too young to be revealing herself."

"You cannot contain the forces of destruction and entropy, for only death may command them. As for you, you cannot hide forever if you wish to see your plans come to be.

"Why did you begin the events that would put us on our path?"

"That, I cannot say. I am bound by my responcibility, something all of you have chosen to ignore."

"Sometimes I wonder if we should have simply killed you."

"Then where would you be without me to guide you? I may be bound, but I'm far from powerless to act. You and your brother will show yourselves in time, even without my proding. But remember that Umbra was once the most powerful among you. He still is in some respects, even if he has given that up. Fail and he will destroy you, all of you."

"But once my daughter is returned to me, he will fall."

"Your future isn't clear to me. But from what I have seen, there is still space for error. Be ready, or take that knife and end it all now so you won't have to suffer."

The woman's hand moved on its own, ready to cut into the man's neck, but he was already long gone before her mind could register him leaving.

Up on the roof, keeping himself hidden from sight, the white-masked woman watched a group of young teenagers playing basketball. She recognized each by face and name, but he knew it wasn't time for her to be recognized. But for now, she would watch them, knowing well of the hardships they will experience to become some of the strongest meisters and weapons around.

She dissapeares, only to find herself in the remains of a destroyed laboratory. There was nothing left, but she could see through the ripples of time to find what she required. She takes a memory from a child in pain, a memory of blood and madness, and a single shard of glass.

The world around her shifts and she finds herself on another roof, the sun setting in the distance. The poor sun was getting tired and couldn't hold itself in the sky for much longer. The masked woman looked into the alley below and easily spots three more women, all witches. She knew all of them, but the one in the middle caught her attention.

She knew of this particular woman well and what she was trying to do. Out of the three, the third witch was doomed, while the first one would become a slave to the second. This moment was already set in time and she would do nothing to change it.

In silence, she watches as one of the three is killed in a gruesome fashion, the result of underestimating her target. The other witch was beginning to panic now, seeing just what the witch before her could do, even without her magic. Then, the first witch transforms into a green frog and leaves the scene as three more figures entered.

The masked woman leaves them, taking only the memory of a crushing victory, before fading out of that place in time. Where she would go next was unknown to her, for she had to wait as everything fell into place. For now, she would rest. She had all the time in the world and wouldn't miss her moment to show herself.

But what would the world reveal to her when the time was right?

The black-masked man stood witness to the bloody scene before him in the tunnel. Even though his mask didn't have eyes to see, everything around him was as clear as day. A mighty battle went on here, resulting in the near-destruction of one of the combatants. He could sense traces of a shattered soul still hovering in the air and followed the path where the pieces came together and left the area.

He reaches out, plucking the essence of a single fragment that had been left behind. It didn't have much magic, as too much time has passed. But that was exactly what he was looking for. He then adds a sample of the dried blood alongside it and fades.

When he returnes to reality, he senses the echo of a powerful soul that allowed itself die, knowing that it's destruction was needed. He holds out his hand and watches as traces of ethreal remains gathered in his palm. A second fragment appeares, but this one had the essence of two forms combined into one.

He fades yet again, this time appearing in a location that has long be destroyed. Only this room remained, the taint of madness at its edges. But he has no worry, as his insanity has removed him from this world. He reaches out and retrieves the memory of a form cast off to become the madness itself.

All he had to do now was wait, for this part of reality couldn't give him what he required. He would gladly wait though, knowing that he will get his chance. He had been left behind many times, left to wait until the right moment to come for him.

"Why haven't I been sent out yet? I've been waiting all this time and it's going to make me explode!"

The wall before him shattered as his anger made burst from the inside. Reaper Dragoon wasn't happy about being forced to stay for so long. With nothing to do, nothing to destroy, he was going mad.

"Quiet yourself my brother, you will get your moment to destroy everything in your way." A woman puts her hand on his shoulder and he goes still. He couldn't move, couldn't think, he couldn't even breathe. It was as if his whole body has been turned to stone. She removes her hand, sensing that he was calm enough to speak without attempting to destroy something.

"I'm sorry, but it's been so long. Why hasn't Father sent us out to do anything yet?"

"After two failed attacks, I think I might know why."

Reaper's temperature began to rise drasticaly, "But I was order to go out and destroy, to have fun! Why would I be punished for doing what I was told?"

The woman flicked him on the forehead, making his skin as cool as the room around them. "It would have to be because you attacked Umbra Ouroboros. You were supposed to come right back if he spotted you. But instead, you go off and fight him."

"But he found me! He sensed my presence and we both know there wasn't much chance of me getting away!"

"You control the very wind we breathe, how could he follow you when you could easily dissapear? And if I remember right, he called out to you and you answered!"

Reaper's anger began to die out after being scolded by his older sister. There was a rush of cool air and he calmed down. He was only putting up with this because he didn't want her forcing him to be calm anymore.

Her hands were cold and smooth as polished marble, but her words could make the world quake if angered. But because she could diffuse any arguement with a touch, it was rare to ever see anyone even get a rise out of her. But Reaper remembered the last time she was angered, it was as if time stopped for a moment before a lush forest was turned to dust.