Operation Code 19-1900

Shots echoed through the air and Spirit glanced over his shoulder in time to see three punks run by with guns. Yukina had seen the teens too because her red eyes were wide. She held her hands to her mouth in terror as yelps of pain shattered the festive mood of the park. Seeing her fear, a protective feeling of duty caused Spirit to grab her arm. Demon World victim, employee, or whatever, he wasn't going to let any gang groupie harm her. Even if it meant the rest of his team would have to carry out the rest of the mission without him.

"Where are we going?"

Spirit paused at the entrance of their hiding spot to look for trouble. From his left he got a bad feeling in his gut. Sorta like when he ate too many slices of pizza after celebrating a mission well done. To the right he got the same feeling but it wasn't as intense. He pulled Yukina out from the booth and led them to the right.

"Out of here," he replied.

"But what about the others?"

"Yoshi and Yori can handle themselves."

"What about you?"

His eyes widened as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Somewhere near him there was danger. His eyes scanned the area looking for signs of gunplay. Nothing but the feeling remained. Very close by was a threat to his and, more importantly, Yukina's safety.

"With you by my side, baby, I can't lose." He scanned the area again. Where was the danger coming from? His eyes widened a bit when the tickle feeling started to lessen. Was the threat moving away from them? Out of the corner of hid eye he saw Yukina remove her hand from inside her purse. Probably checking her cell to see if she could get a signal, Spirit thought. He, like all Underworld agents, knew the amusement park was a dead zone. Checking the area again he pulled Yukina with him using his "sixth sense" to avoid trouble. They were doing just fine until Dragon found them.

Spirit frowned as the familiar shape of Dragon appeared beside him and Yukina as the two rushed towards the exits of the park. His frown grew when Dragon delivered an update on 45 and Keiko.

"What do you mean there was a bright light and then Keiko was passed out and 45 looked confused?"

Dragon glared at him as his black eyes scanned the area for trouble. "Keep your voice down, you moron. Do you want those other idiots to hear you?" The black eyed teen jumped over a barrel in order to remain at their side. "I just came to give you an update and to let you know that Forty- Yus- Oh forget it- 45 is out and to make sure you were on your way out."

Spirit nodded and halted to let Yukina catch her breath in front of the firework booth. He started to ask about Fox when Yukina spoke up.

"Who are you?" She was looking at Dragon like someone does when they see a ghost of some long lost relative.

Spirit watched as Dragon froze. Knowing that he wasn't going to answer Yukina, Spirit said, "He's a friend of ours. He'll get you out of the park while I go look for Yori and Sumire."

There was a look of fear in those deep red eyes. Fear for him? Or fear of Dragon? Spirit placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled down at her. "Don't worry. Dragon growls a lot, but he's a good guy. He'll get you out of here safe and sound and then we'll get you away from Demon World." He pointedly ignored the fiery glare directed at his back and the silent demand of: "How much did you tell her, you moron?"

With a wave, Spirit started to run towards the Tunnel of Love feeling that would be a good place to start looking for Fox.

Bullets peppered the wood of the booths between him and Dragon and Yukina. With a yelp, Spirit ducked down behind a booth and glanced over the top in time to see Dragon hull Yukina behind the booth filled with fireworks. He could see the punks who were firing at the booths but they were too far away for him to do anything. A glint of silver caught his eye and he saw that Dragon had unsheathed his sword. It looked like the midget was going to try to fight gunpowder with steel. Spirit wasn't sure he wanted to place any bets on Dragon's survival rate but then something weird happened. Dragon froze as if he thought better of his plan and Spirit felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up again. The taller teen shivered as the temperature in the area dropped. Looking back towards the punks, Spirit's eyes widened when he noticed the ground in front of them become frost covered in seconds.

One of the punks stepped onto the frost covered ground and yelped as he suddenly slipped. Another started to scream in panic when his feet were unable to move. Looking closer, Spirit realized that the punk's shoes were covered in ice. However, that still left four punks able to move and fire but those were better odds for Dragon than six against one. Speaking of which, Spirit's teammate had started to crawl out from behind the booth. Wishing that he had brought his wooden sword with him, Spirit started to rise from his spot to join in the battle. And that's when the fireworks started. Literally.

Spirit wasn't sure what had happened or how but one second Dragon was crawling to his and Spirit's doom. The next the guy was covered in flames. Flames that effectively lit and set off every piece of firework, cherry bomb, and paper lantern in the booth. Spirit hit the deck and waited for the commotion to die down. When it did, he saw that now most of the surrounding area was on fire. Holding a hand over his mouth, Spirit rushed towards the booth where Dragon and Yukina had been hiding. He expected to see bloody and burned bodies. Instead he found Dragon looking down at an unarmed Yukina who was unconscious at his feet.

Around them the wooden booths continued to burn and the air was becoming filled with smoke. Spirit started to cough as it entered his lungs and he pulled Dragon down to the ground where the air was better. The midget's black eyes seemed almost red in the firelight staring down at the girl.

"What happened?"

Spirit didn't have the answer but he gave one anyways. "What's important is what is happening now. You get Yukina out of here. I'll go find Fox."

A small nod was the reply as the midget placed Yukina on his back. The next second the teen had vanished into the smoke, running towards the exit of the park. Once again, Spirit turned and faced the opposite direction. Four down and two more to go before they would all be safe. It wasn't he started moving that Spirit realized he didn't have a clue what he was doing. He had no idea where Fox even was and there was more danger now. With the new fire caused by the fireworks adding more rage and confusion to the already burning fire and shooting, it would have made more sense to leave with Dragon and Yukina. However, he had a bad feeling whenever he thought about Fox. That usually meant Fox was in trouble or about to be. With 45 already out of the park and Dragon shocked into debatably uselessness, it was up to him.

Spirit paused just outside the Tunnel of Love and looked around. The area was strangely silent. Not even the cracking of flames or the popping of gunfire could be heard here. It was as if someone had pushed the mute button on the world. It was darker here too. The entire area was in the shadow of the Monster Mountain ride whose height even the light of the fire couldn't overcome. There was some light though. The candles at the entrance to the Tunnel of Love ride were still brightly burning. Glancing at them, Spirit had the urge to blow them out. Better that then to have them knocked over and cause a third fire. He stepped towards the candles before jerking back. A shiver ran down his spine as if he had just jumped into a freezing lake head first. Danger was close. Too close. Fox was probably somewhere nearby.

Spirit glanced around the area again. It was here. Something big and deadly. Spirit turned again. He wasn't going to let the thing get him in the back. If it wanted to fight, it would have to do it the old fashion way. Face-to-face. He glanced towards the tunnel again. Dragon had said he had dreamt of a trap inside but did that really mean the danger was inside or outside the ride? Spirit stiffened when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Why did he let Fox talk him into leaving his wooden sword at home?

Movement to his right!

Spirit spun around and tried to see through the gloom.

Nothing.

Something fell with a clatter on his left.

Spirit lunged towards it.

Nothing. Just some knocked over cans for a shooting game.

Something rubbed against his leg.

Spirit jumped back and looked around.

Two green eyes looked up at him. A goofy grin appeared on his face.

"Hey little guy," he said as he looked at the gray cat. "What're you still doing here?"

The cat mewed in reply as Spirit leaned down to pet it. At the same time a knife embedded itself in the wall behind him at the height where his chest had just been. Spirit grabbed the cat and rolled to the safety of the booth. 'And 45 said cats were useless,' Spirit thought with a smirk. Setting the cat down, he cautiously peeked out from the booth. The danger was still here. Waiting. Spirit's smirk faded to a frown. Well he could wait too.

*O*C*2*0*

She was almost there. Soon her mission would be complete. The knife was sharp and the handle was warm in her gasp. He may not have been her target but it wouldn't matter. Soon she will have joined the ranks of Demon World. She ducked around the booth until she was behind the boy. Her hands were shaking. Not in fear but in excitement. Soon. So very soon. His blood would stain the ground and she would be free to serve her masters as she pleased.

The boy continued to foolishly search the area in front of him. He believed himself to be safe. He was going to learn how wrong he was. Her moment had arrived. She leaned in closer and reached for her knife before pausing. No. This fool would die by her energy. A small dagger of pure energy appeared in her hands. She raised it over her head and aimed for his lungs. Tonight she was one of them. Her knife descended. Her moment had arrived!

But there was no blood. There was no pain. The fool had turned and grabbed her wrist and everything went black.