A PRESSING ENGAGEMENT

1 month 1 week after Asura

Maka stood up from the bench and began to shuffle her papers before putting them in her binder. She was trying to take her time leaving, as Justin Law had told her that he would meet her here for more training today. She was nervous more than anything, but she couldn't help but be excited. What was he going to start with, would he expect her to know what she was doing?

"Hey, Maka, you there?" Soul waved a hand in front of her face and his head was quickly met with a book as she Maka Chopped him. He rubbed the spot, irritated and frowning, before she pulled him close to her face. He could swear he was blushing and he was also positive that he heard Rudy snickering somewhere in the classroom.

"I'm supposed to start my training today, but I was told to keep it a secret." Soul recalled that they had both been invited to an outing with Tsubaki, Rudy, and Agnes -probably so Tsubaki could pick up more authentic Chinese recipes- and realized she was bailing on them. His frown deepened, unhappy that she couldn't see her friends now that she was healed, but turned around and waved her off regardless. She was his meister, and while he couldn't help her through her current issues, he was sure that the more experienced weapon could.

"Yeah, alright. I'll see you at home, then." Soul made his way down the steps and met Tsubaki; the meister-weapon duo had told them to meet at their place this time, finally inviting their friends into their home.

Maka watched as the two left the class, being the last to leave. The silence was almost too much until the door creaked open and Justin Law poked his head in. Professor Stein quirked an eyebrow before greeting the guillotine.

"Hello, Stein! I'm here to retrieve Maka for some training."

"Hm? Oh, yeah. Lord Death mentioned something about that. Well, it's not like class is in session anymore." Stein was mostly talking to himself as Justin had preoccupied himself with shouting about the greatness of his Lord, until Maka got his attention.

"Where are we going?"

"Why, this classroom should do! I don't plan to start with anything overly tedious; just a simple breathing exercise. You said you can't feel the weapon presence in you?" Maka nodded at him and he showed her the position she should stand in; feet shoulder-width apart, neck extended and head level. He told her to close her eyes and begin and when he returned, they would begin the next step. Stein had chosen that moment to leave, and was shortly followed by Justin.

He was heading to the library. There was something in the back of his head, some long-forgotten history lesson about weapon-meister blood. He needed to find the proper material before continuing her training. After all, what if something went wrong?

One week ago, Justin Law had delved into all the library had to offer on weapon-meister blood, about how to control one side or the other, how to unite them, how to diffuse them. Everything he read was fascinating and helped him sculpt a better training regiment for Maka, but one book had brought him here.

Carved deep into the mountains, Arachnophobia's last hidden base was smaller than he had anticipated. The enterance was almost too small to accomodate him, but he managed to slip through. As he wandered the long, winding corridors, he was constantly noting little details in case he needed to beat a hasty retreat. The spacing of the lanterns in one hallway was slightly different than another's. As he made one more left, he came across what appeared to be a large dining table, adorned with red, cushioned chairs. The table itself was a dark oak, probably stained from time. His eyes flickered to his left before allowing his guard to drop. They had found him.

A small man with a large top hat stood before him. He had looked for Mosquito specifically, knowing that while the man was short-tempered and now leaderless, his knowledge was still available for picking through.

It wasn't common knowledge, but as a death scythe, Justin knew that Arachne was the one that made the first weapons, well over 800 years ago. The book he had read chronicled a tedious process, and he wasn't sure if he fully understood it - if anyone would, it would be those who had been there.

"Well, if it isn't one of Lord Death's pets."

"Why, Mosquito, it's a pleasure to see you. How is your organization doing?" Mosquito growled at him and his nose stabbed towards Justin, but he evaded it easily. The smile on his face was ever-present, easy-going and Mosquito felt his temper flare. How dare this brat stroll in here like it was nothing? After the fall of his beloved Lady Arachne, Mosquito had done what he could to keep the dwindling numbers of Arachnophobia from falling further, in hopes of his Lady's return. He hadn't anticipated that this child would approach him with taunting words and a mocking smile, to add insult to injury.

"I'm actually here on business."

"What business would the esteemed Lord Death have with us?" Mosquito sneered at him, and the death scythe's smile began to diminish.

"This isn't his business. I'm here because I discovered this book in our library, and I merely came to check its credibility." He handed the book to Mosquito, who snatched the leathery tome from his hands. He opened the pages and began to read the first few lines. His mouth tightened as he snapped the book closed, a quiver found its way into his voice. How had he gotten his hands on a copy of this secret tome, why did the DWMA have a copy of it? Did Lord Death think this weapon's bedtime story credible? Even if it was presented as a myth, Mosquito knew there was truth to it. His Lady had told him all about them.

Justin noticed the delicate way he handled the book, the way he turned it over in his hands once or twice. He was familiar with it, and he slowly handed it back to him. Justin Law reached out to grab it, and noticed Mosquito still gripping it. He made eye contact with the shorter man, noticing a seriousness that made this all the more interesting. He hadn't expected a solemn reaction like this one.

"The only person who would know anything about this would be that trashy, insolent child. Giriko."

"Where might I find him?"

Justin Law remembered his first time coming to this ruddy village; Lord Death had requested back-up for Maka Albarn and Crona Gorgon, the latter's first mission with the school. Everything was eerily the same, even the strange looks each of the enchanters tossed his way, when they could be bothered. He walked through their small village, side-stepping the golems when they seemed as though they would run him down.

He noticed that there was dirt collecting on the hem of his robes, and felt a frown dig itself into his face. He would have to wash everything -even his motorcycle- once he got back to Death City.

"What the fuck? I can't believe this, after the day I just had, I run into you?" He lifted his arm into the air, a blade shooting out of it just in time to block Giriko's chainsaw blade attack that came from overhead. Even this was still the same - the monotony of his brutish attacks would never cease to amaze the young weapon.

"I asked Mosquito to point me in your direction," Justin replied cooly, dodging another attack that he could remember from their previous fights. Giriko seemed to be irritated with this answer and lunged back at him again.

"I told you the last time we met that I would finish this the next time we met. And you decide to come here and start a fight? I'll rip you into pieces, and then I'll rip those pieces into pieces, and I'll put them in boxes and send them to all of your loved ones. You'll find no mercy in me today."

It was strange to hear such pure anger in his voice; but it was certainly more amusing than his bumbling, vulgar vocabulary. Giriko turned up the power of his blades, digging up tons of dirt and emulcifying trees. Justin Law dodged each attack - though the settling debris made it hard to see. He covered his eyes as they began to sting, and he heard Giriko coming fast on his left.

The dust was disrupted by the activation of his chains, and they ground against Justin's blade. He increased the pressure, looking down manically at the death scythe.

Justin managed to push Giriko back, and as he made to come at the guillotine again, Justin threw a book at his feet. He looked warily at the other weapon, who waited patiently for him to lean down and pick up the tome that he had not seen in over 700 years.

"Where do you get off- holy shit, there's no way you- where did you find this?" Giriko's eyes were wide, and he dared not open the pages. His voice had gone from a vicious snarl - to vulgar amazement - to a quiet wonder, something Justin had actually not anticipated.

"I found it in our library at the DWMA." Giriko's eyes flickered up to meet Justin's as he tucked the book into his waistline, before fixing him with a murderous glare. This bastard was interrupting his down time - he had left Mosquito only a few weeks ago, and now this freak had shown up on his doorstep with a relic from a past that was long gone? Someone who was asking about this book would only really want to know one thing - the only step that was missing from the book, four or five lines blurred out and erased by time, was the most important. He could say that he never thought Justin Law, of all his enemies and of all the people he had known, would bring him this book seeking that same knowledge.

His reaction was much less controlled than Mosquito's, but it was similar. Justin Law was now sure of his plans and their success.

"I would like yours and Mosquito's help in this. I have the means, you have the knowledge, and he has the way."

He felt an intense rage fill him, his heart pounding in his chest. He dropped the book as his eyes narrowed, and he attacked Justin again. He almost caught the death scythe off guard, but he was trapped in a shackle guard before being slammed violently into the ground. He laid there for a moment before Justin Law dropped down on him, his elbow jamming into Giriko's stomach and knocking the wind out of him. He stood up and dusted himself off, waiting for the other weapon's reaction.

Giriko didn't want anything to do with this bastard, but he wasn't going to sit around like he had been for the past few weeks. He needed to get moving.

"Any other time, I would say hell no. But, in all my years, I have never been this surprised. I gotta know, though, how do you have the means?" The grin that spread across Justin's face was kishin-level, and the shadows swirled around his face in a ghastly way. He stood from the small crater he had created; Giriko could not stop his feet as the death scythe motioned for him to follow, and soon they were on their way back to the hide-out of Arachnophobia.

He regretted it as soon as he arrived.

Teaming up with his arch-enemy was rough enough - but to go back to a man you told to "fuck his own damn ass" was, well-

"I see you've brought back less than you arrived with." Justin Law felt Giriko's reply begin, so he held up a hand to hault their petty argument.

"Let's all sit down and review our information. Now that we had the author, it should be easier." They all sat down at the large table, setting the novel in the middle.

"I'm surprised you can read, much less write." Mosquito said haughtily, peering down his long nose at the ancient weapon.

"You arrogant bastard," Giriko spat back, his chains appearing and beginning to rev.

"Children, I thought we agreed to work together." Both parties grumbled irately, before returning to the task at hand. Justin still had that smile in place, as unsettling as both men remembered.

Giriko reached out and ran his finger along his old hand-writing, hardly legible after so many years of changing hands. He was surprised that no one had found it before now, but he once again remembered that Justin Law, as one of his toughest opponents, would be able to pull this off if they could find the key factors; twin blades that were hidden by Arachne herself.

"You both know the legend, right?"

"Yes, two children imbuned with the kishin's own madness. They were cast into the center of the Earth, until a kishin rose to wield them. We all know the fairy tale," Giriko struggled to not reach out and cut off Mosquito's head, but Justin Law's bloodlust was vaguely noted; he knew Justin would then probably kill him as well.

"Yes, what does this have to do with anything, Giriko?"

He rubbed a hand over his face in irritation, before growling out a 'shut up' to both of them. Justin's smile grew slightly and Mosquito continued to glare at him down that long, digusting nose.

"It isn't a legend. There were two blades; one of fire, and one of wind. They are of legendary power. Anyone who wields both swords will become a mindless, madness-creating machine. This is the missing step - the reason why there were no more kishins before or after Asura. These blades choose their kishin, and can control their mind."

"But no one has ever seen these blades. How do we know they're real?"

"Because I helped Arachne create them." Justin leaned back in his chair, trying to process all of this information. So, there were two impossibly powerful blades that had the power to destroy a person's mind. They were real. He began to grin, thinking of the possibilities. He shook the thoughts from his mind, drawing back to his research from earlier in the week.

"How would we create a kishin from a meister with weapon blood? As you can see, they are the only lines that are completely gone from this book."

"It would work better if someone they trusted did it - probably during a soul resonance. Forcibly pulling out the weapon blood would shock the meister's soul, cracking it and causing madness. They wouldn't become a kishin -that's what the blades are for- but they would be in a better position for their influence."

Mosquito had stayed oddly quiet, trying to understand all of this. Justin Law, a death scythe of the DWMA, one of Lord Death's right hands, had gathered himself and the punk Giriko into an unsteady alliance to bring the entire world crashing down into madness. He remembered Lady Arachne telling him about the blades, and each word that Giriko spoke were exactly the ones she had spoken to him.

"But where are the blades now? Asura rose months ago. Did they, too, rise?" He broke his silence, voicing his thoughts. If they had no idea where the blades were, than wouldn't all of this planning be moot?

"If they did rise with him, as they should have, they would have risen around where we tossed 'em." Giriko seemed to rustle a few papers around on the table before pulling out the huge map at the bottom. He seemed to think for a few moments before pointing his finger to China, somewhere near the border of Vietnam and Laos.

"They'da popped up around here, I think."

An image popped to the front of Mosquito's mind, not of two powerful blades, not of two hulking men-

But of two young girls, one quiet and the other rowdy. He recalled Arachne telling him to watch over them in the event that the kishin's revival didn't go as planned. He remembered the sadness in their eyes when he told them that Arachne was dead, but that she had wanted to send them to a school in the United States. He had sent them there without question. He scoured his mind for their names before he stood up on his chair. Justin and Giriko gave him their undivided attention as he quietly uttered their names.

Justin's grin spread again, as the plan came together in his mind. Yes, this was going to work.