"What!?"

Spirit Albarn felt his eyes widen as he received the news. The male in the bear mask nods. "Yup, it's true. I saw a sphere of madness there. It was huge. May be worth checking it out."

The pair were communicating through mirror, Spirit standing in the center of the Death Room with Lord Death. The shinigami seemed just as thrilled from the news. "This is good, Tezca. Thank you very much for this information. Try to get more information about the sphere of madness if you could."

"I'll see what I can do. Gimme a bit of time and I'll be back before you know it" Tezca replies. Nodding, Lord Death claps his hands together. "Very well. Lets hope we may talk again soon then." With that, the call ends and Tezca's image fades. Quickly looking at the shinigami, Spirit bursts out, "Do you think it's the kids? Could they possibly be in there!?"

Nodding a bit, Lord Death looks off in the distance. "Yes, it's a possibility. But we don't know for sure yet. We have to be sure first. That's why I'm having Tezca get more information." Spirit was already on his way out of the room. "Who cares on getting information? Let's just go!"

"No Spirit. We can't do that. Its simply too soon."

Groaning, Sprit frowns. "My daughter could be in there…how do you expect me to wait…"

"Because we don't know if they're in there. For all we know, it could be a trap or something entirely different and unrelated to the missing children. And I lost my son too, Spirit. We're in the same boat" Lord Death explains. Sighing, Spirit shakes his head. Lord Death was right. He'd have to wait.

Black*Star continues to listen until the two voices get further and eventually leave the area. "Okay, Tsubaki! Here's the plan. First we-"

A hand quickly grabs Black*Star from behind causing him to flair around in surprise and shock. A sharp voice quickly hisses at his ear. "Shut up you brat." Turning around, the blue haired male saw that it was Medusa Gorgon. Stumbling back, Black*Star tenses up. "So I was right! You really aren't dead!"

Snapping her fingers and hissing at him, Medusa narrows her eyes. "I said shut up! Do you want my sister and the Kishin to hear you!"

Crossing his arms, Black*Star raises his brow. "What's with you? You're not going to kill me?"

Growling, Medusa pushes past him and sneaks forward. "No, I'm not. Not yet that is." Following after Medusa, Black*Star glances at Tsubaki who was in her human form. "What do you think she's up to?"

Giving a nervous shrug, Tsubaki holds her arm. "Not sure exactly…but this is Medusa we're talking about so…" Nodding, the blue haired male follows after Medusa and tilts his head. "What exactly are you up to, snake witch?"

Rolling her eyes, Medusa scoffs. "Isn't that obvious? I'm trying to find a way out of here. Now you can either stand there like a fool and get caught by the Kishin or you can help me get out of this living hell."

Back on top of the island, Maka and Soul both glance at the hole that Black*Star and Medusa fell in. Gulping, Maka begins to shiver. "Do you think Black*Star and Tsubaki are okay?" Holding her closely, Soul sighs and shakes his head. "I don't know Maka. I don't know."

Glancing at Free and Eruka, Kid cautiously circles around them. "So you two were with Medusa right?"

Frowning, the wolf man speaks. "Yeah we were. But not anymore." Raising his twin pistols at the two, Kid glares. "Considering you were both in an alliance with the witch who murdered my friends, I don't see why I can't just take your souls."

As Free sees Eruka begin to tremble, he steps in front of her. "Back off, brat!"

Biting his tongue, Kid puts his finger to the triggers of his guns. "I'll blow you away."

Seeing the scene before her, Maka's eyes widen and she rushes to Kid, leaving Soul dazed and confused. Yelling out after Kid, Maka says, "Kid! Don't! Its just what he wants! You'll play right into Asura's hands!"

Ignoring Maka, Kid pulls the triggers, muttering under his breath. "Die scum."

Picking up Eruka and rushing away, Free desperately runs to get away from Kid's attack. Nearly tackling Kid down, Maka grabs his arms and shakes her head. "Stop it, Kid! Don't do it! You can't play the game!"

Crying out in anger, Kid shoves Maka off, forcing her to the ground. He turns to look at her with a crazed anger in his eyes. "How can you tell me to not do it? They killed them. They killed Kim and Ox!"

Shivering on the floor, Maka avoids Kid's eyes. "N-No…Medusa killed them. Those two didn't do anything…and besides…we can't do what the Kishin wants." Glaring at Maka angrily, Kid kneels down and forcibly grabs her shoulders. "You don't get it Maka! We have no choice! We have to play the game! We either play or we die! You hear me!? We play or-"

A loud thunk is heard as Kid falls unconscious and Jackie stands over him with one of the twin pots in gauntlet form. "Sorry…he was getting loud." Helping Maka up, Jackie looks at Kid's body. "Did he lose it just now?"

Reverting back to human form, Liz and Patty glance at the young shinigami. Sighing, Liz kneels beside him. "I'll wait here for him to wake up. Hopefully he isn't crazy." Patty tilts her head and looks over at Maka. "Are you okay? Did Kiddo-kun scare ya?"

Looking away, Maka nervously holds her arm. It was just then that Crona's scared voice called out. "M-Maka! S-Soul is…!"

Shooting her head up, Maka's eyes widen as she sees Soul lying on the floor, a pool of blood around him. Screaming, Maka runs to him. "SOUL!"

The pair had finally managed to escape and by then Free couldn't stop thinking about what he had just done. Eruka glances at the male nervously and then looks away. Looking down at his hands, Free shivers. Blood. He had blood on his hands. "I…I didn't mean to do it. It just happened." The incident that occurred just moments ago was still running through his head.

He and Eruka had been running from Kid and while they ran, Soul and Crona were up ahead in front of them. Soul had been determined to block them off and stood firm in their path. Thinking of nothing else, Free had clawed at Soul and he found his arm lodging into Soul's shoulder. Crona had just stood there. As if he were paralyzed the moment he saw the blood. But it had been Soul's cry in pain made the memory repeat in Free's head.

Wiping the blood off his hands, Free shivers. Looking at Eruka, he bites his lip. "I'm sorry you had to see me do that. I didn't have a choice." Backing away from Free, the frog witch looks at the floor. "You…You nearly killed the kid, Free. If its that easy for you to kill then you could easily kill me too, right?"

His eyes wide, Free quickly shakes his head. "Of course not, Eruka! I'd never hurt you! I did that to protect you! It was either him or us!"

Eruka refused to listen to him, however as she kept backing away. "Y-You're going to kill me eventually…I…I just can't stay here with you, Free. Its not safe to be with you anymore. Not after that…"

Free simply couldn't understand. Doesn't she get that I did that to protect her!? And I didn't kill him! I just injured the brat! But…this feeling just now…is it guilt? Why…? Why do I feel so bad?

Tears flowing down her cheeks, Eruka turns to run. "Leave me alone, Free!"

"Eruka, wait! Don't go!" Chasing after her, Free feels himself gain a new feeling. What am I doing? Why the hell am I even chasing after her? Do…do I really care about her enough to be doing this?

"Eruka, stop! Damn it, Eruka quit running! I want to help you!"

As he gains on her, Free quickly lunges at the witch, tackling her down. Eruka squeals and squirms around as Free struggles to pin her wrists down. Gritting his teeth, the werewolf manages to pin her. "Enough Eruka!"

Crying and shaking her head, the frog witch begins to tremble. "Just k-kill me already then…d-do it!"

Sighing, Free closes his eyes and leans down, kissing the witch on the lips. "Shut up already, Eruka…"

The sudden action catches her by surprise and she whimpers as her eyes widen. "F-Free?"

Pulling away from her lips, the wolf man gazes into her eyes. "Just…don't run away from me like that. A wolf can't let his soul mate just wander off alone…"

Sniffing and smiling weakly, Eruka lets out a nervous giggle. "A wolf in love with a frog? How cheesy is that?" Smiling softly, Free gives a nod and silences her with another kiss. "Very cheesy. Very cheesy indeed."

END OF CHAPTER 16
DEATH COUNT: 10