A groan of frustration, is all that can be heard as a pair of people get dressed, two ladies one with black hair and a singular grouping of red, next to her is Tomoe, the pair getting dressed for something. However, someone's missing. Despite living in the same house as the two, they've botched noticed. Ian slips away every few nights, something's happening and he seems to not want to let them on... where as Ian sighs his mask on his face and his cloak covering him. He sits on a crate alongside Free who eyes him down and Medusa who stands before him. They all look to the side as Eruka approaches carrying a briefcase.

"I brought it. You'll remove one of the snakes and a piece of the glyph now, like you said you would, right?" Erika asks.

Ian & Medusa both smile, Ian earnestly, Medusa's evilly. "Of course."

Medusa steps forward grabbing the briefcase. "You've done well Eruka... good work."

The briefcase is opened and Ian makes sure to take a good look at what's inside whilst behind the mask.

Medusa closes the case. "Finally... Free... How is your magic eye?"

"Ah... In perfect shape now... I should be able to control an independent cube easily." He grins.

"With that eye, the grand witch was an expert in spatial magic... now that the magic eye belongs to you, you'll be needed tonight... Eruka & I will be lending you support with computation spells... we're counting on you." Medusa says as she glances between Free and Ian.

Free nods. "Yeah... just leave it to me."

Medusa turns away. "Now... the time has come. I've been waiting for this night."

Ian smirks under the mask as when everyone separates he makes a clone of himself dawning the gear for his part with Medusa, as the real Ian teleports away heading to the antique shop he quietly and quickly changes and hurried to a nearby barber where he gets his hair cut. Afterwards he returns to the school, joining Ryuko & Tomoe.

"Hey, you two." Ian says stepping between the girls at the entrance to the school.

Ryuko turns to Ian annoyed. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Getting a haircut, doing some research, and discovering intel. Speaking of which, we need to hurry. Ryuko, I recommend taking the blades in necklace mode. But, I also got these for you both." He hands the pair a necklace each, for Ryuko a deep red ruby crystal on the inside of it however is a small gear. For Tomoe an obsidian necklace. Ian smiles at the pair when they give thanks and he nods to them placing on a watch of his own. The three all then walk together towards the DWMA. Tonight is a celebration at the school, Ian remains tense throughout the entire walk almost weary of events.

When the trio arrive he hurriedly looks for Stein. Ryuko follows him as Tomoe joins the others in celebration. As Ian thinks about the conversation with Kid & Lord Death the previous day. That is until Ryuko grabs him and the pair fall back several steps as they get pulled into a Dance with each other surrounded by students watching.

Ryuko growls under her breath. "What the hell is your problem?"

Ian continues looking around while dancing. "I'm trying to help an issue right now."

Ryuko scoffs. "You vanish almost every day, barely talk to us, your teammates, and send us away every chance you get. What aren't you telling us?" She demands.

"I'm trying to help you guys. I can't exactly be open about what I'm doing." Ian says grimly.

"Why the hell not?"

"Because, If I did, I'd be in some deep shit." Ian says matter of factly.

"We're teammates, if you're in deep, So am I." Ryuko grins.

Ian smiles chuckling slightly. "That's not worded right."

Ryuko smiles. "I don't care."

"I know, also, you keep stepping on my foot." Ian points out.

Ryuko blushes, and tries to correct herself. "Sorry! I don't know how to dance!"

Ian chuckles. "Luckily for you, I do know how to dance. Just follow my lead, and we'll start slow."

The pair begin to dance with Ian taking the lead and Ryuko slowly gets the motions down, a few stubbed toes but after a little while she starts to pick up on it.

"Who we're you looking for right now?"

"Dr. Stein & Nurse Medusa." Ian says quietly.

Ryuko raises an eyebrow. "Stein & Medusa?"

"Medusa isn't who she says she is, she's a witch. Unfortunately, I needed to use her, to get a foot in the door on our objective."

"So you've been helping her?" Ryuko asks.

"That Man we fought in London, I helped free him in exchange for information. Unfortunately, that means I know what's happening tonight. We need to warn Dr. Stein."

Ryuko nods. "Then let's finish our dance and go."

Ian nods. "Fine."

The pair continue to dance finding a harmony in the dance. Ian glances around his Clone has entered the city.

"Whats going down tonight?" Ryuko asks.

"There's a Kishin under the school, Medusa plans to awaken it. My job under her is to prevent you and Tomoe specifically from interfering. I'm actually working for Stein, as a double agent. My Clone is to be a decoy against you & Tomoe, the real me, is to try and kill the Kishin before it can awaken."

Ryuko chuckles. "We'll fight together."

The pair smile at each other the pair slowly growing closer and closer to each other

"Stein! Star! Hurry! Get everyone out of here immediately!" Sid says bursting through the door, clearly he's been wounded.

Ian & Ryuko both turn to the entrance everyone does as Medusa growls as she and Ian begin running out with Medusa leading him while Ian makes it look like he's giving chase. She leaps out as Ian smirks and his eye glows for a second as he, Ryuko, and Tomoe teleport to a different spot in the school.

Tomoe turns to Ian confused. "Whats going on?"

Ian crouches down summoning his axes. "It's time to fight a witch... and myself."

Tomoe glances between himself and Ryuko. "What do you mean, yourself?"

Ian sighs. "Wait for the others..."

Ryuko looks back. "Others?"

Suddenly several coffins form and release several others next to them.

Stein steps forward standing in front of Ian. "Is everything ready?"

Ian sighs standing up. "As ready as it can be."

Maka glances between the pair. "What's going on?"

"We've got several witches above ground Medusa Gorgon, Eruka Frog, and the Mizune siblings, along with the Demon Sword, Crona, "Death 13" Free, and a clone of myself." Ian informs everyone taking the pseudo role of leader and plan maker.

Maka glares at Ian. "Why a clone of yourself?"

"Because, I'm a double agent. My orders from my main boss were to come to the school, value the power output of souls, Kill or defeat the witch Clarissa Star, and hunt down the old arachnophobia Faction. However, my current boss..." He points to Stein. "...figured out that the school nurse was a witch with my help and enlisted me to go undercover."

Kid nods. "You needed her to trust you, so you sold us out."

"Wrong. I bailed out Free, and protected Medusa against witches who were against her. My ultimate goal right now under orders of Dr, Stein are to kill the Kishin, and imprison the escaped convict Free."

Stein steps forward. "Listen up. What he speaks is the truth. We've got an emergency on our hands. Below the DWMA sleeps a Kishin... the source of all madness in the world."

Ian shrugs. "Most of."

Stein rolls his eyes. "Whatever. You should know, our school nurse Medusa is a witch... she snuck into the academy to revive the Kishin."

"And to study the effects of her black blood on both a Star & on a weapon/meister pair. We must stop this at all costs."

Maka looks down dumbfounded. "Dr. Medusa is actually a witch...? That's crazy."

Soul glances around the others. "And this Kishin, too...? How's something like that beneath the school?"

Kid nod. "It's true. My father explained everything it to Ian & I... in order to keep the Kishin sleeping, safe and sound... my father cannot ever leave the academy."

"Huh...? So there's a reason Lord death never goes anywhere...? I always thought he just wasn't much of a people person..." Black a star says offhandedly.

Ian turns opening the pathway before them. "Let's move. Certain people will have to fight certain targets... Maka, Soul, as the pair who have black blood in their system you'll fight Crona & the demon sword. Black Star, Kid, Matoi, and I will try to reach Eruka & Free and stop them from injecting the Black Blood into the Kishin, Professor, I'm trusting Medusa to you. Tomoe, you need to defeat the clone of me, if it's a straight fight with no prying eyes aside from us then he'll go easy, but if any of the enemy are in position to see the fight then prepare for a tough one."

The group all run towards the entrance. Stein opens the entrance with Ian and he both having a cigarette that is until Ryuko grabs it out of Ian's mouth and throws it to the side.

Ian hums seeing her snuff it out. "What's up?"

"We'll fight back to back at all times."

Ian chuckles. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

The pair smile at each other. Drawing their weapons, Ryuko and her scissor blade, Ian drawing his pair of axes. The students all enter along with Stein all of them start running down the hall towards the Kishin.

Maka glances next to her, on his skateboard is Kid. "Hey, Kid. How did Lord Death seal away the Kishin in the first place?"

"My father tore off Asura's skin, made a tightly sealed bag out of it, and stuffed Asura inside... then he rooted his own soul and body here inside Death City to keep the Kishin from ever breaking free."

Black Star glances over. "And because of that Lord Death can never leave the city?"

"What if the seal was broken, and the Kishin managed to get free...? Would Lord Death be able to go wherever he wanted?" Maka asks.

Stein shakes his head. "That still wouldn't work."

"If it's true that Lord Death attached his soul to this town... then you could say he's become one with Death City. You could say he's trapped inside himself. Only two of us here have experience being trapped like that, aye Ryuko?" Ian mutters the last part.

Ryuko hums. "I don't like to dwell on that time."

Ian shrugs. "Fair, fair." He begins to speed up, taking the lead position in the formation.

"You can't even imagine how disastrous things would be if the Kishin is revived. It's madness is like a plague." Stein says.

Ian hums. "Sounds familiar." In his mind he gets a flash of Loki, and everything Daniel went through with that situation, and the resulting news. When there remain only 3 Stars living on the planet, the end has arrived signaled by the full development of the End Father.

They continue running along Ian looks forward and he increases his speed rapidly, much to the others surprise they see a black blur shooting from side to side. He uses his axes to fight of hordes of stone monsters. He then turns to the center of the path. Standing there, himself in a cloak and a white mask plain mask.

"Tomoe! This is your fight! Everyone else let's hurry." Ian orders.

The group all run forward as the clone tries to stop them but is blocked by Tomoe using her sword to keep him away from the others as they rush by.

"Hey Maka, we've been running for a while now. Can you sense any witches up ahead with that little gift of yours?" Black Star asks after they've passed the clone.

"Their soul protects are probably on right now." Maka says.

"Oh. Alright. That's lame... sensing stuffs the only thing you're half decent at." Black Star brushes her aside.

Maka scoffs. "You really know how to piss me off."

Everyone stops suddenly. Looking forward a being is just beyond the shadows that lay ahead of them. Ian sighs lighting another cigarette he takes a puff before launching it at the shadows only for it to be caught by Spirit.

"I know that soul. I'm sure of it. That nasty, despicable feeling... papa." Maka says with full hatred catching Ian and Ryuko by surprise.

Spirit deflates. "I'm not nasty... or despicable."

"How did you manage to escape from the trap they set up there?" Stein asks.

"You really need to get rid of those cigarettes." Ryuko turns to Ian.

Ian shrugs. "They can be useful."

"Do it before I make you."

Ian lofts another. "Why?"

Ryuko stares at Ian the pair inches apart now with her glare going into his soul.

Spirit grins seeing the young teens. "When it comes to chasing a woman no one's faster than I am."

Ian & Ryuko think back to Issei. "I beg to differ!"

"I shoulda guessed... it is a relief to see you, though... I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to do without my weapon around. What do we got... are they up ahead?" Stein asks.

Spirit nods. "Uh-huh... lying in wait for us." Spirit then transforms while Stein turns to the students.

"Listen up... from this point forward, there's no telling what could happen... it'd be best for you weapons not to return to human form during the battle. When you're vulnerable a single blow could be the end of you." Stein instructs, getting confirmation from those who can transform into weapons.

Black Star steps forward. "Why are they sitting up there waiting for us...? Thought they were on their way to the Kishin."

Ian cracks his neck. "It's just Medusa, maybe Crona. Eruka & Free will be headed towards Asura. Maka, Soul, Stein, These will be your fights. Everyone, be ready." He readies to take the lead. "Somethings coming." He mutters next to Ryuko.

Everyone prepares for combat as Ryuko & Ian stand back to back.

"Opponent one is Medusa. Stein, make openings. Black Star & I will try to get by first, Maka and Kid will try next."

Stein nods. "Right." They all stop in front of Medusa.

"How lovely to see you all again." Medusa says looking at the group.

Ian grins, acting like his guard is lowered. "Aww, babe, the pleasures mine."

Medusa frowns at him. "So you did betray us."

"Come now, I'm on the fence. I'm fighting for both sides. Am I the real one, or am I fighting Tomoe? How will you tell?" Ian asks.

Medusa extends an arm. "By killing this one!"

Ian smirks as a vectors first target him. He smirks as he and Ryuko rush forward with the others following him. Stein follows first and blocks and fights off most of the vectors allowing for the students to easily slip by and continue running along. As Medusa tries to keep them from running she's slammed by a soul force from Stein.

Stein frowns. "It's just you and me now, Medusa."

Medusa sighs. "I miscalculated. To think that I let all  of them get away. But as long as I stop you from getting any further and Crona prevents Star, my plan will still succeed. They're just children. They should be taken care of quickly enough."

"I wouldn't underestimate those children. Matoi is even stronger than Star, and in a pure fight could easily beat him in strength would she actually try. Even then Star's personal experiences far outmatches all of your subordinates. Didn't you learn anything about our studenta' abilities during your little stint at the academy...? Maybe my spy dampened your efforts? Or are you just a fool?"

"No, I think you're the fool. And your spy? We'll see... I wonder how they're going to do against the demon sword & my little ratS."

Stein deadpans. "He seriously couldn't come up with something better than his name backwards."

Kid, Ian & Ryuko all rush past Crona not sparring the child a second glance all far gone before they can even notice them.

Stein & Spirit  prepare to fight Medusa. Stein starts with a second Soul Burst before being launched back by a vector plate. He and Medusa continue to fight with Medusa using her vector spells. Medusa attempts to convince Stein to join her. Meanwhile Black Star approaches Crona & Ragnarok.

Black Star stops in front of the pink haired child. "Are you the demon sword? You don't look like you can put up a very good fight to me... Defeating you isn't gonna enhance my reputation at all. Seriously dude, you look pretty messed up. Are you okay?" Ragnarok transforms from Crona's back to the sword. "Oh well, who cares about you and your problems anyway... The important thing is that I'm gonna kick your ass."

Tsubaki speaks to him in her weapon form. "Black Star, Ian said that you'd be best chasing the others and leave them to Maka."

"Black Star. Hold up a second!" Maka says approaching.

"You made it here quick for someone so slow."

Maka stares at Crona. "Let me handle this."

Black Star recoils annoyed. "What why?"

Tsubaki once again tries to talk to Black Star. "What are you doing Black Star? Ian already said that Maka & Soul were the best for this fight."

"What are you thinking? I'm not gonna let you take the spotlight off me."

"Follow his orders. He's been working with the Demon Sword, he must know something about the demon sword we don't, otherwise he would've stayed to fight himself."

Black Star looks to make his eyes questioning her before he shrugs and takes off after the others before Crona can even react. "Alright, If that's how it's gonna be... Spotlights yours." He says as he begins to race away.

Chapter End.