My hand dug into the dirt, stopping me from sliding backwards. The world around me was red. I let out a breath. "Do it, (Y/n). Right..." James said in my head, his weapon form starting to glow. "Now!"

I whipped the sword outward, hitting the two Keshins right in the stomach. They both screeched, and their bodies began to explode outward in the now familiar black rush. The two Keshin eggs sat floating in the middle of the small back alley of the city. I let out a breath as James returned to human form and walked to the two eggs. I closed my eyes and counted back from ten as odd memories bombarded me. I was used to it now.

I opened my eyes and everything looked normal. I smiled at James. "Those two put us at thirteen!" He said, coming over and linking his arm into mine. "Let's go back. Mari is waiting in the car."

It had been two weeks now since James and I defeated our first Keshin. We now spent every afternoon that we could going on a mission. Stein had insisted that we take break days in between because my unusual situation left James and I drained. I felt like I was on fire right now with energy, though.

"Mari's sleeping." James said as we reached the car and saw the blue-haired girl slumped again the driver's seat, her chest moving up and down in steady breaths. He opened the door and slid his arms under the girl, lifting her. I opened the back seat and he set her down. She, like a very good chaperone, had driven us to some of our missions. She never went on missions, even though she was a weapon. I didn't think I knew her weapon form? According to Maka, she hadn't used it for a long time around them.

James got into the driver's seat and went around to shotgun. It was late out because we'd managed two missions. As I sat down and James started the two hour drive back to Death City, I felt myself getting tired.

"You can sleep." My partner said.

I shook my head. "It's fine. I'll keep you company."

We arrived in Death City a little while later and James parked the car at Mari's apartment. He lifted her out of the back and we brought her in, laying her down on her couch. We started the walk to the Academy. It wasn't too far, but I had gotten a little more tired. We climbed the steps, each one making my legs feel more and more like lead. "At least tomorrow is no school for the long weekend so I can sleep in." I groaned.

James nodded, chuckling. "Are you doing anything for the weekend?" he asked.

I nodded. "Mari and I are going a few cities over for the a few nights. There's a concert we're seeing." I smiled, excited.

"Really?" James asked. I nodded. We walked into the Academy and fell into silence for a few minutes. We reached my dorm, and he gave me a side hug. I smiled and unlocked my door. I stepped in and shut it as Skye ran up and jumped up on me. James was going to feed him while Mari and I were gone.

I walked into my room and pulled my combat clothes off of me, ready to take a shower and feel clean. I looked at my bag on the bed, half packed with everything out on the bed. I waved a hand at it as Skye jumped up and nosed into it, probably smelling the medication Stein had given me.

I stepped into the bathroom and got under the warm spray of water I turned on. As far as I could tell, the snake Medusa had put in me hadn't really done anything. I had the occasional twist of pain or wave of nausea, but nothing major. I washed my hair, letting out a sigh. It would be nice to get away.

I rushed down the steps of the DWMA, seeing Mari with the car waiting at the bottom, grinning up at me. I turned for long enough to see Kid, Black Star, and Soul dashing after me.

"(Y/n)! Come back!"

"Give me a hug!"

"You forgot—"

"No!" I laughed jumping into Mari's car as she started it up. I waved at the three boys through the window as Mari chuckled and pulled away, her sports car faster than they could run by a longshot.

"Boy trouble?" She asked sarcastically.

I let out a sigh. "Shut up."

She flicked on the radio, some new singer that had just blown up coming through. "You got everything packed?" I asked, shoving my bag into the backseat so it wasn't on my lap anymore.

Mari nodded. "I got everything for the lake, too. That's where we'll stay tonight." She said.

I nodded. We were quiet for a few minutes, reaching a drive through coffee place that she pulled into. She rolled the window down and leaned up to the intercom. "Two large cold brews." She said, and there was an affirmative 'yes' faintly heard through the speaker.

"Did you bring a bathing suit?" I asked.

She grinned as we pulled up to the service window and waited for our coffees. "Yep." She pulled her card from her wallet. "There's supposed to be a party on the beach part of the lake near the house where we're staying." She said.

I felt the giddy feelings of a teenager spike through me at the thought. "Oh?" I asked. I hadn't really been to any parties ever. Or as much as I could remember. Some of the split memories in my head hinted at it, but I couldn't be sure.

"Your coffees." A boy's voice said and I looked out to see him leaning from the window, his brown hair swept to the side. As Mari exchanged her card for the coffees, he blushed. "You're both very pretty, I thought I'd tell you." He said. Mari and I both laughed. He swiped the card and then wrote something on the receipt.

Mari laughed as she took it, reading his number and the name Colby. "Thank you, Colby, but I already have a boyfriend." She said, and then pointed a finger at me. "And so does she. In a way."

He looked dejected, but then smiled. "Oh well. You still have my number!" she waved as we pulled off.

I smirked at Mari. "'So does she. In a way'?" I questioned.

Mari laughed and sipped her coffee. "It's the truth! Who knows what you'd call your situation!" I smiled at her, the song playing in the afternoon coolness nice. For the first time in a while, we had a break from the cold spell and it was warm enough to wear shorts and t-shirts.

"This is going to be fun." I said. Mari grinned.