It was dark outside, the street lamps being the only source of illumination for anyone... which is what made it perfect for the small group of 3 that were prowling around a house located in a suburb in San Diego.

The leader of the shadowy trio watched the house for a minute or so, before nodding.

"Perfect." his whispered.

"One shot, let's get this right." he said.

- - - -

Azazel yawned as he pulled up into the driveway, and looked at the sun peeking out over the horizon.

"I'd rather just teleport." he said to himself.

"But, appearances must be kept." he said further, looking at the vehicle in front of him.

"Hope it gets fixed soon."[/b[ he continued, getting out of the car and making his way to the front door, pushing the doorbell.

[b]"Hope she's awake." he then mumbled.

"Be awkward if she's not..."

"Hey Erica." Azazel replied, stepping inside.

"I was thinking we could hit up a donut drive-thru or something on the way to work." he told her.

"It's a smidgen earlier than I thought it'd be, so we have time." he reasoned.

"If not, s'cool." he said with a shrug.

"Regardless, I'll wait here for you while you get ready." he then said further.

"No HUGE rush, we still have some time." he added with a small smile.

Azazel paused for a moment.

"Eh? Dreck?" he said.

"Never heard you use THAT term before." he commented.

"But fair enough." he chuckled.

"Your stuff isn't HORRIBLE, but you DO need to start buying better stuff." he admitted.

"Still, dreck?" he asked.

"Where'd you pick THAT up?"

"....huh." Azazel mumbled.

"Well, fair enough." he said.

"Always a possibility." he reasoned.

'...still, weird that it's showing up now.' he then thought. 'Or IS it?' he asked himself. 'New terms can creep into the lexicon at the weirdest times.' he then reasoned, before shaking his head lightly.

'I'm overthinking this. It's early, that's all.' he assured himself.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"Dunker's Drive-Thru or Ground Under?"

"Hmm." Azazel mumbled.

"Ground Under, it is." he said.

"Ricky should be working, and he knows how to make a cup that'll wake ya up." he chuckled.

"So yeah, we'll head there." he said further.

"By the way, how are you feeling, mana-wise?" he asked.

"Starting to get a feel for your demonic aspects finally?" he asked further.

"All right." Azazel replied.

"Let's go." he said.

Later at the Unit, one of the agents there, a younger one, seemed to be in some distress.

He was one that could manipulate water. Not create it, just manipulate it.

And he was currently having a hard time with it, causing nearby bottles of water to rupture, and taps to start gushing water.

He was freaked out by the presence from earlier, but looked at Erica.

"I don't know." he said.

"My water control is out of control." he told her.

"I don't know what to do." he said further.

"..." he was then silent, and looked away.

"Careful, you might get wet if you come near me." he then warned.

He was silent again for a moment.

"....yeah." he said.

"Yeah, m-maybe." he agreed.

He then looked at the proffered hand, before nodding and taking it.

"Thank you." he said.

"Everyone else has been staying away from me."

"Ah, hello." he responded.

"I'm Lyle." he introduced himself.

"I work as a field agent." he said.

"Usually around cases that have water involved." he chuckled lightly.

"...but yes, I should probably go to the medical wing." he then agreed.

Lyle shook his head.

"No." he replied.

"Well, once." he then said.

"But that's when I was younger and my mana was maturing." he told her.

"I should be well past that, and there's no such thing as a second maturation." he reasoned.

"So I don't know what this is... at all." he admitted further.

As he said this, his thoughts went back to the shadowy figure, and what they had said... was this a sign of something more? Something awful?