This first chapter will be mostly about Maka and Kami, but Spirit will take the main part in the next chapter, just letting you all know now.
–
Soul couldn't help but notice that Maka had an extra spring in her step as they went up the numerous stairs that led up to the academy. Of course, this was to be expected. His meister had just received news that, to her, was the best ever.
Maka's mother had returned to Death City.
When Maka had received the news that Kami was returning home, she was ecstatic to say the very least. Apparently Kami had come back upon Lord Death's request to complete a mission especially for him. Maka had no idea what it was, but all she knew was that it meant she got to see her mother again. The duo met Crona on the stairs, the timid boy waved slightly to them as they finally made it over the top step.
"H-hello Maka, Soul. You look happy? Did something happen?" Maka grabbed Crona by the wrists and whirled around with him in excitement in her fervor.
"You bed it did! My mom is finally back! She came back to Death City!" When she released Crona, Soul had to step up so the pink-haired boy wouldn't collapse from dizziness. Crona wobbled a bit as Soul set him back on his feet, but didn't fall over as it initially seemed he would.
"TH-that's great, Maka," Crona mumbled dizzily. Ragnarok, feeling the whirling going on from his host, popped out. The tiny black head wobbled as Crona did.
"Hey! What's all the commotion going on out here, Cow?! You trying to kill us with dizziness or something?" Maka couldn't even find it in herself to be annoyed with Ragnarok today. So instead of yelling at him or saying something mean, she pinched the blood-creature's cheeks and smiled in his face.
"Nope! I'm just happy today!" She released Ragnarok's cheeks and twirled away, leaving the boys behind in her dust.
"So, Maka's mom is back?" Crona asked. Soul nodded as he clasped his hands behind his neck.
"Yup. To say that she's real happy would be a big understatement."
Maka was still twirling as she passed through the hallways. She was just coming up to the infirmiry as the door opened.
"Alright, thanks for the patch-up Nygus. I'll be careful." Maka halted at the familiar voice as the person coming out closed the door behind them. They looked up, rubbing their arm, when they saw Maka with a huge smile on her face. "Well, if it isn't my precious little girl."
"MAMA!" Maka flung herself at her mother, wrapping her in a big hug! "Mama! I missed you so much!" her mother hugged her back just as tightly.
"I missed you too, baby!" Kami placed a kiss on her daughter's forehead just as Crona and Soul came up. Maka, seeing them from the corner of her eye, pulled back and held a hand out at her friends.
"Soul, Crona, this is my mom. Mom, this is my partner, Soul, and my friend Crona." The ash-blond woman smiled sweetly at the boys and waved a hand.
"It's very nice to meet you boys," she said. They answered likewise and she looked them over. "So, this is the 'Soul Eater' Maka has been talking about, eh? Well, looks like my daughter made a good pick on looks, at least." She turned to Crona and smiled. "And you must be Crona, I'd guess. You're so adorable!" She patted the pink-haired boy on the head, drawing a pleased blush from him. For once, Ragnarok was silent, and didn't take the opportunity to pop from Crona's back and insult Maka's mother. Maka looked up and saw a few loops of bandages wrapped around her mother's left bicep and her right wrist.
"Mama, what happened to your arms? Did you get hurt on your mission?" Kami looked at her bandages, then shrugged them off carelessly.
"Oh, it's just a couple of scratches. Nothing major. I was just in the nurse's to get them cleaned up." She put her hands on her hips and grinned down at her daughter. "So, now that I'm back and I have a bit of time, why don't I take you kids out to get some ice cream? My treat." Soul grinned at the idea, showing off his shark-like teeth.
"Cool, that sounds delicious. Thanks Maka's mom." Kami waved it off like it was nothing.
"Oh please, it's nothing. And do me a favor, just call me Kami." Soul nodded and stuck his hands into his pockets.
"Come on, let's go now, in case my dad found out she got back and tries to hunt us down." Her back was turned to Kami, so she didn't notice the strange, fleeting expression on her mother's face.
"Cool. Alright then, let's go Ma- Kami." The group started heading down the hallway, away from the infirmary. Crona was lagging a few steps behind them, so the rest of them didn't notice when Ragnarok appeared.
"Oh, Ragnarok, there you are," he mumbled to the creature in his body. "I was wondering why you hadn't come out. Don't you want to meet Maka's mother?" Ragnarok turned his head up at Kami, who had struck up a conversation with Maka. The black blood creature made its' equivalent of a frown and immediately popped back into Crona's back.
"No way. I don't know why, but I don't like her. I've got this weird feeling in my gut." Crona kept walking as he looked over his shoulder where Ragnarok had disappeared.
"Crona! Are you coming?!" Maka called form up ahead. He nodded and picked up his pace to follow.
"Y-yeah. Coming Maka!"
–
"Mm, I love the ice cream from this place. It's my favorite," Maka said as she licked at a cone of vanilla. "Thanks again for bringing us here, Mama." Kami smiled again at her daughter.
"Oh, it was nothing. Are you boys enjoying yours?" Soul nodded as he munched on the cone of his. Crona was eating his vanilla cone, but he kept on looking over his shoulder. Maka raised an eyebrow once she realized what was bothering her timid friend.
"Hey Crona, where's Ragnarok? I just realized that I haven't seen him today." Crona shrugged meekly and licked his ice cream as he looked over his shoulder.
"I don't know. He refused to come out, even when I offered to let him have some of my ice cream." Soul looked a bit astonished at this.
"Ragnarok? Not coming out for food? Huh, I wonder if something really is wrong?" Kami looked at the teens with a confused expression on her face.
"Ragnarok? Who's that?" Maka remembered that she had never told her mother about Ragnarok being the blood in Crona's body while she was catching her up to speed on the way to the ice cream shop. Knowing that her mother might be a bit put off of Crona if she knew her friend had a demon sword living in his body, she waved off the question, much in the same manner her mother had earlier.
"Oh, no one important. Someone annoying." The matter was forgotten in just a few minutes, and they were happily chatting not long after. Soon, Kami excused herself to the restroom, and left to where it was in the back. Someone walked into the ice cream shop, speaking in a familiar voice. Maka looked up and smiled at the two entering people.
"Oh, Miss Marie, Professor Stein. Hello there." The teachers acknowledged their students pleasantly when they saw them.
"Oh, hello there everyone. Enjoying a nice ice cream treat?" They all responded yes. "Yeah, it's a perfect day for it, isn't it? I was just dragging Stein away from the lab long enough to get a scoop of vanilla chocolate chip. He needs it." Stein didn't respond, only grunted. She left him there with the students while she waltzed over to the counter to order. She was back in a matter of minutes with the treats and the teachers sat down with the students. Stein had been looking over the people at the table, and finally spoke up as he took his first bite.
"So, Maka, I was wondering. There were three people sitting here, but four servings of ice cream. He was saying servings, but he was pointing at the empty wrapper that used to surround a cone. "Who was eating with you?" Maka's face broke into a grin again, since she got to explain it all over again. But before she could, she heard footsteps behind her.
"I'm back Maka." Marie, who had been in the middle of eating her strawberry chocolate swirl, stiffened and looked up when Kami came. Kami sat down, and only then seemed to notice the teachers with them. "Oh, Marie, Franken," Stein grunted at the use of his first name, "I didn't know you were here. I hadn't seen you since after the mission." Maka tilted her head as she bit down into the cone.
"You went with Miss Marie and Professor Stein on your mission?"
"That's right, and your father." Crona saw that Marie had a strange, stiff expression on her face. Her hand tightened ever so slightly on her ice cream as she stared at Maka's mother. Her face began to contort into something akin to anger, but Stein placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Marie. Don't. Just don't." Then, Marie did something none of them ever thought they would see her do. The blond woman, quickly stood up, sending her chair flying back behind her, and cried out in what sounded to be a mix of frustration and anger a she threw her ice cream into the closes garbage can. The force of the throw sent the receptacle flying back against the wall. She let out another cry, and Crona started when he thought she saw tears on her eyes. Marie ran/stomped to the door and slammed it behind her as she left, sending the bell across the room from the force. Stein was a bit more calm. He slowly, methodically, went to the garbage can and deposited his barely-eaten treat into it. Then he went to the door, but stopped as he opened it and looked over his shoulder directly at Kami. Maka could see the professor's eyes. They were filled with an indescribable malice and burning anger, one that said that he wanted nothing more than to violently hack the woman into shreds. Then, his gaze went to Maka and softened. When he looked at her, Maka saw what could only be described as Stein's version of pity. Then, the doctor turned and followed Marie out the door.
–
"What do you think was up with Miss Marie earlier?" Maka shrugged as she walked alongside Soul and Crona. Her mother had gone back to whatever hotel she had been planning on staying in, leaving the teens to their own devices and plans. For lack of anything better to do, Soul and Maka had decided to accompany Crona back to his room at the academy.
"I don't know. But whatever it was, she seemed really upset with my mom." She lowered her gaze a bit, a mixture of confusion and fear in her eyes. "But what about professor Stein? He looked so... so murderous. I don't think I've ever seen him like that. Except maybe when we were fighting Medusa." As they passed the infirmary door, they heard whispers coming from the door.
"How is he doing, Nygus? Stein? Is he going to be alright?" The trio paused outside the door, listening.
"Isn't that Miss Marie?" Soul asked aloud. Maka shushed him and the three pressed their ears nearby the door.
"He's going to be fine." This voice belonged to Nygus. "His injuries are severe, but he'll live. At least, thanks to Stein's assistance."
"Of course, I wouldn't do anything else." Stein was the one speaking now. "After all, he is my partner." Upon hearing the word partner, Maka tensed up. There were only two people with whom Stein would use that word with. And since Marie was obviously fine... Soul saw immediately what was going to happen and tried to grab her arm.
"Maka, wait-" Maka threw the door open and went into the room. The three teachers looked up, startled by her sudden entry. Maka could only stare in shock at the scene. Nygus, Stein, and Marie were all standing around a hospital bed, where Spirit lay unconscious. Maka saw that her father was covered in so many layers of bandages. His chest was wrapped thickly in gauze, along with multiple other wraps on his arms, legs, and head. There was a large patch across his cheek, and it ran across his nose. An oxygen mask had been placed over his mouth and nose, and the heart monitor told that his heart, while a bit unsteady, was beeping at a semi-steady pace.
"Dad!" Maka ran to her father's beside and grabbed his arm. She leaned over him, though he made no move to respond. "Dad! Are you okay!? Dad!" Still, Spirit did not respond to his daughter's cries. Behind her, Soul and Crona had entered, but they stopped when they saw why she seemed so hysterical.
"Good Death, what happened to him," Soul whispered. Crona trembled behind him and, at last, Ragnarok found it in himself to make an appearance.
"Geez, what happened to him? Looks like he got into a fight with a meat grinder and lost. Badly."
"Ragnarok," Crona said lowly. Make was looking down, bangs hanging over her eyes. Stein had just had the thought that she seemed quite a bit like the man lying on the bed when she did that, when she spoke directly to them.
"Professor, Miss Marie... Who did this?" The teachers looked at each other, then to Nygus. None of them said anything. "I said who did this?!" Maka said louder. Marie looked down, and whispered.
"Maka... it was your mother." Time froze for the young scythe meister. The only sound in the room was the slightly unsteady beating of Spirit's heart monitor.
"My... my mother?" Stein nodded solemnly. "B-but... I don't understand... How?... Why?..." The white-haired doctor sighed and lit up the cigarette that was dangling between his lips. He took a quick puff on it before he spoke.
"It all happened when we went on that mission..."