Soul Shards

1. Death Branches
The Academy's Big Surprise?

"Mm." Scythe Meister Maka Albarn shifted impatiently in her seat, staring at the door to the Cresent Moon Class room. She tapped her pencil on the cover of the textbook set in front of her in a quick, constant rhythm, "I wish Professor Stein would hurry up and get here, class was supposed to start at 7:00." Her Weapon partner, Soul Eater Evans, was sitting next to her. He glanced up at the clock.

"It's 7:01." He said dryly, "Cut the guy some slack. What's got you in such a bad mood?" The young Meister's upper lip twitched, Soul grinned, baring his pointed teeth.

"Oh, I get it." He said, "You're still mad that you let Similong get away last night." Similong was a corrupt human, Maka and Soul had been assigned to collect his Kishin Egg soul.

"Me?" Maka squeaked, "You weren't really trying, it was your fault!"

"Ha!" Soul laughed, "Maybe if you had better aim." The girl next to him took a deep breath as she laid her pencil down next to the book's spine and carefully picked the text up, holding it in front of her contemplatively.

"Maka..." She muttered under her breath. Soul tried to scramble away from her but wasn't fast enough. The next thing he saw were black spots darting in front of his eyes as he felt the book making hard, solid contact with the top of his head. "Chop!" Soul collapsed in a heap on the desk in front of Tsubaki.

"Soul, are you okay?" Tsubaki asked, voice laced with concern.

"Fine." Soul grumbled, his voice muffled against the wood. On Tsubaki's other side, Black Star laughed. Crona was sitting next to Maka, his hand covering his mouth as he watched Soul in horror. Next to him were Death the Kid, Patty, and Liz, none of whom were paying attention.

"Hey, you guys." Liz said. She lifted herself up and sat on the long desk, leaning back slightly to look down the row at all of her friends, "Have you heard the news?"

"You're going to have to be more specific." Soul said as he settled himself back into his seat, rubbing his head, "We hear a lot of things."

"About the new student." The brunette clarified.

"Again?" Black Star exclaimed with disgust, "I'm tired of beating down new kids to take back my spotlight."

"You could just wait it out and leave them alone." Kid suggested coolly.

"Why wait? I won against you, I can take down anyone." The blue-haired technician punched the air for emphasis.

"Huh." Kid scoffed, "I hardly think that performance counts as a victory. However," He added as Black Star sat up straighter, nostrils flaring as he looked down the table at Kid, "I concede for argument's sake."

"Who is the new student?" Maka directed her question at Liz, ignoring the boys.

"I don't actually know." Liz shrugged, "Everyone keeps talking about a mysterious newcomer, and no one even knows who is it." They all looked at Death the Kid expectantly.

"Just so you know, father hasn't told me anything. I don't know any more than you do." Kid said defensively. Everyone turned away with disinterest before he added, "But I have heard that they will be joining our class."

"It's been a while since we've had a new student. I can't wait to meet them." Maka turned forward, looking to be in a considerably better mood. It was a moment before she noticed that Crona had his head on the table. "Crona, what's wrong?"

"There can't be a new student in the class." His shaky voice answered, "I just got used to the people in this class and now there's going to be someone else? I don't think I can deal with that right now."

"Don't worry, I'm sure it'll be fine. It might even be fun." Maka assured her pink-haired friend, patting his back.

"Yeah." Crona sounded doubtful. Maka smiled and continued to pat his back.

"Do you hear that?" Black Star asked suddenly, leaning forward. Everyone listened and Tsubaki titled her head politely.

"Hear what?" Tsubaki after a moment of silence. Black Star narrowed his eyes as he focused.

"It sounds like..." He paused dramatically, making sure everyone was paying attention before continuing, "wheels. On tile."

"That'll be Stein." Maka muttered while rolling her eyes. A couple of seconds later they could all hear the sound of small wheels skidding on the linoleum floor, Professor Stein rolled in on his chair.

"Good morning, class." He said casually as he made his way to his desk and picked up a clipboard. "My apologies for being late." Professor Stein scanned the faces around him then glanced down at the attendance sheet on his clipboard, "Looks like we're all here, more or less." He dropped the clipboard back on the desk where it landed with a clatter. Professor Stein twisted in his seat and placed his feet on the desk. He used his legs to shove himself away from the desk and roll to the middle of the room where he stopped, turned, and looked up again, "Maka, Soul, Lord Death wants to see you in the Death Room immediately."

"What now?" Soul muttered. Maka shrugged as she raised herself to her feet. The two of them walked out of the classroom and into the hall.

"What do you think Lord Death wants?" Maka asked her weapon partner as they reached the doors to the death room.

"Probably a remedial lesson for screwing up with Similong."

"You think?" Maka panicked, "That wouldn't be fair! And we're going after him again tonight!"

"Chill." Soul ordered, "I was kidding." Maka didn't say anything, but she didn't relax either. They continued along the impossibly long hallway until they reached the platform. Lord Death stood there by himself, looking into the mirror. "You wanted to see us?" The Scythe Meister asked. Lord Death wheeled around.

"Ah, good to see ya!" He threw up one of his monumental hands in a peace sign, "Thanks for coming." Maka and Soul climb the stairs and approached the Grim Reaper and his mirror.

"Cut to the chase, what is this about?" Soul demanded.

"A special assignment has come across, and I'm counting on you two to help with it."

"Phew." Maka sighed, relieved that is wasn't a remedial lesson.

"Don't look so relieved, you haven't heard the assignment yet." Shinigami warned, "Are you two aware of the Death Branches?" Maka shook her head, Soul didn't bother answering. "As you know, Death Weapon Meister Academy was created to train Meisters and Weapons under our supervision to collect corrupt souls. Most students are stationed here on campus where I can keep a close eye on everyone. But Meisters and Weapons are born all over the world, not just in death city. We try to enroll as many of them here as possible, some of them have traveled great distances to attend. However, sometimes the arrangements cannot be made and those Meisters and Weapons have to stay where they are. That's why we created the Death Branches. They're smaller schools that branch from the academy. The Branches are stationed throughout the world and train young Meisters and Weapons who can't make the journey here. We keep these branches under close surveillance in hopes that they can be as effective as the Academy itself."

"Is there something wrong with the Branches?" Maka asked eagerly, "Is that why you need us?"

"No." Lord Death deadpanned, "I'm sure you two have heard the rumors of a new student? The Academy can't seem to keep a secret these days. Anyway, these rumors are true. The new student has been attending one of the Death Branches and is being transferred here. We've been keeping this particular student under a tight watch for a while now, and we think she's ready to join us here on campus. It's a completely new area and atmosphere, so I'd imagine that she's a little nervous. Maka, since you did such a good job integrating Crona, I'd like you two to help out our new student. Walk her around, show her the ropes, get her comfortable. Currently, she doesn't have a weapon partner and, for her own reasons, she doesn't want one right now. In the long run we'd like to put a weapon in her hands again, I think you two are our best hopes of convincing her that this is the right path."

"Tour guides?" Soul complained. Showing new kids around wasn't very cool.

"Now, don't worry so much. I'm sure that once you get to know each other, you can all be great friends. Just keep her close to you. And there's something else." The Grim Reaper added, "Since she doesn't have a partner, she doesn't have anywhere to stay. I've made arrangements for her to live in your building, right next door." He sighed, "I know there are probably things you'd rather do, but this happens to be very important and I'm counting on you two to do this well. Can you do this for me?"

"Of course!" Maka answered at once, eager to please. Soul nodded, his Meister had made a decision, and he had to accept it. "Sir?"

"Yes, Maka?"

"If you don't mind my asking, why is she transferring here? Is it because of the Branch? Or her partner?"

"I'm sure those both played roles. But in the end it wasn't really her decision, it was mine."

"Huh?"

"I told you that we've been keeping an eye on this student. We've been thinking about moving her here for a while now, but the timing was never right. I realize now that we might have sent our invitation a bit late." Shinigami lapsed into silence. Maka and Soul watched him with confusion, "But there's no use worrying about that now. We've managed to transfer her to campus, and the timing was just so that she didn't mind coming. I'll warn you that she's a bit different than most students here, and she'll mostly be observing and absorbing in class until she's able to fight with a weapon again. I nearly forgot." He added sheepishly, "There's one other thing I want you to do."

"What is it?" Maka asked.

"I predict our new student won't be very enthusiastic about the classes. Now, I don't want you to push the matter, but it's vitally important that you do not let her talk herself into giving up. I told you that she doesn't want a weapon at the moment, in truth she never wants to wield a weapon again. Keep her from getting too discouraged."

"Why doesn't she want a weapon?" The Meister asked.

"Yeah, and why is it so important to you that she has one?" Soul added. Lord Death looked at them blankly. Soul and Maka both leaned forward curiously, waiting for his answer.

After several minutes of silence, The Reaper finally answered, "All in good time."

"Ugh." Soul grumbled while his partner looked disappointed.

"I think that's it. Professor Stein is expecting you back in class. Scoot along, now. And I expect you both to be waiting for her at the entrance before classes begin tomorrow."


The next morning, a few minutes before class Maka and Soul were waiting outside with Black Star, Kid, Tsubaki, Crona, Liz, and Patty.

"I'm bored." Patty yawned. Liz put a hand on her shoulder sympathetically.

"Hang in there sis, we can go inside soon."

"And then I get to sleep?"

"Yes, Patty, then you can sleep."

"Yay!" Patty laughed, clapping her hands together. Liz looked embarrassed.

"I don't see anyone I don't recognize." Maka said, scanning the dispersing crowd milling about the courtyard, "Do you think she's coming?"

"I'm sure she'll get here soon." Soul told her, "Remember Kid here showed up three hours late."

"That was justified!" Kid insisted.

"Yeah, not really." Liz said out of the corner of her mouth, making Patty laugh.

"This is so stupid." Black Star complained, "You've got to show this new girl around and we don't even know who she is or what she looks like. She could be anyone." He looked around the courtyard suspiciously.

"I'll know her when I see her." Maka said dryly.

"Yeah? How?"

"I'll just be able to tell, okay?" Maka snapped.

"Well, sounds like someone's on a short fuse." Black Star observed.

"Maka's just pissed that we missed Similong last night. Again." Soul sighed.

"Oh." Black Star laughed.

"Could you just be quiet for two seconds?" Maka turned around, hands on hips, to glare at her blue-haired friend, "I'm supposed to be looking for someone and I can't with you talking all the time."

"Uh...Maka?" Black Star said, his eyes slid to look past her shoulder.

"Shut up, I'm not done with you."

"Maka?" It was Soul who spoke this time. His eyes were wide and his pointer finger was extended, pointing to something behind Maka.

"Stay out of this, Soul."

She didn't get a chance to continue, however, because just then she felt a finger tap the small of her back as an unrecognizable voice said, "Excuse me?"


No, this will not be entirely about the new character. I'm just adding to the story, everyone is in these adventures!
Please review!