It was the night before the freshmen orientation, and Kid walked through the streets of Death City looking for soon to be students out after curfew. It was a dangerous time to be out at night. The kishin, Asura, had been revived and could strike at any moment. And with the added threat of Arachne, the heretic witch, it was barely safe for a shinigami like himself to be out, let alone new students to the academy. So Kid continued his patrol down the main road that led to the school, shivering from the unusually cold night. He wished his weapons were here with him. He felt safer with his twin pistols by his side and for good reason. Meisters must depend on their weapons just as much as weapons depend on their meisters.
Kid reached the front of the school and admired it. His father's school was perfect in every way, and he wished he could lose himself in the symmetry, melt away into a sound sleep. But it was his job, and his job alone, to watch the streets of Death City tonight. He sighed at the thought. If only I could sleep. Kid snapped backed to the real world at the sound of footsteps approaching him from behind. He turned quickly and took a defensive stance.
"Who's there?" Kid asked the darkness. He could feel himself shaking.
"Friend," a voice called back as cold as the night was.
Kid used his sixth sense to see the soul nearby. "If you're a friend, then show yourself," he demanded even though he could recognize the soul mere feet from him.
"YAHOO!" The shout could be heard for several blocks. "Kid, I know you can see my soul!"
"Black Star, please be quiet." The female voice emanating from his weapon was small and gentle. "Kid's on patrol, and you're going to give away his position."
"Tsubaki's right. You shouldn't be out here." Kid spoke harshly, but his voice still shook. "My father gave me this job and instructed everyone else to remain in their homes. I could have you written up for this."
"If this job is so dangerous, then where are your weapons?" Black Star's tone mimicked the cold sting of the night."
"I don't appreciate being questioned. Go home." Kid glared at him. "Now."
"Come on, Black Star. Kid has to be out late on these patrols then still go to school in the morning. Let's go home."
Kid could only watch as his friends headed in the direction of their warm beds, wishing he could do the same.
Kid walked aimlessly through the streets for another three hours before he heard the clock strike midnight. The teacher patrols would be heading home now, leaving him to wander alone. No more passing friendly faces and exchanging small smiles to brighten the unusually dark night. As he headed to the front of the school, he thought of his father. Why would he put me through this much physical and mental torture night after night? No, he loves me, and he would never put me in danger. Maybe it's just a test. Kid had already collected 198 souls that had become kishin eggs. All he needed to complete his weapons were the two witch souls, and it was hard enough to beat one.
"Kiddo!" Patty called from the steps to the school.
"Patty, be quiet," Liz scolded.
"It doesn't matter. I ran into Black Star earlier, so our cover's already blown." A hint of anger could be detected in Kid's voice.
"I'm sure it'll be fine Kid. What makes tonight the night for an incident? We haven't even had any false alarms in the week we've been out here."
Kid nodded. Though she didn't always use it, Liz could always reassure him. No matter how bad things got. "Time to transform."
"Kay!" Patty raised a hand into the air in her usual energetic fashion before transforming.
It was now well after one in the morning. The time had passed slowly as Kid spent most of it focusing on the moon. He couldn't stop thinking that its hysterical laughter was directed at him, and he swore it was bloodier than usual. Maybe it's just the madness wavelengths. These wavelengths, emanating from the soul of the kishin, caused the insanity within a person to grow. It makes them afraid. And those with the strongest sixth senses were affected most. Kid knew this feeling. He remembered the night in the underground quite clearly though it was long in the past. He remembered how the madness had caused him to hallucinate. He remembered how he slowly filled with fear. How he passed out from barely being touched.
"Kid," Liz spoke smoothly and with a sweetness. "You're shaking."
"I'm sorry." Kid was honest. "Something doesn't feel right."
"It's okay Kiddo! We're here. You're just tired."
How Patty still had energy after staying up this late, he would never know.
"She's right. Just keep going Kid. If something doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel right, but we have no reason to freak out yet."
"Of course. I'm sorry." Kid picked his pace back up. I have to focus or I'll be jumping at shadows. Focus. Kid walked a few more blocks. Focus. He froze. Someone's here.
"Aren't those the multicolored chalk drawing things the kishin makes?"
Liz's question came too late. Kid was already unconscious.