DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN SOUL EATER GUYS

Chapter 1: - Of Death City, Excalibur, and witches.

Light fills the sky in Death City. It's a new day, a new time, and a whole new world thanks to them.

Maka. Black*Star. Kid. Each fighting for the safety of Death City and the wellbeing of their friends and families. After the events of 'The Dark Side of the Moon', the three made history (As well as a book), and all citizens of Death City bowed down before them with admiration and respect for their courage and bravery. Children ran around the street, role-playing as a Kishin or one of the three brave heroes.
And now, as you the reader, arrive in the world of Soul Eater, 7 of the most important people in Soul Eater history enter the scene.

After the celebration of the death of the Kishin, life would have return to normal if not for the many complaints Death City received from all the other countries in the world. Yep. Even though Death City was practically on their knees for these three young meisters, apparently the rest of the world didn't quite approve of it.
This was all pretty surprising for Death City, seeing as they had just saved the world only to be met by a flurry of angry letters from the news and from other people who had no idea the Kishin had risen, and only realized it when he had been defeated.

Where is Tezca? Where is he? What happened to Tezca Tlipoca?
What? Why did you not tell us sooner? Our meisters could have beaten him!
Leaving 3 children to fight the Kishin? How cowardly is the DWMA?
Lord Death is dead? Lord Death, the Shinigami? Who will take charge of Death City then? His son? Death the Kid is too young to even understand the concept of ruling over people.
Death City is truly in chaos.

And yes, Death City was ruined. Even after the defeat of the Kishin, Death City still could not revert back to its original state. Its once towering buildings were turned into smoking smithereens. Street markets and merchants were all gone, most likely they decided to move out - fearing that destruction like this would come again and kill them in the process.
"We really made a mess didn't we?" Black*Star shouted to the sky.
"Black*Star, this isn't funny. People have died because of this mass destruction." Kid snapped. His three lines of Sanzu had finally connected, making him a true Death God. This happiness over his true symmetrical form only lasted for a while though, since he had more pressing matters to deal with; rebuilding Death City being one of them.
"Kid's right," Maka sighed. "It's been more than a year now, but look at this. We're just a small city, and no one really bothers to help us despite the fact that we just saved their lives from extreme madness. I didn't expect people to get mad at us, but looks like I was wrong. "
"I was joking guys!" Black*Star said cheerfully.
"That's why Kid said it wasn't funny, you baka." Liz rolled her eyes.
Tsubaki was actually the only one that was being helpful, assisting citizens and moving rubble, using her weapon form to hack at debris and free some people that were trapped underneath the rocks.
"Well, we better get back then," Soul spoke up. "We have a lot of work to do back at the DWMA."
"Tsubaki!" he called out to her and she looked up as she lifted an old man's cat out of pile of debris. "It's great that you're helping, but we need to get back to DWMA. Stein wants us there as soon as we've finished his survey." He held up a board with a couple of checks and crosses. This was the fifty-sixth survey they had done, and there was really only minor improvement happening throughout the city. Something seemed to be wrong, but none of them could understand what.
"Right." she nodded.
The 7 of them looked at the one building that hadn't been destroyed completely. The one building that stood tall against everything that tried to knock it down. The four red towers and grand entrance were unscathed. The twin candles on opposite sides of the building were still lit with bright orange flame. DWMA had seen better days, better nights, but it wouldn't be destroyed that easily.
"Come on guys." Maka said, and they all trudged warily back to school.

"Welcome back, Maka." Franken Stein said upon their arrival.
"Hello Professor Stein!" she waved back. "Why did you want us back so quickly?"
"Yeah Professor!" Black*Star whined. "Why couldn't we spend some more time outside?"
"Just because you're Spartoi and you've beaten up a Kishin over a year ago doesn't mean you can skip class every day just to 'check up on the city'. I've already let you off for more than a year so there's no way I'm letting you miss any more lessons."
Soul and Black*Star grumbled. Their friendship had grown even stronger during the Kishin battle and after. Missing school for so long gave them plenty of time to catch up on each other's lives and be awesome.
But school just ruins everything… Black*Star thought glumly.
"Of course sir." Maka said; her brow furrowed in worry. "I can't let my grades drop!"
"Exactly Maka. Good answer."
Soul groaned inwardly.
Maka… we could have persuaded him to let us skip class! Just for a little more!
"Soul, start walking unless you want an extra 30 minutes of dissection time after class. With me." Stein smiled.
"Yes sir." Soul picked up the pace.
"Oh, and Black*Star, don't forget – you still haven't cleaned up the library, so you're definitely staying after class."
"But sir that was ages ago…"
"Black*Star. Library. After class." Stein shot him a look that either meant 'you-better-come-along' or 'dissection-dissection-dissection-dissection-yes-dissection'
"Yes sir…" Black*Star whimpered and scampered off like a puppy.

"Come on Liz, Patty, we have to go as well." Kid motioned for the girls to get going.
Patty sighed and threw her hands up in the air. "But we've had so many fun times together... couldn't we just stay like this a little longer?"
Liz laughed and reached out to stroke her sister's hair.
"We still have to learn, Patty. Or else we'll be back on the streets being dumb idiots again."
"Okay then…" she sighed, following her sister.
"Not you though, Kid." Stein held up a hand, signaling Kid to stop.
"Huh? Why not? Girls, go on ahead. I'll catch up to you guys later."
"Yes Kiddo-Kun!"
"Actually… Liz, Patty, since both of you are his weapons, you might consider coming with him as well." Stein added.
"Alright! No school for me today!" Patty cheered. Soul and Black*Star stared.
"Lucky!" Black*Star whispered.
"Professor, why does he get to skip class?" Soul whined. Maka kicked him in the shin and they kept walking.
"Excalibur." Stein grimaced at the mere name of the mystical weapon. "Excalibur wants Death the Kid in Lord Death's room." the sour look on Black*Star's face was immediately replaced by a look of pity and relief.
"Ugh… Okay." Kid huffed.
"The rest of you, hurry up! We're already 45 minutes into class time and you guys still haven't seen me dissect the last living blue flamingo* yet."
Before he left to class, Black*Star handed Kid a candy bar, probably relieved that he didn't have to be the one meeting up with the legendary holy sword, and went on his way to the EAT lesson.
"Let's go girls." Kid called out behind his shoulder.
"Okay Kiddo-kun!"

Neither of them noticed the abnormal, empty stare that Kid had on his face when he entered Lord Death's room. Neither of them noticed him wince when the doors creaked open.
"We'll stay here Kid." Liz said. "Excalibur might want to discuss things with you alone."
"Fine with me."
Neither of them noticed the heavy thuds that his shoes made, as if every step was his last.
No… It wasn't Excalibur that worried him.
But something else.
*Not a real creature in Soul Eater.

Shinigami's (Kid's) office.

"Do I just…" Kid hesitated. His father's robe was lying on the floor next to Excalibur.

"Fool! A Shinigami doesn't hesitate, you know." The pathetic little weapon pointed his cane at Kid and waited for the 'regular' response but it didn't come. Kid was still staring at the remains of his father, who was no longer living. There wasn't even a skeleton to remind Kid that he was there.
Just a mask and a cape.
Just a costume.
"You'll have to wear that you know," said Excalibur. "You are the new Shinigami and you will be taking charge of DWMA sooner or later."
"I understand the responsibilities I have to take on."
"Well then wear it, you fool! If you are going to be the next Lord Death you might as well start looking like him!" The holy sword exclaimed. Kid ignored him.
"Fool, I said wear it-"
"SHUT UP! GET OUT OF MY ROOM!" Kid screamed.
Silence.
Excalibur didn't look shocked or surprised at the new Shinigami's sudden outburst of rage, but simply looked him in the eye and nodded somewhat solemnly.
"Fool," Excalibur muttered. "Attempting to use Madness through Rage. What a hopeless child. Fine then, scream if you must, but rage will not get you to perfection." The weapon left the room, leaving Kid to stare helplessly at his father's clothes.
"I know that!" he muttered as he heard Excalibur slam the door close.
I'm very proud of you Kid! You're turning into a fine Shinigami!
How are you feeling today, Kid?
"I never -" Kid started, but the words never came out. He kneeled down before the dusty cloak and mask, trying to speak once more.
"I never told-"
"I never told you-"
"How much I loved you?" Kid stiffened and turned around, almost bumping into the Thompson sisters.
"What are you doing here?" He said, his voice wavering. "You- you were supposed to stay outside."
"That's okay." Liz said softly. "We never told our parents that either. And, even if we did, I doubt they would have heard us anyway."
Kid burst into tears. It was one of those rare moments where Liz and Patty would see their strong, cold, almost fearless meister cry. It wasn't the same sorrow that Kid showed when his OCPD upset him, but something else entirely.
This wasn't the happy-go-lucky Shinigami who made Soul the Last Death Scythe and talk about finally reaching perfect symmetry. This wasn't the powerful Shinigami who had performed the ultimate death cannon on the Kishin. This wasn't the Shinigami they knew.
But there was nothing they could do. The Thompson sisters may have had parents before, but neither of them showed love to Liz or Patty whereas their meister meant a lot to Lord Death, and Lord Death meant a lot to him.
"Kiddo-kun, we…" Patty trailed off.

Silence again.

"I'm sorry Elizabeth, Patty. You can go." Kid sniffed and rubbed his eyes. They weren't red and puffy yet, but they would be if Liz didn't 'butt in and save the day' like she always did when his OCPD ruined him.
"We're not going just yet-"
"Just get out of here!"
"NO." Liz kept her gaze on him, staring defiantly. "I'm not leaving you alone."
"Neither am I." Patty took her sister's hand and then reached out for Kid's.
"Kid-kun..."
The Shinigami hesitated for a moment, and then in an almost robotic reaction took her hand in his. He slowly stood, legs trembling and tearstains down his cheeks.
"I must look stupid like this," he said miserably. "I'm terribly sorry."
"You're fine." Liz smiled. "Everyone gets a little emotionally unstable after something like this."
"But I'm a Shinigami!" he protested weakly. "A Shinigami doesn't cry! Have you ever seen my father cry?"
"It's the mask, you silly." Patty laughed. "I bet he cries for you all the time-"
"No Patty don't say that…" Liz glared at her with a look that seemed to say 'You-are-making-everything-worse' but Patty didn't seem to get the message. Oh well. The damage was already done.
"That's the point!" Kid cried. "What if he was crying over me and I just- I just stared at him blankly– Him, my father for goodness sake! And all those nights when I locked myself in my room reading when I could have spent time with him all those moments he wasn't busy I was going over symmetry and fussing over it and-" He cried uncontrollably as tears slid down his cheeks, dripping onto the dusty floor below.
Patty, who was usually the positive person, had nothing to say to her meister. Unlike him, she never really had a caring mother or father. If she didn't understand how he felt, how would she be able to help him? Patty only knew about laughing and happiness. Not being miserable. Fussing over OCPD was one thing; but this was something else entirely.
For the first time in her life, her head hung low and her shoulders sagged. Those playful bright blue eyes that she was born with were clouded over. Patty could cheer everyone up but in this situation, she looked hopeless.
So it was up to Elizabeth. Always Elizabeth.

I'm a piece of symmetrical garbage! Junk! I don't deserve to live!
No Kid that's where you're wrong. You'll become the strongest Shinigami ever, and look! You look more symmetrical today!
Really?
AHAHAHA KID-KUN LOOKS SO STUPID!

"I just wish I had spent some more time with-" Kid's incomplete blubbering brought her back to reality.
This was too much. Liz wasn't cold-hearted, but she couldn't stand it anymore. She understood that Kid had his moments. He would cry, he would sniffle. Then his façade would turn blank and empty, pretending that what happened a few minutes ago did not exist. Well his face certainly didn't blank out now, and if he didn't learn to suck it up like she and Patty did, well she would- she would-
Smack! Liz hit him across the face with as much force as she could muster. And… he went flying.
"Patty, wait outside for a moment, okay?" Liz whispered to her sister. Patty nodded and left the room. Now it was only Elizabeth and Kid.
"Get up Kid." Liz said harshly.
"E- Elizabeth?" Kid was stunned. Elizabeth? ELIZABETH? Did she just-
"You heard me Kid. Get up." Her soothing, sweet voice that she had used a few minutes ago turned into a growl. No… it wasn't the warning voice she used.
"What's going on-?"
"Get up! Or are you too cowardly to even move?" Liz shouted at him.
Kid stared.
Liz? Elizabeth?
He stood up again. There was a bruise forming on his right cheek but not that it mattered, it was already healing. The problem was…
"So you've finally got your ass off the ground, didn't cha?"
"Liz?" The new Shinigami could only repeat himself.
Isn't that the voice she used when she used to mug people? What? Why would she… Liz?
"Whu… Why are you acting like this?"
"Why am I acting like this? You were an emotional wreck. Okay, fine with me. I tried being nice, and patting your back, and helping you up. Speaking softly to you, babying you but no. You were still crying like the child you were." she paused. "Actually, let me rephrase that. The child you are. If someone as powerful as you can't even control yourself like this, how are you supposed to rule a city huh? How are you supposed to rule an effing city?"
"I- I" Kid stared, dumbstruck and confused.
"Oh stop stammering Kid!" Liz yelled, pacing back and forth. "You're a Shinigami! A. Shinigami! If I were you, I wouldn't stand there mumbling and crying like and idiot, I would do something! I would help people!"
Kid was still gaping.
"Is this the face you want to wear on your celebration day? Crying and red eyed? As if there won't be any hope of rebuilding the city? There are still monsters out there Kid, and if you can't contain yourself, then we can't stop you. And what's worse is people look up to you. They need a strong, powerful leader. Can't do that? Fine! Make it up. Pretend that you're okay. Smile and wave - just make them buy the act. As long as they think you're happy, they won't lose their strength or their will to keep moving. Make me buy that act, Kid."
She paused to take a breath, and then closed her eyes, reminiscing about her past.
"There have been countless times where I have had to keep my face smiling for Patty. There have been countless times where we've almost died and yet I laugh it off with her. That is why she keeps smiling, keeps hoping for the best. You need to do that Kid. If you're still upset, wipe it off your face and paint it blank. Do it for them." Liz gestured to the mirror where you could see civilians packing and fixing things.
"And if you can't do it for them, do it for us. Patty and I. Please."
There was silence. Shocked honey-colored eyes met soft brown ones and they stared at each other.
"Okay." she huffed. "Rant over."

More awkward silence commenced.

"Liz?"
"Oh, please don't tell me that didn't have even a LITTLE bit of an effect on you." she rolled her eyes, throwing her hands up in the air.
Lord Death, if you're actually up there please help Kid understand-
"I'm sorry Liz."
"What did you say?"
"I said… I said I'm sorry. You and Patty respect me so much, look up to me so much, I must be letting you down." Kid's sobs faded and he regained his composure, turning to look her in the eye.
"I guess I was… Like you said, I was an emotional wreck just now. Sorry about that too - I don't know what came over me just now. I guess it was just the sudden loss of my father. I mean I barely spent time with him-" Liz put a hand over his mouth.
"Nope. No ranting." she glared.
"Okeph. Sorphy." Kid said behind her hand.
"Eugh, don't even think about talking when my hand is still over your mouth!"
"Sorry again." Kid said sheepishly after Liz had took her palm away. She wiped it on her skirt twice.
"It's okay." Liz sighed. "So what did Excalibur actually say to you that made you so upset? Remind me to slug him in the face the next time I meet him."
"I won't need to remind you… You'll slug him in the face anyway." Kid grimaced. "Excalibur wanted me to wear the mask and the cloak. To look more like Lord Death." He pointed to the worn out cloak and mask. Liz picked it up.
"I really don't get why you can't wear your own cloak and mask; I mean it looks the same, so why bother wearing a second hand cloak?" She handed him the clothes. He gratefully accepted them slipping on the cloak and then shoeing the mask to his face.
"I must look grand in this." He said.
"Uh… Yep. You sure do."
"Why is Patty being so obedient?" Kid wondered.

"I distracted her with a lot of wonderful promises of what we were going to do – With Kiddo-kun."
"Wha- Oh fine. Shopping again?" He grumbled, taking out a shiny credit card from his pocket.
"Yep. But we've decided... since you're so upset and all, you might as well shop for our clothes." Kid's face lit up at the idea of shopping for clothes. If he was in charge of the twin pistols' shopping session today that meant…
Oh Patty, I really hate you sometimes. Liz thought.
"Clothes! Excellent. I'll find the best tailors in the city to make you and Patty the prettiest most symmetrical clothes you have ever seen. Come, let's go shopping!"
"Can we not go shopping for symmetrical clothes?"
"Absolutely not! If your meister is a fully-fledged symmetrical Shinigami, then you must look like the two most prettiest symmetrical weapons there are in the world!" he beamed with satisfaction, proud of what he had just said.
"Whatever. At least we're going shopping."

At that moment, Patty who was waiting outside decided that she couldn't contain herself any longer.
"KID-KUN!" she burst into the room, flying towards Kid as if he was the key to her survival.
"Patty don't- Aghh!"
"I'M SORRY WE UPSET YOU!" Patty wailed. Kid, still shocked by the amount of force and power that was put into the crushing death hug, could only force a smile and hope that one of his ribs weren't broken.
"It's okay Patty, it's okay. It wasn't your fault anyways." Kid wheezed as he weakly pat her back while she sobbed.
"Kid!" Liz whispered sharply. Kid turned to her. She was backed against the wall, mouthing the words 'no-you're-going-to-kill-yourself'.
'What-could-possibly-happen?'a he mouthed back-
"WHAT DID YOU SAY KID? IT WASN'T YOUR FAULT?" Patty, who was lying on the floor moments ago, was now standing, glaring at the walls, the crosses, the mirror, and everything in Lord Death's room. Kid gulped. Liz shook her head at him, pressing her fingers on her lips.
'Don't-say-anything-'
"WHO HURT KID-KUN?" Patty howled, grabbing a chair and crushing it against her skull.
"Patty- Patty calm down for a sec-" Kid who was millimeters away from her face felt as if his eardrums had burst.
Just going to back away now-
"NO KIDDO! YOU'RE STAYING CLOSE TO ME!" Patty screamed, grabbing the collar of his shirt and flinging him over her shoulder.
"I WON'T LET YOU GET HURT BY ANYONE! ANYONE WHO HURTS KIDDO-KUN OR MAKES HIM UPSET – I'LL – I'LL - I'LL KILL THEM!"
Liz would have laughed if not for the horrific scene in front of her. She looked at the helpless Shinigami, who was currently being dragged by a little girl that was younger but somehow more intimidating than him.
She stood there, eyes glued to the ranting Patty and the lifeless Shinigami. She would have stood there for a few more hours if not for Kid who was mouthing words so quickly she almost couldn't read them.
'Liz-Liz-help-me-help-help-please-I'm-dying-I'll-go-shopping-with-you-and-Patty-just-make-her-stahhp'
She shook her head, and ran over to Patty who was still ranting. If her little sister was a regular person, her throat would have already surrendered to the cries and her vocals would have been damaged; she was literally shouting the house down.

"Patty- Patty, you need to-"
"WHO HURT KID-KUN?" she glared at Liz. Liz realized that if she didn't answer her, the rants would go on and on, Kid would probably be so tired and dizzy he wouldn't be able to hold any parties for the next few days. Oh dear.
Patty could be so annoying sometimes. But… She could also be so cute.
"Patty!" she shouted. "I know who made Kid upset!"
"YOU DO?"
"Yes, but first – use your inside voice, 'cause this is TOP SECRET information!"
"Okay, who hurt Kid?"
Liz was about to respond with, "Patty, you just smashed Kid's face into your shoulder." but she realized how troublesome that would become.
"Excalibur." she whispered back. "We're going to go find him and beat the guts out of him!"
"Yes sir!" Patty whispered back.
"But before we avenge Kid… we must go shopping!"
"SHOPPING!" Patty squealed, her whole attire changing. "Can Kid-Kun come please, please, please?"
"Well… why don't we ask him first?" Liz pointed to the somewhat dazed and weary Shinigami.
"Kid-kun can we please go shopping with you? Pretty please? You can shop for all my clothes and shop for all Liz's clothes!" Patty gazed at Kid with her puppy eyes, as well as shaking him back and forth until little Shinigami heads came into his blurred vision.
"Patty, just let go… of me and… we can go shopping." Kid panted.
"Whoopee!" Patty raised a fist in triumph. "Death Mall, here I come!"
Kid sighed in relief.
Maybe shopping won't be as bad as it seems. At least I can go looking for something symmetrical.
"And don't worry Kid," Patty added. "I'm going to beat soul out of that Excalibur guy."

Far away, in the cave where the legendary sword lay, he coughed once and sneezed.
"Someone's talking about me." he sniffed.

At the library. [After the EAT lesson]

"Catch this Soul!" Maka shouted from the pile of books that she was sitting on. She threw him one of the biggest novels he had ever seen.
"Whoa, what the hell is this?" The book was seriously heavy, and it probably when a ton, maybe even two.
"All you need to know about Soul Wavelengths! I think it'll help you if you ever want your wavelength to be compatible with Black*Star's. Give it a go, won't you?" Maka smiled and waved another book in the air.
How boring, as usual…
Books never interested Soul; they were so thick and took so long to read that he had never really read one in his life – unless being 'absorbed' into the Book of Eibon counted*.
"Maka, why did we come here anyway?" Soul grumbled. "It's way past lunch time and I still haven't eaten yet, you know."
"Well, all these books are so interesting! Especially this one – 'How our Souls connect – a series of short stories all about meisters and weapons' – and all these writers are brilliant!" she sighed. "I just wish I was like them."
"Don't talk trash like that..." Soul replied lazily. "You're already too awesome to imagine. But if you would just lose the reading part of you, that would probably make you as awesome as me!"
"Thanks, but no thanks. I think my 'reading part of me' is perfectly fine!" Maka said cheerfully.
Soul gazed at her, pigtails fixed perfectly and symmetrically, with a skirt that was seriously too short, a shirt that was a tad too long, and gloves clutching another book in her hands. She was reading it intently.
His stomach grumbled, and he checked his watch. Oh great, it was already 1:30. If he didn't grab a few snacks from Death Bucks then it would close. Stupid Death Bucks. Of course, there was always the choice of DFC or McDeath – but those were fast food restaurants. And Soul hated fast food.
"Hey Maka."
"Yeah?" she looked down. Soul was taking (Or rather, trying to take) a book from the bottom of her pile; the pile that she was sitting on, in fact.
He's probably found a really interesting book and he wants to read it. That good! She thought optimistically.
That's probably not his real intention though. Oh great, it's probably another one of his stupid ideas.
"Soul what are you doing? Don't take the books from the bottom, that'll upset the balance and I'll fall!" Her weapon continued to poke the book, waiting for it to be pushed out of the pile. Unfortunately for him, due to the massive amount of books and the 2-ton novels that were stacked one on top of another, it seemed almost impossible to free the book from the pile.
"I'm hungry, Black*Star's hungry, and Tsubaki is hungry. You can't just leave them here to starve you know," Soul said. "We're human. We have to eat sometimes."
"First of all, no, not all of us are human. You and Tsubaki both have weapon blood, which means you're technically not humans." Maka said matter-of-factly. "And don't tell me that Black*Star is considered human. I mean, look at him!" she pointed to Black*Star, who at that moment, decided that if he couldn't finish reading one page of his book in 5 seconds then he would do have to do 555 pushups.

"I better not mess up this time! Tsubaki! Time me… now!"
"H… Hai!"

"Black*Star, time's up!"
"Dammit I didn't make it!" Black*Star lifted his foot and crushed a book in rage. "Now I'll have to do the sit ups! I'll do 700 of them since it took me 7 seconds to finish that! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…"
"Black*Star, I'm sure 555 push ups are enough of a punishment-"
"Nonsense! I must be cruel to myself in order to make myself stronger! Let's change that to 1000 push ups Tsubaki!" his weapon sighed in defeat as she listened to his proud voice spout the words 'awesome' 'god-like' 'me' echo around the room.
"And the library was supposed to be a quiet place to read." she said.

When Maka and Soul had finally took their eyes of Black*Star and Tsubaki they once again resumed their 'conversation'.
"Anyway, that wasn't the point!" Soul snarled. "I'm tired and hungry, and I don't want to argue anymore! I. Want. Lunch."
He pulled on the book as hard as he could, and after a few minutes of concentration (While Maka watched pretty helplessly) the book was finally free from the pile, and Maka's high seat started to wobble.
"Soul, don't you even dare-!"
"Sorry Maka." he grinned evilly. "I could really use a sandwich right now." he gently pushed the pile of books and slowly but surely, Maka's little makeshift pillar was reduced to a mess, pages falling out of worn old books, and novels dropping to the ground. Gravity pulled her down to the ground and she started to fall, just like the books.
Down-
And down-
Faster-
But slower-
"Soul!" she screamed as she fell down, "I'm going to Maka Chop you the minute I touch the floor!"
She winced and closed her eyes, waiting for the sound of a sickening crunch, but it didn't come. Instead, she heard a grunt, and landed in something soft and warm… was it Soul?
She felt like the damsel in distress. Ugh, she hated being the damsel in distress.
"Maka, I never thought… You would be this heavy. Did you gain weight or something?"
"Maka triple Chop!" Maka crushed his skull for the millionth time. "I was quite capable of getting down that pile of books myself, you idiot! And no, I didn't gain weight! "
"You don't have to be so mean to me you know; I just saved your little butt!" Soul scowled at her.

"Please, Maka, Soul, we have to be quiet in the library!" Tsubaki reminded them. She walked over to them and instinctively started to pick up books and put them back in place. "And also, don't leave a mess!"
"Tsubaki you don't have to help us tidy up the mess…" Maka said.
"Well there wouldn't have been a mess if you didn't let us get our lunch first." Soul muttered.
"Who was the one who made this mess huh, Soul? It was you! It's not my fault that we have to clean up the library. You could have asked nicely, you know."
"I was asking nicely for the last 45 minutes!"
"Well I didn't hear you!"
The two argued on about the books and Tsubaki smiled to herself. It was just like the old days. There was no Kishin to defeat, no one would get hurt, and life could carry on.

"998, 999, 1000! Hey Tsubaki!" Black*Star called out. His back hurt from the immense training he had gone through in just a few minutes, but it was worth it seeing the amazed look on Tsubaki's face.
"Yes Black*Star? You're finished with the push ups already?"
"Yep! So… I'm kinda hungry. Why don't we go to Death Bucks while these two sort the mess out?" he pointed at Maka and Soul who were still arguing; except they were arguing about some thing completely different than what they were arguing about before.
"You set the turkey on fire, remember!?"
"Well who was the one who put in the whole bottle of oil?"
"And who was the one that didn't know how to use a pan?"
"You were playing with a lighter!"
"I was testing it to see if it worked!"
"Then why didn't you test it somewhere else?"
Tsubaki looked at the two bicker for a minute or two, and then nodded her head, smiling uncontrollably.
They were both so hot headed that they really didn't know how to control themselves. Soul was always trying to act cool while Maka had so many ambitions and goals that sometimes they tended to be too close to impossible. However, both of them made such a great team when they were serious, especially when they fought – and beat – the Kishin.
But that was over. And they were back to their normal selves now.
"You're right. We should get lunch first."

"Why were you looking at Blaire changing, you pervert?"
"She was in my room! What was I supposed to do?"
"Shield your eyes! You were supposed to shield your eyes!"
"Well I'm sorry, it wasn't really my fault, was it?"
"Yes it was your fault! And why do you keep having nosebleeds? You're ruining the apartment!"
"Me? Ruining the apartment? What about the last time when you almost burned down the kitchen because one of your stupid books caught fire!"

"MY BOOKS ARE NOT STUPID!" Maka yelled.
"Yeah right." Soul scoffed.
Maka looked at him, her green eyes flashing in annoyance.
"Why do you have to be such a jerk sometimes?" she muttered.
"Well you're the one that started this stupid argument." he replied back.
"Whatever." Maka rolled her eyes, turning her back to him. "I'm going to go grab some lunch now."
"EAT LUNCH? IT'S ALREADY 4 O'CLOCK!"
"Yeah. I'm eating lunch now. Unless you want to go home hungry, you better come with me. After all, I have the wallet, and that means I have all the food." she waved her wallet in the air and looked at Soul rather smugly.
"Fine." he grumbled. "Whatever you say, 'master of the house'."
"Hey… Where are Tsubaki and Black*Star?" there were only the two of them in the library. Well, apart from the librarian (who realized that he couldn't stop the 2 hour argument and decided he would just sit in a corner and cry because his books were ripped and broken).
"They went to Death Bucks. To eat luncheon." Soul shot Maka an angry look that said, 'We-should-have-went-to-eat-lunch-too'
"Well I'm sorry, I was too busy reading cool books! Like this one!" She absentmindedly held up a book. Soul was about to wave it off and leave the library when he saw the title.
"Black Blood? You're reading a book on black blood, Maka?"
"Well I just…" Maka trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. She looked away, and she could feel her eyes getting wet. "I just wanted to read something, that's all."
Dammit Soul you said the wrong thing. Soul mentally slapped himself.
"Are you… Is this about Crona?"
Maka avoided his gaze, staring down at the clasps on her boots. "No, I just happened to find a book that was about black blood and since black blood is relatively new, I thought I'd give it a go and read it."
Silence. Soul stared at Maka. Her back was turned, but he couldn't hear her crying. Did he say something wrong again?
"Hey, no I guess it's okay-"
"No Soul, you're right." Maka shook her head. "Books are pretty stupid after all. Come on, let's go."
"Maka-"
Slam! And she was out of the room. Soul ran out of the library, but Maka was already gone. Only the faint pitter-pattering of footsteps could be heard, indicating that she was too far away for the death scythe to catch up.
"Maka you…" he sighed.
Black Blood huh…
Crona.

"Hey uh… librarian?"
"What is it, young meister?" the librarian sighed. "You've already caused so much trouble I guess I won't be able to stop you."
"Could I borrow a book? Just… It's very important."
"Whatever you please, 'Lord of the Library'. Do whatever you want, mess this place up for all I care. Take a book, any book. I won't stop you."
"Thanks." Soul said gratefully.
"You're not welcome." the librarian grumbled.
Soul immediately ran to the level 4 books, and started scanning the bookshelves for anything, anything that was about black blood.
"Hm… Excalibur's darkest secrets… The life of Lord Death… Book of Eibon…"
Why am I doing this?
I… I don't know.
It'll be almost impossible to find a book on black blood. So little is known about it – and even the first test subject to the black blood is gone. Who would ever write a book about that anyway?
Well it's worth a try I guess. For Maka.
And there, on the edge of the bookshelf was one of the thinnest books ever.
It looks like a pampy thing… a leaf thing… a leaflet! That was it.
"Black Blood and its ancient mystery. Ancient? But I thought… I thought Medusa created black blood. This doesn't make sense at all." he shook his head and opened the leaflet. He squinted and brought it closer to his eyes. The words on the leaflet were so minuscule and cursive that it was almost impossible for him to even read the first sentence. In fact, the first sentence was the only sentence he could understand.
"Black blood… has been… originating when a storm trooper – A storm trooper? What the hell? Oh wait, no. Wait, what?"
"Okay… let's start again." He took a deep breath and squinted once more.
"Black blood has been – wait there is no has been – Black blood originated from the dark and stormy… knight? What the – What?"
"Okay… One. More. Time." Soul closed his eyes, and took another deep breath.
You can do this Soul. You have it in you. You're a death scythe, isn't that right? This puny little book won't be able to stand in your path.
"Black. Blood. Originated from the book. Originated from raging hamsters. Not long ago – Ragin' hamsters? WHAT THE HELL IS A RAGING HAMSTER? THAT'S IT! I GIVE UP!" he hurled the book at the wall, mentally hating himself for his lack of reading and book intellect.
"Now that I think of it… 'Cooking Recipes?' That was the title? What is this? What the hell is wrong with my eyes?"
He blinked and picked up the leaflet again. Sure enough, the title read – Sweet Baby Munchkins.
"I knew it," he muttered. "My eyes were playing tricks on me." Soul checked his watch and nearly tripped on his way out to the library.
"What the – It's 6 already? Oh great, Maka's going to kill me!"
"Hey boy!" the librarian called out as Soul ran out of the library. "You still want your free book?"
"You can have it!" Soul shouted back. "It's just a stupid novel about mice and cheese!"
"Okay then!" the librarian said, almost too cheerfully.
"What's wrong with this guy?" Soul mumbled. "He's moody for an hour and then super cheerful after a few minutes… crazy idiot."

In the library, the librarian's muscles relaxed, and he once again wiped off the ever-present sweat that was running down his forehead.
"You can come out now, Missus Witch," he whispered to the library. "That untidy brat is gone."
And from the corner – in fact, the exact corner where the librarian had wept - a woman emerged from the shadows. Her hair was an untidy mess of black and grey. A crooked little hat resembling a claw was perched on top of her head, and she was wearing a long fur coat and gloves resembling sloth hands.
"Thank you, kind soul. Pray tell, who was that cute little boy back then? He would make a great addition to my charms." she held up the lengthy necklace she was wearing; there seemed to be millions of miniscule trinkets hanging from the necklace – and each with a different carving.
"His name is Soul Eater Evans, once a genius pianist, now the 'Last Death Scythe' as everyone calls him. Well not everyone, Missus Witch."
"Exactly." she crooned. "Not everyone."
"Pray tell, Mr. Librarian, how did you confuse him with the book?" the witch asked once again.
"I didn't." the librarian laughed shakily. "The black blood book's author, Medusa, seemed to have cast a form of magic upon it – Apparently, those who are 'serious, unforgiving, and intelligent' are unable to read it. The book instead distracts such a reader with whatever silly or stupid names and words that the reader knows and randomly puts it in the text. It then manipulates the reader's mind and forces the reader's body to either; toss away the book in anger or become uninterested in the book. I also applied some of the incense wax that Dr. Stein used on Maka and Soul when he wasn't looking and applied it to the pages of the text. It didn't put up the huge reaction I was expecting, but at least it managed to irritate and confuse him. Pretty good, wasn't it?"
"Yes… It really was."
The librarian shifted uncomfortably on his seat and tentatively asked, "Well now that I've done my part, I guess… What are you doing?"
'Missus Witch' had gone over to where the librarian sat, and had gazed at him with her round, mesmerizing black eyes.
"It's getting rather dark here, handsome, and I really don't have a place to sleep. Would it be okay if you… Oh I don't know." she fiddled with her little necklace and suddenly the librarian could feel a cold sensation crawl up his spine.
"Of- Of course Missus, I'd love to drive you home. But… But what about the payment?"
"What payment?" she asked innocently. "I don't ever recall striking a deal with you."
"But you said…" the librarian hesitated.
What did she say again?
Something about a large sum of money, yes that was right.
"Dearest," she whispered in his ear, and fiddled with her necklace once more. "I'd really like to go someplace warm right now. A house? An apartment would do as well."
"I'm sorry Missus, but I really need the money-"
Crack.
The librarian dropped dead with a thump.
"Oh dear." she sighed. "Its so tiring… killing people. It takes so much power and will it disgusts me. Now I'll have to go home by myself, on a cold winter night. How dreadful." She stepped over the body of the librarian; his neck twisted in a 360-degree angle. It pained her to see something so inelegant – Well… at least here was no blood.
The witch waited for a moment, her pose unchanging as she watched the librarian's soul get released from his body, and into her mouth.
"Oh, delicious." she smiled and licked her lips. "Humans have never tasted better."
"Slumber!" she called out. "Slumber darling, where are you?"
"Ha…" Something from the darkness called out. It's voice, raspy and low, animal-like.
"Slumber darling?" The witch called out again. "Please, come out. You don't have to hide anymore. No one is here to hurt you."
"Uurhf…" Something in the darkness stirred. And suddenly from the corner of her eye, the witch saw it.
"Come here, my sweet familiar," she whispered. "Come to mommy."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

"Slumber, you magnificent boy! Come here and give your mommy a little hug." the witch smiled.
[Her familiar is that of a Melursus ursinus, otherwise known as the Sloth Bear. Slow, heavy, but strong with large sickle-shaped claws and a slightly lanky build. It may not be as strong as all the other bears in the world but it is certainly aggressive enough to be feared.]
"Mo…Mmy." the bear growled.
"Yes, that's right."
"I'm. Hun…gry." the bear huffed and gazed at his 'mother' with his dark chocolate eyes.
"Oh! I have just the thing." The witch held her breath, and then put a hand on her stomach. For a second nothing happened, but slowly and surely, a low grumble sounded from within her. It was as if the soul that she had eaten just a few minutes ago had come back to life. Well, it sort of did. The sloth witch raised her head and started to wretch. She gagged and hacked, phlegm flying everywhere until finally, she coughed one last time, and the soul of the librarian came flying out.
It was different, however, from when she had just eaten it. There was only half of the soul, but it was heavy and made a muffled 'clunk' as it hit the carpeted floor. The soul was no longer floating, no longer as free as it looked. Its appearance had dimmed and the soul was dead.
"Tast…ey." The sloth bear uttered.
"For you, my sweet." The witch picked up the hardened soul and placed it into her familiar's mouth. He slurped it up like a cub, making loud sucking noises as he devoured the soul.
When it was fully eaten, the sloth bear slowly turned his head towards the witch, and lowered his head.
"Good boy." she praised, and stepped on it, climbing up his neck and sitting on his back.
"Ho…me?"
"Yes, Slumber. We go home now."
As the witch and her familiar rode across the desert back to their house, the witch closed her eyes and sighed.
"I've waited a thousand years for this. I've slept about a few 5 hundred, I've watched the world for about 4 hundred years, and I've participated in the remaining 2 or three years. I guess they'll never see it coming."
"Was it worth the wait, Slumber?" she patted her familiar's back and he grunted back a response. "Worth…. the… food."
"Yes, Slumber. The food is definitely tastier than 500 years ago. People are getting stronger, civilians are getting stronger, souls are getting stronger, and that means we'll get to sample some of the most delicious souls in the world!"
"Ye…s."

"Time flies so quickly, doesn't it?"