Chapter 1: Death Scythe
Hey there! It's Harudori Tsugumi, age 15, returning for my third year at DWMA. As happy as I am to see everyone again, the pressure has been getting to me. You'd think everything would calm down when we finally defeated Shaula, but everyone's expectations are getting out of control. I may have collected 99 Kishin and 1 Witch Soul, but I don't feel anywhere near ready to become a Death Scythe. There's no way a normal girl whose in-love with love like me could have gotten so far on my own, it's all thanks to Maka and Black*Star. I'd be mad at them for getting me thrust into the spotlight, but their so excited to see me become one of Death's Weapons that it doesn't stick. I guess I'll just have to roll with things as they come, since I wouldn't trade them for the world.
Tsugumi shaded her face from the early morning sun with a hand as she made her way up the school's legendary staircase. She smiled as she reached the top, spotting Maka and Black*Star waiting for her at the entrance. "Hey guys! I didn't make you wait too long did I?" Tsugumi said as she ran over to the two meister and wrapped her arms around Maka.
"Just a bit," Maka said with a grin. Tsugumi sensed the younger girl's excitement through their soul resonance as clearly as she was feeling the way Maka's whole body was trembling. "I didn't sleep at all last night. You're going to be a Death Scythe Tsugumi!" Tsugumi sighed and released Maka. She wondered just how long it would take Maka to calm down about her becoming a Death Scythe, having to wait until vacation was over hadn't dulled her excitement at all.
"We better head to the Death Room before Maka explodes," Black*Star said with a grin. When Maka punched his arm, Black*Star stuck his tongue out at her. "She hasn't been good for anything all vacation." Tsugumi laughed, she'd heard all about the accidents Maka had caused in her distraction from him over the phone. It was a nice change from the contests the two would pick with each other while she was gone.
"We'll I guess we better get this over with then," Tsugumi said, her shoulders slumped. "It'd be a terrible thing to happen when we finally got back together." Black*Star laughed.
"I'm not that bad!" Maka said, her face turning pink and stamping her foot. Black*Star spun on his heel and ran into the school. Knowing Maka all too well, Tsugumi wasn't surprised when her meister began chasing her friend through the halls.
"Sometimes I wonder why I miss you guys so much," Tsugumi said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Wait for me!" She said, jogging after them. She didn't bother trying to actually catch up to them as the difference between their abilities was too great. Tsugumi followed the sounds of their argument echoing through the hallways. She only half remembered the way to the Death Room, having visited a couple of times in her last two years of school.
The large steel door came in sight as Tsugumi rounded the final corner. Maka and Black*Star were already standing in front of it, making faces at each other. Tsugumi panted as she came to a stop, hands on her knees in front of the door. "Did we have to run over here?" Tsugumi said, pushing herself upright and wiping away the sweat that had gathered on her face with one hand. "I don't feel mentally prepared enough for this yet."
"You'll be fine Tsugumi," Maka said with a smile, patting her on the shoulder. "You earned this promotion." Tsugumi raised an eyebrow at that. Did Maka seriously not understand how much she'd put into their partnership over the years? Tsugumi knew she wouldn't have managed to become a Death Scythe without her.
"But I can't help but be nervous. Death's the most important person at DWMA even if he seems to be a Saturday Morning Cartoon Character. Let alone meeting his right hand Death Scythe. I'm defiantly going to disappoint them." Tsugumi said, wringing her hands. Death Scythe was the single most powerful weapon, literally and figuratively in DWMA, surely such a person would find her wanting.
"That's dumb," Black*Star said, slapping his hand against Tsugumi's back. Tsugumi yelped and shied away from his hand. She could feel her back burning where he'd struck. Tsugumi would bet she'll find a bruise tonight. "Death Scythe already loves you. Death had to Death Chop to make him shut up when he found out Maka partnered with a girl." Tsugumi raised an eyebrow at Black*Star. His grin got even larger as he leaned over to whisper in her ear. "He was worried a guy would replace him as Maka's number one man."
"Death Scythe is a pervert?" Tsugumi said, eyes widening. "Black*Star you're not helping!" Tsugumi said clenching her fists and beating them against his chest. Black*Star didn't even have the decency to look hurt, puffing out his chest as Tsugumi felt her hands beginning to ache. She pulled her hands back to her chest and pouted.
"Well that too. But Death Scythe is also Maka's Papa, so you'll be fine." Black*Star said. Tsugumi whirled around to see Maka blushing and staring at the wall. Tsugumi couldn't believe this was the first time she was hearing about this. But maybe Maka's relationship with her father was as distant as with her mother? If he was always busy Tsugumi could see why Maka would be uncomfortable.
"Well if you say so." Tsugumi said clearing her throat. "I guess we should go in. We can't be late. I'll only ever become a Death Scythe once." Tsugumi was glad to see Maka's shoulders relaxing as she spoke.
"We're here!" Black*Star said as he slammed the door open. The reinforced metal let out a resounding bang as it slammed into the concrete wall. He strode into the room confidently, Maka a step behind him. Tsugumi bit her lip, shoving down the urge to scold him.
As they passed underneath the guillotines lining their path the centre of the room came into view. On a small dais Death's Mirror stood proud, its usual occupant standing beside it with his son, Death the Kid. "Welcome, you're just in time!" Death said waving at the three with his comically oversized gloved hand. Tsugumi could never be sure if he really did have sound effects or if all her years of TV made her insert them automatically. "Death Scythe just got Shaula's soul from its hiding place. We're ready to begin." Tsugumi's eye caught sight of a figure approaching, relaxing at the familiar face.
"Spirit-san you're here too?" Tsugumi said, a smile making its way onto her face. Spirit's face lit up with the brightest smile she had ever seen when he saw them. She blinked as Spirit dashed passed her and wrapped Maka into a hug.
"Maka, Papa is so proud of you!" Spirit said, rubbing his face against Maka's. "My little girl is so strong. You've already made a Death Scythe. It seems like only yesterday I was taking you to your first day of school!" Tsugumi stared at the two with wide eyes. Maka was squirming in Spirit's grasp, and had yet to Maka Chop him for it. Tsugumi turned to Black*Star and waved at the two, unable to verbalise the sheer insanity before her.
"I did warn you." Black*Star wiggling his eyebrows at her. Tsugumi's mouth opened, a strangled noise coming out. A man was all over Maka and she was letting him. A man was all over Maka and Black*Star was amused of all things, laughing even! Spirit was Maka's father? Tsugumi couldn't believe it. She'd knew Spirit was talented since she trusted his advice for training, but that meant she'd been getting tips from the strongest weapon in DWMA for months now!
"As touching as this is, we should get down to business." Death the Kid said, standing with both feet planted in line with his shoulders and both hands behind his back. Tsugumi was glad to turn her eyes away from the mind-boggling scene. She could still hear Spirit gushing over Maka behind her.
"Really now that's enough!" Death said, his arm stretching to reach Spirit. Spirit let out a whine of pain. "Keep this up and I'll give you a Death Chop!" Tsugumi felt her eyebrow twitch. Shouldn't he give the warning before he did it? No wonder Spirit had a few screws lose.
"I'm so sorry." Maka said, bowing to Death as she came to stand at Tsugumi's side. Black*Star came to stand at her other side, his lips still twitching upward. Death the Kid nodded and brought out Shaula's soul.
"Tsugumi Harudori, having collected 99 Kishin Souls I, Death the Kid, present you the soul of the witch you defeated. You should be proud, on top of reaching the level of Death Scythe your actions in the face of an emergency saved many lives." Death the Kid said, holding out the soul in both hands.
"It wasn't that special." Tsugumi said, feeling her face heat up. "I only go this far because Maka and Black*Star helped me." Death the Kid smiled at her.
"A meister and weapon are one, while you have a long way to go you have earned your place as one of my father's weapons. Maka and Black*Star will be getting their own rewards." Death the Kid said, his smile widening as Maka and Black*Star stood straighter. Tsugumi hadn't realised they were all going to be rewarded, the thought made the guilt tugging at her heart ease.
"Thank you, Kid." Tsugumi said, accepting the soul from his hands. A quick peek at Maka showed her meister nodding. Tsugumi repressed a shudder supposing that at least this would be the last soul she would have to eat. Tsugumi swallowed the soul whole, clenching her eyes shut as it blocked her throat. As the soul made its way down Tsugumi felt her body tingling, her soul wavelength rising without a thought. She hadn't even transformed yet, but already Tsugumi could feel a difference now that she was a Death Scythe.
"And now we come to you two." Death the Kid said, snapping Tsugumi from the daze she'd entered. "For your actions in a time of crisis, as of now, Maka Albarn and Black*Star are both two star meister. This is the first time in the schools 100 year history that any student has been promoted, be proud of yourselves." Tsugumi opened her mouth to congratulate the two, but the breath was knocked out of her as both meister tackled her.
"That's great guys." Tsugumi said, staring up at the ceiling, aware of little beyond the weight of the two on her chest and the throbbing pain at the back of her skull. She'd have never of guessed head trauma was the way to go if she wanted to drown out Black*Star's voice. No wonder he was so loud, he probably couldn't hear himself under all the Maka Chops.
"Two stars is nothing!" Black*Star said as he peeled himself off of the two girls. "It won't be long before a star like me gets three." Tsugumi blinked as his face came back into focus, grinning ear to ear and face pink. Tsugumi raised her now free hand to pat Maka on the head, the girl still crushing her.
"Can you believe it?" Maka said, wrapping her arms around Tsugumi tighter. Tsugumi winced as the pressure increased. "Soon everyone's going to know we got promoted!"
"I guess we'll be the talk of the school." Tsugumi said. She hoped she didn't sound as mortified as she felt. Tsugumi had never wanted to stand out like this.
"The school, try the whole world?" Maka said, raising her head to smile at Tsugumi. "The video of this is going online. There isn't going to be anyone who doesn't know about us Tsugumi." Tsugumi stared at Maka as the girl high-fived Black*Star.
"Everyone..." Tsugumi said, covering her face with her hands. "God kill me now." Tsugumi realised now that her older brother was never going to let her live this down. Tsugumi groaned and curled up into a ball. Staying curled up on the floor for the rest of her life sounded far more appealing.