Kid narrowed his eyes at Soul's comment, although he agreed to it sure enough. He grasped Maka's hand and led her into the hallway. As they exited the doors, Kid feeling more hopeful each second, he thought 'C'mon... I can take Soul. He's really not all that strong, as demonstrated by the first time we fought... It'll probably take less time, in fact, because I don't have to deal with Black Star now.'

He calmly let go of Maka's still slightly clammy hand and walked to the opposite side of the entrance ground that Soul stood on. He adopted the Stance of Sin slowly and sure of himself. "We'll settle this here, Soul. Let's see who's really stronger." He smirked.

Quick as a flash, he was behind the demon scythe, and landed a blow to the back of his neck with his elbow. Seeing Soul skid onto the ground gave him a sort of sick satisfaction, which he supressed with some effort. This wasn't a feeling he was used to. Wanting to inflict pain on a comepletely innocent person. 'Why can't I... Stop?' He thought frantically, hearing a sharp yell pierce the air like a stone to already fiercely raging waters. 'Did I just scream...? That was... Me?'

He stormed forward, lunging towards Soul, his vision becoming blurred and red slowly. 'This isn't right... Maka can't see me like this... It's not... Me.' Unable to control himself, he threw a punch to the side of Soul's face, seeing drips of red splatter to the stone pavement below slapped a rather terrifying grin across his face that he could tell scared Soul momentarily. 'Why...?'

From Kid's POV...

I glared at the demon scythe slightly, masking my discomfort from Maka. This indeed was true, the girl looked like she needed some fresh air after a while in the hospital wing. I tangled my flustered and pounding fingers into her slightly clammy ones, and found myself immediately turning and walking out the door into the empty hallway.

'C'mon... I can take Soul. He's really not all that strong, as demonstrated by the first time we fought... It'll probably take less time, in fact, because I don't have to deal with Black Star now.' I thought, looking at Maka's somewhat dumbfounded and clueless expression.

I could feel hispresence behind us, walking along slowly. I could visualize in my head what the fool probably looked like at the moment. Hands in his pockets, slouching as usual, and pacing along slower than the rest of us. As I slowly turned my head to glance at him quickly, I realized that he indeed was just as I had imagined.

My hand went from warmth to bitter cold again as I let go of Maka's grasp slowly, and my heart sank a bit. It felt as if I'd never be able to hold it again, never be able to feel the rush of emotions that splattered in my head every time I was around her. The sight of her face, dark but thoughtful eyes that could see right through you and be looking you directly in the eye at the same time, the faint red color that rose in her cheeks occasionally, and a smile that could light up even the darkest abyss... Would that all be out of my reach...?

I snapped back to reality, now facing him. The Stance of Sin came naturally to me, and I remembered all that was on the line in this very standoff. I flickered my eyes to Maka's beautiful face for only a fleeting moment, that seemed to last an eternity, as I was lost in her thoughtful gaze once again. I blinked twice and turned to see my opponent looking at me expectantly, and this sent a wave of adrenaline rushing over me at top speed, only further raising my heartrate that had been accelerated by... Those eyes.

"We'll settle this here, Soul. Let's see who's really stronger." I knew in my heart that I was really challenging him over Maka's love, and that suddenly seemed foolish to me. What was this, a duel of hearts? We were deciding for her, weren't we...? But I just simply couldn't leave that perfect embrace, that heartwarming grin, that... Girl. Maka.

The thought of her name gave me the strength to throw myself at him, and I could tell he didn't know what had happened as he staggered forward from my elbow that had just come in inevitable contact with the back of his neck. I felt my lips curl into a smirk, and I scared myself. I was thinking morbid... Morbid thoughts that would have made one cringe just by hearing them.

"Aaaaugh!!" My control was shattered. Now I could only sit back and watch as this somewhat bloodlusting force inside of me delivered blow after will-breaking blow to the scythe's body.

And now the blood that spilled on the pavement seemed to fill my eyes with glazed over red lenses, and my mouth turned up into a grin that I imagined would have scared me, had I seen it...