Chapter 1

Why is He Back?

My Comments :

It was requested by a close friend of mine that I write a story about Soul Eater. We had both watched the Anime, and are both fans. She told me what she wanted it to be about, so here we go! I'm not to fond of having more that two stories going, but I'm glad to do it for a friend! Made this one a little shorter because it's the first one. However, if you all like it, then I'll write more chapters! I hope you all enjoy!

The Story :

Maka looked around in confusion. She knew something was strange. The air was different, with no breeze. The clouds were unmoving in the sky, waiting to release the cooling rain. The sun was frozen, no smile. A small sound caught her attention. She spun and ran down the alley, her black coat billowing out behind her. As she ran, she noted the sounds of her friends as they looked for her. Not like it surprised her. She had felt the troubled, lonely soul while they were eating lunch. A soul that could project that far needed help. Besides, it didn't feel like a Kishin.

The lonely feeling grew stronger as she rounded the last corner, spotting a figure huddled in the dead-end alley. The rain begin to pour down as she studied the figure. She knew it was a young man, looking to be 18 or so. He was wearing some sort of black cloak, and dirtied bandages covered his arms.

"Excuse me?" Maka said hesitantly. The soul was strange, confusing. It was confused. Lonely. Tired. Sad. And something else she couldn't quite tell. Afraid?

"Leave," the figure said. "If you see me, you'll only use your Bravery against me."

"Bravery?" Maka questioned, inching closer little by little.

"You tried to kill me," he muttered. "I don't want to die. I want to live."

"I-I tried to kill you? What's your name?"

The figure tilted towards her, black hair with white marks that made the strands look like eyes covering his eyes. "I'm not powerful anymore. I do not belong. I will never belong. I," the figure bit his lip, pausing, "want to belong."

Maka reached the cloaked man. "Tell me your name. Maybe I can help."

"Y-you promise to help? You promise not to hurt me?"

"I promise," Maka said resolutely. "I will not hurt you. I'll do whatever it takes to help you." She held out her hand. "You don't need to be afraid."

The figure flinched in surprise at the last sentence. "No need to be," he paused, "afraid?" He grabbed her hand, allowing her to help him stand. "You know my name," he said, sadness tinging his voice.

"I'm sorry," she said, trying to remember who it was. "I don't think I remember."

He brushed his hair out of the way, revealing the bright red eyes. "Asura."

Maka froze, staring into his eyes. "A-Asura?" She was about to turn and run when she remembered her promise. What kind of person would she be if she broke that promise? Besides, despite being so close to him, she didn't feel the all to familiar Madness trying to take her over. Is that what he meant when he had said he wasn't powerful anymore? Maka bit the inside of her lip. She didn't know exactly what category he would be under, Weapon or Meister, but he was a normal person now, at least as normal as he could be. Without help, he would fade away. Now, he was just as afraid as he made others feel. With their new proximity, she also noted that he looked younger now, around her age.

"You are afraid," he said simply, a frown evident on his face.

"No," Maka said, shaking her head. "No anymore." She smiled.

Loud footsteps hitting wet stone distracted the duo. Maka turned around so she could see who was coming. Asura stood behind her, seeming to shrink a little. Maka's friends – Soul, Tsubaki, Black Star, Liz, Patty, and Kid – rounded the corner. Her smile faded. Things were going to get complicated.

"There you are, Maka," Soul started, growling a little, "why did you-?" He cut himself off, spotting who Maka was with.

"Asura," Death the Kid said calmly, his eyes narrowing. He glared at the Kishin, wondering why he couldn't sense his evil, diluted soul.

Black Star curled his hands into fists. "Maka! Come here, where it's safe! We'll get him once and for all!"

At his words, Tsubaki, Liz, and Patty turned into their weapon forms, joining their meisters. Soul turned one of his arms into a scythe, preparing to 'free' his meister. Asura started to back away, the fear returning. Once he was far enough away from Maka, the group charged.

"No! Wait!" The Meister yelled, jumping in front of Asura.

The incoming attackers froze, Black Star tripping and falling on his face. Kid stared at her in confusion. Soul looked slightly pissed.

"Maka? What the hell are you doing?!" Maka's weapon yelled, stepping closer.

"I promised him," she snapped at them. "I promised him he didn't have to be afraid anymore!"

Surprise covered the group's faces as the weapons reverted to their human form. Maka stood stubbornly, rain plastering a few loose strands of hair to her forehead.

"Are you crazy, Maka?" Soul growled, stepping even closer. "He practically destroyed Death City! He killed so many people!"

"And now he doesn't have that power," she refuted, angry. "I promised him I wouldn't hurt him, and if I let you hurt him, I'd be breaking my promise!"

Behind her, Asura cringed a little. The fear was returning. The angry glares from the Weapons and Meisters was becoming too much for him to handle.

"You won't hurt him," Maka continued. "You'll have to go through me first!"

Asura stared at her in surprise. Why would she be so willing to help him? Was it all just because of that one promise? Above them, the rain started to let up.

"Please," Asura said quietly, "I don't want to die. I want to live."

This caught the group's attention. As they studied him, they finally recognized his expression. Fear. Asura was afraid of them. Something was very different about him, and Kid was the first to realize it.

"That's why I couldn't sense the evil," he muttered, his eyes narrowing at the Kishin.

Black Star took a step forward. "He still tried to kill us!"

"I want to belong," the cloaked figure said, staring at his bandaged hands.

Tsubaki tilted her head curiously. "Maybe," she said in her usual timid manner, "maybe we should give him a chance."

"It's not our decision," Kid said, sighing. "It's my father's."

Maka grabbed Asura's hand, dragging him past the group. "Don't worry," she said calmly. "I'm not going to let them do anything to you."

The group merely watched, their faces a mixture of confusion, a little hope, and anger.

~ Break ~

Asura froze at the bottom of the steps, staring at the DWMA building towering above him. All evidence of the fight had been erased, and students milled about calmly. They talked, laughed, and belonged. He took a deep breath, taking a look at Maka. Her right hand was still entwined in his left, offering reassurance. Her face was lit up in a happy, fear free smile.

"Don't be afraid. I'm right here."

Asura nodded, lifting the hood of his cloak up to cover his hair. He didn't feel like being recognized again. In a building full of Weapons and Meisters, it didn't seem like a good idea. Maka smiled again, pulling him up the stairs. As they neared the top, the duo gained a fair amount of looks and whispers.

Asura frowned. "They're staring," he whispered, fear lacing his voice.

"Don't worry about it," she said calmly. "They aren't afraid and they aren't angry, so it's fine."

"O-okay."

He let himself be pulled through the Academy, glancing at the doors and students as they passed.

"Maaakaaa!" called a familiar voice that made her cringe.

"Oh no," she muttered, a shiver going up her spine.

Spirit rounded the corner, spotting his daughter. He started running towards her, spreading his arms out in front of him, preparing to give her a big hug. Maka braced herself for the bone-crushing hug, but heard only the 'thud' of Spirit hitting the floor. She opened her eyes to see Asura standing protectively in front of her, his arms spread out wide, blocking Spirit from getting to his daughter.

Maka leaned to the side to see her father sitting dejectedly. "Papa? What are you doing?"

"Maakaa! I wanted to give you a hug," he moaned dramatically. "But he stopped me!"

The young Meister rolled her eyes. "I'm busy, Papa. I need to go see Lord Death."

"I can come with you!" Spirit called out, jumping up. When he neared Maka, Asura growled.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Papa."

"Who's this?" he asked calmly, his more serious side coming out. Something about the stranger 'protecting' Maka was bothering him.

"My friend," the young girl said quickly. "We have to go!" She ducked underneath Asura's arm, grabbing his hand again. With amazing speed, she dragged him past her father and towards the Death Room.

"Maka?"

Maka swore under her breath. "Yes, Professor Stein?" she responded, turning around and stepping slightly in front of Asura.

"Where are you going? Lord Death didn't call you."

"I really need to talk to him. It's important," she spoke with urgency, hoping it would make him let them continue.

"Then I should come with you. He's meeting with the Death Scythes now. But they're waiting for Spirit to come back."

"O-okay," Maka said. She knew that if she demanded to go alone, it would only seem suspicious.

"Then come on."

Stein led the way through the winding pathway to Lord Death's room. Death stood calmly in front of his mirror, studying Yumi and Marie as they agreed over how useless Spirit was. Death glanced up.

"Ah, Maka!" He waved one of his over sized hands at her.

Behind her, Asura cringed, partially hiding behind her. Marie and Yumi turned at the mention of Maka. Marie waved at her and Stein happily while Yumi nodded curtly.

"Is there something you needed?" Death asked curiously.

Maka pulled Asura past the Death Scythes and up to the headmaster of the DWMA. "I want to enroll my new friend into the DWMA."

Asura cringed at the last part on the sentence. He wanted to belong, he didn't want a death sentence!

"And who exactly is this friend?"

Behind the duo, Stein, Marie, Yumi, and Spirit, who had just shown back up, watched curiously. Maka squeezed Asura's hand reassuringly before slowly pulling his hood back, revealing his hair-covered face. The Death Scythes behind them froze, immediately recognizing the hair. Asura slowly lifted his head, his red eyes shining behind the spaces between his hair.

"Death," he said quietly.

"Asura," Death replied calmly.

A loud 'shing' sounded from behind Maka and Asura as the Death Scythes prepared themselves to fight. Asura cringed, fear beginning to force its way into his mind.

"Maka," Spirit said with utter calmness, his serious side coming out, "step away from him. Now." His face shown in his Scythe form.

The young Meister spun, glaring at North America's Death Scythe. "No, Papa. I brought him here with a promise."

Without a single warning, Stein charged. Maka jumped in front of him, hoping both Stein and her father would stop.

"Stein!" Spirit yelled loudly, to no avail.

"Maka!" called Asura, pushing her out of the way. Blood spattered against both the floor and Stein as Asura fell to his knees, coughing up blood. Marie and Yumi reverted to their full human forms, staring in surprise at the Kishin. Spirit returned to his form as well, running over to Maka, who was lying on her side, staring in horror at the blood. Stein stared blankly at the blood, seeming slightly confused.

"Asura!" Maka jumped up, pushing past her father and kneeling next to the Kishin. "Asura! Are you okay?!"

Asura smiled weakly. "Is that what Bravery is? Having fear, but being willing to face it." He coughed, blood spattering against the floor and the bandages on his hands. "Bravery," the Kishin smiled at Maka. "I understand." His eyelids started to flutter, his vision blurring. "It is much better than fear." Asura's eyes closed as he fell forward, landing on Maka.

"Asura!" Maka shook him a little. "Asura! Stay with me!"

Death tilted curiously, contemplating everything that just happened. "All students of the DWMA deserve care," he said in his usual sing-song voice. "Spirit, Stein? Take Asura to the nurse. Try your best," the Reaper called out happily.

Maka looked up in surprise. "L-lord D-death?"

"Consider Asura a student at the DWMA!"

~ Break ~

"Maka is that you?"

Maka sighed quietly, hearing her Weapon's voice. She turned her head, spotting all of her friends. They looked worried, especially since she was sitting across from the Nurse's door and covered in black and red blood.

"Maka," Tsubaki gasped. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she said quietly, turning to stare at the door again. "It's not my blood."

"What happened?" Liz asked, kneeling next to her.

"Papa and Stein tried to attack Asura. I stepped in front of him, but Stein didn't even pause. Asura pushed me out of the way. He saved me," her voice was quiet, distant.

"He saved you?!" Black Star gasped, completely and utterly surprised.

"Yeah. And then Lord Death gave him what he wanted. It probably won't matter though."

Kid leaned against the wall next to the door. "What did he give Asura? And why won't it matter?"

"He gave Asura a place where he could belong. He made him a student here." She ignored the gasps. "But he lost so much blood." Maka bit her lip. "He might not make it. Stein told me to expect the worst."

Soul Eater knelt by her other side. "I'm sure it'll be okay, Maka."

The young Meister tilted her head to look at her Weapon. "How do you know? How do you know he didn't die?"

The Nurse's door creaked open slowly.

"You should know I don't die that easily."

Maka jumped up in surprise, spinning in surprise. "Asura!"

The young Kishin leaned against the door frame, his breaths shallow. Behind him, the nurse was complaining about how he should be laying down. Asura's cloak was gone, and he was in a simple pair of jeans, combat boots, and bandages. A long set of new bandages were wrapped around his torso, while his old bandages still covered the markings on his hands and forehead.

"What can I say?" he asked rhetorically, smirking. "I don't like dying." He took a deep breath, wincing. "I guess I didn't want to die right after I started belonging."