"Oi, Maka, slow down a bit. Why're you so excited?" Soul grumbled loudly as the two walked down the school hall. Classes were finished for the day. More extracurricular lessons were posted up on the board, but Soul just wanted to go home. He was tired as hell because he hadn't gotten enough sleep last night.
"Baaaaka! Don't you remember? We've got 96 souls already! We're almost finished getting the number of souls we need to make you a Death Scythe!" she exclaimed half-heartedly. She spoke while staring at the board the whole time, contemplating what mission they should take on. "Here! This one!" She pointed at a sheet of paper.
"Eh? What is it?" Soul snatched the sheet off the board and read it out in his mind. Souls have been mysteriously disappearing in the town of Yokano. Find the threat and eliminate it as quickly as possible. Mission Requirements: Soul Perception. "Yokano isn't too far from Death City…"
"So? We gonna take it?"
"… Hmm." Soul replied, handing the sheet over so she could bring it to the desk. He really just felt like going home. Not only because he was tired, but also because he felt something odd. Like his mind was telling him that they should stay away from this mission…
Soul stopped his motorcycle at the edge of town. That aura of danger in his mind became stronger with each step they took. "It's so… eerie…" Maka breathed. The town seemed so deserted. The streets were quiet, hardly any people passing by.
"We should probably start asking around…" Soul mumbled, touching the shoulder of the first person they passed by. The man turned with a sudden jolt, his pale eyes glaring angrily at him.
"You… you'z from Sh-Shibusssennnn?" The man slurred. His glare became heavier, and without warning, he swung a punch at Soul's face, hitting him directly in the jaw.
"S-Soul!" Maka cried.
"L-Leave us alooonnnunnn… an' leavvvve Karasu-sama to herr resrcchhhh. Sh-She's helped us all…" the man scolded, and he left without another word. Soul cursed incoherently under his breath as he rubbed his chin.
"'The hell's with him?" he hissed.
"He said… Karasu-sama… Is that who's….?" Maka pondered. As she said this, a large Soul Wavelength hit her for a split second, knocking the breath out of her lungs. On instinct, she pointed to where the Wavelength came from. "Over… there…"
"… Whoever this idiot is, they suck at concealing them self." She was pointing directly at the largest building in the center of the town. In large bold Kanji at the top, it said 'Research Lab'. "Okay… let's go…"
The entrance swung open with the lightest touch, yet the room ahead was pitch black. "Soul…"
"Got it." His form changed into a black and white scythe, the handle landing in Maka's hands. She took a step in and the wooden floor creaked, echoing down the lifeless hallway.
"Welcome…" A voice whispered into Maka's ear. With a scream, she turned and swung her scythe behind her. But nothing was there.
"Oi! Tiny Tits, what the hell are you doing?!" Soul whispered menacingly. Before she could answer, the lights flickered on, and the hallway was revealed. A woman stood at the end, her head ducked, staring at the floor. She wore a lab coat, and her long black hair covered her face. The meister stood cautiously, her scythe raised. The woman laughed and raised her head, revealing her pale-skinned, gray-eyed face.
"Is there anything I could help you two with?" she grinned, taking her hands from her pockets.
"K-Karasu, we're here to take your soul for what you've done!" Maka hissed, taking a cautious step backwards. The woman laughed as if she was joking.
"Are you sure you can?" she smirked, raising one of her hands, palm away from her face. "Krrrr, Crowwww, Krrrr, Crowwww…"
"Maka! She's a witch! Watch out!"
"Beak cannon!" Karasu yelled, millions of tiny, needle-like objects shooting out of her palm. Maka jumped away before she was hit. She landed a bit closer to Karasu, starting to twirl her weapon around so she could get closer. The needles bounced off of the scythe, landing without a sound on the ground. "Ne, do you really think close combat is a good idea?" the witch mocked. The needles suddenly stopped, and for a split second, Maka let her guard down. It was all the witch needed. Karasu's hand was already around her throat, lifting her off the ground as she choked to death. Her hands immediately flew up to try and pry the hands off, dropping Soul in the process.
"Shit! Maka!"
"Don't ever underestimate a witch, you stupid brat." Karasu growled. "Krrr, Crowwww, Krrr, Crowwww."
"MAKA!" Soul screamed frantically, turning back into his human form. But there was nothing he could do. He watched in horror as the witch's arm formed a blade and stabbed Maka, straight through her stomach. His body was frozen in shock and despair, each muscle unwilling to move. Karasu let go of Maka's throat, and her body slid down the blade, making the hole in her stomach deeper.
"Stupid girl." the witch sighed, flinging Maka across the room. She hit a wall and collapsed on the ground. Her breathing was quick and short, each exhale coming out as a rasp.
"Shit… shitshitshitshitShitShitSHIT!" Soul hissed loudly, his arm transforming into a blade. He plunged it through the witch's abdomen with all his might, his anger overtaking his movements. He stood and kicked Karasu, causing her to fall to the ground. The witch laughed on the floor.
"What does that Shinigami teach you in that school?" she cackled, her body suddenly turning into crows. "I'll say this once more before I depart. Do not underestimate witches, boy." she laughed, and with that, the crows flew away. As soon as she was gone, Soul ran over to Maka, kneeling down in the blood that pooled around her body. Her eyes were still open, but they were dull and half-lidded. He placed his hand over her wound in a weak attempt to stop the flow of blood.
"Idiot, stop bleeding or you'll die!" he hissed, taking the hand that lay at her side. Maka squeezed his hand lightly.
"S… Soul… Ku…" before she could finish, her eyes closed, and her hand became limp in his grasp. He stared in disbelief.
"Hey, Maka! Stop being stupid okay? This isn't cool!" he choked frantically, squeezing her hand harder as if it would bring her back to him. She wasn't dead. She couldn't be dead. Not after all they'd gone through. Not after the many times he'd protected her. But… he couldn't protect her this time…
A single tear escaped his eye. He lowered his head in defeat. "Damnit… Damnit! Makaaaa!"
What is this… pain? My stomach… It hurts… But why? Someone, please stop it… I don't want to die!
Maka's eyes shot open in shock. Her vision was blurred, but she could hear the steady beep of a heart monitor nearby. The pain from her stomach was still evident, but not as amplified as it had been in her sleep. As her vision adjusted, she could see that she was in a hospital bed. A familiar face towered over her form. "… Nygus-sensei...?" Maka mumbled. The substitute nurse smiled behind the bandages on her face.
"Ah, Maka-chan! You're awake earlier than I expected. It's a miracle you survived too!" Maka took a quick glance down at her stomach, taking note of the thick layer of bandages wrapped around her stomach.
"… What happened?" Maka tried lifting her hand, but something stopped it from moving. She raised an eyebrow and looked over to see the cause. She was surprised to see a hand on top of hers. She followed the figure with her eyes, looking from his hand, up his arm and to his face, giving the white-haired boy a strange look. He was smiling with relief.
"Ah, yes, your latest mission was dangerous. You were stabbed through the stomach and almost died of blood loss. Your buddy here rushed you over and saved your life." Nygus explained. Even with the explanation, Maka ripped her hand from the red-eyed boy's grasp, giving him a horrified expression. The boy blinked.
"Eh? Maka… is something wrong…?" the boy inquired.
"Oh hell YES there is! Who the hell are you!?"
