Rocking. That's all I feel. Something, moving me, swaying me. It's soothing, though; like the way a mother rocks her child to sleep. It's warm, too. I can't help but think, Mama? Are you holding me in your arms? I can't breath. My lungs are smothered, but the lack of oxygen isn't bothersome. It's actually quite relaxing, surprisingly. The soothing motions, as well as the warmth, is dragging me down into the dark abysses of unconsciousness. I'm slipping... Slipping... Slipping...

The relaxed rocking stopped. It's replaced with panicked jostling, its force so strong, it becomes nauseating. Stop, I think lazily, leave me alone. I'm being jostled in a dark, warm sea. It's so warm and nice, so why can't I stay? I realize I can't move my body, but it doesn't matter. I feel great. No, actually, I feel nothing, but is that not better than feeling pain? Wasn't I feeling pain a moment ago? With a groan, I open my eyes. I'm floating in a dark sea. There's something, a brilliant orb, floating nearby. Its light coaxes me closer, but my body is telling me to stay, just a bit longer, until I rest in peace. Yes, I must wait here, float, until I truly feel nothing, until I am nothing, so I can stay here, forever. I close my eyes, and let a soft current sweep me away from the frantic jostling.

No. That's not right. Why am I here? What? I open my eyes. The luminous orb is smaller than before, and not as bright. It's floating the opposite way, trailing into a brighter section of water. That's not right. It can't leave me. Please don't leave, I think softly. I need you. The jostling is back, stronger than before. I think I can smell... Metal? Yes, I smell copper. I squeeze my eyes shut and focus on fading away. No, now there's noise. It sounds like... Yelling? Yes, I can hear yelling. Go away. I'm trying to sleep, just for a bit. I push the noise and movement to the back of my consciousness and concentrate on relaxing. Wait, now there's too much light. I can feel something warm floating towards me, something small and bright and alive. Wait... This isn't right. I was waiting for Soul to get here, so he could-

I jolt to my senses. A quick look around indicates that I am not floating in a safe abyss, but rather in the nothingness that comes from madness. It resembles the madness that Kidd was trapped in during the book of Eibon. Am I trapped inside of Kidd's madness? I seem to be floating in the water he described he was in while he fought Black Star, but there is no "black blobby shit" in sight, as the idiotic ninja described. Then, realization hits me: I'm trapped in the madness that derives from the black blood. Why am I in the black blood? I'm not resonating with Soul. Wait, no, hadn't the black blood left Soul? Now that I think about it, I realize that the black blood never left him; it is simply resting quietly, waiting for the moment when he is distracted. I shift around, trying to find my bearings, when all of a sudden, I recognize Soul's voice. I can't exactly understand what he's saying, but I am sure it is him speaking; the voice is deep, rough, and, well, attractive.

Without my consent, my body drifts closer to the bright orb. I flounder when I realize that the orb is my soul. How the hell did I not notice my soul. Dammit, Maka, you're losing it! With a bit of effort, I manage to paddle my way closer to the soul, and sure enough, I can hear Soul hysterically shouting, "Get up, Maka! You can't fucking leave me, not now! Please, Maka, we need you!" My body has gone berserk, blindly reaching for the small, warm sphere of light. "Please, Maka! Patty and Liz can't hold up much longer! A-And Black Star is still on his way!" Gunshots. I can hear repetitive shooting, terrified screams, and... Laughter? Again, I spasm when I remember everything: Kidd has gone mad. He choked me! That's why I passed out, but it doesn't explain why I'm submerged in black blood. "Maka, please." I shiver as I hear Soul cry. His voice sounds so... Broken. Is this how he'd act if I died? "Please Maka, we all need you." I am hovering over my soul, marveling at how such an insignificantly small orb can sustain a long, warm life. "I need you," I curl around the ball of life, slowly pressing the living essence into my chest. Memories, feelings, promises, all thread themselves through me, burrowing and pressing into what can only be described as Maka. I smile, content with what I am.

Over the shouts, laughter, and disarray, Soul whispers onto cold skin: "I love you."

He lays his forehead against the girl's cold cheek. Goddamnit, Maka! Please! He forces his soul to emit its wavelength faster, to resonate with what's left of her own. I can fix you, Maka. I've done it before, I can do it again. He laughs bitterly as he notices that Maka is injured because of him, again. It's always his fault. Despite Maka's constant reassurance that he always saves her from danger, he knows she's lying. He knows deep within himself that he is a slob and good for nothing and a fucking douche that always fails to protect even the most precious and valuable person in his meaningless life. He hates himself, truthfully, but decides he can redeem himself, today, if only he saved her life first.

So, without a second thought, he slips his jacket off. He spreads the thick article of clothing out onto the cobblestone street, then lays her against it, making sure to cradle her head with his hands. He peers down at her, at the horrifying bruises on her neck, and chokes on a sob, because she is an angel, and angels should never be imperfect. Angels weren't supposed to have limp heads or shattered necks. Angels were never supposed to have their bones jutting grotesquely out of their necks. This was never supposed to happen to Maka, his angel. He hovers over her, unsure of how to get close to her without shattering another one of her lovely bones. He settles for gently laying atop her, making sure to keep his weight off of her, while lowering his head and pressing his face against the crook of her deformed neck.

With a deep breath, he lets himself into the black room, lets the demon within him take over, lets the horrid blood spread through him. With the last shard of his consciousness intact, he cuts a thin line into his neck with the weapon within him, letting his blood pool onto her wound, just in case the black blood within her isn't enough.

You'll pay for this, Kidd. You'll pay for ruining my perfect Maka. I'll make sure you pay, even if it's the last thing I do.

"What the fuck, my neck," I groan. I lift myself from a lying position, only to collide into a warm, sturdy body.

"Holy fuck, you're okay. Maka, you're okay!" I open my eyes, and almost scream when the only thing I can see is intense garnet.

"Woah," I breath, inching away, before realizing they're Soul's eyes and they're wet with tears and holy shit Soul's crying! I sit completely upright, taking his face in my hands. "Hey, are you-" He grips my shoulders and presses me to him, wrapping his strong arms around me in a bear hug.

"Maka, oh Maka, you're okay! Fuck, I thought I lost you. I was so scared Maka, so scared that you'd left me and I just..." He presses his lips to my cheek, my forehead, my nose, but never my mouth. Slightly disappointed, I lean away from him.

"Hey hey, I'm okay. Kidd only tried to choke me because the madness is controlling him. Calm down, I won't leave just... Yet..." I drift off, weary of the way his eyes darken, afraid of the way his sharp teeth grind together, of the way his soul vibrates with rage and hatred. "Hey, Soul, I'm okay, seriously, it wasn't Kidd-"

"Shut up!" I wince, backing away from his arms and onto the wall. He curls his hands into fists. He's shaking now, his skin vibrating with his emotions.

"Go away, Soul. I don't like you when you're like this." He takes in a sharp breath, and visibly relaxes. His head hangs low as he mutters an apology, uncurling his fists and slouching. "It's okay. But seriously, don't blame him. He's not in his right mind right now." He scoffs, but otherwise remains silent. I nod, and the silence hangs thick in the air. Until I hear a scream of pain. And once again, it all comes rushing back. I bolt up, jumping to my feet and stretching my hand out bellow me, to him. "Let's go, Soul!" I cry. He doesn't hesitate, simply transforms into the death scythe I helped him become.

Without a second to waste, I head towards the scream, preparing myself for the terrible battle I am certain will erupt.

Okay, well I apologize for posting this so late! I got so caught up with college (NEVER PROCRASTINATE, IT SUCKS IN THE END) and finals, and then I had a terrible writers block. Ugh. But thanks for the reviews and PMs, they helped me get back on my feet~ （＾ｖ＾） Well, I'd like to say that I am quite unhappy with how this chapter turned out, but I felt bad for not posting anything and no matter how many times I rewrote this, it was always crap. So, I'm sorrryyyyy~ BUUUUUT yeah here goes this chapter! Please review? ~(◕.◕)~

-Rina