Black Star crouched low as if to jump. "Who cares if you can see souls? When did that matter huh? Its not as if all see anything interesting. As far as I'm concerned, the only soul worth looking at is mine!" He leapt forward and landed about 2 feet away from Stein.
This time Stein laughed out loud and pushed his glasses higher up his slim nose. "Yes your is an interesting one: self centred and more then a little bit wild." He reached up and turned the bolt in his head some more. "It must be difficult to find a soul compatible with your own."
I glanced over at Tsubaki who was watching Black Star, her huge green eyes even wider with worry.
Black Star bent down once more, impatient. "No more talking!" He demanded, then jumped into the air, his foot aimed right for Stein's head, only to have it deflected by the doctor's arm. A little shocked, Star tried to kick again this time aiming for Stein's back but Stein just spun around and blocked again, then followed up with a hit of his own sending Star flying backwards.
"Black Star!" Tsubaki cried and made a gesture toward him, but froze, for Stein had spun on his chair to face her, his head resting on his hand, surveying her.
"Hmmm yes I see it now, you must be the wild one's partner. You're always willing to compromise and have a very accepting nature. It make sense that you're the one to cooperate with his wave length."
"Who do you think you are old man?" Soul asked, not trying at all to be cautious unlike me.
Stein ignored him. "Now that I've collected all the required information I think its time to begin the experiment," he smiled softly again, a smile that sent chills running up my spine.
I looked at Soul and he grinned back, his sharp white teeth as perfect as ever. "Ready?"
"Ready," he replied, shifting into his normal weapon form, a long black scythe with a red and silver blade. I grabbed a hold of him and swung into attack mode, my body relaxed and ready to fight.
Stein studied us playfully as I raced forward swinging Soul inches away from his head. He kicked his chair out of the way and rolled past. I could see Star had gotten back up and was about to attack from behind.
I had to keep his attention.
I swung again but missed him and ended up spinning around. I felt his kick hit my back and sent me flying as he shot backward and hit Star in the face with the chair.
"My face!" Star cried dramatically as his hand covered his bleeding nose, causing him to fall over again hitting the floor with a thud.
Stein didn't care, he just turned the bolt for the millionth time and stared at me for a second. "Hmm…I'm guessing you're scythe meister Maka Albarn. Your name is familiar…Where have I heard it? If I could just put my finger on it…" The doctor tilted his head then punched the air. "Ha! Your mother was also a meister, and your father is Spirit!"
"Who's Spirit?" Soul asked.
"That's what my father used to be called before he became a Death Scythe…But how did you know about that?" I asked Stein.
He looked at me for a second then rolled his head back on to his hand "I still remember even now… he looks so peaceful in his sleep…" He reminisced for a moment then looked me up and down. "Ah, so you truly are Spirit's darling little daughter…and the daughter of the woman who ended my greatest experiment. I wonder what type of subject you'd make…?"
Over my dead body!
Stein shot forward his palm extended. I could feel Soul smiling. "It's just an attack; I can block it, don't worry."
I braced myself when Stein hit, but it was no normal attack. It was as though he had shot an electric current through Soul and into me, the force scattering us.
"What the-!" I could feel my soul's wavelength going haywire in my chest.
"What did he do to me?" From his outburst I gathered Soul was going through the same thing.
I winced, looking back at Stein. Bursts of energy were still sparking out of his palm.
He hit us with his own soul's wavelength.
I don't believe this. I had always know a meister needed a weapon to attack with a soul's wavelength yet he can attack directly. He doesn't need a weapon to use his power. We are in way over our heads.
The man himself grinned as though reading my thoughts and stood up, pushing the small computer chair way from him. "Now then, how should I begin my experiment?" He made a cutting motion with his fingers and glanced at my school skirt and my long black coat, eyes too suggesting for my liking.
I could feel my heart beating like a bird trapped in a cage, and Soul could feel it too.
"Maka chill out! Your soul waves are completely chaotic." He sounded worried.
I tried to slow down my breathing but the more I tried to focus on it, the worse it seemed to become. I needed to surprise him. I raced forward with out thinking about it and swung Soul skilfully to the side, aiming for Stein's chest.
"Wait, Maka!" Soul warned, but it was too late. Stein had already foreseen my attack and struck again with his wavelength. This time when I staggered back, I tripped and lost my grip on Soul who shifted before hitting the ground. I was inches away from the cold stone floor when Stein grabbed a hold of one of my piggy tails and pulled me up so that I was on my feet.
"That was a dumb…Maka!" Soul groaned, clearly in pain, but there was nothing I could do. Stein pulled harder on my piggy tail and within seconds he had taken off my coat and tossed it too the floor.
My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was about to tare my chest apart.
Stein pulled me so close to him that I could feel his calm, relaxed breathing. I tried to pull away but he just tightened his grip and laughed, "Oh I wouldn't pull if I was you…it will hurt much more."
I could feel him lifting up my shirt and squeaked as his hand slowly stroked my soft skin.
"My what lovely skin you have," he grinned, as though he was completing me on a new dress, then pulling me up so high that I had to tiptoe to try and stop the pain. "Let's see if I can turn it into sandpaper!" I could practically hear his sadistic smile forming on his lips and could feel his breathing as he smelled my hair then he whispered so close to my ear that his warm breath was now tickling it. "Don't worry; I'll be gentle!"
He took out a small pen from his pocket and started to draw dissecting lines on my stomach, when to my relief Black Star shouted from behind, "You're about to need a new pair of glasses you freak! How could you have forgotten that I was here?"
"Surprisingly easily," Stein muttered and rolled his eyes.
"You're not the only one who can use their soul waves without a weapon!"
"What?" Stein sounded genuinely off guard.
I could hear Black Star rush forward screaming something I couldn't make out. I felt him hit Stein right in the back, creating a burst of energy that forced the crazy professor to release me…sending me tumbling to the floor. Again.
The cold floor was welcoming, its numbing temperature taking away a small amounts of pain I could feel in many places over my body.
I glanced at Soul who had propped him self up on his elbow and watched Star and Stein with astonishment. "That was amazing! Since when could he do that?"
I stared at Star as well. I have to hand it too him, he is pretty powerful for his age - if only he wasn't so god damn self centred he might do some good for once.
Star took a step back, his face confused for once. The silver haired man remained still, his face expressionless, then he lifted his head to show a pleased face. "Well well, a surprise from the wild boy."
My heart plummeted somewhere deep inside my shoes.
"What the hell is-" Star tried to say, but Stein interrupted
"Don't you remember when I checked your souls when you arrived? I made sure I familiarised myself with them. You see, when you attacked me, we shared a bond like that of a meister and a weapon…And now it's my turn!" He spun on the spot to face black star and pressed his palms to Star's head. Star screamed and his whole body shook. Stein let out a blood chilling laugh then stopped, letting Black Star's form drop to the ground, splattering crimson blood over the grey stone floor stones.
"Black star!" shrieked Tsubaki, racing to help him.
If he's using souls against us, lets see what we're dealing with.
I closed my eyes and scanned around using my soul to see, I gasped. His soul was huge! It was a giant blue orb that completely surrounded his entire body: it even had his bolt attached to the side of it.
He is beyond powerful…and we are beyond screwed!
"Come on Maka, let's show him what he's messing with!" Soul whispered.
I shook my head meekly
"No."
He turned is head a fraction to face me. "What do you mean?"
I tried to speak but words failed me so I just slide down on to my knees. "It's impossible!"
Stein tilted his head and looked straight into my eyes. "So you can see my soul? Impressed? I sure am." His speech only made things worse.
I glanced at Soul and shook my head again. "Can't…the difference between us it's…It's…Too much! He defeated me once! I could get you all killed!" I practically was sobbing now, beating myself up inside.
Soul shook his head, mirroring my action from before. "No! Why are you just sitting there? Get up!" He bent down to help me up by grabbing my left shoulder. I shuffled, moving his hands away.
"You wouldn't be saying that if you could see the shape of his soul like I can!" I muttered hotly.
There was a smug laugh coming from Stein's direction but I didn't care. I might get everyone I love killed and it would be all my fault!
Soul growled angrily. "You're wrong Maka! You just saw a soul, not your whole future! Don't give up before you even fight!" He grasped both my shoulders this time and shook me forcefully. "Don't give up on me Maka! Look up and listen to me…I'M TALKING TO YOU!" He screamed the last bit right down my ear.
He was right, he was always - seven out of ten times, anyway - right.
I looked up in to his eyes and he smiled. "Now look over there" - he indicated over to Stein who was casually standing, one hand in his pocket one hand holding a lighted cigarette. He could be standing anywhere doing anything - "the good doctor has been waiting patiently for you to finish your little temper tantrum…isn't that so polite of the nice gentleman?"
I didn't want to ruin the moment by pointing out he had also lost it by screeching down my ear.
Soul reached out his hand. "Come on. If we die, let's die cool!"
I smiled determinedly and took it. "Sorry about that; I'm better now"
Stein grinned and bowed his head.
Soul transformed back into the scythe and I swung him skilfully over my head. "Let's go! Soul residence!" we said, perfectly in time.
I felt his soul stream into my body. I let my own soul stream in to his. We kept repeating this until the power that built up become stronger then one of us is alone.
I felt the power build and build till I could do no more then I forced all the energy in to Soul who transferred it to raw soul wavelength. The wave length made Soul's blade 20 times longer and a lot more powerful. It's a form know as 'witch hunter'.
I swung it straight for Stein who appeared clearly impressed at my ability to use the witch hunter at such a young age.
"My, aren't you a little young to be using such a powerful toy?" he mocked playfully.
I swung the blade right down on to his face but he caught it with his bare hands. "And you can control it too. I am impressed."
I could feel the strain this attack was giving Soul and I could feel Stein's soul wavelength holding it back.
I pushed down harder and hoped to god Soul could take the pressure.
The older man just laughed. "Admirable…But your skills are still too unpolished!"
With that he sent a soul wave so strong it shattered witch hunter's blade into several tiny pieces and forced me zooming across he ground until I collided with the stony wall.
I slid down the wall and on to the floor trying to stay awake. Stein walking towards me and heard him cackle as he crouched down, cigarette smoke clouding my blurry vision.
"You managed to remained conscious…Looks like I can still have some fun-"
I felt Soul press down on top of me. "I won't let you touch my meister! You will not touch my Maka!" His determination hid his fright.
Stein sniggered. "Fine. I'll just have to finish you first!"
I was about to yell when stein carried on speaking. "…Congratulations! You passed!"
Soul shifted. "What?"
"You passed your test! Lord Death put me up to this to see how good you are and you passed!"
"But you…Test?" Soul appeared to be having trouble registering this. "If it was a test then…Why'd you kill Black Star, huh?" He finally pointed an accusing finger at the doctor, finding it easier to blame him for something than accept the fact that this deadly battle was set up.
I glanced through my mousy blonde hair at Black Star who was propping himself up weakly, leaning on Tsubaki's chest. (The girl was restraining herself from hitting him.)
He pointed at Stein. "I bet you think you're a great star now don't you, you sicko!"
"I don't understand!" I complained, trying to sit up.
"Well Maka, it's simple," came Sid's deep low voice. "I decided Lord Death could use my death to test you."
Stein nodded. "He gave up his own body to save you meisters. In my books you all get A's."
"A test?" Soul repeated, apparently ready to kill someone for real. "We almost died…for a test."
"Yep! And I have to admit it was funny scaring you guys!" Stein laughed, our faces falling.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" I moaned into the floor. "PLEASE GOD YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!"
"Well kids its getting lat, looks like you're all going to have to spend the night here with me!" Stein grinned, his arms out wide as thought expecting us all to run forward and hug him. I noticed he conveniently ignored our complaining.
We all look from stein to Sid then at one another.
"OVER OUR DEAD BODYS!" We screamed.
Stein just whined to Sid. "I can arrange that, right?"
just another thank you to totaltownie who is amazing!
please reveiw, i love hearing your thoughts and opinions (as long as they are done sensibly and if you have any bad thoughts please phrase them nivly) :D
