I have decided that love is a wonderful- terrible, maybe- but wonderful thing.
I feel trapped, yet at the same time, I never want to lose this feeling. I feel like living. I feel like being alive. It fills me with warmth to know that love really does last through the night, for I feel I will never tire. Nothing can break me now, I am invincible with this power. Imagine what I can accomplish when I finally figure out what it is about her that fills me with terror.
Maka would like being a Kishin as well, I think. I think I will help her turn into one at some point, somehow. When you have such a tremendously long life-span as I do, the possibilities are endless. My only regret is that we can not be immortal beings together; I'm simply scared of the idea of living forever. I already know that death's embrace will be the only real peace I shall ever obtain...
However, I've never entertained the thought of suicide. I will not obtain Nirvana through it, I know that as well. Besides, I'm scared of death all the same. Not of actually dying, for that is something pure, something sweet and enticing and beautiful. No, I'm afraid that when I die, something will happen afterward. Something horrible, something so wretched that no words can adequately express it.
What is it to live, in any case? I am aware of how truly empty everything is, that this world is devoid of self and everything pertaining to self... And that is the most frightening truth of the world.
I can not die now, however. I've found a concrete, factual, wonderful reason to stay alive and wait for my new world. I'm tired of being empty, of this dull fear wracking my body. I thought before that what I wanted, even beyond my ideal world of insanity, was so vast, so unreachable, that no matter how much I meditated and thought and waited, I would never be able to figure out what it is. I know better now; I just want to be wrapped in a black silken blanket of madness... And Maka... Forever. I'm tired, let us find this ultimate peace, let us rest for eternity.
I floated close to Maka, as per usual, feeling elated, enlightened, ensnared by her. I'm giggling at her every movement; Have you ever seen anything more adorable? Her nightmares were fierce and strange last night, she's exhausted. Maka stumbled, half-asleep towards the bathroom, and almost fell into my arms from her tiredness. She caught herself quickly, her eyes looking through me, and continued on her merry way. I wanted to help organize some of her things before she left for school, but, interestingly enough, I still can not touch any object. When bleary-eyed Maka returned, I attempted to help her lift her night shirt as she changed clothes, and I could not grab it, but she shivered and her eyes flashed in my direction when a nail scraped against her spine. Sorry, Maka, just trying to help. Maybe it's because my world revolves so entirely around her now, that the rest of the world has ceased to exist to me, even in this sense? My understanding of the fabric of the universe makes it unravel before my eyes and my hand. That's perfectly fine though...
Oh.
Wait a minute.
Heh, for a second, I almost forgot that this is not my real body.
Once again, I digress. It is still raining today; my child's yellow raincoat, striped stockings, and boots are donned, breakfast is eaten quickly, umbrella is wielded, Soul is fetched (He was still asleep up to this point. It is very rude of him to keep Maka waiting like this every morning) and the door is locked behind them. I mimic every movement, naturally.
Maka's boots squeak against the linoleum as she leisurely makes her way towards class. She was mostly quiet on her way towards school, (asked Soul if he's had any weird dreams, response is a resolute "nah," rest of the journey continues in silence) but it seems she's finally fully awake. Several students walk right through me as I follow her, and my suspicions are proved correct: Maka is the only thing I can touch at all, most likely through sheer willpower. The fact that I have the strength to do this is incredible to me. I trailed a finger along her shoulder as I realized this, and she scratched at the spot without really noticing it.
Maka, almost to class, casually glanced behind her as she walked, and froze in the middle of the hallway. I watched as her face paled, her wide eyes not looking through me this time, but at me. I heard her swallow, and watched as her fingers started to tremble. She could not move, it was all she could do to stare at me with those large, unblinking eyes. The other students didn't even stop to acknowledge this.
I smiled, raised my hand, and waved.
Stiffly, Maka turned around, and the squeaking resumed as she walked. She opened the door to her classroom, handling the doorknob so delicately you'd think it would crumble into ash. As she lowered herself down at her desk, after shaking off her raincoat and hanging it over the back of her chair, she crossed her arms over her desk and laid her head down. Still, no one acknowledged her. I heard her friends mention something about Crona's string of absences this week – "Must be feeling sick," they murmured – but still, no one asked if Maka was alright.
I sat in front of her, and smiled, waiting for class to end, waiting for her to look up and see me again. The anticipation settled uneasily in my chest, and I found it suddenly hard to breathe, but I was happy nonetheless; we grow closer with every passing moment, now. This is a fact that no one could ever deny. I pet her head sometimes at short intervals, just to do something while I waited, and she remained stiff and unmoving, my tired child.
A long time later, the bell rung, and a clamor of activity sounded around Maka, who remained still even now. A few students, Soul included, poked and prodded at her in an attempt to get a rise, but she ignored them much as they ignored her all day. Even here, I am able to prove that she responds to me better than anyone else: I poked her too, and I saw her body tremble. Soul shrugged, muttered something general about females being strange, and seemed to decide it better to leave Maka to her own devices.
Foolish, cold, mad children. If I were a peer of Maka, I would have questioned her odd behavior immediately. Luckily, for me at least, I'm much more than a mere peer.
When it began to grow quiet in the class again, Maka stirred. She raised her head, blood-shot and puffy eyes adjusting to the fluorescent lighting. Before she had a chance to see me sitting in front of her, her gaze shot to the ground. She stood up and stepped lightly down past the rows of desks, stiff as ever, towards her teachers lone desk. In my minds eye, the desks parted and bowed deeply before her grace. The window behind Stein, speckled with raindrops, silhouetted themselves over Maka's form. The classroom was growing dark quickly; Quite a rain-storm we're having today.
I wonder if it will snow, I'd like to see Maka frolic in the whiteness, even if it might give her hypothermia, or freeze her little fingers... She might develop gangrene and lose her limbs... That's no good, on second-thought, I should work to keep her safe inside instead.
I teared myself out of my reprieve to see the seated teacher lace his fingers together, rest his elbows on his desk, and look at my child with cold calculation. Albeit, it was near impossible to see his full expression from the strange reflection in his glasses. Any other teacher would have called Maka aside in the beginning. His reasoning is obvious to me: He just wanted to see her at the peak of her emotions when she would be most truthful, just because he wanted to observe it. There was no love in this man, there never will be. Pitiful. "What's wrong?" Stein asked, monotone.
"Professor... I feel like I've been followed for the past few months, and now I know I am."
No reaction yet from said Professor. Both were very still. "Please explain."
"There's a pillar of white mist following me," she said, clenching her fists into the hem of her shirt.
"Is it in the room right now?"
Fists clenched harder, "Yes," she choked. She was fighting her tears now, wanting so badly not to give in to the fear. It is fine, my child, we must realize our darkest emotions before we can know real happiness.
"Please point to it." Maka's stiff arm, ending in equally stiff index finger, pointed directly at me. She still did not look at anything but her feet. The teacher himself did not bother to follow her gesture, he only observes her. She retracted her arm quickly, as if I might bite it. Heh, maybe I will. I walk towards them, and stand quite close to Maka. I half-expected her to flee, but she does not. She only hangs her head and refuses to acknowledge me.
"Do you know who this is?"
"No."
"Do you have an idea of who it might be?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Asura."
"...Do you know why they are following you?"
"No."
"Have they disturbed you in any way?"
"...Yes."
"How are you feeling?"
"Bad."
"Please elaborate."
Maka took a deep breath, and spoke quickly and quietly, working to get any trace of emotion out of her voice, and failing for the most part. "I'm seeing other things too... I always feel like there's something right in the corner of my eye that wants me dead. I think I saw a glimpse of the actual madness in my mirror a few nights ago, and... There's horrible nightmares and-" she twitched slightly, as if she wanted to check the room for eavesdroppers but too worried about seeing my form, before continuing in a hushed whisper, "I think he molested me last night."
Molested? Really? The way you exaggerate things sometimes, I swear.
She raised her head, obviously embarrassed for her appearance. Personally, I've always liked the matted lashes and blushed cheekbones of a good cry. The terror dilating her pupils and lifting her brow served a fine compliment. "Professor... I'm scared. Am I going insane?"
There was a pause here. No Maka, you brilliant, overly perceptive child. My madness may effect you more than usual from my closeness, even against your angelic soul, but no, you are far from insane... At least for now.
Stein sighed, placed his laced fists onto the desk, and related some rather familiar news: "Last night, all life in the Indian Ocean suddenly vanished because of a powerful madness wavelength."
"We found him?" she asked, desperately. I appreciate your lack of concern for the state of the ocean and the world, Maka. Desperation does funny things to even the most morally sound.
"Maybe, the Indian branch is looking into it as we speak. We just have to wait."
Student nodded in understanding, holding in some unvoiced thought, and Teacher continued speaking.
"Maka... I'm going to have to send you home for a little bit. I'm sorry, but you're dangerous right now. Don't make me explain why. I'll tell Lord Death about this, just stay home, don't go outside."
"If I am dangerous... Should I be around anyone right now?"
Stein thought about this. "Just keep a mirror by you at all times in case you need to contact us. I'll leave the rest up to your judgment."
Maka flinched at the mention of a mirror. Seems I've given Maka a phobia of them. Woops. I hope she isn't afraid of mist as well, or we're going to have a hard time walking home, aren't we? Hehe.
"...Right, ok, I'll do that. Thank you."
Maka made to leave, her body still moving very stiff and deliberately, purposely walking around me, when she stopped herself to speak only once more.
"Professor... Why did you believe me so easily? Isn't it possible that I'm just crazy?"
"I don't think so, no..." He responded, voice never once changing pitch. Stein moved his head very slightly to look directly at my child and I. He gave a soft, sad smile, but his hungry eyes betrayed every secret this man has ever tried to hide.
"I can feel it too."
Maka gave a controlled nod, understanding immediately, took a tentative step back, swept across the room to grab her things, and then closed the door quietly behind her.
Curiously, I glanced back, to see Stein smiling in an odd way that felt familiar, giggling softly, clutching at his bangs. It seems that this psychic projection of me is stronger than I thought.
As Maka made her way home in the downpour that was quickly turning to sleet, she winced and glanced over her shoulder countless times. Of course, there was no possible way she could see my form when she could hardly see a few feet in front of her face. A couple times, she flailed about almost comically, trying to land a punch or a kick on an invisible enemy. Since I was out of sight, I slowly began to fade out of mind. Maka's robotic walk became more of a war-march at a point, elbow jerking out behind her wildly, feet slamming concrete sidewalk needlessly. Her fear has already been replaced by wrath. Cute child, she's just going to tire herself out at this rate.
As I said before: I've never seen anything more adorable.
Stoically, Maka made her way inside her little shared apartment, with me following closely behind. Even now, in the grip of terror and rage, she maintained the polite oriental gentleness her Mother had passed down to her. She slid her rain-boots off one by one, and even shook out her umbrella and rain-coat on the porch before hanging them up neatly. When it comes her neatness, I think that she is channeling her Mother's strength in her own little way. She should be very, very proud of what Maka has become; I've never seen such strength.
Maka's eyes were already growing bleary and weary, and it was with great effort that they examined the tidy living room and kitchenette. She carefully took in every sight; the couch, the entertainment center, the dining table, as if in fond, yet tragic recollection. It's almost as if she's grieving, and is taking a moment to find sanctuary in the past. It's a shame that the madness gives such an inescapable feeling of certain doom at first. Maka really does think that I mean to kill her. Blair was at work, Soul was still at school, and even now, in this small haven where time stands still, she knows that she's alone with me. I can read that dull expression she's wearing: She knows that since she is "dangerous," that means that anyone near her will suffer by extension. This may be true to some extent, but I can only imagine she's exaggerated everything and thinks I mean to get her alone, kill her in private out of pure hatred, then do away with her friends.
She's been alone with me so often and has never been worried before... I'm sorry, Maka, this is a new experience for me too. Really though, you always jump to the worst possible conclusion with everything and then call it 'woman's intuition.' It's almost insulting, you should know me a little bit better by now, if you really are aware that I've been with you for months.
Finally, she leveled into resound acceptance, and moved herself towards what she believes to be her final resting grounds. Maka walked to middle of her room, and took a single deep breath.
And then she... Rolled her shoulders? How could I not have seen this-
She screamed in frustration - no, a war cry- so loud it shook the room, and launched herself towards me, fists raised.
"Leave me alone!"
All of that couldn't have possibly have been an act, I know her movements far too well... But I'm certain that at least a part of it was. Clever, clever girl, you meant to catch me off guard didn't you? My my, how ignorant of me, you never would have given in so fast: You're a fighter till the end. Well, it worked, you startled me for a second, but I think you've done enough for today.
My turn.
Maka sailed right through me, of course. She braced herself against the wall behind me as she landed, and turned around to prepare another attack. I easily grabbed her arm and threw her onto her bed, not so hard as to dislocate anything, but enough to force her to roll into the wall there with a slight 'thud.' Quickly, I held her in place by the shoulders, the rest of her body convulsing violently. She started whipping her legs out, trying to break free – Hold still my girl, damn it you're going to hurt yourself- "Don't be scared," I said, wondering if she would hear me. If she did, I was ignored.
I willed this projection the strength to hold her in place. This is the first step to getting her to trust me, and it's very important: She can't fight forever, and when she does eventually tire, she's going to be forced to think about her assumptions. I just have to hold her still... Ah... There we are... She might just be trying to catch her breath, but her fatigue is finally starting to show. It's been a long day, I know, I know... Oh, no, she returns with even more vigor, only to be thwarted again. Underneath her somewhat childish display, I know her mind is hard at work, and soon enough she'll notice that I've done nothing, surely...
"You gonna try and kill me or what?" She spat out in between two particularly violent outbursts. Not this again.
"No... I'm not. Just calm down already, this is so uncool," I breathed to myself, I understand that phrase well now, this is very tiring-
"What did you say?" Maka said, so shocked for a moment that she forgot that she was supposed to be angry, and froze up.
My heart leaped out my throat.
"I'm not going to kill you." I responded quickly, not wanting to miss my chance. I'd rather not channel Soul again and create some other misunderstanding.
Maka didn't seem to know how to respond to this. I could see her trying to figure out if I was lying or not, if I was planning on doing some other atrocity besides killing, if it is really me, Asura, at all... So many possibilities.
"Why are you doing this?"
"I love you."
"Why?!"
"'Cause."
Maka swallowed, narrowing her eyes at me in anger.
"Who are you?"
"Not telling."
"Why?"
"'Cause."
"That's enough, now I know you're Asura, no one else has reason to hide themselves."
"...Smart child." I released her, she probably won't try and attack me again, fruitless as it is...
"Bastard," Maka said simply, and used the last of her strength to throw her fist through me, and she finally fell limp across her bed, unable to catch her breath. The fatigue, emotional strain, and I have won this battle.
"Why are you doing this?" She mumbled into her sheets.
"Doing what?"
"You know damn well what."
"No, I don't. I haven't done anything."
Maka pushed herself up onto her arms, defiant as ever, and sent me a cold look. "Bastard," she repeated, "you're ruining everything. I can't even go to school because of you now. I can't even be around my friends."
"Am I now? I believe it was your Professor that caused all of that to happen."
"Why are you talking to me?"
"...Because I can."
Groaning, Maka stood up and stumbled away from me towards her desk, landing in her black office-chair, and turned away from me. She resumed her position from earlier; crossing her arms over her desk, and sticking her head in their crook. "Just go away already."
"Tell me child," I sat cross-legged on her bed, watching her carefully, "what is it that I've done to you? Scared you? It's only in our imaginations where fear occurs, and all you've done is imagine extraordinary things from small occurrences. This behavior is unwarranted: You've placed fickle blame on what is merely a friendly ghost. So I ask, again: What is it that I've done to you?"
"You're the Kishin, that's all I need to know. Fine, you haven't done anything yet, but that's not going to last."
"How do you know that? Have I ever expressed ill intent? If I wanted you, or any of your friends, dead, I could have made it so a long time ago. I know you very well... You're open-minded and intelligent. Everyone deserves a chance to be understood, isn't that right?"
"You're going to destroy the world, you're doing it right now, it doesn't matter."
"If my motives were so juvenile and simple as, 'destroying the world,' I could have done that as well. All I desire is tranquility and calm, a world free of fear, and for you to join me in this."
"Pfft."
"It's true. Why would I lie, child?"
"I believe you, but it doesn't make you any less insane. God damn it, now I'm talking to a Kishin..." Maka lifted her head, and turned on her computer. "You know what, you're nothing special, you're just another insane demon. I take it back: You can hurt me, but you can't scare me anymore."
"Really?" I sighed, smiling, clutching onto my chest. My heart aches, but I'm happy... "I'm so glad Maka, that's wonderful..."
"Ugh."
...
When Soul and Blair returned home, she made a very good act of faking illness, merely calling out to them from her bed and speaking softly of her condition. Highly contagious virus, very dizzying, very painful, stay away from her as much as possible, she'll get all her own food, really...
"You know Maka," I said to her after this, watching her read a book, "I'm not really sure why you've been deemed dangerous. I'm not jealous or anything..."
"There's a wavelength of madness around you, I don't know about Blair, but I know Soul is already sensitive to it," she mumbled, turning a page.
"Ah... I'm sorry, I really am." And that was the end of that conversation.
Maka began to ignore me after this. She had plenty of things with which to occupy herself, me not being one of them, evidently.
I sat next to her quietly for days on end, only gliding my hand across her randomly every now and then. The feel of her is more intense than I was really prepared for after my initial discovery; I haven't touched anything gently with this skin in centuries.
Sometimes it almost seems as if Maka has forgotten that I'm around, I'm glad that she's gotten used to me, but then she'll glare at me every time I bestow upon her these touches. I don't really have anything else to play with, quite honestly...
Things have been calm, however. I'm actually content with the situation as it is, but I still have a mission to find the source of my fear of Maka. I've sat silent for months, and eight-hundred years before this; this is nothing. Waiting and watching are my specialty. I've already proven my devotion to Maka, all there is is for her to come to me now.
She was playing a video game one night, slashing through shadows with a key-like sword, when finally she broke her silent treatment.
"Don't think I'm fishing for compliments or anything but..." Maka began, not bothering to pause her game. I was sitting right beside her on the floor, and I snapped to attention immediately. "I thought you'd go away eventually, but you haven't. You said that you love me. Why is that?"
"Explain love? That's a toughie."
"Yeah, well, try. If you're going to be hanging out around here, I have a right to know why."
"Curious are you?" I said, leaning over on to her shoulder, feeling giddy suddenly. "Well, I'll tell you. You're brilliant and strong, kind and understanding, forceful, unyielding, incomprehensibly fascinating. Our souls have bonded intimately, even without my help, from the very beginning. You've known that I was near you when no one else sensed me in the slightest." I paused. "And you're cute too," I added as an after-thought.
"Oh, is that all." Maka responded dryly, no hint of a question in her voice.
"You're my reason for living you know." I put my chin on top of her head, and she grunted and ignored this.
"You really think you can be in love with a person for such simple reasons?"
"Why not? I've never been happier, and the thought of being anywhere without you causes me great pain. Must everything be convoluted in order for it to be real?"
Maka stared ahead, unable to come up with a response. "I only ask because you're getting clearer. It's really obvious that it's you now."
"Am I really? That's interesting. More proof of my love if anything, my child."
Maka ducked out from underneath me, shifting away. "Why do you keep calling me that? I'm not a child you know, I'm fourteen."
"Oooh we are grown-up aren't we? That's reassuring, I was starting to worry that my affections for you were somehow indecent. That would just be sooo wrong, wouldn't it?"
"You're disgusting." Maka stated. I chortled, and scooted closer. If only I could convince her... We're already connected by a bond stronger than any resonance, I just have to bring it to light somehow.
However, I'm patient. I can't hold her still and force her to understand this time. I just have to endure. After all, I've got all the time in the world for this. We both do, my child, my Maka and I.
…
"42-42-564..."
"Knocking on Death's door?"
"I'm just checking in, go be a jerk somewhere else.
"Naw I think I'll stay here-"
"Hiya Maka!" Death's voice rang out from the bathroom mirror. Well, that new irksome voice he prefers now. I folded my arms, and watched Maka.
"Hey Lord Death," Maka said cheerfully, and smiling for the first time in almost a week.
"Oh it's so good to see you, I heard about your little problem. Is that nuisance treating you alright?"
Maka grimaced. "He's the worst. The absolute worst. He hangs around me no matter what I'm doing, and all he ever does is poke me and... Just be annoying in general, really."
"Yeah Asura always did have some weird habits..."
"Umm, I thought I wasn't clear if it was Asura or not when I told Professor Stein about this?"
"Oh well, it really isn't polite to talk about someone as if they weren't among us."
Death looked past Maka and directly at me.
"Hiya, Asura. I didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon."
I smiled. This is interesting indeed.
"Hello, Death. So you can see me now, can you?"
Death leaned closer to the mirror, the empty eyes of his mask squinting. "Well, you're a little fuzzy, but it's definitely you. You look a little tired, you haven't been taking care of yourself at all have you?"
"I don't think I've slept in a few months, no, but I have more important things to take care of right now." I draped a hand over Maka's shoulder, causing her to flinch.
"Yeah, a little birdy told me you've got a bit of a crush. In a different situation, I might think that's cute. But didn't you have affections for Vajra as well? If I recall, that little tryst didn't turn out very good either."
"Who's Vajra?" Maka intervened, looking between me and Death.
"It isn't something that you need to worry yourself over," Death chirped to Maka. "Now, as you may have heard Maka, the life in the Indian Ocean suddenly went 'poof.' That was very troublesome of you, Asura, you wouldn't believe the state of the ecosystem around those countries, the whole world is trying to clean up that mess. But there's a plus-side to all this! And you're the center of it all, Maka! Isn't that exciting?"
"There is? What's happening?"
"Well, right now, we know exactly where Asura is. The only issue is locating him in the ocean, but from what I can tell, he doesn't plan on moving around anytime soon. That gives us plenty of time to weed him out. What's excellent though, is that even if Asura does decide to high-tail it out of there, and even if he does manage to slip past us, that just means that he'll be out of your hair, and we'll just be back to where we were. So you see? Everyone wins!"
"There's a flaw in that plan, Death," I spoke up. "What makes you think I won't slip past you and find some other location right now, and then return to Maka the moment I have the chance?"
"Oh, I don't think we need to worry about that," Death hummed. "I know you too well, Asura, and you're a coward. If you leave Maka's side, which is obviously somewhere where you want to be, then it must be for a very good reason. If you leave, you're going to leave for good."
"Am I really the coward here? You know where I am, and I'm not running." I spread my arms in front of me languorously, my palms toward the ceiling, my whole body completely stretched to it's fullest height and completely exposed.
"I'm right here. I implore you, I beseech you! Mors, Samael, Yama, my old, most foolish Master. Come and get me! I've been waiting."
"That's been the plan from the beginning." Death said happily. I reverted to my normal slouched posture, and wrapped a protective hand around Maka's.
"I'm very sorry that you had to get dragged into all of this, Maka. It isn't fair at all that all this had to happen to you. This feud has been going on for such a long time, and it was wrong of me to think that sealing away my problem in a bag of his own skin would make up for my mistakes. But Asura... You're a fool. You're still just the same as you've always been. All you ever talked about was making the world a better place, but all you do is leave a trail of destruction and misery wherever you go. The world was perfectly fine the way it was before, and then higher beings like us felt the need to go around and mess with things. All I can do is try to make the best of what I have to work with, and I think it's time that you were erased once and for all. You have no place in this world, or any world for that matter, you're just a coward, and that's all you ever will be. Through and through."
"All this coward nonsense again. I have strength. I have the most strength out of anyone here." I raised my fist that contained Maka's puny hand. Her face pulled in disgust and wrenched her way out of my grasp. I allowed this, and came closer so that I could hold on to her shoulder. "You really think that you can touch me as I am? You can't even leave your city, and you didn't even notice me enter it in the first place."
Death laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, that was my fault again. I'm getting old, I'm not as perceptive as I used to be."
"Maka noticed right away, the first time we met. I was going to flick her ear like this," I demonstrated, Maka whined, "and she looked right at me before I could get a chance to. She's a damn psychic I'm telling you."
"Really? That's quite a feat, but Maka always has been the top student ever since she joined the Academy, she's got quite a knack for picking up on things like this. She puts a lot of expectations on herself because of her Mother and Father, but I guess I can't complain!"
"Yes, she's a wonderful student. She's studying even now when there's no real reason to. She's quite a big fan of yours, did you know? There's all sorts of souvenirs with your face on it all over her room."
"Aww, is that so? Oh I'm all a-twitter now! That's very flattering, she really is cute isn't she?"
"She's the cutest. Always getting all angry over nothing, I feel like just grabbing on to her and rolling around on the floor until she accepts just how incredibly cute she is. I feel like I'm going to burst from all the cute I'm subjected to every day."
"That doesn't make any sense, but I think I know what you're getting at. I feel similar about my own son. This generation is the best, we're so lucky to be alive right now."
"The luckiest indeed. Ahh we get older, but children are so timeless."
"Yup! Actually, you should really change your appearance if you want kids to like you, and to top it off, you can't be comfortable like that."
"I know, I'm really not, but I don't think they've invented stores in the bottom of the ocean here, so I'm rather stuck."
"That's a pickle indeed. It's a shame we couldn't get some clothes to you, oh and I bet Maka wouldn't mind so much, she might find you more bearable!"
"Do you really think so? Maybe I should pull off more of my skin, make some more scarves-"
"Umm, I don't mean to be rude, really, but umm..."
"Maka! Haha, woopsies, I think we forgot you were here for a second. Anyway, we're taking care of everything on our end, your only job is to grin and bare it for just a little while longer."
Maka shuffled away out of my hold, (I grabbed on to her in a full on hug at some point) and nodded firmly. "I can do that. I'll let you go now, thank you for this."
"Mkay. Take care Maka, Asura."
She turned to leave when Death added as an after-thought: "Oh, and don't worry about Asura, alrighty? If I know him as well as I think I do, I can assure you that he's more scared of you than you are of him."
"...I'll keep that in mind, thank you."
A/N
Phew. This chapter was getting pretty long. I am at least 99% certain that there is only one more chapter after this, I just didn't want to cram everything into one place :x Everything is all set-up now, and the only thing that's left is the homestretch! And guess what! No more school for me for a few weeks! WRITE AAAAALL DA FANFICTION!
As for this chapter, I love tsundere Maka. I wanna kidnap her tooo x3 And Death. Death is the bomb, on my list of favorite characters, he's right underneath Stein and Crona, who are right at the top. I don't know where Asura is on that list, actually, he's just really really easy to personify. And Asura isn't going to eat Maka, let's just get that out of the way now :p
Anyway, gah, your reviews, happy seizures all over the place from me. Thank you thank you thank you, I hope this chapter was good enough, please please please tell me what you think~