A/N: So this is going to seem REALLY OOC for Death, but it occurred to me that at one point he was far more serious. I can't imagine that with the survival of his own son, and the child his school raised, and the daughter of his own personal weapon being such a close thing that he didn't have something serious and moving to say. I think Death has to step into his old shoes sometimes, and not just when he's kicking serious ass cause he's pissed. Just sayin'.

Also, I STILL don't own Soul Eater. I STILL only own a laptop and an internet connection.

Death looked out over the mess of children in the ballroom. There was an undercurrent of music, yes, but he was basking in the sounds of their laughter and joy. Tonight the whole of the DWMA was honoring the students who were responsible for destroying Asura.

Black*Star was loving every second that he was in the spot light. He crowed with glee, his eyes bright and almost hectic. But for once he wasn't trying to hog the moment, because part of it he'd earned on his own merits. The blue haired ninja normally had a shadow, but not today. Today Tsubaki stood full in the light with her partner, gracious in her glory. Her smile was enough to break Death's heart a little, seeing all the strength of her compassion in that small facial expression.

A small commotion drew Death's gaze to his own son. There was Kid, his pride and joy, and his faithful weapons. Patti and Liz had demanded of their Meister that since they too were being honored they could wear what they wanted. Kid was having another moment of angst over the lack of symmetry, even though the sisters were trying to soothe his sensibilities.

Soul's shock of white hair caught his eye as the scythe moved toward his Meister, who was lovely in her bashful way, accepting praise from those who gave it. Chrona was at her side, trying to be noninvasive in his attention, no matter what Maka did or said to reassure him.

Spirit stepped next to the Lord of Death, and smiled with all the pride of a doting father, "We got lucky with them didn't we?"

Death smiled quietly behind his mask before replying, for once without all the silly tones and singsong patterns, "We were graced with the greatest generation. And the hope of an entire world rests on the shoulders of those children."

As the night wore on, Death prepared himself for a very singular speech. He'd never given one like this before, and he hoped he never would have to do so again. He hoped that no child would ever have to take on such a terrible risk to save them all.

His eyes kept being drawn to the courageous youths.

As midnight struck, Stein and Spirit called for everyone's attention. Slowly quiet fell over the crowd, and every eye turned to look up at the Grim Reaper.

Standing quietly, Death gazed at the sea of faces, expectant and youthful.

Reaching out a large hand, he beckoned the heroic youths forward, and remained quiet as they made their way to the front, to stand at attention, looking up at him with curious eyes.

Death closed his eyes for a moment, before starting his speech.

"We stand before greatness in these students who risked life and limb, who went beyond what could possibly be expected of them reasonably. They, instead, embraced the idea behind their duty and rushed to act on this single emotion. This powerful, painful, heroic emotion. The day Asura was laid low by the strength of soul of Maka, Soul, Black*Star, Tsubaki, Death the Kid, Liz and Patti we learned a valuable lesson. They fight not for wrong from right. Nor from the sense of duty we try to instill in them. They fought for love."

As Death shifted his gaze from the curious faces of the majority of his students to the small group in front of him, he saw confusion. Smiling quietly to himself, he continued.

"As a Shinigami I have been part of this world for longer then any of you can even grasp. I have grown and changed, and I have learned more then I will ever be able to impart to you. But I can tell you that what I see before me are children. I see children who rose up to face an impossible challenge, a threat that wounded me grievously. But there, on Asura's own ground, these children did what no one else could."

Inclining his head in a sign of respect, Death spoke his last piece in this out of character speech.

"Without your love, without the power of such heroic hearts and souls we would be lost to madness and chaos. You have so very much to learn, but we, your elders, stand in the presence of greatness and are thankful to see this, out greatest generation."

Raising his head, Death extended his hands to the honored students and they fell into a line, as Spirit indicated to him. Dr. Stein stood next to the Lord of Death, and as each child filed forward to receive the thanks and blessings of Death, he felt his heart swell and break time and again at these determined, confused, gracious, arrogant, sweet, bashful faces.

With the children split into two lines, one on either side of him, Death raised his hands in a sign of approval and the hall thundered with the sound of applause and cheering.

Yes, tonight they would be honored. Tomorrow, they would be worked to the bone so that never again was their survival such a close thing.

Death smiled.