Chapter Four: Raw hands, and hurt feelings. Why does it have to be this way?

DTK's hands were burnt. He saw a blister forming on each hand. Well at least it was symmetrical. That helped the situation a little.

"Why can't I hold Phoenix" DTK thought as he bandaged his hands. He wrapped them so they would be symmetrical to each other. But more over he, felt as if Phoenix wasn't surprised that this was happening. It was like she knew that he couldn't hold her without excruciating pain. It was like placing his hand on top of an open flame, yet he managed to hold on for a few minutes. Why had he been so determined to use the swords?

Phoenix knew why they were incompatible. She was hoping that the burning would keep his hands of her. The less time she spent as a pseudo weapon the better. She was always running the risk of being caught. Phoenix had counted on her witch's blood and his reaper body to react badly so that she could transform into a weapon less often. Who could be less of a match? She was the next GW and him next in line to be Lord Death. Yet despite that he still wanted to wield her. Maybe a few more third degree burns would kill his desire.

"Let's stop for the day" Phoenix said looking at his heavily bandaged hands. DTK seemed a little reluctant even at a time like this. Was he serious? Finally he nodded and walked silently toward his house. Phoenix followed behind leaving a large gap between them

"I know why I can't use her" DTK thought "It's because filthy asymmetrical scum like me can't hope to use a perfect weapon like her". Oh why did his hair have to be asymmetrical? Why did his soul have to have a little flaw here and there? And why, for the love of god, was she so indifferent about it all? Maybe she didn't want him as her meister. She did say that she wanted to be Maka's weapon after all.

DTK hands still ached but the thought of symmetrical blisters and symmetrical bandaging took the edge off. He held the door for Phoenix but when he turned around, she was gone. DTK suddenly felt a wave of panic. Did she go to find Maka after all? That would be a disaster, what if she could hold Phoenix. He would never get the chance to have those cool blades.

He ran around the perimeter of his house which was pretty far. Then he spotted Phoenix. She looked extremely frightened. When she caught sight of him, she immediately started running towards him. Things began to rapidly happen after that. First images of violently asymmetrical stuff filled his head. This was the Keishan madness.

Why was Phoenix afraid? Didn't witches eliminate that fear in her? But the Keishen was different, he was absolute madness, and he was also absolute fear. Phoenix reached DTK in time. Thought it wasn't her mission to protect him, she felt that she had too. She wouldn't let the Keishan defeat him. That was her job. DTK shook out of it as Phoenix's harmoniously oscillating soul drove away the madness.

"Do you see it" Phoenix asked shaking DTK slightly. DTK looked around, and his superior reaper eyes did see it. It was faint, but at the right angle, the shadows casted around by the trees, appeared to have eyes. Phoenix wondered why this was happening again. Maybe the targets weren't them, maybe it was her?

The Grand Witch had wrangle information out of the toad witch before executing her. Her official charge was helping the wolf man escape. That was a crime worthy of a thousand deaths. After all, it was the wolf man who stole the GW's left eye, and thus her immortality. This was why she was dying now, and why Phoenix had to complete this mission. She would be her successor, and when she was the GW, the DWMA would fall to ashes. But unlike her it would never rise again.

The witch toad had spilled some information on Medusa's failure, but she also mentioned Arachne. She had the Keishan. Was it her that was targeting Phoenix? Surely she didn't think that she had a change to become the GW. That was laughable because Arachne was an exile. She was considered the scum of the earth. The GW never forgot how she worked with a soul meister in order to create magical weapons. She was a fool to stray, and now she was a fool for standing in Phoenix's way.

DTK was standing close to Phoenix looking at the eyes in the shadows. They were unfocused as if they were trying to look for something. Phoenix pulled him closer hoping that it would convince him that he was the target. It worked.

"Why are they looking for me" DTK said out loud. Then he realized just how close Phoenix was to him. He turned crimson and looked the other way. Hopefully she wouldn't notice. Phoenix was intent on the Keishan eye. Maybe she could… force it away. But how could she release her soul-protect at a time like this. That wasn't a good idea. They stood there in stillness for a long time. The eye did not disappear but instead it seemed to focus more. It was going to find her if she didn't deal with it. Maybe she could do something a little more unorthodox.

She willed herself into a half transformation, so that both her arms became like sword ends. Would this be enough to harmonize the space and drive away the Keishan?

"No, that won't do it" DTK said. He grabbed on to her arm and she transformed all the way. She became the duel gleaming winged swords. It burned through his bandages but he only needed to swing once. Phoenix willed herself to sync her soul wavelength as much as possible. DTK the kid swung both swords at once in a cross.

A cross shaped light beam charged towards the Keishan eyes. They were banished. DTK dropped the swords. He would have to bandage his hands again. Phoenix transformed back into her human form. DTK thought for a moment, and through his pain it gave him hope. This time it wasn't as bad as the last time. The burning was there but it was less than before. Maybe one day they would be a good weapon meister pair. That was enough for now

Phoenix could have healed his hands right there. As was her name she possessed all of the properties of a Phoenix. This included tears that healed and a screech that burned. But she couldn't heal him without revealing that she was a witch. She felt conflicted for a split second. It was his action that saved her from the Keishan eye. But she had a mission to do, for her dying mother. He was her savoir at the moment. But, when she became the GW and He, the Grim Reaper, they would become mortal enemies. It couldn't be helped. The fatal rift was ascribed as birth. They were destined to destroy each other.