At first, Insidious didn't know what he was supposed to feel. When Soul and Maka told him everything that Medusa had done, like manipulating Crona and reviving the Kishen, he felt his eyes grow narrower.
"Tell you one thing, she sounds like a twisted woman. I'd like to punch her in the face." Insidious growled.
"You're not the only one." Maka said. "After what she did, what she did to Crona, I don't think she can be forgiven."
"She's being held in the dungeons in the DWMA." Soul said.
Maka stood up from the couch. "Then let's go."
Soul was about to stop her, but she was already at the door. Soul rushed out after her and Insidious put on his hat and rapier belt as he dashed out the door to catch up with them.
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
The three teenagers strode through the cobblestone walls and floors of the dungeon level of the Academy with Maka in the lead. They soon found themselves before an iron door. The plate on the door read: Witch Medusa.
"This is it…" Insidious muttered.
"Hello? Is someone there?" came a childlike voice from inside the cell.
Insidious' red eyes narrowed. Soul seemed to notice and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't let the voice fool you. She's a stone hearted sociopath."
"My, my! How rude of you to say that!" said a different, more mature and malefic voice. "So how's he so special? Why does he get to wander around without chains or restraints, hmm? Oh, unless you've kept him on a leash."
"You shut your mouth!" shouted Maka, pounding a fist on the door.
"Oh! If it isn't little Maka! Tell me, how is Crona?"
"I said shut up!" she shouted again, face twisting in rage.
"Maka." Insidious said. "Step aside. I need to say something to her."
Maka looked like she was about to object, but she stepped away from the door.
"Alright Medusa, listen close because I'm only going to say this once to you." Insidious said, voice dripping with malice and his namesake. "If you ever say, do or even think anything to harm Maka, Crona or any of my friends ever again, I'll personally gouge your eyes out, rip out your tongue and scatter your insides all over the Badlands!"
Soul and Maka were surprised at the focused ferocity of their friend's outburst. Soul was the first to recover.
"Okay, now that we've gotten that out of our system, let's go. Talking to her won't achieve anything."
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
Lord Death was pleased at the progress Maka made with helping calm down Insidious. So much so that he decided to get Spirit back from his vacation.
"What is it Lord Death?" Spirit asked. He was in yellow swimming shorts lying on a beach chair in the middle of the sunny Bahamas, half a coconut in hand. It even had the little umbrella and curly straw in it.
"Good news Spirit, Insidious has calmed down enough to not explode like a nuke the minute he sees you! I think it's time you come on back to Death City. Arachnophobia's probably going to make their move any day now."
"Ah. Well… you see…"
"Hmm?"
"I never left."
"What? I can see you're in the Bahamas right now!"
The cardboard screen behind Spirit fell over, revealing the pink and purple interior of Chupa Cabra's. "I couldn't afford the travel expenses!" he wept.
Death sighed as a sweatdrop appeared on the back of his head. "Uh huh. Well at least you're here now. It's a good thing Insidious isn't the type to go drinking in places like Chupa Cabra's. Otherwise it might have been blown off the face of the Earth!"
Spirit shuddered at that thought before returning to a professional expression. "I'll return right away."
The mirror returned to normal as Death saw Sid walking up the steps of the platform. "Heya Sid! What's up?"
"Lord Death, do you think it's about time we did something about Medusa?"
"Hmm. Quite right. As soon as Spirit gets back from his… err… 'Vacation', I'll get him to interrogate Medusa. Hopefully we'll get something out of her."
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
Insidious was bored. The teacher was droning on and on about Meister and Weapon interrelationships, but it didn't apply to Insidious. So opening up his workbook, he did what any bored student does. Daydream and doodle. By the end of class, he had drawn a picture of Lord Death, several experimental new Runes and a cat. When the break rolled around, he quickly tore out a sheet of paper from the notebook and scribbled down one of the runes. Throwing it up into the air, he shouted.
"Confetti!"
As he had hoped, the sheet of paper burst into multi-coloured squares and descended into the crowded hallway. Several onlookers were puzzled, amused and some were just confused as to why there was confetti all over the place now. Then Insidious got an idea. He needed to find Black Star.
He found him in his usual spot, a large balcony overlooking Death City. "Black Star! Black Star! I need your help with something!"
"What is it?" he asked, turning around.
"I have the best. Idea. Ever!" he said, holding up a sheet of paper with the Confetti Rune hastily scribbled on it. After showing him what it did, he explained what he needed him for. "We need around one hundred of these before the day ends. After that, I need you to tack them all around the Academy. When the final bell rings, I run around and set them all off! Can I trust you to make fifty or so?"
"Hah! Are you kidding me? I'll make a thousand of 'em! Just leave it to me!" shouted Black Star.
When the final bell rung, there could be heard a loud rustling of paper as an impressively fast shape moved through the academy hallways, followed by an equally fast brown and black streak, who was repeatedly pointing and shouting "Confetti! Confetti! Confetti!" as tons of the stuff rained down on the confused students. It was all very impressive until Sid saw what was going on.
"I just know Black Star was behind this. But where did all the coloured paper come from?! There's only white paper in the notebooks, and we don't have Arts and Crafts in the Academy! Not since the last incident…"
He could then hear in the distance the repeated shouting of "Confetti!" accompanied by Black Star's laughter.
"I never would have guessed…"
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
"And when you're done sweeping the hallways, both of you are getting double homework for the rest of the week!"
When Sid left, Black Star fist bumped Insidious. "Dude, that was totally worth it!"
"I know!" Insidious laughed.
"I can't believe you were able to run as fast as me too!"
"Yeah. When I have my Seven League Boots on I can keep up with Soul's motorbike, so I can probably keep up with you."
"That sounds like a challenge." Black Star grinned. "The last one to finish sweeping has to do the winner's homework for the whole week."
"You're on!"
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
Insidious was sitting back on the couch, ice pack on head. As soon as he'd stepped in the door, he'd almost been Maka Chopped into oblivion! Now he had to do Black Star's homework as well as his own too! He had made his pen write by itself as he relaxed. It was technically doing his homework! The pen drew upon his own knowledge and wrote on the paper by itself. Maka wasn't too pleased about it, but Soul thought it was pretty cool.
Insidious was instead drawing his attention to the window. It was a nice day. But then something happened to it. A dark shade of red slowly spread across the sky.
"What the hell?!" Insidious said. "That's not normal."
Maka descended from upstairs to check on Insidious when she saw the sky outside the window. "What's going on?"
"Think it might have something to do with the Kishen?" Soul asked.
"It's likely. Come on, we need to check with Lord Death."
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
Everything started to get crazy again. Maka was infuriated with Medusa's release, Lord Death was nowhere to be seen and Kid had told them all not to trust anyone in the Academy. Insidious was getting worried. After they left the Academy, Insidious flew off into the air. He had to find Sophia.
"Now where did she say it was? Right next to… Chupa Cabra's was it?"
He saw the garish purple sign and landed in front of the building next to it. The stone and mortar building had a red roof, like most of the others in Death City. Unlike most in Death City, a large sign in the shape of a loaf of bread hung above the door. The lights were on, so he went inside. The inside was brightly lit, and several chairs stood against the walls. The glass counter top contained several different kinds of breads, pastries and other baked goods. Behind the glass counter stood Sophia, her blond hair hanging down behind her shoulders. She wore the same clothes they had picked up in Sydney, plus a multi-coloured apron, covered in flour and sugar.
"Hello! Welcome to- Insidious!" squealed Sophia, leaping over the glass countertop and squeezing him in a bear hug. "I've missed you so much!"
"I've missed you too…" Insidious choked. "Please stop crushing me…"
Sophia gasped and dropped the now wheezing Insidious. "Sorry! I still don't know my own strength." She laughed. "Though it's been really helpful around the bakery. I can lift seven trays of bread with one hand!"
Insidious couldn't help but laugh. "It's good to see that you've gotten your life back together."
"Yeah. Though I kinda miss our crazy adventures." She said, looking into the red sky. "Though it looks like things are about to get a lot crazier around here."
Insidious was quiet for a while as he stared at the red sky. "The Kishen caused this. If it isn't stopped, Madness is going to spread throughout the world. I don't understand what it's doing, but I'm going to help try and stop it. Listen. I need you to get out of Death City."
"What? Why?"
"I know you only just got back here, but please listen. It's likely that the Kishen is going to take the fight to us. I don't want you to be around to be collateral damage in the fight."
Sophia's expression turned serious as she looked at Insidious. "Don't think for a second that I can't take care of myself. You made me that way, didn't you?"
Insidious let out a hollow laugh. "That still doesn't mean I don't care about you."
The bell chimed again as the door behind them opened.
"Sophiaaaaaaa!" shouted a male voice. In a blur, Sophia was behind Insidious, foot planted firmly in the man's face in a high kick and he sailed out of the door and disappeared over a low wall, leaving a very confused Insidious.
"What the…"
"Ugh. Don't even get me started. This creep in a suit keeps coming in and tries to pick me up like one of those cheap girls in Chupa Cabra's. He comes in here after drinking there and tries his luck with me. It's pathetic."
Insidious' mind stopped and thought back to what Maka told him.
'That's my stupid Papa… He's a total player.'
Insidious threw the door open and slammed it shut behind him. Leaping over the wall, he landed just as the man had reached the end of the street.
"Get back here damn you." Insidious said dangerously, teeth grinding together, black cloak settling around him.
The man whirled around. Insidious could see him clearly. Red hair. Sharp suit. Serious expression. It was him alright.
"You… I remember you. You've grown quite a bit, haven't you?" he asked.
"Shut up! You and I are going to settle this, right now!" Insidious shouted, whipping out the rapier and dagger. The man's arm glowed as a black scythe blade burst from it.
"You should just leave it all behind you kid. There's no use clinging to the past. Believe me. I learned that the hard way."
This only served to make Insidious angrier. He was about to run forward when Sophia landed beside him!
"Insidious! Don't-"
"Don't what?! Don't avenge my mother? Don't fill the emptiness in my heart? What shouldn't I do?!"
Sophia shook her head sadly. "Insidious, you know this is wrong. You don't want to do this."
"I do, and I will!" he shouted, running towards the man. The man stepped forward slowly, more and more scythe blades appearing all over his body. Insidious roared and lunged forward with the rapier.
A familiar book thudded against Insidious' skull as he was sent flying, eventually coming to a stop against a wall.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" shouted Maka, her face twisted into a mask of fury while walking quickly over to Insidious.
"Taking my revenge!" he shouted, earning a slap from Maka.
"And what the hell do you think that'll accomplish? Will it make you feel better?! Will it bring your mother back?! Well? Answer me!"
Insidious couldn't look her in the eyes. How could he? All he felt he could do was stare at the cobblestones, tears forming in the corners of his red eyes.
"I know I've said I hate him, but he's still my Papa! Do you think I'd just let you attack him like that?!"
Insidious felt guilty. Helpless. Angry. It was just like when his mother had died. That same pain, boring into his gut like a corkscrew. He let go of his weapons and hid his face in his iron palms. He didn't want anyone to see him like this.
"How can you make the pain go away? How do you heal a broken heart?" He asked between choked sobs.
"You can't." The man said, scythes retracting back into his arms. "It's a pain that can never go away. All you can do is learn how to live with it."
Insidious lifted his hands away from his face, his red eyes turned bloodshot. "Who are you?"
"My name is Spirit. I am Maka's father and Lord Death's personal Weapon, a Death Scythe."
Insidious stood up and sheathed his weapons. "Well Spirit, I have one thing to ask of you."
"And that is?"
Insidious turned around and began to walk off. "Don't get killed. Otherwise, this will never be settled between us."
"Where are you going?" Maka shouted after him.
Insidious paused for a while before clicking his heels together and muttering the incantation. "To find something."
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
Insidious touched back on the ground in the middle of the Badlands. Walking towards the mound of rubble, he stood on top of it and turned to the setting sun.
"Over the hills and far away…"
Insidious didn't want to fly. Instead he walked. It was a long journey, but he had to make it on foot. He walked for hours towards the spiked orange ball until he saw it. On top of a hill, the silhouette of Death City in the distance, was a pile of yellowed stones wrapped in tattered and faded lavender cloth. Holding back a lump in his throat, Insidious continued his pilgrimage. When he reached the top of the hill, he saw that it was exactly as he last saw it. The lavender cloth fluttered in the breeze, whipping back and forth like a snake. Atop the pile of stones was a crudely made cross, the top of it stained with blood. His blood. It was so long since he'd visited this place.
Insidious walked up to the pile of stones and sat down in front of it. "Hi Mum. I guess it's been a long time. I'm sorry I haven't visited you."
Insidious was silent for a while, as if hoping for, or imagining a response before continuing.
"I'm sorry Mum, but I need something. It's important."
Insidious began to dissect the monument, first unwrapping the scarf and throwing it into the wind before delicately taking each rock off the grave, as if they were made from the finest crystal. When he was finished, he swept the layer off dust away, revealing a wooden trapdoor. Creaking it open, he lifted out a long wooden box. Insidious laid it on his lap and breathed deeply.
"I'll give it back. I promise you Mum. When all this is over, I'll come back and return this to you."
Opening the box, he saw its contents. On a snow white pillow rested his mother's weapon. A huge grey broadsword, the sharp blade about the width of his forearm. Many the blood groove of the blade crackled and sparked with his mother's ancient magic, and a large purple crystal glowed ominously on the pommel. As soon as he grabbed the handle of the sword, Insidious' sclera glowed purple, his irises still blood red. Beneath the pillow lay the plain metal scabbard, which he slung onto his back. Sliding the sword into the scabbard on his back, Insidious stood up.
"Goodbye Mum. I promise I'll come back."
Insidious descended from the hill, only to find Maka, Soul, Kid, Liz, Patty, Black Star, Tsubaki and surprisingly, Sophia in her battle costume, all waiting for him.
"I was wondering when you were going to come down from there." Soul said, wearing his trademark smirk.
"Yeah! I thought we would have to go ahead without you!" Black Star shouted.
"Go? Go where?" Insidious asked.
"We're going to Baba Yaga Castle. It's time to take the fight to Arachnophobia." Kid said.
"But what are you doing here Sophia?"
"I'm not going to sit on the sidelines and watch. I want to be right in the thick of it and kicking ass!" she shouted. "So what about you? Are you going to join us?"
Insidious looked at all the people gathered around him. No, they were more than just people. They were his friends. He dipped his hat lower and gave his own smirk.
"Hell yeah."