Chapter 10 – A Meeting
Kid sat behind his desk with his elbow resting on the arm of the chair and his head propped up by his fist. He stared at a picture of four-year-old Angel sitting on his lap smiling innocently as he read to her. He wondered what happened to the days where she thought the world of him. Even his obsession with all things symmetrical fascinated her back then.
But being a Grim Reaper altered his daughter's perspective of the world faster than it had him. She saw things plainly at an alarmingly early age, even Lord Death was surprised. The more Kid thought about it the less strange it seemed since Angel was far more advanced in her abilities than him. She was just sixteen and could hold her own against stein in a fair fight. Kid asked Stein once if that happened often and all Stein said was, "Angel's strength is in her ability to read people. She'll surpass us all someday."
Kid mentally shook himself as Maka and Soul entered the office. Finally, the last two people had arrived. Kid had called the parents of the kids Cassandra targeted to decide what to do about their children. Black Star and Patti arrived first raising concerns about their daughter. Liz reluctantly left Sid and Sully's bedside. Mifune and Tsubaki huddled together on the couch whispering about Masa. Crona had barely gotten to the mansion when Mamoru ushered him to Kid's office. Stein and Marie came when Mark took over looking after the injured. Lord Death and Spirit were there mostly as concerned grandparents.
Now the meeting could begin.
Kid took a deep breath and let it out slowly, collecting all his thoughts before beginning. "I know some of you would like to keep our kids locked away until we can solve this issue with Cassandra. However, that wish is very unrealistic. Our children are strong willed, persistent, and hate standing idle. If we were to sit them on the side lines they would defy us and go after Cassandra on their own. So, we only have one choice."
Kid paused as a respectful silence fell over the room. It was moments like these that his responsibility as a Grim Reaper sunk in. He had mastered the Sanzu lines granting him the full power of a Grim Reaper years ago, but never got used to the authority he possessed. It was odd how people listened to every word he said and respected him.
"We have to let them defeat Cassandra." Kid finally said.
Tsubaki jumped out of her seat shocked, "Are you out of your mind?"
"They're not ready for that." Black Star chided looking more offended that he wouldn't see any action than anything.
Liz arched an eyebrow staring daggers at her meister, "Did you see the shape they were in?"
"I don't think Mamoru can handle that," Crona muttered.
"I worry about Mark enough as it is." Marie gripped her husband's arm for support.
"If they can't handle a witch how do you expect them to become better meisters and weapons than us?" Soul asked silencing all arguments.
"Soul, you can't be serious." Patti said surprising everyone by paying attention to the conversation for once.
"I am," Soul replied.
"Do you know what students at the academy say about our kids?" Mifune asked his eyes shifting from face to face. "They say that our kids are just replicas of us. I think Mark and Mamoru have it easy since they haven't been around for six years, but I'm certain now that they're back they'll be included."
"They never mentioned anything," Liz deflated.
"Why would they?" Spirit crossed his arms over his chest. "If they had involved any of you it would have just proved the students were right in the first place."
"It's the same when they handle missions." Stein said twisting the screw in his head. "The people on Death's hit list often compare them to us."
"But it was never like that for Maka and Kid," Black Star pointed out.
"Times were different then," Maka said coldly. "Besides, just looking at the weapon and meister teams we can't deny the similarities."
"How will defeating Cassandra change that?" Crona asked nervously shifting his feet.
Kid smiled, "It's a start to proving that our kids are more than just copies of us."
Soul, Mifune, Stein, and Spirit shared knowing smiles.
"So how exactly does that happen?" Patti asked looking utterly confused.
"We send them on information gathering missions and leave the rest to them. We've taught our kids to handle themselves in the face of danger and now it's time they put their knowledge to use. We did it back in our days as Death City's heroes and now it's their turn." Kid said carefully watching for objections, seeing none he went on. "Before explaining the rest, I need Liz to go get Angel, Spirit to retrieve Free, and Mifune to find Angela."
The three of them left without a word of complaint. The room filled with casual conversation as they waited for Liz, Mifune, and Spirit to come back. It only took a few minutes for everyone to arrive. Angel leaned against the wall to the right of Kid. Free stood awkwardly by the door unsure of what he was doing there. Angela made herself comfortable in one of the open chairs.
"Angel, will you please tell everyone what you determined about the man who attacked the groups." Kid instructed, the room falling silent once more.
Angel sighed, "Well he's not someone to underestimate. From me fight and the first-hand recollections from Mark and Evan I was able to figure out a few things. The most important being the man is not a kishin and his is not infected with Black Blood."
"Are you sure?" Soul interrupted.
"Yes." Angel's expression was as blank as her tone. She briefly explained all accounts of the attacks being careful to leave nothing out. "Kyoki shows all the signs of being infected with madness except for one. His soul is completely normal."
"What do you mean exactly?" Stein asked intrigued.
Angel thought carefully for a moment. "Take Mamoru's and Crona's soul, for example, when looking at them closely you can see it's tinged with the residue of Black Blood. Kyoki does not have that residue. Kishin's have a distinct soul wavelength that emits madness which Kyoki doesn't have either. He's something we've never seen before."
"I knew there was something strange about him," Maka mumbled.
"Then what is he?" Angela asked.
Angel folded her arms over her chest. "If I had to make a guess I'd say he's Cassandra's first successful experiment.
"She used magic to make him like that," Free concluded.
Angel nodded in agreement. "His Katana on the other hand has definite traces of Kishin influence. Kyoki is protected from that influence I just don't know how. I'd have to get a look at the weapon when it's in human form to figure it out."
Kid held up a hand halting the conversation. Free turned and looked at the door, "I think someone's out there."
Crona went to the door and heaved it open. Mamoru jolted upright staring at his father, Gold Star stood nearby an "I told you so" look on her face. Kid had thought they were locked down in the dispensary but Gold Star and Mamoru did have a tendency to break the rules.
"Just checking to see if the draft I felt was coming from this room." Mamoru spouted quickly.
"Gold Star, explain yourself!" Black Star yelled overdramatically.
"Spying but we couldn't hear anything anyway so we'll be going now." With that Gold Star pushed Mamoru away and Crona closed the door behind them.
Everyone turned back Kid moving on like nothing happened.
"I have a plan to get you in position to do just that, but you don't have to agree to it." Kid said looking at his daughter, who was waiting for him to keep talking. "You have to willingly go to Cassandra."
Angry shouts of protest rose from Liz, Patti, and Marie. Black Star, Tsubaki, and Crona were too shocked by suggestion to even speak. Spirit, Stein, Soul, Maka, and Mifune remained quiet. Angel's eyes never wavered from Kid as the volume in the room rose.
"Angel, it's your choice." Lord Death said after staying quiet for so long.
"I'll need Sid and Sully," Angel spoke softly, "but they won't be one hundred percent for weeks."
"If they agree to it then you may take them along." Kid replied.
"No!" Liz shouted slamming her fist on Kid's desk to get his full attention. "I will not allow my sons to go out on a suicide mission!"
Kid stood up matching eye levels with Liz. "If they agree to the mission they will be providing backup for Angel. By going to Cassandra first we can gain valuable knowledge about her plans that we wouldn't have otherwise. You know Sid and Sully are more than capable of handling this mission."
"That's not the point, Kid." Liz said coldly. "The point is Angel—"
"I know I failed them." Angel cut Liz off anger burning in her eyes. "They deliberately put themselves in danger to protect me just like you and Patti would do for Kid. I underestimated the enemy, and I promise you I will not let that happen again."
The bit about protecting Kid struck a chord and Liz backed down, but the hostility toward Angel was still visible. No one could blame Liz for being angry since both her son/s almost lost their lives.
Kid could tell that Angel was upset and angry over what had happened on her mission. She had managed to convince everyone else she was fine but Kid knew all too well that she wasn't. For Angel taking on the mission to infiltrate Cassandra's ranks was about more than gathering information.
"The mission will have to be a kept secret from the others." Kid went on cautiously choosing his words. "So, we need to time it so that your intentions are made clear and leave no doubt that you've decided to leave willingly. If at any time you find yourself fighting anyone from the DWMA do not hold back."
"I understand," Angel said.
"While preparations for your departure are being made, you'll be training with Free. Well, all our kids will train with Free and Angela." Kid sat back down returning to his former sitting position.
"That's all I have to do?" Free asked skeptically.
"For the time being," Kid answered. "The kids will gain experience fighting with witches and Free's immortal so they don't have to hold back against him."
"Sound fun," Angela looked amused."
The meeting soon drew to a close and slowly everyone left except for Kid and Angel. She slid down the wall to sit on the ground staring at the floor in front of her lost in thought.
"Dad, I need you tell me something and I need you to be completely honest with me." Angel said her yellow eyes pleading with him.
He set his jaw and nodded in compliance.
"What was the promise you made to Cassandra?"