When Maka started getting excited about her weapon training, she imagined training with other weapons, maybe even Soul. She would be in this imaginary class while remaining in her E.A.T class Crescent Moon. It would be a lot of hard work and responsibility to stay on top of her work, but she knew if she focused she could do it.
Instead, Shinigami-sama broke the news to her. "Death Scythe will teach you how to use your blades. Soul can offer guidance out of the classroom, but Death Scythe will be your main instructor."
No matter how much pleading she did, the answer was the same. The first lesson wasn't too bad. Spirit had stayed relatively professional about the arrangement. But that had been a little over a month ago, and with lessons every other weekday, Spirit was becoming more clingy and annoying as the weeks went by.
"Father was telling me about a particularly troublesome group operating on the west coast. Looks like he's sending us to take care of them."
"Oh, would we be able to meet some celebrities?" Liz's eyes glazed over as she pictured meeting her favorite eye candies.
"Actually, they operate further north, on the Bay. Have you ever seen the Golden Gate Bridge? I wonder if I could get a perfectly symmetrical picture…"
"Is the bridge actually gold?"
"No Black Star, it's red. It gets its name from the strait it crosses."
"Where did you read that Maka?"
"In a tour guidebook."
"When did you read that? We've never been there," Soul asked incredulously.
"Momma was going to take me a few years ago, but she got busy."
Kid continued talking about the mission. "The killers we'll be dealing with are not normal kishin eggs, so we will need to be on high alert."
"Why are we seeing Lord Death if you already know? Let's go!" Black Star was about to take off when Maka grabbed him by the scarf. Her grip was tight and she easily reigned him back. Patti started laughing hysterically at the sight.
"Unlike you, we like to get all the available information before charging."
It wasn't long before the group was before Lord Death. "Hey, hiya, how are ya?"
"Good morning Shinigami-sama!"
"I am assuming you want us to pursue the kishin eggs in California, father?" Kid took reign on the conversation, being the most skilled at keeping his father on topic.
"You betcha! It seems several of them have teamed up, making this too big for a single pair to take on. They've been spotted several times in the Santa Cruz mountains, so I would start there. Well, good luck!"
Maka could feel the demon's smile, the two of them anxious to fight. She tried to push the anxiety to the back of her mind.
It didn't take long for the group to be on a plane heading towards the neighboring state. Black Star used the time to warm up, planking on the floor of the cabin, to the displeasure of the flight attendants. Patti was busy drawing with her crayons, trying to get Tsubaki to join her. Maka was pressed against the window immersed in a book, oblivious to her surroundings.
Soul was just about to tune out and plug in his headphones when Kid turned to him. "So how's everything?" His tone was light, but Soul knew the implications. Liz turned her attention away from her manicure to hear the weapon's response.
Soul shrugged. "Eh, you know, one step at a time. She's a lot more excited for this mission than she's letting on though, don't let her fool ya."
"But what about you?" Liz pursed her lips. "We can see it's taking a toll on you too."
The demon scythe smirked. "Just gotta keep looking forward, right?"
"Did you know that the Santa Cruz mountains are home to the oldest state park in California?" The group quickly learned what Maka had been speed reading during their flight: a tour book of the Bay Area. "It's called Big Basin and it's home to an old-growth redwood forest. I wonder if we'll end up there."
They were all walking along Skyline Boulevard, the road that stretched most of the Santa Cruz mountains. Kid had suggested searching for clues along the ridgeline to try and pinpoint the targets.
"Also, hundreds of earthquakes occur in the Bay Area alone yearly, but most are small and don't make the news."
"Is she always like this?" Liz used an undertone to ask Soul, not wanting to offend the scythe meister.
"Pretty much, unless we've already visited the area before. A walking encyclopedia…"
"Apparently Charles Manson wanted to establish a base along this road but-"
"OH WILL YOU SHUT UP ALREADY! You're giving me a headache!" Black Star interrupted.
If looks alone could kill, the assassin would no longer be breathing. "No. I won't. Surprisingly there have been several serial killers who have been active in the area throughout history. The Doodler and Dating Game Killer operated-"
"Did you guys hear that?!" Liz quaked behind Patti, staring into the forest. A breeze rustled the leaves of the surrounding plant life.
Maka and Kid closed their eyes, focusing on the souls in the area. Before they could fully focus, Black Star made a battle cry. "Tsubaki, transform!"
The two meisters' eyes flashed open to see a man approach. Glasses were embedded into his face, skin growing around the nose piece. He was a big man, not of muscle but sheer size. In one hand he carried a woman's disembodied head by her hair, while something in his other hand glinted in the fading sunlight. The other demon weapons followed suit, landing in their meisters' grasps.
"The Co-ed Killer, you will pay for the sins you have committed!" Kid took one of his Reaper stances as he spoke.
"Hehehe looks like we aren't the only ones who teamed up…" Black Star caught movement in the corner of his eye and deflected the bullet that would've ended up in Maka's back. The person who fired the shot was mostly bald except for the sideburns running down his cheeks. His eyes were cold and trained on the assassin, two small caliber guns aiming for Black Star's chest.
"So that must make you the Trailside Killer…" Black Star readied Tsubaki's chain scythes, preparing to pounce.
Meanwhile, Maka sensed a third soul to her left and turned accordingly. Soul's staff was getting hotter the longer she held on, but she ignored the sensation. The man had a ski mask on, obscuring his features, but the symbol on his chest told all. As she stared down the barrel of his gun, Maka growled. "Zodiac Killer, your days of terrorizing the Bay Area are over, your soul is mine!"
The Co-ed Killer spoke up once again. "You kids don't have a chance against us!" He rushed at Kid, aiming for his stomach. The knife grazed Kid's skin as he used Patti to shoot several wavelength bullets into the man. His mass seemed to deflect the basic attack.
Black Star had used the killer's babbling as an opening to swipe at the Trailside Killer. He jumped out of reach, sending several bullets in Black Star's direction. The assassin used speed star to dodge.
Maka, on the other hand, was still trying to calm herself down. The fact that her and Soul's wavelengths were out of sync had put her at a disadvantage. She knew she wasn't the strongest on the team, and this certainly wasn't helping. The Zodiac kept shooting at her and it took everything to dodge and block the bullets, spinning Soul as fast and smoothly as she could manage. If only I could get close enough, then I could use witch hunter. We need to communicate as a team...
The scythe meister proceeded to slide past the serial killer so that she was on the edge of the forest. She could see her teammates spread across the tarmac in their own fights. Black Star seemed to be distracted, turning back to Maka every so often. Kid was trying to get enough time and space to use soul resonance but was failing.
"Trying to escape, little girl?" The Zodiac's voice was low and rough like he hadn't used it in years. "You're not my type, but I'll make an exception." He had used the time to refill his clip and slid it back into the gun. Bullets were sent Maka's way, and she was forced to back into the forest for cover. Annoyingly, the defensive maneuvers were more exhausting on her than usual.
"Maka, is everything alright?" Soul's reflection appeared on the blade, his eyes furrowed.
"Your handle's burning me like when we fought Free, but I can't not fight. They need me out there, Black Star isn't focused on the fight." She rushed to the next tree, dodging bullets as she went. "We need to do chain resonance and end this faster."
Soul bit his lip. Black Star's only trying to make sure Maka's safe, but I can't tell her that… ugh, this is so not cool. "But won't resonance hurt you more?"
Maka spun to avoid flying tree bark as bullets connected with the trunk she was now behind. "Do you have any better ideas? Cause I'm all ears!"
Without waiting for a reply, Maka activated her soul perception to see where everyone now was. Her current target was about 20 feet away to her right. Her team and their opponents were maybe 100 feet to her left. If she could just guide her pursuant back to the main battle… What if I used the trees…? The meister used her weapon as a grappling hook to raise herself into the canopy. She proceeded to jump from branch to branch towards her teammates. She didn't bother keeping quiet as she wanted the Zodiac to follow, though he probably didn't need much motivation.
Once she was within communication range again she was panting heavily. Apparently, she was more out of shape than she realized. "Guys, let's get serious!" She yelled as she jumped down from the tree. The boys spun and met her eyes, knowing exactly what she meant.
The team all shouted in unison, "let's go, soul resonance!" The power being exchanged between the pairs was incredible. Maka watched as their souls grew, but felt the same choking feeling from Sukai's attack consume her. She fought to stay standing, refusing to give in to the stupid spell.
Of course with the nature of sharing wavelengths, everyone was immediately aware of Maka and Soul's predicament. Black Star, handle this brute while I take out the other two. Kid thought quickly, sensing Maka was close to her limit.
Just as Kid made to switch opponents, shots were fired in his direction from the Zodiac. Maka moved as fast as she could manage and spun Soul to block the gunfire. Hurry up! I think Maka's close to passing out! Soul's voice rung out in the link.
Black Star back-flipped so that he was facing the Co-ed killer now. "Tsubaki, Ninja sword mode!" He rapidly swiped at his opponent, connecting several times.
Kid forced his attention on the Trailside Killer, forcing the man backward with a barrage of bullets. "You sick bastard, you will pay for the innocent souls you cut short!"
Maka was slowing down, some of the bullets rushing past her instead of bouncing off Soul. She could feel her little demon whispering in her ear. "Just give in, let the madness give you your own blades…" Screw you… she thought back in response, but knew it was only a matter of time.
"Uncanny sword mode! Soul resonance!" Black Star spun and aimed the blade at the killer's stomach. The Co-ed killer stepped out of the way so that Tsubaki only grazed him. Black Star growled. "Stay still… Shadow star!" Tsubaki held the man in place while the assassin drove her blade cleanly through the man's stomach. The killer's body disappeared, leaving a red floating orb in its place.
At the same time, Kid was preparing his final attack. "Liz! Patti! Soul resonance!" The Trailside Killer was still recovering from the hail of bullets and struggled to reload. "Resonance stable, noise level 0.05%..." The countdown was imminent, and the serial killer knew his fate was sealed.
Just as Maka heard the Co-ed killer's final cry, she felt her knees hit the ground. She felt heavy, like she was deep underwater, her surroundings muffled. Strangely, she could still see what was going on, and it was slightly terrifying. She could see Soul in his weapon form vibrating, likely yelling at her, still grasped in her right hand. The Zodiac killer's eyes were trained on hers, staring her down as he pointed the gun at her, ready to pull the trigger in her face.
Without thinking or trying, her left arm transformed into a scythe blade and she thrust it into the serial killer. A-am I in control? She thought hazily.
The demon chuckled. "Have you ever been?" Maka was now in the library again, face to face with a new horror. The ogre was nowhere near the same as when she had first found herself so far in her soul. His features were softer and more human-like, no traces of his horns. His skin was closer to hers now, replacing the dull gray it had been the last time she had seen him. Making a double take, she wasn't sure that he qualified as a 'he' anymore; his chest had swelled slightly and black hair had grown.
"How did you take control?!" Her frustration caused her to stomp right up to her inner demon. "I'm the only one who can use my weapon blood!"
"Who do you think I am? I am you now, there is no difference now. You just have to accept reality." Their voice had changed pitch and was a sickly kind of sweet. The girl in front of Maka smirked, basking in her victory.
"Just because you're a part of me doesn't mean you can have control!" Maka ran down one of the aisles, searching for anything that could help. The demon followed at a more leisurely pace.
"We share this body, you don't have a choice anymore…" Maka flung one of the shelves so that it landed on her opponent's head. The demon easily held it up. "We share the same thoughts, same knowledge, same strength. It's futile trying to run from the truth."
"Maka! What the hell! Wake up you stubborn bookworm!" Soul's voice carried through the window. Maka could feel his soul vibrate with worry. She was reminded of when she saved him from the madness.
That's it. I know what I need to do! The demon's eyes went wide with fear.
"If you do that, you'll never be able to master your weapon blood!" The girl crossed her arms across her chest, trying to keep the calm facade in place.
"Then give me back my body, you heathen!" Maka's eyes were deadly, aching to attack.
The demon turned as if to listen in on a far-off conversation and smirked. "Alright, here ya go!"
Without warning, Maka was thrown back to reality, the muffled feeling dissipating. Her vision returned to her surroundings and she noticed her arm was still a scythe, blood sliding from the tip back towards her elbow. The sudden rush of oxygen was dizzying. She dropped to her knees slowly, taking the scene in. In several slow blinks, she noticed that her friends were breathing heavily, watching her closely. Her original opponent, the Zodiac, was floating to her left, only his soul remaining. She looked her friends up and down and noticed more cuts littered their bodies.
Her eyes widened as she put the pieces together. I attacked them. My teammates, my friends.
"Maks…? You b-" Without hearing what Black Star had to say, the young meister got to her feet and backed away, horror on her face.
Her arm went back to normal, the scythe shattering. I lost control. I could've killed them. Oh Death, why? Soul transformed back, his eyes soft.
"Maka, calm down, it wasn't your-" She could hear him, but wasn't really listening. It felt like her heart was going to jump out of her chest with how fast it was beating.
Without warning, she took off, tears clouding her vision. To where she didn't know. All she knew was that she had some soul searching to do.
"Maka!" Soul made to go after his meister but was held back by Tsubaki. "What? Why are-"
"Dude, she needs to calm down before any of us can reach her. What the hell happened anyway?" Black Star folded his arms, surprisingly calm.
"Obviously, she wasn't quite ready." Kid threw Liz and Patti in the air so that they could transform back. "Have you guys been training together?"
"Stein wouldn't let us come if we didn't show him that we were ready. She was fine yesterday, I don't know why she suddenly changed." Soul rubbed the back of his head. "It's probably that stupid spell on her…"
"What, it's still on her?" Black Star's expression was incredulous as if the very fact offended him.
"It's not like the spell Arachne put on her, this one has to be broken it seems. That's why she's not on top of her game. I thought she was on it enough, but I guess not." Soul sighed.
Tsubaki approached the demon scythe and placed her hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out, together. Spells are always tricky."
Liz put her hands on her hips. "This is Maka we're talking about. I have no doubt that she'll be back to normal in no time. The party seemed to really lift her spirits, maybe it's time for another one!"
"Contrary to your beliefs, parties don't solve everything." Kid sighed, a grin pulling at his cheek.
"Maybe just a dinner or something? We could invite Crona, I'm sure Maka would love that!" Tsubaki could see her friends laughing at the park already.
While the group was busy, Black Star faded into the shadows and followed Maka. It wasn't difficult, she was thundering through the forest. The short and stubby trees had quickly morphed into towering redwoods, making tree hopping more difficult. More difficult, but not impossible. Soon he found her in the middle of a circle of redwoods on her knees. His advanced hearing picked up her crying and decided to approach slowly.
"Why are you following me?" Maka didn't look up, grasping the hem of her skirt.
"Soul was getting whiny and asked his god-"
"I know that's not the reason. You've been following me everywhere, throughout Death City." Though her words rang true, even Black Star could tell she didn't really care about his actions at the moment. The assassin held his tongue, letting her take lead for once. The temperature was dropping fast and soon, the fog rolling in.
"Why are you here?" Her voice was strong on the breeze, defiance clear as day. She was holding her knees to her chest now, closing herself off.
"To remind you of the tornado that you are." He lowered himself to sit next to her. She was staring off into the distance, watching the needles fall from the trees.
"Was that supposed to be a compliment?" Maka scoffed.
"It's the truth. You're a force to be reckoned with when you're focused. You really do help your god." Black Star was staring up at the darkening sky. "Just cause you tripped up doesn't mean you're weak."
"I could've hurt you guys." Her voice had turned small now, and Black Star almost didn't catch her words. "I did hurt you guys. I wasn't able to control-"
"And that's the thing Maks, you weren't in control. Stop beating yourself up over the bush, you have a city to tear apart!"
Slowly, the stars blinked into view. Maka turned to her childhood friend, seeing him in a new light. She chuckled. "That is the weirdest analogy I've heard in awhile."
"Ehh, you know what your god meant!"