"Listen up! I know you guys are new in town, but let's get one thing straight; I'm the star around here, got it? I will surpass God one day, and you will have to bow down to me!" Black Star's voice boomed through the dining room. He ended his statement with a chuckle, and sat back down at the table.

Cody and I stifled a laugh. We both remembered Black Star to be cocky and headstrong. We gave the young assassin a thumbs up, and went back to our food.

"Speaking of which, how long will you guys be in town?" Kid asked us.

I thought about it. "Two weeks…" I said softly.

Everyone nodded. Except Soul and Maka. They looked at me with a little mixture of shock, and sadness. I shrugged my shoulders at them, and mouthed tell you later. I had never told them Cody and I were only out there for spring break, and that it lasted just two weeks. My stomach tightened suddenly, and I wasn't so hungry anymore. I took a few more bites, and announced I was finished.

I sat down on the couch and waited for anyone to be finished to keep me company. First person to come in, besides me, was Kid. He stood in front of me.

"Hey, Kid. What's up?"

"Hi. It's just… Hiiro, you look vaguely familiar."

I cocked my head. "Yeah, I ran into you, or you to me, the other day. Maka and I were out shopping. Remember?"

He shook his head. "No, I mean yes I remember that. But from somewhere else…"

He could've seen me from that one show Soul watched… I thought. I simply shrugged my shoulders. Cody walked in then, and planted himself next to me.

Later That Day

'Mordred's Lullaby' by Heather Dale played as I placed my headphones over my ears. I really liked the song, despite the fact that it was rather slow. I closed my eyes, and let myself sink into the music. With my hands over the ears of the headphones, I swayed back and forth, mouthing the lyrics.

"…And you won't understand the cause of your grief, but you'll always follow the voices beneath…"

The song played, and I became aware of why I was listening to it. My eyes flew open, just as someone had touched my shoulder. Soul stood in front of me, his hand on my arm. I paused the song and lowered my headphones.

"Hey. What's up?" I asked Soul.

"Oh. Nothing. You were just so quiet in here, I wondered if you had fallen asleep or something."

"Ah. Nope, wide awake."

"Cool. So what'cha listening to?"

"Here," I took my headphones of my neck, and played the song "It's called Mordred's Lullaby."

He took one of the ears and held it next to his, and I took the other.

"But I like to call it-"

"It reminds me of-"

We interrupted each other, and I turned my head to see that he was looking at me. "Who does it remind you of…?"

"What do you like to call it, Hiiro?"

"Um, I like to call it Crona's Lullaby…"

"It reminds me of Crona."

I nodded my head silently. His eyes looked directly into mine. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Do you want to see him?" Soul asked.

I nodded again. He grinned, and handed me my headphones. I smiled back and set them down. Soul gestured for me to follow him out the door.

"C-Cody! I'm going for a walk, be back later…!" I called to my partner.

"Kay!" he responded.

Soul and I walked out the door and down a flight of steps until we were in front of his apartment complex. I looked back over my shoulder then kept walking.

At the Academy: the dungeons

"Just down this hall." Soul told me.

I nodded and walked forward. Door after door, they all looked the same. But something told me which door was the right one. It was at the very end of the hall, and it set off a very lonely vibe. I knew who was on the other side. Soul opened the door slowly and grabbed my wrist. He pulled me inside, and shut the door. It was so dark.

"Crona? It's Soul." He spoke.

"S-Soul?" a familiar voice came.

There were footsteps in the darkness. Well, more like bare feet shuffling across the floor to us.

"Yeah, it's me."

"And Maka!" the voice chimed.

I felt arms around me. Realizing he had mistaken me for Maka, I muttered, "Um…" The arms loosened. "I'm sorry but… I'm not Maka."

He gasped and let me go. "Who- who are you?" he shouted.

"Crona, calm down-" Soul tried.

"Where's Maka?" Crona interrupted, panicked.

"Crona! Maka's at home. This," he grabbed my hand and pulled me forward, "is our friend. Her name is Hiiro."

"Oh…"

"Crona, please turn the light on."

He shuffled back over to where he came from, and light flooded the room. I saw there was a bed, dresser, a desk, and naked light bulb hanging from the ceiling inside the room. A tall boy with pink hair stood under the light, his hand resting on the cord that turned it on. I recognized him.

"Hiiro, this is Crona." Soul said to me.

I stepped forward, and he let go of my hand. "Hi, Crona. It's nice to meet you."

Crona's eyes darted up and down, scanning every aspect of me. "H-hello…"

I held out my hand, and he flinched. I cocked my head to the side, and smiled. Crona realized I wasn't going to hurt him, and he just barely grabbed my hand. I shook my hand up and down. He smiled slightly.

"Your hair is really long." Crona commented.

Soul and I laughed. "I know. I like it long."

"It doesn't get in your way?"

"Sometimes, but then I tie it in a braid."

"Oh."

I smiled at him. He smiled back.

"Hiiro," Soul said. I turned to look at him, "do you want to tell Crona about… yourself…?" he asked.

I knew what he was saying. "Yes. But, just me. Wait outside, okay?"

He nodded, and left me alone with Crona.

"Hey, Crona."
"What?"

"I'm just like you."

"But… you're a girl."

I laughed. "No, not like that. I mean, I have the same blood type as you."

He looked confused. "Nobody has the same blood as me…"

"But I do. Sometimes, I have black blood too."

"Sometimes?"

"Yeah. Not always, though. Only when I'm really upset. Or if I get a little crazy."

"Crazy?"

"Uh-huh. You know, like all giggly and loopy. And just… insane!"

Just then, something popped out of Crona's back. "Crona's crazy! He's nuts!" the something said.

"Hiiro… thi- this is Ragnorak."

"Hi, Ragnorak!" I said cheerfully.

"So, you're a nutso like Crona?" Ragnorak asked.

"Well, I dunno about that. And from what I hear, I don't think Crona's really a nutso."

"You just said you go crazy sometimes."

"Yeah, sometimes."

"How only sometimes?"

I was getting irritated. "I dunno, I just can!"

"Nobody can just suddenly become crazy."

"Well, I can!"

"Really?"

I'm not sure why I said it. It was really dumb of me. But you know what? I said it anyway.

"Yes! And I can," I giggled, "I can pah-rooooove it!"

I giggled some more. "And I'll show you my black blood. It'll be as black as the night sky! Ha, ha!" more fits of giggles.

I couldn't stop laughing. I could feel my pupils dilating, and my eyes flashed.

Crona looked terrified. "H-Hiiro. You're eyes were just purple…"

"Uh-huh! I knoooow!" Giggling again.

"But now they're orange."

"Really? Awesome!"

I was laughing more. For some reason, I started twirling around the room going, "La, la, la! La, la, la!" over and over again.

I spotted a nail sticking out of the wall, and grabbed it. I pulled, and it came out of the wall. I poked the end. It was sharp.
"Lookey, lookey!" I said, "Look! My blood! My blood is black!"

And with that, I dragged the end of the nail across my wrist, and black liquid poured out of my skin.