Fate is a funny thing, some say that its just a rule of human nature. Others say that its because a divine being planned it all, but whatever the case we still see it all as cruel. We have friends and family, yes, but sometimes even with their help, it still feels like the worlds against you. Still we as human beings always carve meaning out of nothing, we always look to the future with are heads held high. It is because of this, because of hope, that we strive even though things seem pointless.

Ch.10 A New teacher: You again?

The streets in the city were quiet and dark as Hollow walked the streets. He had been sent on a mission to eliminate a gang of kishins, that were getting out of hand, and were said to be cold-blooded killers that took no prisoners. Though something like that had never stopped Hollow before, and it wouldn't stop him now. He had seen and done things in Lordran that would make even the strongest of wills wish they had never existed. For Hollow this task was as simple as killing a rat in Lordran, sometimes he thought the world had gotten softer when it came to matters as executing the guilty.

As Hollow walked up to an abandoned warehouse, the first thing he smelled was blood. 'This must be it.' he thought, it seemed that the directions Lord Death had given him were correct. These men must have been bold to let anyone with a sense of smell, find their hideout so easily, but soon they would learn that doing so was a foolish mistake. Upon entering the warehouse the smell of blood had gotten thicker, blood stains could be found all over the floors, and tools that laid on the floor were smeared with it, but it seemed at the moment that no one was there. Still, it seemed this gang loved to torture their victims before consuming their souls, this only reminded Hollow of his time in the Darkwraith covenant.

The darkwraiths always terrified their victims before using life drain to suck out their souls and humanity. Hollow had never taken part in those activity's the darkwraiths would perform, but that didn't mean he was innocent. No, in fact he had used a tool he had obtained from Kaathe after giving the primordial serpent 10 humanity's, he had obtained the red eye orb. The orb allowed Hollow to travel to other plains of existence, and kill other people to obtain their humanity. Sometimes Hollow let himself slip away, the feel of obtaining and retaining his human form felt amazing, but when he'd snap out of this trance, he would have too much humanity to have use for.

When it would become like that, Hollow would give the unnecessary amount of humanity's to Kaathe. This helped Hollow rank up in the covenant, and gain new powers, and equipment. The ability of life drain was a skill that Hollow had learned when he first entered the covenant, but he would never use it because he believed that everyone should at least have a fighting chance before they die. He had learned how to make a dark shield using the very little magic he knew, but the shield did poorly when it came to protection, and Hollow didn't know who to blame for how weak it was. He had gained new equipment when he had managed to outrank the former champion of the darkwraiths, a task that proved to be difficult, but worth it, besides Kaathe had no more use of his former champion since he went hollow.

In the end though, Hollow left the covenant, it wasn't because they no longer had use, it was because Solaire was right. He realized by joining the covenant, he surrendered himself to a fate worse than hollowing, which was ironic. He had joined the covenant to keep from going hollow, but killed innocents not just in his world, but in others as well, Hollow really wondered what force on earth made him do what he did. His purpose was corrupted when he joined the darkwraiths, in joining them he had almost abandoned the task that he and Solaire had set out to do. This was why Solaire had left him, something Hollow wished he never did. His friend Solaire's talisman was a reminder of that, he wondered if he had been there with Solaire in Lost Izalith, then would-

The doors behind Hollow had opened behind him, Hollow turned around, and what he saw before him was a gang of at least 30 men with sharp teeth. Among them was a giant of a man, with fancy looking clothes filled with cuts and blood stains. Hollow could assume this was the leader since this man was walking in the place like he owned it, towards Hollow, who noticed the man get bigger and bigger as he approached him. "Ahh" began the kishin who looked down upon Hollow with a twisted smile on his face, "I knew those that coward Death would send one of his puppets soon, and here you are. Though I will admit you don't look like the average meat he sends our way, you look like you could pass off as one of us." The kishin was huge, the man looked almost to be the size of the great knight Artorias, a poor soul Hollow regrettably had to put down. Any normal person would tremble in fear, but then again Hollow wasn't an ordinary person.

Hollow just glared up at the overgrown kishin with cold lifeless grey eyes, before he said in a cold dark tone, "My name is Hollow, and in the name of Lord Death, I am here to purge the filth, that is you." All the kishin in the warehouse were silent until they all started to laugh uncontrollably, the idea of one man being able to wipe them all out was just ridiculous. The leader of the kishins, who had finished his outburst of laughter then spoke again saying, "Oh boys I think he's serious, get me my tools." Just then a group of the kishins brought out a box, which contained huge spiked brass knuckles, the leader slipped them on, and cracked his neck for the fight. Before anything happened the leader spoke and said, "Listen toothpick, you don't look like much of a meal, and my two friends here haven't been fed in days." He then motioned to the brass knuckles, which appeared to be in need of repair from overuse. The leader then said, " In fact the only reason I'm taking this seriously is because Death sent you, but me and the boys will cut you a deal, you can join us since you already look the type to steal souls, or you can be stupid and actually try to take us on. "No" replied Hollow, who didn't even take a moment to think it over, he promised to his friend that he wouldn't give in to the dark's temptation's ever again, do to the fact that it not only killed Solaire, but nearly drove himself to madness.

After that was said Hollow went on to say, "I have a counter compromise, surrender and I'll make thy deaths quicker, if not then thee will suffer a most slow painful one." All the kishins in that warehouse only hissed, they were waiting for their leaders okay to attack the freak in armor. "So what is your decision?" asked Hollow, who was secretly hoping for a slow painful execution for the demons in human skin. The leader took on a look of thought before backhanding Hollow who was sent flying into a wall hard, and slumping to the ground as if that had killed him. The leader only laughed and said, "Ha, I knew he was all talk, there's no way he can get up after that, not even that freaky armor could keep him from breaking something important." At that Hollow's head snapped up, giving it an inhuman sound, he then slowly made his way up as if his limbs were broken. When he was finally up he just cracked his neck to the sides, he then said with a malicious smile behind his mask, "Slow and painful it is."

Hollow then broke out into a dash at an incredible speed, and punched the leader in the stomach before he had time to react. Hollow carried on with his combo by kicking the leader in his face, which made the kishin fall a few feet backwards. The other kishins then broke out into a run towards their one taget in the middle of their hideout, to rip the freak into pieces. Hollow only readied himself by bringing out his scythe Dex, which he made sure to repair, along with his armor from that day in the pyramid. He only thanked whoever was listening for the titanite shards he had left in his pouch, if he hadn't found them then all his stuff wouldn't be in top condition for the massacre.

When the first kishin was upon him, Hollow swung his scythe upwards, piercing the kishin through the chest until it eventually disappeared, leaving it's soul in it's place. Then 6 more came at him, only to have their heads cut off as Hollow quickly spun his scythe around. 'To easy.' thought Hollow, who was enthralled in the thrill of the moment, but his moment was ended, the leader came rushing through his own henchmen and punched Hollow in the face. Hollow's head only went to the side for a moment before readjusting it while all the kishins, even the leader stood shocked at how the man was even still standing. Hollow was only grateful his skull mask took the blow, he could feel the tiny dents from the spikes which luckily hadn't pierced his head set. After recovering from the mighty blow he had taken, Hollow set his sights on all the kishins that had a look of fear on their faces, and gave them a glare that said 'Prepare to die.'

3 hours later

Hollow had arrived back at DWMA, with a whole bag full of kishin souls, though he did keep 10 out of the 31 souls he had collected. He was sure Death wouldn't know how many members of the gang there were, so he would take the supply he would need just in case. As he walked up the steps a few students that had also accomplished their missions and were heading home, either made way or glared at Hollow. "I still can't believe Lord Death allowed this creep to join the academy." said a random student as Hollow passed them. Hollow of course heard this and turned to the general group he had heard the comment from, this caused all the teens to back away in fear, 'Good' thought Hollow, who enjoyed the fact that none of these students would dare to take him on. In a way it made him feel powerful, but also depressed by the end because they were only children after all, of course they would be afraid of something that looked like it came from hell.

Hollow had received the same treatment from other students as they all left after telling Lord Death how their mission went. Not wanting to get anywhere near Hollow, they made way for him by sticking close to the walls. This was why Hollow never talked to other people, they always judged him before they even knew his intentions, it really made him feel...lonely. None of them could understand, nor would try, it was just something he was used to by now, but sometimes he wished that Solaire or Siegmeyer was with him. Yes, he did have the group who had took him in, but he still had the feeling that they only took him in to keep an eye on him, and he couldn't blame them. They were after all right to not completely trust him, since he could go insane like the undead back in his time at any moment.

As Hollow approached the death room, he made sure to take off his mask, since Death wanted to know his reactions when they spoke. Hollow could tell it was because of suspicion that Death would ask him to remove what made him feel so secure, in all truth he hated having to remove his mask and cowl. It was as if his face, whether he were in his human or undead form, he felt a certain disgust towards the being he saw in the mirror, and only hoped that no one else saw through the facade, that was his very face. He then took a long breath and entered through the giant doors to the death room.

In there he saw Death, Kid, Liz, and Patty watching something in the huge mirror in the center of the room. Hollow had learned that Lord Death used this mirror to either watch his subjects or use it to contact them, whatever the case Hollow only hoped that Death was not watching him take some of the souls. When he approached the four of them, he spoke up and said, "My lord the task has been done." Death immediately turned around along with his son and his partners, they were all smiling to see his safe return from the three star mission he had taken.

Since Hollow had joined them, the tasks that have proven to be extremely difficult have been easy to take care of. This of course immediately brought Hollow up to a three star meister rank, but there was one problem, he didn't have a partner. They had asked if he wanted one or if he wanted to help students who were weapons, but he would always refuse and would say, 'It's better I do this alone.'

"Well hello Hollow, good to see you in one piece, you never fail to impress." Hollow's scarred face only remained blank, but he would nod to say he was thankful for the compliment. "You did a real good job of clearing the city of those kishin that were proving to be a real menace, I lost two good meisters because of them." Hollow again nodded, and replied, "No longer will they plague the world with their filth, I made sure of it." He then walked to the center of the room, and put the bag of souls down near Death, who he couldn't even tell was smiling or frowning.

Hollow looked to Death and asked, "Is there any other task you need of me to complete?" Death just shrugged and replied, " I don't know." This caused Hollow to glare at Death, despite not having his mask on to block his obvious dissatisfaction at the reply. "Please my lord, you needn't concern yourself, I can handle the next task." said Hollow with a hint of desperation. This time Kid spoke up and said, "Hollow, you haven't given us reason to doubt your skills, but you have been completing missions non stop since you joined the DWMA. Now there isn't a problem with that, but you have to take it easy once in awhile."

"Yeah or else you'll get wrinkles and get older quicker." said Patty, in her normal enthusiastic voice. "Yeah just take it easy, there's no need to worry, your doing a good job, and you've just got back from a mission, don't strain yourself." said Liz, who also worried about Hollow's well being. Hollow just looked back at Death, who was nodding, and said, "Their right Hollow, you shouldn't overwork yourself, you've already done enough." Hollow's face then took a look of disappointment, Death noticed this and said, "Hollow would you like to join us? Right now 4 students are taking the extra lessons I gave them. It's a test to see what they'll learn from this course."

Hollow just shook his head, and answered, "No, I am just tired, I will report back here when the light shines upon the world again." Everyone in the room just raised a brow to what Hollow said, and the way he said it was like someone deprived of all the world had to offer. With that Hollow left the death room, and started heading back to Death's house in fear of what was to come that night when he went to sleep.

Death then faced the three teenagers in the room with him, and asked, "Is he always like this?" The three thought about it for a moment and nodded, Liz then replied, "Yeah, since he came back 2 days ago, he's been really distant. It's like he's worried about something, but we don't know what it is." Death took a moment to think about it, and then said, "Maybe that's why he's been taking kishin souls." The group just looked at him in disbelief, Hollow was actually stealing kishin souls?

"Dad are you sure." asked Kid, who was now wondering what Hollow could possibly be doing by stealing souls. Death nodded, and replied, "Yes, when he comes through the door his soul wavelength always gives off some kind of power, today it was weaker, I think he's been using the souls to sustain his own. Plus I saw the kishin souls he hid for himself inside that armor." The three were now worried, what if Hollow was actually a kishin, did that mean he was only pretending to be good?

"Now before you all make assumptions, lets think about it." said Lord Death, who didn't seem bothered by this information at all. Liz, Kid, and Patty then looked to Death wondering why they shouldn't, if Hollow loved to consume souls what if he came for them? "Think about it." began Death, "If you remember that story he told us about his land, then you would remember the part about him saying that he was undead." The teens just nodded, they remembered, but they didn't pay it any mind, Hollow had said he ended the curse.

"He said that in order for his kind to keep their sanity, they had to consume souls. I think Hollow is still cursed and joined the DWMA to keep from going mad." confirmed Death, who didn't seem fazed at all. The three teens just looked at each other, if Death knew this then why wasn't he doing anything about it? Death saw the look of confusion on their faces, and said while holding out his enormous hands, "Look I don't see any need to take drastic measures. Hollow, though very disconnected to the world seems harmless and is trying to keep his sanity, and he's willing to take on the most dangerous tasks in order to do so. We should at least try to understand him and this curse, since it isn't spreading anywhere like he said in his story."

The group just nodded their heads, Death was right and they knew it, but they still couldn't brush off that feeling of unease. They just kept it in mind as they went back to watching the four students, who had managed to defeat Sid while they were distracted. "Wow, they had managed to defeat Sid while we were talking, I'm not even sure if they learned anything, Oh well." said Death, who just couldn't believe he missed the whole fight.

Death's house

Hollow stared at himself in the mirror as he consumed a soul, as he did this he felt a rush of power come back to his body. This also seemed to have rejuvenated his face, Hollow just didn't know what to think of it. Back in Lordran he had to kindle at a flame to regain his humanity, and he would keep his human form until he died again. In this world it seemed like he was on a clock, he would ave to consume a soul each day to keep from showing any sign of hollowing. He didn't know who to ask to know what was happening to him, there was Frampt, yes, but Hollow didn't trust the primordial serpent. In fact he didn't trust any of them, they always seemed to be trying to manipulate you. Kaathe was proof enough of that fact, he kept telling Hollow that he was the reincarnation of the primeval human Manus, father of the abyss.

Hollow of course didn't believe in such trickery, there was simply no way a simple undead such as he would be anything of that power or nature. Yes, he had managed to kill gods in his realm, but he believed that it was out of luck that he succeeded. It was also the fact that he couldn't die, so whenever they would manage to kill him, he would spawn back at a bonfire, the last flickers of light that Lordran had. Thus even if Hollow was this reincarnation Kaathe had said he was, he wouldn't act on it, there was simply no way Hollow would be this dark lord who would begin the age of darkness with himself at the helm. Kaathe may have been lying to him as well, he said that to reignite the flame, was simply the gods trying to extend their age a little longer, but if that was true then how did this world come to be? It was strange yes, but everything in Lordran always proved to be false, the land, the time, even the sun in that land were fakes, the whole place was convoluted.

Hollow, who now realized he was just thinking to himself about his past journey again, snapped himself out of his thoughts and began to remove his armor. Now that he realized he could feel things, there was no reason to be uncomfortable, he then laid himself on the bed. When he felt what his king sized bed felt like, he dug himself deeper into it, it was actually like laying on a cloud, if that was what a cloud felt like. Within minutes Hollow passed out from exhaustion, but tonight he would find no piece in his dreams.

Hollow's dream

In his dream Hollow was dressed in his thieves guild armor, in a very dark place with no light. This caused Hollow to panick and try to scream, but no sound escaped, the place he was in muted his very voice. "Do you remember this place." said a voice in the darkness. Hollow knew that voice, it was the same one that had helped him escape the darkness, so how did he get back here? "You of all people should know there is nothing more cruel then a memory." Hollow just covered his ears, he didn't want to hear what this person was going to say about him.

"You could say I know more about you, then even you do, now tell me how does it feel to be damned." Hollow tried to tell the voice to shut up but his voice was still muted, allowing the voice to keep going with it's mental assault. "It must e hard never being able to see the ones you love again, but then again the world has always been inescapable, unrelenting, and not at all friendly." Hollow's knees then buckled and he was on the floor praying that the nightmare would end. "You can't even escape into madness, until something comes in and changes your life forever, and then you don't even know who you are anymore."

When the voice had said that a light formed in front of Hollow, who in turn got back up and ran as quickly as he could into it. When he reached the light, he fell forward into a Colosseum with a group of at least 13 thieves and assassins that had the look of murder in their eyes. Then one of them made a swing for Hollow, who ducked under the punch and swung his fist upward, punching the vagabond into the air backwards. Then two more came for Hollow, which caused him to run at the two, he then jumped into the air and kicked one of them in the face, and rolled under the knife an assassin tried to slit his throat with.

The assassin then made a vertical swipe at hollow, who catched it and used the very weapon to stab it's owner in the chest a multiple of times. A thief then ran up to Hollow and punched him in the face, which gave another vagabond a chance to strike at him while he was disoriented. The punch did not connect, Hollow recovered and grabbed the punch while he brought his other arm up and broke the vagabonds arm, and threw him at three others. While Hollow fought the vagabonds the voice continued on saying, "How funny that it only takes one moment to change the promises of the past, and deform your future. It also changes your very persona, your reasons for hope, you could say that it's the cruel hand of fate at work. But in the end what do your accomplishments really achieve, all it really does is reverberate off the walls of your own emptiness."

As the voice said this, Hollow was kneeing a thief in the stomach, and punched him to knock him out. Now only 2 remained, one had knives, while the other was bare handed, Hollow who was now bruised and beaten just stood at the ready. The assassin with the knives then started to throw them at Hollow, who simply dodged them until one of them seemed to catch him in the shoulder. The assassin smiled at his work only for it to turn to disappointment as it turned out that Hollow caught it, as soon as it realized that it tried to get another knife only for Hollow to throw the one he used back into his eye, killing him instantly. Now only the thief was left standing, it tried to hit Hollow, but it ended with Hollow catching the punch and beating him to death with his bare hands.

When Hollow was the only one left standing in the colosseum, he heard movement behind himself. When he turned around a shroud of darkness engulfed him, this caused him to try and run, but of course he was caught by it again. Thinking it was the end Hollow closed his eyes, waiting for death to take him, only to realize he was now back in the Undead Burg. As he looked around he saw the place engulfed in flame, and as if on it's own his body started to walk through the blazing inferno watching as men, women, and children were killed by undead hollows or burned alive.

Eventually Hollow's own body lead him down the steps to the lower Burg, which was also aflame. He made his way through the undead, who were completely ignoring him and butchering someone else who screamed for help, but none came. Hollow's body then came to a stop in front of his old home, and when he opened the door before him laid his sister, who's eyes were devoid of life. This made Hollow fall to his knees and try to wake her up, despite knowing she was gone, but when he looked up before him were two hollows on each side as a hooded figure with snake tattoos stood in the center. "You see." said the voice that Hollow realized was the voice of the woman that stood before him with her face shrouded, "Fate is a cruel thing."

Back in reality

Hollow had awoken from yet another nightmare disoriented and scared. He then ran to the window of his room and puked, not caring if he had managed to puke on someone below. His head was also hurting, but also confused, this made Hollow recap everything he had been through. Sometimes when he felt himself losing grip of reality he would always remind himself of what he was, a technique that proved to be very useful in Lordran, especially when he was in the asylum, but it can only work for so long. "My...name is...Hollow, I was fated to be a thief, a darkwraith, and the chosen undead. I had a brother and sister, lived in the Burg, was sent to the undead asylum, released to fulfill a prophecy, met many individuals, made friends...and lost them, fulfilled my promise and died, was resurrected...again, entered new reality, met many strange beings, now a protector."

When Hollow had finished he hung himself out the window to get a breath of fresh air and looked into the city he was in. Even now it was hard to believe what had become of the world, it was so peaceful yet dangerous, so alive yet somehow felt dead, people were happy yet took advantage of all they had. This was what Hollow felt had become of the world, people would go on day by day ignoring the dangers that plagued their land. Back in Lordran, the evil that had spread after the witches created the chaos flame was the whole worlds problem, everyone fought to prevent it from getting out of hand. Yet these people were content not to let these problems interfere because it apparently was not their problem.

Hollow was a protector now, and had to defend these people, who wouldn't even care for his sacrifice. Still this was now his fate, though he will admit he never would have seen it coming. He had to wonder if his past self would have ever thought this was actually possible. The whole thing was so unbelievable, Hollow could actually accept it all as a dream if someone could awaken him from it, but then again fate was a funny thing. It would always throw unexpected things your way, it made Hollow feel inadequate, knowing that he didn't have control over his own fate, but then again this was always his fate, it had been that way since he was locked up in the asylum.

3 day time skip

Hollow was finally glad that he would be able to return to his duty's after Death had made him take a few days off, but what was really making him irritated was how long Death's child was taking. Hollow was finally able to get moving again after isolating himself in the house the whole time. It wasn't that he was lazy, but it was because he didn't know how to act in a world that made no sense to him. Finally Hollow heard the giant doors open as Kid made his way out of the house saying, "Now it's on to school, come on Liz, Patty, Hollow let's go." Liz and Hollow only glared at Kid, then Liz replied in an annoyed tone, "Now your suddenly in a big rush to go, what's the point hurrying, were already 3 hours late."

At DWMA

Professor Stein, a new teacher that Soul, Maka, Black*Star, and Tsubaki met when they took their extra lesson three days ago, was going to yet again dissect another animal. All the students just looked at him as if he were insane, Maka then spoke on everyone's behalf, and said, "Yeah uhhh...Doctor Stein, may I point something out? Ever since you became our teacher, all we've done is dissect animals. Every day." Stein only replied in his normal bored voice saying, "Oh, but you see Maka, today will be different, this time our specimen is infinitely more interesting then a mouse or frog." This only made the students curious, as to know what their teacher had in mind.

Stein then asked, "Are you ready for it?" The students only remained quite until Stein went on to say, "Today we will be poking around the insides of this little guy here." He then pointed to his left revealing a huge bird in a cage. "A rare species of kookoo, endangered I believe." This only caused all the students to gawk and tremble at what their teacher had said. Maka, who wondered if their teacher was sane enough to realize what he was doing, again spoke up and said, "Umm Doctor Stein, I don't think we can dissect that, it's really rare, nearly extinct you know."

Stein only made a disturbing smile before replying, "All the more reason to dissect one, before the entire species dies out." The kookoo, who was apparently smart enough to understand what the mad doctor was saying then let out a scream, while all the students stared at their teacher wondering if he was absolutely mad. Maka then just gave up on her cause to talk some sense into her teacher and turned toward her friend Tsubaki, who looked depressed and sighed. Stein then spoke up and said, "Tsubaki, Maka, why don't I see Soul and Black*Star with you? Are they planning to come to class?" Maka only replied saying, "They're probably skipping...again." she then whispered to Tsubaki, "Those 2 idiots are hopeless."

Tsubaki didn't even bother to reply, something was deeply troubling her. Maka then spoke up and said, "Geez if they want to be together so much, then maybe they should just be partners." This only caused Tsubaki to become alarmed, Maka then continued asking her, "Huh, what do you think?" Tsubaki, who didn't like what Maka had said, grabbed her by her uniform collar, and began to shake her uncontrollably, ranting, "That will never happen, do you hear me, never, never, never." She continued to do this until Stein spoke up, and said, "I guess they'll miss out on the excitement. I'm sure that you are all aware by now, but very new interesting people will be joining our class today."

Outside DWMA

"YEAH LISTEN UP, THERE'S SOMEONE WHO MUST BE ASSASSINATED BY THE GREAT BLACK*STAR." Shouted Black*Star, who was pumping himself up for a big fight. He then continued on saying, "Right now at Death Weapon Meister Academy, one ruler stands out from the rest. They say that the son of Lord Death and a new teacher have enrolled. Everyone's been talking about these new guys instead of focusing on me, I'll have to kill them." Soul, who was just sitting by the front entrance only replied, "Clearly, it's a good thing you got your priority's straight." After another moment of waiting Black*Star gave into frustration and said, "When the crap is that damn Kid getting here anyway? I've been waiting around here for 3 hours."

With Hollow, Kid, Liz, and Patty

The 4 were now climbing up the very long stairway to the DWMA. Liz, who still couldn't believe they became students at the school, spoke up and said, "Well would you look at us now, raised on the streets, but here we are, students at the academy. We've come a long way huh Patty." Patty then replied in a squeaky voice full of excitement , "Yeah, it's going to be so freakin awsome."

As the three neared the top to the school, Kid asked in a joyous tone, "Have you ever seen such a beautiful building? My fathers school is magnificent, perfectly balanced and perfectly symmetrical." Hollow on the other hand wasn't enjoying his walk back up to the school. How he managed to go up the seemingly endless stairs a few times was nothing short of a miracle. He had to wonder what the point was in having so many steps, while wondering how anyone could get use to them. Already the teens were nearly at the top, and as usual he would get tired by the time he reached the middle, 'Hmm the youths of this world.' he thought.

When Kid, Liz, and Patty made it to the top, Soul who was sitting at the front entrance spoke up asking, "Hey, you the new kid we've been hearing so much about?" Kid only looked at him before replying, "This is my first day, are you here to show me around?" Soul only chuckled as if the question Kid had asked was the dumbest question in the world. Soul then said, "You show up three hours late, and you think I've been waiting here to give you a tour, if you'd been here at seven like your suppose to, then you could have looked around yourself."

Kid just glared at Soul, before replying, "Whats that, what did you say, seven?" Kid then broke out into a full meltdown screaming, "NO IT CAN'T BE SEVEN, SAY EIGHT DAMN IT, EIGHT IS BETTER." Soul just stared at Kid dumbfounded, thinking that something was wrong with the boy. Kid the went on to say, "IT'S PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO CUT NUMBER 7 IN HALF AND MAKE IT "SYMMETRICAL. IT HAS TO BE 8 INSTEAD, 8 CUT IN HALF VERTICALLY OR HORIZONTALLY STAYS PERFECTLY SYMMETRICAL." Kid then went down to his knees begging Soul to take what he said about 7 back. This only caused Soul, who was getting freaked out, to ask, "Uhh dude is there something wrong with you?"

"Yes he's absolutely insane." said Liz in a tired voice, while Patty just laughed. At that moment the 2 heard someone call from atop the school, this person appeared to be shouting something at them, but none of them could hear. Hollow, who had crawled his way to the top do to exhaustion then saw the seen that played out before him. He saw Kid, who was sulking about something as usual, and the sisters looking at something on top of the school.

Hollow then saw as that thing atop the school started to fall to the ground, as this happened Hollow prepared himself for blood to spill everywhere. Then the thing that turned out to be a boy landed on his feet, completely unharmed, this of course completely shocked Hollow, who thought that what the boy had just done was impossible. Hollow would know, one time when he tried to get to Blight town with Solaire, an ogre knocked him off the rickety way down.

Flashback

Hollow just looked in envy at his friend Solaire, who had no problem at all getting down the treacherous path to Blight town. Hollow could only curse his inability to not be as strong as Solaire was, but these thoughts were interrupted as an ogre with a huge club hit him, sending him flying off the path. Solaire, who was already a few feet away from the ground then heard Hollow scream as he went past him falling down, this only caused Hollow to retort saying, "DON'T THEE SAY-" Hollow didn't get to finish, the fall had broken his neck instantly killing him, and sending him all the way back up to the firelink bonfire.

Flashback end

Hollow just stood there with his jaw wide open as the boy stood back up. 'How very peculiar, the youth of this age.' Hollow thought again. When Hollow recovered from his initial shock, he noticed how hostile it was becoming, and figured that he might as well stop it. When he walked up to them, Soul saw him and his eyes widened along with Black*Star, who also had a look of shock. Black*Star's shock then turned to anger, and said, "It's you, I knew you'd eventually come back to get me, but the jokes on you, no one will ever kill a star like me."

Hollow's eyes then widened, he remembered this kid along with the other one with the strange look. These were the first beings he fought when he first arrived in this world. Liz, who was confused then asked Hollow, "You know these guys?" Hollow only remained silent, but Black*Star spoke up and said, "Of course he remembers his fierce rival, that's why he's here, he wants to finish what he started with all of us." Everyone just looked at Hollow, who was shaking his head as if to say, 'That is not my intention.' The message didn't quite get to Black*Star who thought Hollow was beckoning him to come at him, Black*Star only smiled before dashing at an impossible speed, at that point a whole fight began.

In class

Maka and Tsubaki were watching with no interest as Stein was about to make the first incision on the Kookoo. That's when they heard gun fire, which made the whole class get up and watch the commotion outside. Then one of the students spoke up and said, "Doctor Stein, it's Soul and Black*Star, they're fighting some Kid, and a...thing outside." This caused Maka to speak up and say, "Excuse me Doctor Stein, there's a rule saying about 2 meisters dueling on campus. It states that in order for the duel to continue, there must be a professor there to witness it." Stein just sighed before replying, "I hate to stop here, but it can't be helped." He then stuck the 2 scalpels he had in his hands in the table next to the birds head and legs, which caused it to quack with fear and relief.

"We'll have to postpone the dissection." said Stein, who continued saying, "Soul and Black*Star's partners Maka and Tsubaki, come along with me, everyone else study something." He that sat in his rolling chair and started to make his way out with the 2 girls.

Back outside

Kid, Liz, and Patty were fighting Soul, Who was dodging their soul wavelength bullets while Black*Star was fighting Hollow, who either blocked or moved out of the way of his attacks. "Stop moving." said Black*Star, getting annoyed at Hollow's refusal to stand and fight. Soul then made a move for Kid, turning his arm into a scythe and trying to hit him, but Kid blocked it with Patty, who was in her gun form, while he shot Soul with Liz, who was also in her weapon form.

When Maka, Tsubaki, and Stein saw the fight before them, their eyes completely widened in shock. The Professor on the other hand seemed mildly interested in the combatant in the hellish looking armor, Hollow's soul seemed to be one of the strangest he'd ever seen. Stein then checked Hollow's soul, and in it saw great power, it was nothing like the mad doctor had ever seen, 'Well this will be interesting.' thought Stein.

Soul, who had managed to recover from the blast to his stomach then stood by Black*Star, who was breathing hard after not landing one hit on Hollow. Hollow stood next to Kid, who just seemed annoyed at the 2 before him, 'So much for piece.' thought Hollow. Kid at that moment then started to somehow charge power into the guns that were Liz and Patty and began to count, Hollow just stood there amazed at how much power the boy was putting into what he thought was a premature fight. Soul and Black*Star just stood their ground as the blast from Kid was completely charged up, and was now pointing in there direction.

At that moment Lord Death appeared in the center as the blast came flying towards him, but all Death did was hold out his enormous hands and absorb the blast. Everyone's face except Stein, just turned to one of pure shock as Death just blew out a puff of smoke that was the powerful blast. "WWHHHHAAAAAAZZZZZUUUUUPPP." greeted Death, who held his hand out waving hello. No one could say anything, and then out of nowhere Kid just puked up a bile of blood and knocked out.

Hollow saw this and tried to see what had happened to the boy, at that moment Liz and Patty turned back into their normal selves and patted Hollow on the back. "He's okay, it's just his hair...it's asymmetrical." said Liz who rubbed her head in irritation. Hollow then looked to Kid's hair, and saw that she was right, but that couldn't possibly have made him puke up blood, could it? Lord Death then came in and said, "Looks like my boy had an exciting first day, what do you think Hollow?" Hollow just shrugged trying to understand the random events happening to him today.

"Lord Death" said Maka in a surprised voice, "You actually know him." Death took a moment to think it over and said, "Yes, he's the newest member of the academy, why do you ask?" In all truth Death knew why Maka was asking him, but he didn't want to ruin the surprise he had in store for them by bringing up what she had said about meeting Hollow in the past, it would have sent the wrong idea.

"Because he's the one who nearly had us killed, and...saved us." said Soul, now voicing his thoughts in the matter. Black*Star also spoke up saying, "Yeah me and Tsubaki went to get this guy back for what he did to Soul and Maka, but he managed to escape me." Death then spoke up saying, "Interesting you say you all met Hollow before?" Maka who assumed the man in the creepy armor was Hollow, just nodded her head in confirmation, Death then looked to the others as they also nodded their heads.

Hollow was now nervous, he wondered if he would now be punished for his crimes against the school in the past. "Well then" began Lord Death, "I'd like you all to welcome Hollow your new teacher for your new class." Everyone especially Hollow just looked at Death as if he had gone mad, 'Maybe Stein isn't as bad as I thought.' thought Maka, who was sure that this would be a very bad idea.

AAAANNNNNDDDDD done wooh damn that chapter was long. Oh yeah and if you readers have any idea of what I should name the class then feel free to voice your opinions because I can assure you Hollow will teach them more then they could have ever expected. Hate it, love it, review.