Spirit sat beside the bed, his head resting in his hands.
"What do I tell her, we've never had to talk about something like this."
"Tell her that Soul really tried. There aren't many people that could have made it this far. Tell her that he spoke very highly of her and he doesn't blame her for any of it, he's made such comments to me. what you can't tell her are the details, she's already going to take this hard. You'll tell Maka that it was peaceful, it might not seem like it, but it will ease a little of the pain she's going to have." Stein suggested looking at the young boy, his pale skin nearly as white as the sheet on which he lay.
"It doesn't seem fair does it, one so young to -" a tear slid down Spirit's cheek. Stein placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You should let Lord Death know. I'll take care of things here." Spirit nodded and without a word he left to return to the academy. Stein sighed as he approached the bed.
"Even now, you cling to your promise, you refuse to let go. Keep it up Soul, prove me wrong. For Maka's sake if not your own. The odds are against you and by some miracle, and with a lot of help, you managed to rejoin us. Maybe you have some true strength in you after all, you just can't always show it. I'm willing to bet my life you can hear every word I'm saying to you,so I want you to listen carefully. When we say that you're needed, It's not because we just want you to live, It's true. Your meister depends on you a great deal, your bond is so much deeper than what most have and you know as well as I do that to give in now would break her,that's why you're fighting so hard isn't , you'll need to make it somehow. There's a lot depending on you, so just prove me wrong.
I said you weren't going to last into the night, I want you to force yourself to defy that. You can do this. You have to."
'I'm not going to let her down, as her weapon and friend, I can't do that to her' Soul told himself. Giving up was not an option.
As night fell, Maka's group continued their journey, The group walked with caution and in silence as Kid had told them, it was his hope that by moving in silence the Keeper would not notice them drawing closer. Maka's heart was beating wildly, as a sudden high pitched shriek unlike she had ever heard surrounded them.
She looked around but saw nothing. From beside her she heard Kid whisper faintly to Crona, though she couldn't hear everything that was said, she was sure it wasn't good.
"You idiot what'd you get us into this time?"Ragnarok said harshly.
"Quiet please, I don't think now is a good time for an argument." Crona said timidly.
"Don't you tell me to be quiet, I don't- what the hell was that?" The weapon cried as a shadow flew past.
"That's a Keeper, where there's one, there's an entire group not far away. Liz, Patti, get ready." Kid said he pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Maka.
"Do not lose this, It's very important."
"What-"
"Just hold onto it, you'll know soon enough." Kid said, leaving Maka slightly confused.
"I need you to trust me Maka, in a few minutes, we have to go, Kid's going to let us know and we need to get out of here if you want to get those things for Soul." Crona said.
"What about everyone-"
"They know, it was their idea, they're going to hold them off for us. Ragnarok and I are going with you. We'll come back this way when you have everything and make sure they're okay."
"What makes you think I wanna do something like that you little weakling, you'd be nothing if I-" Ragnarok protested
"You're going to do it because if I die, so do you, and if something happens to Maka, you will be sorry." Crona said, Ragnarok stared in shock.
Several more shrieks filled the night and Crona took hold of Maka's hand.
"We shouldn't be separated" he said beginning to walk slowly forward.
"Keep going you two, good luck." Kid pointed his weapons at the cloaked figures hovering in front of them.
"You too." Maka and Crona said in unison. From behind, they heard the shots ring out from the young reaper's weapons and the shrieks growing louder and increasing more angry.