Author's Notes: This is the TENTH and FINAL CHAPTER of the "Dark Path of the Stars" saga... I would like to thank you, my dearest readers, for helping me get this far so I've decided to end it with a lighter side... Enjoy and please don't be afraid to leave your comments, questions, or suggestions... ^_^
Episode 10: The True Path of the Stars!
What have you done?
A faint whisper echoed in the distance.
"Huh? Who's there?"
The sleepy boy woke up in a daze. It was still dark and he couldn't see anything at all. He yawned, stretching his arms, and then rubbed his eyes. As he rubbed them though, the unpleasant feel of cold water on his hands surprised him.
"What is…WHAT THE HECK?" he shuddered at the sight of blood on his hands. In fact, he found himself covered in it.
Then, a soft voice whispered to him, "What have you done?"
"Who's there!? Show yourself!" he shouted.
All of a sudden, a blinding flash of light changed the surroundings. Tsubaki's bloody world materialized around him.
"W-why am I here?"
"What have you done?" the voice grew louder.
"Shut up! Shut…" he turned around and a horrifying scene was there to behold. An unconscious Tsubaki was lying on her side with several deep cuts inflicted on her.
"No! No!! Tsubaki!! Please! Please don't die on me!!! Please!" he tried waking her but to no avail.
"Black Star," a whisper from behind sent him shivers.
"What- It can't be!"
A man with stars on his shoulders and wearing the same shinobi clothes appeared. He wore a head garb to cover his face and only two piercing red eyes showed him for what he was. Although Black Star had never laid eyes on him, he knew in his gut that the man proudly standing before him was the one and only infamous head of the Star Clan, White Star. This was a man whose overpowering drive for victory led him to take even innocent souls and became a kishin.
"What have you done to- Tsubaki!" he gasped. She was right there in his arms and yet she vanished.
"Did you lose something, Black Star?"
At that moment, the bizarre series of events made the boy realize that it was all a dream. "What's the meaning of this? You're dead, aren't you?" he sneered.
"I'll never die. As long as you're alive, the Star Clan will never fade."
"I don't give a shit about the Star Clan! I'm not like you! I'm different!"
"Are you sure? Didn't you just kill a man in cold blood?"
"I-It was an accident! I didn't mean to!"
"Sure you did. It felt great didn't it? Taking the life of another makes you feel strong, doesn't it?"
"Shut up! I don't want to hear it!"
He covered his ears and repeated himself.
"Don't run from me!" roared his father and choked him with his hand. Black Star tried to pry himself free, but the man was too strong. Then, he lifted the boy off his feet and grinned, showing off his Soul-like, sharp teeth.
"You are the heir of the Star Clan. It's your destiny to continue our legacy. Grow up! Fight! Win! And become the strongest of us all!"
"NO!" he coughed.
"What?"
"I-I don't need to...I don't need that kind of strength…and I don't need YOU!" he kicked himself free. As a consequence though, White Star smacked him on the head, punched him in the gut, and shoved his face against one of the petrified shadow puppets that littered the area.
Still reeling from the assault, Black Star tried to get up but a heavy foot pressed him down.
"Don't you wish you had that strength now?" he gloated. A second later, the large deer/zebra-like creature made its appearance. He remembered it to be the very same one that tested his determination. Perhaps this was another test?
"He's right you know. If you keep on being this pathetic, how do you expect to protect my sister?" with that, it transformed into a young man with long black hair. He wore a green kimono and had an air of peace around him. Clearly, this wasn't the same person who turned into a kishin and tried to kill Tsubaki.
"So you're Masamune, Tsubaki's older brother?"
"Yes, I am. And I'm here to tell you that something terrible will happen soon. If you still choose to follow your own path, then you'll find nothing but sorrow at the end."
"Can't you understand that?" White Star lifted his foot and gave him a helping hand.
"…" his son was silent for a moment and then he started laughing. "Baka! What do you expect me to do, then!? You want me to become a monster like you!?"
White Star spat, "What a stupid son I have," before he and Masamune faded into the dark as the dream came to an end.
2:13 a.m.—the sleeping boy woke up in a daze. It was still dark and he couldn't even see the ceiling. It was strange, but he recalled smelling the odor of stinky socks and sweat before hitting the sack. Now, the "man smell" was replaced by the scent of lavender and expensive shampoo. He was about to yawn, when he fully remembered all that had transpired in his dream.
"Tsubaki!" he immediately searched for his partner, only to find her lying next to him.
"Huh? Black Star? What's wrong?" she was still half-awake, but then, "EH!!? B-BLACK STAR!? What are you doing on my bed!?"
"Tsubaki, you're alright!" After realizing how terrible it was to lose someone precious to him, he almost cried and hugged her in relief.
"B-BLACK STAR!? WAIT! STOP! I-It's too early for us yet! STOP!!!" her voice echoed into the night.
The next morning, shortly before Stein's dissection class, Liz noticed a very happy Tsubaki. She leaned closer and asked, "So, what made this a good morning?"
"Oh, nothing," she smiled, almost giggling in fact.
Meanwhile, several seats away, Soul noticed a very happy Black Star. He leaned closer and asked, "Dude, what the hell happened to you?"
As he slowly turned to him, the sound of snapping bone was heard. He tried to open his eyes to look at him but, with both of them black-and-blue and swelling, it was a challenge. A few large bumps on his face and forehead especially made it difficult to even make a proper expression. With a broken nose and blood streaming out, he couldn't really breathe as easily as he hoped. It was fine though. He smiled, showing off what little teeth remained. He shakily gave his friend a thumbs-up, just before the thumb bent the other way around.
"I-I…Li-i-iv-ed…" he said and passed out.
Author's Notes: Production on the next story entitled, "Soul Eater Chronicles: Midnight Rave" will begin post-haste... So please, stay updated... ^_^ and Happy Holidays!!!