A.N - Hey, really sorry I haven't updated in a while. And this one is a bit short, but I felt like I needed to get something posted there. I'll try to get back on a more regular schedule. Thanks for sticking around so long!
Patti looked up at the ceiling, her face one of puzzlement.
"Hey Sis," she said, causing Liz to come out of her thoughts and look over, "it sure does sound loud up there, doesn't it? I wonder what's going on?"
Liz bit her lip, worried. "I hope they haven't caught Jason," she responded.
"Hey! Liz! Patti! Are you here?"
The Thompsons looked at each other in shock at the familiar voice, eyes wide. As one they rushed over to the bars and peered out. Sure enough, walking along the hall and looking into the other cells, was Maka Albarn, her trusty Scythe in hand.
Liz kept blinking, as if each time she opened her eyes again her friend would have disappeared. Patti, taking the initiative, called out, "Hey, Maka! Soul! We're here!"
At the sound of her voice, Maka rushed over, breaking out into a smile when she saw them. "Patti! Liz! I'm so glad I found you! Are you alright?" As she spoke, she let go of Soul, who transformed in a blaze of light; when he was finished, he flashed them a big smile.
"Long time no see," he joked.
Liz laughed then, not so much at the joke but out of relief that her friends were here. "I guess so," she answered. Then the joviality left her. "But what are you guys doing here? Franky must know you're here, right? So unless Jason got the detonator, then Death City is still – !
"Relax," Soul said soothingly. "We've taken care of all that."
"You have?" Patti responded, sounding relieved. "You took care of everything?"
"I used my Soul Percption," Maka explained, "and some Bomb Weapons helped, too. The witch's Soul Protect was stronger than a lot I've seen, but we all know it doesn't work on objects as well, especially if the witch is far away."
"So...you're sure the city is safe?" Liz clarified. Maka and Soul nodded.
"We're sure," Maka affirmed.
Liz hesitated still, so Patti put a hand on her sister's arm. "C'mon, Sis," Patti said softly. "We're not helping anyone by staying here, not really, and we've got Jason and Maka and Soul and everyone here, ready to help.
Liz nodded slowly. "Okay. Yeah, you're right, Patti." She smiled and ruffled Patti's hair. "I'm so lucky to have you, little sister." She looked at Maka and Soul. "Alright then, get us out of here!"
"With pleasure," Soul replied. He morphed just his arm, and, when Liz and Patti had backed up enough, sliced through the bars. The girls pushed the broken bits of metal away from the cell, and stepped out.
Immediately Maka pulled them into a tight hug, surprising them. "I'm so glad you're alright!" the Scythe meister cried, squeezing tightly once before letting go.
"Yeah, us too," Liz replied. She felt touched by Maka's concern.
Soul gave them both a friendly clap on the back before transforming back into a Scythe.
"Come on," Maka said as she caught him, smiling. "Kid's waiting for you."
That was all they needed to hear. Liz held out her hand, and it was Patti's turn to transform, landing solidly in her sister's palm. Then the two meisters started running down the hall, out of the dungeon and toward the light.
...
"Damn, where is he?"
Black*Star looked around the hallway he had just dropped down into from the ceiling, scowling as he saw that this, too, was empty; there was no sign of Scafidi, or anyone or that matter.
The assassin let an an angry grunt. "How many hallways does this place have?"
"It's alright, Black*Star," Tsubaki soothed, clutched in Black*Star's hand in her Ninja sword mode. "We'll find him."
Just then they both heard a noise farther off. Black*Star tensed, and, gripping Tsubaki tightly, advanced on the sound. Before they reached the location, a figure came running out at them. Acting on instinct, Black*Star struck out and hit the figure in the chest, eliciting a painful cry, before the figure dropped to the ground. Black*Star immediately leveled the tip of Tsubaki's blade at the person's throat.
"You. Tell me where Scafidi is," Black*Star ordered. The person, a young, blond-haired man, looked up at the meister with wide, terror-filled blue eyes.
"I - I- I don't know!" he stammered. "I - I mean, I h-have an idea, and w-was going to go see if he was there —"
"Where's 'there'?" Tsubaki asked, in only a slightly less aggressive tone than her partner.
The man swallowed. "Th - there's a level below the basement. A - a bunker, a safe room, for Franky. M- mostly it's supposed to be in case like, cops come, or something, but I thought..." he trailed off, eyeing Tsubak's blade nervously. "I thought I might try to reach him there."
"Why? So you can help him escape? Like I'd let that happen!" Black*Star exclaimed.
"N-no! No, that's not it!" The man tried sitting up, but decided not to when Black*Star pressed the tip of the blade nearer to the man's throat. "No, I — w-wait a minute, are you guys are from Shibusen? I mean, of course, you must be, 'cause that sword just talked. Unless I'm going crazy." He laughed, and it did sound slightly hysterical. "Maybe I am!"
Black*Star frowned, not sure how to proceed with the man's change of attitude. He looked at Tsubaki, but she was silent, just as perplexed. Finally, Black*Star said, "Well, so what if we are?"
"Then this is great," the man replied. "My name is Jason Atlee, and I wanna help you guys take down Franky."
...
Kid was getting tired of this game.
The fight between the Witch Callisto and himself was getting nowhere, at least on his end. Mostly, it consisted of one of them dodging the other's attack, which resulted in a lot of energy blasts firing into walls. Kid, being the good guy that he was,, also used his Absorb and Death Block techniques, hoping to minimize the damage so no one else, or too much property, got hurt; mostly for the people's and buildings' own sake, but also to save Kid himself and his people tons of extra work (reconstruction of cities and towns all around the world took up a large part of the Death City budget).
But if he kept being on the defensive as he had been, then he would never beat her. It was time to really dig into his repertoire of Shinigami attacks. Kid took in a deep breath, then bellowed "KATSU!"; with a blinding light, a bolt of energy shot from Kid's body, towards the witch. She tried to put up a magical barrier, but she was too late, and the half-formed spell shattered under the power of Kid's Katsu. With a shriek, Callisto crashed into the far wall, landing in a hole of her own making. They had long since moved out of Franky's office, as that had quickly become unstable and full of holes.
Kid walked towards the witch. "Are you finished yet, Witch?"
Callisto shook her head to clear it, then spat out some blood. "My, my Shinigami-sann," she croaked, "you'rrre beginning to...play naughty." She gave a weak chuckle. "I...I like it."
Kid pursed his lips, then raised his arm, preparing another energy blast. But when Callisto began chuckling again, he paused. The whole fight, she had wore a delighted smile on her face, as if battling him was all she'd ever wanted in life. The grin had been pretty crazy then, but now, her smile was positively deranged. As Kid watched, the witch's arms and legs began to stretch, and then pump up; her nails grew into long black claws, and dark fur began to sprout from all over her body.
"Grrrizzly, Polarrr, Panda Bearrr," Callisto began to chant. "Grrrizzly, Polarrr, Panda Bearrr — Urrrsa Minorrr Mode!"
A purple light enveloped her, and Kid shielded his eyes from the brightness of it. When the light subsided, what was in Callisto's place was a being five times her size, a strange half-bear creature with wide, wild eyes, gleaming sharp claws, and bright, large white fangs.
"Sorrrrryyyy, Shinigami-saaaannn," the witch snarled, saliva dripping off her fangs. "But III'mmm not fiiinnnshed plaaaying yet." She punctuated her statement with a loud roar.
Kid sighed, and prepared himself to fight some more.
