AN:

Hello everyone! I told you I was going to update this and I have, maybe not when I promised so I apologize. But here is another semi-brief chapter. I just kind of need to catch up on the story and editing some of the other chapters so please give me time! I pretty much only have the weekends to write because of my schedule. But let me know what you thought of the new chapter! Wooooooo!


The next few days were tough for Toma. He wasn't like everyone else, he was simply human. All the people around him possess these extravagant abilities while he is frail and weak. He was silent when his coworkers came in and brought him colorful flowers, cards, and small gifts. He did not want to speak as he felt he let everyone down. He let her play on his emotions. An easy target to be wrapped around her slender finger.

With the knowledge he owns he can't help but to find it hard to think that he just let it fall away, as if he sold it to Veera – a buyer who didn't even have to pay. Never should he have let her call the shots, so why did he? During the party he told himself over and over again, repeating so many times in his head to put a directive in that he thought he would have some sort of control.

He was wrong.

She played him so easy.

Toma sighed heavily as he turned his head to look out of the window. It was bright today, a complete contrast from his own feelings. He folded his hands over his stomach where she struck him and felt a little queasy. He has never taken a blow like that before and he can't decide if being shot is worse than being gutted.

What has Toma going in a circle is the fact that she did not strike him to kill him as she missed every vital organ, and someone like her knows where to strike to kill a person – she is no beginner at what she does. So why did she let him live? Does she just like the chase? He can't figure it out, he assumes, but there is no concrete answer that he can grasp at and call truth.

Suddenly, there was a knock on his door. He peered over and saw his blond companion behind the glass slit and nodded for him to come in. Alex opened the door in a rush and quickly shut it behind himself.

"How are you, sir?" Alex asked with a soft tone that seemed to belittle Toma.

The older gentleman just waved his hand with an uneasy smile. "I'm fine," he said reluctantly. Physically he is better than how feels mentally.

"I have some news, a little unsavory, actually… It's about Soul." Alex trailed off as he glanced over at his commander's stomach. His violet eyes seemed to ask are you sure you are alright? His young kindness and naivety were one of the reasons Toma liked him.

"Everything about him is a little unsavory… No offense to him of course." Toma said with a small chuckle.

Alex seated himself on the chair that was adjacent to the bed and frowned. "So, two nights ago we discovered a body that was practically ripped to shreds. Dismembered. All thrown about. It was disgusting. My readings indicated that it was no human, at least not anymore, but one that had turned sour. From how the corpse was… it had to be Soul, there's not anyone else capable of that kind of destruction. An eye-witness said that he saved her – she doesn't know about what he did to the body..."

Toma nodded then realized that Alex was waiting on some sort of response from him. He didn't really know what to say and he wasn't even surprised by the occurrence. "Well, technically Soul broke no rules. Maybe some moral codes, but if the person he consumed was no longer human then it doesn't really count as murder, does it? And he chose the bad soul over the nice ripe one so that stands in his favor as well." Toma gave a small kind of shrug then continued, "all we can do is monitor his actions and cover up his… mess."

"But he's literally eating the person – or thing, sir! Isn't that some cause for concern for his own mental state?" Alex pressed on, "if he goes back to doing that he might fall back down into his old ways as they were a habit and he's feeding them right now. We can't just let him do that."

Toma laid his head back against the pillow and stared up at the ceiling. He knows that Alex is right, there is no denying that this could have heavy implications of future consequences. "Okay…" Toma let out a deep breath and moved his hand up to his eyes to give them a rub. "Do an analysis on him. A little visit. Do not tell him what we know – just ask if he has had a relapse of any kind. If he denies, call him out. I want him to have full accountability of his actions."

Alex nodded his head slowly and stood up to leave. "Do you think he's doing this again because of what Veera did to him at the party? He wasn't acting like this before…"

Toma could see the sadness in his companion's violet eyes and could understand that pain well. Seems like he had grown attached to not just the case but the people within it. All he could do was provide him some form of comfort in words, "Soul will overcome this rut, eventually."


Still early morning and the only person who was awake was Soul. He was fixated on the ceiling as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, and at this point it was. Everything about his room makes him feel lonely, but when he stares up at the white ceiling he can imagine that he is somewhere else, somewhere that doesn't make him feel so alone.

The feeling of loneliness even when all the people who love you are here is the worst feeling, because they are in your grasp, but you just can't reach them.

Soul can't find it in himself to leave his room. Blackstar, on the occasion, pounds on his door and tells him to man up. Tsubaki tells him stories of her childhood that are admittedly comforting. The worst is Maka. She sits at his door and talks about everything they have been through together and that is what really hurts him. He wants to be better, he wants to be the person that he used to be, but he can't find his old self, because he's gone. The way he used to be is something of the past.

Last night he almost let Maka into his room. There was desperation and fear in her voice that brought his heart to a numbing ache. He just wants to see her again and hold her. But he doesn't feel as if he deserves to touch her. She's too good for someone like him.

He turned onto his side feeling his muscles spasm. He isn't hungry, but that didn't stop the black blood from traversing. Whatever Veera did to him at that party must have reset his progress because he wasn't like this before. He should have known that it wouldn't be that easy to escape a presence like hers, she'll continue to hover over him, no escape, just like before.

But now he has his friends. That he can't face. They know he has black blood. The media is probably wild right now trying to extinguish that flame. How could somehow like him ever show his face in public again after that incident. Maybe they know what he truly is. He doubted that as rational thought led him to believe that if that were the case then there would be riots outside of their home. Thankfully, it isn't that bad yet.

With a deep sigh he sat up from his bed and looked out the window. Down below he saw children playing about. He could almost hear their laughter from the apparent joy on their faces and it made him smile, a small one, but a smile nonetheless. And then he saw the girl, even at this distance her features were distinct, at least to him, however normal she looks to the world her presence is one that hangs over him with heavy guilt.

It felt like so long ago… His head began aching, throbbing, he could hardly think. He didn't want to remember, but his conscience left him no choice. She trusted him completely. She looked up to him. She was his friend. The kids that were playing outside began screaming. Their young faces began melting as flames seemed to swallow them up – the sound of the flesh bubbling audible and heart wrenching. He could hear their flesh dripping from their bones and their screams turn to ash…

A heavy knock on his bedroom door halted the nightmare. Soul peered between his fingers to see the kids skipping around on the street, none of them were hurt. He let out a heavy sigh of relief and heard the same heavy thumping on his bedroom door. That knock was not like Blackstar's or anyone's here. So, who was here? And what did they want?

He approached the door cautiously and stared down at it, hoping that if he glared hard enough the person would just leave him alone. But that was not the case.

"Hello, Soul? Please open up – it's Alex." Soul continued to stare at the door. He wanted nothing to do with the detectives that created WEB. "If you don't open this… I will. We need to talk. I know what you did." That's the part that got Soul. His mouth went dry and his heart began roaring. Immediately, he recalled the night before in a hazy panic.

Slowly Soul reached for the door, unlocked it, and pulled it open. He saw the young detective standing before him, without Toma, and stepped aside to let him in. Surprisingly, no one was up right now – so that means Alex let himself in, so he really would have found a way in Soul's room if he did not open the door.

"Thank you!" Alex said in a cheerful voice as he flicked his wrist to shut the door. With another twirl of his fingers the door was promptly locked again. Soul did not feel comfortable alone with someone with the ability to wield magic, he knows that Alex is not the same as Veera, but just the idea makes his skin crawl and guts curl.

Soul watched as the detective sat down on his unmade bed with a notepad in hand. "Well," Alex began. "Toma is still unwell so I am here for an analysis. I hope you don't mind me getting comfy here."

Soul just blinked at him. This didn't feel real, maybe he was dreaming it all and he'll just wake up any minute now. But it's not a dream and Soul is not used to interacting one on one with Alex, usually Toma, so this is a surprise.

"I just wanted to check in on you and see how you were feeling after the entire event." Alex clicked his pen several times then crossed his arms over his chest. "So, how are you feeling right now Soul?" Alex paused and then continued taking away Soul's chance to say anything. "Why was your door locked?"

"I was sleeping, that's why it was locked." Soul lied immediately, not meaning to of course, a quick reflex. Soul sighed at the narrowed violet eyes across from him disapproving of his words. "I don't want to see anyone after that… everyone knows."

"Knows what, Soul?" Alex's voice was calm, but Soul refused to let the gentle voice bring him comfort.

"What I am. That I have black blood…"

Alex slowly nodded his head and began scribbling down words in his little notepad. "What if I told you that only a few know you have black blood and all are unaware of your true identity? How would that make you feel?"

"Why are you guys trying so hard to protect me? I murdered all those people."

"We can all attest that you were possessed in some manner. You were not yourself but another. You were held captive and tortured. Sure, we can take this to court and decide on your fate, which would mean death for you no doubt, but your title has power. Politically you are needed and respected. What would the world do if they found out the last Death Scythe, emphasis on last, was the Eater? They would lose trust in the capital and in the Shinigami. So, sure, we may be selfish in wanting you to live and carry this heavy burden and guilt, but you can't honestly look me in the face and say you want to be dead. Don't you want to kill the woman who did this to you and stop her from doing something like this again? Why do you think we established WEB?"

Soul started to understand why Toma didn't let Alex do the talking because Alex could talk someone's ear off. What Alex said was the most honest reason for why they want to keep Soul alive, it's all some political move, a selfish capital – a selfish friend deciding what his ultimate fate is.

"I wish I was dead for what I did…"

Alex nodded, Soul could see pain reflecting in his eyes and felt a tug at his heart that made him feel guilty. "Everyone missed you. Kid, Liz, Patti, Kim, Marie, Stein, Blackstar, Tsubaki, and the world. We couldn't find you. The world could not find you. The person who missed you the most and held onto the thinnest strand of hope was Maka, your meister. It's obvious how you feel towards her, yet, you want to die. In the grand scheme of things, you can think of us as evil for 'making' you live but the way I think you should see it as repenting for your sins."

Soul peeked out the window trying to look at something that wasn't Alex. He no longer saw the kids playing on the street, he averted his gaze from the window and looked at his feet. In a way Alex is right, but that doesn't stop Soul from feeling bitter and angry. He can't see himself getting through this sane and without hurting the people that he cares most about. If he hurts Maka again he'll lose it. And she's all alone right now, probably confused and wracking her brain for answers that he won't give her the time of day for. He's only hurting her more.

Soul slumped down against the wall and pressed his hands into his lap, he gazed up at Alex who was eagerly awaiting his response, he checked the clock on his wall for the time then gave out an exasperated breath. "I don't know what I want. One minute I wish I'm dead and then the next I feel guilty for thinking it. I don't want to be some political pawn, but I guess that's the title I earned."

Alex pushed his blonde hair away from his eyes and proceeded to adjust his glasses. "You're not a political pawn, you have more power than a pawn Soul. You're the Knight by the King's side. Do your job and protect him and Death City. Protect everyone that you hold dear because Veera isn't going to let you go easy as the events of the night before have proved. She needs you. She'll do anything to have you again. This is a case worse than Medusa. As Veera wants to turn you into a new age Kishin."

Soul's heart nearly collapsed. It never occurred to him that she was attempting to make him into… that. But it all makes sense, all the torture, the pain he endured, she was trying to break him. In a way she did, but he would never be like the Kishin – he isn't apathetic and naturally cruel – he doesn't want to be a monster. The Kishin himself was once grand, like the status and rank of Soul, but separate in the way of their souls and hearts – as Soul's heart might be heavy and his soul tainted but he wasn't born with the festering hatred and madness.

"Soul…" Alex began speaking again to snap Soul out of his head, which at the minute it did. "We know what you did to the body of that man. You just left him there all bloodied up like you would your previous victims." Soul's mouth went dry, but he said nothing, he couldn't because he knew that they would find his mess. "What's good is that was not a normal person, different standards follow with this, so we can't really lock you up for that, I guess. But what you did was immoral and disgusting."

"I-I had to…" Soul spoke quietly, his eyes back on the ground again and his chest rising and falling heavily with each labored breath that he took.

"Why?" Alex asked, trying to figure out if the Witch triggered something in Soul that caused him to falter back into his old ways.

"The black blood rejects me… The only way to calm it is to consume souls. Kishin Eggs aren't fulfilling, when I was mad I only consumed those of the people who were fresh, I don't know how to explain it…"

Alex gave a heavy shake of his head, Soul didn't know if it was from disappointment or disagreement, but either way it made him nervous. "Then why eat them?"

"Blood is the soul's river, the flow of life force. A soul on its own isn't enough to calm the blood so I had to…" Soul shivered. He could still taste the foul blood filling his mouth like a corpse that had been baking in the hot sun for weeks. It was vile, but the black blood was calmed for the time being.

Alex nodded his head, he knew Toma wanted him to play dumb so that Soul would admit his own actions, but that was child's play. Confronting him openly is the only way to go about an incident like this due to repercussions that something like this could have if repeated. Alex scribbled some more notes down in his notebook about Soul's condition and made a note to himself to figure out a way to divert Soul's need.

"What if we gathered Kishin Eggs for you, for now, while you're recuperating? You wouldn't have to kill, just eat a larger volume of the souls to stop the blood from rejecting you. Do you think if we provided that, that this pain would cease?"

Soul only nodded. If they did that then he wouldn't fall into the cycle of starving and feeling the gnawing need to consume not just the soul but the flesh that binds it.

With that Alex was on his feet and smiling brightly. "Fantastic!" He went for Soul's door and began to open it, but then stopped, he turned his head slightly over his shoulder his taunting violet gaze falling back on Soul. "Stop locking yourself in your room. Everyone is worried sick about you, especially the one you care about the most." And then Alex left leaving Soul with a blank expression that soon filled with sadness.

By the time that Alex was long gone everyone began to wake up. Immediately, Blackstar saw Soul's door open and was filled with so many emotions at once. He saw Soul positioned at his keyboard tapping the keys faintly, not pressing into them enough to receive feedback, just letting his finger ghost against the cold keys.

"Hey…" Soul said quietly, not even turning around to acknowledge Blackstar's presence. Blackstar waltzed his way in once Soul said hello, taking that as an invitation to come in.

"Hey man." Blackstar sat on Soul's bed and gave his friend a concerning look, he's been stressing about Soul's mental state recently, as everyone else has been. He didn't think that he would ever see his friend in this kind of stump, the Soul he knew before was so much more lively, but being tortured definitely bleeds the life out of someone, and Soul just happens to be the perfect example. Usually, Blackstar would be loud with a temper that matches, but he knew that type of action would only make Soul worse, the best way to get to him was to be understanding, at least that's what Tsubaki said, and no one knows better than his weapon.

"How are you feeling?"

Soul only shrugged, he didn't know how he felt, or how he should feel. He can't find it in himself to live for his own well-being, but he can find It in his self to live for the people that he holds dear. Soul let his shoulders slump slightly and spun on his seat to face Blackstar, he mustered a small sincere smile, and said, "I'll get better, I have no choice."

Blackstar grinned, "Fuck yeah!" He balled his fist up and punched it into the palm of his other hand. "That's what I like to hear." Then it was silent for a moment. "You're not just saying what I want to hear? 'Cause I do that with Tsubaki sometimes, and that's not cool man."

"What?" Tsubaki's voice could be heard from the stairway.

Blackstar left the room to explain to Tsubaki that he did not say anything, even though he did, because he did not like when she gave him the silent treatment. The thing about Tsubaki is that she is quietly passive aggressive which greatly contrasts Blackstar's loud aggressiveness, maybe that is why they make such a great pair.

Hearing Blackstar attempt to lie to Tsubaki was almost funny to Soul, but he couldn't manage a laugh. While listening to them he didn't even realize his Meister standing in the doorway. When he finally looked up his red eyes locked in on her and he could feel his heart flutter.

Maka stepped into his room, her eyes were heavy and dark, and her hair was a disheveled mess. It was apparent that Soul was not the only person who was having trouble sleeping, he already knew such, but seeing the affects that it had on Maka made him feel even worse. Yet again he hurt her. Looking at her from his seat he could still see a faint bruise on her cheek from where he had struck her that one night when him and Blackstar got into a little fight. He knew she wouldn't accept his apology so he just did the only thing he knew how to do in this situation.

"How are you, Maka?"

Maka balled up her fists by her sides and her bottom lip began quivering. Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears and rage filled her eyes, and Soul couldn't tell if she was made at him or herself, either way he didn't like it.

"What do you mean 'How are you?' I've been worried and you just kept yourself locked away!" She was definitely mad at him, or more so, upset at how he dealt with the situation. "You know that we're all here for you. That I am…" Her voice was softer now and her hands just hung lifelessly by her sides. "You could have at least talked to me."

Soul didn't know what to say right now, or how to even comfort her, so he stood up and was soon in front of her. Her green eyes were wet from tears that she refused to let fall and her expression was pulled into a tight frown of disapproval. Soul wrapped his arms around her slowly and buried his face into her neck. His cheek pressed against the scar on her neck that was fading more and more each day due to the serum that Stein gave her. She soon melted into him, like he expected her too and just whispered into her ear that he was sorry.

Because he was sorry for everything.


AN:

The end! For now! Until the next update! I'm pretty sure I know a good direction to point towards with this for an ending - which won't be for a while, but yeee. Hope you guys enjoyed! Lemme know what you think.

P.S. I'm still reviewing other chapters...

P.P.S. I will respond to any new reviews received in the next chapter. :)