Chapter 11: Blinded

Little Falcon: Hey guys, I might be busy in the next month or two but I'll update whenever I can. Here's what you can do, you can give a review and if I get a lot I might feel obligated to update faster than usual. Well, that's just a suggestion though but you know now I value the opinion of my dear readers, right?

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!

If you are really serious about taking her place… then leave everything behind, right now. Look at no one and nothing but me…

Her chest heaved as she coughed out a great amount of blood. After walking out of Shinbunsen Academy her meister, Skhai went back inside endless night and fought every living creature in his way. It was only when his weapon can no longer maintain her form did he stop and left her struggling on the ground.

Sweat broke through her skin as every muscle in her body ached but more than that, she can't block out his voice echoing in her mind. Don't you dare leave me, MAKA ALBARN! Despite his angry tone, she felt the tremendous pain behind his words. He was… Soul was… begging me to stay. Tears sprung from her teal eyes as she clutched her chest, trying to dull out the increasing torment. Soul…

His hands slammed against the piano keys, creating a distorted melody. "WHAT THE HELL!" The death scythe gritted his teeth as he recalled vividly how easy it was for her to walk away from him.

It's all my fault. I knew something was wrong but I choose t ignore it… simply because I was happy. Is this my punishment? Soul wove his fingers through his disheveled white locks as he bit his lower lip in agitation. Blood trickled down his chin and melded with his tears.

"Ne, ne did you hear? Maka Albarn chose Skhai over Soul-sempai," one student gossiped blatantly to her friend who gasped in shock. Their eyes followed the weapon on question as he passed right in front of them together with the demon blade and her meister. The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire Academy. Even without Shinigami-sama's permission, Maka Albarn had been labeled as a traitor.

"Soul-sama," one cute girl ran up to them and blocked their way. "She doesn't deserve someone like you! I… I like you! And if you agree, I'll be your technician… way better than her!" Black Star and Tsubaki were stunned by the girl's sheer determination but they were more curious as to how their heartbroken friend will answer this proposal.

Without even sparing the young meister a glance, Soul spat. "Don't joke with me. You don't even know her and you say you can surpass her? WHAT DO YOU KNOW?" The girl froze in shock before she ran off crying. The others who saw the scene whispered amongst themselves, avoiding his lethal glare.

"Oi, Soul," Black Star tapped his best friend's shoulder to get his attention. "Cool down, darn it. You're so uncool right now,"

"I don't care," he pried his arm away then wheeled around to continue walking towards the death room. I don't mind if I'm the most uncool person in the world… I just want her back. Discretely, he pocketed his hands and clenched his fists tightly.

"Ah, you're finally here," their headmaster walked animatedly towards them. At his side were Spirit-kun, the most experienced Death Scythe, and Dr. Stein, the mad genius.

Throughout the conversation, Soul kept his gaze on the floor as Black Star and Tsubaki retold every detail of what happened last night. Like a gaping wound dashed with salt, he can't help but flinch when they were at the finale of their report.

"There's no way Maka could…" Spirit interjected immediately but was silenced by Shinigami-sama's chop.

"Nothing has been proven yet," the young Death Scythe finally raised his crimson eyes to look at their comical superior.

"But… if you're certain that Maka is now a weapon... that would explain a lot," Stein pushed his spectacles back then turned the large screw on his head.

"W…what do you mean," Soul's voice sounded frantic as he strained to hear the explanation.

"One cannot serve two masters at the same time," the doctor quoted as he tilted his head. "You're a meister or you're a weapon… you cannot be both. Because of her heredity, Maka was able to transform into a double bladed scythe despite her being your meister already. However, I'm guessing from the time she was leading a double life, she, not once, devoured a soul as a normal weapon would," he stopped fiddling with his head then stared straight at Soul. "When a weapon doesn't consume souls… it weakens. Maka's case is worse… she's a meister and a weapon at the same time… the effect of her refusal to digest mana will be far greater than any weapon,"

"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY, SENSEI?" Manners flew out the window as Soul gripped the doctor's lab coat and shook the answer out of him.

"Her soul is the one taking the most damage. Physically, she might be able to take it but what good will a body do when its soul is shattering?"

"You mean to say that… right now… Maka is…" Spirit's eyes shook in horror as he leaned on the wall for support. Dying inside out

Everyone lost their voice to react or their lungs to breath.

"With that said, Soul-kun, we will let you know immediately once we've located Maka but for now, save your strength," They left without uttering a word or even meeting anyone's gaze.

Once they were outside, Soul's pent up frustrations began to erupt. "WHAT THE HELL!" His arm turned into blade as he punched the wall. Creating a blast, the wall was torn in two before it crumbled to his feet. For a moment, he left relieved but soon after he his rage was renewed.

"What are you so angry about? She left you for another man, didn't she? Doesn't she deserve to die?" Death, the Kid, stepped into the scene with a skeptical look on his face.

"Oi, Kid!" Black Star tried to go in between them but the young Death Scythe was already at his face.

In a display of great skill, Kid evaded Soul's attack together with the numerous others that followed. His twin weapons just stared at them from below as the two friends fought tooth and nail.

"Maka…" he turned his leg into a scythe blade before delivering a roundhouse kick. "Maka would never leave… She would never leave without a reason!" Kid landed back first on the pavement. "And even if she did chose Skhai over me… I can bear that… I can accept that I lost him to another guy… but I can never endure to living in a world without her. I'm not going to let her die on me!"

"Finally, you said it," Soul's finishing blow was blocked by Tsubaki in her meister's hand. Kid, too, had the same look on his face. Despite his bruises and cuts, he had a reassured smile plastered on his face.

Incredible comfort filled his senses as Soul stared at his friends. They were all grinning at him like he did something commendable. For the first time since that night, he somehow remembered how to make his arrogant smirk as he pocketed his hands. "This is so uncool," he said under his breath, knowing that his friends' grin grew wider as they approached him.

A sole applause from a distance interrupted their serene moment. Her long red hair fell like a curtain on her back as her amber eyes regarded each person with silent admiration. Like a kid, her feet dangled from the ground as she sat on a high wall.

"Who the hell are you? You're not a student here," His twin pistols were already in his hands and his finger poised at the trigger.

"Soul Eater… won't you hear me out?" Disregarding the weapon pointed at her face, she looked at him directly.

Soul's eyebrow rose in curiosity as he threw his chin up. "Why the hell would I do that?"

"Because I know why Maka Albarn did the things she did," the girl leaped from her seat and to her feet enthusiastically. Upon seeing Kid lower his guard and hearing no protest, she smiled. "Skhai is a powerful meister not only because of his unequaled prowess but also because of the blood running in his veins," pushing her hair at the back of her ear, she continued. "Tainted blood,"

"That's…" Kid was the only one to react because he was the only one who knew.

"What does that mean?" Black Star inquired.

"It means he bears the blood of both a meister and a witch, making him strong enough to take on five mature Death Scythes," the girl informed them. Their pupils dilated in reaction but no words were spoken.

"How do you know so much about him?" The young death scythe said through his clenched jaw.

"When your meister was trapped inside that darkness, she met Skhai and his weapon. All was well until the weapon lost her life saving Maka," she looked up at the darkening sky. "Maka probably felt guilty after that event and even more so when she saw how broken Skhai was after losing his weapon. So she volunteered to be his weapon until he is finally healed from the wounds Maka thought she inflicted,"

"However, it was apparent that Skhai is nowhere near recovering while Maka's strength continues to falter. You may have heard one of the explanations why, right?" her amber eyes narrowed upon seeing them nod. "Here's another... have you ever tried forcing yourself to use another weapon or be handled by another meister? It doesn't work right? Then how is it that Skhai and Maka was able to pull it off?"

"Because… Maka is doing the adjusting…" Soul spat as he controlled himself from bursting in anger.

"Very good. Maka is an exceptional being… she's able to reshape her soul wave to synch with whomever she choose… but that talent comes at a price… her soul isn't just dying… it's dissolving,"

"W…what?"

"When she's dead… her soul will vanish making it impossible for her to be reborn,"

Nothing makes sense anymore. His stomach turned and churned like they were begging to be let out while his heart was squeezed by an iron grip that's slowly tightening at each second. Maka's under THIS MUCH… while she was with me… and I failed to see any part of it.

"But that's not the reason why I'm here," she put her hands on her back. "I know where Skhai and Maka are,"

"WHERE?" he roared.

"Back inside Endless Night," she replied automatically.

"What makes you so sure?" Kid interrogated as he crossed his arms in defense.

"If Skhai really accepted Maka as his weapon then he'll try to go back to where it all started. After all… he was the one who made Endless Night,"

"N…NANI!"

"Hey, who are you? Why do you know so much?" His crimson eyes glared at her accusingly.

"That's because Skhai is my meister and in order to break the twisted partnership between our meisters… I'm going to need your help… Soul Eater," she extended her hand.

Without hesitation, Soul shook as a resolved aura radiated inside him. "I'm Rika. Yoroshiku ne (nice meeting you),"

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