"I…" Kid hesitated and his confidence faltered ever so slightly. He blushed and looked away. "I'll always protect you."
Maka smiled to him. Oddly enough, she didn't feel nervous at all. "That's really nice of you." Kid's eyes found their way back to Maka's.
It became quiet, and the atmosphere was becoming romantic. The two stared at each other for a long time, and were starting to inch closer, when…
"Oi, Maka, you in here?" Soul called while knocking loudly. Maka jumped away from Kid, a look of surprise evident on her face. Kid was slightly disappointed, but it didn't show much. "Y-Yeah."
Soul opened the door and walked in. He looked between the two with a curious expression. "Uh, did I interrupt something?" Maka shook her head vigorously with a blush that contradicted her unintentionally.
"Did you need something?" Kid's dull tone dripped with underlying frustration. Soul's attention switched over to Kid, and he thought for a moment. "Yeah, actually. Liz wanted to talk to you Maka. She's in her room."
Maka blinked before replying, "Okay…" She got off her bed and waved to Kid, "See you later."
Kid nodded in response to her. Maka made her way out of the room, giving Soul a simple high-five. After she was gone, neither boy made a move. There was a tense air in the room as they were having a staring contest.
"Did you want to talk to me, too?" Kid's voice and appearance showed annoyance. Soul wasn't his favorite person.
"Yeah, I did."
"Liz? Are you in there?" Maka knocked on her door. It was quiet for a minute. "Come in." Liz's voice came in strong and clear.
Maka worried about what they were going to talk about since she sounded so serious. She opened the door and was surprised to see the light out. Suddenly, an arm came out from the room and grabbed her. "Ack!"
Maka heard a slam and was pushed up against the door. The light flickered on, and Liz was had her pinned.
"We need to talk." Liz stared straight into Maka's eyes with a grave expression. "Maka…Do you like Kid?"
Maka blushed deeply and stuttered, "W-What are you talking about?" Liz continued questioning her. "Are you in love with him?"
Maka looked away, still blushing furiously. "…I don't know."
Liz sighed. "You need to figure it out fast. Haven't you noticed the way he looks at you? Or how he treats you?"
"What are you trying to say? We're friends!" Maka practically shouted. Liz took her voice down a notch and whispered harshly, "Before you ran away, you two were more than that. He's inlove with you. Can't you see that?"
Maka was shocked into silence. "…That can't be true…"
"It is…Listen, I'm telling you this because I'm worried. Worried that you won't accept him as you are now. I know that if you don't feel the same way he won't get over you. Ever. Do you understand? Thanks to Kid, Patty and I have a home now; we used to be out on the streets. That's why…I have to do something for him. Please…Don't hurt him."
Maka was quiet. "…Did you tell Soul? When you told him to get me?" Liz backed away to give her some space. "…No. Of course not."
"Thank you. Liz…Everyone here is my friend. I don't want to hurt anyone. Especially Kid." She smiled for reassurance, "I'm going back to my room."
Maka opened the door and walked out. She had a lot to think about. Kid in love with me…? No way… Liz must be mistaken.
Lost in thought, Maka made her way through the mansion, deciding to take the long way around. She even passed Stein's lab. In fact, the professor was headed toward it, mumbling to himself with an angry look. Maka saw him and figured a greeting was in order, "Hello Professor."
Upon hearing her voice, Stein slowly glanced up with a crazy unreadable expression. When he saw her, his eyes widened, "There she is, just the one. The one I was looking for. Hehe…"
Maka's eyebrows furrowed at this strange behavior. He was acting very…odd. Stein came up to her fast and pulled her arm.
"You're coming with me. Hehe…Perfect timing, you have. No more hiding…I can finally come out…You see, it was all me. Hahahaha! I've been partners with what you call the 'Darkness.' I've kept my eye on you for a long time. I've wanted to cut you open since the first time I met you. But I had to wait," His eye twitched, "And follow the plan. No one suspects me. I even had to do some terrible things with your family. Hehehehe…"
Stein was standing behind the doors that led to Shinigami-sama's room where he, Kami, and Spirit were talking. Stein already knew about the prophecy, and was having trouble containing his laughter. Their pain was enjoyable.
He had a mission to do. Stein may have been a man consumed in madness, but he was smart. The discussion was over, and the three bid their goodbyes. Stein cackled a bit before opening the door, purposefully running into the couple.
"Why, hello. Sorry to interrupt…" Stein had a calm expression. "But that child is yours, isn't it? Beautiful. May I have a word with you?" He spoke directly to Kami.
She was slightly taken aback, "What is it?"
"Come. I will show you to my lab." He showed fake warmth and sincerity. "…Okay." Stein simply nodded to the other two. Spirit wanted to say something, but Shinigami-sama engaged him in another conversation.
Stein led Kami to his lab, with a crazy smile on his face. "What do you want to talk about?"
"You can call me Stein, I am a professor, and I have been studying the prophecy for a long time. I know how to save your daughter." Stein told her, easily fooling her. "You do? How? Please, tell me…"
"You simply have to transfer your life energy to her. It's easy. I can help you do it. Just follow me…" Stein took her to his lab, and used a machine to absorb her energy. Now, she would be no problem to his master. She didn't know it, but she would die soon.
"Now, all we have to do is insert this into her. You may feel weak for a few days, but you will recover." A lie.
"Thank…You…" Kami was taking in large breaths. "But there is one thing I must ask you in return. You must not speak of this procedure to anyone. Our little secret. Not even your husband. Okay?" She nodded weakly.
A few days later, Kami died, and Maka was injected with her life energy. No one knew about the details. Stein's mission wasn't complete just yet, though.
He took the machine he used to extract Kami's life to an abandoned warehouse. He knew Spirit was mourning the woman's death, and he was going to take advantage of it.
Unbeknownst to the others, Stein had made a perfect replica of her body. The next part of the plan was underway.
Stein called Spirit to his lab. "What do you want?" Spirit had gone cold to everyone after the incident; even Maka. "I know how to bring back your love."
Spirit looked pleadingly at him, "What?! Really? Tell me!" This family was so easy to manipulate. Now Spirit would not be in the way of the Darkness's plans.
"In the woods, there is a warehouse. If you bring a body for her, and give her life energy, all you need is a soul. It's easy. I even made a body for her. I'll show you. Oh, and by the way…" Stein shoved a bottle of booze into Spirit's hands, "This can help ease the pain."
Stein moved the body and set everything up in the warehouse for Spirit, and told him how it worked. He needed to gather life energy from people to sustain the being while finding a soul. Stein promised to find hers, but it was a lie. He also got him addicted to alcohol, as a way to put some suspicion on him, and to put a rift in the relationship between him and Maka.
"In exchange for all of this…You need to be quiet about it. Don't tell anyone. Got it?" Stein said. Spirit nodded and thanked him.
The last part of the mission was to gain Shinigami-sama's trust. And that he did. He even took a job at the guy's school and didn't do anything shady for years.
Stein ripped back into his lab with Maka. She was resisting with all her might, and trying to scream. He threw her onto a hospital-like bed. Stein kept her down while fastening straps around her so she wouldn't be able to escape.
"I was the one who told your mother how to 'save' you. I was the one who drove your father to madness. And you know what? I enjoyed every bit of it. You're next, too. You remember those dreams I gave you? You're about to feel that pain ten-fold. Hehehehehe!"
Stein grabbed some duck tape from a drawer and kicked the door closed. He laughed manically as he cut a piece of tape off. Maka screamed for help loudly, "Y-You're a monster! Let me g—"Stein slapped the tape over her mouth, ending her cries.
He grabbed a marker out of his pocket and made a dotted line along her stomach. Stein had a crazy grin on his face as he pulled over a machine. It had a sharp, circular and whizzing blade that he was handling easily. Maka cried silent tears while trying to break free. It was useless. All she could think of was Kid, and hoping he would come to save her.
"I wanted to talk about Maka." Soul leaned against the doorframe. Both of Kid's eyes twitched from the unsymmetrical display, but he paid attention now that she had been mentioned.
"What about Maka?" Kid watched him intently. Soul stared with the same strength, "Do you like her?"
Kid frowned at Soul. Why did he have to answer that question? "Why?"
Soul sighed. "Look. She's…Really important to me. And I think she'd be happier with you. So…I'm going to give up on trying to get her. I know that you have feelings for Maka. It's obvious. Just don't hurt her. I'll be there if you do."
Kid could tell he was being sincere, and the words were genuine. Maybe Soul wasn't as bad as he initially thought. (He ignored the symmetrical flaws for the moment.)
Kid smiled slightly. "Thanks, but I will never hurt her."
Soul smirked, "That's what I wanted to hear…I'll see you later." He abruptly ended the conversation and waved goodbye before stepping out.
Kid sighed before leaning back on the bed. I wonder what Liz and Maka are talking about…And what a strange discussion with Soul. Wait…Is it possible that the two are connected…? No…
Minutes and minutes passed by. Kid was lost in his thoughts about Maka. Suddenly, his heart felt like it stopped. He sat up quickly and looked around, adrenaline pulsing in his veins. Something's wrong…
"Hey, Maka. Sorry for being hard on you. You forgot this," Liz walked in, holding Maka's scratched phone in her hand. She was surprised to see Kid by himself in the girl's room.
"Kid…? Where's Maka?" Liz questioned. Kid's heart was still pumping fast, and something felt ominous. "I should be asking you that. She went to talk to you in your room."
"Yeah, she did. But she came back to her room…" Liz had a confused expression on her face. Kid leapt to his feet with an anxious look. Something was definitely wrong.
