Crona watched as Free launched himself at the boisterous mesiter. The werewolf lunged with his claws at Black Star, but the DWMA student was far too quick for him, his form was almost a blur as he jumped right up into the air. The wolf landed in the dirt and skidded along as Black Star landed just behind him. Free kicked dirt back up as he pushed himself up and leapt for him once more. But Black Star once again slipped out of his way. He somersaulted in the air and landed on top of a nearby house. Crona was reminded of a performer at a circus.

"You're such a slow little dog! How do you expect to catch me? The fastest meister at the academy?" he gloated. Crona had still not made a move but to stare at the boy. Free fisted the air before him.

"Ha! You won't be saying that when I've torn you to shreds!" Free shouted back at him. He pulled back his arms and elongated his fingers. "Wolf, wolves, wolf, wolves…Wolf claws!" Free yelled out his own chant and swiped at the air directly in front of him. The swipes travelled as sharp lines of air that cut through the distance before him, as if invisible blades of death, the sharp attack was just avoided by Black Star once again leaping into the air. The chains clinking together as he moved. The claw swipes cut into the house he was stood on, before passing and evaporating into nothing. A gust of wind that was gone soon after it was felt. Black Star once again landed on the same building. His face full of mockery.

"What kind of attack was that? You won't…" But Black Star was suddenly cut off as the building shifted. His face filled with surprise as the building split into pieces and began to fall! "Woah…" He teetered forward onto one foot as his arms shot out and waved frantically to keep his balance. Concrete and roofing tiles began to slide off the building like ice on a warm surface, crashing down to the floor. The meister had to hop from piece of piece as he struggled to keep his footing. But that meant loosing focus on his adversary.

"Got you now!" Free shouted out to Black Star as he had charged once again at the boy while he had been trying to stay up. Black Star looked up just in time to see a paw reach out to his face! The claws clamped down on his head and he was pulled back and thrown down into the collapsing house! Like an athlete performing the hammer throw. Black Star disappeared into the crashed building, debris flying out with plumes of dust rising. Free landed on a small stable portion of the building and flexed his muscles, a look of cockiness on his face. "Told you so, didn't I?" He chuckled to himself.

"Why are you just standing there idiot?" Ragnarok screeched out at Crona. Crona jumped slightly as he was concentrating on Free and Black Star's battle so much he had almost forgot he was still holding Ragnarok. He shifted the black sword so that he could better look down at the lips that adorned the weapon. His eyes quickly glanced away however.

"I-I don't know…I don't want to hurt him…" He mumbled out. That loud boy over there was someone close to Maka, perhaps her friend. Perhaps not. But they knew each other and hurting him or even killing him might make Maka sad…he couldn't do that. Ragnarok wouldn't understand. He just couldn't do that to her. It was like trying to dip your hand into acid, an instant reflex recoiling in his mind telling him to not do it. A powerful almost survival instinct to not harm this person that Maka knew.

"Ha! Nice one Crona, Now get going!" The weapon pushed at him…did he think he was joking? Why would he joke? He never joked… He looked back to the lips on the sword.

"I'm not…I can't…" He managed out to the sword, forcing himself to stand up to the sword. But it was hard, he didn't like going against him. It would only work out worse for him later on. It always did. Rag's lips grew tight on the weapon. Oh that wasn't good…

"Why? What makes him so special?" Rag asked, his grating voice backing up the fact that he becoming annoyed with his meister. Crona shook his head. He wouldn't understand… But he tried anyway…

"Black Star is Maka's friend…" However as soon as he said it…he wished he hadn't…

"What?! That's why? You stupid moron Crona! Why does she dictate your life so much? God you're such a pussy since she gave you that hug… one flimsy boring hug and now you're her bitch!" Crona flinched at his words. But he didn't move. He kept his feet planted on the ground where he was. He didn't like the way he spoke of her, it wasn't just a hug. It was the fact that she reached out to him, made him realise he does exist. He is a person and not just a machine to be used. He felt warm just thinking about her, he actually felt eager to see her again. A smile rose to his lips. "You're thinking about her even now aren't you?!" Rag's shout knocked him back to the here and now. He quickly shook his head.

"N-no…" he tried to lie.

Ragnarok actually let out a sigh. Crona's eyes scanned over to where Free and Black Star were battling. Free had knocked Black Star into another building…were they fighting…or playing? Crona rolled his eyes at their actions. They were just showing off their strength to each other. He wasn't sure if they were even fighting. Crona swore he spotted smiles on both of their faces…how could they have fun at a time like this? Weirdos…

"Fine…fine…think about it like this…" Ragnarok seemed to be trying to keep his voice calm.

"Huh?" Crona responded and raised the sword higher in front of his face.

"…Lady Medusa knows you are carrying a bleeding soft spot for that girl. It ain't hard to tell for her I bet! Now…what do you think will happen to her if we don't do as she wants?" Ragnarok spat out to him. Crona at first didn't move, he just continued to stare at him. As if his words didn't register at all. But before Rag spoke again Crona's face paled considerably. His eyes widened and his expression heightened to an almost terror filled state.

"No…" Crona mumbled out. How could he be so stupid? Lady Medusa held her captive, she could do what she wanted. And he couldn't stop her…the only thing he could do was obey her to protect Maka. If he obeyed her Maka would be safe…yes. Otherwise Medusa might kill his only friend! He couldn't handle that. Would never be able to handle that. He would kill himself before that would happen. And he meant it. He really, really did. A drop of fear pooled in his heart, it caught his breath. He couldn't breathe…his legs felt weak. More drops fell, the fear spreading in his form. No he had to protect her…no matter what. His fingers shifted his grip on his weapon, tightening the hold. His brow raised and his eyes shook as his mental state began to wobble over the edge.

He had to hold onto that one person who saw him as more then just a weapon to be used. He only had her to look at him like that. He needed to keep her. He could never lose her. To his mother…or anyone else for that matter. Yes, he would keep her safe. She would do the same for him, he knew she would.

His eyes started to sting, he didn't want to do this. He didn't want to dunk his hand in the acid, but Maka's protection lay at the bottom of the jar of acid…he had to retrieve it. Even at the cost of his own hand. He had to, he had no choice. Maka was more important to him than even his own life, then the life of this meister that might be her friend. He didn't matter.

Crona felt as if there were spiders crawling on his skin, he couldn't get them off…the tiny invisible creatures crawled all over him…marking his skin. Forcing their way in through his ears. Getting into his head. Laying their eggs inside his own head. Thick webbing clogging up his mind. Sending his own worry and fear skyrocketing upward. There was a nest in his head, the creatures spiralled toward it and began to add to the mass. His spare hand reached up to his head and began to scratch, fingers digging into his hair. Digging into his skin. This wasn't fair…

Crona mumbled incoherently. Then he began to slowly walk forward, his feet dragging along the floor. Kicking up dust in his wake. His shoes scraping the floor.

"I'm…sorry, Maka…" He managed out, speaking only to himself.

Up ahead Black Star had his back to him, he was taunting Free before him. He was so preoccupied he didn't spot Crona as he was making his way over. His form slumped and his feet dragging over the floor. He felt as if he left his heart back there, good. He didn't want to do this, but he was doing it for Maka. An emptiness settled in his chest, where his heart should be. Black Star had been tossing one of the chain scythes in the air as he shouted at Free, but Crona couldn't make out what he was saying, he couldn't focus. His ears buzzed. His vision blurred …then refocused, a grin appeared on his face. The smile of the mad. Free was stood stock still, still in his fighting stance, yet he had a clear view of Crona creeping up behind the unaware meister. Free's grin grew wider when he noticed Crona, now no longer listening to the blue assassin either.

For Crona time seemed to slow, his movements felt sluggish, as if his muscles were tensing up. Trying to stop him, as if subconsciously. He forced onwards, he had to protect Maka. This was the only way. He couldn't be alone again! Crona raised his weapon to strike the back of Black Star, time still seemed to move so slowly…as if giving him time to stop. To change his mind. The area around his vision swirled, a dark haze like fog misted around his eyes. His arm felt weak, he trembled as he came closer. But his grin only grew wider. He felt his mind slipping once more. Jagged hooks bit into him and pulled his soul down with his mind. He knew he had to do this. But something inside him fought hard to stop him, not even he understood. He felt as if ropes bound him, as if every step was a massive effort. He felt as if a child was tugging at his robe, telling him to stop. He wanted to stop, oh how he wished he could. His mind hurt, he wanted it to stop. He wanted to switch off. He knew what he had to do, why couldn't his mind just let him?

His palms grew sweaty, a bead of sweat even made it down his face. But he never blinked, his dark pupils were gone. Replaced by a cold ice blue, unfeeling as he himself was so desperate to be. His grin spread on his face, he wanted to laugh, to fall to the floor and cackle insanely at what he had to do. But he could not even do that. No…

A sudden reflection in one of the blades of the chain scythe caught his eye. The girl Tsubaki was there, her form faint on the blade. But it was there. She wasn't facing him, but without warning turned slightly. And she caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye! Crona's grin vanished as he knew he was caught and quickly thrust forward to pierce Black Star through the back.

"Behind you!" Screamed Tsubaki, full of concern for her meister. Black star twisted his head round just in time to see the blade cutting through the air and heading straight for his chest! But unfortunately for Crona, Black Star's reactions were like lightning. He snapped to the side in a split second. Wasn't enough time to get away, but enough so that the blade only cut a small but deep wound on his side. Black Star grimaced and quickly rolled away. He stopped a short distance away and squatted down. Still holding onto the chain scythe and raised up in his defence. But he was panting now. Both from his wasted energy from fighting Free and the wound on his side, crimson blood coated his clothes and was dripping to the floor.

Black Star winced but tried to hide it…unsuccessfully. Crona lowered his blade, the tip connected to the floor with a sharp clink. Next to him Free relaxed and stood straight, he opened his maw and guffawed out into the now empty street. All of the people and dragons on their level had quickly fled when the fighting started. But many pairs of eyes watched from the walkways high above them, hovering dragons flew above even that, casting great shadows onto the floor. Their wing beats the only sound in the quiet street.

"You can't hope to take both of us on." Free pointed out to Black Star. "Not with a wound like that."

Black Star gritted his teeth in his pain, his eyes glanced at his wound and then back up to the pair.

"Ha! Nothing but…a flesh wound. It won't stop me! This stage isn't big…enough for all of us!" Black Star tried to sound confident, but his laboured breathing somewhat broke the image. Crona felt a twinge of guilt build in his stomach…why? Where was that coming from? He tried to ignore it. He had no choice in this…he shouldn't feel guilt.

But that twinge of guilt grew and grew in intensity…as he watched Black Star drop one of his scythe blades and lay a hand on his side, as if to stop the blood flow. His expression twisted in pain as blood flowed and coated his hand. However that guilt did not stop Crona, it only fed the fear that coated his heart and held it in its iron grip. Feeding the madness…

He giggled softly in the empty street. The other pair of combatants ignored him.

"Black Star! Are you ok?" The sweet voice of Tsubaki called out to him. More blood dripped down his clothes to the floor.

"Tch…fine. Stop worrying Tsubaki. We have a fight to win!" Black Star struggled up onto his legs once more, ignoring his wound. He gripped the other blade of his weapon and held it before him. "Hey Demon Swordsman! Before I destroy the pair of you…tell me where Maka is!" Crona flinched, his gaze left Black Star and travelled to the floor. He trembled as he was asked another question, he didn't like being asked questions… He didn't like being the focus of attention, he didn't know how to deal with it.

Next to Crona, the werewolf once again chuckled to himself.

"Ha! As if we'll tell you that!" Black Star's gaze flicked to the Immortal. His eyes were sharp, a tinge of hate in his face.

"Shut up dog! I wasn't talking to you!" Black Star roared out at the werewolf. Free flinched and his ears actually lowered, as if he really was a dog in trouble. Black Star's eyes panned back to Crona. It was Crona's turn to flinch once again. Why was he questioning him? He couldn't answer him. He couldn't meet his eyes, he trembled under his gaze and his hand once again clamped down on his upper arm, pressing his fingers in for the familiar pain it caused.

He could only answer as a small shake of his head. Black Star grunted at his simple answer. "You won't tell me? Or…are you ashamed? Soul told us you were Maka's friend… phh…some friend you are." The wounded meister spat out at Crona. Crona dug his fingernails into his arm, threatening to draw his own blood. Black Star didn't understand…no one understood him. Only Maka. Maka understood him, he was sure of it. An anger began to simmer in his chest…that was a new one. He wasn't used to anger. He wasn't even sure what it was for a second. But it could only be anger, a hot burning in your whole body. Causing a shuddering and the unbearable urge to strike out at the one who caused it, to find relief for the powerful burning. He was her friend, he was protecting her. How dare Black Star question their friendship! "Oh…your shaking…did I make you angry?! Good!" Black Star yelled out at Crona. A small voice accompanied it.

"Black Star…I don't think this is a good idea…" Tsubaki spoke to him.

Black Star seemed to ignore her.

"There's no way Maka would be your friend. Maybe she tried…I don't know. I don't get her myself. But she can't be now. Taking her away from everything she knows…she hates you. She isn't your friend. The first chance she has she'll escape from you." Crona dropped his head lower now. His hair covered his eyes. His lips were pulled into a pained grimace. If Black Star was on about anyone else…anyone at all. Crona might have believed him. But not with Maka…the way she looked at him. It was different then everyone else…and he could believe in her. He imagined Maka when she held out her hand to him, when she smiled at him. When she was asking him to sit with her, when she tried to escape…and came back for him. She came back for him…she does care…Black Star is wrong. She is his friend! Crona stopped shaking and looked up, his gaze peeking out from under his hair.

"You're wrong…" he whispered out. Black Star didn't catch it.

"What?" Black Star lost his look of hate to be replaced by confusion.

"I-I said y-you're wrong!" He shouted out at Black Star from his hunched position.

Quickly as if a spring being released, Crona shot out from his position. His stance was awkward as he lunged. His madness being fuelled by anger. He slashed out with his weapon, the sword swinging to make contact with Black Star's neck. About to decapitate the chain scythe wielder. But Black Star was quicker then him, he lent his body backwards instinctually. Dodging the blow. Black Star didn't get back up however, his body continued to the floor and his legs then kicked up high. Connecting with Crona's chin with a crunch and sending him flying into the air.

Black Star rolled away once again and crouched on the floor. A grin of cockiness on his face.

Crona sailed through the air and landed harshly on his back. He whimpered as pain cracked through his form.

"Get it in gear Crona!" Ragnarok's harsh cry rang out. "Otherwise I'll eat both your and your precious Maka's food!" The weapon growled out his threat. Crona shook his head as his eyes panned to the weapon.

"No…no. I can't deal with that." Crona whimpered out.

"Then get your ass back up!" Rag shouted.

Crona quickly stood up from the floor, regaining his legs back under him.

"Ha! You aren't so tough! I, the mighty Black Star will defeat you here and now!" Black Star yelled out to Crona. But Crona wasn't listening….he was done listening. He was done with this meister. He was sick of him now. He wanted him to go, wanted him to disappear. Slow shuddery little breaths eased out of his body as the anger dissipated to be replaced with an odd coldness.

"I think you should disappear now…" Crona coldly spoke. The stuttering speech strangely gone from his tone. Crona raised his sword before him. "Screaming resonance…"

Neither Black Star nor Free had heard this before, and neither of them were prepared for it. It began with a horrendous screech emitted from the lips of the dark blade. Spit flying from the maw as the sound erupted. It was like a sharp spike piercing the ears of every living thing in the vicinity. The high pitched sound caused the entire blade to vibrate like a chainsaw, the evil voice did the same to the area just around them. Shaking buildings and wood, bits of brick and walkways began to fall to the ground around them. Free had to dodge a few blocks as he held onto his poor bleeding ears.

Crona's face paled and peeled back into a pained look at the sound that shook his very being, sending needle like chills up his form, grinding away a little more of his soul. His insides felt like they were being cut open, as if he had swallowed razor blades. But this was what he had always known, it was what he had been trained to do. And if Black Star wanted to see this, he would get it. He would defend Maka. He always would… Soon his own voice joined in the crescendo. The scream reaching a new height of pain and fear, an undercurrent of roars sounded out. The dragons high above were twisting and turning this way and that. Bucking their riders and smashing into buildings as they struggled against the sound. One of the dragons crashed to the ground a little way away, its form was still.

The roars increased ever onward as the twin screams erupted into the once peaceful village. Like lava the vile noise spread over the inhabitants. Sending many into mad whirls of their own inner rage and fear.

Without warning Crona whipped forward and lunged once more at the meister. Black Star had currently been holding his hands over his bleeding ears, now his face showed a mask of shock. However he reacted quickly and brought his weapon down to guard. Ragnarok connected with Tsubaki as his blade shook violently. Black Star appeared still as he thought he had guarded….but a sudden female scream rang out as blood poured down the blade.

"What?!" Black Star shouted out as he pulled the chain scythe away and jumped backwards.

But Crona didn't let up, not like last time. He followed him and kept up with the assassin. He didn't give Black Star time to think as he swiped his blade once more, the vibrating blade cutting through the air. Black Star on instinct reacted by guarding once more. He held the chain out to catch the weapon in its tracks. Crona's grin grew on his face. Stupid boy.

Ragnarok plunged into the chain, cutting right through…

Blood burst from the chains as the two scythes came apart from each other. A heart wrenching scream once again sounded out. Black Star stared down at his weapon as blood pooled on the floor. Absolute anger filled his form, Crona raised his sword to strike the meister down.

"Soul force!" With that sound Black Star shot out his fist, it connected with Crona's stomach. Sharp pinches of electricity travelled to his system, before it exploded into a mass of pure energy. Ripping his insides for real. Blood from Crona's mouth dripped to the floor as he was forced back and away from the pair. His body tumbled over the street, twisting his arms and fingers as they caught and bent into non-natural positions. A crack rang out as a finger bent back a little too far. A blast of pain however did not bring him out of his insanity. The pain receded into nothing but a drop in the ocean of his pain filled head.

Crona felt dizzy and weak, but he forced his body under him as he sat up. The after effects of that attack left him feeling an odd stinging feeling. He moved his head to look back up to the enemy. Black Star was cradling the body of the girl close to him, was she dead? Crona couldn't tell. Black Star's face was carrying such a pained filled grieving expression…had Crona caused that? That guilt that had built in his stomach multiplied ten fold. It made him feel sick. He had to look away, he hated himself. That was his fault. He had done that…whether he had protected Maka or not. She would hate him now…Black Star was right. Maka would hate him after all…

Crona felt his madness begin to dissipate…he was done. His eyes bled back to their natural colour. His mouth was dry, it felt like he bore a slip of sandpaper in his jaw…what had he done? Had he killed the girl? Then why did he feel so awful?… he hated this. He had to get away.

"Finish them off Crona!" Ragnarok cried out to him, he was lying close to him still in his weapon form. Crona felt his heart wrench in his chest. No, he couldn't…


Free grinned out to the cocky meister before him. He was not so eager to fight now the arrogant little swine. Free laughed out. They had them now. Up ahead Black Star had picked up Tsubaki off the floor, carrying her in his arms. She was unresponsive, and now the tears fell down Black Star's face. He wasn't even looking up at Free and Crona anymore. He was too concerned with Tsubaki. Free glanced over at Crona, he was on his knees and leaning down over the street. Ragnarok was a little ways off, yelling to get Crona's attention. But Crona seemed to be finished. Free shrugged, probably for the best. After all, blood now coated the inside of his ears and he had an annoying ringing. Not fun.

Without that chain scythe Black Star was nothing then a big headed brat, he could take him. Free ignored Crona and started with his own move, the last move that Black Star would ever see. He smiled, Medusa would just love to hear this when they got back. Free settled himself into his familiar stance, his legs slightly apart with knees bent. He then opened his jaw wide. His magic eye began to glow with an eerie light.

"Magic eye…" He began. Suddenly a large shadow hovered over them, Free's eyes darted up to the new arrival. He just caught the large monster that was a black dragon land with a huge crash onto the ground between him and Black Star. The massive lizard reared its long neck and roared out its anger at Free. Free was surprised at the sudden entrance, but he was stuck…he couldn't move!

"…Cannon!" Free finished. Out of his jaw a bizarre white eye blinked into existence, the pupil glowed with a fierce light. The light about to force a powerful blast out and straight into the dragon.

Yet he didn't get that chance. The dragon opened its own maw and unleashed a belch of red hot fire. Free's eyes widened in surprise as he was engulfed in flame. His clothes and very skin were set alight as he stood there in the blaze…it was annoying. He liked those clothes. Soon however the flames ceased, the dragon gave its own version of a cocky grin as it blew one last smoke ring in Free's direction. Free blinked and stared at the intruding black dragon.

"That…was…unexpected…" The smell of burnt hair lingered in the air as Free began to fall backwards. "…I'm…fine…" He choked out as he crashed to the floor on his back. "After…all…I…am…Immortal…" He lay there on the floor as his skin worked to heal the damage done. The fire had weakened him, and he was forced back into his human form. The wolf melted from his body and now a quite naked human Free lay on his back in the street.

He could only listen as he stared at the sky, he watched as the other dragons began to flee with their own riders.

"You!" Black Star yelled out, possibly to the rider of the black dragon. Free guessed the rider was the same guy from before.

"C'mon! We need to get away while we can!" The rider commanded Black Star. Silence passed for a few seconds. Free decided he would try and pick himself up. He tried to move his muscles…yet the pain that he got back told him to stay. He needed to heal more it seemed…Free grunted.

"Fine…I hate to leave like this…but I will for you Tsubaki…" Wow Black Star actually lost his cockiness in favour of worry. Free didn't know he had it in him, maybe everyone could have concern for others in them, he actually smiled. Then he thought of Medusa, his smiled dropped…or maybe not. He doubted she did. He chuckled to himself. He tried once again to move. The muscles responded this time.

He raised himself to a sitting position, just in time to see the black dragon from before leap into the sky and fly away on its powerful wings. Free smiled. This wasn't over. He would get that kid next time. And from the look on that kid's face, next time Black Star won't be so keen to simply play around with him.

He looked over to Crona to the side of him. Crona was slumped over onto the floor, Ragnarok was gone. Most likely back inside the black blooded boy. Free sighed out, surely Medusa would accept what they did here…hmm…he hoped so. He might embellish the report…then again Crona would probably make the report sound worse then it actually was. Free sighed… Great…They still had a few more villages to go. Free looked back to the blue sky, the form of the dragon nothing more then a speck in the sky. Though when that meister got to the DWMA UK headquarters no doubt that Lord Death's servants would come after him and Crona. Free grinned. As fun as that sounded, Medusa had ordered him to not try such a thing…just yet.

Might just be better to move on, or back home. He wasn't sure yet…though first things first….Free looked down to his naked form.

"I need pants…"


The room was dark, no light existed here. It was like a vacuum of space…it was empty…just nothing. Not even any sound emitted into the room. There was nothing. It was blackness, a smothering blackness that wanted to strangle anyone who dared to stay in such a space.

At first there looked to be no one trying to survive in this nightmarish room…yet a small figure in a corner showed that to be wrong. A tiny figure had her arms wrapped around herself. Her shoulders shook and trembled. Her hair was a mess and fell over her face and shoulders. A smell of body odour and illness began to permeate the room, only helping to pull down any sane mind trying to last here.

The girl in the corner gripped her head harshly, nails digging into her scalp, black blood leaking out through skin and mingling with her messy hair. This room was causing the girl to rot, physically and mentally. The stagnant presence of this room causing a melting of the mind. She raised her head slightly, the eyes were hidden under her hair…but she smiled…no grinned at her situation. As if she knew she was losing it…she knew…but what could she do? It was funny…

The grin quickly grew as she began to giggle in the corner, her little body began to rock forward and back. Her wracked mind struggling for purchase in the waters of madness. Suddenly her giggles stopped, they ceased as if someone had muffled her mouth. She raised her head higher, her eyes showed a hint of clarity for a moment.

"Crona…where are you?" She whispered out…so softly you would have to strain to even hear it. However soon after that she choked and coughed…black blood dribbled down her chin as her eyes lost their clearness…and darkened as a haze of madness came once again to the fore, her mind drowning…losing her fight to stay above the waters and in control. She dipped her head back low and began to rock once more. Her fingers carving a deeper gash into her own head. Blood leaking down her head…


Lol that fight went on for a bit, and could very well have carried on for far too long. I didn't even get to have Soul in here like I planned to. Ran out of room lol.

Ah well, think I'll have him in next chapter.