Soon after that, Stein ran through with Spirit and other students behind them to Kid and Maka.

Maka's eyes were wide and blank; her features expressionless. It was only when Stein tried to take Kid out of her arms was when she snapped out of it and began to freak out. She screamed and slapped Stein across the face with her nails.

"Don't take him! Don't take him!" She sobbed, her eyes filled with madness.

Stein stumbled back, clutching the side of his face in surprise.

Shocked, Spirit kneeled behind his daughter and wrapped his arms around her so Stein can easily take Kid in his arms. Maka screamed again and struggled to get away from him.

"Please! Don't!"

Stein took Kid from her in a swift movement and Maka's sobs grew louder.

"Kid!"

Kid's eyes were blank and stared into nowhere, his hands just clawing into the bloody pit of his stomach, hoping that it would somehow make the pain disappear.

Stein began to walk away, the assistant students walking close with him. Spirit stood up, lifting Maka up to her feet with him in the process. He pulled her towards him and hugged her as tightly as he could.

"Shhshhshh…Calm down, Maka…"

She sobbed into his chest and gripped handfuls of his shirt.

"They…They took him away…from m-me… they took him…"

Spirit's heart broke at just the simple sound of sorrow in her voice when she said that, and he rubbed her back gently.

"They're gonna help him… they're gonna see what they can do to make him okay…"

Maka bit her quivering lower lip.

"He just collapsed… he just fell, and began to bleed…"

Spirit sighed and kissed her forehead.

"C'mon… we should catch up with them…"

Maka nodded a little, telling herself over and over that Kid was gonna be alright.

Spirit took hold of his daughter's hand and they quickly walked through the forest together.

Death looked out at them through his mirror, his arm in a sling. His eyes were wide and he can barely move or breathe. He squinted over Kid's head to see a crimson hourglass over his head, bloody sand making its way to the bottom. It was something only he can see. It happened every time someone was close to taking their last breath.

He clenched a good fist, hoping Stein would get there on time so he can try to save his son.

Stein walked up the steps with Kid in arms, the ash falling in sheets from the crimson sky above their heads. As he passed through the crowds of students, they stepped back to let him through, staring at Kid.

Kid was too traumatized to see or hear anything around him. It was just the blinding white light in his view, and the agonizing, numbing pain within him.

When Maka set foot at the top of the stairs with her father beside her, everyone turned their attention on her. She looked up at everyone and sniffled, quickly looking away.

"Valencia… is dead …"

The students remained silent, and Maka walked through, letting go of Spirit's hand as she did so.

Stein set Kid down on an infirmary bed and pulled the curtains so he was out of view from everyone except for him and the nurses. Patty was ushered out of the room with other students so that Stein and the nurses would be able to have room with no distractions. She sat in a wheel chair with an IV cord stuck into her arm. She quickly wheeled herself away from other students so that she wasn't trampled in any way, and looked up to see Maka running into the school. Her eyes widened and she ran right past her and towards the infirmary room just as the door was slammed closed, and it was locked, the curtains over the window quickly drawn.

Maka ran right into the door with a soft scream of defeat, her nails digging into the door.

Her dry eyes filled with new tears and she bit her lower lip in heartbreak.

"Kid…"

Kid's eyes were still open, and he stared at the ceiling, feeling the poke of needles and blades inside him. But he didn't bother to acknowledge it too much. He clutched the bed sheets tightly in his fists and closed his eyes.

"Maka…"

His eyes snapped back open when Stein placed a mouth piece into his mouth and he tasted something funny.

Stein's eyes filled with slight hurt.

"I'm sorry, Kid. But you need to be unconscious for this operation."

And soon enough, Kid's eyes fluttered and closed, his head lolling to the side.

For two hours, Maka stood in that same spot without moving an inch, her heart ramming uneasily in her chest. She only moved when she heard footsteps behind her, and looked over her shoulder to see Death. He frowned and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Maka…" His voice sounded normal, and filled with both sorrow and seriousness.

Maka wet her lips and finally spoke for the first time since the last.

"Yes… Shinigami-sama?" She only ever referred him to that in times of respect.

He gripped her shoulder and sighed sadly.

"As a student…you have done well to make me proud… but as my son's weapon… you have done way more than that… you've made my son experience feelings he has never had before… he loves you."

Maka nodded and looked at her feet for a moment before she looked back up at him.

"And I love him too."

He smiled slightly.

"And one more thing…"

Within the infirmary, Stein removed his gloves and turned the screw in the side of his head until it clicked, an expression of shock and sorrow on his face.

Death let go of Maka's shoulder.

"You've made him the happy. And I appreciate you for that."

Stein opened the door and Maka was about to run in until he stopped her. Shock crossed over her features and she froze. He stared down at her with empty eyes.

"I need to speak to Lord Death for a moment, Maka. And then you can see him." He looked up at Death.

Death looked at Maka with a shrug and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him.

She pressed her ear against the door and clenched a fist, hoping that the subject they were about to speak of wasn't bad.

The nurses stepped out from behind the curtain and moved it aside so that Death can see his son.

Kid was still unconscious, and his wound was now covered in a thick bandage.

Stein turned towards Death, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Lord Death… I'm sorry to say this… but… your son isn't gonna make it. And I'd say he has about one hour to go."

Maka gasped and screwed her eyes shut, shaking against the door.

Stein looked towards the door and back at Death.

"She's listening in." He whispered. "I need to speak to you about something else that may save him… but the solution is gonna take a major sacrifice…your decision."

Death nodded slowly, his eyes filled with determination.

"I'm listening." He whispered back. Stein cast one final glance at the door and whispered into Death's ear. As Death collected what Stein had just said in his mind, his eyes widened and he nearly fainted.

Stein backed away and looked at him. It took Death a moment, but he nodded, and looked over at Kid.

"Anything to see the smile on his face again…" He whispered, his eyes filling to the brim with tears. He walked past Stein and opened the door. Death stared at Maka for a while and then lowered his gaze to the ground, walking past her with an almost haunted expression.

Maka ran inside and up to Stein with an almost hateful glint in her eyes.

"Is it true… he only has one hour left?"

Stein nodded.

"Sadly so…" He removed the mouthpiece from Kid's mouth. "He'll wake up in a few minutes or so. I'll leave you two alone."

He stepped out of the room, placing his hands in his pockets, and gently closed the door behind him.

Maka looked at Kid, who was still sleeping with even, peaceful breaths. She slowly made her way over to him, and sat next to him on the bed, taking his hand in hers.

"Kiddo…?"

Kid began to stir and moved his head in her direction, opening his brilliant golden eyes.

"Maka…?"

She smiled slightly through her tears.

"You gave Valencia one hell of a beating back there…"

He chuckled weakly, gripping her hand.

"Did I?"

"Yes… and we won."

Kid sat up, wincing slightly at the pain in his stomach, and pulled her close to him so that her head rested up against his chest.

"I suppose we did." He stroked her hair with bandaged fingers and kissed the side of her head.

Maka closed her eyes, her muscles being soothed at the sound of his easy heartbeat.

"Kid?"

"Hmm?"

"…You only have one hour left."

He froze.

"Oh?"

Maka's lower lip quivered.

"Yes…"

He pulled her even closer.

"Then I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you."

Maka's eyes widened.

"But… what about…"

He chuckled and lay back down in bed with her on top of his chest.

"I don't want to do anything else. If I want you to be the last thing I'd ever see, hear, and touch, it shall be."

She smiled a little and blushed, cuddling into him.

"And so it shall…"

He rested his head on top of hers.

"Are you scared?" Maka suddenly asked, which startled him a bit.

"What?"

"Y'know…" She closed her eyes and took in his scent. "Are you afraid of dying?"

He wet his lips and looked down at her intently.

"I've seen it more than once… so I don't think I am…"

…:oOo:…

Once something you care about truly leaves the world, there isn't that deep of a loss than the suffering as you lost them. And most things are left unsaid. Mainly, but merely, little dreams or thoughts.

Death the Kid was dead. And Maka Albarn lost him.

As he was being lowered into the ground in the coffin she and Lord Death chose for him, she watched under the same tree Kid held her hand under.

And strangely enough…

She didn't cry. She still had hope within her. And she wasn't one to turn away from questions.

She felt that Kid was still out there somewhere…

She slowly looked up at the sun behind the clouds, squinting her eyes against the light, her hair blowing in the wind. His tie was tightly wrapped around her palm, and she clenched it tightly.

Somewhere….

What did Professor Stein tell Lord Death, you wonder? What did he mean by sacrifice? Was Kid the one laying in the coffin? Oh, he sure was… but… was he really without a single pulse? A single breath?

And at that exact moment…

Golden eyes snapped open in the darkness.

Confusing, I know, but I tried to make it theatrical, like the end of an awesome badass movie. But… heheheh… I don't think I'm good at that… you guys want a sequel; you'll have to beg for it. (Hint hint: Review ~.o)