I have no excuse. I'm sorry.

- to enkindle courage

Being Human

The ability to cast aside fear is remarkable, isn't it?

The heroes that the humans write about…so full of courage. They may be beaten, broken and bleeding but…

A small chuckle, his mask shifted. They never think they can do it to. Ah, but humanity. Such potential. He tsked.

Such potential to fail.

The thoughts invade, overwhelming him. Images of Maka, tears streaming as she clutches Soul. His eyes are wide and staring. Arachne chokes on her own laughter from the throne, her lips curling into a vicious smile. Kids face winces in pain as he shuts his eyes…

Potential. Was the word spoken allowed? It seemed to ring in his ears.

He swayed. Curling to the side dramatically, he raises his extraordinarily giant white gloved hands dramatically in the air and… shrugs.

He doesn't need to think of the times humanity prevailed, to have some hope. He scoffed. They let you know when they think they've done something good.

Turning to his mirror, he waved his hand. Team Omega came into view. Ah the spear meister. Good choice, Spirit. They will go nicely with our team. The humans and he had made the plans but he knew he had to stay out of it. It is unfortunate that our mandate says deaths only goal is to ensure some of humanity survives, as then they can die whilst still producing. That the law. No direct interference, no matter what side the Shinigami is on. I've led them. I've trained them. I've brought them to the door. Only they can open it.

He was the first of his kind to break the silence after all, when he built the school. Mind you, he may not have done so if the weapons were not born. Maybe the children he taught would become great warriors. Unless Kid stops them. Kid will kill them all. He's life time has been full of battle, he's been prepared for years. What is his goal? It doesn't matter what he's is to me. It's for greater good that he is defeated but…

To be able to assess a dangerous situation with clarity and logic is a trait all great warriors must have, but…the kids may not have the strength to see the danger he poses. Death sighed. He glanced toward the mirror. The army was being pushed back by the spiders and kishin's, but just when he was about to give up hope, they pushed back stronger. The battle seemed to be at a deadlock.

Death began to observe a scene he had seem thousands of times. Humans frequently push the barrier of their limitations and are continuously surprise him. These humans…they train to be faster and stronger than their forbearers, to make them proud. Spirit... i thought he would be the strongest...and his wife...They taught them much, those parents, who I still see as the 12 years olds who came here. The parents who taught them to fight for a better world and to leave an even better one for their children. He moved toward his desk. Certainly, humanity fall off the trail once of twice, but I am always here, with the academy, I can help put them back on their road and protect them from the hazards that may stray onto this path. The duty of the Shinigami is one of a referee. Not to get too direct, but to make sure the game is going along accordingly. Humans can be simple and complex. He laughs as he imagines Blackstar's attempts at being a god, but also gets stronger to protect his weapon. They can be cruel and kind. He thinks of Spirit, who has an undying, honest love for his daughter, but a fleeting one for women. They are the product of all of their experiences and memories. Lord Death started to rearrange his desk. They don't realize how lucky they are.

They can be whichever they choose to be. This was something every shinigami has to accept; that humans were allowed free will and choice, but Death has no other option. He sat at his desk. And opened his drawer. Sighing, he reached inside to grab something.

They are bound by their work. That's at least how I was raised. What my father had told me and so on and so forth and what not and in my day... He giggled a bit before turning serious again. Shinigami sacrificed themselves for the greater good. His eyes twitched under his mask. Why aren't we apart of the greater good? He opened his hand; a locket lay in his glove. He presses the top, opening the lack to it. Inside is a picture of a gorgeous brunette. She's smiling, as if she just heard the most wonderful news. With her head tilted, and eyes sparkling, she shined up at him.

In the beginning, humanity could barely walk, let alone live, but slowly their species grew into something more. Perhaps they have out grown us. He looks to the other side of the locket, and clenches his jaw. Mask bumping around. The woman in the other picture had her hair was chopped short, and violet. She had webs forming in her hair and spiders crawling down her arms. She no longer looked at the camera with a bright smile. Her mouth was opened, as if she was yelling a curse at it. Death sighed and closed the locket. Humanity… Putting the locket away, he leans back.

Part of our goal was to protect the ignorant and the weak, but it seems as those humans are gone now. Strong, sophisticated humans now reigned. As Lord Death sat at his desk, he looked over their plan, which was mostly crafted by the humans to take on the witches.

Lord Death sighed. Kid is gone and its too late to have another heir, that brat was supposed to take over after the current generation of humans. It seemed to be the end of the Shinigami... Kid had fallen off the shinigami way and became selfish. He abandoned the humans for their prime enemy.

He could see him now, in the special mirror, Kid was clad in armour, seemingly to give orders of attack, attacking another comrade of his. Shame about the spy glass is that it just watches, no volume can be heard. Like a human, Lord Death found it hard to let go of his attachment to Kid. I am the Shinigami of the world, earthly attachments, even to family, are not a part of the way.

Images invade his mind again. Unwelcomed one of his child went streaming past his eyes. He could see his little son take his first steps across the academy yard. He turned and saw a sniffling tiny Kid with a hurt knee. Flashes of his son slowly took control of the Lords mind. Fighting off the feelings, Lord Death tried to deny himself the grief he felt. He didn't understand.

To be scared is to be human. But no human blood ran through his veins.

Lord Death quickly sat in his chair and shook his thoughts away. They would wonder where he is. Why he hadn't shown up for the final battle. It was not common knowledge that he was bound to the city. They will wonder why he had deserted them. He took his mask off and put it down to rest. It had been years since he took the mask off without the privacy of his bathroom. Humanity needs to stand on its own. We won't be here much longer and they must become strong. The Shinigami should not stand for them if they have the strength to stand alone.

It was a blur.

Honestly.

To her, and everything around her. As she spun, she blocked everything out.

She transformed into a robot. Slicing and diving and cutting her way across the field. She was vaguely aware of a voice, perhaps Soul, perhaps herself, shouting in the battle. She swooped through in a wave of mass destruction. Soul, with determination, wielded his magic. He formed a magically inclined barrier around himself in weapon form. He focused on keeping the edges sharp and pointed while directing his magic in the most needed spots. He was even able to deflect a few arrows that would have otherwise buried themselves deep into Maka's chest. As she gained confidence with his use, their souls resonated. Swinging the scythe, a wall of flame blasted out, scorching enemies.

It was exhilarating; it was terrifying.

The power that he felt was amazing. He could feel it streaming through himself and into Maka without any barrier or blockage. They were connected by their very souls; the perfect weapon and meister. In her robot form, Maka became a leader. She shouted commands and strategies and killed anything in her way. She was a machine of death; cold and calculating. Despite their efforts however, they were been held off. The soldiers seem to be swarming everywhere. Death cries and moans could be heard. Maka could faintly hear her heavy breathing, but she pushed away her weakness. She continued to cut and tear at her enemies, totally ignoring her human limitations. She couldn't feel her shaking like Soul could. There were points where he was afraid she would drop him and dent him, but he didn't mention this. She needs focus. He would tell himself. She's just worried about everyone.

So she pushed on, a rally point for her comrades. Every time she fell, she would silently stand and force her way forward. Anyone looking at her could see the bruises and cuts under her destroyed attire, but they could also see that she simply did not give a damn. Her clothes were ruined, and he was covered in grime, but they were making progress. The kishin waves pushed strong, but humanity pushed back.

Blackstar was thrown to the ground and all he had to say was, "This God is gunna kick some other GODLY ASS." He stood, chuckling like a maniac as he slaughtered the kishin around him. His blue hair matted with blood and dirt, whipped wildly around him. He shirt had been torn off long ago. He hollard as he charged at his enemies.

Patty fired from behind the pair, covering them. Unlike her melee comrades, she looked rather put together, if a little sweaty. Her eyes burned with vengance and her accuracy would rival her previous master, which she imagined as each enemy. Slowly, she began to become more wild, attacking more and more opponents at once.

The weapons of the three, stayed silent, each worrying for their respective partners and what this battle was forcing them to become.

Maka began to draw much more heavily on Soul's magic without asking him, but he allowed it. However, soon he found that he was being pulled from the battle. He sighed with frustration when he found himself by his piano, demon playing a low tune.

"Sooooul? Do you hear your soul? Can you hear hers? You aren't being careful." He laughed at the confusion filling the red-eyed man.

The tune picked up to a frantic pace as Soul tapped his foot, wishing to be back at his meister's side. He was about to ask what the demon meant when he spoke again. "Madness is everywhere here."

Soul spun around in anger. "What, what? Why? Because the kishin is here? But if i cant use it against the kishin, why did i learn it?!"

The demon snorts at him. "I never said that. I just never expected your souls would resonate while you used your magic. It's much more powerful than we both believe because it's using her soul too." He grins at Soul, as if he expects praise. When he does not, he scowls.

"You brought me here to say that? If you havent noticed I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF FIGHTING."

"Technically, Maka is in the middle of fighting."

An exasperated groan.

"Okay. Shush. Listen. If she uses the power too, she can fall just like you, if dark thoughts cloud her. You're prepared because we've been training together if you recall..." Soul shivers at the images he was forced to witness over and over again, inducing nightmares even in his waking hours. "You did it, so you knew you could come back from madness or fight it off.. Has she done so?" The tune is out of control now, making no sense, high cord and then low cord being struck with no patter. He demon then turned to look at Soul as his fingers crashed against the key board." And unlike you, MAKA IS ABOUT TO FACE THE MAN WHO CRUSHED HER SOUL."

Soul froze. Despite the night, Maka and him hadn't discussed Kid. He didn't wish to bring up bad thoughts right before the battle. But if she faces him... and she cant overcome her anger and emotions...oh my god what have i done. Forming a fist with his hand, he slammed it into the side of the piano without turning. 'You bastard! Why didnt you warn me?!"

The demon screetched in frustration. "Because I am a little tiny speck of black blood flowing through an APPARENT DEMON. So SORRY master for not knowing EVERYTHING." He drags out his words with exaggeration. He looks at Soul. "Go protect her. You cant let her fall to the..." he stopped playing and vanished.

Soul turned to find the light gone. Panicking, he began to wave his arms, trying to get his bearing. He was floating again, back up to the surface. He reached the battle to see Maka had taken the stairs and they were rallying in the circle below before continuing into the cavern before the castle. She was calling out to him to change back. But all he could hear was the last chuckle of his demon whisper, "...madness."

Soul quickly gathered his bearings and transformed back into his human self.

As the Team Beta followed down the stairs to secure the landing, Team Omega rested. Patty and Blackstar leaned on opposite walls as Tsubaki and Liz sat back to back on the floor. To all of them, the floor seemed to be the most interesting thing in the room however, as everyone focused on it.

Taking a breath, Soul looked toward Maka. Her head was high was looking toward the castle. Her jaw was tight and he fists clentched. He didn't know how but breeze swept by and caught her hair, forcing it to flow up and around. He clothes ruffled and he smiled at the small goose bumps that formed on her arms. Even covered in death, she is the most... he was at a lose for words, even in his own mind. He moved toward her position, forgoing the comfy, leaning-on-the-wall position he had going-on. Nothing will ever happen to her.

He walked up behind her and noticed how she shifted away from his presence, but he ignored this, determined. He took the hands that laid clenched at her side into his own. Pulling her back, she cautiously leaned into his back. Putting his head on hers, he humed a soft tune. Her shoulders began to soften and she squeezed his hand back.

"Is it time?"

"Almost." The response was a whisper from Death himself, as he stood in the dark of the throne room. "She'll be here soon, Darius. And I'm sure the others will be hot on her tail." Death towered over him now. He had altered his appearance to his adult one, but a menacing version, not bubbly like his father.

Death was leaning against a pillar, hair sagging sideways. The body guard, Darius, hesitated for a moment. His blond hair swoops in front of his eyes. "Sir-" He took a breath and lowered his voice. He made sure that Arachne too was busy directing her spiders and the Kishin was too busy napping to pay them any attention. Rolling his eyes, he turned back to Death. "About the girl…if she really—"

Death eyes snapped open. He grabbed the neck of the bodyguard and slammed him up into the pillar. "Remember whose presence you're in before mentioning things like that." He paused for a moment with a bemused smile. "Maybe I should give you to Arachne as a play mate." The guards eyes widened in understanding and he shook his head weakly. Death opened his hand and Darius dropped to the floor, gasping.

"I'm sorry, sir. I shouldn't have doubted y-the plan." He hastily got up, bowed to Kid. As he quickly made his way out of the door, Darius glanced back into the room. The cobwebs had grown bigger and the shadows, stronger. Arachne directed her forces the throne with a strong voice. He glared at her, before making his way out of the room.

Death, in turn, also turned to examine his surroundings. He watched a lot, just as he should. He gripped his sword and unclenched his jaw, which he hadn't realized occurred. "…Maka." His leans harder into the pillar, the hand he used to choke Darius with, clutches the wall.

He stands fully, pushing off the wall. Grabbing his sword, he was out of the throne doors. He needs to wait. Strength is all that matters right now.

Yay! R&R