Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater. I do own the plot. The character of Skye belongs to MusicSoundsMySoul 14 and is used with permission. The character of Roselite belongs to Alisa-Prototype01 and is used with permission. The characters of Zoey, Chris and Wolf belong to NikolaiEvans115 and are used with permission. Also, I would highly recommend listening to "Song from a Secret Garden" by Alexander Rybak while reading the first segment of the chapter. It was what my iPod chose and it actually fits the mood quite well.
Intro Image:
Skye is seen standing before a plush ivory, garnet and gold throne. She wears an all white outfit with gold trimming here and there, meant to resemble a knights outfit. With the help of a deep cobalt rope, an inky black cape is kept around her shoulders. It makes the color of her eyes seem that much deeper, like an ocean at midnight. She wears a frown and her face betrays pain and sadness. One of her hands is curved in front of her chest, as if preparing to bow, while the other rests on the handle of a saber strapped to her hip.
Chapter Twenty Five: Viva la Vida (1)
"So we can only say for certain now that Chandler is dead," Excalibur said, twirling his cane in his hands. Currently, he, Skye, one of the nurses and a screen with Shinigami-Sama on it were in one of the exam rooms chatting about the mission. It had only been a little over a day since Medusa's base was sent sky high and, while recovery teams were still shifting through the wreckage, things did not look promising. "Well, I think you for taking him out as you did, Skye. He would have had to be killed whether he was brought to us or not, and I am sure that it was not an easy task for you."
"Sadly, we must begin sticking to the rules put in place by the previous Shinigami in regards to handling treason," Shinigami-Sama himself answered, his usually squeaky voice having dropped to a rich and somewhat attractive baritone. Skye was a little uneasy about the change in voice but kept her fears to herself. "After all, hacking into our main computer database to get the information on your squad was not something we could simply ignore."
"He hacked into the computers?" She asked in alarm. Excalibur sighed and nodded.
"Yes. That is how Medusa prepared for your squads arrival. Maka Albarn herself had never met you so they needed to be prepared for your arrival somehow," He explained gently. He paused in twirling his cane and turned back to Shinigami-Sama. "So, do you want the full explanation of the mission now or later?"
"Let us discuss it now, so that we can move on to the other subjects quickly," Shinigami-Sama stated quickly.
This was the reason that Skye always hated dealing with members directly from the main base; they were always more concerned with their own problems than the needs of the other bases. "Well, the mission was only a partial success," Skye stated gently. She winced a bit when the nurse started to clean the cut she had received in her battle against Chandler. "We were able to retrieve Marie Mjolnir and her son but we were unable to get Maka Albarn. Instead of Maka, however, we were able to bring back Chrona Gorgon, Medusa's son, to begin testing on ways to remove the black blood with him. He is currently being controlled by his alter ego, Ragnarok, and has been detained as necessary. Japan's base leader, Yumi Azusa, was killed by Chandler on this mission but was the only casuality we received; Spirit Albarn also disappeared sometime in the commotion and has not been seen or heard from thus far in the excavation. A few other members of the team were seriously injured but are making good progress, despite it only being 32 hours since the church was sent sky high. We are still working to get through the remains of the church, but we find it unlikely that we will find either Spirit or Maka Albarn among the dead."
The other made a small, startled noise. "And why do you think that, Skye?"
"Woman's intuition," She said with a shrug. The nurse calmly placed a large, square bandage over the cut she had finished cleaning. With any luck, it would not leave another scar. "Thank ya." She said to the woman gently.
She bowed respectfully before heading out of the room, understanding that she was dismissed. Once the door shut Excalibur glanced at Skye. "You can go as well, if you'd like," He said gently. She blinked in alarm but was answered by a warm look from the other. "These last few hours have not been easy on you. This is the first mission you've taken since Chandler left that wasn't an absolute success and I am sure you had to relive some painful memories while facing off with him. The rest of your squad is resting right now; why don't you take a note from them and do so as well?"
"Actually, Excalibur, I have one thing more to discuss with Ms. Elliott before we send her on her way," Shinigami-Sama said evenly. Both twitched a bit. It had been a while since someone had last used Skye's last name when addressing her.
"Of course, Shinigami-Sama," Skye said calmly.
"Skye, I am sure that, as Excalibur has pointed out," He began slowly, "this has taken quite the emotional toll on you. Not many rookie agents would have been able to survive the explosion and following tragedies that you did all those years ago. Many times, in the months that followed, we expected you to surrender to that depression but you pushed through. You took that tragedy and used it as a point to learn from, to better yourself and hone your skills. You are the prime example of strength, courage and determination working its magic for those who are willing to work to achieve their goals. You have pushed yourself, and your squad, and fulfilled more for this organization than I think anyone ever expected you to. And for that, I will always be grateful.
However, grief can do terrible things to the strongest of us. Medusa was once a strong, determined woman like yourself, in yet losing her husband drove her to turn two children – one of which was her own – into monsters. I cannot handle the thought of another Medusa becoming an undetected threat in our organization. There have been far too many failures on the part of the organization as of late and the citizens here in Death City that I must answer to have grown tired of it."
"You mean the first strike Medusa made months ago, when she took Maka Albarn in the first place, and the recent successful escape of Arachne, don't you?" Excalibur asked, positioning both his hands on his cane and pressing the bottom into the cushion of the exam room table. Skye looked from her boss, stunned, and then back at Shinigami-Sama. She had heard a little bit about Medusa's attack, and then of Arachne's capture, but not that the ex-agent had already made her great escape. "Those sound more like failures on the part of the main base, not the agents in Italy."
"That may be true in part, but when the main base fails it looks bad for the whole organization," He explained, a touch of anger creeping into his voice. Even if the two legends were not in the same room, or even the same country, the younger agent could feel the tension between them. Clearly something had gone down between them years ago and never been resolved. "As such, Skye, I must call into question your well fair. Are you truly fit to continue leading your squad, or are you ready to put in the documentation for your retirement to avoid being a possible threat to them in the future?"
There was silence as inky spheres fixed on the monitor, showing her main boss to her. For a moment, she remembered her four fallen comrades and her grief was clawing at her throat. Running into Chandler and seeing that he truly felt no pain for their loss only made her own that much worse. But then her mind was alive with the memories and faces of her four underlings now. She could see them all, interacting with one another in the training room. Chris would be snapping at Wolf while his brother was holding the tool he needed out of his reach. Zoey would be sharpening the blades of her Claws of a Hellcat while Rosie sent a punch bag into the wall on the other side of the room with one well-aimed hit. They had come to be her world over these years, the closest things to blood relatives she had. Knowing this, her answer was clear.
"Is my retirement a direct order from ya, or a suggestion from one colleague to another, Shinigami-Sama?" She asked gently.
"It is only a suggestion, Skye," Shinigami-Sama said in a stunned voice, "but I only make th-" She held up her hand and silenced him. She met his gaze with a small smile.
"I appreciate yar concern, Shinigami-Sama, but I am fine to lead these ruffians a might longer," She said calmly. She then pounded her heart with one fist lightly. "I got the luck a' the Irish on me side, after all."
The other sighed lightly before nodding. "Understood. Thank you for your dedication to the job," He said before shifting gears back to Excalibur. The other male had begun humming his theme song while awaiting them to finish their conversation. "Now, Excalibur, have you put any thought into what I asked you earlier?"
"I have, Shinigami-Sama," He said. He stopped singing all together, suddenly taking on a strict nature that his younger charges would never expect him capable. "I shall help you to take down Arachne and her ragtag team of lunatics. Will our old friend be helping us with this as well, or shall it be only the pair of us?"
"I have tried to get in touch with him multiple times but the damn coward is dodging my calls," Shinigami-Sama said with a small huff. Excalibur chuckled at this. "As such, I want you to inform my squad to head for Britain once they are done healing up here. If he won't answer my calls than I will simply have to go to him."
"Of course," The other male said briskly.
"Now, Excalibur, have you put any thought into it?"
"Yes," Excalibur stated while turning back to the confused young woman beside him. She perked up and met his gaze. "I have decided that it can only be Skye. She is the only one whom I feel can continue on the success I have seen all these years."
"Well, I may not completely agree, but I will not refuse you, old friend," Shinigami-Sama said lightly. He clapped his hands together. "Start getting your things in order. Let me know when the others are well enough to meet with me. I need to start planning out who shall take over in Yumi's place, now that she is gone."
"Understood, Shinigami-Sama," He said simply. The monitor flickered before going completely blank.
"What were ya talkin' about a moment ago, boss?" Skye asked suddenly, her gaze still fixed on the screen. He looked at her and could tell she already knew. But she wanted him to confirm it. Or perhaps even deny it; he wasn't quite sure.
"Shinigami-Sama, the leader of the British branch and I are going to have to go handle things with Arachne," He stated calmly. Still she did not turn her gaze away from the empty screen. "Smaller squads are better for infiltration but typically bad for success. However, our goal is to massacre the base little by little and take Arachne herself out. We have, however, accepted that we will not be coming back alive. As such, I have had to begin writing my will and getting my final things in order. One of those things, of course, is the inheritance of my position. I've wracked my brain over this all these years and I have always drawn up the same conclusion.
The only one I can picture taking over is you, Skye."
Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide with alarm and mouth slightly agape. She slowly looked down and shook her head. How could he think she would be a good choice? She was probably the worst person for the job! Sure, she could keep her four charges in order but an entire base? Some of the senior members still looked at her as if she was weak, remembering her time after the accident, the time in which she'd been a shell of her form self. "I… I can't agree with yar decision, boss," She said while meeting his gaze steadily.
And in the blink of an eye, he was suddenly hugging her and chuckling. She tensed, not used to this gesture and the emotions it entailed. "Skye, you are the closest thing to a child that I have ever had," He said softly, "and I have been blessed to have you with me. You are a fool if you think that you do not deserve this position. There are those whom would call you weak because they refuse to see what you have become, but you are the only leader in this base. You will make the best decisions, train the strongest agents and have the best luck at dealing with the idiots you will most likely come into contact with on a regular basis. On top of that, who else will keep Shinigami-Sama's brat in check once he takes over?"
She took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around him tentatively. She hadn't cried in years, in yet now she could feel tears springing to her eyes. They dripped along her cheekbones and fell onto his shoulder, where she pressed her face. "Ya don't play fair, ya know? Ya don't play fair at all!" She grumbled bitterly.
He said nothing and just let her let it all out. Just like he always had.
…
"Does that make sense to you?" Stein asked Little Frankie, whom was leaning over to watch the older male stitch together a man's arm. Stein and Marie had both agreed to stay and help take care of anyone brought out of the wreckage, or any Shibusen agents harmed in the effort. After returning to the Italian base to shower, pay her respects to Yumi and get into a pair of clothes a little more suited to the occasion, Marie had returned to the scene. As such, Little Frankie had come along as well and practically attached himself to Stein. He would ask a lot of questions about different things, and the older male was surprised he didn't get annoyed. In fact, he was quite delighted by the other's inquisitive nature.
Though, admittedly, Marie seemed less than pleased with the two of them being so close.
"Frankie," She said as she walked over with a smile. He glanced up at her curiously, pushing his glasses up on his nose. He had gotten a new pair while they had been back at the base. "Would you mind getting Mommy a water bottle from the ice chest real fast?" She asked, pointing to the three or four blue ice chests. They were far enough away that the young boy would be unable to hear her but close enough that she could watch him closely.
"Okay, Mommy," He said lightly before scrambling off the little stool Stein had set up for him and darting off. Stein finished wrapping up the young man's arm and nodded at him.
"You'll be fine, but you won't be able to finish helping clean up the debris. Go report to the man in charge and let him know those are orders straight from the medic," He explained calmly. The one he was addressing had been cut in the forearm when he tripped and landed on a sharp piece of metal sticking out from the wreckage. He nodded, saluted them both, and then headed off. "He's a great kid, you know."
"I've had to raise him alone," She said calmly, "but it hasn't been a problem. In fact, it might actually have been easier this way. No one to argue about with discipline or curfews or what he should or shouldn't know." He could hear the warning in her tone but he had never been particularly good at listening to her.
"I have been taking care of him fine alone. Don't mess this up for me," He said while pulling his pack of cigarettes out of his lab coat. He smirked up at her stunned face as he plopped one between his lips. "That's what you wanted to say, right?"
She regarded him in a cool way that didn't really match with her personality well. "You always were too good at reading other people," She commented.
"Except you," He said evenly, turning his gaze to their son. Currently, he was talking to a few agents whom were gathered around the ice chests gulping down water on their break. "If I had been able to read you better I would have been able to stop you from leaving all those years ago."
"You never wanted kids, Stein," She said while raising an eyebrow at him. He didn't tear his gaze away from the sooty haired child a few feet from them, though. And it was then that she saw the small gleam of joy and pride in his eyes as she released a puff of smoke. "You always said that children were a hindrance and an inconvenience."
"I still would have stood by you," He said, still not looking up. He waited a beat to look up at her. "I've always loved you, Marie, even if I have never been that great at proving it to you. It didn't matter if I hadn't ever had the desire for children myself; it was what would have made you happy and have kept you with me. I would have agreed if it meant you would stay. And, Hell, he is certainly an interesting little squirt, isn't he?"
Marie glanced back over at Little Frankie, whom was gathering up three water bottles and starting on his trek back. "He takes after his father quite a bit," She remarked. She then leaned closer so that she was level with Stein's face. "Are you trying to say you want to be around?"
"I… Am simply asking for the chance to see if I do have the ability to be a good father," He said simply, pressing his glasses up higher on his nose. He had put his poker face back into place as he met her gaze. "You are free to deny me, or free to say okay and leave if I am not good at it. I will not judge you for it."
"Okay then," She said with a small smile before kissing his cheek. And he couldn't help but smile at the gesture. She had always been too forgiving when it came to him, hadn't she? Most women would chase a deadbeat like him away with a stick instead of give him a second chance.
But that was simply who Marie was; his little fool. And he had to admit he liked it that way.
"Here, Mommy," Frankie said as he held one bottle up to her. He then offered the other to Stein. "I brought one for you, too. I thought you might be thirsty after all the work and talking I've been making you do." His tone was polite and calm but warm with a shred of hope. Stein knew that the boy had attached deeper meaning to the simple water bottle. If Stein took it, he was accepting Little Frankie as his own; and if not, he was rejecting him.
The boy was so much like him he couldn't help but be damn proud.
"Thank you, Frankie," He said, taking the offered item. The other's grey orbs shimmered with glee behind his large glasses. Stein then noticed another agent approaching them, limping slightly and blood trickling from a wound on his thigh. "Okay, Frankie, let's see how well you've learned." He said while putting out his cigarette and getting his equipment ready.
…
Skye peered through a crack in the door to the infirmary, watching her own squad interact with the Nevada base. She watched as Black*Star started to try and clamor out of his bed, raising his good fist at the giggling figure of Rosie, situated in a bed across from him. "You dare to mock the Great Black*Star?" He roared.
This only made the rosette haired woman laugh even louder. "Rosie can't help it; that joke just never gets old! How can Rosie be the only one who thinks this is funny?" She snorted merrily. Wolf chuckled from where he was beside her, sipping from a water bottle lightly. Skye had read the reports and the young man had been given the strict order to refrain from talking too much while the welt on his throat from the whip was healing. She was a touch grateful for the silence, though did feel bad about his injury.
She then shifted her gaze toward Soul, whom was sitting up and petting his cat, Calanthe. The little fur ball had let out the most depressing yowls and, after finding out who she belonged to, Skye asked Tsubaki to take her to where her human was resting. She frowned for a moment, bothered by his peaceful demeanor, until she realized that no one had yet to tell them about the slight failure on their mission. As the leader of the mission, it was her job to report how things stood to the team after her report to Shinigami-Sama. She couldn't help but glare at the tiredly smiling face of her boss' son. 'Ah, now yar willin' to stand down, are ya? Figures, ya spineless prick,' She thought grumpily.
She did not look forward to telling the squads everything she had to say. Between the failure and the fast approaching expiration date of their base leader, she was not willing or ready to talk with her base. She smiled weakly as she watched them all smiling and laughing, carefree and happy as they were now. "So what did you say your cat's name was, Soul?" Zoey asked while turning to the snowy haired male. Chris was seated beside her on her bed with a water bottle in his hands.
'Why should I go and ruin the mood for them? I want them to be happy while they can,' She thought while starting to back away from the door. She carefully and quietly shut it behind her all the way, making sure to save the peace in the room. She then headed down the hall, aiming to find Excalibur.
After all, she was having to hit the ground running.
…
Spirit sighed as he sat in the infirmary room, watching Maka. She still wasn't talking to him; whether it was because of the war waging in her mind or because of how mad she was at him, he wasn't exactly sure. When they had removed the knife from her heart, Mars had jumped to the forefront. She had successfully killed two guards before Maka took charge again. Now, the petite teen girl was sitting in a hospital bed with her arms strapped with leather binding to the guard posts on the edge of the bed.
It had been done at her own request.
The door opened and he jumped to his feet, gasping as his leader walked in. "Asura-Sama, I-" The other held up a hand to silence him.
"Mizune tells me that Maka was in control when you went to retrieve her. Is this true?" He asked evenly. Powder blue eyes locked with bright crimson before he turned away in shame. "Spirit, that was a major risk you took. Not only did it go directly against my orders, but if the black blood had not taken control you two could have very well killed your daughter. I did not agree to help you for nothing, you fool." His tone was cold and stern.
"I know. You got Masamune to do what you needed him to as long as I helped to assure that Medusa would know he was Tsubaki's brother," Spirit sighed lightly. He glanced away and shook his head. "You had me hack into both the Nevada and the Italian bases main frames to place the appropriate information at Medusa's disposal, as well as give Masamune the codes so they could access said information. You do realize that if Shinigami-Sama finds out he could execute all of us for treason, don't you?" He asked nervously.
Asura merely chuckled lightly at him. "Ichabod is many things, but he will not kill us for this," He said simply. The certainty in his voice did not reassure his comrade any. "How are things for Maka going, anyway?"
"She's been like that for the last seven hours," He lamented lightly, looking at his daughter. His eyes were large with pain and concern. "She hasn't opened her eyes, or twitched a muscle, or said a word. I've tried to talk to her but she never responds. I think she hates me."
"No, you idiot," The other said simply. He walked a little closer and leaned in, examining Maka's face. He then smiled widely. "She cannot be distracted even the slightest bit or else her dark side will take over. It will take some time, but she needs to find a way to accept this darker side into herself."
"What?" Spirit guffawed as he looked at the other. Asura shifted and rolled his shoulder, sending the portion of his scarf that had been just barely hanging there over against his back.
"There is no way that a cure will be able to be found for the black blood," He said evenly, "but there are ways to negate it, or come to control it."
"And I assume you speak from experience?" The red head asked after a small pause. There was a note of bitterness in his words, but the other ignored it. "After all, you and Chrona were Medusa's first two guinea pigs; you haven't been devoured by the insanity the black blood creates. Why is that?" It was something that had never been recorded, but when news of Medusa's treachery started to spread through Shibusen like wild fire, Asura had sought out Spirit Albarn and inquired into what Medusa had promised him. Ever since, the two had agreed to work together to find a way to help Maka and assure the black blood would never turn her into a beast like Ragnarok, or, rather, Chrona.
"Because I overpowered my insanity and accepted it as a part of me," He said evenly. He then chuckled lightly. "Why else do you think that I have become more fearless than I was at any other time in my life?"
"Is it that same courage that is keeping you from answering Shinigami-Sama's messages for you?" The other dead-panned. The leader flinched and glared at him with a harsh glint in his eyes.
"Shut up," He ground out lowly. He turned so that he was completely facing the other. "I am avoiding his messages because I already know what he'll say. On top of that, I have made my decision already and I don't think he'll approve. In that child he sees me and he won't want him in power, which is unfair. Soul is quite a responsible young man, for the most part." He perked up when they heard a small noise of alarm come from Maka. They both glanced just in time to see her eyes snap open and looked up at him pleadingly.
"Did… Did you mention Soul?" She asked breathlessly. There was a wild spark in her eyes, implying she was still itching with the instincts of battle, but she did not pull against her restraints. He couldn't help but smirk at her self-control. She was making such wonderful progress despite not really knowing what she was supposed to do.
"I did. Your father tells me that you and my nephew are quite close," He remarked. She stared at him in alarm. "Anyway, yes, I was discussing Soul. He and his brother, Wesley, are very important to me. They are the children of my late, beloved sister, after all, and they were her whole world. So, if you expect me to let you near him as you are, than you are mistaken. I'd kill you myself before I'd let a half-wild monster go at him."
"Then we're agreed on something," She said evenly. The level-headed way she was approaching the subject, despite her acute interest, was something Asura could admire. "And I assume you can help me get a handle on it? I could hear every word you two exchanged while I was fighting Mars."
He smirked at her, a small flicker of pride behind his eyes. He could see Kami Albarn in this child much more than Spirit, which was a relief. He may be working with Spirit, but he would change him for his better half in a heartbeat. "I will only help if you agree to do things my way. Understood?"
"Understood," She said right after him. He chuckled lightly before settling into one of the chairs in the room and preparing to give her some instructions.
End
(1) Viva la Vida is a song by Coldplay that I absolutely adore. The lyrics are wonderful and the music astonishing (if I could get my hands on the sheet music I would totally bust out my viola and learn it!). I also feel it sort of fit the mood of this chapter, since it was mostly centered towards wrapping things up with Skye and her team in Italy, as well as sort of showing Excalibur's feelings about having to leave his precious charges behind.
Notes:
How many of you actually felt bad in that scene with Excalibur and Skye? Because I actually want to know if I was able to make a few of you connect to him (and I am pretty sure he is OOC, but I think that he'd have the capability to be like that if partnered with the right person). And, I would like to give a last shout out of love and gratitude to you lovely viewers whom let me borrow your OCs; whether they were good or evil, they were all a joy to work with~! I can never truly express my gratitude for your generosity! x3
Next Chapter:
Last chapter is last!