Alright now for Ch. 29... Btw sorry it has been taking me longer to update. This week has been completely chaotic and insane, so I don't know how this chapter will turn out. I'll try to make it happy as possible though. And also, I am going to reference a moment in the Soul Eater series. Try to see if you can find it :P

Stein took a step into the cold, dark holding cell in the underground dungeon beneathe the DWMA. He could hear mice crawling through the walls and water dripping from somewhere down the hall. It even slightly smelled of mildew. Although, Stein really did not care. All he wanted was to get the next couple of weeks over with; he well knew they were going to be anything but easy.

"I know the room does not meet the standards for one of the DWMA's professors," The high-pitched voice that could only belong to Lord Death met Stein's ears, and he turned around to see the reaper standing on the threshold. "but these cells were not exactly made for any of the academy's members.

"It's alright, Lord Death. I understand." Stein said as he exhaled and continued to look around the cell. It wasn't too small, but it wasn't huge either, and it had a bed, toilet and sink. If it had stitches covering the walls, Stein would might have found the room appealing. However, the bare grey stone walls were rather boring to him. The tall professor walked to his bed and set down his suitcase down, where he found a note on the blanket.

Franken, I'll stop by after school before Crona gets there. Just make yourself comfortable till I get there.

Marie.

Stein inhaled deeply and set the note back on the bed. It's still so relieving to know she is already able to start teaching again. While he let his thought pass through his mind, he checked his wrist watch. 2:34. The academy school hours end at three p.m, so he had time to collect his thoughts before Marie would get there.

"So," Lord Death spoke up, "is there anything I can do for you before I go?"

Stein was quick to respond, "No, no. I'm fine. Thank you, Lord death."

The reaper gave a short nod of his head before he shut the thick, heavy metal door and locked it then left. Stein took in a deep breath and sat down on the bed with his legs spread and outsretched, his back hunched, and his head down with his forearms resting on his thighs. He gave a heavy sigh and shut his eyes, reaching his large hand up to the bolt and twisted it a few times. It helped even out his thoughts a bit but not by much.

Stein looked up, trying to find something to focus on. All his olive green eyes fell upon, however, was bare stone walls, save a mirror which graced the wall right in front of him. It was covered in dust, but the scientist could still see his reflection clearly. All he saw was the same thing he saw the night Marie showed up at his doorstep so many weeks ago. The only difference was his eyes were their normal color. Memories of that night drifted back to him, images flowing within his mind. All he could think about was how nervous Marie was when she saw his bare torso.

Why do women find a well-toned body appealing? It is merely muscle. Stein's curiosity soon got the best of him before he removed his lab coat and turtleneck shirt to try to find anything that could aid him and help him understand. However, all he really found was less muscle and more flab. What? I am losing muscle mass... Why? Perhaps it is because I haven't been doing my usual training... Every morning before and after he taught at the academy, Stein would go to a secluded area, a small plataue, behind the DWMA where he could perform his advanced skills in martial arts as well as normal training excercises such as push up and sits ups.

Stein checked his watch again, wondering if he'd have time to regain any muscle mass whatsoever before Marie got there. 2:40. Plenty of time. The professor dropped to the floor and started doing push- ups, wondering if he'd be able to do as many as usual given the fact that he has lost some strength. He was able to count sevety-three, which is by far below his standars.

Stein took a short break, annoyed how he failed to do what he could do just a few weeks before. That is not acceptable. It may just be body strength, but really, that is all I have left that I can still control. Stein took heavy breaths, checking his watch. 2:50. Did it really take me ten freaking minutes to do that many push- ups?! Stein huffed in annoyance and got on his back for sit- ups. A small shiver ran down his back when his bare skin came in contact with the cold, hard floor. Stein paid it no mind, however, when he began his sit-ups. He strived to atleast reach his goal, which was one hundred twenty, but was disappointed when he found he could only muster one hundred seven.

The irritated doctor lye on his back panting, getting angrier by the second. Damn it! I'm letting everything slip out of my hands, even my health and strength! Stein clamped his eyes shut and sneered as he sat up. He went to his bed and sat down, his body damp with sweat. I can't let even more things that signify who I am slip away from me... If I do, who will I be in the end? Stein went back to the his previous spot and resumed his push-ups. He started from one, determined to reach at least one hundred.

"One, two, three, four..." With every number, his breath was more labored. He closed his mind off from the outside world and focused on his strength, on every muscle in his shoulders and arms. They soon began to burn and Stein sucked in more air, trying to extinguish the fire under his skin.

As Marie walked down the dimly-lit halls of the underground dungeon, her mind was racing. What if it doesn't work? What if he's never the same again? What will the academy do? The students can't lose him... Most of them won't admit it, but they are all so fond of him... Marie stopped in her tracks and gasped. What will I do?! "Ohh..." Marie whimpered as she continued her walk down the hall, passing by several heavy metal doors. The Death Scythe fretted and scolded herself for fretting the entire time till she got to Stein's cell.

Marie stopped in front of the door, taking in a deep breath. She wanted to go in and see Stein, to reassure him for God knows how many times that everything would be ok and everything would work out. She only needed to believe it herself...

But even so, her fear of seeing him in the state he'd been in for the past couple of weeks weighed her down and made her chest feel heavy. Marie looked down, trying to compose herself before she opened the door. She closed her eye, took another deep breath and listened to her surroundings. It was relatively quite, save some mice running about and water leaking. And, a labored voice counting.

Marie opened her eye and furrowed her eye brows. Franken...? She opened the door to see Stein doing push-ups on the floor.

"Eighty-five... Eighty-... six... Eighty-... sev-en..." Stein's voice was very labored, and he looked like he was about to collapse. His muscles rippled underneathe his sweat-covered skin, making Marie's breath catch in her throat and her eye widen. Oh. My. God.

"Eigh-ty... eight..." Stein was then shaking violently with beads of sweat rolling down his arms. He finally let his arms give and his, in Marie's and probably any other woman's opinion, beautifully carved-by-the-gods body crash the floor. The sweat-covered meister lye on the floor panting with his eyes tightly shut and a sneer twisted on his face.

Marie tried desperately to find her voice for several minutes, wishing that she could say anything. Although, she did have to admit it was pretty nice to see Stein panting shirtless, with his muscles rippling beneathe his sweat-covered skin... Damn it, Marie! Snap out of it!

After a few moments, Stein got back up into the push-up position. Just what on Earth is he trying to do? He looks like he is about to pass out! "One... Two... Three... F-four... Fi-i-ve..." Stein continued his push-ups, his breathing and movements much more labored than before. Come on, Marie! Stop seeing this as something hot! He's going to hurt himself! Wait... Oh God he;s going to hurt himself!

That thought alone was enough to break Marie out of her trance-like state and she found her voice, even though it was small, causing her to stutter. "F-Franken!" Stein stopped in the middle of a push-up, his muscles trembling violently.

"M-Marie?" Stein then collapsed, his breathing ragged and short.

Marie rushed to his side, turning him on his back and picking up his head. "Franken, breathe. Breathe." Her words were soothing, almost like a spell to him, making him do exactly what she said. "Franken, what the hell were you doing?"

"My..." His words were immediately cut short by him having to take in a heavy breath. "I'm letting myself slip, Marie..."

The blond was now utterly confused. "What? So you're going to push yourself past your limit and hurt yourself? How is that going to help you?"

"I haven't even been excercising, Marie..." Stein sat up, "First I lose my mind, then I start losing my muscle. If I let myself go, I won't be me anymore..." Stein's voice trailed off.

At the mention of his muscles, Marie's eye slowly explored every curve of his well-toned torso and arms. "Uh..." She stopped and cleared her throat before she managed to continue, "Franken, I don't know if you've noticed, but you still do have quite a bit of muscle mass."

Stein raised an eyebrow and looked into the Death Scythe's eye, noticing how it traveled all around his bare body. "That's not so easy for me to say..." Stein stopped and gave a short, half-hearted laugh. "But it appears you could say I am looking better than ever."

"Now why is that?" She asked after she swallowed, her amber eye finally managed to meet his olive ones.

Stein smirked. "By the way you can't take your eye off of my body." Marie's eye widened and she blushed, suddenly finding great interest in the wall and decided she should study it. Stein laughed again, the same laugh as before, only a bit longer. "It's ok, Marie. I think you forget that you have seen me shirtless plenty of times."

Marie tried to clear her mind so she could look Stein in the eye, not his chest, when she spoke to him. Although it took several slow, torturously long seconds, Marie managed to tear her eye away from the wall and look the meister in the eye. Her forehead was now beginning to dampen with sweat and she still felt as if she needed to look away from Stein, but she forced herself to smile. But then the professor spoke again.

"Plus, you've seen more of me than just my torso." Stein said with a grin. He knew Marie's head was exploding at that point when she stopped dead and blushed. She tried to speak, but all that came from her mouth were short stutters that could in no way whatsoever be words.

"It's so easy to mess with you, Marie!" Stein laughed.

Marie furrowed her brows and slapped his arm with the back of her hand. "That's not funny, Franken!"

"What? It's not that bad... All we did was-"

"I know what we did!" Marie cut him off.

"Yeah, and it was nice." Stein leaned back and used his arms to prop himself up, giving Marie a nice view of his chest and abs. Marie stopped breathing for a brief while, but she soon relaxed and smiled at him. How is it he was mad at himself just a few minutes ago and jumped to being happy? Oh well. If he's happy, I'm happy.

Marie was torn from her thoughts when she heard a knock on the metal cell door, snapping her head up to see a certain pink-haired boy with a very nervous look on his face. Stein also looked up, his expression suddenly darkening slightly.

"Hello, Crona." the professor said. His voice was even and monotone, a dry wasteland that lacks emotion.

"He-hello, Prof-fessor Stein." he stuttered. Marie gave one of her warm smiles at the boy, sympathy etching its way into her heart. She knew it wasn't Crona's fault for Stein's condition, and he did too, but he still felt so guilty about it.

"Thank you for coming, Crona." Marie said sweetly.

Stein's eyes darted to Marie. How can anyone always be so cheerful? I suppose that is something else I just don't understand... Stein then felt something in the back of his mind growing, reaching out, slowly trying to gain dominance. Let's see how far I can stand it before it gets too strong. Stein closed his eyes and focused on his own sense of self and who he is, trying to keep his mind intact.

Marie's smile soon faded when she noticed Stein with his eyes closed and his face twisted in a determined, dark look. What...? He was just fine a moment ago... Oohh yeah... It's because Crona is here... Crona also must have noticed the way Stein was acting because he quickly spoke up.

"S- so, I'll just be g-going now..." The pink-haired boy waited for confirmation, not knowing if Stein or Marie would object to his leaving.

Marie also waited, her eye glued to Stein, searching for any sign of him slipping. He didn't move, didn't say a word. He was barely even breathing for that matter. After about a minute passed, Marie looked back up to Crona and gave a short nod then a small smile. Crona returned the expression and quickly left the cell, nearly running down the hall.

Several moments passed and Stein still had not moved. While she waited, Marie listened to all of the sounds of the dungeon her ears could collect. First, she heard Crona's quick footsteps getting further and further away till she couldn't hear them anymore. Then she just listened to water dripping, mice scratching in the walls, and Stein's shallow breathing. She had been waiting for a long while now, probably fifteen minutes. She wanted to get help, but she knew it would be pointless. This is something he needs to accomplish on his own. But still... I need to help him.

"Franken," she whispered to him softly as she cupped his cheek in her hand. "Franken, listen to my voice." He didn't open his eyes or say anything, but his fingers twitched slightly and he started breathing normally, so Marie continued. "You can do this. Focus on who you are. Who you are..."

Stein took in a deep breathe through his nose and relaxed, relishing in her voice. It was something that he could really focus on, something that tied him down and stopped his mind from wandering. Most importantly, she was a part of him now. And not just because he started to develop feelings for her, but because her soul had such a calming effect on him, and he knew he would remember moments like this forever. She had engraved her name in his mind; he could never forget her.

The entire time he was motionless, he was battling the madness for dominance, trying to keep his sanity from shattering. Eventually, with the sound of Marie's voice as an aid, he was able to prove his dominance over the madness. It receded, only a miniscule ember of heat in the back of his mind. He opened his eyes and stared down, not letting his gaurd down. He may have won the battle, but the war was not even close to over. But still... I have to admit gaining my dominance over it was refreshing!

A small grin spread across the professor's face as he relished in his victory. Marie's eye widened slightly when she saw the smile; if he lost it already, she would need to run like hell and lock the door. "Fr- Franken?" Her heart beat picked up a little and she started to back away.

"I'm fine, Marie," Stein said casually after he looked up and smiled at the Death Scythe. He saw fear in her eyes, fear and worry. He tried his best to soften his own eyes and to look completely sane for her sake. "Really, Marie. I am alright. The only reason I was smiling is the fact that I was able to supress the madness and keep my sanity."

Marie's fear and worry melted away when she smiled at him and threw her arms around his neck. "That's wonderful, Franken!" her voice was filled with so much happieness, Stein thought she might cry. Damn, I know she's happy, but... Damn. Should I be happier? Or is her tendency to get overly emotional just presenting itself?

Stein wrapped his arms around Marie's waist, burying his face in her hair so he could smell her sweet scent of strawberries, coconuts and vanilla. Her scent... I should remember it. That way when I need to fight off the madness, I can think about it. Stein took in adeep breath through his nose, drinking in her scent. Anything that ties to my sane self could help.

Marie pulled away from him a few moments later blushing. "Anyway, I-I should, uh... Get going. I've got some papers to grade." She managed with a smile. With a nod of his head, Stein stood then reached his hand down to Marie in offering to help her up. She grabbed his hand and he pulled up, struggling to make it seem effortless. His muscles still felt as if they were numb from doing so many push-ups.

The woman walked to the already opened cell door, turning around to face the meister. "I'll see you tomorrow, Franken."

"Yeah. See ya later, Marie." Stein said as he put his hands in his pants pockets.

With a warm smile spread across her face, Marie exited the cell, pulling the heavy door with her, and locked it when it shut. She walked several feet down the hall, twenty more or less, till she stopped walking and leaned against the hallway wall and the corners of her mouth curled in another small smile.

Oh, Franken, you're doing better... You did it. But then, you still did need my help. But even so, all that matters is you did it. Marie sighed and looked down at her shoes. I just hope you can do what you did today when the madness gets stronger...

Ahhh finally, this chapter is finally done... Sorry if this chapter is kinda boring, but I will do everything I can to make the next couple of chapters more eventful. Thanks so much for reading, your using your time to read my story and review means the world to me! :D And btw, did you find the SE series reference?

Once again, thanks! :) -Mikshizels