Maka stared at the doorway for the longest time not able to comprehend anything except that someone she thought she would never see again was standing on her front porch, her mouth felt dry and her legs were weighed down. Her breath came out in shallow puffs as she stared in awe at the beautiful woman who looked so much like her. "Mom?"
Haruko looked her daughter over; Maka looked exactly as she had as a young teenager, tall, lanky, with a flat chest and grayish-blonde hair. She smiled as she noticed the looked on her young daughter's face, Haruko was more than sure that spirit hadn't told Maka about being in Shibusen and now after seven years she finally got to see her again. "MOM!" Haruko felt Maka jump into her wrapping her arms around her waist snuggling her head to her chest, Haruko couldn't help but smile.
Maka smiled in joy as her mother's arms wrapped around her holding her close. "I missed you too Maka happy birthday" she said gently giving her a tight squeeze before releasing her. Maka looked up at her mother, she really hadn't forgotten her birthday but considering she hadn't come back for seven years regardless she knew that wasn't the reason for the visit "you're not here by coincident are you….do you know what's going on?" Haruko nodded "sharp as ever I see and yes I know everything…..your father asked me to come help" Maka looked ready to faint at that comment "DAD DID?"
Haruko gave a small laugh. "yeah and he was nervous too, he stood at my door for two hours and still couldn't knock" Maka had to laugh at that she could just imagine her dad standing in front of her mother's door scared shitless. "I see, so you're working with dad again…." A small smile graced Maka's lips, even if it was temporary it reminded her sop much of her childhood she couldn't help feeling a pleasant wave of nostalgia. "Maka….." Haruko gently chided gaining the thirteen year olds attention again
Maka looked up to see her mother holding a beautiful golden chain with a small circle shaped locket on it. "What is it?" Maka asked reaching her hands out to touch it. "it can enhance your body's strength tenfold and heal your soul if injured. I want you to use it during the fight with the Kishin, it'll make your stronger and protect your soul from insanity." Maka looked at her mother in awe, "where did you find something so powerful?" Haruko just shrugged "I've traveled for seven years Maka, I found MANY amazing power amplifiers, I want you to keep this one"
Haruko placed the necklace on Maka gently clasping it behind her neck. The chain felt cold but the pendant itself was oddly warm and Maka could feel any traces of doubt or fear wash away gently. Yup that necklace was definitely powerful. "Thank you mom" Haruko nodded softly looking over toward soul's bedroom door as tsubaki and black*star walked into the kitchen chatting away.
Tsubaki stopped turning to face Maka and Haruko gaping at the sight of them, almost twins. "THERE'S TWO OF YOU?" black*star yelled. Tsubaki turned her head to look a bit shocked herself "wow, you do look a lot alike" Tsubaki's face lightened up before bowing "oh please forgive my rudeness, I am tsubaki, a friend of Maka's from school" "please feel free to call me Haruko" Haruko replied bowing lightly to tsubaki "I AM THE GREAT BLACK*STAR! THE MAN WHO WILL SURPASS GOD HIMSELF YOHOOO"
Haruko stared in shock at the small blue haired boy standing on Maka's counter with one finger pointing toward her. Maka had a red spot on her forehead from face palming too hard and tsubaki had a nervous smile on her face. "and that is my miester and husband" she said before hanging her head "he's tiny…"
Everything stopped in that moment, tsubaki looked terrified, Maka was rolling on the floor laughing her head off and black*star stood stoned on the countertop his mouth almost to his feet. "Did I say something wrong?" Haruko asked curiously, only making Maka laugh harder. Black*star now sat off in his emo corner crying while tsubaki tried to make him feel better.
Haruko walked over stretching out her hand to help black*star up "sorry, I didn't know you were so sensitive about your high, if it helps you've still got a long time left to grow, I bet you might be the tallest boy around if you keep trying hard enough" she gave a wink to tsubaki who smiled and nodded standing up and measuring him against the wall "why look you've already grown this === much just this week" back*star gave a huge grin and jumped back up on the counter "YOHOO"
Maka's book collided with his head knocking him off the counter and onto the floor. "black*star didn't we have a talk about staying off the furniture" black*star nodded slowly "sorry Maka" she nodded lightly. "We need to finish our preparations today…we all know what tomorrow is" the room seemed to grow an air of tension. "I'm going to go run the final plans by Shinigami-sama" Maka turned to leave and stopped as she opened the door looking over her shoulder "mom, Thank you for the necklace, I think I have an idea of what to do with it."
Maka walked out the door into the sunlight, the large pillars and spires of the school jutted out in all directions seeming to point to the entire world, Maka used them every day to know which way to go to get to class, but she never could really appreciate the slow walk until today though. 'Tomorrow…is the end….. Am I ready for this, can I really kill Ashura without killing soul….' Maka shook her head 'this is no time for doubts….there's no ifs about this….I WILL WIN!'
Maka began to sprint trying to get out some of her pent up energy and before long it turned to a run, she got to the school far too quick for her taste and considered running around town once but decided this was far more important. Taking a heavy breath Maka entered the school through the massive double doors and heading straight for Shinigami-sama's office pausing at the door. "This is it, now or never" with all the confidence she had Maka pushed open the doors and walked into the room. "Welcome Maka-Chan, now that you're here let's get started"