Story Title: Eat My Soul

Rating: T for Teen

Genre: Romance/Drama/Action/Slice-of-Life

Synopsis: Maka's mission is to transfer to Shibusen Academy in order to find the whereabouts of an Evil soul. But the thing is…it's an all-boy's school.

Chapter Thirty Five

My Thoughts about Samurais!

I was shoved to the side before I could even blink.

"Maka, watch out!" Black Star had grabbed my arm and we flew to the right just before Loki smashed his Weapon's blade into the cement, creating a loud booming sound and breaking the ground.

In between smashing the ground and landing back on his feet, Loki caught my eyes and for a split second, narrowed them as if appreciating I didn't get hit.

He was enjoying this game.

"Thanks, Black Star," I said as we split and faced Loki together.

Kid had initiated battle with Loki, both of them fighting and dodging. Because Kid didn't have his Weapons, he had to use his bare fists and his Meister skills. Loki swiped the air with his scythe but Kid kept dodging, having nothing to deflect the blade with.

But I saw something.

Kid wasn't trying to hit Loki.

He was trying to grab the scythe.

"Black Star, help Kid and keep Loki busy!" I said "I have a plan!"

"Got it!" Black Star ran over to assist Kid. I knew he would be able to handle hand-to-hand combat because of the numerous times he almost killed me because of misunderstandings.

And I was right.

Black Star would use well-aimed punches to force Loki to look up while Kid focused with kicks from behind and to Loki's legs.

But Loki met their strategy head on.

It was as if he had eyes behind his head. He'd parry Black Star with his right hand while blocking Kid with his Weapon in his left. He'd keep them moving by switching which hand he'd hold his Weapon in and which way he would turn to face.

Keeping them on their toes, basically.

But I had a plan of my own.

Since Kid could only use his Soul Drive in limited amounts, and because he was still weak, I was the one who would use it. If I could shoot Loki's hand and force him to let go of Soul, then we would be able to escape, all of us.

Kid, Black Star and I all knew Loki was too strong for us all to beat at this point.

He had shaken us all by revealing Soul's betrayal and frankly, I didn't want to fight.

I just wanted Soul to come back.

I ran out a few feet away from the battle and held my hand like a gun. The boys were moving so fast that I was difficult to aim.

But I had to do it.

"Don't you want to know why Soul chose me instead of you!" shouted Loki, smiling evilly as he continued fighting Black Star and Kid.

"I only need to hear it from Soul," I said, getting distracted.

"Oh, you think he'll tell you the truth after lying to you for so long?"

"I've been lying to him too for half a year about my gender and he still trusts me anyway," I said. "So no matter what…I want to hear it from Soul!"

"How sweet…. Did you hear that, Soul? Your precious little lady still believes in you even after you've broken her heart…and killed her friends."

Suddenly, the scythe was driving across Black Star's chest.

And Black Star was bleeding.

And he was too shocked to even scream.

And Loki was smiling still.

And Black Star was falling…

Falling…

Falling down.

Down…

Down…

The world was falling down with him.

And Black Star moved no more.

"BLACK STAR!" My voice and Kid's broke the air like a hammer to a mirror.

Suddenly, Loki's Weapon began releasing an electrical current, the one Weapons always discharged whenever him and his Meister's souls weren't connecting. Loki's hand sizzled and smoked but he didn't let go. "Don't worry. It'll stop hurting soon after I kill the next one."

He looked at Kid.

And suddenly, Kid was on his knees, breathing hard and clutching his chest.

Loki smiled down at him though his eyes remained cold.

"I must thank you and Soul. If it weren't for him, I never would have found such a perfect soul to munch on."

"W-what…are you talking about…!" breathed Kid, glaring at him. He was starting sweat even though he was freezing.

"It was Soul who introduced your soul to me, as an offer for power. I've been slowly eating you away without you noticing. When I was finally strong enough to move, Alexandra was already being hunted down. So, I thought I'd help her by taking out the meddler and his Weapon." He sighed. "Though that didn't amount to much, it seems. Alexandra was killed anyway."

"You were the one attacked Black Star that night?"

"And I would have killed him too if it weren't for his Weapon. She willingly took the killing blow, which was rather…unexpected. Since she was able to surprise me even if ever so slightly, I decided to let them live."

Kid grit his teeth. "Don't you dare talk as if you have power over another person's life!" he raised his shaking hand and pointed his index finger at him.

I gasped. "No, Kid! If you use Soul Drive…!"

You might end up like Black Star…!

Loki imitated Kid's hand and lowered his finger to him. "It's useless. I've already eaten all of your power at this point. It must be rather difficult for you to even stay awake. Let me remedy that."

The tip of his finger began glowing.

Kid must have realized that he really didn't have any powers left because he looked at Loki, his eyes wide and disbelieving.

"Thank you for the meal," said Loki.

My mind was going on over-drive. I was suddenly seeing everything go in slow motion and I was breathing in and out slowly. I could hear my heart in my ears.

He was going to kill Kid.

He was going to shoot.

He was really going to do it.

He was going to kill my friends…

Right in front of Soul.

What was Soul feeling now?

I hoped he wasn't being dragged in darkness by Loki.

No, I couldn't let that happen!

"Loki!" I screamed. "Give my friends back!"

And then I shot my Soul Drive.

I didn't aim at his hand.

I aimed at his heart.

I wanted to kill him.

At this moment, I wanted to get revenge.

I wanted to rip him apart.

Anything, in order to cause him physical pain and wipe that smile off his face.

For Black Star who he killed.

For Kid whose soul he ate.

For Soul who he stole from me.

For my friends…!

But Loki spun around and deflected my Soul Drive with his Weapon as easily as if it had been an annoying fly.

"What were you trying to do with that punny Soul Drive?" he asked, his eyes wide. "Kill me? Maka…haven't you learned anything at Shibusen? I just devoured a Shinigami's powers. Therefore…I am a Shinigami, a Death God. My powers rival your school's principal." He paused, looking me over. "…Are you telling me that you are arrogant enough to think you can challenge Professor Shinigami?"

"I'll challenge anyone for Soul!" I declared.

I was about to rush toward Loki, aiming to kill with my bare hands, when suddenly, someone grabbed me from behind and held me back.

And then that person whispered in my ear in a sickly sweet voice, "Hello, is Soul, there?"

I recognized the voice at once.

It was the girl who kept calling for Soul. She had shoulder length black hair and yellow eyes like Loki. But unlike Loki, she was wearing all black.

"Who the hell are you?" I shouted, struggling to free myself. The girl was holding her arm up against my neck, making it hard to breath.

"The name's Echo," said Echo in her falsely sweet voice. "I'm Loki's back up."

"Though I don't remember asking for your help, Echo," said Loki, narrowing his eyes at her.

She hesitated but spoke up. "B-but…! You looked like you were having so much fun!"

"Yes, I was. Until you came. Now you've ruined my good mood."

"You're…you're not mad, are you?" she asked tentatively.

He beckoned her over with his hand. "Come here, Echo. I think I will use you too."

Echo smiled. Before she ran over to Loki's side, she giggled at me and punched me in the stomach. I dropped to my knees, coughing and holding my stomach. I began blinking lights and couldn't breathe for a few seconds.

"That's for trying to hurt Loki," she whispered innocently.

And then she began glowing, and I knew she was a Weapon.

She transformed into a pistol, like the ones Kid used. Loki held out his hand and Echo, in her Weapon form, appeared before him. He took it, looking satisfied.

"I used the excess amounts of power I ate to create Echo, my second Weapon. She and I match perfectly in soul wavelengths but…I prefer using Soul." He smiled at me. "In terms of power, he's the strongest."

"I know he is," I coughed. "Soul's the strongest. So I'm sure he can beat you up if he wants to. Right, Soul?"

He didn't answer.

"Anyway," said Loki casually as if we were simply talking about the weather. "Since this little person doesn't have any power, I think it's okay if we kill him."

"Of course, Loki!" agreed Echo. It was if she was simply echoing whatever her master said.

Loki pressed the pistol against Kid's forehead.

"Funny," Loki said slowly, staring into Kid's eyes. "Isn't it just funny…how we both have the same eyes?"

"It's disgusting," said Kid. "Your left eye is two centimeters lower than your right."

Loki grinned. "I'm sure that displeases you."

"It makes me want to kill you."

"But not today," sighed Loki. "Not today."

I was moving before I even knew what I was doing…or even planning.

I sprinted forward, but not to Loki.

I had to get to Kid.

I ran past Black Star's body and, Loki, who probably hadn't counted on me for using brute, physical force to attack him, wasn't prepared as I shoved him with all my might to the side. I then grabbed Kid's hand, dragged him back to where Black Star was and…

We disappeared from sight.

I wasn't sure how long I would have been able to hold up my power but I wouldn't stop concentrating.

I had to keep going.

"Where did they go!" shouted Echo.

"You can't hide from me, Maka," said Loki, looking around. "I know your skill as Meister. It must be very soul consuming to be using Flickering Soul on three people."

Kid was able to stand back up and we both supported Black Star over our shoulders, dragging him as we made our escape, hiding under my Flickering Soul.

If we stayed any longer…I wasn't sure any of us would make it out alive.

I never imagined I would be using Flicking Soul for the first time during a life threatening situation.

But then again, death usually brought out the best in people.

And the worst.

Soul…

I'll come back for you.

You can count on that!

The moon rose steadily over Shibusen Dorms, as if foretelling that the night would be long. Kid and I carefully laid Black Star down on the couch as soon as we got home. We were all looking pretty bad.

Kid's face was pale but instead of treating his own injuries, he went straight to the phone and began calling someone. I cupped Black Star's face in my hands, my eyes searching for a breath.

A heartbeat.

Any sign of life.

But I was so scared; my hands were shaking.

His shirt was torn and bloodied and his chest…there was a large gash in his chest where Loki had hit him.

I didn't know why but…I kept thinking about all the means things I've done to him, all the unfair things I brought on him.

I thought about all those times I forgot to say sorry or thank you.

I thought about the time when we first met and how I didn't take him seriously.

I thought about the time when he found out I was a girl.

I thought about how much I cared for him and that no matter what I wanted to stay with him, I wanted him to stay with us, and that I didn't want him to leave….

Oh, God…please…please…d-don't take him away…!

"B-Black Star, stay with us, okay? Don't go yet, okay? You'll be fine, you'll be fine…." I pressed my finger against his neck and checked for a pulse.

Kid was talking on the phone thought everything seemed strangely distant and I couldn't hear his voice anymore.

My heart stopped.

Against my finger….

I felt….

"I called Tsubaki and the girls. They're heading over here right now." Kid walked over to me. I had fallen to my knees, my hands at my sides.

"K-Kid…Black Star's…" I could feel something stinging my eyes and when I blinked, I found that it was my tears.

Kid's eyes opened wide.

He didn't say anything.

He quickly went to Black Star's body, held his wrist, and then, after a moment, laid it down gently.

We didn't talk at all until Tsubaki and the others came bursting in, Tsubaki looking frightened and dreadful.

"Where's Black Star?" she demanded before any of us could speak.

Kid and I glanced quickly at each other.

"He's…" I started, my heart thumping hard against my chest. "He's…" I choked back my tears and found I couldn't say anything more. I rubbed my eyes, not wanting my friends to see me cry but I…I just couldn't stop. Patty came over and wrapped her arms gently around me, laying her head comfortingly against my shoulder.

"N-no…" whispered Tsubaki, looking at me and then at Kid, waiting for one of us to say that everything was a joke and Black Star was fine. "Where's…Black Star?"

Kid swallowed. "We put him in his room. Maka did her best to close up his wound by using her soul skills but…there's still a bit of blood left."

Tsubaki ran into the hall, looking scared, and we all waited in silence.

I closed my eyes and held my breath as Tsubaki screamed out Black Star's name.

Liz was silently crying, large tears rolling down her cheeks, and Patty was hugging my arm tightly, looking on the verge of bursting out with sadness. Kid sat down back on the couch, his hands in his face, and I stood where I was, gripping my fists.

Tsubaki didn't come out until I came into the room and gently took her away from Black Star's body.

I made everyone sit down and looked at them all, standing tall and firm.

"Everyone," I said, my voice shaking. "Soul…he's with the Evil now, he's with Loki now. And he's been with Loki ever since the beginning of this year, maybe even later than that."

I knew now that the boy I saw talking to the Evil wasn't Dirk.

It had been Soul all along.

That was why he looked familiar.

Dirk he…resembled Soul. That was why I thought it was Dirk. But no, I had been wrong.

I had been completely wrong this entire time.

Everything that happened.

My mission.

My time at Shibusen.

Everything happened because of Soul.

As his Meister…I had to do something about that.

"I want…to get Soul back. I want him back. Even if we have to take him by force, I want everyone's help on getting him back." I looked at them all. "Can I…ask for everyone's help?"

Liz smiled. "Well of course we'll help. Soul's our friend, isn't he?"

"Yeah!" Patty chimed in encouragingly. "We won't let some Evil take Soul away from us!"

"Tsubaki?" Liz looked at her.

Tsubaki was more silent than usual though I couldn't blame her. I was expecting her to say something like she'd rather be by Black Star's side, until the burial…

But when she looked up, she looked more determined than I have ever seen her. Her eyes burned with light. "I'll help. That's what Black Star fought for. That's what Black Star wanted. I'll finish what he started no matter what."

I couldn't let Tsubaki down. "Thank you, Tsubaki. And…Kid?"

"I'll help bring Soul back," he said quickly.

"No, I don't want you to."

"What?" His eyes opened wide with surprise. "Why?"

"You know why!" I said. "Your powers are gone! Kid…I don't want you getting hurt. Soul wouldn't want you getting hurt."

"I don't care what my dear little brother wants. I'm bringing him back home even it kills me. His little temper tantrums are always something I've had to live with ever since we met." He stood up and advanced toward me. "If you think…I'm okay with just sitting at home while my brother is out there with the Evil…then, Maka…you know very little about me. I'd die before I let anything happen to him."

"But…I don't want you getting hurt," I implored. "If you left like Black Star then what am I supposed…!"

"I won't leave," he said strongly. "I won't. Not until I punch Soul, I won't leave."

"Well, that settles everything!" said Liz, trying to dispel our tension. "Maka, what do you have in mind? What do we do first?"

They waited for me to speak.

I thought about Loki, and his powers, and the evil gleam in his eye when he struck Black Star.

"Loki's powerful…but if we can take out his resources, then maybe we'll have a chance."

"So, if we kill Kid, we'll win?" asked Patty, raising her fists at her Meister.

Kid didn't look pleased.

"No, that's not what I meant," I explained calmly. "Loki already said he had stolen all of Kid's powers already. I think that we kill Loki, Kid's powers will come back. Nothing will happen if Kid dies."

"But how do we kill Loki?" asked Tsubaki.

"We take out his Weapons first," I said. "But of course we'll hold out on Soul since the whole point of this plan is to recapture Soul. What we need to do is to get rid of Loki's other Weapon: Echo."

"Echo?" The girls looked at me and I explained to them everything that happened until this point.

"So that's it then," said Liz. "Our main target is the Weapon Echo."

"But…" said Patty slowly, looking confused, "how will we get her to come out?"

I looked at the phone. "Either we hit redial or use bait."

"You don't mean…" said Kid, looking at me.

"Me," I said. "And don't say you don't want me to be bait. I agreed to let you help so you have to agree to let me help in my own way too."

Kid closed his mouth, looking frustrated but I smiled at him, thanking him for letting me do this.

"So the plan of action is," I continued, "we get Echo, and then we get Soul, and then we get Loki."

"You make it sound easy but really, we're going to be in a long battle, huh?" Liz sighed. "And the winter ball is at the end of this month…!"

"The ball can wait until we get Soul back and kill Echo and Loki," said Tsubaki.

"So that's that, then!" said Patty. "When do we start?"

"Next Thursday night," I said. "We need time to prepare."

"Got it," said the girls.

"We have everything in order!" said Patty happily. "But…"

"But?" I asked.

"Well...I guess Maka doesn't have a date for the ball anymore."

"W-what?" I gaped at her. "How can you be thinking of that at a time like this?"

"Well, it's true, isn't it? Soul's gone and all…."

"Soul will be my only date even if he doesn't show up," I said adamantly.

I didn't know why, but the girls giggled and they hugged me, patting me on the head and looking wistful. Kid folded his arms, not looking very happy about my decision but he didn't say anything.

I was a bit relieved to see Tsubaki smiling so soon. I think she was just pretending to be brave.

After all…Black Star was never going to open his eyes again.

He was never going to talk with us again.

He was never going to laugh again.

He was never going to smile again.

I remembered my samurai showdown.

Next Time on Eat My Soul!

"They laid down flowers at his grave but...I left him his green lantern."

Author's Note: I'm scared. I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared I'm scared. I just read this...HORROR FILLED comic 'cause my friend asked me to read it. It's called...man, I don't even know what it's called because all thoughts just went zwoopmh! right out of my head. I'm scared.

I guess...you were all surprised by Soul's little BETRAYAL OF THE HEART, ha ha. I announce now...that there are only five more chapters to go. Take a moment and count down with me. Hummmmmm...

Thanks everyone for reading Eat My Soul! I'll see you all in the next chapter! :D