Whispers

by Akire Rosales

Its been 10 years since the fight with Asura. Maka made her own life outside America, writting her happy ending with her husband, Soul. She has a good job, a nice married life, and keeps in touch with her friends... Why is she feeling so miserable then? Something is missing, and she knows what it is, she notices it everytime the letters of certain swordsman arrive in her mail.

23. Sinners

AkireRosales: Welcome back!

---

Whispers

Chapter 23:

"Sinners"

"Fire on Fire, would normally kill us.

With this much desire, together we're winners.

They say that we're out of control,

And some say we're sinners.

But dont let them ruin our beautiful rhythms.

'Cause when you unfold me

And tell me you love me

And look in my eyes...

You are perfection.

My only direction...

Is Fire on Fire"

She was slowly coming back to her senses.

The first thing she felt was a cozy comfortable warmth. A soft pillow rubbing against her cheek, bedsheets and blankets caressing her skin. Her hair felt a little tangled... and after that, a pair of slender yet strong arms tightly surrounding her waist. She took a deep breath, filling her nostrils with the scent of them, combined in the air. The owner of those arms had his face hidden against her shoulder plate, breathing softly, close to her neck. Awareness of her own consciousness was forcing her to move her body, just to check if everything was okay. Her muscles were sore, her thighs ached, her arms felt a little stiff... all in all, she felt as a survivor of a damn car wreck.

And she felt so good.

She barely could remember the moment they called it a night, passing out in bed without a care in the world. She had gone to his room, wanted to confess, wanted to tell him what he meant for her, what she really wanted... she would be lying if she said the outcome hadnt been what she had expected. As she opened her emerald eyes, she noticed the bright light coming out of the small window, half covered by snow. How late was it?

She probably missed the morning classes.

And frankly, she couldnt care less.

She should feel horribly guilty. She should feel awful. She should feel like the biggest scum in the face of the earth... but she didnt. Slowly, trying to not wake up the body holding her, she stretched herself in bed. A slightly annoyed groan was heard on her back, followed by those arm tightening their hold on her. She couldnt help but smile, thinking how much he wanted to keep her close, even in his sleep. It was way too cute. She wanted to roll on to her other side, so she could stare at him, kiss him, but that would wake him up right away. Moving her legs a little, she frowned at the feeling of stickiness in her inner thighs... that required immediate attention, and a bath. Too bad, cuddling in bed would need to wait.

Taking a deep breath, Maka sat down on bed, stretching her back, rubbing her neck just to feel it sore, along with the muscles of her lower back. Was it all his doing? Or the bed was actually awful? Probably a bit of both. Shaking her head with a half smile, she attempted to get out of bed, when a strong hand took a hold of her wrist, stopping her.

"Maka?" The groggy voice of Crona in the morning made her grin. He always had sound like a little kid. The swordsman rubbed one of his eyes, trying to regain focus.

"Shhh... go back to bed" She said in a soft tone of voice, yet the grip of her lover on her wrist didnt falter.

"Dont go" He pleaded, his voice still sounding a little coarse. His hair was a mess, ruffled everywhere like a bird's nest, his neck was sporting quite a few bruises, along with a few scratches on his chest and sides. Above all, he looked exhausted. Was she proud of how he looked?... Absolutely.

"I'm going to the bathroom" She whispered to him, lifting up her hand to caress his head, combing his messy hair with her fingernails. He hummed with her touch, closing his eyes like a kitten enjoying the attention. "You did quite a number on me, I need to clean myself"

"I dont want you clean, I want you with me" He pouted, sounding almost childish, sliding through the mattress to get a good grip on her, hugging her hips while rubbing his cheek against her lower back. She couldnt help but throw a little laugh at his words.

"Hell no. I'm sweaty, sticky, and its very very late" She counterattacked, untangling herself from his arms and getting off the bed. Her legs quivered slightly, making her blush with the fact that she was all sore. Well... staying in bed now didnt look like a bad idea, but she had already missed a full day of classes, now both of them being gone could look really suspicious.

"You're mean" Crona complained, but effectively he was too tired to follow her. Instead, he lifted up his arm towards her, clumsily trying to lure her back with him. "Come baaaack~"

"Come and catch me" The scythe meister grinned before stepping inside the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

Maka took a long deep breath, resting her back against the cool surface of the wooden door behind her, closing her eyes. How much she would love to just stay in that room with him for days, without the need to go out and pretend. She was sick of wearing that fake mask of lies and deceit, tired of faking a life that no longer was hers. Exhausted, above all, of avoiding him at all times, as if he meant nothing for her. She didnt want to leave that room, if outside that door she would have to stay away from him, and pretend everything was okay.

Outside that room was Eruka, and her free pass to touch him. She could grab his hand, caress his shoulder, smile at him and hug him without a care in the world of what everyone else could think. She had a privilege that once upon a time belonged to her, but no more.

Outside that room were the students, looking up at her like a role model of what a perfect meister should be. Outside she was a three star famous meister, married to the weapon partner she helped to turn into a Death Scythe. They were the example DWMA would always use to impress the freshman. Their faces were known in every corner of every school in the world, used as posters for recruitment.

Outside was her old life. Her cold apartment that now would bring nothing but sour memories and guilt. The old portraits of a life she was refusing to remember. The objects of events, birthdays and anniversaries that she probably would never enjoy again. How could she go back to her apartment, knowing what was waiting there for her? How could she go back to sleep in her bed, a bedroom that saw and heard five years of marriage, after what she had done? The bedsheets would feel alien for her, the night would be cold, and he wouldnt be there with her. She couldnt go back.

Above all, outside that room... she would no longer be his.

A part of her was feeling horribly guilty of what she was doing, but... as her arms went up to her own body, remembering the feeling of his hands on her, his warmth, his scent, his love as thick and maddening as his own black blood...

The scythe meister opened her eyes, walking towards the small shower. She opened the hot water, waiting outside the flimsy plastic curtains for it to get comfortably warm. Carefully stepping inside, Maka stood in the small shower, allowing the water to cleanse the remnants of their passion. Her eyes glanced around, noticing the shampoo and hair conditioner he used. Of course, this was his bathroom.

She couldnt help but smile, opening the lotion bottle and taking a slow deep breath from it. She taught him that... always take care of his hair, to use the proper shampoo and conditioner to keep it nice and soft, just the way she liked it. When they met, truly met, it was a shock to know he used a single bar of soap for everything. In males it wasnt weird, many would do that out of commodity, but she was sure he would like something else, specially when he was so keen to play with her hair, telling her it smelled nice. After so many years, he still held into her teachings, as if they were precious.

She so not wanted to leave his room, but she couldnt hide there forever. She would need to face the real world, with its consequences, with its stupid judgement, and the merciless stares. As she washed her hair, and rubbed off the dried fluids from her skin, Maka took her time to enjoy the few minutes left with him. Once they were out, they would go back to be strangers, far friends, without even the chance of touching hands.

For how long she would endure that?

---

Maka's eyes were focused entirely in him.

He looked anguished, with a distressful frown on his eyebrows, eyes wandering back and forth between his hands. They were alone in the teacher's restroom, quite a hard task to achieve, but fortunately for that day, they got a dead hour between classes. A pair of mugs, one black with tea and the other plain white with creamy coffee, were resting on the busy table in front of them. The blonde meister couldnt help but grin, showing him a large teasing smile, enjoying the way he squeaked, alarmed.

"S-Stop doing that" Crona complained, flustered, trying to focus on his hands. He was holding a large set of colorful cards with numbers and arrows.

"Doing what?" Maka asked, tilting her head, faking innocence.

'T-That! You're making me nervous" He insisted, trying to hide his eyes from her, so she couldnt keep looking at him.

"I am making you nervous? Or the five cards I have left on my hand are making you nervous?" She grinned, just before a high-pitched voice distracted her from the swordsman.

"You gonna get it, keep bragging woman, I'll show you!" Ragnarok growled, using one of his meister's hands to hold his own set of cards. "Dont you dare dropping my cards, numbnuts!"

"My arm is getting sore Ragnarok" Crona complained, yet kept his arm high so his partner could check his own set.

"If you see my cards, your next sore thing will be your ass" The weapon hissed, taking a red number out of Crona's right hand and tossing it on the table. "There! Show me your color you cow!"

Maka mumbled something under her breath, staring at her set of cards on her hand before moving down to the resting face down deck on the table, taking one. She frowned, scoffing before taking another... and another. The fourth card was the match, throwing a yellow card with the same number the weapon dropped in his red card.

"Change of color, four yellow" She sighed, hoping that Crona would help her out, and not toss her another damn red card.

"Ey wimp! Throw her that card! The one on your right!" Ragnarok pointed out, much for Crona's distaste, who gasped before hiding his hand away from his partner's sight.

"D-Dont look! That's rude!" The swordsman complained, just to feel a light punch on his skull.

"You better dont be helping her! I swear to Death I wont let you both sleep if you do!" The black demon complained, his ball-like eyes looking at Maka, who was staring back at him with questioning eyes. He dropped a large teasing grin.

"S-S-Shut it Ragnarok" The pink-haired meister warned him, dropping a black card with a plus four image on it. "G-Go fish"

"What!? You damn traitor! I should have known!"

"Go fish" Maka grinned, this time enjoying the little tantrum of the weapon, who scuffed before forcing Crona to grab four more cards for him. "Why dont you make another hand appear so you can be at least a little helpful?"

"Why dont you take the book out of your ass for a change?" The sword growled in annoyance, looking down to the set of cards held for him by his meister. Pointing out for another red card, the demon grinned. "Show me your reds! Oh wait, you have none!"

"No I dont, indeed" The blonde sighed, before taking out of her hand a blue card with the same number Ragnarok used. "You should have gone to school, Raggy"

"This game is stupid, Crona, finish her damn you!"

"Take four" The swordsman's merciless words made Ragnarok open his mouth, completely outraged.

"You little..." Ragnarok hissed, watching how his hand had now more cards that he could even start using. He suddenly dropped a random green card, with a plus two written on it. "Eat this!"

Maka chuckled, taking out of her hand a reverse card.

"You take two" The scythe meister grinned, watching the demon go completely nuts.

"Thats it! I'm done! If you two are attacking me you are on your own! I pass my damn turn thank you!"

"You cant pass your turn" Maka complained, receiving nothing but a very childish face from the black blooded Demon, who showed his tongue to her as an answer. "Okay then, I pass too. Your turn Crona"

"O-okay..." Crona hummed, before taking out of his hand another wild card of his own with a plus 2 written on it. "Still take two, Ragnarok"

Maka laughed, enjoying how Ragnarok finally lost it, nudging on Crona's head fiercely.

"You enjoy my suffering! Is that so!? You enjoy torturing me with this stupid shit! I'm done!" Ragnarok roared, slapping his meister's hand away from him before dissolving back into his body, leaving both meisters alone in the teacher's room. The pink-haired meister sighed, relieved.

"He lasted longer t-than I thought" The dark meister sighed, tossing into the table Ragnarok's set of cards, just to open and close his sore right hand, trying to relax his muscles.

"I didnt even know he would like to play" Maka chuckled, taking Crona's cards and shuffling them back in one deck along with Ragnarok's and her own.

"B-Blair likes to play, sometimes... and Patty likes them too. But I dont think I understand Patty's self-made rules" He smiled, leaning back on the sofa he was sitting, allowing himself to rest a bit from his usual hunched position.

"No one understands Patty's rules, dont worry about that" The blonde meister said, finishing fixing the deck before leaving it back on the old wood shelf that had the word "Confiscated" craved on it. There were a large number of odd books, magazines and gambling games, mostly. The smile on Maka softened, emerald eyes looking at the large shelf of items before moving back at the swordsman, who was staring at her attentively. "I bet you miss them"

Crona looks down to his own feet, thinking about her words, midnight dark eyes apparently focused on a random point in his shoes. His lips curved slightly in a soft smile.

"I havent seen them in three weeks... so yeah, I think I miss them"

Maka chuckles softly, her emerald eyes glancing at the closed door of the teacher's restroom. For a couple seconds, she stood there in silence, taking her time to think throughly about the other teacher's whereabouts. Eruka was supposedly preparing the next class, that would start in ten minutes, and the rest were either in the classrooms, or taking a break in the cafeteria. In silence, she cursed the fact that they needed to leave the door open; locking it would be suspicious.

Taking a deep breath, the blonde walked towards the large sofa of the teacher's restroom, sitting next to the swordsman, who smiled at her. Without a word, her hand moved towards his neck, caressing what little skin was available through the long neck sweater, hiding vivid red marks she knew he was sporting from the base of his neck to his clavicles. They promised each other to not do that, to be careful, but hell... it was hard.

His hands slowly reached for her waist, resting on top of her hips and staying still, his thumb softly caressing her through the thick layers of clothes. He was awfully shy in public, and she couldnt blame him.

"You know, we could ask the director to let us use his mirror" Maka said, her hand moving down to his chest, fingers tracing the outlines of his long coat.

"I d-dont think Kid would approve of t-that" Crona thought out loud, midnight dark eyes fixed on her own.

"He wont... but we can make him do it anyway" The blonde meister grinned at him, apparently remembering the last time she spoke with the Shinigami.

"Im kind of curious what B-Blair is up to" The swordsman said in a soft tone of voice, his eyes moving up to the scythe meister's hair, his left hand moving towards the loose locks of her high bun, caressing a few strands of blonde hair between his fingers. "I-I wonder if Victor misses me"

"Of course he misses you, who wouldnt?" She smiled tenderly, her hand sliding inside his coat, enjoying the warmth beneath, sighing at the feeling of his beating heart under her palm.

Crona lips curved softly in a little smile, his dark eyes fixed on her in comfortable silence. Both meisters remained silent, looking at each other, studying their features, trying to read each other thoughts. They werent resonating, but they no longer needed to, no when they shared even each other's scent now. The swordsman enjoyed those moments of privacy, of calm and peace, just looking at her, admiring her, like a perfect piece of art you cant stop staring in awe.

Maka was aware of the look in his eyes, that stare that seemed to be lost in her, that soft smile that indicated he was blissfully in trance, calm and comfortable. It didnt bother her, there was a rare beauty in his calm expression, so uncommon in him, and she loved to just sit there and enjoy the peacefulness he could summon in her soul. He always had that effect on her, the feeling of peace, of warmth, of wholesomeness. She wanted to just hold him and lay with him in silence the whole day, enjoying his warmth, his smell and his touch.

"I d-dont... I dont want to go to class" The swordsman said suddenly, breaking the silence, calling for her attention. "I want to be with you, somewhere... where no one bother us..."

"That sounds nice" Maka responded in a soft tone of voice, her hand petting his chest in up and down movements, following his breathing. "Where would we go?"

Crona blushed, his eyes finally leaving her own, wandering around the teacher's classroom with uncertainty, or painful embarrassment. It was obvious his struggle to speak up his mind, even if it was with her, the person he was certain would never mock him. Still, he took his time to collect his thoughts, her free hand moving in a caress to his arm helping him to form the words needed to communicate the ideas of his complicated mind. The swordsman took a deep breath, dark eyes looking back at her.

"A-Away from everything, where I can hold you without fear... where I can kiss you without remorse... where I can have you day and night" He whispered, pale cheeks blushing, yet his eyes stared back at her with determination. He moistened his lips for a moment... "I'm tired of loving you in the shadows"

How could he say the most beautiful and painful words? How could he tug the right strings of her heart, rendering her helpless against him? How could he, a person so malnourished of love and affection, be able to fill her soul with that emotion? How could he, being always so gentle and kind, punch such strong blows on her? How do you respond to that? She was tired of that too...

They didnt notice when their lips joined together in a much needed kiss. It happened suddenly, without any previous thoughts, and none of them knew who started it. It didnt matter either, as her hand moved up to hug him by his neck, and his hands puller her towards him. Maka's heart thundered in her chest, if it was because of his kiss, or the fear of being caught, she wasnt sure. But that didnt matter as well, frankly, she was starting to stop caring.

Six years ago, she hugged him for the last time as her friend.

Six months ago, she kissed him for the last time as her secret.

Three weeks ago, she hugged him for the first time as her sin.

Three days ago, she kissed him for the first time as her lover.

What would happen in the next three minutes, the next three years, or far beyond, was something they would never know. That didnt matter too... they only had that moment, that few seconds of paradise where every worrying thought vanished in thin air. How wonderful it was to think about what ifs, to dream about a place far away from home, located anywhere, where they could be together without hurting anyone.

How wonderful that reality would be.

---

The first time, three days ago, Eruka tried to play fool and act as if she didnt know.

Crona not knocking on her door that morning, had been odd. He would always go to her door so they could walk together to the classroom, after all, they were in the same classes. That morning, however, he completely forgot. Eruka went to his door, noticing the lights off, and that was twice as odd. Even if he was late, the light would be on... did he overslept? She didnt want to frighten him by knocking, he was a ball of anxiety as it is. So, the most logical thing was to open the door and wake him up.

But his door was locked.

He never locked it before. He had no need to. Who would get inside? What for? To steal from him? He had nothing of value. To hurt him? Good luck on that as well. He never locked his door.

You could call it a sixth sense, but Eruka felt she shouldn't pry on his privacy. If he missed the first classes, she would get back and knock. Fortunately, a few hours later, when the frog witch was certain something was amiss, Crona arrived to the third class, almost at midday. He was wearing a black turtle neck sweater that covered his neck perfectly, his hair combed in a low pony tail with a white hair band. It was an usual outfit for him, plain and simple, but something was off.

He looked... happy.

There was a light in his eyes that Eruka had never seen before in him before. She stood there, next to the teacher's desk, staring in awe at the sight of him. He was practically beaming, with a permanent soft smile on his lips, his eyes looked tired but pleased, soft and shiny, almost tender, like the eyes of a playful child. She had no words to explain it, but he looked... happy. She couldnt remember the time she saw him like that, the answer probably was never, and he looked even a little out of character even for himself. His body moved with a subtle energy that was uncommon in him, with a stride that looked even prideful, so different to his usual unsure walking and insecure hunched stance. He seemed to not notice it, greeting her with that soft smile of his, waving at her with a discreet movement of his hand. It was his usual hello, but even that looked different. He was different.

She could guess the only thing that could make such effect on him. Could it be? He arriving late, his locked door... did Maka run late as well? She could ask, but there was no need to. At lunch break, when the teachers met at the cafeteria, Maka greeted them briefly before taking a seat next to other teachers. That short moment, that few seconds were enough for Eruka to notice... her hair had the same scent as Crona. That could only be achieved by them using the same lotion, and the frog witch had known the scythe meister for four months, enough to memorize her limited combination of grooming lotions.

So it happened.

The frog witch didnt know how to feel about it. In part, she enjoyed the knowledge that Crona was so jovial, and he was ridiculously funny in that state of mind. He could actually enjoy jokes and give some of his own, apparently forgetting, or maybe ignoring, his pessimism for a while. That Crona, discreetly cheerful, with the bright eyes and soft smile, was really enjoyable. Was that the power Maka Albarn had over him? Could she make such a drastic change in him, so easily? That was the other part, the side that scared her shitless...

What would happen when their little castle in the sky fall apart?

What would happen to him when everything went to hell?

Eruka was scared for him. Even now, three days later, the frog witch couldnt help but think about it. Every day she could see him happier, every day he seemed more at peace... but every day, Soul was closer to return. Was Crona even thinking about that?

"D-Does everyone already h-have a weapon partner?" The demon swordsman asked to the small group of students in the classroom, addressing to them in English. Fortunately, all of them knew the language quite well, so they saved Crona the dread of practicing his broken half-assed german. They were mostly witch-born students, most males, some joined by new faces of freshman students with the tag "Weapon" hanging on their chests.

More than a couple voices grunted a negative answer, some taking exasperated sighs, and others shaking their head in silence.

"T-Thats okay... it r-really is a choice y-you cant make lightly" Crona explained, standing in the front of the classroom, fighting really hard not to hold into his own arm for comfort. No matter his age, he would always feel weird when everyone looked at him, but these were his students, they werent staring him with ill intent. He took a deep breath. "It is said that y-your weapon partner is the most important choice as a meister"

"Yeah, I dont want to end with a Ragnarok of my own" One of the students in the front row grinned. The students around him laughed, forcing said weapon to materialize from his partner's back.

"Bitch I'm the most badass weapon in the world!" Ragnarok roared, tiny paw-like hands hitting the top of his partner's head like if it were a table. "Fuck meisters! We weapons are the ones who should pick our partner! My awesomeness is stunted by this effeminate moron!"

If there was a need to prove Crona's cheerful mood, you could see it in the way the swordsman ignored the taunting insults of his weapon partner, rubbing them off with a deep breath.

"A-Anyway... if its so important for human meisters, for us with w-witch heritage, is c-crucial" The dark meister explained, reaching above him with his palm wide open, in a silent command.

Without the need of a verbal order, Ragnarok dissolved, meeting Crona's hand who closed around the liquid feeling of his partner. The black blooded demon transformed in a long broad sword, as long as his meister was tall, looking dark and heavy like made of dark matter. Even so, the swordsman moved his weapon as if it was light like a feather, resting Ragnarok's blade in front of him, holding his hilt with both hands, seeking for the comfort and security his partner would always provide.

Eruka sat in the teacher's desk, allowing Crona to take the lead in that class. The topic was beyond her, and that was the reason why he had been chosen to help her out. She knew nothing about meisters and weapons, not beyond what the Witch Council would teach, and certainly the combination of witches with weapon partners was very new in the world. For that class, at least, she was there as a student as well.

"W-Who knows the story of demon w-weapons?" The swordsman asked to the whole classroom, remembering quite well Kim's suggestions about questioning the students so they wouldnt get bored. Eagerly, a young witch with sharp eyes hidden behind thin-framed glasses, stood up from her seat and raised her hand. Crona nodded at her, trying to suppress the smile her action caused in him. She reminded him of someone dear.

"Professor, the demon weapons were created by the heretic witch Arachne, who experimented with her own kind, killing fellow witches and using their souls as main component to forge magical weapons, Sir." The witch said in a very clear english. A couple students nearby huffed, rolling their eyes.

"T-thank you. Y-you're right, well done" The pink-haired meister complimented her, watching her sitting back down with a proud grin on her face. That was the best part of being a teacher, at least for Crona. The chance to make others feel better about themselves.

The good part of being among fellow witches, was the fact that they all knew who he was. The last Gorgon, son of the infamous Medusa Gorgon, nephew of Arachne the Heretic, Crona Gorgon the Traitor. Even with that heavy cross on his back, he knew that at least in that class, surrounded by witches, he was safe. None of them would judge him, or call him names, or think bad about him. If any, the students were awfully curious about him, eager eyes staring at him, paying attention to what he had to say. It was normal, he was the first male-witch who managed to make a Death Scythe of his own. With that knowledge summoned into his mind, he took a deep breath, focusing on the task ahead.

"S-So... a demon weapon today is a descendant of one of the many experiments of L-L-Lady A-Arachne" Damn the stutter. He moistened his lips, trying again to speak properly, his hands clenching slightly on his partner's hilt. "They are humans imbued with magical souls. A-Anyone knows why she c-could only use w-witches souls?"

This time, the students stared at each other, and some just sit in silence, waiting for someone to answer the question. Either way, no one seemed eager enough to stand up and answer. Slowly, Eruka tapped the teacher's desk with her pen, making the whole classroom to turn and look at her.

"Witch souls have the capacity of transformation, ribbit. Most witches can turn themselves into the animal form of their family, and the ones who cant, have a close relationship with their familiars." The frog witch pointed out. She may not know much about meisters and weapons, but she had a very fair amount of knowledge about witches and magic. This was her field. "Rats, Bats, Birds, Insects, Cats, Frogs, Lizards, Critters and Vermin, all witches have a specific trait and the ability to transform themselves and the matter around them, gecko"

Crona looked back at Eruka, nodding at her with a gentle smile. The frog witch yelped a little ribbit, slightly flustered, looking away from him.

"I-Is not as you all dont know that, ribbit!" She huffed, crossing her arms on top of her chest. Crona hold back a soft chuckle on his lips.

"W-Well... demon weapon are, b-basically, part witches" The swordsman said, watching how the weapons around looked back at him with a slight frown. It was a bold statement, but he wanted to make a point, and he had to be as direct as possible. "Not like an hybrid, but... magical, traces of magic makes them able to transform. In some way, they are like male witches, who have magic within themselves but cant use it"

"So you're saying... we are like magical weapons?" One of the students asked, a young small boy with the tag "weapon" attached to his vest.

"Well duh! Show me a weapon that can talk, dumbass" Ragnarok snarled, his large mouth with plump red lips emerged from the large blade, grinning at the students.

"So... the weapon transformation is the same process as the witches when they transform into their animal form?" Eruka asked him, tilting her head slightly with interest. It should have been good that Crona taught her that before saying it in class. She felt completely clueless.

But how could he? The last three days he had been attached to Maka like chewing gum on her shoes.

"Y-yeah! Exactly that" The meister nodded, looking down to his weapon partner, trying to organize his thoughts. What he was saying was the conclusion of self-studies, with a little help of Professor Stein and Kim, something that lacked a lot of experimentation... and by its very nature that was somewhat impossible. "T-then... weapons have traces of magic that can use to transform, and male-witches have magic within them that cant use. Even if a male witch resonate with a weapon, they still cant use magic, t-they need a c-catalyst."

"A yummy witch's soul and 99 kishin souls!" Ragnarok grinned, taking out its large tongue through his red lips, making more than one student yelp in disgust.

"A D-Death Scythe is the most powerful weapon in the w-world, imbued by the power of 99 demon souls and the magic of a witch's soul. A-Although we in S-Shibusen are still investigating, we b-believe that the enhancement of magic in the w-weapon creates a bridge in the male-witch ability to make magic"

"... like a wizard wand?" One of the students suddenly asked, drawing everyone's attention. It was a girl who blushed badly at the stares falling upon her, recoiling in herself with her hands close to her chest, where the tag "weapon" was clumsily attached. "I mean... you know... wizards? The men in fancy dresses and top hats that work in fairs and parties? They make visual illusions and call it magic tricks... its not really magic but looks like it... like using a stick to make a rabbit appear in a hat and all that stuff"

Silence fell hard on the class, until a few female witches suddenly roared in laugher, quickly followed by other students and some weapons alike. Even Eruka couldnt help but hide the grin on her face with the back of her hand.

"Are you calling me a wand!?" Ragnarok hissed "Quickly Crona, make a rabbit appear out of your ass!"

"D-Dont be rude Ragnarok, and you know I dont like r-r-rabbits" The meister tried to hush his weapon partner, to no use.

"Ey there's an idea! I know someone you would love to make disappear! Lets do that! Lets go all Avada Kedabra on him!" More laughs. The poor girl who commented on that was completely red from chin to ears, nervously trying to rub off the embarrassment.

"A-Alright already..." Crona clapped a couple times, successfully recovering the students attention. They obviously didnt want another shriek from his weapon partner. "A-Actually s-she's not that wrong..."

Right after his words, the swordsman lifted his weapon partner from the floor, glancing around the room until noticing a rather large palm tree nearby the teacher's desk, rooted in a colorful plant pot. As he walked towards the plant, the students quickly kept quiet, watching his every move with interest. Eruka stared at him as well, curious about his actions, noticing how Crona rested the edge of his sword on the palm's log, barely scratching its surface. As the swordsman took a deep breath, he lightly pressed his weapon against the plant.

Eruka tilted her head, unsure of what he was trying to do. Infect the plant with Black Blood? Medusa proved that to be impossible, only flesh could get infected, so what was he up to? Suddenly, in front of the eyes of all the students who gasped in surprise, the plant quickly withered, green leaves falling limply on its sides.

"Holy shit, he CAN use Avada Kedabra" One of the students quickly pointed out, followed by a few laughs, while other students frowned at what they just had witnessed, unable to understand it.

"Did you just kill that plant?" Eruka asked, standing up from the teacher's desk and touching the long leaves of the small palm tree. It didnt feel dead...

"N-No, I c-can't do that..." He said, his dark eyes staring at the withered plant for a moment. Retrieving Ragnarok, Crona released his hilt, a silent order for him to return to his back. The demon weapon obeyed, his small child-like form resting on top of his head. "A male witch can only use the same core magic as his family"

"Core magic? What does that mean?" One of the youngest weapon students in the classroom asked out loud.

"Every witch family has a core magic. Healing, Bursting, Burning, Freezing, you name it. The spells differ but the core magic is always the same" Eruka explained, joining Crona in the middle of the classroom, happy of finally being able to answer some questions.

"And how do I know which one is mine?" Another voice asked in the classroom, with a slightly impatient tone.

"My whole family can use Teleportation. For themselves, to open tunnels to other countries, it is said that one of my grandmothers was able to open portals to other dimensions... So my core magic is Teleporting, but unlike my family, I can only teleport inanimate objects so... yeah, bad luck" A slightly overweight young witch explained, dressed in a white and black outfit, sitting next to a very fit girl dressed in an army-like uniform.

"Dont be so harsh Juno, we can make the most successful instant delivery food business when we graduate!" Her weapon partner cheered. "I can already savor the money!"

The students already started talking to each other, trying to figure out their kind of core magic. It was something the witches never questioned, since magic would come to them naturally, but for male witches who never had used it, it was an obvious exciting thing to investigate.

"All the Frog family have the ability of Bursting. Either creating bombs, or making something explode with a single touch, gecko" Eruka joined the conversation, dark onyx eyes looking at the swordsman who seemed to be deep in thought. Thinking about his words, and knowing his whole family tree, it wasnt hard for the frog witch to quickly understand his magic core. "Class will be over soon, you want to add anything else?"

Her voice quickly took him out of his thoughts, blinking a couple of times before looking back at her. Giving Eruka a soft smile, he returned his attention to the students, clapping a couple times to get their focus back on him.

"Y-You will never b-be able to use those powers without a p-proper weapon partner" He said as firmly as he could, taking a long deep breath of relief when the students quieted down, looking at him. "T-thats why I said the correct partner is the most important task for a meister. A partner will help in battle to r-reach the best side of you, will amplify your s-strengths and help you overcome your weaknesses. And once you t-turn them into a Death Scythe, the powers of the witch you m-make them eat, will become your own. B-But t-thats a class for a-another year"

Complains were quickly heard. Obviously, you cant offer topics of top interest for young witches and leave them with more questions than answers, but time was running out, and someone was waiting for him outside the school. So, waving the students goodbye, Crona returned to the teacher's desk, quickly but carefully rearranging his paperwork back into his backpack. Eruka kept her eyes fixed on him, and after all the students left the classroom, she approached the meister with a grin.

"So... heir of the Gorgons, Black Blood carrier, AND you have the soul of a witch largely known for her very unique spells..." The frog witch noted, her hand resting on his back, fingers tracing down his spine making him throw a little yelp of surprise, shuddering with her touch. She chuckled. "I am officially impressed"

"Hah, impressed! You should be terrified!" Ragnarok yelled, grinning at the petite witch. "If you knew the extent of shit we can do, you wouldnt dare to even look at him!"

"Q-Q-Quiet" Crona warned his weapon partner, dark eyes staring up at him with a frown. Eruka tilted her head for a moment, but quickly enough smiled at him.

"I can figure it out, you know? Is not hard to guess knowing you enough, gecko" The silver haired witch pointed out, taking a seat on the teacher's desk table and watching the swordsman standing still with his backpack on his hands. She seemed to be enjoying her thoughts, as if reaching a conclusion that satisfied her. "That explains a lot..."

Her words made the swordsman glance at her with worry, his eyebrows slightly furrowed in a distraught expression. She looked back at him, answering back with a challenging look.

"You should learn to control it" Eruka scolded him, making him lower his head in shame, hands gripping on his backpack tightly. "Have you tried the extension of your magic?"

"I c-cant... in a-animals works d-differently, and t-trying on humans w-would be wrong"

"Bah, says who? Lord Death?" Eruka grinned, getting up from the teacher's desk and walking towards the swordsman. Despite his sudden scared look on his face, she reached to him with her hands, holding the swordsman by his neck in a gentle grip, making him hunch slightly so he could look down at her closely. "I say we should try it, gecko, aren't you curious about it?"

Crona looked at the frog witch with wide open eyes, shivering by the touch of her soft fingers gripping his neck, thumbs holding his lower jaw in place. She was standing on tip toes, dark onyx eyes staring up at him with malice, glistening almost a red tone. Of course Eruka would be curious about his witch powers, but it seemed the idea excited her more than it should.

"C-Curious or not, its w-wrong..." He insisted, staying very still in front of her.

"Medusa could force anyone's will with the venom of her snakes. Arachne could manipulate the mind and break her enemies sanity. Even little Shaula could brainwash her foes and control them with her venom" Eruka listed, noticing how the swordsman looked away, trembling slightly. It wasnt her plan to scare him, but she was awfully curious about it. Toying with the loose strands of pink hair between her fingers, the witch leaned forward to whisper in a teasing tone of voice. "So... I can only wonder how strong your venom is, Crona Gorgon"

Ragnarok grinned widely, looking down at the frog witch. Her eyes were glistening with wicked intent, obviously excited by the thought of causing havoc. Witches would be witches, after all, and the idea of being able to exploit their powers excited the demon sword. Even so, his meister looked not so excited about it, trembling slightly in her hands, his left arm moving up to hold himself for comfort. Well, as much as he liked watching his meister suffering, he had to step up for him time to time.

"I say we amuse her Crona. Try it with her, lets see how much a witch can stand before losing her mind" The weapon grinned, nudging his partner's head who frowned at his weapon partner. The frog witch huffed, the hands gripping on his neck slowly releasing him, sliding down to his chest.

"He wouldnt do it. He loves me" Eruka said proudly, patting his chest a couple times before giving him some space. The swordsman sighed with relief, taking his backpack against his chest for comfort. "Isn't that right, gecko?"

"Y-Yes ma'am" Crona tried to amuse her, noticing how her evil teasing smile softened, onyx eyes looking back at him with a hint of tenderness. That was the Eruka he liked the most, truthfully. "S-Sorry but... I kinda n-need to go."

Eruka's smile vanished, replaced quickly by a displeased pout.

"You know, I understand you have a new toy, but I'm starting to feel like a disposable friend" She complained, crossing her arms on her chest, scowling at him. "We havent gone out together in almost two weeks, I'm getting bored out of my skull"

Crona's eyes looked at the witch with concern, glancing away for a minute, his hands slowly dropping his backpack on top of the teacher's desk. Now with his hands free, he rubbed them together in a clear sign of discomfort. Ragnarok tilted his head with interest at the sudden change in his meister.

"S-Sorry... I-I d-didnt notice..." He apologized, apparently just now thinking he had obviously put the frog witch aside after what happened with Maka in her apartment. Despite a few hangouts with the blonde meister included, they really hadnt gone anywhere like a duo. And even he, no matter now sheltered, knew quite well that ignoring your friends for others was mean. "I-It w-wasnt my intention..."

His honest response seemed to ease the silver haired witch, who took a deep sign before dropping her stern pose.

"You're horribly moony" She sighed, but nonetheless a soft smile spread on her face. Suddenly, the swordsman reached up to her, his hand holding her own in a firm yet gentle grasp. "What's up with you now?"

"Tomorrow" Crona said suddenly, his dark eyes looking at her with a rare determination "Y-Your choice, I o-owe you that"

"You dont need to do that" Eruka said with a mild smile on her face, trying to untangle her hands from his grasp, yet the swordsman hold her tighter.

"I d-dont need to... b-but I want to" He insisted, getting closer to the frog witch who couldn't hold his gaze, glancing away. Despite her elusive eyes, her hands gave her away, holding him back.

"Y... you sure about that?" She forced a smug grin, her dark eyes looking back at him after a few seconds of doubtful dodging. "My tastes are expensive"

"Hell screw that Crona! I'm still waiting for my Guys Day Out you moron!" Ragnarok growled on top of his meister's head, but despite his high pitched voice, was ignored. "Crona!"

"A-Anywhere you want" The meister insisted, gentle dark eyes looking at her fondly. The frog witch felt her smug smile quiver. "B-but... I need to go for now, p-please dont be mad"

"Yeah, I know" She rolled her eyes, taking a long deep breath to steam out her mild frustration, waving him away. The worst part for the witch was watching him smiling at her, like a child being told he can have some ice cream. It was disgustingly adorable.

Just like that, Eruka watched him grabbing his backpack and almost prance out of the classroom, like a stupid teenager in love. He was happy, so happy, with his dumb small smile and bright eyes, with his cheerful mood and giddy humor. He was so happy.

She could only hope for it to last.

---

How she managed to stay on her feet during the whole day, was a mystery even for her.

As the afternoon classes ended, and every student left the classroom for the day, Maka allowed her body to fall limply on the chair's backrest. She felt tired, thinking on nothing but having some good rest and a full night of sleep. Her body ached and some of her muscles were quite sore, adding to the overall tiredness of the day. And yet, she couldnt help but smile.

After a minute rubbing the back of her neck, the scythe meister started to collect her belongings, from the textbooks to her teacher's notebook and some scattered paperwork to grade later. While her hands fumbled with the items, her fingers touched a metallic object that caught her attention, closing her fist around it, identifying it immediately. The keys to her apartment.

Her emerald eyes followed the moment of her hand as she took out the keys from her bag. Toying with the metallic keychain around her fingers, the scythe meister thought about her next move. She really... really didnt want to think about it. She was feeling so good, so at peace, so refreshed and just... so good... that thinking about what was outside her bubble spoiled her mood quickly. She knew this was nothing but a temporary haven, a moment in time so perfect that would never repeat itself, and she didnt want to ruin it. What happened last night, and half of that morning, had been something so intimate and special that there were no words for it. She couldnt explain it herself, she could only... feel it. But now, after several hours away from him, she started to think more clearly.

Maka frowned, her fist closing tightly around her keys, the cool metallic items digging on her skin. There was no way she could return to her apartment, not now, not after everything she had done. How could she? How could she have the audacity of going back to that place that was filled with memories of a life that now seemed alien to her. How could she have the nerve to slide in a bed that had her husband's scent, while her own flesh carried the marks of somebody else. How could she rest in a room filled with portraits of a love story that she no longer wanted to read? How could she sleep... without his arms around her? Or his soft breath on her neck? Or his firm aching body, pressed tightly against her.

The blonde meister sighed, distressed, letting her forehead rest against her forearms, folded on top of the teacher's restroom, feeling physically and mentally exhausted. She closed her eyes, taking deep long breaths, enjoying the silence of the abandoned classroom and how her mind slowly slipped away into unrestrained memories of that night. His eager desperate hands, holding her down, caressing her senseless, the unbearable heat of his soul, his soft voice moaning against her ear...

"M-Maka..."

Yes, just like that. The feeling of his hands traveling through her neck and down her back, caressing her skin, claiming every inch of her for himself.

"Maka..."

How much she would give to feel all that again, just to numb her mind and knock it down into oblivion by the sheer pleasure and relentless love he could provide.

"I say let's kick her off that chair, maybe she's dead already" Ragnarok!?

Maka suddenly lifted her face from her forearms, noticing just then that she fell asleep on the teacher's desk. She blinked a couple times, trying to regain focus, just to notice Crona standing beside her, one of his hands rubbing her back softly, while his weapon partner stared down at her with a curious look on his face.

"A-Are you okay?" The demon swordsman asked, showing a worried look on his face.

"Ha! And this morning I thought you looked like shit. Miss bossy-pants here cant keep her eyes open! This is gold!" Ragnarok grinned, watching the blonde meister finishing arranging her bag. "Talking about fucking-the-lights-out of somebody"

"S-S-Shut it" Crona warned his partner, obviously alarmed by his statement, but the classroom was as good as empty. It probably was for not to offend her.

"I'm fine Crona, just tired" She tried to reassure him, a pleasurable goosebump traveling down her back when his fingers moved back up to rest on her shoulder.

"O-Oh..." He mumbled, his pale face quickly turning dark red. Cute. "Y-You s-shouldn't sleep in here, y-you'll be all hurt and sore..."

"I dont think I can be more sore than right now" The meister chuckled, enjoying the way her comment sparked a dusky blush on his cheeks, his midnight dark eyes glancing away.

"S-Sorry..." He apologized, his right hand recoiling from her body, grasping himself, rubbing his palms against each other with uncertainty. "Y-You... w-want me to take you home? My classes are over."

Maka blinked a couple times, emerald green eyes glancing to the clock's wall, noticing that indeed she snoozed off for almost an hour and a half. It was quite late.

Home. It was said that home is where the heart belongs... where is home for her? Its in Nevada with her father and friends? Is in the depths of Russia where her husband was traveling? Is in the far end of Shibusen's basement where her lover rest? No matter the answer, one thing was certain... it was no longer in that apartment.

She really didnt want to go there.

"Such the gentleman, as always" She smiled, getting up from the teacher's desk chair and holding her suitcase, ready to leave the classroom. Maka looked behind the swordsman, noticing he was there alone. "Where's Eruka?"

"U-Uhm... s-she said she had s-something to do..." Crona thought out loud, dark eyes showing concern.

"She was pissed because of you leaving her alone all day" Ragnarok grinned, nudging on his meister's head playfully.

"S-She was not, s-she was busy" The swordsman fought back his weapon partner, pushing him away from his hair.

Maka hummed in response, making sure the classroom was in order before walking out, glancing behind her just to be sure Crona was following her. He was right behind her, staring at her intently, with a tired yet eager expression in his eyes. How much she wanted to hold his hand and feel the subtle yet ever present connection between them, but she couldnt risk it. Even that late, students were still roaming the school.

Although the rumors of Crona dating Eruka spread like wildfire after Shibusen's party, it would be quite the novelty if Maka Albarn was caught walking around with another teacher, holding hands. She had never been a very affectionate person like Tsubaki, or the kind of girl who would touch everyone so carelessly like Patty Thompson. Hell, even she had never been the type of girl who would hold hands and hug her very husband around. Therefore, she being suddenly touchy with Crona in a school that didnt know their background, would be an immediate source of gossip.

Speaking of which... now she was wondering if Eruka was mad. It was obvious the frog witch noticed the change, right after lunch when Maka tried to play it cool and greeted the Witchcraft teachers. Of course Crona's painful blush was a hard giveaway, but Eruka didnt see him... she saw her. Either way, she knew... Maka wasnt sure how to feel about that, specially if she hadnt bothered her about it so far. Would she actually try to keep the secret? Or was she planning some sort of blackmail? The scythe meister was fearing the later, specially when the look of distaste in the witch's eyes was so obvious.

"Maka?" The swordsman called for her, tilting his head with curiosity. She looked back at him, dragged out of her thoughts.

"What is it?"

"Uh... the way out of school is up there" The sword meister pointed out to the other direction, behind them. The blonde looked around, noticing she was walking down the school corridors.

She took a deep breath, her right hand still holding the keys of her apartment. She had to go home, clean the house, make something to eat before the food started to rot, and most important... arrange a few clean bedsheets to sleep in the couch, because she was certain she wouldnt be able to sleep in her bed. It was inevitable, she had to return and face reality, a reality waiting for her with sharp claws and cold jaws.

She had to...

"Crona..." Maka called for his attention, looking around just to be sure no one was nearby. The swordsman noticed her nervousness, walking closer to her so he could hear her. The scythe meister reached up to his chest, resting her palms on him. "I dont want to go back to my apartment... not now"

The swordsman stared down at her with a slight frown on his eyebrows, trying to understand her words. At first he seemed confused, his nervous hands reaching up to her arms, gently holding her above her elbows. After a few seconds, her silent request seemed to reach him, his face quickly burning a deep red.

"U-uhm... y-you could... I-I mean..." He stuttered, too embarrassed of speak up his mind. It seemed that the words stammered down his throat, making him choke on them.

"If you too are making plans for another round, I suggest you do it elsewhere, people are coming" Ragnarok growled in an usual low tone of voice, before vanishing inside his meister. His words surprised both teachers, as they separated just in time before a couple students walked down a corridor, talking merrily.

The students waved to the teachers as a greeting before moving away, leaving the school for the day. Maka, feeling the rough pounding of her chest, wasnt sure what surprised her the most. The students almost seeing them in a not very professional closeness, or Ragnarok actually helping them up. Either way, the demon sword had earned his dinner.

"I'll call a delivery service for you, you look too tired to go out to eat... and I bet Ragnarok is starving" The blonde meister said, now keeping her distance from the swordsman.

"O-okay... b-but what about-?" He tried to ask, but Maka quickly pressed her own lips with her index finger, in the universal sign of silence. He immediately pressed his own lips tightly shut.

Her hand squeezed the keychain one more time, before dropping it inside her bag, without looking.

"I'll see you later" She said in a merry tone of voice before parting ways, walking to the corridor towards the exit. It was a goodbye in anybody's eyes, as she walked while waving her hand. But they didnt need words to communicate, not even body language.

The true talk was between their souls.

And even after they were gone of sight, their faces burned a deep red, nervous hands gripping each other for comfort, eager hearts pumping blood with growing excitement. For now, just for now, Maka wanted to embrace this new reality. This wonderful reality constructed for them, where no one existed but them, where they were safe to love and be loved.

This fragile, dangerous mirage, was now her reality.

---

Sinners.

Thats what they were. In everybody's eyes, family, friends or strangers, no one would understand. How could anyone understand if they didnt quite understand themselves? How can you understand reasons and actions that only their souls knew? How can simple mortals meddle with the actions of something as ethereal and unknown as a soul? Souls had no morals, no honor codes or rules to abide for... that was a mortal human thing. Souls knew nothing but needs, passions and desires, they were born untamed and didnt abide to anyone. That was why humans would spend a lifetime learning how to subjugate their souls to what the Gods called "a natural order", a balance of laws and rights that demanded to be obeyed, so the world could live in harmony and peace. Sometimes, most of the times, humans would reprimand their needs, desires and passions, just to meet the demands of justice and order. Such were the ways of human laws.

Witches didnt abide to such laws. They embraced their souls in a way most humans could only dream about. Probably that was why they were considered as naturally destructive beings. They had the restrain of a five year old toddler. No one tells a witch what to do, how to act or where to go. They were "free carefree souls", that did what they wanted, wherever they wanted and however they wanted. That was the main reason why their actions and laws constantly crashed with the order Lord Death wanted for the world. There had to be a balance, the whole universe sustained itself in that premise... witches couldn't prance around doing their will without consequences. Chaos was their nature, guided by the unrestrained needs, passions and desires of their souls. But for a human, that path was dangerous, that was the path of the Kishin.

You would understand then why, for Crona, his hybrid soul was specially punishing when doing something considered "wrong". A witch had no problem with killing humans by volume, their souls would stay untampered by such acts. But his human part suffered greatly for it. His very nature was torn between the almost unbereable needs and desires of his soul, his natural inability to understand human morals, and his unbreakable will of belonging to the human world. He lived in a constant struggle, between his destructive witch nature, and his very human feelings. Adding to that his torturous childhood and the mind-warping effect of his Black Blood, no one could really blame him entirely for some of his mistakes.

However, Maka had no excuse.

She was a very human woman, raised in the bosom of a law abiding family. His father was a Death Scythe, at the service of Lord Death himself, her mother spend her whole life studying the order of Death and working to preserve his vision for the world. She was a three star meister at the service of Shibusen, a very respected teacher, and a woman that spent her whole lifetime learning and following the human laws. She clearly could understand the difference between right and wrong, she was tamed in the practice of law enforcement, and her grigori anti-wavelength soul made her specially enduring for madness strikes and mind-warping effects. That was why, if anyone was to blame in that situation, was herself.

And even so... she wasnt feeling completely at fault. How could the world judge her? Since when was Love a sin? Why no one could understand what her soul knew very well? What she was doing was horrible, she wasnt blind to that, but...

"Maka?" The soft voice of Crona forced her out of her thoughts, looking right at him.

He was sitting in a swing in front of her, staring at her with a worried expression. The park was empty, as it was late enough for small children to play outside. The warm tones of sunset colored everything in shades of orange and yellow, as the sun lazily snoozed off for the day. Maka was behind him, her hands resting on his shoulders, gripping at him firmly. Her emerald eyes caught his dark orbes, so attentive at her, so receptive to the changes in her humor and the waves of her soul. She smiled at him.

"I was just thinking" She reassured him, her hands gently pushing him again, swinging him softly. Crona hummed in response, his long legs curling under the swing so they wouldnt drag with the movement. "I remember the first time I made you use a swing"

Crona winced.

"Y-yeah... l-lets not remember that"

"Why not? I love that memory" Maka giggled, pushing him a little harder so he could start picking some height. "I remember your expression of sheer amazement, it was so cute"

"I j-just remember Black Star pushing me so hard I flew off... to the other side of the park, m-mind you" Crona growled in simulated distaste, blushing in embarrassment, his hands gripping tighter on the chains holding the swing. "And Patty laughing a-asking to be next in pushing me"

"I bet he remembers my Maka Chop of that day... or not, depending how hard I hit him" Maka grinned, her hands lightly pushing his back, allowing him to swing gently enough now so he could enjoy himself while still being able to talk to her. "Well... you got your payback right? When he asked you and Patty to make him spin in the carrousel?"

The swordsman looked back at her, and for her amazement, he curled a little teasing smile on his lips, his eyes glistening with the memory of something he somewhat enjoyed. That was an uncommon look on him.

"H-He should have known better..." He kept his smile for a minute before softening his eyes, looking back down to his knees. "I havent seen him in three years"

"You miss him? Despite all his teasing?" Maka asked with interest, her hands resting from her pushing, allowing the swing to stop. The sword meister hummed for a moment before dropping a subtle chuckle.

"I-I'm used to being teased. M-Mifune turned into our p-private teacher, s-so we became classmates, remember?" He said, his eyes looking up to the sky that slowly started to darken, bright stars showing off in the firmament. His calm eyes slowly dropped, a displeasing memory apparently summoned to his mind. "A-After you left... h-he went everyday to the apartment, f-forcing me to go out, spending time with me... Tsubaki would invite me to their place and cook just to be sure I would eat. He w-would always tell me that a God never abandons his subjects... Yeah, I miss him"

Suddenly, a pair of strong arms surrounded him from behind. Maka's hands slid down through his chest, holding him in a tight embrace, her chin resting on his right shoulder. The swordsman sighed, allowing himself to lean slightly, feeling her chest pressed against his back. He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of her soul filling his whole being, summoning a wave of pleasant calmness into his own. His hands moved up to the arms resting on his chest, long fingers caressing her through the thick layer of her wooly white coat.

"I guess I can no longer tell him he doesnt care" She chuckled after a long moment of silence. "He was there for you when I wasnt"

"Maka..."

"I know... I know..." The scythe meister sighed, closing her eyes for a moment while softly nudging his cheek with her own. "Why havent you gone to visit them in Japan?"

"W-Well... between my mission, the school classes and M-M-Meena..." He said, his tongue stammering at the pronunciation of her name. He moistened his lips, as if caught tasting something sour, quickly changing the subject. "D-Did you know East Asia h-has the lowest death-ratio from Kishin-egg attacks since he took over the Assistant Director position?"

"Tsubaki is not even a Death Scythe yet, and he managed to climb up that high, sometimes he makes me jealous" Maka admitted to herself, her lips moving down to rest on Crona's shoulder. He was wearing his usual black coat, who always would feel too thin for the merciless weather of early winter in Germany. After a deep breath, she lifted up her face to meet his gaze. "What about Meena?... you miss her?"

The large midnight dark eyes of the swordsman moved to meet her stare. His eyes were calm and soft, despite the intruding question. His hands, gripping on her arms, slid to her hands to hold her tightly, fingers intertwining in an intimate touch. Not thinking much about people watching them, mainly because Maka would casually move away if she felt anyone nearby, he raised her hand close to his lips, kissing her knuckles through the thick layer of white gloves. After a few seconds of his mouth pressed against the back of her hand, he guided her arms back against his chest, so she could keep holding him.

"I s-should miss her... s-she was with me f-for more than t-two years, s-she used to be my friend..." He noted, leaning his head back against Maka, resting on her shoulder while she hugged him from behind. "B-but... I dont. I d-dont really hate her either... I just wish she's okay, wherever she is..."

"You're too kind for your own good" She whispered against his ear, enjoying the feeling of his back arching in a sharp goosebump. That was one of many things she was amazed by him. How could he be so naturally kind and gentle, forgiving and selfless, despite the whole world constantly punishing him for it. He would always endure shit she could never let pass.

"I learned that from you"

"I dont know where you get that idea... I'm the most short-tempered, intolerant and straight out mean person of our social circle, hands down" Maka stated with a huff, feeling the swordsman shift on the swing so he could look at her more clearly.

"Y-you're not!" Crona complained, his hands gripping on her arms surrounding him. "You're a-anything but that..."

"How are you so sure?"

"B-because... you're here... with me" He said in a low tone of voice, his eyes looking down to the thin layer of snow covering the ground. "After everything I did..."

"Thats because its you, silly" Maka smiled, her eyes looking at him with that eternal patience she had only for him. She had explained that to him a thousand times, and she knew she would need to keep explaining a thousand times more. She nuzzled her cheek against his own, hands softly caressing his chest. "I cant help myself... I could write a whole essay about your good traits alone"

"I c-could write a whole book about you" He smiled back, nuzzling back against her despite how uncomfortably red his face was. He was so not used to be like that, to anyone ever, but it felt so good.

"Ey... about that!" The scythe meister suddenly said, releasing his chest so she could move around the swing, facing him with an excited expression in her face. "You told me you were writing... how is it going?"

"Uhm..." The swordsman blinked a couple times, his blush still showing on his face. Maka couldnt help but think he looked way too cute. "Its fine..."

"No no, dont you cut me short like that!" She insisted, leaning closer to her. He squeaked, flustered. "What is it about?"

"Uhm... things..." Crona tried to sneak out of the conversation, but the scythe meister wouldn't have any of that. She stared down at him hard. "I'm not going to tell you!"

"Why not!? I demand the right of exclusivity!"

"A-And I demand my right of privacy!"

The scythe meister huffed, hands moving down to her own hips, staring at him with a fake frown on her face. The dark meister shivered, yet stood his ground by holding her stare, despite his cheeks showing a light blush.

"You know... I could be your beta-reader" She tried to convince him, making him blink a couple times, thoughtful. After a few seconds, he shook his head strongly.

"T-thats free reading with extra steps!"

"Free!? Are you going to charge me for it!?" She tried to sound outraged, but failed miserably, as her voice came out a little to high-pitched for her taste. He held a snort down his throat.

"I'll give you a discount, probably..." Crona couldnt help but drop out a little chuckle, followed by the scythe meister who laughed wholeheartedly.

"You ain't telling me anything, are you?" Maka insisted, her eyes softening for him. He smiled at her.

"I-Its nothing big really... some sheets of paper done, B-Blair helps me reading them..."

"Oh then she has more rights than me?" The scythe faked another displeased tone in her voice, forcing the swordsman to yelp.

"I cant help it Maka! S-she gives me her c-cute stare, s-she renders me p-powerless!" The swordsman confessed in shame, dropping his head defeated.

"Damn her cute stare, you should be stronger than that! She's not that cute!"

"M-Maka..." He looked at her with distress. "She purrs... and begs f-for belly rubs...'

"No way..."

"She cries if I dont let her read Maka! I cant say no to her!" Crona trembled, grasping on Maka's coat while looking at her with a very good imitation of haunted eyes, yet his orbes remained in that beautiful shade of midnight dark. "I'm prisoner of her claws!"

She couldnt help it. The blonde meister reached up to him, holding him tight in a hug, patting his back softly. As he was still sitting on the swing, his face snuggled comfortably against her stomach, her left hand caressing his pink hair.

"Its okay... I understand what you're going through" She tried to give him so comfort. "Have you tried the water spray?"

"B-But she sounds in pain everytime I use it..." He sighed, nuzzling his nose against her, arms holding her tight around her waist. After a few seconds in silence, he released the scythe meister from his grasp. "I d-dont know why she insists in reading it, if everytime she does it, she cries."

Maka winced at his words. Then he still had that killer touch, just like his poems. Now she wasnt so sure she was ready to read whatever his mind was pouring down on paper. Poor Blair...

"Do you imagine if you could make a living out of writing?" She asked suddenly, glancing up to the evening sky, where the black moon started to rise, covering the firmament in darkness. The stars were amazingly bright that night. "We could go into a long journey, anywhere we want, you could write our adventures while we investigate the hardest Kishin-egg mysteries we could find"

Crona blinked a couple times, his blush slowly receding from his face. Looking back down to the snow around them, he sat in the swing in silence, while drawing circles on the snow with his foot. He sighed deeply, a soft sad smile showing on his face.

"That sounds like a dream come true..." He said in a soft tone of voice, his midnight dark eyes showing a glimpse of rare happiness that made Maka's heart skip a beat. "Just you and me... thats how heaven surely looks like"

They were in a public place, she really shouldn't... but as she told him a few minutes ago, she couldnt help herself. Without a word, she supported herself on his shoulders, taking a seat on his lap. He quickly responded, fearful of her falling off him, holding her waist tight while pulling her closer to him. His legs stiffened, securely pressed against the floor so she could have a more firm seat on him. Her arms traveled to the back of his head, holding him back in a hug, her chin resting on his shoulder. Crona gave her a light squeeze against his chest, breathing deeply on her loose blonde hair.

Their embrace lasted, as long as the silence around them would allow it, as far as the absence of soul nearby could let them. In times like that, when the only thing she wanted was to feel him close, the anxiety of being caught was almost unbearable. She hated that feeling...

"I used to hate the night..." Crona's sudden words, whispered against her ear, caught her off-guard. She moved a little away from him, enough to face him comfortably, holding on his shoulders so she wouldnt fall off his lap. The swordsman moistened his lips, nervous, but not enough to keep his thought for himself. "It meant it was time for me to be alone, with nothing but my thoughts... It was the only time of the day where I couldnt be with you..."

Maka stared at him in silence, her emerald eyes watching at him in silent awe. He had a gift for words, that was for sure, or probably their resonance allowed him to say the things he would never say out loud in normal circumstances. Usually he would be so awfully quiet with anyone, but with her... he was himself.

The scythe meister leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulders, arms surrounding his neck in a warm comfortably hug.

"Now I cant wait for it to come... its the only time of the day when I can have you..." He said, his voice unusually clear, his arms holding her tightly. Maka couldnt help but smile, noticing his stutter was gone. It was only natural... the words of the soul couldnt stutter.

"I hate mornings... the force me to leave when I want to stay with you" She whispered, her fingers mindlessly toying with his small ponytail, combing his hair with her fingernails.

"I like them... because the first thing I see when I wake up is you" The dark meister confessed, his legs softly pushing against the floor. The swing creaked, holding their weight as they softly rocked, tightly embraced. "I don't know how long that will last..."

She didnt dare to speak anymore. The moment was just... perfect. The silence, the comfort and warmth of each other, the subtle song of their souls, sharing the same feeling of belonging. She didnt want to think on anything that wasnt them, in that moment of time, in that fragment of reality. The cold wind that blew with the movement of the swing barely bothered her, as she cuddled against him for warmth. She could stay like that all night, hearing his breathing, feeling the beating of his heart. She could recognize that rhythm anywhere, she could feel the warmth of his soul from the other side of the world if she had to.

But no matter how hard she tried to stay in that dreamy world, in that comfortable lie, reality would insist in pull her back, harshly. As her senses noticed the far away footsteps of strangers walking to their direction, the scythe meister forced herself to get up from Crona's embrace, making some distance between them. The swordsman complied, releasing her while stoping the movement of the swing with his foot, staying still. Maka walked a few feet beside him, gripping on the swing's chain next to him. After a few seconds, a couple of adults walked on the park, too focused on themselves to pay attention to them.

The couple of meister watched them go. They were laughing, walking carelessly in the night, holding each other's hands without worry or care. They had nothing to hide, they belonged to each other, for them their love was free and open to the world. The swordsman glanced down to the footprints on the snow, unable to help the feeling of jealousy in his heart. He had no idea how that would feel... loving without fear...

"Soul will be back in any moment... probably tomorrow, or in a couple of days at most" Maka soft voice pulled Crona out of his thoughts, dark eyes looking up to her. She was staring at the road where the couple had vanished a while ago.

Her words gripped into his heart, viciously. He held his breath for a moment, feeling the sting of anxiety stabbing his chest, forcing him to take a deep breath before slowly releasing it through his mouth. It was inevitable, he knew what he was getting into from the start, but still hurt nonetheless...

Maka sat on the swing next to him in silence, her hands gripping the chains at her sides, small feet swinging ever so lightly, barely touching the ground.

"I've been thinking how to tell him... about us." She said in a soft low voice, only for him to hear her. Her emerald eyes were focused on the dark sky above, staring at the stars with worry frozen in her face. "I dont want to hurt him, but its unavoidable... I just... hope he understands"

Crona looks down to his own lap, hands sliding from the chains to the fabric of his pants, above his knees. He frowned, swallowing the persistent clog of saliva that insisted in blocking his windpipe. He was very anxious about the topic.

"If he doesnt, w-we'll make him understand" Crona's soft yet unusually secure voice called the attention of the scythe meister, who looked at him with surprise in her face.

"We?" She repeated, unsure if she had heard right.

"I will be there too" His eyes slowly dragged to meet her own, frowning slightly. Maka saw fear in his eyes, but there was also courage.

"I dont think you should. This is my problem..."

"Wrong" Crona interrupted her, moving slightly on the swing so he could face her. "I am just as guilty... and I wont leave you alone in this"

"I dont want him to lose his cool, Crona... he might look chill but I know more than anyone how bad he gets when angry..." The blonde meister warned him. She, more than anyone, knew that making Soul angry was the hardest thing to do, ever. But this? Maka wasnt only worried about him being angry... she was worried about him going mad.

"I wont deserve any less" The swordsman insisted, his eyes moving back to the ground, sitting on the swing in silence. Slowly, he moved his face up to meet the dark night sky, staring at the shiny stars above, surrounding the silent black moon. "He's my friend... He means a lot to me, and... the least he deserves is for me to confront him. I think..."

Maka stared at him. His tall body, slightly hunched in the swing, beautiful dark eyes looking up to the night sky as if pleading for answers to silent gods above. His hands, those hands that could tear pleasure from her with the same ease that could rip a soul, tightly held into his pants in a mild effort of self-comfort. His pink hair, soft to the touch, loosely held together by a white hair band, moving lightly with the blow of wind. She was worried, a confrontation between Crona and Soul was something she was terrified about. Mainly because she knew Crona wouldnt lift a finger against him, and Soul could be too out of himself to stop. On the other hand... would Soul actually understand? Could it be possible for him to keep his cool and hear them out?

It could be...

"Okay... we'll tell him, when he's back..." She agreed after a long silence, taking a long deep breath. She head Crona sigh heavily as well.

"Okay..." The swordsman said, noticing how the chill of night started to blow. Maka shouldn't be too late in the cold, but again... since that first night... She hadnt returned to her apartment. Swallowing the doubt with a hard gulp, he glanced at her. "Will you stay with me tonight too?"

"... Yes" Was her only answer, lifting up her hands to get a hold on the hood of her coat, covering her face with it. She was surely getting cold.

Getting up from the swing, Maka offered her hand to him, so he could hold her. Crona helped himself up from the swing with his grip on her hand, but this time he didnt let go. The scythe meister looked down to their joined hands, his fingers searching for her own, intertwining. Leaning closer to him, the meister glanced up to his dark eyes, emerald green staring up at him with a silent well known request. He understood right away.

The taste of his lips was something she would remember until the end of her days. The softness of his skin, his breath against her, the warmth of his hands. He was forever branded into her soul, and that was something no one and nothing could change.

For now, she would embrace this reality.

---

The knock on his door, so late at night, startled him.

Ragnarok was sound asleep. After the large meal that arrived to his room, sent by the delivery service, the demon sword decided he would go to sleep early. He said something about not wanting to be there when his visit arrived, and Crona found himself confused at his words.

But his confusion vanished, when he opened the door.

"You shouldn't be here" Crona whispers, stepping aside to let Maka inside his dorm room. The blonde meister was carrying a small backpack, beside her suitcase.

"I know" She answered, emerald eyes looking down to her own hands, grasped together tightly. "You want me to leave?"

Her words resonated hard in the silence of the academy's basement. The intricate design of its corridors, the thick built of its walls, everything had been built to keep the students unaware of the prisoners under their feet. That was one of the reasons why it was so easy to get lost there.

Had they gone lost down there too? Had they lost their sense of reality? Or human morality? After what happened between them, in that room... had they gone lost in the madness of love? She shouldn't be there, he shouldn't allow it. If he had an inch of decency he shouldn't let her... but it was too late. That was something he should have done the night before, but he didnt... he wanted her with him.

And honestly... fuck the whole world for all he cared. Maka was his only priority.

Without a word, his arms searched for her, holding her in a tight hug, pressing her back against his chest. The blonde meister stiffened for a second, before relaxing in his embrace. She leaned against him, accepting his closeness, his warmth. The swordsman hid his face on the crook of her neck, breathing her scent deeply, strong slender fingers holding her in tight grasps.

"This... wont end well... for both of us..." The dark meister whispered against her ear.

"I know" She said in an unusual calm tone of voice, as her hands traveled up to her coat, unzipping it. The garment got tossed to the backrest of the only chair in his room, on top of his black long coat.

"Then why?..." He insisted, his arms tightly closed around her, in a very needed embrace. The scythe meister turned in his embrace, facing him.

"I dont need a reason... if any... you're my reason" She whispered, tossing aside her white gloves. Her now naked hands moved up to hold his face, thumbs caressing his cheeks, moving gently to his lips.

"Maka..." Crona said her name in a worried yet husky tone of voice, his eyes looking down at her with the same hunger of the night before. She pressed her thumbs against his lips, quieting him down.

"Please Crona... let me have this... let me have you" Maka pleaded, blushing at the sight of the swordsman parting his lips, catching her thumbs with his tongue, softly licking the fingertips trying to hush him. He kissed her fingers, moving one of his hands to held Maka's own in a tight grip.

"You have me... I'm yours..."

Nothing stopped them that night, or the nights to follow. For as long as the wolf wasnt in the forest, the prey would dance and love wildly, carelessly, passionately. As clothes were hastily removed, as temperature raised in their bodies, reason and fear had no place in their minds. For a short moment in time, they would pretend to be free, to be the only two people remaining in the whole world. Nothing mattered but them, nothing was more important than them, no one. As their bodies connected to melt into one soul, as hearts pumped, viciously running living blood, the reality they had forged seemed to be tangible. It was real... it could be real. Them, together, as long as night lasted, as far as their luck could reach. As the wicked outcome of his passion filled her, over and over, she had no sane mind to pull herself out of her own fantasy. A fantasy of carefree, fulfilling, everlasting love. A fantasy that seemed to be dead a long time ago, and now was alive and thriving in the shadows. This fantasy, as dangerous as it could be, was something she would hold into for dear life.

For as long as it would last, she would embrace this warped reality.

---

They plan was to reach the school main corridor.

As the nights before, Maka would make time preparing her class for next day in the teacher's restroom, while Crona would go to his bedroom in the basement. After a while, when the school were almost empty, she would make her move and go to him. It had worked before without a problem, without anyone noticing. Anyone except Eruka.

The frog witch wasnt blind, and being aware of what was going on between them, for the frog witch it was easy to spot them behaving oddly. Even so, she was quite "cool" about it, giving them space and stepping aside, for a change. That was why in that night, as both meisters walked together towards the school's entrance, they found it odd that she was waiting for them. Maka was ready to hear her complains, maybe after three days she have had enough and would finally throw her usual threats about her toying with him. The frog witch could say she was just being jealous, or Crona could protect her as much as he wanted, telling her she was just a friend, but Maka didnt trust her. There was something in the way the frog witch treated him that displeased her.

Yet, nothing of the sorts happened. With a somewhat worried expression, Eruka explained she had been waiting for them for a while, just to tell them the Director was looking for them. Any visit to the principal so late at night was never good, what could it be? Both meisters were thinking and feeling just the same, staring at each other before walking together towards the Director's office. The frog witch followed them suit, a few steps behind them.

In moments like this, the corridors seemed to look endless, and the waiting unbearable. What could be the reason of him calling them, above all people? It had something to do with the classes? That wasnt reason enough to summon them so late, so what then?..

Could he have found out about them!?

As they reached the Principal's office doors, Maka was the first to step up, grabbing the doorknob tightly with her right hand. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself from all the doubt and fear. Thinking what ifs was pointless, being fearful of improbable scenarios was a waste of time, she had to remember that. Behind her, Crona was now grasping his right arm, seeking for self-comfort, his still dark eyes shaking slightly. He probably was thinking much worse things than her, that was for sure. Standing there not doing anything wouldnt solve shit.

The scythe meister opened the doors.

"Oh! Professor Gorgon, Professor Evans. Please, get inside" The Director greeted them with a cheerful tone of voice, standing up from his seat and opening both of his arms in a welcoming gesture.

Walking inside the office, Crona couldnt help but try to ease himself with the warm welcome of the Principal. Were all Directors just like him? Remembering old Lord Death, it might seem that way. Jolly, easy to approach, giving a sense of security... he could picture Black Star as a future Director of a Shibusen school easily.

The sound of Eruka closing the large door behind them forced him back to the scene. As offered by the director, Maka sat down in one of the two seats in front of the large desk. Crona looked at the free seat, but instead of taking it, he offered it to Eruka who stared at him with surprise. Silently he smiled at her, just a very little curve of his lips, but that was enough. She huffed, slightly embarrassed, but took the free seat nonetheless.

"Thats the kind of old school chivalry we need nowadays, seeing it still alive in the young is quite refreshing!" The principal cheered for the tall professor, who just scratched his cheek in embarrassment, standing still behind both girls. Maka crossed her arms above her chest.

"Professor, with all due respect, I dont think you summoned us for a class of courtesy"

"Although you need one with urgency" Eruka casually said, her dark eyes studying the manicure of her fingers with mild interest.

"What did you-"

"Well well! Aren't we sharp tonight!" The Director stopped what surely would be an exchange of words. "Yes indeed Maka, I'm deeply sorry for calling you all so late at night, but this is an urgent meeting."

With a deep breath, the Director stood up from his seat, walking towards the large mirror that he would use to communicate directly with Lord Death. This time, the principal stared at his own reflection. He was a man in his fifties, with light brown hair and a full well groomed beard. He had the look fo a stern man, an image that didnt match with his affable personality. His face suddenly turned serious, glancing at the meisters with a frown in his face.

"There's a new mission that popped today. A search and rescue team must be sent right away. This is a class S+ mission"

Maka stared at him with interest. A class S+? That was the highest rank in missions, it meant it was available only for Death Scythes and Four Star meisters. That kind of mission usually involved a very high risk of death, mainly because it involved a powerful witch, or a fair good amount of powerful kishin eggs. Usually both.

"I talked about the issue with Lord Death. At first we thought about sending Professor Stein and his wife, Marie Mjolnir. As the strongest meister in history and a powerful Death Scythe, we wanted to make sure to send the very best. But..."

"B-But Marie is retired" Crona suddenly said, fear clearly shown in his face. "S-She doesnt do missions anymore, a-and t-they have a little kid... if s-something happens to them- no, no no, I'll go in their places, please, let me go! I-"

The principal suddenly lifted his hand, silently ordering the sword meister to keep quiet. The swordsman obeyed reluctantly, biting his own lip. Maka couldnt blame him, Professor Stein although powerful, he wasnt a young boy anymore, and Marie had separated herself from real fights since Victor was born. Besides... one way or another, no matter how much Crona was embarrassed in admitting, they were his parents.

"Easy now, I understand your worries, thats exactly what was discussed with Lord Death" He tried to ease him down, his right hand moving towards his beard, grooming it with his fingers. "Funny, he said you would jump into the mission as soon as you heard we would be sending your old folks. They are your foster parents, right?"

Crona looked down, still biting down his lip, saying nothing.

"Lord Death told me there was no one better for this mission than you, the Demon Swordsman." The principal recognized, his eyes darting towards Eruka, who was toying with a lock of her silver hair, mildly paying attention. "And you, Miss Frog"

Eruka croaked in surprise, wide open fearful eyes finally glancing at the director, mouth open in horrid shock.

"W-What!? M-Me!? G-gecko! I-I'm not a meister!" She gasped, her face going pale with fear.

"We know, but Lord Death told me you are one of the most powerful witches able to use the Calculation Spells. As you know, that skill will be incredibly helpful for the mission"

"B-But it sounds dangerous! W-What about the students? I was supposed to be here to teach! Not register into the Suicide Squad!"

"Dont you worry about that. I'm very sure Mister Gorgon here will protect you. Isn't that right?" The teacher tried to reassure her, the swordsman quickly nodding at his affirmation.

Crona looked down to Eruka, who looked back at him with fear in her eyes. She had always been a coward just like him, so he could really empathize with her feelings. His hand moved to her shoulder, trying to comfort her. The frog witch croaked, stressed, but nonetheless accepted his silent support. Still, something was amiss...

"W-who is the target?... Y-you said t-this is a search and rescue mission so... who?" Crona asked, his dark eyes noticing how the director glanced at Maka, who was sitting next to Eruka, her hands gripping her white coat.

Why was Maka summoned, if this mission didnt include her?

"There is no easy way to say this..." The principal sighed, sitting heavily in his desk chair, both of his hands intertwining on top of his large desk. He stared straight at Maka, who paled by the second. "Soul and his meister are missing"

Maka held her breath, feeling her whole world crumble upon her.

Reality just caught up with her.

---

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