"Okay Mara, I think that's enough for today,"
Amara stood up from her knees on the ground to hug Tsubaki in thanks. Her body felt sore and clammy but she was surprised to say that she kind of liked it. She had been training with Tsubaki for nearly a year now and grew to like being a weapon more and more. Tsubaki told her what an honour it was to protect and fight with your meister. The dangers were a little scary but Amara figured she wouldn't have to do anything that dangerous for a long time.
"Thanks Tsubaki, I liked it," Tsubaki laughed.
"You seem to be liking it more and more every time we train," Tsubaki commented while they walked from the clearing of grass and towards her car. "It makes me sad to tell you that we're going to have to stop for a while."
"What?" Amara came to an abrupt stop behind her, a small frown on her face. Tsubaki smiled.
"I'm going to have a baby," Tsubaki said softly. "So, Blackstar thinks that I – "
Tsubaki was cut off when Amara ran forwards to hug her, quickly but gently. Tsubaki squealed then laughed musically.
"Oh, è così fantastico! Sono così felice per te! [Oh, that's amazing! I'm so happy for you!"
"I'm so glad you're pleased! I was worried that you might be disappointed." Tsubaki laughed.
"Well, I'll miss training but I understand. I'll be fine without training for a while."
Tsubaki smiled but nodded seriously.
"It might be quite a long while. The baby won't come for another seven months and even after that I have to look after them." Amara nodded.
"I understand Auntie Tsu."
Amara did understand but she didn't expect to miss training as much as she did. It had been a couple of weeks when she built up the courage to talk to her Dad. She was at home playing with Masen when she decided to bring it up with her parents.
"So, Dad…" She began slowly, her eyes staying on the face of her smiling baby brother. Masen was one now, and sitting up.
"Yes…" Her Dad hummed without look up from his paperwork whilst sat on the couch.
"So, I was thinking – "
"No, you can't have a cat."
"Not that!" Amara whined. Her father laughed and looked up at her, amusement alight in his eyes.
"Okay, what is it?"
"So, I know I really didn't want to be a weapon and I caused a lot of trouble because of it – "
"I'll say," her mother called from the kitchen. Amara blushed.
"I know, I'm sorry!" she groaned. "But – Ever since Tsubaki and me have been training I really, really… I don't know, I think I like it. It feels right."
Maka slowly walked in the room and saw Soul's face light up with a crooked smile. Maka grinned at her daughter.
"Oh, sweetie that's wonderful! What changed?"
Amara shrugged and pulled her finger from her baby brother's grasp and tickled his belly.
"I don't know," she muttered honestly. "Just everything Auntie Tsu was telling me about… It just seems so – "
"Cool?" Soul threw in. Mara grinned.
"Yeah," she laughed. "Yeah, it seems cool. The more I transform and get used to my blade the more it feels like me."
"Have you fully transformed yet?" Maka asked, folding her arms and leaning against the door frame. Amara shook her head and frowned.
"No, Tsubaki says I'm not ready yet," she grumbled. "I feel like I am though! I've tried on my own a few times but I just can't seem to figure it out."
"I think you're ready," Soul commented. "Awakening at six is madness. I bet you're ready for anything." Amara smiled shyly.
"Well that's good, because I was actually going to ask if you would take over my training."
Soul's crimson eyes went wide before he grinned like a teenager again.
"Really? How come?"
"Well," Amara began, avoiding his eyes. "I know at first you guys wanted me to train with Auntie Tsubaki because we were similar and I get that but I really wanna see what you can do."
Soul grinned again and ruffled her hair.
"Well, I will definitely take over your training. It sounds like Tsubaki made you have some passion but I can show you how to be a cool and loyal weapon."
"Loyal – Tsubaki kept going on about that word. What does it mean?" Amara asked with a small frown.
"Oh – Um… La lealtà. It's basically what you need to have between a weapon and meister. Obviously, a miester takes a lot of the risks when they fight, so a weapon has to be willing to jump in at… Well, very scary moments to protect them."
"Did you ever do that for Mama?" She asked. She saw her parents share a glance before her Mama nodded.
"Yes. Your father has jumped in front of attacks for me more times than I can count."
"Wow…" Amara's eyes went wide. "When?"
"The first time was when we were… What, around fourteen?" Soul asked and Maka shrugged.
"What happened?" Amara asked, leaning forwards. Her parents shared a look again. "What?"
"… We don't want to frighten you." Amara rolled her eyes.
"Come on." Amara whined. Soul sighed.
"Fine," her father began. "We were on a mission in Italy. Seemed simple enough and we finished the mission quite quickly. But your mother sensed another Soul nearby, one that was on the verge of becoming a Kishin."
"Sensed a Soul? How can she do that?" Soul and Maka smiled.
"Some miester's have the ability to sense and view Souls. You'll learn all about that when you're older." Her father told her before continuing. "Anyways, we followed to Soul and it turns out it was Crona."
"Crona? Your friend, the one you always talk about? On the – "
"Moon," her mother muttered, her eyes sad. "Yes. Crona was our enemy before he was our friend."
"Yeah," Soul clutched her hand before looking back to Amara. "We fought him in a church we found him in but he was so powerful – way out of our league at the time. Your mother couldn't attack so she blocked but – "
"But that was hurting your father." Her mother continued. Amara frowned.
"Even in his weapon form?"
"Even in my weapon form," Soul confirmed. "Your mother just started dodging instead of blocking. Obviously, she couldn't keep doing that so I yelled at her to block. But she wouldn't, she thought if she did I'd die."
"That's because if I had you would have died," her mother grumbled but her father ignored her.
"Crona was about to kill her so I… I tranformed back into human form and put myself in front of her."
It was silent for a moment before Amara broke it.
"…Wow." She breathed. "But… But you were okay? How were you not hurt?"
Soul gave a small smile.
"Well, sweetie I was hurt."
"Oh. Where?"
"My chest. You know that big scar I have?"
"Oh!" Amara gasped. "That's where that's from? Oh, wow. That's scary." Soul smiled and ruffled her hair again.
"I know it's scary sweetie, but I would do it all over again to save your mother. And you'll feel the exact same way about your partner one day. And no – " He held up a finger. "Not because it will be your boyfriend. Your mother and I got together after we got you! We were best friends for years and years."
"Exactly," Maka chimed in. "You don't have to be in love with someone to be a good weapon. You just need to have the exact right partner."
Amara frowned again.
"But, how will I know I have the right partner?" She asked and her parents grinned knowingly.
"You'll just know." Her father said before standing. "Now! How about some training? I think we could get you fully transforming before we come home."
Amara smiled a big smile before planting a massive kiss on her little brothers cheek and standing.
"Yes!"
