"I don't know…"

"I do, you're ready." Soul told Amara as he waited for her to exit the car. "You're eleven now. I thought you were excited to find your partner."

"I was…" Amara murmured, glaring out of the window anxiously. "Do I really have to climb all those stairs?"

"Yes and don't change the subject," Maka cut in, grinning at her daughter. "Go on. And remember – Don't worry if you don't find your partner today. Some meet them right away and some have to wait a while. Be patient."

Amara nodded and grimaced. Now all she had to do was open the door.

"Okay." Her father got out of the car to round it and pull her door open. He looked at her pointedly. "Let's go. Want me to walk you up the stairs?"

Amara shook her head furiously. She didn't want to hurt her father's feelings but that wouldn't look very cool.

"Thank Death, that would be so uncool," her father mumbled, surprising her. Amara giggled and gave him a hug.

"I love you, Dad," she whispered. He just laughed gruffly and patted her back.

"I love ya too, kid. Now hurry up. You're cramping my style."

Amara laughed but nodded. She looked back into the car to smile at her mother and brother.

"You good, Mara?" Masen asked from the backseat, his crimson eyes warm. She grinned. Her eyes fell onto the twins. They were two now, and so beautiful, but both were asleep in the very back seats. Amara smiled and looked back to Masen to smile.

"Yeah, Mase. I love you."

"Love ya too."

"We'll see you after school, sweetie."

"Yes, Mama,"

"Oh my Death, go!" Her father grabbed her shoulders and pushed her towards the stairs. She grumbled good naturedly but went.


The stairs weren't so bad. Amara crossed some students really struggling up there, and then others were more or less soaring. But she climbed them comfortably enough, though she did break into a small sweat by the time she reached the top.

"Finally," she murmured as she took in the full view of the academy. It was beautiful – that much was so. She even took in the perfect symmetry her Uncle Kid always told her to look out for.

Thankfully, Amara already knew a few people. Growing up in Death City and training from such a young age meant she would inevitably run into other meister's and weapons, of all ages. She saw a few girls she recognised from the clearing she used to train in with Aunt Tsubaki and they waved her over. Amara beamed and started to walk.

She had nearly reached them when she tripped and tumbled into someone. She felt her face burn in embarrassment as she fell into the arms of a slightly taller person.

"Hey! Watch it!"

"Oh!" she gasped, instinctively grasping their forearms. "Oh, I'm so sorry!"

Amara looked up to find very annoyed, but very handsome brown eyes. They were angry and narrow. It was as if he was trying to make them cold, but she had never fallen into eyes so warm. It was a boy. He was a good few inches taller than her, which was odd since she was tall, but she suspected her wasn't her age. A year or two older maybe. His hair was a shaggy but stylish chestnut brown. Immediately, she felt a very standoffish nature about him, but that wasn't all there was to him. She could feel it. The way she always could.

Before she could say another word, or even think, his eye's went from annoyed to taken aback the moment his eyes met hers. His whole demeanour changed, the way hers did when she was sensing something she knew other people couldn't. Then, he didn't look so angry.

But he certainly didn't look comfortable.

"It's fine," he muttered in a gruff voice before looking away to glare behind her. "Just watch where you're going next time."

Without another word, he sauntered away. Amara turned and watched him, still shocked and startled by the whole encounter. She had never sensed another person the way she did him. Everyone she met felt as if they were so sure of who they were. But it was almost like that boy was wearing a mask, and she so desperately wanted to peek behind it.

"Mara!"

Amara turned to face the girls she was trying to meet. Each of them had such a shocked expression she nearly stepped back.

"What?"

"You just ran into him! And he didn't even snap!" One of the girls, Hana, gasped. Amara tilted her head.

"What do you mean?"

"That was Haruka," Hana continued, the two other girls just nodded behind her. "Haruka Cross. He's a year above and still doesn't have a partner."

Amara frowned. Why wouldn't someone like him have a partner?

"I heard he shot down every weapon who ever tried to match with him," one of the girls behind Hana said. "He's really rude. He doesn't even have any friends."

Amara frowned painfully.

"What? That's awful." Amara muttered. The girls nodded.

"Yeah," Hana agreed. "And a shame, since he's so gorgeous."

Amara blushed but couldn't find it in her to deny it.

"Well, maybe he will find a partner today," Amara reasoned. The girls grimaced but nodded.

"Sure. Anyways, let's go get our badges!"

Amara smiled, but it felt strained.

"Okay."


It was nearly time to go home when Amara finally found a place to sit in defeat. She had attempted to partner with a stupid amount of miesters. Apparently, it was general knowledge that she was the legendary Death Scythe and Scythe Mesiter's daughter and so everyone wanted to match with her.

Amara wanted to say she tried but she couldn't. Trying to match with anyone after reading that boy felt… weirdly wrong. She tried to look out for him all day but she couldn't find him. It was after nearly everyone went home that she finally sat down at the top of the stairs of the academy.

"Dai, Amara, [Come on, Amara,]" she murmured to herself, resting her cheeks in the palm of her hands and staring at the floor. "Puoi farlo. [You can do this]."

"What?"

Amara jumped to her feet so quickly she nearly tumbled down the stairs. Fear swarmed over her before she felt a strong hand grasp her wrist and pull her back upright.

"You have a habit of falling, eh?"

She opened her eyes to meet Haruka's. Her heart leapt at the sight of him, especially after trying to find him all day. She shook the emotions away and smiled.

"Ah, no," she managed as he slowly let go of her arm to bury his hands in his pockets.

"Were you speaking English just now?" he asked, Amara thought she could detect a hint of amusement.

"Oh – Uh, no. I was speaking Italian. It makes me feel better."

Haru tilted his head. Amara felt her stomach jump.

"You don't feel okay?"

"No, it's not that," she lied. Haruka turned his head again and frowned. Amara shook her head before smiling. "Anyways – You're Haruka, right?"

"Haru," he nodded in greeting. "You?"

"Amara."

"Nice to meet you." He gestured at the step and began to sit. Amara tried to hide her blush as she sat beside him.

"So," he began. "Did you partner up?"

Amara's heart leapt as she shook her head no. She took a quick glance at him to find his eyes steady on the horizon, as if he was actively trying not to look at her.

"You sensed me," she said without noticing. Her mouth kept moving before she could stop it. "I felt it. You were going to yell at me but then you felt my soul."

Haru was quiet. His eyes didn't waver at all until they finally met hers again.

"I did," he allowed, his voice quiet. "And it almost felt like you sensed me. But you're not a meister. You're a weapon, I could tell."

Amara nodded.

"Yeah," she murmured and looked away. "I've always had a funny way of knowing things. My parent's always laugh about it, but I think it confuses even them. But I felt that you tried to push me away – but the moment you felt my soul, you stopped."

Haru nodded thoughtfully. Amara was confused – and delighted – that he wasn't looking at her strangely because of the things she had said. It was like for the first time she could be herself. Talk to someone on an entire other level than she ever had because he was just like her.

"You've been here a while," Amara meant it as a question. Haru nodded anyway.

"Yeah. My Soul Perception is really strong and always has been. I tried to partner with a few people the first year but I could feel that it wasn't right. Then throughout the year the professors have tried to shove other weapons at me."

"So you got bitter?"

Haru cast her a dry look but didn't deny it. It was quiet for a long moment before Amara decided to speak up again.

"So?"

"So, what?"

"When are you going to ask me to be your weapon?"

Amara was surprised even at herself. She had never been so direct in her entire life. But the thought that she was say next to a person who felt things like she did changed things. She didn't have to beat around the bush or pretend not to know things she shouldn't. This was real. And they both knew that this was right.

It was as if Haru heard every emotion she was feeling. He arched a brow at her before allowing a small, cocky smirk. Amara had to try so hard not to blush. He was handsome she wanted to cry. She prayed he couldn't feel that.

"Guess we better make it official then," he drawled before standing and offering her his hand. Amara smiled and took it without hesitation.

"You ready?" he asked. Amara grinned.

"Ready."

Amara felt his soul pour into hers. It was beautiful – impossibly so. Just as beautiful as he himself. She enveloped the soul waves and amplified them, just like she had been taught. She had never resonated with anyone before, but nothing felt more right. And it certainly felt right with Haru.

She could feel his smile as he sent the waves back and eventually, she closed her eyes and allowed her body to evaporate and form into her weapon.

She was proud of her scythe. Her handle and blade was absolutely pitch black, so black it through back any light that reached it, all except for the streaks of crimson that began at the base of the blade but all met at the pointy tip. She could feel Haru's exhilaration as he felt the weight of the weapon in his hands.

"A scythe?" she heard him ask. She giggled from inside her soul.

"That okay?"

"I've trained in everything but always preferred bladed weapons," she looked out to see him smirk. "I always loved the scythe, but I always thought it would be way too far-fetched."

Amara felt her stomach twist in excitement before morphing back into her human form. She landed swiftly in front of him and pushed her hair out of her face, unable to hide her smile.

Haru continued to smirk and reached out a hand again. He turned his head and raised his brows.

"Sure you want to be stuck with me? I'm sure you've heard what people have been saying,"

Amara didn't allow him another word as she took his hand immediately and shook it.

"They haven't seen your soul," she said quietly and smiled. "I'm perfectly happy."

Amara could swear she saw a hint of shock in his eye, but it was gone before she could even think.

"Okay then. I guess we'll register officially tomorrow. I'm Haruka Cross."

"Amara Evans."

Haru nodded, it seemed like the name meant nothing to him. Amara liked that.

"See you."


Amara could barely hide her excitement as she reached her parent's car at the bottom of the steps.

"Now, that's a big smile," her mother commented as she strapped herself in and gave her brother a kiss.

"So, you found your partner?" Masen asked, his eyes alight with excitement. Amara nodded.

"Yes," she squealed. "His name is – "

"His?" her father cut in, a playful smirk on his face. Amara laughed.

"Yes, his. His name is Haru."

"Haruka Cross?" Her father repeated and grinned. "He's a cool kid. Sid said he is really picky about his partners and couldn't tell why. So, you made the cut?"

"Mm-hmm. He has a really strong Soul Perception. He never felt the right soul. But when he felt mine…" Amara trailed off, words couldn't even communicate her happiness.

"Oh, sweetie I'm so glad you're happy!" her mother squealed.

"Yah," her father continued. "You've found a great partner. And of course he picked you. Who couldn't the moment they felt your Soul?"

Amara giggled but her face heated up. Masen punched her in the arm.

"Nice one, Mera!" he teased, but Amara laughed. "But just you wait. No weapon and meister pair are going to be as good as me!"

"God, it's like having a mini Blackstar," Soul mumbled jokingly. Masen cheered.

"Where are the twins?" she asked, looking behind her at the empty backseat.

"Playdate with Macheo," Soul told her and she nodded. Micheo was Blackstar and Tsubaki's son. He was born just before the twins were. No one knew that Tsubaki was pregnant at the time Mama told them she was having the twins, not even Tsubaki or Amara. Tsubaki only realized about four months in. Macheo really was a little stealth baby.

Amara zoned out. The thought that she didn't want to be a weapon once seemed so surreal. She had such an amazing family, a great weapon form and now a… a partner. She closed her eyes and sighed in happiness. Yeah. This is good.