It was nearly half seven when Soul started getting a little worried.

He'd spoken to Maka that morning, and she said she'd be making her way to the airport at six and call him from the cab. Maka was always very quick with calls, always ringing right on the dot. So when it hit half six Soul was a little confused and tried to ring her. Her phone went straight to voice message.

Another hour passed and Soul could officially state that he was worried. Maybe she had just forgotten and gotten on the plane without calling. She was due to arrive back in Nevada at eleven. So maybe she'd call him when she landed.

Even then, Soul didn't feel right leaving it another few hours before being sure that she was safe. He knows that the mission was no combat but that didn't mean that they didn't face danger whenever they went anywhere. They still had enemies, and even then she could have simply gotten sick or hurt herself on her own.

Soul finally caved and grabbed his phone again. The kids were fine, they knew their mother was meant to be home late, and he didn't want to worry them. He rang her phone once more and when she didn't pick up, he dialled Kid's number instead.

"Soul?"

"Hi, Kid," Soul began, but Kid didn't let him speak.

"I was just about to call," Kid sounded tense. Soul frowned. "Have you heard from Maka?"

"No, that's what I wanted to talk to you about," Soul replied slowly. "She was meant to ring me a couple hours ago but didn't, and now I can't get through to her cell."

"Ah," Kid went quiet for a moment. Soul clutched the phone tighter.

"Kid, what's going on?"

It was quiet for a long moment.

"I'm not sure yet," Kid said quietly. "All of a sudden, all of our contact to Oceania was cut off. Just like that."

"Just like that?" Soul repeated. "That doesn't make any sense. No one can even contact you through the mirrors?"

"No one has, and I can't get through either." Kid told him, his voice strained. "It's like… Like someone has locked me out. I don't understand it at all."

"Kid, Maka is there." Soul said sharply.

"I know, I know," Kid told him, his voice still strained. "And I'm doing everything I can from my end. We didn't even realise till a few minutes ago. It's like it was hidden from our knowledge."

"Again, you're not making any sense."

"That's because it doesn't make sense, Soul." Kid said lowly. "What does that remind you of?"

"…Witches."

"Exactly. Obviously something is being tampered with here. And by magic."

Soul was about to reply when he heard a small voice from the doorway.

"Daddy?"

Amara was stood in her pyjamas, her curly hair unkept and her eyes narrowed.

"Is everything okay?" she asked. Soul pulled the phone away from his face and nodded.

"Yah sweetie. Just trying to sort something out. Your brothers and sister okay?"

"Yeah, we're just playing in the living room." She turned on her heels, though her eyes still held worry. "You coming back soon?"

"Yes, I won't be much longer."

Amara nodded and made her way back into the living room. Soul felt a horrible gnawing in his stomach, like worry was trying to eat its way into his back and restrain him. He shook the feelings away and pressed to phone back to his ear.

"You still there?"

"Yes… Is Amara alright?"

"Yeah. They don't know anything might be wrong."

Kid went quiet again. Soul felt his breathing growing laboured. He took a deep breath. He had to hold it together.

"I'll do everything in my power to find out what happened and bring Maka home. I promise. Tell the kids the mission was extended if you want."

"You want me to lie to my kids?"

"Not lie – If something has gone wrong, I'm sure Maka is doing everything in her power to help."

Soul nodded to himself. That was true. If anything happened, Maka could most definitely hold her own, and she wouldn't just leave people defenceless either.

"That's true. Okay. Call me if you learn anything. I mean it, Kid."

"Yes. Thank you, Soul."

Soul hung up without replying. He shook all the unpleasant emotions away and made his way back into the living room to tell his kids Mama would be away a tiny bit longer.


The kids took it well enough. The twins were missing Maka no matter how long she was away so the difference wasn't so big there. Masen was content enough but Amara looked a little down. When Soul asked if she was okay she said she was, she just misses her.

Soul kept trying Maka's phone but it always went the voice mail. When it hit eleven o clock Soul couldn't help sitting in the living room and waiting for her to come through the door. It was one in the morning when Soul finally made his way back into his room to try and sleep.

Soul rang Kid every day and asked for information. Apparently, Oceania had stopped allowing anyone to enter, even those sent by Death himself which only added to their worry. This was definitely the work of witches. If those of Oceania were too scared to even let Death in, they were obviously being threatened or blackmailed.

Nearly a week had passed when Soul heard a knock on his door. Soul nearly ran over to swing it open, praying that maybe Maka had finally come home.

"Kid?"

Kid wasn't wearing his robes, which was very odd. It had been very long since Soul had seen his friend's face, looking chiselled and older as Soul and Star's did with age. But right now he looked very old.

And very, very sad.

"Soul," Kid said quietly, stepping into the apartment. "Are your children home?"

Soul shook his head slowly.

"…No. They're at school."

"I see."

Kid made his way to stand awkwardly in the living room. Soul closed the front door and followed him, hands in his pockets.

"So… You have anything for me?"

Kid kept his back to Soul. Soul started to feel that sensation again. That horrible, twisting sense of dread in his stomach that grew larger to longer Kid stayed silent.

"Kid."

Kid turned slowly, his amber eyes pained.

"So – We were right. It was witches."

"Course," Soul shrugged, hands in pockets. "So, did Maka get in touch."

Kid shook his head.

"Not exactly."

It was quiet again before Soul broke the silence.

"Spit it out, Kid." Soul snapped. "You obviously have something to say, so say it."

"There was a bomb."

Soul's mouth snapped shut. Bombs were an awful, horrible tactic witches used sometimes. They hadn't for a while but it still happened. Whenever they did it was cowardly and evil.

And of course, catastrophic.

"…A bomb."

"Yes," Kid turned around fully to face Soul, unable to meet his eyes. "It seems it hit the day Maka was due to come home. Early afternoon."

Soul didn't blink, although his mind went back to his last conversation with Maka that day. Did it happen right after? Kid went on.

"Oceania was flooded with some rogue witches who had formed a coven. They went for Oceania because they knew that was the last place we were expecting an attack. They threatened the locals and workers to not let anyone in."

"But… If it was a bomb, surely someone must have heard it." Kid was shaking his head before Soul had even finished.

"No… They used a spell to stop all contact – including my mirrors – to make sure no one could tell. They also did used a spell to hide it from the world and contain the explosion to only one building... The one Maka was based in."

Kid trailed off and Soul's head snapped up.

"Casualties?"

Kid didn't speak again, which was really starting to frustrate Soul.

"Kid, just speak for fucks sake. You're here as a Lord Death, aren't you? Tell me what happened – "

"But I'm not just here as Lord Death, am I?" Kid looked up to meet Soul's eyes painfully. Soul fell a step back. No… No, this isn't happening.

"I'm also here as your friend. And this isn't… easy to say, I don't know how to say it…"

"Kid!"

Kid scrunched his face up in anguish and shut his eyes.

"It's very likely that Maka may be dead."

It was like all the blood rushing in Soul's ears were put on mute. Soul felt his knees nearly give in and had to clutch the side of the couch to remain standing. His could vaguely hear Kid still speaking.

"…the bomb was disastrous. All of the dead have yet to be identified and if anyone happened to survive we don't know how they could have escaped from the witches. Especially if they were injured and… without a weapon."

"No… No, no, no…" Soul muttered, his voice low. "No, this isn't happening."

"There might be some hope. Maka is very strong, maybe she found a way to evade the witches. But… I'm just telling you it's unlikely."

"No, no, no," Soul groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Her wavelength… I couldn't feel it after she left but… Maybe if I went there I could find her."

Kid stepped forward to clutch his friends shoulder. "Maybe."

The gnawing and twisting in Soul's stomach finally snapped. He hugged his friend and began to sob. Kid rubbed his back gently and told him how sorry he was.

"This can't be happening, this isn't happening." Soul repeated over and over. Kid didn't say a word.


Kid called over Tsubaki and Blackstar to help him with Soul. Soul could barley function. The closer it got to three o clock the more dread he felt as well as grief.

"God, how am I going to tell the kids?" He muttered, his voice thick with pain. "I need to say something. They're already freaking out because it's been over a week…"

"We don't know anything yet," Blackstar responded quietly. His eyes were red and bloodshot. Tsubaki had only just stopped crying and made them all tea. "Maka is the strongest person I know. If anyone could get out, it's her. Just tell them what they need to know."

"Yes," Tsubaki agreed, handing Soul another cup of tea. "I'll go and pick the kids up for you. Liz and Patti said they'd take Vale and Micheo for me so we can stay with you and help."

"Are Liz and Patti okay?" Soul asked. Kid sighed.

"They're working with Azusa and Sid to try and locate Maka. They really think she might be okay."

The way Kid said it made it clear he disagreed. Soul stared at him a moment then nodded.

"I'll go and get the kids," Tsubaki murmured and left without another word.


"Daddy?"

Amara knew there was something wrong the moment she entered the room. Masen, Winnie and Hunter trailed behind her, confusion etched in all of their faces.

"What's happening? Auntie Tsubaki is really sad."

Her eyes travelled across every adults face in the room, growing more and more concerned as they did.

"What is it?"

Soul sat the kids down on the couch and sat between them all. It hurt so much not to cry when he looked at his children's faces. How could he possibly tell them that their mother might not be coming home?

"Is it Mama? Is she back yet?" Masen asked.

"Mama?" Winter echoed, her and Hunter's faces lit up in hope. Soul coughed to hide a sob.

"Mama isn't home yet," he told them quietly, hating how his voice kept cracking. "There was an incident in Oceania, where she was based."

"What kind of incident?" Amara asked, her brow furrowed.

"…An explosion went off. There were witches in the area and they planted a bomb."

"A bomb?" Amara repeated, her eyes narrowed. Soul nodded.

"Yeah… We have been trying to find your mother… Or anyone who can help us but –"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Amara cut him off, standing up and turning to face him angrily. "You're not going to say what I think you are."

Soul looked at her, his expression broken.

"Sweetie, you guys need to know why she might not be coming back."

"Not coming back?"

"Mama?"

"No, don't listen to him!" Amara snapped, her eyes sad when they fell on her father.

"Papa, I know you're scared but Mama's okay. I feel it."

Soul just squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

"You can't know that, Amara…"

Amara glared at him in anger and stomped her foot.

"Ma io faccio. Lo giuro, la mamma tornerà a casa. [But I do. I swear, Mama will come home.]"

"Hai promesso? [You promise?]" Masen asked quietly, his crimson eyes shiny with tears. Mara nodded resolutley.

"I promise."

"Amara," Soul sighed and grabbed her hand in comfort. "Please, just don't – "

"No, non lo fai! [No, you don't!]" Amara actually shouted. She pulled her hand from his grasp and stepped away. "Penso che mia madre stia bene. Credimi! [I think my mother is fine. Just believe me!"

Soul leant forward and pressed a hand to his forehead nodded.

"Okay, okay…" He said weakly. "I believe you."

Amara continued to frown at him furiously. Soul just nodded again and stood up to hug them all. Obviously Amara wasn't going to hear it, so he just had to be strong.

"Okay, go get changed ready for dinner, okay?" Soul told them and they all nodded. Amara helped the twins to their room as Masen followed. Soul buried his face in his hands the moment they were out of sight.

"Mia morte, non posso farlo, non posso farlo… [My Death, I can't do this, I can't do this…]" He groaned into his hands. He felt Blackstar's hand clutch his shoulder.

"I'm so sorry Soul," Tsubaki cried, her face heartbroken. "I can't imagine…"

"I'm sorry," Kid echoed. Star just squeezed his shoulder.

"We're here for you man," Star said. "Anything you need. And maybe… I don't know, maybe Amara is right. She's never been wrong before – "

"Soul?"

They all looked up to face the doorway. They hadn't even heard it open. Soul's eyes opened so wide he feared they'd pop out of his skull. He jumped to his feet and rounded the couch, unable to even breathe.

"Maka?"