Party Crashers
3rd POV:
At Maka and Soul's apartment, the residents and their friends sit around as they finish a massive lunch. "Whew! I'm stuffed!" Black Star exclaims, patting his swollen stomach.
"This is kind of nice, actually!" Tsubaki remarks as she sits next to her Meister. "Everyone getting together for no particular reason… It feels kind of peaceful!"
"I can't stand out if it's always peaceful! If I'm gonna stand out, then it's up to me to - !" He starts yelling, and Liz walks over, elbowing him.
"Hey, Tsubaki," Liz says with a smile.
"Yes?" She asks, looking at the blond Weapon.
"Have you already finished your report we got assigned last week?" She asks as Black Star struggles to breathe.
"You still haven't finished it, Liz? Isn't it due tomorrow?" She asks and looks at Rebecca, who nods.
"Yeah. But it's that kind of report, so…" Liz replies, lifting her elbow off Black Star's face.
"That report, huh?" He mutters, seeing as he's not done it either.
"...Do you think you could help me out?" She asks, and Rebecca giggles, glad she doesn't have to do that anymore.
"What's so funny?" Soul asks her, liking her giggle.
"I don't have to do an essay that no one cares about anymore," She replies with a smile.
"Yeah, you have to read them and mark them," He replies, and she pouts.
"Well, when you put it like that! No fair!"
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
The next day the bell rings, signalling the start of class, the students enter the room, and Rebecca walks around the classroom collecting their reports. "My report never got finished…." Liz groans, leaning onto her desk while her sister giggles at her misfortune and Kid reads his book.
"Black Star. Did you do your report?" Tsubaki asks him.
"Yeah, I did it," He replies, leaning back in his chair and taking out a thin stack of paper, showing her.
"What?! That's pretty thin for a report," Liz remarks with a scoff.
"Of course it is. There's only one word to describe that thing." He replies.
"So, what did you write?" Tsubaki asks him, and he lifts the page to show the word in big 'FOOL!'
"Well, I definitely know who the fool is," Rebecca mutters as she looks at him, standing next to Ox. "Liz, and Black Star, seems you're the only ones who haven't done the report, so you'll be staying behind after class with me." She smiles, and they look at each other in fright.
"So not cool," Soul grumbles, but he is glad he finished it last night.
"NO!" Liz and Black Star scream.
"Don't worry, it won't be so bad," She smiles, but it doesn't settle their nerves, and Rebecca takes the rest of the reports from the group.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Later that night, Eruka walks through the back alleys of Death City to meet with Medusa, Crona, Ragnorak and Free. "I brought it," She announces, placing the briefcase down. "You'll remove one of the snakes inside me now, right?"
"Yes…" Medusa smiles. "Thank you, Eruka," The Frog Witch places the briefcase down and opens it to reveal a large syringe with a vile of black blood. "At long last!" She grins. "Free. How is your Magic Eye?"
"Perfect. I should be able to control an Independent Cube now." He replies with a smirk.
"The Old Witch is an expert in spatial magic… That Magic Eye of yours will be needed tonight. Eruka and I will lend you support with computation spells. We're counting on you." Medusa informs him.
"Yeah, leave it to me," Free replies.
"Now, then. The time has come. I've been waiting for this day!" She smirks.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
At the DWMA, they celebrate the founding of the Academy, and students and teachers all gather for the party. "It's going to start without us if we don't hurry!" In a cute little rouge dress, Maka exclaims as she looks back at Soul, who is dressed in a suit.
"You're the one who took forever to get ready," He replies, looking around at the people.
"Soul!" Black Star greets his best friend, who looks over at him to see him dressed in a scruffy suit and Tsubaki in a lovely mint green dress. "I'm gonna eat a ton of food!"
"H-He's like a slob…." Tsubaki sighs to herself.
"Over here!" Patty yells, gaining their attention, and they look over to see Death the Kid in a white suit and the Thompson sisters in matching red suits.
"What's this, now? You're all dressed up!" Liz smiles as they walk over.
"What's wrong, Kid? You don't seem excited," Maka asks him, and he looks up at them.
"Oh, sorry," He replies.
"I'm starving…." Black Star states and Kid looks at him in shock.
"W-What a slob…." He gasps at the sight of him. "Anyway, everyone! Thank you for coming! Tonight, let us celebrate DWMA's founding!"
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
The group walks inside the banquet hall with other students and teachers, chatting and eating. "Please, come inside. My father will give his greeting shortly," Kid informs them, and they walk inside.
"I'm starving!" Black Star sighs, heading for the large food table, leaving Kid to his thoughts.
"Is what father said really true? Does something like that exist at DWMA?" Kid thinks to himself with a frown, and Lord Death stands with his son and his Death Scythes to his sides on the platform.
"Yo! Hey! Hiya! How's it goin'?! Thanks for comin'!" Lord Death greets the room, and the people clap.
"It's Lord Death! Wow! Lord Death!" People exclaim.
"Okay, well, that concludes my greeting," He says, surprising some people.
"It really was just a greeting," Soul mutters to himself.
"Father is too carefree…." Kid sighs to himself and clears his throat. "Please allow me to speak as well! Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to celebrate DWMA's founding. With your permission, I, Death the Kid, son of Death…would like to say a little something."
"He's a pro at this…." Soul thinks to himself.
"DWMA helps maintain world peace now, but-" Kid continues, and Black Star, the spotlight hog, climbs on the curtain behind him, shouting.
"It's me! It's Me! The one and only Black Star!" He shouts, irritating the young Shinigami.
"...But this is all thanks to -"
"Know this! The only one allowed to capitalise the 'M' in 'me' is Me!"
"Uhh… How shall I put this…." Kid loses it, pulling the blue-haired assassin down from the curtain and kicking him. "Disgusted Dash!" And they start fighting.
"What's the big idea! How dare you interrupt my great speech!" Black Star shouts
"You're the one who interrupted, you buffoon! Fool! I wanted my address to be precise and exact!" Kid shouts back and goes into a bit of a depressed state. "It's hopeless… I want to die…."
"Geez! Whose party does he think this is, anyway?!" Black Star grumbles, and Soul stands next to his best friend.
"I know it's not yours, at least," Soul replies, scolding him a little.
"Well, this is a stand-up dinner party, and there's even a band, so dance and party and stuff however you like!" Lord Death announces, brushing the little outburst off.
"Okay!" Everyone yells happily, and couples begin dancing and eating; Black Star sits with plates piling up as he sits happily on the floor eating.
"How disgraceful…" Tsubaki mutters as she watches him.
"Raise your legs 60 degrees upward! Match them perfectly!" Kid instructs the sisters as they dance, Maka watching.
"Okay…" Patty hums.
"This is so embarrassing…." Liz groans and Maka can't help but laugh; and looks over to the balcony door to see Soul alone and goes to walk over but stop as she spots Rebecca walking over to join him.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Soul stands alone on the balcony with a glass in hand; Rebecca spots the Demon Weapon and walks over to him. "I'm just no good at these sorts of things," He mutters to himself as he looks over at Death City.
"Soul!" Rebecca greets him, standing next to him with a plate of food for him.
"Oh, Rebecca," He looks over at her, seeing her in a cute black dress, wedged ankle boots, and wearing a pretty red sparkly red bow in her hair in numerous loops.
"You're not going to eat this fancy food?" She asks him.
"Standing in line to get food is a pain, and eating while standing is awkward," He replies, and she takes her fork.
"You're missing out," The greenette says, taking a bite. "It's really good."
"Then give me that plate," Soul says, and she places the plate on the side.
"Have you been having that dream again?" She asks him, leaning her elbow on the side as she looks at him.
"Huh? What brought that on?" He asks her.
"You seem a little down," Rebecca replies, and he looks at her.
"No, I haven't," He lies, and she gives him an unconvinced look.
"What?"
"It's probably a little obnoxious of me to try prying too much…but I am worried about you," She says, not looking at him, and he looks at her, surprised. "We may not have known each other long, but we are friends, aren't we?"
"Of course…okay, I have been having the dream still, but it's always the same." He tells her, and she looks at him.
"I see. Have you told Maka about the dream?" Rebecca asks him, and he shakes her head. "You really should tell her; she is your partner," Both are unaware that Maka is listening to them when her father spots her, rushing over to her as the music becomes livelier. Spirit rushes over to his daughter, wanting to dance with her again, like when she was younger.
"Come dance with your dad!" Spirit exclaims, jumping over to his daughter, who jumps at the surprise.
"Not gonna happen," Maka replies, crushing her father, but he doesn't give him, taking her by the hand.
"Wanna dance?" Rebecca asks Soul, holding out her hand with a smile.
"Dancings annoying," Soul replies, and the Death Scythe shakes her head at him.
"Come on, one dance, and I'll lay off the training for a few days," She bargains, and he smirks.
"Promise?" He asks her, and she nods, he takes her hand, and they walk inside with everyone else.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Medusa stands inside the room by herself, her back to the wall as Eruka and Free walk into the city. "Medusa. We've entered Death City. Now what?" Eruka announces to the older Witch.
"Wait at the designated point for the signal from me and Free. Also, have we obtained their assistance?" Medusa asks.
"It's all set. Crona, or should I say Ragnarok, will be leading them here shortly." She replies.
"I see. Good work," The Blond smirks, not noticing Stein walk over to her, standing in front of her and clinking their glasses together, startling her.
"Hi, Dr Medusa! Are you having fun?" He asks her.
"D-Dr Stein!" She gasps in surprise. "Oh, don't scare me like that!" "Him again?" She groans to herself, watching him finish his drink in record time, and clinks their glasses together a few times to irritate her.
"Cheersy, cheersy, weersy!" He cheers, clinking their glasses, acting drunk.
"D-Dr Stein?" She asks him, feigning innocence.
"Oh, sorry, I'm drunk! I must've had too much champagne!" He exclaims, faking his drunken act, Medusa faking a nervous laugh.
"Is he being serious? I can't read him…." Medusa sighs to herself, and he wraps his arm around her shoulder.
"What do you say? Let's dance!" He surprises her.
"Huh?" She gasps but doesn't have time to reply as he drags her behind him.
"Oh, come on! We are all dressed up and everything!" Stein grins as he drags her to the middle of the dance floor.
"Huh?" She gasps, trying to rush away. "This can't be happening!"
"Do you remember, Maka?" Spirit asks his daughter as they dance, the blond not at all happy with the events. "You danced standing on my feet during your kindergarten graduation… And then I danced with your mum afterwards. That was so much fun…."
"That wasn't mum you danced with then," Maka bursts his bubble. "It was Sara's mum."
"C-Crap! Was it really? Leave it to Maka to remember that far back!" He panics on the inside. "Well, anyway, I'm dancing with you again now, so this'll be a great memory. From now on, I'm going to be a great dad to you!" He vows.
"Not gonna happen!" She quickly denies it, facing away from him; a few people away from him, Rebecca and Soul dance, watching Spirit as he messes up with his daughter and a few people from them, Stein and Medusa dance together.
"What am I doing? I can't let Eruka and the others see me like this…." Medusa thinks to herself with a tint to her cheeks.
"Dr Medusa?" Stein asks her, and she looks up at him. "Sid has been gone a long time. Do you know anything about that?" He asks her,
"Huh? Is he all right? I don't know anything at all…." She lies.
"Really? He went to a laboratory somewhere. Let me think… Whose lab was it again? Oh, that's right. Yours." He tells her.
"I have no idea what you're talking about…." She lies again.
"Why exactly would a Witch like you risk coming to DWMA?" Franken asks her.
"You must be quite drunk indeed. Shall I bring you some water?" Medusa asks him, believing he's drunk.
"Actually, I was never drunk at all," He confesses, gaining a glare from the Witch. "I take it you're interested in the Kishin? I can't imagine you snuck into DWMA to observe Meisters and Weapons. You know about it, don't you, Witch Medusa? About the Kishin, sleeping beneath DWMA…."
"Juvenile boy. If Death wasn't here, you would be dead now," Medusa warns him with an ugly look on her face.
"Let's cut to the chase," Stein grins. "There's no need to hold back. What do you say, you drop the charade?"
"That's right. My goal is to revive the Kishin," She confesses.
"And that's what the black blood is for? But, why?" He asks her.
"The Kishin's power surpasses human understanding. It's evolution itself. Death and the DWMA have monitored and protected the world by acting as a check against power. Maintaining the status quo… That one phrase sums up the DWMA. But even now, time marches forward. It's only natural for things to pButress with it, wouldn't you say? That's how nature works. Dr Stein. Nothing ever changes now. Do you really wish for a repetitive world like this? If you're a researcher like me, then you surely understand." She leans over to whisper into his ear. "What do you say? Won't you join me?" She leans back, looking at his surprised face, and leans towards him slowly, thinking over her words as she aims for his lips, and one of her snakes slips out of her lips, sneaking inside the madman. The moment between them is soon interrupted when the banquet hall doors burst open to reveal an injured Sid.
"Stein!" He shouts, breaking the madman out of his stunned state. "Hurry! Everyone get out immediately!"
"Sid?" Maka gasps, everyone looking at their friend and teacher in shock, and the group rush towards him from different directions.
"Sid! Are you all right?" Rebecca asks as she rushes over in her heels.
"Yeah, somehow or other. I ran into an enemy surprise attack. I dove underground right before the blast, but I just barely survived." Sid informs them. "Anyway, you need to get out of here! It's a trap! They've been waiting for this day to come! The day Lord Death leaves his mirror and the DWMA students gather!"
"Where's Medusa!" Stein shouts, turning around to see her escaping by jumping from the balcony.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Free! The barrier!" Medusa orders as she falls from the tower. "Close them all inside!"
"You got it," Free smirks, his cloak flying away. "Soul Protect, release!"
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"What am I sensing?" Maka thinks to herself in surprise, sensing the Witch's soul outside the tower.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Wolf wolves… Wolf wolves!" Free starts the spell. "There can be no interference whatsoever. Once inside this magic box, no one can ever get out."
"Eruka! Let's set the box's position!" Medusa orders as she slithers over on the head of one of her snakes.
"Ribbit ribbit," She agrees.
"Computation spell: Magic Calculation!" The older Witch echoes as they begin the spell.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Inside the tower banquet hall, the room begins to shake as the Witches outside begin their spell. "W-What is this?!" Stein asks, looking around.
"It's begun… Naigus, are you up for a soul resonation?!" Sid asks, looking over his shoulder at the Demon Knife.
"Yeah," Naigus agrees, knowing it's the only way to stop the Witch's plan.
"We need to get you guys out!" He warns them, unsheathing the Demon Knife.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Appearance position confirmed. Spatial magic: Independent Cube!" Free shouts, his eyes glowing.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Inside the tower room, it shakes violently, and green sparks bolt around the wall, alerting the people inside. "The room!" Death the Kid exclaims as he looks around.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
While outside the tower, a green cube manifests around the building; Free looks at his work and grins. "Key, materialise!" He yells, and a lock appears on the outside of the cube, and a green key appears in front.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Sid and Naigus continue their soul resonance; the knife's blade glows. "Make it in time!" Sid groans.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Set!" Free shouts as the glowing green magical key slides into the keyhole on the side of the cube.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"What's going on?!" Soul asks.
"What in the world is happening?!" Maka asks.
"Space is being warped… Oh no! We're being locked in!" Stein announces in shock.
"Here goes! Forced Burial!" Sid shouts, thrusting his Demon Knife into the floor, and nine stone coffins appear under the group's feet, jolting them into the air.
"Coffins from out of the floor?!" Maka gasps, looking over at the coffin that digs deep from the top of the tower to the bottom.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Lock!" Free yells as the key turns, locking everyone inside, the Witches unaware of nine escapees.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Sid!" Stein shouts as he falls.
"We're counting on you… Protect DWMA…" Sid mutters, and the room changes, no longer the banquet hall; instead, it's a box with green sigils on all four walls and floor and ceiling; Sid sighs, glad the group made it out and collapses to the floor.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Free drops his arms to his side as he looks at the cube. "It has a one hour limit. It won't hold any longer than that," He warns Medusa.
"All right. Let's go before Death shows up," Eruka snaps, growing nervous.
"We have no time to waste. Where's Crona?" Medusa demands, and a shrieking noise comes from nearby, and she looks over to see Ragnarok in wing form as he carries Crona.
"I brought them…." Crona announces, and the Demon Sword lets out another shriek. "...The Mizune family." Several mouse Witches fly over, joining the others.
"Mizunes!" Eruka cheers, jumping up and down, waving her arms around in delight at seeing them. "It breaks my heart… I got them to help by lying and saying that DWMA killed the oldest Mizune sister. I'm so sorry, Mizunes…." They watch the Mizune sisters fly around the Academy and slice through one of the candles, crashing down with an explosion and flying over to join the others again.
"That's it, Mizune. I leave the rest to you. Bring Death City crashing down. Eruka! The attaché case?" She asks, looking over at the white-haired Witch.
"Leave it to me!" Eruka assures her, holding the white briefcase.
"Now, let's go underground!" She orders, the snake floating down with the others all joining her. "We're going to revive the Kishin!"
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
At the bottom of the tower, nine rectangular holes appear in the ceiling, and the students and Steins fall through, the Meisters and Rebecca landing on their feet while the Demon Weapons land ungracefully. "All the Meisters landed on their feet?! You really are different…." Soul groans and looks over to his left to see Rebecca on her feet. "Nevermind…"
"I sense one, two…eight Witch souls?! And the Demon Sword, too?!" Kid gasps in shock, and another shock rumbles through the Academy.
"What's happening to Death City?" Maka wonders in shock.
"This is an emergency situation. Please listen to what I say calmly. Below DWMA sleeps the very first Kishin, the source of madness. And now Medusa, a Witch who snuck in as a school nurse, is attempting to revive it. This must be stopped at all costs." Stein informs the students.
"You can't be serious… Dr Medusa was actually a Witch?!" The blond Meister questions.
"There's something like that sleeping under DWMA?!" Soul asks in shock.
"It's apparently true," Kid confirms. "My father told me about it, too. To keep the Kishin sealed away, my father couldn't leave this place."
"What? Ol' Death can't leave?! I thought he was just a shut-in!" Black Star exclaims.
"In any case, we cannot let Sid's quick-thinking go to waste. I'll show you to the entrance that leads underground. Follow me, everyone." Stein instructs.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Inside the Impenetrable Magical Cube, the students, teachers and Lord Death stand around, some trying to find a way out. "It won't even budge…." A female student sighs as she watches Ox try striking the cube but only stands shaking from the aftershock.
"Oh, what a pickle this is. What a predicament," Lord Death mutters to himself.
"Lord Death!" Kilik shouts, running over to the Shinigami with a full-body mirror. "You need to get out of here! Please escape through this!"
"A mirror?" He questions. "Unfortunately, that's a no-can-do. This space is cut off from all other worlds… But a high-level spell like this will only last for an hour at best. Our hands are tied until then…."
"O-Oh…" He mutters, looking down.
"So sorry…" He replies, and Kilik sits on the floor.
"Damn!" He curses, taking his hat off and throwing it to the floor. "We got addicted to peace just because we're in Death City!"
"Now, now. There's nothing wrong with being addicted to peace. In fact, let's get more and more addicted." Lord Death picks up his hat with his big foam fingers. "Which is why we can't afford to ruin this peace." He places the cap back on Kilik's head. "We'll just have to entrust the rest of them…."
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
The group makes it down into the basement of the DWMA, where the Kishin is buried deep within. "This is the underground entrance," Rebecca announces. "Our foe is powerful."
"If you're not fully prepared for what's ahead, you may lose your life," Stein warns the teens and takes a cigarette, placing it into his mouth. "If you want to turn back now, then do so., He lights the cigarette and takes a deep puff before facing them. "Whether or not you're prepared to fight fear… Whether or not you'll come with us… Let your souls decide," He turns around to see them get the last finishing touches on their clothes, which are more suitable for fighting. Rebecca smirks as she looks at them, all of them ready.
"We're coming!" Maka announces with determination.
"Okay, then!" Stein smirks behind his hand as he takes another drag from his cigarette.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Above ground within the tower, trapped within a magical cube, the students and teachers worry for the nine escapees who have gone to stop the awakening of the first Kishin. "Are you all right, Sid?" Lord Death asks the injured teacher.
"Yes, I'm sorry. I should've tried to help you escape, but the distance was just too great… No, that's an excuse. Please forget what I said," Sid replies with a grunt.
"No, no, that was the best course of action given the circumstances. Still, to think that Dr Medusa was a Witch…." He remarks.
"I guess she'd been using a Soul Protect the whole time…" He replies as he sits leaning against the side.
"Lord Death…" Kilik asks, and both adults look over at him. "Aren't there any techniques that can be used against Soul Protect?"
"Kilik…" Death greets the young Meister.
"We're basically left helpless when someone uses a Soul Protect…." He remarks.
"The struggle with Witches has gone on for centuries now. Each time the Witches have come up with a new spell, Meisters and Weapons have learned new methods to counter them. So, in order to track down Witches, Meisters with the ability to detect souls were born." The Shinigami informs the young Meister.
"But now they can counter that with Soul Protects. So now we hafta figure out a new technique!" Kilik replies.
"The only way for that now is to Kishin-ize," Sid tells him.
"Kishin-ize?" The student asks.
"I suppose there's no point in hiding it now. Plus, closing the lid on something that stinks keeps people from knowing what's inside… Sometimes you need to open the lid so your children can know what's in there." Lord Death says and comes up with a drastic idea. "Okay, everyone! Your attention, please!" He yells, gaining their attention. "There's a Kishin beneath DWMA!" He blurts out, stunning everyone.
"No, I think that's being too concise…." Sid mutters, seeing the teacher and students in shock.
"It happened before DWMA was created. It is the story of a man. A man named Asura. Asura would wrap long scarves all around his face and wear five or six shirts on top of each other. He never trusted or confided in anyone. He was like a big ball of paranoia. Asura was a member of my personal squad. He was by far the best and strongest member of the Eight Guardians. However, he was also the most scared of them all. He was always terrified of something. Obsessed with power, he eventually broke the rules and began taking people's souls. And thus it was born… The Kishin, the source of madness…." Lord Death explains.
"But I thought only Weapons could consume souls. How did Asura eat them?" Kilik asks him.
"He was also scared to death of his partner, you see. So he ate the Weapon whole," He answers.
"Th-That's possible?" Ox exclaims in shock.
"Now that I think about it, it's possible he was never human, to begin with. He could be the embodiment of something unseen that's hidden even deeper inside his heart. Fear, for example…." He hints at the real identity of Asura.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
The four Meisters hold their partners in their Weapon form as they run down further beneath the Academy. "Hey, Kid. How did Lord Death seal away this Asura guy?" Maka asks the young Shinigami.
"My father tore Asura's skin off and stuffed him inside a sealed bag made from it. Then he rooted his own soul and body here to keep the Kishin in check." Kid explains.
"And that's why ol' Death can't leave this place?" Black Star asks.
"If the seal were broken and the Kishin managed to escape, would Lord Death be free to go wherever he wants again?" The blond asks him.
"No. Lord Death has fixed his soul in this town. He's become one with Death City, you could even say." Stein explains.
"One with Death City…" Maka mutters to herself.
"If he wanted to go anywhere, he'd have to attach legs to this place. But he can't possibly do that. The effects of reviving a Kishin are beyond imagination. Its madness will spread like an illness…." Stein explains, and Rebecca looks over at her father, knowing both her and her father will most likely be affected if the madness spreads. Soul looks deep in thought as he looks over at Rebecca and then into a blank space, sinking within his mind.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Soul finds himself in the same room as he always dreams about with the scratching of the record player and the grinning little red demon. "Soul. You can't control it. Hell is right here. People's minds are so flimsy. Hurry here. The madness awaits. There's no escape… You're like a needle in the grooves of a record." The demon grins, trying to entice the Demon Weapon.
"Screw that. Your powers of persuasion suck. Just look at that needle jumping all over the place." Soul retorts, not buying into it.
"I'm waiting for you to make the decision," He replies with a smirk.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
The four Meisters make it down the long staircase, and Rebecca joins the Meisters as they run down the long hallway. "We've run a pretty long way now," Black Star comments. "Hey, Maka. Do you sense the Witches up ahead?"
"I'm guessing their Soul Protects are on right now," Maka replies.
"Aww, that's lame," He mutters, growing disappointed. "That's the only thing you're half-decent at, too!"
"You really know how to annoy me!" The blond growls but comes to a sudden halt as she senses a soul coming towards them, making the others come to a stop.
"What?! What?!" The assassin questions, looking everywhere.
"Doc…" She says.
"Yes…" He replies.
"I sense a soul just beyond the shadows there! Someone's here. This soul… There's no question about it… This nasty, despicable feeling -!" She announces, and out from the shadows walks Spirit. "Dad!"
"What do you mean, 'nasty and despicable'?" Spirit asks his daughter, feeling hurt by her words.
"How did you manage to escape that spell?" Rebecca asks her fellow Death Scythe as Black Star teases Maka, who hits him to be quiet.
"No one's faster than me when it comes to chasing a woman's behind." He replies with a wink.
"I should've guessed. But this is a real relief. I wasn't sure how much I could do without my Weapon." Stein remarks.
"Thanks, father," The greenette mutters, he nudges her, and she smiles. "I suppose you're right; Spirit is useless on his own," She jabs at the redhead, who pouts, while the teens snicker.
"Are they up ahead?" Stein asks him.
"Yeah, they're lying in wait," He replies and reverts to his scythe form; Stein catches him and turns to the teens.
"Listen up. There's no telling what will happen from this point on. It's best for you Weapons not to return to your human forms, apart from you, Rebecca. You could lose your lives in one blow." He warns them
"Roger," Rebecca smirks.
"Right!" Tsubaki agrees.
"'Kay!" Patty beams.
"Y-Yeah…" Liz replies.
"Wait, they're lying in wait? Aren't they on their way to the Kishin?" Black Star asks an obvious question.
"No, I doubt all of them are," Stein replies, and the assassin picks up the patter of feet walking towards them.
"Hey. You hear something?" The loudmouth asks.
"Huh? R-Really?" Maka asks, but the sound grows louder. "I hear it."
"Sounds like footsteps," Kid replies.
"So, they're finally showing themselves, huh? Just who is it?" Black Star questions.
"Someone confident that they won't lose against multiple opponents. Someone who can attack multiple people simultaneously and prevent them from getting through…." Stein remarks, and out from the shadows appears Medusa.
"So, it is you…." She greets them.
"All right, here's my basic plan. For the most part, we can anticipate how the enemy will act. Medusa will be their first roadblock. The Demon Sword will be the second barrier for those who get past it. And the remaining two should be heading for the Kishin. The werewolf Maka ran into before is immortal and will be protecting the black blood at all costs. So, this is what we will do… First, I'll keep Medusa busy. You four will rush past her as quickly as possible. Kid, you're the most mobile in our group. You'll go after the two heading for the Kishin with Rebecca not far behind." Stein informs the teens.
"Understood!" Kid nods.
"Okay!" Rebecca agrees.
"Black Star: You'll keep the Demon Sword busy so Kid, Rebecca and Maka can get through. As you're able to perform soul wavelength blasts, you can give the Demon Sword a real walloping." He continues.
"Yeah," Black Star agrees.
"And, Maka… You'll get past Medusa and the Demon Sword with Rebecca and catch up with Kid, at which point you'll destroy the black blood." He adds.
"Right!" She agrees.
"Lastly, please promise me this: that you won't lose your lives. Is that understood!" Stein orders them, looking at his daughter the longest.
"Yeah!" Black Star smirks.
"Yes, sir!" Maka and Kid reply.
"Understood, dad," Rebecca says.
"A strategy meeting right in front of your enemy? I know what you have up your sleeves." Medusa warns them calmly.
"Oh? Well, you are the school nurse, after all." Stein replies, taking off his glasses.
"You're never at a loss for words. All right. Shall we begin?" She grins. "Nake Snake Cobra Cobra Ra, Nake Snake Cobra Cob Bra…" She begins her spell, vector arrows moving around her feet.
"Listen. Don't worry about getting past her on your first try. An opening will present itself. Stay calm and collected." Stein watches as she moves her arms around as the arrows move. "Here she comes!"
"Vector Arrow!" Medusa shouts her arms above her head. "...Times Three!" Multiple projectiles race towards the four Meisters and Death Scythe.
"A perfect spell keeping multiple people at bay. It's much more powerful than last time, too!" He warns them, and the teens run towards the Witch and her arrows.
"Liz! If you get scared, just go to sleep!" Kid tells his Weapon.
"O-Okay!" Liz replies with a stutter.
"I ain't gonna hold back!" Black Star shouts. "Tsubaki! Enchanted Sword Mode!"
"Right!" Tsubaki replies and transforms into her katana form, black markings coming across his skin.
"Prepare to be punished, impediment boy!" Medusa threatens, moving the arrows, aiming at Kid.
"Death Slide!" He shouts, moving around the projectiles with his skateboard, passing through her spell. "All right!"
"We got through!" Liz and Patty cheer and Kid lands on the floor behind the Witch.
"Maka, Black Star! Miss Stein! I'm going on ahead!" Kid shouts and skates on.
"Tsubaki!" Black Star yells.
"Right!" They activate their soul resonance, slicing through the Vector Arrow, making it through the Witch's spell.
"Yahoo!" He cheers, continuing to run, not looking back.
"They've both made it through!" Stein observes.
"Enchanted Sword Mode off!" The loudmouth orders, and she deactivates. "Let's hurry ahead!" Rebecca smirks as she sees Medusa is distracted and jumps over an incoming projectile and lands before running past.
"See ya, Witch!" Rebecca exclaims as she runs ahead after Black Star.
"Maka! Go after them!" Soul demands as the blond runs.
"Right!" She agrees.
"All vectors to Maka!" The arrows all leaping up, Medusa demands, heading towards the young blond Meister.
"I've seen this spell's trajectory once before. And the trajectory I have to take is already set in stone. Right down the middle!" Maka thinks to herself, looking ahead at the blond Witch ahead of her.
"The Vector Arrows will fly as if wrapping around Medusa. If there's any way through them, the centre is the best route. But the centre is where the arrows are the most intimidating. A moment's hesitation will prove lethal! If she doesn't reach her before the arrows gather in the centre…she's dead! Focus on running!" Stein thinks to himself, encouraging the blond.
"Speed up as fast as you can!" Maka encourages herself and closes her eyes as she runs.
"Driving fear away by cutting out what you see, huh?" Medusa smirks.
"The arrows sound near!" She thinks, her mind going to the worst possible place. "Damn! The worst possible image comes to mind! The fear is making my legs feel heavier… No! That's what can make me really run! Speed up!" She grits her teeth, running faster as she opens her eyes. "I won't be beaten!" She yells, leaping through the gap next to Medusa, and lands in a roll before running again.
"Amusing! You're not going anywhere!" The blond Witch grins and turns her back, allowing Stein to sneak up behind her.
"Soul Force!" Stein shouts, hitting her in her lower back, sending her flying, but she catches herself, sliding across the floor. "You're dealing with me."
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Maka comes to a stop, trying to catch her breath after having to run before being attacked. "Alright! Let's go after the other three!" She says, standing straight.
"Yeah!" Soul agrees, and she starts running again.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Medusa stands straight and puts her hood back over her head. "I miscalculated. To think all four would get past me… But as long as I stop you, this plan will still succeed. Those four pose no problem at all." She muses.
"I wouldn't underestimate those children if I were you. Haven't you been paying attention during your time at DWMA? You must be a fool." Stein teases her.
"Juvenile boy. Well, no matter. The Demon Sword is waiting for them next." She reminds him.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Further within the Kishin chamber, Crona and Ragnarok stand alone as they wait in a lighter hall with numerous golden columns around them and Death the Kid skates past him in a hurry, not sparing the pinkette a glance. "Hey. Did something just zoom by here like crazy?" Ragnarok asks, peering over Crona's shoulder.
"Yeah…" They reply as they look over but don't move.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Medusa," Spirit greets her, his upper half appearing out of his Weapon form. "Seeing you in your nurse's outfit never ceased to excite me. I thought I would be the only one to strip you of that outfit…."
"I danced with her, you know," Stein comments, aggravating the redhead.
"Yeah, I saw! Damn you for beating me to the punch!" He growls.
"Must you always joke when you're around me? It's repulsive," Medusa cringes.
"Oh? It is?" He asks her.
"Yes. That's perfect. I'll let you dance with me again looking like that," The sandy blond taunts the madman.
"I'm afraid not. Not with your feet like that, anyway," Stein remarks and glances down at her feet; she looks at her feet in shock, seeing tiny stitches keeping her feet planted on the floor.
"My feet! When did - ?!" She gasps.
"Soul-thread Sutures. My soul wavelength that I blasted into your body just a minute ago still resides inside you, almost like an electric charge. I manipulated that wavelength like thread to sew your feet down." He explains.
"You're able to control it that precisely?" The blond asks him.
"A Weapon doesn't just amplify a Meister's wavelength. It's also possible to raise the accuracy of wavelength control." Spirit adds.
"So it's a technique only powerful Meisters and Weapons can pull off," Medusa remarks, thinking of future encounters.
"Medusa. I have only this to say to you. I'm one of the Death Scythes in DWMA now. If I allow the Kishin to revive now, I won't be able to show my face around any of the other Death Scythes throughout the world." The redhead tells her.
"In other words?" She asks him, growing impatient.
"In other words…." He begins to say.
"Your point is that we will prevail, right?" Stein interrupts his big moment.
"Wha - Stein! Don't say the big line before me!" Spirit cries and goes into his Weapon form.
"Medusa… You're through!" Stein promises and disappears in front of her and appears below. "Soul Force!" He strikes her in the chest, sending her into the wall with a force she spits up blood. "Sutures!" They appear around her, stitching her to the wall as he runs towards her, "Now to finish you!"
"This isn't the direction you're headed. Vector Plate!" Medusa yells, and a large arrow appears underneath his feet, sending him backwards; he catches himself by using his Weapon to slow him down and jumps to a stop, crouching down.
"What happened?!" Stein demands, looking at the Witch.
"Whatever is atop these plates get blessed in the arrow's direction," The Witch explains as her snake tattoo on her right arm slithers off her skin and cuts the Soul Sutures, she lands on the Vector Plate. "The plate works on me too, of course." She leaps towards the Genius Meister. "Vector Plate!" More plates appear around Stein; she moves swiftly atop them, ending up behind him and kicking him around the head, sending him flying. "I'm afraid of fighting you in close quarters, you see." Another plate appears underneath him.
"Damn! Not again!" Stein curses, trying to cling to the floor
"Now come on back!" She grins, but he does some quick thinking, using the Soul Sutures again.
"Sutures!" Stein yells, stitching himself to the floor.
"You sewed your own body to keep yourself in place? But…can you dodge this like that?" Medusa questions and uses the same snake to attack him. "Light Serpent!"
"Removal!" The stitches disappear, and he speeds towards the blond Witch.
"Good one! Timing things just right and using the plate to counter!" Spirit compliments him as they draw closer.
"Vector Storm!" She yells; small arrows appear at her feet, swirl around, cutting his attack, sending him flying, and land on his side, skidding to a stop.
"Stein!" Spirit shouts in worry for the Meister.
"There are 1000 snakes inside my body," Medusa chuckles as he looks up at her. "They won't let any nearby prey escape."
"Afraid of close-quarters fighting my ass! You're a close-range Witch! That, and your sneaking in as a school nurse… You're nothing but lies!" Stein remarks, getting to his feet.
"Is that so?" She muses. "I wouldn't be so sure… 'Won't you join me?' I really meant what I said at the party." She smiles. "I want you. And you're interested in the world that I desire. What do you say, Franken Stein? I'm asking you not as a DWMA instructor but as a man of learning."
"Hey, what's the matter, Stein?" Spirit asks his Meister.
"Vector Plate." She mutters, and multiple arrows appear around them in a ring. "Dr Stein. The vectors around you all point to me. I always get what I want. There is no escape."
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Oh no. We let someone get through so easily… We're going to get in trouble again. I don't want that…." Crona says as they look around, upset with themselves at letting Death the Kid through earlier, and Black Star catches up with Rebecca, who continues running, and volts over Crona, using their head before landing away and continues running.
"Take care of this, Black Star!" Rebecca shouts as she rushes off to catch up with Kid.
"You're the Demon Sword?" Black Star asks as he walks toward them. "You seem pretty weak to me. I won't get any attention fighting you." He cracks his knuckles, and Crona looks at him unhappily. "You look pretty messed up. You all right?" He asks, and Ragnarok disappears from the pinkette's back and reforms into a sword. "But, who cares about you! The main issue here is how I handle things!"
"Be careful, Black Star," Tsubaki warns him, and Maka catches up with the blue-haired assassin.
"Wait, Black Star!" Maka calls out as she comes to a stop next to him, and they both glance at her.
"You made it here quick, for someone as dumb as you," Black Star mutters.
"The Demon Sword…" She frowns, tightening her grip on her Weapon. "Let me handle this."
"What?" He asks her.
"But, Maka. Dr Stein's plan was for Black Star to take care of the Demon Sword…." Tsubaki reminds her meekly.
"Our attacks don't work on the Demon Sword!" Soul adds.
"You idiot! Don't steal my spotlight!" He snaps, and she threateningly moves her scythe, stopping him. "Come on, girlie. Keep acting cocky, and I'll kill you!" He looks at the blond, seeing the determined look on her face.
"This is my chance at vengeance," Maka thinks to herself.
"Can't believe a good student like you is disobeying a teacher. What's the deal? A rebellious phase?" He teases her.
"Be quiet," She replies, moving her scythe, allowing the assassin to move.
"Alright, then. This spotlight is all yours. He's all yours. Be careful. Don't do anything reckless," He warns the blond.
"Yeah," She replies, readying her Weapon.
"If you get in trouble, call for me! I'll come to help your sorry butt!" Black Star smirks.
"Okay, I get it. Just go already," The blond replies shortly.
"Let's do it, Maka!" Soul smirks, jumping on board.
"Yeah!" She agrees, and Black Star speeds towards Crona.
"Tsubaki! We're going after Kid and Mis Stein's group!" Black Star announces.
"Right!" She agrees.
"I won't let you…." Crona mutters, moving slowly to stop the loudmouth.
"Speed Star!" He shouts and jumps over the pinkette.
"Above?!" They mutter, looking up at him.
"So long, Demon Sword!" Black Star shouts as he moves overhead.
"That's fine. It's easier to interact with people from behind. Die, okay?" Crona mutters and turns, getting ready to swing.
"No, you don't!" Maka yells, swinging at the pinkette, stopping them.
"Y-You're in my way!" They mutter, get upset and let another person through, and Maka doesn't hesitate, punching the pinkette in the stomach and knocking the wind out of him.
"Keep him off guard! His hardened blood protects against cutting attacks, so it's best to focus on impact strikes instead!" Soul encourages her.
"Our goal is to stop him here! A left rush after a Scythe Catch!" Maka thinks to herself, punching Crona in the face; she does another three punches, knocking the pinkette around. "He's so hard! It's like I'm punching lead!"
"Crona! Forget the brat that ran off! Focus on the girl in front of you!" Ragnarok advises as Maka continues to punch the pinkette, and she jumps up, kicking them in the face with both feet, sending him flying.
"Have a nice flight, you dumbass!" She snaps as she loans in a crouch.
"This is insane… I'm suddenly all beat up… I don't know how I'm supposed to interact with a wily girl like that." The pinkette mutters as they lie on the floor, looking up at the ceiling.
"Kill her," The Demon Sword replies.
"Yeah," He grins madly.
"For argument's sake, let's assume that your first attack went well. But you just picked a fight with the Demon Sword. Do you have any chance of winning? Or should I say, you definitely have a chance, right?" Soul asks the blond as Crona gets to their feet.
"Nope, not really," Maka replies with a smirk, and the Demon Scythe looks at her in shock before laughing.
"You're so smart, yet you're so stupid! This is great! You're definitely the coolest partner ever!" He laughs, and she laughs too. "Well, you'll manage somehow."
"Yeah, I'll manage somehow," The blond replies.
"Don't be stupid!" Ragnarok snaps and re-emerges from Crona's back. "You ain't gonna 'manage' anything! Have you forgotten that time Crona cut you up?! It's so damn annoying! Eating the soul of a small fry like you amounts to nothing at all! That star kid a minute ago looked way tastier! You unappealing, useless little brat! I'm gonna harass you! That's the only choice there is!"
"Hurray!" Maka says, surprising the Demon Sword.
"Huh?!" He looks at her.
"You finally see me. When we last fought, you only thought of me as food. This time, you see me as a person. Hence, 'Hurray!' As for your Meister… You're always scared and nervous! Face me!" The blond says with determination, making the Crona uncomfortable.
"Leave me alone. For someone so weak, you don't understand… You'll get cut up again. Why do you even bother clashing with me head-on?" Crona asks her and sees the smile on her face as she looks at him. "S-Stop. I can't look directly at people like you with big, strong eyes." They evert their eyes.
"It's true that I'm weaker than you. But I don't sense I'm going to lose. After all, your soul isn't stronger than mine!" Maka replies, gaining a determined look from the pinkette.
"Prattle all you want! No one will hear your howls as a loser!" Ragnarok snaps and disappears back into their Meister.
"What's the matter? Are you a little ticked off? I'm Maka, a Scythe Meister. What's your name?" She introduces herself with a smirk.
"Demon Swordsman Crona," They reply with a stern look.
"I challenge you, Crona! Oh? That's a good look in your eyes," She comments.
"Maka… So that's the name of the person in front of me…." Crona mutters as they look at the blond.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Meanwhile, further back in the Kishin Chamber with Stein, Spirit and Medusa, the madman senses the change in plan. "Stein! What is this?!" Spirit demands, sensing the shift in his Meister.
"Maka is fighting the Demon Sword against my instructions," Stein informs the father.
"What?!" He shrieks a little, worried about his daughter.
"It looks like your adorable little daughter has chosen to die," Medusa chuckles.
"My daughter isn't that weak," The redhead replies.
"Blind parental love…." She mutters, not understanding the love of a parent.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Within the golden archway chamber, Crona and Maka stand facing each other. "Hey, Maka! Why are you giving the enemy the will to fight?!" Soul demands.
"Okay?" She replies.
"Here goes," Crona says, cutting their arm, black blood seeping out from the wound.
"Here it comes, Maka!" Soul shouts a warning.
"Bloody Slicer!" They shout, and a blade of hardened black blood, but Maka quickly ducks out of the way, and the pinkette rushes towards her with another edge of hardened blood, she blocks the attack, but the blood turns back to liquid form.
"His solidified blood turned to liquid!" Maka gasps as the blood drops to the floor.
"Bloody Needle!" They announce, and drops of blood turn into spikes, and the blond jumps out of the way with help from her Weapon.
"This guy really means trouble!" She mutters, catching herself.
"Ragnarok…" Crona says, moving the sword behind their back.
"Shut up!" Ragnarok snaps.
"Scream Resonance…" They mutter, lips appear on the blade, and the Demon Sword starts screaming.
"Why? Why are you collecting innocent souls and heading for the Kishin?!" Maka demands an answer.
"Because I'm scared," The pinkette replies. "I can learn how to interact with things if I get strong. Lady Medusa will abandon me if I don't become a Kishin. I'll stay afraid of everything if I don't get stronger. Screech Alpha!" They swing their Demon Sword, and the attack comes toward the blond.
"Even if I'm weak or afraid, I'll take whatever you got!" She shouts as the attack comes toward her, and she blocks the attack. "Crona!" She screams, and there's an explosion.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Medusa and Spirit hear the explosion further ahead in the earlier chamber with Stein. "May I ask you something?" Stein asks the Witch. "Where did you abduct the Demon Sword child from? You tried to use the Demon Sword to create a Kishin, didn't you? Which begs the question, why are you trying to revive this Kishin? You've been disappointed by the Demon Sword, which gives no indication of ever being a Kishin. Which is why you're taking the great risk of using black blood to wake a Kishin. You don't need the child, so what will you do with him? Your experiment has failed. It'll be the biggest news story of the year." He smirks as he looks at the Witch, who chuckles to herself. "What is it? Did I say something funny?"
"You really are a cheeky boy. It may look like a failure to you, but all of my research pertains to black blood. And one other thing… You have it wrong. I didn't 'abduct' that child from anywhere." Medusa announces, surprising the madman. "Crona is my own child."
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Whew…" Crona mutters as they look at the cloud of smoke, but Maka smashes down the end of her Scythe as she gets to her feet. "You shouldn't have gotten back up…." She yells as she rushes toward them, but the pinkette stops it mid-swing. "Why are you so insistent on fighting me? You're so weak… Quit it. I don't know how to interact with you." Crona's black blood moves around the blade, and Maka, sensing the danger, jumps back as they aim the hardened black blood blade at her.
"He used a cut again!" Maka mutters, growing annoyed.
"Cutting attacks are bad against this guy! The more cuts he gets, the worse off we are!" Soul warns the blond.
"But there is one thing we can do!" She replies.
"Yeah, that's true," He smirks. "Let's do it, Maka!"
"Soul Resonance!" Maka and Soul shout as their souls link, both shouting.
"Hey! Crona!" Ragnarok warns the pinkette.
"Scream Resonance," Crona mutters, and the Demon Sword screams.
"Let's up the resonance rate!" The Demon Weapon tells her, and she agrees with a shout, the black blood rushing through her bloodstream.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Further back in the chamber, Stein senses the Soul Resonance up ahead. "This resonance energy!" Stein mutters in worry.
"So, it's begun…." Medusa smirks, looking back.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Both Demon Weapons scream as they resonate with their Meisters, losing themselves in the black blood.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
The little red demon smirks to themselves.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Witch Hunter!" Maka shouts.
"Screech Gamma," Crona says; both blades glow and enlarge as they reach peak resonance.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"Hey, Stein! What's going on?" Spirit asks his Meister, seeing the worried look on his face.
"The black blood has started to activate…." He replies.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Maka leaps towards Crona with a battle cry; she swings the blade downward. "Figure-6-Hunter!" She shouts as she slices down at the Demon Swordsman, who blocks it as she lands on her feet and continues her attack. "Letter U Hunter!" She slashes upwards, knocking the pinkette backwards onto the floor, and they sit up as Maka swings again, but Crona blocks the hit.
"Oh, is that all you have?" Crona questions with an eerie look on their face. "Really?" They push the blond away, but she catches herself.
"He deflected the Witch Hunter with brute force alone?!" Maka mutters in shock.
"How can someone so scrawny be so strong?!" Soul agrees.
"In this case, his physical shape doesn't matter. Ragnarok, the black blood flowing in his body, links with Crona's movements to support his muscular power!" She replies.
"Now it's my turn. Screech Gamma!" They rush towards the blond, striking at the scythe with fast attacks. "Waah! Stop! Stop! Waah! Stop! No! No! No! No, no! Don't make me cut your Weapon now!" The next strike hurts Soul; he feels the strike.
"Soul!" Maka calls out to him in worry, and he sees the smug smirk of the little red demon, snapping him out of his pain.
"Shut up! You stay out of this!" He snaps at his Meister.
"But at this rate, you'll be - !" She argues.
"Maka! Forget about that cr p! Just stay on guard!" He orders her as blood drips down the side of his face.
"Soul. You're talking cr p, too. Just give in already. I'll make you stronger." The little demon whispers in his ear as Crona knocks Maka back; she lands with a thud but doesn't get up right away as she catches her breath.
"You all right, Soul?" Maka asks him.
"Yeah," He replies.
"What could it be? I almost have it… It definitely felt like I wouldn't lose to the Demon Sword. It almost feels like I can grasp something in Crona's wavelength… But at this rate, it's no use." The blond thinks to herself and watches as the pinkette swings at her, and she blocks it, but the impact sends her backwards, but she gets back up, and the Demon Swordsman steps towards her as she catches her breath. "Damn…"
"Are you afraid?" Crona asks her as they watch the blond, and she looks up at him as she catches her breath. "You remind me of it. You're just like that little one that I still don't know how to interact with." They remember their training with their mother, Medusa and their punishment for not defeating the little one. "Bye-bye, little one," The pinkette grins, raising the Demon Sword over their head.
"Soul! Hey, Soul!" The little demon calls out to the Demon Scythe.
"Maka…" Soul mutters, feeling badly beaten up.
"You're going to be killed if you don't do something. Leave it to me. Dispose of reason. I'll make you stronger." He entices the Demon Weapon.
"No! Give me power! But…" He mutters.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
"…my reason isn't going anywhere!" Soul finishes as he sits in the chair in the red room with the little demon.
"What? You can't beat the Demon Sword's madness like that! Leave it to me! You're gravely mistaken if you think you can get stronger by using reason to maintain discipline! I've never heard of anyone having it that easy before!" The demon replies.
"Understanding fear and stand up to it. Maintaining complete discipline. This is great power in its own right!" He argues, angering the little demon. "Besides, this isn't just about me. If we resonate any more, Maka will be affected too!"
"Don't be stupid, you damn brat! Don't turn all dreary on me! What happened to that teen spirit you were nearly bursting with?! Just let loose and go crazy! What's life without a little madness?!" He shouts at the white-haired teen.
"Shut up! You mean as much to me as my poop! Quit talking to me all this time! Poop doesn't talk to people! So just shut up and take the lead! I'll decide if I come along or not!" Soul shouts back, surprising the little demon.
"How exactly do I shut up and take the lead?" The demon asks.
"Why not just point or something, you poop freak?" He replies, and the demon sighs before raising his hands above his head.
"Okay, okay. Let's cool down for a minute here. Both you and I want to progress forward. We won't get anywhere if we keep talking like this. Right?" He asks, looking at the white-haired teen.
"Yeah," Soul replies, not looking at the demon.
"Actually, there's someone I invited over. Come on in!" He yells, turning to the curtains that pull back to reveal their special guest.
"Huh? How are you - ?" He looks in shock.
"Now, now. Let's decide things in an agreeable, democratic way," The demon smirks, looking at the blond.
"Maka!" Soul asks as he sees his Meister.
"I heard most of what's going on," She informs him, and he gets up, walking over to her.
"How are you here?! This is like a meeting inside my brain!" He snaps and looks at the little demon.
"Your souls are resonating right now," The demon points out. "So it's only natural for your minds to be connected, too."
"Hey, demon! Don't tell me she's some image of Maka you created yourself!" He snaps, pulling at her face, testing if she's real.
"Hey!" She yells in protest.
"Geez, you're a caution guy. You're the only one who's running the show here. I can't do anything to that extent." He replies, and the blond grows annoyed.
"Maka Chop!" She shouts and hits her Demon Weapon over the head with a book that suddenly appears.
"Yeah, it's Maka…." He groans as he cradles his head in pain.
"Now, then. Let's put on some nice music," The demon says, walking over to the record player, playing the record.
"You lead. I don't know how to do this," Maka tells her Demon Weapon.
"That's fine. Just do whatever," The Deon Weapon replies, and a spotlight shines over them.
"Five, six, seven, eight…." The demon counts down, clicking his fingers, and the music begins as they sway to the rhythm.
"Why did you come here?" Soul asks her. "Did you hear the demon's voice, too?"
"I'm not sure. But, now that I think about it, I might've heard it faintly back when I fought the werewolf with the Magic Eye." She replies.
"Yes, I had entered you, too. But I was removed shortly after. I'm not sure how, though." The demon confirms.
"In that case, you shouldn't be here! You managed to get rid of the demon! Next time you might not be so lucky!" Soul warns her.
"Say. When our wavelengths are so closely matched like this, you can't tell what I'm thinking, can you?" Maka asks him.
"Are you - ?" He asks her, and she looks down at her feet.
"Yeah," She replies.
"Are you seriously thinking of using the black blood to get the same madness Crona has?!" Soul asks her.
"I knew you'd be mad," The demon grins.
"I felt it when I used the Witch Hunter on him… I feel like I can grasp something if I gain power equal to the Demon Sword's… I might be able to sense something about Crona and his wavelength…." Maka replies, not looking him in the eye.
"It's too dangerous to do something like that so haphazardly! You might never be sane again, you know." Soul warns her.
"Yeah," She replies. "Sorry, but I'm certain about this."
"There's no certainty that you can return to normal," He reminds her.
"But it's worth trying, right?" The blond argues, and they continue dancing; he gives in and sighs, thinking it over.
"All right, fine. Do whatever you want. No matter how far away you fly off, as your Weapon, I will pull you back!" Soul promises, and she steps on his toes with her high heels. "Oww!"
"Sorry…" Maka mutters. "You should really lead, okay?"
"Yeah, I'll do that…." He mutters sheepishly.
"Now that's more like it!" The demon grins, but it soon turns sour as he sees a woman with green hair standing behind Soul, whispering into his ear with a smirk.
++ CHAPTER SIX ++
Crona swings the Demon Sword at the blond, who blocks it with her arm, much to their surprise, and Maka looks up at the pinkette and swings her scythe at the Swordsman, catching them as they turn and sending them flying into an archway, hard. Maka thrusts the blade of her scythe into the ground, crouching on the pole, looking over at the rubble and cloud of debris as she giggles. "He totally went flying!" She chuckles.
"I'm being pulled in by the madness, too! Maka… I swear I won't let go of you!" Soul promises.
"Fool. I'm the one who's leading now," The demon grins with fingers in his mouth.