Her

"Charge! And dodge!"

The man clasped his hands together then brought it down just in time when the scythe meister ran straight on him. She grunted, struggling to bear the weight of her opponent's beefy arms against her petite ones while aiming a kick on his side. His fast reflexes let him block it with his right arm but the action created an opening. The burden she held back lessened and she used it on her advantage. Wrapping both of her arms around the man's hand, Maka pulled him forward then landed a kick on the groin. He howled in pain then crumpled on the floor cradling his crotch.

She took a step back to catch her breath and assess the outcome. It was obvious that he didn't expected the simple self-defense trick she learned from Black Star.

"Very good, Maka." The dark-skinned lady approached then pat her on the back. Tying her dreadlocks into a ponytail, she explained. "Sometimes, the best option in an intense battle is using the basics. Your enemy would be expecting you to do something complex in order to defeat them. But by doing the contrary, you'll outsmart them."

"They would lower their defense due to the surprise and uncertainty." She supplied, recalling how her opponent's guard weakened for a minute. "And it would be enough to defeat them."

"Exactly." Nygus smiled behind the bandages wrapped around her face.

The man from earlier recovered fast. He walked towards them with a half grimace, half grin. "Boy, you sure are fast and smart. Didn't thought you'd pull off a stunt like that! It was an embarrassing defeat for me but it was still a great sparring session. Hadn't had that most fun in months."

He cackled, striding off to catch up with his friends. Maka bowed, her lips curled up in happiness because of his words. "Thank you, Sir!"

"Can you guess his occupation, Maka?" Nygus looked at her with an eyebrow raised. A challenge.

She stared at the man, trying to match his appearance with a certain job. About forty in age, had a tan skin and full of muscles, especially in his arms. His shirt had a faint scent of brine and smoke, she remembered when he got close to her during the fight. "He's a fisherman."

"You're partly correct since he liked to fish as a hobby. But his real occupation is a combat instructor. Defeating him is a great achievement."

'I may not be as good as Black Star or Kidd but it's a great start.' Her exhaustion didn't bothered her anymore as she recounted the sparring sessions she had. Fifty wins and fifty men. Training everyday was worth losing her reading time because she got stronger within two months.

Her success became short lived however because Professor Sid came to them with a serious look on his face. "Sorry to interrupt your training. But Shinigami-sama asked for your presence, Maka. He wanted you to investigate on a rogue witch who obtained a… dangerous item. Report to the Death Room as soon as you can."

"I understand." She grabbed her bag then left in a hurry after thanking the people on the gym and Nygus. Sid stayed behind saying that it was a confidential mission even he can't know. It confused and pressured her. What item was he not allowed to say out loud? Could it be another part of Eibon?

Students running around and hanging out with their friends filled the Shibusen hallways. It was an odd yet familiar sensation walking alone. She got so used to having Soul walk beside her. She remembered how it felt walking in the same hallways on the first day of their school, looking for a partner. Funny how she got in the same situation twice when since Nygus advised her to find another weapon to train with again.

Maka got caught up in her thoughts that she didn't realized Tsubaki arrived and asked her a question. Seeing the lost expression in her face, she tapped her in the shoulder. The meister nearly jumped away from her.

"I'm sorry to startle you, Maka. But are you okay? You seemed rather pale."

"I'm okay, Tsu. Must be the exhaustion since I came back from the training." She flashed her a reassuring smile before noticing the loudmouth idiot was missing. "Where's Black Star?"

"Oh, the moment Death Scythe Azusa told us that we were called on the Death Room, he ran off without letting her finished. I stayed to apologize and listen to the whole mission."

A resigned sigh left her lips, "Guess he didn't change that much, huh?"

"I guess so. But it's okay. I like him no matter what. Childish or mature, Black Star is Black Star."

"Is that a confession, Tsu?" Her laughter echoed in the entrance of the Death Room upon seeing the comical reaction of the other girl. Despite being twenty, she was still easy to tease.

"Who's Tsubaki confessing to?" A voice boomed above them followed by a roaring cackle. "There isn't a man who is worthy of being noticed by Tsubaki except me! After all, I am the man that transcends god! Whahahahaha!"

Tsubaki stuttered, red-faced. "B-Black Star!"

They finally arrived at the center of the room. Kidd was waiting for them with Soul beside him looking bored though Patty and Liz were nowhere to be seen. He cleared his throat, to catch their attention.

"As you all heard, Elites that have defeated Kishin Asura. I called you here to-"

"Blah. Blah. Blah.. Yadah-yadah… We get it Kidd. You're trying to assume the role of a Shinigami but we're your friends. You don't have to enforce that kind of formality with us. Mmff mffmf…"

"We're sorry Shinigami-sama! I'll ensure that Black Star won't disturb your speech again." Tsubaki bowed horrified, putting a hand on the blue-haired monkey who was now taller than her.

"As much as I hate it, I agree with him, Kid-" Maka shook her head then corrected the statement. "Shinigami-sama. You can be casual with us. We won't judge you."

"I told you this would be their reaction." Soul yawned while shoving his hands on his pockets.

Kidd sighed in relief and slumped his shoulders. "I'm glad. My shoulders are getting stiff from being rigid most of the time. I can't rest from all the emergency calls of the Witches."

Black Star took Tsubaki's hand off of his mouth then grinned. He didn't let go of it and even laced it together with his fingers which caused her face to turn into a deeper shade of red. "So, what's the commotion all about?"

Maka caught Soul eyeing their hands with a raised eyebrow. She shrugged in response before mouthing her guess.

'Maybe they're dating?'

Kidd spoke before he could reply. "A witch turned back on our order and Mabaa because she can't accept the truce and the growing relationship we have with the rest of the witches. Her hatred led her to pursue and obtain some water from the infamous River of Lethe."

The scythe meister's eyes widened in shock. "The River of Lethe? That's impossible! Isn't it just a myth?"

"You should know by now, that myths are mere mask to hide the real events that happened, Maka." He clasped his hands while staring at them seriously.

Black Star held his hands up, looking confused. "Wait, wait, wait! Hold up you two! Who the heck is this Lethe and what river are we talking about?"

"Allow me to explain it, Shinigami-sama."

"Feel free to do so. And please, drop the Shinigami-sama. I feel so old when I'm just about your age." Kidd groaned then sat on top of the books that littered symmetrically on the floor.

She laughed which prompted him to smile. "I guess I could do that, Kidd. But only when no adult is around. They'll have our heads if they hear us address you casually."

"I agree with that. Professor Sid gave me a long lecture about respect when he heard me call Kidd without any honorifics." Soul added with a smirk. "Anyway, tell us what made this river so special, Bookworm."

"You don't have to tell me. I'll do it anyway." She replied, sticking out her tongue to him. "The River of Lethe was also called the river of forgetfulness because of its effect. Anyone who drink or submerged in it's water would forget who they are in an instant. There is no way that could let them remember who they were before. Its location was in the Underworld but it's been a century since anyone have ventured on that realm because of its danger. If she's willing to risk her life in order to get even just a drop from the River of Lethe, then she must have loathed us with passion."

"Mabaa was worried that she would use it to raise an army of her own. Anyone she made her drink can be brainwashed easily since they would be desperate to cling on anything that would resemble a memory even if it's a lie." Kidd heaved a sigh. "If she use it on both witches and weapons, she will have an elite soldiers that would fight to protect her with all their lives. It would surpass the madness."

"But we can't fight our own friends!" Tsubaki placed a hand on her mouth in shock.

"That's her point, Tsu. She want to use our own comrades against us." Black Star curled his free hand into a fist. Anger radiated in his form. He loathed fighting against a comrade except for mock battles. "I could never forgive her for even thinking about it. A Bushin will end it before it even started."

"That's why, I called Maka in here." The Shinigami shot her an expectant expression. "You know what to do?"

"Yes. I need to borrow Soul for a while though."

"No need to ask. I'm always willing to help you with or without Kidd's permission." Soul spoke while walking towards her. He put a hand on her shoulder and closed his eyes.

"Soul Resonance." The pair whispered as the area around them crackled with the intensity of their souls resonating.

"Guess, you didn't just read and ate ice cream like I thought."

She just shook her head and let her soul expand further. Unlike before, the anti-demon wavelength filled the whole area as her wings unfurled and enveloped them both.

He played the piano on his soul without the little demon to plague him with his annoying words as Maka listened to him. The surroundings dissolved into a web with souls scattered around them. They are the center of the universe. And with her improved Soul Perception that could match BJ's, no one could hide from their sight. She searched for the soul that contains higher concentration of madness than the regular ones. It didn't even took her a minute. The madness coming from the bottle of water near the witch's soul made her skin crawl.

"She's in Europe." She regretted the word, the second it left her mouth. Soul stiffened behind her and she felt his hand held tightly on her shoulder.

"Perfect. Now we can all go there. Patty and Liz are already there since they heard that someone famous was their to hold a concert." Kidd's face it up, oblivious about the inner turmoil of the Death Scythe.

Her eyes met his troubled ones as she placed a hand on top of his and squeezed it reassuringly. Her lips lift up in a gentle smile. "Kidd, it's better that you stay here with Soul. Tsubaki, Black Star and I will go."

"She's right, Kid. We could handle one puny witch for I am the man that transcends god." Black Star pointed at himself with a huge grin plastered on his face.

"Plus, it would make the people feel safer if the Last Death Scythe and Shinigami-sama is here to protect them in case something bad happened." She interjected, seeing the conflict on his face. "Come on, Kidd. You already did great defeating those people who defied the Order. Let us take this one so that you could take a rest."

"I suppose, you're right. Just don't die on me. Or else, I'll revive you then strangle you to death again." He stood up with threat gleaming on his eyes. "Maka, you're going to Europe first. Your task is to locate the witch and report back. Black Star, you and your team would ambush the target and retrieve the water. Understood? If you have no more questions you are free to leave."

"Thanks, Kidd. If you'll excuse us, we still have to cook dinner." Tsubaki bowed then left with the loudmouth trailing behind her.

"I'll also head back now, Maka, Soul. It was nice to talk to you again." The Shinigami waved them goodbye before disappearing behind the door.

Soul's expression darkened when he looked at her. "I'm not gonna stay here while you fight that witch."

"Just trust me, Soul. I won't die."

"It's not in the matter of trust, you know that!" He stared at her wide-eyed. "I'm not comfortable with the knowledge that you'll fight without a weapon in hand! I'll go with you."

"No! Stay here! Who would Kidd use in case something happened?"

"I'm not the only Death Scythe around here... What is happening to you, Bookworm?" His eyes scanned her face to search for an answer. "I'm worried about you. Liz and Patty could be a team by themselves since one could use the other with ease. Tsubaki and Black Star are the unbreakable pair because she could serve as a decoy while he blast them with his wavelength. And you? You're the only one without weapon."

"I know that." Maka turned away from him, guilt weighed on her like bricks. It's the only opportunity she had to prove herself worthy of being called as Creator of the Last Death Scythe. She won't let him take that chance away from her. "Please, Soul. Let me go to this mission alone for once. You're lucky because you are a Death Scythe. You possess power and strength. How about me? I'm nothing but an insignificant girl who was always led by her weapon!"

"Do you really believe that garbage?" His question was met with silence. "Come on, Maka. You're the most important girl in here. You said that I'm a Death Scythe and I possess power. But isn't it you who created me?"

"You don't understand, Soul." She closed her eyes and balled her hands into fists to keep it from trembling. "We only made it this far because of your ability to lead. I will be dead one to many times if it wasn't for you. I'm reckless and stupid. I can't even wield you without your guide."

He sighed in response then pulled her towards him. "I hope, you understand but I'll only let you go in that mission if you have a weapon, okay?"

"Okay." She felt him placed his cheek on her head as an idea formulated in her head. "I'm sorry, Soul."

'I'm sorry for the things I'm about to do.'