"The enchanted sword Masamune if he continues like this for much longer he will become a kishin. Are you sure you're ready for this Tsubaki? You know how difficult of a battle this will be." Frowning, Lord Death tells Tsubaki as she, lord Death, and Ava stand in the death room. Ava is near the stairs ready to leave at any time, wearing a coal cloak similar to the grim reapers.
"I'll stop Masamune difficult or not I can do it." Determined, Tsubaki assures the two as Lord Death nods his head turning his gaze towards the woman garbed in a coal cloak similar to his own, bringing a small tinge of endearment to Lord Death at the sight of his wife wearing his robes as she stands stoically before him unfazed.
"Be careful." Seriously, Lord Death warns her, a part of him having been worried about agreeing with her request. He knew why but that didn't mean he liked it. He had warned her due to her injuries when she came back from Italy but she insisted, she refused to back down, honestly, he did love this side of her he did but only when it was on the other person, when it was on himself…
"When am I not?" Ava smirks slyly, snapping Lord Death out of his thoughts, seeing her sly smirk making him sigh tiredly noting the glint gleaming in her glistening gold.
"…" Silently, Lord Death stares down at his partner, a pregnant pause in the air would make many squirm slightly, shuffle slightly, he had seen many quiver under his gaze alongside treating him like some god. But she never did, she never fled from him out of fear, she never treated him like a god, she treated him like anyone else, like a normal person, a rare trait he had wished and was grateful that a select few could do to him, even if he does wish at times for the lack of disrespect.
"Okay fine I'll be careful better?" Softly, she smiles up at Lord Death reaching up to place her hand on the cheek of his mask, her thumb brushing against the chisel mask. He finds himself leaning into the plush pillow of her palm. She smiles endearingly at him.
"Better." Dumbly, Lord Death nods kneeling down slightly to lean in as she does the same.
"O-Oh my!" Stunned, Tsubaki places her hand over her mouth as she catches lord death leaning down. Ava places her hands on either side of his mask. She sharply turns away from the sight steam spewing out of her ruby red face, embarrassed to have caught such an indigent sight of her headmaster and teacher, of the world's lord of death and weapon.
"So…what did it look like?" Blackstar questions as he and Tsubaki stand side by side far from Ava who is ahead of them as they head towards the village through the tall towering trees of the forest.
"Blackstar!" Blushing, Tsubaki hisses at him raw red, worriedly eyeing her teacher ahead fearful of facing her wrath.
"What? You saw them kissing come on he cant kiss with that mask, did you get to see what was under that mask? I mean does he has a tongue?" Fascinated, Blackstar questions making Tsubaku furrow her brow.
"O-Of course not it's their relationship their business you know!" Blushing, Tsubaki scowls at her partner.
"You're just scared." Snickering, Blackstar teases.
"M-Maybe a little bit…" Meekly, Tsubaki glances to the side frowning, she had heard of how merciless, Ava could be as a teacher and knew she didn't want to get on the wrong side of lady Death.
"What are you two on about now?" Annoyed, Ava calls out to the two stopping in her steps, glancing back at the two, Tsubaki freezes from her sharp scowl while Blackstar simply glances to the side bored.
"Hey Mrs. Ava how do you kiss Lord Death?" Bluntly, Blackstar calls out, his arms behind his head.
"B-Blackstar!" Tsubaki hisses at him as Ava's eye twitches.
"Like a normal person." Agitated, Ava states.
"Does he have any lips?" Blackstar asks.
"I'm not answering that question." Angrily, Ava snaps scowling at Blackstar.
"Come on at least tell me this, did you date Es-" Blackstar begins unaware of Ava's eye twitching.
"Reaper…" Seething, she raises her fist and performing a reaper chop of sorts, startling Tsubaki gaping at the bloodied beaten Blackstar slumped on the tree.
"B-Blackstar…" Worried, Tsubaki kneels down next to Blackstar.
"The fact alone that you believe that guy's crap shows how few brain cells you have." Icily, Ava deadpans insulted almost at the sheer thought.
"I'll take that as a no then." Weakly, Blackstar whispers hoarsely, red rivers descending down his form.
"If you have any they must be on the mission got it. That's all you should focus on." Sternly, Ava reminds the two.
"Is that why you're here miss Ava?" Tentatively, Tsubaki asks her.
"Yep." Ava confirms nodding her head.
"Are you sure though? I heard from Maka you were pretty banged up when you went to Italy." Frowning, Tsubaki points out.
"I'm fine now." She assures the two.
"Okay, then grandma." Aloofy, Blackstar huffs making Ava's eye twitch.
"The hell you call me punk!?" Enraged, she snarls scowling at him raising her hand once more in a reaper chop making Blackstar cry out as he hits the tree once more, ruby red sprouting out of his head.
"Well at least we know you're better." Tightly, Tsubaki smiles looking over Blackstar's bloodied sight as they continue on their track to the needle village.
"Tsubaki…are you sure about this? Are you sure you can go through with this?" Frowning, Ava questions Tsubaki as the two stand on either side once Blackstar recovered, rushing ahead of the two.
"I…I have to. Is that why you're here?" Tsubaki furrows her brow.
"If anything goes wrong yes, I will interfere whether you like it or not." Sternly, she tells the group.
"I won't fail." Firmly, Tsubaki assures her.
"Easier said than done. Look…I understand your hesitation I do. But you need to remember leaving him to become a kishin is a fate worse than death. Although we weapons are given divine powers through using our blades we are almost burned by the weight of souls, although collecting human souls would be easy for us. We could become kishin if we do so. We are the only ones burdened with this issue. We are the only ones who have the potential to become kishin." Ava explains to Tsubaki bowing her head in understanding.
"That's what I have to make things right. That sword is a part of my family and I must reclaim it." Truthfully, Tsubaki tells Ava who sighs slumping her shoulders.
"Even at the cost of your brother?" Pained, Ava asks making Tsubaki wince.
"Even at the cost of my brother." Bravely, Tsubaki bows her head, knowing what must be done as Ava closes her eyes, feeling a wave of sympathy towards Tsubaki and her situation, only then to scowl. She feels a sudden teasing touch, a feathery touch making her freeze from it, glaring down at the fluttery feathers descending down from the high heavens, making her look up glaring at the pitch-black bird soaring through the sky as free as a bird…
"What does Blackstar have to say about it?" Lord Death questions her.
"I haven't told him everything if that's what you mean." Tsubaki reveals bowing her head as Ava scowls.
"I thought as much." Annoyed, Ava sneers.
"He doesn't need to know the full story." Tsubaki reasons making Ava's eye twitch.
"Tsubaki you do understand that thought process of being selfless only makes you selfish do you not?" Angrily, Ava demands from the girl.
"I…" Shyly, Tsubaki begins bowing her head pained.
"You need to understand, weapons although are taught to give their lives for their Meister's does not mean Meister's cannot do the same you saw the effect it had on Maka. Imagine Blackstar's reaction if he only found out what he had gotten himself into thanks to your sacrifice." Sternly, Ava explains to Tsubaki who flinches from her words.
"I…I have to do this, I need to." Stubbornly, Tsubaki dictates.
"And you think he doesn't deserve the truth?" Irritated, Ava places her hand on her hip.
"Ava…" Sighing, Lord Death begins furrowing his brow concerned.
"I'm just saying how it is. He deserves to know the truth at the least, know what he's getting himself into." Fairly, Ava raises her hands up in the air.
"He says he doesn't need to know the full story but he's willing to put his soul in my hands for this battle." Tsubaki informs the two.
"Did he?" Warily, Ava arches a brow.
"You've got yourself a good partner don't you?" Lord Death exclaims.
"Yes." Tsubaki nods her head as she turns and leaves the two alone.
"I know you don't like this." Lord Death breaks the still silence in the air.
"Oh really what gave it away?" Ava places her hands on her hips.
"Ava…" Gently, Lord Death places his hand on Ava's shoulder.
"This is ridiculous she should just tell him." Huffing, she sits down on the stone step.
"Now if I remember correctly, I remember a certain weapon doing whatever they liked telling no one anything. Thinking they could handle it all on their own." Playfully, Lord Death points out making her pout, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Urgh…don't just don't. I was young, stupid…" Huffing, she lightly pushes him making him chuckle.
"They are still young she believes she can handle it on her own." Lord Death points out.
"Exactly! Death I've seen this sort of thinking it's what I did. She's going to push herself to her limits, she may even…" Gingerly, Ava's fingertips crawl up to her throat, making her grimace at the sharp sting as Death glances to the side saddened by the memory.
"I know you care I do but fretting will only make it worse. You need to calm down, this is Tsubaki's decision remember, we must respect that." Truthfully, Death places his arm around her.
"I know I just she's so young to have that sort of burden on her shoulders…it's not easy, her case never is…" Ava sighs sadly before bowing her head
"Just be careful out there okay?" Death sighs.
"I will." Softly, Ava smiles leaning in alongside Death as the couple share a fleeting farewell kiss making Tsubaki twist her head, her facial features heating up tenfold from the sight alone. That is until she is brought back by the stern voice of Ava making her flinch from her brief zoning out session. Together, the two head to the door leaving him, heading out, with Tsubaki following behind her.
"So where are we?" Curious, Blackstar asks placing his hands behind his head.
"The village of needles Shen. Blackstar you may want to cover your arm." Ava warns Blackstar sternly.
"What? Nah they won't be able to see how much my star shines you know?" Boastfully, Blackstar proclaims proudly making Ava sigh, slumping her shoulders exhaustion etched into her facial features.
"Fine don't come crying when you're run out of town." Truthfully, she warns Blackstar alarming Tsubaki briefly.
"What's that suppose to mean?" Befuddled, Blackstar furrows his brow from her words.
"You'll see soon enough." Ava answers, furrowing her brow.
"Why do you think a little place like this would be a target for the enchanted sword?" Curious, Blackstar wonders.
"So they won't get spotted. The enchanter sword has a number of souls already for it to need only a few more it would want to do it in places. Lord death and the other meisters won't look for, to guarantee its ascent to being a kishin." Ava explains to the two.
"Blackstar there's something I need to tell you. It's about the enchanted sword I haven't exactly explained everything yet…" Tsubaki bows her head.
"Whoa what's that?" Excitedly, Blackstar bellows surprising the two as their eyes widen when watching Blackstar take off like a rocker into the soaring starry sky, leaving the two alone.
"Blackstar wait!" Tsubaki calls out but it falls to deaf ears.
"He's such a child. I assume you can handle it from here." Tiredly, Ava sighs bowing her head pained.
"You're leaving us." Tsubaki exclaims surprised.
"The sword won't show up with me here if I leave you two alone it may draw it out more. Besides this was your mission remember I'm only here to oversee due to that track record of yours." Sternly, she reminds Tsubaki.
"Yeah…." Tsubaki bows her head ashamed almost.
"Be careful alright. Don't think being a martyr or a scapegoat will get you anywhere. This isn't just about you so don't think being selfless is the key here. If you die, Blackstar will feel responsible, will feel guilt, he may even be possessed by your brother." Honestly, Ava explains to Tsubaki who flinches from her words.
"I…I know." Tsubaki bows her.
"You can be selfish sometimes you know…people always go on and on about how great is it being selfless they have no idea how horrible it can be at times. If you die people will cry, people will scream, people will mourn, value yourself Tsubaki alright?" Ava explains her tone gentle, soft even.
"Al…alright…" Tsubaki nods her head.
"Good. Good luck to the both of you." Softly, Ava smiles at the two.
"Thank you lady Ava for trusting me with this mission." Tsubaki thanks her.
"Don't be stupid okay." Sighing, Ava tells Tsubaki placing her hand over Tsubaki's head making her eyes expand at the touch, feeling her eyes soften at the gesture, her hues turning glassy from her words.
"Okay… Blackstar wait! Hold on!" Sniffling, she nods brushing the tears aside as she then puts on a brave front smiling before turning on her heel and leaving, following after Blackstar. Meanwhile, Ava simply turns her back to the two, scowling when feeling the teasing touch of a familiar feather fluttering down, brushing against her cheek, knowing what she must do next.
"I guess I'm going to have to rely on my other five senses to track it down. Unfortunately, those senses aren't as sharp when there's a downpour. What happened back there you want to know don't you?" Frowning, Blackstar points out as he and Tsubaki crouch down on the tree branches, staring out at the needle village as the rain comes crashing down upon the village.
"No. That's not what I was thinking." Tsubaki furrows her brow.
"It's a real long story. I'm not a big fan of long stories." Regardless, Blackstar exclaims.
"Right…I get it if you rather not tell me that's okay." Tsubaki assures him.
"It's happened before remember. It was another old man, a lot like the one this time. He saw my tattoo and started freaking out." Blackstar reminds her.
"I know…" Tsubaki stares sadly down at the ground at the memory.
"The tattoo is a symbol of my family, the star clan. They were a clan of assassins. Everybody knew they would do anything for money. After a while, killing people wasn't enough they were hungry for even more power it got bad…bloody." Blackstar further furrows his brow at the memory.
"I didn't know. What happened to the rest of your clan?" Curious, Tsubaki asks him.
"13 years ago their souls was taken by lord death and Meister's from the academy. At the time I was still just a baby, so they didn't take my soul. That's when the school took me in. That's it, the end." Blackstar finishes his story.
"But is it though? You don't resent the academy for what they did?" Tsubaki argues.
"Nah this was way back then so long ago that I wasn't even close to the big star that I am now. It was a simple case of cause and effect. My old man and lady crossed a line they shouldn't have and they paid for it by having their souls taken away. That's all there is to it. Besides if it weren't for lady Ava I may even be here." Sadly, Blackstar reveals surprising Tsubaki.
"What do you mean?" Confused, Tsubaki queries.
"According to Sid, lady Ava and Lord Death got into a major fight over it." Blackstar sighs.
"Them fighting?" Stunned, Tsubaki blinks taken aback at the sheer thought of the two fighting, sure they had playful banter or bicker between the two but that's it really…she couldn't imagine them properly fighting then again with how neurotic Kid is…
"I know it sounds surprising but they were both really gung ho over it all. Lady Ava managed to convince him in the end though. Guess I respect her in a way she's always stuck to her gut you know?" Honestly, Blackstar considers quirking his head to the side at the thought.
"Yeah I guess. I still don't like seeing people treating you so badly for it. it wasn't… your fault." Tsubaki exclaims.
"I know. Besides it's not so bad its thanks to that experience that I got to meet some cool people like Lady Ava who gave me a chance, she treated me normally you know like a mother almost heh she even taught me these super skills along with Sid." Smugly, Blackstar boasts, grinning briefly.
"Is that right? But then Star how didn't you know about Kid?" Puzzled, Tsubaki wonders.
"Lady Ava never really liked talking about herself. Besides I was a kid I could have forgotten for all I knew. Still… Come on you kidding me all because of my name I was a center of attention earlier yahoo!" Loudly, Blackstar declares grinning from ear to ear taking Tsubaki aback as she solemnly bows her head.
"Remember a little while ago…when I said I had something I needed to tell you…" Tsubaki begins her brow furrowed.
"You don't have to tell me until you're ready. I don't know how you're connected to the enchanted sword. But he's an enemy we have to defeat isn't it? That's all I need to know to fight him. Take some time to get what's inside you settled and then you can tell me everything you need to tell." Blackstar tells Tsubaki.
"Okay…" Tsubaki nods her head.
"I'm guessing info gathering didn't go well…" Startled, both Blackstar and Tsubaki jolt up at the voice turning to Ava standing stoic, a part of Tsubaki wonders if she had overheard it.
"Don't sneak up on us like that!" Scowling, Blackstar bellows glaring at the unfazed Ava.
"If you two truly were assassin you would have noticed me a mile away." Annoyed, Ava points out, exasperation etched into her tone too tired to deal with the shouting.
"Yeah well the rain blinded the bright beam of my star!" Blackstar brushes her off making her sweatdrop.
"I'm sure…so info collecting went wrong I take it." Irritated, Ava sighs bowing her head.
"You could say that." Blackstar huffs standing up.
"Damn on top of everything else it had to rain, finding the enchanted sword would be a lot easier if I could see souls like Maka." Blackstar grumbles annoyed.
"We all have our strengths and weaknesses," Ava exclaims.
"Can you see souls Ava?" Tsubaki questions her.
"Nope. I can sense them but not see them. It's much weaker compared to Maka." Ava explains to Tsubaki.
"Huh. And here I thought you were like some sort of OP god." Bluntly, Blackstar remarks making Ava exhale exasperated.
"I'm really not. Could you not call me a god please?" Tiredly, she sighs at him.
"But you're married to one." Blackstar points out.
"Just because I am. Does not make me one. Tsubaki perhaps it's best if you go on ahead in the village, dig up some dirt…" Sighing, she tells Blackstar before turning to Tsubaki.
"Are you sure?" Uncertain, Tsubaki furrows her brow conflicted.
"Yeah, go ahead Tsubaki!" Blackstar encourages her, winking cheekily at her making Tsubaki furrow her brow when noting his bright beaming grin.
"Right, I'll be back!" Determined, Tsubaki nods her head before dropping down, descending down to then head into the needle village for info, needing to know what to prepare for, for the battle ahead.
"You okay?" Gently, Ava whispers, furrowing her brow as she glances down at the sullen Blackstar making her yellows soften sadly at the boy before him, seeing his saddened hues gaze out at the village before him.
"Course I am this is normal you know." Grinning, Blackstar brushes off her concern, a bright beam of a grin upon his lips making Ava furrow her brow.
"Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt…" Gently, Ava whispers making Blackstar flinch from her words, a pregnant pause filters in the air alongside a still silence.
"Eh, I guess my folks must have really messed up this village." Tightly, Blackstar smiles sadly.
"I guess so…" Ava whispers as she lowers her hand finding her fingertips brushing back against Blackstar's blue locks, humming quietly to herself. She finds him leaning into her touch, enjoying the pressing patterns against his scalp, perhaps enjoying the maternal motherly aspect of said gesture but they brush it aside, not thinking too much about it, simply staring ahead, enjoying the still silence with the rain providing them their only company of sound.
"You're going aren't you?" Frowning, Ava stands in the death room, her back turned to her husband who has his eyes glued upon the mirror before him, staring at the back of her reflection.
"The enchanted sword will no doubt lure him out and if not we need to make sure no kishin forms, if Tsubaki fails we need a failsafe and I'm the only one who can do it." Honestly, Ava tells him how it is, having gone through the logical side of it herself for him to understand.
"It will be dangerous." Death points out.
"I know the cost." Curtly, Ava answers.
"Ava you just recovered from Italy." Death sighs tired, exasperation laced in his concerned tone.
"I'll be fine I promise." Gently, Ava smiles softly appreciating her husband's concern but she will be fine, she's done much worse. He knows that better than anyone.
"Please…be careful." Concerned, Death requests from her making her sigh. The two turn to one another.
"I will…" Softly, she smiles as he approaches, bowing his head for his mask temple to meet her own, a still silence soon filtering in the room one of comfort, content, and understanding. While others may squirm from the still silence, the two had been comfortable with still silence between them for a long time, sometimes words were not needed for them. The simply silence speaking a thousand words on each party's part.
"Heh they just don't know it yet but they'll see and once they do they'll be blown away by my shining star!" Boastfully, Blackstar proclaims promising it to Ava.
"I'm sure." Amused, Ava nods her head noting Blackstar leaning into her motherly ministrations making
a small smirk crosses her facial features from the endearing sight.
"I could stand here thinking or go sleep. Or play. What do you think little one?" Loudly, the sharp slap of water echoes as the foot slams down into the watery puddle below, small tsunami waves are formed from his foot alone upon the petite puddle as a man garbed in white approaches the village, turning to glance up at the bird on his shoulder, reaching up to pet the bird as it caws.
"Or…eat." Sadistically, he smirks at the bird's request, hearing it low and clear as he enters the village.
"Lord Death! I want to know why you sent them after the enchanted sword!" Maka calls out stomping her foot on the ground scowling up at him.
"Whoa easy there meister who invited you to the death room in the first place?" Perplexed, Death sweatdrops as he uses his hands to block Maka, stopping her almost.
"The 118th rule in the death weapon meister academy handbook states in the event of an emergency students are allowed to enter the death room without first obtaining permission."
Sternly, Maka explains to Lord Death.
"Really it does?" Stunned, Death exclaims sweatdropping once more at the rule before turning to Stein behind both Soul and Maka, silently telling them to step back which they comply.
"What kind of enemy is this enchanted sword father?" Kid questions him hands shoved into his pocket as he joins Maka and Soul's side, Liz and Patty on either side of him.
"Kid? You've come to join the party?" Astonished, Lord Death exclaims.
"The enchanted sword guy isn't like the demon sword guy is he?" Soul wonders.
"I hope not." Meekly, Maka exclaims.
"The enchanted sword doesn't have a witch with him…he might actually be less dangerous if he was under a witch's supervision. The enchanted sword exploits the fear in people's hearts. He uses that fear to take possession of his targets and gain control of their bodies. He then consumes his victim's souls unless someone stops him he will become a kishin". Seriously, Stein explains the grim news to his students.
"Is that why you sent mother there? Despite her own injuries from Italy." Irritated, Kid scowls at his father, a part of him having heard of the news, if he had heard sooner he could have knocked some sense into them both.
"Kid your mother wanted to go." Drained, Death sighs understanding his worry well.
"That doesn't mean she should have…!" Scowling, Kid begins fury laced in his tone as the other's eyes soften noting the genuine concern in Kid's tone.
"Kiddo I understand you're worried trust me I do but you know your mother once she makes up her mind…" Gently, Lord Death places his hand on his son's shoulder as Kid's yellow look up at his father.
"She'll do it regardless of the consequences." Sighing, Kid slumps his shoulders at the fact.
"Right on the mark…" Death sighs as the two slump their shoulders making the onlookers sweatdrop at the rather comedic sight of the two.
"How dare that star clan murderer show up here. Will this sickle do any good against someone like him? I'm old enough now to get revenge for what they did. It was those assassins that killed my mother and father." Furious, the boy, Ryuko sees holding his sickle as he resides in one of the huts, talking to himself only to falter from the brief sound of a flutter confusing him.
"You see there I think therefore I am and therefore I eat." Eerily, the voice recites making Ryuko gasp turning to the door where he finds a man standing there, a bird perched upon his shoulder.
"Hey who are you?" Ryuko demands but it falls to deaf ears.
"I think therefore I eat. You have fear hiding in your soul don't you?" The creature continues making his way into the house.
"Fear? What would make you think that? No I don't have any fear." Firmly, Ryuko refuses.
"We'll see now won't we? With my power, your fear will disappear for good. Gone just like that. What do you say?" Eerily, the man looms over the small boy terrified as the last thing the by sees before being consumed is the blackbird flying out of the house, into the roaring rain outside…
"A child are you serious right now Ingram?" Scowling, Ava glares at the man, perched upon the tall trees outside the village, her yellows narrow peering at the battle below seeing Blackstar fight against some possess kid wielding the blade.
"Hey, I'm not the one training children into soldiers." Smugly, he shrugs making Ava's yellow twitch.
"At least we ask for their consent!" Coldy, Ava snaps as the two blades clash once more, sparks spewing out of them.
"After you indoctrinate them with your filth." Firmly, he slams his blade down causing her to dart back briefly.
"For the…why must you be so dramatic!?" Exasperated, she demands from him groaning as the fight continues.
"Ah Ryuko so this is where you've been hiding I brought some stuff we could use to use as weapons if that assassin comes back. 13 years ago we put up those needles in all that time we haven't had a single thief come along. Not that you have anything to worry about. I'll protect the village like I did in the old days. I'm still as spry as I used to be. No one can take me. Huh? That's an interesting sword you got. What's a fancy weapon like that doing in here? Ryuko are you okay?" Happily, the elderly man smiles as he sturts inside the room, holding some wood in his grasp, a pile of it only then to furrow his brow when being greeted by an eerie silence. He notes the sword smiling as he boasts about his own skill only then to falter when the boy silently slowly turns, his coal-black and raw reds eyes meeting the elderly man's….
"AHHH!"
"It's him. Let's go." Blackstar jumps down.
"Right!" Tsubaki darts down, following behind Blackstar as Ava watches on, her brow furrows brow before taking a step back, scowling as she glares to the side spotting the figure behind her.
"No…wait Ryuko what's gotten into you!?" Scared, the elderly man cries out fearful.
"Ryuko? Who is this Ryuko? I am the enchanted sword Masamune I think therefore I am hungry for souls. " The possessed child declares, the black blade in his grasp sparking.
"Yahoo! You're the enchanted sword! Huh? Wait a sec you're that bratty kid from earlier, the one with the money! What the hell's happening here?" Blackstar remembers after kicking him away from the elderly man.
"It's the soul possession technique. Just one thing that sword can do." Tsubaki catches up, her brow furrowed at the sheer sight of the possessed child.
"I've never heard of it before. How's it supposed to work?" Curious, Blackstar asks Tsubaki.
"You know how normal weapons and meisters match each other soul wavelengths to unify themselves? The enchanted sword doesn't do that. Instead of matching he simply takes over someone's soul and controls their body and when he's finished. The whole soul is devoured. That's the enchanted sword it's blade was so beautiful once but now its beauty is clouded by darkness." Disappointed, Tsubaki sighs sadly, her brow furrowed pained at the sight of the tainted black blade, sparks spewing out of the metal.
"Oh it's you is it?" The blade hums a raw red light enveloping the blade.
"Tsubaki what now?" Blackstar asks her.
"He may be powerful but he can't control two soul wavelengths at the same time. Listen Blackstar if you shoot your soul wavelength directly into that boy the enchanted sword will be forced to separate somehow after that leave the rest up to me." Seriously, Tsubaki explains to Blackstar.
"Just shoot my soul wavelength that's all you want me to do?" Blackstar concludes as the sword slices at the two but Blackstar jolts back, flipping back, trying to gain some space as Tsubaki turns into his sickle and chain.
"Yes. I joined the academy in order to hunt down the enchanted sword. This is my fight and I'm sorry to put you in the middle Blackstar." Tsubaki confirms before apologizing to Tsubaki.
"Tsubaki come on please tell me that isn't what you're actually thinking. You know better than that. Don't you? Weapons and meisters depend on each other don't we? You can lean on me Tsubaki and you can do it a heck of a lot more than you are now, got it?!" Blackstar tells Tsubaki.
"…Yes." Sadly, she bows her head.
"Puppet shadow…" The boy bellows as shadows spew out from behind the boy.
"Blackstar!" Tsubaki cries out as he narrowly dodges his hits from the shadow.
"Oooh that's new!" Grinning, Ingram gushes, his eyes sparkling shimmering.
"Focus on the fight before you idiot!" Angrily, Ava snarls scowling as she grabs him by his head, slamming her knee into his face causing crimson to come cascading down.
"And miss out on all the fun? Maybe another time…besides who needs to control someone's shadow when you can fly!" Proudly, he stretches his arm out, feather wings sprouting out from his arm, flicking them as they turn metallic making her scowl.
"Desperate much?" Annoyed, Ava huffs kicking her brother to the side only then for them both to watch. Blackstar slides towards a familiar god statue, Blackstar had perched himself upon boasting about himself, clear karma kicking in as he…crashes into it.
"Did your student just…?" Stunned, Igram trails off as the two gawk at him.
"Damn it Blackstar…" Groaning, Ava facepalms at the idiot talking to himself.
"Hahahaha!" Cackling, Ingram bursts into tears making her eye twitch.
"Really? That's comedy to you?" Annoyed, Ava snaps scowling at her other half.
"There's more to humor than sardonic snippy remarks you know?" Defsnvily, Ingram defends himself making her roll her eyes.
"Playtime's over!" The kid roar raising its blade to the high heavens.
"Now Tsubaki?" Blackstar asks as Tsubaki confirms seeing the opening.
"Right, let's go soul resonance! Shield star!" Together, the two roars as his black blade slams into the chain star before them, a shield of yellow forming.
"I'll do anything to defeat you. You dive relentlessly into destruction without considering what lies ahead and now Blackstar has you." Tsubaki declares.
"Your time has finished now! Mid-air combat is something I'm good at! Which makes this…MY TIME! NOW TSUBAKI!" Blackstar declares after slamming his palm into the boy's torso, sparks spewing out of Blackstar's palm.
"Blackstar thank you…I'll be back." Softly, Tsubaki smiles as she returns to her human form, taking the boy's blade.
"Oh interesting you're planning on coming inside aren't you?" Amused, the sword hums as Tsubaki comes crashing down to the floor, gripping the hilt of the blade.
"From this point forward this really is my fight." Tsubaki whispers as her purplish blues look up into a pair of stunned yellow watching from afar as she feels her hues dilate when Tsubaki cries out in agony, black vines sprouting around her cheeks, her eyes soon shifting to pitch black and raw red.
"Are you proud sister of the soldiers you've created?" Coldy, Ingram sneers, snapping Ava out of her thoughts as a single stray tear descends down her cheek. His grip tightens around his blade just as she closes her eyes, bandishing the stray tear aside, ready for anything…
"Why are you here?" Angrily, Ava's yellows narrow into thin silent slits, feeling her muscles tense ignoring the sharp sting in her neck. She feels the shift of weight, adjusting to the hilt of her blade materializing in her grasp, feeling her fingertips flex around the hilt of the blade, gleaming from the teeny tiny raindrops descending down from the high heavens. Both brother and sister face off against one another, once more.
"I could ask you the same…" Smirking, Ingram chuckles amused almost at the sheer sight of her as he too stretches his arm out, a familiar blade materializing in his grasp, his nails claw at the hilt digging deep into the fibers of the blade's hilt. He swings it about as if it were some sort of talent show making Ava roll her eyes exasperated by her brother's demeanor.
"I'm on business." Formally, Ava answers her brother's question deciding to be nicer than last since it seems to be the only way to get answers out of her other half. They glare at one another, reading one another's body language, trying to predict which one will strike first, which one will bite first.
"Here to protect your child soldiers?" Sneering, he remarks making Ava's blood boil, burn bubble at the sheer nerve of him.
"Don't…" Warningly, she snaps at him, it isn't like that…it isn't that simple, it isn't…
"Don't what? I'm just saying how it is, how your husband is grooming weapons sounds familiar no?" Smugly, Ingram quirks his head to the side feigning innocence making Ava scoff at the sheer nerve of her brother.
"And what brings you here? To kill more innocent people?" Poisionosuly, she sneers, venom spewing out of her.
"I simply came to see the power of this enchantress sword, a shadow of what it was meant to be is it not?" Proudly, he dramatically declares, bowing like a ringmaster as she notes behind that the façade of pride and joy is a tinge of mockery in his voice.
"Don't…" Scowling, she glares at him, her grip tightening around her blade.
"But that's what they all are. Those creations of hers are nothing but shallow shabby knock-offs of what we were made for what we were made to be, what our purpose was. A purpose you have forgotten." Chaotically, he erupts into a fit of giggles, grinning from ear to ear as she shudders from the genuine pride laced in his tone. He gestures towards the two before sneering down in disgust at the swordsman below, at the child below.
"A purpose I discarded long ago." Ava remarks coldly, reminding him of the fact, of the reality of the situation as she notes her brother's eyes narrow, bowing his head, his once bright broad grin dropping down into a look of disappointment making her frown further.
"Such like the name you shredded so long ago…" Angrily, he seethes, steam practically spewing out of him like a dragon ready to scream, shout, screech to the high heavens as she notes his body shaking, shivering, shuddering even, seeing his claws curl into his plush pillow, creating a stray fist furiously shaking.
"For good reason." Firmly, Ava states getting into her stance.
"You call that a good reason? I'll make sure to burn it into your skin!" Snarling, Ingram roars diving at Ava who remains calm, composed in her stance as the two dual ready to finish this once and for all.
"What just happened?" Mystified, Maka gasps as the mirror before her of the now slumped Tsubaki holding the sword, clasping between her fingertips, small slithers of darkness marred upon her cheeks as she has her eyes closed.
"Tsubaki has just gone inside the enchanted sword." Death tells Maka.
"Why would you do that Tsubaki? We have to stop this somehow." Sternly, Maka argues worried.
"What is she thinking? How is a weapon suppose to fight without her meister?" Baffled, Soul questions perplexed.
"You don't get it. The fight is taking place inside their souls. Anything could happen now. It had to come to this you see Tsubaki is the only one who can go against the enchanted sword." Sighing, Lord Death informs the two watching on as the people of the village, scream and shout raising their blocks of wood to the high heavens slamming it down on Blackstar gasping. He feels his knees buckle before collecting himself, correcting his stance. He falls deciding to sit down, his hands on either side of his knees as he waits patiently before the woman.
"Tsubaki you're in make sure you come back…" Blackstar whispers shopping his words will reach her as ruby red streams come gushing out of his temple, his bloodied blue locks dangle down as he endured the beating before him.
"Ryuko…" Concerned, the villages rush in on the scene once deeming it safe.
"Is he okay?" Another one of the kid's question.
"This is the Star clan's fault. Look at what they've done to Ryuko! It's terrible." The elderly one accuses glaring at Blackstar who remains sullenly silent, simply staring waiting for Tsubaki.
"Get out of our villager murderer!" One of the men bellows slamming the wood down on his temple.
"Tsubaki…" Blackstar whispers unfazed by the splitting sensation.
"Do you hear me!? I said get out! Get out! Get out!" Tearfully, one of the villagers screams terrified, continuing to slam its bloodied piece of wood at Blackstar's head who remains firmly rooted on the floor.
"Okay just make sure you come back." Blackstar grins from ear to ear unfazed by the beating by the name-calling by any of it just wanting his partner back by his side.
"Where are you? I know what you're going to do. You'll come after my soul, you'll try to possess it…" Tsubaki whispers as she stares down at the ruby red water below her residing in a world of white with shadow-like trees behind them.
"Soul possession? No. not that. I think I'll devour your soul just the way it is. It's so nice to see you…Tsubaki." The voice calls out as she turns to the man slouched upon the branch of the shadow puppet-like tree.
"Hi brother." Tsubaki frowns as she summons her chains while he summons his sword, ready for the battle ahead, ready for what's been a long time coming, ready to finish this once and for all.
"Ready!?"