"Dabarasa now we're finished with the witch mass meeting. You're dismissed. Joma joma dabarase" Mystically, the woman flying above the fellow witches announces as the other witches nod chanting said phrases before dismissing themselves and leaving.
"Joma joma daba rasa Let's go Crona Ragnarok." Medusa puts her hood on as she glances over at the two.
"Yes ms Medusa." Crona nods their head trailing behind her.
"Are you coming with us Muninn?" Medusa looks up at the black bird perched on the top of the wall, swooping down as she stretches her arm out, ready for the bird to land upon her shoulder.
"One moment, that guy is giving out free sweeties." Smoothly, the bird gestures towards Mifune.
"Hey get me one!" Impatiently, Ragnarok roars spewing out of Crona's back.
"No Ragnarok I don't think we can deal with it!" Scared, Crona argues.
"Wait." Medusa scowls at the voice and pole appearing before Medusa.
"Oh." Medusa arches a brow bemused.
"Ahh! We can't go home! What are we going to do!" Scared, Crona cries out fearfully.
"Oh sht up or I'll take your money." Ragnarok snaps at Crona.
"Wont you be stealing from yourself?" Ingram sweat drops as he approaches the two.
"How many I help you Eruka frog?" Medusa decides to play nice.
"Chi chi chi." The smaller one of the two calls out by the frog's side.
"Mmm Mizu you look as adorable as ever." Hungrily, Ingram smirks down at the sight of the creature.
"Chi chi!" Mizune declares.
"Stay away from her half fling!" Defensively, the frog witch bellows making the bird's eye twitch.
"Aww Eureka are you still mad at me for stealing one of your babies?" Snickering, Ingram quirks his head to the side snickering.
"You ate him!" Furious, frog girl roars slamming her heeled boot to the ground, glaring daggers at the blackbird.
"I was peckish so is the way of life you know?" Lazily, the black bird shrugs.
"You…" Enraged, Erika seethes glaring daggers at the bird puffing up its chest.
"You have fun dealing with the frog and mouse." Bored, the black bird takes off, removing itself from the conversation at hand, swooping down towards the witch and swordsman.
"Yes, yes…" Moody, Medusa huffs using her hand to wave him off not sparing a glance as he takes off towards his next targets.
"Mifune I'm hungry…" Whining, the chameleon wizards whines perched upon the swordsman shoulders.
"Right…here." He sighs taking out some small candy piece making the bird brighten up at the sight.
"Yay-H-Huh? My sweetie! Wahhhh!" Wailing, Angelica cries out as swiftly, the blackbird swoops down, biting on the wrapper and taking off, like taking candy from a baby, Ingram snickers to himself at the comparison.
"Here have another." Scowling, Mifune gives the black bird a dirty look only making the bird snicker as it returns to its perch.
"Yaaay you're the best Mifune!" Merrily, Angelica squeals happily enjoying her piece of candy.
"Well I'm not the only witch accompanied by non-witch outsiders right? Look at the little one there with a human." Fairly, Medusa points out gesturing towards both swordsman and witch.
"It is irritating besides you dare bring that thing here?" Disgusted, Erika sneers at the sight of said witch and swordsman.
"That thing has a name." Medusa remarks while oblivious said bird uses its claws to unravel the candy.
"It has no home here after betraying the witches. It's nothing but a stain for us witches!" Furious, froggy declares as said bird pops the candy into its beak where demonic fangs are proudly displayed as it chomps down on the sweetie, shards of crystal spew out of the demonic birds mouth.
"Crona my coat." Medusa calls out.
"Yes mam…" Crona drapes the snakeskin coat over Medusa.
"It has been such a disgrace to the witch mass but that is not what I want to talk about. I was watching…you stole something from mabaa-sama tell me what are you doing at Shubyse in secret? You stick out like a sore thumb to me. And for you to bring that thing here is nothing but a dirty reminder of our people." Erika explains poison laced in her tone towards Medusa who sighs closing her eyes bored almost by the tangent.
"I'll stay there as long as I wish to continue my study. We all agreed on that in the meeting you heard mabaa-sama didn't you and as for your issue with Mishun you can talk to him about it. if you have an issue take it up with him that is if you don't value your life after all…" Smugly, Medusa points out.
"She lost her eye and is no longer able to see the reality well. Death Academy is an organisation of all the souls of witches you can endanger all of us. Also I know that you are trying to make a kishin! How do you even know that bird won't betray us at that? You know who he's related to right?" Rigorously, Erika reminds Medusa who rolls her eyes.
"They may be related but they are not bound by blood." Firmly, Medusa points out to the two.
"As if that ever mattered to you. Give me a break. Go peddle somewhere else. I don-" Nevertheless, Erika continues until she gasps when a hand dives into her mouth swiftly silencing her as she gapes at Medusa unfazed by her manicured hand in her mouth.
"A frog and a mouse. I'd gladly show you the meaning of punishment. But I'm busy now." Smirking, Medusa removes her hand from her lips, turning her back to the two and leaving.
"Ge…gekoo…" Meekly, Erika falls flat to her knees, where she comes crashing down to the ground shaken alongside Mizune.
"Well then joma homa dabarasa the school nurse cannot be late for school." Smirking, Medusa declares amusement laced in her tone, oblivious to the black blur swooping down once more, her ears perking up at yet another swift cry.
"You again…!" Mifune sneers drawing out his blade attempting to slash at the bird only for his eyes to widen when his blade clashes against the birds, seeing sparks spew out from the close call as he gapes at the bird approaching the group.
"Crona here." The bird drops down the sweet nestled into its claws making Crona gasp at the sweet in their open palm.
"T-Thank you but I don't know how to deal worth it." Worriedly, Crona argues staring down at the wrapper.
"Just eat it Krona." Roaring, Ragnarok barks at Crona.
"O-Okay…" Shyly, Crona nods their head complying to Ragnarok's wishes and eating the sweet as they leave, ignoring the low mad murmurs of both the frog and mouse witches.
"Snake…you…" Seething, Erika sneers at the fleeting figures.
"Chi…chi…" Mizune approaches the frog's side equally as shaken.
"I hope we'll see each other again Mousy." Mischievously, the bird winks at Mizune who seethes glaring daggers at the fleeting figure.
"Chi chi…" Cussing, Mizune sneers scowling at the group who depart having no idea what will come…
Loudly, the baby boy's wails echo throughout the room, the stench of iron lingers in the air as the baby wails, in the grasp of the healer. Her gold glower down at her fidgeting fingertips curling in on her palms, feeling her nails scrape against her inner palm as she sighs shakily, the woman residing in the bed basking in the afterglow of childbirth, the pain, the shock, the confusion filtering in. She stares at the open air, her hollow hues gazing out at nothing, trying to let the emotions progress within her, the roller coaster thrashing, swaying, swinging from side to side that is until…
The woman jolts up at the whimpering wail of a baby boy once more. She glances over at the nurse pleading to the child to stop, rocking the baby boy consoling the baby boy but its futile, nothing seems to work to cease the child's cries. Exhaustion etches into her facial features as she leans against the plump pillows behind her, turning towards the healer, looking down at her, pleading, begging, beseeching her to take the child, nothing seemingly to be working to cease the child's cries, the child's whimpers, the child's wails making Ava wince when hearing her little boy's heart wrenching cry.
A look of apprehension, of fear, of uncertainty crosses her facial features but before the woman could dispute, could argue, could refuse. The handmaiden places the boy in her arms making her gasp. Clumsily, she catches the baby bundle in her grasp, fear flowing through her veins, not quite sure what to do as she looks from side to side, hoping to find some source of aid but she finds none.
Stunned, she raises a brow when she stares down at the boy in her arms. Her pale features shimmer, shining from the candles, her hues hollow, her darkened dazed yellow brightening up at the sheer sight of her baby boy nestled in her arms. Surprised, the others jolt up when the baby boy' boisterous wails cease, turning to small little cooes as his raw reds meet her hues of yellow.
Shyly, the frail hand reaches out cooing startling the anxious Ava glancing from side to side still finding no luck of support. Surprised, she feels her worries melt away when the teeny tiny hand reaches out to her as she gingerly offers her forefinger to the boy before her, her eyes expanding, her gold gleam when his hand grabs hold of her finger, barely grabbing the whole finger but the contact is made. She feels her glassy gold soften at the bundle in her hands. That is until she perks up at the presence lingering in the room, making her frown. Slowly, her gold glued to the boy reluctantly turn to the presence at the doorway, looking uncertain, at a distance from the mother and son before them, trying to almost as she sighs, a look of exasperation, impatience and irritation upon her facial features as she tries to be patient.
Words are shared but her gold remain firmly on the baby boy in her hands, her grip tightening around him as he slowly but surely makes his way inside, reluctantly. She sighs, a soft smile upon her lips when seeing his hesitation, his awkwardness as she offers the bundle of fabrics to him. But just as his coal claw reaches out to the boy, they both flinch back from the monstrous scared screech erupting from the baby boy, tears freely falling, his lungs almost sounding ready to burst alarming the young mother. Gently, she shushes him, cradling, rocking her baby boy trying to cease the screams that alert the staff unaware of death slowly stepping back, his features firm, his skeletal stone mask marred with stoicism. He leaves the baby bundle swiftly stopping its crying, returning to the loving warmth of his mother's embrace.
Startled, Ava jolts up out of her bed, a sudden spurt of some sort crawling, climbing up her throat. She lunges over to the bedroom's bathroom, throwing herself onto the toilet, placing her palms flat against the ice cool plate, spewing out splatters of coal black out of her mouth. She soon feels the energy in her knees buckle as she comes crashing down to her knees, cradling her shaken shuddering form spewing out her insides. She groans unaware of the groggy figure approaching from behind her until feeling a familiar claw on her shoulder. She feels her muscles relax as he silently reaches out to her. Solemnly, she nods as she raises her wrist, where he gently takes the hairband off her wrist, using it to tie her hair, helping her through this.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to wake you." Groaning, Ava croaks out hoarsely, wincing at the sharp sting sensation of her throat. She places her cheek flat on the toilet seat while Death gently rubs patterns into her back consoling her through this, an eerie sense of deva ju crawling upon them both.
"Are you alright?" Attentively, he questions her concern clear in his husky tone.
"I'm fine. Just a small nightmare." Coughing, she winces as she tries to stand but struggles so Death helps her up, rubbing her back as he then guides her back to bed.
"Doesn't seem to be just a nightmare. Perhaps we should contact the nurse?" He offers as he crouches down, taking out a familiar bowl from underneath the bed making her nod numbly grateful for the aid.
"I appreciate the offer but I'm fine. Besides its way to late for that we shouldn't wake the nurse up like that." Calmly, she reminds him chuckling hoarsely when he places the back of his claw hand on her temple.
"I'll do it. You're my wife Ava I hate seeing you hurt." Happily, he offers earnestly making her smile softly appreciating his kindness.
"I'm fine. I promise." Tentatively, she places her hand over his claw, removing it from her temple, softly smiling at him as he sighs.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Hopeful, he asks making her sigh slumping her shoulders.
"Um…well…it was just an old war story you know how it is." Lazily, she dismisses only making him further furrow his brow.
"Ava…" Death sighs sadly.
"I'm fine. I promise now come on let's go back to bed." Gently, she tells him making him sigh knowing well how this will go.
"…Okay." Death complies, shuffling inside re-joining his wife to bed, his arms coiled around her from as she holds the bowl close to her chest, where they return to the deep dark slumbers of their dreams…
Hungrily, the flickering flames blaze brightly almost acting like a beacon as the two children stand on either side of the woman, her grip tightening around both smaller hands staring at the fiery flames, hearing the cheers, the cries of rejoicing, the celebration echoes throughout the village. The young girl's gold stare at the sooty snow descending down from the dark clouds of above, her nose twitching at the stench of pork, of iron as she feels her sore stinging feet ache from the run prior, her ears ringing from the screaming, shouting, roaring.
Her golds widen when feeling strange dampness, she looks to her side seeing the red river descending down, coiling around her mother's bare arm. She looks up, her yellows widening when seeing the tears freely flow from her mother's glassy gold, seeing the black eye, the bruises littered all over her battered, beaten, bloodied form, from the cracked nose to the small slits marring her snow pale frail features. She feels her mother's crimson crescents dig deep into her palm but doesn't say a word, keeping her head down, her gold darting down to the floor below her, ignoring her brother's bombarding questions at them.
"Let's go." The woman's grip tightens around the two children before her seeing a small mob make their way over, scaring the children, alarmed at the sight of pitchforks and flaming torches.
"Wait…what about dad? Where were those people taking him?" Frightened, the boy argues tugging at his mother's hand trying to stop him as they try to flee.
"Enough! We are leaving do I make myself clear?!" Coldly, she snaps at the boy below her making him whimper.
"Mum that hurts…it hurts." Wailing, he cries but it falls to deaf ears as his sister bows her head, keeping her lips shut the only thing she's focusing on is running, running for her life, something that would be as natural as breathing to the girl before she even knew it.
"Kid come on we're going to be late!" Groaning, Ava's eyelids slowly open as she winces when hearing Liz's loud voice echoing throughout the manor making her grimace at the sharp stab resonating in her temple. Gingerly, she stands up slightly shuffling, placing her hand on her temple, trying to deal with it.
"Yeah come on!" Patty adds in as Ava slowly shuffles out of her bed, wearing some loose silk satin trousers and shirt, wanting to know what's going on.
"I just need a few milometers and…" Concentrating, Kid's eyes narrow crouched down to be level with the kitchen counter as he has a jug, pouring some substance into it, his yellows narrowing at the label of the jug.
"Kid…what are you doing?" Perplexed, Patty quirks her head to the side when seeing Kid focus on the task at hand.
"What does it look like? My mother's ill I have to help her! Now I'm sure a millimeter away from…" Focused, Kid trails off, his brow furrowed.
"Maybe just leaving her to rest would be best." Gently, Liz offers sighing.
"Yeah it's just a bug Kid." Patty throws in.
"Nonsense she's my mother! Perhaps I should stay…keep an eye on her." Anxiously, Kid furrows his brow at the thought.
"Kid you know your mother wouldn't want that. Plus you promised Maka." Liz reminds Kid.
"But…" Feebly, Kid begins worry laced in his tone.
"But nothing. You're going." Surprised, the trio jolt up at the voice, turning to see the frowning Ava.
"M-Mother|! You should be in bed! Are you hungry? I made some soup for you as well so that should…" Anxiously, Kid begins ranting, babbling making Ava sigh at her son, glancing over at both Liz and Patty smile sympathetically at her.
"Sorry lady Death we tried to keep it down." Apologetic, Liz smiles.
"Sorry!" Patty winks making Ava sigh.
"It's fine. Kid don't you look all dapper!" Ava smiles softly leaning down to pinch her son's cheek.
"M-Mother!" Embarrassed, Kid whines only making Ava chuckle letting her son's cheek go.
"Sooo…what's going on?" Curious, Ava asks her son sighing when he returns to focusing on the jug.
"Mother father told me you were ill I had thought…I just need NOO!" Kid wails perplexing her as tears come crashing down and he goes into one of his…rants.
"I'm dirty, I'm horrible, I don't deserve to live…" Sighing, Ava closes her eyes slowly approaching her child, kneeling down.
"Kid?" Concerned, Ava places her hands on his back as both Liz and Patty sigh, pitying the mother who has dealt with this for years whether sick or not.
"I exceeded the amount. I'm sorry mother!" Miserably, he wails, the tears freely flowing as he clings to her side while she holds him, sweat dropping at the dramatic nature of her baby boy, consoling him.
"The amount for what?" Gently, she questions once he sniffles, trying to regain his breath from crying so much.
"Your medicine!" He answers making her sigh.
"Oh for the…Kid it's fine." Firmly, she promises him helping him up, using the roll on the kitchen counter to wipe the tear and such aside instructing him to blow which he complies as she then tosses it in the bin.
"How can this be fine!? You shouldn't be standing you should be in bed." He insists making her smile softly.
"Look I'll be fine you need to calm down." Tenderly, Ava promises placing her hand on his shoulder.
"But…" Meekly, Kid bows his head.
"Yeah come on kid Maka's waiting!" Liz smiles.
"You guys going somewhere?" Curious, Ava asks them.
"Yeah, Maka invited s over for dinner." Liz tells Ava.
"We're celebrating Blackstar's first soul!" Perkily, Patty giggles.
"That sounds great!" Happily, Ava smiles at the thought.
"But…what about you?" Concerned, Kid furrows his brow making her sigh slumping her shoulders.
"You're just like your father, a worrywart. I'm fine." Confidently, she promises him a small smile of endearment upon her facial features fussing over her like father-like son.
"Are you sure?" Sniffling, he whispers.
"I am. I promise you now go out there and have fun okay?" Tentatively, she smiles at him.
"…Is there anything you want while I'm out?" Shyly, he asks her making her sigh.
"I want you to have fun. Liz, Patty I leave Kid to you." Sternly, she tells him before turning to the girls.
"As always then." Liz places her hand on her hip.
"We won't let you down!" Patty salutes Ava making her smile.
"Great. Now have fun you hear me?" Smirking, Ava tells him.
"I will…" Kid sighs giving in.
"That's my boy!" Happily, Ava grins patting his back pushing him forward for the girls to take him and drag him out the house. She sweat drops when his voice echoes throughout the house, telling her what to do, what to look out for, the normal neurotic behaviour of her beloved baby boy, making her heart swell with pride at the kind child she helped create.
"I ate so much whatever they were!" Proudly, Blackstar bellows, beaming brightly at his win patting his stomach leaning back in his seat after Maka's meal.
"Hey!" Maka scowls offended by his words.
"They were great Maka!" Tsubaki compliments Maka.
"Thanks so much." Liz nods her head n agreement.
"Hahah!" Patty laughs at the bloated Blackstar.
"It's a nice place and clean too." Impressed, Kid confesses admiring the apartment.
"She goes ballistic if I make a mess." Soul grumbles irritated, leaning back in his seat.
"I see…" Kid nods his head trailing off his brow furrowed.
"Kid you got to relax, your mother's tough." Liz sighs noting the kid's tense demeanour.
"Yeah kid she'll be your fine." Patty smiles at her.
"Is everything alright?" Concerned, Maka questions furrowing her brow at the trio.
"Ava is just ill, a stomach bug that's all." Lazily, Liz sighs waving it off.
"Ill? I didn't think she was the sort to get ill." Surprised, Tsubaki notes.
"We should go see her check how she is." Blackstar bellows.
"She wouldn't want that." Tensely, Kid scowls at the thought.
"Now that I think about it, you and your ma seem quite close." Soul hums out loud.
"She's my mother what do you expect?" Kid argues shrugging his shoulders.
"Come on Kid Ava is super strong she's the wife of lord death after all!" Optimistically, Tsubaki offers a small smile.
"Blackstar's right you should have seen her when she was fighting that guy!" Grinning, Blackstar smirks.
"Fighting? She was fighting someone!?" Stunned, Kid gasps alarmed at the news alongside the others.
"Blackstar you weren't meant to tell!" Tsubaki hisses at him.
"Yes, oh! I wasn't meant to tell anyone!" Sheepish, Blackstar places his hand over his mouth.
"Did he do anything to her? Hurt her? Cut her?" Panicked, Kid demands from Blackstar grabbing him by his shoulders after storming over to him.
"Kid, calm down." Liz sighs.
"Apologies…" Kid sighs deflated, slowly making his way back to his seat, slumping.
"Geez Kid you really are hung over on this. Don't sweat over the small stuff. She's strong you know?" Surprised, Soul notes.
"It still doesn't mean I don't worry." Irritated, Kid snaps crossing his arms over his chest making Maka and Liz sigh.
"Lay off Blackstar, Kid just cares for his mother nothing wrong with that. But Kid why are you so anxious about this? Everyone gets a stomach bug surely you do?" Maka points out confusion laced in her tone.
"Of course. It's just…I'm a Shinigami just like father is." Sighing, Kid bows his head.
"So?" Blackstar probes.
"So…My mother is human. When she gave birth to me it wasn't a clean delivery, I grew up with her being sick a lot. I didn't understand at the time, father didn't tell me either but as I grew up I learned what had happened." Pained, Kid confesses to the group as Liz's eyes soften sadly at Kid alongside Patty, when the two had learned this tale they couldn't believe it, when they first met Ava, they even attacked her and she took them both out with a simple snap to think she was practically on her deathbed…
"Kid you don't have to…" Gently, Liz begins knowing how sensitive of a topic this is for the neurotic boy.
"What happened?" Maka probes regardless as Kid sighs.
"It seems appropriate. Apologies if what I say disturbs you but…My delivery had nearly killed my mother." Kid tells the group whose eyes expand at the news.
"What?" Soul whispers alongside the others.
"Apparently there was a lot of blood, a lot of stress to the body but she pulled through, she made it. She nearly died trying to make sure I made it." Pained, Kid has his hands clamped around each other, trying to cease the tremors coursing through his fidgeting fingertips.
"That's…" Tsubaki whispers.
"Kid I'm sorry." Maka bows her head pained at the news.
"As you are all more likely acquainted, I am not the most…social of people." Politely, Kid sighs.
"You're not that bad…" Optimistically, Tsubaki offers.
"There are still improvements I can make to myself." Kid bows his head at the truth of the matter.
"As everyone has." Maka smiles.
"Due to my mother's sickly state as a child, it was rare of me to leave death city." Kid informs the group, his father and mother were protective over him as a child, they didn't like the thought of him leaving and he himself didn't like the thought of leaving his mother. He had faint memories of himself in his mother's arms, hugging her as she read to him, remembering distantly, the stench of iron in her breath as she would tell him stories smiling despite her crimson chompers.
"Kid what are you reading?" Surprised, the young Kid perks up at the voice as he sits on his mother's bed, reading a book before slamming it shut.
"N-Nothing." Meekly, Kid whispers, he didn't want to tell her even if he did want to see the sea. He had heard about it but…he wanted to smell the sea air, make sandcastles, look at the shells…
"Come on let's see…hm? A beach…you want to go there." Ava perks up the book opening it and seeing the pictures.
"N-No…" Shyly, Kid whispers bowing his head, he wanted to go but with his mother bedridden ad his father's state, he knew he couldn't go he just…
"Tell you what I'll take you there for your birthday how about it?" Happily, she offers taking the boy aback as his stunned gold look up into her own.
"B-But…" Kid whispers trailing off frightened at the thought of her going out there, no one to help her in case of a fall or…or…
"But nothing. It's a promise okay." Proudly, she promises him beaming brightly as she brings him into her lap.
"R-Really?" Hopeful, he smiles at the thought.
"I promise." Gently, she pops his nose with her forefinger, making the young Kid giggle.
"She's sacrificed so much for me and I just…" Pained, Kid bows his head at the memory, she tried, she tried so hard in hiding her pain from him, she smiled despite what his birth has cursed her to do…
"You're scared of losing her…" Gently, Tsubaki whispers her eyes softening sadly at Kid just as the footsteps echo making the others turn to…
"Howdy, I heard someone was a bit glum so I thought I come see how things are!" Purring, Blair smiles scantly before the boys wearing a bathroom towel.
"WH-Wha I-I'm perfectly fine t-t-thank you!" Stuttering, Kid stammers ruby red, gaping at the girl before him.
"Are you sure you're enjoying the party? How about you come have a nice bath with me that'll cheer you up!" Seductively, she wraps her arms around Kid.
"N-N-No thank you!" Kid flails.
"Awww okay then." Blair pouts disappointed removing herself from him and leaving.
"Is she always like that?" Stunned, Kid questions Soul still reeling from it only to see the bloodied Soul, ruby red gushing out of his nostrils as he leis slumped defeated on his sofa.
"You…somebody save me from that sultry cat…" Weakly, Soul begs to the high heavens only for it to fall to deaf ears as next thing the kids knew, Maka had shot out of her seat, proclaiming a witch to be nearby as she ran out, looking for the supposed witch.
"You summoned us Lord Death?" Surprised, Spirit remarks as he and Stein stand before Death hus back turned to them as he looks into his mirror, the reflection showing a sleeping slumbering Ava, curling in on herself making his eyes soften sadly at the sight.
"Yes." Death snaps out of his thoughts turning to Spirit and Stein.
"What's going on? Is it news on the demon sword?" Spirit questions curious.
Silently, Death bows his head, a pregnant pause filters in the air confusing both Spirit and Stein.
"It's about Ava." Lord Death reveals to the two.
"Huh? What's going on with Ava?" Concerned, Spirit steps forward, hands shoved into his pockets.
"Last night Ava vomited." Lord Death reveals.
"So what? A stomach bug? My Maka used to have them all the time!" Lazily, Spirit dismisses waving his hand from side to side unaware of the small tick mark.
"Lord Death lady Ava is still human, she is prone to having a bug now and again." Stein steps forward, furrowing his brow as he too slides his hands into his lab jacket, equally as lost.
"That isn't what I mean." Tiredly, lord Death sighs exasperated.
"Lord Death you old dog didn't think you'd still have it in you!" Smirking, Spirit lightly elbows Lord Death's scythe oblivious to the ruby red tick marks twitching on his skull, his gloved hand twitching, ready for the reaper chop which he so swiftly delivers.
"This is serious." Death deadpans scowling down at the bloodied bruised redhead on the floor, lying in a pool of crimson as a ghostly skeletal mask emits from his defeated deflated form.
"So you think something similar to what is happening to Soul is happening to Lady Ava." Stein gathers, furrowing his brow as he steps forward frowning.
"It's what I believe." Death nods his head in understanding.
"And are you sure its black blood?" Sternly, Stein furrows his brow.
"It wasn't blood I can promise you that." Death sighs sadly.
"You want me to do tests on her? Heh, never thought I'd live the day I'd get to dissect on lady Ava." Amused, Stein smirks at the thought, a glint gleaming in his eyes making Death frown at him.
"You are not going to do that." Sternly, Death dictates.
"Really? Don't you want to find the answers?" Stein argues.
"What I want is my wife to be alive and well. What I need you to do is keep an eye on her." Death informs the two.
"Can't you just ask her yourself?" Spirit scowls, furrowing his brow.
"You'd think that but when the two people have lived longer than most and have been together for so long, secrets are natural." Honestly, Death confesses to Spirit.
"But that isn't healthy." Spirit frowns.
"This coming from the cheater." Stein smirks as Spirit gasps at the imaginary arrow impaled into his side.
"That's…" Spirit begins scowling.
"There's nothing wrong with privacy." Death shrugs.
"I agree completely." Smugly, Spirit places his hand on his hips, a glint gleaming in his beady blue.
"There's a difference between privacy and dishonesty Spirit." Death tells Spirit.
"E-Eh!?" Spirit whimpers weakly as another imaginary arrow impales into his side.
"What she's doing is to not make me worried which I appreciate however she is still my wife and I want to help her as best as I can. But I'll need your help." Death explains to the two.
"But you won't talk to her?" Spirit furrows his brow.
"Talking to her about such matters is like talking in circles, she'll lie or try to change topic. The best thing I can do is have you two keep tabs on her." Death informs the two before dismissing them as the two then leave, heading out of the death room.
"I still don't think this is right." Honestly, Spirit confesses to Stein as they leave the room.
"It's lord Death's order." Sternly, Stein tells him.
"And Ava is our friend." Spirit argues, not liking this idea not one bit.
"Who we are concerned about. If Lord death is true and he most likely is, Ava could very well be cursed with black blood or for all we know a different curse entirely." Stein adjusts his glasses.
"You do have a point there, guess we'll have to be careful for now on." Spirit sighs slumping his shoulders.
"Seems so." Stein agree as he nods his head in agreement, the two heading off to their own devices.
"Hey you…" Softly, Ava smiles groggily up at Death looming over her beside, looking concerned for his sleepy wife.
"How are you feeling?" Gently, he leans down, placing his hand on her temple brushing aside some strands from her temple.
"Just tired. Kid went out to hang out with his friends." Proudly, she smiles making Death smiles softly down at her, even when ill, she's still concerned for Kid, she's a mother through and through.
"Great…" Death nods his head.
"I know right it's good to see him going out you know?" Drearily, Ava stretches slightly.
"Is there anything you'd like? Anything you want?" Concerned, Death asks her making her smile softly.
"Death I told you I'm fine…" Sighing, Ava leans back resting against the plush pillow of her bed.
"That doesn't mean I don't worry." Death sighs at his wife.
"I know." She smiles softly at him.
"I got you this." Happily, Death reveals a bouquet making her beam brightly at the sight, he passes it over to her allowing her to take a small siff, smiling down at the Chrysanthemum, Gladiolus and Roses. Sadly, she smiles down at the petite petals, a sad smile upon her lips, many memories threatening to resurface at the memory of the two conversing over flowers, over her envy of them to bloom beautiful but then to wither away so weakly, so feebly, so silently, to be forgotten throughout time. Death fetches a vase, when he returns she passes him the flowers to put in the vase.
"You're sweet." Softly, she smiles up at her husband, placing her hand on the cheek of his skeletal mask. He leans into her plush palm, she sighs sadly when seeing the genuine concern in his mask as she closes her eyes, not having a clue what to say, wanting to say so much but…she feels his mask touch her temple, both their temples meeting, no words needing to be shed as they simply enjoy one another's company though this time.
"Medusa!" Scowling, a familiar pair of witches appear from the dark depths of the alleyway armed and ready to attack, having outnumbered the witch standing in the middle of them both, remaining calm, composed and most of all in control.
"Hm?" Humming, Medusa arches a brow bemused by their effort.
"Hold it right there." Eruka orders her.
"Oh…such a nice surprise." Smirking, Medusa chuckles entertained by the two.
"I guess you'd already know still do you want to know why I am here?" Eruka questions her.
"Yes please." Medusa confirms.
"I am here to kill you ribbit…" Ravenously, Eruka declares tadpoles elevating in her open palm.
"Why? We are allies." Medusa reminds her.
"I don't care what you want in Shibusen it endangers us. We just want to do our things with magic, under the nose of Shinigami. And allies? Please anyone in cahoots with that crow is nothing more than the enemy!" Eruka sneers disgust laced in her poisonous tone.
"Is that the reason? I have one piece of advice for you. It's not safe walking around with your own costume, even if you use soul protection, there are many young technicians around here you know." Unfazed, Medusa advises the two despite her own situation.
"Don't worry unlike you I can transform…in a worst-case scenario." Smugly, Eruka reveals.
"I see you mean that you can defeat me with something like that." Medusa catches on.
"I know that I can't win in an ordinary battle. You don't want to blow your undercover mission, do you? You can't use magic let alone remove your soul protection. As long as you keep the soul protected it's the same as us attacking an ordinary human. If you lift the protection to fight back, we'd run with transformation magic. Technicians will know what you are and they'll hunt you down. Either way, we win." Proudly, Eruka elaborates her plan for Medusa.
"Not only would I be killed but also be forced to listen to your lousy jokes how horrible." Tutting, Medusa shakes her head playfully before her yellows dart up, perking up at the faint flutter of feathers.
"This is the real gekokujou usurpation by lower level. A frog and mouse defeat a snake! Farewell Medusa!" Merrily, Eruka smirks at Medusa unaware of her sly sadistic smirk when looking up at the boy.
"Chi chi!" Eagerly, Mizune throws in equally as oblivious.
"I wanted to see you cry and beg too bad we don't have much time…" Honestly, Eruka confesses ready to use her tadpoles.
"Fools you intend to win? You may need real punishment…" Poisonously, Medusa sneers as she then cranes her neck up to the high heavens alarming Erika when hearing the crisp crunch of a broken neck as her ears perk up at the clear sharp sound of a whistle confusing them both.
"What are you…Mizune!" Horrified, Eruka cries out as the brief blur that comes crashing down where the bird changes revealing a garb or cape made of coal black feathers draped over Ingram's hunched form. He stretches his arm out, a claw made of purplish black sand spewing out behind him.
"For your information I'm a raven. Not a crow. Bit of a difference." Dangerously, Ingram sneers as the claw grabs hold of Mizune who thrashes whimpering, screaming to the high heavens as the claw slowly lowers itself towards Ingram, who licks his lips hungrily at the sight of the pink girl.
"Does it matter?" Eruka snaps trying to regain her cool.
"How'd you feel if I called you a toad?" He proposes.
"You'd…" Seething, she scowls at him only to release a scream when his jaw breaks almost as he slams his deranged daggers down into Mizune's, mauling her alive horrifying Eruka who screams, falling flat on her back. He dives his feral fangs into her, blood spews staining his feral fangs and mouth but he simply smears it to the side with his tongue.
"See where being respectful gets you. A witch's soul…delicious." Deranged, Ingram grins from ear to ear.
"You're…sick…" Shaking, Eruka whimpers her voice breaking cracking as he grabs the purple soul scooping it into his mouth, crunching down on it before swiftly swallowing.
"Hey it's the circle of life still I expected more…humans have a much more sweeter taste than you lot. People go on about you witches have a great taste but it's still no good…" Tutting, Ingram slumps his shoulders disappointed almost as she gapes at the creature before her.
"No good as research subjects either…" Medusa adds in alarming Erika as she glances over at Ingram who happily removes her lab coat revealing…
"Are you going to lift the protection? Wait what did you do with the snake tattoo on your shoulder!?" Scared, Eruka demands from her.
"I wonder…" Smirking, Medusa and Ingram share a sadistic smirk.
"AHH!" Eruka cries out as she falls flat on her back, screaming, shouting, wailing when feeling the insides squirm, feeling tears prick her hues petrified.
"You…planted…at that time." Shakily, she heaves after Medusa manages to calm her slithering snakes watching the girl heave trying to collect herself, now understanding the situation at hand.
"I have a thousand snakes in my body, it is nothing to spare a couple. Why? Wait isn't it magic too? How did you manage to control without lifting your soul protection?" Perplexed, Eruka questions.
"Well they are automatic very simple magical creatures…aren't they beautiful? I just have to give them a single sign. They are not like pigeons or rabbits but handy. Now I wonder where do you think those snakes are right now in that body, slithering within about inside?" Sneering, Medusa ponders out loud.
"RIBBIT!" Eruka whimpers who then swiftly disappears just as Ingram perks up at the sound of approaching footsteps, both Ingram and Medusa share a look as he switches back into his bird form, flying high into the sky.
"Ms Medusa…" Maka gasps at the sight of the blonde her lab coat back on.
"I felt the presence of two witches around here." Easily, Medusa lies.
"Yes, I felt them and came just now." Stein adds.
"I wonder if it could be the witch who attacked Soul." Maka wonders out loud.
"Could have been her." Medusa offers shrugging her shoulders.
"No it's not possible. She was with a technician and a dark blade not to mention the raven she had with her. If it were her, she wouldn't have lifted her protection in the middle of death city. She surely is interesting in technicians and weapons. She would be watching discreetly if she was here, I mean. Anyway it's great that you are safe. We can't get through even a single say without a school nurse." Smirking, Stein explains.
"Hahaha you're right." Amused, Medusa chuckles behind her hand.
"It must have just been a warning to Shibusen you know like a delinquent's act." Stein compares.
"But what if they come back?" Maka exclaims.
"Maka! Are you okay!? Don't go out flying alone it's reckless!" Concerned, Soul rushes to the scene.
"Soul!" Maka's eyes expand at the sight of him.
"What?" Soul furrows his brow at her as a flame flickers in Maka's eyes determined as she turns to Stein.
"Dr Stein I found a way to make my soul stronger!" Maka demands from her teacher smirking smugly, proud at her initiative.
"Good then come down to my office with soul tomorrow…" Proudly, Stein smirks down at Maka eager to continue their training.
"It should be enough now…that witch I'll show you someday ribbit…" Resolute, Eruka curses deluding herself into thinking she had escaped unaware of the flying figure of black soaring through the night sky following like her a predator chasing after its prey.
"That day will come soon froggy." Smirking, the bird reveals itself swooping down teasingly touching the frogs head making it cry out petrified causing it to stop in its tracks.
"Y-You how did? Ribbitt!" Shocked, the frog freaks out taken aback by the sight of the blackbird, who perches itself on a cactus nearby, beginning to look over its plumage.
"Oh it feels rather nice actually…" Frightened, the frog cries out at the bare foot that comes crashing down on the frog.
"You…" Seething, the frog whimpers Eruka glares daggers at Medusa towering over her.
"I have a favour to ask you." Smoothly, Medusa reveals slime sliding down her foot from the frog below as she then tosses a key to the ground.
"A key? Wait how did you find me anyway?" Astonished, Eruka questions the woman with a familiar bird perched upon her shoulder.
"You think I'd let my prey loose? After having such a meal?" Maliciously, Ingram sneers at the frog flinching from its hungry look.
"Not to mention you have my baby inside. No use running from me. I need you to free a man. You know of whom I speak. If I say he's a convict the thirteen in witch jail." Smoothly, Medusa reveals as she gets out from her pocket, a small cracker offering it to the blackbird that snatchers it in one false swoop.
"You mean Devil's eye? He is the one who took the left eye from mabaa sama!" Eruka recalls gasping at the sheer thought of the creature that had done the unthinkable.
"We know." Bored, Ingram huffs after swiftly finishing the cracker to look over its plumages.
"If you wish I could kill you right here, Ingram here is rather hungry for one more I'm sure." Smirking, Medusa offers gesturing to said black bird perched upon her shoulder.
"No one says no to seconds…" Sneering, Ingram eagerly agrees, a familiar tongue poking out of its feral fanged beak brushing against the outside shell of its beak making Eruka shiver, shuddering at the sight of the demonic bird before her.
"Ribbi I understand." Meekly, Eruka bows her head understanding the situation and the corner she has found herself in.
"I mean if I did I'll be banned or killed. I want to do some experiments using that guy. My study for soul eater." Calmly, Medusa explains the situation to Eruka.
"Wha…what such a reason…you're insane." Enraged, Eruka seethes scowling at the smirking Medusa almost amused by her poor attempt of rebelling despite knowing the dire situation she herself had found herself trapped in.
"I don't like it. Transform back to a frog." Disappointed, Medusa huffs a hand on her hip as she once again slams her bare foot on the whimpering frog wanting it all to be over.
"Uh yes…" Obediently, Eruka complies too frightened to say no to the Gorgon sister.
"Ingram make sure Eruka follows through with the plan if something comes up." Medusa orders said bird watching the fleeting figure of said frog hop off, just as Medusa' yellows narrow once said frog is at a distance.
"Of course I'd be happy to." Ingram complies eager to watch it all paly out.
"Good." Medusa nods her head in approval watching on as the bird takes flight following the frog towards a familiar prison…
"Good work froggy." Startled, said frog gasps at the male turning to see a familiar black bird residing upon the hat of the sleeping guard, its chalice casted to the floor as the substance spills out, slithering down into the thin cracks of the stone floor.
"I have a name!" Irritated, Eruka snaps at said bird pickpocketing the guard.
"I'm sure rise and shine cutie!" Bored, the bird calls out as Eruka notes the bird's eyes flashing, lighting up at the gold on the guard.
"Whos' there?" The wolf bellows bored.
"Your guardian angel." Snickering, the blackbird hollers.
"As if you're an agnel…" Erika sneer poison laced in her tone making Ingram roll his eyes.
"Shut it frog. You're no fun today." The blackbird pouts.
"What do you two want?" The wolf scowls as they note the bound creature.
"A favour for a favour, we free you, you help us." Erika reveals, revealing said key which swiftly opens the cell.
"Ha! Who do you think I am? Do you think I'd need your help?" Haughtily, he proclaims pride laced in his tone.
"Maybe, maybe not come on sitting there doing nothing is boring don't you want to have some fun?" Mischievously, Ingram offers.
"What sort of fun?" The wolf queries a childlike curiosity to his tone.
"Follow me and find out." Ingram smirks.
"Fine by me." The male stands and leaves his cell as they head out, leaving the prison.
"I appreciate the aid." The taller buffer male calls out to the bird and frog.
"You're welcome." Ingram responds.
"It was not too hard for me to run from those witches but I willingly went to jail guess why." Smugly, the male begins making the bird roll his eyes.
"Well I doubt its for the food…" Snippily, Ingram mutters under his breath.
"I was fascinated by such a patient act I really wanted to try you know! You know like a movie I wanted to dig a hole through thr wall with a spoon every day little by little…but they serve food with chopsticks all the time! What bad luck I thought about other ways but you see I had no idea." Unitedly, the male declares making Ingram sweat drop at the moron.
"Its too late now. But you have tried peeing on the bars to make them melt eventually." Eruka offers.
"God damn shit I never thought about that!" Taken aback, both bird and frog flinch from the creature slamming his head into a nearby tree scolding itself.
"…Right." The bird mutters not quite sure what to make of the guy.
"For Death's sake. Quick they'll find us! It'll be all over if they find you with cuffs!" Panicked, the frog notes its chain and ball, wanting to make a fast escape but…
"Seems we have company…" Amused, Ingram points out smirking smugly at the guards crowding around the trio, swarming them, easily out numbering them, armed and ready for the battle to begin…
"Be careful there is someone near…" The wolfman warns both bird and frog sharing a look, scowling at the bound blinded wolf with a bandanna of some sort of fabric tied around his eyes blinding him with a ball and chain coiled around his wrist alongside the stock for his hands not helping as the trio find themselves outnumbered and surrounded by the armed guards.
"That's what we just said!" Fuming, the frog form of Eruka hopes up high into the air making the bird sigh shaking his head at the morons below him.
"Number 13 the devil's eye we'll have to hurt you if you resist!" Sternly, one of the soldiers warn him just as another gets out a flamethrower firing flciekring flames at the beast.
"Stop!" One of the guards call out while the other curses at the foolish move.
"You've kept me two hundred years! Do you think I would let you arrest me that easily? I'll surely resist!" Resolute, the wolf dictates seeing the spears or staffs aimed at him.
"Devil's eye wait I'd be killed if I fail to bring you!" Scared, the frog freaks out only to scream out to the high heavens at the black blur swooping down, its claws dig deep into the back of the slimy creature crying out, thrashing, flailing from its grip.
"But you'll make a lovely meal. I've always wanted to try frogs' leg." Optimistically, the bird offers snickering at the genuine fear plastered upon the frog's features.
"NOOO!" Teary, the frog freaks out the tears freely falling making the bird roll its eyes. Ingram drops the frog on one of the guards face making it scream freaking out, firing its gun high into the heaven out of shock, making the bird grumble. The bird flicks its wrist hearing the shift sound of iron and gurgling as the bullets are easily deflected as he watches some bodies come crashing down, ruby red puddles pooling behind the fools stuck in the crossfire, pinned to the ground by a coal black feather impaled into their throats, some spasm but Ingram simply dismisses them continuing on with the task at hand.
"Well, well not to worry because maabaa didn't decide to keep me alive in jail. She just couldn't kill me I'm immortal." Proudly, the wolfman unveils its bandana of sorts revealing its witch ritual looking eye and its normal eye as the staffs strike at him, each one impaling him even one in his mouth, smashing it in half. He swiftly takes care of the guards. Once done, they head off, leaving the bloodied, bruised, bodies and continue on their way to meet Medusa.
"You came…" Amused, Medusa smirks at the trio approaching, Crona stands behind Medusa in the background watching on as she leaps off the cliff she was perched upon.
"I brought him." The frog answers.
"You've made a new friend." Smirking, Medusa looks over the bird perched upon her shoulder, a glint gleaming in her eyes.
"I like to think I brought a new pet for you to play with." Snickering, the bird declares equally as amused.
"How considerate." Coyly, Medusa teases the bird.
"I aim to please…" Dramatically, the bird bows mockingly.
"How do you like my work!" Smirking, the wolfman steps forwards towards the two, hands on his hips.
"Well done." Medusa compliments him.
"Someone came what am I supposed to do Ragnarok?" Meekly, Crona questions his other half.
"Shut up." Roaring, Ragnarok barks at Crona flinching from their other half's words.
"Then remember the promise please take all the snakes out of my body!" Pleadingly, Eruka begs desperate, tears in her glassy eyes gleaming from the eerie moon grinning from ear to ear watching from above.
"All of them? You must be joking. Use your common sense one same per one task." Tutting, Medusa shakes her head at the witch.
"How many snakes do I have?" Eruka questions the witch.
"You don't want to know that if you wish I can remove them all by destroying your body." Medusa answers.
"I do enjoy frog's legs." Hungrily, Ingram leans in, a demonic tongue popping out of tis feral fanged beak making Erika squeal back horrified at the sight remembering the same tongue to have swiped away at Mizune's soul.
"Yes, yes, patience is a virtue Ingram." Gently, Medusa pets the bird by her side.
"That's so awful! You witch! You demon! I hate you both! Ribbit!" Upset, Eruka wabbles, whimpering, grabbing her hat and covering her face refusing to let the two see her tears despite the obvious display.
"So you're the witch that helped me? Is he your familiar?" Curious, the wolfman gestures to Ingram causing them both to erupt in cackles at the assumption.
"Familiar please as if someone like her could make such magnificence." Proudly, the bird proclaims smugly.
"Hi I'm Medusa how nice to see you demon's eye." Medusa introduces herself to the bird.
"Demon's eye that's right. They took everything including my name in that jail." Scowling, the wolfman glares down at the ground.
"You can make a new name for yourself." The bird offers now perched upon the wolf's shoulder.
"I can?" Surprised, he arches a brow at the thought.
"Oh yes it's rather simple, I've done it numerous times." The bird assures the man.
"I see…now that I am free again well call me Free." Firmly, he declares smiling softly.
"I like that. Rolls off the tongue…" The bird nods his head.
"Heh thanks." Free smiles shyly at the bird.
"Okay then Free." Medusa goes along with it.
"I really appreciate your help. Is there anything I can do to help you?" Innocently, he questions unaware of both Medusa and Ingram's smug smirk at the offer.
"Don't mention it! it was my pleasure." Politely, Medusa tries to be nice.
"Please I'd really like to help you too." Free insists as both bird and witch share a look.
"Well then there is something. I need to make a technician and weapon combination disappear isn't that easy for you?" Medusa smiles.
"A technician and weapon combination? Shibusen folks?" Free gathers bowing his head at the thought of the academy.
"That's right they will be in London for their practical training activity tomorrow. How would you feel about seeing them there?" Medusa offers.
"I never liked the standards set by Shinigami I can surely help." Happily, Free agrees.
"That's what we like to hear." Smirking, Ingram declares nodding his head as the wolf furrows his brow at the talking bird but after seeing the frog speaking, he really didn't care all he wanted was to repay his debt…