Soul Eater: Lady Death

by Sully7072

So...what if Death The Kid had a mother? What sort of mother would she be? Read and found out!

21. Not To Me

"You're…" Astonished, Ava's eyes widen when as she finds herself in another room where she finds standing before her waiting a familiar pink haired individual and Ragnarok, the demon weapon.

"The lady from before…" The pink haired stranger smiles uneasily at her, unnerving her.

"You…" Scowling, Ava feels the shift in weight as her fingertips flex around the hilt of her blade.

"You're eyes…they're just like mine." Crona whispers, their eyes gazing into Ava's quivering quaking glassy gold.

"I'm not like you not…anymore." Shakily Ava whispers, her grip tightening around the blade in her grasp as next thing she knew…

Blazing, the flickering flames shimmer, shine throughout the dark depths of the night sky, the glistening gleams of the shimmering stars light up the sky as small scrapes of ash are thrown into the open air. The sound of cheering, screaming and shouting echo throughout the village below where three individuals stand above the village over the cliff. The woman between both winged creatures stands in the middle, her yellows narrowing at the numerous pyres blazing burning brightly like beacons, ripe for the taking. The gold glare down at the hanging stations seeing young children standing before the crowd seeing a few distressed looking people pleading for it to stop only to be held back noting a few keeping a stiff upper lip, fearful of speaking out and being accused for defending the supposed witches before the woman, some she recognises some she did not.

Her gold glance over at the two creatures perched upon her shoulders, silently she nods as both birds soar high into the air one going east, the other west where the bird drops down, descending down to the bustles blazing beacons of the pyre, the woman tied up scream, shout, screech to the high heavens, pleading begging for their aid. But it falls to deaf ears as the smoke spews out from the blazing pyre joining the dark cloud hanging above. The raven stretches their wings out as the bird grows, shifts, releasing a feral screech as it flaps its wings where waves, gusts of wind come crashing down, batting back the smoke down upon the people below and extinguishing the flickering flames of the fires below, where with those gusty gales release small spikes of feathers, metallic feathers spew out of the coal coat of the creatures screeching

"Demon!"

"The witches familiar!"

Some try to throw their pitchforks and weapons at the creature but the creature easily avoids the sloppy strikes, the lone daggers cut through the ropes of the woman who fall flat to the ground gasping surprised when next thing the woman knew, a hole had opened up, swallowing them whole as they scream, falling flat to the dark depths of the ground below where waiting would be a certain someone.

Gold glance to the side where seeing the fleeting figure of the counterpart to the creature the black bird swoops down, flicking its wings releasing small blades swiftly slicing the nooses freeing the children from the hanging station.

The creature ate the children! The armed men roar charging hoping to reclaim the children only for the bird to harden its wings, coiling itself around the children as a small hole forms from within where the pitchforks slash against the silver shell of the bird's coat, sparks spew out from the memory only for the bird to cry out when one of the torches flickering flames brush against the bird, crying out in agony from the pain. But the girl refuses to relent until it dives up high into the sky, a scorch mark upon its back as it flies into the sky.

The creature screeches when noting one of the woman strapped to the pyre is grabbed before she could swiftly escape making the creature curse as it dives down, it pulls its wings back releasing a whirlwind propelling the group back, dispersing the crowd. The talons unfurl themselves from its sandy confines swopping snatching the child from the group, the woman screams as the creature dives through the sky before its fired down at taking the creature aback as it comes crashing down, dropping the woman who screams only to gasp, beaming brightly when looking up at the male before her, a look of relieved recognition in her eyes as she holds him.

"Eibon!" Happily, she smiles at him.

"Are you alright love?" Eibon questions her glaring at the creature shifting, sand swarming around them.

The stench of iron lingers in the air as numerous bodies fall flat to the ground, metallic daggers of feathers dig deep into the civilians, crimson coating them all, ruby red oozing out of their fragile forms, some whimpering, some withering, some wincing when lying on the ground before descending down into the dark depths of the afterlife.

The Creature cries out at the claws digging deep into its coat, hearing the swift crunch as the creature wails, sand spews out of the distressed bird taking the others aback as Death holds the creature down, sand swimming around them all until it disperse into the open air, where the sand unveils Death's claws digging deep into the blackened bruised battered back where small streams of ruby red descend down from the stained fingertips of the claw.

Stunned, Death stares down at the woman before him, taking shaky shuddering breathes, her golden glare into his mask as a stunned silence occurs between the two, no words needing to be shed.

Slowly, Death removes his claws, looking almost remorseful from it as she shakily stands, the sand swarming around her bare form before a feathery coat is draped over her form, making death look up at the feral creature, snarling at Death, swiftly swooping down, taking the woman from him.

The sound of air breaking before the group startle then when the woman draped in the coat of feathers slashes at him, where she darts back, wind spewing out of her fluffy feather coat, her grip tightens around the blade, glaring at the trio gawking, gaping at the blade that has appeared out of nowhere. She slams her blade down, releasing some small chant of soul before releasing a burst of energy at the group consisting of Lord Death, Eibon, holding his wife and the witch. Stunned, the group gape at the alien weapon in her grasp. Death reaches out to the woman who simply stares before he could even speak, before anyone could questions anything she is swiftly snatched from his grasp.

Silently, Death stares at the fleeting feather pinched between his coal claws as he stares down at the fickle feather so soft, so fragile, so beautiful…

Shaking, Ava flees from the boy, the tears threatening to fall from her glassy gold unaware of the sadistic smirk crossing a certain feathered figure watching her continue running, continue fighting, continue the relentless battle ahead of her…

Gold gaze down at the bright blue soul before her in her grasp, her brow furrowed at the sight of the soul only then for her faint strands of coal to perk up at the ice-cold breeze brushing against her. She turns, feeling the head nuzzle into the crook of her neck, feeling the hands on either side of her shoulders. She stares into a similar pair of gold giddily grinning up at her. She offers the soul to the beaming boy, wrapping his arms around the taller one of the two, chirping cheerily, nuzzling into her side. He happily takes the soul, his feral fangs chomping down on the soul. He leans into the plush palm of her palm, smiling up at her almost as if she was petting him.

No. She isn't looking out for him anymore, she isn't protecting him anymore, she isn't going to save him. She has more important things to care for, she refuses to let the past get in the way she can't she won't.

"F-Free?" Scared, Eruka whimpers when looking behind her, her voice cracking, tears threatening to fall as her grip tightening around the briefcase in her hands.

"What?" Free turns to her.

"W-We have a problem!" Eruka exclaims petrified.

"What is it?" Free asks her.

"It's Lady Death!" Scared, she screams pointing towards the approaching Ava, scowling, blade in her grasp.

"W-What oh you got to be kidding me!" Free scowls at her.

"We're going to die! We're going to die!" Eruka cries out terrified.

"Maybe you will but I won't." Free exclaims.

"That doesn't mean she won't tear you to pieces! She isn't normal you know? She's the wife of lord Death she's anything but normal!" Petrified, Eruka screams, her voice cracking only to scream at the sudden slash of energy separating the two. Eruka gasps when she comes crashing down to the ground alongside Free, the two separates but turn to face the angry Ava.

"I can hear you." Calmly, Ava exclaims making Eruka scream.

"You punks have some nerve coming into my home, into my husband's school you have some nerve. Do you even know what you lot are doing down here?" Fuming, Ava demands from the two.

"What's it matter to you?" Free scowls at her holding in the shy shudder coursing down her spine.

"What matters is sparing the janitor from cleaning this mess up. Please you need to stop this, I don't know what situation has brought you to do this but doing this is not the right method if you want to make a point, attacking the school is fine but awakening him is going to kill us all, even an immortal." Ava elaborates.

"And you expect us to believe the word of you? Don't make me laugh!" Free scoffs.

"So you have chosen death." Coldly, Ava draws out her blade, her eyes narrowing ready for the fight ahead.

"Your attention everybody there is a kishin in the academy basement!" Boisterously, Black Death declares to the party.

"What!?" The crowd erupt horrified.

"Heh…that's too short." Sid remarks pained.

"This was before the DWMA. There was a man, his name Asura, he was a human who had an extremely careful soul. Asura covered his head with long scarves and wore 5 or 6 shirts on him. He refuse to believe or trust his heart to anyone, anyone but one, his mother. His mother was a kind person, she had raised the child since he was but a babe and she knew how he could be, so she often she would give him some of her clothes to use for his layering. If he ever had any issues, she was the only one he could confide in, he trusted her with his life. She was the only person he could rely on in his head." Calmly, Death explains, to the class, his voice softening at a brief memory resurfacing…

"What's wrong sweetie?" Softly, the young Ava asks his little boy, wearing a scarf around her neck as he bows his head hiding himself from the world nuzzling into her neck, nestling into her side.

"I'm cold. It's cold mommy." Shaking, he whimpers, his stray ruby red glancing fearfully at Death conversing with the other members of his legion, trying to focus on his work but finding his gaze drifting towards the two.

"The here, maybe this will make you warmer." Ava removes her scarf draping it over his form making his ruby reds widen, nestling himself into the bigger baggier scarf.

"Thank you mama…" Meekly, the little boy whispers, nuzzling deeper into the comforts of the scarf draped over his form, his nose twitching, feeling his body ease at his mother's comforting scent alongside her motherly warmth washing over him…

"Asura was the strongest between the eight powerful warrior Shinigami but he was always terrified with the greatest fear that was possible."

"Where are the remains of the witches of the east?" Coldly, Death questions his legion his wife by his side as they turn to his legion.

"When we arrived Asura has slaughtered all of them." The ponytailed male reports making Ava's gold widen when hearing his report, her eyes darting towards the slumped figure of Asura who remains still silently, slouched on floor, a familiar scarf draped over his older form.

"No matter how hard his mother tried to reach him tried to help him through it, nothing worked. He forgot all discipline and began to take souls that wasn't on the list, he attached himself to power." Death continues to explain to the students, his brow furrowed at the memory, he believed it was not his place to intervene, he had heard though, he heard it all, her pleading for him to listen to her, to him screaming at her saying he needed her, he had no one without her, he'd die without her causing her to come crashing down, caving in. Back then he had deemed her to be weak back then…she was once a feared deity, a goddess of death, of misfortune, a trickster in folklore to see someone so powerful so feared to fold so easily to the wailing whimpering whims of her child…it was something he never understood back then.

"But Asura was a meister how did he eat souls?" Confused, he questions.

"It was the beginning of madness, the birth of the kishin and with that madness he did something I could never forgive him for." Briefly, Lord Death's jovial, chirpy, cheerful voice dips down into a dark husky voice at the memory, genuine fury, rage and bitterness cracking through the glimpses resurfacing her screams, her begging for him to stop, her helpless expression as he loomed over her, grinning from ear to ear, pinning her down, if he hadn't gotten there in time, if he hadn't…

"What did he do lord Death?" Ox's voice breaks through Lord Death's thoughts at the memory that had haunted him to this very day.

"He ate his weapon partner. He was terrified by the soul that was serving him as his partner. Now that I think about it…I don't know if he was really human, I didn't know what lie in the deeper part of his heart…fear." Lord Death concludes his story, a still silence looming in the air at the threat that could be released unto the world if the group don't stop them…if the threat of Asura, of the kishin isn't stopped.

"About time you showed up." Frowning, Free scowls staring at the back of the fluffy feathered coat where he stands tall and proud before the horrified Ava. Her yellows widen when meeting a familiar pair of gold glaring into her own where he swiftly cancels out the soul length, him grinning, her glaring, ready for the fight to begin between both brother and sister.

"You're here!?" Stunned, Ericka squeaks shocked at the sheer sight of the feathers coated male, standing tall before them, stretching his hand out, his fingertips coiling flexing around the hilt of his blade, twirling it about briefly testing its weight as his gold glue onto a pair of glaring gold only making him smirk.

"Seems so." Ingram chuckles.

"What are you doing here?" Free frowns at him.

"Looks like you needed a hand." Amused, Ingram smirks.

"Didn't you like betray lady Medusa or something?" Perplexed, Eruka enquires.

"Yep." Ingram confirms.

"Then why help?" Frazzled, Free demands.

"Because we both have the same goal in mind. Now go do it. You two have one job don't fuck it up." Ingram orders.

"Alright…" Free nods his head turning to Eruka who nods shyly, following after him, the two heading off further into the dark depths of the temple.

"You have been a thorn in my side long enough." Angrily, Ava raises her blade to the high heavens, hearing the heavy rings of sparks spew out of both blades bashing against one another.

"Aw are you mad? Careful sister frowning like that causes wrinkles." Ingram smirks, using his foot, he kicks Ava away who blocks with the blunt side of her blade as he flicks his wrist, releasing a barrage of metal feathers at her.

"Me mad? Now why would I be mad? It's not like you attacked my son." Bitterly, Ava snaps slamming her heel down to the ground, a spark spewing out of her soul barrier sparks spewing out, leaping from one blade to the other causing them to stop and come clattering down to the ground as she then slams her own feathered blades at him.

"Oh that. To be fair I didn't mean to." Lazily, he cranes his body to the side at a unnerved angle, hearing the crisp crunch of bone from a few stray feathers while a few stray feathers impale into his side but he remains standing unfazed.

"What do you mean you didn't mean to?" Ava's eyes narrow as he plucks the blades out, brushing them off.

"I didn't go to that ship just to fight him." Haughtily, Ingram chuckles at the thought rolling his eyes before blocking a few more feathers fired his way using his feather clock deflecting the blows, hitting the harsh clang once more as the blades come crashing down as he then dives down, heading straight at her.

"Then why were you there?" She demands as he reels his blade back releasing a small wave length form the humming blade causing her to dive down then leap skywards into the air, feeding her blade her soul wavelength, feeling the energy be pushed back and forth between both blade and herself as she slams the blade down at him.

"An old mate of my crew owed me a favour." Smoothly, he blocks the blow using the flat of his steel sword, feeling the blades cancel one another out, a wavelength emitting from both blades causing the ruined architect scattered about the place cause cracks to form, some ruins come crashing down debris soon forming from the ground.

"Mother!" Ava perks up at the voice turning to look down at Kid.

"Kid?" Alarmed, Ava turns to him worried.

"If it isn't my little nephew how are you kiddo?" Mockingly, Ingram greets Kid whose gold glare up at him.

"Kid get going now." Angrily, Ava orders.

"But…" Kid hesitates.

"Now!" Ava snaps making Kid grimace.

"Right…be careful." Concerned, Kid warns her as surprisingly Ingram still stares, watching on as Kid is allowed to go pass on his skateboard.

"What were you planning?" Ava demands from her brother.

"Well I don't know about you built after a nap I get super hungry so just imagine how that boy of yours feels having slept for so long, I thought as his uncle it's only fair I give him some grub." Stretching, Kid explains to him.

"That grub were innocent people!" Poisonously, Ava seethes.

"The circle of life can be a cruel one besides as if you can talk you made that thing." Smugly, Ingram smirks as a ruby red light engulfs around his form.

"That thing has a name." Icily, Ava seethes snarling, her grip tightening around her blade, a light blue light engulfing her own from.

"I doubt he can hear it in his skin sack." Smugly, Ingram points out making Ava seethe.

"Yahoo! Whoa so this is the power of a god! Hah pretty good but a big of a star as me will shine even brighter!" Boisterously, Blackstar proclaims making Ava groan, her blue light flickering slightly.

"Oh you got be…is everyone catching up now?" Annoyed, Ava snaps frustrated.

"I'll handle this…" Blackstar smirks.

"Blackstar go now. Kid needs backup." Sternly, Ava roars.

"Fine you deal with the small fry!" Blackstar waves the unfazed Ingram off his gold glued upon Ava's form.

"How could you condone that? To your own blood you talk about how mother was this and that but you're no be-" Abruptly, Ingram releases a small squeak of shock as his ruby red flickers out, seeing the sparks of icy blue spew out of her, focusing the energy to her feet, propelling herself forward as she slams her hand upon his throat cutting him off. Cracks spews out from his back, blood spewing, splattering across the tiles of cracked stones but he remains smiling smugly, making her blood boil, bubble, burn at the sheer nerve of him.

"Say it. I. Dare. You." Icily, she snaps snarling, revealing her feral fangs down at her brother smirking smugly, his own sharp spikes bare before her.

"You. Are. No. Better." Bitterly, he seethes spewing out venom in his glassy gold but her weak whimper falls deaf ears as next thing he knew, he was screaming, sparks spewing out of his body, crying out as black blood leaps high into the air as small beads of black blood loiter above them both before both knew it the black blood beads spikes had impaled into them both…

"It's such a same a child of the lord death would be so…mentally weak." Elegantly, the swift slam of the fan announces the woman as Ava stops in her tracks, closing her eyes, exasperation marred into her facial features.

"What do you want?" Tiredly, Ava sighs turning to the witch.

"I'm simply saying perhaps lord death picked the wrong host to carry on his bloodline, this surely would not be the chase if the child had pure witches blood, a proper witch at that not a half breed." Truthfully, the woman confesses fanning herself.

"Oh for the…Look if you want a kid with death ask him I wouldn't be surprised if he agreed." Annoyed, Ava snaps scowling, she was trying to be nice, she was trying to be polite, she was trying to be an ally for her as per his orders but with these constant side remarks, she just didn't know anymore…

"And risk becoming weak like you? Please…" Scoffing, the woman rolls her eyes amused almost at the notion.

"Then why bother me?" Lost, Ava's eyes narrow trying to understand why she was pestering her.

"I simply wish to see the results of this little experiment of yours." Smugly, she smirks craning her neck to the side.

"He is no experiment." Sharply, she snaps grabbing her by the throat making Arachne gasps as she is slammed into the wall wincing when feeling her crimson claws dig deep into her flesh, feeling the small sharp stings of a prick in her neck.

"To you maybe not but others would beg to differ." Harshly, the woman hisses.

"And I should care what others think?" Coolly, she drops the woman who comes crumbling down to the floor, breathing in and out, clutching her throat that will no doubt bruise noting the faint ruby red smears upon the tips of her fingers making her eyes narrow.

"Your boy does." Smugly, she points out making Ava's eyes narrow.

"Do not bring him into this. I don't know what your issue is with us but if its out of some pathetic petty jealousy then just ask lord death and I'm sure he'd be happy to let you run your little experiment or something but know this, my son is no experiment he is my blood and if I find you anywhere near him…I will not hesitate to cut you down." Harshly, Ava explains to her, the woman flinches from the sheer bloodlust being teasingly exposed before the woman before sealing it back in.

"Oh my I don't think the great lord death would like that." Arrogantly, the woman shakily stands using the stone wall to steady her.

"And you honestly think I care about what he thinks?" Angrily, Ava scoffs, laughing emptily at the idea alone.

"Well if he were my boy…" Smirking, she begins only to gasp, crimson spurting out of her from the swift slam to her torso, sparks spewing out of the lone hand.

"Yes well he isn't. If you want a kid with him that badly then ask him, that's your issue not mine." Curtly, Ava states turning her back to the woman, heading towards the door, to the source of the whining.

"What's wrong sweetie?" Softly, Ava smiles as she enters the small separate room.

"I…" Meekly, a pair of ruby reds peer out of the cocoon of the duvet.

"Another nightmare?" Tentatively, Ava crouches down to her baby boy's height seeing the duvet drape over his form.

"There all I have mother I only sleep well when you're with me!" Shuffling, the young boy wraps his arm around her.

"Asura you're a big boy now. You don't need me to keep the nightmares at bay." Gently, she removes him from her, petting his head as she takes a seat on his bed.

"But you're the only one, the only…" Whimpering, the tears freely flow from the boy's ruby red breaking her heart.

"It's alright sweetheart it's okay…" Softly, she asks him, smiling sadly when seeing his small shy nod.

"N-No it's not! You died! A-And…" Wailing, the boy cries out, sobbing his heart out, clutching his mother's shirt as she shushes him, rocking him back and forth.

"You'll be okay…" Ava assures him.

"I'll…I can't…I can't…be alone!" Asura clutches tightly to her on her lap as she sighs, furrowing her brow, having seen a similar panic prior with her brother, having recalled a familiar melody her mother would sing to them before…everything changed.

It always seems more quiet in the dark

It always feels so stark

How silence grows under the moon

Constellations gone so soon

I used to think that I was bold

I used to think love would be fun

Now all my stories have been told except for one...

Solemnly, Ava closes her glassy gold, slamming them shut, a lone tear descending down which a pair of ruby red spot, glancing over at the shatter scar upon her neck, making him bite his lip, pained at the sad sight. Oblivious, her mind begins wandering to the two, to them both, to the times before, to their times together, from conversing, teasing to speaking of all sorts in that field of theirs, talking about humans and the cycles they go through time and time again, him offering her a flower and her relishing the rare moment of peace between the two not as weapon and meister not as god and demi god but just two people, enjoying one another's company.

As the stars start to align

I hope you take it as a sign

That you'll be okay. Everything will be okay

She smiles down at the baby boy in her lap, looking out at the window where the grinning moon hovers above the world, smiling at the two as she feels the little boy in her lap quickly grab hold of her shirt hiding away from the moon, shaking. Softly, she places her hand on his black locks, combing her fingertips through his hair. His ruby reds widen when meeting her glassy gold, her grip tightening around him, holding him, her arms around him which he eagerly returns, nuzzled nestled into her side.

It all seemed so fast

I knew it would never last…

Although the day could be my last

You will be okay. When I'm gone you'll be okay...

And although I may die

You can find me in the sky

Upon the last day

And you will be okay...

Softly, Ava closes the door behind her, closing her eyes, slumping her shoulders exhaustion etched into her body. She hears the soft click of the lock before her ears perk up at the faint giggle. She glances over at the trio before her more particularly her gold meet a pair of pitch purple, a small smirk is sent her way making her furrow her brow at the witching clinging to the coal claw by her side but she simply shakes her head, slumping her shoulders. She crosses her arms over her chest, turning her back to the trio and leaves, her darkened gold staring into the empty hallway before her heading back to her room.

"Say Kid how did lord Death seal this Asura guy?" Curious, Maka questions Kid as they come rushing down the stone steps leading them to the dark depths of the academy, armed and ready for whatever is thrown their way.

"My father had removed all of Asura's skin and made a tightly sealed bag out of it and stuffed Asura inside. Then he rooted his own body and soul here in death city to keep the kishin from ever breaking free." Calmly, Kid explains to the group their eyes expanding when hearing the tale.

"And because of that lord Death can never leave the city? What if the seal was broken and the kishin was able to get free? Would Lord Death be able to go wherever he wanted?" Maka gathers, her brow furrowed from the tale.

"That wouldn't work. Lord Death has attached his soul to this town I suppose you could even say he's become one with death city." Stein states the fact as they rush down the stairs.

"So it's like he's trapped inside himself." Maka compares further furrowing her brow at the thought.

"If he wanted to go somewhere he'd need to find a way to give the city legs but that's impossible. The consequences of the kishin resurrection will be more serious than we can imagine. It's madness is like a plague." Poisonous, Stain sneers scowling, Stein's eyes narrowing at the thought of the madness that could be emitted into the open air if the kishin isn't stopped.

"Say Maka can you sense the resonance of the witches souls ahead?" Curious, Blackstar ponders, turning to look over at Maka, Soul's weapon draped over her shoulder while Blackstar holds Tsubaki in her knife form.

"Not really I mean with soul protect…" Maka trails off uncertain.

"Is that all? Sensing stuff is the only thing you're half decent at." Honestly, Blackstar bluntly blurts out making Maka's green twitch.

"You really know how to piss me off!" Mad, Maka seethes, a ruby red tick mark marred into her head, anger laced in her tone, tempting her to do her own version of reaper chop but before she could perform the Maka chop she stops herself.

"Professor Stein I got something there's a soul just beyond the shadows. There's someone there, I know that soul I'm sure of it, that nasty despicable feeling…papa." Disgusted, Maka seethes scowling at the sheer sight of the red head blinking baffled by the sheer intensity of his daughter's hatred towards him making him whimper looking like a dejected puppy having raised his hand in greeting to the group, trying to be kind, trying to be nice, trying to be optimistic in this pessimistic situation but…

"I'm not nasty nor despicable." Meekly, Spirit squeaks out hurt laced in his tone from his daughter's harsh judgement.

"How did you manage to escape the trap they set up there?" Curious, Stein questions Spirit stepping forward towards the dejected rejected redhead.

"When it comes to chasing a woman no one's faster than I am." Proudly, Spirit smirks smugly, a glint gleaming in his blues unaware of the miserable Maka's green hue twitching from the sheer pride in his tone as teasingly, Blackstar smirks poking at the mad Maka, trying to hold in the urge to Maka chop them all.

"I should have guessed. It's a relief to see you though I wasn't able to know how much I could do without my weapon around. What have we got? They up ahead?" Intrigued, Stein ponders asking him as Spirit smirks at Stein.

"Uhuh lying in wait for us. I saw Ava fighting something, it wasn't human that's for sure, she's handling it as we speak." Spirit confirms as he shoves his hands into his pockets, noting Kid's gleaming gold widening when hearing the namedrop.

"Right…listen up from this point forward there's no telling what could happen. It'd be best for you weapons not to return to your humas form during the battle when you're vulnerable a single blow could be the end of you." Sternly, Stain explains to his students, wanting to warn his students for the fight ahead.

"Why are they sitting there waiting for us?" Befuddled, Blackstar ponders out loud.

"I thought they were on their way to the kishin." Confused, Maka asks out loud.

"No they would have left some behind for protection." Stein tells them.

"Hey did you hear something?" Curious, Blackstar blurts out, his eyes expanding when hearing the soft sound of footsteps echoes throughout the hallway.

"Hear what?" Mystified, Maka turns to Blackstar noting his narrowed eyes.

"It sounds like footsteps to me." Kid's yellows narrow at the sound.

"So they're finally showing themselves. Who's it going to be?" Maka wonders out loud.

"Someone who can defend and defeat multiple opponents, someone who can fight several people together who can absolutely make sure not to let us through. No matter what." Stain's greens narrow noting the coal black nails with bright bold yellows slathered on the black nails, revealing themselves to the group, revealing…

"How lovely to see you all again." Smirking, Medusa introduces herself to the ground, in her own attire consisting of black body-length suit with hood, which extends downwards to her knees. The hood itself is adorned with an eye-like marking upon either side which, interestingly, when worn in addition to the shape of her hair, gives it the appearance of a snake's mouth, with teeth and fangs. It is notable that she is barefoot when not in disguise with unique toenail and fingernail polish that is black featuring yellow arrows pointing upwards.

Smugly, she smirks at the children before her, hearing the snakes slithering within her hiss, hungrily eyeing her prey, ready for whatever will be thrown her way. Maka grimaces recognizing the purple energy emitting from her form, seeing the orb of purple envelope her, cover her as she proudly reveals herself to the children, to both weapon and mister, ready for the battle head, ready to be the guardian, ready to take these children out once and for all.

"All right here's how I think it's all going to break down. For the most part we can anticipate our enemies moves the first roadblock is going to be Medusa, the demon sword will be the sound barrier and the final one I assume will be the one Ava is currently combating against. The remaining two will be making their way to the kishin the werewolf Maka and the others fought is a werewolf immortal so he'll be in charge of protecting the black blood at all costs. Now then this is what we will do. I'll stay here and keep Medusa busy while I'm distracting here I want the three of you to run past her as quickly as possible. Kid you're the most mobile of our little army so you'll continue on ahead of us after the two heading for the kishin." Sternly, Stein explains the plan to the group of both meister and weapons.

"Understood." Kid nods his head in understanding.

"Blackstar you'll be keeping the demon sword busy until Maka can get through. Since you can attack directly with your soul wavelength you can do the most damage to the demon sword." Stein turns to Blackstar.

"Yeah." Seriously, Blackstar agrees.

"And finally Maka you run past Medusa and the demon sword to catch up with Kid. Then you destroy the black blood." Stein concludes his plan to the group turning to the girl as Spirit shifts into his scythe form.

"Right." Maka nods her head.

"There's just one last thing I want you all to make me a promise. I want you to promise not to die. Can you do that?" Sternly, Stein tells the group.

"Yes sir." The group nod their head promising it.

"Holding a strategy meeting in front of your enemy is that really the best idea?" Amused, Medusa chuckles at the group before her and their foolishness.

"Ah well guess we'll just have to take our chances wont we?" Coolly, Stein smirks.

"Always so stupidly confident aren't you? Shall we start the party then? Snake snake cobra cobra…" Chanting, Medusa begins to focus moving her hands about as the arrows sprout out of her back, black arrows with a purplish tint to them.

"Here we go don't worry about getting past her right away. Wait for a good opening to present itself, stay calm and collected. Here goes…" Stein advises his students.

"Vector Arrow…X3!" Medusa roars her arrows darting at the group, numerous arrows sent the children's way as they charge at her.

"If you get scared go to sleep." Sternly, Kid advises both the scared Liz and Patty as he rides on his skateboard.

"Yeah okay!" Liz cries out frantic.

"I'm not going to hold back now enchanted sword!

"It's time to punish you impudent boy!" Medusa seethes scowling at Kid.

"Death slide!" Kid uses the arrows sent his way to grind his skateboard on the arrow armada, managing to get passed the horde.

"We're through!" Perkily, Patty declares happily.

"Maka Blackstar I'm going on ahead!" Kid calls out to them going on ahead on his board.

"Tsubaki." Blackstar calls out to her.

"Right!" Tsubaki shifts into her sword form, the enchanted sword mode.

"Why you…!?" Medusa gasps when watching the shadows break against the arrows, making a way for him.

"They made it through…" Maka whispers watching Blackstar's fleeting form chase after Kid.

"Enchanted sword mode off! We've got somewhere to be." Blackstar shifts back to his normal form, holding his knife as they continue on.

"Maka hurry up and go after them!" Soul calls out to her as she nods and dives forward.

"All VECTORS TO MAKA!" Medusa commands as the storm of arrows strike down at her as she chases right at them, straight towards Medusa.

"I WON'T LOSE!" Maka roars after closing her eyes focusing, refusing to let the fear flowing through her to paralyze her, feeling her blood boil, burn as she screams, ignoring the sharp sting from a stray arrow impaling into her side before continuing on, following after the boys.

"I won't allow you!" Medusa snarls seething turning to ready to pounce and stop Maka.

"I'm your adversary remember?" Smoothly, Stein intervenes slamming his palm flat on Medusa who gasps as she is thrown away from soul force propelling her backwards before slamming her feet down on the ground, recovering from the blast.

"Medusa you know I always did love to see you in your nurses' outfit. Although seeing you out of it is more exciting especially if I was taking it off." Spirit slithers out from his blade, sneering at Medusa.

"You know I was dancing with her tonight?" Smugly, Stein points out.

"Yeah I saw that just rib it in why don't'cha?!" Bitterly, Spirit snaps at the amused Stein.

"Boys, boys must you fight it embarrasses me so…" Playfully, Medusa smirks hands on hips.

"Does it? How impolite of us…" Smirking, Stein tells Medusa playfully as his bright blue soul enveloped his form.

"My, my that's quite a large soul you have perhaps I will be willing to dance with you again…" Amused, Medusa crosses her arms over her chest.

"Thanks but I'm going to pass on that one. I don't really think you're fit for dancing now. Medusa…consider yourself fired." Frowning, Stein declares as the two dive at one another, the fight beginning between both scientists.

"Hey…just an instant wasn't there something that just passed us?" Ragnarok points out as he drapes himself over the hunched over Crona, the two blinking having heard some sort of war cry having seen nothing but a black blur bursting past the two taking them aback.

"This isn't good we let someone through without fighting…we're going to get in trouble I can't deal with that." Worried, Crona exclaims.

"Hey it's you the demon sword! You have the honour to be my opponent but you seem weak…seriously dude you look pretty messed up you okay? Oh well who cares about you or your problems anyway. The important thing is I'm going to kick your ass!" Boisterously, Blackstar declares, smirking smugly at Crona.

"Be careful Blackstar." Tsubaki warns him.

"Blackstar hold up a second." Maka calls out catching up to Blackstar.

"You made it here pretty quick for someone so slow." Impressed, Blackstar points out.

"Stand back and let me handle this." Maka steps forward.

"What why?" Blackstar questions confused.

"What are you doing Maka this isn't part of the plan!" Tsubaki argues.

"Listen to her our attacks don't work against that thing." Soul scowls at Maka through his scythe's reflection.

"What are you thinking? I'm not going to let you take the spotlight off me. Come on now keep acting cocky like this and you're going to get yourself killed. A good student like you Maka disobeying the order from a professor what? teen rebellion?" Angrily, Blackstar threatens taunting Maka even.

"Just stand back." Maka steps forward, placing her scythe in front of Blackstar stopping him.

"Alright if that's how you're going to be spotlights yours." Sighing, Blackstar slumps his shoulders before stepping aside allowing Maka to step forward to fight against the demon sword.

"Tsubaki let's go join Kidd he'll need someone as bright as me to get the job done!" Blackstar bellows as they head into the deep dark depths of the temple.

"Yes!" Tsubaki nods her head within the knife.

"Certainly not…" Crona whispers attempting to try to stop him but…

"Speedstar! See ya demon sword!" Smirking, Blackstar leaps high into the air over the demon sword turning to leave when…

"Up!? That's not good…I don't want to be attack from the back die! You're…you're in my way…" Crona realize turning to release an alpha wave at Blackstar but he's long gone as Crona is about to release said wave is cut off by Maka charging at him, slamming her fist to the ground, black blood spewing out of his nose but he remains unfazed.

"I got you idiot!" Maka declares smirking smugly as she swings herself using her scythe into his torso making Crona come crashing down to the ground as Crona stares up at the ceiling.

"That's ridiculous I don't understand how that brat can touch me so easily…Kill her!" Angrily, Ragnarok roars at the smiling Crona, her eyes bloodshot, beaming brightly up at the ceiling.

"Sure." Happily, Crona agrees arising from the floor.

"Maka do we have any chance of surviving?" Soul questions his mister.

"Absolutely none." Proudly, Maka answers as a still silence enters the air between both mister and weapon.

"Pff! You're really smart but you can be a real idiot too sometimes! You really are the coolest partner! Now let's get back to work." Smirking, Soul declares pumped up.

"Yeah." Maka smiles nodding her head as she dives at Crona.

"Don't make fun of me whatever you'll do it won't work. Have you forgotten!? You can't injure Crona! It's impossible I'll gladly eat your souls and then boy with the star later! Your charm what a useless thing for a brat I'll kill you with my bare hands!" Proudly, Ragnarok roars sprouting out of the back of Crona glaring daggers at Maka.

"Jackpot." Victorious, Maka smirks smugly pointing at Ragnarok confusing Crona and Ragnarok.

"What?" Ragnarok exclaims perplexed.

"At least now you recognise me. When we fought before you didn't even see me as food isn't that right? But now you see me as a person that's why I said jackpot! There is the other one too I was always afraid of her but now I will face him!" Smiling, Maka proclaims proudly, determined as she smirks at the squirming confused Crona.

Leave me alone…I don't understand anything I'm noy dead yet…seriously how am I supposed to do that? Stop that…I can deal with someone looking at me like that." Crona whines as he squirms from her green gaze.

Probably because I'm stronger than you thus I can't lose. Soul won't lose! What can't say anything?" Annoyed, Maka frowns at Crona before smirking smugly confidently at her declaration of war on the demon sword.

"How many times have I heard that sounds like a dog howling!" Cackling, Ragnarok heckles.

"I'm Maka the scythe wielder what's your name?" Smirking, Maka asks Crona.

"Crona the witch swordman." Crona answers furrowing his brow at her.

"Let's start Crona! How do you see me now!?" Eagerly, Maka asks Crona who goes silent, bowing her head towards Crona.

"Maka…that's the name of the person in front of me…" Softly, Crona whispers furrowing his brow at the name, making a note to remember it.

"I don't understand why you ask about their name." Soul sighs coming from the scythe, his reflection showing, shining as Maka's green glance into Soul's ruby reds.

"Heh…" Maka smirks.

"Let's go!" Crona scowls, placing her blade to her vein, swiftly swiping against his vein causing coal black blood to spew out of his wrist, staining her belt like sleeves.

"Huh!? What is she thinking cutting his veins!?" Stunned, Soul gasps when Maka narrowly missed the blade boomerang of black blood thrown their way which makes Maka dive down, crouching down ignoring the blade.

"That's because she will attack us with the black blood!" Maka's gloved fingertips flex around the scythe as she uses the blunt of it to propel herself forward, flinging herself over Crona.

"Blade slight! Blade needle!" Swiftly, Crona cuts his wrists again, black blood splattering to the ground as spikes spew out from the ground, which Maka flips overusing Soul's scythe form propelling herself upwards.

"Ragnarok." Crona brings his blade close to her.

"Shut up!" Ragnarok roars at him but it falls to deaf ears.

"Soul Resonance." Crona proclaims as she slams her blade down on the ground where a burst of purple energy of a demonic face similar to a shark almost fires at Maka, munching down on anything in its path heading for Maka.

"Why!? Why are you collecting souls of innocent people? Why do you want to release kishin!?" Screaming, Maka roars using her scythe to block the blast, sparks spewing out of her scythe as she is thrown back briefly, her foot firmly on the ground as she is pushed back.

"Because I'm afraid to become stronger I must be in contact with the most people and by becoming stronger I'll no longer be afraid. And if I don't find the kishin mistress Medusa will leave me." Miserably, Crona confesses to Maka who si thrown into the wall from the alpha's blast.

"Even if I'm weak the fear can't defeat me! Why did you come!? Crona!" Angrily, Maka roars raising her voice, her voice echoing throughout the dark depths of the temple as she shakily steps forward from the crater created by the blast that she was nestled into.

"You're coming at me again? Why did you hit me so weakly I'm tired of dealing with you. Stop I don't like people getting close to me." Fed up, Crona sighs as he easily blocks her scythe, swiftly cutting his wrist as a spike spews out of her wrist acting like a blade nearly nicking Maka.

"There's only one thing we can do….Soul Resonance!" Maka steps back trying to get enough difference when noting the more he cuts the more trouble the two are in as the two begin to focus, a light blue light engulfing her form as she focuses on forming witch hunter.

"Soul Howling…" Crona copies Maka countering with his own blade turning into a similar fade like the blast form before.

"Witch Hunter!" Maka screams charging at Crona.

"Screech Alpha!" Croma counters, both blades clashing, one of them shatters, shards of witch hunter comes crashing down to the ground as Croma calmly blocks it using his wrist, smirking sadistically at Maka who gasps at the shattered witch hunter, at their shattered ultimate attack, everything going black for both users...

"Kill him Crona…" Coldly, Medusa commands Crona, crossing her arms over her chest, staring down at the child before her, staring down at the snow-white rabbit, Crona had been given, the first thing his mother had ever given to her and he had been caring for the bunny but now…

"I…I can't do it. I don't know how to deal with something like this." Nervously, Crona's fingertips flex around the hilt of the teeny tiny blade staring down at the shaking rabbit curling in on itself, shaking, shuddering, scared beyond its wits.

"You are a bad child and I want you out of my sight. This is your punishment. You'll be locked up for several days so get used to it." Harshly, Medusa snaps scowling down at Crona after tossing them into the dark depths of the room, making the baby boy whimper, the tears freely falling from the gurgling girl, choking on their tears.

"No please pick another punishment it's too dark in here I can't see anything. You can't leave the two of us alone! Please don't…! It's so dark in here I don't know how to deal with this!" Pleadingly, Crona cries begging but it falls to deaf ears as the door is slowly slammed in Crona's face where they are left in the dark depths of darkness.

"Crona you bitch look at what you did!" Roaring, a younger smaller Ragnarok roars sprouting out from their back.

"No Ragnarok!" Crona cries out whimpering when they are bashed in the head by Ragnarok.

"I'm locked up here because of you couldn't hold yourself together it hurts quit it! It burns stop! It hurts!" Crying, Crona begs but it once again falls to deaf ears.

"Its all your fault bitch! Bitch!" Boisterously, Ragnarok raises his fists slamming them down on Crona's head, a shy stream of black oozing out of their nose.

"Ow I'm sorry I'm sorry please stop please leave me alone!" Wailing, Crona whimpers, pleading, begging but once again it falls to deaf ears as Crona continues crying as Ragnarok relentlessly begins beating the stuffing out of Crona beating them black and blue.

"Get out." Slowly, the stone door opens revealing Medusa as a shy stream of light peers into the dark depths of the room where Crona crouched form perks up at the echoes of his mother's voice coldly commanding him.

"Waaah! He's so mean Ragnarok keeps beating me up it hurts and I don't like it! Please make him stop hurting me!" Miserable, Crona cries, using his hands trying to wipe away the tears threatening to fall, to descend down but Medusa simply stares down at the child before her, a look of coldness clear upon her facial features.

"Come you must finish what you started kill the rabbit." Resolute, Medusa orders Crona, who stares down at their petite pet rabbit, shaking shuddering from the tall, towering giants hovering above the small rabbit, shaking, staring up at the two. Crona feels their fingertips flex around the hilt of the blade summoned in their open palm, feeling their thumb brush against the blade, feeling the shift of weight in their open palm as beads of sweat slide down their temple. They stare at the rabbit's beady blood red hues.

"I still can't do it I don't know how to deal with something like that." Pained, Crona confesses to his mother looking up at her clutching his arm, her beady hues looking up into her cold yellow.

"Vector plate." Icily, Medusa snaps as a purple arrow forms underneath Crona, their eyes widen when they gasp as next thing they knew they are lifted up in the air and thrown back into the room. Crona cries out shocked, hurt as they are rolled to the side, when they come crashing into the wall, making them grimace whimpering.

"You can stay in there out of my sight for a little longer." Medusa states, arms crossed over her chest, her brow furrowed lingering in the doorway as she swiftly shuts the door shut, leaving the boy alone in the dark depths of darkness once more.

"Dammit Crona you complete idiot!" Roaring, Ragnarok spurts out of Crona's back again much to their horror.

"Please stop it hurts ow! Ow!" Crona cries out as Ragnarok slams their fist furiously down at the child.

"How many times have we done this now? And how many more times are we going to have to do it? This is getting you nowhere Crona." Fed up, Medusa points out as after a long while where Medusa stands, her arms crossed over her chest staring down at the child slumped on the floor, the light peering in revealing the bloodied, beaten boy before her.

"Did you know my blood is black?" Slowly, Crona stands, a sadistic smirk upon their lips as a small bead of ruby red descend down from their nose.

"Good Crona tonight we'll have rabbit for dinner." Pleased, Medusa smirks smugly at the splatter of ruby red staining the snow white tiles below before turning her back to the child.

"Bye bye little rabbit." Gleefully, Crona smirks down at the pained Maka on the floor, her greens dazed the sword looming over her, ready to end this fight once and for all.

"Why did you come here? You too can hear my voice?" Stunned, Soul furrows his brow as he and Maka dance to the beat within Soul, within the black and red room where the devil watches the two dance.

"I don't know when I think about it maybe I could hear it since our encounter with the werewolf." Maka confesses to Soul.

"You want to use me like Ragnarok are you crazy?" Soul's eyes widen when picking up her message.

"Yes…you're angry." Maka sighs sadly.

"You…" Soul begins trailing off.

"I can't stop thinking how she encountered witch hunter if I can have strength equal to his magic sword. Crona I could feel his soul." Maka explains to Soul.

"Don't you get it? You could go crazy!" Soul snaps at her as the two dance.

"Yeah sorry you're wrong." Maka smirks.

"I'm not." Soul asserts.

"I'm sure that won't happen besides it'll be cool right?" Hopeful, Maka offers.

"Alright I understand. I really like you Maka it's you who decides anyway. But as your weapon I will do everything I can to bring you back to normal….Argh!" Sighing, Soul slouches his shoulder giving in only to falter from the sharp stab of a heel hitting his foot.

"Uh…could you guide me please?" Meekly, Maka smiles at him.

"Sure…leave it to me." Confidently, Soul smirks as both weapon and Meister dance to the beat of the melody within their safe space of sorts now knowing how to handle Crona.

"A bomb huh… Arranged at random without any symmetry absolutely disgusting." Kid remarks, furrowing his brow at the bombs in the air seething, glaring at the bombs before him.

"I heard an explosion." Free furrows his brow, his ears twitching at the explosion behind.

"It must have been one of the tadpole bombs I set we need to hurry." Eruka's grip tightens around the arrow patterned slick steel briefcase.

"I smell something." Free's eyes narrow.

"Yes we're almost there now. The kishin is just ahead." Eruka nods her head.

"It's an abomination such an inconsistent arrangement is unconjurable dammit…" Kid seethes snarling, shaking his head at the atrocity before him, his grip tightening around his guns.

"Hey Kid let's forget about constituency for now. We can pass right on through just don't look at them for too long." Liz tells him.

"It's starting to make me sick I don't feel good." Kid groans placing his hand over his mouth groaning, gagging at the sheer sight before him.

"See what did I tell you? Okay I guess in your defence poorly arranged bombs are just as terrifying to you as a cavern full of monsters would be to me." Liz sighs sympathetically at Kid's plight understanding his struggle to a degree despite it's quirky nature.

"You know it might not just be the whole inconsistent arrangement thingies those are bombs after all. Who wouldn't be scared?" Fairly, Patty points out.

"Yeah you got a point there." Tiredly, Liz sighs considering it.

"This trap may be the end of me…it's over." Defeated, Death the kid sighs slumped on the floor.

"Whoa now hold on just a sec! The kishin's going to wake right up if you give up so easily. You're a grim reaper aren't you? If you can't do this then who can, not to mention your mother is counting on you. She's fighting that guy we stood no chance against." Annoyed, Liz barks at Kid reminding him.

"You can say what you want I'm nothing but filthy reaper scum. Just put me on the curb for garbage day." Despondent, Kid curls in on himself.

"Urgh…it's your turn Patty tell him in that special way you have." Sighing, Liz turns to Patty.

"Get your ass moving now damn you." Crudely, Patty orders her bright demeanour shifting demonic.

"UWAAHHH! DAMMIT PATTY I HATE YOU SO MUCH I REALLY REALLY HATE YOU!" Wailing, Kid screams, the tears and snot freely falling from his screaming screeching form as he uses his guns to blast at the bombs, providing his board more momentum to blast past the landmines of sorts.

"Hang in there, it's only a little longer." Eruka gently pads the tadpole she is perched upon.

"Something's catching up to us." Free scowls glaring behind him.

"Free we got to inject the black blood into the kishin if we don't medusa is going to slaughter us both!" Scared, Eruka reminds him.

"I know she will but I got an idea. Let me borrow that tadpole you're riding on. I'm going to need it." Free commands her.

"Huh? Tadpole Jackson what are you going to need him for?" Fearfully, Eruka demands from him.

"You'll just have to wait and see." Free smirks smugly as their plan begins.

"Tell me by resurrecting the first kishin what are you going to do with the demon sword by creating her you finished your research on the black blood." Sternly, Stein scowls at Medusa, Spirit in his death scythe form in his hand as the two prepare for the fight ahead.

"Do this, do that continuously giving orders I brought up that child to be completely dependent simply a useless creation. I think I became like a mother." Medusa smirks bowing her head.

"But you don't care about that that boy you told us before that she's your child why make him when you could have found a kid on the streets?" Stein points out, taking out a cigarette from his lab coat.

"Perhaps it was to follow in my mentor's footsteps." Fondly, Medusa smirks slyly.

"Your mentor?" Stein's greens narrow at the title.

"An role model you could say, she was once hailed as the queen of witches one I would have happily followed. You would have liked her she never hesitated when it came to her practices, it was thanks to her research that we witches survived to this present day. But now she's scorned seen as a blemish to our society it's sad really. She created two children, one was her undoing, two twins one of the sun while the other of the moon, one was the embodiment of memory having been born with memories of the world beyond human understanding the other born with the power of thought to think, while one succumbed themselves to the past the other strode towards the future…" Furiously, Medusa explains the tall tale to the two smirking stretching her arms out.

"You didn't answer my question. What will you do!?" Stein snaps fed up.

"What do you want me to say idiot. Are you even able to understand it's not reasonable for me to take care of a person in need. Its' because he's a child that it changes something histories of abandoned children are so boring then what? Happy at the least I'm relieved. We witches were born with madness you honestly think we'd care for our own?" Cackling, Medusa chuckles at the notion alone amused almost at the prospect.

"Stop!" Stein calls out when noting the ruby red blurt darting at the unfazed Medusa.

"BITCH!" Scowling, Spirit grabs the woman by her hooded collar of sorts.

"What? If you want to talk, prepare what you say before." Unfazed, Medusa crosses her arms over her chest.

"You…grr…gah!" Spirit struggles, trying to find the right words, finding himself getting tongue tied only to cry out as stray arrows spew out from her body bashing him to the side.

"It's been a long time since I saw you cry you're pathetic." Stein stares down at Stein seeing the tears freely fall from the redhead.

"Damn…as a father I know that relations with my daughter aren't perfect but you…I'll never forgive you." Fuming, Spirit declares to the high heavens, trying to wipe away the stream of baby blue down his baby blues, the tears freely falling alongside the small snots dangling down his nostrils.

"If a child is abandoned by their mother who else will they have to turn to?" Smirking, Stein smiles shyly, his greens softening sadly when thinks thinking about his words, his eyes softened sadly at the memory resurfacing of his teen form slumped against the podium his back turned to the chained blade nestled in the stone pedestal. The boy grins madly at his bruised bloodied blistered hands, his glassy greens staring down at his hands unaware of the soft click of heels as a hand reaches down, gently plucking picking the lenses casted to the side, passing them over to the boy, his glassy green widening when meeting a pair of gold as next thing he knew…his head was rested upon the lap of the woman, her fingertips combing through his grey locks as he curls into her side, sniffling, the tears of madness, of fear freely flowing from the boy scared of the madness consuming him…

"Exactly that's what I've been trying to say all along in that case we're definitely going to defeat her!" Spirit stands snapping Stein out of his visit to memory lane as the two glare at the witch ready for the fight ahead.

"A desert? It looks like a beach but there's no ocean…wait Crona?" Curious, Maka blurts out as she finds herself in some sandy desert having no clue how she got there, her greens widen when seeing the perky pink child below as she slowly descends down to the sandy shores below.

"This is my zone but what should I do now? Kicking up sand doesn't seem to be doing me any good. And there's not much besides sand in this place. Even the sun is lifeless. Doing nothing is probably the best plan." The child ponders to themselves kicking some sand up in the air only then to turn to look up at the sun, dropping the stick to the ground.

"Hey…my name is Crona can I ask you some questions?" Crona sits down as a shadow spews out of the child.

"Can I pass if I want?" Crona curls her legs to his chest.

"That's up to you I guess here are my questions. First question what's your name?" The shadow asks Crona.

"I pass." Crona whispers reaching out to grab the stick once more.

"That was an easy one. You won't even say what your name is. Why do you think that is?" The shadow asks as Crona draws a line in the sand.

"I pass." Crona draws another line in the sand.

"Here let me see if I can answer that one for you, basically you can't answer other people's questions. So, you question yourself to keep your mind intact. Sound about right?" The shadow asks.

"Pass." Crona makes another line in the sand.

"Another pass this isn't even self-questioning. You need to start questioning at this point. Wouldn't you agree?" The shadow points out annoyed almost.

"Pass." Crona's stick strikes another line in the land.

"Are you hoping someone will pay attention to you if you act troubled enough? Don't you realize you're alone? That no one actually cares about your suffering." Shadow Crona points out.

"Pass." Crona makes a line connecting all the lines.

"That makes five passes let's change the subject then we can talk about the little one how do you feel about killing it?" The shadow asks Crona.

"Pass." Crona whispers continuing to draw lines.

"Do you feel better?"

"Pass."

"Have you become weaker by finding a comparison?"

"Pass."

"Because you have a problem when Medusa forced you to be strong?"

"Pass."

"Now you become really strong then what do you think?"

"Pass."

"Have your dark thoughts dissipated?"

"Pass."

"Stop…answer my questions do you feel relieved?" Frustrated, the shadow Crona demands.

"Pass." Crona concludes.

"That makes 41 times you repel that much you're cruel that's terrible." Weeping, the shadow bows its head, a small tear teardrop desecdning down.

"I don't remember blaming you why are you following me? It's your fault that people around are injured and I'm injured too if you didn't exist…" Crona points out to the shadow.

"How's that? You shouldn't have a double personality but you must understand this has nothing to do with me right? Without me you will have the same emotions as a normal person sat that. It's like fleeing you feel better." The shadow offers.

"But…" Crona begins feebly trailing off pained.

"Its because you do not understand our relationship. You deny it too much where are you going like that? You refuse to accept me why do you continue to deny me? I'm an ordinary emotion everyone has one, just because you can't deal with it doesn't mean I don't exist. How are you going to handle the real world if you can't handle me?" Fed up, the shadow argues disputes pain laced in their tone.

"Pass."

"We are at the limit. We need to progress." The shadow dictates as it then leaves.

"42…" Crona whispers staring at the tally chart in their circle.

"I'm Maka the scythe wielder what's your name?" Maka questions Crona.

"Demon Swordsman Crona." Crona answers.

"That's what I said at that time…I am…Crona the demon sword. So why…?" Hurt, Crona whimpers, their voice cracking breaking, the tears freely falling as their voice cracks, bowing their head to them.

"Found you!" Surprised, Crona jolts up at the voice turning to the pigtailed child, hand on hips.

"Wait no!" Crona cries out as helplessly, he watches on as Maka steps forward, stepping over the line.

"What?" Mystified, Maka blinks baffled when seeing said circle.

"Don't enter the circle it becomes to me its my place…" Panicked, Crona declares.

"Huh the what?" Maka stares down at the circle.

"I'm afraid you entered the circle so easily even when nobody ever entered." Crona shakes, staring sadly down at the circle.

"Hmm this circle pff we just have to erase it." Maka smiles using her shoes to wipe away the line.

"Wah! You can't understand…I…it's only in this circle that I can remain calm. No it doesn't make any sense that you can enter here. Noo don't do that!" Tearfully, Crona cries out but it falls to deaf ears as Maka brushes the circle away.

"Disappeared." Delighted, Maka smiles pleased by her work.

"WAAAH!" Screeching, Crona cries out as Maka blinks having returned to the plane of reality, hearing Crona's cry for aid, spikes spewing out of his body.

"What? What's happening?" Stunned, Soul questions.

"Soul rejection…" Maka whispers gently place Soul down.

"ARGHHHHHH!" Wailing, Crona cries out to the high heavens agony laced in his tone.

"Wait for me here Soul." Gently, Maka tells him placing the scythe to lean against the pillar.

"What are you doing? If you go near you'll be stabbed!" Soul warns her but she ignores him, heading towards Crone.

"STAY AWAY!" Angrily, Crona cries but…

"Don't be afraid…everything is alright…" Softly, Maka smiles as a stray spike slices against her neck making her hiss, black blood oozing out of her cut but she simply flinches from it then continues on.

"You are just too stressed that the circle disappeared. Everything is fine… your wavelength I understand now I didn't think that you didn't know physical contact. It's okay really I promise you. It's not that you don't know how to deal with people its that no one ever took the time to deal with you." Softly, Maka smiles wrapping her arms around Crona who goes limp in her arms.

"It's alright now I've had plenty of times where people have given up on me anyway. I understand I'm not needed for anything anymore. That's what I decided it would be best for me to disappear. Huh?" Crona confesses as Maka raises her hand up, in a karate chop, swiftly slamming her hand against his head making Crona cry out, cradling his head.

"What do you say? Will you let me be your friend Crona? Please say you will…" Hopeful, Maka stretches her arm out to Crona offering her hand out to him softly smiling as the tears freely flow from Crona, slowly sliding his hand into hers…

"This place is a complete mess it hardly even looks like a building anymore!" Angrily, Kid glares at the ruins.

"Just don't get distracted you don't need to focus on the mess think of symmetrical stuff instead." Liz advises Kid.

"Butterfly!" Perkily, Patty declares.

"The number 8 what? Are you having a reaction?" Confused, Liz furrows her brow when noting the still silence of Kid as Kid's gold widen when suddenly tendrils of scarfs of some sort appear before him, reaching out to him. His gold spot the faint ruby reds peering in from the dark depths of the shadow, feeling the tendrils coil around his neck when…

"What is it Kid?" Concerned, Patty asks him snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Not that…I can sense the kishin's' wavelength." Kid confesses his eye twitching, his brow furrowed, feeling beads of sweat slide down the side of his temple.

"You sure you're okay?" Liz furrows her brow.

"…Yeah just this pressure. I've never sensed anything like it before." Kid confesses shaken grimacing, his grip tightening around his trigger.

"The kishin's up ahead right? You can feel it? what's it like?" Curious, Liz asks him.

"What's it like? That's not an easy question to answer…my father only explained it to me briefly so I don't know very much. Asura was one of my father's guardians until he did something unthinkable." Kid furrows his brow at the memory, he remembered it well how his father flinched from the question, he never saw his father flinch.

"Become a kishin." Liz assumes.

"Perhaps although when my father told me it seemed…something more personal." Kid glances to the side, furrowing his brow his father seemed angrier almost when he asked.

"Personal?" Liz arches a brow.

"Perhaps I'm misinterpreting things but when my father defeated him. My father tore off all his skin." Kid brushes it off, never had he heard his father's jovial voice turn dark, turn deeper sure he heard it sometimes if he and his father…Kid grimaces glaring to the side, a faint ruby red tint to his cheeks at the memory threatening to resurface.

"It sounds like your dad used to be a very scary guy." Liz points out.

"Maybe lady Ava manged to cheer him up!" Happily, Patty smiles. Perhaps, Kid had considered his mother had always been the one to always be by his father's side he had never seen his father angry, sure sometimes he would rant about Spirit's antics but his mother would make sure he wouldn't get too worked up, she would…pet him. Sure it was a strange sight but it's usually end with the two cuddling and him calming down.

"Maybe…but why did he do that?" Liz wonders as Kid's gold narrow.

"Because he needed to make a bag to seal Asura in it had to be sturdy strong to lock up Asura's soul and madness. What better than the man's own skin it made the perfect prison for a kishin. After removing all of Asura's blood my father stuffed his ruined body and soul into the bag then sealed it up tightly. So now Asura's body is starving for blood." Kid explains to his weapons.

"That's why they need to feed him that black blood stuff?" Liz gathers.

"Probably." Kid exclaims.

"Kid hey there's a heat source right up ahead!" Alarmed, Patty calls out.

"What?" Kids eyes widen when seeing the ball of green sent his way which he narrowly avoids throwing himself to the side hitting the ground grimacing.

"Canon fire but from where?" Kid stands glaring at the damage caused before turning to the source of the smoke where…

"Magic eye canon…" Free smirks in his werewolf form, his witches' eye glowing flickers out.

"So this is the immortal dammit….I was so distracted by the kishin I didn't notice him." Kid scowls at the sight of the wolf.

"Aw nice try." Amused, the wolf chuckles as Kid fires his bullets at him but it goes through him.

"Impervious to bullets huh. In that case fighting him head on would only be a waste of my time. I'll have to find a way to throw him off balance and rush past him when I get the chance. I've got the upper hand when it comes to mobility though once I get past him he'll never catch up. Kid thinks to himself, continuing to fire.

"You're not going anywhere." Free appears before him, getting close and personal.

He's going to try anything to stop my speed. Kid concludes to himself, nimbly avoid his strikes, focusing on the fight unaware of the flimsy feathers floating down, hitting the ground below.

"Miss me!" Tauntingly, Free cackles.

"All right try missing this go soul resonance execution mode." Kid commands as he levitates in the air, his bright blue soul with three lines to the side envelopes him as his arms are enveloped with what appear to be canons, spikes spew out of the back of his back.

"Resonance level stable, noise level at 1.8 percent feedback in four seconds 3…" Liz reports as the two guns aimed at free begin to light up, ruby red skeletal masks floating above.

"2…" Patty smiles as the energy blasts begin to charge.

"1…" Liz adds.

"Ready to fire!" Patty smiles just as Kid's yellows narrow like a predator to their prey locking on the opponent.

"Death canon." Kid fires the blast at Free but his eyes widen when the smoke clears and Free reveals himself unarmed.

That should have done something…what!? not even the death canon did anything? That's not good, I need to back up! Just as I expected he won't come after me from there…all he wants is to prevent me from getting through. If I force my way past him he'll rip me to shreds. Think harder. I need to connect these things straighten them up…think harder…Scowling, Kid scolds himself as his gold glance form side to side, beginning to widen soon spiralling into chaos…

"Heh…okay I have it now. That pillar and that pillar used to be the top and bottom part of a single pillar. And that one there was in between the two of them, excellent now it all connects beautifully just beautifully." Madly, Kid proclaims pointing frantically towards the pillar remains and statues littered about the place.

"NO that isn't what I'm meant to be thinking about. The mess doesn't bother me okay it does bother me a little…" Kid confesses as he comes crashing down to his knees pained.

"It's okay Kid just try to stay focused, remember what Ava said to you when you got into these panics, just take deep breathes." Liz assures him remembering Ava's advice if he went critical.

"Yeah…" Shakily, Kid breathes in and out counting remembering his mother having taught him said method having grown up using it whether that be due to a symmetrical issue or if they were too many people, if his panics ever arise she would always by his side..

"If its some kind of puzzle game I'd join you I love a good puzzle." Eagerly, Free offers.

"How dare you mock me…." Seething, Kid glares at the werewolf, his blood boiling as he stands.

"Dammit. Where the hell are the rest of the broken pieces of that statue? What's up with that thing? It looks like a bad dream you'd have after eating too late at night. Shut up you idiot, now is not the time for art criticism get it together. That pillar could it go over there!" Pained, Kid declares horror laced in his tone frantically gesturing to the mess before him ranting out loud.

"Calm down!" Liz snaps at him.

"Pillar…statue…bad dream…top…bottom…leftrightmiddle." Kid begins ranting in his own little world.

"This doesn't look good. I'm impressed Kid managed to enter an area this messy in the first place but he's losing it now. If he thinks about it too much he might go crazy. Oh no he's scratching his head quicker and quicker that's not a good sign!" Liz cries out as the two see their meister scratching furiously at the side of his head.

"What now sis?" Patty asks Liz.

"We got to do something! We need to get his mind off it but what do we do? What do we do?!" Worried, both weapons freak out having no idea how to snap Kid out of it when…

"YAHOO! We caught up to you! Haha! I mean I win too abd no sad! Turns out no kishin receiving after all! How does that feel!?" Boisterously, Blackstar appears, crashing into Kid slamming him into a pile of junk to the side.

"Sorry we didn't come sooner…" Apologetic, Tsubaki smiles.

"MORON! IT'S ME THE ONE WE WANT IS FURTHER AHEAD!" Angrily, Kid yells at Blackstar.

"Wait…really!? That's not good at all man. Wait in that case what are you doing standing around here then? Uh oh not this guy…" Blackstar recognises Free.

"Hey good one Blackstar now we can get his focus bacon on the werewolf where it belongs. Kid look that man has a ball and chain on his left foot but not his right." Relieved, Liz smiles at Blackstar from her weapon before pointing out the fact to Kid.

"So he does…how disgusting…" Disgusted, Kid sneers, a look of rage upon his facial features, focusing back on the task at hand much to his weapons' relief as the two meister face off against the immortal werewolf.

"Hey werewolf I don't let anybody stand in my way! Let's get moving Tsubaki!" Bellowing, Blackstar roars rushing at the werewolf, blade in hand.

"We'll back you!" Kid aims his guns at the immortal firing wildly.

"Let's see you try." Amused, Free smirks.

"Let's go speedstar!" Smirking, Blackstar vanishes before Free.

"He's fast." Free's eyes expand only to gasp when Blackstar flips over Free.

"Why you…" Free's eyes narrow as Blackstar stabs into him, slashes into him but…

"Hold on there's something strange going on with this guy. He didn't even try to dodge my attacks…but he's doing whatever he can to avoid Blackstar's. Why is that?" Kid falters from his firing, his yellows narrowing noting the strangeness.

"Oh." Kid goes lax when it all clicks as he then stands up.

"Now I see he tricked us." Kid walks up to the two who then turn to Kid.

"What you say?" Stunned, Blackstar exclaims confused.

"What are you doing? You want me to tear you up?" Free snarls baring his feral fangs down at the unfazed Kid.

"Into eight pieces if you don't mind. Go right ahead I wont stop you oh wait in your current form you can't touch me can you?" Politely, Kid tells him as he steps forward making Blackstar gawk, gaping when Kid goes through him.

"Heh, finally figured it out did you?" Impressed, Free smirks.

"Hey, hey! Wha….!?" Blackstar sputters stunned.

"I take it this is a spell casted by the magic eye." Calmly, Kid assumes.

"Yeah called forwarding vision. It's a type of special magic." Free informs them.

"How dare you do that on top of tadpole Jackson! You'll pay for this you beast!" Eruka snaps at him.

"I didn't have much choice this was the only way we could delay them and keep moving!" Free hisses at her.

"What gave me away?" Curious, Free asks him.

"You never tried to avoid any of the bullets I shot in your direction. But you didn't want any of Blackstar's blade attacks to hit you because they would go right through you without resistance, and we'd realize you were nothing more than an image. I assume the original canon blast came from behind the projection. You had to make the image look like the real deal. The fact that people generally prefer to attack immortal from a distance worked in your favour too. I'm sure you were counting on that." Kid explains to them.

"How did you know all this?" Baffled, Blackstar gawks.

"My mother, she's told me a thing or two on magic so did my father from their journeys. All in all it was a nice trick but what I want to notice is how you didn't notice when you stabbed him!" Angrily, Kid snaps scowling at Blackstar turning, his face still in Free, turns to glare at Blackstar.

"HEY! I'm Blackstar I figured my blades were so awesome that my moves slid right through him." Smugly, Blackstar waves it off making Kid's eye twitch.

"Really? Then what's your excuse Tsubaki?" Sternly, Kid turns to his weapon.

"I just figured he'd improved a lot but I guess I was wrong." Meekly, Tsubaki smiles shyly.

"Oh wow, weapons love blindly don't they. Damn they bought themselves a lot of time with that trick. Let's hurry Blackstar." Cursing, Kid grumbles removing himself from Free, retrieving his skateboard.

"Right! Time for more action!" Blackstar grins from ear to ear just as Free smirks amused by the kid's as his form fades form the two returning to his green box encased around him with a teary tadpole holding him.

"Oh no tadpole Jackson! Aw are you okay? Poor little baby!" Worried, Eruka rushes over to her floating tadpole's side, where Free leaps off the tadpole just as the tadpole comes crashing down to the ground, sweat dropping from the abuse it had received from Free's movements from the battle before.

"Eruka look at this…" Free calls out to the witch trying to console her creature petting the tadpole.

"The Kishin must be through these doors we're here." Anxiously, Eruka grimaces, glancing up at the sealed shut doors seeing the eye drawn on the doors, seeing the numerous three eyes aesthetic upon the artistic theme of the artefact.

"We need to hurry. Those little brats will catch up to us soon." Scowling, Free furrows his brow, stepping forward onto the stone steps heading towards the stone sealed doors, placing his hands flat on the door, pushing the doors open where they are greeted by the tight pressure of gales gushing at them making them gasp at the tight tension emitted from the door, feeling beads of sweat slide down their tense temples. The two eye one another worriedly, shakily exhaling worriedly as they bravely enter the sealed room, seeing podiums of ruby red standing tall towering over them all, noting the numerous bright yellow skeletal seals of paper hanging down from the threads of raw red draping down.

Quietly, the two make their way into the room, Eruka's ears perk up at the creak of the floorboards echoing throughout the room, the still silence hovering hanging over the two. Eruka feels beads of sweat slide down her tight temple, feeling her fingertips flex around the handle of the briefcase feeling her sweaty palms squeeze against the handle. She notes the numerous tags of yellow stuck to the ruby red podiums littered around the room, seeing the grey floorboards creak, groan from their weight, her nose twitches at the heavy layer of dust having been collected over the years, Eruka recognises a few seals of her only then to hear the static sound of a screech almost alarming Eruka who turns on her heel to find no such thing. Slowly, she turns her head away only to gasp when hearing the slithering sound of hissing almost as she shakes her head, snapping herself out of it, focusing on the task at hand.

She hurries over to Free panting, not wanting to be alone only to falter stopping right in her tracks when hearing the demonic screech static sound again alarming her, freaking her out as she stops startled by the sound. Frantically, she breathes in and out, her coal blacks shaking, shuddering, scared, fear flashing before her very eyes feeling her heart hammer against her chest as she glances behind her, slowly running to find…no one.

Relieved, she bows her head, exhaling only then for her to turn after a moment to then look up at the creature before her, a tall towering slender male, spikes of black with accents of white making the stray strands look like eyes messily pop out of his bandaged face where numerous thin eyes are painted across the bandaged face. The figure cranes its neck to the side numerous layers draped over its form. The creatures scarfs slowly reach out to the frozen Eruka, having frozen from sheer fear from the sheer sight of the monster before her, feeling the paralyzing agent of fear flow through her as the creatures scarfs form into hands of sorts, coiling around her throat, slowly pulling her upwards into the air as she thrashes, helplessly trying to fight back against the creature.

"Free…" Hoarsely, she calls out to her team mate for aid but it falls to deaf ears as the creature simply watches on. Softly, Eruka's hat softly plops down to the ground as Eruka's bloodshot black gasps, tears threaten to fall when the creature uses its forefinger to remove its bandages revealing the lower part of its mouth as it reveals its rotten teeth far from repair, salvia spews out of the creature as it leans in and before Eruka could scream, her shout is quickly muffled as the creature chomps down upon her face flinging it off her.

"KYAAAAAA!" Eruka screams, clutching tightly her hat as she falls to her knees, curling in on herself alarming Free who rushes over to the frightened witches side, clearly distressed, traumatised to say the least.

"Uuuh my face…I'm afraid I wanna go back…I wanna go and hibernating!" Wailing, the woman cries.

"Your face? What's the matter with your face? Okay calm down now." Free offers clearly concerned for the girl. He crouches down only then as he reaches out to the whimpering witch, gently trying to pry the hat off to reveal a familiar bandages face screeching at the frazzled Free as he next thing he knew, the creature lunged at him, tearing off the flesh from his face…

"What the!? What happened to us!?" Stunned, Free gasps dropping the guillotine blade, seeing the crimson staining it.

"Ahhh!" Eruka cries out as she swiftly drops the crooked rusted nail teasingly touching her neck, a small slither of rub red descends down her throat from the close call.

"What the hell am I doing?" Free snarls scowling down at the weapons.

"It…it was…an illusion." Hoarsely, Eruka whispers shaken.

"This…is the kishin's madness." Stunned, Free whispers only to jolt up at the low groan of the floorboards making both man and woman turn to the person before them.

"A mere morsel…" The voice scoffs shaking their head at the fools, having no clue what lies within the bag of skin.

"Why are you here!? Aren't you scared?" Eruka demands whimpering from the sheer sight of the person.

"No." Coldly, they answer.

"Why not?" Fuming, Free demands.

"He won't do it. Not to me." Coldly, Ava announces, her voice echoing as she smirks sadistically, the gleam glittering in her maddened gold gleaming as her once stone-cold features falter turning to one of pure and utter madness as behind her both Free and Erika gasp, shaking, staring up at the robed male behind her, his tall towering dangling form draped over her, his arms coiled around her form, his masked robed head nuzzled nestled into the crook of her neck. Smalls strands of coal with hints of snow-white spring out of the figure's robed face. Silently, he stares down at the immortal and witch below him, challenging them almost at the sheer prospect of letting go…