Shoot Marie is probably already waiting at the restaurant! Joe rushes towards the restaurant brow furrowed. He only took a little bit of time, but he almost hit the mark. Moreover, what is this feeling that's been continuing ever since he came to Death city? It started as soon as he looked at her…
Joe grimaces at the memory he had felt it when he took his first foot forward into Death city but as soon as he saw her talking to Spirit smiling…he saw him, he saw them. Terrified, Joe grimaces wincing at the memory. He still couldn't believe it she looked so happy, so jolly, so…joyous. He had met people like that his entire life but he didn't think she'd do it. Sure he had met many people who had hidden intentions behind their strained smiles, behind their peppy perky demeanour, they were always so happy, their smiles could cut people. But he didn't think she would be like that but when he shook her hand, when he said hi to her he flinches, he felt his heart hammering against his chest against his rib cage against the calcium cages trying to pry them apart, his soul screeching, screaming, snarling in his head to get out of their to run, to flee from the demon before her.
He saw his eyes, the eyes of a kishin behind him, he saw him behind her, his arms coiled around her, his bandages coiled around her. Did lord Death see her? No he couldn't have if he had…if he had…Joe grimaces at the thought furrowing his brow he couldn't believe it he knew Ava, she had taught him, she was kind, loving, caring to see such a shift. Could…could she be the traitor? She seemed off, different but even then, why would she poison herself? Perhaps to get the heat off her so she'd never be caught…
Joe didn't know ad he hated it. He wanted answers, he hated having to do this to his friends, to his loved ones, he had done this time and time again and after each and every investigation, the gap between him and everyone else grew, the brick barrier between himself ad the people around him only grew taller and taller towering over him. He had seen it after his talent was unveiled how people changed around him, how people avoided him, how people fled from him, fearful of being caught out…he hated it he understood why they did what they did being a lie detector wasn't the best thing but still this…this was something else, a level above beyond that.
Who was that figure behind he? He had wondered as he roams through the streets of Death city, unaware of a certain robed figure watching on, slowly catching up to him unaware of the small shy streak of grey emitting from the candle between the lips of the figure following him. His thoughts easily clouding Joe's judgement. He grimaces at the memory of that figure. He didn't know who that boy was, he couldn't even tell his age, he may have looked human but he wasn't. Joe knew that, Joe saw that behind the skin, behind the eyes, behind the hair was a demon. His long limbs, skeletal arms wrapped around the oblivious Ava, his skin barely hanging onto his bones draping down, his bones protruding out of his pale skin, his chipped nails digging deep into Ava's skin, seeing the small blood bulbs form upon her skin soon burst as ruby red rivers descend down her frail form, small slits form all over her bloodied bruised form, within the world of shadows of darkness of madness that he was engulfed in.
He coiled around her as if she were nothing more than something to feast upon like some lava egg feasting upon the corpse of someone. Joe grimaced at the thought, wrapping his arms around himself feeling beads of sweat slither slide down his tense temple at the imagery but he couldn't help it. It was as if he were shaking hands with madness itself. He tried to keep his cool, perhaps he should go to Lord Death tomorrow about the issue but even then…Joe stops in his tracks, his brow furrowed at the thought unaware of the shadow stopping itself behind him. Would he even listen to him? Of course not. That woman is his wife, the mother of his child of course he wouldn't believe him…right? Joe didn't know all he knew was that the truth had to be delivered. He had a job to do and he would complete it no matter what, no matter the consequences of doing so.
"N-No what was…what was that!?" Suddenly, Joe gasps at the sudden ice-cold chill coursing down his spine stilling his movement once more. He turns on his heel, his eyes widening when finding no one before him at the entrance of the alley. Shakily, Joe exhales scratching the back of his neck trying to wipe away the bullets of sweat sliding down his skin. He shouldn't focus on this he had a date tonight. He had made a promise to Marie he wanted another chance with her and she was kind enough to agree. A small lovesick smile crosses Joe's lips at the thought of the saint giving him another chance, he still couldn't believe his luck, he wouldn't ruin it like last time he couldn't, he wouldn't…Startled, Joe jolts up when feeling the gentle brush of some sort, what was that? Joe furrows his brow at the teasing touch finding no on in sight once more.
No stop it, stop…I told my feelings to Marie clearly has the evolution of my soul perception ability stopped being a hindrance and then after coming here, my perception ability has risen. Joe reasons to himself only then to gaps when the world he knows is engulfed in pitch blackness only seeing three familiar eyes, no…no…
"What the…this can't be…why, in death city…the witch response is one, two, three, four, five, six, seven…what's happening?! Why!? Why is nobody noticing!? More than that…this level of madness…this world…this madness knowing this is too dark this wavelength of this madness is it calling to me…Scared, Joe gasps at it as next thing he knew…crimson splatters to the snow-white floor below alongside the body that comes crashing down…
Alongside another, a blonde beaming brightly, a crazed grin upon his lips looking up his blurry blues gaze into a pair of gleaming glistening gold…
"What is it? Sid? Spirit?" Stunned, Stein's eyes widen when he limps his way towards the door, hearing the heavy sound of knocking making him wince cradling his head. His brow furrows when seeing the stoic Sid and scowling Spirit at his door, grim looks upon their facial features contrasting the big bright grin of the moon manically staring smiling down at him as they deliver the news of…
"BJ and Justin have been killed Stein we're here to arrest you."
"Buttataki Joe and Justin Law has been killed Stein we're here to arrest you as a favour we don't want to cuff you…just come along." Spirit steps forward, repeating his words again for his friend.
"BJ was…wait something's wrong. After I was investigated by Buttataki Joe I returned home and didn't step foot outside…why me!?" Mad, Stein snaps shouting as Sid grabs hold of him putting him into a hold.
"At the scene of BJ's murder a cigarette that only you smoke was left behind." Sighing, Sid reveals pained.
"Moreover you…stink of nicotine you were smoking right?" Spirit points out.
"Kukuku…" Snickering, Stein smirks madly.
"Something funny? At a time like this?" Scowling, Spirit snaps at him.
"What is this, that kind of evidence…please stop the joke everyone planned to surprise me right…surpirriiiise you surprised me you won't catch me in those hands." Heckling, Stein smirks as he is dragged out of his house.
"Do you really think this is a joke?" Sid snaps at him.
"Hey…calm down." Spirit sighs at the two.
"Then why me! I was in the laboratory! Cut it out! Are you all stupid!? Cut it out!" Wailing, Sid screams, screeching to the high heavens, his greens glassy, begging, beseeching, pleading for all this to stop.
"How about you stop making a scene first?" Frowning, the voice calls out making Stein still his movements, his greens dilating at the voice as his green meet a pair of scowling tired looking gold.
"A-Ava please you got to convince them please I can't…I didn't…Sid let go, Ava please let's make a deal, let me go and I'll search for the real culprit. Ava you know it wasn't me please! Please!" Pleadingly, Stein begs teary eyed attempting to lunge at her but Sid tugs him back as he falls to his knees, on his hands and knees before her.
"Stein!" Scowling, she snaps at him making him stop his mumblings looking up at her staring stunned almost as if a halo hovered above the glaring girl before him.
"Ah…ah…maybe it might have been me I don't have confidence in myself." Miserably, Stein considers curling in on himself whimpering as Ava sighs.
"Urgh It's too late at night for this…" Tiredly, Ava closes her eyes combing her fingertips through her hair, clearly too tired to deal with ay of this, exhaustion etched into her fatigued facial features.
"It's a joke after all right? Don't make me laugh it's creepy." Desperate, Stein whispers whimpering.
"Look walk steadily Stein." Sighing, Sid helps him up.
"This is…" Stein's eyes widen when finding himself in a graveyard.
"Weren't you going to take me to Shinigami sama?" Confused, Stein questions Ava perched upon a tombstone.
"So he'd have your head? No thanks. My husband is the logical sorts especially with the murder of one of his death scythes he'll see no other reason for your demise." Bluntly, Ava deadpans.
"Not to mention how young he was." Shaken, Spirit grimaces as a still silence floats in the air as the group bow their head, a still silence of prayer almost floating between the adults.
"But he…Marie. Is it…is it true that Buttaki Joe was killed…" Stein turns to Marie having appeared by Ava's side, leant against her, her hues red bloodshot.
"Yeah." Marie sniffles as Ava drapes her arm around the girl bringing her into a side hug as the girl cries into her shoulder.
"His chest was cut open with a sharp object, but he was still alive from the squirming, it looked as if the perpetrator had crawled its way towards his soul. Look I can't say it was painless from the thrashing and crime scene he tried to put up a struggle but the perpetrator clearly wanted him dead in a gruesome manner." Spirit reports to them.
"And what of Justin?" Stein asks as a few grimaces at the mention of the boy.
"It was quick painless; his soul was gone too. Look we may be in a graveyard, but we don't have time to grieve." Sternly, Spirit tells them.
"Stein those of us here don't think you were the culprit. I mean for one sure you're a sadist but the way Joe was killed was messy. Too messy for someone like you and as for Justin it was clean sure but it was too clean you know? No stiches no nothing…" Ava informs him.
"Killing a comrade is a serious offence even if you return to the academy the only thing waiting for you is the death penalty it's shameful." Sid says to him.
"But we aren't able to prove your innocence not yet. There's no doubt Buttaki Joe was wrapped up in some kind of large madness there's no one who can arrest the culprit other than you pick up BJ's killer, everyone believes you." Spirit assures him.
"Ava…you'll hide this from Death?" Stunned, Stein turns towards Ava who grimaces, glancing to the side.
"I'll do what I can." Coldly, she whispers strained as she makes her way towards Stein. He stares at her in awe almost as she pries the packet Spirit had given him prior swiftly stealing one.
"Even at the risk of your own son categorising you on the bad side." Stein asks as she furrows her brow taking a seat back on the grave taking out a lighter making their eyes widen when seeing her light the cigarette taking a hefty take of said substance.
"When have I ever said I was a good person Stein?" Anguished, Ava smiles, a strained smile upon her lips releasing a grey gust into the open air as the other teachers watch on shocked.
"Ava…" Softly, Stein begins brow furrowed there was so much he wanted to say but…
"Look Stein, my husband can be a rash man, with how things have become with my poisoning and everything he's gotten ruthless, he's returning to someone I do not wish for Kid to see. Even if he is seeing the cracks of that former self. I know you Stein and this wasn't you…it's too conclusive to be you, you know? We're putting our trust and faith in you. Don't let us down understand?" Curtly, Ava cuts him off explaining the situation to him, dropping the cigarette on the ground and swiftly snuffing it out with the bottom of her heel.
"I…understand." Stein bows his head in understanding.
"Good." Coldly, she nods her head.
"Marie do you really want to go with Stein. I understand the feeling of wanting to destroy BJ's killer but if you follow him your happiness is nowhere Stein doesn't love he is always alone." Naigus points out to Marie.
"That's why I'm going. Stein is always alone but if he's really alone he'll break and I promised Joe to watch over him. Let's go Stein." Strained, Marie smiles as Ava squeezes her shoulders once more before watching the blonde wrap her arm around Stein leading him away.
"Oh by the way Naigus." Ava turns towards the mummy.
"Yes Ava." Naigus turns to her.
"You're wrong." Ava says watching the fleeting figures leave.
"Hm?" Naigus arches a brow feeling a fair few eyes on them.
"Even the most loneliest people can learn to love, if anything…they need it the most." Ava sighs solemnly staring up at the starry sky and grinning cackling merry moon.
"What will you tell Lord Death?" Spirit questions her hands shoved in his pockets, he knew Death would question him but with Ava…
"We will tell him this, securing Stein was a failure. He took Marie in the struggle that is what we'll report to Lord Death understand?" Icily, Ava states the fact of the matter to the teachers.
"Understood." The teachers chorus, complying with the orders of Lady Death…