Maka peeked around the screen, spying the still motionless lump in the bedding. "Lazy," she muttered under her breath as she huffed down to the mat. She leaned on her elbows, staring out over the breakfast she had already gathered from Marie to let her eyes linger over the courtyard. It was then that the bright red kimono popped into sight, the eager footsteps of Reina breaking across the yard.

"Masao!"

Maka pressed a quick finger to her lips, watching as that stopped Reina in her tracks. She got up from the floor, stepping quietly out onto the engawa before sliding the door mostly shut. "Good morning, Reina."

"Hello! How is Shiro-chan?" The rule about touching wasn't shared by Reina, the little girl's hand clutching into the leg of Maka's hakama as she tried to peep through the last little crack in the screen.

"Sleeping." Maka took the hand and tugged Reina back into the yard. "He's been spending most of his day in bed."

Disappointment fizzled her smile into a frown, her eyebrows set hard in an expression that mimicked the seriousness of her father. "Has he been eating?"

"A little…" Maka hated the way that answer darkened those sweet features further, so she squeezed that tiny hand in hers. "Isn't it time for you to go to the temple, Reina?"

She nodded but bobbed undecided on her feet.

"May I walk you?" She bowed slightly, catching a better view of Reina's face.

That was the right balm for the wound, brightening Reina's cheeks to a smile instantly. "Really?"

"Absolutely."

Instantly, the little feet were aflutter, dragging Maka across the courtyard at a speed that tested even her stride. "This way! This way!" Her sweet chanting started as she brought Maka to the hole in the fence that had exposed the hut as a house those few months ago.

Months! The idea hit Maka harder than Star's blows with the bokken. What is it now? Three? Before Asura came I swear it was all blending together– waking, eating, waiting, and then sleeping again. She was lucky to have a charge to bear her along since her mind continued to wander. Monotony. His days are nothing more than endless detachment from the world as if he were… a prisoner. That's what he is, isn't it?

"Do you like it here, Masao?"

Maka slipped into an ill-fitting smile. "Yes. Your mama has been very nice to me."

"And Shiro-chan?" Reina offered with a hopeful sparkle as she glanced up at Maka.

"Well, yes…" I'd be lying if I said he didn't try to treat me with kindness. He's obviously rusty with people, but he's not some snooty lord who looks down his nose at people. "And your papa, too."

Reina gave a sharp giggle. "Papa likes to tease."

Ire took over Maka's smile. You don't say. "Reina, how long have you known Shiro-chan?"

"Since I was a baby!" The girl perked at what seemed to be her favorite subject. "Mama says when I was little, I was the first one he talked to!" Maka's eyebrows climbed up her forehead as their steps continued along the fence itself, coming to a crossroads between a small mountain trail and a main road. Reina continued as she pulled Maka onto the main street: "Mama said he refused to speak the whole time I was in her tummy, but the first time she carried me outside, it was magic!" Reina added a proud flourish.

"How could he resist?" Maka cooed happily. "I'm sure you were very cute as a baby– especially since you're so beautiful now." She squeezed their joined hands. "What are some of the things he would talk about?"

"I don't remember." Reina shook her head quickly as if to banish the question all together. "Now he just saves me the good pebbles he finds, and sometimes–" All of that came to a crashing halt along with their eager pace as Reina planted her feet. "Masao, you're not like the other pages."

"No?" She tried to offer the question as innocently as possible, but suddenly that little girl's features were regressing back to her father's: logic drowning out the sweet songbird.

"Was it my charm?" Reina stared up at her, head slightly tilted. "Is that why you're staying with Shiro-chan?"

"Reina…" Maka knelt down, taking the girl's other hand as she gazed at her. "What do you think is evil here? What would scare me like you said?"

Thoughtfulness drew lines over Reina's tiny brow. "Mama says…" Her lips worked silently, just as eagerly as her mind seemed to churn over the idea. Instead of words, Reina pulled one of her hands from Maka to reach out and point just at the dip in Maka's kosode. "Mama says, 'It's the evil that's here.'" She tapped the spot above Maka's breast once more. "I don't know what that means, but that's what Mama always says."

It was never even about Soul. The realization was a hot knife through her gut. "Thank you, Reina. I think I understand."


Reina had made Maka swear a thousand promises– all of them firm assurances that they would walk together every morning. It was the only thing that lightened her steps as she started back down the road from the temple to the compound. Even lost in thought, she immediately realized when the shadow slid to her side. Exasperation deadened at least some of the agitation that had refused to leave her. "Yes?"

"Heard somethin' weird happened a couple days ago…" Star strutted close to her, shoulder lowered only slightly to tap into hers.

"Why should I share information with you?" Maka offered back haughtily as she side stepped his next nudge. "If I'm not privy to your hunches , why should I–"

Star groaned as he threw his head into the roll of his eyes. "All I'm askin' is if you saw somethin'. I know who was there. I know what they wanted. Just wonderin' if you saw what went on between the two of them."

She stretched her gait, making a sparse headway in front of him as she bounded down the road.

"Are you seriously runnin' from me?" Star scoffed as he didn't even bother to trot. He simply crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm not talking about my lord ."

He sucked his teeth.

There was something about that sound that always grated a nail down Maka's spine, leaving her twirling on her heels to face him before she could even bat an eye. "What did they want?"

Star shrugged.

Maka took another infuriated step forward, reaching for his collar to at least rattle his clothing even if the man rarely moved with it. " That man said," she started in a low, hissing whisper, "that the two of them belonged together, but the woman said my lord wasn't ready ."

"Huh…" A cocky grin started to vexingly take over Star's face.

"What?" Maka spat, giving him another shake for good measure.

"Nothin'"—that smirk grew to a punchable length—"just a hunch."


Soul tapped two fingers into the divide, a strange pull keeping his feet next to the opening. It was the destruction of hope– the face he wanted to see on the other side of the door. Masao should have been there, but from the lack of sound, Soul was already sure the yard was empty.

The page is gone, a dark slithering voice scratched over the back of his mind, alone again, alone, alone, alone because fear is all they'll ever feel for you just like fear is all you'll ever feel in this world, you ugly, horrible creature.

He broke out forcefully into the sunlight, the screen clattering with the momentum. His only hope was that the shine would drive away the shadow. The itch under his skin had just started, his body still weakened enough from the drug that the blades couldn't penetrate– or at least he hoped. Unsteady steps brought him to the dirt and a new crossroads.

Go to the house. Tell your brother another one's long gone. Alone, alone–

Soul's feet shot in the opposite direction, veering from the bower to the side of the house and the loosened board of the fence. He tore it aside, squeezing out to the trail and starting towards the fork that would offer him the mountain climb. His heart stuttered unsure in his chest, the exertion already bringing sweat to the back of his neck. He pulled in a trembling breath, trying to steady himself as he spied the start of the path.

It was the laughter that froze Soul in his tracks– a familiar trickle of joy followed by a throaty cackle. He waited, eyes set on the curve of the main road that revealed the pair of voices.

Not gone —his heart leapt entirely against the whisper as Masao came into view— but elsewhere. Enjoying his time elsewhere. Soul was used to the horrifying slithering thing that lived in the back of his mind, that sometimes wrapped a fist-tight hold around his heart, but this was something entirely new. The urge settled nowhere in him– just a spasm of nerves that all misfired simultaneously.

Star stopped, a cat's grin stuck on his face, but Masao surged forward to shout: "Soul!"

Don't let that page call you that.

"Stop." He struck out his hand, slowing Masao's footsteps to a crawl as he approached.

"You shouldn't be out of bed," that motherly whisper started and only urged that new feeling on. "Let's go back to the house and–"

"You're busy." Soul jutted his chin out at Star before turning on his heels. His heart was a thunderous cacophony– a deep pulse in his ears trying to drive out the voice that followed him.

"Soul, slow down ," Masao pressed as he suddenly appeared at Soul's side. "You're going to make yourself sick. Franken still said you're working the worst of it out of your system– you're supposed to be resting!"

Then why was he away from you, hm? What business does your page have with anyone?

Soul glanced back, seeing Star standing with a smirk on his lips. A part of him hoped as he made distance from the pair that Masao would stay, but only Star kept his feet in place, receding as Soul continued back towards the house. He brought a shaking hand to his head, flattening it against his temple.

"See? You've probably got a headache again," he chided as he moved to the fence and opened the slat. "I want you to lay down as soon as we get back."

As if he cares– as if he ever could!

His hand still cradled his head as he slid through the opening. He was still trudging towards the house, his unused fingers clenching slowly into a fist.

"All this after I told Reina she could visit this afternoon– that you'd be well enough," Masao huffed.

Soul slowed his steps, his shoulder skating against the outside as the weariness and the thought caught up with him. "Reina?"

"Let me help you first." His hands hovered, close to the sleeve of Soul's kosode.

His palms wavered out, shaking fingers separating the air between them. "Just bring me some water."

Masao sighed, snatching his arms back before twisting towards the engawa.

Shut up! Soul slid to the ground, his other hand cradling his head. Shut up and let me– let me–

"Here." Masao was crouched in front of him, cup held by the lip just like the tea.

Soul grabbed the bottom, bringing the cool liquid to his lips.

"Reina came to see you this morning." Masao's voice was gentle, still level with him. "She was so disappointed that I tried to cheer her up by walking her to the temple. I'm hoping it worked." His fingers drew lines in the dirt between them, a soft smile curving his lips. "She's sweet. I can see why you chose her."

He clutched the cup, eyes narrowing. "Chose her?" There had been a cycle of pages in the past—each had deserted for one useless reason after another—but this was the first tender face he'd ever witnessed on one. For a moment, he saw the thoughtfulness of his mother echoed so clearly in Masao's features that a still silence suddenly permeated his mind.

"To talk to." The answer came so simply, but the reaction in his chest was anything but. "It's easier with children, isn't it? None of those unreasonable judgments that adults are so good at." Masao's head tilted, none of the easiness lost from his smile. "And children tend to see people for what they really are. Do you know what Reina said about you?"

His head shook dumbly.

"That you're good ."

While the word itself was flimsy, the way it uttered from Masao's lips shook him down to the core. The other horrible voice that had been clawing at the back of his mind, tearing his sanity inch by inch, was sliding uselessly in the recesses.

"And I think she'd like even more time with you than she gets now." Masao stood slowly, straightening his kosode. "So, you're going to spend time today resting, eating, and preparing for when Reina comes back from the temple so you can alleviate some of her worries."

Soul pressed against the wall, pulling in a long, slow breath that was more desperate than relaxing. "Why?"

"Why what?" Masao cocked his head again.

"Why…?" Do you look at me that way? Why does any of this hold space in your mind? Why, when I'm–

a monster.

Masao's arms crossed his chest with a sigh. "Come inside. Rest. Then maybe when you remember your question, you can ask it." He started back towards the engawa, just steps away from disappearing behind the corner.

"Wait," Soul called, the word scraping his throat raw.

He glanced at Soul, eyebrows raised.

"Do you"—his hands clenched into the fabric of his hakama with every last bit of hope he had—"do you believe her?"

Masao's brow fell, an appraising glare taking over to match the physician's. "You've yet to give me a reason not to. Try to keep it that way."