Maka followed the rickshaw closely, her hand always just a gentle touch away from his neck in case there was even a hiccup in his breath. Star was pulling, refusing any offers of help. It had been this way all week: Star like a bull on the plow while Maka hovered. She had blacked out the rest of the world. Her papa was somewhere in the periphery and the knowledge of his existence did nothing to bring her comfort, not with every glance to that ashen face below her.

Reina slowed, her little hand catching Maka's as they fell into step. "Maka, will you read to me tonight?"

She smiled weakly. "I only have one book, Reina."

"I know," she chirped back happily. "And that's my favorite."

There was a trembling bit of warmth trying to take hold in Maka's heart. "When did that happen?"

"Shiro-chan told me once," Reina started with all joyful matter-of-factness, "that your reading was just like his song. So when I listen, I'm supposed to hear more than just the words."

"And you know what that means?" Her eyes were already brimming with tears but she tried to bite them back with an exhausting smile.

"No." Reina giggled, almost managing to pull Maka into her joy. "But that means it's special, doesn't it? So it should be my favorite."

She nodded weakly, a few tears loosing over her cheeks. "Then we'll read tonight with Soul." Reina squeezed her fingers before dipping closer, head comfortingly bobbing against Maka's arm. She touched Soul's face again, checking the heat of his skin even though the color still refused to return. Her eyes lingered away for a moment, darting along the side of the road. In a small bit of cleared brush at the edge of the forest sat grey stone adorned in red cloth. "What a minute," Maka called hoarsely.

"What is it?" Marie stopped immediately, turning her attention quickly to Soul and then to Maka's face.

Maka attempted her best smile, slowly removing Reina's hand from hers. "I-I just need to stop for a minute. I think we could all use a rest anyway."

"For a moment, I suppose," Franken muttered as he waved Reina back towards him.

She bent, searching along the ground for a moment as she picked up whatever stones sprinkled the side of the road. It was enough– her palms warmed by the sun-soaked rocks. She moved to the statue of Jizo, that pleasant smile of the monk drawing her in. Kneeling in the grooves suddenly felt like coming home, her fingers moving as if on muscle memory to stack the stones with all the care and tenderness they deserved.

Her hands clasped together desperately as she bowed her head, letting it hover just above the ground. Please—her heart thundered in her ears to almost drown out the plea—you're the only one who can reach him now. He's closer to you than he is to me, and there's nothing I can do about it. I know you love him, that you'd want to be reunited, but he's not done here. I'm not ready for him to be done here.


Soul followed the lanterns as they lit one by one. The moment he stepped past, it would snuff out, leaving a dark trail ahead and behind no matter how many steps he took. This is what death is, isn't it? Wanderin' through purgatory because my soul could never make it. He sighed, letting his fingers hit the next light and hoping to feel the singe. Instead, it was as cool as ice against his skin.

A note sounded, softly trickling through the darkness. It was to his left, away from the laterned path. Soul looked ahead, the next light still calling him, but swerved to the side. He shuffled in the dark, following the gentle strikes of the strings that he knew so well. Song shows the soul, right? He sucked in a shivering breath. "Momma?"

Light flared as if the sun had suddenly burst from behind the clouds. There, at the end of a cobblestone path was a torii gate that looked as if it had swallowed the summer sky. The lanterns hanging from the trees didn't need their foxfire to illuminate the beautiful picture in front of him. A luminous glow caught every angle of that ephemeral beauty he remembered. The long, flowing white hair with scarlet eyes that always shone even brighter than his own. The only thing more resplendent was her smile. "Narzhan…"

His heart sailed while his stomach sank. "I-I'm dead." I left her. I abandoned her just like– like all the rest of them.

"No," she chided gently as she waved him forward while strings without an instrument still resonated the sweetness of her soul. "But come closer, darling."

Soul's feet stuttered forward, finding his place in front of her. He stared down as her hands clasped over his to press them, another soft note flooding his mind and his heart. "Momma, I'm so sorry," he whispered as he brought tear-filled eyes to hers.

"Sorry?" A cheerful laugh—one that Soul could swear he'd never heard before—twittered up from her throat. "No, you're not allowed to be sorry anymore. There's been too many times to count that I've watched you lay stones for your sisters. Too many where I've seen your heart break at the memory of me." Her hand came up, gently cupping his cheek. "You've given most of your life to mourning– to death, and I won't let you do it anymore."

"What?" he murmured.

"Your love calls for you," Aruzhan purred as that glowing smile ate up her face. "She begs for your life– the one you should be living."

"Maka…" His hands clenched into fists at the thought– that clear picture of the tears marring her cheeks. "I-I want to go back to her."

"As you should," she answered pertly, clearing the bit of tears that had snuck from his eyes. "But only if you promise me one thing."

"Anythin', Momma." He unclenched his fists so he could gather those gentle hands in his.

"Live for her, not for us." She stole her warmth away, using her hands to press against her heart. "Your time of stacking stones is over. Forgive yourself." Aruzhan turned from him, her hand becoming a beacon of light that transformed the beauty in the torii gate behind her to pitch black.

It was now one Soul knew well, a constant in his dreams. "That's–"

"A place of madness," Aruzhan whispered mournfully. "A dark gift I gave you because of my own weakness. It will save you, and if she's there– if what she feels is real, she'll keep it from swallowing you whole."

"She has to be." Soul stood, his trembling steps starting for the door. He paused only for a moment, soaking up one last image of his mother. "I love you."

A final tear of her own slid down Aruzhan's cheek. "And I have always, and will always, love you."

Soul let that bolster his steps, fingers now firm as they reached the inky darkness of the gate. He slid through it to find the lanterns were lit, the koto gleaming in wait. The little demon leaned against it, his beady eyes popping from that misshapen skull. "What are you doin' here?" the imp squeaked.

He smirked, striding to take what was his. "What, you didn't miss me?"


Marie wanted to cradle Maka just as much as Reina, but she had to settle with her own daughter. It was obvious in Maka's face that she was exhausted– that even with her laying down next to her husband every night she was not getting rest. It was ticking close to midnight, Reina still in Marie's lap but dead to the world hours ago at the very beginning of Maka's story time. Regardless of the sleepy faces, Maka continued to read that same fairy tale over and over, as if the sound alone would pull him back to life.

"How are you feeling?"

Maka let the next line fade off in a whisper before she cleared her throat. "I'm fine."

"You're pale, Maka. If I touched your forehead I'm sure–"

"I said I'm fine," she hissed before slapping a hand over her mouth. Her eyes turned out towards the darkness before she murmured again. "I'm sorry. I-I just want to read, Marie, please."

She has a fever. Marie sighed. We're so close to home, but she's fading faster than he is. "You should rest."

"Just a little longer." Maka fluttered one of her hands away from the book, letting her fingers shake until they met Soul's. She started again, just a few words of the next line out of her lips before she jumped.

"What is it?" Marie pressed, looking from Maka's wide eyes to Soul's still motionless body.

"M-my hand…" Maka tossed the book aside, suddenly cradling the limp palm in both of hers. "Soul? Are you awake? Please! Please be awake!"

"Maka…" Marie started to unwrap Reina from her lap, the girl groggily grumbling as she was abandoned at Soul's side. She moved to Maka, clutching the girl's shoulders. "Maka, it was probably just a twitch–"

"He moved," she cried, struggling against Marie's hold as she ducked her face down to Soul's. "Please, Soul, wake up! You moved your hand. I know you're awake, so please!"

The commotion had brought the group, Franken scooping up Reina as she started to come to bewildered consciousness. Spirit started for Maka's side but Star threw a hand in the way, pushing the man square in the chest. Instead, he was the one to move behind her, bracing his arms around her chest to pull her away.

"No!" Maka cried wildly, her legs kicking as Star lifted her up and away. "He has to wake up! He has to!"

Marie looked up, the tears stinging her eyes and blurring her vision as Star forced Maka into his chest, her sobs rattling loud enough that they broke through his hold. "Stop fightin'," Star muttered as he held her. She still kicked– beating at him until her fingers weakened and fell away. All of her suddenly buckled, Star only faltering for a moment before handling all of her weight.

"Maka!" Spirit couldn't be deterred now, coming up behind his daughter to clear the hair from her face. "She's burning up. She–"

"She's worried herself sick," Franken murmured. "Star, Spirit, take her now. Get her home; Marie and I will follow in the morning."

Star offered one more look at Soul before he lifted Maka into his arms. "See ya at Shibusen tomorrow."

Marie sighed, hands clenching with futility into fists that dug into the tops of her thigh. "Franken," she murmured.

"What?"

"If he hasn't woken up yet…" She started, but the rest settled into a sob.

"We don't know." He moved to her side, pressing their daughter between them. "We still only have hope."