*Separated*

Chapter four is here! To clear some things up, this is taking place after the Quincy Invasion in Bleach. Obviously I'm aware that Shunsui had said that Ichigo wouldn't be returning, but that's the beauty of fanfiction. I'm taking some liberties and changing a few things. As far as the Soul Eater plot goes, it will veer away from both the manga and the anime and take its own turn after the events in this chapter. Hope this helped. Just you know, taking all of the liberties with this crossover basically.

*S*

"What hurts more than pain, or fear, is being unable to live up to other people's expectations!"

~Hero Shinku Izumi ~Dog Days~

*S*

Chapter Four: The Tough Get Going

The four minute trip through the senkai-thingy was terrifying and I can honestly say that I had kept my eyes closed for most of it. I figured if I couldn't see the walls that I knew were collapsing around us, fear wouldn't slow my feet down. It was over soon, and when I felt myself falling, I opened my eyes and let out a screech. I hit something soft and took a deep breath, above me was a red and black clouded sky. Definitely not usual for Death City… Where was the moon?

"What in the world?" I asked sitting up slowly. I was on Blair's pumpkin, hovering where we had fallen from. Tamara was clinging on to the edge, her face slightly pale. Taking a look around, I saw the three- Soul Reapers? Isn't that what Ichigo had called them- standing on air nearby. Looking out at the city, it looked to be in chaos, I could hear screams from here and there was smoke drifting up from several places. Around one of the top towers of the DWMA was a glowing green box.

"Look," Blair said pointing, five small figures were racing towards us. I activated my Soul Perception and was nearly overwhelmed by the wavelengths that hit me. Five, six, seven witches souls, one other powerful soul and yet another that was slightly weak but growing stronger by the second.

"They're destroying the city," Tamara growled, the figures stopped several feet away from us. They started making small noises, to me it sounded something like 'chi'. Blair narrowed her eyes at them.

"Filthy mice," she hissed. "Maka, I'll take care of them, you guys go try to figure out what's going on." Tamara and I hoped off her pumpkin as she moved to confront the mice witches.

"Maka, go find your partner," Tamara said looking at me. "I'm going to go see if I can help anywhere." She took off towards the DWMA with Toshiro hot on her heels. I looked up at Blair, and knowing she could take care of herself, I started for the school as well. I didn't have to look behind me to know Ichigo and Rukia were right there with me. I could feel Soul's soul deep underneath the city and I frowned. That was strange. I leaped over a pile of rubble and almost fell when the ground started to shake.

"Earthquake?" Ichigo asked standing next to me.

"No," I said. I could feel an immensely powerful soul- that was giving off strong waves of something I couldn't quote identify- heading straight for us. A shock for me was that right along with it, Soul's own soul was heading for us as well. I leapt back just as the ground in front of me blasted upward. Something that looked human shot out of the hole, it was dragging what looked like ribbons of skin behind it and attached to the end of one was Soul. Without even thinking I jumped as hard as I could and caught the end of another tendril.

"What the hell?" I heard Ichigo shout.

"Soul," I called from where I was dangling.

"Maka?" Soul's head whipped around and I thought for a moment he was going to let go of the tendril he was holding on to. "What are you doing here?"

"Funny, I was about to ask something similar," I said smiling slightly. "What is this guy?" Soul swung and jumped, aiming to get closer to me.

"Kishin," Soul said after grasping a tendril right next to mine. He looked at me and smirked. "The others got their moments, is it our turn?" He asked already transforming. I caught him effortlessly and began to carefully climb the tendril with one hand. It would seem for the moment that the Kishin was unaware that I was there and had stopped to look out at the city.

"Why is it," I said between breathing. This was hard work. "That you get into all sorts of trouble while I'm gone?"

"Just trying to get your attention I guess," he said. I rolled my eyes and started when something black darted by me. Long black tendrils with skulls on the ends. I watched as they attached themselves to the Kishin's arms. He looked down in confusion and noticed me for the first time. He smirked widely and easily broke off the seals before he grabbed the top of the tendril I was on and drug it up to meet him. He yanked with so much force I almost fell, but barely managed to hang on and when he was within range, I swung Soul at him. It was a seriously weak attempt and he laughed at me while swatting Soul away easily.

The Kishin grabbed Soul's blade and yanked him out of my hand at the same time that he reached out and grabbed me by the hair. I called out in pain, being held in the air by your hair was certainly painful. I watched in horror as the Kishin threw Soul to the ground.

"Soul!" I yelled right before the Kishin switched his grip and held me by the throat.

"Maka!"

"Well aren't you an ambitious one," he said to me, drowning out Soul calling my name. "Why would someone as weak as you challenge me?" He smirked and shook his head and I clawed at his hands, trying to get them off so I could breath.

"Maybe because she has some powerful allies to back her up," I glanced to the side and saw bright orange, must be Ichigo. He moved forward into my view and the Kishin laughed as he tossed me up and caught me by my hair again. I whimpered in pain but gulped in air. Ichigo was watching him steadily with his sword drawn, what had earlier been just one sword, was now two short fat looking swords. Both pitch black in color.

"Oh, I'm so scared," the Kishin said laughing, he swung me back and forth and I was debating the merits of yelling at Ichigo to just cut my hair off when I heard Rukia yell something.

"Sokatsui!" The Kishin lurched forward and lost his grip on my hair and I felt myself plunge to the ground. I had just opened my mouth to scream when something caught me. I got a face full of teal and realized that Toshiro had come out of nowhere.

"You okay?" He asked me as he moved almost impossibly fast away from the fight that was now ensuing. He touched down to the ground next to Tamara and an unconscious Soul.

"Soul," My voice came out hoarse and it hurt slightly to talk. But I struggled away from Toshiro's grip and ran over to my partner. "Soul?" I said quietly dropping down beside him and carefully moved his head into my lap.

"He should be fine, he hit the ground in weapon form, so no broken bones at least," Tamara said not taking her eyes from the sky. In the distance, the green box faded from around the tower and mere moments after that I saw Lord Death come flying out.

"Lord Death," Tamara, Hiro, and myself gasped. He came to a stop in front of the Kishin and Rukia and Ichigo backed off. Lord Death looked down briefly.

"Tamara, if I could borrow Hiro please," he said. Tamara chucked the sword towards him. "Thank you, now, get Maka and Soul back to the school please." He turned away from us and faced the Kishin.

"Maka, can you walk?" I looked up to see Toshiro crouching down beside me. I started to nod but paused, at this point I wasn't sure if my legs would take my weight or not. Toshiro rolled his eyes and scooped me up bridal style and I was horrified at the tiny squeak that escaped my mouth.

"Soul," I said looking over his shoulder where Rukia was draping Soul over Ichigo's back.

"Ichigo has him, he'll be fine," Toshiro said. "You might want to close your eyes." I did as I was told without asking twice. I felt a rush of wind and when I was given the okay I opened my eyes to find us at the entrance of the DWMA. Students were pouring out of the front, all eager to see Lord Death take down the Kishin. I closed my eyes at the noise and wondered if I would have been better off just staying home and ignorant to all of this.

"Maka! Soul!" That was a voice I recognized. I opened my eyes and blinked until a very blue looking Sid came into focus.

"Sid," I said, my voice cracking again. I grimaced and frowned slightly. That was going to suck at school on Monday. Nygus, Sid's weapon partner, pushed through the crowd to stand beside him. "Nygus." I was so happy to see them, even if the situation sucked.

"Is there a hospital or infirmary or some place that I can take them?" Toshiro asked as Ichigo moved to stand next us. I looked over to see Rukia sporting a slightly burnt look arm. Oh yes… School would be a wonderful place on Monday.

"Follow me," Nygus said immediately. No one was going to question my presence at the moment it would seem. She led our little group, minus Tamara, through the maze-like halls of the DWMA until we reached the infirmary. She held the door open and hurried to take Soul's vitals once Ichigo had sat him down. Toshiro placed me on my feet next to a chair that I slumped into gratefully.

"Will he be okay?" I asked Nygus. She nodded.

"Yes, I believe so," she said moving to take my own vitals. "What happened?" She shone a light into my eyes and frowned slightly. She looked over at the soul reapers, who all looked at each other.

"They took on that creature outside," Rukia said. Nygus sat back and glared at me. The one blue eye I could see held so much fire and infuriation it scared me.

"You know better than that!" She said flicking me on the forehead. "I could have sworn that Sid and I taught you better than that, both of you." I hung my head in shame. Indeed they had, it was one of the first things you were taught in NOT classes and then again in the beginning EAT classes. Never take on an enemy without knowing the situation.

"I'm sorry," I said softly. I heard her sigh quietly and felt her hand probing over my head searching for any injuries. I flinched a few times from sore spots where the Kishin had tried his best to rip my hair out. Nygus tsked her tongue and stood up after a few minutes.

"I think you're going into shock," she said after a moment. She leaned in to peer closer at my neck. "That's going to be a very bad bruise, but I don't think there are any broken bones. I would try not to use your voice to often though." I nodded and kept my eyes on Toshiro who was still frowning.

"Could you take a look at my arm please," Rukia asked politely. Nygus turned around and nodded moving to do so. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, not even moving when I felt someone sit next to me. That is until whoever it was poked me, and wouldn't stop until I opened my eyes.

"What?" I croaked looking over. It was Ichigo and he held out half a chocolate bar.

"Sugar," he said simply. "It's what you need. Though, if they have the means here, an IV probably wouldn't be a bad idea either." Nygus looked over at him with a raised brow from where she was wrapping up Rukia's arm. He caught her look and grinned. "I've been injured enough in the past few years I would know."

"That's almost an understatement," Toshiro said rolling his eyes. "I'm going to go check on things." I watched him leave as I took a bite out of the chocolate that Ichigo had offered. Nygus was just sticking the needle in my arm when the door opened and the man I knew to be Professor Stein stumbled in with Black*Star hung over his back. Tsubaki was close behind him as were the Thompson sisters with Kid being held up in between them.

"Maka?" Tsubaki said catching sight of me as she flitted around nervously. I looked her up and down, she appeared to be unhurt, but Black*Star and Kid looked horrible. Stein deposited Black*Star in the empty bed next to Soul and the Thompsons sat Kid up in the chair next to Ichigo. Nygus taped the tube down to my arm and got up to check on her new patients.

"Hey Tsu," I said, my voice seemed to be leaving me. As each time I spoke it was quieter than the last. My friend flung herself at me, minding the IV in my arm.

"I'll wait outside," Ichigo muttered. Rukia tried to make an exit after him, Nygus shot her a glare from where she stood next to Black*Star, so she stayed put.

"What are you doing here?" Tsubaki and the Thompsons crowded around me. "Are you okay?"

"She's fine," Nygus spoke up when I looked to her for help. "She needs to rest her throat, okay? I'm sure you'll get all of the details later." The three weapons pouted but stayed nearby. Patty sat next to me and Liz went to sit on the other side of Kid, while Tsubaki went to stand by Black*Star. Stein had taken off his coat and was examining a few wounds of his own when he caught my eye.

"Nice to meet you in person Maka Albarn," he said turning and walking over to me. "What happened here Nygus?" He crouched down and was looking at my throat, and I'm sure it looked horrible, cause it felt horrible.

"Stupidity," was the only word the weapon gave him. I blushed furiously when Stein turned to look at me again.

"Must run in the family," he said. "And here I was told you took after your mother." I gave him a horrified look that set Tsubaki and the Thompsons to laughing. Which cause Soul to stir.

"Soul," I forced out looking past Stein's shoulder desperately. The white haired scythe sat up and held his head while looking around confused.

"I have a killer headache" he muttered. "What happened? All I remember was falling." He looked around until he caught sight of me, then he was on his feet. "Maka! Are you okay?" He all but shoved Stein out of the way. His red eyes searched for any visible signs of injury on me and they came to a rest at my neck, just like everyone else's had. I watched his hands clench into fists. "That bastard." He growled.

"Stein," Nygus said. "Move Kid into this bed now please." Stein inched around Soul to move the golden eyed meister into the now vacant bed. Patty hopped over into his empty seat so that Soul could sit next to me. It was certainly crowded in here, I thought looking around. The door opened again and Lord Death hopped in, followed by Sid and my father. I wanted to groan, but I wasn't sure I could make the sound.

"My Maka!" Spirit cried when he saw me. He crouched down just like everyone else had been doing and I was forced to endure yet another check. His eyes turned sad when he saw my neck and he sighed. "I'm so sorry Maka." He said quietly. I forced a smiled and a thumbs up.

"No voice," Nygus said at his questioning look. She had just finished up with Kid and Black*Star. Both of them sported various bandages and both had an IV just like me. "They should wake up soon, luck willing. They all need rest." She nodded at where Patty had fallen asleep against Liz and then to Tsubaki who was also looking just as exhausted. Rukia squirmed uncomfortably in the corner and I shot her an apologetic look.

"Let's get the weapons home then," Lord Death said. "No use in crowding the place up." Tsubaki, Soul, and Liz shot up all with the same stubborn look on their face.

"I can't leave," they all cried.

"You need rest," Stein said from where he was sitting in a wheeled chair. An unlit cigarette dangled from his lips. Lord Death surveyed the people in the room, coming to a stop on Rukia.

"Perhaps you would like to join your friends in the Death Room?" He said gently. Rukia nodded vigorously. "Alright, Sid, will you escort the young lady to the Death Room please?" The zombified meister nodded and motioned for Rukia to exit the room.

"You did good," Rukia had stopped beside me and I looked up. "It was foolish, but very brave." She smiled slightly. "School should be fun huh?" She joked slightly.

"Oh totally," I said hoarsely. "Keigo will have a field day." Rukia snorted and patted my shoulder before leaving the room. I felt eyes on me but I didn't feel like meeting any of them.

"So you'll go back to Japan?" It was Lord Death who asked. I looked up in surprise but nodded.

"I have to, my grandparents don't even know I'm gone," I said despite the glare I was getting from Nygus. "I have school on Monday and the Soul Reapers have already cleared my stay." Lord Death nodded and turned away.

"Alrighty then," he said. "I'll go talk to them now, a thanks is in order for their generous help tonight." As he hopped out he stopped by the door. "Weapons, home to rest." And then he was gone. I looked over at Soul, but he was looking down at his hands. He was the first to stand, he shoved his hands in his pockets and started to leave.

"I'll see you later," he muttered to me. I frowned, it sounded like he was angry. But why would he be angry? Nygus came over and shone a light in my eyes again as Tsubaki reluctantly left the room. It would seem that the only ones willing to make a stand were Liz and Patty… Or at least Liz, as Patty was still asleep.

"Maka, I think it would be best that you stayed with your father here at the school tonight," Nygus said straightening up. "Just as a precaution. If you have any trouble breathing you need to come to me right away, understood?" I nodded and she removed the IV and placed a Band-Aid over the spot that the needle was. I stood up carefully and waved at Liz who smiled slightly back at me, before following my father out of the room.

Neither of us talked as he led me down into the staff portion of the school. There were hardly any staff rooms, as most teachers had their own home here, but there were rooms set aside for visiting Death Scythe's and as my father was Lord Death's personal Death Scythe, he stayed at the school just in case he was needed. He unlocked his door and pointed out the bathroom and made me take his bed. I was already tucked in and trying to sleep when I heard him start to talk to himself.

"Man, I really screwed up," he muttered. "I should have never left Lord Death's side. If I hadn't, none of this would have happened. This Kishin would have been defeated and Maka wouldn't have been hurt. She'd have been safe in Japan, just like Kami and I agreed." My eyes popped open and I stared at the ceiling. What in the world… They. My parents sent me to Japan to keep me safe? They separated me from Soul and everything I've ever known for something so stupid? How dare they?

The anger that ran through my body gave way to the exhaustion that chased it and the last thing I remember was a pulse of anger directed at my father and mother both.

*S*

Whoo, another one over with. I don't have much to explain in this chapter… So if you have any questions, concerns, or comments please leave a review or pop me a PM. I would like to offer the biggest of apologies of life being meh for me personally. So I'm not active in writing things.

Shimmerz