Chapter Eight
Author's Note: Okay folks! This is where things start to pick up ^_^ Get ready for some action and suspense!
Everyone was impressed with Misao's skills when she was able to keep the ball away from everyone on Black Star's team and scored almost six points in one round. Black Star ended up on the ground crying in shame. "It's been a long time since I've seen Misao having this much fun; especially with other people." Blood sat on the bench with Spirit and Stein.
"Did she have friends back in your village?" Spirit asked.
"So many, you couldn't imagine. There was never a time when Misao wasn't surrounded by friends. They'd always run around in the village. I'd have a hard time looking for them, because they were always on the move."
"So you weren't the only one she depended on?" Stein asked.
"Back then, no." Blood answered with a far off gaze. "There wasn't a single person in our village Misao didn't know and wasn't friends with. It wasn't because she was the princess; it was the way she always smiled and how she was always full of energy."
"Hey Blood, did you wanna play? You could be a substitute for either team." Misao looked at Blood, bouncing the basketball in one hand while wiping sweat from her head with the other. "It's super fun!"
"No thanks, I'm fine just watching." He said, smiling.
"If you say so. Black Star, ready to get your ass beat again?" Misao ran back on the court, taunting Black Star endlessly. She knew just how to push his buttons because he was too easy to trick.
"You're really good at this, Misao." Soul complimented, tossing her a bottle of water.
She caught it, and took a long gulp from it. "Thanks Soul. I've never played this game before, but it's really fun."
"Did you ever play any kind of sport where you're from?"
"Actually, my friends and I used to play soccer together. They'd always get in a fight over which team I'd play on."
"You were that good, huh?"
"The best. We even had tournaments in the park sometimes, and I'd win almost all of them." At that moment, Misao began feeling something in the air and stood completely still. 'What is this I'm sensing?' she thought to herself.
"Hey, Misao are you okay?" Soul looked at her, then jumped out of the way when Blood rushed to her side and acted the same way.
"This is the same feeling as that village we investigated." Blood realized. "Be ready, Misao." The air became thick with intensity as they finally found the source of the strange energy. Blood saw a man approach them with a smug grin on his face.
"So I was right. You were here." He said.
Misao gasped as she stared at him. "I know you! You were with that Giriko guy!" she exclaimed, taking one step in front of Blood.
He chuckled. "I'm glad you remember me. It makes me happy that a cute little thing such as yourself recognizes my face."
"Cut the crap and tell me who you are, and what you want!"
The man shrugged his shoulders as he took the book that was tied around his waist and held it in his hands. "How rude of me. You can call me Noah." As he said his name, he opened the book and placed his hand over it. "And to answer your other question, I'm here for you." His glare was set on Misao as a monster shrouded in darkness launched out of the book and went straight for Misao and Blood.
Blood grabbed Misao and quickly jumped out of the way. "Are you alright, Misao?" he asked, releasing her.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But what about everyone else?" Misao looked out to see that Soul and the others managed to avoid the monster as well. After it attacked, the monster went back in the book. Misao and Blood headed towards the others. "Is everyone okay?" she asked.
"We're all just fine." Stein answered for the others.
"That's good to hear." Misao said with relief. "What was that thing that attacked us?"
Stein took a closer look at the book that Noah was holding and realized what it was. "That's impossible! How does he have it?"
"What's wrong, Professor Stein?" Maka asked, looking at his tensed expression.
"Spirit, do you recognize that book?"
Spirit stared at it for a few seconds, and tensed up just like Stein. "No, it can't be."
"Stein, Spirit, what's going on?" Blood asked.
"I don't know how, but that man has the Book of Eibon." Spirit began shaking out of disbelief and terror.
"Blood, didn't my father have some knowledge on the Book of Eibon?" Misao asked.
Blood nodded, unable to speak once he realized what type of force they were up against.
"You all seem terrified. Afraid of me now that you know what powers I have?" Noah taunted, still keeping his eyes set on Misao.
"Blood, let's take this guy down." She spoke out. Blood stared at her with a surprised look on his face. "If he's more of a threat with that book, then the best thing to do is try and take it from him. Once we have it, he'll be defenseless." She knew her plan was easier said than done, but wanted to at least try before giving up. As a bonus, she wasn't going to let Noah take her without a fight.
"Okay, but make sure not to hold anything back." Blood said, getting ready for the battle. Misao placed her hand on Blood's back, and transformed him into a weapon. "Let's see if that book can handle me."
"I hope you'll show me a good time."
"Misao, you can't take him on by yourself." Stein came next to her, keeping his eyes on Noah. She noticed that Spirit was in his weapon form. "Look closely at his soul wavelength. He has more power than you and Blood combined."
Misao took another look at Noah, and saw that Stein was right. His soul emanated in the air. She felt her breathing increase and her body shake with fear. 'I have to get it together.' She thought to herself. 'If he senses my fear, I'll have no chance of defeating him. Plus I'll end up slowing down Stein and Spirit.'
"Calm down, Misao." Blood's voice brought Misao back to her senses, and stopped her mind from going all over the place. "You have to stay focused on the enemy in front of you. If you let your mind wonder, he'll gain the upper hand and take you down."
"Blood's right, Misao. Don't let your guard down for even a second. Spirit and I will grab his attention, then you take it from there."
Misao stopped and took a deep breath and stared Noah down. Finally, her breath calmed as well as her trembling. "I'm ready now. Come at me whenever you want!" Stein and Misao both charged at Noah at the same time.
Noah chuckled as he avoided every attack they threw at him. As she continued attacking him, Misao had a strange sensation that Noah had more up his sleeves then he was letting on. "I have to say, I thought you'd be stronger than this."
"Sorry to disappoint you. Guess I'll have to kick it up a notch!" Misao charged at him with Stein right beside her. It wasn't long before he disappeared in a gust of wind to sneak up on Noah and distract him so Misao could grab the book. But somehow, he saw through their plan. Without warning, Noah summoned lightning to strike both Misao and Stein. They both got thrown back by the force. Misao struggled to get up. She had taken more damage than Stein did. "Damn him." She gasped under her breath.
"Can you still fight?" Blood asked her.
She used Blood as a cane to regain her balance and get back on her feet. "I think so."
Noah approached her, wearing a cheerful smirk. "That's a good look for you: pathetic and helpless." Just as he said that, Misao sank back to the ground.
'I don't have enough energy to stand up.' She thought, holding Blood in her lap. 'What am I going to do?'
"Now, you're coming with me."
"Don't even think about it!" Just as Noah extended a hand toward Misao, Blood transformed back into a human and pushed Noah's hand aside. "I refuse to let you lay a single finger on her, you bastard!"
Noah laughed at Blood's bravery. "And what'll happen if I do touch her? You're in no shape to fight, let alone protect her. You're in worse condition than she is!"
Maka and the others suddenly came rushing to help Blood and Misao. "Then how about you take us on?" Soul said.
"That's right! We won't let you pick on our friends!" Black Star announced. They all rushed Noah all together to keep him away from Blood and Misao.
Misao watched as they all risked their lives to protect her. 'This is exactly what I didn't want to happen.' She was happy that she had friends to back her up, but at the same time guilty for dragging them into her battles. 'Now they're gonna get hurt, and it'll be all my fault.' While Misao was blaming herself for putting innocent people in harm's way, something came over her that made her tremble with more fear than ever before. She was so traumatized that she couldn't even move her fingers.
The second Blood sensed the same tension, he turned to Misao to check on her. "Misao, are you alright?"
"He's here." She whispered.
Blood grabbed both of her shoulders. "Who's here?" Before he could get her to speak, dark clouds began forming all around them. One cloud reached down and grabbed Misao, pulling her into the sky. "Misao, no!" Blood tried to hang onto her but eventually lost his grip and released her.
"Blood help me!" Misao screamed at the top of her lungs for someone to save her. But it was too late.
A sinister laugh echoed throughout the park, and all around Death City. Misao knew who it was as she went deeper into the clouds. It wasn't long before she finally saw him after a long time; the Kishin Asura. Misao desperately tried to struggle free, but still found herself completely traumatized.
Finally she came into contact with Asura and could feel every drop of his madness forming around her. "Well, well, Misao Ono. It really has been far too long since we last saw each other. Of course, back then you were only a small defenseless child."
"Well I'm not a child anymore! I'm a meister, and when I get free I'll make you pay for what you did to my father and my entire village!" Although she was still very frightened, it didn't stop her from confronting Asura.
Asura laughed as he grabbed a hold of her wrist and pulled her closer to him. This was just like all of Misao's nightmares; trapped by the Kishin with no way of escaping. She was to be his prisoner for the rest of her life. "It's a shame you'll never get that chance." He gloated. "Because I don't plan on letting you escape me again. And there's no one strong enough to save you."
"That's where you're wrong!" Asura and Misao looked down to see Blood standing up for Misao. "Asura, release Misao now! I won't let you take her!"
"Is that so, Blood? You're just as annoying and stubborn as you were when her father tried to use you to defeat me." Asura opened his mouth wide to blast a powerful beam straight at Blood. Luckily, he was able to dodge the attack just before it hit. But after he dodged it, Asura vanished with Misao.
"Come back! Misao!" Blood shouted at the top of his lungs.
He could still hear Misao screams of terror. "Blood, help me!"
"Misao…no." Blood fell to his knees, not believing that he let Asura take Misao away from him. He became so enraged that he punched the ground and actually left a small crater within it. It didn't matter to him that his fist began bleeding. The only thing he was concerned about was how frightened Misao is now that she's with Asura. 'Forgive me, Master Isame.' He prayed in his head. 'I failed you.'
Author's Note: Didn't I tell you this chapter would be full of suspense? From this point on, things will get more interesting. Please R&R!