Chapter Eighteen
Author's Note: I know I'm slipping with publishing these chapters. Being a college senior is stressing me out and eating up my writing time. This chapter is sort of short, but that's because I'm building up to an amazing climax in this current battle. Enjoy!
"…as long as you are within the DWMA and Death City, we all fight as one!" There was power in Stein's voice as he spoke those words. He looked back at Misao who stared at him with zombie-like eyes. "Misao, we understand your reason for not involving others in your fights. But ask yourself, how long can you and Blood fight on your own?"
Her grip on her weapon tightened. "Don't say that." She spoke. The next words she spoke were vocal and filled with every drop of emotion. "Don't say you understand anything about us! You have no idea what it's like to have a burden this heavy placed on you! Nor do you understand what it's like to watch your father sacrifice himself for you! Then when you wake up every single person you ever knew is dead! Just because I've spent a majority of my time in this damned academy, doesn't mean you know anything about me and can sympathize with me!"
Once again, the tremble in her body took her over as well as the sorrow that defined her. Her heart pounded louder than a drum, bursting from her chest.
"Hey, are you done with your little act!?" Giriko asked in an annoyed tone over his roaring chains. "We have a mission to complete and we don't have all day!"
Before anyone else could respond, Misao stepped up without hesitation, preparing to attack. "I'll prove that we can survive." She said without cracking her voice. Despite her emotions going through the roof, Misao managed to keep her cool on the outside as she got ready to fight. "Blood…are you going to agree with Stein? Are you going to tell me to stop? Say that I'm too riled up to fight?"
She heard Blood chuckle as his wavelength merged with hers. "I admit that you are riled up. But at the same time…you are capable of fighting with it. As I've told you many times Misao, I will stand by you till the end."
She smiled. "Thank you." She faced Giriko and the others with rage blazing within her. "If you want me, come at me!"
"Hahahahahaha! Your energy changed! Excellent! Just excellent!" Noah's laugh was hysterical as he clapped his hands loudly, clenching the Book of Eibon under his right arm. "You definitely have a strong soul." His voice and facial expression quickly shifted into a sinister look from under his hat. "But…let's see how strong." Within seconds, Noah opened the book and summoned three kishin ogres with giant axes and mallets.
"Oh hell yeah!" Giriko exclaimed, looking back at the ogres. "Let's get this started already!" He led the ogres into battle.
"You guys take care of the ogres!" Misao exclaimed as she rushed into the battle the moment Giriko charged towards them. "Giriko is mine!"
"Lead them away from the academy!" Sid instructed as he kicked an ogre to get his attention. The ogre followed him over the balcony and near the stairs of the DWMA. "Their skin is tough and they're fast! Be on your guard!"
"Come on, give up already!" Giriko exclaimed while clashing with Misao and Blood.
"We won't give up until you're dead!" Blood exclaimed as Misao dodged his attacks.
"I refuse to give in to you or Asura!"
"Misao, look out behind you!"
An ogre jumped from the balcony, aiming for Misao with its hands cupped together, prepared to cause a damaging earthquake. A stream of light sliced it in two before it managed to hit the ground. Misao looked up to see Maka falling towards her, as the ogre's remains vanished in a swirl of lights, leaving only a corrupted soul behind. "We got your back, Misao!"
"Hey Noah! Keep your damn ogres out of my fight!" Giriko yelled in anger.
"My bad." Noah responded nonchalantly. "They get anxious in their fights."
"Cocky bastard."
'Now's my chance!' Misao gathered every drop of her soul energy, clenched her fingers in her palm without making a fist, extended her palm as much as she could and attacked Giriko from behind. "SOUL COMPRESSION!" She struck Giriko dead center in his spine. He let out a pained gasp and spat out blood before collapsing to his knees. Misao turned to the scythe part of her weapon and held it above Giriko. "Now your soul will be mine."
Misao prepared to reap Giriko's soul, but was then smacked into the air and then into the academy, head first. She rolled onto her stomach, barely holding Blood in her hand and covered with gravel. "Misao, are you okay?"
She managed to get on her knees while clenching her bleeding shoulder. There was also blood dripping from her forehead and down her face. "Besides all of the blood spilling from me, I'm peachy."
"Misao! Blood!" Kid rushed towards them, along with Black Star.
"I'm fine, guys. Really." She could barely stand, but did so despite the hands forcing her to remain seated.
Noah and two ogres entered the academy through the hole Misao made with her body. "My bad, Misao." Noah said in a sarcastic tone. "I should really teach my ogres some manners. I hope you weren't hurt too bad. Asura won't be happy if I bring you back with bruises."
"She's not going to Asura!" Kid proclaimed, standing in front of Misao, wielding Liz and Patty.
Black Star stood beside him in a battle stance with Tsubaki. "If you want her, you'll have to go through me; the star of this academy."
"How cute. You're trying to protect your friend." Noah adjusted his hat while smiling at Kid and Black Star.
"We're not only protecting her; we're also protecting this school." Kid said in a menacing tone. "You'll pay for the damages you've done. Your souls should compensate."
"Son of the Grim Reaper." Noah stared at Kid with interest, stroking his chin. "I'm curious of how much power you can use. Let's test it. Ogres, attack!" The ogres charged towards the gang as they let out loud roars.
Kid and Black Star charged right back, attacking the ogres from all directions while Misao and Blood stood there watching in silence. At this point, Misao was using Blood as a cane to hold herself up. "This is what I was trying to prevent." She said in a low tone. "These people are fighting our battle. They're taking damage that should belong to us."
"We can still fight them off, Misao. They're doing their best to keep us and their colleagues out of harm's way."
"Blood, the Kishin is after us! We should be fighting his lackeys and defend ourselves." Her knees began to weaken and she fell down, leaning against weapon-Blood. "I'm still a cowardly child. My legs won't even let me stand up. Am I just supposed to sit here and let Soul and the others die for my sake?"
Blood transformed back into his human form and leaned down to comfort Misao. "You're not a coward, Misao. You never were."
"No Blood, I am!" She exclaimed. "I've been training to become a great Meister like my dad, but instead, I've hidden behind everyone else's power and sat back while they all fought for me! I've even used you as a shield. Forgive me…please." Tears began to well up in Misao's eyes as her trembling got worse.
For the first time, Blood became annoyed with Misao's whining. To him, she was making excuses for not fighting or standing up for herself. "You're letting fear hold you back, Misao." He told her in a low growl. "When we got here, you never hesitated in a single fight. You held your head high and overcame every obstacle and challenge that dared show its face. You pushed yourself day and night to become stronger so you wouldn't let Asura control your thoughts. But now…you've let him in. You can't stand up because you're afraid to! No more excuses, Misao! Stand up and let's get back into this fight! Everyone is counting on us just as much as we count on them! By feeling sorry for yourself, you're disgracing Master Isame and your home! Stand up, damn it!"
Misao stared at Blood with a little bit of fear, feeling every word he spoke sink into her skin and become absorbed by her weakening spirit. Each word she took in was like fuel for her to rise to her feet and cease the tears from flowing. With one deep sigh of breath, Misao turned into her old self again. "Sorry for acting like this, Blood. I'll prove I'm not weak."
He smiled at the newly-found confidence that emanated from his meister. "Don't worry about it. Ready to get back into the fight?" he asked.
She nodded her head as she took his hand in hers. Blood transformed back into a weapon. Misao leapt back to the balcony where everyone was in an epic battle. Noah had summoned more monsters from the Book of Eibon and almost all of the meisters had scratches and blood on them. She noticed Gopher attacking Stein and Spirit, so she decided to leap into action and block his attack before it struck Stein.
"Misao…" was all Stein could say with widened eyes.
Misao continued staring at Gopher while maintain a fighting stance. "I'm not letting you guys fight my battles for me. Blood and I will prove once again that we can stand on our own."
Stein could see into her soul and see that there was new power flowing through her spirit. Misao's strength increased to the point where the body of her spirit could be seen by everyone. The aura that surrounded had a different energy source that fed the spirit. "The orb's energy…so this is its power."
"I'm ready for you, Gopher!" Misao exclaimed. "You'll feel the full extent of my pain and sorrow!"
"In the name of Master Noah, I will capture you." He glared menacingly at Misao, disgusted by her confidence, and sure that he could defeat her despite the power coming from her. The two collided in a great battle that no one could keep up with.
To match his speed in the air, Misao pushed off of the remaining pillars and structures of the DWMA every now and then. The rest of the time, she used the power from her defense to send him flying backwards then using her mass to launch towards him while still in the air. In this battle, Misao had the upper hand, even when dodging and blocking his missile attacks. "This is impossible! How are you able to keep up with me!? Next to the Kishin's and Master Noah, my power is unmatched!"
"I think you're over-estimating yourself, dude." Misao told Gopher with a grin on her face.
"And that is why we're owning your ass right now." Blood continued on as Misao hit Gopher in the chest with the scythe end of her spear, twirling him in a full circle and then slamming him back down to the ground where he landed on his back. His body had made a large mark in the cement ground and was covered in rubble.
"NOW COMES…THE REAPING OF YOUR SOUL!" With eyes filled with rage and newfound confidence, Misao let herself drop from the sky with the scythe-end faced down towards the grounded and weakened Gopher, ready to strip him of his soul. "You're mine!" Just inches away, a rush of adrenaline filled her body, as if replacing the position of the blood cells that ran through her veins. A smile formed on her face, and it wasn't forced on there by the velocity of her falling. It was a willing smile.
Author's Note: I sort of mimicked the scene in Soul Eater where Soul yelled at Maka when they fought Stein. I thought it wouls spice it up and fit into the conflict she has with herself. I am working on chapter nineteen and will have it out shortly. Maybe in two weeks or so.
Until then, please R&R :)