Chapter Twenty-Four

Hope you guys weren't waiting too long! This chapter flowed through pretty smoothly if I do say so myself :)

Dive in!

"What does he want to talk to me about?" Blood asked as he followed Spirit down the hallway.

"He didn't say. He just told me to bring you to him. I'm sure he just wants to check on your mental stability again. Either way, he just wants to help you."

When they got to the infirmary, Blood walked in while Spirit turned around to head back to the classroom. Blood closed the door behind him and then stared at Stein, who was sitting at his desk turning the large screw in his head until it made a loud click. "You wanted to speak with me, Stein?" Blood asked, keeping a calm expression.

Stein adjusted his glasses while peering at Blood from the corner of his eye. "Your soul wavelength is swirling. Yet it's calm and relaxed. It's all going in one direction."

"Excuse me?" Blood tilted his head slightly to the side in utter confusion.

"You're more relaxed than I thought you'd be." He said, turning his gaze back to his desk. "I just wanted to get a reading on your soul before we headed out to battle. You're actually prepared for this."

"Of course I am." Blood replied. "I thought about it for a while, and I know that for Misao's sake, I have to remain calm if I'm going to save her and defeat Asura. Like you told me in the past, I can't be reckless. Not this time."

Stein gave a small smile while looking up at Blood. "You really do learn quick." Stein stood up from his desk and patted Blood on the shoulder. "Isame would be proud of you."

Hearing those words gave Blood more strength and courage, fueling him to not fail in this rescue. "Thank you, Professor Stein."

Stein stared intensely at Blood as he stood up from his chair and adjusted his glasses. "Your soul is very strange."

Blood looked down at his chest, patting himself down before asking, "What do you mean?"

Stein chuckled. "I mean the coloring of it. It's a reddish-orange color, which is yours. But near the center of it is a hint of lavender. That's the same color as Misao's soul." He chuckled again and then patted Blood on the shoulder. "You two are more connected than I thought. You've inserted a piece of her soul within you."

"It represents how much I truly love her." He said softly, holding his hand above his chest. "That's the essence that keeps me fighting. Wherever we go, no matter how far apart we are…we carry each other within us."

"I see. Your bond is much stronger than I thought. Well then, let's bring her back as soon as possible."

Blood smiled at Stein and nodded. "Yes sir!"

They rejoined with the others in the classroom. Blood sat beside Black Star and Tsubaki, wearing the most determined face anyone could ever wear before going into battle.

Sid and Nygus stood side by side, scanning the room. "Alright everyone! This will no doubt be the most deadly battle you ever enter. We are going against Asura, the original kishin. Most of you are only one-star meisters! But don't let that stop you from fighting in this battle. Each one of you are very skilled in your own way! This is what you've been training for since you first set foot in the DWMA."

"This mission is also extremely important because not only does Asura have Misao held hostage, he also has an artifact that could magnify his madness and effectively destroy everything. " Nygus explained, resting a hand on her hip. "We came up with a strategy for a successful rescue mission. Remember that Blood is possibly the main target Asura and his followers will attempt to go after. Stay near him at all costs. Are there any questions?"

Everyone looked around for a while, seeing if anyone would speak up. Finally Patty stood up and raised her hand.

"What is it, Patty?" Sid acknowledged her.

"Umm, before we go, can I go to the bathroom really quick?"

The classroom was silent.

"Patty, five minutes ago you said you didn't have to use the bathroom." Liz whispered to her, embarrassed of her sister.

"I know, but that was five minutes ago. I don't want to go out to battle and slow down because I have to hold it in."

"You're excused, Patty." Sid said exhaustingly while rubbing his head.

"Thank you! I'll be back in a sec!" Patty jumped from her seat and ran out of the classroom, towards the nearest girls' restroom.

"Okay…if there are no more issues, let's prepare to leave."

Everyone gathered in different groups and compared supplies and went over the battle strategy. They all had slightly grim faces. But they tried not to let it show because they were going in to help a friend.

Blood walked out of the classroom and went back outside to catch the last bit of breeze that past by the school. He clutched his bandaged arm, thinking about his clan and everything he was taught. 'We never needed a meister to help us unlock our full power. Our clan…always thought that…having a meister would only weaken us. Weapons were the superior ones; the ones with the real power meisters abused and took for themselves. But…that's not the case. Meisters aren't as weak as we thought. They do have a power of their own. One I thought I could never understand. The power…is their strength and will.' He turned his right hand into a spearhead and raised it to the sky. "On my soul…I swear I will stand by my meister. I will save her, just like she saved me."

Misao's body began to regain feeling as she twitched her index and middle finger. When she finally regained all of the feeling in her body, Misao found that she had been in a sitting position and there was something resting itself in her lap. She opened her eyes in shock to find Asura laying his head in her lap and curled in a ball like a small infant when it was scared.

Asura chuckled without even looking at Misao. "You're trembling has picked up. You're awake. That's good." He said under his cackling. "We wouldn't want you to miss the show."

"Wh-What show?"

"DWMA is on its way to rescue you."

A gasp escaped Misao's mouth. "Blood…is coming here."

Asura cackled even more when he heard the terror in Misao's tone. The way she began to have a shortness of breath and stuttered while she spoke gave him a pleasure he hadn't felt in years. "That's right. He and the rest of your friends are on their way here. They'll come here, and then they'll die. One…by….one."

'No…Blood. Blood…will…' She clenched her hands together near her torso. The nightmare Asura implanted in her that caused her to pass out, could become a reality. 'He won't die. He'll save me.' Tears welled up in her eyes, but she kept them from falling down her face. Along with her emotions, the orbs power began to rise within her. Instead of the warm light she felt before, it began to slowly burn her from the inside. Misao took in long, deep breaths, each time tasting her own blood. She coughed and noticed a small spot of blood in her hand.

The orb was slowly responding to the strongest soul energy in the room. At this point, it was Asura's. Misao felt as if her chest was about to burst from its energy as it continued to heat up within her. She conjured what she could of her own power and tried to subdue the dark energy it was absorbing. She managed to tame it, but there was still some madness it had taken in. Misao felt it squirm inside of her; illusions played in her head, making her go crazy in her own mind.

'Father…the orb is beginning to become corrupted.' She prayed. 'I don't know if I'll be able to cast away Asura's wavelength. Please, guide Blood to me. Keep him safe.'

A knock came to the door. Giriko had peaked his head into the room. "Lord Asura, you wanted to see me?" he asked.

"Come in, Giriko."

Giriko's gaze went straight to Misao sitting on the bed with Asura laying in her lap. He flashed his sharp-toothed grin. "I see you have her keeping you company."

"Yes, and we'll soon have more guests arriving."

"So the DWMA are about to launch their attack?" he asked with excitement in his voice.

"That's right." He cackled again. "We need to make sure they don't reach Misao. Tell the others to get in their positions and prepare to launch the first attack."

Giriko bowed to Asura. "I'll do it without delay, my Lord. This should make for an interesting battle." He rose back up and looked directly into Misao's eyes. "I'll be sure to send your regards to your weapon as I tear him to shreds." He left the room with a bloodlust smile.

" You're not trembling as much as before." Misao jumped and gasped after Asura spoke. "Have you regained your faith in your friends?"

She took in a deep breath as she felt the sting of his madness subside within the orb. "I never lost faith in them. They'll come for me and stop you. Blood has never deserted me. He's…stronger than you could ever imagine. Especially when he's fighting for something special and most important to him."

"You speak with such confidence and strength." Asura rose up and faced Misao. "It makes me sick!" With one strong wave of his hand, he slapped Misao to the point she let out a small shriek and rolled onto the floor. It left a small scratch on her cheek and it was leaking small drips of blood. The feel of his hand against her cheek was like millions of ice shards that dug into her skin. "You rely on your imagination and hope, thinking that will save you! Gopher!"

Gopher quickly entered the room. "You summoned me, Lord Asura?"

"Get her out of my sight! Tell Justin to guard her before the DWMA comes for her."

"Understood, Lord Asura." Gopher walked towards Misao and pulled her up from the ground by her forearm.

Misao couldn't complain about the pain Gopher was inflicting on her considering she was still feeling the sting of Asura's strike against her. "Madness will only cause everyone to suffer!" She shouted at him. "I swear I'll pay you back for killing my father and my village! Your madness will be stopped even if I have to die to make it happen!"

Gopher threw Misao back into the tower and glared evilly at her. "Master Noah has paid too much attention to you." He began to bite his lower lip after he mentioned Noah. "I am the only one he needs to pay attention to." He walked out and slammed the door behind him in rage and anger.

Misao let out gasps and frantic breathing fits, processing what had just happened. Once she had everything processed, Misao began to have a breakdown, curling herself into a ball and crying hysterically. "Blood…Blood…I need you." She felt her stomach churn to the point she thought she was going to puke. 'Help me…I don't…I DON'T WANT TO DIE!'

Can you feel the intensity yet? I hope you do! Please R&R!