Chapter Twenty-Nine
I know you all have been waiting forever for an update. I've been busy trying to find a job since graduating college back in December. I've also been working on original novels I hope to publish before this year is over. Anyway, next chapter may be the final one. It's Misao and Blood vs. Asura!
Please enjoy!
The madness of the Kishin surrounded the room, filling Misao and Blood with more fear than they could ever imagine.
Misao was still holding on to her consciousness, feeling weak and drained from the pain she felt when the orb was removed from her body. She held on to Blood as Asura's insane laughter filled the room before he blew a hole in the ceiling and left Misao and Blood trembling from fear and exhaustion.
"Blood…we…still have to…avenge my father." Misao raised her hand towards the hole Asura had made.
All Blood could do was comfort Misao, hoping she would regain some of her strength.
"Looks like things are about to get even more interesting, now that Asura has the orb." Noah said as he took a step towards the weapon and meister. "So, what to do with you two? I think I have an idea. Blood, I'll kill you…" Noah summoned two giant trolls from his Book of Eibon. "…as for you Misao…it'd be such a waste to kill you. So instead, I'll just trap you in my book and keep you as a trophy."
"The hell you will." Blood said, clutching Misao closer to him. "Touch another hair on her head and…"
"Blood, it's okay." Misao struggled to stand on her own. "I'm not…a trophy…to be kept and fought over. I'm a meister."
"Misao, are you…alright to walk?"
"I'm still a bit weak. But I'll be fine. Especially since you're back by my side." Misao offered Blood her hand. As his hand touched hers, she felt power run straight through her heart and into her soul.
The partners gazed into each other's eyes and gathered strength from each other. "Noah, you want to keep me as a trophy?" Misao kept her gaze on Noah while Blood quickly transformed into his weapon form and flew into Misao's fearless hands. "I'll make you pay for every ounce of mental pain you caused me."
"Oh boy! Now it's my turn to play with you. Let's see what you got, princess." Noah commanded the trolls to charge towards Misao and Blood.
Misao concentrated her soul, despite it still being damaged from Asura's touch, and used it to harden the space around her. The trolls knocked on the invisible shield, attempting the break it down. "As long as I am drawing breath, and I am able to stand on my own, my soul shall never be weak. Even if it is drained of all energy, as long as I feel a teeny amount of power running through it…I will always be protected."
Misao removed Blood's bandages, then in one quick motion, cut through both trolls. They fell to the ground, exploding in a giant ball of light, leaving behind two kishin egg souls behind.
Blood felt a surge of energy rushing through him, as well as energy being passed from Misao. "This is…"
"That's right, Blood. We finally did it. This…is SOUL RESONANCE!" Misao set her sights on Noah. Using their increased power and strength, Misao got behind Noah and attempted to slice off his head. "Your soul is mine!" His head flew off from his body, landing on the other side of the room. His body collapsed to the ground with a thud. Misao wanted to let out a sigh of relief, but that wasn't happening. "Bastard."
"Hahaha! Not bad. Not bad. You almost had me." Noah was behind them with a grin on his face. "Your Soul Resonance was very impressive. The way you moved on the trolls and then on me, I barely saw it comi…" He was soon cut off by a choking sensation.
Misao's eyes widened when she saw Stein thrust his death scythe right into Noah's stomach, causing him to gag and cough up gallons of blood. "Professor!"
"You didn't see that coming, did you?" Stein said in an evil and sadistic tone. "Disappear." Stein sliced Noah into two pieces.
He gushed out blood and silently died. His soul hovered over the remains.
Spirit transformed back into a human, as did Blood. "Are you two okay?" Spirit asked.
"We're fine." Misao said. Just after he said that, Misao lost control of her legs and fell into Blood's arms.
"Misao, are you okay?" Blood asked as Spirit and Stein ran to check on her.
"I'm fine. Just…lost my footing."
"Asura took the orb from her, along with most of her strength. Performing Soul Resonance must have taken it out of her."
"You two pulled off Soul Resonance?" Stein asked in amazement.
"Yeah, we did. We were perfectly in sync."
Stein checked Misao's pulse by touching his index and middle finger to her wrist. "Her pulse is a bit irregular. Her soul is still damaged."
"I have to stop the Kishin. He's out there…with the orb." Misao pulled out of Blood's hold.
"Misao, I hate to say this, but you don't have enough strength to face him. He's too powerful and your energy is still shaky." Stein told her.
"I don't care! I…refuse to let anyone fight my battles. I have to get revenge for my father and my village!" Tears fell from her eyes like a waterfall as she attempted to walk out of the chamber. "We can take him, Blood. We have to!"
Blood watched his meister fight through her injuries in order to face the most malevolent force the world has ever known. He never saw her with this much determination. He couldn't help but walk towards her and embrace her from behind.
Her body froze in Blood's arms. He wasn't holding her back; Misao knew this embrace meant Blood was giving her all of his support.
"I won't let you go anywhere without me. Let me stay by your side…now and forever."
"Blood…" Misao turned and stared into Blood's eyes. She saw more than her childhood friend, or her weapon partner. She saw her lifelong companion and a guardian that would always be there to lift her up. She pressed her lips to his, feeling the healing strength she needed to face Asura and save their friends. "You'll really follow me anywhere?"
"Always…my Misao." They shared another passionate kiss, gathering their strength and courage from one another. "Stein, Spirit, take us to Asura."
"Are you sure…"
"We're not arguing with you!" Misao said in a demanding tone. "My father and our home will be avenged. Asura is ours to kill."
Stein was actually shocked by Misao's tone. He adjusted his glasses in fascination and smiled. "If you insist. Stay on guard."
The four of them made their way towards Asura. He was at the top of the fortress. The closer they got to him, the more madness Misao could feel take over her. Almost there, Misao became overwhelmed by the madness and fell back into Stein's arms. Her grip on her weapon loosened, but she never let go of him.
"Misao, are you okay?" Blood asked.
"Don't worry. I…I can keep going." They finally reached the top of the fortress, where Misao saw a horrific sight that caused her blood to turn ice cold. The bodies of all of her friends scattered across the ground. All of them were bleeding pretty badly. The smell of their blood mixed into the air, reaching Misao's nose and practically making her ill. "No…not again." That moment she saw their bodies lying on the floor, she immediately got a flash of her village on fire, with corpses scattered throughout the streets. Tears overflowed her eyes to the point she lost her balance and fell to her knees.
Blood transformed back into a human, and leaned over her, as she vomited violently for a few seconds. "Misao…"
"This is all my fault. I let this happen." Misao said in between sobs. "I let others fight my battles; in the end….they end up getting hurt. It's all my fault!"
"No it's not, MIsao!" Blood told her. "None of this is your fault. You're stronger than you realize! They chose to help us, because they're our friends. This is our chance to avenge your father and everyone Asura has slaughtered. Please Misao, as your weapon and companion, I'm begging you, stand up and fight." Blood took raised her up and embraced her. "I'll be beside you throughout this battle. Even if we lose our lives."
Even in Blood's arms, Misao couldn't stop shaking. But she was able to stand up with him. She buried her face in his chest, taking in his warmth and inspirational words. "Thank you…Blood."
It took her a while, but Misao managed to gain back some control of her body and actions. Holding onto Blood's hand tightly, they continued walking towards the center of the fortress, where Asura was. He was in a different form; blue, rotten skin, wrapped in bandages.
Misao noticed that Maka and Soul were still fighting him. "Maka…Soul…" She could tell they were severely injured and were close to giving out.
Asura immediately locked onto Misao and Blood. With a single motion of his hand, he knocked Maka straight in the head and sent her flying towards Misao.
"Maka!" Misao ran to catch her. Before she could, Soul transformed back to his human form and held Maka tightly as they hit the ground. "You guys are hurt badly." Misao said, kneeling beside them. "I'm sorry I put all of you through this."
"Don't apologize, Misao." Soul told her in a wheezing voice. "We'll be okay."
"You guys rest…" Misao said, holding Maka's and Soul's hands in hers. "…while Blood and I finish what he started." Misao rose up and walked closer to Asura.
The orb made his wavelength more powerful than anyone could've imagined. He smiled from ear to ear when Misao and Blood stood before him. "Look around you, Misao. A very familiar sight, isn't it? Friends and loved ones…scattered across the ground. They could be inches away from dying. And you…standing in the middle of them completely helpless."
Misao almost let his words get to her. But she held Blood's hand, twining their fingers together. "I admit, Asura, that I'm still afraid of you. Unlike Maka and the others, I let my fear get the best of me. In this fight…I'll fight against my fear, and use every bit of strength I have to destroy you once and for all."
Asura chuckled. "Your fear was the very thing that sustained me whenever I haunted your dreams. Thanks to that, and the orb, the outcome will be in my favor. Just like it was in your pathetic little village."
"Professor Stein, I want you and Spirit to stay out of this fight. No matter what happened to me or Blood…you will not interfere."
Stein said nothing.
"If Lord Death was here right now, he'd let me fight Asura alone."
"Yes…he would." Stein agreed. "Good luck. We'll tend to the others."
Misao nodded her head as Spirit returned to normal and went to Maka's side. Misao stared Asura down as her heart pounded. This was a day she dreamed of her entire life. 'Father…today is the day…" Blood transfored into his weapon form. Misao held herself up, ready for whatever was about to happen between her and the Kishin. "…you will be avenged!'
Please R&R :)