Sooooo… has been being weird lately. I would check the story stats and it would show 0 reads. for 8 days on this story. Which I have updated twice within that time period and have gotten reviews in that time period as well. So obviously, something is wrong, because my read count should be MUCH higher than what the site is saying it is. *sigh* anyway, it's working now, so no harm, no foul. Anyway, this chapter is dedicated to user: dark anime princess marie. Thanks for your review! Anyway, you're all tired of reading my author's note by now, especially with what's going on in the story right now, so. ON WITH THE SHOW!
-Myra-
It had been a few hours since Arachne advised Myra that intruders had arrived and told Myra to wait in the library. Myra currently was sitting on a chair, back facing the only entrance, waiting for her turn to smite the intruder. In her hands, she held open a book about Alice Cooper, whom she loved listening to before she had lost her memory.
"Kid wait! At least take two minutes to rest! You won't be strong enough to beat this one!" Myra heard someone yell in the hallway. She smirked while turning the page of her book. Heavy, exhausted footsteps grew louder the closer they approached the door. Myra closed her book, placing it on the table next to her, and taking her dagger in her hands.
"And so," she smiled to herself. "the mouse has walked into the trap." She stayed there, looking at her reflection in the blade of the dagger as the door burst open with a bang. Myra moved her blade enough to see behind her, the beaten and bloody Death the Kid, breathing heavily and bracing himself on his knees. He caught his breath before Medusa's voice rang through the room, though she was not there.
"So, you've it here. I have good news and bad news for you, Kid," Medusa taunted.
"Shut up and give me what you got. I'm not going to stop until all three of you are dead! No matter what the trial!" Kid yelled as Liz and Patty entered behind him with a few cuts on them, but other than that, the sisters seemed fine. Myra watched the scene with much interest in the blade.
"The good news is, this is your final obstacle. If you defeat this one, you can face my sisters and I. The bad news, however, you will fail. No matter how much you want us dead, you will fail this trial," Medusa told him. Her voice left with a low, sinister laugh before Kid could even ask what she meant. He stood there, Liz and Patty at his sides, waiting for whatever creature they would have to face. Surely nothing could be worse than the minotaur they had faced in the last room.
Myra finally stood up from her chair, not turning around. "Hey, who are you? Are you the last trial?" Kid asked angry and confused because this was just a girl. A normal looking person from behind. He thought he could win easily and that Medusa was bluffing. She picked up the book from her table and moved to replace it on its appropriate shelf across the room. "Show yourself!" Kid yelled at her. Myra smirked to herself before speaking.
"Keep your mouth shut. This is a Library after all," she responded.
"Oh spare me. It's just us in here anyway, and all the books will be stained with your blood."
"You think so, do you?" Myra asked, twirling her dagger in her hands.
"I know so. I have to because I'm avenging my friends who you probably helped kidnap."
"Such awful accusations, and we've only just met."
"Just shut up and face me, you stupid bitch."
"Wow, okay, rude," Myra turned around, her eyebrows knit together, her face in a scowl. She hated being called stupid. "You don't have to go calling people names like that, especially when you don't know me." Myra sighed and Kid, Liz and Patty's eyes all widened. "Look, I'll try and make this quick for you, I'd really rather go back to that book. So if you don't mind, I'm going to kill you now."
"M-m…" Kid stuttered.
"Oh, going to cry for your Mummy? Too bad she isn't here to save you."
"...Myra…" Kid breathed her name. He couldn't believe it was her. He remembered her always saying she hated straight across bangs and hair higher than her shoulders, so of course he didn't recognize her when turned around. She seemed different to him, and Myra was astounded he knew her name.
"How do you know me? Are you some kind of stalker or something?" She asked him. Kid shook his head to get rid of the shock, though it was still there.
"No, what? Myra, it's me."
"Hi Me, I'm your killer. Would you like to have some tea and scones?" she mocked.
"What the Hell, Myra? What's wrong with you?" Liz asked, eyeing the dagger in Myra's hands.
"Why do people keep asking me that, Gods…"
"Because you aren't yourself! It's obvious!" Patty yelled at her.
"This is how I have always been, you twit. Now do yourself a favor and stop acting like you know me."
"But we do, Myra. And I know you better than almost anyone! The exception is Maka because she is your sister!" Kid informed her in a panicked voice. "Please snap out of it, Myra."
"There's nothing to 'snap out of'," Myra scoffed. "I'm getting tired of talking to you. Time for Death the Kid to actually die." Liz and Patty quickly transformed as Myra took an offensive stance, ready to fight. Kid looked at Myra in dismay, he knew this was her. He knew that this was the girl he was in love with, but she didn't act like it, and even though he should have been glad she was alive, he was heart-broken. Not only did Myra not even acknowledge her recognition of him, but in order to get to the witches, he would have to kill her. Kid didn't think he could do it, sure, physically he was capable of such, but mentally he was too weak.
"There's gotta be something to get her to snap out of it," Liz told Kid while he stood there, arms limp and unmoving.
"Jog her memory with something Kid! Anything!" Patty added desperately while Myra advanced towards them.
"But what? What on Earth would I do to bring her back?" Kid asked.
-Black Star-
"Chrona, just calm down! Remember who you are! Fight the madness!" Tsubaki rang out from her weapon form. She and Black Star had been able to free Maka, Soul and Donna not very long ago and now they were in a stand-off with their shy, pink haired friend. Chrona laughed manically after Tsubaki spoke.
"It's useless, he's too far gone," Soul stated, his right arm looked like his curved black and red blade.
"Well we aren't leaving him here, especially not like that," Donna argued next to her boyfriend, her left arm in the shape of her katana blade. Maka, while everyone else was distracting Chrona, snuck behind him. As he lunged forward, Maka caught him by his waist and embraced her long time best friend and crush.
"Chrona stop! This isn't who you are!" she yelled at him. Chrona turned his head to get a better look at the girl holding his waist. "Please calm down and just think! Fight it! You can do it, I know you can! You've already done it before! Please… I can't lose you too…" Maka pleaded with Chrona, tears threatening to escape her eyes. She had already lost her twin sister to whatever the witches did to her, Maka didn't think she could handle losing her new boyfriend to them too. Her dad was too weird and too much of a playboy for Maka to really connect with him, her mom was dead, her sister didn't even remember her, no. Maka would be completely broken if she lost one more person. She held onto Chrona tighter, tears finally flowing from her eyes.
Chrona saw this and his heart skipped a beat with the familiar feeling of Maka's arms around him. He flashbacked to the first time she pulled him out of the control of the Madness. He remembered every warm gesture she had given him. Once he came back to reality, Chrona shook his head and began to tear up.
"M-maka?" he asked himself, as if he was unsure if he was still remembering things, or this was happening right in front of him. Maka looked up at him with a smile on her face.
"Yeah Chrona, it's me," she told him softly. If he was able to, Chrona would have dropped Ragnarok on the ground, but instead, he stopped being in his weapon form and became a being attached to Chrona's back while the two hugged. "Thank God I didn't lose you too." Maka said into his chest.
"Okay, awesome, we have recovered one more from our group, but we still need to find Myra. Sorry to cut it short, but we really have to get going," Black Star announced. Maka and Chrona parted. Chrona wiped the tears from her face as she answered Black Star.
"It's no use saving her. She doesn't need or want saving."
"Look, I don't have time to argue with you. Kid told me to get you guys out as fast as possible and that is what I intend to do. ALL of you," Black Star told her.
"It's too late for my sister! She's much too far gone! As much as I want her back, it is impossible! We've tried everything, but she wouldn't even bat an eye when we talked, or rather tried to talk to her. She tortured us, Black Star."
"Well whatever is wrong with her, Stein will fix her. Now come on, we have to find her. No man left behind." Soul smirked when Black Star said that, Donna nodded her head, Tsubaki gave a thumbs up, and Chrona squeezed Maka's hand.
"If you can bring me out of the Madness twice, we can fix Myra. I know where she is, and if Kid survived the previous trials, then we need to hurry and get both of them out before it really is too late," Chrona reassured Maka. Maka sighed and nodded her head reluctantly.
"Yeah, okay. Let's go save my dumbass of a sister."
"Lead the way, Chrona," Tsubaki said.
The group then took off running behind Chrona, despite exhaustion and pain from Maka, Donna, and Soul, they kept up. They ran past unconscious guards that Black Star had defeated earlier trying to get to his captured friends.
On their way, they got lost once or twice, but eventually they came across a large wooden door that was cracked open. Chrona slowed to a walk and gestured for everyone else to do the same. Black Star stepped in front of everyone else and quietly peered through the door, and he didn't exactly like what he saw.
Sure enough, Kid and Myra were in there, but they were fighting, or rather, Myra was and Kid would just barely escape her advances, occasionally getting a tear in his clothes. Black Star could see the frustration in Myra's eyes every time she missed her target. Kid didn't do anything back to her, he just kept jumping out of the way and tried talking to her, but none of it worked. She wouldn't stop.
"You sure this is her?" Black Star whispered to Chrona.
"Yes, they cut her hair and drained her memories. Or locked them up in her head or something. Whatever they did, she doesn't remember anything. That's why she isn't hesitating fighting with Kid," Chrona replied in a sad tone. Black Star's eyebrows knit together. How dare they do that to one of my friends. They'll pay for this! Black Star thought to himself.
"Shouldn't we help? Kid is getting tired of evasion and he won't fight her at all," Donna quietly added. She looked through the door with much concern for her meister and Kid. Black Star nodded.
"Tsubaki, chain scythe form. The rest of you stay back until I call for you," he said.
"But-" Maka started.
"No buts, I need to see how bad it is myself. Besides, you said she tortured you, right? Better you stay out here for now."
Maka opened her mouth to say something else, but decided against it and shut her lips. The Blue Haired meister nodded to his weapon who transformed at that moment. He took a deep breath and opened the door. Black Star stepped in at the perfect time, because it distracted Myra enough to where Kid could escape what would have been a fatal stab wound. She fell forward, holding her hands out to stop her fall. She quickly recovered, however, and stood up. The red haired female wiped her chin and smirked.
"So you've brought back-up, have you? A bit cowardly, don't you think?" she teased, looking straight at Black Star and Tsubaki, who was in her weapon form.
"HA! Kid, a coward? Don't make me laugh Red Riding Hood," Black Star taunted, using her nickname. "If anything, you should be cowering in fear, little girl. For I am the ALMIGHTY BLACK STAR! AND ONE DAY I'M GOING TO SURPASS GOD!" he shouted, hoping it would at least spark SOMETHING in Myra's mind.
"You surpass God? Oh please. You can't even kill the guards that were in your way trying to rescue your little friends," Myra said back.
"Because only cowards kill. If you really want to make someone suffer, let them live with the memory of being bested by someone else."
"Interesting concept. Go on," Myra said, interested.
"Black Star, what are you doing?" Tsubaki asked frantically.
"Trust me. I know what I'm doing," he reassured her. "And the best kind of torture, at least for what I've seen you do, is slowly carve their heart out, looking them dead in the eyes feeling no remorse."
"Seriously, what the hell goes through your mind, Black Star?" Kid asked.
"Kid, answer me something."
"Okay…?"
"When you and her first kissed, what song was playing?"
"Why is that relevant?"
"Just answer it!"
"I Don't Love You."
"Artist?"
"Her favorite band. Why is this relevant, Black Star? Are you trying to make me feel worse about this situation?"
"Sing it."
"What?" Myra and Kid looked at Black Star like he was crazy. Maybe he was, but he had a plan.
"You heard me, Kid! Sing it!"
"But why-?"
"Just do it! I'll take care of the rest…" Black Star smirked and Tsubaki face palmed in her reflection on the blade of her scythe form. Myra cocked one eyebrow up confused. Why would singing a stupid song help them? Kid took a deep breath, choosing to trust Black Star, and began to softly, and rather bashfully, sing the song.
"Well, when you go
Don't ever think I'll make you try to stay
And maybe when you get back
I'll be off to find another way," he sang as Myra lunged at Black Star, going blade to blade in combat, even if all she had was her dagger.
"And after all this time that you still owe
You're still a good-for-nothing I don't know
So take your gloves and get out
Better get out
While you can." Myra made a few cuts on Black Star's skin, making him bleed.
"When you go
Would you even turn to say
'I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday'" Black Star slashed back at her with Tsubaki and gave her a deep gash on her leg, but she didn't stop. Though, her movements did start to slow, as if she were starting to think it was a bad idea, but shrugged it off in time to attack.
"Sometimes I cry so hard from pleading
So sick and tired of all the needless beating
But baby when they knock you
Down and out
Is where you oughta stay." Myra felt the blade go past her cheek, cutting it and staining it a deep red all while Black Star wrapped the other end of Tsubaki's chain on Myra's dagger, pulling it from her hands and taking it into his own. Kid couldn't watch. He hadn't been since she first got cut. Myra may be a psycho at the moment, but he still didn't want to watch her get hurt.
"And after all the blood that you still owe
Another dollar's just another blow
So fix your eyes and get up
Better get up
While you can
Whoa, whoa," Kid continued, but very softly at this point. He trusted Black Star, but he didn't quite know if whatever plan he had would work.
"When you go
Would you even turn to say
'I don't love you
Like I did
Yesterday.'" Black Star rushed at Myra, but instead of using her fists to defend herself, she let herself be hit by the Meister.
"Well come on, come on," Kid sang. It was a part of the song, but he also felt inside himself, pleading that Black Star's plan worked. That Myra would come back to them. To him.
"When you go
Would you have the guts to say
'I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday,'" Kid stole a glance at the fight. Myra was wavering on her feet, her body now blood soaked as well as Black Star's. And just in a corner where no one could see, were small signs of direction.
"I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday," Kid looked directly at Myra and she looked back. She seemed afraid, like she didn't know where she was.
"I don't love you
Like I loved you
Yesterday."
"Kid?" Myra said, choking on her words and tears in her eyes. Kid hadn't ever seen her cry. He left Liz and Patty in their spots and started to briskly walk to where Myra was standing. He couldn't be sure if she was faking or not, so he kept his guard up, just in case. Black Star was off in a corner where Tsubaki and Maka were tending to his wounds. Kid stopped a few feet from Myra just to be safe.
"How do I know it's really you and you aren't fooling me?" He asked.
"You're back early from your trip," she replied with a smile and tears streaming down her face. Kid beamed and was about to make a move towards her when they heard a familiar voice ring in the room saying "Vector Arrow."
Myra fell to the ground with a thud, and as her blood pooled around her, a secret passageway opened, leading to the Witches.
"Looks like she died after all. Pity, she was fun to have around. I suppose this means you are ready to face us," Shaula's voice resounded in the room. Kid ran to Myra and fell to his knees, everything else around him stopped. Time, sound, light, everything. He tried checking her pulse while stopping the bleeding, but no matter where he checked, there was no pulse to be found.