Chapter Eleven

Into the fire.


Until they were able to locate the witch life, had to go on. Stein and Spirit worked odd hours to try and locate the details concerning the previously planted object while Soul Eater and Maka completed mission after mission to pass the time. Not all of these missions were together, however, Maka had recently been assigned a mission with Kidd. During this mission they would have to travel to a far off town on a lead concerning a brothel of witches. Yes, a brothel. Even Kidd needed a level headed woman to keep him on track, he was a man after all and being Death's son didn't make him immortal to just urges and human nature.

The getting there had been the hardest part. It was such a long journey for the both of them and they had yet to decide who was going to succumb to the title of weapon during this journey. It was a pre-unspoken rule though it seemed. They would use Death's weapons and Maka's sense of know how, but if the going were to get tough they would simply have to revert to their last resort in which Kidd would use Maka as a weapon.

Oddly, Maka was sent without a weapon of her own. This was odd to her not because she wasn't used to it but mostly because there was no need for it. Before, she had mastered completing missions without a weapon because she didn't have a choice but to become her own weapon, however now Soul was back and there was no need to practice this anymore. They needed to practice matching wavelengths so they would be ready if that witch ever showed her face again. It seemed as though lately the pair had been too busy on missions to find the time to spend sparing or re-bonding. Maka couldn't help but feel like this was being done purposely.

"We have fifteen minutes, prepare to disguise yourself. This brothel of witches is sure to sense a weaponless meister, you may be a target. As for me, they are used to seeing meisters and weapons walk in and out of here. I'll just not act suspicious."

After he'd received a nod from Maka, he pulled the hood of his black cloak over his head. "Let's make this quick, in and out just like that."


"So you're really comfortable with Maka going alone with Kidd?"

"Sure, I trust 'er."

"Yeah but do you trust Kidd too?"

"Don't have to."

"Stop planting the seed of doubt, Black Star." Tsubaki interrupted, "It's none of our business, besides Maka is strong."

"Pshh, still not her biggest fan."

"And that is supposed to be something new?" Tsubaki shook her head and crossed her arms.

"Let's just get this mission over with?" Soul sighed and placed his arms behind his head.

"Yeah, lets."

"Ever since we came back home you two have been at odds with each other, Black Star... Soul Eater, what's going on?"

"Literally nothing, just bored maybe..."

"Boredom? I think Black Star is jealous." Tsubaki suggested.

"Umm excuse you? Jealous of what? That...thing?"

"You used to respect and love Maka...now she's a thing?"

"I don't like the way she talks to Soul and I respect him more."

"That is still none of your business, Black Star...It's not like she came at you and said it. Wasn't even concerning you, whatever is going on it is between her and Soul."

"Besides," Soul Eater quietly interjected, "I've said some pretty ugly things to her, you just haven't heard them."

"Still..."

"I can take care of myself, stop trying to coddle me and stop talking bad about her like that. Sure we fight, more than we used to I'll grant it that, but Maka is still Maka to me. We picked up where we left off and that's okay... I would even start over if she wanted me too..." He mumbled the last part under his breath but Tsubaki heard him, only she didn't make a point to express it.

"Whatever guys, so what was this mission again? Witches?"

"Actually, Death sent us to check on a small village or town ...not far from the city. Supposedly they are being haunted by something. We have to determine what's going on and whether or not its folktale, superstition, or witchcraft because we all know haunting's aren't real, right?"

"I don't know about that Soul..." Tsuabaki looked slightly creeped out.

"Oh come one, Tsubaki. You can't be serious?" Black Star crossed his arms over his chest.

"I just…don't believe in messing with those things..."

"Well...too late now." Soul Eater shrugged.

"Don't worry Tsubaki, Black Star won't let the big bad ghoul guy get you." Black Star teased with a grin.

"Black Star! Just shut up!"


The two story brothel looked like an abandoned building during the day, but at night it was the loudest, brightest, and most charismatic place in the small village front. Under Kidd's orders she stayed low and observed from afar as a pedestrian. He made it clear that she was not to infiltrate on any given circumstance besides his signal.

She wasn't stupid, they were clearly outnumbered at that point. It looked like the mission had been a plain recon, not an infiltration. They needed to regroup and force stronger battle strategies. There had been a reason these witches weren't worried about suppressing their presence. They openly used magic with the public and passersby without fear of being targeted by meisters or death scythes, who knew such a witch haven had been this close to Death City.

She caught a glimpse of Kidd giving her the signal to infiltrate the large brothel. Quietly, she hesitated. He wanted her to go now? They were severely outnumbered and in desperate need of reinforcements. Did he have a death wish or something? As if noting her hesitation, Kidd went in ahead of her turning tables and breaking windows in the process. Screams were coming from inside the brothel, both men and women. Was Kidd crazy? Well she had to back him up now.

Maka pelted through the nearest window and followed his lead in cleansing the area of the surrounding witches. It wasn't very easy either, there were high level witches to deal with and Kidd seemed to have no concern for his fellow teammates, his weapons included, as he threw himself in harm's way. Maka did her best to keep his back and deflect any attacks from that point but it wasn't enough to protect herself.

One, two, three, no…four. Four hits in less than three minutes. They had to get out of there.

"There is too many, let's go!"

"No! You can but I won't run!"

"Kidd! You idiot!"

Five. A gash across her exposed back had sent her to her knees in blood spatters. Her blood covered Kidd's face and ran down her arms pooling around her knees. "Get...out of here..." As her eyes went dark and she had been left with the sight of Kidd's back escaping through a shattered window.

"Leave her! Get him!"

"Mistress, what of our home?!"

"Burn it to the ground!"

Long after her vision had failed her she felt heat being emitted from the hardwood below her. Smoke entered her lungs and the blood encasing her body began to heat up. Maka had one last card and she was certain she would die.

When you're a meister without a weapon you must learn to accommodate for that missing extremity, that is exactly what she did. She read books and she learned to take care of herself emotionally and physically without the help of a weapon. She succeeded in Death Academy by herself. No, she didn't create a death scythe but she accomplished what no other had.

Her bruised lips mumbled a low chant and she had been encased in a dull red light. It was an enchantment she learned from a useless book in the library. A book with no author as she was a meister with no weapon. She smiled at the thought before the entire brothel came down.


"I can't believe they were seeing the shadow of a chicken the entire time." Tsubaki stared at the ground as they exited the small village. "I mean…really...You're serious?"

"I'm just glad we got it over with." Black Star stretched his arms behind his head. "Right, Soul?"

"Yeah."

The three walked carefully on the narrow path back to Death City. Tsubaki stopped and looked around, "You guys sense that?"

"Someone is coming..." Black Star held his hand out and Tsubaki materialized into his blade.

"Is that?" Soul squinted, "It's Kidd and he's being tailed."

"They're witches, I can smell them."

"Three... maybe more... Looks like he needs back up." The three agreed before heading out to meet Kidd in the nearest clearing just a mile off the path. "Looks like we'll have our hands full! Black Star lunged into the battle with Tsubaki raised high above his head.

"Black Star, I don't see Maka anywhere!" Tsubaki had seemed genuinely worried, "She doesn't have a weapon she could be hurt!"

The battle continued to heat up as Tsubaki repeatedly expressed her concerns. A snarling witch mocked her pettily. "But Black Star... Maaaka.." She laughed almost menacingly, "No need to worry, I'm sure she's bled out by now or maybe even burned to death."

"Look!" Black Star looked to the smoke filled sky and back at Kidd. "Kidd!" He was only ignored. Soul, who was locked in a battle of his own while also doing everything he could not to panic, gave Black Star a pleading look. "Leave Tsubaki and we will handle this, go find her!"

"You sure?" The young ninja's eyes widened at the worried expression on his friend's face.

"Please just hurry, I can smell her blood...!" With that being said, he shot himself off in a blue streak through the woods and toward the smoke. All the possibilities of what could have become of Maka ran through his mind and he found himself cringing and fighting back tears. He did care about her, though he often said different. But he wasn't sure if he was saddened by the idea of her being injured or worse or the thought of telling Soul Eater.

"Maka!" He approached the collapsed and burning building. "Maka you in there!" He screamed as he ran through the burning rubble. "Maka please! Don't do this!" With black gloved hands he turned pieces of burning wood looking for her. "Maka!"

Finally, he came upon a dull red light barely noticeable beneath one of the strong pillars of the brothel. It was Maka and she was glowing dimly. "Smart, smart girl..." He said as he pulled her out gently and carried her away from the smoke. "With all the blood you've lost we need to get you back to the city... but Soul and... No, let's go." He had wrapped her in a long black poncho he pulled from his pouch and took off at top speed toward the city.


"I can't believe this; you did the right thing Black Star. If you'd stayed and fought she would've certainly died."

"How is she now? And that red light?"

"She's in critical condition, not out of the woods yet. But you were correct, she used a fireproof enchantment to protect her unconscious body from the flames at the brothel. Probably her last conscious move."

"Soul and Tsubaki… and Kidd?"

"They just crossed the City border, all are fine."

"Why didn't Kidd retreat instead of plunging in like that? None of this would've happened."

"I'm not sure, but why don't we ask him."