TITLE: 46-52-424
SUMMARY: Kid, Maka, Black Star and their weapons defeated the Keishin only to find themselves facing a new threat. Death is missing, Eibon now runs the Academy, and as the days go on, their teacher's curriculum's get more and more challenging. Seeming to rest on the border of right and horrific. Though the more they question the new head of their Academy, the worse their punishments become.
STORY PAIRINGS: SoulXMaka, BlackStar X Tsubaki

PLEASE NOTE: This story is rated M. According to the FF site, that means it has to be appropriate for ages 16+ WITHOUT explicit content, which includes adult language, themes, and suggestions. This story meets those requirements.


"Magic tools, but I thought that that sort of stuff was really dangerous," Maka said frowning. She thought she had said this quietly enough that Professor Stein wouldn't hear her. But he looked up at her words.

"It's only dangerous in the wrong hands or when used for the wrong purpose," he explained. "But the sort of magic tools we're going to be making are useful add ons for the weapons you currently have. Meisters, think about your weapons, and those of you who turn into weapons. Think about the type of weapon you can become. What sort of addition could be created to make your forms more affective?"

"For instance, Kid." He wheeled his chair over so he was in front of him. "Liz and Patty both turn into pistols. What sort of attachment or addition would normally help guns?"

"…" Kid pulled his mind away from his worries to think about the question. "A silencer would help in allowing me to shoot without making noise..."

"That's one idea, you're thinking along the right lines…"

"Hhmm…" Maka frowned. Something to improve my scythe?

"There aren't many ways a scythe can be improved…" Soul said frowning.

"Maybe we could create a magic tool that allowed for an extra blade," Maka leaned back trying to think.

Meanwhile down the way a bit Black Star was grinning. "Well you can become quite a few different weapons… Looks like we would have to make many magic tools!"

"I guess," Tsubaki said thinking to herself.

Maka looked over at Kid. She couldn't tell if he was working on the project or not for he seemed to simply be sitting quietly in deep thought.

"Can't it be something you use?" Soul suggested.

"The assignment is to make an attachment for our weapons," Maka explained. "We're not supposed to make something for me. But… I just don't understand. This whole situation is strange…"

"Strange how?" Soul asked frowning.

"Well, It's just… Everyone kept saying how dangerous the magic tools were, well… are. Shouldn't we think twice before making one? I mean… Eibon created the first magic tools and they didn't go so well…"

Maka felt a sudden pain on her head, and her hands went up to grab it immediately. "Ow!"

Stein was behind her, he had just hit hurt (none too gently) in the back of the head with the clip board he was holding. "You may call him Lord or Master Eibon," Stein corrected her. "He now holds the position Lord Death held. So show some respect when you address him…"

"Uh… sorry Professor," she said frowning. Kid had looked up at Stein's words and eyed him as Stein went down the steps. He came to a stop when he noticed Kid's glare.

"Is there a problem Kid?"

"No," Kid answered, though he did not stop eyeing him for the rest of the lesson.


Their homework for that night was to have an idea of what they wanted to make come tomorrow's class. Maka pushed aside her concerns about the magic weapons to focus on their project. She was a straight A student after all, and she wasn't about to let her worries about magic tools override her desire for a good grade. Besides, Lord Death wouldn't have them be learning this if he didn't feel it was necessary, and she doubted Professor Stein would have them learning this if it wasn't something Lord Death approved of.

The thing that she was most confident about, was the fact that even if Lord Death was away. He must still be informing Eibon. Oh, Lord Eibon, about how the school should be run and what the students should be learning.

So… what sort of addition could a scythe use? She started drawing some sketches on her notebook. She thought about maybe adding an additional attachment blade. Then she thought perhaps it would be good to have a spike at the end of it. Slicing with one end. Impaling with the other. That sort of thing. Then she looked down at her pencil. On her pencil was a small grippie that allowed her to hold it easier, and she smiled.


"That's what you came up with?" Soul said frowning when they arrived for class the next day.

"Yeah, it's a band that will increase my griping power, which will make it so I don't drop you."

"You don't drop me now," Soul frowned. "It's supposed to improve a problem we have. That's not a problem."

"Okay then, what did you come up with?"

"I didn't come up with anything," he admitted blatantly before taking his seat.

"Soul, we were all supposed to come up with ideas," she snapped before taking hers.

"Well I was banking on you picking something good," Soul explained frowning.

"Tsk," Maka looked over at Black Star. "What did you two decide on?"

"We talked about it last night, but we couldn't really decide. Tsubaki can become more than one weapon after all, so finding something that can be used with all of them is hard…"

"We decided to ask Professor Stein what he recommends today in class."

"Aright students, I hope you have all prepared for the lesson today. When I call your name tell me what you've decided on," he said sitting the right way in his chair. That felt odd. Stein usually sat in his chair backwards. "Maka and Soul. What have you decided on?"

"Apparently we're doing some sort of grip cover to make it so Maka won't drop me in battle… Or something like that…"

Maka frowned. Hearing Soul word it like that did make her idea sound a tad ridiculous.

"Perfect," Stein said writing it down. "Black Star and Tsubaki."

"Actually Professor," Tsubaki said frowning. "We had a hard time coming up with something…"

"Yes, I imagine you would," Stein said. "Alright, this is what you two are going to do. Pick one weapon that Tsubaki can become and choose an attachment for that. Until I tell you otherwise, use only that weapon in battle so you can practice using your magic tool. Have your idea by next class."

"Yes Sir," Tsubaki nodded.

"How about you three," Stein said pushing his chair so he was facing Kid and his weapons.

"We decided to do a laser scope. Each of them could have half of a scope's lens and when I hold the pistols close together it will form scope which would allow me to focus on a target that's far off in the distance," Kid answered.

"Wonderful," Stein said. "Well let's all get to work on it then."

"Uh, Professor," Maka said raising her hand quickly.

"Yes?"

"You didn't ask any of the other student's what they decided on."

"Oh, the rest of you can tell me after class," Stein said. "For now you should all draw some sort of model of the tool you choose. Think of the type of material you want it to be made out of. The design as well. Black Star, Tsubaki, keep thinking about which tool you want to use."

The students were all getting to work, and no one seemed upset that Stein hadn't asked them specifically what their designs were. After class Black Start and Tsubaki had decided on Masamune for the form in which they would make a magic tool for. They let Stein know after class. Kid, Maka, and the others waited with them.

"Alright," he said. "From now until I tell you. I don't want you using any other form but that. It is incredibly important that the only weapon you turn into is the form that your magic tool can assist with. If you use another form from now until the end of the semester, I'll fail you. Are we understood?"

"Yes," Tsubaki said nodding. "But why?"

"The magic tools you'll be creating will be constantly working at increasing your overall powers. Speed, accuracy, strength. It will increase all of these. If you remove it even once it will ruin the entire project. Removing it before it has fully increased your strength can also result in physical side effects."

"Us too?" Patty asked.

"Yes," Stein answered leaning against the desk behind him. "When you're not in your weapon forms, the magic tool will be something you can wear on your person. A necklace, a bracelet, something along those lines. You cannot remove it even once, until I tell you it's safe to do so."

"Uh…" Maka was frowning. "Exactly what sort of things could happen if the magic tool is removed early?"

"You will become ill, possibly mad. Worst case scenario. It can kill you," Stein explained looking quite serious. "But the end result is worth it. You'll be far stronger than you previously were. Their won't be a witch, warlock, or Keishin alive that could take your weapons on in a battle."

"You hear that!" Black Star said turning excitedly to Tsubaki. "I'm going to make you into the strongest Death Scythe ever!"

"I like the sound of that," Soul said grinning.

Maka looked down. She had a bad feeling about this.

"If that's the case, I'm opting out of this lesson," Kid said. "So you can just go ahead and count us out. Liz, Patty. We're leaving."

He started to walk towards the door when Stein called him back. "Oh Kid."

Kid turned back to him, his hands in his pockets.

"Your Father is particularly concerned that you improve your weapons with magic tools as well. You are our next Reaper after all. You need weapons that are as powerful as you can possibly make them," he explained.

"Well, I'll tell you what. When my Father comes and tells me that directly to my face. Then I'll participate in the lesson. Not before." With that Kid turned and left the classroom.

Stein frowned, looking rather upset.

"What's Kid's problem?" Black Star asked frowning.

"I… I agree with Kid," Maka said frowning. "Soul, if it's true and you could die. Then I don't think we should participate."

"Fine, you chumps can do a kiddie assignment then. Meanwhile, my Tsubaki can handle it."

Maka's frowned deepened. "Black Star if you cared about your weapon you wouldn't let her risk her life like that!"

"I have faith in my weapon!" Black Star snapped suddenly looking really upset. "I'll die before I let anything bad happen to Tsubaki, and that means no matter what she's going to be fine! So I don't have a reason to worry, because when I say I'm going to succeed, then I'm going to succeed!"

"Black Star…"

"Either you don't have faith that Soul can handle it. Or you don't think that you can. Either way, you're holding Soul back from achieving something great!" he turned to Stein looking annoyed. "We'll have our design ready by next class."

"Glad to hear it," Stein answered. Both he, Maka and Soul watched Black Star and Tsubaki storm out. When they were officially gone Stein turned back to the other two.

"Lord Death was particularly interested in the student who fought the Keishin using these tools. It was one of his last orders before he left. Maka… Lord Death has made this an assignment and placed me in charge of seeing that you kids can use and handle these tools correctly. He feels that the power from it may be necessary in the near future. I'll be here to monitor everything you kids are undergoing. I can't tell you the whole story right now Maka. But there is a reason why Lord Death left this school, and there is a reason why he wants you to undergo this ordeal. While it is a class project and he is having the other students undergo this as well, he doesn't really see anyone else succeeding in this except you three and your weapons."

He gathered up his stuff and headed to the door stopping just as he reached it to add one final note. "I wouldn't be a good teacher if I didn't let you know all the risks involved. Death is a possibility, but if you do everything I tell you and are cautious. Then you should be in no more or less danger than you are on any other mission…"

With that he left. Maka turned to Soul frowning.

"I'm gonna do it," Soul stated simply without really looking at her.

Slowly her frown turned into a grin. "Alright then. Let's do it."


"Kid, it's not a big deal. We've done dangerous stuff before…" Liz pointed out.

"Yea!" Patty agreed.

"How dangerous the situation is, isn't the point," Kid snapped. "The point is that they're not letting me talk to my Father and I want to know why."

"Uh, not to be Captian Obvious here, but I believe you have ways to contact your Father without going through them?"

"I've tried…" Kid explained bluntly. A slight tone of disappointment echoing in his words.

Both Patty and Liz stared in Kid's direction at that.

"The means I have to contact my Father is a direct connection between him and me. He didn't answer when I called. That means one of two things. Either my Father no longer exists or he ignored me…"

"Oh c'mon Kid. I'm sure it's not that serious," Liz said running to be in front of him. "Look, if your Father didn't answer, then I'm sure he had a very good reason."

"Yea! Like maybe he's fighting the pieces of that Keishin like you told us. Or maybe he got captured by it and is trapped and needs us to save him!" Patty exclaimed happily.

"No Patty," Liz said sighing. "Lord Death is fine."

"Didn't you tell us that while Eibon is in charge you need only write the Death call number backwards?" Patty asked.

"Hey that's right, you told us that Eibon said if you needed to talk to him or your Father that that was all you had to do right?" Liz pointed out.

"He's not going to let me talk to him that easily Liz. He only said that so I wouldn't be suspicious…"

"Well it can't hurt to try anyway right?" she walked into a disserted classroom and headed over to the mirror breathing upon it. "Let's see… Deaths call number backwards is… 46-52-424"

She wrote the numbers as she said them. A ripple and a light shown bright and then Eibon was visible in the window.

"Hello Eibon," Liz said smiling. "Um… listen. Kid would really feel much better if he could talk to his Father. His means of communication isn't working and well… it would just—"

"Of course."

Kid's expression shot up at that and he rushed forward to the window.

"As Lord Death's child you have the right to contact him whenever you please. However, your Father is currently in a rather dangerous location. Making a call to him now could compromise his safety. I was informed not to call him unless it was a life or death emergency. However, he said he would contact me once a week to hear updates on his students and also give me feedback on how his own mission is going. His first call is scheduled for tomorrow. If you report to the Death room after class, I will let you speak with him."

"Why the change?" Kid asked frowning.

"Change?"

"You were acting like you weren't going to let me speak to him no matter what the other day. Now suddenly, my Father is planning to call in once a week?"

"Kid, your Father's mission is top secret. Letting too many people know means that information could fall into the wrong hands. Your Father could be in serious danger if someone like a witch were to learn that he was out and about, no longer attached to the City he was once trapped in. Your Father will explain everything tomorrow, however keep in mind his calls home must be short. I'll see you then."

With that Eibon disappeared.

"Well, problem solved," Liz said. "See Kid. If you just think rationally and talk out your problems with others, then solutions can be reached."

"…"


The idea that Lord Death was counting on them to accomplish this task made Maka want to work and try harder at it. She and Soul came up with the exact size and dimensions needed for their tool. Black Star and Tsubaki had decided on a fancy looking Pommel, but something heavy that would give the sword more weight. Kid didn't bring in a design even though he already had in mind what he wanted to do. He was indeed being true to his word. Until he spoke with his Father, he was not going to participate in the lesson.

So the moment the class was done. Kid, Liz, and Patty made their way to the death room.

When he walked in Eibon was already speaking with his Father in the mirror. He turned and stepped back upon his entering. There he was!

Kid rushed forward. "Father! You're alright…"

Indeed his Father did look much better than he had when Kid had last seen him, before the Keishin fight.

"Yes I'm fine," Death said though he was speaking in a quiet tone. "Eibon told me you were giving him and your teachers a hard time."

"Did he now?" Kid said eyeing Eibon.

"Kid, I don't have much time," Death said his hushed whisper getting faster. "I have been instructing Eibon in the running of this school, he has all my orders. Try not to cause much trouble in my absence and listen to him."

"Father, where are you?" Kid demanded.

"I can't tell you that right now Kid," he answered.

"Whatever you're doing I can assist you. Just tell me where to go and I—"

"NO!" Death snapped.

Kid stared at him, his voice had suddenly gotten scary, like how his voice use to be before he founded the academy. When he next spoke, Death's voice was bouncy and silly once again, though it was still whispering. "The most important thing now is that you increase the power of your weapons by using the Magic Tools that Stein and Eibon will teach you how to make."

"Why?"

Death sighed. "Kid I really can't talk this long… Please just trust me. You must learn this. You, Maka, Black Star and your weapons are the ones with the greatest likelihood for success. Please just trust me."

"Father you're not making sense. Why do you need us to learn this so much? And don't say because it'll increase the power of our weapons. I get that much. I want to know why you need our weapons to be that strong this quickly? What threat are you expecting? Why is all this so important?"

Death glanced behind him as though he heard something. "I got to go Kid." With that the mirror shone bright and returned to being a simple mirror. Kid was staring at his reflection. Eibon just over his shoulder. He walked up behind Kid placing a hand on his shoulder. His fingers were unusually long and sharp as blades which cut slightly into his shoulder.

"There… now you've seen him," Eibon said. "So just be a good Reaper and obey us now. Your Father and I have your best interest at heart…"


All for now everyone! I hope you enjoyed!