Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Eater. Fans would be sobbing for some of their favorite characters if I did.
3: Bitter Licorice with Cotton Candy
No Way
She knew that perhaps if they got close enough to him, they could preserve a peaceful life for themselves for the next thousand or more years. If they claimed they wanted peace, whether it be a lie or not, they could keep their kind from being hunted. Then they would massacre Death City and the demon weapons within.
It hadn't been her plan at all; one of her younger siblings had thought up the idea, much to her surprise and the others had agreed. To the oldest, the plan sounded nice, the beginning of a promising future. It was the risk of being found out she didn't like, so she advised her sisters to keep such foolhardy plans out of their heads. Her siblings ignored the command and at first she had been stung by the sudden betrayal. However, after a few moments of thinking to herself, she decided she wouldn't allow such chancy actions that could destroy their already difficult lives. She would protect her family, including the witches in the realm that weren't related by blood.
Her sisters didn't think much of their oldest sibling disagreeing with them. They continued to plot, ignoring her feeble attempts to disrupt their strategies.
They always used to agree on everything, the oldest sister thought as her siblings whispered in the far off corner of the witches' council room. They fought together, practiced magic together, and kept well under Shibusen's radar together. But now they talked of plans to form a treaty with one of the most important members there. Then she had begun to notice the more they talked of the plan to woo their key to victory, the more their words began sounding more genuine. They talked of their target's strength as well as his naiveté to the witches' treacherous history with Shibusen. The admiration their tones held some days worried her.
After she had spent an afternoon alone, wondering where her sisters had gone, she interrogated them when they returned in the evening. Like she had been dreading, they had been prowling through Death City, watching him with their dark eyes and trailing after him like cats, a creature that unfitted them greatly.
They told their oldest sister about what they had decided were his weak points, and how to bend him and convince him the witches should be given a second chance. The oldest witch shook her head with each pleading phrase they sent at her, scolding them again and again about being so careless and unsuspecting about the boy's ways. He was from Shibusen, and he grew up knowing witches were the enemy. He would kill them if he could; she had promised to protect her family.
The siblings grew apart then, not wanting anything to do with one another. Sure, if things got gory, they would have each other's backs. They had to be together if they wanted to do any major damage against their enemies. It was only for the time being while they quarreled that they would be separated.
The oldest sister, bitter yet always keeping an eye on her siblings, was called on by the Frog Witch, Eruka. The long haired witch explained her suspicions that the Snake Witch, Medusa, was plotting something within Shibusen that would put their existence in yet another perilous situation.
Naturally, the young witch was on board within the blink of an eye.
She briefly considered telling her sisters about Medusa's undercover work in Death City, but thought better of it when she saw them murmuring amongst themselves a few days later, once they finally returned after a mysterious leave of absence. She knew exactly where they had been, and by the looks of it, they had shown themselves (in disguise, like the snake witch) to their point of interest.
And with pained eyes, she watched them.
They talked more now, speaking rapidly behind their hands and looking around fearfully as though someone would eavesdrop. They laughed more, laughed like they did in the past, when she'd been the one to make them. When their mouths opened as they giggled, it wasn't a malicious, eager-to-kill sound. It was a grateful, forgiving sound that made her believe they had dropped their original plans altogether.
She knew now that they wouldn't blow the witches' cover by killing the one they watched and now visited everyday. No. They had a reason to keep him alive; he talked to them like they were normal humans, even if they were disguised as such. He made them laugh, and with each visit, the sisters seemed to forget a little more about their horrific past with the Academy and allowed themselves to love him a little more.
The oldest sister preferred their original plan to slaughter Shibusen. She couldn't bear the thought her siblings were going against all traditions of the Witches Realm. They had gone and fallen in love with the enemy, and she was left to hang back, weary and confused about what she should do. Without her siblings, she was just one and would always stay one. One small child that could only squeak and barely fight.
Eruka's plans to thwart Medusa kept her occupied on matters beside her slowly crumbling siblings. Best to have at least one of two threats taken care of.
The Frog Witch and herself tried interrogating Medusa at the end of one of the witches' gatherings. After a spine chilling encounter with the older sorceress, both had trembled in fear and agreed to stay out of Medusa's way. Determination struck them again, and Eruka explained a plan she had been forming ever since Medusa had begun hinting at endangering their lives.
They left for Death City early that evening, hearts throbbing in anticipation, as well as a fraction of fear neither of them would admit to. The sun was just staining the sky, as well as the buildings in the city a pale gold when they arrived, their Soul Protects hiding their true identities, though they avoided civilians either way.
Eruka told the sister that she had been watching Medusa for a few days, hidden in her frog form and knew what routes she took to get back to her temporary base, most likely filled with things the frog didn't even want to graze with thought. The Frog Witch had a good plan, and the younger witch's gaze grew more icy with each step of the strategy.
At first it was only a brief whiff, a fragrance of him the breeze brought to her nostrils, but right as they turned the corner to pass into the alleyway Medusa would soon walk through, she saw him. He was a few blocks away, not walking in her direction but sideways from her to some unknown destination, deep in conversation with another boy and girl. Behind them, two other girls, taller and older looking, followed, deep in their own conversation which appeared to be about the three in front of them, judging by the gestures and exasperated smiles.
The witch's nose twitched and she opened her mouth, hissing a silent noise of distaste through her teeth. Eruka heard and glanced back before spotting the Shibusen children. She too gave a silent intake of breath and took a quick step into the shadows of the alleyway. Her companion wasn't as quick and continued to glare at her sisters' original victim, now trusted ally.
Eruka whispered frantically to her friend to dart out of sight before she was spotted, but the girl didn't move backwards to join the trembling sorceress, but towards the group of students. She shuffled along slowly at first, then a little quicker, striding down the street while a growing rage fueled her every step. She didn't know what her plan was, what she would say or do. All she knew was she had to blame someone for her sisters lack of interest in the safety of their family, and her punching bag to vent through, as well as put all the fault on, was right in front of her.
She stopped across the narrow street from where he was talking, watching his profile go by with a scowl. Neither he nor his friends had glanced over to the opposite side of the street where she stood. They were too immersed in the topic that bounced back and forth between them. She watched his expression go from seemingly emotionless to a brief smirk and wondered for just a fraction of a second if perhaps it was a lie; he was feigning a pleasant smile through cold thoughts.
More fury bubbled within her, and she took another step forward with the thought her own sisters were being played by his peaceful attitude. He was a killer that took the souls of kishin and witches. Sure, his act may be good now with him pretending he was merely another human, but her sisters would see…
As the small witch focused on the boy once more with half closed eyes, she went rigid at the sight of his hair. The three, bold, alabaster lines were a warning in her mind's eye. A warning to people that his gold eyes which held seconds of amusement now would be painted over with an artic glare later. He was a Grim Reaper, and she had no doubts his soul was just as cold as his eyes.
Eruka's voice hissed her name again from a few blocks away, snapping her out of her dark thoughts. Her sisters' point of interest was well down the street now, stopping in front of one of the distorted apartment complexes with a boxy, bright green, section jutting out of the side with the words, 'Soul Eater' over one of the windows.
The witch took a step back, suddenly beginning to wonder what she would have done to the meister anyway. He was with allies, weapons, and she couldn't release her soul protect to tear him apart. If she wanted to scream her distress at him, that wouldn't have worked either. Without her sisters, she found herself unable to speak actual words, only small chirps.
The idea to attack him, whether physically or verbally, had been stupid.
Irritated and embarrassed, the oldest sister turned, finding herself longing for home and the company of her sisters. But then she saw the main reason they had come to the city at all, striding towards the entrance of the alley where Eruka lay, hidden in the shadows.
With a new anger forming, the witch sped after the snake dressed as Shibusen's school nurse. She blocked the entrance to the alleyway behind her enemy just as Eruka stepped out from the shadows in front of her. With both witches emanating murderous intentions on either side of her, there was no way the scheming witch would be able to slither past.
Medusa greeted them as though they were old friends, but Eruka paid no intention to her mask of amusement. As the Frog Witch explained their plan to kill the sorceress, the older woman didn't seem disturbed in the least. Both witches dismissed the disinterest and boredom the snake's tone held, and released their soul protects with ease. Both knew how quickly some of the students could arrive on the scene, so they would have to make it quick.
The oldest sister briefly wondered if the Grim Reaper would come if he felt their soul wavelengths. If so, then perhaps she would allow herself to kill two enemies that evening. She wanted nothing more than to erase the threat to her sisters. If they were angry, she would convince them it was for the best. They may have separated their thoughts from hers, but they all knew, deep down, they needed each other.
She hadn't realized she'd zoned out of the conversation until she felt a squirming inside of her, like someone wrapping long, slender fingers around her soul. Eruka called her name when her skin began rippling and stretching uncomfortably from side to side. She shrieked indignantly, mouth trembling and eyes scrunching up in horror as she felt something writhe within her. Then she felt her muscles, veins, and skin stretch, like a balloon being forcefully given to much air and realized what was about to happen. With one last, high pitched squeak of alarm, she felt her soul tear itself to pieces and her mind went blank as she burst apart and was no more.
-/-\-|-/-\-
The oldest one's siblings should have known such a smile from Shibusen was too welcoming to not be suspicious. When Eruka came to them, telling horrible news of their sister's sudden death, they were shocked. So easily was their sister killed, and by the ones from Shibusen, the people following the orders of Death, the father of the meister they tried to visit everyday.
They didn't believe it could be true.
They stopped their visits altogether; they didn't even go back to watch him from the shadows of Death City. Instead, they returned to their original plan, only with the slight adjustment that instead of befriending the next in line for the role of Death, they would destroy the city in one go.
Eruka told them of a snake witch who wanted to revive the kishin resting beneath Shibusen, saying it would cause all the destruction they wanted to befall the Academy. The sisters agreed, waiting patiently for the day to come when they could get revenge on the student who's smiles they had once enjoyed, but now knew had to have been fake.
They were all siblings with the same basic thoughts. How they could have ignored their oldest sister's warnings was beyond them. Now she was dead, and they were left with the truth their sister had been trying to convince them of the whole time.
Shibusen and the witches have too much history to ever truly coincide peacefully. Shibusen trains soul stealers and there is no way they'd listen to what a witch has to say.
-/-\-|-/-\-
A/N: So, one of my more gloomy ones. Never fear, I'm hoping the next one that's going up is more cheerful. I hope you liked it either way!
Has anyone else noticed whenever there's a lunch scene during Soul Eater, everyone, including Liz and Patty, are there except for Kid?