13. Scared Butterscotch and Sunflower Seeds
Something to Soothe Your Soul
She was a strong woman, she always believed that, but in the midst of war, things became too much for her. She could work her way around the worst of battles, leaving enemies in infuriated states when they could not catch her. If they did, she could take care of them rather easily. It was when everyone fell around her she began to panic.
-/-\-|-/-\-
The young woman charges through Death City, hoping she isn't caught by the mass of witches making their way through the streets, taking down everything and everyone in their path.
She doesn't know what happened to Soul and Maka, only that they told her to get help from Kid and his two weapon partners who were defending the DWMA.
Her feet ache from running and her eyes are filled with the visions of explosions and casualties. All she can smell is fire and death.
Half of the Academy has already been destroyed, and she honestly can't see the point of protecting the rest of it, but she supposes Death has his reasons for keeping the building upright and out of enemy hands.
A building collapses behind her as she leaps up the remaining steps of the DWMA, causing her to flinch and hurry quickly into the debris of the school. Her soul stiffens when she can't hear fighting. Perhaps Kid and the others were able to get most of the battle outside. She desperately hopes that's the case.
She continues on through the school, wondering if anyone is still around. Maka and Soul need help with the line of witches advancing towards the center of Death City. Surely she can get help from someone.
Two strong hands grab her arms suddenly, pulling her back and she lets out a cry, kicking out with her feet and struggling with everything she has.
"It's me!" a voice cries in her ear and she calms down, recognizing the blue haired assassin's unusually serious tone. "Anyone who was inside the Academy is gone now. They're either dead or fighting elsewhere. Kid and a few others managed to get the worst of the battle out. Why are you here?"
"It's Soul and Maka!" she exclaims, struggling out of Black Star's hands. "They need help in the center of the city."
"We'll help them out!" the assassin promises, starting towards the deteriorating entrance of the Academy. "Tell them we're on our way. I'll get some more help!"
He's gone in an instant and she hurries after him, tripping over debris and nearly falling down the ruins of what used to be the DWMA's steps. Black Star is fighting a group of kishin that suddenly appeared while he had been talking to her. She wants to help him but he screams at her to find Kid so Maka and Soul can get help. She hates to leave him outnumbered and as she hears a body slam into the ground behind her, she prays it isn't his.
She hasn't the slightest idea where Kid is, so she runs. She races through the middle of the fight, past Kim and Jackie as they try taking on a kishin three times their size. Past Death Scythe who spots her for only a second before he dissolves back into scythe form for Stein to wield. She's going so fast she nearly misses Kid who's battling a witch using one hand to hold both pistols. His right arm is twisted awkwardly and hanging limply at his side.
"Reaper!" she cries, hoping he understands the title and recognizes her voice. She smiles in relief when he turns, eyes quickly scanning the battlefield before the witch he's fighting has time to get to her feet. He spots her and she's about to relay Maka's request for help when something strikes her left side. She's sent flying, eyes wide with shock as everything becomes a blur around her.
Kid yells for her but the witch he'd been fighting is on her feet and running at him, giving him no time to check his comrade.
The pain in her left side is cold and she lays still from where she fell to the ground. Her vision may be going fuzzy, but even she can see the crimson stains growing rapidly around her. The shouts and explosions around her grow softer and softer, making way for another, unusually pleasant tune that wraps around her mind.
She can no longer see or hear the war, only the strange melody enveloping her soul as though it intends to carry her to a safer place. With a content sigh and the feeling of being completely free from everything around her, she lets it take her away from the nightmare unraveling in Death City.
-/-\-|-/-\-
A young man withdraws his hand, leaving a pair of headphones resting over the ears of a trembling cat curled up asleep on one of the Death City's park benches. He strokes the purple feline's back, smiling when she begins to purr before continuing on his way, murmuring quietly, "Something to soothe your soul."
-/-\-|-/-\-
A/N: A short Justin x Blair… It sounded cute.