Chapter 15: Logan's Painful Resolve. Love Without Tears?

The explosion ripped through the city streets, drawing the attention of Maka who was walking the streets of Death City. She felt a pain in her chest as she ran towards the smoke that billowed from the edge of the city. Her eyes welled up as she felt worse and worse as she drew near the incident. As she came upon the scene she fell to her knees. Logan was standing over Ethan. A piece of rebar pipe was through Ethan's leg and he was losing a lot of blood. Even as he was screaming in pain, he was pulling his leg off of it. Logan slammed his brother back down and bent the pipe so movement was impossible. He punched Ethan hard in the face and his body went limp. He picked up a black blade as Patty went to attack. Logan took a bit of blood from his shoulder and pressed his hand to her stomach. HIs voice was barely audible,

"Bloody pulse."

A black arch of lightning wrapped around her body and she crumpled to the ground. Logan turned as Maka screamed out,

"Logan!"

His right eye was encased in black and his blood was squirming around on his face. It was black and dripping from his nose. His eyes went wide. The black blade disappeared as he grabbed his things and ran from the city. Maka sat in tears as the others from the group showed up tending to Ethan and Patty. Maka sat silent. Silent and alone. She was shaking as she somehow made her way home. She was wrapped in his hoodie, it still had his smell. She whimpered out his name over and over as Soul closed the door as he walked in. She ignored his presence as he spoke,

"Maka. We need to go after him."

The words were slow to sink in and yet Maka's eyes stayed wet with tears. This pain she felt inside was of confusion and she knew it was her own fault. The black blood. She had it inside and now it consumed Logan. She zipped up the hoodie and pulled the hood over her head as she walked up to Soul. He spoke again,

"Damn it Maka, talk to me. Just because your boyfriend went psycho doesn't mean your world has to collapse."

Her voice was cold and painful,

"He wasn't just any boy or any man. He was mine. I think I might have even... Soul, I think I love him."

"Maka that's so stup-"

His words were interrupted when Maka slapped him in the face. He stood astonished. His face was red and Maka stood on the verge of collapsing. She was shaking at the knees. Soul smiled and said calmly while rubbing his cheek,

"Well that one had the bitter bite of love in it. So you aren't just saying that. That was cool. You do love him don't you?"

Maka nodded and she left the house once more and ran to the school. At this time she needed guidance. She knew that Lord Death knew about this already. She wanted his advice. She wanted to feel better. But most of all she wanted Logan back in her arms. In the presence in of usually goofy demeanored Lord of the City, Maka felt no better as he offered tea. He knew why she was here in his room. It was uncomfortable and yet Maka said,

"Why Lord Death? Why did this have to happen? Why didn't he come to me or you for help? I should have known this would happen, I should have been with him. I...I...I..."

"He did this for you. and not only for you. He did this so what happened today didn't happen. Maka, trust me, it broke his heart to leave. He came to me for help, yet I couldn't help him. He begged and pleaded yet, there was nothing I could do. He left to save you all from his madness. He knew that he was losing control. He thought of you, Ethan, Liz, Patty, Kid, Soul, Crona, Blackstar and Tsubaki. Not to mention all the students and people of Death City. Never once did he mention that he was concerned about his own well being. I've never seen a more selfless boy. I can see why you love him."

Maka finally gave in and wailed out, crying and wiping the tears. Death was right. Logan was a selfless man. Always thinking about others before he ever thought about himself. From the stories Liz and Patty told her, he hadn't changed from since the time they knew him. Death leaned over to see Liz hiding behind a pillar and listening in. His voice was soft and slightly commanding,

"Liz, come on out. I'm sure you heard all of it."

She left her cover with tears in her eyes. Maka turned and stood up, hugging the weeping Liz. They both cried together as they heard a woman call out from the entrance,

"Ethan you need to get back to bed. You can't be out and about like this. You need to heal."

"Get off me! I need to speak to Lord Death. I need to know what happened, since none of you at the infirmary will tell me. Damn it all."

Ethan lost his balance and collided with the floor. He rolled to his stomach and pulled himself across the floor. He got back to his feet and made his way to Maka, Liz and Lord Death. Maka stood to meet him. Her voice was soft,

"He's gone. Logan is gone. He left. He left for us."

Ethan grabbed her by the collar of the hoodie and pulled her towards him,

"Damn it, why didn't you stop him? You were right there! You could have stopped him! Why did you just let him go? You're still wearing his hoodie too. How can you live with yourself just seeing him go?!"

"Ethan. I'm sorry. More than you'll ever know. I'm sorry Ethan. I'm sorry!"

She broke again into tears as he loosened his grip. He fell again as Maka watched her tears hit the ground.

Meanwhile, Logan was floating on his back. The inky liquid flowed around his entire body and Logan could no longer touch his feet to the bottom. All the dark surrounded him. As he floated, he came across a small stone ruin. With a quick swim he climbed on top of the flat stone and laid down. The woman emerged from the liquid and sat next to him,

"Hello dear. How fares your swim, my sweet Logan."

"Get away from me. I want to be left alone. It's all I ask. It's all I've ever asked for."

"As you wish. I'll be back."

Logan's limbs were tired and sore. It was about time he slept. He welcomed the peaceful yet sorrowful slumber.