Chapter One

Soul stopped the motorcycle about ten meters away from Jona. He turned off the engine while Maka jumped off the back and Rin landed swiftly beside them, her wings vanishing into sapphire smoke as soon as one of her feet touched the ground.

"Soul-san, Maka-san... Be on guard at all times. He'll find a weakness in your teamwork even if it is only tiny – and he'll use it for his advantage. He can see souls at a Three Star Level, don't take him lightly."

"Na, na, Sōma-san," Jona complained in a deep, growling, threatening voice, "You're giving me away, that ain't very nice."

Rin did not even flinch. "I'll use every means necessary to keep you from obtaining even one more soul."

"Tsh, aren't we angry? Now, what might be the reason?" His tone became teasing.

Maka glanced from one to the other, Soul simply asked angrily, "Hey, what's going on here?"

"Ah, looks like I've done it, eh, Sōma-san? Now, will you answer them? I bet they already wonder where you left your meister."

Rin clenched her fists and kept silent, her eyes locked to the ground.

"Yeah, I wonder myself. Where might your meister be? What was his name again, Red Raven-san, wasn't it? Yes, and your brother's... was Jun, right? Eh, Sōma-san, why won't you help me remember correctly?"

Rin's knuckles became pale from the force she used to keep herself under control. "Shove it, Jona. I dare you speak their names again," she replied, her jaw clenched with strain just like her fists.

Jona's grin was madly evil while he was watching Rin's soul waves going wild inside of her. She still held her gaze locked to the ground, unsure what would happen if she raised her head to look at him. Her self-control would probably go straight to hell.

Maka decided to interfere. She looked at Jona's different colored eyes, her glance relentless. She remembered those names very well. Red and his weapon Jun were the most promising pair among their age group at Shibusen to reach Third Star Level. They were two years older then herself and Soul, strong, smart, and handsome. She asked, "Red Raven-san.. and Jun Sōma-san... What did you do to them?"

"Do? Me? I wonder... What did I do? Ah, that's right, I remember..." Jona's smile distorted into a grotesque face of evil and madness as he paused for a moment. "I killed them."

Maka's and Soul's eyes widened in shock. Neither of them had heard of this incident.

"That's right... and I let this pathetic copy of a weapon get away alive so that she'll never forget how she failed to protect them. The longer I think about it, the clearer I remember..."

-Flashback-

Jona hit Red Raven hard right on the chest. The young meister was crushed against an iron pillar, both his swords slipped out his hands and transformed back into Jun and Rin Sōma.

Rin helped him sit up. "Are you all right, Red-kun?" Her face showed worry when her eyes measured the severeness of his wounds.

"We don't have time for this, Rin. If we don't keep attacking, if he gets only a little time to recover, we won't be able to take his soul," Jun reminded his younger sister. "He's been worse, so there's nothing to worry about."

Rin exchanged a glance with her meister who nodded. "I'm fine, just give me a minute to catch my breath."

"Understood." She transformed back into a sword, landing swiftly in her brother's hand.

"Here we go." Jun smirked and charged at Jona with full speed, aiming for one of his right arms. They had already chopped off two of his legs and three of his arms – four times. Jona was regenerating them within a few minutes they stopped charging at him, over and over. It felt like there was no end to this fight, since it was lasting for over an hour already. All of them were exhausted, Red more than his weapons because he had fought almost the entire time.

Jona formed the ends of his bandages into speak-like weapons once more, hardening them with his magic. He prepared to block the boy's strike with one arm, then counter with his other arms. He still doesn't get that he can't lend a hit on me attacking head on. What a fool, Jona smirked. He blocked, the sound of two blades crashing filled the air for a moment. Yet, as the first of his weapons pierced through the boy's body, it did not feel like cutting through flesh and blood did not flow either. As the rest of his weapons pierced though the body one after another, the boy's outline wavered for a second, then vanished. Jona's eyes widened in disbelief, and at the same moment he felt cold steel slicing off a leg and cutting deep into the next. Before any more damage could be taken in, he redirected his attacks down towards his opponent.

Jun dodged two of the bandages, jumping back a few meters into a 'save' distance. "We're still not out of tricks, you moron. Don't underestimate us!"

"Jun, look!" Rin's voice was echoed since she was in her weapon form, "He's not regenerating anymore."

The young man gave the fresh carved wounds on his opponent a closer look. Unlike before, there was no fresh flesh pulsing out the cuts, only blood dripped. He smirked. "So we're finally getting close to an end here."

"I think so," she replied.

"Then we should just keep at it. Rin, let's go with the claws."

She nodded, then transformed. Three metal claws pierced out of the skin of his forearms on each side, stretching all the way down until they reached an inch over his fingertips. He clenched is jaw tight while she transformed. Even though he was a weapon himself and her elder brother on top of that, it still hurt every time she did this transformation. As usual, a bit of blood was running out the fresh wounds along the blades.

"I hate you doin' that," he hissed.

"Gomen, Nii-san," she replied.

Jun closed and re-opened his fists once to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling which tickled through his fingertips. He had always been wondering how Red didn't even flinch at this pain coming from the inside. "Yeah, just forget that," he growled.

"I think we should aim for his head. If we get it off, I don't think he'll be able to regenerate that, especially since he seems to have no energy left for this anyways. What d'you say, Nii-san? I got something in mind, too."

"Damn, Nee-chan, I still can't figure where you got all the brains from... but fine with me."

"Soul Resonance," they said in unison. Their souls drifted together, the wavelengths a perfect match. A blue light surrounded them.

It was rare that they were connected like that. Usually, Red was with them, adding his own, personal touch to their connection. However, it felt good every once in a while. They felt each other's heartbeats and breaths perfectly synced while Rin's plan filled Jun's head without them exchanging words or particular thoughts in any way.

Jun smirked. "You know me way too well, Nee-chan."

Her soul wavered from laughter for a moment. "Guess you can say that."

"Alright. Let's do this." Jun charged at Jona anew, using the same technique as in his last attack. He aimed for Jona's left arms.

"Don't think I'll fall for that trick again," Juna exclaimed, using his six arms to cover up several position where his opponent might reappear.

Unfortunately for Jona, the sibling's Soul Resonance had more then doubled the boy's speed, enabling him to create four images of himself. Jun managed to cut deeply in two of his opponent's bandaged arms while dodging his counterattacks. Yet, his main target was to slice Jona's head off from behind. When he approached to strike, Jona was suddenly wrapped in a yellow and red pulsing aura, irritating the weapon.

What the.., Jun thought.

Don't hesitate!, Rin yelled inside his soul.

Too late. He did hesitate, even though it did not even last a full second. Rin reacted the moment she felt his hesitation. She spread the wings – which were one of her special abilities – out of his back, wrapping them around him as a shield. She was not fast enough. The thousand spikes that suddenly shot out of Jona's back, racing towards them, had already pierced Jun's body in numerous places. All that was left to do for her was to retreat.

Rin flapped her wings, gaining height and distance. She felt Jun's heartbeat being erratic. Blood soaked his clothes and dripped out the corners of his mouth. She felt his pain too, though their souls were still in resonance. He was barely still conscious.

Red Raven had watched their fight from a distance. Now, he looked into the sky, his eyes fixed on Jun's glazing figure.

Rin let him slowly down right in front of Red's worried gaze, her wings resolving into blue smoke when Red knelt down beside her brother. She transformed back into her human form and knelt at his other side, taking his hand into her own, comforting him. She already knew he was dying. She had felt it while their souls had still been one. He was losing too much blood, and there was still a fight to win before they could even think about attending to his injuries. He would not last that long and they both knew it. "Nii-san," she whispered, her eyes burning with unshed tears.

Jun's breath was rattling in his chest. "Don't look at me like that, Nee-chan." He smirked despite the pain he felt all over his body. Jona's attack had pierced through his liver and lounge, and had gouged a hole right above his heart. He barely felt his limps and his chest was burning.

Red could not stand to look at him. His best friend and partner was dying, right in front of him, and there was nothing he could do, not even ease his pain. He felt anger arise within him, anger towards himself. Why, dammit! Why did this have to happen to him? He clenched his fists and punched the ground.

"It's not your fault, Red," Jun said weakly but determined. "Don't you dare even think that." He coughed roughly. More blood.

"You shouldn't talk," Rin stated softly.

"But there's something I need to get off my chest, before..." His voice drifted off and he felt Rin slightly squeeze his hand. "I want you to promise me something, Rin, Red" -they were both looking at him now- "No more secrets in between you two, alright?" He had always felt it. That there was something... unsaid between them. He wanted that settled before he had no longer any influence on the matter. "Promise me."

They gazed at each other. Red found that determination in her eyes he knew so well. Every time push had come to shove, it lit her sea green eyes and pulled them through. She was their last resort of strength – and she had never let them down. "I promise," they answered in unison.

"Good." Jun closed his eyes for a brief moment. "Now, Rin," he continued, raising a hand up to her face where his palm adapted to her cheek and she placed her hand over his, "I feel kinda stupid saying this now, but... I love you, and I regret that I didn't tell you more often." His voice began to fade. He gently brushed his thump over her lips. "I'm sorry."

She slightly shook her head. "There's nothing to feel sorry for. I always knew, even without you telling me. You're my brother, after all."

He smiled. "So I'm forgiven?" His eyelids slowly closed.

"Yeah, don't worry about it." She leaned down and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "I love you, too."

His hand slid down and hit the ground, lifeless.

-End of Flashback-

A/N: Yeah, I really wanted this chapter done so you can actually get an idea of my style and such and how the story might go on and turn out. So I hurried, but I still wanted it to be perfect. Well, at least close to perfect.

Anyways, I don't know how fast the next chapters will come up, but bare with me if you will, if you like this story just as much as I already do.

Plz review if you read it, even if you didn't like it. Tell me your reasons, I might adjust. No one can accomplish anything if nobody tells them their strengths and weaknesses.