Maka breaths in...then she breaths out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
She keeps breathing but she's not living, she's dead...no more will she be with her mother...no more will things be the same. Her heart feels squeezed just thinking of her mother...thinking of the madness she saw in those beautiful eyes...Please...Mom can you please be happy?...Can you just smile like you use to...before your illness, before my death...when all was good and beautiful...when the biggest thing I had to worry about was getting a boo boo on my finger...can you...please... just smile?...Just smile, show me happiness, give me relief...give me-
"Mortal, we are here." The reaper's harsh voice is close to her ear, but that's not the only thing that hits her ear drums. Screams, bloody screams fill the air, the smell of burning and the sound of shouts and cries cause her already sunken heart to fall deeper. She dares open her eyes...and her hand flies to her mouth in the horror she is seeing. A building stands before them, it's large and tall with many windows, an apartment building. Flames cover it...it's on fire...Maka watches as screaming people jump out of the windows, trying to escape the flames only to fall to their deaths. She watches as a man jumps from a third story window, already on fire, he falls, and falls...he hits the ground hard with a sickening crack sound, his blood painting the street. Maka feels like puking...how much more can she take?
"A fire..." Maka watches as the flames dance over the building, the screams never ceasing. She covers her ears, she doesn't want to hear it any longer. "This is..."
"Adramelech's one shot." Death states studying this scene...his cold eyes watching as he claims the poor souls in this building.
"We have to save them! There's still some people alive!" Maka takes a step forward, the reaper grabs her arm.
"We cannot save them. We are only here to collect the souls, we are only here to claim them, and we can only clean up the mess." He watches her closely, as she rips her arm from his grasps, fire in her eyes.
"Why can't we do anything?! Why are we just going to let this happen?! Use your reaper powers, do something! All those people will die..." She grips her fist, as she hears more sickening cracking and spatting sounds as body after body hits the hard unforgiving ground. "Please...have a heart..." She looks at him, his face hasn't changed. "Why let them suffer for our failure?!"
"Tell me mortal, who am I?" The reapers question, and the fact he gets close to her face, takes her aback. She stares at him, for a moment, and he stares back. He's waiting for an answer.
"You're...a reaper…" She speaks, her heart sinking, already knowing where this is going. "Death."
"Correct, I am Death, I am the Angel of Death. I do not give people life, I only take it away. you ask me to save these mortal's but you are asking me to save them from myself." His eyes fall off of her to look at the building that was slowly burning to the ground, with it innocent people who were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. "I am not an angel of Life, nor an angel of Hope, nor Salvation. I am an angel of Death, and an angel of Truth." His cold eyes fall on her. "What you ask of me is impossible."
"...But it was the demon! He...we…" Maka trembles at his words, she knows it's true. Why would Death save a life? She trembles at all the screams, the demon's horrible grin haunting her mind, causing her teeth to chatter. "This...this is all my fault..." Her throat is dry, her fragile heart shaking as guilt hits it hard...she had let it get through...and because she couldn't stop him...these people are all going to die...her hands are stained red with their blood. "I-I..."
"No." The reaper states bluntly, not looking at her. "This is not your fault, you shouldn't have even been there to see the demon, this is not how I wanted things to be." He grips his fist as he looks at Maka, she's still trembling, sweat dripping down her face.
"They're all going to die...because I failed…" She hugs herself as she hears more of those bloody screams, more of the proof of her sin. "They're...they're all going to…"
"It's time to collect the souls." Death stares at her, as Maka mumbles to herself. "..." Maka doesn't notice as he walks till he is right in front of her, he puts a hand on her shoulder, her body tenses as she's pulled out of her thoughts. He stares at her a moment, his hand not leaving her, and she just stares back...waiting for him to say or do something. "I am going to collect the souls, you are to stay here and don't leave this spot."
"You're...leaving me?" She looks at him, trying to steady herself, the thought being left alone to hear all these screams just causes her to tremble more. "Why aren't you taking me with you?"
"Are you sure you want to see the inside of the building, to see the burnt carcasses that I am going to claim." He watches as she tenses. "You have been though a lot today..." He averts his gaze towards the building. "So this time, I will do this alone. You will accompany me next time...when you are stable enough."
"Tell me..." She speaks bitterly as her swollen eyes fall on the bloody pavement. "When will I ever be stable enough...for something like this?"
"...Stay here, don't leave this spot." He puts a hand to his heart, and he starts to light up.
"Wait, please don't-" The reaper completely lights up, and in a flash he is gone. "-Leave me..." She finishes lamely even though she knows the reaper is no longer there to hear her. The only thing that accompanies her now is the screaming, and the splattering and the cracking. She covers her ears...Why...Why did he have to leave me alone?...
"Aw what's wrong mortal? Do you not like my taste in music." Even though her ears are covered she still hears the dark voice, coming from in front of her. She knows this voice…oh she knows this creature. She opens her eyes and there it stands...large, towering over her with its lips in a devilish smirk. His tail moves slowly, his whole body faded. "Well I think they're delightful.."
"You..!" Maka's trembling turns to that at anger at seeing this demon...the reason for this fire, for these deaths.
"Yes it's me, long time no see." His grin suddenly falls as his body becomes all the more faded. "Sorry to cut this short, I'd love to play with you but it seems I've run out of time." He looks back at the building that is on fire, his grin growing before it takes off running away from her. "Enjoy the show, it's one to die for!"
"Fuck you!" Maka takes off after him, not thinking about it, her body just moves. He's the one who killed all these people, he's the one she let through...she has to do something, somehow right this wrong...avenge all those people who are screaming, who are burning...who are dying. She runs, runs after this demon, her mind thinking of nothing else but getting to this monster...getting away from the screams of death. "You're going to pay!"
"Oooohhh I'm scared now." The demon chuckles darkly as it keeps running from her, it's in the lead by a couple feet. "But let's see if you can catch me first...this will be fun." The demon picks up speed, Maka doing the same, she would not let him get away. She runs for a while, following the demon, trying to catch him. She no longer hears the screams, or smells the fire. She has run for so long she doesn't even know where she is but she doesn't care. Her mind is on the demon, and only the demon. Maka pants, her mind isn't in a stable place, she feels as if she has no control anymore of her body...it just moves. The demon suddenly takes a right off the road AND into a forest, Maka quickly follows He killed them...he caused this...I let him through...it's my fault…it's all my fault…all those people... Maka grinds her teeth as she pushes her legs to the limit starting to catch up to the monster, her eyes burning into the back of its ugly head. It killed all those people! She's only a few feet behind, she's going to get him, she's going to...
The demon picks up speed and suddenly goes through a door to a wooden cabin in the woods Maka didn't realize till now, it opens as the monster goes through, and she goes in right after it, her mind running as fast as her legs.
Her body stops, or really jerks to a stop once she's inside the small home...there's no demon…but she isn't alone. A young man sits against the wall in front of her, next to a worn old couch, his head is hanging making it so she can't see his face. He wears a tank top, showing off the man's black tattoos on his arms that look more like lines wrapping around the arm, and some black pants...he looks like a normal man…but he sits in an odd position and he looks limp...Maka takes a couple steps towards this man out of concern and curiosity
The door behind her suddenly slams shut.
The sound makes Maka jump and whip around towards the door. There, giving her a evil smirk, is the demon, staring at her with its red eyes full of dark glee. "My my...you actually followed me all the way out here...how foolish you are! How stupid you are!" The monster slowly starts to walk towards her, though the thing is faded it's still intimating, it's sharp tail switching in anticipation. Maka stands her ground.
"I told you I would make you pay." She stands her ground even as the thing stops right before her, it's smirk never falling. She sends it a glare, a glare showing the hate she feels for this thing in her expression. "I'm not afraid of you."
"Ah, it's not me you should be afraid of." The smirk grows, ripping the corners of its mouth as he lashes towards her with its sharp claws. "It's the reaper you should be afraid of!" Maka jumps back, her glare falling in confusion. "You left your post...you disobeyed Death." It crackles madly, it's large body shaking, his eyes shining with glee. "Ohhh you did it now!"
"..." Maka's face gets pale, her throat becomes dry...she did leave the spot the reaper told her to stay...Shit...I wasn't thinking and I...she trembles...What will Death do?
"You said you would make me pay." It laughs, it keeps laughing, laughing at her. "So I'm waiting...make me pay mortal."
"..I.." Ok, so she didn't think this threw...what can she really do? But as the demon keeps laughing at her, a flame of anger starts to burn her heart. She grips her fist and lets out a battle cry as she charges towards it, her fist ready to punch that smirk right off its face. The demon hits her with its tail before she can even deliver the blow, batting her like she's just a play toy. She flies and hits the wall of the cabin hard, how she even hit the cabin wall she doesn't know but it hurt. She cries out, and the demon laughs all the more.
"Is this really what you wanted to do? You risked everything just to follow me? Do you even have a plan?" The demon is laughing so hard, it almost seems close to tears. "You even disobeyed Death just to let me beat the shit out of you!"
"I had to do something! I couldn't just sit there...you killed all those people...all those innocent people..." Maka pants as her eyes wonder over to the man who still hasn't moved...I wonder if he can hear us?...I hope we don't wake him up...She wouldn't want the demon hurting someone else today...
"How do you know they were innocent?" He just smirks at her. "Don't think of it as me killing those people think about it as me warming them up for hell…you see I'm really helping them out-
"Shut the fuck up! You killed them! You're not helping any fucking thing." Maka stands up, her eyes burning. "You don't know if any of those people are going to hell, you don't know shit!"
"Such a dirty mouth...I do know where you belong though." It chuckles. "And it's not here...oh no…why don't you come over here..." It's hand suddenly catches on fire. "You need some warming up!" He jumps towards her, and Maka quickly jumps away.
"You don't know anything about me!" Maka keeps dodging him as the monster tries to grab her with its hand on fire
"I don't need to." Its tail lashes out and hits her again, she flies and hits the wall next to the man causing a loud boom and a cry from the girl. The man still doesn't move. "Do you want to know why I choose that place?" The demon watches as she forces herself up with his eyes shining with dark glee every time she winces from the pain. Maka just gives it a glare. "I choose that place for I knew it was a nice apartment..." Its lips curl in an unnatural smile. "A family friendly apartment..."
"You fucking bastard!" Maka screams and forces her body to move, not caring about the pain, not caring this thing is too strong for her.
"Wasn't it beautiful? How the flames danced across the building… How the flames claimed it." The demon jumps away from Maka, his body becoming more faded, his grin has never fallen. "Red is a beautiful color isn't it? Fire is red..." It's grin grows. "Blood is red..." Maka goes to it punch it, just for the demon to grab her fist, catching it on fire. She cries out in pain as she struggles against the monster, all the while her hand is cooking. "Yes, yes scream for me mortal..." Maka finally gets her hand out of his, and desperately tries to take out the fire on her hand. The demon waste no time and hits her again with its tail, she hits the wall once again but this time...she doesn't get back up. Tears form in the corner of her eyes as she holds her hand, the flame has stopped but the damage has been done. Her hand is almost black...it's crispy, and glossy. It's sickening to look at. "Aw is someone going to cry?" He's mocking her.
"Fuck you." She spits out still holding her hand.
"Oh, I would let you if we had time." It laughs and throws its head back as its body becomes all the more faded. "But it seems my time here is over...time to sleep and await the awakening! It's coming soon, oh it's coming soon!"
"The awakening?" Maka watches the crazy demon wryly her face frozen in a wince from the pain.
"Yes, when we all will be awoken." It almost looks giddy now, it spins in a circle, as it keeps becoming fainter. "It's coming soon, it's coming soon!"
"No demon has ever woken up…" Maka stares at it hoping it's just mad...that there is no truth to its words...if all those demons wake up...it will be the end of the world.
"That's about to change...something amazing is going down...something Death can't even stop! We will all be awoken! And we will claim earth for our own!" It throws its head back. "All hail Asura!"
"Asura?!" Maka covers her mouth right after she said it, chills being sent down her spine
"Yes our lord! He will make it happen! He will claim the earth in madness! Aren't you excited?! I know I am!" He keeps fading.
"How?! He's not even awake!" Maka counters...her body trembling at his words.
"Oh but he will be soon." It smirks, and Maka's eyes widen. "Even though he is asleep…his madness lives..." It laughs madly. "You have seen it haven't you?! In your mother?! Right?! Am I right?!"
"No!" Maka screams her eyes shaking, as her mother's eyes flash threw her head. "No!, you don't know anything about my mother! She's just upset! Nothing more!"
"Ohh defensive, but you know what you saw, and I know what I saw." He laughs madly, he's almost gone. "You want to know why I didn't touch your mother?! I didn't touch her because she's mad! She's mad!"
"Stop it!" Maka screams and runs for this thing tears falling down her cheeks. "Don't talk about my fucking mom that way! She's not mad! She's not, she's not!"
"You're lying to yourself! Mortals always lie!" It laughs, it's barely even there. "Your mother is crazy! Your mother is on our side! Your mother is insane!"
"Shut up! Just shut the fuck up!" Maka goes to punch him but right at that moment the demon completely fades, she falls threw and falls on her face.
"She's insane, she's insane!" She hears the demon crackle madly, its voice fading till it's completely gone. Only when the demon cannot be hear any more does Maka scream, she screams her heart out pulling her hair, she kicks out as her whole body is having a spasm. My mom's not insane! She's not! She's- those eyes of madness from her mother flashes threw her mind and she screams all the more...She's not...She...She's just upset...Maka keeps screaming, banging her head against the ground…She's having a full fledge break down...The demon's words are haunting her…the screams of all those people are haunting her...her mother's eyes...the reaper's command…they're all haunting her. Causing tears to fall down her face. She didn't know...when she took Death's hand that this would be her fate...she knew then it wouldn't be good but...she at least expected that her mom would be ok, that she would be happy like she wanted her to be...but no. Her mother is...sad, people are dying, demons are her enemies, and hell is close by...and who knows what the reaper is going to do when he finds her...Maybe he won't find me...She knows that's only wishful thinking. She screams till she can scream no more, her throat hurts badly. Maka lets go of her hair, and sits up her body still shaking as her eyes fall on the still limp man...she needs comfort…she needs to lean on someone…someone who is human, someone who is alive…She crawls towards this man, holding her burnt hand up as not to hurt it more. This is insane and she knows it...this man won't even be able to see her but…she still wants comfort…even from a stranger…she needs it. She comes to a stop before the man and reaches out a shaky hand, of course she goes through him. The man doesn't move. "Please sir…" Maka's voice is as shaky as her body. "Will you spare some warmth...for someone who is cold? Please sir...I know we don't know each other but...I..." Maka looks over trying to see this man's face, she gasps, and the tears fall down more. The man is dead, through his forehead is a statue...the statue of liberty…blood drips off the wound, and stains the cabin floor that she hasn't notice till now...he's dead…she has no comfort..
The only comfort she has is from Death.
Maka holds her face in her hands and cries, her shoulders shaking. "Why...why?...Why is there only death? Can I never get away from him?" She pants and the tears don't stop. No she can never get away from him, she's sealed to him. He is her fate.
"Now now...what's a pretty young girl like you doing here…and crying at that." A deep, friendly voice speaks, that is not the voice of Death. Maka whips her head up to look at the man, a hope gripping her heart but the man is still dead. She frowns confused. "Don't frown, I'm here." She turns to looks over to her right and there standing is the man...he's translucent, looking at his dead body with a blank face before looking back at Maka. For some reason this causes her tears to fall more, and she sobs. "Hey...what's wrong?" The man gets on his knees in front of her frowning. "I never liked to see a woman cry...that was the kind of man I was."
"Everything is falling apart!...I.." Maka trembles, how could she answer the question what is wrong when so much is.
"What's to fall apart. Me and you are already dead aren't we?" He puts a hand on her shoulder, and she actually feels it. "What else could fall apart? What else can we lose?"
"So much...you don't know..." She looks up at the man, tears streaming down her face. "My mom...my mother she...she's going to...to…" Maka can't continue, she sobs loudly and the man pulls her into an embrace, it's not rough and he is barely touching her but it's all she needs. She grabs this man, this stranger and grips him, grips his slightly dirty robe that his soul is wearing. She needs comfort. "My mom's going crazy and there's nothing I can do about it! I can't help her! She's falling apart and me with her! It's all my fault...everything is my fault."
"You look as if you are only a teenager...how can you hold so much on your shoulders? You did not choose to die...just as I didn't chose to die." The man tightens his grip around her.
"But you see I did! I did choose to die...I willingly took Death's hand to save my mother..." She pulls away from him to look at him, and lifts up her shaky hand showing him the mark. "I belong to Death..."
"...So that's why you are dressed like him." He studies the mark with a frown on his face. "I thought you were the Angel of Death...so I hid...truth be told I was afraid of you…but then I saw you cry…and I know…Death doesn't cry." He puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You did something honorable for your mother...you are a very brave girl and even if you chose death, what is happening to your mother isn't your fault." When she opens her mouth to protest he just puts a hand up stopping her. "When you lose someone you love...of course you're going to be a little mad…but as time goes by the wounds become scars and your able to live again. Your mother will be fine, don't cry anymore." Maka still sobs, not able to help it. The man opens his arms and gives her a smile. "Come, let me give you warmth like you asked for. A girl as young as you shouldn't cry as much as you are." Maka throws herself in his arms, not caring he is a stranger, she needs the warmth, needs the comfort. "What's your name young one? I'm Sid, I use to be a gym teacher for park high, you look so familiar...maybe you were one of my students?"
Maka's eyes get wide. "Sid..?" She remembers him now, he was her gym teacher and if she remembers correctly she hated his class, and hated him for making her jog, and do pushups till she almost puked. "You were my teacher...I'm Maka."
"Maka!" He looks at her with wide eyes. "I remember you now! You're the girl who never wanted to do anything...a big complainer, it was like pulling teeth every class."
"Yeah well you worked us like a drill Sargent" She mumbles, her tears ceasing.
"I wasn't that bad, I just made sure you were pushed to your limits." He chuckles but he suddenly stops as he looks at her.. his eyes lighting in realization. "Oh…Maka…you were taken so young…and your poor mother...I understand now, she was going to die from her cancer...but you took her place.."
"Don't you dare pity me." She growls, as the man looks at her in concern. "You're not much better off, dying so young." Her eyes wonder over to his limp body and she frowns. "...What happened to you?...Why is there...a statue through your head?"
"Don't know, don't remember." Sid shrugs. "All I know is I'm dead, and the man there is the man I use to be."
"Do you think...you were murdered?" Maka looks at him. Remembering how the demon had rushed in here...He didn't do this...did he?
"I don't know...but there is one thing I do know..." He looks over to the closed door to the cabin. "...I'm waiting for someone."
"Who?" Maka looks at him as he stands up and she follows.
"A friend I think...I remember a promise. Someone is supposed to come...and take me.." Sid stares at the door now, his expression blank.
"Take you were?" Maka watches as the man's face lights in hope.
"To life." He gives her a smile. "This isn't the end of me."
"But you're-
"I know." He puts a hand up. "I'm dead but...this friend...I think...he can give me life…"
"How?" She watches as he walks to his dead body.
"I don't know." He looks at her and smiles. "But I trust this promise...I always trust in my friends...that was the kind of man I was."
"Ok..."Maka wipes her tears, not really wanting to say anything to crush his hope...she knows there is no way this friend can give his life back, Death has already claimed him. "Thank you Sid...you might have been a sucky gym teacher but…you're an awesome guy."
"Don't thank me...I wish I could do more for you...but you belong to Death. There is nothing I can do." He looks down.
"I know." She gives him a small smile. "I didn't expect you to."
"...I have to go now." Sid looks at her before he fades away. "Take care of yourself."
"Wait Sid I-
"Mortal!" She hears a deep growl from behind her and before she can even move she is pinned against the wall, the reaper holding her arms above her head, his yellow eyes burning into hers. He breathes heavily, the grip on her arms tight. "What are you doing here when I told you to stay put?! Did you think you could run from me?!" His grip tightens, his eyes are dangerous.
"N-No! I…" She trembles in fear, he has never looked at her as he is now…this is dangerous and she knows what ever she says will be held against her. He is the judge, and she is the convicted. "It wasn't like that at all!"
"Oh?" his jagged breath is on her face. "So why did you run? Why did you disobey me? Tell me mortal!"
"I saw the demon!" She screams trembling, and something changes in the boy's eyes. "I saw him and I followed him here ok? I couldn't just sit there and let him get away! He had to pay-
"What could you possibly have done to a demon!" He looks over her body with cold eyes, seeing the bruises, seeing the proof of her tale. His eyes fall on the hand that is pinned next to her head that is burnt, and his eyes flare. "You fool! Did you not learn your lesson earlier?! Not only did you disobey me but you have gone and got yourself hurt, you know it takes power from me to heal you!"
"You don't have to heal me!" She still trembles but her eyes burn back into his.
"You're right! I don't! Why should I when you do nothing but disobey me? Even when I let you see your mother and even let you take that necklace to her, you still disobey me!" He tightens the grip on her and she winces. "No…you don't deserve healing, you deserve to be punish. I have been too nice to you mortal. You will feel pain! You will know it well! You think that demon hurts? Wait till I'm done with you."
"Go ahead and punish me." She hangs her head her voice becoming soft. "I don't care anymore..." Tears fall on her cheeks silently. "I know...I know what I did was stupid ok? But I wasn't even thinking. My body moved without me telling it to. Only when the demon pointed it out did I realize I left the spot you told me to stay…" The grip on her arms loosen a little but she doesn't look up. "I couldn't stand to hear all their screams…so I ran..." Her shoulders shake. "My mother..." She shakes her head. "Just punish me, just punish me like I know you have been wanting to do from the start...I know…" She looks up at him with the tears falling. "You want to get rid of me…want to send me to hell right? ...Then do it." Her voice is no more than a whisper.
"I did not want this mortal! You brought this on yourself!-
"I know." Her tears keep falling. "So just punish me, get rid of me like you want."
"..." He lets go of her and she falls to her knees before him, his glare had never fallen. He stares down at her, Maka bowing her head. She can no longer fight, she is broken. "Don't speak like I wanted this…" He speaks…softly which causes Maka to look up at him. Death is no longer in front of her but in front of Sid's dead body. "Hm. another soul?" He reaches his hand towards the body, and she watches weakly as he touches Sid, his body lighting up as Death slowly takes the soul out of it, takes Sid. She's too weak to fight. The reaper closes his hands around the soul and it disappears. He walks back over to Maka, who hasn't moved. "Come our time here is done."
"Ok." Maka grabs his hand and stands up, her bangs covering her eyes.
"..." Death watches her silently before their hands light up. Usually this is when they would both light up and then they would be in a completely different place...but that doesn't happen. "Ugh!" The reaper grunts as his hand comes out of hers, his expression of pain as he stumbles back a little, about to fall back. This snaps Maka out of her state and she moves again without her body telling her to. She reaches out and grabs him, holding him so he doesn't fall.
"What's wrong? What happened?" She puts his arm around her neck holding it and a hand on his side to try help steady him, Death is heavy. He continues to stumble, his breath jagged, but Maka holds on to him firmly.
"I…I used too much of my power...I over worked myself..." He pants, sweat dripping down his face.
"Hold on." Maka walks him over to the wall and sits him against it looking at him in concern as he continues to pant. "You...over worked yourself?"
"Yes...with taking us to your mother then here, with all those souls I have collected ...with healing you…I have done too much...I'm out of power." His breath slowly goes back to normal, but his fist stays griped.
"Oh...' Maka frowns. "Are you...going to be ok?" She doesn't even know why she's asking.
"Yes…I just need to rest for a moment and then we will be on our way." He leans his head against the wall and closes his eyes.
"Ok.." She looks at him, looks at the pale face of Death and she can't help but to question the slight relief her heart feels...why would it be a relief that he is ok? He's going to hurt me! He's going to punish me!
"Mortal..." The reaper's voice snaps her out of her thoughts and she focus on him. The boy looks at her with his yellow eyes, the same ones that used to be burning are now...soft...looking over her, studying her. "...You confuse me…"
"Huh?" She almost blushes from how soft those words were, they rung her ears What the hell?!
"You confuse me...I thought you hate me... I thought you are sick of me..." Something flashes threw those eyes of his. "But yet...you helped me...you held me in my time of need and looked at me with concern."
"Well I don't know ok?" She huffs and looks away from him to hide her blush. "You're right I do hate you but...you have helped me before..." She looks back at him when her blush has fallen. "I was just returning the favor...you have healed me before and you let me take the necklace back to my mother...and for that I'm grateful."
"…Ah...so your kindness is out of gratitude?" He looks away from her. "Nothing more…"
"Well.." Maka trails off when he looks back at her, a fire returning to those eyes.
"If you are grateful to me, why did you disobey me?"
"I told you I didn't mean to ok? And you know what, I'm sorry." She hugs her knees to her chest and sighs. "I should have listen to you this time, but like you say all the time, I'm human." She tightens her grip on her legs. "Maybe if you didn't leave me this wouldn't have happen..."
"I was trying to spare you of a horror!" He growls. "Do not try to pin this on me!"
"...You're right." She looks over at him and his expression falls. "It's not your fault, it's only mine."
"...Are you in pain?" He looks down at her burned hand, his expression blank.
"Why do you care." She growls and looks away from him. "You're just going to hurt me more, and you know since I'm most likely going to hell I better get used to it right?"
"I.." The reaper slowly starts to reach a hand out towards her, before he can touch her the door to the cabin swings open causing both of them to look over at it. Maka gasps there, standing in the door way is a man…and by the odd stitched up lab coat he is wearing she guessed he must be a scientist of some kind. The man's glasses glare as he takes a drag of the cigarette in his mouth and lets out a puff of smoke. The reason Maka gasps is not because he gives her the creeps even though he does, really badly but he has a bolt going through his head! He has a bolt going through his fucking head and he's still alive! The man walks into the cabin and closes the door behind him before walking towards the body of Sid, his eyes finally being able to be seen, his pale green eyes look over the dead man blackly, no emotion. "Well…so it's happened." He takes another drag of his cigarette and blows it out. "Can't say I'm surprised Sid.."
"Who is this man?" The reaper mumbles studying him, with an eye brow raised.
"I don't know but..." Her eyes light in realization...This can't be the friend Sid was talking about...right? I mean he's... The scientist's lips suddenly curl into a warped smile. He's so creepy!
"I can't say I'm sad for your death either." The man starts to chuckle, chills are sent down Maka's spine. "This means I can start my experiment…oh how I've waited for this! Sid my friend you are about to be a part of something wonderful! And if I succeed...oh if I succeed." The man's body trembles, his creepy smiling growing. "We can defeat death...no longer be conquered by it"
"What?" The reaper growls looking at the scientist dangerously. "What is he talking about?"
"..." "This man will give me my life back."...Is he going to..?
The scientist bends down and picks up the other man, picks him up like he's nothing and holds him like a baby. "Hm? The statue of liberty?" The man studies the statue poking out of Sid's forehead. "Interesting…the very statue that represents freedom..." He slowly starts to carry him out the door but he stops and his eyes fall on Maka. She tenses, chills being sent down her spine...He can't see you...he can't see you, the scientist smiles he smiles right at her. "Ohh what is this..?"
The reaper suddenly is on her, his head next to hers as he glares back at the man, his hands next to her head. "Don't worry." He whispers as her body relaxes. "He may be a seer...but even seers can't see death...just stay still."
"Huh...that was weird." She hears a weird cranking sound then a click...Did he just...turn that bolt?! She hears his footsteps slowly walk out of the cabin, the door opens and then it shuts.
"Oh thank goodness." Maka lets out a sigh of relief...if she could...she would have peed herself when that man smiled at her...she knew then he did see her.
"That man was definably a seer...They usually aren't a problem but since I have you now, seers could become one." The reaper slowly gets off her but he stays close to her. "Though it's not your fault they see you, if you were to do anything to acknowledge him, you would have broken the rules and you would have to be punished."
"Of course more punishment.." She mumbles and averts her gaze. "That man…was so creepy..."
"Agreed." She looks over at him and his eyes flare as he looks at the door. "I do not like him…what he speaks of…he may be a problem."
"..." Maka watches as Death stands up and looks down at her.
"Come, let us get out of here. I have enough power to take us back now" He reaches his hand towards her. She only nods and takes his hand, they both light up at contact and she closes her eyes...This is it...what is going to happen to her? ...That man...is he really going to try to bring Sid back? ...And what if he succeeds what happens then? When Maka opens her eyes she is on the platform in the hall in limbo, angels are already gathered looking at them silently, waiting for Death to speak. They look a lot better...the angels who have fought are all bandaged up, all robes and dresses are pure and cleaned. Death lets go of her hand and takes a step forward "My fellow angels...I have cleaned up the mess the demon has caused…Adramelech slumbers." The angels stare up at him blankly, they don't care about the humans. "What has happened today will not happen again" This gets all the angels to perk up, and they look to Death with hopeful eyes. "I cannot promise there will not be another demon attack but I promise, whenever there is one I will be here, to guild you." His eyes look over all the angels, and Maka looks at him as he speaks with so much power. "I have failed you all today, I was not fast enough but never again...I wish to say thanks to those brave angels who fought even though I was not here, you fought to protect earth and you all deserve praise. To the angels who have fought, help yourself to how much wine and bread you wish, for your bravery you can please yourselves as for the ones who did not...you will have fun cleaning the mess hall, and the mess kitchen." This gets a loud cheer from some of the angels and a loud groan from the others. "That is all, you may go." With that the room begins to clear out, some angels rushing, others dragging their feet.
"My lord." Liz suddenly lands next to Death, with Crona by her side. Maka's heart lights up at seeing her friend and she smiles at him giving the boy a wave. Crona blushes and his eyes look anywhere but her before they finally fall on her and he gives her a smile back and an awkward little wave. This causes Maka to giggle a little...unknown to her Death is watching. "Me and Crona have done as you have said. The glass has been restored and the blood cleaned up. Most angels are out of the infirmary, only a couple will have to stay for a while longer till they are ok."
"How many fatalities?" Death looks at Liz.
"5." Justin suddenly lands before Death and bows before him. "All lower ranked angels. Bariel, Cassiel, Eiael, Guriel, and Hasdiel."
"Ah...that isn't bad." Death closes his eyes. "It could be worse."
"I always thought…" Maka speaks and all eyes go to her. "That angels couldn't die…"
"Well we wouldn't be able to...if we were in heaven." Justin looks down, something changing in those blue eyes.
"Here, we are able to die by other angels." Liz mumbles and puts a hand behind her neck.
"What...what happens to angels when they die?" Maka looks between every one...they all look down except for Death.
"No one knows." The reaper speaks up looking at her. "When an angel dies, there is no soul left behind...we do not know what happens to them."
"Oh..." Maka frowns...Angels...have souls...don't they?
"You are all excused, good work." As soon as Death speaks the words, Liz and Justin take off, leaving Crona, who stares at Maka, his hand griping his arm.
"M-Maka your back...are you o-ok?" He takes small steps towards her, looking at her with concern. She must look a mess.
"I'm fine Crona." She forces a smile and starts to walk towards him.
"B-but you-
"Crona." Death suddenly holds out his arm in front of Maka, stopping her from getting closer to the boy. "I said you are dismissed. You can talk to Maka later, we have business to take care of."
Crona looks at him a moment before looking at Maka, a frown on his face. "O-ok my l-lord." He gives Maka one final look before he flies off, she frowns. She's alone now. Alone with Death.
"..." Maka watches as Death turns towards her, and fear grips her heart...This is it…what would her punishment be?...Would he really send her to hell? "It's time mortal to..." He puts a hand on top of her head, and stares into her eyes. They light up and she holds her breath. This is it...this is it...I- "rest." He takes his hand off her and she opens her eyes surprised. They're in the red hotel suit room…this room has never looked so inviting.
"What?" She looks around confused before her eyes fall on the reaper. "I thought...I thought you were going to…punish me."
"..." He walks up to her, their bodies almost pressed together, the boy is so close. He stares down at her blankly as he reaches for her burnt hand. He brings it slowly up to his lips and he...kisses it. Maka gasps as her hand lights up from the kiss, and it burns...just like for some reason that small kiss had burned her up. Her face is a dark red as he holds her hand so gently, watching it till the light leaves it. Her hand is completely healed.
"T-thank you..." Maka stares at the boy as he lets go of her hand. He stares in her eyes…something in those yellow eyes she cannot place before he closes them.
"I want you to rest." He walks past her, Maka watching him still in disbelief. "You have been though a lot. I need you to be of use to me." He stops by the door and looks at her with those eyes going back cold. "...Don't let what happen today happen again." With that the reaper leaves the room, the door shutting behind him loudly.
"..." Maka just stares at where the boy use to be holding her use to be burnt hand...What just happened? She slowly walks over to the large king sized bed and crawls into the covers. She can't help but to let out a content sigh at how the blanket feels on her still hot skin... She pulls the covers up to her chin, as she looks at her healed hand...the hand Death had kissed. He...he didn't punish me...he let me off the hook and he healed me… She feels her heart flutter and she growls as she turns violently in the bed...Maybe there's more to Death?...No...She shakes her head. She remembers the boy's soft lips on her hand…the way he had kissed her pain away...and her blush returns. She remembers how Death had helped her take the necklace to her mother…the way Death had held her when she had fallen...
"So your kindness is from gratitude?" She remembers the boy's soft words. "Nothing more..."
That's right...it's just gratitude that makes her feel this way...she's just grateful for when he helps her...that's all. Of course she still hates the reaper! He's cold and mean, he judges her, he-
Kissed her.
She growls and turns again. She doesn't want to think of the boy any more...he's too confusing but yet she doesn't want to think of anything else either. She doesn't want to think of the creepy scientist who is going to somehow try to bring Sid back, she doesn't want to think of Sid...whose soul is who knows where right now, she doesn't want to think of the demon...and what he said, she doesn't want to think about the fire, or all the people who died, she doesn't want to think about her mother…she actually doesn't want to think of her...it brings her pain to remember those eyes, she doesn't want to think of where she is, or the fate that is hers. So much swirls around in her head as she tries to fall asleep and for some reason...she finds...
She can't stop thinking of the reaper.
Thinking of those cold eyes.
Thinking of that blank face.
Thinking of how he judges her.
Thinking of how he yelled at her.
Thinking of how he had pinned her.
Thinking of how he had shielded her with his body.
Thinking of how he had kissed her.
Her thoughts slowly drift away as sleep claims her...a confused pout frozen on her face.
So I introduced Stein and Sid yay! I hope you liked this chapter... I had a little Kid and Maka action but not much. Please review! And thank you for the ones that do :) They motivate me. Till next time.
