Stein made an announcement at the beginning of class.

"Today, students, I wish to do some practical work rather than the theory I intended-"

He had to stop as a mad cheer rang out from the students. Once it died down, he continued, "Though I can see you're all clearly disappointed. We will be going outside, where I wish to see everyone show off a unique part of their ability. No pair of meister and weapon in this room is the same, so I expect you all to have your own moves. This is what I want to see today, so that we can establish who is where in their training, to keep track of who needs to catch up and what-not."

There was a sudden mad rush, a stampede, as the students raced outside.

Angel still remained in her seat, deflated.

"Is everything alright, Angel?" he asked.

She gave a hesitant nod. "Yeah, fine. I just haven't been sleeping well."

He gestured to the door. "If you feel too tired to join us today, you are excused to catch up on some sleep. Though don't expect this offer to come again anytime soon,"

Angel struggled to smile. "Thanks professor, but I'll just come and watch today, if you don't mind,"

Stein shrugged. "Sure,"

He then pushed his wheelie chair along, smoke trailing from the cigar in his mouth, and Angel paced after him.

"See? I need sleep!" growled Angel.

Stein frowned in puzzlement. "Uh, sure, you do."

"Huh?" said Angel, shaking her head, "Sure what?"

"You need sleep..." said Stein.

Angel blinked. "Did I say that out loud?"

Stein nodded, and she sighed. "Just... Never mind,"

Stein frowned, then shrugged, and continued to wheelie-chair away.

Outside, half the weapon students had already changed into weapon form, whilst the others spoke in hushed whispers to their partner.

"Okay everyone," announced Stein, "You get five minutes practice and working out with your partner, then I expect everyone to be ready to perform. We'll go in alphabetical order according to the meisters, so Anya will be first, then Black Star, then Death the Kid, and so on and so forth. I don't need to see a huge attack, not even your best, just an attack that you've come up with yourselves."

The students nodded, before ducking down to discuss with their partners.

"So Angel," said Stein, without turned round to look at the ruby-haired girl, "You have not been assigned a weapon, I see,"

Angel flinched. "No, professor, but I won't need one. I already have a weapon of sorts. Two, actually,"

"Oh?" said Stein, "May I meet them?"

She gave a small smile. "They aren't like humans that turn into weapons; they are in permanent weapon form you see."

"Oh," said Stein, "I haven't heard of that before,"

Angel shrugged. "I haven't heard of any others like me and my weapons before either, sir,"

They turned back as Black Star suddenly punched the air.

"Professor!" he cried, "Subaki and I are ready! Let's get this thing started-"

"But Anya is first," interrupted Stein, "You are second, Black Star,"

Black Star's face went red. "I am never second!"

"That's okay professor," Anya, a girl with soft pink hair said with a sigh, "Black Star can go first, I don't mind,"

Stein sighed, and took a long breath on his cigar. "Fine. Let's see it, Black Star,"

"Woo!" he cried, and pointed Subaki's axe head to the sky, "People, prepared to be amazed. I, Black Star, present you the move made just for me; A Storm of Steel!"

He swept Subaki down, like she was an extension of his arm, and swung it round and round till he was a blurred figure in a tornado of steel. With a mighty cry he directed the storm upwards, and it blew straight up; but he hung onto the end tail of this whirlwind, and spinning again, launched it at a small pile of barrels. The barrels were immediately caught in the storm and blasted to pieces.

There was a chorus of applause for the vain boy, who stood proudly.

"I will surpass the gods!" he cried, before grinning at Stein, "So how'd I do?"

"Very well, thank you Black Star," sighed Stein, "Very well. Though we really should get into the habit of not having so many barrels lying around."

The rest of the lesson went that way, and Angel watched with a frown that deepened at every students performance. How could these people glorify battle? It was a brutality she did not understand. Death was nothing to be proud of.

At the end of the day, Angel joined the group as they walked to Maka's home.

They laughed as they walked, Soul and Black Star at the front talking on about their fame and glory, then Liz and Pattie discussing the cuteness of polar bears versus their habit of killing things. Maka, Kid, Subaki and Angel trailed behind.

"So, Angel," smiled Subaki, "We haven't really had a chance to ask you where you came from,"

Angel gave a sad, twisted smile at the question. "Well... My father was a ringmaster for a marvellous circus," she said, "And my mother was one of the singers and his assistant in his magic acts."

The whole group blinked in surprise. It would explain her strange clothes.

"A circus?" said Kid in incredulity.

She nodded. "Yeah. The Jar of Beads Circus. We were one of the best out there. We had strong men, acrobats, singers, clowns, magicians, strange animals and equally strange people, a fortune-teller, jugglers, entertainers of every age and talent. You name it, we had it."

Maka shook her head in surprise. "Wow. That's pretty amazing."

"Yeah," said Angel, turning away, "It was,"

They were silent for a bit, realising it was a tender subject for the strange girl.

"My father," spoke Angel suddenly, "He wanted me to be an acrobat. I was good with... You know... Acrobatics."

She demonstrated this by leaping up into the air, landing on her hands, the pushing up so she balanced in a handstand with just one hand, one leg sticking out at an angle. She then twisted into a ball, then leapt back to her feet and finished with a lavish bow.

"Wow," grinned Maka, "Impressive."

Angel laughed. "My mother used to say I was such a show-off," Angel's mood saddened again, and she went on softly, "Though my mother wanted me to be a singer. To join the 'Mockingbirds', who sang at the circus."

They were silent, waiting to see if she'd sing for them. But when it became apparent she was lost in some far-away memory, Kid coughed, "So... What happened?"

Angel closed her eyes and looked away. "I... They died,"

"Your parents?" Frowned Subaki.

"The entire circus," whispered Angel, "Everyone died."

There was a shocked silence.

"What... How?" spluttered Maka.

Angel shrugged, and said no more.

Kid pursed his lips. Something was nibbling at the edge of his memory, trying to tell him something...

"It was a witch, wasn't it?" he said suddenly.

Angel winced, and nodded.

"How did you know, Kid?" asked Maka.

Kid was frowning. "I... Think I remember something, slightly."

Angel gave a sad smile. "Well there's no need to dwell on this subject long. So how long have you all known each other?"

Immediately the subject was changed, as Subaki and Maka went on about how they all met; Soul and Black Star quickly joined in.

Angel smiled and commented politely, but Kid could see her mind was elsewhere.

"Who are you, Angel?" he thought, "What dark past do you hide? And why can't I remember?"

He watched her as she brought something out of her pocket, and began to rub it. He had seen her do it before.

"What is that?" he questioned quietly as the others argued over who knew who first.

Angel jolted. "Oh? This?" she held it up to the light, and Kid was surprised to see it was a large silver padlock.

"What do you have that for?" he asked.

Angel shrugged. "I... It's just a trinket. I carry it with me everywhere."

Kid blinked, as a memory suddenly filled his vision. He saw a little girl, her face hidden by bright red curls, hugging a silver padlock close to her chest. Her faded violet eyes brimmed with unshed tears, and she gave a silent sob.

"It's all you have left of them?" he said quietly, recalling from the memory.

Angel squeezed her eyes shut. "Yep. Everything else... Gone."

Angel was beginning to feel as if she finally fit in somewhere. Sure, these people didn't know the truth about her. They could never have dreamed it in a hundred years, she hid it so well. But Angel could feel the pressure building; holding this secret, keeping it hidden, was taking its toll. She scarcely slept. She knew she had to get it out of her system, the urge to fight and kill. She tried to unleash it at night, but doing so deprived her of sleep and tired her thoroughly. It wasn't enough. She had to let her demons free, else they'd consume her as they had done so many times before...

The cracks were beginning to show. She couldn't focus in class, and began taking her padlock out and rubbing it more frequently. The dark marks under her eyes betrayed her lack of sleep.

"Angel," said Sid one morning, "It looks as if you're not getting enough sleep. I think you should go see the school nurse, and ask her for some sleeping pills."

But Angel shook her head wearily. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Besides, pills don't work on me."

Sid frowned. "Why is that?"

"My blood," mumbled Angel, "It... Melts them."

And that was the end of the conversation, as Angel left without another word.

"Why aren't you sleeping well, Angel?" questioned Maka worriedly, "Aren't you settled down yet? If this place is making you upset, you can come live with me for a while."

Angel smiled at her. "Thanks for the offer, but I'll be fine. It's something else."

Maka frowned, then tried to smile. "Okay. Anything I can help with?"

"No," she murmured, "No one can help me. I just have to become stronger, that's all,"

Her violet eyes seemed to mist over as she looked wearily into the distance, "Always stronger. Why can't you let me be happy?"

"Who?" asked Maka.

"Who what?" asked Angel, rubbing her eyes.

Maka pursed her lips. "Uh, never mind." She had heard Kid say that Angel seemed to talk to herself when she was distracted or anxious. His theory could indeed be correct.

The next day was the Sunday. The last day for Angel to prove herself, that she was indeed under control.

So she put on a tight smile, and decided to grin and bear it. Because the truth was, she was happy here! This academy... She had always had good memories here. And everyone was just so nice, even Black Star once he stopped trying to challenge her.

Not to mention Kid was here. Even if he didn't remember her, she still recalled all the good times they'd had growing up together before she had to leave because of her... Condition. But she was determined to make up for her shaky past; and Kid was the key.

Death the Kid was battling on a ghost ship, against Crona and the Demon Sword, and it wasn't looking good. Liz was still shaky from her little stroll with the ghosts – "I WANNA GO HOOOME!" she had just started to stop screaming.

Kid was about to shoot again at the Demon Sword, when suddenly, there was a whirl of vibrant summer colours and Angel was there. He looked at her in shock.

"What... How did you get here?" he stammered.

Angel threw him a desperate look. "Stop, please, just for a moment,"

Kid watched in shock as Angel paced slowly to Crona, the Demon Sword hanging loosely from his hand.

"Crona?" murmured Angel, "How are you feeling?"

"Uh, hello!" cried Kid, "He's just been trying to kill me! He should-"

"Who are you?" mumbled Crona, "Why are you here?"

Angel smiled sadly. "I wanted to talk with you,"

Crona jolted. "I can't talk with people, I can't handle it, don't try and trick me!"

Angel sighed wearily, and came to a standstill a few steps from him.

"There is no trickery here, Crona," she said, "I just want to tell you something."

"W-What?" stammered Crona.

Angel smiled. "That you can handle it."

Crona blinked. "I can... What?"

Angel gave a small, tinkling laugh. "You can handle it! Handle it all. Because you are strong enough."

Crona frowned and looked away, shaking his head. "No, I can't do it, I can't do it! Why can't you people understand that? No one understands, not even the Little One!"

"But I do understand," whispered Angel.

"No you don't! You can't, because you're with them and they don't understand, so how could you understand because if you did then they would too! How could you understand?" rambled Crona, pressing his hands to his head.

Angel clenched her eyes shut. "You misunderstand understanding, Crona. You are strong! You can do it!"

Crona moaned. "How would you know?"

Angel gave a crooked smile. "Because I did it. And I am just like you."

Angel suddenly screamed, as lights pierced through the skin on her back.

Death the Kid leapt back, crying, "Angel!"

But she was beyond hearing him now. As she bent to her knees, still screaming with her hands pressed to her head, the lights on her back began to take shape. She moaned, but they were almost finished forming.

When she stood up again, the pain was still etched on her face; but two new faces peered from her back. Like Crona's Ragnarok, Angel now had two beings protruding for her back, only their waist and upwards visible.

Kid looked on, in shock. "No. That's not possible."

"Kid, what's happening?" cried Liz, "What are those things on Angel's back?"

"It's... Of course," he mumbled.

"Kid, WHAT IS IT?!" screeched Liz.

"Angel..." whispered Kid, "She... Has three souls. But that shouldn't be possible... Those two beings in her back are the manifestation of her other two souls, the souls she's been hiding from us with her Soul-Protect..."

Angel smiled crookedly at Crona.

"You are like me," he whispered, violet eyes wide with shock.

Angel nodded, and the beings on her back hissed. One was a red-coloured beast that vaguely resembled a human, though it had claws, horns and pointed teeth; it was a kieshan. The other was a green-coloured woman, who glared at them. The pointed hat on her head declared her to be a witch.

"'You are like me'," sneered the witch soul, "Ugh, what a pathetic creature! Wimpy, and weak!"

"Hey!" roared Ragnarok, "He's my wimpy weakling, so shut-up before I pound your face!"

"Please," rumbled the kieshan soul, "Like you could do anything connected with that waste of flesh! Even our pathetic girl could beat you up!"

Angel was still smiling at Crona, ignoring the souls that argued on their backs. "I'm in control, see?" she said softly.

Crona was still in shock. "How?"

Angel shrugged. "It's not easy," her violet eyes deepened in sadness, "I fight them every moment of every day, and sometimes it really hurts, but it's always worth it in the end. They try to tease me, trick me, hurt me. But I am strong, and so are you,"

Crona still looked dumbfounded.

But Ragnarok on his back had grown tired of arguing with the witch and kieshan soul; it wasn't fair, two against one! With a roar, he cried, "Prepare to die!"

Crona gave a cry as Ragnarok propelled them forward, changed into his weapon form, and charged at Angel. She didn't move, just gave a smile. She deftly dodged the attack, as was her way, and ducked down to whisper in Crona's ear.

"Don't ever give up," she whispered, "You can handle it. You are stronger than you think Crona, and you are worth it. Never forget your own strength."

Crona's eyes widened momentarily, then Angel leapt back and away. She crouched to the ground, and shuddered as she brought the two souls on her back into her being again, sucking them in with a slight moan and shiver. They complained loudly, but she ignored them.

Angel stood up straight, and nodded to Kid. "Do what you have to do now," she muttered, "I have done what I came here to do."

"And what was that? Have a pleasant chat and reveal you have three souls, which should be impossible?" he growled.

Angel winced. "No, not quite. I planted a seed."

Kid raised an eyebrow.

"A seed of hope," she sighed, "In Crona's mind. It is a seed of hope that, if nurtured by doubt and curiosity, can bloom into a flower of strength. Give him time. He now realises that he has choices, options, that if there is hope for me than there is hope for him also."

Kid was taken aback, but then he bowed his head and smiled. "My father was right. You are unpredictable. But I like it."

Angel couldn't help but grin at that. "Thanks, Kid. You okay to finish him off?"

Kid raised his eyebrow again. "You're not going to insist I let him go?"

She shrugged. "Crona has to be undone one way or another, and who knows how long it will take for him to grow strong enough. If you can defeat him now, it would be easier for us."

Kid shook his head. "Still unpredictable. How you amaze me,"

Angel blushed, and leapt into the air. She swept her cloak out behind her, and revealed it to double as some sort of glider. She began to sail away into the sky, and Kid watched her go with a dreamy look in his eyes. "Amazing. If only her curls were all perfectly symmetrical."

"Uh, Kid?" said Liz, "We're not done yet,"

"Huh?" murmured Kid.

A sudden whistle of Rangaroks sword as it nearly sliced his face, and Kid was back into the battle.

"Alright," he growled, "Back into the game. Liz, Pattie... Let's go."