Chapter Six: Kai: Not Quite a Bloodbath; Down With the Golden Duo?

Not quite sure what we were waiting for, I waited in total stillness, my grip on Black*Star's hand growing slick with perspiration. I couldn't even be embarrassed by it because I was so focused on the coming fight.

The rules were simple: no killing blows, standard duel procedures, and the winners would be the last sixteen people left on their feet. Black*Star was more focused than he had been in our kishin hunts, and his wavelength was positively energetic. It took nothing to match him and ride the wave that his determination and excitement had created within us. My whole body began to tingle with the sparks that the deep resonance created.

A loud horn sounded and suddenly the arena was full of movement.

In a flash of light I morphed into a heavy Claymore and Black*Star blocked a swipe from a nearby opponent. A matter of moments passed in a blue, my sight fragmented as I spun around until I finally withdrew into my resonance room and focused on feeling the sensations of the fight through Black*Star. It was a strange feeling: half of me slicing through the air, connecting with other weapons and protecting my meister, while half of my mind was with the hands that were wrapped around my hilt.

Another opponent jumped in front of us as soon as the last one had fallen, but it was Snow. The two meisters shared a look before moving on, Snow dashing by the blue-haired assassin to face another boy who I believed I remembered briefly meeting along with the rest of the Russian DWMA delegates. He was soon lost in the fight, as yet someone else lept in front of us.

Merle.

The girl, whose face freaked me out slightly because of its similarity to mine, had a steely glint to her eyes as she stared us down. She barely moved and suddenly she was in front of us, her arm glinting as it turned into a steel blade that was whistling through the air a little too fast for my comfort. As if we were one, I urged Black*Star to move and he did. It was awkward and embarrassing, being this deep inside of a resonance, but at the same time comforting. It was almost as if we were completely one.

"Fancy trick," she chuckled, carefully stalking around us while analyzing our movements. "I've heard a lot about you both, you know. The Kishin Blade and the last of the Star Clan. A strange pair, yet fitting." Another flash of movement, but we blocked her attack while countering with one of our own: a low sweeping of Black*Star's leg followed by a dagger throw that had me spinning past her neck, sheering off a few hairs as she barely managed to duck out of the way. I transformed and rolled with the impact of the ground, quickly getting to my feet.

"I'm a better weapon, you know," Merle taunted, her choice of words confusing and out of the blue. My confusion allowed me to be caught off guard as she suddenly twisted and launched herself at me, abandoning her pursuit of my meister. With a shout of rage I bent backwards to avoid a swipe of her arm and punched her solidly in the stomach. She gasped, alarm etched into her face as I quickly gained the upper hand using nothing but my bare hands.

As soon as the way was open, I danced out of her reach and glanced around for my meister. The idiotic boy had left to go continue fighting and was now gallivanting across the arena fighting with only his wavelength and his knowledge of martial arts. Though I admired his bravery, I couldn't help but huff angrily at his stupidity, though he was managing to kick some major ass on his own. Rolling my eyes, I tried to take a moment to count up those remaining but was distracted by a sudden tackle. I used the momentum to roll, steam-rolling the person under me and continuing to my feet and twisting to face Merle again, cursing my mistake.

"Never take your eyes off your opponent," I hissed under my breath, my face grim. A better fighter would have taken me out of the competition had they been given that same opportunity.

"I've heard talking to yourself is a sign of schizophrenia," Merle mused, a sly smirk on her face as we circled each other yet again.

Snorting, I rolled my eyes. "Is that the best you can come up with? Really?"

Then we clashed, fists and feet flying. I watched, focused completely on her movements. My skill in hand-to-hand combat was stellar after months of training with Black*Star, but I was facing a weapon who didn't need a meister. Her slashing metal limbs kept me on my toes, but my weaponization of my wavelength was weakening her quickly. No one could take this many hits to their wavelength and not be exhausted.

So lost in the fight, she didn't notice when Black*Star finally returned to the fight. A self-satisfied smirk was on his face as again I connected with him. Though we weren't close enough for as strong a resonance as the last, he easily relayed the plan. In a sudden, precise motion, I launched myself forward, driving Merle back into my meister with a flurry of attacks. Barely able to defend herself from such a furious, sudden barrage, the European weapon stumbled backwards only to get a fistful of Black*Star's wavelength.

Her cry of agony broke through my fighting haze, making me pause for a split second. Merle was on the ground, kneeling before me, but the fight hadn't been won yet. Not only was she still conscious, but she was already fighting her way to her feet, a murderous look in her eyes. I raised my fist to finish the fight…

A horn blazed, shocking me. I glanced around, realizing that other than Black*Star, Merle, and I, there were only thirteen others still standing. From across the arena I could see Tsubaki leap out of Snow's hand and into his arms, a cheerful yelp exploding from her lips. They must have been the ones to drop the last loser. I stepped away from the nearly-beaten girl, throwing her a glance that spoke volumes: Next time you won't be so lucky.

She smiled innocently and shook her head, getting shakily to her feet. "No hard feelings?"

"Of course not!" I gave her an edgy smile and watched her walk away, her orange hair swishing behind her as she left us. "I don't trust her."

My meister nodded in agreement before pulling me into an enthusiastic hug. Whooping, he picked me up and spun me around as I laughed. Black*Star squeezed me tightly and set me down, his excitement infecting me through eye contact as he looked down at me. "We're in the second round, Kai. One step closer to being the best. One step closer to being a Death Weapon."

Eyes shining, I literally would have agreed to anything he said right then. The way his eyes were lighting up with exhilaration, his breath still slightly short from the fights, his skin slightly slick with sweat; he looked like a champion. A hero. Someone that I would give my life for, not just because being his weapon made me obligated to, but because I wanted to. Because he was my partner, through and through.

"Black*Star," My grey eyes couldn't leave his, my emotions too strong in the moment. "We did it."

His face split even wider.

"Glad to see you two decided to stick around!"

I leaned around Black*Star's shoulder to see Death the Kid, along with Liz and Patty, triumphantly walking over to us as well. That left eight spots to be filled by others. My eyes widened when I realized who we were missing and I frantically searched the happy faces for our other candidates. Crona I saw on the other side of the arena, looking around nervously while unconscious bodies littered the ground around him. Scoffing, I continued my search, finally finding who I was looking for.

Soul and Maka, picking themselves up off of the ground.

"Oh, shit."

Maka's green eyes were dimmer than I had ever seen them as Soul supported her weight, helping her limp over and join our group. The Thompson sisters hugged her as I stood awkwardly nearby, self-conscious. Soul stared at the ground, silent.

"Dude…" Black*Star was pale, and set his hand lightly on his best friend's shoulder.

I looked at the Golden Duo, a pit of dread in my stomach. Black*Star and I had won, but a price had been paid. The best of us had fallen due to a bad day.

Suddenly, the fragile state of the situation became apparent to me. I glanced at my blue-haired meister, sharing a look with him as even he (yes, the slightly dimwitted one) realized it as well. We would fight, and we would fight with all we had.

But who was to say it would be enough?

Author's Note: Alright, so this chapter was really short, but I've been having some major writer's block. Like, I know where the plot is going, and I have the end plotted out (and partially written as well!) but I've been having issues actually getting there... anyways, this chapter more than ever I need your thoughts! Make sure to review, follow, and, if you liked it, favorite!

Also, if anyone has any tips on how to dynamite my writer's block... I'm now taking suggestions!