Chapter 5

"So what do you plan to do now that you're back?" Spirit asked Maka as she sat between him and Soul who was helping Kaia eat her ice cream.

"I don't know, we haven't really talked about what to do." Maka shrugged. "I was offered to teach and Soul was offered a job at the academy too but I'm not sure."

"I'm not the teaching kind of guy." Soul said.

"You know all the cool guys can teach, if you can't teach then I guess you're not a cool guy." Maka told him with a smirk making him scoff at her logic before she turned back to her father. "I mean yeah it probably would be a great idea for us to work at the academy but we have to think about what we would do with Kaia while we're working and all…" She trailed off with a sigh. "We have so much to figure out back here." Kaia smiled up with chocolate ice cream all over her face.

"I could watch her while you're teaching." Spirit offered.

Maka shook her head. "Papa, you have your own job to do. We can't ask you to stop working to watch her. We'll figure something out."

"What about Blair?" Spirit offered only to see Soul chuckle as Maka's face darkened. "Or not…" He paused before he looked at his granddaughter who was trying to use her father as a napkin. "Since Kid has taken his position I fill in for teachers once in a while. I'm not really doing much work, I can watch her." Maka looked at him a minute before she gave a small smile.

"You can just say you want to spend more time with your granddaughter." Maka smirked. "You know, I'm really glad you've decided to act like an adult and stop that crying."

"I... you are my little girl. I never want you to grow up, I don't want you to be married with a kid, let alone near any guy… you've proven that you're not that little girl and seeing her… it's like a got a second chance with you." Maka smiled as she glanced at her daughter and back at her father. "I've done a lot of things wrong as a husband and a father but seeing that little face… I was upset that you had a baby, but… I won't mess up being a grandpa too." Maka pulled him into a tight hug, she was still hurt and would never forget what he had done to her mother and her but she was willing to let him get a little closer. Something Soul had been talking her into for a while.

When she turned to look at Soul, he smirked at her. He knew it hurt to open up, especially to the man who had hurt her and her mother but he knew it was going to get easier for her. "Thanks, Papa."

He nodded and the three sat watching Kaia finish her ice cream before Spirit began speaking again. "Have you told your mother?"

"No. I haven't received a card from her in a while. I figured the next time she sent me a card I'd write her back and tell her." Maka shrugged.

"What about your family?" Spirit looked at Soul. "Do any of them have a clue you're even alive still?"

"I don't care." Soul shrugged. "My father didn't like the fact that I left to come here and train as a weapon instead of playing the piano so I've lost touch with them since I left."

"Maybe you should make amends. Maybe he would like a second chance with you through his grandchild."

Soul scoffed. "All he would do is force her to play an instrument and that's it. That's all he cares about." Soul shook his head. "If any of them cared they would come around or write. I don't need them, I have everyone I need." He glanced between his wife and daughter. "All I need is Maka and Kaia." Spirit fell silent; Soul had a point and was happy with his little family.

"We should get her home, I'm sure she won't want to eat dinner now that she's had ice cream." Maka said as she stood, pulling Kaia onto her hip as she used a napkin to clean her daughter's face. "Thanks, Papa, for taking care of her today." With that, the little family was on their way home.

Maka walked into Soul's class quietly, holding Kaia on her hip. He smirked as his red eyes caught her green ones. It had been nearly four months since they took their positions at the academy and Maka would never get used to seeing Soul actually teaching a class of students but they both did it for their daughter. Working at the academy made it possible for them to spoil her and give her a life she deserved. The chime ended the class and the kids ran out as Maka started over but stopped when two people stopped in the front.

"What are you doing here?" Soul asked before he turned away to the desk to grab a pack.

Maka furrowed her brow as she walked closer with Kaia sleeping against her shoulder. "Grandmother wanted to see you. She had heard you came here for school and when she tried to come see you they said you were on some mission." Answered a tall man with close cut white hair wearing a suit.

"Soul?" Maka asked as she walked up to him, finally able to see the man's face, it looked just like Soul's.

The two visitors looked at Maka confused. "This is Maka, my meister." He said roughly. "Maka, my grandmother and brother." Maka looked at him wondering why he was so upset but just gave a small smile and nodded at the two.

"Oh what a precious little girl." His grandmother smiled looking at Kaia sleeping on her shoulder. "Is she yours?" Maka nodded. "Why you're just a baby yourself."

"I'm almost twenty-one." Maka said with a smile. "She wasn't exactly planned but we couldn't be happier to have her."

"Her father should know how lucky he is to have her and you."

"He does." Soul said as he pulled his pack over his shoulder and looked at Maka and Kaia with a small smile.

"Soul…" Wes said looking from his brother to Maka and Kaia. "Are you…?"

"Yeah, Maka's not just my Meister, she my wife and this is our daughter Kaia." Soul told them and watched as Wes looked in utter shock and his grandmother's surprise turned to a smile.

"They're both just beautiful." His grandmother said with a bright smile as she looked from Soul to Maka and Kaia again. "Why didn't you ever tell anyone you married and had a little girl?"

"Why should I, no one cared after I left to come here. Maka, Kaia, and my friends here are all that mattered to me." He said making his grandmother smirk at him while Wes stood as if unable to speak to Soul. "Why did you come all the way out here?"

"Because I wanted to see my little grandson again. It's been too long since I've seen you and I was becoming worried. When Wes told me you had weapon blood and came to this school I came out to see you but every time I tried to find you they said you were on some sort of mission. Is that like a field trip?"

"You could say that." Maka chimed in. "A mission is an assignment where we go to a place having issues with a Kishin and we exterminate the Kishin. We travel all over the world; we actually came back not that long ago from being posted in Europe for four years."

"Oh that's exciting." The old woman smiled.

"Soul, Maka!" They heard looking to the door they found Nygus. "We have a Kishin and two witches in the city." She walked into the room. "I've already dispatched Black Star and Tsubaki and the rest are working on evacuating the city and protecting the people. Lord Death is trying to get in contact with the witches to see what is going on. As more word comes in we'll pass it along, but we need you two out there."

Maka gently handed Kaia to her. "Can you please keep an eye on her for us?" She asked.

"It seems you're all very busy." Soul's grandmother said as she walked closer. "I am not working, I will watch her. She is my great granddaughter after all." She smiled happily, as Maka looked to Soul who shrugged. Maka shifted and handed her daughter to the old woman.

"If you need anything-." Maka said.

"I have raised several children in my day and helped with others. Go do what you need to do."

"Thank you." Maka said before holding her arm out as Soul transformed. "Let's go." She said as she ran to the window and jumped out pulling Soul under her as he pulled up the wings. His grandmother and brother ran to the window in horror before seeing them fly off.

"Stay here, it will be safe here." Nygus said. "Those two are one of the best teams there is. They'll be fine." The two nodded as she ran off.

They looked back out seeing Maka land on a rooftop as a building in front of her exploded. Maka swung the scythe around her before taking her stance and fighting a monster that landed with her. They watched the battle back and forth as another person joined the fight.

"What's going on?" Wes asked.

"They're doing what they were taught to do in this school." Spirit said as he walked in. "Who are you?" He asked, as he looked at Kaia sound asleep in the old woman's arms. "Kaia…"

"I'm Wes Evans, Soul's brother and this is our grandmother. They left their daughter for us to care for." Wes explained.

"Spirit, Maka's father." He held out his hand with a smile and shook the young man's hand. A crash had them looking out the window as Maka was thrown across the roof, and pinned to the wall of another building while Black Star was thrown away and slow to getting up. "Maka!" Spirit called out worried for his daughter. Maka clutched Soul in her hand as a clawed hand pressed her harder into the wall. She used all her strength to toss Soul into the air where he transformed back with his arm still the blade, as he came back down he sliced into the Kishin's arm making it pull back and howl in pain. Soul reached out, catching Maka as she fell forward when the pressure was released.

"Maka…" Soul said softly as he held her in his arms. "Maka…" He said a little louder as his chest constricted in fear. "Maka." He said sternly.

"I hear you." She whispered as she cracked her green eyes and looked up at him. "Just… let me catch my breath." She said as he helped her sit up. "He's strong. Stronger than a usual Kishin egg. We need to finish this."

Soul leaned his head against hers. "Just don't go getting killed. That wouldn't be very cool." He smirked making her smile at him.

Maka lifted her chin and connected their lips. "I wouldn't want to be an uncool wife." She smiled at him making him chuckle as he stood holding his hand out for her to stand. He pulled her up and against him as he kissed her again. "I love you."

"I love you too, Maka." They turned to look at the Kishin, as it seemed to set its sights on them. "Let's finish this and get back to Kaia." Maka nodded as he transformed back into a scythe and landed easily in her hands.

"Let's go! Soul Resonance." They called out together before the air seemed to swirl and twist around them. Soul seemed to transform once again this time his blade seemed to glow.

Maka charged attacking and blocking as she dodged around the Kishin's attacks to get a closer shot. "Majin Hunter!" She called as she twisted and swung the blade around slicing straight through not only the Kishin but the surrounding buildings as well. The Kishin swirled and twisted until it was just a red soul before Soul transformed back to stand beside Maka as Black Star was helped over by Tsubaki. "It's not over." She said softly as she scanned the city. "We still have two witches."

Tsubaki gasped as Maka winced, dropping to a knee with Soul beside her. "Maka, you're hurt."

"I'll be okay." She said with a small smile at Soul who reached out to touch her side.

"A couple broken ribs." He mused. "We have to figure out a plan before we attack. That Kishin was way too powerful, it wasn't a normal Kishin. With the injuries you two have, if we just charge in you'll be crushed." He said looking from Black Star to Maka.

"Let's go back to the academy and get quick treatment and meet up with Kid." Maka said. "He can give us a better idea what to do." Soul nodded and pulled her into his arms before the two teams were gone.

"Where did they go?" Wes asked looking around confused.

"They went to meet with Lord Death for a plan." Spirit said as he looked at Kaia still sleeping. A cry made everyone look back out to see Maka being crushed under the weight of a witche's powers. Soul was lying just out of reach in the same position.

"Mama? Papa?" Kaia asked as she rubbed her eyes and looked around. "Grandpa?" Spirit pulled her into his arms as Maka cried out in pain. "Mama!" Kaia cried. "Papa!" She screamed as she twisted and turned to try to go to them.

"It's okay, it's alright. Kaia, your mom and dad are very strong. They'll be okay. They'll be back for you. I promise they would never leave you." Spirit tried to calm the crying girl as he glanced out as Soul and Maka reached for each other. There was one last cry from Maka before there was only laughter from the witch. Everyone looked on stunned as the two held hands tight and seemed to still.

"What's going on?" Soul's grandmother asked watching in horror at what had just happened.

"They're using his soul to figure out a plan." Kid said as he walked in followed by Liz and Patty. "He has a place in his soul where they go to and are able to talk and plan out how to best do things. It is also the access point for Soul's black blood. That what Maka's explained to us anyway." He looked out, scanning the city with his golden eyes. "Liz, Patty. Let's go." The two sisters transformed as he used his skateboard and flew off in another direction glancing down as Soul transformed and Maka burst from the power holding her. Spirit held his crying granddaughter as the battle went on. Kid pulled the second witch over to where Maka and Soul were as Black Star arrived back on the front.

"Let's go." Maka called out when all three closed their eyes and the wind twisted, swirled, and seemed to electrify. It seemed like the meisters transformed standing together. "Kid, what's going on with the witches?"

"Grand witch doesn't know. She said to take them out." Kid told her before the three meisters worked together to defeat the two witches.

Kaia screamed when Maka was slammed on the ground. Soul transformed to block attacks as Maka slowly climbed back to her feet. The second witch sent an attack and all Soul could do was grab Maka and lunge out of the way. He was sliced on his arm but he got them out of the way and safe for the time being. Spirit held Kaia in his arms as he watched Soul and Maka get to their knees and look at the situation. Stein and Marie walked in looking at the scene.

"Those two are just the same as when they left." Stein said with a smirk as he watched, he looked at Kaia crying in Spirit's arms. "Such a fighter, she'll be a good student soon."

"She may not come here. She might not have Meister or Weapon blood." Marie said before smiling at the girl. "Just because her parents do doesn't mean anything. Soul is the only one to have Weapon blood in his family."

"That's true." Wes said making Stein and Marie look at the two confused. "I'm his brother and this is our grandmother. Soul is the only one that we've ever known to have Weapon blood in the family."

"I'm sure she'll be a student here." Stine smirked and looked at Spirit. "Let's go."

"Right." Spirit looked at his granddaughter. "Kaia you stay with Marie. She'll take care of you until everyone comes back." The girl nodded and looked at Marie as he handed her over.

"Hi there sweetheart." Marie smiled as Spirit transformed and Stein was out to help the younger group.

The yelling of everyone pulled back their attention to the fight. Maka and Black Star lunged and attacked together before the building exploded in a cloud of smoke and ruble. "MAMA! PAPA!" Kaia screamed as tears ran down her face. Marie held tight as she watched the smoke clear. Black star pushed to his feet but looked injured and drained as Soul pulled himself out of a small pile of rubble and Tsubaki did the same by Black Star.

"Maka!" Soul called out looking around as the area cleared. "Maka!" He called again as he searched the ruble. Suddenly he spotted her under a small pile of rubble far off to the left. Scrambling to her side he quickly pulled the parts of the building off her. "Maka." He said as he pulled her into his arms. He pushed her bloodied hair from her face and pulled her closer to his chest. "Come on, Maka." He said softly as he cradled her looking for the cause of the blood. Soul tried to hold his cool guy composure but seeing Maka laying in his arms unconscious and covered in blood was wearing at the last bit of control.

"Maka!" Spirit called as he and Stine went to their side. "Maka…" He reached out but stopped seeing how close Soul was holding her. He looked up and found tears building in the red eyes. Soul closed his eyes and put his forehead to hers and the two watched as he resonated with Maka's soul.

"Maka." He said softly before he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, he found himself in the room they used to talk and to resonate. The room where they had danced and beat back the little ogre of the black blood. Turning he found Maka in her long black gown. She gave him a small smile before he pulled her to him and gave her a loving kiss. "Maka…"

"It's okay, Soul." She said as she gently touched his cheek.

"You're not waking up, I was worried…" He trailed off as she smiled at him.

Maka dropped her hands to his chest. "Where's that cool guy attitude?" Soul looked at her before he gave a small smirk.

Spirit watched as Soul pulled his head back a bit and opened his eyes as Maka opened hers and smiled at him. Soul gave a smirk as he rested his hand on her cheek again. "Maka, are you okay?" Spirit asked as Soul helped her sit up.

"Yeah. I think I just hit my head." She reached up and winced making Soul push her hand away and gently tilted her head to look at it as he furrowed his brow. "What?" She asked looking at him.

"It's black." He said.

"You were resonating when the blast hit." Stein shrugged.

Soul shook his head. "It dropped for some reason as soon as our attack was done." He looked back at Maka's wound. "Well it's blocked with the black blood, you should be alright."

"Let's finish this." Maka said pushing up with Soul beside her. Spirit watched as Soul smirked and transformed. "We need to stop them and make it safe for the people to go home." She said as she walked over to stand with her two friends. Stein watched Spirit smirk as he transformed and they joined the fight.

With the four teams working together, using every attack they had in their arsenal the two witches stood no chance. Connecting through the resonance link the two witches could not keep track as they communicated and planned through their link. Kaia buried her face in Marie's shoulder as the explosions could be heard down below. "It's okay." Marie shushed as she held the girl. The city fell silent and the dust and ruble settled leaving the Meisters and Weapons together.

"Mama! Papa!" Kaia called out as Soul transformed back. The two parents looked up with small smiles as they looked at their daughter who smiled brightly at them. Soul walked closer and held his arms open as Kaia leapt from Marie's arms. As she landed in his arms giggling, he caught her easily and spun to Maka who smiled and wrapped her arms around both of them. "Scared." She said as she cuddled against the two.

"It's alright baby." Maka said as she smoothed her daughter's white hair.

Soul smirked as he shifted to hold her in one arm. "We would never leave you princess." She smiled happily before she held tight and cuddled into them again until Maka's knees gave and Soul eased her to the ground. "Maka you have to get healed." Kaia looked at her mother worried as Spirit and Stein ran over to them.

"MAKA!" Spirit cried out but a glare from Maka stopped him in his tracks.

Stein knelt beside them and looked at her wounds. "You need to get to Nygus and have these patched up." Maka nodded but her body felt too heavy to move. Soul set Kaia on her feet before pulling Maka into his arms.

"Kaia, stay with your grandpa." Maka told her daughter who looked from her parents to Spirit before running to him as Soul stood and left to get Maka taken care of.