Stein drove home from work on his motorcycle. He didn't say a word, or smile at all. The only thought that ran through his mind was the one he hated most, and he couldn't confide to anyone about it. No one except Sukina. But was she even ready for it? How could she, she was only eight! She'd have to be ready for it. There was no other choice.

My wife is dead, Stein thought. Medusa is dead, she was killed by Maka and Soul. I can't reveal anything to the academy, they'd become suspicious. But I have to tell Sukina. I have to protect her...from herself.

A memory flashed in his mind: it was four years ago, when Sukina was only five. She had fallen asleep in her bedroom, and he and Medusa sat together on the couch, holding each other.

"She'll be developing her powers in a few years, Stein. It's hard to believe she's growing up so fast," Medusa remarked. She sighed.

"Powers? Medusa, what do you mean?" Stein's expression showed a mix of curiosity, confusion, and a tiny hint of fear.

"Well she's half-witch, so she may or may not get powers. But if she does, we have to be ready. I'll handle that, mainly, but you need to know too. You're her father, after all. I don't think she'll have an animal-based set of magic, but I don't know what she could have besides that, either. If she can learn to control it, whatever magic she gets, she'll be okay in this crazy world."

I hope so, Stein thought. It wasn't enough to keep you safe, Medusa. If only...

He pulled up to the house and opened up the garage. He wheeled the bike inside and looked around for a tarp. Stein saw one, a plain gray to match an un-stitched section of the wall. Pulling the tarp over the bike, tying it and setting against the wall, he took a deep breath and walked out of the garage, saying goodbye to the bike in his mind. He couldn't even think of ever wanting to see the bike again.

That was what I rode on when I took Medusa to the moonlit park that night... the night I proposed to her.

Stein closed the door and shed a tear, wiping it away with his hands as soon as he noticed. He had to be strong. Life had to continue. He walked up the pathway and opened the door. Stein closed it behind him and set his lab coat on the rack near the door; it had been one of Medusa's touches as soon as she had moved in. He trudged down the hallway, the dread of what he was about to reveal to Sukina weighing on his shoulders. It felt as if the sky was pressing down on him, gravity pulling him to the floor.

He knocked on his daughter's bedroom door. Sukina pulled it open and hugged her father. He held her close and ran his fingers through her hair. She pulled back after the embrace and looked into her father's eyes. Sukina saw his expression and her smile disappeared.

"Dad?" she asked. "What's wrong? Where's Mom? It's been a while since she left," Sukina remarked. She paused. "Dad?" Concern showed in her eyes as she knit her brow in confusion, with a speck of fear. She waited for his answer.

Stein took a deep breath. As he walked forward into Sukina's room and sat on the edge of her bed, his heart was about to be torn with what he had to reveal. "Your mother is dead, Sukina."

Sukina didn't want to believe what her father just said. But how? Why? Why would she be dead? She can't be! Her expression shifted from being joyful to see her father to utter pain and sorrow and fear. She sat down on the bed, ready to cry, her eyes almost brimming with tears. Finally they let go. Salty drops of water came flowing down Sukina's cheeks, and her hands went up to cover her eyes and as she sobbed into her palms. Stein hugged his daughter tightly and held her close, his only family now. After about ten minutes the tears finally slowed. They still came; just not as fast.

"How could she be dead, dad?" Sukina asked, her voice choked from all the sobbing.

"Well, Sukina, there's something else I have to tell you as well. And it's why your mother is no longer with us. You know how there's humans, there's the kishin egg souls, the corrupted ones, and then there's witches?" Sukina nodded and wiped away some more tears from her moist cheeks.

"Your mother was one of those witches. One of the most powerful there was. She used to do terrible things, but when we were together she gave it up; she changed; she became a good person. Sadly, not everyone realized that. Today when she was running errands, her Soul Protect came off. It's a spell the witches used to hide their witch soul and masquerade as a human.

"Unfortunately, your mother didn't have the cleanest history with the academy. They detected her soul and sent a Death Scythe weapon pair after her. She didn't survive," Stein finished with dread.

"Mom...mom was a witch? Sukina stuttered.

"Yes," Stein answered. "Which means you're half-witch yourself. Medusa told me what to do, thankfully, but it's going to be hard on you. You'll have to stay inside the house until you turn 15. Your mother said that if you had powers, they'd show by then. If none show, everything becomes normal again. If they do- well, we'll decide that if it happens," he finished. Sukina's heart sank at the thought of her future now.

"I'm sorry, Sukina, I really am," Stein said. He hugged his eight-year-old daughter and continued, "But it's our best option for your safety. I don't want anything to happen to you." He hugged her tighter and held her close, like she would drift away if he let go. She returned the embrace, and they sat there; father and daughter, hanging on to each other.