Episode 9: Kid's Fate

As the interrogation was about to end, Marie asked one more question, "What have you done to Kid?"

"Gee, I'd love to tell you, but these shackles are making it hard for me to do that," she grinned, sarcastically. The Shinigami gave the OK, and Spirit unchained her.

"Thanks," she took off her blindfolds and got up, but the hours of being in a sitting position took its toll. Her right leg was still asleep, so she couldn't move very well.

"Now tell us why is he in a coma?"

"Aw, is sleeping beauty still asleep?" she chuckled, "so what do I get out of this deal?"

"Deal!? You think this is a negotiation! Tell us or-"

"Or what?" she raised her voice a little, "Face it, Marie. You need me to undo what I did. So unless you want that him to be a vegetable for his entire life, sit down and shut up." This fearless act of defiance against the Death Scythe silenced them all.

Blair composed herself and then continued, "Now that there aren't any objections, here are my terms. First, I want to be safe from harm."

"You have my word," said the Shinigami.

"Hah! Like that's any good!"

"Why you impudent little-" Spirit was getting more and more tired of her disrespectful attitude.

"I wasn't born yesterday, so don't try lying to me, Shinigami! We all know how 'good' your word is. Take that idiot Medusa, she trusted you and what happened to her?" she stared at Marie.

"We were ex-Shibusen when that happened," Marie defended herself.

"Exactly! But what are you still doing here?" There was a brief silence that followed. The Shinigami quickly stepped in, "She's here as one of my guests," his playful speech returned.

"You're guests, huh? Then what about Maka Albarn, Soul Eater Evans, Crona Gorgon, and Franken Stein! Are they your guests as well, hmmm?" His Reaper-ness had nothing to say. "That only proves my point that not only are you bias, but you have no control of what your minions are doing! That's why your word isn't good enough to ensure my safety."

"Then what do you propose?"

"To show that I am a good sport, I shall give you two options. They're quite simple and easy to do," she smiled.

Meanwhile, back at the infirmary, Kid was still unconscious. Sitting beside his bed was Liz, who was also out like a light. The room was dark, and they appeared to be the only ones there. Patti, Maka, and the rest of the gang probably went home. Just then, Liz showed some signs of life. She slowly opened her eyes and found the dark room before her. She looked at Kid, and tried to smile, but it was difficult. She always had this image of him as this an indestructible boy who would become a great shinigami one day. But to see him lying helpless as a kitten was almost unbearable.

She blushed upon seeing that her hand was holding his. She didn't mind, though. It has been quite some time since they ever had physical contact with each other.

"Wake up, okay Kid?" she whispered as she laid down her head and felt his warm hand with her cheek. Closing her eyes to rest once more, her heart began racing. She felt something she had never felt before. This feeling made her very happy.

"He-he-he," some sniggering was heard. A sudden jerk of his hand woke Liz. "Kid?" she said. It was still dark, but she was able to see him. He had his head down, so she wasn't sure if he was awake. However, instead of lying down, he was resting against the headboard.

"Kid, Kid," she shook his shoulder to wake him.

"Ha-ha-ha!" he began laughing as if someone had just told a hilarious joke.

"Cut that out, Kid. You're scaring me," she was getting worried. He stopped laughing and raised his head to see her face.

Liz was so terrified by the sight that she fell off her seat. She wanted to scream but she was too afraid to do so. Kid was holding on to her hand, stopping her from leaving. Unable to look away, she could only stare at the darkness covering his face, while three baleful red eyes were staring back at her. A hungry mouth formed below them, and showed off a row of sharp pointy teeth.

In the end, Liz manages to scream.

"Kiddddd!!!" she shouts out. She was still sweating profusely on her seat, when she realized that it was all a horrible dream, and everyone was staring at her. Patti broke into laughter, while Tsubaki asked if she was alright. Liz took some time to catch her breath, but assured her that nothing was wrong. However, she looked at Kid with great concern. Hopefully, that dream didn't mean anything at all.

"Yo! How's everyone doing?" the Shinigami appeared at the door. Accompanying him were Stein, and the three Death Scythes.

"Kid isn't getting any better," Maka sadly reports.

"No problem! We've come here to fix that," he said. Then, the door re-opens again and in comes Blair. She casually smiles at everyone. Nevertheless, the reaction was expected. The tension in the room was now the same as that of the battlefield.

"What the heck is she doing here?" many wondered.

"Shinigami-sama, what's going on?" asked Maka.

"Um, how do I put it," he was hesitating.

"I am here to save my precious Kid-kun," Blair explained. They were appalled by this statement. So they all look at the Shinigami for an answer. He was having trouble formulating the words so Azusa took over.

"What Shinigami-sama is trying to say is that we've made some arrangements," she stated, flashing her glasses. This disheartening explanation weighed heavily on everyone. They were being fooled again by this witch. She was responsible for Kid's predicament, and now uses that as leverage to get what she wants. She has no sense of decency or shame. Whatever these arrangements were, it's far too perverse to ignore.

"What did she want in return?" This was no time for honorifics or formalities; Maka was straightforward in asking the Shinigami.

Seeing that he had no way of avoiding this, he answered bluntly, "A trial. She wants you to pay for your crimes."

"What crimes?" Soul blurted.

"You murdered Medusa. So now you will pay," Blair interrupted, and then asked the Shinigami for the go ahead. He nodded.

"Shinigami-sama, you can't be serious! Medusa was a witch!" the technicians were outraged. But before they could complain, the Shinigami put on his serious face. "Silence!" he shouted, "Medusa and I had a truce. As part of a deal, I promised that no harm would come to her, however, you violated that truce and my trust. Now, do want to be tried as Shibusen's students and faculty," he eyes Marie and Stein, "or will you simply leave and never come back?"

His words left them all speechless. This was the first time they saw him angry. In the meantime, Blair approached Kid's bed and sat on Liz's already-vacant chair. She smiled and holds his hand, "Time to wake up, sleepyhead." With that, she closes her eyes and whispers, "Soul Resonance."

In an instant, Kid sat up, already wide awake. Although the look on his face was out of shock, they were all still thrilled to see him recover. Sadly, this was merely for a moment. Afterwards he seemed to lose his strength as he fell back down on his pillow.

"Kid!?"

"What happened!?"

Blair eased their worries by explaining, "Relax. He's only tired. Let him rest," she said before suffering the same fate.

And so, the day concludes with Kid's recovery at the hands of the witch, Blair. For now, let them rest. Tomorrow heralds the end with "Finale of the Shinigami Trial: Blair the Witch?" the last chapter.