Thanks for the encouragement, guys :)
Not really a lot of edits done as I was quite pleased with this and the next chapters.
Chapter Four: For Whom the Bell Toll: Black*Star's Rage?
"We're here to honor the life of a great teacher." Spirit spoke from his seat.
It was a rainy day in Death City; typical weather for a funeral. The teachers sat at a table that overlooked every student as they all sat outside in front of a grey coffin; Sid's coffin. No one was dressed in black, Sid always said he wanted his mourners not to wear black and who were they not to honor the wish of the deceased.
Death the Kid just stared on blankly, though on the inside he was just as heartbroken as the others...Sid was a good man/Zombie and friend to everyone he knew. He looked at Patty and saw not the happy girl he knew, but a teary faced little girl held by her sister, who also cried. He gihed to himself; why Sid?
Maka was sniffling slightly, taking comfort in Soul's shoulder. The latter sighed to himself. Sid being the first one to fall...uncool. The guy was tough, strong and loyal, no way he would have gone down without a fight. He wrapped a arm round his crying Meister.
A motion that didn't go unnoticed by Crona. How could it have when he was sitting right next Maka? The Swordsman sighed quietly...who was he kidding? Maka loves Soul, not him... Guilt ran through him. He was at a funeral of a man who was his friend and he was thinking of a crush. Sure, Crona had killed before, but never attended a funeral.
"I''m sorry, Sid." he apologized quietly, not expecting a answer.
"Sid was a person who exemplified many qualities." Lord Death continued on from where Spirit had left off, his voice tired and weary. "He was a good and loyal friend, a hard worker, he valued fair play. His death has affected you all, whether you knew him well or not. I think that you have the right to know how he left us."
Black*Star raised his head and stared at Lord Death.
"Sid was murdered by living Black Blood."
A panicked whisper swept the mourners. People were staring at their headteacher in disbelief, in horror. Some even looked at Crona. The Reaper watched them mutter themselves into silence.
"But as we know, he died a hero and for the image of a safe world. And who are we to not allow this vision to become a reality?" Lord Death continued. "Let us remember Sid as what he was. And I promise you; he will be avenged!"
The promise was said. The Coffin was slowly lowered into the ground, rain landing on the flowers on top of it. As soon as it was lowered, Lord Death clapped his comically large hands; a bright light shone from the coffin and vanished as soon as it appeared...Sid was now in the afterlife.
"It's done." Lord Death proclaimed over Nygu's sobs.
The students walked through the hallways in silence. They couldn't believe it; Sid, the man who came back as a zombie...dead. No one took it as hard as Black*Star though.
Speaking of Black*Star, he walked with his friends, a glare on his face. Why...why couldn't he save him, why wasn't he fast enough, why wasn't he strong-
He mentally hit himself for even thinking that. Of course he was strong enough! Had Tsubaki not-
Tsubaki.
"Can you believe them!"
Tsubaki sighed to herself as Black*Star grumbled on the couch.
"How could they refuse the help of me, the man who will surpass the Gods! We can easily help."
"Black*Star, please stop." Tsubaki attempted to calm her Meister down in her gentlest tone. "I'm sure this was something we can't handle."
The ninja simply scowled. "Can't handle, my ass! This doesn't sound tough!"
"But what if you get hurt or even killed?"
Tsubaki looked confused when she noticed that Black*Star had stopped walking, looking down at the ground with his fists clenched.
"Black*Star?" Tsubaki walked back up to him, who muttered in response. "What?"
He wasn't loud enough the second time.
"I'm sorry?"
But he was the third time.
"This is your fault..." Black*Star snarled.
The others heard and turned in disbelief of what they just heard.
"...What?" Tsubkai was stunned and then frightened when her friend grabbed her wrist and pulled her down to his level and raised his head, exposing red eyes and a glare that would make even Medusa die again.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!" the ninja shouted in her face. "He's dead because YOU stopped me from going sooner!"
"H-hey...cut it out!" Crona got Tsubaki's wrist free.
"I haven't done anything to you!" Tsubaki said back, clearly scared of her Meister's wrath, but he was having none of it.
"We could have saved Sid if you didn't hold me back! Ever since you been my weapon, you always held me back!"
Silence...and it wasn't like the other day...no, it was a shocked silence. Tsubaki's eyes widen slightly and she found herself unable to retaliate.
"Hey, dude!" Soul grabbed his friend's shoulder. "Don't blame her for your problems!"
Black*Star pushed Soul back, rage in his eyes.
"I only have problems because of her." his reply was so cold, it sounded like a demon. "I could have surpassed God by now, but she's just too weak. Sid would still be alive if this bitch had let me go. And when we should have been winning fights, she said the Enchanted Sword Mode was too powerful as a excuse!"
Tusbaki approached Black*Star caustically.
"I know you're upset, Black*Star, but Sid's death was not my fault. If you would just-" She never finished as what Black*Star did next was unexpected and caused the entire hallway to turn as one.
Quick as a flash and much to everyone's shock, Black*Star jabbed his fist into Tsubaki cheek. The force of the punched ensured that the woman taller than her Meister was tossed across the hallway and slid to a halt near a door. Liz and Kid quickly jumped between the two while Patti and Maka comforted their oldest member, Soul staring at Black*Star with wide eyes. But through the gap between the two , Black*Star could see his weapon crying with a dark-purple bruise on her cheek.
If anyone thought the Ninja did not feel any regret whatsoever, his choice of words only confirmed this theory.
"Don't move the blame on me...ever!"
"What the hell is the matter with you?!" Kid yelled.
"What's the matter with me?!" Black*Star snapped angrily. "What's the matter with you?! Are you saying Sid deserved what he got, are you saying Tsubaki did the right thing by stopping me?!"
"That's not what we're trying to say!" Liz shouted.
"She's your friend!" Maka said as Tsubaki stared at her friend.
"No...She's weak!" Black*Star went to walk off when Soul stopped him.
"You get back here and apologize, you bastard!" his arm became a blade.
"What happened to Sid wasn't Tsubaki's fault, Black*Star!" Crona tried to reason/avoid a fight.
"It's your fault as well, witch!" Black*Star sneered. "If you didn't get stabbed, "Madness" wouldn't be out there!"
"...What?" As Crona gaped at Black*Star for this accusation, the assassin prepared to kick him when Soul got in the way.
"Stop it!" Soul snarled. Black*Star huffed and got into a fighting stance as all around gathered to see the fight between friends.
"No."
The two looked to see Tsubaki standing up, tears still fresh down her eyes.
"Is this how you really feel...that you can just blindly go out looking for someone you don't even know!"
She received no response.
"FINE!" Tsubaki's shout made Crona flinch. "Go, I'll leave you to your self-pity! Just go and get your self killed, I DON'T CARE!"
"...I'm done here." Black*Star put his hands in his suit pockets, turned and walked out of the hallway. Crona, Soul and Maka all looked out the window as they saw the back of the blue haired ninja making his leave...away from the Academy, away from his home...away from his friends.
He did not look back, not even as Tsubaki cried on Liz's shoulder.
Lord Death turned from his mirror with a sigh. He understood how Black*Star felt, but he didn't expect him to attack his friends physically and verbally. As for leaving, it was perhaps for the best. The boy needs time to cool his head and calm down.
"Lord Death, what do we do about the Madness?" Marie asked.
"...We continue the search, but do not attack it!" the Reaper ordered. "We don't want a repeat of Sid. He wouldn't want his death to be in vain."
"He was that kind of man." Stein puffed some smoke from his cigarette.
"Yes he was..." Lord Death sighed.
One blue haired boy stormed through Death City, a death glare that seemed permanently attached to his face.
"And he'll be missed."
The Madness smirked from the rooftop it stood on, relishing in the chaos all because of it.
"By all of us."
End Chapter here.
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