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CHAPTER EIGHT: THE BATTLE TO AVENGE: A MUCH NEEDED REALITY CHECK?
Blair's finger was still pointed at Crona, who like everyone else, could not believe what the magical cat just said.
"It looks like him." Blair repeated, slowly lowering her finger. "It looks like you, Crona."
"M-me?" Crona asked nervously. "B-but-"
"Blair, are you sure?" Maka said.
"Yes..." Blair had turned into her cat form.
"Blair." Black*Star began. "How do you know this?"
Blair sniffled. "He came into the bar and..."
Stein stared at the Madness in shock, his mouth open.
"Shut your mouth, you'll get flies." the Madness jumped off the desk and landed in front of Stein, who looked down at him. "So...whadda think?"
"How is it you look like-" Stein had to avoid a punch from the Madness.
"Mention his name and I'll slit your throat, okay?" he sounded casual, with a hint of malice. "Also, does he have a beard and eyes like this?"
Stein observed the Madness, noticing how the beard looked as though it was ripped off and crudely placed on...was the chin rotting?!
"You tore off Charles Smith's beard." Stein glared.
"Looks good on me, huh?" the creature actually stroked it. "A little reminder my first human kill. Ah...good times, good times."
"Why are you even here?"
"Well, I'm a killer, so I think I'm here to kill you!" the Madness said, his yellow eyes shining.
"Try if you want." was all Stein said before he ran towards the Madness.
The scientist drew a punch that was blocked, than a kick which resulted in his foot being grabbed and Stein thrown away; he landed on his feet easily. The Madness leaped like a cat but Stein stepped to the side before he could get ripped. The living Black Blood swiped his long nailed hands round, aiming for Stein's abdomen, Stein managed to avoid disembowelment; part of his coat was torn like a piece of paper. He then grabbed the Madness's hands and was able to deliver four blows to the head; the Crona lookalike only smirked and swiped at him with his claws. Stein dodged again, but as before, he lost something: a few streaks of hair. The Madness held it like a delicate child, positioning it towards his own hair: a majority of the pink become white/grey.
"Oh, yeah!" his fist went into the air as he whooped. "One step closer!"
Whilst his actions would have confused others, Stein had a glimpse of why.
"You're so desperate to make yourself your own identity. Pathetic."
"I have my individuality!"the Madness sneered.
"Of course you do." Stein smirked.
"It attacked you?" Crona looked at the feline in Soul's lap.
"Yes." Blair nodded.
"I-i'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." Maka said.
"But it is! The Madness came from-"
"Your monster of a mother." Maka snapped. The conversation would have continued if Black*Star had not pulled himself out of bed. "Where are you going?2
"To fight the Madness." Black*Star said simply.
"You need to rest, you need to-" Kid didn't get the chance to finish as the door slammed shut. Tsubkai sighed and followed her friend.
"So now what?" Liz asked.
"We go and tell Father...with Black*Star being himself, we'll have enough time to alert the others." Kid said as he glanced at the bed. "We need to catch this monster."
"But it's Black Blood?" Patti asked.
"Yes...and it's dangerous."
The two fighters panted slightly as they stared from their places in the torn classroom.
"A creature without a Soul Wavelength...and you're this strong." Stein huffed.
"I learn from the best."
Stein smirked. "What about the Element of surprise? MARIE!"
Madness looked behind him and a fist knocked him flying into a bookcase.
"How was that?" Marie grinned from behind the blackboard before changing into her weapon form in Stein's hands.
"Not bad." Stein nodded as the Madness stood up, dusting himself off.
"Quite the double act." the Madness complimented. "Though I think you were supposed to actually hurt me."
"Oh, we will!" Marie snapped, but the Madness had eyes only for Stein.
"So how's that little voice in your head? Still haunting ya?"
"Give in to the Madness."
"Damn it." Stein muttered. "Not now..."
"Stein?" Marie asked, worried for her partner whilst feeling the hand that gripped her was trembling.
"I know you're tired and weak. Let me help you."
"Listen to snake-bitch."the Madness smirked, enjoying the show.
"No. Never!" Stein groaned.
"Stein, don't!" Marie's pleas fell on deaf ears.
"Do it, lover."
The word "lover" in Medusa's voice was the camel that broke the back. Stein let out a cry of fury and begun swinging Marie around; the Madness grabbed her.
"Stein!" Marie yelped before she was thrown to the floor and slowly trapped by the black tendrils that held her in place.
"Maire!" Stein went to help but a kick to the stomach knocked him onto his own back as the Madness stood over him like a living shadow, satisfied that his mind game worked. A part of his shoulder became a pitch blade blade, which he ripped from his own body.
"You have a small role in this story, don't you, Stein?" the Madness laughed, his high pitched cackle a contrast to the deep booming laugh of the moon that shone down upon them through the window. All Stein could see was Madness flashing into Medusa, their voices in perfect sync. "All your heroics for nothing! It's today your life ends here, you could have been great as a puppet!"
The Madness swung his blade down; a samurai sword blocked the final blow. The Crona lookalike turned his head and backed away slightly as Black*Star held the Enchanted Sword Mode tightly, none of them sparing Stein a glance whilst he made a chance to free Marie.
"Are you alright?" Stein helped her up.
"Yes, but what about Black*Star?" Marie rubbed her wrists where the tendrils had bound her.
"He'll be fine." Stein was smirking to her surprise. "He needs to let let some anger out."
The two teachers running off to inform Lord Death mean't nothing to to the two opponents. All that mattered was the lust to kill the other, one for vengeance, the other just for the fun of it. Two black eyes glared in hate and rage, yellow orbs stared back, shining with glee. No words were needed, all was needed was the fight.
And it began.
Black*Star swung Tsubaki at the Madness, who jumped to deliver a kick; the assassin dodged both that a incoming stab. The Madness smirked and clashed again, using the clash to grab Black*Star by the face and slam him to the ground. Black*Star kicked himself back up, landing a blow on the Madness' jaw, a droplet of black blood dropping to the floor. The Madness saw his chance.
"Bloody Needle!"
Black*Star black flipped to avoid the needle, landing on Stein's desk.
"Any ideas, Tsubaki?" Black*Star whispered, his partner's face appearing in his mind.
"No...unless we do it now." Tsubaki replied.
"Oh, yeah!" Black*Star grinned. The Madness swung his blade forward; Black*Star kicked it away, relishing in the Madness' shocked look.
"Heh, don't be surprised if you lose to a bigshot like me!" Black*Star said cockily before kicking him away.
"What?"the Madness asked in shock before Black*Star grabbed him by his shirt.
"SOUL MENACE!"
His entire soul wavelength hit the Madness point blank; the latter screamed in apparent pain before being knocked away. He weakly supported himself just as Black*Star charged towards him. Only Tsubaki noticed that the look of fear changed into a smirk.
"This is for Sid!" Black*Star yelled before swinging Tsubaki; the Madness' upper half fell to the ground, the legs soon falling. Black*Star spat at the remains. Sid could now rest in peace.
Tsubaki turned back into her human form, staring at the "corpse". He went down so easily...to easy. Her fears weren't confirmed when the body melted into a puddle of Black Blood, but they were confirmed when the puddle rose slightly, taking on a form as a laugh slowly became a cackle. It wasn't until the Madness reshaped himself, his cackle echoing throughout the classroom.
"Oh, I never get tired of that!" the Madness chuckled.
"But...but how?! I killed you!" Black*Star yelled.
"FIY, can't die." the Madness smiled to himself. "Living Black Blood, not mortal, kiddo."
"Doesn't mean you can't feel pain!" the assassin snarled, ignoring Tsubaki's protest. The Madness grabbed his fist and chuckled at his foe's struggle.
""So can you." the Madness' arms produced black spikes which slashed Black*Star's face each time the Madness punched him . He than threw the boy into the student desks, his smirk widening as wood broke apart upon contact. His hand shot up and grabbed the "great" Black*Star, battered, bloodied and bruised. Tsubaki's heart broke when she saw Black*Star weakly go to hit the Madness, who replied with a uppercut, punch to the gut and a push to the ground.
"How is this possible...I'm supposed to stop you..." Black*Star groaned to himself, his vision blurred."How am I losing?"
A kick to the ribs made him grunt.
"Here's a little newsflash." the Madness spoke as though he was a teacher scolding a disobedient student. "You can't win!"
" You're wrong! I'm the guy who will surpass God!" Black*Star grunted. The Madness simply tutted and shook his head.
"You know if there's wrong I hate, it's a boy with a ego. Surpass God...when was the last time you won a battle, kiddo? Let's see..." the Madness pretended to ponder. "Stein; when have you ever beat him? The Kishin? I don't think being unconscious counts as fighting. And how bout Mifune?"
"Shut up..." Black*Star snarled.
"Oh, now I hit a mark!" the Madness clapped his hands as one would if they just guessed what the next winning lottery ticket was. " You see, I know the sad truth, Black*Star. You're nothing more but a delusional boy who only dreams of being more than a egotistical fuck!"
Black*Star replied with a spit to the face; Madness looked bored whilst adsorbing the saliva before smiling seemingly pleasantly.
"In case I'm not being clear enough: YOU. ARE. NOTHING. SPECIAL!"
With each word, he punctuated with backhands to the face, each punch he changed his hand into a hammer, shovel and even a black glove which he simply took off and slapped him across the face Black*Star tried to show no sign that he was injured, but few grunts of pain escaped his mouth...it was unbearable. The Madness smirked and dropped the child to the floor.
"No dozing off during class! It's rude." The Madness pulled off his own arm as it took the shape of a cane with a skull handle, another arm re-spawning in it's predecessor's place. "Besides, the fun's just starting and guess what?"
Black*Star's eyes widen at the answer he received that was not from the same childish, taunting voice his attacker always spoke in; but a dark, cold, dreading tone that sent chills down his spine.
"You're the guest of honor."
Black*Star only glared in defiance and closed his eyes, ready to die as a warrior. But the blow came onto another, one with a feminine scream.
Black*Star's eyes shot open at the sound of it; there was only one girl he knew that made that scream.
Tsubaki...
The Nakatsukasa Clan Member laid next to him, a huge bruise clearly visible on her cheek. Despite the pain, she smiled to her friend.
"Tsubaki...why?" Black*Star asked.
"I'm your weapon, it's my duty to protect you." Tsubaki's response was proceeded with a grunt of pain when the Madness stepped grabbed her by the hair, looking amused at the sight before him. "And you're my friend."
"Sappy, but understandable." he threw Tsubaki at Black*Star; she swiftly landed on her feet as Black*Star slowly got up.
"What's understandable is that you're gonna die!" the last surviving Star Clan assassin pointed his index finger at the Madness, who simply folded his arms on his cane.
"Did our lesson prove nothing?"
"It did...I'm nothing special, I haven't surpassed God and I'm not the center of the universe." Black*Star said. "But I am strong and you're going down!
I cannot die, Jesus, you really don't play attention!"
"Heh, and neither do you." Black*Star smirked at the Madness' confused expression.
"REAPER...CHOP!"
The Madness dodged the incoming comically large hand; Black*Star groaned on the floor, a huge dent in his head.
"Oh, sorry there, kiddo!" Lord Death apologized sheepishly whilst the group around him introduced their palms to their heads. "I was doing for the Madness!"
"It's fine." Black*Star held his aching head.
The Madness smirked at the newcomers.
Well, let's a lookie: Death himself, his asymmetrical little shit, Mrs Hammer, Screwball, two smoking hot babes! Oh, gotta remind myself to have fun with their bodies. My favorite kitty, the defeater of Asura (wow, she does have a small chest), her father the redhead and-
What...is...he...doing...HERE?!
Maka held Soul in her hands more tightly, glaring as the Madness' playful smile turned into a ugly grimace. She won't let this thing attack Crona!
"You..." the Madness partially growled at Crona, who tired not to intimidated as he stared at himself...only it wasn't himself.
Whilst the two shared the same body height, weight and all around body, the Madness looked different and like Crona at the same time. His hair had streaks of grey in a failed attempt to hide the few pink bangs visible, the stubble looked poorly attached to his chin and the long nails on his fingers had a red color...Crona shuddered at the thought of how many have died because of the Madness.
"Give yourself up now!" Lord Death's order helped Crona return to reality as did the Madness, the Cheshire Cat smile in full size as though it never left. "You are surrounded and I will not tolerate you harming my students any longer!"
"Hurt?!" the Madness looked shocked at the thought of it. "I'm not gonna hurt your students! But my friends will."
"Friends?" Spirit raised a eyebrow. "Who the hell would be friends with you?! No one in their right mind-"
"Exactly, they're not in their right mind." the Madness nodded. "I mean, the dead can't think, right?"
Kid was quick to deduce what the black blood's riddle.
"That's why you killed those people isn't it?" Kid's eyes narrowed. "You infused them all with Black Blood!"
"I like your kid, Reaper. Can I keep him, please?"
"You made a mistake coming here." Stein shoved his hands in his pockets. "We have you surrounded and you're not leading any army imprisoned."
"True...I guess I'll take my leave!"
Black Black began to swirl around the Madness, slowly engulfing his form. Just before the Madness vanished completely, everyone in the one heard his words:
"8AM, tomorrow morning, war in the Desert."
Everyone stared at where the Madness stood,
"A army? Damn it!" Soul snarled. "Not cool, not cool at all."
"What does he even want?!" Black*Star demanded.
"War would be too obvious." Kid said. "He must want something out of this."
"Even if he has another plan, we can't ignore the threat of a war." Lord Death stated. "We have to prepare. All teachers must lead the students."
"That's not the biggest problem though, it's the Madness." Liz crossed her arms. "Whilst you guys are fighting, what about him? Stein said he can't be killed."
"There might be chance that he can be killed." Stein corrected. "According to the journal entries Medusa wrote, she mentioned a spell. I don't know the incantation, but it might be our only chance to make the Madness mortal and kill him."
Everyone looked relieved that they might have a chance.
"However," Stein continued. "Only a witch can say it."
"But we don't know a witch." Tsubaki said. "Blair's a magic cat, not a witch."
"Easy to get confused, though." Blair shrugged.
"But we do have the son of a witch." Stein finished, a pointed look at Crona.
"M-me?" Crona pointed to himself. "B-but you saw how he looked at me-"
"I see where he's coming from." Marie smiled to herself. "If Maka and the others distract the Madness, Crona find the spell and when the Madness sees him, he'll be too busy snarling, giving Crona enough time to the use the spell."
"Oh, God, Miss Marie, I could kiss you!" the Hammer Weapon punched the Spirit in the face; hard. Very hard. "Ow..."
"Pervert." Maka sighed.
"Maka, you ,Black*Star, Kid and Crona have to go to Medusa's lair and fight the Madness whilst we fight the Black Blood Zombies." Lord Death ordered. "Can you do that?"
"Yes, Lord Death." Maka nodded.
"Can count on us." Black*Star gave him a thumbs up.
"Of course, Father." Kid nodded.
"Y-yes, Lord Death." Crona said.
"That's great!" Lord Death said brightly. "Seeing as it's a long walk, you best use your vehicles and get going. Good luck!"
The teenagers walked out of the room. As soon as they did, Lord Death turned to the teachers.
"I know we might not survive tomorrow...die or live, it was a honor knowing you all."
"Like wise." the teachers responded. They made to move out when-
V-VROOM!
Spirit was to the window in a flash. He saw Maka and Soul on the bike, Kid on his skateboard, Black*Star in "MY CAR!"
The deathscythe could only watch the blue haired ninja drive his beloved car off, hitting some bins on the way. Eventually, the sound of loud stereo music vanished and Spirit sobbed in the corner.
"Oh, great." Lord Death sighed as Blair went over to give Spirit a bone crushing hug; his mood lightning very quickly as he found himself in the arms of a very beautiful lady. "I need more friends..."
"I FEEL LIKE MAKING LOVE, MAKING TO YOU! DADA-DUN! DADA-DUN!" Black*Star sung to the key of "off" to the song that blared out of the car's stereo and round the desert the group drove through, much to the annoyance of his passengers.
"D-did he really write that himself?" Crona asked Tsubaki, cringing as Ragnarok and several coyotes howled the song.
"He says so." Tsubaki groaned to herself. "As a tribute to Princess Diana."
"Baby, if I think about you, I think about love-" Kid had enough.
"WOULD YOU TURN THAT OFF!"
"Fine." Black*Star relented, turning the stereo off. "Kill joy."
"Here's a question, do we even have a plan aside from Crona getting the spell?" Liz, in gun form, asked.
"We just need to distract him, that's all." Kid replied from above from his hovering skateboard.
"B-but can we really do it?" Crona gulped when Tsubaki and Maka, from her seat on the bike, faced him. "He's d-different from Medusa and Asura...he a-actually hates us."
"It's nothing new, Crona." Maka assured.
"A-and it really wants to k-ill me-"
"And he won't." Soul didn't even turn. "We'll end this, Crona."
"That's right. He's gonna regret messing with us." Black*Star shot him a thumbs up.
"We're gonna kick his ass!" Patti laughed.
"And we'll do it together!" Maka added, smiling warmly at Crona, who simply blushed and looked at his lap.
"Just tell her, would ya?!" Ragnarok sighed.
"I-I will. After we win." Crona said.
"Whatever. You do it or I do."
"O-Ok."
As she held onto Soul, Maka kept glancing back at Crona...the boy she fell for. Damn romance, why does it have to be so hard?!
The group drove into the woods in silence just as the sun began to rise.
EIGHT O'CLOCK AM...THE DESERT.
Marie stared at the students and teachers that had come to defend Death City. So many children, willing to dedicate their lives, regardless of whether they might die or not. Mifune stood nearby sternly, his trademark twine in his mouth as he glared across the horizon, looking for the enemies. He didn't need to look long as figures began to burst out the sand; humanoid like figures with dirt, rooting skin, sharp nails, exposed organs, mouths wide open and one feature they all shared were yellow eyes. The zombies varied from men, women and even children.
Several students gasped in shock and started talking to themselves in fear at the creatures. Marie's one exposed eye narrowed and stood in front of the Death City warriors.
"Teachers! Students!" everyone stopped at the tone of authority Miss Marie, the teacher many considered a klutz, the one whose hugs were like being crushed by a wall, used. "I know you're tired, and i know you crave rest! But today, we preserve our right to leave in a free world and not just for Death City, but for all the others that suffer out there! I won't lie and say we'll all survive, yes,, some will die, but know that we die for a world with no Kishin, no Medusa and no Black Blood monsters! We fight for peace!"
The students roared in approval, Marie blushing slightly at the praise her speech received, especially when Stein and Mifune nodded her way. The scientist turned his screw as he yelled what needed to be yelled;
"CHARGE!"
And both sides did.
And that was my longest chapter ever. I'm sorry it looks rushed, but it's hard for me to translate my thoughts into words.
I really hope you enjoyed :)
Three chapters left.
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