Crona POV

I felt ashamed. Ashamed, ashamed, ashamed for dating Maka in secret. I knew I should have told our friends, I trusted them, didn't I?

But why must I feel shame of all things, I thought, running through the streets of Death City, why must I be ashamed for being in love?

I stopped, and turned into an alleyway next to me. I sank down along the rough brick walls, and hugged my knees.

Maka, sweet Maka, with her kind faceand beautiful smile. Maka, with fierce passion in her eyes, as she charged into combat.

Maka, her face twisted with anger as Blair revealed our secret.

I gazed at my surroundings limply, the overflowing trash can, the dark bricks, the dimming lights in the distance. I thought of what love really meant,

whether it was ever real. It... felt like it was real, at least. I thought of my mother. What she would say if she saw me like this.

I could practically hear her sly voice trickling through my ears, taking over my heart and my mind.

Love, She would say, is often useless and fake. You do not gain much from it, but you lose a lot. Love someone or something,

and you lose your power and strength. Love is twisted and cruel, so avoid it, Crona. She spoke of this like she knew what love gave and took, and maybe she did.

I wonder who my father was? Medusa-sama never spoke of him, or if I even had one.

You can use love as an advantage, but at a very high price. Try to avoid it as much as you can, always remember that, Crona.

I swear I could hear her now, whispering commands in my ear. She was controlling me still, through blackmail and threats, through family and love.

She was my mother, after all. Crona, Crona, She whispered to me. I closed my eyes, her voice grew. Crona, Crona, CRONA!

My name, Medusa's voice filled my mind. Something shook my shoulders.

"Crona! Crona, are you okay?" My eyes flew open. Blair was shaking me, concern in her eyes. I gently pushed her off. "Yeah, I guess..." I trailed off.

Blair looked extremely sad and deeply ashamed. "Crona, I am so, so sorry for what I did back there, I had absolutely no right to, I am half-cat, so I love gossip,

and I hope you can forgive, even if we don't know each other too well, but I hope we can get to know each other, and–" I cut her off.

"Forgiveness," I said, "is not an easy gift to give, in my opinion," Her ears drooped, and her yellow eyes darkened, reflecting her emotions.

"But, for this, I forgive you." I concluded. She reached out, and hugged me. Not like the hug she had first given me, not a flirtatious hug;

just a simple, friendly, genuine hug. I hugged back slowly. I think now I believe that love can extend to friendships, too. She helped me to my feet.

"Come on, everyone's waiting for us back at the apartment!" We ran off, leaving the alleyway behind.

Only now as we were running away did I realize it was the same alleyway where I had met with Eruka, and spoken with her about causing Dr. Stein's madness.

I wonder whether it was a coincidence?

Author's Note: And Crona is as adorable as ever! Gosh, I made him sound so mature... :P