Finding Blair was harder than she thought. Wes kept glaring at her every few minutes, causing Soul to become even more protective than usual towards her. Kid and his twin hit men kept their fingers on the triggers of their guns ready to shoot if she made one false move. The pressure was killing her; she had even been refused her own weapon leaving Soul to practically be on top of her to make sure she was not killed.
Mifune raced through the city towards the hospital that assassin Blackstar had told him he'd be with Tsubaki. Angela pushed through the doors first and ran up the many stairs to the sixth floor. Both burst through the door as Blackstar held a fork to a drowsy Tsubaki.
"Oh, Konichiwa Angela-chan, Mifune-kun." Tsubaki greeted as Blackstar stood up.
"What's wrong?" he asked ready to bolt if there was any danger.
"Capone, he has found miss Albarn." Mifune grunted out as he tried to catch his breath. Tsubaki sat up with a worried expression.
"We have to warn her," she said trying to leave the bed as the three abled bodies tried to stop her. Tsubaki's fierce gaze stopped them though as they got closer.
"Maka is my friend, and Capone's men shot me, I will get my revenge and help my friend." She snarled making sure; her bandages were in place she continued from the bed to the door.
"Tsubaki, I will not allow you to go alone, I will accompany you." Blackstar said as he fastened his sword to his waist. She froze as both Mifune and Angela agreed to join in the fight as well.
"But you don't even know her?" the young weapons expert replied as Angela placed a hand on her shoulder.
"I know you, and personally I don't trust that blue haired monkey boy." The chameleon member replied with a smile. Tsubaki nodded, ignoring her boyfriend's protest as they began to leave the hospital and meet Capone's men.
"Maka, are you okay?" Soul asked as they neared the deserts end. If her memories were correct, then the Gorgon hide out was near where they were. But she also sensed another presence near them. One she had not sensed since they had her mother. Her sudden pause had the whole group on their toes as they waited for any sign of danger.
"Give me a gun, now!" she ordered as the presence drew closer.
"Why?" Wes asked as he eyed her for any real motives. It was Soul who acted by shoving his pistol into her hands and taking out another gun from his jacket.
"I promised our mothers I would protect you till the day I die Maka Albarn, so you better not die on me." He ordered before clicking off the safety. Maka lowered her weapon stunned by the albino's words. Unfortunately, her new feelings for the boy beside her were put on hold as gunshots rang out around them. Capone walked forward a cigar in his mouth, which was turned upward, into a grin.
"Ah Maka, how are you?" he asked as his two right hand men pointed their guns at the group around her. Soul snarled as he shielded her body with his own.
"Move aside boy, I have nothing to do with you, but I will have my men shoot if you disobey." Capone said removing his cigar and pushing the albino aside. Maka stayed still as the mob boss took hold of her chin and lifted her face. She coughed when he blew a ring of smoke in her face, her green eyes flashing with anger. Soul gripped her hand as he waited for a signal to shoot.
"You're much prettier than your mother was." The mob leader smiled, showing off yellowed teeth from his smoking habit.
"Screw you," she spat, spitting into the man's face and sending him backwards with rage.
"I'd rather screw you, but now you've made me mad and now I want to shoot you." He growled pointing a gun to her forehead. Soul quickly pressed the barrel of his own gun to the fat man's head.
"Shoot, let's see who's faster." Soul seethed as his red eyed flashed their own anger. Everyone had his or her guns pointed except Maka; she was forced to stand still waiting for the right moment to dodge a bullet. The next moments happened in fast motion. A yelled yahoo and two guns going off had Maka being grazed by a bullet to the forehead and Soul pulling her to his chest as one of Capone's right hand men fell lifeless to the ground. Soon all members of both sides were in a gunfight. Maka and Soul were back to back taking out members of Capone's gang and reloading every few minutes. Wes was back to back with Kid as they took out their own enemies while the sisters took out two at a time. What really surprised the group about the sudden appearance of Blackstar and his gang, was Tsubaki's mummified appearance. She looked wobbly as she and the Chameleon family's leader Angela stood next to a tree with two sniper rifles. The girls had a look of pure vengeance on their faces as they took another shot at Capone's men. While Maka was distracted Capone seized the chance to grab her. Maka yelped as the barrel of his gun once again met her head, this time she dropped her gun. Soul turned at the sound of her yelp as all fighting ceased.
"You can pick Evans, either die here, or leave here alive." Capone said as he held Maka tighter. Soul growled as he aimed at Capone's head.
"Let her go Capone." Soul growled as Tsubaki and Angela took aim at the mob boss as well.
"No, I have been searching for her, for a year and I will not lose her now." Capone growled yanking the girl backwards as he tried to walk away.
"Hold it right there Capone, or do you dare disobey a god?" Blackstar asked as he held his revolver to the man's middle back. Capone smiled as he massaged Maka's arm as she fought to get away.
"A Star clan member still lives. Tell me, is your girlfriend still alive?" he asked, having two guns pointed at him did not suit his ego.
"Yeah, and she has a bullet aimed for your chest." Blackstar smirked as he allowed the mob boss to pale at the news.
"Sir, what now?" asked one of the followers as he lowered his weapon.
"Shoot them!" Capone ordered as he used Maka as a shield for his front and kicked at Blackstar from his back. Maka saw her chance as she positioned her right foot behind Capone's left ankle and grasped his arms with both hands tripping and then flipping him over her shoulder and to the ground with a loud thud.
Soul blinked confused before he acted by pulling Maka safely behind him and a series of gunfire attacking the mob boss. Retrieving her fallen gun, Maka cocked it, aimed at the now heavily wounded Capone, and smiled. Leaning down to his level, she whispered in his ear.
"Life only goes one way, seems yours is heading south." With that, she pulled the trigger ending the mob bosses life.
Medusa smiled as Eruka and Mizune messaged her feet, the relaxing sensation causing the snake woman to forget about the captive in the cell below her.
"Sister, why do we have such a boring cat inside our home?" Arachne asked as she ran her fingers through Asura's hair.
"Because sister, that little kitty will help us catch an even bigger prey." The blonde smiled as she leaned farther back in her chair. Asura laughed as the doors to the room opened and two men walked in fighting with the other.
"Lady Arachne, I have sp-"the first began as he lowered his hat.
"Shut it bug breath, yo I spotted some runts coming through Death Valley." A blonde man said as he ignored the fuming smaller man.
"Mosquito, Giriko, are you both intolerable to take care of the situation yourselves?" Arachne asked eyeing the two men.
"No my lady," Mosquito bowed before pulling a now fuming Giriko behind him. The two growled at being placed as incompetent infront of the lady Gorgons.
"Let's saw the little runts to pieces." Giriko suggested as Mosquito eyes him.
"We can't, the girl in pigtails is the sisters main target." He explained to the younger man.
"Doesn't mean we can't kill the others." Giriko pouted. Mosquito growls before pushing buttons on the computer with a smile, Lady Arachne would be pleased.
Blair hissed as she followed the experiment through the sewers. Crona had used Ragnorok to set them free, but it had taken some time to get the other guard Free to let them lose. That had been a trick of Blair's doing. No man could resist her charming body.
"Um, miss Blair, the exit is this way," Crona mumbled as it tried to lead the cat up the ladder of the exit.
"Nya, does this lead me back to Wessy bear?" she asked as the pink haired experiment blushed at her words.
"Um, I don't know how to deal with this," it wept as it tried to blend into the darkened walls. Blair smiled as she climbed up the slick ladder exposing the frightened experiment to her underwear beneath the scanty clothing.
"So Crona, nya, where does this exit come out at?" Blair asked curiously.
"Near Death Valley I think?" the experiment answered as it climbed past the cat to open the grate above them. Blair smiled widely as they emerged into the cool Nevada night, stars gleaming down upon them. Now they had to locate the others and they could return home safely.
"We need to warn Maka," Crona said as it glanced around for any sign of life. Blair's face pouted as she turned to the experiment.
"But I want to find Wesley," she mewed.
"He's most likely with Maka trying to rescue you." Crona said as it began walking back towards the Gorgon hideout. Blair sighed before falling instep behind the rouge experiment.
"So Crona, can I ask you some questions." Blair asked after a few silent minutes.
"Can I say pass if I don't want to answer them?" it asked.
"No, I want answers." Blair said crossing her arms. Finally Crona nodded.
"How do you know Maka?" the bar maid asked. The experiment remained quiet as it thought of its answer.
"Because Maka was my first friend, I was introduced to her by lady Medusa; she told me Maka would be my new sister." Crona explained. "I'm just an experiment but, Maka made me feel human. She was the first to give me a gender." The experiment continued.
"And what is that gender?" Blair asked intrigued by the story.
"I'm a girl," Crona smiled as she turned to face the woman behind her. Blair smiled at the girls new confidence.
"Good, now let's go find Maka and warn her about Medusa and her sister." Blair said as she began leading the march to find the missing friends. Crona smiled as she quickly followed, she would save her sister and fix everything she had done in the past. Even if that meant her death, or the death of her family and friends at the hideout she would save the one person she treasured above all.
Maka held her knees as she watched the others sleep, tomorrow they would meet the Gorgon hideout and rescue Blair. However, the castle the sisters occupied also held her last bits of the past life. Crona was right wasn't she; life did only go one way. Was she going forward the right way or, was it wrong?
"Will my life end here like my parents?" she whispered, eyes staring up into the night sky as stars twinkled above them and the moon laughed. A storm was coming, no night would be so calm as this without a storm to follow.