Chapter 37 – Breaking the Habit

Sai Summers / Death the Kid

Friday

Sai

Friday found me waiting at Shibusen for Kid. My anger had cooled, but I still was still less than pleased with his lackadaisical attitude towards his own safety.

But you can't make a man worry about himself…

The patio was empty when Kid returned. No lectures were held on Friday mornings currently. And as it was the middle of the semester, no one was taking classes too seriously to begin with. The only person you might find on campus on a sunny day like today might be Maka.

He returned around twenty minutes after I arrived and have taken a seat near the stairwell on the patio. Just before his skateboard could hit the pavers, Kid jumped down and landed lightly next to it. The pistols flew out from his hands, and hung in the air for a moment. He absorbed the green and red board into a cloud of black, back into his left hand.

The gun on his right shifted into a pink light and. Liz shimmered back into existence. "Wheew." She exclaimed while stretching. "That was a long trip." Patty appeared on his left, but was silent for the moment.

Standing from my seat on the edge of the patio, and I turned my attention to Kid. "It's about time. The test is less than twenty minutes from now."

Perhaps being passively negative was not the best idea.

He paid more attention to his appearance than what I was saying. He brushed off the arms of his coat and adjusted his collar.

Liz walked over, stood in front of me, and eyed me in suspicion. "You seem a little dressed up to come to school, is that for any particular reason?"

She had caught me, and I turned to her quickly in embarrassment. I had picked out a form-fitting black dress, black and white overcoat, and a ruby necklace and earrings set. I had even gone to the trouble to set my hair in waivy pigtails.

"Eh, never mind that." I told her quietly, feeling my face turn warm. I turned to Kid, forcing his attention. "Are you alright?" I asked, fidgeting in place. I was nervous at having to confront him after our last parting.

Liz abruptly pointed at Kid, interrupting. "This one…made us row in a boat in the damn ocean!"

I was surprised Kid let the foul language go. His mind must be elsewhere for the moment…

The incongruity of the concept caught me off guard, and my train of thought temporarily derailed. I turned to her in confusion. "Wait…who takes a rowboat out to sea?"

Liz grew both angry and excited; she waved her pointing hand. "Him! And he wouldn't even row it! He made us do it!"

I felt embarrassed at being associated as a Shinigami, suddenly. I half-turned my head and viewed Kid from the corner of my good eye. "Kid…isn't that a little…elitist?"

He straightened his tie and smoothed his hair with him right hand. The deep emotions in his eyes were difficult to read, but his voice remained smooth and composed. "I had to keep watch." He turned to his right, and his eyes narrowed on Liz. "Why does it even matter, now?"

I sighed and I decided to change the subject; this looked to be a sore spot between the two. I was unopposed.

While I was unaware of what had happened in the Baltic; I could only use the look on his face as an indication of the severity. "Kid…what about this missing people?"

Kid started to pick at a black string hanging from the label of his jacket; it diverted his attention for the moment before he spoke, leaving a gap in the conversation. "Ended up being more serious business than I had expected."

My brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"The reason for the disappearances was a ship that was killing and stealing the souls of the people of the cities it came into contact with. It was essentially eating people."

I tried to keep my voice level, but it was difficult with that news. Even after seeing the robotic clowns that consumed people, the news made me nervous. "Eating people…were you able to save anyone?"

Kid's expression went dark. "Everyone was already dead."

Patty giggled and danced in place. "Sister got eaten by the boat!"

My shoulders sank and I turned to her. "I'm sure that's not something to make fun of. People were being killed by that thing…"

Liz ignored Patty's comment, yet her face lost color. "Sai, it was so scary! There was this weird fog; and this giant ship – the Nihogg - and it ate people! And I got lost and this little girl ghost showed me around and she yelled at me! I totally wanted to cry…" It was hard to tell if she was still panicking, or wanted someone to listen.

Patty danced in place, and shot her right arm into the air. "And then the Kishin showed up, and we got into this big fight! It was really exciting!"

Liz's shoulders dropped. "Patty…you shouldn't…"

I inhaled, and by breath was ragged. "Kid…I begged you to not do it…"

He remained stoic. "I'm a Shinigami, it's my duty to make sure that…"

I pulled back my right arm and slammed my right fist into Kid's jaw; causing him to fall backwards. He hollered a noise without words, and went tumbling down the top flight of stairs. If I had been closer, I might have heard the thud of him landing.

Patty laughed and waved her right arm in circles. "Shinigami Punch!"

Liz's jaw dropped, and her face blanched. "I…was not expecting that." Was all she could say.

I looked over the edge of the stairs. Kid was ranting in a language I didn't recognize, waving his fist in the air.

Liz joined me in looking. "Oy, he's mad. He's yelling in Japanese."

I simply stared down at him. Being angry was something I couldn't fatham at the moment. My mood was foreboding, but my words remained kind. "I just wish he'd stop running around trying to get himself killed, that's all I want." I paused. "I don't know what I would do if he was hurt as well."

Liz laughed darkly. "Don't worry, the fight didn't last long. He got distracted by the scenery and we lost track of the Death God." She sounded mildly bitter.

I raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

I watched Kid stand, and then turned my full attention to Liz.

She waved her right hand downwards. "Don't tell him I told you; he'll be mad at me. But yeah, once the ship went down, the fog started to clear." She paused and looked to her right, making sure he wasn't within ear shot yet. "When he saw the sun and clouds he went into 'the world's symmetrical' mode." Liz made quotation marks with her hands at the concept.

I was confused and somewhat in awe of his ineptitude of handling reality. "How does he get anything done?"

Liz waved her hand in front of her face and giggled. "Sometimes I wonder that myself."

Kid appeared at the top of the stairs. His anger appeared to be cooling, yet his gaze remained depressed. "I heard that." He stated flatly, stuffing his hands in the pockets' of his pants.

When he came to a halt on the patio, I saw the string hanging from his coat. It bothered me; perhaps not as much as him, but I couldn't deal with it handing loose in the wind.

I shouldn't do it…but I can't help it…

I ran my hand fast against the label, and the string snapped off in my hand. I flicked my hand against his chest and the string blew away.

Kid stood for a moment in silence, yet he didn't appear surprised. Perhaps he wasn't surprised that I was adapting into some of his patterns or habits.

I grabbed his hand, trying to pull him along after me. He was mostly cooperative, and I didn't feel much physical resistance. "Let's go take the test. I'm ready for it to be over."

***

As we walked along the school's hallways, I needed to ask Kid was the real situation in the Baltic had been. His expression was too strained for there to have not been a serious problem.

I watched the floor as we walked, and I tried to keep from sounding anxious at wanting an answer. "Kid…what really happened out there?"

His words and voice were short, and he didn't make eye contact when he spoke. "What Liz said is correct."

I inhaled deeply. "That may be, but I'm under the impression there's more."

Kid's eyes remained locked on his footsteps. "She's not aware of the problem."

I stopped in my tracks. "What do you mean?"

Kid came to a halt and looked up. "I'm under the impression there's more than one Kishin."

My eyes widened, and I chortled sarcastically. "More than one Death God? Kid, you're not being serious."

He turned his gaze and his gold eyes were softer than previous. "While, I'm not one to take the word of an insane ship captain seriously…"

I bit my lower lip, silencing my laughter. "Kid…spit it out…"

He sighed. "The ship captain…the one who controlled the ship…said he collected the souls of the citizens for the Kishin…which he said was 'closest to me'…closest to Shibusen, I presume."

Kid's description was difficult to comprehend, and my brow furrowed. "So you're saying…"

He turned away and began walking again, watching his feet hit the floor again. "I believe Shibusen may be hiding the real Kishin."

***

It was only the two of us in the lecture room, and surprisingly enough, Stein didn't care if we sat next to one another. I had suspected a talking to about something – anything – relating to this test. Sure I had some idea what it was about, but I hadn't expected it to be…difficult. Maybe I should have considered spending more time studying…

The test was primarily fill-in-the-blank and short answer. Things you could answer in a sentence or two at the most. It shouldn't have been difficult for anyone. Except for someone who has trouble taking tests – I noticed Kid start to write his name on the top of the test, filling in each letter perfectly. He hadn't begun to answer any of the questions by the time I had finished the first page of questions. I remembered the whole reason he was retaking the test, and I abruptly snatched the pencil from his hand,

His gold eyes flashed on me in anger. "What are you doing?!"

I smiled sweetly, holding the pencil out. "Why don't you try writing your name last, hmm?"

The look in his darkened gold eyes signaled he didn't believe my cutesy act. Or perhaps it wasn't the time for me to play as such. He must have so much on his mind…

Kid's eyes narrowed and he tried to pull the pencil from my hand. "What? That's not how…give me my pencil back."

I laid the kind attitude on thick, but retained a firm hold on the writing utensil. "For me? Just try?"

"Fine." He grumbled, surprisingly laid back. "Release my pencil."

I smiled at him. "Hmm. Mr. Formal Language, aren't we?"

His eyed narrowed, but I released my grip on the utensil. He pulled it from my hand and I watched him start to fill out the first question on the test.

I couldn't help but feel a little elated inside. I admit I was taking a little pleasure in watching him fight his demons out in the open.

That must make me sick in the head…

***

We waited as Stein graded the exams; I was understandably nervous. I couldn't help but pass about the floor of the lecture room in anxiety. Kid seemed far more calm – either that or his mind was else ware.

"Very good. Two passes." He set the exams to the side. "I'll consider the assignment with the Nihogg as your practical, Kid. It was more difficult that I had anticipated." He scanned over a sheet on the desk. "That means you're both caught up with the work."

Nihogg…the name of the ship that captures souls for the Kishin…

I nodded and tried to smile. "Thank you, Professor."

Kid had no positive response; he stood motionless with his hands in his pants' pockets and his dark hair covering his eyes. I wondered if the possibility of Shibusen hiding such a dark secret may be too much for him to handle, and continue to function normally.

There was a moment of silence in the room and I shifted my gaze to Stein. Kid's attitude was causing anxiety to fill the room.

Stein shifted in his seat at my sudden attention, and eyed Kid from above the lens of his glasses. "Kid, would you give Sai and me a moment?"

There was a pause, then Kid eyed me; he then eyed Stein in what I assumed was suspicion. His expression was dark and one of displeasure. "Shall I meet you back at your apartment in an hour?"

I turned to Kid and gave him a nod as well. "That's fine."

Kid eyed Stein in displeasure, then turned and headed for the door. Watching his back, I could see his head was still hanging. I debated if he was trying to deal with the possibility that Shibusen was carrying a secret that could endanger many or if it was something else.. Kid pulled the lecture room door open cleanly with his left hand, and slipped out of the room.

"He obviously doesn't trust me." Stein paused and watched the door for a moment. "Hmm. Leaving you here alone is certainly not something he enjoys." Stein said. He pulled out his cigarettes from his left lab coat pocket. Watching him light and smoke was like watching a system of steps of performing levers. Popping the package from the bottom, he pulled out one with his mouth and held it there. He fished in his right pocket for his silver lighter, and used it to light the cigarette. He then dropped it into his right pocket. "Can't say I would blame him." He inhaled and held out the cigarette with his right hand. "He's highly agitated right now about a number of things."

And I'm sure you have nothing to do with it, actually… I cut my own thoughts off and tried to focus. It wasn't something I could even speculate on.

I slid my gaze down and to the right; I stared at the floor to the right of Stein's desk. "He's upset with me, I'm sure….We've been fighting." I lied.

Stein inhaled from his cigarette, and then exhaled smoke. "I highly doubt that." He said smoothly. "He's far angrier at something else."

My eyes narrowed. Why are we talking about Kid…?

I fixed my gaze on Stein, and held my left arm with my right hand. "Did you want me for something, Professor?"

He brought his left hand palm down hard on the desktop. "Yes! I hear you have uncovered another weapon form. Let's see it." He seemed to enjoy putting me on the spot. He sat watching from the desk in eager anticipation.

I concentrated and I visualized the shape of a spear in my mind. I stuck out my right hand and it warmed. With a light flash of violet light, a weapon appeared. I turned and looked. Its shaft was the same matte black of the scythe. The two ends held blades that were cut in purplish-black.

But it wasn't what I had visualized. It was a double-ended spear – a double lance. No matter how many times I repeated the actions, it was the same response. I never seemed to get what I had created in my mind. It was like my mind and soul were feeling disconnected at the moment.

I sighed in dejection, and then looked up at Stein "But it's not what I'm visualizing." I paused. "It's not…it's not what I'm wanting to see in my hand." I muttered.

Stein stared at the weapon intently, his light eyes flickering with realization. "We've got a gap between your mind and your soul." Stein watched the lance intently. "I guess it's not too surprising considering what your body has gone through." He sighed, but it wasn't one of dejection or rejection. "As an Independent Weapon, your body is the gate way between what you see in your mind's eye and what you create with your soul in the real world." Stein tapped his right hand's fingers on the desktop. "We will just have to spend more time refining what you see in your mind to compensate for your damaged body."

He's acting like I'm broken…

But I couldn't argue; what he said at least made sense as I watched the lance in my hand. And it wasn't a problem I could combat on my own. I would need help.

There was a sudden, loud knock at the lecture room door and we both turned towards the noise. A brown-haired male student I didn't recognize stuck his head into the doorway. "Professor Stein, there's a fight outside!"

Stein turned back to the desk and began to stack his papers into piles on his desk. "Who is it?"

The man seemed unsure about the situation, and his voice seemed nervous. "Shinigami-kun…and someone I don't recognize. He doesn't look like a student."

The possibilities were a confined to a short list, and I felt a ping of anger in my chest. Damn Justin. Now what?

Stein set his papers to the side and looked up at me. "Shall we go see what's going on?"

I turned back to him, and put me left hand on my hip. I was quick to intercede in the situation. Stein giving authoritative attention to the situation could make things worse. "It's Kid and Justin…I'm not getting involved in their fight."

He leaned his arms forward on the desk top, and stood up from behind the desk. "You don't have to get involved…" He grinned. "…to use it to your advantage."

My eyes narrowed; I didn't like the idea of taking advantage of Kid. "What do you mean?" I asked warily.

He adjusted his frames with his left hand and smile. "Have you ever seen the soul of an angry, jealous man?"

"What?" I hissed. This isn't going to be pretty…

Stein stepped around his desk and headed for the door of the lecture room without further notice. "Come with me…this will be helpful." He stopped and held the door open for me and I was compelled to follow his path. "We're going to see if you if you've gained any soul perception abilities from the transfusion."

***

Kid

Having control of my name-writing issues at the last moment, the test had been less of a challenge than I has expected. Apparently most of my problems with taking it had really been in my mind.

Not that I will let on about that….

Stepping out of the front archway of Shibusen, I found Liz and Patty lounging at the patio's railing. And if it had just been them on the patio, I would have been much happier.

I could hear a voice I recognize float from the far end of the patio, growing closer as it approached. It was a light, high pitched male voice I was beyond tired of hearing.

"I considered the question you asked me the last time we met. Are you interested in hearing my answer?" Justin questioned, coming to a stop half-way across the patio.

As I continued across the patio in his general direction, I had a simple answer for him: "Not particularly." At that point I half-turned back. "Liz, Patty, let's go. I need to attend to a few things."

"Al~right!" Patty giggled, dancing in place.

Liz sighed happily, pulling herself up from her seat. "I am so in need of a shower…"

Justin stepped clearly into our path, blocking my exit off of the patio. "Maybe I didn't make myself clear." He was attempting to sound threatening, but it would take more than that to faze me at the moment.

I came to a stop, and frowned at him. "I'm not sure I neither understand your position, nor care that much."

His tone was dark and grim. "We'll, as a great man once said, 'give me chastity, just not yet.'"

My eyes narrowed. "I take it that's your answer."

"It is." He stated flatly; he stood stoic and refused to move from my path.

Without turning back, I addressed the sisters. "Liz, I apologize, the shower will have to wait a little longer."

Her shoulders sagged. "Are you serious….can't you two just fight like normal guys…with, like, fists and stuff?"

"Shinigami Punch!" Patty yelled, throwing her right fist into the air.

"Eh….not quite Patty…" Liz groaned, putting her right hand to her forehead.

Justin seemed to be contemplating the situation. "Perhaps she's right. No weapons." He put his right palm up and forward.

I blinked. "You must think I'm an ignorant fool."

Justin's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm well aware of your ability to produce a weapon using your body. It is the hallmark of the Independent Weapon." I glanced to my left. "Liz, Patty, let's go."

"Yes!" Patty yelled.

I put my arms out from my chest, and I could feel the warmth of the pistols in my hands. At the moment I held them at my sides.

"Kid…" Liz whined. "I wanna…"

I snorted and stood my ground on the patio. "A challenge is a challenge. We take all challenges seriously, Liz."

Liz sighed. "Ehh…when am I going to get my shower, Kid….?"

***

Sai

Stein and I stood away from the fight between Justin and Kid. No matter how much I wanted it to end or to separate the two; he was insistent that it become a leaning lesson in Soul Perception.

"Try to find their centers of the emotions." He told me.

Irritation was building at having to stand by on the fight. I watched Kid throw a kick at Justin's head, and Justin try to slash Kid's face with the blade extension of his robes. "I am. I just don't see anything when I look at them."

He wasn't buying it. "Then try harder." He told me between puffs of a cigarette.

I inhaled deeply and got a lung full of tar and "I can see that their souls are dissimilar."

Stein inhaled from his cigarette. "That's not specific enough – of course they are, they're two different people. Anyone could get that much, Meister or not."

I rolled my eyes. What the heck do you want from me…?

Stein showed an evil grin, leaning over my shoulder. "I saw that, by the way…"

I scowled. And I'm sure you'll see a lot more of it…

I lightly shut my eyes and concentrated harder. I could see a white light from Justin, and a dark, almost black, light from Kid

"It's like one is white light and the other is dark light." Was the best I could come up with – I couldn't help but think it sounded cliché.

Stein ashed his cigarette on the patio. "So which one is the truly angry man?"

That seemed like a moronic question. "I would assume in this instance, both." I paused, taking in the fact that Kid was trying to shoot Justin in the head with this gun Weapons. "I mean, look…look at this."

"I realize that, thank you." He sighed and tapped his foot. "But only one of them has anger actually festering in their soul. Who is it?"

I tried to sharpen the image. I began to see the shape of their souls within them; larger, lighted, translucent orbs surrounding them.

I could see black, jagged flames coming off of Kid's soul. "I don't know what I'm looking for, but based on what I've read I'd have to say it's Kid." I paused and felt my eyes squint. "If pain and anger have a shape, it might be the shape of those flames."

"Very good." He dropped his cigarette to his right, on the patio stones, and rubbed it out with his shoe. "So, which do you prefer?"

I turned and looked up at him. "Excuse me?"

He was looking down at the ash and cigarette butt at his feet. "I'm asking you which soul is preferable."

Stupid question for me. "That's easy…it's…"

He looked up abruptly and cut off my thought. "Stop. I asked you which soul you preferred,not which man."

I blinked. What, now…?

Stein bent down slightly and looked me in the eyes. "If you could only sense their souls…which would you prefer, considering what you've seen? Which would you be drawn to?"

The thought stopped me in my tracks and I was silent for a moment. I simply watched the motion of the two locked in combat.

I didn't want to be truthful on it, and I sighed. I couldn't help but look down, and the ask caught my eye. "Justin. His soul is softer. And…" It was hard to congeal the thoughts into usable sentences. "Kid has a lot of anger right now. It's physically showing in his soul. One might even say he's the 'bad guy' in this instance."

"Very good." Stein patted me on the head. "That's what I wanted you to see. To be honest, I don't care who you're involved with, but their competition makes for convenient lessons." He laughed, putting his arms out. "So see, you're using their anger to your advantage!" He seemed abnormally amused at the thought.

You're a sick, sick man, aren't you…?

Stein calmed down. "It's still rough, but we can work on it. Eventually you'll be able to see even more, over longer distances." He inhaled again, and watched the fight. "This might not end for a while. Do you plan to do something about it?"

I was firm on my original resolution as I watched. "No."

"What if I told you I'll fail you for this practical if you don't?" I heard him say. I could almost hear him grinning.

I turned on Stein. "This was…you tricked me!" I growled. "This wasn't about souls…you just didn't feel like breaking up the fight…!"

He grinned, and inhaled from his cigarette.

I felt the agitation of my surroundings growing within me. Now that I had begun to feel their souls, I couldn't shut it off.

I watched Justin fall onto his back, and Kid was about to fire towards his face. While Justin seemed to have no panic in his face, and appeared ready to throw up his right arm, I was less sure of Kid's expression – his eyes were wide.

Maybe I'm missing something…

I stormed over to where Justin had landed and stood at his left. "Stop it! The fighting's got to stop!" I shouted down at him, but the words got weaker as the line went on.

The fight ended as quickly as it had started. My anger had produced what my soul wanted – even if it wasn't what my mind wanted. I jammed the double-headed staff awkwardly into the space between Justin's chest and Kid's throat.

I looked at Kid.

Kid held his head back and blinked. Holding a deadly weapon at him didn't appear to faze him…much. "That's impressive." He stated. "Much more detailed than the scythe."

I looked down at Justin.

Justin nodded, which looked off from his awkward position. "It is, isn't it? You're making good use of your past training…"

I looked back up at Kid.

Kid scowled. "I hope you don't mean to insinuate you're responsible for her recent success?"

I looked down at Justin.

Justin's eyes narrowed. "I hope you don't mean to say you're in anyway responsible for her recent advancement."

I was tired of the competition for something neither had actually done. I could feel my face turn red, and I pulled the lance down from its awkward position. "Hey…! Pay attention to what…"

The jarring sound of sudden combustion filtered through the air, and the ground shook slightly. The noise caught me off-guard, and I fell backwards, landing on my butt at Justin's right. The lance shimmered out of existence as it landed in my lap.

But neither was looking at me and my mishap. Kid and Justin were eyeing the horizon to my left. Kid had put the pistols down to his waist and had taken a step back. Justin sat up half-way, using his elbows for support. I half-turned to see what had caught their attention.

Something was burning in the distance. Black clouds of smoke and ash rose from the horizon. There was then the sound of a second, larger explosion in the distance. A low grumbling could be heard.

"What is that?" I whispered.

Both of their expressions were dark. There was the sound of leaves and small stones were rustling against the patio stones.

Stein came up behind us and looked out towards the destruction, quietly smoking another cigarette. "It looks like I was right, sadly…" He muttered.

I looked up at Stein. "About what…?" I questioned quietly.

The clouds of soot and ash on the horizon reflected in his glasses. "Another one of the Demon Tools is active…"