Chapter 45 - Legitimate Hijacking

Sai Summers / Death the Kid

Twenty Minutes Later

Sai

I was sure that the look on my face was telling of my displeasure. "You're asking me to steal someone's partner?"

Shinigami-sama's mask smiled, but it seemed likely a faux gesture to calm the situation. "We're just asking you to work with some one else for a while, since Justin is incapacitated." He stated with a bounce.

I frowned. "I didn't need Justin as a partner away; he was my trainer. We worked together as a method of convenience…for other people…" I allowed my voice to trail off as a sign of agitation.

Spirit ignored my complaints, and continued to examine a selection of white papers in his hands; he also happened to be frowning. "The most recent class entered the school 2 weeks ago. And there's no one left who's suitable, I don't think…"

Shinigami-sama bounced in place and turned to him simultaneously. "Her skills are currently…well, that's not what I'm worried about."

Huh?
Stein tapped his foot anxiously. "We have some trust issues. Plus…"

I raised an eyebrow. "What trust issues? I'm pretty sure I'm pretty good about…"

Shinigami-sama smiled. "Actually…we were referring to Kid."

I scratched the back of my head. "Oh…err, yeah, he's got some…trust issues with other guys…"

Spirit rolled the papers into a cylinder between his hands. "Shinigami-sama, I'm not sure we can afford to have him distracted by…"

Shinigami-sama looked at Spirit in wistful consideration.

He'd never ask Kid to stop being around the people who care for him…

Spirit sighed and dropped his shoulders. "I realize you have Kid's best interest at heart, but this isn't the time to be placing those considerations above what else is going on. Students and staff alike have come under attack by the Demon Sword, and whoever is controlling it from behind the scenes. This is a dangerous time…"

"True." Was all Shinigami-sama had to say.

Spirit turned to me. "Sai, you have a choice. You can work with another pair or at least another Weapon or Meister until a more suitable replacement for Justin is found…."

I couldn't help but sound bitter. "Or?"

Spirit lowered his papers, and was stoic. "Or, according to the by-laws of Shibusen, you'll be expelled for failing to follow Shinigami-sama's orders in the line of duty."

***

I grumbled and muttered the entire trip to the front steps of the school.

A black-haired Kid had been replaced by a white-haired Soul. He sat lackadaisically at the top of the stairs.

Standing slightly behind and to his right, I looked down. "What are you doing here?"

He didn't return my gaze, and seemed mildly annoyed. "That's a pretty funny question considering you're the one who didn't come home last night."

I rolled my eyes, and Soul was silent. I took a seat on the stone steps at his right.

Sometimes I forget I have responsibilities to other people here…

"Anyway, yeah, sorry. Death-san wanted me just taken to the closest place I could sleep."

Soul stretched and looked up; his arms hung over his legs as he sat. "Death-san?" The term seemed to confuse him. "You mean Shinigami-sama?"

I sighed, ignoring his bewilderment. "Yeah, that's what he has me call him. He thinks of me kinda like his kid, kinda not."

Turning to him, I stared at him for a moment; his uncertainty didn't immediately dissipate.

It took me a moment to comprehend what he was thinking.

My eyes narrowed, and I took great care in annunciating my words. "Who…did you think…it was?"

Soul appeared sheepish. "Well, you know…"

I twisted my torso sideways, and took my right fist to his right shoulder in a closed-fist punch.

"Don't be a weirdo!" I griped loudly.

Soul scowled and rubbed his arm. "Me, the weirdo?"

I cocked my head to the right. "Why would I address Kid with 'san' suddenly?"

His eyes were large and agitated. "I dunno! Thought it might be some…ya know…something weird thing between you two…"

"No, no, no…sheesh, it's because Shinigami-sama prefers it. And just between you and me – speaking of weird – I think he likes the concept of having a 'daughter' of sorts."

He finished rubbing his arm and put them back in his lap. "For some reason that reminds me of Maka's pervert dad."

I snorted a laugh. "Let's just say there's a good reason they are partners."

Soul stretched and stood, and I followed suit.

"Home?" He questioned. Even though he didn't appear upset, his mind didn't appear to be where we were standing.

We strolled down the stairs and started on the long walk home.

The space between us was filled with awkward moments of silence, and wind.

Soul kicked a stone on the pavers; it skipped across three stones. "I take it you're okay."

I put my arms above my head and stretched again. Sleeping in those fancy clothes awkwardly next to Kid didn't seem to have agreed with my back. "Outside of being starving, yeah."

Soul seemed embarrassed, but wanted to remain his "cool" self. "Maka was the one who was worried; she insisted I try to find you this morning."

I played along. "That's so like her."

As we walked past an alleyway, a flash of movement caught my eye – it was the swishing of dark colored robes. It drove me to come to a halt in the middle of the road.

Soul took an extra step, and than came to a halt. "What's the matter?"

I blinked. "That woman…" The robbed walkers passed from view. "…what is she doing on this side of town?"

I shook my head and started to walk again, but the swish of the robes could be seen on the edge of the alleyway.

Pulling Soul, I pushed him against the wall behind me, and leaned around the corner looking towards the woman.

"What's the matter?" Soul whispered.

I leaned outwards and abruptly clamped my left hand over his mouth.

"WBHWIAHSSS!!" Soul muttered loudly.

"Soul…be quiet for a sec…" I hissed.

The robed woman moved out of my visual range, and I let my hand drop from Soul's face.

Soul inhaled and exhaled noisily. "Ahh! What was that about?!"

I continued to watch the alley. "The woman, I recognized her. But…why was she walking around in a hooded robe…and way down here?"

"Who is it?" Soul asked, looking confused.
"The new housekeeper or maid or whatever she is at Kid's house."

He raised an eyebrow. "It's gotta be a coincidence. And it's not like its any your business…" As I started to walk away from him, he yelled: "Hey! Where are you going?"

I stopped a few steps down the ally, turned back to him, but pointed in the direction I planned to head. "I'm going to follow her."

Soul grabbed my left arm and started to drag me back. "Heck no, I have no desire to explain to Kid why you got injured on this one."

Trying to look innocent, I asked: "Who said I was going to get injured?"

Soul narrowed his ruby eyes. "Don't give me those big eyes. It's you. You'd probably get hurt in a padded room."

I glared at him. "Shaddap, ya punk."

His eyes widened, and his hissed. "Connecticut Yankee."

I turned on a dead-pan voice. "That's a terrible joke."

Sara suddenly returned to the corner of the alleyway, and stared at us from under her hood. It was impossible to see her expression, but I couldn't help but feel a chill just from looking at her. Squinting I could see her eyes, which felt cold and unfriendly. This wasn't the quiet, nervous woman I had seen just twenty-four hours before. After watching us for a moment, her purple-black robes fluttered beyond our vision.

Soul stared around the corner at the empty alleyway. "Did she hear us? We're like a half-block away."

I turned, and looked up at Soul. "There is something weird about her, I tell you…"

***

Later That Evening

Kid

I apparently picked a bad time to return to Shibusen. As soon as I hit the door to the Death Room, I could hear Stein's voice echoing.

"This is too much! You can't go around making threats like that to students!" There were several stomping noises. "Aren't we taking this supervisory role a little too seriously, Sempai?"

Spirit was also involved, but his voice was considerably louder. "That isn't what I'm worried about! I fear that if we leave her alone too long, she'll go after the Demon Sword on her own!"

"I can hear you Sempai, there's no reason for the yelling…everything echoes in here..." Stein complained, while sticking his left finger in his left ear. "Sai and Justin were never that close, emotionally, anyway…but I know they relied on each other, on some level. They had a bond that was held together for different reasons than most people, but it functioned to keep some sort of relationship between them intact…"

Spirit bit his lower lip. "Shinigami-sama, I looked over it again, and I'm still not seeing anyone suitable on the list."

Stein seemed to want to keep the situation simple. "When Kid returns have him come and see me. As a Gun Meister, Sai might be able to interface with the Thompson sisters. And it eliminates the problems with Kid."

Father seemed bemused, and nodded. "Oh, yes, that would work."

I tapped my foot, nervous for reasons I couldn't vocalize. "I apologize…but I overheard Father and you…"

Stein lowered his head, and scratched the back of it with his left hand. "Sorry Kid, I really wanted to discuss this with you privately first."

Liar…

I stuffed my hands into my pants pockets, wrinkling my jacket. "It's not a problem for me, and I don't believe the sisters will have a problem with it. They are starting to view her as a sort of sister, anyway."

Standing there made me more agitated. The Demon Sword was far too dangerous to Shibusen. As I walked away, I could hear Stein pipe up again:

"You didn't seriously think that pairing someone with years of high-level training and the blood of the Shinigami with a neophyte Meister was a good idea, did you, Sempai?"

"Stop that, you're making me look foolish." He laughed, but his voice was cold.

Stein must have been snickering. "Why would I do that? You do a pretty good job of doing that all on your own."