SOUL EATER: ~AFTERMATH~

Chapter 12 - A Huge Change at the DWMA... Will it Last?

When Jake woke up the next morning Dani was already gone. He couldn't place it but something in the room seemed to be missing. After a few moments he decided if he couldn't realize it then it probably wasn't a big deal. He made his way to the DWMA expecting to run into her at the bottom of the stairs but she wasn't there. He ran into Soul and Black Star in the hallway.

"Hey guys what's up?" Jake asked the two who seemed to be staring at a poster.

"The poster here says we're going to have a surprise visitor tomorrow... Sounds interesting." Soul told him.

"Yeah but I'm sure they won't be nearly as special as me!" Black Star said boldly.

"Black Star... no one is as 'special' as you." Jake sighed.

"Yeah I know!" he said completely unaware of what Jake meant.

"Oh yeah have you guys seen Dani? She was gone when I woke up."

"No I can't say that I ha-" Soul stopped suddenly. He tapped Black Star and pointed behind Jake.

"What are you doing Soul? I... Who's that?" he asked. Jake turned around to see Dani wearing the dress that Patty had gotten for her. He stared for a moment longer before Black Star continued with his questions.

"Is she supposed to be the surprise visitor?"

"You idiot, that's not until tomorrow. It's Dani... I think." Soul said smacking Black Star in the back of the head.

"Wha- Uh... What's with the change of fashion Dani?" Jake asked still baffled by the fact that she wasn't wearing her usual attire.

"Oh great... another new kid..." Messor said strolling past with Ryder by his side. Dani kept blushing everytime somebody didn't realize it was her.

"Well, Patty bought it for me and I thought... Well... I thought that I couldn't just leave it laying around." Dani answered.

'That's what was missing this morning!' Jake thought. Luna and Clarabella joined the group only to be as confused as everyone else.

"Hey, are you new?" Clarabella asked.

"Are these guys bothering you? Because I could take care of them." Luna cracked her knuckles. When Dani spoke both of their eyes widened.

"Um... it's me." she said.

"WOW! I couldn't even tell without your bulky coat!"

The comments continued for a while longer before everyone had to head to class. During Stein's lesson Maka also noticed Dani's new appearance.

"You look really great Dani. Are you dressing up for someone in particular?" Maka asked poking at her.

"No. I mean, kinda I guess..." she looked at Jake as if she wanted him to save her from Maka's questioning.

"Hey Maka... How come you never dress nice?" Jake asked to distract her.

"What! I dress nicely sometimes! It's usually just for special occasions and stuff..." she said putting her fingers together. Dani sighed and the rest of the class Maka was silent. On the way out of the DWMA Ryder grabbed Jake and Dani by the backs of their necks and pulled them aside. Messor was leaning against the wall crossing his arms as though he had been waiting for them a while.

"What do you want Messor?" Jake said sounding annoyed.

"We never finished..." he told Jake.

"Never finished what?" Dani asked, her tone was one of confusion.

"Our fight... We never finished it..." his voice was almost cruel.

"Yeah, we didn't get to properly kick your asses and it's been bothering us." Ryder joined in.

"You can't be serious!" Jake shouted.

"We'd better make this quick... we have places to be..." Messor said tilting his head towards Ryder. He transformed and that was when Jake knew he wasn't kidding.

"Dani, now..." Jake said quickly.

"But, I'm in my new-" she tried to tell him something but he ignored it.

"NOW!" he shouted. Dani grabbed his hand and changed. Jake ran towards the woods nearby. Messor caught up to him instantly without breaking a sweat.

"I told you last time... there's no point run-" he began

"I wasn't running. I was taking you away from the school." Jake interrupted him. Messor appeared to vanish and quickly appeared next to Jake. He managed to block the blow from Ryder but wasn't successful in stopping Messor from elbowing him in the back of the neck. Jake fell to the ground and rolled over to see Messor swinging Ryder down at him. He raised Dani and deflected the blow. When the two of them collided Dani yelped.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked her worried.

"Yeah... that just hurt... Jake beat the crap out of him!" Dani replied with confidence.

"Okay..." he said getting to his feet. "Let's do this!"

He charged Messor and ducked right before he was able to hit him with Ryder. Jake brought a fist up fast but Messor was faster and grabbed it. He quickly swept at Messor's legs but he jumped right before his blow connected.

"Pick up the pace..." he said punching Jake in the face. He flew backwards and would've hit a tree if it hadn't been for Dani changing back and catching him.

"Jake he's way too strong. What are we going to do?" she was practically trembling. While she was busy tending to Jake, Messor made his way up behind her and grabbing her by nape of her dress.

"This looks pretty... but pretty won't help you survive." Messor told her tearing the dress. Jake felt a suddent burst of power and rushed to his feet headbutting Messor. They both stood for a moment trying to fully grasp what had happened. Messor finally spoke.

"...I'm going to kill you now..."

He gripped Jake by the neck and lifted him off the ground. Jake tried to get free but when he saw Messor's eyes he stopped his struggle. They had become pitch black, like someone had turned off the light that kept them shining a constant white. Messor slammed Ryder down planting his handle in the ground, he then began to pound Jake furiously into a nearby tree. He let go of his neck and started punching him rapidly in the stomach then delivered a heavy blow directly to his chin knocking him to the ground.

"YEAH! YEAH! YEAH! DO IT MESSOR!" Ryder was shouting violently.

Messor stood over Jake then sat on top of him and started pounding him into the ground. Every hit made the ground shake until leaves started to fall from nearby trees. Dani tried to pull him from Jake but was struck in the face and fell backwards, watching in terror. Messor continued his brutal attack for another minute before Death himself appeared and gripped him by the head.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!" Lord Death said in a terrifying voice. Messor swung at him but he quickly grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back.

"He... he was going to kill him!" Dani shouted.

"YOU DAMN SNITCH!" Ryder yelled at her. Death reached out with his free hand and grabbed Ryder.

"The two of you are coming with me!" he said before vanishing as quickly as he had appeared. Dani rushed to Jake who was lying bloody on the ground. She almost started to cry when he didn't move but stopped when she heard him cough.

"Is he... is he done yet...?" Jake's voice was weak.

"Don't talk we have to get you to the nurse..." Dani pleaded him.

"... Are you okay...?"

"I'm fine but-"

"Good..." Jake said before she could finish then he closed his eyes. He was in the infirmary until almost midnight when Nygas told Dani that he should be able to go home. Dani helped him all the way and led him to his bed. She laid him down then snuggled in next to him.

"Are you sure you're okay Jake?"

"Yeah... I'm fine..." he lied, still feeling sore from his horrible beating earlier. He fell asleep without saying anything else. When he woke up the next morning Dani was in the kitchen cooking breakfast. She was wearing her usual outfit again and said nothing as she slid his food in front of him.

CHAPTER 12- FIN