I do not own soul eater...

Chapter 23

Another talk with Spirit:

Miley's confused Memories?

The one word to describe the death room was an uproar. The Lord of Death even seemed rather surprised at what Stein had said. "Are you sure Stein? What would be the point though."

"They want to use her to get a particular goal." He said offhand he really needed a cigarette but his pack was low and it was clear it wouldn't be getting out of there anytime soon.

"Which is what?" Azusa asked. He hoped no one would but now that he had no choice but to elaborate.

"I believe it is to kill me..." The room exploded again. He was trying to avoid going into full detail, he really needed a cigarette, he really needed to get out of there.

Stein stared out at the sunset. He often wondered why he came to this spot, other then it a good place to think or brood. He knew he was worried but of course he would never say out loud. He really could not believe that Diana really was a witch.

"Marie told me you would be out here." Spirit's voice pulled Stein back from his thoughts.

"I haven't really changed, this just good place to think." Stein said off hand.

"From what I heard, Miley agrees with you."

Stein turned back to the setting sun. "This place seems so insignificant, but to Miley it could be call the center of her world."

"What is that suppose to mean?" Spirit asked while leaning against the wall next to him.

Stein rested his head on his arms. "Do you remember Sara?" He asked.

"Other then she used to follow you around like a lost puppy dog before she met Charles. Not much really."

"Yes, she thought she owed me for stopping her from jumping that day." Stein said absent mildly."

"Wait!" Spirit looked over to his former partner. "She was going to jump!" He stuttered. "Why?"

"When I stopped her I didn't know. I just grabbed a hold of her before she stepped off the wall." He said. He had never told anyone this, not even Marie. "I told her if it was academy life to just quit. I found out a few weeks later that it was her partner, he used to beat on her a lot. She told me she would pay me back someday."

"I guess, that never happened." Spirit said off hand.

"No she did." Stein said while lighting a new cigarette.

"Really, how?" Spirit asked. Not really understanding what his friend was talking about.

"I saved Sara, and Miley saved me."

"You're being vague as always Stein."

"If I had not stop Sara from jumping that day, Miley would not have been born, Medusa would have killed me that day." He said.

"Oh. I get it!" Spirit said. "But does Miley know about that?"

"No, but she is always here. She rarely goes straight home after school. Here is really, I guess I don't want to say connected, but I'm not sure what you call it."

"I understand, what you mean though. But why here of all places?"

"Like I said she never went home after school. Especially before when she met Mason. I hate to say it she reminded me so much of myself, she was just blankly staring out into the setting sun like it was going to have all of the answers. She was so alone, like I had been. I know what she needed, so I gave it to her."

"What does she need?" Spirit who considered this a break though for Stein wanted to keep him talking.

"Just someone to talk to. It just rather snowballed from there like the rest of my life since I started teaching." He said with a laugh.

"What are you talking about?"

"At first I wasn't suppose to be permanent, it was just till Sid got used to his new body. But after a month I know I couldn't leave."

Miley just wanted to leave but she didn't know which way to go. She kept looking back and forth then left to right. She couldn't tell which way was forward and which was back. She just stood there alone and shaking, she didn't understand what was happening. She slowly sat down on the ground. She wished there was someone to she could go to. "He doesn't care about you, you have to know that right." Came the voice of Diana from behind her. "That freak isn't capable of it."

Miley wasn't sure who the women was talking about, but she knew that she was wrong. "Take that back." She demanded. "You don't even know him! How can you possibly say that!" She felt tears in her eyes. Diana came over and wiped the tears away. This felt so wrong to her. Diana had never acted this away before. "He was the only one who really cared."

"Oh honey you are so confused. I'm sorry, I had to leave but I needed for my job. Don't you remember anything at all?" Miley wasn't sure what Diana was talking about.

The field changed to an apartment that Miley had not seen in four years. It was late and she had just come home from somewhere. She just stared at Diana who came out of the kitchen."Where have you been, Miley. You are an hour late young lady." Diana scolded. Miley found this odd, she had never lectured her before. Diana never cared what Miley did. "You march right into your room and don't dare you leave till I call you for dinner."

This didn't feel right was she dreaming? Maybe but she hadn't ever dreamed like this before. When she made it to her room. She wondered what he was doing. Who was he again?

Stein took another puff. He really didn't like this. He and Spirit were still watching the sun set. He was...he was really worried. Marie must be a wreck, he hadn't really seen her. He didn't want her to notice his slipping mood. He didn't want her to seem him like this.

"I need you to be honest with me." Spirit said.

"When am I not Spirit." He pointed out.

"If it comes down between you and Miley, whose is coming away?" Spirit asked taking a side glace at his closest friend.

"Alright, you really want to know?" Stein asked. "Do you think I would be able to..."

"But Stein."

"I couldn't force Marie, I wouldn't be..." Stein said. "Would you be able to if it was Maka? If you knew she wasn't in control."

"But you let her live to hurt more people?" Spirit pointed out.

"No, Spirit the goal is to get rid of me. Then they will take care of Miley. Diana knows that she's the best way to get to me. Even if came down to that, that I wouldn't be able... that's shes..." He sighed not really sure if he should say it.

"That is your daughter and that you love her." Spirit added. It was odd to hear someone outside of them to show that they knew about the strange inner workings of their "family". "Stein, she loves you,if she finds out that she killed you, she would never forgive herself."

"She wouldn't have to, she'd be dead Spirit, don't you understand?" Stein said in his bored voice this was why he didn't like talking to Spirit sometimes. He didn't want to have to spell it out for him. "She's been brainwashed, she thinks that we are enemy. When she finishes her mission they will kill her."

"You shouldn't talk like that!" Came Marie's heartbroken voice from behind them. "We are going to bring her home!" She said with tears in her eyes. Stein walked over and placed his hands on her shoulders. He needed to clam her down.

"Marie, calm down. We don't even know where to start looking." Stein said gently.

"You idoit! The same away we found her last time!" She hiccuped. She wrapped her arms around his chest. He couldn't believe that he had forgotten about the necklace. It was because it has belonged to her mother, the only real connection to her parents, she would never take it off. He lifted Marie's eyes to his, and gave her a soft smile. "We're going to get her back."

Miley was once again in the field, she was still lost and very confused. The wind had picked up and send ripples though the grass. Miley noticed the dark storm clouds rolling across the sky. She knew what those storm clouds meant. She needed to get of there before the storm began. She looked behind her and head of her, not sure which was actually which.

She was very confused, so many memories but they all seemed wrong, almost altered. Diana didn't care, that's what Miley thought, she knew. Maybe she was wrong about him... who was he again? She knew that their relationship was complicated... but who was he... "Mason I need you!" She cried as feel back the grass. Her head hurt and she was dizzy.

"All you have to do is ask Miles, you know that." Mason's voice rang though out the field. She threw her arms around him. "I'm so confused, I don't know what to do."

"You just need to head back Miles. You know that way. We're waiting for you." The ground shook under her feet. Mason faded and she fell back to the ground.

"Come back, I don't know which way to go," She screamed. "I don't want me alone." She was shaking from head to foot. She was so scared and so alone. What would happen now? If she stood up and looked around.

"You don't have to, you really think I'm going to stay here."

Miley wasn't sure who had said that to her. She knew when and where but not the who? She pulled her knees to her chest. She wasn't sure what to do now. She didn't have Mason, she had no one. "Which way do I go!"

Stein watch Azusa type away. "She's located in South Nubia," Her glasses where covered by the glow the computer. "After doing some research I discovered, that was where Miley's old guardian moved after Miley started the academy."

"You sure have been busy." Stein teased. "Thank you."

"Well with you and Marie, playing the grieving parents, someone has to do something around here." Azusa turned around to look at him. "Bring her home, for Marie's sake." He raised his eye brows at her. "Also try not to go over broad." After that he left the room.

Miley stood up and wiped the tears away. She needed to just pick a way and just go. She looked down the hill and she decided that would be a good direction as any. She took off at a run hoping that she was going the right away. She felt something crash over her. w

She was lying on a bed. She was sleeping very uneasily. It was strange watching herself sleep. She knew the room very but not well at the same time. Suddenly there was a loud boom and a bright flash of light. Her dream self sat bolt up right and her conscience self flinch. Another blast of thunder and both Miley's whimpered at the sound. She should know this room, why couldn't she remember. She felt safe but it was driving her crazy.

After another loud clap and it sent the dream Miley out into the hallway. The conscience Miley follow herself out into hallway. She realization on where she was... why was she there... who lived here again? Why couldn't she remember? The dream Miley reached the door at the other end of the hallway when the door opened. "Miley?" The voice was calm and gentle. She knew that voice but who was it, why couldn't she remember? She would have to wait for him to appear...

Suddenly everything turned white and she was back sitting in the grass. She looked up the clouds they where getting darker, she needed to get out before the storm started. She also wanted to find out who he was. She stood up and headed back down the hill again. She knew if she saw his face she would remember who he was.

"Franken, will you be able to fight her?" Marie asked.

"Fight her yes, but the aim is incapacitate her. We're bringing her home." Stein smiled at her.

"And we are not leaving without." She said strongly. "Right?" She added timidly.

"Of course." Stein decided that it would better not to point if they didn't bring Miley back with them, it was likely they would be brought back in body bags. Fight her was going to difficult as it was, but killing her was just out of the question. Miley was still Miley, not matter what happens.

Miley didn't feel like herself. It bothered her that she couldn't see the man in her memories, and that she couldn't remember his name. She wondered why he had been eased if he was so important to her. Why would she forget him?

"Stein, you go head we'll hold them off." Sid called. A fight broken out at the gate of the large house. He nodded toward the zombie in thanks. He and Marie made quick of the few guarding the door. Stein kicked open the door to a beautiful main hall. Dead center of the room was a large marble stair case. He looked from side to side.

"Do you feel her?" Marie asked.

"Faintly but it's most likely the distance. You ready, this isn't going to be easy."

"It's harder not knowing where she is and if she is safe or not." Marie said. Stein could tell that Marie's maternal instinct were in full force. He was thankful that he was the meister. Marie would have ran head long into fight. Stein felt something and turned to face the marble stair case. Standing at the top of the stairs was Miley, still dressed in the light blue and black plaid skirt. Her white button up shirt was dirty, and not tucked in. Her eyes where blank, she slowly turned and headed away down the hall. "Miley!"

He quickly ran up the stairs and followed her down the hallway. He saw that she left the door ajar. He slowly entered the room and almost got Mason smacked against his skull for his trouble. He held up Marie to block, this wasn't going to be easy. He needed to reach her, but how he was going to go about it he wasn't sure. He blocked again, if he didn't reach before something she killed them, he wasn't sure what would happen...and he didn't want to find out.

"Come now, Miley. I taught you better that Miley." He said smiply. The only response from the small Meister was to jab with her staff, it barely missed his ribs. He dogded several more attacks but he couldn't keep up this game of cat and mouse. He knew that one quick shock with soul force and the fight would be over, but it wasn't sure of the condition of Miley's soul and he didn't want to damage it if he didn't have to. "You should really watch your stance." He noticed that her footing was uneven, if she wasn't careful she could fall. "You don't want to follow over."

"Franken, this isn't an after school lesson." Marie pointed out.

"True be I can't help myself, I'm not used to fighting Miley with full force like this." He responded while ducking under one of Miley's swings. He got behind her and swung with his free arm. She rolled under the blow, Stein felt a smile spread across his face. He now could test Miley all of the way. It was a wonderful time to really test her skills, she would never go full out against him, like he would never go full out against her.

Best move Stein see Miley pull would be the time she slammed Mason straight down and then spinning around him, allowing her to land a strong kick to Stein's back. He was still feeling that ache even now. Stein wondered why Miley hadn't tried resonance yet, he wished she would it end this battle much quicker.

Miley ran down the field again, she still wasn't sure if this was even the right way... then she quickly tried to turn in the wet grass, but fell. She hardly seemed notice as she headed forward. She now knew where she new where to go. To her surprise everything turned white again.

Stein didn't want to use Soul Force if he didn't have to, but this needed to end. He needed to keep Miley at a safe distance while Mason was still in her hands. He knew that he needed to get Mason away from his meister. He saw Miley getting ready for another one of her blows. He couldn't take a blow from her, one swing from Miley could break a rib, or all of them. Suddenly he felt something tighten around his middle. He heard wood it marble and the sound of something rolling on the ground. Over the sound Mason he almost Miley's whisper of. "Daddy,"

Well that's another chapter for anyone who is still reading this series. Strange huh? Let me know what you think!