QuantamTheory- Thank you kindly!
EikaTsukiyomi- Little Kid is pretty cute ^^
Momolovesanime- You should definitely start your idea again! Thank you for the compliment!
general zargon- ^^" Sorry about that, I think I went back and fixed it but, if not I'm in the process of slowly updating the story so I'm sure I'll get to it.
Here's the second to last chapter, without further ado!
"Two Star meisters, set a perimeter around Gallows Manor. One of you, find my son and bring him back to the academy. I do not want him in the crossfire. One Star meisters, do not engage her. We do not yet know how far gone she is. Patrol the city; make sure anyone who is outside is escorted back to their home." He barked out the orders.
Stricken faces stared up at him. Some of the meisters were even crying. Spirit, who had tears running down his face as well, looked like he had swallowed something vile. Death felt a lump in his throat and swallowed around it painfully.
He could feel her madness wavelengths bouncing off his soul. It was sickening. "I know this is a difficult thing to ask of you all but know I do not ask this lightly. We all love Ophelia but this must be done. I have put this off for as long as I could. No more."
A girl wiped her eyes almost angrily. Several others mimed her. With a deep breath, Death ordered, "Go! Stop Ophelia before she harms any human!"
They all ran off, leaving him to stand with Spirit. His death scythe stared up at him concernedly. "Sir…are you sure you'll be able to do this?"
Would he be able to? Death couldn't afford to second guess himself when his kin and city were in danger. "I must, Death Scythe."
Spirit nodded once and transformed. Death caught his partner by the staff and rested him against his shoulder. His jets emerged from his cloak and he took flight.
The city was ominously quiet, as though its residents knew of the danger lurking about. He did not see nor sense a single soul outside other than his students'. The desert night was cool and pleasant, bright stars dotting the blanket of black in the sky. He heard a coyote howl in the distance. With a single screech, the peacefulness of the night was shattered.
One of the Two Star meisters, Sid, flared his soul in warning to the other meisters and Death. His Shinigami Jets blasted full force as he sped off toward Gallows Manor. The closer he got, the louder the screeching and hissing grew.
A few minutes later, Death landed on the Manor's grounds. The moment his feet touched the ground he sprinted toward Sid's position. He found the young man blocking and dodging swipes from a cat-like creature. The creature's body was humanoid, lean muscles covered by smooth peach colored skin. The nails on its hands were long and sharp, meant for slicing through bodies like butter. The back legs were hock-jointed like a horse's, giving the creature speed and agility. At his approach, the evil human paused in its attacks and turned to face him. His stomach lurched.
Her face was barely recognizable. What was once soft was hardened in a mask of cold fury. Blue eyes had been replaced with gleaming amber eyes that reflected in the darkness. She bared her teeth at him, revealing shark sharp teeth. Sid fell back, gripping his weapon partner, Nygus, tightly in his hand.
"Hun…gry…" She choked out in a thick, guttural voice.
Death's grip on Spirit tightened. Any doubt he had about killing her flew out the window. He had been frightened that she would still look like Ophelia but this monster was not her. He pressed his mouth into a grim line.
"You aren't her; good. This will make it much easier for me. Kishin egg, your soul is mine." The words didn't hurt any less.
The evil human's eyes narrowed with rage and charged him, claws extended. He met the blow with Spirit's blade, the shock of the collision racing through his arm to rattle his brain. She withdrew her claws and jumped, aiming a high kick at his head. He blinked and did not see the kick coming until her back claws clipped his mask. Death's head twisted from the force of the blow and he staggered. His jets emerged and he flew off to the side to avoid her next attack.
"Good, keep proving to me you aren't my Ophelia. It'll make it easier to kill you!" He roared, twirling Spirit between his fingers.
Her eyes narrowed and she surged toward him. Spirit cautioned, "Lord Death…"
"I know. It's the oldest trick in the book." Ophelia feigned right and went for his left at the last second. She looked shocked when he blocked her.
"Shame on you, Ophelia. As if I would fall for something like that. Reaper Chop!" He brought his open hand crashing down onto her skull. She yowled with pain and leaped back from him.
He felt Stein's wavelength as well as Kid's fall back. A relieved laugh escaped him and Spirit's reflection smiled slightly. "Thank goodness Kid is still okay. But, is it a good idea for Stein to have him?"
"He'll control himself." Death promised. "Death Scythe, I can't let this go on any longer than necessary. It's killing me the longer I stare at her and see what I've forced her to become. Let's finish this now."
Spirit's smile fell and he nodded somberly. In unison, the two yelled, "Let's go, Soul Resonance!"
Death felt his wavelengths level and match Spirit's. They connected and began to expand. Spirit's blade began to glow sky blue and purple, and with a crack, transformed into a much larger blade. The glow did not dissipate, the polychromatic colors forming a distorted shape of Death's mask. He felt the subtle change in weight in his partner's weapon form and adjusted his grip to accommodate it.
The evil human raced toward him, her claws extended. He spun the blade over his head and brought it downward before rushing her. The blade sliced through her body as easily as smoke. Her body shuddered, amber eyes wide with bewilderment, as her torso separated from her lower body. A moment later, nothing but the inflamed kishin egg was left.
Kishin-Hunt-Slash shattered and Death released Spirit's staff. The death scythe turned back into a human, landing with his hands in his pockets. Tears were flowing freely down his face as he scooped Ophelia's soul into his hands.
"I'm so sorry, my love." He murmured, cradling the kishin egg as gently as he could.
Death Scythe was crying as well, though he did his best to hide it. "I'm sorry, Lord Death, for your loss."
He wordlessly nodded and took off for the DWMA. His students trailed after him, the mood quiet and melancholy. He could hear a few of the students weeping as their partners attempted to comfort them.
When they arrived at the school, Stein was sitting by the mirror that led to the Death Room. Beside him was Kid, whose face was tear streaked. Seeing the Shinigami approach him, Stein got to his feet, his face solemn. Kid scrambled to his feet as well and gaped at his father, awe written on his face. Then, he spied the soul and his face crumpled.
"Mama? Mama gone." He sobbed and toddled over to Death. He remained still as the child gripped the bottom of his robe and rubbed his face in the silky fabric. He didn't mind as tears and snot covered the robe.
Death bent down and picked up Kid in his other hand, letting his son wrap his arms around his neck and cry there. He glanced at his meisters and their weapon partners. He cleared his throat.
"Thank you for helping me correct a mistake of mine. School will be cancelled tomorrow; reflect amongst yourselves and counselling services will be provided for those who need it. Good night." He turned away from them and entered the Death Room.
He walked slowly between the guillotines that lined the long hall leading to where his mirror lay. Kid's sobs had died down to hiccups as he stared mournfully at the kishin egg in his father's other hand. Part of Death was impressed by Kid's perception and idly thought he would make a fine Shinigami.
"What now?" Kid asked softly, his large gold eyes staring up at his father's mask.
"We're going to lay Mama to rest." He said, walking off the path toward a clearing where there were numerous crosses.
Setting Kid down, Death unearthed one of the crosses and dropped Ophelia's soul in the hole. "Say bye-bye to Mama, Kiddo."
Sniffling, Kid waved morosely. "Bye-bye, Mama. Love you."
Death murmured his own goodbye and carefully put the cross back in place. He scooped Kid back up and hugged his only family leg tight to his body. Together, the two wept at the loss of their Ophelia.