A couple of you asked me about their entry fees. Well, it's pretty obvious that Maka's, Black Star's, and Kid's entry fees are their weapons. I will admit that those are their entry fees. but Neku's will only be revealed near the final chapter. No hints.
WARNING: Major spoilers for Soul Eater anime.
Disclaimer: I do not own TWEWY nor Soul Eater. This is completely fan-made.
Instead of waking up in the Scramble Crossing, Maka woke up and found herself back in the Black Blood Room. She was in her usual black dress in the same red chair. The demon walked into the room through the door.
"It's good to see you again." The demon put on a big, toothy smile. Maka knew better than to trust that face.
"Why am I back here?"
The demon sighed. "Why the suspicions? I can't do anything to you unless you activate your black blood, which you haven't. All I want to do is give you some advice." He always had some valuable information.
"...I'm listening."
"You know that guy, Neku Sakuraba?"
"He's my temporary partner."
"Oh, really? If that's the case, then let him become your temporary meister. You're a weapon, after all."
"A weapon? Since when-" Before Maka could finish, the demon pressed one of his fingers to her head. Scenes of the battle with the Kishin replayed. She saw the parts where blades came out of her body and she tried cutting up the Kishin. She also noticed that she was unconscious during the event.
He moved his finger away. "Your memories of being a weapon were suppressed throughout the years."
Maka couldn't believe it. She, a meister, was actually a weapon?
"So I should tell Neku...to become my meister?"
"Isn't that what I told you?"
Then Maka felt a sharp pain in her palm. "Ow!"
That was her ticket out of the Black Blood Room. She instantly woke up and found herself on the familiar pavement of the Scramble Crossing.
Let Neku become my meister? But he knows nothing about that kind of stuff.
"Hey! Maka's awake!" Black Star called out. Neku and Kid went over to her.
"About time you woke up," said Kid.
Maka got up. She checked her phone. "Get to A-East. You have 40 minutes. Fail, and face erasure."
"Is it me, or do these missions seem a little too...simple?" She turned to Neku. "Are they always like this?"
Neku shrugged. "It depends on the Game Master who assigns them. Although, it is a little weird that they've only assigned simple missions for the past few days."
Medusa and Minamimoto...how will the game turn out with them running it? Plus, there's no Conductor to regulate things.
Kid turned around and started walking. "Come on. We've already wasted 5 minutes."
"Freaking priss," Black Star growled. He ran to catch up. Maka and Neku followed suit.
"That reminds me..." Neku took out his cell phone and dialed a number. The person on the other end picked up.
"Hey, Joshua. How's it going?"
-----
"H-Hey, Neku. Everything is g-going fine h-here...heh..."
Everything was not fine. Right now, all of the Support Reapers were gathered in the Dead God's Pad. They had complaints about some freaky mice-witches replacing them. The Conductor usually did this, but Joshua had to fill in the spot until he finds somebody else.
"Okay, okay, I'll have a word with the Game Master."
"We have two!" A reaper from the bunch called out.
"Two? But I thought-"
"Is something going on? I hear people in the background." Joshua forgot that Neku was still on the line.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just-" Joshua heard a crash. He turned around and saw all of the reapers playing with the stuff in the room. They made a lot of noise.
"Could you guys quiet down? I'm on the phone-DON'T TOUCH THAT!" Another crash was heard.
"You okay? I can always come over there after the mission."
"No, really. It's fine. You have your own problems, and I have mine."
"You sure?"
"Positive." Joshua put on a weak smile.
"Okay, then. Just call me if you need any help." Neku hung up.
Joshua would definitely love help, but he knew that Neku had his hands full with the game.
"What the-" He felt some water seep into his shoes. Some stupid reaper broke the floor.
"Why me...?"
-----
Neku knew that Joshua lied. This left him very worried. Why wasn't he able to tell him?
"Who was that?"
Neku turned to Maka. "Oh, just a friend of mine. I just wanted to check up on him."
"Oh...um, if you don't mind, then can you tell me a little about them?"
Neku stared at Maka. He stayed silent.
"...Are you going to tell me or not?"
After what seemed like a while, Neku finally spoke up. "There's Rhyme. She's sweet, smart, calm, and always knows how to handle any problem. Then there's her older brother, Beat. He's really strong and tough, but a big, hot-headed idiot at the same time."
Just like Black Star...
Maka looked over to Black Star. He was explaining something about how great he was and how he'll become a god someday to Kid. The shinigami was unamused and paid no attention.
"Beat is tough and hardcore on the outside, but is actually a big softie on the inside."
Yep, definitely like Black Star.
"Then there's Joshua. He's...well...not exactly what you call 'friendly', but he's trustworthy. He's really smart and knows a lot about culture. Thing is, he's a big, snobby priss."
That reminded her a little bit about Kid. He had his prissy moments, as well.
"Anyone else?"
Neku blushed. "W-well...there's her..." He scratched the back of his head.
"Your girlfriend?"
"What?!" Neku's face became as red as a tomato. "She's not my girlfriend! She's just..." His face returned to its normal color. He smiled as he thought of her.
"...Shiki's my best friend. She's an awesome person. Thing is, she doesn't realize it and has low self-esteem. But she makes some awesome clothing."
"She's a designer?"
"Well, Shiki sews the clothes, while her friend, Eri, designs them. In fact, some worldwide designers saw them and thought the same. They liked their designs so much that they offered them a chance to join the clothing business and have them in stores worldwide."
"Really? That's great!"
"But..." Maka detected sadness in his voice. "In order for that to happen, Shiki and Eri had to leave Shibuya on a worldwide trip with them. Shiki's lifelong dream is to become a well-known fashion designer, and I didn't want to get in the way of that dream. So I had to let her go..."
Maka felt a pang of guilt. There was somebody that Neku had to meet, but may never see her again since his life was in jeopardy. It was because that Neku tried to save her and Soul that he was in the game.
"But she promised me that she'll come back someday. I trust her with all my heart. Shiki will come back someday. I just know it."
Maka felt angry with herself. Her fists got tighter. She started walking ahead at a fast pace.
She glared at the boys. "What are you waiting for? We have a mission to complete." Her voice sent shivers down their spines.
"What's with the sudden motivation?"
"Black Star. Kid." They looked at her.
"We have to win. For their sake."
"Their?" Black Star asked.
"Even a dolt like you should know! We need to fight for Tsubaki, Liz, Patty, and Soul."
"She's right," Kid added. "They were taken as our entry fees."
"And Neku." She turned to her partner.
"We can't afford to screw up. I may not know your entry fee, but I know that you need to return. After all, you have to keep your side of the promise by being there for Shiki when she gets back, right?" Maka smiled at him.
Neku smiled back. "Let's get a move on." He started running with her. Black Star and Kid followed soon after.
They finally got to A-East. The timer disappeared.
Black Star stretched. "Now that's over with, let's get some grub. I'm starving!"
"Be quiet!" Maka whispered to him. She closed her eyes and focused on the area around her.
"Do you detect something?" Kid asked.
"Yeah. Two figures. Harrier Reapers." She opened her eyes.
"I know you two are there. Come out."
Somebody clapped. "Well done. You must be the one that Medusa was talking about," said a masculine voice. "Come on, Uzuki. Let's introduce ourselves."
Two figures appeared out of the shadows. They walked over to the group of players.
"I'm Koki Kariya. This is my sidekick, Uzuki Yashiro. Although, you already know us, Phones."
Uzuki pouted. "Why do you always say that during introductions? I'm not your sidekick!"
Kariya ignored her and went over to Maka. He started examining her.
"Hmm...you don't look like anything special. Why make such a big fuss over some under-developed little girl?"
Maka's face turned a little red. She covered her chest. "I'll grow someday!"
"Don't underestimate her," Uzuki whispered to him. She turned to Maka. "I don't know why Medusa told us to keep an eye on you, but if it's her orders, then we follow them. After all, that's the only way that I can get that promotion."
Kariya sighed. "There you go again. I thought you didn't care about that promotion anymore."
"It wouldn't hurt to have one."
Neku broke in. "Why are you guys here?"
"Oh, yeah. We almost forgot. Medusa told us to leave you guys a little present." Kariya and Uzuki summoned a group of noise. This one consisted of a Neoclassical Drake, a Trance Rhino, and three Nefastravens.
"Have fun." The pair disappeared.
Neku turned to his partner. "Maka, you take care of the ravens. Black Star, Kid, and I will take care of the drake and the rhino." She nodded in agreement and went for the ravens.
Maka started by activating Tin Pin Wind. She launched a few boomerangs that hit them. However, it didn't do much. Then she used Tin Pin Devil. She focused her aim on the ravens, releasing a thunderbolt at them. This did a little more damage.
It was the ravens' turn. One of them swooped down and swiped away Tin Pin Wind. Luckily, Maka had another pin that was even more powerful.
She activated Tin Pin Blade and attacked with a spinning slash. This one did a good amount of damage. She alternated between Tin Pin Devil and Tin Pin Blade.
"You doing okay?" Neku asked as he tried to bring down the rhino.
"Yeah, I'm fi-Hey!" Maka was only distracted for a second, yet the second raven was able to take away her Tin Pin Devil.
"Give that ba-HEY!" She had no idea how it happened, but the third one took away her Tin Pin Blade. The only pin she had left was Cure Drink, which was useless at the moment.
I'm out of pins to use. What now?
Then Maka remembered what happened in the Black Blood Room.
Hidden power...weapon...my weapon blood! That's it!
Maka focused on her soul. She tried very hard to find her weapon side.
"Come on..." The ravens encircled her.
"Focus..." They closed in on her. At once, they dove for her.
Found it!
Blades came out of her body. They cut the ravens. The one who took away her Tin Pin Blade disappeared. She took the pin back.
With the power of Tin Pin Blade and her own blades combined, Maka cut apart the remaining ravens, killing them.
"Whew...that was close..." Her blades disappeared. When she turned around, the noise that the boys were fighting were gone. She also saw their awe-stricken faces.
"That...was...AWESOME!!!" Black Star exclaimed.
"Since when were you able to do that?" Kid asked her.
Maka was about to speak, but Black Star silenced her. "She can tell us later! Let's go to Ramen Don to celebrate!" He started marching off.
"That idiot...could he at least wait for me?" Kid ran to catch up to his partner.
Maka walked in their direction. Neku walked with her, matching up his pace with hers.
"So I guess that you've found your hidden power, huh?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah, I guess." They kept silent after that.
If I want Neku to become my temporary meister, then I should get close to him. But how do I do that? I just can't seem to find the right time to open up my soul to him.
-----
"Medusa-sama! I'm back!"
Medusa turned around. "Welcome back, Elka. Did you gather any new information on Maka?"
Elka nodded. "From what I've seen, other than Cure Drink, her imagination is only limited to Tin Pins."
"Anything else?"
"Oh, yes! For some reason, blades spurted out of her body when she was fighting some Nefastravens. I don't know how she was able to do that. I thought that-"
"-Only weapons could do that? Maka has been hiding her weapon blood for several years now." Medusa smiled evilly.
"And now that it's been awakened, this game will be much more fun."
-----
Hanekoma heard the doorbell ring. He opened the door, and found Joshua. He looked like a mess. Joshua walked right past Hanekoma and flopped down onto the couch.
"Ugh...are reapers always like that?"
"Well, the Support can be a bit rebellious."
"A bit? They broke my freaking floor! Oww..." Joshua massaged his throbbing head. "Sanae, get the aspirin. This headache's killing me."
Hanekoma went to the pantry and reached for the aspirin. "It's only the beginning. You'll have to deal with this for the rest of the game." He got the container and handed it to Joshua.
He popped a pill into his mouth. "How's the player count?"
"The amount of players are decreasing each day. If this erasure rate goes on, then only a few players will be left on the seventh day."
Joshua got a little worried. He hoped that Neku would be one of these few players.
"Is that so? What do you think is the cause?"
"Well, one of the Game Masters created a new snake noise. From what I've seen, whoever gets bitten has their senses messed up for a bit. This is dangerous, since that this time, the Game Masters are sending out the most powerful noise. They're powerful enough to kill anyone that isn't paying attention, even for the shortest time."
Joshua didn't reply. All he did was stare up at the ceiling.
"Josh?"
His tone was serious now. "I'll have a word with these new masters."
Reviews would be appreciated! Constructive criticism would also be nice.
