Story No. : 02-SOE-005

Name : Under Fire

Rating : T

Pairing : Soul x Maka

Genre : Action / Hurt-Comfort / Romance

Warning : Violence, Fluff, Character Death, Blood and Gore

Description : Maka and her group get assigned a mission to take down several Kishin eggs that have been sighted just outside of Death City. But, an old enemy crashes their party.


x-X-Beginning of Story-X-x

Soul woke up to the sound of his beat-up alarm clock going off. He punched it hard, sending it flying around the room.

'Man that was a good dream…' Soul thought, still not opening his eyes. He had just dreamed of him and Maka catching a lot of Kishin eggs and some witch souls. Soul couldn't wait to try one of those true witch souls, not Blair's cat soul.

…Speaking of Blair, when Soul opened his eyes, he saw Blair sitting on his stomach. Soul nearly screamed in shock. "B-Blair! Get off me or Maka'll kill us both!" Soul whispered.

"But it'll be worth it." She said seductively, leaning forward and pressed her over-sized breasts into Soul's face.

xX-Meanwhile-Xx

Maka woke up from her sleep feeling very refreshed. She quickly got out of bed, being sure to tidy it up before grabbing a towel and heading for the shower.

After the shower, Maka got dressed into her usual school outfit and her mother's black trench coat. She walked over to the kitchen and started cooking breakfast. Today was going to be bacon, eggs and toast, which was their normal breakfast.

Soon after preparing breakfast, Maka knocked on the door to Soul's room.

'The idiot is probably oversleeping again…' Maka thought. She opened the door, and was granted with an unpleasant sight.

Soul was lying on the bed, mouth wide open and nose bleeding, with Blair… being Blair. "Oh, good morning Maka." Blair said.

Maka was furious.

"M-Maka! It's not what it looks like!" Soul said desperately, as Maka reached for her trusty hard-covered book. She gripped it tighter, and Soul turned pale.

"You jerk! MAKA-CHOP!" Maka yelled, bringing her book to meet Soul's head. He was left unconscious on the bed, with a spellbound Blair and a very angry Maka looking down at them.

xXxXx

Soul drove Maka to school as usual, but they exchanged no words at all. Soul was still angry at Maka for Maka-chopping him, and Maka was still furious for seeing Soul with Blair stuffing her breasts into his face. (A/N: Please don't think I'm a pervert…)

'Geez, I wonder what Maka is so angry about.' Soul thought. 'It's not like Blair and I are a couple after all. She just loves to tease me. I just don't know why… Maka KNOWS that I'm her weapon, and that I'd do anything for her.'

'That jerk!' Maka thought angrily. 'Why does he have to go and do that in front of me?! Why can't he realize that I hate seeing him and Blair in that position?! Why doesn't he know that I love him?'

They arrived at the academy in only ten minutes, and were greeted by a very familiar sight.

"WELCOME, MY SERVANTS!" Black Star yelled. "NOW, BOW DOWN TO YOUR GOD!" Tsubaki was sweat-dropping beside him, trying to calm down her over-enthusiastic meister.

"Hey, Black Star." Soul said, as he high-fived Black Star. Maka and Tsubaki shared a friendly handshake.

"So, what's new today?" Tsubaki asked Maka, but being sure to keep it down to a whisper so that Soul and Black Star wouldn't hear.

"I caught the jerk playing with Blair this morning!" Maka whispered. "And it's like he doesn't even care about me…" Tsubaki sighed. She knew that Maka was in love with Soul, no matter how much he annoyed her. And Tsubaki knew that Soul liked Maka, and would do anything for her. But, she chose not to reveal their feelings to either of them.

"Don't worry. I'm sure it was a misunderstanding." Tsubaki said brightly.

"Yeah, maybe…" Maka said.

"WELL, WHAT ARE MY SERVANTS WAITING FOR? LET'S GET TO CLASS!" Black Star yelled, and all three of them knew better than to try and dispute that. Black Star may be loud and obnoxious, but he was scary when angered.

"What about Kid?" Tsubaki asked while walking.

"He'll probably show up later, because he's probably making his house all good and symmetrical." Soul answered, and Maka couldn't help but nod.

"I'll vote for nine o'clock." Soul said.

"I'll vote for eight o'clock." Maka said.

"Umm, I think I'll pass…" Tsubaki said, because she didn't want to guess when the young reaper would show up. She knew Soul stood a good chance for winning the bet. However, Maka knew that Kid just loved the number eight. So, both of them stood a decent chance.

xXxXx

Kid arrived at eight o'clock with Liz and Patti in tow, just like Maka said.

"I win." Maka said smugly to an annoyed Soul.

"You win what?" Liz asked Maka.

"Oh, Soul and I made a bet about what time you guys would arrive." Maka explained. "And I won." Liz sighed, Kid wasn't really happy, and Patti started laughing.

"What time did Soul say I would arrive?" Kid asked, dreading what the answer would be.

"Nine o'clock." Maka answered. Kid started freaking out. Liz just sighed and started a conversation with Maka. Patti was still laughing on the sidelines, and Soul just looked very annoyed.

"Meister's Maka, Black Star, and Kid, report to the Death Room." Lord Death said over the school-wide intercom. Kid stopped freaking out when he heard the announcement. All five of them walked to the Death Room, since Lord Death probably meant that their weapons should go as well.

xXxXx

"So, you understand the mission?" Lord Death asked.

"We're to defeat a force of amassing Kishin eggs before they threaten to overwhelm the local village." Maka repeated.

"Don't worry, Lord Death! I CAN TAKE CARE OF THESE GUYS IN MY SLEEP!" Black Star shouted, much to Maka's annoyance, and Tsubaki's discomfort. Everyone left the Death Room soon after the briefing.

"Well, what's the plan, Maka?" Kid asked.

"Well, I suppose we could split up and deal with the kishin more effectively." Maka suggested, and everyone nodded. Soon, they exited Death City and made for the village where the band of Kishin had been sighted.

xXxXx

"Soul, keep quiet!" Maka whispered as the two of them spied on three kishin who were lurking nearby. "If they catch us, then we'll lose the element of surprise, and I'd prefer to end this battle without unnecessary bloodshed."

"Geez, sorry." Soul said, while Maka had half a mind to Maka-chop his brains out. But, Soul was her weapon and she needed him. Maka raised three fingers. Two… One…

Begin!

Soul transformed into a demon scythe, while Maka caught him with expert hands and prepared to lunge. The kishin still weren't aware of her presence, which is how Maka liked it. She wasn't a dark assassin, but she didn't like to fight with little chance of winning. Maka snuck behind the three of them, and prepared to charge.

She defeated all three kishin before either of them knew what was going on.

They transformed into ribbons of black energy, which eventually settled into small red kishin eggs. Soul transformed back into human form, and quickly ate the three souls.

"That was filling." Soul said, rubbing his stomach lightly.

"Now that you've had a last meal, it's time for you to die." A very familiar voice whispered, and Soul and Maka quickly turned around, to be met with a very shocking and unpleasant surprise.

xX-Meanwhile-Xx

"YAHOO!" Black Star yelled, running towards the kishin holding Tsubaki in Ninja Sword mode. The three kishin turned to face Black Star, but by then, Black Star had already killed all of them. Where they stood now hovered 3 kishin souls, which Black Star ignored at first, but eventually allowed his weapon partner to eat. Soon after Tsubaki had consumed the two souls, Black Star began jumping around again, hoping to find some more kishin to kill.

He got his wish.

About fifty or more Arachnophobia members appeared out of nowhere and charged Black Star.

"Bring it on, MORTALS!" Black Star yelled, and charged the kishin. (A/N: Arachnophobia members ARE kishin, right? Whatever, it's not important…)

Tsubaki transformed into the enchanted sword, while Black Star charged the kishin, jabbing and slicing at any he could reach. Several kishin started shooting him with handguns, but Black Star dodged all of them. Black Star counterattacked with his shadow, and quickly disposed of most of the kishin. Those that were left were not so eager to attack. Instead, they ran away in the opposite direction.

"COWARDS!" Black Star yelled after them.

"Black Star, let them go. We've completed our mission, and everyone else is probably waiting for us." Tsubaki said, looking rather longingly at the forty-five kishin souls that were floating, just waiting to be eated.

"Go ahead and eat them, if that's what you want." Black Star said in a totally un-Black Star-ish way. Tsubaki nodded happily, transforming back into human form. She started eating the souls, glancing at Black Star to ask why he was letting her do this.

"I'm doing this so that you can become a death scythe, the weapon of a GOD!" Black Star yelled. Tsubaki nodded knowingly, and resumed with consuming the kishin souls. She had already eaten ten or eleven before at least a hundred or more Arachnophobia troops appeared and attacked them.

"There's too many! We need to fall back!" Tsubaki said.

"A GOD NEVER RUNS!" Black Star shouted.

"They do when the fight they're about to fight is hopeless!" Tsubaki yelled, grabbing Black Star's hand. Ignoring Black Star's protests, Tsubaki dragged him back towards Death City, where there were hundreds of meisters and weapons just waiting to back them up.

xX-Meanwhile-Xx

Kid, Liz, and Patti lay in wait for their band of kishin to come to them. Both Liz and Patti were in handgun form, while kid lay in wait for the kishin. Liz wasn't saying much, while Patti was her usual young, noisy, and care-free self.

"Ready?" Kid asked his weapons.

"I've been ready for ten minutes…" Liz muttered.

"Yup!" Patti said enthusiastically.

"NOW!" Kid yelled, jumping out his hiding spot and firing his guns as fast as he could. Kid's attacks rained down on the four kishin with such speed that they were caught off-guard. The first kishin was defeated instantly, while the second and third charged Kid. He slipped behind them easily, pointed his guns at their heads, and pulled the triggers. The fourth one closed in on him, hoping to easily kill him off now that he was distracted. But, Kid easily dodged its attack, and quickly killed the kishin. Four kishin eggs hovered, two each for Liz and Patti.

"Now, let's go find the others." Kid said, and Liz and Patti agreed. All three of them (Actually one, since Liz and Patti were still in weapon form) walked off, hoping to come across Black Star and/or Maka.

xX-Meanwhile-Xx

Soul and Maka stared at their new enemy in complete shock and total horror.

It couldn't be…

Not after so long…

Their opponent was the one and only…

…Giriko.

"So, you two losers again, eh?" Giriko asked, amused at Soul and Maka's reactions to finding out that he wasn't dead. "I'll grind you two into paste!" Giriko charged, and Soul transformed into a scythe fast enough to prevent Maka from being hit by Giriko's chainsaw leg. However, both Soul and Maka were blasted backwards, and Maka rebounded, ready to fight this foul-mouthed sucker.

"You should know that I was the one that killed the kishin." Maka said. "So if I were you, I'd run away while I could." Giriko laughed.

"Taunting doesn't suit you, bitch." Giriko replied, charging again to cut them into pieces. Maka guarded with Soul and landed a kick on Giriko's face. He didn't seem affected, and sliced at Maka. Maka guarded again, but Giriko increased his chainsaw level to level 3, which badly wounded Soul. Both Soul and Maka were thrown backwards, and landed on the hard rocky terrain. Soul transformed back into human form, and didn't get up. Maka got to her feet, and bent down to examine Soul.

"Soul, you alright?" Maka asked.

"Yeah…" Soul murmured, his voice clearly indicating the pain he was in. Blood was staining his clothes, but the only part of him injured was his left arm. He'd soon be okay.

But Maka wouldn't…

"DIE, YOU WORTHLESS PIECES OF SHIT!" Giriko screamed, and lunged at Soul. He knew that Maka would just dodge his attack. But, if he attacked the albino, then he could end the battle quickly. Giriko activated the chainsaws in his right leg, ready to get rid of the young weapon once and for all.

Maka had a choice. She could stay right where she was and not die, but Soul would. Or…

…She could take the attack for him. It would be suicide, but at least Soul would still be alive. Maka made her choice in a split second. She charged in between Giriko and Soul, faced her opponent, and spread her arms wide, ready to accept Giriko's attack. Maka closed her eyes, and waited for the chainsaws to hit.

And she wasn't disappointed.

Giriko's chainsaw leg ripped right through Maka's flesh, never mind her clothes or her skin. She felt the jagged edges rip through her muscles, expelling enough blood to keep someone alive indefinitely. The force of the attack sent her catapulting over her fallen weapon. Her eyes never opened, and much to her surprise, the chainsaws didn't hurt as much as she thought they would. The only part that hurt was landing. A large trail of blood and flesh showed Maka's brief and violent flight through the air.

"MAKA!" Soul yelled, somehow miraculously recovering from the cut in his shoulder instantly. He rushed to Maka's side, and lifted her head off the sandy terrain and supported it with his warm hands. Maka coughed out a mouthful of blood, and opened her eyes. Her emerald green orbs met Soul's ruby red eyes. Maka smiled, but winced in pain.

"H-Hey." Maka forced out, and another mouthful of crimson liquid followed.

"Don't talk, Maka." Soul said simply, and rested Maka's head onto his knee. He took off his black jacket and used it to cover the long gash in Maka's body. It reached from her right thigh until her left shoulder, marking where Giriko at hit her.

…Speaking of Giriko.

"Decided to protect your friend, eh?" Giriko said. "Too bad it didn't do YOU any good!" Giriko started laughing like crazy, savoring the pain he had inflicted on his victim. Just then, an Arachnophobia member ran up to Giriko.

"Sir, Mr. Mosquito says that it's time to fall back." The member reported.

"WHAT? But there are still enemies around!" Giriko replied angrily.

"Mr. Mosquito says that the primary objective has been achieved, and that it's time to fall back." The member repeated. Giriko snorted, and ran after the messenger, leaving behind a dying Maka and a very panicked Soul.

"Maka…" Soul began.

"Soul, stop. I'm dying, aren't I?" Maka asked. Soul glanced quickly at Maka's bloody body, trying desperately to push the image of her guts showing and blood flowing.

"No! No, you're going to be fine…" Soul answered. But even as the words formed in his head, they sounded false and made up. They sounded untruthful. Soul himself knew what was going to happen…

Maka was nearing her death as each second passed.

"Soul, I…" Maka started to stay, but Soul cut her off with a small peck on the cheek. If Maka still had any blood left in her face, then she might have blushed harder than ever thought possible. "I love you." Soul smiled down at his meister, holding his gaze into her emerald eyes. He wanted to say something, but nothing sounded right. Maka finally broke the connection, closing her eyes. She felt her lungs lose their rhythm.

Maka took in her last breath, and immediately fell limp.

x-X-End of Story-X-x


Posting Date : Tuesday, November 6th, 2012

Word Count : 2,617 (Not counting Description and Authors Note)

A/N: I know it had a rather rushed ending, and I'm sorry for that. I just wanted to finish this quickly and I couldn't think of a better way. Anyway, please review. It doesn't matter what you have to say, as long as I can see where you think I have to improve, and where I'm already good at. I'm thinking of doing only ten or twenty of these, before moving on (I don't mean that I'll be abandoning the story, I just mean that I'll consider this second priority…)

~Omega02x~