Chapter 8: Soul Possession
Ares liked to think he was in a good mental state despite what he went through. Yes, lately he found himself sometimes spacing out, but for the most part he was content. He was of use to professors, of use to younger students, and had a hot partner who was a handful but at times, it was so worth it. He shook his head at himself at the mere thought of thinking about Lyra as hot. She was a handful. A pain in the ass really. Always bossy… and loud… and demanding… and abrasive. It drove him crazy in more ways than one, but he wouldn't replace her. Knocking on the door of where he was requested, the burgundy haired weapon waited until his presence was acknowledged before entering. The first person he saw was Stein, sitting with a clip board in hand and unlit cigarette between his lips as usual. Then he saw Maka watching her son from where he sat on the floor in a meditative state and unresponsive to the rest of them.
"What's going on?" he asked, frowning slightly. They had started Soul Therapy without him. Stein looked over his shoulder casually.
"Oh good. I have some questions for you." He informed, turning nonchalantly back to his board. "You're Zeke's mentor aren't you?" Ares frowned.
"Something like that… Why're you doing Soul Therapy without me?" he asked. He had always been asked to attend all of Zeke's therapy sessions and was not only confused, but annoyed that he had not been informed of this meeting.
"We're thinking about ending Zeke's therapy sessions." Maka answered, though she didn't turn around. "But there's some things we need to ask you beforehand." Ares decided to take a seat next to the silver haired professor.
"Yeah… can he hear us?"
"No, he's supposed to be focused for the next five minutes." Stein answered easily, though Ares wasn't sure what that meant. "We think the reason there hasn't been a change in Zeke's condition is because he's accepted the dark mass still living in his soul."
"What?"
"He's accepted it." Maka repeated, now turning, her arms crossed and face serious. "There's no waver in his soul and when he speaks about his situation, he speaks as if this is a normal occurrence… almost like this entity has always been a part of him. Like a conscience or something." She looked bothered as she glanced back over her shoulder. "If he isn't fully rejected it, how are we expected to get rid of it?"
"Have you talked to him more about it?" Ares asked. He knew first hand this wasn't something easy to overcome. It's only been three years of the kid having this therapy and even in the years he was gone up until now he hadn't gotten a full understanding of these soul possession situation.
"Of course, which is why we're where we are now." Maka answered and let out a short sigh. "Naturally, if we end it with him, we might be ending it with you as well." Ares stared at the pair in confusion.
"Since when does my condition have anything to do with his?"
"Because we've been using results from your soul therapy to make connections of improvements to his situation." Stein intervened. "You have a hold on your condition, even if you have a minor slip up. Zeke loses himself sometimes. He claims that this other persona is a part of him that he can't control."
"So you're going to leave him to figure it out himself?" Ares asked, frowning further. None of this seemed right.
"No. We want you to keep tabs on his situation and do personal sessions with him yourself." Ares stared at them. Were they serious? He opened his mouth to say something, but all attention fell on Zeke who let out a groan. The teen placed his face in his hands and shook his head before looking at the adults in dreary confusion.
"Hey… did I space out or something?"
"Something like that." Stein answered as the young Evans pushed himself up from the ground, rubbing his head groggily. "Are you feeling like yourself?"
"Yeah… I kinda wanna go home now though. Is that ok?"
"I'm sure Ayame is waiting for you. Go ahead." Maka answered. The boy nodded, muttering a good bye as he walked out the door where his partner had been patiently waiting. When they were gone, Ares turned to the older pair standing in front of him.
"I don't think it's a good idea to leave him like this." He informed, tone serious. Maka had taken a seat next to Stein, looking over the notes he had taken.
"He's my son and if there is anyone here who is bothered by this situation it's me," She then looked up at the concerned young man. "But I'm not going to continue to force him into these therapies that he comes out of looking worse off." She informed. Ares lowered his gaze lightly. With every session, Zeke's condition did differ from how his ever did. Maybe there was no point if there was a chance he was actually losing himself.
"I'll talk to him tomorrow about it all, ok?" he finally stated. There was a silent nod in response.
"Whatever you find out let us know. This is potentially his health we're talking about." Stein informed. Ares nodded. He excused himself, making his way back to the small empty class he usually did his own studying in. He had claimed it as an office of his own since the room had been abandoned for as long as he had known. Opening the door, he was slightly surprised to see Lyra lounging back in his usual seat, an expectant look on her face as she looked up from filing her nails.
"Hey, I've been waiting here forever for you, y'know." She informed, a bored expression on her face. He let out an exasperated sigh, dropping into the beat up recliner that he had dragged into the building himself a while back, dropping head back and draping his arm over his eyes.
"I was busy talking to your dad, sorry." He informed.
"Dad sure deals with a lot of business with you."
"We share information… sorry." The weapon answered. There was a long pause. He slowly dragged his arm from his eyes when he felt his partner's body over his, only to stiffen when he felt her climb on him. "H-hey-" His voice caught in his throat as she leaned in, searching his face thoughtfully. He fought down a blush and other impulses.
"You look stressed."
"I'm fine." He managed. Lyra wrinkled her nose.
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are. I can feel the waver in your soul." At this, Ares scoffed.
"Can you really?"
"Yes! Why do you think that's weird?" she asked indignantly.
"Because if anyone outside of this room were to have heard that they would know about us." Ares answered easily, causing Lyra to roll her eyes.
"I didn't think it still had to be that much of a secret."
"Thought you didn't want your dad knowing you were dating his science project." Eyes narrowed.
"You're not a science project." Lyra snapped, giving his a shove from her spot in his lap. "And I don't really care what my old man thinks. It's too much work." She continued and pursed her lips childishly. He loved that look.
"Ok. Whatever makes you happy, Ly." He leaned in, lips barely touching hers.
"I told you how I feel about those pet names, idiot." The girl murmured back in response, only to lean in and complete the kiss.
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"Zeke, I made you soup!" Pulling his oversized headphone from his ears, the white haired weapon stared at his partner in slight confusion as she came in carrying a tray with a bowl of soup and crackers. Maybe she had gotten the wrong idea when he said he wanted to come home early. After all, he had been functional the entire walk home and the past hour since they'd settled in. He took the tray all the same and smiled slightly.
"Y'know, you didn't have to do all this. It's my day for dinner anyway." Ayame shrugged, climbing into the bed and sitting next to him, hugging her knees to her chest.
"You didn't look like you were feeling well when we left school so I decided maybe I could try something nice…" She answered and stared at him thoughtfully. He raised an eyebrow back at her questionably.
"What?"
"They're really ending Soul Therapy for you? Like you'll be coming to regular class with me and everything now?" She asked. There was a kind of excitement and hopeful look on her face. Zeke smiled a bit, leaning back against his head board as he took in a spoon full of soup. Wow, she had actually done a decent job.
"Well Professor Stein said he'd talk to me more about it another time, but he and mom think that I should see how I do without therapy. They think I've found a way to manage my situation and I should be fine." He explained, only for his partner to stare at him in confusion.
"So whatever it is isn't gone?"
"No… I don't think he'll be going anywhere tho." Zeke answered and Ayame made a face.
"He? Who's he?" Pausing, Zeke considered how he was supposed to explain this to his already apprehensive partner. She was looking at him expectantly, wanting an answer and he wasn't sure how exactly to go about explaining something he didn't have a full grasp of himself.
'Are you seriously gonna tell her, brat?'
"Zeke?"
"Aku."
"What?" Ayame wrinkled her nose and Zeke blinked in confusion, not realizing he had blurted anything out. Shit. "Who's Aku?"
"He's… he's what everyone is calling the dark mass in my soul." The boy decided to respond, distracting himself with his soup now.
"It has a name? You named it?"
"He's a HE not an IT… and no I didn't name him. He told me himself. Apparently he was created for possessions of souls. He likes to try to take over, you know. Take over me and eventually become me, but I guess there's been something blocking that in my soul." Zeke explained, giving his chest a thump.
'Don't get cocky, brat.'
"Do you talk to him a lot?" Ayame asked.
"Sometimes I can hear him. I guess whenever I do respond and you think I've spaced out is when I've been caught by him, you know. Professor Stein taught me meditation so I won't get caught up in something in the middle of a battle and lose myself." Ayame was now just staring at him. Zeke busied himself with his soup. He knew she wouldn't fully understand. It was hard for anyone that wasn't going through it to understand.
"So he lives in your soul?"
"Something like that."
"Can I meet him?" Zeke looked up and blinked at his partner in confusion.
"What?"
"Can I meet him?" Ayame repeated, her attention now fully on him. "I heard that with the right focus we could see into each other's souls. My mom and dad used to do it all the time."
"Yeah, but that was different!" Zeke snapped, moving away from his determined partner. "I don't wanna do it. I don't like talking to him myself half the time. He's a creep!"
"You say it as if I care." Ayame scoffed and pushed herself onto her knees. "You're my partner! We have to be able to face everything thing that comes in our path together, even if it's some freak thing living in you." She looked determined and Zeke couldn't help but to let out a snort as he leaned his head onto her shoulder.
"You drive me insane." He sighed. "But I don't really have a choice do I?"
"I'm your partner… so no." Ayame answered, her tone lighter now. Zeke closed his eyes and smiled slightly in a knowing manner.
"Right… you're my partner… Guess there's nothing wrong with letting you see into my soul…"