Chapter 15: Stand Strong. No Fear. FIGHT!

This was some kind of sick joke. It had to have been. She had worked so hard and done so much planning all for it to go up in one chaotic display of explosions and screams. What the hell was going on?! Shoving through screaming students, Aimee searched for Liam. Professors were trying to shout instructions over the screams, but it seemed to all be in vain. Growling, she stopped in the chaos and tried to calm herself. She was told before that if she focused properly, her soul wavelength could easily help her to locate her partner. She knew that Ayame and Zeke had this bond and so did Ava and Rion. Letting out a slow breath, she tried to tune out the screams and shouts around her. Were others just as panicked to find their partner as she was? Were her friends safe? 'Liam… where are you?'

"Aimee!" Spinning around, the red head's eyes lit up. As her partner shoved through their classmates, she couldn't fight back the tears that welled up in her eyes. Just as he reached her, she threw his arms around his neck, tears freely failing. She felt his body stiffen slightly at the sudden contact, but ignored it. She had been terrified and as soon as her eyes fell on him she felt safe. He had hesitated, but his arms went around her for a moment, squeezing her tight as he let out a slow, relieved breath himself. "I was worried about you. I couldn't sense your wavelength at all in this chaos." He informed, pulling back and fixing her with a stern, but concerned look. Wiping her tears away, Aimee forced a smile.

"Well we're together in one piece at that's all that matters." She informed and grimaced, wondering why the screams hadn't gotten further away. It was as if the students had simply flooded into the corridors and refused to move from there. In f act, there was still a large amount of students in the Hall. She frowned slightly. Liam followed her line of sight and frowned as well.

"What are they…" A shudder had gone up Liam's back and instinctively he grabbed his partner, pulling her to the ground, despite her protests and covering her. Aimee had tried to shove him off, but her screams and the explosion that accompanied it caused his grip to tighten and eyes to close. There were more frantic shouts amongst the screams and slowly opening his eyes, the shinigami was amazed by the force field blocking debris from falling on many cowering students. Black Star and Maka could be seen standing not too far off, Black Star focused, with weapon in hand and his companion beside him.

"Try to have a little fun and we get ambushed. The hell?" The assassin growled, slowly lowering his hand and allowing the shield he had developed to fall.

"Go ahead and clear out any threats. Anya and Tsugumi are directing students to safety with Marie and Meme." Maka was instructing. "Clay and Akane should meet you ahead." She finished. Black Star had taken off running, darting easily around the panicked students. There was chaos all around and despite the shouts for students to all get to safety, he couldn't help but to panic and not seeing Ayame, Zeke, or any of his usual friends among the riot.

"Liam!" Snapping from his thoughts, blue eyes met with concerned green ones. "We need to get out of here! We need to help get everyone to safety." Aimee was shouting, tugging on his hand. There was rushed orders and footsteps, but the young Shinigami still hadn't completely registered all that was happening.

"Ayame… and Zeke…"

"I'm sure they're somewhere safe." Aimee insisted, her voice on edge. Shaking his head and gaining his composure, the dark haired meister shook his head. He pushed himself to his feet and looked off towards where students were rushing. The doorway had been completely blown out and some people we injured and helping one another, but there were still shouts and panic in the air. There were even students prepared for…

"Aimee…" He didn't bother look to his frustrated partner as he watched the chaos taking place. "I need you to transform." She blinked.

"Excuse me… WHAT?!" The red head all but shrieked. "No! We need to get the hell OUT!" she was tugging his arm, only to freeze when he sent her a harsh look. "Li…"

"We need to help." He spoke. "The professors are going to fight whatever threat that attacked us, but who knows if there' still people creeping in the halls to attack students. Or worse, is a student." Aimee was chewing her lower lip. He knew she wanted was scared, but at the same time, this was the life that they lived. They were expected to protect, not run away. Letting out a long breath, a serious expression crossed her face.

"Fine, but when we're screamed at, you're taking the heat." She muttered, transforming and fell easily into her partner's grasp. Liam chuckled and gave her a reassuring smile.

"You got it."

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The school was invaded. That much was an easy observation. The explosions and destruction were anything thing. Once leaving the banquet hall, destruction had taken over the corridors along with panic that had never been seen in the school before. There were some unconscious bodies being taken care of with the prayers there were no casualties with the amount of blood that had spilled the further they had run.. The culprit had vanished with a flash and stomach churning cackle as explosions and destruction filled the air, however, there were definitely still villains in their school. The girl couldn't shake the feeling, and after watching the adults that had raised and taught her to fight for what was right, rush forward without hesitation to protect all of them, she couldn't sit idly by and watch. "Ayame…"

"Yeah?"

"We should meet back up with Gabe and Ava. There's nothing going on down here." Zeke's voice spoke from the scythe the dark haired girl was clinging too. Letting out a slow breath, the meister nodded. They had met up with their friend only briefly before separating to try and help out the professors… despite the latter not knowing of this.

"Yeah I guess… Maybe they all got taken care of." She muttered and allowed her grip to soften, only for her partner to transform, a concerned look on his face as he looked her over. She wrinkled her nose at him. "What?"

"Are you ok?" He paused, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "After the explosion I mean." He reached out, but she cleared her throat, stepping back and nodding in the direction behind him.

"Hey!" Zeke turned as Ava and Gabe, partners in hand, came around the corner, Ava brightening when she saw they were ok. "Guys, everything is clear where we went and the professors are handling something major outside." Ava informed, rushing over to them. She wrinkled her nose, adjusting her dress slightly. "Worse night for an attack, huh?"

"Yeah, but I guess not since everyone's guard was so down." Gabe muttered while looking around. "It's so quiet down here…" Aiden and Rion had transformed from their weapon forms, looking around.

"Upstairs in completely insane," Aiden muttered, rolling up the sleeves to his shirt as he took a slow breath, apparently appreciating the silence, despite the fact his eyes were darting around for a sign of movement. "You think anyone would be down here with all the excitement upstairs?"

"We figured if anyone was trying to get away they'd probably be exiting in a less open area." Zeke answered, pointing down the dark hall that led further towards the dungeon dorms. "But we haven't heard anything so maybe we should just…"

"Oh ho hooooo! The kiddies have come to plaaaaay." A voice sang out, snapping the teens from their discussion. A body phased through the corridor walls, a razor toothed smile crossing a very familiar young face.

"What the…" A boy around their age stepped out of the wall, a teasing light playing in his violet eyes as he let out a knowing hum as he lifted his hand, palm facing out.

"Sorry, but I came here for someone." Out of his palm, a dark entity shot out towards them.

"Guys, run!" Zeke yelled out, the group scrambling into opposite directions. They had all scrambled, shouts bouncing off the walls of the vacant corridor. Zeke swore under his breath when he realized his meister was nowhere near him.

"Splitting up? Well that's no good!" The taunting teen's voice called out. The floor began to rumble and hisses filled the air. A scream echoed and Zeke looked over his shoulder, breath catching as dark beings rose from the ground and lunged at him and his friends. Ava had ducked, scrambling as a dark claw slashed out at her, letting out a cry as she tried to gather her footing.

"RION!" She fell forward just as another claw slashed at her and flames came flying. Shrieking, she threw her hands over her head, curling under the heat that sizzled away her attacker's arm.

"Ava!" Lifting her gaze, blue eyes met with golden ones, but it didn't stop her from shaking. Not to far off, Aiden could be seen trying to torch any of the monsters running towards them. Rion put his arms around her shoulders, concern written all over his face. "Are you ok? Are you hurt?" She shook her head, opening her mouth to speak but no words coming out.

"Guys, move!" Zeke yelled out, rushing back towards them as a mass of the black beings came rising from the ground just behind the immobile pair. Rion threw himself onto his partner in order to protect her from the attack.

"Zeke!" Without second thought, the white haired teen transformed, landing easily into his partner's hand as she came running at top speed. Just as her fingers closed around him, he was being thrown as if he were a boomerang, slicing through the black masses that were looming over Rion and Ava, before finding his way back into her grip. "Rion, transform now!" Ayame ordered, rushing forward and attacking.

"R-right!" The younger fighter squeaked, before giving his partner a reassuring smile and transforming in her grasp. Pushing herself from the ground, Ava glanced anxiously at Ayame, who was now beside her with a determined glare on her face. "Ayame… this is like…"

"Like when we were in Washington…" The dark haired girl's eyes narrowed, hate filling them as the creator of the creatures stepped towards them, more of the black masses surfacing as he approached. His violet eyes twinkled with a demonic mischief as he approached. "Yeah… I'll never forget that night." A brow cocked on the boy's face before his wicked smile grew,

"Oh! I remember you! You're the one who's partner ate that rancid soul I left behind." He hummed and let out an entertained cackle, levitating off the ground and crossing his legs and he tapped his chin in mock thought before he allowed his body to drift slightly til he was hanging upside down. "If I remember correctly, his body hadn't originally taken too well to the intake. Lots of blood everywhere."

"You bastard…" Ayame growled through clenched teeth.

"Ayame… just relax." Zeke tried to reassure, feeling her grip on him tighten. He could feel her anger radiating through her soul wavelength.

"No…" Ayame growled. "He's the reason you got hurt."

"Aya…"

"No she's right." Hummed the boy, eyes still twinkling with insane excitement. "I'm the reason for a lot of things that have happened." He then flipped himself upright and dropped easily to the ground, arms crossed and self satisfied expression crossing his face. "And I'm here to take what's mine… and end a couple more lives while I'm at it."

"Go to hell!" Gabe shouted, going for an aerial attack, Aiden poised and ready to attack.

"Gabe!"

"Annoying." In mid air, the boy's body froze, though his eyes widened in clear panic. Glancing over his shoulder, violet eyes practically bore into his green ones. "Don't interfere if you're going to always be so useless." He spat. He lifted his hand, twisting his wrist slightly and watching as Gabe's body began to contort. Aiden fell from the boy's grasp as he cried out in pain.

"Leave him alone!" Ava screamed. Aiden instantly transformed back into himself, rushing forward with a pulled back fist.

"Let go of my MEISTER!" He bellowed, bringing his fist back and allowing it to be engulfed in flames before lunging. Easily, his fist was caught; fire extinguished and bored eyes staring harshly into shocked ones.

"I'm a fire oni, kid. Your little embers won't do shit to me." He hissed before send a large fire ball through his palm and sending Aiden flying through a wall.

"I've had enough!" Ayame yelled and ran forward, swinging Zeke. Each attack was dodged with ease and a taunting smile. "Stay still do I can kick your sorry ass!"

"Oh ho ho! That's not very lady like, cutie." He laughed, flipping out of the way of each thrown punch and slice. "I'm really sick of getting the shit end of the stick though. So how about we switch things up a bit. You bunch are far too comfortable with these little slave weapon things you've got going." He paused in the air, hovering over Ayame. "Maybe test out a little theory of mine." With a snap of his fingers, Zeke felt his body getting hot and yelled out in pain. Ayame, feeling the same pain, released him and watched as her partner transformed back into his human form, hunched over in pain, clutching at his head.

"Zeke, what's wrong!?" Ayame called out, running over to him and kneeling by his side, trying to get a glimpse of his face. "Zeke?"

"Don't… just stop…" He clenched his teeth together, trying to stop the voices filling his head. They weren't familiar. They weren't even Aku's… They were terrifying and eating at him. They were tearing at his soul, trying to take control of him.

'Get control of yourself, brat!' Aku's voice hissed through the chaos taking place in the boy's soul. 'I'm the only one that should be calling the shots!' Zeke squeezed his eyes tighter, feeling his vision blur and his breath quicken.

"Leave me alone…"

"Zeke… Zeke! Listen to me!" There were so many voices. He felt himself getting sick and his thoughts were becoming muddled and chaotic. Why wouldn't the voices stop? Why wouldn't they just leave him alone? Ayame was calling out to him but he couldn't reach her. "Ze…ke!"

"Just stop it…" He growled.

"Get control of yourself!"

"Leave me alone!"

'Get a hold of yourself, ya little twit!' Aku was hissing and let out a strangled cry himself.

"Open your eyes now, Ezekiel!" Why wouldn't they just shut up!? His heart was practically beating out of his chest with anxious fury.

"STOP IT!" Then, a new voice took over completely.

'Break her neck…'

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She was playful. She had always been. Her father had teased her and said she adapted such behavior from her mother, though she didn't inherit the terrifying mean streak that the petite blonde held. In place of that, she held an undying love and compassion for people. She was well loved and wore her heart on her sleeve, as naïve as that was. With that, Ava Marie Rung hated to see any of her friends in pain. She wasn't much for fighting unless it was a kishin, because, let's face it, they weren't humans in her eyes. They were evil. Practically soulless if you wanted to make things quick and easy with each attack.

In sparring, she never held back, determined to prove she could hold her own in a fight. And she could. She never hurt her friends, just showed her place among them. It made Rion feel pride, she knew it. What was a meister if they couldn't protect their weapon?

What was a student of Shibusen if they couldn't protect the citizens of their city?

What was a friend… if they couldn't protect their friends?

"Zeke, stop it!" She stood over Ayame, using Aiden as a shield and blocking the blade that was Zeke's arm, ready to slice through his meister. Looking up, Ava faltered, her heart skipping a beat as she took in the crazed look on the white haired teen's face. His eyes were glazed over and the twisted smile that crossed his face was terrifying.

"Move." He growled, pulling back and swinging a new attack. Ayame had taken that moment to pull Ava out of the way and rush forward, tackling her partner at his midsection.

"Ayame!" The two went tumbling through rubble. He threw her off easily and continued to attack. If it weren't for the fact that the two regularly sparred together, Ava would have panicked. They knew each other's moves almost to perfection, Ayame dodging each one of Zeke's attack and him countering her defenses. She could only do so much with him swinging his blade shaped arm at her. When the dark haired girl stumbled backwards, Ava was quick to run to her assistance. Using Rion, she swept Zeke's feet from under him, pulling Ayame off the ground.

"We need snap him out of it!" The older girl informed, wiping sweat from her face as she tried to gather herself. "That kid has him under some kind of spell."

"Not necessarily." Their eyes shot up to the grinning demon above them. "I just triggered the evil bit residing inside of him."

"You fix him now you little snot!" Ayame yelled and Ava held her back. Almost instantly, the boy was in their faces, his nose inches from Ayame's. The girl didn't even falter, her glare filled with hatred.

"Watch it now girlie. I don't want to get blood on my own hands after all." He then phased out of the way as a possessed Zeke came charging at the girls.

"Ava! Counter attack!" Rion called out. Nodding, she allowed her soul to flow through the staff and with one quick motion, she swung, striking their friend directly in the chest, winding him completely. "Alright! Get him a couple more times!" Her partner cheered on. Nodding, Ava took the white haired teen's initial shock and put in a few more quick hits before centering her energy and with her palm out, slammed him in the chest and sent him flying into the wall.

"Whoa…"

"Alright Ava!" Rion's voice cheered out as she stood, slightly shaking. She felt sick for some reason and fell to her knees. Ayame had already run to her disoriented and groaning partner. Rion appeared in front of her, a consoling smile on his face as he put his hands on her shoulders and rested his forehead to hers. "You did awesome!" he said in a low tone. She looked up into his eyes and smile faintly.

"Thanks to you." She choked out, temporarily forgetting about the threat looming over them.

"There you are." Turning swiftly, Rion growled at the boy that had once been taunting them, now standing only a few feet away with a shocked look that instantly turned manic on his face. "I finally found you."

"What the-" Ava felt herself freeze as several black masses rose from the ground taking the form of faceless, razor toothed, sharp clawed demons.

"Ava, RUN!"

"Die…" There was blood.

"STOP IT!" Why was this happening?

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It was chaotic. But then again, maybe that wasn't exactly the words to describe the destruction and mayhem that had taken over his grandfather's school. It was horrific honestly. It had started off as a minor panic and turned into an all out war. Students that had rushed towards safety no longer had the option and the professors were on the outside doing the best they could, not knowing of the disaster inside. It was disgusting. It was terrifying. They needed to fight and he needed to lead them.

"Liam!" Looking over his shoulder after taking down yet another attacker, the shinigami watched as Brianna kicked a dark being off of her before blasting a hole through the center of its body. The masses seemed to be dying down as all the students fought. Some students took to pulling aside the injured and seemingly unconscious. "We need to get outta here! Too many people are hurt. There's blood everywhere!" Liam clenched his teeth together, opting to some hand to hand before poising his weapon to attack once again.

"We're not leaving until I find Ayame and the others!" he shouted. They had been missing since the onslaught had begun and he was starting to fear the worse. With the casualties that had taken place so far, how could he not have?

"Watch out!" Blinking, Liam let out a shout when Brianna ran towards him, shoving him to the ground as the wall he had been standing near exploded.

"What the-"

"HELP!" Lifting his head, blue eyes widened in shock as he watched Ava's bloodied body be slammed into the wall, a clawed hand around her neck, holding her up. She was clawing at the dark arm, squirming and screaming for help as the owner to the arm stepped through the crumbled wall, dragging an unconscious Rion. The boy looked broken and to be barely breathing. The dark mass had no features, but a twisted sharp toothed smile split across his face as tears streamed down the girl's face and she gasped for air.

"N-no way…" Brianna chocked out voice had snapped Liam from his panicked thoughts.

"Let her go!" He growled, pushing himself from the ground and completely abandoning his weapon as he charged forward.

"Liam!" Aimee's voice had yelled out, but he ignored it. The voice was far too distant for him to respond to. Not with his cousin struggling for her life. Not with his best friends completely missing a quite possibly dead. Not with…

"Put her down NOW!" He screamed. Without even a glance, Rion's body was flung harshly into Liam's, sending the shinigami slamming into the wall. He let out a painful heave of air and his head was spinning. Screams were bouncing off the wall and his vision was blurred. What the hell was happening? Were they all expected to die like this?

"Stay outta the way ya wanna be shinigami." A voice hissed.

"This has gone on too damn long." Allowing his focus to gather, Liam watched as the claw holding up Ava had disintegrated. "The brats held up enough on their own. It's time to take our school back."

"Couldn't agree more." There were flashes striking through the air, slicing through multiple of the beings that had still been standing. There were flashes going in and out of his vision before he felt himself being pulled gingerly from the wall, Rion being rolled off of him.

"Li…" Glancing up, he allowed his eyes to fall on Aimee. Her eyes were filled with tears and she had a few scratches on her face, but she was exuding a feeling of relief and distress simultaneously. "You've got a big gash on your head. Don't move to fast." She said in a strained tone. Absently, Liam reached up and cringed when he touched the side of his head, only to pull back his hand and look at the blood covering his finger tips. He swore under his breath.

"We gotta help… We gotta fight." Aimee shook her head at him before turning her attention to Rion and holding back a sob.

"N-no… Let Lyra and Angela handle them." She managed. Looking up and finally gaining some understanding of his surrounding, Liam allowed his eyes to widen as he watched the witch and silver haired beauty easily take down the menace. They did it with such ease and accuracy it was almost terrifying.

"Where'd that freak kid go?!" Lyra had called out, letting yet another soul infused arrow take down a line of the dark minions.

"Dunno… Ares, you think you can track him down?" Angela had called, allowing herself to phase in and out, slicing easily through each being that came in her range. Lyra allowed her grip on her bow to release and for her partner to surface, a morbid look on his face.

"Can't say I can. I don't even think the freak is in the school anymore." He answered darkly as his partner sent an earth rumbling punch through the ground, spikes rising up from the concrete and finishing off the last of their opponents. There was finally a silence that took over the once chaotic hall. Rubble covered the ground where there weren't bodies and blood. Noise outside could be heard. It sounded like shouted orders. Was everything over… Was this it?

"Oh my… look at you guys!" Angela's voice echoed, she came running over, gingerly moving Rion's head to her lap. She used the edge of her dress to clean some of the blood from her face. "He's still breathing… that's a relief." She said and looked back at Ares, who talking to Brianna. The girl was in tears with her weapon lying unconscious in her lap and Ava unconscious beside her. "How are they?"

"I think Ava's got a couple broken bones, but she's alive. Both of them are just unconscious." He called back. In the distance, Arthur was taking the pulse of several others while he and Lyra shared a whispered discussion. He then pointed through the hole that Ava's body had made and beckoned his own partner over. The witch let out a shriek, leaping through the hole as she yelled out a name. Whose name was it she said? Ayame? Closing his eyes, Liam allowed himself to sink against the wall further. He felt nauseous.

Why was this happening right now and worst of all, why couldn't he protect his friends?

What the hell was wrong with him?

Author's Note: OMG guys I'm so sorry it took so long to do this chapter. I was so conflicted and rewrote it like three different ways before this ended up being the end product. The struggle is real. Thanks for sticking in there while I went through my writers block and so so much more. I'm actually pretty content with this chapter, though I wanted to add more action to it all. The next chapter is going to have a focus on the Shibusen adults.