Chapter 9 – Home Coming

"Hmmm" Death leaned in closer to his mirror in the Death room. Ever since he first heard of the incident in Jetty city he has been trying to take a closer look. But every time it was like the image was bouncing off the city all it would show him was the surrounding landscape. But now he had a clear view into the city. "That's odd" Death instantly refocused his mirror to search for his students, and there they were standing in front of a rundown mall. "Oh who is that?" he leaned in to take a closer look at the mirror next to his three students stood a fourth.

Death pulled out a sketch drawn from the scouts' and survivor's description it was a spitting image of the new girl. "Hmmm" Death looked back at the mirror. The girl was laughing, and crying at the same time. She tackled the three DWMA students picking them up into a bear hug. "Well those three are going to have some explaining to do." Death said bouncing back away from the mirror.

"Argh" The three students groaned together every bone in their body creaking from the hug.
"We get it your grateful now please let us go before you kill us." Ches's voice creaked more with every word.
"Oh heh, sorry." Gwen said as she awkwardly dropped the students. Her knees wobbled and she collapsed to the ground. Ches and Maka dived forward catching her draping both her arms over their shoulders. The girl's stomach growled audibly.
"Heh sorry. I guess I haven't eaten in a while." Gwen laughed
"Soul, go see if you can find some food. We will take care of things here." Maka commanded Soul.
"Rodger" Soul broke into a run to go see if he could find any food that hadn't spoiled yet.

Ches took off his two sizes to big hoody revealing that he was just about as skinny as Gwen, he folded it into a small thick square on which he and Maka laid her head on.
"Sorry if it stinks. Kinda just went through a rigorous exercise." Ches said shrugging.
"It's ok, I kind of got used to the smell from working out at the gym. And besides its nothing to how I probably smell, heh, haven't bathed in months." She chuckled looking up at the lightening sky as the moon started to disappear.

This got a chuckle out of the two weapons Maka ignored the joke and glanced around looking impatient.
From her vantage point on the ground Gwen had a clear view of the two students' expressions. Maka's worry was as plain as the new day starting, and Ches had his signature Cheshire-Cat grin. Past that Gwen could see past his long bangs and saw his anxiety filled eyes.
"Where is Soul with that food?" Maka exclaimed a pout on her face as she looked left and right.
"Relax girl it's been months since anyone has taken care of anything around here. Anything that isn't spoiled is probably in a vending machine." Gwen laughed from the ground. She took a deep breath held it for five seconds and let it out in one big whoosh.
"Ahh that feels good"
"huh?" Maka and Ches were both equally confused.
"Taking a breath that isn't being commanded by someone else." She took another deep breath and wiggled her bare toes the dried mud and blood flaking off. "Ahh"

Seven minutes later Soul came back with literally a wheelbarrow filled with chips and other junk food.
"Check what I found." Soul yelled as he came running pushing the cart. Just when he was about to reach them the wheel hit a piece of debris causing him to flip over the cart spilling its contents onto the ground.

Maka looked at the pile of food on the ground.
"Soul this is all junk food she needs nutrients not fat and sugar." Maka told Soul
"Did I just hear junk food? Toss me a bag of chips!" Gwen propped herself up on one arm.
Maka threw her a scowl. "Don't encourage him."
Groaning Soul sat up. "Don't worry I found a vending machine filled with health food too."
Maka got up and started to root through the pile of food and finally walked back to the girl on the ground with a bottle of juice and a bag of trail mix. "Here eat this."
"Aww" Gwen flopped back down seeing the trail mix and juice. She sighs "Ok fine, hey could you help me up?"
Ches and Maka help her sit up so she could eat while Soul righted the wheelbarrow and started to pile the food back in chuckling. "This is most definitely cool." He thought to himself.

By the time Gwen was able to stand by herself the sun was setting and the group had decided to campout in the city before heading back.
"OH! I know a place we can stay." Gwen jumped in front of the group.

The group followed excited girl through the city, the going was slow because she was still weak and had to stop every now and again to rest. When they reached their destination they found themselves in front of a very plain looking house.
"It's your house." Ches said when they approached.
"Ya if you haven't noticed I kind of need a change of clothes." She pointed out while picking at her muddy torn sweat shirt.
The group walked into her house. It the state of the house shocked the three DWMA students because they knew what had taken place in the building. It looked comfortably lived in. Not too much of a mess and not too clean. They wandered the house looking around while Gwen went upstairs to change.

Ches found the dining room. It was torn apart. The table was smashed along with the chairs. The chandelier was smashed into the wall. The wall paper was ripped and curling, on the ground was four smashed plates with rotting food on them. This must have been where Asura had taken control of Gwen. Ches backed out of the room closing the door. Maka and soul walked up to him.

"What's in there?" Soul asked
Ches turned. "You don't want to go in there."
Maka looked at Ches knowingly, Soul just looked confused.
"Come on lets go back to the living room." Maka said to Soul turning around.
The three of them went to the living room. When they got there Gwen was walking down the steps wearing a sweatshirt and jeans.
"Are those the only kind of shirts you have." Soul asked raising an eyebrow.
"MAKA CHOP!"