CHAPTER 5

A/N – Hello my dear readers (and Season's Greetings)! Thank you all so much for the support you've given this story and I hope it is as entertaining for you to read as it is for me to write. And yes, I know, another delay… But as you may or may not know, inspiration is a fickle muse. It has happened before and it will happen again, for thus it has been since the beginning of the 12th century, ever since the legend of Excalibur came to be. Okay, enough stupid ranting! LOL.

"Just as promised, today I will begin to train you," Franken Stein said. "Seeing how you've barely just recovered, we will start with some very light exercises"

Maka let her gaze wander over the deserted training area – it felt safe here, for now – but soon she would have to go back there, in the Arena. And to think she'd barely survived her first match. The horror of it had haunted the blonde the whole time she'd spent lying helplessly in her dark cell, despite the fact that she knew now that Blair, being a magic creature, had not really died a horrible death as she'd first thought. But at the end of the day, that had been just a fortunate happening – sooner or later she would have to kill someone. Or be killed. At the rate things were going in this business of death, Maka could only hope at most to stay alive for as long as it took to repay her father's debt to Galiel, enough to keep him out of the debtors' prison. But even if I succeed for a while… my life will eventually end here, on the white sand of the Arena…

Trying to shove these gloomy thoughts from her mind for now, the blonde walked up and picked her practice scythe from the panel. Compared to the one she'd had in the actual match, this one was rusty and poorly kept, but it was still heavy as hell and a pain shot through her arm and her side, causing Maka to nearly drop it.

"Like I said before," Stein went on, "your match happened to be quite spectacular and the crowd liked it." He slid the stitched white robe off his shoulders and took the weapon from Maka's hand, advancing to the center of the wide open space. "In theory, it makes sense, the scythe is a spectacular weapon," he said, flexing his muscles and twirling it above his head with ease before giving it an expert spin, causing a sharp swish of air, "but only if wielded by someone with enough skills and physical strength. Otherwise, without the speed and dexterity to keep one's opponents at bay with its long range and without the muscle to keep it up right, it becomes a most awkward, inconvenient and ineffective kind of weapon." The doctor ended his sentence by sending said weapon flying, causing its blade to stick almost halfway into the wooden panel.

"You, however, are quite tiny," he went on, "and there is a big difference between a human demon scythe like your father and one made of steel. Now, you may have managed the first match with a wrong kind of weapon, but it's a bet I strongly suggest we don't place twice. You'll have to learn to wield other weapons, more suitable for your own strength"

Maka gasped, now utterly confused. "But… you don't understand, Dr. Stein! Master Galiel paid for a scythe wielder, he won't accept that I fight with other weapons! He won't care if-"

"Galiel paid for someone who can bring him victories and thus money, just like everyone else," Stein replied calmly, lighting up a cigarette. "A dead scythe wielder is of no use to him. The only scythe suitable for someone your size would be Soul Eater, but he never fights in full weapon form and besides, he's the champion, so Galiel would never put him in danger by entrusting his life to someone as inexperienced as you. That being said, forget about scythes for now"

This was bad news, Maka could guess that much. Of course, she was grateful for the effort Dr. Franken Stein was putting in training her thoroughly, but Ox had had his objections to it - as anticipated – and she guessed so did Galiel. The truth was, ultimately, that she'd been bought for that ridiculously high amount as a result of her father's reputation, but that was something the blonde could not hope to match anytime soon, with or without a scythe. And now, if she wanted to make money for her master, she would have to prove herself the kind of fighter people would place their bets on, first.

Maka swung the two short swords simultaneously, before hurling them forward and thrusting both blades in full into the body of the wooden dummy she was currently using for practice. William, the boy she had practiced with in the beginning, had died on his first match, back when she was still recovering from her wounds, as well as most of those who had arrived with her. I guess that makes me lucky or something… She had quite gotten the hang of short swords and maneuvering a medium size shield since Franken Stein had begun training her personally, but the new weapons made her feel far less safe than the heavier, more uncomfortable scythe, because they involved closer range fighting and that was much riskier too. She wanted her scythe back, but the doctor was right – probably the only such weapon suitable for her was Evans, Maka thought, observing the white haired boy wasting his practice time with the other valued fighter – Kilik – a bit further away in the training area.

Except, of course, troll eater is out of the question for more than one reason… Fighting with a human weapon only works if there is a certain degree of soul resonance between the fighter and the weapon – and I had that with my dad, but I'd probably never feel such a thing with him. And besides, he'd never help me…

Tossing the swords aside for now, she wiped the sweat off her forehead and the back of her neck with a towel as she headed for the water barrel. Doing her best to avoid as much as glancing at the pair, she had reached for a cup when suddenly Kilik blocked her way.

"Miss Albarn, I couldn't help but notice a certain longing in your lovely eyes as you were looking at us," he said, "Is there anything at all we might assist you with?"

Taking a deep breath to suppress her temper, Maka straightened her back as she faced the scythe boy, completely ignoring his friend. "I want you to fight with me," she said sternly, her hands balling into fists at her sides in determination. Perhaps she shouldn't have said it, it was a bad idea and most likely pointless. And it would amuse them greatly, if nothing else, but she had to speak her mind. Now.

"Woohooo, the woman wants you, man!" Kilik giggled drunkenly, elbowing Evans."Told you she did, couldn't help herself, poor thing"

"Kilik, I think you had too much ale. How uncool…" Soul muttered, shaking his head before returning his attention to the blonde. "Come again?"

"I want you to be my weapon."

The scythe boy blinked, seemingly perplexed for the briefest second, before he snorted, genuinely amused."As if I'd let you handle me, in any way…" he replied, laughing.

"How did it go with the young prince, Master?" Chrona wanted to know, as Kid stepped inside their small room and slammed the door in his wake, obviously ill-humored. "Is he really as troublesome as they say he is?"

The shinigami shed his cloak carelessly on the floor and plopped down on the bed. "It went absolutely great, he already tried to kill me. But I don't know if that is the worst part of the so-called assignment. Master Gur Kylee said that I should make Black Star like me at any cost, despite the fact that he obviously hates all shinigamis, especially that bastard Asura. In that purpose, he suggested that if the prince will ever be interested in having me in his bed, I had better not refuse him…"

The magic boy stiffened at the words, fingers clenching around the cup of aromatic tea he was currently preparing for his master. Before being taken in Lord Death's care, Chrona had been exploited in many horrible ways by his own mother, witch Medusa, for which reason he had been created as a gender-shifter in the first place. "Well, ultimately, that too is… just a job, Master. You will carry it out just fine…" he murmured, lowering his gaze as Kid watched him intently now.

"Of course," he agreed bluntly, taking a sip from the steaming cup his servant had offered. "I just wish Master Eibon would have sent me on a mission more fit for my skills. I am a mercenary, I was taught how to fight, not how to charm people! Or please them… I am not good at this!" The young reaper ran a hand through his hair, grimacing as he stared hard at the carpet. "I can't even… as much as smile if I don't feel like it"

"But Master, you are a shinigami, you don't have to do anything to be charming to others! Now this might be a little bit of unfortunate phrasing, but everyone here in the Capital thinks of shinigamis as the 'ultimate forbidden fruit'. I'm sure Master Eibon must have had the same thing in mind when he came up with this plan…"

The reaper rolled his eyes, focusing his attention on the tray of food set on the small table nearby." It is an unfortunate myth, more likely," he said, deciding on a piece of fried chicken and taking a bite. And it's all because of the masks and the cloaks, they must really appeal to imagination or something… "I mean seriously," he added with his mouth full, "who the hell would fantasize about Gur Kylee, for example? Or that creep Asura… I'll tell you what – my father has always been devoted to Eibon's cause, but I haven't and he knows it. Now he has found an excellent opportunity to humiliate me, that's what!"

"Um… Master, I know it is none of my business and it really wasn't relevant until now, but I must ask you… do you like boys or girls?"

Kid's gaze snapped up at the question and he blinked quickly, trying to process what his servant was asking and why… well why this of all things was suddenly important. "I am quite fine on my own!" the shinigami grumbled eventually, avoiding to look at the pink haired boy. "And why the hell is that relevant now? It's not like this is in any way about what I like! With a bit of 'luck' I'll have to do both"

Chrona scratched his head, pondering. "I suppose… that just like with any other job, you should not attempt it unprepared. What I mean to say is… um… um…"

His master huffed and rolled his eyes. "You mean to say that I am pathetically inexperienced and I will, as a result, disappoint. Right? Well, I'm sorry!"

"Does it scare you, Master?"

"Nothing scares me, but it does disgust me a great deal…" Kid said, abandoning the frugal dinner altogether. "Although I suppose it was presumptuous of me to assume there would be a limit to how undignified my mission would get"

Chrona took a deep breath. "Master, if you're not scared, kiss me. Now. Just try it out…" It was probably a bad idea. His master had never tried anything and there probably was a reason for that, past Kid's so-called self-sufficiency and care for his servant's feelings.

The young shinigami scowled and snorted, but stood up determined, facing the magic boy. He placed a hand lightly on Chrona's shoulder, pulling him closer, and then tilted his head to the side, leaning in until his lips brushed lightly against his servant's. After which Kid brusquely pulled away. "I'm sorry…" he said, with an awkward grimace, "I'm afraid this is not going to work". He really didn't feel like doing that and it didn't help that the other boy had gone stiff as a board in turn. And not in a good way.

"Clearly… It's alright, really, when I'm a boy I rather fancy girls," Chrona agreed, sighing, but then he began to unbutton his black robe. "But when I am a girl…"

The shinigami blinked and his breath caught in his throat as he took in the now feminine and bare body of his servant. As a girl, Chrona was, well, beautiful, but… he looked into the seemingly lost gaze of those large, pale blue eyes which held a strange mixture of anticipation and carefully concealed fear. He stepped closer and placed his arms gently around the pink haired girl's fragile shoulders, burying his nose in her uneven bangs. Did she really not know that he cared for her almost as much as he did for his human sisters?

"I-I can't… I could never hurt you like this! If I did, I'd be no better than those to whom your mother sold you," Kid murmured in her ear. The servant's arms wrapped around his neck in reply and she silently smiled.

"Master, it's alright, do it. Please… Just a kiss."

The reaper cupped her cheek gently, softly caressing it with his thumb as he eventually leaned in and captured her lips into a slow kiss. Chrona moaned against his lips, giving him full access to her mouth and allowing him to deepen the kiss, as her hands slowly and shyly began exploring his bare shoulders. It was obvious that her girl self liked him, Kid thought, otherwise she wouldn't have suggested this little experiment he was now indulging in as well, although he knew he shouldn't have. The young shinigami strongly suspected it went past a simple physical crush on her behalf – she wanted more. But as things were, he could not give her more, he could not give anyone more.

Chrona continued to kiss him, slender fingers now tangling into his raven strands as she pushed him gently to sit onto the small bed, straddling his lap. Even if it was meant to be nothing more than a brief moment of solace for the both of them, her master's lips against hers and his unexpectedly delicate hands exploring every inch of her exposed skin was more than the magic child had ever hoped for. Kid's mouth then slipped along her jaw line and down to her neck, before he pulled away slowly, quite flushed and breathing hard, resting his forehead against the girl's.

"We should stop here…" he whispered. "It's not fair and-" But then there was a knock on the door, causing the both of them to jump and pull away, startled.

"Shit! Change and put your clothes on! Now!" the reaper pressed, jumping to his feet and briefly smoothing the fabric of his black slacks and his tousled hair. Casting a worried glance back at his servant – now once more a boy and fully dressed, who was busying himself with gathering the meager and mostly untouched dinner – he cracked the door open cautiously.

"Oh, I'm sorry… Have I interrupted anything?" Gur Kylee asked ironically, giving the younger shinigami a thoughtful once-over.

"No," Kid replied bluntly, assuming a neutral countenance. Undoubtedly, the fat priest was quite observant and probably intuitive as well, but hopefully he was unable to guess all the details. Right? He inwardly shuddered at the possibility of the older shinigami discovering the truth about Chrona's abilities, or about his own true inclinations. Damn it, I cannot think of that now! This was a very bad idea…

"I only came to say that the prince sent a message about accepting you in his service effective tomorrow morning," Master Gur Kylee said, stepping past Kid into the room. "Surprisingly, it seems you have made quite an impression – now that is good thing," he added, obviously pleased with that particular outcome. "And thus, our work begins…"

To be continued