A/N- Short chapter because it was going to be very long, I just split it into two pieces. The next update should be later this weekend. c:
It hurt.
Everything hurt.
At the same time as this wretched pain burned Maka's skin like acid, her emotions felt completely numb and vacant. Her mood was unfeeling, her lips tight with indifference.
There was something… something important she was supposed to remember… she knew that much. Yet, exactly what this subject was… slipped through her fingers like sand.
She couldn't really find herself caring about it, anyway.
The atmosphere was cold and sticky with humidity, her clothes and hair plastered against her body. The Scythe Meister's feet felt warm against the damp floor, and her placid eyes traveled downwards to see what exactly she was standing in.
Red.
Crimson blood coated the entire ground, the level reaching nearly to her ankles from her standing point and dying them the color of stolen life.
Upon recognizing this, she felt her soul wrench as emotion crackled back to life.
Terror.
The sky was nothing but black, lost in an endless void of darkness that spanned much further than the eye could see.
The air seemed to pulse with madness itself.
Suddenly, Maka felt something sharp press against her shoulder, causing her to tense up. Her eyes widened and she suppressed a yelp.
The sharp object traced caressing circles against her shoulder, handling her with care… as if she would be cut into pieces if it pressed too hard.
In all reality, she probably would be.
A warm form pressed against her back, its freezing breath echoing as it hit the shell of her ear. She felt a long, lanky arm come forwards to wrap around her waist, hugging her closer…
She wanted to run, she wanted to hide, she wanted to scream.
She couldn't.
"Hello," the voice purred into her ear, the form snuggling against her.
Maka trembled in fear, unable to move otherwise. A faint whimper escaped her throat, and she felt tears form at the corners of her eyes.
Fear…
Such an abundance of fear wasn't normal, especially not for her.
She was Maka, a courageous young creator of a Death Scythe. She wasn't supposed to fear anything.
But… this was different.
This was terrifying.
"Welcome home."
…home?
This wasn't home!
Home was a small, yet comfortable apartment with a sharp-toothed albino and a flirtatious purple cat in a city named Death. Home was where she was surrounded by friends, baked in the warmth of the Nevadan desert… with a creepy father, a failed assassin, a goofy lord of demise… a kid called Death, two pistols… Home was with a single-eyed woman and a stitched up doctor, a dark-haired ninja… With plentiful violent chops to the head, pointless fights that somehow ended in friendship, the warm embrace of a kind companion-
"I sense so much nostalgia coming from you, my angelic Maka," the voice interrupted with an amused tone. She could have sworn that it was accompanied by a giggle. "Do not worry. This is the same place you have made yourself so attached to."
…same…?
Then, she saw it.
The roofs of crushed buildings stuck out from the ocean of blood, rubble of familiar objects strewn about in complete disarray.
This was all that remained of Death City.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, soul swelling in horror.
"Shh, Maka, shh," the thing scolded playfully, claws tapping against her neck. "It's okay." It chuckled, giving a quiet 'hmm' of content. "It's all right. This is just the New Way."
The way it said those final words were cold and dark, carrying something she had never heard before and could not place.
"This place belongs to you as much as it belongs to me," it whispered, stroking her cheek with an almost alien gentleness. "…because I have chosen to spare you, Maka. I have chosen you to be my partner, my love, my queen. As all others have fallen so deeply into disarray, I have allowed you to continue to live with that mind you have clung to so desperately."
…why?
It giggled, shivering in delight. Its claws brushed her cheek a bit too roughly, and she felt blood begin to trail down her face. The back of its hand moved to wipe away the crimson, though it only succeeded in smearing the mess.
"I have grown so fond of you that I cannot bear even the thought of allowing you to slip away from my grasp…" it murmured, voice growing soft with adoration. "I have made it so that you will have to choice but to remain with me forever. You cannot grow old, you cannot get ill… you cannot change. Even in the case that you shall lose yourself in my madness, you will still be unable to leave my side."
…Not even death could be an escape?
Not even insanity?
How had it come to this?
Who was this person?
"Welcome to the Garden, Maka."
As it spoke, black vines rose from the ocean of blood, twisting and stretching upwards, reaching for the blackened sky.
Tangled in the thorny embrace of the vines were the forms of cold, lifeless humans.
Her breath hitched.
She knew these people.
Her weapon.
Her teacher.
Her egoistic comrade. Her pet. The son of Death. A skilled assassin. Two criminals. Her father.
Her mother.
The list grew longer and longer as they continued to rise, unseeing eyes placidly trained on nothing.
Dead, all of them.
Maka opened her mouth to scream, to beg for this to go away, for everything to end… anything.
Instead… she laughed.
It was a shrill found, a frightening one, but she couldn't get it to stop.
"Isn't it beautiful, Maka?" the figure behind her giggled, obviously pleased by her laughs. It trailed a finger beneath her chin, rougher than before, yet still filled with compassion. "This is a world where nothing is aligned, where the gears have fallen out of place. Order is pointless and suffocating. In a world like the one I have created, everything has combined. There is no distinction between light or dark, life or death, good or evil. There are no restraining rules. There is no pain at all." The voice moved closer, lips grazing her ear.
"There is only madness."
She struggled to breathe against the laugher that poured from her lungs, wanting desperately to turn and find out who 'it' was.
Her body had other ideas.
Maka went limp, held up only by the arm it had wrapped around her. As her head slumped forwards, she saw that the blood was sprouting deep, luxurious red roses from its depths. As they rose, she felt as though she was drowning in them. Tears poured down her face, dampening the plants and making them shine.
They gained beauty from her pain.
"Hey, Maka…"
She was being pulled down into the flowers, thorns poking into her frail sides and effortlessly ripping her skin as if it were paper.
It was over.
Everything was over.
Her eyes flickered shut.
"I love you, Maka…"
Maka woke up covered in a cold sweat, her breathing coming out in labored gasps.
Sitting up, she looked around her room frantically.
She was alright. It was just a nightmare.
It wasn't real.
True, her room was still in a wreck from when Crona had woken up the day before; but nothing had changed since then.
"Maka?" a small voice mewed.
Her attention shot down to a spot near her feel, where the sound had come from.
A small purple cat lay against her ankles, golden eyes wide with concern.
"Are you okay, Maka?"
"Blair," Maka breathed, eyes finally coming to focus on her.
"Didja have a bad dream?" Blair inquired, uncurling herself. Her back arched as she stretched and yawned, showcasing her sharp fangs.
Maka just stared for a moment, tears welling up in her green eyes. She leaned forwards, scooping the cat into her arms. The cat mewled in protest before coming to rest on the girl's chest, sighing contentedly as Maka scratched her ears.
"Yep," Maka confirmed, wiping away her tears and faking a smile. "But I'll be alright… it was just a dream, after all."
"Hmm…" Blair purred, snuggling against her palm. "'kay, that's good!" The cat sat down on Maka's stomach, eyes closing lazily. "By the way… I'm curious! What happened between you and Crona yesterday? He's been sulking all night!"
Maka frowned.
Oh…
After they had spoken and realized that he had fused with Ragnarok and Asura, Crona had thrown a full-blown tantrum, screaming and shouting all the way back to the apartment. When they arrived, he was so loud that it woke Soul and made Blair leave her hiding place beneath Maka's bed. Out of frustration, he'd retreated to locking himself in the bathroom, refusing to come out.
"He's… just a bit upset," Maka concluded, sighing.
"Just a bit?" The cat giggles, pawing at Maka's stomach to make herself more comfortable. "It seems like a lot more than that to me!"
Maka's frown deepened. "Yes… but he's not a little kid… I'm sure he can handle himself just fine."
Although she said it, she didn't quite believe it herself.
"Maaaaaybe," Blair murmured, yawning and standing up. "Bu-tan needs to go use her litter box!" She declared loudly, hopping from Maka's arms and onto the floor with ease. "Buuuuuh-bye!"
With that small farewell, Blair ran down the hall, leaving without another word.
Maka sighed.
Cats.
Nonchalantly, she glanced at the clock.
6:15 AM.
She could probably catch up on some sleep, but she had slept quite enough lately.
Besides, she was still scared of that dream.
Shuddering at the memory, Maka thrust the covers off of herself and stood up. She didn't bother to put on any slippers, being in too much of a rush to worry about it.
Her breathing was baited, as if making too much noise would attract something scary.
She started down the hallway, deciding it best to wake Soul so she wouldn't be alone anymore. It made her nervous.
Maka paused as something caught her eye.
A sticky note was posted on the wall, a short message scrawled on it. The girl squinted to read it in such dim light.
"Maka,
"I went to pick up some groceries because instant ramen sucks ass.
"-Soul."
Of course. He left her with a crazy Kishin and a magical cat. That was so… Soul.
…but 6 AM? Normally, he slept in. She guessed that a lot of things must have changed while she was out of commission for a couple of weeks. Maybe he was more responsible now?
…Naaaah.
Maka sighed irritably, rubbing her forehead. What now?
She paused.
There was a light on at the end of the hall, coming from the bathroom.
Someone was there.
Out of impulse, she followed the light, seeing that the door was open just a crack.
Suddenly, she saw… them…
There were vines stretching out from under the door, covering the floor and reaching up the walls. They were coated in painfully sharp thorns, glowing menacingly in the faint light.
Maka knew that they were attached to Crona, recognizing them as the plants that seemed to sprout from his robe. Even then, they struck fear into her heart.
…but…
She didn't want to be alone.
The Scythe Meister walked forwards, her knees shaking.
It's just Crona. It's just Crona. It's okay…
A quiet, annoyed muttering reached her ears.
It definitely sounded like Crona, but… something sounded… different.
Darker.
Deeper.
It's just Crona.
Maka's whole body trembled, but she needed this. She needed company.
Her lips parted to call out his name, but the words died before they left.
Tentatively, she stepped over an array of vines spread across the ground. Reaching out a shaky hand to touch the doorframe, she came closer.
It's just Crona…
Maka leaned forwards, peeking through the slightly cracked open door.
Her heart stopped.
It was Crona, gazing into the mirror.
…but… it wasn't.
Not really.
There was a giant flower sprouting from between his shoulder blades, completely white aside from the pinkish tips and a large red dot in the very center.
Each petal looked like an eye.
A single petal was as long as her arm, delicately rounded and milky white.
From his left shoulder extended a thin, papery purple wing. His other shoulder did not have one, so it did it even serve a purpose at all?
The rest of him was clearly visible from his reflection in the mirror, though he didn't seem to recognize her presence yet.
Three large, vertical Kishin eyes were open across his chest and stomach, the pupils moving, as if they had a mind of their own. Oddly enough, his robe was white; blending into black at the feet and wrists.
A small version of the flower on his back sprouted from the top of his right shoulder, looking out-of-place against his pink hair. More, tiny flowers covered the vines extending from the end of his robe, as they covered the room's walls, floor, and ceiling.
She was frozen in dumbfounded terror.
Crona's fingers were long, coming at the tips in sharp points, almost like talons. One of the claws tapped absent-mindedly at his shark-like fangs, his tongue lolling lazily from his mouth. He was uncaring to the saliva that dripped from the corners of his lips, more attentive in staring at himself in the mirror with an irritated frown.
His eyes were the worse.
The right one was open wide in a blank stare.
Literally, blank.
There was no pupil.
The eye was shrouded in shadows, not reflecting any light, as if it had dried out in its socket.
The opposite one was half-shut, lines of darkness etched beneath it, signs of many sleepless nights. The iris was icy blue, but shrunken; wild and insane-looking. The pupil was spiked, like a ball of thorns.
He was…
…there was no fitting word.
Maka screamed.
Crona's attention jerked from the reflection, and his single functional eye met hers, trembling in shock.
"MAKA!"
His shout sounded like many voices overlapping each other, many of them familiar to Maka. These were the voices of people she knew, but only one of them was actually Crona.
He stepped towards her, and it only made her screams louder.
She was terrified.
His destroyed eye flickered, replaced by another- one that was narrow, golden, and serious.
…Kid's eye?
It changed again, being replaced by a blood-red one.
…Soul?
It began to rapidly change, as if it were sorting, looking for a particular one that suited its best interest. It stopped as it found the one it was trying for.
Crona's.
Finally, she understood.
This was his true form, the one Kid had suggested.
The true Kishin.
"Get the fuck out of here!" he screamed at her as his voice flickered back to the one she marched with the name 'Crona'. "GET OUT!"
She realized that he was yelling in attempt to drown out the screaming that still poured from her lips.
Crona's claws changed back to hands as he bodily shoved her out of the doorway, forcing her to leave. She fell back onto her rear, in a shrieking mess.
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!" he commanded, vines moving and slamming the door shut when she was out of the way. All of the plant matter withdrew from the hall and slid back under the door, disappearing.
"AHH, SHIT!" he yowled, crashes ringing out from the opposite side of the door. "You ruined it, Maka! You ruined EVERYTHING! Didn't the front door close?! Didn't you leave with Soul?! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE HOME!"
There was an unexpected, shrill laugh.
"I'M SUCH AN IDIOT!"
Then, silence.
Maka remained motionless, eyes wide and lips parted in shock as she stared at the closed door.
She was not meant to see that.
Plus, she had reacted in the worst way possible, her disgust showing through.
If past experience meant anything, she knew that having her scream in terror at his mere appearance was going to send him into an extremely sour mood.
…but…
He was…
…she couldn't help it. That… deformity… was too much.
Finally moving, she put her face in her shaky palms, shoulders heaving as tears began to form.
Maka cried.
A/N- I figured out a more efficient way for me to write, so you'll be getting more frequent updates if this works out for me. See you very soon!