Spirit slowly walked up to the large metal laboratory doors. He stood in front of one, loathing the thoughts that traveled through his head. Stein, you're going to need help through this... And I have a feeling this help will not be pleasant for any of us at all. Spirit knocked on the door a few times, although it was common courtosy to knock and wait for someone to answer the door, he knew it was kind of pointless. Stein sensed his soul before Spirit had even knocked. "Come in," a plain voice called from inside the laboratory. Death Scythe took a deep breath before he reached his hand to the door knob and twisted it. He took a step in with a dark feeling in his gut, wondering what he would find inside.

The harsh, coppery smell of blood invaded his nostrils and his eyes grew slightly larger. Death Scythe took another few steps into the laboratory living room, noticing all of the blood trails. "Stein?" Spirit called as he followed the trail that led into the clinic. He took a look around the small den, finding drops of blood on the floor next to a medical table and a dried spot of the red liquid on the floor next to the wall, probably where someone with blood-soaked clothes were sitting. Spirit's eyes narrow and his nose crinched slightly at the smell. "Stein?" He called again as he left the clinic and followed another blood trail: the one that led to the bathroom.

Something about this trail screamed something at him. Spirit didn't know what it was, but he got a very bad feeling off of it. He took slow strides, not wanting to know where this trail led. It seemed thicker, as if more blood had been spilled here. Spirit turned into the hallway, still following the trail, his heart beat getting faster and faster, until he finally reached the bathroom door. The blood trail continued beyond the door; He knew he needed to know what was inside, Marie could be dying in there. Spirit took a deep breath then turned the cold metal door knob. The door swung open slowly, revealing more blood on the bathroom floor until it hit the wall and stopped. Death Scythe gasped and took a step back.

Stein sat in the middle of a large pool of liquid crimson, one leg out stretched, the other bent upward. His elbow rested on his knee and he used the bottom of the palm of his hand to support his head. Stein didn't respond, only sat in despair and guilt. "My god, Stein... What did you do?" Spirit whispered as he stared in horror at his former meister. His grey- haired head slowly picked up to reveal something Spirit had never seen before: Stein was crying. His eyes were red, his hands were trembling, and several tears were rolling down his pale cheeks.

"I'm sorry..." Stein said as he exhaled; His voice was so shaky. "I'm so sorry," he repeated.

"Stein, where is Marie?" Spirit asked quickly, his voice low. Stein's brow furrowed and he lowered his head half way. "Stein!"

"She's in her room... Just take a left and go all the way down the hall." His voice was so small and sad, it took Spirit's horror and doubled it. Since when did Stein ever feel this much emotion? Death Scythe quickly left the blood-soaked Stein and bathroom and nearly ran down down the dark hall. At least there were no blood trails there. The door was already open by a few inches, but he still knocked as he pushed the door open further. The scent of coconuts, strawberries and vanilla mixed with the smell of the essence of life: blood.

Marie looked as if she were about to fall asleep, but her eye slowly opened and she picked her head up. She actually looked quite relieved to see him. "Hey, Marie," Death Scythe said soothingly as he went to her bedside. Stein... What the hell did you do? She's so pale...

"Hi, Spirit..." her whispered voice trailed off as she looked up at him. She tried to sit up, but the wound in her abdomen sent hot flashes of pain throughout her and refrained her from doing so. Marie lay back again and groaned.

Spirit's hand was already on her arm, ready to help her in any way he could. "Hey, hey, stop. It's alright, just relax and rest." he said as his hand lightly pressed down, signifying he wanted her to not strain herself. "Relax," he whispered again. Damn, if this situation were just a little different, you'd think I were trying to get in her pants. Crap, stop thinking like that! Spirit mentally scolded hisself. Fortunately, Marie hadn't noticed any sign of his bad thinking. He crouched and sat on the balls of his feet with one hand on the edge of the bed, the other on Marie's pale hand. She feels cold... Spirit reached for the blanket and pulled it up, making sure it covered her entire body all the way up to the upper half of her chest.

"Thank you," Marie's small voice broke. Her eye was beginning to water, and Spirit was instantly sitting on the bed next to her, leaning on the pillows. He then slid his forearm under her neck and planted his hand on her shoulder, then scooted closer to her, trying to comfort to hurt and frightened woman. No tears had fallen just yet, but they were very close to spilling over and he knew it.

"Marie, I need you to tell me what happened..." Death Scythe's voice trailed off. Damn it! That was too soon. Although, Marie surprised him with an answer just a few moments later.

"Well, I came into the living room, and he was slipping... I tried to bring him out of it, but I was too late. He was falling too fast..." Marie's voice broke and her tears finally escaped her amber eye. "I tried to save him, but I couldn't."

Death Scythe continued to soothe her by stroking her cheek and tightening his grip on her shoulder. "I know, it's alright." He waited a long moment, debating whether or not he should press her for more information. I could ask Stein, but who knows what he really remembers... But then, he did clean her up, so I'm assuming he would know. Spirit made up his mind. He couldn't ask her anything more about what happened. It was too much of a sensitive topic, especially at the period in time they were in. Spirit looked down at Marie, not wanting to leave her side. This was a hurt woman who needed comfort. Of course he would be the one to do the comforting. But still, he needed to find out what happened so he could report back to Shinigami. Spirit waited till Marie stopped crying, then he wiped away her tears. "Hey, I need to go talk to Stein and figure everything out. I'll be back before I leave, alright?" Death Scythe said to her with a reassuring look into her amber eye. Marie nodded and inhaled. Spirit caught her completely off gaurd by gently kissing her on the forehead. If she were not hurt and suffering from blood loss, she probably would have been dumbfounded. Spirit stood from the bed and smiled at her before he left the room.

Death Scythe began his walk down the hallway, not wanting to look into the bathroom again. But if Stein was there, he needed to know. Without stopping, Spirit quickly scanned the bloody scene for any sign of Stein. No one there. Thank God... Spirit turned the corner into the living room where he found the grey-haired man sitting on the couch. His shoulders were slumped forward, his legs were spread apart and his hands were hanging limply between his thighs with his head dropped. Death Scythe took slow, average sized steps toward the scientist. When he reached the couch, he took a seat next to him and exhaled heavily through his nose.

"I need to know what happened." Spirit said simply. He tried to use no emotion, figuring it might help Stein somehow. However, his tactic failed in a result of Stein not responding. "Stein, I need to know." When the professor still said nothing, Spirit got impatient and raised his voice. "Stein!"

"I stabbed her, alright?! What else could I have done to make her lose so much blood?!" Stein's voice was harsh and somewhat violent. But behind it all was raw guilt.

"Where?" Death Scythe's voice was now calmer and lower.

"Upper thigh and abdomen. There are also several cuts around her body." Although the scientist's voice was now much calmer, there was still guilt and self disgust. There was a long moment of silence and Stein leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees with his head in his hands. "I hurt her, Spirit. You saw her. You saw all of the blood... That pool that I was sitting in in the bathroom was her blood. That is Marie's blood... She says she forgives me, but how could she? How could she even want me anywhere near her...? I don't understand, Spirit..."

"I do." His words were so short and simple, but it got Stein's full attention. "She loves you, man. I'm sure you know this by now. Any old fool could figure it out, even you. Marie has loved you ever since we were students at the academy."

"Yes, yes, I know that. But what I don't get is why? Why would she still love me? She said that love is not something that can simply go away or be replaced. But I am still stuck in the same place, trying to figure out why it can't just go away." Stein sat up and looked at his former weapon. "Why can't Marie just stop loving me and go somewhere else, somewhere safe? Why is her love so strong?"

Death Scythe took a long look in Stein's eyes, knowing that he was completely confused and lost. The weapon smiled and took and breathed in. "I don't know."

Stein's expression was now really confused, even more so than before. "You don't know? How could you not? You of all people, how could you not know?"

"To be honest, Stein, I don't think anyone knows. Love has always been the most complicated thing in the universe."

"No, the human brain is the most complicated thi-"

"Stein," Spirit cut him off, "Even love is more complicated. You know how I know that?" He paused, watching as Stein looked at him intensely, wondering what his answer could be. "I know that love is more complicated because you don't understand it. You know how the human brain works, you know what it needs, how it processes. But you don't know anything about love. You don't get how it can withstand anything, even something like this." Death Scythe spread his hands out, palm up, in gesture to the blood soaked laboratory. Stein dipped his head and exhaled. "It's alright to not understand something. Especially something that everyone has been trying to fully understand ever since the universe was created."

A long silece drifted between them. Stein seemed as if he were on edge with his leg shaking and his breathing quick. "What are you thinking?" Spirit asked him.

Another short silence followed before Stein spoke his mind. "What is going to happen to me?"

Spirit's brow furrowed and he turned his head slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what is Lord Death going to do? Obviously with my current state I shouldn't be teaching anymore, and I shouldn't be able to be alone in the lab. What is Lord Death going to make me do?"

Death Scythe's expression grew a bit dark. "I'm not sure... But I do need to report back to him."

"I understand." Stein's expression was very sad, he looked as if his guilt had only tripled in size.

Spirit rested his hand on the professor's shoulder. "I'll tell you as soon as I get some imformation on what is going on, ok?" Stein nodded. "Alright. Well I should get going then. I'm gonna go say goodbye to Marie then head out." Death Scythe said as he stood. Stein nodded again.

"Thanks, Spirit."

"No problem." Death Scythe replied as he made his way back to Marie's room. When he got there, the woman was asleep. Spirit's expression grew even darker, and his chest felt as if it had pressure on it. He went to her bedside and began stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. "I'll see you soon, Marie."

Hey sorry for a boring chapter, but as always, it will mean something in the future plot. If you have any ideas, please let me know. It would help me out a lot because I need some! Thanks for reading as far as you have :) -Mikshizels