Chapter 9: A New Couple?

Stein POV

A/N: I know changing things up again. Filler chapter, sorry guys, more action soon I promise!

I was standing in my classroom, thoughts swirling madly in my head. Dayna rushed in, told me all about Lord Death and her promise to him and everything that had happened in the Death Room, and then ran off leaving the words "Meet in the library ASAP" ringing in the air. I was puzzled, why would Lord Death make Dayna of all people promise her this? I walked out of the room, still puzzled with the prospect. I soon reached the library, flashed the librarian my card, and immediately went to the restricted section.

I ran my finger over the spine of the books, glancing quickly at the titles. I pulled a book down labelled "The Life of the Kishin Asura" with the small writing on the side reading "Journal Entries Included". I opened it to one of the entries and began reading.

"Dear Journal,

Today, the 16th of September, we fought in the country of Russia, against forty kishin eggs who had formed a cult, making more Kishins until we stopped them. In the middle of the battle, I experienced another momentary loss of control of my mind. The side of me that I hated came out, the bloodthirsty one. Even my father doesn't know, but I believe that this side of me is an entirely different person. He forces his way out, and destroys everything in his path. I keep getting looks from my fellow warriors when I finally forced my control back, realizing my hands were covered in blood, and it was splashed down the front of me.

I realized then that I am slowly losing control of my own body. This isn't me, the one who doesn't have honour. I met a Soul Seer after the battle, and asked if she had ever heard of anything like this, since I had decided maybe it had something to do with my soul. She saw my soul, and then backed away from me slowly.

"You only have half a soul boy. Half! The other is being filled in with deadly madness." She claimed, pointing a shaky finger at me.

I wonder how long I have until my mad side finally breaks itself out of its prison in my mind, and permanently takes control?

Asura"

I read it again, puzzled by what I had found. I had read half this book, but never finished it, it's clear I need to reread and finish it. I heard multiple sets of feet running into the library and causally stepped out, leaning against a wall with the book under my arm. There was a set of armchairs with a coffee table in the middle, right next to me, and Dayna, Justin, and Sidney rushed to them, sitting down. I pushed myself off the wall, slumped in a chair, letting the book fall to my lap. All of the heads turned to me, tensed, then they relaxed.

"So, anyone care to explain why I am suddenly part of your little friend group?" I said, leaning my head on my arm.

"Lord Death has charged us with the task of figuring something out. Stein?" Dayna said, and I turned my head to her. "I have briefed these two on whats going on, has Lord Death contacted you?"

I shook my head, and removed cigarettes, and lite one. The librarian opened his mouth, I glared at him, and he shrank back.

"Lord Death has informed me about Asura's life story. I have noticed lately, when observing his children while they fight, that Miyu has momentarily lost control and fought with a thirst for drawing blood. So I have a theory, about this, and Lord Death wants us to figure out if it's true. Asura went completely mad right? And he was a direct descendant of Lord Death himself, a physical form of grief from Lord Death's soul. I call Lord Death's soul the parent soul, and now he has had two more children, relieving fear, as Death the Kid, and the grief of losing his firstborn son, creating Miyu. Souls do not like to be divided, we know that for a fact. Yet they cannot leave this world in pieces, so it becomes a physical form, but they are still only pieces. My theory is that the souls are slowly driven mad with only being a piece, and searches desperately for its other pieces. Miyu's soul is going mad, trying to figure out where the pieces are, and madness is beginning to take over. Kid's soul is more concerned it's incomplete, enough to actually drive his brain to believing OCD is the right frame of mind. Essentially, he is being driven to OCD by the fact that his soul is only a piece. We need to figure out a way to stop it before it actually happens!" She explained, and I pondered the idea.

"It makes sense, here read this passage right here.." I said, opening the book to the journal entry I just read, putting it on the coffee table in front of them. "And I will go try to find some more books to help us!"

I rushed off, putting out my cigarette on the way, excited to finally be doing something challenging. Teaching was becoming a habit, exploration of unknown ideas is my true desire. I ran blindly into the aisle, distracted, and plowed straight into someone. I rubbed my head, having bumped it on the other persons, and glanced to see who I had pretty much tackled, and were greeted by a caramel eye, looking confused. Marie, the beautiful Death Scythe...

"Oops! Sorry Stein!" Marie giggled, and I snapped out of my lovesick gaze.

"I apologize, all my fault. Are you hurt?" I said, getting up and offering my hand.

"No, nothing hurts, I'm good!" She took my hand, got up, and offered me a sweet smile, and then spoke, something in her voice hinted another meaning. "So what has you in such a hurry? Off to find a book?"

"You heard everything didn't you?" I said, rolling my eyes.

"Yes, sorry! I didn't mean too then I got interested and curious and then I heard absolutely everything! I'm sorry!" She said, looking sheepish.

"It's fine Marie, Lord Death won't mind. In fact want to help me find some books?" I said, and her head shot up, her one eye shining.

"Of course! Anything for you Stein!" She said, and then realized what she had said and quickly added something else. "And of course, for the DWMA's sake!"

I turned quickly, hiding the blush tinting my cheeks. No Stein, you don't blush! I resumed the search, pulling out certain books and laying them in a pile at the end of the aisle, Marie doing the same. I accidentally dropped a book and reached down to grab it, at the exact same moment Marie said "I got it!" and reached down to get it also. We grabbed it at the same time, large hand laying over small hand. Sparks flew, and we quickley stood up. When we were standing our proper heights, we were nose to nose. She gasped, her eye running slowly over my face as I did the same to her. Something came over me and I found myself kissing her. I heard a bang as the book we held dropped to the floor. Her lips responded, gently kissing me back. My nerves tingled all over my body, my heart began racing, and my hand came up to caress her cheek. She laid her gentle hand on the back of my neck, as we pulled away, breathing heavily. We were still in the aisle, me leaning against the shelf, Marie pressed against me her arms around my neck, mine around her waist. She glanced up at me, and smiled ear to ear, her eye sparkling. I became lost in it's depths

"Marie, I don't know if this...thing...between us could work..." I trialed off, unsure about how to continue.

"What do you mean?" She said, looking eye to eye with me.

"I have a lot wrong with me, and I feel like that will be to much of a burden-"

"No, and don't ever say burden again!" Marie cut me off. "People who like each other and want a relationship fight for each other. If you are willing to tell me what you feel is wrong with you, I will fight to change that!"

"Well, my dissection urges..."

"I have a calming soul wavelength. Have you felt an urge to dissect when I am around?"

"Well...no."

"See? We can do this!" She intertwined our hands and held them up to me. "I believe in you Stein."

"Marie, I like you a lot. I am inexperienced in this type of thing, I have never had a romantic relationship-"

"What?" Marie cut me off again, and stared at me in disbelief.

"All through my childhood girls were to scared of me to even make friends, let alone like me. So, you may have to teach me everything from scratch about this."

"A relationship is all about learning, I have no problem with that. We will make it Stein, I am sure of it!" Marie smiled at me, and I quickly pecked her lips again.

"We should probably inform Lord Death..." Marie trailed off, walking away til I pulled her back by her hand.

"After this...Marie, will you be my girlfriend?" I said, and she squealed.

"YES! See? You did the first thing right!" She kissed my cheek, then dragged me by my hand to the end of the aisle, picking up about half the books. "Come on, we will give these to the others then go see Lord Death!"

I picked up my books and we both walked to the table, placing all the books down. Dayna and Justin were deep in...flirting with each other while Sidney stared at the book in a deep concentration. Their heads snapped up to me when they heard the books being placed on the table.

"Hey Marie!" Sidney waved, and Marie greeted her.

"Stein, you took an awful long time finding the book..." Justin looked suspiciously between Marie and I, and I tensed up.

"Justin, it's probably nothing! Anyways, ready to dive into our...study?" Dayna said, looking expectantly at me.

"We have to go talk to Lord Death about...things. Be back soon!" Marie said, waved, and dragged me away by the hand.

Justin caught onto the gesture and wolf whistled and I blushed. Marie and I walked quickly to the Death Room, knocking, entering and walking down the long hallway. Marie grabbed my hand and we held each others, my heart racing at her touch. We put our intertwined hands behind our backs, hiding the evidence until the right time. We walked to Lord Death's platform and saw Lord Death calmly drinking tea, lost in memories I can assume.

"Greetings Lord Death!" I said, bowing and Marie doing the same, echoing my words.

"Hey! Hi! Hello! And what's up, what's up, what's up?!" Lord Death responded, waving his large hand at us. "Come in, and have tea with me Marie and Stein!"

"Actually, we have to get back to researching but Stein and I have something to tell you..." Marie said, squeezing my hand behind our backs.

"We...are..." I choked up, and Lord Death tilted his head.

"We're in a relationship!" Marie squealed, and then calmed down. "If that's ok?"

"Of course, and good for you guys! I knew it would happen, the tension between you two, about time you did something my friends!" Lord Death said. "Now go back, I am assuming you told her Stein?"

"She heard by herself." I said, and Marie giggled.

"Didn't mean to, but my cursed curiosity was piqued, and I had too." Marie laughed, and Lord Death chuckled.

"Anyways you two, go back to studying, and good for you guys! I have a fantastic restaurant if you want to take her somewhere Stein, someone I know quite well!" Lord Death said, then his tone changed. "Back on topic, please do try and solve this. Marie, you will be relieved from your duties in this school to help the group out, if you don't mind of course!"

" I will help, why shouldn't I? We will try our best!" Marie and I said in unison, walking back down the hall, and I turned to my name being called.

"Hey Stein! C'mere for a second!" Lord Death's voice rang out, and Marie waved me back.

He pressed a piece of paper in my hand, with the words "Lenny's Panini & Pizza", with the address written out. Lord Death shooed me back to Marie, after making me promise I take her there. His voice rang out after I walked away...

"I really need to get myself a girlfriend, all my Death Scythes are finding someone before me! And what is with them all hooking up within a two week period?" Lord Death said to himself and I chuckled.

I tucked the paper in my pocket and rejoined hands with Marie, walking back to the library to begin a long session of studying...