What was real? What wasn't? Soul didn't know anymore.
'Maka' visited every now and then, cutting him open with her scythe arm, talking about the battle over and over. Soul didn't know what messed him up most, the physical or mental abuse.
"Soul," There she was again. Or at least, the foul image of her. "Soul! Your Maka is back!"
Soul grunted. "Don't you dare pretend you are Maka. You're nothing like my meister."
"Oh the loyalty is boundless. Even in death. It's almost touching." Maka appeared in Soul's field of vision. She wore a short, more revealing version of the dress Maka wore in the Black Room. When her gloved hand touched Soul, he felt a stinging pain run through him. "But I know what you really wanted."
Soul shuddered. "You don't know anything about me."
Maka shook her head. "You seem to forget we are in your head Soul. I know everything about you. Your memories, your feelings," She took another step to him. Her face only inches apart from his neck. "Your desires."
Soul kept quiet, not willing to give in. But he knew he was screwed.
"You wanted your meister to be yours. You were in love with her. But you didn't make a move on her because of her distrust in men." Maka tried to look Soul in the eye but the Scythe averted his gaze elsewhere. "Little did you know she was in love with you as well."
Soul's head snapped back. "Stop it." he growled. Don't go there, he begged. Don't give me these lies.
"I'm not lying pretty boy. Your meister was head over heels for you."
Soul's fight or flight instinct kicked in, this time choosing the fighting side. As far as he could fight from his restrains. "I swear to Death I will kill you."
Meredith/Maka seemed unimpressed. "Until then, want to watch a movie?" What the fuck?
A white screen rose from the floor, starting to show images and short videos of Maka, his Maka, when she was alive and happy and smiling.
And then Soul knew, the mental abuse was far more worse than the physical.
Maka wandered through the many hallways. Why this place again? She thought with gritted teeth. The memory of Crona dying in her arms flashed before her eyes but she didn't let it falter her steady pace. It only made her resolve on finding Soul stronger. I will not lose my weapon! Not again!
"Maka over here!" Death the Kid shouted.
Maka looked up and saw the young Shinigami crouched over something laying on the floor. When she joined him she felt blood leave her face. Blood.
Not normal blood. No, this was black blood. "Soul." she mumbled stunned.
"He shouldn't be far now. The blood is fresh." Kid said, ever so professional.
"Maka, stay focused."
Maka didn't know she was breathing heavy until her father pulled her out of her daze. Black blood was never a good thing. What was going on with Soul? Was he alright? Did the Red Demon take over? Or worse...?
"Maka!" Kid shook the younger meister a couple of times. "Your father's right, stay focused. You can't lose it now that Soul is so close."
Maka shook her head to clear it. "You're right, I'm sorry."
Kid nodded in understanding. "I know you're worried about him." He said ever so patiently. "We all are. But we will find him. We're so close now."
Maka nodded too. "Thanks Kid."
Kid gave her a little smile and the straightened up. The sound of running footsteps made the two turn around. Black*Star was catching up, big grin on his face.
"They stood no chance against a god like me!" he cheered when he joined Maka and Kid.
Maka couldn't help but chuckle. She couldn't believe she was thinking this – and would never admit it out loud to him – but she kind of missed Black*Star's shenanigans.
The team set their course, following the trail of blood. They reached a closed door, leading to the grand room where Medusa had taken hiding.
The door was closed and when Maka tried to slam it open with her shoulder, it didn't even budge.
"Move aside peasants." Black*Star said. He took a couple of steps back and then started to run to the door.
When he almost reached the door he jumped and threw his full body weight in it. At first it didn't look like it was any use, but then cracks started to form in the door.
Soon it crumbled apart, ending as a pile of rubble on the floor.
The team – Maka and Kid in person and Spirit and the Thompson sisters from their weapon form – looked with amazement at the ninja. Tsubaki – still in her weapon form – beamed with pride.
"Oh don't act so surprised!" Black*Star shouted and then took off.
Maka and Kid followed suit.
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Holy crap this took me forever! I'm so sorry! I'm very busy with my new school and my job... I hope it'll get better very soon. Thank you for sticking around and I hope I'll post a new chapter very soon.
Let me know what you think about it!