Chapter 7

"Do you see anyone?" Soul asked as Maka closed her eyes.

"There are a few humans down there but that's it. I'm not sensing any witches."

"Unless they have soul protect." Soul replied. "We can check the area real quick." Maka nodded and closed her eyes, focusing on the souls once again. Those watching couldn't see what was going on but Maka's eyes flew open and she turned just in time to be kicked in the face.

"Oh my!" Margot said covering her face as she watched. Maka pulled Soul back in place and they took back to the air.

"You okay?" Soul asked as she landed on a roof.

"Yeah." She looked around, taking a stance. "That soul wasn't there before."

"Did you see through any soul protects?"

Maka nodded. "Yeah, every single one here is a witch."

"Well it looks like we've been found." A laugh came making them turn to see a tall figure dressed in a flowing black dress. "You're from the DWMA." She paused and looked at Maka. "I think I'll have fun with this one."

"So, will I." Maka narrowed her eyes as the witch charged and the fight began. Spirit looked at George when Maka was thrown to the ground and Soul transformed blocking an attack with scythe arms, giving Maka time to stand back up. The witch twisted and sliced into Soul's arm making him wince, but he continued to fight back, stopping her from getting through to Maka who had just stood back up. They reached for each other as he transformed again, and she continued the motion sending the witch crashing to the ground.

Before they could bring their guard up they were hit with a magical punch sending them toppling off the roof and to the hard ground below. "Stein. Death Scythe." Kid said as the partners were surrounded by witches. The two merely nodded and were off as Maka fought we way through the mass, trying to get to safety. They managed to get away but had to stop and hide as Maka's leg was dripping blood.

"We need to stop the bleeding before it gives a trail right to us." Soul said transforming to hold her up and get into a side building where she ripped her jacket and had him tie it around the wound with a wince.

"How's your arm?" She asked looking at the gash that was caked with black blood.

"It'll be fine. The black blood stopped the bleeding." He told her, looking up at her face. "You going to be okay?" She gave a nod and smiled at him, reaching out to touch his face. "We should have just gotten out when we were spotted."

"She would have just followed us." Maka shook her head. "We'll be okay. We've fought against Arachne and the Kishin, we'll be fine against some regular old witches."

Soul smirked as he rested his head against hers. "You're the coolest partner." She giggled softly as they sat a moment longer, taking a breath. "You ready? We'll get a little farther then send the call in for back up." She nodded and he stood, pulling her with him as he transformed again and they made their way out of the building, trying to find the way to the edge of the village but ended up running into witches every way they turned. Soon they were trapped in a circle again.

"Soul…" Maka said looking at the scythe. "What's going on?" She furrowed her brow before looking at the witches. "Stop it!" Soul transformed beside her holding his chest. "Soul?"

"They're messing with blood." He huffed as if he wasn't getting enough air. He closed his eyes a moment before he took Maka's arm. "You need to get out of here. Call for back up but run."

She shook her head. "Soul I'm not leaving you." She said as the sound of chanting slowly came through the mirror to those watching.

"Kid, maybe we should turn this off." Liz said making him look at Soul's family who stood watching terrified. Kid paused the screen and silenced the sound as Liz turned to Jason with a small smile. "Hey Jason, did Maka show you the music room?" The boy shook his head afraid. "It's one of Soul and Maka's favorite places to hide, they think we don't know but we know." She smiled. "would you like to see it?" The boy nodded. "Okay, come on, you're going to be amazed at how big this room is with all the different instruments. We could start our own music stuff." She said as she took his hand and led him from the death room with Patty beside her.

Once Jason was gone Kid moved and let the picture resume with sound. Maka was holding onto soul as he gasped and held his chest. "Maka, we can't fight out of this one. I can't hold it much longer, but I will get you out of here."

"I'm not leaving without you Soul." Maka said as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Soul…"

Soul hunched over and grunted in pain. "I love you." He said softly before he tore from her, letting the black blood release a little as he swung around trying to take as many witches as he could, making a path to let Maka escape, but he didn't get far before Maka was caught in the side with a blade from a witch and the changing got louder forcing Soul to the ground.

"Come on." Kid said watching, angry that he couldn't do anything. "Come on." George watched stunned as Margot turned to hide her face in his chest. Maka pushed up, her clothes covered in blood as she puled herself over to where the Witches began encircling Soul as he cried out, withering in pain on the ground. Suddenly several witches screeched, and it was as if lightning struck. "Finally." Kid let out a breath. Stein and Spirit were in the middle of the fight, using blade and soul to get the witches running. As they went after the partners another screech came. Kid smirked as they found Kim and Jackie fighting from another point, and Sid and Nygus at another, the witches knew they had lost. The witch who had attacked first went to grab Soul only to have Maka lunge at her. Even with the blood loss and the pain, Maka continued to fight until Stein and her father reached them. The witches scattered as Maka dropped back down beside Soul as he withered in pain.

"Maka…" Spirit said as fear gripped his heart seeing all the blood.

"I'll be fine. Kim can heal it." She reached out, placing her pale forehead against Soul's. "It's over. We're safe." She said as she released her wavelength letting a blue glow roll over the area. Soul relaxed and looked at her as she gave a small smile before they both passed out.

"Kim!" Spirit called as he pulled Maka to lay flat. Kim nodded and started healing the gash and other major injuries before she turned to Soul and did the same.

"They're stable." She said with a sigh.

"We need to get them back." Stein said as he knelt beside Soul. Kid touched the mirror turning it off.

"Will they be okay?" Margot asked as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Kid paused. "I don't know." He answered. "They're strong, they should be alright, but the witches were doing something to Soul's black blood and it had an effect on Maka's wavelength. We won't know the effects until he wakes up. I'll take you to the infirmary, but you'll need to wait until they've been cleared for visitors before you can see them." They nodded and followed Kid through the school arriving a half hour before Spirit carried Maka in his arms, his clothes now stained with her blood and stein behind him with Soul in his arms, he was covered in black spatter.

Kid followed them in. "How are they?" He asked as the door was shut.

"You're Soul's family?" Sid asked looking at the three. "You look just like him." He said to Wes before he crossed his arms. "They're strong. They'll both be fine. Stein is in there with Nygus and Kim, the three of them are the best there are." The three nodded and looked back at the door, all settling in to wait for any news.

It took an hour and a half before the door opened and Kid waved them in. Soul was sitting on the side of his bed facing Maka's bed where she sat holding her side. "I could only heal so much so I stopped the bleeding and healed everything life threatening, the rest will be up to you." Maka nodded, thanking her.

"What happened?" Kid asked.

"That soul wasn't there when I first checked and it was there only a moment later when we were about to break the soul protects." Maka said. "Whoever that witch is, she came from nothing."

"What about the black blood?" Stein asked.

Soul shook his head. "I don't know. It's like they were calling it to the surface and then ripping it out." He shook his head again as his hand went to his chest remembering the pain. "Even with Crona, I've never felt that before."

"Could they have gotten a hold of new information on it?" Spirit wondered. "Medusa activated it, she sent it on rages, but she never ripped it from you or Crona."

"Unless we find out, the black blood is only going to cause trouble." Maka said. "I couldn't get my wavelength out until you were able to stop them." She looked at the others before looking at Soul. "Whatever they've got their hands on, it draws it out but also puts a block on anything interfering."

"So, your soul isn't able to stop it." Stein mused as Maka shook her head worried.

"You were also hurt badly, they could have a factor in it." Spirit noted as Maka shrugged.

Kid listened to their talk before he took a breath. "Regardless we have information about what they're doing and how much danger you're in." Everyone looked at him. "Until we figure out what their doing to the blood and how to counter it, you're grounded." Maka and Soul nodded, to worn out to argue. Kid, Kim, Nygus, Sid and Stein left the room leaving the two and their families.

Soul pushed to his feet and walked over to sit next to Maka, letting her lean on him. "Will you be alright?" Margot asked.

Soul nodded. "We'll be fine with some rest."

"Don't push it." Spirit said from the side looking at Soul. Whatever they did it was more than just a few hits and done." Soul looked at him, Maka decided to just stay quiet and lay her head on Soul's shoulder. "Just be careful." Soul gave a hard nod.

"We're going to have to meet up with you tomorrow to finish the tour and talks." Soul said as he stood up. "Come on." He said softly as he helped Maka stand, wrapping and arm around her waist, careful of her wound. He helped her from the room and off to home.

"They looked so hurt." Margot said looking after her son and daughter in law.

"They're hurt more than they let on." Spirit sighed crossing his arms. "They never like a fuss being made over their injuries but Soul's probably right. Some rest and they'll be better." He looked around. "Where's Jason?"

"One of the women who were with us in the death room took him to see the music room." Wes said.

Spirit smirked. "I'll take you there." Margot and George decided to leave and go to their hotel instead, leaving Wes with Spirit. "Maka calls it their safe spot." Spirit smirked as they walked. "Soul doesn't play for everyone, the only time he does is when they're using one of their abilities in a battle, other than that this is their hideaway where he plays for her." He explained as he opened the door seeing Liz and Patty playing random instruments as Jason giggled at them. Suddenly all sound stopped.

"Soul and Maka?" Liz asked.

"They're heading home to rest." Spirit said as Jason ran to Wes who looked around. The room was filled with instruments, but they were all on one side of the room while the other held a single piano. "They think we don't know." Spirit smirked again seeing Wes notice the set up. "We should call it a night for now." Everyone nodded the sisters went back to Kid while Spirit walked Jason and Wes to the hotel before he went back to the academy to talk with stein and help find a way to keep the two partners safe.

Four days later Maka and Soul walked from the school to see Jason and the others standing in front. Jason held a couple books in his arms as he looked worried. "You'll be fine." Wes said. "Just remember, chin up and work hard. If you try you'll do great things."

"I say just have fun." Soul smirked as he leaned on one of the pillars as Maka grinned beside him.

"I thought you two were still hurt." Margot asked as she ran over to hug him. Soul winced and glanced at Maka unsure how to react.

"We are." Soul mumbled making her pull away apologizing. "We're still healing but we're good enough to at least see Jason off on his first day at the DWMA." He looked back at his nephew. "We'll show you the rope for the first day."

"We're going to help Miss Marie with teaching the kids about their abilities as a weapon and a meister, so we'll be there for you for a bit." She smiled at Jason as he walked over. "You ready to learn how to be cool?" he ginned and nodded. "Okay, then let's go." She held her hand out and he took it. Maka and Jason turned to walk into the academy with a smirking Soul behind them.

"He'll be okay." Margot said as she grabbed Wes' hand. The two shard a smile as they looked at George who looked like he wanted to say something, like he was worried about Soul, but he refused to say anything. "Well let's go see the city while we wait for the day to be over." The three left, leaving Jason in Soul and Maka's hands.

"Okay, Soul will be working with you and the other weapons, he can be annoying sometimes but he is really smart with this, so you learn all you can." Maka said making Jason nod as Maka walked over to the other side of the room.

"Pain in the ass." Soul said as Maka walked passed him earning him a playful glare and she stuck her tongue out at him making him grin at her. Marie finished her talk and asked the meister and weapon to start their training.