The night grew darker, Death City quietened down for the evening, the DWMA candles illuminating the area, giving the civilians some sense of comfort. Their comfort would soon all be lost however, as Medusa, Eruka and Free began to head toward the city, in hopes for their plan to take over now Asura had fallen, Death was wounded, and hope was everywhere in the city to be taken away from them.
Medusa had found a new body, in a woman almost identical in height at her, of course what with her now controlling the body, her face overrode the previous face on the woman, it was uncanny.
Medusa stopped outside the entrance to the concrete maze, "Eruka, Free" she started, "I trust you know what tasks I've given you and what to do and when?".
Eruka nodded, "Yes Lady Medusa, you've tasked me to lay undercover at the academy much like you months ago, but instead as a teaching assistant".
Medusa grinned, "Good, so you did listen, yes, you'll have your new outfit in that duffle-bag you have with you right now, go into the academy tomorrow morning and apply for the vacancy of the assistant teacher".
Eruka bowed, "As you wish Lady Medusa", Eruka still feared Medusa, what with Medusa's snakes still deep in the confines of her body and muscles, granted fewer than when Medusa first thrust them into her skin.
Medusa turned to Eruka, her face stern and not fooling around, "Remember Eruka, have your soul protect on at all times, and be careful, that Professor Stein deduced me when I was there, it was a close call. I'm putting my faith in you to do this, you know the plan, do you have the blood?".
Eruka pulled out the small syringe, not as big as the one used to revive the Kishin Asura, it fit in Eruka's hand and was well hidden among her. "Yes Lady Medusa, the blood you fabricated to enter one of the students to experience gradual madness. May I ask, who's the one I need to inject?".
Medusa put her hands in her pockets, looking down, "For now, just set your priority on getting into the DWMA, then we'll talk the next phase of the operation".
Eruka understood, "Ok, I'll do it immediately, I will find a place to stay".
Medusa's eyes were still like daggers, "Yes, change into that outfit first, your clothes right now just scream 'Witch'". Medusa moved her attention to Free, "Ok Free, you know what you're to do as well?".
"Yes Ma'am, I gotta find traces of Asura and hope there's some left, for your final phase of the plan".
Eruka raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "How come Free gets a more simple job?", sounding like a younger sibling getting the short end of the stick.
Medusa scowled at Eruka, "Free gets a simple job, but it's difficulty in finding any traces of Asura can be exceedingly high. Why, he may not find any traces of Asura at all! Your plan isn't too difficult Eruka, you have a set path. Free has to travel across the city looking for his objective".
Eruka was silenced, Medusa walked forward a bit, "Good, now, come dawn we set our plan to action" she said giggling.
Free scratched his beard, "Wait, what're you gonna do?" hoping that wouldn't provoke his leader.
"Me?" Medusa replied, her smirk turning into a full grin, "I'm going to take back what's mine, and regain ourselves and old ally...".
Medusa pulled up her hood, Free did so also, Eruka changed into her more casual attire, she also had to hide the spots on the ends of her mouth. Medusa provided Eruka with an orange summer dress, with white frill ends, also a hat was included, but less like her witch one it was a casual black summer hat for a female.
"Oh and one more thing Eruka" Medusa said, "There's blonde hair dye in there, it'll get rid of that ugly greyish-blue colour of your hair, just keep that in mind". Medusa paused for a bit, "Remember you two, if you get caught, and are in trouble, I am not, repeat, not going to save you. You have to watch yourselves out there, if you fail, I will be disappointed, not only that, but I'll see to the task you've been given, anything to pull this off".
Medusa folded her arms, "Besides, there's not going to be many who'd miss you two anyway, it's not like you have families to worry about".
Eruka lowered her eyes, "Family...".
With Medusa's orders, the three entered Death City, walking off in separate directions to avoid suspicion, come tomorrow, things would change.
Maka got up, full of energy, the sun was still lukewarm, not blazing like a couple days ago, she went straight to her clothes and took out her gift from Soul. "Looks like today's gonna be calm" Maka said looking at her timetable for the week, "Sid's covering for a practical session, then we have Stein for 'Witch Theory'".
Maka put her stuff down on the dining table, making sure everything was accounted for, Soul soon entered, groggy and lethargic, "Morning Soul, sleep well?" Maka asked her partner.
"Ehhph...", Soul collapsed on the sofa and soon began snoring, Maka snapped her fingers in front of his face a few times. "Eh, wha-what?", Soul dribbled slightly.
"Come on Soul, we still have school, don't try and avoid it, you should've gone to bed when I did last night instead of watching that movie that came on after I said, to go to bed!", Maka stood wagging her finger at Soul.
Soul didn't respond, Maka rolled her eyes and went back to arranging herself with her utensils.
Soul got up, "Ok, I'm sorry Maka". Maka didn't turn to Soul, Soul paced back and forth, "I'm sorry, I guess I should listen to you more, but I may be reckless, but I need to make my own decisions too".
Maka realised Soul had a point, but wasn't keen on the tone he was using, "That may be true Soul, but you once told me to look out for my physical health, you should too, you should get enough sleep".
Soul nodded, "Got it, sorry, if anything's up remember, let me know, alright?.
"Yeah, I will", Maka briskly responded, making sure she had all the supplies she'd no doubt need for this academic day.
Soul headed to the door and saw that mail had been delivered, "Hey, looks like the mail's come through, what've we got?". Soul began sifting through the letters, "Me, You, Me, Blair, damn we told them her magazines don't come here anymore! Ugh, what else, hey, looks like a letter for you, from your Dad".
Maka grew irritable, "Don't even refer to him as my father", her tone dark and harsh.
Soul winced, "Hey suit yourself, plus we both got a letter from the academy".
Maka and Soul began to open their mail, Maka received a letter from her 'Papa', Spirit Albarn, who congratulated her on defeating the Kishin. He provided some money in the letter for a few books that she'd been wanting, he priced it up accurately. Not that Maka cared, the way she saw it, it was free money, but she didn't see why he couldn't have just sent a book directly. Still, to her it was better than the gift she got from him last time...
As the two enjoyed the few more minutes before school, a figure walked past their home, Eruka was awfully nervous, but she had cast Soul Protect so no certain meisters could detect her. Everyone she walked by seemed friendly as well, not even suspecting her as a threat, "Perfect" Eruka muttered to herself, this was going smoother than she had been thinking.
Eruka found herself at the academy, the large staircase that lead to it anyway, she wanted to just fly up there with a few tadpoles, but that would blow her cover obviously. She had to approach this like an average, run of the mill teacher. Eruka eventually got to the top, completely out of breath, "Too, many, stairs, r-ribbit", she closed her mouth and covered it with her hands after gasping, "Gotta stop saying that, or I'll be screwed...".
Eruka opened the doors, she saw the ad on the bulletin board for new assistants wanted, walk-in interviews only. Eruka wandered throughout the school, it took her a while before she actually began to find her way around the building, like a new student on their first day, she really felt clueless.
"Where's Death's room?", Eruka still couldn't locate it, she wasn't watching where she was going before she collided with another student, they both fell over with an audible thud.
"Hey! Watch it!" the grating voice said, Eruka had walked into Black*star, who got up and brushed off his clothes, "Woah, you're new, are you a student?" he added, he rubbed his head, "You better have a good excuse to knock me over!".
Eruka was really nervous at this point, a chance for her cover to be blown had shown, "U-uh no, excuse me, I'm just, looking for Death's room, I-I'm applying for the teaching assistant job!".
Black*Star folded his arms, "Yeah, that's easy! Just go to the third floor just above us, when you get to the top take a left and go to the door right at the end, you should face it when you go down there".
Eruka nodded, "T-Thank you, I'll see you soon probably", she stumbled a little and briskly walked away upstairs, quick to get away from the aggressive student.
Tsubaki came around, "Sorry Black*Star I was just getting a copy of the timetable for you, did I hear you shout? Is something the matter?".
Black*Star rubbed his nose, "Nah, it's alright, some clumsy girl walked into me, she was looking for Death's room", he answered quickly, scanning his new timetable, albeit vaguely.
Tsubaki thought to herself for a moment, "She needed to see Lord Death? I wonder who it was...".
Black*Star walked off, "C'mon! We have Sid for out first lesson!". Tsubaki began to wonder about who Black*Star bumped into, thinking if she'd meet her, or if it were for the new assistant job...
Soon everyone was in Sid's class, however he hadn't turned up yet, eventually Spirit came through informing class Crescent Moon Sid was going to be a tad late that morning. After he left, all of the gang began to talk.
"So about that girl you walked into Black*Star" Tsubaki began, "What did she look like?", it was evident her curiosity was piqued.
Black*Star groaned, "Why does it matter? Everyone should focus on me! I'm the star around here...". Everyone seemed to be interested too, no one had joined the academy in a while since Asura's rise. Everyone was giving Black*Star an expecting glare, essentially saying, "Spill it".
Black*Star sat up, "Ugh alright, she was slightly taller than me, had long yellow hair, went down past her shoulders, some summer-hat and an orange dress".
Soul perked up, "Orange huh? Nice colour", Maka had a hint of jealousy when Soul said that, "So what did she want? Or did she just want to see Lord Death?".
The sound of Lord Death made Kid feel awful inside, yet he had to stay strong, he wasn't talkative this morning, for good reason.
Black*Star had no idea, "All I know is she went to Death's room".
Everyone was just as clueless as Black*Star, Maka spoke up, "Maybe she's coming for that assistant job?", everyone responded with an "Ooohh" sound, realising that may be it. Despite Tsubaki thinking the same thing, she hadn't vocalised that point.
Sid entered the room, "Alright, sorry class", the purple zombie, tall and intimidating, came in and placed his clipboard on the desk. "Something cropped up, ehh something about someone coming in for that assistant job, we just had to meet her and see if she's up to the task". Sid's voice was as tough and strong as ever, as well as his stance as he prepared to take attendance. Soul and the others looked at Maka, she was right, Sid carried on, "Anyway if things work out then she'll be starting tomorrow, so when that happens it happens. But as of today we have a lesson, so, let's get to it".
Free wandered the alleys, "Damn, never knew finding traces of a Keshin would be so hard, but I owe her the favour after all". Free picked up a bandage on the floor, "Huh, maybe this could lead me somewhere, I need more, this place is a heck load bigger when you're looking for something specific...".
Medusa hopped off a building and landed in front of Free, startling a little, "Hello Free, is it going well?" Medusa asked, one of her eyes visible looking at him, she seemed relaxed, but knowing Medusa something was on her mind.
Free looked at his findings, "Well, a little bit yeah, sorry, I ain't got much to show...".
Medusa hummed, "It's not a bother, Eruka has done pretty well so far, she made it into the academy, now we just wait to see if she got the job".
Free nodded, "Understood, I'll try my best and I'll continue my search and let you know what I found at the usual place" Free stated.
Medusa replied quickly, "Alright". Medusa went into the shadows, Free carried on his search.
Medusa, trying to keep unseen stayed in an alley to avoid detection, she had more chances of roaming at night.
"Medusa" Eruka said, connecting her mind to Medusa.
"Eruka, how did it go?", Medusa asked, sounding expectant.
Eruka made sure she gave good news, the last thing she wanted was to be the bearer of bad news to Medusa of all people, "Task completed as asked, I start there tomorrow".
"Perfect... The Reaper never suspects a thing. I will give you your orders on the fly, I will do my part this evening", Medusa commanded, her smile was growing larger with each passing second, everything was playing into her hand and this was just the start of it. Medusa looked up at the blue sky, "We have a while yet, however, I wonder how he's doing at school".
Black*Star and Maka were demonstrating Sid's techniques he was teaching, which involved the weapon sending soul wavelengths to the meister. But the meister to not reflect them back to the weapon as they would do in a soul resonance.
This made the meister's reaction speed and agility increase, Black*Star and Maka surprisingly got the hang of it down pretty well. Maka ended up slipping over at one point, her front meeting the floor, Black*Star took it too far and ended up stumbling up the stairs and due to his speed, he went out through the wall.
Soul and Tsubaki didn't transform out of their weapon forms out of embarrassment, but they realised how this could be useful in the future.
Time flew by after that, Stein taught a follow up lesson, teaching a bit of what Sid had explained before about the new technique, and some witch theory for some of the more sharper students there. Naturally he didn't expect Liz, Patty or Black*Star to grasp it, Soul fell asleep, Maka and Tsubaki were the only ones to answer, Kid was silent mostly throughout the lessons.
Stein noticed how quiet Kid had been in the class, he decided to leave him be, Stein knew what was on Kid's mind. Stein could assume that Kid must've been tormented right now, and that losing one's own father can be a pain like no other. Stein, like the other teachers, were going to do their best to support him in his time of need. But he had to save it for another time.
Black*Star walked out with a bill for the damages and a few plasters and scratches slapped around his body, many people were laughing as he walked by along with his friends. Soul frowned, "What's with them? They'd hate it if it were them".
Maka blushed, "It wasn't that bad" she pouted, Tsubaki felt really uncomfortable after replaying the events in her head.
Crona was walking by too, "Don't worry, you guys were the first to pull it off, so that's something, r-right?". As much as he tried, Crona couldn't help them see the positives of what happened, Kid had been quiet the whole time still.
Liz was actually worrying inside, "Is the thought of his Dad leaving giving him THAT much pressure?", she questioned inside, she knew the answer, as much as she didn't want to admit it.
Soul and Maka came to their turn, after saying farewells they headed to their house, "Ah no, I forgot to run it by the academy that Crona's staying at our place soon!", Maka slapped her forehead.
Soul sighed, "Don't worry, we'll tell 'em tomorrow, it'll be fine, he's only gonna spend, what, a few more nights there, what's the worst that could happen?".
Crona was walking back toward the academy cells, he just wanted to see his friends off safely, which is why he trekked down with them. It made him feel better to have a goodbye from them and knowing he'd see them tomorrow.
Crona stepped on the first step when he heard a voice of a woman call. "Crona", he stopped, he froze still, that voice, it couldn't be. It couldn't be the woman he despised, hated, loathed from the bottom of his now stronger heart. The woman who made his upbringing a living hell, only followed by the tormenting rejection he faced from her every day since he could remember.
He slowly turned to face the woman, his mother, Lady Medusa, "L-Lady Medusa?".
Medusa's grin signaled she was already getting a kick out of this, "How endearing you remember your own mother".
"I-I-I", Crona was speechless, there was no way that Medusa could STILL be alive, yet here she was, alive and well.
"No need to explain Crona, you can redeem yourself for me, all I ask is that you follow my orders I'm going to give you", Medusa stated, she was very confident that Crona would comply.
Crona couldn't say no to the woman that raised him (albeit poorly), or could he? He thought back to everything that Medusa did for him, nothing. Then he though to everything Maka did, too much, in a good way.
Crona didn't like what he was thinking, because it made him think he was like his mother. But he had an idea, a sly idea that Ragnarok was hearing through Crona's soul. He could put Medusa under a false sense of security, and then get her captured for sure. This time, she wasn't getting away.
"What do I have to do?", Crona asked, making sure not to give away his intentions by acting hastily.
Medusa looked at the sky, "In a few days things will change, and in a few more, the world will change, and I want you to be part of it".
Medusa spawned a vector arrow at Crona's throat, "Or do I have to play naughty?", her face resembling more of a snake-like complexion.
Crona shivered, "Yes Ma'am! Whatever you say L-Lady Medusa...".
"We're going to make you strong Crona, I'll explain why I'm the best choice, soon, in good time", Medusa withdrew the arrow, turning away, "Goodnight Crona, sleep well", Medusa walked off seeping into the shadows of the alleys.
Ragnarok pulled out of Crona, "Gupee, looks like things are picking up! Wonder what she's on about, so, that plan you thought of, you wanna go through with it?".
"Yes... I want to make Lady Medusa pay, by any means necessary, Ragnarok", Crona sounded dead serious, in fact, the confidence in him was something Ragnarok was not used to seeing in his partner. It was a nice change to see.
Ragnarok chuckled, "Well, you always got me by your side, no matter what, just make sure I eat at the end of the day!".
He worded it like a glutton, but the words still had the effect of a brotherly embrace. Crona felt sure he was going to win against her this time, he just had to find the time to tell the others. If they could do this on top of their Kishin victory, they'd be heroes, Gods among men.
"Hey!", Ragnarok shouted and slapped Crona across the head, knocking him out of a daydream. "Seriously Crona, we can not go back to Medusa, I mean, all that food! That Tsubaki chick is ugly but cooks great! Don't deprive your weapon of nutrients! And the chance to make fun of more people than just you...".
Crona looked up, Ragnarok was back to his old self in a flash, "Well you need to work on your behaviour Ragnarok, besides all you eat is junk food...".
As they walked away, Ranarok scoffed, "Peh, your point? Still tastes good!".
Death stared at his mirror, "Hmm" he hummed, slowly the tone grew lower, something was up.
Spirit stood beside him, "What's up? Sense something?".
"No, not exactly, it's just something about that woman that came in earlier for that job", Death popped out a hand, making a slight 'boing' sound when it did so. He then placed it under where his chin would be, rubbing it slightly, it was clear something was bugging him.
"She seemed, off, not, suspicious exactly just, too nervous" Death said, looking at Spirit.
Spirit shrugged it off, "Eh-dunno, I was like that coming here years ago, you remember. Besides you have the power to kick her out at any point. Although, she did seem kinda cu-".
A Reaper-Chop was performed on Spirit, knocking him down making him bleed slightly, "Now's not the time for that Spirit!" Death said in his serious voice, it was more gravely and dark. "It's just like when you were eyeing up that cat-lady Blair months ago!". Death rotated to the graveyard tombstones. He scanned them a few times, returning his voice to normal, "Maybe it is just a hunch... We'll see, we'll see...".
Eruka was by a metallic steel frame gate, Free turned up soon after, Medusa was last, she sat herself gently on a large crate, gathering dust in the alley. "Sorry to keep you all waiting" she said calmly.
Eruka seemed like a weight had been lifted off her chest, "Phew, well, that's one part done!", she was sweating a little.
Medusa nodded slowly, "Good job Eruka, but that's just one of the parts to our little setup, Free? How goes your progress?".
Free looked uneasy, "I kinda found a lead, but it's gonna take a while to find anything useful, I'm sorry".
Medusa tilted her head, her eyes looking a bit drowned out of life, clearly the lack of progress bugged her, "No need to worry, I'll just be disappointed if you don't find anything by the time Eruka and I are ready for the final step".
Free clasped his hands together, "I understand, I'm sorry", he was almost thinking of being on his knees at this point.
"No no it's fine" Medusa said, lying a little, she was slightly ticked that he hadn't gotten anywhere, but she didn't expect much from these two. So imagine her joy when she knew how well Eruka did on this day. Medusa breathed in and carried on, "We must turn our attention to you Eruka. Since you start tomorrow, I want you to see if you can find this student, and inject them with that blood. They'll be the one, repeat, the only one, who could suspect your witch identity".
Eruka studied the photo, "Got it, I'll take it with me tomorrow, you're sure they'll know?".
"I'm not sure, but do it just in case, whenever you get the chance".
Eruka thought, she then had a question, "Couldn't I just put this in one of the shot-needles? They're going to have vaccinations for the madness soon, I think in a few days days, something like that. I read it on the notice board today actually...".
Medusa beamed, "Excellent Eruka! Sly, I like it", Medusa said folding her arms, impressed. "They won't be able to tell if we do some good old sabotage, I wish I thought of that...".
Free scowled out of jealousy, "Right, I'll get back to work", he quickly ran off.
Medusa stay sat, "Hm, well, in that case, study them all, I never had enough time to learn about some of them when I was there... Only two in particular...". Eruka noticed Medusa's hands dig into the crate she was sat on, evidently out of anger.
Eruka gave the ok, "Will do, are you sure that, when it happens, you'll be ready?".
Medusa seemed shocked, "Ready? I've waited for the day that old, withered Reaper would fall. I will be ready".
Medusa's tone had changed from confident to blood-thirsty. Eruka, deciding to end things here, began to walk off to her motel room, carrying the photo of the student in her hand, the name read, 'Maka Albarn'.