It's Thursday.

But she isn't at the asylum.

It's morning.

But she isn't in bed.

Maka sits on a old, wooden, uncomfortable chair..staring at the box in front of her...

Staring at the coffin that is holding her beautiful mother's body..

She doesn't feel anything.

She is broken.

How can you break something more if it's already destroyed?

Her mother is dead..Her mother is in a box..

Maka is broken.

"We are here today for Kami Albarn, a amazing woman, a amazing friend to many.." A priest dressed in black stands next to the box, his face is hard and old, he grips a bible to his chest. His eyes are glossy. "This is not a time to be sad my friends. Kami is in a better place now, she is with our lord and god looking down at us from heaven above...This is a time for celebrating her new life."

This isn't a time for celebrating.

Her mother is dead.

This is a time for mourning..

But Maka can't even do that.

She is broken.

At a funeral you wear all black..That is why she is wearing this black dress..Why the priest who usually dresses in white is now dressed in black..

How can sure a dreary color be a color of celebrating?

It's not.

Black is the color of darkness, of death.

She doesn't want her mother in heaven, she wants her here.

And she is here...

She's right in that box.

Dead and lifeless.

There is nothing to celebrate.

The priest continues to speak words of hopefulness, and encouragement but Maka isn't listening.

Her mother is dead.

She feels Kid's grip on her hand tighten...He rubs his thumb against it gently. The boy sits next to her, looking at her with such concern..

The mayor sits on her right, the bubbly man isn't so bubbly now.

He has a serious look on his face..

Maka's face is just blank.

Kid handles her with such care but doesn't he know she's already broke?

There's no helping her.

Her mother is dead.

Maka stares at the box..It's not pretty, it looks like these chairs, wooden and old.

Spirit didn't have enough money for a better one.

Her mother will get splinters..but then again she guess it doesn't matter..

She's dead.

The box won't hold out long..She can see some small cracks in it now..The bugs will easily get in..the worms, and maggots will be in there by tomorrow.

They will eat her mother..Her mother will be a meal for worms.

It's a horror..She would scream but she's done all the screaming she will do.

She has already broken.

She can't break any more.

Maka watches as four men in black come over and lift up the box..The box with her beautiful mother..all pale and lifeless.

Kid hugs her close when they have to stand up to gather around the hole in the ground..to watch them lower the box..lower her mother in the dirt..where the worms are..

The boy is crying..silent tears falling down as he holds her so close..

But Maka isn't crying, she isn't hugging him back.

She is just staring..unblinking.

She is broken.

Kid's father stands close by her, looking down the whole with a sadness in his eyes...He puts a hand on her shoulder and gives her a squeeze.

Spirit stands away from her..looking down the hole with tears streaming down face.

He looks ugly with his black eye and bandaged nose..

Maka had did that.

Her eyes look down to her left hand..It's wrapped up.

She had hurt herself hurting him.

Maka doesn't remember much when she broke..

She broke when Stein told her that her beautiful mother was dead..

Everything seemed to shut down around her..

A white nose crowded her ears..and she could hear someone screaming..

Wait..No..It was her who was screaming..

She blanked out a couple times but she knows she had a mental break down.

Maka remembers throwing stuff across the house, crying and screaming like some one was killing her.

She wishes some one was.

Spirit had tried to calm her down..and he grabbed her.

Maka punched him in the face, breaking his nose.

Stein had to get her off him..

Then she broke.

She just shut down.

Her mother is dead.

The box touches the bottom of the hole..The men begin to throw the dirt over it..over her mother..

Kid holds her tighter, Spirit wails, Kid's father bows his head.

Maka just watches.

There's only five people at her mother's funeral..that's counting the priest.

Where's all there family?..Where is her mothers friends? or all the people she saved?

There not here, they don't care.

They don't care about an insane woman.

Maka watches with blank eyes as the last pile of dirt falls in the hole..burying the box, burying her mother.

"..Now is the time for anyone to come up and say something about Kami..Give her your farewell.." The priest looks at the four people standing by where the box is buried.

" I'll go first." Spirit takes a deep breath..snot running down his nose as he stands in front of them, his blue eyes shaking.

Maka just stares at him..not feeling anything.

Kid holds her closer..His hands going through her hair..

Her hair is down, it's not in pigtails.

She isn't Maka Albarn.

She is broken.

"Kami was a great woman..She was my love, my life." Spirit sniffles. "..Oh god I wish it didn't turn out like this...She was the first girl I'd taken out.." He looks down at where she's buried. "..Kami, if you can hear me..I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...there's nothing I can say that would change what I have done..." His tears fall faster. "..Peace be with you Kami..Why did it have to..Why did you have to.."

Spirit bust out crying, him wailing like a hurt dog.

He holds his face in his hands as he walks back down and sits on one of the old wooden seats.

Kid's father walks over to comfort him.

Maka just stares at where her mother is buried...

It's over.

"Do you have anything to say about your mother Maka?" The priest looks at her hopefully.

Maka just stares at him.

She has nothing to say, she can't say anything.

She's broke.

Maka hasn't spoken a word since Sunday...She hasn't been in school..She has just been in bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Kid has been with her all these days..He hasn't gone to school either, he's just been with her.

He has been feeding her..because she won't eat on her own.

He has been leading her..because she won't walk on her own.

He has been speaking for her..because she won't talk.

She is broken...but Kid holds on to her like she isn't.

He is trying to save something that is already broke.

It's all in vain.

"Maka can't handle that right now." Kid speaks for her, his eyes shake as he holds her close.

"..Ok..Does any one have any last words on Kami?" The priest looks around.

No one answers.

"..May the lord god bless you all..May you leave here with happiness knowing that Kami is in a better place..You all are dismissed." The priest grips his bible as he walks away...The four men following him.

Maka just keeps staring at where her mother is buried.

"..Baby.." Spirit walks over towards her, tears still falling down his face. "..I'm going back to the house..are you coming?"

She doesn't respond.

"Oh Maka...I..." He wails hiding his face from her.

"Could you please leave Spirit...Maka doesn't need this right now." Kid gets in front of her protectively. "..I have Maka..Don't worry, I'll bring her home later."

"Ok..Thank you so much Kid, you have been a saint.." Spirit keeps crying.

"I'll take you home Spirit, your in no condition to drive." The mayor looks at him seriously, grabbing him by the arm, slowly leading the wailing man away.

"Maka...Oh Maka I'm so sorry." Kid runs his hands threw her hair, his shoulders are shaking slightly. "..I don't know why this has happened to you..Oh god..just..." He pulls her closer his breathing is uneven. "..She was a great woman your mother was Maka...i'm so sorry."

Maka doesn't respond.

"It's ok to cry Maka..It's ok to be sad.." He pulls away looking Maka in her blank eyes..His eyes get glossy. "..Maka please..you must speak..Please just..say one word for me ok?..Please Maka.."

She doesn't respond. She looks past him with those dull green eyes. In that moment she sees something. A shimmer. A shadow. Someone in the forest. Maka gasps, her body tensing up like someone just jump started her.

"M-Maka?" Kid notices this change, his yellow eyes becoming hopeful. "Are-"

Maka shoves him aside and rushes towards the forest. She's not graceful. She hasn't been doing anything for herself but some how her muscles are listening to her and she's moving. Towards that shimmer. That impossible shadow. Maka knows she's probably lost her mind but she has to see. She has to be sure.

Kid is yelling for her but she won't stop.

Once in the forest, Maka looks around like a mad woman. "Mom?" She cries. "Are you there? I-I'm sure I just saw you." It's pitiful. Her voice is hoarse from lack of use. What is she thinking? Of course she didn't see her mother. She just watched them put her very dead corpse into the ground. Yet that shadow...it looked too much like her. It was like she was right there-

"Don't cry anymore baby." That voice. So soft. A barely audible whisper. "I'm sorry for this pain..." But it is her mother's voice. Then the shadow comes back. But it is just a shadow shaped like her mother. It's all Maka needs.

"Mom...it really is you." Maka falls to her knees in front of the shadow. She tries to grab her hand but she just goes through the mist. "...I'm the one who's sorry. Why did you have to die? You were suppose to get better and come home. What am I going to do without you?" The words just spill out of her. Her mother came back to her. Even in this form. Just to give her comfort yet she couldn't stop her crying. "I don't care if you stay like this but...stay with me. I don't care if people think I'm crazy. I-"

"I can't stay baby. I would If I could. My soul...is fading. The demon is feasting on me and I won't be able to last much longer. It took my last bit of strength so I could speak to you one last time. I have a warning for you baby. You must listen to me. No matter how much it hurts."

Maka watches the shadow flicker, anxiety grabbing her heart with every movement of the shadow. "Mom-"

"The demon will now be on you. The curse has found it's way back to you. You must not be alone. You must not succumb to madness. This curse was placed on you by a witch. I tried to stop it by putting the curse on myself but...I wasn't strong enough. You must kill the witch to put an end to the curse-"

"Mom that's-"

"That boy Crona...He poisoned me. You must not get near him anymore. He is working with the witch. I would say her name if I could...but with the demon feasting on my soul...he has a power over whats left of me. Her death is the end of him. You must believe me baby. Don't go near him any longer."

"Crona he...poisoned you?" Maka can't believe it but the tone of her mother's voice... She knows her mother would never lie to her. Crona...is the reason her mother is dead? Was he really poisoning her mother and then smiling at her like nothing happened? Could he do that? Is he the type of person who-

She realizes she doesn't know anything about Crona. How does she know what type of person he is? Would she trust Crona over her own mother?...Hell no.

"Promise me. You won't go near him." Her mother pleads. Her shadow flickering more. "Not anymore. He will bring your ruin."

"...I promise mom. I won't go near him. I'll even kill him if you want." Crona hurt her mother? Would she really be able to kill him though? Maybe she's all talk but there's a rage building inside of her. How could Crona betray her like this? Not like she could even ask for his side of the story. Maka made a promise. She is done with him.

"...I know it's hard but thank you. Baby one last thing. Please tell Kid and his father you are being targeted by a witch. That she placed a curse on you. They will be able to help you in slowing down the progression. They can help protect you from the witch-"

"Mom they are going to think I'm crazy...There's no such thing as-"

"You will start to feel the demon. You will know that the horrors I speak of are true. Id rather you ask for help before then but...just please ask them baby. There's a whole world I've hidden from you but now I can no longer do that. You mustn't look at mirrors. You mustn't be alone." The flickering just gets worse. "...I just hope...that they will be able to look past...what you are...in the future...I believe...it will...be okay."

"Mom no don't go!" Maka tries again to grab onto her but she can't touch her anymore.

"I can't stay...I love you Maka. I love you more then anything. Forgive me if in my madness I've said anything to hurt you. I pray...that you'll make it out of this...and find happiness. No matter what."

Maka chokes up on her words. 'I love you too' is right there but it gets caught in her throat. It feels like her mother is smiling at her and then the shadow is gone. Maka is...completely alone.

"Maka! Are you alright?!" Kid comes up to her, his eyes wide. When he sees the tears streaming down her face...and her eyes that have gained light he can't help to let out a few tears of his own. He touches her shoulder gently.

"She was here Kid...She was right here. She said goodbye. She told me she loved me...why didn't I say it back?" Maka digs her finger nails into her palm before punching the ground. "Damn it! Damnitdamnitdamnit!" She keeps punching the ground. Rage. Hatred. Hatred for herself for not being able to say more...and hatred for him. The boy that had become the light of her light...was actually an anchor dragging her down to the darkest depths of despair.

"Maka you're going to hurt yourself-" Kid grabs her wrist. He's able to stop her. He's much stronger then her. It's moments like this she realizes his strength.

"I deserve it. Just let it be Kid. You shouldn't give a damn. I've been a burden for you again. You had to take care of me. I was useless. You should have just dropped me in a ditch somewhere-"

"I would never! Maka I was happy to be able to help you. You are never a burden to me! "Those yellow eyes are fiery. Feelings Maka can't understand showing through. "I care about you too much to let you hurt yourself Maka-"

"Then maybe I should hurt you instead?" Maka spits out. She's losing her cool. She doesn't mean it. She just needs to do something about the self loathing she feels. She wants Kid to let her go-

"I'd much rather that then for you to hurt yourself." He moves her hand so it's against his chest. He lets go of her wrist, as if telling her to go ahead. Those eyes stare at her with that same emotion. He is still looking at her the same as he always has.

Even though he had to feed her. Even though she was nothing but a doll. He had to lead her, talk for her, yet there was no disgust. Here he is again. Wanting her to hurt him. With that same look in his eyes.

Maka feels the steam come out of her. All she can do is grab his shirt, as if she would do anything to him. He's not the one who hurt her mom. He's not the reason she's so weak. She wants to hide her face. She knows she's still crying. She feels her body shaking. So she pulls him forward. He tenses as if expecting a punch but instead she buries her face in his chest, wiping all her nasty tears and snot on his expensive suit.

"Maka!" He sounds surprised, not angry. He's never angry. Slowly he wraps his arms around her, pushing her more into his chest. "It's alright...I'm here...I'll always be here."

She stays like that for awhile. Just willing for the tears to stop. Once they have, she pulls away. Her face is still a wreck. Kid offers her a handkerchief. She can't help to scoff but she takes it and thanks him. She can't really look him in the eye. He's seen her in a vulnerable state before but...this time she feels all the more weaker. She's lost more than just her mother. Her words hang heavy even now.

"Is there anywhere you would like to go Maka? I'll take you anywhere." Kid's voice is kind but careful. He seems to hesitate when Maka doesn't respond but..."...I'll even take you to see Crona-"

"I never want to see him again." Maka says quickly, glaring at Kid. His eyes widen. He stares at her like he's waiting for her to say...just kidding! Or waiting for her to repeat herself. "I mean it. I'm never going back to Darkside asylum. Don't even...mention his name to me." Maka says it with as much venom as she can. She won't let her sorrow show. She will never allow herself to be sad about that boy ever again.

"I...What...Did...Did he do something?" Kid seems at a lost but he couldn't hide that flicker of emotion Maka just saw. Relief. Maybe even happiness. It was so quick that maybe what she saw was a flicker of madness.

Would Kid even believe her if she told him her dead mother told her Crona was poisoning her? Is there even a point in saying anything?

"I don't want to talk about it. Don't mention his name. Don't mention darkside asylum. I will never go there again. I hate him." Maka stands up herself. "If you want to make me happy...Why don't you take me back to your place and make me some food?"

Again. Kid can't hide it. When Maka said she hated Crona...there was happiness. Joy. He tired to cover it but that joy grew when she said she wanted to go his home...

"You really are strange Kid, getting all happy about me hating a guy and making me food." Maka calls him out, feeling a smirk on her face when his face gets slightly pink.

"I-I was just happy that you wanted to come to my home-"

"Nah. You can't hide it from me. You never liked him anyway. You hated that I kissed him. You hated I played with him. Not saying there's anything wrong with it. I just thought it was funny."

"...If I'm honest...hearing you say you hate him...hearing you say you won't see him again...I can't help to be very happy. I hope he hasn't done anything to hurt you but...Yes I'm happy." Kid admits

"You're a strange one." Maka feels a smile on her lips. She doesn't get why Kid would hate that boy so much. It works for her.

"I suppose." He says with a smile. "What would you like for me to make? I'll make you anything you want."

"mmm...Grilled cheese."

"Oh come now Maka that's so simple."

"Blah simple is fine for me." She blinks when Kid grabs her hand. His eyes widen and he goes to let go.

"I'm sorry. I got use to holding your hand to-"

She tightens her grip on his hand. She felt like she needed some kind of warmth. She can no longer get it from the other one. "I get it. Thank you. You really helped me out Kid. I mean it."

Kid looks at her with wide eyes. His face getting pink again. It looks like he is about to say something about their hands...but decides against it. He holds her hand but instead of her leading her off like he's been doing, they walk side by side.


After eating the grilled cheese Kid made her, she asked for some time alone. Now she's just sitting on this large bed, in a room that isn't hers. She thinks of it as her own. She shouldn't. Maka is trying to bring herself to make the next steps in separating herself from that boy.

Her notebook. She has to get rid of the pages that have him in it. His memory can no longer stay there. After awhile of just sitting on the bed, she realizes that it's useless. She can't bring herself to do it. She hates it. She hates her weakness.

She decides to try to take a shower and calm down. She walks into the bathroom that's connected to this room. It's nice and clean. Such a difference to the home she lives in. Maka has never been big on cleaning. She's lazy. Spirit is the same. The filth never bothered her. But she must admit this clean environment is nice.

She starts the water, getting out a towel. The running water isn't enough to drown her thoughts. She can't get her mother out of her mind. How she just faded and the words she spoke. It's all madness. All of it. Yet she finds that she can't look into the mirror. She's starting to get goosebumps. The air around her is getting harder to breathe in. She ignores it and gets into the shower. It's hot. Maybe too hot but she leaves it be. She wants her mind to be blank. She doesn't want to think of anything. It's too much. She doesn't want to break again. She feels like she could. She no longer can lean on that boy...that monster.

She has to think of him as a monster. He's no longer a person. He's her enemy. The one who took her mother.

There's a taste of iron in her mouth. Only now does she realize that she's biting into her lip. She licks the wound. She washers her hair with the expensive shampoo that she's bumming off of Kid and his dad. She shouldn't be here either. She realizes she's a parasite. Kid lost all his friends because of her yet he acts like he's fine. He's fine with her just taking everything from him. Maka isn't a good person. It's hard to find a reason to stop.

She comes out of the shower and dresses herself in the night gown Kid had gotten her for when she stays the night at his house. She brushes her hair with his brush. And brushes her teeth with the tooth brush they got for her. She leaves the dressing off of her hand. It's basically scabbed around the knuckles.

Now she's about to sleep in their bed. Maybe she should have gone home. Kid has been caring for her all this time. She didn't think about it before but that's probably because...she didn't care. She had something else. Now she has no one.

No one but Kid.

Maka jumps out of her thoughts when there's a knock at her door. "I'm sorry to bother you Maka...I didn't know if you wanted some ice cream. I'll leave it by the door-"

Maka grabs the door and flings it open. Kid tenses, nearly dropping the ice cream onto the floor. His eyebrows up into his hairline. She would laugh if she didn't feel like shit.

"Come in." Maka moves out of the way. Kid blinks but he comes in quickly.

"I know you said you wanted to be alone. It looks like you just took a shower too. I didn't mean-" Kid is tripping over himself. Maybe he thinks she's angry at him. She probably looks angry with how her face is scrunching up.

"Nah. This is your home. You aren't bothering me either. I'm glad you came." Maka can't look at him.

"Maka..." He sounds shocked. Maybe a bit happy too. Kid is weird like that.

"When I'm alone, all I can do is think and it sucks." Maka's eyes land on her notebook. She grinds her teeth. "...Hey can I ask you a favor?"

"Yes anything."

"I know you hate it but can you go through my notebook and...rip out any page that has any mention of him in it. Rip it. Burn it. Do what you need to just get it out of the notebook by mother gave me ."

"Of course." Kid doesn't need to ask who she's talking about. "I won't read any of it I'll just look for-"

"You can read it. I don't mind. It's all in the past now. I despise him." She says it to make it more real. She has to make it real. She has to hold it in her heart and let her change it. She has to stand on her own once again. Yet here she is relying on Kid.

"Here Maka have some ice cream. I'll step out to deal with the notebook. Just give me a moment." He hands her the ice cream. She can't look him in the eye. He just walks off and takes her notebook with him. She sits on the bed and starts to eat the ice cream absentmindedly. She tries not to think of her notes or her drawings that are going to be destroyed. It's necessary.

It feels like a lifetime before Kid comes back. He hands her the notebook. Maka looks into his eyes. They're soft just like his smile.

"It's all cleaned out Maka."

"Thank you." She takes it from him and places it next to her. She believes he did a good job but she can't bring herself to look in it. Kid sits next to her on the bed and doesn't say anything. It's not a bad silence that follows. She wonders if Kid is scared to say anything. Maybe he's waiting on her.

"...I think I'm going to go to school tomorrow."

"What? Are you sure? You don't have to force yourself." Kid frowns.

"I've missed too many days. I can't keep this up." Maka locks eyes with him. "I want to go back."

"If that's what you want Maka. Just don't push yourself. I could always just get your assignments for you."

There he goes again. Bending over backwards for her.

"I think...I'm also going to sleep at my place tomorrow." Kid is frowning again. "I need to get back to the normal."

"Yes but..." Kid bites his lip. It looks like he wants to say more. Does he not want to argue with her because he's worried she'll break? She's not so fragile. Or maybe she is. "...If you need anything just let me know. And if you change your mind, it doesn't matter the time I'll be there to pick you up."

"you do too much you know that?" Maka shakes her head.

"...I feel like I don't do enough."

"How?" Maka looks down at the ice cream. "...I rely on you too much Kid."

"You can rely on me more. To be honest...It would make me happy." His face is getting pink.

"You're a weird one." Maka can't help to grin at him. He seems to perk up at that reaction from her. She probably hasn't smiled since they came back.

"If that makes me weird...I'll continue to be a weirdo."

"Weirdo till you die huh?" She snickers. "Not that I'm any better." Maka smiles to herself. "Well...if you don't mind it... I'll rely on you whenever I need too. You better not complain when it becomes too much."

"I would never." He looks too happy. She wonders how much it would take for him to see her for the parasite she is. She's replacing him with Kid. Maka is trying to get that back. Shes' terrible. But she can't break.

She has to avenge her mother. No matter what.


I had this alternate story for awhile now. Where the story shifts to be a Maka x Kid. Enjoy!