Welcome to the remake of Madness Unleashed! It's going to take some time, but bear with me!
Enjoy!
Three-star Meister Maka Albarn searched the frigid ghost town with cautious emerald eyes, condensation puffs billowing in the arctic air of Innopolis, Russia. Kid, rather Lord Death, had sent the experienced meister and weapon duo to investigate rumors of a pre-Kishin going around siphoning innocent souls from townsfolk. Fear spread quickly through the small village as the death count began to grow, many rushing to safety by crossing the Volga River to a small peninsula called Tatarstan. The small town of less than 100 people had already dwindled down to nearly half due to the killer's aggressive behavior. Houses were in shambles due to the Kishin destroying them in order to retrieve its victims, ripping heavy tiles and thick layers of thatch off with minimal effort. Rubble lined the powder-coated streets yet heavy snowfall had all but covered the destructive trails.
In the mission file, the information provided was hardly any help to Maka. The only known clues were horror stories created by the terrified townspeople, their fear and anxiety causing inaccurate facts. Some claimed it was a monster that stood nearly seven-foot-tall while others claimed the creature was as short as three-foot with a hunched back and equally long talons. One old man even claimed the creature had the torso of a woman with the head of a goat and the lower half of a snake; though that sounded more like a Mythology reference than an accurate Kishin description.
"You sense anything, Maka?" Soul's voice reverberated loudly in the silence, his face appearing in the scythes' blade. The cold bit at his face even in weapon form, red tinting it bright. "It's cold as hell here! Let's hurry up and get this over with before I start losing fingers."
"There's nothing out here yet. You know we can't leave until it's found, Soul, suck it up for a while longer." Maka shook her head as she slowly expanded her Soul Perception to cover a larger area, eyes closing to concentrate. There was nothing for miles except a few wild animals taking shelter from the arctic winter.
She could sense the owner of the Inn they were staying at along with what few townspeople were left. Even with a heavy coat, earmuffs, gloves and multiple layers on, Maka could still feel the stinging cold creeping into her bones. Clenched fingers were going numb, even after being outside for a mere few minutes. It was so cold, even her soul was beginning to shake slightly from the harsh conditions. Soul was right. Staying out here for much longer would do more harm than good. But until that Kishin was found and destroyed, Maka Albarn would camp outside overnight if she had to.
"There's nothing around for miles, just some wildlife and the villagers. Even if I stood here for a while longer, I'm sure the cold would take me before a would-be Kishin could. Let's head back to the Inn for now before we freeze to death. Maybe someone at the front desk will have more information…and a hot cup of tea."
Heavy boots crunched crisply against the freshly falling snow as Maka trudged through the shifting loose powder, the layers beneath already compacted and frozen solid. The dead of winter in Russia usually resulted in impressive levels of wintery mix and harsh winds, mercilessly taking those who wandered into Mother Nature's deadly hands. A violent chill raced up her spine and Maka felt both rows of teeth clattering loudly in the still air. Signs of hypothermia were beginning to show, quickly sapping what energy she had left. Even Soul was freezing in his scythe form, the shaft of the blade like ice against gloved hands. If he didn't lose his fingers first, she would.
"Even if the Kishin shows up there's no way we can fight in this weather. We'd have to return to the inn so we don't freeze to death. I'm not sure if even the black blood can withstand this." Soul sniffled loudly before letting out a loud sneeze. Damn cold. Damn being a naked weapon. Damn Russian Kishin.
"Mm," Maka agreed, her mind preoccupied elsewhere. An unsettled feeling was pooling in the pit of her stomach. Ongoing attacks and now the creature was nowhere to be seen? It didn't bode well with the blonde.
The Inn was getting closer into view as thick smoke billowing from the double chimney stack protruded above the heavily snow-packed roof. Out of all the buildings remaining in the town, the Inn was the strongest one. Every wall and floor had been reinforced with dual insulation and thicker materials in attempt to retain what little heat it could during the brutal season. It was a quaint two-story brick cottage with a mere 10 rooms throughout the whole building. Out back was a now buried garden that provided guests with fresh produce and fruit, but for now they were surviving on food that'd been canned before winter. For living in such harsh conditions a good chunk of the year, the people of Innopolis certainly honed their survival skills.
Meister and weapon were fortunate enough to get a room close to the boiler; thankfully not even a draft of cold air entered the domain. Most places assumed they were a couple and some desk attendants had offered to put them up in the romantic suite. Soul would break out in a hearty laugh while Maka turned bright red and 'Maka Chopped' said weapon over the head. The two may have been together for nearly 5 years, but it was strictly a meister/weapon relationship, completely platonic. Even Tsubaki seemed slightly surprised, seeing as they were the most tightly knit team in the land.
Being together-together was a ridiculous notion that had Maka scoffing whenever brought up by younger students or people complimenting the two, saying they looked adorable together. A few had even asked if they were married and one elderly woman asked if they were planning on having children. Both turned bright red at the more daring remarks, their connected wavelengths betraying their true emotions to one another for a brief second before becoming sealed away once more. Sure, they had innocently slept together on certain instances, but the two always respected each other's privacy and personal space when sharing a bed; though Soul tended to flop around in his sleep and sometimes ended on top of the meister. Mostly it happened after a big battle and they were too tired to go to their separate rooms, opting for the closest piece of furniture to collapse on.
The thought of them actually dating had Maka turning a heavy shade of pink, if possible, under her already red wind-chilled face.
Now that she was older, nearly 18 now, and puberty had kicked it up to high gear the meister had become nothing short of stunning. Her slim legs had become elongated and toned from years of training and missions, slender arms matching. A few inches had been added to her height while her hips had become fuller and shapelier. Her sandy blonde hair had grown out more as well, though the pigtails seemed to stay, and flowed down to nearly mid back. Blazing green eyes finely complimented a now slimmer face, lips became plumper and tinted to the perfect hue of salmon. Even her chest had filled out to the next cup size, catching the eyes of younger DWMA students. Some brave, or stupid depending on how you saw it, even came right up to the meister and asked her out or asked to be their meister.
Soul usually ignored the fanboys though intervened a few times when some of them couldn't take the hint; one even went so far as to stalk the meister on her way home and ambush her in an alley. Poor kid was hospitalized for three weeks once Soul and Black Star got a hold of him after Maka took a few chops. As flattering as it was, there was only one man she cared for in her life and he—
A sudden zing reached her ears and with a sloppy dodge, Maka narrowly avoided having her throat sliced clean open by a flying object. Shifting quickly, the meister turned to her left, calculating the direction the weapon flew from. She'd gotten so absorbed in her thoughts that she failed to sense the incoming soul wavelength. Damnit. Clenching her jaw down she spread her legs to a defensive from, gripping the scythe shaft harder.
"Maka, are you alright?" Soul called out to her, worry etched into his voice.
"I'm fine, it didn't even hit me. Where did that come from? Damnit, I wasn't paying attention, it's my fault."
"You're bleeding, I'd say that wasn't a full miss. Besides, I didn't notice him either, so we're both at fault. It's possible it can conceal its presence, so keep your guard up."
"I'll worry about it later, it's just a scratch; we've got bigger issues to handle now." Maka ground out as another blur shot by, this one taking a few strands of hair as she jerked her head back. It was fast and precise. "There! Let's go, Soul!"
Shooting towards the direction of the attack, Maka felt her soul automatically connecting with her partner, sparks flying between them as they began to merge with ease.
"SOUL RESONANCE!"
The souls merged into one, power bursting forth from within as meister and weapon became one. Soul began to morph, his Death Scythe form glowing and expanding as Maka charged towards a small, abandoned hut settled behind some run-down houses. A heavy push from her legs had the meister airborne, scythe swung high above as she closed in on the target. A flash of light sparkled briefly in the shattered four-panel window as a ninja star came flying out, clipping Maka above her left eye.
"DEMON HUNTER!"
The hut exploded violently on contact and stirred up a large amount of powder, whiting out the surrounding area. Soul Perception triggered and Maka narrowly dodged a kunai aimed for her neck. Balancing Soul in the snow, the meister grabbed hold of the shaft before spinning and round-housing towards the concealed target. Her foot made contact and the assailant went flying backwards through the snow. Pressing forward Maka charged after the soul's wavelength, swinging and slicing the massive scythe with ease. Whoever was attacking had skills to say the least; barely any of the attacks landed, and if they did, it was a shallow slice.
"His attacks remind me of Black Star. Be careful, Maka, he's someone with experience in ninja arts." Soul warned as he blocked a dangerously sharp blade from slicing Maka's arm clean off. Maka grunted as she pushed hard against the ground, yelling as she put all of her weight against the attacker to throw him back.
"Maybe Black Star could get some stealth lessons from this guy if he lives through all this," Maka caught a foot to the stomach and gasped as the air purged her lungs, pain radiating throughout the torso as she slid back through the snow. A hard hit. Just not hard enough to take her out. "This guy is taking advantage of the snow, so why don't we just clear it out!"
Bracing the scythe in both hands Maka began to spin it, faster and faster until it reached the point of becoming a blur as a powerful wind force kicked up. The light powder blew away in an instant, clearing a good few inches from the ground as well. Left in its place was an empty space with clear visibility of the entire area, the enemy no longer in front of them. A slight shift in the breeze told Maka exactly where he was and she pivoted on her foot, Soul still spinning rapidly as a sneak attack was deflected from behind. The attacker skidded across the ground, katana in hand while the other supported his crouched form. Nontraditional white ninja armor cloaked his body from head to toe; the only visible detail was the piercing blue eyes peeking through his face mask.
"You… students of DWMA… I am not your intended target, but this shall be an interesting fight!" A masculine voice mused into the air as the ninja vanished. Even with Soul Perception and her instincts, Maka was forced to be on the defensive, constantly blocking while her attacker became faster with each strike. The frozen tundra was rapidly sapping her energy; they needed to get out and fast. Soul could feel her strength waning and clenched his jaw tightly with a growl. Maka couldn't hold up this level of fighting for more than a few more minutes. Her slower movements were causing the blade to slip through her defenses and slice porcelain skin wide open like rice paper.
'It seems you're struggling, Soul…you can always count on me…' A familiar red demon cooed from within Soul. The weapon grunted as another heavy kick was directed at Maka, the scythe taking the brunt of the force. Damned demon always tried to play hero at the last moment, yearning for a chance to break free from his clinking restraints.
'I don't need your deceiving hand, Demon. Once we get an opening we'll strike and finish this. Besides, we made a pact to restrict the black blood unless absolutely necessary. Unless you'd like to have a visit from Maka…?' Soul gave a toothy grin as he felt the demon get nervous. For a scrawny imp, he sure was afraid of a single girl and her hardback books. That was one of the only things keeping him in line for the most part, though he still tried to open the door in lapses of strength and will.
'Just remember the offer is there, Soul, if you decide to change your mind…' The demon fell silent and Soul gave a sigh of relief. He didn't need the maddening effects of black blood; this was just like any other 3-Star mission. They could handle it, that he was sure of.
"You are a very skilled meister, Maka Albarn, wielder of Death Scythe Soul 'Eater' Evans; but you know nothing of this environment in which I was born, raised, and trained. If you cannot even hold up against a master ninja, how do you expect to defeat a newly reborn Kishin?" The mysterious master ninja mocked as he landed softly atop the roof of an abandoned house, his movements seemingly noiseless. Maka panted heavily with both hands on trembling knees, body aching painfully. A cut on her forehead began to profusely bleed and a hand hastily wiped it from her eye, the sweat intermingling with the blood and stinging mildly.
"So, tell me; why would a ninja coincidentally be in the same area as a pre-Kishin sighting? Seems a little odd to me seeing as you were the one to attack first." With a deep breath in and out, Maka stood tall and planted her scythe into the thick snow. This wouldn't be the end, that she'd make sure of. "Unless you're out here as a distraction so whoever you're working for can hunt down the suspect and unleash a full Kishin. Am I right?"
The man let out a low whistle and began to slowly clap, slightly impressed with her observations. His arrogance struck a nerve within.
"I read that you were a smart one; very perceptive of you. But unfortunately, not completely correct. My mission was not merely to distract you, but to test your skillset. I have heard of your battles against the Kishin Asura, but he was an ancient artifact compared to modern Kishin. Simply punching a Kishin in the face will not suffice in taking them down, no matter how well it worked last time. But if this is all you have to offer, I'm afraid you'll have no hope in defeating the next Kishin about to be unleashed upon the world."
Maka glared at the man, anger pooling in the pit of her stomach as she placed her fingers together and stretched them. Neck stretching followed next, her eyes never leaving her target. With a final shoulder roll, the meister was ready. Grasping Soul in her hand the meister whirled him around with ease, stopping with him placed behind her, ready to swing. No one made a mockery of Maka Albarn, the last Death Scythe wielder in the world. Unease wavered through the wavelength though quickly became concealed on Soul's end.
"I don't care who or what you are, but you've made the mistake of attacking us without reason. Soul, get ready."
"Maka, are you sure about this? Maybe it would be better to retreat for now. Your body can't handle the frigid weather when you're exhausted and losing blood. I don't think –"
"Soul, now!" Maka grit out as she crouched down, preparing for an attack. Soul faltered before steeling his will and readying himself. If she was still willing to fight in unfavorable conditions, so would he. Until their very last breaths.
"My, my, a bit demanding, are we? You should listen to what your partner says, it may be what saves your life. You have already reached your limitations, Maka Albarn." The figure gracefully stood to his full height, waiting with barely bated breath for the oncoming attack. Kunai slid from both sleeves to his waiting hands, their gleam menacing against the stark wintery mix.
'Ahh, I see she still has some sense left in her.' The demon snickered as he watched Soul enter the familiar piano room. He merely shrugged off the death glare from the weapon before seating himself across the room, becoming comfortable for the show that was about to begin.
"I suggest you keep your mouth shut, demon, before I shut it myself." Soul growled as he loosened the constraining tie around his neck while glancing over the familiar black and red piano room. His pinstriped suit wasn't the most comfortable article of clothing but seeing as it was a special occasion, he'd make do with it for a while. "Maka, this is a stupid idea that won't end well. Your stubbornness isn't cool."
"Well, Soul, then we'll just have to see this stupid idea to the finish, now won't we? Besides, you should be used to my stubbornness after all these years."
Maka appeared from the shadows of the room, fingers intertwined at her front like always. Soul turned to glance at her and froze, his heart skipping a beat as he took her in with slightly widened eyes. The flowing black dress was a tighter fit than usual as Maka's curves were on full display, accentuating every part of her body perfectly. Intricate lace gloves had replaced the simple ones from many years ago, tracing all the way up to her shoulders before dipping down to the top swell of her breasts. Solid fabric cascaded down from there, fitting snugly against her like a second skin. Once it reached her hips the flowing fabric flared out into a simple high-low skirt which showed off her lean and tone legs, the black three-inch heels drawing even more attention to them. Her hair had been loosely tied up in a relaxed up-do with two tendrils of hair framing either side of her face, enhancing her angelic-like features.
"U-uh…yeah, I'll lead." Soul stuttered lamely, mentally slapping himself across the face. Smooth, Evans, real smooth. If Maka noticed she didn't say anything.
The demon snickered behind his hand, mischievous eyes dancing. Making a mental note to strangle the imp later on, the weapon turned his attention towards his meister. He was pretty sure she could feel his heart nearly bursting through a scarred chest as he took a gloved hand and bowed, gently placing a kiss against the knuckles. Though judging from her reddened expression, she was in a similar situation herself. A zinging shiver shot down Soul's spine and he swallowed hard to compose himself as she slid a hand delicately against his shoulder. What was wrong with him? She'd never triggered such strong emotional reactions like this before, so why now?
"Let's go!" Maka shouted as she launched towards her opponent with fiery determination and drive, Demon Hunter glowing and morphing once more. "GENIE HUNTER!"
Soul began to swing to the music emitting from the demon's music box, his hand comfortably resting on Maka's waist as he led the dance. They'd both changed so much over the past few years that it nearly seemed like they were different people. Soul was nearly surpassing six foot tall while Maka was close behind at around five-foot-seven. Their bodies had gone through other transformations as well, not just height wise. While Maka had gotten some curves and filled out more, Soul's shoulders had broadened, and his body had become leaner and more muscular. His spiky white hair stayed nearly identical to when they first met, save for the occasional black headband worn to tame the wild mane from time to time. While a beard had attempted to grow, the weapon kept it shaved down as, quote; 'Stubble isn't cool'.
"Soul, you're acting a little weird today. Is everything alright?" Those large emerald eyes he adored so much locked with his own piercing crimson, searching for any concealed emotions. She always knew right away when something was bothering him, her soul perception strong as ever. But it wasn't always just that; they'd grown to know everything about each other, including concealed emotional cues.
Both weapon and meister had weaved ever tight, not just physically, after battling the Kishin; their soul wavelengths had perfectly fused as if made for one another. Their thoughts and feelings could easily be spread through soul connection alone, sometimes accidentally. Maka mostly kept a tight lock on hers most of the time and not even Soul could break through it. On the occasion that she slipped and let down her guard though…she had some interesting thoughts and feelings hidden beneath the iron mask.
"Apart from you being stubborn as usual, Maka, I'm fine so don't worry. Being controlled by the black blood is just so uncool." Soul couldn't help the goofy grin that adorned his face as his partner slipped into a relaxed smile. The demon felt the madness boil inside, and he could barely contain himself with glee. With two crooked fingers he snapped, triggering the black blood's madness.
With a single fluid movement, she spun away from him, arm outstretched before he gently pulled her back. The distance between them closed and a spark shot between them as their skin touched. Maka wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her forehead against his as they swayed. It was moments like this that made it nearly impossible to resist her touch and without hesitation, Soul wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight against him as red and green eyes locked.
Jab. Jab. Jab. Foot sweep. Jab. Jab. Block. Deflect. Swing. Maka charged the attacker without break, her attacks stronger and faster than before with the black blood activated. The man seemed thoroughly surprised when she came face-to-face with him in a matter of seconds, scythe already slicing through the air. He ducked down at the last possible second, barely avoiding the scythes scorching touch mere centimeters from his nose. There was no time to strike back, it was his turn to be on the defensive. He'd heard a little information regarding black blood from Russian and Death City newspaper snippets but seeing it up close and personal was an entirely different experience.
Even with his decades of training and dedication to the ninja arts, he was struggling to avoid being sliced in half. An opportunity opened and he flung his kunai as hard as he could towards the meister, hoping it would be enough of a distraction for him to get back on the offensive side. The kunai hit their target; one sunk into Maka's upper abdomen while the other punctured the center of her chest.
The meister looked down at the weapons half embedded within her before snapping her narrowed gaze back to her attacker. Thick ooze boiled out around her wounds as the black blood pushed the kunai blades out before sewing the wounds shut in moments. If not for the sheer strength of the poison swirling within, Maka would've succumbed to injury within moments. A cocky grin tilted her lips.
"I must say, Miss Albarn, that is a very impressive skill to possess. Although," the ninja straightened himself up, a hand reaching into a small pouch on his left hip. "There is a weakness to every secret weapon and unfortunately for you, I am well aware of what yours is." His hand whipped out of the bag and 5 small metal balls hurtled towards Maka. With his other hand, he quickly muttered a small jutsu before launching at the meister, arm drawn back as lightning engulfed his fist. The small metal balls exploded in her face, leaving a thick smoke clinging to her body.
"FIGURE 6 HUNTER!"
'It seems you've duped me, Miss Albarn, well played. Damn anti-demon wavelength..." The imp jumped down from his plush chair and walked towards the back corner of the room, losing interest in the madness-free environment. Soul only sent him a cocky grin over his shoulder.
"We've played your game long enough to know how to beat the madness. Doesn't hurt when you have the coolest partner either." Maka blushed furiously before smacking Soul on the arm, embarrassment and pride shining through her eyes. The blonde nearly stomped his foot out of habit though withheld on the violent, reactive gesture.
"I-Idiot, don't say such embarrassing things!"
"How is it embarrassing if it's true? Maka Albarn, coolest partner ever. Not as cool as me though. No one could top me." Maka pulled away from his embrace and started smacking him on the arms and chest, face burning deep red. Soul just laughed heartily, further irritating his meister and increasing the intensity of the hits. After a few dozen smacks it was beginning to hurt so he pushed her to arm's length.
"Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!"
"Oi, oi, fine, I'll stop." Soul caved before she could pull a 'Maka Chop' on him. He grabbed her wrists to stop the barrage. She didn't fight it as she looked up at him, eyes showing amusement, embarrassment and something else, something that Soul hadn't seen before. Maka gently pushed her hands forward until they were resting against his chest, biting her lower lip gently and looking away with obvious turbulent thoughts.
"Maka…?" Soul released her wrists and delicately tilted her face up his hand. Light as a feather he brushed her bangs away from her eyes, locking gazes with his meister. It was rare to see a vulnerable side to the feisty wielder, the action causing immediate concern. Her thoughts were still heavily blocked off. "What's wrong?"
It felt like her heart was going to burst looking at his face; he was concerned, but it was in such a loving and tender way that the meister couldn't help herself. If she didn't do it now, she would chicken out and not have another chance to express her feelings. Maybe it was the cold affecting her mind, or even the fact that this fight was leaning towards a certain fatality. Regardless of the reason, Maka steeled the wavering resolve. Placing her hands on either side of his face, she stood on her toes and placed a soft kiss against his cheek with tears in her eyes and flushed cheeks. An audible gasp slipped from his slack jaw though his body remained rigid in place. Not even the coolest kid in Death City could anticipate such a move.
"Thank you, Soul, for everything. Truly."
He was tiring; the woman in front of him was a monster. They'd been going non-stop for a good while now jumping from building to building and she had yet to slow down even a hair. In fact, it almost seemed like she was speeding up. Weapon supplies were running low and all that was left was his trusted katana passed down through generations of legendary trainers and warriors. It appeared to be a normal sword, but only those who were blessed to be able to use it knew what other-worldly power it held within it. Using it meant there was a high chance it would be a critical if not fatal blow depending on where it landed. It wasn't his intention to kill the meister, but desperate times called for desperate measures if he was going to make it out alive. Now he understood why DWMA was the highest ranking school for meisters and weapons. Their reputation precedes them.
"I suggest you stop now if you wish to survive this battle! This could be a fatal blow if I am forced to use it!"
Maka either didn't hear the warning or didn't care as she swung the Figure 6 Hunter at the ninja, eyes ablaze with determination. As he slid the katana from his sheath, a massive explosion shook the earth, both of them faltering in their stances. Birds shot from the trees to seek shelter elsewhere, wildlife fled as fast as they could run. The ruins shuttered violently, even collapsing a few perilously teetering houses into thunderous heaps.
"What the hell was that?" Soul yelled out as another explosion triggered closer. One after another they went off, getting closer and closer to the fighting duo. Maka felt the familiar sensation streak across her mind and she skid to a halt, head snapping towards the center of the explosions. It was large…and headed right towards them.
"The Kishin…it's here."
"You're telling me an ancient lineage of master ninjas are hiding in the frozen mountains of Russia? Seriously. Tell me you're joking," Liz gawked at the stack of papers handed to her by Kid, flipping through them before settling on waving them around in disbelief. Patty had a copy of the report as well but was busy making a small army of giraffes instead. Kid was sitting on a high-backed throne centered in the Death Room, elbows resting on his knees while he sat deep in thought.
"I wish that were the case, but unfortunately it isn't a joke. Maka and Soul are not too far from that area currently. Assuming their mission goes well, it may be wise to send them to investigate this. Black Star and Tsubaki are deployed on a mission as well. They won't be back anytime soon." Kid explained before shifting his weight forward to a stand. Hands symmetrically brushed the invisible lint from his reaper cloak. "I would normally investigate this myself, but seeing as Father is gone…there's no one left to keep an eye on the school and Death City. The world isn't safe just because Asura is dead."
"We understand, Kid; I know what you're going through is tough. The students and citizens of Death City need you to take the reins and settle things down. Maybe then you'll be free to continue missions." Liz assured with a small smile. Kid partially returned it, too perturbed to keep it up. Then it slipped into a strained frown.
Patty had amassed a large army of paper giraffes around her, a smile on her face as she observed her handiwork. It quickly turned devilish, and the weapon full body tackled the sea of defenseless origami. Kid felt his eye twitch as tiny animals bounced off his face as the massacre began. Every. Single. Day.
"Agreed. For now, I'll help guide the DWMA students and faculty to fulfill their dreams and unleash their – PATTY WILL YOU AT LEAST THROW THEM SYMMETRICALLY?! THEY'RE BOUNCING OFF MY HEAD IN RANDOM ORDER, I CAN'T TOLERATE IT!"
Liz groaned and went back to reading the mission specs as Patty bombarded Kid with paper giraffes, his screams of displeasure filling the spacious Death Room. It seemed lately that any requests coming in were sightings of pre-Kishins all over the world. Black Star was on one in Egypt, Soul and Maka were on another in Russia, Ox and Harvard were sent to Greenland. They were coming in tidal waves and the DWMA only had so many 2-Star and 3-Star meisters and weapons. Consideration had even gone into sending Professor Stein and Marie, but the duo had become a trio with their 3-year-old son, Hiroaki. After what happened to Lord Death, Kid didn't have the heart to separate the parents from their child.
Spirit had willingly offered his services as Death Scythe to the new Death Lord, but Kid had politely declined, keeping him on an as-needed basis. Liz and Patty were more than enough for him, but the meister thanked him for the offer regardless. So, doing what he was infamous for, Spirit threw himself back into the lovely waiting arms of the Chupa Cabra ladies. Though according to Blair, he would often suddenly grow sullen, his eyes glassing over with no warning as he stared off into the distance. The war had a deeper effect on those directly involved.
"Patty, give me those giraffes!"
"Come and get 'em! Wheeeeee! GIRAFFE CYCLONE!"
Liz did her best to ignore the flurry of origami everywhere, a few bouncing harmlessly off her head in the process. Poor kid was buried beneath a mountain of the tiny things. A sentence within the mission spec caught her eye and she backtracked, pointing a delicately painted nail to the sentence. Tapping against the words as she read, even the weapon felt a frown drag at her face.
Although currently unknown, possible connection between the pre-Kishin and clan of ninjas. People who have claimed to gained access in or around the clan base have suddenly turned up missing days after reporting their finds. No witnesses were able to verify who the missing persons were. Some citizens mentioned they were jealous of people who went to a mountain retreat near Mariy Chodra National Park. 3-STAR MISSION HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. ADVANCED TEAMS ONLY.
"Kid…did you read what this says? People have gone missing and nobody knows who they were. It's almost like they never existed. Doesn't that strike you as kind of odd?" Biting her bottom lip, the weapon quickly verified what city the disappearances happened in. It wasn't far from Soul and Maka. "Something about a resort up in the mountains of a national park, near Innopolis. Maybe we should send backup to Soul and Maka – wow," Liz finally looked up to see a 20-foot high pile of giraffes burying Kid, Patty dancing around the mountain praising its mightiness in chants and dancing. "That's…pretty impressive, Patty. Just make sure you leave an air pocket for Kid."
"Oh, I forgot. Whoops!" Patty giggled before pile-driving into the center of the mass. She emerged a minute later with an unconscious, foaming Reaper, holding him up by his collar. Liz shook her head. It would take a while for him to recover now. "Found him!"
As much as she loved her sister, there were times she seemed to forget the human necessity of breathing. Still, Liz mused as Patty violently shook her meister around, origami flinging left and right, she wouldn't have it any other way. They were the only family she had now and a wonky, sometimes disturbing one was better than none. Her troubled thoughts subsided to the back of her mind while she worked on reviving her meister, the papers forgotten on the table for the time being.
"Man, that was a lame battle. An old man turning into a Kishin and killing innocent people because someone stole the last of his favorite candy? Sheesh, he could've just gotten another one!" Black Star complained as he and Tsubaki made their way through Cairo, the city swarming with life in sweltering heat. Elaborate stalls lined nearly every inch of pathway, vendors calling out to locals and tourists alike. From fine silks to ancient medicinal treatments, if you needed it, they had it. Even if you didn't need it, they were going to sucker you into buying it.
"Think of it this way Black Star, we stopped another Kishin egg from fully hatching so that's a plus. People won't have to worry as much when going out." Tsubaki reminded him lightly. "Besides, I'm sure there will be someone who is willing to challenge you back at DWMA. Oh, we should probably check in with Kid soon and update him now that we've completed the mission."
Quickly scanning the area, kind black eyes landed on a shop selling various mirrors. She slipped through the crowds with ease and arrived at the stall. Dozens of intricate and shining hand mirrors lined the table, precious embedded gems reflecting brightly in the Egyptian sun. A local vendor with a splotchy mustache and beard snapped his eyes to his next target as she approached his stall, a devious dance in his dark eyes. Of course, he gave a slow look over as well.
"Ahh, miss, you have good taste! These are the finest ancient artifacts around! This one here," The middle-aged man with missing teeth grabbed a slim golden mirror embroidered with intricate glistening gems. "Was rumored to have been used by Cleopatra herself! Very valuable item for such a good price. What do you say? Or –" He cut off Tsubaki's polite decline and grabbed a rounder mirror, large dull gems lining the edges. "Something with a little more bling to suit such a bright shining star as yourself?"
Tsubaki held back a gag as the man winked, his toothless grin widening as he slowly eyed her over once more. Before he could even reach the swell of her chest, an arm shot out and grabbed him by the neck. The weapon protested loudly as onlookers gawked at the commotion.
"I suggest you keep your eyes on her face and nowhere else. Am I clear?" Black Star leaned in close and hissed to the man. His eyes flashed quickly to the Star Clan symbol then reverted back just as fast. The vendor quickly nodded before shoving the mirror in his hands to Tsubaki and ducked down below his stall in fear. Tsubaki sighed heavily but accepted the mirror before moving on. Walking side by side, the two remained silent for a few minutes, the loud chatter of the crowds washing over them.
"Black Star, you didn't have to go that far. You about gave him a heart attack."
"Keh! He was about to start ogling at your boobs, how else was I going to stop him?" Black Star huffed as he linked his hands behind his head. "Besides, only I, the Great Black Star, get to look at those pup—!" A fist collided with the ninja's face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Tsubaki stood above him with a cold silent fury in her eyes, fists clenched tight. The meister looked up at her with surprise, his fingertips grazing his now swelling cheek.
"I am not a prize to be ogled at! Partner or not, you will respect my body and privacy! When will you grow up, Black Star? I suggest you go cool off for a while since I'm going to check in with Lord Death." With one last death glare, the weapon vanished into the crowd, leaving a stunned Black Star on the ground. People whispered and a few took pictures of the ninja sitting sprawled on the dirt.
With a tch, the ninja leapt to his feet and crossed both arms over his chest. With a glare of his own, the people began to scramble away from him. Tsubaki had become more sensitive to her body as the years went on. She hadn't changed much physically apart from growing another inch or two, but her back bone grew tougher and she took little to no nonsense with harassing comments or looks. Black Star lowered his face to conceal it within his collar, an annoyed scowl on his face. He'd screwed up. Again.
"Damn woman, I was just defending you…not like I care about you or anything."
Tsubaki quickly dispersed from the crowds, finding a secluded alleyway to use the mirror. Ensuring Black Star was still a ways off, she breathed against the mirror and began writing. He wouldn't be gone long, the blue haired ninja always remaining nearby. Just a moment. That's all she needed to herself right now.
"42-42-564, whenever you want to knock on Death's door." The mirror rippled as the signal connected. It rang a few times before a familiar face appeared on the glass.
"Oh, hey Tsubaki. How's the mission going?" Liz asked as she connected the line. "Kid is a little…preoccupied by Patty right now. He's going to be knocked out for a while."
"Hi Liz, just wanted to let Lord Death know that the mission was a success! We acquired the pre-Kishin soul and are returning to base." Tsubaki felt the smile on her face falter slightly when she saw Patty shaking Kid around like a ragdoll. Liz noticed the look but just shrugged it off. "Is…everything alright?"
"Oh, nice. Great job on the mission. Oi, Kid, Black Star and Tsubaki are finished and headed back now." Liz called to the motionless meister; a delicate brow arched as Patty twisted him like a pretzel. "Seriously? Get over the origami thing, it's not even worth it! Act like the damn Reaper you're supposed to be!"
"Dance little man, daaaaance!" Patty cackled as Kid violently snapped awake, pounding his fist into the floor with tears in his eyes as his foot was nearly touching the back of his head. Complying, the younger Thompson sister released him before getting distracted by something else, bounding off to play with it. "Got it done, sis!"
"Good job, Patty."
"Sorry about that, Tsubaki, how can I help?" Kid coughed as he quickly dusted off his suit. He was still fairly new to being Lord Death, just shy of three years, but he'd caught on rather fast and had proved to be an excellent leader to both students and citizens of Death City.
"We're finished with our mission now; a Kishin soul was acquired easily."
"Ah, excellent work. Where's Black Star? Usually he doesn't leave your side anymore," Kid mused as he looked at Tsubaki's surroundings, searching for the infamous blue haired ninja. He didn't miss the frustrated sigh that released from the weapon, but apparently failed to see the tinge of pink on the her cheeks.
"He's somewhere cooling off. A vendor was ogling me, and he snapped and grabbed him by the throat then threatened him." She could feel a headache coming on and rubbed her temple with two fingers. "And he said something inappropriate to me and I…punched him." Feeling the regret and embarrassment heat up her skin, Tsubaki covered her face with her hands. Now that she was older and more mature, punching her partner wasn't something that should keep happening. It wasn't professional! Or nice!
Liz let out a low impressed whistle, hands on her hips as she gave a cheeky grin.
"He probably deserved it anyways. We all may have grown up more, but Black Star still let's stupid shit fall out of his mouth every now and then. Besides," The weapon shoved Kid out of the way before whispering into the mirror. "Pretty sure he's got a major crush on you! I'm sure he was just defending you from harassment…and then doing it himself, of course, but that's because he's an idiot and doesn't know how to express his feelings very well! I think if you gave him the chance, he'd be a gentleman and treat you right! He's not that young boy anymore, Tsubaki, he's become quite the man! Slightly taller than you, more muscles, leaner body…"
Tsubaki was as red as a tomato at this point, steam practically radiating from the top of her head. Her mouth failed to produce full sentences and instead let out a garbled string of words. Patty laughed in the background while Liz stood there with a shit-eating grin; her work was done. Kid shoved the elder Thompson sister out of the way and cleared his throat; back to business. There wasn't time for gossip.
"There is one thing I would like to ask you, Tsubaki. I'm sure you can relay this to Black Star when you see him again. Do you know anything about a cult of master ninjas located in Russia? Maka and Soul are near that area doing a mission and we've gotten strange reports of people going missing without a trace. Not even the villagers could describe who had gone missing. It seems like something is going over there, but I can't leave my post to check."
"Master ninja cult?" Tsubaki placed a finger against her lips in thought. A vague blurb of information popped to the forefront of her mind, but it was too jumbled to decipher. "Hmmm, it does sound familiar but I'm not too sure. Black Star would possibly know though I'm not sure where he is right now. I'll be sure to remember to pass it on."
"Very well, we'll see you here once you get back. Kid out."
The connection closed and Tsubaki let out a strained breath. Liz could see right through her innocent act, exposing her deep feelings for the reckless meister. It was only natural, of course, seeing as they'd been partners since she arrived at DWMA all those years ago. Time had flown so fast that it seemed like yesterday she was meeting a smaller, more egotistical version of Black Star standing and proclaiming his greatness atop the three massive spikes adorning the school. She let her memories wash over her, closing dark eyes and leaning against the wall. Little did she know how much he would change her life from the instance they met.
And to be fair, thoughts of romanticism emerged every now and then. It was only natural the older she got. But without any experience in what to do or say, Tsubaki was at a complete loss when it came to expressing the desires of going on a date or just relaxing together. Maka wasn't any help as she focused solely on her job. Patty didn't care. Liz…she was pretty sure the blonde was planning something behind the scenes to push her and Black Star together. A shuddering sigh slipped out. Just thinking about the possibilities had her heart racing, black eyes closing in an attempt to quell them.
Her soul twitched slightly, and Tsubaki knew it was him before he even landed silently in the sand. Cracking an eye open, she noticed he looked sheepish, maybe even a little nervous as he kept one of his hands behind his back, the other rubbing the back of his head. Odd. Black Star never acted so out of character. Concern rose as she pushed off from the wall, hands raising to clasp against her chest.
"Something wrong, Black Star? It's not like you to be ner—" A bouquet of flowers was roughly shoved into her arms, fully startling the weapon from her youthful memories. Beautiful vibrant blue Egyptian lotus popped brightly against the dull brown of the dirt and houses. Bright purple Chrysanthemums adorned the empty spaces between the lotus flowers with smaller bunches of acacia and jasmine delicately tying everything together. It was the most beautiful floral arrangement she'd ever seen.
"I'm sorry for what I said earlier, I shouldn't have said something stupid like that." Black Star apologized, rubbing the back of his head nervously with an averted gaze. "That vendor shouldn't have treated you that way, that's why I snapped. 'Course I say the same shit…I mean it, Tsubaki. I'm sorry."
Tsubaki felt her heart swell at the sincerity of his apology and approached him as he rambled on. Placing a hand against his shoulder, she leaned forward and rested her head against his, sharing her feelings through their glowing link.
"Thank you, Black Star, it means a lot to me that you were being protective. And I'm sorry I punched you, I let my emotions get the better of me in the heat of the moment." It was Black Star's turn to become colored and he quickly ducked his face into his shirt collar once more to hide. Tsubaki thought it was the cutest thing, watching him become shy. A stark contrast to the brash, brawling normal self.
"S'okay, I deserved it anyways. But if you're done here, let's get going. I may or may not have started a street fight to cool off…"
"I'm not surprised, there's no keeping you down, is there?" Tsubaki giggled as she reached for his hand, pulling him back through the alley and towards the chaos that was, intentionally, raging on. "I suppose if you were to join in, I would wait here for you. I won't stop you if that's what you want."
Black Star gave her his flashy smile and leaned in to press his lips briefly against her temple before launching himself into the fray. Men were flying left and right as he challenged anyone and everyone he could reach, gloating about his godliness. Tsubaki felt her face heat up like a furnace and quickly went to find somewhere to sit before she fainted from all the excitement. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to tell him how she felt…
"What the hell is that thing? It looks like a bear mixed with a giant, burly lumberjack." Soul blurted out as the pre-Kishin burst through an explosion, razor sharp claws swinging down on the fighting duo. They separated a good distance, leaving the creature centered in the skirmish. Maka clenched her jaw hard to control the adrenaline dying off. Talk about timing. Black blood wouldn't last much longer at this rate, she wa barely keeping it together against the mysterious man.
The creature was 10-foot-tall, easily surpassing 400 pounds with its enormous body. Snow white fur covered nearly every inch on the beast, making it comparative to a bear save for the fact that it was very lanky; no doubt there were massive muscles just beneath the fur cover. Two-foot long claws protruded from each massive paw, the ends dangerously pointed tips; it had similar claws on its feet though not nearly as long, but still nonetheless deadly. Its face was the most disturbing part of the whole ensemble; it looked to be a mix between numerous human faces and various animal body heads, constantly shifting and morphing faces. Razor sharp fangs jutted out from its long snout in all directions, each one at least 6 inches long and covered in putrid red saliva; there had to be at least a dozen of them covering its upper and lower jaws.
"Is that…it looks like it also collected the souls of animals along with humans…" Maka breathed out, emerald eyes wide as her brain tried to process the bizarre creature launching itself forward with fury. Fear began to grip at her heart, the terrifying pre-Kishin like something out of a nightmare. Flashbacks of the fight with Asura briefly filled her vision. "What the hell…"
"Maka, don't just stand there and gawk, block damnit!" Soul snapped out, pulling his meister back to the real world a moment too late.
Maka grounded her stance and swung the scythe around, blade clashing against nails, the grating sound resonating for miles. It didn't take long for the meister to realize the creature was stronger than her and with a mighty roar, she was thrown from the roof of the house down to the streets below. The impact was softened, but the compressed snow did some mild damage; possibly broken ribs and a bruised shoulder were just the start she felt.
"Maka, you alright?" Soul called out as his meister let out a wheezing cough, the wind knocked completely from her. "Get up! Now!"
With a strained grunt she rose, using Soul as a support until scrambled bearings were gathered. Her head swam and she closed both eyes to steady violently swirling vision, taking as deep a breath as she could to calm it. If she could get the black blood to stitch her back together just long enough to end this fight, they could win. But had they already reached their limit?
"That…hurt." Maka grunted as she placed a hand over tender ribs, wincing with every move. Something was broken already, if not fractured. "That thing is a lot stronger than us…what do you think, Soul?"
"The best option would be to lure it out of the village and try to take it down in an open area. I don't know how much longer we can strain the black blood before it starts to draw me down into the madness; maybe ten minutes max. Pretty sure you've got some broken ribs there and it won't be easy to fight with them that way without the little red bastard's assistance. Our ninja friend there used up most of its time limit."
Said ninja was currently dodging blows from the enormous beast, using the snow to his advantage as he kicked out one leg from beneath the pre-Kishin, the slick roof sending it crashing to the ground. He made it look effortless, almost like he could predict its movements…
"Ten minutes? I only need three," Maka smirked as she whirled the scythe around her, stopping it in a ready position over her shoulder. With a hiss of pain, the meister readied herself for the rushing heat of the black blood's healing abilities.
The creature let out another enormous roar. The power of it caused the buildings to rattle, some of the weaker ones crumbling to the ground in massive heaps of debris and snow. Windows shattered from every frame in the area, exploding outward with such great force that they became deadly projectiles. Maka spun the scythe around to deflect them. The bigger shards shattered noisily against the blade while some of the smaller ones managed to slip through and slice through the meisters clothing and exposed skin.
She winced as she felt them slicing through flesh, the cold air stinging painfully as it hit the open wounds. The black blood was still pumping through her veins, albeit at a slower rate due to the high drainage earlier. The wounds would still be there, but the pain had stopped and the blood clotted quickly. There would be time to worry about those later; they had a Kishin to hunt.
"Move out of the way before I slice you in half!"
The ninja shot his head up in time to see the meister wielding her transformed scythe, aiming directly for the Kishin crawling its way back up the roof. With a curse he jumped backwards, not wanting to get wrapped up with the Death Scythe. He'd researched everything about weapons and meisters years ago during his training with the monks, but seeing a Death Scythe in person was a completely different experience. The two worked in harmony together; the meister connecting her soul with the weapons, in turn the weapon returning her soul's wavelength back to with added power. Of course, this was on a whole new level with the scythe weapon having completed becoming a Death Scythe, the very last one. Throw in the black blood and you have a nearly unbeatable team.
He watched in concealed awe at how fast and powerful Maka Albarn was. Her effortless swings, jabs, and kicks made it look like child's play from his point of view. The Kishin swiped at her again but she was prepared for it and launched herself upwards over the beast, the scythe transforming once more. Rumors had been spread all over the world about the secret form passed down from her mother many years ago; the Kishin Hunter. She swung down with all her strength, catching the edge of the blade against the creature's neck, the blade sinking down several inches through its thick skin. But even he knew it wouldn't be that easy of a target to take down. The Kishin roared in anger before grabbing onto the scythe's blade and yanking it from its thick neck with little trouble. Its large teeth clamped down on the ginormous glowing scythe and began to crush it as if it were a gnat.
"Let go of him you asshole bear!" Maka screamed as she could feel the Kishin hunter form beginning to break, cracks running all along the scythe. Soul coughed up a glob of black blood, trails dripping from his lips and down his chin. It seemed that was the breaking point for the meister; her anger and determination radiated off of her body in massive waves.
Forgoing her grip on the shaft, Maka dropped down to the roof and pulled her arm back with a tight fist before launching herself at the beast, wild emotions fueling her attack.
"Maka, it may have worked once but it won't work again, idiot!" Soul screamed as he watched his meister run headfirst towards the creature. Recklessness still ran through her blood and it drove him insane! "You're going to get yourself killed! Listen to me for once, damnit!"
Kishin Hunter was about to break, he could feel the electricity running across his skin like fire. Knowing it was risky to do so in the middle of a battle, Soul began to revert back to Death Scythe form then onto human form. Luckily, Maka had distracted the Kishin quickly and it had released its jaws from the weapon. As soon as he was freed from the Kishins grip, he stood to go after Maka when it happened.
Time slowed as the two men watched Maka Albarn punch the Kishin in the center of its forehead, unleashing a battle cry as her fist connected with a crack. The sharp canines tore at the flesh of her hands and arms, but she failed to notice it. Some of the putrid and rotting saliva dripped onto her clothing, the material beginning to quickly melt away. For a moment nothing happened. The air was silent, not even the wind blowing. A pulse of energy rippled over them, vanishing as quickly as it had come. Soul eyed the scene for a moment before suddenly becoming very calm and relaxed, stuffing his hands into his pockets casually as he let out a held breath. He sent the ninja a smirk which grew into a toothy grin after receiving a startled look in return.
The ninja felt the hairs on the back of his neck and arms stand straight up, immense power running over his body. The wind seemed to pick up, surrounding all four of them, yet outside of that, the air remained still. Maka dropped back onto the roof before standing up straight, keeping her fist close to her upper body, waiting. The Kishin had only just moved to look at her when a crack appeared at the top of its head, quickly travelling down the length of its body. A bright flash of blue erupted from within the Kishin and it silently imploded into nothingness. Dozens of souls ascended into the sky, silently floating into the dark storm clouds. A red and black soul remained floating just in front of the meister with its tail flickering angrily at her.
"…apparently punching them really does work." Master ninja whispered as Soul walked over to his partner, placing a hand on her lower back as he checked in on her.
Maka turned her head and gave him a big smile before motioning to the hovering soul. He gave her a toothy grin before reaching out and grabbing the soul. The ninja felt like he was going to be sick when he watched the weapon open wide and chew on the soul, letting out a satisfied belch when it was gone. He held back a gag by pressing the back of his hand over a covered mouth. Disgusting.
"Now, this is where I would turn my attention to you and continue what was started," Maka spoke calmly as she turned bright emerald eyes to lock with piercing blue ones. "But I don't see a point to it at the moment. Just know that I have your soul wavelength memorized; meaning you can run, and you can hide, but I'll know exactly where to find you. Send that warning to those commanding you from behind the scenes."
Those eyes nearly burned a hole through his soul; was she really this powerful, stronger than he ever anticipated? Had her Soul Perception grown tremendously over the years since the battle with Asura? It took him a few seconds to snap out of it, but when he did, it was to let out a short laugh.
"Very well, I can tell by your eyes you speak the truth. I suppose this is where we part for the time being. I have everything I need to know." And with a smoke bomb he was gone.
"Was there even a point to fighting with him? All he did was pretty much waste time and then stand there and watch as we killed the Kishin." Soul growled out in frustration. Maka just let out a light laugh before grimacing in pain, torn and dirtied glove holding her ribs tenderly. Black blood had worn off, the effects fizzling away with each ragged breath. There was going to be a lot of pain and soon.
"He was testing us…seeing if we were strong enough to be useful for whatever purpose his leader ordered. Pretty standard bad guy protocol."
"So uncool…"
"42-42-564, whenever you want to knock on Death's door." Soul muttered to himself as he wrote the familiar number on the floor to ceiling mirror in the Inn's shower room. Shared showers and bathrooms were common in Russia apparently. Not the greatest thing seeing overweight, naked men wandering around, but out of his control.
Both had returned back to the Inn with good news, much to the villagers' relief, and requested showers to get cleaned up. The receptionist offered to assist Maka with the scrubbing, and the meister silently agreed, her face tinting red from embarrassment. Soul watched as the young woman whisked his meister away, feeling the unease in her soul as he left her sight. He let out a loud sigh. What had happened in the Black Room hadn't left his mind for hours. The way she acted was…well, like a woman in love would be the best way to put. He knew for sure he loved her, he had for a few years now, but was she ready and willing to love and accept him? More than just partners?
"Ah, Soul, how was the mission?" Kid appeared in the mirror, looking sleep-deprived and disheveled. Soul could see Liz wave from the background, a mountain of papers stacked on the table she was set at. Patty was nowhere to be seen, probably sleeping on the floor or going to get more craft supplies.
"Got the Kishin soul, but…"
"But what? What happened, Soul?" Lord Death was suddenly alert and very awake, golden eyes searching his best friends face for answers. Soul let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his damp locks. Where to even begin with this…
"That Kishin…it wasn't normal, Kid. It looked like a combination of both human and animal souls. Beat the shit out of Maka; she's got possible broken ribs and a banged-up shoulder, cuts all over. She'll be alright, though. Is that even possible for someone or something to take animal souls and use them to become a Kishin?"
Kid was silent for a few minutes, his hand cupping against his chin as he thought.
"I may have read at some point that while it is possible, it's very rare; only one or two confirmed cases of it happening, but that was maybe a couple of hundred years ago. No reports since then I'm afraid. If that's the case, then we'll need to be extra vigilant from now on."
"So, now we get to deal with animal Kishin hybrids that are stronger than the human version? Great," Soul groaned as he slid a damp hand down his face, the stress evident. "Would explain why we got the shit beat out of us so easily. That thing threw Maka aside like she was nothing more than a fly. It even clamped down on Kishin Hunter and nearly broke it in seconds."
"It nearly broke Kishin Hunter? Has that ever happened before?" Even through the mirror, Soul could tell Kid looked very tense. It wasn't a very good conversation to be having anyways, not with what they uncovered. Added stress only caused more restrictions with missions down the line.
"The only times Kishin Hunter has broken was when we fought Stein during those extracurricular classes and the battle with Asura. This thing was breaking it with its teeth," Soul looked down at his hands, the memory still fresh in his mind. Even the sensation hadn't washed off in the shower, the electricity still barely lingering. "Maka was reckless again; she released me to punch the damned thing in the face. Worked, but stupid idea nonetheless." His fists clenched tightly. How could he be so useless…again?
"Seems she's got a bad habit of doing that," Kid mused with a chuckle, some of the tension easing through the glass. "Listen, Soul, I was considering sending you on another mission roughly in that area, though a little more to the North. Something about a ninja clan hiding up near the mountains. We've got a copy of the request that says there have been people vanishing after going to a retreat near there. I understand that since Maka is unfit to battle so soon after receiving injuries, we can postpone it until a later time."
"Funny you mention ninjas, Kid, because we ran into one claiming to be a master before the Kishin found us."
"W-wait are you serious? How did you…?" Kid stuttered, clearly surprised at the coincidence. His face got comically close to the mirror, scrutinizing the less than impressed weapon. "You're not joking are you? The odds of it being a coincidence are—"
"I wouldn't joke about this, Kid. Guess he was here to monitor then attacked us, so we fought back. Used quite a bit of the black blood and barely managed to scratch him. When he fought the Kishin, it was like he knew how it would move…there's something odd about it all."
It didn't add up. How could that man know how to avoid the fast and unpredictable movements of the Kishin? There was more to the story than they knew…
Soul ended the call with Kid after an elderly man had entered the room and was proudly parading around, eagerly boasting and showing off his… assets…Soul took that as his cue to leave with a disgusted shudder. Kid requested a follow-up with him after a few days once Maka was up and moving around more. A blast of cold air hit the weapon as he left the steaming shower room, a chill running up his spine. He could sense Maka was back in the room, and his body automatically made a beeline for it when he was stopped.
"You were the one to defeat the creature, no?" A middle-aged woman from behind the desk stood from her chair and walked around, her short heels clicking softly against the worn wood.
Her brown hair was streaked with silver, placed in a slightly messy bun at the back of her head. Her crisp work uniform was slightly tattered and dirty, a sign that fearing for her life was more important than laundry. Soft brown eyes stared at him with such gratitude and love that it made the weapon falter in his steps. The fine lines on her face had deepened, giving her the appearance of someone twice her age. Within seconds Soul found himself trapped in a tight hug, the woman sobbing against him quietly, shoulders shaking. Stunned, the weapon just stood silently as the woman bawled into his shoulder, letting out all of the pent-up anger, grief, frustration and sensation of helplessness.
"You have avenged my husband and child, thank you, young man. They can rest in peace now, bless their souls." She pulled back and cupped his face, placing her lips briefly against either cheek, her eyes shining with tears. With one last hug, she pulled back and wiped at her face with the back of her hand. "Your partner, she is waiting for you in the room. I have food ready whenever you want it, deti. Please, have a good rest and thank you, again."
Maka drowsily opened her eyes at the sound of a door opening and closing, mind still fuzzy. Pillows propped her up against the head of the bed, making it difficult to sleep comfortably though it kept away the insane throbbing headache. The mattress sank next to her and she rolled her head in that direction, a lazy smile on her face knowing who it was.
"How are you feelin', Maka?"
"Mm, good. They gave me something for the pain. You should try it, Thoul, it's relaxing…" The meister slurred as she tried to shake the drowsiness off, only succeeding in making the room spin faster. Soul noticed and placed a hand on the top of her head, gently resting it back against the pillows. She gave a loopy smile before closing her eyes, letting out a happy sigh.
"You sure can't handle pain meds, can you?" Soul teased as she began wiggling her fingers around uncontrollably on top of the heavy wool blanket that practically swallowed her petite body. She cracked an eye open and stuck her tongue out at him before resuming her entertainment. This could be some good blackmail for the future…but it would probably end up with him being buried six feet under.
"The nice drug man told me I had frac-fractured some… some…" Maka repeated, her brows furrowing in confusion as the word escaped her brain. It was there one moment, gone the next. "These things here, Soul, here, here, and here." She pointed to her ribs twice on the left and once on the right.
"Three ribs? Man, I can't take you anywhere without you punching Kishins in the face and getting injured. Not cool," Soul gave her a toothy grin as he lightly shook his head, moving his stare away from her and towards the wall. It was difficult to see his meister in such a state, especially when he was supposed to protect her. Even at the cost of his life. Yet he bailed in the middle of a fight and had to depend on Maka who was already suffering the after-effects of the black blood.
Maka fully opened her eyes to look at him, the haze fading momentarily. She lifted a hand, which felt like a ton of bricks, and rested it on his firmly. He instinctively grabbed it and held tight, red eyes darting to lock with her hazy green ones. Neither spoke for a minute, allowing the courage to speak build up. Subconsciously, Soul rubbed tiny circles on the back of her scratched up hand.
"I couldn't stand to see you hurt again, Soul; that night still haunts me a lot. I failed to protect you and I regret it every day. If I have to do stupid shit to protect you, I will. If I have to throw you down and face an enemy head-on to save you, I will. I'll gladly give my life in exchange for yours, Soul. Always, I promise." She still slurred slightly but the words came out strong with true emotion.
Soul was speechless. Maka was always too proud to share her feelings out in the open like that, though she usually shared them with her actions instead, but nonetheless it caused butterflies in the weapons stomach causing his heart to fill with adoration. Shifting his body so he was facing her, he guided her hand to rest over his heart as he leaned forward, pressing his head against hers. He could feel her soul vibrate happily, syncing perfectly with his own as they shared an intimate moment.
"You're too cool for me, Maka, you know that, right?" Soul whispered after a few minutes of reveling in the pure bliss.
"Mhmm. Coolest partner ever, you shed?" Maka slurred as sleep threatened to drop her into the awaiting darkness. She didn't want to ruin the moment by falling asleep, that'd be so uncool.
"Coolest partner ever." Soul responded earnestly. He could tell she was trying to stay awake as long as she could, but sleep was quickly tugging her under. Pulling back from her, Soul kept her hand briefly against his chest before removing it and gently setting it back on the bed at her side. Maka made an annoyed grunt and twitched her fingers at him to come back. So demanding…when did she get so clingy?
"Hold on, let's get you settled first." What would she ever do without him? Probably live a stress-free life with enough books to build a palace.
Carefully slipping his hand beneath her head, the weapon used his other hand to remove some of the other pillows, making the angle more comfortable. Maka winced a bit at being shifted, but otherwise made no complaints. Once she gave a nod of approval, Soul let her down gently before pulling the blanket up to her shoulders. The meister squirmed a little before flopping her arms out from beneath the hot blanket.
"Hot…" The meister whined before relaxing into the soft pillows, her breathing evening out once more.
Soul chuckled to himself as he finished getting ready for bed. He quickly changed into an old pair of shirt and sweats, tossing his battle dirtied clothes on the floor. Exhaustion hit him like a brick wall and he finally resigned himself to the welcoming bed. Flopping gracefully face-first on top of the scratchy blanket, he felt his eyes droop as sleep began to drag him under. Something twitched against his hand and he reluctantly opened an eye to see Maka's finger reaching out. Slipping his hand into hers, he intertwined their fingers together firmly. With what energy he had left, he brought her fingers to his lips and pressed against them lightly.
I'll protect you always, Maka…I promise.
I decided for the most part that there weren't many changes to make to the chapter apart from merging the first two together and minor grammatical errors. I didn't realize how short the beginning chapters were. Keep an eye out for more updates!