Madness Unleashed - REWORK IN PROGRESS

by InuKagomeLuver4Eva

With the power of madness threatening the world once more, it's up to Maka and friends to vanquish it. But will the overwhelming power crush the meister mind, body, and soul? "Those who meddle outside the laws of God shall face the wrath of the Reaper; There is no redemption for those who break the sacred law." Soul X Maka *M for gore and language* REWORK IN PROGRESS!

2. A Frazzled Soul

This chapter may be three combined into one, depends on how the flow goes. They will be replacing the already posted chapters on FF.

---

A figure dashed through the white laden hills, darting effortlessly between the thick forest foliage. Winter had taken its toll on the vegetation as the trees bared no leaves, just the gnarled twisting spines of once luscious green branches now lying dormant and covered in thick piles of winter. A branch snapped and the figure immediately darted to the side, taking cover behind a large, naked fir tree. With bated breath and a silent peek, they waited. A shuffling sound echoed loudly through the sparse trees, scattering the noise in every direction. Ears trained for such an occasion, the person closed their eyes and focused, taking in every sound of the forest. A bird in the distance, chirping softly. A fox stealthily hunting its prey beneath the layers of snow. Mice burrowing deeper underground, escaping the stealthy fox just above. Three deer shuffling through the deep snow to search for any foliage to devour.

Another shuffle and they pinpointed the sound. Throwing their eyes open, the person climbed silently into the tree, using the high vantage point to their advantage as they scanned the area. For a moment, nothing happened. Then the shuffling grew louder, getting closer to the tree they were currently waiting in. With a swift and silent wrist flick, a kunai slid into their palm, the black metal stark against the surrounding area. Lifting their throwing arm up by their shoulder, they waited for the moment to strike. Slowly, a figure emerged from behind a tree, white clothes nearly indistinguishable from the snow. Their movements were slow as they trudged along, using any tree to support them along the way.

Judging from the backpack, it could be assumed it was a traveler, perhaps having gotten lost in the endless white. White clouds filled the air as heavy breathing pumped from the travelers' mouth, the frigid temperatures taking a toll on their body. Lowering the weapon, narrowed eyes watched the person stumble, face-planting in the snow. They were motionless for minutes and most likely presumed dead. With a light jump they landed in the snow, inspecting the body for signs of life. It was faint but there was indeed still a heartbeat, albeit growing weaker by the minute. Grabbing the traveler by the shoulder, the figure shoved them onto their back, eyes grazing over the snow-covered face. It appeared to be an elderly man, judging by the heavy facial lines and greying hair. It was his stupidity that would kill him, trekking into bad weather like this at his age.

Quick hands searched any and all pockets for supplies or valuables. A glint of light flashed by the elder's neck and with deft fingers, a chain was removed from its home. Dangling from the bottom of the chain was a locket in the shape of a crescent moon. There was a small latch connecting the sides together but it had been broken long ago, barely hanging by a thin wire. With a bit of fumbling it managed to snap open. Inside was a weathered photo of a couple on one side and a newer portrait of a small child, a girl. An inscription was written beneath it.

My light, my love, my life. Anya.

A groan from the man caused the figure to leap back, taking cover within a tree mere feet away. So, he was still alive. Tough old bastard.

"I-I know so-someone is there, please, I ask f-for an e-ear," The man croaked as he coughed, the sound wet and hard. "A d-dying m-m-man's wish…"

The figure hidden in the tree watched with suspicious eyes, leery of the stranger. A part of him wanted to just leave and abandon the delirious old man, but another was curious about his dying words. There was still time before needing to return to base, a few more minutes wouldn't hurt. Besides, he might have something of value on his person. Supplies were hard to come by in the harsh winter months.

"Speak your words, old man, though none may ever hear them." The figured spoke emotionlessly as they landed back next to the dying man.

The man let out a strained laugh, cracking his eyes open, glassy eyes staring at the clouded heavens with a small smile.

"The trees s-shall carry on m-my words," Another painful cough. "I-I know what you are, s-son, no need to be s-so guarded."

"Then you must know what happens once you discover who I am."

"H-happened to my y-younger brother, I am a-aware," The man was growing tired, his eyelids drooping. Bitter cold and lungs of fluid weren't the best of combinations. "But I w-will spare you the effort of k-killing me, n-ninja, for I am already a d-dead man. I w-wish for you to h-heed my warning…"

The old man shot forward with surprising speed and strength, grabbing the ninja by the collar as he dragged him close to the putrid rotting scent of death spewing from between cracked lips. Crazed black eyes locked with the ninja's own, his stare swirling the depths of Hell within them. His mouth opened to an unnatural size, sharp black rotting teeth lining nearly every inch of his mouth as he gave a crazed smile. Fear began to climb down the ninja's spine, paralyzing him in place. He tried to avert his eyes to no avail; those black eyes had placed a spell over him, sending pure terror coursing through his body.

"Those who meddle outside the laws of God shall face the wrath of the Reaper. There is no redemption for those who break the sacred law. You have been warned."

Just as quickly as it had started, it ended. The old man's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his grip released as he fell into the snow with a soft thud. The ninja felt his collar where the stranger had just grabbed him, the spot feeling frozen. Either he had hallucinated, or the old man reverted back to human form as he died. A glimmer of light emitted from around the neck of the corpse and the ninja felt his heart skip a beat; it was the necklace he'd torn off mere minutes ago still secured around the man's neck.

Abruptly he stood and fumbled backwards before taking off through the woods, leaving the corpse alone in the snow. As soon as the ninja was gone, the body began to dissolve into nothingness, leaving just a blackened spot covering the earth.

The words The Reaper Shall Bring Judgement permanently scarred into the ground.

---

Kid paced back and forth anxiously in the Death Room; his arms crossed over his chest in concentration as both weapons watched on in boredom. Liz had been watching him pace for nearly an hour now, growing rather agitated with his repetitive, endless behavior. Patty was snoring quietly next to her, the chair she occupied was teetering dangerously on the back two legs, somehow never falling over.

"Kid, you're going to wear a hole in the floor at that rate," Liz said tersely as he picked up the pace, muttering under his breath quickly. "You need to calm down and think about this logically. I know you're worried about them, but Soul and Maka can take care of themselves; they've proven that more times than we can count."

Kid was growing anxious about the new looming threat in addition to the newly hybrid Kishin. It wasn't a coincidence that a ninja would suddenly appear where Soul and Maka were hunting a Kishin, nor that the ninja could easily dodge its attacks while Maka was severely injured. What was their connection? Were the master ninja's creating these Kishin? And for what purpose? This would be so much easier if he could just leave –

"Lord Death, sorry for the interruption."

Kid stopped his pacing and looked up to see Stein standing a mere few feet from him, his hands shoved roughly into his pockets. While the man barely appeared to age over the last few years, more scars and stitches covered pale flesh. A brief glasses adjustment was made as a lit cigarette was tucked into the corner of his mouth.

"Ah, Professor Stein, what can I do for you?" Uncrossing his arms, the Reaper took a more relaxed pose as he moved to his chair. Gracefully dropping down into it, tired golden eyes met with calm green ones as Kid paid full attention to the meister. "Just…as long as it's not bad news. It's already been a hectic day in that department."

"I looked into those Master Ninja's at the library, but nothing really came out of it. There was a paragraph in one book that mentioned a possible previous association between them and a group of witches, but I'm afraid nothing more than that. Either they've been erased from history or they're excellent at hiding from the world." Stein cranked the screw on his head a few times before pulling the cigarette from his mouth after a heavy inhale. "I'm not an expert on ninjas, but we have a duo that are. I would suggest speaking with them about it once they return within the next few days."

"Thank you, Stein, I've already mentioned to Tsubaki and she recalled it sounding familiar but couldn't place it. She will ask Black Star as well." Kid rested his chin on intertwined fingers, mind racing as he searched for any hidden knowledge of the clan. "But what I don't understand is how easily Soul and Maka ran into one; it wasn't a coincidence that a ninja was there when the Kishin appeared. There's something going on between that clan and all these new hybrid-Kishin popping up everywhere, but I can't figure it out." Kid sighed heavily. Why didn't any of it make sense? He should be able to deduce the puzzle; he was the Grim Reaper after all.

Stein stood there for a few moments, slowly inhaling the sweet nectar of nicotine before releasing a cloud of smoke to the side. He adjusted his glasses with his middle finger as he spoke. "Don't stress yourself over this, Kid, everything will fall into place sooner or later. Has Soul told Maka yet?"

"No," Kid shook his head slowly. "If she knew, she'd rush out the door to find them and wipe everyone out." A small smirk adorned the Reapers face at the image of Maka wrecking mayhem on a bunch of ninjas. She tended to go overboard a plethora of times.

"There's a reason she's the best meister at the academy; after her mother of course." Stein smiled with the cigarette clenched between his teeth. "If anyone can take care of it, it's her. Soul will help keep her in line."

"I really hope you're right, Professor Stein, I really do…"

---

She could feel herself floating in a haze of black mist, the deafening silence nearly causing her to slip into protruding tendrils of madness. There was no way to tell how much time had passed, but it was enough for boredom to kick in. No matter how far she 'swam' it was the same thing; never ending silence and darkness. Maka huffed and curled into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest. Was she inside her soul again? Or was this the median between life and death?

'You're not dead, dearie, just in a state of unconsciousness. Taken quite the beating, haven't you? You really should stop being so abusive to me,' A familiar voice spoke up causing pigtails to swish around as she turned to see. The little red imp feigned hurt, his gnarly fingers pressing against his heart. Immediately distrust filled Maka's expression and a tsk slipped out.

"Are you here to mock me or are you going to help me get out of this?" Maka huffed with arms over her chest, glaring at the imp. With the imp here, it made things more serious. He controlled the domain around them; darkness and despair a satisfying forte of his.

'Soul is right, quite the demanding one, aren't you?' He snickered as he effortlessly walked closer to the meister, ignoring the burning glare. 'You've pushed my limit too far this time, which in turn does more harm than good to your body. You see, dearie, because you keep pushing the limits of the black blood, it accelerates the madness and causes you to be more easily drawn down into the depths. Now, don't panic. It won't get you killed as long as you watch your limitations with the black blood. But if you continue to push the limits then you'll find yourself in a situation like Chrona; you'll lose the ability to stay sane and the black blood will absorb your soul as you lose full control of yourself. Your anti-demon wavelength can only go so far if there's an extreme external source of madness around.'

Maka swallowed hard. Lose the ability to use black blood? They'd been using it fine for years without many issues… It was practically a death sentence once the black blood lost its healing properties. And external madness...what would happen if an outside source of madness overtook the black blood's own madness? Death. Painful death. That was the only outcome she could concoct.

"So, all I have to do is watch the limit? That shouldn't be too hard,"

'Ah, you say that, but we both know that once it starts to take control, you'll feel the urge for more power each and every time. Even Soul knows his limit before the madness takes over.'

The meister sat in silence as she tried to wrap everything around her head. The demon crossed his leg over the other, acting as though he was sitting in a chair as he waited for her to respond. Nails tapped along to an invisible piano song.

"I can't tell Soul about this…he'll make sure we never use it again." Maka concluded finally after tremendous thought. "We've fought before without it and we can do it again. It's not worth the risk—"

'And here I thought you were the smart one…' The imp was suddenly inches from her face, deranged red eyes boring dangerously into wide emerald as he snarled. 'How exactly do you plan to keep it from him? I am him; he is me. I am you; you are me. We are all connected together in body and soul. You can't keep your thoughts locked down every time you're around him; he'll find out sooner or later; before you die or after you die. Your choice, Maka Albarn, choose wisely.'

The imp vanished, leaving Maka to float alone in the darkness once more. Her anger got the better of her and she screamed all of her frustrations into the void. By the time she was finished releasing her frustrations, her throat had become hoarse. She floated for what felt like eternity again, muttering angrily under her breath. In the middle of a tangent about the ignorant imp, a light flashed from her right and she abruptly turned to look. Something was coming at her fast. How it moved through the viscous substance, she didn't know, but it wasn't stopping. A flash of white; her heart skipped a beat as she recognized what it was…

"How did it get in here…?" Maka whispered to herself as the meister turned to try and float away, panic gripping her heart. It was like swimming through sludge as she kicked and pushed as hard as she could to escape. But it was swift.

It hit her fast and hard; a large, clawed hand shot out and grabbed her by the neck. A strangled yelp slipped through her lips as she stared wide-eyed at the creature. When they'd fought it, Maka couldn't get a detailed look at the horrendous face but looking at it from such a close angle sent chills down her spine. Its face morphed rapidly, ranging from various animals and back to human, instantaneously. Tears slipped out as she stared; her body wanted to look away, escape from the horror, yet her mind was frozen in place, too terrified to send any flight commands. The faces began to slow down, slowly ticking through them like a rolodex. With a final click it stopped. The face was familiar, way too familiar for comfort.

Maka stared directly at her own face on the creature's head, its expression calm and collected.

Scythe wielder, Maka Albarn. Meister to Death Scythe Soul 'Eater' Evans. Aged 17, nearing 18. Height 5'7. Weight 125 lbs. Eyes green. Hair sandy. Blood type O. It even sounded like her…

It stopped within inches of her own face, the creatures mouth opening wide to reveal dangerously sharp teeth dripping with acidic red saliva. Maka felt her stomach churn but could only struggle weakly as consciousness began to fade. Oxygen…

You'll never be able to defeat a Kishin like me, It purred lowly in her voice. For you may be the Reaper who slays those who have broken the sacred law, but I am the Kishin who devours those Reapers. I know everything about you; from what you eat for breakfast to every dream you have. As well as your deepest feelings for your weapon that you keep locked away because you're afraid of him not sharing the feelings back. You better give up, girl, or your life will be mine for eternity.

Three long claws punctured her stomach and instantly blood spurted from her mouth. The darkness overcame her, and she fell into silence.

Maka shot straight up with a strangled scream, sweat drenching every inch of her body as she fought to breathe. The sudden movement caused pain to shoot up her abdomen and she doubled over as every muscle contracted tightly, arms wrapping against the screaming muscles in attempt to ease the tension. Tears streamed down a ghostly face while her body spasmed violently from the sudden attack. Another sharp spasm had the young woman falling from the bed to the floor. She curled into a ball on the cool floor, her mouth open in a silent scream. The door slammed open and footsteps thudded across the floor, a flash of white moving into blurred vision.

"Oi, Maka what's wrong? Take a deep breath,"

Soul had panicked the moment he'd heard the cry and felt the pain inside of his soul. He winced a bit at the level of pain radiating from her soul, its cries instinctively syncing with his own wavelength. Maka's body was shaking as she tried to curl herself into a tighter ball on the floor, nails digging into her back to anchor back to reality. Cursing under his breath, the weapon carefully lifted her from the floor and pulled Maka into his lap, placing his hand on the back of sandy locks. Not even the Asura nightmares caused a strong reaction like this. Was it the black blood acting up again?

"It's alright. I'm here, Maka, just breathe. It'll be okay," Rubbing circles on her back seemed to help somewhat as the constricting hold eventually loosened.

"S-Soul…" Maka gasped out in between sobs, slender arms quickly wrapping around his neck. "I-I'm fine, just got up too fast."

"Do you need more pain meds? You've been out nearly two days now; I haven't been able to wake you. They said it was injury trauma or something."

Two days… was that how long she was floating in the darkness? It felt longer than that, more like an eternity. She could still feel the creature's claws around her neck, slicing through her stomach like thin air, and she shivered. The pain felt so real. The Kishin was dead. It shouldn't still be haunting her like this.

"N-no," Maka mumbled into Soul's neck, his musk washing over her calming her slightly. Every single quality about him was comforting; from his crooked smile to the musk of sandalwood and myrrh. She'd never admit aloud, but whenever they were apart, Maka Albarn felt…lonely. More than the meister would ever admit. "I'm fine…"

Soul knew she probably wasn't aware that her thoughts were connecting with his; the red demon warning her about the black blood and its limits, her hidden feelings for him, and then there was that. The hybrid Kishin had found its way into her mind, leaving a threatening warning with dire consequences should she continue to pursue it. He tightened his grip around her waist. No way in hell would it take his meister; he would die to protect her. He grit his teeth angrily. He couldn't do anything except just hold her there, rubbing her back and whispering soothing words. Her body wasn't shaking nearly as bad as they sat there, the concept of time a foreign thought for the moment. Maka shifted back a little and Soul loosened his grip around her to look down.

"You alright now?"

Tears were still trailing down her rubescent cheeks, but she nodded.

"Thank you, Soul, I just…" Maka trailed off as she took a deep breath in. "You probably saw it, didn't you? That thing invading my mind, my body, my soul. I can still feel it—"

"It's not there anymore, so don't worry. 'Sides, we took down that creepy Kishin no problem." Soul gave her a toothy grin and she smiled softly. "Cuz you got the greatest Death Scythe ever as your partner."

"What would I ever do without the coolest guy in the world?" Maka wiped her face with the backs of her hands, sniffling as she dried her tears. Although the pain woke her up, exhaustion still dragged over the meister with iron weights. Now there was the lasting soreness of suddenly jerking every muscle and tendon attached to the injured ribs.

"Probably be stuck with some loser who hasn't defeated Kishins, got a cool chest scar, got a killer motorcycle, became a Death Scythe," Soul ticked off the list on his fingers, closing one eye and keeping the other on her. "Traveled the world kicking ass, hasn't defeated witches or the Kishin Asura. Has a best friend who is the Shinigami. Great hair, can't forget that. And has the strongest meister in the world. Hard to be awesome like me, right? Should I keep going?"

"I think that's plenty enough, Soul. You've made your point to the only person even listening." Maka laughed as he gave her another toothy grin, his white locks messy falling across his eyes.

With a gentle touch she pushed them back, revealing those devious red eyes she loved so much. His hair had gotten a little long again, white tendrils falling over his face. She wondered if he just hadn't had the time to put a headband on to tame them. His hand came up to encase the one resting against his face, red eyes searching green. Maka felt her heart nearly beating out of her chest as a deeply concealed emotion began shining forth. There would be no more hiding their feelings, keeping them locked up deep within their souls while putting on a facade on the outside. How long had she wanted this but been too terrified of rejection or being hurt? And there were the other girls clamoring to be his partner for so long, all flocking to him whenever he was at school. Usually Maka was roughly pushed aside by the clamoring teens, totally ignored. With a huff she would leave, leaving Soul to dig his way out of the horde of hormones while she went to class.

But now that they were here, alone, with her feelings finally out in the open, the meister felt like crying all over again. Her eyes slid closed on her own, body instinctively leaning forward...

Maka was interrupted as the door flung open once more, startling the two apart. It was the older front desk attendant who hurried in, the one who'd prepared their meals and changed her clothes while she was healing, wringing her hands in front of her. Soul instantly looked for something interesting to stare at, avoiding look in their direction.

"Oh, my sweet girl, are you alright? I heard you yell out and then he came sprinting in and I haven't heard anything since. I was so worried!" The woman blubbered as she crushed Maka in a bear hug. "You are so young, poor girl! Ah, my daughter… you resemble her…"

"Ah…I'm sorry to hear that…you can rest easy knowing no one else will suffer the way your child and many others did…" Maka winced against the woman's shoulder as her ribs were shifted, pleading eyes trailing back to Soul who was sprawled out on the floor.

He appeared a little surprised but kept his face mainly neutral. Maka felt her heart drop into her stomach as he got up and hesitated before leaving the room, right hand scratching the back of his head and his left shoved deep in a pocket, muttering something under his breath. He paused and shot her a quick, flustered look; it was apprehension mainly but there was something else… shame?

She wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting there nearly being crushed by the larger woman, but everything body felt numb and disconnected from reality. Maka didn't even think to see if he reciprocated the feelings, just instinctively moving with what she felt was right. Soul kept his emotions under tight lock and key for the most part meaning even if she wanted to check, it was impossible to peak into the familiar soul. But…surely, having just gained sudden access to all her thoughts and feelings…he would align with them?

The next few hours were a blur: the only sensation she remembered was scalding hot water cascading over her body, steam filling her vision as something moved roughly against her skin. Someone was speaking to her in a gentle voice, but Maka couldn't hear it. Her heart felt like it had stopped beating all together. Were things ruined between her and Soul? Why did he look like he regretted it? Tears silently intermingled with the beads of flowing warmth.

"Dear, your ride is here. You should get going now." A soft voice drew the meister from her numbness and she turned hazy eyes to the woman. They were standing in the main hall of the Inn, no longer in the showers. "Forgive me for ruining your moment together, I was very concerned about you and was afraid something bad had happened. I apologize for causing tension between you both. If he truly loves you like I see he does, you shall have your perfect moment."

The woman, who Maka learned was name Nadia, looked at her with love though there were tears welling in her eyes. A twinge flitted across her heart and before she knew it, she was sobbing in the woman's arms. All the fear, anxiety, pent up emotions rushed out and she wailed into the warm shoulder. Nadia cried as well, holding the fragile girl in her arms, wanting to keep her safe and sound. The moment ended when Soul interrupted with a throat clearing.

"Our ride's here, let's go." Soul nodded his head towards the door, his voice neutral as he grabbed their bags and walked into the frigid cold without a second look back. Maka yearned for his gaze to stay more than a moment, yet it never would. Crimson would always divert to the side or close until he turned around. He wouldn't bring anything up apart from mission related information, even with prying from the nervous meister.

"Trust me, sweetheart, you will know when you are ready. Take care and thank you." Nadia placed a soft kiss against Maka's forehead before releasing her and pushing her towards the door. "Now go. Return to your homeland while we begin our rebuilding here."

"T-thank you, Nadia. Take care." Maka turned and headed outside, resisting the urge to look back. The chance of ever seeing the wonderful, kind woman were slim to none. Seeing as her own mother had disappeared out of her life, Maka took comfort in the stranger. They may have only known each other for a few days, but Nadia seemed to care immensely for the meister.

The harsh wind smacked Maka in the face and she blinked back the sudden stinging, the cold taking hold of her petite frame with a death grip. There was a local police force officer waiting on the two DWMA students to shuttle them back to the airport 30 minutes away in the next town over. Soul was currently securing down their suitcases, tightening the straps with a little more force than necessary on the trailer attached to the snowmobile. The two locked eyes for a moment, mixed feelings shooting between them. Maka broke first, her face heating up as she looked away, ashamed. If she hadn't been injured in the first place, they wouldn't be having such awkward tension. Her fist clenched tightly at her side as she willed the tears to stay put.

"If you two are ready, we must go; there is another storm building up and if we don't get out of here now, we'll be hit." The officer yelled over the wind with a thick accent.

"Let's go, Maka." Soul spoke barely above the wind, already moving towards the snowmobile without a second glance.

It was like he wanted nothing to do with her anymore…everything….everything was her fault. She never should've released the lock on her thoughts. Never should've blindly, wholeheartedly believed that Soul loved her like she loved him. Maka sullenly shuffled her way to the vehicle, mind swirling with turbulent thoughts as she swung her leg over and sat behind Soul. Her hands instinctively reached to wrap around his waist though this time they froze and slowly retracted to hold onto the handles on the side. If he noticed, he didn't say anything and just kept looking forward.

Maka kept her head down as they took off and her back bumped into the metal bars of the seat, yet she ignored the throbbing pain as her jaw clenched. Holding onto Soul normally prevented the jerking of his rough acceleration. Tears slipped down her face as they traversed through the fine white powder, the wind whipping viciously around them at the high rate of speed. Would he find her annoying and want to change partners? Was it because she was still too flat-chested? She'd tried those new push-up bras from downtown Death City, though really all that did was make her feel like a walking billboard. Blair tried to help the inexperienced, blossoming woman by taking her to Chupa Cabra's to see how her coworkers dressed, though as soon as she saw the lazy Death Scythe of a father crowded by scantily dressed women; Maka promptly turned on her heel and stormed home frustrated. The snowmobile slowed to a stop and the meister tiredly lifted her head to see they'd arrived at the airport, sans snowstorm, in the time her mind was preoccupied.

"Maka, let's go—you alright?" Soul started but stopped when he noticed the fresh tracks down her cheeks, her glassy eyes unfocused. His heart thumped irregularly at the sight of his broken meister. "What's wrong? Are you in pain again—"

"You must leave otherwise the pilot cannot take off in the strong winds." The officer yelled to the duo, drawing Soul's attention. "The storms in Russia are merciless. Please, board while I get your bags for you."

Soul turned his attention back to Maka who was already headed towards the small plane's steps, gloved hands swiping at her face. He let out a frustrated sigh and wiped his hand down his face. Fuck. He'd screwed up royally this time. But what the hell was he supposed to do? His meister just started leaning in with eyes fluttering shut! Either she was about to faint or…or…heat rushed the tundra scraped face. Was she really about to…? Just like in the Black Room? The link between them remained tightly sealed off after the nightmare episode, preventing him from digging deeper into the matter. Tugging the scarf over his nose, Soul begrudgingly followed his meister onto the plane with thoughts firing a hundred miles a second.

This was going to be long flight back.

---

It was a silent walk down the long, portrait filled hallway as they headed towards the Death Room, the meister-weapon duo standing over a foot apart. Maka kept her expression neutral as she walked with hands clasped behind her back, normal pigtails abandoned for a loose, low ponytail. It was highly unlike her to leave the infamous pigtails out, but the meister had been acting weird since they arrived back in Death City just barely a week ago. Barely leaving her room, refusing to eat, not even picking up her favorite book that lay haphazardly discarded on the living room table. Blair had to help her shower since Maka didn't have the energy to get out of bed. Even when invited by the girls to go shopping, the meister hesitantly agreed and apparently trailed slowly behind the rest of them, zoning out and being nonresponsive to conversation.

Soul glanced at his meister with a frown. Since that incident in Russia, she hadn't been herself. He'd tried to link to her soul, but it had been sealed off again. He couldn't help but feel like it was his fault; even though he'd seen the conversation she and the imp had, heard her feelings, watched her eyes close as she started leaning in…was it because she didn't get the reaction she'd hoped for? Or because he didn't reciprocate and did nothing but freeze up with wide eyes?

The door swung open as they neared, revealing the long line of Tori gates aligned perfectly straight into the Death Room. A tall figure was waiting just inside the door, leaning against the first gate with a serious expression and arms crossed. It didn't take but a moment to recognize the normally rambunctious and boastful meister.

"Yo, Black Star. What's with the serious look?" Soul bumped fists with the ninja, receiving only a head nod in return. Immediately the weapon dropped the friendly tone and switched to business mode. "I've never seen you this stoic. That bad?"

"It's about that ninja clan just north of where we were, isn't it?" Maka suddenly spoke up, startling the weapon slightly. She'd barely spoken so her tone was raspy and low. "I can see it in your soul wavelength."

"Tsubaki told me on the flight back. She looked into it more and dug up some old stories and rumors. Seems that clan is notorious for messing with powerful witches and creating monsters. They vanished off the map over 800 years ago for no reason. No one's heard of them since." Black Star filled them in as they walked through the gates. "Kid seems to think the two are connected with Asura's sealing and defeat years ago. It's possible that since the madness was released all over the world that it signaled for them to start back up."

"Great, so more psycho people are being born and rampaging the world. And here I thought one overpowered Kishin was bad enough…" Soul muttered as he shoved his hands in his pockets, grimacing at nothing in particular. A bad feeling was brewing the more they dug into the ninja clan mystery. With the Kishin correlating to the unknown affiliated clan, things could escalate into another war if they didn't stop it.

"Those…things…Black Star, they weren't like any Kishin we've fought, they weren't like Asura; they were hybrids of animals and human souls…" Maka whispered as she wrapped her arms around herself, the memory still fresh and haunting. "The one we fought when that ninja was there watching…I couldn't even keep up with its speed. It was breaking Kishin Hunter with its teeth. But when I punched it with my anti-demon wavelength, it exploded like Asura did…when it went after him, it didn't land a single hit. He dodged it like he already knew how it fought…."

The two men shared a look of concern as Maka kept mumbling on and on about the hybrid Kishin, ignorant of the fact that she had continued walking away without either of them.

"Something happen to her?" Black Star asked quietly as they hung back for a bit to talk.

"That Kishin somehow got into her mind and is screwing with her. I saw it through resonance, and it knew everything about her from her blood type all the way to what she dreams about. I don't have any way to help her out. She won't eat, has barely drank anything since we got back. Hell, Blair had to help her shower because she didn't have the motivation to get up. I'm worried about her. Normally Maka bounces back from things like this but…" Soul watched his meister as she continued on, his heart aching. A heavy hand clapped onto a tense shoulder.

"She'll bounce back, Maka always does. Just give her time to figure everything out. It's only been, what? A week? You know how she is," Black Star slapped his hand a few times on his best friends shoulder. "Something else is bothering you, something that happened between you two. Spill."

"That noticeable, huh?" Soul rubbed the back of his neck as he looked down at the ground cloud covered ground. He didn't take his best friend for the perceptive type when it came to…this particular subject. But they'd all changed over the years so maybe he was finally expanding his narrow horizons. "I heard her feelings for me through resonance and when she woke up and started screaming…"

"Go ooooooooon…" Black Star urged, his full attention on his best friend.

"I calmed her down and she tried to…to kiss me…" Soul rushed the last part, his face tinting a light pink as he looked everywhere but the grinning idiot next to him. First mistake. Black Star tended to be obnoxiously loud when it came to his excitement. But the ninja merely put him in a headlock and leaned in closer to be more discreet, much to Soul's surprise.

"My man! I knew you had the hots for her, just never thought you'd go for it! How was it? Gimme the deets!"

"I…" Soul started but was cut-off by said woman they were talking about, her voice echoing loudly in the spacious room.

"Hurry up you two, I want to finish this and get back home." Maka called back to them without stopping or looking back, her shoulders squared. And there was the second mistake.

"That answer your question, Black Star? Got interrupted and it's been awkward since. Let's go, I don't want her annoyed any more than she already is."

"Shit…my bad, dude." Black Star released the hold and kept his hands up as Soul trudged behind the demanding meister.

Kid was standing over a table covered with mission papers and school documents, symmetrically organizing them into two separate neat sides. Liz had her glasses on and was reading over some of them when the trio entered the area.

"Oh, Maka, Soul. Welcome back," The demon weapon looked up and gave the duo a smile, silently noting their unusual distance and tension. Glancing briefly over to Black Star, she was given a discreet head jerk to the side. "How was Russia? I heard it's super cold up there during the winters. I'm getting chills just thinking about it."

"Frigid," Maka said quickly, impatient to small talk when there was nothing more she wanted than to return to moping around her room. "What've you found out about the ninja clan and the hybrid Kishins?"

Kid carefully set the papers down before turning to greet the duo as well. While the Reaper was thankful to see his friends return fairly unharmed, there was noticeable space between meister and weapon. Maka seemed annoyed and antsy while Soul just seemed distracted and slightly perturbed.

"Maka, Soul, welcome back. How was the flight back? Are you feeling better?"

"Long. She's good, black blood healed her up in no time. What have you got for us, Kid?" Soul rushed out before Maka could answer. The meister gave him a strange look, her brow raised up. Though the questioning gaze quickly diverted to a random pile of papers on the elongated table.

"Well, not really much more than Black Star most likely told you. We've been searching some documents Tsubaki sent in from her village regarding the ninja clan. It seems to be a connection between the ninjas and some rogue witches; or so the stories seem to tell." Kid raised a brow to the Death Scythe who curtly shook his head telling him to leave it alone. "Anyways, that's all we know for now, though we've been looking through any reports of people suddenly going missing in that area. Seems in the last few years, more than a handful have vanished without a trace after returning with news of their discovery."

"Tell me everything you know, Kid. I'll give you a full rundown of what happened in Innopolis." While Maka dived right in to help, Soul stood back.

He was frustrated and tired to the point it was beginning to be easily noticed by other people. Black Star took action first and dragged the weapon away from prying ears, keeping his fist wrapped around the collar of his shirt. Soul shot him a nasty look and clamped down on the hand to gain some breathing room.

"Get your shit together, Eater, or so help me I'll beat it out of you. You're acting pathetic right now; so what, you didn't get to kiss Maka and now you're upset. Get the fuck over it, it ain't the end of the world, is it?" Black Star hissed at the weapon, his eyes narrowed with anger. "You're acting like a pansy, it ain't cool, Soul."

Soul knocked Black Star's hand from his shirt, giving the ninja a deadly glare, but his friend didn't back down and reaffirmed his stance.

"It's not just that, asshole; like you know what it feels like to be helpless as your partner struggles. Not being able to comfort her, build her back up from the slump she's in. I feel like the one who broke her in the first place." Soul angrily whispered back, resisting the urge to punch his friend. Both hands clenched and released into fists, shaking with every pounding heartbeat. "And there's nothing I can do to fix it without her getting mad at me or hating me. She's locked her feelings up again just as they were being opened for me. For a Death Scythe I'm pretty fucking weak and pathetic."

Black Star just stood there silently, watching as his friend ruffled his hair in annoyance, looking to be anywhere but there. Over the years he'd watched the pair grow closer, more so than any other Shibusen team there was, and not even a Kishin could tear them down to where they were now. The ninja just let out a laugh, earning a glare from the weapon.

"Let's go, I've got something that'll help you out. Oi, Kid, Maka," Black Star yelled to the chatting Shinigami and meister. "I'm kidnapping Soul for a few hours, don't wait up!"

Before Soul could splutter a response, he was quickly being dragged from the Death Room by the rambunctious ninja who was proclaiming how he was going to cure Soul of his 'uncool slump'. Maka made to reach out for her weapon but quickly diverted it to something else, covering her mistake. Kid raised a brow at the meister but chose to ignore it for more important matters. At least they still cared for one another. A small rut in the relationship was better than a complete separation.

A few hours passed with little result in progress. The only new information they had was one key witness who watched another villager suddenly act strange before walking towards the forest, unresponsive to anyone. Maka dropped the paper she was looking at to pinch the bridge of her nose. Her eyes were getting tired from staring at small print of the reports. Liz and Patti left to go prepare dinner and Kid was called away for something important, leaving the meister all alone in the Death Room. Stretching her arms high, she felt a satisfying pop and sighed. Soul hadn't been seen or heard from in hours since Black Star dragged him away to do Shinigami knows what. Worry was beginning to gnaw.

Deciding to call it a day, Maka wrote a quick note for Kid and placed it on top of the papers, making sure it was as straight as possible. The walk through the school was quiet; all students had left for the day or were participating in class activities and training. It almost seemed nostalgic walking through the familiar hallways. A tinier version of Maka walking with Soul, lecturing him about not doing his homework again. A smile appeared on her tired face as other memories popped into her mind, the visions playing vividly in the isolated hallway. Her choosing Soul as her partner, collecting their 99th soul, meeting Blair, Soul taking Chrona's attack for her, fighting Medusa, Soul becoming a Death Scythe after eating Arachne's soul, defeating Asura with Soul…

Maka slowed to a stop. She hadn't realized how much a part of her life he'd become over the years. Nearly everything was done with him attached at the hip. The grocery shopping, missions, and on some occasions the bookstore with her. She held her hands out in front of her, staring blankly at gloved palms. How did she function without him? How could she function without him? He was her other half, completing her soul, mind, and body. So why was she being such an idiot and pushing him away over something neither could control at that moment? Maka felt like the world's biggest idiot as she sniffled, covering her eyes with her arm.

"Look at what you've done now, Albarn, pushing Soul-senpai away like the cruel woman I know you are." A small voice spoke up, quickly drawing Maka back to focus. Not even soul perception had picked up the sudden presence of another student.

It was that younger year, whose name she never learned, who stalked her and Soul; even tormenting her in the Sloth chapter of the Book of Eibon. There she was, standing just a few feet from her with hands on both hips as she stared mockingly at the meister. Tight red curls swaying on either side of her head as she cocked her head a little.

"Cruel? A little ironic coming from someone who continues to torture and harass me," Maka shot back at the girl spitefully. She was in no mood to deal with that kind of stuff right now. She needed to get to Soul, to tell him everything, to apologize; to kiss him hard enough until they both ran out of breath.

"I'm doing nothing more than pointing out your obvious flaws as a meister and partner; nothing more, nothing less. Soul would be so much better with a partner like me." She pointed a delicate hand to her chest to which Maka scoffed. "I would never abuse and harass him like you tend to do quite often. You just like to be bossy and demanding, taking charge of every situation because you think you know what's best. But what about all those times Soul had to intervene because you lost control and started getting reckless? Perhaps you'd like a few reminders."

With a snap of her fingers, the hallway transformed into the snowy bridge in London. It was the battle of Free the werewolf and Black Star, Tsubaki, Maka, and Soul. The latter of the group were arguing about their souls not connecting due to each other's faults. Soul transformed and as Maka caught him, her hands began to burn so she dropped him. The battle continued on with the meister holding onto her weapon, his shaft badly burning her hands as she recklessly charged the immortal. At one point she tosses him aside and tackles the werewolf, both going over the edge of the bridge. By sheer luck Soul caught her by the ankle, preventing her from a certain icy death hundreds of feet below.

A snap of her fingers transformed the surroundings into Florence, Italy; Inside of the Santa Maria Novella Basilica. There she watched a younger version of herself trapped in the church with Chrona, her back to the door as he launched at her, Ragnarök swinging down fast. A flash of light and Soul had transformed back to human form, taking the hit for her. Blood flew everywhere, flying high into the air as delicate flesh was ripped open. Maka grit her teeth at the memory. His scar was an everyday reminder of her biggest failure.

Another snap and they were outside of Shibusen, in the streets of Death City. A loud explosion rocked the air as Asura shot from beneath the ground, scattering debris everywhere as he ascended to the sky. Maka, the younger one, was struck in the head and lost consciousness, beginning to fall towards the ground. Soul yelling out as he transformed, using his body as a cushion behind hers. They slammed into the fruit cart conveniently placed in the perfect spot. Maka could hear Soul grunt as he tried to sit up, her younger self reaching towards the Kishin before falling into darkness.

This time it was the labyrinth of Medusa, when she had a maddened Stein under her control. Maka snapped and flew at the witch with the hatred of a thousand suns, swinging her scythe down with fury. Her recklessness nearly cost the life of Rachel; the little girl Medusa had taken over while she recovered from losing her original body. She refused to listen to Marie as well, blatantly disobeying an order from a teacher. Thanks to her recklessness, Chrona sacrificed himself to save Maka, nearly dying in the end.

Over and over the scenes switched, showing the dozens of events where the meister had lost control and had gotten herself or Soul seriously injured. Even Chrona was injured in some of the battles, thanks to Maka. Her jaw was clenched so tightly it popped when it shifted.

"Haven't you realized yet? You're blatant recklessness and disregard for the safety of others is the reason people are getting injured to save you. You're not a good meister, you're a manipulative, sneaky, low-life, weak, insecure woman who uses others to protect yourself—"

"Enough." Maka snarled out as she closed the distance between the two, her mature form towering over the small girl. "I've had enough of you nitpicking every single flaw I have; yes, I have put people in danger. Yes, I've been the reason Soul has been injured. Yes, I've lost control of myself more times than I can count. But you know what? I survived. Soul survived. All of the others have survived. I created a new Death Scythe, the last Death Scythe, because I kept going. Because when I was weak, Soul was there to pick me up. When he got injured because of me, it killed me inside for the longest time and it still haunts me to this day. If things had turned out differently, I may not be here; Soul may not be here, nor the others. Fate may be sick, it may be twisted, but Shinigami above us all, it has led to those specific events becoming aligned; they were meant to happen because of the choices I made."

The girl stared up at her in shock, her mouth flapping open and closed as the outburst froze her brain. But the meister wasn't done just yet with her. Running a hand over the top of sandy locks, Maka ripped the ponytail out and began splitting the hairs with practiced ease. A second hair tie wrapped around a petite wrist slid off and constrained the second batch of locks. Swinging them lightly, confidently, the meister raised her chin, placed a hand against her thrumming heart, and took in a deep breath.

"And you know what? Screw it; I'm in love with Soul 'Eater' Evans, my partner. I have been for years, but I've been too terrified of getting hurt to do anything but lock the feelings down deep inside my soul. I know your obsession with him is cute and all, but he is mine; now and forever. If you want to challenge me then so be it. Come at me with everything you've got!"

Her Soul Perception tingled and Maka took a step back in surprise. The girl in front of her was no longer frozen in fear; her soul was expanding at a sudden rate that pushed even Maka back a good ten feet. It wasn't a normal soul either, one filled with sinister intent and even the familiar, creeping tendrils of darkness that Asura spread across the globe.

"Yours forever, you say? Well, there won't be a forever if you're killed by a witch without your weapon!" The girl cackled as she threw both arms out wide while her body began to transform with a swirl of power.

Maka took another step back, eyes narrowing in calculation as the young girl that was standing not even two feet away suddenly became a full-grown woman. Red tightly curled tendrils exploded into long wavy locks that trailed past her hips and nearly touched the tile flooring before twisting themselves into two thick braids. A tight black dress seemed to pool around the floor, the fabric seemingly moving under the florescent lights before shrinking to skin-tight stockings. Her body grew into that of a curvaceous woman with plump assets, jiggling chest nearly overflowing from the top of the fitted dress. A large black hat adorned the top of her blood red locks, the flaps curling upwards, giving it an almost eerie smile. Long black gloves exposed her inches long nails, making them seem even deadlier.

"Finally showing your true colors now, aren't we?" Maka breathed as she scanned the hallway for an escape. A witch. In Shibusen. Their treaty with the witches was still valid, as verified by the signed document between Kid and Mabaa. This one must've been in hiding to wait for the opportunity to ripen. As small of a chance as it was, she could be related to the ninja clan and Kishin incident in Russia.

Years of wandering down every hallway and corridor in the school, Maka had memorized every level in the building including the notorious basement where Marie continued to get lost. From where she currently stood, dodging right was option one as it would lead to a main corridor of the school farthest from the main entrance, near the library. If she were to go left, it would take her towards the main office and eventually the front door. If she were to go backwards, it would lead to the dead end of the Death Room. The problem was there were probably still students in the building and without knowing for sure, innocent meisters and weapons could get wrapped up in the battle.

Taking a deep breath, Maka slowly exhaled as she released Soul perception over the entirety of the whole school. There were a handful of students left, though it seemed like they were preparing to leave for the evening. Stein was in his lab, Marie in the joining room next to the lab with Hiroaki. Kid was nowhere to be sensed, meaning Liz and Patty were most likely not in the building either. Tsubaki had left earlier to head home and prepare dinner for her and Black Star. She could see Black Star's obnoxious soul from thirty miles away and Soul…

"So, tell me; what's your purpose of disguising yourself as a student in the DWMA? Surely not just to stalk Soul and harass me," Maka asked with a guarded tone, emerald watching the witch's movements cautiously. "Asura is gone, Medusa and Arachne are gone; why go through all this trouble for just one person? How does it benefit whatever plan you have?"

The witch laughed with a smirk on her dark red lips, maroon eyes dancing. "Very observant of you. Your power, Maka Albarn, is a threat to us witches. Myself especially considering I carry the blood of Arachne and Medusa within my body, both of whom you have destroyed alongside the overflowing madness of Asura."

"How could you possibly carry the blood of both Medusa and Arachne? Unless you're another sibling they failed to mention," Maka spat out as she shifted her right foot back. She would make a run for the front door; a battle inside could cause it collapse and crush anyone inside. By then someone was sure to notice what was happening and rush to assist. Yet right now, sans a Death Scythe, Maka Albarn was at a major disadvantage even if she ran through the entirety of Death City.

"Dear child," The witch cooed as she aimed an open palm to the meister. "I am the creator of the infamous Gorgon Sisters; Arachne, Medusa, and Shaula. The Powerful and Unrelenting Witch Ametrine; Mother of the Coven… and destroyer of Soul Perception abled meisters."

---

Black Star had dragged Soul through town, stopping at the Death Scythes' favorite shops. The record store, arcade, Death Café, and even to the town fountain to relax with some ice cream afterwards. Whatever he could do to ease the love-troubled mind of his best friend, he did. Including picking a fight with some younger years who mocked the ninja for his iconic hairstyle. That seemed to pull a bit of a smile from the stoic white haired weapon. While it wasn't much, it was the best Black Star could do for the moment.

"You feeling better yet? Cuz if you aren't, I'll kick your ass until you do." Black Star asked before shoving his entire ice cream cone in his mouth, the end sticking out as he chewed.

"Yeah, thanks. Guess it was a cool idea after all," Soul gave the ninja a toothy grin before taking a bite out of his ice cream cone. The break away from the tension was just what he needed. It also gave him plenty of time to think of what to do next regarding his isolating meister. "I should probably just sit down with Maka and talk to her about it after all. Weird taking love advice from someone like you."

"A GOD like me not knowing about love? My poor son, I have so much to teach you!" Black Star dramatically placed the back of his hand against his temple as he spoke. After a few moments he shoved the backup ice cream cone into his mouth and aggressively chewed it to bits. "Even a God like me can snatch a woman with ease...but…Tsubaki has always been there for me, supporting me, even when I've been a complete asshole."

"Love her that much, do you?" Soul teased as he finished off his cone.

"Yeah…I can't imagine life without her, Soul. I'm one lucky asshole to receive such a Goddess like her." Black Star flushed and nervously scratched the back of his head. "Oh shit, I forgot she was making dinner tonight! I gotta go, Soul, let me know how it goes with Maka! Just talk it out!" The ninja shot up and gave a quick two finger wave before leaping to the rooftops.

Soul shook his head at the ridiculous ninja before standing. With a quick stretch he strolled over to his motorcycle and swung a leg over. His pride and joy started with ease, roaring to life as he revved the engine. A group of Shibusen girls, first years it appeared, spotted him and began calling out to him. Before they could even take a step he was off, leaving a cloud of dust in his wake. The weapon grimaced in annoyance. The pack of hormones was worse now that he'd become a Death Scythe, following him everywhere and pushing Maka out of the way when they were at school. That was the part that pissed him off; they just shoved her aside like she was nothing, like she didn't exist. Usually she just left with a huff, leaving Soul to deal with the horde. The last time it happened though, Maka looked defeated as she left with her arms hanging down by her sides. Once she was gone, Soul had let loose on the girls chewing them out for being inconsiderate and mean.

Some of them got the message while others continued their pursuit, especially the red haired one. Though he rarely seemed to notice Maka always did, sensing the girls soul immediately. Reserved, never approaching directly, choosing to lurk in the shadows and spy on him constantly with a heated gaze. He wondered how his partner never gave in and 'Maka Chopped' her on the head. Though at least there was some restraint considering the girl was a first year. Or was it second?

Soul wondered if Maka was back at the apartment yet. It'd been at least three hours since Black Star dragged him around so surely they were nearing done with the paperwork. Blair said she'd be working late tonight so that just left the two alone in the apartment. It would give them a chance to talk things over without the nosy, perverted cat intervening. The bright orange motorcycle revved loudly as it sped up, headed towards its destination with renewed vigor.

Maka had chosen the right direction; she flung herself left just as a massive blast from Ametrine collapsed the ceiling over the right hallway. With a quick roll, the meister was on her feet again and sprinting down the hallway as fast as she could go. There would be casualties if she stayed inside the academy for much longer.

Luckily there weren't any students on this side of the building, so she didn't have to worry about that as she slid around a corner, boots gliding across the tiled floors with ease. She could feel her approaching fast behind her. With a growl Maka zigzagged her way through the hallways, swinging around corners as tight and fast as she could to get an edge. An explosion went off behind her, propelling her body through the air with a powerful aftershock. She braced as she landed, hitting her shoulder hard against the floor before tumbling into a wall. The wind was knocked from her lungs as her back connected with the obstacle.

"You can run, sweet girl, but you won't get far. You're going against the most powerful witch there is alive. My children's powers, they weren't even 50 percent of what I can do. And that was combined," Ametrine fired another blast of magic, hitting just above the meisters head. Her maroon eyes seemed to swirl with darkness as she cornered Maka with a haughty grin. "What can you do without your beloved Death Scythe to save you? You're nothing but a useless little girl right now."

"If you're anything like Arachne and Medusa," Maka coughed as she forced herself to her feet, bracing against the wall as she turned narrowed, determined emerald eyes to her attacker. Her lips ticked upwards into a cocky grin, eliciting a growl from the flaming witch. "Then you'll be just as easy to defeat. I don't need a Death Scythe to know that."

_B_

Kid sat down in the massive dining room at his estate, lost in thought. There was something not quite adding up and he couldn't for the life of him figure it out. Why would the witches be connected to a hidden clan of ninjas deep in the Russian mountains? If they were working together, why would they create hybrid Kishins? Asura could be a factor in the sudden awakening of a pre-Kishin, but for what true purpose would they be doing it? None of it was making sense and it was driving the Shinigami insane. He'd been pulled aside from his research earlier to assist in a matter regarding a possible spy within the academy. He was handed an envelope with the suspected person written on it but was warned not to open it until he arrived back at his house to prevent wandering eyes from reading it.

Liz and Patti were messing around in the kitchen to prepare dinner, so it gave Kid the perfect opportunity to read the letter in peace. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the slightly creased letter. With a fingernail he sliced open the envelope and gingerly pulled out the letter from within. As he lifted it up, a picture floated to the tabletop, landing face up. Kid glanced down to study it and paused. Was it possible…? Inspecting the photo closer, he noticed some odd trinkets on the person. A snake necklace adorned their neck while one earring was a spider and the other was a scorpion….He tore his gaze from the picture to the folded letter in his hands. Within seconds it was open, his golden eyes quickly scanning the lines of information.

"Damnit! The resemblance, how did I not figure it out until now?" Kid cursed under his breath as he threw the letter down and shot up from his chair, racing into the kitchen as fast as he could. The paper landed haphazardly over the photograph; a crimson eye and the spider earring were all that remained visible. "Liz, Patti, we're leaving now!"

Soul rolled to a stop before killing the engine. It looked like no one was home yet; the only light on was the living room lamp. The weapon leaned forward on his bike, letting his head fall on to his outstretched arms. How was he supposed to straighten things out if she wasn't even home? Man, nothing was going to plan this week. Maybe he could stop by and ask Blair if she'd seen or heard anything from the meister…never mind, that was a terrible idea. He'd only get dragged into the club where Maka's degenerate father resided ninety percent of the time, then get berated for being a scum weapon who visited host clubs with scantily clad women. Spirit still didn't trust him fully even after defeating Asura.

Maybe a bribery gift would work. A new book? Tea? Wait, what books did she like again? Were they fiction or non? She'd already filled her room and the living room with a thousand flammable paper slabs. Adding to the problem wasn't the solution. Leaning back to look up at fading sunlight, Soul let out a sigh of frustration. All those years and one stupid thing was straining their relationship. How lame was that? Deciding it was best to just go back to the DWMA, the bike roared to life when the weapon noticed something shooting across the sky. To the untrained eye it appeared to be a small, unmanned drone of sorts; Soul knew what it was all too well. Wherever he was going, it was in a hurry.

"Where is Kid going at this time of night…?" Red eyes followed the line of sight the Shinigami was heading towards and felt his heart skip a beat; he was headed back to the school at a high rate of speed. An explosion resounded through the air and thick black smoke began to rise from the roof of Shibusen a moment later. "Maka!"

The tires squealed as Soul went full throttle down the cobblestone street towards Black Star's apartment. If something big was about to go down, they'd need backup. It took barely a minute to reach the ninja's apartment and Soul slammed down on the brakes, creating an earsplitting screech comparable to nails on a chalkboard. He didn't need to yell for the meister to come out; as soon as Soul stopped, the familiar blue hair was peeking out of the living room window with a piece of bread between his lips.

"Soul? What's going on—?"

"Kid just took off towards the school, something's going on; there's been an explosion. Maka isn't home either," Soul shouted over the roar of his bike. "I'll meet you there, go!"

The ninja didn't need told twice as he turned his head into the apartment and yelled for Tsubaki. Soul didn't wait for the two as he revved the engine once more and spun the bike around before taking off. People littering the sleepy streets jumped out of the way with outcries, shouting at him for driving like a maniac. Soul didn't care. Maka was still in the school that now billowed smoke high into the dwindling afternoon sky.

"Damnit, Maka….be safe until I get there!"

"Kid, what's going on? Why are we in such a hurry to the school?" Liz asked frantically as they flew over Death City; most of its residents were enjoying their dinner around this time or strolling through the town center to wind down for the day. He wanted it to stay that way; the threat at the school needed to be handled swiftly.

Kid had told them to immediately transform and rushed from the house, giving no explanation for the emergency. Thankfully they hadn't turned on the stove yet, saving them the worry of the house burning down or exploding while they were gone. But now the worry was of the enormous soul expanding through the smoke and debris of the school his father worked so hard to build. A school that taught and nurtured highly skilled meisters and weapons, a vital lifeforce in preserving the balance of the world.

"There's a spy within Shibusen; a witch. I have reason to believe she's related to Arachne and Medusa. If it's anything like it was years ago, they'll be targeting Maka for her strong Soul Perception ability." Kid explained while forcing himself faster; a perk of being a Shinigami was the lack of need for a skateboard. "And if it is like that, then Maka is without Soul right now and going against a witch who could be stronger than either, alone or combined."

"Soul hasn't come back yet? Shouldn't he still be with Black Star?" Liz asked anxiously. The thought of the distracted and stressed meister alone against a powerful witch had her quivering with worry. "Kid, this is serious! If Maka's alone without a weapon, then—"

"I know, Liz, but I'm sure by now he's on his way to the school with Black Star. Hard to miss a Shinigami flying through the sky." Kid mused lightly before his facial expression slipped back to serious, his black Shinigami cloak flapping angrily in the wind. He could already feel the three souls beginning to diverge towards the school.

No doubt the teachers had heard the explosions and were beginning evacuations. This could be a major battle depending on the witches' strength. Even Arachne and Medusa were a tough battle, but someone possibly a lot stronger than the two combined spelled for a disaster; especially for a meister without her weapon at the ready.

"Kid, look!" Patti suddenly called out, causing the Shinigami to look down.

A massive plume of black smoke erupted from the roof of the school, rapidly darkening the surrounding sky. Fire began to lick at the building as Kid grit his teeth and armed the sibling Death Weapons in front of him, ready to launch himself through the school walls. A massive soul wavelength smacked full force into him and he faltered briefly, eyes growing wide.

"Unbelievable…." He whispered in disbelief. "This soul wavelength is enormous….nearly as large as Asura's was….no, it's still growing larger. Liz, Patti; prepare yourselves, this is going to get messy real fast." Kid growled as he landed on the ground outside of the main entrance.

"Kid! What's going on? Where's Maka?" A voice called out to the Shinigami from behind, causing the Reaper to look back.

"I've just arrived, Soul, but it seems she's battling a witch currently. A very powerful one, too." Kid called over his shoulder to Soul as he rushed to his side, panting. "I have reason to believe she's related to Arachne and Medusa."

"What? There's another one of those freaks?" Soul growled with a swipe against his mouth.

"Wonder if she's the one in cahoots with that ninja clan in Russia." Black Star threw in as he landed silently beside Kid, Tsubaki in Shadow Star: Chain of Blackness form.

"Guess we'll find out soon enough. Here they come, get ready." Kid warned as he sensed Maka's soul moving rapidly towards them. He narrowed his eyes; she was moving too fast for it to be natural…

The front of the school suddenly exploded, shooting debris over the waiting meisters and any lingering students. A large red blur of an object flew from the middle of the explosion, heading straight up into the sky at a high rate of speed. As the dust and smoke cleared, it revealed a witch holding Maka by the throat, the meister scratching at her captors arms desperately.

"MAKA!" Soul screamed as he transformed his right arm into a blade, crimson eyes blazing with fury as they narrowed at the enemy. "Let her go! Now! I'm going to rip you to shreds and devour your soul, witch!"

"Ah, Soul 'Eater' Evans, looking at me with such passion. Maka's told me so much about you," The witch purred as she brushed a long lock from her cheek, giving the weapon a once over before turning her attention to the rest of the company with Maka squirming under the tight grip against her throat. "Oh, Shinigami. I didn't see you there; what a pleasure to finally meet you!"

"Let her go before I slice your arm off!" Black Star yelled out, successfully diverting her attention his way. "Damned witch, I'll kill you!"

"Liz, Patti; ready secondary form in case I need to switch to Soul." Kid growled as he readied his stance, preparing to release the Lines of Sanzu to their fullest extent if need be. Whatever he needed to do in order to save his friend!

"Death Cannon: Charged and ready!" Patti chirped from her weapon form.

"Got it, Kid!" Liz and Patti nodded to one another; if Kid needed a Death Scythe, it was about to become a serious battle.

"Soul, I want you to get Maka out of here as soon as she is cleared. She's most likely not in any condition to fight." Kid ordered his friend, eyes never leaving the levitating witch.

"Like hell I will; I'll kill her myself for hurting Maka." Soul clenched his jaw as he watched his meister beginning to tire, the lack of oxygen pulling her in and out of darkness. "She can't hold out much longer, this needs to be ended now, Kid."

"That was always the plan."

Ametrine mocked a curtsy to Kid, a bemused smile on her lips. Kid tensed as he studied the witch. Her wavelength was immense, larger than Asura's, and it nearly drowned his own with it. She was toying with them, Kid thought as he glanced over to Black Star; the ninja looked like he was about to use his Shadow Clone technique to grab Maka. Black tendrils slowly began slithering across the concrete to achieve a better angle.

"You know who I am, but I have yet to make your acquaintance Witch…?"

"Oh, such a formal gentleman you are! Ahem," Ametrine cleared her throat for a grand announcement. "Greetings Shinigami, my name is Ametrine, esteemed Mother of the Coven of Witches. Mother to Arachne, Medusa, and Shaula, but I'm quite sure you've met them already."

"Witch Ametrine, I suggest you release my friend there lest you have a wish to be buried within Death City." Kid cut straight to the chase; his voice was frigid as he eyed her carefully for sudden movements. "You must be pretty brave to attack a high-ranking meister within the DWMA; but you've made the mistake of doing it under my watch. There is a time and place to act cordial and unfortunately for you, this is neither."

"For now this is nothing more than a social call. Oh, don't give me such a stink eye! No one was killed in our little…talk… though the poor girl refused to give up and she was roughed up a bit; she did insult me first just so you know, but she's alive…for now. I wouldn't dare start a war here, in a city where there are so many meisters and Death Scythes to come after me." Sugar dripped from every word that slipped past plumped lips, a hint of venom underlying the sweet coating as she pouted. She cast a nearly bored look at the fainted meister within her grip. "Besides, I've got bigger plans for her than just tossing her around a bit. But I suppose you'll find out about that once everything gets in motion."

"GIVE HER BACK!"

Black Star snarled as he shot towards the witch, shooting his Shadow Chain towards her hand. It connected and he pulled hard; the witch cocked an eyebrow before tossing the meister aside and effortlessly sending a blast of her soul wavelength through the chain and into his body. The ninja slammed through the walls of Shibusen with a thundering crash.

Soul sprinted forward to catch Maka, leaping to connect with her mid-air as they both went crashing into the ground. He could feel parts of his arms and back tearing open through his leather jacket as he slid across the concrete. They slid to a stop nearly twenty feet away, the battle now raging on in front of them. With a grunt Soul sat up, Maka clutched tightly against his chest as he tried to get his bearings. Black Star launched towards the witch, Tsubaki transformed into Leaf of the Moonlit Night while Kid readied his Death Cannon to fire.

"Liz, Patti, let's go!" Kid yelled as the weapons began to charge into the heaviest blast version of the Death Cannon. "Soul, get out her out of here!"

"Don't die!" Soul yelled out as he tightened Maka against his chest and made to run down towards the stairs before stopping. "Give her something from me, will ya?"

Kid smirked at the request but nodded nonetheless, turning his attention back to the battle. As Soul ran down the stairs, he could hear the battle intensifying with the sounds off a cannon going off. He put all of his faith in them to take down the witch, the one who badly hurt his partner. Just from glancing at her, Soul couldn't tell if they were small wounds or not beneath the thick layer of blood. Her normally pristine white and blue school uniform was torn and tattered, leaving mere scraps to cover her body.

'Damnit, I should've just stayed with her. She wouldn't be injured right now if I had.' The weapon stumbled as he felt the ground shake, nearly throwing them both from the massive set of stairs.

His bike was waiting for him at the bottom, still running from when he arrived in a panic. With ease, he straddled Maka on the front of the seat, keeping one arm around her as he cautiously swung his leg over to sit behind her. He could feel the blood soaking through his white shirt as he held her still body against his. Carefully, with one arm holding her, he slipped off his beat-up leather jacket and wrapped it around her as best he could to cover up the tattered clothing.

Another explosion rocked the city and Soul looked back in time to see the witch shooting higher into the sky, her red locks wrapped protectively around her body as Black Star barraged her with attacks. It looked like she was just on the defensive; if she was as powerful as she seemed to be, then she could've crushed both Kid and Black Star with ease by now. Perhaps that wasn't her goal for the time being; this could just be the warning as mentioned.

"Soul! What's going on?" A wheezing voice pulled his gaze away from the witch and he turned to see Spirit rushing over to him. The Death Scythe's jacket was wrinkled, and his tie was loose, indicating he was off having fun at Chupa Cabra's. Apparently the explosions drew him from the depressing corner of his favorite booth.

"There was a witch undercover in the school and she targeted Maka. Kid and Black Star are fighting her now," Soul quickly filled him in, his grip on Maka tightening as the Death Scythe moved his gaze to his daughter. Some father he was. Showing up only when things had gone beyond the threshold of bad. "Go back up Kid, I've got to get Maka urgent medical attention."

Spirit puffed up and looked like he was about to retort when Soul kicked the bike off, peeling out of there as fast as he could. The glare hitting the back of the weapons head could've burned a hole through it, but Soul would deal with verbal abuse later. If he could get to Sid and Nygus' house, they would be able to stitch Maka up before she lost too much blood. But then again, if they'd heard the explosion, they were bound to be headed towards the school. For now, it would be safest to take her back to the apartment.

It took him less than three minutes to get home at the speed he was racing through town at. Some people were yelling at him as he swerved dangerously around tight corners, nearly clipping a few pedestrians. None of that mattered to him, not when his meister was bleeding out and still unconscious. The tires screeched once more as he slammed down on the brakes, the back of the bike lifting at nearly a 45-degree angle. It landed with a hard thud, jerking Soul back a bit. Just as he was getting off, a large shadow flew overhead and a pop sounded moments later as Blair landed with her cat reflexes next to Soul.

"Soul, what's going on? There was an explosion—" Blair turned her large cat eyes to the meister lying motionless in his arms. "Maka! Does this have to do with that large explosion a few minutes ago?"

"Good timing, I'll need you to help clean her off in the shower. Kid and Black Star are handling a witch at the school. I'll fill you in more once we take care of Maka."

"Right!"

"You children really don't learn, do you?" Ametrine drawled as she effortlessly blocked every attack that was thrown at her. "I'm about to draw a sweat this is so hard and it took me so long to do my makeup this morning in anticipation of this visit."

Black Star struck as fast and hard as he could, aiming for every weak point all over her body. Tsubaki had even transformed into Shadow Star Zeroth Form: Masamune but the witch was still untouched. It only drove the ninja harder as his weapon became a blur in the flurry of attacks.

"We'll keep going until we drop dead or you're defeated; from my perspective, it'll be the latter of the two options." Kid shot back as he provided ground support for Black Star. It was difficult to lock-on with the speed he was moving. "I'm afraid you don't get to come into my city, my school, attack my friend, and expect to just walk away. You've pissed off the wrong Shinigami, Witch Ametrine."

Ametrine let out a chuckle as she lifted her palm outwards as Black Star neared. A condensed beam shot from her hand towards the ninja, a lethal blow if it landed. With a split-second margin of error, he dodged it before flashing behind her and swinging down his katana full force. Locks of fire red hair shot up and knocked him away, his body slamming into another crumbling wall of the school. Kid felt the familiar sensation of the Sanzu lines beginning to release; the wind began picking up, swirling violently around the area as it turned into a twister.

"Play time is over, little boys, time to go to sleep!" Ametrine shot both hands out to the side, mouthing an enchantment as wind picked up around her. "I'm done being nice. Now the whole city can suffer for your ill-manners!"

The two forces of the wind collided together, energy dangerously sparking between them as the force grew stronger. As loose dirt began to lift, the wind propelled them into small missiles scattering in any direction. A small rock nicked Kid on the face but he paid no heed as the second and third Sanzu lines glowed with power, his own swirling energy pushing Ametrine's back as it grew. The witch forced more of her wavelength out to compete with the Shinigami's level, the vortex growing enormous and out of control.

"If that thing gets any bigger, it'll destroy the whole school and more than half the city." Stein appeared out of nowhere next to Kid, his eyes locked onto the witch rising to the sky. "We need a way to get her out of Death City and fast. Spirit and I will work on pushing her back, keep your attacks narrowed to avoid collateral."

"I may not be that young boy anymore, Professor Stein, but somehow I'm still being guided by you." Kid joked roughly as Ametrine's soul grew larger once more, nearly surpassing the Shinigami's released wavelength.

"Someone's gotta keep you monsters in line, may as well be a monster itself to do the job." Stein shot back with a crazed smile as he swung Spirit around to rest along the length of his arm. Maka's father appeared in the face of the blade, expression nearly murderous yet collected.

"She's going to pay for hurting my Maka!"

"Enough of the talking, start kicking her ass!" Black Star shouted over the howling winds. There was only one thing left to do since all other attacks failed. It was risky without Maka mediating the uncontrollable power. "Kid, you feelin' a little mad?"

"More than a little, Black Star; let's go: Madness—"

A ripple shot through the air and Kid faltered as time seemed to drawl; Black Star's dizzying fast shadow movements were slowed down to about the pace of a fast snail before freezing. Stein was moving no faster, in the process of swinging Spirit from his arm to his front, the scythe's blade materializing as it moved. The wind kicking up pounds of dirt and debris remained stoic in the air. Kid eyed the scene with confusion, slowly lowering the guns.

"What…time slowed down? No, it stopped." The Reaper muttered to himself as everything around him became trapped in a space bubble. So why wasn't he frozen? Because he was Shinigami?

"Nyamuu~" Came a familiar chirp from behind and Kid turned to see the witch Mabaa and her feline-resembling assistant standing there.

"Witch Mabaa…you…stopped time?" Kid balked as he tried to wrap his head around what was happening. Never before had he seen the full effects of a powerful spell. Stopping time itself was a feat only for the strongest of witches, albeit it raised the question of whether or not it would affect the rest of the time stream.

"Be grateful she arrived in the nick of time," The second witch huffed out, taking a drag from her pipe then blowing it out through slightly parted lips. "If you had continued your battle with Ametrine, then your entire city and its people would've been wiped from this earth. She is a sneaky, conniving snake of a woman who has long been banished from the Coven for abuse of her powers onto others and countless innocent souls collected."

"She's really that powerful, huh…" Now it seemed more like divine intervention that Maka survived a solo battle against her, without a weapon no less. Not without injury…and she was still recovering from the fractured ribs due to the incident in Russia.

"Nyamuu~!" Mabaa chirped again as her right eye began to shine, emitting a blinding flash of light that covered the entire city.

Kid slammed an arm over his eyes, still seeing the light force its way through skin and bone. An immense heat followed causing him to instantly break out in a sweat. After a few intense moments, a loud crack echoed in the silence of frozen time and with wariness, he lowered his arm to take a look. Massive lines of incantations were spewing from beneath Mabaa's cloak and wrapping themselves around a still Ametrine before tightening down hard. Her form began to move sluggishly through a pocket of space and the witch soon found herself bound together on the ground in front of the current Mother of the Coven.

"Mabaa, I should've known you'd pull a stunt like this, aiding the Reaper just before his demise. What a shame; you've fallen so far since having that lovey eye of yours ripped from your skull." Ametrine spat at her sister witch, venom oozing from every word as she tried to wriggle around in the constraints.

"Silence, you wench. You are privileged to even still be alive after your crimes against the Coven, so I suggest you hold your tongue lest I burn it off slowly with fire slugs." The second witch snarled back with just as much, if not more, venom. "Reaper, you are now indebted to us. Remember it well. We shall handle her from here."

"I graciously thank you, Mabaa, for coming to the aid of my city and its inhabitants. Call upon me whenever you wish for your debt to be repaid." Kid crossed his right arm over his chest and bowed to the Mother, grateful for the saving grace. Without the intervention…it was going to be a swift death for thousands.

"Nyamuu."

"Just you wait, Reaper, I'll be out of there soon enough. Maka Albarn; I'll be back for her soul!" Ametrine screamed prior to a band of incantations slapping over her mouth.

They vanished in a cloud of smoke just as time began to turn once more, the gray haze melting into colorful surroundings. Black Star, who was in the middle of a Shadow Star afterimage jutsu, stopped mid-air as soon as he realized the witch was gone. The images absorbed back into his body as he floated to the ground, rubbing a hand against his head in confusion. Stein, who was mid-swing with his scythe, stopped abruptly and placed the end of the weapon to the ground, knowing eyes darting to Kid as he pulled out a cigarette.

"What the fuck just happened?" The ninja quickly looked around the area, searching for the witch he was battling just a moment ago. "Where did she go?! Did she get away? Damnit! I wasn't done fighting you!"

"Seems we have a very good ally," Stein casually remarked, adjusting his glasses. Kid nodded as the Thompson sisters returned to human form. "This is going to lead to bigger things, not just for Death City but all of you. I get the feeling they won't be able to hold her for very long with that level of strength."

"Agreed." Kid felt a trickle of dread slide down his spine. He had the feeling another full war was going to break out in the near future. But for now, he had a school to repair and a meister to check up on. They would deal with the war when it loomed on the horizon.

'Father, guide and protect us on the path of fate we are about to partake.'

_B_

Tremors were no longer shaking the city as Soul peered out from the kitchen window. Blair had taken Maka to get cleaned up and while in the process of drying her off, the meister awoke. She was confused at first, wondering how she got back to the apartment in the first place, though the gears of her mind soon aligned and she became pissed. Soul had bandaged her up the best he could all the while scolding her for being a reckless idiot. For the past five minutes though, the meister had been ranting and raving from the couch about how that witch would've been punched harder had there been the chance. Even while Soul set a steaming cup of tea down in front of her, Maka was still going on her rant, punching a pillow with renewed vigor.

"I should've known something was up with that girl! How she was always stalking you, glaring at me whenever she noticed us together. Gah, thinking about it makes me want to—!"

Soul grabbed her cheeks and pushed them together, earning a softened glare from his meister. He kept messing with her face until she gave in and went quiet, a sigh of resignation slipping out.

"Will you chill out? You just survived going against probably the strongest witch alive, alone, and all you want to complain about is how you didn't get to punch her harder? I can't leave you alone for a second," Soul sighed as he released her face before plopping down heavily next to her, letting his head drop back as he closed his eyes. "I shouldn't have left you alone…you wouldn't be like this if I had just stayed there."

Maka stayed quiet for a few minutes, playing with the hem of the oversized sweatshirt Blair had given her. He felt guilty about being dragged away, probably because of how she was treating him poorly over something that neither had control of. Tears welled up in her eyes and her heart ached; she never should've acted so childish, pushing him away because of a small interruption. Just as she lifted her head to speak, she noticed his white shirt was stained heavily with blood.

"Soul, did you get injured? Why is your shirt soaked in blood?" The weapon opened his eyes and looked down, remembering it was soiled from his fall.

"Oh, yeah. No big deal, a few scratches here and there. My jacket took most of the damage, so don't worry." He gave her a tired toothy smile and ruffled her damp hair gently. She merely puffed her cheeks up in slight annoyance. "Your wounds don't look so bad after getting cleaned up. You want something to eat? Not sure what we got, haven't been to the store lately…"

"Take your shirt off and let me look at the wounds." Maka spoke quietly as she slowly got up from her spot, wincing and grabbing her shoulder gently as she opened the heavily utilized medical kit once more. Supplies were going to need refilled soon at the rate they were using them. A lot of their monthly spending was on the trusty first aid kit.

"Maka, I'm fine. You're the one who needs to sit down and rest. Seriously, they're just some scrapes, they'll heal in no time with the black blood." Soul tried to argue but just received a pointed look before sighing and giving in. Maka's mind was made up.

Pulling his torn and bloodied shirt off, the weapon shifted to sit sideways on the furniture, feeling the cushions sink behind him as Maka kneeled down. He waited patiently while she slowly worked, hissing every now and then when she rubbed alcohol over the wounds. Her soul was stable, for the most part, but it seemed to be trembling a little while she moved around. He reached his out in comfort and she hesitated before taking it, the two souls resonating in harmony. All the worry, anger, fear, regret, and guilt flowed into him and the weapon felt it all hit him square in the chest.

Maka tightened the last of the bandages around Soul's arm, her fingers lingering lightly over the wound. She felt awful that he'd gotten hurt again because of her recklessness. If she hadn't gotten so upset over something so small, something so stupid…

Without her realizing it Soul had pulled away and shifted on the couch so he was facing her, arms pulling the petite woman against his bare chest. Maka didn't fight it, only shifting to readjust for more comfort. His chin rested atop the still slightly damp sandy locks.

"It's not your fault, so stop blaming yourself for it. If anything, it's my fault for leaving you alone like that. I'm sorry."

"Soul…"

"It'll be alright, just let it all out…"

Maka felt the tears overflowing as she wrapped her arms around Soul, sobbing into his shoulder as the emotional dam she had built up suddenly burst wide open. Everything she held in for the past week flowed out as she cried into her partners shoulder, the heavy weight lifting from her chest. Soul kept silent while she cried, rubbing his hand rhythmically up and down her bandaged back. He knew she needed the release just from how tense her shoulders had become. Even her soul felt lighter the longer the emotions spilled out.

The two sat there for nearly an hour, just holding each other in silence. Maka's face felt like a giant marshmallow as she used the back of her hands to wipe any remaining tears away, emerald eyes red and stinging. Pulling back, she noticed Soul had his eyes closed, his mouth slightly open as he slumped against the back of the couch. He'd fallen asleep sometime during her outburst, his arms still tightly wrapped around her. Maka stared at his peaceful form. With a delicate finger she traced his jawline, his cheek, down to his lips that were just barely parted.

How could he always be so calm and collected while she was….well, reckless and strong headed would be the best way to describe it. The man in front of her had always been her support, her friend, partner… maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they were something more. But how would that affect things? Her mother and father couldn't even last despite being a power couple and their soul compatibility was unmatched. Would that happen if things went a step further over the looming line?

Maka gently cupped a bandaged hand against his cheek as she leaned towards him, licking her lips tentatively as she angled her head slightly to line their lips up. But…if she didn't take the chance now, would she ever? Was this the moment Nadia talked about? Eyelids fluttered down the rest of the way as their lips were nearly touching, heart pounding hard against her chest. Just as she stopped shy in reconsideration, movement threw her off guard as his lips pressed back against hers and a hand gently pressed against the back of her neck. Her face flushed brightly as she jerked away, slapping a hand over her mouth as she stared at Soul with wide eyes.

"Maka Albarn, did you just kiss me while I was sleeping? Such a pervert…" Soul teased with a toothy grin as he watched Maka go from embarrassed to mock annoyed, her face bright red. "I think Blair's becoming a bad influence on you with all those scandalous clothes she wears. I never took you for the type."

"S-Soul you—!" Soul snatched her hand away before silencing her with another kiss, keeping her hand locked in his.

The meister gave in after a few apprehensive moments and relaxed against the new unfamiliar sensation, running her free hand into wild white locks. Soul took that as an invitation as he wrapped his free arm tighter around her waist, pulling her into a straddle position on his lap and flush against his chest. She could feel that toothy grin against her lips and she couldn't help but smile back.

What had she been so worried about?

---

So, this became chapters 2-4 combined. Obviously it'll be updated to reflect that. Onward!