They were screaming, crying, begging, pleading for release from their imprisonment in the overwhelming madness. Their cries echoed in Maka's head and she tried to shut them out to no avail. She had been swallowed into a deeper part of the darkness, one where no light would shine. It kept her chained down, black tendrils locking her ankles in place. No matter how hard she pulled, whacked at, screamed, and even gnawed, to her own embarrassment; they would not budge. So, she just floated in the darkness beginning to come to terms with her impending demise.

For those brief few minutes, she held her hopes up that she was close to being freed once she saw Soul. He was being melodramatic, but otherwise seemed okay floating in the darkness. The look he had, though, as she was being torn away from him once more left her heart aching. It was still vivid in her mind, of when she died, of him crouched over her crying before darkness overcame her. The amount of hurt she forced upon him…it wasn't fair.

"You are not one of us…"

Maka snapped out of her thoughts to see the soul of an elderly man wavering nearby. It was frailly flickering. Dim. Bright. Dim. Bright. His souls voice sounded old and tired, worn from many years of use.

"No, I'm not. I've been trapped here by the Kishin Asura as he uses my body." Maka watched the soul bob back and forth, as if it were in thought.

"We were stolen from our journey to our eternal resting place by Asura. We do not seek revenge, though we wish to seal him away so he may not hurt others."

"How do you plan to do that? You're all trapped here in the madness," Maka studied the orb closely, waiting for any type of reaction from it. "And so am I. I don't know how to escape this place and return to my body."

"We may be of assistance, young child…" Another soul piped in from behind her; this time it was the soul of a young woman. Barely into life. Youthful. Sweet. "We shall use you as a means of escape and Asura will be sealed. I can tell you possess a powerful soul, as did some of us…"

"How do you plan to remove me from these binds?" The darkness had reached her thighs, immobilizing her legs and slowly turning her into a statue. "My souls wavelength isn't enough right now without my weapon to break through the madness controlling me. I don't have a way to channel it."

"It's something you know very well, a technique, a special one…" One of the souls cooed as it wiggled slowly from beside her. A young child? An elderly woman? It was too warbled to determine. "Only those with a strong soul and special abilities may hope to wield its powers."

"Chain Resonance…" It dawned on the meister as she looked at the field of souls around her. Chain Resonance was a tactic she learned the first year at DWMA. Requiring a strong Grigori soul and the immense power to control a large number of souls, it was exactly like mingling with Black Star and Kid. "Of course! If I link all of the souls together, it should be enough to override Asura's madness." The darkness had encased more than half of her body by now, slowly edging its way upwards. She was running out of time. Deploying the technique was risky; it'd never been done before on this scale. Could she even link with every consumed soul?

"We shall give you our strength to break free, but be warned; there are risks that could prove fatal if done incorrectly…"

"I'll do whatever it takes to free us all from the madness. You have my word that you will rest in peace." Maka vowed as she placed a hand over her chest, showing her vow to them. They wiggled simultaneously, contemplating the sincerity of her words. "Please. My friends are out there fighting right now. I need to be there for them."

The souls began to harmonize, their dull blue glows growing brighter as they chanted. Slowly, they began to connect to one another, their glow brightening with each soul resonating. The darkness hissed and recoiled at the light, twitching angrily beneath them. Maka took a deep breath in, then out. Closing her eyes she focused. All of the souls were mapped out in her mind, and one by one, she began to connect to them all with her wavelength. The madness convulsed angrily as it reached her chest, so close to swallowing her whole. She was almost there, just a few dozen more…

It had reached the top of her head, just seconds from enveloping her in eternal madness. With one final push, it sealed her body away, joining her with the other imprisoned souls for eternity.

Just as it began to harden, a crack appeared. A small one at first, but it gradually began to travel downward, widening as it went. Blue light began to seep through the cracks and with a thunderous explosion, the madness was vaporized into nothingness. In its place stood Maka, her body illuminated with the warm blue light of a soul. Her once marked and naked form was now covered with a billowing white dress, matching gloves adorning her arms. She floated barefoot just above the swirling madness beneath her, her soul wavelength keeping it at bay. Cracking her eyes open, bright emerald eyes shone as her lips formed the words.

"Chain Resonance,"

Kim sat back, exhausted after using most of her energy to heal Soul. The fever had died down and some color returned to his skin, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. Just from what she knew about Soul Resonance breakage, most people died from the severe trauma usually within a few minutes. But Soul was still alive, far past the timeframe of recorded cases. Maybe there was something different with him and Maka, but with her passing, there wasn't any way to tell for sure. Shaking the numbness from her hands, the witch closed her eyes momentarily to regain a drop of energy.

"I don't hear anymore fighting," Jacqueline commented quietly, handing her meister an energy bar from her bag. "Maybe that's a good thing."

"No, something still feels off. There's a massive amount of magic brewing underground not too far from here." It was dark magic, forbidden for hundreds of years, but the witch kept that part to herself. A crawling sensation kept rolling up her spine with each shudder the earth gave. "Let's just hope Kid and the others made it in time."

"Oh, I thought I heard your voices."

The girls turned to see Kilik and Ox standing the in the doorway, Free towering behind them. They were covered in the strange black substance that blanketed the town but seemed to be without injury. The meisters took a seat on the rusted bed frame, the springs groaning dangerously from the weight. Free took up residence in the corner, remaining quiet while the group chatted.

"How's he doing?" Kilik asked quietly, motioning to the still unconscious Soul. His mind, body, and soul were still trying to heal from the explosive loss. Never in a million years did he expect his number one intellectual rival to die such a horrific death. Maka Albarn was the top meister in all of Death City, even the world.

"He hasn't been awake since earlier, but his fever is down for now." Kim sighed as she sighed tiredly, shifting to sit against the undamaged wall. "From what I know, most people don't survive just a few minutes after a traumatic severance, but he's been going for a while now."

"Well, they do have the strongest bond in all of the DWMA," Ox pointed out as he cleaned his glasses with his shirt sleeve. "There must be something keeping him comatose. I wonder if Maka is still alive somehow and her lifeforce is connected to his, keeping him alive."

"How would that even work? Can you even share a lifeforce between two people?" Kilik wondered as Fire and Thunder played in some snow. Kilik quickly motioned for them to stop. There could be sharp objects just beneath the surface.

"I have the witch Mabaa's eye, which makes me immortal." Free pointed a claw to the witch's eye.

"But Mabaa-dono is a witch, of course our powers are stronger than regular humans. I wonder if their link is just that strong," Kim frowned in thought.

"It'll take a lot more than that to break us apart."

"H-Holy shit, Eater! Don't scare us like that!" Kim squealed as she whacked at him, landing a hit on his chest. The weapon hissed painfully with a palm resting over the throbbing area, eyes remaining scrunched up. "I'm so sorry! You startled me! But you need to lay back down, you're still not—"

"Maka, she…she found me in the darkness and pulled me out." Soul winced as he sat up and turned to look at the girls, eyes slowly opening. Everything hurt like hell. "I… the connection is back; I can feel her soul. I need to get to her before the Kishin arrives."

The weapon pushed himself from the ground, stumbling from standing up too fast. Ox grabbed one arm as Kilik supported the other side. Soul let out a grunt of pain as his body tried to process the movements.

"Wait, Kishin? There's one coming?" Jaqueline whispered behind her hands, eyes wide with fear. "Is that what those vibrations were earlier? The Kishin awakening?"

"Wait a minute, Soul, we don't even know where they're at." Ox pointed out as he stabilized the woozy weapon. He tried to set him down on the bed, but Soul refused with a head shake. "You can't just rush into battle without a meister. What the hell are you gonna do, go around stabbing people?"

"If I fucking have to! Maka needs my help and I need to find her now."

"I can find her with my nose," Free pointed to his face. "But I think they're further in the woods where there was a massive beam of magic."

"Well, I guess it's settled then. Fire, Thunder, you ready?" The twins nodded, waddling over to their meister.

"W-Wait a minute! You can't just suddenly decide to leave! What about Spirit? He's in no condition to leave and Jackie and I can't carry him if we need to leave." Kim jumped to her feet, swiftly moving to block the doorway with arms spread. "Besides, Kid, Stein, and that Russian guy are there, most likely Black Star is as well by now. I don't think he's going berserk anymore so he has to be with them, right?"

Spirit twitched slightly at his name being used, but continued to sit in a silenced stupor, eyes staring blankly ahead.

"I already know where Maka is; her soul is calling out to me. Free, stay here with the girls in case something happens. Kilik, Ox, you ready to move?" Soul turned and stared at his friends with calm eyes. "Send a flare if something goes wrong, one of them will come back and help."

"Argh, you boys are so annoying!" Kim pulled at her hair, glaring at each of them with her hands planted on her hips. After a few seconds it faded and the witch sighed heavily. There was no point in trying to stop them. Their drive and tenacity were too strong. "But…I guess that's what makes you part of the strongest in Death City. I won't stop you. Just…be careful, okay?"

"We can handle things here, now go. Maka's waiting for you." Jacqueline smiled at Soul while pulling Kim out of the way. The meister puffed her cheeks in annoyance though kept one eye on the men.

Soul flashed her a toothy grin before running from the room, Ox and Kilik right behind him. Kim rubbed the sides of her temple, feeling a headache coming on.

"He could've at least said thank you,"

_B_

They could only stay on the defensive as Asura struck over and over, relentless in his attacks. Knowing Maka was inside of his body, there was no way they could attack without being sure if it would affect her or not. Stein was slowly becoming wilder, letting loose attacks that were borderline reckless as the madness infected him. Marie was no longer getting through to him as he activated Izuna, firing rapid wavelength attacks against the Kishin.

"We can't keep this shit up forever," Black Star growled as he deflected another of Vajra's spears, the explosion rattling the cavern. "Kid, can you still sense her?"

"It's there, but it seems to be growing fainter." Kid grimaced while unleashing another barrage of fire. "I don't know what's happening inside of there, but we need to keep fighting on this end to ensure her safety."

"You all are nothing more than mere flies, being swatted down so easily." Asura mused as he removed his facial coverings to peer at something beyond them. "Ah, it seems we have more guests arriving. How scary. I remember you…"

"Who the hell are you talking about?" Black Star snarled as he centered the Infinity sword against his center. No one else should've been able to enter the cavern after them.

"Well, it's about time you joined us." Kid smiled as he stood back up, looking over his shoulder at the figure behind him. His soul wavelength was easily picked up from a good distance away. "Did you enjoy your nap?"

Soul casually strolled in and stood between Kid and Black Star, giving them a small grin. Black Star took one look at him before barking out a laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. Ox and Kilik flanked around them, eyeing the scene before them with caution. With a lazy glance between the skewered witch and Asura, the weapon let out a sigh as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"I'm gone for less than an hour and you two have managed to find not one, but two Kishins. The hell, now I gotta work."

"Figured we'd save the all the good stuff for ya," Black Star gave a shit-eating grin that made Soul chuckle.

"As accurate as Black Star's statement is, I do believe it's rude to keep our guest waiting." Kid straightened his stance, realigning Liz and Patty to be symmetrical.

"I'm more concerned about witnessing the crescendo. Wouldn't wanna keep Maka waiting." Soul gave a wide grin, red eyes landing on Asura. She was in there, he could feel it from here.

Asura was trembling as he took in the added fighters, gnawing on his nails anxiously as his eyes darted between them. This wasn't supposed to happen. This wasn't supposed to happen. The Kishin opened his mouth wide, another of Vajra's spears protruding from his jaw, aimed at the students below him. Just as he went to release the attack, something tingled within his chest. Looking down, he could feel something boiling inside of him, reaching for the surface. The spear dropped from his mouth, clattering loudly on the ground as he began to panic. Fingernails scraped desperately at the sensation to ease it, though it only increased with each passing moment.

"W-What did you do? What did you do!" Asura screamed as he clawed at his chest raw trying to rid the growing sensation. "What did you do!"

"I didn't do anything," Soul shrugged, taking a few steps closer to the levitating Kishin. Asura floated back a few feet but the weapon kept advancing casually. What was he doing? Why did he keep stepping closer? Why wasn't he afraid?! "Did you seem to forget that isn't your body?"

"I can sense it," Kid narrowed his eyes at Asura's chest. "It's there, the wavelength."

"Impressive. I shouldn't be surprised though," Stein smirked at the screaming Kishin as the madness evaporated from his body. A shaky sigh of relief slipped out. Not soon enough.

"Fuckin' hell, just say it already!"

"Maka's back."

Asura let out an ear-shattering howl as blue light burst through his chest, the light quickly sealing him in a large orb. The wind picked up as the sphere began to glow brighter, the meisters and ninja covering their eyes as it reached blinding levels. Ametrine let out a strangled growl as the madness within her squirmed under the purifying light. The area soon settled, the air becoming still and darkened once more. Soul lowered his arm, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the sudden change in light. The Kishin was now on the ground, standing motionless as he stared calmly at them. Everyone braced themselves for the battle to continue, unaware of what had just happened.

"I see. Well played, Maka Albarn, you are indeed a worthy opponent. Twice is an impressive record." Asura spoke calmly with closed eyes before his body exploded into hundreds of souls, the orbs floating gently towards the night sky.

As the souls thinned out, Maka stood with her eyes up, watching the souls depart from their imprisonment seeded deep in the madness. One lagged behind, wiggling anxiously beside her. Taking the small orb in her hands, the meister whispered something to it and gave it a small hug before raising it up, releasing it softly. Once they were all gone, the meister let out a breath before shifting gleaming eyes to her left. The first pair of eyes she locked with belonged to the person she wanted to see the most.

"I knew you'd come for me," Maka smiled brightly as she walked towards him, white dress billowing behind her. Sandy tresses floated freely around her, giving the meister the aura of an angel as her soul glowed warmly.

"Well, it was either this or spend eternity floating in a miserable and pitiful self-wallowing floating party. Figured this was the better option." Soul grinned back as he opened his arms for her.

The meister closed the distance and slammed into him, locking her arms around his chest as she cried against him. Soul gripped her back just as tight, kissing her head and whispering in her ear as a few tears slipped down his face. Kid relaxed, running a hand through his hair as he laughed in disbelief and relief. Black Star had frozen in place, Tsubaki already transforming back and crying with joy beside him. Stein shook his head, reaching for a cigarette from his coat pocket. Ox and Kilik shared a look before smiling and laughing at the insanity of it all. They'd been worried over nothing; Maka Albarn, the greatest Death Scythe meister in the world, had now beaten the Kishin Asura twice.

Viktor kept himself planted in front of Ametrine, acting as a barrier between the students and the impaled witch. She had exhausted her magic supply and just hung there like a marionette, limp and nearly lifeless. A grunt alerted the ninja and he glanced back, noticing her maroon eyes were staring at him.

"Still alive? Asura has been slain, you are next."

"Ha…you people really think you can win against…a newborn Kishin?" Blood flowed down her chin, a small puddle forming on the floor beneath her.

"You cannot even stand, let alone fight." Viktor sent her a glare, keeping his focus on the happy reunion. What could a witch do being impaled against the wall? Her threats were empty as she lay dying. "You have used and dishonored my family, not to mention you are directly responsible for killing the woman I love. Your life will be ended soon enough, so stay silent."

Ametrine gave a bloody grin, her eyes turning wild as she let out a wheezing breath. "Your clan…is finished, ninja…Asura was merely buying time…"

"Buying time for what, you damned witch?"

The hair on the back of his neck stood up and the ninja tumbled out of the way as madness bubbled out from the center of Ametrine's chest. He sat on the ground, stunned at the overwhelming madness emitting from her body. The meisters had even turned to look, eyes wide as they took a step back.

"You damned DWMA brats…" A gurgling voice wheezed from the cavern wall. It echoed deafeningly. "You've ruined everything I've worked for…you'll pay for this!"

A powerful wind kicked up from Ametrine's mangled body as her soul became corrupted with madness, dark magic pulsing out in waves. Soul shielded Maka from the barrage, covering her head with his arm. Kid and Black Star readied themselves; the lines of Sanzu glowed brightly as the Reaper released his soul wavelength while Black Star unleashed Shadow Star mode with Tsubaki transforming into the Infinity sword. Kilik and Ox took a few steps back as the madness washed over them, unable to fend off such levels.

"Get Maka Albarn out of here! I will keep her busy." Viktor yelled as the corpse began morphing and stretching violently, black blood flooding the floor. With a smooth wrist flick, his katana was unleashed and positioned in front of his face, piercing cerulean reflecting dangerously on the blade.

"We won't leave you in here, Viktor! You're coming with us!" Black Star called back, readying Tsubaki. "Brethren, remember? I won't let you die!"

"You don't have to fight alone anymore, Viktor," Maka yelled over the harsh winds, holding onto Soul tightly as she peered around him. "We'll help you take her down together!"

"You are in no condition to fight after being killed and sacrificed for this witch," Viktor yelled back, leaping a few steps backwards as the puddle of black blood expanded further outward. It was an expected outcome, though with Maka Albarn now freed from her prison, she was still considered a target. "You would surely be killed once more without the energy to fight. I can handle her for now. Leave."

"Viktor, you're an ally of the DWMA now, we won't just leave you here to die!" Kid barely winced as a rock grazed his temple.

"Soul!"

"Right!"

Maka wielded her weapon once more, twirling the scythe around with ease as she stared down the horrendous black monstrosity. Her soul twitched slightly as she resonated, the uncomfortable feeling brief. Centered between Black Star and Kid, their souls beginning to resonate together instinctively. Maka clenched her jaw as her soul twitched harder this time, the pain radiating from her chest.

"Something's wrong with your soul, Maka, stop the resonance." Soul called to his meister. "Your wavelength is all over the place."

"No, I can handle it. She hasn't fully become a Kishin yet, it'll only take one hit to finish her off!" Maka growled as she widened her stance, bare feet digging into the rock while swinging the scythe over her shoulder. "Kid, Black Star, let's go!"

"Time to kill a witch!" Black Star crowed as he and Kid launched themselves forward.

Maka dashed after them, the scythe transforming into Witch Hunter with a powerful burst of light. Kid and Black Star were already launching everything they had at her, aiming for the center of the wriggling mass. The creature screamed as it lashed black spiked tentacles shot out in response, slicing at them with lightning speed. Knocking back the attacks was as easy as breathing for the meister. She whirled the scythe with grace and expertise, her movements fluid as if she were dancing. Stein let out an impressed whistle; it'd been years since a Chain Resonance had been performed, yet they merged so seamlessly. Viktor stood back from the fight, hesitating before sheathing his blade; there was no need for him to intervene, the students had more than proved themselves capable of taking on a powerful witch. They moved with perfect synchrony, one stepping back as another charged forward, one attacking and making an opening. It reminded the ninja of his younger days and he couldn't help the edges of his lips twitching upwards; he wouldn't have to worry about the future generations anymore, not with them around as protection. As Black Star and Kid shifted back to support at long distance, Maka made her move.

"Witch Ametrine, your soul is mine!" Maka screamed as she sliced downward at the writhing mass of madness.

Witch Hunter sliced cleanly through Ametrine, a scream emitting from the blob as the darkness began to separate from her body. It rose from her like steam, billowing high until it dissipated against the cavern ceiling. The witch sat on her knees, arms limp against her side as she stared with wide eyes at the trio of meisters looking down upon her with overwhelming courage. A laugh slipped through her lips as the witches' body began to break apart, tearing like paper as it was erased from existence.

"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." Viktor recited as he watched the witch before him disappear, blue eyes staring hard at what remained of her body. "You have broken the law so shall you pay the price."

"Defeated by a young girl…what a pathetic way to die…" Ametrine mused as she sat there defeated. "But I suppose there are worse ways to go. You…are a commendable foe, though I should know as you wiped out my three children also."

"Your reign of terror is over, Witch Ametrine, you'll never be able to hurt another soul again." Maka spoke confidently, swinging the scythe to rest it against the ground.

"Madness will always be around, Maka Albarn; it's nothing more than the overwhelming emotion of fear. It will only be a matter of time before another Kishin attempts to rise. But judging by the way your body is trembling; I'd say I get the last laugh. Your soul has been pushed to its limits already." The witch smiled maniacally as the meister gave her a hard look. "You may never be able to resonate again, poor child. Such is the price to pay."

"What the fuck is she talking about? Why can't you just die already." Black Star spat as he shot a dirty look to the woman, her entire lower body gone.

Ametrine turned to look at him, black blood trickling from her lips. She said nothing, choosing to divert her eyes back to the scythe meister will a roll of her head. Her eyes were no longer swimming with madness as she stared at the meister with amusement.

"But then I wouldn't be able to watch as her soul starts to give out. Now where's the fun in missing that after all of my hard work?"

As soon as she released her breath, the Chain Resonance snapped violently and the meister hit the ground hard, the scythe clanging loudly against the rock floor. Kid and Black Star jerked back as they felt the connection break and whipped their heads to the side to see Maka lying on the ground, her hand clenched tightly over her chest as she struggled to breathe. Soul transformed back immediately, panicking as he hovered his hands over her. The pain radiating through Resonance nearly had him doubling over.

"Maka? Maka, hey, look at me!"

"What a sweet sight to see. Enjoy being useless for the rest of your life, Maka Albarn, it's been fun." Ametrine cooed before dissolving completely, her twisted red lips the last to go.

"What the hell is going on," Kid whispered in disbelief as Maka let out an anguished scream, nearly clawing at her chest to reach the source of pain.

"Move aside," Stein ordered as he crouched next to the writhing meister, eyes narrowed at the center of her chest. "Her soul is becoming unstable from an immense amount of strain. We need to get her back to Kim as soon as possible until we can get back to the DWMA. You were too reckless this time, Maka.

Viktor felt a rush of air blast by him and he shifted to see the soul of Zefirov being wrapped with madness, the once pure blue soul becoming tainted with the darkness. With everything else happening, they had neglected to secure the orb in time. Cursing in Russian, the ninja grasped his blades handle tightly, watching as the soul's glow turned blood red. Black tendrils began shooting at him, sharp and deadly as they searched for an opening. With a quick movement, his blade was repelling the attacks with ease. The meisters looked over in surprise, quickly readying their weapons once more.

"You need to go now! She will surely die if you do not get her treatment! Leave this to me, I shall take care of this madness." Viktor snarled at them, slicing through the vine-like arms with ease. "I will seal the creature within this cavern so it may never escape. Go."

"Damnit, everyone pull back! Retreat back to the village for now!" Kid ordered as he dodged an attack from the creature, a small lock of hair fluttering past him.

"We can't just—!" Black Star started, but Viktor cut him off with a look.

"I am tired. Black Star, Maka, and Lord Death; this has been an honor to fight alongside all of you, but I wish to see Vika once more." The ninja looked to them with pleading eyes, his face softer. "Please, this is my last request of you. When my body is found, please bury me next to her so we may be together for eternity. You will carry on both of our wills for the future generations to come. Now, go!"

Stepping forward, Black Star clenched his jaw, preparing to drag the man out by his hood when Stein rested a hand on his shoulder.

"He's decided. We need to get Maka out of here, Black Star. Honor his last wish and do what he says." They began moving towards the hole in the ceiling when the meister stopped and turned, giving a two-finger salute to Viktor's back.

"This isn't goodbye, Viktor! We'll meet again, tovarishch." Comrade.

Viktor smirked and shook his head, pulling his mask back over his face as the creature began to take shape. Black Star reminded him of his younger days, and it brought a smile to the ninja's lips; they would ensure the future. He had no regrets left in life, his soul at peace as he readied his blade, ancient power surging from the base of the tsuka.

"Ancient Hidden Shadow Clan technique; Vechnoye zapechatyvaniye dzyutsu.." Eternal Sealing Jutsu.

"Zhivi i protsvetay, brat." Live on and prosper, brother.

The amounts of madness washing over the area seemed unreal as the group of seven ran through the forest and far away from the cave as possible. The trees were beginning to dissolve rapidly, and the snow became tar beneath their feet. A sinister wind had picked up, spreading the madness faster towards the village. It wasn't until Maka requested to be let down from Soul's back that they stopped. As soon as her knees hit the ground, the meister emptied to contents of her stomach, heaving violently into the gray snow. Black blood dripped from her mouth as she threw up, the dark substance staining her pale lips.

"Holy shit, Maka..." Soul whispered in horror as he crouched beside her, holding her hair back while she heaved. "Is this because of your soul wavelength?"

"I'm sorry," Maka wheezed as she tried to catch her breath, weakly wiping the blood from her mouth. The world was beginning to spin rapidly. A nap sounded nice right about now… "I used Chain Resonance on the souls Asura had absorbed. Hundreds, if not more were in there."

"Hundreds? You used Chain Resonance on hundreds of souls? Maka, that could have easily overwhelmed your soul and killed you!" Kid balked as he stared down at the meister with wide eyes. "What were you thinking?!"

"No other choice…it was that or be absorbed by the madness..." With a violent shiver, the once white dress began reverting to her winter apparel and she collapsed into Soul, exhausted.

"Her soul was pushed too far by resonating with that many souls. I'm surprised it hasn't killed her already." Stein studied her soul wavelength thoughtfully. It was flickering intermittently and quivering mildly. "Anymore strain on it could cause permanent damage to her body. She's going to need extensive care, but as long as she doesn't push herself she should be fine. It all depends on how fast we get her to Kim."

Kid and Black Star helped shift the meister to her weapons back once more before moving to the rear of the guard. The rest of the journey remained quiet apart from the waves of madness licking at their heels hungrily. Soul kept glancing at Maka; her face was contorted in pain and she was slightly sweating. He had just gotten her back and already felt helpless as she laid against his back, weakened.

"I don't like this, Kid, it's not right." Black Star hissed to the Reaper, the two slowing down to talk in private. "We can't just leave him there to die. He still has his clan; he can go back to them and get on with his life."

"I don't believe it's that easy; you heard what he said – that he was tired and wanted to return to Vika. Think about it. His whole life has been upturned and torn apart in a matter of weeks; his trusted Elders have led him astray, and now an opening to save his village has been presented to him. His honor as a ninja was also on the line, something you take to heart as well." Kid pointed out, tapping against the ninja's chest.

"Black Star, I know you want to help but he wanted to defend his village and his honor the best way he knew how; to fall in battle while protecting others." Tsubaki spoke softly, her face appearing in the blade of the katana. Green briefly darted down before averting. "I know it seems wrong to leave him, but we need to respect his final wish."

"Yeah, I know, just fuckin' sucks."

_B_

Free was standing guard outside of the shambled house in his werewolf form, ears swiveling restlessly for any suspicious noises. As soon as he spotted them, he relaxed and called for the girls to come outside.

"Ox, did you find them? Is everyone alright?" Kim yelled as she emerged from the house, holding Jacqueline in her lantern form.

"Apart from Maka, yeah, we're all good." Ox smiled at her, prompting receiving a whack upside the head for mentioning the meister so casually. He apologized with a deep bow.

"Is she…?"

"Maka's alive, Kim, don't worry. She needs to get out of this cold and someplace warmer." Soul shifted his meister, feeling the heat of her skin against his face. "She's burning up and needs to rest, she pushed her soul too hard."

"That temple should do, right? Got that big fire pit in the middle of it and roof hasn't collapsed yet." Black Star jerked his thumb back towards the massive red shrine.

"You're lucky it didn't with you going nuts on top of it, Black Star." Kid casually remarked as he eyed the demolished area. It was like a bunch of bombs went off, debris spreading far and wide. What a shame. The architecture would have been lovely to study. "I would honestly say I'm surprised at the amount of damage you've done, but in reality this seems normal range for you. Remember to be more respectful of property next time you decided to throw a hissy fit."

"Yeah, yeah, don't remind me." The ninja flushed and turned away, rubbing the back of his head. "Not like I remember any of it. Was an accident."

"Kid, you should get a hold of Azusa and update her on the situation. Go get Maka settled and we'll join you shortly." Stein remarked as he released Marie, the weapon reverting back to human form. "Free, make sure to stand guard outside of the shrine for them."

The werewolf scoffed but the eager look of a new dissection quickly swayed him, that and the very shiny scalpel Stein pulled from his pocket, and he nodded quickly before scurrying after the meisters and weapons. Stein snickered. Medical dissection intimidation always worked.

"Stein, something about all this doesn't feel right to me." Marie spoke quietly as she gripped the sleeve of his coat, looking at him with unease. He kept his gaze forward, looking into the dense trees. As if his mind was sloshing with turbulent thoughts.

"Viktor seems to know what he's doing, Marie. He isn't a Master ninja without a good reason. Though I get the feeling we won't be seeing him alive after all this."

The clink of his lighter echoed loudly as he lit another cigarette. With a deep exhale, he offered it to Marie without looking. She took it with a trembling hand and took a deep breath, relaxing as the nicotine hit her system. Very rarely did she smoke, but when she did, it meant she was really shaken up. After a few more calming puffs, she lowered the stick and tilted her head back to gaze at the star riddled sky. The moon had shifted and was continuing its nightly cycle, it's light seemingly a bit brighter.

"These kids shouldn't be in another war, Stein, it's not right." Marie whispered. "They're so young…they have their whole lives ahead of them. Maka died tonight. Why can't the world give them a break to just be children?"

"If we lived in a perfect world, then things wouldn't be the way they were now. All we can do is embrace it, flaws and all." Stein gently removed the nearly burnt up cigarette from Marie's hand before pulling her against him, holding her tight. PDA wasn't in his list of qualities, but Marie needed it more than a roll of nicotine. "As the previous Lord Death wanted them to do, they'll have to pave their own path and fight their own battles while we stand back and support them. Besides, we have Hiroshi to take care of now; and of course, once he's older, I can begin the experimenting on him~"

"If you lay a hand on that child, Stein, I'm having Sid dig your grave and I'll be the one to put you in there."

"Mothers are very scary when they're protective of their kids…"

"It's the same way with our students, isn't it? We mold their futures and then release them to pave their own ways and change the world for the better. They're no different than our own child."

"Fair enough. Now can you please loosen your grip around me, I'm going to lose circulation soon …"

"Oh, sorry!"

Soul hovered over Maka as Kim used her magic once more, concentrating on the center of her chest. While she couldn't completely heal the strained soul, she could at least handle the fever and relieve some of the pain. The large fire roared to life and again filled the room with the crackling of firewood, smothering the frigid Russian air with warmth. Black Star was not too far from the trio, leaning against a large pillar, eyes watching the meister for any improvement. Tsubaki was sitting within the pit with Jacqueline, Liz, and Patty as they inventoried what supplies they had left. Kid had used the mirror Ox and Kilik had brought with them and was off in a corner updating Azusa on the situation.

"I've done what I can for her, Soul, she just needs to rest from now on." Kim wiped the sweat from her brow, magic drained. "We need to see about getting her back to Death City so Nygus can take better care of her and monitor her properly."

"Thank you, Kim, for everything." Soul spoke barely above a whisper, his eyes never leaving Maka's face. "Neither of us would be here without you. I owe you big time."

Kim studied the weapon, a small smile twitching at her lips. That idiot was head over heels for Maka and it definitely showed. Rolling back on her heels, the Tanuki witch stood and walked over to him, crouching beside. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders, resting her head against his back. They didn't need to exchange any words and the weapon was thankful for that. He briefly glanced at her before giving a slight nod, the lump forming in his throat preventing him from speaking.

"She'll be alright as long as you're here, Soul. You two always seem to defy the impossible. Let me know if you need anything." Kim released her hold and patted him on the shoulder before moving to join Tsubaki and Jacqueline.

"How's she doing?"

Soul looked up to see Black Star had shifted over, dropping to the floor quietly. The two remained silent for a while, watching the meister breathe more easily as she slept.

"The fever dropped and the pain should be managed for now." Soul could feel his best friend's eyes on him, and he let out a heavy sigh. "If I had known she pushed herself to the limit like that, I never would have agreed to fight. Her wavelength was all over the place when she linked everyone's souls together. I should've stopped her."

"I fucked up earlier." Black Star suddenly interjected, earning a quizzical look. "After Maka…after that incident, I went insane with grief and about destroyed the whole town in the process. Tsubaki tried to stop me and I…I attacked her. I wasn't in my right mind when I did it, but she was in pain and bleeding by the time I snapped out of it. The tile she was holding onto snapped and she started falling from the roof. It wasn't until I realized she wasn't trying to save herself that I came back out of it."

"Fuck, Black Star, you've never—"

"I know, I know. I swore to her that I would never hurt her. And I broke that promise…" The ninja glanced over at his weapon with forlorn. "Even if she says it's okay, it's not. I can't ever forgive myself for that, I won't forgive myself. Soul, I…I love her more than anything,"

"I can understand, but the fact that she's forgiving you means she feels the same way. You weren't in your right mind; I would've been the same way if I had stayed conscious after the resonance link snapped. I could have been absorbed by the madness and gone insane, but Maka… she found me in the darkness and pulled me out of it." Soul pressed his hand to the center of his chest, the dull throbbing in chest a constant reminder. "Everyone is still alive, Black Star, and that's what matters most right now. We may have lost the battle, but we're still standing to fight again."

"Shit, yer like Maka, all 'Here's a bunch of motivating words and shit.' Kinda creeps me out sometimes how alike you two are." Black Star snickered as his friend swatted at him, falling just short of reaching him.

"Hey, at least I won the bet on when you would tell Tsubaki you loved her." It was Soul's turn to snicker as the meister looked confused, tilting his head. "We all had a bet going on when you would say it. Ever since the battle on the moon, Liz started taking guesses. I said right before a big fight, so I win…I think it's around a couple hundred bucks now?" He counted on his fingers.

Black Star whipped his head around to look for Liz and give her an earful when a noise drew his attention back. Maka groaned as she lifted a hand to her head, wincing as she squinted her eyes open. It took her a minute to open her eyes fully, looking between the two with creased brows.

"You're both loud, you know that? Especially you, Black Star." Maka complained as she sat up with the help of Soul, using his arms for support. "Can't you go one day without being loud?"

"Welcome back, bookworm," The ninja smiled widely at her. "Don't ever fucking die on me again, you hear? I'll bring you back and kill you myself next time."

Maka gave him a weak smile before opening her arms to him. "Idiot, get over here."

He didn't need told twice as he latched onto her, arms trembling as he hid his face in her shoulder. Soul scooted back a little as the others soon noticed what was happening and swarmed the meister, crying as they threw themselves at her. As much as he wanted to kick them all away and have her for himself, they all were traumatized by the recent events. Kid had finished his call and was making his way over to the group. Locking eyes with Soul, he motioned for him to talk. Taking one last glance at his meister buried beneath a pile of girls, the weapon followed his friend to a corner away from the group. Judging from the stiff posture he held, it wasn't light news.

"Soul, I've decided to pull the plug on this mission." Kid started, noticing the change in Soul's expression. He held up a hand. "At this point, it's reckless to stay and try to fight anymore without Maka's assistance. If she pushes herself any further, it could permanently damage her soul and she could never resonate again. Azusa said there are a few witches waiting and ready to teleport us all back to the DWMA once I give the word."

"So, we're just going to leave Viktor? Just like that? There's no way he could defeat a Kishin by himself. Hell, all we could do with Asura is seal him on the moon using BREW." Soul hissed back, not wanting to draw attention. "What's going to happen if it breaks free? It'll be the battle on the moon all over again! I get this was a close call and everything, but we haven't even confirmed if the new Kishin has been taken care of."

"I understand, and it's not something that was decided without weighing the risks, but we'll have to put our faith in Viktor and hope he is able to seal the madness properly."

"Seal it? How…?" Kid let out a strained sigh, running his hand through his hair.

"He spoke to Stein and I before we arrived at the cavern. The Hidden Shadow clan weren't just known for their stealth and skills, they were also known for creating a strong sealing jutsu among other things. They come from a long lineage of immensely powerful ninjas and throughout those decades, they have uncovered a strong variety of ancient techniques. Viktor mentioned the Elder he trusts, her name is Flyorova, would find us at some point within the next twenty-four hours. He may be our last hope right now, though, I was warned there is a downside to using the jutsu,"

"It's going to take his life, isn't it?" Soul grit his teeth angrily as he punched the pillar closest to him. It left a decent dent in the wood. Kid nodded gravely. How many more lives had to be taken?

"I'm afraid there is a high possibility of it happening. I have asked both Azusa and Jinn to ensure the seal is fully complete and to guard the cave once they arrive. Sid will monitor the situation as well from the Death Room."

"We're running away like cowards,"

"As Lord Death, I have to ensure the safety of my students and citizens first. As your friend," Kid rested his hand on Soul's shoulder, amber eyes burning. "I have to ensure the safety of everyone here. I cannot in good conscious allow Maka to potentially lose her life again. I will meet with the witches once we return to see if there's a way to ensure the madness within the cave is sealed away forever."

"Viktor will be buried with a warrior's sendoff. I'll personally make sure of it." Black Star had snuck into the conversation, standing next to Soul with his arms crossed over his chest. "We're coming back within twelve hours to make sure. I trust Viktor completely, but I don't trust the situation one bit. For all we know, it could break free and there would be another Kishin running loose."

"I had no doubt you would want to return." Kid smiled briefly before it fell. "Now that Maka's awake, we should wait for Stein and Marie to come back before pulling back. I have everything in order for now, you should go shoo the girls from your meister before she suffocates beneath them."

"I've got a debt to collect while I'm at it. Let us know when you're ready to go," Soul tossed a hand up as he strolled away casually, trying to keep his posture from tensing up. It didn't go unnoticed.

"He wants to get revenge just as badly, but he can't without Maka. I feel helpless in these types of situations," Kid leaned against the damaged pillar, exhaustion weighing heavily on his body and mind.

"He'll get his chance, one way or another, but right now he needs to be there for her more than anything. I suggest you avoid telling Maka about this situation until after its done." Black Star watched as Liz begrudgingly dug around in her bag before handing a stack of bills to the Death Scythe, a look of defeat on her face. "I already couldn't handle it the first time she died, Kid, I can't do it again."

"I'm sorry you had to witness that, Black Star," Kid watched the commotion with a pained expression. If only he'd been there for his friends…"I can't imagine watching it happen. I would have probably done the same thing you did."

"Can we still trust the witches after this?" The ninja asked suddenly, greens eyes darting to Kid's surprised face. "How do we know there isn't another witch out there right now attempting the same damn thing?"

"I have complete faith in the witches, I have for years now; unfortunately, there will always be a few who divert from the path of what's right and become absorbed within the darkness in this world. That's why the DWMA still stands, to prevent future generations from living in a reality full of madness and disaster. Anything they throw our way, we'll do whatever it takes to protect the world from it."

"Let's just hope we can keep the damned peace for a while after this."

Kid and Black Star had returned to Russia within twelve hours, as promised, with the aid of Mabaa-dono and the feline witch. Tsubaki had tagged along as well, more for the support of her meister than anything. Azusa and West Asia branch Death Scythe Jinn had scoped ahead of their arrival to verify the area around the cave was cleared. A barrier had been erected from the inside, sealing the madness within the cavern depths. With a quick flash of her eye, Kid, Black Star, Tsubaki and both witches were transported inside of the barrier leaving the Death Scythes outside to guard. The cavern was dark aside from a bright glow emitting from a katana plunged deep into the earth, magic pulsing from the handle. The madness filled soul had been imbedded into the cavern wall, a sealing scripture chaining it in place. It showed no signs of life, the orb resting motionless in its prison. Just a few feet from it slumped over the katana, was Viktor, his body nearly stiff as his hands were intertwined over the end of the tsuka.

"Damnit…" Black Star spat as he crouched next to his comrade, hesitantly reaching to pull his body back. As he grasped his shoulder, a weak breath emitted from Viktor.

"I knew…you would come…back…" Viktor suddenly whispered, alarming the group. "I can…rest now…thank you, Black Star…I will be…with Vika…once more…"

The ninja turned his head and gave him a small, tired smile before going limp. Black Star clenched his jaw as he held the corpse up, tears blurring his vision. Kid grabbed his other arm and the two lifted their fallen comrade from the ground, supporting his weight as the witches inspected the seal. Tsubaki knelt by the blade, quickly pulling something from her sling and gently placed two incense sticks into the dirt and lit them. With a bow of her head, and a quick prayer, the weapon bid farewell to her fellow ninja. The group waited patiently for her to finish, Black Star keeping his head down.

"Where did Ametrine's soul go? We didn't grab it after the battle." Tsubaki asked as she looked around the dark cavern. "It didn't get away, right?"

"I think when Maka struck her with Witch Hunter, it may have fully destroyed the soul." Kid answered as he examined the chained soul warily. "I don't sense it anymore so it must have been extinguished. Though rare, it can happen."

"Nyamuu."

"She says the soul is sealed with an extremely intricate jutsu, one that can't be broken so easily. Just in case, Mabaa has placed another seal on top of it as well. There will also be one placed on the outside of the cave." The feline witch explained, lighting up her pipe.

"Let's get him home." Black Star spoke quietly as they gathered around Mabaa.

With another flash, they were outside. Azusa and Jinn were on alert as movement was detected in the dense snow-clad woodlands surrounding them. Cloaked in white, ninjas began appearing one by one, led by an elderly woman in intricate white and gold robes. They moved silently, slowing to a stop a few feet from the group.

"I see, so he did perform the sealing technique." She said sadly, looking at the body with tears streaming down her pale cheeks. Too many losses in such a short time. "I felt it and was hoping to be wrong. At least he can rest easy now, with Vika. I thank you both for honoring his last wish." Flyorova bowed deeply, the villagers behind her bowing in unison.

"I promised him, as his comrade, to do whatever it takes to get him home." Black Star told the Elder as she straightened. "Viktor was prepared to lose everything to save his village and the world from the spread of madness. It was an honor to know and fight alongside him."

Flyorova smiled tearfully at the blue haired ninja as she raised her hand to signal. Two ninjas slid from behind the trees and carefully took Viktor's body from the meisters, placing him on a stretcher that a third ninja had brought out. With care, they laid his body on the stretcher before covering it with a white cloth. The Elder watched as they slowly transported him back to the village, the villagers falling in line behind them, chanting and humming quietly.

"We will hold a releasing ceremony in a short while; it would be an honor to have you join us."

"Of course, thank you. Viktor had vowed his assistance to me just before the battle and for that I am forever grateful. I wish to honor his last moments on earth. Continuing forward, if you are ever in need of assistance, please feel free to call upon the DWMA." Kid bowed to the Elder.

"We'll wait outside of the village until you're done, Lord Death," The feline witch said softly, completely out of character for the normally aggressive woman. "Call upon us when you are ready."

The two groups departed, leaving Kid, Black Star, and Tsubaki alone outside of the cave. It was beginning to snow lightly as they remained silent, looking everywhere but at one another. Kid sighed at the tense atmosphere and glanced up to see Tsubaki giving him a pained look. They both needed a moment alone.

"I'm going to see if I can assist with anything. I'll meet you two in the village when you're ready." The Reaper gently rested his hand on Black Star's shoulder, giving it a squeeze before following behind the procession.

Tsubaki felt her meisters will crumble as his legs gave out and he landed in the snow, bracing himself as he hunched over. Crouching next to him, she laid a hand on his back and his cracking walls fell. A guttural cry slipped from Black Star's throat as he punched the ground in anger and grief. Over and over, he screamed his emotions out until his knuckles were raw and bleeding. His chest heaved as he sobbed, the snow now stained red. With feather light movements, Tsubaki wrapped her arms around his shoulders and rested her head against his back, tears sliding down his coat.

The ceremony was beautiful yet heart wrenching as the flames sparked to life and began to engulf Viktor's body. Flowers were placed carefully around his body while a rosary was clasped between his hands, the marking of his clan engraved in the rock pendant that hung from it. A bright pink lotus rested over his heart, the symbol of purity and rebirth. His normal ninja garb had been changed for a formal black kimono, his blonde locks cleansed and gently brushed out. A special necklace rested against his chest, ornate wooden beads with kanji written on each one with black ink. He looked peaceful as the flames began to consume his body, and thus his journey to return to the Earth commenced. The crackling of the wood was drowned out by the anguished cries of his mother who knelt just feet from the base of the fire, digging into the snow and screaming in Russian. Even Flyorova, normally calm and composed, broke down, falling to her knees as she stared at the fire with tears streaming down her face, mouthing silently as she sat there. Kid, who was standing behind and slightly to the left of the Elder, stood silently with his hands clasped behind his back as he kept his eyes trained on the fire.

Tsubaki and Black Star stood to the right of the Elder, standing further back than Kid. The ninja stared blankly at the fire while his partner was kneeling on the ground, hands clasped together while she prayed on a rosary given to her by a villager. She reached the end of the beads and carefully wrapped it around her right wrist before placing both hands in the snow and bowing deeply for a few seconds. As she rose, she spoke in her native tongue.

"Anata no tamashī ga yasuraka ni nemureru yō ni. Anata no gisei wa wasure rarenaideshou. Eien ni yasunde kudasai. Sayonara, Viktor." May your soul rest in peace. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. May you rest eternally. Goodbye, Viktor.

"I know he will, Tsubaki, he's with Vika now." Black Star said quietly as he held out a hand for her, gaze briefly switching to hers. "His soul was at peace when he decided. All we can do now is carry on his will for the future generations."

The weapon took his hand and allowed herself to be pulled against his chest, crying as he held her tightly. His eyes never left the fire, watching as Viktor's body began to break down. It wasn't until someone laid a hand on his arm that he blinked and turned his gaze from the now roaring flames. Flyorova gave him a small smile and motioned for him to follow, Kid waiting patiently just a few steps behind her. Nodding, the meister leaned down and whispered to Tsubaki that they were moving, and the three followed the Elder back towards the center of the village. Villagers were entering the shrine murmuring silently amongst themselves as they moved. Most were holding either rosary beads or small rings of flowers in their palms.

The fire pit was filled with the villagers, the family of the deceased in the center, who proclaimed their condolences and small offerings to them. Flyorova guided them past the side of the pit and into a small room just off the main hall. As they entered, she motioned for them to take a seat on the three cushions resting against the tatami mats. She shut the door behind them and took her spot on the lone cushion opposite of them, hands folded in her lap.

"I wanted to personally thank you all for your assistance during this war, considering we had a major part in causing it." The Elder bowed deeply, resting her forehead against the backs of her hands in dogeza. "I also want to express my personal apologizes on behalf of my village for the destruction and pain we have caused you and your students, Lord Death. I cannot atone for what has happened."

"All is forgiven, Elder; the Witches were deceived as well and suffered mass casualties from Ametrine's destruction, as did your village. You were following your prophecies and could not have known her true intentions." Kid replied formally, bowing back in respect. "All we can do now is move forward in hopes of preventing another event such as this."

"You are very kind, Lord Death, as was your father." Flyorova straightened back up and smiled at the Reaper. "We were contacted by him years ago regarding the location of Asura when he had escaped Death City. Due to our history of dealing with the madness, of course we were a prime suspect as a hiding location. Once the village was secured and searched, we were left in peace. Your father was an exceedingly kind soul, and I can see him in you clearly."

"He raised me to be kind, and for that I am thankful. I know he would be proud." Kid smiled back.

Flyorova turned her attention to Black Star and Tsubaki, once more bowing deeply to them. They both returned the gesture.

"I can see the fire Viktor had in your eyes, Black Star. Your strength and determination to protect your friends is admirable. Viktor told me you were a worthy opponent, nearly surpassing his skill level. He had nothing but high praise for you. A very noble choice, choosing the path of the warrior; it suits you perfectly. And you, Tsubaki, no?" The Elder locked eyes with the weapon, giving her a warm smile.

"Anata ga vu~ika to onaji ishi o kyōyū shite shitagai, kaiko sa reta koto o kōei ni omoimasu. Watashitachi wa samazamana shizoku no shusshindearu kanōsei ga arimasuga, watashitachi no rūtsu wa isshō musubitsuite imasu. Nēsan, kono sensō no ma no yūki o arigatō. Anata wa namihazureta ninjadeari, watashi o anata o watashinokazoku to yobu koto o hokori ni omoimasu." I am honored to know you share and follow the same will and fire as Vika. We may be from different clans, but our roots are bound together for life. Thank you very much, sister, for your bravery during this war. You are an extraordinary ninja and I am proud to call you my family.

"Chōrō…" Elder…

Tsubaki teared up and Flyorova moved to embrace the young girl, whispering soothingly in her ear in Japanese as she cried. After a few minutes, the two broke apart, sharing a loving smile before the Elder returned to her seat. Black Star reached out and took his partners hand, squeezing it gently as he focused on the elderly woman before them.

"There is one last thing I wish to discuss with you, Lord Death. The Hidden Shadow Ninja clan will offer our full loyalty to both you and the Witches. Though we have partnered with the Mother, we will now offer them our full services, not just security. I wish for a truce to happen between the three of us to bring peace for the future."

"That sounds like an excellent idea, Elder, and I shall try to set up a meeting so that we can discuss the matters and form a truce." Kid nodded in agreement, his amber eyes boring into grieving sky blue. "I wish for the future generations to know there will be more allies standing behind them."

A ninja quietly slid the door open and muttered something in Russian to Flyorova. She nodded her head and responded, motioning for him to enter. Silently, he moved to her side, bowing at the three seated opposite before handing the Elder a small handful of envelopes. With a nod she accepted them, and the ninja exited.

"Here…Viktor handed me these envelopes at our last meeting. He wished for it to be delivered to you, Lord Death, and your companions if anything were to happen to him. I ask that you open them once you return to your city, in private, per his wishes. Feel free to stay if you would like for the celebration of life."

"I appreciate the offer, Elder Flyorova, but we must return to Death City. We are still suffering from the effects of Ametrine's destructive force and I would hate to be away for an extended period of time. I'm sure Maka would like an update as well." Kid gratefully accepted the envelopes, handing Black Star and Tsubaki theirs.

"Ah, that reminds me." The Elder reached within her robes and pulled out a small white box, Maka Albarn written neatly on a small red tag. "Would you please give this to her? A gift of sorts, from Viktor and his family."

"Thank you, I will ensure she receives it as soon as we return." Kid bowed as he accepted the gift, carefully slipping it into his coat.

They filed back into the main hall and were greeted with chanting and singing, some of the villagers dancing around the fire with swift and light movements as they tossed the small flower rings into the flames. Flyorova led them to the massive doors of the shrine, motioning to the guards who swiftly pulled them open. A voice called out to them and they all stopped. Flyorova quickly let them know it was Viktor's mother, Serova Leonidovich, as the woman approached with eyes red and puffy. Without a second thought she pulled all three of them into a tight hug, crying as she spoke Russian to them. Tsubaki wrapped her arms around the woman while Kid and Black Star shared a glance before resting a hand on her back.

"Thank you, thank you for bringing my child home safely." Serova blubbered in broken English, "I cannot repay you for your kindness."

"It was our honor to bring him home. He fought valiantly," Tsubaki spoke softly in her ear. "I am sorry for your loss, Serova, I have no words to comfort you."

The woman released her grip on the boys and kissed Tsubaki on the cheeks and forehead. She released the weapon and grabbed Black Star next, holding him tightly as she whispered to him, kissing him as well. Kid was next and she did the same as the others, holding him tightly and thanking him. With a final kiss on his forehead, Serova released her grip and said something to Flyorova, the Elder nodding.

"She wishes to relay that she is grateful for your assistance and that she considers you all a part of her family, as her children. You are always welcome here, Lord Death, Black Star, and Tsubaki. Alongside Maka and soul, of course."

The group said their goodbyes and exited the shrine, back into the frigid winter air. Azusa and Jinn were standing by, the latter looking around curiously at the village. With a quick glance, the two fell in step behind Kid as they headed towards the edge of town, back to the awaiting witches. Tsubaki was still sniffling as they walked, wiping the tears away with the backs of her hands. Black Star snaked his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, shooting her a bright smile.

"No need to cry over me, I know how amazing I am! It warms my heart to see women crying tears of joy at my greatness!"

Tsubaki let out a choked laugh, smacking him on the chest with her free hand. The two bantered back and forth quietly, lightening the mood slightly. Kid shook his head as Azusa matched his pace, glancing over at the Reaper.

"Lord Death, shall we announce this incident to the rest of Death City?"

"For now, we should keep everything to those of us who witnessed it. I will make an official announcement regarding the incident once the truce has been formed. I don't want people panicking and thinking there will be more witch attacks."

"Very well, I will meet with the other Death Scythes once we return and inform them of the situation. How are you holding up, Kid?" Azusa asked quietly, taking in the new stress line forming on his forehead.

"I think…I'm okay, for the time being. I'm trying to process everything right now as Lord Death and my own personal feelings have been shoved aside. My mind can't wrap the thought that Maka died last night. I know Black Star is having a hard time coping with actually witnessing it." Kid answered honestly, shoving his hands beneath his cloak into his pockets. "It wouldn't be a bad idea to set up some therapy for everyone once we return. We lost a comrade and it's hitting all of us pretty hard. These villagers…they've been through so much the past few weeks and now their homes have been destroyed by madness and a deranged witch who deceived their trust. Families have been torn apart in the blink of an eye. I can't even begin to imagine their pain."

"Unfortunately, there will always be casualties in war, Kid, it's undeniable. Though it seems unfair, the chance to sacrifice one or two for the greater good will always be more appealing. It may not seem right, it may not seem fair, but war never changes, no matter how far humanity has come. Your father tried to create a better world for the future generations, a world without fear and the threat of witches. Look how far we've come, Kid, look at the world as it is; there's no more tension between the witches, the Kishin Asura has been sealed on the moon, Ametrine was stopped from unleashing madness upon the world. People are living without fear, they're not worrying about something happening every waking moment. Yes, we've had casualties on all sides, but it was due to their sacrifices that the world can keep being safe." Azusa briefly rested her hand on his shoulder, giving him a rare smile.

The woods began to thin out and Mabaa stood in the clearing, using her magic to build a small army of snow-witches. The witch looked up at them and chirped to her assistant, shifting to move outward towards the wider part of the woods.

"If your business is done, Mabaa-dono needs to return to the Witches Realm and begin repairs." The feline witch spoke halfheartedly, her pipe nowhere to be seen.

"Everything is done, thank you for waiting." Kid responded as they stood in a circle around the Mother. "If you ever need assistance with rebuilding, I will gladly offer my services."

"Nyamuu."

With a flash, they were gone.

Things were slowly returning to normal in Death City, just over a month after the battle with Ametrine. The ruins had been completely repaired, thanks to the hard-working citizens, DWMA students, and staff, making life calm once more. Lord Death had even gone to the Witches Realm to aid them in their recovery, as well as speaking to them about the truce with the Hidden Shadow clan. It'd just reached the peak of summer and the desert heatwaves were becoming torturous. Along with the sweltering heat had brought along the annual Summer Festival, where food stands, game booths, photo stalls, and fireworks celebrated the life of the previous Lord Death. While Kid wasn't as fun going as his father was, he made sure that everyone in the city could relax and enjoy themselves for at least one night. Everything seemed to be back to normal, though for a certain meister, things were far from that.

Maka had spent an entire week in the infirmary upon their arrival, much to her protest, as Nygus and Stein ran every test under the sun including drawing blood a few times a week. Soul had joined her for every appointment, sitting quietly in the chair resting adjacent to her bed. Very rarely he spoke up, asking about something before going quiet again. When asked if anything were wrong, he would shake his head, give her a lopsided toothy grin and make an excuse to leave the room. Maka felt the flood of emotions he was trying to hold back, putting on a façade she knew all too well. When Nygus and Stein had released her back to their apartment, Soul instantly busied himself once she was settled, trying to keep himself from falling apart.

"Soul, talk to me." Maka gently wrapped her arms around him from behind, feeling him still under her sudden touch. "Please."

They had always resonated consistently so she felt when the walls around his soul began to crumble. Faster than she could process, Soul had turned around and engulfed her petite frame in his arms. He was shaking, trying to resist giving in to a complete meltdown. Gently, she ran her hand through his hair, saying nothing as she let him take his time. They sank to the floor as his legs gave out, becoming a crumpled heap on the tile floor.

"I…I…you died…Maka, you died…I watched you…I felt it…" Soul wheezed out. "I can't…the image, I can't get it out of my head…"

"It's okay, Soul. I'm here, I'm alive." Maka pulled back to cup his face, gently wiping away the tears streaming down her partners face. It pained her to see him so broken, the grief nearly overwhelming her own soul. "I'm so sorry you had to see that. I never expected things to turn out that way. I was too reckless…"

Tears blurred her vision as she found herself sobbing as well, everything from the last few weeks finally taking its emotional toll. Soul placed a hand against the back of her head, drawing her seemingly smaller frame against his. Together they poured their emotions out on the tiled kitchen floor, in a tightly wrapped tangle of limbs. The apartment door opened at some point as Blair came home, the feline stopping at the sight of the two teens asleep against the kitchen cabinets, bodies latched together. Deciding it would be better to leave them, she quickly grabbed a blanket and covered them, neither stirring from the movement. Scribbling a quick note, Blair gently left it on the kitchen table before heading back out for the evening. They needed the time alone to heal.

Maka woke first, the sound of the door unlocking dragging her from slumber. When she went to move, she found strong arms locking her in place. Soul was still sound asleep, his head tilted back against the cabinet, snoring lightly. Though he would vehemently deny it, her weapon looked pretty cute when he slept.

"Oh, sorry Maka-chan, I didn't mean to wake you up." Blair apologized quietly, setting a convenience store bag down on the table. "I brought you two some breakfast, if you're hungry."

"Thank you, Blair, you didn't have to do that." Maka felt Soul stir and hold her tighter, burying his face into her neck. The meister felt her body nearly explode with heat while Blair hid her Cheshire grin behind a hand.

"Seems I'm interrupting something, I'll leave you two alone. I'll be at work all day today, so I'll see you tonight!" Blair bounded for her room to change, giggling to herself along the way. Maka groaned internally. The cat was never going to let it go. And it wasn't like they'd planned to end up the way they did.

"S-Soul, it's morning, you need to get up." Maka poked at her partner, trying to get him to release his grip. When'd he get so strong? "I need to use the bathroom and Blair brought food."

"Hmm? Food?" Soul finally stirred, the heat of his breath against her skin sending electricity down her spine. "Wha—why the hell are we on the floor? That explains my neck hurting so much…"

"Why am I not surprised the mentioning of food wakes you up. I need to go to the bathroom, so can you release me?" Maka tugged at his arms. With a few slow blinks, he pulled his arms back, dragging his fingers lightly across her bare waist in the process; somehow her shirt had shifted up during the night. Feeling the heat blossoming to her face she threw the blanket off, rolled off his lap and quickly headed towards the bathroom with a hand resting over her pounding heart.

Feeling her erratic emotions, Soul felt his face heat up as well, just now realizing the compromising position they'd been in all night. Maka had ended up practically straddling his lap during their embrace but neither had noticed until now. Not that he was complaining about holding her like that…stop it, Eater! Now wasn't the time to be thinking like that.

Pushing himself from the floor with a grunt, Soul decided to distract himself with food, opening the bag and grabbing out an onigiri. It wasn't his favorite thing, but it would do until he could make some proper breakfast. A door closed and he looked up to see Blair getting ready to leave in her work clothes just as he raided the fridge for supplies.

"How are you feeling, Soul?" She asked as she set her stuff down on the table. "I didn't want to disturb you two last night. I know it's been rough a rough time lately."

"Alright, neck is killing me from sleeping on the floor though." Soul felt a satisfying pop as he stretched his neck as he flushed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think…after everything that's happened—"

"I understand. Bu-tan can tell," The feline winked at him with a knowing smile. "I was scared for both of you when I heard what happened. Spirit cries about it every night at the club, but I know he was really worried about both you and Maka. I'm thankful you both came back alive."

Without another word, Blair walked around the table and pulled Soul into a hug. Maka walked back into the kitchen just then, raising an eyebrow at the oddly non-sexualized scene and earning a just as confused look from the scythe. Noticing her, the feline grabbed Maka and held them both tightly, nuzzling their heads while mewing.

"Bu-tan was so worried about you both! I can't imagine life without you." She sniffled, squishing them both against her chest. "Promise me that you'll both be more careful next time."

"I promise we won't be so reckless next time." Maka vowed as she was released, grateful to be able to breathe once more. "I'm sorry for worrying you, Blair, we should have let you know sooner. Things just didn't go as planned."

"I forgive you both," Blair smiled as she caressed their faces lovingly. "Bu-tan has to go to work now though, play nice today!" With a wink, she grabbed her bag and pranced out of the door, blowing them a kiss. Silence filled the kitchen as meister and scythe stared at the closed front door.

"She saw us in that position a while ago, didn't she."

"Yes, Soul, yes she did."

"She's got blackmail now, doesn't she."

"Definitely."

"Damnit."

"You seem to be doing better today, Maka. A better improvement since last week," Nygus commented as she studied her chart carefully, flipping between pages to compare readings. "Still, I don't want you to strain yourself more than necessary until we're completely sure your soul is strong again. It took a real beating when you resonated with hundreds of souls. While impressive, it was still reckless."

"I'm going to go stir-crazy if I don't do something physical, Nygus," Maka grumbled as she rubbed at the already bruising needle mark in the crook of her arm. "Can I at least punch Black Star if he's being stupid? Besides, Soul and I can resonate naturally without issue so I should be able to—"

"Pushing yourself to see if you can resonate stronger again will only delay the healing factor and could further damage." Stein added as he spun around in his chair, cranking his screw. He always supervised to visits due to his Soul Perception, constantly tracking even the slightest of abnormalities. "Even now I can tell your soul is still wavering out of sync. At most it'll only be a few more weeks or so until your wavelength is more stable. No excessive physical exertion, no battle practice, no attempting to resonate with anyone else, and punching Black Star is fine as long as it's justifiable, which most of the time it is. Just enjoy the peace, you've all earned a vacation for your hard work."

"Stein…" Nygus warned, sharp eyes turning to him as she planted her hands on her hips. Stein just shrugged, knowing she wouldn't act on the underlying threat in front of a former student. She glared at him before huffing in annoyance. "Don't encourage reckless behavior. No punching anyone. I mean it, Maka."

"He needs it every now and then, it's fine, very therapeutic for the soul. You're free to go Maka, just make sure to follow the discharge instructions." Stein handed her a note with her restrictions.

Maka sighed but nodded. Considering everything that'd happened, a peaceful 'vacation' was deceitful. The pre-Kishin nightmares had vanished for good, thankfully, but a new scene took its place. The last time she saw Viktor alive, preparing to sacrifice himself for the sake of keeping them safe; all she could see was the soft look on his face as he turned to them, cerulean eyes portraying his final wish. There were a few times she woke up in a cold sweat, the madness having overpowered the ninja and striking her through the chest. The alternate realities seemed to be fading as the weeks went on, becoming nothing more than a distant memory. But no matter what, she could always feel the intensity of his eyes looking into hers, final unspoken words passing between them.

With her final instructions from Stein and Nygus, Maka bid them farewell before slowly walking down the empty hallway. Although everything seemed fine on the surface, those who were engaged in the war didn't return the same; Kid seemed to have emotionally distanced himself, throwing himself into his Reaper duties. Black Star was oddly quieter, something that unnerved the meister greatly, and Tsubaki always seemed to be deep in thought, often gazing at nothing in particular. Soul was glued to her hip, more than ever, and although it was comforting, there were times she wanted to kick him away so she could breathe.

Spirit was worse; as soon as he realized she was actually alive, he latched onto her for hours, threatening anyone who came near them with a bladed arm. He'd bawled as he held her, blubbering about being a bad parent and wishing he had gone with them and how he should've been there to protect her. Stein finally yanked him off when Maka sent him a pleading look, dragging the wailing Death Scythe out of sight with promises of new scars. Kim had gone to aid the witches and Jacqueline seemed to wander aimlessly while she was gone, her eyes blank. Kilik and Ox didn't appear to have been too affected, but there were times when their eyes met, and they shared an emotionless nod.

As she stepped outside with a hand shielding her eyes from the blinding sun, Maka took in the view. The school grounds were repaired seamlessly, no signs of a battle having ever taken place. There were a few students milling around though most were enjoying the extended summer break from classes. Kid decided to keep the school closed for the remainder of the semester, allowing time for repairs and giving both students and teachers a break. The meister let a frown adorn her face. Kid hadn't made an announcement yet regarding the incident or the fact there was a new truce with the ninja clan. She couldn't blame him though; after everything that happened, she wouldn't want to bring up what happened so soon either.

As her foot hit the bottom step, a familiar rumbling caught her attention and she turned her head. The brakes squeaked lightly as they engaged, the glossy orange bike rolling to a stop. Soul shifted the bike into neutral and the beast quieted to a purr. He said he had something to do during her appointment, so he would pick her up when she was done. It seemed odd, but the meister merely shrugged it off, though she missed the comforting presence in the infirmary despite the recent clinging.

"How'd it go?" Soul asked as she slid on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist. Right on time like always.

"Looking better though still not strong enough to really do anything physical. Stein gave me permission to punch Black Star though," Maka grumbled against his back, lips turning to a smile at the thought. Just one punch is all she wanted. "I'm so freaking bored of being lazy! I don't know how you do it all the time. Your skillset is impressive when it comes to laziness."

"Oi, do you know how hard it is to act lazy? Takes a lot of energy to keep it up all day." Soul shot back as he kicked the bike into gear, secretly enjoying how she slid her hands beneath his jacket. Though he kept those feelings to himself.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that excuse before."

The two cruised down the streets, ducking through alleys and back roads when the main street became too crowded. The festival was beginning to come together and by tomorrow; it would be filled with food, fun, and excitement. The wind felt good against her face as they moved, a now rare feeling of ease washing over the meister. Therapy had been set up for the group and although it was difficult in the beginning, it seemed to be slowly helping. The letter and box given to her by Kid though remained sitting on her desk, untouched. Part of her wanted to pretend it wasn't there; if she ignored it then none of the horrific events ever happened and it was all just a nightmare. But every time she looked at the small white box with its red tag, an image of his eyes flashed in her mind. Maybe tonight she would look at it…

Maka jerked from her thoughts as the bike stopped, rumbling softly as it sat idle before turning off. Looking around, she noticed it wasn't their apartment, but rather the small woods that resided towards the edge of the city. It was where they'd trained to use Chain Resonance all those years ago before the battle with Arachne. The image of the imprisoned souls glowing in resonance flashed through her mind, soul twinging at the thought.

"Soul?"

"C'mon, just follow me." He gave her a toothy grin, holding his hand out for her.

With a wary look, she took it and he guided her deeper into the woods, the trees swaying gently with the wind. Her perception picked up on the other souls and she shot a quizzical glance to her weapon. Feeling the stare, he just smiled and stepped into the opening. Black Star, Tsubaki, Liz and Patty, and Kid were all gathered, smiling and chatting with each other. Black Star noticed first and leapt from the stone wall, landing weightlessly in front of the meister with a huge grin, hands on his hips. Maka merely notched a brow.

"About time! I was about to fight Kid out of boredom."

"Haven't we done enough fighting for one year?" Kid shook his head and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Besides, that's not why we're here."

"Why are you guys all here?" Maka asked warily.

"Well, since we got back, we haven't really had time together so we thought a gathering would be in order." Tsubaki smiled as she held up a large picnic basket. "Of course, there's plenty of food as well!"

"Soul even made those cupcakes you like, Maka," Liz winked at the meister, "It was a tough situation to go through, so why not heal it with food and friends?"

"And some booze!" Patty chirped as she pulled out two large bottles of wine from a separate bag, more hiding within its depths.

"Technically, the drinking age is twenty-one," Kid started, eyeing the wine with distrust. Everyone's shoulders sagged as they groaned. "But…I can overlook it this time. Just no getting wasted."

"Challenge accepted!" The ninja crowed as he snatched a bottle and made to chug it until Tsubaki grabbed it back, scolding him.

"This is top shelf stuff," Soul let out a low whistle as he examined the black and red label, intricate gold writing glittering in the light. Coming from the renowned Evans lineage, the weapon knew a thing or two about wine. "Reserves, even. Not bad."

"You'd be surprised what we have laying around the house," Liz grinned before motioning the weapon closer with a flap of her hand. "Took it from the hidden cellar beneath the kitchen. No one's been down there in years."

"Well, let's put it to good use then." The Death Scythe grinned as he transformed his arm and sliced the cork off, the bottle opening with a satisfying pop and aromatic plume.

The girls were setting up the blankets and food while the guys messed around, tossing around a football that Black Star brought along. Patty managed to dive bomb on top of Kid and Soul, wrestling the ball from their grips before prancing away holding it like a trophy. Maka leaned against the wall, arms around her waist, watching her friends relax for the first time in over a month. Now that she thought about it, when was the last time they'd been together like this? It felt as if nothing had happened a mere few weeks ago.

"Ya know, I'm always here to talk." She looked over to see Black Star leaning against the wall beside her. He'd separated from the meister and weapon getting heavily pummeled and dive-bombed by an out of control Patty. "I know we all went through hell and back, but you…what you went through was beyond that."

"I'm sorry for what I put all of you through," Maka responded quietly, her eyes staring off into the woods in an effort to stave off the throat-clenching emotions. "I should have warned you all beforehand, but…"

"'How you do you tell your friends you're about to be sacrificed for a fucking psychotic witch in order to unleash madness upon the world?'"

"Something like that." She gave a dry laugh. "You know, I think I talked with Asura, when I was floating in the darkness."

"Yeah? What'd that asshole have to say?"

"Told me something about how my soul's wavelength had the strength to prevent me from completely succumbing to the madness. But I couldn't even fight it off when I was dragged further into it." Maka glanced down at her legs, the feeling of madness ghosting up her legs. A fast stretching of the limbs staved off the sensation. "I wasn't strong enough to fight it off alone. The madness that was there…I've never felt it so intensely."

"I don't think he meant alone," Black Star added after a minute, resting his arms behind him on the weathered stone. Maka looked at him awaiting an explanation. "I think he meant that your soul is strong enough to do something others aren't capable of. Like your Chain Resonance with hundreds of souls; no one else could survive something as powerful as that besides you. Anyone else would've succumbed to the madness."

Maka placed a hand against her chest, feeling her heart beating strong against her palm. Her wavelength was flickering intermittently, still damaged from the excessive strain. It would be a long, slow road to full recovery. But…she was alive. Breathing. Walking. Living.

"I can't ever do something like that again, Star, it nearly took my life. If Soul hadn't been there…"

"Can't is for quitters, and you, Albarn, are no quitter." She looked up at him to see a prideful expression. It was almost comical and a small, amused huff slipped out. "You may be down and out for now, but you'll bunce back to your normal self once more. Give it time."

"I'd say you've changed a bit, grown a little more?" Maka teased as she tapped her knuckles against his chest.

"Viktor opened my eyes a bit more to the world, I think. He was an honorable man who valued his friends and family over glory in battle. Even when he was obeying orders, he felt what he was doing went against his ways; he knew something was wrong and shifted his priorities to save us all in the end. He sacrificed himself so that the rest of us could carry on his will. I've got a long way to go before I surpass him." Maka went to speak when a voice interrupted, ending the heart to heart.

"Foods ready! Let's eat!" Tsubaki called out, waving her arm to the two.

"We can mope later, it's food time!" Black Star pulled her against his side, hugging her tightly before dragging her over to the blanket.

They ate, drank, laughed, and let their worries roll from their shoulders. Black Star, of course, challenged Patty to a drinking contest with the bottles of wine and was completely shitfaced while the weapon still seemed surprisingly sober. Liz pulled out a six pack of beer, tossing one to Kid, Maka, Soul, and Tsubaki before cracking open hers.

"Now that I think about it, can Reapers get drunk?" Soul asked after raising a brow at the aftertaste. It wasn't the best alcohol he'd had, but it would do for now. The wine was much better in his opinion, though being practically bottle-fed it since birth, that was to be expected.

"My body can metabolize alcohol much faster than normal people, so essentially I can't even get buzzed," Kid grimaced at the beer with little interest before setting it down. "Though, in theory, if I continuously drank massive quantities twenty-four-seven…"

"I'm not sure there's enough alcohol in the world to be able to do that, Kid," Tsubaki chuckled as she sipped on hers. Her face remained impassive, neither confirming nor denying her approval for the alcohol.

"Probably not a good idea when you're the one running the city," Maka pointed out as she took a tentative sip, instantly cringing and sticking her tongue out in disgust. Soul snickered at her.

"Gotta step up that game, Albarn, or yer never gonna beat me!"

Black Star yelled from his spot on the ground, waving his arm around drunkenly, surrounded by at least four empty bottles. Patty stood next to him, emptying the bottle of wine in her hand before stomping a boot onto his chest, raising the glass in victory with a battle cry. Shaking her head, Maka set the beer down and opted to listen to everyone else's conversations. It felt relaxing to just sit and enjoy herself for once, even with a nasty aftertaste in her mouth. Drinking just wasn't really her thing, especially with how her father acted.

"You okay?" Soul asked in her ear, his hand resting on the small of her back. A tingle went up her spine at his touch.

"It's nothing, just trying to remember the last time we were all together like this." The meister whispered back, leaning into her weapon. For being tall and lanky, he was pretty comfortable.

"Been a few months, I think."

"Mm. Hey, Soul, did you ever open that letter?"

"Yeah, a few weeks ago. I know you haven't opened yours yet."

"I've been…hesitant, to open it. Every time I look at the envelope…" Maka felt the image of his eyes flash in her mind once more. Was it lingering trauma or something else? A warning?

"I think you'll be more at ease once you just do it." Soul dropped his head back with closed eyes, relishing in a cool breeze passing through. "We'll open it together once we get home if it makes it easier."

Maka nodded silently. She couldn't put it off forever, delaying the inevitable would only make the feelings worse. "Yeah, I guess I can't put it off any longer. We'll open it when we get home."

The group partied for a few more hours until the sun began dropping lower and they all went their separate ways to head home. Poor Tsubaki had to drag Black Star out of there while he slurred on and on about surpassing everyone, including God, in drinking. Patty just mocked him as she, somehow soberly, pranced her way home with Kid and Liz carrying the empty wine bottles as trophies. Maka pressed her face into Soul's leather jacket as he revved the engine before taking off, a tingling sensation in the back of her mind. Something felt off about the sudden peace. Was there something she was forgetting?

The jerk of the bike brought her back and she noticed they were outside of the apartment, the living room light shining through the curtains. Blair must be home from work. With a swing of her leg, the meister moved from the bike and made for the complex door when she stopped, an uneasy feeling settling in her chest. Something…

"Hey, what's going on with you? It's not like you to be so out of it," Soul asked quietly as he turned her around and pulled her close, cupping her face. "What's got you so uneasy?"

Maka sighed as she placed her hands over his, biting down on the inside of her tinted cheek. It felt odd, the sensations and images that repeated in her mind every time she looked at the box and letter. Nothing felt right about the whole situation; when she sliced through Ametrine, it was like there was nothing there, like her body was an empty shell. Yet she watched the witch dissolve into nothingness prior to the Chain Resonance snapping. But…where was her soul? Keeping her gaze averted, she answered uncertainly.

"I don't know. I feel like there's going to be information in there that will break the peace we have. We just ended a war before it could start, I don't think any of us could handle another one so soon. There's one other thing; I feel like I'm forgetting something important, but I can't think of what it could be. Ever since we returned from Russia. Like a silent alarm."

"Maybe Viktor wrote the clue in his letter?" Soul asked suddenly, watching her eyes snap up to meet his. "You never know until you open it."

"I was waiting for the right time to open it, when I was ready." She whispered. "Those dreams…it seems like he was trying to tell me something. Through his eyes, he was trying to relay a message, but I don't know what it is. Argh, this is driving me insane!"

Soul pressed his hands against her face, making her look like a fish. Maka's eyebrow ticked as she tried to swat at him, failing against his longer arms. The weapon snickered as he dodged her kicks, easily out of her range. Spotting an opening, he swooped down and kissed her briefly, pulling back to see that adorable tinting of her cheeks. Death above, what this woman did to him…while they hadn't kissed more than a few times, more often in the Black Room, he still attempted when her guard was down. Maka wasn't the biggest fan of PDA and often vehemently dodged any attempts, stuttering like a school girl and quickly walking away.

"If you're that worried about it, then let's go read the letter. I'll even be nice and make you a cup of tea."

"What a generous partner you are," Maka rolled her eyes with a smile, smacking his hands away. Her lips still tingled from the kiss, eliciting a rosy flush against her skin. Ever since returning from Russia, there'd been just more than being attached at the hip. Soul would wait for the right opportunity before trying to steal a kiss, casually waking away afterwards as if it didn't happen.

"I'm still waiting for my crown, ya know."

"Not happening," Maka snorted as she opened the door to the apartment. "You may get an ego as big as Black Stars."

Blair wasn't in the apartment, but she had left the light on for them before she returned to work for her second shift. Bypassing the kitchen, the meister headed straight for her room to where the box and letter rested on her desk. Viktor's eyes flashed again in her mind, the image stronger than before as she reached for the items. An almost electrical force lightly zapped at her fingers.

Soul padded down the hallway barefoot having exited his room after changing into shorts and an old tee. His leather jacket and jeans were way too hot for the summer heat. Maka's door was wide open and he stopped in the doorframe at what he saw. She was standing there frozen, her hand resting on the envelope as if she were about to grab it. Emerald eyes were wide, staring at nothing while her pupils were darting side to side, similar to reading lines from a book.

"Maka?"

Soul was at her side in an instant, grabbing her shoulders to twist her towards him when strong electricity zapped at him forcing him back. He tried again, grasping for her forearm with the same result. What the hell was happening to her? The scythe briefly contemplated calling Kid and the others over when the spell seemed to wear off. Maka's pupils ceased their shifting before her eyes rolled into the back of her skull, gravity pushing the meister towards the ground.

"Maka! Hey, wake up. Maka, open your eyes and look at me!" Soul begged as he lunged forward, catching the unmoving body of his partner. What the hell was going on!? "What's wrong? Hey!"

Just as her fingertip entered the proximity of the envelope, sharp electricity shot up into her arm, travelling through her shoulder, neck, and finally into her head. The familiar scenery of her room suddenly crackled and morphed into one of darkness, twisted and malicious. Dark energy crackled and zapped at her skin, causing the meister to clench her arms against her chest, wincing as she was shocked. Everywhere she looked it was an endless horizon filled with overflowing madness, twitching as if restless. Maka suddenly froze as her soul perception kicked in, whirling around to come face to face with a familiar soul. The blue orb wiggled in the air, peacefully, calmly, as she stared at it. It was the only light thing in the room, but as she looked closer, it seemed the edges of the soul were slowly turning darker.

"V-Viktor?" Hesitantly she reached out for the floating soul, pausing before touching it.

Maka's scream caught in her throat as she was sucked into the soul at dizzying speeds. The force of the pull was too strong for her to open her eyes, the wind slashing at her face ferociously. But as soon as it started, it stopped, the meister suddenly hitting the ground hard. With a grunt and a curse that would make a sailor blush, she opened her eyes to see a deep blue sky above her, big white fluffy clouds gently scattered about. A field, she thought, while twisting around to check the surroundings only discovering she was sitting atop the swell of a hillside. Down below sat a village, dozens of wooden huts scattered throughout a small area. A sparkling river flowed beside the bustling town, some villagers at the water's edge collecting the clear substance.

Pushing herself up, she slowly took in her surroundings as she made her way down the hill, a slight breeze tickling her skin and teasing untamed locks. There was something different about the air, almost as if it were nearly pure in form, untainted. It felt refreshing. As she grew closer to the village, the noise level increased as she heard shouts of traders, gleeful screams of children as they ran along the dirt, drunken men catcalling the young women as they passed by. Climbing a small embankment landed the meister just at the edge of the housing and she tried to process the daily lives playing out. Everything from their clothing, their mannerisms, villagers squatting by the river's edge to relieve themselves, the filthy feet of the children running past her; there was no sign of modern technology anywhere.

"You are right about that," A deep voice chuckled and Maka nearly snapped her neck from looking over her shoulder so fast.

"Viktor…" The man gave her a warm smile, his face no longer concealed with a mask.

He stood behind her, dressed in a black kimono with a pink lotus flower pinned over his heart. A wooden necklace draped around his neck, intricate markings written in black on each individual bead. A rosary was wrapped around his right wrist, a silver bell adorning the red tassel chiming softly as it moved. Blonde locks flickered freely in the breeze as he stared at her with contentment. His feet were bare as he lightly treaded the dirt to stand beside her, cerulean trailing back to the bustling village.

"I was waiting for when you would touch the envelope, Maka," Viktor glanced at her before motioning with his head to follow. "I had felt a bad omen coming, before we went into battle, and had Flyorova assist me in sealing a part of my soul within the letter."

"Where…when are we exactly?" Maka asked as they strolled down the path. Everything seemed so simple. She went to step out of the way of a small child barreling towards her when he phased right through her, unaffected by her presence. It continued running away to play with his friends.

"We cannot be seen as we are merely ghosts," Viktor mused as he watched Maka's expression turn to horrified confusion as she examined her body where the child passed through. "Well, I literally am, but that is not why we are here. This is over a thousand years in the past, long before the time Asura went insane and became sealed by Lord Death. This was the birthplace of the original Hidden Shadow Clan village before they slowly began conquering the land where the present generation resides."

"So, this is a memory of sorts?" How was any of this even possible?

"Ninja secrets, friend, that is the key to clan preservation. But there is another specific reason I have brought you here." Viktor stopped just outside of the largest building in the area, a three storied wooden sanctum with gleaming golden gables.

The shrine itself was impressive, towering over the rest of the village with its deep red paint and towering pillars that were traced over with intricate golden symbols. Large windows on the second and third floors allowed plenty of light while keeping dust and debris at bay with their paper barriers. At the top was a set of doors leading to a small balcony, a platform of sorts for announcements Maka decided. There was a commotion near the entrance with a small crowd having gathered near the shrine stairs. The village men had their swords drawn, shouting at a cloaked person being swiftly ushered inside, armored men pushing the crowd back with metal poles. The women and children stayed at the rear, armed with heavy sticks and rocks.

A clang shot through the air and Maka watched in horror as a samurai deflected a katana attack before kicking the man's feet out beneath him and slamming the pole down over his chest. There was a sickening crunch, wide green eyes watching in horror as his ribs caved inward, blood gurgling from his lips as he twitched violently before slowly falling still, unseeing eyes wide towards the sky. Two more guards quickly dragged him away by his ankles, blood soiling the dirt as they were shifting the body out of sight behind a hut.

"How could they just—murder a man and then dump his body?" Maka whispered brokenly, the sickening crunch ringing in her ears. The churning in her stomach made her mouth water.

"This era was constantly filled with violence, especially against those who are protecting a high-ranking person." Viktor patted her shoulder gently. He'd seen much worse though it never got easier as time passed. "Samurai are highly trained warriors paid to protect those above the squalor of the poorest and they do not spare anyone deemed a threat. Even children have fallen at their hands."

"Monsters…"

"History is a lot more violent and cruel than you might think. The person who entered the shrine is who we must follow. Come, you must see what happens in order to better understand why you are here."

They phased through the crowd with ease, their angry voices nearly deafening as they screamed slurs and threw anything they could at the samurai standing diligently at their posts. Maka looked into the dirty and worn faces of the villagers, sensing the desolation and despair within their souls. It was a rough life, poor and struggling to survive each and every day, never knowing when death would come with its sweet embrace to take you away. The massive iron doors resting at the entrance began to groan as they were pushed closed, three men on each side pushing the heavy slabs of metal with everything they had. Viktor and Maka shifted through them with ease, the loud metal boom echoing from behind them.

"Witch Mardella, I suggest you gain control of your men before I have you executed where you stand." A middle-aged man snarled as he swiftly stood from his throne centered in the room, regal black and gold embroidered robes snapping angrily around him. A medium sized fire burned just to his right, priests cloaked in white chanting and throwing bones into the hungry flames. A scrawny man stood to the left of the throne eyes darting nervously between the two standing figures, scrolls filling his arms.

"Shogun Tsuchiya Sukejuro. Your villager attacked my guard, it was within his right to defend himself," The young woman replied coolly, flicking her long silver hair over one shoulder. "If you are just going to waste my precious time by screaming at me like an ill-mannered child, then I will take my resources elsewhere."

Tension skyrocketed between the two, the samurai protecting both sides eyeing each other up, their grips tightening around their weapons. Magic seemed to flare at the witch's fingertips as she glowered at the Lord standing mere feet from her. Maka flinched backwards as her soul wavelength expanded, swirling with such power that an invisible wind had kicked up, nearly extinguishing the flames. With a clenched jaw the shogun raised a hand, telling his men to stand down.

"Very well, I will overlook it this time. I am short on time, so please hurry this along." Shogun Sukejuro sighed heavily as he returned to his throne, dropping heavily into it. As if the conversation were too bothersome to have. Maybe even the person was resented; Maka could only guess their relationship.

With a scoff the witch pulled her power back, eyeing the man distastefully with pursed lips. Long black robes concealed her frame with intricate weavings of gold and silver thread depicting the night sky and constellations. While she didn't don a hat like most of the current generation of witches did, her robe had a matching hood nestled behind her neck. Though she couldn't quite see her face, Maka could sense the tremendous amount of power she held within her soul. There were wisps encircling the oddly dark purple soul, linked together like the chain of a watch.

"Her soul…there's something odd about it," Maka whispered to Viktor, eyes locked onto the unusual sight. "A chain of silver is encircling the soul, but that isn't all. It's dark purple; almost as if there were madness in it, yet not. I've never seen anything like it before."

"Ah, that is because she is no ordinary witch, friend. She is the Witch of the Eternal Time." Viktor spoke normally, watching the scene before him unfold with interest.

"Witch of the Eternal Time…?"

"In a simplified term, she is the true mother of all witches. She has survived for thousands of years hidden away in a separate plane of reality, though she tends to wander this realm frequently. Lord Death never knew about her due to nomad tendencies. She was created by an unknown being who messed with the laws of time and space, forcing the power of Chronos into her soul and creating the most powerful witch in existence. Ametrine, her power was perhaps around one percent or less compared to Mardella Sipheron."

"O-one percent…Ametrine's power?" Maka choked out, whirling to look at the ninja with wide eyes and trembling frame A witch more powerful than Ametrine? How could anyone hope to defeat someone that powerful! "T-there's no way…she'd be—there's no way anyone could defeat her! Not even Kid! Not even with all of the Death Scythes in the world!"

"Why do you think the shogun backed down? Anyone who has challenged her or threatened harm to befall upon her was erased from time." Viktor felt uneasy looking at the shoguns face, a devious glint hidden within his eyes. He never liked the man with mischievous thoughts. They never led to responsible choices. "Mardella is not one who enjoys fighting nor violence hence why she has hired the samurai to do her dirty work. But she was known throughout the land as an oni, a demon, and countless feared her. Many have fallen at the hands of her hired men."

Maka opened and closed her mouth, speechless as she turned back to look at the witch. For someone so powerful, she looked fairly young. Glancing at Viktor, she moved to get a better angle, legs shaking as she walked. It was the overwhelming sensation of fear that stopped her movement, eyes trailing up to Mardella's slowly. As if sensing the gaze, the witch broke her glare at the shogun to stare in her direction curiously. She was definitely a beauty by any era's standard, a small petite nose, full luscious lips, flawless skin tinted slightly pink. It was her eyes that threw the meister off guard. A rich molten amber speckled with silver and black, an exceedingly rare coloring combination in any known record of genetics. But then again, was she fully a witch? Had she started out as human? A god?

"M-my Lord, if I may speak?" The scrawny man next to the shogun stuttered quietly, shifting the heavy weight in his arms.

"Speak."

"I-I have done the calculations along with taking the advice from the priests, and I believe if our clan were to begin invading lands following the rivers, we would have the means to build up our forces large enough to overcome Lord Iwazaki of the East."

"Interesting. Witch Mardella, have you any visions to support this idea?" Lord Sukejuro shifted to sit straight on his throne, locking his fingers beneath his chin as he eyed the witch with a barely contained excited look.

Mardella's eyes darted back to him, sighing as she exhaled, before bringing her palms up to rest against the center of her chest. An odd sensation poured over Maka as the witch began to chant beneath her breath, enchanting cloak beginning to lift from the ground without a trace of wind. A ring of gold began forming on the wooden flooring with lines of unknown symbols slowly lifting from the glow, the tendrils slowly vining around her body. As they entwined together above her head, they suddenly burst into silver links of chain moving seamlessly in rhythm as they raced around her to form an orb. Reaching her right hand towards the closest chain, Mardella barely touched it when it suddenly dissolved into nothingness. Silver locks whipped around her face as wide eyes stared into the unknown, the color of her irises changing rapidly as time showed her every possible outcome.

"Is she…reading time?" Maka asked breathlessly, feeling a tingling sensation within her soul. Pain didn't exist with the feeling washing over the awe-struck meister. Like warmth mixed with a comforting pressure that remained airy. Even her rapidly racing heart had soothed as the magic washed over in delicate waves.

"Yes. The power of Chronos lives within her, something that very few believed possible." Viktor seemed unfazed by the power of a God as he crossed his arms over his chest. "In this era, lesser known shogun would contact Mardella for her time reading abilities in the hopes that they could overpower their enemies and reign over the lands. She can see any and all possibilities regarding her visions, yet only she knows which is true. Depending on what she was gifted depends on the outcome of the shogun and his destiny in life."

"So, whoever bribes her the most gets the better outcome? That's ridiculous!" Maka seethed as the golden light and chains vanish from around the witch, her cloak settling noiselessly back against the ground. "You can't determine someone's fate by jewelry or money! That's not how life works!"

"Look at it this way, Maka," Viktor turned his even gaze to hers, face neutral. "Whatever future she may read to them, in the end, they always choose the correct one. History does not change due to the fact she offers advice. Chronos does not have the ability to alter the timeline at free will, thus, Mardella does not either. If the two were separated, then the world we, you, know would never be the same. Chronos would be altering the world out of control and Mardella most likely would not exist, therefore the future generations of witches would have never come to be. Lord Death would not have created the DWMA, Asura never would have been born, demon weapons like Soul would not exist, you would never exist, at least the way you do now. Everything is planned precisely and with reason, down to the smallest microorganisms in the ground."

"It was destined for them to be merged together," Maka felt the gears turning in her mind as the information digested. "Chronos, he has a daughter though, Ananke. The deity of fate, right?"

"You have done your history," Viktor smiled down at her with a humored chuckle. "Yes, Ananke is the daughter of Chronos; deity of necessity and fate. She aids with the decisions her father makes as he was the one to self-create at the dawn of the universe and split it into the heaven, sea, and Earth. Though she is not confined to the Earth as he is. The choice made here passes through Ananke before returning to Chronos who then reveals the vision. Without her, there is no telling what the outcome would be."

Maka mulled the information over in her mind. But how did everything begin? How did Chronos become trapped in the body of a human? Given that Gods were the highest known beings there were, it must have been another God that punished the Father of Time for a crime and banished him to a life on Earth. Just from the history books she'd read, at least a few dozen if not more, Chronos had once heard of a prophecy that his children would overcome his power; so he had swallowed them whole. Was someone punishing him for that crime, or was it something else?

"Your future has been decided, here is the scroll deciding your fate." Mardella speaking snapped Maka from her thoughts, the witch handing a small golden scroll to the shogun's aid. That was fast.

"Ah, many thanks, Witch Mardella. I hope you will be able to aid us once more in the future." Lord Sukejuro beamed at her, clasping his palm over his fist and bowing. Mardella returned the bow before turning on her heel and heading for the door.

The shogun's aid scurried behind her, having abandoned his scrolls on a nearby tablet. A coin purse was tugged from behind his belt as they stopped at the entrance, waiting for the doors to open. With a series of bows and murmurs of gratitude, the aid handed her the bag, receiving a kind smile in return. The two samurai flanking her sides each received a bag as well, nodding slightly beneath their heavy helmets.

Viktor tapped her shoulder as he made to follow behind the witch almost gliding across the floor. With one last look at the eager shogun unrolling his golden scroll, the meister jogged to catch up to her taller companion.

"What are you trying to tell me by showing all of this?" Maka asked once they were outside once more, the crowd of angry villagers throwing their weapons at the hooded witch. "Does this have to do with why I feel like I'm forgetting something?"

"The reason you are forgetting is because your mind does not know what it is you are forgetting." Viktor clasped his hands behind his back while he walked, the bell on his wrist tinkling from the movement. "That is not the only reason you are here, Maka; I was not the only one who wanted you here, in this era."

"Wait, are you saying—?"

They had just exited the village, stopping on the outskirts of a dense forest path. In front of her, Mardella suddenly halted her steps, cloak swinging wildly as she turned. Time slowed to a halt; everything from the grass and trees to her guards freezing in time, their colors turning a dull grey. With a tug of her hood, the witch revealed her face once more, silver locks flowing freely behind her as golden eyes swirled with specks of white and black locked onto the meister.

"Hello, Maka Albarn," She smiled kindly, tucking her locks behind her ear. "It's nice to finally meet you."

B

"W-wait a minute…" Maka sputtered as she looked between the two, eyes wild as her brain came to a screeching halt. "How did you—you stopped time? This doesn't make any sense! Viktor, what's going on?" The ninja merely shrugged helplessly though there was a miniscule twitch of his lips.

"Pardon my actions, but it was the only way I was able to contact you. Your world is unstable right now and my arrival would cause some…unintentional distortions. I foretold the ancestors of Viktor that the letter I had bestowed upon them was to be passed down for generations until it reached your timeline. Ananke ensured it had a safe journey there."

"Since that letter had arrived just before the battle, I was able to seal a part of my soul within the letter she forged over a thousand years ago. It was given to Flyorova who passed it along to Lord Death. It was enchanted to bring you here, to the timeline where she resided." Viktor explained gently, the poor girl next to him looking like she was about to pass out.

"I am sorry. There is not much time, Viktor." Mardella cast him a sorrowful look, her hands twisting nervously at her front. "Miss Albarn, I summoned you here to warn you of a disturbance in time occurring around your era, one that my power cannot reach. You dealt with the witch Ametrine, you understand her desire to release the madness?" With a slow nod from the girl she continued. "From what my visions have foretold, her soul was not destroyed that day. In fact, I was watching when it happened and felt a warp in the time space continuum as you appeared to have destroyed her body. It seems her soul was taken and a portion of the madness was taken out of that pocket of space by an unknown entity."

It clicked in Maka's mind; when she sliced through Ametrine, there was no resistance, almost as if she had been a shell. She knew it. While her body dissolved, everyone had become distracted with the Chain Resonance snapping. Nobody was watching the soul.

"How do I find this…entity then?" She asked slowly.

"They reside in the same timeline as you, on the same Earth. I can guide you to a broad area of where I presume they reside, but I cannot reveal the exact location." The witch shook her head, eyes portraying the unintentional restraint. "Your answer will be within the box given to you as well, another gift passed down hundreds of generations."

"Ah, the one mother showed me when I was younger." The light in Viktor's eyes dimmed as he thought of his mother, a painful ache in his heart. "Is she…is she okay?"

"Kid, Black Star, and Tsubaki were there, for your…service, and from what they told me, she considers us all family now." He barked out a laugh, running a hand through his hair. It sounded like a weight lifted from his shoulders as he stood a little taller. Maka felt her heart warm at the joyful expression.

"She always did that, considering everyone her children. Thank you. I know she will be alright without me there."

"Viktor, I must insist," Mardella pleaded, grabbing onto his sleeve desperately. "Time is beginning to sway, I cannot keep either of you here any longer. She must return to her timeline and you must move on, to be with Vika. The consequences of surpassing the limitation could be disastrous."

"Forgive me, Mardella, I got too excited." Viktor apologized with a quick pat on her shoulder. "Maka, I will escort you back to the hill where you entered. Mardella, thank you for your time and knowledge, I will ensure she is returned home."

With a curtsey, the witch smiled as she waved the two farewell. As soon as they disappeared down the pathway, her lips fell into a deep frown. Things were about to get extremely messy and the thought troubled her deeply. With a sigh, Mardella turned back around as time continued to flow, matching the steps of her samurai seamlessly as they entered the forest. Everything would have to be left up to the young meister and her faithful weapon.

"Viktor, what does all of this mean? Ametrine isn't truly dead? And what about this entity? None of this is making sense!" Maka blurted out as she stopped in the center of the village, gripping the sides of her head tightly. "If I don't know who is causing all of this, then I can't figure out how to fix it! Please, tell me something that will help!"

Viktor slowly turned to face her, eyes pitying. He felt his heart ache; he had not told her the entire truth. About everything. The visions and omens and bad feelings he had back in Russia weren't just his heightened senses; they were messages from Mardella. Though meddling with the affairs of the flow of time was a serious offense, one that could cause the world as they knew it to alter drastically, the witch had the guidance of Ananke whose readings stayed true. Those pleading green eyes hit the soft spot he had for her and he let out a relenting sigh.

"Even I do not know who it is, but I can tell you that the power they possess is similar to Mabaa-dono. Her magic has the ability to alter with time and space, as you have seen, and we are to believe they are using what remains of Ametrine to unleash Asura fully by alternating the timeline. Mardella will do everything in her power to stop it, but the rest will have to be up to you and your friends. I am sorry."

"I was right," She whispered, more to herself than him. A hand ran through loose ashy locks in disbelief. "I had a feeling that opening the letter would cause the peace to end. We just prevented a war, Viktor, how are we supposed to jump back into another one so soon? In the cavern…performing Chain Resonance strained my soul beyond its limits. Even now I'm restricted in anything pertaining to daily life. I'm not even allowed to go for a run. A simple, easy run. Because it could affect the healing of my soul."

"You shall overcome great obstacles, Maka Albarn, as you have and will continue to do so. Just because you take a few steps back does not mean the path forward is not still open. Time heals. Patience is virtue. Forcing yourself against what your body hinders progress; In essence…allow yourself to heal as your body intends." Viktor enveloped her small body, much to her surprise, resting his cheek against the top of her head. "I cannot predict nor control fate, but you were put on this path for a reason, Maka. Your destiny is to protect the world, no amount of danger will sway it. And though our time knowing one another may have been short, it was never regrettable. I thank you for your eternal kindness."

Maka felt the warmth of his words as she slowly hugged him back. It was his final goodbye. They would never speak or meet again after this timeline. After a minute, they pulled apart, wavering green orbs looking into peaceful cerulean. There was so much to ask, to talk about. But his time on earth was long past. He had someone waiting on the other side for him.

"Vika is waiting for me. Let us get you back home to your partner." His smile almost seemed sad and the meister nodded solemnly.

The remainder of the walk was quiet save for the rambunctious children of the village running around the path with sticks and wooden swords, practicing their swings and blocks. Women passed them by carrying large baskets of laundry at their hips, chatting cheerfully as they made their way home. A few traders pulled their carts behind them hoping to set up in the small area while calling out their quality wares. A few dogs pranced around, hoping for scraps and affection. As they made their way up the hill, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, breathtaking hues of red, orange, and yellow making Maka pause. The world seemed so…peaceful.

"This is where we part, Maka." Viktor said quietly, watching as she slowly tore misty eyes from the setting sun. "No more than an hour should have passed in your world. I…hope you can forgive me for the way I acted when we first met. I was cruel and unrelenting."

"There's nothing to forgive, Viktor, I assure you. I know you were just following orders. Friends forgive each other," She smiled brightly, moving to stand beside him. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you, back in the cavern. If I'd been stronger then maybe…"

"You are perhaps the strongest person I have met in a long time, Maka Albarn. I can tell you have a strong heart and desire to protect everything around you. Fate was ready to take me and I readily accepted. In a lot of ways, you remind me of Vika." He smiled before it faltered, his eyes distant. It almost seemed as if his soul was beginning to lose its warm, blue hue. The lifeforce was fading. "Give Black Star and the others my regards. Thank them for being supportive of my mother and the ceremony. I know it was hard on them."

"Of course."

"Farewell, Maka Albarn. It was a pleasure knowing you." Viktor extended his hand.

"Goodbye, Viktor. Your memory will always remain with us, in here. Go. She's waiting for you." Maka clasped his hand back tightly, giving him a watery smile as tears slipped down both cheeks. Their hands slipped apart and one last flickering of his soul reached the meister before extinguishing into tiny sparks. A fist pressed over her heart in affirmation of his memory.

"Soul is waiting for you as well. We shall be watching over you all."

As the familiar sensation of being pulled into the soul started, Maka could've sworn a figure appeared next to Viktor, locking arms and smiling up at him brightly. He returned the smile and the two began walking towards the sunset, together at last.