Typically, Soul was better at keeping his composure, and he knew that. He tended to be well calculated with how much he shared, careful with his words. He knew better that to speak the way he had just done, but he knew it was too late now to take back what he said. At least it was the truth, for once. After years of lying to himself and others, he finally spoke one truth, despite how dramatic it sounded.

He loved Maka.

He loved Maka, and that's why he was leaving.

It was stupid. When you love someone, you want to stay with them, but that was the opposite for Soul. Sure, he wanted to stay- he wanted to be with Maka, more than anything, but deep down inside he knew he couldn't.

He wasn't ready to give Maka the love she deserved; not with all the unfinished business he had from his previous life creeping upon him.

He could never love Maka the way he wanted to if he constantly found himself running and hiding. No one could like that.

Maybe that's why things would never have worked with Kid and him, either. As much as he wanted to return Kid's feelings- he never could. There was too much going on- too much pain to think about such a soft feeling like love.

He didn't want Maka just being another painful "what could have been".

Before him, Ox shakes his head, clicking his tongue. He looks like he's in disbelief, but Soul doesn't care. He's too busy sucking down the heavy breaths, blinking the tears from his eyes as he regains his composure.

"You-"

Ox never finishes his sentence. Instead, Stein grabs him by the shoulder and pulls him back. Behind him, Kilik and Kim both flinch, both of their eyebrows raised.

"I have vouched for Soul since he came here and continuously, I will vouch for him. He's not an evil person, Ox. He's been one of the best guards you have had these past few years," He scolds, dropping the head guards shoulder before turning his attention back to Soul. Soul recognizes the fierceness piercing his eyes; recognizes Stein is ready to fight. "Medusa? She slipped out with the crowd that was running out toward the cornfields with one of the other assassins. The rest of our guards have handled the others."

"We'll follow the crowd to find her," Kid insists, tugging on Soul's arm to pull him from the Eibon guards. "Wes and Ragnarok, you two should try and help with whatever you can here. We'll meet back at the ballroom once we find her."

No one tries to object as Kid pulls Soul past the ballroom entrance and back into the crowd that's rushing out the doors. For a moment, in the split second he's passing the ballroom, he catches a glimpse of Liz and Patty; each of them looking at him with pale expressions as the King and Queen stood behind them.

He sighs, using his free hand to wipe his face as they step back into the cold winter night. He pushes down the thoughts of Maka, of the king and queen, of Blackstar, and of Eibon bitterly.

"Are you sure it was a good idea to leave Wes?"

Kid doesn't falter at his side. "Before we leave, Wes should try and fix things with the monarchy of Eibon so we can leave with one less enemy." he responded distantly. "Besides, you saw how Medusa reacted earlier. She doesn't care who she targets. It's better we confront her without Cinders true Prince. If something happens to either of us, he still needs to be the one returning to Cinder. He has a plan."

At that, Soul scoffs, yanking his arm from Kids grasp. They pause in the crowd, harsh gazes set on one another.

Something dark and intangible stirs in Soul's chest.

"Then why did you guys come to retrieve me if he's the one with a plan."

Kid's shoulders shake as he takes in a deep breath, but his expression doesn't change. It's cold and distant- something Soul had never seen before. It sends chills down his spine, and for a second, he wonders if Kid is about to pounce on him. "We came here to save your ass. She would have come here with or without us, and it would have been better to say we at least tried than to let you die and feel guilty about it after. Saving you and bringing you back to Cinder with us would have just been another pro for us."

Soul lifts an eyebrow, surprised by the harsh tone that spits from Kid's lips. It's a dark contrast from how he spoke on the dance floor just hours ago, sweetness and honey lacing his every word. Now it felt like venom was being spat right back into his face.

All he says is a quick and curt, "okay," and then he's turning on his heel, breaking through the crowd and further down the path.

He hears Kid chase after him.

"What do we do if we don't find her?"

"We will find her," Soul insists, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Should wouldn't leave, not without finishing her job."

The two of them break away from the screaming crowds of royals and guards. He doesn't spare them a glance, his eyes trained on the paths in front of him. If they were evacuated to the fields, would Medusa be targeting the other guests now too?

It wouldn't make sense to do that- but then again, she was up in arms for starting a massacre in the first place. He had to find her quick- no more blood could have been spilled that night, not in his name at least.

As the night turns, eventually, they're drifting off from the past. The commotion of the crowd fades into the background as they near the village. They drift further from any lantern's lights as Soul stirs them into an empty field. They're wading in grass that reaches their calves when Kid grabs him by the shoulder.

"Where are we going?" he asks, his eyebrows drawn down maliciously.

"We're going to look for Medusa. She's smart. She's probably hiding out, waiting to make a move. The fields down here are the best area to his in because of how thick they are. If she's taken to hiding, we can find her here. If she hasn't, we'll move on and check somewhere else."

He watches in the moonlight as Kid's eyes flicker about them in the field timidly. Licking his lips, he ducks his head down and removes his hand from Soul's shoulder. "Okay. We should stay close then."

Soul nods in agreement and wordlessly, the two of them take off into the field, pressed shoulder to shoulder as they survey the fields around them.


Hours pass, and sluggishly, they're still trodding through the fields. The sun is beginning to rise now, just peaking slightly up behind the mountain range that overlooked the kingdom. Both drenched in sweat with the reminiscences of dry blood smeared on their faces and hands, they stop in the middle of the field.

"She's not here," Kid speaks aloud as he brings his hand to wipe his forehead. "We should go back to the castle."

Panic bubbles in Soul's chest. "We can't. We have to find her."

Behind him, Kid scoffs. "You can't expect to continue trudging through the day without any proper rest and be ready to fight if we do find her. We have to go back, Soul. We can try again before we leave."

The other's expression stays still as he steps closer to Soul. "We just have to make sure we're all safe and healthy before we leave. We will find her eventually, okay? Maybe she got further that we expected-"

"No, no she didn't get any further than the gates," Soul interrupted, stepping up to Kid with straightened shoulders. "She's still here- we have to stop her. You said it yourself, we can't continue on until she's dead-"

Kid raises a hand, signaling him to stop. "She's clearly not here. We need to go back, clean up, rest- make sure everything is situated with the monarchy of Eibon, and then we can continue our search for her and be on our way," he says calmly, obviously just as tired as Soul is. There are dark circles around his stress-filled eyes, his lips having been bitten raw. "We don't have time to be reckless, Soul."

"Everything, since you guys have shown up, has been a reckless mess," He counters angrily, his voice rising in tone.

He's tired- his bones ache- his heart aches.

Everything hurts.

This- everything that has transcribed in the past few hours was all his fault.

It was his fault the assassins of Cinder stormed Eibon's kingdom and castle. It was his fault that the Eibon guards had to put up an effortful fight. It was his fault hundreds of royals scattered into the fields under the cloak of darkness, screaming for their lives. It was his fault Maka, and the rest of her family had been in danger.

It was his fault he was losing Maka.

His fault he was losing Blackstar.

He couldn't return to the castle- not without fixing at least one thing.

He had to get rid of Medusa to fix one of his wrongs. He couldn't just return empty handed- he had to do something to show that he was dedicated to fixing everything.

"You don't get it," he croaked out, the anger in his system being replaced with something both softer and more vulnerable. "I have to do something right tonight, I have to stop her now."

Kid's cold expression finally cracks.

"You don't have to do this all on your own," he says, taking the slightest of steps backward. "We will figure this out, together. You, Wes, Ragnarok, and I. We're going to make this all right again."

"You dont understand how much I've fucked up. I can't show my face back in that castle- not after all of this-"

"I don't agree with what Wes said," Kid suddenly cuts him off. "This isn't all of your fault. It's everyones- but it's mostly Medusa's. As much as I understand how bad of an idea it was to run away from the throne, I get it. I really do. I saw first hand what you went through, and no one else from that castle saw what I saw. No one will really understand why you left, but I will. I don't blame you for anything, you know."

It feels like for the seventh time, Soul starts to break.

"I hurt you so bad when I left," his voice is wet and cracking, "I left you and not only that, but I shot you. I left you out to bleed that day- and you're back here, saying you don't blame me for anything? Are you insane? All these years, I went on living thinking you died because Medusa told me- she told me you died!"

He's frustrated and hurt, and for the first time in years, he feels like he can find closure.

"Not only that- But I left an entire kingdom that needed me because I couldn't handle a few punches."

"It wasn't just a few punches," Kid argues, "your parents beat you senseless. We were children- we were kids. You did not deserve the pain you had to go through. You were right all along. If you took the throne- like that, you would have treated the kingdom the same way your parents did, just with more vengeance." The guard raises his voice, using his hands expressionally as a sarcastic and broken laugh tore itself from his throat. "I watched you become a broken person! I watched how distant you became, I watched the way you'd beat your knuckles until they bled. I watched the way you pushed yourself. You needed a way out- and while I despise the fact it was me you shot- I have never wanted to hold it against you."

Tears form in Soul's eyes, but he doesnt let them fall.

"You don't have to prove anything to anyone, you understand that, right? That Princess- she fucking loves you reguardless, and you could see it in her eyes. Wes still loves you, even if he's hurt you left him. I still care about you, and I always have. I am almost positive all of us will be in your corner. The rumors that were spread about you were awful- you were just a kid looking for an actual life- how can anyone blame you?"

Kid pauses, out of breath as he clutches his hands into fists.

"Just stop thinking this is all on you, for God's sake. You know you're not alone. You know that this- everything that happened tonight- it's all of Cinder's fault. If anything, it should be a motivation for you to want to work to feel better so you can return to your kingdom and fix those bastards! To prove that you arent the person they tried to make you out to be!"

A broken laugh leaves Soul. It's quiet and faint- but it's there.

"Let's go back before you pass out from exhaustion, please."

He rolls his eyes, blinking fast to deter any tears from falling. "Thank you, Kid," he says, despite how raw his throat feels. "I really needed that. It means a lot coming from you- as much as I hate the fact you're here, for obvious reasons, I'm glad it was you giving me that pep talk."

"Whatever, you're welcome," the guard huffs, turning back around in the field. "Lets go before I'm the one passing out from exhaustion."

The guard is moving before he can reply. With his hands still wrapped around the hilt of his sword, he takes in a heavy breath- revealing in the way his lungs burn.

He had a little more time to make things right.

He could formally apologize to the King and Queen. He could apologize to his fellow guards for everything he put them through. He could say goodbye to Kilik, properly. He could ask Blackstar what the hell their goodbye even ment. He could give Maka one last kiss- one last final goodbye.

It didn't need to be rash.

As much as he knew the people of Eibon probably wanted him gone- maybe explaining himself a little more would help. Surely the commotion from the party would have calmed down by now, with the assassins having been seized and Medusa nowhere to be found.

With the feeling of reassurance swelling in his chest, Soul took a step after Kid, ready to return to the place he'd called home for one last time.

And then- there was a crack.

A simple broken branch and he was whipping around, unsheathing his sword as he turned back to the field.

Before him, the familiar assassin he'd remembered Medusa calling Eruka stood, a sword in her hand, dried blood coating a cut on her forehead. She tilted her head, turning her head over her shoulder for a moment before returning her gaze back to Soul- almost disinterested.

"Sorry," the assassin says, her tone even and smooth. "I couldn't help but listen to your heartfelt little moment. It was touching, really." Mockingly, she raises a hand to her cheeks and wipes the nonexistent tears there, a haggard-looking smile pulled onto her face. "Too bad it had to end so soon."

The grass around her sways, the crunching of footsteps following.

At her side, Medusa stands; ash, soot, and blood mixing on her cheeks. She bares her teeth, pulling her sword up and over her shoulders leniently.

"Looking for me?" She cocks her head, resting her wrists against the blade of her sword. "Man, I thought your cheap ass ran off without saying goodbye- but here you are," She laughs, broken and dry. "Are you here to let me finish your pathetic ass off now?"

He hears Kid rushing back down the field toward them- but he doesn't take his eyes off the two assassins in front of him.

His heart drops to his stomach.

Did he always have to have such awful fucking luck?

"Personally, I was looking to finish you off," he replies to her taunts, his hands tightening around the handle of his sword. "But it seems like you two are both close to that."

The two of them cackle in sync. "Oh, youre just a fucking idiot, arent you?" Medusa laughs, taking a step closer to him. "This ends now, with both of you dying."

At her side, Eruka takes off down the field in the direction Kid had been. He lets her go- knowing well enough Kid could clearly hold his own- seeing as he survived being shot with an arrow to the chest like it was nothing. He could trust him to finish Eruka off.

He kept his eyes trained on Medusa, watching as she approached him with quiet tiptoes. He found himself moving too, moving onto his tippy toes as they began circling one another.

He wasn't the same weak seventeen-year-old who allowed himself to be choked out by her- no, he was a trained twenty-two year-old- trained to kill- trained to be skilled in fighting.

They were on even grounds for once; grounds he finally had a change on after all these years.

"You don't look as scared as you did in the ballroom," Medusa comments. "Was it because you have people to worry about in there, is that why?"

He refuses to give in to her taunts, and so, he doesn't respond.

"When I'm finished with you, I promise you, you wont need to worry about that little Princess of yours." he refuses to let himself flinch- so he sucks in a breath instead, continuing to move through the grass around him.

She doesn't seem impressed with his lack of reaction, and so, she takes a step closer, waving her sword about. "Awe, c'mon Soul, give me something to work with before I end you. Maybe when I'm done with you I can go find your Princess? That'll leave one less kingdom to worry about in Cinder's eyes."

Fire- ugly and hot- rises in his chest.

"Too bad you won't touch her."

Her eyebrows raise now in excitement. "Really now? Want to dance- whoever wins gets to have the Princess, what do you say? I thought she was a bit cute, so I see why you'd like her so much."

He doesn't like her jokes- doesn't like the way she uses Maka to taunt him-

So, he takes a step closer.

"Come fight me, you coward. I'm sick of hearing your voice."

And like the wind; she obliges, jumping after him with a cackle.

The moment their swords clash, loudly and messily, he sees red.

He was going to kill her if it was the last thing he did.