Canto XIV: Paradiso

"You shall leave everything you love most dearly; this is the arrow that the bow of exile shoots first (1)."

"They have arrived." Spirit informed Shinigami-sama, who was staring blankly at the mirror. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Shinigami-sama cleared his throat. He wondered why he thought of that now. It had been years, centuries since he heard that line. "Kid and Maka are here?" He turned around to see the two of them walking towards the center of his Death Room. It had been over three weeks since he last seen his son. Shinigami-sama only heard that he was able to relinquish the dark wavelength from Death Scythe. That happened a week ago.

"Father." Death the Kid greeted his father. They didn't end on a good note the last time they talked, and it reminded him that he had to order a new mirror for Kid's walk-in closet.

"Kid." He looked at his son thoroughly. He forgot how tall he had gotten over the last couple of months. "How are you doing?" Kid didn't look sickly like he was when he returned from captivity. He looked determine, and more sure of himself.

"Never better." Kid answered. "I take it everything is well since I was on leave?"

"We are handling it as efficiently as we can, but we are glad you are better. We sure could use you from now on." Shinigami's cheery side slowly returned. "Maka, I take everything is okay with you?"

"Yes, sir!" Maka nodded happily. "I'm ready to get back to work as well."

"That's good to hear!" He cheered once again. "I'll have an assignment for you and Soul tomorrow. And I might have a mission for you as well, Kid."

"So, be prepared for tomorrow." Death Scythe said to them.

"Roger that," Maka answered. Death Scythe and Shinigami-sama watched the two young meisters stare back at them in silence. It was awkward for the Reapers, but it would be more awkward if they were alone. More so for Kid, considering he was dating the daughter of his father's weapon. He couldn't help, but dread the deadly stare Spirit was giving him.

"The light in which there smiled the treasure I had found within it, first began to dazzle, as would a golden mirror in the sun...(2)"

The words haunted the Reaper.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" Maka bowed, breaking the tension in the room. "I want to thank you for letting us stay in your home!"

"Anything for you guys!" His cheery self quickly returned. Then, it became slightly serious when he looked at his son. "But, you look like you want to ask something, Kid."

"I do."

"Then," He dragged on. "What is it that you need to know?" His large white foam fingers like hands popped out of his sides, pointing his thumb and index finger up.

"A conscience that is dark-either through its or through another's shame-indeed will find that what you speak is harsh...(2)"

"It's about the Great Eight Warriors of Shinigami. Your council and order." Kid said all he needed to be said. Lord Death remained silent, waiting for Kid to say more to it. And Kid waited for him to tell him or deny his answer.

"What do you want to know?" He asked, not wanting to talk about the subject. "I'm guessing he told you about them?"

"You," Kid nodded in response. "Asura, Eibon, Excalibur, Vajra, Makaila, Leto, and Durante." Kid told him, surprising his father with names he hadn't heard for almost a millennium. "Why haven't you told me about them? Come to think of it, you barely spoke of you reaper days, and the people that fought with you."

"Kid." Spirit took a step forward, blue eyes filled with sincerity. He didn't know much about the eight warriors too, but Spirit was old enough to understand Shinigami's reason for not telling Kid his story. He wasn't the only one who lost friends and brother-in-arms. "Maybe you should—"

"Death Scythe," Shinigami-sama stopped him. "It's okay. He is my son after all." He sighed heavily, still in denial that his was asking him of his past. A past that still haunted him for a very very long time.

"Direct you intellect's sharp eyes toward me, and let the error of the blind who'd serve as guides be evident to you (4)."

"Yes, they are my court and my dearest friends. I would call them family since we were no like any other that walked this earth." He continued, "I loved them and even hated them, but we had one goal and that was to protect the mortals from the other immortals."

"Witches, warlocks, and..."

"Other insanity driven creatures." Maka answered.

"Correct," Shinigami-sama nodded. "I built this school in memory of them; the four that could not be with us. It was my ignorance that drove everyone away. And because of that, the only one that actually kept the peace was killed by the man that feared her the most. Makaila Portinati, Asura could not stand her, because she was different from the rest of us. She was mortal, but she had the willpower and tenacity of an immortal. Come to think of it, Black Star reminds me of her, but I don't think she could fight like him though. That I think Black Star's fighting style is similar to Durante's if anything." He chuckled to himself. "But, her selfless love and beauty was what made her strong. And that was what killed her, along with Vajra."

"I searched that strange sight: I wished to see the way in which our human effigy suited the circle and found place in it-and my own wings were far too weak for that (5)."

"I was wrong. Everything we did then was wrong. We involved humans and they suffered because of our mistakes. Durante was right, humans were not ready to be involved in our world. Our realm." Shinigami-sama explained everything to them. "But, he was wrong too. Humans were part of this fight. It was Makaila's fight! She did what she had to for the sake of humanity. But, I still blame myself for her death..."

The Lord of Death stopped, knowing that might be too much information. He would not say unless asked by his son, and even Maka, if she wishes from him. The immortal wasn't human, but it was not like he couldn't feel pain like a human. With no doubt did Shinigami-sama felt remorse for telling this to his son of his mistakes. He was no God. He indulged like a human; loved like a human; suffered like a human, but he couldn't die like a human. His friends who have died fulfilled what he could not, and wished many times that it was him and not his comrades.

"Quod tu es, ego fui, quod ego sum, tu eris." Maka broke the silence. Shinigami-sama wasn't hearing things, no, Maka's lips were moving with the syllables almost effortlessly.

"I once was what you are, and what I am, you also will be." Kid followed her with his translation.

"No sooner had these few words entered me than I became aware that I was rising beyond the power that was mine...(3)"

"You didn't tell Kid, because you were afraid that those mistakes would be repeated, and yet, you wanted to tell him so he wouldn't make the same mistakes." Maka thought of Crona. "You were once in Kid's position, right? You had your friends, your team, but eventually some friendships were tested. Just like what happened to Kid, Crona, Kim and Jacqueline, and even Black Star...they are being tested too. When the time has come, would we be able to take the final blow on our friends? That was what you were thinking back then, right?"

"Maka," Spirit was at an awe of his daughter.

"But," Maka chuckled, "I think life would be better just to live for it, regardless if you told Kid or not, right?"

"And such new vision kindled me again, that even the purest light would not have been so bright as to defeat my eyes, deny my sight...and-(3)"

"I saw light that took in mortal's form." Shinigami-sama muttered.

"Father?" Kid raised an eyebrow at his words.

"Kid," Shinigami-sama cleared his throat. "There is so much to tell you, but-I would like to share it with you on another day. Right now..."

"Sure," Kid nodded, smiling for the first time in months to his father. "When you are ready."

"Shinigami-sama," Maka called out. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure,"

"Do you regret any of it, despite how everything turned out?" Maka asked without any guilt. They waited in silence for his answer, and now Maka regretted asking him so soon.

"I do not." He answered as simple as he could. When he looked at the two children in front of them, and his partner, and all the students and staff in the school, he believed that Leto, Makaila, and Vajra's souls reside within all of them. Their fierce determination and faith amongst their comrades showed that his friend's sacrifice were not in vain. He made amends by protecting them, and them to live by their creed. "And you shouldn't either."

"But, then my mind was struck by light that flashed and, with this light, received what it had asked (5)."

"I will not, father."

"Anyways," His high spirits was back. "Let us talk some other day. We have lots of work to do!"

"Yes, sir!" They both said to him.

"And Maka?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for helping my son." He sounded grateful and relieved.

"Of course," She bowed. They both headed towards the door.

"Oi, Kid!" Spirit yelled at the younger Shinigami. "If you hurt Maka, I will hunt you down and-" Before he could continue, Maka pulled out her reading book and plowed the binding straight down against her father's skull.

"I was waiting for that." She sighed, straightening her blouse and tie. "I can take care of myself. We will take our leave then."

"Yep!" Shinigami-sama waved. "Stay out of trouble."

"Just like her mother..." Spirit struggled to get up, rubbing his throbbing cranium.

"Just like his mother. It's scary to see Kid grow up just like her." The God of Death dropped his guard once more, only having his partner see it again. Spirit watched him, staring at the two kids with his emotionless mask. "They are not kids anymore, aren't they?"

"Time flies. " Spirit cleared his throat. Shinigami-sama stood still, but Spirit knew him long enough to know how his main partner felt at times. And sometimes fathers need to stick together.

"Julie would be so proud." Spirit dared himself to say it. It had been so long.

"Here force failed my high fantasy; but my desire and will were moved already-like a wheel revolving uniformly-(5)"

"Very proud of both of you." Spirit added.

"You think so?" His voiced cracked.

"You know it." And sometimes even the high and mighty need to hear the simplest things to encourage them.

"I hope so," Shinigami-sama sighed. "I don't think I could face her if I wasn't a good father."

"She was always mad at you."

"Oh yeah," He chuckled at Death Scythe. "Sometimes when Kid yells at me, I feel like Julie is yelling at me instead."

"-By the Love that moves the sun and the other stars (5)."

MasterChick presents

Capitulo Finalis

(The Final Chapter)

Even Gods Need Angels

By: Lexi V.

"Everyman,

I will go with thee

And be thy guide

in thy most need

to go by thy side."

Chapter Fourteen: Paradise

He returned to Shibusen. His home. His family.

Almost everything returned back to normal. The trust of his partners, Liz and Patti Thompson, had returned (even though it never left). Kid's strength fully returned and even acquired new abilities; and tested them against Black Star in a sparring match. Even when Black Star destroyed the symmetry of the sparring room, Death the Kid freaked out like his normal ways, without resulting in lost control. Although to the one star students, they were quite certain that Lord Death's son was clearly insane.

Maka turned out to be the most hated girl in Shibusen as rumors circulated that she was dating the perfectly handsome Death the Kid. However, most of those girls are relieved that the chances of Soul Eater being taken by his partner was slim, and that brought hope to Spartoi admirers. Well, it didn't bother Kilik and Black Star one bit. They were clearly basking in their fans' good graces. It didn't matter to them anyways, because they were more concerned by the work they are assigned to complete.

Black Star tracked Crona to Romania, where they found Medusa's group in one of her hideouts, and this time he didn't return empty handed. Maka, Soul and the others finally faced Crona in Ukraine. Maka was determined to face her friend-no matter if she was what Black Star and others said about her-she would do everything in her power to bring Crona back to Shibusen, where she belonged. And with the promises of Black Star and Death the Kid, Maka was able to rely on them to help her as she would help them.

It was like a war zone.

The only thing good that came of Durante consuming Kid into madness was that Kid, and even Maka, were able to understand what they must do when they face Crona. Like how Shinigami faced Asura and others, they must do what was right. Actually, Maka understood, but she would not let it happen. She was able to save Crona before, she sure could save her again. And this time, Maka would not be alone.

It was Trivial to simply live Out of Character, but it was fun and sometimes you want to Stop Time, so you could live at that moment for a little longer.

Missions that were assigned to them vary on their abilities, and at each passing mission they embark, they become stronger and grow. But, they were still children in this fucked up world. Teenagers to be exact, but to the eyes of the adults they were mere children.

They didn't know when it was, but the little witch Angela never had a birthday party. On a day they knew they would all be off, they decided to throw Angela a party at Gallows Mansion. All the good witches were invited, and everyone that Angela became friends with since she was taken in by Shibusen, they celebrated Angela. Even though she was a witch, they still treated her as if she was a child, and she was a child. Like any other human child, Angela was just like them. If raised right, maybe Angela could be just like any other kid.

It would be nice to be normal, wouldn't it? To be able to go to school like any other group of children. They would be able to attend a normal school, befriend all kinds of people with different interest. Instead of fighting enemies with supervised duels, they would cause verbal drama and the occasional fist fight that would result in pointless detention. The only things teens would have to worry about was if they were the center of gossip, high standardize test score to get into the best college, or date the hottest guy or girl there. No way would they have to worry about pre-kishins or witches, and whether or not they would be able to see a tomorrow.

It would be easier, and nice to think about, but it was not their life. Why waste life on something so trivial?

"So, where is Maka tonight?" Blair asked Soul, who was reading a magazine at the kitchen table. He looked bored, mindlessly turning the page of the gaming magazine. "Is she with Kiiiid?" She swooned, making Soul turn the pages roughly. "I see!"

"She can do whatever she wants." Soul scowled. "I have things to do anyway." He glanced at the clock and resumed turning pages. "What?" He caught her staring. "I'm okay with them, you know-"

"Going out?"

"Yes! Jeez, as long as Kid doesn't hurt her, I don't care what she does with her life." Soul flipped the page even harder.

"Soul, Soul, Soul-" Blair shook her head. "Trying to act cool-nyan." As she turned away from the table, she caught a glimpse of two rectangle cards lying on top of a handwritten letter. "Jaz-"

"What are you staring at?" Soul slammed his hand on top of the letter.

"What is that, Soul-kun?" Blair hopped and pressed her chest against Soul's face. "Oh please, Soul! Show me what you got there! Oh Soul! Soul!"

"Get the fuck off of me!" Soul's inevitable nose bleed erupted, but he tried to keep the letter and tickets away from the sexy witch cat. "It's none of your business!"

"Oh Soul! Why are you being so mean?" Blair whined. "I thought I was your friend, nyan!"

"Blair! Seriously, get off!" Soul cried, still gushing blood from his nose. "Blair!"

"Jazz Concert?" Blair had grabbed the tickets, but no luck with the letter. "Two of them? Oh Soul, you shouldn't have!"

"It's not for you!" He stood up from his seat and grabbed them from the witch's hand. "I have to go."

"It's in Las Vegas, right?"

"Yep," Soul put the tickets in his coat pocket. "I'll be out late tonight, so don't wait up." Blair leaned against the kitchen counter, pouting at the young Death Scythe. She couldn't help, but sniff the air when Soul sprayed some of his cologne, and watched him fix his already messy white hair.

"Tell Liz I said hi!" Blair waved at Soul, who paused at the door when he heard Liz's name. "Have a safe trip!"

Not everything returned to normal. Friendships were sure tested when Kid and Maka made their relationship official, but the two meisters try there best to keep their dotting affection outside of missions and between the two them. Sometimes it would be difficult when the Thompson Sisters tease them about the lack of PDA between the two. Of course, Soul did not want to see it or hear it, and both Kid and Maka agreed. They did not want it get in the way of the mission, especially when their fathers were their superiors.

Dear Mama,

Sorry for the late reply! I have a lot going on right now, but I hope this letter would make up for the delay. Enclosed is several pictures from Angela's birthday party, some of your friends, and my friends. It's hard to find time to get together, but we managed to put aside a day for just us.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we had fun in them.

Kid and Soul give their regards.

Your loving daughter,

Maka

"What about this?" Kid pulled out a picture from the pile. "This one has everyone in it." He handed it to Maka, where they were on her bed, looking through freshly developed pictures from Angela's party.

"We can send this one too!" Maka plucked it out of his fingers. "I was thinking of this picture of-but, Black Star and Patti are ruining the picture." They frowned at the disturbing picture of the cake fight that ensued in the backyard of Kid's mansion. Against the large windows, on the chairs, the pool, the pool filters, the pool pipes; cake was literally everywhere.

"I'm still trying to get it off my windows." Kid sighed.

"I'm still trying to get the frosting out of my hair." Maka pouted, tossing the picture back in the pile. Kid laid back against Maka's pillow, while Maka reached over to her desk to grab two envelopes of pictures.

"Did I show you this?" She pulled the picture her father gave to her. "It's everyone when they returned to Shibusen."

"It seems like so long ago, but it was only two years ago." Kid chuckle. "Isn't it strange that only two years had gone by?"

"Yeah," Maka smiled. "And here we are..." She took out the California pictures from the envelope. "Two months ago, we were there. Can you believe that?"

"No," Kid grabbed them and flipped through them. "I still have that hat. And I see you have yours too." Kid pointed at the gray hat on her pink dresser.

"This is my favorite." Maka reached over to her nightstand. "Remember this?" It was the picture when the old couple took their photo at Griffith Park. Maka framed the photo in a charcoal gray wooden frame.

"Why that one?" Kid clenched his teeth. "It isn't symmetrical, and I am looking at you..."

"I like how you look..."

"It's still not symmetrical!" Kid groaned. "Why does everyone like that picture?"

"But, that's why I have this picture." Maka was now pissed, because Kid was over reacting again. She rolled her eyes and placed the framed picture back on the night stand. Her attention went back to the photos, skimming through the ones she was familiar with. "I'll give her this one too." Maka laid back and Kid put his arm around her as she laid next to him. There was no one in the photograph. It was the still picture of the purplish orange sunset of the Los Angeles skyline from the observatory.

"A picture worth a thousand words." Kid whispered in his sultry low voice against Maka's temple. "And you are giving her sixteen pictures." He cringed at the fact it wasn't eight, but would let it slide because it was a factor of eight. "Did you tell your mom about us?"

"Not yet," Maka said to him. "Like you said..." She sat up briefly before she laid back down. "A picture is worth a thousand words." The photo she handed to Kid was a picture of the two of them at Angela's party. They were sitting by the pool with the legs in the glistening aqua blue water.

"Is this one of sixteen pictures? Or is this picture seventeen?" Kid asked, sounding slightly frantic in his voice.

"No," Maka laughed. "It's sixteen."

"I mean-if it is seventeen we can get seven more pictures to make it twenty-four! Or we can get rid of the-"

"Kid," Maka placed an index finger on Kid's lip, shutting him up. "That is number sixteen. Don't worry, okay?"

"Ifff youuu sssay sffo..." He mumbled with Maka's finger still on his lips.

"Good," Maka laughed. "I'm famished! Let's get something to eat." Maka sat up and pulled two hair bands from the nightstand. "You want to cook something?"

"Maka," Kid wrapped his arms around her waist. "We can cook in a bit." His lips touched her ear as he spoke softly.

"No one is home..." Maka smiled, taking Kid's arms into hers. "If we start cooking now, the food would be cold by the time they came home, right?"

"Right." Kid inhaled, smelling strawberries and lavender. It was rare for them to have time to themselves, but when they do, they made sure they spend it accordingly. He began to kiss the side of her neck. She moaned as Kid's soft fleeting kisses turned deeper, moving from her ears to her collar bone. Maka's grip fluctuated on his forearm, and his wrists. Her nimble fingers found his hands, and laced them between his strong fingers. She guided one of them effortlessly at the hem of her skirt, and the other under her breast. The touch of soft warm skin startled Kid, and his heart literally stopped when Maka began to move up her skirt.

"Wait, Maka." Kid pulled away slightly.

"What is it?" Maka blushed a bright red. "Did I do something wrong?" Kid's eyes widen at the sight before him. A kiss of red on her porcelain face, lips swollen from her biting down from his act, and emerald eyes staring back at Kid. She was beautiful.

"I don't want to rush things if you are not up to it." Kid told her, he pushed a strand of hair from her face. Maka couldn't help but smile at his kindness. He was truly a sweet gentleman. She grabbed his hand, studying it in her grasp. His hands were rough, but they were so tender and delicate when he needed it to be. The smell of his cologne reached her nose, enticing her body to do what it wants. And his mesmerizing golden eyes stared back at her, waiting for her answer. He was handsome.

"I'll stop you if it's too much, but I trust you." Maka said to Kid, "And if you trust me, I know you can stop me if it's too much."

"Really?" Kid raised an eyebrow, but smirked at her as she laughed at him. "I don't know if me stopping you for anything is a good thing or bad thing for me."

"We'll have to find out." Maka resumed their time by taking his lips to hers, kissing deeper and deeper.

They enjoyed the rest of the night, entrusting each other with the love they have for one another. Two months ago, they didn't know what would have come of their relationship. And they both knew that the future between them was unpredictable, but they were not afraid of the future, and they were not expecting much more than what their relationship currently entailed. Could it be love that they were feeling? Who knew if it was, but all it mattered at that very moment was each other. They would think of tomorrow when it comes, but the present was what was important. They are together, and that was all mattered.

He was a God and she was an Angel, a guardian and the protector. In the end, Death the Kid needs Maka Albarn in his world.

Even Gods Need Angels.

(1) Alighieri, Dante. Canto XVII: 55-57. Paradiso: The Divine Comedy. Translated by: Allen Mandelbaum.

(2) Alighieri, Dante. Canto XVII: 121-126. Paradiso: The Divine Comefy. Translated by: Allen Mandelbaum.

(3) Alighieri, Dante. Canto XXX: 55-60. Paradiso: The Divine Comedy. Translated by: Allen Mandelbaum.

(4) Alighieri, Dante. Canto XVIII: 16-21. Purgatorio: The Divine Comedy. Translated by: Allen Mandelbaum.

(5) Alighieri, Dante. Canto XXXIII: 136-145. Paradiso: The Divine Comedy. Translated by Allen Mandelbaum.

Even Gods Need Angels

May 7, 2010-October 29, 2013

A/N: For the first time in author's note, I am speechless.

It's been a long road with this one. A fanfic three years in the making! Anyways, I'll post an extensive message and acknowledgement chapter within a week or so.

With all my heart, I thank you for your continued support.

Lexi V. aka MasterChick

P.S-Thanks to the Anon for suggesting Dan Brown's Inferno. My fiancé and I are huge Dan Brown fans. My fiancé told me it was really good, and I would enjoy it because of Dante being the focus. I plan on reading it when I have the opportunity to do so.