Chapter 23: The Kids Will Be Fine

When they were younger, they had looked up to the adults that surrounded them to a certain extent. After all, they were all to be respected for various reasons aside from simply being their elders. They battled kishins, madness, were right hands of Shinigami himself. There were so many reasons for them in their younger years to want to model themselves after these adults in some form or another. That became even more evident when they had children of their own however. Soul had been a nervous wreck for a good two weeks once he found out that he and Maka were going to be parents. Then the anxiety returned once again during her ninth month. Would they be suitable parents? How would they go about disciplining him? What would they teach him and when would they do it? Would he be a weapon or meister or would he somehow be a regular citizen of Death City? Most importantly, what path would he even want to follow?

Maka was the voice of reason, for once, when it came to this. Yes, she had been nervous, but she spent the first month and last month of her pregnancy expressing to her husband that they were fit parents and that their child would be amazing and happy. Luckily, for her sanity, they gave birth to a happy and healthy little boy. Ezekiel Solomon Evans. He had been a quiet baby. Rarely cried and always seemed to be observing things. The rare opportunity that was taken to visit Soul's family consisted of Mrs. Evans cooing over the child and stating the white haired child may have resembled his father, but was a far more pleasant infant. Comments aside, Soul was proud of his son. The boy grew up to be smart, curious, well mannered, and likeable. He had both his father and mother's personalities and balanced it all perfectly… at least until it came to a certain girl.

Black Star had come into the whole parenting ordeal as confidentially as you would have expected from the egotistical meister. He had been confused when Tsubaki, who had only still been his fiancé at the time, came walking up to him, an emotional mess and supposedly sick. The goofy assassin hadn't quite understood what he was being told when his long partner and future wife came up to him with tears in her eyes stating that "the test was positive". So after a small sit down, a play through of their little "fun" a few weeks earlier, it hit and Black Star wasted no time running through Death City exclaiming from every rooftop and high perch that they would soon be blessed with a new star. Maka was three months ahead of Tsubaki in pregnancy, but the two spent a good amount of time together, exchanging notes as did Soul and Black Star. Black Star wasn't sure of why his best friend was so anxious. In fact, the only point in which he felt doubt was the trip they planned to Japan to tell Tsubaki's parents the news… oh and that they eloped because, let's face it, Black Star would not allow his son or daughter to come into the world "on bastard terms".

None the less, he held his head high and was at his new wife's beck and call through her pregnancy, developing ways to keep her comfortable and trying to understand when she would go through strange mood swings and cravings. He was calm and cool through it all… and then she went into labor- a month early. Fainting aside, they made it to the hospital and he stood by her side through it all. Their little girl, Ayame Star, was born with wide eyes that matched her father's and a wail as well. She was small but healthy and Tsubaki held her close for the longest, whispering how happy she was that their little one had come into the world safely. Ayame wasn't a big crier, but she made her presence known as an infant with coos and babbles. She liked attention that much was certain. She would start off quiet with strangers and once she was comfortable, she liked to be the center of the show. While she grew out of the habit in some manner, her attention turned to a certain boy she spent most of her time with. It was all about finding ways to get his eyes on her even if it was just to annoy him. Blair liked to joke about the relationship between the two since they were in diapers. Best friends or not, there was something there in her eyes.

Everyone responds to situations differently, but to Liz, no response could or would ever compare to Kid's. For as long as she could remember, he had a way about him that could either amaze or shock a person. The day he had proposed she had wanted nothing more than to punch him in the face. There was no romance to it at all. Her heart had skipped a beat, yes, but the serious expression on his face as he looked at her filing her nails and stated that maybe they should plan a future together was not what she wanted. Especially with no ring in hand. The second time around, she supposed he got it better. She had been standing in the middle of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, straight from the shower and toothbrush in mouth as he stood with a determined expression on his pink cheeked face and ring box held out towards her. They were young, had just survived a war, and he was next in line to be Shinigami. It was time to move forward.

Kid was an amazing husband, OCD aside. He had worked on it, though the occasional break down was inevitable, and aside from Shinigami business, he was the same Kid she had always known. His spastic mannerisms came back into play during her pregnancy with their son and he would go on tangents about the possibilities of her having multiples, but she would wave them off or have Patty, before she had run off to do her own thing, distract their golden eyed miester. Liam's birth was even more interesting. Kid had arrived at the end and apologized over and over again for days on end about missing the birth of their child. Liz never blamed him, though. He was a stickler for scheduling and not only was the boy born a couple days early, but the young Shinigami had been forced to a last minute conference hours away. She was simply happy for a healthy little boy that strongly resembled his father.

Liam was born with a tuft of dark hair and bright blue eyes. As he grew, Kid would proudly speak of how they gave birth to a beautifully symmetrical child while Liz simply rolled her eyes and continued with daily activities. Then the day came when the realization hit that the boy's hair was growing in the same pattern as his father's- with a simple set of two rather than three stripes no less. Kid beat himself up for an entire year over it. To add to it, the boy grew up developing his own compulsive tendency. The parents noticed it during a play date with Tsubaki and Maka's kids. While Tsubaki's daughter could be seen practically catapulting from swings and Maka's son was constructing something in the middle of the sandbox, little Liam was seen avoiding any possible messes. He was a year older than Ayame and Zeke, so he may have understood certain things better, but clearly the boy was well on his way to the life of an OCD Shinigami.

"Yo!" Looking up from the work scattered around them, Soul, Liz, Maka, and Tsubaki watched as Black Star came strutting into the cluttered lounge with a large bag of food and a cup holder drinks in his possession. "I figured since we'll be pulling an all nighter I'd get us some refreshments. No need to bow down to me, you can just worship from your seats." He boasted. Maka glared but Tsubaki smiled as usual at her husband, giving him a kiss on the cheek as he placed a few of her favorites in front of her.

"Took you long enough, man," Soul spoke up. "For a moment I thought you'd be playing hooky like when we were kids." He teased, taking an energy drink from the bag that was being passed to him. Black Star scoffed all the same.

"Nah, I couldn't miss out on this. Otherwise I'd be out of the loop about the latest bullshit Kid's pulled up into." The assassin answered, dropping into a free seat next to Liz who was giving him a disapproving look.

"Knock it off. You know he's trying his best." She chastised. "It's been years since Shibusen has been faced with anything like this and the fact that now citizens are being manipulated to believe that we're a threat is a problem!" Black Star grimaced.

"Relax, I know." He muttered, waving a hand at her. "All the same, this is a huge mess that a bunch of fancy words can't fix." He informed, his face now serious as well. "How the hell do we even expect outsiders to understand us and how important we are in keeping peace in this damn city, let alone the world?"

"That's what Kid and Azusa are taking care of." Maka interjected. "Just because you can't seem to express anything other than violence and idiocy doesn't mean other people can't find ways to bring peace and stability to a situation." Black Star glared at her and opened his mouth to retort, but was cut short when Soul spoke up.

"Either way, it's not going to be an easy problem to fix over night. The fact that there's been all these incidents in the past month that are somehow traced back to the academy is bad enough. Whatever magic Kid and Azusa can do to put anyone at ease will be a miracle, otherwise we have bigger problems than just quieting the masses."

"Bigger problems?" Tsubaki questioned as she closed one of the large folders in front of her. She had been listening to the debate easily while attempting to finish the work in front of her. Soul glanced at Maka who let out a defeated sigh and leaned back in her seat.

"The academy is looked at as the central root of the issue. The people in the city are being led to believe that the students in the school are the source of the problem." She started to explain.

"What do you mean?" Black Star snapped. "We've been protecting people here for years!"

"Decades," Maka corrected, sending the assassin a pointed look. "Either way, if enough fear strikes, masses tend to act together and in order to protect ourselves and these students, the school may have to close down."

"What?!" The outraged cries filled the room swiftly. Black Star had stood up and seemed ready to rampage the streets while Tsubaki covered her mouth in shock and Liz scowled from her seat. Soul shook his head in his own disappointment.

"It's been the rumor for the past couple of days." He stated.

"But what about our kids?" Tsubaki questioned in a shaky voice. She looked at Black Star who slowly calmed, though his fists were still clenched at his side. "I mean, this is their future we're talking about. They're more than just some kids on a scavenger hunt for evil souls." Her attention turned to the others in the room.

"That's what Kid has been trying to explain to the masses." Liz spoke up finally. "I don't want to say we have anything to worry about, but in the case of my own, his destiny is to grow up, help lead this academy and not only keep the people in this city safe, but outsiders and others like us safe. Those people out there don't understand what it is to be like us." Her eyes had darkened, clearly remembering her own life on the streets. She had a valid point. They had students that had nowhere else to go. This was their home and family.

"Maybe we should prove it then." Black Star declared, punching his fist in his palm, determination in his eyes. "I don't care what anyone says. No one looks at Star clan like a bunch of freaks!" Tsubaki gave her husband a fond smile while Soul rolled his eyes and made a smart comment about a small family household not possibly counting as a full clan status.

"You know, I hate to admit it, but he has a point." Maka chimed in, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she leaned back in her seat. "We need people to see what Shibusen is about. Not the action and adventure, but the school and private life."

"You don't really want to bring outsiders into the school, do you?" Liz asked swiftly. Maka shook her head.

"No, I don't… But there has to be some way to show these people that we want to live in just as much peace and normalcy as they do…" A silence filled the room as they all reflected on their own lives. It wasn't a life that they regretted, but there were always times in their youth where they saw the others lives outside of Shibusen and wondered what it would be like to live like them. To be oblivious to what was really going on and just about their lives.

"HEY! Slow down!" They were snapped out of their thoughts at the chorus of voices echoing outside. Soul, who was sitting by the window, leaned back and chuckled when his eyes fell on the group of arguing teens running up the remaining stairs of the school

"C'mon brat, you always brag about how fast you are." Zeke had called down at Ayame who was glaring at him from the final three steps she was approaching. Beside her partner stood Rion, a curious look on his face as his own partner followed up close behind Ayame. Liam and Aimee were walking calmly in the rear, though the red haired weapon seemed ready to give up at any second.

"I don't see why we have to be here for this anyway." Liam called out as the others stopped at the landing. "We could have easily done all of this at the courts or something." The young Shinigami informed.

"Too many unnecessary ears are at the courts." Zeke answered, smirking down at his annoyed partner as she took her spot next to him in the circle they were unconsciously forming to speak. The group was unaware of the adults now watching them from a window.

"Shouldn't we wait for Gabe and Aiden to get here?" Aimee had asked, being the only one to take a seat in the circle. She leaned back on her arms and dropped her head back dramatically, letting out slow breaths.

"They're away on an assignment." Ava spoke up. "They left last night… Of course I'm sure if they knew about this meeting they would have held out though."

"I'm certain you guys'll relay the message just fine though." Zeke answered. Maka frowned slightly, leaning forward to hear better. Black Star had his wife's hand clamped over his mouth as they all leaned anxiously in the window listening.

"So what's going on? Is Ayame getting kicked out of school?" Rion asked causing the girl's aqua eyes to narrow dangerously at the smirking boy.

"That's not funny, pipsqueak." She growled.

"We're going away for a couple weeks." Zeke answered, ignoring the potential argument. All eyes went wide.

"Where are you going?"

"Why?"

What're you gonna be doing?"

"Who's we?"

"Me and Aya are." Zeke answered easily.

"Aren't you too young to elope?!" Rion asked, eyes wide. It didn't help that he was serious. Both Zeke and Ayame went red while Aimee giggled and Ava's eyes went wide as well.

"N-no!" Ayame squeaked swiftly. "We're going to do special training!" She answered, hands clenched at her side and face as red as a tomato. It had been lucky that Tsubaki had the hand over Black Star's mouth to lighten the sound of his own outraged cry.

"It's the training Ares was talking about, isn't it?" Liam asked, the most composed of the group. Zeke nodded. "Has it really gotten that bad?"

"Not so much, but I don't want to lose myself waiting to see how bad it can be." The white haired weapon answered, hands now shoved in his pockets. "It's best if Ayame comes with me because if we are able to perform soul resonance and her soul is able to stabilize mine, there may be a new way to solve my problem."

"That's so scary…" murmured Aimee, hugging onto her knees. "To think that could happen to any of us… That it has happened."

"Yeah, but I'm fine. It's just something I need to overcome and I'll be back to normal in no time." Zeke answered brightly. Lyra-senpai says I come from a blood line of strong willed people and that accompanied with Ayame's strength and research should be enough."

"Two weeks is enough time?" Ava asked. "What about school work?"

"That's where you guys come in," Ayame chirped. "Think you could do our homework for- OW!" She glared at Zeke, who had given one of her pigtails a tug. He shot her a disapproving look before turning to the others.

"Collect all the work for us and we'll make up for it when we're back." He answered. They all nodded and continued on with their discussion, walking into the school and out of sight of the adults.

"Those kids are too much sometimes, aren't they." The group of adults in the window snapped around swiftly. In the doorway stood Ares and Lyra. The silvery blonde girl smirked slightly. "Sorry you have to find out I'd be borrowing your kids for a bit, Star-Sensei. Soul-sensei."

"When did you even find the time to speak to them about any arrangements?" Maka asked, being the first to gain her composure and focusing sternly at the pair. Ares glanced nervously at his calm partner. He clearly still had some fear of the petite woman in front of them.

"It was after one of his sessions." She had spoke up. "The kid has something going on in there that needs to be handled and Ares knows what to do."

"How can you be so sure? For all I know you'll vanish with my boy for the next three years doing some type of freak experiements on him!" Maka accused. Soul was quick to step in.

"I want regular updates." He said, ignoring the incredulous look from his wife.

"So do I." Tsubaki spoke up.

"And exactly two weeks from the date you leave I expect all four of you back in Death City, results or not, or you will be hunted down." Soul finished and he glanced at Black Star who was eerily calm. The assassin noticed the look and gave a simple nod in response. Ares gave a serious nod while Lyra waved a hand over her shoulder in a dismissive manner as she turned.

"You guys worry far too much." She scoffed. "Let go and realize something…" She turned back and looked at the adults that she had, in some way, modeled herself individually after. "They're going to grow up, make their own decisions, and live their lives. With the way this world is going, be happy they still have as much innocence as they do." She informed and gestured for Ares to follow her. He bowed deeply and swiftly before following her out the room.

"That girl really grew up to be a pain." Maka grumbled, arms crossed and annoyed expression in place. "It's hard to believe she's Stein and Marie-sensei's…" Liz let out an acknowledging hum as she leaned in the window sill, watching in the kids in the distance.

"Maybe, but maybe it's time to trust them… The kids have made this far." She said and smiled slightly as she watched her son point an accusing finger at the confused golden haired boy standing in front of him. "I think they'll be just fine."

Author's Note: So I'm ending the first installment of my next gen series with this chapter. No worries, I won't leave you completely hanging. The second installment will be coming in around a November or so. It'll be titled Spartoi Revived and should contain more action and some interesting developments with the kids. I hope to see you there!