Chapter III: Indescribable Pain. What's Wrong with Tsubaki?

"What happened?" Maka demanded as she and Soul entered the nurse's office, both looking flustered, "Is Tsubaki okay?"

"They aren't sure yet," Kid answered grimly. He'd just finished bringing the last of Shinu's things into the manor when he'd gotten the word from a very upset-looking Liz. Kid, she, and Patty had told Shinu they'd be back later, and rushed off towards the academy, "Something like this has never happened."

"She's trapped inside of weapon form…" Liz said, rubbing Masamune's blade gently as it rested across the bed, looking rather odd, "It must really be painful."

Black Star said nothing, as he sat alone in the corner of the room, looking down at the floor. He was sitting as close as he could to Tsubaki without leaving the corner, and looked pretty depressed.

"So how are you, Black Star?" Maka asked him apprehensively.

Black Star didn't say anything for a minute. Then, he looked up at her, grinning falsely,

"I'm perfectly fine!" he answered, "Tsubaki's just a little shaken up is all! She'll be back on her feet in no time, right Tsubaki?"

The blade said nothing. It hadn't responded at all to anybody speaking to it, but just sat there, lifeless.

Black Star stared at her for a moment, and then stood up,

"I know!" he said, "I'll go get you some flowers! You're always telling me about how people feel better around flowers! I'll be back in a few! Soul and the others will watch out for you while I'm gone, alright?"

Black Star ran for the door, looking very energetic,

"Yahoo!" he yelled down the hallway, though his heart didn't seem in it at all.

"Poor Black Star," said Maka depressedly, "This must be terrible for him."

"No," Soul said, "Black Star isn't one to accept anyone's pity."

Maka clenched her fist, "You're right about that but…"

First the Kishin, now this? Maka asked herself. What can you do, Maka Albarne?

Kid clenched his fists too. How frustrating, he thought, as if worrying about Shinu being here wasn't bad enough.

"Liz, Patty…" Kid said. His partners turned to him, "Let's go."

Maka looked surprisingly at him, "You're leaving already?" she asked.

"If there's anything we can do for Tsubaki, we won't hesitate for a moment," Kid said, "Unfortunately, she's in a sort of weapon-frozen coma."

Maka said nothing.

"The only thing we can do now is give she and Black Star space so they can both recover. I don't know what kind of training the two of them were going through to push it this far, but I know a reaper being in the presence while she's trying to regain her peace of mind isn't going to help."

"So in other words, you think it'll do no good to sit here feeling sorry for her, and ourselves." Maka said.

Kid turned to her, "Yeah." he agreed, nodding shortly.

Maka's face darkened.

Soul looked at her. Waited.

"Soul."

He'd been waiting.

"Yeah?" Soul answered immediately.

"Let's both get stronger."

Soul grinned.

"Yeah."

"Let's all get stronger and be ready to help Tsubaki back on her feet when she gets up."

"Right."

"Kid," Maka said, turning to Kid, "I promise we'll all come out of this stasis when Tsubaki wakes up."

Kid stared at her, absorbing every word.

"I promise both you, and Black Star," Maka clenched her fist, "That I'll become stronger. I promise to be a better team leader, and I promise we'll be a team again when all this clears up with your sister and everything."

She put her hand in.

"Right." Kid agreed. He put his hand on Maka's hand, feeling as inspired as he always did during one of Maka's incredible speeches.

"Don't forget about me," Soul said, putting his hand in as well.

"Or us," Liz said. She wasn't really sure she got everything they were saying, but put her hand in.

"Right!" Patty agreed. She put her hand in too.

"Hey!" Black Star protested as he made it back to the room, carrying a bouquet of white camellias, "Don't you dare do a group cheer without the great Black Star in it!"

"Of course not, Black Star," Maka said, "Put Tsubaki in as well."

Black Star took Tsubaki from her bed, and laid her across the pile of hands.

"Oh dear," Kid covered his mouth with his free hand, "This irks me quite a bit. There are seven of us. An odd number. On top of that, the number seven absolutely atrocious when it comes to symmetry. Oh no, what are we going to do?"

"Well we are going to live with it," Liz said, giving him an exasperated look, "Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure you can't."

"Mind if we join in?" a voice asked.

Kid turned, and saw Shinu smiling over to him.

"Shinu," he said, "What on earth…"

"I thought I'd visit your friend Tsubaki too, Shi-chan," Shinu said, "Mind if Yin and Yang and I join in your group all around?"

Maka smiled at her, "Sure, why not Shinu?"

"Get your reaper hand in here, girl!" Black Star said.

Shinu beamed at him, and put her hand in too, Yin and Yang following, Yin looking very pleasant, Yang very embarrassed.

"This is ridiculous." Yang muttered.

"I know what you mean…" Liz whispered to him skeptically-exasperated.

"Whoo!" Patty said.

"How inspiring!" said Yin.

"Weird…" Shinu said, "They're really similar in a way, don't you think?"

"I know what you mean." Maka agreed. She pushed all their hands in together, and then,

"YAHOO!"

A few weeks later, Maka and the rest of the team were back to their normal routine before the Kishin fight. Tsubaki, unfortunately, was still in the hospital, but Black Star still trained daily by her bedside, doing things like hundreds of push-ups, and then thousands of sit-ups. Kid, Liz, and Patty were back to their usual "being late because Kid had to check that the house was perfectly symmetrical" routine. The three of them seemed to be back to normal, and Kid seemed to be in a lot calmer mood since his sister had settled down. Even Shinu herself had developed her own sort of routine,

"Good morning, Shi-chan," Shinu said as she passed the bathroom.

"Good morning, Shinu," Kid replied.

Shinu backed up, "Wait," she said, "What are you doing? You're gonna be late, it's seven'o'clock already!"

"I'm checking to make sure everything in the house is in tip-top shape," said Kid measuring the candles, "So it won't bother me at school."

Shinu sighed, "Symmetry is so overrated," she said, "Why do you like it so much?"

Kid looked at her, totally disgusted, "Symmetry is the most important thing of all! No excuses!"

"So you're telling me," Shinu said putting her hands on her hips, "That the most important thing, is that everything stays exactly same?"

"Exactly, now you're getting it!" Kid said, then bent his face, "Well, not exactly the way you put it, but…"

Shinu stopped listening, "So what you want to happen is, no one has a single change about themselves? That's disgusting, and inhumane!"

Kid's face straightened, "That's not what I meant at all!"

"Who cares what you meant?" Shinu yelled at him, "Everyone deserves a chance to be unique, whether it be on one side, or three-fourths of their whole!"

"Damn it, Shinu!"

"Damn it, Shi-chan!"

"You know what would be unique?" Liz said as she came into the bathroom, "Having a normal day for once."

Patty was leaning against the wall laughing.

Shinu folded her arms, and brushed past Kid, "I'm going on ahead to school," she said.

"Fine," said Kid, "Be careful."

"I will."

"Good."

"Good."

The two of them looked at each other.

"Ms. Shinu?" Yin asked from weapon form, "We need to go now."

Shinu sighed, "Right." she said. She headed out the door.

Kid sighed when she left, "No matter what I do, I just can't get my sister to understand symmetry."

Liz looked at him, felt sorry for him, then smiled, "You'll get her eventually," she said, "I know she'll come through! She's your sister, right?"

Kid looked over to her, "Thanks, Liz," he said smiling slightly.

Patty got in the fray too, and they were exchanging smiles,

"Now hurry up Kid, we're gonna be late." Liz told him as she and Patty left.

"Right…" Kid agreed.

"Morning Tsubaki," Black Star said as he walked into Tsubaki's bedroom, "How're you feeling? Any better?"

He'd asked her this every day. Always with no response. The black blade of masamune lay there on the bed, in case Tsubaki suddenly changed back and needed a place to rest.

"We have Professor Stein's class first today, so you know we're going to be doing some weird experiment, or maybe I'll skip class today and challenge someone to a fight," Black Star thought about it, "Maybe Ox Ford…"

"Good morning, Black Star!" Maka greeted as she and Soul entered the room as well.

"Ah, damn it Maka!" Black Star said, "I was talking to Tsubaki stupid! You interrupted! Didn't anyone ever teach you any manners?"

"Sorry…" said Maka smally, uncertainly putting her hand over her hip.

"Hey Tsubaki," Soul said as he sat down in the chair by the bedside, "How you feeling today? Alright?"

They all spoke to Tsubaki this way when addressing her in that state.

"You look better today, Tsubaki," Maka said, "Your blade is very shiny, and your hilt has a nice smooth look to it. I'm sure you're gonna wake up soon."

Shadows covered Black Star's face.

"Hey Tsubaki," Maka said, putting her hand gently across Tsubaki's blade, "When you wake up, we'll do all kinds of things. We can go shopping, and go hang out on the beach…"

They had to say something to her.

Soul glanced at Black Star as Maka continued to say a number of kind things to Tsubaki about what they were gonna do when she was back to normal. Black Star's hands were clenched, and his teeth were gritted.

Soul sighed quietly. What a big mess, he thought.

"Good morning, everybody!" Shinu said as she passed by the door, "Saying good morning to Tsubaki?"

"Oh hey, Shinu," Maka greeted, "How are you today?"

"Not so great," said Shinu, scowling suddenly, "Shi-chan is so stupid…"

"Kid…" Black Star whispered.

"That reminds me, Shinu," Maka said, quickly to get the conversation moving as fast as possible, "Why don't you call Kid by the name Kid?"

"I was wondering the same thing, actually," Soul said eagerly, noticing what she was doing, "Why do you call him Shi-chan anyway?"

Thanks Soul, Maka thought.

Good thinking on your part Maka, Soul thought back.

"Oh," Shinu said, "Well he's my older brother, so I found it inappropriate to call him Kid."

死

"The Japanese word for "death" which is my brother's real name after our father is called "shi" so I address my brother as so. I also use the Japanese honorific "chan" since I've known Shi-chan since birth. Also, Shi-chan has a much better ring to it than Shi-kun or Shi-sama wouldn't you agree?"

Maka and Soul looked blown away. They hadn't expected to hear the world's longest speech.

"Oh…" Maka said totally spazzled, "Yeah…"

"What the hell?!" Soul whispered, "Who would put that much thought into saying someone's name?!"

Maka stepped on his foot, "Be polite, Soul." she whispered.

"Kid," Black Star said, turning to Shinu, "Where is he exactly?"

"Home," said Shinu briskly, "But I suggest you don't go there. You're asymmetrical hair will probably bother him so bad, he has to hide under his bed."

Black Star was already headed for the door.

"DAMN IT, SHINU!"

Kid came zooming into the room, looking totally frazzled like Maka, "Are you absolutely blind?! Black Star's hair…it's…it's…"

He looked at it.

"It's perfectly symmetrical!" Kid cried.

Shinu looked at Black Star, "I don't see it." she said.

"No, no! This won't do!" Kid said, "Look closer! See, his hair is shaped like a star, and stars are vertically symmetrical understand?"

Shinu thought for a moment, "Oh yeah, now I understand! Thanks Shi-chan!"

"Kid…" Black Star said, "Let's fight!"

He focused his soul wavelength, and shot at Kid like a sudden lightning bolt. Kid noticed immediately, and flipped backwards out of the way,

"Black Star," Kid said, "What the hell are you doing?"

"Let's see you beat me without your weapons, you spoiled rich kid!" Black Star cried, and jumped at Kid like a leaping squirrel.

His fist was about to meet Kid's face, when Shinu jumped in between the two of them, flung Yang's sai knife out, and blocked Black Star's hand from it,

"Leave my brother alone." Shinu said flatly.

"Stay out of this," Black Star said, "It doesn't concern you."

"I don't care!" Shinu said loudly. She focused her wavelength, and shot it out at Black Star through his fist up the rest of his body. He shot backwards, and rammed into the wall.

"Black Star!" Maka said alarmed.

"Shinu…" Kid said softly, staring at his sister, who still held her dagger out.

"I…" Shinu started. Then, she blushed and bowed, "Sorry for being so disrespectful this morning brother, I'm sincerely sorry!"

Kid didn't say anything. He just nodded.

"Black Star, what's wrong with you?" Maka demanded.

Black Star looked up suddenly, and grinned. He jumped back at Kid. Shinu swung out Yin this time, and blew him away.

It's just as before the battle with Asura, Kid thought.

"Liz, Patty!" Kid called.

Liz ran through the door, Patty following not far behind (They'd been waiting outside because only five visitors were allowed in the room at once. Of course, they'd broken this rule before, but Kid still felt they should respect his father's school rules.),

"Kid, what's… oh no, not again…" Liz sighed. She immediately, glowed and turned into weapon form, Patty copying her.

"I'm warning you now, Black Star," Kid said, pointing Liz and Patty equally spread out around Shinu's head, "Don't start this battle with me again, or I promise you I won't hold back!"

"I'd kill you if you did hold back, Rich Boy!" Black Star yelled as he came at him again.

"Not again," Shinu said irritably. She crossed Yin and Yang's black and white blades together. She focused her soul wavelength. Then, a silver and black orb appeared in front of the tips of their blades,

"Chowa!" Shinu cried. The orb shot from the center, and right at Black Star.

Black Star made to avoid it, but the orb was moving fast. It hit him smack in the face. He slammed into the wall and fell onto his face,

"What on earth was that?" Kid said awed.

"Damn it," Shinu muttered, "It was too fast. It still isn't perfected."

She stared down at her two weapons disapprovingly.

"We're just not synced enough to be able to pull off a technique like that," Yang said from weapon form.

"We just need a little more work is all," said Yin positively.

"Yeah…" Shinu looked impatient.

"Black Star, are you okay?" Maka asked as she and Soul bent down to check if the idiot was alright.

Black Star shot up, "I'm fine," he said briskly, and walked out the door with his fists clenched, "See you in class." he muttered.

Maka put her hands on her hips, "What an idiot," she said. She turned to Soul, "What're we gonna do with him?"

Soul shrugged.

"I don't know," said Shinu, "But whatever his problem is, tell him to stop lashing out at people and deal with his own problems."

Maka looked at her. She still wasn't so sure she liked Shinu all that much yet.

Shinu crossed her arms, "I'm going to class now, Shi-chan." she said, and turned and walked out the door.

Kid sighed when she was gone, "She's quite a handful." he said.

"I feel for you," Maka said sympathetically.

"See you in class," Kid said, and threw Liz and Patty to come back into human form.

"See you later, Tsubaki!" Patty said cheerily, waving at Tsubaki in bed.

The blade was silent, as usual.

Maka sighed, "It's like ever since Kid's sister arrived, it's been nothing but mayhem." she said.

"Never a dull moment, am I right?" Soul said.

Maka turned to him and laughed, "Right," she said, "We should head on to class."

"Yeah." Soul and Maka started their way out the door, when suddenly,

"Aw, Tsubaki looks horrible. Whatever did you do to her?"

Maka and Soul both froze. They knew that voice. Maka's eyes flared, and she clenched her fists,

"How the hell are you still alive?" Maka demanded, nor her or Soul turning around.

The voice behind them laughed, "Child's play," she answered, "Really all you have to do is manifest yourself as a snake long enough to regain full control of your body…"

Maka turned fiercely around, and became face-to-face with Medusa. The evil snake-like eyes and short blond hair was all the same, she was the same as she had always been.

"I thought you had to have a host for your body when you first regenerated." Maka said, keeping her face bold.

Medusa smiled, "Oh please, I didn't need to use little Rachel for anything but a hostage silly Maka. Really, I could use my powers for much greater things."

That lying… Maka gritted her teeth, "What do you want here?" she demanded, "Are you here for revenge? Or maybe you're here for Crona?"

"Oh no, dear," Medusa said, "Though I would like to know, how is that pathetic child of mine?" she sat down on the bed beside Tsubaki's.

"Far away from you," Soul said with a smile, "He and the Demon-Blade are out way off into the mountains working on their powers."

Medusa smiled.

Maka twitched, "Soul…"

"YOU IDIOT!" she hit him far upside the head, "You aren't supposed to give away his location, you big moron!"

"Oh yeah! Sorry…"

"Why I oughta!"

"It's not really like I care anyway," Medusa said boredly, "I'm completely done with that failure."

Maka turned back toward her incredulously, "Did you just call Crona a…"

"Yeah," Medusa said wistfully looking deeply out the window as if imagining something amazing, "I'm turning my interests to a whole new topic now, not the black blood anymore."

"Oh yeah? And what's that?" Maka said fiercely.

Medusa made a clicking sound with her tongue, "Do you honestly think I'd be so simple as to tell you? Don't make me laugh."

Medusa laughed again.

Maka's fist tightened, "Why I oughta…!" Maka swung her fist right at Medusa's face on the bed.

"Vector Arrow!"

A Vector Arrow appeared right in front of Maka's fist, and she was directed outward, and almost hit Soul right in the face.

"Maka!" Soul caught Maka as she lost her balance, "You okay?"

"Yeah," Maka said briskly, "Now you need to turn into weapon form, alright?"

Soul straightened his face, "You got it." he said.

Soul lit up, and shifted into the form of a Scythe. Maka caught him, and swung at Medusa's face, but the Vector Arrow just kept getting in the way.

"Damn." Maka muttered, "We'll have to move her somehow."

"I'll save you the trouble," Medusa said. She leaped from the bed onto the windowsill, "I'd love to stick around and play, but I have things to do, people to see…"

"Hold on a second!" Maka yelled, "You just jump through the hospital window to provoke me, and then leave?"

"That's right," said Medusa cheerfully, "I hate to leave so suddenly, we really need to catch up on the battle we were having, but I really must go."

Medusa gave her an evil smile,

"See you around, Maka, Soul," she jumped down the window.

"Come back! Medusa!" Maka screamed. She ran to the window, and looked down where Medusa had jumped. She was gone.

"Great." Soul said.

"We have to let Lord Death know!" Maka said, "Come on!"

"Right" Soul agreed.

Lord Death's mirror had a note attached to it as Maka and Soul went towards his office. It read,

To Whom it May Concern,

Lord Death is not available for any sort of appointment or urgent summons at this time. Please wait for a duration of two days before returning. If Lord Death is still not here, and your news if highly important, bother his son about it.

Signed,

Lord Death and…

The Holy Sword Excalibur

"Morons," said Soul.

"Lord Death!" Maka beat furiously on the mirror, "This is an emergency! You have to open up."

A mini reaper reflection appeared on the door. It tilted its head, and then put its arms up in the air and crossed them with an X making a loud "AAAANNNK!" noise.

"But it's about Medusa!" Soul protested.

The reaper paused, tilted its head once more, and then made an "ANK!" noise again, then disappeared.

"Damn it!" Maka yelled. She slammed her hands hard on the mirror, "Wait… Professor Stein…he'll know what to do… come on, Soul…"

"Right."

In a flash, Maka and Soul were racing across the hallways of the DWMA academy, looking for Professor Stein's room, calling out, "Professor! Professor?" Once, Miss Marie came out of the hallway and asked them what they were screaming about. Maka hurriedly told her they didn't have time, and if Miss Marie saw Professor Stein then Miss Marie should let them know immediately. Finally, after what seemed like ages, Maka and Soul made it to Professor Stein's classroom.

Maka charged through the door as Soul opened it for her rushedly,

"Professor! We need to speak with you!" Maka cried out immediately.

"Ah, Maka and Soul, so glad you could make it with us today," Professor Stein said drawly, lowering his book as he stopped reading to the class, "Is there something the matter?"

"Professor," Maka said, not wanting to cause a panic with their recent news, "Could we talk somewhere more private?"

Professor Stein pulled his cigarette from his mouth a puffed out smoke, "Hm? Private you say? Very well. Ox Ford, take over the class." Stein rolled his chair out of the classroom, nearly tipping it over like usual then walked outside with Maka and Soul.

"M-Me?" stuttered Ox Ford as the Professor left the room, "But I…"

"Come on Ox Ford, teach us!" Patty cheered.

"H-huh?" Ox Ford looked surprised.

"Go ahead then, Ox Ford," Kid said, "Teach us."

"Wh-What? Kid, you too?"

"You can do it, Ox Ford!" Liz cheered.

"Um…" Ox Ford hesitated, "Alright! I'll do it!"

He stood up, and then continued to read what Professor Stein had been reading.

"Huh?" Professor Stein said in the hallway, "Medusa?"

"That's right, Professor!" Maka said, "Medusa is back from the dead! She somehow returned, and now she's out to get something new other than the black blood!"

"Oh boy…" Stein muttered, "And you say she appeared to you in Tsubaki's room?"

"That's right," Maka said, "Right at the window, she just appeared there. Probably undetectable by her soul-protection!"

"Hm…" Professor Stein puffed his cigarette again, "Well…if she's back…that does mean a lot of extra trouble for the DWMA. Looks like our short time of peace is finally over…" Stein sighed, "Well, we can't let anyone get suspicious. Tell only those you trust about this information, and no one else. Don't act like anything is wrong. Go like everything is normal."

"And Lord Death?" Maka said.

Stein sighed, "Leave Lord Death to me. I have contact with Spirit and he's in contact with him outside of his office. I'll just have him talk to Lord Death about Medusa."

"If you just need to talk to my papa, then I'll be sure to…" Maka started, but Professor Stein interrupted.

"Spirit isn't in Death City."

Maka felt a cold pit hit the bottom of her stomach, "Papa… Papa's not here then?"

Professor Stein shook his head, "No, I'm afraid not, Maka…"

Maka clenched her fists, "He…he didn't even tell me he was leaving…"

"He wasn't allowed to tell anyone." Stein said.

"So why're you telling us now?" Soul asked, finally getting in on the conversation.

"Because, now things are different." Stein said. He puffed his cigarette once more, "Now, we need to get back in class before people get too suspicious. Understand?"

Maka sank her head low, "Yeah…" she said. She grabbed ahold of the doorknob, and slowly went inside without another word, Soul following, followed by Professor Stein.

Ox Ford was just starting to get comfortable as they entered,

"…and Lord Death came upon Doman with great strictness, for he was a great wicked force…"

"Hey Liz, what're we talking about?" Maka asked as she sat down, "Ox Ford seems to be enjoying his teachings."

"Beats me," Liz said, blowing on her nails, "I stopped listening when I noticed an overgrown fingernail."

Maka sighed with skeptism.

"Shinu," Kid whispered of at his sister sitting next to him, "Pay attention to the lesson, and stop that doodling you're doing."

"Get off my case," Shinu growled at him as she finished coloring the wing span of a butterfly she'd drawn on her paper.

"You do realize, coming into the middle of the year, you have a lot to catch up on, right?!" Kid said, "You don't have any time to be lollygagging!"

"Oh, who cares?" Shinu said, "It's not like I'll get kicked out. My father owns the school."

"Are you being serious with me right now?" Kid said incredulously, "The fact that father owns the place gives you all the more reason to try harder!"

"You're so uptight," Shinu said, "You need to loosen up."

Kid ignored her, "You need to be a little more appreciative on what father does for us, Shinu!"

Shinu laughed.

"What's so funny?" Kid asked, annoyed.

Shinu stuck part of her tongue out at him, "Oh nothing. I'm just happy to see you again is all."

That caught Kid off guard. He straightened his face, "Yeah, you too I suppose…" he said.

"You're not mad at me for coming back, are you Shi-chan?" Shinu said, "I know you were used to your life of acting like father's only child…I must've made things pretty complicated for you…"

"Not at all." Kid said.

Shinu went silent.

"You're my little sister, Shinu, why would I ever consider you a bother?"

"Shi-chan," Shinu said, admiring him with her sharp stare, "You don't have any idea how much that means to me…"

Kid gave her a half-smile.

"Kid, Shinu," said Professor Stein, "Is there something you'd like to share with the rest of us?"

"No sir." Kid answered calmly.

"Not with you people, nosy jerk." Shinu said.

Damn Shinu, Yin thought as he sat on the desk in Sai-form, do you honestly think you could be any less respectful to your teacher?

"Uh-huh…" said Stein, "Well, if you could please get back to the class?"

"Of course," Kid answered.

"I don't feel like…" Shinu started but Kid covered her mouth.

"Peh! What'd you do that for, Shi-chan?!"

"Be quiet!"

Shinu puffed up her face, poutily, murmuring a number of insults at him.

Maka sighed with exasperation, watching the two siblings argue. If they didn't look so much alike, Maka wouldn't have dared believe they were related. They were like the complete opposite of one another…

Black Star looked angrily out the window, his eyes transfixed to it. That damned brat, Shinu. How dare she intervene in Kid's and his battle? He clenched his fists tightly together. She would pay for this.

"Now where were we?" Professor Stein was saying, "Ah, yes… back in 500a.d.…"

Black Star sighed with boredom. Tsubaki normally took the notes, but she wasn't around, so Black Star supposed he'd have to take the notes.

"Apply this quadratic equation to the pyramid…" Professor Stein continued, "You'll find the answer is…"

No…. Black Star felt his eyes drooping. Closer together, then wide open. Closer together, then wide open. Closer together…

"BLACK STAR!" Soul's voice rang out loudly in Black Star's ears.

"WAH! KID, I'LL KILL YOU!" Black Star yelled as he shot up from his nap.

"Shut up, man." Soul sighed, "Class's over. Time to go to the next one. Ms. Marie's class."

"Where's Kid?" Black Star demanded.

"I'm over here!" Kid stated plainly as he, Liz, and Patty headed towards the door.

"Kiiiddddd…!" Black Star ran for him, but Shinu snapped out her sais again.

"Stay the hell away from him, you blue-haired freak of nature!" Shinu yelled.

"I'll kill you too, rich girl!" Black Star swung his fist at her face. Shinu flipped backwards, dodging him by only a few centimeters.

"Missed me!" Shinu jeered, although it was very close and she shouldn't have been provoking Black Star in the first place.

"Shinu, would you come on?" Kid asked exasperatedly.

"Sorry, Shi-chan! I'm coming!" Shinu put away her sais, and ran after him.

"See you in class, Soul." Kid said.

"Bye!" Liz waved.

"Try not to kill anyone, Black Star!" Patty said cheerily to Black Star.

"Soul…" Black Star said.

Soul sighed, and put his hands in his pockets, "Black Star," he said, "You really need to stop attacking Kid every chance you get. It's getting old."

"You think so?" Black Star asked.

"I know so," Soul told him.

Black Star tightened his fists, shadows covering his expression.

"Come on," Soul sighed, "Maka's already ahead of us. We'll be late for class."

"Soul…" Black Star said, raising his fist suddenly, "I'll KILL YOU!"

Black Star aimed a punch for Soul, and Soul barely managed to avoid getting punched right in the nose.

"Agh! What the hell, Black Star?!" Soul demanded.

"You and me," Black Star said, eyes wild, "Let's fight. Now. Come on, you know you want to."

Black Star started aiming punches at Soul and releasing them fiercely.

"Come on, Soul!" Black Star taunted, "Is this all you got?!"

Damn it, Soul thought, Without Tsubaki around to keep him from going off the deep end with his massive amount of power, he's losing it.

CLANG! SPLAT! …..

Soul held his shoulder against Black Star's fist, the black and red blade of his deathscythe form sporting out of his body like a crescent moon. Black Star's wrist got split on the hit, and was now dripping blood onto the hard wood floor.

"Black Star, cut it out!" Soul demanded, "You're breaking school rules without having a teacher witness here to see this fight!"

"Who gives a damn about school rules?!" Black Star yelled, and aimed another punch for Soul, this time on his other side.

Soul swung backwards, and clashed with Black Star's knuckles the second they came into contact. Black Star's gloved fist was bleeding pretty badly.

"Black Star, stop it!" Soul yelled, "I'm gonna take your hand off if you keep it up!"

"Go ahead and try!"

"Damn you!"

Smoke started rising suddenly. Smoke coming off of their wavelengths. They both jumped back, there backs against the opposite walls.

"I guess there's no talking you out of it," Soul sighed, and then grinned, "Well fine. I guess kicking your ass is the only option!"

"Bring it on Soul Eater!" Black Star said, slamming his bloody fist into his other hand, "I'll kick your ass, bring you back from the dead and kill you again!"

"You talk big," Soul said, "But can you back it up?"

"AGH!" Black Star screamed.

"Hugggghhhh….!" Soul built up the power inside of him.

BAM! SLAM! CRASH!

Soul and Black Star continued to beat one another to a bloody pulp.

Black Star punched Soul.

Soul sliced up Black Star's arm till it was completely painted in blood.

Black Star hit Soul directly in the face with his wavelength,

"Doesn't feel good, does it, you bastard?!" Black Star said as his slammed Soul's head up against the wall.

Slightly dazed, Soul pushed himself up woozily from the ground, where several pieces of the wall had broken,

"Alright," Soul said, grinning angrily, "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! AGH!"

Soul slammed into Black Star's gut with his head turned into the smooth end of his deathscythe blade. Black Star spit up blood, and they both crashed into the window, which broke immediately. They both fell three hundred feet above the ground.

"Huh?" the two of them both blinked. They exchanged glances, and screamed as they fell down three stories.

Kid spat up blood from Ms. Marie's class.

"Shi-chan" Shinu said uncertainly.

"Kid," Liz said, "Is something wrong?"

Kid started shivering.

"Kid!" Patty said.

"The symmetry…" Kid said woozily, "Someone's broken it…"

"What?" Shinu asked skeptically.

"I can feel it," Kid said, tensing up.

"Have you guys seen Soul?" Maka whispered over to them from her seat, "He was going to stay after class to wake up Black Star, but…"

"WAH!" Kim screamed from her seat. She shot up into the air, looking absolutely petrified.

"What's wrong, Kim?" Ms. Marie asked, looking up from her teachings.

"It's…it's Black Star!" Kim said, "And Soul! They…they're fighting on the school grounds!"

Ms. Marie jumped up, "What?!" she said in disbelief.

"It's to be expected…" Liz sighed, "Black Star's always getting into fights. It was only a matter of time before he got into a fight with Soul."

Maka glared down at her fists, clenched tightly on top of her desk.

"Ms. Marie!" Maka stood up from her seat, "I'm going to go check on Soul if that's alright with you."

"Yes," Ms. Marie put her hand to her lips, "Yes, I suppose I better go too. They're might not be a teacher witness…"

With that, Maka and Ms. Marie headed for the door, and started towards the front school yard.

"Damn those two!" Kid said disbelief, slamming himself up from his seat, and marching for the door.

"Shi-chan!" Shinu said, "Where're you going?!"

"To go fix whatever symmetry those two absolute fools broke in our father's wonderful school."

With that, he marched off after Maka and Ms. Marie.

"Wait for me!" Shinu called eagerly, "I want to get out of class too!"

"Wait for us!" squealed Liz, running after them, Patty giggling at her side.

As Maka made it outside, she saw the terrible scene unfolding before her. Two of her best friends in the world were fighting like true enemies out there. Black Star was covered in all kinds of cuts and abrasions, while Soul was just beat up period. He had bruises and swollen areas everywhere. Black Star packed a punch; that was for sure. Maka had felt it herself once.

"Soul!" Maka yelled, "Black Star! You two idiots knock it off already and come to class!"

"What on earth?" Kid said in disbelief as he made it outside. His face immediately turned from skeptism to fury as he noticed all the broken things around the school, "Damn those fools!"

"You sure like to damn things a lot, Shi-chan…" Shinu said skeptically.

"Shinu!" Kid snapped, "Go back to class!"

"No way!"

"Shinu!"

"Shi-chan!"

"You're beginning to annoy me…" Kid said irritably.

"Well, I'd hope so… I've been practicing for almost three years now." Shinu said cleverly.

"Quit fighting, you two," Ms. Marie stated. She stepped up, "We need to stop this."

"Don't even try, Marie." Stein rolled in on his rolling chair.

"Stein!" Ms. Marie looked surprised.

"Professor!" Maka said, "Black Star and Soul, they're…"

"Yes, I know…" said Stein grimly.

"What're we going to do Stein?!" Ms. Marie demanded.

Professor Stein sighed, "What else can we do?" he asked.

Everyone was silent, staring transfixedly at him.

"Black Star needs this, and I'm guessing so does Soul," Stein said, "I'm sure after they end this, this'll all blow over. Besides," Stein looked up at Soul and Black Star, who were now clashing hand on blade, "Can't you see there's nothing we can do to stop them?"

Maka stared. It was true. Soul and Black Star… they had to fight…no matter what… Maka tightened her fists,

"Just don't die you guys." Maka stated finally.

About fifteen minutes passed, and Black Star and Soul were still at it, beating the living crap out of one another. They were both panting, and sweating like pigs but… neither relinquished.

"Not…bad… for a weapon…" Black Star panted.

"You're not half bad yourself… meister…" Soul panted also. Then he grinned tiredly, "You ready to give up?"

"I'll die before I give up." Black Star said.

"I was afraid you'd say that." Soul sighed.

Another fifteen minutes passed. The two of them were starting to become unrecognizable under all the swollen places and bruises.

"Soul…" Maka gritted her teeth.

"I don't get it…" Shinu sighed, "Black Star's just taking his frustrations out on Soul like a coward. Doesn't Soul know this?"

"Soul isn't a fool," Kid told her, "He knows Black Star doesn't honestly want to kill him. But Black Star has got to realize that Tsubaki, for the time being, is not coming back, and I suppose Soul must feel that it's his responsibility to let him know."

"Boys are stupid," Shinu sighed, "Do you act like that Shi-chan?"

"No," Liz said, "He's even more insane."

"That I can believe…" Shinu laughed.

Maka clenched her fists so tightly that everyone noticed.

"Tsubaki…" Maka said, "Tsubaki… why…?"

Kid put his hand on her shoulder, "Maka, it'll be okay…"

"Kid," Maka said, "You and me. We have to find a way to get Tsubaki back."

Kid looked taken aback by her proposal.

"What exactly now?" Kid said confusedly.

"You and me," Maka said, "We're Black Star's friends, right?"

She grabbed Kid around the shoulders, "We have to get our best friends weapon back."

"Well," Kid said, face red, "That's all nice and everything the way you put it, but… how exactly do we do that?"

Maka let him go, and turned away, "I don't know," she admitted, "Maybe it was some kind of enemy meisters have never fought before that put her into a coma, or maybe Black Star's wavelength shut hers off somehow."

"Shut it off?" Kid said eyes wide.

"It could be anything!" Maka said, "But… all I know is… us being the only other meisters… we should do this!"

"And what exactly is it we're doing?" Kid said, still confused.

"Getting Tsubaki back!" Maka announced. She crossed her arms proudly. She turned to Ms. Marie,

"Could you please watch Soul for me awhile?" Maka asked Ms. Marie.

"Um…" Ms. Marie looked confused, "Sure."

"Great!" Maka said eagerly. She grabbed Kid's hand, and pulled him into the school building.

"Sh-Shi-chan?" Shinu said, confusedly.

"Liz, Patty, stay here!" Kid told them.

"Sure thing!" Patty said.

"Gladly…" Liz sighed, leaning up against the pillar.

Shinu blinked after them. Maka's words repeated in her head,

"the only other meisters"

Shinu took a deep breath. She pulled out her Sais, and flipped them out into regular form. Immediately, Yin and Yang appeared.

"Ah!" Yang stretched, "That feels good!"

Yin looked around innocently at everything.

"The two of you, stay here." Shinu commanded.

"Yes ma'am!" Yin said, reacting immediately, because they were used to taking orders first thing.

"Sure…" said Yang, not as alert.

Shinu took off after her brother and Maka.

Maka led Kid into Tsubaki's room, where Tsubaki's weapon-form still lay in bed, still as a rock.

"Alright," Kid said, looking expectantly at Maka, "We're with Tsubaki. What now?"

Maka put her fingers to her chin with uncertainty. She thought of the number of things they could've done with the sword, but none of them seemed like a good idea. Finally, Maka sighed,

"Grab onto Tsubaki's handle, focus your soul wavelength and hope something happens" Maka said.

"Sounds simple enough," Kid said. He and Maka walked around to either sides of the bed. The two of them exchanged glances,

"You ready, Maka?"

Maka nodded, "Let's save Tsubaki!" she said.

Shinu came running into the room, just as Maka and Kid put their fingers around the handle of the masamune, both gripping tightly.

"You ready?" Maka yelled, as her soul wavelength began to emanate blue swirls of mist around her.

"Of course!" Kid yelled, focusing his soul wavelength as well.

"Wait a second, Shi-chan, Maka!" Shinu cried running with her hand toward Tsubaki's blade, "I want to come too!"

They couldn't hear her over the noise of a huge blue rift opening up against the wall.

"What the hell is that?!" Maka cried in awe.

"Hold on tight!" Kid warned.

The portal sucked them in. Shinu ran toward them, reaching for her brother,

"Shi-chan!" Shinu yelled. She was sucked in the portal seconds before it closed.

When Maka opened her eyes, she found herself in a world surrounded completely in black. She was a bit disoriented to begin with, but her eyes gradually adapted to her surroundings. She felt around, and found Kid's arm which she gripped onto like a life-preserver,

"K-Kid?" she said, making sure it was him.

"It's me," Kid replied, "Where are we?"

"Not sure…" Maka got closer to him, feeling a bit defenseless without Soul around to back her up. I mean, neither one of them could send beams of soul wavelength blasts or slice up kishin on their own, "Do you think maybe… we could be… inside Tsubaki?!"

Kid stiffened, "Yes, I thought that might be the case too…" he said.

"If that's the case," Maka said, determination brightening her face in all the gloomy darkness, "Then some form of Tsubaki should be in here. We have to find her. Alright?"

Kid didn't speak for a moment. Then, he grabbed Maka's hand,

"Alright," he said, "But we need to stay close. It's dark in here."

"Right." Maka agreed.

Kid led the way, as he and Maka made their way through the endlessly dark world they assumed to be Tsubaki. Kid's hand was cold to the touch, and though he was very sociable and tried to make small talk as they made their way around, Maka didn't feel all that comfortable with him. He was Lord Death's son after all. A true prodigy. Maka could never be as good as him. He'd done this amazing thing with those weird white hair lines in his hair during the battle with Asura, and probably would've won the battle if he hadn't been so exhausted. Compared to him Maka was just an everyday smart student.

"No way," Soul's voice said inside her head, "You're way more than just some smart student. You're a total genius, Maka. Not to mention you're stubborn as an ox. I wouldn't have chosen you as my partner if you weren't."

Soul, Maka smiled at the thought of him. Always so cool; always so calm; always so strong and protective. She wished he was here.

Kid on the other hand, was thinking of more trivial things, such as: What the hell is this place, anyway? Why is everything black? Does is have something to do with Tsubaki's masamune form? Did Black Star totally destroy Tsubaki's soul completely with the hard power he used with his wavelength? It was a terrible thought, but Kid couldn't help but let it cross his mind. Also, he couldn't shake the thought that he could've sworn he'd seen Shinu just a few seconds before they went through the portal.

Kid stopped abruptly when he and Maka both fell over something.

"Agh!" the both sputtered, as they tripped and fell to the ground.

"Grah! What is that?!" Maka said.

"I haven't the slightest clue," Kid said, "I can't even tell if what we're standing on truly is ground to begin with."

Maka tried reaching out with her foot to try tapping the thing they'd tripped over, and found her foot meeting something solid. It was very hard. Almost like a piece of metal.

"I think… it's some sort of door…" Maka realized.

"Think so?" Kid put his hand out, and found a cool metal surface, "I believe it is too!"

"Come on!" Maka said earnestly, "This might lead us to Tsubaki!"

"Right," Kid said, and searched blindly for a handle. He found a sort of latch, that when pulled, created the smallest pool of light in all the darkness, "Ready Maka?"

Maka released his hand, "Ready!" Maka said.

The both leaped into the light.

Meanwhile, Black Star and Soul had just about had it with throwing one another around. They were gonna need to stop soon. They were both so bloody. Soul's white hair was covered in sticky red streaks. Black Star's forehead was beaded with so much blood and sweat he almost looked striped. Both of their clothes were in tatters, and were all messed up. They both panted for a split second, when all of a sudden Black Star started to laugh.

Soul was quiet for a while, as he listened to Black Star's maddened echoing laugh. When he was done, Soul spoke,

"What's so funny?"

"Oh nothing," Black Star replied, "I'm just happy I didn't fight Kid today is all…"

"Oh really?" Soul almost smile at Black Star's face, "And why's that?"

"Because," Black Star threw his arms into the air, "Haven't you noticed? What a fiery and bloody battle we're having? If it had been with Kid, I wouldn't have gotten near as much close-combat fighting like we're having. In a way, I guess you could say you're stronger than Kid, Soul."

Soul grinned, "Is that right?" he asked, "Well…" Soul held up his blade on his arm, "What can I say? I'm honored."

Black Star grinned, "Oh, don't thank me just yet," he said, "You see, I'm still gonna kill you."

"You mean you'll try." Soul corrected him.

"SOUL EATER!" Black Star yelled.

"BLACK STAR!" Soul yelled back.

They went for one final blow, swinging at one another with all their might and power. Just as they were about to clash…

Clang!

Show!

Yang held the white form of Yin in his palm as he parried Soul's blade back. Liz was still holding Patty in pistol form, smoke rising from the exit womb.

Soul landed on his feet, but staggered slightly, as he felt the strength of someone in tip-top (Well, not really) condition, while he was a bloody meaty mess.

Black Star hit his head on the concrete and passed out immediately, the pressure of Liz's shot stinging him like poison. It wasn't entirely all that strong, but Black Star was pretty fatigued as well.

"Good work, Liz, Yang," Professor Stein said, "Now be careful carrying Black Star to the infirmary."

"You ordered them to intercept?" said Soul, not sounding as shocked as he was.

"Correct," said Stein, putting his hands in his pockets, "If I had allowed you to continue, then the two of you surely would've killed one another."

"Alright, I guess that's fair," Soul said, breaking off into a pant, "But what happens to Black Star now?"

"What else?" Stein said, "We'll take him to the infirmary and do our best to calm him down. If he can't keep his cool, well, we'll just have to make him let us treat him."

Soul laughed, "Oh yeah? Well… it sounds like he's in good hands with you then…"

"Of course," Stein said, looking over at him through the light on his glasses, "I am your teacher after all, right? I can't just let you die on me, not can I?"

Soul grinned and then with a weak laugh, and then he fell limply to the ground, totally exhausted.

"Uh oh…" Yang said, as he threw Yin back into human form and going down to help Soul up, "He doesn't look so good."

"Brother, you did so amazing with handling the single sai!" Yin said enthusiastically.

"Hey thanks, you think Miss Shinu knows that we can wield one another?"

"I'm very sure so. She wouldn't leave us here to fend for ourselves here if she didn't!"

"What're you talking about? Of course she would!"

"Don't talk about Miss Shinu like that, Yang!" Yin warned.

"Why do you guys call her "Miss"?" Patty asked, passing Yin and Yang as she carried Black Star's legs in.

"Because she's our meister!" Yin said, as if that were the most obvious reason.

"So? Kid's our meister and we still just call him Kid!"

"Miss Shinu isn't just our mistress though!" Yin said, "She's our… our… our savior!"

"Oh yeah?" Liz said, "How so?"

"Well," Yin said, "I can't exactly tell you. She forbids me to tell anyone."

"Shinu isn't here, though," Yang said, "What can she possibly do to us from far away?"

"That's not the point, Yang!" Yin said, "She's our mistress, and our meister, and she deserves some respect!"

"Oh, whatever."

"What does that mean?!" Yin demanded.

"What?" Yang said, "I just said whatever!"

"Watch your tone when speaking of Miss Shinu!" Yin said strictly.

"Oh shut up!" Yang said, "You're such a pansy-ass!"

Yin looked absolutely flustered.

Patty was laughing at all of them.

"Cut it out with the fighting you two," Liz sighed, "I'm surrounded by insanity."

When Soul and Black Star were put safely in bed, their wounds bandaged, sleeping soundly, Liz, Patty, Yin, Yang, and Mr. Stein considered on where Maka, Kid, and Shinu just might be.

"I think I heard Maka tell Kid something about helping Tsubaki somehow…" Liz said, "Maybe they're in Tsubaki's room, down by the girl's nurse's office…"

"Right, we should head there first." Stein agreed.

When they got there, they found Tsubaki, the real human-being Tsubaki, lying in the bed on top of the covers, pale as snow, and arms out flat to her side.

"Tsu-Tsubaki!" Liz exclaimed.

"You're alright!" Patty rushed to be beside her.

"Doesn't look like she's all better though…" Liz realized, "Do you think…maybe…this is Kid's doing?"

"Perhaps," Stein agreed, "Though she is now in human form, she does appear to still be in a comatose state."

Yang folded his arms, "If Shinu's got anything to do with it, it won't be for very long."

Yin looked cheery, "Yes! She's so helpful!"

"No, I mean her mouth's so loud it would wake even the dead."

Yin gave him a look, "Yang!

"What? I'm just saying! She's loud!"

"That isn't a compliment!"

"Who'd want to compliment her anyway?!"

"Enough!" Liz snapped, getting between the two of them, "Sheesh! You'd think the two of you were complete opposites by the way you're acting!"

"Of course we're opposites!" said Yang, "We're brothers!"

Liz ignored him.

"Perhaps Kid and Maka are resonating their souls within Tsubaki's mind, and that's why she's returned to human form…" Professor Stein said.

"But how could they do that, professor?" Liz asked.

"Hm…" Professor Stein thought for a moment, "Both Maka and Kid have very powerful souls… I'm guessing the two of them caused some sort of soul resonance around Tsubaki that caused a gap to form inside her mind and gave them a door."

"But what would going into her mind do, Mr. Stein?" Patty spoke up in her bubbly voice.

"Perhaps they assumed Tsubaki's condition to be a mental one instead of a physical one and thought they could fix it if they could go inside her mind…" Stein answered, "Hm…"

Patty tilted her head to the side, in a confused frown, "So could we cause the soul-thingy and go inside Tsubaki's mind too?"

"It doesn't work the same way with weapons I'm afraid…" Stein sighed.

"No fair!" Patty pouted.

"So what're we supposed to do, Professor?" Liz said, "Could you go into Tsubaki now, and help them?"

Professor Stein blew smoke from his cigarette, "I'm not sure if I'll be able to do that either… you see, Maka and Kid have two very similar souls that resonate easily with Tsubaki's, and while my soul is strong, it would still take at least two people to cause a soul resonance…"

"What about Black Star, professor?" Liz suggested.

"Hmm…" the professor took the thought in for a moment, "Black Star's soul… even if he was conscious and in a right mind right now, I very much doubt he'd be able to mesh into a perfect resonance with me. He is simply too wild."

"What about Sid?!" Patty said.

"As strong as Sid is… I doubt it…" Stein said, "I imagine you'd have to be alive in order to enter someone's mind. Also, the fact that they entered Tsubaki's mind so easily mind easily have something to do with Kid being a grim reaper…" (Also, Sid is watching over Crona back in the mountains, but these guys can't know that, Stein thought in the back of his mind…)

"Damn that Shinu!" Yang swore, "If only she'd stayed, then Professor Stein might have had a chance to go help them out…"

"So what do we do now?!" Liz demanded, "Just sit here?"

"What about Lord Death?" Yin asked eagerly.

"Lord Death has specifically asked not to be disturbed…" Stein sighed, "I'm afraid there's nothing else we can do but wait for Maka, Kid, and perhaps Shinu to return."

"What a mess," Yang sighed, sitting in a stool nearby, "But I guess it is expected from Shinu, after all…"

"Kid, you lunatic…" Liz sighed, putting her hands together in a prayer, "Please bring Tsubaki back to us, okay?"

"I hope Maka's alright too…" Patty said.

Yin sat next to Yang, who sighed, "I'm not going to class until Shinu gets back, so…"

Stein sighed and shrugged, "It's not like you were in class to begin with."

"Humph…" Yang scowled.

"I hope Miss Shinu is alright…" Yin said.

"Oh please, she's fine…" Yang sighed.

The group sat there in silence and hoped that their meisters would make it out of this mess alright.