Madness [ Claire Sequel ]

Chapter 12

Kira's POV

I woke up with tears dried onto my cheeks. I felt them, following the trails to my jaw before dropping my hand, remembering why I had cried in the first place.

Not wanting to move or leave the comfort of my bed, I cuddled further into the warmth laying next to me. I knew who it was, but I didn't have any strength to push him away.

Soul's hand landed on my side as he brought himself even closer to me. I didn't object, but lay very still, my hands clasped against my chest.

I tried at least ten times to fall back asleep, but I never could. It was as if my body thought I'd gotten enough sleep, while, emotionally, I felt like I could sleep another lifetime.

"Hey," Soul murmured, brushing my white hair from my face. "You gotta get up. Kid's already pissed. You didn't wake up once when I came in here and slept with you."

Suddenly, I was taken back to the time I had been dying two years ago. When I had had that vision with Justin that I would have to choose one of them. Fate had apparently swept Justin's chance away, I wasn't interested in Black Star, Ryuu had ruined his chance, and Death didn't comfort me in the ways I emotionally needed.

It was Soul. Everything I needed, wanted, was in Soul. How could I not have seen it before? He could comfort me, he was so easy to talk to, and he knew how to make me stop before I hurt myself.

An unexpected smile spread on my lips, and Soul smiled back. "What? What is it?" He asked, playing with a lock of my hair.

Icarus flashed in my mind, his dead body on a hospital bed. My smile vanished and I whispered, "I'm going to kill every Arachnophobian on earth." I whispered, then sat up reluctantly.

Soul blinked in surprise, then sighed. "Kira, I have to tell you something." He said. I turned and looked at him, and wasn't surprised when Soul kissed me. The kiss lingered, spreading warmth through my body, even after Soul pulled away.

"I'm pretty sure Kid and you are still together, but I still love you, Kira. That's never changed." Soul said, his smooth fingers on my jaw.

I looked at the ground, and didn't say a thing. Because I knew he knew I still loved him.

With one last reluctant push, I was out of bed, and headed to my bathroom. "Hey!" Soul shouted suddenly, and I stopped in my tracks. "I was being serious about the baby thing yesterday." He said. When I didn't say anything, he continued, "All you have to do is ask."

A blush tinted my cheeks, and, not knowing what else to do, I nodded once and scurried into my bathroom, listening to the faint sound of Soul's laughter.

***

A couple of hours and a rushed breakfast later, Arika and I barged into the Death Room. Tyler turned abruptly, but Lord Death didn't even jump.

Faster than I could blink, Tyler's expression softened. "I'm sorry... About Icarus." He murmured as I came closer. I shook my head. "I need a map, now, because I know where the Arachnophians are."

This caused Lord Death to turn just as quickly as Tyler had when we'd entered. "How, Kira? We've been searching for weeks!" Lord Death inquired. I smirked.

"Because I've been there."

Tyler and Lord Death gaped. "You've... Been there?" Tyler gasped out. "When?" Lord Death asked, a bit calmer. "Well, as soon as I swallowed Asura's soul, Justin took me under his wing -- I was very confused as the time -- and led me someplace. Now, I'm not sure if he'd been conspiring, though I doubt it, because I felt a weird sensation almost drawing me to the place. We stayed there for about a month before I told him I wanted to leave. So he left with me. There's no way they could've left, but I have a feeling you guys won't be able to see it." I said. Tyler blinked surprise. "Why wouldn't we see it?"

I sighed, passing a pencil between my fingers absentmindedly. "I have a weird feeling that only those infected with Madness can see it. But maybe I'm wrong." Lord Death sighed, "Let's hope you're wrong, Ms. Stein, or we're going to have a real problem."

Tyler pulled a map of the U.S. out and put it before me on a white table. "Alright. What state are they in? Georgia? New York? California?" I giggled at him. "See. That's what's so ironic." I took the pencil and circled the valley where the hideout was located. "It's in Nevada."

Lord Death shook his head. "How wise to hide in a place so obvious, we wouldn't dare look there. And in a valley, as well!" I shook my head. "That's not all, either. My dad told you that he thought Arachnophobia planted Icarus for the DWMA to find?" Tyler and Lord Death nodded, so I squared the village on the map. "It's right next to the valley."

Both men looked boggled, which caused Arika and I to giggle. "You know what's so funny?" Arika said, "The name of the valley is 'Eight-Legs Valley' because the valley has one river that branches out into eight. The main river forms the body, the other eight make the legs. The entire valley symbolizes a spider, which is where it got its nickname, 'Spider Valley'." She paused. "Other than the fact that it's always been infested with spiders, of course." She finished. I chuckled at her.

Tyler, Lord Death, Arika, and I spent hours simulating scenarios. What if each of the "legs" was heavily guarded? What if the hideout is only visible to those infected with Madness? What if the Arachnophobians' leader is more powerful than we imagined? But none of those scenarios really worked out. Or, rather, they probably wouldn't work out during a scouting mission.

I ate lunch quietly with Arika in the school'a cafeteria. The students continuously glanced wearily in our direction, but we said nothing. Only when a student approached us did we put down our lunches.

"E-Excuse me," A young girl asked shyly. "Yes?" I asked gently. The girl had green hair and brown eyes, though they were cast down to the floor. "Are you... Kira and Arika Stein?" She asked. I nodded. "Yes, we are. How can we be of service?" Arika said, smiling warmly on the teenager.

She quickly brushed her hair aside. "Well, honestly, coming up to you was a dare from my friends. They think you guys are freaks." She said. Then, she looked up at us with determined, twinkling eyes and said, "But I think you guys are very strong and brave!" Arika and I chuckled.

"Thank you. You know, we aren't as intimidating or freaky as we look." I reassured. "We're just really special!" Arika concluded. We all three giggled, and the girl left with a large grin on her face.

A throat cleared behind us, and I sighed. "Tyler," I mumbled, not turning around, but picking up my sandwich instead. "I'm going to be straight to the point here. Lord Death wants you to be a teacher for the EAT class." I raised a brow at him. "Arika, unfortunately, is not considered fully 'human', so she can only be used during demonstrations in class." He explained. Arika looked thoroughly disappointed. "Also, whatever tricks you can use because of your Madness you can't show the students. They'll try to do them, which will invite Madness, and, well, we all know how that ends."

I frowned at him, and swallowed the last of my sandwich. "Why not get Maka or Tsubaki to teach the kids?" I asked. Arika flashed a cold glare at me, and I apologized. Tyler looked at me as if I were an idiot. "Because Maka, Tsubaki, Liz, Patty, Soul, Black Star, and Death are all a part of an elite team. We couldn't risk having to pull them out of their class to go kill something. Too excited for the students." I scoffed. "What happened to Ryuu? Is he chopped liver?" I asked, though I was still angry with him. Tyler nodded. "Yes. Without a Weapon to wield, he pretty much is chopped liver."

My frown turned into a scowl. "Now, don't worry. He's already working to find another Weapon. But he's out of the group now, and out of their lives. He's back on the NOT list, instead of the EAT, so he's having to find a NOT Weapon Partner." He explained.

"What about Crona?" Arika asked, implying the teaching subject. I glanced at her. "With his shyness and incapability to fight strategically on his own? He's not a very good candidate for a teacher at all; too shy." Arika considered this, then nodded.

I turned to Tyler. "The problem with me teaching is that I'm in an even more elite team than the other group. A team so elite it only has two members; me and Arika. And, right now, I'm going to be out a lot. There's no telling when I could get pulled out of a class!" I pointed at him. "You, on the other hand, are merely a helper. So you can teach!" I got up, grabbed my trash, and threw it away. Arika joined me in leaving the cafeteria only moments later.