Soul Eater - A Soul That Feels

Pinkie Swears

-Justin-

He opened his eyes, slowly.

It had been so long since he'd remembered that dream. He was turning his head when his eyes caught sight of blood. Following it, with wide eyes, he found it's source.

Giriko was standing over a dead body with blood dripping off his chained legs. He made a "humph" sound before he noticed Justin moving. "Looks like clean up's on me." He skidded over and stood in front of Justin. "What's with the face?"

Justin reached up and covered his face with one hand. "Just a memory. What do you want?"

Giriko crouched down. "Eh? What's with the face?"

Justin was lowering his hand when he noticed how close Giriko was. He gasped and threw his hands out. This caused Giriko the stumble back. "Don't be so close! You smell like beer and oil!"

He hopped back to his feet. "You jerk!" He smacked him on the crown. "Don't do that without warning!"

Justin pulled a face and got up. "What happened?"

It took a second, but Giriko suddenly looked confused. "You don't remember?"

Justin tipped his head. "No. I blacked out."

Giriko sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "You kinda went overboard when the guy said something about your dirty hands."

Justin covered his face again before a mad smile cracked his face. "Is that so." He looked up at Giriko with that blank stare again. "We should be going now."

Giriko's eyes followed Justin out before he looked down. Justin opened the door and light fell on the body. It was nearly shredded to pieces and the bones were snapped in so many places. There was several breaks in the jaw and the entire rib cage was entirely concave in the middle. There was pieces of flesh stuck in the cracks of the wall.

But it was when Giriko looked up at the wall that was the unholy cross Justin had come to be known for. It was etched in a curved dip from the surface, just like a swinging pendulum. It was Justin's signature mark as a Guillotine.

He touched the carve and suddenly heard Justin call him. "Tch. I'm comin'!" He looked at the blood on his hands. This wasn't natural. Nobody could take that much pleasure in pursuing a man in the dark just to cold-bloodedly murder him.

Giriko used his chainsaw legs to finish grinding up the remains before he zoomed out to meet Justin.

-Stein-

He pressed the heels of his palms into his forehead before he turned his head to the side. "Spirit-sempai?"

Spirit just smiled and set down the tray of food. "Eat. You need your strength."

"Twelve."

Spirit blinked and then looked somber. He sat in the chair opposite Stein's bed. "Yeah. Been that long, hasn't it? Since Maka was so small. Since we lost her."

Stein began to rub his wrist. "She's been there for twelve years. I wonder if she's still the same."

Spirit leaned forward and patted Stein's head. "She suffered you long enough, didn't she? I'm sure being in the dark and having to fend for herself, she's survived this long."

Stein just smiled. "She's just like Crona. She's always been unsure of herself. I wonder if that's changed?"

Spirit didn't say anything, he just settled back into the chair. "I wonder if that's why the kids are coming."

Stein shook his head. "If anything were to happen to those kids, I would probably shoot myself." His smile was sad. "She was just as young as they were when it took hold of her. I wonder if they'll be enough to help us with."

Spirit shook his head. "They'll be more than enough. But remember, Noah's looking for her, too. The Kishin won't give up her soul that easily."

Stein clenched a fist as he turned his hand over to look at the palm. "Then I won't let her suffer. Her soul will be mine. She's not going to escape to their hands, even if I have to kill her myself." He relaxed and opened his palm again. "It's a promise I want to keep and make with you, Spirit. Before Kami and Sid get here, promise me that you'll take her life if I can't so she won't fall to the Kishin."

Spirit held out his left pinkie. "Let's do it her way. Pinkie swear me."

Stein's wide eyes softened and he smiled, the cigarette in his mouth drooping just a bit. He raised his right hand and hooked it on Spirit's. "Pinkie swear."