“You really remind me of a friend of mine back at the DWMA. Blackstar.”

“Huh why and your friend’s name is Blackstar?”

Maka laughed. “The way you're eating right now and yeah his name is Blackstar, you know the kid with spiky blue hair I told you about?”

“Oh yeah that one. He seems difficult to get along with if you ask me.”

Maka shrugged. It was only three weeks ago she left the academy without saying a word to her friends, Soul, Death the Kid, Blackstar,Tsubaki,Patty and Liz. She wondered what they were doing right then. She hated Lord Death for expelling her because she was supposedly holding the team back the most and it wasn't looking good for Soul.

“Yahoo!’ Maka nearly choked on her lunch and look around.

“Im Blackstar! The biggest star you will ever see!”

“Blackstar please be quieter. You don't need to announce this in every school we check. Have you forgotten why we even left Death City?” Tsubaki said. Maka put down her fork and listened. Someone was playing a prank on her, she just knew it.

“Yeah, I know. Maka! Maka! Are ya here?” Blackstar and Tsubaki walked into the lunchroom. Maka gasped.

“I dont believe it.” Then the others walked in after them.

“Honestly Blackstar. Yelling like that would make her less likely to answer you.”

“Yeah she’d die from embarrassment” Liz said.

“Blackstar. Tsubaki. Kid. Liz, Patty. What. How. Why.” Maka whispered under her breath. It wasn't until she felt Blackstar’s soul wavelength behind her that she believed it.

“Blackstar!” Maka jumped with excitement.

“There you are. We’ve been looking everywhere for you Maka.” Blackstar said, Tsubaki right behind him

“We were so worried. We left the city after Soul told us you didn't come back one night.”

That was when Maka felt his wavelength in the hallway.

“Slow down guys. Im not as fast without Maka around okay?” Soul came in and stared.

“Where the hell have you been? Weve been searching everywhere for you. You're lucky we cant get expelled because we have Kid with us. You might be expelled before we get back, why’ve you been hiding from us?”

“Soul, calm down. I know you think the last few weeks were unfair but I did get expelled and I was not aloud to tell anyone and I had to return to the school I was at before I became a Meister.”

“What kind of an idiot would do that and make you not tell your own weapon and friends?”

Maka paused and looked at the others.

“Tell us Maka. We arent mad we were just worried.” Kd said then paused. “No.”

Maka shook her head.

“Kid wait!” Liz and Patty went after him as he found a mirror in the hallway and called his father, Lord Death.

“Oh,Kid. There you are.” said the Halloween styled masked man on the other side of the mirror.

“ Father,” Kid was looking at the floor. His black and white striped hair dangling in front of his face. “Did you expel Maka? And if you did you realize that because i'm your son this will deem me untrustworthy to any of these people standing behind me. Father,Maka is one of the best meisters on our team and yet you do say she's holding us back. You said it yourself, were the best team of individuals in the academy, so why?”

“Kid,” Liz and Patty looked at eachother and their Meister.

The seven of them looked at Lord Death.

“Because,Maka’s power is too great. She could be a danger if she gets infected by a Kishin as the school.” He said.

“Maka’s power too great? What are you talking about ol’ man.” Black star said.

“Black star please.” Tsubaki said.

“No, I won't stand for that. We all risk getting infected, so why is Maka any different?” Kid said.

“WILL YOU GUYS SHUT UP.” Soul was about to erupt. Leaning against the wall,Maka was in tears, Soul with her.

He walked up to Death.

“It's not her fault she's both a weapon and a meister. Her powers aren't even fully awake. You can't send her away like that and not let her tell any of us. And stop talking about her like she isn't right here,balling her eyes out.”

“Soul,” Maka said. She looked up at

him,smiled and said “I missed you so much.” She was in his arms crying before he could react. Meisters and their weapons have special bonds to them. When they're apart for so long it's hard on each others souls making it difficult to live.

“And you guys. I never imagined a search party.”

“Of course we came for you Maka. We're all a team. “ said Tsubaki. “Were your friends.”

Maa let go of Soul and walked up to the mirror.

“Sir, I respect your decision for expelling me and you do not have to reconsider. If you think it's best for me to stay away then that's what I'll do. But without me Soul won't be at his best and you'll lose two of seven.”

“Makes you may come back. I see now that it was a mistake, since six of my students ran away from the academy in search of you.”

“Thank You sir.” That's when Spirit showed up.

“MAKA MY DAUGHTER, you couldn't even tell me where you went. Soul I bet it was your fault. You must have yelled at her again for not using all her powers in training.”

Soul clicked his tongue but didn't say anything.

“Papa it wasn't that this time. This was Lord’s Deaths idea, even the others had no idea and even Soul didn't know.”

The kids were about to say more when a deep dark essence covered the cafeteria down the hall. The pressure moved outside towards the blacktop and playground area for the Elementary. Thankfully it was empty.

The seven looked at eachother and without further explanation Soul,Tsubaki,Lit and Patty turned into a scythe,nunchucks, and two shot guns while their meisters held them tight.

Before Spirit or Lord Death could object they were out of sight, racing outside the building towards the Kishin egg.

Mama flinched at the slight burning Soul’s form did to her but it was expected. She knew she wouldn't be able to do their special mOve after so long with no training. Black star jumped above her throwing his weapon at the Keishan.

Kid jumped off the side of the building and blasted the ent with his gun

Within minutes the enemy was gone and a single floating soul was there.

Black star and Kid smiled and looked at Maka, who hadn't done anything in the fight. She walked up to it raising her scythe to the orb. Soul’a torso appears out of the weapon and took the soul and swallowed it.

“Thanks guys,” he said and transformed back into a human.

That's when she noticed the bruises and scratches on Kid and Blackstar.

“Looks like this isn't the first kishin egg you’ve had to fight since you've been out looking for me, huh.” said Maka.

“YAHOO! Nothing is a challenge for Blackstar!”

Maka laughed. “Of course Blackstar, whatever you say.”

“Maka?! MAKA!” shouted students who were running out of the building.

“What was that thing? Who are these people?” Before they showed up Tsubaki, Liz and Patty had transformed.

“Oh it was nothing. Nothing. Well I need to get going, I was only supposed to be here because i was expelled from my school but now it seems I still belong there after all.” said Maka. The kids didn't believe it one bit but they weren't going to stop the seven fourteen year olds from going back inside the building. Kid called his father again and they stepped through the portal mirror, back into the Headmaster’s office of the DWMA.

Later

“Hey, Kid is back. Where did they all go? They weren't on a mission where they? Most of them don't take more than three days.” Whispered students passing Kid by.

“Who knows”

“Kids around here should really mind their own business but I guess it's only natural here.” Said Liz as she and her sister and Kid took their seats in Dr Stein class.

The others were in front of them.

“Now class settle down, what other students do outside of school is none on your concern. Though Maka it is great to see you back.”

“Likewise Professor.”

“Maka,” Dr. Stein's voice flowed through Maka’s thoughts.

“Maka” he said louder and she awoke from her daze in the middle of class. Soul next to her nudged her and whispered.

“What's gotten into you? Don't tell me you're sick or I'm not letting you back into the apartment.” Maka shook her head.

“Maka, I understand the last few weeks have been hard for you and the others but do please try and pay attention if you can.”

Maka nodded and the lessons proceeded.

Soul looked over at blackstar and Kid and the other weapons. They were all thinking the same. Something was wrong.

“Guys I'm fine really. It's just, kind of weird you know? After being convinced that I was failing the team and that I would never see any of you again it's just weird being back all of a sudden….” she trailed off, looking at Kid.

“Kid, none of this was your fault, you get that don't you?” Kid sighed

“Of course I do,it's just why would Father do all this in the first place? He knew the outcome of expelling you would have at least made Soul run after you, nonetheless all of us on the hunt. I just need to figure out why.” Kid was gone. Lost in thought about yet another secret his Father had. Liz and Patty looked at him concerned.

“Kid,”

“Kid stop doing this to yourself.” Liz shouted at him. “ you have four people standing right in front of you who would always be willing to take your burdens, not including your weapons, me and Patty. Have you forgotten everything we've been through as a team? Not just them but us three before we joined the academy! You're not alone anymore and you need to admit that to yourself” Liz finished.

“Yahoo! She's right you know,Kid.”

“Yeah, you know I'm always happy to be of some help.” Said Tsubaki.

“You're such an idiot for being so secretive ya know?”

“Kid,trust is a little more okay?” Said Maka.

“Guys, Liz, Patty.” He turned around and swept the sisters up in a huge hug. “I'm sorry.”

Maka had actually started to pass out though so Soul took her back to their dorm.

“When Sould closed the door he looked at Maka in disbelief.

One of her arms had transformed into her weapon form and she was in pain fighting back the force.

“Maka,you...you've been doing this the entire time haven't you? Holding back your weapon half. It's growing and needs to be monitored.”

“I couldn't wait to get back here so I could relax some but I guess right now that was my energy for keeping this at bay.” Maka said through gritted teeth. Soul moved in towards the sharp blade arm similar to his own, the blade instinct was to slash at him but he dodged slightly, getting cut. He grabbed onto Maka’s stuff body until her breathing was regular and her blade disappeared.

“You're hurt.”

“I'm hurt from protecting my Meister from a weapon that only brings her harm. I see that as part of my job.”

“Soul, you know how I feel about that.”

Maka touched the area on Soul’s jacket where underneath was the near death scar of a battle. “I'm never letting my best friend die for me.”

“This is what you were doing in Stein's class and what you couldn't tell the others.” He said.

“Yes. My weapon half is none of their concern. I defeated the Kishin with it yeah but I see it as a disgusting thing of a power. It's so ugly and dark. I can't stand it.”

“I know. I was there. We all were. Now let me get up so I can cook and you rest.”

Soul started cooking dinner while Maka laid in her bed resting. The familiar sounds of Soul’s obnoxious clanking made her feel at home. She was back. It wasn't until he was nearly done that she realized.

“You idiot.” She came out to the kitchen.

“You're the one that's been homeless for nearly a month and you tricked me into resting.” Soul didn't look at her. “Soul.” She walked back into her room and that's when Soul was done cooking but was leaning down at the counter. Maka rushed to him. He wasn't as composed as before but dreary eyed and so worn out.

“What did I just say. Come on. Sleep first then eat.” She nudged him to his bed.

Later when Maka was in bed,Soul came in.

“Hey.”

“Well look who's back. Dinners out there still for you.” But Soul didn't seem to care. She was sitting in bed and Soul walked right up to her and hugged her tight. Soul was crying?

“I thought I lost you. The past three weeks and earlier today.”

“I know but it's all over now. I'm here. I'm safe. Right?”

“Right.” He left her and went to his own room.

“Nope nope nope, you stay in bed until I fix breakfast and we will still be early for class if you just listen to me.” Said Maka shoving Soul back into his room.

“Fine old lady,Fine. But hurry up will ya? Kid will have bragging rights again if he beats you to Dr Stein's class!” Hollowed Soul as he waltzed back in his room.soul was as noisy as ever but he was still so weak, Maka was going to make it a point to go easy in training today. She would make it a point to inspect the others and have Tsubaki tend to Blackstar, since he's the type to nearly kill himself, Kid had his loyal twin weapons that were well aware of how unstable he already is.

“Okay class today we're going to be doing hands on combat training as teams.” Maka,Black Star and Kid with weapons at hand stood in a triangle to start channeling energy. Because of their unique circumstances they had Soul play the piano in the realm of his scythe form that transferred energy to everyone. Stage 1 was against the gym teacher’s zombies which were simple to beat for Maka's team. Stage 2 was harder because they had to be synced with one villain at a time and the stage 3 was connected and to use their special abilities, this was where the damaged hit.

Maka felt a tingle of pain when Soul transformed and finished off the enemy, immediately going back to his human form. She he'd him up. At the same time Blackstar was wielding Tsubaki’s demon sword form that sent electricity through his body. Blackstar fell as Tsubaki transformed back. Kid was using his Stripes to kill the enemy but immediately fell after. The twins hopped into human form. Maka and Soul ran to help.

“His vitals are so weak.” Maka said about Kid.

“Blackstar short circuited himself. Only this time he's barely breathing.”

“Hey,shut up will ya?” Blackstar wheezed.

“Blackstar,” said Tsubaki.

“What happened to you two?” Maka asked shaking her head. Tsubaki and the twins looked at each other.

“Privately Blackstar has been training to secure the demon sword by mostly channeling his own energy and then using the sword until he nearly passed out to get stronger. He won't listen to me when I say it's not working. This was when we were out finding you.”

“Kid has been doing the same with his Stripes. He was so mad, he had an idea on why Maka was gone and wanted to get stronger as proof that he wasn't going to listen to Lord Death.”

“Guys,” Maka said. “Let's get them to the infirmary. These idiots have a lecture waiting for them when they wake up.”