As the officers of the Regiment struggled to recover their systems, the upper echelon argued. Much of it concerned how to find Shaula, Moonface, and the Silver Key. That was hampered by discussions regarding how to deal with the treacherous Eriol Lamperouge. Then there was the issue of the communications array, which was still out of commission. Not to mention, all the mirrors in the building were shattered, making communication with the Reaper impossible.
Alone in a corridor, just outside a wrecked lavatory, Maka kicked a wall with frustration. Sweat poured down her brow and she clutched her stomach, knotted with her anger. Soul appeared around a corner and sighed with relief.
“Maka, you shouldn’t be wandering alone,” he chided.
“What? A poor girl needs a man’s help?” snarled Maka.
“Shut up,” returned Soul dismayed. “There could be homunculi around, and you wouldn’t be able to deal with them without me … or a Kakugane but I’m pretty sure you’d die first.”
Maka rolled her eyes, but had to agree with him there.
“No mirrors, so we can’t get back to DWMA and ask for the Reaper’s help,” she moaned. She kicked the wall again. “Goddammit!”
“Maka, calm down,” said Soul. He tried to embrace her, but she pushed away and started down the hall.
“For now, it’s up to us,” she said over her shoulder. “I’m going to the roof so I can try and sense Shaula.”
“I’ll come and help,” said Soul.
“No!” screamed Maka. Soul stopped dead in his tracks. Maka disappeared down the corridor without another word.
Soul groaned and rubbed his face. Usually, he could able to pull Maka out of one of her moods, but this was on an entirely different level.
Obviously, it’s her daddy issues, he thought. But this has been going on since Hong Kong. And when she saw Kinomoto’s old man in the dam …
Soul pursed his lips at the chill that had emanated from Maka’s soul when Sakura hugged her father. He let out a long sigh.
I need Kinomoto for this, he concluded.
He started down the hallway, and navigated the headquarters until he found the brig. Eriol directed him back to the infirmary, where he found Sakura with her father. Xiaolang, Nathan, and Astrid sat nearby. They all looked on edge, and became defensive when they saw him. He held his hands up.
“I come in peace,” he said. He edged into the room and approached Sakura. “I wanted to apologise for Maka. She was out of line.”
Sakura smiled weakly. Her mood had evidently improved with the recovery of her father.
“It’s fine,” she said. “She’s just stressed, obviously.”
“About that,” said Soul. He swallowed thoughtfully. “Miss Kinomoto –”
“Sakura is fine,” interjected Sakura.
“Okay then, Sakura, I have a favour to ask,” Soul went on. “I can tell you that Maka’s bad mood is because of you … Specifically, you and your dad.” Soul explained the events behind the death of Maka’s mother and her father’s subsequent behaviour. When he was finished, he presented his request. “I need you to find a way through to her. She needs to be able to put all this crap aside so that we can all … ya know, do what Eriol said we’d do.”
“How do I do that?” asked Sakura.
“Yeah, if Maka clearly hates her so much,” added Nathan.
“You can resonate with her,” said Astrid. Nathan shot her a confused glance, which she waved off. “You’re too dumb to understand,” she said snidely, only for Nathan to flip her off.
“Well, I’d like to know,” said Franklin. “I don’t know everything about magic just yet.”
While Astrid explained the concept to Franklin and Nathan, Xiaolang, Soul and Sakura convened in the hallway.
“It might be possible,” Xiaolang said after some careful thought. “You might be able to get through to her.”
“Why can’t you do it?” Sakura asked Soul.
Soul shook his head. “She’s not pissed at me.”
Sakura wrung her hands nervously, and fidgeted under the albino’s expectant gaze. She glanced back at her father, chatting with the two Australians who had saved her from the homunculi. She considered them nice people. Xiaolang was, of course, wonderful – the love of her life. Soul was a kind person too, even if his sharp teeth and red eyes made him look a bit scary. And Sakura had said Maka would be cute if she smiled.
Eriol’s story had constructed an image in her mind, one in which they worked together as friends to save the world. The thought elated her. She started to wish Maka would be nicer, if only to make that image a reality.
So she agreed.
* * *
Maka paced around the roof of the Regiment headquarters. No matter how hard she tried, she could not extend her senses out further than a mile or two. Even then, what she sensed was sketchy at best.
Gotta find Shaula, she internally growled. She reached out harder, looking for any signature of homunculus or Witch. She found nothing. Her body shook with frustration. She couldn’t excise the infernal image of that silly girl hugging her daddy from her head. It stuck there like a wedge in her mental gears, and it would not go away. Then another image entered her mind of her own sleazy papa hitting on that glorified cheerleader, and she punched the railing with an enraged squeal.
Maka’s hand seared with the pain of broken bones. She gripped it tightly and sucked in her breath to bare the agony. The fight didn’t go her way and tears leaked from her eyes. Now, she couldn’t even reach out with her senses to find nearby souls.
She looked out over the land. There was only flat terrain as far as she could see, with a few towns specking the horizon. She had no point of reference for where she was. Never had she felt so isolated.
Except for one time.
Involuntarily, her mind took her back to that moment.
A five-year-old girl in a cream blouse and a red one-piece dress dotted with tears. Her pigtails, held by red ribbons, bobbed rhythmically with her heaves. Alone, she sat on a swing set. She gazed out at the children at play, seemingly unaware of her very existence.
Maka couldn’t find even the energy to swing.
She saw a little blonde baby, playing in the sand box with her mother and father. It made her gnash her teeth and grip the swing’s chains tightly.
Why isn’t Mama here?
Because she died, she remembered.
Why isn’t Papa here?
He ran off with that black woman from the liquor store, she remembered.
Maka sobbed harder, such that she didn’t notice the shoes lingering just within her field of vision. She looked up and saw a girl, no older than four, with shoulder length chestnut hair. She patted down her pink overalls and smiled. She looked Asian, but Maka couldn’t have cared.
“Whacha doin’ here all alone?” asked the girl with a thick New-York accent.
“Being alone,” muttered Maka.
The Asian girl looked around with a furrowed brow. Her eyes fell upon the empty swing next to Maka and she hopped on it.
“I’m Sakura,” said the girl. Maka didn’t reply, so Sakura just said, “My Daddy doesn’t like me swingin’ alone.”
“Where is he?” asked Maka half interested.
“Oh, well,” said Sakura, her tone growing solemn. “My Mommy just passed away. And we had the funeral and everything. But he decided to take me and my Big Brother on vacation.” She smiled. “He’s a good Daddy.”
Maka stifled an enraged roar that came out as a low sigh.
“He’s probably just here to meet women,” she growled. She started to swing. “That’s all men are.” She swung higher. “They use women up and throw them away.” She swung even higher. “They just see women as buckets to dump their loads and forget about them!” Without realising it, Maka released the chains and flew into the air, screaming, “They should all die!”
She face-planted into the dirt. Her tears turned to mud as she pulled out of the ground and spluttered. She continued to whimper, while everyone else continued to play regardless of her cries.
Sakura walked over and stood beside her. She pointed at the other fathers.
“They’re not doin’ that,” she said. “Sounds like they’re havin’ fun.”
“They’re just biding their time,” snarled Maka.
“Long time to bide,” replied Sakura. She looked down at the girl in the mud and intoned, “Maybe you just want that to be it.”
“It is it!” retorted Maka. “They’re all secretly cheating! Just like Papa. And when their wives’re dying, they won’t even wait for the funeral. They’ll be running after the next whore.”
“And if you’re wrong,” said Sakura. “Then it’ll mean you just got the raw deal. And then, you’ll have to wonder why you did. Maybe it was something you did, and not the big bad world.”
Maka grasped at the dirt, looking for some kind of lifeline. Nothing she did made any difference, and she wept. Still, no one but Sakura paid attention. And even then, Sakura seemed almost indifferent.
“What did I do wrong?” Maka finally cried. “Why don’t I have Papa? Why don’t I have Mama? Why am I alone?”
Sakura shrugged, “You ain’t alone. I’m here, after all.” Maka gazed up at her. She went on, “I wish I could have my Mommy back. I miss her so much. But I can’t get that. It don’t mean I can’t have anyone else. I mean, I got a bunch of friends, and an awesome boyfriend. As Mick Jagger said, you can’t always get whacha want, but if you try, you get whacha need.”
“What would I need?” moaned Maka.
“You’re here all alone,” said Sakura. “How ’bout a compadre? A buddy? Ain’t ya got that with Soul?” Maka gasped softly as she recalled the albino who had been her friend for so long. She couldn’t believe she’d been taking him for granted so much.
Sakura crouched down and said, “Plus, you’re a weirdo. You’re quirky.” Maka frowned as Sakura smiled and held out her hand. “Because of that, will you be friends with me?”
Maka opened her eyes and the playground melted away. She was back on the roof of the Regiment headquarters. Her right hand was still limp and swollen, and her left was in Sakura’s hand.
“Will you be friends with me?” said the girl, this time with an English accent. She had an earnest smile that Maka couldn’t help but return, though she had no clue why. Sakura pulled her to her feet and held her hand tightly.
“Well?” blurted an Aussie accented voice. “Say yes!”
“Nathan!” yelled another voice.
Maka and Sakura looked over to see Nathan, Astrid, Xiaolang, and Soul. Franklin stood a bit further away, beside the roof exit. They all had grins on their faces, tainted a bit by embarrassment at Nathan’s outburst.
“What?” replied Nathan. “They’re just sitting there.”
“You make it sound like a marriage proposal,” chuckled Soul.
Xiaolang paled at that thought and quickly pulled Maka and Sakura apart.
“Don’t say things to make Sakura question her identity, thank you very much,” he exclaimed in jest. Sakura only giggled, as did Maka.
Soul leaned to Franklin and said, “I didn’t really think it would work so easily.”
Franklin just grinned proudly. “That’s my Sakura. She’s a girl who makes things happen.”
Soul shook his head in amazement, unable to disagree with the man. He then walked over and slung his arm around his meister.
“Feelin’ better?” he asked.
Maka nodded. She inhaled sharply as she cradled her hand. Xiaolang quickly procured a paper charm and healed her broken bones. The blonde sighed and leaned back against the railing.
“Sorry, everyone,” she said embarrassed. “Just … all this stuff with Sakura’s dad had me worked up. Plus, when Papa hit on you, I just –”
“It’s alright,” said Sakura. “I was a bit creeped out by it too.”
“What? Did your dad actually hit on a girl right in front of you?” asked Nathan. Maka nodded shamefully. Nathan chuckled, much to her surprise. To Astrid, he said, “Well then, you don’t get to call me creepy anymore.”
“Says the one trying to kiss me all the time,” retorted Astrid.
“You too, huh?” Xiaolang jibed.
Sakura slapped his shoulder at the comment, but laughed all the same. Soul hooted while Nathan and Maka jokingly pressed for gossip. Though she would have been happy to continue clowning, Astrid had to stop the conversation.
“Listen, everyone,” she said. “Shaula and Moonface’re still out there. This fiasco isn’t over yet.” She turned to Maka. “Did you manage to find her?”
“No, my senses can’t reach that far,” said Maka. “Even when my mind is clear.”
The group grumbled with disappointment. Gazes downturned in thought. Then Sakura had an idea.
“Why don’t we resonate again?” she suggested. “When I resonate with my Cards, I can provide them more power and control. Maybe I can resonate with you and boost your range?”
Maka chewed her lip thoughtfully. “That could work.”
“I’ll get in on that too,” said Nathan. He pointed to his chest and said, “This thing makes me damn powerful.”
“He’s right, it does,” said Astrid.
“So I could prob’ly give you a boost too,” said Nathan.
“Let’s all pitch in,” said Soul. “I mean, if Eriol’s right and we really are supposed to work together.” Astrid and Xiaolang nodded in agreement.
Maka drew a deep breath and held out her newly healed hand. Sakura placed her hand on top. Then Nathan placed his hand below. Soul placed his hand above. Then Astrid on top, and then finally Xiaolang below. They reached out through the aether.
Maka’s soul, a blue orb crowned by wings, matched its beating to the pink, feathery energy of Sakura’s soul. Then Nathan’s shining crimson soul, thrumming a million times a minute, slowed to a dulcet tone. Astrid’s soul, in the shape of an ethereal echidna, sung in tune. The beat in Soul’s head sped up to match. Xiaolang’s focused wolf-like spirit aligned with that of his beloved’s mind.
With harmony achieved, their spirits sung louder. Their synchronised, resonating roar burst across the astral landscape, touching every soul they could find. With ease, they traversed the horizon many times over.
Then they saw it: the slick, galling sensation not unlike dining on rotten meat. There Shaula stood, within a needle-like tower, surrounded by a sprawling harbour-side metropolis.
Maka broke the resonance and everyone hunched over. They smiled with delight.
“She’s in Centrepoint,” said Nathan.
“Where’s that?” asked Soul.
“Sydney,” said Astrid.
“We should tell Bravo and the others,” said Xiaolang.
“No,” barked Astrid. Everyone looked at her, quite perplexed. “We tell them, they’ll just bicker for hours more. We’re working together right now. Why shouldn’t we see it all the way through together?”
Nathan grabbed Astrid’s shoulders and looked at her.
“Astrid, are you sure?” he said. His hands trembled with nervousness. “I don’t know if I can control this.”
Astrid grabbed his hands and gripped them tightly.
“You can,” she said resolutely. “We have to do this, and we can only do it together.”
“Are you serious?” asked Xiaolang, wondering where the Astrid he knew had gone.
“Yes, I am,” said Astrid with a cocky grin. “Screw regulations and jurisdictions. Let’s get this done.”
“How’re we going to get there?” asked Sakura.
“The plane we used to get to Somerset Dam,” said Maka.
“Let’s go then,” said Astrid. She locked her gaze onto Nathan, and seemed to transmit her resolve to him. With a deep sigh, Nathan grinned. He then punched the air.
“Let’s do it!” he exclaimed.
As everyone entered the fire escape, Sakura and Maka lingered. Maka turned to Franklin and coughed nervously.
“I haven’t introduced myself properly,” she said deferentially. “I am Maka Albarn. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same here, Miss Albarn,” said Franklin, shaking her hand.
“I’m sorry I attacked your daughter,” said Maka.
“Hey, if she’s forgiven you, then no need to apologise to me,” replied Franklin with a smile. He then turned to Sakura, who wrung her hands nervously. “You’re going to save the world?”
“I don’t know,” stammered the girl.
Franklin hooked his finger under her cheek and pulled her gaze to meet his.
“I don’t think they’ll be able to do it without you,” he said.
“I agree,” said Maka, threading her fingers through Sakura’s.
Franklin beamed with unfettered pride and said, “Go, and be my magic girl.”
Sakura trembled with excitement and trepidation. She threw her arms around Franklin. Her father returned the hug, before shooing her off to follow the others.
The group walked down the staircase and into the building. After traversing a few floors toward the hangar level, they ran into the face they’d least expected.
“Eriol?” exclaimed Sakura.
“How did you get out?” asked Xiaolang.
“A wizard did it,” said Eriol. He glanced at the whole group, and grinned excitedly. “Look at you all, teamed up and everythin’,” he chirped. He raised a finger. “But, before y’all get into the action, I think you’re missin’ somethin’.”
“What?” asked Astrid, her excitement overriding her annoyance only slightly.
Eriol pointed to a nearby locker room. The six of them walked into the room and looked around. They glanced back at the Scotsman with confused expressions.
“On the bench there,” said Eriol. “I’ll run interference for ya.” Then he disappeared down the hall.
Maka grimaced as she looked around the locker room, until she found a bench in the middle. A package resting on it caught her eye, and she walked over to it. There was a gift-card attached to the package with her name on it. Inside it read, “Dear Scythe Meister. From a certain traitor, Eriol.” There were five more packages, addressed to Cardcaptor, Coyote, Soul Eater, Spartan Valkyrie, and Starlight Lancer.
Sakura picked up hers and found the pink costume Tomoyo had given her at the airport in Japan. Xiaolang’s contained the green costume.
“I thought I’d left these in Hong Kong,” she exclaimed.
Maka’s contained her blouse, cardigan, checkerboard skirt, and black coat, along with a pair of brand new Converse shoes. She beamed with utter delight.
Soul’s contained his yellow and black jacket and his red trousers. He drooled excitedly.
Astrid and Nathan opened theirs and found matching cargo pants, as well as the shirts Ariadne had made for them. Nathan held them up for the rest to see. The star on Nathan’s shirt still shone, while the crucifix of Astrid’s shirt glimmered in the light. Nathan squeaked with glee at the sight of his red scarf.
“Well, if we’re going to save the world, we might as well do it lookin’ cool,” exclaimed Soul.
“Soul, you’re as bad as Tomoyo,” said Sakura.
Nathan looked over the top of his shirt and grinned almost evilly.
“In the words of Barney Simpson,” he chuckled. Then he yelled, “Suit up!” And he walked off with his shirt.
Astrid groaned.
“It’s Stinson, you moron!” she cried. She looked at the others and moaned, “I swear, he does it just to annoy me.”