Spartoi Revived (16)

Chapter 16: Damage

Tsubaki had been sobbing uncontrollably when Marie and Azusa had found the rest of the group. She was covered in injuries of her own, but nothing prepared them for the sight of the woman holding to her unconscious, bloodied daughter. Not too far off was Maka, hovering over Zeke, who was in no better condition. It was hard enough entering the school, hoping the student had gotten away safely, only to find so many injured and even lost. The staff that had parented any of the students injured, had lost any form of professionalism, running to their own child. Patty was in a rage, ready to snap the neck of anyone who got in her way while Kilik tended to a very battered Rion.

Soul had been reporting back all the injuries in the sector. He and Black Star along with Kim would be helping Nygus keep track of all the injured and the order in which to start medical attention. That was asking a lot from them considering how much restraint Black Star was showing in not going to hunt down who had done this to his daughter and Soul having to being a professional himself and focus on the task itself. Ava looked to have broken bones and more than likely a concussion, as did her partner. Zeke had a large slash going down his back while Ayame had one going across her shoulder. They both had several scrapes scattering their bodies and possibly fractures but nothing broken. Through a broken down wall, Gabe was being pulled from under some rumble, body found several feet from Aiden who had a harsh burn on his shoulder. Something he clearly didn't completely avoid.

There were so many injured and the conscious students that could help were pulling the bodies of their classmates from rubble. Liam was helping lift bodies onto swiftly whipped up cots and gurneys with his classmate Brianna, being one of the few conscious and functional in the wing. Ares, Lyra, Angela, and Arthur had gone about looking for any others that might have needed help. Aimee was crying hysterically as she cradled the head of a young student who hadn't survived the attack. There had been so much damage done. Far more than he, as a Shinigami, could handle.

The school was shut down again. It had to be. Parents had to be notified. Arrangements had to be made. Repairs had to be done. But more importantly, war had basically been declared. Through all that had happened. Through the chaos and destruction that had taken place that night, there was one thing that stood out to Death the Kid.

Witches.

The feeling was unmistakable. Once the attacks hit, he had known there was magic behind them and when he and the other adults rushed outside the school to fight, his suspicions had been correct. Sitting on a broom, face blacked out by her drawn up hood was a witch, conjuring up dark beings from the ground to attack the school. They were easy enough to take down, but it was the reinforcements that came with the distraction that were the real trouble. Kid had never really been aware of any ties that witches had with those outside their realm. He knew that there were witches that went against what the grand council had decided during his youth about peace between them and Shibusen, but he knew no further than that and the rumors of a dark council. Apparently it wasn't so much of a rumor after all. That had all been nearly a week ago.

"Kid…" Head snapping up, he allowed his eyes to fall on Liz. A sympathetic look crossed the woman's face as she entered his study, balancing a tray holding two cups of what he assumed to be coffee. "You still haven't been sleeping." He only grunted in response, taking the coffee from her with great appreciation.

"Too much to do." He answered easily, taking a slow sip and letting out a content sigh. He glanced up, noticing his wife still staring. He rarely saw her since the attack on the school, between dealing with media and Shibusen staff. Not to mention the families of the students who hadn't survived the attack. He felt sick thinking about it. Liz's voice, however, cut through his morbid thoughts.

"I went to visit Aimee and Liam today," She started, waiting for some semblance of her husband listening. She then let out a tired sigh and continued. "I've been worried about them. Liam seemed to be acting differently since the attack and Aimee wasn't herself either." Kid nodded, shuffling distractedly through the piles of papers on his desk.

"How were they?"

"They weren't there." At this, Kid lifted his gaze. It was then that he noticed a note crumbled up in her hand and a frowned crossed his tired face. "They left to go visit Aimee's family."

"She said she hasn't spoken to them since coming to Shibusen." Kid countered. Liz shrugged a shoulder, lowering her eyes as she wrapped her arms around herself.

"I suppose anything is better than sitting here waiting for the worse." She answered and glanced up. "Kid, this is bad. Really bad. I don't think there's anything you can do or say to fix this. The media… the city…"

"Liz!" She stiffened when he slammed his fist on the desk, standing abruptly. "Don't you think I already know that things are out of control!? I'm trying the best I can to salvage what we can!"

"Maybe there's nothing that can be salvaged." Liz retorted. Her hands were on her hips now. Kid's features darkened.

"How could you say something like that?"

"Are you kidding?" Liz snapped. "The school has sustained a sufficient amount of damage and students DIED, Kid! Not to mention, non-Shibusen teenagers were at this event. Granted, none of them were injured, but all the same, this isn't exactly a good look for us seeing as we were preaching that we're not a threat."

"We're not a threat! It was the witches!" Kid countered.

"And what proof do we have?"Kid faltered.

"What?"

"What proof can you provide that we're not a threat? That we're safe? Tell me, Kid, because right now, I need something that can keep me from believing that just maybe things will never be the same and the life of a meister is the last thing I want my son doing."

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Soul was watching Maka's moves carefully. He, along with Black Star, Tsubaki, Patty, and Kilik were seated around a table, watching as the scythe meister paced. They had agreed to have this meeting without Kid considering every encounter with the Shinigami put those involved on edge and a lot of yelling tended to take place. Liz had gone to speak to her husband at the moment, leaving them to discuss the main issue at hand. "Shibusen is screwed." Black Star's voice cut in, finally ceasing the woman's movements.

"Since when're you so negative?" Soul countered. The assassin grumbled in response, leaning back heavily in his seat and crossing his arms.

"I'm being realistic." Black Star retorted. "Until some kinda big break is made, we're screwed. It's all over the news. Tsubaki's parents even called!"

"They're panicked… They want Ayame to come stay with them until everything blows over. They don't think it's safe here for people like us." His wife responded and looked to Maka, who had been silent. "We have to get answers fast or I don't know what we can expect next… Do you?" Letting out a sigh, Maka shook her head and turned to face the others fully.

"The kids are scared." She said easily. "Liz told me that Liam and Aimee have left. Apparently they've gone to visit Aimee's family for some time."

"Rion and Ava left too." Kilik added. "They didn't say where, but they said they were going to take some time away and they'd be back by time the school opened up again."

"These kids are doing an awful lot of moving considering the injuries some of them sustained." Soul spoke up, furrowing his brow slightly. "Zeke and Ayame are still in the city, right?"

"They are." Maka answered. "But we can't blame any of them for wanting to get out. I believe Aiden and Gabe are still in the city as well."

"Actually…" All eyes fell back on Tsubaki. "I was talking to Kim. She said she hasn't heard for Gabe in a few days."

"What?"

"Why exactly aren't Kim and the others here anyway?" Patty asked, wrinkling her nose. She had sat silently, taking in everything, but her annoyance was clear. "How're we supposed to be building a battle strategy if the rest of Spartoi aren't here?"

"They're actually on a separate assignment." Maka answered and dropped into a chair, looking at her long time friends. "Kid believes witches are involved. Kim and Jackie have taken Angela and Arthur with them to follow a trail."

"Angela and Arthur?" Black Star frowned. "Those kids can't stand up to what we faced last week accompanied with only Kim and Jackie. That's a suicide mission!"

"Azusa allowed it." Soul interrupted. "They're not being asked to attack, just to locate. Angela is good a concealing herself and tracking. They'll be fine."

"And what about Ox and Harvar?"

"Investigations." Maka answered.

"Of who?"

"The mayor." A silence fell over the group and Maka continued. "Kid can't keep facing the press so we had to send someone who has the intelligence and memory capacity. Harvar's deadpan ways will give us some leeway in getting by on certain things and not to mention, there's some questioning of the officials that were previously sent here that they're investigating."

"So then what exactly are we hiding from Kid?" Patty asked. She obviously didn't feel right having to keep secrets from her meister, but there were things that she understood had to be done and Kid was falling apart at the seams. With that, Maka leaned back heavily in her seat and let out a slow breath.

"We need to take action."

"Hell yeah!" Black Star cheered but fell silent with the pointed look sent his way. "I'm just saying…"

"Right. Well Kid wants to do this professionally. He wants politics to work things out and expects trust and the justice system to fall into place, but let's face facts, something somewhere is corrupted and it's time for us to take matters into our own hands, especially if there are witches involved."

"You really believe there are witches involved in all of this?" Tsubaki asked, concern deepening on her face.

"You can't say that all that happened the other night was the simple work of a kishin gone rogue." Kilik informed, frowning. "There was magic involved. They were after something in the school."

"And they were after a student." Patty added. "Ava told me that they went up against a kid around their age who had magical abilities, but to make things worse, he went berserk when he saw Rion. Said something about finding what he needed."

"If Ares and Lyra hadn't shown up when they did, things could have been far worse." Kilik continued. "I don't know much about the kid, but he's grown on me. He's family and I don't wish any more torment on the kid than he's already had to deal with. He doesn't know what the other kid wanted from him and if it's some freak hit on him from abandoning his old gig then I won't hesitate to protect him."

"I'm in." Soul answered. "We need to take action and protect our kids. We'll tell our fearless leader as things fall into place."

"What about others?" Tsubaki asked, looking around at the other members. "Sid? Nygus? Akane and Tsugumi? We've got friends that came from far away to help us. We're not going to seclude them are we?"

"Of course not." Maka answered and stood from her seat. She walked to the lounge door, opening it and beckoning in those they had just been referring to. Tsugumi gave a sheepish wave from where she peeked from behind Clay.

"So, it's looking like we're putting a real plan into effect now?" Akane asked, taking a seat beside Soul. "Tell me where you need me and I won't hesitate. Shibusen is always home and I'll do whatever it is to protect it."

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It was dark and cold. Actually, it was pretty creepy too, sending a different shutter up his spine, but glancing over at the Stein family, Ares tried to keep himself composed. Why was it that they were so accustomed to such strange things? Granted, Dr. Stein was a creepy guy with his dissection obsession, but Mrs. Marie was such a pleasant woman to be around. A breath of fresh air. And Lyra… Well she wasn't always pleasant, but she could be fun and she was damn gorgeous if he could say so himself. She had inherited her father's silver hair, though it was more pure and nearly white, but she had her mother's curves, though a bit smaller in the waist. He fought back a cheesy grin. Yeah, he was definitely proud to call that stubborn woman his girlfriend… even if her parents- or anyone for that matter- didn't know yet. "Ares, are you listening?" He blinked, snapping from his thoughts to have three sets of eyes focused on him.

"Excuse me?" Lyra had rolled her eyes at the blank expression he was sending them. A glint passed over the lenses of Stein's round glasses and Marie raised a brow.

"You're going ahead with my dad." The young woman answered, one hip poked out and a hand placed perfectly on it as she gave him an annoyed look. "Mom and I are gonna back you up."

"Why can't I go ahead with-"

"I don't have Soul Perception." Lyra had cut him off easily. "You and dad have the ability and not to mention you can sense the slightest movements and wavers. You two are better off going ahead and we back up whatever comes in afterwards." There was a pause. She had a good point. They were down in the deepest level of Shibusen for a reason, though he wasn't sure if he or Stein, as history had recorded, should have been the ones on this particular task. Nodding to the women, they walked ahead, through the once sealed mahogany doors towering in front of them. Pushing them open, the pair stepped into a vast, dark room, cracked pillars and fallen brick and concrete in their path.

"What happened here?" Ares murmured, shivering slightly.

"This," Stein stated easily, his voice carrying slightly in the vast space. "Is the chamber where the kishin was once held."

"W- what?" Ares choked out and stumbled some to keep up with the older man.

"That's right. Years ago. Way before their kids were even a consideration… Hell, they were even younger than their kids are, your senseis had fought against the revival of the kishin and unfortunately failed." Stein began to explain. "You all knows certain basics of all that. Shibusen history of course. The moon being as it is, it would be pretty dimwitted for us to not allow our students to understand the significance." He led Ares further into the cavern, eyes seeming to can everything. Stein had always been an interesting man. His eyes seemed to stare straight into your soul and it was almost as if he could tell what you were going to do or say right before it happened. "Do you sense anything out of the ordinary?"

"Uh… just a sec…" Allowing himself to relax, Ares allowed his soul to search for any negative or foreign energies. After a moment, he turned to his professor, shaking his head. "No. Nothing… Is that a good thing?"

"Yes… and no." Stein answered peering ahead some. He then turned back to Ares. "There were charms that were placed around this chamber to try to dispel or control some of the madness that the kishin would project. Those charms are missing." It was then that the presence of Marie and Lyra became evident. Both women walked over, looking around curiously.

"Those kids certainly did a lot of damage back then… I can't believe we honestly left everything like this." Marie informed, kicking at some rubble. She then looked up at where a very evident hole had been repaired. "Our school's history just gets more and more destructive." She turned to her husband. "What's next?" As the pair whispered to one another, for reasons Ares couldn't understand, Lyra made her way beside her partner.

"This is getting tedious." She muttered, arms crossed as she took in their destroyed surroundings. "I doubt they even needed us here." Ares gave a hum of acknowledgement, watching as Stein and Marie walked a little further ahead. There was a feint sound coming from deeper in the chamber, but he wondered if it was simply rodents that had housed themselves in the walls. Clearly no one had been this low in the school since the kishin was revived.

"This feels so weird…" He murmured distractedly.

"Well some madness does still linger down here. Maybe its-"

"No, that's not it."Ares ignored Lyra's concerned look and began to walk away. He hadn't noticed that Marie and Stein had stopped their searching or that Lyra was calling out to him. He simply walked blindly, deeper into the cavern until a rough hand on his shoulder had jerked him from his daze. Glancing over his shoulder in confusion, his eyes met with Stein's.

"What're you doing?" The older man asked, an unreadable expression on his face. The younger male blinked several times, not sure as to what to say. He had unintentionally spaced out. He didn't know what to say or how to explain it so he simply gaped, feeling like an idiot with each passing second.

"Hey…" Marie's voice caught their attention as she peered deeper into the darkness where Ares had been headed. "There's something… Something's over there!" Stein chose that moment to walk ahead of the others, requesting they stay back. He wasn't necessarily a man who needed back up. Even at his age he could do a lot of damage without his weapon. They watched as his form became less visible, only the dull light of his lantern flickering.

"Dad?" Lyra called after a few moments had passed. A concerned look had crossed her face but he called back, his voice stiff.

"Someone go get Nygus… It looks like we finally found out where Ms. Misery has been."