Chapter 3: Reminiscent

Stein stood stiffly before the ruckus of the classroom. He checked the clock which resembled Shinigami's mask with the hands sticking out oddly from the center "nose" circle. Marie was supposed to have joined him for today's demonstration. He was debating calling for Spirit, though Maka would probably never forgive him. Stein didn't particularly care what the students thought of him. His job was to be sure the students learned what they needed to in order to become successful meisters and weapons, not to start some club.

Many of the students were laughing, it looked as though most of them were laughing at something Chrona said or did. As the child cowered away either embarrassed or fearful, Maka moved to the student quickly ready to comfort. Soul was smirking still, suppressing his laughter for his partner's sake. Kid sat towards the back of the class inspecting some sort of old tome, either from home or the library. Liz sat beside him, looking over occasionally to view the contents of the book. Patty, Liz's younger sister was laughing cruelly with some of the other students taunting Chrona. Tsubaki looked worriedly at the door, no doubt wondering how Black*Star was fairing.

"Four hundred and fifty-two… four hundred and fifty three…" Black*Star grit his teeth, pushing himself to train harder. He was currently doing vertical, single handed push-ups. He could feel his strained limb shaking with tension causing the puddle of sweat beneath him to send ripples out across its surface. He could hear someone approaching behind him. He paused his exercise, looking behind him, so he was performing a one-handed handstand. There was the upside down image of a woman, blonde hair, black shirt and skirt with some yellow design on it. She had an eye-patch which Black*Star thought was cool. It was a good indication she'd been through some or at least one tough battle. He pushed himself up and onto his feet to greet her,

"Hey! Nice to meet ya! I'm Black*Star! The number one meister who will surpass god!" Black*Star flashed her a huge grin and a thumbs up. The woman seemed shocked by his introduction,

"Oh… Hi, I'm Marie."

"…That's it?" Black*Star asked, not impressed at all. Marie sighed, before striking a "sailor" pose, a gust of wind and light swooshed from behind her as she declared,

"I, Marie Mjolnir, stand before you the Deathscythe of the Oceania region!"

There was a moment as the two stood there. Finally Black*Star broke the silence,

"That's all?"

Marie's eye widened which quickly turned into a heated glare,

"Why you little!"

If Stein thought the classroom was noisy before it was nothing compared to the clamor that had erupted from the hallway. Everyone turned their attention from what they were doing to the door, as If whatever was out there would enter the classroom.

Stein adjusted his glasses and made his way to the door, no doubt Black*Star had gotten himself into another fight, while killing time in the hallway. As Stein opened the door he was surprised to see Black*Star fly into the wall beside the door, he regained his footing quickly, kicking off the wall he hit for momentum, head-butting his opponent. Stein raised his brows in surprise to see Black*Star's head-butt connect with Marie's chest. The two fell in a heap against the opposing wall. Stein walked over and picked up Black*Star by the collar.

"At least they're soft…" Black*Star said in a daze, a single trail of blood escaping from one of his nostrils. Stein didn't recall Black*Star's nose getting hit hard enough in the impact to cause it to bleed. He threw the boy over his shoulder. Black*Star fell back, doing backward somersaults into the classroom, landing at Tsubaki's feet. Tsubaki sighed,

"Oh Black*Star..." too sad for the boy to say much else.

Stein offered a hand to Marie to help her up. She took it, thankful for the courtesy.

"Thanks." As she rose to her feet, brushing herself off she added, "Sorry, I got a bit lost." she put a finger to her chin in pondering as she asked, "Did I miss much?"

Stein turned away from the woman, and entered the classroom,

"No, I was about to call Spirit when you didn't show though."

When Maka heard that her eyes widened. Soul sneered,

"Aren't you glad she wasn't a no-show, Maka?"

Stein took his place at the front of the room in his chair. He lit a cigarette before calling attention to the front of the room,

"Alright, as I was saying, it seems everyone is having more trouble with Soul Resonance than I anticipated." He took a drag, "I'm a little surprised, and disappointed, but I suppose it can't be helped."

Marie paled at the man's comment,

"You're sort of harsh, Stein."

He shot a glare to her and she shut up.

"I've asked my partner Ms. Mjolnir to assist me today."

"Hey, isn't she a little old to be a 'Ms.'?" commented Black*Star cruelly. Marie could feel the sting of the comment as Oxford added,

"Sir, I thought Spirit was your partner why isn't he here?"

Maka shot a glare at Oxford who cowered behind his part of the desk.

"Enough." said Stein. Putting his cigarette out on the desk, "Pay attention, we'll try to go slowly maybe then you'll be able to see the concentration required for Soul Resonance."

Stein turned to Marie, she seemed a little broken from Black*Star's comment. He held her hand, she looked up in shock,

"Ready?" he asked. Marie clenched her free hand into a fist and nodded. In a swirl of light Marie turned into her basic weapon form, a hammer.

The students fidgeted, watching as their professor closed his eyes, his arms relaxed at his side. Maka furrowed her brows reading the wavelengths of the adults. They were extraordinary matching each other in capacity and slowly growing. Suddenly their wavelengths halted in expansion,

"Soul Resonance." said Stein simply. The students winced as a light burst forth from where the two stood. Wind rushed around the classroom and there was the buzz of electricity zipping around the room. Black*Star raised his brows slightly, maybe even he was a little impressed.

Stein pushed the rim of his glasses further up his nose; he could feel Marie's technique Izuna charging him, ready for battle. He looked down to the long black tendrils from the base of the hammer wrapped around his wrist she had shifted into a tonfa, the form she took while in this state.

Stein's gaze fell to the checkered floor. He felt amazing, unstoppable, he hadn't felt this way…probably since the last time he performed Soul Resonance with Marie. He heard Marie release a sigh, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

"Too bad they're only students, I wouldn't mind a match." Marie cooed. Stein contemplated this statement.

"Maka, Soul," Stein looked around the room, "Tsubaki, Black*Star, and Death the Kid and the Thompson Sisters, please follow me outside. Stein was about to leave the rest of the class when he added,

"The rest of you may watch from a distance, otherwise class is dismissed."

Stein held Marie's handle, the ebony grip warm and familiar. As he left the classroom he heard Marie ask,

"Can you just end class like that?"

Stein smirked, heading out into the courtyard of the school,

"I believe I just did." Stein pulled out his pack of cigarettes and, careful not to burn Marie, lit his cigarette. He inhaled deeply, looking at the small paper stick. The toxins it contained could never match the high or calming feel of resonating souls with Marie. How he ever though it could he had no idea.