Stein caught Kid by the collar on his way out of class.

"Maka is not to be alone, at any time, for any reason. She is Medusa's target, and is in great danger so long as Soul remains under the witch's control. Do you understand?" The Professor whispered as he smiled at the other students walking by. Kid nodded and Stein released him. "Hurry up now, she's already halfway down the hall."

"Maka, wait up!" Kid called, running to catch up to her.

"Look, Kid, I really appreciate you giving me a place to stay last night but maybe I should just stay with Tsubaki tonight," Maka said. She spotted her friend nearby and shouted over to her. "Tsubaki? Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Sure, Maka!" Tsubaki jogged over to join them, with Black Star at her side. Kid gave her a poisonous glare that Maka couldn't see. "Or, maybe not. See, Black Star has this plan tonight and, um, oh, I have to go."

"Oh," Maka's shoulders slumped. She glanced over at Kid with a sigh. "I guess I'm sticking with you tonight, then." They met up with Liz and Patty on their way back to the Death Mansion for lunch. Kid and Liz cooked-arguing the entire time-while Patty sat at the table drawing giraffes.

"You have to stir it like this!" Kid told Liz, demonstrating his prefect stirring strategy to create a symmetrical pattern of movement in the pot.

"It doesn't matter how I stir, just don't look at the noodles if you have such an issue with it," Liz replied, rolling her eyes at him.

"We need a third opinion," Kid decided. "Maka!"

"Oh, yeah," Liz chuckled under her breath. "Call your girlfriend for help." Kid turned bright red. He'd nearly forgotten that Liz saw them this morning. He turned back to make sure Maka hadn't heard Liz's snide remark.

"Wait, where is she? Patty, did you see where Maka went?"

"She said she went home. She wanted to get some of her stuff. Hey, do you like this giraffe?"

"No," Kid paled and dashed out the door.

"Hey! Don't go running off like that! Ugh. Come on, Patty," the girls quickly followed after their meister.

"What a stupid little girl. She's making it so easy!" Medusa laughed. "Go on, Soul. Eliminate her." Soul rose from his seat on the floor and climbed out of the cellar. He fought every move she forced him to make, but his efforts seemed to be wasted.

"Stick to the alleys, little puppet. I can't have them find you quite yet."

He moved quickly through the shadows of Death City until he stood staring up at his bedroom window. A thin, blonde-haired figure stood there.

Maka! Get out of there! He wanted to scream at her, but his jaw was like stone. He began scaling the wall, moving closer to her inch by inch. As he pulled his body over his windowsill, he stilled. Maka sat in the middle of his bed, clutching his pillow to her chest as her shoulders shook from sobbing.

"What are you doing, puppet? Kill her!" Medusa's voice cam from inside his head, as if he were thinking it. His silent protests made no difference. He couldn't disobey her commands now. He couldn't even call out to Maka, he couldn't warn her of his silent approach. Why didn't she sense his soul? Why didn't she know he was there?

"I can hear what you're thinking, puppet," Medusa hissed inside his head. "My soul protect covers you, as well. They cannot feel your presence so long as I control you."

The schink! of his arm transforming into the blade of a scythe caught Maka's attention.

"Soul?" Her eyes went wide as she realized that he was still possessed. "Soul! You have to fight it!" Maka screamed at him. He lunged at her and she leapt back off of the bed.

"Don't let her control you, Soul! You can fight it!" Maka shouted as she dodged his attacks.

Damn it, Maka! Get the hell out of here! Quit jumping away from me and run!

"Please, you have to- ah!" She wasn't fast enough, and his blade cut into her side. She fell back against the wall and he came for her again.

I can't fight this, Maka! Please, please just run away! Soul had felt Maka's blood running hot down the length of his scythe from the first wound.

"Fight it, Soul! You're better than her!"

It hadn't even seemed like blood to him. It felt like hot water. But it smelled like salt and rust, and he could see the red soaking her shirt and he could hear the pain in her voice when she cried out.

"You're stronger than this, Soul!"

I won't hurt her again!

"Soul!" He stopped, his blade pressed against her heart. A small, but nervous smile appeared on her face.

"Run," Soul whispered, his voice strained. "Please!"

"I knew you were still in there," Maka smiled. "I know you can't come back to me right now, but I swear I'll still be here for you when you return. You're my weapon, and I'm your meister."

"Run!" He repeated. He couldn't hold Medusa back for much longer.

"I'll see you soon, Soul!" Maka promised. She wriggled away from his blade just as Medusa regained control and pushed Soul forwards. Maka clutched at the fresh wound on her chest and ran out with a renewed sense of urgency. She ran into Kid in the street outside of her apartment. He held his twin pistols with an expression she had never seen on his face before.

"Maka, are you hurt?" Kid asked.

"Not badly, but Soul," Kid didn't listen to the rest of what she had to say. He barged past her and into the building. He returned soon, his face like stone.

"He's gone. Come on, you look like you need stitches."

"You stupid, stupid boy!" Medusa was enraged by Soul's ability to usurp her control of his body. She had control now, and he stood perched on the edge of the roof of one of the tallest buildings in Death City. The ground seemed miles away. He leaned forward, his feet halfway off of the edge.

"What good are you to me if you won't do as I say? No good at all. I have no use for you anymore, puppet. Jump!" He leapt forward, saved at the last second by a pair of strong, bony hands.

"Let's see now, is Medusa still in there?"

"Stein, you bastard!" Soul roared. Stein laughed as he dangled Soul over the street.

"I can't tell which one of you said that," the Professor said, amused. "Oh, I see it now. Your soul protect is quite powerful Medusa, but I feel your power in this boy. How long do you think you can control him? I've just been stitching up Maka, you see. She told me something very interesting. Soul has already defied you at least once. He is neither your puppet nor your slave. How long are you going to keep up this little show of yours?"

"We could have molded the new world together, Stein." Medusa spoke through Soul. "I wish you hadn't shied away from your true nature."

"Let the boy go, Medusa," Stein ordered. "Or I will purge your soul from his body."

Wait a minute, that sounds painful! Soul thought. Let's not make any rash decisions here!

"The boy is my puppet!" Soul barked. The hell I am!

"Very well, Medusa. I see you've chosen to be purged." Professor Stein closed his eyes and took a long, slow breath. He adjusted his glasses and briefly apologized to Soul before sending a concentrated burst of his soul wavelength throughout the young scythe's body.

Shit! I was right! This hurts! Soul would have screamed, if he were able. Moments later he could scream again, and he did.

"Stein, you bastard!" He screamed. The Professor pulled back his soul wavelength with a slightly twisted, satisfied grin.

"Good to see you again, Soul."