Chapter 18 - ch.18

"His weapon is his blood!!? What the hell does that mean!!?" Exclaimed Soul.

"Just as I said. I don't know how or why, but it would appear he was somehow merged with his own weapon. His blood has a mind of it's own, hardening where hit, coming out of his palm and becoming a sword, and one even said that a giant being came out of her back and talked to her, rather rudely I might add."

"Jeez, sounds like we're fighting some kind of monster!" commented Soul.

"Maka Chop!!" Souls head is nearly split in half, the imprint of the book more than obvious as he lies on the floor.

"W-why...?"

"Soul, he's our age, and living in the streets! What do you think we would be like if we weren't here!?" Soul looks down, somewhat understanding. Maka becomes solomn. "I think, maybe, if we can talk to him, maybe we can help. Maybe all he needs is a friend."

Soul got up, and sat back in his seat. "You realise we may be expelled if we do that."

"I don't care! If we can help him, it would be worth it!"

Soul grins. "Alright. We're partner's all the way. Whatever you think is best, I got your back!"

"You guys are so cute together!" exclaimed Naru.

They started to blush madly. "W-we're not like that!" said Maka, looking away.

"Really?" She asks tauntingly, not beleiving them. "But you have at least thought of it, right?" She could see right through them.

"W-w-well..." She blushes harder.

"hahahahah!!" Naru starts laughing, followed by the other girls, even Hinata giving a giggle. "I'm just kidding! You should see your faces!!"

"I-I think I'll take a shower now!" She leaves her empty plate and heads for her room.

"Hey, Kid, Liz, Patty. Wanna play some basketball?"

"I'm sorry, I'm not much for sports."

"Yeah! I'll play, I'll play!!" exclaimed Patty, raising her hand.

"Sure, why not?" Liz said nonchalantly. "But we're gonna need a forth so the teams are even."

"I'll play!" exclaimed Naru, jumping from her seat, before her face goes blank. "Umm, what's basketball again?"

Everyone falls over. Soul is the first to get back up. "If you don't know what it is, so get so excited over it!"

"Could you please keep it down! You woke me from my nap!" They turn to the voice, only to see a black cat wearing a jagged pointy hat that curled into a spiral and collar with a stone with a jack-o-lantern etched in it.

"Oh, hey. sorry Blair."

"Oh, it's all right. I probably should have been getting up anyway." She says as she stretches. she looks and sees the newcomers. "So, who are these cuties?" She says, walking to the genin, and jumping on Hinata's lap.

"Ahh, a cute kitty!" Hinata smiles, and starts petting her, making her purr. "I'm Hinata! And these are my friends: Naru and Sakura. And our Sensei..." She looks around, but doesn't see him. "Where's sensei?" Everyone looked around, not even noticing he left.

"Oh, nice to meet you...Oh, that feels good. Around the ears, don't forget the ears!" Hinata used her other hand and did as instructed, only for Blair to melt in her lap. "Ohhh, yes..."

"We'll leave you guys with Blair. C'mon, lets go play." Soul start heading out, followed by the three girls.

"I should leave to. I need double check something at home. I can't remember if I folded the toilet paper properly, and it must be attended to immediately." He left promptly, not even giving them enough time to question him.

Blair looks at their stupified faces. "Don't worry, that normal. He's obsessed with order and symmetry. Call it a quirk. Now, I think maybe since we're alone, I can pet you..." She jumped off her lap onto the floor, and turned to them with a sly look, before transforming in a puff of smoke into a woman. She had short purple hair, with long strands on each side of her face, which curled like her hat. She had a beautiful face, her cat ears hidden by her hat, and her eyes yellow and slitted like a cat's. She wore a skin-tight black tube-top, the bottom jagged, accentuating her ample breasts. Around her waist was a loose pair of black jeans, showing exactly how wide they are.

Hinata and Sakura screamed in surprise at this transformation. Hinata's face went red at the scantily-clan catgirl, while Sakura stuttered out, "B-b-b-but I thought you were a cat!!"

"I am, i just have a LOT of chakra, and living in a town full of transforming people, it wasn't hard to figure out!" She rubs the side of her head with a hand, like a cat would. "Now, which of you would like to be petted first?" she crawls forward to the unsuspecting genin.

-----------------------------meanwhile, at a nearby basketball court------------------------

Naru had just mad her third slam-dunk, partnered with Soul. "Jeez, You're good. We can't even keep up!" commented Liz after her last score.

"Yes, we're winning 5-2!" Exclaimed Naru proudly.

"You're good, Naru. If you ever stop by again, we should play again." He says just before Pattie gets the ball and starts rushing toward them.

"Count on it!" She ran to block her, both stopping in about the middle of the court. She watches the ball, and her, trying to predict her. She slams the ball down, and over their heads. While Naru was distracted by the ball, Patty reached out and hopped, grabbing Naru by her shoulders, and propelling herself up, grabbing the ball in midair, before landing behind her, and continuing. This all took only 3 seconds.

After passing Naru, who was hot on her heels, she saw the Liz was completely blocked. She shoots, and it bounces off the backboard, falling through the net. "Yes! 5-3" The sticks their tongue out at them.

"Patty, you know we're not winning, right?" retorted Liz.

"Hey, a victory is a victory!" Said Patty, ever the optomist.

"Hey, it's our ball!" Said Soul, spinning it on his finger. "Get ready!" They take their positions, and Soul starts running. Liz blocks, but Soul simply bounced it between her legs, sidestepped her, and continued. He saw Naru beeing blocked by Patty, and darted his eyes to the left, a system they started to signal where to pass. Naru faked left, and ran past her on the right as Soul passes the ball. she catches it, and takes a sharp turn, throwing Patty off, and slowing her down. She nears the hoop, and jumps. Halfway, though, Liz manages to grab her legs, pulling her down. Naru tosses the ball the last foot, and it bounces off the backboard, and around the rim, until it falls in. "Cool. Our game!" He declares with a wide grin.

"Man, we didn't stand a chance against you two!" Liz remarked, breathing slightly heavy. "I can't wait to see how you go against Blackstar!"

"Not this time! I'm tired, and gotta leave in the morning. Maybe next time!" She yawns. "It's time to call it a night."

"Yeah. You put up a good game, though." Said Soul, extending his hand.

Liz takes it. "You too. C'mon Patty. Let's head home. I need to fix my hair."

"Right!!" She follows after her, skipping. Naru follows Soul home.

"So, what IS the story between you and Maka?" Naru asks, still curious.

"We're friends. I'm her weapon, and she's my meister. That's all there is to it."

"Oh? How she acted, she seems to think otherwise."

"In spite of her confident exterior, Maka's pretty sensitive. It doesn't take much on that subject to get her riled up. Truth is though, she hasn't even-"

"Maka Chop!!!" As he opened the door, he was hit with a book, caving his head and knocking him out. "Damn it, Soul! That's not for you to talk about!"

"No, no, it's my fault! Sorry, I was just curious!"

"Well, you should be. You're asking too personal questions. C'mon, I've got your bed ready." She angrily walks away, dragging Soul with her. "Blair, show them to their rooms when you're done, will you?"

Naru looks over to see the table moved, and Hinata and Sakura on the floor, Blair on top of them, using an arm and leg on each of them to massage them. "Righto, darling!" She mewls, as the other two girls lay there, clearly content.

"Ug, who am I kidding, they'll all probably lay there all night!" Maka muttered to herself.

She threw Soul onto his bed, before showing Naru her's. "Here it is." she said, still a little pissed. She entered the room, not even getting time to take it in before slaming the door. Naru dropped a sweat. 'I should be extra nice tomorrow...' She thinks, before examining the room.

A bed and a desk. That was all. A queensize bed covered in white sheets and blanket, and a writing desk that looked cheaply made. "Well, still better than a sleeping bag." She puts on her PJs, and goes to sleep.

-------------------------------------Next morning------------------------------------------

Naru woke up, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She got up, still half asleep, and went to the showers. She opened the door to see Maka in it. Maka just froze. "Occupied..." Naru closed the door, and went to the next bathroom. It wasn't until she was drying herself off that she realized what she saw. 'Huh, she was pretty cute, if a bit flat.' She thinks as she puts on her clothes, and takes her PJs back to her room, passing Maka on the way.

"Listen, Naru..."

"I've seen better." she comments, competely forgetting her thoughts last night.

Not even a warning. A book goes into her head, sprawling her on the floor. "Better not happen again!" She stomps away.

"Right, sorry..." She lays the for a second before returning to her room, and dropping off her clothes before returning to the living room. She saw Soul eating poptarts, with blood running sown his nose. Hinata and Sakura still on the floor, eating eggs and ham. "Got comfortable, huh?"

"Oh, she's better than a spa!" Sakura praised, Hinata blushing and nodding in agreement.

"Oh, you're too kind!" Blair responded, coming out of the kitchen with nothing but an apron and a smile, holding a plate similar to the genins', only uneaten. "Breakfast, Naru!" She leans over Soul, purposly rubbing her breasts over him. He tries not to react, but a fress splurt of blood rushes out of his nose. She takes the plate, seeing Soul starting to space.

"This is nothing new. Cool guys have boobs rubbed in their face all the time..."

Maka came out dressed in her usual attire. "Everyone ready?"

"Pretty much!" Sakura got on her knees and stretched. "Arn't you gonna eat?"

"Got it covered!" exclaimed Blair, giving Maka a burrito. "Good luck!"

"Thank's Blair. Take care of the dishes please! C'mon guys!" She heads out, with the others following behind. They reached the truck, Maka taking the wheel again, and the others find Grimm in the back.

"Where have you been?" Asks Naru.

"None of your business. Let's get going."

Author's note: Since little will happen during the trip, how about a flashback as to what Grimm WAS doing.

------------------------------------last night----------------------------------------------

Seeing nothing of importance was going to happen, he decided to leave, and everyone was so engulfed by Kid's info, they didn't even see him leave. He wandered the town, until he found a hostess bar. "Why not." He said to himself, walking toward it. "It's been a while since I had a drink!" He enters, and sees Spirit directly in front of him, on a couch that appears to be a VIP area, with a purple-haired woman on his arm, holding a bottle. "So, Death Weapons get paid well, huh?"

He jumped at his voice. "Oh, Grimmjow! I didn't expect to see you here! W-what are you doing here!?" He was sweating, clearly hiding something.

"I'm just here for a drink. Mind if I join you?"

"Um, well..."

"Oh, come on spirit, honey! Let your handsome friend join!" Pleaded the woman, cat ears twitching and tail swaying behind her.

"Well, OK.."

He plops down next to him, grabbing a glass and holding it out to her. She promptly filled the glass with a sweet-smelling purple drink. "So, you seem like a regular here..."

"Yeah, I've been coming here for as long as I can remember! Though, I always did have to sneak out. My ex never liked me coming here!"

Grimm gave him a dangerous gaze. "You came to a hostess bar while you were married?"

He started sweating again. "W-well, that is..." 'Crap! Figures the crazy basterd would be married!'

Grimm took a long drink. "Whatever. You're the idiot that screwed yourself. But that does explain why Maka hate you."

Spirit's head dropped in depression. "Maka...!" He downs the rest of the glass, and holds it out to be filled. "Why won't you love daddy, Maka!!!?" Tears were clearly running down his face.

Grimm turned to the hostess. "Is this normal?"

"Yeah. Everytime someone mentions Maka after afew drinks, he just breaks down! It's kinda sad, really..."

"Just pathetic. At least he can be near his daughter." He takes another drink.

She blinks. "What do you mean?"

He hold up a half-empty glass. "I'll have to be a lot more drunk." He shakes the glass. She get's the hint, and tops it off. "Though, of course, since I couldn't be around, and she thought she was an orphan, she never came to hate me."

"Maka!!!!" Spirit runs to the front, pays for his drinks, and runs out to god know where.

"You're so mean!" She said with a giggle.

A small smiled crossed his lips. "So, you service him alot?"

"Oh yeah! He ask for me everytime!"

"So, has he said anything about the Butcher mission?"

"Um, I don't think I should say..." Her ears and tail twitched in anxiety.

"Only reason I ask is because my students are assisting on the mission."

"Well, if that's the case, there is one thing!" Grimm looked at her sideways, not turning his head, and took a drink. "This boy that they are hunting... He's the son of a rouge ninja!" This piqued his full interest, and he turned to her. "He said that he's the son of a very powerful shinobi called Madusa!"

"Madusa?"

"Yeah, as you can tell, she is a snake user, but specialises in shadow manipulation. She's even developed a few new jutsu of her own!!"

"Sound's powerful. And if she's making her son kill for souls, then he may not be evil at all. Good to know."

"It get's worse. She kidnapped a student from here, took his chakra, and synthesized it onto some kind of black blood!"

"Black blood?"

She nodded. "She replaced her son's blood with it, making her both weapon and meister!"

"She sound's pretty intelligent, but how has she stayed hidden for so long?" He takes a drink.

"I heard she found someone like her: cast out from her village and vying for power! I only heard his name once, and he's hasn't been seen in over 20 years! His name was... Orochimaru?"

He spit out his drink. "Orochimaru!!?"

She gasps. "You know him!?"

That bastard nearly killed me and my family 18 years ago!!"

"Oh my! What happened!?"

"I can't get into it. Village secrets and all that. Suffice it to say that the next time I see him, he's a dead man." The look in his eyes told her he'd do even more if it were possible. He finished his drink, and offered his glass to be refilled. She tried, but only a few drops came out.

"Oh. Looks like we're out! Let me get another bottle!"

"Don't bother. I don't feel like drinking anymore." He set the glass on the table, and headed out the door, Spirit having paid for the whole bottle earlier. He starts to head back, when yawns. "Damn, alcohol always makes me so sleepy." He stops to regain his bearings, and turns left instead of going straight. "fuck it. I don't even care." He reached the front gate, and headed for the truck from earlier, and lay down in the spacious bed, and slept until his sleep by Naru's typically annoying question.