Maka ran down the halls of Shibusen, desperate to find her pink haired friend. The blonde was just about at her wit's end with the mysterious activities her friend had been partaking in. She could take Chrona's lies about studying; she could even deal with her occasional disappearances at lunch, but skipping class! She caught sight of the girl running down the hall.

"Chrona!" Maka called. Chrona flinched, looking for a hall to disappear down or a corner to hide in. However, her blond friend was already within arm's reach.

"Maka! What are you doing here?" She shivered, more self aware than ever, the way Maka was staring her down made her feel like she was in trouble. The burning hearth her anxiety lit in her belly was fueled further at the thought of disappointing multiple people with her clumsy mistake.

"What am I doing here?" Maka asked incredulously, "What are you doing here? Class has started and you're all the way over-" She paused, noticing the hall pass clutched tightly in Chrona's hands.

"I have a mission, but..." Her shoulder's slumped. "I can't find Lord Death's chambers, and Ragnarok won't tell me where to go." She had been wandering the hall in circles for ten minutes. As much as she wanted to keep Maka away from her and Kid's activities, she was thankful to run into someone she knew. "Do you think you could..." After all the secrets, would Maka even want to help her anymore?

"Of course." Maka sighed with relief. She gently took the miester's other hand and guided her down the right direction. "Are you going on you first solo mission already?" She squeezed Chrona's hand. "That sounds a little scary." After their last duo mission ended in disaster, Maka wasn't terribly surprised she hadn't been asked to take Chrona on anymore missions. The difference in field experience between the two was too imbalanced and she had a habit of going for the more difficult missions.

"N-no, Shinigami-sama's found another partner for me to go with." Chrona hung her head. "I'm... I'm going with Kid. It's supposed to be a really small mission. I'm sorry."

"Hunh?" Maka stared back at her friend in surprise. "Why are you apologizing?"

"I feel bad." She admitted. "You've always been so nice to me, but lately... I don't even know how to explain it." There was so much going on at once now that it was impossible to keep everything from her best friend. "I wish I was more confident, like you. Maybe then it wouldn't be so hard to talk, about this, about everything." They were nearing Lord Death's chambers. "But right now, I don't think I can." She was surprised when Maka hugged her.

"It's okay," she said, "I know I've been really intense lately. I just worry about you." She pulled away with a smile. "When you get back from your mission, we can talk, properly. Or if you're not ready, we can just hang out. Okay?" Chrona nodded with a small smile. "But you gotta go in now, you were running behind, right?"

"Oh no!" Chrona squeaked and bolted inside. Maka watched as the double doors swung shut, a little more at ease. It had been the first time Chrona had been honest with her in a while.


"Hey, Hey!" Shinigami-sama greeted his son as the two waited for Chrona. "All set for Britain?"

"Yes father." Kid bowed stiffly. He had spent so much time investigating his father's past and had found nothing to quell his suspicions thus far. In fact, the further into the death god's "grim" days he dug, the less flattering his portrayal in history was. Not to mention the ice cold guilt that wracked through his chest every time the elder shinigami smiled at him or gave praise.

At the death god's side, stood his main Death Scythe, the viewing mirror between them. Spirit was a powerful weapon, but that was about it. The red headed man was considered a failure as a father by his own daughter thanks to his cavalier atitude toward daily responsibilities. Kid could understand why Maka found him off putting, but he knew the man possessed a lot of love for his daugther and her classmates.

"Sorry I'm late!" Chrona announced as she entered the room. "I didn't know I needed a hall pass, and then I got lost, and-"

"It's alright." Kid nodded. The flustered meister bit her lip and gave the elder death god a curt bow, mimicking Kid's example.

"How ya' doin' Chrona?" Shinigami-sama chuckled. He was comical in appearance, like a sock puppet with a card board mask. Still, Chrona couldn't help feeling afraid of the creature she grew up to percieve as a boogyman of sorts. The very being that had put a bounty on her family's collective heads.

"Umm, I'm fine." Chrona answered.

"Good, good. To be honest, I was a little surprised when Kid asked if he could have some help on this mission. It's only one Kishen egg after all, nothing major." The pair froze. Did he know what they were doing?

"Well it's not Shingami-kun who needs help, it's me." Chrona stuttered. Kid quickly nodded in agreement.

"Yes," Kid continued, "after how Chrona's first mission ended, I figured Chrona could use an easier mission; to get used to how DWMA usually is. We can't expect her to improve if we keep her locked in the school."

"Hmm…" The older shinigami thought. The two miesters shifted uncomfortably under his masked stare. "O.K!" The man chirped. Both felt a wave of relief wash over them, the last thing they needed was a god breathing down their throats. Kid saw the pause in the conversation as a means of escape.

"If that's all, then we must get going." Kid stated. The two made their way out the door. "We'll be back by tomorrow morning at the latest." They hurried out of the room, conspicuous in their rushed exit.

"Goodbye!" Shimigami-sama chimed. The door slammed shut with a thunderous boom. "Spirit, I'm worried about him."

"He'll understand eventually." The Death Scythe chided. He could hardly see why Kid's actions bothered the death god; at least he still talked with his father. One day he would make it up to Maka, but right now she was determined to rebel at every turn. Spirit rested a reassuring hand on the shingami's shoulder. "He's your son after all."

Shinigami-sama frowned beneath his mask. Sometimes he wondered if Kid actually saw him as his father, or if he was just another authoritiy figure to the young demi-god. Even before the incident, he had spent most of his time at the school maintaining the barrier that protected Death City. It had been so difficult to for any sort of bond with the child and now, amost too soon, he was starting to pull away once more.


The real reason Chrona and Kid ventured to Britain was to get a hold of a book on Iroha from a private collection. So, using the mission as a cover, they made their way into a darkly lit library beneath the city. Chrona lit the torches that surrounded the dank granite room while Kid flipped through a massive directory. Their shadows danced on the floor in the flickering torch light, a musty smell filled the air.

Kid sighed in disgust; the worn, wooden shelves were unlabeled and poorly organized, but it would have to do for now, they needed the book first. Chrona scanned the bottom shelves for any useful material. To her chagrin all of the spines were blank. It was obvious this library was not designed for the public. When she glanced to the table, all she saw was the directory. Kid had moved to the shelves.

Said shingami pulled several books off the top shelf and cast them to the floor in a variety of small piles. He couldn't take it anymore! There was absolutely no order to the library at all! He began to sort the books by size on the top row. Once he got them in order they would be easier to navigate through. If he found the book while sorting, then it would make their job easier.

"Shini-kun,"Chrona asked with growing concern, "what's the title of the book we're looking for?"

"Significant Figures of the Wicken World: Volume 2." Kid answered absentmindedly. He was close to finishing this shelf, only three more to go. Chrona pulled a twine bound novel from the bottom shelf. She stood abruptly only to collide with Kid who was sorting a handful of books. The pair tumbled to the floor in a chaotic heap. Chrona's back hit the stone floor and the books tumbled to the ground around her. When she went to sit up, something blocked her; a firm force had halted her progress. She opened her eyes to see what it was her body was pressed against.

"Shini-kun!?" A dark blush painted across her face. Kid locked eyes with Chrona, his body hunched over hers. He quickly apologized and pulled himself off of her. "I…umm…found the book." Chrona chuckled nervously.

"Right, we should probably head home now." They made their way to the door. Kid spared on glance back into the room, lined wall to wall with untouched shelves.

"The top shelf looks very nice." Chrona said, in vain hope it would be enough to sooth the Shinigami's growing need to organize.

"Thanks." Kid said, a long pause followed as the Shinigami stood transfixed, wringing his hands against each other. "Aggh! But now it looks out of place with the other shelves!" He stormed back in and resumed his sorting. The pink miester's shoulders dropped. She could feel Ragnarok's burning irritation with how long their mission was taking.

"I'll help." Chrona said, moving to a bookcase at the far other end of the room. "It'll go faster that way." She muttered, mostly to prevent her weapon from bursting forth only to delay the inevitable.


As promised, as soon as her mission was over she had gone to meet Maka. Her mission with Kid had ended up going until the laughing sun rose over the horizon. She didn't want to bail on Maka's invitation yet again, so after a quick shower, she texted her friend to let her know she back at the school safe and sound. Upon hearing she hadn't slept, the blond all but demanded the two head to Deathbucks for coffee, which was fine. They didn't have school for the next few days, so any lost sleep could be retrieved in a few hours.

"So Chrona, is there anything you'd like to tell me?" Maka grinned over her cup at their shared table. The pink haired girl thought a moment, ideas bounced about as she tried to think.

"Umm…" No use, she might as well be looking for a needle in a haystack. "I don't know."

"Your mission, with Kid." Maka replied calmly, too calmly. "How'd it go?" There was a knowing twinkle in her eye. Not at all intimidating, but definately confusing for the pink-haired miester.

"Well…it- it went... well." Chrona stuttered, her heart beating a million miles a minute. She turned to her cup of coco for guidance, it didn't do much good. "Umm... we got stuck, for a while. One of his, uh what'd you call them, 'fits'? It took a bit to get everything clean enough to leave. I didn't want to just leave him there." She took a slow drink from her cup to stop from rambling too much.

"Oh, I see." Maka said with a smile. The other girl sat up attentive.

"What, what do you see?" Chrona asked. She didn't like the way Maka had said that, almost like she was talking to a child.

"Oh nothing." Maka dismissed in sing-song. "You know what, let's go shopping!" Chrona sighed, she had already been awake for a long time, but she promised the two would spend more time together. She prayed quietly that there wouldn't be too many people where Maka planned to take her.


Chrona stood transfixed at the entrance to the dress shop Maka had chosen. Maka had practically ran in, excited to have a friend to share her favorite shop with without complaining. The blonde turned to her friend from inside the shop, a tad perplexed.

"Is something wrong?" Maka asked.

"This shop is really pink…" Chrona murmured. True to her comment, the outside walls were painted in coats of obnoxious rose paint.

"Well of course it is," Maka chuckled, "this place is the Pink House. Don't worry, not all of the dresses are pink." Chrona hesitantly stepped into the hot pink boutique, the inside was no different. Whimsical flowers were painted onto the walls, which were as fluorescent as the outside. Every table was covered with bizarre knickknacks made of twisted iron and glass. Dresses were hung on various types of racks, from circular to wall mounted. "I hardly get to come here anymore because of Soul. He doesn't think it's cool for a guy to be seen in a shop like this." Maka glanced at Chrona and moved to a different rack. "I'm guessing you're a medium."

"What? Me?" Chrona exclaimed. Weren't they here so Maka could get a dress? After all, Chrona already had a dress, it fit rather nicely in fact. Maka turned and rested a hand on Chrona's shoulder.

"Chrona, I'm sorry I didn't notice before.' Maka sighed. "I've been so busy lately- but don't worry, I'll help."

"Y-you will?" Chrona asked in disbelief. "Aren't you mad?" Maka turned back to the rack of dresses and resumed her hunt.

"Why would I be mad?" She asked and held a purple dress to Chrona's frame. "Too lacy." She tossed it to the side.

"Well with all that Kid and I have been doing-"

"It's to be expected." Maka concluded. "You've been making great progress so far though. I think you almost got him." She tossed a pink dress to the side.

"Got him?" Chrona frowned.

"Everyone in our friend group is so dense." Maka tsked as she riffled through the racks. "What you need is to nudge him a little more in the right direction."

"How?" Chrona asked, completely lost, but willing to humor her friend.

"With this!" Maka held up a high collared, black evening gown. "Go ahead, try it on!" The shorter girl had already given Chrona a push toward the changing room.

"Alright, but I don't see how this will help." Chrona said. She took the flowing gown from her friend and into the changing room. The dress hugged her chest, but flowed loosely down to her ankles. Chrona shyly peaked her head out from between the curtains. "My arms are cold." Chrona stuttered. She pulled at the rhinestone necklace that held up the Victorian style neckline.

"You look wonderful, don't worry." Maka soothed. "If you wear this, I'm sure it will help." Maka turned Chrona toward the mirror and stood beside her, her arm rested around Chrona's bare shoulders. "If you wear this, Kid will definitely notice you. Who knows, he might even return your feelings."

"M-my feelings!" What feelings? What was Maka talking about?

"I'm really sorry I didn't notice before. A good friend doesn't ignore things like that. Now that I know you have a crush on Kid, I won't bother you about your little 'study sessions' anymore." She smiled at her friend, who consequently, was in complete shock. Ragnarok emerged from Chrona's back mid laughing fit.

"M-maka, I don't-" Chrona was cut off by her weapon.

"Ahahahaha! Looks like you've been caught Chrona!"

"Ragnarok, what are you doing?" Chrona hissed, embarrassed.

"I'm helping you, you dolt." Ragnarok whispered back. He leaned back and laughed. "Heh heh, I wonder how Stripes will react to the news?"

"What, no, you can't!" Chrona waved her arms in a panic, she'd never be able to look Kid in the face again if he heard such a rumor.

"I don't know. I can be pretty loose lipped when it comes to stuff like this." Ragnarok mused. "Although I wouldn't be talking as much if I was eating candy."

"Four pieces." Maka suggested, irritated, but willing to bribe the weapon if it meant shielding Chrona from the public humiliation he was planning.

"Only four, gee thanks." Ragnarok snorted.

"Fine, six pieces then." Maka scowled.

"I don't know, would six pieces last me? Who knows when Chrona will tell him." Chrona watched with silent fear as the two bargained over her future. "I'll keep my mouth shut and you give me sixteen pieces of candy. The good kind, not half a packet of smarties."

"Deal." Maka agreed. "Come on Chrona, let's check out and get you home."

"Will you have enough money for this thing and my candy?" Ragnarok questioned.

"Shut up Ragnarok!" The girls shouted.


Kid flipped through the brittle pages that they had gotten from the dank library yesterday. He sighed as he skimmed for Iroha's name. Today had been really awkward, every time he met Chrona in the halls they hadn't been able to meet each other's eyes. She was probably mad at him for tripping over her when they were in the library. The library…

He shook his head; he didn't have time to think about stuff like that. With Liz and Patty's party around the corner and the key to Iroha at hand; he didn't have time to think about how she had stayed with him the entire time. She helped him sort the books instead of yelling at him about the waste of time. The look in her eyes when he was over her hadn't held a hint of disgust. Even the softness of her- Flipping the page, he resumed his search. He needed to focus! At last Iroha's name came up in the old book.

"Here it is." He said to himself. "Being a witch with a grigori soul, the magical capabilities of such a wavelength was above all others. A witch with a naturally winged soul is so rare, that they are placed in a category all of their own, the sekaigami.

"Using powerful magic, she and other witch rebels formed a fortress against Lord Death. Her path eventually lead to her own demise at the Grimore castle and was executed by Lord Death himself. Her soul was said to evaporate under his touch, unable to be obtained by death itself. No other has been seen since, leaving Iroha as the only recorded sekaigami." Kid stared at the delicate book.

"…a witch." He repeated. "Then that means… the magic tools were made by witches as well."He turned to the seat next to him. "Hey Chrona, do you-" He stopped. That's right, Chrona wasn't working with him today. He sighed and slumped down in his desk at Gallows Manor. He stared at the book once more and closed his eyes in defeat. "I'll ask her tomorrow." He murmured.