Of Music and Meister Ch 13

Ch 13

Soul concentrated hard allowing his surroundings to fade away. He stood in the black room once more but this time, things were a little different. He stood in the large, open circular portion of the room that housed a shining black grand piano. Ringing the room were tall brass lamp stands. There were no ornaments on the golden stands except for a tear-drop shaped loop that flared at the top, very simple yet full of polished elegance. A single black candle sat in each stand and boasted a bright blue star-like flame. The flames did not flicker nor shed smoke. They didn't even really burn or provide light. They just stood silently on the edge of the room, shining like distant electric blue stars. There was a white ambient light that robed the piano but it didn't appear to have a source. For the moment at least, the damn parasite was no were to be seen.

He stood beside the polished piano and waited anxiously. Memories of the battle for BREW flickered through Soul's mind as he glanced at the shiny instrument. That was the last time he had played it, when he had broken his personal vow to never play again. He had known then that it was impossible to keep running. He could keep denying it and turning his back on it but the piano would always be a part of him. Was it really so bad? He had never really resented playing the piano. In fact he often enjoyed it, especially at the beginning. However, the experience had been quickly tainted by huge expectations and juxtaposition to Wes and his violin. Before long, the piano had come to represent all of his inadequacies and what he could never be. But was that how it really had to be? Maybe it was just possible to separate the two. Just because he played the piano still didn't mean he was still a prisoner to his old life. Plus it had proven to have great power. A power he hoped to harness now and use to save Maka; even if it was dangerous.

After a few long agonizing and breathless moments, Maka appeared before him. He allowed is tense frame to relax, relieved that she had come. She didn't say anything as she smoothly approached him. She just gazed at him with a curious look on her adorable face. Something was wrong. He could only see one of her shining green eyes. As she came out of the gloom into the light of the piano, the sight of her face deeply worried Soul. Covering half of her face was the shattered, powder-white mask of the clown. Where her other eye should have twinkled a glowing orange horizontal slit sat.

Soul allowed his face to fall as he studied the mask. When she was within his arm's reach, he carefully brought a hand to her face and gently touched the frightening mask. Still she was silent and Soul wasn't sure how to break the silence. Gingerly, he rubbed the mask's surface with his thumb before allowing his hand to fall away. She seemed calm and uninjured for the time being so Soul decided to worry about the mask later. For now, he needed to calm her before she slipped further away from him. He turned towards the piano and glanced back at her over his shoulder.

"Maka…" He almost whispered, not bothering to hide the love in his voice or the affection in his face. Here in the Black Room, there was no point in hiding one's feelings.

"… Have a seat." He said a little louder while gesturing towards the piano bench. Silently, she obeyed, still eyeing him curiously as she moved. When she entered the soft glow surrounding the piano, her clothes seemed to disintegrate and swirl around her slight form. Without pausing, she moved closer to the bench causing the mist to darken, shift and re-solidify into the elegant black dress he had seen only once before. She glided to the bench and sat elegantly… on the edge. Soul almost laughed.

"Not there on the edge."

"Ah… Ok…" She stuttered, obviously surprised. It was really hard to suppress the laugh this time. She could be so cute sometimes.

Silence fell between the pair again as they gazed at the piano. It seemed to pulsate with power and creaked eerily in the silence as if it were begging to be played.
"Well?" Soul finally asked.

"What?" Maka responded still confused.

"Didn't you feel it and hear it before? There's insanity in my piano."

"That's not true. I don't know much about music, but I really like your piano playing."

"That's because insanity has the power to fascinate people." Soul explained, sounding far too old to his own ears. He tried not to think about it and continued, "Insanity gives you power. I realized it when I was playing the piano before, during the battle for BREW." Soul looked up from Maka and continued, thinking aloud for a moment, hoping Maka would understand what he was trying to say.

"You should understand it the best, right? While terrified… a soul frantically trying to resist falling into insanity… Maybe, that's where true strength lies… Maybe, that's what makes it so fascinating." Finding his point, he looked back at Maka, "If insanity is the source of power, what do you think that power is?" Comprehension seemed to spread across Maka's face and pieces of the clown mask began to crumble and fall away.

"Courage." Maka answered confidently. Soul released a small breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. She did understand after all.

"Insanity is the source of courage…" Soul mused, "That might be a bit of a stretch but let's believe that."

"Soul…" Maka said as she looked up at him, a warm smile forming on her features, "We should tell that to Chrona too." Soul's heart stung at her words. Chrona again… He sighed, just barley stopping his eyes from rolling. He had to remember what was important right now and worry about being jealous later. He glanced down to see her sitting with her hands over her heart and her eyes closed.

"The depth of my courage… I can't see the end of it at all yet…"

"Maka, give me your hand." Soul reached out and surprised Maka by taking her hand as he spoke and guided it towards the piano keys.

"I can't see souls like you can, so let me hear it. Just one note is fine, of the sound you have chosen, Maka." Soul closed his eyes and allowed Maka's hand to hover, glide and settle over a chosen note. A sharp 'Ping' filled the otherwise silent room…

The power of a strong soul wavelength ripped through the piping like a violent wind ripping through tissue paper. The sheer force of the blast knocked Soul backwards and forced him to shield his face momentarily. As metal shrapnel fell noisily on tile flooring, Soul uncovered his face and gazed with pride at the destruction before him.

" 'G' huh? Straightforward… It fits you Maka." The dust cleared and a powerful and determined Maka was reviled to the young scythe, bathed in and surrounded by her soul wavelength. Soul's face split into a wide, sharp-toothed grin as he transformed and settled in Maka's hands. He knew now they defiantly had a chance.