"This is all your fault, Black Star! Do you know what happens if we miss curfew!/" Maka's teeth were bared in a scowl, her eyes narrowed at her friend. Her teeth chattered even as they were clenched together. A small shiver crawled along her spine as the cold slithered underneath her jacket sleeves, chilling her skin, and causing her to shudder. Maka furrowed her eyebrows in concentration, trying desperately to ignore the icy air as it brushed past her face. The red sky was ten shades darker than it had been earlier that day. Night in Death City was truly eerie.
A few feet ahead on the wide, empty road, Black Star craned his head around to glare at Maka. "Shut up and walk faster, Maka. If you weren't so slow, we would've been home by now!" he commented, waving his hand dismissively. Maka felt her face heat up with frustration. She bit her tongue to keep herself from snapping at Black Star, her gaze flickering to the stone brick buildings to her left and right. Immediately, she locked her gaze on the path ahead. The tall buildings around her seemed to be closing in on her and Black Star, bending down from their end near the heavens to trap the duo.
"Hey, Maka, look! They're having that winter light festival near the dock! This is the perfect stage for a big star like me!" Maka could only blink as Black Star sprinted full speed to an array of lights far ahead. From where Maka stood, they were blurry and there were no silhouettes of people. She knew that the winter light festival occurred around that time year, but it had been made clear that academy students would be unable to attend that year… Thanks to a certain 'star', the curfew had already been made earlier. It was Black Star's lack of respect for the line of authority that constantly got him (and his associates) in trouble. The social pyramid was simple to learn and understand.
Those with the least power, Lower Class Meisters
Those who ranked second to least, Upper Class Meisters
Second to highest power, The Death Scythes and Their Meisters
And the highest and most powerful, the Shinigami
Maka's eye twitched as Black Star's figure retreated farther and farther away into the darkness. Slowly she lifted her hand and smacked her own cheek. She needed to recollect herself. As soon as she became aware again, she dashed after Black Star, using all her energy to move as quickly as she could. The world around her blurred in her sight, her legs pumping harder and harder.
Until she hit something. Maka was flung back a few feet. She braced her hands against the ground, digging her heels into the dirt to create traction. Slowly, she looked up at the new figure.
His hair was raven black with three white strips stretching halfway across his head. His eyes were an eerie shade of melted gold with rings within the irises and he was covered from head to toe in a dark cloak. Maka had never seen any meister or civilian like him. However, it didn't cross her mind that he could be anything but a meister or the average guy. If she hadn't been so upset, she would have considered using her soul perception to see his soul. Unfortunately, logic escaped her thoughts as she marched forward, cheeks puffed with anger.
"You didn't have to shove me!" she growled, balling her hands into fists. Her 'assailant' watched her with a blank gaze, his lips bent in a strong frown. Very carefully, he began to dust himself off; shoving his hands into his pants' pockets before continuing toward the direction from whence Maka had came. A vein bulged on Maka's forehead, her lips bending into a snarl. "Hey!" she called after him. He ignored her.
Now she was pissed.
Maka ran back towards the young man, stopping in front of him and slamming her fist into his stomach. She watched with satisfaction as he hunched over. She folded her arms."Now we're even." Her eyes widened as the cloak slipped off the young man's shoulders. As if they suddenly become numb, Maka's arms fell loosely to her sides, dangling in the air. Maka's mouth hung open slightly, her eyebrows turning upward in horror.
A Shinigami.
'When battling a Shinigami, one cannot be assured the safety of this or her soul.'
Maka stepped back unsurely, finally mustering up the courage to move away. From behind the hunched over Shinigami, Black Star had finally returned, his hands full of sugary food and beverages. "We're set for life!" he proclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. When he came close enough to seen the scene that had just played out, he halted. "Maka…" he began softly. Maka bit her lip. Black Star was never quiet… she'd really done it now. "Isn't he… a Shinigami?" Black Star finished with a monotonous tone.
Suddenly, his teeth bared in a grin once more and he burst out laughing. "You... ha! You beat up a Shinigami! And you call me a bad egg!"
Maka's face reddened and she shook her hands desperately. "No! I didn't! I just punched him, that's all! He's-"
"Perfectly fine, thanks for asking." In all the commotion, Maka and Black Star had momentarily forgotten to pay attention to Shinigami. The young man stood up straight, his eyebrows furrowed and his once emotionless eyes now dark with quiet fury. His gaze locked on Maka who stiffened in response. The Shinigami extended his hand. "Death the Kid." He said bluntly. Maka cringed as she lifted her own hand to shake his. His grip was tight, almost hostile. It was clear now that her punch hadn't fazed him at all. He'd simply taken his time in responding.
Maka's lips twitched. "I'm very sorry, Death the Kid, sir… Shinigami… ugh…"
"Just 'Kid' is fine." The Shinigami stated, his hand still holding hers. Maka was beginning to become uncomfortable under the weight of his stare and she shifted her feet nervously. What was going through that Shinigami's mind as he shook her hand? Was he thinking of the millions of ways to punish her, to make her suffer? Maka felt her weight ease onto her toes, just in case she needed to run away quickly. She wasn't stupid. Shinigami weren't known for being the most forgiving.
Black Star scoffed at the sight of Maka and Kid shaking hands, pushing his way in between the two. He glared at kid, lowering his head. "So you're a god of death?" he sneered. "Well, I'm Black Star, the biggest star ever to exist. Don't waste your time bullying Maka… I'm the one who will surpass god! Why not start with the one with a dumb name? 'Death the Kid' where did that come from!?"
Kid raised his head, staring down at Black Star with murderous intent. "I was named after my father Lord Death. I'm sure you've heard of him."
By now a large crowd had become to form. Nosy, noisy people assembled around the trio, watching with both curiosity and wariness. Whispers echoed from all around, eating at Maka's ears. 'Lord Death's son!'
'Those kids must want to die!'
'They're rebelling against Shinigami? Death will soon erase them!'
Black Star smirked, sniffing at Kid. "Lord Death's son, huh? Sounds like my kind of target! Feel the power of the great assassin, Black Star!" he screamed. Maka was instantly on Black Star, grabbing her friend and using all her power to hold him back. She dragged him by his hands, attempting to run away from the Shinigami. Black Star, being caught off guard, was pulled along easily, his pants and shoes being brushed along the ground. Maka dared herself to look back as she ran, her eyes catching sight of the confused group of bystanders and the Shinigami in the center. His cold eyes watched her go. His body didn't move.
Sweat pooled on Maka's forehead as she opened the front door to her and Black Star's apartment in the line of homes for meister students. She quickly locked the door, slumping onto the ground. Black star scowled at her. "What was that for!?" he questioned fiercely. Maka squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. "We were about to fight a Shinigami…" she whispered, her voice soft like the breeze. "We would have died, Black Star. He's Lord Death's son! People saw! We're going to be locked away! Murdered! The Shinigami will end us…"
Black star remained silent, falling to the floor beside Maka. The two spent their night there in silence, neither one knowing what to say. Tomorrow was going to be a dark day. The tension… thickened the air.
(A/N: Chapter One Complete! :D Hope you enjoyed it! In case you were wondering, Soul and Tsubaki are roommates because they are weapon partners. I switched it up a bit. Meisters room with meisters, Weapons with weapons. Anyway, Death City is a bit more modernized in this story and Shinigami are the top-dogs! Meisters work with Shinigami only because they fear the Shinigami power… and lower class meisters aren't treated exceptionally by anyone above them. Chapter Two up soon! Thanks for reading!)