"Ever since Asura, the dreaded kishin, was defeated, Maka hasn't quite been the same.
When she and Soul were battling him, her anti-magic wavelength was tested to its limits. It has only been two weeks but she is still pretty run down so this is why I want the four of you to stay at the academy for me to keep a close eye on you" Shinigami-sama said in a less goofy voice than usual.
"We understand Shinigami-sama but would it be alright if Soul and Maka didn't come until the morning? They are pretty worn out " Tsubaki replied worried.
"Sure! Sure! Although, please make sure you are with them the whole time! I worry that the kishin wavelengths might play with Maka's mind a little longer. Okay kids, see you tomorrow!" Shinigami-sama finished with a peace sign.
Black Star and Tsubaki sighed with relief at the thought of not having to force Maka to move tonight.
"Maka's pretty beat isn't she?"Black Star said looking down at the bathroom tiles.
"Black Star?-"
"Ah well! It's a good thing a star like me is around to make her better!" he grinned.
Soul and Maka were in the living room watching some TV when Tsubaki and Black Star strolled back in. "What did Shinigami-sama want?" Maka asked, dazed.
"Nothing much Don't worry about it now, 'okay Maka?" Tsubaki replied sweetly.
Maka stared at Tsubaki's face puzzled for a few moments then smiled back "okay".
Not long after, a long rumble was heard. "Any of you guys hungry too?" Soul said rubbing his stomach. "I'm STARVED!" he groaned as he got up to the kitchen, looking frantically in the fridge for something to eat. Black Star also went to the kitchen in an attempt to help Soul, leaving Maka alone on the couch. Tsubaki wondered at Maka and sat down next to her. "How are you feeling?" she question.
"Ehh a little tired" Maka yawned.
"Let's eat and then we can sleep" she giggled.
"Sure. You're so nice to me Tsubaki!" replied the tired yet happy Maka.
Tsubaki smiled at her words. At that moment, surprising, the two spiky haired guys walked in the room with some food. Maka's eyes lit up instantly 'Since when could Black Star cook?' she thought. Soul guessed what she was thinking and smirked. They placed down the food on the table and sat next to the girls on the couch.
"Well, dig in!" Soul spoke through his toothy grin.
"Don't mind if I do, YAHOO!" the 'star' cheered.
The food was now eaten and the plates looked squeaky-clean-mostly because Black Star and Soul were trying to get as much food of them as possible. Tsubaki took the plates into the kitchen and began to wash them.
Soul flicked through the channels looking for a movie. "Hey, this movie is cool" he exclaimed. The four of them watched until the soft breathing o sleeping was heard; Maka had fallen asleep on Tsubaki's shoulder and Tsubaki herself, on Maka's head. The guys chuckled at the sight, then got up and walked to Soul's room.
"Yo Soul, do you think it's a good idea to leave them?"
"What do you mean?" "It's just something Shinigami-sama said about Maka " Black Star began, then seeing Soul's worried face. "He said that the kishin's wavelength might still mess with her mind".
Soul was deep in thought and then sighed, "I guess we gotta stay within sight of her then give me a hand would you?" he asked as he walked over to his bed. The two of them moved his mattress into the living room and soon after, Maka's. By this point, Tsubaki had woken up again and smiled, "it's like we are little kids again!" she said in a high-pitched voice still dreary. Soul and Black Star laughed at the tired girl. "Maka Maka "Tsubaki lightly shook Maka. "Hmmm?"
"Come on, I'll help you get ready for bed".
Tsubaki helped Maka stand and took her to her room. "Where do you keep your pajamas?" she asked as she help the sleepy Maka sit on a chair.
"In that draw" Maka mumbled, pointing at the bedside draw.
Tsubaki open the draw, pulled out a pair of yellow and green striped pajamas and ask Maka to take of her shirt and put them on. Maka wearily nodded her head and obeyed.
{Meanwhile}
Soul and Black Star had crashed onto the mattresses in slight exhaustion. "Soul I forgot, Shinigami-sama wants us four to move into the academy for a while, cool?"
"Yeah, whatever" he smirked back, tiredly. "What's taking them so long?"
"Maka probably feel asleep again" Black Star cracked up. "I'm going to go check on them " Soul said as he reluctantly got up and walked to Maka's room. He saw that the door was open so he walked on through
Tsubaki was now trying to help Maka change her pants while Maka still tried to put on the pajama top. Maka was so tired that she only managed to put her arm through one sleeve. This is when Soul walked in Soul opened his eyes after rubbing them while walking down the hall way. He looked up through the door way to see Maka standing in her bra and underwear with her arm in one sleeve and stepping into her pants with Tsubaki trying to help. 'Dude, just acted tired you're too cool to get embarrassed at this view it-it-it's not much of a view anyway!' he thought, blushing mentally. Tsubaki turned around to see him looking in.
"Ahh! Sorry! I forgot to close the door!" she exclaimed. "It's cool, want some help?" Soul said trying to act tired after being woken up by seeing Maka like this.
Tsubaki just assumed he was just trying to be helpful in his tired state and not realizing the Maka is practically naked. "Sure" she smiled.
Soul walked over and held Maka steady as Tsubaki finished dressing her. The whole time, he was hoping his 'act' wouldn't be blown but Tsubaki didn't seem to notice. Once that task was done, the difficult task to get Maka to brush her teeth came after. "Can you take her to the bathroom?" Tsubaki asked.
"Wha-"
"She needs to brush her teeth" she backed up reassuringly. "I'll help in a moment "
Soul put Maka's arm around his shoulder and they walked, well staggered, to the bathroom. He placed the toilet seat down with his free hand and sat Maka on top. "Come on Maka, gotta brush your teeth" he sighed. 'A cool guy like me in the bathroom with a girl Trying to get her to brush her teeth? Gaahh!' he trailed off into thought. He picked up her toothbrush and squeezed some toothpaste out of the tube. At this point, Tsubaki walked into the bathroom and giggled. Soul looked up to see Tsubaki in her pajamas.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"It looks funny when .Never minds. Here, let me help"
Ten long minutes later, she was ready for bed and ready to collapse on the floor. Soul and Tsubaki helped her walk down the hallway to the living room. Soul then picked her up and placed her on a mattress. Tsubaki went and sat on the other, sighing with relief. "Back from the mission so soon?" Black Star asked with a hint of sarcasm. "You try getting a tired girl to get ready for bed "Tsubaki spoke, almost whispering.
Black Star looked at Soul and grinned, 'So that's what you were doing, aye Soul?' he thought. Soul became aware of Black Star staring at him.
"What?" "Nothing hey man, do you have a shirt a god like me can borrow?"
"Yeah," Soul replied, walking towards his room as Black Star followed.
They were gone for less than two minutes and when they were back, the two girls were curled up on the mattress, deep in sleep. "Damn I guess they were tired" Soul whispered.
Soul laid on the same mattress as Maka, and Black Star the same as Tsubaki, propping themselves up with pillows. Soul started to flicker through the TV channels once more with the volume on low. He stopped at some action movie and the two watched for felt like hours. About half was through Tsubaki rolled over and cuddled up to Black Star. Soul exchanged glances with Black Star. In a sort of telepathic way, Soul was teasing Black Star. Black Star was about to tell him to 'quit it' out loud when Maka started to stir in her sleep. She mumbled and stretched her arms. Almost peaking, she opened her eyes a looked around the room with an expressionless gazed. That was, until she saw Soul. Her eyes widened slightly then closed again as she wiggled closer to him. Soul, shocked, looked down at his chest to see his blonde meister sleeping on him. His cheeks went slight pink when he saw Black Star grinning at him.
"Shut up" he mouthed back at the blue-haired boy who had his thumbs up and grinning to Soul.
Black Star then yawned, fixed his pillow and started to drift. Soul, seeing this, too fixed his pillow. In doing so, Maka moved a little and she was no longer on his chest. He felt strangely disappointed. 'Damn,' he thought, 'she was warm'. He turned off the TV and laid his head on his pillow. Thinking it was too dark for Black Star to see, he moved closer to Maka which seemed to make her move too. Maka pulled his arm over her. 'Whoa...okay then' he spoke in his head. He closed his eyes and grinned, oblivious to the fact that Black Star saw the whole thing. 'Get in there Soul!' Black Star snickered to himself.
