Chapter One: The Unspoken Words

Kid looked desolately at his notes, knowing that he would have to go back and repair them later. They were so hideous that they repulsed him, as usual. If only the teacher didn't talk quite so quickly! Shaking his dark head, the glowering boy slid the notes carefully into his well-arranged folder, in which he kept in a well-arranged bag. All things inside these items were symmetrical, as they should be. The sound of the door slamming caused him to jerk slightly, dropping his folder. Swearing, he bent to pick it up. Two months after the defeat of the Kishin, and still he found himself jumping slightly at loud noises and constantly on guard. Seeing his father nearly give his life to save Kid was something that the anal-retentive, shrewd child was unable to wrap his head around. His invincible father, his strong father, his caring father. Sighing, he thought ahead to the "Family Ball" that the Shinigami himself had planned for the coming weekend, where outside family would dress up along with the students and attend a dance to celebrate Shibusen's victory over the Kishin. But what victory was it? Relations had been ripped apart, people lost without a trace. No, this was still a victory, but a grim one. Frowning as he saw a scratch on the wood of the desk, he did not notice Crona as he accidentally bumped into her.

"S-s-s-s-sorry, K-k-k-k-kid-K-kun," the minor recluse stuttered and looked at her shabby boots, then blushed as her eyes began to dart around wildly as they always did, due to the last remnants of her extreme madness. Grinning lopsidedly, Kid placed a hand on her trembling shoulder, causing her to blush harder.

"No harm done. Coming to the dance the day after tomorrow?" Kid had really tried to make an effort to be kind to the new student, though Crona could be challenging at times. Many times.

"N-n-n-no, I-I-I d-d-d-don't t-t-think s-s-so. I-I d-d-don't k-k-know h-h-how t-to d-d-deal w-with p-p-p-people v-v-v-very w-w-well." Her cobalt eyes were downcast, and a stab of sympathy went through the heir to Death City.

"Hey, if I have to be alone with my father, I'm not sure I'll know how to deal with that." Kid quipped, putting an arm around her and guiding her out of then now empty room. Shivering for no apparent reason, Crona closed her eyes to stop the twitching. That's when she felt it, that sharp pain that came right before…

"Oi! Hands off, little OCD reaper-boy. Crona here doesn't need you around!" Yelled Ragnarok, grinding his fists into Crona's shaggy pink hair. Crying out in pain, she tried to swat the weapon away, but it did no good. "Idiot! Worthless! You know what I think? I think that you like-"

"No one asked your opinion," muttered Kid, bringing his fist down on Ragnarok, suddenly afraid of what was just about to pop out of the Demon Sword's mouth. Abruptly, a notion popped into the boy's head, since he suddenly felt guilty about letting Crona go back to that cell of hers, all alone. Oh, god, he must be turning into Maka. Disregarding such… "Why don't you come to Liz', Patty's, and my place for a while to hang out? It would be fun!" Enthused Kid, already steering her towards the door. Besides, he hadn't wanted to be alone with Liz and Patty after what had happened after the battle with the Kishin…

Kid had strode in and seen his father's still critical state, and paled. Surely, he had thought, he would not have done this to himself were it not for me. I'm not worth it. Everyone knows that. Unable to stop himself, he had rushed over to check his father's health, much to the surprise of his peers. But, despite his airs, the adults at least knew he cared deeply for his father. Also, most of them knew why he had remained anonymous to the students at Shibusen before attending, whereas normally he would be seen with his father at most all times... To the even greater shock of the peers, Crona was the next to run over, and carefully assured Kid that he would be alright.

"Surely a man with a heart as pure as his has something stronger than Black Blood in him." That was what she said. Those words had caused Kid to remember darker times, where his honorable father had been but a frightening ghost of his mother's past to him. Those dark times brought stinging tears to his honey colored eyes, ad he bowed his head, ashamed of them. They had all sat in silence as he held his father's gloved hand and waited for the pointless tears to dry. Liz and Patty had wanted to talk to him about it, but those tears were of matters much too deep for their comprehension. Crona, though, had seemed to understand perfectly with that soft look on her face and hard sympathy in her eyes.

The walk to his manor was a long and quiet one, but Crona didn't mind. The perfectly symmetrical double doors were opened simultaneously by the ever meticulous Kid, and the pink-haired girl walked in quickly, not wanting to let in any draft. She took off her shoes where she saw Kid's, as well as two other pairs, and glanced shamefacedly at her blistered and filthy feet. Unconcerned, Kid gave her a pair of house-shoes and continued on, with the orders to make herself at home. To Crona, this meant only one thing. So, she chose the nicest looking corner and curled up in it, asylum-style.

"Hey, Kid, why is there something in the corner of the room? It's kind of black and hunched…" called Liz, her cowardice shining through full-force. Smirking, Kid walked over to Crona and lifted a strand of lavender-pink hair for Liz to see. A small ooooh of recognition came from the blonde, and Crona lifted her pale face. Smiling vaguely, she muttered something about a Steve corner and dragged towards them in that funny way that she moved. Shoulders slightly hunched, one arm gripping the other, feet slow and sluggish. Yes, dragging was the best way to describe it. As she did this, Kid couldn't help but notice the light bruises that dotted her face and what was visible of her long neck, the purple shadows under melancholy eyes letting him know that sleep had yet to visit her.

"S-s-s-s-sorry…" trailed off a rather shaky Crona, squeezing her arm as she apologized. Kid was alarmed to see how hard she gripped it and gently pulled her hand away. Shyly, she stepped forward to greet Liz and the freshly appeared Patty, who was clutching a paper giraffe with the neck crushed in. Oh, Patty. Crona gave a weak smile as Liz pulled her in for a tight hug and then looked her over.

"You're going to the dance the day after tomorrow." It wasn't a question; with Liz, it never was.

"Ummmm… I guess."

"I'm going to get you ready. That's that. You'll be here at five, that'll give me two hours to make you fabulous." Crona looked alarmed, so Liz put an arm around her frail shoulders. "Don't worry, Patty and I know what we're doing."

"I don't know how to deal with this!" Crona wailed, sinking to the ground. This time, all three of the bystanders laughed.