A/N: Hey there! This is Jessie, and I welcome you guys to our newest story! So some of you may know that Taylor and I recently finished a collaboration SoMa story, and it was so much fun that we decided to turn it into a trilogy! This time we're going to focus on Tsubaki and Black Star. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy, and I'll turn it over to Taylor!

Hey, y'all! We are oh so psyched to start another collab! I just love writing with Jessie - especially about Soul Eater :'D We got together today when it was pouring down rain, consumed loads of caffeine, and watched an episode of Soul Eater focused on Black Star and Tsubaki. It was the perfect time to start this up! xD Thank you all who're beginning our second journey with us, we're really stoked! As a sidenote, this fanfic is going to be primarily mangaverse - so, sorry for any manga spoilers, guys! Don't say we didn't warn you!

Jessie again! We would like to ask adorable little Angela to do the disclaimer for us. The honors, Angela?

Angela: *she pops up, hat bouncing* Taylor and Jessie don't own Soul Eater! *crosses arms, pouting* So not fair!

Tsubaki Nakatsukasa's Red Thread of Fate

Masamune's birthday was coming up. It was only natural that I felt the need to be with my family during this difficult time. Especially since he was no longer with us. Especially since I'm the reason for that. Of course, it needed to be done, and we all knew that and held no regrets, but it still seemed only right that we gather and pay our respects at this time. We were still family after all.

Even though Black Star had accompanied me to Japan last time, I never dreamed he'd tag along for this particular journey. And I never expected what all would take place, let alone how each disaster and misadventure would somehow draw us closer.

Of course, it never would have happened at all if it wasn't for Black Star's tendency to eavesdrop. It all started when I was talking to Lord Death in the Death Room…

"You're requesting a leave of absence?"

I nodded sheepishly. To be honest, I hated asking anything of anyone. I didn't like feeling like a burden who imposed inconvenience on everyone. "I'm sorry.. I hope you don't mind. I shouldn't be gone longer than a week," I promised. "I understand that now's a bad time to ask for this…" Shibusen was bombarded with troubles at the moment, and truly, I had no right to be asking for a break when I needed to stay with Black Star and assist with whatever was needed.

"Of course, of course, it's no trouble at all! You deserve a break! We'll handle it here!" Shinigami-sama responded cheerfully, then his head tilted deeply and inquisitively to the side. "Should I consider Black Star on leave as well?"

I hesitated. I hadn't discussed my plans with Black Star; I'd merely planned to break the news to him later. It was true enough that Black Star had visited my home with me not that long ago, and my parents had loved him, but I felt like this time was to be strictly a family gathering… for obvious reasons. I was sure Black Star would understand. "Well.. actually, I haven't really—"

"YOU BET I AM! HOW WOULD TSUBAKI GET ON WITHOUT HER MEISTER? I'M A BIG STAR, YOU KNOW!"

I suppose I should have known. Black Star does have a habit of being wherever the action is, and there has been evidence in the past that he follows me whenever I'm trying to go alone. After all, he's never been the best at 'quiet' and 'stealthy', assassin or not.

So I wasn't really that surprised to find Black Star standing proudly atop one of the Death Room's pillars. I could feel myself sweatdropping. "Black Star… use your inside voice, please.." Despite popular belief, Black Star's 'inside voice' isn't entirely nonexistent. He just hardly stops talking long enough to get a breath in.

The next thing I knew, I felt the floor rumble beside me, so I felt Black Star landing on the ground beside me before I registered seeing it happen. "Why should Tsubaki be alone when she's got me around?" Even though Black Star seemed to be addressing Lord Death, he was looking at me as the statement was proclaimed, meaning underlying his boisterous tone. At my lack of response, he extended a hand and patted the top of my head before turning to face the Grim Reaper.

With he and I being partners for so long, you'd think I would grow accustomed to his sweet side as I had his loud and overly confident demeanor. But he continued to surprise me, and I was always taken aback each time. (In a good way.) It was most certainly true that Black Star had matured over the course of the time we'd spent together – and not just physically (I still marveled over how he'd bested me in height), but it was in those moments that I truly realized just how much he had, as opposed to him two years prior.

"Yes, yes, very good," Lord Death was nodding with approval.

And that was when a certain someone else had decided to barge in. "SPIKYYYYY! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON SNEAKY MODE! You suck!"

I turned to see little Angela toddling as fast as she could down the corridor, indignantly waving her large hands. Ever since Black Star had vanquished Mifune, the DWMA had taken the little witch under their wing. Angela had warmed up to Black Star and me especially; we spent a lot of time with her. However, I knew it was hard for Black Star sometimes. Though he never let on, I knew he felt guilty for taking the life of Angela's protector, and having to hide it from her. For all Angela knew, Mifune was off on a journey. To tell the truth, Angela was constantly cooped up at Shibusen with only Black Star and me for company most of the time… she was in dire need of a break as well.

Once Angela approached Black Star, she skidded to a stop and pounded away at him with her large fists. He didn't even seem to notice, not even acknowledging her as he gave Lord Death a big grin and thumbs-up.

I meanwhile had been engrossed in thought, and finally felt compelled to speak. "Lord Death… if it's not too much to ask.. could Angela come with us?"

Angela blinked, all movement with her arms halting as her gaze swiveled from me to Lord Death. "Huh? Go where?"

Black Star's exuberant grin was now directed to me. "Yeah! Angela would miss us too much if we were gone for that long!"

"Hmm…" Lord Death mused. "The little witch? Are you sure you could handle that, Tsubaki? You know she'd have to be under constant surveillance." Lord Death shot me a meaningful look, and I know what he was really asking. Could I watch Angela along with Black Star? They were both so childlike, and I could hardly lose either one in Japan.

"Where are we going?" Angela cried, jumping up and down eagerly.

"What are you talking about?" Black Star exclaimed. "We can handle anything! I am going to surpass god after all! Isn't that right, Tsubaki?"

I smiled brightly. "Of course, Lord Death," I reassured him. "I promise everything will be fine."

"What will be fine?" Angela piped up.

"Then that's fine by me!" Lord Death agreed, giving them a big thumbs up. "But be careful, Tsubaki. Stay safe and stick together!"

"WHERE ARE WE GOING?!" Poor little Angela once again went unheeded.

I bowed gratefully, but when I rose, I suddenly felt my shoulders being jerked into a tight embrace as Black Star slung his arm around me. "Of course, we'll stick together!" Black Star declared. "…Now where are we going?"

"I'M THE BIGGEST STAR ON THIS PLANE! I SHOULD BE IN THE FIRST-CLASS SEATS! I SHOULDN'T BE STUCK WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE CLEARLY BELOW ME, THE GREATEST DARK ASSASSIN WHO EVER LIVED!"

I think the flight attendants were really starting to hate us. I suppose I couldn't really blame them. Black Star does have a tendency to be quite loud, and not everyone can tolerate him for more than thirty minutes, let alone a thirteen hour flight. He was constantly bouncing around the plane, shouting and carrying on as he normally does.

Then there was Angela. She was determined to eat the complimentary airline peanuts, but every time she attempted to open the bag with her giant gloved hands, it would split, and peanuts would go everywhere. She would then demand another bag, and the process repeated. I attempted to help, but the little witch was adamant about doing it herself. Much like Black Star, there was no interfering once she made up her mind.

Eventually, I managed to get Black Star in his seat with a certain amount of persuasion. The flight attendant seemed conflicted as to whether she should thank me or curse me for bringing him along in the first place. Angela gradually settled down as well, losing interest in the peanuts to become engrossed with the coloring book I handed her.

It had only taken them both four hours to calm down.

I suppose I should've become a tad suspicious when it got too quiet, Black Star's voice uncharacteristically absent. I glanced up from the book I'd brought along for the trip to see only Angela sitting beside me, Black Star's seat completely vacant. "…Where did Black Star go?" I felt a deep sense of dread and foreboding in the pit of my stomach.

"Bathroom," Angela replied absently, scribbling in her coloring book with such force I was surprised the page hadn't torn or her crayon hadn't broken.

That's when the plane dangerously lurched to the side. And it could've been my imagination, but I could've sworn I heard a "YAHOO!" in the distance.

I pressed a hand to my forehead in exasperation. "Black Star…!"

"So this is your last flight?" Barry asked the pilot.

Chase nodded. "It's been a great ten years, and don't think it's you. I couldn't have asked for a better copilot. It's just, I've been running from my true self for too long. It's time I finally give up flying and do what I was born to do. Broadway," Chase declared wistfully. His hands were on the airplane controls, but his mind was obviously somewhere else, where the lights are flashing and the music always playing.

Barry secretly cringed at the mental image of the middle-aged overweight pilot dancing on Broadway, but he did his best to keep a straight face. "I wish you all the best of luck," he promised. "But I don't understand how you'd want to leave this. We're up in the sky with the clouds and the birds. It's just so-"

And suddenly, an upside down blue-haired head popped into the cockpit window.

"I AM THE GREAT ASSASSIN BLACK STAR AND I HAVE MASTERED YOUR PATHETIC PLANE! I WILL SURPASS GOD AND YOU SHALL REVEL IN MY GREATNESS! YAHOOOOOOOO!"

"HOLY SHI-"

The pilot nearly jumped out of his seat, the controls in his hands jerking from the reaction. The entire plane veered sharply to the right, and screams sounded all through the vessel.

Vaguely, Barry wondered how the kid had gotten on top of the plane. Then he wondered how in hell the kid was still on the plane. But as Barry felt the metal roll under him, he mostly thought that he wouldn't mind a spot in Broadway himself.