Day 0 after Asura's death

Crona, 1:35 PM

The heavy door slid closed. Crona didn't bother locking it. There was someone he wanted to see. After everything was done, though, how could she...

No, Crona thought, I have to learn to deal with this.

A small yell echoed down the corridor. Crona lifted his head. A small buzzing feeling came about in his stomach. Ah! Not this again, he thought, I don't know...

"Hello," A girls voice rang from the other side of the door, "Crona?"

"In here," Crona said, his voice trembling a bit, "Its open."

The door swung open softly. Maka Albarn stepped in. A smile crossed her face, seeing Crona sitting on his bed. Then he popped out.

"WHERE'S MY CANDIES," Ragnarok inquired, looking suspiciously at Maka.

Maka giggled. The little giggling made Crona smile, looking at the floor, clutching his arm. But the buzzing wouldn't go away. What is this, Crona thought, I think mother told me something about this. That it was dangerous? Crona racked his mind for an answer.

"Actually," Maka said calmly, pulling out a large glass jar, "Right here."

Ragnarok licked his lips. It was full of jelly beans and all sorts of candy. And it wasn't small. "I guess you aren't so ugly after all."

"You got that right," Crona muttered.

A surprised look came across Maka's face. "Wh-what?"

Crona's head shot up, frightened. "Uh, uh," He stammered, "N-nothing." Crona forced out a laugh.

"What he's saying, but isn't," Ragnarok declared, "Is that..." He was stopped short, except for muffled yelling, Crona's hand over his mouth. Maka was curious.

"OWW OW OW!" Crona exclaimed. Ragnarok had bitten his hand.

"Well you brought it on yourself," He said, swallowing a jelly bean.

Crona looked back at Maka. She was blushing, giggling at the two fighting.

"Well," Maka laughed, "If you're done arguing with yourself."

Crona smiled, his cheeks reddening from embarrassment. What do I say, what do I say...

"Crona?" Maka turned her head to the side, curious.

"Uh, sorry," Crona apologized, struggling over the words, "Its just, uh."

"Got something on your mind?"

"Damn right he does," Ragnarok boasted, "YOU."

Crona's fist connected with Ragnarok's jaw, tossing a gummy bear out of his mouth and into the air. He struggled to grab it, arms flailing, but it hit the floor. "RUINED!" Ragnarok yelled. As the two argued, Maka sat, giggling, but confused.

Maybe he's lying, she thought, but, what if he isn't?

"Crona." Maka said calmly, collecting herself. Its time to find out, she thought.

"Ye-yes?" He stammered.

Maka closed her eyes. I won't get anywhere with him like this. She put her hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay." She said.

"Yeah, sorry."

"Don't be."

Crona smiled. "Okay."

"Can I ask you something."

That look of fright, surprise came back on Crona's face. Maka squeezed his shoulder, and it left.

"Yeah. You can."

"Is what Ragnarok just said true? That you..." She searched for the word. "Like me?"

Crona developed an awkward smile, blushing intensely. "Of course. You were my first friend, you've always been my best friend!"

He's moving around the question, Maka thought.

Oh god, oh god. How do I deal with this? Crona probed his mind for answers, but nothing came up. The buzzing was awful.

"No, I mean, more than that," Maka calmed herself, hiding her own nervousness. But what if he doesn't. What if I make a fool of myself in front of him?

"Like what?"

"Like..." She searched for an example, "Like how my fa- how my mother liked my father, when they were together."

Crona bent back, that look coming across. Maka squeezed, but to no avail. She'll find out, and she won't feel the same back...

"What are you talking about?" Maka asked.

Crona but his hand over his mouth. I was thinking aloud?! Oh, no. Don't know how to...

Maka took his hand from his mouth, putting hers in Crona's palm. Crona relaxed.

"The... the buzzing I don't know-" Crona began. Maka put a finger over his lips.

"It's okay." She said. Their eyes locked.

"I know."

Crona closed his eyes, tilting his head in towards Maka's. It'll be alright. She'll show me how to deal with this.

She always does.

"HOLD UP A SECOND!"

It was Ragnarok, hands on both their heads, pushing them apart.

Maka looked angry, fiery. Crona curled himself up a bit. The look scared him. "Yes?"

Ragnarok looked down at Crona. "Don't you remember what lady Medusa said about this?"

"Something about it being dangerous?" Crona looked confused.

"Exactly," Ragnarok turned to Maka, "This can only hurt him," he stated.

Maka grew even more fiery. Crona backed up, curling himself. She stopped herself.

"See," Ragnarok stated victoriously.

"No," Crona retorted.

"Huh?" Ragnarok asked.

"No, she won't hurt me." Crona lifted his head at Maka. She had that same angered face, but he faced her, even over all his fright. "I trust her to. This is something I have to deal with, even if I don't know how."

Maka's face softened, looking at the ground. A hand gripped her shoulder. She looked up. Crona was sitting over her. A tear streaked down Maka's face. Crona's hand reached over, wiping it off.

"Yeah, mom said something like this:" Crona raised Maka's chin, "Love can cut deeper than any sword, pierce more than any spear, shatter more than any mace, or hurt more than anything else. But now I see she missed something." Tears fell down his face. Maka's eyes glistened. "You have to let them hurt you first."

Maka wiped her face, eyes moist. "That's right. And I won't hurt you."

"I know. I know." Their heads leaned in, touching foreheads.

After a few seconds, they lifted away.

"Alright, I've gotta go. Soul's probably looking for me." She got up and turned away.

"Hey, Maka," Crona said, "One last thing."

"Yeah."

"I, uh, I'm not sure how to deal with all this." She looked at him, perplexed. "Not like, um..."

"Crona," Maka placed her hand on his shoulder, "I won't tell."

"Thanks. See you tomorrow?"

"Of course."

With that, she closed the door. As Ragnarok chowed on his candy, Crona curled up on his bed with his pillow. He hugged it tightly, smiling.

Soul, 1:40 PM

"Where do you think she is?" Soul asked Blackstar, who was standing next to him.

"I bet she went to go make out with that pink-haired chick," Blackstar stated.

"First off, Crona is a guy."

"What? Oh, yeah."

Soul shook his head. "You really are an idiot. Second, he's not even her type."

Blackstar looked at him questioningly. "How do you know?"

"I'm her partner, just trust me on these kinds things."

"I bet you the first... FIVE kishin eggs that you're wrong." A big smiled appeared on Blackstar's face.

"A bet, eh? Alright." They shook hands. "It's on. Now, where is Maka." Really hope he's wrong, but five easy souls?

"Right up here." It was Maka's voice.

The two looked up, she was at the top of the steps, waving down, a big smile on her face.

Blackstar leaned over. "I bet thats from-"

Maka, 1:42 PM

Soul had just punched Blackstar across the face.

"What's with you two?" Maka inquired.

Soul turned back. An awkward smile crossed his face. He scratched his head. "Oh, nothing, just a stupid bet."

"Oh, really? What about?" Please, please, she thought.

Blackstar shot up. "I'm gonna prove you and Crona are going out," He shouted.

Maka forced a confused look. "Why would you think that?"

"Just," Blackstar scratched his head, "I dunno, just a hunch."

"Well good luck with that you two." Why the hell did I say that, Maka thought.

She continued to walk down the steps, avoiding eye contact with the boys.

As she left, she could hear one closing remark.

"Totally obvious," Blackstar stated.

"Not really," Soul retorted.

I really hope it isn't, Soul thought.