"And that's what happened..." Chrona finished.

There was a deafening silence throughout the room. Everyone looked around as if to make sure this was reality or that they had heard right. This was a disaster. They had already had enough trouble with the black blood based on Maka, Soul, and Chrona's experiences alone. How were they going to justify another black blooded individual running around? One who wasn't even under the jurisdiction of the DWMA! A total stranger! Worst of all no one even knew where he was now. The black blood could take over him at any time and none of them would be able to deal with it until it was too late. When that shock settled in outrage broke out.

"You did what!?" Kid screeched.

They all made shared noises of ascent that this was indeed an unfortunate situation. Some angrier than others.

"Way to go." Soul growled.

Maka placed a hand on Soul's shoulder, signaling him to stop; he acquiesces. She makes her way over to Chrona and addresses them carefully.

"Um, Chrona that's...I don't know. Let's think about this though." Maka starts "What do you know about this guy? What's his name?"

"Darren," Chrona started "And I ... don't really know much about him. We really only talked about basic stuff like likes and dislikes. His favorite color is pink! Oh, and he doesn't really have anybody. He's kind of a loner."

Everyone's eyes widen in disbelief.

"Ok, well, where does he live?"

"I don't remember, but not too far, he just moved here."

"Great, you don't even know the guy." Soul rubs his face in defeat.

"Soul!" Maka quieted him.

"No Maka," Kid snaps "Soul's right, we should be watching him! What are we going to do? How are we supposed to explain this to my father!?"

They all sat in silence. Chrona became nervous and started biting their lip. That sense of security they had with Darren was gone now that they were alone. It made them miss Darren all the more. Should they go get him or would bringing him there only put him in harms way? They wanted to believe their friends wouldn't do anything to harm him, but the looks on their faces weren't assuring them in the least. Had they become a hindrance to Darren by getting him into even more of a mess? After all, it was Chrona's fault, wasn't it? They were the one to make the stupid decision, they should be the one punished. Chrona didn't care what happened to them, they were more worried about what their friends would do to Darren. They'd do just about anything to leave him out of this.

"I don't know." Chrona said, tears welling "Just don't hurt him, ok?"

They started to fall.

"He didn't do anything wrong. So don't hurt him please!" Chrona sobbed.

"Chrona."

Maka began looking around for something to wipe the tears with.

"It's all my fault so please." Chrona spoke, desperation in his voice.

Maka grabbed Chrona's face gently and began to wipe away the tears with her hands. They gave a small smile in appreciation.

"Well it's not really our choice," Kid spoke, guilt tingeing his voice "we have to tell the academy."

Kid did not enjoy upsetting Chrona, but he had an obligation as the son of death to make sure rules were followed and issues were reported. Now that he knew he was unavoidable involved which also made him responsible for reporting it. What would his father think if he heard about the rogue black blooded individual from somewhere other than himself? His father would be mad at him for who knows how long. The disgrace, the punishment. No, he would not be incurring such a wrath if he could help it. Still, that didn't mean he wasn't sympathetic to Chrona's plight. They were clearly just trying to do the right thing, however misguided it might have been.

"Do you think they can help him?" Chrona asked "He's not dangerous; he can learn to control it. You believe me, right?"

Kid smiled at Chrona's optimism, it was refreshing in these times. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to take Chrona's word for it, he had been taught better. The boy had to be put to the test.

"I believe you, but, I'm sorry Chrona, this is out of our hands. We have no choice, we have to tell my father. Only he can determine if we can trust Darren."

Chrona's eyes became downcast, they looked like a kicked puppy. They felt like one too. How were they going to explain to Darren that he would have to prove he wasn't a danger when he was literally still recovering from a horrible accident. He probably wasn't anywhere near having the emotional capacity to deal with this and as for physically forget about it. The time it was going to take him to adjust to the black blood would take months, no years! He was in no way ready to be judged by a council of reapers let alone Lord Death himself. He needed time.

"Can I at least have time to help prepare him?"

"Of course, he at least deserves a fair trial." Kid replied.

"Trial? Geeze Kid, there's gotta be a better choice of words." Liz scoffed.

"No," Kid replied "For all we know this could be considered a serious crime. I mean injecting a stranger with black blood? Does anybody remember what happened to Maka and Soul because of it?"

Maka and Soul grew still, their eyes looking anywhere but at the others. They sure remembered. Chrona felt a pang in their heart and started crying even more. Everything bad that happened to the people around them was their fault. They were like a bad luck charm. They should have known better than to give Darren the black blood, but they couldn't bring themselves to regret it. Darren was alive now because of their black blood and that's about the only good thing that's ever come of it. They couldn't feel bad about what they did, because in the pit of their heart they knew they had done the right thing. Right?

"I'm, so, sorry!" Chrona cried, hiccuping between words.

Maka smiled weakly before reaching over and hugging Chrona. Chrona gasped for a moment but then melted into her hug. They always felt like she was the loving mother...er sister? They never had. She was their best friend and greatest support system. She always seemed to understand them in a way most couldn't. They were glad they had met her, but at this moment they felt drained and couldn't seem to find the energy to reciprocate the hug. All they wanted to do was sleep. They began to droop and became comfortable in her arms, she smiled. They were so innocent and cute. She laid them on the couch then went and brought a blanket to put over them.

"Well, it's pretty late we should all get some sleep and regroup tomorrow. We can prepare to tell the academy on Monday." Kid suggested.

"What about that Darren guy? Shouldn't we find him?" Patty asked.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"We could run around, but the chances of finding him are slim. It would be better of us to make sure we have everything in order, rather than searching aimlessly for some guy whose appearance we're not even familiar with. Besides if we tell the academy first we won't even have to find him, they will." Kid replied.

"Sounds reasonable." Tsubaki agreed.

"Great than it's settled, see you all tomorrow, let's go, Liz, Patty."

Everyone said their goodbyes before heading home and then they were gone. Now, it was just Soul, Maka, and Chrona.

"Get some sleep for tomorrow, ok?" Soul asked.

"Ok, night." Maka agrees.

"Night."


Maka was the first fresh and awake, going through her usual morning routine. Once done she made her way to the living room to check on Chrona as she was quite sure Soul wasn't awake yet. Unfortunately, Chrona too was still sleeping, but she was secretly grateful for that. She wiped their hair out of their face and observed them. She wondered how such a sweet person could be subjected to such things. It was as if bad luck followed them around like a raincloud. She hated it. She felt as if she couldn't do anything about it, but that wasn't quite true. She could and would do her best to make sure this situation ran smoothly for them. She promised. Then as if sensing her determination her stomach rumbled and let her know she needed energy to fight. She went to the kitchen only to realize they were running low on food.

"I'll have to go to the grocery store."

"Nah, let me do it." she turned to see a sleepy Soul.

"You sure?" she asked.

"Yeah, I mean think about it, when Chrona wakes up they're not going to want to see me."

She knew he was right, so she quickly wrote down a list of things they needed while Soul was getting ready. She handed it to him on his way out then began pulling out the supplies she would need for when he got back. Soul tore down the streets on his bike hoping to make this trip as quick as possible. He wasn't really in the mood to interact with anyone he might run into. He parked next to another motorcycle, an odd sight on an early morning.

"Must be someone passing through." Soul mumbled to himself.

He went in quickly, got the goods, and headed outside to take off. Coincidentally, the bike owner was about to leave himself.

"Driving through?" Soul asked.

"Nope, I'm actually new in town, you a local?"

Soul thinks about not answering and just leaving, but decides he's interested enough to stay and talk.

"Yeah, I'm Soul, you are?"

"I'm Darren, nice to meet you Soul." He says holding out his hand.

Soul takes the hand out of curtesy until something clicks in his mind. His grip tightens.

"What did you say your name was?"

Soul had to make sure he had it right, it was a long shot, but still.

"Darren." he replied "Why?"

No. Fucking. Way.

"Do you know a Chrona by any chance?" Soul smirked.

Darren's eyes went wide with shock, looks like they didn't have to go looking for this guy after all.

"You know Chrona?" he asked trying his best to restrain his emotions.

"Yeah, you wanna see them? Follow me." Soul said.

Soul loaded his stuff then got on his bike and saw Darren follow suit. Soul navigated them through the town back to the same place that Darren had dropped Chrona off at last night.

"That chick Maka's house. You her boyfriend or something then?"

Soul nodded, "Chrona tell you?"

"No," Darren answered before asking about Chrona again "They stayed here last night?"

"Yep, I'm sure they'll be very excited to see you." Soul said rolling his eyes.

"Hey, Maka," Soul shouted "I'm back and guess who I found."

"Who?" Maka asked running to the door "Who's he?"

"Darren?"

"Chrona!" Darren exclaimed pushing right past Soul and Maka to embrace Chrona.

"I missed you too." Chrona smiles.

"You guys just met yesterday." Soul interrupts.

Maka elbows him in the stomach before smiling at them both.

"Nice to meet you Darren." she says extending her hand.

"Likewise." he said returning the gesture.

Maka thought he seemed polite enough, but there was something off about him. For someone whose life had been usurped by the black blood he seemed very relaxed. There was virtually no tension throughout his body and his face was all smiles. Was it an act and he was just good at hiding his emotions? Maybe he really was infatuated with Chrona at first sight and just wanted to make a good impression. Or maybe Kid was right and he was potentially dangerous. Regardless, she wanted to give him the chance to prove himself. For Chrona's sake.

"How did you find him Soul?" she asked.

"The grocery store."

"Good thing I sent you then," she joked "right Chrona?"

She turned to Chrona but they were lost in their own little world with Darren. They couldn't seem to tear their eyes from each other for longer than a minute. It was kind of starting creep her out. She'd have to keep an eye on them. The black blood had done terrible things to her and Soul as a pair, maybe it was pulling them together as well. That sounded crazy, but just about everything was on the table at this point.

"Hey are you two done eye fucking yet?"

Or she could let Soul do all the work since he seemed so inclined. That comment had completely snapped the two out of it. Chrona was blushing madly while Darren scowled. His whole body tensed and she was suddenly aware that he might actually deck Soul. In fact, unbeknownst to her, he had half a mind to, were it not for Chrona being there. He didn't want them to think he was violent or that he hated their friends. He would admit he had a bit of a temper, but he wanted to make sure Chrona never saw that side of him. Actually, Chrona almost seemed to quell it to a certain extent. That's how he knew Chrona was special. He felt most of the tension leave his body and contented himself with glaring at Soul who acted as if he hadn't done anything and escaped into the kitchen.

"Don't mind him, he's just naturally like that, you'll have to excuse him." Maka apologized.

"I don't need you to apologize for me cause I'm not sorry!" he yelled from the kitchen.

"Is that right?!" Maka yelled back making her way to join him in the kitchen.

"So...what now?" Darren asked Chrona.

"Let's just go sit in the living room and wait for everyone else to show up." Chrona replied.

"Everyone else?"

"I almost forgot!" Chrona cried "I'm sorry Darren!"

Alarms went off in Darren's head. Chrona crying bothered him immensely. He didn't care why they were doing it, he just knew he'd do anything to make it stop. He immediately pulled Chrona to him and hugged them tightly hoping to calm them. He ran his hands soothingly through Chrona's pink hair over and over, but no matter what he did he couldn't seem to soothe their crying or stop their incessant apologizing. He used his last resort. He kissed Chrona. A light, brief kiss was all it took.

"Are you ready to tell me what's wrong?" Darren asked still holding Chrona.

Chrona nodded his head. Then right when Chrona was about to start Soul interrupted, again.

"Let's wait till everyone gets here to start discussing, ok?"

He was first on Darren's list.

"But Kid said I could warn him." Chrona protested.

"And what if he doesn't like what you say? What if he runs away? What then?"

Chrona began looking between the two, distressed and clearly not sure what to do. Darren could have skinned him right there and then were he not astounded by the stupidity of the comment. It actually made him laugh a little.

"It's ok, I can wait till everyone one gets here, I promise I won't run, on my honor. I already know it's about the black blood."

Soul's and Chrona's eyes widened.

"You did warn me." Darren winked "Remember?"

Chrona buried their face in Darren's chest just appreciating him and how easy he was making everything. Chrona couldn't believe how lucky they were, finding so many people who are understanding and willing to help. Especially Darren, he couldn't believe how close they had become. This had to be destiny. They never thought they'd find someone who likes them let alone maybe even love them. Darren had kissed them so it had to mean something, right?

"So, when do people start showing up?" Darren asked.

"I don't know." Soul said bluntly.

"An estimate?"

"No."

"You know you're really starting to..." that's as far as Darren got before there was knock on the door.

Thank goodness for it too, Darren looked as if he was ready to bludgeon Soul.

"Coming!" Soul yelled.

"Um, Darren, are you ok?" Chrona asked worried about the murder written in Darren's eyes.

Darren quickly shook his head and the look disappeared, but Chrona couldn't help but feel it was still there.

"I'm fine, totally! Just nervous is all." Darren lied.

He hated lying to Chrona, that was no way to start a relationship. What else was he supposed to say though? 'No, because your friend is pissing me off so I think I'm gonna flay him when none of you are looking'? No, he couldn't go just declaring things like that. He had only met the guy a minute ago and he was already failing miserably at the whole trying to be 'friendly' thing. He knew he'd have to make friends with Chrona's friends if he wanted to stay in their life, but he really hadn't counted on some of them being assholes for no apparent reason. He tried to stay calm, he'd gone over this extensively just the night before. He was going to make these people think he liked them if it killed him. He wished he could express it all to Chrona, but he couldn't. Not yet anyway.

"So, this is him?"

"I'm gonna take a wild guess and say you're talking about me." Darren smirks.

"Indeed."

Darren felt uncomfortable and nervous under the golden eyed boy's gaze, but refused to crumble under the scrutiny.

"Darren as I remember it, my name is Death the Kid, but just call me Kid. We have much to discuss so why don't we get started, shall we?" said Kid walking past, leaving an annoyed Darren in his wake.

'Pompous ass.' Darren thought.

He didn't know how he was going to pull this off, but he'd figure it out. For Chrona's sake.


Fixed