Love

Kamia still stood tall, with that glitter of a lioness' soul behind those emerald eyes. I smiled a little bit; Kamia and my own souls' resonated well, as we had fought together on past occasions. We were best friends... Even as she took the eyes of the man I loved. I sighed quietly.

"Soul? He's doing fine. He'll likely be up tomorrow morning, but I can't let him go until the next day. He did sustain some serious injuries."

I blinked in effort to stay awake. The drain on my relatively small pool of magic was starting to take its toll on me.

Kamia rolled her eyes grumpily, "That wasn't the he I meant, and you know it Bunny-chan."

Her eyes softened a little when she saw Maka.

"Was she worried? Maka, I mean..."

"Yes. Poor Maka-chan was panicking an hour or two before you got here."

"Damn him for making his own daughter worry..." The unspoken "Damn him for worrying me" was obvious.

Kamia advanced on her, and gently flicked a lock of sandy hair from her daughter's forehead. She kissed Maka's forehead, making Maka mumble and shift in her sleep. I tried to go forward to hug her, and I staggered alarmingly. As usual, Kamia caught me with her undeniable speed and grace.

"Th-thanks, Kamia..."

"Was he that badly hurt? That you drained yourself to fix him?"

Kamia's green eyes were creased in a worried frown. I smiled, trying to not end up accidentally getting Spirit's ex wife mad at him again before he could even defend himself.

"He was p-pretty bad... But he should make it now," I said, smiling tiredly.

Her eyes softened from the hard emeralds to the four-leaf clover shade I was used to. She held me gently as she pulled me into her arms, cuddling me like old times. I squeaked in embarrassment- my best friend being able to envelope me in her bear hugs as always made a bad show of how I'd grown. She smelled the same, even, of woodsmoke and warm metal.

"Damn, girl, you're two of a kind. Too self-sacrificing and likeable for your own good," Kamia scolded quietly, half carrying half supporting me towards one of the cots.

She braced my skinny body easily, and laid me down gently into one of the cots. I tried to get up, but Kamia gave me a gimlet eyed look that told me it would be a bad idea to resist. I sighed, laying back as she moved between us, occasionally glancing at Spirit and Maka (Maka was the more often choice) but mostly keeping her eyes on me.

"Kamia."

She looked inquiringly at me.

"You still love him, don't you?"

The high flush to her cheeks as she looked away was proof enough for someone who had known her since she was five. I just smiled crookedly, shaking my head. Kamia was one to talk about self-sacrificing. She had divorced the man she knew she would partner with the rest of her life- better or worse- for the sake of appearances to her daughter. Both of them- father and mother- could be utter hypocrites sometimes. But that's how some adults- and some children- could be. They still loved each other, and both missed each other. So I didn't understand why they couldn't forgive and forget.

"Kamia... Why?"

She gave me a quizzical look, rubbing her eyes a little.

"It's killing him, you know. Being without you. Even Maka won't say she cares... This is the first time I've heard her upset for something about her papa other than his attempts to show her he loves her. I've tried to explain but... She refuses to listen. Like another blonde meister I know."

She had whitened at my first statement. Kamia's face had calmed, ever so slightly, since the rest, but she still looked unsettlingly rattled. She then reddened in frustration.

"What do you mean, its killing him? He's going to Chupacabras just fine as far as I know!"

"As far as you know. He's been sleeping alone for the last year. I should know. I find him drunk on the couch often enough when I go over to visit. Or talking to Blaire. He still has his perverted streak, like all men do. But he sees you in every woman he sees at Chupacabras."

Kamia looked away, "You're delirious again, Bun-chan. You used too much energy healing him. Sleep it off..."

Frustrated, I managed to sit up, even as my head spun. She looked over at me, surprised that I could sit up. "You hypocrite! You yourself admitted to missing him-!" A spasm of pain lanced through me, swift as a lightning bolt. A moan escaped my lips as I fell backward onto the pillow.

"Bunny... Stop it," Kamia said, her face drawing into a frown, "You're weak right now. Sleep it off before you go accusing people of things."

With a frustrated noise, I just closed my eyes. Sometimes I wondered why I was doing this. Trying to encourage what had broken my heart in the first place. My body started to shake under the blanket. I was so worried about Spirit... I prayed my meager magic was enough to save him. I bit my lip as I felt the boiling tears start to threaten my eyes as I thought of how injured Spirit had been when he came in.

I dimly felt a weight settle onto the bed beside me. A gentle hand fluffed my white hair out of my eyes, and I felt a soft pair of lips kiss my forehead. Then, the weakness took over and I drifted into sleep at last.

Okay, I updated ^^ SO angsty... Don't take the kiss the wrong way, it's between friends. And if Stein and Spirit are paired together, I may as well let Kamia have had her fun too.

Kamia: Ugh. WHO thought those two were suited for each other June?

Me: I don't know who made the pairing first, Kamia, but are you sure they don't fit? And that you aren't just jealous?
Kamia: *Blushes* I am SO NOT JEALOUS!

Spirit:*kicked puppy eyes* Really, June? Did you HAVE to mention THAT pairing? *squeaks* And around Kamia too!

Me; I had to because guess who is showing up next chapter *evil grin*

Bunny: *whimper*

Okay, now that you had a snatch of character chitchat, leave a review!

Hugs, cookies and maybe a kiss to all who review!

-June