Hello, hello, hello! Welcome, my readers, to the second installment of It's Your Choice, Babe. I do hope that you all enjoyed the first part. You know what would be a marvelous way to let me know if you're enjoying it? Drop a review! (insert gasp) Now there's a novel idea! I'm not trying to be rude here, but seriously, review. It's the polite thing to do. So please? Well, I'll get off your cases now. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater or any songs used in the first and second parts of this story.
Dedication: to AngelofFluffiness, for being my first reviewer of this story and for having faith in me.
It's Your Choice, Babe
By: Sally White (a.k.a. RDH)
Part II: 'Till the End of Time
Soul considered himself to be a cool guy. He didn't freak out over little things, he didn't let himself lose his cool easily, and he stayed calm whenever anyone else would have panicked. He was self-assured, independent, focused, collected, confident. He was the one who would just smile and say that everything would be okay, there was no need to worry. He was the pillar of strength when everything around seemed to crumble.
. . .but when his world crashed down around him, he couldn't say that he was ready to handle anything in a cool way.
…..
Soul groaned and leaned his forehead on his knees. "I can't stand this."
He was sitting on the ground in the training grounds not far from Shibusen. He'd decided to get a little training in to try to clear his head a little. However, after an hour he had discovered that it wasn't helping in the slightest.
It had been two days since Maka's initial break down from Chrona's confession. Two days since he'd left their apartment to give her some space while she thought things through. Two days since he had seen his meister, since he had held her, kissed her, been able to love her. It was two days, too long for him.
He was still staying with Black Star and Tsubaki. The dark arm weapon had been very sweet to him, letting him rant and rave about the situation and then doing her best to comfort him afterwards. She had even given him a back rub at one point, to try to ease his stress. Black Star had been less than helpful, demanding how Soul could let a weakling like Chrona steal his girl. Soul had barely kept from punching the daylights out of the blue-haired assassin, snarling that Chrona hadn't taken Maka away from him yet.
Yet . . . that was what scared Soul. He hadn't heard anything from Maka since he had left the apartment. He had no way of knowing what she was thinking, what she was going to decide, who she was going to choose. He was terrified of what her decision would be. He was barely surviving without her now and it had only been two days . . . how was he going to survive if it turned out that she didn't want him anymore . . .?
Soul leaned his head back against the tree he was leaning against. He stared up at the blue sky, noting grimly that the weather did not match his mood today at all.
"Um . . . m-may I join you?"
Soul lowered his head and stared at the person standing in front of him.
Chrona wasn't looking at Soul, staring at the ground in front of himself instead. He had on his jeans and blue hoodie look again. His left hand had a hold on his left upper arm, and he looked extremely uncomfortable.
Soul's red gaze narrowed as he looked at the pink-haired boy before him. "Hello, Chrona."
"Hi, Soul," Chrona said quietly, his grip on his arms becoming tighter. He walked over to the tree and turned around, slowly sitting down a few inches away from Soul. He leaned back against it and finally turned his blue-gray gaze to the albino. "Nice day, huh?"
Soul huffed and glared down at the ground. "Yeah, just perfect," he grumbled.
"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see," Chrona began.
"Ya think?" Soul growled.
" – but I just came to say that I'm sorry for all this," Chrona went on. "I never meant to make you and Maka break up."
"We aren't broken up!" Soul snapped, baring his teeth at the other boy. When Chrona cowered away from him, the albino let out a gruff sigh and crossed his arms over his chest, looking away. "We're just . . . taking some time off away from each other. She needed time to think, so I'm giving her space. That's all."
"Oh." Chrona nodded, glancing away. "Well, you have nothing to worry about. She's going to choose you."
Soul looked down, his eyes shadowed by his bangs. "You don't know that."
"But I do," the pink-haired boy insisted. "You two are partners, after all. You're closer than anyone I've ever known in my life. And you're strong and cool and out-going." Chrona brought his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them. "Unlike me. I'm just invisible."
"But she cares about you," Soul protested. "She constantly worries about you, whenever your around she always wants to, like . . . cuddle you or hold your hand and stuff like that." He let out a growl. "You're someone she can take care of. She likes that." He sighed, resting his forehead against his knees again. "Why wouldn't she choose you?"
Chrona stared sadly at the albino, then said, "If someone stood up in a crowd and raised his voice up way out loud, and waved his arms and shook his leg . . ."
Soul turned his head to look at the other boy.
"You'd notice him," Chrona sang, then he said, "If someone in a movie show yelled, 'Fire, in the second row! This whole place is a powder keg!'"
Soul gave him a curious look.
"You'd notice him," Chrona sang, then continued, "And even without clucking like a hen, everyone gets noticed now and then. Unless, of course that personage should be," he took a breath and said, "invisible . . . inconsequential . . ." He sighed and sang, "me."
Soul raised his head.
Chrona shook his head and sang, "Cellophane, Mister Cellophane. Shoulda been my name, Mister Cellophane," he smiled weakly, "'cause you can look right through me, walk right by me, and never know I'm there." He sighed. "I tell ya, Cellophane, Mister Cellophane. Shoulda been my name, Mister Cellophane. 'Cause you can look right through me, walk right by, and never know I'm there."
"Chrona," Soul began to say.
Chrona held up his hand to silence the albino, then said, "Suppose you was a little cat, residing in a person's flat, who fed you fish and scratched your ears."
Soul chuckled, thinking of Blair.
"You'd notice him," Chrona sang, then he said, getting into it, "Suppose you were a woman wed and sleeping in a double bed beside one man for seven years!" He took a breath and sang, "You'd notice him."
Soul stared at the demon sword, a little lost for words.
"A human being's made of more than air," Chrona sang. "With all that bulk, you're bound to see them there. Unless that human being next to you," he sighed and said, "is unimpressive, undistinguished . . . you . . . know . . .," he took a breath and sang, "who."
"Chrona, look," Soul tried again.
Chrona shook his head and sang, his tone almost bitter, "Shoulda been my name, Mister Cellophane," he looked at Soul, "'cause you can look right through me, walk right by me, and never know I'm there."
He stood up, his fists clenched. "I tell ya, Cellophane, Mister Cellophane. Shoulda been my name, Mister Cellophane! 'Cause you can look right through me, walk right by me, and never know I'm there!" He stomped his foot. "Never! Even! Know!" He breathed in then sang softly, "I'm there."
Soul looked at the pink-haired boy with sympathetic eyes.
"I hope I didn't take up too much of your time," Chrona said softly, starting to walk away.
Soul quickly stood up. "Chrona, wait." When the other boy looked at him, he continued, "I just want Maka to be happy. No matter what or who she chooses, as long as she's happy, that's all I care about. She knows that. So no hard feelings, okay?"
Chrona nodded slowly. "I guess." He got a determined look on his face. "Please excuse me, there's something I must do." Then he left.
Soul sighed and looked up at the sky. "No wonder she wants to take care of that guy," he muttered to himself. "He's got no confidence." He let a small sad half-smile grace his lips. "How do you stay mad at that?"
…..
Maka opened the door of the apartment and was startled, and slightly disappointed, to see Chrona standing there. "Oh, Chrona. Um, hi."
"Maka, I know that you probably don't want company right now," he said, uncharacteristically blunt, "but there's something I need you know, right now."
She sighed and rubbed her temples with her hand. She opened the door wider. "Why don't you come on in."
He stepped inside and she closed the door behind him. He took a moment to look her over. She looked tired and worn out, bags under her green eyes and her ash-blonde hair hanging limply around her shoulders. He felt a wave of concern wash over him. He put his hand on her arms. "Maka, are you alright?"
She gave a smile that was obviously forced. "I'm fine. Now what did you want to tell me?"
The hand that was on her shoulder lifted up to cup her face. Chrona looked deep into her eyes. "Maka, I can see that you're stressed out, and I'm so sorry that it's doing this to you." He lowered his gaze to the floor. "I never should have told you."
"Chrona, no," Maka said, reaching up to grasp the hand that was touching her face. "Look at me." When he did, she continued, "I'm glad you told me. You were right, I deserved to know. This is not your fault, you understand? This is my fault for being so indecisive. So don't you dare blame yourself."
Chrona stared at her, the look in his eyes almost desperate. "But I didn't want to cause you to be indecisive. I just wanted you to know." He cupped her face in both of his hands. "Maka, I just want you to be happy. No matter what. I don't care if you choose me or Soul, as long as your happy, that's all that matters."
Maka's eyes filled with frustrated tears, which she blinked rapidly to stop from overflowing. "I wish people would stop telling me that. It just makes things harder."
"But it's true," Chrona pressed on. "All we care about is that your safe and happy."
She looked up at him, her eyes searching. Suddenly, without warning, she leaned forward, pressing her lips to his. At first he was too shocked to do anything, but then slowly he returned the pressure. Their lips moved together in a new dance that neither of them had experienced before. After a few moments she pulled away from him. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at her. "Wha . . ."
"I had to know," she explained softly. "I had to know what it felt like."
He nodded, still speechless.
Maka suddenly hugged him, burying her face in his chest. "Thank you," she said, her voice slightly muffled. "I know now. I know who I should choose." She looked up at him with a smile, her eyes watery but determined.
Chrona immediately understood. He smiled weakly, hugging her back. "I'm glad I could help."
Maka broke away from him. "I have to tell Soul. Do you know where he is?"
"He was at the training grounds when I left him," he told her.
She nodded. She gave him another smile before rushing to the door and throwing it open, dashing out. Chrona watched her with a sigh. He went over and stepped out of the apartment, closing the door behind himself.
…..
When he heard footsteps running towards him, Soul immediately knew who it was. He didn't move from his seat on the wall overlooking the city. He heard her get closer then finally stop.
"Soul," her voice said softly, out of breath.
He didn't say a word.
She caught her breath then said, "There's something I need to tell you."
"Did you make your choice?" he asked, still not looking at her.
"Yes," she said quietly. "Chrona came over and helped me."
He took in a deep breath to keep himself calm. "Oh? What'd you do, kiss him?"
When she didn't say anything he shut his eyes tight, hating that he was right. "I see. Then what are you doing here with me? Shouldn't you be with him?"
"I want you to come home now," she said softly. "I miss you."
He couldn't help it; he let out a harsh laugh. "Oh, so you missed me. How touching."
"Soul, please – "
"Y'know, Maka, I've been nice through this entire thing," he snapped, still not looking at her, "but I'm not going to tolerate you rubbing this in my face. It's not cool." He looked down and growled, "So why don't you just get out of here and leave me alone?"
He heard her sniffle, and it tore his heart because he knew he had made her cry. But he refused to give in this time. Don't think about her, he told himself. Don't think about how much you want to hold her and kiss her tears away and tell her that everything will be alright. Just stay strong, stay cool. Damn it . . .
He heard her sniffle again, then a whispery voice sang, "Never knew . . . I could feel," sniffle, "like this." There was a breath taken then sang a little bit stronger, "It's like I've never seen the sky before."
He held his breath, not daring to believe what he was hearing.
"Want to vanish," the song continued, "inside your kiss." He could almost hear her smile as she sang, "Everyday I'm loving you more and more."
Soul breathed, blinking his red eyes in astonishment.
"Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing?" she sang to him. "Come back to me," she
took in a breath and belted out, "and forgive everything!"
Soul slowly glanced over his shoulder at his meister.
When she saw that she had his attention, she softly sang, "Seasons may change, winter to spring . . ." She sniffled and whispered loudly, "I love you!" Then she sang, "'Till the end . . . of . . . time."
He looked away from her again, his back to her.
She had started to give up hope when she heard his voice ring out in song, "Come what may."
She gasped and looked up at him.
He had turned to face her, a grin on his face. "Come what may," he sang again, getting off the wall to stand on the ground. "Come what may." He took in a breath and sang louder, "Come what may. Come what may!" He smiled at her. "I will love you . . ."
"I will love you," she sang to him, hope rising in her chest.
"Until my dying," he continued.
"'Till my dying," she sang.
"Day," they sang together, walking to each other. "Come what may! Come what may! Come what may. . ." They were right in front of each other, and Soul wrapped his arms around her waist while she wrapped her arms around his neck. They sang softly to each other, "I will love you until my dying day."
Soul rested his forehead against Maka's. "So, it's me?" he asked timidly. "You choose me?"
Maka nodded, happiness gleaming in her eyes. "I know now. There isn't anyone in the world that I love more than you."
"Not even Chrona?" he ventured to say.
"Especially not Chrona," she murmured, pressing her lips to his.
He ravished her mouth, making up for the time they had lost over the last couple of days. His mouth moved with her's in deep passionate patterns, and his tongue traced over her's as though it was a sacred treasure. She moaned into his mouth, not used to such glorious treatment.
Finally they parted, panting. They smiled at each other, knowing that they had surpassed this trial and that their relationship had become stronger because of it.
…..
Unknown to the happy couple, Chrona watched the whole scene from behind a tree. He smiled sadly, feeling his heart ache inside his chest, but ignored it. As long as Maka was happy, that was all that he cared about. It was all he needed. After all, he loved her, and he knew that if you truly love something, you must let it go so that it can be happy.
Chrona turned around and left the training grounds, leaving the pair to enjoy each other in privacy.
…..
In the end, it had all been for the best. Chrona found himself becoming more open to those around him. Maka continued to care for her friend, but now found herself making sure that none of her actions could be mistaken for anything more than friendship. Soul found that he didn't worry about other guys taking his girlfriend away from him as he had before. And of course, the happy couple's relationship grew stronger with each passing day.
And everyone found themselves wondering who would be the next couple to get together through song.
The End . . . ?
Finished! Holy wow, this turned out a lot fluffier than I had originally anticipated. I had to take a lot out of it from what I had planned out, but it all worked out in the end. You see, I am loyal to Soka. Soka forever! But I do support onesided ChroMa. Heh heh . . . how cruel am I? Oh well, Chrona is fun to play with. And yes, I know Ragnarok didn't show up, but I hate that stupid bloodclot! I refuse to put him in my story. So, anyways, drop a review (please!) and let me know what you thought. Oh, and I might make a TsuStar sequel to this. Let me know what you think of that idea! Laters! Peace – Sally White