ENTRANCED
Chapter 3: Friendly Mess

I do not own Soul Eater.
Although I wish I did.

~ . ~ . ~ . ~ . ~

Maka was quickly brought to a hospital with the expert hands of Nygus to help her.

The Shibusen staff was greatly worried and was doing all they could to help.

The first time that they saw her body, there were different reactions.

Marie felt ready to cry.
Sid commented that Maka was more alike to a zombie now than him, which wasn't really helpful.
Professor Stein had his hands firmly clawing his lab coat. He was resisting the urge to dissect the vulnerable Maka.
Shinigami's eyes seemed to be darker than usual.

Then there were the others…
They shouted at the boys who didn't lie at all.
While Tsubaki was trying to calm everyone.

Most of the blame went to Soul Eater, which made Black Star grow quiet with Soul.

They were still friends but there was a tension among them.

Currently, that tension was gone.
Black Star knew he had to support Soul.

Especially since Spirit had personally entered his apartment and proceeded to talk to them.
Or rather, to curse Soul.

"What have you done to my Maka?!"

Spirit had a hand on Soul's collar.
"I didn't do anything wrong," Soul mumbled. "It was that wolf's fault."

"You left her alone in a dangerous place!"

Soul looked at Black Star for a brief moment.
The eyes of the young star convinced Soul that his friend felt totally guilty.
He shared a part of that heavy guilt.

"YOU. MADE. A. MISTAKE."
Soul wasn't planning to fight back. He just remained silent.

"What do I do if something bad happens to Maka?! What?!"

Soul adjusted his head a little to his tightening collar.

"What do I do if she finds it hard to breathe even after the treatment? If she suffers from trauma? If she loses her voice? If she… If she-"

Soul laid a hand on Spirit's wrist.
"Maka… isn't going to die," he managed to say.

"What do you know? You're the worst meister for her!"

There were now tears forming in Spirit's eyes.
Soul knew they had a deep sense of reality and feelings this time.
They were not playful tears for Maka.

"Baka." Spirit's face darkened.
But he released Soul's collar.
"I'm going." He silently walked out of the apartment.

.

Black Star had his head deep on the sofa.
And he had an arm across his face.
In other times, Soul would have just assumed that he was sleeping.

But thus time, he knew that his friend was this way because he was ashamed.
Black Star was ashamed of what he had done.

"I never wanted something like this, you know," Black Star muttered.
"I know," Soul said quietly.

"I can't believe it. Your god is making everything worse."
"Nah, I'll manage."

Black Star sighed.
"Tsubaki, I'm staying here for the night."
"Hai…"

Soul raised an eyebrow.
"What does this mean?"

"You might get lonely, that's all."
Soul punched Black Star on the forehead.
He was sent badly to the sofa.

Tsubaki quickly stood up. "Black Star!"

The blue-haired boy coughed. "That was nothing."
Soul had a little crooked smile. "I've been longing to do that."
Black Star grinned. "I can understand you."

He stood up and stretched his bones.
"When everything just seems stupid!"
Black Star gave weight to his last word by punching Soul.
The white-haired boy blocked it with a palm.

"Heh! Soul, let's watch a movie."
"I'm not sure if I have a good movie or something."
"Never mind that. I just wanna stay up all night."
"Pick one then. On the drawer."

Tsubaki was watching them silently.
Then she decided to speak, "Black Star, I'm going."
His meister wished him a good night and she left.

"So… You got popcorn or something?" Black Star asked as he put a CD on the player.

"Good timing."
"Huh?"
"Well, you said that you wanted to taste some of my food. I'll go make one now."

Black Star clicked the pause button on the remote.
"Let me see how you do the cooking." He stood up.

Soul shrugged. "Follow me then."

They went to the kitchen and Soul began preparing.

"That looks like a lot of food," Black Star commented.
"I'm making dinner."

"I just want a little food. Besides, we're going to watch a movie."
"I'm not planning to skip a meal," Soul said flatly. "The movie will come later."

"Anyway, I just didn't want to give you another job. Can't we just buy some ramen outside?"

"I actually enjoy doing this at times. And you're going to demand a lot of food."
"Even as a god, I do get full."
"Let's see…"

After a few moments, the sweet smell of meat wafted across the room.

"Smells good, tastes good," Black Star stated.

Soul set some plates on the kitchen table and said, "Eat up."
"Ittadakimasu!" Black Star gave a wide smile.
Then he started to eat a large portion of the meal.

"Hey, you cook better than Tsubaki!"
"The cook easily sees flattery over real compliments."
"Hey, I'm not lying! You should just thank me for the-"

Black Star abruptly stopped.
"What?" Soul asked.
"Soul, does anyone enter the apartment at night?"

Soul thought over the question.
Then he gulped.

"Any realizations?" Black Star asked as he started to take another large portion of the food.

"Most likely, it will be-"
"Lalalalala~"

Soul's nose bled.
As a woman in just a bathrobe entered the room.
She was drying her hair along with a hum.

"Blair!"
The woman turned to him cheerfully. "Soul!"

She ran to the weapon, releasing her hold on the bathrobe, fully revealing her body.
She hugged Soul and moved her breast across Soul's face.

Soul lost more blood.
And Black Star shouted, "Yahoo!"

Blair turned to him and asked Soul, "You didn't tell me he'll be staying tonight!"
"Why would I?" Soul wiped the blood on his nose.

"Black Star, right?"
Blair played with his cheeks.
"That was a bang with Soul!"

"Black Star, watch yourself…" Soul warned.

"I like this kid," Blair said.
"Whatever. Get out already," Soul said slowly.

"Your cat is getting hungry! Feed me by your lips, Soul."
A small line of blood appeared from Soul's nose.

"Nya~" Blair licked her hand as if she was a cat.
"By the way, where's Maka-chan?"

Silence was the immediate answer to her question.
Black Star had even put his utensils away and stopped eating.

"Did I say something wrong?"
"You still haven't heard?" Soul asked warily.
"Obviously. I'd like to hear the details from you, Soul," Blair said seductively.

"I…" Soul gritted his teeth as he looked at Black Star.
"Maka's in a hospital."

"What? Why?"
"A… A wild wolf attacked her."
Soul sighed. Maybe they could get away this time without telling Blair the whole details.

"It must be horrible," said Blair as she quietly took a piece of meat.

"Say, Soul… I thought you and Maka were together for the last mission?"
"We are…"

"Where were you when the wolf attacked?"
"Before a lake," Soul said weakly.

"… Smashing Pumpkin!"
Smoke filled the entire room as something charged at Soul.

When the smoke was cleared, Blair was in her witch outfit and Soul was twitching, lying on the mess.

"Hey, hey…" Black Star muttered.

Blair knelt beside Soul and laid a finger on his cheek.
"Why don't you visit Maka-chan?"

"Nygus-sensei still doesn't allow us. Besides, I had enough already…"

Blair's finger dug in Soul's face a little.
"How about poor Maka-chan? Don't you think she's had enough, too?"