Author's Notes: All chapters are in considerable length because I have been fulfilling the goal of 4,100-5,300 words. I really feel like taking a big step to advancing my way as an avid fanfiction author. Honestly, who wants to read shitty fanfics of their pairing?
Enjoooooy!^^
*knock* *knock* *knock* *knock*
The furious knocking continued for several more moments before the door was finally opened slowly by a slightly tired but perplexed looking Tsubaki. The female rubbed her eyes while blinking.
" Kid? Wh-what are you doing out here?" She stuttered with a yawn. The shinigami walked in past the surprised girl and examined the living room. The time was exactly eight in the morning, the time that anyone should be just getting up.
" Where is Black Star? Is he up?" He asked in a demanding voice.
" Well I just got up in fact. He must be sleeping or getting up right now-"
" Great! This is urgent." Tsubaki watched the boy run down the hall and held up a hand while sweating.
" W-Wait! He's still-"
Kid slammed the door open to Black Star's room. He managed to find it quick since it was the only door with a large blue star on it. He quickly scanned the room and found the person he was looking for stumbling out of the closet with only a shirt and boxers on.
" K-Kid!? Wh-Wha-!?" The said teen marched up and grabbed both the boy's wrists, completely unaware of his friend being half naked.
" We have to plan our date!" The other male exclaimed and moved closer to a terrified Black Star.
" Date!? What date!?"
" Our punishment after school! We have to plan it out before it's too late!"
" We have the whole day!"
" You can't rush perfection! Let's brain storm." Kid said sternly while sitting down on the bed and pulled the other meister alongside. Black Star stared blankly before slumping his shoulders in realization.
" Are you kidding me?"
" Now." As if magic, Kid whipped out a notepad and pencil and stared at Black Star expectantly.
" You are actually doing this to me?"
" Come on. "
" *sigh* I dunno. Maybe... Walking around?"
" No, no, no. We need to do something that may help us gain a better understanding of each other." Kid said and looked down at the blank paper." Let's see. I'm sort of an exhibitionist myself. Maybe a museum or-"
" Er, no. How about the arcade?" The shinigami looked at him.
" And waste our time there when we should be trying to communicate?" Black Star rolled his eyes.
" We will be communicating. Through games. That's what me and Soul do." He pointed out and the other teen narrowed his eyes.
" Games? How do you use these 'games'?" He blinked when Black Star face-palmed himself.
" Ugh. Forget it. We can just go to the movies." After writing that down on the notepad, Kid looked at him expectantly again." What else am I supposed to say?" Black Star said while sweating. Kid looked down in thought and frowned.
" This will not be enough. It is a good thing I came this early. Lord knows what a disaster the date would have been if not for planning beforehand." Black Star flushed angrily.
" Stop calling it that already. And it's not that big of a deal. I still would've half-assed it if even we had a whole week to plan it."
" And why is that?"
" Because I. Don't. Like. You." Black Star punctuated through his teeth and every emphasis felt like arrows stabbing into the other boy's heart. Why did those words affect him so much? Why did he feel as though a black whole was sucking at his chest? Of course he knew that they are friends but did Black Star really think that they have no compatibility together? Sure they fight a bit and swear so much that even the devil will be proud. Most of all, why does it hurt him just because the other teen doesn't experience any romantic feelings for him? They are friends! Definitely!
" W-well... We... we have to... I-it's not..." And now he was at loss of words. Jeez. He has never felt this much pain since he had literally been stabbed in the chest during the Anubis mission.
" If you don't have a comeback then I'd like to actually put clothes on." Black Star simply said and stood up. Kid blinked with a slight distant look. He then stood up as well and took a deep breath.
" Black Star..." The said boy blinked and suddenly found himself on his bed with Kid trapping him from above. His eyes widened and stared at silent shinigami. Kid finally glared at him with all the hatred he could muster, which was 2% of how he really felt for the Bluenette.
" K-Kid..?" The other meister leaned his head closer and Black Star's breath hitched." Wh-What... What are you doing?"
" Do you hate me?" Kid asked and Black Star looked taken-back from the question.
" Do I...?"
" Do you hate me?" The teen urged and the assassin looked away with flushed cheeks.
" O-of course I do..."
" ... Are you positive?"
" Yes, now get off already." Kid looked to the side and huffed before glancing back to the male beneath him. Oh how he wished he could take advantage of this position, but Tsubaki is here and he sure that Black Star would put up quite a fight.
" ... Why do you hate me?" He asked and felt his heart flutter when Black Star blushed again.
" I-I... You annoy me, there."
" That's not a valid excuse. There is something else you're annoyed by. Why do I annoy you?" Being asked so many questions boldly with piercing gold eyes staring down at him, the younger teen's face was gradually heating until it was solid red.
" Go away..." Black Star weakly protested, but the hands on his wrists tightened," Let go or I'll throw you off."
" And why would you do that? Is there something about me that you hate?" Kid asked once more and leaned down closer so he would be able to get a clear answer. He could feel his own face heat from being this close while still having the ability to be straight-forward and Black Star's blushing but kept a straight face.
" Y-You're just annoying..." The other male timidly answered however was still being stared at and his heart jumped at the stern look. He looked away and his eyes shut, trying to regain his manly pride," Get off already. We don't have time for this!" Kid did not want to leave their matter here but the sound of footsteps outside the door made him exhale and sit up.
" ...You're right. I'll wait for you outside then."
" Don't wait for me!"
" Don't take too long though. I have a busy schedule."
" I didn't ask for this!" However, Kid walked out unaffected and left the flustered boy to change.
" Is everything all right with you two? I heard yelling and-" Tsubaki said with a worried look.
" It's fine. We were just having our disagreements as usual." Kid said and the shadow weapon breathed out deeply.
" Oh, okay. By any chance, what were you two talking about?"
" Just planning out our d-... detention." He recovered with a slight blush and the female nodded.
" You mean the date?"
" It's not a date." Yet.
" Oh. My bad. It's been a habit lately. Me and Black Star were discussing about it."
" Surely you've counted how many times he's told you that it wasn't a date?" Tsubaki blinked.
" Huh? I thought you guys called it a date during your phone conversation yesterday." Kid blinked in confusion before flushing.
" That... H-He said that, not me. Besides, it was only his stupid way of a joke. Of course it's not a real d-date or anything..." Kid trailed off as he started to fantasize about his and Black Star's perfect date. Tsubaki raised her eyebrows when Kid spaced off, something that she has never seen him do. Black Star opened his door and his partner turned around.
" Er, good morning Black Star." Tsubaki greeted with a nervous grin. Her meister walked out the hall and froze when Kid caught his stare.
" Wh-Why are you still here!?" He exclaimed while blushing profusely. The other meister scowled.
" So we can go to school, obviously." Black Star pushed Kid from the door and opened it.
" I told you not to wait for me. Jeez, you really are annoying."
" Well, there is no point in whining about it. Sorry about this Tsubaki." Kid added as he walked after Black Star. The girl only numbly waved in acknowledgement and watched the two boys walk off.
" Really. I think my father is right for giving us this punishment. We really need to work together." Kid urged as Black Star tried to walk faster and away from him.
" Why do you care?" He asked coldly and Kid sighed as he caught up once again to the fast strides.
" I care because I want to benefit the team. Not drag them down." Black Star stopped so abruptly, that Kid nearly walked right past him.
" No. I mean why do you care so much about planning the stupid 'date'? Almost as if you're trying to put effort into it." He said accusingly and Kid blushed a little before glancing to the side.
" A-Am I not allowed to put effort into things? Someone has to take this detention seriously and it sure as hell isn't going to be you." Black Star scoffed and walked off again, leaving Kid to roll his eyes and follow along.
" It's kind of hard to take this seriously when everyone is calling it a date." He grumbled underneath his scarf. The other meister grimaced.
" It's as simple as ignoring them. If you don't think it's a date then maybe you'll actually put some thought into our situation."
" Someone has to think of this as punishment and it sure as hell isn't going to be you." Black Star mocked and Kid turned flustered.
" What the-!? Are you implying that I'm actually going to enjoy wasting my hours with you?"
" Apparently."
" Brat."
" Prick."
" Looks like they're going at it again." Maka mumbled. While the teacher had head out to make extra copies of a pre-test they are supposed to take, Kid and Black Star were arguing about their detention that was about to commence in a few hours. Soul had fallen asleep despite the noises and was using Maka's cloak as a make-shift blanket. Tsubaki was sighing and trying not to appear as though she knew them. Liz was trying to get them to shut up while her sister scraped the table with scissors.
" Guys shut up already!"
" Tell this prestigious prick to shut up!"
" Tell this insolent ass-hole to shut up!"
" You both be quiet or Mira is going to-" Before Liz could finish her warning, their teacher was silently fuming from the open door. The atmosphere changed from frustration to fear in a matter of seconds when the whole class was finally at her attention. Black Star and Kid paled and weakly pointed at each other.
" H-he started it-"
" He's the one that-"
" How many times have I told you..." She started as a growl until she was full out yelling," HOW DISRUPTIVE YOU BOTH ARE IN THIS CLASS!?"
" But-!"
" OUT!"
Once again, Maka and Soul watched the two meisters leave the classroom, glaring at each other since they are bound to start arguing in the hallways. Soul sighed and ruffled his hair.
" Those two really need to talk things out."
" How can they when the first word that comes out of their mouths is 'prick' or 'brat'?"
The bell rang and the two already found Kid and Black Star already in their seats for science. The pair sat down and other students soon began to file in while Professor Stein dug in his drawers at his desk. Tsubaki sat promptly between the two boys with a huff and hit Black Star on the head, who only pouted and looked away. Liz sat next to Kid and gave him a disapproving look shockingly enough since it is usually the other way around. The shinigami merely gazed down with an irritated look and everyone knew that there was no point in trying to get them to talk. Their arguing was like an off and on switch. Just as Maka had pointed out the other day, one day they are at each other's throats and the next day they are hugging. Well, more like Black Star glomping Kid while the other tries to hold in his deepest desires to take advantage of the boy. Their 'friendship' is truly amazing.
" Before we get started on our dissection for today," Their were simultaneous groans from some students but Stein ignored them," I am going to read off your current kishin souls collected. Some people, I will have no need to call since it is quite obvious who has finished their goal..." Maka blushed while Soul only looked at a nearby window," Others. This is your next opportunity to keep track of your soul-collecting and whether or not you shall be proceeding to more difficult missions.
" Kid, Liz, Patty, 107 souls." Kid paled in horror at the number while Liz and Patty high-fives each other. Everyone else clapped, ignoring the meister's defeated sounds.
" Ox Ford, Harvar, 87 souls." There was a small applause and Ox Ford tried not to look too pleased.
" Kim, Jacqueline, 80 souls." Another applause and Kim only rolled her eyes while her weapon sighed.
" Airi, Toya, 51 souls." Airi cheered along with everyone while Toya shrugged to himself.
" Kilik, Fire, Thunder, 49 souls."
" You suck." Black Star muttered and Kilik growled but did not have time to strangle his friend.
" Akane, Clay, 45 souls." The raven and blonde haired duo tried to slump in their seats as far as possible.
" Hero and *sigh* Excalibur, 44 souls." Stein read off the names until he finally came to the second to last one. He glanced up with a sigh and Tsubaki froze. Even though Black Star and her friends helped defeat the Arachne, it did not excuse the fact they were still terrible at collecting souls, and for Stein to announce their number aloud was sure to be the most embarrassing of all. Most students seemed to notice too because some were glancing down at the pair. Black Star was too air-headed to notice that he and Tsubaki are the center of attention for the next announcement and Stein proceeded on after his little pause.
" Black Star, Tsubaki... 10 souls." He said as though the sentence was the most dreadful things to come out his mouth. Everyone glanced to the side and the professor continued with an exasperated look." Black Star, I understand that you helped defeat the world's greatest threat, but you and Tsubaki are falling a bit behind in class."
" I know." Black Star muttered while his weapon really tried her hardest to hide from everyone's view.
" Beating up students here does not mean that you are progressing in school. You are even doing the opposite of what you should be doing."
" ... I know."
" ... If it continues at this rate, you may have to take a couple remedial classes. We wouldn't want our 'star student' to take those classes, would we?" The Bluenette glared at the scientist.
" Are you mocking me?" Stein merely smirked and rolled on his chair backwards.
" Maybe, maybe not. The point is that you have the lowest amount of souls in the EAT rank, possibly in history as well," Some students laughed around the teen but one glare from Kid who happened to be nearby, made them shut up," And if this keeps up, we might have to put you and Tsubaki back in the 'NOT' rank."
" W-Wait isn't that a bit too much?" Soul suddenly asked and Maka frowned as well.
" He had a lot to worry about back then because of Medusa-"
" I am aware that he and some fellow students have been busy but how many months has it been since this little incident?" Maka was now quiet and looked down, knowing that their professor is correct." As I was saying, you certainly will not be surpassing God at such a disappointing amount."
" Um, sir..." Tsubaki murmured, only Stein interrupted once again with the same blank expression.
" And referring to your constant blood-shedding here, I would have to personally address that you at least try to keep that at a minimum. Just because you can nearly kill most of the student body does not mean you will surpass older figures, such as myself and the whole staff. And surely not Lord Death himself. And as pathetic as it is, even his own son."
" ..."
" Professor!" Tsubaki yelled accusingly while standing up. Maka and Soul also followed her suit, their narrowed eyes glaring at the calm man. They could not believe that their slightly trusting elder meister had said all those things. However, the most livid of all was Kid. His hands were twitching eagerly to wrap around the man's throat but Liz seemed to have guessed his thoughts because she placed a hand on his shoulder. Patty was even quiet and Tsubaki looked down while reaching down to reassure her partner but the blue-haired meister abruptly stood up. His spiky bangs covered his eyes and the teen ignored his weapon's calls as he left the room.
" Black Star! He didn't mean it-!" The door slammed shut, deafening her protest and slowly sat down, visibly shaking and the room was silent. Stein continued to look neutral and pulled out a knife.
" Alrighty then, let's get started on the experiment. And unless you want to be the subject of this experiment, I would advise that you do not run out Ms. Nakasaka." He added when the female had stood up to go after her partner. Tsubaki grimaced and visibly shook as she forced herself to reoccupy her seat.
Kid scowled and stood up, shockingly enough and it looked as though Stein was amused now.
" Hm. You too, Kid? Well, isn't this class full of surprises."
" What you did was wrong." The teen said in a deathly tone.
" Was it? Or was I just telling the simple truth? Don't you agree?"
" You did not have to sound so harsh!"
" But that is just reality. I am merely preparing him for the real world once he gets out of his. Am I not doing what you wished?" Kid blinked at how the scientist knew about his conversation with Soul but quickly set that aside.
" I-I may have in the past... but at least I have faith in him."
" In surpassing you? My my, look how low your expectations have gotten. Surely he hasn't influenced you that much?" Kid's eyes widened and Liz yanked on his sleeve.
" Sit. Down." She whispered angrily, but her meister impatiently slapped her hand away and left his seat." Kid!"
" I don't care about my expectations at the moment," He started just as he had opened the door. Everyone was now eyeing either Stein for a reaction or him and his friends were gazing shockingly at him," and I don't care how far-sketched his ridiculous goals are. I just want to do everything in my power to make him happy."
The man's eyebrows raised once the shinigami left and once again, the class was silent. Stein cleared his throat and pulled up a Koala by it's ears.
" Ahem, proceeding with this lesson then..."
" Black Star?" Kid called out. He did not find his friend near the school or on the roof. His soul perception was not as good as Maka's so he could only read souls from so far. The raven walked to the back of the school and felt a hint of a powerful trace that was sure to be Black Star's and started through the woods. The reading was becoming more accurate and Kid found himself in the deeper parts of the forest. He mentally wondered how Black Star managed to get in the heavily shaded area so quickly but now was not the time to be thinking about that.
" Dammit. Where is he..?" Kid had figured that there was no point in trying to call out to the bluenette since he was positive that Black Star did not want anyone looking for him. However, Kid did not want his friend to brush off or run away from all his problems any longer. He too once felt the same agonizing pain in his chest from the harsh put downs society threw but his father had supported him through the tough times. It only hurt Kid more when he realized that he uwas doing the exact same things society had did to the assassin and he wanted to truly make it up. First, he needed to find his friend before-
" Thank goodness." He breathed in relief and walked over to the seated blue-haired boy. Black Star was quietly sitting behind a flowing river and Kid was certain that the boy would have been trying to destroy the area instead of sulking.
" May I sit here?" He asked and was not surprised when silence was his answer. The shinigami kneeled down and sighed when the fellow meister hid his face from view. Kid did not say anything else, wanting to have Black Star keep his moment of peace. The teen only wanted to make sure that the younger male was safe and not antagonized by Stein's harsh words. If what their professor said was true, Kid could not imagine thousands of the same sentences said by hundreds of people in a single week. While Kid was feared, Black Star was hated because of a mere tattoo and his ambitions to truly keep the world in peace, by being number one of course.
" ... It's alright to cry on my shoulder."
" Shut up..." The serene yet saddening atmosphere took over until Black Star spoke again. " Kid..." The said male shook himself out of his thoughts and looked at the still sulking boy.
" Y-Yes?"
" ... Do you think I'm pathetic?" The other male asked, still hiding his face. Not wanting to make his friend feel even worse about himself, Kid wasted no time in answering with his heart.
" Never."
" Then why can't I get any souls?" Black Star responded almost immediately. Kid blinked and looked at the large Koi fish that swam freely in the streaming water.
" That... is a matter that you should mostly speak with your partner about. I-I'm not-"
" So you do think I'm terrible at it..."
" No! I just... I'm not sure why you... have difficulty obtaining souls. I certainly don't think any less of you for that." It was silent once more and Kid sighed again. He knew that he was going to have a hard speaking with Black Star after the incident in the class room, but speaking with a negative meister is not what he had thought to come across.
" You should... come back to class. Everyone is worried." He said and knew full well that attempt was pointless. Who would go back in the same room with the person that caused you to run away?
" They're not. In fact they're glad I'm gone."
" Wha-? Don't say that-"
" Why not? It's the truth." Black Star grumbled in his scarf.
" No it's not. S-Some people just don't... have a high tolerance-"
" Who'd tolerate a monster like me?"
" Black Star!" The said boy only buried his face in his scarf and Kid really felt like the situation was starting to fall apart. He did not understand why Black Star was so broken up when he would usually just ignore or try to kill them. Is it because of all the years he has had to suck it up and hold in the pain? That he's had no real comfort from a close parental figure? And then it dawned on him.
" ... When is the last time you cried?" This made the blue-haired boy look up with a confused frown.
" What?"
" When is the last time you've cried? You know... tears." He asked again. The other meister glanced out the corner of his eyes.
" Gods like me don't cry."
" Look, everyone has to once in a while. It helps to get rid of all your negative feelings. Even I do."
" Pussy."
" ...That's not the point. The point is that holding in your pain isn't going to make things better."
" Well it has for me. Why are you even still here?"
" If you're trying to get me to leave, you'll have to do better than that."
" Go away, prick?" Black Star irritably said and his brows furrowed when Kid continued to stare at him searchingly." Wha-... What now?"
" It's okay if you need to cry."
" Asshole, I'm not going to cry!"
" You need to."
" No I don't."
" Black Star, you're the one without the family here." Kid forced himself to say and tried his hardest not to be affected by Black Star's perplexed yet hurt expression." Y-You can't hide your feelings from everyone forever. Just this once... you can drop the tough guy act in front of me. Nobody's watching. I suppose at least."
" ... I-I don't... need to..." His voice was cracking and Kid knew he was getting closer.
" You do. So get over here." He said and watched the other teen furiously rub his eyes.
" Leave me alone..."
" Black Star."
" F-Fuck off."
Kid exhaled determinedly and thought of a different tactic.
" It's going to stay between us."
" No it won't. You'll just tell everyone anyways."
" But I promise this time. There would be no point in telling everyone if that would mean losing your trust." Black Star looked at him with a small blush but quickly looked away with a defiant scowl replaced.
" I still don't believe you."
" ... Try me." Kid said while scooting closer. The other meister tensed.
" Why can't you stop being so annoying?"
" I may be annoying to you, but it shows that I care at least."
" W-Well you don't have to."
" But I want to."
" Don't!"
" I will!"
Kid caught the fist aimed for him and tightened his grip, not caring if it did not affect his friend.
" I'm not leaving until you relieve your stress."
" I'm not stressed, I'm just pissed off!"
" That you're not as strong as you think?" Black Star's eyes widened.
" Wha-? N-No-"
" That you don't have a family?"
" It's not that-!"
" Then what is it?" Kid urged while pulling him closer. The confused teen visibly shook and weakly hit the shinigami wherever with his free hand.
" I don't know!" He then clutched the collar of the male's suit and hid his face on his jacket." I don't know..." His voice cracked and Kid let go of the tan wrist so he could wrap his arms around the boy that was slowly breaking down.
" You don't have to." He murmured and pulled his friend closer against his chest. Kid could only listen to the meister's choked sobbing and comfortingly rubbed his back. The raven felt depressed himself even if he was not the victim. He hates it when his friends are depressed and would do anything to make them smile, but having the most optimistic person crying in his arms: There will be hell to pay for that. He will definitely have a talk with his father about reconsidering his selection of staff members.
Minutes passed and both teens had not noticed that the crying was now reduced to hiccups and tremulous breathing. Kid had moved on to gently rustling the boy's spiky, blue hair and sighed when he thought about how long they have been out of class. He wondered if some of the students were looking for them, no doubt his friends, and did not know if he wanted to have Black Star leave his arms. It is for selfish reasons, he has to admit, but this is the first time that Black Star has actually opened up to him on a whole different scale. He was determined to deepen his understanding for the assassin and he finally did. How people could hate Black Star is truly beyond him...
His embrace was almost to the point of possessiveness when Kid felt Black Star trying to move away.
" I can't breath." His muffled voice said and Kid made no movements of leaving.
" Just take deep breaths."
" I mean as in you're the problem!" Kid looked down at the blue by slightly puffy eyes glaring back at him. He knew he was not the problem and merely leaned his head down while brushing up Black Star's bangs.
" How can I be the problem..." He started before placing his lips on the teen's forehead," ... When I'm the one trying to fix it?" He muttered in place and did not miss the growing blush on the assassin's cheeks.
" H-Huh..? B-Bastard, don't-! You-!" Black Star stuttered as he moved his head back. Kid smirked when his friend's face had reached a unique color of red.
" Are you sure you're feeling better?" He interrupted so Black Star could gather himself.
" Yes."
" Positive?"
" Yes."
" Are you definite?"
" Yeah."
" Are you sure-?"
" Kid!"
" Sorry. I prefer to end in an even amount of questions." Kid said and let go of the teen to hold of four fingers." But maybe if I ask eight-"
" No! I'm fine. Seriously." Black Star quickly said, not wanting to deal with the OCDness that came along with the shinigami. However, he could not help but grin." Thanks, though."
Kid forced himself not to blush and felt his heart flutter at the cheek-tainted boy." Y-You're... you're welcome."
" Great. Let's go back then." Black Star said while standing and Kid followed his actions.
" Are you sure-?"
" Jeez, Kid. I'm fine. Stop worrying so much."
" Well... Your eyes are a bit red and people could..."
" Oh. R-right. I guess we can take our time then." Kid rolled his eyes when Black Star gave a sheepish grin." You do promise that you won't tell anyone right?"
" I already said I wouldn't."
" Buy me lunch and I'll consider it." Kid chuckled at the proposal.
" I could buy you all the lunch you want in the world."
" What?"
" Nothing."