Authors Note: 11/19/10-Edited a few parts. Enjoy.

I am so clever that sometimes

I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.

-Oscar Wilde

HIDE AND SEEK

SOUL

The hunt was over. Two thousand seven hundred miles and exactly six months of exhaustive search that covered nearly every compass point in the known world, he was finally closing in on his quarry. Finally, after all this time, he would have what he has been longing—yearning for—hungering and growing even more hungry with each passing day.

For the first time since he woke up that notable night all those months ago, he allowed himself to breathe a little easier, relaxing the tension that rode his body since he discovered his prey missing—vanished from the confines of his home. He permitted himself to hope that he would soon find the answer to the questions that has been plaguing his mind and body, coloring his everyday existence until finally he simply had to give in and look for her.

The coil of anticipation trembling inside him took some getting used to but now it has become familiar—almost expected. The long months of waiting for confirmation of his search proved a worthy practice for his own sense of patience. Now that the prize was virtually in sight, he could find it in himself to savor the bubbly enticement of success.

Now, if only he could do it in relative peace.

"Gods in thirteen hells, what in the name of all the forsaken heroes did you do to this woman yours have to make her want to dig a hole in the middle of nowhere to hide in? No one in their right mind would find her here! No wonder it took forever! Even I wouldn't be so desperate as to look for anyone or anything here!"

The loud, strident voice forced my introspection to a grounding halt, reminding me that I was, unfortunately or fortunately, not alone. I turned to glare at the singularly thunderous mass of barely-human creature occupying the space near me and tried—in vain—to immolate him where he stood.

"If you're trying to glare at me to death, I should probably tell you that you as much a chance at that as someone like Kid allowing himself to wear mismatched socks."

I tried to find something scathing to say but nothing really vivid came to mind. When that tactic failed, I settled for a bored look and a raised eyebrow at the other unfortunate member of our triad, who thankfully, has remained silent during my inner musing. Now that silent companion exchanged an exasperated look with me, shrugged and proceeded to rip a new one on the hide of our clueless, loud partner-in-crime with his customary drawling remark that would've scalded an iceberg.

"We wouldn't have to scour those entire thirteen hells if you and your so-called contacts and power-that-be worked Black Star. Since your powers of perception and exploration is more worthless than sand in the desert, even I'm wondering why we even brought you here. So if I were you, I wouldn't be opening my mouth for anything any time soon."

"You know what your problem is Kid?"

"You mean other than the fact that I was dragged here very much against my will to follow you two idiots in your fruitless search for someone you managed inexplicably to lose due to aforementioned idiocy?"

"Huh? Never mind that. I mean your other problem."

"I'm sure you would be compelled to tell me. By all means, enlighten me."

"Damn right I will. Your problem can be summed up in one damn statement and that is you talk too much for too damn long and often with too damn many fancy words for a person like me to give a damn."

Kid allowed himself a moment to process the words that's just been uttered in the last few minutes. From the faintly shocked gasp that escaped his lips to the unholy gleam of amusement burning within his golden eyes, I surmised that Black Star managed to surprise the normally stoic young man. A feat that I thought would often take a natural disaster to manage.

"Somewhere in that statement part of me wants to extend a recommendation for being able to utter the word "damn" in succession without buckling or tripping over your own demented tongue. But for the life of me, I seem to be battling this insane urge to pull out your damned tongue just to see if it's as demented as its owner."

Black Star merely shrugged before pointing an accusing hand. "See? That's my point exactly! There you go again speaking in such priggish manner, talking fancy as if were in some kind of embassy shindig."

I had to bite my lips to keep the snicker gnawing at me. Despite the hard search, somehow, here near where my quarry resides, I found my heretofore lost sense of humor. "Not that you would ever be invited one. Seriously Black Star, where in the five hells did you learn to talk like that? We attended the same school, practically grew up together and you still talk like something that crawled out of a damned cave."

A disbelieving snort was all that he gave me. "Now, Soul, there you go being snobbish and all hoity-toity with me again. I can talk fancy just well and fine when I need it but it's too damn troublesome and it's not like there's anyone here to impress, so why in the five hells should I even bother?"

"Tact?" Kid intoned simply, his eyes conveying abject curiosity.

"I ain't tacking in anything." came Black Star's blight reply.

"Common courtesy?" I suggested helpfully.

He shook his head and answered with a sweeping, expansive gesture of his arm. "I'd rather stick to common sense. And why the hell do they call it that anyways? Why not just sense? Why stick common with it?"

I tried once more. "Decency's sake?"

"Hey are you saying I'm indecent? I haven't hit anyone that doesn't deserve it and I wear clothes when I have to."

"Pretending at least that you're human if nothing else?" Kid quipped.

"Hey! I resent that!"

I took a look at my companions and knew that if I don't intervene it won't be ending anytime soon. My chosen companions were exact opposite on more than verbal skills or sartorial preferences but they were good to have along. Now, however, there were more pressing matters to be addressed and I don't need for them to delay me any moment longer than necessary. With a weary sigh, I stepped between the two glaring males with both hands raised and began the lengthy process of returning two glaring toddlers into the young men they ought to be.

"Guys, come on, knock it off. We need to canvass the place and see how we can make the best of the remaining daylight to gather information. I already sent Imp to investigate where we can observe my wayward little bunny."

Kid gave a delicate sniff. "Personally, I need food and shower. Black Star, I trust you need the former most but I seriously suggest that you take the latter first."

"Huh?"

"Bath and then eat. Come on, my cavernous pig of a friend. I'll treat you to steak if you do it when we get to the hotel. Deal?"

Black Star gave Kid a brilliant grin that threatened to outshine the very sun. He clapped a large hand on Kid's back, making him take a single step forward to stop from sprawling ignominiously on the ground. "That's the best thing you've said all day, Kid. Come on, what are you guys waiting for? Soul, stop gawking at the damn sun! It isn't going anywhere! Move your ass, there's steak to be had and I ain't sharing!"

"Tell me again why we brought him?" Kid groaned at me beseechingly.

"Think of it this way, if we leave him behind he would be making a mess in your business establishment and bugging the hell out of everyone we know, ensuring that we would have no reputation to speak of when we return. This way, we can do damage control if it occurs."

Kid gave me a look. "Not if, when. He isn't an unknown factor—he's an inevitability."

"There is that." I nodded at him in agreement. With another look at the surrounding terrain, we climbed back into the car and drove straight into the waiting city.

MAKA

The warm, breezy night brought back into the shop the barest hint of honeysuckle and roses. Taking a deep breath, Maka allowed herself to dream of summers long past. Closing her eyes to better savor the scents that so reminded her of home, she failed to hear the faint tinkling of the bell placed over her door. As it were, her latest patron saw her leaning against one of the massive shelves that lined the walls of her small, old world shop, eyes closed and clutching a rather peculiar book in what looked like a dreamy embrace.

"That must be some kind of book if it could make a girl like you to smile like that. Want to tell me what it's all about, Sugar?"

"Liz!" the startled squeak that came from her throat made her jump and drop the said book. With a weary smile and a tell-tale blush washing over her cheeks, she straightened with a chagrined grin and addressed the smirking woman standing in front of her. "Gods, you startled me there! I didn't hear you come in."

"Well now, you've made me doubly curious. Any book that could make the unflappable boss of Elegant Traces forget her composure and unable to hear people is worth my time." Liz reached down and plucked the book off the floor with her customary agility that Maka could only admire. A beat passed and the smile that hovered on Liz's lips became a full-fledged smirk.

"Oh my, my. I never thought you'd go for this kind of thing Madam Bookworm. I must admit I am surprised and that is not something anyone can easily do. Doing some quality scanning for your bed time reading?"

"B-bed time reading? What are you—oh my god! Was that what I was holding?" she nearly stumbled in her haste to straighten the glasses that slipped to a precarious angle on her nose. She ran her hands down the comforting grain of her tweed skirt and tried to speak once more but Liz beat her to the punch.

"Was it that good? Amnesia-inducing stuff? Damn, maybe I should get me one of those."

Maka pinned the tall, blonde-haired blue eyed young woman standing before her with a look from behind her tortoise-shell glasses. Her guest simply cocked an elegantly arched brow before leaning back against one of her counters waiting for her to speak. The slick, fitted black leather pants hugged mile-long legs crossed at the ankles, displaying playfully clunky boots that offset the stark white pirate-style shirt the young woman was wearing as she flashed another grin her way.

"Don't be ridiculous! It's an excellent antique." She heaved an envious sigh at the woman's look. "You look incredible as always Liz." She gave a chagrinned look at her own clothes and resisted a sigh. The plain black long-sleeved, cashmere turtleneck and the red and black plaid twill skirt pleased her but somehow the outfit seemed intended for someone else. "I always look like some lost college undergrad no matter what I wear."

"Thank you honey—but don't you go on changing the subject now. I'm sure the fundamentals haven't changed much but I sure wouldn't call that an antique just yet, honey. And for the record, I think you look adorable in those dark, vivid tones."

"Thanks. Now, about this book. This happens to be a prime example of 18th century boudoir accessory. The plates alone make this book priceless."

"Sugar, I'm sure the user of those boudoirs wanted that for something other than bedtime reading. If I haven't missed my mark that, and I'm sure I haven't my dear, that book falls under what those high-browed snotty types still call as erotica."

"Ah, well, that's what it is essentially. It's an excellent 18th century example of one."

Liz deftly plucked the surprisingly heavy tome from her grasp and flipped open page after page, her smirk growing more and more wicked with each glimpse of the plates.

"Oh Sugar," she drawled "I seriously think I must've underestimated such an important century. This could certainly make a bookworm out of little old me if I were so inclined. Is this what you've been reading in here all day round? No wonder you never want to stop and just spend all your days pouring over them."

"Don't be silly! A collector brought this in. I was just on my way to the vault when the scenery caught my eye and then the wind blew in and I found myself lost in the moment…" Maka cast a dreamy look at the view from her window and gave another sigh. The cool kiss of the wind ruffled the tendrils of hair that escaped from her carful chignon. "This place reminds me so much of home."

"Hm, that's the first time I heard you mention anything personal since you moved in here. Well, if the weather makes you this amenable, how about I take advantage of it and steal you away for lunch?"

"I really should stay here…"but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if I just nip out for a short while, so why not?"

"Good girl! Now, go and hide away that delicious piece of reading before I start thinking of things that has nothing to do with lunch and something more related to dinner." Liz gave a wickedly suggestive cackle that made Maka blush even more.

"Liz!"

"We're picking up Patty on route to the restaurant. Just to remind you, I never keep secrets from her, so better be prepared."

"You're making me rethink this decision Liz."

"Don't worry. I had good ol' Tsubaki-sweetheart babysitting. I'm sure Patty will be just peachy.'

"Great. Now you tell me you managed to damage my land-lady's sanity. I will be out of an apartment by the time we get there."

The two friends hurried out after a few minutes. A mere heartbeat after the bell over the closed door of the shop stopped tinkling a shadow fell across the locked glass door.