A/N: You guys are seriously the best, thank you for your reviews :) This chapter has flashbacks in italics, and it's sort of a Maka-centric chapter, but I still hope you like it ^_^
Chapter Four
Ms Marie clapped her hands to obtain some sort of order in the class as Maka walked in, still shaken up from her previous encounter with Lord Death. She noticed Tsubaki and Kid opening up their textbooks to the page number scribbled on the board, an empty seat reserved for her beside Tsubaki.
She slowly approached them, setting her books down on the desk. Tsubaki looked at her in worry, gently placing her hand on her shoulder. "Is everything alright?" she whispered delicately.
Maka nodded, attempting a reassuring smile but failing. "Yeah, I wasn't in trouble or anything so I'm okay."
Kid leaned over Tsubaki's desk, his golden eyes piercing into Maka's. He stared at her for a few heartbeats and then withdrew slowly, choosing instead to focus on the lesson. Ms Marie was passing around their Bronze Age answer sheets.
"Alright, kids, it's time to know who really pays attention to my class!" she chirped, winking at Maka as she passed her the paper.
The test began, lasting half an hour, but Maka finished in fifteen, which was plenty enough time to ponder about the stressing conversation she had had with the principal, and her biology professor.
"Come in, Ms Albarn!" Lord Death beckoned her into his office friendlily. He was dressed in all black and white, like Kid, and suddenly she knew just where Kid had gotten his fashion sense. The only thing that didn't match was Lord Death's apparent asymmetry in the way his tie was way too crooked and his socks were mismatched, but Maka guessed that was to make the students feel slightly more comfortable talking to him. He did have quite a severe face.
Maka sat herself down in front of his desk, twiddling her thumbs in suspense. She was somehow feeling guilty, but what she done? It was only her second day…
"Stein should be here any second now," he crookedly grinned at her.
She halted her thoughts. Stein? Why would…Was this about the flax?
"Ah, here he comes."
The door creaked open. Her strange professor walked in.
"Maka, I asked you to come here to check on your legal documents," Lord Death began. "Your academic applications are all very good and extraordinary, which is why you've been accepted to attend DCHS, but your other documents have not been very clear. Would you please care to explain these?" he handed over a file containing her mother and father's profiles.
"These are my parents," Maka frowned.
"Do you live with them?" Stein chimed in monotonously, leaning against the wall next to the window, to Maka's right.
The ash-blonde shook her head morosely, but didn't clarify.
Lord Death stared at her hardly before presenting the next file. "It states here that you have a medical condition, Maka. A form of reverse diabetes?"
The girl nodded. "I was diagnosed when I was born."
Stein also nodded. "Congenital hyperinsulinism, I'm presuming. Quite rare, especially in this part of the continent."
"And you say you do not live with your parents? Who takes care of you, then?" Lord Death continued.
"No-one," Maka answered quietly. "Just me."
There was silence for a while, the shock of her revelation only slowly sinking in.
Once Ms Marie had collected in their test papers, she set them all their homework. Something to do with the next topic in early complex societies. And it felt like she should care about it, but she couldn't, and that worried her.
Her home problems weren't supposed to interfere with her schoolwork. They never did before, so why was she letting them now?
"Maka, are you sure you're alright?" Tsubaki's forehead creased as she inquired after her wellbeing. The lesson was over, and only her, Ms Marie, and Kid remained in the classroom.
"I'm sure, Tsubaki, no worries," she grinned convincingly. "I'm sorry I couldn't attend your art club, Kid."
The principal's son only shook his head. "There's no need to apologize. There's always Thursday," he said. "Plus, Liz and Patti are kind of excited to meet you, thanks to Tsubaki's gossiping tendencies," he smirked at his cousin.
Tsubaki grimaced, but it quickly turned into a smirk mirroring his. "Oh, yes, and I'm sure Maka would love to know what you've been confessing to me about your undying love for—"
"It's not undying," Kid growled. "That's insulting my name. And I'd prefer for you not to speak a word about it, Tsubaki, whatever you're implying."
"Oh, I think you know what I'm implying," Tsubaki wiggled her sleek black eyebrows. Maka giggled. "See? Even Maka's enjoying your discomfort."
Kid scowled. "Well I'm glad Maka's enjoying it, but I must cut it short. I have swimming practice commencing in eight minutes."
Maka chuckled. "Three guesses say that your preferred stroke is the butterfly?"
"It's perfectly symmetrical," Kid swooned, fanning his face jokingly. "Anyway, aren't you also supposed to have hurdles practice today, Tsubaki?"
The black-haired girl shook her head. "That's tomorrow. You know how Sid likes to split his time with the track team and the basketball squad."
Kid frowned. "I see. Well then, I'll see you and dad at home, Tsubaki. I must be off. Goodbye, Maka." He turned to leave, Tsubaki following after him.
"Bye, Kid. Bye, Tsubaki," Maka waved at their retreating forms. She was honestly jealous of their sporty commitments. If only her glucose didn't get eaten up every few hours she would have loved to be part of the track team. Her dad was the best sprinter in all of DCHS, and her mom had been the star player of the girls' hockey team.
The only thing Maka was ever good at was studying, and reading books.
Ms Marie was also almost out of the door until Maka stopped her. "Ms Marie, could you tell me what it means if someone gives you a flax flower?"
The caramel-eyed teacher tilted her head to the side in thought. "Flax? Like the maiden's flaxen hair?"
The image of Kid leaning over towards her flashed in her head. "If you would kindly step out of the way and let me straighten the maiden's hair, we can let this pass by unnoticed." She was sure it meant nothing. But the wording was definitely strange.
"Ah, I remember!" Ms Marie giggled. "It means 'I feel your kindness'. But I prefer it's other meaning."
"What is it?" Maka's green eyes widened in curiosity.
"Fate. Flax means fate," Ms Marie smiled.
Fate? But…how?
Maka walked down the silent hallways of the school, clutching her textbooks to her chest.
She passed by the science labs, peering conspicuously inside Professor Stein's room. The scientist sat mesmerized in front of a computer, the white screen reflecting off his glasses. His hands were furiously typing away at something, and he didn't even need to look down to glance at the keyboard.
I guess I better not disturb him, Maka decided, continuing to walk down to the indoor gym. It was the only part of the school she hadn't been to, and she thought it was sort of nice to observe people who can do the things that you couldn't.
The steel-blue doors of the gymnasium were wide-open, inviting observers inside. Maka stood at the doorway, only hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever was going on.
It was huge. The space seemed to stretch out for miles, and the bleachers were longer than she could have imagined, seeing as her 'imagination' only came from High School Musical movies.
"OI, RUNG! PASS THE GODDAMN BALL!"
Maka flinched. That was startlingly loud. She stepped further inside, now getting a clear view of the happenings.
A boy was arguing with who she presumed was the coach, yelling loudly about how he'll burn him up if he doesn't stop shouting. So rude, Maka commented absently. She guessed the boy was Rung, or as his friends shouted at him, Kilik. The coach was shouting something back at him, but now Maka's attention was entirely focused on the sweating bodies of Black Star and Soul panting beside each other.
Soul's white hair was matted with sweat, his tanned arms glistening as he moved. Maka couldn't deny it was slightly disgusting yet surprisingly attractive at the same time, and the times she'd woken up in cold sweat after an episode had taught her to appreciate the flawed sides of others.
She hugged her books closer to her chest, preparing to turn away. She was sure her cheeks were bright red, and it wouldn't help her at all if he caught her looking like this. Plus, it wasn't like she even liked him. He was annoying after all, almost ruining English Literature for her.
She 'hmmed', turning her heel, only to bump into the cold scientist she had seen just minutes before.
Maka stifled a scream. "For Death's sake!"
"What're you doing spying around the gym?" Stein knowingly grinned. Maka shook her head as her earlier conversation with him resurfaced in her mind. "Hm? Alright, then. Let me ask another question. Are the arrangements for September suitable for you?"
Maka frowned. "Yes, sir."
Stein smiled crookedly. "Good. And perhaps it would be good practice if you called me Stein." He strolled back to his lab, leaving Maka dumbfounded. Was that all he came to tell her? He sure was weird, however she couldn't deny that he had been exceptionally understanding towards her.
She craned her neck to take one last glance at the practicing players, her breath stopping short when red eyes clashed with hers. He smirked, waving with a deliberate shine in his stare. Maka scolded herself for looking back, before waving shyly in response and finally leaving the vicinity.
The house welcomed her wordlessly.
Her routine was slowly changing; all thanks to a certain red-eyed boy she'd only met a day ago.
She trudged up the stairs to her room, picking up another packet of Swiss chocolate as well as an entire packet of glucose to refill her bedroom storage. Taking out the black box from her bedside table, she expertly filled it up with the glucose bag and injected it where she normally did. It instantly gave her an energy boost, and she walked around her room with regained fervour.
Her living arrangements were going to have to be changed. There was no way she was going to let a stranger occupy her parents' former bedroom, so she would just have to relocate there in order for them to take her room.
Maka sighed loudly. "Why me?!"
There was silence for a while, the shock of her revelation only slowly sinking in.
Then Lord Death spoke. "I must ask you to contact your parents, Maka. It seems that they have kept you in the dark with their plans."
"What do you mean?" Maka asked, completely confused.
Stein stepped in to answer. "Spirit and Kami have asked me to become your legal guardian, so long as you are still under eighteen."
Now it was Maka's turn to be speechless.
"I know that it comes as a shock, Maka," Lord Death explained, "but this is all for your own good, especially with your condition."
"But…But I've… I've been taking care of myself ever since I was six! I can deal with things my way," she objected, tears threatening to fall. "They left me. They have no right to take my matters into their own hands!"
Lord Death exhaled patiently. "I do sympathize with you, Maka, but as your parents, they are entitled to make these kinds of decisions while you are still seventeen."
Maka wanted to scream. "But that doesn't mean I have to live with this guy!" she pointed accusingly at Stein, who raised an eyebrow. "He's my professor! Don't you think that's a little creepy? Living with your professor?"
The principal nodded, but nonetheless was adamant in his view. "Stein has been Spirit and Kami's trusted friend and colleague since their time at this school. There was no-one else better who could undertake their request."
It was clear to her that she was outnumbered. First her stupid parents abandoned her, and now…this?
"Fine," Maka whispered weakly. But she was never going to be fine.
Lord Death smiled, which only made his face scarier. "Thank you for your cooperation, Ms Albarn. Stein and I will arrange his settling in, but for now you'll have to welcome your new guardian to your home on the first weekend of September. I advise you to speak with your parents after school."
Maka left without a word.
She couldn't believe they had known. They had known before she was ever called in to the principal's office, before Stein welcomed her to his class on the first day. They only called her in to confirm her living status. She was alone, she was seventeen, and she had a life-threatening condition. There was no way they were going to let an underage girl take care of herself whilst both parents were absent.
But that wasn't even what shocked her more.
The fact that her parents had decided who should take care of her was the biggest bullshit she'd ever heard in her life. Professor Stein? Thanks Mom, thanks Dad. Thanks for picking the creepiest guy in the entire world to 'guard' me, Maka thought bitterly. Thanks for leaving me behind.
Nevertheless, she picked up the phone and began to dial her mom's number. After a few tries, and no one was answering, she put down the phone, explaining to herself that her mom was probably busy in some foreign country and couldn't contact her back because of the different time zones.
She picked it up again, this time dialling her dad's number. It rang only once until her dad's irritating voice screamed in her ear.
"MAKAAAAAA!" he screeched excitedly. "I miss you so much, my baby girl! How are you doing? Why did you call? Did you miss me too? I'm so sorry this all had to happen!"
"No, dad," she answered monotonously, staring at the family photo in front of her. It had been taken when she was five, before everything started to fall apart. Before her dad cheated on her mom for the first time. "I was calling about Prof— Stein."
There was a silence at the other end, and she feared he must've hung up.
Her fears disappeared when his voice returned, this time more serious.
"I see you've met my dear old chum, huh?" he chuckled conversationally. "Have you talked to your mom about this yet?"
Maka sighed. "No. She won't answer the phone. I called her first because I didn't want to have to resort to calling you."
Spirit gasped and Maka wondered if he was faking the sobbing sounds he was making, or if they were authentic. "You hurt me so, Maka," he continued to sob.
"Dad, get a hold of yourself. I'm here to talk about my living arrangements with Stein."
Spirit stopped sobbing abruptly. "Yes, my dear daughter, your mama and I have decided that Stein would be the best choice for a guardian to you."
Maka rolled her eyes. "I know. Lord Death told me. I'm just angry you guys didn't tell me anything. Well, now that I've called, and you're clearly fine with it, I'm hanging up now."
"Wait, Maka, I want to talk with you more—sshh Sofia, I'm talking with my daughter! Maka? Are you still there? MAKAA!"
She put down the phone. Closing her eyes, she counted to ten. Just like her father to be in the company of another woman any time of the day. She should've known.
She checked the time on the clock. 17:34. Enough time to review her work, read a book, take a shower, and then go to sleep at 9.
By the time she was ready for bed, the clock had only struck 8, and Maka was sure Kid would also be asleep at this time.
Kid. She wondered about him. Was he the one who gave her the flax? It would seem strange, though, seeing as he appeared to only view her in a platonic way. But Tsubaki had been about to reveal something to her that he hadn't wanted her to know. What if…?
No, Maka. You have to sleep, she told herself as she tucked her body into bed. Pretty soon it wouldn't be her bed anymore. She'd have to sleep in her parents' room. The one closest to the window overlooking her neighbour's house.
And there he was again, invading her thoughts. Maka shook her head as she closed her eyes. It's only sweet dreams tonight for me.
Her mind was lulled to sleep by the faint music of a piano being played. She snuggled closer to her pillow, dreaming of soft alabaster hands pressing the ivory keys. "Mom…" she whispered softly, her mind eventually shutting down.
When she woke the next morning, she carried out her usual routine. She had breakfast, she showered, and she did her hair.
But that morning she went to her parents' room for the first time in three years. The door still looked as if it had been painted fresh just two days ago, however upon entering the room, it was dusty and old and had an antiquated feel to it.
The grand piano to the side of the dressing table was coated with a thin layer of dust because it hadn't been touched in years. Not since her mother left. Maka ran a finger through its side, revealing a shiny black finish underneath the dirt. There was a gold inscription on top of the keys, worn away by a five-year-old Maka's insistent fingers, so she couldn't read it anymore.
She walked over to the window, opening it up to let in some clean air. She'd do some work over the weekend, before September rolled around.
Shit. Maka stopped, her arms stock-still in mid-air.
Opposite her, Soul had his back to his window, his bare torso taunting her for being such a peeping tom.
I'm not a peeping tom! Maka blushed profusely, sweat beads threatening to streak down her face. This was an accident! I swear! But she made no move to close her eyes.
Something in her brain snapped when her neighbour eventually turned to the window, his red eyes widening to the size of UFOs as her cheeks matched their colour.
Maka's chest screamed, her knees melting like snow in summer.
Soul paled.
With lightning speed, he grabbed the nearest shirt and put it on twice as fast.
"PERVERT!" he screeched, his normally deep voice replaced by a high-pitched squeal.
Maka blanched, chest pounding. "W-W-What?!" she stammered, but she was gradually returning back to earth. Angry. "ME? A PERVERT?"
Soul glared, running up to the window with teeth bared like a shark. "THIS IS SO UNCOOL!"
"Shut UP. It was an accident! I swear!"
"Accident-schmaccident! Why would I believe a pervert like you?!"
"Soul, I swear I didn't see anything!" Yet.
Wait…
...what?
The white-haired boy finally made the time to calm down a bit, his pink-tipped ears slowly regaining their usual colour. He put a hand to his forehead, running it down his face. Maka exhaled, glad that this bizarre fiasco had been solved, but she still couldn't escape the image of Soul standing there half-naked, right in front of her. She felt something warm trickle down her nose. Please don't tell me this is a nosebleed.
Luckily, her neighbour still had his eyes closed so Maka quickly wiped her nose with her sleeve. Nope. Just a cold. No, wait…it's…
But her revelation was cut short when Soul flailed his arms to grab her attention.
"Just hoW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SEEN ME NAKED?!"
He dropped down unconscious when Maka threw her copy of Tolstoy's War and Peace straight through his window.
She suddenly felt tired, realizing she had forgotten the most important part of her routine.
Speed-walking back to her room, she took out her black box and injected her dose of glucose.
Stupid. She sighed with relief, scolding herself for even forgetting.
She'd survive for a few more hours, but first, she had to find a way to wake up Soul.
The time was 07:46.
Here we go again.
A/N: Wooo chapter 4 done! I've planned the whole story out in its entirety (but I might extend it a bit more if I'm in the mood), and (so far) it's...not that long but quite long... so I do hope you stick around for a while :) please leave a kind review if you can, and have a great day ;)