"Maka? Maka?…Maka can you hear me?" A voice called from far within the darkness, a voice that was so familiar yet I just couldn't place it.
"Is she going to be okay?" A new voice whispered, a softer, meeker voice
"Yeah, she's waking up now."
I blinked slowly, my eyes having trouble accustoming to the bright light that hung from the gray ceiling above me. The ceiling had several stitches that ran around the lights and the rest of the room in which I had just woken up in to.
I glanced around. The were stitches running around the walls and over a small computer desk that held a large computer. There were several cupboards with scientific equipment on top of them and a number of glass cabinets that housed tones of glass test tubes and flasks, some with chemicals bubbling gently inside.
Great…Just great!
I groaned slightly then tried to sit up but was held down rather firmly by Stein who was checking me over with all manner of medical tools.
"Whoa, take it easy Maka. You're fine, you're in my lab, perfectly safe," he soothed, airily waving a thermometer.
Right, because the words 'his lab' and 'safe' go together so well!
I glanced up at his face and felt an overwhelming sensation of relaxation wash over me. I felt my eye lids grow heavy and I yawned. "Sir? What time is it? Where is Soul?" My voice sounded exhausted.
Stein smiled softly and I noticed that he was slightly handsome. His white hair was falling over his gray eyes that seemed to shine as though a small star lay behind each one. His soft, pale lips framed his dazzling white teeth. Even the black stitches around his right eye made his white skin look all the more flawless.
Wow, I must have been hit my head hard when I passed out.
"Maka?" A voice said from the door way.
I propped myself up and smiled weakly. Tsubaki was stood there, her green eyes bright and face practically breaking in two from her huge smile. She was wearing a white hospital gown which looked exactly like Steins lab coat, but still looked slightly out of place in the dim room, even with her long black hair and a thick, red book in her hand.
"Glad your okay Maka; I think Star was slightly worried about you-" She was interrupted by a loud cry from behind the door frame when Black Star flew in to the room, arms flailing around wildly. He too was wearing a hospital gown.
"Yahoo! See, my amazing presence has woken her up from the brink of death!" He cried triumphantly, nearly knocking over a very large tube of some sort of green glowing liquid.
"Black Star, please calm down; you might make her worse," Tsubaki pleaded, but she was drowned out by Star's victory singing. She tried again. "Black Star, please stop singing; you're going to give her a headache…"
"Ha ha! You should all praise my wonderful brilliance!" Star declared in an even louder voice (if that was possible).
"Black Star?" She sounded slightly strained.
"I am the greatest who ever lived-"
"BLACK STAR!"
There was a flash of red and Black Star fell to the floor, a large book shaped dent in his head.
I glanced back at Tsubaki who was composing herself carefully then at Black Star on the floor.
I have such wonderful friends, right?
"Well, that was an interesting result," Stein muttered dryly, then turned and sat next to Star on the floor to check his pulse. "Oh, you can get down from the slab now Maka."
I swung my legs over the edge of the table and tried to stand up but my legs gave way and I fell straight into Stein's - apparently waiting - arms.
He laughed slightly and I could feel his chest rise and fall. "Maka, when I said get down I didn't mean this low."
Tsubaki rushed forward to help me upbut still slightly hesitating before approaching Stein, obviously still slightly wary.
I grabbed the table and pulled myself up, cheeks once more flushing. "W-where's Soul?"
"In the courtyard waiting for you," Tsubaki said, as she hovered over Star. "Come on, I didn't even hit you that hard!"
Star rolled on to his stomach and laughed out loud. "Ha! See! I can even collapse better then Maka! There is nothing anyone can do that I can't do better!"
"Well actually there is." Stein smiled slowly, and I could practically see the cogs in his head whirring as he formulated a plan.
"WHAT? AS IF! WHO AND WHAT?" Star exploded, suddenly up on his feet.
Stein bowed his head and pointed to Tsubaki. "Well Tsubaki here makes an amazing young girl, a much better girl then could ever hope to be." By now he was grinning.
Star's jaw dropped. Surely he wouldn't be stupid enough to accept the bait?
"But…but….This can not be!"
…Okay. I was wrong.
Star raced out of the door, shouting something about beating Tsubaki, said girl following reluctantly on his heels, only pausing to throw a glare at the smug scientist, disliking where this would inevitably go.
Stein chuckled. "This might be a fun little experiment…"
"Right…Um…Sure…" I muttered, and reluctantly nodded my head, only to feel weak again. My legs began to shake and I swayed slightly on the spot.
He looked up at me and for the first time since I met him he frowned deeply. "Maka, you still look unstable. How do you feel?" He sounded completely serious for once.
"I feel fine…just a little dizzy. What made me collapse?" I asked, trying not to portray how I truly felt.
"Well, from observation I would say it was a combination of the stress and shock you have been though today, and the lack of sleep you've clearly had - or not had, shall we say."
"I have had plenty of sleep!"
He gave me a sceptical glance then stood up and took a step closer, hand outstretched to offer me balance. Whether it was out of fear or the fact that our last battle was still fresh in my mind, I took a few steps back, my body tensing ready to fight.
He looked taken aback. "Maka I wont hurt you…in fact you will be thrilled to know I'm going to be your new teacher!" He practically sang the last bit, smile bright and joyful.
My new teacher? Oh God, you have one hell of a sense of humour!
I tried to lean back against the table but misjudged the distance and slipped back. Stein shot forward, his hands wrapping themselves around my shoulders tightly.
He steadied me gently then tilted his head. "Interesting…"
"interesting? What could possibly be interesting about me?"
He looked a little surprised. "There is something interesting about everyone."
I was about to question him when a voice floated from the door way, "Scaring the life out of me, Maka, just was not cool."
I instinctively smiled and turned to see Soul grinning softly, leaning against the doorframe in his normal relaxed manner. He was wearing the same medical gown to Tsubaki and Black Star.
When I looked down I noticed I was too…
Please tell me Tsubaki dressed me…!
"You can go now Maka." Stein spun around to inspect some of the scientific instruments.
I bowed my head, shakily made my way to the door and grabbed Soul's arm. He led me silently out of the small lab and off down a long corridor to a small living room - well, I use the word 'living' loosely.
It was complety grey like everything else Stein related and had the trademark stitches over every single piece of furniture. There was a small settee and a large armchair that sat around a small grey block that I think was meant to be a table. It wasn't exactly the cosiest of places but it had a settee so I can't complain.
I flopped down on to the settee and sighed deeply. Soul did the same on the arm chair, his head in his hand.
"You look terrible Maka."
"Gee, thanks."
His lips twitched slightly. "You know what I mean"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I have been through a lot. I am so tired of getting my ass whooped and feeling helpless…"
"You're not alone."
I smiled for a second and nodded; he was right. He, Star and Tsubaki had been through the same. In fact he looked worse then me. His hair was unkempt and tangled, his skin paler and black shadows were starting to show under his eyes.
"You scared me Maka," Souls said softly, looking the most vulnerable I'd seen for a long time.
"I know…I'm sorry." I tried to sound better then I felt but I have always been a terrible liar.
We sat in silence for a second before Stein spoke from the door way making both me and Soul jump.
"Anyone for tea?"
He was stood in the doorway, a small tray with several science beakers held in his hands. Funny how he could sound so nonchalant.
I glanced at the beakers full with a strange, pale green, steaming liquid sloshing around in them and shook my head. I really don't think tea should be green. Stein turned to Soul but he shook his head as well.
"Shame…and I was so hoping to test this out," Stein said, disappointed, then slowly shuffled back out of the door.
Soul glared suspiciously after him then half turned his head to me.
"Maka has he drugged me?"
I shrugged again. "I don't know. Why?"
"Because for once I can't wait to back to school."
Authors note:
Sorry for such a big delay I have been ill lately and Mr writer's block was following me around again. Damn I wish that guy would leave me to my work but hey what can you do ;)
Another thanks to TotalTownie who is my amazing beta-er. I write the story she covers it in glitter and makes it shine XD yay to having ur own fairy !
