A/N: I appreciate the reviews from the previous chapter. It pushed me to type chapter four out when I had the time to do so (it might seemed rushed, but that's why I have my beta [Love you, Kashii]).
I hate to admit it to the KidXMaka only fans, but this is more of a SoulXMaka chapter. Many of you like the idea of a love triangle thing going on between the three, so I need to build Soul's jealousy and make him more aware about his denial that he is in love with Maka. This chapter establishes that part, building the story up. Besides, SoulxMaka was my first love.
For the KidxMaka fans, next chapter will make up for this chapter. I promise you. Oh and I would like to apologize for my poor broken Japanese. More info about that after the chapter.
Without further adieu, Chapter Four. Enjoy
Chapter Four: Out of Character
"What the hell did I just say?" Maka cried out to herself, hearing her frustrations echo through the symmetrical halls. "Did I just replace the Duke and Duchess with Papa and Maka?" She hit her head with her knuckle and continued to stomp down the hallway to her room. "I can't believe I said that!"
Suddenly, Maka felt Kid's soul being engulfed again. She opened her ears and Perception, focusing on the other souls that were downstairs with that wretched soul.
"Kid!" Soul shouted, punched him out of the living room and into the foyer. "Snap out of it!" The Death Scythe looked over to the side to see Black Star waking up. Tsubaki told Black Star what happened and he was up on his feet in a matter of seconds.
"Oi, Kiddo!" Black Star shouted at his fellow meister in the foyer. The assassin marched passed Soul, and continued onto the foyer where the Shinigami was. "Getting worked up because of that bookworm? Why can't you be like me, and ignore that overachiever's problems?" Out of nowhere, a book went flying down the stairs and met the ninja meister's head.
"I heard that!" Maka huffed at him as she hastily walked down the stairs. Her green eyes went from Black Star to Kid, and back to Black Star. Soul, along with Patti, stood a few paces behind Black Star. "What happened?" She recalled the scene from a few minutes ago, and she still didn't know what made Kid cave so easily.
Maka read his bleak soul, and how it was enveloping the soul she learned to love in the passing hours. That warm, kind-hearted smile. The mesmerizing golden eyes that were different from some. The protection of his soul. A guardian. When Kid was normal, she had the feeling of security and comfort. Today, she felt that stronger than before, and she never wanted it to go away. At that very moment, it slowly disappeared into a pool of darkness.
"Kiddo-kun," Maka called to him. Kid was panting heavily, eyes straining to keep his sanity intact. The molten gold stared deeply into the emerald jewels.
"YAHOO!" Black Star came in with his fist, full of his wavelength, and plowed it straight into his solar plexus. Kid landed against the wall, leaving a really large crater. "Hey, Kid!" He laughed and ran after the fallen Shinigami. "Still haven't controlled that thing? You haven't changed since our last fight!"
"I—It i—i—is not that easy…" Kid coughed into his hand. "Any sign of—" Kid grabbed his head and started to scream, bringing him to his knees.
"Black Star." Maka joined the assassin and marched towards the troubled soul. "You know what to do?"
"Of course," Black Star spat in disgust. "Who do you think I am?"
"I wasn't ordering you to do anything." Maka sighed.
She felt Kid in the whirlpool of darkness. At that point, it was faint, but Maka knew she could pull it out. Like the first time in Eibon's book. The scythe meister focused hard on the drowning soul and tried to pull away.
"Your Papa cheated and your Mama left." A voice echoed through Maka's mind. "Your Mama left you so she could live a happy life. What about you? She left you here."
"No," Maka mumbled.
"No?" Black Star raised an eyebrow at Maka. "Maka?" She was out of it.
"Let me guess, she left you with that cheater. Am I right?" His voice ran through Maka's mind. As the sentence progressed, it sounded more and more like Kid's voice.
"Don't listen to him!" Maka's eyes widened at the pitch and tone. It was Kid's voice. "He's nothing but a liar—"
"I am no liar, Fragment." He fought against Maka's soul and Kid's Shinigami soul, which was now connected to the Grigori. "I am what you call Truth. I bring out the ugly Truth, that's what drives people mad."
"Shut up!" Black Star blasted Kid with his wavelength. "Maka, whatever that thing is telling you, just ignore it! Who should you listen to? The great me, of course!" He looked at Maka with that trademark smile, and laughed in his obnoxious tone. As much as Maka hated that idiot, Black Star couldn't be any more right. His overzealous actions were what made the people around him believe in his words.
"Shut up," Maka smirked sheepishly and focused on the soul in front of her.
My Dearest Maka,
How are you? I'm sorry for not replying sooner to your letter. I haven't returned home for awhile and I received your letter when I arrived back from…all over the place. I hope you like the pictures I took.
How's your father? How's Soul? Oh, and congratulations to you and Soul. You finally did it! I'm very, very proud to be your mother, but as a mother of a meister, I am also worried. Please be careful, both of you.
Can't wait for your next letter!
Love,
Mama
Maka blankly stared at the pile of letters on her oversized bed. The moon that peered through the large glass windows provided enough light to read the elegant, perfect hand-written letters from her traveling mother. Maka attentively looked at the most recent letter at the top of the pile.
Before she moved in, she had to pack her essentials, like clothes and toiletries. The other thing that was important to her was the folder-size green stationary box. It was filled with blank sheets of pastel green stationary and matching envelopes. At the very bottom of the box, there were folded pink stationary that were already scribbled on. Letters from her mother. Accompanied by the pink paper, was a wrinkled, overstuffed envelope filled with pictures of different sizes.
As long as Maka could remember, her mother was always taking pictures. If she wasn't a meister, that would be her profession of choice. She had her fancy professional camera with her, always, and had a large purse to carry the oversized camera bag. When she brought Maka to the park, she would take pictures of Maka and their surroundings. Even to the grocery store, she would pull out her camera, lens and all, and take pictures of certain things that caught her eye. Maka would get excited when she would see the developed pictures, and remembered exactly what she was doing at the time.
However, the pictures she had in the wrinkled envelope always made her sad. Maka could never remember what she was doing when she did take those. If anything, it would have been on a mission, school, at home, or hanging with her friends. She missed that about her mother's pictures, and she hoped that one day she would see pictures that would have her in them, or have her remember what she was doing when her mother took the pictures.
All the letters Maka had written since Asura's revival, she asked her mother when she was returning to Death City to help in their search for the Kishin. She had yet to reply, and she wouldn't give her an answer. No matter how much Maka kept asking her in her letters. She waited for an answer, and every time she opened a thick envelope full of pictures, her questions were left unanswered.
What also bothered Maka was that her mother never told her she missed her or loved her. Her mother would always ask if they were alright. The only time she was concerned was when Soul was injured during the fight with Crona.
…I hope Soul's okay. Please thank Stein-senpai for me. He was always reliable with these kinds of things. Take care of Soul, okay Maka-chan?
When something bad happened, Mama never asked Maka if she was okay or anything like that. Maka was so oblivious, she never knew how brief her mother was. Her letters were quickly, but neatly, written. Most of the time it was repetitive. Maka would write her a few pages about what was going on, and in response, a few lines about what she wrote. Her letters never exceeded half a page, and her handwriting was large, but tidy.
"You can come in, you know?" Maka sighed and threw one of the letters on the pile. Soul came in. Maka knew he was standing there for quite a while.
"You okay?" Soul walked in with his usual posture. Normally, he would be wearing a jacket and bury his hands in the pockets, but this time he buried one hand in his pant pocket.
"I'm fine." Maka brought her knees to her chest. Soul sat down on her bed and looked at his meister. A curtain of dull golden strands covered her face, hiding her facial expression. "What do you want?"
"Just checking on you." Soul scratched the back of his head and then removed the headband that held his hair back. "Other than Black Star, I'm the only one who knows about your parents."
"I don't want to talk about it." Maka looked back at the letters. "I overreacted and I felt like I embarrassed myself."
"Yeah, you did." Soul chuckled, making Maka more pissed. "Everybody knows you overreact over the simplest things. It's not new to us, so don't get so worked up." Maka followed with a nod and continued to look at the pile of letters.
It wasn't making Maka feel any better. Soul knew there was something else bothering her, as his words didn't change a thing. He watched her sit there with her knees up, mindlessly staring at the letters her mother sent her.
"Hey, Soul." Maka spoke up, keeping her eyes on the pile in front of her. "You met Mama, right?"
"Your mom?" Maka nodded and looked at Soul. "Well, only once, before our first day at Shibusen. What about her?"
"What do you think about Mama?"
"I don't know. She looks like you."
"Is that all?"
"Well, I only met her once, and the other things I hear about her came from you. So, there isn't much to say about her." Soul explained, but his answer didn't seem to help. "Look, whatever it is you're thinking about, your mom is a great person. And I don't know what exactly happened earlier, but if you are comparing your mother with Geor-something, she's nothing—"
"Okay, I get it." Maka giggled and smiled at her partner. "Thanks Soul."
"No problem." He scratched the back of his head, not really sure what he said to make her smile, but it worked.
"How is Kidd-kun doing?" Maka asked Soul. Her voice was a little hesitant, aftershock of what happened earlier. "It seems like it's my fault."
"What are you saying? It's not your fault." Soul sighed his typical sigh whenever Maka talked like that. "He's fine. He's in his room."
"My head…" Kid sat up from his bed and held onto his throbbing head. "What just happened?" His eyes soon widened as he remembered that Maka ran off to her room. "Maka!" He moved fast, but not as fast as the voice that stopped him from getting up completely.
"That idiot is fine." Black Star's voice echoed throughout his spacious room. Kid looked over to the balcony door on his right, and then the other door on his left, where Black Star came into the room. "I can't believe you got yourself worked up because of that idiot's issues." Black Star crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, right beside the nightstand. "Look at this room! So plain and boring!" He paused and looked at Kid. "Like you." He finished it off with a loathsome laugh.
"Black Star," Kid called to his attention. Black Star ceased his laugh, and the assassin's eyes looked at the Shinigami. "You know anything about Maka's parents?" He was curious about it since she mentioned the Duke and Duchess as her parents. Kid wondered though, if Black Star was the right person to ask.
"Like I know!" Black Star pouted. He glanced over to Kid, who was still looking at him.
"I think you do know." Kid's voice was sincere. He definitely felt bad for what he supposedly did to Maka.
"Okay, I don't know much." Black Star caved as he walked out of the room, and onto the balcony. Kid followed and joined him. "Not a lot of our friends know, but we kind of grew up together. Sid and her father were really good friends. Maka and I started to hang out when her father was transferred to Death City. She didn't know anybody else but me.
"Anyways, that girl's parents were something. I would see her old man hit on the chicks on-staff at the Academy, and I would see her mom late at night sneaking into a bar. Maka, no matter what she was doing, was always reading. When we were at the park or at recess, she would always be sitting somewhere reading a book. So boring. It's really hard to believe a girl from those two came out like that."
"What about Death Scythe and Kami's separation?" Kid asked him, leaning against the railing with his elbows on the cold concrete.
"This was after I partnered up with Tsubaki." Black Star shrugged his shoulders. "I only heard bits and pieces about them breaking up from Tsubaki. She doesn't know much either. All Maka did was complain about how much her dad is an idiot."
"Is that all?" Kid asked one final question and Black Star nodded.
"Again, I don't know anything in full detail." Black Star said to Kid. "If you really want to know, then ask her." He stepped back and jumped onto the railing.
"Oi, Black Star!" Kid shouted as Black Star took a step forward, falling down the second story balcony.
"Haha, glad I didn't break anything!" Black Star laughed. "I'll be leaving now!" He cheered, and ran inside the mansion, hearing Liz and Tsubaki yelling at him for scaring them.
"That idiot." Kid sighed and went inside his room. "I'm surprised I don't go insane when he does that."
Kid sat at the foot of his bed and scanned his golden eyes throughout his symmetrical room. The moon was smiling brightly that night, as its light lit the room and reflected from the white and black marble floors. As much as Kid appreciated the beauty of his symmetrical room, he couldn't get over what had happened to Maka. It never seemed like a sensitive topic, because in the past, she would get into pointless quarrels with her father. Mostly about his affairs with other women. Also, Kid could remember a few times that she mentioned becoming a successful scythe meister just like her mother. And finally…
"I just know how fathers work, I guess." Maka chuckled. "Try asking my papa why he keeps cheating on my mama, and he would come up with some lame excuse or change the subject to avoid the question."
It would seem like the topic, if mentioned, would be easy for her to talk about. Possibly laughing it off as a joke. Wait, why was he worrying about it? He didn't know Maka was putting her parents into the roles of the Duke and Duchess. Kid couldn't possibly know that and this shouldn't be his fault. However, Kid did push the debate a little too far.
Kid laid back and looked at the plain white ceiling. He folded his hands and placed them over his diaphragm, feeling his chest rise and fall. Soon enough, his eyes became heavy and he drifted to sleep.
"I don't see why we have to take such an easy, uncool mission." Soul sighed as he walked next to his meister. "This is no mission for a Death Scythe and a Shinigami." He buried his hands into his jacket pocket.
"Come off it," Maka hissed at Soul. "We were sent on this mission because of our mobility. And it was a special request from Shinigami-sama."
"Yeah, yeah," Soul sighed and continued to walk beside Maka, Kid and the Thompson Sisters. "So, all we have to do is find out who's taking tourists and killing them on top of Diamond Head? And take them out, of course."
"Yep, easy mission!" Liz stretched her arms over her head, and looked at the beautiful Waikiki Strip and the beaches that are beyond the concrete sidewalks. The sun was struggling to stay awake as it slowly sank below the horizon. "After that, let's enjoy Hawaii!" She cheered as Patti followed with her trademark giggle.
Later that night, as the sun disappeared and the smiling, blood drenched moon awoke from its daytime slumber, they left their hotel and joined the other tourists on the beach shopping strip. Maka and Kid were on the prowl, having their Soul Perception abilities in full effect. This gave an opportunity for Liz to admire all the many stores and enjoy her time in one of her favorite places she hadn't visited yet.
"There are so many people out." Maka looked at the passing tourists, carefully reading each of their souls. "You think there would be less people out at night." Her Soul Perception couldn't keep up with so many children, teenagers and tipsy adults surrounding her. Then, she noticed a small troubled soul.
"Wait," Maka softly spoke and stopped her movements as the tourists that followed gradually dodged their group.
"What is it?" Soul asked. He followed her emerald eyes and looked at a small crying boy, sitting on a garden curb. He turned to Maka, who started to move towards the boy. "Now isn't the time to worry about lost kids. We need to get on with this mission." She pushed him aside and knelt down in front of him.
"What's wrong?" Maka asked the little boy with a kind and sincere voice. "Did you lose your parents?" The boy nodded, sobbing and gasping.
"Wakarimasen (I don't understand)," He gasped again between sobs. "Eego...wakarimasen (I don't understand English)." The boy spoke in Japanese.
"Oh man!" Liz cried. "Only if we had Tsubaki!" Maka turned around and then back at the boy, who was still crying.
"Ryoushin (Parents)," Maka spoke to the boy. "Doku ni Ryoushin ka (Where are your parents)?" Maka was hesitant with her Japanese, since it had been awhile had she seen and spoken to her mother. She was never too confident with her Japanese. She was embarrassed to speak to Tsubaki, because she was afraid she would say something wrong.
"Wakaranai (I don't know)," He continued to sob. "Maigo desu (I'm lost)." He stuttered.
"Yuuki o dashite (Be Brave)." Maka smiled and grabbed his hand.
"I didn't know you speak Japanese, Maka." Kid smiled. "Actually, I should have known, your mother is Japanese."
"Oh, I'm not as good as Tsubaki." Maka blushed. "And I think Black Star knows more than I do. He's Japanese, too."
"Okay, let's find his parents and move on with the mission." Liz stepped up and held the boy's other hand.
They continued to walk as they both looked for the boy's parents and any unusual souls. Kid concluded that if the boy's parents were missing, there was a slight chance that they were the victims. Finding the boy was the evidence they need to seize the captor.
"We looked everywhere," Liz held onto Patti's arm as they walked through the park side of Diamond Head. "And it's dark…"
"We'll be fine, Nee-chan!" Patti giggled, marching jokingly next to Kid. "If someone sneaks up on us, you can kick his ass!" She giggled as Liz's grip tightened around Patti's arm.
"Again, you overestimate me…" Liz mumbled through her quivering lips. Maka suddenly held up her hand, ceasing the others that followed. Kid and Soul looked at the scythe meister, who was scanning the darkness with her talented eyes. Her snow white gloved hand pointed in the eleven o'clock direction and with that cue, Liz, Patti and Soul transformed into their weapon forms. Maka pressed the boy against her, and the boy wrapped his shaking arms around her waist. She held Soul firmly in her gloved hands, and kept her Perception on the lurking souls within the darkness.
"Behi—" Maka shouted, but it was too late. The boy was snatched away. He screamed at the top of his hoarse voice, as the dark creatures took off with him into the sky. Kid summoned Beelzebub, and Maka mounted Soul. They immediately took off in pursuit of the captive boy.
"Wide formation." Soul's voice echoed in his weapon form. "Maka will lead and Kid will back her up since you're a long distance fighter. That way, if they try to escape, Kid could pursue them."
"Got it," Kid and Maka said simultaneously as they burst through the skies, following the little boy screaming frantically. They were approaching the large, dormant volcano Diamond Head, where the dead bodies of the victims were found.
"It's beautiful." Liz commented on her observation. "I can't believe this is where the murders lie."
"Not for long," Soul added and focused on Maka's angel-like soul. He sped up, and Maka lifted herself up, placing her feet on Soul's shaft. "Ready, Maka?" He shouted, approaching the first dark figure.
"Always," Maka smirked and leaned forward, keeping her hand on Soul, and brought him over her head. His blade expanded into Witch Hunter. Her feet slipped off of his handle, and she grabbed Soul with her other hand, propelling Witch Hunter towards the figure.
"Got him." Maka screeched, watching the figure fall. She looked to her side, and saw Kid take out the captor that had the boy. Maka flew towards Kid, and prepared to catch the boy when Kid made his move. And as the Twin Pistol trio made their attack, and the boy dived towards the ground, Maka sped towards the fallen boy, racing against gravity.
"Maka!" Kid shouted. "Watch out!" Maka felt the familiar, but sinister soul, and before she could react, Kid pushed Maka away from the incoming attacks from below. The five eyes, each pair with a different shade, were wide, as the proverbial skin-like scarves grabbed the screaming boy and the figure that Kid had slain. In no doubt, that was Asura's wavelength.
"It can't be…" Maka drifted, but immediately she felt Kid's soul disappear.
"Kid!" Liz and Patti shouted. Kid let go of his weapons, and let them fall.
"Liz-chan! Patti-chan!" Maka cried. She tried to fly towards them, but Kid stopped her in her tracks.
"Don't transform!" Soul shouted. "You'll be fine!" It was hard to see them, as they had disappeared against the dark ground.
"Kiddo-kun," Maka stared deeply into Kid's golden eyes. It was the only thing that remained in his full transformation. "What are you doing? There is no time for this. Down there is Asura. We need to do something. The Kishin is the one behind the attacks." She spoke directly to the possessed Shinigami.
"I am no longer the Fragment you speak of," Kid addressed the meister. "I am one of the Great Old Ones and I, for one, was awakened fully under Asura's presence."
"Maka, I can't hear Kid anymore." Soul whispered. "You noticed too, right?" Maka nodded, and continued to stare down Kid, or the being that used to be Kid. She couldn't read Kid anymore. No trace of his soul was present, and it worried Maka.
"Maka! Watch out!" Soul yelled. The scarves of Asura grabbed Soul. Maka desperately held onto him, but the momentum from Asura propelled her away from Soul, falling drastically towards the hole beneath them.
"Maka!" The Death Scythe shouted as he transformed back into his human form, but was still restrained around his waist by Asura. He didn't know when, but Soul roughly landed against the grassy earth of the volcano. The dark ruby eyes of the scythe quickly scanned his surroundings, as Asura continued to push him into the dirt. He was focused on Maka.
Maka stood, legs shaken from the fall. She wobbled back and forth, gripping tightly on her left side, desperately trying to breathe. Her face gave it away, how much pain she was in, but she kept her eyes determined as she stared deeply into the eyes of the Shinigami in front of her. She soon leaned against a tree to keep herself up.
"Maka!" Soul tried, turning his aching head towards the screams of two voices. Patti and Liz were also pinned down by Asura. Asura could not be seen by Soul, but he knew he was there. Lurking amongst the darkness of the volcano.
Soul wanted to transform and fly into the hands of his meister, but he couldn't because of his restraints. They were feeding off his wavelength, draining him so fast that his vision began to blur. Even with his blurry vision, he noticed that Maka was severely injured, seeing the tremendous amount of darker than regular blood pouring down her left side. It wasn't dark enough to be black blood, and it was definitely too dark for it to be fresh crimson blood. Her insanity was slowly taking over. His eyes widened, but contracted again as he was soon losing consciousness, too.
Kid approached the injured meister, and touched her chin, tilting it slightly back. She looked up at him, reading his soul for any sign of Death the Kid, son of Shinigami.
"You have such a tasteful soul, young girl." Kid pinched her chin and gently moved his bone-chilling hand down her neck, shoulders and arms, finally grabbing the hand that held her to the tree. As Kid grabbed her hand, he pinned Maka against it, pushing that hand above her head, leaving her pigtails in disarray.
"Maka!" Soul growled, trying to push his head out of the dirt. "Kid! Let her go! Snap out of it!"
"Soul, I'm fine." Maka shouted, spitting on Kid a little bit. "Just give me a second." Kid just laughed and with his other hand, he placed it over her blood covered hand, shielding her wound. The iron fist of the Shinigami squeezed, causing Maka to scream, and for the wound to bleed profusely.
"MAKA!" Soul cried, along with Liz and Patti. "MAKA!" He continued to try freeing himself from the Kishin's grip, watching and listening to his meister get hurt by his friend. "Kid, STOP!" He shouted once more, but now his cries sounded more like a desperate plea.
"Oi, Soul." The little demon's voice annoyingly echoed through his mind. "You didn't keep your promise, did you? Soul. You failed yet again. After becoming this strong, you still can't do things on your own. And look at you! You couldn't keep a promise that you made to your partner and friend." Soul's eyes widened as he remembered the promise he made to Kid.
"If you hurt Maka, I'll make you and that thing regret you did."
"Maka!" He cried out, trying to escape the Little Oni's grasp.
"You are weak. You are nothing when you are alone. What kind of Death Scythe are you? You have no right for that title, do you Soul? You even promise yourself that you would become stronger for her sake. But look at you! You can't even help her now." He laughed at Soul. "Like that time you were possessed by Arachne's magic, you still bear the same position. This is who you are. You speak that Maka would always be your light. The light that would slice through your darkness."
Soul watched as Kid pushed both of Maka's hands above her head, pinning her against the tree. Maka's feet soon gave out, and the only thing that held her up was Kid's one hand. The evil bastard was very close to Maka. His lips touched the side of her face, kissing roughly at her ears, jaw and neck, feasting on the meister before him. The black blood began to boil within Soul, and he could feel it race.
"What would happen if that light vanished? What would you do? What path would you choose?" The devil laughed sardonically at Soul, feeling his own freedom run through his host's veins. "The light you are willing to protect is gone before your eyes. Soon, the two other girls would be next. What would you do, Soul? Will you lie there in the dirt and be who you really are? Oh Soul, what choice do you have? All the choices are gone. That light you speak of is gone. There is no more choice."
Kid's hand moved to Maka's chest, placing it above her soul. The golden eyes stared deeply into the pale girl, desperately gasping for air as her lungs filled with blood. Soul could see Kid's fingers begin to curl, digging his nails into her skin. She didn't scream, because her body was cold and numb from the blood she lost. Life was soon leaving her eyes, and Soul could see it. Soul could feel it.
"Maka," Soul whimpered, crying for his meister. His body became heavy as soon as his efforts to escape took over. The sisters were also crying at the sight of their meister, slowly killing a friend.
Kid's nails broke through her chest and the rest of the blood in her fragile body oozed out of her as Kid grabbed the vibrant bluish soul from her body.
"This is who you are, Soul." His sinister soul's voice echoed again.
Soul's heart stopped beating at the sight of Maka's body going limp, diminishing into the pool of his meister's blood.
"Maka!" Soul opened his eyes wide, his body was burning, drenched in sweat.
"Soul!" Maka quickly moved to his side to comfort him. "Soul? What's wrong?" Soul moved his limbs around, almost punching Maka in the face. "Soul, calm down. It's just a dream." She reached for his face, and placed her warm hands on his sweating cheeks. His limbs soon ceased their movements.
"Where—" Soul panted, looking around him to see that he was in Maka's room. He remembered that he fell asleep on the sofa chair, watching television. "—it's just a dream."
"Soul, are you okay?" Maka asked him, still holding his head between her delicate but strong hands. Soul sat up and Maka's hand followed, eventually sitting on the edge of the sofa chair.
He looked at Maka and studied her thoroughly. Maka wasn't covered in blood, her side was fine, and her chest was unopened. Soul felt her calming wavelength, which was helping him. Soul was relieved and so he—
"Soul?" Maka was speechless as Soul leaped forward and hugged Maka tightly. "Are you sure you're okay?" Maka forced out the set of words, which was difficult in this position. She would fall off the chair, but thanks to Soul's death grip, she wouldn't have to worry about falling. Soul didn't want to let go. Ever. He never wanted to see her like that ever again, and he didn't want to lose Maka. And so, Soul's grip around Maka became tighter.
"I thought I lost you." Soul whispered into her ear. Those words brought chills down her spine, and she remained speechless. Lost her? Maka knew it was a horrible dream, and wanted to know what happened to her. Was it the right time to ask? In the given circumstances, the right thing to do was ask. However, it wasn't like Soul to act this way. It wasn't like him to start holding her. Not like this.
"Idiot!" Maka hissed back. "Why would you lose me?" She placed her hands on his body and slowly pushed him away. "Whatever that was, it was just a dream." Soul sat there with his legs hanging off the arm of the chair. His frightened eyes took in at his meister, recollecting on what happened in his dream. Everything seemed so real. The pain in his body was still there, and the taste of dirt still lingered in his mouth. Soul could have sworn he smelled a thick musk of iron from Maka's blood. It felt so real. Was it all a dream?
"Yeah, it's a stupid dream." Soul forced a smile upon his face as he got up from the chair. He scratched his head and combed his fingers through. "Nothing important. It was one of those dreams, you know?"
"Soul," Maka tried to speak, but Soul kept talking.
"A cool guy doesn't harp over nightmares. And this nightmare was too unreal to be real." Soul walked towards the door, without turning around to face Maka. "Good night."
"Good night," Maka sighed, giving up on what happened. She was still stupefied at the hug he gave her. She watched as Soul reached the door and left. "What was that hug all about? It wasn't like him at all."
The next morning, Maka made her way to the kitchen, where she saw Kid eating breakfast on the island. They exchanged 'good mornings' and Maka prepared herself some coffee and a plain toasted bagel. It was silence between the two as they ate quietly. Once in awhile, they would look up and stare at each other. When one caught the other, the one staring would look away instantly. They were thinking about what happened last night between them.
"Um, Maka…" Kid finally spoke and locked his gaze with the meister. "I want to apologize for yesterday." Maka held up a hand and took a sip of her coffee.
"No need to apologize, Kid-kun." Maka smiled. "I was at fault."
"No," Kid interrupted. "I should be the one to apologize." Kid soon stopped when Maka held up one of the books she borrowed from him.
"Again, you don't need to." Maka hissed and continued to hold up the book. His golden orbs went from Maka, to the book and then Maka again. He understood how Soul and Black Star felt.
"You can hit me all you want, but I want to tell you how sorry I am." Kid addressed Maka with the utmost confidence. "I want to make it up to you." He smiled. Maka put down the book and decided to listen to Kid for what he had to offer.
"You want to go out with me?" Kid smiled, and Maka instantly turned the cutest shade of pink. Her throat was too shocked to force any sound, so she continued to stare at him with wide eyes. Finally, Kid realize what he had said, and started to turn a darker shade of red. "No, I didn't mean…not like that…I mean spend the day with me. As friends." Kid blushed.
"What's up with the guys lately?" Maka wondered as she watched Kid try to explain himself clearly on what he meant. Soul hugged her as if it was the end of the world, and then wouldn't tell her why he had lost her in his dreams. Now, Kid was blushing unwillingly. It wasn't like any of them at all, and she wondered what was going on. Why are these two guys acting differently in front of her since she moved into Gallows?
"Sure," Maka giggled, but remembered what her father and Soul stated the night she moved into Gallows Mansion. "Though, we have a problem."
Maka explained to Kid about that meeting.
A/N: Man, I didn't plan for this chapter to be like this. Really!
Anyways, before I start the Fun Facts I would like to point out that the story is going to be a little different from here on out. Again, this story, when I started, was supposed to be a one-shot. When I was writing it, the story seemed like a multi-chapter story. I don't want to end it at four chapters, so I decided to add a little fluff to go with the angst. But I promise you, what is coming up will be relevant to the story. Hey! Ohkubo adds a little fluff to his manga too! So, don't be hating my FLUFF MOMENTS! Let THERE BE FLUFF (though I don't like fluff…it makes me gag…but every good story has to have fluff. Unless you are Edgar Allen Poe…)
Okay! Time for Facts:
Fact #1: Maka, in my story, knows broken Japanese. I'm betting Spirit is American (Maybe British, because Damon Albarn from the Gorillaz is British) and married a Japanese chick, having Maka being half. Anyways, where I got the idea was from my personal experience. I am not Japanese, but my father grew up in Japan, so I know broken Japanese too.
Relevant to the story? Yes! When I was in Hawaii with my boyfriend and his family, we found a lost Japanese boy that didn't understand English. I was the only one who could speak to him. But, we didn't bump into Asura and we found his parents…only difference.
Fact #2: Kid was supposed to be the one with the nightmare, but I thought it would be a good idea to give it to Soul, 'cause I was trying to find a way to develop his character.
Fact #3: I just thought of something. Ohkubo and I would get along! If he got Maka and Spirit's last name from 'Damon Albarn of the Gorillaz' then we would get along swimmingly. I LOVE PINK FLOYD AND THE GORILLAZ!
Fact #4: The title came from a lot of OOC fanfics I've been reading lately. I was afraid their stories rubbed off on me. It seems like my three boys are a little out of character, don't you think?
Fact #5: The last part with Kid and Maka actually happened to me. One day in the summer before High School, I broke my ankle on the trampoline while my future boyfriend (was just a friend then) was trying to boost me. The next day, he came over with bagels and he wanted to apologize and make it up to me. He asked me out (like Kid), then realized what he said and didn't mean it like that (like Kid). He wanted to spend the day with me while pushing me in a wheelchair (embarrassingly). This happened in our summer before entering High School.
Day after that, we started dating. Five to six years later, here we are…still together.
Chapter dedicated to my boyfriend, TJ. Happy Anniversary!
For your entertainment…(For Kashii Ai, my Beta and friend)
Liz: Aw, You're so sweet! *cries* I wish I could find love like that…
Me: *sigh* Yeah…
Patti: Why not Soul? (Liz stares at her sister, speechless) You both like Jazz, right? (referring to Chapter 74 in the Manga). *giggles obnoxiously*
Liz: Nah, Soul is…*looks around for him and then continues* Too young for me…
Me: If love is real, age doesn't matter.
Liz: He's shorter than me…
Me: Then don't wear heels
Patti: *giggles*
Me: What the—? *looks over shoulder to see Soul walking on small stilts*
*Liz blushes*
Soul: Black Star! Why am I doing this? This isn't cool! *balancing himself*
Black Star: You got to rehearse for the next Act! Lexa-oneechan said the next chapter you will be on stilts *laughs loudly*
Me: Oh dear…I failed again…
See you next chapter…