The Cure for the Nightmare
A/N: T_T I am a slow writer. Maybe, it's because I like to take time to do everything right the first time I do it. :p As impossible as that is. But, your reviews motivate me to move faster! And I've been getting what I consider to be a fair amount of reviews and a LOT of faves and story-alerting. ^^ So, I'll continue to update the stories all the way to the end. Thanks, everybody! Even those that fave and don't review are appreciated (though not as much :3), because it means that my stories are liked enough to keep track of.
In any case, I imagine that the previous chapter wasn't all that exciting/squee-inducing or manga-like, so this one will have a good dose of action combined with a very good dose of KidMaka and Jealous!Soul.
Oh! And someone gave me a nice review, but it was unsigned, so I'll just have to reply to it right here:
To "K.": Hehe. Thank you! Those stares are a lovely little thing that a lot of insanely observant KidMaka fans have combed the manga for. XD And yes, I have read chapter 63. ^^ It is true. That moment of protectiveness made me (and a lot of other KidMaka lovers) VERY happy. :D Totally agree with you on that last statement as well. But, who knows? Maybe, the mangaka will decide to follow through with these very subtle hints he's been dropping us…
^^ And don't worry, I will!
All right. That's the end of my author note. So, happy reading, everyone.
I hope you all enjoy this insanely long chapter! :)
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Chapter 4: Disaster, but with Possibilities
It wasn't long, as Death the Kid and Maka Albarn soared through the air towards their target, before the witch activated soul protect again. But, now somewhat revitalized, Maka was able to focus heavily on the soul that now appeared to be that of a human's. But, the technicians knew better. Kid tried his best to keep at least a light focus on the witch soul's general location so that he wouldn't have to ask Maka for directions, but also wanted to make sure they didn't fly into anything. Kid would be fine, of course. He knew that. But, Maka…Well, the shinigami didn't even want to imagine what might happen to her if they suddenly found themselves traveling at mach 2 straight through an office building.
Luckily, they never had to suffer through that. It wasn't long before Maka pointed down to a woman below.
"That's her…" She whispered. The witch had her back turned to them and so Maka didn't want to alert her to their presence. Kid and Maka's target had long, fiery, red hair with lots of curls. She was wearing a dark red tank-top as well as blue jeans and tennis shoes. Overall, she looked like your average early-twenties woman just walking on the sidewalk among a group of people.
Kid and Maka hovered in the air for a bit to examine her.
"Hmmm…"
"What is it, Kid?"
"You know, I wish I could see her face. But, I think I remember us crossing paths with her the first day we came here." Kid whispered.
"Me, too. On all accounts."
As if deciding to grant their wish, the woman below stopped walking and snapped her head around to stare directly at them. She may have been twenty or so meters away, but Maka was almost positive she saw a smirk on the lips of the witch.
"Damn!" Kid hissed. "She's been expecting us!" And, without a single hint of hesitation, the shinigami turned the skateboard around mid-air and shot off into the blue.
Maka continued to hold on tight, but was also looking at the witch behind them. She'd apparently leapt on to a roof.
If Maka had been able to read lips, she would have known that the women was chanting,
"Fox, Zifox…Vulpes, Vulpenenes…" while moving her hands in a rhythmic fashion in tune with her words. From her hands came what appeared at first to be nothing but small embers, but these quickly grew into countless flying beasts of bright orange flame that appeared very similar to foxes. And they were all giving chase after the two meisters.
It wasn't long before Kid sensed that they were being followed.
"Maka, what's going on?"
"That witch just cast a spell. She's sending foxes of fire after us!" Maka exclaimed as she realized what the witch had done. "And…and they're starting to catch up!" There was a tone of horror in her voice at this.
Kid realized that this was starting to go very badly. And, once again, he blamed himself. What was he thinking going after a witch for any reason without weapons? The shinigami made a promise to himself that, to make up for putting Maka in danger like this, he would ensure that nothing unspeakable happened to her as result.
But, the way the two technicians were standing on Beelzebub now, with one person on one end and the other on the opposite end…It was too awkward, not streamline enough. So, Kid spoke.
"Maka. I need you to shift your position so that you are standing with your feet spread out across the board. That way, we're both in the same position and your feet are between mine. Otherwise, I won't be able to maneuver as well as I need to right now. Can you do that?"
Maka digested Kid's instructions for a moment and couldn't help but feel a small hint of blush creep across her cheeks. Nevertheless, she nodded.
"Right."
"I'll help you." So, Kid and Maka adjusted themselves in a way so that both had their feet spread across the board with one of Kid's feet at each end and Maka's feet between them. Her back was against his chest and their cheeks were almost touching as both kids were facing the same direction.
Maka felt her face heat up and Kid would have felt the same, had he not been too busy zig-zagging between buildings and trying to get the flame foxes to lose his trail. Saying it was difficult would have been putting it lightly. The witch's magical familiars seemed to be honing in on them with an unnatural resilience and determination.
How could Kid tell? He felt the temperature increase in the air around him. It was horribly unsettling and Kid knew that they couldn't keep going like this for long. They would have to end this somehow, without weapons. And Kid knew exactly how to do it.
Have to find a large body of water… He thought frantically. Water was the only way to extinguish the flames of those creatures.
So, after picking up speed, Kid and Maka eventually reached the New York coastline.
"Kid, what are we going to do? They're still coming after us." Maka sighed. And indeed, though the flame foxes had fallen behind a bit because Kid was more skilled in maneuvering through tight spaces than they were, the sounds of crackling and hissing fire could still be heard about thirty meters in the distance.
Kid frowned, chewing his lip slightly. There was only one option. And it was still extremely dangerous. But, Hell's foxes were finally starting to gain on Kid and Maka, now only fifteen meters ahead. So, what did Kid do, now that they were both flying over the open water just a mile away from the beach?
Kid wrapped his arms tightly around Maka's center, tucked her head beneath his chin, and pulled his skateboard into a straight nose-dive towards the water below. They broke through and, while still underwater, began to swim in the direction they knew the shore was.
Later, when Maka accused Kid of being out of his "freaking mind", the shinigami explained everything this way:
He knew that the foxes were nothing but magic with the ability to hone in on a target and would probably try to follow Kid and Maka into the water, where the foxes would quickly be extinguished.
He didn't think that he and Maka could fall fast enough into the water unless they were propelled by Beelzebub. If the foxes got to them before the water did, Kid knew it would mean certain death for his friend.
Kid also knew that plunging so quickly into water would kill a human, but that all it would do to a shinigami would seriously bruise his skull. So, logically, if Kid hit the water first (which was why Maka's head was tucked under his) and Maka was immersed in it shortly afterwards, the girl would not smack directly against the water surface. Thus, both would be pretty much fine.
Kid really, really, didn't want Maka to die.
Of course, as the two technicians continued to swim as fast as humanly (and death godly) possible towards the shore, Kid knew that he had taken a lot of risks. Namely, Kid didn't know whether or not there were sharks, jellyfish, sea urchins, or barracudas in this area. Even worse, the foxes that plunged into the water would probably boil the surrounding area and Kid didn't know exactly how fast he and Maka could swim away…nor did he know how much of the water would be boiled.
But, despite everything Kid didn't know, he knew it was the only way. So, he had taken the chance. And now Kid and Maka finally reached shallow waters and were crawling on to the beach while coughing and trying to catch their breath. They were sopping wet, shivering, shaken up by the near-death experience, and tired enough to take the longest nap in history. But, the two technicians were alive. The innocent fish, which had been swimming in what now appeared to be a gigantic geyser of hot steam about ten meters away, were not so lucky.
"Kid…" Maka gasped out when they were both safe sitting on a flat rock. "Are you out of your freaking mind?!" She spit some water out immediately afterwards.
It took a minute for Kid to catch his breath enough to explain it all to Maka. By the end of it, she still told him she thought he was crazy. But, this time at least, she said it while laughing and smiling. Maka was really just happy to be alive. Realizing how wet they were, she and Kid took off their coats. Kid carried one under each arm so that he wouldn't feel asymmetrical. Maka chuckled at this, but was happy to let him do as he liked. The shinigami had earned it, despite how reckless he'd been in doing so.
"I think we have a problem, Kid…" Maka sighed, wringing out one of her pigtails. "My map is in my coat pocket and my coat is soaked."
"Well, that is troublesome…" Kid admitted, rubbing the bruise that was starting to form on the back of his head from smacking the water. "I guess we'll have to look for a hotel or library to get another map, find out where we are, and find out where Central Park is so that we can meet up with Soul and the Thompsons."
Maka nodded.
"Right." She smiled weakly. "But, do we really have to walk?"
"Ah. Of course, not." Kid called Beelzebub, the now very drenched skateboard, and both kids hopped on before shooting off to find a proper hotel or library. Death the Kid made sure to fly a little higher than usual so that they'd have a better view. To their delight, the air whooshing past the two technicians helped dry them off, if only somewhat.
It wasn't long before Maka pointed down to the city below.
"Found a hotel! Let's just hope that they have city maps for us..."
Kid nodded in agreement before landing down in an alleyway off to the side of the hotel.
After getting a map, the two exhausted technicians began to fly for Central Park.
-----
"Jeez. What's taking them so long?" Soul muttered, looking at his watch. "It's already 1:30…And I'm getting hungry. Haven't even eaten lunch, yet…"
"Dunno~!" Patty giggled as she leaned back while sitting on the bench along with Soul and Liz.
There was a long silence before Liz turned to Soul.
"I think you should apologize." She said. It sounded as if she'd been thinking this for a while.
"To who? Kid? Naaah…" Soul shook his head.
"No, you idiot! I mean Maka!" Liz groaned. "It's because of you that she's so tired."
"Hey! It's sort've Patty's and your fault, too!" Soul reminded while Patty grinned.
"Ack. Well, we can't really control that." Liz sighed. "But, would it kill you to stop playing your videogames so late at night? God…"
"Well…" Soul rubbed the back of his head (where Kid's calling card from last night's fight remained). "I guess I could apologize to her…"
"And stop playing videogames?" Liz prompted.
"…Well…"
"Aw, come on, Soul! Don't you want Maka to stop being angry at you?" Liz asked.
Soul thought for a moment, then sighed and nodded.
"All right. Fine. Whatever. I guess I won't play for so long…"
"Good enough." Liz nodded and smiled at Patty while she returned the gesture.
It wasn't long before a familiar skateboard landed in front of Soul and the Thompsons.
"HIIII~!!!" Patty hopped up from the bench to greet them.
"Hey, Ki-…Uhh…" Liz blinked at the now soaked Kid and Maka as they hopped off of Beelzebub. They both had their coats off.
"What happened to you?" Soul pretty much read the question from Liz's mind.
"We found the witch." Both Kid and Maka deadpanned.
"She sent foxes of fire after us." Maka added.
"The only way to get rid of them was to dive-bomb into the ocean." Kid sighed.
"Which is why we're wet." They both finished.
"Oh…" Liz murmured.
"Well, that explains it!" Patty laughed.
"Wait…You dive-bombed into the ocean with Maka?!" Soul's eyes were wide and he sounded like he was about to get angry.
"Ugh. I'm fine, Soul." Maka groaned. "Actually, Kid probably saved my life. I mean, if it hadn't been for his quick thinking…"
"No." Kid spoke. "I'm to blame for putting her in danger in the first place. When the witch released her soul protect, I was the one to suggest that we try to find her without weapons just to see what she looks like, so that she'd be easier to find in the future. But, she was expecting us and we were attacked. I did my best to protect her, but it was still my fault that she needed protection in the first place…I should never have held the mission priority over Maka."
"Kid…" Maka breathed, eyes wide. This guy was practically putting himself on the chopping block. Saying, to Soul's face, that he had (though unintentionally) put Maka's life at risk? Unthinkable.
As if responding, Kid turned to Maka and gave a nod.
"I apologize, Maka."
"It's…It's all right." Maka smiled weakly. "I really don't blame you, anyway. Now, we know what the witch looks like. And, with our weapons, we'll be ready."
Soul sighed, starting to cool down as he stood up from the bench.
"But, Maka…"
"I told you, I'm fine." Maka sighed before glancing over at Kid. "He made sure of that. Didn't you, Kid?" Her tone and expression told him she was thankful.
Kid nodded.
"I did my best." He said with a small smile before looking over at Liz and Patty, who'd been uncharacteristically quiet this whole time. "Something wrong, you two?"
"Oh! N-Nothing." Liz waved her hand dismissively. "Anyway, It's way past lunch time. Why don't we get a bite to eat?"
"Food! Heehee." Patty clearly agreed with Liz's suggestion.
"I'm all for that." Laughed Soul as he and the others began to walk.
Maka felt her stomach gurgle.
"That sounds good. Haha. It's difficult to notice how hungry you are when you're narrowly escaping a witch." She joked while Kid nodded weakly.
Soul did not laugh.
-----
Thanks to Liz's map, the five found a decent diner at which to stuff their faces.
Like Soul was doing.
"Jeez! Slow down, Soul, you're like a tornado!" Liz laughed. She held a hamburger a centimeter from her mouth and had a milkshake in her other hand ready for consumption.
"You suck everything up, but then stuff falls out from the sides~!" Patty chimed in, shoving a handful of fries into her mouth and promptly washing it all down with some root beer.
Soul swallowed a mouthful of chicken tenders.
"Hey! What'd you expect? If Kid and Maka hadn't come back so late, I would've eaten more than an hour ago!"
Kid chuckled, nibbling on a few fries. He was glad that everyone was all right and that the atmosphere had lightened up considerably since they'd all re-grouped. He was almost as glad that he and Maka were now completely dried off. Kid did not like to get wet, but it hadn't been so bad since he'd been completely drenched. Which meant neither side had been drier than the other. Just the way Kid liked it.
Maka couldn't help but giggle as she took a sip from her own vanilla milkshake. Soul was indeed, hungrier than she'd ever seen him. She felt a little bad for sleeping in late. But, then again, it hadn't really been her fault.
Kid and Soul found themselves thinking that Maka's giggle was adorable. They both eradicated the thought on the spot. Even still, the fleeting notion lingered a bit for Kid to muse about.
After everyone was finished eating and were starting to eat ice cream for dessert, Soul looked over at Maka.
"Hey, Maka…I…I wanted to apologize for not letting you sleep a couple nights ago." Maka looked up as he continued to speak. "You needed your rest. I didn't need to play videogames so late. Sorry."
Maka smiled.
"I forgive you, Soul."
"So, tonight, I won't play videogames after ten o'clock." Soul nodded, deciding to make an agreement. "And you'll be able to get some sleep. Does that sound good?"
"Uh, well, actually…" Maka rubbed the back of her neck. "Kid and I were planning on sharing a room tonight."
You could have heard a feather hit the tile floor in the diner at that moment.
"Um…But, now you don't have to, right?" Soul prompted. "I mean, we'll be able to share a room because I won't play my videogames so late and you'll be able to get some rest…Right?"
"Well…" Maka began.
Kid could tell where this was going. Despite knowing that he was a very good friend of Maka's, he knew that her bond with her weapon was stronger than hers would ever be with the young shinigami. The only reason Maka had been more pleased to spend time talking to Kid lately was because she had been angry at Soul. But, Maka forgives easily (except, apparently, in the case of her father's womanizing) when others apologize. So, Kid was positive that, when given the choice between him and Soul, Maka would choose Soul. This saddened Death the Kid, strangely enough. He really did want to get to know Maka a little more. Kid wanted to talk to her, laugh with her, be with her. The shinigami felt like Maka could understand him. Yet who did Maka spend most of her time with? Soul. Perhaps, in a way, Kid himself was jealous of Soul because of this. However, Kid had hoped that sharing a room with Maka would both give her the chance to get a good night's rest and give him the chance to build up a stronger friendship with the female scythe technician…And maybe, something more…
But, with Soul having apologized, it looked like such hopes were about to be lost. And that was why Kid had begun to gaze dejectedly off to the side. His eyes were misty and his mouth in its usual frown. Only Liz appeared to notice this, however. And if Patty did, she certainly didn't show it.
"I think I'd rather share a room with Kid tonight." Maka finished.
And, once again, it was one of those moments where the world seemed to pause for emphasis. Despite the other diner customers pleasantly chattering away in the background, the five at the table in the back of the room felt like the earth had stopped turning.
All it took was a word from the death god to get things going again,
"R…Really?" He had turned so quickly to look at Maka that his head had been a blur.
Maka nodded and smiled at him. Kid returned the latter gesture.
"What?!" Soul flung his spoon carelessly into his half-melted ice cream. "Why?"
"Well…" Maka remembered Professor Stein mentioning that Kid's was a negative, sensitive, soul. How would he feel, she wondered, if she just canceled her plans to share a room with him in favor of Soul? That wouldn't be right. Maka did care about Kid's feelings. He was a close friend of hers. And she just hated the idea of holding one friend priority over another. So, she decided to speak very carefully. "Because Kid and I have already made plans. You're too late, Soul. What? Do you expect me to just set Kid aside as soon as you become an option? No. I'm going to share a room with Kid tonight. And you can share a room with Liz and Patty." She glanced over at the Thompsons. "Would that be okay with you?"
Liz nodded slowly at Maka, looking a little surprised.
"Ye…Yeah." She blinked. "Sounds all right to me."
"Yaaaay~! Slumber party with Soul!" Patty laughed, leaning back in her seat.
Soul knew he was out-voted. So, he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Fine. Whatever…"
"Um, Maka," Liz tugged at her friend's shirt sleeve. "Would it be okay if Patty and I talked to you in private for a second?"
"But, my ice-cream's going to-WAH!" Before she could protest further, Liz and Patty stood up and dragged Maka off with them to talk at another table on the other side of the diner.
"All right. Be honest. Maka, what do you think of Kid?" Liz asked quietly, now all business.
Maka took a moment to collect herself, analyze the question, and think of an answer. What she wound up saying was,
"He's, umm…Well, he's Kid, you know?" She shifted nervously.
"Yes. Yes, we've established that." Liz nodded rapidly. "Now, answer the question!"
Patty was staring wide-eyed at Maka, looking interested herself.
"Well…I think he's really nice…" Maka began. "And smart. And a great ally. I like how he's a well-mannered gentleman most of the time…when symmetry doesn't get in the way, I mean. And he's very hard-working and extremely brave, if a little reckless sometimes. Then again," She chuckled. "I guess I'm sort've reckless, too. Kid's really mature for the most part…except when it comes to symmetry, of course. But anyway, he knows how to work and fight on a team, even with people he doesn't like. Also, he's got an incredibly strong will, is very handsome, a little wise, is quick to apologize, and umm…" She now found herself blushing profusely at her own words before chirping out a quiet, "…That's all."
Liz and Patty seemed to stare at her for a moment before a grin spread across the elder sister's face. Maka did not like that grin – The grin said, "Mission accomplished".
"All right." Liz chuckled. "Meeting is adjourned."
And, with that, the three walked back over to where Kid and Soul were staring at each other with uncomfortable silence. Although, in Soul's case, it was more of a glare. For Kid, it was almost passive amusement. Liz told them to cut it out and the group left.
Maka's ice cream had melted before she could finish it. So, Kid told her they'd get some at the grocery store. Soul was soon steaming, but Maka couldn't imagine why.
-----
The rest of the day went pretty much uneventfully. Kid noted that he didn't expect the witch to show up again. Though clearly powerful, it was also obvious that such a witch preferred to remain discreet in her killings. She wasn't much for making a scene. In fact, her main purpose in sending her magic after Kid and Maka had probably been to scare them off if it failed to kill them. She was probably too spooked right now to release her soul protect and kill again. Because, after all, Kid and Maka had been the first meisters to ever catch sight of the elusive witch. And, in her eyes, that was probably enough to make them a strong threat.
After getting a few things (like ice cream for Maka) at the grocery store and scouring the city for any trace of evidence hinting at where the witch could possibly live (for she had to have a place to keep so many human souls), they had no information. At around eight o'clock, the Shibusen students decided to head back to the hotel.
But, as the five teenagers stood outside of rooms 84 and 85, Maka frowned.
"What's wrong, Soul? I didn't think you'd be this upset…"
"Nothing!" Soul snapped, shooting a glare at Kid for good measure.
Maka sighed, deciding she'd maybe ask Kid about it later. Each group wished the other "goodnight", then Kid and Maka walked into room 84, while Soul and the Thompsons entered room 85.
-
At first, the atmosphere in Kid and Maka's room was very quiet. He was simply removing his jacket and shoes while she was doing the same. They each sat on their beds and then…They both realized that there was something terribly wrong. Mainly? Maka had carried her book with her. And, to appease his symmetry issues, Maka had elected to carry Kid's book as well before they left.
She had carried them in her coat pockets. Along with their map.
"Oh, no!" Both meisters gasped in horror as they simultaneously hopped out of their beds and sprinted to where Maka's coat now hung and reached in for their books. Indeed, what they soon held were masses of twisted and mangled paper with the ink in illegible smudges and splotches. The covers (both paper-back) were soggy, with the titles and authors almost as difficult to read as the text itself.
As if to make things worse, Maka's hand brushed against the cover of her book and half of the brittle paper got ripped off before falling hopelessly to the floor.
Maka's book cover. Was asymmetrical.
"Oh, Maka!" Kid exclaimed as if it were the end of the world, dropping his own book before sinking to his knees, burying his head in the crook of one arm and pounding the floor using the other. "I'm…I'm so sorry! I'll replace it, I swear! Oh, God, this is all my fault! I'm scum, a pig. I'm worthless, nothing, trash. Depression. Death…Let me die…I'm useless garbage – no, less than garbage…Scum. Die…die…die…Let me die…"
For a moment, Maka had just stared in shock. Of course, she knew that this happened every time something asymmetrical popped into Kid's life. Especially when he blamed himself for the destruction of symmetry. But, this time, Maka herself had to deal with it. And she wasn't entirely sure how.
So, deciding to model her technique after the Thompson sisters, Maka threw her ruined book to the side and dropped to her knees before beginning to pat Kid on the back.
"You're wrong, Kid! You're not trash or scum. You're really great! You saved my life, remember?"
"But, I only had to save your life because I put you in danger in the first place." Kid reminded without moving from his position on the floor, though he'd stopped pounding down with his fist. "So, it's my fault that we got wet and your book got messed up and it's not symmetrical, now. I should die."
"No, no, no, no!" Maka shook her head desperately, continuing to pat Kid on the back as she tried again. "I want you to live! You were just doing what was best for the mission, after all!"
"I should never have held the mission priority over you. Because I did, your book is ruined. I'm scum. I should…"
"DAMNIT, KID!" Maka finally snapped as she shifted over so that she was kneeling directly in front of Kid. "I don't care about that! I told you, I forgive you. It's fine. I hardly blame you! You said you'd get me a new book, right? So, everything's fine! You shouldn't die. I think you're a great guy! I really like you!"
There was long pause.
Slowly, Kid looked up at Maka with a tear-soaked face while pointing at her book.
"H-…How could you like me, now? I've ruined the symmetry…I'm a worthless good-for-nothing." He absolutely sounded like he believed his own words.
"You're my friend, Kid! A really close friend…" Maka sighed, getting the feeling that she was trying to do more than just cheer him up. "And…you matter more to me than symmetry or perfection or any of that crap!"
Now what Maka didn't understand was that, in Kid's mind, it wasn't just he that cared about symmetry. Everyone did, in his own world. This was why he was constantly afraid that, if everything wasn't in perfect, symmetrical, neat and tidy shape, others would hate, resent, and abandon him. You see, he viewed himself as the future guardian of the world. And, if the future guardian of the world couldn't keep the natural symmetry intact, how could he possibly protect the world order when the time came for him to take his father's place? That was Kid's subconscious logic.
So, when Maka told him that she cared about Kid more than symmetry, well…To him, that was either the most wonderful compliment or the biggest blasphemy he'd ever heard. But, since this was Maka, Kid took it as the former.
There were perhaps 3.4 seconds of shock before Kid tackled Maka to the floor with a bone-crushing, death grip of a hug.
"Maka, do you really mean it?!" He sounded happier than ever. "You care about me more than symmetry? Do I really deserve it?! Oh, Maka, you're too kind! Way too kind! It's incredible! I've never heard of anything like it!"
"Um…Kid…" Maka gasped out. The shinigami was definitely stronger than he looked and it was starting to have its effect on her rib cage.
Realizing this, Kid quickly loosened his grip and smiled hugely at Maka, his cheeks slightly pink and his eyes glimmering. It was the way, Maka realized, that Death the Kid usually looked at something perfectly symmetrical. And, for Maka Albarn, it was extremely endearing to behold.
"Kid…Yeah. I mean it." Maka laughed after she finally caught her breath. She smiled back at her friend. "Of course, you're more important to me that symmetry."
Really, she thought that it went without saying. But, she supposed Kid liked symmetry a lot, so it was a shocker for him to hear this. Another shocker was when someone knocked on the door at that moment.
The result: Maka realized the position they were in – he on top of her with his arms around her in a hug, their faces a couple inches apart. A heavy red shade of blush covered everything from the neck and up for Maka. The pink already on the shinigami's cheeks started to spread a bit. Kid scrambled away from his friend and they both stood up, trying to regain their composure as they walked over to answer the door.
"Who is it?" Maka called out.
"It's me." Soul's voice came from outside the room.
Maka and Kid blinked at each other before the shinigami opened the door to see Soul standing outside and raising an eye brow at his friends' appearances.
"Something wrong, Soul?" Maka asked tensely, trying unsuccessfully to hide the blush…which was basically impossible.
"I…was just…coming to check on…" Soul trailed off before tilting his head to the side. "What have you two been-?"
"We don't need a babysitter!" Maka cut him off sharply before reaching over and slamming the door shut.
All was quiet in the room for a few seconds. And then Death the Kid began to chuckle. These chuckles quickly formed into a loud, blissful fit of laughter. It was catchy and surprising, so Maka soon found herself guffawing right alongside him. Neither one was quite sure why the other was laughing. Maybe, it was because Maka's rebuke of Soul had been so out-of-the-blue? It could have been that their earlier positions finally had sunk in and they were both finding it all to be very silly. Or maybe they were both just so happy to be in each others' presence, alone with a chance to really get to know each other. After all, Kid pointed out as they sat on the same bed, there really wasn't anything else to do. With their books destroyed and neither T.V nor videogames of much interest to either one of the teens, they got to talking and eating the ice cream that Kid had bought at the grocery store.
Almost right away, Maka could tell that this was going to be a very lovely night.
-
Soul did not share their feelings. He had remained standing in front of Kid and Maka's door for a moment and had heard the eruption of laughter from the other side. Grumbling, the scythe made his way back to the room with Liz and Patty.
"So, was everything all right?" asked Liz when Soul came in. "I could have sworn I heard what sounded like one of Kid's symmetry meltdowns…"
"They're fine!" Soul hissed in response.
Liz and Patty blinked at each other before looking over at Soul.
"Did Soul get Maka-chopped?" Patty giggled. She was promptly ignored.
"So, what happened?" Liz asked. She was painting her toenails as she spoke. "You seem pissed…"
"The door opened and they were blushing. I have no idea why. And then Maka slammed the door shut! I even heard laughing afterwards." Soul scowled. "But, if Kid's doing anything, I swear, I'm going to…"
"Heehee, Soul is jealous~! Soul is jealous~!" Patty teased in a sing-song voice.
"I am not jealous of Kid!" Soul flopped on the bed that Liz was sitting on. "I just don't like that he's alone with Maka."
"Uh, yeah." Liz laughed. "Which sort've means you wish you were alone with Maka. Even if you did sort've screw up that chance the first night here…"
Soul sat up.
"No, it-"
"Whatever!" Liz groaned. "Anyway, don't worry about it. Kid's a dignified gentleman, for the most part. And he's definitely not a pervert. He wouldn't even think about doing anything like that what you're afraid of with Maka. And she wouldn't think of it either, as we both know."
Soul was silent as he switched off the television and began to play videogames.
"Hey!" Patty protested from her bed with a pout. "I was watching that." Looney Toons. It was Patty's second favorite show.
Soul was in a bad mood.
"Tough luck. It's my turn to use the T.V." He insisted as he pressed buttons and flicked joysticks on his controller. Patty fumed as she glared at Soul with evil thoughts in her mind.
Liz rubbed her forehead, deciding to settle down and continue her toenail art while sitting on the same bed as Soul. She could tell that this was going to be a long night…
It happened so fast. Hardly anyone knew what hit them. Patty basically attacked Soul in an animalistic rage and caused the controller to go flying through the air, barely being dodged by Liz, before it smash directly into the lamp on the nightstand.
"DAMNIT! You idiots! Something else Kid's going to have to pay for…And that was the light I was using to paint my toenails by!"
"Hey! Wasn't my fault." Soul muttered, reaching over to retrieve the controller.
Patty started laughing as she hopped over and snatched said controller from Soul's reach before running around the area as Soul tried to steal it back from her. The cord twisted around the two of them until a loud, "OOF!" was heard along with a thump as the two lost their balance and fell to the floor in a tangled mess.
"Heh. Serves you two right…" Liz muttered, now trying to paint her toenails by the light of Soul's neglected videogame…
She wondered how Kid and Maka were doing. Judging by the answers Liz had gotten from the scythe meister a little earlier, she could imagine the two were getting along just swimmingly…
-
Kid and Maka had discussed plans for the mission while eating ice cream, but now that the sugary treat was gone, they felt the need to chat about something else.
Despite their books being ruined, Kid decided that said reading material would be a good subject to talk about.
"So, you're reading 'Great Expectations'?" Kid smiled as Maka gave him a surprised look. "I noticed the book on your nightstand when I was waiting for you to wake up this morning. That's all. How do you like it so far?"
Maka beamed at her friend as she lay on her back.
"It started off slowly, but it's getting really good. So many twists and surprises! I'm almost finished, just twenty pages or so left. Have you read it?"
Kid nodded.
"It had a lot of useful lessons in it. Like how being a good person and remaining loyal to those you care about is more important than social class or how wealthy you are."
Maka started to bob her head rapidly with Kid's words.
"Exactly! I've noticed that so far. And I really sympathize with Estella. She's really just been raised in such a horribly close-minded way…"
"To break men's hearts!" Kid finished for her, falling backwards to lay beside Maka. "I remember that. I felt sorry for Pip, though. He really seemed to love her…"
"I know. It's so sad. I like Pip! He seems like a very good person, despite some of his actions…" Maka sighed.
"Right. Just a little…idealistic." Kid seemed to pause for thought at this, staring off into space as his friend looked at him.
At first, Maka just blinked. Then, she laughed.
"Hey! I do that, too."
"Hm?" Kid snapped out of his trance to look at her. "Do what?"
"Make connections with the characters I read about." Maka answered with a smile. "Like you just did. You realized that you see the world in an idealistic way, too, right? Like how Pip, at the beginning, sees the upper class people as having perfect and happy lives while seeing the lower class people as all have horrible, sad lives. You think everything on earth should be in perfect order, even though it can't be that way."
Kid stared at Maka with shock for a moment before his gaze became downcast.
"I…" He frowned. "I guess you're right…" He sounded like there was something very sad about this. When it was said out loud, it was even more haunting than when he'd simply thought about it.
But, then Maka's eyes widened and she immediately regretted her words.
"Uh…Oh! But, you and Pip also have some really good things in common." And so she began a desperate attempt to bring Kid's spirits back up. "You're both really determined about improving yourselves. You're kind and considerate, as long as your r-respective idealisms don't get in the way, and…And, Kid! You've got a lot that Pip doesn't have! I mean, you're mature, wise in your own way, genuine, respectful, a real gentleman, and…"
Kid held up a hand to signal for her to be stop.
"Why don't we talk about something else?" He was smiling slightly, even though he seemed to be not entirely there. As if he were still in deep thought about what Maka had said, despite wanting to change the subject.
Having begun to feel uncomfortable with what she'd been saying though, Maka was only too happy to comply.
"So…How's soul collection been going? How close are you to having Liz and Patty become death scythes?"
Kid sighed.
"We still need another ninety-nine kishin eggs as well as two witch souls."
"Oh! That's right. You have double the quota of the rest of us, don't you?" Maka recalled.
Kid nodded.
"It's not too bad, though. After all, the reason I began to work on creating my own weapons, even though I don't have to, was because I wanted to earn it myself. I just felt that I had to become my very best, to meet Honorable Father's expectations. And, besides, the more effort I use, the more I feel like I deserve the results…"
Maka stared intently at Kid as she listened. Well, it was definitely true – Kid was very hard-working. As hard-working as Maka herself was. Then again, she had never really doubted that. It was just nice to have it confirmed by Kid's own words. And wait a minute, hadn't Kid just mentioned meeting his father's expectations? Great expectations…
"Ah, Maka?"
"Wh-What?" She stuttered out as she was tossed kicking and screaming back into reality by Kid speaking her name. Maka blushed when she realized that she'd still been gazing at her friend a short time after he'd finished speaking. However, Kid took the pink in her cheeks for embarrassment. "Uh, sorry. I think I spaced out a bit there…"
"Ah. That's all right." Kid nodded with a chuckle before sitting up on the bed. "Maybe you should get some rest, though, don't you think?"
"But, I'm not that tired…" Maka mumbled as she shifted nervously.
Kid tilted his head to the side.
"But…You're still not completely caught up on-"
"I want to get to know you a little more!" Maka blurted out impulsively. She knew that this might have seemed ludicrous. After all, both she and Kid lived in the same city, went to the same school…Heck, they even had the same classes together. And yet they almost never seemed to be able to talk to each other…Not so deeply, at least. The part of her that had blurted out was truly afraid that, if she didn't get to know Kid now, while she had the chance, they might never find time alone like this again.
Maybe, it was silly. But, that part of Maka didn't care whether it was silly or not.
For a moment, Kid actually looked stunned by how sudden Maka's outburst had been. But, then Kid's eyes seemed to light up and Maka saw him form the most beautifully genuine smile to ever grace his already attractive face.
"Then why don't we share a room again, tomorrow night? By then, you'll have gotten more sleep and we'll be able to talk longer…"
Maka's eyes became wide as possible.
"But, what about…"
"Soul?" Kid chuckled. "Don't worry about him. He's out-voted, after all…Right?" He gave her a meaningful look, one that held just a touch of something Maka couldn't quite decipher. But, it made her feel warm inside. So, she tossed on a smile to almost match the one that Kid was still wearing.
"Right!"
And with that, Kid carelessly flung himself on to the other bed, making Maka giggle. He smiled in response before sliding under the covers and grasping the lamp switch.
"Good night, Maka."
"G'night, Kid…" Maka yawned out as she crawled under her own covers, just now starting to feel the exhaustion come on. Today had been absolutely wild. In more ways than one.
After turning out the lights, Kid stared up at the ceiling and frowned slightly. He had no book and Maka needed her sleep. So, what would he do, now? Think, maybe? Yes, that would have to do. How could Maka just see one hint like that and be able to understand what he was thinking? Kid just emphasized one word, "idealistic" in a sentence, after all. And he himself wouldn't have even emphasized it, had people not told him repeatedly that "idealistic" was what his ideas were. But, Maka didn't seem to scold him for it. She just sounded like she was trying to understand it. Though at first, it had made him feel rather hopeless in his pursuit for complete world order, it now made him feel a little glad that Maka didn't seem to mind his apparently unrealistic world view. Kid definitely hoped to talk to her a little more. Yes, Soul would probably be upset the next day. But, he would just have to deal with it, Kid told himself. This was Maka's decision, after all. And besides, Soul would have plenty of time to hang out with her after the mission was over, to Kid's dismay. To be honest, it didn't really seem to Kid like Soul treated Maka very well. Yes, Soul did do his best to protect her, but that was what partners were supposed to do for each other. Kid knew he would treat her with respect, understanding, genuine kindness, openness, and lo…
Wait. What was I just about to think? Kid shook his head, deciding to drop the subject. It was making his emotions do somersaults.
Almost unconsciously, Kid glanced over at Maka, who was sleeping soundly. Good, he thought. She deserved it. For trying to get to know him and, earlier, for giving him the best compliment he'd ever heard.
After two more hours of contemplation, Kid finally decided to let himself fall fast asleep to dream about symmetry, "Great Expectations", the day's dealings with the fire witch, and even (this time) Maka Albarn.
-----
Soul had been delighted to find that he could play his videogames without any complaints after Liz and Patty finally went to sleep. Neither the videogame noises nor the light of the television screen seemed to disturb them at all. He wondered why.
When he finally decided to try and get some sleep at around four o'clock in the morning, his question was answered.
"Aggh…" Soul groaned as he flipped over on his stomach with the pillow over his head. "Damnit…How can that shinigami sleep through this!?!"
The Thompsons were probably able to sleep through any noise because they themselves were noisier than anything else on earth. The only reason Soul didn't hear them earlier was because his videogame music had been blocking it out.
Liz constantly muttered and gasped seemingly random words in her sleep. She was apparently having nightmares. And, when that wasn't going on, Patty's snores seemed to turn the room into an isolated earthquake. It was unbearable. Soul swore to whatever gods that existed: He would never keep Maka awake for any reason, in any way, ever again.
Not even for the sake of being cool.
-----
A/N: WOW…That was the longest chapter of any story I've ever written. XD
In any case, I hope you all enjoyed it! As you can see, I tried to pack a lot of plot/action/character development/relationship development into it. :D Which was WHY it was so long. Okay. Thank you all for reading! I hope to update very soon.