The next couple of days, the trio was on edge for any signs of Ruby. They expected her to just appear over the horizon at any moment but instead they all found themselves acting tense for no reason. She never appeared, even as two weeks passed. Could Medusa have lied to her own children just to keep them preoccupied with worrying?
That does seem like something she'd do…
Of course, had they known what their mother had been planning the whole time, that was the truth. She knew Yuki, Len and Ren were slipping from her grasp and found it a bit hard to keep them under check. That's why she made a distraction to keep them occupied while she did what she needed to do.
Medusa laughed mentally at the thought that her children peering out over the horizon with worried expression as they waited for Ruby. She'd never come. Medusa hadn't talked to her in ages and they barely kept in touch. Of course they were still allies but times change and they weren't quite as close as they used to be.
It had been an empty threat that she had made to her children. But they didn't know that…
oOo
Yuki sat on a bench in an empty little basketball court and stared off into the distance as she wondered what she was going to do. Half of her didn't believe a word her mother said. In the years she had lived with Medusa, she didn't once—in the last four years—remember her mother contacting Ruby in any way. So why would she start now? It didn't make sense, she just didn't believe it.
Medusa lied to them.
Yuki sighed as she looked down at her feet from where she was sitting, wondering what her Medusa had really been planning then if this had all been a sham. It was frustrating to know that their mother did things like this to them. True, she didn't expect her to tell them everything—she didn't trust them completely, or at all for all Yuki knew—but Medusa never lied to them like this before. At least to Yuki she never lied, to the others… she didn't know.
A shadow overcastted the black haired girl and she looked up with her pure white eyes and saw Soul standing over her. She gave a faint smile but he saw through the ruse and asked her if she was okay. Just as she was about to answer, Maka and the rest of the gang showed up behind Soul and Black Star was yelling something about Maka eating dirt. Yuki didn't really get it because she hadn't heard the whole conversation but she giggled at it nonetheless. Soul then gave her a smirk and asked if she wanted to play? The thought of losing as miserably as she had last time was sort of… not really an idea Yuki liked to think on—or want to repeat—so she said she'd pass and just watch this time.
Maybe she'd learn from watching?
What a hopeful thought that had been back when she had thought it. The whole time the game went on she was so confused. She understood the basics of Basketball, knew what everything was, but as far as the strategies that were going on, she didn't have a clue how to keep up. Especially when Black Star had broken the hoop dunking the ball after jumping from the ground, off Soul's back, and then slamming the ball into it. She didn't even know how he managed that.
Yuki sighed, it was a passing hope. She guessed that she'd only learn if she got in and tried. Though that thought didn't exactly sit well with her. Though, even with Black Star's cocky attitude, she hadn't expected him to tell her that she had done well last time. She even laughed when Soul had thrown in that she was better than Maka. Or course that just got him a book to the head as Maka had hit him.
"Yahoo! I won again, in your face Maka!" Black Star shouted as he held a proud look and started to laugh. That too, though, just got him his own book to the face as Maka threw the one she was reading at him. It flew straight into his nose and he fell backwards as his nose started to bleed.
"Was that really necessary, Maka?" Liz asked as she looked worriedly at the Star.
"I didn't kill him, he'll be fine." Maka said nonchalantly as she picked up her book and sat by Yuki on the bench. After that, she paid Black star no attention as Tsubaki ran to his side to see if he was okay the moment he fell. Of course he was, but that didn't mean he wasn't in pain.
"Black Star!" Tsubaki shouted as she held a worried face.
"T-Tsubaki… is that you…?" Black Star asked in a groggy voice.
"I'm right here Black star!"
"I… I think Maka's upset because… she can't be as great as I am." Yuki then cupped her mouth to smother her laugh but it still came out in little giggles. That of which Soul smirked at and looked at Yuki from the corner of his eye as he was now standing to the side of the bench.
"Oh shut up Black Star!" Maka shouted after he made that snide comment which she found offensive. She only received a groan in return as the Star mumbled something to Tsubaki that no one could hear.
oOo
Len and Ren had been gone the whole day, that was why Yuki had been all alone by the basketball court for the day—well, that is until Soul and everyone showed up for a couple games. They were off having the day to themselves, sometimes it was just good to have some free time to their selves every now and then. Yuki could always tell them about Medusa's lie later tonight when they were all at home.
Right now Yuki was still by the basketball court, only she was sitting in the middle of it now, looking up at the ever darkening sky. She didn't even notice that someone was approaching her until they sat next to her and she looked over to see Soul.
"You spend a lot of time alone, don't you?" He asked as he stretched out a leg in front of him and left the other bent as he rested his arm on his knee.
"I spent the whole day with all of you didn't I?" Yuki answered "I wouldn't call that being alone."
"I was talking about right now." Soul said.
"Well, it's like a moment of peace." Yuki replied "A way for me to forget all my troubles and just smile because I want to." She then shot Soul a small smile as she looked over at him. He returned the expression and then the silence stretched between them. The night slowly carried on and soon Yuki found herself feeling sleepy. She didn't know how long they had sat there together, watching as the stars came out one by one, but eventually she started slipping and—leaning against Soul's shoulder—she fell asleep. Soul just smiled and shook his head at her as he got up—careful not to wake her—picked her up bridal style and then carried her come where Len took her from him and put her to bed after a quick explanation of why she had been out so late.
Then Soul said his good-byes and left to go home, already feeling that Maka would be upset at how late he was at getting home.
