I hate it when some things just slip your mind. My time with Arachne had been spent in blood, sweat, and hard work, and I had completely forgotten all about the serpent-like woman standing before me.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Medusa smiled a cobra smile. "I got tied up in some things. Gotta make a living, you know." Her tone was light, teasing. She sounded happy- it made me even more aware than ever. "Have you come to a decision, Soul?"
"I forgot." The words were out of my mouth before I could think about it. I looked at her reaction- she didn't seem to care much. Huh. Was it me or was I taller than her now? I felt stronger, faster; I briefly wondered whether I would be able to take her on or not.
"Make up your mind right now, then."
"What if I don't want to?"
"Elaborate."
"What if I don't want to go with you?"
She took a step, blurred into a motion I could not have possibly seen a month ago, but was completely aware of now. I side stepped, only as much as necessary to avoid her hit. I barely moved three inches. I saw her amber eyes narrow like a snake intent on her prey; amber flecks glowed furiously.
When she started, it was like a dance.
She moved fluidly, I noted. Not quite as nimble as Arachne, but with the speed and strike of a cobra. Whenever I saw her muscles tighten or fist or foot twitch, I moved only as needed to avoid it. A fist swerved at me- I ducked- and another finally met its mark on my gut.
"Not bad," She murmured, stepping back. I stumbled up, panting. Neither of us had broken a sweat. Neither of us intended to. "You could still use some work, though."
The words reminded me of what Arachne had said. I growled faintly at Medusa.
"At the state I'm currently in, you would be on par with me. But if I were to utilize it..." She smiled venomously.
"Shut up," I snarled. "You don't know exactly how dangerous doing that is!"
"Of course I do. I'm an assassin. I kill; it's my job."
"Monster," I hissed, stepping forward. "You would want that?"
"Why wouldn't I? The power that comes with the correct use of the-"
My fist was on her face before she could finish her sentence.
"Screw you," I spat, walking away. "I'm different from you."
"He's gotten stronger."
I froze.
"I saw him not too long ago. He's improved. Noah is pleased with his rate." She didn't sound relieved that I stopped, not at all. Medusa's voice was fluid, languid. She had control and she knew it; even more, she had anticipated it. "Even if you can advance in your stupid little gang, you will never be able to match him in the state you're in."
It was enough to make me pause, back still facing her.
"I can... I can do what I need to without your help." I turned to see her, but she was already gone. I blinked.
The sound of an engine roaring towards me in the near distance finally registered to my shaken state. I swung to see it.
It was Death Scythe and Mifune.
The sleek red car stopped only two feet away from me- I didn't even flinch.
"Soul!" The familiar voice reached my ears, spreading relief through my body. Maka had made it out safely, after all. Relief was quickly replaced with anger.
"Why are you here?" I growled. "This place is dangerous!"
Maka ran up to me, pigtails swinging, with a pout on her face. Angela followed suit- I couldn't help but grin, just a little. They looked like sisters.
"You didn't expect me to just forget about you, did you?"
"Actually, yeah."
"What happened, Soul?" Mifune walked up besides Maka, Death Scythe following. "You..." He glanced at Death Scythe, and back at me. "...ah. Are you all right?" His eyes searched mine. We'll talk later.
"I'm fine." No problem.
"Now that we've confirmed that he's safe," Death Scythe said gruffly. "I'll have to ask you a few questions on the way back." His eyes said something different; I've still got my eye on you.
Whatever, old man.
Nothing serious happened in the car. Death Scythe (no way I was calling him Spirit) asked me about what had happened and why I was where I was. I lied through my teeth on every single question, and neither Mifune nor Maka bat an eye. Even little Angela, who (I have to admit) grew on me quickly, acted as if she had forgotten about everything (or maybe she really had).
We pulled up to their house, and stepped inside. Death Scythe, Mifune, and Angela all excused themselves to eat.
That left me and Maka alone.
The said girl dragged me to a large library and sat down on a chair. Then she eyed me, willing me to sit down.
I did. She grinned.
"What happened after I left?"
"Nothing much," I said nonchalantly. "Mifune managed to get away, but I didn't. I only managed to escape now." It was the truth, just filtered. A lot.
"You never tell me anything!" Maka whined, green eyes stubborn yet curious. "Is it so hard to believe that I'm just worried about you?"
"Yes."
Several books collided with my head. (Having Maka in a library is like having a caffeinated soldier surrounded by nuclear weapons.) "OW!"
"You deserved it," She said, crossing her arms, another book in her hands. I did the smart thing.
"Yes, I did. Whatever you-ow!" I glared at her. "Why'd you throw that at me?"
Suddenly, I noticed the tears that threatened to come out, glinting at the edge of her eyes. I stared dumbly.
"I was worried," she whispered throatily, rage clear in her voice. I stared, not sure what to do or how to react. "Why did you pull that kind of act, just disappearing?"
"It's... it's not like I had a choice," I said awkwardly. "I'm just glad you got away safely."
"NO!" She stood up suddenly, voice rising threateningly. "We were... were supposed to escape together. Aren't we friends, Soul? Why do you insist on protecting me? We're supposed to be equals!" Maka was almost shouting now. It was hard for me to look at her in the eye.
"Yeah," I finally said. It wasn't like I could deny it. "We are friends."
It was true; I couldn't keep denying it. Maka was like a part of me, whether I wanted it or not. I knew it had been stupid to even talk to her from the moment we met, but it was like... like I'd been drawn to her anyway. Maka was my friend. Black Star was my friend. Kid was my friend. I'd run away to avoid attachment and had done so anyway. There was no backing out now. But I had to salvage something- I couldn't let them get hurt because of me.
"Then why?" Maka was whispering again. "Don't treat me like a worthless... little girl."
"I'm not." I looked straight at her. "I'm doing this because I fucking care, and whether you like it or not, I'm going to risk my life for you until the day I die."
Something told me that somehow, that promise went deeper than I thought it did. Maka was a strong person, but she seemed to hate it when people close to her got hurt.
Like I did. Only I could still do something about it.
"That's why you shouldn't get involved with me," I was struggling not to shout or whisper; my emotions were so conflicted my voice could go either way. "You know the surface of my life, but the roots go way deeper. I'm not going to get you killed because of me. I'm not... I'm not going to let you get hurt because I was too weak." The air was thick was tension- it was hard to breathe. I didn't dare look at her eyes.
And then Maka did the strangest thing.
She giggled.
"What the hell?" I exploded. I couldn't help it- it was almost like... confessing and being laughed at. Maka leaned on the table, face flushed with tears at the edged of her eyes. Yet, the sound of her laughter... actually eased the tension. She let out one last, amused sigh.
"S-sorry." She smiled sheepishly. "I got... carried away. I thought you... considered me weak." Maka blushed a little here, and it made me smirk.
"You? Weak? No."
She threw a book at me half-heartedly, on the verge of laughter once again, and I had no choice but to laugh with her, unable to comprehend her mood swings and the warmth shooting through me-
...Happiness.
In the middle of one of her chuckles, I doubled over in pain, clutching my head.
"Soul?" I heard Maka's worried voice dimly, through the memories rushing into my head.
Sun so bright it hurt my eyes. A colorful garden. Laughter.
Blood. Screams. Scarlet burning on my hands, drying under the heat.
White hair, red eyes, staring back at me. Smiling through jagged teeth.
"Ah," I moaned, falling to my knees. Maka was there, holding me up.
"What the hell just happened?" She demanded, feeling my forehead, checking my pulse. I almost laughed- had she really been worried about being the weak one? My mood diminished almost instantly. I couldn't afford to get close to her! Stupid, stupid...
......no. No more.
I refused to just sit back and let her die… very dimly, the thought of Ox sprang to mind. It was like being spat in the face- I was reminded once more of how I was too chicken, too weak to bring both him and his friend out of that hell, how they were forced to stay there and serve that witch. If it had been Maka and not that girl (Kim, was it?), what would I have done?
The answer was clear in my mind.
So, when Death Scythe, Mifune, and Angela walked in and saw Maka and me kneeling on the ground, I looked directly at her eyes with my own pleading ones.
"Nothing. I'm perfectly fine." Trust me this time.
Trust me, even if I didn't deserve it.
I would never, never let this girl die. Because she was something different, something that (for reasons unknown) actually meant something to me, and even if I died kicking and screaming and tortured, I would make sure that she never would. I would fight against myself for her.
Maka looked at me.
"Okay." Just this once.
I left just ten minutes later, headed straight for the hideout of the Shinigami. My chest felt light and airy, like a huge weight had been lifted off of me. Whether it was because of my new resolve or because of the fact that I was both taller and stronger, it was an amazing high.
I was going to challenge Kid again.
The chances of me winning were slim (especially if you count the last... thirteen attempts. Oh, fine... twenty. Shut up!). But I was going to try anyway. My recent encounter with Medusa had left me edgy, even after Maka. I wasn't charismatic, smart, or handsome (well, maybe a little). I had been born to fight, and that's exactly what I wanted to do right now.
I felt ready.
So when I arrived at the place, I was astonished to see that it had been burned to cinders.
Medusa slipped into her realm slowly, fading and melting with the shadows. Her recent job had left her drained, showing especially after the encounter with the boy, but she would recover. She had to.
Her brow furrowed as she considered her next step. Chrona still had to yet to perfect the newest attempt, and she had no idea on Noah's current status. That left her priority.
The Book of Eibon.
It was a race for a book, which, as an assassin, she highly detested because it was best taken through coveting rather than murder, which she thoroughly enjoyed. On the other hand, she would keep all prowess in mind. She'd hadn't a clue who had it at the moment- her resources had lacked a little in that area, but no matter.
She still needed to figure out the key to decode it.
"Oh, Eibon," Medusa murmured. "Your love of books almost matches my niece's."
"What the hell happened here?" The place was badly charred. All and any furniture was brutally ripped to pieces; the walls were torn.
"Where have you been?" I jumped slightly at the sound, and turned to face Kazu (who, I wasn't happy to admit, was still a good few inches taller).
"None of your business. But this is. What happened?"
"We were attacked by some other group," He growled. "Coulda used your help, too."
"But how did they find out where we were?" The place was well hidden. Of all the places we'd moved to, we'd stayed here the longest.
"Some say a traitor," Kazu said meaningfully. "Got anything to say?"
"Yeah," I glared back. "I need to see Kid."
"He's gone, doing important business."
"Show me to the new place." I didn't bother asking- questions never worked with Kazu.
"How do I know you're not the traitor?" He asked, like I was too stupid to figure out what he had implied earlier.
"Are you fucking me?" I exploded. "I've been here for at least twice as long as you have, and you're accusing me?"
"Who's the one who was gone for an entire month?" Kazu retorted. "Don't get cocky, kid."
"Don't get suspicious just because a kid who could kick your ass any day has 'business', too," I scowled. "It's not like I have no life, unlike you."
He glowered at me. "You wanna try me?"
"Bring it on, asshole."
"STOP IT THIS INSTANT!"
We both froze, for two reasons.
One, the voice was one we both knew well.
Second, it was when that person was having a 'hissy fit' of sorts. Oh, crud.
"Kid," I muttered, lowering my voice and pulling back from Kazu. "How's it going?"
"Back already?" Kazu asked, averting his eyes.
As I (partially) suspected, Kid was practically in tears at the state of our surroundings. He fixed things as he went along towards us, forcing himself away from things that would take too long; in short, he was pretty much sobbing.
"Do not..." His voice trembled. "I repeat, do not test me!! If you so much as make this place move one place more, ONE INCH MORE! I WILL KILL YOU!"
Kazu and I stood still, shutting up. We didn't doubt it. Liz and Patty sauntered in, the former looking around in disgust. Patty just ran around giggling.
"Why are you guys all here?" I asked tersely, after Kid had finished doing his make-do adjustments. He sniffed once.
"We're staying here. Only the main room was destroyed, and Father doesn't want to spend money on a new place."
"Kid, let me take the test again." I cut straight to the chase.
"Give me... one more hour," His eyes were pleading as he glanced frantically around the place. But of course, I knew Kid better, and I wanted an even fight- no weapons, nothing. Just our bare fists.
Carefully, very deliberately, I knocked over a can. Liquid spilled over the floor.
"OH MY GOD!!"
Yup, a fair fight.
Or not.
Kid blasted me straight out the entrance (not the wall, obviously. Would Kid do that?) and onto the ground. I stood up just in time to receive several blows, pummeling me like a speed boxer. I swerved drunkenly and managed to dodge three hits, throwing him off guard for a split second. I used the momentum of my fall to rebound off the ground and push off, delivering a square kick to his torso. When he staggered back, I could see slight shock flash on his face
It was the first time I'd managed a real blow on him.
Drunk on the high of victory (of a sorts, anyway. Imagine this; getting into a fight with the top-dog bully of the school and actually winning. Well, kinda- I was more of a bully than poor OCD Kid), I rushed forward at him with speed that I didn't know I had, and delivered a harsh blow to his jaw, sending him back even further. But just like any experienced fighter, Kid recovered quickly and blurred into high speed motion, moving in an odd, twisted stance. I'd seen it before; he used it in serious fights. I couldn't help but feel a little triumphant that I had improved so much in a month.
Which, of course, like all things, didn't last long. I couldn't react fast enough when he blurred back into view, and received a kick that should have broken my neck but didn't. As an award, I got a mouthful of gravel.
Just as I was getting back up, Kid did the strangest thing.
He looked down at his watch, snapped out of his OCD state, and left.
Which left me standing there, surprised, confused, and what the freakin' hell?! Kazu laughed mercilessly, obviously extremely amused at the turn of events.
"You just got your ass kicked, kid," he smirked, sauntering up to me. I tried to smack him good across the face, failed, and let out a growl (actually, honestly, it was something akin to a girl's squeal of frustration, but you don't need to know that).
"Not cool."
Why the hell had he bailed on me? The idea that he had something better to do than spar with me left me admittedly sore, and I didn't like it one bit.
I left Kazu, fuming and debating what I should do.
a) Beat up Kazu, thus venting out all my frustration and getting him out of the way (because I could totally take him. Maybe)
b) Find Kid (even though the chances of that were extremely slim. Who knew the whereabouts of the guy, anyway? Shinigami sure as hell wouldn't tell me)
c) Find Maka. I knew where she was, but I wasn't... exactly... sure.
d) I didn't have one.
So with a sigh (and a rather scathing look from Kazu for ignoring him), I left to find Maka, no idea of the danger I would soon be placing myself in.
No, wait. Not me. Her.
Maka opened the door exactly seventeen seconds after I rang the doorbell (or, if you prefer, 79 seconds after I sauntered past the still-unconscious guards, grinning like a fool). Emotions flitted across her face in just a fraction of that time.
Surprise- why is he back so soon?
Happiness- I don't know. Probably of ways to torture me more?
Anger- why is Soul covered in bruises?
"MAKA CHOP!"
Shit. I shoulda seen that one coming. I managed a small groan and didn't even bother saying anything as I collapsed.
"Did you get into a fight?" She exploded, like it was something unexpected. But of course it was.
"Well, what do you..." I trailed off as I looked up, seeing Spirit glaring menacingly at me from behind the ever oblivious Maka. "...say we talk somewhere else?"
"I can take you up to my room." She whirled around to her father, who had uttered a loud "WHAT?", and grinned rebelliously as she dragged me (rather mercilessly) up the stairs.
"Noah, my lord."
Footsteps echoed through empty halls, steadily approaching a large, leather chair, where a man of a rather intimidating build sat, eyes appraising. The approaching figure bent down, kneeling, and even the most idiotic of people would be able to see the clear worship in that person's eyes.
"I hope you're not trying to wipe my floors with those expensive rags, Gopher," the man addressed as Noah spoke dryly, with a lilting tone.
"Of course not," Gopher murmured, kneeling down even further, if that was possible. "I am most honored to have had even a fraction of your attention spared on me."
"I'm sure. Get up. Is there something you need?"
Gopher stood, immediately erect and turned the slightest bit. Light glinted in his eyes, and for a moment, Noah saw a completely sadistic madman that amused. "The intruder approaches. He disarmed the alarms."
"Whose fault is it for letting him get this far?" Noah asked wryly.
"M-mine… my lord…"
Noah stood, hand raised as if about to deliver a blow…
Suddenly, a flash, a grunt, a clash of steel. Noah took a calm, calculated step back. Gopher was gone. A knife clattered to the ground. As if by an illusion, Gopher appeared once more, a good nine yards away, in the hall with another man struggling with him. The stout man took only a quick second to recover from a glancing blow, raised a hand with a gun…
BAM!
The bullet lodged in the plastered wall behind Gopher, merely a centimeter's miss. His clothes swayed- it was as if he hadn't moved at all, yet all observing knew that if he hadn't evaded the shot, he would have been dead.
The two gave each other a long, calculating sort of look. Death loomed in the back of both of their eyes.
"Enough. Gopher, stand down. I believe I recognize this man…" Noah walked towards them, leather shoes merely tapping against marble. "Mosquito?"
"Glad to see that I'm known around here."
"Noah, my lord," Gopher gasped out, frustrated. "I could have taken him! Do not bother yourself with this kind of petty disturbance."
"I said enough, Gopher. Don't be thick- this guy is much, much stronger than you can imagine." Gopher shrank back, stung- Noah turned to Mosquito. "What do you want?"
"My Lady," Mosquito said with an elegant gesture, "believes that she has a lead on the book. She suggests that we start to formulate a plan."
"Is that it?" Noah looked at the short, round man disdainfully. "That's what you interrupted my lunch for?"
"Not good enough?" Mosquito looked up from under the brim of his hat- the look in his beady eyes was impossible to fathom.
"I've been getting leads on the book for quite a while," Noah snorted. "I doubt that what she has to offer is something I don't already know."
"Then you know how to decode it?"
Silence… except for the sniffles of poor, dejected Gopher.
"Fine. When?"
Maka, I decided, was insane. I thought back to how upset she was earlier today- it seemed like eons ago. Now she grinned childishly at me, and I couldn't help but smirk in return.
Then that all disappeared along with a book to my face. The very same one that had sent me to the brink of death every time it appeared…
…okay, maybe that was a little dramatic. Just a little.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." I scratched my ear, looked away, did everything but look at her in the eye. "Just a little scuffle. I'm in a gang, Maka, wudduya expect? I don't live in a mansion like you do."
"That's not what I mean and you know it," She snapped. "Is it so wrong for me to want to know what happened to you?"
"Lay off it, tiny-tits- ow!" I was cut off once again by the book. "Jeez…"
"I AM NOT!!"
"Are too."
"Am not!"
"Too."
"Not!"
"Too."
"UGH!" She looked away fro me, grumbling with her arms crossed and hip cocked to the side… the very picture of naiveté. I was beginning to doubt that encounter weeks ago, where she had fought like hell. Silence saturated the room, which I spent with an amused smirk at her until she finally simmered down and looked at me.
"I was just worried."
"I know." And I did. How could I doubt it? Her peculiar emerald (emerald doesn't even begin to describe its depth) eyes held nothing but concern. "But you don't need to. I can handle myself better than you can."
Maka twitched. "Is that a challenge?"
"Not really."
As the sunlight that came in through the window began to dim, I allowed my sore body to relax against her bed as she sat next to me, relaying random accounts of things that I probably wouldn't even remember the next day. I laughed as she described her father, made snide comments every so often (because spending time with her made me feel like I was losing the last shred of whatever pride I had left), but she didn't push. Maka, I decided once more, was definitely insane… but she was so different from the average, stereotypical girl that you might expect, I was totally, completely at ease.
Suddenly, we were interrupted by eight consecutive knocks on her door. She froze mid-sentence, and jumped up, shoving me into the closet.
"What the-?"
"Shh," Maka hushed, looking a little jumpy as she slid the door shut. "Please, just stay here, and be quiet."
I didn't know what the hell was going on, but since she had shut her mouth when I had asked her to earlier today, I did the same for her now. I struggled to listen what was going on through the thick, wooden door. A male's voice (something in my gut lurched at that), and her own anxious tones. What the fuck was going on?
Footsteps approached the closet door. I cursed in my head for allowing myself to be stuck in such an awkward position (in a girl's closet, no less) when suddenly, the door slid open.
I flinched, and then looked up…
… My mouth dropped down. I stared in shock. I couldn't even bring myself to voice the profanities multiplying rapidly in my head, because staring back down at me with almost equal surprise in his eyes was-
"Well," Maka cleared her throat awkwardly. "Soul… I'd like you to meet my fiancé." The boy in front of me shook his head stoically, hardening his tone. "No, no, not at all. The pleasure is mine," replied Death the Kid.
A/N: At least it's not that much of a cliffhanger this time… If that wasn't unexpected, then I don't know that is. Actually, I think a lot of things in this chapter were unexpected, if you looked hard enough… If not, go back!
Hugs and many thanks to:
animephoenix2468
theraggles
poolday
ToraHimeSama
Anime-is-mi-life
SingerToPotatos
DearlyBeloved-13
1wingedangelX
Sanzo4ever
SilverStella
Cuna999
Kozarr
RinSohma
karasu~pyon
Another thing before you exit/REVIEW~ (lol)/shake-your-head-in-disgust-at-the-author; things are going to start clearing up from this point on, meaning, get ready, because the pace is going to start speeding up.
Kthxbai.
