Chapter 7: Chaotic Revelations, What Lies Beneath The Skin?
The room fell silent, seemingly frozen in time like a picture. Ivy's fist dropped to her side, breaking this picturesque façade as her face quivered with regret. Ivy's eyes began to water, scanning the boy before her. Kids head peered down, his gentle black hair hung before his face, blocking his unestablished reaction from everyone in the room. Standing still, the class eagerly awaited the reaction of the frozen Shinigami.
Annabelle's stood behind Kid, everything had happened so fast before her. Staring at the black haired boy, Annabelle realised something was wrong. She sensed a familiar aura radiating from the Shinigami, what was this feeling?
"I..I'm so sorry" Ivy blurted, breaking the tense silence.
All eyes poised toward Ivy as she began to cry. Clasping a hand over her mouth, the girl fell to her knees in a fumbling mess. Her eyes glued to Kid, waiting for a response.
Annabelle's aqua eyes scanned the situation, desperately trying to recall where she had previously experienced the aura inhabiting Kid. When suddenly it dawned upon her, it was only the other day. Her face contorted in confusion as she began to question the tense situation. Shooting a glance to Maka and Soul, Annabelle was surprised to see they were relaxed, a little embarrassed, as if already aware of how Kid would react next.
Finally, Kid moved. His head slowly begun to rise, ascending upward to meet Ivy's gaze. Burning with a fierce fire, the golden orbs positioned upon the Shinigami's pale face penetrated Ivy's soul, causing her to freeze, paralytic with fear. Paying closer inspection to Kids pristine face, a light fist print decorated his right cheek, a clear reminder of the vicious attack that would have struck Annabelle if Kid hadn't intervened.
Taking a deep breath Kid closed his eyes, touching the right side of his face. With a look of disappointment he dropped his hand.
"Punch me again." The boy spoke, his voice stern.
All life inhabiting the room stood motionless; not even the slightest flinch disrupted the frozen picture of wonderment. Confusion embedded itself upon the faces of all present in the room, adding to the already silent atmosphere. Not knowing what to do about the situation, everyone remained still.
"Didn't you hear me? I said punch me again." The boy repeated, simmering with desperation.
"I-I can't do that." Ivy persisted, wiping the tears from her distressed expression.
"Please! I'm begging you! The right side of my face is tarnished, the only way to balance it out is for you to punch me on the left side!" Kid begged, falling to his knees before Ivy.
"Here we go again." Maka sarcastically mumbled, proceeding to cover her face in shame.
Embarrassment washed over the girl, her expression mirrored by the white haired weapon stood beside her. Clearly used to Kids bizzare behaviour the pair shared a brief glance, letting out a simultaneous sigh, unified in embarrassment.
It was clear the day had begun to descend, tumbling into a downward spiral of misfortune. Letting out a sigh Annabelle stood back watching the situation unfold. Suddenly her attention fluttered else where, a strange aura grew closer to the gym, a peculiar presence began to emerge, seemingly anxious to stir up more meddlesome chaos.
Suddenly, the solid oak gym door sprung open crashing into the wall, unmasking a blue haired boy who continued to parade forward in its stead, eagerly snatching the attention of the students.
"THAT'S RIGHT, THE STAR HAS ARRIVED!" A chipper voice hollered across the silent school gym.
The overwhelming aura belonged to none other than Black*Star, a student of the DWMA. His ecstatic tone shook the room. With all eyes leering toward him, he struck a pose. His self indulgent stance allowing anyone near by to bask in his self proclaimed greatness.
However, the shallow limelight lasted for a few fleeting moments before being cruelly snatched away, handed back to the devastated Shinigami kneeling centre stage. Not one pair of eyes lingered by the blue haired meister, they were all to busy cawing in the direction of Death the Kid. This fact infuriated the hot headed boy, causing his flaring temper to ignite.
Dark eyes clouded with rage. Having his spotlight stolen with so little effort only fed the fire burning inside the egoistical meister. Taking a step forward, he announced his presence once more.
"ARE YOU DEAF!? THE STAR IS OVER HERE! HEY!" Black*Star called, waving his arms about in a manic fashion. A desperate attempt to reclaim his spotlight.
"Please! Punch me again! I'm begging you!" Kid cried from across the room, piquing the interest of the blue haired miscreant.
Raising one eyebrow, the blue haired boy looked about the room, swiftly surveying the situation. It was clear everyone's attention had fallen before Kid, this thought sickened the blue haired meister, With jealous eyes Black*Star stepped forward. He was going to claim back the limelight, one way or another.
"I'll do it!" His voice bellowed, ricocheting across the gym. Snatching the attention of not only Kid, but the rest of the class.
Golden eyes met olive as Kid acknowledged the assassin rapidly advancing toward him. The way in which Black*Star encroached the Shinigami brought back memories. Memories of previous encounters and confrontations. Black*Star had a serious aura surrounding him, leading Kid to believe that this confrontation would not differ from the rest. However, this was the only way Kid could regain symmetrical balance, he needed to be punched by someone, anyone. Even if it meant being punched by that blue haired idiot, Kid strove toward symmetrical perfection.
In preparation Kid closed his eyes, patiently laying in wait for the blow that would offer symmetrical balance once more.
Swinging his fist, the blue haired monkey slammed into Kid, striking him with a sharp blow. The young shinigami's head snapped to the left; the blow throwing him almost completely off balance. Toppling over his feet Kid grasped his aching face, enraptured within a desperate rage.
His golden eyes simmered, peering up to the blue haired idiot before him. Rage engulfed the Shinigami. Clearly in distress he lunged toward Black*Star.
"You moron." Kid cried, shattering his seemingly cool and collected aura.
Everyone stared, watching the scene unravel before them. Each student appeared mesmerised by the antics, unable to remove their eyes from the quibbling double act.
Kid steamed with rage, acting as though he hadn't asked for the punch in the first place. To the confused students surrounding them it seemed as though he had just made a mistake, underestimating the blue haired assassins power. However, to those who knew the boy, it was clear that wasn't the case.
Black*Star, without realising, had punched the injured side of Kids face. His asymmetry hadn't been fixed, only made worse.
"You did it wrong!" Kid cried, swiftly snatching the blue haired boys collar.
Black*Star looked toward Kid with confusion, rolling his eyes upon meeting the Shinigami's gaze.
"You wanted me to punch you, so I punched you, what's the big deal?" Black*Star shrugged, seemingly unfazed by the frantic Shinigami flailing about before him.
"Dammit you idiot! You punched the wrong side!" Kid yelled in frustration, hiding his seething expression beneath a pale palm.
"Get over it! This is so dumb!" Black*Star whined, seemingly bored by the situation the blue haired monkey crossed his arms.
Simmering golden hues struck the assassin, clearly displeased with his behaviour. Kid stepped forward toward the boy, staring him down with a deathly gaze.
"What are you staring at?" Black*Star groaned.
"An idiot." Kid promptly replied, firmly placing his hands within his black trouser pockets.
Without a moment of hesitation, Black*Star snapped. Flailing his fist toward the Shinigami, Black*Stars expression turned stern. His immature need for dominance tore through the boys very being, sending the blue haired assassin mad with rage.
Stepping out of range, the Shinigami moved with unbelievable speed evading the feeble attack. His pale hands remained buried within his pockets, showing no sense of urgency to retaliate against Black*Star. It was as though Kid barely considered him a threat.
Toward the other side of the room, Maka and Soul watched on with embarrassment as the battle raged on between their fellow DWMA class mates.
"You better break this up before it gets out of hand." Maka sighed, promptly urging Soul forward, sending him into the chaos unraveling before them.
With a tired sigh Soul paced forward, walking toward the unruly pair.
"Hey Guys! This isn't cool, cut it out!" The ruby eyed scythe called, his voice taking on a serious edge.
Lunging forward, the white haired weapon locked two palms over Black*Star's shoulders. Grasping firmly, Soul yanked Black*Star out of Kid's range in attempt to pull the blue haired idiot back from combat.
Kid stood back, his hands still tucked away inside his pockets. He looked down at Black*Star, who appeared bound by Souls embrace. With a disconcerting expression, the Shinigami shook his head letting out a weary sigh.
"Get off me! This isn't your fight, don't get involved!" Black*Star squirmed within Soul's grasp.
"Don't be an idiot! You're causing a scene like always! Don't you ever think before you act?!" Soul groaned, desperately trying to hold onto the struggling meister.
"When does Black*Star ever think?" Kid chuckled lightly; calmly positioned a few meters away from the struggling pair.
"That's it ya little...!" The blue haired boy bellowed breaking free from Soul's embrace, sending the white haired weapon stumbling backward over his own feet.
Soul tumbled backward toward Ivy, who remained slumped on the ground. Within seconds Soul lost all sense of balance, tripping over the distressed girl before flying into the surrounding students.
Landing with a thud, Soul lay on the wooden gym floor. Upon opening his ruby eyes, the agitated boy arose only to be greeted by a handful of students offering their assistance. Students upon whom happened to be a bunch of innocent high school girls, wearing nothing more than their gym attire. Soul peered up. Without a moment of hesitation, his nose ruptured into a spurting fountain of blood, sending him flailing back down to the wooden gym floor.
"Seriously!?" Maka cawed from across the room, her head slumped down in shame.
The surrounding girls shuffled away from the semi conscious scythe boy; his nose billowing a scarlet stream. Peering over, a selection of the girls shot the boy dirty glares while others blushed with embarrassed that he'd gotten a nosebleed over them. With a sharp sigh, Maka slapped her forehead, seemingly overwhelmed with shame.
Watching the antics unfold from across the room, Annabelle stood utterly speechless. Her blue hues began to quiver, watching as Black*Star leapt toward Kid, swinging punches this way and that. Kid dodged each punch with ease, counteracting the assassins power with his own array of agile attacks.
Having had enough, Kid threw a lightning fast attack toward Black*Star. Delivering a swift kick to the assassins jaw in a round house fashion. Speeding through the air, Kids foot embedded Black*Stars infuriated expression sending him stumbling to the side. The Shinigami landed with ease, brushing himself down as the blue haired boy recovered from the blow.
Scarlet speckles decorated the ground surrounding Black*Star, his expression turned sour as blood trickled down his face. Black*Stars eyes reignited with a simmering flame as he sped toward the Shinigami, eager to return the attack. Kid prepared for the oncoming assault, with a cold expression the black haired boy raised his arms into a defensive stance.
"Enough!" Annabelle cried, throwing herself between the duelling pair.
Black*Star let out a surprised yelped as he crashed into the girl. Stumbling backward, Annabelle managed to regain balance. Unfortunately the same could not be said for the blue haired slump raging on the floor. As if appearing from no where, Annabelle had disrupted the chaotic battle.
"Annabelle!" Kid called, his voice taking on a softer edge.
With wide eyes, the Shinigami rushed to Annabelle's side, a look of distress present on his pristine expression. Without consideration for her own well being, Annabelle had blindly thrown herself between the battling meisters. Who knows what could have happened due to her reckless decision.
"...What...are you!?" Black*Star groaned, climbing to his feet.
Shock raptured Annabelle's expression as the realisation his her. The room fell silent. Each student gazed upon Annabelle as she stood centre stage. Her knees fell week as her heart began to pound.
"Get out of the way, this doesn't concern you!" Black*Star lunged toward the girl, clasping onto her shirt collar in preparation to toss her aside.
Annabelle's face fell pale as her feet left the ground. With Black*Stars fist firmly clutching her collar, the girl hovered above the blue haired meister.
"She has nothing to do with this! Put her down!" Kid yelled, his golden hues began to simmer once more.
Shooting toward the blue haired assassin, the Shinigami dropped to the ground. Swooping his leg beneath Black*Star, causing the enraged assassins legs to give way. The sudden impulse of force sent Black*Star tumbling down, chucking Annabelle aside in the process.
Annabelle flew through the air, it was almost as though time had shifted into slow motion around her. As Annabelle fell she scrunched her eyelids together, bracing for impact.
Without a moments hesitation Kid shot into action, leaping forward toward the girl in an attempt to protect her once more. Extending his arms out, Kid snatched Annabelle into his grasp. Luckily, Kid didn't miss. If another fleeting moment had passed, Annabelle would have plummeted to the ground.
The Shinigami's perfectionist attitude came in handy this time. Annabelle cascaded into Kids embrace, instinctively clutching onto the boy upon making contact. Annabelle opened her eyes. Looking up toward Kid her aqua hues widened. Annabelle's pale face morphed into a picture of pain. Something similar to a jolt of electricity raptured the girl, causing her to wince.
Time halted to a standstill, as if life had been paused within Annabelle's fragile mind. Her hands began to tremble, looking down to her pale palms a strange sensation engulfed her body. A spark erupted from within her being, like a vicious flame coursing through her veins. Wide with anguish, her quivering eyes began to water.
Meister Maka quickly rushed over to the girl cradled within Kid's embrace. Maka's emerald orbs hardened, peering down upon Annabelle as a strange aura engulfed the surrounding area. Looking up to Kid, the pair shared a brief glance, confusion engulfing each expression.
The seemingly human soul laying before them began fluctuate in a manor most uncommon. Annabelle fell limp within the Shinigami's grasp, losing consciousness her soul continued to amplify.
"Soul protection?" Maka muttered beneath her breath, meeting Kid's distressed gaze.
Kid gave a small but firm nod as his eyes scanned the semi conscious girl trembling against his chest. A strange aura lingered about Annabelle. A peculiar sense amplified Annabelle's soul throughout the room, it was truly unfathomable and unlike anything the Shinigami had witnessed prior to this day.
While Maka and Kid remained in a state of shock, the rest of the class appeared utterly unfazed by what was going on before them. It appeared they couldn't sense Annabelle's fluctuating soul as they made light conversation. Bored by the pointless battling the class had begun chatting amongst their respective friendship groups.
Annabelle's form fell limp once more, becoming a dead weight in Kid's arms. Her soul returning back to normal as she slipped into an unconscious state. It was then that the teacher, who had previously snuck out of the room to retrieve a cup of coffee re-entered the chaotic gym.
"What's going on in here? Is the demonstration over?" The suspicious teacher wondered.
The students looked around bewildered as to what the problem was. Breaking through the uncertain atmosphere a singular student proceeded to raise his left hand.
"Chad? What is it?" The teacher asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Was this not all part of the demonstration?" The student known as Chad continued to inquest.
With a raised brow the teacher turned to scythe Meister Maka, his expression and stance urging her on to speak.
Taking a step forward Maka spoke up.
"We seem to have had a few unexpected interruptions. Things didn't entirely go as planned." The Meister explained.
Seeing Annabelle in his field of vision, the teacher persisted on.
"Care to elaborate?" His concerned voice persisted.
With a nod, the still uncertain Meister Maka hurried over toward the teacher. Clearly concocting a valid excuse to use on the oblivious human.
As Maka hurried over the students continued to talk amongst themselves. Emerging from the crowd, the white haired weapon made his advance toward Kid.
Nose stuffed with tissue, Soul looked toward the Shinigami with a dissatisfied expression. It was clear that Soul had also picked up on the unusual soul fluctuation.
"Something happened, didn't it? Is it something to do with that girl?" Soul questioned, gesturing toward Annabelle who remained unconscious against Kid's torso.
With a simple nod, Kid answered him.
"Something is strange, her soul is different but I'm not sure why." Kid mumbled. Lost within his own thoughts, the Shinigami desperately tried to piece together the puzzle unraveling before him.
Ivy, who remained on the floor beside the huddling meisters made her presence apparent. Rising to her feet and brushing herself down, the girl opened her mouth to speak. However, upon meeting the gaze of the golden eyed Shinigami, not a single word managed to flow from her lips. Leaving her stood speechless once more, trapped in the Shinigami's disapproving glare.
Across the room, Maka and the teacher continued to speak. Nodding with a gentle smile Maka managed to persuade the teacher not to worry over the days disruption. Stepping forward, the teacher cleared his throat before proceeding to speak.
"Alright everyone! Start making your way back to the classroom!" The teacher bellowed, seemingly content with the excuse Maka managed to formulate.
Ivy, who remained on the floor beside the huddling meisters made her presence apparent. Rising to her feet and brushing herself down, the girl opened her mouth to speak. However, upon meeting the gaze of the golden eyed Shinigani, not a single word managed to flow from her lips. Leaving her stood speechless once more, trapped in the Shinigami's disapproving glare.
Across the room, Maka and the teacher continued to speak. Nodding with a gentle smile Maka managed to persuade the teacher not to worry over the days disruption. Stepping forward the teacher cleared his throat before proceeding to speak.
"Alright everyone! Start making your way back to the classroom!" The teacher bellowed, seemingly content with the excuse Maka managed to formulate.
Filtering from the gym, students proceeded to follow their teachers instruction and vacate the room.
Finding her voice, Ivy stepped forward in attempt to speak, only to be interrupted by the teachers voice calling to her from the gym door.
"You too Ivy!"
"But Annabelle is still here." The girl moaned, clenching her fists.
"Annabelle will be taken to the infirmary momentarily." Kid muttered, still trying to comprehend what happened earlier.
With a jealous sigh ivy stormed toward the gym door, hurrying past the teacher in attempt to promptly catch up with her fellow class mates. With a gentle smile, the teacher nodded toward the quartet of DWMA students, before turning his back on the now vacant room in pursuit of his class. With a nod, the DWMA students proceeded onward, infirmary bound.
Placing Annabelle down upon the white infirmary bed, Kid stepped back. In silence Maka, Soul and Black*Star stood about the room, a tense atmosphere present amongst the group. Shattering the silence, a ruffling of sheets pricked the ears of all those in the vicinity.
Annabelle had awoken.
Blue orbs began to flicker upon Annabelle's pale face. Her blurred gaze slowly fell into focus as she was able to regain the certain sense of life upon which she had briefly lacked. Looking up, Annabelle witnessed a stunning white ceiling draped overhead. Confusion flooded her mind, this wasn't the gym ceiling. She fumbled about her mind briefly, trying to recall any memory of what happened prior to her abrupt awakening.
"Wha...what happened?" The girl mumbled as she brought a hand to head.
"You fell." A stern voice stated, seemingly near by.
Annabelle froze, instantly recognising the Shinigami's voice.
"Where am I?" Annabelle asked, emerging from the warm blankets.
"You're in the infirmary." Kid bluntly replied. A strong sense of uncertainty appeared present in his tone, saturating his otherwise melancholic voice.
Something wasn't right.
Everybody in the room appeared on edge. Warm eyes had turned cold. Once comforting auras had disappeared. Leaving a sense of distrust and disapproval lingering about the room and Annabelle just couldn't understand why.
"D-Did I do something wrong?" Annabelle stuttered, peering up toward the ice cold quartet surrounding her.
The room fell silent once more, each pair of eyes burning into Annabelle's seemingly fragile soul.
"Get some rest." Kid bluntly stated.
Turning on his heel, the Shinigami exited the room. Annabelle's eyes widened; he had never been that cold toward her. For some reason this pained Annabelle, her still unsteady vision became clouded with emotion. The once protective meister had turned his back on her, leaving without so much as an explanation. It was almost as though he couldn't bare to be in the same room.
