Here's number nine. How are you guys liking it? I don't think this will be that long of a story maybe 20 chapters. I already got a new one in mind. How exciting! Enjoy! RxR
As we pass through the ivy covered wall a short pale man stops us short by the slamming the gate down. His black hair shoots out at strange angles from his temples and his glasses spiral inward making it impossible to see the actual eye. In my opinion he looks sillier than Soul's "Emo" phase.
"Now what do we have here?" He walks slowly and cockily toward our horses. He strides up to Bronte with a calculating look in his eyes. By now the girls have caught up and wait patiently behind us. "This looks like the untamable lightening steed of the Land of Darkness. They say it would run through the hills and lightning struck with every beating of its hoofs."
"Yes, you are correct." Kid responds. The guard smirks and his glasses flash with a glare.
"So then you admit ownership of this great beast?"
"I hardly own him. It is a mutual agreement." His focus flashes to the girls and an evil smile breaks across his face.
"And if I am correct those two demons back there are the infamous Thompson sisters of the Rakshasa* clan."
"Yup, hiya! My name is Patti and this is my big sis-"
"Silence you despicable swine! How dare you attempt to enter the garden of life with such vile and dirtied souls. I have heard of your ferociousness and cunning. I will not allow you to taint this holy land." His points his spear directly at Kid and the girls have their guns drawn instantly. I am off to the side just watching the scene unfold.
Kid motions to the girls and the angrily lower their weapons.
"Now calm yourself. There is no need for violence. I have the necessary travel paper right here." Kid hands him the papers he had organized into a neat pile bound with leather string. The guard snatches them away briefly flicking through them, a look of disgust clearly painted across his face. He doesn't even read it.
"These are clearly forged. And even if they weren't I would never let such trash as you in. You are clearly from the Death kingdom and you ride here on the holiest of holidays to destroy the festival with your disgusting presence. You cannot fool me you evil fiend."
"Please good sir, if you would just read the papers I'm sure you would understand-"
"You dare call me a liar. You, who rides in on a national treasure of another land that is so obviously poached." Kid is calm and his features are arranged into a mask of respectability. But, underneath that calm I can see a wave boiling anger just whirling around growing stronger and stronger.
"No good sir. I assure that this was a gift from the Lord of Darkness himself. It was a reward in a wager we had made. I won fair and square."
"You expect me to believe that? What kind of fool do you take me for? Even if your story was true you must have cheated the Lord out of his most prized position. I will have you tried for treason!" The girls again raise their guns just waiting for a kill command from Kid.
"I beseech that you reread our papers more closely for you will find everything in perfect legality. I am not implying that you did not read it, simply that you did not read it correctly." The bald boy is fuming and his face turns bright red at the misinterpreted insult.
"Are you calling me stupid?! Well I will show you what I think of your travel papers demon lover!" The boy tosses the book into the air and points his spear at the now falling object. With a flick of his wrist, lightening shoots from the rod and incinerates the book before it hits the ground.
I don't understand. Kid has not only treated this man with civility but also far more respect than he deserved from any traveler, let alone royalty. Why doesn't Kid do anything? Just as I am thinking this I feel the ash of the nonexistent papers flutter down and powdering my hair. It's almost like snow in a way.
I look over at Kid and for a moment everything is blank. His face, his eyes, even his posture is frozen with one hand outstretched as if to stop the man. "Looks like you don't have any papers now. Leave before I have you sorry wastes of life arrested."
"My…My papers…" Kid's eyes shake and for a moment he looks like a child whose blocks were just knocked down by an older child.
"What are you going to do about it Stripey?" Something in Kid snaps. He relaxes back into his seat but a strong wave of killer intent is clouding around him. The guard is either too distracted of too dense to notice but all the animals are smart enough to back away quite a few steps.
"I spent all night working on those you clod! It took me hours just to get the lettering right so that each line had the same number. What kind of illiterate dunce are you to destroy official papers?!" The red-faced man is steaming at the string of insults. It seems to take his tiny brain a moment for him to truly comprehend.
"What did you just call me?! Do you have any idea who you are insulting?! I am a member of the queen's personal guard! I have more power in one glance that you will have in your whole life!" I notice Liz and Patti holding back their laughter and I can't help but giggle myself. The scene is rather hilarious when you think about it.
"I believe, you arrogant dolt, are showing your irreparable ignorance by not recognizing who I am." Kid is still staring calmly at his reigns in a highly unsettling manner. The guard is only getting angrier and closer to the reaper.
"I don't give a shit about who you are but you will be punished for insulting me you rot! You are hereby placed under arrest by the royal decree of the Queen's guard!" The man grips Kid's wrist and for a moment everything is silent. Even the man is frozen in place.
"I'll give you a hint dimwit, one that your faulty mind can understand. I am the Death the Kid, Prince of Death kingdom, heir to the title of shinigami, slayer of the Draco Noir* and ruler of harp. And I do NOT like to be touched!" The skulls fly faster than my eyes can track. They slam into the boy knocking him away from the prince and into the wall. Another one hits, driving the boy a foot deep into the hard stone.
We all look back at Kid with mouths hanging open. He straightens his sleeve back out and clears his throat. "Well, we must be getting along then. We wouldn't want to arrive late, that would be in bad taste."
The city is just beautiful. Where the Death Kingdom had a dark gothic feel to it the City of Life looks like a town out of a fairy tale. White stones make up all the buildings and ivy overruns everything without make cracks. The canals are filled with sparkling blue water and rainbow colored koi shimmer in the reddened sun. We walk on sidewalks next to the waterways that are covered in a lush green grass. Flowers and small trees spring up near buildings but never obscure the path.
"Your dad made all of this?" I marvel as I spin in a circle in the middle of a plaza. Shops and food stands are dotted here and there all decorated in deep greens and yellows. Flags are strung from building to building and children run around freely waving flags with a tribal leaf on them.
"Yes. He built every kingdom suited to its God. Life loved her plants and so he built this city around them." Ribbons trail outward from the center of the gazebo in front of me, connected to other buildings and draping low. A small band is playing upbeat music from it and groups of people dance happily.
"Then why does the Death kingdom look so bleak? I mean if it was for him shouldn't it be more… personalized?"
"What a waste of time that would have been." Kid is leaning against a wall and the girls have run off in search of festival food. It's warm outside and at the 'insistence' of the girls (really they just spilled a florescent green drink on it') he has trades the black jacket for a white shirt with a black silk vest over it. He seems far too over dressed for a street fair but no one really seems to mind.
After the encounter with the guard Kid forced us into a gallop and we actually made it on time. Everyone was so tired we all just collapsed on the nearest bed before they could find our room assignments. The morning was quite a shock.
Earlier that morning…
"Wake up…. Wake up!... WAKE THE HELL UP KID!" Patti's voice slammed into my sleep and knocked it so far out of my head I'm not sure it will ever return.
"No need to shout Patti. I heard you call the first time." Cracking open my eyes I sigh. I was hoping to get more sleep but it seems sleeping in the common area was a bad idea. I had crashed on the oversized couch and it seems like I'm paying for it now.
I roll over hoping to steal a bit more sleep when I bump into something solid. I open my eyes to find the prince looking down at me apologetically with his arm around my waist. "Terribly sorry. I was hoping that she wouldn't wake you. Patti, human bodies don't recover as quickly as demons. They need rest to heal properly."
"Yeah well I'm bored and you need to stop trying to take advantage of a girl you just met-" Liz's hand slaps over Patti's mouth and cuts off the rest of what she was going to say.
"It's too damn early for this you ADHD brat. I will remind you what happens when someone wakes me up." Liz drags her away into a separate room chuckling in a dark and creepy voice. Kid's eyes follow them until they reach the door and then he turns back to me.
"This is very regretful. Please continue sleeping." The bags are gone and he seems to be in a good mood. His eyes reflect the sun making them glow. I yawn and grunt something intelligible. "Could you please repeat that? I didn't hear."
"Eyes pretty yours." I lower my head again and bury my face deep in his chest. He smells like a mix of rosemary and marigolds* and I sigh. This is nice.
"That is a sweet sentiment Maka." I nod and start to drift back to sleep. Why the hell did I wake up? Oh Patti was yelling at Kid. 3…2…1…
"What the hell!" I push immediately against Kid to throw him away from me. Unfortunately he had his back to the couch and pushing against him sent the whole thing tumbling over with a crash. I yelp as I land.
I hear him groan from under me just as the girls rush into the room, Patti with a large goose egg on her head.
"What's going on? Kid are you- oh." Liz clears her throat and starts to back away. I look down to see myself straddling Kid with my hands resting on his chest.
"Oh god no! That's not- it's no- I swear this is…" The door slams behind them and I drop my head in defeat.
"Worry not. I can explain this to them later."
"Thanks."
"Eh hm. Maka?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you mind standing up? The floor is awfully cold." I jump off him like the boy is on fire and he stands brushing the dirt from his pants. For the first time that morning I realize that he is indeed shirtless and I can't help but gape. He is not very muscular but what he has is very prominent beneath his thin form. The porcelain skin is flawless and toned as he leans back to stretch.
"I am assuming we won't be going back to bed then?" Leave it to him to remind a woman of what trouble he's in.
"What the hell were you doing on the couch with me?! You fell asleep in the other room!" I remember him carrying the things into a room to the far left as I was falling asleep. I was perfectly sure there was no point which he was next to me.
"No I tried to sleep in the other room. However, I found this impossible so I moved in here."
"Why in the hell would you do that?!"
"Please Maka don't shout. Why are you upset?"
"Why am I upset?! Why am I upset?!" Actually why am I upset?
"Yes."
"You- you. You shouldn't have joined me in bed without asking me. It scared me and is indecent."
"Do you see it that way? I am terribly sorry I did not know. I will refrain from doing so in the future." He bows low and his hair falls forward into his eyes. I sigh and can't really blame him for something he didn't know about.
"Don't worry about it. It just… girls and guys don't sleep in the same bed unless they are married or in a 'special type of relationship."
"You mean sexual intercourse." My jaw drops as he stands up again. The bluntness of it was just shocking and I'm finding it hard to respond to.
"uh… well yeah."
"Thank you for educating Maka. I will not do so again unless I meet one of those requirements." I rest my forehead in my hand and sigh. It's too damn early of this.
"Wait why were you there in the first place? What did you want?"
"The other night when you were forced to stay in my tent I found it to be the first time I had slept in over 1000 years. After the battle I felt exhausted and knew my powers would take a long time to replenish. I had assumed sleep would help with this. When I could not sleep in the other room I came out here wondering if I could replicate the events of the other night and get the same results. I promise I did not intend to defame you."
"Oh. Well did it work?" He flips the couch upright again and is now organizing the pillows meticulously.
"Indeed it did. I have never felt more well-rested and replenished. Thank you but I will not be doing this again. There you are. I have fixed your bed, you can return to slumber if you wish."
"No, I'm up for the day but thank you anyway. Wanna go get breakfast?"
"I could eat."
"Great, just let me get ready." I start to rush off but his voice stops me.
"Maka, does this mean you are no longer mad about me killing you?" This world will take some getting used to.
"You did do it to save my life so I guess I can't be. Did the battle really wear you out?"
"Somewhat. I am a bit out of practice so that much magic depleted my stores."
"I see…hey Kid."
"Yes?"
"You can sleep with me anytime you need to, I guess. Just until you can sleep on your own. It shouldn't take your body too long to adjust but you need rest. Just like everyone else."
"Thank you Maka." The girls venture out into the room and we explain our plan for breakfast. They agree happily but look somewhat knowingly at me and Kid. As we all turn to leave Kid stops and calls out for me. I spin to face him just as he begins to speak.
"Does this mean we are in a sexual relationship now?" I slam my palm into my forehead. It's going to be a long day.
End Flashback….
As I watch the couples dance they seem so happy. Children twirl with their partners and parents while laughing under the warmth of the red sun. This is a place I could find myself lost in, a veritable garden of Eden in the form of a kingdom.
On a whim I walk over and pull Kid from the wall. His right hand held tightly in mind I weave our way through the crowd. The people as smile and laugh, making just enough room for use to get by.
As we get closer to the dance area I feel myself be pulled back. Kid has dug his heels in the ground and refuses to move even a bit.
"Aw come on Kid. Don't you know how to dance?" I ask teasingly. I should have known he wouldn't rise to the bait.
"Of course I do. I was taught all the forms of dance as a child. I am a master in any piece known to man and several know only to demons. Natural symmetry only makes the art more beautiful." His eyes light up whenever he talks about symmetry. I am pretty sure he has an extreme case of OCD that only gets worse the farther we are from his home.
"Then why don't you want to dance?"
"The act is frivolous and time consuming. There is nothing to be gain by turning in circles with others."
"But it's so much fun."
"Fun is pointless." I throw my hands up exasperatedly. The prince remains still with his arms crossed and golden eyes glaring into me. "In any event, you and I shall dance tomorrow at the gala. Your 'fun' will lie there."
What he says gives me an idea and I hide my evil grin." Why prince, if you only dance with me at the ball that may seem so superficial. Wouldn't it improve upon the 'alliance' you have with me if you are seen with me at public events? They are always watching you know."
He seems to think for a moment and I know I have him. "Indeed you are correct. Miss Albarn, would you do me the pleasure of giving me this dance."
He bows deeply while offering his hand to me. A group of people around us 'aw' and wink. To them we are no one special, just a boy and a girl out at a festival and ready to dance. It's almost sad how wrong they are.
"It's not that kind of dancing Kid." Before he can ask I take his hand and pull him into the clearing. The music is on strings and flutes with an upbeat tempo. I take his hands and we spin around just moving with the rest of the people and the song.
"This is of no dance I have ever heard. What is this style?" He is graceful despite the new form and seems to keep up far better than I as I stumble into another person before Kid catches me mid-fall.
"There is no style. It's just for fun, you dance with how you feel." He lifts me into the air and spins us a slight smile on his face. I can tell he is trying to hide it but he obviously enjoys this.
"I do not feel anything. Emotions aren't meant for my kind." The song is coming to a crescendo as it picks up speed other dancers trip up and move to the side while we keep spinning relying on Kid's gracefulness alone.
"Emotions are meant to whoever chooses to look for them." I feel his hand that was supporting me drop and for a terrifying moment I fear I will hit the ground. On the last note my arm snaps forward stopping the fall. He has my hand gripped strongly in his with a growing smile on his face.
I stand noticing we are the last ones left in the circle and everyone is watching I can't help but blush as they break into applause. But, what really astounds me is when Kid laughs.
It sounds harsh and unused but warm and real none the less. "Maka, it is amazing the way your mind works. I wish I could see the world through your eyes."
I smile warmly as we bow and slowly filter back into the crowd. The musicians are standing up and handing off their instruments to whoever comes up and reaches for them. Once everyone has settled I notice the harpist still stands holding her instrument sadly to her chest. She is short and slightly chubbier with long brown hair. A boy comes up and asks her to dance and she looks around desperately for someone to take her instrument but no one does. Shaking her head the boys shoulders fall and he wanders over to a bench.
"Hey Kid? You play the harp right?" His smile falters with suspicion but slowly grows back.
"Yes."
"Are you any good?"
"The best in existence, only surpassed by my father." He states it proudly and I can't help but smile. He finally seems to have something in his life that gives him a bit of joy.
"Will you play for me?" I look up at him with begging eyes a look I know he couldn't turn down.
"Maka… I cannot. I don't play in front of people."
"Please just one song? I really want to hear you play." His eyes meet mine and they soften. Amusement flickers inside of them as the gates of steel melt for the time being.
"Very well. You are my guest." He walks over with me following close behind. I realize he hasn't released my hand since the end of the dance and blush slightly. Suddenly I find myself not wanting him to let go to play.
Kid takes the harp from the girl and her eyes light up. I call the boy over with a wave of my hand and he looks at me questionably before striding over. Before he makes it halfway the girl grabs his hand and drags the poor kid to the clearing.
Kid nods to the other players as he leans against and ivy covered post in the gazebo. He kicks up one leg and places it against the pole for extra support before his eyes meet mine. He smiles a truly genuine smile before he faces down letting his hair fall into his face. He takes a deep breath before glancing up with his eyes nearly glowing. Starting the song he plucks a first note.
The tempo begins slow allowing the other musicians time to feel the rhythm. He picks at the strings as the people move in the same pattern. It seems to be a familiar and traditional dance. People of different ages are stepping in time with the music. It slow and beautiful that the people seem so entranced by Kid the others forget to play. But as they look over the flutist picks up the melody.
The others join in and the people move faster. The dance remains the same but picks up speed with higher energy they dance and laugh as they form circles with joined hands before breaking apart and finding new partners. Someone pulls me in and I find myself stumbling my way through a dance with an old man laughing loudly.
Then, I began to notice the whispering and the crowd slowly thinning leaving most the dancers. Slowly they stop too and the music fades. A voice from the couple next to us points out why.
"Wait, a boy with golden eyes and black hair painted with three white strips. He commands the harp perfectly and plays the best in the land?" The murmuring increases and people start to back away. My partner tries to pull me with him but I rip my hand away choosing to move closer to my friend.
"That's the prince of Death."
"Shit, Death the Kid?"
The other musicians grab their instruments and act as if this was their planned time to leave. But no one could miss the fear in their eyes.
The Plaza empties out leaving just the Prince and I. His hands are gripping the harp so tightly his knuckles are white. His hair is blocking his face and I step forward. I place my hand on his chest and the wooden harp snaps with a horrible twang.
"K-kid?"
"I say you are not a prisoner of mine. I tell myself that you are a guest but no matter how well I can treat you, you may as well be locked in a dungeon."
"What do you mean Kid? I'm completely happy this way."
"Perhaps for now but not forever. This is the life you will live for knowing me and my father. My name will be carried with yours sullying any relationship you are to have. Now you can truly see how the world reacts to the spawn of Death."
"Don't pay any attention to them, they were just intimidated is all."
"No they weren't. The fear me, fear what I can do. This is why life and death can never coexist side by side. Why I can never love. Yet, I am force to be, for without Death, life itself cannot exist. It is a cruel and unyielding cycle."
"Kid I-"
"Enough of this. Let's go find the girls. I have a head ache and wish to return for the day." I nod and run after him knowing that he wouldn't wait for me. What he said made my heart cry out for him but what was truly devastating was looking into his eyes and seeing the vaults were up again.
Notes
Rakshasa- shape shifting demons from the Buddhist belief system.
Draco Noir- Evil Black dragon residing in Death Kingdom from Kid's past adventures not ever mentioned before but come on. He's millions of years old, he has to have done some fun things before right?
Rosemary and marigolds: Both plants that represent death. Marigolds in Mexican culture and Rosemary in…well most everything before the 1500s
