Chapter Nine - Part One

Soul's Shenanigans

Less than two weeks had passed since the Organization members had six of their members transfer over towards Castle Oblivion. The World that Never Was became much emptier and quieter than before. The loudest and most occupied room by default was the activities room where the younger members currently stayed, along with Demyx.

Maka and Soul made sure to learn the ropes as soon as possible while as temporary members of the Organization. Xehanort taught Maka and Soul how to summon the Corridor of Darkness, while the other members taught them how to do missions. Roxas and Xion weren't allowed to teach Maka and Soul anything. Xigbar teased them, calling both greenhorns at their non-existent hearts. In reality the other members believed Roxas and Xion didn't have enough experience.

Eventually, Maka and Soul could go on individual missions, and worked hard like their days at the DWMA. They've already seen most of the world's Roxas and Xion have seen so far. The only world they couldn't go to on mission days was their world. Pretty fast progress for Somebodies.

As of now, they were given a vacation day, so they could just relax and do whatever. They decided to relax at the activities room. On one couch, Xion and Maka were reading books of magic, knowledge, and adventure; with Roxas lying on another couch nearby. Demyx was on the other side tuning his Sitar. Saix remained in his room doing whatever he did besides yelling out orders. And Soul, looked at the dark sky, thinking a new plot to get a good laugh at.

Roxas sighed for probably the 13th time. He had been lying on the couch for the last hour, staring at the dark sky, his ocean-blue eyes staring at nothing in particular.

"Roxas, shouldn't you do something besides moping on the couch all day?" Maka questioned. "You want to read about magic with me?" She patted a seat next to her.

"I miss Axel." Roxas sighed. "And lately *yawn* I've been more tired recently." He added another sigh.

"Cheer up Roxas. He'll be back soon" Xion energetically told him. "I bet one of Maka's books will cheer you up."

"Roxas you're still just down since Axel left eh." Soul laid next to the tired Roxas, "Let's go to some world and have some fun."

"Fun?" Roxas raised an eyebrow with curiosity, "Like a game?"

"It can be called a game if you think it's one." Soul smirked, "We'll go to my world, from there we're gonna hit up a mall or two and talk to the lonesome ladies who are dying for some guys like us to talk to them!"

"Oh, can I join too?" Xion gave a hopeful plea.

"Xion, it's for the best if you don't join." Maka warned, placing a hand upon her shoulder, "Soul's game sometimes have bad intent. This is probably one of them."

"I see." Xion understood, "Nevermind then. I don't like doing bad things." She added.

"That's suppose to be a game?" Roxas let out a dissatisfied sigh, "Sounds kinda boring." his eyes staring at the heart-shaped moon, "Any other ideas?"

Soul thought carefully. A few seconds later, a devilish grinned appeared. Maka took notice of Soul's soon to-be nasty plot.

"Yeah, the winner gets to hang out with the one and only sexy magical cat Blair." Soul slid next to Roxas, "You like cats, right Roxas?"

"Yeahh," Roxas nodded suspiciously. What is Soul planning? Why did he call Blair sexy? Blair is cute. She's a cute cat with a cool witch hat…

"So, if you want Blair to like you even more; get some girl's number with me and she'll be impressed. It's what cool guys do!" Soul reasoned.

"Alright! If I can play with Blair." Roxas skeptically stood up, with a hint of excitement, "I just need a girl's number right?"

"Yes." Soul informed, "Alright let's hit the—"

"What's a number and why I do need it?" Roxas questioned. "Can't we just visit without numbers?"

Maka couldn't help but giggle at Roxas' innocence. She also couldn't help but feel bad too. He would probably get slightly tainted by Soul. Should she intervene for Roxas' sake? Probably not, whatever Soul's planning, it can't be stopped.

"Well, a number is something on a phone, and we need numbers to contact them from a distance." Soul answered. "Before you ask, a phone is like the calling cards you guys use but heavier."

"Do all somebodies use phones?" Xion interrupted, "Why don't they use calling cards?"

"No. It depends on the person." Maka also joined in, "Not everyone has the elements to even use calling cards. Not many people I know have the ability to summon fire or a chunk of ice."

"No calling cards? Somebodies are strange." Xion concluded, returning to her reading.

"Can't we just get Maka or Xion's numbers?" Roxas questioned, "They are girls…" his eyes shifted onto them briefly, "Right?"

Xion and Maka perked their heads up in unison. Both gave slight differences with annoyed expressions.

"You know I'm a girl Roxas." Xion pouted. "And at least I have energy to spare."

"Watch out Roxas," Maka threatened, "My book can do a lot of damage if slammed hard enough.."

Roxas gulped at the large novel Brave. The book itself was huge, covered with a red cover with Brave written on the side and on the top. Inside was filled with 100s of pages, all compacted together.

"I wouldn't want to get hit with that." Roxas commented. It might be more dangerous than Zexion's Lexicon.

"I hope so too. Hopefully, I won't need to." Maka responds.

"Trust me, I was surprised Maka was a girl too when I first met her." Soul told him, "Well, compared to today, she's still flatter than that book she's reading." Soul began to laugh, "With Xion, I only figured it out cuz' —"

*Maka Chop*

"Ah!" Soul groaned in pain, "Sensitive as always, huh."

"Grrr." Maka growled.

"What?" Soul coughed and groaned, "Afraid that Xion's flat chest might somehow be bigger than—"

"Xion!" Maka prompted, unsheathing her book once more.

"Right." Xion understood, transforming her hand.

*Maka Chop* + *Xion Keyblade Punch*

"Blrughhh!" Soul laid on the floor, defeated to a pulp, "PPogibe (Forgive) me… " His spirit began to ascend.

"Xion why did you hit Soul?" Roxas provided aid to Soul's forehead.

"It had to be done Roxas." Xion reverted her keyblade fist back into her regular state, "Girls stick together. Besides, Soul was being rude."

"R-right." Roxas sighed. I just want Axel to return…

Once Soul recovered, he promptly summoned the dark portal.

"Alright Roxas, let's go to the mall now." Soul declared.

"Yeah." Roxas nodded, following suite.

"Can I come too?" Demyx asked from the other side.

"Sorry man, this is a bro-to-bro thing." Soul shook his head. "Maybe once you get a new outfit that won't creep girls out."

"New outfit?" Demyx appeared confused, "Roxas is wearing the same thing as me!" Demyx pointed out, "Also, why aren't you wearing the uniform? The one Vexen measured you with fits fine doesn't it?"

"It does, but I feel cooler wearing the usual." Soul posed, "I'm not a goody two shoes like Maka, with her lame Organization outfit. I'm actually cool." Soul reasoned, "'Sides I only need it for traveling worlds anyway."

"O-okay? I'm sure Maka looks fine wearing whatever she wants." Demyx reasoned, "But, I need an audience to hear my latest Sitar Songs Never Work, yet Always Working and Struggle for Balance." He clasped his hands together, on his knees. "C'mon, lemme go with you guys. I'll behave."

"Sorry bud," Soul and Roxas entered the portal. "Next time."

"..." Demyx sighed heavily. "Someday they'll let me hangout with them. Just not today." He sighed disappointedly.

"You wanna read with us?" Maka asked out of politeness.

"Nah, I appreciate the offer." Demyx proceeded to leave the activity room, "I think I'll just get Xigbar to help me mess with Saix or something."

The name Saix sent a shiver to Xion's back. Her fist was clenched, and her lips formed a frown. Maka took a mental note of her friends discomfort. The Melodious Nocturne exited, leaving Maka and Xion to themselves.

Rest his soul. Maka returned to her studies.

Hope he doesn't get too hurt. Xion quietly hoped, going back to her reading.

After around half an hour, Maka had an idea of her own. One to counter Soul's, hopefully.

"Hey Xion, you want to try new?" Maka aksed. "It is a vacation day, so an opportunity like this won't pop up that often."

"Sure." Xion answered, placing her book down, "Where to?"

"It's called…" Maka began," —"

Setting: Soul Eater World Mall [World: Soul Eater / Location: Mall]

The two appeared from an empty alleyway, closeby to the mall.

"What is this place?" Roxas asked, eyeing his surroundings.

"We're closeby to the mall. I go with Black Star usually, but we can't hang out for the meantime." Soul explained. "I miss him." Soul sighed.

"Oh, him." Roxas remembered, "So how many girls do we need to ask for numbers?"

Soul shrugged," Who knows? We may need to ask one or even one hundred different girls. All that matters is that we have some fun. Even if we get rejected, we accept it and move on. That's what cool guys do."

"Alright, let's go get some numbers then." Roxas turned his attention to the mall.

Soul prompted, "Before we get some numbers, we need to get you a new outfit. I have enough cash to buy a few outfits, but we only need one. We can buy the others a souvenir or two, but that's after we get you a new outfit."

Roxas and Soul entered the mall; crowded with people of mostly families and teens in the area. A food court in the middle of the large mall, clothes stores on the right, videogame and arcade section on the left, a large book store in the back, and other furniture and goods at the entrance.

"This place has a lot of things." Roxas noted, "Where's the clothes area?"

"Don't worry, I know this place better than the back of my Soul." Soul reassured. I think I can find something that suits him.

*One hour later*

Roxas presented himself in front of Soul. with his new outfit; a black short sleeved jacket shirt with white sleeves on the ends, with a Shinigami logo replacing the zipper in the middle. Covering his neck was a modest red scarf, with the fringes letting itself flow next to the zipper. A black sash was tied to over his waist. Around his waist let itself remain as a black belt and brown pants, with the other half of the pants black on the bottom. His shoes were black and white. On his left hand was a black and white wristband, and two small rings around his left fingers.

"Alright," Soul smirked, "I think that outfit will do."

"You think so?" Roxas asked, removing two rings, "You think Xion would like this outfit?"

"Roxas," Soul wrapped his arm around Roxas, "Look around you, this mall is full of different types of girls. Xion's thought are gonna have to be put on hold. Besides, you're getting numbers for Blair remember?"

"R-right." Roxas accepted, "So how do we talk to girls who are somebodies?"

"Just act natural." Soul cooly responded, "Think of them as Xion, but not like Xion. Be comfortable, but not too… comfortable."

"I get too comfortable when I talk to Xion? What do you mean?" Roxas questioned.

"Remember what happened a few days ago, when Xion offered to read to you?" Soul recalled.

*Enter Flashback*

"Xion was in the activity room, and you finished doing that mission at the Sandy Palace called Arabah, with the Genie guy." Soul narrated.

"How did you know what was happening?" Roxas worriedly asked.

"Remember when I said I left to go talk to Maka? I lied" Soul devilishly grinned, " Anyway, you nobodies were acting more chummy than usual. I had to see what the fuss was about." Soul casually spoke. "Then I overheard your lover's conversation," Soul teased. "Never knew Xion would be so assertive." He added a snicker.

"Roxas are you okay?" Xion got off the couch, "You look tired, lay down here."

"Xion its' fine." Roxas yawned, "I'm perfectly fine. Let's get some sea-salt ice cream."

"Roxas, it's already getting late. How about we get some rest instead." Xion helped Roxas to the couch, "You'll enjoy it, trust me."

"Yeah, but the couch isn't that comfortable to sleep on." Roxas rubbed his eyes, getting drowsier. "Any other options?"

"You can rest on…" Xion's eyes scanned the activity room, anything soft enough for Roxas to lay his head on. Her eyes scanned the floors and furniture, hoping there would be something soft enough for Roxas. Her eyes noticed a reflection upon the windows. The reflection was of her.

"Me…" Xion's cheeks began to brighten, slowly bringing a book she borrowed from Maka, "I—I'll even read for you until you fall asleep if it helps."

"You'd do that for me?" Roxas looked honored, giving her a warm smile "Sure, but next time I read to you, deal?"

"Deal." Xion smiled back.

"Then Roxas gently laid his weary head onto his princess's lap, Xion." Soul jokingly narrated, "And that night was a night shared only to them."

"... Shut up." Roxas mustered. "Eavesdropping isn't cool."

"I wasn't eavesdropping," Soul defended himself, "I was observing the situation. I left once Xion had you place that thick skull head of yours on her lap. 'Sides, you were getting really comfortable with her. Most friends don't get that comfortable."

Roxas gave Soul a scowl.

"It's not a bad thing." Soul defended, "I'm sure Maka supports this."

"Whatever," Roxas muttered, "Let's just go find some girl to talk to."

Soul looked around the surroundings, eyeing the store closest to them Rose's Flower Shop. The store had flowers all around, and attracted a small amount of females and males within that area. Many ranged from young adults to teenagers given a year younger than Soul. The presence of two girls from inside the flower shop appeared to have their eyes Soul and Roxas. Only Soul noticed their gaze.

"Hey Roxas, try Rose's Flower Shop." Soul suggested, "I bet there's a girl in there that'd be low enough to talk to you."

"That's really assuring." Roxas sarcastically replied.

"Yeah, I'm gonna take a leak, it's gonna take a while." Soul began leaving, " When I get back, I'll try to help you get a girl's number." Good luck, Roxas.

"Gee thanks for the vote of confidence." Roxas huffed.

A few moments later Roxas surveyed the area. This mall is full of people. Soul suggested I go to the Flower Shop. Guess I'll give it a try. With that in mind, he entered the shop.

Word Count: 2466

Author's Note: Hey, bet you guys didn't expect an update so soon eh? This chapter is split into shorter parts, but there's also a second and third segment coming up— soon. Hopefully I post before the end of summer, lol.