A/N: We've finally made it, dear reader, we are in double digits! I'm so fudging decimal placed right now it is unexplainable. Consider this our tenth anniversary ;). ENJOY!

Black Star didn't respond to my question for one minute... two... three... four. At four minutes with him staring at me, his mouth ajar, I felt pretty stupid, I could even feel tears start to prick in my eyes. I quickly turned around and opened the door, ready to close it in his face, but just before I could step past it, he grabbed my wrist and then pulled me to him, he then did something I wasn't prepared for, Black Star kissed me. The kiss sent a shiver down my spine and my whole body was covered with warmth, if my lips weren't locked in his I would have smiled. His hand was still gripped tightly on my wrist, but then he let go and curled his arms around my waist. But the fondest part of the kiss was that I felt assured, Black Star didn't run away, he didn't leave me like everyone else did, no, instead, he kissed me. Our lips separated after a few moments, his arms still secure around my waist, and Black Star looked straight into my eyes,

"I haven't known you for that long, less then a week really, and I've never really thought about my future apart from surpassing God, but there is another thing I know about my future now, I want you to be apart of it."

Black Star turned around and walked down the stairs, obviously trying to give me time to think about the statement, but instead of doing that, I smiled unthinkingly and touched my lips. Black Stars lips were dry and coarse, but warm and firm, they had left mine slightly sore. As I walked into my crappy little hotel room I discontinued smiling, half dazed at what was going on and half delighted, I also half wanted to slap him for kissing me without my permission. I pulled my normal work set of clothes out of the washing machine provided in the hotel, and then into the dryer. That night I got the ten recommended hours of sleep for the first time in my life, and peacefully dreamt of a plot to kill Black Star.

The next morning I awoke well rested and ready for the new day. I felt slightly saddened, though, as it was last night that I'd realised that I'd have to put killing Black Star on hold, at least until I could stop concerning about Sister, but somehow that realisation didn't dampen my excitement at seeing him again, no rather it made me all the more nervous. I changed into my work clothes piled some books and other necessities into my satchel, and then there was a knock at the door, my heart fluttered in my chest briefly and my brain madly said something like 'Here's the little prick who decided to run off after stealing the only first kiss I'll ever have', I ran forward to open it and outside stood... Kidd? I was startled for a moment,

"Hey, Kidd, what are you doing here?"

"Black Star advised me that you'd need some help getting down those stairs,"

He gestured towards the Stairs From Hell, as I'd nick named them, and all romantic feelings I had held for Black Star were smothered. I smiled at Kidd,

"Thanks,"

"He also told me to give you this,"

He held out an envelope with a messy scrawl at the front that I'm sure read 'Natsume' on the inside it was equally as messy and said:

Natsume,

The big me is going on a mission! Sorry that I couldn't tell you, it kind of sprung up out of nowhere, that's why Kidd is there, I know he isn't quiet as impressive as I am, but this mission will be a cake walk, so I should be back in time to see you tonight,

Don't miss me too much!

Black Star.

I laughed at the boys' obnoxiousness and slipped the note into a pocket on the inside of my vest. Kidd held out his hand,

"May I?"

I mused at him, he was so formal. I took it and he slung me onto his back, I smiled devilishly as I thought of how to stir him up,

"Not too hefty for you am I?"

He began to mutter apologies and then said,

"No, not at all,"

"Really cause the other day I was a 'heavy obstruction'"

He mumbled uncomfortably,

"I hope I'm not too heavy to you, because, you know, Black Star can pick me up without breaking a sweat,"

He looked frustrated,

"I apologise, Okay? May we leave it be know?"

I untidied his hair,

"I was only stirring you, Kidd,"

His arms were underneath my knees at that moment in time, but if they weren't supporting me they would have been straight on his hair, rearranging his black and white locks. Once we reached the bottom of the Stairs From Hell, Kidd placed me on the ground. Liz and Patti were down there waiting for him. Patti pulled me into a hug before I knew what was happening, I hugged her back immediately and we stood like that for a moment as she shouted,

"Natsume is here!"

We then released one another and my eyes drifted towards Liz she waved and smiled in greeting, I did the same. She then decided to make the observation,

"Jeez, Natsume, if we knew you were going to be staying in a hell hole like this, we would've invited you to stay at Gallows Manner, wouldn't we, Kidd?"

Kidd looked around, unimpressed with my accommodation,

"Certainly,"

I chuckled at the obvious display of their own indulgence and then shook my head,

"It's okay, I only have two more days here any way, and I've grown to like Norm. Good morning Norm!"

I waved happily at the attractive boy working behind the counter, he stuck his middle finger in the air, waved it around and smiled at me, Kidd looked scandalised and Patti laughed at it, of course. Kidd looked around, seeming quiet ill,

"That's... lovely. Now may we please leave, the lack of symmetry in this Hotel is absolutely horrid,"

We made our way out the door and towards school. It was a rather uneventful day; the most interesting thing that happened was that I met Kilik. He had approached me in class,

"Hey, you're Natsume, right?"

I smiled and nodded,

"I'm Kilik, and these are my weapons Thunder and Fire,"

Glancing down at the two little ones I smiled even wider,

"Wow, they look really young, they must be pretty powerful to have their weapon powers appear so early,"

He nodded,

"They're five now but their ability appeared when they were three,"

I stared stunned at the cute children in front of me, staring up curiously with their big blue eyes,

"Amazing,"

"You said it, I'm their meister and sometimes I'm even surprised by their raw strength,"

I nodded, understanding what he meant,

"You're a cool guy, Kilik,"

"Thankyou,"

"No problem,"

"Well, I got to go, but lets talk again, okay?"

I bumped his fist which was out stretched to me,

"Yeah, sounds like a plan."

But other then that and Stein trying to dissect a red panda (my favourite animal); nothing noticeable really happened at all. Black Star didn't even turn up. And just as I thought the day was going to be near normal, a loud happy voice I recognised as Lord Death's came pounding over the speaker system wired around the school,

"Attention, all students! This is an official notice stating that the Death Weapon Meister Academy's annual ball will be held in a weeks time, sorry for the short notice"

I looked around at Kidd, who was standing next to me,

"Annual ball?"

My face was full of scepticism as he turned to me,

"Yes, I suppose Father found something appropriate about that time slot, I suggest you begin to prepare, it is very formal,"

"I'm not going."

Kidd snapped out of maturity mode,

"What, how can you not go!"

"Easy, I won't turn up,"

"Why not,"

"Because, weapons will be hanging with their meisters and people will be making out, I would just feel awkward, plus, I don't like wearing dresses."

"So, this all because your sister won't be able to be there, isn't it?"

I looked down at the floor,

"Maybe..."

I hated it when people could see right through me like that, but I guess that was my own fault, I was a horrible liar. He stared at me for a few more moments,

"Don't let that stop you from living,"

He looked honestly concerned,

"If it makes you feel any better, I'm sure Black Star will make sure you're never bored, Black Star will make sure no one is bored,"

He sighed, realising that if Black Star was there, trouble would be too. I laughed at this recognition,

"No deal, Kiddo,"

"Fine, if not for any of us, do it for Father, he takes so much happiness out of watching the students being all together and laughing, it's the highlight of his year."

That made feel guilty, I liked Lord Death a whole lot, especially because he was trying to help me with Sister, so I begrudgingly nodded,

"Yeah, okay, whatever."

I finally gave in and Kidd smiled,

"Excellent, well I look forward to seeing you there,"

He walked away, and I almost stopped him because, as much as I was ashamed to admit it, I would still need help getting up the Stairs From Hell, damn you, claustrophobia! I decided not to, if I could defeat an Italian mob boss, I could walk up some stairs, maybe. I walked to the hotel slower than usual, dreading the narrow stairway that awaited me, but eventually arrived there anyway, Norm looked at me,

"Bet you twenty bucks you won't be able to do it,"

Damn you, Norman! My competitive streak got the better of me,

"Make it fifty and I'm in,"

He considered for a moment, but then nodded,

"Deal,"

I closed my eyes and clambered up the stairs, tripping several times on my way up, and then I finally hit flat ground and fell flat on my face,

"Norm, you can pay me tomorrow!"

I heard him curse at me, while laughing though. I opened the door and walked straight into the shower room, I had a quick shower and briefly wondered where Black Star was. I flopped on the bed, and then the telephone rang, I picked it up tiredly,

"Hello?"

"Hey, Natsume,"

I heard Maka's voice,

"Oh, hey Maka, what's up?"

"Well all of us girls are going dress shopping tomorrow, you know, for the ball,"

I almost hung up on her for mentioning the word dress, but then thought better of it; I didn't own any formal attire,

"Yeah sounds good, tomorrow is Saturday, right?"

"Yep"

"Okay, see you then, bye,"

"Later,"

I sighed sadly; I couldn't believe I was going to have to wear a dress. Hold up, how did Maka get the number of my Hotel?

A/N: Hehehehehehehehe. For some reason I don't believe that Natsume will fare well at this upcoming ball. I'm sorry I suck at writing FLUFF so there was less then I had hoped. I wish you liked this chapter anyway and if you didn't, tell me why in the reviews :). Have a lovely week, LOVE,
ME!