Chapter 9:
Justin?
Maka's Point of view:
I ran. Ran to the one place I feel safe. The place I feel at home and like I can be myself. Past the school. Through the graveyard, all the way to the back and up the hill to the cliff. I made it to the top and dropped to the ground next to the tombstone. Carved into the stone was:
'Here lies Justin Lee"
'Loving son, brother,'
'And Friend'
I pushed myself up to sit beside the stone. I sighed and looked out at the town lights below the cliff. I miss you,Justin. I leaned my head over onto the cold, hard surface. This was our spot. Justin, Lisa and mine. That night, it was all my fault. I through away my sanity. A year and a half ago. I won't let it happened to anyone else. The wind blew, causing my hair to swim around in the air.
Black*Star's Point of View:
"Maka!" I called racing to the door but she was gone. The window in the hall outside our apartment was open. I looked out and saw the small figure across the parking lot. The graveyard. I turned and went back inside where Soul was asking a lot of questions and Tsubaki was waiting.
"Are we going after her again?" She asked with a small, patient smile. I nodded and she headed to her room. Soul was still going on and on with questions.
"Soul," I looked at him, "You can either shut up and come with us or stay here and continue yelling questions to the wall." I went in my room and change out of my pajamas. When I came out Soul and Tsubaki had changed. She slid her shoes on and grabbed the keys. We went down the stairs and nodded and the night desk lady.
"Maka?" She asked.
Tsubaki smiled and sighed, "But of course."
"Pizza." She said more than asked, picking up the phone. We walked outside and to the car. Soon we were riding down the road.
"Soo. Where are we going exactly?" Soul asked leaning up from the backseat.
"In case you couldn't tell Maka has had it rough. Well, a little over a year ago her closest friend was killed and his sister kidnapped. Maka was there and now she blames herself." I saw the surprise on both of their faces. Maka and I had never told Tsubaki. Maka won't be happy I told them but it's not right to leave them in the dark and drag them out into the night.
"Was it her fault?" Tsubaki asked quietly. I shook my head. Soul sat in silence for a minute. "She is more than likely at the graveyard Justin was buried in." We rode in silence until we pulled into a tiny parking lot, right in front of a fence. The cast iron poles had a sign hanging above the decorative gate.
'Death City Burial'
"Here we are." I said as we all got out.
Maka's Point of View:
I'm sorry, Justin. I'll find her I promise, but I won't lose anyone else in the process. I turned to look at the stone. Sweeping dust and leaves off the grave marker. There was never really anyone to come up here but me. His sister missing, their parents location is unknown. I'm the only one left and I'm sure he'd prefer me not be here but I am. I turned back to leaning on the side of the stone. I looked out over Death City. You can see everything from up here. I closed my eyes and drifted into the first peaceful sleep I have had in three years.
Black*Star's Point of View:
"Maka?" We walked up the hill and saw her laying against Justin's grave. "She's asleep. I can't move her.
This is the best she has slept since returning that night."
"What would you like to do?" Tsubaki asked me. She sat next to Maka and brushed the hair out of the girls face. "She is so calm."
"Should we try and take her to the apartment. She is passed out." Soul said, "Or we could wait here for her to get up."
"Tsubaki, you and Soul head back to the apartment. I'll wait here, and if she doesn't wake up in a few hours I can carry her." Tsubaki nodded and led Soul back to the car but made sure I was sure about being able to carry her. WHO DOES HE THINK I AM! A MORTAL? OF COURSE A GOD LIKE ME CAN CARRY THE TINNY GIRL! Wow. That came out of nowhere. I was doing so good at being calm to. Oh well. I sat down and positioned Maka so that her head was in my lap. She mumbled something and balled up next to me. I should have brought a blanket.
Soul's Point of View
Tsubaki and I didn't talk much on the ride home. I think we were still both in shock from the news from earlier. It has been a week since my first day, and the second time I have gone to find Maka. Last time she made it almost to the school before she couldn't run anymore. When we found her she was on the ground sobbing.
"Soul, would you like a slice?" She held the pizza box out to me. I took it and set it on the coffee table. She went to the kitchen and came back with a bottle of Dr. Pepper and two glasses. I grabbed a slice of pizza. We ate and watched some TV while we waited for Star.
Black*Star's Point of View:
A hour and twenty minutes. Come on Maka, wake up would ya. It's getting colder and I want pizza. If this was anyone else I would have yelled them awake by now, but if I did that to Maka. She is crazy enough to actually kill me.
"Mmmmm." Maka slowly sat up. "What are you doing here, Star?" She rubbed her eye as she looked at me.
"I came to check on you." She raised a brow at me.
"Sorry for running away again." She brushed off her skirt and yawned. She looked around seeing that it was just me and let a relieved sigh.
I grinned and pushed myself up. Stretching, I reached my hand out to Maka, who accepted and stood next to me. "You ready to head back? There is pizza." I laughed and offered her my back for a ride. She climbed on and nodded that she was ready. I took off climbing and jumping from building to building.