Sorry for the wait everyone. I was sick most of the week and then school so yeah. :(
Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater.
"They were like vultures." Char rolled her eyes, telling the group of the constant looks and glances we received earlier today.
The first day wasn't as bad as I thought it could've been, considering I haven't been in a school setting for years. The second Kid and his friends walked into the class though, the atmosphere I was wallowing in lightened. I still can't believe I had the opportunity to make such good friends.
"I still don't know how they could've found out though." Maka said.
Tsubaki pursed her lips, "I don't think anyone said anything."
"Someone must've seen you from their dorm or something." Liz said while Patti played with her tiny origami giraffe.
"I'm pretty sure they'll stop bothering you two by tomorrow." Kid reassured, giving me a smile.
"HA! I would've loved the attention! I'm worth a topic in everyone's day-to-day conversation." BlackStar grinned.
"Right." Char mumbled sarcastically.
I introduced Char to the amusing group of people when they had walked into our third period class. Having already met Kid, Char asked something I hadn't realized.
"If you like symmetry so much, what's up with the three lines in your hair?"
I think at that point Char understood why I said not to ask about his symmetry a few days ago. Kid's demeanor completely changed to that of overwhelming pain and he collapsed into the fetal position, hitting his fist into the poor carpet. I've never seen him breakdown like that, the only time was at Noah's, and that seemed like nothing compared to this one. We were all going around trying to calm him down before Dr. Stein came in until Patti came forward and did her magic. Well, it only seemed to upset him even more, but it got him off the floor and to his seat. When I got to my seat, I was still trying to understand what just happened and I looked over at Char, who looked like she was about to burst out laughing.
Maka's suggestion to going to the bookstore woke me from my thoughts and I decided to join her. I didn't know this city well, so knowing where at least one place was wouldn't be so bad. Char joined because she didn't want to go home yet, but everyone else declined. With that the three of us split and I followed Maka to the book store.
"You carry your arrows everywhere?" Maka asked, glancing at the quiver behind my back.
"Never know when I might need them." I responded, remembering the sneak attack by that pre-Kishin. I knew it probably sounded paranoid, but really, what was the harm in it?
"I doubt you'll need them at a bookstore." Char smirked at me.
We stopped in front of a small building with a tan brick exterior. The streetlights were switching on and pretty soon the store lights would have to come on; it was getting dark out. As soon as we walked in, the relaxing smell of unused and unopened books filled my lungs. I smiled, welcoming the sight of the things that gave me mental escape when I was stuck with Noah.
"Hey Maka, do you think they'll have a book called The Little Match Girl?" I asked while Char went to take a seat on one of the benches by the door.
"I don't see why not! I think I read that one when I was younger. Here, follow me." She went to the cashier who searched in the computer for the section it was in. "Here it is." Maka said, getting on her tip-toes to pick out the book in the bookshelf after we searched for it. She handed it to me and I stared at the cover, brushing my hand over it.
"Are you okay?" Maka asked me after a moment, and I tore my eyes away from it, "I know it's a sad story, but it seems like that's not what's on your mind right now."
I forced a smile, "Yeah, I'm fine." I kept forgetting that they, especially Maka, have impeccable observation. Still, I don't know why I torture myself like this.
"Oh, this one looks like a good read. What do you think?" Maka asked, picking one out and showing me the back. It went on like that for two hours; us looking over books. By her enthusiasm I could tell she usually made treks to the bookstore by herself, and I didn't mind joining her the next time she came. I was looking at a book on the other side of the shelf when I started hearing Maka laugh. I turned around and she was holding a book, reading the back of it.
"The guy in this one, the way the author is describing him, reminds me so much of Soul." She chuckled, "He's such a jokester and so inappropriate at times, but then he can be really sweet. Not many people see that side of him, but it's there, even though it doesn't last very long."
I watched Maka, the way she smiled and set the book away, but still staring at its spine like she was thinking about something else; or maybe someone else.
"How long have you and Soul been partners?"
"It's been quite a few years now," She said, turning to me, "Why?"
"You two just seem really close."
She snorted, "Yeah, as close as a couple of bickering siblings. Is that what you mean?"
"Not exactly." I said, trying to hint at it but not wanting to be pointing out something that may not be true. I was hoping she would pick this one up.
"Then what do you mean?" she asked, not getting it. Then she blinked. "Oh, whoa. Wait. I mean, yeah we're close, but not- not that close. Soul would never go for a girl like me. He likes… busty and curvy girls. Like Blair."
"Blair?" I raised a brow.
"You don't want to know." Maka shook her head, seeming exasperated just by thought of this Blair, "But yeah, Soul likes those types."
There was a slight blush on her cheeks, and I decided to stop asking her about her and Soul. She kept talking about the types Soul may like, but she didn't mention herself at all. I was pretty sure I had my answer already. We headed toward the front of the store to pay for our books, and I went over to Char and poke her side to wake her up.
"What the hell!" she jumped, her speech hoarse from her nap and I snickered.
We walked out and after a few feet I noticed Maka had stopped walking all of a sudden. I turned to look at her and Char did as well.
"What's the hold up?" Char grumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Maka?" I walked over to her and she was staring at the sky.
"You're going to need those arrows." She said.
Char walked next to me as I looked at the sky. I didn't see anything yet; however, I heard it.
"Oh, shit! Get down!" I pulled Maka and Char to the ground just as barrage of feathers were shot above us.
"Look who it is!" Gopher's voice broke the sky, "The traitor with the target!"
"Traitor?" Char narrowed her eyes at me, and I cursed to myself.
"You didn't tell her?" Maka asked as she pulled us to cover.
"I didn't think it was necessary." I whispered as we hid in an alley beside a dumpster.
"What the hell is he talking about?" Char asked me, looking at me in a way I really didn't like.
"Look, I can't explain right now Char. We need to get her out of here." I said, peeking out from behind the corner. He was flying through the streets shooting random things we could've been hiding in.
"Maka, I need you to get the others," I said, getting up, "Char, we have to keep Gopher company."
"I can't just leave you guys." Maka retorted.
"We can't let Gopher kill you. Go and get Soul and the others. We'll be fine until then, okay?" I said as Char turned into her bow and I tucked her under my arm. I didn't wait long enough for a reply and I started climbing a ladder to the roof. "Okay, look." I said to Char as I scaled the roof, "I used to be on Noah's team, but that changed. I got Kid out of there and I managed to escape myself. I know it may be hard now, but I need you to trust me."
I spotted Gopher and I shot at him just as he shot his feathers at me. I ducked, hearing them whiz just above my head, and I looked to see that my arrow had missed. I rolled my eyes.
"Stay out of my way brat, or I will finish what I didn't end." He glared at me but I stood my ground.
"What, Noah's got his bitch out doing his errands?"
"Shut up!" he yelled, trying to ignore me and going forward.
"Or are you just the bitch's bitch?" I smirked. Anything bad said about Noah pissed Gopher off to the core. I knew there would be no way he'd leave without killing me now.
I jumped off the roof as he came charging at me, and I crashed into him, tackling him to the ground. Ahead, I could see Maka running off towards DWMA. He noticed too and point one of his fists towards her, but I grabbed an arrow that fell on the ground and plunged it into his shoulder.
He grunted and kneed me in the stomach, rolling me under him. "What's this, you replaced Kaori?"
"Shut up Gopher!" I grabbed his foot just as he took off into the air, dropping Char in the process.
"What, you forgot him that fast?" he kicked at my arms and head to try and get me off, "Wasn't he special to you?"
"I said shut up!" I screamed and picked out an arrow in the quiver, stabbing him in the leg. Gopher swung his leg around, covering his pain with anger. I lost my grip and flew into a crate on the ground.
"Shit." I grunted, picking myself up.
"You think you're so good, but you're just trash! Why Noah wanted you as a part of his collection at first is something I'll never understand. I deserve that place!" Gopher heaved out the arrow and shot feathers my way.
"Kuro!" Char ran and dove toward me, turning into her bow. I jumped away from where I was, but one still shot through my calf. I shifted and grabbed the arrow he tore out of him, shooting at him, he just grabbed it and broke it in half. If I can get his other arm, there won't be any more feathers to worry about.
I reached behind me and felt only one arrow still in my quiver. I took it out and aimed, but he was already picking up his other fist. I shot just before he did and it hit, judging by pained sound he made, but the feathers he already shot were heading toward me. I couldn't move because of my calf. I threw Char away from me and used my arms to shield my face. One burrowed into my left thigh, another shot through my right palm, another into my left upper arm and into my ribs. After it was over, I didn't know what pain to scream over first. I couldn't get up so I was left lying limply on the ground.
"Kuro!" I heard Char's feet hitting the ground, and she fell to her knees beside me, "Oh crap. Oh crap."
I think Char understood that I couldn't get up but didn't want to say anything in case Gopher didn't know. However, I'm pretty sure after all of that, he wasn't expecting me to.
"I don't know what that was, but I don't care," I heard him say and I tried looking at him. His shirt was off, and where the arrow had hit his shoulder was burned skin. His shirt lay on the floor along with the arrow, in flames. "You'll be dead long before it even matters!"
His abdominal area started to open in preparation for his strongest attack, and my heart dropped, knowing exactly what it was.
"I need you to run. Now."
"No. I'm not leaving you." She shook her head and grabbed my arm, trying to drag me away.
"Char, the radius of his stomach cannon will take out the whole damn block; do you understand what I'm saying?" I pushed her away with great pain, "You still have time to run! Go!"
"Maka's coming with help!" she yelled at me stubbornly, "You can't tell me to leave my Meister to die. That's not my job!"
"They're taking too long, it's too late!" I exclaimed, watching as Gopher was just about ready to launch the glowing ball of deadly energy at us. Tears pricked my eyes, "Just please, I can't have someone dead because of me again."
A couple of loud clacking sounds came from overhead, and a duo of bright purple lights flew across the sky and dug right into Gopher's cranium. The blast didn't hurt him enough to kill him, but it surprised him enough to get his attention off the cannon. His midriff closed up as he flew into a wall. A figure flew down from the sky on a green skateboard, positioning himself in front of me. A small, relieved laugh came out of me.
"Kid!"
End of Chapter X
Hope you all enjoyed!
- Limiterlys