Author's note: Yay chapter 10! I actually don't have much to say this time LOL so lets get this started. I do not own soul eater and please review! Your reviews make me write faster, and give me motivation so I thank the ones that do. Now lets do this.
Chapter 10: Tension
You know that heavy feeling you get right before a fight or a confrontation? That feeling of tension that makes you watch what you say or do? Makes it uncomfortable to move because your scared one wrong move could set it off? That feeling settles over the four teens as they walk the quiet streets of Death city. All was quiet, only there feet making sound beneath them. Maka was very aware of the feeling though she didn't understand it, she didn't understand why she felt as if something was about to go down. Maybe were all just tense about the mission... Maka dares to look over at her partner who was looking at the Reaper, the feeling of tension grows. It felt as if they were walking on a mine field, making Maka get more cautious by the minute. She knew who was causing the tension between them. It was obvious, but maybe they could make it to the DWMA without any trouble..
"So Kid" Soul turns his attention to the road in front of him but still looks at the Reaper from the corner of his eye. The silence is broken but the tension grows. "How was the game with Black Star?" The Scythe watches the other boy's face.
This was it. This was the question that could break hell loose. Maka didn't know why but she felt it. She guess Crona feels it too, for his hand tightens it's grip around hers.
"It was ok, I guess but he was annoying." Kid states eyes straight ahead.
And just like that, the thick tension was gone.
"Oh?" Soul fully looks at him, The Scythe caught off guard by his answer. He was expecting the Reaper to be an ass or to tell him about how fun the game was with out him but no. "how so?"
"Well to start off he kept leaving me behind in the game so I kept dying, He was loud the whole time, and I ended up kicking him out soon after you left for breaking one of my vases." Kid's eye twitches as he remembers his time with the annoying Assassin. The Reaper only agreed to letting the brute in because Soul was with him... even then it was a mistake.
"Oh I thought you liked him?" The Demon Scythe caught the twitch of Kid's eye and couldn't help but to smirk. So he really didn't have a good time with him huh?
"Don't get me wrong Black Star is my friend, he is just hard to deal with for long periods of time" Kid's face goes back to being blank, still not looking at Soul.
"Oh how long was he there then before you kicked him out?"
"...15 minutes."
"Oh that's such a long period of time." The Scythe smirks speaking with pure sarcasm.
"Ok well he's just hard to deal with period." Kid sighs.
"Yeah I know what you mean.." Soul grunts thinking about all the times Black Star has pissed him off. There's to many times to count. The Scythe couldn't help but to feel almost...relieved that Kid didn't have a good time, that Kid doesn't like Black Star as much as he thought. if that's true..why he pick him over me?
"What about the power of friend ship, Soul?" Kid suddenly chuckles sending the Scythe's mind a blank for a moment.
"What?...oh that." Soul scratches his head. "Don't remind me of that. It was embarrassing. The idiot caught me with his head that's what happen to the power of our friend ship." Soul sighs remembering his first encounter with the Reaper was a fight, a fight that both him and Black Star totally lost. Even back then the Scythe had a respect for the way the boy took the situation with stride even if he kicked there ass's.
"Yeah and I was almost impressed at your display of friend ship." Kid can't hold in another chuckle, remembering the look on Black Star's face as Soul came back down onto his head. Stop it Kid! Your slipping! Your just making things more difficult.
"Yeah it wasn't cool." Soul chuckles with the other boy, enjoying the Reaper's laughter. Now this is more like the boy that was at my house. The Scythe was happy he wasn't just being blank like a statue or being an ass but he can't help but to notice the Reaper hasn't looked at him yet.
"S-Soul seems to be I-In a better mood." Crona whispers close to Maka's ear making sure the other two males can't hear him.
"Yeah." She whispers back and studies her weapon. Soul was acting kinda weird lately. One minute he's mad, the next he's back to normal. Like with the tension, it was obvious it was coming from her partner though she didn't know why. He was fine before Kid showed up. That's another thing. When did Soul and Kid become so close? Yesterday was the first time they had the Reaper over alone in there apartment, not that she minded but why Kid? She expected if anything to see the Blue-headed Assassin in her home, not the Reaper. Maybe the mission was bring them closer.. Maka's eyes wonder over to Kid who was laughing with her weapon. Kid was acting different too. She would catch the Reaper looking at her sometimes, his face is blank but it seems he's studying her..He especially looks at her when she's with Soul as if he's waiting for something...But what?
"I must warn you again, Maka...Liz and Patty talked about doing your Make- up all day yesterday, so be prepared." Kid looks at her and smirks.
"I-I think I'm ready." She takes a deep breath as the group walk up the stairs to the DWMA.
"Hey Kid, why the hell did your dad have to make this school with so many stairs?" Soul groans as they finally make it up the stairs and into the school, he's slightly sweating.
"Maybe just to annoy a certain Demon Scythe." Kid can't help but to smirk at seeing the look Soul was giving him from the corner of his eye. "But seriously, I don't really know."
"Maybe to keep all the cows at your school in shape!" Ragnarok pops out of Crona's back. "Like Maka here."
"Yeah Maka, maybe you should walk up and down those stairs more often, you might be able to get rid of those fatty ankles." Soul smirks as they reach the door's to the Death room. The Scythe and the Demon sword start cracking up.
"Ohh Soul.." Maka glares darkly bring out her book. "You'll pay for that"
"Not if you can't catch me!" He grins running through the doors into the Death room.
"Soul!" Maka growls and runs after him, chasing him through the guillotine hallway leaving Kid and Crona behind
"Oh no..." Crona watches as Maka chases Soul as they walk into the Death room after them. " He shouldn't h-have said that."
"That Scythe just better not get caught." Ragnarok perches up on the boy's head more putting his tiny fists near his mouth area. "Soul you can out run her! The fat on her ankles is holding her down!" He shouts.
This causes the Scythe to laugh more then he already is. He holds his side and slows down just enough for Maka to deliver a deadly blow to the head. Soul falls to the floor laying in a pool of his own blood, out for the count.
"Idiot." Maka grumbles then sends a glare to the Demon Sword. "Your next."
"Hell no!" Ragnarok retreats into Crona's body.
"I'll get him." She flumes as she marches into the center of the Death room.
"W-why was S-Soul being mean to M-Maka?" Crona grips his arm as he walks up to the wounded Scythe in question. "Aren't t-they best f-friends?"
"Yes they are, but Soul was just teasing Maka." Kid walks next to the Demon Swordsman his eyes glued to the Scythe.
"T-Teasing?" "Im just teasing you, Crona!" The scythe- Meister's voice finds it's way into his mind.
"Yes. Teasing is a way to show affection. You just have to have a good sense of humor, which Maka does not. So it results to this." The Reaper points down at the other boy and sighs. "Must she be so rough.."
"A-Affection?" Crona blushes. Maka was showing me affection! But what does that mean? The boy frowns. Wait...Soul was just Teasing Maka so he was showing her affection?..They are friends and Soul is Maka's weapon so of course Soul cares for her but... how much? Crona remembers the glare of the Scythe and the way he smirked at him when he held Maka in his arms. A odd feeling turns his stomach. He feels sick.
"Yes, now lets join her." Kid puts Soul's arm around his shoulder and grabs his side. The Reaper can feel his body warm up and his heart beat at being so close to the Scythe. He tries to ignore the warmness of Soul's body on his hand as he walks into the Center of the Death room, with Crona close behind him, looking at the ground.
"I'm telling you Stein, It's an omen!" Spirit shouts, his jacket is off and on the floor. His pants and shirt is ruffled up like he just ran a marathon. The Death Scythe is shaking the possessor, his eye's panic.
" What is?" Maka raises an eye brow at her father as the three boys catch up to her.
"Spirit seems to have lost the doll of you." Stein states bored with his former weapons freak out.
"Maka, my baby! Papa is so sorry!" Spirit lets go of Stein his eyes starting to water.
"Why would I care?" She grunts. "I'm glad you lost it, it was just creepy."
"I have to find it! I bet...I bet someone stole it! Someone who likes my little girl almost as much as me.." Spirit scans the room his eyes seeming to fall on Crona.
The Demon Swordsman was sweating pretty badly by now. Oh no! I'm going to get caught and I don't know how to deal with that! What would Maka think if she found out I had stolen from her father? Or worse then that, that I stole a doll of her?! He gulps. She seems ok with him losing the doll but what would she think of him having it? Will she hate him? Will she never want to see him again? Crona was trembling now as the Death Scythe starts walking towards him, a glare frozen on his face. The Swordsman can only look at him, his teeth starting to chatter.
"I know it was you.." Spirit marches up. Crona braces himself. This was it. This is what he derves. Judgement."Soul!" The Scythe completely passes by the boy to yell at the unconscious weapon still being held by kid. " Look at you! He's so guilty he passed out, he is probably afraid to face me and ohh he should be."
"Actually sir, Soul was-
"Don't try to stick up for him, Kid!" Spirit growls as he grabs a hold of Soul and starts shaking him. "Where is my doll?!"
Crona exhales the breath he was holding and grabs his heart. He know's he shouldn't be but he was so happy the Scythe was getting the blame and not him. He has never felt so relieved.
"What the hell get off!" Soul growls, the Death Scythe's shaking revived him. "Why would I have your creepy doll?!"
" You may be able to fool my little girl but it's obvious your feelings for my daughter." He growls in his ear.
Soul's face turns red with anger as he grips his fist. "Get off me old man!"
"No give me my doll!"
"Papa!" Maka glares at him. "Let go!"
"No baby! He's a thief!"
Crona tenses a little and he grips his arm hard, guilt filling his heart. No..im the thief.
"Spirit." Kid puts a hand on the Death Scythe's shoulder, causing the man to pause his shaking of the boy. Both Scythe's look at him. " When exactly did you find your doll missing?"
"Well..today in the early afternoon... I searched everywhere for it." He tears up again.
"Oh good grief." Maka rolls her eyes.
"Then it couldn't have been Soul. He was at my house today during that time." He states looking Spirit in the eye's.
The Death Scythe slumps and lets go of Soul. "But...if not him then who..?" He grips his head falling into a corner of his depression but with no Maka doll to comfort him.
"Thanks, Kid." Soul sighs happy to be out of Spirit's hands.
"No problem." Kid turns his back to Soul and walks over to a black tent that was in the Death room, that was currently being looked over by Stein.
Soul sighs. Not this again. The feeling of distance the Reaper was Tring to push between them. The Scythe wouldn't let him get far.
"Um what the hell is that?" Maka points at the tent.
"It's your dressing room!" Liz pops out of it with a huge smile on her face, her arms stretched out to emphasize.
"M-My dressing room?" Her mouth drops slightly. Okay...Maybe im not prepared for this.
"Yeah! Come on in, your dress is ready." Marie comes out her eyes lighting up. "Ohh your going to look so cute!"
"N-Not you too Miss Marie." Maka sighs.
"Wait of course!" Spirit suddenly jumps up, his eyes wide. "If not Soul then..." He turns slowly, his eyes falling on Crona. The Swordsman visibly tenses. "You!" He marches over, a finger pointing at him. "It was you-
"Don't even blame Crona!" Maka growls getting in front of her friend protectively as she grabs her fathers finger and bends it back causing the Scythe to yelp. " He wouldn't steal, and why would he even want the doll?"
Guilt grows in the Swordsman's heart, causing him to bow his head, his body trembling. Maka is defending me yet I really did do it. He grips his arm and looks at the floor. My shadow was right. I am a horrible person.
"Ow! But Maka look! He's shaking, he did it!" Spirit cries.
"Your scaring him!" She growls. "He didn't do it, he was with me today at the house!"
"Maka, why do you keep having boys over?" Spirit sobs. "Their all bad."
"The only bad one is you." She grunts then lets go of him, the man falls to the floor sulking.
"Im not bad..."
"Forget about him Crona." Maka turns to him and grips his shoulders. "He's an idiot."
"Not a idiot.." He pouts.
"O-ok Maka." Crona grips his arm more. He has to tell her. He has to confess his sins. The swordsman promised he wouldn't lie to her anymore and he never wanted to make her upset again. He takes a deep breath. This was it. "B-But I-
"Come on Maka it's time!" Liz taps her foot impatiently.
"Hold up, Crona wants to tell me something!"
"Maka get your ass in here! We have been waiting for this all day!" Patty pops her head out, her face scrunched up in a scarey face.
"C-Coming." Maka jumps slightly. The youngest knew how to get someone moving. "Sorry Crona, tell me later ok?" She gives him one last squeeze before the Thomson sisters grab her and pull her into the tent.
"I"m helping her with the dress!" Marie squeals and runs in after them, sealing the tent behind her.
"May father have mercy on her." Kid sighs.
"Yeah sucks to be her." Soul grunts and eyes a still sweating Demon Swordsman. He doesn't really care much for the other boy.. But he can try to be nice especially since the mission is hard on everyone's nerves. " Dude are you alright?"
"F-Fine!" Crona tenses up as if he was just in deep thought but he gives him a nervous smile.
"You don't look fine dude." Soul studies him.
"Yes, your quite pale and your sweating. Do you have a fever?" Kid places a hand on Crona's forehead.
"N-No." Crona averts his gaze, eyeing the Death Scythe who was still crying about his Maka doll.
"Don't worry about him." Soul grunts. "Like Maka said he's an idiot."
"He sure is!" Lord Death appears in his mirror, bouncing up and down. " My, my the Death room is pretty lively!"
"Ow! The dress is to tight!" Maka shouts from within the tent.
"Suck it in sister! Beauty is pain." Marie yells back followed by a loud groan from Maka. "Got it!"
"Sounds like everything is going according to plan!" Death cheers.
"Sounds p-painful." Crona rubs his arm, Maka's shout taking his mind off of the doll and back to the situation at hand.
"Beauty is pain." Soul mocks.
"O-Oh." Maka must be in pain a lot then...
"Did Noface show yesterday night?" Kid looks at Stein who is turning the bolt in his head.
"No. Marie and I patrolled the streets but nothing happen." His bolt clicks.
"That's odd...it killed someone everyday we were on guard.." Kid rubs his chin.
"Yes, yesterday was the first quiet night in two weeks."
"Why do you think that is? Do you think it has anything to do with us not being there?" Kid starts to pace back and forth.
"Do you think it knows were planning something?" Soul steps forward and looks at Stein.
"Well, it is a possibility that he knows we are planning something and has gone into hiding. That would explain him not coming out yesterday."
"So this plan tonight might be a fail?" Soul grunts.
"It is a possible but we still need to try." Stein takes a cigarette out and lights it. He takes a puff
"Yes we have to say positive!" Lord Death chimes.
"Ow Liz! Your stabbing me in the eye!"
"No I'm not I'm going around it with eye liner, stay still!"
"Yeah, you baby." Patty giggles.
"Are you guys almost done in there?" Stein takes another puff. "It's getting late and I still have to go over the mission."
"Stein you can't rush these things!" Marie pokes her head out of the tent and glares at the scientist.
"I can when it's a mission and not a game, Marie." He sighs.
"Well!" She huffs. "We know it's a mission, they're almost done."
"Now powder!" Liz cheers.
"W-Wait!"
"Powder!" Patty cheers.
Maka coughs loudly breathing in some of the powder she's being pelted with.
"Done!" Both sisters cheer causing all eyes to go on the tent.
"Let me see!" Marie squeals and disappears back into the tent. "Awww Maka!" She squeals again.
"I know right!" Liz squeals.
"Ugh my ears." Maka grumbles.
"Come on out, Maka. We want to see too!" Lord Death Chimes.
"Presenting..." Liz comes out of the tent and holds her arms out to the entrance, like she's a show girl.
"The new..." Patty comes out and does the same on the other side.
"Guys, I don't know-
"Aurora!" Marie cuts Maka off shoving her out of the tent for all to see.
Crona can't help the gasp that escapes his lips. His face heats up and that weird feeling in his stomach returns with a vengeance.
Maka stands in front of the tent with a long blue dress on. It has a old style to it, but it's beautiful non the less. The dress is tight on the top, Making the young girl's curves, that were usually hidden under her sweater vest, more noticeable. The dress puffs out at the waist and it ends right before her ankles. Maka's once blonde hair is now black and hangs down on her shoulders. Her eyes sparkle and look even more pronounced then usually. The only difference between Maka and Aurora from the photo was Maka didn't have a bright smile gracing her face, but a pout. "I look stupid." She blushes under all the stares and starts to move her feet back and forth.
She does not look stupid...she looks gorgeous. Crona swallows hard, not able to keep his eyes off the Scythe-Meister.
"No you don't you actually look like a girl." Soul grunts and turns his head to the side to hide his blush from her.
"You don't look stupid Maka, you look beautiful." Kid states with a small smile. He didn't want to compliment her, not after seeing the Scythe blush at her beauty but he was a gentleman.
Both Soul and Crona whip their heads towards the Reaper with questioning looks.
"Whait is it not true?" Kid looks between the them.
Soul grunts and looks away as Crona just nods his face still red.
"See, Maka. They all think you look good!" Liz smirks her eyes sparking. "You should let me do your make-up more often!"
"One time is enough thank you." Maka sighs and looks at Crona. The Swordsman makes eye contact with her but quickly looks away and starts to fidget. She raises an eyebrow.
"Did you have to make her look this good?!" Spirit jumps up glaring at the Thomson sisters. "You have all those boys lusting over my precious daughter!"
"Yeah right, a cool guy like me doesn't lust over girls with flat chests." Soul crosses his arms, his blush gone.
"What you say you-
"Reaper-Chop!" Lord Death's large hand quickly comes out and delivers a deadly blow to the Death Scythe just as he was about to tackle Soul. "We don't have time for that. I appreciate your efforts, Liz and Patty but you guys took quite a while so we don't have much time. Stein review the mission." Spirit falls unconscious in front of the mirror.
"Right, everyone listen up." Stein looks at all the faces of his students, all eyes are focused on him. "Tonight we lore out Noface. Maka will walk around Death city dressed as she is, alone. The rest of you will watch out for the ghost, but you have to keep a good distance from Maka or this plan may not work. I suggest you five wait up on the roof tops so you can see her pretty good even if she's far away."
"How will we stay in touch?" Kid looks at Stein. "What if she has to tell us something?"
"Yeah and I don't think it's a good idea to be so far away from Maka." Soul crosses his arms.
"It's the only way, Soul. Noface surely won't show if he sees all of you watching her, and Kid you will use this." He hands Maka and Kid both a small microphone with a skull on it. " You both put these in your ears, you'll be able to hear each other and communicate through them so if something goes wrong or you have something to say you can call for help."
"Ok." Maka puts hers in her ear.
"Understood." Kid does the same.
"Good. If Noface shows quickly jump down and ambush him. Don't waste anytime, Maka is weaponless so this is a risk. This is no Kishen egg, we don't know what it's capable of. Be careful especially if the ghost is being aided by a witch. No doubt fighting Noface may cause the witch to come out of hiding as well."
"We won't let the bastard touch her, and if a witch does show we'll take care of her too."
Soul looks at Maka.
"Yeah we'll blast her away!" Patty shouts punching her fist in the air.
"Y-Yeah." Crona nods and looks at Maka, his dark eyes shining with determination. He told her she could count on him. He wouldn't let her down.
Maka looks at all her friends and gives them a determined look back. Whatever happens, she was not going to fail.
"Are you ready?" Stein looks at them with a blank expression.
"Yes." Maka clenches her fist.
"Good. Just promise me." He looks at all the young faces. "Come back alive."
"We will come back alive and with the creatures Soul" She shouts.
Crona watches Maka his mouth slightly open in awe, his blush coming back. She's so brave..and.. His eyes fall down to her dress just for his eyes to shoot right back up his blush darkening....amazing.
"Good." Stein takes a drag of the cigarette he has been holding, closing his eyes.
"Yeah lets go!" Soul and Patty roar.
"U-um yeah." Liz starts to shake a little as she pumps her fist falsely, not really ready for this at all.
"Wait!" Spirit jumps up off the floor, his eyes panic. "You can't go, Maka!"
"Papa." She glares.
"Would you just stay down old man?" Soul groans.
"Me losing my doll is a omen! It's a sign that something bad may happen to you Maka! This mission is no good!" Spirit ignores the Scythe and stares intently at his daughter.
Crona grips his arm and looks at Maka from the corner of his eye. A omen? The doll? His fingers become white from gripping so hard. Something bad happing to Maka?
"Your being ridiculous Spirit." Stein's glasses glare as he looks at his former weapon. "Your doll has nothing to do with the mission. Maka will be fine, we will be watching them here in the Death room through the mirror, Just in case they need us to step in. Everything will be fine."
"No!" Spirit looks at his daughter with a serious face. "Even if we are watching I don't trust it, so Maka as your father I forbid you to do this mission!"
All gets quiet in the Death room. The tension from early comes back harder, heaver as all eyes slowly start to go towards Maka.
She was not impressed. Maka simply looks at him with a blank stare before turning on her heel and starts walking towards the hall way.
"Maka, come back here!" Spirit growls. "Listen to me! I don't want you to get hurt!"
She just keeps walking till she's at the doors to the Death room, all the other teens follow her silently. There walking on a mine field again.
"Maka!" He shouts one last time.
She looks back at him with her hand on the door. The tension explodes. "No, I'm doing this mission and there's nothing you can do to stop me. Stop trying to act like you're my father, because your not. I'll never consider you as one. You should have acted like a real father with mom. not now. Not now when she's gone. You have no power over me." She quickly leaves the Death room in a huff with Crona right behind her.
"M-Maka!" He calls after her his voice full of worry.
Spirit just stands there with his mouth wide open from shock. The remanding four teens and the professor wait for the Death Scythe to have a huge fit and cry like he always does. The Scythe seems to be frozen on the spot for a moment before his mouth slowly starts to close. They all wait for his loud wining but to everyone's surprise the Death Scythe just grips his heart and bows his head.
"Lets go." Kid whispers to Soul as he starts to walk out the Death room.
"Yeah." Soul glances at Spirit one last time before following the gun trio out the doors of the Death Room.
"Spirit?" Stein looks at his former weapon. He may not look like it but he was concerned about the Death Scythe. He Knew Maka's words stuck a cord. "Are you alright?"
"I will be a good father to you Maka." Spirit mumbles to himself griping his chest. "Even though Mama's not here, I am and I won't let any thing hurt you."
"She knows that." Stien puts a hand on the Scythe's shoulder, causing him to look up at him in surpise. " I believe Maka just feels she shouldn't forgive you because of her mom. She would probably feel like she is betraying her mother in some way if she did. Give her time, she'll come around."
"Stein.." He looks at his old Meister eye's wide.
"Come on we have to keep an eye on the mission." He lets go of him to walk to the mirror.
"Right." Spirit regains himself and walks with him. Time huh?
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"M-Maka" Crona follows quickly after his friend, usually he would have trouble keeping up with her, but it seems the tight dress slows her down a bit.
Maka finally stops her speed walk once she's out of the DWMA. The cool night air hits her face, and ruffles her dress. She takes a breath.
"M-Maka." Crona tries again as he stops a couple steps behind her. "A-Are you ok?"
"Yes." She answers immediately and turns to look at him, her face unreadable. "I'm sorry about just rushing out of there but he was really getting on my nerves."
"D-Do you want to talk about it?" Crona rubs his arm.
"No, we have a mission to do." Maka walks over to him and gives his shoulder a squeeze. "Thanks anyway, I appreciate it." She smiles at him but it doesn't reach her eyes.
"O-Ok." Crona nods and smiles back. "Y-Your welcome."
"Yo, you alright Maka?" Soul walks out with the gun trio by his side.
"I'm fine lets start the mission." Maka's eyes flare. Im going to prove to that man that I can handle myself and that this mission will be a success. I'm not scared of omen's.
"Right." Everyone nods and Maka starts to separate herself from the group.
"M-Maka." Crona calls gently.
She turns to look back at him. His dark eyes make eye contact with her green ones. "B-Be careful."
"I will." Maka gives him her determined look before she starts walking off into the night.
Crona watches her go longing already to be by her side before he turns and follows the other four in the opposite direction. Please be Careful.
So Chapter 10 what do you think? Oh and does anyone have a problem with the way I write the POV's? Is it confusing or is it good? Please review and let me know! Oh and the next chapter is the mission so be excited because I am LOL.