Chapter 11
'Today I don't feel like doing anything. I'm just gonna lay in my bed. Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone, 'cause today I swear I'm not doing anything, nothing at all…"
It had been a while since she had woken up like this and while she knew the tune well, she also knew full well it wasn't her phone. The body she had been sleeping against shifted, an annoyed groan vibrating through the chest of the once snoring male that was now shifting around in irritation. Shifting a bit so that he could lean over the bed and reach for his pants and cell phone, Tsubaki stifled a yawn and rolled onto her other side. She didn't have classes until later in the afternoon and was more than willing to sleep in after the drama and activities from the night before. She was mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted and wanted nothing more than to sleep the day away. "Hello?" Black Star's voice finally tiredly croaked out. "Eh, what the fuck time is it?" The bed shifted as he rolled onto his side, leaning fully over his girlfriend and snatching the clock from the bedside table. "Dude, I'm not moving for another four hours… Yeah, I don't give two shits what he wants… No… Tell Soul- what? Yeah ok whatever I'll be out that way anyway today… Uh huh… We need to put a end to this soon or I'll be the one snapping necks." He grumbled out a good bye before dropping back into the pillows, instinctively pulling Tsubaki's body back to his.
"Hey," she greeted as he nuzzled the back of her neck.
"Hey," he answered back. She smiled slightly before rolling over in his arms and leaning her forehead against his chest.
"You have to go today?" His fingers were running through her hair lazily.
"Yeah, but not 'til later. A quick meeting and I'm going to work." He explained. "Then I'm yours the rest of the night." She smiled faintly, tilting her head up to look at him.
"You're certain this time?" she asked. He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose.
"Yeah... How about we get breakfast a little later and I'll walk you to school?" Giving a mute nod, Tsubaki cuddled closer to him, hiding her content smile. They were silent for a while and she was certain he had fallen right back to sleep until his voice broke her drowsy thoughts. "Tsubaki… are we ok?" She shifted to look at him, confusion written on her face.
"What do you mean?" Black Star pursed his lips and averted eye contact like he usually did when faced with asking something he was uncomfortable with.
"After last night. You wanted to end things, right? I wanna know you're ok…" His gaze slowly shifted to her and Tsubaki felt her heart skip a beat when their eyes locked. She was mad at him the night before… actually even now she had certain doubts about how he was spending his nights away from her and was torn on if she wanted to deal with any of it. However, she felt herself breaking down under his gaze. She lowered her eyes and bit down on her lower lip.
"I'm upset with you for keeping secrets, especially when these secrets are breaking us apart," She admitted and felt him flinch. "But at the same time, I love you enough to feel as though you'll eventually tell me what it is and whatever it is, I'm hoping you're being safe and always come home to me or with the thought of me at the end of every night." Black Star slowly released a breath.
"I can't tell you yet… but I will, I just need you to trust me." He answered, leaning his forehead to hers and closing his eyes. "I promise, I'll make it all up to you when this is over." Tsubaki reached up, distractedly stroking his cheek.
"Are you in danger?" she whispered timidly. Black Star's eyes slowly opened and he smiled faintly.
"Not if I can help it."
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Soul yawned widely, swatting Maka away when she gave him an elbow about being a gentleman, and ran his fingers through his hair. He was currently walking along side his girlfriend to Shibusen, trying to make up for some lost time with these small moments, and for the most part, she seemed content. He was currently holding a few of her books under one arm while she skimmed through a book, every so often making a comment about something he didn't understand.
"Maka, can we not talk educational the last few minutes of this walk?" he groaned, giving the confused woman a pleading look. She pursed her lips, snapping the book shut.
"An educational talk will do you some good! You've been spending so much time playing around with Black Star the past couple of weeks." Soul rolled his eyes.
"And I've still managed to have more entertaining conversations." He answered, ignoring Maka's annoyed glare. He knew she was annoyed with the fact he spent a lot of time away from her, especially since she believed Black Star was trouble incarnate, but at the same time, he wasn't in the mood for her college talk. She huffed childishly, hugging her textbook to her chest.
"You're so mean sometimes… Why can't you be like other boyfriends?" He raised an eyebrow, mildly entertained.
"Oh and how are other boyfriends?" he ventured. There was a sudden glimmer in Maka's eyes.
"You know! They do whatever they can to hold their girlfriend's hand. Or the girl doesn't have to argue with her boyfriend to carry her things for her. Or even a cute kiss in public instead of some make out session before splitting up, and then he looks deep in her eyes and says he loves her…" Soul was certain that if her book was living, she would have crushed it to death the way she was hugging it, eyes a glow and directed toward the sky.
"So, you want me to be like Black Star?" Maka scoffed indignantly.
"What makes you think I want you to be like that jackass?" she spat only for Soul to point forward at their best friends standing just outside the university student center. Black Star had leaned forward, gently blushing his lips to hers before grinning widely down at the woman's pink face and stating something which caused Tsubaki to beam up at him and respond similarly. Maka's face reddened.
"He seems to have the idea." Soul informed only to laugh when Maka gave him a rough shove and walked ahead towards the content pair.
"Good afternoon love birds!" she called, snapping their attention from each other.
"Hi Maka-chan. Soul." Tsubaki grinned as she took her books from Black Star's arms. "I didn't know you two would be seeing each other last night."
"I didn't either," Soul answered. "But someone needed the company last night." He teased, kissing the top of Maka's head. "All the same, I have a meeting out this way today so it's all convenience in the end."
"You do too?" Tsubaki cocked her head to the side before turning her curious attention to Black Star.
"We're meeting up with the same guy." He answered. "He should actually be here soon." Maka raised an eyebrow suspiciously.
"You guys just call meetings outside of Shibusen now for convenience?" she asked.
"No, he goes here actually." Soul answered causing Maka to stare at him blankly.
"Tsubaki, you've met him!" Black Star added brightly.
"How come I haven't met him?" Maka asked with a pout, though Tsubaki still seemed to be trying to figure out what her boyfriend was talking about. Soul shook his head and jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"You're about to meet him now. Here he comes." He answered. Both girls perked up and Black Star waved a hand at the dark haired male walking towards them, school bag slung over one of his shoulders as he pushed his glasses back up the bridge of his nose. Out the corner of his eye he noticed Maka stiffen.
"Hey you two are actually on time." The new comer greeted before flashing a smile. "And you brought company."
"Well Black Star said you've already met Tsubaki, and this is Maka." Soul introduced, sending his strangely silent girlfriend a reassuring smile. "This is Akane. Black Star and I go back with him." He explained. Akane nodded.
"Though not as far as some people." He answered. Soul waved it off, though he was certain there was a significant look directed towards Maka who was fighting off eye contact.
"Blah, blah, whatever. Let's get going. I've got stuff to get out of the way today." Black Star promptly interrupted, grabbing Maka's books from Soul and shoving them towards the distracted woman.
"Relax, moron." Soul muttered, leaning in and kissing Maka's cheek swiftly. "I'll text you when I'm done. I've gotta go to the studio today so I'll see you later tonight." She nodded silently, slightly flustered.
"Yeah, just stay out of trouble." She instructed as Black Star gave Tsubaki a swift kiss and chattered his way over to Akane.
"You stay focused. I'll be alright." Soul answered, giving her forehead a playful flick and waving over his shoulder at her once he received an annoyed pout. He glanced back as Tsubaki called for her friend's attention and frowned slightly at her distracted attention.
Was he overreacting or did Maka act like she may have known Akane?
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"So that's why I know him." Tsubaki hummed, leaning back on her elbows and staring up at the sky. Maka sat beside her with her shoulders slumped and head lowered. The pair sat at the football field in the bleachers, Maka hoping to have some form of privacy after their class to talk. Tsubaki had listened quietly as he friend told her about Akane being her ex and how she never knew that he was even associated with a gang but simply distracted by other things when they were together. Not to mention it creeped her out to know her ex and current boyfriend were companions of some sort. "Well are you going to tell Soul?"
"I'll have to! I'm sure he thinks something is up after that fiasco this morning!" Maka bemoaned, burying her face in her hands. "How is it the two long term boyfriends I ever managed to have in life both were gang members?" she groaned. Tsubaki shot her a sympathetic smile.
"That doesn't stop them from being nice guys though." She informed but Maka continued to groan in misery. "Well I think that Soul-kun will be very understanding."
"Yeah, maybe…" Maka muttered and let out a sigh, throwing her head back and staring up at the sky. "So what was up with the moron this morning? He was particularly doting today."
"Oh," It was Tsubaki's turn to sag her shoulders. "We got into an argument last night." Maka quirked a brow.
"A real one?" she asked. She knew her friend was usually very passive and avoided conflict if possible. Even if she did raise her voice, she tended to be the one to cave and apologize.
"Yeah… we kinda broke up last night." Tsubaki answered quietly, causing Maka's head to snap towards her, eyes wide.
"You're kidding?" A pained smile crossed the dark haired woman's face.
"We worked things out but last night I think I resented him so much I didn't want any more to do with him… I don't really know what came over me."
"But you're fine now?"
"Yeah... I mean I still have my concerns about what's going on, but I trust Black Star, just like you trust Soul." They sat in silence for a while. They really had pulled themselves into quite the situation unintentionally. Love really was a twisted thing. She sighed heavily.
"What're we gonna do with those idiots?" she mused allowed. Tsubaki giggled, shrugging a shoulder.
"I couldn't tell you." She answered with a hint of entertainment in her voice. Maka laughed, shaking her head knowingly. The vibration of her phone snapped the pair of friends from their chatter. Digging through her bag, she pulled out her cell, grimacing when she saw it was her father calling.
"Hello?" she grumbled. Tsubaki watched as Maka glowered through whatever chatter her father was going through on the other line. The longer he talked, however, the calmer Maka's expression got and then a wide smile crossed her face. "Really? Ok! Tsubaki and I will meet you in an hour!"
"What's going on?" Tsubaki asked as her best friend jumped up, gathering her things.
"We're going to meet up with my papa! You won't believe who he's meeting with!" Maka squealed, hoping easily down the bleachers, Tsubaki scrabbling after her in confusion.
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Liz wrinkled her nose thoughtfully and tilted her head to the side before glancing over her shoulder at Kid with a sympathetic smile. He had looked at her hopeful, a pistol in hand. It had been a while since they were like this- her trying to teach him how to shoot a gun and him freaking out because he felt as though he needed one of his left hand as well. It had taken her some time to explain that he should learn how to manage one before balancing the burden of two. It was weird enough that he used his pinky finger to pull the trigger. "Did I hit the center?" Liz sighed, crossing her arms over her stomach.
"Well you got the center… just not the dead center." She answered, pressing the button on the wall beside her, allowing the paper target to come towards her. Kid had rushed forward, looking anxiously at the paper. The bullet hole was slightly off from the dead center, but all the same, if it was a living being, they'd no longer be alive. The young man's face fell. "Honestly, that's pretty good considering the last time we've done this." He huffed, balling the paper up and tossing it into the garbage.
"It isn't good enough." He grumbled, checking the bullet chamber with a pout set in place. Liz smiled slightly. He was such a brat sometimes. She walked over, pulling the gun easily from his hand, placing it to the side before wrapping her arms loosely around the confused male's neck.
"What're you so obsessed with this for all of a sudden?" she asked gently. Recovering from his own confusion, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"I want to be able to protect you and Patty." He answered. An eyebrow rose. "The people are right. This city is on its way in a hand basket, but the least I can do is actually protect those close to me." His face had become serious and Liz sighed, tugging the collar of his shirt and pulled him down for a swift kiss.
"You don't have to worry about me or Patty. We're big girls." She said with a teasing smile. Kid's face remained seriously.
"Is that why you won't involve me in what's been going on with you?" Stiffening, Liz looked up to meet with expectant golden eyes. "Weren't you supposed to go to Shibusen today?" She pulled away, eyes narrowing.
"You went through my phone?" She snapped accusingly.
"No, it was open and I happened to see the message. Why didn't you go?"
"Because I didn't have to." Liz answered shortly before shooting him a glare and turning away. "But if you really need the space, I can leave." Kid rushed forward and grabbed her wrist.
"Liz, what's going on with you?" he snapped. "Since when do you keep secrets like this from me?" She glanced over her shoulder at him, flinching when she saw the hurt in his eyes.
"I'm protecting you and Patty."
"From what?"
"Everything…" They stood in silence for a long while before Kid let out a frustrated growl and ran his fingers through his hair in annoyance.
"Black Star and Soul are involved aren't they?" he asked finally. He watched her for a moment before continuing. "Listen to me carefully, Elizabeth. You're my future wife. I need you to trust that no matter how much of a sheltered life you believed I have lived, at the end of the day I would sacrifice it all to keep you and your sister safe." She stared at him in shock as he slowly released her wrist and took a step back.
"You… you realize this is bigger than any of that, don't you?" she managed to choke out but he simply shrugged.
"Everything you two get involved in is bigger than me, but I've always been there haven't I?" He nodded his head at her hand which wore the engagement ring he had gotten her. "Where do you expect me to go now?" His expression was expectant and knowing. It made her angry to think he could be so nonchalant when their lives were on the line if she wasn't providing that bastard Noah with the information he wanted. She was supposed to be betraying the only family she had in order to supposedly protect them and this man was standing in front of her, far too accepting for his own good.
"Kid…"
"You still trust me, don't you?" The tears welled up and she nodded, allowing him to pull her to him and hug her tightly.
Of course she trusted him… but that didn't stop her from being afraid of what was to come.
Author's Note: I've been slacking on my thank yous to all of you! I wanted to once again thank every single one of you for reviewing, reading, following and so on! Also to MyXCryingXAngel for mentioning updating cuz I seriously almost forgot to today lol. So once again THANK YOU! and in my excitement I'm off to read a fic that I'm in love with that happened to just update today XD