Episode 11: Fatal Attraction

"Hey! What kind of a stunt are you trying to pull, punk!" Soul cornered Kid at the stairway and slammed his fist against the wall so as to imitate the stereotypical bully. He spoke in a low, intimidating voice and even scowled just to appear menacing.

"What are you talking about?" Kid replied, maintaining his composure.

"Don't play dumb with me," he grabbed him by the collar, "What's the deal asking Maka out like that! Why didn't you just go with the twins like you normally do!"

"I asked her out, so what? Is there something wrong with that?"

"Yeah, there is!" he spat. "You don't go around stealing your friend's girlfriend!"

"Really?" he gave him a quizzical look. Then, with a sarcastic smile, "So shouldn't Chrona be telling me this?"

"Y-You... so you know..." Soul unwittingly admitted the unfortunate affair. "Does anyone else know about it?"

"Nobody knows," he said. Then he leaned over, making sure no one else heard him, "Don't worry. I already have a plan to make her go straight again."

"Plan? What are you gonna do? Break them up or something?"

"Something like that," he smiled.

It was at this moment that Soul saw the same dark look that Maka saw earlier. "Look. Whatever you're planning, leave Maka out of it. Okay?" he said as he looked away. "She already had one idiot in her life. She doesn't need another one."

"I see. So in other words, it was your stupidity that drove her towards Chrona."

"What!"

"Don't worry. I'll just tie her to my bedpost and make her see the light."

Soul immediately slammed him against the wall, "What the hell did you say!" he shouted, creating a bigger commotion and attracting crowds of bored students who were eager for a show.

"Nothing," Kid said out loud, and then he whispered, "She'll be so busy screaming my name...after I'm done with her, she won't even remember who you are anymore. Isn't that great?" he grinned maniacally upon seeing his reaction of horror and hatred.

Elsewhere, Maka and Chrona were walking down the hallway. While Chrona held nothing but her notes, Maka held on to extremely large tome just to cover what-appeared-to-be a parcel, presumably her Xmas present. Anyway, the latter had just finished explaining herself towards the depressed former.

"Okay, I understand," said Chrona. "I'm sorry I overacted a little."

"It's okay, Chrona. You don't have to apologize. You could never do anything wrong to me," smiled Maka.

Chrona smiled back, blushing. "T-Thanks...um, so why do you think Kid asked you out?"

"I don't know. I'm surprised with that myself. He usually doesn't take interest in anything that isn't related to symmetry."

"Well, maybe he saw how beautiful you really are."

Her compliment was enough to make Maka turn beet-red. "Thank you, Chrona. But I don't know. There was something off about him. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I'm not sure he's himself."

"How can you tell?"

"Well, for starters, Kid isn't the type to go around making a scene like that. That's usually Black Star's doing. Second, Kid is the most honourable person I know. He wouldn't blackmail anyone into doing anything like your moth-err-Medusa did. Third, why me of all people? There are other girls in the class that are prettier like Kim, Jacqueline and even Blair. Fourth, Kid is-" Maka stopped there when she realized how her words seemed to awaken the green-eyed monster within Chrona.

"Wow... you sure know a lot about Kid," she could only say. Yes, that was true. Quite suspicious, one might say.

"N-No, t-that's not true," blushing as she denied. "I only read a lot so I-"

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

"What the heck?" The rhythmic chanting of blood-thirsty students caught the attention of the two girls.

SMACK!

With one punch, the crowd went wild upon seeing Death the Kid slide across the marble-tiled floor. Soul was on him like white on rice. Punching his face like there was no tomorrow, Soul had gone berserk. Nothing could stop him now...

"MAKA CHOP!"

...except for that. For a crushing finale, Maka had to leap meters above him to deliver her attack in a similar fashion to that of Sid's Living End, but with something far heavier than a tombstone. "Soul, you idiot! What're you doing starting a fight in school!"

"..." The crowds gave a moment of silence to the very first victim of what was then known as the new and improved, "Maka-Chop! Beta version!"

"I'm still alive!" With an incredible burst of energy, Soul managed to cast off the massive book that planted him so and moved about as though it didn't even faze him. Although the crimson streams of life coming from his head told otherwise.

"Idiot! You shouldn't go around hitting people with that thing! What are you, a lunatic!"

"Baka! You shouldn't go around doing something stupid like this!"

"Shut up and just mind your own business, flat-chest!"

"I'm trying to do what's best for you! Moron!"

The two argued like the odd couple they were until Maka finally realized what had started it all. "Kid-kun, are you alright?" she said, tending to the poor boy, who should've healed completely at this point.

"Maka! Get away from that guy! He's dangerous!" Soul quickly turned his arm into a scythe-blade and began pointing at him.

"Dangerous! You're the one with the blade here!"

"Get away from him! He's planning to tie you up and do bad things to you!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH!"

The students immediately reacted to the news. For instance, "Totally S&M!", "How Ecchi!", and "AWESOME!" were the initial responses of the people. It didn't take long before rumours began to circulate throughout the school that Kid and Maka were secretly a couple and that they were already that far advanced in their relationship. Many even questioned the innocence of the two kids, IF they were still kids, that is.

But for now, the legendary "Maka-Chop! Beta version!" went through the whole Greek alphabet until there wasn't anything left of Soul but a hole in the ground. After seeing such a merciless display of strength, the crowds of students immediately dispersed in fears of being caught in the crossfire.

"M-Maka, are you alright?" asked the quivering Chrona.

The terrifying Maka slowly turned to her and, "Of course, I'm fine. Why do you ask, Chrona?" Her twitching-smile was quite obviously forced.

"I-I'm sorry," the ever fearful Chrona retreated to a safe distance.

"Wait!" Maka tried to run after her, but a sudden tug made her to stay.

Kid was holding on to her sleeve. "Maka," he said with a sad and painful look on his face. He, then, apologized for the trouble that was caused. Though, as sincere as he was, Maka wasn't fooled one bit.

"Kid," she said blankly. "What Soul said earlier, is it true?"

Seeing no point in maintaining the facade, "The truth is..." Kid looked upon Maka with serious eyes.

Maka was shocked beyond belief. And, as the whole world came to a standstill over those words, she could only hear the loud beating of her own heart...

Doki! Doki! Doki!

"...I love you, Maka."