Chapter 10: The game of life; Besties and Baskets?
The day ended and another day started in busy Death City. It was Saturday, a nice day to get things done, and a day that would not be wasted playing video games in orange polka dotted pajamas, which is what Soul was doing at the moment. His hands were squeezing onto the gray remote and his fingers rapidly tapping numerous combinations to defeat his newest game; Fight Quest 5. The Fight Quest series was very popular in Death City and Soul played it well, having one of the highest scores given his amazing hand eye coordination skills. Soul was cursing into the headset he wore, gritting his sharp teeth and his crimson eyes focused on slaying his opponents.
"Soul, you finally get your lazy butt out of bed and this is what you do?" Angrily asked Maka, brushing out her short ash blonde hair that she had cut to make herself seem older and it worked out perfectly in her mind.
"Maka, please, I'm about to defeat the mutant swamp man, that's something not even RoyalPain100 has done, and he's practically the game master!"
"Ugh, you already know that he's unbeatable so why even try? Besides, wouldn't you rather spend the day with me?" Maka beamed gleefully with closed eyes, hands behind her back, and a light blush to her cheeks.
"Shhh!" Soul hissed between shark teeth, leaning forward and nearly crushing his finger into the B button.
Maka's demeanor went from cheerful to aggravated but she told herself to let sleeping dogs lie for at least Soul wasn't doing any harm to himself and he was up and about. He even rose with the sun and ate every morsel to keep his energy up. Now, though, instead of snoozing like a sloth he would surely be up at all hours like a bat. Maka shrugged and made herself a hot cup of herbal tea then plopped herself next to him, their legs touching, her leaning on him gently. They were always incredibly close and whenever she had nightmares he would even let her sleep in his room if it made her feel better. Them touching like this, oh so close was nothing even though they both harbored secret feelings for the other. It did nothing to their relationship or created any high tension, she practically jumped into his arms during scary movies and they would have tickle fights at times when they were younger. If Maka was glad of anything she was glad to have met him and now she was even more so glad that he was starting to get back on track.
"Are you winning?" Maka whispered, watching the character Soul created in his video game beat up the mutant swamp creature. Soul had created a character that was tall and buff, very rugged looking and manly, a total badass by all definition and he was named SoulCrusher.
"I hope so or all this cramping in my wrist will be for nothing!"
"Careful Soul, you might get carpal tunnel."
"Heh. Remember Maka I've played for four days straight in a competition. I'll be alright. You don't have to worry about me anymore…" Soul stared straight, his eyes softened and a gentle smile came to his face.
"But I do…." Maka mumbled under her breath, so quiet that it could have been mistaken as the wind. She clung to his arm, not wanting to lose her best friend to something like drug overdose or to anything at all, and she breathed him in not finding a single scent of cigarettes but only a light springy smell that her febreeze carried. Soul ever so lightly flinched at the contact that he hadn't really had in so long but accepted it.
Maka was such a sweetheart and at times Soul thought he didn't deserve to be her partner, that she needed someone stronger but he convinced himself they were right for each other. She went out of her way to make sure he was alright and he would willingly give up his life for her. Even though he was technically Kid's weapon, Maka would always be his meister. Always. Suddenly there came a ring from the house phone, strident and annoying, and being a good friend Maka took the initiative to pick it up, loving to twirl her fingers in the long rubber encased cord as she answered in a voice sweeter and higher than her own.
"Hello, Maka Albarn speaking."
"Yahooo!" The voice on the other end shouted directly into her ear making her back away from the phone as if it was going to eat her face. Now her little ear was throbbing thanks to that.
"Ow! I swear if my eardrum is broken you're paying for the surgery, Black*Star!"
"Calm your tits Maka, it was only some fun. How's the Soul man doing?"
"Oh he's doing great thanks for asking!" Maka chipperly chirped, a sudden gleam of joy in her eyes that Soul was doing so well now that he was taking regular medication and seeking help.
"Awesome! What's he doing now?" Maka turned with a flat face towards her partner, lightly chuckling at how he was near beating the game control to death then she heard a lot of shuffling in the background of the phone and a female voice. "Oh Tsubaki says Hi."
"Hey Tsubaki! I miss you!"
"She says you guys should get a manipedi…what the hell is a manipedi? Sounds painful."
"Oh Black*Star, you always were the dumbest one in the group."
"Hey, what I lack in brains I make up for in godliness! Speaking of my remarkableness and missing people we should all get together or something. Feels like I haven't seen our little piano man in years!"
"Yeah…me too…" Maka half-spoke to herself, tugging on the cord and watching her weapon duel it out with the hideous beast on screen. "I mean…yeah let's do it! All Soul's been doing lately is bumming around in his pajamas!"
"Oi! I take offense to that!" Soul growled from the couch.
"Black*Star wants to know if you still wet the bed," Maka asked trying to hold back her laughter at the statement.
"Tell Black*Star to mind his own fucking business or I'll turn him into a shooting star!"
"Big words coming from a little man," Black*Star rebutted, now on speaker so Soul could hear him and Tsubaki in the background telling her boyfriend to lay off in a tender, sweet voice.
"You know what Black*Star, fuck you. I could take you on anytime anywhere! Try me, bitch."
"Pft. The only thing you can take on is swamp monsters, SoulCrusher! What a loser, playing video games."
Somewhere in the distant crackling background Tsubaki whispered, "But don't you play video games too? I'm sure you said your name was GodStar500."
Maka couldn't contain it anymore and let out a full belted laugh at the whole scenario, needing a good laugh and knowing she could always count on Black*Star for one. It had been terribly long since the gang had all met up they now kept in contact through media devices and technology, every now and then face-timing. It was especially hard on Kid who didn't have much time to check his deathchat or instagrim or face-time with anyone. He was fortunate enough yesterday to hang out for his schedule wasn't full but he couldn't shirk his duties all the time, Azusa could only do so much.
"Alright Evans," Black*Star teased in a nasally voice, "You say you can take me on, bring it. Let's do what we always did and play some B-Ball. It will give me a chance to catch up and to kick your white ass! Unless…You're too chicken and you'd prefer pressing buttons to playing with a real monster."
Maka could practically hear him smiling smugly and feel his arms on his hips in victory and wondered what her best friend would do now that he had been challenged. It would be good for him to get outside and smell the fresh air. The doctor did recommend some exercise after all and besides Maka really wanted to see Black*Star and Tsubaki. They made such a cute couple and it kind of made her a little jealous that they could become that so easily. Just what was their secret?
"You're on Black*Star, see you there in an hour."
"Sure thing oh and Soul, get off the video game and bring you're a-game. Your gunna need it, Evans."
With that the line clicked and Maka knew then that today would be a positive, good day! She started her stretches and started to take a shower, hoping Soul would do the same. She was super stoked to have her two favorite arrogant boys back together…if only the whole gang was together. Maybe someday there could be a way that they could all find the time to just chill or go to the movies-Maka wanted to see a sappy tear-jerker drama called Loveless Gates for some time now, or maybe they could have a picnic. They could even bring Crona! Crona would love seeing butterflies at the butterfly garden! Maka wanted nothing more than to have the whole gang back together but knew, deep down, because of Kid, it wasn't likely.
Fresh from the shower, smelling like whatever "purple sunrise" smelled like, with her favorite green workout outfit on and her black sports bra Maka was ready for action. She slid on a headband to match but as she did so she realized her partner was in no better condition than when she left him. He was still on the couch, rotting away in his pajamas and still playing that darn video game! It was enough to make Maka almost red with anger!
"Soul! What the hell are you doing?!" Maka nearly shouted at him.
"I have to defeat him Maka, I just have to!"
"Oh my death, Soul! Get your ass up!"
"Come on Maka, just a few more minutes? We don't have to leave until later!"
Maka chose then to do the unthinkable but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do, especially when it comes to quality time with her friends that she hasn't seen in a long long time. She reached behind the T.V and unplugged it thus shutting off the game and Souls access to it. His face dropped and all the color of his face drained. His mouth nearly reached the floor and his eyes bulged out of his head.
"M-m…Maka…how could you?" He barely squeezed out, his voice now strained and small.
"It had to be done. Now get in the shower!"
"But…"
"I said in the shower NOW!"
Soul knew then that he had no choice but to get up and take a shower, which he did, walking slowly with his head down. He was so close to defeating it and now he would have to do the entire thing all over again. Yet he knew it meant nothing in comparison to the hug he got from Maka when he finally got all dressed and shaved a bit. It meant so little compared to the fact that he would meet up with one of his closest dude friends.
"See, now isn't that better? You smell nice now."
"Tch. Whatever. Hey wait did you say I smell nice?"
"Yeah I love the body spray you use. It smells sexy."
Soul turned bright red but tried to hide that fact. Did…did that mean he was sexy too? He was surprised Maka even said that or even used that word! Such a word was not in her vocabulary. Okay, well it was but she didn't use it often unless talking about the way Blair acted or dressed. Soul grabbed his gym bag and headed out the door lest Maka catch him getting all "totally uncool" about being called sexy…no wait, being called sexy smelling by a girl who wore turtle necks no less!
Soul quickly hopped on his motorcycle and started revving it up, getting kind of nervous like when she wrapped her hands around his waist, which was strange since she always did that but now he was thinking, 'Oh death is she smelling me?' It was so not cool, not in the least. They sped off on their way to meet up with Black*Star who was already there waiting for them, constantly checking his watch and smirking.
"Looks like he chickened out."
"I don't think so, maybe they are running late," Tsubaki assumed, hoping she was right.
"It's not like Maka to be late. They aren't coming. Bummer, I was looking forward to winning, as I always do."
"Of course you do Black*Star," Tsubaki mused, sort of letting him have his little moment of glory and believe what he wished. It made him happy and this made her happy.
"I won you didn't I? If I could do such a thing like that then I could do anything!"
"I'm nothing special to brag about…"
"Oh yes you are, you are my night sky….my goddess. It was inevitable you end up with me, a god amongst mortals! We will rise together and make all our enemies bow to us!"
"Yeah…whatever you say…" Tsubaki replied gracefully, just smiling and nodding as she always did with him but truly she felt special being called a goddess. It made her insides do a flip that he would see her as worthy of him, he who thought so highly of only himself.
"Are you over here running your big mouth again?" Soul enquired, pulling in with his motorcycle.
"Bout time you showed up," Black*Star said with a smile, bro-fisting his pal and giving him a manly kind of hug, "Though you were gunna bail out on us."
"You kiddin'? And miss a chance to defeat you?"
"Defeat me?! As if you could even defeat I, the great and mighty Black*Star!"
"Oh hush you cocky bastard! Geez, do you ever get tired of hearing your own voice?"
"I don't know…I like to listen to other peoples voices too ya'kno?" Black*star insinuated, winking at Tsubaki who turned a shade of Crona hair pink.
"Oh Black*Star," Tsubaki muttered, playing with her black hair.
"You guys are doing alright?" Maka asked her, hooking their arms together in typical best girlfriend ways.
"Of course, we've been dating for two years now and I couldn't be happier. What about you, are you alright Maka?"
"Sure thing! Soul is definitely perking up and I think all around things are looking up. I am so glad we are doing this. It's such a beautiful day too."
"Yeah it is. Summer should be starting soon and the DWMA will be getting new students. We should welcome them!"
"What a great idea, you always have great ideas Tsubaki."
"No way, you're the smart one!"
Black*Star turned to them and looked back at Soul. "Wouldya listen to them? They sound like a couple of high school girls talking about prom. Not that I'm complaining about my Tsubaki or anything."
"What do you expect? They haven't really talked since Asura fell. Speaking of falling, you should tie your shoes before we start."
"What? My shoes are tied, I should know, Tsubaki tied them for me. Hey, Soul that's cheating!"
Soul swiped the ball away from Black*Star and dribbled it around him quickly while the two girls watched from the bench, gossiping away about everything from life to love and anything in-between. Tsubaki broke out some apple slices with peanut butter and the two friends caught up on things. The sky turned pink and orange with the glow of the afternoon and the game had ended with Soul winning, telling Black*Star that maybe he wasn't as big a star as he thought he was.
"Yeah well, I've got a girlfriend, so there."
"What does that mean? You still lost the game stupid."
"I won life!"
"Tch. Okay, sure. Great game, though."
"Yeah let's do this again."
The two boys shook hands and Maka sighed wishing this day would never end. To make sure it wouldn't end she suggested they all go out to eat somewhere so Black*Star chose a casual beach side restaurant where they all had delicious fried fish while watching the sun set. It was a perfect day and there might not be another like it. Everyone just sat there soaking it in and Maka even let Soul order two beers, one for him and one for Black*Star. We haven't seen each other since the fall, she thought, it's kind of like a celebration.
"Cheers to good friends and a great day!" Black*Star cried, raising his glass
"Cheers!" They all proclaimed and touched their glasses together.
"Man, I wish there were more hours in the day," Soul proclaimed, sipping from his orange tasting beer that went smoothly down his throat.
"Maybe we can do this next Saturday?" Tsubaki offered, dipping her tempura battered shrimp into her cocktail sauce.
"Hell yeah! We can make it a tradition and maybe one day we can all go to the beach this summer!" Black*Star exclaimed, starting to get images in his head of his girl in a bikini covered in sun tan oil. His nose was starting to bleed because of it.
"I'd like that….I'd like that so much…." All the sudden Maka starting getting all teary eyed and wiping away her tears as quick as possible, sniffling lightly.
"Oi Maka, are you….crying? You okay?"
"It's just been a long time…that's all. I really love you guys."
"Awww," Tsubaki gently cooed, rubbing her friends back and giving her a fan printed tissue, "We love you too. Even if we don't see each other we'll always be friends."
"Yeah, no need to get all sentimental. We are just a short drive away. If you need us…"
"Yeah…if you need us…"
"Thanks guys, I needed that."
So they went home after a while, Maka wiping off her remaining tears onto the back of Souls shirt and smiling like a dope all the way because she had such wonderful friends like Black*star, Tsubaki, Soul, and everyone else. Black*Star was right, even if they don't talk even if they are far away they would always be friends no matter what. In danger or trouble in pain or hurt in good times and bad they would stick together. Even if they fought or hurt each other's feelings, even if all seemed lost, even if they lost their minds or somehow turned to the dark side they always be there for each other because that's what friends do and that's something you don't need soul perception to find out.
