Angels and Dragons.
Chapter 11:
"Soul!" A familiar voice shrieked one evening followed by a familiar cleavage thrust into said albino's face. Soul attempted to protest but only managed a mumble that sounded more like a groan. Maka reached for the nearest hard backed book, but before she could;
"Maka!"
"Papa?" Maka said forgetting to cause her lover pain for enjoying Blair's inappropriate behaviour.
"I was so worried about you my precious little. . ." He fell to the ground with a large indentation in his skull before he could even get close enough to embrace his child.
"What are you two doing here?" Kidd asked a little surprised himself.
"It would seem that these two made such a fuss around Hito that he thought it best to bring them here before they went to find this place themselves." Kyoko told them, in her thick Japanese accent, on entering the room herself and making her way over to her usual spot by the open fire.
"I see." Kidd said adjusting the winter coat he had been doing up before the interruption.
"We're ready to go!" Liz squealed in excitement.
"To go? Go where?" Spirit looked around in worry.
"We need new clothes papa." Maka explained, "And we don't want to bother the Dragons any more than we have to so we're going into the nearest town to get them ourselves."
"Yeah, Angela's already had her shopping spree!" Liz whined, "She went with granny Kyoko a few days ago!"
"But it's dangerous!" Spirit whined.
"Aradia is going to cast a spell to make us less recognisable." Tsubaki explained.
"Speaking of which where is she?" Yue asked pulling on her own jacket. Her hair was down apart from a red band holding the ends together and over her right shoulder. She wore a red winter fitted coat and black jeans with snow boots on of the same colour.
"Right here!" She said coming in the room, "Oh, hi Spirit san, Blair san. I didn't know you were coming here. Anyway," she closed her eyes and when they opened she waved her hand. Soul, Kidd and Black Starr felt an odd sensation move over their bodies and when it was over; Kidd's hair was completely black and his eyes had turned a dark brown colour, Soul also had dark brown eyes but his hair was a light brown colour whilst Black Star now had jet black hair like Kidd's and his star tattoo was no longer visible. When they looked to the caster, she too had black hair and brown eyes to disguise who she truly was. "There, you guys look like regular kids now."
"How did you hide the lines?" Kidd asked looking at himself in awe in the nearest mirrored object which was a silver tray.
"Actually it wasn't easy, normally when I cast that spell I can just wave my hand and poof!" She admitted pulling on a knee length off white coat that fitted her curves perfectly, was lined in fur and had a warm looking hood attached. "But those Sanzu lines of yours are stubborn, you'll have to stay close to me in case I need to top up the spell. I'm not sure how long it will last before they reappear."
"I'm symmetrical." He stated turning his head from one side to the other taking in the sight of himself with no magical lines ruining his symmetry, "You made me symmetrical!" He dropped the tray and was immediately on top of Ari squeezing the life out of her in a bear hug.
"Um, you're welcome?" She gasped patting his back as best she could considering her limited arm movement. "Kidd, can't breath!"
"Sorry!" He jumped back as if burned then shot a glare at Soul's snickering. "Ahem, maybe we should get going?" He said quickly leaving the room and heading to one of the cars waiting for them.
"Well that was interesting." Yue grinned looking away from Kidd's retreating back to Ari who had a faint blush still on her cheeks. "Well lets go, our credit cards won't give themselves a work out."
"What was that supposed to mean?" Ari hissed as they made their way after Kidd.
"Kidd's really grown up since we used to play with him, huh?" She said with an innocent look on her face.
"Well of course he has!" Ari said rolling her eyes, "It has been over ten years so of course he's grown. We all have!"
"Who'd have thought he'd grow into such a hottie?" She couldn't hide the grin that plastered her face and was well aware that Black Star, liz and Soul had over heard and were purposely dropping back to eavesdrop.
"I could have told you that." Ari said without thinking then realised what she'd said and went bright red. "I mean. . ! Um." The three eavesdroppers grinned and snickered at the poor girl.
"So you think Kidd's hot?" Soul asked with one of his infamous toothy grins.
"I didn't say that!" She snapped not realising that they were fast catching up with the rest of the group who were talking to the subject of their discussion. "I simply stated that I could have told her Kidd would grow up to be really good looking!" She said louder than she'd meant and paled when she realised her grinning friends and relative were no longer looking at her but someone behind her.
"You think I'm good looking?" Kidd asked looking surprised and making her jump, "even when I'm not symmetrical?"
"I, um, well," she could feel her breathing quicken in panic and her face heat up even more so resorted to her usual tactic when she she was embarrassed or in trouble, change the subject, "Let's go shopping! If we don't hurry we'll miss the shops!" She laughed nervously but no one made a move to get in the cars they just stood waiting for her to answer Kidd's question. "On second thoughts I'll meet you there!" She said and backed away, she waved her arm and opened one of her magical portals and left.
"I thought she hated me." Kidd said looking more than a little confused. "I know she's been nicer of late, but still. . ." There was a small smile gracing his lips as Liz began steering him into the first car. The others spread themselves out among the three waiting for them and they were soon on their way to the shopping centre. "Do you see Aradia anywhere?" Kidd asked worried despite knowing that she was getting stronger by the day, they both were.
"No, but I'm sure she's somewhere around here." Yue shrugged, "If you're worried try the ice cream parlour. She might be drowning her embarrassment in a milkshake or a sundae. She's big on the whole comfort food thing." When she looked back to Kidd he was already making his way through the crowd to find the parlour. "Hm, ever more interesting." She sang.
"So we gonna do this or what?" Soul asked.
"Yeah, I haven't been on a shopping spree since we first ran into Yanna!" Liz said jumping up and down excitedly.
"Well then lead the way my friend!" Yue said and following two very excited blondes towards the clothes stores.
"Yue must know you very well." Kidd said making Aradia jump and choke on her milkshake. He patted her back until she got her breath back.
"Yue said I'd be here?" She said not meeting his eyes, "And I guess you came running to find this place so I could keep you looking symmetrical?"
"Actually I hadn't thought of that!" He said sounding very surprised himself hen looked worried, but he shook his head, "No, never mind that! I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Of course I'm okay! Why wouldn't I be okay?" She laughed a little too loudly drawing the attention of the other patrons.
"That was cruel of them to make you say such private things out in public like that." He said gently taking a seat beside her and ignoring the stares they were getting, "I hope you weren't too embarrassed."
"Well I. . ." She felt herself blush again and with a groan rested her arms on the table and hid her head in them.
"I'd still like an answer to my question though." he said watching her tense and then mumble something he didn't quite catch, "I'm sorry, I didn't. . ."
"I said; of course you're hot!" She shouted at him, "I mean have you looked at yourself in the mirror? Oh wait, you're obsessed with . . ." she stopped herself before she could mention his Sanzu lines and risk anyone nearby knowing what she was talking about, "with your symmetry. You can't see past the fact that you're asymmetrical!"
"You're right," he cried dramatically, "I'm a disgrace, if it weren't for those blasted lines we'd be the perfect couple! But because of my disgusting looks. . ."
"Will you stop!" Ari said hitting him on the top of the head, "You're making a scene!"
"I'm making a scene?" He protested as he rubbed his head, "you were the one shouting first!"
"But you're the one shouting about complete nonsense!" she shouted right back at him.
"Um, miss?" one of the staff said nervously from behind them, "Sir?"
"Perfect symmetry is not complete nonsense!" Kidd bellowed standing up and pointing to the air, "I seek perfection and perfect symmetry is perfection! What is so bad about that?"
"Um, If you don't quiet down I'm going to have to ask you to leave." The shopkeeper said in a louder voice.
"What's so bad about it is that you are obsessed!" She screeched, "I mean, I know you were hell bent on being perfect when we were little but it's gotten way out of control!"
"Who are you to judge! You don't know me!" He yelled then looked away guiltily remembering that she did in fact know him and had known him very well once.
"I'm going to have to ask you to leave!" The shopkeeper bellowed making the pair jump. The two got up and left quickly muttering apologies.
"That was my favourite place too." She whined sitting down on a seat beside a tree in the park they'd ended up in. She looked up, "Looks like it's going to snow again."
"I'm sorry."
"For what?" She looked aver at him.
"For ruining your milkshake." He said.
"Well you should be," She said indignantly, "I won't be able to show my face there again for months, if ever. I go there all the time after school with my friends in the summer too." Kidd sighed, not really sure how to react to her statement. He caught the smell of hot beverages and looked around for the source.
"Stay here a moment." He told her. He got up and walked towards the small stand selling hot food and drink and bought them some hot noodles, some tea for himself and some hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows for Aradia. He wasn't sure why he hadn't just bought her some tea as well but something told him she'd prefer what he had bought. He made his way back over to her and passed her the food and drink.
"Oh, I love hot chocolate! Thank you!" Ari smiled as she took a sip and ended up with cream on her top lip and nose. Kidd chuckled and placed his own food and drink on the seat before taking out a cotton handkerchief and wiping her clean. "Heh, I always manage to do that. No matter how careful I am I always end up with an creamy moustache." Kidd chuckled again and Ari couldn't help but giggle. She used her looked from left to right before using her magic to lift the cream off the hot chocolate and eating the cream in one go before sipping at the sweet drink and picking at the noodles. Kidd did the same and they sat in a comfortable silence for a while as they finished off their food and drinks.
"Perhaps we should make a move?" Kidd asked as the snow began to fall gently to the ground.
"Yeah, we need to get you a new wardrobe," she said getting up and dusting her clothes off, "and I'm pretty sure you've got expensive tastes."
"I can afford to pay for my own clothing you know." He said walking beside her with his hands in his pockets.
"Yes but then you could be traced and Yanna or whoever was responsible for what happened could find you the old fashioned way by tracing your credit card." She said matter of factly walking slightly ahead of him.
"Ari!" A girl's voice called and the owner, who was a bespectacled girl in a Japanese high school uniform finished off with a thick black coat on, with her brown hair in braided pig tails. She ran to Ari with her arms outstretched and tears leaking from her eyes and she latched onto Aradia as if she might disappear the moment the girl let go, Ari fell back slightly only to find herself caught by Kidd, "We've all been so worried about you and when we were told you and your cousins wouldn't be returning to school we thought the worst! I'm so happy you're okay! Why won't you come back to school? Is it cause you were kidnapped?"
"It's okay Kiki." Ari wrapped her arms around the girl and embraced her gently and chose to ignore Kidd's hands still on her shoulders keeping her steady, "We're all fine. Yue's even around here somewhere shopping with, well with some new friends." Kiki stood up and blinked, then looked at Kidd.
"Is this one of those new friends?" She asked sizing him up, "He's not like Kai and Mayuka is he, cause they're mean."
"Who are Kai and Mayuka?" Kidd asked looking to Ari for an explanation.
"The two most popular kids in school," Ari explained, "They're good looking, rich and thoroughly spoilt so treat everyone outside of their little set like dirt on their shoes. I guess you do look a little like Kai." She said studying his face. Out of the corner of Kidd's eye he noticed Ari's hand wave discretely and felt the odd sensation that told him the disguise spell had been placed on him again. "The spell must have been wearing off." He thought to himself.
"He's a friend of the family, and the stupid airline lost all of his luggage so now we have to buy him all new clothes," Ari said, "wanna help?"
"Me? Sure! What sort of stuff were you looking for?" Kiki asked sizing Kidd up again but for a completely different reason.
"Oh, you know," Ari said also eyeing Kidd up with a predatory glint in her eyes that made Kidd take a step away from the two teenage girls, "the type of stuff your dad sells."
"Well then lets go! I'll get him to close the store so our best customer can have an uber shopping spree!" Kiki said with far too much excitement and eliciting stares from several passers by.
"Lead the way my friend!" Ari said.
"No really I couldn't possibly accept any more than this!" Tsubaki protested as Yue tried to persuade her to enter yet another store with them. Black Star stood to one side holding several boxes and bags rolling his eyes.
"They want to pay Tsubaki so let them." He stated.
"But Black Star these aren't bargain basement clothes, these are designer, expensive clothes!" she said almost whining.
"It's a gift now come on!" Yue said getting behind her and pushing her into the store physically. Of course the others were already in the store either browsing or trying on clothes and Patty ran up to Tsubaki as soon as her fellow weapon was in sight and dragged her over to some clothes that would apparently look amazing on her. "Shopping not your thing?" Yue looked to Black Star who had been surprisingly quiet the whole time.
"I'm a guy we don't shop unless we're gay or are forced to." He shrugged, "And I know I'm not gay."
"Seven hells I hope not." Yue muttered.
"Huh?" Black Star raised an eyebrow at her, having heard perfectly.
"Nothing Star boy," she said not seeing the twitch from the normally blue haired teen on hearing the new nick name. "Come on, lets get you some killer clothes." Yue grabbed his arm and dragged him to the men's section to find Soul and Maka arguing over what he wanted to buy. They completely bypassed them and she took him over to where the pants were kept. "See anything you like?"
"I already got what I need." He shrugged.
"Oh don't you start." She scolded rifling through the articles of clothing on the rail and pulling out a few pairs that would look good on him then slipping over to the shirts and after glancing over at him with an odd look on her face she pulled a few of them out. She then proceeded to drag him to the dressing room and ordered him to try them on, "And make sure you come out and show them off first." she said with a sharp look and grinning as he left grumbling about pushy girls.
"Since when could anyone push him around?" Liz asked as she, Patty and Tsubaki reached Soul and Maka with the piles of clothing they had decided on.
"I heard her call him Star boy!" Patty declared with a manic laugh, "Black Star's got a nick name!"
"And he didn't floor her?" Soul asked incredulously, "Oh, man he's got it bad!" He burst out laughing at the thought of his best friend romantically involved with anyone, least of all a girl like Yue.
"What's so funny about that?" Maka asked looking clueless.
"Think about it, Yue's rich, beautiful and one of the best fighters in an ancient and secret clan of warriors whose job it is to protect. And Black Star's. . ." Soul tried to explain, "Well Black Star's Black Star." He shrugged.
"You mean he's loud, he's rude and even when he tries to dress up it looks like he's just got out of bed!" Liz snickered as Patty laughed loudly beside her, "And Yue's not just all the things Soul described, she's also cool and collected and her fashion sense is stellar!"
"Which is perfect to balance Black Star out." Tsubaki said with a big smile on her face as she looked over to Yue who was making Black Star turn around for her to show off the black jeans and midnight blue dress shirt she had chosen for him and Liz had to nod in satisfaction, "You see she already has him dressing better." Tsubaki clapped her hands together happily at the sight.
"Yeah but he still bought his usual choices too." Soul pointed out shrugging then shouting over to Yue who was waiting for Black Star to change again, "Hey Yue, looks like we're ready for your credit card now!"
"Soul!" Maka said wishing she'd been to a book store so that she could give him a Maka chop. "Don't be so rude!"
"What? She's the one that offered to finance this awesome shopping trip, or rather her uncle did." He said in his defence.
"Relax Maka, I don't mind." Yue said finally joining them, "Lets go pay for this and then grab something to eat. I'll go find Kidd and Ari after."
"Do you think he found her?" Tsubaki asked her.
"Well he hasn't come back and there hasn't been any screaming shoppers so they haven't been attacked. Or at least it's very unlikely." She said paying for all of the clothes and leading them to one of her favourite restaurants.
"Awe, it says we have to book." Patty pouted on seeing the sign in the window.
"Regular people have to book. I'm Ryu Katsahito's niece, I don't have to book no matter how many guests I bring." She said confidently and walked over to the maître dee.
"Ah, Miss. Ryu and guests." He smiled and snapped his fingers to which a waiter suddenly appeared, "Show Miss. Ryu and her friends to the best table in the house." The waiter bowed and lead them to the back of the restaurant and into a large elaborately decorated room. It was in traditional Japanese style so you had to sit on cushions, cross legged and chop sticks were set out ready for them to use once they'd ordered.
"Make yourselves comfortable honoured guests." The waiter said with another bow before leaving. They all sat down to look at the menus placed on the table. Of course Soul, Patty and Liz couldn't read Japanese so had to rely on their friends to translate for them.
"So what do you think?" Ari and Kiki asked in unison. Kidd didn't answer at first but looked at himself in the mirror. His outfit reminded him of the shinigami clothes that seemed to materialise when he allowed the madness to take over and he vaguely expected three lines to become visible on his chin. But none did and he had to admit he'd always been a fan of the more Gothic look, despite Liz and Patty's courageous attempts to make him more 'hip'. He liked what they dressed him in and had to admit the outfits did make him look good and the girls always made sure he was symmetrical. But he simply felt more comfortable in darker styles. It suited his personality better.
"I like it." He said simply then realised Ari had left, "Where's. . ."
"She's trying something on too." Kiki grinned. The grin grew as Aradia came out dressed in a short black gothic dress that had long sleeves and a sweeping neck line that showed off her modest bust. She wore a black choker with the pagan symbol for goddess hanging from it. She wore heeled knee high boots and had pinned her hair messily on top of her head. He had to marvel at how symmetrical she had managed to get her hair despite it being a rush job in the store's changing room.
"You're perfection." He said without thinking, then his mind caught up, "I mean the outfit's perfect."
"Well then you'll have to have them both!" Kiki stated and ran around the store grabbing other things, "you'll need accessories too, oh and shoes for Kiddo. What size are you Kiddo. It feels weird calling you that. I mean I know Ari said you're named after your father so everyone's called you Kiddo all your life to save confusion but it still feels weird!" She finally finished gathering all of the clothes she and Ari had helped him choose as well as a few well chosen accessories and rang them up. Ari took her coat and pulled out her own credit card, "Oh no! That will never do!"
"What is it?" Kidd asked worried something was asymmetrical.
"Well you simply must leave the store wearing those clothes," she explained, "but the coat Ari wore today simply will not go with that dress!" Kiki rushed into the store room and came back struggling with a large box. Kid helped her get it to the counter and when she opened it he saw more gothic clothing carefully wrapped in tissue paper. She rummaged through, carelessly throwing various items of clothing across the floor before pulling out a beautiful black leather coat. It had black fur cuffs and the hem was also lined in fur, so was the collar, which was long, was shaped like a shawl and extended past the shoulders slightly. Around the button holes and stretching from top to bottom was elaborate embroidery of roses and thorns, this embroidery widened near the bottom to create the effect of a triangular shaped rose bush growing out of the soft black fur lining the bottom of the coat.
"Kiki! It's beautiful!" Ari breathed. "Don't you think it's beautiful Kiddo?"
"I think it would look lovely on you Aradia." He said simply, smiling at how her eyes were lighting up at the thought of owning the coat. "I think you should have it. I only wish I could buy it for you myself." He said remorsefully wishing he had more money on him.
"Awe. You're sweet!" Kiki said cheerfully ringing the coat up with the rest of the clothes, "So he's just a family friend huh?" She grinned at her friend with a suggestive look on her face.
"Well we haven't seen each other for years." Ari said then looked at the clock on the wall, "Ack! We have to find the others before Yue feels she has to come looking for me!" She looked at her friend, "Would you mind delivering everything up to the house?"
"No problem." Kiki chimed happily adding that to the price and they said their farewells. Ari then grabbed Kidd's left hand and began pulling him from the store with her new coat in hand.
"Um shouldn't you put that on?" Kidd asked noting that the snow was getting heavier and her dress was getting damp, "You feel the cold more than I do right?"
"No time, have to get to Yue and the others." She yelped as he stopped and pulled her to him. She had to place both hands on his chest to steady herself. She looked up at him as he took the coat with one hand and gently placed it over her shoulders.
"Wouldn't want you to get sick." He said, "And the ground's slippery. I'm sure Yue won't mind if we're together."
"Okay." She said still looking up at him until she realised what she was doing and took a step back embarrassed. She adjusted her hair and put her arms in the sleeves of the coat. Kidd smiled mischievously, liking the soft blush on her cheeks that had nothing to do with the weather and the way she suddenly seemed bashful around him. He moved forward and silently began doing up her coat for her.
"There, all dressed." He said quietly as if talking to a small child. He moved closer with every intention of tasting her lips when;
"You know you're in a public place right?" Yue said leaning against a street lamp and smirking at them. The pair jumped away from each other as if they had been struck by lightening, "Everyone's waiting for you in the cars. We're ready to go home." She turned to leave a little remorseful at having interrupted them, but thinking Kidd could have chosen a more romantic setting for their first Kiss. "Boys are just hopeless at this stuff." She was unaware that Kidd had wrapped an arm around Ari's shoulders telling her she looked cold and Ari was quite happily leaning into him.