Chapter 12

Soul listened carefully to everything that Akane had to say about their latest assignment and for the most part, he was more skeptical about how any of it was supposed to work out. He was sure that once Noah found out Liz had given him altered documents he'd be out for blood. Not only that, but that Medusa woman had been on the news three different times throughout the day with various different press conferences. He had yet to even see the Mayor. Black Star had split ways with them not to long ago, on his way to meet with Sid and Mifune in regards to a specific favor they would need, and then go to work. He was painfully loyal to that Pee Wee class of his. "So, that girl you were with this morning," Soul glanced at Akane, who was sitting across from his, a book opened in front of him and face expressionless as he read. Soul leaned back in his seat, taking a sip from his own soda.

"You mean Maka?" Akane gave a nod, still not looking up.

"She's your girlfriend?" he asked. Soul shrugged a shoulder.

"Yeah, two years strong." He answered, allowing a faint smile to cross his face as he glanced out the café window at the passing students. He agreed to sit around until Akane had his next class, especially since he still had questions.

"How'd you two meet?" A slightly entertained smile crossed Soul's face.

"At a Starbucks. She beat me over the head with her backpack because I tried to take her order." He answered casually.

"Really?" Brown eyes finally looked up, filled with shock, a brow raised. "And you hit it off right after?"

"Nah, her best friend was messing around with Black Star for some time before they started dating. We'd run into each other at the club and talk." Soul explained. Akane gave a slow nod.

"And she knows about all of this?" at this, Soul's smile faltered, his gaze never leaving the window.

"If you're talking about my past, yeah she knows all about it. We're around all of that now though. The past is the past and she knows I'll put her before any of that." He answered and glanced at Akane who was staring out the window as well.

"I see… she's a great girl…" Full attention finally turned to the pensive male across from him and Soul raised a brow suspiciously. "I hope you've been treating her as such."

"Yeah I have… though I can't imagine why it'd bother you so much." Soul answered, full attention now on the indifferent male across from him. Without a word, Akane flipped his book shut, leaned back in his seat and looked pointedly at Soul.

"How much do you honestly know about Maka?"

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Mifune smiled fondly from where he sat in the corner of the room watching Black Star and the group of small children. The ex assassin stood over them, three sparring dummies lined up and the kids forming three lines in front of the dummies. When he would call next, the children would perform a series of attacks based on his command, the azure haired man correcting if necessary and complimenting boisterously. It was strange seeing him in such a way. He remembered the thirteen year old who would easily sneer in the face of those that would try to discipline or guide him. A boy that was once somehow feared and even respected for his ability to take out men three times his size without a thought. Now here he was- a man teaching children who looked up to him with the highest regard. He watched at Black Star grinned proudly at a five year old who tried his hand at a high kick, managing to make contact before stumbling backwards some. "There you go! Keep it up!" he piped, mussing the child's hair affectionately as he scurried by, grin in place, to the back of the line so another classmate could come forward.

"Spiky-Sensei, watch this!" Angela's excited voice called as she brought a perfect set of attacks onto her training dummy, blocking each one of the counter attacks set to come back with each hit.

"Great job, Angela! See that guys? Never leave your back open!" Black Star called. Some kind of determination seemed to spark through a few of the students who were up, resulting in more focused moves.

"He's really good at this." Mifine mused to himself with a smile as the training exercise persisted. Fifteen minutes in, Black Star clapped his hands together for their attention.

"Alright guys, listen up! Mira-Sensei wants to see you in B-Room so form your line and I want you to head over there."

"Yes Sensei!" The children chorused, swiftly forming their line and filing out with a mixture of hops, skips, and tripping. As they left the room, Mifune noticed that something or someone had caught their attention however. Apparently Black Star noticed as well, frowning slightly at their distracted behavior.

"What are they looking out?" The older male called, pushing himself up from where he sat only to get a shrugged shoulder in response.

"Dunno. Older kids?" The younger male answered, moving to look out the door only for a scowl to cross his face. Mifune raised an eyebrow, moving to see what had attracted such a reaction. Standing in the center of the common area was a tanned skinned man with a muscular build, bulging eyes that were slightly blocked by his shaggy hair, and a strange X shaped tattoo in the center of his face. He was watching the children with a blank expression, but when his gaze fell on Black Star, a knowing sneer seemed to cross his face.

"Ah, you little bastard! I've been looking all over for you!" A few disapproving looks were sent the man's way, but he ignored them as he sauntered over to Black Star. It was when he started moving that Mifune noticed a smaller, pink haired individual with him, looking panicked and uncertain.

"This is a family place. What are you doing here?" Black Star asked, annoyance evident in his voice. The man glanced around the training room with a bored expression as he walked past the glaring azure haired man. He then cocked a brow at Mifune.

"Don't I know you?" he asked.

"I'm certain I'd remember a character such as yourself." Mifune answered, eyes narrowed.

"Ragnarok, what d'you want?" Black Star quickly shot in. "This place is hardly in any area that you'd be slumming around in."

"I've got a message to relay. I figured it would be more effective if you knew the potential damage that could be done." The shaggy haired man answered, still strolling around the room. His pink haired companion stood silently in the doorway, eyes downcast.

"Chrona, what the hell is he talking about?" Black Star growled at the quieter of the two. The young man stiffened, eyes widening.

"I… well…Y-you see…"

"Chrona!"

"Tell them ya dumbass!" Ragnarok barked.

"It has been requested that you lead a team next week!" He finally choked out. At this, Mifune glanced at Black Star uncertainly. "If you cannot perform, you and your team will be looked upon as… as traitors and will be taken care of as seen fit."

"You're kidding, right?" Black Star scoffed only for Ragnarok to turn and fix the glowering male with a sneer.

"If you don't believe us, we have no problem pulling outsiders into this. Those kiddies seem pretty fond of you… Though I'm not much on brats…. Now that girl of yours…"

"Shut up!" All eyes fell on Black Star, whose fists were clenched at his sides. "Don't even think about touching her…" A sickening smirk crossed the other man's face.

"I was thinking far dirtier things, but that can easily be avoided if you take your assignment."

"Just do it…" Chrona squeaked out pathetically but Black Star continued to glare.

"Get out." He hissed

"Eh?" The pink haired man squeaked, eyes widening.

"I said get the hell out." Black Star growled out but Ragnarok continued to smirk as he walked past him.

"I'll assume you'll give an answer by sometime tonight." He paused when he was beside the azure haired man, looking down at him expectantly. A sneer crossed his face and he shrugged. "You'll choose wisely, I'm sure. Chrona, let's go." Chrona shot an apologetic look over his shoulder before vanishing through the door after his threatening companion and Mifune turned his attention to Black Star who had punched the wall, head lowered and teethed clenched.

"What have you gotten yourself into this time?" There was a thick silence that filled the room before the younger male spoke.

"I have no idea."

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Soul walked silently beside Black Star, both men with their hands shoved in pockets, hoods up to block the rain, and heads lowered. It was a long day and both of them were absorbed in their thoughts. He had heard about Black Star's day which had only added to the stress that he had yet to completely reveal to his currently irritable best friend. Aside from his discussion with Akane, he had an easy enough day. Wes had backed off and had actually provided a bit of useful advice, but at the end of the day, Soul knew what he had to do. That was why he offered to walk with Black Star after work. The ex assassin had plans on going to see Tsubaki as promised and Soul had intentions on talking to Maka. For the most part, neither of them really spoke until the building came into view.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Black Star asked, tugging open the complex door.

"Yeah, first thing in the morning. We're gonna have to get everyone who's agreeing to help us together for a plan." Soul answered. "You need to report to Capone don't you?"

"By tomorrow afternoon… I'm going when Tsubaki heads to class." There was a hint of dread in his voice as he pulled his hood from his head and stared tiredly at the elevator, waiting for the doors to open.

"Text me when you're going. I'll take a break from work to come along." Soul offered. Black Star let out a sigh and nodded. He was nothing like himself, slumping some as the elevator doors opened. He was going to have to get himself together before seeing Tsubaki. She was easily worried about him and would continue to worry until he was himself again, which wouldn't be of any use to either of them.

"Yeah, alright. Cya, man." Black Star answered. Soul nodded, reaching out, pounding his fist to his best friend's before stepping off the elevator. Treading down the hall to his girlfriend's apartment, Soul racked his mind for the appropriate way to go about this discussion. It shouldn't have been to hard considering they had conversations far more awkward than this, but all the same, Maka could get violent when cornered. He shook his head.

"Can I ever catch a break?" he muttered, stopping outside the very door that led to his potentially Maka Chop filled night. Digging his pockets and going through a brief mental pep talk, the white haired man pulled out the key that he had been appointed, unlocked the door, squared his shoulders, and walked in. "Maka, I need to talk to you." He made sure his voice was strong and his stance stating that he had the floor, but his face fell when his eyes fell on a woman sitting on the couch, cup of tea in hand an expectant look on her face. She was an older woman, her hair dark blonde hair falling to her shoulders in thick curls at the ends and eyes expectant. He knew those eyes well.

"Soul!" His eyes darted to his grinning girlfriend who came from the back room, a wide pleased smile on her face.

"Uh… hey… I didn't know you were expecting company tonight." He stated dumbly but she continued to beam, rushing forward and helping him shrug off his wet jacket.

"No it's fine! I want you to meet someone very important to me!" This wasn't good. Maka took his hand into hers and pulled him forward, smiling widely at the woman sitting on the couch. "Mama, this is Soul. My boyfriend. Soul, this is my mother." His heart dropped despite the warm smile that crossed the woman's face as she held out her hand.

"Soul? That's an interesting name. Is it short for anything?" She asked.

"No ma'am." He answered swiftly as he shook her hand in return.

"I see. I like originality. And you can call me Kami. Or Mrs. Albarn if you're more comfortable." Was she being playful?

"Ah… um… Yes ma'am…Mrs. Albarn." Maka glanced between the two, clearly pleased.

"Mama's here for the Mayor's upcoming speech next week." She informed. "She's here early to spend time with me though!" There was evident excitement in her voice. Soul was confused.

"The Mayor? You came all the way out here for a press conference?"

"Mama and the Mayor are old friends. She's coming as support." Maka answered before breaking away. "I'm going to check on dinner! Get comfortable!" she called over her shoulder. Glancing between where his extremely happy girlfriend had gone and to the expectant mother on the couch, Soul wondered if maybe he could get away with this necessary discussion over lunch tomorrow…

Even if a crowd didn't protect him from being beaten with a textbook by his potentially outraged and enraged girlfriend.


Author's note: So I skipped an update this weekend... Truth be told, the homework is actually starting to pile up. Not sure when the hell it happened, but it happened. -_- I'm in the middle of writing a book report now. Hating life to the max. It's due by six. Not even half way done. Didn't read the book. Epic fail.

That said, here's the update you missed Friday!