FANtastic
Chapter 14: The ball
It was the first night they spend together sleeping in the same room on the tour bus. Maka felt very awkward going around Soul in her yellow and green stripped pajama while Soul liked sharing a room― no, he loved sharing a room with her, being so close to her at night felt great. All he could do was turned around and hang his head over the bed, and then he would find her peacefully sleeping.
When they woke up it was very hectic. Everybody was getting ready for the ball and wanted to show their best for the journalists. They couldn't come and look like slugs.
Azusa hired a make-up artist and the most famous stylist to be preparing them for the ball. The make-up artist and the stylist turned all of them into very beautiful young women. Maka was astonished with how beautiful she looked. She looked even more beautiful than when Liz had styled her. She didn't just look good, but she felt like herself which she hadn't during the night they went clubbing.
The boys didn't have so much to do. All they really did was put on their suits and comb their hair. Of course, kid needed a stylist to make it as symmetrical as possible while Black*Star just let his hair be. Soul was very nervous if Maka would like the item he searched for the moment he got back to the tour bus. It's a very special item and he really hoped she would like it.
Black*Star, Kid and Soul waited for their dates and friends would walk out of their room. Soul's palms turned sweaty and he felt the need to run away, but he wasn't going to.
The door opened and to soul it all went too slow and painfully. The door twisted, another second went by before it started to open and slowly Tsubaki was visible from inside of the room. He'd to admit she looked beautiful but when the last girl came out from the room, he gasped and his heart stopped.
The black dress was slim on her upper body which made her look very tiny compared to the size she is. The teasing transparent fabric covering her collarbones ended just above her breasts and that made him want to take a closer peek. The lower part flowed like liquid around her legs. The fabric flows nicely while she walked up to him.
"How do I look?" She asked timidly. Maka's heart was beating hard in her ribcage and she feared for Soul not to like the dress.
Soul smiled and grabbed her hand. "You look beautiful." He slid the bracelet on her wrist and Maka looked at it questioning. "But now you look perfect."
Maka examined the piece of jewelry. It's a pearl bracelet with a ruby shaped into a note. Maka recognized the piece of jewelry to be the symbol to the Evans family. "Is this the symbol for your family?" Maka asked for safety reasons while keeping her eyes glued to the bracelet.
"Yes, it belongs to my mother but she let me take this with me as a memory of her."
"I-I can't wear this. It's your mother's." She felt bad for wearing something that belongs to her mother. What if she wouldn't like her wearing her bracelet?
"Yes you can, this bracelet belongs to me and I want you to wear it." Maka's eyes slowly wandered up his well-dressed chest until he met his eyes.
"Really?"
"Really."
Maka smiled and nodded, "Then I guess I'll wear it."
"Are you two lovebirds going to ever be done? We got to leave, remember the ball?" Liz said which made both Maka and Soul blush madly.
Soul grabbed her gloved hand carefully before they walked out of the building and there waited their limo. Inside of the limo Maka sat next to Soul. She kept looking at the piece of jewelry he lend Maka and she couldn't help but smile. He went through the trouble of finding the bracelet and to then give it to her.
A couple of minutes later the limo stopped in front of a beautiful white mansion inside of the woods. Veins crawled up the building and outside was a red carpet rolled out for the celebrities and their date.
"Oh! So beautiful! It's better than the last ball we went to!" Liz exclaimed keeping her face glued to the window. "No fans will try to break inside out here."
Kid couldn't do anything but agree.
A man around his thirties opened the door for them and first Kid and Liz got out of the car, then Black*Star and Tsubaki and then Maka and Soul. Last out of the car were Azusa and Patty.
Maka looked around her environment admiring the beautiful mansion along with the beautiful entrance.
Soul squeezed Maka's hand which made her look at him. "We usually try to keep parties outside of the cities since two years ago a whole crowd broke into the party and ruined the party."
Maka nodded before they reached the entrance where two men in black suits guarded the door. "Invitations?" The one to the left asked just as harsh and stiff as Asura's guards had been.
"Yes we got them right here. Patty and Liz Thompson, Death The Kid, Black*Star, Soul Evans and the winners of the lottery; Maka Albarn and Tsubaki Nakatsukasa." Azusa handed the man the invitations and then stepped inside.
"Enjoy the party." The guard said monotone and obviously didn't like his job.
Soul and Maka walked inside of the building and gasped loudly when she saw the inside. Inside were a grand room and an orchestra playing classical music. In the ceilings hung chandeliers and on the walls were beautiful artwork. The room is very light and waiters walked around offering expensive champagne and other luxury food and drink.
"You might want to close your mouth." Soul whispered into her ear and she immediately closer her mouth and blushed madly. "Don't worry about it. One day you'd get used to it."
Maka shook her head and looked toward the area where people were dancing a formal dance which Maka couldn't put a name on. "No I wouldn't. I'm not rich and I won't be so it's no use thinking about it really. All I want really is make enough money so I'd be able to take care of myself and my father. I don't want him to work at that horrible place." Maka turned a little sad and Soul squeezed her hand.
"With the size of your brain and your determination for your studies, I just know you'll go far in live."
A smile spread on her face. "You think so?"
Soul immediately nodded.
Her smile widens and a waiter came by and exposing the two long glasses with the bubble luxury. "May I offer a glass of champagne?"
"Yes please." Maka said and gently grabbed a glass. She's eighteen and therefore is allowed to drink. She hasn't tried out champagne before so it will be the first time.
"Thank you," Soul said and grabbed his own glass.
The waiter smiled and then walked away to grab more glasses of champagne and continue giving the guests drinks.
Maka took a sip of the champagne and was surprised with how dry the drink is. It's liquid so how in the world could it taste so dry? It doesn't make sense to her.
Soul chuckled after he took a sip of the drink. "Wasn't it how you thought it would be?"
She nodded quickly. "Yes, this is so dry."
"It is champagne. What did you expect?"
"I don't know! I haven't drunk champagne or any alcohol until Patty gave me shots at the club." Maka said and remembered that moment. At the beginning she wasn't sure about drinking. Anything could happen but she has to admit, she'd much more fun with the alcohol running through her veins instead of being sober. She'd never had such a blast if she hadn't taken the shots.
"If that's the case you shouldn't drink so much. You're very tiny and since you don't know your limit when it comes to alcohol, you should be very careful." Soul looked concerned at Maka who took another sip and then grimaced at the horrible taste.
"I'll be fine. I won't drink more of this horrible stuff. Seriously, why do rich people like this? It's disgusting."
Soul barked a laugh and finished his drink. "I don't actually know. It goes well with other expensive things and it's expensive so that's probably why it's served. As long as it's expensive then it's okay."
Maka giggled and covered her mouth with her mouth. "Well, I'm not rich so I can be excused from drinking this."
"In that case I'll finish your drink." Soul said and grabbed the glass from Maka's hand and finished it. Maka blushed when she thought of, her lips had for a couple of seconds been on the glass, the exact place where Soul's having his lips on.
When he finished his drink he looked puzzled at his crush. "What? Is there a problem?"
Maka immediately shook her head. "N-No, everything is okay." Maka fidget with her gloved hands when suddenly a woman's voice brought her and Soul's attention.
"Hi! I'm Kate Tendo and I'm from the magazine Time News! I'm here to interview you both." The woman named Kate Tendo said excited with a very big smile on her face, showing off all her white perfect teeth.
Maka noticed quickly the beauty the woman had, perfect cadet-blue eyes with warm chocolate colored hair which fit perfectly with her pale skin which looked like creamy and utterly beautiful. She wore a fiery red dress without straps and went down to her ankles. The dress hugged her breasts and lifted them up, making them look bigger and very attractive toward the male gender.
She looked very young and she'd to be max three years older than her.
"Hello Kate," Soul greeted her with a smile and Maka felt very jealous for at Kate for grabbing his attention. She felt unbelievable jealous at the woman since she'd a very large chest which she doesn't. The woman seemed more appealing than Maka which made her both sad and very jealous. "Ask away, we'll answer any question you have."
The journalist smiled gentle and turned toward Maka. "Actually, I want to interview Soul. Alone. You can go out in the garden. I'll come to you as soon as I'm finished and then I'll interview you in private."
Maka nodded while she narrowed her eyes at the woman. She didn't like this at all. Soul being alone with this woman didn't feel good at all. Maka could've sworn the woman smirked a little at her while she glared back at her.
"Okay, I'll see you later then Soul." Maka said and walked away.
Soul looked at Maka walking away to get to the gardens.
"So Soul Evans," Kate said while she picked up a recorder from her black purse.
The white haired musician couldn't ignore to check her out, he'd to admit she's attractive, but she's very far from Maka. Just looking at Kate made him think she's attractive but when he looks at Maka, he can feel the sincerity in his own words. Looking at her large forest green eyes brought a smile on his face and when she smiled at him, things starts happening to his body. He feels excited and very attracted toward her and her sinful long legs made his heart race. He want Maka and only Maka, no other woman is enough, Maka is the person he wants and he'll get her tomorrow when he confesses his undying love for her onstage.
Kate pushed a button on her recorder and smiled wide toward Soul. "Throughout this summer you've been touring a lot, how was that? Did your concerts go as planned?"
Soul nodded and smiled toward her. "For most parts yes. The storm was unexpected and we'd to get to a safe house before the storm hit us. Other than that the concerts were a walk in the park."
The journalist nodded and smiled wide toward Soul, showing her interest in his story. "I'm happy you all got out of the storm okay. What about the concert tomorrow? It'll be your last concert for this tour. It's the biggest one so do you have anything up your sleeves for this? Any surprises for the fans?"
Soul immediately thought of the song he and his band had practiced. Soul's love declaration toward Maka'd be the final. He'd planned everything and he'd written a detailed plan for the ones working on the stage before he handed it to Azusa whom then delivered it to the workers. He'd planned the stage to have a runway so they'd be surrounded by fans with Maka and Tsubaki sitting at the front where the runway ends. At the beginning he'd dedicate the song to her and during the song he'd walk up to her and get her on the stage. He'd sing the song to her, never breaking eye contract and then at the end of the song, he'd whisper into the microphone he loved her.
"Yes we do. Unfortunately I can't tell you what it is but it's something we've never ever done before." Soul said and he saw Kate's eyes glitter with something unknown.
"Sounds very exciting. I know you'll deliver a great show just like usual. Let's move on to the next question; before the tour, you had a lottery and the winner was Maka Albarn and she chose Tsubaki Nakatsukasa to tag along. How was it sharing your living space with two strangers?"
"At the beginning it wasn't as nice as I wanted it to be, but when I got to know them the tour got more fun and we'd a blast together."
"Okay, can you describe Maka Albarn and Tsubaki Nakatsukasa for us?" The woman asked and Soul felt his heart flutter at the sound of his loved one's name.
"Tsubaki is a very sweet and caring girl. She's very devoted friend and I'm very lucky for meeting her. I haven't met a person as caring and selfless as her." Soul stopped and thought about Maka. Her perfect eyes and her perfect rosy lips he wanted to feel with his own.
"And Maka Albarn?" The woman asked again.
"Maka― she's the most wonderful person I've ever met. She's the kindest and most beautiful person I know. For being such an innocent and caring person she's the most painful and maddening past. If I'd be her, I wouldn't be able to walk with my head high and be able to be happy again. She's the strongest and the bravest person I know. I'm very happy and very lucky I pulled her name from the bowl." Soul'd a dreamy expression on his face. He could hear her very cute giggle in his mind and see her smile.
"Sounds like you and Maka Albarn are really close." The woman said a bit jealous but Soul didn't pick up on it since he's too busy thinking of the love of his life.
"Yes we are. We've become best friends over the summer."
While Kate kept on doing her interview with Soul Evans, Maka wandered around trying to find the way to the gardens. Couldn't she have taken a better place to meet up than a garden?
Maka wandered around inside of the giant ballroom before she walked up to a man with golden blond hair. "Excuse me," Maka said, tapping his shoulder. The man turned around and Maka noticed the man had two earplugs headphones in his ear. Maka could almost hear the music come out from his ears. "Do you know where the door to the garden is? I'm kind of lost."
The man smiles kindly at her, "yes I do, I can show you the way if you'd like?"
Maka immediately nodded, "that would be great, thank you."
The blond man offered her his head, "I'm Justin Law, what's your name?"
Maka grabbed his hand and shook it, "Nice meeting you, I'm Maka Albarn."
"The Maka Albarn who won the Eaters' lottery?"
"Yes, that's me." Maka was kind of surprised the man knew her name but thinking like how many bands that did this kind of lottery it was a big deal. Eaters are the first band that did this. No other band has ever done this.
"A pleasure meeting you, and now for the garden." Justin Law said and he walked through the sea of dancing couples and the small groups being interviewed by different journalists from different magazines.
Eventually Maka and Justin reached to a door and Maka could see it lead out to a porch and then down to the gardens.
"Thank you Justin, I appreciate you going through the trouble of showing me the way here." Maka smiled toward Justin and he said a "no problem" before he walked back to the group of people he was with.
Maka walked out of the door and was met with a very beautiful garden. By the porch it was decorated with beautiful blood red roses and around the garden it was decorated with white roses, perfect camellia flowers and cornflowers. In the middle of the garden was a large fountain which gave a rather nice gushing sound.
In amazement, Maka walked down the few steps from the porch and her heel hit the grass. She looked in amazement at her surroundings.
The leaves of one of bushes behind her rustled and she looked behind her.
"Is someone there?" She asked but got no respond.
Inside of the building, Kate Tendo had finished up her interview with Soul and he was currently searching for the door to the gardens. He didn't care if Kate would interview her or not, he wanted to see her from afar, knowing she was safe and sound. It was most because he didn't want other men to walk up to Maka and get too friendly with her. Maka is his and no one will change that except for Maka. If she didn't feel the same then he'd be crushed, but head still try. He loves Maka and she's the one he desires as a girlfriend and not just a simple night stand.
His eyes wandered to the dancing couples and then to the small groups of journalists and musicians like himself. Suddenly, his eyes landed on an awfully familiar person he wished he'd seen earlier; Justin Law, a musician in Madness of Asura. If Justin is here, that means, Giriko, Arachne and the most important; Asura was here and Maka's alone. Damn it! He has to find her. Now!
Soul started to panic, what if Maka was already in the claws of Asura? What would he do then to her? He already knew the answer but he didn't want to think it; he'd rape her just like he'd tried to do to Liz.
Someone tapped his shoulder and he turned around seeing an older man with round glasses. "Excuse me Sir Evans, but may I interview you? I'm from Time News."
Soul raised his eyebrow, "Kate Tendo has already interviewed me. She must be your co-worker since she's from your magazine."
The man shook his head. "No woman on Time News has that name."
Soul's eyes widen and he really started to get worried for Maka. Did Asura pay Kate to get them separated so he could do whatever with Maka?!
Never in his entire life had his heart beat this fast. He's scared Maka might be hurt in this moment and the thought of Maka being hurt hurts him too. Or even worse thoughts, Asura ruining ripping her dress off and forcing himself on her. No, he couldn't let that happen!
Outside of the garden, Maka was about to walk up to the bush when the door on the porch suddenly opened and the journalist Maka saw earlier walked out.
"I'm happy you found out to the garden." She said while she walked down the stairs down to grass. Kate looked at her with ice cold eyes which gave her the chills. "Now we can finally have our talk." The journalist walked up to Maka and grabbed her arm. "You shouldn't have been the one."
Maka looked at the woman with wide eyes, "W-What do you mean?"
"I should've been the one to tour with Eaters! I should've been the one to hang out with them! You don't deserve touring with them! I love Soul and I should've been the one to be around him! Not a cheap, ugly girl like you!" Kate yelled and pushed Maka on the ground. Maka let out a scream when she hit the ground and immediately Kate got on her, pinning her to the ground.
"Why?! Why you?! Why not me?! I'm rich, hot and know how to socialize with high classed people! You're a poor, disgusting little girl!" The girl slapped Maka right across the face and let a stinging mark on her cheek. The woman raised her hand and instead of preparing to slap her, her fist got curled into a ball to punch her in the face.
"You're ugly! No one would ever love or even like you! Why don't you just die!" Her fist hit Maka'd nose. Pain coursed through her nose and she could feel something warm run down her nose.
Kate raised her fist once again and when she was about to punch Maka, she closed her eyes preparing for the hit but it never came.
"That's enough!" Maka knew the voice too well. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the white haired man she loves. The weight of the woman was immediately gone when Soul ripped her off of her. "Get away from here. I know you're not a real journalist. If you aren't gone in five seconds, I'm going to get the guards!"
The woman's eyes widen and Maka could see the hurt and heartbroken feelings in her eyes. Her eyes got quickly teary and she whipped around, running back inside of the building.
As soon as the door closed behind Kate Soul dived down to Maka's side. "Are you okay? Is your nose broken? I should go after her and―"
"No, I'm fine. My nose hurts but I don't think it's broken." Maka said while Soul kept caressing her cheeks and checking her nose out.
Soul quickly grabbed the hem of his shirt and without a doubt; he tore a piece of it and handed it to her. "Take this. We're leaving."
The white haired man helped Maka up on her feet whole she pressed the piece of cloth to her nose which immediately started to get soaked in her blood. Maka felt a little sad considered they hadn't got the chance to dance. She really wanted to dance with him even if she didn't know how to dance formal dance like waltz for an example. Dancing had never really been her thing.
"Wait, but I want to dance." Soul immediately looked her into her eyes and Maka felt regret for saying it. Maybe Soul wasn't a dancer and hated dancing to formal music and dancing formal dances. How would I be able to dance then with him if he couldn't dance those kinds of dances?
"We can dance another time. You've a bloody nose and Asura is here." Soul said very serious and Maka's eyes widen
"I-Is he here?" She got scared. All the stories of their experience with him scared her. She didn't want Asura to succeed with what he tried to do to Liz to do to her. Tsubaki might've found the right person and the right time, but Maka isn't. Soul might be the person but she isn't ready for anything like that. When the time comes, she wants it to be absolutely perfect.
"Yes. I saw Justin Law. If he's here then Asura is here."
"Justin Law? I ran into him earlier." Maka said and Soul cursed loudly.
"Then let's get out of here. Now." Soul grabbed Maka's hand and gently leads her inside of the building.
Still in the bushes, two red eyes had watched the whole thing. From the moment Maka walked out on the porch to when Soul and Maka left.
"Soul Evans―" The voice whispered while he smiled very wide. "I'm going to get you." The man snickered loudly.