A/N: Chapter 21? I'm happy I've gotten this far. Since I finished up the last of the pairing requests with chapter 20, I'm open to taking more. I hope to finish these ones a lot sooner though...

Soul Eater is still not mine. If that ever changes, I will be amazed.

21. Handsome Huckleberry with Poppyseed

Mysterious Gentleman

"If I didn't want to come to this party to begin with, what makes you think I want to stand around munching on food?"

Kim withdrew a plate of small crackers and dip she'd been holding, glowering at Jackie as her weapon partner stared unimpressed at the snacks in front of her. With a sigh, the pink haired girl said, "Oh, come on, Jackie! Usually I'm the one sulking in a corner being bored and forever ticked off."

"Yes, but you have Ox here," Jackie replied with a slight teasing smile that grew wider when her meister's face turned into a cherry.

"W-Well, yeah, but that's not the only reason I came. I thought it'd be good for us to get out of our apartment!" Kim shot back hastily, setting the plate of food down on a nearby table and smoothing her silver dress. "Now, this has nothing to do with what we were just talking about, but have you seen him?"

"Who?" Jackie inquired, eyes twinkling mischievously.

"Ox!" Kim hissed impatiently, scowling at her friend.

Jackie shrugged, waving an arm in the direction of the orchestra on the other side of the room. "Over there, I think. I saw him with Kilik and Harvar earlier."

"Great," Kim said, smiling a little too eagerly before seeing her friend's knowing grin and erasing the smile entirely. "Whatever. I don't really care, but I did have to talk to him about something so I'll be back, alright? Don't have any fun or anything," she added sarcastically before weaving into the crowd in the direction of her bald-headed wonder.

Jackie sighed, leaning against the wall beside her. Yeah... fun...

It had been about a week since they'd rescued Kid from the Book of Eibon and beat the enemy called Noah. As a result, despite how out of place it seemed, the Academy was celebrating with one of their usual parties. The theme was supposed to be darkness and mystery, so all around her, male students, teachers, and staff wore masks. All the female students and staff were to dance with masked figures until a certain time during the night when the masks would be taken off and some could gawk in horror and surprise at their partner while others would smile 'I knew it' smiles.

She snorted, looking over the somewhat sexist atmosphere. Why did the girls have to be left in the dark about it? Why was her gender supposed to be vulnerable, not knowing who it was they were being led around by all night? If anyone asked her, she found the whole thing rather unfair and somewhat creepy.

Also, in the Academy's masquerade balls, things were a little more peculiar, seeing as it was Death City. Hoods were worn to cover most of one's head, and masks were great pieces of art covering a person's entire face. The only thing that could be seen, most of the time, was a person's eyes. Everyone's identity was a great mystery, and people had to go through great lengths just to get into the school. They couldn't risk an enemy throwing on a cloak and mask and sneaking past their security.

Jackie was contemplating whether or not to pursue Kim and tell her meister she was heading home because of the dull atmosphere when a figure in a glossy onyx cape approached her. A silk hood was draped over their hair complete with a Dracula-inspired collar fanning up behind their head. A silver chain wrapped around their neck a few times before disappearing under the folds of a white, loose fitting button up shirt. The person was slightly taller than herself, but one look at the towering heels on his unmanly platform shoes explained why.

Jackie shrunk away from the figure, folding her arms in front of her as if shielding herself. She was in no mood to dance, and the only reason she was in a deep lavender gown without straps and scratchy black lace around the front and hem was because Kim had forced her to, saying something about the color bringing out her eyes, hair, skin or something like that...

The dark figure bowed deeply, extending a silk gloved hand, and Jackie, without much of a choice and too surprised to tell the person off, hesitantly grabbed it and was swept onto the floor amongst the other masked dancers and their partners.

She stared at the chain around the figure's neck for a long time, too embarrassed to look at his eyes. Besides, their mask kind of freaked her out. It was a metallic silver with black cracks and swirls etched into it, outlining the eyeholes where the stranger's calm, light colored eyes watched her.

Straightening an arm, the stranger twirled Jackie outward into the sea of students around them before pulling her back to the comfort of his side once more. Pulling one of Jackie's hands into the air and keeping a gentle hand just a little bit above her waist, they spun in slow circles, making Jackie a little dizzy.

The dark haired weapon looked around her, hoping Kim didn't see her dancing her heart out with some stranger when she'd made it very clear going to the Academy's party was the last thing she'd wanted to do that night. She didn't see her meister, much to her relief until her dance partner spun her again, and she locked eyes with Kim for just a moment, halfway across the room with a knowing grin on her face.

Jackie groaned in disappointment before her partner easily drew her back again, keeping her tightly against him. Surprised, Jackie looked up, blinking into the stranger's eyes as they met her own, narrowing slightly in what she assumed was a smile under the silver mask.

Okay, she hated to admit it, but the guy was good at dancing and she was actually having... fun.

Very slowly, Jackie smiled back at her partner, twirling with a little more ease when the dance called for it. She matched her partner's steps as he led her around the tiled floor, dipping her this way and rotating her that way. His gloved hands were warm around her own, almost reassuring and safe, like he was a weapon partner who'd sworn to protect her, and she was a meister for once.

The song came to a halt and the last of the orchestra's trills faded into the atmosphere of the room, brining all dancers to a stop in a swishing of silk capes and long dresses.

Jackie stared up at her partner, grinning appreciatively at him. "Okay, I admit it," she began, looking around nervously. "I didn't want to come here tonight. It seemed dull and boring, but Kim dragged me along, and now I'm kind of glad she did. I enjoyed myself more than I thought I would, so thanks."

Her partner withdrew, bowing deeply and dramatically, and the dark haired weapon giggled.

"Students and teachers, meisters and weapons!" Death's jovial voice rang out from the front of the room, grabbing everyone's attention. "It is that time to assure you all that you haven't been on a complete stranger's arm all night and that you're all perfectly safe! Everyone wearing masks, with the exception of myself of course, you can all show your lady who you really are now. Go on, go on! Be shocked, one and all!"

From all around came the rustling of sleeves as arms were raised and strings were pulled loose, allowing masks to slide down the faces of many students and teachers. Gasps could be heard, as well as laughter, and, somewhere in the middle of the room, a rather indignant, "You've got to be kidding!"

Jackie grinned into the sea of people in the direction of the one incredulous shout before turning back to her own partner. His hands were fiddling around with the tie on the back of his silver mask and very carefully, he pulled it from his face, carefully tugging his hood down at the same time.

Mouth dropping open in complete shock, Jackie stared into the eyes of the mysterious gentleman whose arm she'd been on all night. By the time she finally found her senses to say something, her dance partner was grinning ear to ear. Sputtering for a few seconds, Jackie finally hissed in disbelief, "Black Star?!"

-/-\-|-/-\-

A/N: Black Star is an excellent dancer. How did Jackie not notice the star shaped result of, what I assume to be, an unnecessary load of gel in Black Star's hair? My only guess is he slicked it down so it wouldn't stick up under the hood of his cape. What a strange image... Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. ^^