It Started With a Promise….
Ch. 20
A/N: I do apologize to all of my loyal followers, but here we have another instalment of the lives of our favorite Meister and Weapon duo. This chapter for some reason was quite difficult to word right, I might still have typos and such but I wanted to keep the characters just right just matured a bit, and for the surprise return of an old friend it was quite hard to do just that. Well without further ado, I give you chapter 20.
The streets of Siberia were as predicted, frozen solid. The entire city was covered in blanket of glistening snow, the day offered little light in comparison to the smiling sunshine of Death City. The people wore heavy stylish coats and continued about their day never paying any mind to Jack Frost nipping at their limps. The familiar meister weapon partners had spent the entire morning walking around the city getting their bearings and gathering information that could be crucial to them in the upcoming days in Siberia. Every so often they would pass by a shopkeeper or tourist that spoke their language and Maka was only too eager to talk to them and see if there was any new evidence from a third person perspective. Unfortunately for the bookworm, the passers-by offered little more than what Maka had already been informed of. The day was almost drawing to a close and there was no trace of anything odd or out of place except for them, so they headed back into the city to look over the hotel again. Once in the city the, it was rather easy to investigate the site of the Hotel attack since it had already attracted half the city in curiosity, with so many people rustling about and gossiping over what they think had happened no one seemed to notice a frozen white haired teen and the long legged blond he held close.
"Do cool guys always act so clingy?"
"ACHOO…I can't help it, I'm fucken cold." The pair walked stood across the street from the rubble of the prestigious Hotel Novosibirsk still being held off by police tape. Soul slouched even more so than usual trying to huddle himself into this thick coat while his right arm was slung over Maka's delicate shoulders. "How are you so warm anyway?
Although the weather is enough to freeze Soul down to the sickle, Maka almost looked as if she'd start to sweat from heat. She couldn't peel her eyes away from the scene, she took mental notes of every fragment and the position of the law enforcement trying to find anything that would give her a clue of whom their enemy may be. She would lean in closer if it wasn't for the 175 lbs. ice block that wouldn't let her go.
"Soul, would you please get off me for bit so I can go have a good look see?"
"No way! You're the only thing keeping me from freezing to death." Maka tried to walk away from the albino weapon but was stopped as he wrapped his other hand around her waist and brought her in closer pressing their bodies against each other.
"Soul!" She tried her best to peel herself away from the shivering scythcicle but his grip was too strong for her. "You know I don't mind cuddling but not in public!"
"You'd put your sleuthing before me? You hurt me Maka, I thought you cared about me?" Soul only brought her in closer and put his cheek to hers in an attempt to absorb her warmth though she was not making anything any easier by struggling against him. "You know, the more you wiggle like this, the faster I can warm up." He purred in her ear sending a tingle down her spine.
MAKA CHOP!
The poor white haired teen cradled his head making sure his brains weren't seeping out through the gaping wound he was sure that book had left in its wake. "Fucken shit! Did you have to hit me bookwarm?"
"Don't worry, the cold will stop the bleeding."
"I'M BLEEDING?!"
"Now I can finally concentrate on the mi….."
"Man, you guys haven't changed a bit…." A gruff voice interrupted the Meister and aching weapon. Maka's entire body went rigid at the sound, she was sure she must have heard incorrectly because there was no way that voice belonged to the person she thought it would belong to. The heavy footsteps of the person that had spoken rang loudly in her head, each step making the image of the person she thought of become clearer and clearer.
'No way, it can't be…' Her eyes were still fixed on her partner who looked up with half lidded eyes but his jaw had almost hit the floor in disbelief. Maka heard the person stop before them, casting a pointy headed shadow over Soul, turning her head slowly her emerald eyes fell upon a head of messy azure hair and a very familiar yet annoying smirk. Her mind just couldn't process this one bit, never did she believe that here of all places half way around the world she would lock eyes with the one person she both cherished and loathed.
"Holy shit, THERE'S TWO BLACKSTARS!" Soul's outburst snapped Maka from her petrified state but still couldn't find any words for the person she hadn't seen in over a year.
"Man Maka, I think you hit him a bit too hard this time if he's seeing two gods before him." The teen stood proud with his chest puffed out and arms crossed. "It's been a long time guys." His dark eyes looked over Maka's stunned face and down to his long lost best friend, with a small chuckle and extended his hand down to help him get up.
'No….don't take his hand….'
To Maka, it seemed like time had slowed down as she watched her Partner reach out to that person.
'Don't take his hand….'
Her head screamed to Soul, emotions flooding her system and ultimately overflowing into him through their soul link. Though she saw his body flinch at her sudden emotional rush his hand gripped onto that of his old friend, pulling himself up and keeping their hands clasped. Coal black met ruby red as the two shared a silent private conversation in the span of fifteen seconds.
'Unforgivable…' Maka was still silent without a trace of emotion on her face, yet this all went unnoticed by the two chummy boys deep in conversation. 'Soul…why….' The person before her was a tainted soul, a person not worthy to forgive, and a person who should have disappeared.
"…Maka…"
'Why is he here?'
"Maka!" Maka's mind finally came back to reality when her partner gave her pigtail a light tug. She looked up to see the both looking right at her, her stare immediately went to BlackStar and still wouldn't say anything till he broke eye contact and scratched the back of his head apologetically.
"How about we go get something warm to drink," the blue haired looked away from the two, he could sense Maka's tension and was determined not to let her shoot him down just yet. "We could talk a bit more and…catch up or something."
"Come on Maka, he could probably help up with the mission." Soul looked at her with those pleading eyes that told her he really wanted this. When she still didn't say anything Soul placed his hand on the small of her back and gave her a light tug. Although BlackStar wasn't looking at them she noticed the smallest trace of a twitch on his lip, and not in a good way. Was he still the same after all?
"Alright, let's talk." Maka kept her gaze set firmly on the boy…no…man before her. She needed answers and he was going to provide them. "Lead the way."
The small group walked down to the other side of town to a popular indoor market selling what appeared to be food like items. Maka had to use all her strength to not empty her stomach into a trash barrels scattered about the market. BlackStar had been going on and on about how the food here may look gross but the properties in the odd looking food was energizing to keep up even with a god such as himself. Maka wanted to scoff at his comments, but it really took all her all her strength to not empty her queasy stomach into the nearest trash can.
The boys went on laughing at the different shades of green that the pale meister had been turning and took bets to see when she'd finally puke, earning each a well energized 'MAKA CHOP' yet did nothing to stop the boys from continuing their taunts.
"We're here!"
"It better smell better than in here!" Maka by now was being held up by Soul's arm who continued to grin at her poor state.
"Come on Babe, it's not that bad." Upon hearing Soul's favorite pet name for her the blond glanced at the third member of their party and again saw his eye give a slight twitch.
'What is his problem?'
BlackStar walked up to the hostess and after what looked like a bit of flirting she seated them right away, a nice little table near a window and well secluded from the rest of the patrons.
Maka had almost jumped into the seat next to the window and let her head slam into the table while she calmed her flipping stomach.
"Man, I've never seen you this bad, got a flu or something?" BlackStar motioned to the bartender across the place and winked at Soul.
Soul just slouched down in his chair and rubbed Maka's back soothingly while smirking at BlackStar and motioning towards the hostess. BlackStar replied with a wide grin to match his and crossed his arms across his chest to relax in his chair.
"Soul…" Maka's weak voice was barely audible resembling a kittens mewl. "Could you order some water for me with lemon?"
"Already here." Soul handed her a glass with cold water and a lemon twist floating in it, while he took a sip of whatever it was BlackStar had ordered. "Man, this shit is strong … cough…what is it?" Soul scowled and stared at the drink intrigued then took another sip.
"If you don't like it why are you still drinking it?" Maka sipped on her water giving her partner a curious look.
"I didn't say I didn't like it, it's just a …a…"
"Punch in the face?" Offered the blue haired man.
"Yeah, that's it."
"You better not get drunk on a mission." Maka took off her coat and relaxed into her chair rubbing her still upset stomach. The ex-friend across from her raised a brow from behind his drink and glanced at Soul who seemed to be finding the menu the most fascinating thing in the world.
"So how do you order here?" Soul cleared his throat of his drink and gave up on the menu tossing it away.
"Well, their baked sole is great and they do have great hamburgers and steaks, Maka I recommend the blue salad."
"Fine whatever, just as long as It's not too smelly." Again BlackStar glanced at Soul who shrugged at her attitude as well.
The waitress brought them their meals and the three ate cautiously making small talk; catching up on the past year's events and how lame of Kid still being confined to the death room. Maka would add her tid bit here and there but for the most part she just concentrated on eating her meal, as well as part of Soul's meal.
"Maka, I thought you didn't like this kind of cheese." Soul continued to eat the side coleslaw that came with the steak.
"I still don't."
"Then why are you eating it?"
"I'm just sampling."
"It's not sampling if you eat half the dish."
"Shut up BlackStar!" Maka threw a piece of thick cut bacon from her salad at the boy getting him right in the eye.
"You dare throw food at your god." This earned the meister another piece of food thrown at him only this time sticking in his pointy hair.
For a moment it was all as thought they were back at the DWMA sharing a meal at the local deli, they fell right back into their old routine. Even Maka seemed to liven up a bit after her stomach had settled at was now content with food. Their troubles had almost been forgotten for the moment, then the waitress came to interrupt their lively banter asking if they would like to partake in any sort of dessert. The boys were about to turn down when Maka spoke up and asked for cake.
"If you don't' slow down, that chair's gonna give way under you."
"Well if it can hold up your ginormous ego then I have nothing to fear." Maka spat and took a giant bite of her cake.
"That looks good, give me some?"
"No."
"Aww come one Babe, just a bite." Soul leaned over and placed a hand on her thigh giving it a light squeeze and caught Maka off guard successfully taking a bite of her cake. Maka was again brought back to reality when she caught the same twitch on BlackStar.
'He's bothered by Soul and I?'
Maka pecked at the cake and thought long and hard about it all, why he had left, why he had done what he did, and more importantly why was he here of all places.
"Maka." The blond looked up to stare at the one calling his name. "I'll answer your questions now."
"Huh?" Maka looked to Soul but he just looked down to his second drink not wanting to intrude on her opportunity with his long time best friend.
"Look, I can see you're completely uneasy with me just showing up like this but with all kidding aside I know you want answers and I'm prepared to answer them for you."
Maka was completely stunned by this and again looked to Soul for some kind of answer, but the fact that he was avoiding eye contact with her told her volumes.
"How were you able to hide it from me Soul?"
"Hide what?" Soul was honestly confused.
"You kept contact with him."
"Don't blame him Maka, I insisted I mean he was my best friend and there was a lot I needed to figure out….I just…needed someone to talk to…."
"Suddenly you wanted to talk?" Maka's rage flared, her emerald eyes reflecting her anger and fired up temper. "Why didn't you want to talk when SHE needed you to talk? And of course Lord Death forbid for any of us to come talk to you because you just thought we were…what was it you said?...OH yeah TRYING TO GET IN YOUR WAY."
BlackStar didn't even flinch, he only looked down taking in her words.
"Why are you even talking to me when the answers you need to answer are HERS not mine!" Maka slammed her palms flat on the table rattling the tableware. "Just what the FUCK were you even thinking!" IT was more of a statement than a question but still BlackStar looked down and waited until she was done. "Do you even know what you caused? Do you know what the end results are from your partnership with her was? Did you even make a death scythe? Did you achieve the glory you so desperately wanted?"
BlackStar gripped his cup stroking the droplets of condensation on the glass with his thumb, still casting his gaze down to the table filled with too much shame to look up.
Maka seemed to be out of breath and began panting with rage. The table was quiet, Soul shifted uncomfortably in his seat but kept his gaze down to his drink that desperately needed a refilling. He could not easily tune out his woman's shrill voice, but they were all very valid points were they not? After all, Tsubaki and he were friends as well, he may have kept contact with this friend but he never dared to ask what had been going through his head during such a terrible time. In the end, Soul decided he also wanted to know just what had happened to his friend.
Maka was still staring at the blue haired boy waiting for him to finally speak up, her anger was beginning to flare once gain at his lack of response and was about to start another string of harsh words when she noticed his head sink even lower and a hand began to ruffle the azure tresses that stuck out of his head at odd angels.
"Just what are you doing here BlackStar?" Maka's voice was back to her calm and collected pitch.
The tension was suffocating at this point, the only sounds now where the other patrons that had gone back to their meal when they were sure nothing interesting was going to happen now.
"I don't …..even know where to start…." The self-proclaimed god's once mighty booming voice now resembled that of a scared child. This change in attitude made Soul look up to find a man that now looked so broken, all traces of confidence gone.
Soul noticed that Maka was about to go in for the kill yet again but this time he decided to step in and gently grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. "Maka, Let him gather his thoughts. " He placed her hand on his lap and held on to it silently pleading for her be patient.
Once again Maka noticed that BalckStar would look away when Soul grabbed her hand, and again she just couldn't stop the irritation that kept rising; just why was it that he kept flinching when Soul and her showed any affectionate display. The wheels in her head just kept turning and turning, each time she would have more questions until finally as Professor Stein would say, it finally clicked.
"BlackStar…." Her emerald eyes shone brightly again at her revelation. "Are you by any chance….Jealous of us?" Both boys snapped their heads up at her as if she had just become the deadliest Keishin of all.
Soul couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him as he smirked at his partner. "Maka, I knew reading all those books was going to scramble your mind one day." Soul motioned for the bartender for a refill finally feeling free to let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding in. "Why would BlackStar be jealous of us of all people?"
"Because he could never make Tsubaki into a death scythe…"
"YOU'RE WRONG!" Now it was BlackStar's turn to slam his cup on the table making everything rattle again. "You're wrong about that, but ….you're right…."
Soul's new cup was waiting for him but was too confused to look at it.
"I was Jealous of you two."
"What are you saying? You're both not making any sense!" Soul downed his drink in one gulp and hissed as it burned his throat on the way down. "Jealous of what?"
"I can't deny that Maka is an exceptional Meister, I mean look at you! A Death Scythe and you guys didn't just accomplish it once but twice if it wasn't for Blair being a Cat and now a witch. Most partners have trouble just doing it once….and then there's me….I couldn't even do it once."
Maka's blazing glare had by now softened somewhat, it was indeed as she thought.
"I know that I could give any excuse from I was too young to there being too many people getting in my way, but in the end I have to admit that the problem was within me. I would even go so far as to blame Tsubaki being too soft while fighting to cover up what I was lacking." Soul snickered at his friend's last statement, how could he even admit to blaming her for his shortcomings. "I know, I know. I'm not proud of it and now I have no choice but to admit that I was wrong; and then looked for ways that I could improve and who else to look to but you guys I mean how was it that you both managed to get it all done? That's when I found out about you guys being all well…" BlackStar pointed to the pair lazily. "You guys could feel each other on a way different level than that of a regular Meister and Weapon, so I began to think that maybe that was the key to your secret, that level of intimacy between not only partners but lovers."
"Are you trying to say that it's our fault that you went crazy?" BlackStar immediately threw his hands up in defense of Maka's aggressive stance from across the table fearing a famous MAKA CHOP. Soul just gave him a look that just screamed 'not cool.'
"Not at all, look just sit and let me talk ok?" Maka sat down with a huff but complied while taking the third cup of whatever it was out of Soul's hand.
"You forced a … a…relationship on her then?" Soul just couldn't bring himself to say vulgar words when it concerned such a delicate situation.
BlackStar kept his gaze hidden, but continued talking while nervously scratching the back of his head. "I wouldn't even call it a relationship, I mean it's not like I took her on dates or even asked her how her day was….I never even…held her hand…."
"You used your weapon in every way possible," Soul had managed to gulp down the cup that Maka had taken from him. "You sure are a bastard you know that."
"I know. I know all that, and I'm sure she thinks I'm the biggest piece of shit that every existed. In her eyes I'm the worst thing to have happened to her; she always made excuses for me and put up with stubborn and egotistical nature yet here I am almost getting her killed. I am the worst."
"In all of Shibusen you mean." Maka scoffed.
"I don't give a rat's ass about what the rest of the city thinks of me, all I care about is what she thinks of me and I have no doubt in my mind she hates me with every fiber of her being; and I know she has every right to be angry with me. I do regret it all you know, I regret not showing her the respect she deserves, I regret the words I said to her, the ones I never spoke to her. I regret marring our partnership in such a way with my boorish behavior. When I see the two of you, it just reminds me of what I should have done, the way I should have been with her, the … love… I should have shown her. If I could turn back the clock I would, I would give anything to see her at least one last time and beg her to reprimand me."
"Reprimand?" Soul gave him a curious look.
"Well, I know that I have no right to ask for her forgiveness." He gave a slight chuckle but his eyes reflected his deep inner turmoil. Soul couldn't help but feel pity for his once proud shining friend, silently he wished that BlackStar could one day have the chance to meet with his goddess one more time and convey his true feelings to her. He at least deserved to let himself be heard right? Soul looked over to his own goddess, never had she looked so concentrated before, not even when studying for the Final exams at school. Right away he could tell that BlackStar needed to convince Maka first before she would allow him to entertain the thought of showing his face before Tsubaki again. Maybe he should help show Maka that he's a whole new man.
"It seems you've really had some time to think."
"Exile will do that to you."
"So you finally have your head on right?"
"Perfectly."
"Quit sounding so uncool."
"Are you still willing to make a death scythe?" Maka had her own way to learn the truth.
BlackStar's head shot up with a glare. "Absolutely not."
"Why not?"
"There is only one partner for me and I will no longer allow danger to come to her." For the first time since the topic was started, BlackStar could look Maka in the eyes. Onyx meet with blazing Emerald with such an intensity that it seemed their concentrated gaze could ignite a fire. Neither meister was willing to look away, there was no hatred or hostility; they continued to lock eyes in a silent display of determination. BlackStar was silently reaching out for Maka's permission to seek out his partner and Maka was not going to make it so easy.
"So then, what is it that you're doing here of all places?"
"I'm certain that it's for the same reason that you two were sent out here."
"And that would be?"
"I'm here to find out who's been taking the weapons in the area."
"And why would you of all people be interested in this mission, you are after all no longer part of the DWMA."
BlackStar gave Maka a smug grin as if he finally had a victory over her, making the blond arch an eyebrow at that familiar grin that only the blue haired boy could muster. "I'm sure you've noticed the pattern right? Greenland, Norway, Inda, and Tibet, all places that do not have even and embassy for admittance to the DWMA." Maka's eyes shot open in shock. "The enemy is spreading propaganda appealing to weapons that lack the means to find a suitable partner or even a means to attend the DWMA."
"So you're saying that he's targeting those who have been left out?"
"Only strong ones, they seem very selective in whom they recruit and whom they take by force."
Finally Soul seemed to catch up to the conversation. "So then how do you explain the attacks here in Russia?"
"Easy, they're making a statement to the DWMA and thus we were sent here and look what happened because of it?" Maka was beginning to understand but there was still a piece missing. "So then once again, why are you getting involved with a mission you no longer have a right to participate in?"
The look in BlackStar's eyes suddenly became hard and serious. "If the pattern continues, there are only two more places with strong weapons but no embassy…"
"Tibet and … Japan…" Maka and Soul recited together.
"Yup." BlackStar balled his fist in anger, his knuckles turning white with the pressure. "I already told you didn't I? I will not allow anything to happen to Tsubaki ever again."
"You think she'll be targeted?"
"I know so."
Soul cupped his chin and thought it clearly through. "She is a highly regarded demon sword, and the situation is highly known." His harsh words made his friend flinch.
"BlackStar, you know you're forbidden from coming near her…" Maka had a warning tone in her voice.
"I know all that ok? For fuck's sakes, I can't just sit idly by and let some shit head bastard hurt her." The determination in his voice finally put a smile on Maka's scowling face. "I don't give a shit what happens to me, Kid can lock me up in that cell again if he wants, hell, I'll even let Tsubaki turn me over if that's what it takes, but on my honor as a man I will protect my woman from anyone and anything!"
Soul stood up with a giant toothy grin from ear to ear, she stood tall with his broad chest puffed out almost with pride at his friend's honorable words. As if in understanding BlackStar also rose from his seat and stood tall and proud of himself seeing eye to eye with his best friend.
Soul extended his arm out to the blue haired ninja. "Welcome back Star."
BlackStar gave him nose a little brush with his thumb and grasped Soul's extended hand like they did in their younger days in the halls of the DWMA. Maka couldn't help but give a slight giggle at the touching scene before her and stood beside her snowy haired weapon partner giving her silent approval of BlackStar's newfound attitude. For a moment, just for a moment it felt as though the group had never disbanded, that nostalgic feeling that together they could overcome any obstacle.
"No more second chances." Maka extended her hand as well. The meisters locked eyes again only this time the look was much more amicable. Maka could see that this time BlackStar would not fail, he would definitely keep his vow, his promise. She liked this BlackStar better, that is until she noticed his eyes suddenly roaming her body.
'STUPID PIG'
"Man, you really did get fat huh?"
MAKA CHOP!
A/N: So there you have it, after many months of writer's block, a brief banning from , and personal issues I have now managed to get another chapter out; and low and behold and old friend has come back from the grave. That's right the blue haired ninja is back and repented, but is he really telling the whole story? What is he really doing in the area and what do you mean Maka's fat? Here's another question, does anyone think BlackStar has finally learned his lesson? Or do you think he's up to something? Will Tsubaki be safe at all? Well, I hope this was still up to standard, and remember to R&R, especially if you want me to upload more often. REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW!