It Started with a Promise
Ch. 24
A/N: So I have been working on this for the past few months and thought it's not a lot I hope you can all understand that many things sometimes stifle the creative mind. I hope this new chapter is all that you're hoping for as now I have completely deviated from my normal outline due to it just not feeling right. So Please read, review and enjoy!
Tsubaki was laying out a very elegant dress on her bed, the matching accessories also delicately placed all around the dress. Three girls stood around looking in aww at the beautiful wedding dress that was laid before them. It was all just too much for them and they burst out squealing in giddy delight.
"Tsubaki you are going to look so beautiful you know that?" Liz had tears in her eyes already picturing her statuesque friend being handed off to her groom wearing that white silk dress.
"Hehehe… I always thought it would be sissy that got married first but YAY TSUBAKI!" Liz gave brought her darling little sister into a powerful head lock, irritation just pouring out of the tall blond for such a callous remark.
"Liz, you don't have to hurt her she didn't mean anything by it right?" Tsubaki tried to separate the sisters before they accidentally tore anything.
"Yeah sissy I just mean that since you're the older one you should have been getting hitched first …" That earned the younger Thompson sister a good hit on the back of her head. This time Tsubaki admitted defeat, after all, it was a rather idiotic thing to say to a woman scorned.
"Yeah well you aint no spring chicken yourself Patty!"
"Teeehehehehe but I don't want to get married!"
"Oh come on Patty don't all little girls dream of getting married?"
"No, this one never did." Liz made a dismissive gesture with her hand indicating that the point was invalid and a down right lost cause. "Even as a little girl all she wanted was to capture a giraffe and ride him all over the world. I tell ya, having siblings can be such a pain sometimes."
"Yeah, I guess they can be…"
"Oohh sorry about that."
The girls looked back to the dress and fussed over how Tsubaki was going to manage an up-do with such long hair, and then before Tsubaki could protest she was sitting in a chair with hundreds of pins and curls creating intricate hair styles to match her upcoming attire.
"There, and now for the final touch…" Liz reached over to take the veil from Patty and place it carefully atop the elaborate hair style to finally complete the look. "Oh my gosh Tsubaki…."
"Hehehe Tsubaki you look so pretty!"
"Patty's right, you are going to look so amazing Tsubaki."
"Yo…you really think so?" Tsubaki turned in her chair to look at the refelction in the mirrow, her friends were right, she looked like an angel with a thin veil of white that hid the light blush that flushed her gentle face.
The girls all looked at each other commenting on the life ahead for their old friend. They chatted from that morning all the way to the early evening, all the while Tsubaki thought of the life she will have and the life she would leave behind as a married woman. Married to a wonderful man. Married to Akai…
"Hey…Tsubaki…"
Tsubaki heard her name being called out to her but strangely it felt as though it was far away. She turned to see her friends had stopped jumping around in excitement and looked to her with concern written on their faces.
"Tsubaki why are you crying?"
"Crying?" Tsubaki touched her face and indeed her cheeks were wet with tears. She hadn't even noticed that drops had spilled onto her cleavage. Now that she felt the cold tears roll down her skin she felt a deep sense of loss in her heart, but what would it be she had no clue.
"Here let me." Liz bent down and gently pat her face dry with her handkerchief but it was no use, more tears kept falling down. "Tsubaki what's wrong?"
"I do…I don't know…" Tsubaki just clutched the cloth in her hands and continued to let the tears fall yet still have no idea what could have provoked it. "I just…I guess…"
"Shhh….it's ok Tsubaki you're just getting a bit of jitters that's all." Liz looked to Patty for a bit and began to untangle the veil from Tsubaki fearing that it may become stained if emotions kept overflowing as they were. "Once the wedding is over and you're whisked away by your new husband this will all seem silly to you."
Tsubaki looked as if she were in a trance, her thoughts had run away with her and she couldn't control them, all she knew was that she had heartache and the tears were proof that she could still feel it.
"I'm alright Liz, it's just as you said," Tsubaki mustered up a gentle smile and looked to her good friends. "Hey don't you guys have to go to the shop and get those shoes before it closes?" The sisters looked to each other and nodded at the acceptance of their friend's silent request.
"Yeah, we should get going or they'll probably sell out." Liz motioned to get up and pulled her younger sister off the floor and dusted some the lint off her dark shorts.
"Yeah ok!" Patty saluted to her friend and scampered out the door with her elder sister behind her, looking back one last time as their friend waved good bye she shut the door and walked out.
Tsubaki was left alone in her room to sit and let the tears continue to roll down, covering her face with her hands she muffled the cries that came from her. She poured out the sorrow from her heart, allowing herself to finally feel the pain that she had been holding in; and after a few hours of letting her pent up frustration spill out she dried her tears and prepared for an early sleep. Venturing to the bathroom she bathed and relaxed in the steaming hot water, her thoughts thinking of what was, what could have been, and what will be. The latter making her smile just a bit.
'This is all for the best, It's a new start.'
Back in Death City the mocking sun continued to laugh as it watched its little citizens running up and down the crowded streets panic stricken with the day's events.
"Any sign of her?"
"No, you?"
"Nothing…FUCK!" Soul kicked a nearby tree careful to keep his hands in his pockets to keep from losing control and cutting something down.
Soul and Spirit had meet up again at the park right before the school, sweeping each street and every alley hoping to find at least a trace of their missing meister.
"Soul have you seen Blair anywhere?"
"Old man I don't think this is the best time to try and get laid …."
"NO NOT THAT YOU LITTLE SHIT! What I mean is where has she been?"
Soul thought for a moment and remembered that the sexy kitten was wondering outside the apartments in an attempt to escape having to do any work in the nursery.
"She should have been outside….do you think maybe…"
"If we find Blair we may be able to ask her what she saw outside…"
"But where is she?"
"SOUL! SPIRIT!"
The men turned around to see a familiar blonde running frantically in their direction from the DWMA.
"Ms. Marie what are you doing here?" Soul jogged over to her eager to hear any news she had.
The long-time friend and teacher stopped and bent over leaning on her knees for support as she caught her breath and wiped some sweat from her brow from her run.
"I'm glad…huff… I found…huff…you guys…huff..."
"Why don't you sit for a bit and catch your breath." Spirit tried to help her to a bench but she chose to lean on the younger death scythe for safety precautions and allowed him to help her to a shaded area to rest.
"I got a letter today…well more like a job offer." She produced a folded piece of paper and handed it to the elder of the two men and watched as the two shared the note and read the letter.
"It's from the Weapon Liberation Leader."
"Yes, but it's more of a summons to the Siberian DWMA."
"Kid is relocating you?"
She shook her head slowly. "Not at all, look at the signature." She pointed to the bottom of the page and both men were stunned.
"It's signed Weapon Brotherhood…it's from him."
"And he's asking you to report? Like ordering you to go to the DWMA." Soul tried to make heads or tails of the situation. His teacher has been summoned to a branch of the DWMA and his pregnant wife is missing.
"That's not all, I also received these with my letter." She held out two more cards. "They're addressed to the both of you." She handed the men their own letters and waited patiently for them to open the letters.
"Spirit!"
"Yeah I know, I've been summoned as well."
"THAT SON OF A BITCH!"
Spirit jumped at the sudden outburst. "What the hell has gotten into you, it's just a…" Soul showed the letter to his father-in-law and waited for him to get to the last line of the letter.
"….Hurry, you don't want the child to beat you here…."
"Wait what's going on?"
"Maka's missing…" Spirit paled and fell to his knees on the ground.
"And it seems he's the one that has her."
"Maka…she's…she's…"
"Spirit! You and Ms. Marie go back to the school and report this to Lord Death." Soul handed the letter to his former teacher and sprinted back down the street.
"Wait Soul where are you going?" Ms. Marie called out to him but was silenced as Spirit walking away from her.
"He's going to Siberia, come on we have to get to the Death room."
"R…right…" The two now made their way back to the DWMA parting ways for the time being.
Maka sat in a dark and cold place, her body felt heavy and tired. She had awoken in a small room, there was enough space for herself and a small mattress she had been sitting on, maybe enough for one other person. The room had no windows, just an iron door with a single slot for an outsider to look in on her misery, she had no way of knowing how long she had been in that room or if anyone actually stood beyond that door. All she knew was that she was very far from anyone she knew, her senses telling her that she may not even be in the same area as anyone that could be a friend only souls with a deep sense of turmoil were nearby and she would not give her captor the satisfaction of calling out to in distress. With no light to let her have a clear view of her surrounds she could only surmise that it was a sort of prison, and a very tightly sealed one at that. For a time after regaining consciousness she felt around looking for anything that could be used as a weapon for her to use in case of anyone coming in to threaten her, but all she found was that same mattress and a toilette that she was forced to use a couple of times due to her extreme condition.
'Keep calm baby, they will come for us.'
Maka softly caressed the restless child in her belly, she had begun feeling pinching pains in her back and lower abdomen and now concentrated on keeping her emotions in check. She feared further stress could trigger her body into labor but with her due date soon approaching she quickly realized that there would be nothing to stop the possibility of the child coming now if she did not find a way out soon.
"Kukukuku, so then you're awake again?"
Maka was startled by a voice that came through the iron doors of her prison cell. She pursed her lips and refused to answer to him, knowing full well he had probably pulled back the little window to look in on her. She shifted herself into a more comfortable position knowing this man would probably be coming in to torment her.
Just as expected, the iron door slowly opened revealing her captor in a long warm coat, the door closed behind them and the loud clank of the lock being turned echoed in the dark room. The man walked in carefully, Maka could feel him upon her but kept her resolve to keep calm. He circled around her eyeing her carefully and finally coming to squat on the floor directly in front of her. Maka continued to stay still and looked right back into his cold black eyes. To Maka they were the eyes of a wolf trying to catch its prey, but she would not allow herself to be caught so easily.
"You are due soon aren't you?"
Maka held her tongue, her hands fisted in her lap.
"Well you don't have to tell me if you don't want to, after all you won't be getting out of here any time soon." Even in the darkness of the room she could see a smile on his face. "I may even get to see the blessed event."
The man's eyes moved down her body to rest of the bulge on her abdomen, the ever present smile sending a pang of panic to course through her body. Another sharp pain hits her body but Maka keeps still not wanting to let the enemy know she is in distress.
"Hmmm….you seem very uncomfortable, are you cold meister?"
When Maka continued to keep her silence he merely shrugs and stands up again pacing the small enclosure.
"You don't have to be so defiant this early in the game you know, all that stress is bad for the baby and all." Maka could see him looking around with help from the little light that shone through the opened peep hole where they would periodically check in on her. "You have nothing to fear here….for now…kukukukuku."
"…."
"So still not talking to me then? Alright well I have been pretty rude haven't I? Let me introduce myself, I am Yulian Kovalevski, at your service." The man gave a deep bow and fluttered his hand out to the side. He was mocking her.
'So this is must be the leader of the weapon liberation group.' Maka thought long and hard about this new information, but with her current situation she was unable to think of a way to relay this new information to her party.
"I can see you thinking my dear, and if you wish I can lend you a cell phone or better yet…" The man held out a compact mirror from his pocket and offered it to Maka. "You can use this compact to contact Lord Death and let him know my identity."
Maka thought for a moment, but if she should take the compact and call would she be further endangering her life or that of her friends? Why would he offer it to her in the first place?
"If you're wondering why I'm offering you this compact it's simple really, I have everything I need now and it would make no difference since your friends will be coming to me either way."
Maka kept silent, her emerald eyes glimmered with hatred and rage, but her body tensed once more feeling a deep hard pain in her lower abdomen.
'NO! Not now please!'
Maka held in her breath still trying desperately to try and conceal her pain but it was no use hiding it, her body began to tremble and her face paled with her condition.
"Oh my, well it looks like I may be witness to the birth of Death Scythe's child after all."
Maka tensed at his words forgetting her distressing pain momentarily, she leaned back watching the man come dangerously close to her.
"STAY BACK!" Maka almost jumped back but was meet with the wall behind her and with another wave of pain hitting her she slumped to the side and heaved heavily and held her belly tight trying to calm the baby.
"Kukukuku try and relax Maka, I wouldn't dare to attack you at your most vulnerable." Yulian stripped himself of his heavy coat and draped it around her shoulders. "Now remember to breathe through the pain or you'll use up your strength and you will be needing it." The man stood up again, looking down on the fallen state of a three star meister cowering in fear of him. He watched as she slumped to the side and clutched her belly, weather it was in pain, fear, or an instinctual need to protect he did not know but it was amusing to watch none the less.
Maka watched him just as he watched her, her defiant gaze never breaking from his even through her heavy panting.
"How about I tell you a little story huh? To help keep your mind occupied." The man named Yulian jumped close again to the edge of the mattress making Maka jump in surprise and turn to her side away from him. He merely gave a sly smile and sat cross legged with his chin resting on his palm as if this was a social gathering amongst friends. "Hmmm….Many years ago, there was a little boy, this little boy was born in a very cold place that was very far away from anywhere with other people much less other children. This little boy grew up very lonely, his parents always working on a small Russian base in the Antarctic doing research on the shifting ice."
Maka eyed the man carefully but was intrigued by the story as it unfolded.
"The little boy thought that this was just a waste of time, snow was snow and ice was ice, what more is there to know?" Yulian chuckled a bit at the thought of having made a rhyme. "The little boy would wonder around the camp alone most of the time and before long began to notice strange things happening to his body… not the normal growth spurts and changes associated with growth but a strange sensation of his body being more than what it appeared. The little boy researched all he could on this subject but came up with nothing. Finally being fed up with no answers he went to his parents and asked for their help but they proved to be even more useless than the books he had read. Once day thought the boy was able to concentrate himself on that sensation and he was then able to transform his arm into a weapon…not just any weapon…it was a Bola, the very weapon used by his ancestors so very long ago and maybe even to his day."
"The DWMA would have taken that little boy and trained with him."
Yulian suddenly jumped to his feet and hit the wall with a transformed arm, the iron ball at the end of the rope crashed through a few layers of wall, revealing them to be nothing more than reinforced thick ice walls.
"The DWMA turned its back on that poor child and chose to respect the parent's wishes to keep him at the base where he had to suppress his gift, and so the boy taught himself to harness his own power and when old enough he traveled to learn how to fight on his own. No need for a partner and no need to be used by a meister."
Julian took a deep breath and returned his weapon arm back to normal and paced the small cell again, the agitation of his words still surging through him but he knew he had to keep calm for the time being.
Maka listened intently to the man's anecdote and couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness for the man. This was a man that was isolated, and with no one to help guide him then it would be easy for misunderstandings to happen. Maka thought of Soul, her Soul, a person who was isolated in a house full of family; but there was a great difference between them, Soul sought out the DWMA to make a correct path for himself, this man sought to carve one out by force.
"I have traveled all over the world learning numerous fighting arts, strengthen myself and using my own body to its fullest capabilities. I am a man that became inspired by great weapons such as Giriko, and Justin." The man swung his weaponized arm around with graceful tact, demonstrating the depth of his control over himself. Maka could see the deep concentration in his body, he had learned to control himself well. "I am a Bola weapon, and I have no need for meisters such as yourself to make me into a strong fighter."
Julian pointed an accusatory finger at Maka but she held her gaze and straightened herself up to show that she felt no fear at his tone.
"The DWMA teaches you that it is team work between a Meister and Weapon…"
"WELL I WOULDN'T FUCKEN KNOW WHAT THE DWMA WOULD HAVE TAUGHT NOW WOULD I?" Maka closed her eyes as another small wave of pain rippled through her body. Yulian took in a deep breath and smoothed a hand through his messy hair slicking it back to a more uniform look. "I do apologize, I understand you have your views of things little meister. Of course it's not your fault that you have been brain washed at that school to think that weapons need your assistance."
Maka again chose not to answer to his insult.
"Well I think I've taken up enough of your time, if you'll excuse me I have a very important event to attend." Julian bowed again flaring his hands about as if he were excusing himself from a high court. Just as the man reached the Iron doors that kept he heart a small whimper so low it was almost inaudible.
"Why are you doing this?" Yulian stopped and smirked widely before turning his head ever so slightly to look upon the distraught girl.
"I had thought I had made myself perfectly clear about wanting to free the weapons from controllers."
Maka shook her head. "No, I mean why are you keeping me here? I am not a weapon."
"Kukukukukukuku….I'm just helping the Last Death Scythe make the correct decision." With that said the man shut the door behind him and walked down the solemn corridor leading back up to his facility; once again leaving Maka to sit in her dark cell to cope with her situation alone.
Maka was breathing quite heavily and she managed to wrap the used coat around her front a bit to keep her warm, she pressed her back against the cold wall and fought against the ebbing pain.
"Maka?"
"Lord…huff…Death…" Maka looked down to a discarded compact that Yulian had left behind for her to use. "Did you hear it all?"
"My dear are you alright?" The unmistakable white mask of the former Lord of Death City was bouncing from side to side worried that he was unable to help his former pupil. "Is your time coming?"
"Hehe don't worry about this, I think it's just the stress causing practice contractions and it always takes forever the first time according to the books."
"You know you can't always trust what you read Maka."
"Please don't worry about me Lord Death just make sure the information gets to where it needs to go, I will wait patiently here."
"And where is here exactly?"
"I do not know that, I just know the walls have ice and it's very cold in here. Yulian, the man behind all this, he seemed to have snow melting on his boots when he came in here, and he gave me a very heavy coat lined in sheep wool so that would mean I am somewhere with ice cold temperature."
"Don't worry Maka, but I hope you know I'll have to contact my son about this."
"Yeah I know, umm…"
"Hmmm?"
"Please tell Soul to hurry and bundle up."
"Will do Kiddo, take care and breathe deep."
Maka gave a weak smile before the communication ended and leaned back to mentally prepare herself for what was to come. She silently sat in her new room and rubbed her belly slowly trying to bring some comfort to herself and her baby.
"I hope you're not as impatient as your mommy and daddy." She closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep to regain some energy but sleep did not come to her so easily.
Tsubaki ran down the familiar streets of her hometown, she glanced at her wrist watch again grimacing at how late it had become already. The sprint to her house had been quick but she mentally beraded herself for not having managed her time properly.
"Oh dear, seems like you're running late!"
"Yes it seems I am sorry I can't stay and chat."
"Understandable dear good luck!"
The local convenience store owner waved her sweetest customer goodbye and saw the raven haired girl continue on her way to her home.
Tsubaki had finally made it home just in time to see her parents making their way out to the restaurant.
"Tsubaki what are you doing here looking like that?"
"Sorry I got held up at the venue with the decorations but I'll get ready right away." Tsubaki struggled to get her boots off and clambered through the doorway.
"Well who ever heard of the bride to be being late to her own rehearsal dinner? Tsubaki do you need me to stay and help you?"
"No that's ok mother please take father and go on ahead of me and let them know I'll be a little late."
Her father gave a small smile and ushered her wife out the door before she hovered over their daughter to the point of frustration. "Come on she'll be fine, we'll just have to stall until she arrives."
Tsubaki hurried to strip out of her sweaty clothes and took a quick bath, having forgotten her clothes in her room she wrapped a towel around herself and ran to her room after blow drying to hair enough to style into a simple bun. Now in her room she carefully selected undergarments and a white slip.
…crack…
Tsubaki thought she had heard a noise and stilled listening intently to her surroundings, when she heard nothing else she figured it was just her imagination and continued to apply a light coat of makeup. She finished applying her last coat of mascara and waited for it to dry before giving herself a thorough look over; once satisfied with her work she put away her makeup case and turned to her closet to take out a stunning knee length burgundy dress. She held it close and turned to place it on the bed and stopped with a shock that almost stopped her heart.
"Hey."
Tsubaki's eyes were wide with disbelief at the person standing before her. She tightened her hold on her dress and held it tight against her body. She opened her mouth to speak but found her mouth had gone dry and struggled to make any sound at all.
"BlackStar…" The name of her once upon a time partner escaped her lips as a soft whisper. Her heart was beating wildly in her heart I her chest, she struggled to breath and was rendered motionless. Before her stood the very person that had almost caused her death, the person who disregarded her feelings, the very person that caused her to leave her friends at the DWMA behind; before her stood the man she knew she still loved.
"Tsubaki, I…"
"You shouldn't be here."
The self-proclaimed god flinched at her rude tone, thought she had used it many times on him and had almost no effect on him, but the cold stare she gave him was enough to hurt even him.
He made to speak again but she cut him off again by raising her hand to silence him.
"You have no right to be here BlackStar."
"I know."
"How dare you think you can just come into my room?"
"Like old times…"
"These aren't old times, these are nowhere near like old times and you have no right to come here and…and…" Tsubaki slowly began to lower her trembling hands. "WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE?"
BlackStar averted his gaze and ruffled the back of his head making a bigger mess of his spiky hair. He took a deep breath and craned his neck up to try and get his emotions in check before he carefully spoke.
"I came to say that…well…" The proud ninja took another deep breath and dropped to the floor and bowed gracefully to touch his forehead to the floor and his hands firmly on either side of his head. "Tsubaki I came here to say that I am truly and deeply sorry for everything I have done to you." He waited for a moment but when no sounds came he took it as a sign to continue. "I don't deserve your forgiveness so I will not ask for it, I have done a lot of reflecting and I know I didn't deserve you, I didn't value you as the great friend you were, I didn't value the strong partner I had, and I didn't appreciate all that you did for me."
"Stop it BlackStar."
"I regret not valuing such an amazing person, I regret the way I treated you…"
"Just stop it!"
"I regret taking you for granted but most of all Tsubaki I regret not giving you the love you deserved!"
"I SAID STOP IT NOW!" Tsubaki threw her dress on the floor and cradled her face in her hands willing the tear that prickled her perfectly painted eyes to keep from falling.
BlackStar kept his position on the floor with his forehead pressed against the wooden floor. He did not want to look this woman in the face just yet. He needed to tell her that he was sorry, that he regretted, that he had changed; even if it did nothing to change the rip between them he could at least tell her that he is not that same person. He is different now, if he could convince the ever smart Maka then surely he can show Tsubaki as well that he has changed for the better. He wants her to be happy, even if it means that that happiness does not include him in the picture.
"Please BlackStar just stop it right here and leave now before….hic … before…" Tsubaki couldn't help the tears from falling now, her breath gasping from trying to control cry of pain. Why today of all days did he have to show up and speak suck nonsense? This was BlackStar, the most egotistical narcissistic man Tsubaki had ever meet and now here he was on the floor bowing with in a show of deep sorrow and simply saying that he was sorry and that he has regrets. This was just too much.
"You're sorry BlackStar, you have regrets? You think you have the right to come in here and just say these words to me?" Tsubaki found a renewed anger and was able to stand straight with her head lowered to have her bangs cover her eyes.
"You dare to think that a simple apology on the floor will tell me what? That you've changed? That you want me to forgive you? What is it that you really wished to accomplish by coming over here and sneaking into my room?"
BlackStar jumped back to his feet. "I didn't just come to mess up your day and no way do I expect you to forgive me! I know I have no right to do anything I just did but I just couldn't stand another day to go by while you and me go…"
Tsubaki gave a scoff and turned to look away in anger.
"I just couldn't let things end the way they did….look I know I was in a real messed up place, and I know that I was the worst bastard out there but…look I have changed and I'm not asking you to take me back or even let me back in your life…I know that's too much to ask for but please just believe me when I say that I am so so so sorry and no amount of apologies are ever going to make up for what I've done to you; what I've done to us."
"BlackStar there is no US."
BlackStar closed the gap between them pinned her to the closet holding his arms against her closet doors on either side of her head to keep her there. Tsubaki jumped back in surprise and fear that he would dare to hurt her again after her denial of anything between them, she was now trapped between her closet and his body and noticed for the first time that he had now grown much taller than her. She looked up to see his dark eyes staring at her but surprisingly she found no anger or intent of malice in the onyx stare, no, what she was a look of pure pain and suffering one that was similar to her own not so long ago and a few days ago.
"There was once us, and because of my foolishness I let it all dissolve…" Tsubaki felt his breath on her and it gave a small shiver. The prickling sensation in her eyes returned warning that at any moment tears would fall down her cheeks. Tsubaki was frozen in place and was unable to meet his gaze, she chose instead to cast her eyes away from his and look at his chest as if the shirt he wore was the most interesting thing in the room.
"Why are you doing this now….?" Tsubaki couldn't meet his gaze, not with that unfamiliar gaze.
"I don't want us to end like that…and I know you don't either."
"What do you know about what I want?" She snapped.
"I know that you wanted to live an adventurous life, you didn't really want to be a death scythe but rather just spend time with friends and family…being surrounded by the people that you love."
Tsubaki could feel her heart beating fast in her chest.
"I know that I ignored all that and forced us into dangerous situations that could have taken all that way and…well…"
Tsubaki couldn't believe she was hearing such words from his ex-meister, this was the same man that blamed her for their inability to complete their missions, this was the same man that would have never in a million years blame himself for things not turning out right.
"I could have lost you so many times and yet I was blinded by my own jealousy to see that I was hurting you in too many ways…I regret all that and I know I can never have what we used to have back, but if I could turn back time and do it all over again believe me I would. I would go back and knock some sense into myself and open my eyes to what I already had."
"…and what did you have?" The words had left her mouth before she could stop herself and she looked down to finally notice that he had moved in closer to her, their chests almost touching, her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it as well.
"I had you…and that should have been enough to make me the luckiest meister…no…the luckiest man in the world." BlackStar leaned in to touch his forehead against the top of her head inhaling the scent of her favorite shampoo that he had sorely missed. Softly he nuzzled her enjoying the softness of her dark locks. "And now I've lost you…"
"BlackStar I…"
Before Tsubaki could utter another word the same ninja silenced her with a searing kiss conveying all of his love for her in that one moment. Her mind had gone blank in an instant, all she could feel were his heated lips against her own and for a moment she had hesitated before responding slowly to him. For just a moment it was as if time had reverted back to when a kiss like this would have meant to world to both weapon and meister.
Tsubaki was paralyzed by the moment, her body wanting to give in to the affections of a man that still occupied a place in her heart. Despite all the pain, despite all the hurt, she knew this was a man that she would always love. However this was the evening where she was to celebrate the upcoming day of vowing to love another, and her mind awoke her from her haze.
SLAP!
BlackStar reeled back and quickly clutched his stinging cheek. He averted his eyes knowing he had overstepped a boundary Tsubaki would not cross.
"Ok…I deserve that and then some…"
"Did you think I would just fall into your arms again? That I had been waiting for you to come and apologize and we would go back to normal?"
"…the thought had crossed my mind, but no I didn't." The fallen ninja averted his gaze and rubbed he back of his neck unsure of what to do now.
"I'm with someone now." She waited for a reaction from the man before her but was surprised to find none. "He and I will be getting married soon, tonight is our rehearsal dinner which I'm now terribly late for."
"…I know…"
Now it was Tsubaki that was surprised. "How did you…"
"I've been keeping watch on you …."
"YOU'VE BEEN STALKING ME?"
"Not stalking, just watching."
"What's the difference! UGH Just what the hell are you even doing in Japan?"
"Look I know what's going on with that psycho that's been taking all the weapons, I've been trying to track him down all over the world and I found the pattern of his strikes."
"Pattern?"
"He's targeting strong weapons, and this is the one area he hasn't hit yet. I was worried he'd come and target you next."
"I can take care of myself!"
"I know that, believe me I know you're no damsel in distress…but I just didn't want him to take away your second chance."
"Second chance at what?"
"You're second chance at the life I should have given you." Tsubaki was now utterly speechless. She was touched, enraged, nervous, and heartbroken.
"You need to go."
"Tsubaki I …"
"TSUBAKI WHERE ARE YOU?"
"Liz…"
"You need to go now!" BlackStar decided it was best not to press the situation further by invoking the wrath of the tall blonde and the enchanted weapon all in one night and quickly jumped to the window from which he had entered.
Tsubaki watched him react with a practiced ease and jumped to the window sill where he stopped momentarily to look back to her.
"I'll always love you, and I'll always keep you safe." The blue haired ninja jumped out the window just as the door to Tsubaki's room was slammed open to see a rather miffed blonde.
"Tsubaki I don't know if you got the invite but today you're supposed to be having a dinner with your family and your umm…oh shoot what's the word for him again? Oh yeah, FIANCE who is flipping out thinking you're ditching him!"
Tsubaki snapped back to reality pushing tonights events to the back of her head for the moment and began to look herself over to see what still needed to be done. She looked down to notice she was in her slip and underwear and felt her face ignite with embarrassment. In the confrontation with the ninja she had completely forgotten she was not wearing proper close and yet they had been so close together.
"WAAHHHH, OK I'M SO SORRY I JUST NEED TO GET MY DRESS AND SHOES AND OH MY GOSH LOOK AT MY FACE LIZ FIND MY…."
"Already on it sister!"
Tsubaki danced around trying to pull her dress up her body and Liz scampered around to sip it up then promptly salvaged what she could of her makeup not bothering to ask what had made it run so badly but a look at her reddened eyes had given her a clue.
"Ok ready come on let's go I have a cab waiting outside and it's costing your man a fortune!"
"Ok let me just get my shoes….oh I left them by the door come on!"
Liz ushered her friend out of the room first and turned back to close the door when she noticed the window was opened.
The girls got into the car and speed off to their destination where they were meet by an overly pale man who's face lit up in renewed hope when he looked upon the face of the girl he had been waiting for.
"Tsubaki you made it! What on earth happened I was already assuming the worst!" He gave his fiancée a deep kiss, in hopes of calming the butterflies in his stomach but only accomplished to create more from his relief and nervousness.
"Sorry I just had a little trouble with my time today…"
"No no don't worry about it, what matters now is that you're here and the families meet; oh but my dad isn't here yet because of work but he'll be here in time for the big day."
"Oh my gosh I am so embarrassed, what a horrible impression to make on your family arriving so late and all."
"Don't worry, when they see you tonight they'll forget all about it and fall in love with you just as I did…"
"Aki…" Tsubaki couldn't help but warm at the words he lavished her with. He wrapped an arm around her slim waist and crushed her to his side and the couple made their way into the venue for the intimate dinner.
Behind them Liz walked slowly behind them looking everything over. Before long her younger sister stood beside her and hooked her arm around her elder sister and the two walked in.
"So anything on your mind sis? You're awfully quiet." Patty was giving her elder sister a sly smile, able to read the look in her elder sisters blue eyes.
"It's nothing really just helping my friend here get back on track."
"Hmmm….sounds interesting, before or after?"
"Ha, not at all if I had to guess."
The sisters mingled around the small room greeting the guests and introducing themselves as the bride's maids and friends. They kept a playful atmosphere going and eventually sat to dinner to eat a traditional Japanese meal. All the while casually observing their friend to see anything that only a close friend would see.
"To be or not to be…"
"That certainly is the question Patty."
The sisters giggled to each other and Liz made a toast to the union of Tsubaki and her true love.
BlackStar had made it back to his hotel room and flung himself on his futon. Turning over onto his back he replayed the meeting in his head and smiled to himself.
"Well that's certainly something I don't regret." The man rubbed his cheek again, he was fairly certain he was still sporting a red hand print. "She hasn't lost her touch I'll give her that."
He stood up and decided it was time to take a bath and relax for a bit knowing she was safe with Patty and Liz for the night. He peeled off his shirt and flung it over to a pile of dirty clothes in the corner and rummaged around his pack for fresh clothes when his cell phone started ringing.
"Jeeze now what…" The ringtone let him know it was his good old friend Soul calling him but given the time difference he wondered what he'd would want at that hour.
"Hey Soul calling to bid your God good night?"
"Maka's gone!"
"What did she finally come to her senses and left your sorry ass?"
"I'm serious BlackStar, Maka's been taken."
"Taken? What the fuck do you mean Taken?"
"She's been taken by the group, I even got a summons to the Russian DWMA from them so I'm on my way now!"
"SHIT! What do you need me to do I'm in Japan though…"
"Fuck…I thought you'd still be in Russia…Man…wait what about the kid?"
"She's due any day now…"
"Do you know where she is?"
"No but I know he's got her and that's a start."
"Fuck..Fuck…FUCK...what about Spirit?"
"Yeah he and Ms. Marrie got a letter as well to report."
"They have you guys cornered…got a plan?"
"I'm running on pure instinct here."
"What about Kid?"
"Yeah they're going to him but I don't know what he'll do Liz and Patty aren't here and Mr. Rapunzel hasn't left his tower since you know when."'
"Yeah you're right…that's not much of a reassurance…"
"I'm losing it BlackStar, my pregnant wife is lord knows where with lord knows who, and my kid may be born in the middle of it all!"
"Keep it together Soul, Maka's smart and tough, and if they summoned you then that means they want to keep you and for that it means both of them will be kept alive."
"They aren't safe!"
"But they're alive!"
"Plane's boarding…"
"Don't worry I'll think of something….I'll wrap up here and meet you Siberia we'll meet at that same market."
"I'm getting on the plane now I'll text you when I get there."
"Good Luck dude!"
"Yeah thanks."
BlackStar hung up his cell and paced in his room, forgetting his earlier plan to shower and rest for the night. Scratching his head and looking over his observations and calculations he was furious and not even thinking of the possibility that the organization would stoop so low as to kidnap a pregnant woman. His senses heightened along with his anger, the more he thought of the day's turnout the more he cursed the world. The woman he loved was marrying another man, he was banned from the place he called his home for most of his life, his friends were scattered all over, and now his best friends are threatened and all because they couldn't find one nut job.
"Siberian DWMA…"
BlackStar took out an older notebook from his travels all over Russia and looked it all over. Trying feverishly to find any clues to where the organization was stationed, if the best weapons are being summoned to Siberia then it's likely that the base would be near by….but where?
Being cut off from the DWMA network slowed everything down severely, but it was not enough to hinder the self-proclaimed god too much. It was time to do this the old fashion way, the same way he dreaded so much when attending class at the DWMA all those years ago. He opened book after book after book, all on the geography, history, and locations of the Russian country. It was now his turn to be the bookworm in the operation and for once he was more than happy to do it.
The night had gone well, despite the famished guest devoured their food instead of raining their attention on the guests of honor. Aki now walked his wife-to-be home and stood outside her stoop not wanting to let go of her yet. Tsubaki had spent the entire night thinking and fretting, trying to ease the guilt she felt for betraying this man in a moment of weakness. She had no idea what to do anymore but just as they had left the party to end the night she had made a decision and now awaited for the proper moment to act on it.
"Tsubaki, I just can't let get enough of you." He fluttered kisses all around her cheeks and soft kisses around her ear making the girl giggle and squirm in his hold.
"Aki that tickles."
"That's the idea." The two share a tender moment despite knowing that they probably had an audience. Aki let out a sigh and pressed his love close to him. "I can't wait until we marry next week."
"Then why wait?"
"Haha what do you mean?"
"Why don't we just marry tomorrow?"
The man froze and then laughed finding the eagerness of his fiancée all too cute.
"I'm serious Aki…" Tsubaki pulled away to look into his eyes. "Let's marry tomorrow."
"You're not serious are you?" The stunned man looked into her serious features and understood that she was in fact being quite serious. "Tomorrow? As in…tomorrow?"
"Yes."
The pair stood in silence for a bit before Aki pulled away and nervously ran a hand through his neatly combed hair. He paced a bit around and thought deeply about it all.
"Well my father is arriving tomorrow afternoon…and the families really have nothing to do tomorrow…" He thought a bit more and finally came back to his fiancée. "What brought this on?" He was almost worried of what the answer would be.
Tsubaki rushed up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a lustful kiss. "I just really can't wait to start my life with you."
Tsubaki waited patiently for him to come to a decision. He smiled softly and wrapped his arms around her waist and lift her up against himself to hold her up slightly taller than himself.
"Well if that's the case why not day after tomorrow, that way the guests have some time to recover from the heart attack we're about to give them."
"Giggle…Deal."
"I love you Tsubaki."
"Oh Aki, you're too wonderful."
The pair kissed on the stoop of Tsubaki's family home until the air chilled them down to the core. Only then did they part for the night and bid good night.
The family had long since given up on spying and had gone to bed with full bellies. Only the two visiting Thompson sisters remained awake but decided to pretend sleep and just watched their friend retire for the night. Giving each other a knowing look they too decided to sleep, for there would be much to do in the morning.
A/N: So the next chapter should do it but please be patient as I will try and make it end and painless as possible. Thank you all for sticking with me so far and trust me I will get to work on the last chapter just as soon as I possibly can. Take care and please review!