Hey all! This is the last chapter before we kick off the season finale. It will be a slow chapter so bear with me.
The last calm. To dance with a devil?
"Woot! Party!" The call of excitement resounded down the empty streets of Death City. Leaving the path clear for the group of formally dressed teens.
"I'm pretty sure they know there's a party tonight, Fletch." Wu said to the increasingly excitable Robyn as he started pumping his arms expectantly. Wu wore a traditional Chinese black Chang-Shan with white sleeves.
"Spoil sport." Robyn muttered. He wore a green tux with a red tie ending with an arrow point and still wearing his favorite green cap. "Ah! Who cares? The music, the food, the excuse for close contact with girls. I can't wait!"
"You realize that if the girls were here, you'd be beaten within an inch of your life." Daniel stated. He adjusted the red ascot around his neck. He wore a white; military like formal garb which he explained belong to his grandfather when he was a navy officer.
"Where the hell is Gabe?" Phoenix asked. He wore a black and orange tux with a gold colored tie, hanging out of his collar casually, and cufflinks with phoenix prints on them. Xeal, who wore a black and red tux with silver cufflinks and tie, checked his watch. The majority of Team Diablon had decided to show up in groups. The girls were probably at the party already, while the boys were out searching the streets for their absent team member.
"He was supposed to meet us ten minutes ago." As it was, the boys had decided to show up fashionably late, more to miss Shinigami's mandatory speech about the school's founding, which this party was used to commemorate.
"Who knows? Maybe he's trying to make some dramatic entrance to get on Black Star's nerves." Robyn joked.
"This dramatic enough for you?" The boy's jumped when they realized they had just passed their absent friend. He was leaned up against a wall with his arms crossed, apparently waiting for them. He wore a simple outfit of black slacks and a white dress shirt under his normal black blazer. Thomas's white fedora rested comfortably on his head.
"We're late you know." He commented as they ascended the steps to the school.
"It's called being fashionably late Gabe." Wu retorted.
"It's seems more like being an hour late." Gabriel shot back.
"Quit arguing you two. I see the girls." Daniel said as they reached the top steps.
"Boys were over here!" Mint called, waving them over. Both she and Lavender wore Chengsam, with Mint's being a bright red with a black dragon pattern and Lavender's being purple with a yellow flower pattern. Lavender had the extensions taken out of her hair.
"You boy's are late. You know?" Rosa commented. She wore a pink dress, which ended just above her knees, and red heels. Her long hair was brushed straight.
"Ooh a man in uniform." Fauna said as she took in Daniel's garb. "Very sexy." She wore a sleeveless white dress that was cut low enough to be tasteful, but still showed off her cleavage. Her normally pony-tailed blond hair was pulled up in a bun.
"Indeed." Hana readjusted Daniel's ascot. She wore a bright green dress with gold heels.
"Where are Sora and the others?" Wu asked noticing their missing team mates.
"Sora demanded that she work on their outfits so they said they would be a little late." Lavender answered. The boy's remembered that from the other day in the infirmary.
"We're here." The group turned to see Sora, Mariam and Sakuya coming to the tops of the steps. Wu's jaw dropped in shock at the site of Sora in a frilly black and white Lolita dress. Her black hair held up in a pony tail. Marie and Sakuya were dressed more modestly, with Marie wearing a yellow silk dress that hugged her figure. Sakuya wore a frilly white dress shirt with a pink skirt that came up to her knees.
"Where's Allison?" Gabe asked not seeing her.
Sora shot the other girls knowing winks and returned back down the stairs. The group could hear an argument starting.
"C'mon he's up there waiting for you."
"But I look-"
"You look gorgeous, now let's go."
"Sora-chan!"
After much struggling, Sora was finally able to get the reluctant Allison up the stairs. She hugged herself in embarrassment. She wore a long black dress that ended low on her neck, showing off her cleavage, and had slits that showed off more leg than she'd like. Her hair was let out so the angel hair pen was pinned to one of the straps of her dress.
The boy's were stunned silent. Wu finally gave an impressed whistle. "Nice work Sora."
The group then turned back to see what the flustered meister's date was going to say. Allison raised her head to look him in the eyes. She could barely make out his face under the brim of his hat. "Do you like it?" She finally mustered the courage to say.
It was silent for a second before Gabriel finally took off his hat and gave a reassuring smile. "You look great." Her face brightened up at this.
"Alright, alright. Enough awkwardness. It's party time!" Robyn shouted shuffling them all in. Gabe placed the white fedora back on his head as he lagged behind. He was very aware of the increasingly red blush that was covering his face and the fainting spell starting to come over him.
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"Hey KID. How come you don't look like you're having a good time?" Patti asked her deep in thought meister. He ignored her at first as he rubbed both sides of his chin in contemplation.
"Keep ignoring her and she might draw half a mustache on you." Liz commented, just as KID noticed a black sharpie moving toward his face.
"Patti don't you dare!" He said as he kept the manic Thompson sister away from his symmetrical face.
"So what's eatin' ya." Soul asked.
"Is it the message from Daisuke and Nagi?" Maka had hit the mark.
"The Bios' strange behavior and now this." KID explained his thought aloud. "From what I've researched into T.R. Mori, I know he'd never stoop to this level of cruelty with his subordinates. We have to be ready to face whatever threat has arisen to replace him." The group of veterans nodded as one and then turned their attention back to the festivities.
"Hard to believe it's been 15 years." Soul commented. "I still remember that night when we fought Medusa and when Asura and the Original Lord Death duked it out right in the city skies."
"Yeah. It's nice to have moments like these." Maka agreed. "It's great to see the next generation getting the chance to act like kids for once." The group adults smiled towards the crowd of teenagers mixing and mingling with an innocence rarely seen in the dangerous business they volunteered for. "And speaking of the next generation." She smiled as Gabriel and company filed into the crowded dance hall.
"Hey! You guy's made it." Soul called over to the teens. "You know how late you guy's are?"
"Just felt like being fashionably late." Phoenix explained.
"I think he's got you beat." Liz said as she pointed behind them.
"Yahoo!" A tuxedo clad Black Star raced into Dance hall, knocking aside students as he jumped straight toward the stage and grabbed the mic. "Rejoice insignificant fledglings! For the great Ore-sama, Black Star has allowed his god-like visage to shine down upon you!" His introduction continued for several more minutes before Tsubaki finally ran in and tiredly snatched the mic from him as she panted an apology.
"Angela's not here?" KID guessed.
"Nah. She'd rather hang out with Blair." Black Star answered. "But don't worry cause I the great-."
"Yeah. Yeah. We already heard it." Wu interrupted. Then he saw the group of girls huddled together and whispering their way. "Don't look now Dan. But I think you've got more admirers." He chuckled.
"I don't believe they're attention is on me." Daniel said as the group followed the girls's stares.
Gabriel had planted himself in a nearby chair and also was aware of the girls staring his way. He gave a casual wave, which instead of returning it, the group shuffled away in fright.
"Jerks." Mint stated as she and the others attempted to console the supposedly hurt Gabriel but he merely shrugged and pulled his hat low as if to cover his face.
"It's fine. Even if I've done some good, I still have an infamous reputation to clear up."
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It wasn't long before the hall filled with music. All the meisters and weapons hit the dance floors with their respected dates and moved in time with the beat. Loud pop and jazz music called all but a few down to dance. Of that few…
Hisako sighed as she watched all the young students laughing and having the time of their lives. She saw members of Team Diablon mingling together with the crowd. Mint was off on her own. Daniel was trying to quell an argument with his three dates over who danced with him first. Lavender had led the timid Xeal onto the dance floor and began shaking her hips to the music as he shakily attempted to follow. Phoenix was busying himself by trying to find a dance partner. And Robyn was leading Mariam in an easy two step.
"They're all having fun." Natsumi sat down beside her melancholy friend. She giggled and pointed over to where KID was leading a laughing Patti and a grumbling Liz in that weird leg up dance he would only dance to.
"Oh this reminds me of my times as a student when…" She started her usual allegory when she noticed Hisako wasn't listening. "Another reason to miss him I guess."
"Miss who?" Hisako lied, mostly to herself. "It's not like I would dance with that loser even if he was here."
"You're talking to someone who hasn't seen their boyfriend in six years, honey. You're not fooling me." Natsumi's face lit up when Gabriel took a seat beside the two women. "I guess I'll leave you two to talk then." And she soon shuffled back into the crowd of onlookers.
"Shouldn't you be dancing with your date?" Hisako asked.
"You know it's the funniest thing." He started. "Even though I'm not one for dancing, when I asked her, she replied that she would rather sit out for the first dance. And then she told me where to find a more willing dance partner."
Hisako blinked in surprise. "Are you implying that you would like to dance? With me?"
The beginning of a slow song had suddenly started up. "Perfect timing I'd say." Gabe smiled in answer. "I can only slow dance."
"I don't know." Hisako said nervously. "What would people think if they saw a student dance with a teacher?"
In answer to this new dilemma, Gabe pulled his fedora low to cover his face. "I think I could pass as Thomas like this." He then held out his hand to her.
She finally understood the meaning behind his proposition. She smiled and took his hand as he led her to the floor. At this point, Soul had taken Maka aside as the two entered the dance floor hand in hand. Daniel had finally settled on a partner; as he led Fauna down to have the first dance. Sora basically had to drag Wu down but he eventually stopped complaining and placed one hand on Sora's hip.
Gabriel followed Wu's example and did the same as the music picked up.
(Hit the music: Fatal Fury ost Fly away)
So there's you,
like the sun, setting west
Where you've been…
Shadows…
Are loneliest
Now you're leaving, what more to say
Eternal castaway
'His shoulders have gotten broader.' Hisako thought as she and Gabe swayed to the music. 'He's just as tall as Thomas now.'
She suddenly felt the hands wrapped around her own to hold tighter and the steps became surer, almost more experienced. She looked up into the face of her partner and gasped.
Pale blond locks were replaced with brown. Intense maroon eyes had become gentle amber. The youthful complexion had disappeared to become a mature countenance.
'Thomas!' Tears threatened to flow as she smiled warmly into the grinning face of the one man she ever loved.
Unlike me, you see, you can't help,…
Living free
Forgive me, but my love…
I'm not that way
My time is done, but yours is new
If you dream your dreams… You may
Know hope
Don't you know that you are my hero?
And you'll always be… apart of me..
Memory
Don't you know that you are my hero?
You're the me I tried to be… only free
Fly away, Fly away, Fly away
My hero
Fly away, Fly away, Fly away
My hero
Hisako was content to dance forever in Thomas's arms and just as it had begun it was over. The image of Thomas had vanished and Gabriel lifted the hat from his eyes.
Hisako pulled herself free from his hands and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Rogers is lucky to have such a wonderful partner." And just like that her heart was clear. She could no longer just sit by and waste away mourning him.
And she knew that she would always see some part of Thomas. In Gabriel and in the miracle she alone was carrying.
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Allison stared out into the wide landscape before her. She got the perfect view from the balcony outside of the dance hall. And despite the chilling night air that made her shiver, she marveled as the light of the full moon showed the vast desert landscape as a surreal nocturnal painting.
A warm jacket was soon covering her shoulders. She smiled because she knew who it was immediately.
"Nice night." Gabriel commented as he joined her side against the balcony railing.
"Ehm. It really is." Allison closed her eyes as a chilly night breeze flowed over her. "Hisako seems to be feeling better." She commented.
"Yeah." Gabe said, acting a little guilty. "Sorry for asking for that favor. You were probably looking forward to the dancing more than I was."
"Not really." She assured. "I don't really know how to dance." She replied embarrassedly.
Gabe looked at her silently for abit. Finally, to Allison's shock, Gabe placed his hand atop hers. "In that case. Why don't we join the next dance so I can show you how."
"I thought you didn't want to dance in front of all those people." She asked shyly.
In answer he pulled her close to him and planted a kiss on her cheek, causing her to blush red. "If you're my partner, I can do anything." The smiling couple slowly walked hand in hand to rejoin the others on the dance floor.
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Okay. I'll just say it. Not my best work. But it's necessesary to truly kick off the season finale. So until next time.
I do not own Soul Eater or its characters
I do not own any songs utilized in this fanfic.