I got quite a few follows and favorites this time around which helped a ton! It was pretty quiet for a while there, which I was expecting because I did take a long hiatus. ^.^; Thanks so much!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater.


"What're you doing here?" the words tumbled out of my mouth. I may have been on guard for a few seconds, but even that couldn't prepare me for running into him here.

"Kuro!" Patti and Liz gushed in their Weapon forms.

"We've missed you so much-" Patti started, but Kid interjected.

"I should be asking you that," he stated. I held my breath, my previous worries suddenly coming back to me in rapid succession. Relief? Anger? Pain? I couldn't tell. I had no idea what he may have been thinking, and his demeanor only gave subpar hints. I couldn't pinpoint anything specific, and that made me want to run the opposite direction. "Where have you been?"

I let out a shaky breath, "Around." I manage an awkward chuckle.

"Right." was all I got in a borderline apathetic tone. My chest tightened painfully. "We came here to look for clues back at Noah's old base; see if he left anything behind or any clues as to where he went."

"'Old base'? He fled?"

Kid nodded.

I wasn't surprised. It would've been weird if he thought it'd be a good idea to stay. Though, as interested as I should've been in Noah's whereabouts, I couldn't let go of something else in my head. Everything felt so wrong. Where was his smile? The softness in his eyes whenever he looked at me? Was it stupid of me - after leaving the way I did - to wish he had pulled me into his arms like in that hotel room in Ukraine?

"It doesn't seem like you've run into him; good..." he trailed off, his head tilted slightly at the sight of my feet.

Patti asked for him, "Kuro, why are you barefoot?"

"Long story," I brought a fist to my mouth and cleared my throat, trying to figure out what to say, "Dominic pissed me off and I needed to take a walk."

"He must still be as obnoxious as ever."

"He's not that bad. We've actually been on good terms up until now."

"I see," he mumbled, and after a long pause said, "Well, you certainly went on some walk," Beelzebub appeared in his hand, "Come; I'll give you a ride back."

"No, really, it's fine-"

"Don't worry, I'm not going to pry anything out of you," his said gently, "Nor am I going to try and talk you into coming back. I'm just glad to see that you're alright."

"Kid..." I hear Liz utter, and it was then that I caught how quiet they were being. Maybe to give us some time to talk? They'd know how he really felt; he lived with them. Yet, they didn't seem angry at me for my actions. Unless...

Unless me leaving hadn't really affected him?

Kid got on board and waited for me to get on. I hesitated for a split second before letting the fire extinguish and taking his hand. He drove us up and above the trees, making it easier to see the city lights. It was still a little too dark to see him clearly, and my eyes were no longer that used to it, so all I could really make out was an outline and hints of color here and there. I looked ahead of us and realized I'd covered quite a bit of ground; the trip back would've been a real headache on foot. I guess I hadn't even thought about how far I was going at the time; I just kept running.

I had a few short minutes, and how were they being spent? With nothing but silence. I had no idea what to say when, honestly, I should've had the most to say. I could've started with an apology, but that fixed only so much. I sighed and lowered my forehead against the back of his shoulder. I didn't know how much of an effect my leaving had, and he wasn't going to show or tell me.

That's so like him. I thought, closing my eyes.

"How is everyone?" I asked meekly.

"Fine," he answered, "Maka found out about our battle with Crona in Ukraine, and ever since she's been worried about finding him. She hopes to get him to remember us somehow... but I don't know how well that's going to work. It's been a couple of months, though, so she's calmed down about it considerably. There were other things to address in the meantime." he steered us to the left before going back on track, evading a tree that grew a little taller than the rest.

"Hm."

"Not much has happened," he said, his voice softer as he continued, "Ever since Char passed, we've taken extra precautions, but nothing else has occurred. I saw what you did with the fire out there. I was a bit surprised since I didn't sense you, but I'm guessing they taught you Soul Protection. I'm sure you've been working hard." he paused, and I felt him place his hand on top of mine. He was still holding Patti and Liz, so it was more of a fist, but I knew it was meant to be comforting. "Perhaps it was right for you to leave; at least until you finished training."

Forgiveness, even though I hadn't apologized. I should've felt relieved, happy, but I wasn't. I wanted him to understand my intentions, but at the same time I wanted him to tell me to come back. It didn't seem like he minded that I had gone, and that hurt more than I wanted it to.

"Which motel are you staying at?" he asked, and I looked up to see that we were almost there.

"Ah, right at the border of the highway, close to the forest edge," I said, before biting my lip. I didn't want him to leave yet, but I knew he would. He had no other reason to stay.

I wanted more time but what would I do with it? It's been six months and I still got butterflies when he touched my hand. Having him close to me seemed to be enough, but I knew I owed him more than that. An explanation, an apology, something, but I didn't know where to start. It was like he already understood.

"Here we are," he slowed to a stop, lowering us to the ground before I stepped off the skateboard and onto the almost empty parking lot. I glanced at the door of our room and noticed it was closed. Dominic probably went back to sleep after I ran out. I'd been more surprised if he was concerned, honestly.

Kid was still on Beelzebub, but didn't make a move to leave. He was hovering less than an inch off the ground so it was almost like he was standing regularly. Suddenly, he took Liz and Patti in one hand, and with his free hand reached for me. His fingertips grazed the nape of my neck as he gently pulled the chain up to reveal the ring from under my shirt. I blinked, forgetting I still had it on. He rose a brow inquisitively and looked at me.

"It was Char's," I smiled slightly.

"Ah, so this is what her parents were looking for," he let it fall back against my chest.

"They were looking for it?" I instantly felt guilty. I took it without thinking; at the time all I wanted was to keep something that was a part of her. She always took good care of it.

"Yes, but they might've forgotten it about now. I don't think it matters so much anymore; in the end, it's just an object. It won't bring her back."

Hearing him say that didn't exactly help; this object, in a way, helped me cope. It possibly could've done the same for them. To add insult to injury, I missed her funeral; me, the person she gave her life to. I ran my hand through my hair and let out a shaky breath. It's been several months since her death; I had to compose myself.

When I finally met his gaze again, he looked at me with eyes I knew too well.

"You know," he started, "No one is angry at you. They understand."

I was an open book to him; too easy to read. He was trying to comfort me, but I was thinking too much. I attempted a smile and looked down.

"I don't know why you're taking so long, but I'm sure there's a good reason," he said softly, cupping his free hand on my cheek and gently lifting my head up. There was no avoiding him now, and I could see him a lot better under the streetlights than a small fire. There was a halfhearted smile on his face, but his gentle gaze never changed. I lifted my hand to touch the one on my cheek.

I wanted to go back. In the period I've been gone I've never wanted to go back as badly as I did now. I missed him. I missed his touch. It's like my feelings for him hadn't changed one bit after all this time. I feel as if they should have. I pushed everything away so much that I wasn't sure anymore, but now I'm so tired of doing that. I've done it all of my life. The only thing I was sure of was that I didn't want him to leave.

"Whenever you're ready, please come back." he breathed, almost as if he tried to stop himself, but it was all my heart needed to be set in motion. Regardless of how he felt about me leaving, he wanted me to come back, and that's all that mattered. I could tell there were other things he was holding back, but I was still trying to slow my heart down.

We stood like that for a few breaths, completely silent, taking each other in to make up for the six months of absence. He took the tiniest glance at my lips before straightening up, and just like that, our moment was over. He took a deep breath and put Liz in his once empty hand. For a while, I completely forgot that the sisters were there, and to think they saw what just happened made me blush a bit.

"Take care, Kuro." was the last thing he said before soaring into the sky, leaving me to watch him grow smaller and smaller until he finally disappeared beyond the trees.

My hand didn't leave the cheek he touched, and I couldn't stop thinking about the way he looked at me. Maybe if I thought about it enough, it'd be seared into my brain and I'd never forget what he looked like. Though, I thought the same months ago, and ended up with nothing but a fading image in my head.

I didn't want to risk forgetting him again.

"Hey."

I jumped, Dominic's voice pulling me out of my head. I turned to find on the second-floor balcony, our room door open. "Hi," I said blandly, not really angry with him anymore, but not in the mood for his bullshit either.

"So?" he inquired.

"So, what?"

"What's the plan?"

"You were eavesdropping?" I sighed, the blush that faded previously returning once again. What did he see?

"No, damn it. I could sense him from a mile away. I didn't hear anything." he rolled his eyes, "Now tell me what you want to do so we can tell Adria in the morning... which is in one hour."

I looked back in the direction he left for a few moments before making my way up the stairs. Dominic looked at me expectantly, waiting for my response. There shouldn't be anything holding me back at this point. I knew how to control myself, I knew Soul Protection, and no one apparently had anything against me, but I knew it wouldn't be the same without Char.

"Hello?" he waved his hand in front of me as I walked past, and I couldn't decide if he was just being impatient - as usual - or if I was really taking that long to answer.

"Let's go back to Death City." I told him, and not a moment later he gave me a grin in response.

"Well, there goes my beach."


End of Chapter XXIX


If there's any way I can improve my writing, let me know! Thoughts are always welcomed~!

Thank you so much for reading!