Hey everyone~ Sorry for the long time since I last updated D: I have been really really busy lately...To be honest, the best way to give me the boot to post something if I haven't in a long while, then just write a review and it will certainly give me the boot to post another lol I honestly forget I have to update on this website DX I'm really sorry. Thanks to the "Guest" who recently reviewed ^^ thanks for the boot my friend lol. And with that, here is the next chapter. ~Mizu
The door to the apartment slowly opened, allowing the short haired meister to enter the quiet residence. She half expected an angry white haired boy waiting for arrival but to her surprise, Soul wasn't anywhere to be seen. She scanned the living room as she quietly closed the door behind her, I wonder where he is, she thought to herself as she took of her shoes.
"Oh, it's you."
Mauri slowly looked up at Blair's comment. "Yes, hello Blair-san. Do you know where Soul-kun is?" she watched the cat sit down of the floor, the end of her witch hat bouncing from her movement.
"Umm…I think he's in his room. He's been in his room even before I came home. I don't think he's been out." The cat looked over at the door with concerned eyes.
"Oh…I see." Mauri mustered, but the fact ate her up inside. To think her actions made someone important to her feel pain.
"Nyaaa," Blair broke the silence with a sudden yawn. "Sorry, a nice man gave me a very nice fish to eat and now I'm sleepy. I'm going to sleep…" the black cat walked back to her room with a happy smile.
"Oh…sleep well." She watched as Blair disappeared around the corner, leaving Mauri alone in her guilt. I should have told him it was important, she thought to herself, thinking of her mistake. The young meister finally crossed the distance between her and Soul's bedroom door. She stood there with her hand inches from the wooden door, hesitating from the fear of what was going to happen.
"What?" Soul's muffled voice came from the inside in answer to her hesitant knock.
"Oh…um…scusa for coming home late…" her eyes glued to her feet in guilt, "but I had something important to go to…"
"…Don't worry…it's fine…"
She felt her heart tightened from the sound of his voice. She knew the weapon was upset and there wasn't much she could do but let him be by himself until he felt better to talk about it.
"Ok…I will be in my room then…" she muttered, trying hard to steady her voice.
The young girl stood there a moment, hoping he would call but he remained silent. Mauri finally pulled herself from the door and headed toward her room. She was just steps away from her room when she noticed something on the kitchen table. A single white rose was lying on the table next to the note she left. Mauri's eyes filled with tears as her heart began to ache.
I know I messed up Soul-kun…but please trust me…I am setting things right, she thought with determination as she took the rose in one hand and crumpled the piece of paper with the other before going into her room.
The meister looked around her room and found her bottle with clean water. She took it and placed the wilting rose gently inside. "There you go…I am sorry for not being here to receive you properly…" she spoke softly to the flower as she placed it on the little table beside her bed. Her peaceful thought was interrupted by a sudden sound that came behind her. She quickly turned and searched the room for the source, eyes darting from one side to the other. Her heart finally calmed down when she found her cell phone on her dresser was the culprit.
"I did not know I forget it here…it must be dying…" she came to the conclusion as she picked up the small device. Her eyes widened instantly when the screen lit up to reveal one missed call. Oh no…do not tell me…, her mind raced with many thoughts as her heart sank into her stomach. She listened to the voice mail that was left and proved her theory.
Mauri slowly sat down on the edge of her bed, eyes filled with sadness. Another meeting…, her thoughts trembled at what she just heard. There was nothing she could do but obey the orders.
"No… I will change this." Mauri clenched her hands into a tight fist with determination in her eyes. She quickly took out a small piece of papers with numbers on it. She dialed the number on her cell phone before putting it to her ear.
"Here take this…"
Mauri watched as Kidd tore a small piece of paper to write on. "What is it?"
"My cell number, in case anything comes up…especially about Maka."
She remembered what the young boy had given her before they went their separate ways earlier. "Kiddo-san? Yes, this is Mauri. Meet me at the park at 5:30pm. I cannot tell you now but I will show you who is behind everything tomorrow…"
"Eh? Spirit? What's up?" the shinigami was surprised to find his death scythe on the other side of his two-way mirror.
"…Sorry to call you during the weekend sir, I just needed to talk with someone…" the red haired man's eyes slowly fell to the floor in front of his feet.
"Oh? Stein-kun couldn't help?" the eyes on his mask turned sympathetic.
"Are you crazy? He wouldn't listen to a word I'd say! He'd only figure out a plan to try to get me as his guinea pig again!" Death Scythe shivered at the thought with fear in his eyes.
"I see, so it's something serious…" the shinigami's voice was quiet.
The two men stayed silent a moment, starring at something to keep from making eye contact with the other. "…Its about my daughter…"
"Maka-chan? Is something wrong?" he watched the man through the large mirror for any answer in his body movement.
"As far as I know of, she's doing just fine…" Spirit's voice continued to be flat.
"Then, what is the problem? She hasn't fallen in her school work either, I hear."
The red haired man looked up at the masked man, "She isn't? Has she come to school at all?"
Shinigami couldn't help but be pained by the desperation in the man's voice and face. "…No, she hasn't…Kiddo has been bringing her work."
"Oh," the hope in his eyes faded, "I see…well, remind me to thank your boy." He let out a small chuckle through a weak a smile.
"Why are you worried about her Spirit?"
"…I can't help but feel strange whenever I talk to her on the phone…like she's charged somehow..." his eyes searched the floor as if looking for the answer.
Shinigami remained silent.
"I can't help but feel I've made a horrible mistake making this decision for her…I only wanted the best for her…" his voice quivered, emotions getting the better of him.
"It hasn't been long…it's only been 3 months since she's left to live with Evans-san…he has been giving me progress reports and it looks as though she has taken to the instrument just fine. It'll only be a matter of time before she comes up with a concert for me. Don't worry Spirit, things will get better."
"I sure hope so…" he sighed, feeling better from letting out his worries.
"I wished the same could be said for my son…"
Sprit looked up to find the shinigami's mask turned sad. "Eh? Kiddo-kun? How's that even possible? He's such a good kid!" His eye widened to the idea.
"Yes, he is however, recently, he's obsessed with exploiting Mauri-chan as a fraud or something of the sort…" he covered his mask with a giant gloved hand.
"Mauri?"
"Yes, Soul-kun's new meister."
"Oh? So he really did move on? Didn't take that long I see…" Spirit snorted as he looked away in slight anger.
"They have been together since…I believe a day after Maka-chan left…"
"What? That soon?" Spirit screamed loud with wide eyes."H-How could he…? I should wring his neck!"
"Spirit, you've been going on missions so you didn't know but please don't go and confront him about Maka-chan…the bond between the both of them broke for good two months ago…I can't have Soul-kun remember Maka-chan…it would pain him too much…" his eyes turned sad.
Spirit gritted his teeth in anger, "…But…what about my daughter…?" he lowered his head until his eyes were shadowed by his bangs, "…she didn't have a new weapon to bond with…no wonder she's different…" his hands shook violently at his sides from his anger and sadness. "…she had to go through it alone?" he brought up his head to stare at the shinigami, eyes brimming with tears.
"…Yes…but Evans-san was there for her…the worst has past…she doesn't feel it anymore." The shinigami's voice was emotionless.
The two men remained silent as Spirit tried to calm himself down. He took a deep breath, before slowly releasing it. "I'm glad that good man was at least there for her…I guess I failed her as a papa once again it seems…" he smiled with sad eyes but quickly changed the subject, "So, why is Kiddo-kun obsessed with Ma-whatever-her-name-is?"
"It's Mauri," he corrected, "And I'm not sure why…" the masked man frowned. "But it's a shame he thinks ill of her…what with the situation she's in…" his voice became serious.
"Huh? What situation?"
"Mauri-chan is from Rome and has no family over here what so ever."
Spirit blinked, "None? Wow, that is tough." He felt sympathetic.
"Well she won't be the only one from Italy it seems. A new student will be joining us here on Monday." Shinigami's voice became cheerful.
"Oh yeah? Female? Male? Meister or weapon?"
"Let's see…" the man picked up a sheet of paper and quickly scanned it "It's a weapon…a Claymore by the name of Santiago."