Disclaimer: Last chapter for the different format! It's also pretty hefty, so enjoy!


Chapter Eighteen

-Calmer Days Part II-


Debauchery


"Black Star, I swear to god if this some kind of trick I'll rip your balls off," Soul growled in blind anger. Literally.

He couldn't see where he was; the strap of cloth around his eyes made sure of that. It had been placed there in a flash by Black Star without his knowing, and Soul was promptly dragged away by his friend to an unknown location. The entire time he'd voiced his protest, but ultimately bit his tongue and bided his time when he realized no amount of objections would convince Black Star to set him free. The only thing he could do was wait until they arrived at their destination. Only then could he safely beat his friend to death.

"Oh, shut up and trust me!" he heard Black Star sneer. Soul rolled his eyes, even though he knew no one could see it. "Besides, we're already here!"

Soul could feel the tug of the cloth as it was snatched off his face. He blinked from the sudden burn of sunlight, and it took a second for his eyes to adjust. When they did, he found himself outside, surrounded by some familiar faces; Enrique, Harvar, Crona, Professor Stein, and the semi-real illusion of Tezca Tlipoca. All his male friends were in attendance, and Soul had no idea what the hell was going on. Black Star seemed quite please with that fact, and took great pleasure as he walked up in the middle of everyone. He stood up straight and cleared his throat dramatically.

"Buddy," Black Star started, "Back when I convinced them to throw you and Maka in the same bed, I thought for sure you'd just wake up and have sex or something, not go all out and propose to each other..."

"...I mean, we did that, too?" Soul raised a brow, not quite sure what all this was about.

Black Star blinked for a second, before throwing his friend a thumbs up. "Anyway, despite my own reservations about marriage, I feel it's my duty to send you off in style! Before Maka puts your nuts in a box for all eternity, or whatever."

Soul caught on quickly. He shook his head and smirked, knowing full well where Black Star was getting at. It was obvious now, but he waited for his friends to come out and say it themselves. Black Star turned around and commanded them all to step forward and line up, which they did obediently. In each of their hands, bottles of what could only be described as the mustiest looking beverages Soul had ever seen. They looked like glasses of desert drink, but if that was true, they were by far the strongest concentration he'd come across yet.

"I've assembled this crack team for your bachelor party!" Black Star spun around to face him. "Our goal is to get you piss drunk wasted before your wedding tomorrow!"

"Not too wasted," Enrique reasoned, already fearing just how raunchy this thing was going to get. "He can't be sick for the ceremony. Maka would kill us!"

"No need to worry," Professor Stein added, smirking as he pushed his glasses up. "I can always come up with something in my lab for that."

"Please don't?" Soul shook his head, though smiled at all their enthusiasm regardless. They smiled back at him with similar gusto.

Black Star took center stage again. "Alright then! As soon as the sun starts to go down, we'll get this show on the road!"

The group nodded in unison. Day drinking in a desert was a bad idea, but thankfully they didn't have to wait long before the evening set it. Already the sun was making its downward descent, and it wouldn't be more than an hour or two before it was safe to start making bad decisions. In the meantime, the seven of them stood around under the shade of a couple shacks and bullshitted. There were some preemptive congratulations and pats on the back as Soul made his rounds with everyone, and he took the time to appreciate their generosity.

If someone had told him a few months ago he'd be getting married, he'd have laughed. If that same someone had told him that he'd be surrounded by friends who cared enough about him to throw him a bachelor party, he'd have also called that person insane. Somehow, the most unlikely scenario was playing out right before his eyes. It was all so hard for him to fathom; the things he thought he would never have all suddenly were given to him so quickly, part of him still didn't quite believe it was real. Somewhere, the real him was sleeping.

This was all just a dream. One he hoped he wouldn't wake up from. "Well, looks like it's almost time!"

Black Star motioned to the sky above them, and the whole group nodded their heads. They all started to turn and walk off towards another location, though they made sure to throw Soul in the middle of the line. They followed Professor Stein as he led them through the village, their motley crew attracting attention as they headed for their final destination. There were some random comments of approval from men, the knowing smirks of women, and innocent questions from children as to whether or not they were playing follow the leader. Soul laughed.

The pack approached the second biggest building in the village. It wasn't a house, per say; Ox lived there, but it was mainly used as a sort of community center, even though nowadays it served as a staging area for the fight against Kidd. Tonight, however, its only purpose would be to house their debauchery. Professor Stein had already worked out the details with Ox. There would be no coming in or out until morning. They were locked in, and the idea was both exciting and terrifying for everyone involved.

It was time. Stein opened the door and they all funneled in. Waiting for them inside was Ox Ford, whom started to shake his head the minute they approached. He said nothing, not until the last person had made it inside. He then went over to the door behind them and locked it securely with a key. The little piece of metal was then dropped into his pocket for safe keeping, and the chief let out an exasperated sigh. For some reason, Black Star took great pride in being able to get Ox all bent out of shape, and he lorded over him for it.

"Just please don't break anything," he practically begged them.

"Will you be joining us, Ox?" Stein asked, somewhat surprised and impressed.

The chief nodded as he scanned the room. "Someone has to keep you lot in check, right?"

The group all collectively looked at each other and grinned. The sight only made Ox more worried, but he kept it to himself. He motioned to the entirety of the open area before them and let them free to go where they pleased; it was mostly wide, open space, with several mats strewn around for sitting. There were several rooms off to the side, and that's where they'd find a tiny kitchen and the toilet. An icebox, a rare luxury, was secured in the kitchen. Black Star and Enrique immediately went to go chill their bottles in it, much to Ox's annoyance.

"Let's get this party fuckin' started!" Black Star called out from the kitchen. The sound of a cork being pulled echoed throughout the area. Apparently, he had another bottle.

The rest of the bachelor party nodded and brandished their own bottles. Black Star and Enrique returned a second later to join them, and they all semi-circled around Soul. He looked around at all of them and couldn't stop smiling at the ridiculousness of it all; already this was the most fun he'd had in, well, forever. These crazy characters he called friends were all so out of place with one another, and yet it somehow all worked. He was happy to know them, and was even happier knowing that they felt the same way about him.

"To Soul and Maka!" they all said in unison. Everyone held up their musty glasses, and Soul did the same.

They threw their heads back and took a swig. Almost immediately, Crona, Ox Ford, and Enrique spit their drinks out as if being poisoned. Tezca, who wasn't alive, realized too late that while he could hold the bottle, he couldn't actually drink from it. Practically pure alcohol went through his body and onto the floor, along with the puddle from the other three that couldn't handle their liquor. Soul saw the whole thing play out and almost choked on himself from laughter. His nose burned as desert drink came out his nose, and that caused Black Star to spit out his own in a similar fashion. Only Stein and Harvar remained, the lone survivors of a self-induced suicide toast. They surveyed the destruction around them and grinned to each other with ghoulish delight.

Once everyone recovered there was more laughter. Those that hadn't been able to drink were red with embarrassment, while Soul and Black Star took another, proper swig from their bottles. Since he couldn't really partake, Tezca offered to go and fetch some less potent desert drink for the rest of the group, which they all thanked him for as he left. Ox opened and closed the door behind him, again locking everyone inside. It was now the seven of them, and the night had only just begun.

For the next hour or two, things proceeded about as well as expected. The sun had set. Night was creeping in the windows from outside. Something about nightfall got them more into it, and several members of the group had downed their first bottle by the time Tezca had returned with the weak stuff. He found them all circled around on the floor, save for Ox of course, who locked them in for the third and final time. Not a moment too soon, either, since he could already tell people were starting to get drunk.

Normally he wouldn't be so cautious about all this, but Ox wasn't an idiot. He knew that Soul and Black Star were the two strongest people in the desert, and could destroy the entire village if they wanted to. Not that they wanted to, but if things got a little crazy and they were let loose on the unsuspecting town, well, that just wouldn't do. Hence, the lock-in. Ox took one of the weak bottles from Tezca and rejoined the group with him, content with just sipping on the thing until he knew things wouldn't get out of hand.

Black Star was already hiccuping. That strong stuff was no joke. "Hey, Crona! Do you got a crush on Soul's wife or something?"

"N-no!?" Crona's face turned bright red. It was already kinda flushed before from sipping slowly his firewater. "Why would you ask that!?"

"Cuz you're always like, I have to protect Ms. Maka!" Black Star nodded as if agree to to his own answer. "And you're always following her around and stuff!"

Crona slowly turned his head towards Soul, whom he wholeheartedly assumed to be angry with him. He cringed when the man looked in his direction, though Soul seemed unfazed by their discussion. He was drunk, though no more than Black Star, and if anything looked content. Soul simply shrugged and patted Crona on the back.

"That's cuz he's a good man, and Maka's bodyguard," Soul reasoned. A grin snaked across his face, "That's why I'm making him my best man tomorrow."

Crona's jaw dropped. Best man? That was a good thing, right? He couldn't believe it! And neither could Black Star. "Hey! What about me? I should be best man!"

The cogs in Soul's brain turned. Slick with alcohol, it took them a little longer than usual to get going. "You can be the other best man."

"...Right on," Black Star nodded. He sat back down and went for another drink, only to lean over again anxiously a second later. "Wait, who's best best man?"

"Figure it out yourselves!" Soul growled, shaking his head. All this impromptu thinking was making his head spin.

Black Star zeroed in on Crona, whom immediately retracted and tried his best to avoid confrontation. That of course was not going to work on Black Star, and he descended on the poor boy. The two quickly got into a forceful discussion about two things; who would be best-best man, and just what the hell a best man was even responsible for doing? The others around them threw their empties at the pair and told them to take it elsewhere, to which Black Star obeyed by dragging a dismal Crona away to another location in the building.

With their loudness neutralized, Soul and the rest of the bachelor party continued on. Laughter could be heard as dirty jokes were told and stories shared. Information that would normally be private suddenly had no such restriction attached to it, and those who possessed it were at a greater liberty to discuss it. One such tidbit took several of those assembled off guard, except for Ox and Black Star who already knew. Everyone else, Soul included, gaped in surprise.

"You two are married?" he asked incredulously, motioning to Stein with his drink.

The professor nodded with a smile. "Yes, and I'm a little surprised it took you this long to figure it out."

"With Marie?" Soul walked through the scenario slowly in his brain. "I guess...I thought she was just your assistant this whole time?"

"I've literally had a ring on my finger since you've been here," Stein held up his hand. Soul twitched. "We've been married since we took in Black Star."

The aforementioned best-best man shouted out from the other room to confirm that was indeed the case. Still arguing with Crona, he then disappeared from the conversation once more. Soul dropped the subject, though in his head he was pretty sure Stein had introduced her as his assistant when they'd first met. Or maybe Marie did? Whatever, he couldn't think straight. Besides, they were entitled to their privacy. If Stein and Marie didn't want to make it a big deal and have the whole world know, that was their business. Their right.

Although, Soul thought about it more and decided to reroute the conversation instead of dropping it entirely. "Professor Stein, care to share some wisdom?"

"Shoot," Stein tossed his head back and took a big swig of desert drink. Soul couldn't tell if he was drinking in preparation to answer or not.

Soul mirrored him. In his case, he needed the extra push. "I was just...wondering if this is right? Am I...doing the right thing?"

Stein raised a brow. His usually calm face seemed extra so at the moment. "That depends. What do you think?"

Soul shrugged with one shoulder, and he stared down into his bottle. The jovial tone of the party seemed to turn almost instantly, and those still in the circle silenced their conversation when they realized what Soul was trying to say. He tuned them all out for a minute and just thought about things; Maka, the baby, the coming fight with Kidd, his own immortality. All the things that constantly ran through the back of his head were now brought to the forefront, and he struggled to come to terms with everything all at once.

When he realized his question had been a loaded one, Stein tried to help. "I married Marie because she brings joy into my life. Does Maka do the same for you?"

"Yes," Soul replied automatically. The quickness of his answer surprised even himself. He thought about it again for a split second, "More than anything."

"Well then, there's your answer," Stein smirked. He leaned over and bumped Soul's bottle with his own. "Besides, you're already married. Tomorrow's just a party."

Soul nodded and smiled. He thanked Stein for the advice before downing the rest of his drink. He wasn't necessarily free from his pre-wedding jitters, but definitely felt more confident than before. The other guys all followed his lead and gave a second, sloppy toast. They consumed what was left of their alcohol and added the empties onto the pile in the middle of the circle. Someone called out for a brave soul to go fetch another round from the icebox, and Crona obliged. He received a hero's welcome as he returned with an armful of refreshments.

The night was still young, and Soul's bachelor party was meant to last the entirety of it. All men in attendance were ready for the long haul, and yet as they went through bottle after bottle the end seemed so far away. Tortuously so, in fact. After a certain point it became a contest to see who could stay lucid the longest, or at the very least not pass out entirely. Because of that, and the fact that they were by far the craziest bunch in the village, things...happened that night. Some would be remembered, some thankfully forgotten for all eternity.

The only hint that an outsider could gather about their antics came from surveying the aftermath; when the sun finally rose and peeked in from the windows and Ox, whom, having awoken with a head-splitting hangover and zero recollection of what transpired last night, woefully shuffled towards the front door to unlock it. Cool morning air rushed passed and assaulted his face, as a few overeager souls were already gathered outside to ask just what the hell all that noise was last night. Chief Ox shook his head, cringed from the noise, and shut the door once more. He turned around, shuffled back towards the heap of bodies that lie barely alive on the floor, and promptly threw himself amongst them. After that there was only peaceful silence.

They were going to need all the sleep they could get, because the wedding was only twelve hours away.


Something Borrowed


Maka shifted uncomfortably in her chair from all the attention she was getting. It's not that she wasn't having fun; she honestly couldn't recall the last time all of them had been gathered in the same place for more than a few minutes, but she was never one for the spotlight. Around her, eyes all gazed and converged on her in the center of the semi-circle. Kim, Jacqueline, Tsubaki, and Marie all smiled at their handiwork. Atop Maka's head lie a budget-made crown, crafted from cheap paper and colored in with some paint they happened to find lying around.

"It's so bad," Kim stifled a laugh, shaking her head at the hideous looking thing.

"I don't know," Maka smiled, looking up as the crown started to sag forward. "I kind of like it!"

Marie sighed and shook her head as Jacqueline also cracked a giggle. "I'm sorry...I did my best, but..."

"It's fine, Marie. No one besides us will see it," Tsubaki reasoned. She smiled when Marie slunk dejectedly in response.

The women all laughed, though not too much so as not to hurt Marie's feelings. Shortly after, the aforementioned Mrs. Stein rose up from her chair and disappeared into the kitchen. Everyone else sat around and chatted in her living room, discussing their excitement and wondering aloud how much trouble the men were getting into at that very moment. The sun had only just set, and Maka knew Black Star had something big planned for Soul. She could only sigh and pray to god that she still had a husband to marry when it came time for the ceremony.

Marie returned a minute later with a huge tray of delicious looking food. Maka's eyes widened, though not nearly as much as Kim's. The woman practically drooled as Marie sat the tray down on a small stool in the center and told everyone to help themselves. Meats, cheeses, crackers, and baked goods adorned the tray, and it was by far the best food Kim had seen in years. She restrained herself for all but a couple seconds; just long enough to look at the other women before digging in, and they all pretended not to notice her voracious eating.

"Y'know..." Maka piped up, smiling as Kim inhaled food next to her. "...You all can still drink. This is a party, after all. I don't mind."

Tsubaki shook her head, "No way! We won't make you babysit us during your night. Besides, we can have fun without alcohol!"

"We can?" Kim replied suddenly with stuffed cheeks. Tsubaki deadpan stared at her while Maka snorted with laughter.

"Yes we can," Jacqueline added while throwing Kim side-eye. The latter flinched and looked the other way.

Marie, who was still standing up, again took off somewhere else. "Hold on, let me grab something!"

Maka watched her leave yet again and wondered what it was this time. Tsubaki quickly ran interference, knowing what was up and not wanting to spoil the surprise. In the meantime, she started up a conversation talking about some things that had happened in the village before they all arrived. At first, all she could think of were little things here and there; one of the local kids did something funny, or what not. That, however, quickly devolved into Tsubaki thinking of all the idiotic things Soul and Black Star had done over the past few months.

Maka and the others all listened as Tsubaki recounted the two knuckleheads had heard rumors about there being water underneath the village. They thought it would be a good idea to go digging for it in order to build a well. The duo had dug all day in the hot sun, and just when night fell they struck pay dirt. Their hole started to fill up with water, and immediately they realized something had gone horribly wrong.

"It smelled horrendous," Tsubaki shook her head. "Turns out, what they'd actually found was the sewage to Ox Ford's house."

All three women gaped in delighted horror. Maka buried her face in her hands while Tsubaki fought back laughter as she described their mad dash to escape, both knocking each other over as they scrambled to climb out the hole. That resulted in both of them landing in the stuff; subsequently, they had sworn her to secrecy under threat of certain death, but this was a bachelorette party so that promise had immediately become null and void. There were more stories Tsubaki had simmering on the back burner, but Marie walked in before she could share them.

"Found it!" the woman exclaimed in victory as she walked in with a large bag. "Sorry it took so long, I hid it away and, well, forgot where I hid it..."

"What exactly did you hide, Marie...?" Maka trailed off as the bag was placed on her lap. She was surprised to find it heavy.

Marie said nothing. She just returned to her chair, smiled, and motioned for Maka to open it up. The bride-to-be politely smiled back, though was apprehensive to see what was inside. The other women all eagerly told her to open it, and with one final push from Tsubaki, Maka finally obliged. She reached her hand in and felt something soft, but also kind of firm? Fabric, though not like typical clothing. Maka grabbed hold and pulled the thing out slowly, and as it revealed itself to her she could barely stop her heart from leaping out of her chest.

It was a dress. A wedding dress. White, flowing satin with delicate lace in the front, it was the most beautiful thing Maka had ever seen. She stared at it in awe, while the rest of her party all giggled with delight at her reaction. Maka rose to her feet and let the bag fall from her lap; the rest of the dress unfurled and barely scraped the floor as she held it up higher. It was her size, or maybe just a little bit bigger? Not enough to where it wasn't wearable, though. If anything, she probably needed a little extra room to accommodate the baby.

"Tsubaki and I let it out as best we could," Marie explained, as if reading her mind. "We only had a week's notice. I hope it fits you well enough, though!"

"...It's gorgeous, Marie!" Maka stared at the dress starry-eyed and speechless. She had no idea what to say, other than, "Thank you!"

Marie beamed at her reaction and sighed contently. "That was my wedding dress. I don't ever plan on wearing it again, so I'd rather you put it to good use."

Maka's eyes grew even wider. She held the dress close to her chest and looked over to Marie, whom continued to watch her with a sort of tender approval. It was the sort of look that, as a little girl, she always figured would come from her mother. Clearly that would not be happening; she hadn't seen or talked to her in years, and the idea of Maka ever getting married was a far out concept for both of them back then. But it was happening. Maka had found someone, someone she wanted to share her life with. A life that, unfortunately, no longer involved her.

Her father, too. In reality, Maka had no family. This was it. The people gathered around her and Soul tonight were the closest thing she'd ever get to having one and...no, that wasn't right. She thought about it again; they were her family. Maka's eyes started to well as she scanned the room and again found their smiling faces. Marie especially kept staring at her with that motherly look she so desperately wanted her own mother to give her, and Maka was overcome with mixed emotions. Most of them happy, some of them somber, all of them powerful.

She sniffed and wiped a tear away with her palm. It was at that point Tsubaki got the hint. She hopped to her feet and threw her arms around Maka, while the rest of the group quickly got up to join them. Enveloped in a sea of arms, Maka said nothing. They all just stood there together in silence for a moment, as the woman of the hour collected herself and tried not to turn into an even bigger mess. Tsubaki whispered something about blaming it all on hormones, and Maka laughed a little.

"We can't drink, but a group-hug-toast works just fine, too!" Kim sneered, squeezing even tighter.

Maka nodded. She sank into their embrace, "You all are the best...thank you for everything."

They took their time ending it; those situations where one doesn't necessarily know when to walk away, and at the same time not really wanting the moment to end in the first place. Still, everyone slowly started to break away until it was just Maka standing there again. The moment she was released from their group hug though, Maka practically tackled Marie with a loving embrace. The latter was surprised, but definitely had no objections to it. She smiled and rested her head atop Maka's as both women held each other like mother and daughter.

"Marie..." Maka hummed into her neck. "...I don't want to sound pushy, but I was wondering if you could do me another favor? Only because you'll see him first?"

"Hm?" Marie pulled away from their shared embrace, and Maka whispered the request to her. Marie's one, uncovered eye lit up. "Oh!? He's gonna hate that!"

Maka immediately retracted. "Really? You think so? I don't want to force him! I just...was thinking about some stuff just now and figured..."

"No, no," Marie shook her head. She grinned devilishly. "I mean, he's going to feel so old. But he'll get over it! He'll do it, trust me!"

Maka felt even more unsure about her request, but Marie continued to ensure her it would be fine. Maka didn't quite know if she was saying that because Stein truly wouldn't mind, or because Marie just really wanted to watch him squirm. Perhaps a little of both? In either event, Maka was thankful for Marie's willingness to help. Kim, Jackie, and Tsubaki all looked at each other questioningly, but figured they'd find out whatever it was they were plotting tomorrow. In the meantime, they all collectively decided a reset was in order.

Kim and Jacqueline wandered off into the kitchen to go get something non-alcoholic to drink. Marie excused herself to the bathroom, and Tsubaki stayed behind with Maka to make sure she had fully calmed down. The pair watched their other friends leave before Tsubaki turned to Maka, whom she found already smiling in her direction.

"I'm only just now realizing that I forgot a lot of stuff about weddings," Maka admitted. "I asked Marie to take care of something, but I've got one more thing to address."

Tsubaki cocked her head to the side. She thought about it for a moment; they'd figured out the place, time, and food. "What else do we need?"

"A maid of honor..." Maka smiled coyly. It only snaked bigger when Tsubaki's eyes got wide. "...Luckily I've got a best friend who'll do it. Right?"

Tsubaki covered her fully agape mouth. She quivered for a second as Maka flat-out laughed at the sight. "Oh my-! Yes! Of course I will!"

Tsubaki threw her arms around Maka yet again, only this time it was different. She'd never seen the woman so happy before; she was always so cool and collected, but this was a new side of her. The woman was a bubbling mess, red in the face and watery eyed. Throw in the fact that Tsubaki was a head taller than Maka and yet crumpled into her arms, and the entire moment felt surreal. Not to say it was a bad thing. If anything else, Maka wished she got to see the softer side of Tsubaki more often.

They held each other tight for a long time, only letting up when the rest of the girls filed in and wondered aloud what was going on. Tsubaki quickly changed her tune and broke away, though still red in the face from embarrassment. Again Maka laughed, but didn't explain herself. It was going to be another surprise for tomorrow; when everyone would take their seats and find Tsubaki standing opposite Crona, whom Soul had told her beforehand he'd make best man, and get to appreciate their friendship. It was going to be great.

"Okay!" Kim shouted out, gathering everyone's attention. "We've had a lot of tender moments and stuff, but I think it's time we actually do something!"

Jacqueline nodded in agreement, though she wished Kim would dial it down a bit. "What are our options? We could play a board game or-?"

"-Lame," Kim killed that idea fast. "I liked where Tsubaki was going earlier with the stories. I say we play never-have-I-ever!"

Tsubaki and Marie both knowingly shook their heads. Maka damned herself, because she had to ask, "Um, what's that?"

The curse of growing up with only one boy as a friend had reared its ugly head once more. She never had sleep overs, never did the things or played the games that girls typically did growing up. Maka knew how to break flower pots with slingshots, but that really wouldn't go over well at a party...Kim might appreciate it, though. Thankfully no one gave her crap for it, and they all went through the rules with her; one person says something they've never done before, and the others either raise a finger if they have done it before, or simply do nothing. It goes around in a circle like that until someone gets to ten, in which case the game is over and that person has to do...something. Specifically what, it hadn't been decided yet.

"It's way more fun when you're drinking," Kim grinned. "Instead of fingers, you take a shot. Loser gets the most trashed."

"...It's probably a good thing we're not drinking then," Marie deadpanned. Vague thoughts of Soul's bachelor party going on at the same time flashed into her head.

"Well, guess I'll start," Jackie spoke up. She thought about it for a moment, "Never-have-I-ever gotten black-out drunk before."

Maka looked around. She didn't put a finger up, and neither did Marie. Tsubaki and Kim on the other hand both did, and they gave each other a grin. Alright, so this wasn't too bad, Maka thought to herself. She could tell that some things were going to be shared that wouldn't normally be; she could also see right away how much more dangerous this game could be if alcohol was involved. Already she was thinking about what she'd done or not for when it came around to her. Next up though was Kim, and she was more than ready to take her turn.

"Right," she nodded to herself. Something about the gesture didn't sit right with Maka. "Never-have-I-ever given someone head."

Every woman other than Kim froze. They all stared into space before turning to her, and each one had the same expression on their face; equal parts disbelief and cold fury. Kim stared back at them with a shit-eating grin on her face, knowing full well the damage she was about to cause. Tsubaki in particular gave her an incredulous look, as if to silently ask her why would you go there so early? Maka's eyes nearly boggled from the sucker punch she'd just received, and couldn't tell whether or not she wanted to back out now before it was too late.

"Play the game!" Kim instructed with diabolical glee. She scanned the room and found nothing but hate in return. She reveled in it.

One by one, fingers went up. Jackie looked away as she raised hers. Marie clenched her teeth and closed her eyes as if it caused her physical pain to do the same. Tsubaki gave an exasperated sigh and followed the other women's lead. Maka, the final one, drowned in a sea of red. She looked around at the others, who at this point all looked back at her; hiding her face to avoid their gaze, she finally lifted up her own finger and practically died from embarrassment. The second she did, Kim jumped to her feet and cheered.

"Yes!" she exclaimed, punching the air with satisfaction. "Knocked out the whole squad! Woo-!"

"-Never-have-I-ever fantasized about a three-way with Soul and Black Star!" Tsubaki cut her off with calculated precision.

This time it was Kim who froze. She stopped mid-punch, mouth agape, and stared into the dark void that slowly overtook her vision. It was for the best; she couldn't see the complete look of shock that had swept over Marie and Maka's faces, nor the pained look on Jackie's as she fought back laughter with all her strength.

"Play the game!" Tsubaki echoed. She crossed her arms in dark satisfaction as Kim slowly creaked a finger up.

This game was brutal. Maka quickly regretted ever agreeing to play it in the first place, and continued to do so as the night progressed. It turned into a contest of who could trip the others up the most; she supposed that was the point, but hadn't expected it to be so...cutthroat. Kim and Tsubaki seemed to go back and forth for most of it. It was probably because they shared a lot of intimate information with each other, and now that openness was quickly becoming their downfall.

Whereas Maka, Marie, and Jackie all had around five or six fingers, Tsubaki and Kim both straddled on nine, and the only reason they'd lasted this long was because they had suddenly run out of dirt on each other. The group had come to a came around to Maka. She cringed, not knowing if hers would be the final blow or not.

"Never-have-I-ever kissed a girl before?"

She didn't know if parents counted or not, but then again they were all adults and figured nobody thought that way. Maka looked around and found Jackie and Marie abstaining. She also found Tsubaki and Kim glaring at each other intensely, and waited to see if one of them would throw up their last finger. To her complete shock and utter fascination, after a minute of them staring one another down, they both relented at the same time and threw their finger up. The room immediately erupted into chaos as the winners jumped up and celebrated. Meanwhile, Tsubaki and Kim just shook their heads and started to blame each other for sabotaging their game. Jackie swooped up behind them and threw her arms around both of them.

"You two have been around, huh?" she teased with a grin. Red dusted both women's faces.

The no-alcohol thing didn't last. After that roller coaster of a party game, Maka suggested they all just say fuck it and reset with some alcohol. Not her of course, but the others all quickly jumped off the wagon the moment she suggested it. There were no objections as wine and desert drink started to flow in equal measure. After the first round everyone had already forgotten that the losers were supposed to do something as punishment. By the second, it was as if they'd never socially burned one another in the first place.

Maka had no qualms with that. The game had been entertaining, but she was happy just watching the others break loose and enjoy themselves. She sat and participated in conversation when it came time to; most of her night however was spent going over the following day in her head, and planning all the things they'd need to do once the sun finally rose. At times she spaced out and thought about what the wedding was going to be like, and how badly she wanted to see Soul one more time before the ceremony. It'd been a whole day. She missed him.

She peeked over at a nearby clock on the wall and sighed. Very soon, it would only be twelve hours till her big day.


I do


Against the backdrop of a painted sunset, Needle Village gathered together to celebrate a precious moment. Just outside the rundown shacks and under the shade of the largest sand dune they could find, rows upon rows of mats lie parallel to one another opposite a center lane. On each mat sat a villager, and there were at least a hundred in total. That still wasn't enough to seat each person in attendance however; women, children, and elderly took priority. Many others, mostly men, stood close by next to their families. None complained, however.

There were few happy times in the desert, but the joining of two souls was always a joyous occasion. For some in attendance, this was going to be their first time seeing such a ceremony; others had lived long lives and seen many couples exchange vows, but the joy and satisfaction from watching never truly faded. This particular evening was also special, and most if not all the guests knew seemed to instinctively know it. It had something to do with the groom, and the fact that, up until recently, no one had given two shits about his existence before.

Times were different now, though. The people of Needle Village sat patiently and collectively smiled at the man standing at the end of the center aisle. Some sneered at the obvious strain on his face as he struggled to remain composed through what looked like the hangover of a lifetime, but most gave him a pass. Regardless of whether or not they razzed him, all had an air of pride among them. They looked at Soul as one of their own. It'd taken some time, but he'd convinced them he was a good man. They accepted him now.

Soon, they'd also be accepting his wife.

Soul focused. He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself; only a small part of it had to do with the hangover though. Honestly, he was much more worried about his nerves and ever quickening pulse. His stomach churned. His mouth ran dry. Every second standing there by himself was another that brought him closer to the inevitable moment when Maka would arrive and they could get this show on the road. He wanted to get it over with. At the same time however, he dreaded the clock as it ticked down. Nothing about this was easy.

He wasn't entirely alone, though. Behind him, off to the side, stood Crona as well. His best man looked worse off than he did; the poor kid swayed back and forth a little, and every once in a while it looked like he came back to life for only a brief moment before dying a little all over again. Next to him stood the other best man, Black Star. Soul was pretty sure he was asleep standing up, but he didn't have the strength or heart to test that theory. He instead looked over to the nearest row of mats that consisted of members from his bachelor party, save for Stein and Ox Ford. They looked like death itself, and Soul could only cringe and try his best to appear more sober while he waited.

On the opposite lane sat the women from Maka's group, not counting Tsubaki of course. She stood opposite Soul, Crona, and Black Star, as the other women all looked much less worse for wear than their male counterparts. Just a little sleep deprived if anything; dark circles were much less revealing than green cheeks, and they hid their long night with a little bit of makeup. From her seat, Marie leaned over to Jackie and Kim in order to quietly chat and pass the time. She pointed to Soul and smiled.

"Tsubaki's so good at needlework," Marie whispered. She motioned with her finger to Soul's suit. "It's scary how well she saved that thing."

It was the suit he had been banished in; black and pinstriped, and underneath an equally dark tie and red button up. Slacks, shoes, the whole thing still fit him well. The once-obvious gash that had been ripped into its seams was barely noticeable now. There was obvious stitch work if someone looked close enough, but with the fading light and the fact that no one besides Maka would get within that distance the suit was more than sufficient. Besides, he just flat out looked good in it. Marie was sure Maka would agree with that observation.

"Why's she maid of honor?" Kim piped up. At first, Jackie was annoyed, but then the woman motioned to her. "You two are really similar, I thought for sure it'd be you?"

Jackie blinked, then laughed a little. "Tsubaki knew Maka before I did. I haven't really done much for her and Soul. Besides, she deserves it. Just look at her."

The women collectively glanced at Tsubaki. She looked the best out of the bunch; between both marriage parties, Tsubaki by far had the biggest glow. She had a constant smile on as she looked around and kept an eye out for Maka. At the same time, there were plenty of men in the audience who kept an eye on her, most notable of which was Black Star. He broke free of his head-splitting headache, if only to gaze at her and her lavender dress. Jackie and the others saw his obvious stare and giggled.

"...By the way," Jackie turned to Marie. "Where's the professor? I hope he didn't get too sick and have to miss out?"

Marie shook her head. "You'll be seeing him soon. I passed along Maka's request and he couldn't refuse. He's got a soft spot for her, it's cute."

Kim and Jackie both looked at each other and shrugged. They figured whatever those two had planned would be worth the wait, though they had no way of knowing when the payoff would come. No one had a clue as to when this thing was supposed to start, not even them. It was probably yet another thing Maka hadn't thought through until it was too late, though it wasn't the end of the world. Everyone seemed patient, aside from the boys of course. They were too busy trying not to puke on themselves to care.

From Soul's perspective, however, things were spiraling out of control.

The reality of course was very different, but in his head he couldn't help but think things were turning to total shit right before his eyes. Everyone was hungover. No one knew what time it was or when Maka was supposed to arrive. He was still on the lookout for Ox Ford as well, whom had promised to officiate the thing. Soul internally panicked at the thought of him still passed out in bed, completely missing the ceremony and ruining everything. It would be total chaos.

And then the big one. The thought he hadn't thought before, but now couldn't stop thinking about. It hit him like a freight train and flattened him into oblivion.

The rings.

They didn't have any rings.

What the hell had he been doing this whole week!? That was his responsibility, right? He'd never been married before, he didn't know! Sure, as a bard him and Wes used to play weddings and stuff, but that was centuries ago! He couldn't be expected to remember every little detail, but...no. He was an idiot. Of course you need rings for a wedding. Everyone knew that. It was obvious. Except to him. He hadn't thought through it. This was all his idea, and now the biggest, most important thing imaginable for a wedding was not there. Fuck. Fuck.

"Oh!" someone exclaimed from the back. The sound of people turning in their seats wrenched Soul's attention away. "Look!"

Everyone in attendance all looked in the same direction. From around the corner, two people walked arm-in-arm towards the center aisle; one a tall man with gray hair and a giant screw through his head, and the other a beautiful blonde woman dressed in white. Some people had already seen them approach and had gotten out of the way, giving them a wide berth as they approached and stopped just shy of proceeding the rest of the way. The whole village fell silent. From the opposite end of the aisle, Crona, Black Star, and Tsubaki all snapped to attention.

Soul did no such thing. He was too busy trying to remember how to breathe.

His whole body became numb at the sight of her. She stood there with Stein, and Soul took it all in. He had no idea where she'd gotten the dress from and he didn't care. All he knew was that she'd never looked better. Maka stared at him from all the way over there, and her rosy cheeks made his own erupt with fire. She smiled at him. He couldn't return the gesture. Soul could only gape at her in that sleeveless wedding dress, and at the unmistakable bump on her belly with that was noticeable from even so far away.

A whole month together, and their child was almost halfway to being born. She carried it with grace, and as Stein and her started to off to make their way slowly down the aisle, Soul couldn't stop thinking about his future family. Images of what could be flashed across his field of vision, in between pauses to stop and stare at Maka all over again; the kid's first steps, messy dinners, sleepless nights, all of it. Things that didn't sound appealing in the slightest suddenly seemed like the best thing in the world. He eagerly awaited them.

So long as she was there with him; he'd change diapers all day if it meant they could be together forever.

He'd zoned out again. By the time he came to, Soul found himself staring at a familiar face. Stein stood directly in front of him, smirking as if somehow knowing what was going through Soul's head. They exchanged nods, and the professor relinquished Maka's arm. She went to grab Soul, but not before turning around to give Stein a big hug. He chuckled and returned the gesture; he hadn't known her long, but even he couldn't deny just how quickly Maka had wormed her way into his life, as well as everyone else's. She was family now.

Stein gave her a quick squeeze and then disappeared to go join Marie on the floor, leaving Soul and Maka up there on their own in front of a sea of people. The latter stared up at her soon-to-be husband with a bright smile on her face; the former did the same, though with an equal mix of terror thrown in for good measure. He still didn't know where Ox was, and there were still no rings. He didn't know how all of this was going to end, but for the moment he was too enthralled by Maka to think about it too much.

Rosy lips silently told him not to worry. He would listen to them.

Maybe Maka knew something Soul didn't. That was definitely within the realm of possibility, as was usually the case. Today was no exception, because as soon as Soul had convinced himself that things would wind up okay in the end, a couple of quiet claps came from the crowd. Soul turned, and to his surprise emerged Ox Ford from out behind a sand dune. His visage was ragged and glasses hung heavy on the bridge of his nose, but the bastard had showed up. If Soul wasn't already clung to Maka, he'd have run over and hugged the man.

"Sorry, I got a little..." A hot burp escaped the officiant's lips. Soul didn't hold it against him. "...Indisposed."

Maka gave Soul side-eye. He smirked and looked the other way, knowing full well the chastising she would be giving him right now if it weren't for the ceremony. She'd have gotten after him for getting so rowdy before their big day, but it was a little too late for that. All of them were there. They were ready. Ox was ready. As if knowing it was time to get started, the crowd, the bride and groom, everyone, all collectively seemed to take a deep breath. Soul and Maka turned. They separated. Shoulder to shoulder they stood and waited for the words to be spoken that would seal their fates together.

Ox pulled out a little book. It didn't look official in the slightest, instead looking like a notepad he had thumbed through and written a few words on. Soul wasn't religious, for obvious reasons. He didn't know how weddings went nowadays, let alone how they did things in the desert. He trusted that Maka had ironed out the ceremony part on her own.

"I first want to preface this by addressing the elephant in the room," Ox Ford professed loudly. His own words gave him a splitting headache. "I know I speak for all of Needle Village when I say that at no point did we ever think a Reaper would be welcome amongst our own..."

Soul rolled his eyes. He knew Ox was going to go there. It wasn't out of malice or anything, but at this point they were beating a dead horse.

"...Soul 'Eater' Evans is a Reaper," Ox repeated. "But he has become much more than that to us. To the village, he's a protector. To many, including myself, he's also a friend. And on this evening, we all gather here today to witness him take on his most important role yet as husband and future father..."

Annoyance melted immediately. Taken aback by Ox's kind words, Soul stared at him; a knowing smirk tugged at the officiant's lips, but he did not raise his eyes from the book to meet him. Choking on his tongue, Soul instead felt Maka's elbow as she prodded him teasingly. They exchanged glances, before returning back to Ox.

"...His bride, Maka Albarn, has also worked her way into our hearts," Ox looked up for that part. He smiled. "She comes from a village like ours beyond the mountains, but she will always be welcome here in our little part of the desert..."

This time it was Maka's turn. Her cheeks pinked, and Soul grinned lazily at her from the corner of his vision. They both reached for each other's hands, but stopped themselves; it was a reflex at this point, and they weren't supposed to come together until the end. Black Star and Tsubaki noticed them quickly retract their hands and smiled.

"...There are many things that can be said about these two. The bond they share is a rare and precious thing; sometimes they're polar opposites, and other times they're the best of friends. Anger gives way to love in an instant, and things left unspoken are known by the other regardless..."

"...Love. Passion. Care. Understanding. We're reminded of these traits everyday, because Soul and Maka always display them. Boring days are less so whenever the two of them are out on the village together, if only because we get to see Soul get put in his place from time to time..."

There were a couple of boisterous calls from the back, no doubt individuals whom Soul had, at one time or another, intimidated. He let their halfhearted heckling roll down his back however; in their defense he kind of deserved it. He acted tough in the beginning when he first got there, but that tapered off pretty quickly as his stay was extended indefinitely. Some people still held it against him, but ever since Maka arrived those same people had probably become quite pleased. She was very good at knocking him down a peg.

"...The list of things that can be said of this couple can't be understated, but for the sake of brevity I'll keep it short. If everyone in attendance will please stand...?"

Both Soul and Maka straightened, as did Crona, Black Star, and Tsubaki. The sudden sound of a couple hundred people all shuffling together at once was a strange one. The entirety of Needle Village rose; the wedding party turned to look at them all. Every familiar and unfamiliar face stared back at them, many with smiles on them. The cry of a baby could be heard in the far back, and the sound sent a chill up Maka's spine. She watched as the mother took her child out from the crowd and cooed to it in the back. She smiled.

"...And will, uh, one of the best mans present the rings...?"

Soul froze. God fucking dammit.

Up till then he'd managed to forget all about the looming crisis, but now it had reared its ugly head once more and smacked him clear across the face. He didn't dare look at Black Star, because he knew for a fact the man had nothing to offer him at the moment. All he could do was stare blankly at Ox with cotton in his mouth. The latter stared back, his thick glasses making his expression unreadable. Soul felt like all eyes were oh him, even though the crowd was clearly focused on the two men that stood behind him.

"-Oh!" A wavering voice spoke up after a few tense seconds. "Right...sorry!"

Soul's eyes widened. He turned to see who it was, and was surprised to find Crona there digging into his pocket. He pulled out a little brown sack and extended his hand out to Soul, whom took it after a moment of hesitation. Soul shook out its contents; two little metal rings clanged as they landed in his palm, and the man nearly swallowed his tongue. He looked back to Crona, whom looked back at him with mild confusion.

"Stein gave them to me last night," the best man informed him quietly. "I thought you knew?"

Soul spun around to the other side and found Professor Stein there standing with the others, a shit-eating grin on his face as he relished in the former's misplaced panic. Part of Soul wanted to give him a piece of his mind for not letting him know sooner, but the the feeling was drowned out by a sea of relief. They had rings for the ceremony. They weren't gold or anything fancy, though Soul doubted Maka would care. They seemed fashioned out of scrap metal, and Soul wouldn't have put it past Stein to have put them together himself in his lab.

His friends had come through yet again. The thought was heart-warming and, as Soul took one of the similar looking rings and handed it to Maka, he smiled at his soon-to-be-bride. Maybe she was thinking the same thing he was, because a similar look was there to greet him when he turned towards her. That, or she was just happy to be part of the moment.

"Now, will both the bride and groom turn towards one another?"

Soul and Maka obliged. The former stared down as the latter gazed up, and the crowd beside them both immediately got quiet. There was no official direction given on Ox's part, but most people had either returned to their seats or were in the process of doing so. Less to be rude, and more for the fact that the people in the back wanted to see.

"Soul," Ox began. "Do you promise to protect and cherish Maka for the rest of your days?"

The question seemed contrived. At this point, everyone already knew the answer. Soul sneered, "I do."

Ox Ford continued, "Maka, do you promise to love and support Soul, and also keep his nose clean and out of trouble?"

"I do!" Maka grinned back in amusement. Soul glared at both her and Ox for that tacked on last bit; the latter remained unfazed.

"And do you both," the officiant started again quickly, "Promise to become loving parents, and adore your baby with all the warmth and attention it requires?"

The bridge and groom simultaneously froze. They stood there at the makeshift altar, and their smiles faltered. Their shared reaction had nothing to do with whether or not they would agree to Ox Ford's promise; rather, the weight and reality of it had hit them both at once. Soul and Maka stared at each other for a few seconds. Their silence infected the crowd, and very quickly the hush that fell over everyone became deafening. A pin drop could be heard as everyone waited for their response.

Soul's throat became tight. It was a strange feeling to him, because he never really got emotional. At this time, however, there was no getting around it. He couldn't help it, what with Maka suddenly wiping a stray tear from her eye. Soul stared at her. She stared back. They both, simultaneously, then looked down at the extended belly between them. They'd already given their answer once before, but now it seemed so...permanent. This was going to be their life now. The two, no, three of them. Together. Forever.

"I do," Maka spoke up first. Her voice wavered a little bit at the end, though not for lack of conviction.

Soul cleared his throat and offered his wife a smile. She gave him one in return. "I do, too."

The wedding party mimicked the couple of the hour; Tsubaki's eyes grew red, and all the women on Maka's side of the aisle got just a little bit emotional. Black Star had a dumb grin on his face, and Crona's face grew red with happiness. The other men either smiled or, in Stein's case, reached for their wife's hand. Everyone in attendance all seemed to take a moment to breathe and reflect. Soul and Maka then gave each other a nod as the latter held her left hand out. They hadn't really gone over the details of the ceremony, but now seemed as good enough a time as any to do it.

The actual act of placing the ring on Maka's finger was equal parts exhilarating and anti-climactic. As Soul slid the little piece of metal over her ring finger, he halfheartedly expected the world to stop for a minute. It never did, and yet it still felt momentous in a way. In a fraction of a second he'd made her his own. Likewise, when she retracted her hand and he extended his, Maka ended up feeling a similar way. It wasn't the earth-shattering experience the stories she'd used to read made it out to be, but for her it was one of the greatest moments in her life all the same.

Newly ringed, Soul reached for Maka's hand. This time, she took it with gusto. A big grin was shared between the two of them as they turned to face Ox hand-in-hand, and the officiant was there to greet them with a look that seemed both proud and elated. He closed the book and folded his hands before scanning the crowd in front of him. Everyone waited on him to speak the final few words that they all wanted to hear, but most of all Soul and Maka. Their grasp on one another tightened as he called out over them both.

"Then it is with great honor that I, as the chief of this village, pronounce you both husband and wife!" Ox Ford boomed as loud as he could. "You may now kiss the bride!"

Soul immediately turned to face Maka. He envisioned wrapping an arm around her and bending her backwards with a kiss, but even during their big day she just couldn't stop taking the air out of his sail. Before he could even do anything, Soul felt two arms wrap around his neck and the hot kiss of Maka's lips as they crashed into his own. Eyes wide open, Soul was knocked back a little as the full weight of his bride collided into him. The crowd cheered as he caught himself from falling, and he quickly went with it.

That part about the world standing still ended up being true after all. Everything around Soul and Maka came to a halt for a moment as they basked in that one important kiss. They squeezed each other tight, and relished in their newly sealed fates together. It was brief; the sounds of their friends excitement filled the pair's ears once more and told them it was time to start walking. They still had a few more things to do before they could enjoy each other's company. Food, dancing, and an entire reception of shaking hands and hugging random people.

Soul and Maka broke away, only to again clasp their hands together as they made their way down the aisle. Crona, Black Star, Tsubaki, and Ox watched the couple walk quickly towards the opposite end, and they hung back until it was time for them to take their exit, too. By the time Soul and Maka had popped out the other side, those in attendance were already starting to leave as well. People filed out in the dark of the evening and started to make the short trek to the humble reception area; each grabbed the cushion they were using previously and took it with them, as they would be used again for the after party.

The hardest part was finally over. Now, after all the hard work and mild panic attacks, it was finally time for them to just enjoy themselves.


Stars


A comet whizzed by overhead. Its lone witness, a man who had only just now gotten over his mother-of-all hangovers, sat firmly planted on the crest of a dune and stared up at it intently. People always associated them with wishes, but Black Star knew otherwise. It was one of the few things Stein had taught him that had actually stuck; they were bad omens, and should always be heeded. Black Star's eyes furrowed at the thought of one streaking across the sky during his best friend's wedding. The audacity of mother nature pissed him off.

The sounds of party-goers in the near distance filled the man's ears, and he envisioned what everyone was doing right now. Maka was probably trying to get Soul to dance, and he'd either be down to do it or put up a little fight before caving in to her. The girls were probably gushing over the two of them, and the guys were probably eating their fill of breads and booze to chase the sickness away. Just the thought of more desert drink alone made Black Star's stomach turn in on itself, and a shuddered burp escaped his lips. He cringed.

Black Star failed to notice another body make its way up the mound behind him. It wasn't until they had gotten right on top of him that he finally turned around to see who it was, and his eyes widened at the image of Tsubaki standing there. She smiled at him in that lavender dress of hers, and for a moment the best man just stared. Tsubaki didn't seem to mind; it was almost like she was expecting his response, and simply just stood there as Black Star slowly got his wits back. After a moment of gawking, he turned back around.

"I didn't expect you to skip the reception," Tsubaki hummed. She walked over to Black Star and took a seat next to him on her knees. "Still hungover?"

"Nah, I just had my fill of partying already. I kinda wanted some peace and quiet," he replied calmly. Never once did he break his stare up at the night sky.

Tsubaki looked at him with a hint of surprise on her face, but said nothing more on the matter. She just sat there in silence with Black Star for a moment and honored his wishes. There was no discussion between the two of them, and instead the pair just looked up into the blackness above them. Tsubaki saw the comet as well, but didn't mention anything about its meaning. If anything, she probably just thought it was another object staring back down at them. All the orbs of light in sync with one another was a beautiful sight to behold.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Black Star finally asked. Again, he didn't dare look at her.

Tsubaki smiled, "I came to check up on you. Everyone thought you were sick or something, me included."

Black Star snorted. "Geeze, a guy can't have a little time to himself? Fine. Go back and tell everyone I'll be there soon, okay?"

He expected Tsubaki to just agree, give him a nod, and then get up and walk away. Half of him wanted her to do just that, but the other half was surprised and relieved when she didn't. Tsubaki just continued to smile and sit there with him, and together they stared up at the stars together. Secretly, Tsubaki wondered what going through that head of his; Black Star wasn't the pensive type, so seeing him like this was way more interesting than anything going on at the reception. Besides, Soul and Maka were having fun regardless of their presence.

"Y'know..." she spoke up after another bout of silence. "...We haven't really talked a whole lot since you got back..."

"Mm," Black Star replied. Tsubaki scanned him from the corner of her vision, and noticed his eyes narrow slightly in thought.

"...I guess I've been too busy to say anything, but I wanted to let you know I'm proud of you for how you handled things with the soul eaters."

This time, Tsubaki got a noticeable reaction. Black Star snorted yet again, only this time he turned to face her. "Proud of me? For what? Kicking the crap out of Soul?"

"More like, how you protected everyone," Tsubaki countered. "You assessed the situation. You stayed calm. And most of all, you made sure everyone was safe."

Black Star gave her a funny look at first, as if to protest her observation. Tsubaki stared right back at him with her pleasant smile, however, and his own face broke at the sight of it. Black Star simply shrugged and went right back to staring up above him. Tsubaki stayed focused on him for a few seconds longer, but she too eventually stargazed with him. Again it was silent, and again that seemed okay. They would take their conversation one step at a time. The night was still young. The reception would last at least for a couple more hours.

"Can you tell me one thing though?" Tsubaki asked. She continued staring, and this time it was Black Star who broke away to look at her. "How do you do it?"

"Do what?" His face contorted in confusion for a second, before morphing into a stupid grin. "Are you talking about my awesome combat skills?"

"How do you not get swallowed up by the shadows?" Tsuabki revealed. "You're better at using them than any Reaper, including Soul."

The grin on Black Star's face waned. He was quiet for a moment, even more so when Tsubaki turned her head to face him. The two stared at one another in silence for a brief second, before Black Star suddenly turned away to resume his sky watching. Tsubaki, however, didn't; she was focused intently on him as she waited for his response. She could tell he was thinking of something to say, because he always got this look on his face like the gears were slowly starting to turn in his head. Again, it was a rare sight, she thought to herself in amusement.

"Oh, that." Black Star leaned back a little and lifted his head up more, "I guess that's because whenever I use them, I just think about you."

Immediately, Tsubaki's eyes widened. She said nothing, thinking that he was going to explain that revelation just a little bit better. But he didn't, and as the seconds ticked by she found her face getting just a little bit warmer. Black Star just continued to stare up at sparkling lights above them, a calm look on his face that gave his words no justice.

"...What's that supposed to mean?" Tsubaki finally spoke up after a tense few seconds. She wanted answers.

Black Star gave a little shrug. "Exactly what it sounds like, I guess? I think about you, and the shadows don't take me."

"I'm still not understanding you!" Tsubaki shot back. That was a lie, or at the very least not entirely the truth. "Why think of me?"

"It's kinda like...I don't know, a ground, or something? Or an anchor? Like, I think about you, and I've got something to come back to?"

Tsubaki opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately nothing came out. There were things she wanted to say, though none of them could translate into actual words. They hung on the tip of her tongue as she continued to stare and search Black Star's face for answers. He didn't look at her, and she supposed that was by design. He wouldn't face her, but Tsubaki could at least see a mix of emotions sweep across his face as he averted his gaze. Black Star was again struggling to find words that would satisfy her question. She desperately wanted to hear them.

"The way I see it," he sighed, scratching the back of his head, "That darkness up there? That's Black Star. And all the stars in the sky, those are Tsubaki."

Black Star turned to face Tsubaki. He found her there frozen and staring back at him, the biggest streak of red he'd ever seen painted all across her face. That wasn't his intention; he wasn't intentionally trying to make her embarrassed, or whatever. She asked a question, and he gave her his honest answer. He tried his best to get as straightforward as possible, so hopefully she could at least appreciate that much. His answer probably wasn't one she wanted to hear though, and he envisioned her chastising him for being annoying.

But that didn't end up happening. Instead, Black Star's eyes grew wide when Tsubaki shifted. Suddenly, instead of her knees, she now sat her rear end firmly on the sand. And instead of leaving space between them, he found the distance closed to damn near nothing; the feeling of her arm brushing against his sent a shiver up Black Star's spine, and he bit his lower lip at the sudden closeness of her face. She smiled at him, yet he couldn't return the gesture. Any pretense of calm had been tossed aside as Black Star struggled to remain composed.

"You've grown up a lot," Tsubaki commented. Her smile grew wider at his inability to respond. "Still a little hotheaded, but that's not necessarily a bad thing."

With that, she turned her head and rested it on Black Star's shoulder. Still turned towards her, the woman's hair brushed up against his nose and for the first time he was able to become acquainted with her scent. She smelled nothing like her namesake, a scentless flower. She was anything but; a mix of fragrances that no doubt had something to do with perfume for the wedding, though there was something wholly her thrown in there as well. It was pleasant. Intoxicating. He wanted to dive into it, but now probably wasn't the time.

Black Star pulled his face away and kept anything he had swirling in his head to himself. Normally he had trouble keeping quiet, but now was not one of those times. He dared not ruin whatever moment this was, and instead just sat there with Tsubaki. Her head rolled with his as they continued staring out into the bespeckled expanse before them. Sounds of a continued after party echoed distantly in their ears, though neither paid them any mind. They were content to just peacefully sightsee and let the night take them.

"It's beautiful tonight."

Tsubaki's soft words graced Black Star's shoulder and reverberated throughout his whole body. Up till that point he'd been stiff; not wanting to move even an inch in fear of inconveniencing her in some way, Black Star was straight as a board. As her soothing presence infected him, however, his demeanor quickly shifted. He became more at ease, and he scooted over a bit to give Tsubaki more room. His arm fell behind her as he supported both their weight, and, after a moment of hesitation, he let his head rest gently on hers. She didn't didn't seem to mind, or at the very least didn't voice her protest. Black Star waited in vain for her to tell him he was out of line, but again he was relieved when that didn't happen.

"Yeah, it is."

He didn't want this to end. He knew it would, eventually. There was no telling how much longer the party was going to continue for, but Black Star supposed it didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Even once all the congratulated Soul and Maka and everyone turned in for the night, Black Star liked to think that him and Tsubaki would still be there. Still staring at everything and nothing, sharing that one little piece of themselves that even now seemed like so much. Her skin against his. The vast desert before them that put their tiny encounter all into perspective. A scene he admittedly thought about way too much, and yet was now coming true. He'd revel in it, with her, for as long as fate would allow him the opportunity.

All under the bright white glow of a crescent moon, and the afterimage of a comet as it disappeared into the night.


A.N

I'd like to pretend that the bachelor/ette scenes were based off personal experience. Aside from the getting drunk part, not so much lol