Sorry I Couldn't be Better 25- A splash of a day

Cambodia was amazing! I felt a bit left out at first and had to room with a really annoying person for 8 nights but all in all, a really confronting but inspirational and enlightening trip. I hit a window shutter and gave myself a mild concussion though. I told the girls on the trip that I had bad luck but they didn't believe me until that happened XD

Responses to guests (I'll PM the rest of you XD)

Lexx: Glad I could show BlackStar in a new light.
Guest June 23rd: I'm glad it's helping. And equally glad that you're sticking around. I had a great time in Cambodia
SoulessAlpha: A published book? *dies of happiness* Hope this is a worthy update
MRM: I'm glad you liked what I wrote at the end of chapter 9
utakootakuotaco: Haha thank you. Glad you're enjoying. Your reviews were very enjoyable!
Guest June 28th: I actually had no idea. I guess it has been a while since I read the manga and at one stage, the author mentioned that Thunder and Fire don't really know much about gender, I guess that's what I remembered. When I have the time, I'll definitely change it
Guest June 30th: Not the end. Here's more!
SmirkingYuriGirl: OMG your review is so lovely and nice and ahhhh, thank you so much. I am smiling like crazy. And there probably won't be any SoMa, I'm not focusing much on romance at the moment
Guest July 23rd: OMD, XD that's so cool. There probably won't be any KiMa, mostly because this story isn't going to have much romance. You can read it as KiMa if you want, I probably just won't make it official. Glad you like the story
Guest July 24th: Thankyou
Guest 6th July: Here it is!

Disclaimer: Nah, Soul Eater ain't mine. I do own…all the stuff I bought at AVCON. Oh yeah I went to AVCON, my cities Anime and Video game convention. So much fun! I was Lavi from D Gray Man.


The girl toppled backwards with a cry, her friends supporting her before she could hit the floor.

"BlackStar no!" Maka yelled, starting forward, but her voice was lost in the other shouts and screams. Sid appeared at her side and pulled BlackStar gently back. Maka was shocked to see that the boy was crying, twisting in Sid's grasp before he went limp, sobbing into the therapist. Sid held him close and rocked him back and forth.

"Please remain calm," Marie waded through the crowd. "I am very sorry miss." She spoke to the girl BlackStar had struck. "Did you say anything to set him off?"

"She knows Maka." Soul cut in. "She said that Maka must have tried to do the world a favour and kill herself. And BlackStar punched her."

Marie drew herself up at these words, towering over the girls. Maka flinched. This was so wrong. Everything was going wrong!

"I'm suing you," the girl said firmly, meeting Marie's gaze. "You can't take these…these freaks into public and think that everything will be alright."

"Can you read?"

"Huh?"

"I said," Marie began slowly as if speaking to a child. "Can you read?"

"Well duh," the girl folded her arms. Maka felt Soul try to pull her away.

"We're gathering over there," he explained. Maka shook her head. She couldn't form words but she needed to stay, to see what was going to happen. "Fine," Soul remarked and stayed by her side.

"And so you can read what the passes around these kid's necks read?" Marie's tone was bordering on dangerously calm.

"Yes," the girl groans dramatically. "Can I go? I did nothing wrong. That boy was the one who spazzed out and punched me. You shouldn't let him out of the hospital."

"Did you treat this boy kindly and with patience?" Marie was not going to let her go.

"No, I wasn't even talking to him. I was talking to Maka. We were friends. Right Maka?" The girl (Cassie, Maka thought. Cassie) turned to her. "And then he just hit me. It was unfair. No wonder these people get locked up." Her friends giggled behind her, nervously however. They didn't know how to act.

"Maka are you friends with this girl." Marie suddenly brought Maka into the conversation.

"Not really," Maka mumbled, shuffling her feet. "Just classmates."

"Nah we're really close." Cassie insisted. "I was just joking around."

"I have a patient crying over there," here Marie, Maka, Soul and Cassie turned to look at BlackStar has Sid held the sobbing boy close. "After punching you because you told a depressed patient that she should have killed herself."

"So what? Like I said, you shouldn't bring them out here if all they do is mess up."

"Young lady do you know what it is like to have a mental illness?" Marie towered over the teen, her voice growing louder by the second. "To have even your own mind turn against you?"

"Whoa back off," Cassie took a step back. "I'll leave. No harm done." She turned as if to go but Marie's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"The only person who is truly at fault here is you." Marie's voice was as sharp and cold as stone. Her eyes were narrowed and she was straightened to her full height. "If you don't mind, I'd like you to give me your parent's phone number. They'll be getting a call from me about your behaviour. You also need to apologise. What you did was stupid and cruel and you've hurt everyone here by doing so."

"Give her your number Cassie," a girl hissed.

"This has to be illegal." Cassie spat. "Besides, my parents are here. You think they'd ever let me go here alone?" She gestured to a couple arguing about something. "That's them over there. Talk to them now."

Marie began to walk over, pausing briefly to talk to Maka and Soul.

"Head back to the others." She said them gently. "I'll take care of this. This won't ruin our day, I promise you."

Maka hesitated, wanting to know what Marie was going to do but Soul dragged her away.

"Marie's got it handled." He explained. "Plus she's scary when she's like this."

The group was huddled off to the side of the room, desperately trying to keep attention away from them. But BlackStar was still crying and Patty was shouting profanities about what had happened. All eyes were on them.

"Maka a-are you alright?" Tsubaki stuttered.

"I think so." Maka sat down, her legs suddenly feeling unsteady.

"Did they really talk about you…killing yourself?" Kid whispered, hands clenched at his side.

"Yeah," Maka croaked out. She licked her lips and raised her voice. "Yeah,"

"Those bastards." Kilik spat. Nygus's hand on his shoulder seemed to be the only thing keeping him calm.

"Marie's sorting them out." Soul seemed to be the only calm one in the group aside from the adults. It was almost like…he was used to it. Used to things like this happening.

"Hopefully we can just continue as if nothing has happened." Azusa said firmly. She seemed composed but her eyes glared holes at Cassie and her parents as Marie spoke to them. "We haven't caused much trouble and if we can all calm down, I'm sure this day will be very enjoyable."

"We can still go swimming next to the crocodiles?" Patty perked up suddenly.

"Maybe," Azusa said fondly. "Though someone will have to go in there with you Patty. You're not a strong swimmer."

"Yay," Patty cheered, her mind already miles away from what had happened.

Maka slumped to the ground and rested her head on her knees. Marie's voice was faint in her ears.

"This is my fault," she whispered to herself. But of course everyone overheard.

"Of course it's not," Soul said sternly.

"It was those jerks." Kilik chimed in. Harvar nodded in agreement at his side.

"They are in the wrong Maka. Not you." Azusa told her gently. "And it's a ridiculous notion for you to even think that."

"But BlackStar," Maka looked at the sobbing boy.

"Had a bad night," Sid said firmly, still holding BlackStar close. "We all have them. He'll be fine."

"How can we enjoy today after what happened?" Liz demanded. "It's the same everywhere we go. They treat us like freaks. They have no right to say those things!"

"Liz, everything will be fine. We're going to hopefully forget this happen because we aren't going to let silly teenage girls have power over us, the same goes for anyone who treats us differently. We're here to have a good time and I know you all want to." Nygus gave a small laugh. "We're going to have fun!"


Marie was still talking to Cassie's parents as they broke off into groups again and had a proper look at the sharks. Maka found herself yet again with Kid and Soul and even a still sniffing BlackStar was walking around, Sid right behind him.

"The glass will break." Maka heard Liz mutter as her group walked past.

"Don't be silly Liz," Azusa's voice said crisply before the noise of the aquarium and the crowds of people swallowed them up.

"We'll have to stay here until Marie's done with that bitch and her parents." Soul whispered to Maka. The teen winced at the profanity.

""We haven't seen over here." Sid said gruffly, pointing to an open tank where you could hold a Port Jackson shark. It was obvious he was trying to lighten the mood but BlackStar was listless and Kid was distracted, keeping his eyes on the floor because he couldn't stand to look at so many unsymmetrical things and not be able to 'fix' them.

"Do you want to hold it BlackStar?" Sid asked once they were over there. The boy just shook his head and copied Kid, staring at his feet.

"I will," Maka said bravely. "I mean, then you can tell people that you've held a shark." She was trying to cheer the boys up but she feared it wouldn't work. Soul however, caught on.

"I think I'm a bit too scared to." He joked around. "I guess I'm a chicken."

"I'll do it," BlackStar's head shot up suddenly. "Then I can tell people that I've held a shark and that I'm braver than Soul.

"The shark is perfectly symmetrical." Kid even perked up a bit. Maka and Soul gave each other a high five when the two boys were holding the shark.

"Good job," Soul told her quietly and pride flooded Maka.

"Time to group up again." Sid said after they'd all held the shark (except for Soul) and were just milling around. "Looks like Marie's all done. We can go see the dolphin show now and then head through the glass tunnels to Crocodile Cove."

Marie trotted over to the group, a satisfied smile on her face. Cassie was following meekly behind her.

"Maka, BlackStar, Cassie has something to say to you two." Marie announced. BlackStar instantly shrunk away but Maka put a hand on his shoulder to keep him next to her.

"I'm very sorry for what I said." Cassie said quietly and rather flatly. She then turned on her heels and left, re-joining her friends and parents. The large group hurried towards the exit and were gone from sight. Maka could confidently say that everyone was glad to see them gone.

"Her parents were less than happy with her." Marie said, almost smugly. "But I don't think she can be changed. It took all three of us to even coax a half-hearted apology out of her. But don't take it to heart. We're here to have fun!"

There it was again. Here to have fun. Maka never really had fun. But since coming to DWMA, she'd had lots of fun. Sure, for almost every fun moment, there was a sad and scary one, but she found herself smiling more. Her eyes would shine and she would relax around the others. She joined in with things willingly and without fear of judgement.

It was…something Maka didn't want to say goodbye to.

"Don't think of that now," she whispered to herself, so quietly that it was almost like thinking. If her lips hadn't moved and the vibrations of the words had hummed at her throat, she wouldn't have known she was speaking. "We're here…to have fun."

She continued to tell herself this silently throughout the dolphin show as the floor four kids cheered and applauded around her for every leap and every splash. Maka had to admit, the show was even more impressive than last time.

The best part was the trainers asked for volunteers to come up the front to pat the dolphins and have a photo with them. Chosen was a little girl of about five who was in the front row. And…Harvar! The usually blank voiced boy was positively beaming as he wove his wave through the seats to the pool.

The photo was snapped and Harvar was given a slip of paper telling him where he could pick it up. Everyone crowded around him after the show had finished.

"That was so cool!"

"I can't believe you were chosen."

"You have to get the picture!"

"It'll probably cost money though."

"Marie?"

"We'll think about it." Marie brought the conversation to a halt. "Now, let's head off to the glass tunnels."

"Azusa," Liz muttered and the two paused briefly to talk.

Patty wandered up to Maka, trying to look casual.

"Liz really doesn't want to go in the tunnels." The younger sister tried for a smile. "She's asking Azusa if there's another way to get to Crocodile Cove. She really, really doesn't want to go. But I do. But if she doesn't go, then I shouldn't go."

"Why shouldn't you go?" Maka frowned as the group stopped outside the entrance to the glass tunnels, a spiralling tube of glass surrounded by water and sea creatures.

"Well…because I'm her sister." Patty shifted. "And it wouldn't be fair to leave her alone."

"I think she'd understand." Maka gave the girl a small smile.

"Why?"

"Because she's your sister."

There was a brief silence between the girls for a moment before Patty seemingly brightened up.

"Thanks Maka, I'll keep that in mind." She skipped away to Liz who was still discussing the tunnels with Azusa.

Someone nudged her arm and she spun to see Soul there with Kid, Tsubaki and BlackStar behind him.

"Are you going to go swimming?" Soul asked. "You know, next to the crocodiles?"

"Maybe," Maka shrugged. "We still have to go through the glass tunnels first and they go on forever."

"Really?" Kid perked up. He'd really taken to the aquarium, bothering workers for facts and spending ages gazing at the exhibits they passed even if the tank held one fish. "What kind of animals were in them?"

"Sharks, stingrays and big fish mostly. And smaller fish and creatures that live in reefs. There's even a section where the floor is glass and the fish swim under you." Maka looked into the tunnel looming ahead of them. "You'll really like it."

At this moment, Liz and Azusa moved back over with Patty bouncing at her sister's side.

"Let's go," was all the therapist said but Maka saw the wide smile on her face. Liz was going through the tunnels with them!

Harvar had his camera out and now that Maka thought about it, it had been out for most of the trip. Taking footage of the aquarium? Or of the group for future movies? Or just both?

They ventured into the tunnels and were instantly met with schools of fish, some big but most small. A giant manta ray drifted past aimlessly, its grey wings flapping as it glided above their heads. Liz squeaked and stepped back. Azusa's gentle hand on her back kept her from running from the tunnels.

"To the crocodiles!" Patty cheered.

"Remember Maka said the tunnels were really long." Soul reminded her.

"We can just run ahead." Patty countered.

Harvar waved his camera around, capturing the vast tunnel that loomed ahead in front of them. It was relatively empty compared to the rest of the aquarium and anyone who did pass, took one look at their passes and moved hurriedly away.

Maka should have been offended but after the drama with Cassie, found herself caring very little. At least no one was actually getting in their faces and being offensive to their faces. The people who scurried away probably just didn't know how to act around them and were scared of causing trouble.

If Maka had come across the DWMA before she'd been admitted, she'd probably have done the same thing. Or maybe…maybe she'd have seen herself in them. The eyes that still seemed dull, the smiles that fell randomly. The hunched shoulders and defensive walk.

Maka belonged with floor four. This much she knew.

"Come on Maka," Kid called. "There's a shark right on top of the glass up here! It must be a nurse shark!"

Maka headed for her friends, a small smile on her face.

I'm glad…I'm very glad I didn't succeed.


The entirety of floor four (bar Harvar) ended up swimming next to the crocodiles. It was wild at first but after Sid ordered them all to calm down, they relaxed and floated around and squeaked when the crocodiles seemingly appeared from nowhere.

Patty initiated a splash fight at one stage and Kilik enjoyed slipping under the water only to appear out of nowhere seconds later and scare everyone.

Harvar filmed them all before slipping away with Nygus. Maka noticed that Ox became a lot quieter after that and soon left the water in favour of watching them through the glass and talking to Sid.

Eventually, they all climbed out, squeezing their dripping hair and arguing over who got to use to toilets first. It didn't take long until they were all dry, droplets of water trickling down their backs from their damp hair.

Harvar re-appeared with Nygus and another person with a wide smiling face and short strawberry blond hair. Maka's eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

"KIM!" Jaqueline yelled, surprising them all. She lunged for the girl and gave her a big hug. Kim laughed and held on tight. "I missed you so much." Jaqueline was nearly in tears.

"I missed you too." Kim whispered back before raising her voice. "I missed you all!"

Everyone crowded around her, complimenting her and hugging her and clapping her on the back.

"What are you doing here?" Tami asked when the shouting and cheering had died down.

"I invited her." Marie stepped forward. "She's a little late," Kim gave a mock bow here. "But she's arrived in once piece. And just in time for the reptile show. Who wants to hold a snake?"

"This isn't just an aquarium is it?" Liz glared as they trooped over to the building for the show.

Harvar took picture after picture and video after video. He seemed happy. They were all happy.

As the day drew to an end, Maka was sure there were good times to come. The trip had lifted the morality of the group and even BlackStar seemed cheerier than he had in the morning. They said goodbye to Kim and she and Jaqueline hugged for ages. The staff all chipped in and bought the photo of Harvar with the dolphin. The silent boy clutched it to his chest.

The bus ride back was fun, with everyone talking about their favourite moments and Harvar passing around his camera to show of the funniest pictures.

There was one of Soul giving Kid rabbit ears as the OCD teen stared in wonder at a shark above him.

There was Kilik and the Pots pulling funny faces at the camera. Fire with his eyes crossed and Thunder sticking her tongue out. Kilik's cheeks were puffed up and one eyebrow raised.

There was Liz screaming at a giant manta ray that had popped up beside her in the glass tunnels whilst Patty cartwheeled around her.

There was the whole gang splashing in the water as crocodiles floated leisurely behind them, separated by a wall of glass.

And there was Maka, giggling as she held a snake that was sliding up her face and around her pony tails.

The whole drama at the start of the day had been forgotten. It had been an amazing trip, one Maka would never forget. Her first real outing with her new friends. She had loved every minute of it. It pained her to say it but…she'd had a better time than the time she'd come with her parents.

But of course, the joy of the day couldn't last. They pulled into the carpark at the hospital, Soul nearly asleep against the window. But when he spotted a sleek black car, he sat bolt upright and stared at it in shock.

"It can't be," he whispered and when the bus came to a halt, he was the first off, running towards the car before anyone could stop him.

"Soul!" Kid called but it was futile.

"It is," they heard him shout. He stormed back over to them and slunk in next to Maka and Kid. "It's him," he muttered, clenching his fists.

"Soul," Stein appeared at the doors of the hospital. "You have a visitor." Standing behind him was a man who looked like an older, healthier Soul.

"Hello Soul," the man said grimly.

"Wes," Soul hissed, stepping forward. "What are you doing here?"

"Wes?" Maka whispered.

"Soul's brother." Kid whispered back. "He's the man who locked Soul away here."

Haha shit. I wanted to keep writing but it felt like I was squeezing too much in. I hope you enjoy the update. Please drop me a review if you want to.

Below is a wild idea I had for an ending. It fits in just as they enter the glass tunnels. How many of you would have murdered me for doing that?

AND THAT'S WHEN THE FUCKING GLASS OF THE TUNNELS BROKE LIKE LIZ HAD SAID THEY WOULD AND THEY ALL FUCKING DROWNED THE END (a shark ate BlackStar)