When Maleko woke up, the first thing he noticed was that he was back in the infirmary again, the second was that he was all alone. No adult was sitting by the door watching him, making sure he wasn't running off or tearing open all his injuries again. Breathing in, the scents felt stale, as if no one had been around for a few hours or so.
For a moment, he wondered if he had even left the infirmary, if going out to eat with Maka and Soul had just been a dream. But then he sat up and he felt a familiar queasy sensation in his stomach and the smell of throw-up and pizza grease still lingered in his nose. It hadn't been a dream, he concluded.
The blankets curled up around his legs felt warm and he kicked them off. It felt strange to not have Spirit or Marie or even Stein or Nygus watching over him. He'd grown used to never being alone, to always be under a pair of watchful eyes, and he couldn't help but wonder if something had happened and that was why they weren't with him.
Maleko hoped that everyone was okay. Maybe they were gone because they found a lead on where mama was—he could hope.
Still, as Maleko thought of it, of his lunch with Maka and Soul, he felt guilty. He felt like he might have ruined their dine out trip because he got sick, all the scents had been too overpowering and added with the food, his stomach hadn't been able to handle it in the end despite how hard he tried. It wasn't as though he was still hungry since he'd emptied his stomach after eating last, just thinking of food made his stomach twist in an unpleasant way.
He should at least apologize to them if he ruined it for them. When he saw them next he could say he's sorry, but he wasn't sure when he would see them next, and he couldn't leave to go find them.
His eyes fell to the chair the adults usually sat in when they watched him. There were papers on the seat, not like the magazines that Spirit and Marie would read, but like the ones that Stein would look through and write on with a red pen.
Curious, he climbed out of bed and crept to the papers. There were a lot of sheets stapled together, no red ink on it, and he couldn't smell any of the grownups on it. Instead it smelled strongly of Soul and Maka. That only made him more curious so he began skimming through it.
Well, as best as he could. Most of the words he didn't know, reading was still difficult for him and he could only recognize a handful of the words on the six or so sheets. But he saw Soul on each page. Did that mean that this was Souls? It smelled of him. Did he forget it here?
If it was Soul's paper then he might need it, and Maleko wasn't sure when he'd stop by again for him to give it back to the weapon. Maybe he could… maybe he could go find Soul and give it to him? Soul would probably be really happy if Maleko did that. Where would he be, though?
Judging by the sunlight streaming in through the window and the many people outside, the two should still be in the building for their class thing. He could probably find them down there if he went looking, and it wasn't as though anyone was in the room to tell him no.
It was probably impulsive, he'd probably get in trouble for leaving his room without permission and without anyone with him. The grownups didn't like it when he tried to leave without them telling him he could. But this was for a good cause, and it wasn't as though he was going to be leaving the school, he was just going to stalk the halls until he could find Maka or the others. He'd say what he needed and what he wanted, give Soul his papers and then he'd go back to his room, no harm done.
Maleko nodded to himself, sure in his decision as he crawled out of bed and scampered to the door. But he still hesitated just a moment to make sure no one was watching him, to make sure he wasn't going to get yelled at or something. When the boy was sure he was safe, he pushed the door open and scampered out into the empty halls.
As it turned out, it was kind of hard to try and maneuver around the school, he wasn't familiar with the halls or the layout of the building at all, and he continued to get distracted by his reflection staring back up at him from the floor. Since when were floors that shiny, anyway? There were lots of stairs, too. He didn't mind climbing up and down stairs, but it made him nervous when he felt his injuries tug uncomfortably as he descended or ascended different flights of stairs.
Plus, the people weren't all that friendly. Maleko had expected the other kids to be nice and friendly like Maka and her friends had been, but that wasn't the case. They looked at him funny, like they were nervous.
Nervous of what? Maleko wasn't going to do anything to them, but by the way they acted it made it look like he was gonna bite them.
He had even tried to talk to a few to ask if they knew where his friends were, but as soon as they saw him heading towards them, the small group of students had quickly scampered off, retreating to somewhere else far away from him. It was kind of hurtful if he was being honest, he'd never had people act that way towards him. The worst he had faced from people was David's rough actions when they played.
But he wasn't going to let himself be disheartened! No, he would keep trying until he found someone he knew! As Maleko climbed up what had felt like the sixth set of stairs, though for all he knew he could have already climbed these ones before and just not noticed, he had to pause to lean against the railing to catch his breath. The stitches in his side hurt, but he couldn't smell any fresh blood so he was confident that he hadn't torn anything open. Good, Stein would be mad if he did.
However, he paused at the top of the stairs when Maleko saw a familiar head of pink rounding the corner down the hall. His heart soared a little. Someone he knew, but not from the islands nor from the faces he saw through his window in the infirmary.
Someone like him.
New energy flowed through him, rejuvenating his sore limbs and Maleko ran after the figure, pushing himself back onto his hind legs for more speed, wanting to catch up before they vanished. A few students jumped out of the way just to make sure that Maleko didn't get too close to them, not that he really paid them any heed.
It had to be her, right? The scent was there, and the color was unmistakable.
He couldn't help the happy howl that escaped him when he caught sight of her again, the sound causing her to stop and turn around, almost dropping the books in her hands as her eyes widened in disbelief
However, Maleko didn't have the time to slow down or stop when she did, he tried of course. But with the speed he was going, he just stumbled before colliding right into her legs, sending them both topping to the ground. The books hit the ground shortly after them, splayed open and echoing through the halls.
Even though his body groaned in complaint of the crash, Maleko didn't mind.
Instead, Maleko pushed himself to sit perched atop of her, a smile stretched across his face. "Kimmy! Kimmy!" he chirped happily as he looked at the witch. Finally, someone he knew in this school!
Well, not so much as knew. Maleko had only ever met Kimial Diehl a handful of times. Mama didn't go to the witch meetings often, and so neither did he, and Kimial went about as frequently as they, so their schedules only converged a few times. And even when they attended the same meetings, mama didn't like to linger around long enough to talk to people if she didn't have to, so he only got to talk to her for a minute or two most days.
The only time, and first time, that they had done more than a brief hello and nods was when they had first met. Maleko had wandered away from mama to find the bathrooms, completely lost. He'd been wandering for what felt like forever and bumped into the witch.
She had been nice, asked him if he was okay, and then led him to where some restrooms were. Her hands had been warm wrapped around his smaller ones. Then she had helped him to find Mama again when he was done, she'd been nice, and had smiled warmly at him.
She also always brought a non-witch with her… well she claimed that her friend was a witch but Maleko knew better. She was human through and through, his nose wouldn't lie to him, though Maleko knew better than to tell the others that.
Though she wasn't the only one who had a companion who wasn't a witch, Medusa brought one with her, too, and technically Mama did as well since Maleko was a sorcerer—the only one who attended those meetings as far as he knew. He got the feeling his kind weren't especially liked in witch mass.
But after meeting her that time, Maleko had always tried to find her whenever mama took him to the meetings to say hi and see how she is. Both her and the girl she brought with her, who smelled of smoke and coals, a comforting and nice smell, were always kind to him.
This would be his first time seeing her outside of mass, outside of her usually outfit. It was kind of strange seeing her in a uniform like some of the other students, too. The smell of smoke still clung to her, so he could only assume she was still with her non-witch friend even though he didn't see the other girl around anywhere.
But he was glad to have run into her. As nice as some of the people were, it was something else to have a face that was familiar, someone he had known previously. She might even know where mama was! Maybe she was helping the others find her!
"Maleko?" Kimial asked, but something wasn't right. Her voice wasn't happy like Maleko thought it'd be. She sounded scared. Why was she afraid? It was just Maleko and he wasn't scary! "I heard they'd brought someone in but… there weren't any details given… God I should have known it'd be you… they even said it was in Hawaii," she was talking to herself, low groans as she buried her face into her hands.
Confused, that was all Maleko could think to describe how he felt right now. Was… him being here a bad thing? "Kimmy?" he asked slowly. Something was wrong. What was wrong? "Kimial okay?"
She forced a smile and gently pushed him off of her lap so she could stand. "I'm okay," she assured him, but he could tell she was lying. "And… ah I really wasn't expecting to do this. But could you not call me Kimial here? I know it's usually 'Kimmy' with you, but please don't use my real name, just Kim or Kimmy here?" she asked him and there was a tone of urgency in her voice, as though this was of great importance, though for reasons that Maleko wouldn't be able to understand. Why change her name?
But… sure, he could do as she asked, 'Kim' was easier to say, anyway. Shorter. "Kim!" he confirmed.
The witch nodded with another smile that felt forced, but not as much, but there was still a sense of anxiety to it. "One other thing, can you pretend you don't know me that well? Like… like we just met today?" she asked and looked around to make sure no one was listening, but they were the only two people in this part of the property. Slowly, Kim leaned closer to him, "I can't let people know I'm a witch, can you keep that a secret? Here I'm just Kim, a regular meister, nothing more. Can you do that?"
Okay that… That was… weird. Why would she pretend to be something else? Witches were cool, could do so many amazing things. But, well, if she wanted to pretend she wasn't a witch then she could pretend.
"Maleko jus' met Kim!" he said nodding his head. He could play pretend with her.
That got a real smile from her and Kim reached down to pat his head with a 'good boy' uttered. He purred in response.
"Now," Kim said, pulling back from him, "What are you doing out here?"
And so, Maleko dived into telling her everything. And by that, he literally told her everything. From waking up in the infirmary after a fight broke out at his home, his attempted escape and subsequent return to the infirmary, showing off his still bandaged fingers to her as he brought up how he tore out a few of his claws, to meeting Maka, Blackstar and Soul.
He told her how Maka and Soul took him out to eat yesterday, how the food and smells overwhelmed him and made him sick, recommended not throwing up in a restaurant bathroom, like ever. That got a bit of a laugh from her which motivated him to keep talking about how he woke up in the infirmary and set out to look for the others.
He said it all in an excited breath, gushing over his words and struggling to even get some of the words right. At some point he lifted up his shirt to show her all the bandages wrapped around him, some still had a little bit of red staining the white cloth.
"Oh, boy," Kim said in a tight voice at seeing just how extensive his injuries had been, "That's… yeah that's bad."
Maleko nodded, "Uh-huh, but Maleko tough," he assured, pulling his shirt back down. "Gotta be—Mama'll be sad if not." She'd be sad he got hurt, mad that he got hurt, and he didn't want to see that so he couldn't let himself show he was hurting none, that way mama will be happy and smile when he finds her again.
A strange look crossed across Kim's face and then she looked around warily, "Maleko, do you know where Kai is?" she asked carefully.
Did he know where she was? Maleko tilted his head over and blinked. If he knew where mama was, then he wouldn't be here, or she would be here cause the others would have found her and reunited them. "No," he finally answered slowly and then perked right back up, "But Marie says that her and the grownups going to find her for me! They'll bring us together again!"
There was a strange look that crossed Kimmy's face, something of pain and pity even though she was smiling at him. Maleko didn't know what to make of it, what it all meant. "I'm sure that they'll bring you two together… somehow," she didn't sound happy.
"Kimmy?"
But she shook her head and forced her smile to look happier, "But why are you out here? I doubt you're supposed to be wandering the school on your own, your injuries probably aren't even completely healed yet."
She wasn't wrong, his fingers were still wrapped in bandages where his nails had been torn off during his fall the first day, with his nails still slowly growing back and still rather sensitive, and he still felt raw and sore where he got stabbed by wood. But that didn't mean he was invalid. He could still move about freely. Though Kim was probably right in that he's not supposed to be, but there weren't any grownups around to tell him no, so there!
"Maleko need find Maka an Sou!" He chirped, because right that was his initial goal before he got distracted by finding Kimmy.
"Sou?" Kim repeated and then shook her head," Right, Soul. Why do you want to find them? They're probably still in class right now."
He held up the sheets of paper stapled together for her to read. "Soul's," he said. "Wanna give him. Looks importan'"
She gave a nod and seemed to be thinking something over, a hand on her shoulder and rotating her joints absentmindedly, she gave a few seconds of silence before she started talking again. "Well, you'll probably find some way to get into trouble if I leave you on your own," she began slowly as she looked at him and then a smile crept up onto her face. "I guess I'll just have to walk you down to the room Maka and Soul are in myself."
Kim picked up her fallen books and tucked them under an arm while she held her other hand out to Maleko. The boy chirped 'thank you' a few times as he took her hand in his own and followed Kim as she began walking through the empty hall.
Most kids were heading into class or training, she explained when he asked why there weren't a lot of people in the halls. Though class would be ending after a while and then the crowds would arrive as students tried to get from one room to another. She herself had been running a few errands which was why she was out of class at the time.
Makelo couldn't help the bounce in his step as she told him how she had been doing since she and he last saw each other, and Maleko didn't miss the warm smile when she talked about her friend Jackie. He hoped he could see her sometime, he liked being around her at the meetings, the way she smelled of fire and smoke was comforting for him, and she had always been kind. There was also a boy named Ox that she talked of too, and though her expression conveyed annoyance, Maleko could detect the fondness in her voice that betrayed it. He was her friend even if she found him annoying at times.
She talked of quests, too, and how she and Jackie had gone on one a few days ago, how they got to defeat a really bad person and protect people. Maleko liked hearing of that, liked hearing of things like superheroes defeating villains.
Though with how they talked it felt like ages, it had only been a few minutes and a single flight of stairs before Maleko and Kim stopped in front of a closed door to a lecture hall.
"Here you go," Kim said as she let go of Maleko's hand, smiling down at him warmly. "Maka and Soul are in there, so just wait out here until class ends. You'll know it's over when people start streaming out the door. Though if you want to just barge in there that's your choice. Teachers might not be especially happy with it."
Maleko gave her a big smile and then wrapped his arms around her waist in a hug, "Thank you!" he chirped happily as he nuzzled her stomach.
Kim laughed and patted his head, "Come on, it was nothing," she said, smiling sheepishly when Maleko pulled away. "Just remember, you only just met me today, okay? Can you do that?"
"Ye! Maleko promise!" he wasn't going to let her down, if she wanted him to pretend they just met, then he would pretend. "Maleko just met Kim, Kimmy his new friend."
She smiled and ruffled his hair again, "Good," Kim said and started to back off. "Well, have fun. If I hear anything about Kai I'll let you know, but in the meantime stay out of trouble."
She walked away with a wave that Maleko returned, waiting in front of the door until she descended down the stairs again before he turned to face the door blocking him from his other friends. Kim had said they might be upset if he went in like that… but it was going to be okay. He wanted to see Soul and Maka, and he was confident everything would be okay.
Maybe he should knock first?
Maleko raised his hand and tapped his closed fist against the door a few times and then waited. A few seconds passed and nothing happened. A few more seconds and still nothing. Maybe they didn't hear his knocking or just ignored it?
Well, it would be okay.
Puffing his chest up, Maleko pushed the door open and stepped inside.
When the voices stopped and dozens of eyes fell on him, his confidence began to waver. No, no. Maleko you are strong and brave and this is not going to be what makes you back off. Sure there was a lot more people than he thought would be here, so many faces that his head spun, but it was okay.
At the front of the class, the zombie man was watching him with a look of relative surprise, one hand holding a stick of chalk while the other had an open book. He said nothing as Maleko stepped further into the classroom and pushed the door shut behind him, still said nothing as Maleko smiled at him and gave him a wave.
He could hear people whispering amongst themselves, like a waterfall of voices, and he tried to block the whispers out as he scanned the many rows of seats before him. He recognized Blackstar in one of them, a fat grin across his face, and beside him was a taller girl with black hair tied back. In the row behind those two he was able to find a familiar mix of blonde and white and his expression brightened.
With a happy sound, he bounded up the stairs, past a bald student and one with a weird visor, past Jackie and so many more faces and scents, past all the eyes and whispers that followed him as he mad his way to where a surprised Maka and Soul sat.
"Sou! Soul!" Maleko greeted as he held out the papers.
"That are you doing here?" Soul asked, glancing at the students watching them before tentatively taking the papers from him, "This for me?" he looked through the papers and his eyes widened before looking up at Maleko and then back at the papers.
"Yous," Maleko explained, nodding to the sheets of paper.
Maka leaned over to look at the homework and then at Maleko, "You came all this way to give him that?" she asked and the boy barked happily in agreement. With a small laugh, Maka smiled at him, "Well, you're Soul's live saver, but please don't go running around the school or intruding classrooms on your own again. The others are probably looking all over for you."
At that, Maleko deflated like a balloon and let out a low whine, "Sorry…" he mumbled.
Her expression softened and she reached over to put a hand on his cheek, "It's okay," Maka assured him, and then she looked up around the room. People were still staring and whispering about the sudden disruption and her cheeks were growing pink at the attention, so she turned her expression back to the boy. "Do you think you can make it back to the infirmary on your own? Soul and I can come visit you after class."
Maleko was about to respond, but didn't get the chance.
"He could stay if he promises not to cause another scene," Sid cut in from his spot in front of the class. "Since he came all this way to give Soul his essay, I don't see why he can't stay for the rest of the lecture," then the zombie looked over to Maleko. "What do you say?"
Maleko stared at him and blinked. He'd never been in a class before, never in a lecture. Mama always taught him everything he needed at home, so this would be completely new. What was one supposed to do here in the first place? Even though it was foreign, it was exciting.
A wide grin broke across his face and Maleko nodded his head furiously, "Maleko stay!" he answered but then turned to Maka and Soul, looking for approval. "Maleko stay?" he asked, waiting for confirmation. If she said no, then he would go, if she didn't want him here with her he would go. But he really wanted to see what school was like.
But Maka just laughed, moved over to the next seat over and then patted against the now empty seat between her and Soul. "You'll want to take a seat then, unless you plan to stand for the whole lecture."
Maleko barked and climbed into the chair, buzzing with energy and his face growing sore from the smile that wouldn't fall. A few laughs echoed in the room and Sid waited a few solid moments before returning to his lecture pointing at what he had written on the board, scribbling new things beside it while talking of this and that. Human body parts.
While the zombie man spoke, Maleko did his very best to listen attentively and to try and understand, he even took some paper and pencils from Maka to start writing his own 'notes' along with the class. Though his were just doodles of Sid and the others. Maybe he could ask one of the grownups to help him learn to write later.
But for the next half hour his smile didn't falter.