Party Time; Quietly defensive?

Maka's POV

I stare at the clock, 7:45pm. Soul was taking ages in the bathroom and with no other books around I entertain myself by... watching a clock. Yep.

The bathroom door busts open, Soul in its wake who was handsomely dressed in his suit. He walks over to me and extends a hand, I grab it and he hauls me up into a kiss. His warm lips pressing against my own and I internally smile, it looks like all this time I had been missing out on a lot.

We pull back from the kiss and he is smiling at me with those ruby red eyes and spiky teeth and I smile backwards before he releases me, he walks over to the door and pulls it open and has a sarcastic grin on his face as he gestures for me to go first.

''Oh such a gentleman'' I say sarcastically and we bust up laughing

''Seriously though the party is going to start in like ten minutes and I want to get there so I can see Black Star get drunk'' Soul jokes

''I hope Crona is there, he has been very distant lately'' I smile. The swordsman had been very distant and he heads home earlier than normal, I haven't seen him in a day or two aswell.

I walk out the door and I hear Soul follow, we walk through the empty streets as the half moon smiles down at us. It doesn't take long to get to the DWMA but it will take like five minutes.

''Maka'' Soul said and I turn to him ''I love you''

''Love you too Soul'' I say and give him a peck on the cheek

''I mean it though'' He says, a hint of worry in his voice

''And I mean it too''

After that we are silent, I feel like I have done something wrong but I keep quiet. The silence was beginning to become unbearable but I hold strong and soon after we arrive at the school, Black Star was waiting at the top of the stairs wearing a suit while Tsubaki was in a beautiful purple dress.

''Hey Tsubaki'' I smile ''Your look amazing''

''Thanks, you too''

Black Star and Soul high five and Black Star points his thumb behind us. Black Star and Soul walk ahead and leaving me and Tsubaki to admire the view.

''Hows it going with Black Star?''

''Not very good, he doesn't seem to be interested at all''

''I'm sure he is but just doesn't know how to express it''

''Maybe''

Soul's POV

I'm chilling on the balcony with Black Star and Kid by my side, all of us with a different beverage. Black Star had a Jack Daniels, Kid had some kind of wine and I had a soda. Black Star had tried to convince me to have a beer but I just didn't feel like it. We had been mostly silent, enjoying the view and drinks. Us guys didn't really talk all that much apart from when we had nothing else to do... like now.

''So hows it going with Tsubaki?'' Kid asks between sips

''Whadda mean?''

''You know what he means'' I say pointing my soda at Kid slightly

''Oh that'' Black Star says looking at us ''I still haven't really approached her yet''

''Your kidding me'' Kid said ''We told you yesterday to just man up and do it. Everyone knows you like each other''

''Its just... what if she doesn't like me?''

''He just said everybody knows you like each other'' I groan

''Oh right'' He sighs

''You can look the Kinshin in the eyes and say you are his biggest threat yet when it comes to asking your partner out you hide your feelings away'' I joke

''Yeah well all you had to do was shed a few tears for Maka when she was in that coma or whatever so you got off easily jus-'' Black Star rants before Kid puts a hand on his shoulder with a 'shut up' glare on his face.

I huff and turn back to look at the scenery. Its true that what happened did kind of effect my chances but I had loved her for a long time and like Black Star I had to hide my feelings from her and my friends, after cooling down I turn back and look and my two closest friends.

''Since when did you become a dating expert, as far as I know you have just as much experience with woman as I do'' Black Star says staring Kid down

''I'll have you know I work with two woman who are constantly chatting about dating and stuff like that'' Kid said ''I'm not saying that I am an expert but I am just giving advice''

''Right, sorry Kid'' Black Star says looking at it shoes

''Its fine''

''Oh god'' I mumble

''What is it?'' They ask in unison

''They have started doing the dances and shit, good thing Maka isn't here or she would drag me out with her'' I say giving my friends a toothy grin

''Yeah'' They smile

''What's wrong with dancing with your partners?'' A voice calls and we all jump before I lean over the banister to find Kema lying on her back... seemingly floating.

''Uh what are you doing?'' I ask

''Lord Death put me in charge of making sure no-one tries to lock everyone in a box like last time'' Kema explains ''I'm sure you all remember that''

''Yeah'' We all say in unison

''Anyway I just was wandering by and need to keep watch so I will leave you boys to talk, just don't be afraid to dance with your partners. Especially you Soul'' She says before floating to the left before disappearing behind a spire of the school.

''Jeez'' I groan ''The worst thing is I think she is right''

''You two have it easier than I do atleast'' Kid says with a mix between annoyed and sad look on his face. True in several ways.

''How so?'' Black Star asks

''I have to dance with two partners, which while in the past went okay its been getting more and more awkward each time'' Kid explains

''Oh right'' I say, I wasn't thinking that but okay ''By the way have any of you seen Crona the past couple days?''

''Not really'' They both say

''Maka is getting worried about him'' I say looking at the sky

''I-Is she?'' A scared voice asks, startling us

''What is with the constant jump-scares tonight jeez!'' I moan but turn to who asked about Maka

I turn around to find a boy in a white jacket and pink hair ''Oh Crona, its you''

''Y-Yeah, I was wondering if y-you could give this to Maka for me'' Crona says outstretching a hand holding a letter and I gingerly take it. He bows to me before leaving the balcony and when I clear the couple metres to where he once stood I find that he has vanished into the crowd.

Suddenly a hand places itself in my shoulder causing me to jump and when I turn to my left I find its my Meister, Maka, I smile at her and kiss her on the cheek.

''Oh yeah, Crona showed up and wanted me to give you this'' I say and Maka excitedly takes the letter from my hand and begins to open it as we walk onto the balcony. Thankfully both Black Star and Kid have the decency to talk about some other subject and look away from us, but I cant help but feel their eyes pinned on us. I watch as she pulls out the crumbled piece of paper and begins to read it as I watch her features intently, after a minute or so she moves a hand to her mouth and lets out a quiet squeak. This draws my attention along with Kids and Black Star's, I take her arm that feels like a rock and pull her out of view from the rest of the crowd. I look back at Black Star and Kid who nod and strides back into the main room, I will thank them later but first I must attend to Maka.

''What's it say Maka?''

She moves forward and buries her face in my shoulder, I place a cautious hand on her back and rub there trying to sooth whatever has upset her. I push her back by her shoulders and look into her tearful eyes.

''What's it say Maka?'' I repeat and this time I get a quiet response

''Read it yourself''' Maka mumbles and gives me the paper before she sits down and hugs her knee's.

I take it from her and begin to read.

Dear Maka

Due to things that has come up I have to tell you that I am leaving the DWMA along with Death City. Its likely that we wont see each other for a long time, if ever again. It pains me to do this but know that I am in safe hands and do not come after me. I wish you the best and please don't cry, believe me when I say you have changed my life forever and I will never forget you.

From your friend, Crona.

I see spots where Maka's tears landed but I also see dried ones, Crona must have been crying when he wrote this. Poor kid.

''Oh Maka'' I say and hug my sobbing girlfriend, her chin resting on my shoulder ''He'll be fine''

''B-But he might have been forced into writing that''

''Then why would he have come over to me, by himself and with no-one guarding him?''

Maka takes a moment to think about that ''Your Right...''

''Do you want to head home?'' I ask and she shakes her head, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.

''I just want to stay out here for a moment'' She murmurs and I nod before sitting down next to her.

''Soul, I love you''

''I love you too Maka''

''Guys'' Kema's voice shouts as her head pops up above the balcony ''We got a problem''

''What is it?'' Maka says wiping the last of her tears away as she stands up shakily

''I detected a very large quantity of Kinshin Souls heading towards our location'' Kema explains ''I can deal with them easily but there is such a high concentration of them coming from this one angle that I cannot keep them all back''

''So you want me and Soul to help?'' Maka asks

''Go fetch Black Star and Kid aswell, don't spread the word of the attack''

''Got it'' Maka smiles confidently and looks at me, I grin a toothy grin back at her

''Meet me back here when you got them'' Kema said smiling

We both nod and run back into the building, in a matter of minutes we have alerted everyone inside and have gathered Black Star, Tsubaki, Kid, Liz and Patty.

''The enemies are weak, but there are a lot of them. Show no mercy'' She says with a smile that sends an unwanted shiver down my spine.

''Lets go!'' She shouts and does a backflip off of the balcony, Black Star and Tsubaki follow without hesitation. Maka and Kid follow shortly afterwards, the air blowing through her hair. God she looked hot, dammit! Not the time to be thinking of that Soul.

We land on the ground and I see what she meant by large amount of enemies, there were tons of people dressed in a sort of Templar fashion. They all had red eyes and were charging at us with swords, this should be easy.

Maka's POV

I detect hundreds... maybe even a thousand. They were at the bottom of the large staircase and were climbing fast. Kema giggles before jumping into the air just as the same golden scythe, The Ultra Death-scythe, falls into her right hand. She dives into them and in a single 360 degree swipe she kills a portion of them but they still charge strong, but so does she. She swings the scythe over and over again when I realize that Black Star is there too, and Kid.

''Whadda you waiting for?'' Soul asks

''Sorry'' I say before lunging at the crowd of Templar-looking people. I swing Soul several times but they seem to block the occasional attack with their swords, Kema made it look so easy.

''Kids, cover me'' Kema shouts drawing all our attention whilst fighting. She has begun taking a meditation position with her legs crossed while she floats in the air and her Scythe over her back. This Medusa-look-alike was full of surprises. She had her hands pressed together and I see her Soul for the first time, it was a rainbow array of colours that swirled and twisted with ease. I realise just in time that a sword is coming my way, I block it and cut my opponent in half while keeping an eye on Kema. I want to resonate with Soul but with all these people I think it may be more of a problem than I want. Several people lunge at her and I am about to jump at them when Black Star literally comes out of nowhere and slashes them all with the Uncanny Sword and grinning widely.

Kema's Soul begins to glow brightly and I find myself unable to take my eyes off of her, thankfully the enemies seem as attracted as I am since none appeared to have shot a sword through my chest.

''Kids, get back'' Kema says loudly, We all run in the opposite direction until we reach near-enough the top of the stairs. Kema releases her hands and her she lifts her hands into the air. A swirling ball of blue appears floating above her, all misty and shrouded.

''Soul Bomb!'' She cries and sends the blue orb down towards our enemies.

Nothing happens for a second before a huge explosion happens and we have to cover our eyes to not get blinded by the light blue light. After ten seconds the light dims and I find that there is no crater but a lot of Kinshin Souls lying around. Did she just wipe out the remain thousand or so with that one attack?! I'm glad she is on our side.

Kema slowly descends to the ground beside us before her body collapses without warning. I catch her before she face-plants the floor and when I lift her up to look at her I find she has passed out.

''Help me get her to the infirmary'' I ask and the Liz turns back into human form to help and so does Tsubaki, We all pick her up at various parts of her body.

''You guys go and fetch Mira or someone'' I instruct the remaining four friends, they all nod and run into the front of the building while us three carry her into the building.

Several Minutes Later

We place Kema on the bed and Mira gently tucks the cover over, her skin has now turned pale from... whatever. I turn to my left briefly and see dad and Soul glaring at each other. Right, I forgot

dad was there when we kissed. He is probably giving Soul hell right now. The only people in the room where Me, Soul, dad, Mira and Kema. That was until the door busted open with Stein in its wake, he speed-walks over to Kema's bed and stands next to it.

''What happened?'' He asks quickly looking at me

''We were fighting a large sum of Templar-looking guys when she told us to get back before she unleashed some kind of attack. She call it 'Soul Bomb' I think'' I explained

''Now I understand'' Stein said before stating ''Kema is an expert in Soul-Wavelength type attacks, from what she told me years ago is she used her Soul as a form of bomb which required her to take recoil damage afterwards''

''She used her soul as a bomb?'' I say in a mix of confusion and curiosity, I didn't know this was possible. Like I said before, full of surprises.

''Right, so like I said she needs to recover from that recoil damage she took to her soul''

''Is there anything we can do?'' I ask

''No, you can go back to the party along with your friends'' He says and pulls out a watch ''You got fifty minutes before the party will end, run along''

I nod and turn to the door before looking back ''What happens to all of those Kinshin Souls?''

''I just discussed that with Lord Death, Kema will get the majority of them for obvious reasons and will decide what to do with them. The rest of you will get around ten or so each I think'' Stein smiles ''Good job out there''

''Thank you'' I say before turning again to the door and head into the hall, Soul following.

I am beginning to have more and more questions about this new Meister every hour.