Well hello, shorter chapter today but it's time to meet some friendly faces. Enjoy they show and lots more of kid's awkwardness. RxR
Side note: I will be finishing school next week so I may not have time to post *cough* write the fricking story *cough* please be paient. If not updates will resume next Friday.
When I open the door she is spinning. The setting sun catches the small and subtle shards of diamond* that is woven into the snow white fabric. The pale skin of her shoulders smooth and inviting. As she spins a trail of roses encircles her from the waist. The lines curves loosely before completing a full circle at the very bottom of the dress. Small white shoes poke out in a simple but elegant fashion. For a moment I am so taken by the sight I could swear that I had indeed seen a pure Exalted who had returned from Paradise.*
"You look breathtaking Maka." She halts mid-spin and the dress slowly floats from the air back down to trail on the ground, the full skirt settling back into its former bell shape.
"Oh Prince… I, uh, didn't hear you come in." She shifts nervously and rubs her hand on her neck. The girl's ash blond hair is tied into an elegant bun while two long stands escape and curl. They frame her face in a way that make her eyes shine. A small blood gem* is glued to the center of her forehead where I can just barely see the scar from a few nights ago.
"Did I upset you?" She steps from the window and I am pulled from the trance. My body is warmed and nerves seem to be jumping with every stimulation. I feel so out of control.
"No. No, it's just that- well after the festival yesterday- I just thought… you know?" She blushes lightly and my heart quickens.
"I am afraid I don't. Did someone harm you? I shall dispose of whoever would dare harm you!" I call on my powers instinctively and she looks up startled at the glowing of my eyes. Almost…scared. Instantly I cut the power and see her visibly relax.
I have always been one to keep a cool head. Just what is this girl doing to me? She steps forward gracefully. She moves with the soft touch of the wind and the fierceness of fire. It's captivating to view.
"Of course not Ki- Prince. You would be the first person I'd let know. I promise." Her hand rests just above my shoulder, just floating mere centimeters away. However before I can feel her contact she pulls away, a sad smile on her face. She grasps her hand to her chest before looking down.
"Then what is it?" At first she doesn't respond. Before I can comprehend what I am doing my hand overlays hers and I step closer to her. She looks up at me her life filled eyes burning with guilt. " Maka you can tell me anything. I will assist in any possible way."
"I thought…because of yesterday. When I made you play, you seemed so happy, you opened up. But afterwards, you had closed off again, like you didn't even care." She rests her forehead against my chest and I find myself craving the contact.
"Why would I be upset with you over what others thought? You hold no council over that and I hold no concern." My voice is soft as I stroke her bare back gently.
"It's not that. I just thought we were becoming friends. That you were happy, that I could make you happy. But in the end it only reminded you of the past. I'm sorry." Her hand rest on my chest and it feels like my heart is swelling past it's cavity.
"Maka," As much as I want to stand there for a bit as my body is screaming for me to do I want her to understand something. "You and I are very different. You hold what my race can create but not possess. I was not meant to ever feel anything other than apathy. For you to disprove this is truly a small miracle. While I may not know happiness you have stirred something inside that can give me some enjoyment. I cannot thank you enough for that. So please, do no worry yourself with my emotions, for any that I have are a blessing, not matter how short the time."
Her eyes seem more saddened by my words of comfort than she was originally. I worry I have misspoke, interpreted something wrong in our business relationship. But, after a moment the sadness passes and a smile graces her perfectly symmetrical face.
"You do indeed look lovely." I step away form her to admire her completely. She blushes and waves her hand at me dismissively.
"Oh, I should be giving you the compliment. Liz said you had picked this out yourself. I am surprised it's not more symmetrical." She giggles into her hand and I look down slightly shocked. I didn't even notice.
"Well it seems that the tailor has made an error. There should have been a corresponding row of roses that were to cross in the front as well." The more I look, however, the less I find it bothers me. I am not sure how it had escaped my scrutiny.
"I think I like it better this way, but why roses?" She questions in a way that simply shows her own curiosity but strikes hard in my chest. A pain blossoms but as I look down I see no blood, no hole left for damage. Just a perfectly intact flesh. "Kid? Why roses?"
I shake my head and sigh. "It is a cruel joke really. When the first governments were being assigned we all were given symbols. Life gave my father a rose, a symbol of love and passion then tainted it black with the sickness of death."
"That's awful! How is someone who is to represent life so punishing?"
"It is her way. We should be leaving soon. The ball begins with nightfall." She nods and grabs a small bag before strapping it to her calf. I raise my eyebrow questionably but she just shrugs.
"I'm never getting caught off guard again." I chuckle and find her readiness somewhat endearing. She should never have to fight as long as she is near me. My hand rest on a small box in my suit's pocket. It is the same black suit I always wear without the decorative elements. Only a simple black waistcoat with a black silk vest. It's all I need.
"I have very nearly forgotten something." I pull out the silk box and hold it out to her. Her eyes sparkle with curiosity as she pulls at the bow. The wrapping falls off leaving a glass container with two roses in pristine condition looking like they had been freshly cut.
"Oohhh" She draws out in awe. "They are so beautiful."
She unhooks the latch that opens the box. The cold steam rolls out of the glass and onto my hand. "Which one do I wear?"
"Traditionally the guest shall wear red while I shall wear the black." She seems to ponder this a moment before reaching into the smoke and withdrawing the red rose. Stepping closer she pins it on my jacket before taking the black flower and incorporating it into her hair. "Was the red rose not suitable to your needs?"
"No I just like the black one better." I feel my lips twitch into a clumsy smile before she too smiles. Gripping the container she sets it down on a nearby table before placing her arm in mine. "We should be off shouldn't we? I believe you have people's faces to rub me into."
"I'm sorry I don't quite understand." I would never push her into someone's face nor allow another to rub anything on her.
"It's a figure of speech Kid." I smile as the door closes. It doesn't escape my notice that she is using my name freely.
We leave the room dressed in all our finery. There is something simple yet elegant about us as a pair. Other than the gem she wears no jewelry. I can't help but think that, in all of the royalty I have ever seen, she looks the most suited to be a queen.
The halls ring with laughter filtering down from the ballroom and although we are silent I can't help but question as to who is really having the best time.
A deep green curtain is draped across the entrance and flows softly in the breeze. Golden thread has been woven into the cloth so that with every movement it catches the light, reflecting a beautiful tribal sun.
"I think we may be a bit late." She sounds embarrassed yet I don't really understand why. If anything she should be joyful we missed the boring introductions.
"Death comes calling only when he wants to. No other can dictate their realm like this, only Death." She smiles slightly and shakes her head.
"You are something Prince did you know that?"
"Well naturally I am something. I exist therefore I cannot be nothing. Most specifically I am-"
"Figure of speech again."
"I'm getting rather tired of those." She giggles and seems less nervous.
"Well do we just walk through?"
"I sent Patti ahead of us. They will be ready in just a moment." As I finish my sentence a trumpet sounds behind the curtain. Maka laces her hand in mine and her back goes ridged. I tilt her head up higher with my free hand for good measure just before the curtain pulls back.
00000000000000000000000
"Introducing Prince Death the Kid, representative from the Death kingdom and his honored guest Miss Maka Albarn." My eyes widen with the sheer amount of people below me, and they are all staring straight back at me.
A barely felt tug on my arm starts me walking. I wonder if they can see me shake. The guest are all beautiful, from the woman on the throne to the lowest servant, and all watch me as I descend a wide staircase with the Prince of Death.
I feel so plain compared to all the other women. They are dressed in fine gowns made of silk and velvet from the Victorian age or older. Large pulsing green stones and other precious gems are sprinkled throughout their persons like snowflakes on a cold winter's morning. Even the men wear an arrangement of multiple colors and fashions. I notice that none of them are wearing black.
The silence is suffocating as they keep staring at me. The conspicuous gazes are now highly uncomfortable and Kid's grip tightens. He's starting to get upset.
"Out of the great god's way! You puny followers can do nothing to stop the mighty BlackStar!" The silence is not broken, it is shattered into a million pieces as two people push their way through the crowd. Well, one is pushing the other is following closely behind and apologizing. When they finally breakthrough I am caught by a shock of blue hair.
"I have finally found you my old rival. I challenge you to a duel!" The man is short but muscular. Despite the formal event he has managed to sneak in wearing a tuxedo with the sleeves missing. It is a dark navy blue with a yellow tie.
"BlackStar! What kind of greeting is that? You can't just go challenging people like that!" The exasperated girl is breath taking. Her long black hair trails down her back in a complex braid. It stands out starkly against her pale yellow dress and purple eyes.
"Good to see you are well BlackStar. Haven't changed a bit I see?" Kid still has his arm laced in mine and the crowd is actually retreating. From the look of it this boy's behavior is the norm for him.
"That's not true! In the past 300 years I have gotten even stronger! I can now lift the human world and fling it through space with the flick of my pinky."
"Now how do you plan on doing that BlackStar?"
"I'll think of a way and that will show you!"
"I am waiting expectantly for that day. Let me introduce you to my guest, Maka Albarn." He pushes me forward and I nearly stumble but catch my footing in the last second. I giggle nervously before waving my hand. With a clearing of the throat from Kid I curtsy instead, just hoping to god that I can stay on my feet.
"Eh? No way! Mr. Prince of Death got a girlfriend! About time! Only took ya three millennia." The boy is hushed by the woman and she steps forward and curtsies back.
"I am so sorry, he can be a bit eccentric sometimes. My name is Tsubaki and I am the goddess of Light." She smiles and I can feel my very core warm. Something about this woman demands that I become her friend, and I'm okay with it. Her smile is contagious.
"And I am the great BlackStar! God of the Darkness, all of the cosmos are mine to command!" To demonstrate he holds out his hand towards and open window. The crowd screams as a streaming comet comes flying through the crowd, weaving its way between the people. It comes to a stop in the boy's hand drifting just above his palm.
"This is my newest creation. Forged of hydrogen, nitrogen, Insidium*, and just a wee bit of oxygen this star will grow to sustain a life bearing planet in the F-8 sector of the Kelldin Nebula. I call him…Kevin!" I'm rather confused but who can resist gazing into the very core of a baby star. I drop down so it's at eye level. It glows and sparks with mini solar flares.
"A new planet?! The humans will be so excited!" I smile and move to poke it before Kid gently pulls my hand away shaking his head.
"Well they are pretty down right ungrateful! This is the 7 trillionth one I made and they have yet to use any of the others. Honestly, some people don't appreciate a good star." Kid whispers softly in my ear. It tickles.
"All of the stars are too far away for any human device to have ever seen. Don't let him know that though or he'd start crowding multiple in your solar system."
"Well I'm sure we will one day. Humans are naturally curious. It gets us into a lot of trouble." I snicker into my hand and BlackStar's mouth hangs open.
"We? Holy shit!? You're a human? No way! What's life on earth like? Do you guys like my stars? Does anyone notice them?" He shakes my shoulder excitedly back and forth dragging me with him. Kid pulls me back protectively and holds me a little too close for a little too long. The whispers start up around us and he releases me with a step back for some good distance.
"Uh yeah actually, humans have been staring at the sky for millions of years. We even have a whole section of science to exploring as much of the universe as we can." I clear my throat but the people around us are still shifting and whispering not-so-secretly.
"How interesting. Would you mind if I were to ask about light and energy?" Tsubaki asked in a loud voice to distract from the subject. A warning pulse of evil from Kid sent them scattering away. "Prince that wasn't very nice."
"If the animals want to stare at things they have perfectly good mirrors in their rooms."
"It's not fair." They all turns towards me curiously.
"What's not fair Maka?"
"Why do they all watch you? Why do they hang on every word but never want to talk to you?" Kid sighs and slides his hands into pockets I didn't know he had.
"It's our life." It surprises me that it's Tsubaki is the one to speak. "We are something that they can never be. Death holds the only other souls that can never move on. To them we are royalty but also the personification of pity and tragedy."
"But you don't need to worry! For the great BlackStar will show you all the beauty of the stars!" With a pin wheeling of his arms every one of the guest nearby dives to the floor. Stars and galaxies fly in, shrinking and expanding in a cosmic piece of living art. I am even pretty sure I see Saturn fly past my ear Tsubaki stands next to him pulling the fire from the lamps into her palms and close them around it sending the room spiraling into darkness. The stars spark in the simulating sky, crashing into the others and exploding into clouds of gases before reforming into new ones.
One must have been a tad bit to excited because when it crashed into the wall instead of reforming it imploded on itself. The resulting black hole was small but still managed to suck in the rest of the stars and most of the tableware. The room is destroyed before BlackStar stops it.
"Damn it! I hate it when that happens! It will take hundreds of years to rebuild them all."
"Your stars? You just destroyed the entire dining hall BlackStar. I believe you should apologize immediately." Kid had remained next to me while the others ducked in cover. He seems hardly concerned with anyone's health.
Suddenly a voice rings throughout the room. I follow it to the throne where a woman is sitting completely still. She's still too far to see but her voice seeps like honey.
"What a beautiful display Darkness. Well, I believe that was enough excitement for the first night. Would you all please return to your rooms while we put the ball room back in order?" As soon as she speaks people begin marching towards the doors, almost in a trance. Kid pulls me along with the crowd before branching off into our hall.
Note:
Shards of diamond: I just really didn't want to say glitter, but glitter.
Seen a pure exalted: Underworld speak for "I just saw an angel"
Blood Gem: Obviously red, but a gem coming from The Fall in the kingdom of Chaos. It is created from the blood of the punished souls that have crystalized in the burning heat. BUHAHAHAHAH
INsidum: Element that no longer exists in the human world but still this one